Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 UN deputy chief urges immediate action for Sustainable Development Goals Xinhua) 08:58, July 09, 2024 UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed addresses the opening of the 2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 8, 2024. Mohammed on Monday demanded immediate commitments to bold policies and innovative solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Monday demanded immediate commitments to bold policies and innovative solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Speaking at the 2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Mohammed emphasized the urgent need for "transformative actions" to tackle major global challenges like poverty, food insecurity, and climate change. "Although the greatest challenges before us are daunting, together we can overcome them, achieve the peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future that all people not only need but deserve," she told delegates at the UN headquarters in New York. Reflecting on the path towards the 2030 Agenda, Mohammed underscored the significance of the upcoming Summit of the Future. "The summit is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation -- human solidarity in the face of opportunity but also threats -- can carry us forward," she said. Mohammed addressed the global community's multifaceted challenges, from poverty to climate change, and the distressing reality that less than a fifth of the SDGs are on track. "But it is also fixable ... this is what this forum is about -- finding the solutions and the political will to turn our words into actions in the lives of people in the billions," she noted, reinforcing the collective capability to surmount these challenges and achieve a sustainable future for all. This year's HLPF, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is centered on eradicating poverty through sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions amidst various global crises. The forum, which runs from July 8 through 17, aims to assess progress towards several SDGs, including those focused on ending poverty, zero hunger, climate action, peaceful and inclusive societies, and enhancing implementation methods. The program features Voluntary National Review (VNR) Labs, where countries present reports on their SDG achievements, challenges, and future strategies. Additionally, the forum is enriched with various side events and exhibitions. ECOSOC President Paula Narvaez, addressing the forum, highlighted the particular struggles of developing nations, especially those in conflict-ridden regions, underscoring the essential need for peace and stability. "The agenda includes local and regional actions, insights from regional forums, key intergovernmental discussions, and 37 countries presenting their VNRs," Narvaez noted, linking the ongoing discussions to the upcoming Summit of the Future in September. "It will be a space to present transformative actions and initiatives related to monitoring the Summit on Sustainable Development Goals in 2023, while also sharing priorities and expectations for the upcoming summit," she stated. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Madam Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has reiterated the Commissions commitment of ensuring a peaceful and incident free electoral process before, during and after the December 7, elections. According to the EC Chair, working closely with the security agencies is the surest way to ensure a peaceful election, thus, calling on the various security agencies and forces to come together to work for the peace of Ghana. Madam Jean Mensa acknowledged the enormous contribution of the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies and in ensuring a peaceful, transparent and credible elections over the years. According to her, the Commission has over the years, enjoyed police presence in all the registration Centers and Police also provided security for their mobile teams when they moved around the country. Madam Jean Mensa said that all the electoral activities undertaken ahead of the 2024 general elections have been inclusive and successful due to the cooperation of the security agencies. During an engagement with the security task force at the EC head office in Accra on Monday July 8, 2024, she stated that, Im happy to note that all the activities we have undertaken so far have been very successful and inclusive and all citizens who wished to register had the opportunity to do so. We couldnt have done this without the cooperation of our security agencies. We had meetings with the IGP and National Security Task Force, and I would like to recognize the amazing work they have done so far. Weve enjoyed fruitful collaboration with them and that has led to the fruitful exercises we have had so far, Jean Mensa said. She added We enjoyed police presence in all our registration Centers and Police also provided security for our mobile teams when they moved around the country. I would like to pledge our commitment to always work with the security agencies to ensure our objectives of ensuring free and transparent elections are achieved. The IGP, while addressing the patrons at the meeting said, We are grateful to the public and the EC and all other stakeholders for the cooperation we have had from them so far. I will continue to urge them to support the police in ensuring that Ghana continues to be the beacon of hope for the continent and beyond. This is the only country we have and we need to ensure its always at peace. Meanwhile, the Commission has said that it is going to conduct a mop-up voter registration exercise from August 01 to August 03, 2024. The exercise is to afford persons who were unable to register during the limited registration exercise as well as persons who turned 18 after the completion of the registration to register. The mop-up registration will follow a voter exhibition from August 20 to August 27. She said, I would like to put on record that the mop-up of the voter registration exercise will take place from August 13, 2024, and it is to afford persons who turned 18 after May 29 or persons who have not previously registered the opportunity to get onto our register; this goes to persons who are eligible. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Dormaa East Constituency, Paul Apreku Twum Barimah, has called on Ghanaians to believe in the Mahamudu Bawumia and Mathew Opoku-Prempeh (Napo) partnership geared towards breaking the 8 and winning the December general election. He assured Ghanaians that the decision by the party to settle on Dr Bawumia as flag bearer, and Dr Opoku Prempeh as his running mate, solidified the partys position in its quest to retain power for the third term and urged them to rally behind the pair to secure the needed victory. Speaking in an interview, Mr Twum Barimah further congratulated Dr Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, on his appointment as the running mate of Dr Bawumia for the 2024 general election. He believed that Dr Opoku Prempeh was coming in with loads of experience and expertise to complement the great knowledge and expertise of Dr Bawumia. Achievement According to Mr Twum Barimah, the success story of Dr Opoku Prempeh from the Education Ministry as regards the restoration of teachers' allowance and the successful implementation of the free SHS programme and the stabilisation of the country's energy needs would push them to rally more support from Ghanaians to win the upcoming general election. "With Dr Bawumia as the flag bearer of the NPP and Dr Opoku Prempeh as his running mate, I can now tell you that we are good to go and solidified to consolidate our base to break the 8 and win the election. This team is solid to win the election. The pair gives me confidence and hope that we are ready to break the 8 and win the election," he stated. Recall The National Council of the NPP, the second highest decision-making body of the party, at its meeting held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra last Thursday (July 4) endorsed Dr Opoku Prempeh as the running mate of the partys flag bearer for the December 7 presidential election. The nomination and endorsement of Dr Opoku Prempeh, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, form part of the constitutionally mandated processes of the NPP for selecting its running mate. The Daily Graphic gathered that the party will officially introduce him to the public tomorrow at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he has been the luckiest head-of-state ever in the history of Ghana with massive support from all including the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. According to him, he was fortunate to have been elected twice to serve the nation - a privilege he said the former President John Dramani Mahama did not get hence his continued outcry. I have been president twice, and when your time is up you find a replacement, but some did not get that privilege, they only had one chance, and that is why they are pained till now, he said. God was on my side to have been president twice, President Akufo-Addo said at the grand unveiling of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) running mate, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh in Kumasi. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed surprise at former President John Mahama's claim that he initiated the policy. Today, the leader of the NDC claims he is the one who introduced Free SHS...this is shocking because he was the one who said if he had two billion he would invest in another project, not free SHS" This leader (Mahama) criticized us when we said we were going to implement the Free SHS policy. Now that Ghanaians have accepted the policy, he is saying he is the one who introduced Free SHS. Have you ever heard such a thing? Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in honor of the partys running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on Tuesday, July 9, Akufo-Addo asked Mahama to "rather commend me for the initiative to implement the policy." Mahama's Media Engagement At a media engagement on Sunday, July 7, Ex-Prez Mahama refuted allegations that he was not in favour of the Free SHS policy, questioning how he would be against something initiated by his government in 2015. I support any bill that will improve our educationto make it sustainable, to afford quality education for our children. So yes, any bill that would achieve this is something that I will support, John Dramani Mahama said. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Julianna Martin, a UCF Ph.D. student working with biologist Robert Fitak, carefully collects a turtles tear sample for testing for magnetic bacteria. Fitak and his team of student researchers are focused on examining samples from green and loggerhead sea turtles to further study magnetic bacteria. Credit: University of Central Florida The remarkable ability of migratory animals to navigate and recall routes may be attributed to a sensitivity to not just Earth's magnetic fields, but perhaps an interaction with magnetic bacteria living inside them. The relationship between these magnetic bacteria and the animals they reside in is not yet fully understood, but UCF Department of Biology Assistant Professor Robert Fitak recently compiled a database of animal DNA that houses hundreds of millions of sequences showing the presence of various types of magnetic bacteria to use as a tool in his pursuit to learn more. The database signals a step forward in his research and builds off previous hypotheses and analyses published in 2020 in collaboration with colleagues in the United Kingdom and Israel. In 2021, Fitak continued poring through databases to categorize which animals may host magnetic bacteria and if there are prevalent patterns. "The first study we did was look at existing datasets and summarize where we found this bacteria in different animals," he says. "We searched about 50,000 previous scientific studies. Now, we actually expanded that to studying a worldwide database of genetic information and we've been able to summarize where these bacteria are located based on trillions of genetic sequences." The database was published earlier this year in Data in Brief, and it borrows information from the publicly available Sequence Read Archive from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Fitak focused on organizing DNA sequences originating from across animal species that match known magnetic bacteria to assist he and other researchers to narrow their efforts in examination of both environmental and ecological roles of magnetic bacteria or to identify potential host animals. An internal compass? Fitak and his colleagues are using the refined data to identify potential host organisms for the magnetic bacteria and to provide greater context for examining the roles they may play in animalssuch as for navigation. "Ultimately, if we have a better understanding of how animals navigate, it'll be useful for conserving endangered or protected species," Fitak says. "If we know where they're going to move and how, it can help us make more accurate management decisions." He is interested in seeing if the magnetic bacteria reside in regions within an animal so they may sense them, such as parts of the nervous system. Fitak thinks they could serve as a navigational aid for animals or provide an additional boost for creatures like birds or sea turtles already using the Earth's magnetic field to navigate long distances. "It's almost like a microbial compass and we're studying how that could work," Fitak says. "We think the animals already use the Earth's magnetic field like a compass." He also says another potential benefit is that scientists may study how animals sense the magnetic fields and potentially mimic how they're used in a variety of applications such as drug delivery. However, there is no conclusive evidence that these animals are using the magnetic bacteria to navigate or not, Fitak says. "The big summary we have so far from our research is that we don't yet know that these bacteria are sensing the bacteria for the animal, but we do have evidence that they are living in these animals," he says. "But what we've learned is we can use genetic tags that are signatures for bacteria that makes magnets, and we've identified these genetic signatures of these bacteria inside various animalsincluding humans." These kinds of bacteria often live in sediments or muds where there isn't a lot of oxygen, Fitak says. They assemble microscopic and magnetized iron "chains" to assist in their movement, he says. It is uncertain how organisms end up with these bacteria inside of them, but it is theorized perhaps through absorption or consumption, Fitak says. "To date, our results across projects show that these magnetic bacteria seem to be a regular component of many species microbiomes," he says. "Hopefully our future work will show whether they are just incidentally gathered from the environment, a functional component of magnetic sensing for a host animal, or for some other unknown reason." Focusing on sea turtles Fitak and his team of student researchers are focused on examining samples from green and loggerhead sea turtles to further study magnetic bacteria. "Sea turtles are kind of a model of animal navigation," he says. "We've been testing our hypotheses in sea turtles since they travel to very specific places very accurately." Focusing on sea turtles was a natural next step since they are known to possess magnetic bacteria and they rely on the Earth's magnetic field to migrate, Fitak says. UCF's Marine Turtle Research Group has also been instrumental in obtaining samples of turtles, he says. Julianna Martin, a Ph.D. student working with Fitak, has helped analyze and collect the nearly 150 sea turtle samples. "I work in the lab to extract the DNA from the samples and use genomics to identify what bacteria are in the samples and which are the magnet making ones we're looking for," she says. "I couldn't collect the samples without the help of the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group. It's been a team effort." Martin and scientists with UCF's Marine Turtle Research Group gently collect tear samples with soft swabs from nesting femaleswho enter an almost trance-like state when laying eggsand juveniles in the Indian River lagoon. The turtles produce large goopy tears when they are on land to keep their eyes moist, and collecting them takes around 30 seconds, Martin says. "We started with the tear ducts because they're associated with nerves that are associated potentially with animals' magnetic sense," she says. "It makes sense biologically to look there and it's easy to collect sea turtle tears." Martin says she is pleased with their progress thus far but is hoping their momentum propels their research toward more definitive conclusions. "This research has been really exciting," she says. "No one had been looking for them specifically in sea turtles. I'm interested in knowing where they came from and what species of magnet-making bacteria each sea turtle species has. It's a long way away but for now we're working on describing, 'are they there?' and 'where do they come from?'" The potential to share the unique discovery of magnetic bacteria aiding animals in navigation is truly wondrous, Fitak says. "What's been exciting is just being able to tell people that there are bacteria that exist in this world that make magnets," he says. "People are awestruck, and it would be incredible if animals were indeed using these magnetic bacteria to navigate." Fitak encourages researchers interested in studying magnetic bacteria to explore the data he compiled. More information: Robert R. Fitak, The magneto-microbiome: A dataset of the metagenomic distribution of magnetotactic bacteria, Data in Brief (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110073 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: John Constables The Cornfield (1826) features a towering elm. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain Elm trees were once stalwarts of the UK countryside that towered out of hedgerows, lined fields and woodlands. Glance at the landscape paintings of John Constable for a vague idea of what has been lost. Elm timber made ships, chairs and even water pipes until the 19th century. These trees, and the world they held up, came crashing down when Dutch elm disease caused what is arguably the worst change to the UK's countryside in living memory. The fungal disease carried by the elm bark beetle arrived on UK shores early in the 20th century and killed some elms but left the majority standing. Elm trees were not out of the woods thougha more virulent strain arrived in the 1960s and destroyed most of the UK's 30 million elms. Since the near total loss of elm save for a handful of trees that avoided the disease, generations have grown up without seeing a mature elm in the landscape. This has entrenched the public perception of elm as a lost species. While I grew up in the countryside surrounded by trees I had always believed that the elms were gone. It was another fungal infection, ash dieback, responsible for wiping out the majority of Europe's ash trees, that sparked my interest in tree disease. As I began a Ph.D. researching how society responds to the loss of a tree species I started thinking about elms more. All of a sudden, I was noticing elms hiding in hedgerows. It is the characteristic asymmetry of elm leaves, one side joining the stem further down than the other side, that gives this species away. It turns out that millions of elms still exist across the UK, particularly in southern England, as small hedgerow shrubs. In fact, these stunted relics are, according to one government plant pathologist, more numerous than the pre-epidemic elm population. Elms have persisted by producing suckers: new stems that the trees send out from their roots. The tree may succumb to disease and die but new stems appear and take its place. These suckers allow the tree to regenerate until they are caught by the disease again, allowing elm to exist today in a cycle of life and death or what a former ecologist described to me as a perpetual adolescence. While these "adolescent" elms demonstrate an amazing ability to persist, work is underway to restore elms to the landscape in their majestic adult form. A new breed Since the outbreak of the mild strain of Dutch elm disease, there have been various attempts globally to produce resistant elm. Breeding programs in the US, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain have yielded several varieties that can withstand even the more virulent form of Dutch elm disease. These are the result of one of two methods: hybridizing European elms with naturally resistant Asian species such as Siberian elm or Himalayan elm, or finding and cloning naturally resistant European elm trees. UK government funding for elm research has favored efforts to understand the pathogen and how it spreads at the expense of breeding resistant varieties and trialing the suitability of elms grown outside of the UK's climate. Fortunately, a network of knowledgeable private citizens has taken up the mantle of elm research and poured time and effort into the trees. At sites across the UK, elm enthusiasts import and care for new varieties of disease-resistant elm. These citizen scientists monitor their suitability for the local environment, how the new trees compare with elms of the past and their ability to attract and host species traditionally associated with elms, such as the white-letter hairstreak butterfly. A few disease-resistant elm varieties can now be bought in the UK and many have since been planted in parks and on streets. But their wider introduction is hampered by their cost. While most large-scale planting projects will buy trees for less than a pound a sapling, disease-resistant elms are only available as larger trees and come with a larger price tag; in some cases, there are additional costs for navigating post-Brexit import laws. Lost and found Breeders alone retain the right to propagate and sell their creations. This means that UK nurseries cannot take cuttings and start selling their own trees. One enthusiast, Dr. David Herling, tried to avoid this problem by creating his own disease-resistant variety of elm that was patent-free and so unable to be sold for profit. Sadly, Herling died before he was able to see his creation reach its potential, but others continue his work to produce the tree at scaleand it is starting to gain the attention of the media. A classic English elm in Brighton, 1992. Credit: Alex Z/Wikipedia, CC BY A recent Guardian article highlighted Herling's work and discussed new elm varieties as part of a reintroduction, a species which "disappeared" that we should "bring back." This narrative can be seen elsewhere, in campaigns to "re-elm the British countryside", reinforcing the false perception of elm as a lost tree and erasing the fact that millions have endured. Elm has had a turbulent history, but there are reasons to be hopeful. This is not only because of the work of dedicated people, but because there are other ways that the species has persisted despite the departure of the towering trees of the past. Next time you go for a walk, keep an eye out for these "missing" trees. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Europe's new big Ariane 6 rocket launches into clear skies in Kourou, French Guiana. Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket successfully blasted off for the first time on Tuesday, releasing satellites into orbit and restoring the continent's independent access to space. European space efforts have suffered a series of blows, including four years of delays to Ariane 6, that have robbed the continent of its own way to launch missions into space for the past year. But with the successful inaugural flight of Europe's most powerful rocket yet, European space chiefs were keen to move on from recent setbacks. "It's a historic day for Europe," European Space Agency head Josef Aschbacher said. "Europe is back," announced Philippe Baptiste, head of France's CNES space agency. Surrounded by jungle on the South American coast, the rocket launched from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 4 pm local time (1900 GMT). Initially delayed for an hour by a small problem that was noticed in the morning, the rocket lifted off into clear skies. The mission faced a slight setback as the rocket deviated from its trajectory towards the end of the flight, failing to carry out its planned re-entry into the earth's atmosphere and landing in the Pacific. But that did not dampen the spirits of European space chiefs, whose objective was to put satellites into orbit. "It's a great success despite the slight disappointment" at the end, said Walther Pelzer, head of Germany's DLR space agency. Europe's Ariane 6 rocket ahead of blastoff in French Guiana. 'Not yet complete' The crew in the Jupiter control room, located 17 kilometers (10 miles) from the launch site, portrayed calm at first. Then head of operations Raymond Boyce announced "propulsion nominal", meaning that the launch was going as planned. Applause rang out in the room. Even louder applause came a little over an hour later when the rocket successfully delivered microsatellites into orbit. NASA chief Bill Nelson on X welcomed the "giant leap forward" for the ESA. But Martin Sion, the CEO of the rocket's manufacturer ArianeGroup, emphasized that "the mission is not yet complete". It will only be fully completed when the reusable Vinci engine in the rocket's upper stage has fallen back into Earth's atmosphere. That was expected around three hours after liftoff. 'Magical' When it launched, Ariane 6 carried with it the hopes of European sovereignty in space. Ariane 6's first launch, originally planned for 2020, is hoped to bring an end to a difficult time for European space efforts. Since the last flight of its workhorse predecessor, Ariane 5, a year ago, Europe has had to rely on rivals such as Elon Musk's US firm SpaceX. Selected by the ESA back in 2014, Ariane 6 will able to place satellites in geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers above Earth, as well as satellite constellations a few hundreds of kilometers up. The first flight was carrying a payload of university microsatellites, various experiments and two atmospheric re-entry capsules that will be jettisoned near the end of the mission. The last of three ignitions of the Vinci engine will be to shoot the Vinci engine back down into the Pacific Ocean, so it does not contribute to the space debris cluttering Earth's orbit. Successful inaugural flights are by no means guaranteed. Historically, nearly half of the first launches of new rockets have ended in failure. That includes Ariane 5, which exploded moments after liftoff in 1996. But out of 117 launches over nearly 20 years, only one other Ariane 5 flight completely failed. Rocket launches since 1957. On the other side of the world, thousands of people in the French city of Toulouse watched the lift-off on a big screen while sitting on a lawn at the Cite de l'Espace museum. Catherine Gerard, 56, said she was delighted to witness "something a bit magical". Skyrocketing competition Space has become big business and competition is soaring, particularly from SpaceX's fully re-usable Falcon 9 rockets, which now launch around twice a week. Yet Europe has recently found itself without an independent way to give lucrative satellites a ride into space. Russia pulled its Soyuz rockets, long used for European launches at Kourou, after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. Later that year, Europe's Vega-C light launcher was grounded after a launch failure. Ariane 6 delays compounded the crisis. After months of analyzing the rocket's inaugural launch, a first commercial flight is expected before the end of the year. The rocket's massive Vulcain engine, pictured in Kourou before the launch. Europe's Ariane 6 rocket. The next challenge will be to "successfully ramp up" the number of flights, ESA space transportation director Toni Tolker-Nielsen said. Six launches are scheduled for next year, and eight for 2026. The rocket has an order book of 29 missions, many of which are to deploy some of Amazon's Kuiper constellation of internet satellites. But just weeks before the launch, the program suffered a surprise setback. Europe's weather satellite operator EUMETSAT cancelled plans to use Ariane 6 in favor of SpaceX's Falcon 9, citing "exceptional circumstances". ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said the European operator's decision to ditch the European rocket was "difficult to understand". 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Ask a 10-year-old to name some extinct animals and they can usually rattle off ancient species such as the Tasmanian Tiger, Woolly Mammoth and Dodo. Some may even be able to tell you what the animals used to look like without searching online. What's not simple is preventing species decline and further extinction for years to come. This is especially true in the face of human activities that have accelerated the extinction rate of animals, plants and even fungi. In fact, it's taking a global effort to tackle this challenge, including some pretty clever biodiversity experts. They believe a key element to protecting species is being able to measure and maintain genetic diversity. A global mandate In December 2022, the United Nations' Convention of Biological Diversity adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). It provides a path to live in harmony with nature, with significant progress by 2030. About 196 countries have committed to report the status of genetic diversity for all species. The aim is to conserve genetic diversity of all species, not just economically valuable or domesticated species such as crops or cattle. The GBF outlines goals for conserving precious biodiversity on a global scale. To meet these, countries from around the world need to be involved and reporting needs to be consistent to be able to understand how well biodiversity is being conserved at national and international levels. What are genetic diversity indicators? Our conservation geneticist Dr. Rebecca Jordan and Associate Professor Catherine Grueber from the University of Sydney co-led the Australian part of a global study, working with partners across Australia. A truly international collaboration, the paper included teams of scientists from Mexico, South Africa, Japan, France, U.S., Sweden, Colombia and Belgium. The research, published in Ecology Letters this month demonstrated that it was feasible to calculate genetic diversity indicators for United Nations "or global" reporting. The paper also provided an example methodology to do this. Genetic diversity is the level of biodiversity that exists within species, enabling them to adapt to the changing world around us. Rebecca believes ensuring the conservation of genetic diversity is critical for supporting the long-term survival of our species in the face of climate and environmental change. "Genetic diversity indicators, like other biodiversity indicators, provide a means of measuring and monitoring genetic diversity over time to assess and track the genetic health of species and ecosystems," she said. Choosing the right indicators The scientists involved in the study used two indicators that captured information on genetic diversity within and between populations of each species. These were: Populations large enough to retain genetic diversity Maintaining genetically distinct populations This information is fundamental to understanding the genetic health of species. "Recording genetic diversity indicators lets us measure the effects of population size and habitat disruption on each species, and plan management strategies to prevent extinction," Catherine said. An international perspective on genetic diversity The study assessed the two genetic indicators for more than 900 species, representing 5,271 populations across nine countries, including megadiverse countries and developing economies. It spanned taxonomic groups including reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates, plants and fungi. Collaborating internationally enabled the team to test methodologies across many species in many ecosystems and many countries, providing information on how feasible these indicators would be internationally. The majority of species assessed in the study have retained most of their populations. However, 58% of them have populations that are too small to sustain genetic diversity. "Where populations of species aren't large enough, genetic diversity may decrease over time," Rebecca said. "This increases the risk that those populations won't be able to adapt and may be lost in the future." While 58% of populations may be at risk, researchers believe there is still plenty that can be done to help those species. Measuring and monitoring genetic diversity Being able to effectively measure and monitoring genetic diversity over time means that genetic health can be tracked, and, with the right actions, losses prevented. In Australia, genetic data is helping inform current and future management of the numbat. Sweden recently initiated a national genetic monitoring program with species such as cod, salmon and moose, which are heavily harvested, to help prevent their collapse. "The global perspective in this paper shows us what we can learn from others, and also how to protect the unique species that are found in special places around the world," Catherine said. "Australia is incredibly rich in biodiversity. Many species found here are unlike anywhere else in the world. We have seen the significant threats to our country's species, such as the devastating 2019 to 2020 bushfires. Protecting the resilience of Australian species, by preserving their genetic diversity, will help our environment thrive for generations." Rebecca reminds us that conserving biodiversity is an international challenge. "While we live in different countries, our species and ecosystems do not consider these artificial boundaries. Our planet's health, that we are so reliant on, is dependent on the health of species across the globe. We need to support all species to survive and thrive in a changing world." More information: Alicia MastrettaYanes et al, Multinational evaluation of genetic diversity indicators for the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Ecology Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1111/ele.14461 Journal information: Ecology Letters Provided by CSIRO 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: Data gaps in natural history may arise due to challenges in detecting canopy-dwelling or nocturnally active species, such as the Slender loris (Loris tardigradus) from Sri Lanka. Credit: Alexander Pyron (CC-BY 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Researchers have developed TetrapodTraitsa global database of animals with four feetwhich can now be applied for better ecology, evolution and conservation research. Mario Moura of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil, and Walter Jetz of Yale University, US, published the work on July 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology. Tetrapods, which include amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, are generally well-documented species, which makes them useful as models in global biodiversity studies. However, gaps in our knowledge about many of these species, data inconsistencies and shifting scientific names can lead to biased conclusions about biodiversity. To help address this issue, researchers created TetrapodTraits, a comprehensive database containing more than 33,000 tetrapod species that includes traits such as body size, habitat, ecosystem, geography, when the animal is active and whether it is threatened by humans. In compiling the database, researchers revealed multiple gaps in our global tetrapod knowledge. For example, animals are more likely to have incomplete data if they have smaller bodies, are active at night, or live in tropical regions. The team filled these gaps by predicting the missing data based on existing observations. They found that using the completed data set changed biodiversity patterns informing which kind of species are commonly found in a region. The challenges of detecting species with small sizes or nocturnal activity, such as the Walking Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa burmeisteri) from Brazil, contribute to data gaps in natural history. Credit: Mario R. Moura (CC-BY 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) This new work reveals the scale of our missing tetrapod data and provides a comprehensive assessment of gaps and biases across different tetrapod groups. This is important because missing and biased data can lead to incorrect conclusions about how an ecosystem is functioning, and a species' risk of extinction. The researchers conclude that while more data collection is needed, TetrapodTraits can lead to less biased results for studies of tetrapod ecology and conservation. The authors add, "Our research utilizes artificial intelligence to uncover biases in biodiversity data and offer guidance for enhancing the effectiveness of field research and sampling strategies." More information: Moura MR, Ceron K, Guedes JJM, Chen-Zhao R, Sica YV, Hart J, et al. (2024) A phylogeny-informed characterisation of global tetrapod traits addresses data gaps and biases. PLoS Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002658 Journal information: PLoS Biology 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: SEM and elemental mapping images of GE/DNA aerogel. Elemental distribution of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus on aerogel. Credit: Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adn5694 A team of chemists and materials scientists at Sichuan University, in China, has developed a photoluminescent aerogel with a visible light reflectance of 104%. In their study, published in the journal Science, the group created their aerogel from readily available biomass. Changyu Shen and Xianhu Liu, with Zhengzhou University, also in China, have published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue outlining work surrounding the development of polymeric passive radiative cooling materials and the work by the team on this new effort. As the climate warms, scientists are looking for ways to help people stay cool. One avenue of research is the development of passive radiative cooling materialsthese provide cooling abilities due to their nature rather than via a process. Adding a layer of a passive cooling material to the roof of a house, for example, could reduce the amount of heat absorbed, making it easier and cheaper to cool. In this new study, the team in China reports that a passive radiative cooling material reflects more light than it receives due to its photoluminescence properties. With photoluminescence, molecules absorb photons in the visible region and then excite their electrons to a higher state, resulting in light emission. Thus, if a material were to reflect 100% of the light that strikes it and additionally had photoluminescence, it could, in theory, reflect more light than it received. To create such a material, the research team added freeze-dried salmon sperm DNA to a sample of gelatin. They allowed it to sublimate, leaving behind a layered aerogel that was highly compressed. The research team explains that it is held together via hydrogen bonds between phosphates in the DNA and amino acids in the gelatin. To use the resulting material, water is added so that it sticks to a surface. The researchers note that in the event of damage, the material has a self-healing capacity induced by adding water. They claim it is also environmentally friendly. Testing showed it capable of reflecting 104% of the light that strikes itthe team also found that using it to coat a structure resulted in cooling the structure's surface to 16C below ambient temperature. More information: Jian-Wen Ma et al, A photoluminescent hydrogen-bonded biomass aerogel for sustainable radiative cooling, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adn5694 Changyu Shen et al, DNA and gelatina cool aerogel mix, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adq5190 Journal information: Science 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Treatment of nail models with different thickness by portable pulsed cold air plasma jet. Credit: Zhang Ying Recently, the team led by Prof. Huang Qing from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed using a portable pulsed cold air plasma jet (PP-CAPJ) to treat Trichophyton rubrum in nails. They revealed that the shock wave from PP-CAPJ could effectively kill this fungus. This study was published in Applied Physics Letters. Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection, which is the most common nail disease. Trichophyton rubrum is a common harmful fungus in onychomycosis. Because it is hidden in nails, it is difficult to kill directly using general methods. In this study, the researchers used a portable pulsed cold air plasma jet device to kill Trichophyton rubrum in nails, and studied the related mechanism. They established a nail model of onychomycosis infection, and then used PP-CAPJ to treat nails of different thicknesses. They found that PP-CAPJ had a prominent killing effect on Trichophyton rubrum in nails of a certain thickness, and the PP-CAPJ device could kill 90% of Trichophyton rubrum in nails with 300 spark discharges. Furthermore, researchers experimentally verified the velocity and pressure of the shock wave generated by PP-CAPJ, finding that the device could generate instantaneous pressure greater than 1 MPa at the nail surface. They found that the shock wave generated by PP-CAPJ destroyed the cell membrane of Trichophyton rubrum in nails. This represents a new type of application of low-temperature plasma technology, as well as a new mechanism for killing fungi using PP-CAPJ. More information: Ying Zhang et al, Study of the effect of shock wave from a portable pulsed cold air plasma jet device on inactivation of Trichophyton rubrum in nails, Applied Physics Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1063/5.0206605 Journal information: Applied Physics Letters 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 New Edith Cowan University (ECU) research has questioned the legality of Russia's decision to label and prosecute foreign fighters that have been enlisted into the Ukrainian International Legion of Territorial Defence (ILTG), as mercenaries. In June, Russia sentenced in absentia five foreign nationals to prison terms of up to 23 years for joining Ukraine's armed forces fighting against the ongoing invasion. The soldiers, from Sweden, Croatia and the UK, were tried on allegations of "attempting to change the constitutional order of Russia" and "participating in the war as mercenaries." The classification of these soldiers as mercenaries is in the spotlight with ECU Associate Professor Shannon Bosch's most recent research finding that the term "mercenary" should not be applied to these fighters, challenging the legality of Russia's decision to classify and prosecute these individuals as such. She says, "The term mercenary is very evocative. It is headline grabbing and very Hollywood. However, there are six very specific requirements that would need to be fulfilled concurrently, in order for someone to be classified as a mercenary. "Having enlisted in Ukraine's volunteer battalions, these foreign members of the Ukrainian ILTG are now fully incorporated as members of the armed forces of the State of Ukraine." This automatically precludes them from satisfying one of the key requirements for a determination of mercenary status. "Another condition for mercenary status also hinges on a motivation for private gain, and the United Nations Working Group on Mercenaries does not believe that these foreign nationals are motivated to join the Ukrainian resistance solely for a desire for private gain or material compensation," said Bosch. Russia in 2022 prosecuted three foreign fighters, two from the UK and one from Morocco, following their surrender to Russian forces. Following a three-day sham-trial conducted behind closed doors and before a Russian-proxy court in the Donetsk People's Republic, all three men were sentenced to death. The research found that their treatment, trial and sentences solicited wide-spread international condemnation, with the trial and process criticized as being staged in order to pressurize Western powers to advocate a prisoner exchange for captured Russian soldiers who were facing prosecution in Ukraine. "The trial and prosecution of these men was likely also political maneuvering to discourage other foreign fighters in taking part in this war," said Bosch. It is estimated that some 20,000 foreign fighters, from 52 countries, have already been enlisted in the ILTG. While the European Court of Human Rights issued an order for interim measures against Russia in order to protect the lives of these men, it was only an eleventh-hour prisoner exchange, mediated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that saw the men sent back to their respective countries in late 2022, along with another seven foreign ILTG members. "These men should never have been tried as mercenaries, as they cannot be classified as such. "Since Ukrainian domestic legislation allows foreigners to join the Armed Forces, these volunteers fall under its responsible command. This means that they fulfill the first of the conditions of combatant status. "If captured, this combatant status guarantees them prisoner of war status. With full combatant immunity and prisoner of war status, these foreign fighters cannot be subject to criminal prosecution for their mere participation in hostilities, provided they observe the laws of war," Bosch added. The United Nations has strongly condemned Russia's attempts to initiate show prosecutions against foreign fighters. The act of denying these foreign fighters their full combatant immunity from prosecution, prisoner of war privileges and fair trial guarantees should attract the attention of the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court. The research was published in the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal. More information: Shannon Bosch, Exploring the International Humanitarian Law Status of Foreign Fighters in the Ukrainian International Legion of Territorial Defence, Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (2024). DOI: 10.17159/1727-3781/2024/v27i0a14600 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: Schematic of photon scattering off a two-level emitter in a photonic crystal waveguide (PhC WG). A weak coherent state is coupled into the PhC WG via a shallow etched grating (SEG). In the photon scattering picture, a single-photon wave packet is predominantly reflected by elastic scattering on a two-level emitter, while the two-photon wave packet can be inelastically scattered in the transmission direction, thereby generating the energy-time entangled photon pair. Credit: Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02543-8 A new study in Nature Physics demonstrates a novel method for generating quantum entanglement using a quantum dot, which violates the Bell inequality. This method uses ultra-low power levels and could pave the way for scalable and efficient quantum technologies. Quantum entanglement is a requirement for quantum computing technologies. In this phenomenon, qubits (quantum bits)the building blocks of quantum computersbecome correlated irrespective of their physical distance. This means that if the property of one qubit is measured, it impacts the other one. Quantum entanglement is verified through the Bell inequality, a theorem that tests the validity of quantum mechanics by measuring entangled qubits. Phys.org spoke to the first author of the study, Dr. Shikai Liu, from The Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Dr. Liu's interest in quantum dots stemmed from his earlier work with traditional entanglement sources. He told Phys.org, "During my Ph.D., I worked on generating entangled light sources using spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). However, the intrinsic weak nonlinearity of bulk crystals made it difficult to utilize pump photons fully. The giant nonlinearity at the single-photon level from quantum dots caught my attention and led me to this research." The Bell inequality As mentioned earlier, the heart of this research is the Bell inequality. Proposed by physicist John Stewart Bell in 1964, this mathematical expression helps distinguish between classical and quantum behavior. In the quantum world, particles can exhibit correlations that are stronger than what is possible in the classical world. The Bell inequality provides a threshold: If the correlations exceed this threshold, the nature of the correlations is quantum, implying quantum entanglement. Dr. Liu elaborated, "The Bell inequality distinguishes between classical and quantum correlations. Any local realistic theory must satisfy the condition: All measured correlations between particles must be less than or equal to two." The researchers used this to establish the validity of their experiment and whether the setup they constructed produced quantum entanglement. The setup itself was based on quantum dots and waveguides. Artificial atoms on a chip Quantum dots are nanoscale structures that behave like artificial atoms. Essentially, they are semiconductor chips designed to trap neutral excitons within their structure. By trapping neutral excitons in a small space, the excitons exhibit quantized energy states as they do when they are confined in atoms. This is why quantum dots are said to behave like artificial atoms. These quantum dots act as two-level systems, similar to natural atoms, but with the advantage of being integrated into a chip. Additionally, the energy levels can be tuned, determined by the size and composition of the quantum dot. Quantum dot systems can act as emitter systems, which means they can emit single photons with high efficiency. Under certain conditions, the emitted photons can become entangled. Coupling with a waveguide To enhance the efficiency, coherence, and stability of the emitted photons from the quantum dot, the researchers coupled it with a photonic crystal waveguide. These materials have a periodic structure of alternating high and low refractive index materials. This allows light to be guided through a tube-like structure, which is as thin as a human hair. Waveguides, therefore, allow the control and manipulation of light propagation in terms of direction and wavelength, thereby enhancing light-matter interactions. However, achieving efficient coupling between the waveguide and quantum dot poses significant challenges. "To improve the light-matter interaction, we fabricated a photonic-crystal waveguide that provides strong confinement for the quantum dot," explained Dr. Liu. "This led to not only a high coupling efficiency of emitted light into the waveguide (greater than 90%) but also a Purcell enhancement of 16 by slowing down light in the nanostructure and increasing its interaction time with the quantum dot." Purcell enhancement refers to the phenomenon where the rate of spontaneous emission of a quantum emitter (such as a quantum dot) is increased when placed in a resonant optical cavity or near a structured photonic environment. In simpler terms, Purcell enhancement boosts the emission of light from quantum emitters by placing them in environments that amplify their interaction with light. This works by changing how many different ways light can be emitted in the area around the emitter. Violation of Bell inequality The team also had to contend with rapid dephasing (quick loss of coherence) induced by thermal vibrations in the crystal lattice. These vibrations disrupt the stable quantum states of particles, making it harder to maintain and measure their quantum properties accurately. Their solution was to cool the chip to a frigid -269C to minimize unwanted interactions between the quantum dot and phonons in the semiconductor material. Once their two-level emitter system was in place for producing the entangled photons, the researchers used two unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers to perform the CHSH (Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt) Bell inequality test. The CHSH is a form of the Bell inequality. By carefully setting up the interferometer phases, the researchers measured Franson interference between the emitted photons. Franson interference is a type of interference pattern observed in quantum optics experiments involving entangled photons. "The observed S parameter of 2.67 0.16 in our measurements is significantly above the locality bound of 2. This result confirmed the violation of the Bell inequality, thereby validating the energy-time entangled state generated via our method," said Dr. Liu. This violation is crucial as it confirms the quantum nature of the correlations between the photons. Energy efficiency and future work One of the standout features of their two-level emitter setup is its energy efficiency. The entanglement was generated at pump powers as low as 7.2 picowatts, approximately 1,000 times less than traditional single-photon sources. This ultra-low power operation, combined with the on-chip integration, makes the method highly promising for practical quantum technologies. Dr. Liu envisions several exciting directions for future research. "One avenue is exploring complex photonic quantum states and many-body interactions through inelastic scattering off multiple two-level emitters," he suggested. "Additionally, further integration of our method into compatible photonic circuits will facilitate more functionalities with a small footprint, enhancing versatile photonic quantum applications involving computing, communication, and sensing." More information: Shikai Liu et al, Violation of Bell inequality by photon scattering on a two-level emitter, Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02543-8 Journal information: Nature Physics 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Microscope images of mammary gland tissue taken from a dairy cow infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza are magnified by 200 times on the left and 400 times on the right. On the left, cells infected with influenza are turquoise and flu receptors are magenta. On the right, infections are bright yellow and receptors are bright red. Credit: Christopher Siepker and Tyler Harm / Iowa State University As highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread in dairy herds across the U.S., the virus is being detected in raw milk. A new study by a broad team of researchers at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine helps explain why. Sialic acid, a sugar molecule found on the surface of some animal cells, acts as a receptor for influenza. Without sialic acid providing an entry point to attach, invade and infect, a flu virus is unlikely to find a potential host hospitable. Before the recent HPAI outbreak in dairy herds, there was scant research into sialic acid levels in the mammary glands of cattle. Scientists had no reason to suspect the milk-producing organs would be a good target for influenza. "In livestock, we hadn't usually looked in milk for viruses. Bacteria, sure. But not so much viruses," said Dr. Eric Burrough, professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine. A team of Iowa State researchers who examined mammary gland samples from two infected cows found a rich supply of sialic acid, which could shed light on how the virus attaches to hosts and help researchers develop measures to slow the illness's spread. "We need to stop transmission, and one way to potentially do that is through milking machines. We're not sure that's involved with how this is spreading, but it's one hypothesis," said Dr. Todd Bell, professor of veterinary pathology. All milk sold commercially in stores is pasteurized, and research consistently shows pasteurization neutralizes viruses such as influenza. But knowing cows are a biologically suitable home for the flu virus, particularly in their mammary glands, reiterates the dangers of consuming raw milk and raises questions about how milk from infected cows is discarded, Burrough said. "The idea that the mammary glands are being passively infected is put to rest by this paper," he said. "They're pumping out tons of virus, and that's a risk." While HPAI isn't usually deadly for cows, it's often fatal for birds. Since the start of the outbreak in the U.S., more than 97 million birds have been affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Commercial poultry flocks where the virus is detected are typically euthanized. The infected dairy cattle samples ISU researchers examinedboth mammary glands and respiratory tissueshad receptors for flu strains that originate from birds as well as humans and pigs. The presence of both types of receptors poses added risks, as a single cell infected by avian and mammalian viruses could lead to potentially dangerous mutations, Bell said. The study was published in the July edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Thirteen of its 14 co-authors are from Iowa State, including researchers and faculty from across the College of Veterinary Medicine. Another article in the same edition of Emerging Infectious Diseaseswith a list of co-authors that includes 10 ISU researchersdescribes the initial diagnosis of HPAI in dairy, a finding made at the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory this spring. Speedy teamwork in the face of new public health threats is essential, said Rahul Nelli, research assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine. "Having different departments coming together to collaborate was key for this study and will be key for future investigations," Nelli said. Further research could involve influenza receptors in other species and organs, including a closer look at dairy cattle, Bell said. The just-published study is based on a handful of samples. Scientists' understanding of how influenza affects cattle will improve as more data is collected and herds are regularly screened. "Surveillance will be really important moving forward, not only through this event but in the years to come," Burrough said. More information: Rahul K. Nelli et al, Sialic Acid Receptor Specificity in Mammary Gland of Dairy Cattle Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.3201/eid3007.240689 Eric R. Burrough et al, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.3201/eid3007.240508 Journal information: Emerging Infectious Diseases Each European country has its marquee city that attracts the vast majority of travelers think Rome, Paris, Amsterdam. And all too often, that tourist-pleasing destination is a travelers one and only stop. While Id never suggest skipping those places entirely, I like to complement them with a visit to the countrys second city. In fact, if you have four days to spend in any of these capitals, I recommend cutting your visit a day short to make time for these cities. While lacking the popularity and the bucket-list sights, Europes second cities tend to enjoy a creative edge, a strong civic spirit, a Rust Belt toughness, fun-loving eateries with cutting-edge menus, entertaining street art and far fewer tourists, which also means lower prices, a more authentic welcome, and arguably a more honest cultural experience. In Portugal, visitors flock to Lisbon. But the second city of Porto three hours north by train is smaller and more manageable, with more than its share of diamond-in-the-rough architecture. European Union money has been funding upgrades to its public transportation system and historical sites. Tourism here has taken off in a big way (thanks largely to cheap flights to Portos international airport). Locals are rising to the occasion, filling the characteristic streets with trendy eateries and boutiques. And, as a plus for wine lovers, its the birthplace of port. In Scotland, the capital city of Edinburgh with its prominent castle, its Royal Mile, and its romantic cityscape grabs travelers attention. But just a one-hour train ride away, funky Glasgow entertains with a laid-back attitude, sassy street murals, and Scotlands best food and live music scene. (Glaswegians like to say, We have more fun at a funeral than people in Edinburgh have at a wedding.) In France, the great sights of Paris dominate most visitors itineraries. But Ive enjoyed wonderful days in the livable culinary capital of Lyon, and in the bustling Mediterranean shipping center of Marseille. The same goes for London understandably Englands top draw and a whole list of rejuvenated post-industrial cities that Anglophiles love to explore: Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and more. Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, boasts the stunning Grand-Place. But after youve strolled through that thrilling square, nibbled some pralines, and seen the Manneken-Pis, you may find yourself just killing time. Why not hop on a train to explore the equally historic and entertaining design capital of Antwerp? The citys sights are on par with the best in Belgium, but Antwerp is equally enjoyable without a sightseeing agenda. Come for the fun-to-explore neighborhoods, abundant al fresco cafe tables, and an inviting main market square with a carillon that jingles the hour. Visitors to Ireland shouldnt miss Dublin. While theyre at it, they can take a short train ride up to visit Northern Irelands capital, Belfast, with glittering architecture, an energetic commercial metabolism, and important 20th-century Irish sights. Berlin has world-class museums and Cold War history. But the German capital is also swarmed by international travelers. Meanwhile, Hamburg has rebuilt its futuristic and fascinating harborfront, and most visitors are Germans in town to experience the citys legendary nightlife. This also works on a regional level. Exploring the countryside west of London, the stately Georgian city of Bath is a big draw and rightfully so. But if you can squeeze in a side trip, the redeveloped port city of Bristol is just a 20-minute train ride away and is energized with college students and street art (Banksy was born in Bristol, and a handful of his legendary street paintings still dot the town). If I turn my sights closer to home, this approach works stateside, too. Im proud to be from Seattle. But after poking around Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and the Space Needle, why not head down the road to Tacoma to check out the eclectic food scene and Dale Chihulys iconic works in the Museum of Glass? Ive been thinking about why I tend to favor Europes second cities. In most cases, theres a reason these places never quite managed to rise to the status of leading city. Often its because they were once the center of an industry that fell on hard times. Or maybe they just have a long legacy of always playing second fiddle. But everyone loves an underdog. And maybe thats why my most endearing travel memories tend to take place in these underappreciated, often overlooked destinations. They may not have the cachet or the world-famous sights. But they more than make up for that with a resilient spirit, a lack of pretense, an easygoing charm, and an exuberant creativity. Unshackled by the obligation to be their countrys role model, second cities are free to just be themselves. And thats why theyre so wonderful. (Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick's favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.) LAKE GEORGE Two Department of Environmental Conservation officers were able to put their training into practice recently, when they were able to rescue a rattlesnake while attending a training course on safe handling of rattlesnakes. Officers Matthew Thibodeau and Ryan Kelley were attending a course in Lake George on June 20 when they got a call reporting that a rattlesnake in a common area of one Lake George hotel, about five minutes away from their training course. The officers responded to the location successfully caught the young timber rattlesnake, and returned it into the wild, the DEC reported on its website. Lake George and the South Bay area on Lake Champlain have a large breeding population of timber rattlesnakes, according to the DEC. Timber rattlesnakes can grow to up to three or four feet long, and DEC reports that they are the largest venomous snake in New York. Timber rattlesnakes can be found from southern New Hampshire south throughout the Appalachian Mountains and into northern Florida, and west to southeastern Texas southeastern Nebraska and Wisconsin. Timber rattlesnakes live in deciduous forests as well as lowlands wetlands or residential areas near their dens. Timber rattlesnakes primarily feed on squirrels, chipmunks, mice and small birds. According to the DEC, timber rattlesnakes use their venom to immobilize their prey. Their venom can be fatal to humans if a bite is not properly treated. There have been no reported human deaths attributed to rattlesnakes in the wilds of New York during the last several decades, according to the DEC. Rattlesnakes do not attack humans unless they are threatened or provoked. Anyone who encounters a timber rattlesnake should keep a safe distance of six feet or more away from the snake, and let it move along on its own. You should not try and kill a timber rattlesnake or collect it. If an accidental bite occurs, the DEC says you should seek medical attention immediately or call 911. CAPE MAY Space is tight on commercial fishing boats. There is little room for luxury, and each crew member has a job to do, whether on a short run or a long haul. So the addition of a federal observer can feel like a significant imposition, said Nils Stolpe, a fishing consultant who has long been involved in New Jersey fishing issues. If the boat owner is then responsible for paying that observer, it can take a considerable bite out of the profits for the voyage, Stolpe said. The requirement for boats to fund their own federal enforcers had come up in a few cases, but Stolpe believed bureaucrats were certain to expand the model wherever they could. Fortunately, it is not going to be common anymore, Stolpe said. A recent Supreme Court decision will reduce the potential for all kinds of difficulties the feds would inflict on the fishermen. At the heart of the issue is a herring fisherman out of Cape May named Bill Bright, and others, who challenged the regulation, with the help of the Cause of Action Institute, an organization that describes itself as working to enhance individual and economic liberty by limiting the power of the administrative state to make decisions that are contrary to freedom and prosperity by advocating for a transparent and accountable government free from abuse. One of Brights boats, the Retriever, can handle thousands of pounds of squid or herring, bringing it into Lunds Fisheries, tucked just inside the Middle Thorofare Bridge a little over a mile from Cape May Inlet. Wayne Reichle, the owner and president of Lunds, did not respond to a request for an interview. An emailed response to a request said Bright would not be available either, and included a news release that quoted Bright as saying the Supreme Court ruling restored the separation of powers and was a victory for small family businesses in farming, fishing or retail. Congress never authorized industry-funded monitoring in the herring fishery. And agency efforts to impose such funding hurts our ability to make an honest living, he said in a statement. Nothing is more important than protecting the livelihoods of our families and crews. Major wins for Trump, stark pullback on regulations mark momentous Supreme Court term A series of landmark decisions reflects a deep and sometimes bitter divide on a court in which conservatives, including three appointed by former President Donald Trump, have a two-to-one advantage. In a 2024 interview with The New York Times, Bright said he understood that the case had political implications, but to him it was not political. This is my livelihood, he was quoted as saying. In its decision, the Supreme Court did not decide Loper Bright Enterprises, et al., v. Gina Raimondo, the U.S. secretary of commerce. It sent the decision back to the D.C. Circuit Court to decide, but changed how that decision was to be reached. For more than 40 years, in situations where the law was unclear or silent, courts have given significant weight to the opinions of agencies charged with enforcing regulations, what has long been referred to as the Chevron deference or the Chevron doctrine. Essentially, so long as the agencys rules or opinions were reasonable, they should be relied upon, with the idea that the courts could not hold expertise in every area of potential federal regulation. The court overruled that doctrine. Attorneys with Cause of Action described the decision as restoring the balance of power between Congress and the administration. Many environmentalists and Democratic lawmakers see the case in far more dire terms. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called the decision a radical shift that will damage air and water quality, workplace and food safety, and nearly every other aspect of life for Americans. The Supreme Court has handed special interests a giveaway by dramatically reducing the ability of federal agencies to address climate change, ensure the stability of financial markets, reduce gun violence, and many other critical issues, Booker said after the decision. Rather than rely on scientific and subject matter experts who use scientific evidence to issue regulations to carry out the laws Congress passes, the Supreme Court wants to make the courts all-powerful and put the lives of the American people in the hands of judges who have no expertise or training on these complex issues. A dissenting opinion, written by Justice Elena Kagan and joined by Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor, argued the rule formed the backdrop against which Congress, courts and agencies have operated for decades. It has been applied in thousands of judicial decisions. It has become part of the warp and woof of modern government, supporting regulatory efforts of all kinds to name a few, keeping air and water clean, food and drugs safe, and financial markets honest, Kagan wrote. And the rule is right. Writing the majority opinion, Chief Justice John G. Roberts said, Chevrons presumption is misguided because agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do. Ryan Mulvey, an attorney with Cause of Action representing Bright, said he does not expect the sky to fall. It should not be controversial that the courts would be the ones to interpret the law. He added that the regulations approved and upheld over those four decades that Chevron has been in effect remain in force. This is closer to the Constitution. This is how the system is supposed to work, he said. It doesnt take away the ability of agencies to regulate. They just have to regulate within the confines of what Congress has given them the authority to do. The case has been covered extensively but has been overshadowed by other recent Supreme Court decisions, including one in former President Donald Trumps criminal case involving accusations of election interference in 2020, which found presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for officials acts. Even in coverage of the Bright case, the fishermen behind the original legal challenge have received less attention than the potentially sweeping impacts on future cases. In addition to Bright, the court also ruled on a similar case brought by New England fishermen. In a 1984 case related to the Clean Air Act, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. vs. Natural Resources Defense Council, the court decided to look to the agencies established by Congress to work out the details of how those regulations were to be implemented, with the limit that it must be reasonable. In the Loper Bright v. Raimondo case, the National Marine Fisheries Service could not afford to put monitors on herring boats to ensure compliance with catch limits and other regulations. The cost was estimated at about $700 a day, although along with other factors, the total impact could be as high as 20% of the profits, Mulvey said. A district court supported the federal right to impose the monitors, based on the Chevron deference, and a federal appeals court affirmed. The Supreme Court wants a new decision, but now without the Chevron methodology. The ruling goes way beyond fish. Multiple environmental advocacy groups say the decision could upend decades of progress across multiple areas, potentially ushering in a wave of new challenges to federal regulations related to health care, food safety, environmental protections and more. In Cape May, federal observers, funded with federal dollars, still head out with fishing boats, gathering data on the catch and also about marine mammals and other species. Stolpe said regulators are looking at other options to keep an eye on the catch, including the use of remote cameras onboard, aimed where the catch gets sorted. Lacie Navin has seen business drop dramatically at her CBD and hemp shops since July 1, when a new law tightly restricting the products went into effect. Navin runs Your CBD Store shops in the Des Moines metro, a chain of wellness-focused shops that sell CBD and hemp products. Her shelves are lined with products that promise to aid in sleep, mental clarity and pain relief. But the shelves are now barer than before as Navin has had to comply with House File 2605, which set regulations on consumable hemp products. Its completely devastating for the entire industry. Upwards of 70% of our products are off the shelf, Navin said in an interview. Most of those being non-intoxicating products, just because no one making legislation understands how these formulations work. Navin said her business model and customer base are different from the stores that offer brightly colored THC-infused candy and gummies that are intended to get the user high. Those products were often cited by lawmakers when they passed the hemp restriction law during this years legislative session. Navin did sell high-THC products at her store, saying some customers used them to treat conditions like arthritis. But other products, including full-spectrum CBD topical creams and tinctures, only contain a relatively small amount of THC and are not generally intoxicating. Because of the new laws packaging standards, though, they are now illegal to sell in the state. Products that contain only CBD, or THC in low enough amounts to comply with the state's law, are still legal for sale. Navin has had to close a location in Waukee since the new law took effect, and she said the number of customers coming into the store has fallen dramatically. With the vast majority of her products off the market, Navin said she isnt sure if shell be able to stay in business at her remaining stores. I think when this started, the thing everyone kept saying was, Oh, CBD stores will be safe, this is just for really high THC, Navin said. And thats not true at all. Navin is one of a handful of hemp shop owners and manufacturers suing the state over the law, which limits the potency of THC in consumable hemp, the main compound in cannabis that causes the high. The lawsuit also challenges a second law HF 2641 which created new rules around growing hemp. Under the law, which took effect July 1, products must contain fewer than 4 milligrams of THC per serving and 10 milligrams per container. It also requires that consumable hemp products have a warning label, be packaged according to state rules, and bans the sale of products to minors. A federal judge will hear arguments on Thursday over that lawsuit, as well as a second lawsuit filed by Climbing Kites and Field Day Brewing, two THC-infused beverage manufacturers. The judge rejected an initial lawsuit from Climbing Kites and Field Day, but the companies submitted an amended suit with a new claim, and the hearing will consider both challenges. What are the companies seeking in court? The two lawsuits argue an array of challenges. They claim the law is preempted by the federal Farm Bill; is unconstitutionally vague; and violates interstate commerce protections and protections against taking private property. The companies are asking for a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of the law while the lawsuit plays out. (Were) just hoping that the judge will grant us the injunction while we go through the whole trial that will result from it, so that way our customers can continue to get the products that they need while we wait for the judge to rule on if it's legal or not, said Ashley Powell, owner of American Shaman, which operates two shops in the Des Moines metro. The state denies all the claims in the lawsuit, arguing it has authority to regulate hemp in its borders and a duty to protect the citizens of Iowa from a potentially dangerous substance. In court filings, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Birds office called the lack of regulation of hemp a public health crisis. In 2022, 6,799 Iowans visited an emergency room because of substances that contained some type of THC, the state said. It also said calls to Iowa Poison Control Center regarding children exposed to THC rose by 1,050% between 2019 and 2023. There is a strong public interest in protecting Iowans, especially Iowas youth, from these increased risks, the state said in its response to the lawsuit. Iowa thus has valid reasons for regulating drugs and psychoactive substances as a proper exercise of its police power. Law sought to regulate hemp industry Hemp defined as cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC by weight was legalized in the 2018 federal farm bill, and later legalized under state law in 2019. Foods and beverages can contain high amounts of hemp-derived THC and stay under the federal limits. State lawmakers during this years session said they did not intend to legalize intoxicating products when they passed the 2019 law, and said the industry lacked critical safety regulations. We were not approving THC to be used in intoxicating products, or we would have had age restrictions, said House Judiciary Committee Chair Steve Holt, R-Denison, during debate this year. We had no expectations there would be these intoxicating products." Gov. Kim Reynolds said in May she had heard concerns from groups from both sides of the issues, and she had some concerns about the law, but she ultimately signed it into law. Ultimately, I am signing it into law to protect minors from dangerous and intoxicating products," Reynolds said. "At the same time, weve taken steps to ensure that children who are resistant to medications and suffer from seizures and other medical conditions continue to have access to consumable hemp alternatives for relief. How will the law be enforced? Both lawsuits argue, on different grounds, that the law is too vague to be properly followed or enforced, rendering it unconstitutional. The claims center on parts of the law that were left up to a rulemaking process by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which is still ongoing. The department has issued guidance for hemp retailers, but will not finalize its administrative rules until July 17 at the earliest. The amended lawsuit from the beverage manufacturers argues that, in the absence of clear rules, the definition of serving is unclear. The companies had originally believed they could alter the serving size of their 12-ounce cans to contain more than one serving, allowing them to offer up to 10 milligrams per can. But in proposed draft rules and a guidance document, the state health department has said that a 12-ounce can will be considered one serving." The state said in a court brief that federal standards, which define a serving of a carbonated beverage as 12 ounces, should apply to the state law. Judge Stephanie Rose of the Southern District of Iowa, who will hear the arguments on Thursday, wrote in a previous court ruling she has serious concerns about the definition of serving in the law, saying it's "unclear how this provision would be enforced." When asked to clarify how the law is being enforced, Iowa HHS spokesperson Alex Murphy said the department will not comment on pending litigation. The other companies brought two more claims of vagueness, which will be considered along with the serving size question during Thursdays hearing. They relate to the requirement to affix a warning label to consumable hemp products and a prohibition on synthetic consumable hemp products. The state has denied the vagueness challenges and said the terms written in the law have easily understandable meanings, even in the absence of specific rules from the agency. The HHS has issued guidance outlining the serving size and type of products that it considers in compliance with the law. There is no reason to believe that by instituting a per-serving limit on THC, Iowa meant to adopt some alternate measurement for the serving size of a carbonated beverage a measurement that is nowhere defined or utilized in Iowa law, the state argued in court brief. Still, manufacturers and retailers say they have not received clear communication from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding what interpretation of the law is effective now, before rules have been finalized, and how the law is being enforced. A lawyer for Climbing Kites wrote in a brief on Monday that the company has "no idea which of its products is illegal." Powell, the owner of American Shaman, said she has emailed and called the HHS department for more details with no response. We need clarification. I don't know what is legal and whats going to get me in trouble in specific situations, Powell said. Because they have draft rules but those rules arent final, so does that mean I can still sell those products that are 10 milligrams per can as long as they're multiple servings, until the rules are final? Or will I get fined and in trouble by the law for that? Can the police come in, can my customers get in trouble for that? I have no idea, and they won't answer those questions, which is very, very frustrating." Photos: Muscatine Community College two-semester hemp curriculum 120520-qc-nws-hemp-089 120520-qc-nws-hemp-094 120520-qc-nws-hemp-060 120520-qc-nws-hemp-132 120520-qc-nws-hemp-139 120520-qc-nws-hemp-127 120520-qc-nws-hemp-123 120520-qc-nws-hemp-083 120520-qc-nws-hemp-080 120520-qc-nws-hemp-086 120520-qc-nws-hemp-064 120520-qc-nws-hemp-074 120520-qc-nws-hemp-068 120520-qc-nws-hemp-109 120520-qc-nws-hemp-112 120520-qc-nws-hemp-145 Monument Health commenced construction on June 26 for one of two new standalone urgent care clinics planned for the Rapid City area. The new facility, located on a 2.15-acre parcel near Liberty Plaza in Box Elder, will provide urgent and primary care services. The Box Elder clinic is the first of two planned facilities, with the second slated to open in Rapid Valley near Elk Vale Road and Highway 44 in Fall 2025. The additions will increase the number of Monument Health urgent care centers to four in the Rapid City area, supplementing the existing locations on Jackson Boulevard, Lacrosse Street, and in Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Sturgis and Spearfish. "We broke ground on what will become our entry into the Box Elder region for health care services. We will be building an urgent care that will run normal seven-day-a-week urgent care hours, which will be done in tandem with primary care," said Mark Schulte, Monument Health vice president of Operations for the Rapid City Market, "and includes your more traditional physician-based care, in which you establish a relationship with a provider and see them regularly for your primary care needs." Box Elders rapid growth is a critical factor in Monument Healths expansion, officials said. The area was recently noted as the fastest-growing zip code in South Dakota. Schulte said that the anticipated arrival of the B-21 Raider at Ellsworth Air Force Base also contributed to the decision. "People moving to the region first look for health care. Seeing health care provided in Box Elder assures them it's a good place to settle," Schulte said. "As Rapid City grows, it benefits from Box Elder's growth, which helps businesses in both communities. We feel were impacting not only Box Elder but the greater Rapid City area as well." Monument Health aims to have the Box Elder clinic operational within a year. According to Schulte, the project represents Monument Healths investment in the Box Elder community. As a Mayo Clinic Care Network member, Monument Health is a TRICARE network provider, ensuring military personnel and their families can receive care without traveling far. The new clinic will require a dedicated staff to operate. Schulte explained that the presence of local health care services may influence potential employers to consider the Box Elder region for their business or manufacturing facilities, potentially making Box Elder a more attractive location compared to other areas. "We take great honor in being welcomed into the Box Elder community and look forward to being up and running. We are also proud to care for our nations heroes and those who support them at Ellsworth Air Force Base," Schulte said. In an article he wrote in 1979, Landscapes Under the Sun, the prolific artist Huang Yongyu (1924-2023) recounted anecdotes about his uncle-once-removed, Shen Congwen (1902-88), a writer and scholar of repute, and how his attitude toward life and academic research had influenced his own. At the end of the article, he wrote: "What a long life (Shen) lived, and (his experiences were) so rich, and colorful." Today, Huang is also regarded as a prominent figure in art and culture, whose life and career were, like Shen's, long and substantial. Huang drew a remake of his own design of the Golden Monkey stamp, issued in 1980, which attracts admirers to the National Art Museum of China exhibition For So Long, and Colorful in Beijing. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily] A phrase from his commentary about his uncle, For So Long, and Colorful, has become the title of an exhibition of his work being held at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing until Thursday. In 2013, Huang held an exhibition at the National Museum of China to commemorate his 90th birthday. It was an all-encompassing show to display his accomplishments in painting, design and literature the artist was also an avid writer who published dozens of novels and collections of essays and prose articles. The current exhibition at the National Art Museum is a show of 159 ink paintings, all made after he turned 90. It is not billed as a retrospective the usual practice for a late, accomplished artist but per Huang's request, as a show of his "latest work". It is one he had planned for some time. "None of the paintings in the show will have been seen before in art and cultural circles," he once said. "I'm pretty serious about making it happen." Huang died on June 13, 2023, at the age of 99. His farewell to the world was quiet. His family announced his death in a statement released the following day, and no memorial service was held. In an earlier televised interview, Huang envisaged his centennial exhibition, saying, "It will show 100 paintings, to celebrate the 100 years I have lived. I will show work in which I've invested all my energy. I will be doing my best, but maybe the pieces will not be perfect as far as the audience is concerned. But hopefully, people will feel they are not bad, and that will be enough for me." The earliest painting currently on show was finished in 2015, and the most recent was completed a few weeks before his death, demonstrating his lifelong passion for art, and for sharing that pleasure with the public. The paintings are vividly colored, often highly saturated, and feature recurring motifs from his work popular with his audience over the years, such as lotus flowers, immortals and animals. They are also a reiteration of his ambition to create, which lasted until the final moments of his life. Several paintings on show are over 1 meter in length, some even over 2 meters quite a challenge for a man of his age. Born in Changde in Hunan province, Huang left home in his early teens to earn a living doing a variety of jobs, including stints at ceramic factories, primary schools and theater groups and also learned to paint and to make woodcuts. He gained the most from his wartime experiences, the social vicissitudes of the 20th century China, and from the people of different backgrounds he met along the way. According to Shao Dazhen, critic and professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where Huang taught for decades, his art and writing reflects "the realities of the world, in a straightforward manner, with no pretense". "He loved people and he loved life deeply, but he expressed this in a peaceful way. He spoke for the public, when he painted and wrote," Shao says. "His work is sincere, interesting and appealing. It is unparalleled." Physically confined to his home in suburban Beijing in the later stages of his life, Huang was not able to travel as much as he liked. Instead, he turned his shrewd gaze on small things within his reach; the potted flowers in his study, the new plants in his courtyard, and shrimps brought by friends. He examined them at length, lost in thought and then expressed what he felt with ink and color. Wu Hongliang, director of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, which has held several exhibitions for Huang, says that the artist saw "a miniature universe" in the small lives around him, and celebrated them in his work. "One feels the various dimensions he used to understand the world, which were not only based on an accumulation of knowledge, observation and experience," Wu says, citing one of the paintings on display depicting a spider and a butterfly trapped in its web, a scene Huang observed one day. "He drew the scene and related it to how one makes judgments in life. He always worked hard to enrich his knowledge of the world." The exhibition also zooms in on Huang's mastery of baimiao (plain drawing), a technique he favored when painting in the classical Chinese style. It relies on the artist's ability to control his brushes and paint smooth, changing lines to finish a drawing, with no other color but ink. Huang's depiction of Li Shizhen is a fine example of this kind of work. In it, Huang painted dense lines all over the paper to build up an image of the 16th-century medical scholar and author of Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu), surrounding him with dozens of plants, insects and other materials of traditional Chinese medicine that he is known to have researched. "Literature ranks first in my life, before sculpture and woodcuts, and painting comes fourth," Huang once said. He read and wrote extensively. "My advice to young people is do not waste time, read a lot, let books be your guide." These preferences are also evident in the paintings on display. Adding short poems or brief commentaries is one characteristic of classical Chinese paintings. Huang reinforced that tradition by extending the length of the texts his commentaries on paintings are often of hundreds of characters in length, enough for an essay. Wu says that Huang's writing is full of the wit and humor for which he is known, melded with a down-to-earth manner and sense of calm that pleases both the eyes and minds of his readers. "The reason that he did so many baimiao drawings and wrote lengthy commentaries on paintings was probably because he wanted to tell people that even at his age, he still had good control of his brushes, and retained his pursuit of detail," says Lei Zhenfang, a close friend and former art director of Rongbaozhai, the centuries-old cultural brand of Beijing. In 1953, then a teacher at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Huang was dispatched by the school to research traditional woodblock printing at Rongbaozhai, where the technique was well preserved. Lei says that Huang studied for more than two months and learned under the guidance of artisans he also befriended. He adds that all his life, the artist sought change and dared to confront challenges, and as a result, contributed to the revival of Chinese art. "He never felt satisfied with himself. He often said, 'If I do one more drawing, I will do better than with this one.' His pursuit of freedom in art was motivated by his attempt to make breakthroughs." Huang once said that those who paint are doomed to be alone. "The painter needs to deal with everything around him in the world, and needs to confront changes, all the while keeping his world of art quiet and peaceful with utmost restraint." By Tajul Islam Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on an official visit to Russia, underscoring the enduring and multifaceted partnership between India and Russia. As he prepares for the 22nd annual bilateral summit, Modi expressed his anticipation of meeting his "friend" President Vladimir Putin and reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation. The two leaders will also share perspectives on various regional and global issues. This visit comes at a significant juncture, marking Modi's first foreign bilateral visit since his reelection and his first visit to Russia since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. The India-Russia relationship has been characterized by a "special and privileged strategic partnership" that has seen significant advancements over the past decade. This partnership encompasses diverse areas including energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Modi emphasized that India and Russia seek to play a supportive role in fostering a peaceful and stable region, a sentiment that will be a focal point during the upcoming talks. This visit is particularly notable as it follows a period of heightened scrutiny from the West over India's relationship with Russia, especially in the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Despite this scrutiny, India has maintained strong ties with Russia, highlighted by a substantial increase in bilateral trade, which reached $65 billion last year. This trade surge has been driven primarily by India's increased purchases of discounted Russian coal and oil. Modi's two-day visit, scheduled from July 8 to July 9, will include a private dinner hosted by Putin, meetings with the Indian diaspora in Moscow, and a series of high-level talks. The discussions between Modi and Putin will cover a broad spectrum of bilateral relations, including defense cooperation, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people ties. These talks are expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the significance of Modi's visit, noting that the West is "jealously" monitoring the trip. This indicates the high importance attached to it. Peskov remarked that the extensive program of Modi's visit would allow for both formal and informal discussions between the two leaders, emphasizing the depth and importance of the Russia-India relationship. The summit is anticipated to address several key issues, including the trade imbalance between the two countries. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar pointed out that the visit offers a great opportunity for Modi and Putin to hold direct talks on trade and other pertinent issues. The discussions are expected to pave the way for resolving certain bilateral issues and enhancing cooperation in various sectors. Furthermore, the visit is set against the backdrop of India's nuanced stance on the Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict, abstaining from UN resolutions condemning Russia and declining to sign the final document at the Swiss peace summit on the Ukraine conflict due to Russia's exclusion. This stance has allowed India to navigate its relationship with Russia while maintaining a balanced foreign policy. The strategic partnership between India and Russia is not limited to bilateral ties but extends to regional and global dimensions. Both countries have a vested interest in ensuring stability and peace in the region, and their cooperation spans critical areas such as defense and energy security. The summit is likely to result in further agreements and initiatives that will bolster this partnership. Economically, the increase in bilateral trade is a testament to the robust economic ties between the two countries. India's energy needs have been significantly met by Russian supplies, and this dynamic is expected to continue as both countries explore new avenues for economic cooperation. The focus on investment, trade, and economic collaboration will be a key component of the summit discussions. Cultural ties between India and Russia have historically been strong, with significant exchanges in the fields of education, culture, and tourism. Modi's visit will also include interactions with the Indian community in Russia, highlighting the importance of people-to-people ties in strengthening bilateral relations. These exchanges play a crucial role in fostering mutual understanding and goodwill between the two nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia for the 22nd annual bilateral summit with President Vladimir Putin is a significant event that underscores the enduring strategic partnership between India and Russia. Despite the complexities of the global geopolitical landscape, the visit reaffirms the commitment of both countries to deepen their cooperation across various domains. As Modi and Putin engage in comprehensive discussions, the outcomes of the summit are expected to further solidify the special and privileged partnership, contributing to regional stability and global peace. Modi's subsequent visit to Austria, following the Russia trip, will also be closely watched as part of India's broader diplomatic engagements. The outcomes of these visits will provide insights into India's evolving foreign policy priorities and its approach to balancing relationships in a multipolar world. Beryl forces Houston to cancel Cancun flights Cancun, Q.R. Although Beryl has long left the Yucatan Peninsula, the system continues to affect the state of Quintana Roo. On Monday, five Houston flights into Cancun were canceled due to Beryl. The systems destruction continues as it makes its way across the southern U.S., causing airlines to cancel flights. The canceled flights were due to U.S. airlines and not the Cancun airport. Authorities from the Cancun International Airport said the decision to cancel the Houston flights was made by the airlines since the Cancun airport is open and operating normally. According to the daily report of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), outside those five canceled flights, the Cancun airport recorded 513 operations on Monday of which 258 were international flights and 255 domestic. CFE arrives to replace old Isla Mujeres island poles Isla Mujeres, Q.R. on Monday, Isla Mujeres Mayor Atenea Gomez Ricalde said CFE trucks had arrived to begin the work of replacing poles in poor condition. Numerous poles in the central island neighborhood simply broke during strong seasonal winds, and in particular, with the arrival of Hurricane Beryl Friday. CFE began the pole replacement project Monday. Photo: July 8, 2024. Ricalde did not say how many poles were being replaced, but she did say the project had begin along Avenue Perimetral del Aeropuerto from the Judicial Branch onwards in the section from the Aguakan sump to the power plant. Residents of the La Gloria neighborhood took advantage of the CFE presence to ask for their poles to be included in the replacement project. Residents on Macabi Street snapped shots Monday of several concrete power poles that have deteriorated down to their rebar. Not only do these pole pose a threat to power outages, residents point out that they are also a public hazard. Many island concrete power poles are in poor condition. Photo: July 8, 2024. In a breif note Monday, Mayor Ricalde said since early in the morning, the CFE has been carrying out work to replace poles in poor condition that could represent a danger to the population on Av. Perimetral del Aeropuerto, from the Judicial Branch onwards, in the section from the Aguakan sump to the power plant. Mayor Ricalde did not say how many of the islands poles would be replaced. Photo: July 8, 2024. These actions are part of a plan to replace poles on the Island, actions that are being carried out for the benefit of island families. It is not known how many poles will be replaced or how long the project will take. Several communities gather in protest outside Jose Maria Morelos CFE office Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. Since Monday morning, residents of communities in the Saban area have been outside the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) office. The group of around 40 people are demanding the removal of the current Jose Maria Morelos office manager as well as a permanent solution to their ongoing power problems. Area residents from San Juan Oriente, Sacalaca, San Felipe Oriente, Saban and Huay Max say they are still without power since the passing of Hurricane Beryl Friday. Gabriel Alonso Horan, a resident of San Juan Oriente, said they have padlocked the gate so CFE personnel cannot enter until they have their services restored. Juan Alonso Horan, also a resident of San Juan Oriente, said they came to demand that service be restored and that the area under the power lines be cleared since they interfer with the lines. He also said they are demanding the current CFE office manager be dismissed because he is not solving anything. Alonso Horan says as long as CFE does not comply, the group will not leave. He said they are done being played as fools since two years ago they were told the area under the power lines would be cleared. To date, that has not happened. The group says the front gate has been locked and they are not leaving. Photo: July 8, 2024. He said that all the towns in the Saban area are participating in the movement against the Federal Electricity Commission. Some are even blocking a part of the Dziuche-Tihosuco state highway to ask the CFE to reestablish their service that failed Friday. A new biker flick in the tradition of Marlon Brandos The Wild One is out, and its story of freedom, belonging, and ultimate decay is about more than just motorcycles gangs. Jeff Nichols is a strange director. He makes movies about the forgotten Americans, the white working and lower classes of the Midwest, but its only European festivals that really take an interest. His protagonists are invariably men, yet its the feminist classes in the media or at the Oscars that applaud him. Roger Ebert championed his first movies in the 2000s, Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter. Then in the 2010s, Mud, starring Matthew McConaughey, competed in Cannes for the Palme dOr and at SXSW, and the sci-fi drama Midnight Special competed in Berlin for the Golden Bear, while his civil rights picture Loving was competing in Cannes and receiving Oscar and Golden Globes nominations. Now Nichols has a sixth movie out, The Bikeriders, which competed at the Telluride Film Festival last year, and is only now out in theaters, having been delayed by the actors strike and other difficulties. The Bikeriders is the story of Johnny (Tom Hardy) and Benny (Austin Butler), told by Bennys wife, Kathy (Jodie Comer), to a college kid photo-journalist, Danny Lyon (Mike Faist), a civil rights photographer whose book inspired Nichols story. Danny joins the Vandals, a motorcycle club led by Johnny, a working-class man, a truck driver with a family. Johnny started the Vandals because thats the only way he could really be a man. Manliness involves facing dangers, fighting, and ruling over others, earning and rewarding loyalty. These are not the hopes and dreams of the middle class, but the prosperous freedom of postwar America; good roads and better motorcycles made it possible to live such a life. Manliness requires one more thing: beauty. Johnny is an ugly man inspired by the beautiful Marlon Brando, leader of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in The Wild One (1953). Benny is that beautiful youth, a figure out of Romantic poetry, irresponsible yet harmless, apparently as incapable of cruelty as of holding down a joba hobo, lower class, as we used to say, and yet free. He might remind you of The Last of the Mohicans and of cowboys, or of Indians, for that matter. Kathy immediately falls in love with him and marries him; she later says that she thinks she can change him. The Vandals hang out at a bar in a Chicago suburb, and in the latter half of the 60s they become beautiful and terrible. Nichols largely abstracts from the sordid side of motorcycle gangs. He films long gorgeous sequences of the squadron of choppers riding by streetlights in the abandoned landscape of the night, suggesting that the proper backdrop of this silent stand for manliness is the cold cosmos. So also with biker picnics, dirt-bike riding, and the inevitable fighting of the menthey belong in the wilderness, in the fields or the forests, not in the city. The roar of the engines is the constant reminder of mans spiritedness, which is only ever tamed with great difficulty. With the end of the Korean War, there was nothing really left for men to do. America couldnt be proud of them, or even bother to notice. The closing of the frontier also hovers in the backgroundresponsibility replaces self-reliance or hardihood in the pantheon of American virtues. Not even TRs rugged individualism makes sense anymore. The great decade of American freedom, the 60s, nevertheless encouraged a sort of easygoing lawlessness in men, as authority withered into something sentimental, Progress. Theres no room for men in the progressive utopia, and the suggestion hangs over these brooding men that they have no future. Johnny attempts for a few years to offer these abandoned men, rejected by a society whose moral confidence is still overpowering, a home where freedom and self-respect can be combined. Doing things together, impressing or even scaring each other and regular Americans, allows them to experience things most cant, to see human types others recognize only dimly from history or myth. In the modern world, a vandal is merely a kind of lawbreaker, but the name after all is that of a tribe that sacked Rome in the fifth century, proving that manliness can be greater than corrupt sophistication, that freedom is preferable to slavery. Johnny has two opposite virtues, hes a tough brawler, taking on any challenger but also a rather calculated leader, capable of cruel lessons. Hardy does a remarkable job with the character, suggesting his great ambitions without revealing them, and insisting instead on his gentleness to all who seem to him weaker. But Johnny hopes to make a leader of Benny, the younger man whose spirit might inspire the other men, not only keep them in line, but Benny, precisely because he is what they all admire, rejects such responsibility. Rugged individualism is barely compatible with membership in a club. The corruption follows from this distinction between the beauty of freedom and the necessary ugliness of making and imposing rules. Butlers beautiful, wistful face and Hardys furrowed brow tell all. The club becomes infamous, attractive to any number of lawless men, expanding chapter after chapter cross the Midwest, increasingly including the kind of Vietnam veterans who are slaves to heroin. By the end of the decade, it becomes an ugly, violent mess full of younger men eager to abandon any connection to respectable America. Nichols, like Danny the photojournalist, sees immediately how American these men are. Theyre law-breaking is remarkably law-abiding. They take their tickets, arrests, and make their court datesto begin with, their crime is mostly speeding, although theres some disturbing the peace. When a club member dies in an accident, not wearing a helmet, the club pays its respects piously at his funeral, accepting the anger and contempt of the bereaved bike riders family. This is why as authority breaks down in the 60s, the club also degenerates. The riders to begin with are something like the loyal opposition to middle-class suburban respectability, a society too feminized for them to bear, but too dear, in a sense, to reject. Once that society loses its confidence, the men go mad. In the first half of the movie, we see men looking for something to be proud of, hopeful that it comes out of the dangerous thing they enjoy, riding bikes. Theyre all mechanics, making their own bikes. By the end, we see men with Iron Crosses, although Nichols avoids the ugliest Nazi paraphernalia biker gangs adopted. In seeking to define themselves against law-abiding America, these gangs, which included many veterans, embrace Americas enemy and descend into organized crime. Without law and its patriotic context, liberty turns out to mean making crime pay. Africa is seen by many Chinese as a land of immense natural beauty and exotic animals, but awareness about its rich and varied culture is little known outside art circles. In Beijing, cultural aficionados and those who have lived in or visited Africa are trying to deepen cultural links to the continent by introducing its unique arts and crafts to residents. Their dedication to promoting Africa is also adding vibrancy to the Chinese capital through venues that allow visitors to experience Africa's cultural offerings firsthand. Feng Xinxin, who is in her 30s, lived in Namibia for 11 years from 2008. Her African paintings, sculptures, and images and artworks of rare animals are on display at an Africa-themed coffee shop in a cultural park outside Beijing's northeastern Fifth Ring Road. "When I came back (from Namibia), and chatted with people around me, their first question about Africa was whether it was a war-torn place and if going there was unsafe," said Feng. "People wondered why a woman would go to Africa at such a young age, and they had a particularly skeptical attitude. "I was asked too many questions and this became a motivation for me to build such a place in Beijing, to let more people truly understand Africa." Special bond In 2022, she and a partner opened the African Culture and Tourism Center, a coffee shop with an exhibition space showcasing products from the continent, with the idea of promoting African cuisine, art and culture. Feng, a native of Jinan, Shandong province, said she developed a special bond with Namibia, which she described as untypical of West African nations, during her time there. The country has the world's oldest desert, the Namib, which is located next to the coast. "People generally think that places where you can see the ocean are far away from deserts," she said. "But it's only in Namibia where you can see a road with the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the Namib Desert on the other side with giant red sand dunes," she said. "Over there you can also find indigenous groups, such as the Himba." Feng said compared with Beijing's urban cultural environment, the Southwest African country, where she spent most of her youth, offers a lifestyle she finds more conducive to an enjoyable life. "Even the heat in Africa is very pure," she said. "Kids who grow up there tend to develop relatively optimistic and open-minded personalities more easily. "If I hadn't married and had my baby, I might have lived in Africa my whole life," said Feng, who took her 5-month-old son and husband with her to visit Namibia in October. Feng said her initial reason for opening the African Culture and Tourism Center was to showcase positive aspects about Africa to members of the public, many of whom might have misconceptions about the continent. "If these handicrafts spark visitors' interest, that's a win," said Feng, who added she needed to cultivate a new life in Beijing. More than 40 pieces of art from Africa, including wood and egg carvings, stone sculptures, and paintings, are on display in the center's exhibition hall. Feng said at the venue visitors can have a full visual and tactile experience with African elements. African artworks are earthy and naturalistic in their approach, Feng said. Various kinds of crafts are produced on whatever is at hand, such as wood, stone and egg carvings. Many African artists and artisans are not formally trained, which gives them more freedom to be creative, she said. Direct, powerful Feng's sentiments were echoed by Tian He, a film director living in Beijing who has opened an African handicrafts and art gallery. The Director's Art Shop bills itself as an African museum in Beijing showcasing the continent's art, and the diverse traditions and cultures of different tribes. "African crafts intrigue me because they are not only unique, but simple, direct, and incredibly powerful," he said, adding African art is straightforward and childlike in its pureness. Tian was a commercial video director at a Beijing financial company when he traveled to Africa in 2016 for the first time on a business trip and was enchanted by the aesthetic appeal of the handicrafts. On another business trip to Africa in 2017, he purchased dozens of handicraft pieces and brought them back to Beijing to add to his collection. "Due to the limited space in my apartment, I eventually opened a Taobao store to sell the crafts I brought back from Africa," said Tian. "They sold well, and I went to Africa again that year after I quit my job at the company. I purchased 1,000 handicraft pieces and imported them to China." The first shipment of containers filled with handicrafts arrived in China within two months. "Photography is my expertise," Tian said. "After I received the artworks, I set up a small studio in my living room to take photos of the handicrafts to promote them." His Taobao shop quickly gained a lot of attention and a loyal customer base, with people in their 20s, 30s and 40s the main buyers. "The exhibits on the wall in my shop have changed over the years. Overall, the shape of the artifacts near the entrance of the shop is more rounded, and a bit sharper on the store's inner side wall, and fiercer on the northwest side wall," he said, explaining that the arrangements are primarily based on aesthetics that appeal to Chinese people. On many occasions, customers have bought products based on their emotional reactions to the artifacts. For example, a mask of the Fang people from Gabon, West Africa, was sold because the buyer said its features reminded him of his occupation. A bronze sculpture from Cameroon in Central Africa was bought by a businessman for his company because it can be seen as an auspicious guardian deity. Authentic art intact More than 800 handicrafts, priced from 10 to 100,000 yuan ($1.3 to $13,757), are tightly packed into the first floor of Tian's store. The medium-sized shop acts as a portal to a different world, which according to him, highlights the authenticity of African art. "Languages in Africa have largely been Westernized, with French and English the official languages in many countries on the continent," said Tian. "However, traditional African art forms have remained relatively intact up to the present day, representing the cultural identity of many communities and becoming a source of income for local artisans. "People who appreciate art and pursue it are even more interested in African handicrafts, hoping to find creativity in these artworks," he added. In some Western countries, African art has a long history of appreciation and has been featured in auctions for decades, he said. Sotheby's, the world's leading auction house, held an African art auction in London last October. A total of 81 pieces of art were sold for a combined $2.8 million. The Art Market, one of the largest art market information websites, said that in 2022, more than 2,700 works by African artists worth $63 million were sold at various auctions, nearly double the number before the COVID-19 pandemic. "But in our country, African art is still at a nascent stage at present," Tian said, adding that he hopes the shop can become a bridge to better connect Chinese and African art. Joyful music African music, especially its renowned rhythms, is also gaining popularity in Beijing. At a music learning center in northern Beijing, students aged from 7 to 50 are learning to play African drums and the intricate rhythms that characterize the continent. Teacher, Liu Yaoli, a 27-year-old from Guiyang, Guizhou province, said: "Through music and skills development, students can gain an understanding of rhythm and timing, allowing them to add dynamism to their playing. "This keeps the learning process engaging, as they're not simply repeating the same patterns. As a result, they develop a unique feel for African drumming." Liu said most Africans have natural musical talent, and seek to express it in every possible way, especially through performances. The origins of drumming on the continent are believed to have come from the Mandinka people in West Africa and the goblet-shaped djembe drum around 1300 AD. There are multiple stories about the origins of drums handed down through oral histories. One of the most common is that the Mandinka people were a naturally optimistic people and constantly sang in their daily lives. Whenever they sang, Mandinka girls would start dancing happily, but the boys could only clap their hands to keep the beat or stand by silently. In order to involve the boys, a blacksmith crafted a wooden instrument in the shape of a vessel used to crush grains, and covered it with an animal skin. As a result, the first African drum, the djembe, was born. "People came (to our music base) not just to learn, but also to experience the joy of playing, to release the pressure they face daily," said Liu. "African drums, with their infectious rhythms, create a sense of freedom and happiness, for our students." African connection African people are also leaving their footprints in Beijing through their interactions with residents. Davis Murima, a 32-year-old trade officer from Kenya's Ministry of Trade, Investments and Industry, is currently in Beijing on an exchange program at the University of International Business and Economics. Since August, he has volunteered as a docent at Feng's Culture and Tourism Center, sharing his knowledge and explaining to visitors details about the exhibits. "When I'm here, I learn a lot about how the Chinese are interested in understanding tourism, agriculture, and culture in Africa, and I can interact not only with Chinese but different people from other continents," said Murima. "It gives me an avenue to understand how culture makes people different, and the diversity of different regions." He added that his experiences in China have extended beyond Beijing. Murima said he is particularly interested in observing how Chinese society functions so efficiently, with a focus on collaboration. "Africa has distinctive cultures, and some of these cultures have been well preserved until now, such as the Maasai community in East Africa," Murima said. "I hope that the unique cultures of Africa can be passed on from generation to generation, traversing oceans and continents, to be known by more people in the world." RICHMOND Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order Tuesday that directs officials to issue guidance on cellphone-free education policies in Virginias K-12 schools, the first statewide effort in Virginia to restrict cellphone usage during instructional time. The order directs the Virginia Department of Education to develop policies that establish the age-appropriate restriction or elimination of cellphone use during instructional time. The VDOE will also establish procedures that allow parents to contact their children in cases of emergency. This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn. Creating cellphone and social media-free educational environments in Virginias K-12 education system will benefit students, parents, and educators, Youngkin said in a statement. Todays executive order both establishes the clear goal to protect the health and safety of our students by limiting the amount of time they are exposed to addictive cellphones and social media and eliminates clear distractions in the classroom. It also kicks off the robust conversations among parents, students, teachers, and school and community leaders necessary to design and implement these policies and procedures at the local level. Studies show that cellphone and social media use among youth corresponds with increases in mental distress, self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideology. Because school-age children had to take online classes from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in their use of cellphones, which led to the rise in cellphone addiction in adolescents. In the Roanoke and New River valleys, several public school divisions already have adopted or are considering updates to their cellphone policies. Franklin County and Montgomery County this summer have prohibited use of cellphones on school grounds during the school day in the upcoming school year. Roanoke's school board was scheduled to hear a recommendation Tuesday evening from a cellphone policy work group that the city adopt an "Away for the Day" policy for cellphones in kindergarten to eighth grade, and an "Away during Instruction" policy for grades 9-12. Roanoke County's school board will review an updated Student Mobile Device Policy at a 3:30 p.m. Thursday work session. Six Richmond Public Schools implemented a cellphone ban pilot in January following mounting concerns about students safety and mental health. "I often disagree with the Governor, but on this, I'm in total agreement, said RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. We piloted a cellphone ban last year in some of our high schools and middle schools, and we saw more student engagement in class and fewer distractions throughout the day. On top of that, students reported spending more time talking with their peers. Cellphones are incredible tools, but our schools are better off without them." RPS Director of Safety and Security John Beazley said at a school board meeting last week that all of the high schools that implemented the pilot elected not to continue it, while all of the middle schools chose to continue the pilot. The plan was for students to lock up their cellphones in magnetic pouches at the beginning of each school day and unlock the pouches to receive their phones at the end of each school day. It worked in the middle schools, Beazley said, but not as much in the high schools. Middle school feedback is they really like it, they see kids more engaged, Beazley said. The high school feedback is that the kids have found ways to get around (the pouches), they're doing devious stuff to hide their phones, and its become a lot of work for the administration. The Henrico County School Board voted in early June to update their student code of conduct for cellphone use. High school and middle school students must keep phones out of sight, silenced or in airplane mode during class and instruction-related after-school activities. Elementary students are barred from using phones during the day without teacher permission. The Hanover County School Board at its Tuesday night meeting is expected to approve a policy that would prohibit students from using their phones for the entire school day. The Virginia Department of Education will host public listening sessions over the next six weeks to gather feedback and use that to draft the model policies. Youngkin directed the VDOE to publish its draft guidance by Aug. 15, and after receiving public feedback, issue final guidance for local school divisions to adopt cellphone-free education policies and procedures by January 1. Youngkin also announced Tuesday that the education department and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services will contribute $500,000 to support this initiative. "The more we learn, the more we know that too much screen time - especially time spent on addictive apps - is harmful to kids' physical and mental health, said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly. The U.S. Surgeon General last month called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to the mandatory labels on cigarette boxes. Governor Youngkin's Executive Order 33 complements that advisory well, Kelly said. Too many childhoods have ended because of the wild west of addictive apps, and it is time we work together to bring childhood back." Nothing in Youngkins executive order prohibits local school boards from adopting policies more strict than the VDOEs forthcoming guidance. The executive order also has no consequences, legal or otherwise, for school boards that may defy the order. Local school boards across the state, including Fairfax County - the largest school division - and Richmond, defied the Youngkin administrations guidance on K-12 transgender policies. Exclusive-India races to build power plants in region claimed by China, sources say A liquefied petroleum gas delivery truck drives along India's Tezpur-Tawang highway which runs to the Chinese border, in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh By Sarita Chaganti Singh NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India plans to spend $1 billion to expedite the construction of 12 hydropower stations in the northeastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, two government sources said, a move that could raise tensions with China that lays claims to the region. The federal finance ministry under Nirmala Sitharaman recently approved up to 7.5 billion rupees ($89.85 million) in financial assistance to each hydropower project in the northeastern region, the sources said. Under the scheme, about 90 billion rupees will likely be allotted for the 12 hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh, said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the matter. The scheme is likely to support northeastern states and help them finance equity holdings in the projects they host. Having state governments on board generally helps in expediting regulatory clearances, locals rehabilitation and negotiations on sharing electricity with the host state. The plans for the hydropower stations are expected to be announced in the 2024/2025 federal budget that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will unveil on July 23, the sources said, declining to be named as the information remained confidential. The Indian finance and power ministries and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Last August, the government awarded contracts to state-run firms NHPC, SJVNL and NEEPCO for the construction of the 11.5-gigawatt-capacity plants entailing an estimated investment of $11 billion, as part of a broader project to develop infrastructure in the border region. None of the companies responded to a request for comments. These power plants were earlier enlisted with private sector firms, but remained non-starters due to various reasons. India has built less than 15-gigawatt hydropower plants in the last 20 years, while installations of new coal and other renewable sources of energy were nearly 10 times of the new hydropower projects. India and China share a 2,500 km (1553.43 mile) largely un-demarcated border, over which they fought a war in 1962. India says Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country, but China claims it is a part of southern Tibet, and has objected to other Indian infrastructure projects there. The Indian government is pushing projects in the eastern region following reports that Beijing could construct dams on a section of the Brahmaputra river, known as the Yarlung Tsangbo in China, that flows from Tibet through Arunachal Pradesh. India is concerned that Chinese projects in the region could trigger flash floods or create water scarcity. Both countries are working to improve infrastructure along their border regions since clashes in western Himalayas left 20 Indian and at least four Chinese troops dead in 2020. Last week, India Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Kazakhstan where the two agreed to step up talks to resolve issues along their border. ($1 = 83.4710 Indian rupees) (Additional reporting by Krishn Kaushik in New Delhi; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Sherry Jacob-Phillips) A documentary retracing the ancient journey of Marco Polo (1254-1324), a Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled to China during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), premiered in London on Wednesday. In the Footsteps of Marco Polo is a film produced by One Tribe TV starring 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 North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region and ending in Beijing. Stanley Johnson, former British politician and father of former prime minister Boris Johnson, says that he initially began the journey with his friends in 1961 from Venice, Italy, but stopped at the border between Afghanistan and China. "We took this as an opportunity to build bridges between the East and the West," says Stanley Johnson. "It's important nowadays because we are confronting global issues like climate change and we must 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 journeys, meet the people, learn the culture, and appreciate the landscapes and accomplishments of China, says Zheng, inviting British people to visit China. "It's exciting to follow the journey of Marco Polo," says Max Johnson, who lived and studied in China. "And as his son, I have to follow in my father's footsteps. It's a very beautiful moment for me. Many people say things about China but they haven't even been there. It's important to go to China and see it for yourself." By Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that the death of innocent children was painful and terrifying, a day after a lethal strike on a children's hospital in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The visiting Indian leader used emotive language to deliver an implicit rebuke to Putin at a summit intended to underscore the deepening partnership between their two countries. Winding up his two-day trip, the two sides set out nine key areas for closer cooperation, ranging from nuclear energy to medicine, and said they aimed to boost bilateral trade by more than half to hit $100 billion by 2030. But given that Putin has rarely been publicly criticised face-to-face over the war in Ukraine by the leader of a country that Russia sees as a friend, Modi's televised comments were striking. "Whether it is war, conflict or a terrorist attack, any person who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives," Modi said. "But even in that, when innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying." Ukraine says it has recovered fragments of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the Kyiv children's hospital which was hit on Monday during a wave of Russian attacks that killed 44 Ukrainians, including four children, across the country. At the hospital itself, two adults were killed and Interfax Ukraine said eight children were among about 50 people wounded. Russia said, without providing evidence, that it was a Ukrainian anti-missile system that struck the hospital. Modi appeared to criticise Russia once before over its actions in Ukraine when he told Putin in September 2022 that "today's era is not an era of war". Putin said at that time he understood Modi's concerns. India, however, has not condemned Russia's invasion and has taken the opportunity to buy record amounts of discounted Russian oil as sanctions have decimated Moscow's trade with the West. Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, accompanying Modi on the trip, said India wanted to further strengthen energy ties and could seek deals with Rosneft and other leading Russian oil firms. The two countries said they were also exploring an increase in Russian coal sales to India. In joint statements, they further outlined plans for closer cooperation in developing the Northern Sea Route through Arctic waters and for working together in space exploration, among other areas. SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP For Russia, India has become an increasingly important partner, both economically and diplomatically, as Moscow seeks to demonstrate that Western attempts to isolate it over the war in Ukraine have failed. Putin, speaking before Modi, said their two countries enjoyed a "particularly privileged strategic partnership". "I thank you for the attention you are paying to the most acute problems including trying to find ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, above all by peaceful means, of course," he said. Modi told him: "Solutions are not possible on the battleground. Amidst guns, bullets and bombs, peace talks cannot be successful. We have to find the path to peace only through talks." Putin did not visibly react to Modi's remarks and it was not clear if they had influenced the summit's course. The Kremlin said an expected round of delegation-level talks would not take place as the two leaders had covered the agenda in full. SENSITIVE TIMING The timing of the Ukrainian hospital incident was embarrassing for Modi, just as he began his visit on Monday. As Modi shared his image hugging Putin on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day". The U.S. State Department said on Monday it had raised concerns with India about its relationship with Russia. Separately, President Joe Biden called the latest attacks on Ukraine "a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality". Russia said it struck military targets and the Kremlin repeated its insistence that Russia does not target civilians. Swasti Rao, Eurasia expert at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses think-tank in New Delhi, said Modi's stance was aimed at projecting India as a credible mediator between Russia and Ukraine and "trying to reinstate the international community's faith in India as a credible actor" which opposed violence. It was also meant to remind Moscow, Rao said, that "at the end of the day we are a valuable partner, you're a valuable partner, but then we also stand by the U.N. Charter and international law". (Reporting by Reuters in Moscow and Krishn Kaushik in New Delhi; writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Mark Heinrich) Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Athena, Kristin, and Ilyce here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Pay Dirt, Oh, the poor struggling doctors in America! said somewhat farcically. But it actually is kind of true for a lot of physicians these days who have tons of schooling debt and work for big box corporations milking their labor. Heres our situation: Weve both been in training up until now, each making around $90,000, which is decent for a resident salary, living in a high-cost-of-living area. We have been essentially equal in terms of income and we split living expenses 50/50. I have $300,000 of debt (which is average) and my partner has $40,000 due to scholarships. In our marriage, we have decided to individually be responsible for our own debt. Now that we are recently married, my question pertains to the yours, mine, and ours account system. In my first job, I will be making $250,000. Because of their own health concerns and personal preference, my partner has decided to work half-time and makes around $120,000. This is not a point of contention and I support anyone who wants to live a balanced life! The point of contention is that we each have very different saving styles pre-marriage. Even on a resident salary in a HCOL area, I put away $80,000 between a Roth IRA and a high-yield savings account. My partner does not place as big of an emphasis on avidly saving and their assets are around $30,000. My concern is how the discrepancy in saving styles will affect us going forward. Seeing how on the same salary I put away more than twice their nest egg, I worry that with the salary difference coming up (with me earning twice theirs), this divide will just grow. I worry about being resentful that I will be the party earning more AND putting more away due to different spending habits. (I also acknowledge that the differences in our debt burden may have characterized our respective habits. I live comfortably according to meI have all the creature comforts I need, but didnt feel the need to spend like a doctor doctor during training because I wasnt at that stage of life yet.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our financial advisor has advised each party to put 25 percent of their post-tax monthly paycheck into savings. Thus, this ours account (which is a HYSA) grows at a glacial pace (in my opinion). We have the financial goals most people have: house downpayment, expenses for kids in the future, paying off our individual loans, maxing out our individual retirement accounts, and enjoying reasonable (not lavish) vacations and hobbies. I even suggested that it seemed reasonable to me to live like a resident for the next year or two and save all the extra. What do you think is an equitable ours account growth mindset given these discrepancies in earnings and debt? Whats Up Doc? Dear Doc, Actually, your question is about choices and decisions. The most impactful decision youve made to date is not talking directly to each other about how you save and spend money. That needs to change, if you want to have a long and happy marriage. Advertisement I wonder why youve chosen to fund a Roth IRA and put away money in a high-yield savings account but not pay down a significant portion of your debt. Likewise, I wonder why your spouse hasnt taken some or all of their savings and paid down whats left of their student loans. I understand wanting to have an emergency account and saving for a down payment, but having $330,000 worth of student loan debt will eat significantly into your ability to buy a house, let alone fund the rest of your financial goals, even with a combined salary approaching $400,000 per year. Advertisement You say that you dont resent your spouse for choosing a more balanced lifestyle. But, I read an undercurrent of envy in your letter, even as your savings build. They have a tenth of your debt, and could be debt-free tomorrow if they chose to use their savings to pay off their loans. It will take some years before youre in that situation. Perhaps you should each focus on paying off your own debts as quickly as possible and then start the process of building your financial lives together. If your partner is willing to continue to live on $180,000 per year, you should use everything else you earn (after you fully fund your 401(k)) to pay down your debt as quickly as possible. They should use their extra funds (after contributing to their 401(k)) to pay off their debt, and then stash the rest in savings. Advertisement Advertisement If you choose to pay off your debt first, youll find it relatively easy (even in a HCOL area) to save for a home, kids, and retirement on your higher salaries. None of this can happen, however, until you and your spouse sit down and talk through your financial priorities. They have to buy into a shared vision of your short- and long-term goals. If you cant agree, it doesnt matter how much you both put into a shared account. Youll always be watching the bottom line with frustration. And, thats no way to live. Advertisement Advertisement Want Advice From Pay Dirt? For questions on the money issues in your life try submitting to Pay Dirt! Dear Pay Dirt, Advertisement I need to leave my husband but we cant afford the divorce, much less create two households, and Ive been advised given the particulars not to tell him a divorce is coming until Im ready to serve papers, which I wont be until our finances are in better order. No one is in any physical danger but his contempt for me and our poor communication and conflict are becoming more and more intolerable, and its affecting our small kids. He refuses to go to counseling (jointly or for his untreated depression) or to participate in financial advising. Unfortunately, I also have ADHD as a working mother of a toddler and kindergarten, with a demanding job and elderly parents needing increasing support, on top of the emotional mess and unpaid labor in my marriage. Even medicated, my executive functioning is maxed out. Im having a really hard time grasping much less following through on steps proactively in that direction. Advertisement Im the one paying the bills, literally I push send, and also manage decisions about what goes where and what to triageand Im the primary breadwinner while he uses his GI bill to finish his BA. He is supposed to cover certain designated bills directly and then transfer funds to me every month from his retirement pay, housing allowance, and small federal student loans. Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, we have been spending more than we jointly contribute, resulting in the decimation of my savings that I came into the marriage with (he didnt have any), a joint payment plan to the IRS for underpaid estimated taxes while I was prioritizing credit card payments, and $25,000 and growing in credit card debt in my name for joint expenses. He is responsible for most of the overspending, while unable or unwilling to explain discrepancies in his transfers to me or his spending choices. Any attempts at active collaboration or discussion of changes we could both make lead to him shutting down completely or lashing out. The only lever I have to slow his spending down is to take him off my credit card. This almost certainly will lead to him making terrible choices that put us further into debt anyway (i.e. opening up his own credit card with terrible rates and running it up without telling me), and/or withholding the transfers hes making to me now. So Im not even sure thats the place to start. I dont have direct access to his bank account or income (despite multiple requests and the fact he has access to everything of mine). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive consulted with a few divorce lawyers but they cant really advise me on specific financial steps, and financial advising Ive had or looked into doesnt really seem equipped to deal with the specific, personal, and somewhat adversarial nature of needing to get joint spending under control with a completely unwilling partner. Even getting to a point of being able to afford a small studio nearby so we can swap off nesting with the kids during an unofficial trial separation would be such a relief though ideally I would be positioned to pay legal fees ($15,000?) as well as fully move all of us into two separate homes. Increasing my income above the current mid-figures anytime soon isnt realisticbut he should graduate in a year and start earning a salary on top of his retirement pay. What steps should I take to get myself out of this mess? Cant Afford to Divorce, Cant Afford Not To Dear Cant Afford to Divorce, Advertisement Advertisement Your situation is complex and emotionally challenging on so many levels. Im not a divorce attorney so I cant advise you there. I understand why you want to wait until your spouse graduates, but I can see the benefits of beginning an official separation as quickly as possible. Advertisement To make this happen, youll need to get your financial and emotional ducks in a row. Can you and the kids move in with a family member sooner rather than later? Can you temporarily rent a small apartment thats big enough for just you and the kids that is close to their schooling? Can you meet with an accountant to go over your numbers and figure out how to divide your tax debt? Youll also want to document everything thats been going on. Keep detailed records of all income, expenses, and financial discrepancies. This will be crucial for any future legal proceedings. Advertisement Talk with your attorneys about the benefit of filing for a legal separation now, to protect your finances. If they think you should wait to file papers, quietly start separating your finances. Open a new bank account in your name only. Start redirecting your income there and use it for essential expenses. Open up a credit card in your own name, then freeze your credit with the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. Create a bare-bones budget focusing on essential expenses only. Cut non-essential spending ruthlessly. Pay the minimum on your debt, knowing that youll soon be able to direct more funds to getting your debt paid off. Set up an online account for your joint credit card and create alerts so that youre instantly notified about any charge. Just before you file the official separation paperwork, take your spouses name off of your credit card and ask your credit card company to provide you with a new card number. That should limit his ability to access whats left of your money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you officially separate your lives, you should be able to stop the financial bleeding. Youll still be in a hole, but its your hole, and youll dig your way out of it. If your spouse gets a new credit card, it will need to be in his name only. Any debts he rings up would be his responsibility, not yours. This is going to be a long, complicated process. But, youll get through it. Just make sure you know what you want and keep your eye focused on that ball, no matter what happens. Take care. Want more Pay Dirt every week? Slate Plus members get an additional column each week. Sign up for Slate Plus now. Advertisement Dear Pay Dirt: I loved my condo. It is technically a one-bedroom, but I put in a sliding door so the living room can double as a second bedroom and there is a small windowless storage area that I could cram in a twin bed. My sister moved in after she caught her boyfriend cheating with their roommate and needed a place to crash. She is paying rent but hasnt had any success in finding another place these past few months. And she will not stop complaining. The birds and traffic keep her up when she is in the living room, she can hear me when I get up to make breakfast, but sleeping in the storage area makes her claustrophobic. In her opinion, the only suitable solution is for me to give up my bedroom. That isnt happening. I am just so tired of the topic! How do I get her to stop? Room to Go Dear Room to Go, Advertisement Advertisement Youve been a kind sibling. You took in your sister when she was at a low point, and made room for her. Her ungrateful behavior has got to sting. Advertisement Still, you need to put up some firm boundaries with her that will let her know shes still loved, but that even love has its limits. So, the next time she complains about her bed, the noise, or anything in the apartment, just say, Sis, I love you, but its time for you to find a new place to live. Rinse and repeat as often as necessary. Eventually, shell get tired of complaining without any response and will understand that not only will you not give up your bedroom, but that she needs to find her own space. By all means, offer to help her look for something affordable. Advertisement Dear Pay Dirt, I (M 21) am going to graduate college soon, and I cant stop thinking (or well, dreading) the idea of navigating the adult world in the U.S. I was lucky enough in college to do two short studies abroad in Europe, one in Spain and one in England, and I felt more at home there (especially in Spain) than I do in the U.S. There are so many reasons I want to move to Europe: walkable cities, functional public transportation, socialized healthcare, better labor and environmental protections, good food, etc. But I know emigration is HARD, logistically, mentally, and monetarily. I dont know where to start, or even if I should. I know it would probably be easier to suck it up and stay in the U.S. Not to mention Ive been hearing about how difficult it is for native-born people my age to find employment in Europe, so I cant even imagine how difficult it would be for me as an immigrant. I guess my question is what your advice is for figuring out if I should stay or go? Want to Be In That Part of the World Dear Want to Be in That Part of the World, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been to many countries in Europe, and I agree with you: Theyre lovely. Many places in Europe are quaint, beautiful, walkable, and interesting. Theres great art, delicious things to eat, and stunning architecture. But unless you have an official way to become an EU citizen or British subject, its going to be tough to find a legal way to live and work there. So, start there. Many of these countries offer a way to claim citizenship by genealogy. For example, there are three paths to becoming an Italian citizen: by descent, Italian citizenship by marriage, and naturalization. Jure Sanguinis, citizenship by ancestry, can be obtained if your mother, father, paternal or maternal grandfather, or paternal or maternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of their birth. There are some twists and turns youll have to get through, plus a mountain of paperwork, but if you are successful, youll be able to pass down citizenship from generation to generation going forward. If you want to be a resident, youll need to live in Italy for at least 10 years before you can apply. And, you must have a way to work legally, so finding a company in the U.S. that will transfer you to Italy would be the way to go. To continue with our example, Italy, along with several other countries in the EU, also recently launched a digital nomad visa for folks with remote jobs looking to work in the country. If you can find a U.S.-based company that will allow you to work abroad, that might be another option. Advertisement Advertisement There are companies that can help you evaluate these choices. Be careful that you dont fall for a scam site in your haste to find a new home. Advertisement A faster way to start living abroad is to apply to graduate school in your country of choice. Make sure you know the language fluently, and once youre there, use every spare minute to make the connections youll need to land a job that will allow you to stay after your education is finished. The nice thing about going to graduate school in Europe is that its more affordable than in the U.S. It will also give you time to assess what its like to actually live in a European country, and experience the negatives as well as all of the benefits life there will bring. Good luck. Ilyce Classic Prudie My boyfriend, Chris, is obsessed with a famous pop star, Sparkle. We are both gay men in our late 30s, and Sparkle has been a household name and a gay icon since we were toddlers. Chris owns every piece of her merchandise, goes to every tour, has multiple Sparkle tattoos, does impressions and dresses up as her for fun, and has even managed to strike up a vague friendship through social media in his line of work. Welcome to How Bad Is This, Really?, a recurring feature in which we take the temperature of how things are looking in the presidential election and what seems likely to happen in November. After a day of meetings and discussion between House Democrats, the word from Capitol Hill Tuesday was that Joe Biden had managed to stop the bleeding. After a number of Dems said in public or to colleagues over the weekend that they believed that the presidents mental deterioration should preclude him from continuing to run for reelection, Biden and congressional leaders prodded a larger number of other members of the House to announce they still support him as a mid-August nominating convention approaches. Well, sort of. The tortured, circular phrase that has been used frequently by Democrats is Joe Biden is the nominee or Joe Biden is our nominee, not I believe that Joe Biden is mentally sharp enough to conduct the kinds of dynamic and persuasive public appearances that will be required to overcome the polling deficit he currently faces. As Semafors Benjy Sarlin first articulated, Bidens handful of modestly unscripted postdebate television appearances may not have convinced anyone that his mental condition isnt a problem. (The debate was like a cursed version of The Dress for Democrats; instead of assessing basic sensory perceptions, it was a test of who would acknowledge the basic evidence of their eyes and ears.) But it did convince them that Biden is dead set on not dropping out of the presidential race voluntarilyand that, as such, further public criticism would be futile at best and damaging to the entire partys November prospects at worst. Thus Joe Biden is the nominee. Advertisement So is that it? Matter settled? Its doubtful, for a few reasons. For one, Senate Democratswho are not under quite as much pressure to fall in line as representatives arehave not quite reached a He is the nominee place yet. Minnesotas Amy Klobuchar and Washingtons Patty Murray, both long-tenured members of the upper chamber who exist somewhere close to the partys center, released statements that amount to Lets wait and see what he does next. Asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether Biden should stay on the ticket, second-ranking Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois said, Well see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People close to the president, meanwhile, are arguing not just that the choice of whether to drop out should be his alone but that he affirmatively needs to stay in the race because he remains the partys best candidate. Since Biden beat Trump in 2020 over the objections of various pundits and haters, this line of thinking goes, any current objections are, if anything, just further evidence that hes going to do it again. Well-connected Democratic donor Dmitri Mehlhorn took this position in an interview with Drop Site News, while former White House chief of staff Ron Klain has also expressed it in various tweets. Advertisement These arguments posit that there is some sort of special thing about Bidena black-box Biden-ness qualitythat appeals to voters but is imperceptible to elite critics fixated on his verbal inelegance. He might be trailing a little in the polls, the reasoning goes, but hes still within the margin of error in most surveysand just wait until he gets cooking. But this is backwards logicwhen you say hes going to lose, it means hes going to winand not historically true. In 1987 Biden ran for president and said that he felt he would win the race despite weak polling. He did not. In 2008 he ran again, polled poorly, finished fifth in the Iowa caucuses, and dropped out. In 2020, after polling poorly ahead of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, he finished fourth (Iowa) and fifth (New Hampshire). Great calls by the haters, in those cases. Advertisement Bidens eventual victory in 2020, furthermore, was the result of coordination among high-level Democrats whobased on polls that showed him beating Donald Trump head-to-headjudged that he would be the strongest general-election candidate. The bet paid off, in those circumstances, with the 2020 version of Biden running against an unpopular incumbent in a race that involved few public appearances because of COVID, and beginning with a lead. Its quite a stretch to say that that single data point means hell win this time, from a worse starting position. Advertisement But thats the good news (as it were) for Biden skeptics. The idea that theres something voters like about Biden that the press doesnt understand can hold up going forward only with plausibly close or improving polling. Mehlhorn says outright that hed be proved wrong if polls continue to move away from the president. Thats what seemed to be happening Tuesday, at least, with the release of a dismal Wisconsin poll in which Biden trails Trump by 5 points. Advertisement We conclude this column with a rating on the Shovel Meter, a measure of exactly how sedated you might want to be, on a scale of one to five shovel blows to the head, if youre concerned about Trumps reelection. Today were at four, because things are bad, but perhaps not permanently and irrevocably bad. Advertisement Advertisement The vaunted, winning Bidenthe Peoples Bidenwill have to show up sometime soon to reverse the slide, perhaps at the solo Thursday press conference hell be holding at the conclusion of this weeks NATO summit in Washington. And if the diminished, confused debate Biden shows up Thursday instead? Well, then we do this all again. This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!) Officers are supposed to raid homes and seize property only when they need to protect public safety. But the police in Marion, Kansas, had a different motive when they showed up on Ruth Herbels doorstep with a search warrant. Herbel, an 81-year-old retiree, got elected to City Council in the small community north of Wichita, Kansas. She became vice mayor and used her position to challenge the mayor, whom she saw as corrupt. Advertisement The mayor responded by trying to remove Herbel from office. Initial attempts included an unsuccessful recall campaign and a scheme to trick Herbel into agreeing she was an at-will employee. Finally, the mayor decided that the only way to get rid of his political opponent was to sic the police on her. The problem was, Herbel had done nothing wrongso the mayor had to make something up. His chance came in 2023, when Herbel and local journalists at the Marion County Record saw on Facebook that a restaurant owner close to the mayor had a DUI conviction. When Herbel warned her colleagues that the conviction could jeopardize the restaurant owners liquor license, the mayor and his allies lied and claimed that Herbel and the journalists had stolen the womans identity and improperly accessed her driving record. Advertisement The allegation was bogus. But the mayor had the police chief investigate anyway. Days later, the chief and sheriffs office had a search warrant ready for Herbels home and the newsroom. County officials then shopped for a judge who would sign the warrant, and they found one who presides nearly an hour outside the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raids soon followed. Officers stormed the newsroom, where journalists were investigating the police chief. Officers also raided the home of the 98-year-old co-owner of the newspaper, who died of a stress-induced heart attack the next day. When officers came to Herbels home, they read her Miranda rights, interrogated her, and seized her computer and only phone. The intrusion terrified her husband, who suffers from dementia. It also left Herbel without a phone to call for help. Advertisement For all the damage the police caused, they uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. Yet they went back to the station and drew up an arrest warrant anyway. The strong-arm tactics backfired after the raids became national news. The mayor didnt run for reelection, the chief resigned, other officers left the force, and the victims fought back in court. Herbel filed her own lawsuit on May 28, 2024. In my wildest dreams, I never thought something like this could happen to me, Herbel says. Sylvia Gonzalez knows this sort of shock. Her political opponents jailed her for fabricated reasons in Castle Hills, Texas, after she ran for City Council and got elected on a reform platform. Compared with Herbel, Gonzalez was youngjust 72 at the time. But the trauma of spending a day behind bars was intense. So, Gonzalez sued the mayor, the police chief, and a private attorney who targeted her after the criminal case fizzled in 2019. Advertisement Just getting to trial has been difficult. But last month, the Supreme Court held in Gonzalez v. Trevino that probable cause for a pretextual crime is not enough to justify a retaliatory arrest. The victory allows Gonzalez to continue her fight in court. She and Herbel are not alone. Our public interest law firm, the Institute for Justice, represents them and other victims of First Amendment retaliation. We have learned from sad experience that mayors, police chiefs, city managers, and other officials routinely punish speech they do not like. Advertisement Related From Slate Even the Bright Side for Biden Isnt Very Good News Read More A SWAT team tackled and arrested Waylon Bailey after he made a joke about the police on Facebook in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Officers fined William Fambrough and towed his van after he campaigned for the mayors opponent in East Cleveland, Ohio. Deputies kicked citizen journalist Justin Pulliam out of a press conference, then arrested him for filming a police encounter with a mentally ill man in Fort Bend County, Texas. And officers arrested Noah Petersentwicefor peaceably criticizing the mayor during public meetings in Newton, Iowa. All these cases involve First Amendment retaliation. And all involve law-enforcement abuse. The weaponization of police power must stop. People have a right to criticize the government without fear of fines, fees, and incarceration. Hopefully, the Supreme Courts ruling in Gonzalez will make these sorts of cases fewer and farther between. The families of Taiwan writers Yu Guangzhong (1928-2017) and Sanmao (1943-91), born as Chen Maoping and also known to the English-speaking world as Echo Chan, recently donated a selection of their manuscripts and other literary documents to the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature in Beijing. They made the donation when they attended a forum on June 29 to enhance literary ties across the Taiwan Strait in Xiamen, Fujian province, which was held as part of the Straits Forum, the largest grassroots cross-Strait exchange event. It was the first literary event at the Straits Forum, which attracted 140 renowned writers from both sides, including Shu Ting, Zhang Xiaofeng and A Yi, as well as youth representatives from various universities. Sanmao's younger brother Chen Chieh says that in his sister's short life, she wrote many books beloved by readers on both sides of the Strait. "Sanmao loved traveling and writing; she cherished Chinese culture and left deep footprints on the Chinese mainland. This grand event is a rare opportunity to take her legacy home," Chen Chieh said of his sister, who was born and spent the first three years of her life in Chongqing until the family relocated to Taiwan in 1948. Yu's daughter Yu Pei-san talked about her late father's great love for books. "Ever since I was a child, I would see him carefully wiping his books, again and again, using his clothes. He didn't care much about clothes, but books were especially precious. "My father used to say that if we compare Chinese culture to concentric circles, the core would be Chinese culture while the radius would be the Chinese language. Wherever the Chinese language reaches, that's how far the circles extend. As long as the language survives, its spirit and culture will advance together, promoting one another." Taiwan writer Chen Hsiu-Mei, whose pen name is Chen Ruoxi, recalls how she embarked on her literary journey and the profound influence a teacher from the Chinese mainland had on her. She says that she hopes her life story will help the younger generations open their minds and create their own literary connections. According to Huang Wentao, deputy head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, the literary forum included a series of associated events, among which were discussions about writing novels and poetry, lectures and recitations of classical works. From July 1 to Wednesday, writers and youth representatives from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan visited Nanjing, the provincial capital of Jiangsu province, to go to the museums and experience the city's natural and cultural landscapes. Hu Bangsheng, Party group member of the China Writers Association, one of the organizers of the literary event, says that writers from both sides of the Strait share a profound literary tradition and have been enhancing exchange and mutual understanding of late. He says that in hosting the event, the organizers were seeking to deepen the friendship between literary circles on both sides through the medium of Chinese culture to build an exchange platform and nurture young writers. He adds that over the years, the China Writers Association has organized seminars and exchanged visits to promote literary connections between both sides of the Strait, and that the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature has manuscripts and other literary documents belonging to 30 Taiwan writers. It has also carried out research and preservation in this regard. This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!) Amid the torrent of far-right rulings this term, the U.S. Supreme Court maintained its practice of diluting if not outright ignoring Eighth Amendment rights against excessive criminal punishments. Last month, the court sidestepped the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishments to criminalize homelessness, subjecting the most vulnerable Americans to fines they cannot pay and jail time that will only push them further from stable housing. It also left in place dozens of mandatory life-without-parole sentences imposed on youth in Arizona, despite a clear constitutional ban on precisely such extreme punishment for children. This isnt new. Over decades, the Supreme Court has gutted the Eighth Amendments protections against excessive punishment to the point that a life sentence for stealing a few hundred dollars gets rubber-stamped. With this hands-off approach, SCOTUS has helped turn the United States into the world leader in incarcerationmore than 2 million people are held in our jails and prisons every day, including 200,000 confined for lifeand earned the moniker, coined by law professor Rachel Barkow, the court of mass incarceration. Advertisement Like Justice Sonia Sotomayor, we remain hopeful that someday in the near future, [the] Court will play its role in safeguarding constitutional liberties for the most vulnerable among us. But the court is not the only arbiter of constitutional rights. These same issues are also litigated in state supreme courts across the country, often under state constitutional provisions that are unique or far more expansive than their federal analogs. In these courts, even the role of history and original meaning can be a wellspring of progressive values. Its often just a matter of looking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider Illinois. Its most recent Constitutional Convention, held just under 55 years ago in 1970, produced the nations strongest constitutional provision protecting people from extreme and vengeful punishments. Rather than ban cruel and unusual punishments, the Illinois Constitution explicitly names rehabilitation as the primary purpose of any criminal sanction. It provides that all penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and with the objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship. Advertisement The text alone suggests a profound break from the Eighth Amendment. But just as important is the extraordinary history behind it, recently unearthed in a new law review article published in the Northwestern Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology. Championed by Chicago civil rights leaders, the proportionate penalties clause, as it is better known, was forged amid a racial justice movement aimed directly at police violence and unjust incarceration. In the late 1960s, racist police violence across the country sparked massive uprisings. In Chicago, unrest after Martin Luther King Jr.s 1968 assassination left at least nine people dead, 200 more injured, and over 2,000 arrested. Just months later, thousands of National Guard troops descended on the city during the Democratic National Convention as police and protesters clashed over the Vietnam War. Advertisement Advertisement In short, Chicago became the epicenter of the clash between citizensoften poor residents of colorand armed authorities, a conflict that continued with police raids and killings of Black Panthers on the citys West Side. Later, President Lyndon Johnsons Kerner Commission squarely blamed racism as the root cause of this turmoil and emphasized the necessity of criminal legal reform to racial equality. In Illinois, this work went to the 1970 Constitutional Convention delegates. On the convention floor, Chicago civil rights activist Leonard Foster offered a new and distinctly modern provision to limit extremes in the states criminal legal system. In addition to looking to the act that the person committed, Foster said, we also should look at the person who committed the act and determine to what extent he can be restored to useful citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement This call for reformation over vengeance was endorsed by renowned civil rights lawyer Elmer Gertz (famed for freeing Nathan Leopold from prison): I think if were going to lower the crime rate and make this a more livable world, we have to think in such terms as those set forth by Mr. Foster. Others pressed Foster for clarification: Would this constitutional mandate apply not just to the Legislature but also to sentencing courts? Yes, Foster said. What if a prison sentence is within a legislatively prescribed range? Could it still be unconstitutional if not sufficiently tailored to rehabilitation? Yes again. With this understanding, both the delegates and Illinois voters ratified Fosters amendment. Advertisement Advertisement But this history of rights expansion is not limited to Illinois. Arizonas constitutional framers, for example, insisted that punishment must serve the goals of reform and rehabilitation, believing that public safety was better served by helping people return to society. Any punishment that forgoes these idealsincluding death, needlessly long prison sentences, and brutal conditions of confinementis unconstitutional. Advertisement Going back even further, a voluminous and detailed historical record shows that Pennsylvanias ban on cruel punishments, adopted in 1790, was firmly rooted in Enlightenment principleswhich approved only criminal punishments that further deterrence or rehabilitation and recognized that the efficacy of state-imposed sanctions should always be tested against contemporary science and wisdom. Related From Slate The Supreme Court Just Opened the Door to the Criminalization of Disability Read More But for this to matter, state courts must take their own state constitutions seriously. For decades, that has been oddly rare. Many state courts have unquestioningly abdicated their power as the final arbiters of state constitutions and instead applied federal precedent as their ownan approach that has been largely true even in Arizona, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. But thats why anyone who is despondent over the U.S. Supreme Courts hard-right shiftespecially legal practitioners, civil rights lawyers, and policy advocatesmust turn their attention to the possibilities of state courts and state constitutions. State supreme courts are far more likely to shape strong independent rights if lawyers persuasively make the case for them. Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, a renewed push to litigate state constitutional claims has shown strong results. In Illinois, a court of appeals last year emphasized the states unique antipunishment clause, and in particular its focus [] on the objective of rehabilitation, to order a new sentence for a 65-year-old man imprisoned since the age of 18. The man, who had shown extensive rehabilitative efforts, has since been released. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will soon decide if its state constitution bans life without parole for felony murderthe archaic legal theory that holds people responsible for killings they neither committed nor intended to commit but that resulted (however tenuously) from some other crime in which they took part. And the states founding-era adoption of Enlightenment punishment theories is at the heart of briefing in the case. There has also been a growing trend of protecting youth and emerging adults from extreme prison terms. The Iowa and Washington state supreme courts, for example, have banned all sentences of life without parole for youth under 18. And a few months ago, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court went further, extending the same ban to anyone under age 21. The lesson is clear. If the Supreme Courts latest narrowing of Eighth Amendment and other fundamental rights feels enraging, or perhaps even hopeless, remember the power of state constitutions and the courts that interpret them. With all the focus in recent weeks on President Joe Bidens age-related limitations, its worth remembering that Donald Trumps incessant falsehoods and self-proclaimed desire to be a dictator on Day 1 make him far more unfit for the presidency. The latest Trump lie that should be garnering more attention is his attempt to distance himself from Project 2025: I know nothing about Project 2025, he posted on Truth Social last week. I have no idea who is behind it. That statement is demonstrably false. It reflects an attempt to deceive American voters about the dictatorship a second Trump term would bring. The reasons that Trump is unfit are manifest. He is a convicted felon and inveterate liar who coddles the nations adversaries and threatens its allies. His 30-plus falsehoods in the debate were no less disqualifying than Bidens age. But most concerning of all are his plans for autocracy, which we document in our American Autocracy Threat Tracker. We detail Trumps own promise to be a dictator on Day 1 of his presidency, to terminate or reject the Constitution, and to stretch the law to carry out his extreme policiessuch as mass deportations (by military force if necessary) and concentration camps for immigrants lacking permanent legal status. Dictatorship cannot of course be accomplished by one person alone. Thats why, in our Threat Tracker, we also document the autocratic proposals made by Trumps campaign, allies, and enablers. First among themand until now embraced by Trumpare the Heritage Foundation and its Project 2025, an 887-page document that outlines how Trump could arrogate unprecedented power in the presidency and eradicate checks on presidential control. In our tracker, we catalog how Project 2025 proposes to dismantle or radically overhaul the Departments of Justice and State; eliminate the Departments of Homeland Security, Education, and Commerce; radically repurpose other agencies; and eviscerate the professional civil service. One immediate priority discussed by leaders of Project 2025 are proposals for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act to suppress domestic dissent and violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That plan exemplifies the danger lurking beneath this extreme project, as hinted at by last weeks discussion of bloodshed. The president of the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025s parent organization, Kevin Roberts, said, We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be. The Heritage Foundation subsequently quote-tweeted this clip with one word: Yes. Contrary to Trumps disavowal, Project 2025 has been conceived, staffed, and endorsed by a plethora of Trump insidersincluding some of the former presidents most senior and influential advisers. Notably, John McEntee, a powerful figure in the Trump administration as the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, is a senior adviser to the effort and has helped spearhead its lists of potential Trump administration staffers. And Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide, is one of the most powerful architects of Project 2025, Axios has reported. Advertisement The list of Trump-affiliated figures who have played a role in Project 2025 does not stop there. It also includes Ben Carson, Trumps exsecretary of housing and urban development; Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser under Trump; and Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump. Vought is yet another central player in the former presidents orbit: He drafted a key chapter in Project 2025 and is now the policy director for the committee writing the Republican National Committees policy platform. And there are many other lower-profile Trump advisers involved in Project 2025, as we discuss in our Threat Tracker. Meanwhile, Trumps super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., has been running ads promoting a website called Trump Project 2025. And figures like Miller and Trumps press secretary Karoline Leavitt have previously appeared in online advertisements promoting Project 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Because of this, Project 2025 is Donald Trump, and Donald Trump is Project 2025. Whether or not Roberts chilling comment spurred Trumps social media post trying to separate himself from it, it is simply false. And if Trump will lie about that, on top of thousands of other documented lies, we cannot accept the remainder of his purported disavowal: I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them. This kind of gaslighting is one of the oldest dictator tricks, as Ruth Ben-Ghiat, one of the co-editors of the Threat Tracker, has documented in her scholarship. Dictators sometimes pretend not to know what is happening so they can blame their officials for the destruction and keep their personality cults in good shape. Advertisement Of all Trumps recent lies, his attempted dissociation with Project 2025 may be the most importantbecause hes trying to convince the American people that the choice between dictatorship and democracy that they face is not before them at all. That, and not just Joe Bidens (genuine) challenges, should be the issue dominating public discourse. If Biden is reelected, well get an aging yet good-hearted and law-abiding man who has demonstrated stellar performance as president. It is still up to Biden to prove that he has the stamina and competence to remain in the race. But with Donald Trump, you get a self-proclaimed dictator who, taking a page from the book of strongmen everywhere, now wants to fool you about his autocratic proclivities to secure office. This story was originally published by Undark and has been republished here with permission. Last December, a joint survey by the Economist and the polling organization YouGov claimed to reveal a striking antisemitic streak among Americas youth. One in five young Americans thinks the Holocaust is a myth, according to the poll. And 28 percent think Jews in America have too much power. Our new poll makes alarming reading, declared the Economist. The results inflamed discourse over the Israel-Hamas war on social media and made international news. There was one problem: The survey was almost certainly wrong. The Economist/YouGov poll was a so-called opt-in poll, in which pollsters often pay people theyve recruited online to take surveys. According to a recent analysis from the nonprofit Pew Research Center, such polls are plagued by bogus respondents who answer questions disingenuously for fun, or to get through the survey as quickly as possible to earn their reward. In the case of the antisemitism poll, Pews analysis suggested that the Economist/YouGov teams methods had yielded wildly inflated numbers. In a more rigorous poll posing some of the same questions, Pew found that only 3 percent of young Americans agreed with the statement the Holocaust is myth. These are strange times for survey science. Traditional polling, which relies on responses from a randomly selected group that represents the entire population, remains the gold standard for gauging public opinion, said Stanford political scientist Jon Krosnick. But as its become harder to reach people on the phone, response rates have plummeted, and those surveys have grown exponentially more expensive to run. Meanwhile, cheaper, less-accurate online polls have proliferated. Advertisement Unfortunately, the world is seeing much more of the nonscientific methods that are put forth as if theyre scientific, said Krosnick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, some pollsters defend those opt-in methods and say traditional polling has its own serious issues. Random sampling is a great scientific method, agreed Krosnicks Stanford colleague Douglas Rivers, chief scientist at YouGov. But these days, he said, it suffers from the reality that almost everyone contacted refuses to participate. Pollsters systematically underestimated support for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, he pointed out, because they failed to hear from enough of those voters. While lax quality controls for younger respondents, since tightened, led to misleading results on the antisemitism poll, YouGovs overall track record is good, said Rivers: Were competitive with anybody whos doing election polls. Advertisement Nonetheless, headlines as outrageous as they are implausible continue to proliferate: 7 percent of American adults think chocolate milk comes from brown cows; 10 percent of college graduates think Judge Judy is on the Supreme Court; and 4 percent of American adults (about 10 million people) drank or gargled bleach to prevent Covid-19. And although YouGov is one of the more respected opt-in pollsters, some of its findings one third of young millennials arent sure the Earth is round, for example strain credulity. Amidst a sea of surveys, its hard to distinguish solid findings from those that dissolve under scrutiny. And that confusion, some experts say, reflects deep-seated problems with new methods in the field developed in response to a modern era in which a representative sample of the public no longer picks up the phone. Advertisement The fractious evolution in polling science is likely to receive fresh attention as the 2024 elections heat up, not least because the consequences of failed or misleading surveys can go well beyond social science. Such survey clickbait erodes societys self-esteem, said Duke University political scientist Sunshine Hillygus: It undermines peoples trust that the American public is capable of self-governance. Advertisement Veteran pollster Gary Langer compares traditional randomized polling methods, known as probability polling, to dipping a ladle into a well-stirred pot of minestrone soup. We can look in and see some cannellini beans, little escarole, chunks of tomato, he said. We get a good representation of whats in the soup. It doesnt matter if the pot is the size of Yankee Stadium, he said. If the contents are thoroughly mixed, one ladle is enough to determine whats in it. Thats why probability surveys of 1,000 people can, in theory, represent what the entire country thinks. Advertisement The problem is that getting a truly representative sample is virtually impossible, said YouGovs Douglas Rivers, who pointed out that these days a good response rate to a randomized poll is 2 percent. Pew expends a great deal of effort to maintain a randomized panel of about 10,000 people willing to take surveys. For the most recent annual recruitment, the organization mailed letters to a random selection of 13,500 residential addresses obtained from the U.S. Postal Service, receiving around 4,000 responses according to Pew researcher Courtney Kennedy. They only invite one-quarter of responders to the panel. Otherwise, Kennedy explained, the panel would be overrun with the types of people most amenable to taking surveys. Eventually, they wound up with 933 new recruits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some groups in particular young people, people of color, and those who didnt go to college are generally more reluctant to take surveys, said Kennedy: Thats where they lose the perfect representative. Like every other pollster, she said, Pew adjusts their data, giving more weight to the responses of those underrepresented in the sample, so that the results represent the country in terms of demographics such as age, gender, race, education level, and political affiliation. Advertisement But those weighting methods are imperfect. And the people in a poll are still unrepresentative in at least one way: They are the Americans who are willing to answer a pollsters message. Those difficulties have prompted a quiet revolution in survey research over the past two decades. Advertisement In 2000, nearly all pollsters simply called people on the phone, according to a 2023 Pew study of polling methods. But use of calls alone plummeted starting in 2012, while online opt-in surveys like the Economist/YouGov survey, one of the main forms of what are known as nonprobability polls, soared. Nonprobability surveys dont stir the pot so that each ingredient has an equal chance of being selected. Instead, they scoop up whats referred to as a convenience sample of respondents, typically recruited online. Opt-in pollsters differ in how they recruit and select participants, and they are not always transparent about their methods. Once they have assembled a group of participants, pollsters can weight the sample so that it matches the broader U.S. population. But its much harder to accurately weight nonprobability polls, since there is less information on how people who opt into polls compare to the public at large. Advertisement Advertisement Probability sampling tends to yield more representative samples that nonprobability approaches, Kennedy wrote in an email. However, nonprobability surveys are typically much cheaper than probability polls. As Americans have ditched their landlines and stopped answering their cell to unknown callers, contacting people takes far more time and effort than it used to. As a result, according to Duke University political scientist Sunshine Hillygus, while it can cost as little as $1 per response to run a short online opt-in poll, it can cost 50 to 500 times that for a high-quality random-sample survey. To create a pool of people to take opt-in surveys, polling companies recruit through ads that pop up on social media, internet search engines, and even during video games, offering cash or rewards to complete surveys, said Kennedy. YouGov, for example, pays people in points 500 to 1,000, for example, to take a short survey. At 25,000 points, you can cash in for a $15 gift card; 55,000 points earns $50 in cash. Advertisement Advertisement Pew and other pollsters who do randomized polling also pay people a small amount to take the occasional survey. But with opt-in polling, survey taking can become a full- or part-time job for many people. The job search website Indeed, for example, lists companies that pay for surveys in its career guide. And in the Reddit community Beer Money, which has 1.3 million members, people frequently discuss the pros (time flexibility) and cons (skimpy pay; frequently getting screened out) of taking surveys for money. Advertisement Advertisement Some of those surveys are for academic research. (Many psychology papers, for example, rely on paid respondents recruited through platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk.) Others help companies with market research or feed the insatiable media market for polls. Advertisement Many people sign up for opt-in polls in good faith, according to Kennedy. The problem is that this open-door approach also invites fraud, she wrote in an email. People create multiple accounts under multiple fake identities to complete as many surveys as possible just to make money. However, with the appropriate guardrails against fraud, YouGov chief scientist Rivers said, such methods offer a practical alternative to conventional probability sampling, where the costs are too high, and the response rates are too low. In some sense, he suggested, most polling is now nonprobability polling: When only 2 out of 100 people respond to a survey, its much harder to claim that those views are representative, said Rivers. Sprinkling a little bit of randomness at the initial stage does not make it a probability sample. Advertisement Our approach has been: Let us assemble a sample systematically based on characteristics, said Rivers. Its not comparable to what the census does in the current population survey, but its performed very well in election polling. Rivers pointed to YouGovs high ranking on the website FiveThirtyEight, which rates polling firms based on their track record in predicting election results and willingness to show their methods. Advertisement Gary Langer was not particularly impressed by high marks from FiveThirtyEight. (His own firm, Langer Research Associates, also gets a top grade for political polling they conduct on behalf of the partnership between ABC News and The Washington Post.) Pre-election polls, while they get so much attention, are the flea on the elephant of the enterprise of public opinion research, he said. The vast majority of surveys are concerned with other topics. They form the basis of federal data on jobs and housing, for example, and can reflect the publics views on education, climate change, and other issues. Survey data, he said, surrounds us, informs our lives, informs the choices we make. Advertisement Given the stakes, Langer relies exclusively on probability polling. Research shows that opt-in polls just dont produce the same kind of consistent, verifiable results, said Langer. Hillygus agreed with Langer that, in general, probability polling is the more accurate method, although she cautioned that theres wide variation in quality among pollsters using both methods. Research suggests that widely used nonprobability methods, in particular online opt-in polls such as the Economist/YouGov survey, have inherent vulnerabilities. The prospect of cash or rewards can incentivize some people to complete surveys quickly and with as little effort as possible. Theyre giving you data and answers that just cant possibly be true, said Kennedy. Advertisement Advertisement For example, in one test of opt-in polling, 12 percent of U.S. adults younger than 30 claimed that they were licensed to operate a nuclear submarine. The true figure, of course, is approximately 0 percent. Advertisement Four to 7 percent of people taking opt-in polls are so-called bogus respondents, compared to only 1 percent of those in the probability-based surveys, according to a 2020 Pew study. Those respondents do things like take the survey multiple times, or approve of everything, regardless of what was asked. Others seem to be located outside of the U.S. Advertisement Bogus respondents are more likely to say that they are a young adult or Hispanic, but particularly with the Hispanic subgroup, data suggests that claim frequently isnt true, said Kennedy. They may inattentively tick yes to the Are-you-Hispanic question, she said, or spoof their identity because they think it gives them a better shot at making it through the initial screening. Advertisement And then there are people who just like to mess around, said Hillygus. Multiple studies have shown that some teens provide disingenuous answers on national health surveys exaggerating drug and alcohol use, for example, or falsely claiming to be blind, a gang member, or to have had multiple pregnancies. Advertisement Surveys asking about belief in conspiracy theories are ripe for trolling, said Hillygus. Polls showing that a large swath of Americans believed the Pizzagate theory, which falsely connected Hillary Clinton to a child trafficking operation in a run out of a Washington, D.C. pizzeria, are likely inaccurate, Hillygus and colleague Jesse Lopez concluded in research that, as yet, has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. More than 50 percent of the people who were claiming to believe in Pizzagate and other conspiracies were all people that we identified as survey trolls, Hillygus said. Advertisement Randomly selecting people from the whole population protects against fraud. The key virtue of probability-based polling these days is not about the probabilities of selection, Kennedy wrote. It is about ensuring that bad actors are not infiltrating the survey and giving garbage data. There are ways to screen out impostors and trolls. YouGov uses around 100 indicators to gauge whether respondents are providing reliable data, said Rivers. After the Pew study on the antisemitism poll, YouGov ran its own analysis and discovered that its survey team had relaxed standards for people under 30 to get a large enough sample size. About half of that group should have been excluded, said Rivers. This whole thing should have been caught at the time, said Rivers. There were various red flags in the data. Since then, YouGov has put additional restrictions in place, he said, with more planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But opt-in polling firms run the gamut. Some, like YouGov, publish their methodology and strive to ensure the integrity of their data. Others, experts say, do not. Those pollsters may use questionable methods such as river sampling, where people respond to a website ad or pop-up and are immediately directed to a survey. On a news site, for example, visitors might encounter a pop-up prompting them to answer a survey question to get access to an article. The method proved horribly inaccurate in 2016 election polls, said Krosnick. The reality is, there was no scientific sampling at all involved, it was just scooping up fish swimming by in the internet river, he said. None of these methodological challenges has dampened enthusiasm for survey research. The number of active pollsters has more than doubled since the beginning of the 21st century, according to the 2023 Pew study. Advertisement The internet is like heroin, said Krosnick. It has addicted people to trying to think up creative ways to make money, in as automated a way as possible, to maximize their profit margins. Theres certainly a thriving media market for eye-catching poll results. In December 2023, when the Economist and YouGov published their poll on antisemitism, the story went viral. In contrast, Pews study questioning the result did not draw nearly as much attention. Advertisement In March, the Economist added an editors note to the top of the story, acknowledging the Pew study. But the article which blames social media, and particularly TikTok, for indoctrinating young people with conspiracies and antisemitism remains unchanged. In an email, Tom Amos, a spokesperson for the Economist, told Undark that Pews analysis was well done. While the Economist doesnt believe that opt-in surveys are systematically less accurate than other polling, Pews results tell a cautionary tale, he wrote: Their experiment did present strong evidence that this survey method faces an above-average risk of bogus respondents from particular demographic groups saying untruthfully that they hold rare or extreme beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Media consumers should be skeptical of implausible findings, said Krosnick. So should reporters, said Langer, who spent three decades as a journalist, and who said news outlets have a responsibility to vet the polls they report on: Every newsroom in the country in the world should have someone on their team evaluate surveys and survey methodologies. In the end, people need to realize that survey research involves some degree of uncertainty, said Joshua Clinton, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University, who noted that polls leading up to the 2024 election are bound to get something wrong. My concern is what that means about the larger inferences that people make about not only polling, but also science in general, he said. People may just dismiss results as a predictable scientific failure: Oh, the egghead screwed up again. Clinton said he wants people to recognize the difficulty of doing social science research, rather than to delegitimize the field outright. Even Rivers, whose firm produced the Economist poll that made headlines, acknowledged that readers should be cautious with eye-catching headlines. Were in a challenging environment for conducting surveys, he said. That means that people need to take survey results especially those that are provocative with a grain of salt. The tendency is to overreport polls, said Rivers. The polls that get reported are the ones that are outliers. Finding the right balance between technology and human insight in recruitment. AI is not perfect yet, but this process is unstoppable and there is no way back, said Lucia Gogova, country HR partner at IBM in Slovakia. (Source: Unsplash) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Artificial intelligence (AI) is finding its place in human resources in Slovakia, as in many other places. Companies use it when recruiting new employees, during the onboarding process, or when answering the most common HR-related questions. But experts warn that while AI may be of great help, its usage, especially in the selection process, has its limits. More information about the Slovak labour market Please see our Career Guide. The main thing to avoid in the selection process is that, in the end, AI does not communicate with other AIs, computer to computer, Mariana Turanova, managing partner at Target Executive Search in Slovakia, told The Slovak Spectator. It is necessary to sensitively consider up to what point it is good to leave the choice to artificial intelligence and when to physically take over. The increasing use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning is already transforming many aspects of recruitment, training and HR management. Automation and artificial intelligence were among the big topics in Slovakia last year. Companies explored the possibilities of incorporating artificial intelligence into selection processes, education and the overall functioning of companies, Martin Huba, executive director of Synergie recruitment agency, told Obchod magazine. This will certainly continue in the years to come, but 2023 can be seen as the beginning of a revolution that will bring automated forms of selection procedures or video interviews conducted by avatars that are indistinguishable from a live recruiter. Talking to an avatar One fallen soldier had coins sewn into his coat. Several bodies of Polish soldiers unearthed in Kosice-Tahanovce in June 2024. (Source: TASR - Roman Hanc) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share In 1848, revolutions were sweeping across Europe against the monarchies of the time. In this tumultuous year, a significant battle took place near Kosice, now eastern Slovakia, known as the Battle of Budimir or the First Kosice Battle. It pitted well-trained Austrian soldiers under the command of General Franz Schlick against Hungarian revolutionary forces, comprising inexperienced local militia and soldiers known as Kossuth's troops led by Sandor Pulszky. In the winter of December 11, 1848, a flash battle took place, lasting only two hours, which the revolutionary troops lost. Archaeological luck Historians were particularly drawn to information published in the periodical Felvideki Kozlony dated October 20, 1880, which reported that fallen Polish soldiers were buried near Tahanovce, close to a stone pillar, in 1848. Tahanovce is a Kosice borough today. "Military practice dictated that soldiers were buried where they fell to prevent epidemics," Tahanovce councillor Ursula Ambrusova, a historian of the East Slovak Museum in Kosice, told the Korzar website. https://sk.frame.mapy.cz/s/jucusohuke Therefore, she assumed that the stone pillar from 1782, at the time a damaged ruin, was likely used as a landmark for the temporary burial of fallen soldiers. As written sources suggested, the soldiers were not reburied in a cemetery. Archaeological research was supposed to confirm or refute this hypothesis. "Thanks to professionalism and archaeological luck, my two colleagues managed to find the six skeletal remains of fallen young Polish men who were 19-20 years old according to their bones and teeth," Ambrusova said. Everything indicates that they were Polish volunteers who fell in heroic combat on December 11, 1848. Further information about the fallen will be provided by DNA analyses. Why silver coins dug up in a small Slovak town surprised everyone Read more Humanity Director Dominik Beres of the East Slovak Museum noted that it is incredible how the survivors showed respect and honour towards the bodies of fallen comrades. "Even though they themselves faced death, challenging conditions, and freezing cold, they treated the fallen with utmost respect," he said. "This discovery is not only a historical find, but also a testament to humanity in existential situations and times of great tension." Archaeologists have identified six skeletons, three complete and three partial. According to experts, there should be a total of 20, likely buried under the heap. Besides the skeletons, several brass buttons and one iron button were unveiled. One of the fallen soldiers also had coins sewn into his coat. The Polish embassy told the Korzar that they are ready to assist in evaluating the research results and creating a memorial site. "The Polish embassy is interested in continuing to support this initiative," said the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, Jan Hudacky. Kosice police brutality, US adventurer with Slovak roots, and an invitation to a dance evening. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Good evening. Here is the Monday, July 8 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Liberalism is a huge threat to Slovakia, Fico thinks Robert Fico in Voderady, near Trnava, on July 8, 2024. (Source: SME - Marko Erd) Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) appeared in public twice in recent days. It was his first public appearance in almost two months since being shot multiple times in Handlova. During the national holiday last Friday, which he celebrated by delivering a speech at Devin Castle in Bratislava, he declared that Slovakia is threatened by progressive and liberal ideologies that must be stopped. He also praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his trip to Moscow, which Fico said he would have joined if he were fit. However, he did not call on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine in his speech. On Monday, Fico posed in a field near Trnava. This time, he did not attack anyone. Instead, he predicted that he would be able to throw away his cane by mid-August, thanked farmers, and reminisced about his childhood. MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE Politics: A group of police officers in Kosice is being investigated for allegedly beating a man in an interrogation room. He had done nothing wrong and was unable to defend himself. A group of police officers in Kosice is being investigated for allegedly beating a man in an interrogation room. He had done nothing wrong and was unable to defend himself. Business: Labor law is not boring. Law firms revealed the inspirational cases they have worked on. Labor law is not boring. Law firms revealed the inspirational cases they have worked on. Profile: Daria Otreshko, a Ukrainian student based in Banska Bystrica, never turns off air-raid warnings intended for her hometown of Kremenchuk. Daria Otreshko, a Ukrainian student based in Banska Bystrica, never turns off air-raid warnings intended for her hometown of Kremenchuk. Opinion: A journey of belonging within the International Womens Club of Bratislava. A journey of belonging within the International Womens Club of Bratislava. Culture: Did you know a short story by a Slovak writer will be published in a renowned Australian magazine in mid-July? Discover more good news in our overview. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY What Michigan-born explorer Vanessa OBrien learned from her Slovak grandparents Vanessa O'Brien (Source: Courtesy of Vanessa O'Brien) English-American Vanessa OBrien, reached the top of Everest on May 19, 2012. 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. EVENT Tuesday dance evenings by the fountain A Tuesday dance evening in Bratislava-Karlove Ves. (Source: Facebook/Karlova Ves/Rudolf Baranovic) Come dance in Bratislava-Karlova Ves Tuesday evening (from 19:00 to 21:00) at the Rodina (Family) fountain on Karloveska ulica. The beginning of the dance evening always starts with demonstration lessons, which are intended for everyone who wants to refresh their basics, as well as for those who have never danced before. IN OTHER NEWS The second-largest supplier of gas in Slovakia - the ZSE group - has concluded a deal regarding supplies of LNG gas mostly from the United States. The new LNG supplies will be available for customers as of 2025. LNG is set to be imported from the United States on tankers carrying it to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, from where it will be transported to Slovakia via Poland. The new LNG supplies will be available for customers as of 2025. LNG is set to be imported from the United States on tankers carrying it to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, from where it will be transported to Slovakia via Poland. The National Institute of Childrens Diseases in Bratislava has offered to help a childrens hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the placement of seriously ill children after Mondays attack. Russian troops carried out large-scale missile attacks on various Ukrainian cities on Monday. Russian troops carried out large-scale missile attacks on various Ukrainian cities on Monday. President Peter Pellegrini, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar left on Monday for Washington, where they will take part in a NATO summit later this week. As many as 46.4 percent of Slovaks gravitate towards an exclusively pro-western geopolitical orientation of Slovakia , with 39.5 percent believing that Slovakia should strive for a more balanced position between Russia and the West and only 8 percent preferring Slovakia to stand on the side of Russia, a June survey called 'How Are You, Slovakia?' shows. It was conducted by MNFORCE in cooperation with the Slovak Academy of Sciences. , with 39.5 percent believing that Slovakia should strive for a more balanced position between Russia and the West and only 8 percent preferring Slovakia to stand on the side of Russia, a June survey called 'How Are You, Slovakia?' shows. It was conducted by MNFORCE in cooperation with the Slovak Academy of Sciences. A woman left her golden retriever in her BMW car outside the Bory shopping mall in Bratislava on July 7. She went to get a manicure in the meantime. According to the police, she stayed in the mall for four hours. The dog, in poor health, was taken to a veterinary clinic. Bukovec water reservoir in the Kosice area. (Source: TASR) WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Clear skies. Daytime temperatures will range from 27C to 34C. A high-temperature weather warning will be in place in the districts of southern and western Slovakia. (SHMU) JULY 9 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Lujza. Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator). Police launched a search for the dogs owner across a hospital and shopping mall, deploying public radio systems in both buildings. A Slovak woman left her dog in her locked car in the sun and left for manicure in Bratislava on July 7, 2024. (Source: Unsplash ) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share A woman left her dog locked in a car outside a Bratislava shopping mall, endangering its life under the scorching sun. The alertness of passersby led to the pets rescue. As reported by Bratislava police spokesperson Michal Szeiff, a patrol was sent to the parking lot between the Bory hospital and the adjacent shopping centre on the outskirts of Bratislava on Sunday, July 7, shortly after 14:00. A golden retriever in poor health was trapped inside a locked BMW car, in the sun with closed windows. Police officers had the shopping mall call the vehicle owner through the PA. Subsequently, a woman came forward stating that she had left the dog in the car, forgot about him and went to get a manicure, said the spokesman. The dog, in poor health, was taken to a veterinary clinic and rescued. Leaving animal in hot car may be classified as animal cruelty Leaving an animal in a hot car may be dealt with as an offence under the Veterinary Care Act, but in certain circumstances the act may be punishable as animal cruelty. In the case of leaving a child in a car, it may be a crime of abandoning a child who cannot help him or herself. A person may also face a charge of battery or manslaughter in an extreme case, if such actions lead to the childs death or his/her health being damaged. If the situation allows, the vehicle owner should be immediately notified. Otherwise, those witnessing such a situation should call the police, the fire brigade or 112. The police remind the public about the Dont Forget About Me in the Car nationwide campaign about the danger of leaving children and animals behind in hot cars. In the past there were cases where parents forgot their child in a car and they perished. Related article Notorious Czech and US coronavirus deniers in the commission headed by MP Peter Kotlar. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Peter Kotlar, a Slovak National Party MP known for spreading disinformation, remained silent a long time about who is investigating the alleged mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic in Slovakia. The politician, who himself doubts that any pandemic occurred, heads the special commission. He was appointed by Robert Ficos government in January 2024, and even then he refused to say who would assist him. He revealed the names only in June of this year, when he repeated that the pandemic never happened. Kotlar also called it an act of bioterrorism. You all need to know the names of the people I'm working with Dr. Fleming, Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Dr. Malone, Dr. Turanek, Dr. Beran, yes, Dr. Pekova, Kotlar revealed, as quoted by Dennik N. According to him, these people have evidence that the coronavirus was artificially created, and thus the pandemic did not occur. Dennik N emphasises that these are scientists and doctors perceived as disinformation spreaders both in Slovakia and abroad. The selection of the chief commissioner surprised me. I did not expect him to manage to assemble such a top-notch team of disinformation spreaders, and on a global level, healthcare analyst Martin Smatana told the daily. Anti-Semite and Czech coronavirus deniers Smatana added that retired Thai-German microbiologist Sucharit Bhakdi is a known anti-Semite. Bhakdi previously said that Israel was worse than Nazi Germany. To him, the pandemic was fake. Czech molecular geneticist Sona Pekova called for prayers for Putin, claimed that the coronavirus would disappear very quickly, and also spread the hoax that there was experimentation with deadly pathogens in Ukraine. Today, she claims that the world is preparing for the arrival of the Creator. She also claims that the world is controlled by hostile aliens, a conspiracy theory from 1929, Dennik N notes. Her Czech colleague, vaccinologist Jaroslav Turanek, compared coronavirus vaccination to euthanasia. He also recommends the use of chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite, which are bleaching agents, for medical treatment, including for the treatment of cancer patients. Americans on the team as well Convicted fraudster, American cardiologist Richard M. Fleming, claimed that coronavirus vaccines contained HIV, which was not true. He also claimed that the coronavirus was released from a Chinese laboratory. American immunologist Robert Malone questioned coronavirus vaccines. Fleming also called on the Slovak government to reject the new WHO regulations designed to help combat future health threats. Slovakia has, for the moment, only distanced itself from the new documents. Kotlar chose according to what fits into his conspiratorial world view, said virologist Boris Klempa from SAV. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/eus-borrell-condemns-israeli-strike-at-unrwa-school-in-gaza-1119303301.html EUs Borrell Condemns Israeli Strike on UNRWA School in Gaza EUs Borrell Condemns Israeli Strike on UNRWA School in Gaza Sputnik International EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned an Israeli airstrike on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East school. 2024-07-09T01:39+0000 2024-07-09T01:39+0000 2024-07-09T05:30+0000 world josep borrell palestinians israel palestine united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east (unrwa) hamas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/09/1119303144_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f2d34e4822749d030c53c41c7e2ad70c.jpg On Sunday, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement obtained by Sputnik that the Israeli strike on the school killed 16 people, injuring 50 others. Borrell also called on parties to the Gaza conflict to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the enclave. Israel claimed that it was targeting terrorists in the attack.On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. As many as 120 hostages are believed to be still held by Hamas in Gaza and 43 hostages died in captivity. More than 38,100 people have been killed and over 87,900 others have been wounded in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's military operations, Gaza authorities said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240708/israel-deliberately-killed-own-citizens-on-october-7--report-1119281817.html israel palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International unrwa school bombing, israel targets un, nuseirat refugee camp The Chinese market and investment will continue to provide growth momentum as Australia is determined to revitalize its industrial manufacturing amid the ongoing global energy transition, executives in the country's mining industry told Xinhua. In the past two decades, China's imports of and investment in Australia's mineral resources have further promoted the development and prosperity of the two countries, fully demonstrating the win-win situation of practical cooperation between the sides. Chinese investment has been incredibly important to Australia's resources industry, and China remains a really important market for both traditional and established minerals like iron ore and critical minerals, said Warren Pearce, chief executive officer of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies. "In the last 15 years, it's been China's investment that helped us turn on major new projects," Pearce said. "We've been a major beneficiary of that investment, and it has really helped Australia's prosperity." "It's important we actually continue that good trading relationship that's been mutually beneficial for both countries," he said. Rio Tinto's chief executive Jakob Stausholm said China has been a critical partner for Australia's mining industry for decades and there is a long history of mutually beneficial partnerships between both countries. "China is a driving force for the global economy, and the world's top metals' consumer," Stausholm said. "China's strong demand for high-quality minerals such as iron ore and copper has generated substantial opportunities for investment and trade, and has helped to power Australia's economy." "Today, China is our largest market and home to our biggest stakeholder. With China's strong determination to further open up, it will continue to be a pillar for Rio Tinto's long-term success," he said. Dino Otranto, chief executive officer of Fortescue Metals, praised China as an exceptional partner for Australia, and the state of Western Australia in particular. "Most of the mining industry here can thank China's support over many years, going back more than 50 years. In my home state here, Western Australia, China has been there from the start," Otranto said. "We really couldn't be here today without the support of China." "And moving forward, I think the relationships between Australia and China ... will continue to forge new pathways moving forward," Otranto said. Vandita Pant, chief financial officer (CFO) of BHP, said the demand for Australian minerals and investment in the sector have underpinned the development of mining projects, infrastructure, and technological advancements which have been a key driver of economic growth and prosperity for both countries. This has also driven growth, innovation, and job creation within the mining sector, she said. Looking ahead, China's continued focus on urbanization, industrialization and developing new quality productive forces will sustain demand for high-quality mineral resources from Australia, such as iron ore, met coal and copper, Pant said. "This ongoing demand will help support the growth of Australia's mining sector and contribute to the economic prosperity of both China and Australia," Pant said. Stausholm said China has been making breakthroughs in green technologies and products by building a leading industry supply chain. "That provides opportunities and potential for collaboration with global partners including Australian businesses to better address climate change," said the Rio Tinto's chief executive, adding that Chinese companies can bring expertise and investment to develop value-added facilities in Australia, benefiting local resources and Australian technological innovation. Otranto said Fortescue Metals had announced an ambitious plan to transform its energy system to completely green by 2030, and he believed China is uniquely placed to supply the wind and solar technology in large-scale manufacturing to enable the company to achieve the goal. Pant spoke highly of China's transformation toward net-zero, saying China's investment and progress in green manufacturing is at an "astounding" pace. "I believe that there will be opportunities for companies with the right experience and expertise and that this could lead to shared growth and mutually beneficial outcomes for Australia and China as the net-zero transition continues," said the BHP CFO. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/hotly-contested-french-election-sees-leftists-surge-after-massive-voter-turnout-1119299049.html Hotly Contested French Elections See Leftists Surge After Massive Voter Turnout Hotly Contested French Elections See Leftists Surge After Massive Voter Turnout Sputnik International On this edition of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Melik Abdul discuss various topics, including the results of the contested French election. 2024-07-09T04:01+0000 2024-07-09T04:01+0000 2024-08-10T10:26+0000 fault lines us radio french elections gaza strip joe biden iran https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/08/1119298889_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_719069622afd21f7b7a57528c9750816.png Hotly Contested French Election Sees Leftists Surge After Massive Voter Turnout Sputnik International On this edition of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Melik Abdul discuss various topics, including the results of the contested French election. The show begins with veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier joining the show to discuss the results of the French elections. He also touches on the latest out of the situation in Gaza amid a new ceasefire deal.Then, political activist Misty Winston shares her perspective on the latest out of the Biden campaign amid calls for the president to drop out.The second hour starts with independent researcher & journalist Setareh Sadeqi sharing an analysis of the results of the Iranian elections.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 gaza strip iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png france, french parliamentary elections, french snap parliamentary elections, gaza awr, israel-hama conflict, gaza ceasefire, iranian presidential election, us presidential election, joe biden campaign, us presidential debate https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/idf-soldiers-detail-policies-of-shooting-civilians-destroying-homes-1119303859.html IDF Soldiers Detail Policies of Shooting Civilians, Destroying Homes - Report IDF Soldiers Detail Policies of Shooting Civilians, Destroying Homes - Report Sputnik International An article from +972 Magazine includes interviews with IDF soldiers who say that shooting civilians and burning Palestinian homes was part of IDF policy. 2024-07-09T03:10+0000 2024-07-09T03:10+0000 2024-07-09T03:13+0000 world palestine israel defense forces (idf) israeli defense force lancet palestinians israel israel-gaza conflict gaza strip https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/18/1119087129_0:261:3072:1989_1920x0_80_0_0_d24e8e727da9b9b371e08b86ca548402.jpg The interviewees also alleged that the bodies of Palestinian civilians were allowed to rot in the street and were only hidden by the IDF before international organizations traveled through the area.One soldier testified that soldiers often would fire indiscriminately to blow off steam during the operation. They report it as normal fire, which is a codename for Im bored, so I shoot.Another soldier said there was total freedom of action, for the IDF in Gaza. If there is [even] a feeling of threat, there is no need to explain you just shoot, the soldier described. It is permissible to shoot at their center mass, not into the air. Its permissible to shoot everyone, a young girl, an old woman.The soldiers also described a policy of the IDF that would designate certain areas as no-go zones, where any Palestinian entering would be shot. Some of those areas allowed international aid trucks to travel through, but any civilians trying to follow them would be shot.This is the default. No civilians are supposed to be in the area, thats the perspective, one soldier explained. We spotted someone in a window, so they fired and killed him.As the bodies piled up, the IDF left them to rot, one soldier says, only removing them before international organizations arrived in the area.The feeling in the war room, and this is the softened version, was that every person we killed, we counted him as a terrorist, A soldier said, adding that while certain sensitive targets, like schools, hospitals, religious institutions and buildings of international organizations required higher authorization, it was almost always granted.I can count on one hand the cases where we were told not to shoot. Even with sensitive things like schools, [approval] feels like only a formality.One soldier, Yuval Green, a 26-year-old reservist who was one of 41 IDF reservists who signed a letter declaring their refusal to continue serving in Gaza, was willing to go on the record with +972. He and another anonymous soldier described a policy of torching Palestinian homes after the IDF used them.If you move, you have to burn down the house, Green said. Another soldier backed Greens account and said orders to burn homes came from higher-ups in the IDF. Before you leave, you burn down the house every house, The soldier said. This is backed up at the battalion commander level. Its so that [Palestinians] wont be able to return, and if we left behind any ammunition or food, the terrorists wont be able to use it.According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 38,200. However, a report in the British medical journal Lancet estimated that the actual death toll could be over 186,000, roughly 8% of Gazas population. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/eus-borrell-condemns-israeli-strike-at-unrwa-school-in-gaza-1119303301.html palestine israel gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino idf policies, civilians targeted in gaza, israeli war crimes, idf policy to protect civilians, israel protects civilians https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/india-to-open-2-more-consulates-in-russia---modi-1119311693.html India to Open 2 More Consulates in Russia - Modi India to Open 2 More Consulates in Russia - Modi Sputnik International MOSCOW (Sputnik) - India will open two new consulates in the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Kazan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Moscow on Tuesday. 09.07.2024, Sputnik International 2024-07-09T12:09+0000 2024-07-09T12:09+0000 2024-07-09T12:09+0000 russia narendra modi russia yekaterinburg kazan india https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/08/1119298612_0:0:3074:1730_1920x0_80_0_0_bb2fbd579ddf9a3b78789cf8759fe544.jpg "We have decided to open new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. This will enhance travel and business trade," Modi said at a meeting with the Indian community. Modi thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his leadership, saying he had done a remarkable job of strengthening partnership between India and Russia over the past two decades. Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday for the first time in five years to attend the 22nd Russian-Indian summit, where prospects for further traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations will be discussed, the Kremlin said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/india-russia-oil-for-rubles-deal-another-sign-of-rapid-dedollarization-1118725665.html russia yekaterinburg kazan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International narendra modi, russia, yekaterinburg, kazan, india https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/iranian-president-elect-to-form-new-government-by-end-of-august-1119313341.html Iranian President-Elect to Form New Government by End of August Iranian President-Elect to Form New Government by End of August Sputnik International Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to form the country's new government by the end of August, following his inauguration scheduled between August 2 and 5, Alireza Salimi, spokesman for the Iranian Parliament's presiding board, said on Tuesday. 2024-07-09T14:04+0000 2024-07-09T14:04+0000 2024-07-09T14:04+0000 world masoud pezeshkian iran middle east https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/06/1119264438_0:33:3210:1839_1920x0_80_0_0_3e34bbf6c83dc3754ae2e4a974d9ac15.jpg "The inauguration ceremony will take place between August 2 and 5 ... After the ceremony, the president has two weeks to present his government," Salimi was quoted as saying by the ILNA news agency. On Saturday, Iranian election headquarters spokesman Mohsen Eslami said that Pezeshkian won the second round of the country's snap presidential election. The election was called after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in Iran's mountainous north in May. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240706/russia-iran-complete-merger-of-mir-shetab-payment-systems---head-of-iranian-central-bank-1119264932.html iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International new government, iranian president-elect masoud pezeshkian https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/natos-irreversible-path-for-ukraine-a-symbolic-move-amid-us-concerns-over-corruption-1119316347.html NATO's 'Irreversible' Path for Ukraine: A Symbolic Move Amid US Concerns Over Corruption NATO's 'Irreversible' Path for Ukraine: A Symbolic Move Amid US Concerns Over Corruption Sputnik International The joint communique expected out of the NATO leaders' summit this week will mention Ukraine is on a so-called irreversible path into the alliance but it will mostly be symbolic as the United States opposes guaranteeing Kiev entry into the alliance before it's sorted out corruption issues, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing US officials. 2024-07-09T18:24+0000 2024-07-09T18:24+0000 2024-07-09T18:24+0000 world ukraine kiev russia jens stoltenberg joe biden nato the washington post corruption nato membership https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/19/1119115841_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d42b25996794db5115ab086afec26aa6.jpg The joint communique expected out of the NATO leaders' summit this week will mention Ukraine is on a so-called irreversible path into the alliance but it will mostly be symbolic as the United States opposes guaranteeing Kiev entry into the alliance before it's sorted out corruption issues, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.According to the publication, several NATO members want to demonstrate that Ukraine is getting closer to a path of membership, but some officials acknowledged that this gesture of using the word "irreversible" in the forthcoming joint statement is more symbolic than substantive. President Joe Biden has stood in the way of NATO making any grander gesture of Ukraine's prospects of getting into the alliance, mostly because he wants to see Ukraine take meaningful steps to weed out corruption before it's promised any admittance. The US president initially rejected the idea of including language of Ukraine's path into NATO being irreversible, the report added. Biden believes that if corruption is allowed to continue in Ukraine as it ascends into NATO, it could cause trouble for the entire alliance that may be hard to tackle, according to the report. In April, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg during a visit to Kiev said Ukraine has a rightful place in NATO and that the alliance is working on placing it on an irreversible path toward membership in NATO when the time may be right. Russia has repeatedly said it stands against Ukraine's membership in NATO due to national security concerns, but never opposed Kiev's aspirations to join the European Union. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240707/a-bridge-too-far-nato-bosses-mull-how-to-better-dangle-membership-carrot-before-ukraines-nose-1119280542.html ukraine kiev russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine, nato, ukraine nato membership, ukraine corruption, ukraine irreversible path to nato https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/new-volunteer-legion-in-poland---blatant-scam-to-force-ukrainians-to-front-lines-1119305546.html New 'Volunteer' Legion in Poland: Blatant Scam to Force Ukrainians to Front Lines New 'Volunteer' Legion in Poland: Blatant Scam to Force Ukrainians to Front Lines Sputnik International A security pact inked by Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday outlines the creation and training of a so-called Ukrainian Legion. This new formation will recruit Ukrainian "volunteers" living in Poland and other EU countries. 2024-07-09T07:19+0000 2024-07-09T07:19+0000 2024-07-09T07:45+0000 europe igor korotchenko wladyslaw kosiniak-kamysz volodymyr zelensky poland ukraine european union (eu) ukrainian legion analysis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/18/1116345232_0:146:2795:1718_1920x0_80_0_0_cfc35f17277eb69ab51cf98017da45e7.jpg "Among the citizens of Ukraine who fled to EU countries, there are no volunteers seeking to participate in the hostilities," Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, told Sputnik. "Everyone who theoretically had the motivation to participate in the conflict would have returned to Ukraine a long time ago and, accordingly, would have joined combat units on the contact line."In April, Poland and Lithuania signaled that they would assist the Kiev regime by sending potential draft dodgers home, despite demonstrating reluctance to extradite conscript-aged Ukrainians last year.Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz asserted on April 24 that "Ukrainian citizens have obligations towards the state," while his Lithuanian counterpart Laurynas Kasciunas insisted that evading conscription was "not fair to those citizens who are fighting for their country."For months, EU member states had rejected Kiev's request for repatriating Ukrainian men eligible for mobilization, citing European conventions that do not permit extradition in cases of desertion or draft evasion.Speaking to reporters in April, Kosiniak-Kamysz and Kasciunas asserted that there were multiple ways the authorities could repatriate Ukrainians without resorting to deportation. These included implementing bans on social benefits, work permits, and necessary documentation, in addition to enacting specific legislation aimed at Ukrainian refugees.Apparently, the Ukrainian Legion is yet another "legal" loophole to send Ukrainian refugees to the battlefield, according to Korotchenko. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/nato-troops-dont-want-to-die-poland-and-lithuania-to-repatriate-ukrainian-draft-dodgers-1118128005.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240703/us-dissatisfied-with-ukraines-mobilization-rate---former-ukrainian-prime-minister-1119231959.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240605/peril-in-the-tisa-river-ukrainian-draft-dodgers-dying-from-drowning-freezing-and-land-mines-1118785240.html poland ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova ukraine's pact with poland, ukrainian legion, poland to recruit ukrainian volunteers residing in the eu, ukrainian draft didgers, forced mobilization, forced conscription https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/norway-supplied-air-defense-system-fired-missile-that-hit-hospital-in-kiev---russias-un-envoy-1119317444.html Norway-Supplied Air Defense System Fired Missile That Hit Hospital in Kiev - Russia's UN Envoy Norway-Supplied Air Defense System Fired Missile That Hit Hospital in Kiev - Russia's UN Envoy Sputnik International An air defense missile that hit a children's hospital in Kiev was likely fired from a Norway-supplied NASAMS system, and Russia is waiting for a reaction from Oslo in this regard, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday. 2024-07-09T18:59+0000 2024-07-09T18:59+0000 2024-07-09T18:59+0000 world maria zakharova vassily nebenzia kiev russia norway the united nations (un) russian foreign ministry nasams https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/09/1119317415_0:105:1343:860_1920x0_80_0_0_8b20b98e9ae0d86dd4549cd7047a7a8a.jpg Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that it has been confirmed, including by numerous witnesses, that a NASAMS missile landed in a building on the territory of the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kiev. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that claims about a deliberate Russian strike on civilian targets in Kiev are not true. The destruction was caused by the fall of a Ukrainian air defense missile, and this is not the first time that Kiev has engaged in such provocations, it said. The ministry said that numerous photos and video footage from Kiev clearly confirm that the destruction was caused by a Ukrainian missile launched from an air defense system deployed within the city. Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said that the hysteria being spread in the United States regarding the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kiev is an example of rabid anti-Russian propaganda. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/fact-check-has-russias-black-sea-fleet-really-fled-crimea-as-kirby-claims-1119309735.html kiev russia norway Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, ukraine, kiev, nebenzia, russian strike on kiev, kiev hospital strike https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/putin-modi-set-goal-to-reach-100bln-trade-between-russia-india-by-2030-1119314790.html Putin, Modi Set Goal to Reach $100Bln Trade Between Russia, India by 2030 Putin, Modi Set Goal to Reach $100Bln Trade Between Russia, India by 2030 Sputnik International Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have set a goal to reach $100 billion trade by 2030 2024-07-09T16:50+0000 2024-07-09T16:50+0000 2024-07-11T05:34+0000 world vladimir putin narendra modi russia india un security council (unsc) g20 brics https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/09/1119314443_0:179:3006:1870_1920x0_80_0_0_40f9c0b93885001b4df97466dc70effd.jpg "A trade target of 100 billion dollars by 2030 has been set," Oreshkin said. The main result of the talks between Putin and Modi from the economic point of view is the program of the development of cooperation in various strategic areas between the two countries until 2030, including such fields as aircraft construction and pharmaceuticals, Oreshkin said, adding that the use of national payment systems was also discussed at the meeting. According to a joint statement following the bilateral meeting, the two countries committed to efforts aimed at removing non-tariff barriers to trade between them.It added that Russia and India will "continue dialogue in the field of liberalization of bilateral trade exchange, including the possibility of forming a free trade zone between the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union] and India."The two countries will also continue to develop a system of bilateral settlements through the use of national currencies, according to the statement.Another goal mentioned in the document is achieving "mutual trade of more than $100 billion by 2030 (by mutual agreement), including an increase in the supply of goods from India to achieve a balanced bilateral trade turnover."Moscow and New Delhi consider it a priority to develop cooperation in the energy area, including nuclear power, oil refining, petrochemicals, as well as ensuring bilateral and international energy security, the statement said.Putin and Modi have also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in education, science, culture, tourism and sport.Security CooperationThe two leaders reaffirmed the importance of security dialog and agreed to strengthen regional security architecture."The Leaders highlighted the importance of the security dialogue at the level of National Security Advisors and the National Security Councils on bilateral and regional issues and welcomed regular interactions which facilitated greater strategic understanding and coordination between the two countries on bilateral as well as global and regional issues of mutual concern," the statement read.The 21st round of the Indian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation will be held in Moscow in the second half of 2024, the statement added.Russia and India have agreed to expand military delegation exchanges and maintain the momentum of joint military cooperation activities."Military and Military-Technical Cooperation has traditionally been the pillar of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, which has grown from strength to strength through several decades of joint efforts and fruitful cooperation, steered by the Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) The Sides confirmed commitment to maintain the momentum of joint military cooperation activities and expand military delegation exchanges," the statement read.The two leaders in the koint statement condemned terrorist attacks at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow and Russia's Dagestan, as well as in India's Jammu and Kashmir."They strongly condemned the recent dastardly terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Kathua area of Jammu & Kashmir on 8th July 2024, in Dagestan on 23rd June and on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow on 22nd March and stressed that these terrorist attacks are a grim reminder for further strengthening cooperation to combat terrorism," the statement read, adding that the leaders agreed that "terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group."Cooperation Within Int'l BlocsRussia and India will continue interaction within the G20 group, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on key issues."The sides agreed to continue interaction on the G20, BRICS, SCO platforms on such key issues as increasing the sustainability of international supply chains, compliance with the rules of free and fair trade, and combating the negative effects of climate change," the statement read.The ties between the countries remain "sustainable" despite the complex and uncertain geopolitical situation, according to the statement.Putin voiced Russia's support for Indias permanent membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council.Moscow and New Delhi also highlighted that Indias presence in the UNSC gives a "valuable opportunity to further coordinate on most pressing issues."Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit India in 2025, according to the joint statement published on Tuesday following talks between the two leaders in Moscow."Indian Prime Minister Modi thanked President Putin for the kind hospitality extended to him and his delegation in Moscow. He invited President Putin to visit India next year to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit," the statement read.Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday for the first time in five years to attend the 22nd Russian-Indian summit, where prospects for further traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations will be discussed, the Kremlin said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/putin-modi-informal-talks-lasted-about-three-hours---kremlin-1119307482.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/russia-india-see-cooperation-prospects-in-field-of-closed-nuclear-fuel-cycle---rosatom-1119308005.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/putin-thanks-modi-for-efforts-towards-peaceful-resolution-of-ukrainian-crisis-1119309148.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/india-to-open-2-more-consulates-in-russia---modi-1119311693.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International vladimir putin, narendra modi, putin-modi meeting, modi in russia, modi visit in moscow, what putin and modi discussed during the meeting, putin-modi meeting results https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/russia-ready-to-boost-fertilizer-exports-to-africa-asia-1119311590.html Russia Ready to Boost Fertilizer Exports to Africa, Asia Russia Ready to Boost Fertilizer Exports to Africa, Asia Sputnik International Russia stands ready to increase exports of fertilizers and food industry products to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America to shore up global food security, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Tuesday. 2024-07-09T12:06+0000 2024-07-09T12:06+0000 2024-07-09T12:07+0000 world russia mikhail mishustin agricultural fertilizer https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/10/1111915102_0:200:3286:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_87eb6b6872ec4c686b81e014b2cfa299.jpg "We are ready to make a significant contribution to food security ... We are open to increasing exports of everything needed to Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America of everything, from fertilizers and agricultural machinery to food processing machines to biothechnology," he said at the Innoprom industrial expo in Yekaterinburg. Support of the agricultural sector will be provided within the framework of the existing governmental programs and related federal projects, the prime minister added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/mali-expects-new-deliveries-of-fuel-fertilizers-from-russia-in-coming-months---minister-1119148029.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International boost fertilizer exports, increase exports of fertilizers, africa, asia, the middle east and latin america https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/russia-unleashes-surgical-strike-decimating-ukraines-himars-launchers-aimed-at-crimea-1119310165.html Russia Unleashes Surgical Strike Decimating Ukraine's HIMARS Launchers Aimed at Crimea Russia Unleashes Surgical Strike Decimating Ukraine's HIMARS Launchers Aimed at Crimea Sputnik International Russian Armed Forces carried out a precision strike on American HIMARS rocket systems, which Ukraine planned to use against Crimea, destroying four launchers and killing up to 35 foreign specialists, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. 2024-07-09T11:16+0000 2024-07-09T11:16+0000 2024-07-09T12:29+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine crimea ukraine russian armed forces high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/09/1119309998_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_20081b5954deea35b2116fdc2d8d86d8.jpg "During the day, the Russian Armed Forces conducted a group strike with precision weapons against American HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, which were prepared for strikes on Crimea, as well as on the location of a command meeting of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the ministry stated. The Ministry of Defense noted that the strike reached its targets, resulting in the destruction of four HIMARS launchers and the elimination of up to 35 foreign specialists.In addition, the Russian Aerospace Forces together with artillery hit two launchers from a Ukrainian S-300PS air defense system and a drone production workshop over the past day, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense."Operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket troops, and artillery units of the Russian Armed Forces identified and destroyed a low-altitude detector and two S-300PS surface-to-air missile system launchers," the statement said. "They also targeted a production workshop and a warehouse for strike UAVs, as well as concentrations of enemy personnel and military equipment in 134 areas."Russian air defense systems shot down 97 Ukrainian UAVs and intercepted eight HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.Since the start of the special military operation, 626 Ukrainian military aircraft, 277 helicopters, 27,441 UAVs, 542 air defense missile systems, 16,536 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,373 MLRS combat vehicles, 11,618 field artillery and mortars and 23,490 special military vehicles have been destroyed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/russia-strikes-ukraines-himars-missiles-warehouse-in-zaporozhye---underground-network-1119182786.html crimea ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, russian special military operation, ukrainian conflict, ukrainian crisis, war in ukraine, russia destroys himars, crimea A Long March-2C rocket carrying an astronomical satellite, the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] An astronomical satellite jointly developed by China and France has recently detected gamma-ray bursts since its launch two weeks ago, marking a promising start to this high-level cooperation project between the two countries. After in-orbit tests, the satellite platform is functioning normally and the satellite has established real-time connections with over 40 ground communication stations. All four payloads have successfully completed their power-on tests, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said on Monday. The satellite, the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), was launched on June 22. Mounted with four scientific payloads developed by Chinese and French scientists, it is currently the world's most capable satellite for multi-wavelength, integrated observations of gamma-ray bursts. Among the four payloads, the gamma-ray monitor developed by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the CAS began in-orbit tests on June 27 and successfully captured the first gamma-ray burst, coded GRB 240627B, on the same day. This marks the first in-orbit detection result of the SVOM satellite. The monitor also detected two additional gamma-ray bursts on June 29 and July 2, respectively. The results of the three gamma-ray bursts have been sent to the General Coordinates Network, an international collaboration platform for astronomy research. The CAS said that it has verified the monitor's high-precision detection capability for gamma-ray bursts. The SVOM satellite will complete various tests by a satellite operation and control center under the CAS, with the scientific observation tests expected to start in August. Gamma-ray bursts, usually very short in duration, are the most violent explosive phenomena in the universe after the Big Bang, and they occur during the collapse of massive stars or the merging of binary compact stars. In-depth observation and research of gamma-ray bursts will help mankind understand some of the fundamental questions of science, according to Wei Jianyan, SVOM's Chinese principal investigator. The main scientific objectives of SVOM include searching for and rapidly locating various gamma-ray bursts, comprehensively measuring and studying their electromagnetic radiation properties, investigating dark energy and the evolution of the universe through these bursts, and observing electromagnetic signals associated with gravitational waves, Wei added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/russian-air-defense-destroys-38-ukrainian-drones-over-5-regions-overnight---mod-1119304585.html Russian Air Defense Destroys 38 Ukrainian Drones Over 5 Regions Overnight - MoD Russian Air Defense Destroys 38 Ukrainian Drones Over 5 Regions Overnight - MoD Sputnik International Russian air defense systems shot down 38 Ukrainian drones over the Rostov, Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh and Astrakhan Regions overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. 2024-07-09T04:37+0000 2024-07-09T04:37+0000 2024-07-09T04:37+0000 russia russia ukraine russian defense ministry kursk voronezh ukrainian drone attacks on russia drone drone strike https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/01/1119211006_0:173:3025:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_da8604db882a151fae9070b52fb86252.jpg "During the past night, when the Kiev regime attempted to carry out terrorist attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation using fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems destroyed and intercepted three drones over the territory of the Belgorod Region, seven drones over the territory of the Kursk Region, two drones over the territory of the Voronezh Region, 21 drones over the territory of the Rostov Region and five drones over the territory of the Astrakhan Region," the ministry said.Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240706/russian-air-defenses-destroy-eight-ukrainian-drones-over-two-regions-overnight---mod-1119260667.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian air defense, russian defense ministry, ukrainian drones https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/russian-forces-carry-out-strikes-only-against-ukrainian-military-targets---kremlin-1119307319.html Russian Forces Carry Out Strikes Solely Against Ukraines Military Targets, Kremlin Assures Russian Forces Carry Out Strikes Solely Against Ukraines Military Targets, Kremlin Assures Sputnik International The Russian armed forces carry out strikes exclusively at those targets that are related to the Ukrainian military potential, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. 2024-07-09T09:38+0000 2024-07-09T09:38+0000 2024-07-09T16:06+0000 russia ukraine maria zakharova dmitry peskov russia russian defense ministry kiev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/11/1112666454_661:0:4302:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_04b0e85094571f3ff63efec4afba3008.jpg The comments of the Russian Defense Ministry, which rule out any attacks on civilian infrastructure targets in Ukraine, should be the main source of information on such issues, the spokesman added. The Russian Defense Ministry has said that widely shared photos and videos confirmed that the destruction had been caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile. Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said that Russia would present evidence to the UN Security Council on Tuesday that disproved the Ukrainian and Western narratives.On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that claims that its troops had deliberately struck civilian targets in Ukraine did not correspond to reality, as the destruction was caused by the fall of a Ukrainian air defense missile. The use of the tragedy at a children's hospital in Kiev by the authorities of Ukraine for propaganda purposes is inhumane, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday."The attempts of the [Ukrainian President] Zelensky regime to use the tragedy of the children's hospital in Kiev for propaganda purposes once again confirms its inhumane Nazi nature. For the sake of preserving power, the Kiev regime is ready for any crimes. Itis indifferent to the fate and lives of fellow citizens, including children," Zakharova said.The Russian armed forces, in response to attempts by the Ukrainian military to strike enterprises of the Russian economic complex, struck at military facilities in Ukraine using precision weapons, and all the designated targets were hit, the diplomat said.Kiev began to accuse Russia of killing children, but did not mention that a military plant, as well as a complex of building of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine stand next to the affected clinic, the diplomat said. ."Of course, no one spoke about ... [Ukrainian authorities] consciously placing air defense systems in residential areas, hiding behind civilians as a 'human shield," Zakharova said, adding that all of this is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the use of civilian facilities for military purposes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240708/russian-forces-hit-ukrainian-military-bases-in-response-to-attacks-on-energy-infrastructure-1119289857.html ukraine russia kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian forces, ukrainian military potential, dmitry peskov, strikes only against ukrainian military targets https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/spain-bought-over-1bln-worth-of-weapons-from-israel-since-october-2023---think-tank-1119317636.html Spain Bought Over $1Bln Worth of Weapons From Israel Since October 2023 - Think Tank Spain Bought Over $1Bln Worth of Weapons From Israel Since October 2023 - Think Tank Sputnik International Despite assurances from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that his company would not buy or sell weapons with Israel after October 2023, the country has purchased over 1 billion in weapons from Israel since then. 2024-07-09T20:09+0000 2024-07-09T20:09+0000 2024-07-09T20:09+0000 military pedro sanchez palestine spain israel https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/17/1115766852_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4e8934df0235f1d139cc7294b86a0207.jpg In April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez gave his assurances that Madrid had not concluded a single buy or sell arms operation with Israel since October 2023. Despite that, Spain has contracted Israeli companies to supply such weapons as high mobility missile system (SILAM) for 576.4 million, 168 Spike launchers for 237.5 million and target designators for air combat systems for 207.4 million, the research found. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. As many as 120 hostages are believed to be still held by Hamas in Gaza and 43 hostages died in captivity. More than 38,200 people have been killed and over 88,000 others have been wounded in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's military operations, Gaza authorities said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/spain-joins-south-africas-genocide-lawsuit-against-israel---icj-1119170276.html palestine spain israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel weapon sales, spain buys israeli weapons, https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/swiss-government-imposes-advertising-ban-on-4-russian-media-outlets-including-ria-novosti-1119319343.html Swiss Government Imposes Advertising Ban on 4 Russian Media Outlets, Including RIA Novosti Swiss Government Imposes Advertising Ban on 4 Russian Media Outlets, Including RIA Novosti Sputnik International The government of Switzerland has imposed an advertising ban on four Russian media outlets: Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta 2024-07-09T22:27+0000 2024-07-09T22:27+0000 2024-07-09T22:27+0000 world switzerland russia rossiyskaya gazeta ria novosti sputnik ukraine europe censorship https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101521/44/1015214457_0:26:3078:1757_1920x0_80_0_0_c5d67f58b502833d340bcacff399ccf9.jpg "Finally, the EAER [Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research] has placed an advertising ban on the four media outlets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta owing to Russia's continuous propaganda and disinformation campaigns. In contrast to the measures in the EU, these media are not subject to a broadcasting ban in Switzerland," the government said. The advertising ban imposed on Russian media outlets involves a ban on advertising goods and services produced by them, Francoise Tschanz, spokesperson for the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, told RIA Novosti. "According to Article 29b of the Ordinance on Measures Connected with the Situation in Ukraine, it is prohibited to order or place an advertising of goods or services to be broadcast or distributed in radio or television programs or other electronic content produced by a legal person, organization or institution listed in Annex 25," Tschanz said in response to a written request from RIA Novosti. The spokesperson added that the rule "applies regardless of how the content is transmitted or distributed." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240322/russia-calls-uk-slandering-russian-media-attempt-to-blame-undesirable-news-agencies-1117482586.html switzerland russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International censorship, ban of russian media, swiss bans russian media https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/uk-navy-reports-suspected-attack-on-merchant-ship-near-yemen-1119311469.html UK Navy Reports Suspected Attack on Merchant Ship Near Yemen UK Navy Reports Suspected Attack on Merchant Ship Near Yemen Sputnik International The UK navy's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) force reported a suspected attack on a merchant ship off the Yemeni coast on Tuesday morning. 2024-07-09T11:53+0000 2024-07-09T11:53+0000 2024-07-09T11:53+0000 world yemen united kingdom (uk) red sea middle east houthi https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/02/1116553146_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e88b1ae1dbc770eeb54a6b63675ec6bd.jpg "The Master of a merchant vessel reports an explosion in close proximity to the vessel, vessel and all crew are safe," UKMTO said in an incident report. The explosion happened at 4:35 GMT some 180 nautical miles east of the town of Nishtun in southeastern Yemen. The ship proceeded to its next port of call. UKMTO advised all vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to the navy, pending an investigation. Yemen's Houthi movement, which controls most of the Yemeni Red Sea coast, said in October it would attack any ships associated with Israel, in a show of support for Palestine. The rebels said they did not want to interfere with freedom of navigation in the region and would not target ships of other countries. Some shipping companies rerouted their vessels to avoid the Red Sea. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240623/ukmto-reports-attack-on-vessel-in-red-sea-75-miles-off-yemens-al-hudaydah-1119070922.html yemen united kingdom (uk) red sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International uk navy's maritime trade operations, ukmto, suspected attack on a merchant ship https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/us-navy-sailor-tried-to-obtain-bidens-medical-records---reports-1119316204.html US Navy Sailor Tried To Obtain Biden's Medical Records - Reports US Navy Sailor Tried To Obtain Biden's Medical Records - Reports Sputnik International A US Navy sailor made several attempts to access the system with President Joe Bidens medical records, CBS News reported on Tuesday, citing the Navy. 2024-07-09T17:48+0000 2024-07-09T17:48+0000 2024-07-09T17:48+0000 americas joe biden donald trump white house us navy us presidential debate 2024 us presidential election https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/05/1116610763_0:218:2974:1891_1920x0_80_0_0_9da7cb5620affb338d76bb372eec78ac.jpg The sailor, whose name the authorities did not disclose, tried to access the Genesis Medical Health System the database for the military medical system three times on Feb. 23. However, the White House official, as quoted by the report, assured that "he did not pull up the right Joe Biden." The Navy launched an investigation three days later, and on April 24, it was determined that the sailor could not reach Bidens records. The White House officials underscored that the President was notified about the incident within hours after it became known. The sailor works for the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command based at Fort Belvoir. He received an administrative penalty, according to the report. Bidens campaign has suffered since his first presidential debate of this year with Trump on June 27, when he appeared confused and incoherent throughout. That reinforced rather than refuted concerns about his cognitive abilities at age 81. His poor performance has led some Democratic politicians and donors to call for his removal as a candidate. Biden, 81, is the oldest US president in the history of the United States and would be 86 at the end of a second potential term in the White House. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240708/parkinsons-disease-specialist-visited-white-house-multiple-times-biden-admin-denies-treatment-1119301064.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International joe biden, joe biden medical records, joe biden health, joe biden health issues, question on biden health, everyone wants to know if biden is healthy https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/us-oil-loses-most-in-day-in-2-weeks-hurricane-beryl-reinforces-demand-worries-1119303437.html US Oil Loses Most in Day in 2 Weeks, Hurricane Beryl Reinforces Demand Worries US Oil Loses Most in Day in 2 Weeks, Hurricane Beryl Reinforces Demand Worries Sputnik International US crude oil prices fell the most in a day than it has since late June after Hurricane Beryl shut down a number of domestic refineries on Monday 2024-07-09T02:03+0000 2024-07-09T02:03+0000 2024-07-09T02:03+0000 economy texas shell chevron saudi arabia us crude oil oil prices https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/10/1116199311_0:143:3072:1871_1920x0_80_0_0_63b60f1db5d9d4893c660a6cbef7b99a.jpg US West Texas Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled at $82.33 per barrel, down 83 cents, or 1%, on the day. It was WTIs sharpest one-day drop since June 21. Despite that, the US crude benchmark remained up $10.68 per barrel since the end of 2023, leaving it up 15% for this year. UK-origin Brent crude settled at $85.75, down 79 cents, or 0.9% on the day. Year-to-date, the global crude benchmark is up $8.71 per barrel, or 11%. Oils 2024 rally began with threats to supply caused by geopolitical developments and output cuts by producers in the 23-nation OPEC+ alliance led by Saudi Arabia and Russia. Lately though, the run-up in crude prices has been powered by bets that the summer season, the busiest for travel in the United States, will result in huge drawdowns in crude stockpiles as refiners race to make enough fuels to feed everything from cars to trucks, airplanes and ships. Hurricane Beryl could dilute some of that demand optimism. Downgraded to a tropical storm upon making landfall in Texas, Beryl killed at least two people, knocked out power to more than two million homes and businesses and flooded streets. More importantly for the oil industry, the storm forced the closure of major oil-shipping ports in Texas, which serves as the heartland of US energy. Shell and Chevron were among major names in oil that took precaution by evacuating workers from the Gulf of Mexico, which wraps around Texas. Media reports suggested that those actions, put together, could impact not just the export of US crude to overseas destinations but also the transport of crude to domestic refineries, as well as the distribution of motor fuel to service stations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240617/biden-ready-to-release-oil-from-reserves-to-curb-inflation-ahead-of-election---reports-1118995470.html texas saudi arabia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hurricane beryl, oil prices, texas oil, gas prices https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/us-seeking-to-change-of-power-in-georgia-following-fall-elections---russias-intelligence-1119306334.html US Pushing for Change of Power in Georgia After Fall Elections, Says Russian Intel US Pushing for Change of Power in Georgia After Fall Elections, Says Russian Intel Sputnik International Russia has data that indicates the decision of the United States to seek a change of power in Georgia following the results of the parliamentary elections on October 26, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Tuesday. 2024-07-09T07:34+0000 2024-07-09T07:34+0000 2024-07-09T10:09+0000 world russia salome zourabichvili svr russian foreign intelligence service georgia us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104775/37/1047753773_0:153:3100:1897_1920x0_80_0_0_bf7f6877e2582e8097f46160849111e2.jpg "The the data received by the SVR indicates Washington's determination to seek a change of power in Georgia following the results of the upcoming October 26 parliamentary elections in the country. [US President] Joe Biden's administration has already developed a large-scale information campaign to discredit the ruling Georgian Dream party," the statement read. The US instructors have already given the command to the opposition forces in Georgia to start planning protests in the country timed to coincide with the elections, the intelligence service said. Under the US plan a "sacred sacrifice" of protesters is envisaged for the change of power in Georgia, which will direct the "anger of the nation" at the security forces, the SVR said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240603/speaker-of-georgian-parliament-signs-bill-on-foreign-agents-document-goes-into-force-1118753528.html russia georgia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's intelligence, united states, change of power in georgia, russian foreign intelligence service (svr) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240709/world-leaders-converge-at-opposite-ends-of-the-globe-1119304080.html World Leaders Converge at Opposite Ends of the Globe World Leaders Converge at Opposite Ends of the Globe Sputnik International On this episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins discussed a number of topics from around the globe, including the latest from Washington as the NATO summit sets to kick off on Tuesday, July 9. 2024-07-09T04:05+0000 2024-07-09T04:05+0000 2024-08-10T10:27+0000 the backstory nato ukraine gaza strip israel france narendra modi vladimir putin radio https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/09/1119304226_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_fee2cc89190f27130925c192977c6051.png World Leaders Converge at Opposite Ends of the Globe Sputnik International On this episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins discussed a number of topics from around the globe, including the latest from Washington as the NATO summit sets to kick off on Tuesday, July 9. Rachel kicked off this week's edition of The Backstory with author, journalist and podcast host, Peter Coffin, as the two discussed Joe Biden's potential decision to bow out of the 2024 election.Following a discussion on Biden's candidacy, Rachel shifted gears to Moscow, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rachel was joined by international relations and security analyst, Mark Sleboda, who analyzed the latest developments and provided expert insight into this meeting.Rachel then spoke to professor of international law at the University of Illinois Law School, Francis Anthony Boyle, about the Lancet report that estimated up to 186,000 people could be dead in Gaza.In the final segment of the show, veteran war correspondent and journalist, Elijah Magnier, discussed the second round of the French elections, which saw a surprising turn of events with the leftist New Popular Front getting the most parliamentary seats. 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 ukraine gaza strip israel france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Rachel Blevins Rachel Blevins News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Rachel Blevins us presidential election, us presidential race, us presidential debate, joe biden,modi in russia, gaza war, israel-hamas conflict, israel lebanon tensions, french parliamentary elecitons, french snap parliamentary elections Tony Too Tall makes his first Atlantic Canadian appearance in the Tuesday (July 9) evening feature at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway. The eight-year-old son of Big Bad John has post four in the $3,500 featured pace, carded as race 12 on the 13-dash card. First race post time is 6 p.m. Myles Heffernan Sr., has the catch driving call on Tony Too Tall for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Quebec. The winner of 32 races and $437,000 was racing the claiming ranks in Pennsylvania and New York for trainer Per Engblom before being purchased by Burke. The pacer has already won in 1:51.1 at Harrahs Philadelphia this season. Middleton Terror is the morning line favourite from post five for trainer-driver David Dowling with his latest outing a victory in 1:57 for his 22nd lifetime win from 61 career starts. Howmac Maximus (To be driven by Damian MacLellan) has rail control from the Tammy Collings with 10 top-three finishes from 12 starts this season. Post two has Melody Maker (Corey MacPherson), who knocked off this class on June 18 in 1:55.2 for owner-trainer Greg MacInnis. Mantario leaves from post three with Paul Langille getting the catch driving call for trainer Jennifer Doyle. The Backstretch Beat selects Middleton Terror on top. Middleton Terror has put together a nice season and already has four wins to show for it. Hes also back in post five and loves to race at this track so expect him to have a large say in the outcome. The back-up class hits the track for $2,850 in race 11 with Coasttocoastshark (Jaycob Sweet) headlining the crew from post five. The ultra-consistent veteran will face six rivals including Ideal Jet (MacLellan) and Rusty Riley (Langille). To view Tuesday's entries, click on one of the following links: Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Summerside Raceway Tuesday Entries Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT) (Red Shores) You are here: China An aerial drone photo shows rescuers sealing the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Rescue personnel successfully sealed a 226-meter breach in a dike at China's second-largest freshwater lake at 10:31 p.m. Monday, according to local authorities. Floodwaters from torrential rain caused the breach at Dongting Lake in the city of Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, with at least 7,000 residents having been evacuated since the dike burst on Friday afternoon. According to the Yueyang flood control and drought relief headquarters, the sealing will expedite drainage and post-disaster reconstruction and alleviate pressure on the second line of defense, a 14.3-km embankment located approximately two kilometers behind the dike. 404 The page you are looking for could not be found. Please check the address and try again or use the search function. Chinese, Belarusian FMs hold talks in Beijing Xinhua) 09:13, July 09, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov in Beijing on Monday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Belarus to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the continuous deepening and solidification of the China-Belarus all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership. China is ready to take the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an opportunity to work with all parties to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and build the SCO's common home into solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice. Ryzhenkov said that Belarus attaches great importance to Belarus-China relations, and China is the first country he visited after taking office as foreign minister. He thanked China for supporting Belarus in joining the SCO. Belarus greatly appreciates and will continue to participate deeply in the series of global initiatives proposed by China, and adhere to the practice of multilateralism to jointly address global challenges, Ryzhenkov said. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Ryzhenkov spoke highly of the six-point consensus jointly put forward by China and Brazil. Wang said that the top priority is to follow the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no fanning of the flames by any party, so as to ease and cool down the crisis and create conditions for restarting dialogue. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Over 1,000 guests and youth representatives from across the Taiwan Strait have gathered to promote closer bonds and integrated development at a forum that opened on Monday in the city of Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Addressing the opening event of the seventh cross-Strait youth development forum, senior mainland Taiwan affairs official Song Tao pledged continuous efforts to create better conditions and more opportunities for the growth and success of youths from both sides of the Strait. Song, who is 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 youths to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference and promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in all fields. Former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party Hung Hsiu-chu said at the opening ceremony that national reunification is a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation and also an unstoppable trend of history. Hung expressed the hope that youths from across the Strait could enhance mutual trust and friendship through exchanges and contribute to cross-Strait peace, national reunification and rejuvenation. The opening event featured keynote speeches and discussions involving guests and youth representatives, as well as cultural performances. The forum, which runs through Friday, also enables participants to gain a better understanding of the cultural, economic and social development of the country by hosting a series of workshops on different themes including intangible cultural heritage, e-commerce live broadcast, and sci-tech innovation. Tech Mahindra announced a collaboration with Microsoft to modernize workplace experiences with Copilot for Microsoft 365 for their 1,200+ customers and an initial 10,000+ employees across 15 locations. This collaboration positions Tech Mahindra as a leading Global Systems Integrator (GSI) adopting Copilot for Microsoft 365. Tech Mahindra will enhance workforce efficiency and streamline processes, ushering in a new era of modern workplace experiences by leveraging Microsofts trusted cloud platform and generative AI capabilities. Additionally, the company is deploying GitHub Copilot for 5000 developers which is expected to increase developer productivity by 35% to 40% within the organization by democratizing access to AI capabilities. Tech Mahindra is focused on empowering employees with AI tools to drive innovation, value and sustainable growth in an ever evolving and competitive market by harnessing the power of Copilot for Microsoft 365. The organization plans to extend the value of Copilot with plugins within and outside the Microsoft app ecosystem to leverage multiple data sources and drive creativity and increase productivity. The collaboration is focused on increasing efficiency, reducing effort, and enhancing quality and compliance across the board. Mohit Joshi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tech Mahindra, said, Our vision is to redefine the workplace experience by empowering every employee to excel and innovate using cutting-edge AI technology. We are not just adopting a tool; we are shaping the future of work for our employees and customers. The collaboration with Microsoft, and the introduction of Copilot for Microsoft 365 and GitHub Copilot also marks a significant stride in Tech Mahindras commitment to making AI accessible to everyone. As part of this collaboration, Tech Mahindra has launched a dedicated Copilot practice focused on helping customers unlock the full potential of AI tools. The practice will include workforce training to help customers with assessment and preparation, which are critical for successfully integrating AI across every area and every function in an organization. In addition, Tech Mahindra will offer comprehensive solutions to help customers assess, prepare, pilot, and adopt business solutions that utilize Copilot for Microsoft 365. The organization is committed to utilizing insights gained from the Copilot practice to benefit customers and employees alike. Copilot for Microsoft 365 provides executives, and other professionals with an adaptable, scalable, and personalized user experience based on evolving business needs. Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Microsoft said, Our collaboration with Tech Mahindra will empower its employees with new generative AI capabilities to enhance workplace experiences and increase developer productivity through the adoption of Copilot for Microsoft 365 and GitHub Copilot. With a focus on driving AI innovation and skilling, Tech Mahindra is poised to deliver new solutions and greater value for its customers across industries. This collaboration with Microsoft aligns with Tech Mahindras ongoing efforts to enhance workforce productivity, using GenAI tools to set new productivity benchmarks and drive greater value for customers. In addition to their work with Copilot for Microsoft 365, Tech Mahindra recently launched a unified workbench on Microsoft Fabric. The workbench is designed to help organizations accelerate the adoption of Microsoft Fabric enabling them to create complex data workflows with a simple-to-use interface. The longstanding collaboration between Microsoft and Tech Mahindra also saw the launch of industry leading solutions such as: 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: Hamming distance coding rules. Credit: Yuhan Dong A new study introduces a user preference mining algorithm that leverages data mining and social behavior analysis to bolster brand building efforts. This innovative approach aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in understanding and engaging with their consumer base more effectively. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often struggle with brand building due to limited resources and intense market competition. Traditional branding methods may not fully capture consumer preferences, leading to suboptimal brand development. Understanding user preferences through data mining and social behavior can provide deeper insights into consumer behavior. Based on these challenges, it is essential to conduct in-depth research to explore innovative solutions that enhance brand value (BV) through accurate and comprehensive user preference analysis. The study by Yuhan Dong from Huhaisheng School of Public Administration, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, published in the journal Data Science and Management on March 30, 2024, presents a user preference mining algorithm. This algorithm integrates data mining (DM) and social behavior (SB) analysis to improve brand building (BB) for SMEs. By predicting consumer preferences more accurately, this algorithm provides essential data support, enabling enterprises to optimize their branding strategies and achieve higher brand value. The study proposes a user preference mining algorithm that combines DM and SB to analyze and predict consumer preferences with high accuracy. The algorithm employs a cross-domain strategy, incorporating temporal behaviors to address asynchrony issues in user data. It outperforms existing models such as the computing power cost-aware online and lightweight deep pre-ranking system (COLD) and multiple additive regression tree (MART) in terms of convergence, mean square error (MSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). The experimental results reveal a mean area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.953 and an accuracy rate of 0.984, significantly higher than the competing models. The model's efficiency is further demonstrated through its practical application in predicting user brand preferences with an average error of only 0.11. By analyzing user data from both social media and e-commerce platforms, the algorithm can accurately predict consumer preferences, providing valuable insights for brand development. This innovative approach enables enterprises to identify their target audience more precisely, optimize product designs, and tailor marketing strategies to meet consumer needs effectively. Dr. Yuhan Dong, the corresponding author and driving force behind this research, emphasizes the algorithm's potential to revolutionize brand strategy. Dong says, "Our model not only predicts consumer preferences with remarkable accuracy but also adapts to the ever-changing social dynamics, ensuring that brands stay relevant and competitive." The implications of this research are far-reaching, offering small and medium-sized enterprises a powerful tool to enhance their brand value. By understanding consumer preferences at a granular level, businesses can tailor their products and marketing strategies to resonate more deeply with their audience. This data-driven approach promises to elevate brand building from an art to a precise science, fostering stronger consumer connections and driving business growth. More information: Yuhan DONG, Application of user preference mining algorithms based on data mining and social behavior in brand building, Data Science and Management (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.dsm.2024.03.007 Provided by KeAi Communications Co. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain New research has revealed why German firms are refusing to join the United States' tech trade war with China over semiconductor chips, a key component in modern electrical devices. King's College London and University of Sussex researchers found links between German car makers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen, and the country's semiconductor firms. With automotive companies now dependent on Chinese markets and suppliers, the researchers say this explains why Germany is defying U.S. calls to cut China out of semiconductor supply chains in an ongoing global trade dispute known as the "chip war." Dr. Joseph Baines, from the Department of European and International Studies at King's, said, "While the tech conflict is chiefly driven by governments, it is executed through firms, making corporate interests a crucial intervening variable in U.S. attempts to isolate China's semiconductor industry." Dubbed "the world's most critical technology" in a 2022 book on the subject, semiconductors are used in modern electronics like smartphones, medical devices and routers. The industry is worth more than $500bn and expected to double by 2030. Dr. Steven Rolf, from the University of Sussex Business School, said, "China spends more on importing semiconductors than oil and the U.S. is using all its leverage to get European firms to turn off the tap. The pressure is huge. Which is why it's been so interesting to see German players ignoring calls to separate, or decouple, from China. "Once you see how deeply German automotive and semiconductor interests are wedded together it makes sense. They're stuck in the middle, vulnerable to U.S. powers on tech, and China on cars. For now, it looks like they're sticking with the latter." The study found German semiconductor firms are no more dependent on Chinese markets than those in Japan or South Korea, countries which have supported American efforts and even withdrawn from China altogether. Yet what the researchers term "secondary exposure," through links to other important industries like car makers, has led them to resist the U.S. embargo. Dr. Julian Germann, from the University of Sussex School of Global Studies, added, "Germany's semiconductor industry may not be the largest, but its strategic importance to the U.S. China chip war is undeniable. The calculated defiance by firms at the frontline of US China competition suggests that the next American president would need to ramp up pressure on Germany to enforce tech sanctions against China." The paper, published in Politics and Governance, analyzes new trade datasets and annual company reports. It is part of an ongoing study into the role businesses across the world are playing in US-led initiatives to decouple its economic relations with China. More information: Julian Germann et al, A Chip War Made in Germany? US TechnoDependencies, China Chokepoints, and the German Semiconductor Industry, Politics and Governance (2024). DOI: 10.17645/pag.8265 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: Map showing dust concentration across the globe. Credit: Dr. Claire Ryder Planes flying into one of the world's busiest airports are ingesting around 10kg of dust per 1,000 flightswith most of this dust ingested while they are waiting to land, new research has revealed. Scientists used 17 years of ECMWF atmospheric data and data from the CALIPSO satellite to calculate the quantity of sand and dust swallowed by jet engines at ten major international airports located in desert regions or subject to seasonal dust storms. The global study, published in the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, found that the largest dust doses were ingested at airports close to the Sahara desert, the Middle East and Northern India, when dry and hot conditions drive large dust storms. Summer flights into Delhi topped the list, ingesting an average of 6.6g per arrival in the run up to monsoon season, and 4.4 grams upon departure. Delhi is followed by Dubai and Niamey, Niger at 4.3g and 4.7g per arrival respectively, while flights into Beijing swallowed 2.9g on average. Dr. Claire Ryder, from the University of Reading and lead author of the study, said, "Dust and sand are dangerous to aircraft because dust melts to form glassy deposits on blades or hard mineral crusts inside engines. These crusts disrupt airflow and cause overheating, resulting in accelerated engine wear. "Although the amount of dust ingested per flight is not huge, the amounts quickly add up. A plane consuming five grams of dust per arrival and departure will eat 10kg of dust over 1,000 flights. Planes will consume more dust when they are at lower altitudes waiting to land, though this depends on the local weather conditions which affect the height of a dust plume in the atmosphere. "Climate change may lead to a dustier world as temperatures rise and deserts expand, but we cannot say for sureyet. Climate models do not currently provide a consensus on whether global warming will mean a dustier world, as dust emissions depend on a lot of factors, such as soil moisture, precipitation, surface wind patterns and vegetation cover. "Ongoing research at the University of Reading is working to improve the ability of climate models to predict dust emissions and transport through the atmosphere." Holding patterns The research team found that aircraft ingest more dust while they are performing holding patterns (which is the formation aircraft assume while pilots are waiting for permission to land). Greater quantities of dust are consumed at low holding patterns of one kilometer, where peak dust concentrations often occur. Holding patterns of 1015 minutes at a one-kilometer altitude can lead to more dust ingestion than during the take-off, climb and taxi phases of a flight. For example, at Delhi airport during summer, holding at 1km altitude contributes 50% of total dust ingestion. By changing the holding pattern altitude away from the dusty layers, dust ingestion could be cut by 41%. The researchers also suggest dust exposure could be reduced by changing flight schedules to avoid peak dust times. Shifting flights at Delhi and Dubai to nighttime could reduce engine dust ingestion by more than 30%. More information: Claire L. Ryder et al, Aircraft Engine Dust Ingestion at Global Airports, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-2023-662 Claire L. Ryder et al, Aircraft engine dust ingestion at global airports, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.5194/nhess-24-2263-2024 , nhess.copernicus.org/articles/24/2263/2024/ You are here: China China has allocated an additional 848 million yuan (about 118.9 million U.S. dollars) to support local flood rescue efforts, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Tuesday. The fund, allocated by the MOF and the Ministry of Water Resources, will mainly be used to assist local authorities' rescue work in the country's flood-hit central, eastern, southern, southwestern and northeastern regions, including Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei and Guangdong, according to the MOF. The MOF will prioritize water facility repair and hidden risk removal efforts. Early this year, the MOF allocated funds in batches to assist local authorities with disaster relief work. China's emergency response measures to repair a breach in a dike at Dongting Lake in Hunan Province, have paid off. The breach in the dike of the country's second-largest freshwater lake was successfully sealed late on Monday and work to drain flooded land and reduce risks are ongoing, according to authorities. The National Fire and Rescue Administration has dispatched 219 rescue workers and 72 fire-fighting trucks and flood drainage rescue vehicles to Hunan to assist local authorities with rescue operations. You are here: China Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to commend an outstanding military unit and an individual. Troop 92950 of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was honored with a first-class merit citation. Liu Aijun of the Army Engineering University of the PLA was honored a third-class merit citation in defense-related science and technology. Tim emakiyapi. My name is Tim. Omaha ed wati. I live in Omaha ISanti Dakotah hemahantan. Do. I come from the iSanti Dakotah (Santee Sioux). It sounds so simple, but learning to introduce myself in the traditional Dakota language formed a powerful connection to my ancestors. It also made me part of a collective effort to keep the Santee native tongue alive. Despite there being 27,000 Santees scattered across the United States and Canada, including 3,000 in Nebraska, only 15 are fluent speakers. Without active speakers, a tribe risks its language becoming a dead one. Its a perilous reality for the Santee and other tribes. Without our language, we die as a people, said Redwing Thomas, the tribes cultural officer and leader of the language program. The drum is the heartbeat of the tribe, but language is the soul. Four Nebraska tribes are working to keep that soul alive. From using traditional words during powwows to signs around reservations, Indigenous communities are reclaiming their stories. The Omaha and Winnebago prioritized language years ago. The Northern Ponca, by comparison, are in the beginning stages of language education efforts. Santee tribal leaders obtained a federal grant two years ago to help tribes with language, said Kameron Runnels, vice chair. The Santee tribal council also took a bold move by financing language courses for all tribal citizens and non-enrolled children of Santees. Fifty years ago, you could walk down the road and hear our grandparents speaking Dakota, Runnels said. My grandparents were among the first language speakers. My grandfather left a federal government-sponsored residential school after third grade because he refused to give up the language. My grandmother attended a Episcopalian-led school where speaking Dakota was encouraged. The federal government eventually cut off funding for that school, determined to rid the Santees of their language. Grandpa Trudell refused to teach my older siblings the language beyond a phrase or two because he determined there wouldnt be a need for it in the future. Unfortunately, this was one time hed be wrong. Today in Santee, elder Donald LaPointe is the lone fluent or first language speaker, and hes in his mid-80s. Others are considered proficient. If we dont do something now, we will cease to exist as a people, Runnels said. As an elder a strange admission when youre the ninth of 10 children I saw learning Dakota as a way to grow closer to my ancestors. My daughters Steph and Mallory and I were among the 20 students in an online class hosted through the Nebraska Indian Community College. Another 20 people participated in an in-person class in Santee, and about 25 took classes in Sioux City, Iowa, an urban hub for Santee citizens. Rather than focus on basic lessons such as learning colors or how to count to 10, Thomas teaches students how to create sentences, so they can start having conversations. You have to use it daily to know the language, he said. Once you learn a few words, it helps in picking up more and then understanding what people are saying. For Sheldon Bird and Aracely Figueroa, the Santee program is helping them reconnect to tribal roots and laying the foundation for the future. Its a great empowerment movement for my cultural reasons, said Figueroa, 21. Its going to help me in the future, to teach younger adults the language. And it helps us here in Sioux City with the people who are from the reservation in learning the language, as well. The 26-year-old Bird, whos majoring in the Dakota language and took the classes online, anticipates becoming one of the tribes youngest fluent speakers. Its a lifelong mission, he said. I need to listen to the elders and learn from them. In some ways, efforts to resuscitate Native languages are a way to counteract past injustices. Native Americans have experienced years of reservation life, forced assimilation, tribal termination and relocation to residential schools designed to eradicate Native culture. During a nearly 20-year period starting in 1953, the federal government terminated recognition of dozens of Native tribes across the U.S., resulting in the relinquishment of more than 3 million acres of tribal lands. The Northern Ponca, based in Niobrara, were among those removed from federal rolls, essentially leaving them without community. Their language was among the cultural casualties. My great-grandparents used to host powwows at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk, and do what they could to really keep the culture together and the language, but it definitely hurt when we were all dispersed and kind of went into the urban areas, said Ricky Wright Jr., the Poncas cultural affairs officer. Without any fluent speakers, the Northern Poncas traditional language died. Since the tribes restoration in 1990 as a federally-recognized Indigenous nation, one goal has been to resurrect their language. Today, five designated language teachers are undergoing an intensive education program with a fluent speaker from the Oklahoma-based reservation, Wright said. They plan to roll out a program in 2025 that will station a language teacher at each of the tribes five offices in Nebraska. Instructors will work with the tribes 5,500 citizens, as well as non-Poncas interested in learning the language, Wright said. Classes will be hosted weeknights and on weekends. The language has been vacant for so long that we dont want to keep it from others. We want to share it, Wright said. The language program will be a source of tribal pride, he said. Other tribes, which managed to hold onto their language and culture, would occasionally mock Ponca people, Wright said while reflecting back on his childhood. I love being the front of the spear, as the culture director, in leading us back, so that someday, my children can be proud to say, Hey, Im Northern Ponca, he said. Its been a great turnaround and the vision is becoming clear. It took 20 years of on-and-off attempts at language preservation for the vision to become clear for the Winnebago. The tribe launched Ho Chunk Renaissance in 2015 to keep its language alive. The language is the spirit and the culture is the body, said Lewis St. Cyr, whos been executive director of the program for the past nine years. The spirit drives the culture. Ho Chunk Renaissance offers its courses through outreach programs with area schools and community programs, such as its annual summer camp, pumpkin carving contests and language classes, St. Cyr said. After years of resistance from administrators, Winnebago schools now display Ho Chunk art and words, he said. Native speakers lead language immersion programs at the elementary school, which also meet Nebraska education standards. Children are learning language and culture from head start through high school, but because of a lack of fluent speakers, Ho Chunk Renaissance focuses on first through fourth grades and high school, he said. The Omahas (Umo Ho) realized the importance of saving and growing their language decades ago. For about 20 years, children at the Omaha Nation schools have learned their language. Still, progress has been slow. The tribe has about 7,000 members but less than 10 fluent speakers, said Dwight Howe, executive director of the Omaha Nation Family Resource Center. The languages absence at home hinders the schools program. How can we expect them to speak the language if theres no one at home to speak it with? Howe said. Recognizing the need to help grow the language, Howes organization seeks different ways to spread the word, including stop signs in both English and Omaha, located around the Thurston County reservation. And Howe tries to host classes for adults when theyre most effective, such as during an elders luncheon, as well as evening classes to maximize results. Its difficult to do an immersion program, so we have to find different ways to teach the language. While Nebraskas Indigenous tribes have started the linguistic healing process, leaders realize theyre playing catch up after decades of silence. If we dont do this now, said Santees Runnels, our people as a tribe will be gone in three generations. PHOTOS: Magnificent, colorful fireworks fill the night sky over Fonner Park Fireworks light up the sky over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show A girl watches the Fourth of July fireworks show on top of a car at Fonner Park on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday, July 4. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks light up the sky over Fonner Park in Grand Island during the city's Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks light up the sky over Fonner Park in Grand Island during the citys Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Fireworks are set off over Fonner Park for the Fourth of July show on Thursday night. Fonner Park's Fourth of July fireworks show Brilliant colors dot the sky during the show. Fourth of July festivities at the Stuhr Museum Friends and families in several old-time festivities for Fourth of July at the Stuhr Museum on Thursday, July 4. Thailand to start FTA talks with South Korea By Vietnam News Agency Tue, July 9, 2024 | 5:56 pm GMT+7 Thailand will host the first round of talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea from July 9 -17 in Bangkok, according to the Thai Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN). Shipping containers are stacked at a port in Busan, South Korea. Photo courtesy of koreatimes.co.kr. Chotima Iemsawasdikul, director-general of the DTN, said both countries have agreed to move forward with the Korea-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement. They acknowledged the FTA's terms of reference (ToR) for further negotiation, with Thailand agreeing to host the first round in Bangkok. The official said that the KTEPA will build on two previous FTAs involving both Thailand and the RoK and other countries the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). She emphasised the new bilateral FTA is hoped to help enhance Thailands competitiveness when it comes to attracting larger companies and startups from the RoK to come to invest in Thailand. Among the target groups of Korean businesses Thailand now intends to woo are electric vehicle makers, EV parts makers, and information technology companies. While a joint main committee will be overseeing the overall progress of the negotiation process, a total of 13 joint sub-committees will discuss in detail the different areas of the FTA, including trade of goods, trade remedies, origin of goods and customs and trade facilitation. In 2023, the RoK was Thailand's 12th largest trade partner with both nations recording 14.73 billion USD in total trade value between them. Thailand exported goods worth $6.07 billion, while the RoK exported $8.66 billion worth of goods. In the first five months of this year, the trade value between the two sides was $6.30 billion, a 2.48% drop when compared to the same period last year, Chotima said. A child looks at mechanical hands during the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, east China, July 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The 78th U.N. General Assembly recently adopted a resolution proposed by China calling for enhanced global artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation. More than 140 countries backed the resolution, underlining widespread global support and international traction for critical AI governance. "China looks forward to taking the adoption of this resolution as an opportunity to work with member states toward active follow-up and implementation of the resolution by prioritizing development and following a people-centered approach based on equality, mutual benefit, integrity and innovation," said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. With so many developing nations lacking equitable AI technology access, China's initiative is a major step toward narrowing the global digital divide. Affordability and acquisition of cutting-edge technologies is critical to advancing AI's civilian applications, improving socioeconomic development, generating new employment and streamlining industries. As such, there are profound merits to a resolution that calls for global AI cooperation to bridge capacity gaps and promote people-centric development. China's determination to develop over 50 standards for its AI sector by 2026 is a remarkable leadership example in this regard. Using the resolution as a benchmark for swift advancement of AI technologies worldwide, countries also stand to achieve meaningful progress on new AI industrial applications, enterprise development and equal access to technology. This is a marked departure from the current dangers of technological decoupling and unwarranted export restrictions, which risk turning technological progress into a zero-sum race for dominance. An international consensus on AI governance is pivotal to offset these risks. Look no further than the resolution's adherence to the U.N. Charter, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and vital outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, indicating a whole system approach to effective AI governance norms. Potential areas of engagement could also include generative AI which spans text, image and content generation across a range of emerging industries and commercial commodities. How these technologies shape the future of industries, and uncertainty over their social implications, make it imperative to bridge the intelligence gap through joint efforts. Among other strengths, the resolution seeks to advance an AI-enabled Sustainable Development Agenda. According to the U.N., international progress remains exceedingly slow, and only 17% of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved. By backing equitable, timely and sustainable AI development, the resolution supports dialogue as a way to narrow progress disparities. For instance, AI can play a critical role in maximizing countries' energy utilization, broadening educational opportunities, and scaling the growth of new industry sectors. Thus, a ground-up consensus on responsible AI governance can ensure equitable access of such technologies for populations in need. Given that the digital divide continues to exist, the international community cannot afford to turn a blind eye to AI governance and its associated risks. The World Bank has made it abundantly clear that digitalization itself "holds the foundation and potential to shape a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable world for generations to come." Thus, strengthening these foundations requires inclusive and participatory dialogue among the consumers and future leaders of AI innovation. The China-led resolution marks a welcome consensus on AI governance for over 140 countries, indicating a landmark achievement in the development and stability of a fast-changing, highly interconnected world. To promote international cooperation on AI capacity building, China has also led from the front. Rounds of member-state consultations and bilateral deliberations ensured that nations' competing expectations were factored into the resolution, making it an exercise in deft diplomacy. This is important because the resolution reflects a truly inclusive process on AI governance needs, and manifests cooperative engagement every step of the way. As the U.N.'s first resolution focused on global cooperation for AI capacity building, it is also paving the way for "an open, fair and nondiscriminatory business environment" for future AI. A prime example is China's own Global AI Governance Initiative. Through the initiative, Beijing communicated principled opposition to global AI supply chain barriers, disruptions and technological monopolies. All these factors challenge the spirit of effective and inclusive AI governance, warranting a collective response from world powers. It is here that core principles of the Global AI Governance Initiative are captured within the resolution, demonstrating its compatibility with developing countries' expectations on AI use, regulation and access. Over the years, China has made great strides in AI development that signal its readiness to promote global action. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, Chinese inventors are responsible for the largest number of patents linked to generative AI over the past 10 years. China is home to more than 4,500 AI enterprises, and has powered smart interventions across autonomous vehicles, health care, industry, research and education. These breakthroughs are driven by a people-centric approach to AI-enabled development, a vision that resonates with more than 140 countries on the world stage. Rapid transformations in AI technologies also require a firm reckoning of potential technology risks and challenges. After all, some 2.5 billion people worldwide still do not have internet access, and scores of developing countries are yet to reap the socioeconomic benefits of AI. To effectively address these challenges, a global consensus on AI governance is critical. Countries across all development stages can now work together to develop AI governance frameworks, support human applications of AI technologies, and develop partnership networks across governments, international organizations and other major stakeholders. The absence of an international consensus would have risked widening the digital divide, challenging AI knowledge-sharing and the availability of technologies to the developing world. In light of these factors, increased AI cooperation can prevent technological benefits from being confined to silos, making emerging technologies safer, reliable and applicable for all. "It is the shared expectation of the U.N. membership to enhance international cooperation on AI capacity building, develop and utilize AI on an equal footing, and share the fruits of AI knowledge," Fu Cong said. The China-proposed resolution on AI cooperation is a significant step forward on many levels. It provides an opening to bring down barriers to AI technology access, helps accelerate sustainable development progress, and promotes consensus among nations to jointly narrow the digital divide. The author is a foreign affairs commentator, author and recipient of the Fulbright Award. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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The Add to Wallet function will also make it easy for visitors to the region to enjoy popular Paris attractions and sites. And together with new partner, Air France, Samsung Wallet will enable a convenient flight ticket management experience on Samsung Galaxy smartphones, a statement said. Samsung is proud to drive ease of access through technological innovation for Ile-de-France Mobilites and Air France, said Woncheol Chai, Head of Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. By integrating all-new travel management features into Samsung Wallet, we are bringing new levels of convenience to French locals as well as to visitors to France, just in time for a busy summer travel season. Enabling Hassle-Free Local Transport in Paris Residents and visitors can enjoy a seamless public transport experience within Ile-de-France region through global IDFM support. Users can easily access the IDF Mobilites app through a pre-loaded shortcut displayed under the Transit menu of Samsung Wallet. In addition to efficient city navigation, travellers can leave behind ticket queues and unmanned ticket booths. Samsung Galaxy users can simply tap their devices to board or transfer buses, metros and Reseau Express Regional (RER) lines, reducing the need for physical cards or tickets and unlocking a hassle-free transport experience. Unlocking Simplified Travel in France Even beyond Paris, Samsung Galaxy users can enjoy the simplicity of payment card-based transit across multiple French cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, and Aix-en-Provence. Plus, the RoissyBus and OrlyBus shuttle provide quick, direct links for travelers between the city center and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. With this feature, Samsung Galaxy users can just tap their device to pay and go , boosting transport speed and accessibility. TradeArabia News Service The Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) has kicked off a five-day strategic visit to the United Kingdom (UK), which will encompass a series of high-profile events, strategic business meetings, and roundtable discussions with a curated list of existing and potential investors across priority sectors, namely financial services and manufacturing. Led by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, with the support of senior executives from the investment promotion agency, the visit is aimed at promoting the growing investment opportunities in Bahrain, as well as further building on a robust legacy of bilateral and business ties between the two nations. The series of strategic meetings will also be attended by key stakeholders from Bahrains public and private sector, to promote the business opportunities in the island nation. Senior representatives from key UK-based firms operating in Bahrain, such as PWC Middle East, additionally attended, as case studies of industry leaders that successfully expanded their presence, serving as first-hand experience of Bahrains business-friendly investor environment. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif said: "With the United Kingdom being one of our key target markets for us at the Bahrain EDB, this strategic visit provides us the opportunity to showcase Bahrains strategic advantages and vibrant investment opportunities across priority sectors. Through these curated events and strategic meetings, with the support of Team Bahrain, we aim to build lasting partnerships that will drive more investment to the country, leading to sustainable economic growth and job creation." Bahrain EDB is set to host two roundtable sessions, the first in collaboration with Sovereign Strategy, the consulting and public relations firm with a global footprint, and the latter with TheCityUK, an industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services. Designed to build a more strategic network of potential investors, both sessions were held under Chatham House rules, offering the opportunity to exchange perspectives through deep dive discussions with C-level policymakers and industry leaders, all while promoting Bahrains ease of doing business, highly skilled talent pool, and business-friendly investment environment. On the sidelines of the visit, in partnership with Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC), Bahrain EDB will additionally host key investors at the Newmarket July Festival, networking with strategic partners, potential investors, and business affiliates. Bahrain and the UK enjoy a longstanding history of bilateral strategic ties that span over 200 years, which have provided a solid foundation that continues to serve for the ongoing development of the bilateral partnership and cooperation on multiple fronts. This is evidenced by the total non-oil trade value between Bahrain and the UK, which as of 2023, reached over $443 million. Numerous leading UK companies, such as Unilever, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Reckitt Benckiser, Mott Macdonald, and PWC, have established a significant presence in Bahrain. Notably, PWC Middle East has recently launched its regional service centre in Bahrain, pledging to hire 250 Bahrainis. - TradeArabia News Service The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) held its first event in Saudi Arabia last week to celebrate the achievements of women leaders in the kingdom. The event, Women in Finance: Stories from the Top, saw senior female leaders in the finance profession come together to share stories, hear powerful TED talks, panel discussions and Q&A sessions. Women in the finance profession in Saudi Arabia have seen significant progress in recent years. The Saudi Vision 2030 initiative has been a driving force, aiming to increase female participation in the workforce to 30% by 2030. Broader social reforms Notably, womens participation in leadership roles within banks and financial institutions has grown, reflecting broader social reforms and efforts to enhance gender diversity in the kingdoms economic landscape. Speaking at the event, Fazeela Gopalani, Head of Eurasia and Middle East, ACCA, commented: I am so delighted to be hosting our first Saudi Women in Finance event, celebrating the incredible stories and achievements of women leaders here. The entire experience has been both humbling and inspiring. I am so proud of the work that has gone into this event and of our Middle East team for their passion and dedication to advancing women in finance. Education and professional development programmes have played a crucial role in the progression of women in the workplace. Initiatives like the Women in Leadership Program by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) and various scholarships for women pursuing finance-related degrees have contributed to a more skilled and competitive female workforce. The number of women on boards of directors in Saudi banks has also risen, reflecting a growing acceptance and encouragement of female leadership in the financial sector. As we look to the future, lets continue to support and uplift each other, striving for excellence in all that we do. Our collective strength lies in our willingness to learn, share, and grow together, Gopalani added.--TradeArabia News Service Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov in Beijing on Monday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Belarus to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the continuous deepening and solidification of the China-Belarus all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership. China is ready to take the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an opportunity to work with all parties to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and build the SCO's common home into solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice. Ryzhenkov said that Belarus attaches great importance to Belarus-China relations, and China is the first country he visited after taking office as foreign minister. He thanked China for supporting Belarus in joining the SCO. Belarus greatly appreciates and will continue to participate deeply in the series of global initiatives proposed by China, and adhere to the practice of multilateralism to jointly address global challenges, Ryzhenkov said. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Ryzhenkov spoke highly of the six-point consensus jointly put forward by China and Brazil. Wang said that the top priority is to follow the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no fanning of the flames by any party, so as to ease and cool down the crisis and create conditions for restarting dialogue. bp has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to join an existing consortium comprising Masdar, Hassan Allam Utilities and Infinity Power to explore the potential development of a multi-phase green hydrogen (gH2) project in Egypt. Under the JDA, bp will act as the main developer and operator of the project on behalf of the consortium. The partners are combining their respective gH2 projects in Egypt and will also explore the potential for a single large-scale, multi-phase project for the development of gH2 and its derivatives, with a focus on exports. The newly formed consortium has signed a Framework Agreement (FWA) with the Egyptian government to start carrying out a set of studies and activities to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of the project. Egypt-EU Investment Conference The FWA agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Egypt-EU Investment Conference by Nader Zaki, bps Regional President, Middle East and North Africa; Karim Hefzy, Chief Operating Officer of Hassan Allam Utilities; Andreas Bieringer, Director, Green Hydrogen Business Development and Commercial, Masdar; Karim Hafzi, COO of Hassan Allam Utilities; and Mohamed Mansour, Chairman of Infinity Power, and witnessed by Dr Moustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr Mohamed Shaker, the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Resources, and Dr Hala El-Said, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development. "We are pleased that the signing coincides with our celebration of 60 years in Egypt, which clearly reflects our ongoing commitment to the country. Over the decades, we have been a key supplier of energy in Egypt, consistently working to meet its increasing energy demands while supporting its endeavours for a more sustainable energy future. The diverse experiences of partners in energy projects present a great opportunity for regional cooperation and accessing global markets, fundamentally supporting Egypt's energy transition plans." said Nader Zaki, bp's regional president for the Middle East and North Africa. Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, Masdars Chief Green Hydrogen Officer, said: We welcome the addition of bp to the consortium, building on the well-established existing relationship between our companies and supporting Masdars ambition to drive the development of green hydrogen around the world. We already have plans to develop green hydrogen projects in Egypt and this agreement reinforces Masdar and the UAEs commitment to Egypt to realise its massive clean energy and green hydrogen potential, alongside our Africa renewable energy champion IPH. Key step Amr Allam, Co-CEO Hassan Allam Holding, said: "Joining forces with bp, Masdar, and Infinity Power in this consortium is a significant step towards advancing the development of green hydrogen and anchoring Egypt as a key player in this sector. Our combined local and global expertise will create economic opportunities and contribute to a cleaner and greener future for Egypt and help to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors globally relying on fossil fuels. Felipe Arbelaez, bps SVP Hydrogen and CCS, added: Hydrogen has a role to play in the future of global energy. We look forward to working with our partners to try to unlock hydrogens potential in Egypts energy story. Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Chairman of Infinity Power, said: Bringing another partner on board highlights the ambition of our consortium and our commitment to collaborating and innovating to bring about new green investment in Africa. Our track record delivering large scale projects in Egypt and across the continent will give us essential experience to help deliver on this exciting and innovative project. Nayer Fouad, CEO of Infinity Power, added: We know Africa has abundant renewable resources, and this hydrogen export hub will take advantage of these resources and bring environmental and economic benefits to Egypt and other nations. Hydrogen power is an incredibly exciting technology, and this export hub can help to power green industry in Africa and beyond and strengthen Egypts role as a leader in green power.--TradeArabia News Service UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim has announced a major milestone with the sell-out success of the first phase of its Ghaf Woods, the first forest living community in the heart of Dubai and its newest development in the emirate. Spanning 738,000 sq m of land near Global Village, Ghaf Woods boasts more than 7,000 premium units with one-, two- and three-bedrooms, as well as penthouses, overseeing pristine views of the forest ecosystem. According to Majid Al Futtaim, the recent sell-out of the developments first phase, consisting of 1,000 units, underscores the high demand for living in a natural environment. Inspired by the principles of Nature Positive, a global model that aims to increase nature and green areas by 2030 compared to 2020, this initiative seeks to create healthy environments benefitting individuals, habitats, cities and communities, driving the transition towards a nature-positive world, it stated. The transformation to a nature-positive world will be guided by innovative policies and a robust regulatory framework that reimagines our relationship with nature. With this model at its core, Ghaf Woods is set to redefine indoor-outdoor living by integrating world-class design and architecture with a placemaking approach that prioritises nature, said Majid Al Futtaim in a statement. At the heart of the development is a 35,000-tree forest, including Ghaf trees and other species native to the GCC. The forest will not only offer residents improved air quality, but as studies have shown is set to lower the ambient temperature by up to 5 degrees Centigrade, as well as conserving the water table and reduce soil erosion, it added. "It comes at a time where Dubai Government is working towards doubling its greenery areas, providing a healthy environment to residents and visitors as part of the Emirates 2040 Urban Master Plan," said a company spokesman. This first-of-its-kind community will also be home to over 20 bird species, in addition to having more trees than residents, all-in-all contributing to a forest ecosystem that will produce up to 20% cleaner air, adapting to and enhancing the UAEs climate, he stated. "Majid Al Futtaim has become synonymous with the delivery of increasingly innovative customer-centric solutions, which have been designed to enhance the everyday experience of every person that lives, works, and plays at its outstanding lifestyle destinations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Clara, a leading digital legal and admin software provider, and RemotePass, a prominent remote team management and global payroll platform, have formed a strategic partnership. This partnership combines Clara's innovative company operating system with RemotePass's expertise in remote workforce management. Together, they create a seamless experience for businesses dealing with the complexities of establishing foreign entities and managing cross-border teams. Using Claras platform, businesses can digitally incorporate companies in a range of jurisdictions, manage their cap tables and generate and sign legal agreements. RemotePass's robust payroll system handles multi-currency payments and local tax compliance, reducing the administrative burden on companies and ensuring compliance with local regulations in more than 100 countries. This partnership aims to empower businesses to expand their global footprint efficiently and compliantly. Remote work market The Middle East remote work market is expected to grow by 30% by 2025, highlighting the increasing demand for solutions that simplify remote team management and global payroll. Patrick Rogers, Co-founder and CEO of Clara, commented: "Our mission at Clara is to simplify legal and admin tasks for businesses. Partnering with RemotePass allows us to extend our reach and provide a holistic solution for companies looking to hire and manage talent globally. Hundreds of our customers already use RemotePass to support their hiring needs so creating this partnership was a logical step forward." Kamal Reggad, Co-founder and CEO of RemotePass, added: "We are thrilled to partner with Clara. Their company operating system is already supporting a large percentage of our customer base across everything, from digital company formation and administration to ESOP and cap table management. Together, we can offer unparalleled support to businesses navigating the hiring landscape in the UAE and globally." Together, Clara and RemotePass will offer an integrated solution that addresses the multifaceted challenges of legal documentation, compliance, payroll and remote team management.--TradeArabia News Service Emerge, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi energy group Masdar and French utility major EDF, has joined hands with Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC), to break ground on a 60MWp solar PV plant, the largest solar installation in the emirate till date. As per an agreement with the Sharjah oil major, Emerge will be handling the entire project lifecycle under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. This includes financing, design, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar modules for a period of 25 years, said a statement from Masdar. Once operational, the ground-mounted solar PV plant, located at SNOC's Sajaa Gas Complex, will generate enough clean energy to offset 66,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing more than 14,600 cars from the road each year. The project supports SNOC's commitment to decarbonisation and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2032, it stated. It will significantly decrease SNOC's dependence on traditional fossil fuels for its operations and provide a cost-effective source of clean energy. The project aligns with the United Arab Emirates' ambitious Net-Zero 2050 strategy, said Masdar in a statement. By promoting renewable energy sources, this initiative contributes to the UAE's transition towards a more sustainable, environmentally conscious future for Sharjah and the wider region, it added. SNOC Chief Executive Officer Hatem Al Mosa expressed delight at witnessing this significant milestone on its path to achieve Net-Zero by 2032 across its own operations and to support the emirate's sustainability agenda and commitment to protecting the environment. "We value this strategic cooperation with Emerge, Masdar and EDF and we look forward to more prospects in the same path," he noted. Emerge General Manager Michel Abi Saab said: "We are proud to be a part of this landmark project, alongside our client SNOC. Our turnkey solutions offer businesses like SNOC the ability to transition towards a sustainable future without upfront costs." "This project will empower SNOC to achieve its decarbonization goals, and also to secure a more cost-effective energy future for the Emirate as a whole. We look forward to its successful completion," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Dubai Chambers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aramex to enhance the services available to the business community and supporting companies in their professional activities and operations, a report said. Under the terms of the MoU, Aramex will provide special packages for companies that are members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said. The packages will offer comprehensive transportation and logistics solutions for businesses, together with a range of quality services delivered through Aramex facilities across the emirate. Khalid Al Jarwan, Vice President of Operations and Acting Vice President of Digital and Commercial Sectors at Dubai Chambers, said: We are committed to enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector by improving the quality and efficiency of services available to companies operating in Dubai in cooperation with partners from the public and private sectors. Dubai Chambers remains focused on sustaining institutional and customer excellence as a strategic priority to contribute effectively to the development of Dubais favourable business environment and enhance its attractiveness among companies and investors. Tarek Abuyaghi, General Manager of Aramex, said: Having trustworthy and efficient logistics partners is crucial for businesses across various industries. As the UAE continues to evolve into a global business hub, we are delighted to join forces with Dubai Chambers to support members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Drawing on more than four decades of expertise of Aramex, as well as our data-driven and customer-centric approach, we will provide tailored logistics solutions that meet the unique needs of each business. The collaboration aligns with our efforts to support the UAEs vibrant business environment and help businesses of all sizessmall, medium, and largethrive through reliable, innovative, and efficient logistics services. Saudi Arabias Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA) has added 205 new national products worth SR3.4 billion ($910 million) across 11 vital sectors, in an effort to empower national products and factories. LCGPAs update includes 20 products for the building and construction sector, 34 products for the medicines and medical preparations sector, 103 products for the medical supplies sector, 8 products for the chemicals and fertilisers sector, 9 products for the food and agricultural products sector, 11 products for the furniture sector, 6 products for the stationery and office tools sector, 6 products for the plastic consumer products sector, 4 products for the transportation and logistics services sector, 3 products for the personal and household equipment and supplies sector, and 1 product for the paper consumer products sector, a Saudi Press Agency report said. The authority stated that upgrading the list is part of its efforts to activate the mechanisms specified by the list of preference for local content, small and medium enterprises, and companies listed on the financial market in business and procurement. 460 beneficiary factories It noted that 460 beneficiary factories have the production capacity to meet government demand, with the expected volume of government spending exceeding SR3.4 billion. The authority also indicated that the products were identified and included in the mandatory list in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organisation, the Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority, and the Council of Saudi Chambers. This selection was based on criteria such as the quality and production capacity of national factories and the number of manufacturers of these products. The authority calls on specialised national factories to submit applications to include new products in the sectors mandatory list, provided they conform to the standards and specifications mentioned on its website.--TradeArabia News Service Dubal Holding, the investment arm of the Dubai government in the commodities and mining, power and energy, and industrial sectors, has entered into a strategic deal with BiOD, the UAE's largest biodiesel manufacturer, to acquire a majority stake in the company. This strategic partnership is set to propel the UAEs position in the global green economy, reinforcing both companies dedication to environmental sustainability and innovation in the energy sector. BiOD, the UAE's and the GCCs largest biodiesel manufacturer, is renowned for its pioneering work in transforming used cooking oils (UCO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) into clean biodiesel. As the operator of the GCC regions only second-generation biodiesel plant, BiOD stands at the forefront of technological innovation in renewable energy, showcasing its commitment to the circular economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 84 per cent, as verified by its ISCC certification. Announcing the strategic move, Dubal Holding, a sovereign wealth fund with a focus on sustainable and green investments, said this investment underscores its commitment to fostering a sustainable future and supports Dubais vision for a green economy. "This partnership with BiOD aligns perfectly with Dubal Holdings strategic objectives of investing in environmentally responsible and innovative businesses," remarked Ahmad bin Fahad, CEO of Dubal Holding. According to him, it marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainability and innovation in the energy sector. It not only highlights the UAEs leadership in green technology but also sets a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can drive substantial progress towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. "We are confident that this collaboration will not only contribute to sustainable development in the UAE but also set a precedent for environmental responsibility worldwide," he added. Echoing this sentiment, BiODs Chief Executive Shiva Vig, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Dubal Holding as a strategic partner. This is not just an investment in our company but a testament to our shared vision for a sustainable future." "We are proud to contribute to the UAEs green economy and look forward to making even greater strides in renewable energy with Dubal Holdings support. I also want to acknowledge our advisors at Ideal Capital for their crucial role in facilitating this deal," added Vig.-TradeArabia News Service Dubai Chambers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VFS Global, which will provide strategic services to accelerate trade and investment development for Dubai-based companies across the companys global network. The MoU is aimed at accelerating the global expansion of Dubai-based companies by reducing market entry friction and speeding up their ability to capitalise on commercial opportunities. Dubai-based businesses will benefit from the support of VFS Globals international network of offices and resources, which offer a range of services and solutions including the evaluation of potential partners in international markets through due diligence services. Global Partnership Programme The agreement comes as part of the Global Partnership Programme, a new initiative launched by Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, that aims to accelerate the chambers attraction and expansion efforts by collaborating with world-class service providers across eight trade categories. The programme will offer services designed to expedite processes, simplify operations, reduce costs and minimise risks for Dubai-based companies. The Global Partnership Programme complements Dubai Global Initiative which aims to attract foreign direct investment and support Dubai-based companies in their expansion plans across 30 priority markets. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: We are dedicated to driving economic growth by attracting companies and investors from across the globe to the emirate and supporting the international expansion of local businesses. Our cooperation with VFS Global will enhance the competitiveness of Dubais private sector by facilitating smoother entry into global markets. We remain committed to supporting the business community as we continue to consolidate Dubais position as an unrivalled global gateway for opportunities and growth. TradeBridge Global Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global, said: "We are pleased to partner with Dubai Chambers to launch our 'TradeBridge Global' trade and investment services for Dubai-based organisations. This initiative highlights our long-standing commitment to supporting the development of Dubai as a pre-eminent global business hub. Our association with the UAE began in 2002 when we launched Dubai Visa services with Emirates Airline, and in 2013, we moved our global headquarters to Dubai. Last year, we appointed our first Head of Empowerment and Inclusion for UAE to further the governments vision to attract, develop and retain local talent. This new partnership with Dubai Chambers is just another step in our support of our commitment to Dubai and the UAE." The agreement with VFS Global will support the Global Partnership Programme across the chambers 31 international representative offices around the world. This growing network will play a key role in achieving the ambitions outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which seeks to double the size of the emirates economy over the coming decade and consolidate Dubais position among the top three global cities.--TradeArabia News Service In a collaborative effort to empower Saudi Arabias local talent with advanced science and technology skills, Dell Technologies, Aramco and the National IT Academy (NITA) have signed a collaboration agreement. The collaboration aims to provide Saudi students with advanced training programmes and certifications that will help develop a skilled and readily employable technology talent pool in the Kingdom. The agreement was signed by Nabil Al-Nuaim, Senior Vice President, Digital & Information Technology, Aramco, Majed S Al-Ghassab, Executive Director, NITA, and Mohammed Amin, Senior Vice President, Central Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey, Africa (CEEMETA), Dell Technologies. Four-month-long programme As per the agreement, the four-month-long programme ITXcelerate is designed to equip recent Saudi graduates in computer engineering, computer science and IT with Dell Proven Professional Certification across areas such as storage management, data science, and AI. It also includes hands-on experience with on-site job shadowing and mentoring opportunities. This immersive programme aims to go beyond theoretical concepts and arm local talent with the skills and knowledge required to excel and thrive in todays data-driven world. It aligns with Saudi Arabias vision to foster a vibrant tech ecosystem and equip its workforce with the skills necessary to contribute to the nation's technological advancement and economic prosperity. By combining their expertise and resources, the collaboration signifies a shared commitment to fostering a competent and future-ready IT workforce in Saudi Arabia. Al-Nuaim said: "We collectively seek to elevate the kingdoms technological offerings through talent advancement. By investing in the training and certification of local IT talent, we aim to meet the needs of the industry and position Saudi Arabia as a hub of IT innovation and excellence. This agreement underscores our plan to nurture a skilled workforce that will not only contribute to Saudi 2030 Vision but also showcase the nation's prowess on the international tech landscape. Al-Ghassab said: "As an establishment invested in nurturing Saudi Arabias human capital, NITA is committed to raising Saudi graduates skill levels through comprehensive training programmes, hands-on experiential learning, and strategic industry collaborations. Leveraging expertise Working with Aramco and Dell on this exciting agreement allows us to leverage their expertise in programme management and training delivery to create a valuable learning experience for students. We believe this agreement will help play a crucial role in preparing Saudi Arabias emerging talent for success in the dynamic job market and contribute to the nation's ambitious technology goals." Amin said: "We are enthusiastic about collaborating with Aramco and NITA to empower Saudi Arabias future IT leaders. Dell has a distinguished track record of actively engaging with local communities and empowering them to build a sustainable cornerstone for tomorrow. By sharing our IT industry expertise and providing practical mentorship and industry certification, we aim to equip Saudi young people with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the ever-evolving tech landscape. This agreement directly aligns with our mission to support the development of a robust and future-proof technology ecosystem in the kingdom."--TradeArabia News Service Dubai Future Labs and Osaka University, under the supervision of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), have signed an agreement to collaborate in the research and development (R&D) of new technologies and concepts. The agreement is in line with Dubai Research and Development Programme which aims to support key economic sectors and create new opportunities for growth by providing a comprehensive framework for research, development and innovation across the emirate. Under the agreement, Dubai Future Labs, and JSTs Moonshot Goal 1 will engage in joint R&D activities together with the University of Electro-Communications, RIKEN, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International and Cyber Agent, Inc., and establish a world-class research laboratory, under the theme of Cybernetic Avatar Alliance: Dubai Japan Laboratories for Cybernetic Avatar Technologies. Cutting-edge research The collaboration will focus on conducting cutting-edge research activities in the field of cybernetic avatars across three projects: operating a large number of Cybernetic Avatars (CAs) by a single operator using a large language model (LLM), developing a cybernetic avatar robot suitable for multi-cultural interactions and social acceptance studies on different types of Cybernetic Avatars (CAs). DFL and JSTs combined efforts will also strengthen Dubais Research & Development Programme, an initiative which aims to support key economic sectors and create new opportunities for growth by providing a comprehensive framework for research, development and innovation across the emirate across for priority areas: Health & Wellbeing; Environmental Technologies; Smart Built Infrastructure and Space. DFLs and JSTs leadership teams met to discuss the partnerships and protentional joint projects related to the JST Moonshot Research and Development Programme, with a special emphasis on Moonshot Goal 1: Realisation of a society in which human beings can be free from limitations of body, brain, space, and time by 2050. Knowledge exchange Khalifa AlQama, Executive Director of Dubai Future Labs, said: We are committed to working with the worlds top researchers, experts and institutions to exchange knowledge and ideas to advance research and development in critical areas. The Japan Science and Technology Agency and DFL share a vision for a future enabled by technologies, where challenges are overcome through innovation. This collaboration will help unlock the potential of shared R&D and knowledge exchange, bringing minds together across borders to benefit the global community. Dr Hashimoto Kazuhito, President of JST, said: JST is one of the key organisations encouraging science, technology, and innovation in Japan. We believe it is extremely important to build an international network of multinational research partners, share information leading to the development of cutting-edge fields and technologies. Moonshot Goal Conducting demonstration tests in Dubai, will not only be very important for achieving the Moonshot Goal, but will also foster a new generation of innovators with a global perspective through research and cooperative activities, and build a relationship that will enable both sides to grow to new heights. I would like to express my hope that this collaboration will lead to further development of research and development in the fields of robotics, digital and AI, including cybernetic avatars, and realise a "society free from the constraints of body, brain, space, and time. -- TradeArabia News Service Flash Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral relations, according to the official news agency IRNA. In a phone call, the two sides voiced their countries' readiness to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan in late October. Pezeshkian said Iran attached great importance to its relations with friendly and neighboring countries and would undoubtedly strengthen such ties. He added his administration would be focused on following up on and implementing the bilateral agreements reached during the term of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life in a helicopter crash on May 19. Pezeshkian described it as important cooperation between the two countries within the frameworks of regional and international organizations, coalitions and treaties, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the Eurasian Economic Union. He said the documents pertaining to the comprehensive cooperation agreement between Tehran and Moscow had been finalized and Iran was prepared to sign them on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS summit. For his part, the Russian president congratulated Pezeshkian on his election as Iran's ninth president, wishing him success in fulfilling his new responsibility. Putin said the bilateral relations were at the highest level, hoping that bilateral ties would continue during Iran's next administration by implementing the agreements reached between the two sides in Raisi's term. He pointed to expanding bilateral relations, especially in the energy and transportation sectors, inviting Pezeshkian to attend the upcoming BRICS summit. Putin assured that Russia was ready to sign the comprehensive cooperation agreement with Iran on the sidelines of the Kazan summit. Pezeshkian was announced as Iran's next president on Saturday following his victory in a runoff against Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) has welcomed a Dubai-based media and marketing group to its expanding network of affiliate members, alongside 38 other entities all over the world, to bolster local tourism sectors and connect leading private entities within the largest network of its kind in the field of tourism. The new members, including Dubais New Perspective Media (NPM Group), represent a diverse range of backgrounds, including for-profit companies, non-government organisations, and education and research institutes, from all the regions: six from Africa, 10 from the Americas, three from Asia and the Pacific, 13 from Europe, and seven from the Middle East. The admission of these new members to this network, now comprising a total of 500 entities, was officially endorsed during the 121st Session of the Executive Council (June 10-11), held in Barcelona, Spain. We are committed to UN Tourisms goal of enhancing new generation of partnerships with governments, civil society, academia, and the business community by promoting the exchange of knowledge with a goal of contributing to the promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Dr Karen Remo, CEO and Founder of NPM Group and The Filipino Times. New Perspective Media a group of international integrated marketing and communication agency based in Dubai, UAE has offices in the Asia-Pacific region has been serving leading corporations and governments in the Middle East and South East Asia for the last 18 years. As a destination management and private tourism promotions agency, NPM Group has collaborated with notable clients such as the Philippines Tourism Promotions Board, Hamburg Tourismus in Germany, Saudi Arabias Royal Commission of AlUla, and Cebu Pacific, one of the Philippines' leading airlines. NPM Group is also the parent company of The Filipino Times, the largest digital news agency for overseas Filipinos and the biggest free newspaper in the UAE. Since its establishment in 2006, NPM has served more than 1,000 brands and companies, including 20 major government agencies in the UAE (federal and local), over 30 banking and financial institutions in the Middle East. It publishes 999 Magazine, the official English publication of the UAE Ministry of Interior on behalf of the Ministry. NPM organises international conferences that gather industry and corporate leaders, businessmen, policy makers, and government bodies both from local and national government entities under one roof. TradeArabia News Service 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. Flash Yemen's Houthi group said on Monday that it had launched a joint drone attack with the Iraqi Islamic Resistance against a "vital target" in the Israeli city of Eilat. "The attack hit the target accurately," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "We will continue to carry out operations with the Iraqi Islamic Resistance in support of the Palestinian people until the (Israeli) aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted," he said. The Iraqi militant group also confirmed the joint attack in a statement on Monday night. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side. The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, began in November last year to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Recently, the group extended its attacks to include the Israeli city of Eilat. In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets, which only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. I am a resident of Princes Town, and I want to grab the attention of the Ministry of Educati A judge has upheld the City of Tucsons authority to prohibit overhead transmission lines in city-designated corridors, perhaps dealing a blow to Tucson Electric Power Co.s plan for a major new line through midtown Tucson. Pima Superior Court Judge Kyle Bryson in a ruling late Monday denied an appeal challenging a Tucson zoning administrators rejection of part of the utilitys initial plan to build overhead high-voltage transmission lines through midtown. TEP had initially sought zoning permission in 2021 to install the overhead 138-kilovolt lines along parts of Kino Parkway, contending the project was a system upgrade not subject to the overhead line prohibition. The utilitys current preferred route for the line now known as the Midtown Reliability Project and the subject of hearings that started Monday before a state line-siting committee no longer runs along Kino or its continuation north of Broadway as North Campbell Avenue. After the city Board of Adjustment upheld the zoning administrators determination last year, TEP appealed in court, pressing its contention that the project was an upgrade. The utility also argued that the city ordinances were pre-empted by state law governing utilities and because the city had allowed overhead transmission lines in a Gateway Corridor in one case. But Bryson rejected those arguments, affirming the zoning decision and granting the city summary judgement on the other issues. The judge said the Arizona Corporation Commission properly has primary jurisdiction over where high-capacity transmission lines are built, but not how they are constructed. State law does not prevent cities from regulating how a utility expands or modifies its system so long as such regulations do not have the effect of restricting access, Bryson said. The court has been unable to locate any law which restricts the Citys authority to regulate how transmission lines are constructed, Bryson wrote. TEP is correct that there is no law which explicitly grants the City the authority to require undergrounding, but neither is there a specific law which purports to exempt utilities from all zoning regulations. Therefore, the Court finds that, as a matter of law, the City has the authority to require undergrounding of transmission lines, the judge wrote. The ruling was a victory for opponents of the overhead lines, which as currently proposed by TEP would run through or near several historic Tucson neighborhoods. But the practical effect of the ruling is unclear, since TEPs current preferred route for the transmission line avoids South Kino Parkway. TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said the company was disappointed with the ruling. TEP is committed to addressing the critical need for greater energy capacity and replacement of aging, lower-voltage equipment in central Tucson, Barrios said. Well continue our efforts this week before the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, which will consider multiple alternative transmission line routes. During the second day of hearings on TEPs latest line route proposal Tuesday morning before the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, assistant city attorney Roi Lusk said the ruling would be entered into evidence in the case but had no other immediate comment. In its appeal, TEP had cited the citys approval of overhead high-voltage transmission lines for part of TEPs Irvington-East Loop transmission line in 2020, arguing the city must apply the same policy. The Irvington-East Loop line runs from a substation near Interstate 10 on the southwest side of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, east around the base and north to a substation near North Kolb Road and East Speedway. But Bryson found that the line ran on a Gateway segment less than a mile long, on South Kolb Road between East Littletown and Valencia Roads. Hearings continue Meanwhile, TEP continued to present its case Tuesday after an initial hearing and evening public-comment session on Monday. TEP Project Manager Clark Bryner testified that the companys preferred route in its pending application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility avoids running along city-designated Gateway routes, including Campbell and Kino. But it will cross East Broadway, another Gateway route, and South Kino Parkway right at the southern substation at 36th Street. TEP will need to apply to the city for special exceptions to the ordinances for those crossings, under a process approved for transmission projects last year, Bryner said. TEPs preferred route for the transmission line, identified as B4, connects the DeMoss-Petrie Substation near Interstate 10 and East Grant Road to the proposed Vine Substation near Banner University Medical Center via Grant, North Park Avenue, East Adams Street and North Vine Avenue. The route connects the Vine Substation to the Kino Substation at South Kino Parkway and East 36th Street using Vine, Adams and Park before turning west on East Speedway and then south on South Euclid Avenue. After crossing Barraza Aviation Highway, the route continues on South Toole Avenue, Euclid and 36th Street. For links to the live hearings and other information, go to tucne.ws/tepline. Members of Arizonas congressional delegation have introduced legislation that would authorize a water rights settlement with three Native American tribes in the Southwest, providing more certainty for the arid region. The proposal Monday carries a price tag of $5 billion larger than any such agreement enacted by Congress. The legislation marks a historic step forward in resolving what has been a decades-long dispute with the Navajo Nation as well as the Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes, said Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. The legislation would ratify a settlement agreement that was approved by each of the tribes in May. In all, the tribes would be guaranteed access to more than 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water along with specific groundwater rights and protections. The legislation also would establish a homeland for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The funding included in the legislation would be distributed to special trust funds to pay for building and maintaining water development and delivery projects, including a $1.75 billion distribution pipeline. Securing water rights for these tribes upholds their sovereignty and lays the path for their growth and prosperity through increased investment in water infrastructure, Kelly said. The federal governments obligation to the tribes to provide drinking water could not be more pressing as climate change exacerbates what he referred to as a multigenerational drought, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva. For the San Juan Southern Paiute, tribal President Robbin Preston Jr. said the opportunities that would come from the legislation would be life-changing for his people. With reliable electricity, water and housing, our people will have opportunities that have never been available to us before, he said in a statement. This legislation is more than a settlement of water rights, it is the establishment of an exclusive reservation for a tribe that will no longer be forced to live like strangers in our own land. Editors note: The story is written from the perspective of Australian Ray Kuschert, who has been living in Vietnam over the past decade. As A Whiter Shade of Pale played softly in the background, I sat in the lonely bar, my face hidden from the only other person in the place. I sat alone and cried uncontrollably into my hands, not knowing why my emotions were taking me to the brink of my existence. My thoughts were not right or logical. I begged to be swallowed up into the ground and, at the same time, I begged for an angel to walk through the door with a kind word. It was 2014 and I was suffering with severe depression in my second year of living in Ho Chi Minh City. Having survived that moment, I now feel I need to be brave enough to make mens mental health a subject for everyone, especially expat men in Vietnam. And whilst both male and female expats experience mental health issues from time to time, this story is pointed to all the expat men across the country. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and a raft of other conditions occur in all societies around the world. It was noted in a WHO report in March 2023 that an estimated 3.8 percent of the population experience depression, including five percent of adults (four percent among men and six percent among women), and 5.7 percent of adults older than 60 years. Meanwhile, a report of global suicide statistics by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in 2021 showed the global suicide rate is over twice as high among men than women. I recall back in 2014, my condition forced me to seek medical help and at that time there were few options available in Ho Chi Minh City, but that is no longer the case with new services now accessible to everyone in the community. Even though Vietnam is an amazing country and a beautiful place to live, we need to look at why mental health is such an important topic for expats in Vietnam. Actually, this is not a story unique to expats in Vietnam but it is a community topic we need to discuss because, like every other community around the world, there are many people suffering. The nature of mental health issues is highly individual, making it impossible to encapsulate them in a few words. Each person's experience is unique, and attempting to summarize this complex issue briefly would be insensitive. To me, my mental illness is when the pain of surviving today is so great that you forget there is a tomorrow. In discussions at a few local bars in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau, there appear to be some common factors that raise themselves above others when it comes to looking at mental health, in particular, the mental health of expat men living in our community here in Vietnam. First up, and most importantly, is the sense of isolation. Language barriers, changes in work, and reduced options for socializing are just a few of the reasons that many expats can become isolated, and this is only accentuated by being so far away from family. Adding to this sense of isolation is the lack of recreational activities outside of work. While many expats enjoy fulfilling lives here, some struggle with the absence of familiar hobbies. The available pastimes can be difficult to discover and often come with language barriers, further isolating individuals from both expat and local communities. The simplest of things that we are used to doing in our home countries are sometimes not available. As an Australian, it is common for me to take a road trip to the coast and just spend a couple of days driving in the countryside. Nothing makes me feel better than a weekend on the open road in the Australian countryside. Another interesting and common aspect noted by expats who raised this issue is the inability to be functional. In our home countries we used to fix cars, build things, fix things, and even just mow the lawn for the neighbor. This is important for many men and not having the ability to do manual things can add to feelings of worthlessness. As a result, men will often turn to visiting bars to overcome these feelings. Whilst the connections made at local bars are invaluable for most men, it can also have its challenges, namely the increase in the consumption of food and alcohol. Career and jobs are yet another part of the maze of mental health in our community. Whether it is too much work, not enough, or doing something that is not fulfilling, career plays a significant role in managing mental health for men. Every country and every culture treats mental health in a different way. Not having the familiarity of the services and support you are used to in your home country, even just being able to talk to a stranger, makes the problem even more difficult for some expats. The good news is that in recent years the mental health support services available to English-speaking expats have improved greatly. International clinics now offer services that were once very difficult to locate in Vietnam. In addition, many expats now have access to online support, with the pandemic having expanded cybersupport options for people worldwide. Mental health is a subject that people dont like talking about, especially men, but it is us men that need to stand up and be there for other men when things are not going great. Over the past decade, I spent periods feeling isolated and periods when medical support was the only solution to help me to ride the storm in order to find a sunny day at some time in the future, and they always arrived. From my experience with mental health issues, I have learned that there are no quick-fix words that will solve the problem. My recovery came from the right connections, the right choices, and the right medical support. Thankfully, things continue to improve in Vietnam and this helps everyone, including expats when times are a bit difficult. Living in Vietnam offers you the most memorable and life-changing experiences but there are also moments when the days are not so bright. When the dark days become everyday, it is time to speak to someone. So, this is a personal message to every expat living in Vietnam that has been there or is there at the moment. You are not alone and there are sunny days ahead. My 'Three Steps To Recovery' plan: talk to someone, make good choices, and focus on one small improvement every day. For everyone else, make sure you ask your friends Are you ok? This one simple question could save a life. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Le Dinh Luc, the visionary founder of a novel EdTech company, exemplifies how originality can transform lives. From a high school student struggling with English to the innovator behind a revolutionary language learning method, 31-year-old Luc's journey is truly inspiring. Growing up in Gia Lai Province, Vietnams Central Highlands, Luc was a math prodigy but found English daunting, initially scoring a mere three out of ten in his English final exam. Undeterred by this setback, he dedicated himself to mastering the language, turning his struggle into an opportunity for innovation. Lucs breakthrough came when he realized he could apply mathematical logic to language learning. This epiphany led to the creation of Linearthinking,' a method that simplifies complex grammar and vocabulary into manageable segments using mathematical principles. Certified by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam in 2022, Linearthinking has revolutionized English education by addressing linguistic differences and simplifying language rules, much like unscrambling fractions in math. Today, Lucs company, DOL English, operates 18 facilities across Vietnam, aiding tens of thousands of learners. At the heart of its success is the DOL superLMS, an advanced learning management system featuring detailed progress tracking, AI-driven instant feedback, and personalized learning pathways. This platforms innovative tools and resources offer a comprehensive educational experience, especially for IELTS exam preparation. DOL Englishs impact extends beyond individual learners. In collaboration with Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training, the company awards scholarships to young talents, spotlighting its commitment to nurturing future leaders. Looking ahead, Luc plans to expand DOL Englishs reach to China, South Korea, and Japan, while maintaining the core principles of Linearthinking for a broader audience. The entrepreneurs Linearthinking method and the DOL superLMS have transformed English education for many learners in Vietnam. By integrating mathematical logic into language learning, Luc has not only overcome his own educational challenges but also empowered countless learners to achieve English proficiency. As DOL English continues to innovate and expand, it remains committed to making high-quality education accessible to all. Linearthinking: A revolutionary approach to mastering English Linearthinking is an innovative educational strategy that simplifies and enhances English learning. It offers a logical, structured approach to language acquisition, making it easier for learners to develop a coherent understanding of English. Unlike traditional methods that teach language rules and vocabulary in isolated segments, Linearthinking builds each new piece of information on the previous one. This cumulative approach aids in mastering the four core skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Reading: Linearthinking reduces reliance on complex vocabulary by helping learners infer meanings of unfamiliar words from context and understand complex sentences by breaking them down into main and auxiliary parts. Writing: Starting with basic sentences, Linearthinking helps learners understand word functions and guides them in forming correct sentences. It progresses from single sentences to paragraphs, enabling learners to develop and express ideas logically, even with limited vocabulary. Speaking: The method provides sentence structures for different question types and encourages Thinking in English using simple vocabulary. It moves from constructing single sentences to delivering proper speeches, maximizing vocabulary use with clear, specific ideas. Listening: Tailored exercises and online practice systems help learners at different levels beginner, intermediate, and advanced grasp main ideas without understanding every word. This significantly reduces the time and effort needed to improve listening skills. Many students credit Linearthinking for their academic success, particularly in achieving higher IELTS scores. The superLMS platform supports this method with engaging content, personalized for each learner, a vast library of materials, and advanced analytics to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement. Detailed writing and speaking evaluation: Learners' writing and speaking assignments are thoroughly evaluated with detailed explanations and feedback, enabling them to apply the Linearthinking method effectively. Comprehensive Vocabulary Learning: This feature integrates writing, speaking, and grammar review directly into vocabulary learning, allowing memorization and use of hundreds of words through Linear models, with engaging exercises that increase in difficulty. AI speaking mock test: This AI-powered feature offers learners instant speaking evaluations and suggests answers anytime, anywhere. It helps eliminate the fear of speaking and makes self-study engaging and less isolating. This summer, embrace the Linearthinking method through the comprehensive superLMS website to fast-track the English learning journey and achieve language goals efficiently and effectively. Granting over US$137,000 worth of scholarships DOL English will award scholarships worth VND3.5 billion ($137,692) to resilient and talented Generation-Z students who are facing significant life challenges in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Eligible candidates include middle school, high school, vocational school, junior college, and university students who overcome their hardship to deliver an excellent academic performance. Those students who excel in sports, culture, and the arts, or create inspiring projects that spread positive values can apply for the scholarships as well. Additional information about the application will be released in major media outlets in Vietnam in the next few days. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! LUCKNOW, India -- Indian authorities have suspended six police and government officials after a stampede that killed 121 people last week, accusing them of "negligence" in handling the event featuring a Hindu preacher. One of India's worst stampedes in recent years took place after about a quarter of a million people flocked to listen to a self-styled guru, far in excess of the number of 80,000 authorities had permitted. Tuesday's preliminary findings of a panel investigating the incident held the event organisers responsible, saying they failed to meet conditions set for the gathering. "The organisers obtained permission for the event by concealing facts," the government of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh said in a statement, citing the findings of the panel it set up to look into the matter. Belongings of people are seen 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. Photo: Reuters "They did not make adequate and smooth arrangements despite inviting an unexpected crowd, nor did they comply with the conditions set by the local administration." In response, A.P. Singh, a lawyer for the preacher, denied wrongdoing by organisers, saying they did not conceal anything from authorities, adding instead that the stampede was part of a conspiracy by "anti-social elements" whom he did not identify. Police have arrested nine people involved in organising the event, Singh said. The government said the panel had not ruled out "the possibility of a major conspiracy behind the accident", but it needed further investigation. Forensic team members work 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. Photo: Reuters A senior district official in Hathras, the site of the incident, gave permission for the event without inspecting the venue, the state government added. Local government and police officials did not take the event seriously and did not inform senior officials about it, the government said in its statement. "They have been held responsible for negligence in performing their duties," it added. The crush happened when devotees ran after the preacher's departing car, trampling over one another to seek his blessings and get a closer look at him. Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen has affirmed that there remains room for cooperation between the Vietnamese metropolis and Japan, besides the Japanese ODA-funded project for the citys metro line No. 1, which is expected to be completed by year-end. Nen made the statement during a meeting with newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki on Monday on the occasion of the beginning of his tenure in Vietnam. Over the past 15 years, Vietnam and Japan have upgraded their ties twice to reach a comprehensive strategic partnership last year, Nen told the ambassador, adding that Ho Chi Minh City has made significant contributions to realizing the commitments between the two countries during the period. Nen congratulated Naoki on starting his term at a time when the relationship between the two countries has become deeper than ever. The Vietnamese official underscored that there is ample opportunity for cooperation between the city and Japan, beyond the Japanese ODA-funded project to build the citys first metro line, which is expected to begin commercial operation by the end of this year. Potential cooperation areas include education, culture, high-quality human resource training, hi-tech, semiconductors, and others, Nen said, affirming that there are now opportunities for the two sides to explore. The municipal Party chief also suggested that the ambassador pay attention to helping the city deal with climate change impacts. Agreeing with the hosts suggestion, Naoki expressed Japan's readiness to support Ho Chi Minh City in these areas, noting that he was impressed with the city's development in recent years. He hoped to promote the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. He has taken a test trip on metro line No. 1, which he considers a project symbolizing the good relationship between Vietnam and Japan, the diplomat said. The ambassador emphasized that he will contribute to resolving the problems facing the project so that it can be completed soon. Secretary Nen said that a working group should be set up to promptly address troubles related to the metro line. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the latest news in Vietnam today: Politics -- Vietnamese State President To Lam will pay state visits to Laos and Cambodia from Thursday to Saturday this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. -- The United States Navys Seventh Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche arrived at Cam Ranh International Port in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam on Monday for a five-day joint navy - coast guard routine port visit. Society -- Health authorities in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam have identified 119 people in contact with an 18-year-old girl who died of diphtheria on Friday last week, a local official said on Monday. -- The administration in Da Nang City, central Vietnam has allowed a night market near the iconic Dragon Bridge in Son Tra District to continue operating at the location until the end of September. The city had earlier ceased the operation of the night market at the location from July. -- Authorities in Bao Loc City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong said on Monday that more than 26,000 metric tons of untreated garbage was swamping a waste treatment plant in the city after many workers gave up their jobs as they did not get paid. -- A whale was seen off the coast of An Hai Commune in Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam, on Monday. Local authorities believe this is the same whale that was spotted near Mui Dien (Dien Cape), also in Phu Yen, four days earlier. Business -- Tasco Auto, Vietnams largest auto distributor, announced on Monday that it is holding a 100-percent stake at Sweden Auto Co. Ltd., the only importer and distributor of Volvo cars in the Southeast Asian country. World News -- Hurricane Beryl lashed Texas with strong winds and heavy rain on Monday as it churned inland, forcing the closure of oil ports, cancellation of hundreds of flights and leaving nearly 2 million homes and businesses without power, Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Bao Loc City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong said on Monday that more than 26,000 metric tons of untreated garbage was swamping a waste treatment plant in the city after many workers gave up their jobs as they had not got paid. Green Friendly Environment JSC, the operator of the plant, has not paid salaries to many workers for two to six months, according to a statement that the company sent to the Lam Dong Peoples Committee. A total of 40 workers of the company have quit as a result. The firm attributed its failure to pay the workers salaries to the Bao Loc City administrations lateness in paying waste treatment costs. The company last week suggested the authorities in Bao Loc City and Lam Dong Province make payments for the waste treatment from April to June this year, totaling VND2.7 billion (US$105,257), and cover an upfront fee of 30 percent of the waste treatment costs in July so that the firm could pay salaries to its workers. The administration in Bao Loc explained that Green Friendly Environment JSC is getting involved in tax issues, so the city cannot make payments to the company. The Lam Dong administration has recently tasked the provincial Department of Finance with coordinating with Bao Loc City to weigh Green Friendly Environment JSCs proposal, deal with the issue in accordance with their competence and the law, and report the results of the mission before July 15. They will have to report the issues that fall beyond their jurisdiction to the provincial administration. The waste treatment plant in Bao Loc began operating in February 2017. The city discharges some 120 metric tons of garbage per day. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Hanoi have required nearly 16,500 boarding houses and 22 mini apartment buildings to stop their operations after fire safety inspections, according to a press briefing on Monday afternoon. Lieutenant General Nguyen Hai Trung, director of the municipal Department of Public Security, announced the departments performance in the first half of the year at the press conference. He also detailed the results of inspections over compliance with firefighting and prevention regulations at apartment buildings, boarding houses, shophouses, kindergartens, and private clinics, the Vietnam News Agency reported. As of July 4, police officers had scrutinized a total of 36,972 boarding houses, penalizing over 3,130 violation cases with a combined fine of more than VND12 billion (US$469,800), and suspending the operations of 672 houses. Nearly 16,500 facilities were required to close as they failed to abide by fire safety rules. As for mini apartment blocks, police officers conducted inspections into 193 buildings, pausing the operations of 14 facilities and ordering 22 apartment blocks to shut down. Among over 5,800 shophouses undergoing scrutiny on fire safety, 435 facilities were fined, while nine others were close down temporarily. As many as 129 shophouses were asked to cease their operations. Hundreds of kindergartens and private clinics were scrutinized, with 23 pre-schools and one clinic facing suspension. In addition, police inspected 23 exhibition and convention centers, sanctioning one. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nine early-career writers and their projects have been shortlisted for the Australian Writers Guilds 2024 Emerging Writers Awards. Formerly the Monte Miller Awards, the AWG tradition dates back to the 1970s, recognising excellence among the Australian Associate and Student members. The shortlisted projects were selected from over 500 entries across two categories, with scripts ranging from plays and television series to short films, features, audio and web series. We are delighted to see so many entrants with unique and exciting projects in this years Emerging Writers Awards. The Awards have a long history of elevating writers at the start of their careers, and we cant wait to connect this new cohort and their high-quality projects with the industry, said AWG Director of Professional Development Susie Hamilton. The shortlisted projects will soon be available for producers and executives to explore on AWGs Pathways Showcase. Winners will be announced at an industry event in Melbourne in late July. Long Form Category Bells by Danny Lee [television, comedy] When a successful early 40s professional suddenly dies, he is reincarnated as a toy elf and must prove to Santa his lifes worth, under threat of permanent existential deletion. Blue Print by Rob Draper [television, drama] When Cathy joins the Ford marketing team in 1980, she winds up helping a gregarious team of Aussie Ford workers kickstart a new age in the Ford versus Holden rivalry. Former People by Evlin DuBose [television, drama] After the fall of the USSR, a jaded journalist investigates seventy years of tragedy and mysteries in one Soviet family, as told by the only survivor. Scorpio by Allanah Avalon [feature film, comedy] Between sex work, lesbians, Orthodox Russians, and a rising Melbourne property market, Scorpio has found herself in an irreconcilable cocktail ready to explode in her face; a comedy / drama, Scorpio traces one young womans experience dealing with family expectations and the lies one must keep to sustain a myriad of lives. The Night Bus by James McLaren [feature film, drama] Two women, who havent seen each other since high school, realise they are stuck on the same long bus trip home together. When polite chit-chat suddenly reveals a violent intent, they must question who they thought they were and what they have become to make it to the end of the line. Short Form Category Hallow by Ryan Prestipino [short film, drama] A young girl, convinced her elderly neighbour is God, sets out to receive his religious acknowledgment. Mum Fell off the Roof by Cameron Williams [television, comedy] Mitch and Poppy are left in the care of their useless dad after their mum has an accident. But when Dads loose parenting skills land him in trouble, the siblings estranged grandmother arrives to take control. The Night of the Lonelies by Willy Brown [short film, drama] A naive Australian backpacker reluctantly accepts to be shown a shortcut through a menacing London at night, only to find himself fearing for his life in his mysterious guides house. Too Fabulous to Die Alone by Harry Sabulis [television, comedy] Out of the closet but stuck in the world of his straight high-school friends, a 22-year-old gay man with Eastern European heritage goes headfirst into a messy journey of self-discovery in the gay scene while his Belarusian grandmother is hell-bent on finding him a boyfriend for his straight best friends wedding. ABC reporter Mark Willacy travels to Washington for the first of a special two-part Four Corners report on the Trump Administration. Retribution Part 1 The battle for democracy screens next Monday night. I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution. Donald Trump There has never been a US president like Donald Trump and now hes back, this time with a detailed plan for his second coming. Nearly four years after he was cast out by voters and accused of encouraging the American people to assault their own democracy with the attack on the US Capitol, the now convicted criminal wants to rebuild the country in his own image. Ahead of the US election in November, Four Corners reporter Mark Willacy travels to Washington for the first of a special two-part series. He sits down with White House insiders who witnessed the chaos of Trumps first term some who continue to support his vision, and others Trump now considers traitors. Trump wants to reshape the pillars of American democracy and give himself more power. Willacy goes inside Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump term and the army of recruits ready to carry out his orders. Meanwhile strategy, security and defence experts warn of the impact another Trump presidency could have on Americas institutions, its democracy, and the rest of the world. 8.25pm on Monday 15 July 2024 on ABC. Mozilla heeft versie 128 van zijn webbrowser Firefox uitgebracht. In deze uitgave is onder meer de mogelijkheid toegevoegd om de tekst van hyperlinks te vertalen via het contextmenu, is het dialoogscherm voor het verwijderen van gebruikersdata vereenvoudigd en kan het nu ook beveiligde streams van websites als Netflix afspelen in een privescherm. De complete changelog voor deze uitgave kan hieronder worden gevonden. New Firefox can now translate selections of text and hyperlinked text to other languages from the context menu. For users in the US and Canada, Firefox will now show your recent searches or currently trending searches when you open the Address Bar to get you back to your previous search session or inspire your next one. Firefox now has a simpler and more unified dialog for clearing user data. In addition to streamlining data categories, the new dialog also provides insights into the site data size corresponding to the selected time range. Firefox now supports playback of protected content from streaming sites like Netflix while in Private Browsing mode. Firefox now supports the experimental Privacy Preserving Attribution API, which provides an alternative to user tracking for ad attribution. This experiment is only enabled via origin trial and can be disabled in the new Website Advertising Preferences section in the Privacy and Security settings. On macOS, microphone capture through getUserMedia will now use system-provided voice processing when applicable, improving audio quality. Firefox is now available in the Saraiki (skr) language. Fixed Firefox now proxies DNS by default when using SOCKS v5, avoiding leaking DNS queries to the network when using SOCKS v5 proxies. Various security fixes. Changed Firefox now supports rendering more text/* file types inline, rather than requiring them to be downloaded to be viewed. file types inline, rather than requiring them to be downloaded to be viewed. The root certificate used to verify add-ons and signed content has been renewed to avoid upcoming expiration. Enterprise You can find information about policy updates and enterprise specific bug fixes in the Firefox for Enterprise 128 Release Notes. Developer Developer Information CSS rules specificity is now displayed in a tooltip when hovering a CSS rule selector in the Inspector Rules view. This can help web developers understand why a given rule is applied before another. The Inspector panel now flags a custom property declaration as invalid when the value does not match the registered custom property definition. As shown in the screenshot below, the declaration of a custom property, --b , expecting a value syntax (e.g., 10px ), is instead used with a color specified. An exclamation icon appears next to it with a tooltip explaining the error. The Inspector panel now flags a custom property declaration as invalid when the value does not match the registered custom property definition. As shown in the screenshot below, the declaration of a custom property, , expecting a value syntax (e.g., ), is instead used with a color specified. An exclamation icon appears next to it with a tooltip explaining the error. Improvements have been made to Inactive CSS. A warning is now displayed when column-span is used on elements outside of multi-column containers and when properties only applying to replaced elements are used on non-replaced elements. Web Platform Resizeable ArrayBuffers and Growable SharedArrayBuffers are now supported in SpiderMonkey. This allows the size of an ArrayBuffer to be changed without having to allocate a new buffer and copy data into it. The setCodecPreferences method allows applications to disable the negotiation of specific codecs (including RTX/RED/FEC). It also allows an application to cause a remote peer to prefer the codec that appears first in the list for sending. The Accept header for images and documents was changed to better align with the Fetch standard and other browsers. Support was added for @property and the CSS properties-and-values API. and the CSS properties-and-values API. A new bytes() method is provided on many objects like Request/Response and Blob that provides a convenient way of getting an Uint8Array typed array. De volgende downloads zijn beschikbaar: Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor Windows (Nederlands) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor Linux (Nederlands) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor macOS (Nederlands) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor Windows (Engels) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor Linux (Engels) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor macOS (Engels) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor Windows (Fries) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor Linux (Fries) Mozilla Firefox 128.0 voor macOS (Fries) By Ludwig Burger and Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian prosecutors said they will bring criminal charges against two men accused of selling fake versions of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic, resulting in bodily harm in three women. The defendants had acted as traders and sold 225 bogus injection pens falsely labelled as Ozempic for 205 euros ($222) apiece to a plastic surgeon in the city of Salzburg, the prosecutors' office in the city of Steyr told Reuters, declining to name the defendants. Novo has seen overwhelming demand for Ozempic because its weight-loss effect has boosted off-label use. The Danish drugmaker, and its rival Eli Lilly - the maker of weight-loss drug Zepbound, also known as Mounjaro - have been scrambling to boost output. Fake versions have emerged in several countries with criminals seeking to cash in on the hype. The World Health Organization (WHO) last month issued warnings on falsified weight-loss drugs. Three women who received the fake shots in Austria suffered injury, the prosecutors' office added, resulting in indictments of grossly negligent bodily harm and trading in fake drugs against the defendants. A judge at the Steyr regional court said a first hearing in the case was scheduled for Sept. 16. She added the defendants were accused of selling insulin in the pens rather than semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, in September last year and that they faced potentially up to three years in prison. She said the womens' symptoms had been temporary. Austria's health safety body BASG said last October that several people were hospitalised after using fake versions of Ozempic, the first report of harm to users as a European hunt for counterfeiters widened. The agency at the time said victim's symptoms, including low blood sugar, had been consistent with insulin poisoning. The prosecutors' office and the court declined to say whether it was the same case but added that BASG had been involved in the investigation. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had warned last year about the existence of pens falsely labelled as Ozempic. Novo had flagged a surge in online offers of counterfeit Ozempic as well as its weight-loss drug Wegovy, both based on the same active ingredient. The EMA and authorities in Germany and Britain, including prosecutors in southwestern Germany, have been investigating a case where bogus injection pens with German language labels in genuine Ozempic packaging were sold from a wholesaler in Austria to Germany, and from there, on to two British wholesalers. Story continues ($1 = 0.9243 euros) (Reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt, Editing by Louise Heavens and David Evans) Chinese defense minister meets Brazilian army commander Xinhua) 09:16, July 09, 2024 BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Monday met with Brazilian Army Commander Tomas Ribeiro Paiva in Beijing. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, Dong said the relationship between the two militaries enjoys a solid foundation for cooperation and extensive common interests, and deepening this relationship holds broad prospects. Dong called on both sides to enhance exchanges, learn from each other, and take China-Brazil military relations to a new height. Tomas said that the Brazilian army is willing to further strengthen communication and exchanges with its Chinese counterpart and deepen cooperation in various fields. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has registered a total of 1,614 electric vehicles (EVs) as of June 2024, said a news release from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Tuesday. The three most popular EV brands in the Southeast Asian country are China's BYD, Japan's Toyota and Tesla, the news release said, adding that the kingdom had recorded 658 BYD, 261 Toyota and 186 Tesla EVs. "From day to day, EVs have gained momentum in Cambodia, as more and more people are interested in using them," the news release said. "Using EVs saves on fuel costs, with low or zero emissions." Currently, EV charging stations are available at 18 locations in the country. According to the news release, the kingdom has registered 914 electric scooters and 440 three-wheeler electric vehicles so far. Cambodia has been encouraging people to use EVs and electric motorcycles, as they are environment-friendly and save users' money. The government is committed to having 40 percent of electric cars and urban buses, and 70 percent of electric motorbikes by 2050 in order to reduce carbon emissions. To achieve this goal, the government has reduced import duties on EVs since 2021 to about 50 percent lower than taxes on traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Moeurng Sokmeng, a sales supervisor at Mingyang Guoji Co., Ltd., which is the sole agent of China's Hongqi Brand in Cambodia, said since the government has encouraged the imports of EVs, consumers' interest has significantly increased because they are aware of their advantages such as saving on fuel costs and environmental friendliness. "Currently, we have sold out a lot of EVs, both small-scale and large-scale EVs, and our EVs have received considerable support from consumers," she told Xinhua. Udom Pisey, an EV manager at Car4you Co., Ltd., which imports Letin Mengo EVs from China, said EVs have far fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vehicles, so maintenance and repair costs are cheaper than internal combustion vehicles. "Using EVs not only saves money on fuel, but also reduces air pollution," she told Xinhua. Hungary will build third terminal at Budapest Airport, economy minister says By Boldizsar Gyori BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary will build a third terminal at Budapest's airport and develop road and rail routes linking it to the capital, Economy Minister Marton Nagy said on Tuesday, as the government aims to transform the airport into a major hub. Hungary's state-owned Corvinus Zrt. and French co-investor Vinci Airports acquired Budapest Airport last month. Corvinus Zrt. is the majority owner with an 80% stake, while its French partner holds the rest. The new owners estimate that the new terminal will be ready by 2032 at the earliest, a deadline that also applies to the construction of new road and rail links around it, which Nagy said expected to cost about 2 billion euros ($2.16 billion). He also said the government is in talks with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) on the latter buying a stake of less than 10% in the Airport. "We will decide on this together with Vinci," Nagy said. Nagy added that extra taxes on airlines will be phased out from the start of next year. The government announced windfall taxes on airlines worth 30 billion forints ($82.28 million) in 2022 as it was looking for funds to plug holes in the budget. It involves a tax worth 10 to 25 euros on passengers departing Hungary and was criticized by airlines. Since nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban took power in 2010, his government has boosted Hungarian ownership in energy, banking, telecoms and the media, and has been planning to buy the airport for years. The acquisition of the airport cost 3.1 billion euros ($3.35 billion) with an extension of 1.44 billion euros worth of previously issued loans. Elsewhere in central Europe, the Polish government announced that it will go ahead with plans to build a huge air hub in the centre of the country, a project that drew criticism for its cost and scale, and for its location far from any major city. ($1 = 0.9247 euros) ($1 = 364.6200 forints) (Reporting by Boldizsar Gyori and Anita Komuves; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Helen Popper) MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia denied on Tuesday that it had attacked a Kyiv children's hospital and said, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian anti-missile fire was to blame for Monday's strike. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Moscow's insistence that it does not attack civilian targets in Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities say Russia struck the main children's hospital in Kyiv with a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile and rained missiles on other cities across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least 41 civilians in the deadliest wave of airstrikes for months. The Ukrainian Security Service has said fragments of the rear part of a Kh-101, with a serial number, were recovered at the site, as well as part of the guidance system. "The experts' conclusions are unequivocal it was a direct strike," the Ukrainian State Security Service said on Telegram. The head of the U.N. human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said its analysis was that the strike was likely caused by a direct hit from a Russian missile. Peskov, at his daily briefing, was asked how Russia could say it does not attack civilian targets after the tragedy at the hospital. "I urge you to be guided by the statements of the Russian Ministry of Defence, which absolutely excludes that there were attacks on civilian targets and which states that we are talking about a falling anti-missile system," he said. "We continue to insist that we do not attack civilian targets. Strikes are carried out against critical infrastructure facilities, against military targets that are in one way or another related to the military potential of the regime." Many thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the course of the war since Russia launched what it called its "special military operation" in February 2022. A much smaller number of civilians have been killed inside Russia and in parts of Ukraine that Russia controls and has claimed as its own. Footage of Monday's incident, verified by Reuters, showed a missile flying in a steep trajectory towards the hospital grounds at high speed, in what appeared to be a direct hit. The Kh-101 that Ukraine says was used is a cruise missile which typically carries a 450 kg explosive warhead. Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova rejected Kyiv's version and said - without stating evidence - that a NASAMS missile fired by Ukraine was to blame. She said this had been confirmed by "numerous witnesses", without identifying them. Zakharova accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of seeking to exploit the tragedy for propaganda purposes. (Reporting by ReutersEditing by Ros Russell) ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has expanded its sanctions against Russia to include additional measures recently taken up by the European Union against Moscow over its ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the Swiss government said on Tuesday. Pointing to a package of measures adopted by the EU against Russia on June 24, the Swiss economy ministry said in a statement that it would impose sanctions within its jurisdiction on a further 69 individuals and 86 entities. These sanctions mainly target "businesspersons, propagandists, members of the armed forces and judiciary, persons responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children" and members of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), it said. The newly sanctioned entities include companies operating in Russia's defence industry and firms in the financial and trade sectors involved in circumventing sanctions, it added. This meant that more than 2,200 individuals and entities are now subject to the sanctions listings, the ministry said. "This is in line with the EU," the statement added. The Swiss government said that it had placed an advertising ban on media outlets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta "owing to Russia's continuous propaganda and disinformation campaigns". In contrast to the EU, these media are not subject to a broadcasting ban in Switzerland, the ministry added. The new measures would enter into force at 6 pm local time (1600 GMT) on Tuesday, it said. (Writing by Dave Graham; editing by Miral Fahmy) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan outlined a series of measures to strengthen U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine on Tuesday, as leaders of the military alliance gathered in Washington for a summit. NATO will announce in the coming days a new military command in Germany led by a three-star general for training and equipping Ukrainian troops, and appoint a senior representative in Kyiv to deepen Ukraine's relationship with the alliance, Sullivan told a conference on the defense industry sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Sullivan said NATO is committed to standing with Ukraine in the long term as it battles Russian invaders. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin cannot divide us. He cannot outlast us. He cannot weaken us. And Ukraine, not Russia, will prevail," Sullivan said. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Doina Chiacu) Almost 10 years ago, Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray of Stephen Hopkins slick thriller Blown Away was one of the first discs I got to review for HDD. Now its the latest 4K disc I get to review. In that time we get to see a nice upgrade to the visuals and the film holds up. Its not a brainless dont think about it actioner, but its also not so complex or thematically layered that you cant just have fun with what youre watching. This isnt one I pull off the shelf very often, but I enjoy it every time I sit down to it. As such, my thoughts and feels about Blown Away havent aged in ten years so heres my 2015 Blu-ray Review: "According to the report, the guy can build bombs out of Bisquick." It seems like the early part of the 90s was chockful of serial killers and mad bomber movies. Often these two genres collided, creating explosively mixed results. 1994 alone saw two such genre convergences in the form of 'Speed' and 'Blown Away.' Where 'Speed' played off a hook about a commuter bus that must stay above 50mph or blow up, 'Blown Away' is a much more straightforward serial killer revenge thriller. Where Dennis Hopper is demanding a big payday from the city, Tommy Lee Jones is out for revenge against Jeff Bridges and is more than willing to kill anyone and everyone associated with him. Where 'Speed' is fun and creative with its tense setups, 'Blown Away' relies on old-school red herrings and Rube Goldberg mechanics to make sure each explosion is more thrilling than the one that came before. In a secluded Irish prison rests IRA bomber Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones) who has been rotting in prison for over 25 years. Rather than sitting on his hands, he's stayed busy plotting his escape. After forging a powerful explosive out of common ingredients, Gaerity escapes into a surging storm. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Jimmy Dove (Jeff Bridges) does what he does best - diffuse bombs for the Boston police department. As a natural at the job, he seems to be able to deactivate any device that's put in front of him. While he may be good at what he does, he hates it. He's also madly in love with a single mom Kate (Suzy Amis) and daughter Lizzy (Stephi Lineburg). After marrying Kate, he retires from active service and takes a teaching position. This would be great, only Ryan Gaerity has other plans. As it happens, Jimmy is more than what he seems to his coworkers and family, his real name is Liam McGivney, he wasn't born in Boston, and was in fact Gaerity's protege in the IRA. 25 years ago Liam attempted to stop one of Gaerty's bombs that was set to go off in a crowded market square. Gaerity got caught and Liam was able to flee to the United States, set up a new identity for himself, and live with his uncle Max (Lloyd Bridges). Now Gaerity is in town and hell-bent on revenge. Only he doesn't want to simply kill Liam, he wants to destroy everything he knows and loves in a gigantic ball of fire. Liam must figure out a way to thwart Gaerity's explosive plans while avoiding the suspicions of his partner Anthony (Forest Whitaker). 'Blown Away' is one of those movies that is an unfortunate victim of timing. By the time it was released, 'Speed' was already dominating movie screens across the country, so the idea of another movie about a "mad bomber" wasn't on audience's minds. On top of its release date issues, 'Blown Away' has the look and feel of another IRA madman out for revenge film - 1992's 'Patriot Games.' In fact 'Blown Away' is so similar to 'Patriot Games' that it even goes so far as to crib the same opening credits design, similar Irish-themed music, and even Alan Silvestri's score feels like it's cribbing movements from James Horner's compositions. Thankfully for 'Blown Away,' it still manages to stand on its own two legs despite these similarities. From a script by Joe Batter and John Rice under the direction of Stephen Hopkins, 'Blown Away' skews much closer to being a serial killer thriller than any kind of political thriller or action film. There is a killer on the loose, he has a particular motive and a unique way of killing people. Rather than skinning people like Buffalo Bill or using the seven deadly sins, Gaerity uses intricately constructed explosive devices that are designed to cause massive amounts of damage. In fact, most of the fun of this film comes from these setups and watching Jeff Bridges struggle to figure out how to disarm them. His character may have been trained by Gaerity, but that doesn't mean he knows all of the man's tricks. The bombs are the real strength of the film as each setup is more elaborate than the last, to the point that the big grand finale juxtaposed against a performance of the William Tell Overture is a gigantic fireball of fun and suspense. Performances all around are pretty good, not amazing but good enough to get the job done. Jeff is committed to his part as to be expected. Forest Whitaker plays the suspecting junior detective role well and offers a nice counterbalance to Jeff's stern and determined Jimmy/Liam. Tommy Lee Jones is basically playing a version of his character from 'Under Siege' but with a really thick and very troublesome Irish accent. While it's fun watching Jones camp things up and he does play evil well enough - that accent can be so forced in some scenes that it's just distracting and oftentimes hilarious. Jeff tries an accent here and there with that particularly unique Boston lilt, but most of the time he doesn't and lets that aspect of his character slide. Suzy Amis does well enough as the concerned single mom, but she's not given a whole lot to do other than to provide Tommy Lee Jones's character with another target. 20 years later and 'Blown Away' is still a good piece of fun. Parts of it haven't aged too well - an early scene involves a bomb set to go off when the hard drive fills up as a woman types out the same message over and over again. Today, that same bomb would have taken years to go off - but it's still a pretty decent suspense setup offering an alternate take to the usual ticking timer. Even with small character gripes, this movie proves to be two solid hours of entertainment. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Kino Lorber Studio Classics gives another of their early releases a 4K upgrade. Blown Away detonates its first two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray set. The 4K is pressed on a BD-100 with a Region A BD-50 holding up the 1080p end with the bulk of the bonus features. The discs are housed in a standard black two-disc 4K case with identical slipcover artwork. The discs load to static image main menus with traditional navigation options. The Quest for Global Dominance and X Factor All the big powers are engaged in a continuous search for more destructive weapons, including AI weapons, and even exploring the prospects of space warfare. So what is this X Factor in the quest for dominance? Tuesday July 9, 2024 11:10 AM , Bharat Dogra The most worrying aspect of the contemporary world is the possibility of a devastating nuclear war. However, several experts say that due to the concept of mutually assured destruction, such a hugely destructive war will not be allowed to take place. This view is highly questionable due to several reasons, but even to the extent that this holds true, there is an additional risk that needs to be considered. The X Factor This risk relates to what this writer has been calling The X Factor. All the big powers are engaged in a continuous search for more destructive weapons, including AI weapons, and even exploring the prospects of space warfare. In the course of this relentless search for weapons, it is possible that one of the big powers is able to come up with a game changing weapon system, an attack system or a protective system, that suddenly raises its war capability much above that of other big powers. This possibility is what this writer has referred to as The X Factor. Once information about such a new weapon or protection system is known, other powers will also make a big effort to acquire it as soon as possible. However, it will take them some time to do this. This may be six months or six years. It is this period which is called the period of maximum risk. During this period, the big power which has a sudden advantage may be tempted to, or even decide to, take highly destructive action against its rival or rivals. For comparison, the last time when such a maximum danger period appeared was from 1945 to 1949. In 1945, the USA had its atom bomb while the USSR could get its first atom bomb in 1949. Once the USA had the bomb, the USA decision makers decided to use it immediately twice against Japan, even though the defeat of Japan without having to use this bomb had been assured. What is less known is that there was a proposal to use many, many atom bombs against many targets in the USSR, mostly big cities, before this main perceived rival could get its own nuclear weapons. As is well known, the USSR was till very recently a very close ally of the USA in the Second World War and had made the most important contribution to the defeat of the Nazis led by Hitler. This proposal was seriously considered although fortunately eventually dropped. The responsibilities of forces of peace This brings out the huge dangers of the Maximum Risk period, the period between the first development of a game changing attack system or protection system by one big power and the development of its equivalent by one or more rivals. This possibility should be kept in mind by all forces of peace so that any such destructive possibilities can be prevented if and when the need for this arises. Of course, the best way of preventing any such destructive possibilities is for all big powers to give up the quest for dominance and learn to live with nearest rivals in peace. Unfortunately the recent trends have not been in this direction and we have instead seen increasing hostilities. It is therefore best to prepare in advance to prevent any possibilities of high destruction. [The writer, Bharat Dogra, is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Protecting Earth for Children and A Day in 2071.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HCM CITY Banks are struggling to sell defaulting borrowers collateral, primarily real estate, to recover the debts since the property market is sluggish. A State-owned lender recently decreased the reserve price of a 160sq.m house in Ha Nois old quarter to around VN50 billion from the VN70 billion it had sought in an auction in August 2022. In the last two years, it has held numerous auctions but has not been successful in finding a buyer for the property. Another lender is currently trying to auction land in a residential project in Nha Trang and slashed the reserve price by over VN20 billion but it unable to find a buyer. Various resort properties and hotels in sought-after locations such as Hoi An, a Nang and Phu Quoc Island are also being offered at discounts by banks. State-owned Vietinbank recently announced plans to auction 10 lots of land measuring over 1,400sq.m on Phu Quoc for a total of VN27 billion. They are owned by an unidentified local person. Tran Khanh Quang, CEO of Viet An Hoa Company, said potential buyers are wary of the legal issues and possible disputes that could arise with property owners. The analysts said the failure to sell high-value assets to recover bad debt is often due to banks setting high prices so that they could fully recover their loan, interest and penalties. But this would not work when the market is in a slump, they said. A regulation that prevents more than a 10 per cent reduction in asset prices from the previous auction poses a further challenge, they said. With 70 per cent of its collateral comprised of real estate, the banking industry is grappling with non-performing loans worth VN224.14 trillion as of the end of last March. Adding to the challenges to selling mortgaged real estate was the arrest in late 2022 of Truong My Lan, the chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat. She is now on death row for financial fraud and other crimes. The Asian Development Bank has also warned of risks to the banking system from irregularities in the corporate bond and real estate markets. Banks must resolve overdue debts promptly by liquidating collateral and creating bad debt reserves even if it means sacrificing some profits, analysts said. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Japanese Minister in charge of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Shindo Yoshitaka have pledged to work closely together to improve the effectiveness of the CPTPP implementation, aiming to bring greater benefits to businesses and citizens while also elevating the deal's role in global and regional trade. During a working session in Ha Noi on Tuesday, Dien highlighted the growing economic and trade ties between Vietnam and Japan, especially since their accession to the CPTPP. He hailed Japan as Viet Nam's fourth largest trade partner, noting that in the first five months of this year, two-way trade reached US$18.3 billion, marking a 4.4 per cent year-on-year increase. Viet Nam's exports to Japan amounted to $9.4 billion, up 3.2 per cent, while imports rose 5.8 per cent to $8.8 billion. Lauding Japans role as a coordinator in the UKs negotiations for CPTPP membership, he announced that on June 25, the Vietnamese National Assembly ratified the UK's CPTPP membership, making Viet Nam one of the first countries to approve this move. Regarding other economies' potential admission to the agreement, the two ministers agreed to continue close collaboration to ensure that any new member meets the high standards of the deal and the expectations of all CPTPP members. Notably, the host suggested that Japan consider further promoting economic and trade ties with Vietnam, and mechanisms to support Vietnamese management agencies and businesses in effectively leveraging the commitments of the free trade agreements to which both countries are members. This support aims to help both nations fully tap their potential. VNS Another Christian girl in Pakistan, this one 14 years old, has fallen victim to forced conversion/marriage by a Muslim kidnapper, sources said. Khalid Masih, a 48-year-old Catholic sanitation worker in Islamabad, said that a butcher in his neighborhood, Haider Ali, took his daughter Alina Khalid from their home in the Khanna Pul area of Islamabad on June 24. Some neighbors told us that they had seen an unidentified girl outside our house on the day Alina went missing, Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. When we began searching for her, I came to know that Haider Ali, a 27-year-old butcher in our neighborhood, had planned Alinas abduction. He filed a complaint with Khanna Police that day, but they took no action, he said. The FIR [First Information Report] was finally registered late on June 25, giving the accused sufficient time to go into hiding, Masih said. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up The Masih family learned on June 27 that their daughter had been forcibly converted to Islam and married to Ali, he said. We came to know about Alinas conversion and marriage after she recorded her statement in court in which she purportedly claimed that she had changed her faith and married Ali by choice, said Masih. The Nikah Nama (Islamic marriage certificate) states that Alinas age was 19, but it lacks her required national identity card number, he said. Typically kidnapped girls in Pakistan, some as young as 10, are abducted, forced to convert to Islam and raped under cover of such Islamic marriages and are then pressured to record false statements in favor of the kidnappers, rights advocates say. Judges routinely ignore documentary evidence related to the childrens ages, handing them back to kidnappers as their legal wives. Masih said his daughter could not have gone with Ali willingly. Alina did not have a phone and never went out of the house alone, so I dont think she had any direct contact with Ali, he said. He has abducted her with the sole objective of exploiting her sexually. Like all other victims, Alina too was forced to do what her abductor said. Police have failed to recover Alina and present the suspect in court, he added. Masih faces a daunting challenge in his struggle to recover her. My wife is suffering from Hepatitis C and is also a diabetic, he said. Her health has started to deteriorate due to the trauma of Alinas abduction. The pain of losing our child and the thoughts of her suffering in captivity keep both of us awake all night. May God have mercy on us and save our child! Safdar Chaudhry, chairman of the Islamabad-based Raah-e-Nijaat Ministry, said that police were slow to act. The FIR was registered on our intervention after nearly 26 hours of the incident, Chaudhry said. Had the police acted on time, the accused could have been arrested, but inaction allowed him to disappear. The social activist called for legislative reforms to stop the exploitation of underage minority girls. The police must also realize its responsibility and should stop aiding the perpetrators. The same goes for Pakistani courts which are granting legal cover to such sham marriages, he said. New Bill In a bid to criminalize underage marriages in Punjab province, the Punjab provincial government on April 25 submitted the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2024 in the Punjab Provincial Assembly, which would raise the legal age for marriage for both males and females to 18 years. Previously the legal age for marriage for girls in Punjab was 16. Under the proposed bill, anyone who marries a girl or boy under 18 or arranges such a marriage including parents or guardians would face two to three years in prison and a fine of between 100,000 Pakistani rupees (US$360) and 200,000 rupees (US$720). At the time of marriage registration, the marriage solemnizer, secretary of the union council and marriage registrar would check the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) of the girl or boy, passport, educational certificate or other documents proving both are at least 18 years old. Attested copies of these documents would be required to be attached with the application of marriage certificate. Rights activists say that, though raising the legal marriage age to 18 years for both boys and girls will help in preventing child marriages, certain amendments are required to ensure that minority girls also get due coverage of the law. Such amendments would override all special laws and maxims related to determining a girls age of maturity, they say, including sharia (Islamic law) that allows girls attaining puberty to be considered adults. A Christian lawmaker recently appointed as the chairman of the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs and Human Rights lauded the government-moved bill but said it did not contain any provision related to minority girls who change their faith for marriage. We are working on an amendment to address this issue, and we hope that all parties in the Punjab Assembly will endorse our stance, said Ejaz Alam Augustine. Our objective is to ensure that minority girls are protected in the same way as Muslim girls. Augustine, a former minister for Minorities Affairs and Human Rights in Punjab during the 2018-2022 government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, said he had submitted a bill seeking to prevent forced conversion and forced marriages of minority girls in 2021, but that it was not taken up for discussion under pressure from hardline Muslims. Theres some hope now, and I think it is the best time to make a legislation that protects the girl child irrespective of her faith affiliation, he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. 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. HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has proposed the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) provide Viet Nam's logistics sector with workforce training through expanded training and capacity building programmes. During a reception in Ha Noi on Tuesday for FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin, PM Chinh lauded FIATA's ongoing support for the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association (VLA) in hosting the FIATA World Congress 2025 in Ha Noi. He highlighted Viet Nam's robust logistics sector's average annual growth rate of 14-16 per cent, saying it was instrumental in propelling Viet Nam's total export-import turnover to nearly US$700 billion in 2023. He also commended FIATA's role in fostering collaboration between the VLA and the global logistics community. As the Vietnamese Government is building a development strategy for Viet Nam's logistics services for the 2025-35 period, with a vision to 2045, he asked FIATA to share information and provide support and advice regarding digital transformation, green transition, and solutions to developing logistics in agriculture and industry. He also highlighted the importance of developing the maritime fleet and economic-trade transport corridors, and providing technical assistance to help Viet Nam finalise its National Logistics Development Strategy in 2024. According to him, the Vietnamese Government will consider establishing a National Steering Committee on Logistics Services with a competent apparatus capable of assisting the cabinet in directing and accelerating the development of this crucial sector. Focus is also given to strategic infrastructure for logistics and quality workforce training. The Vietnamese Government will work closely with domestic and foreign partners to create favourable conditions for economic, investment, trade and service cooperation activities, with a particular emphasis on developing logistics services to maximise benefits for all parties involved in the spirit of harmonising benefits and sharing risks, he said. Erkeskin, in reply, believed that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies will actively contribute to the success of the FIATA World Congress 2025. Praising Viet Nam's logistics development strategy for the 2025-2035 period with a vision to 2045, especially its focus on digital transformation, green transition, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, he said Viet Nam holds significant potential to emerge as a global and regional logistics hub, and suggested the pooling of all social resources to achieve this goal. VNS HCM CITY Children who love theatre will find lots to enjoy in a series of picture books featuring shows produced by artists from the private art troupe IDECAFs long-term programme. The books will include beautiful pictures portraying IDECAF artists on stage for the programme called Ngay Xua Ngay Xua (Once Upon a Time). The programme was closed in HCM City last year after 23 years. It produced 34 plays with more than 900 performances and shows for more than 30,000 children and teenagers. Its productions provided young audiences with new concepts and techniques in Vietnamese drama. The first book features 30 pictures representing the scenes and characters from the programmes last show titled Cuoc Phieu Luu Cua Thuyen Truong Sinbad - ai Chien Nang Tien Ca (The Adventures of Sinbad - The Battle of Mermaids). The musical is a re-telling of the adventures of Sinbad from The Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales. It attracted famous performers such as Meritorious Artist Thanh Loc, My Duyen, Le Khanh and Huu Chau. It was staged for 60 shows attracting 18,000 fans in 2022. The books pictures are colourful, depicting IDECAF artists from Cuoc Phieu Luu Cua Thuyen Truong Sinbad - ai Chien Nang Tien Ca. Young readers can learn all about the whimsical and magic stories and characters such as captain Sinbad, his staff, and mermaids. More than 500 copies of the book have been published by the private Dan Tri Publishing House. Our picture books will feature IDECAFE shows and talented artists who have worked hard to foster a love of theatre among children and teenagers, said the theatres managing director Tran Quang Thao. Thao said picture books featuring the programme Ngay Xua Ngay Xua will help to expand Vietnamese theatre and entertain children and young audiences. IDECAF Drama features 30 professional artists, along with backstage workers. The theatre offers many experimental shows in drama, musical, cai luong (reformed opera) and hat boi (central drama), two genres of traditional theatre in the south and central regions. It also offers performances targeting children. Its new programme for children called Truyen Than Tien (Fairy Tales) offers drama and musical shows based on foreign and Vietnamese folk and fairy tales. The programmes shows send messages on childhood, friendship, bravery, patriotism and loyalty. Highlighted performances will combine drama, music and cai luong (reformed opera), a traditional form of Vietnamese theatre which began 100 years ago in the South. Beautiful costumes, and light and sound effects will be offered to meet the tastes of children. VNS HA NOI More than 1.28 million Party members on Tuesday attended a nationwide conference to look at standards and ethics in government. The meeting, both in person and as a hybrid, studied two resolutions, covering ethical standards for members. The conference, organised by the Politburo and the Party Central Committees Secretariat, aimed to introduce Regulation No. 144-Q/TW on revolutionary ethical standards of cadres and Party members in the new period and the Politburos Directive No. 35-CT/TW on the Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Party Congress. Regulation 144 has firmed up Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee on promoting the building and rectification of the Party and the political system. According to Nguyen Trong Nghia, head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education, the regulation clearly and specifically states the ethical criteria and standards that cadres and Party members need to follow. Directive 35 is an important document which clearly orients the viewpoints, principles, goals, requirements and basic contents of the preparations for Party congresses at all levels. In the directive, the Politburo sets out seven requirements for the preparation of Party congresses at all levels for the 2025-30 term. The 12th Party Congress, for the first time regarded building the Party along ethical lines as important as building the Party on politics and ideology. The 13th Party Congress, once again, emphasised the necessity to pay special attention to and promote comprehensive Party building and rectification, in terms of politics, ideology, ethics, organisation and cadres. "This is a new mindset," Nghia said, adding that members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committee had set an example with specific actions. He said during three consecutive terms from 11th to 13th, the Party adopted strategies to fight against negative phenomena and corruption. The authorities had discovered, prosecuted, investigated a number of particularly serious, complex corruption cases which were reported recently and in the previous years, he said. Many high-ranking officials, leaders, and former key leaders of some localities had been prosecuted. The new point was that from the initial prosecution of economic crimes, the investigation agency had launched more intensive investigations and prosecuted corruption violations, creating new moves forward in detecting, handling, preventing and combating corruption and negativity, he said. A public opinion survey conducted by the Commission for Publicity and Education showed over 83 per cent of officials, Party members and people agreed that leaders must hold responsibility for corruption and negativity reported in the areas they are in charge of. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Government welcomes investment from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in affordable housing projects for low-income earners in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang affirmed. During a reception in Ha Noi on Tuesday for a delegation of Korean businesses operating in the construction and urban development sector led by Jung Won-ju, Chairman of the Daewoo E&C Group and Chairman of the Korea Housing Builders Association, Quang highlighted the growing Viet Nam-RoK relationship with ample investment opportunities. He praised the success of Korean-invested projects, particularly those in green, smart, and modern urban development, and expressed a belief that collaboration between Korean and Vietnamese companies would lead to higher-quality and more cost-effective projects. Jung thanked the Vietnamese Government, ministries and Ha Noi City for their support of the Starlake urban area project, which is currently attracting significant secondary investment from major Korean and international players. He also requested continued assistance from Vietnamese authorities for another modern and livable urban area project planned for the northern province of Thai Binh. Informing the host that the RoK Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will visit Viet Nam next week to promote housing development cooperation, he affirmed that more Korean companies will be coming to Viet Nam to explore opportunities and invest in specific projects. VNS TRA VINH Vegetable farmers in Tra Vinh Province are earning high profits because of high selling prices and demand. The prices of vegetables are now VN3,000-10,000 (10-40 US cents) per kilogramme higher than a week ago because of supply does not meet demand. The demand in HCM City and southeast provinces is increasing because it is the rainy season so vegetable output is lower than during the dry season, according to the provinces Plant Cultivation and Protection Sub-department. Kim Thi, who grows vegetables in a 2,000sq.m net house in Chau Thanh Districts Hoa Loi Commune, said the province had a lot of rain in the past week which impacted the yield of vegetables, especially those grown in open air. Thanks to the net house, his vegetables have high yield and quality and their selling prices are 15-20 per cent higher than normal vegetables, he said. He earns an average profit of VN120 million ($4,700) a year, he said. The districts Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development assisted him to get a soft loan to build the net house and install a drip irrigation system in 2022, he said. Net-house-grown vegetables offer a profit of 1.5 to two times higher than those grown in open air because they have higher yield, quality and selling prices, according to farmers. The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province has encouraged and assisted farmers to invest in net houses. It provides financial support of up to VN50 million ($1,950) for farmers to build an open net house and up to VN100 million ($3,900) for a closed net house, which covers 1,000sq.m each. Farmers are also assisted to access soft loans. Le Van ong, director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said his agency is restructuring crop cultivation in mixed orchards and unproductive rice fields, and is encouraging farmers to switch to vegetables, especially in net-house farms. It has provided financial support for farmers who have sustainable farming models to invest in farming facilities, machines and infrastructure, he said. Rice farmers who switched to growing vegetables earn a profit of two to three times higher than growing rice. Vegetable farmers earn an average profit of VN120-130 million ($4,700-5,000) per hectare a year, according to the department. Thach Thinh in Chau Thanh Districts Hoa Loi Commune said that under the encouragement of local agricultural officials, he turned his 2,000sq.m rice field into vegetables last year as his farm is far away from irrigation canals and could not grow two to three rice crops a year. He grows tomato, cucumber, green mustard and herbs, and earns an average profit of VN20 million ($800) during a vegetable crop that lasts two to three months, he said. The province aims to turn 1,400ha of unproductive rice fields into different crops this year, according to the department. Last year, more than 2,300ha of rice fields were turned into vegetables, other crops or for breeding animals. Farmers have planted more than 33,000ha of vegetables so far this year, up 1,100ha from the same period last year. The province aims to increase its agriculture production value to VN145 million ($5,700) per hectare a year in 2025, up VN15 million ($600) compared to now. VNS CAN THO Can Tho is encouraging the establishment of co-operatives and co-operative groups and providing them the support they need to operate efficiently. The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city has 341 co-operatives operating in agriculture, industry, cottage industry, transport, construction, trade, services and credit services, according to its Co-operative Alliance, the overarching regulatory entity. Nguyen uc Phuong, its chairman, said the emulation movement in the field of collective economy and co-operatives in 2022-24 has been ushering in important changes with regard to the development of co-operatives and co-operative groups. They have expanded in terms of number of members, registered capital, infrastructure, and areas of operation, he said. In the agricultural sector, for instance, many co-operatives now have more than 100 members, registered capital of VN2-7 billion (US$78,000-270,000) and combined farming areas of 300ha-1,000ha. The Khiet Tam Co-operative in Vinh Thanh District produces rice seeds for cultivation and high-quality rice for consumption, and provides services such as ploughing and harvesting. Nguyen Ngoc Huan, its director, said the co-operative has linked up with other stakeholders to grow rice on large-scale referring to pooling fields to reduce costs and harvest large volumes to meet the requirements of processing and exporting companies. Its members earn VN2-4 million ($80-160) per hectare per year more than farmers who are not members of co-operatives, he said. The city aims to have 400 co-operatives, up from the current 341, with 25,000 members by 2030. It got 10 new ones in the first four months of the year, seven in agriculture and three in transportation. It has organised courses to improve the skills of co-operative managers and advocate the Co-operative Law and measures to implement digital transformation for co-operatives. The Co-operative Alliance will assist agricultural co-operatives and co-operative groups in registering for collective brand names and growing area codes, applying good agricultural practices, accessing soft loans, linking up with companies to buy inputs at lower costs but with high quality, and securing sales of their harvests. The city has 179 agricultural co-operatives, and encourages them to apply modern farming methods to increase yields and quality. Huynh Van Chien, director of the Than Thien Agricultural Co-operative, said it has 34 members and linkages with nearly 500 other farmers to grow fruits and vegetables. With support from authorities, it has improved its efficiency and instructed its members and partner-farmers to apply good agricultural practices. It has invested in infrastructure to provide inputs and tied up with buyers to secure sales of the produce. The Truong Khuong A Co-operative in Phong ien Districts Truong Long Commune has encouraged its 34 members to apply VietGAP standards to grow durian, milk apple and other fruits since 2017. It has linked up with companies to buy inputs for its members and secure sales for their output. Its members earn an average of VN100 million ($3,900) a year. VNS CAN THO A pilot model for planting millions of hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta has yielded positive results, including reducing the amount of seed and fertiliser used, lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while increasing profits. The findings were announced on Monday at a review workshop for the initial results of the pilot model, held in Can Tho City. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Crop Production, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Peoples Committee of Can Tho City and the Can Tho Citys Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Back on April 5, Tien Thuan Cooperative in the city was selected by the agricultural ministry as one of five sites across 12 provinces and cities in the delta to pilot the model. The project saw 50ha of rice from the cooperative using certified seeds supplied by the Mekong Delta Rice Institute planted at a rate of 60kg per ha. The cooperative ran a machine combining seeds with fertiliser, applying the mix to specialised zones, integrating pest management, applying mechanical harvesting and straw collection. Speaking at the workshop, Nguyen Ngoc He, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of the city, said that the 50ha pilot field in Vinh Thanh District met all the criteria of the project to grow one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta. The model results showed a reduction in seed usage from 140kg per ha to 60kg per ha, a decrease in fertiliser applications from 3-4 times per crop to just twice per crop and a minimum 20 per cent reduction in inorganic fertiliser use. There was also a significant reduction in irrigation water, decreased risk of diseases and reduced post-harvest losses. The success of the model lays the foundation for the citys agriculture sector to expand the projects implementation across the entire committed area, he said. Nguyen Van Hung from the International Rice Research Institute said that the seed reduction of 60kg per ha saved VN1.2 million (US$47) and the reduction in fertiliser of 30kg per ha per crop saved VN700,000 ($27). Thus, the combined cost savings amounted to VN1.9 million ($74) per ha. After implementing the model, summer-autumn rice yields reached 6.13-6.51 tonnes per ha, about 7 per cent higher than usual. Lower input costs resulted in farmers increasing their profits by VN1.3-6.2 million ($50-240) per ha. Reduction of up to six tonnes of CO2 Nguyen Cao Khai, director of the cooperative, said that the most significant benefit, besides cost savings and increased profits, was the reduction in environmental pollution due to the proper application of production processes. Hung, from the International Rice Research Institute, said that if the model was strictly followed, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2-6 tonnes CO2 per ha, depending on whether farmers followed water management practices in coordination with the cooperative. The emission reduction was attributed to water and straw management. Cao uc Phat, chairman of the Board of Director of the International Rice Research Institute and former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the model aimed to achieve two main goals. The first was to apply new technical processes to reduce costs, increase productivity and enhance value to boost farmers income. The second was to reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing seed, pesticide and water usage, thus fulfilling Viet Nams international commitments. Phat hoped that the model would continue to spread across the delta and throughout the country. (By running the model), we are meeting the expectations of farmers and rice growers for a better life, higher incomes, a cleaner environment and contributing to the global effort to combat climate change, he said. Le Thanh Tung, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production, said that an essential factor besides the projects criteria was the strong linkage between input suppliers, agricultural material companies and rice purchasing businesses for farmers. The collaboration needed to be more practical and responsible, adhering to the commitments made by all parties in the coming time. These are the factors for the initial models success, which we believe can be expanded to the city and other provinces when implementing the project, he said. VNS THUA THIEN-HUE Whooping cough has re-emerged in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue after more than ten years, with five suspected cases, of which two already tested positive for the virus, the provincial health department announced on Tuesday. All five cases are under supervision at the Hue General Hospital. Two patients who were tested positive for the disease are from Hue City and Huong Thuy Town. They are children under three months old, who either have not been vaccinated or have just been vaccinated and have not yet got immunity. Leaders of the local health department said that after recording suspected cases, the health sector coordinated with affected localities to organise investigations, take test samples and send them to the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute for confirmatory testing. The department has stepped up communication messaging to raise people's awareness about the disease. The health sector is continuing to supervise to promptly detect cases in the community, as well as in medical facilities to control and prevent outbreaks. The provincial health sector strengthens the work of admitting, treating and resuscitating patients, moving them to upper-level when required and preventing cross-infection in medical facilities. It maintains vaccination rates, reviewing cases that have not been vaccinated or not to the right level, organising top up vaccinations according to the Ministry of Healths instructions. The health department said that whooping cough was an acute respiratory infection caused by pertussis bacteria. The disease often occurs in children under five years old, is severe and can easily lead to death, causing complications of bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in those who have not been fully vaccinated. It transmits through the respiratory tract by direct contact with the patient's nasopharyngeal secretions when coughing or sneezing. The infection rate is high in people living in the same closed space, such as households and schools. Statistics of the Department of Preventive Medicine showed that in the first five months this year, the country recorded 127 cases of whooping cough, 7.9 times greater than the same period last year. The main reason is the interruption in vaccines supply under the Expanded Immunisation Programme, which has affected the nationwide coverage rate. VNS The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, held a conference to connect Vietnamese and Singaporean seafood enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City in late June, aiming to enhance cooperation in the seafood sector. Agro-forestry-fishery exporters raise their game in order to expand markets - illustration photo The conference was organised as more Singaporean groups are seeking opportunities in Vietnam to build stable supply chains, connect, invest and leverage advantages to export seafood to other countries. Vietnams aquatic exports to Singapore in the first five months of this year hit $35 million, down 5 per cent on-year, according to VASEP. Cao Xuan Thang, commercial counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, said, Singapore lacks potential in producing and processing seafood production. The domestic supply can only meet 10 per cent of its food demand, with the remaining 90 per cent being imported from various countries. Vietnamese seafood products are increasingly present in Singapore through various promotional activities and participation in bilateral trade promotion programmes, Thang said. Singapore is a trade and service centre of the region with various partners, thus, establishing the relationship between Vietnamese seafood producers with Singapore companies will also create opportunities to promote Vietnamese seafood to the region, Thang added. Localities are also looking for a way to export their agro-products. Long An in the Mekong Delta region is currently the largest lime-producing province in the region, with over 11,000 hectares of production area. Ben Luc district currently accounts for more than half of this, with output primarily consisting of seedless limes and Persian limes, which are mostly exported to the EU and Asia. The provinces Ben Luc Cooperative established a representative office in Dubai. As a result, since early January, Ben Luc exported an average of 810 containers of lime, each with a weight of 24 tonnes, to Dubai. In addition, localities and businesses participated in international expos to promote their agro-forestry-fishery products, such as the Seafood Expo North America organised in March, and approach new markets, such as China. Sao Ta Foods JSC, which is one of the top three enterprises with the highest shrimp export turnover in Vietnam, is making efforts to expand its export markets. In any situation, we try to expand the market. We acquired success from the UK market and have started to see profits from Japan and South Korea, said Ho Quoc Luc, chairman of Sao Tas Board of Directors. In the first half of this year, it is estimated that Sao Tas export turnover hit double-digit growth. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the six-month trade surplus of the agro-forestry-fishery sector hit as much as $8.3 billion, with exports standing at $29.2 billion and imports reaching $20.9 billion. The United States, China, and Japan continued to maintain the top three largest import markets with respective growth rates of 20.8, 9.5, and 5 per cent. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said, From July onwards, the demand for agricultural products in overseas markets will continue to increase. Thus, the industry is confident of export turnover of $54 billion in 2024. Agro-forestry-fishery exports exceed 53 billion USD in 2023 Vietnams agro-forestry-fishery exports reached over 53 billion USD in 2023, posting a record trade surplus of 11 billion USD, or over 42.5% of Vietnams total trade surplus. Agro-forestry-fishery exports see bright prospects The new record export turnover of key agricultural produce contributed a pivotal role in the agricultural industrys growth in 2023, and simultaneously paves the way for bright prospects in 2024. On July5, JBIC signed loan agreements with Mitsui Oil Exploration Co. Ltd (MOECO) Vietnam Petroleum Co., Ltd., MOECO Southwest Vietnam Petroleum Co., Ltd., and MOECO Southwest Vietnam Pipeline B.V., amounting approximately $167 million, approximately $161 million, and approximately $87 million, respectively. The loans are co-financed with private financial institutions, bringing the total co-financing amounts to $335 million, $322 million, and $175 million, respectively. The loans are intended to provide the necessary funds for MOECO to develop the Block B gas field located off the southwest coast of Vietnam and build pipelines to transport fuel gas to thermal power plants in the southwest area of the country, by cooperating with its business partners, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and PTT Exploration and Production Public Co., Ltd. of Thailand. Natural gas, which produces less greenhouse gases than other fossil fuels, is attracting attention as a source of energy during the energy transition towards the realisation of a decarbonised society and carbon neutrality. The Vietnamese government announced its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and formulated the Power Development Plan VIII in May 2023. The PDP8 aims to reduce the proportion of coal used for power generation and to use domestic gas and liquefied natural gas as power sources in the transition period. The project, with the participation of MOECO, which has achievements in and knowledge of gas field development, covers the whole development process from the development of domestic gas production to the establishment of pipelines that connect the gas field and the power plants. The loans will not only support the resources development by a Japanese company, but will also contribute towards the energy transition in Vietnam. In January 2022, the Japanese government proposed the concept of Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), a framework to provide support and cooperation for the efforts for energy transition by Asian countries by leveraging the strengths of Japanese companies, such as technology and know-how. Vietnam is an important partner country in the AZEC framework and the loans provided by JBIC are in line with the policy of the Japanese government. JBIC will continue to financially support the overseas resources development by Japanese companies and the global energy transition. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives JBIC Governor Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh described Japan as a leading important economic partner of Vietnam during a reception in Hanoi on September 14 for Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Hayashi Nobumitsu. JBIC pledges aid for Hanois environment, infrastructure The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) pledges finance to Hanoi in the fields of environment and transport infrastructure development in the near future. In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, churches in the Caribbean and Central America are set to embrace what is expected to be a historic hurricane season, with an 85% chance of experiencing a more active and intense season than normal. Beryl was the first "major" hurricane in July, something unprecedented at the start of the hurricane season. It became the first of its kind to make landfall at a severe category so early. The storm reached 165 miles (155 km) and became a dangerous category five hurricane with a direct path across the Caribbean Sea. It affected several of the Virgin Islands and surrounding islands, Jamaica and southern Mexico. The Reverend Pedro Uh Bote, Bishop of the International Pentecostal Church of God Movement (IDPMI) in southern Mexico, prepared his leaders to be available to their congregations in every possible way. His church also prepared to serve as a shelter for those whose homes were no longer safe. Anticipating the hurricane heading towards the Cancun area as a category one, the churches prepared themselves with food and basic necessities to support the affected families. IDPMI's English Caribbean supervisor, currently based in Jamaica, Pastor Rohan Pellington, was on the island when Beryl hit the Jamaican coast as a Category 4 storm. Churches in Jamaica were set up to serve as shelters in case of severe flooding. As Christian leaders, our intention is to reach out to every member of our churches, Pellington said, to foster calm in times of crisis like this. The Jamaican pastor also worked with Roxhall Secondary School in Kingston to provide a shelter. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up The most important thing for Pellington is that people stay close to God in times of peace so that in times of trouble they can also have their security in God. I hope this motivates Jamaicans to pay attention, he said. It is time to get serious and seek God now. That is my hope, that people will get closer to God. Despite the difficulty, Pellington's church held a thanksgiving service this Sunday, June 7. It could have been a lot worse, he said. We can say that God protected us Despite how things look, the obstacles and challenges, we can say that God has been good, so we should give thanks despite how we have been affected. The Association of Pentecostal Social Services (ASSPEN) of the IDPMI has been in contact with southern Mexico and Jamaica to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to nearby churches and communities. The director of the Missions Department of the IDPMI International Headquarters, Rev. Wilfredo Martinez, stated that he wants to provide emotional help during these difficult times. [At the IDPMI] we have chaplains and many are specialized and have this profile, but we have to coordinate that work for when [these atmospheric events] occur. The director also mentioned that on past occasions the chaplains were mobilized to provide counseling to those affected by the earthquakes that hit Puerto Rico in early 2020. The Bishop of the IDPMI Region of Puerto Rico, Reverend Hernan Rivera Rivera, expressed that in past experiences in crisis situations (such as Hurricane Maria in 2017) the Church mobilized more quickly than first response teams when distributing essential items. IDPMI in Puerto Rico is preparing with aid centers in each municipality of the island so that the necessary aid reaches the towns in need more quickly. We are preparing to be good [first response teams], the first in the middle of any crisis that occurs, said Rivera. During this 2024 hurricane season, the pastors also urge people to pray for Central America and the Caribbean. More than anything, so that we dont lose faith, we dont lose hope, said Pastor Uh Bote. Bishop Rivera encourages to remain calm and to rely on Gods peace. If we all fall, who is going to come and lift others up? Rivera said. That is where we are as believers, as leaders, to instill peace in others and to remain calm enough to be able to get up. He also encouraged people to pray that these atmospheric events will dissolve in the open sea and not affect anyone . I want to say that our prayer is that [Gods] protection will be in all countries, the Bishop added. That people take care of themselves, protect themselves and that all these events have the least possible negative effect on any country. In other words, prayer is not only a selfish prayer, but a prayer for the good of all. Pellington, for his part, encourages younger generations who may have never experienced a major hurricane to turn to God now. If the storm comes, even when you do everything to prepare, your mind has to be fixed on the Lord, he said. Your faith has to be firm in Him. We have to have the conviction that our God will carry us through the storm. Our God is sovereign over the storm. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said this Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be more active and intense than normal. NOAA's report suggests a possibility of 17 to 25 named storms, 8 to 13 hurricanes, and 4 to 7 major hurricanes. First published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition. According to the 2023 Franchising Economic Outlook, the quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and full-service restaurants category account for over 67 per cent of all franchise employment, with QSRs anticipated to have witnessed the strongest industry growth of 2.5 per cent in 2023 compared to all other sectors in franchising. The food and beverages (F&B) market value in Vietnam is projected to rise by 10.92 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching over $26 billion, according to Kirin Capital, a private equity firm. Furthermore, it reports that independent F&B outlets will continue to dominate, holding 93.9 per cent of the market share by 2027, reaffirming the supremacy of this business model. Le Thai Hoang, CEO of Thai Market, a Thai restaurant chain with locations in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang, believes franchising is not the only path to success. "For a full-service restaurant like Thai Market, with a complex menu and unique operational management and customer service standards, franchise partners may struggle to adhere to our principles," Hoang said. "As a result, our brand could suffer due to irresponsible franchisees." Consequently, Thai Market's CEO has opted for a strategy focused on brand reputation and targeted growth. Ho Chi Minh City is its primary development hub, with expansion plans also targeting major cities like Hanoi and Danang. Similarly, Rau Ma Mix, a beverage brand established in 2019, has thrived without franchising. Despite having 60 stores in prime urban locations like Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, founder Le Thanh Dat remains cautious about franchising. "At Rau Ma Mix, the production and logistics processes are tightly controlled, from preparation to store delivery, ensuring quality. Not all partners have the dedication needed to operate effectively," Dat said. Perhaps the biggest lesson on the pitfalls of franchising comes from the budget milk tea brand Mixue. In less than four years, over 1,000 stores have sprung up nationwide, with one appearing every kilometre in Hanoi. This oversaturation has diluted customer traffic, leading to losses for many franchisees who are struggling to break even. Nguyen Thuy Chi, a Mixue franchisee in Long Bien district, said, "Initially, the store performed well due to limited competition. But now, we face competition not only from other ice cream and milk tea brands but also from other Mixue outlets, some just a kilometre away." When a brand expands too quickly through franchising, it risks losing its quality and finesse that add to the customer experience. Brands that fail to analyse the market prudently may get swept up in competition trends, ultimately disadvantaging franchise buyers. Gen Z shaping the future of F&B industry Younger Vietnamese people are shaping the food and beverage industry with their preference for local items. F&B market taking on fresh appeal Vietnams food and beverage market is emerging as a hotbed of opportunity, with several companies from neighbouring nations as well as those further afield ramping up activity. Formosa Ha Tinh has reported a loss of VND16 trillion ($666.7 million) in 2023 Formosa Plastic Group's annual finance statement showed that to maintain market share and avoid losing customers, Formosa Ha Tinh Steel had to reduce prices, even though there wasnt a significant decrease in raw materials costs. As a result, the company was unable to meet expectations, with annual revenue of approximately $17.1 billion, a 3.2 per cent drop from 2022, and an annual loss of approximately VND15.7 trillion ($654.16 million). In the first half of April, Formosa Ha Tinh's hot rolling mill was overhauled, so steel production was halted. In addition, in recent times, a strong increase in imported steel products from countries such as China and India has affected the production stability of domestic steel manufacturing enterprises. In 2022, the company suffered a loss of nearly VND8 trillion ($333.3 million) after it debuted new steel products in a falling global market, forcing the company had to adjust its production plans to meet market demands. The bleak business results also impacted Ha Tinh provinces budget in the first half of 2024. Statistics published on Ha Tinh's portal showed that as of June 15, tax paid by foreign-invested companies had reached just VND558.5 billion ($23.27 million), down 69.03 per cent on-year. Between January and June, the central provinces balanced budget revenue from imports and exports was estimated at VND2.23 trillion ($92.91 million), declining 7.25 per cent, due to the impact of Formosas drop in import-export turnover. Glut in steel forcing industry leaders to halt programmes The largest steelmaker in Vietnam is considering a hold on its third blast furnace facility due to concerns with Chinas steel presence in the country. Toiling steel ventures ask for state urgency The unpredictability of the global coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the demand for steel and forced steel projects to lay idle or cut production. Formosa Ha Tinh reports $1 billion in accumulated losses Several years after its environmental troubles and the second blast furnace going into operation, the accumulated losses of Formosa Ha Tinh have risen to $1.1 billion. Tough spot for steel ventures as pandemic cuts off progress The global coronavirus developments coupled with the falling demand are adding more pressure for some steelmakers to lay idle their projects, cut products, or ponder mergers and acquisitions strategies to ensure their cash. The area in front of Ben Thanh Market, after many years being closed for building metro line 1, was returned to normal in June. More than 30 metres underground, Ben Thanh central station the largest urban underground space in Ho Chi Minh City is gradually being formed. According to Ho Chi Minh City Management Board of Urban Railways, the station is one of three underground stations for metro line 1, along with the City Theatre and Ba Son Station. Messy underground system requiring regulatory overhaul, photo Le Toan In addition to serving passengers of metro line 1, Ben Thanh underground station will also be a transfer point connecting metro line 2 from Ben Thanh to Tham Luong, line 3A from Ben Thanh to Tan Kien, and line 4 from Thanh Xuan to Hiep Phuoc Urban Area. While Ben Thanh central station was the first ever underground space built by the city, plans to expand on this are still currently vague. At the latest conference of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee for this term, taking place in June, Hua Quoc Hung, director of Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Management Authority, said that due to the unavailability of underground space planning, many proposals to build underground constructions are not moving ahead. This planning needs to be done as early as possible to have a development orientation, to avoid having to adjust or supplement later, Hung said. For example, Phu Tho Racetrack in District 11 wants to set up an underground space for parking and a commercial and service area. However, authorities cannot give permission because there is no concrete plan to connect this underground system with the neighbouring underground system of the future metro line 5. The underground parking lot under Trong Dong theatre in District 1 has also been delayed for 10 years because it would overlap with plans for the underground station of metro line 2. Nguyen Thi Bao Quynh, vice president of Indochina Group, the investor of the underground system under Trong Dong Theatre, said that she has continuously worked with departments and branches of Ho Chi Minh City and gone through many lengthy procedures over the years, but has not been able to resolve this problem. Investors must struggle with long and complicated procedures that constantly change and cost a lot. Due to the long project implementation period and changes in legal regulations, the steps of the project have to be redone completely without fault of the investor. Therefore, we urgently request the peoples committee to re-examine the entire process of implementing the projects legal procedures and soon direct the resolution so we can finally start this project, Quynh said. According to Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, underground planning activities face many problems. Specifically, building underground construction data is difficult because the database is managed by many different industries. The current state of underground infrastructure was built over many periods, lacking archival documents, while the surveying and investigating activities are expensive. Moreover, underground space planning is a new concept to Vietnam and there are currently no detailed instructions on implementation content, as well as a lack of guidance on planning methods. City experts assessed that it is time for Ho Chi Minh City to have a master plan and preferential policies to attract domestic and foreign investors to invest in underground urban projects, especially after metro line 1 comes into operation. As an architect who participated in planning several underground spaces in Montreal, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son said that the underground space in the Canadian city was successful thanks to the connectivity factor. City authorities need to connect the underground spaces of private constructions to other public underground spaces to make the whole system to be effective, Son said. In Ho Chi Minh City, the central area currently lacks public space, so the development of underground space is significant. Currently, in the city centre, we can plan underground space in public spaces such as stations on metro lines, high-rise buildings, and skyscrapers. Nguyen Thanh Nha, director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Architecture said, The general planning of Ho Chi Minh City towards 2040 notes that current underground space is mainly oriented towards three main functions: public transport with urban railway lines running underground, static traffic with urban railway stations and parking lots, and commercial streets integrated with underground railway stations. Accordingly, four key areas will be reserved to develop underground space in the city: Ho Chi Minh City centre, Thu Thiem centre, Cho Lon-Phu Tho centre, and Hoa Hung-Cong Hoa centre. Within that, there will be 12 commercial underground spaces, seven station underground spaces, and four specific underground spaces, Nha added. In addition, three other areas would also be reserved for developing underground spaces, in the integrated tunnel expanding Phu My Bridge in district 7, the Truong Chinh-Au Co station area in Tan Binh district, and Gia Dinh Park Station in Go Vap district. Henry Chin, head, Asia-Pacific Research CBRE With a city population of more than 10 million and the land bank in the central business districts becoming increasingly scarce, underground space deployment is essential to meet the development of this dynamic city. Key questions to evaluate the feasibility of this strategy including preparation stage of whether the general database and synchronisation of existing underground properties and infrastructures, such as electricity, telecom, water supply system are ready, so that authorities can create a master plan for the underground space. After having a basis for planning, technical issues will need to be considered next, including geological and hydrological issues. The fact that almost all existing buildings in Ho Chi Minh City have no connection to underground spaces will be a challenge in the process of finding suitable connection points for underground spaces in general. This also needs strong support from government policy, in which the legal basis related to the ownership and use of underground space and technical standards need to be researched as soon as possible. Similar to commercial real estate projects, solving financial problems is an essential issue so that projects can be implemented on time and avoid affecting social security. The above issues must be resolved in parallel to be able to see the overall solution, thereby giving an accurate answer to the feasibility of the underground plan of the city. Kien Hoang, director, ARUP Vietnam Singapore and Hong Kong have recently applied a connection model between high-rise buildings and underground construction systems very successfully. In such large cities, this connection is effective. As for places that are not as developed like Vietnam, there needs to be specific and appropriate plans. This is related to transit oriented development, an urban development model that takes the orientation of public transport development as the basis for development planning. It takes traffic hubs as a population concentration point from which to form the transportation system. This is the concept that buildings and utilities are being developed in a synchronous manner with the urban transportation network. Therefore, instead of considering buildings as independent objects located in a certain value, they need to be considered as part of a transportation network. As well, all issues should be considered in relation to each other to create a suitable overview, thereby determining the functions of each project, determining the direction of development, and building a template to develop and use underground space systems under the management of planning agencies. After that, detailed instructions will be developed for all related entities such as high-rise buildings, public facilities, and public space areas all need specific instructions to ensure the smooth operation of the entire system. From there, plans can be adjusted later to the reality. Ho Chi Minh City needs nearly $35 billion for 10 metro lines The southern city wants to build 10 metro lines by 2060, over 510km in length, and with a total investment of nearly $34.5 billion. France provides 10 million to build Hanoi Metro Line 3 extension The French government has pledged its support to help Vietnam accelerate metro projects, develop public transport, and cut carbon emissions. Hitachi requests additional $157 million for Metro Line No.1 Japanese contractor Hitachi requested additional costs of up to VND4 trillion ($157.2 million) to be reimbursed for the time extended for Metro Line No.1 in Ho Chi Minh City,. Hanoi ready to open Nhon-Hanoi metro line The elevated section of the Nhon-Hanoi metro line is expected to officially open in July, following more than ten years of construction. This means that Novo Nordisk is now 100 per cent recognised by the government as its own legal entity that can import its own medicine to Vietnam, to be sold on to a local distributor. This significant achievement marks a new era in Novo Nordisk's expansion, and strengthens its dedication to serving patients in Vietnam. As a fully functional FIE, Novo Nordisk has become an independent importer of its innovative products, expanding its local operations and creating new job opportunities for local talents. According to the International Diabetes Federation Atlas, there are nearly four million adults in Vietnam living with Type 2 diabetes. However, the diagnosis rate is only 50 per cent, i.e. over two million people have been diagnosed with the condition. Of these, 65 per cent had complications at diagnosis, including heart disease, kidney failure, or amputations, which caused personal loss and put a significant financial burden on the government and society. In addition, the increasing emergence of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is adding to the healthcare challenges that Vietnam is facing. In addition, according to World Obesity Atlas, Vietnam has very high annual increase in childhood obesity, mostly in its big cities. Over the past decade, Novo Nordisk Vietnam has worked closely with Vietnams Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Danish Embassy, hospital partners, and eminent associations like the Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology to transform the T2D treatment landscape. These partnerships have included developing physician capability building initiatives, raising public awareness, and shaping healthcare policy. In June 2024, Novo Nordisk Vietnam together with the MoH, Danish Embassy and Vietnam Pediatric Association, embarked on a new public-private partnership. Together, the four partners will focus on strategic initiatives that transcend borders, leveraging collective expertise and experiences to tackle pressing health issues. The focus of the collaboration will be on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as they pose a significant threat to public health in Vietnam. Among these, diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and obesity stand out as serious chronic diseases affecting millions of people in Vietnam. The complications associated with these two chronic diseases are numerous, impacting not only physical health but also the quality of life of patients. By centring the collaboration on chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, the collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions, improve prevention strategies, and enhance patient care. Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Its purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. The company does so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to medicine, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 66,000 people in 80 countries, and markets its products in around 170 countries. Novo Nordisks products has been present in Vietnam for over 30 years, with the first human insulin brought to Vietnam in 1992. Novo Nordisk established representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City in 2011 and then Hanoi in 2015. Opening the domestic arena to pharma distribution Vietnams pharmaceutical market is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. However, although the market is growing rapidly, production capacity can only meet about half of domestic demand. The way out for pharma distribution Vietnam needs to open up its pharmaceutical distribution and logistics activities, but such changes will take time. Global pharma expects bumper year Increasing footprints in Vietnam in 2023, multinational corporations continue to eye stronger local partnerships to bring more new innovative medicines and vaccines to the local market in 2024 and beyond. After growing 5.66 per cent in Q1, the Vietnamese economy bounced back to 6.93 per cent in the second quarter, only lower than the on-year Q2 rise of 7.99 per cent in 2022 in the 2020-2024 period. Positive growth scenarios within reach - illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com In the first half of this year, it climbed increased 6.42 per cent on-year, only lower than the on-year growth rate of 6.58 per cent in the same period of 2022 in the 2020-2024 period. The economy has strongly been recovering thanks to the governments efforts in helping enterprises out of difficulties, and businesses growing confidence in the domestic business and investment climate increasingly improved, said Nguyen Thi Huong, general director of the General Statistics Office (GSO). The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is now updating its new growth scenarios for the second half of this year, which will be submitted to the government soon. In its latest scenarios, the MPI forecasts that under the first scenario, the whole-year growth is expected to be 6 per cent, which may be reached if the average nine-month growth rate must be 6.12 per cent including 5.85 per cent for Q2, 6.22 per cent for Q3, and 6.28 per cent for Q4. Under the second scenario, the entire-year growth rate is forecasted to sit at 6.5 per cent which may be recorded if the average nine-month economic growth rate must be 6.75 per cent, including 6.32 per cent for Q2, 6.79 per cent for Q3, and 7.08 per cent for Q4. The MPI holds that the economic performance may fall to the second scenario, and if the growth rate is kept as it did in or event better than Q2, the rate for Q3 and Q4 will be higher as the economic conditions are being increasing improved, and the entire-year growth may be even higher than the set 6.5 per cent level. However, we must not be too optimistic and we must continue taking great caution in macroeconomic management, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last week. The GSO reported that as compared to the corresponding period last year, the added value of the whole industrial sector in the first half of 2024 increased 7.54 per cent on-year, only lower than the on-year rise of 8.32 per cent in the same period of 2022 in the 2020-2024 period, creating 2.44 per cent in the added value increase in the economy. The GSO reported that the manufacturing and processing sector continues being the key driver of economic growth as its six-month growth hit 8.67 per cent on-year, generating 2.14 per cent growth of industrial production. Meanwhile, also in the first half of 2024, the sector of production and distribution of electricity increased 13.26 per cent on-year, and the sector of supply of water, and management and treatment of waste climbed 7.13 per cent. Some key economic sectors have witnessed a rise in performance in the first six months of this year. For example, state-owned Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) reported last week that its total revenue is estimated to be about $3.7 billion hitting 50.8 per cent of the years plan and up 6.6 per cent on-year. Vinacomin exploited 20.61 million tonnes of rough coal, up 3.7 per cent on-year. Its consumed coal hit 26.77 million tonnes, up 8.6 per cent on-year. Its electricity production reached 5.26 billion kWh, up 14 per cent on-year. In another case, the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that in the first half of this year, Vietnams total produced and imported electricity is estimated to be 151.7 billion kWh, which was 776 million kWh higher than planned. Such a volume per day hit 833.5 million kWh, up 11.3 per cent on-year. The maximum power of the whole electricity system hit 48.880MW, up 7.87 per cent on-year. Meanwhile, with its six-month statistics remaining unavailable now, PetroVietnam has also reported its positive five-month performance. Its total revenue reached about $16.36 billion, exceeding by 34 per cent of the initial plan and up 15 per cent on-year. PetroVietnams contribution to the state budget stood at an estimated $2.3 billion, which was 46 per cent higher than planned and up 2 per cent on-year. Its consolidated pre-tax profit touched an estimated $920.83 million, surpassing the plan by 92 per cent and up 6 per cent on-year. PetroVietnams other production indexes in the first five months exceeded plans by 3.5-35.7 per cent on-year. For instance, crude oil exploitation stood at 4.19 million tonnes, or 19.5 per cent higher than planned, and natural gas exploitation sat at 2.91 billion cubic metres, exceeding the plan by 35.7 per cent. According to the GSO, enterprise confidence has bounced back. In June, the country saw 15,700 newly established businesses, registered at $5.96 billion, with a total registered worker number of 85,600 all up substantially compared to May. In the first half of this year, Vietnam saw nearly 80,500 newly established businesses registered at over $31 billion, registering to use nearly 512,000 workers. In the first half of 2024, 71,400 businesses halted operations in Vietnam, up 18.6 per cent on-year; nearly 28,800 enterprises stopped operations and waited for dissolution procedures, down 7.3 per cent on-year; and 10,200 enterprises completed such procedures, up 15.4 per cent. On average, 18,400 enterprises left the market every month. However, according to the GSOs Q2 survey on manufacturing and processing enterprises released last week, around 40 per cent of respondents believed their Q3 performance will improve on the second quarter. Some 42.2 per cent held that their Q3 production and business situation will be stable and only 17.1 per cent predicted the situation will be more difficult. Stable growth in foreign inflows despite global dips Vietnam is reporting stable growth in foreign investments, deviating from global trends this year, thanks to the entry of some large-scale initiatives. Vietnam continues to see growth in FDI Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong stated that numerous international financial organisations remain optimistic about Vietnams ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the second half of the year. In late June, the Ministry of Construction (MoC) sent a proposal to the prime minister asking for its permission to work on resuming the cement sector planning. Cement oversupply has become increasingly critical, as the sector planning did not exist for around six years. Currently, for cement projects, localities submit projects and seek approval directly from the prime minister. It proves imperative to resume the cement sector planning and licence cement projects, said Nguyen Quang Cung, chairman of the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA). In fact, in 2017 upon enforcement, the Law on Planning removed the planning of diverse products, including cement. Since then, the ventures into cement projects have followed investment regulations. The latest report by the VNCA shows that Vietnam is currently home to 92 cement production lines with a total capacity surpassing 120 million tons per year. Last year, total cement and clinker production output approximated 92.9 million tonnes, with cement production lines running at an average 75 per cent of their total designed capacity. Total cement consumption volume just approximated 87.8 million tonnes, equal to 88 per cent of 2022 volume, of which domestic consumption shed to a critical low level of below 60 million tonnes, and export was curtailed to nearly 30 million tonnes. According to the MoC, currently, there is a huge pressure from redundant clinker production capacity at approximately 50 million tonnes per year amid slow construction pace. This could put a burden on the economy. Many producers could go bust, unless suitable measures are promptly presented. At the meeting to find solutions to building materials sectors in mid-June, on behalf of cement businesses, Le Nam Khanh, CEO of state-run Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem) proposed the prime minister did not to entice both domestic and foreign investment into cement production to relieve pressure on the cement sector. Khanh noted that within the past three years, local consumption just came to around 60 million tonnes, meanwhile the sectors actual capacity has surpassed 120 million tonnes. Having 10 member units under management, Vicem reported that in its 120-year development history, never before has the cement sector fallen into such a critical stage. Several production lines belonging to our system with 10 member units have to temporarily halted operation, incurred low consumption and dwindled incomes. Despite these all, we commit to not selling products below the production cost, said Nguyen Thanh Tung, deputy CEO of Vicem. The VNCA statistics showed that in the first half of this year, both cement production and consumption didnt show improvements compared to last year. Total production output came to around 44 million tonnes, equal to last years similar period, and consumption was nearly this volume. Cement factories just run at 70-75 per cent of their designed capacity. Cement groups take on tough period Amid unprecedented complexities, cement producers are hoping for breakthroughs in public projects to stimulate demand and accelerate consumption. Telecoms firms seeking new pastures Some of the leading Vietnamese telecoms firms are seeking new territories for development in the face of diminishing market share, following a report from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) showing that the share of revenue from traditional telecom services is shrinking. The event saw the participation of a delegation led by Le Truong Luu, member of the Central Party Committee, Secretary of Thua Thien-Hue Party Committee, Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Peoples Council, Nguyen The Tung, consul general of Vietnam in Shanghai. Representatives from various provincial departments and over 80 major Chinese corporations based in Shanghai. The seminar was organised by Gilimex Industrial Park (IP) and Diligentsight Partners, in collaboration with Thua Thien-Hue authorities and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Shanghai. Phan Quy Phuong, Deputy Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee speaking at the seminar Phan Quy Phuong, Deputy Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee said, "Thua Thien-Hue offers potential opportunities for foreign investors, including those from China. Ventures in Thua Thien-Hue will benefit from the highest preferential policies of the province and Vietnam's Law on Investment, including infrastructure support, labour supply, and local labour training. The central province is ready to roll out the red carpet for investors." Gilimex IP in Thua Thien-Hue has established itself as an attractive investment destination with numerous incentives and modern, smart infrastructure. The IP offers a favourable investment environment and commits to maximum support for investors throughout their operations. The seminar highlighted the investment opportunities and competitive advantages of the park, drawing significant interest from Chinese businesses across various sectors. A Gilimex Industrial Park representative presenting at the seminar Gilimex IP takes pride in their top-notch services and infrastructure, including convenient transportation connections, stable electricity and water supply, and comprehensive business support services. Furthermore, Gilimex is dedicated to creating a business-friendly, sustainable environment that grows alongside enterprises. With special incentives and strong support from local authorities, Gilimex IP stands out as a premier choice for investors looking to expand their operations in Vietnam. The seminar also received numerous questions and discussions from Chinese business leaders, affirming the high interest of Chinese enterprises in the investment environment of Thua Thien-Hue and Gilimex IP. Representative from a Shanghai association discussing with the consul general of Vietnam in Shanghai Gilimex starts work on centralised wastewater treatment station Gilimex Industrial Park Joint Stock Company on February 15 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Centralised Wastewater Treatment Station of Gilimex Industrial Park in Thuy Phu commune, Huong Thuy town, Thua Thien-Hue province. Gilimex Industrial Park construction kicks off Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee and Gilimex Industrial Park JSC broke ground on the construction of Gilimex Industrial Park in the provinces Huong Thuy town on November 11. Sea freight congestion is spreading to Asia, with 60 per cent of ships waiting to dock in the region. In particular, Singapores container port, the worlds second-largest hub, is experiencing the worst congestion since the pandemic, with about 500,000 ships in queues. Shipping dock squeezes inflicting domino effect, illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock Tan Hua Joo, director of research company Linerlytica, said, The waiting time to enter Singapore port used to be less than a day, but now the ships have to wait for a week. Waiting times at ports in Malaysia and China are also going up, especially at Shanghai and Qingdao ports. This is serious. Nguyen Hoang Hai, a representative of a shipping agent, said that it was very difficult to find ships overseas because of high freight prices, and a shortage of ships. A part of the reason is that ships are sailing towards China to export to the United States before August 1, to avoid being imposed anti-dumping duties by the US. So congestion at ports in Singapore and China has caused a shortage of ships in many places, pushing up freight rates, Hai said. International cargo shipping companies said that the annual peak shipping season had arrived earlier than expected, exacerbating congestion. Niki Frank, managing director of DHL Global Forwardings Asia-Pacific branch, said that the early peak shipping season seemed to be driven by additional inventory replenishment, especially in the US. Manufacturers and retailers may want to receive goods in their warehouses earlier than usual, as demand is expected to rise strongly, he said. Dang Dinh Long, CEO of Mega A Logistics Company, said that ships to Vietnams key export markets were finding things challenging, especially on the route to Europe with expensive fares and very few ships. Exporters that have a transport contract, will have ships, but freight rates are too high. Others with no transportation contracts, even accepting higher freight rates, have to wait a long time to be transported, Long added. Currently, the freight fares to Europe are about $8,200 per 40-foot container, doubling that at the end of 2023. Similarly, fares to other routes to the US, India, the Middle East, and South Asia also surged sharply. Besides this, freight rates to the new market of India increased more than three times in only eight months, from $1,000 to $3,500 per 40-foot container and from $700 to $2,500 per 20-foot container. Shipping lines remain free when only exporting to China, only collecting local fees, because they want more empty containers to serve Chinese exporters, Long said. Vietnamese enterprises mainly export in the free on board (FOB) method, and import in the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) method. They pay attention to these shipping costs because their partners care about these. However, currently, local exporters have been moving from FOB to CIF, and recent fluctuations in shipping rates have greatly affected businesses in the industry, Long added. For wooden furniture exporters, some previously negotiated contracts have also been interrupted, as customers wait for decreasing prices of freight fares and to find more effective solutions. Nguyen Chanh Phuong, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Woodworking Association, said that the tense situation in the Red Sea has forced shipping lines to change their routes, leading to congestion at Singapore port and neighbouring ports in Southeast Asia. The waiting time to pick up goods is three times longer than usual, causing a shortage of ships and containers waiting at the yard. The US plans to impose 25-100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods such as batteries, electric vehicles, and medical supplies from August, which has forced exporters to speed up delivery or booking ships at high prices. These also contribute to increasing shipping costs. Businesses are worried that shipping rates will rise much higher than during the pandemic, Phuong said. For most garment and textile enterprises, they have recovered with export orders landed until the end of the third quarter, or even until the end of the year. However, they are struggling with costs to ensure efficiency. In the short term, experts predict that congestion in Asian ports will not ease, so container shipping rates may remain high until the third quarter of this year. Shipping costs stifle progress among Vietnamese exporters Exporters are struggling with numerous challenges caused by high shipping costs, and are calling for the support of local state management authorities. Shipping costs continue to climb Rising logistics costs are eroding profits and forcing exporters to freeze orders, as well as revealing inadequacies in the management of foreign shipping companies operating in the waters of Vietnam. The deal is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, ACBS noted in a report published on July 2. In 2019, Vietcombank issued a similar deal, and the issuance price at that time was equivalent to a trailing 12-month pre-money price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.0x and a post-money price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 2.8x. Based on the valuation of the previous deal, ACBS estimates that the issuance price this time will be around VND96,000-100,000 ($3.78-3.93) per share. The issuance will have many positive impacts on Vietcombanks capital adequacy ratio (CAR) as well as its credit growth potential. Specifically, the analysts expect CAR to improve by about 2 per cent once the deal is completed. As of December 31, 2023, Vietcombanks CAR reached 11.4 per cent, which is enough to meet the minimum requirement of 8 per cent. Improving the tier-1 capital will help Vietcombank increase its credit supply capacity to the economy while still meeting the more stringent capital standards of Basel III in the future, while also creating room to pay cash dividends in the coming years, the report noted. However, with an increase of nearly 20 per cent in equity capital, Vietcombank will face pressure to maintain its fairly good profitability. It is forecast that Vietcombanks return on equity will decrease from the current 20 per cent to 15 per cent by 2026 equivalent to the industry average. Vietcombank plans to hold an extraordinary shareholders meeting on August 19 to discuss the private placement and elect additional members to the board of directors and supervisory board. The plan to issue 6.5 per cent of its shares via a private placement had been put forth by Vietcombank in 2019, but it has yet to be completed. At its 2024 AGM in April, board member Do Viet Hung said such a private placement would be subject to market conditions. Depending on market conditions, the bank will organise a conference for local and foreign investors and shareholders. We plan to conduct the conference in 2024, and the private place is expected to take place from now and be completed in 2025, Hung said. Vietnam seeks Mizuho Bank's expertise Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has proposed a collaboration with Japan's Mizuho Bank, one of the three mega banks in Japan, for the restructuring of Vietnam's underperforming banks. ACV secures $1.8 billion in syndicated loans for Long Thanh Airport, ensuring on-schedule completion by 2026 Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has secured a $1.8 billion loan from three state-owned banks over a 20-year term to finance the construction of Long Thanh International Airport. This is the fourth consecutive year Vietnam has earned the recognition, according to the Expat Insider 2024 survey conducted by InterNations. More than 12,000 expats across 174 territories worldwide participated in the broader Expat Insider 2024 survey, which provided insights into the best and worst places to live, quality of life, working abroad, and personal finance. Vietnam once again defended its top spot in the Personal Finance Index category for 2024. According to the survey, four in five expats (86 per cent) rate the cost of living favourably, and half rate it as very good (compared to global averages of 40 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively). In fact, over two-thirds (68 per cent) agree that their disposable household income is more than enough to live a comfortable life (vs. 41 per cent globally). Interestingly, financial reasons don't stand out as motivating factors for a move to Vietnam; just 3 per cent said as much, compared to 2 per cent of expats worldwide. All in all, 65 per cent are satisfied with their financial situation in the country (vs. 54 per cent globally) - and this isnt due to low costs alone. Close to double the global average reported a gross yearly income of $150,000 or more (19 per cent in Vietnam vs. 10 per cent globally). Vietnam has improved its rankings across all indices of the survey, placing eighth overall in the Expat Insider 2024 survey. In particular, expats showed praise in the Ease of Settling In category (13th). The people are very friendly, and the cost of living is very low, an American expat told InterNations. Expats are particularly satisfied with their worklife balance. Almost three in four gave this a positive rating (vs. 60 per cent globally), and the same was said for high overall job satisfaction. However, only 43 per cent of expats said that moving to Vietnam had improved their career prospects. Quality of Life is Vietnams sore point in the ranking. Despite an improvement by seven positions compared to last year, the country still landed in an unimpressive 40th place on the index. The worst-performing subcategory is Environment & Climate (50th). Meanwhile, the country ranked 37th in the Travel & Transit category. Expats named Panama as the best place to live in 2024. Six countries in the top 10 can be found in Asia: Vietnam (first), Indonesia (third), the Philippines (fifth), India (sixth), Thailand (eighth), and China (10th). They all performed very well across the three categories covered by the index. HSBC survey: Global expats show resilience and optimism for future The 14th Expat Explorer study, a global survey of over 20,000 people who live and work abroad, indicates that almost two-thirds of expats feel optimistic about the year ahead despite the volatility of the past 18 months. The future for expat life Countries around the world, just like Vietnam, are having to reshape policies when it comes to attracting non-nationals to live and work within their borders, whether on a long-term basis or just a short stint. VIRs Ray McRobbie ponders what is next for the overseas contingent in Vietnam over the next few years. Islamic militants affiliated to ISIS killed 639 Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo between January and June, 2024. This is according to a report released by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a US-based monitoring and analysis organization. The report revealed that out of the five African countries - DRC, Mozambique, Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali, 92% of the Christians fatalities happened in the DRC. The report, which was produced by MEMRIs Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM), indicated that Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed responsibility for either beheading or shooting 698 Christians in the five countries. In Mozambique and Nigeria, jihadists claimed to have killed 29 and 23 Christians respectively during the first-half of the year while 3 Christians lost their lives in Cameroon and 4 in Mali. An additional 50 Christians in DRC were kidnapped in the first 6 months of 2024 while 93 Christian homes were torched. In Mozambique, ISIS claimed to have burned hundreds of Christian homes, churches and schools. Matt Schierer, research fellow at MEMRI JTTM project, said the jihadists routinely publish photos and videos documenting attacks in an effort to further terrorize the countrys Christian community. He added that the nature of the executions claimed by ISCAP is also distinct compared to other IS affiliates in Nigeria, Mali and Cameroon, but has similarities with the Islamic State Mozambique Province group. Over half of the total deaths in DRC were as a result of beheading. In one horrific attack on June 7, ISCAP claimed responsibility for the beheading of 60 Christians in Masala villages within North Kivu province. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up All attacks occurred in the DRCs northeastern provinces of North-Kivu and Ituri, which border Uganda. Fatalities also rose sharply toward the end of the timeframe, with ISCAP claiming to have killed 300 Christians in June alone, said Schierer. It was also at the end of June that two aid workers from Christian charity organization Tearfund were killed in North Kivu. In a statement, Tearfund said the aid workers were traveling in a convoy that had arrived in Butembo from Lubero when they were attacked. It was unclear at this time whether the attack was carried out by the same groups. Tearfund unequivocally condemns this horrific attack on humanitarian aid staff who were working selflessly to serve the people of the DRC. Our priority now is to provide support to the families of our deceased colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. We are also working closely with the local authorities to ensure the safety and security of our remaining staff in the country, said Tearfund in a statement. Several armed groups such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the March 23 Movement (M23) have continued to make inroads in the eastern parts of DRC especially in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. This has emboldened jihadists groups to attack Christians and burn churches contributing to the deteriorating state of security in eastern DRC. A 2023 BBC Monitoring analysis of content published by ISIS revealed that ISCAP significantly increased the number of attacks on Christians in DRC by 57% compared to the previous half of 2022, an indication of the growing threats to Christians. Abdirahim Saeed, BBC Monitoring Jihadist Media Specialist, reported that the intensity of the attacks had shifted from Mozambique to DRC. The drop in IS attacks against Christians in Mozambique in 2023 does not necessarily mean the group is less interested in such targets, but is reflective of a major decline in the groups activity in the country, said Saeed. Citing local media and analysts, Saeed said the attacks on Christians had intensified due to the involvement of ADF, which aligned itself to IS and has been reported to be involved in some of the attacks in North Kivu and Ituri. Open Doors, a non-profit organization that monitors Christian persecution, warned that the situation in DRC continues to be extremely violent and volatile for believers. Church leaders who speak out against the violence are at risk of being targeted, making it difficult to raise their voices against the atrocities. The violence has led to a massive displacement crisis in the DRC, and many believers are among the displaced, said Open Doors in its 2024 World Watch List assessment. On July 8, UN special envoy Bintou Keita expressed hope that a 2-week humanitarian cease-fire in eastern Congo would be respected by DRC forces and the armed groups led by M23, in a conflict that threatens to pull in neighbors Uganda and Rwanda - who have been supporting the armed groups, according to the UN and the US. Miseducation My first question for Mr. Larry Van Oort is how he escaped the same education that he claims is responsible for most reporters in most media. It was obviously different in that he has no idea what Marxist/Leninist propaganda is. Also, he has a great deal of trouble with known and acknowledged facts. The highest inflation rate in American history was in 1980. It was 15%. The highest of the last three years was 9%, for just one year. That is not good, but it is less than half the 20% of his claim. And that inflation hasnt seemed to effect consumer spending which is at an all-time high (adjusted for inflation.) The cause of said inflation, according to every legitimate economist, has nothing I repeat, nothing to do with Biden oil policies. There has been no kneecapping of the oil industry. Beginning with Bloomberg Business (a conservative business source) the reports are that the U.S. is the most energy independent it has been in 75 years. Domestic oil production is at an all-time high. His other illogical claims about oil are even stranger. After the Trump debacle, Joe Biden is bringing us back to the top. Rick Johnson, Waverly No longer Republican Hunter Biden checked the wrong box on a piece of paper. No one was hurt or threatened or killed, but the Republicans made a big blow about it being such a terrible crime. I didnt hear the Democrats blame the Republicans for weaponizing the justice system like the Republicans accused the Democrats of doing on Trump. Conversely, Trumps old ballyhoo about voter fraud and fight like hell on Jan. 6, 2021, resulted in several deaths, attempted murder of several governors, threats to election officials, and lit the fuse to a civil war, but the Republicans want us to believe this was just a peaceful event, and their Fuhrer should be immune from any law and immune from the Constitution. I use to be a Republican, but because of the above, Ill never be a Republican again. I think that terrorist attack on Jan. 6 ran out of gas before it accomplished what someone wanted it to do. I think the push to lower the allowed THC in hemp came from power-hungry officials wanting to criminalize more peaceful nondangerous citizens, so they have an excuse to build more prisons and hire more police and parole officers. Herman Lenz, Sumner Facts matter In his letter published in the June 23 Courier titled Understanding, Larry Van Oort criticized President Biden on a number of issues, particularly inflation and Bidens supposed mishandling of Americas energy needs. To support his case, Van Oort cited some misleading examples, and some where the facts completely contradict his position. Regarding inflation, Van Oort cited a 20% inflation rate which he attributed to Biden kneecapping Americas oil & natural gas expansion. What he conveniently failed to mention is that total 20% inflation during the presidents first three years was in fact due primarily to American consumers going on a spending spree following the pandemic. Secondly, the jump in gasoline prices in 2022 was due not to Bidens policies but rather Russias invasion of Ukraine. Van Oorts worst falsehood was that Biden cut drilling for oil and gas when the facts show the exact opposite. Fact #1: In his first three years as president Biden approved 50% more drilling permits than former President Trump did in his first three years. Fact #2: Not only is the U.S. the worlds largest producer of oil, but in 2023 under Biden, the U.S., produced more oil than any other country (including Russia and Saudi Arabia) in history. Facts matter. Denis Montenier, Hudson Double standard So its okay to accept federal money from the Biden administration for flood relief, but its not okay to accept federal money for all the children of Iowa to have free breakfast and lunch. Lynette Hartman, La Porte City Justin Timberlake's mugshot has been given the Andy Warhol treatment, care of painter and interior designer Robert Lohman and photographer Mary Godfrey. Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor on the morning of June 18 for driving while intoxicated. Lohman said: "When I first saw this image of Timberlake, I said, 'this is iconic.' I felt a calling to develop it." Talking of his Andy Warhol inspiration, he said: "Warhol's genius was in knowing which images would capture and evoke a moment in time, and Justin's mugshot seemed to me to do exactly that. I thought it was deserving of the Warhol treatment, and I believe Andy would approve." Contacting Godfrey--with whom Lohman has worked for years--he asked her to produce inkjet prints of Timberlake's booking photo, rendered in different bright colors on canvas. The portrait, entitled Tuesday Night Out Featuring Justin Timberlake, was released in four different variations. It goes for $520 at the Romany Kramoris Gallery in Sag Harbor. A few have already found new owners, while throngs of passersby line up to take photos of Lohman and Godfrey's work. "We've been getting calls from all around the world-Germany, Australia, and Canada, as well as all over the United States," Kramoris said. "It's a moment in history, a moment in time. People relate to Justin Timberlake and enjoy him, and in a sense they feel sorry that this happened-as do I. He'll have to suffer the consequences, but there's a lot of support behind him." "If it continues to be popular, we'll explore other colorways-just like Andy Warhol did," said Lohman. He and his collaborators said they will not raise the artworks price, except for the last few when they begin to sell out. His arrest has not affected Timberlake's Forgot Tomorrow world tour, which will see him abroad in late July. archives 6 Oct - 13 Oct (1) 29 Sep - 6 Oct (1) 22 Sep - 29 Sep (1) 15 Sep - 22 Sep (1) 18 Aug - 25 Aug (5) 4 Aug - 11 Aug (2) 21 Jul - 28 Jul (6) 7 Jul - 14 Jul (3) 30 Jun - 7 Jul (2) 23 Jun - 30 Jun (5) 16 Jun - 23 Jun (2) 9 Jun - 16 Jun (3) 2 Jun - 9 Jun (2) 26 May - 2 Jun (3) 19 May - 26 May (2) 12 May - 19 May (3) 5 May - 12 May (3) 28 Apr - 5 May (1) 14 Apr - 21 Apr (1) 7 Apr - 14 Apr (3) 17 Mar - 24 Mar (1) 10 Mar - 17 Mar (1) 3 Mar - 10 Mar (1) 11 Feb - 18 Feb (2) 4 Feb - 11 Feb (1) 21 Jan - 28 Jan (1) 14 Jan - 21 Jan (1) 7 Jan - 14 Jan (3) 10 Dec - 17 Dec (1) 26 Nov - 3 Dec (1) 29 Oct - 5 Nov (1) 3 Sep - 10 Sep (1) 27 Aug - 3 Sep (2) 6 Aug - 13 Aug (1) 30 Jul - 6 Aug (6) 9 Jul - 16 Jul (1) 2 Jul - 9 Jul (6) 18 Jun - 25 Jun (4) 4 Jun - 11 Jun (5) 21 May - 28 May (4) 14 May - 21 May (1) 7 May - 14 May (4) 23 Apr - 30 Apr (2) 26 Mar - 2 Apr (1) 19 Mar - 26 Mar (1) 19 Feb - 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30 Nov (22) 16 Nov - 23 Nov (19) 9 Nov - 16 Nov (15) 2 Nov - 9 Nov (17) 26 Oct - 2 Nov (10) 19 Oct - 26 Oct (12) 12 Oct - 19 Oct (13) 5 Oct - 12 Oct (19) 28 Sep - 5 Oct (14) 21 Sep - 28 Sep (17) 14 Sep - 21 Sep (19) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (22) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (15) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (14) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (9) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (5) The Thompson Fire, near Oroville, is now 100% contained at 3,789 acres. 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. CAL FIRE says more than 30 structures have been destroyed or damaged. Four firefighters reported injuries, all from heat. The cause of the blaze was being investigated. 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. CAL FIRE says more than 30 structures have been destroyed or damaged. 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. (The Associated Press contributed to this report.) Workers collect debris on March 12, 2019, at the scene where an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 on board, near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia. On Sunday, the Justice Department said Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. Mulugeta Ayene/AP With protesters in the audience, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun waits to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations at the Capitol in Washington on June 18. On Sunday, the Justice Department said Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. J. Scott Applewhite/AP A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airline's facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 10 in SeaTac, Wash. On Sunday, the Justice Department said Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. Lindsey Wasson/AP A Boeing 737 Max jet, piloted by Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson, prepares to land at Boeing Field following a test flight on Sept. 30, 2020, in Seattle. On Sunday, the Justice Department said Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. Elaine Thompson/AP Protesters with palms painted red to resembles blood hold their hands up on June 18 during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations hearing to examine Boeings safety. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Officials inspect an engine recovered from the crashed Lion Air jet in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 4, 2018. The new Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet plunged into the Java Sea just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta early on Oct. 29, killing all its passengers. On Sunday, the Justice Department said Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. Achmad Ibrahim/AP With protesters in the audience, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun arrives at a Senate subcommittee hearing to answer to lawmakers about troubles at the aircraft manufacturer. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Boeing Co. will plead guilty to a criminal conspiracy stemming from two crashes of 737 Max jetliners that killed 346 people, the Justice Department said, an agreement that brands the storied planemaker a felon but allows it to avoid a courtroom battle as it tries to rebound from multiple crises. The deal comes after the government determined the company, which employs 3,000 people in San Antonio, violated an agreement that had protected it from prosecution for more than three years. Federal prosecutors last week gave Boeing the choice of entering a guilty plea and paying a fine as part of its sentence or facing a trial on the felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors accused the American aerospace giant of deceiving regulators who approved the airplane and pilot-training requirements for it. The plea deal announced late Sunday, which still must receive the approval of a federal judge to take effect, calls for Boeing to pay an additional $243.6 million fine. That was the same amount it paid under the 2021 settlement that the Justice Department said the company breached. An independent monitor would be named to oversee Boeings safety and quality procedures for three years. The deal also requires Boeing to invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs. ALSO READ: Texas AG Ken Paxton opens investigation into Boeing airplane part supplier Spirit Aerosystems The deal covers only wrongdoing by Boeing before the crashes in Indonesia and in Ethiopia, which killed all 346 passengers and crew members aboard two new Max jets. It does not give it immunity for other incidents, including a panel that blew off a Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon in January, a Justice Department official said. The deal also does not cover any current or former Boeing officials, only the corporation. In a statement, Boeing confirmed it had reached the deal with the Justice Department but had no further comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In San Antonio, Boeing is easily the largest employer at Port San Antonio and one of the largest in the city. The local workforce is among about 5,700 employees across the state. The companys facility on the Ports South Side campus is the service depot for the militarys Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport planes and for maintenance of the Air Force One fleet. The company also has upgraded F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets at the site and outfits the presidential aircraft. Boeing stored 737 Max jets at a Port facility in 2019 after they were grounded in the wake of the crashes at the center of the companys plea. In a filing Sunday night, the Justice Department said it expected to submit the written agreement with a U.S. District Court in Texas by July 19. Lawyers for some of the relatives of those who died in the two crashes have said they will ask the judge to reject the agreement. This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeings conspiracy, 346 people died. Through crafty lawyering between Boeing and DOJ, the deadly consequences of Boeings crime are being hidden, said Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the families. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Federal prosecutors alleged Boeing committed conspiracy to defraud the government by misleading regulators about a flight-control system that was implicated in the crashes, which took place than less five months apart. As part of the January 2021 settlement, the Justice Department said it would not prosecute Boeing on the charge if the company complied with certain conditions for three years. Prosecutors last month alleged Boeing had breached the terms of that agreement. Egregious conduct U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor, who has overseen the case from the beginning, has criticized what he called Boeings egregious criminal conduct. OConnor could accept the plea and the sentence that prosecutors offered with it or he could reject the agreement, likely leading to new negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing. The case goes back to the crashes in Indonesia and in Ethiopia. The Lion Air pilots in the first crash did not know about flight-control software that could push the nose of the plane down without their input. The pilots for Ethiopian Airlines knew about it but were unable to control the plane when the software activated based on information from a faulty sensor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ALSO READ: Boeing CEO to exit in broad management shakeup as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker The Justice Department charged Boeing in 2021 with deceiving FAA regulators about the software, which did not exist in older 737s, and about how much training pilots would need to fly the plane safely. The department agreed not to prosecute Boeing at the time, however, if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including the $243.6 million fine, and took steps to comply with anti-fraud laws for three years. Boeing, which blamed two low-level employees for misleading the regulators, tried to put the crashes behind it. After grounding Max jets for 20 months, regulators let them fly again after the company reduced the power of the flight software. Max jets logged thousands of safe flights and orders from airlines picked up, increasing to about 750 in 2021, about 700 more in 2022 and nearly 1,000 in 2023. That changed in January, when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew off a Max during the Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon. Pilots landed the 737 Max safely and no one was seriously injured, but the incident led to closer scrutiny of the company. The Justice Department opened a new investigation, the FBI told passengers on the Alaska plane that they might be victims of a crime and the FAA said it was stepping up oversight of Boeing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Contractor status A criminal conviction could jeopardize Boeings status as a federal contractor, according to some legal experts. The plea announced Sunday does not address that question, leaving it to each government agency whether to bar Boeing. The Air Force cited compelling national interest in letting Boeing continue competing for contracts after the company paid a $615 million fine in 2006 to settle criminal and civil charges, including that it used information stolen from a rival to win a space-launch contract. The company, based in Arlington, Va., has 170,000 employees and dozens of airline customers spanning the globe. The best customers for the 737 Max include Southwest, United, American, Alaska, Ryanair and flydubai. But 37% of its revenue last year came from U.S. government contracts. Most of it was defense work, including military sales that Washington arranged for other countries. The company also has had trouble with its program to build a new presidential jet, a 2018 contract that includes work being done at Port San Antonio. In late 2021, Boeing said it was investigating two empty tequila bottles found on one of its new Air Force One planes. In spring 2022, it said factory problems disrupted production of the presidential fleet, which was already far behind schedule. Boeing also makes a capsule for NASA. Two astronauts will remain at the International Space Station longer than expected while Boeing and NASA engineers troubleshoot problems with the propulsion system used to maneuver the capsule. Needs to succeed Even some Boeing critics have worried about crippling a key defense contractor. We want Boeing to succeed, Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said during a Senate hearing last month on what he termed the companys broken safety culture. Boeing needs to succeed for the sake of the jobs it provides, for the sake of local economies it supports, for the sake of the American traveling public, for the sake of our military. Relatives of the Max crash victims have pushed for a criminal trial that might illuminate what people inside Boeing knew about deceiving the FAA. They also want the Justice Department to prosecute top Boeing officials, not just the company. Boeing has paid fines many a time, and it doesnt seem to make any change, said Ike Riffel of Redding, Calif., whose sons Melvin and Bennett died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash. When people start going to prison, thats when you are going to see a change. At a recent Senate hearing, Boeing CEO David Calhoun defended the companys safety record after turning and apologizing to Max crash victims relatives seated in the rows behind him for the grief that we have caused. In a recent LinkedIn post, Ashmita Pillay announced her departure from Tata as GM- Corporate Communications after a remarkable 14-year tenure. Pillay expressed her gratitude for the support and friendships she built at Tata Motors. She will now be taking on the role of Head of Corporate Communications at Marico Limited, a leading consumer products company. Pillay is enthusiastic about this new chapter and is looking forward to embracing the "Mariconian way of life" while maintaining strong communication fundamentals. Her transition marks a significant move in her PR journey as she shifts industries to bring her expertise to Marico?. She wrote on her LinkedIN: "After an eternity with TataMotors, I am moving on. It has been an absolute pleasure and an inspiring journey. Will miss that place, I called Home for over 14 years. Thankful to all there for all the love, mentoring, empowerment and most importantly friendship. I have joined Marico Limited as Head of Comms and looking forward to this new chapter in my PR journey. New industry calls for a reset while fundamentals remain strong. Looking forward to the hashtag Mariconian way of life." Prior to Tata Motors, Pillay worked as Manager at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited for a brief period. She holds a PGD in Public Relations and Event Management from the University of Mumbai. DangleAds Technologies, Global Leader In Driving 360 Digital Excellence, proudly announces the inauguration of its newest office in the heart of Dubai. This step marks a significant milestone in the companys global expansion journey while reaffirming its commitment to serving the dynamic markets of the United Arab Emirates (Gulf Cooperation Council). Dubais vibrant and thriving business ecosystem makes it the ideal location for DangleAds to strategically expand its footprints, cultivate international client relationships, and explore emerging diverse markets. The new location also serves as a direct way for the team to deliver a comprehensive suite of services and industry expertise to Dubais roaring market. Pulkit Narayan, CEO & Founder of DangleAds Technologies while shining a light on the new launch, comments, The expansion in the Middle East region has been on DangleAds radar for a long time. After the success of our previous launches in Amsterdam & Germany, were readily looking forward to stepping into the UAE market. With the regions diverse potential, it serves as the perfect destination to upscale our presence and fulfill the markets demand. In unison with the launch, our aim was also to expand our GCC team and meet the evolving needs of our international clients. He also added, With a strong grasp on innovation and technology, our current focus lies on scaling our services worldwide, leveraging our unique offerings in Programmatic, Technology and Performance. At present, DangleAds is dedicated to the development and expansion of its in-house programmatic platform, AudienceConnect.AI and successful integration with diverse Supply Source Partners and automated technology while actively building media buying processes and AI-based creative production technology that aims at offering creative templates in one go catered to audiences worldwide. They are also linked to give perfect transactional data to meet the bottom funnel for the advertiser owing to the DangleAds Data Management Platform (DMP) and Consumer Data Platform (CDP). While DangleAds global expansion strategy has already established its roots in Netherland, Germany, UK, UAE, Singapore and India, the strategic hires on the other hand position the team to seamlessly provide an all-encompassing digital advertising solution globally. Vision for the Future DangleAds Technologies has consistently dominated the Indian market in the digital marketing space, earning a reputation for delivering cutting-edge solutions and a strong demand-side platform for diverse client needs. With the launch of its Dubai office, the company is now one step closer to replicating this success on a global scale. The new Dubai office will serve as the nerve center for DangleAds' operations worldwide, allowing the company to expand its service portfolio to a global clientele. The company's three-pronged approach - Programmatic, Technology and Performance will enable clients to engage audiences effectively, drive performance, and build strong brand equity. Thus, with the launch of the new office in UAE and a new team onboard, DangleAds is all set to take its presence to new heights of successful innovation and contribute significantly to the digital industry. Also read: How OPPO India is pushing the boundaries of mobile photography Funeral services are set for next week for Josue "Joe" Robles, Jr., retired two-star general and USAA CEO. He's shown speaking during a Memorial Day event in 2014 at USAA's San Antonio headquarters. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Funeral services are set next week for Josue Joe Robles Jr., the former chief executive of USAA and retired two-star general who died Thursday at 78. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. July 18 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 20523 Huebner Road. Attendees are asked not to arrive before 9:30 a.m. Robles will be buried with full military honors at 9:30 a.m. July 19 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both services will be livestreamed from the link within his online obituary page at porterloring.com. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 17, the family will receive friends at Porter Loring Mortuary North at 2102 N. Loop 1604 East. Remembrances will be shared starting at 5:30 p.m., when livestreaming will begin. Robles had a 28-year career in the Army after being drafted in 1966. After serving two tours in Vietnam he considered leaving as a captain. Instead, he stayed and rose through the ranks. As assistant division commander, Robles prepared and deployed the 1st Cavalry Division at the former Fort Hood for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He then commanded the legendary 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan. He led the division, known as the Big Red One, as a major general in 1994. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Robles retired from the Army that year and went to work for USAA as special assistant to the president. He quickly became chief financial officer and controller. He remained in the post for 13 years until being named CEO and president in 2007. He held the post until his retirement in 2015. In 2019, Robles revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism announces the launch of its latest campaign, Dubai, A Whole New You. Follow Saif Ali Khan and Sara Ali Khan across Dubai as they deepen their loving and playful father-daughter relationship, discovering new sides to each others personalities. The campaign video showcases their dynamic relationship blossoming further, against the backdrop of Dubai's vibrant landscape. As two of Bollywoods most beloved actors, Saif and Sara share a dynamic relationship, marked by openness, candour and playful banter qualities that strike an emotional chord with viewers against the fitting backdrop of Dubai's spectacular offerings. Embark on a virtual journey through some of Dubais most-loved sights and sounds. The duo gets competitive at the Real Madrid World theme park (the first of its kind in the world), setting the tone for new adventures that Dubai offers. With Saif taking the lead, they have the time of their lives cruising through the waters in a swanky Jet Car, dining at hotspots such as Krasota, the new Instagrammable attraction where every course is themed with an immersive 360 experience, and more. The dazzle of Dubai wins them over, as they discover A Whole New You in each other. Despite representing two different generations, their worlds collide in more ways than one. Saif takes over Saras Instagram, and Sara assertively gets behind the wheel in a Jet Car and takes her dad for a ride. The two share an incredible familial bond and time spent together in Dubai, away from their hectic schedules, is priceless. The proverbial apple doesnt fall far from the tree, we realise, as we watch Sara match her dads charisma as well a sense of adventure and spontaneity. Understandably, they are hesitant to head back home. Drawing from family holidays, the essence of Dubai, A Whole New You is of bringing families together to unwind and re-bond in Dubai. Through unique adventures and exciting experiences, Saif and Sara take a break from their everyday hustle to reconnect as a family, coming together to tick off items on their Dubai bucket list and reveling in all that the city has to offer. They share plenty of heartwarming father-daughter moments, and the campaign video is a showcase of how Indian families can also foster stronger connections with each other when travelling. Bader Ali Habib, Regional Head of Proximity Markets, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism said, As we launch our new campaign, our steadfast focus remains on enriching Dubai's tourism offerings for Indian families. Dubai offers an array of captivating experiences spanning art, culture, adventure, gastronomy, as well as retail and outdoor attractions that are second to none. Through this campaign, we reaffirm our commitment to setting global benchmarks in tourism, inviting families across the country to create their own cherished moments in the heart of this vibrant destination. Saif Ali Khan shared his thoughts, saying, "It has been an absolute honour to collaborate with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism for their inspiring campaign, 'Dubai, A Whole New You.' Watching Sara grow beyond a daughter into a co-artist, and now working with her, has been a special experience. Our busy schedules often leave us with limited occasions to explore and enjoy activities together, so to see Dubai through her eyes was terrific. It was a great opportunity for us to truly soak in the best of Dubai, experience its incredible offerings, and spend quality time together. Sara Ali Khan adds: It was amazing to discover Dubai through my abbas eyes, and of course to take him to cute, Instagrammable spots. I love family vacations, and this one was particularly special as it allowed me to hang out with my dad and take him on fun adventures. I love setting off on short getaways from India, and Dubai has something new and interesting to offer every time I visit, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Dubais proximity to major hubs in India and seamless connectivity makes it an ideal destination for family travel, short haul vacations and stopover travel. The campaign showcases a broad spectrum of activities that promise to appeal to visitors across all age groups, from young couples to kids and parents, making it an exciting travel destination all through the year. For easy-to-plan surprises for the entire family, Dubai also offers a robust roster of attractions and experiences, from thrilling theme parks and watersports activities to world-class shopping malls and iconic landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa. Muthoot FinCorp, a leading Non-Banking Financial Services Company (NBFC) in India, has appointed Havas Media Network India to manage its integrated media mandate. Havas Media's Bengaluru operations, which has been witnessing significant expansion over the years, will drive the media duties of the brand across OOH, digital platforms, television, print, and on-ground activations. With a shared vision of excellence and a commitment to making financial inclusion accessible, this partnership promises to resonate deeply with diverse audiences nationwide. Leveraging Havas Media Network India's strategic insights and creative prowess, Muthoot FinCorp aspires to strengthen its brand presence while amplifying their promise of transforming the lives of the common man through tailored campaigns. Muthoot FinCorps latest campaign Book My Gold Loan, featuring the legendary actor Shah Rukh Khan has been jointly crafted and executed by Havas Media India and Havas Worldwide India. This campaign introduces an innovative service where customers can book a Gold Loan instantly, anytime, from anywhere with just a missed call. Harnessing the power of Muthoot FinCorps branch network and the convenience of obtaining a Gold Loan From Home, this multilingual and multi-platform campaign ensures the message resonates with diverse audiences, overcoming language and platform barriers. We have partnered with Havas Media Network India due to their strategic expertise and understanding of our vision to revolutionize financial accessibility for all. Our collaboration is expected to propel our commitment to innovate and enhance customer experiences while reinforcing our position as one of the leading players in Indias financial services sector," said Shaji Varghese, CEO of Muthoot FinCorp Limited. In addition to the Book My Gold Loan service, Muthoot FinCorp is also intensifying its focus on other significant offerings, aiming to strengthen its diversified bouquet of products in the financial services sector. Commenting on the win, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, said, Havas Media Network Indias South operations has been consistently expanding, establishing it as a vibrant hub for partnering with leading brands and we are now delighted to join hands with Muthoot FinCorp a prominent brand across India. We understand the critical role of the financial services sector in driving economic resilience and empowerment. Additionally, Muthoot Fincorps commitment to integrity and customer-centricity aligns seamlessly with our values designed on the philosophy of meaningful solutions in everything we do. Together, we strive to shape a future where financial empowerment and innovation go hand in hand. In conversation with Adgully, Sushant Vashistha, Head of Digital Marketing, OPPO India, provides valuable insights into the motivation behind launching the imagineIF initiative in India. Inspired by the countrys growing enthusiasm for smartphone photography, OPPO introduced the initiative to celebrate the creativity and artistic skills of mobile photographers. Vashistha highlights that India has become a key player in the mobile photography scene, with more people gaining access to high-quality smartphone cameras. The imagineIF initiative received an overwhelming response, with over 34,000 submissions, showcasing the need for a platform where aspiring photographers can showcase their talent. Vashistha also speaks about the strategic collaboration with visionary filmmaker SS Rajamouli, who serves as the ambassador for the imagineIF India Photography Awards 2024. By leveraging social media, particularly Instagram, OPPO successfully drove awareness and engagement for the initiative. The marketing strategy included content featuring SS Rajamouli and other jury members, partnerships with top photography communities, and innovative storytelling to inspire participation. With over 545 million views and a reach of 238 million people, the initiatives success reflects OPPOs commitment to fostering a vibrant community of mobile photographers in India. What motivated OPPO to launch the imagineIF initiative in India? As the only smartphone brand at Paris Photo 2023, OPPO showcased outstanding images from renowned photographers and winning entries from the 2023 OPPO imagineIF Photography Awards. With this global success, OPPO has launched the imagineIF initiative in India, inspired by the countrys growing love for smartphone photography. With more people getting access to smartphones with high-quality cameras, India has become a key player in the mobile photography scene. The imagineIF initiative is designed to spark a passion for mobile photography, celebrating the creativity and artistic skills of mobile photographers. The initiative received an incredible response in India, with over 34,000 submissions, showing just how much, it resonates with the Indian photography community, and the need for a platform for the aspiring photographers to showcase their talent. We have already shortlisted the top 50 photographers. They will now shoot exclusively with our flagship OPPO Find X7 Ultra device, experiencing the worlds first Quad Main Camera. We are excited to see the next set of photos and the creativity they will showcase. The top six winners will be announced on July 25, 2024 and will get a chance to visit the Paris Photo 2024. What was the strategy behind collaborating with SS Rajamouli for the imagineIF initiative? It is an honour for us to have the visionary filmmaker, SS Rajamouli, as the ambassador for our imagineIF India Photography Awards 2024. His body work is the perfect example of the kind of magic that could be created when creativity meets technology. And thats also the idea behind imagineIF. With his creative vision and OPPOs prowess in imaging technologies, we are pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. Could you provide some insights on how OPPO has leveraged social media for the imagineIF initiative? Social media was the key platform for OPPO India to drive awareness and engagement for imagineIF India. We devised a content-led marketing strategy because the challenge was to make photography, which is usually considered as a serious topic, into a cool topic for the larger audience. Focusing our efforts on Instagram we crafted interesting content pieces featuring our ambassador SS Rajamouli and the Jury members to inspire and aspire the photography enthusiasts to participate. For instance, one of our brand videos featured SS Rajamouli and Raghu Ram. The video had Raghu as the judge of a photography contest, and in true Raghu fashion, he is shown losing his cool over the contestants. Just then, SS Rajamouli enters the scene and advises Raghu to nurture creativity rather than shun it. This was an interesting collaboration through which we promoted imagineIF. Besides this, we realised that to reach out to the more serious photography enthusiasts, we would need to target the photography communities, where serious and amateur photographers come together to share their work. So, we partnered with some of the top photography communities on Instagram and also photography schools to ensure that our message reaches out the right audience. So, it was a well-rounded social media strategy that led to the success of the program. Could you share some key engagement metrics or feedback received from participants so far? We received over 34,000 entries, with the Portrait category emerging as the most popular, capturing 26% of the submissions. Landscape followed closely, accounting for 20% of the entries. For OPPOs imagineIF amplification, we garnered over 545 million views and reached an audience of 238 million people across our social media platforms. This wide reach was greatly amplified through our collaboration with imagineIFs brand ambassador, SS Rajamouli, whose influence and creative vision resonated deeply with the audience. Additionally, the involvement of renowned jury members like Arjun Mark, Joseph Radhik, and Arzoo Khurana added substantial credibility and attracted a diverse pool of talented photographers. What are OPPOs long-term goals for the imagineIF initiative in India? Given the tremendous response received during the first round of the imagineIF initiative in India, it is evident that people have enthusiastically embraced this initiative. OPPO Indias long-term goal is to further expand and deepen the impact of imagineIF across India. Building on the momentum of the initial success, we aim to continue fostering a vibrant community of mobile photographers and enthusiasts by developing the imagineIF program further. Could you share a prominent example of a successful marketing campaign by OPPO India and the kind of engagement it garnered? OPPO India has launched several successful marketing campaigns, showcasing its skill in leveraging cultural insights, social trends and innovative storytelling to engage audiences. One of our recent campaigns is the #DareToFlaunt initiative featuring actor Shraddha Kapoor and cricketer Shreyas Iyer. This campaign introduced the OPPO F27 Pro+ 5G as a durable, damage-proof smartphone, aligning with the adventurous spirit of Gen-Z. Through daring challenges like dunking the phone in a swimming pool and running it over with a car, OPPO India showcased the phones durability in real-world scenarios. This campaign effectively highlighted key product features while encouraging users to confidently flaunt their phones, resonating strongly with its target demographic and reinforcing brand credibility. inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, launched a Ride to Donate campaign in India. The campaign will run for a month in July in Delhi, Kolkata and Chandigarh and for every 4th ride inDrive will donate 10% of it for the campaign. The Objective of inDrives Ride to Donate campaign is to raise funds and design programs for underprivileged children welfare. The Ride to Donate campaign by inDrive is a testament to the company's dedication to challenge injustice and create positive change for all the communities. This initiative is a result of a partnership between inDrive and Cry India. Child Rights and You (CRY), a 45 year old NGO works for the health, education & safety of children in India to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children. Avik Karmakar, Senior Marketing Manager, SA, inDrive We are thrilled to collaborate with Cry India for our Ride to Donate campaign, our purpose project for children. The campaign encourages users to take rides with inDrive. Rides that can change lives. As every ride isnt just a trip, its a step towards change. With every 4th ride, 10% of the fare will be donated to educate unprivileged children and help them study & grow! In the spirit of giving, inDrive aims to reach a broader audience and foster a sense of community through this initiative. The process is simple, users can participate in the Ride to Donate campaign by taking rides with inDrive. By doing so, they commit to contributing 10% of the fare from every fourth ride directly to the underprivileged children welfare. Be a part of the 'Ride to Donate' initiative and join inDrives mission to challenge injustice to make the world a fairer place for one billion people. Together, let's make a positive impact, one ride at a time. added Avik Karmakar We also have something special for our users. For the first time ever, inDrive has come up with a promo code for users in India. On your first inDrive ride, you can now save 15%. Promo Code: SUMMER15 *Valid only for new users (1st July-31st July) Trina Chakrabarti, Regional Director, CRY (East), said: When children get the opportunities they deserve, there is no end to what they can achieve. Sustained support and motivation helps them to steer clear of the bumps and enjoy the road thats life. Campaigns such as this one help in generating awareness among people about how they can contribute and help. We are happy to partner with inDrive in this initiative. Heres to an enjoyable and insightful journey ahead. Also Read : Anagram Media Labs wins the influencer marketing mandate for inDrive PNB MetLife, one of the leading life insurance companies in India, announced the appointment of Mahendra Munot as Chief Operations Officer (COO), to spearhead our constant drive for continuous improvement in all our touchpoints with customers. Mahendra brings more than two decades of extensive experience in the life insurance industry to his role. Since joining PNB MetLife in 2015, he has served in various leadership roles including Director of Technical Operations. "We are thrilled to welcome Mahendra as the Chief Operating Officer of PNB MetLife," said Sameer Bansal, Managing Director and CEO of PNB MetLife. "His proven leadership, industry knowledge, and commitment to excellence align seamlessly with our vision of delivering unparalleled value to our customers. His appointment will further strengthen our operational capabilities and drive sustainable growth." Mahendra said "I am honoured to be at the helm of the Operations team at PNB MetLife. I am committed to working closely with our team to enhance efficiency, customer centricity, and seamless service to our valued customers. We are in a new era of Public Relations. In the last few years, the importance of reputation management has taken a sea change. More brands and clients, especially from the leadership teams, are viewing Public Relations from a close range. The industry has undergone a radical change with the advent of social media, which has to a large extent changed the approach to Public Relations. We have a relatively new and young audience that we need to face in the coming years so there are bigger challenges for brands and PR practitioners, who have to be more agile and proactive in their thinking to draw up business solutions for clients. In our exclusive weekly column PR Conversation Adgully interacts with leading business leaders and obtains their exclusive views and insights on the various trends in the PR and communications industry. In conversation with Adgully, Aparna Garg, Head - Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Indian Energy Exchange, speaks at length about how communication differs on the energy company side, Indian Energy Exchanges approach to crisis communication amid industry challenges, regulatory changes, sustainability initiatives, and more. Garg also highlights upcoming innovations and technologies in corporate communications that her company is exploring. Given your experience in corporate communications and investor relations across different sectors, how does communication differ on the energy company side, and how are energy companies adapting their communication strategies to align with evolving industry trends such as sustainability, digital transformation, and regulatory changes? The energy sector is evolving at a fast pace. There is a strong focus on renewable energy underpinned by technology. Sustainability is a key theme. The transition in the energy space is largely driven by global climate concerns. As a result, energy companies are adapting their communication strategies to reflect this changing paradigm, emphasizing their commitment to technological innovation and responsible business practices. How have digital platforms and social media impacted how energy companies like IEX engage with stakeholders, including investors, consumers, and the general public? Digital platforms and social media have profoundly transformed how energy companies engage with stakeholders, including investors, consumers, and the general public. Our social media strategy comprises leveraging platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter to ensure transparent, real-time communication with our diverse stakeholders. These social media platforms serve as pivotal channels for disseminating crucial information. We regularly post updates on regulatory news, power prices, and weekly market summaries. The updates ensure our stakeholders are well-informed about market prices, industry trends and developments, which help them take balanced decisions. Our quarterly results posts offer an update of our financial performance, allowing existing as well as potential investors to track our growth and make informed decisions. One of our standout initiatives is the Mr. Watt series. Introduced as Mr. Watt, our in-house caricature, this campaign provides weekly insights into global electricity trends. Every Wednesday, we share trivia, quizzes, and updates, making complex information accessible and engaging. This initiative not only educates our audience but also fosters a deeper connection with them by adding an interactive element. Additionally, we use these platforms to promote and share insights from seminars and webinars. These events provide valuable opportunities for engagement, fostering a deeper connection with our audience. We also ensure comprehensive information on our sustainability initiatives is available on our website, reinforcing our commitment to environmental responsibility. By consistently sharing content that highlights our focus on sustainability, technology advancements, and corporate social responsibility, we reinforce the narrative on IEX. How does IEX approach crisis communication amid industry challenges, market volatility, or regulatory changes? Our approach to crisis communication is proactive and agile, designed to effectively address and mitigate issues which emerge as we operate in a dynamic environment. We maintain a state of constant readiness, with established protocols and communication channels to respond swiftly and decisively to any situation that may impact our stakeholders or operations. Transparency is paramount in our crisis communication strategy. We ensure timely communication of our stance to stakeholders through official company statements, interviews and investor communication, effectively managing and maintaining their expectations and trust. We also leverage various other channels for engaging with the stakeholders, including our website, social media platforms, and direct communications from the leadership team of IEX. What are some upcoming innovations or technologies in corporate communications that IEX is exploring to stay ahead in the energy sector? Technological advancements are revolutionizing how organizations connect with their stakeholders. Among these innovations, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and interactive content are leading the way, offering unprecedented opportunities for companies to engage, influence, and build lasting relationships. This makes it imperative for the corporate communications team to explore these emerging trends, as they will redefine interactions with both internal and external stakeholders. At IEX, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the energy sector by exploring and adopting emerging technologies. How does IEX collaborate with industry partners, regulators, and communities to enhance transparency and build trust through its communication efforts? At IEX, we actively engage with industry partners, regulators, and communities through timely dissemination of information, workshops, international education tours, capacity-building exercises, and event participation. By sharing regulatory updates on social media and integrating key developments into media interviews, we ensure clear and timely communication. Effective dissemination of pricing information is equally important. We provide regular updates to keep stakeholders informed about market trends. During quarterly investor calls, we offer detailed updates on regulatory developments and their implications. Our international relations efforts, including partnerships and global outreach, further reinforce our commitment to transparency and trust. Through these initiatives, we ensure our communication is informative and trustworthy across all channels. Sustainability is a critical focus for the energy sector. How does IEX communicate its sustainability initiatives and progress to stakeholders and the public? Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at IEX, and we strive to engage our stakeholders and the public with meaningful initiatives. As Indias first carbon-neutral Power Exchange, we are proud to lead the way in using market-based tradable instruments to offset our carbon emissions. On the business side, our Green market offerings, including RECs, Green Day-Ahead, and Green Term-Ahead segments, are aligned with Indias renewable energy ambitions and enable a more flexible and efficient renewable energy market. We run several campaigns to highlight the significance of these products. We also run campaigns on key sustainability led global days. For example, our recent Spark Campaign, Planet vs. Plastics, ran from Earth Hour Day on March 23rd to Earth Day on April 22nd, 2024. This campaign featured powerful video messages on the impact of plastic production and the vital role of renewable energy in fostering sustainability. We shared informative tips and engaging polls, encouraging everyone to make eco-friendly choices and highlighting the urgency of protecting our environment. Beyond these impactful campaigns, we make sure to communicate our major milestones clearly and effectively. For example, our recent partnership with Enviro Enablers India Private Limited (EEIPL) saw IEX acquiring a 10% stake in EEIPL. This strategic move underscores our dedication to sustainability and decarbonization. We also recognize the importance of good corporate governance in maintaining trust, fostering transparency, and achieving sustainable growth for all. Aligned with this thought, we have dedicated a section on sustainability on our website to effectively communicate our commitment towards ESG and CSR initiatives. We also prioritize minimizing our environmental impact, promoting fair employment practices, fostering diversity and inclusion, and upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and ethics. Looking ahead, what emerging trends in corporate communication do you see as most impactful for the energy sector, and how is IEX preparing to address these trends? In my view, Sustainability is one of the most impactful aspects of communications in the energy sector. Stakeholders are laying emphasis on companies' efforts on environmental, social and governance practices. At IEX, we are enhancing our communication strategies to transparently showcase our sustainability goals and achievements through digital platforms, meeting evolving stakeholder expectations. Another critical trend is the integration of digital transformation and technology in communications. We may look at exploring AI-driven tools to analyse market trends, personalize content, and optimize engagement across platforms like social media and webinars. Besides, diversity, equity, and inclusion are central as well to our communication efforts. Through internal campaigns and external communications, we highlight our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Enhancing our digital infrastructure and conducting virtual events such as webinars and seminars further ensure continuous engagement and collaboration with stakeholders globally. Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Bern, 09.07.2024 - The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), in its capacity as the competent body for sanctions, expanded its sanctions listings against Russia on 8 July. Switzerland is thus adopting the additional sanctions listings decided by the EU in response to Russias ongoing military aggression against Ukraine. The changes will take effect at 6pm on 9 July. In response to Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine and continued acts of destabilisation, which undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and security, the EU adopted new measures against Russia on 24 June as part of its fourteenth package of sanctions. In turn, the EAER is to impose sanctions within its jurisdiction on a further 69 individuals and 86 entities. The new sanctions mainly target businesspersons, propagandists, members of the armed forces and judiciary, persons responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children and members of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Confederation (FSB). The newly sanctioned entities include, in particular, companies operating in the Russian defence sector as well as companies in the financial and trade sectors that are actively involved in circumventing sanctions. Altogether, more than 2,200 individuals and entities are now subject to the sanctions listings. This is in line with the EU. The fourteenth package of sanctions adopted by the EU on 24 June provides for a range of additional measures, including measures in the energy sector, the financial sector and the goods sector. The Federal Council is currently examining these additional measures with a view to possibly adopting them. Finally, the EAER has placed an advertising ban on the four media outlets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta owing to Russia's continuous propaganda and disinformation campaigns. In contrast to the measures in the EU, these media are not subject to a broadcasting ban in Switzerland. Although these channels are used for the targeted dissemination of Russian propaganda and disinformation, the Federal Council still believes that it is more effective to counter false and harmful statements with facts rather than to prohibit them. The new measures enter into force at 6pm on 9 July 2024. Address for enquiries Enquiries from the media: EAER Communications, info@gs-wbf.admin.ch, 058 462 20 07 Enquiries from businesses: sanctions@seco.admin.ch, 058 464 08 12 Publisher Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.wbf.admin.ch Russia Set To Release Indian Recruits Fighting In Ukraine After Modi-Putin Talks 2 Russia has decided to release and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, a breakthrough achieved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit, according to sources on Tuesday. The development came after Prime Minister Modi, who is in Moscow for a two-day visit, raised the matter at a private dinner hosted by Putin on Monday evening, sources added. Nearly two dozen Indians are believed to have been forced into fighting the war against Ukraine after being tricked by agents into going to the country on the pretext of getting high-paying jobs. In March, the Indian government said they had strongly taken up the matter with Russian authorities for their early discharge. Strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited them on false pretexts and promises, they said. According to reports, four Indians have been killed in the war, while 10 have returned to the country. About 3540 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia. The plight of Indians fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war is a key concern for New Delhi. In recent months, reports have surfaced about Indians who have fallen prey to job fraud and were tricked and forced by scammers to fight for the Russian army, which allows recruits from other countries. One such group had even posted a video on social media narrating their ordeal, asking the government to intervene. Indias Foreign Ministry has earlier said that it is pressing hard to bring back the recruits tricked by agents. Indias Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said the issue is a very deep concern for India, and has been engaging with Russia for the past few months to make headway. Two Indians, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan (both from Gujarat), were reported killed in the Ukraine war earlier this year. Two others were reported killed in June. India has maintained that the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army in a conflict situation is not in consonance with the India-Russia diplomatic partnership, and has asked for the early release and return of all such Indian nationals. India has also demanded a halt to such recruitments in the future. In such a backdrop, the breakthrough during PM Modis visit would be a major relief for the families of the recruits still stuck in Russia. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday evening, which marks his first visit to the country since it launched a war against Ukraine. Russias First Deputy PM Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the airport. The Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Putin on Tuesday and also attend the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow. Prime Minister Modi has been treading a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties. The visit is also PM Modis first since he returned to power for a third term. Dear Annie: My friend and I are part of a very small percentage of upcoming high schoolers who are without Snapchat. Socially, this can be very difficult, as it is hard to communicate with friends and even girls because everything is run through Snapchat nowadays. In this post-Covid world, and after the tech boom, everything is run through social media; however, the big social platform is Snapchat. For example, when we were at a school dance, my friend and I were left alone as everyone was communicating on Snapchat. Most people in our grade already know almost all of the girls in our grade. Now, I know we could just receive phone numbers to text, or even Gmail, but the majority of people have chosen to use Snapchat, as it provides funny filters and, most of all, the ability to delete texts. Another feature that enhances its value is the ability to tell when someone screen records or to find friends using maps. This type of communication has brought many more people to Snapchat and helps explain its growth. Now, how should we communicate with others our age, and how should we be able to stay socially friendly with everyone even though no one communicates with us via text or phone calls? -- Stuck on Snapchat Dear Stuck on Snapchat: Thank you for your letter. It brings up a very important point. While it might feel like you and your friend are alone in not having Snapchat, you are not! There is a huge and very important movement going on to educate parents, teachers and, frankly, everyone on the dangers of social media, especially on the brain development of preteens and teenagers. Within the last few weeks, the U.S. Surgeon General has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms for their effects on young peoples lives, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In the 1950s, smoking was everywhere -- until we found out that it caused lung cancer. Today, very few young people smoke because of the known health dangers. When we know better, we do better, and now we are all learning about the harm of social media on young brains in particular. Bestselling author Jonathan Haidt wrote the book The Anxious Generation, which addresses this issue. He hits the nail on the head. It is a wonderful book filled with data and, most importantly, solutions! By not participating in Snapchat, youre participating in the collective action that Haidt is asking of your generation. Your real friends will like you the same with or without Snapchat. While it may appear that Snapchat has taken over communication, and I know that is hard for you, deeper connections are created through shared experiences and conversation -- and you will have more time for them. By not participating in Snapchat, you create more opportunities to interact with the real world around you, opening up moments for creativity and learning. Trust me, youll thank your parents later for keeping you off Snapchat now. Dear Readers: I would love to hear from other middle school, high school or even college-age students who dont have social media and can provide tips on how they navigate the social impact. I would also love to hear from students who love their social media accounts and all the positive ways that they have benefited their lives! Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns. How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology -- featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. Tesla CEO Elon Musk listens to a question as he speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington in 2020. A Delaware judge heard arguments Monday over a massive and unprecedented fee request by lawyers who argued that a massive and unprecedented pay package for Musk was illegal and should be voided. Susan Walsh/Associated Press file photo WILMINGTON, Del. A Delaware judge heard arguments Monday over a massive and unprecedented fee request by lawyers who successfully argued that a massive and unprecedented pay package for Tesla CEO Elon Musk was illegal and should be voided. Attorneys for a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musks 2018 compensation package are asking Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick to award them legal fees in the form of stock in the Texas-based electric vehicle company valued at more than $7 billion at current trading prices. The 2018 compensation package for Musk that was rescinded by the judge was potentially worth more than $55 billion. After a full day of expert-witness testimony and arguments by attorneys, McCormick gave no indication of when she would rule on the fee request. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The fee amount sought by plaintiffs attorneys dwarfs the current record $688 million in legal fees awarded in 2008 in litigation stemming from the collapse of Enron. Attorneys for the Tesla shareholder argue that their work resulted in the massive benefit of returning shares to Tesla that otherwise would have gone to Musk and diluted the stock held by other Tesla investors. They value that benefit at $51.4 billion, using the difference between the stock price at the time of McCormicks January ruling and the strike price of some 304 million stock options granted to Musk. Attorney Greg Varallo told McCormick that he and his fellow plaintiff lawyers were simply asking for a slice of the value pie we created. We did battle with the very best, Varallo added. Litigation against Tesla is never easy. There are companies who play by the rules every day, and then there are companies like Tesla. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The plaintiff attorneys argue that their fee request is conservative under Delaware law. Instead of a typical 33% fee recovery, they note that they are seeking only 11% of the shares now available to Tesla as the result of Musks options being rescinded by McCormicks ruling. The judge agreed with the shareholder lawyers argument that Musk engineered the landmark 2018 pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. After the court ruling, Tesla shareholders met in June and ratified Musks 2018 pay package for a second time. McCormick made clear, however, that the June vote would not be considered in determining the request for attorney fees. It instead will be the subject of a separate hearing in early August. Meanwhile, some opponents of the fee request argue that the plaintiff attorneys deserve no fee at all because they did not bestow any economic benefit on Tesla and instead may have even harmed the company. Opponents contend that the purported reversal of share dilution among Tesla stockholders is not a benefit to the Austin, Texas-based company itself and cannot be used to justify the fee request. They also note that the fee request fails to quantify or subtract potential negative consequences of the ruling, including the need to find a new way to compensate Musk for six years of non-salaried service to Tesla since 2018. The market did not react like this rescission remedy bestowed any benefit, defense attorney John Reed told McCormick, noting that Teslas market capitalization dropped by $15 billion after her ruling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some critics argue that any fee award should be based only on the number of hours the plaintiff attorneys worked, and a reasonable hourly rate. Adding a multiplier to incentivize attorneys who work on a contingency basis in corporate disputes might also be appropriate, they have suggested. That approach could still result in a fee award of tens of millions of dollars. The current fee request equates to an hourly rate of about $288,000 for plaintiff attorneys and would result in an unwholesome windfall, according to opponents. Birmingham-based Robins & Morton is continuing work on a new 12-story hotel tower at Harrahs Cherokee Valley River in Murphy, N.C. The company expects to finish the second phase of an expansion project at the casino this winter. Harrahs opened a new 25,000 square-foot casino floor, and 10-table poker room, in May. The next portion of the expansion project will include 296 additional hotel rooms, an indoor pool and fitness center. There will be a 12,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant, featuring a 12-seat bar and wine cellar. In addition, guests can enjoy a 9,600-square-foot spa, featuring six treatment rooms, relaxation lounge and salon. In late June, the construction company celebrated the topping out of the projects 12-story hotel tower. The event was attended by Harrahs Cherokee leadership, dignitaries from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Robins & Morton leadership . Robins & Morton has served as the general contractor on the Harrahs Cherokee Valley River Casino Resort expansion for the last 18 months and it has been a true privilege, Robins & Morton Project Director Nick Dill said. Robins & Morton has worked with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise for many years, and this project is an extension of that partnership. We are honored to continue to serve this community. Local law enforcement seeking to keep children in school will be getting a boost next year with a funding increase for a key truancy program that looks at the root causes of kids missing school. While multiple concerns were raised about the 21-year-old Helping Families Initiative in a recent state report, including its oversight and the amount of money spent on administrative costs, supporters of the program say it is needed. To my knowledge, never in our states history or our countrys history, and coming out of COVID, has it been more important to battle and fight truancy than it is today, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said. The number of children not going to school is staggering in some places. And so having the district attorneys involved and engaged and holding parents accountable, and sometimes even before a judge, is very important. Most Alabama students made gains in most subjects on 2024 spring standardized tests, but officials are concerned about second and third grade math results, officials said Tuesday. We had some weird trends in math, Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey said, pointing to a lower percentage of second and third graders reaching proficiency this year as compared to 2023. That question of why, why, why, why, why has been asked a thousand times in this building in the last few days, Mackey said, but officials dont yet have a good answer for the lower results. That was one of two disturbing trends in math, he said. The other trend, Mackey said, is that seventh and eighth grade students are less proficient in math than students in early grades. Those students will need support to make it through high school. They have gaps in their knowledge, Mackey said. So when they go into Algebra I theyre going to struggle, he said. Alabama has made a sustained push to improve reading and literacy instruction in early grades over the last five years; now, the state is turning its attention to elementary math instruction. The Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program standardized tests were given to students in second through eighth grade - between 52,000 to 55,000 students in each grade - in math and English language arts. Fourth, sixth and eighth grade students also were tested in science. See state-level results by grade and subject level. Click here if you are unable to see the table. Reading scores English language arts test results - which include reading skills, comprehension, spelling and writing - were up across all grades, which Mackey attributed to the success of the Alabama Reading Initiative. Specialists are working to implement the Alabama Literacy Act, which focuses on foundational reading skills, including phonics, in kindergarten through third grade. See school-level information about reading scores here. But even with that good news, Mackey said he is still troubled by the number of students in the fourth through eighth grades scoring at the lowest level in reading and English skills. Just under 20% of fourth graders scored at the lowest level on the ACAP, which Mackey said is a real problem. Those students are going to struggle when somebody puts a science book in front of them, Mackey said. It validates that we really need to emphasize the need to focus on grades 4 through 8 in the area of reading, Board Vice President Tonya Chestnut said Mackey has continually pressed for more funding for reading support in the fourth grade and beyond. Lawmakers allocated $5 million for the coming budget year to support those efforts. Math and science results Students who are significantly impacted by a disability - generally around 700 to 800 students at each grade, or just above 1% of all students tested - are given an alternate test based on the alternate standards students are taught. In math, results were mixed on the ACAP alternate, with proficiency levels up in about half of the grades tested. Science proficiency levels were up in all grades, with the exception of the 11th grade, where the same percentage of students were proficient this year as there were last year. English learners and students with disabilities English learners take the ACCESS test to determine whether theyve learned enough English to no longer be considered an English learner. About 5% of the 46,500 English learners tested, or 2,100 students, reached that benchmark. This is a growing population, Mackey said, pointing to the number of students tested, which has grown significantly from 37,000 in 2022. High school juniors take the ACT with writing, which includes all three subjects: math, English language arts and science. The overall composite score on the ACT with writing was a 17.4, the same as last year. Schools have their test results now but are currently in the process of verifying results, he said. District and school results will be released in August, Mackey said. Gladiator II is almost here, and we have our first look at the new epic from director Ridley Scott starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Joseph Quinn. The premise: Set more than two decades after the events of the first film, Lucius (Mescal) -- the grandson of Romes former emperor Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucilla (Nielsen) -- lives with his wife and child in Numidia. Roman soldiers led by general Marcus Acacius (Pascal) invade, forcing Lucius into slavery., Lucius then fights as a gladiator while opposing the rule of the young emperors. It follows Scotts 2000 hit Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who was betrayed when the emperors jealous son murders his own father and seizes the throne, forcing Maximus to fight as a gladiator and avenge the murders of his family. The film grossed more than $465 million worldwide and won Oscars for best picture, actor (Crowe), visual effects, sound and costume design. It also established Crowe as a mega-star leading man in Hollywood. Could the sequel send Mescal into a similar stratosphere. Already an Oscar nominee for his work in Aftersun, Mescal also previously starred in the series Normal People and in last years critically acclaimed film All of Us Strangers. Washington appears to play a power broker and mentor figure to Mescals Lucius, seemingly in a similar role to Oliver Reeds gruff gladiator trainer Antonius Proximo in the first film. Along with Gladiator, Ridley Scott has also directed Alien, Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down and 2023s Napoleon. Gladiator II opens in theaters everywhere Nov. 22, 2024. Watch the trailer above. If you missed Krispy Kremes free doughnut giveaway on the Fourth of July, dont worry. The chain plans to continue giving out freebies throughout the month. The doughnut chain is giving members of its Krispy Kreme rewards loyalty program a free doughnut every Tuesday and a free iced coffee every Friday with any purchase in July. The iced coffee can be any size. On Tuesday, July 9, Krispy Kreme will treat rewards members to a free doughnut from its Kit Kat collection, which was released in April. The collection includes: KIT KAT Crunch Doughnut a glazed doughnut hand-dipped in Hersheys Milk Chocolate icing, finished with chopped Kit Kat pieces and chocolate-flavored crispies. KIT KAT Cookie Dream Doughnut a glazed doughnut filled with cookie dough flavored cream, hand-dipped in Hersheys milk chocolate icing and covered with chopped Kit Kat pieces, cookie crumbles, and semi-sweet chocolate chips with a delicate drizzle of cookie dough flavored icing. KIT KAT Salted Caramel Brownie Doughnut a glazed doughnut topped with brownie batter-flavored buttercream, covered with chopped Kit Kat and brownie pieces, and finished with salted caramel-flavored ribbons. Krispy Kreme introduced the Krispy Kreme Rewards system earlier this year. Guests can sign up for Krispy Kreme Rewards by downloading the Krispy Kreme app or by going here. Rewards members free doughnuts for Tuesday, July 16, 23 and 30 are surprises and will be revealed in the coming days at WWW.KRISPYKREME.COM and on the brands social media channels. Authorities have released the name of a 15-year-old boy who died in a shooting early Sunday in Birmingham. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the teen as Prentice Lovell Little. He lived in Birmingham. Police have said mishandling of a gun is believed to have led to Prentices death. A 14-year-old boy was placed in juvenile detention. What we have uncovered in the investigation leads us to believe were not dealing with a murder, Officer Truman Fitzgerald said Sunday. Its more along the lines of juveniles out early in the morning and someone mishandled a firearm and now weve lost a 15-year-old young man because of that. Just before 7 a.m. Sunday, South Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a person who showed up at UAB Hospital with a gunshot wound. Once at the hospital, they learned that a minivan arrived at the emergency room with Prentice inside. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:28 a.m. Fitzgerald said police learned the shooting possibly took place in the area of Roebuck or Huffman. East Precinct officers began to coordinate with South Precinct officers who had responded to the hospital and found a scene in in the 9200 block of Parkway East. More specifically, the scene appeared to be between Walmart and Wells Fargo, near a small strip of businesses. Police are investigating the July 7, 2024, shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in the 9200 block of Parkway East.(Carol Robinson) It was at that location that investigators recovered a handgun from bushes. There was also blood on the ground. Four other males were with the victim at the hospital and remained there after taking him for help. The age range was 14 to 18. They were all taken to police headquarters for questioning. Police learned all of the males from the citys west side - were in the van together riding around east Birmingham. Somewhere between the 9200 block of Parkway East and a different location, the 14-year-old male had a handgun in his hand and due to unknown circumstances, he fired the gun and he hit the 15-year-old victim and killed him, Fitzgerald said. All of the juveniles involved were questioned in the presence of their parent or guardian. Fitzgerald said detectives consulted with the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, and at their direction transported the 14-year-old to the youth detention facility. This is a sad and tragic case, Fitzgerald said. These kids all knew one another. Its another incident where a gun was in the wrong hands. Anyone with additional information is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. A suspect is in custody in the June shooting death of a 31-year-old man in Birminghams Tom Brown Village housing community. Derek Markei Bailey-King III, a 23-year-old Bessemer man, is charged with capital murder in the June 1 killing of Brandon Deandre Wilson, according to court records made public Tuesday.. South Precinct officers were dispatched at 1:30 a.m. that Saturday to the 500 block of 41st Street North after the citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter indicated shots fired in that location. Officers were then updated that a person was down. Wilson was found wounded in the intersection of 41st Street and 5th Court North. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed him to UAB Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 2:43 a.m. Documents state the charge against Bailey-King is a capital offense because the fatal shots were fired from a vehicle. A motive has not been disclosed. A Fairfield teen - 18-year-old Fernandeiz Emillio Rapley Jr., is also charged. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on July 3. Bailey-King was booked into the Jefferson County Jail shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday and remains held without bond. Alabama Death Row inmate Keith Edmund Gavin says he doesnt plan any last-minute appeals to stop his lethal injection execution next week, but he is asking state officials one thing: dont conduct an autopsy on his body because of his religious beliefs. Mr. Gavin is a devout Muslim, according to a lawsuit filed last month by his lawyers. His religion teaches that the human body is a sacred temple, which must be kept whole. As a result, Mr. Gavin sincerely believes that an autopsy would desecrate his body and violate the sanctity of keeping his human body intact. Based on his faith, Mr. Gavin is fiercely opposed to an autopsy being performed on his body after his execution. The lawsuit also states that Gavin is especially concerned about the treatment of his body in light of a flurry of lawsuits from the families of inmates who died in prison. Those lawsuits allege the bodies were returned with some or all of the organs missing. Gavins lawsuit was filed June 14 in Montgomery Circuit Court after lawyers said they couldnt get state officials to reach a resolution regarding the handling of his remains. Gavin does not anticipate any further appeals or requests for stays of his execution and the autopsy argument is not an effort to block the execution, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit names as defendants those officials who could be involved in the autopsy process: Escambia County District Attorney Stephen Billy, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm, William C. Holman warden Terry Raybon, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Director Angelo Della Manna, and Chief Medical Examiner for ADFS Edward Reedy. Alabama law gives state officials discretion in ordering an autopsy, or waiving it, after an execution. Autopsies are routinely performed after executions. This law is intended to establish with certainty the cause of death in any such event, according to the lawsuit. After Mr. Gavins execution, there will be no question as to who or what caused Mr. Gavins death. The State will execute him by lethal injection. The state also has the option of doing a less invasive autopsy, the lawsuit states. An official with the Alabama Attorney Generals office responded to AL.com Tuesday afternoon. We are working towards a resolution, stated William Califf, deputy chief of staff of attorney generals office, which represents defendants in the case. Gavin, who was sentenced to death for the March 1998 murder of William Clayton Jr. in Cherokee County, is set to be executed July 18, but the timeframe could go into July 19 if there are delays. He is set to die by lethal injection at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, the only prison in the state with an execution chamber and where most death row inmates are housed. In Gavins case, court records show he was on parole from Illinois when he was arrested in the shooting death of Clayton, a courier service driver who had parked his van to use an ATM machine in downtown Centre. He was finished with deliveries for the day and was stopping at Regions Bank to get money to take his wife to dinner. Records stated that Gavin shot Clayton during an attempted robbery, pushed him into the passengers seat, and drove off in the van. With an investigator from the district attorneys office in close pursuit, Gavin stopped the van, got out, shot at the investigator, and fled. Gavin was soon apprehended, and Clayton was pronounced dead at a hospital. Two eyewitnesses positively identified Gavin as the shooter, including his cousin, who was an employee of the Illinois Department of Corrections. The cousin testified about trips he and Gavin had made to Centre and on that day saw Gavin fire shots at the driver of the van. Gavin also fired shots at an investigator as he fled, according to testimony. The slaying came just a few months after Gavin had been released on parole from prison in Illinois after serving 17 years of a 34-year sentence for murder. Following his conviction, Gavins appeals failed in state and federal court. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review his case in 2005, 2017, and again in May 2023 based on various legal arguments. AL.com reporter Ivana Hrynkiw contributed to this report. An Alabama state representative was arrested Tuesday morning on criminal charges. State Rep. Kelvin Jamichael Lawrence, 50, of Lowndes County, is charged with second-degree forgery and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced. The indictment, which has not yet been made public, accuses Lawrence of using a falsely made, completed, or altered builders license with the intent to defraud. No additional details were released. Both crimes are Class C felonies, punishable by a prison sentence ranging from one year and one day to 10 years. Lawrence declined to comment when asked by AL.com about the arrest. Lawrence said he plans to issue a statement through his lawyer later on. Marshall said the case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division. I expect members of the Alabama House of Representatives to hold themselves to the highest standard of integrity in both their personal and professional lives, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said in a statement issued Tuesday morning. Rep. Kelvin Lawrences indictment presents an unfortunate situation for his constituents and colleagues alike. I have full confidence in our justice systems ability to assess the facts of this case and determine an appropriate course of action. Lawrence, a Democrat, was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2014 and was previously the mayor of Hayneville. He represents District 69 which includes Lowndes County and parts of Autauga, Montgomery, and Wilcox counties. This article will be updated as more information is available. A Blount County woman has pleaded guilty in the 2019 death of her toddler son. Samantha McCormack, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to felony murder during the course of child abuse. Her 18-month-old son, Enzo McCormack, died in 2019. Her boyfriend at the time, 32-year-old Robert Keith Elmore Jr., was convicted last year of capital murder in Enzos death and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Elmore was also convicted of aggravated child abuse of Enzos brother, Jesse McCormack. According to court documents, McCormack willfully maltreated Enzo by leaving him in the care of Elmore, who was known to be abusive to the child. McCormack was sentenced to 25 years in prison, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey. This story is horrifying. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering this child endured before succumbing to his injuries, Casey said. I cannot understand someone doing what Elmore did, she said. But, as a mother, I cannot understand how a mother could leave their child in the care of someone the mother knows to have been abusive to the child. At 7 p.m. on September 6, 2019, Blount County authorities responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child at Locust Fork Hardware Store. Locust Fork Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical personnel arrived on scene to find Enzo in respiratory distress. His pupils were fixed and dilated, and he was turning blue. His body was already limp and cold to the touch. Blount County EMS arrived on scene and transported Enzo to the Locust Fork Volunteer Fired Department where a landing zone had been secured for a helicopter called to transport the child to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham. He died days later. Sgt. Chris Hollomon testified during Elmores 2023 trial that he obtained a statement from McCormack at the Hardware Store. She said she had been home alone with the children, and while using the restroom, she heard a thump in the living room. McCormack returned to the living room to find Enzo choking on a piece of cereal. Later that evening, she decided to take him to the hospital to be examined. On her way to the store, McCormack stopped to get cigarettes and gasoline, according to testimony. After entering the store, she met up with Heather Elmore, Robert Elmore Jr.s, sister. Heather Elmore testified at her brothers trial that she exited the store to check on the child whom she found to be limp and cold to the touch. The two women then moved Enzo into the store and called 911. Medics testified that when they arrived, Enzo could not breathe on his own and had to be intubated. Authorities from the Blount County Department of Human Resources testified they transported two other children to Childrens of Alabama for medical evaluation. Court records identify those children as Enzos twin sister and his older brother, Jessie. Haley Jenkins was one of the DHR caseworkers. Jenkins testified that she remained at Enzos bedside throughout the night. Blount County sheriffs Sgt. Ed Hull testified that he interviewed McCormack and Elmore after the children were taken to the hospital. Elmore told Hull that on Sept. 6 he was caring for the children while their mother worked. According to Elmore, he reached into a pack-n-play to get Enzo when the child pulled Elmores chest hair, and Elmore dropped the child. Elmore did not give Hull any information concerning the origin of Enzos injuries, however he said the child did not have any bruising when Elmore got out of bed at 1 p.m. that day. Dr. Michael Taylor testified in the 2023 trial that he examined the child and based on his training and experience, Enzo suffered blunt force trauma and severe acceleration and deceleration injuries from being violently shaken. Enzo remained on a ventilator until Sept. 9, 2019, when doctors determined the child had no measurable brain activity and no further measures could be taken to save the life of the child. The doctor testified that Enzos injuries were not consistent with Elmores story. Dr. Taylor also examined Jessie. According to Dr. Taylor, Jessie had a skull fracture with arterial bleeding and swelling under the scalp, and he was hospitalized. The doctor said Jessies bruises behind his ears would have occurred within a few hours of sustaining his skull fracture. Dr. Valerie Green, a forensic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that she performed an autopsy on Enzo. She said Enzo had multiple contusions on his scalp, indicating he had at least two points of impact on his head. She also testified that the numerous retinal hemorrhages and the severity of the injury to the brain indicated the child had been violently shaken. Elmores telephone records were also admitted into evidence. Those records showed that at 5:41 p.m. on Sept 6, Elmore sent a message to the mother of the children informing her that Enzo aint breathing rite...he is limp...and almost blue. Prosecutors argued that Elmore was alone with the children at 5:41 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019. Elmore intentionally and violently shook the child and repeatedly subjected the child to blunt force trauma, continued to shake the child until the child lost consciousness, and willfully denied the child proper medical care for over an hour because he intended for the child to die. Jessie Taylor McCormack, 6, died Jan. 20, 2023. His father is charged with capital murder. (Anniston Memorial Funeral Home) Jessie McCormack (AL.com) Jessie McCormack, 6, died in January 2023. His father, Joshua D. Clark, is charged with capital murder in Jessies death. A trial date has not yet been announced. On Jan 18, 2023, Anniston police officers were called to Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center on a child abuse case. They arrived to find the medical staffing treating the unconscious Jessie. The boy was transferred to Childrens of Alabama with critical injuries. Clark, his father, was interviewed by detectives and charged with aggravated child abuse. Jessie died on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. He was in his fathers custody at the time of his injuries and subsequent death. The indictment said he was beaten to death by a belt or belt like object and hands. Enzos twin is the only surviving child. McCormack asked to be released from jail to attend Jessies funeral, but a judge denied her request. Clark and McCormack married in 2018, and separated just two months later, court records show. Obviously, there is nothing we can do to bring Enzo back, Casey said. But we have sought justice for Enzo. Elmore and McCormack will be held accountable within the extent the law allows. Satellites deployed for relief efforts after dike breach in central China Xinhua) 09:23, July 09, 2024 In this aerial drone photo, rescuers work on an embankment to stem the piping effect in Huarong County, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China has mobilized several remote sensing satellites to aid rescue and relief efforts following a dike breach on Friday at Dongting Lake, the country's second-largest freshwater lake in central Hunan Province. According to the China Centre For Resources Satellite Data and Application (CRESDA), Gaofen-3 02, Gaofen-3 03, Gaofen-1, and Gaofen-4 satellites have been deployed to provide real-time monitoring of the affected areas. As of Saturday, satellite imaging has been conducted five times, CRESDA said, adding that data has been swiftly provided to the relevant departments. On Friday afternoon, a Dongting Lake dike burst in Tuanzhou Township, Huarong County under Hunan's Yueyang City, triggering flooding in the area. Thousands of rescuers, including firefighters, hydrologists, volunteers and police, have been working tirelessly to safeguard lives and properties. Satellite images revealed extensive flooding in areas previously identified as meadows or land. They documented a significant reduction in land area and expansion of water surfaces within Dongting Lake, exacerbated by inflows from upstream tributaries surpassing alarm levels. "We will continue to closely observe the disaster situation in Huarong County and provide remote sensing satellite data and analysis services for flood rescue and relief, disaster assessment and other work," CRESDA said. Additionally, many commercial satellites have joined the relief operations. Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., a commercial aerospace enterprise based at Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, has deployed its Jilin-1 Kuanfu 01A satellite. On Saturday morning, it captured high-resolution images of Dongting Lake shortly after the dike breach. The breach had widened to 226 meters by that time, with extensive local inundation compared to earlier images. Meanwhile, Smart Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., utilized its SmartSat-X1 satellite to gather detailed data on the disaster area. Beijing Minospace Technology Co., Ltd. also activated its Taijing-4 01 and Taijing-4 03 satellites for the mission. Taijing-4 03 completed imaging at 10:53 a.m. on Saturday, revealing a disaster zone spanning approximately 12.645 km in diameter and affecting an estimated area exceeding 42 square km. Taijing-4 01 identified potential hazardous risks in some southern areas of Dongting Lake. The company said they have promptly shared this information with relevant authorities to enhance their situational awareness and response capabilities. Dongting Lake has historically faced flood challenges. The affected area near Tuanbei Village now covers approximately 50 square km, echoing a similar dike breach incident in 1996. Hunan Province has endured its heaviest rainfall of the year since June 16, surpassing historical records in some localities. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A court-appointed receiver is trying to learn where "millions of millions of dollars" that Chimene Van Gundy raised from investors went. Van Gundy called herself the "Queen of Mobile Homes," pitching investors on the purchase and sale of mobile homes. Screengrab Chimene Van Gundy, 48, is now living in an RV park after she had to vacate her $1 million-plus home in New Braunfels last month. Screengrab Comal County District Court Judge Dib Waldrip, shown in a file photo, ordered that Chimene Van Gundy must be electronically monitored after she failed to appear for a June 6 deposition. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer NEW BRAUNFELS Chimene Van Gundy, the self-described Queen of Mobile Homes accused of defrauding investors of millions of dollars, skirted being held in contempt of court and locked up in jail. But shes subject to electronic monitoring for at least the next few weeks. During a hearing Monday, Comal County District Judge Dib Waldrip ordered her to wear a GPS monitoring device after recently failing to appear for a deposition by a court-appointed receiver in a civil case brought against her by numerous investors. They allege she ripped them off in a scheme purportedly involving buying, refurbishing and selling mobile homes. Receiver Charles Charlie Adams of Houston has been trying to learn the whereabouts of millions and millions of dollars that cant be accounted for, his lawyer told Waldrip. That includes $5 million that went into undisclosed offshore accounts, attorney Christopher Hughes added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Van Gundy didnt appear for the 9 a.m. hearing. Her attorney, Marilee Hazel, said Van Gundy was 4 hours outside of New Braunfels on her way to Florida to be with her adult daughter whose jaw was broken in a car wreck last week. A clearly annoyed Waldrip later told Hazel she needed to tell Van Gundy to turn around and come to court. Ive never seen the woman and weve been doing this for over two years, the judge said at one point. In April 2022, Van Gundy showed up at the courthouse using a walker but never entered the courtroom. She didnt have any trouble walking without assistance Monday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Van Gundy appeared when court resumed about 3:20 p.m. with Waldrip clearly skeptical she had been 4 hours east of New Braunfels and still able to make it back so quickly while Hurricane Beryl was ripping through Houston. For her part, Van Gundy, 48, appeared upset to sit through almost two hours of the court hearing. Recent woes Having to don an ankle monitor or similar tracking device marks the latest blow for Van Gundy. Shes now living in an RV park in Canyon Lake after Waldrip ordered her to vacate her $1 million-plus house in New Braunfels by the end of last week. Hughes previously told the judge the house had been purchased with investors money. In May, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio ordered her to turn over $7.3 million in profits and interest and pay a $6.5 million fine in a civil case brought against her and her company Outstanding Real Estate Solutions Inc. by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Van Gundy didnt respond to the lawsuit, leading Biery to enter a final judgment of default. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The SEC had accused her of masterminding an investment scheme that raised $18.5 million from at least 600 investors. Van Gundy paid herself a $7,000 weekly salary and misappropriated more than $5.7 million in investor funds to pay for her nanny, private school tuition for her children, veterinarian bills and boarding costs for her horses, car payments, and other expenses, the SEC alleged. She has not been criminally charged. As part of Bierys order, Van Gundy is barred from serving as an officer or director of any company that files reports with the SEC. Shes now cleaning houses, Hazel said. During a lunch break before the hearing resumed Monday afternoon, Hazel filed a motion to withdraw as Van Gundys lawyer. She said there was good cause for her to withdraw because she and her client were unable to effectively communicate and that based on recent facts and circumstances in the case that a potential conflict may arise. Waldrip declined to consider the motion until after Van Gundy has given her deposition, which has been rescheduled for Aug. 1. Hazel had filed a motion to quash the deposition. The motion was set to be heard Monday, but Hazel said during the hearing that she had dropped it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mass in her brain At a May court hearing relating to Van Gundys house, Hazel said Van Gundy had significant health issues, including a mass in her brain, for which she is in need of extensive medical testing and treatment. Van Gundy previously said she had memory issues after sustaining a brain injury from hitting her head on a concrete table when she fell in late 2021. A telephonic meeting with creditors in her since-dismissed bankruptcy case was cut short in May 2022 after her bankruptcy lawyer said she had suffered two seizures. But Hughes called into question the veracity of the claim after deposing Dr. Andrew Wong, Van Gundys neurologist, Friday. Wong, of Neuromuscular and EMG Specialists of Texas in San Antonio, said he never diagnosed her with a mass in her brain and wasnt aware of any other doctor making such a diagnosis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hughes presented a November 2023 prescription that Wong had written referring Van Gundy to Dr. Donald Atkins, a San Antonio surgeon who specializes in neurosurgery, to treat her compressive cervical myelopathy. Wong believed that was causing ongoing numbness on the right side of Van Gundys body, Hughes said. But the prescription also included & mass at the end. Wong denied writing that. Waldrip noted & mass was in different handwriting, to the untrained eye. The judge added he had little faith and confidence regarding any information Van Gundy has shared regarding her own health or her daughters condition. Tricked Hughes played recordings of phone conversations between Van Gundy and one of her investors that occurred in February 2022 a couple of months after she allegedly hit her head and later that year. During the calls, which the investor recorded and Hughes also played for Wong, Van Gundy sounded lucid as she talked about various subjects, including Texas usury law and the litigation against her. After hearing the audio clips, Wong expressed concerns he had been tricked into saying things about Van Gundy that were not true, according to a portion of his deposition that Hughes read in court. Wong had submitted an April 14, 2022, letter to the court that said Van Gundy was mentally incapable of giving testimony. During the deposition, Hughes said, Wong retracted the letter and other documents he had signed on Van Gundys behalf. We presented evidence that she fooled an investor and friend of hers, an attorney and a doctor, Hughes said in urging Waldrip to hold Van Gundy in contempt. Please dont let her fool a judge, too. Alabamas parole rate, which fell to a historic low last year, rose steadily during the first half of 2024 as the board gave a second chance to more non-violent offenders who had languished in the states dangerously overcrowded prisons. Im delighted to know that, with balance, fairness and some modicum of consistency, our parole numbers are on the rise, said Birmingham-area criminal defense lawyer Tommy Spina. Its been a long time coming. The parole rate during each month of 2024 has been more than double the average for 2023, peaking so far in February with nearly a quarter of parole applicants granted. Until recently, the parole board was exceptionally reluctant to grant parole under any circumstances to practically any individual, said Spina. Last year, the board released just 8% of eligible inmates. Thats despite the parole boards own guidelines suggesting more than 80% of the prisoners should qualify for a second chance. The board even rejected all 10 people over 80 who were up for parole in 2023. In January, as the board came under public scrutiny, that changed. The board granted 23% of those who had a parole hearing that month. In January of last year, the board let out almost no one just 2% of cases were granted. And the board has continued to grant more second chances. By February of this year, that number rose to 24%, according to data from the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. In March, bureau data showed a slightly smaller parole rate of 18%. While the bureau hasnt released its official April data, numbers analyzed by AL.com revealed a parole rate of 19% that month. Numbers from May havent been released. In addition to the rising parole rate this year, there have been additional requirements added to some inmates releases. Those conditions vary from required mental health assessments to completing counseling, to attending Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. One person was paroled on the condition they apply to Southern Union Community College ; another if they completed an HVAC training program . Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, said he thought the board was moving in the right direction. The additional programming is helpful, he added, especially for those with substance abuse issues or mental health disorders. Adding those additional requirements is not going to hurt anything, he said. He also said services like the Perry County PREP center, a 90-day residential readjustment program that some people must complete before release, has also helped. I think there is still a lot that needs to happen to the board, but I think a lot of that progress can be credited to the bureau and what theyre doing in Perry County. Cam Ward, the former state senator who now leads the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, said more than 400 men have completed the PREP program in the three years since it opened. No one who has gone through the program has committed a new offense and gone back to prison, he said. I think the uptick youve seen in parole grant rates, you havent seen an increase in crime among those who are on parole. If the programming is in place, everyone feels confident its going to do some good. It all goes together and it works. The programming is working. Primarily, the board has been paroling people convicted of crimes that didnt leave anyone physically injured or resulted in minor injuries. These people are paroled on whats called a split vote, mostly with yes votes by board members Darryl Littleton and Gabrelle Simmons and a no vote by board chairperson Leigh Gwathney. Public records dont reflect the voting record of parole board members, and a spokesperson for the bureau has said the voting records are not recorded digitally. But from hearings AL.com has observed, while working throughout the year on Denied: Alabamas Broken Parole System, the 2-1 split vote became common this year after the board came under public scrutiny. The legislature The board also got the attention of state lawmakers this year. They introduced five bills focusing on the parole board, its members and how they make their decisions. All of the bills died. But Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said he plans to reintroduce them next session. At the beginning of the last session, he said there was a new motivation in Montgomery to talk about Alabamas unwillingness to let people out of overcrowded prisons. The states prison system, as of April, houses 20,445 inmates in its facilities that are designed for 12,115. Theres construction ongoing for a more than billion-dollar facility in Elmore County, and plans for another one in the southern part of the state. The new buildings come as Alabamas lockup system is being sued by the Department of Justice for unconstitutional, and unsafe, prison conditions. The system was never designed to have a parole board that didnt let anyone out, England told AL.com earlier this year. Like Rafferty, his colleague in the legislature, England is encouraged about the rising rates. But, he doesnt think thats where the change ends. The system is still structurally broken and needs to be reformed, England said. Whether or not someone gets paroled should be based on things such as guidelines, evidence of rehabilitation and risk of reoffending, and recommendations of those that are intimately familiar with the applicant. It shouldnt be subject to the whims of someone with an agenda. So while the increase in grant rates is certainly a step in the right direction, long term comprehensive reform and oversight need to be implemented so that grant rates dont rise and fall just based on the whims of the members of the board. Rafferty said the board needs more oversight, and outcomes shouldnt drastically change based on who is sitting in one of the three board seats. The board is an institution, not a person. And it should be treated and regulated as such. Other groups speak out Groups like the ACLU of Alabama supported some of those legislative bills that died, including the bill to allow inmates to appear virtually at their parole hearings and a reform bill that had measures for sick and elderly inmates. Representatives from the ACLU have been keeping detailed data from parole board meetings each week and releasing them in reports, like the one they published last year. During its Alabamians for Fair Justice Lobby Day , about 60 people visited the Alabama State House to talk to lawmakers about the parole board and legislation. Also in April, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama hosted an event focused on the Alabama prison system and legislation surrounding the states criminal justice system, but most of the audience used the question-and-answer period to ask panelists about Alabamas parole board and how changes could be made. Contentious hearings The increased public scrutiny and AL.coms continued reporting on the lack of paroles accompanied an increase in split votes and strained meetings at what had been brief board hearings. During one contentious hearing in April, board chairperson Leigh Gwathney, who votes no more than her colleagues, questioned the motives of a woman who said she forgave her daughters killer. Gwathney also called out AL.com for its reporting of the board. Its often times reported that thats what we do that we show up and we make a very quick, two-second decision. And that is the furthest from the truth, Gwathney said. What happens is that each one of us spends more time than anybody could ever imagine studying these files, backwards and forwards from cover to cover before anybody ever shows up. And you couldnt begin to know what all is studied because our files are privileged, despite how hard some people try to get our files. Gwathney said that members of the media only see the people who attend parole hearings to support or protest, and cant know who has written letters to the board and voiced their position. Well a lot of times people dont show up because they cant afford to leave their jobs. Or they cant afford to have somebody watch their children. Or they might not, you know, might not be comfortable... Well, I bet AL.com can imagine that its a tough world out there, right? AL.com spent months reporting on the board and profiling a dozen of the denials parole denied for a man already let out to serve fast food near the beach, or for a man serving decades for growing marijuana, or for a woman who shot her attacker. Gwathney has declined to comment for those stories. But, in April at a public parole hearing, she directly addressed AL.com. Yall started having somebody come more often and Im glad for that. And I hope that yall remember that its tough for folks to come to these hearings. It really is. A former prosecutor in Jefferson County, Gwathney most recently worked in the office of the Alabama Attorney General, which sends someone to oppose most parole applications. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, the states top prosecutor, last year wrote a column declaring that the states overcrowded prisons only housed dangerous offenders and there is simply nobody else to reform. But he also hasnt said much in public about paroles this year. When AL.com asked in March if he still stood by that position, a spokesperson responded via email: We do not have anything further to add, as we disagree with the premise of every article you have written on the topic. This project was completed with the support of a grant from Columbia Universitys Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures. A doctor who is an expert on Parkinsons disease reportedly visited the White House on a fairly regular basis in the past year, including at least once for a meeting with President Joe Bidens personal physician. Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist who recently published a paper on Parkinsons, made eight White House visits in an eight-month period from last summer through this past March, according to visitor logs obtained by The New York Times. Its unknown if Cannard, who works at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, has made any more recent visits because they would only be disclosed later this year under the White Houses voluntary program to release visitor logs. The records do not show if the doctor met with Biden himself or if the visits included any discussions about the presidents health. Cannard, who is described as a movement disorders specialist, met Jan. 17 with Dr. Kevin OConnor, the White House physician, during one visit revealed by the report. That meeting came about six weeks before Bidens most recent annual physical exam performed by OConnor, a checkup that gave him a clean bill of health. The annual exam included an extremely detailed neurologic exam and no findings which would be consistent with Parkinsons, which is a degenerative disease affecting the nervous system. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, at a press briefing, sharply rebuffed reporters efforts to get more information about Cannards visits. She did say that Biden has met only three times with any neurologist since becoming president, apparently during his annual physicals, an assertion that seemed to rule out the possibility that Cannard has treated him in recent months. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, Jean-Pierre said. The White House says Biden remains in good health and there has been no need for any additional neurological tests since the exam performed by OConnor. The White House also suggested that Cannards visits were not related to Biden, although it didnt specifically deny it. Walter Reed (specialists) visit the White House complex to treat the thousands of military personnel who work on the grounds, spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement. Biden, 81, sent Democratic supporters into a panic with a disjointed and sometimes incoherent performance at his debate with former President Donald Trump late last month. The president, who claims he was suffering from a bad cold, often stared blankly into space while Trump spoke, raising concerns about his mental fitness. Some Parkinsons patients suffer from similar symptoms. Bidens debate performance has elevated questions about his age and fitness to beat Trump and serve as president for four more years. He insists he is not even considering dropping out. _____ 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Democratic hopes for another term in the White House are slipping away, according to a new poll that shows presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump pulling away from President Joe Biden. The Cygnal poll of likely general election voters showed in a head-to-head matchup, Trump was the choice of 48% compared to 43% for Biden. Trumps (44%) lead over Biden (38%) grew to 6 points if the race was expanded to include minor candidates, including independent Robert F. Kennedy who polled at 7%. Trumps advantage was 2 percentage points as recently as June. READ MORE: Tuberville predicts Donald Trump wont face Joe Biden in November: Heres who he thinks will run Pollsters noted the political environment has severely degraded for Democrats since the Biden debate performance at the end of June. The fallout impacted the Congressional landscape as well, with a generic ballot moving from even to plus 4 for Republicans, the largest single month-over-month movement in the history of Cygnals national poll. The Congressional shift was led by Democrats who went from plus 5 in favor of Democrats to plus 7 for Republicans. Both candidates are upside down in their approval ratings, though Trump fares much better. Slightly less than 55% said they disapproved of Trump compared to 44% who viewed him favorably, a net unfavorability of negative 11. Biden, however, has a net unfavorability rating of negative 26 62% unfavorability compared to 35% favorability. Vice President Kamala Harris polled poorly as well, with a 58% unfavorability rating and 35% favorable rating, for a net of negative 23. More than 66% of those polled said they watched the June 27 debate in which Biden seemed to be lost at times and struggled over his words, leading to a growing chorus calling for him to step aside. An additional 22% said they followed the debate afterward. Sixty-two percent said Trump won the debate compared to 18% for Biden. The Cygnal poll was conducted July 1-2 among 1,500 likely voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. The boyfriend of a woman who kidnapped, shot eight times, and found in inside the trunk of her own SUV has been indicted in her slaying. A Jefferson County grand jury issued the capital murder indictment against 37-year-old Cedric Dewayne Robertson on June 14, according to newly released court records. Nakita Davidson, a 40-year-old mother of four, was abducted and killed Thursday, April 11, 2024. Her body was found the following day. Robertson remains held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. At a preliminary hearing held in May, Birmingham police homicide Det. Justin Lane testified there was video of parts of the alleged crime, but not the actual shooting, and said there were two eyewitnesses to the killing. The citys Shot Spotter gunfire detection system registered 13 shots fired at the scene that morning the first round of five shots at 1:37 a.m., and a second round of eight shots at 1:38 a.m. The investigation began when officers were dispatched to a report of a wreck in the 300 block of Sixth Avenue S.W., which is near Elmwood Cemetery. When officers arrived, they found a silver Chevrolet Equinox in or near the parking lot of a floral shop. Lane said they found multiple shell casings, a pink Nike sneaker, which was later determined to belong to Davidson, and a pool of blood on the ground. Two men, he said, witnessed the incident and were still on the scene when police arrived. One of those witnesses told Lane he had just left the gas station and was walking home when he heard a crash. He looked back and saw a silver SUV and a burgundy SUV. He then heard a woman saying, You already hit my vehicle. Im going to call police, Lane said. At that time, the detective said, the witness heard gunshots, so he ran to the other side of the road and got behind a tree and continued to watch. The witness then heard more gunfire. He didnt hear the female speak anymore, Lane said. He saw the male, later identified as Robertson, pick up Davidson, put her in the back of a red SUV and drive off. Lane said surveillance video from the nearby Chevron showed the moments leading up to the incident. The footage showed Robertsons silver SUV turn in the middle of the roadway and get behind the burgundy SUV. Davidson, he said, was trying to get away from Robertson and turned into a parking lot by the floral store. The silver SUV that remained on the scene was registered to Robertons mother, Lane said. Inside they found Robertsons wallet containing an identification card, and Medicaid and Medicare cards bearing Robertsons name. Robertsons cell phone was also found at the scene. Police launched an intensive search for both Davidson and Robertson. Davidsons vehicle, a burgundy 2008 Saturn Outlook, was found the following afternoon in a wooded area in the 2300 block of 18th Place S.W. Lane testified that Davidsons SUV was found across the street from the home of Robertsons uncle and cousin. The uncle told investigators that Robertson came to their home right before midnight and asked him for a ride. He said he drove his nephew, but he couldnt recall where. The detective said Davidsons body was recovered from the trunk of the SUV. She had been shot multiple times on the left side of her body and there were also bullet holes in her vehicle. Davidsons niece, Lane said, told investigators that Davidson and Robertson had been arguing. She said Robertson had shown up intoxicated and wanted Davidson to leave with him, but Davidson refused. It was not clear when that incident happened. She said she spoke with Davidson on the night of the shooting and they were still arguing at that point. Robertson, a convicted felon, was taken into custody about 6 p.m. Friday, April 12, by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team, and Jefferson County sheriffs deputies. His arrest ended the manhunt that began roughly 36 hours earlier. In the earlier hearing, one of Robertsons attorneys said his client is intellectually disabled and receives a disability check as a result. Family said Davidson and Robertson had been dating for less than a year and that she was trying to get away from him. Davidson left behind four young children three daughters and a son. A trial date has not yet been set. A burglary suspect is in custody after a police chase on an east Alabama lake. Cherokee County sheriffs deputies and investigators last week were dispatched to a report of a burglary. Sheriff Jeff Shaver said they quickly developed 47-year-old Emanuel Heath Kiser as a suspect and went to his home where they retrieved the stolen goods. Authorities obtained several warrants for Kiser and went back to his home the following day to try to arrest him. While they were there, someone called 911 and told them a man matching Kisers description was attempting to hide in their yard. When law enforcement officers arrived, Shaver said, Kiser stole a boat and took off across the lake. Community members then offered jet skis to the investigators, which they used to cross the lake. A foot chase followed, and Kiser was captured. He is charged with first-degree theft of property, first-degree criminal mischief and attempting to elude. I would like to thank the caring individuals that helped investigators apprehend Kiser, Shaver said. Our citizens are the reason why Cherokee County is one of the best counties to live in. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief last week in a decade-old lawsuit filed by former and current inmates of an Alabama prison that alleges pervasive prisoner-on-prisoner violence and sexual assaults , warning prison officials not to violate the prisoners constitutional rights. The brief, known as a statement of interest, was filed Wednesday in the Northern District of Alabama in response to a lawsuit filed in October 2014 by former and current inmates at St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville. The United States has a substantial interest in protecting the constitutional rights of all people, including prisoners, and ensuring the proper application of the legal standards grounded in the Eighth Amendment, the statement read. The inmates claim unsafe conditions at the prison are to blame for violence, sexual abuse and excessive force at the facility in violation of their Eight Amendment Rights against cruel and unusual punishment. The Constitution requires prison officials to take reasonable steps to protect the people in their custody, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division in a statement released Monday. We must not allow violence and sexual abuse to run rampant in our prisons and jails. We are committed to securing the constitutional rights of all people, including those who are incarcerated. Added Prim Escalona, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama: People do not lose their constitutional rights behind prison walls. Our office remains committed to ensuring constitutional conditions, including reasonable safety, within Alabamas prisons. The brief filed by the DOJ claims that perfect conditions do not have to exist to protect the inmates constitutional rights. But people do not lose their constitutional rights behind prison walls. The Eighth Amendment guarantees humane conditions, which necessitates that prison officials take reasonable measures to provide for prisoners safety, the brief stated. Defendants violate this right if they fail to respond reasonably to known risks of harm, including by taking actions they know to be ineffective and refusing to take reasonable actions to mitigate the harm. The United States respectfully requests that the Court consider this Statement of Interest in applying the Eighth Amendment to this case. The Jefferson County Personnel Board has recommended overturning the firing of a veteran sheriffs office sergeant who is the husband of Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lynneice Washington. Sheriff Mark Pettway in January terminated Sgt. Judge Washington, who long served on a federal drug task force before being moved from that position. Washington was fired amid alleged violations of department rules and regulations, including conduct unbecoming a classified employee and violation of any rule or regulation of the appointing authority, and failure to comply with instructions made and given by a superior officer or supervisor. Washington claimed the firing stemmed from a misconception that he was trying to help launch a federal investigation into Pettway. He appealed the firing, and hearings were held in June. The hearing officer on Friday issued his report and recommendation that Washingtons termination be overturned even while determining the charges were substantiated and that JCSO met its burden of proof with respect to evidence presented and witness testimonies supporting the policy and procedure violations charged. The (hearing officer) also found that Washington admitted his guilt after a series of less than truthful interviews and a failed polygraph test, the report said. However, the (hearing officer) found that termination exceeded what was merited from the charged offenses given the totality of his public service employment and his lack of prior disciplinary violations. As a result, the hearing officer recommended overturning Washingtons termination and reinstated the original suspension that was never served and modified the suspension to 45 days without pay. He noted that back pay, minus the 45-day suspension should be given to Washington. Additionally, the hearing officer recommended that Washington be required to satisfactorily complete an ethics review course or the like. If complainant is unwilling or unable to comply, he should be given the opportunity to tender his resignation, the report states. While Washington sought reinstatement to his Vice/Narcotics/FBI liaison roles, the hearing officer recognized that job assignments are the decisions of the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office has objected to the recommendation from the hearing officer. Spokesman Henry Irby said Monday they do not comment on personnel matters. Washingtons attorney did not respond to a request for comment. The matter will appear on the agenda for the monthly meeting of the three-member board on Tuesday July 23. The initial department charges against Washington came after he and other investigators went to Atlanta to interview a federal inmate as part of a drug investigation. That inmate, records show, brought up the subject of bingo, which has long been the subject of controversy in Jefferson County. The sheriffs brother, Bruce Pettway, sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall in 2019, claiming Marshalls office illegally seized $240,000 from a BBVA Bank account belonging to Bruce Pettways brokerage and consulting firm ostensibly because of a $15,500 deposit into the account from bingo operations in Jefferson County. Marshall later agreed to release all but $15,500 of the funds following a ruling from Chief United States District Judge Karon Bowdre in response to the attorney generals motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In that ruling, Bowdre wrote that the forfeiture of the $240,000 strikes the court as facially suspect. Washington was accused of later failing part of a polygraph when he was asked if the sheriff was discussed in the Atlanta interview and he answered, no. A second disciplinary charge was lodged against him when sheriffs officials alleged that on Oct. 6, 2023, Washington sent a message through Facebook to Varrie Johnson Kindall that he wanted to meet with her. In an unrelated case, Kindall a longtime assistant to former Alabama Rep. John Rogers pleaded guilty in February to charges associated with a federal kickback scheme involving her boss and another lawmaker. The complaint against Washington said he met Kindall and talked about helping her with her then-ongoing federal case. He also talked about a 1966 Ford Mustang that Sheriff Mark Pettway had purchased with county funds, and that he would help her find it. A confidential source texted Washington the picture of the car and the bill of sale. Washing texted the information to Kindall and told her that he would inform the FBI that she helped him get the information, the complaint states. Washington, according to the complaint, called the FBI and told them about the 1966 Ford Mustang that Sheriff Pettway had purchased with county funds, and they told Washington they already had that information. The cars purchase was used to promote Domestic Violence Awareness. A private conversation between Washington and Kindall was recorded, and Kindall was not aware of it nor gave Washington permission to record her, the complaint states. Washington said he did not remember the conversation on the recording, but Kindall stated it was about Sheriff Pettway and the 1966 Mustang. Sheriffs officials claimed the recording was given to the FBI without Kindalls permission and was part of an attempt to help the FBI launch an investigation of Pettway, which Washington has maintained was not true. Washingtons January response to the complaint said he had been subjected to harassment and retaliation by the department. I broke no rules. I did not violate any policies, Washington said. Other than an allegation that I failed a single portion of an inadmissible polygraph examination, there is no indication that I have been dishonest or failed to cooperate in the extensive investigation against me. Washington said the incident that sparked the investigation was a jailhouse interview he conducted in the course of his duties assisting the FBI. During the course of that interview, the subject spontaneously and without prompting offered information that was not relevant to my investigation, Washington wrote. I did not seek out that information, I was not interested in that information, and I did not follow up on that information, which involved a relative of the sheriff but had no bearing on the investigation I was completing. I reported this information as a matter of course but let me emphasize that I did not do so in a manner that would have prompted myself or others to conduct an inquiry into the sheriff or his relatives, Washington wrote. I had no reason to give credence to those allegations, and I had no interest in investigating those allegations as they did not concern my duty detail. However, the mere fact that the subject of my jailhouse interview made unsolicited comments to me about the sheriff and his family sparked an internal affairs investigation into my performance as an officer that included multiple interviews, a polygraph, the removal of me from my long-time duty detail, and the proposed punishment that we are here on today, he wrote. The magnitude of the retaliation against me for having heard those unsolicited allegations is both enormous and entirely improper, Washington wrote. I broke no rules, I violated no policies, yet my 18-year career lies in ruins, subjected to unjust retaliation and harassment through no fault of my own. I am factually and legally innocent of the charges that form the basis of this discipline, Washington wrote, and look forward to proving that innocence. Washington argued that the charges were inappropriately applied to him. He also named multiple sheriffs office employees who he said received less severe discipline for similar charges. A Mobile man was sentenced to three years in prison for involvement in an elaborate check-stealing scheme that included falsifying identification documents and making unlawful deposits, transfers and withdrawals. Jonathan Taylor Randle, 32, pleaded guilty to defrauding numerous banks and credit unions between October 2022 and May 2023, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Alabama. The scheme was uncovered beginning in March 2023, when federal agents first started getting complaints about someone fishing mail from U.S. postal collection boxes using a tool covered in rat trap glue. Agents recovered some of the fishing devices from tubs inside postal collection boxes at post offices in Mobile, and Escatawpa, Miss. A fingerprint examiner found Randles fingerprints on the devices. In April 2023, Randle deposited several forged checks bearing identifiers of mail-theft victims at Regions Bank ATMs in the Mobile area. Surveillance cameras then captured Randle making the fraudulent deposits, according to the release. In May 2023, agents searched Randles house in Mobile and seized hundreds of checks and pieces of stolen mail, fraudulent identifications bear Randles picture and stolen identifying information, multiple debit/credit cards in the names of other people, a laptop, a notebook containing stolen ID information, and a rifle. Agents also seized Randles cell phone, which contained evidence of his fraud scheme. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. In addition to the prison sentence, Randle was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William Steele to serve a five-year term of supervised release after he leaves prison. Randle will be subject to credit restrictions, undergo drug testing and receive mental health treatment. He will also be required to pay $33,042.95 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments. Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley said today on social media he is disheartened by efforts to soften the Republican Partys platform stance against abortion. Pressley, a former Mobile pastor who is now senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., expressed his dissatisfaction on the X social media platform: I am disheartened by whats happened in the GOP, Pressley wrote. The GOP platform may be subject to change, but Gods word is not. Southern Baptists contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death and will insist that elected officials do the same. I am disheartened by whats happened in the GOP. The GOP platform may be subject to change, but Gods word is not. Southern Baptists contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death and will insist that elected officials do the same. Clint Pressley (@pastorclint) July 9, 2024 The Republican National Committee on moved Monday to adopt a party platform that reflects former President Donald Trumps position opposing a federal abortion ban and ceding limits to states, omitting the explicit basis for a national ban for the first time in 40 years. Trump imposed his priorities on the RNCs platform committee as he seeks to steer clear during his campaign of strict abortion language, even while taking credit for setting up the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. Trump appointed three of the six justices who voted in the majority to overturn the 1973 precedent that established a national right to have an abortion. Pressley, who was previously pastor of the Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile from 2004-2010, was elected in June as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. A federal watchdog is looking into whether United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain made demands to benefit his domestic partner and her sister, according to The Wall Street Journal. The allegations came in a court filing by a lawyer for federal monitor Neil Barofsky. Barofsky is looking into whether union officials are complying with a 2020 settlement that came after a multiyear corruption investigation which resulted in several former union leaders being sent to prison. According to the Journal, Barofsky is looking at Fains decision in May to remove UAW Vice President Rich Boyer from his role as the unions top negotiator with Stellantis. The probe would determine if the move was in retaliation for Boyers alleged refusal to accede to demands to take actions that would have benefitted (Fains) domestic partner and her sister. The monitor has been investigating Fain, secretary-treasurer Margaret Mock, and allegations of retaliation by Fain against Boyer. The monitor also began investigating a regional director after receiving allegations of potential embezzlement, according to the Associated Press. The UAW has been involved in attempts to unionize the Mercedes-Benz auto plant in Tuscaloosa County, and the Hyundai plant in Montgomery. A vote on unionization at Mercedes in May failed, with some 56% of the nearly 4,700 workers who voted cast their ballots against unionizing. The UAW subsequently filed with the National Labor Relations Board to reject the election and order a new election. See also: Why the union vote failed at Alabamas Mercedes-Benz plant Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net. Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023. Alabamas only Democrat in Congress says she remains strong in her support for President Joe Biden, even as some of her colleagues call for him to resign after a poor debate performance. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell said her support for Biden as presidential candidate with Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate remains rock solid. I have seen it myself, she posted on the social media site X. Joe Biden tells the truth. He cares about us and our future as a nation. He has delivered real progress for the American people and he will fight to protect our democracy and our freedom to vote. My support for the Biden-Harris ticket is rock solid. The president has struggled in the polls since his debate with former President Donald Trump. Pollsters have noted the political environment has severely degraded for Democrats since the Biden debate performance at the end of June. A Cygnal poll of likely general election voters showed in a head-to-head matchup, Trump was the choice of 48% compared to 43% for Biden. Biden has said he has no plans to withdraw. However, Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Sunday that he believed Kamala Harris will probably be the candidate running against Donald Trump. That will be interesting. The Alabama toddler pulled from a pool while celebrating her second birthday last week has died, her mother said Monday. Sleep sweet my beautiful angel. We only had two years with you, but they were filled with the happiest moments of my life. I will carry you with me in my veins until the day I see you again, my love, wrote Rebekah Satterfield, the mother of 2-year-old Violet Mae Satterfield, on social media. Violet Mae and her family were celebrating her second birthday July 1 in Arab when she sneaked into a swimming pool without her floatation devices, her family said. She was flown to Childrens of Alabama for treatment. Thank you to all of her prayer warriors, Rebekah Satterfield wrote, calling the tragedy the hardest week of our lives. Violet Maes organs will be donated, her mother said, as we want to give someone else a chance at saving their baby. The family has not announced plans for services because of the donation waiting period, but asked that her funeral be filled with purple. Wear purple for my baby while we celebrate her short life. Daddy and I love you so much Violet, Rebekah Satterfield wrote. Until we meet again. Austal USA broke ground Tuesday on a massive new assembly hall that will double its shipbuilding capacity and provide workspace for an estimated 1,100 new jobs in Alabama. The Mobile-based shipbuilder says the new building, to be known as Final Assembly 2 or FA2, represents a $250 million investment and will provide 192,000 square feet of workspace which will enable the erection of large steel modules for Navy and Coast Guard ships, including the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and T-AGOS programs. The OPC is a Coast Guard ship, while the T-AGOS is a Navy ocean surveillance class. Austal has contracts in hand for both. While the new hall will facilitate Austals rapid transition into steel shipbuilding, it was clear at Tuesdays groundbreaking ceremony that the process is well under way: A portion of a massive steel drydock that Austal is building for the Navy loomed nearby, blocking out part of the Mobile skyline. Mobile's Government Plaza is seen in the distance as a section of a massive steel drydock being constructed by Austal USA for the U.S. Navy looms at right.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com It was not long ago, March 2021, we had the most recent groundbreaking when we met to break ground for a steel panel line not too far to the north, Larry Ryder, Austal USAs vice president of business development and external affairs, told an audience of state and local economic development officials and officeholders. Thank you for coming back in April of 2022 [when] Governor Ivey joined us to cut the ribbon on our new steel panel line facility. That facility is operational and has enabled us to build large steel modules. Those modules will be transported to this new building, Final Assembly 2, where the vessels will be erected and launched. So what exactly are we building? Ryder continued. When complete this new building will almost double the capacity of all of our existing assembly bays and will enable the erection of large steel modules for the Navy and Coast Guard ships In addition to the manufacturing capacity of these new buildings, the expansion includes a ship lift that will provide a safe and reliable system to launch ships as they are completed in the assembly buildings. The ship lift will also enable bringing ships back on the land side facility for repair and maintenance. A rendering shows Austal's planned Final Assembly 2 facility and the massive shiplift that will facilitate the transfer of vessels to and from the water. (Courtesy of Austal USA)Austal USA Michelle Kruger, who was confirmed as Austal USAs president in April after a period as interim president, said the 25-year-old shipyard was just getting started. Weve all heard of dog years, but we probably havent talked about shipyard years, she said. But in shipyard years, Austal is very much in, maybe, I would say, infancy to toddler [years] in comparison to some of the other bigger companies with shipyards that have been here a century or more. And I have to say that when you think about that, we have done an amazing amount of work and expansion in the last 25 years. Austal USA is once again answering the nations call to expand the defense industrial base to meet the needs of our military, Kruger said. The secretary of the Navy and the chief of naval operations have called upon industry to step up and invest in our facilities. The secretary called upon industry to move at flank speed to make fundamental investments in the industrial base. Austal USA is answering that call today. Our $250 million investment is a clear statement of our readiness to invest when we have a clear demand signal. Ellen McNair, who took office as Alabamas Commerce Secretary in January, also spoke. This is the type of company and the kind of project that helps define our state, said McNair. It truly does. And I want to thank Michelle, your company, for 25 years of investment and reinvestment to the state of Alabama. Austal USA currently has two large assembly halls on the Mobile River waterfront directly across from downtown. The new hall will sit to the south of them on the other side of the facility where Austal makes the modules that are then pieced together to form vessels such as the Navys Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships. Ryder said the placement comes with a very important advantage. Currently modules must pass over the Wallace Tunnel and in some cases also the Bankhead Tunnel on their way into the old assembly halls. Theres a weight limit, and steel is heavier than aluminum. When FA2 is up and running, that wont be an issue: Modules transferred there wont pass over the tunnels. Ryder said the Austal USA workforce is about 3,100 people at the moment. The opening of FA2 will create a need for about 1,100 more workers. Were ramping up as the building goes up, we want to have the workforce ready when the building opens, he said. More construction is coming, as are more jobs. Austal has landed contracts for work assembling modules that will go into nuclear submarines. Austal said a building will be constructed to house that work, which he said will employ about 800 workers. The case against a Mobile resident charged with murdering Tayy Dior Thomas, a transgender teenager, was sent to a grand jury Tuesday. Hopefully justice will prevail, Rolanda Carl, Thomas grandmother, said after the hearing. This is just not a case; this was a person who was loved and cared about dearly. Carl Mitchell Washington Jr., 20, was charged with Thomas death in May. Thomas family said that the two were in a romantic relationship for more than a year. Washington killed Thomas, they said, out of fear their relationship would be exposed. Washington has pleaded not guilty. He is being held without bond in Mobile Metro Jail on charges of murder and discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle. On Tuesday, Washington chose to waive his preliminary hearing. Washingtons attorney, Robert Bucky Thomas, told Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis that the evidence that would have been presented likely met the standard needed to move to grand jury. However, Washingtons attorney made it clear that it was not an admission of guilt. Its unclear what, if any, charges Washington will face after the grand jury hears the case. Theres no way that hes going to wiggle out of this, Carl said. Thomas death has garnered national attention from LGBTQ advocates, who are hoping the case will spark changes to Alabamas hate crime statute. Currently, Alabama law does not provide enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the NAACP. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, Alabama state director for the Human Rights Campaign, said shes hoping the case will generate interest in changing Alabamas statute. The Human Rights Campaign advocates for hate crime law changes, as well as implementing stronger non-discrimination laws, she said. It is still very important that we have those conversations to move the needle, to help those other families and those past families who have lost loved ones because of hate crimes, Anderson-Harvey said. The number of victims that we see annually, especially for the transgender community, is very high, particularly in the race of Black and brown individuals. Anderson-Harvey was present at the court hearing Tuesday, along with other local LGBTQ advocates and members of Thomas family. Thomas death is one of 18 violent killings of a transgender or gender-expansive person that the HRC has identified in 2024 nationwide, according to a report on the nonprofits website. Carl says she hopes that Thomas death will spark change. If it takes this case to bring awareness to that, of change, then I hope that it helps another family, Carl says. Thomas was killed May 7 on Darwood Drive in Mobile. Initial news reports, including a report from AL.com, misgendered Thomas. AL.coms initial report was based on a police statement saying the victim was a male. Court records refer to Thomas by her deadname, a term used to refer to a transgender persons name prior to their gender transition. Under the guise of wanting a selfie, a youth activist with a climate change group confronted Sen. Katie Britt in Washington, D.C. on Monday, accusing Alabamas senior senator of being bankrolled by Big Oil. Britt, a Republican, dismissed the activists claim as dishonest. I was wondering how much money it would take to buy you back from Big Oil, the youth activist with Sunrise Movement asked Britt in a video posted to the organizations account on X: Hey @SenKatieBritt , you can run away from climate youth activists but cant escape the reality of climate change. Climate change intensifies extreme weather events. In Alabama, the state you represent, the sea level along the coast might rise 18 inches to 4 feet in the next pic.twitter.com/ISwQ5mGQJ4 Sunrise Movement (@sunrisemvmt) July 8, 2024 According to Open Secrets, Britt received more than $171,000 from the oil and gas industry in 2022, when she was campaigning for U.S. Senate. The nonprofits data showed Britt received more money from 12 other industries. From Big Oil? Look at how dishonest that was. You ask if you could take a selfie and now youre asking questions, Britt tells the activist as she heads toward an elevator. And tell me, what is it ... What do you think about Big Oil ... tell me about that, Britt continues. I think that the climate crisis is here and is getting worse, and youre being funded by the people who are making that happen, the activist says. Listen, weve got to be not only energy independent but energy dominant, Britt says as the elevator door shuts. We do it better than anybody. Amy Hasenberg-Elliott, a spokeswoman for the senator, said Britt would have happily had a conversation with this Green New Deal activist, but her dishonesty from the outset made it clear she wasnt interested in a good-faith policy discussion. Instead of driving international energy customers to buy from adversaries like Iran and Russia, Senator Britt knows that we must achieve not just American energy independence but American energy dominance. This is vital for growing our economy and protecting our national security, she said. Updated at 9:18 p.m. to include comment from Britt. On July 11, former President Trump was supposed to be sentenced for his May 30 felony conviction on 34 misdemeanor counts of, basically, labeling payments to a lawyer as legal expenses in QuickBooks. The day before the jurys verdict, I posted my only Substack article comparing President Trump to the character Mr. Tom Robinson in To Kill A Mockingbird. The article identifies a commonality between those who accused, arrested, prosecuted, convicted, jailed, and eventually killed Mr. Robinson, and those targeting President Trump. When reading the book in school, I did not know: that the accuser, their family, the officers that arrested Mr. Robinson, the prosecutor, the judge, the jury, and the people in attendance on the first floor of the courtroom for the daily trials were likely all Democrats. Blacks were not allowed to sit on the first floor of the courtroom, so they were in the balcony, and were probably all Republicans. In addition, the warden running the prison, and the guards that shot and killed Tom Robinson for allegedly trying to flee (a man very likely to eventually win his case and be freed on appeal) were also all Democrats. Democrats have dragged Trump through the accused, arrested, prosecuted, and convicted phases. On July 11, he was scheduled to face the same corrupt one-party system for his sentencing. The sentencing was postponed, but it cannot end with simply labeling Trump a convicted felon, because that is not enough for the Democrat faithful. They want Trump in prison or dead and his entire family broke and destitute. Yet despite the tremendous financial and legal pressures put on Trump by New York City Democrats, both in the ridiculous civil cases with their preposterous awards and the felony criminal conviction for 12 ledger entries, 11 checks, and 11 receipts, the Trump train rolls on. Trump is incredibly resilient! In all of human history, it would be difficult to find anyone with as many victories between their felony conviction and scheduled sentencing -- an excellent debate performance, a disastrous performance by his political rival President Biden, massive political contributions, hopelessness and panic among the Democrats and their donors, and a favorable Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. And next week, he will be the GOP's official nominee for president. To stop Trumps momentum and eliminate the negative narrative about Bidens mental capacity, the next logical step for the Corruptocrats would be to put Trump in jail as soon as possible. Instead, its the Democrats who are delaying Trumps sentencing while accelerating their attacks on Biden. This cant be a coincidence. Trumps defense attorneys asked to file a motion that Trumps conviction should be overturned based on the SCOTUS ruling on presidential immunity. District Attorney Alvin Bragg did, not oppose his request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of this motion. There is no way Bragg did this without direction and approval from the Democrat elite. Of course, when Bragg doesnt object, his fellow prosecutor, Justice Juan Merchan, rules accordingly. At the same time the Democrats temporarily postponed their lawfare against Trump, Democrat loyalists in the media and elsewhere are continuing the attack on Biden. This is the same media that defended the current president as the best Biden ever up until June 27, knowing this was false. The media could have done what they usually do to protect a Democrat: ignore the issue, make up excuses, blame Trump, or pivot away from Biden and focus on Trumps lies, abortion, racism, and Russia. Democrat loyalists in the media typically never criticize their candidate. Yet now, the Teleprompter Readers making seven-figure salaries who fancy themselves real journalists but are actually prostitutes for the elite, and many of the analysts and experts appearing on left-wing news continue questioning Bidens fitness. They had to receive permission to squeal to their sheep about Bidens deteriorated cognitive state. Biden, though, insists hes not going anywhere, and is now on the offensive against the elite. But someone gave instructions to Bragg to opt out of fighting the sentencing delay and gave the media permission to tell the truth about Biden. It certainly wasnt President Biden who did this. He started the lawfare strategy, and his team has been working closely with their colleagues in the media to hide Bidens health issues. So, we are left to wonder who is giving the current instructions to Bragg and the media? We know its not Republicans. Meanwhile, the Democrat organized criminal Corruptocrats in New York City can still put Trump in jail. Hopefully, this does not happen, but that appears to be the goal from the beginning. Then, if both these candidates make it through the summer, well see if the media narrative flips to Democrats are pushing a man past his prime, but hes kind and caring, while, Republicans are pushing a mean, convicted felon whos in jail. Then what? Well, Trump better be careful who he picks as a vice president next week. There are many among the Republican Party elites who despise him. At least Democrats are honest about their hatred. There are sneaky, backstabbing, Never-Trumper Republicans out there, who would like Trump gone and wouldnt mind if the Democrats did the dirty work of getting rid of him. If Trump caves to the Republican establishment and picks a vice president with whom the elite would be extremely comfortable as president, then Trump may be assuring himself the same fate as Tom Robinson. Charlie Rose recently retired after working over 30 years for the United States Army. Image: Kristin, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0 Who needs U.S. citizenship, or for that matter, legal authorization to live in the U.S. when you've got Joe Biden's open borders? That looks like the story with illegals receiving Social Security benefits, a lifetime benefit that until recently had been perceived as nominally reserved for U.S. citizens, not illegal border crossers, and which Democrats are now trying to debunk. At the debate, NewsNation reported that Trump said: Social Security hes destroying it because millions of people are pouring into our country and theyre putting them onto Social Security, Trump said. Theyre putting em onto Medicare and Medicaid. Putting them into hospitals. Theyre taking the place of our citizens. ... and ... These millions and millions of people coming in, theyre trying to put them on Social Security. He will wipe out Social Security. He will wipe out Medicare. Which sounds true and is. Based on what's known from the Social Security office, via Newsweek's fact-check: On its website, the Social Security Administration wrote: "Lawfully present noncitizens of the United States who meet all eligibility requirements can qualify for Social Security benefits. This rule also applies to noncitizens authorized to work in the United States who got a Social Security number after December 2003." The problem, of course, is in the details. Illegals can't just tap into regular Social Security retirement benefits as paying Americans do. However, they can get SSI pretty easily for lifetime benefits based on being unemployable, having no English skills, having no marketable skills, having no education, and not being retired. Immigrants living in the country illegally are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, but those who entered the U.S. illegally before receiving temporary permission to stay may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits if they meet certain criteria. SSI benefits are distributed to people who have little or no income or resources, a disability, blindness, or attained the age of 65 or older. The money-quote comes when the definition of legally present is described: Immigrants may be eligible for SSI if they meet the following criteria: Lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Granted conditional entry. Paroled into the United States. Admitted as a refugee. Granted asylum. An alien whose removal is being withheld. A Cuban or Haitian entrant. Admitted as an Amerasian immigrant. Admitted as an Afghan or Iraqi special immigrant. Admitted as an Afghan humanitarian parolee. Admitted as an Afghan non-special immigrant parolee. Admitted as a Ukrainian humanitarian parolee. Conditional entry, as well as parole status are what they give to catch-and-release foreign nationals who are "processed" by the Border Patrol after breaking and entering the U.S. illegally. The only foreigners who don't get this status are "gotaways" who escape Border Patrol detection, and are typically criminals and terrorists. Biden's catch-and-release game is all about getting let out on the "honor system" that they'll show up to their asylum and deportation hearings, and then instantly qualifying for lifetime income benefits from SSI on the spot. Some are noticing: Some of these migrants don't even need to check in with the Border Patrol for processing, all they need to be is Haitian or Cuban. The Afghan rabble, mostly military-aged young men, who pushed their way onto Biden's U.S. military evacuation jets, trampling women, children, and old people with no vetting, all get lifetime SSI benefits if they ask, just by being Afghan. Anyone with any kind of conditional entry into the U.S., or parole status, or even a deportation on hold based on endless appeals, gets the free taxpayer money from SSI, all because they are here "legally." Some are noticing, even in Democrat quarters: Democrats Are Claiming Donald Trump Is Lying About Illegal Migrants Drawing Social Security Benefits Heres a Town Hall held in Chicago by US Rep Jonathan Jackson confirming illegals are being put on Social Security They come into this country and get a stipend, link, a free pic.twitter.com/aTxPHvqEX5 Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) July 8, 2024 So it's not just Trump. Democrats in fact are now trying to push back on President Trump's statement at the June 27 presidential debate where he criticized federal policy of placing illegal immigrants on Social Security because such costs could bankrupt the already problematic trust fund before Americans who paid in will be able to claim any benefits. You can see it in the sudden rash of fact-checks coming out in the last two days about it, meaning, the internal polling isn't going well for them. But the facts are there, even if fact-checkers are trying debunk it with their interpretations of facts -- come to the U.S. illegally, present yourself to the Border Patrol, and not only will you get to stay in the U.S., your income is free for life. Sound sustainable? Only to Democrats. The SSI program is wide open to any illegal border crosser to presents himself to the Border Patrol. What a deal for them. What a disaster for us. Image: Screen shot from NBC News video, via YouTube (Left to right) City Manager Erik Walsh, Jesus Saenz, City of San Antonio Aviation Department Director of Airports, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg chat before a press conference about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News (Left tor right) Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh, Jesus Saenz, City of San Antonio Aviation Department Director of Airports, and retired Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala, City of San Antonio Director of Military and Veteran Affairs, talk about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. at a press conference in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News (Left to right) Mayor Ron Nirenberg, retired Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala, City of San Antonio Director of Military and Veteran Affairs, Court Van Sickler, Vice Chairman of Honor Flight, and Jesus Saenz, City of San Antonio Aviation Department Director of Airports, talk about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. at a press conference in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Jesus Saenz, center, City of San Antonio Aviation Department Director of Airports, retired Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala, left, City of San Antonio Director of Military and Veteran Affairs, and Court Van Sickler, right, Vice Chairman of Honor Flight, talk about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. at a press conference in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News A QR code to submit public comment on display at a press conference about the latest efforts to get American Airlines to fly directly from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. in the City Hall Council Briefing Room on Monday, July 8, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News American Airlines gates are seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arranging, Va., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press Passengers use self-serve kiosks at the American Airlines ticketing counter on May 24, 2024. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor) KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL American Airlines is pressing to win federal regulators OK to operate a daily flight from San Antonio International Airport to Washington Reagan National Airport, with Texas lawmakers exerting political pressure and local backers submitting more than 100 letters of support. San Antonio leaders have tried but failed to win nonstop service to Washington, D.C., for decades, stymied by rules restricting the number of direct flights to Reagan National (DCA). But a bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, which Congress passed in May, gives San Antonios airport a shot. Fort Worth-based American on Monday submitted its application to operate a daily, nonstop flight between San Antonio International (SAT) and Reagan National. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If the Transportation Department, which includes the FAA, greenlights the service this summer, it will be the Alamo Citys first nonstop flight to the coveted Arlington airport, which is widely considered the most convenient for travelers heading to D.C. Americans application calls for a flight to leave San Antonio every morning at 6:35 and land in DCA at 11 a.m. The flight from D.C. would take off at 7:45 p.m. and land at SAT at 10:20 p.m. The first flights number would be 1718 to recognize the year that San Antonio was founded. The flight from DCA to SAT would be 1947 to commemorate the year the U.S. Air Force was established. San Antonio business and government leaders say military personnel based here and the citys medical, cybersecurity and information technology companies need easier access to the nations capital. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here in San Antonio we have the largest concentration of intelligence and cybersecurity professionals outside of the Washington national region, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at a Monday news conference announcing Americans application. Were also experiencing rapid growth in the health care and biosciences sectors. A connection between DCA and SAT is not just a convenience but is a necessity for our citys continued prosperity. Its about connecting Military City, USA, to Washington Reagan National that is our hope, Airport Director Jesus Saenz said. Past attempts to secure nonstop service here to Washington, D.C., failed because of opposition from airlines and public officials who backed regulations strictly limiting traffic to Reagan National, known as the slot rule and the perimeter rule. The slot rule reduces congestion at DCA by controlling the number of takeoffs and landings at the airport. The perimeter rule prohibits flights to or from airports outside a 1,250-mile boundary around DCA. Supporters say the rules prevent additional congestion and delays at Reagan National. The FAA reauthorization bill that President Joe Biden signed into law in May opened up five new round-trip flights out of the D.C. airport. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Americans application included more than 150 letters of support from the San Antonio community, including policymakers, mayors, military organizations and chambers of commerce, according to a news release from the airline. Until July 17, anyone can go online to submit comments of support directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Also, 36 senators and members of Congress sent a letter last week to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging him to allocate San Antonio one of the new long-haul, round-trip flights to DCA. The letter had bipartisan support, including from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio; and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin. The letter notes airlines applying to offer new round-trip flights to Reagan National must show that they will benefit travelers from communities without existing nonstop service to DCA or increase competition in the markets served by the new routes. As one of the largest cities in the country without a direct flight to DCA, San Antonio undoubtedly meets the letter and spirit of the legislation, the letter reads. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Monday was the last day airlines could submit applications for a nonstop flight to DCA. A Transportation Department spokesperson said the final decision on slot allocations will be made in a timely manner after the deadline for comments. United Airlines has nonstop flights to Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia, but many D.C.-bound travelers have to grab connecting flights to DCA. Despite all the recent talk about our democracy, the United States today is not a democracy. This is easy to understand. The concept of democracy says that the people governed are the government. In a large civilization, this means not a direct democracy but a representative democracy, which sees the peoples elected representatives make the laws. Today, though, most of the laws that govern the people do not come from their elected representatives. Instead, executive branch agencies promulgate them contrary to Article I of the US Constitution. That provides All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States This means that, as things stand today, the USA is not a democracybut there is hope. The US Supreme Court that issued the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v Wade may be just the institution with both the will and the power to restore democracy to the USA. Image: United States Supreme Court by Matt Popovich. The Dobbs decision, which held that there is no federal constitutional right to an abortion, announced to the world that this Supreme Court is determined to follow the law honestly and courageously wherever it leads, without regard to political consequences. Fiat justitia ruat coelum! (Let justice be done though the heavens fall.) The defiant roar of the Dobbs Court continues to echo through the political valleys of our land and recently expressed itself in a broadside of four decisions, SEC v. Jarkesey, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, Fischer v. United States, and Trump v. United States. In Jarkesey, the Court was asked to determine whether agency enforcement actions must be tried before a jury. The Court noted that the Constitutions Seventh Amendment provides, In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. When the Security & Exchange Commission acts to recover a monetary penalty for fraud, that action replicates a common law fraud action for damages. Therefore, it cannot be conducted in-house but must be tried before a jury. In Loper Bright, the Court set aside its 1984 Chevron doctrine, which told federal courts to defer to agencies in cases involving regulations. However, the Court again looked to the Constitutionthis time, Article III, which states, The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. Because this inherently includes interpreting statutes, the court must do the interpretation, not the agency (the regulations of which merely provide nuts and bolts for implementing statutes). In Fischer, the Court looked at a statute that explicitly referred to preserving evidence at issue in government investigations and concluded that it did not apply to congressional proceedings. The Court reached this conclusion because the law is the will of the lawmaker (i.e., Congress) and because the rules of statutory interpretation require each provision to be interpreted in light of all other provisions of the same statute. Trespassing in Congress, even if it interrupts congressional acts, is not destroying evidence. In Trump, the Court was asked to determine whether the judicial branch can sit in judgment against something a president did within the scope of his constitutional responsibilities. It concluded that, while some acts must be analyzed to determine whether they fall within constitutional parameters, if they do fall within those parameters, it violates the separation of powers for the Court to criminalize such acts. All five of these decisions are logically obvious applications of the separation of powers doctrine. This doctrine recognizes the genius of the American founders to place the three inherent functions of governmentlegislative, executive, and judicialin three separate branches of government via the first three articles in the US Constitution. The Supreme Court has just reminded the executive and judicial branches of government that they must stay in their lanes. We are today blessed indeed to have a Supreme Court that is especially cautious about staying in its own lane and rejecting the inappropriate influence of the two political branches on its judicial decisions. We eagerly look forward to the day the Court decides to let the other shoe drop and restore democracy to our nation. In that anticipated future decision, the Court will reason that because Article I of the US Constitution vests the legislative power of the United States in Congress, and agency regulations are not acts of Congress, agency regulations are not laws. That decision will be the most glorious achievement of the Dobbs court. Beginning in 2023, cities around the U.S. began to receive funds from FEMA to alleviate the orchestrated, growing, and unaffordable financial burden on taxpayers in regards to the invasion of third world migrants coming for welfareits called the Shelter and Services Program and its costing us an arm and a leg. For FY 2023, the program cost $363.8 million; just one year later, the invoice had nearly doubled, shooting up to $650 million. Now, government officials, from the local levels to Washington D.C.s are asking for as much as three billion dollars for FY 2025. Heres the story, from a report by Tom Gantert at The Center Square: FEMA program for migrants grows along with border crisis FEMAs Shelter and Services Program is another indicator of the growing impact of the arrival of millions of foreign nationals in the U.S. since President Joe Biden took office. The program provides grants to communities for the expenses they will incur for handling migrants. There were 14 states, including Washington D.C., that received the first tranche of money in fiscal year 2023. The funding for the program has increased from $363.8 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024. Now, city officials and politicians are asking it be funded by as much as $3 billion. Another way of looking at the one-year increase? A 725% surge. If that kept up for 2026, were looking at $21.7 billion. 2027? $157.1 billion. Obviously, this is not only unsustainable, its disgusting. FEMA is marketed as the federal governments disaster relief agency, but taxpayers from across the nation are gouged, and further indebted, to cover the living expenses of millions of people who have absolutely no right to be in our nation. The real disaster relief we need is a closed border, and a mass deportation of every last illegal alien living, working, or occupying space in this nation. Mass migration from the third world to the first world never benefits the host nation, it destroys it. Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution defines treason as this: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. Seems like FEMA officials are giving aid and comfort to enemies of the United Stateshow else do you describe violent Latin gangs, Mexican cartels, Islamist jihadis, and Chinese communists? Looks like weve got yet another federal agency that needs to be completely dismantled and parceled out, back to the states of course. Image: YouTube video screen grab. It looks like Joe Biden is refusing to step down from the Democrat presidential ticket. Putting aside the legal issues and deadlines resulting from late ballot changes and the undesirability of Kamala Harris taking over, there are problems with removing Biden by force. Lets take a look at them: 1. Removing Biden at the convention: The delegates are already pledged to Biden. This would require 300 delegate signatures and would be very messy at best, with Michelle Obama (assuming she is their savior) having to compete with other potential candidates. An alternative plan, still very messy and still subject to the aforementioned legal issues but not requiring Bidens removal, is replacing Kamala Harris as VP on the ticket with Barack Obama, who then, with a Democrat presidential victory, becomes president effectively for a third term when Biden steps down or dies. This frightening possibility seems to hold up from a legal standpoint, assuming the late ballot change is not a barrier. 2. Bidens cabinet transfers his presidential power to the vice president due to incapacity, invoking the 25th Amendment. This has the added benefit of hurdling barriers in states which permit a late ballot change for a live candidate only if the candidate is declared insane or mentally incompetent. I doubt Parkinson's disease would qualify, so the Democrats would have to be willing to humiliate Biden with an appropriate diagnosis. This transfer of power requires the declaration not only of the vice president but that of a majority of the cabinet members the president himself selected. Even if that is attained, if Biden attests he is fit, it takes the votes of two-thirds of both Houses to override his reinstatement, not a certainty by any means. Republicans -- or a clever subset of them -- could ensure Biden remains on the ticket by purposely voting to reinstate him, leaving Biden even more wounded after this ordeal and the Democrats who tried to oust him looking very silly. Surprisingly, this possible strategy didnt seem to occur to the media of all persuasions covering this issue. Sure, these Republicans would be criticized for endangering the republic, but what about the Democrat machine that got Biden elected from his basement when he already was mentally incapacitated and continued to hide the decline with MSM complicity to the point of trying to sneak in his reelection? Furthermore, these Republicans could say there will be nothing left of the country to save if the Democrats win the next presidential election. 3. Impeach Biden in the House (majority needed) and then remove him in the Senate (two-thirds needed). This too solves the problem of Biden refusing to step down. Earlier, I speculated that all or just about all Republicans in the House would vote yay (to impeach for corruption) and most Democrats nay, but then in the Senate vote, some Democrats would surprisingly walk out during the voting so that two-thirds of those present voting for removal is attained. But now, with Bidens mental incapacity exposed and Biden looking like a sure loser, the voting patterns might change, with a few RINOs joining Democrats in the House voting to impeach, with the rest of the House Republican vote being inconsequential. What happens in the Senate might be up in the air. Some Republicans may feel this is their one opportunity in history to remove a Democrat president for corruption -- deservedly so -- and theyll take their chances with a replacement on the Democrat ticket and the legal problems it presents. But a surprise walkout by one party or the other during Senate voting could sway the results. Stay tuned. W.A. Eliot is a pseudonym Image: AT via Magic Studio As the cacophony of Democrat supporters, big money donors, and liberal political pundit voices rises to fever pitch over Joe Bidens disastrous debate, coupled with Mr. Bidens less than convincing televised ABC network interview with George Stephanopoulos, hysterical predictions of a second Trump presidency are gaining ground. Numerous television broadcast journalists and their print media colleagues claim that if President Donald Trump returns to the White House in 2025, his first order of business will be to round up and jail dissenters, including Trump media opponents. This prediction would be worrisome if it werent for the fact that hundreds of January 6th protestors are in jail for the crime of dissenting. Pot meet kettle. Rachel Maddow of MSNBC is so terrified of a second Trump term, she told a CNN media colleague, "For that matter, what convinces you that these massive camps hes planning are only for migrants?" Maddow continued. "Im worried about me -- but only as much as Im worried about all of us." Print CNN journalist Richard Galant penned a particularly incendiary article last December, titled, The Trump Dictatorship Predictions. The entire article is a mish-mash of inflammatory Trump-hater statements so ridiculous; the question should be asked of Mr. Galant When did you stop taking your meds? Mr. Galant highlights the 24 Atlantic magazine reporters who opine on ways former President Donald Trump could take a wrecking ball to US democracy if he returns to the White House. David Frum wrote, a second Trump term would instantly plunge the country into a constitutional crisis more terrible than anything seen since the Civil War. Poor things Frum and his Atlantic colleagues must not sleep at night. Talk show host Joy Behar of the daytime show The View is equally frantic about a second Trump term as President. She fears that Trump has the power to have her fired from her job at ABC. Furthermore, days before the televised debate between Biden and Trump, Behar was asked by a TMZ reporter, Some people are saying that Biden looked a little bit more alive during his past few interactions, you know, like speeches. Do you think he is taking something, because sometimes in the past he has been a little bit...?" Behar rudely interrupted and said, No," He's too old to take something." The desperate denial of Joe Bidens acute mental decline is stunning insomuch as his debate performance was proof enough that Mr. Biden is suffering much more than just a stutter, or a cold, or lack of sleep. Not to be outdone, Joy Reid, another MSNBC fanatic who has also claimed Donald Trump will jail dissenters. This belief seems to be a recurring discussion amongst liberal media types. Reid has repeatedly told her viewers that Donald Trump will turn America into a surveillance state. Trumps first-day orders will include strict curfews, ankle monitors, and communication blackouts. After all, Reid exclaimed, thats what dictators do. Joy Reid is certainly not alone, marinating in a state of paranoia. Defaulting to the hes going to throw me in jail canard, former bartender Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez said, "I mean, it sounds nuts, but like, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy threw me in jail," the New York congresswoman said during a podcast appearance with Kara Swisher. She added, I mean, he did his whole first campaign around 'lock her up.' This is his motto." While her angst is palpable, Ocasia-Cortez is also worried about election integrity and thinks the only way to save our democracy is to elect a progressive who would protect American values. Interestingly, but not totally unexpected, Ocasia-Cortez and her squad sisters Omar, Bush, Talib, and Pressley havent uttered so much as a peep, at least not publicly, about Joe Bidens poor debate performance. Which leaves the Hollywood crowd of misfits and malcontents in the throes of feigned torment, worry, and trepidation. Washed-up actor Rob Reiner can always be counted on for nasty, expletive-laden remarks about Donald Trump, and Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame immediately fired off a response regarding the debate, one off night doesnt change the fact that Biden is the most legislatively successful president in our lifetime. Translated: Dont believe your lying eyes. At least Hamill has yet to claim that if Donald Trump is victorious in November, he will be hauled off in handcuffs and escorted to jail for mean tweets and unkind words. While Trump Derangement Syndrome still festers like an infected open wound which refuses to heal, there is hope for some. Democrat Congressman Jared Golden of Maine spoke up last week, penning an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News in which he wrote, Donald Trump is going to win the election and democracy will be just fine. How refreshing. Image: AT via Magic Studio Leave it to the French to make things interesting. Two weeks ago, it appeared that the right would win. Today, God only knows what happens next. This is how the AP describes the situation in France: Election results show French voters have chosen to give a broad leftist coalition the most parliamentary seats in pivotal legislative elections, keeping the far right away from power. Yet no party won an outright majority, putting France in an uncertain, unprecedented situation. Unprecedented situation is a diplomatic way of describing a mess. In other words, no one has the magic 289 to claim a majority out of 577 seats . I think that Perry Mason called that a hung jury. It did not help that the Left messed up the city to celebrate the election. The scenes were amazing. As someone noted, there were more Palestinian than French flags. I guess that's what happens when the border is open and the French are too whatever to have babies. President Macron is headed to Washington for a NATO meeting. Maybe he can chat with President Biden and get some advice and counsel about staying in office. In the meantime, Paris is getting ready to host the Olympics or the ultimate "get on TV opportunity" for the radicals. I hope it goes well because the athletes deserve better, but it will get interesting over there. The ghost of the future is out tonight and everyone in the U.S. understands that we don't have to have that future if we change our course. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Image: Public Domain On April 11, 1875, a pearling schooner named John Bell anchored off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The captain, Joseph Frazer, sent some of his men ashore to find water. Upon landing, they encountered a group of Aborigines and noticed a white man among them. Believing the man was being held against his will, they reported the situation to the captain. Captain Frazer quickly organized a rescue. He sent his men back to barter with the natives, offering valuable goods in exchange for the white man. The natives accepted the trade and released the man. Frazer took him aboard and transported him to the Government outpost at Somerset, located at the tip of Cape York. Although the man did not understand English, he spoke some broken French, and the sailors learned his name was Narcisse Pelletier. Portrait of Narcisse Pelletier published in L'Univers illustre, 14 August 1875. Pelletier stayed at Somerset for about two weeks before boarding the steamer Brisbane to Sydney. During this time, he spoke little. However, during the journey south, he became friends with Lt. John Ottley, a British Indian Army Officer of the Royal Engineers. Using his limited schoolboy French, Ottley persuaded Pelletier to share his remarkable story. Narcisse Pelletier, the son of a shoemaker, was born in 1844 in Saint Gilles, near Bordeaux. When he was only 14 years old, Pelletier departed from Marseilles aboard the ill-fated vessel, the Saint-Paul, as a cabin boy. The ship had a cargo of wine, which was delivered at Bombay, and the journey was continued eastward towards Hong Kong where some 350 Chinese laborers were picked up to work in the Australian goldfields. Perhaps due to the sudden increase in passengers, or perhaps due to poor planning, provisions began to run low. To save time, Captain Emmanuel Pinard decided to cut across the Louisiade Archipelago rather than going around the Solomon Islands. This route was shorter but fraught with peril, as it was filled with dangerous reefs. The situation worsened with bad weather and heavy mist, making the journey even more treacherous. While threading through the reef-laden waters, the Saint-Paul struck a coral reef near Rossel Island and was completely wrecked. The crew and passengers managed to reach a small, waterless island about a kilometer from the wreck. A party was sent to Rossel Island to search for water, but they were attacked by natives, resulting in some men being killed or taken prisoner. Pelletier himself narrowly escaped death after receiving a violent blow to the head from a stone. With their attempts to find water on Rossel Island failing, the captain and his crew boarded a longboat during the night, abandoning the Chinese laborers to their fate. The cabin boy, Pelletier, was not part of the crew's escape plan, but having overheard their discussions, he managed to jump into the boat as they were leaving. Photo of Narcisse Pelletier taken in 1875 after his rescue. Pelletier later claimed that the decision to abandon the Chinese was made because the crew believed it was their best chance of survival. This account differed from Captain Pinards version, in which he insisted that he had gone in search of help, leaving most of the provisions and firearms with the Chinese. Unfortunately, most of those stranded would be dead within a few months, not due to the harsh elements but because they were killed and eaten by cannibals. The gruesome account of a Chinese man who was rescued by a passing ship four months after their marooning was published in the Freeman's Journal in January 1859 and widely reported in Australian newspapers. Pelletier and the men faced severe hardship as they drifted in their open boat. Without fire, they survived on uncooked flour and a few raw birds they managed to catch when the birds flew too close to the boat. About three or four days before reaching land, they also ran out of fresh water. Eventually, after approximately two weeks at sea and a journey of 1,200 kilometers, they landed on the Australian mainland near Cape Direction. The men immediately set off in search of food and water, with a weak and malnourished Pelletier trailing behind. According to Pelletier, the first water hole they found was so small that by the time everyone else had drunk their fill, there was none left for him. Now half-dead from hunger and thirst and suffering from a lacerated foot, Pelletier was told to stay and rest while the water hole refilled. The men promised to return for him after searching for fruit. The next morning, Pelletier discovered to his dismay that he had been maroonedthe longboat and the men were gone. More castaway stories: Leendert Hasenbosch: The Gay Soldier Who Was Marooned on a Deserted Island The Mysterious Jerome of Sandy Cove Philip Ashton The Slaves of Tromelin Island Pelletier was eventually discovered by a local Aboriginal clan known as the Ohantaala. They took him in, fed him, and nursed him back to health. A man named Maademan adopted him as his son and gave him a new name, 'Amglo'. For a long time, Pelletier missed his family and longed to return to France. However, as the years passed, these longings faded, replaced by a deep affection for his adopted family. By the time he was 15, Amglo was fluent in the language and customs of the Ohantaala. The Aboriginal people of Cape York did not build houses; although they sometimes constructed simple shelters, they mostly slept out in the open, completely naked at all times, regardless of the weather. They did not farm or grow food, nor did they keep livestock. Each day, they hunted, fished, and gathered whatever they needed for that day and, at most, the following day. Amglo became skilled in using spears to catch fish. He would stand in shallow water and spear fish with sharp-tipped, barbed spears or go out to sea in an outrigger canoe to hunt for larger fish, turtles, and dugongs. Fearing that Pelletier might try to escape, the natives initially kept him hidden whenever European vessels came ashore. In 1860, two years after Pelletier began living with the Aboriginals, John MacGillivray, a naturalist traveling on the Julia Percy, almost discovered Pelletier while visiting Amglos tribe. MacGillivray wrote, One man was light enough to have been a half-caste, but he shunned observation, and got out of the way when I wished to examine him closely. Photograph of Narcisse Pelletier showing his initiation scars and piercings. Pelletier remained with the Ohantaala for seventeen years, fully assimilating into their social group and undergoing many of the initiation rites reserved for adult men within the tribe. He married a local woman and fathered several children. When Pelletier was discovered by the crew of the John Bell in April 1875, he was found stark naked, like the rest of the tribe. His body was tanned to a rich red color from the sun, his chest adorned with ceremonial scars, and the lobe of his right ear was ornamented with a piece of wood. Pelletier said he did not want to leave his Aboriginal family and only did so because he feared the sailors would shoot him if he did not comply. During his first two weeks in Somerset, he was reportedly restless, "sitting like a bird on a rail watching everyone in a frightened way." After what he insisted was a kidnapping rather than a rescue, Pelletier returned to France and reconciled with his family. He was warmly welcomed by his hometown and initially offered a job in a traveling show, which he refused upon learning he was to be displayed as "the huge Anglo-Australian giant." Instead, he found work as a lighthouse keeper near Saint-Nazaire and married a few years later. Pelletier never returned to Australia and passed away on September 28, 1894, at the age of 50. References: # Narcisse Pelletier: An Extraordinary Tale of Survival, Tales from the Quarterdeck # The Narrative of Narcisse Pelletier, The Brisbane Courier, 24 May 1875 # From French boy to Aboriginal man: the story of Narcisse Pelletier, Tales from the Northern Frontier The modern streaming service landscape is no stranger to mergers and acquisitions. Weve seen so many over the past couple of years, and it doesnt seem to be stopping. According to a new report, Paramount and Skydance are officially merging, and this will lead Paramount to be a tech-media company. Paramount+ is the companys streaming service, and it has a ton of shows and movies from companies like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, etc. You also cant forget about popular Paramount movie franchises like Top Gun, Transformers, Sonic The Hedgehog, Star Trek, and so on. Plans for this service start at $5.99/month. That plan comes with ads, so youll need to keep that in mind. Paramount is merging with Skydance Media Weve been following stories about companies looking to merge with the media giant Paramount. While Paramount+ has been gaining in popularity since its launch, the streaming service has been struggling to break even. This is typical, as running a streaming service is not cheap, especially a streaming service with original content. So, its been a financial loss for the company since the first sign-up. Unfortunately, Paramount had to lay off more than 800 workers earlier this year. As such, this merger is necessary to help Paramount+ turn a profit. According to the report, Skydance is paying $2.4 billion to acquire National Amusements. This is the company that has a controlling stake in Paramount. So, Skydance is buying the farm and animals along with it. Along with this move, Paramount is getting a new head, David Ellison. He is charting the path to success for Paramount, and this includes improving the technology behind Paramount+. For starters, he wants to revamp the recommendations algorithm that curates content to people. That should, ostensibly, keep people invested in the service. Cutting back Thats not all, as Ellison will work on cutting costs and increasing efficiency. When a company says something like that, it usually means laying off another boatload of workers. This is just speculation, however. Its just hard to think otherwise with the way that things have been going over the past couple of years. Along with that, Jeff Shell, the head of the new combined company, told The Times that the company is open to reaching out to other companies for bundled deals. That could be a great move, as there are just too many services out there, and far too many of them are hiking up their prices. Tying them together with bundle deals means that companies will get them at a lower price. If youre a Paramount+ subscriber, you shouldnt expect any sweeping changes in the near future. The deal wont even be finalized until next year. Theres no telling if there will be some changes after the deals been finalized. Samsung seems unsure about releasing the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra. While the product has been in development for a while now, the company has yet to decide whether to proceed with its mass production and market launch. Perhaps it canceled plans for a separate Ultra foldable and merged it with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim. Samsung may have canceled the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra Over the past few months, the rumor mill has churned out reports about four different upcoming Fold-series Samsung foldables. Alongside the regular Galaxy Z Fold 6, there have been talks about a Fold 6 FE, a Fold 6 Slim, and a Fold 6 Ultra. Reports about the Slim variant are still circulating, while we havent heard much about the FE and Ultra lately. Earlier today, reliable industry insider Roland Quandt published a report saying Samsung may have canceled the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra. According to Quandt, the company developed the Ultra as its answer to those slim Chinese foldablesthe device was said to lack S Pen support and come in a thinner and wider profile than the regular Fold 6. It planned to release the device in China and its home country South Korea. However, the Korean biggie is now unsure whether the Ultra is the perfect answer to Honors upcoming Magic V3 and other slim foldables. Since Chinese foldables arent available as widely as Galaxy foldables, Samsung likely sees no point in making a special device for one or two markets. The regular Fold 6 should find enough buyers in Korea, while Galaxy devices are already a tough sell in China. Maybe the Slim version is the same as the Ultra As much as the cancelation of Samsungs Ultra foldable sounds logical, the report may not be entirely accurate. Remember the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim? It is also said to lack the S Pen digitizer for a thinner build. Moreover, rumors say Samsung will make it wider to fit bigger screens and more powerful internals in a slim profile. The Slim version is also planned for a China and/or Korea-only release. All of this suggests the Slim and Ultra are the same device, something industry insider Ross Young hinted at in the past. Long story short, Samsung has a special, thin foldable in the pipeline. It may arrive later this year to take on the likes of the Honor Magic V3 in China. We may hear more about it in the coming months. Time will tell whether it will arrive as the Ultra or Slim. Or maybe Samsung will end up canceling it eventually. The fall-out from Brexit, discord over calls for a united Ireland and Stormonts perilous financial position dominated in the first major TV debate of the General Election campaign in Northern Ireland. Senior representatives from Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance Party, Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP participated in the UTV debate on Sunday. The line-up included three party leaders the DUPs Gavin Robinson, Alliances Naomi Long and the SDLPs Colum Eastwood while Sinn Fein was represented by its North Belfast candidate John Finucane and the UUP by its deputy leader and Lagan Valley candidate Robbie Butler. The debate, which was largely even-tempered in nature, was held in UTVs studios in the City Quays 2 building in Belfast and moderated by the broadcasters political correspondent Vicki Hawthorne. The debate took place at UTVs City Quays 2 studios (Alamy/PA) The hour-long programme began with Mr Robinson being challenged on the DUPs endorsement of the UK Government command paper on post-Brexit trade that the party used to justify dropping its two-year blockade on powersharing at Stormont earlier this year. The DUP leader said he did not accept the suggestion that his party had oversold the deal, as he claimed the package of measures achieved some progress in addressing unionist concerns over trade and sovereignty, but that work remained to be done. Its very clear the roadmap is there, we have attained progress when others either did not care or did not try and we are standing on our record of achieving for the people who elect us, he said. Mr Finucane was pressed on Sinn Feins long-standing abstentionist policy at Westminster in the context of the decisions taken on the shape of the Brexit withdrawal over recent years. He insisted his partys voice had been clearly heard in London through direct meetings with Government ministers and senior opposition MPs. Mr Finucane said Sinn Fein representatives had also brought their message to the heart of the political establishment in Brussels and Washington. If we go back and actually look at the outworking of what the British government were intent on doing, there wasnt a single vote (in Parliament) that was going to stop the Brexit project, he said. And I think that when we have a chamber that, by its very nature, is designed to make MPs from here irrelevant, the real work gets done when we engage with them directly. And thats what weve been doing. Mr Eastwood was asked what difference the SDLP actually made by taking its seats in Westminster. He said he firmly believed that unless elected MPs attend Parliament you just dont count. He said his party had been a voice for common sense in the House of Commons. If youre asking MPs from across the political spectrum in Westminster, they wouldnt really know who Sinn Feins MPs are, he added. Ms Long said there was a need for other voices other than the DUP to be represented at Westminster. The DUP have delivered in the last term they delivered the chaos of Brexit, they delivered collapse of the Assembly, they delivered a very negative outlook from Northern Ireland, she said. What I want to do and what my colleagues want to do is to project that more positive element of Northern Ireland, to talk about what we can achieve and what we can do and the support that we need to be able to enable that. I think that that more positive voice needs to be heard. Those remarks prompted one of the debates more robust exchanges, with Mr Robinson then accusing Ms Long and the other parties of ignoring unionist concerns about post-Brexit trading agreements. They did not care for our concerns, and that is damaging, that is not how progress will be made in Northern Ireland, he said. Ms Long said the fault for the problems Northern Ireland had faced post-Brexit lay at the door of the DUP, for not only campaigning for a UK exit from the EU but also by championing the hardest Brexit. Its unfair I think to create a problem and then expect everyone else to take responsibility for the consequences of it while you live in denial, she told Mr Robinson. Mr Butler said his party had been consistent through the Brexit process, warning of the potential damage a UK exit from the EU might inflict on Northern Ireland. The UTV Election Debate with moderator Vicki Hawthorne lasted an hour (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA) He also accused Sinn Fein and the DUP of making the people of the region suffer the consequences of political failure with their moves to collapse powersharing for two lengthy periods over the last seven years. He said his party would pursue more positive politics at Westminster. It would be making Northern Ireland work, and it wouldnt be the belligerent politics which I grew up with, which I want to see changed, he said. The second part of the debate focused on Stormonts bleak financial picture. Mr Finucane insisted it was a lazy narrative to suggest the solution was Stormont imposing more revenue-raising measures on people in the region. He said the local parties instead needed to take a united approach in pressing the Treasury for more money. What we need is that collective voice pushing back against the Treasury, pushing back against Westminster, and demanding the bare minimum resources that we need to improve, particularly public resources like health and education, he said. Mr Butler was challenged whether his party had acted responsibly in recently voting against the Stormont budget that was agreed by the other Executive parties. Former UUP health minister Robin Swann opposed the budget plan after claiming the allocation to his department would inflict significant damage on health service delivery. We have responsibility for the health portfolio and its very clear that hundreds of millions of pounds short is going to cause harm to the people of Northern Ireland, said Mr Butler. We dont think there was a fair allocation and were working with our Executive partners to see that remedied and we want to see that remedied as quickly as possible. Ms Long accused political rivals of avoiding difficult decisions when it came to reforming and restructuring public services in Northern Ireland. She also said there were other ways to raise revenue, such as taxing corporations and the super-rich, rather than introducing new charges on hard-pressed families. Ms Long said Northern Ireland was underfunded from London but she said there was also a need to address the cost of division in the region, with many services duplicated as a consequence of the need to provide services to divided communities. There can be no escaping the reality that when we get that money, we have to be accountable for how we spend it, she said. We cant overspend, we cant waste. And we need to look, before we start dipping into the pockets of hard-pressed members of the public, we need to look at the money that is wasted on the cost of division in our society. Mr Eastwood said Northern Ireland was an economic basket case and the financial situation once again demonstrated the need for local MPs to attend Westminster to press the next government for more funding. Whilst we would love to see more fiscal powers in Northern Ireland, the powers right now rest in London, so weve got to go there, as much as I dont want to, weve got to go there, hold them to account and speak up for the people here, he said. Mr Robinson made clear his party was opposed to revenue-raising measures. He said people had a higher tax burden now than at any time since the Second World War. Im not sure that theres a strong appetite there to hear about more fiscal devolution, which means more revenue raising, which means more difficulty for hard-pressed working families, he said. The final part of the debate focused on the long-running wrangle over Northern Irelands constitutional future. Mr Robinson said he had no interest in participating in a societal conversation about breaking up the United Kingdom. As a unionist I can say this is a boring repetition of an aspiration which has gained no traction whatsoever over the last 25 years, he said. The combined vote of nationalists and republicanism within Northern Ireland has not grown one bit in 25 years. So, its not gaining traction. As a unionist, the idea of having a casual or a polite or an engaging conversation about this issue about severing my own country is about as attractive as having a polite conversation about severing my own leg. Mr Finucane was asked about recent comments from former taoiseach Leo Varadkar when he suggested the process of changing hearts and minds in relation to constitutional change would require the republican movement making a specific apology for its actions during the Troubles. The senior Sinn Fein representative, whose father Pat was murdered by loyalists during the Troubles, said his party had not been found wanting when it came to moves towards reconciliation. But he said issues around forgiveness should be detached from the debate on a new Ireland. Thats a separate conversation, its a personal conversation, and its something that is very emotive and I would say should be divorced at the right time from this conversation, which is about looking towards the future, he said. Ms Long was pressed several times on why her party did not take a position on the constitutional question. She urged her political rivals to respect the fact she was neutral on the issue. But she said Alliance still wanted to participate in the wider debate. We want to be part of that conversation because it will be our future as much as anyone elses, she said. The important thing though for me is that, first and foremost, as politicians, we wont be the people who make those decisions, itll be the public who make those decisions at the ballot box in a referendum. Mr Butler said nationalists and republicans had been unable to agree a shared vision of what a united Ireland might look like. As a unionist, it is my responsibility to see Northern Ireland work, to see Northern Ireland thrive and Im not picking up anything certainly from the unionist community and even from many in the nationalist community, who are not having that conversation (about unification) at the moment, he said. And thats not to diminish the rights of the SDLP or Sinn Fein or any others to take part in those conversations. But Im not picking up any sense that were at that point. And, in fact, my priority will be to have the alternative conversation, which is to make Northern Ireland the most prosperous place in the United Kingdom and indeed on these islands. Mr Eastwood said reconciliation had to be at the heart of any debate about unifying Ireland. I want that conversation to be a process of reconciliation where we explain to people that we can unite these communities again, we can bring people together, we can give people a better chance in life, a better economic outlook, better public services. I think thats a prize worth having, and being part of the European Union again, he said. I think no matter who you are, no matter what your background is, we have to understand this is not about fixing historic wrongs, this is about building a future together. The Chancellor has revealed plans for a new national wealth fund designed to attract billions in private sector investment to support UK growth. The new Labour Government said it has allocated 7.3 billion in additional state funding to support the investment plan. It is looking to secure roughly triple this in private investment, from the likes of pension funds, to help finance the fund. Nevertheless, an initial report into the proposed national wealth fund found it needs up to 57 billion in private investment by 2030 to help develop industries it is targeting to drive growth. Barclays chief CS Venkatakrishnan was one of those at the meeting of the National Wealth Fund Taskforce in 11 Downing Street (Lucy North/PA) The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, met with a nine-strong National Wealth Fund Taskforce at No 11 Downing Street in order to launch the plans. The taskforce includes former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, Barclays chief executive officer CS Venkatakrishnan and Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc. Ms Reeves said the funding will be used to target green and high-growth industries in the UK. This will see the Government initially focus investment on five industries: green steel, green hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation, gigafactories and ports. The Chancellor said: This new Government is getting on with the job of delivering economic growth. I have been clear that there is no time to waste. I have previously committed to establishing a national wealth fund. I am now going further by bringing together key institutions. We need to go further and faster if we are to fix the foundations of our economy to rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off. The Chancellor has said the Government will focus on accelerating economic growth in order to bring in the extra tax revenues needed to support significant parts of Labours policy plans. The National Wealth Funds investments will be managed by the existing UK Infrastructure Bank, led by former HSBC boss John Flint, with support from the British Business Bank. It added that the proposals will include reforms to the state-owned British Business Bank. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (centre) with her special adviser Neil Amin-Smith (centre left) with Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband (centre right) at the announcement of the establishment of the National Wealth Fund (Justin Tallis/PA) Green Finance Institute chief executive Rhian-Mari Thomas chaired the taskforce. She told the PA news agency: There was a lot of enthusiasm in the meeting, from the Chancellor and members of the taskforce. And Im really encouraged that the Government is looking to move at pace with these plans, to encourage investment from the outset. I think the initial public investment can work as a catalyst and in the longer-term can help to drive proportionately more private investment. Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England, said: This new Government has rightly identified infrastructure investment as a core enabler of building high value, low carbon, competitive industries. The smart use of public investment via the national wealth fund can kick-start economic growth and crowd in private capital to vital sectors including ports, heavy industry and manufacturing. Dan Walker and Helen Skelton filming their latest travel series. (Instagram) (Instagram) We take a look behind the scenes with Dan Walker and Helen Skelton's second series of their Channel 5 travel adventure series. Their travel series Dan & Helens Pennine Adventure got renewed after people fell in love with watching the showbiz duo explore the Pennine mountains: the 'backbone of Britain'. Filming the latest series, Walker and Skelton discovered what Sutton Bank in Yorkshire has to offer. They teased what is to come in a fun-filled Instagram post. The friends wrote in a joint Instagram post: "Great fun filming in the sunshine again today. What an amazing country we have on our doorstep. Laughs, walks and snacks all day long. Coming to a TV screen near you later this year." In the photographs, they were seen enjoying a picnic in the countryside as well as soaking up the sun on glorious walks. Earlier in June, they had shared their first look at the second series being filmed at the Yorkshire Dales National Park where they explored what the countryside had to offer and the cliff faces. Many people shared their excitement with the friends about the upcoming series beneath the most recent Instagram post. Among the comments, one person wrote: "Great pics.cannot wait to see the new series!!!the first one was absolutely brilliant..!!!" Another person said: "Some stunning scenery. Am looking forward to seeing the new series." Someone else wrote: "Great photos Helen, so enjoyed your last series can't wait for the next one. You compliment each other so well, your friendship is a delight." Another fan wrote: "Really enjoyed the first series and very much looking forward to the second. Beautifully presented." Dan Walker and Helen Skelton's friendship Walker and Skelton have been friends for more than a decade and both competed on Strictly Come Dancing. When they got the call about working together on the original series, it was immediately a 'yes'. The pair both have shared sweet details of their friendship ahead of the first series of their travel series on Channel 5. Skelton said: "Dan and I always have a laugh. We find the same situations funny. We both love the Pennines and we both like walking, so it was 'Shall we just go and do a bit of that for telly?' It was just a really nice opportunity to work with a friend and to celebrate a nice part of the world." Walker added: "We've known each other for over a decade, so when the opportunity came up and they said 'We'd like to make a travelogue' I loved the idea of working with Helen... We'd never done it before but we're really good friends. Then I rang Helen about it. I know she gets loads of offers to do things all the time but for me it was the opportunity to work with her and to make a programme about a place that we're both really passionate about." Dan & Helen's Pennine Adventure Dan & Helen's Pennine Adventure first series. (Channel 5) To recap, in the first series, Walker and Skelton cycled along the stunning Snake Pass and canoed along Britain's highest canal tunnel. Their adventures also took them to the Pennine Way's most picturesque towns and villages. They camped without tents in a woodland, near Keighley. Walker had to face his fears of heights on Ilkley Moor too. The friends also abseiled 100 metres into one of the Yorkshire Dale's deepest caves, Alum Pot. The last part of their Pennine adventure saw them head to the North Pennines where they experimented with the high-adrenaline activity Hydrospeeding. We can't wait to see how they get on in the second series! Catch up on the first series of Dan & Helens Pennine Adventure on Channel 5 now. Read more This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dan-walker-helen-skelton-pennine-adventure-145727544.html President Joe Biden waves as he embarks Air Force One on Sunday to depart Harrisburg International Airport. Biden is expected to visit Austin on July 15, the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at Austins Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, according to officials. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law on July 2, 1964. Houston Chronicle file photo PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 07: U.S. President Joe Biden greets supporters during a campaign stop at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ on July 7, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. President Biden continued to campaign amid mounting pressure for him to drop out from running for his re-election bit. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Alex Wong/Getty Images President Joe Biden, from right, takes a photo with Kahlia Brown, Miss Black Teen Pennsylvania, at a campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pa., on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at Austins Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library on July 15 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, a White House official has confirmed. The visit is the first of three stops in three days, starting in Austin, then onto Las Vegas, where Biden will speak at the 115th NAACP National Convention on July 16 and then the next day at the UnidosUS annual conference, described as one of the largest gatherings of Latinos in the country. His appearance in Austin coincides with the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Republicans will discuss their party platform and formally nominate Donald Trump for president. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The trips to Texas and Nevada follow Bidens poor debate performance against Trump on June 27. The presidents fumbles led some congressional Democrats, starting with Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, to call on Biden to withdraw from the race for president. Doggett was not available to comment on Bidens upcoming visit to Texas. The LBJ Presidential Library has not yet released a statement about the presidents visit but has confirmed the event. On July 2, 1964, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, which barred discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. Biden plans to discuss his administrations progress advancing civil rights and his vision to ensure the promise of America for all communities, according to White House staff. Dyson is planning to axe more than a quarter of its UK jobs as part of a major restructuring. The vacuum cleaner manufacturer is to cut around 1,000 of its roughly 3,500 jobs in the UK after a review of its global operations, it told staff in an email on Tuesday morning. The company, which also makes air treatment and haircare technology, is based in Wiltshire, but also has offices in London and Bristol. Dyson is best known for its bagless vacuum cleaners and air treatment products (Dyson/PA) It is understood the decision was not linked to the UK general election, with Dysons review having been started before July 4. Chief executive Hanno Kirner told employees: We have grown quickly and, like all companies, we review our global structures from time to time to ensure we are prepared for the future. As such, we are proposing changes to our organisation, which may result in redundancies. Dyson operates in increasingly fierce and competitive global markets, in which the pace of innovation and change is only accelerating. It marks the latest jobs cull at Dyson after the group axed nearly 1,000 jobs at the start of the pandemic, cutting 600 in UK and another 300 overseas. But the groups commitment to the UK as a major base for research and development is not thought to be affected by the job cuts, while the Dyson Institute which provides undergraduate engineering programmes will continue to be based at the Malmesbury site in Wiltshire. Dyson was founded in 1991 by billionaire inventor Sir James Dyson. The firm has been headquartered in Singapore since a decision in 2019 to switch from the UK. It marked a controversial move, given that Sir James had been a vocal supporter of Brexit. Sir James has also been increasingly critical of the former Conservative government, claiming in May that Rishi Sunaks pledge to turn the UK into a science and technology superpower was a mere political slogan. Earlier in the year he had also warned Mr Sunak that growth should not be seen as a dirty word, accusing the then government of a short-sighted approach to business. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has hailed his party as the new kids on the block as the Party leaders gave their opening speeches to Parliament. The Speaker election marks the first day of the new Parliament, which welcomes 335 new MPs to the chamber. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed, while the new leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak told the Commons, our democracy is powerful and, as we have witnessed, it can be definitive. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage elicited groans when he criticised Sir Lindsay Hoyles predecessor John Bercow as a little man (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party, was founded in 2018. Prior to last weeks election, the party had only one MP, Lee Anderson, who defected from the Conservative Party. Reform returned five MPs, including Mr Farage, who was successfully elected for Clacton in his eighth run at the Commons. Mr Farage told MPs: We have no experience in this Parliament whatsoever, even though some of us have tried many times over the years previously. Eliciting groans from the Government benches, Mr Farage compared speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to his predecessor John Bercow. In March 2019, Mr Bercow pre-empted a move by the Government to bring the Brexit UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement for a third vote. Mr Farage said: We absolutely endorse (Sir Lindsay) entirely for this job. And it is, I must say, in marked contrast to the little man that was there before you and besmirched the office so dreadfully in doing his best to overturn the biggest democratic result in the history of the country. We support you Sir, fully. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood went on to joke that new MPs should not fall out with the Speaker. The SDLP leader said: I want to take this opportunity also to welcome all the new members, even the ones that I profoundly disagree with. The one piece of advice I have to give every new member here is to remember that the Speaker doesnt just chair the meetings hes the boss. He is in charge of everything around this place and I would do well be it not to fall out with him. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey thanked Sir Lindsay for the care he shows MPs, including the concern he exhibited for those with vigorous election campaign schedules. (PA Graphics) Over the six weeks of the campaign Sir Ed was known for stunts such as bungee-jumping, paddle-boarding and kayaking. He told the Commons: Mr Speaker-elect has always been a real champion for the security and safety of all members and all our staff as well as looking after our health and welfare. We are grateful to you for doing that. Sir, just yesterday, you asked after my health following my active campaign and the House may be interested to know that after I reassured you about my health you expressed real enthusiasm about bungee jumping. Sir Ed also said: We on these benches will hold the Government to account, that is our job. We will focus on the health and care crisis, we will focus on ending the sewage scandal, we will focus on helping people with a cost of living crisis. Sir Lindsay faced pressure earlier this year to step down as Speaker over his handling of a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza which led to the SNP walking out of the chamber in protest. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: I think its safe to say that me and you didnt always see eye to eye during the course of the last parliament but in politics and in life, I think its important to let bygones be bygones and to focus on the future. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey speaking in the House of Commons (UK Parliament/PA) Mr Flynn also referred to his partys loss of over 30 seats, the majority of which were won by Labour. He said: I wish to begin by welcoming all new members to the chamber, in particular those members from Scottish constituencies. Theres probably a few more new members from Scottish constituencies than I would like to have seen, but I do look forward to working constructively with you to deliver in the best interests of the people that we are all so fortunate to represent. In his speech earlier, Sir Lindsay referred to the DUP MP for Strangford, Jim Shannon who is known for his frequent contributions in debates of any and all natures. He said: Needless to say, in this role you need staying power. Ive already been speaker during the tenure of three prime ministers, two monarchs and one Jim Shannon. When welcoming the Speaker, DUP leader Gavin Robinson made reference to his earlier mention of Mr Shannon. He said: Congratulations Mr Speaker-elect, we are thrilled to see you back in your seat but for those new members of Parliament who have yet to understand just how this place works, some of them will learn through time that Jim Shannon needed no further encouragement. First Direct reduced the mortgage rates it is offering by up to 0.17 percentage points on Tuesday, following a slew of rate cuts by major lenders last week. The bank has cut rates across its range of two, three and five-year fixed repayment mortgages, for first-time buyers and home movers. The reductions include a cut on a two-year fixed-rate deal for people with a 15% deposit, which is now priced at 4.99%, down from 5.16%. Liam OHara, head of mortgages at First Direct said: Were pleased to be reducing our rates across our range of two, three and five-year fixed mortgages, across LTVs (loans to value) from 60% to 95%. We see the highest demand for those products and todays changes will help people making their first steps on the ladder, or those moving into their next home. Economists have predicted that the Bank of England base rate will be reduced from the current 16-year high of 5.25% at the next vote on August 1 and there have already been signs of lenders mortgage rates edging down. Last week, Halifax, HSBC UK, Barclays, Santander, NatWest and Yorkshire Building Society were among those to shake up their ranges, with some lenders cutting their mortgage rates more than once over the past couple of weeks. Ben Merritt, the Yorkshires director of mortgages, said last week that market conditions had allowed it to reduce rates on several products across its range. Some commentators have also suggested that the need to generate more business and ramp up their summer sales may be motivating lenders to tweak their rates. There have also been some recent signs that the choice of mortgage products is improving. Financial information website Moneyfacts said this week that it had counted 361 mortgage products available for people with 5% deposits at the start of July, marking the highest total since May 2022. People looking for low deposit deals are often first-time buyers. Moneyfacts looked at data for the first available day of each month for the research. Something that many dog parents like to do is to let our pups try new foods and watch their reactions to them. Benji is a French Bulldog whose dad lets him try new things, and in this video it's watermelon. It's a refreshing treat that many of us enjoy all summer long! Benji's dad posted the video at the beginning of July. It starts with dad showing his pooch the weird green object and letting him sniff and check it out...he probably thinks it's a big, green ball! Then dad slices it open and takes Benji outside to try it. I think it's safe to say that it's a hit! Benji is a fan of watermelon! It's the perfect refreshing and hydrating summer treat that you can enjoy with your dog. Commenters also enjoyed the cute video. @Hekela said, "Thats so adorable. Love the little excited jumps!" Many people gave other fruit suggestions for Benji to try. @Paula-Andreaa shared, "So cuuuuuute!!!! Try mango. My Frenchie loves it!" @Bailey the FrenchieDog added, "Get strawberries! I get mine from the farmer's market. If they are sour mine wont eat it." Related: Precious Video of Corgi Enjoying a Watermelon Is the Ultimate Timeline Cleanse Human Foods Dogs Can (And Can't!) Eat I can't wait to give my dog watermelon! It's so versatile and you can give it to them fresh or freeze it and it's kind of like giving them a pupsicle. My dog also loves blueberries, carrots, strawberries, and chicken. But there are so many more foods that I want her to try. First off, before you give any new food to your dog, Google them first to find out if they can safely have them. Did you know that grapes are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure? Onions and garlic are also toxic. That's why it's so important to check on even everyday foods that you probably have in your kitchen. But there are so many healthy foods that you can give to your pooch as an occasional treat! Many of these actually help keep your dogs teeth clean as well. One of my dog's favorite treats are both fresh and frozen berries. Did you know that strawberries have enzymes that help keep a dogs teeth white! Carrots are hard and 'brush' your dog's teeth as they chew them up. Dental hygiene is really important to your dog's health and becomes even more important as your dog ages. Some dog breeds are more predisposed to developing dental problems than others, which is why offering them healthy foods to keep them in tip top shape should be a priority. Others yummy foods to consider include celery, apples (deseeded), coconut, almonds, and sweet potatoes. Feed your pup all of these in moderation; some of them are high in sugar and can cause your dog to gain weight. And when in doubt, especially if your dog has medical issues or allergies, always check with your vet first. Even foods that are safe for dogs can upset their tummies, and this list contains foods to give them when they have stomach issues. It's good to keep on hand! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Gareth Gates has said Rowan Atkinson inspired him to try acting, after learning the Mr Bean star also has a stammer. Pop Idol winner Gates has often spoken about his struggles with his speech impediment and said he was surprised when he found out that Atkinson faced the same challenge. Gates told ITVs Good Morning Britain: I met the incredible Rowan Atkinson and he introduced himself and I could instantly see he had a really bad stammer. I was really amazed by this, hes a very well-known actor. Blackadder and Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson learned how to manage his speech impediment (Ian West/PA) We sat down and I chatted with him for hours, obviously, because we cant speak. He actually inspired me to act and, off the back of meeting him, Ive done lots of West End shows, Ive learned scripts and dialogue. I can now speak on stage, purely down to him, so we all inspire each other. Gates will soon be appearing on stage in his new show Gareth Gates Sings Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and has previously appeared in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Miserables, Footloose, Boogie Nights, and Legally Blonde. Atkinson has starred in films such as Wonka, Love Actually and Johnny English, as well as cult TV series Blackadder. Gates also addressed how it feels when other people interrupt to finish his sentences when he is stammering, often thinking they are helping. He said: It can be very frustrating if you finish a sentence that Im trying to say, and its the wrong thing. No, Im not trying to say that! 'It can be very frustrating.' Gareth Gates and @edballs explain how people can best support others living with the stammer. pic.twitter.com/82JsmxZIi3 Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 9, 2024 The advice is just be patient, and if you are patient, its just accepting them for who they are and giving them the space that they need. Gates has previously bonded with GMB host Ed Balls about living with a stammer, with the politician turned presenter saying he was inspired by the musician. Balls said he still sometimes struggles to get words out while he is hosting live television, but co-presenter Susanna Reid knows to give him the time he needs. He said to Reid: Every now and then I will have a bit of a block and its momentary. But I know that you now know that, when that happens, you just wait, and then we carry on, whereas the instinct is Oh my gosh, hes in trouble, should I jump in? and that ends up being destabilising. Susanna is brilliant at it, because she can see it and read it. And that is what teachers need to do, its what mums and dads learn to do, it is what we all need. British actor Hugh Grant has said the closure of Fulham Road Picturehouse is strangely unbearable. The cinema, in south-west London, announced on social media in June that it had made the tough decision to close the venue from Thursday July 11. The same day Bromley Picturehouse revealed it would close its doors on Thursday August 1. Fulham Rd cinema closing after 94 years. Strangely unbearable. Lets all sit at home and watch content on streaming . While scrolling. Miserable face emoji. pic.twitter.com/NY2jo9R7TO Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) July 9, 2024 In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Grant, 63, known for his roles in Notting Hill and Love Actually, said: Fulham Rd cinema closing after 94 years. Strangely unbearable. Lets all sit at home and watch content on streaming. While scrolling. Miserable face emoji. The cinema, which originally opened in 1930 as the Forum Theatre, became the 26th cinema in the Picturehouse family in December 2019. The company that owns the building has said it will try to protect the art deco facade and added that it was exploring options for retaining some cinema use. A spokesperson for Martins Properties said: Cineworld has now confirmed that it has terminated its lease at 142 Fulham Road and the last trading day will be Thursday July 11. Martins Properties has been a local property owner, operator and developer in Fulham and Chelsea since 1946 and has owned this building for the past 20 years. We are committed to securing a long-term future for this building and are already in discussions with officers at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council. Hugh Grant made his comments in a post on X (Ian West/PA) We are at the early stages of this exercise and will consult our neighbours and the wider community before bringing forward any proposals. However, among our priorities will be to preserve and protect the art deco facade of the building on Fulham Road, and we are also exploring options for retaining some cinema use. However, that is increasingly challenging as a consequence of the severe challenges faced by the UK cinema industry in recent years with reducing admissions, made worse at Fulham Road by increased local competition and a building that is unsuitable for a 21st century cinema. The cinemas closure comes amid reports that Cineworld, Picturehouse Cinemas parent company, is planning to shut around a quarter of its UK cinemas in its latest restructuring. We're very sorry to announce that we've made the tough decision to close Fulham Road Picturehouse from Thu 11 July. Between now and then, you can continue to enjoy all we have to offer we hope to see you soon. If you're a Member, we'll be in touch in due course. pic.twitter.com/EPTa7zEpsP Fulham Road Picturehouse (@FulhamRoadPH) June 24, 2024 The group is among a number of 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. The group was listed on the London Stock Exchange until last year, when it was taken over by investors and hedge funds after it had been hamstrung by its multibillion-pound debt pile. The investors exchanged billions of pounds worth of debt for equity in the business, after the group also filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. The Irish Cabinet has formally agreed to provide assistance to the UKs inquiry into the Omagh bombing. The dissident republican bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. The UK Government has outlined its terms of reference for the independent probe, which will be chaired by Lord Alan Turnbull. It will examine alleged security failings that led a High Court judge to conclude the atrocity could plausibly have been prevented. Irish deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin and justice minister Helen McEntee secured approval to provide assistance to the inquiry at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. A Government spokesman said this honours a commitment given to Omagh families. The spokesman added: Ireland has accepted the invitation of the inquiry chairman Lord Alan Turnbull to be represented at a preliminary hearing on the 30th of July. This is a complex process that involves working with another jurisdiction but we do have recent precedent for doing this. For example, the Omagh civil case and we also produced legislative means to assist inquests in Northern Ireland with Operation Denton and the independent review of activities into the Glennane gang. Officials will now explore a memo of understanding for the States engagement with this upcoming inquiry. Mr Martin has said the Government intends to do everything possible to assist the inquiry. Officials from the departments of foreign affairs and justice continue to work with the inquiry team on how best to structure Irish engagement with the inquiry. The inquiry will examine the adequacy of the measures taken by UK state authorities, including the police, security forces and intelligence and security agencies, to disrupt dissident republicans who had been involved in attacks from December 1997 up to and including the Omagh bombing. It will assess whether that approach changed following the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998. It will also probe alleged intelligence-sharing failures between the UK and Irish authorities in the year and a half leading up to the bombing. A number of families of Omagh victims have repeatedly called for an inquiry to also be carried out into the bombing in the Republic of Ireland. However, Mr Martin has previously said he did not think it made sense to have two separate inquiries on both sides of the Irish border. James Cleverly says Tories need to get our act together James Cleverly has warned against bitter infighting among the Tories and said his party needs to get our act together ahead of the race to replace Rishi Sunak as leader. His comments came as an MP accused the committee that sets the rules for the leadership contest of being bent, Suella Braverman called Reform an existential threat to the Tories and Kemi Badenoch reportedly used Rishi Sunaks first shadow cabinet meeting to criticise his campaign and Ms Braverman. Mr Cleverly has been appointed to shadow his former role of home secretary after Labours landslide win saw the Conservatives handed their worst ever election result. The party needs to conduct a sensible post mortem on what went wrong and finding the right path forwards, Mr Cleverly wrote in The Times. He wrote: As we do this we must remember two vital things. Firstly, it cannot descend into bitter infighting and finger pointing. That is exactly how we ended up here. A narrower offer will not win back voters that have been lost to the left or right, Mr Cleverly warned. He said: We must get our act together. We need to unite in order to deliver. It will take humility and hard work, to recover our reputation for competence and integrity, to rebuild trust in our party, and unite behind a broad platform that will give people a reason to vote Conservative again. Former home secretary James Cleverly (Joe Giddens/PA) Right-wingers and more moderate Tories are expected to battle it out for the top job in a contest that could shape the party for years to come. Mr Sunak last week announced he would step down as party leader once the formal arrangements for choosing a successor are in place. If he throws his hat in the ring, Mr Cleverly could face competition from high-profile right-wingers Ms Braverman and Ms Badenoch. Dame Priti Patel, who served as home secretary between July 2019 and September 2022, Robert Jenrick, who previously served as immigration ministerand ex-health secretary Victoria Atkins could also put themselves forward. Jeremy Hunt, a centrist figure in the party, has ruled out running. Tory MPs usually vote to select the top two candidates to put forward as potential leaders, with the party membership choosing the ultimate winner. However, the rules and timeline of the race would be set out by the backbench 1922 Committee, which has elected Bob Blackman as its new chair. Tory MP Mark Francois said the vote to choose the new chair was bent after he attempted to vote but was turned away. Voting took place in the Houses of Parliament between 5pm and 5.30pm on Tuesday, but some MPs were told in an email they could vote until 6pm, the PA news agency understands. This election was bent, Mr Francois said as he left the room. I think the 1922s level of competence has reached a new low. Ms Badenoch criticised Mr Sunak in the first shadow cabinet meeting after his election campaign, calling his decision to leave D-Day commemorations early disastrous and saying colleagues including Penny Mordaunt would have kept their seats if he had stayed longer in France, according to The Times and The Telegraph. She also reportedly said Ms Braverman appeared to be having a very public nervous breakdown. Mr Sunak had reportedly opened the meeting with an apology. Ms Braverman meanwhile has hit out at liberal Conservatives at an event in Washington DC and at a Popular Conservatism event in London said that Reform UK is an existential threat to the Tories. Ex-Tory MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was also at the event and spoke of the need to win back voters from Reform, which won five seats, including Clacton in Essex for leader Nigel Farage. Ms Braverman, appearing via a recorded video, said of the loss of her partys 80-seat majority from 2019: We were going to stop the wave of illegal migrants landing on our shores. We were going to cut taxes. .@SuellaBraverman addresses our Beginning the rebuild conference via a video link from Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/AAx116ZFwf popconuk (@popconuk) July 9, 2024 We were going to stop the lunatic woke virus working its way through the British state. The harsh reality this is a lesson we all need to learn and face up to is that we did none of that. The Tories made a net loss of 251 seats at the election last week, leaving the party with 121 MPs. Labour won a landslide with 412 MPs, ousting several senior Tory figures including Sir Jacob, former Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, defence secretary Grant Shapps and ex-prime minister Liz Truss. She added: Historically in British politics, we have had a monopoly on the right-wing vote. Thats one of the reasons we have been so successful. The left, by contrast, for the last 100 years has been split. Left wing have had a choice of party to go for and we by contrast have had the luxury of a monopoly, but no longer, and that is why the Reform party presents an existential threat to us electorally. Jasmine Paolini kept the Italian flag flying at Wimbledon by thrashing Emma Navarro to reach the semi-finals. Centre Court was still reeling from the defeat suffered by Italys poster boy and world number one Jannik Sinner, at the hands of Daniil Medvedev, when Paolini entered the fray. The 28-year-old seventh seed duly dispatched American Navarro 6-2 6-1 to become the first Italian woman to make the last four in SW19. The first Italian woman in the Open Era to make the semi-finals at #Wimbledon Bravo, @JasminePaolini pic.twitter.com/lhR7gyS6Kg Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2024 Its amazing to get the win on this special court and Im so happy to be in the semi-final, she said. Its so special, a dream to be here in this position. I was watching finals on this court when I was a kid, its strange to be here. Before this year Paolini had never won a match on grass, or gone beyond the second round of a major tournament. But she was a surprise runner-up at the French Open last month and has proved that run was no flash in the pan by standing on the brink of a second final in a matter of weeks. Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro shake hands (John Walton/PA) Navarro has also been flying this fortnight having already accounted for Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, and had beaten Paolini in their previous three meetings. The New Yorker drew first blood, the breaking serve to lead 2-1 in the opening set. But Paolini, visibly irritated at herself, hit straight back to embark on a run of six games in a row, wrapping up the opening set and holding at the start of the second. Jasmine Paolini hits a forehand (John Walton/PA) Navarro stopped the bleeding in the next and then began unleashing her fearsome forehand to bring up a break point. It was an encouraging game from Navarro, but Paolini wriggled out of it and from that point onwards the 19th seed did not get another sniff. A statement victory was wrapped up in only 58 minutes and a semi-final against Donna Vekic, the world number 37, awaits. Emma Navarro was well beaten (John Walton/PA) Navarro said: She was a totally different player today than when I played her in the past. I felt like in our previous meetings I was the aggressor, I was the one controlling points, getting ahead at the beginning of points, then controlling the rallies, too. I felt just the opposite of that today. I felt like she was just on top of me from the very first point. Negotiations between junior doctors in England and the new Government are expected to start today with a view to end the long-running dispute over pay. Medics from the British Medical Association (BMA) are to meet with Department of Health and Social Care officials to try and hammer out a deal to see an end to strikes which have been causing widespread disruption across the health service. Officials from the union have previously said that they expect the conversation could be tough. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has said previously he would not meet demands for a 35% pay increase (Lucy North/PA) But the BMAs junior doctors committee has said Labour comments about pay rises being a journey and not an event align with their pay restoration goals. Health leaders urged the Government to resolve the dispute as a priority after it emerged that tens of thousands of appointments were postponed as a result of the latest strike. NHS England said 61,989 appointments, procedures and operations were postponed as a result of the walkout from June 27 to July 2. The strike was the 11th by junior doctors in 20 months. Junior doctors in England have said their pay has been cut by more than a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% increase. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has said previously he would not meet the 35%, saying that if he gave in to the demand then any trade union worth their salt would come back the following year with the same request. He has said there is space for a discussion on pay, as well as negotiations on how to improve working conditions for medics in training. Since December 2022 there have been strikes across a number of staff groups working in the NHS including nurses, other doctor groups, physiotherapists and paramedics, among other staff. Collectively this industrial action has led to nearly 1.5 million appointments, procedures and operations postponed, at an estimated cost to the NHS of more than 3 billion. Aria Willis excitedly points out the mask her sister, Aliza Willis painted to look like Fantastic Mr Fox, her favorite book and movie character. Willis, a fourth grader at Lackland Elementary painted the mask cast by her teacher David Anthony Garcia. Garcia hung the masks in a display called Coming Together at the Central Library. Jessica Phelps Ceramic masks protrude from black panels as if peeking through shadows. Several of the masks resemble kids favorite characters. The faces include a webbed Spider-Man, Mario of Mario Bros. video-game fame and blue Papa Smurf, sporting a red cardboard hat and white, cotton-ball beard. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The masks are part of the Coming Together art exhibit at the San Antonio Central Library. Art teacher David Anthony Garcia and his fourth- and fifth-grade students at Lackland Elementary School created 180 masks to celebrate the citys diversity, with plenty of nods to pop culture. Thirty of Garcias personal works accompany the exhibit. Paxton Dickman, 10 proudly shows off the mask he painted to look like a Dogman. Dickman, a student at Lackland Elementary painted the mask cast by his teacher David Anthony Garcia. Garcia hung the masks in a display called Coming Together at the Central Library. Jessica Phelps Students created plaster molds from faces of San Antonians in the last five weeks of Lackland Elementarys school year. Garcia then talked with each student about which character they wanted to create, using the molds as starting points. He also printed color copies of subjects that his youngsters could use as visual references. Volunteers had allowed Garcia to slather Vaseline on their faces, followed by plaster. The casts were set within 12 minutes. Then he poured in liquefied clay that formed a reusable shell. Mask models ranged from 10 to 70 years old, and came from all walks of life a mix of genders, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats the beautiful part about the show, Garcia said. That integration and bringing people together, which our society needs right now. On July 20 at 2 p.m., Garcia will host an artist talk at the Central Library. Students will discuss how they chose their models and made their masks, and take questions from the audience. The show opened June 22 and will run through July 27. Aubree Gamble looks at the display of the masks she and fellow Lackland Elementary classmates painted under the direction of their teacher, David Anthony Garcia. Garcia helped the students put together the show that is on display with his own work at the Central Library. Jessica Phelps They knew they were making art for arts sake, Garcia said. To have it in a public space is a huge opportunity to make an impact on the public, so they can see kids have a voice. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The idea came from an exhibit Garcia and friends saw in Houston. Like many of his students, who have parents or guardians posted at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the art instructor grew up in a military family. His father served in the Air Force, taking the family on assignments around the world. In 1996, he graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelors of fine arts degree. Art is my existence, Garcia said. Lackland Elementary students Seth Weirton, 11, Aliza Willis, 10 Aubree Gamble, 10 and Paxton Dickman, 10 stand with their art teacher, David Anthony Garcia. Garcia, an art educator at Lackland Elementary had his 4th and 5th grade students paint the faces he cast of local San Antonians for an exhibit at the Central Library called Coming Together. Jessica Phelps Recently, a 7-foot piece by Garcia, titled Eye on the Future, was auctioned for $10,000 to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tonya Hyde, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Lackland Independent School District, said the district appreciates Garcias work with kids. For us, its such a joy to have, Hyde said. Its not in isolation that these creative opportunities exist its who our students are. If we want them to have a sense of belonging, we have to find these opportunities and present them in a way they can engage with daily to have more enriching experiences. Garcia recently met with four of his students at the Central Librarys art gallery. Paxton Dickman, 10, chose Dog Man because he loves the characters books. Seth Weirton, 11 produce shows off the mask he painted to look like a zombie. Weirton, a fifth grader at Lackland Elementary painted the mask cast by his teacher David Anthony Garcia. Garcia hung the masks in a display called Coming Together at the Central Library. Jessica Phelps Aubiee Ganvle, 10, recreated the mischievous alien Stitch from the Disney animated movie Lilo & Stitch. She said the mask doesnt look exactly like the blue creature, but its how she thought the extraterrestrial should look. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: Claudette Hopkins shares love of the arts with teen students I feel his personality matched mine, because were both very weird and crazy, Aubiee said. I love his actions. Seth Weirton, 11, created a Walking Dead face, with a dangling eyeball. It was fun, Seth said. I got to paint a zombie. Aliza Willis, 10, created her favorite character from the Roald Dahl book and 2009 movie Fantastic Mr. Fox. Hes very sneaky, but funny, Aliza said. Hes cheeky. Aliza Willis proudly shows off the mask she painted to look like Fantastic Mr Fox, her favorite book and movie character. Willis, a fourth grader at Lackland Elementary painted the mask cast by her teacher David Anthony Garcia. Garcia hung the masks in a display called Coming Together at the Central Library. Jessica Phelps Her mother, Daniella Willis, watched visitors look over the students masks. Willis said Garcias art class boosted Alizas confidence and helped her deal with changes that come with being a military child. She has loved it, Willis said. She found a way to release the big emotions of sadness and stress. Its nice seeing joy come back to her. In the fall, Garcia will start his 25th year at Lackland Elementary, where hes seen youngsters grow up and become everything from engineers to musicians. Kate Beckinsale said she was in hospital for six weeks with health issues relating to the stress and grief of the sudden death of her step-father, which burned a hole in my oesophagus which made me vomit copious amounts of blood. The British actress, best known for her role as the vampire Selene in the Underworld film series, had been struggling with previously undisclosed health issues in recent months. In March, she posted a selection of now-deleted photos on social media from what looked to be a hospital bed and did not disclose the reason for her apparent stay in the medical facility. She also hinted at her health woes when she uploaded photos of her wearing a tummy troubles survivor T-shirt in April, in what appeared to be a hospital. After posting a video on Instagram aimed at her critics, 50-year-old Beckinsale responded to a comment which advised her to do some squats. I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer, and I lost a lot of weight from stress and grief, quite quickly and then I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus which made me vomit copious amounts of blood, and I found eating very hard, she said. Beckinsale also said that before her hospital stay she had worked very very hard on a movie that was actually quite triggering because it also involved the theme of the death of my father. TV director Roy Battersby, who won the Alan Clarke Award for outstanding contribution to television in 1996, died aged 87 in January. He was known for his work on crime series Cracker, Between The lines, Inspector Morse and A Touch Of Frost and Tim Roth-starring BBC drama King Of The Ghetto. The King hailed winners of a business prize as representing the best of British during a Windsor Castle event staged in their honour. Charles welcomed companies recognised for their innovation with the Kings Award for Enterprise to his Berkshire home, and chatted to the entrepreneurs and established executives whose practices and products have earned them praise. The awards are one of the most prestigious business accolades in the country, with winners able to use its emblem for the next five years and many report it boosts their profile and access to new markets. Among the guests was Jonathan Reynolds, the new Business Secretary, and pointing to the business people Charles told the politician they represent the best of British. The King shakes hands with Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (Andrew Matthews/PA) One of the first winners Charles met was the senior team from WeWalk, which has produced a smart walking stick for the visually impaired that can give directions, beep when obstacles are sensed and even provide information about points of interest. Dr Jean-Marc Feghali, the companys chief innovation officer, was joined by its chief executive officer Gokhan Mericliler and the King noticed the white stick beeping as there was an obstacle nearby. Mr Mericliler said: The King seemed impressed by the voice assisted aspect, being about to talk to the cane, its interactive element, that excited him the most. Other winners included Bluewater, which removes harmful phosphorus from rivers and Frugalpac which produces a paper bottle for wines and spirits. The King also was joined at the drinks reception by the Duke of Kent and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who mingled with the guests. Spain overcame an early deficit to beat France and reach the final of Euro 2024 as Lamine Yamal became the youngest scorer in European Championship history. Yamal at the tender age of 16 years and 362 days struck a stunning equaliser and Dani Olmo quickly added what turned out to be the winner as Spain recovered from Randal Kolo Muanis header to win 2-1 and book a date with England or the Netherlands in Sundays final. Kolo Muani had headed France in front from close range but Les Bleus were upstaged by the Barcelona teenager, who turns 17 on Saturday. Spains Dani Olmo, centre right, celebrates with team-mates after scoring his sides second goal against France (Bradley Collyer/PA) It was a moment to cherish as Yamal jinked to his left then moved to his right, allowing space back on his left foot to beat Mike Maignan from 25 yards with a precise curling shot that went in off a post. Spains victory saw them become the first side to win six consecutive games at the Euros without the need for penalties. Yamal beating Peles record as the youngest player to feature in a major tournament semi-final posted early notice of his threat with a pinpoint fifth-minute cross that Fabian Ruiz headed over from inside the six-yard box. On the same flank, Frances captain and talisman Kylian Mbappe was more recognisable both with and without the ball at his feet. Mbappe had dispensed with the mask he had worn since breaking his nose during Frances opening win over Austria. Randal Kolo Muani, centre, powers France into the lead against Spain with an early header (Bradley Collyer/PA) France had struggled for fluency during the tournament with Mbappe seemingly hampered by the mask but this was a different story as stand-in 38-year-old full-back Jesus Navas had a difficult time early on. Nine minutes had elapsed when Mbappe clipped in a cross that Kolo Muani met to become the first France player to score in open play at Euro 2024. Mbappe went close again with a blocked effort, but Yamals brilliance levelled the score after 21 minutes and Spain were soon ahead. Olmos delicious touch took him past Aurelien Tchouameni and Jules Kounde could not keep out the Spaniards powerful shot as the defender backtracked towards his own goal. It was originally given as a Kounde own goal, but that was correctly changed as Olmo was rewarded for his superb piece of skill. France captain Kylian Mbappe played without a mask for the first time since breaking his nose in Les Bleus opening game at Euro 2024 (Bradley Collyer/PA) A high-quality contest was extremely easy on the eye, and France fashioned chances at the start of the second half. Unai Simon held Mbappes tame effort before getting a hand to Ousmane Dembeles drilled cross, and Dayot Upamecano mistimed his header when unmarked at a corner. France boss Didier Deschamps made a triple substitution by sending on Antoine Griezmann, Bradley Barcola and Eduardo Camavinga, with Spain seemingly content to protect their advantage and little more. It was a policy that paid off with Mbappes wayward attempt in the closing moments summing up his disappointing tournament and stamping Spains ticket to the Berlin final. There was a worrying incident after the match as Spain captain Alvaro Morata was left limping after a collision involving a member of personnel at the stadium. Martin Lewis, Taylor Swift, Elon Musk and Adele are among the people whose profiles have been commonly misused in scam adverts, analysis of Action Fraud data suggests. MoneySavingExpert.com analysed data from Action Fraud, looking at how frequently public figures were mentioned in scams reported to it in 2022 and 2023. The findings indicate that high-profile people from a range of sectors, including entertainment, business, politics and royalty, have had their names misused. The King, Jeremy Clarkson and Rishi Sunak were among those to appear in the list compiled by MoneySavingExpert. The website, founded by Mr Lewis, said the data it looked at is likely to be a drop in the ocean, as many people do not report scams to the police. Action Fraud supplied reported scams data based on a list of celebrities provided by MoneySavingExpert.com. To generate that list, the website asked on social media for people to say who they had seen appear in scam ads. Mr Lewis topped the list in the analysis of the most featured public figures mentioned in reports to Action Fraud. MoneySavingExpert said Action Fraud data indicates victims have reported losing more than 20 million to scams misusing Mr Lewiss profile in the past two years. The biggest individual reported loss attributed to a scam featuring Mr Lewis was 500,000. Mr Lewis said: Its likely that the criminals pumping out these scam ads effectively use their own in-house dark-web digital marketing teams, researching which celebrities and advert types get the best click through rates, and honing the way they work to be able to attract more victims. Almost certainly they will be collecting data on each public figures power to draw people in and how many people who respond to a celeb in an advert then go through to part with the money. Mr Lewis added: And if its an ad with me in, its always a scam, as I dont do adverts. Topping this list is about the worst compliment Ive ever had. He continued: The new Government has promised to ensure that tech companies have a clear obligation, and a clear financial incentive, to work with banks to prevent scams, identify fraudulent transactions and support victims. Well be watching closely to see if it delivers. Mentions of cryptocurrency, investing, retirement planning and promises to get rich quick are particular warning signs to look out for in scam ads, MoneySavingExpert warned. Claims about scandals involving a celebrity may also turn out to be scams. Website links connected to supposed scandals may take people to an investment scam. Ticket scams are also rife, with scammers also trying to cash in on the popularity of Swifts Eras tour. Scammers have tried to cash in on the popularity of Taylor Swift and her Eras tour (Doug Peters/PA) People should look to buy from official ticket selling or reselling platforms and be cautious on social media, MoneySavingExpert said. Fans of Swift have lost out on an estimated 1 million since UK tickets for her tour went on sale last July, according to data published by Lloyds Bank earlier this year. If someone believes they have been scammed, they should contact their bank and the police. Many banks are taking part in a scheme that allows people to get in touch simply by dialling 159 if they receive suspect contact that could be a scam. Those taking part in the 159 scheme include Monzo, Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Co-operative Bank, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Metro Bank, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Starling, Tide, TSB and Ulster Bank. People in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can report a scam to the police by contacting Action Fraud. In Scotland, people can contact Police Scotland. They could also contact the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about an online scam, in addition to contacting the bank and the police. If someone has paid by card, they could try to get their money back under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (which can be used for credit card purchases in some cases) or they could try to claim their money back via the chargeback scheme. Here are the top 20 high-profile figures whose identities have been misused by scammers, according to the research using Action Fraud data, with the percentage of total mentions in scams: 1. Martin Lewis, 32.4% 2. Taylor Swift, 21.7% 3. Elon Musk, 13.9% 4. Adele, 2.7% 5. Holly Willoughby, 2.3% 6. Jeremy Clarkson, 2.0% 7. Mark Zuckerberg, 1.5% 8. Johnny Depp, 1.1% 9. Keanu Reeves, 1.1% 10. Ed Sheeran, 1.1% 11. Peter Jones, 0.9% 12. King Charles, 0.9% 13. Phillip Schofield, 0.9% 14. Richard Branson, 0.8% 15. Rishi Sunak, 0.8% 16. Rod Stewart, 0.7% 17. Simon Cowell, 0.6% 18. Prince Harry, 0.6% 19. Lewis Capaldi, 0.6% 20. James Martin, 0.6% MoneySavingExpert said the research covers all mentions, including where more than one person is mentioned. It said Action Fraud cautioned that some unrelated reports may have been captured and some related reports missed. Regional mayors have hailed the potential for a step change in their relationship with the Government after Sir Keir Starmer said he would strive to build a real partnership with the English leaders. The Prime Minister and his deputy Angela Rayner held a meeting with 11 regional leaders, including Labours London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and the only Conservative mayor, Tees Valleys Lord Ben Houchen. The gathering followed hot on the heels of a whistlestop tour of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales by Sir Keir, where he met the leaders of the devolved administrations. At Tuesday mornings meeting, the regional mayors were told the new Government wanted to build on their local growth plans and to explore further devolved powers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham during a meeting with English regional mayors at No 10 Downing Street (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA) Sir Keir told the regional leaders: I know many of you already have growth plans in place some of you have shared them and that is fantastic. What we want to do is build on that with a real partnership where you feel that the Government is up alongside you, supporting what youre doing. The Prime Minister added: I think its the first meeting like this in Downing Street. I dont think all the metro mayors have come together in Downing Street like this so this is a first and thats good. Voters in some large cities in England elect mayors with regional responsibilities for transport, housing, and in some cases policing. The Downing Street meeting was attended in person by 11 mayors from England, with Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard absent because he was ill with Covid. Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said the meeting marked a welcome step change in the relationship between mayors and Government. Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan outside 10 Downing Street after a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and English regional mayors (Lucy North/PA) She added: We had a productive discussion about how we will grow our economies and put money back into peoples pockets, build new homes and improve local transport. Mr Burnham meanwhile told the BBC the Governments plans for a council for regions and nations was music to my ears. People may remember some interactions I had with previous governments. It was always struggling to get heard and struggling to get our perspective in the North understood in Whitehall, he added. Mr Khan told the PA news agency Sir Keir discussed other parts of the country where there could be mayors. He also insisted having a mayor could be a real game changer. As the meeting took place, Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner confirmed that the Government would scrap the phrase levelling up from the title of the department she oversees, the now-renamed Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner during a meeting with English regional mayors at Downing Street (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror) The slogan was added to the title of the department during Boris Johnsons time as premier. Ms Rayner, who is also the Communities Secretary, said her time in office meant no more gimmicks and slogans, but the hard yards of governing in the national interest. The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned of a combined funding gap of more than 6 billion over the next two years in the local authority sector. After the General Election result last week, LGA chairwoman Louise Gittins said it was important to find a sustainable and long-term financial solution for councils, and claimed the new Government was facing a period of huge change but also opportunity. Sir Keir has turned his attention to devolution over the weekend, having spent Sunday in Scotland, and Monday in Northern Ireland and Wales. Before the tour, the Prime Minister said his appearances would signal his ambition to push power and resource out of Whitehall. US President Joe Biden is expected to host Sir Keir at the White House later this week as a Nato summit takes place in Washington. Mr Bidens press secretary said the move will underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The proportion of primary school pupils who met the expected standard in this years Sats exams has risen slightly on last year but remains below pre-pandemic levels, official statistics show. The Key Stage 2 results, which assess attainment in literacy and maths in Year 6 in schools in England, showed 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, up from 60% in 2023. In 2019, 65% achieved the expected standard. The former Conservative government had set out an ambition for 90% of children in England to leave primary school at the expected standard in reading, writing and maths by 2030. In individual subjects, scores were higher than last year, or the same. In total, 74% met the expected standard in reading, up from 73%, and 72% met the expected standard in writing, up from 71%. More than four in five (81%) met the expected standard in science, up from 80%. Overall, 72% met the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling, which was the same as last year, and 73% reached the expected standard in maths, which is also unchanged. Some primary school leaders and experts raised concerns about the difficulty of one of the maths Sats papers this summer. The Department for Education (DfE) said this years Year 6 pupils experienced disruption to their learning during the pandemic, particularly at the end of Year 2 and in Year 3. Scores in individual subjects remained lower than in the year before the pandemic, apart from in reading where there was a rise on 2019. Education minister Catherine McKinnell said: I know what a big moment it is for families and primary teachers across the country receiving Sats results today thank you to all our wonderful teachers and staff who tirelessly supported children to prepare for the assessments earlier in the year. A massive congratulations to children receiving their SATs results today, and to the teachers and staff who have supported them along the way. Under this government, the education workforce will be valued for the thing you do best: improving the life chances of all our children. pic.twitter.com/acNxGR6gRT Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) July 9, 2024 Despite the brilliance of our teachers, these figures show there are far too many pupils who are not meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, and almost total stagnation in progress nationally over the past three years. This Government will give teachers and families the support their efforts deserve and make sure every child leaves primary school with strong foundations for future learning. Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders union NAHT, said: Year 6 pupils should be immensely proud of their achievements throughout this year, for most, the last in their primary school. They and their teachers and school leaders have worked incredibly hard. But he added: We urge the new Government to reconsider the value and purpose of statutory assessments for schools, parents and children. They are given disproportionate significance and pile pressure on to pupils and staff, causing unnecessary stress and in some cases harming their wellbeing. The current high-stakes testing regime fails to value children as individuals, foster positive mental health, or encourage a broad and balanced curriculum. We stand ready to work with the new Government to develop an alternative and more proportionate approach which minimises the negative impacts on the curriculum, staff and pupils. Pepe DiIasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: While the percentage of children meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined has increased since the pandemic, it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This highlights the ongoing impact of the educational disruptions caused by Covid-19. The children who sat Key Stage 2 tests this year faced significant learning disruptions at the end of Year 2 and in Year 3. Despite the tremendous efforts by schools to provide catch-up support, the learning loss experienced by some students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, was considerable. This challenge has been further compounded by the cost-of-living crisis, which has severely affected the many children living in poverty. It is deeply regrettable that the previous government did not fully acknowledge this issue, both in terms of the inadequate post-pandemic education recovery funding and the decision to withdraw the National Tutoring Programme funding as of September. This is a step backward, and we strongly urge the new Government to reconsider and restore this vital support. A spokeswoman for campaign group More Than A Score said: Sats fail all children, not just the 39% who will start secondary school having been told they have not reached the expected standard. Parents, heads and teachers agree that Sats do not measure all that children can do and are damaging to mental health. With a new Government now in place, its time to listen to those who know children and the primary school system the best. Its time to replace Sats with forward-looking, fairer assessments which support childrens love of learning and effectively measure school performance. A new species of plant-eating dinosaur that was as big as a male American bison roamed the Isle of Wight around 125 million years ago, analysis suggests. The specimen, unearthed in the cliffs of Compton Bay, represents the most complete dinosaur discovered in the UK in a century with 149 bones in total, researchers said. Comptonatus chasei, named after late fossil hunter Nick Chase and the place where it was found, would have been a hefty dinosaur, weighing as much as an African elephant. It belongs to a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known as iguanodontians, large, bulky creatures often described the cows of the Cretaceous period (145-66 million years ago) by palaeontologists. Jeremy Lockwood, a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth, said: This animal would have been around a tonne (1,000kg), about as big as a large male American bison. PhD student Jeremy Lockwood at the excavation site in the cliffs of Compton Bay (University of Portsmouth) Evidence from fossil footprints found nearby shows it was likely to be a herding animal, so possibly large herds of these heavy dinosaurs may have been thundering around if spooked by predators on the floodplains over 120 million years ago. For the study, published in the the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, the researchers analysed every part of the fossil, including skull, teeth, spine and leg bones as well as a pubic hip bone about the size of a dinner plate. Mr Lockwood said it is unclear why this hip bone, found at the base of the abdomen, was so big, but added: It (the bone) was probably for muscle attachments, which might mean its mode of locomotion was a bit different, or it could have been to support the stomach contents more effectively, or even have been involved in how the animal breathed, but all of these theories are somewhat speculative. When Comptonatus was first discovered, the specimen was thought to be different type of dinosaur called Mantellisaurus, three-toed plant-eaters that lived in Britain more than 120 million years ago. But Mr Lockwood said Comptonatus differed from Mantellisaurus because of the unique features in its skull, teeth and other parts of its body. He said: Its lower jaw has a straight bottom edge, whereas most iguanodontians have a jaw that curves downwards. Dr Susannah Maidment, senior researcher and palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum, said Comptonatus demonstrates fast rates of evolution in iguandontian dinosaurs during that time period. The work could help researchers understand how ecosystems recovered after an extinction event at the end of the Jurassic Period (200-149 million years ago), she added. The foot bones of Comptonatus chasei (University of Portsmouth) Comptonatus was first discovered in 2013 by Mr Chase, who died of cancer just before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, because the dinosaur fossil was almost complete, it took Mr Lockwood and his colleagues several years before the specimen could be prepared for analysis. He said: I began looking at the specimen six years ago and described it as part of my PhD thesis, which took five years. So it was quite a long journey from finding to publication. Paying tribute to Mr Chase, Mr Lockwood, who is a retired GP, said: Nick had a phenomenal nose for finding dinosaur bones. The late Nick Chase who discovered the Comptonatus chasei specimen in 2013 (University of Portsmouth) He added: He collected fossils daily in all weathers and donated them to museums. I was hoping wed spend our dotage collecting together as we were of similar ages, but sadly that wasnt to be the case. Despite his many wonderful discoveries over the years, including the most complete Iguanodon skull ever found in Britain, this is the first dinosaur to be named after him. Eight extinct species from the Isle of Wight have been named in the last five years. Mr Lockwood said the latest remarkable find shows the Isle of Wight and nearby areas may have once had one of the worlds most diverse ecosystems. The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Clarendon, Jamaica, on 4 July 2024. Photograph: Leo Hudson/AP Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope of Covering Climate Now (CCNow) hail the winners of their organizations annual global climate journalism awards, and here describe some lessons they have taken from the more than 1,250 entries. If you live in France, you can watch global warming happening live on the evening news and it's a hit with viewers The woman behind this landmark innovation is Audrey Cerdan of France Televisions, Frances public broadcaster. As announced on Tuesday, Cerdan is one of three winners of a 2024 journalist of the year award by our organization, Covering Climate Now, which for the past five years has been helping hundreds of newsrooms worldwide cover the climate crisis. At a time when extreme heat is leaving hundreds dead from Mexico to India, when a category 5 hurricane is flattening entire islands in the Caribbean, and when US supreme court rulings are granting corporate polluters and their political patrons unprecedented legal protections, Cerdan and 50 additional Covering Climate Now Journalism Award winners are a stirring antidote to climate despair. Their work demonstrates that telling the climate story well helps the public understand not only that the world is on fire, but also how to put the fire out. In March 2023, France Televisions stopped including a traditional weather report in its 8pm newscast and replaced it with a weather-climate report: in French, a Journal Meteo-Climat. Viewers of the new weather-climate report still saw maps dotted with numbers depicting the days high and low temperatures in Paris, Marseilles and other cities in France. The on-camera presenter, Anais Baydemir, still told them whether it would rain or shine tomorrow. But now, that basic weather news was communicated in the context of climate change. From the opening seconds of the report, stretching across the bottom of the screen was a row of blue-and-white digits. The digits depicted, to an exactitude of eight decimal points, how much hotter France was now compared to a century ago, before humans burning of large amounts of coal, oil and gas began trapping excessive heat in the atmosphere. The night Journal Meteo-Climat premiered, on 13 March 2023, the dashboard registered 1.18749861C above the pre-industrial level. After 37 seconds, the dashboards last digit clicked up a notch to 1.18749862C; then, after two minutes and 28 seconds, another notch to 1.18749873C. That was global warming, happening and presented in real time an explicit rebuttal of the lie that climate change is somehow a hoax. Within weeks, France Televisions ratings for that part of its evening news began climbing, according to the network. Cerdan, who spearheaded the innovation, credits the ratings boost partly to the fact that most of the shows segments included a viewers question about climate change, answered by a scientist. (For example: will France still have four seasons under climate change? Yes, but they will be hotter.) In short, if journalists tell the climate story in a creative way that genuinely helps people make sense of the world around them, people will watch or read that news. Members of frontline communities often tell the climate story best For this years awards, CCNows judges evaluated more than 1,250 entries from every corner of the globe. The reporting in the places most affected by the climate crisis stood out for its urgency, its compassion, and its commitment to telling personal stories. For example, a second CCNow journalist of the year winner is Tristan Ahtone, a member of the Kiowa Tribe who wrote a blistering expose for Grist about US universities profiting from oil and gas production on stolen Indigenous lands. A third Journalist of the Year is Rachel Ramirez, a climate reporter for CNN, whose upbringing in the Northern Marianas Islands informs her reporting on climate changes disproportionate impact on women and girls and other issues of climate justice. Climate crisis is a crime story The planet didnt overheat itself. Some of the best climate reporting highlights who the bad guys are, what theyre trying to get away with, and how they can be held accountable. The UK-based Centre for Climate Reporting, in collaboration with the BBC, revealed how Sultan Al Jaber the CEO of the United Arab Emirates state-run oil company and president of the COP28 UN climate summit used the latter role to lobby for oil and gas. Agence France-Presse reported that the global consultant firm McKinsey & Company, which publicly supports climate action, nevertheless used Cop28 to promote its clients plans to continue oil and gas production for years to come. There is incredible bravery in some of the best climate reporting Sometimes that bravery means angering sources who then no longer talk to you, or stirring up the trolls on social media. Other times, bravery takes a much more serious form. In June 2022, the British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous activist Bruno Pereira were killed in the Vale do Javari, the second-largest indigenous area in Brazil, apparently in retaliation for their journalism exposing the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. In 2023, 16 news outlets around the world, led by the Paris-based network Forbidden Stories, joined together to continue Phillipss and Pereiras work. Forbidden Stories investigations revealed how illegal industry and organized crime continue to stymie protection of the Amazon, whose health is vital to its Indigenous inhabitants and the worlds climate future. There is good news on the climate beat Solar, wind, storage batteries and other pillars of the green economy are growing by leaps and bounds, as mainstream business media have reported. But less publicized are solutions emerging from the grassroots, including in some of the most climate-vulnerable locations on earth. IndiaSpend, a digital outlet in India, won its award by profiling a frontline communitys ingenious efforts to cope with drought, illustrating how local knowledge and involvement can be key to successful climate change adaptation. Covering Climate Now has long maintained that better news coverage is itself an essential climate solution. Without it, there simply wont be the mass awareness and public pressure to drive governments, business, and society as a whole to make the rapid, far-reaching changes required to preserve a liveable planet. The 51 winners of 2024 Covering Climate Now Journalism awards are certainly doing their part. We hope their example inspires fellow journalists everywhere to do the same. Questions have emerged over the impartiality of Joe Bidens doctor after the White House was accused of stonewalling journalists over repeated visits by Dr Kevin Cannard, an expert in Parkinsons disease. Republicans in Congress have demanded that Dr Kevin OConnor, the presidents personal physician, testify over his relationship to Mr Biden and why he has declined to order a cognitive test for the 81-year-old. The scrutiny over Dr OConnors position has increased since details of his past business dealings with the presidents brother emerged. Dr Cannard performed neurological examinations on Mr Biden during the three annual check-ups he has received since becoming president, the White House said. On Monday, Joe Biden said that every day as president amounted to a neurological exam - Evan Vucci/AP It comes as Mr Biden aims to reset his ailing re-election bid with what the White House termed a big boy press conference on Thursday to mark this weeks Nato summit. The presidents team hopes the rare solo press conference will offer a chance to dispel concerns over his agility following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said the president would field multiple questions from reporters as she responded to claims Mr Biden was being shielded from the press. But her White House press briefing descended into a shouting match with reporters on Monday. She said the check-ups found no signs of Parkinsons but refused to go into further detail on Dr Cannards other recent visits to the White House complex, prompting testy exchanges with reporters. Karine Jean-Pierre refused to explain the presence of the Parkinson's specialist at the White House - Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters Dr Cannard has visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March this year, according to visitor logs, including one January meeting with the presidents personal doctor. The press secretary described the probing questions as inappropriate, but suggested his visits might be connected to treating other government personnel. Dr Cannard has been an on-call neurologist for the White House since 2012 and visited the Barack Obama White House at least 15 times between 2012 and 2013, according to visitor logs, and was twice signed in by Mr Obamas doctor. Mr Biden has not been evaluated for Parkinsons, a neuro-degenerative condition which affects the brain, since February and never outside of the annual checks, the White House said. The president's physician released a new letter with his first public comments on why a specialist has visited the White House repeatedly. pic.twitter.com/XKSvLMFLno Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) July 9, 2024 However, medical experts have suggested the president has some symptoms consistent with Parkinsons and there are calls for him to take a public test to demonstrate his ability to discharge his role as commander-in-chief. Mr Biden hit back during a media blitz, calling in to MSNBCs Morning Joe on Monday to insist that every day as president amounted to a neurological exam and said people questioning his fitness drives me nuts. Dr OConnor, the White House doctor, who met Dr Cannard in January, also released a letter to quash speculation over Mr Bidens condition. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical, Dr OConnor said, adding the extremely detailed exam had not detected any central neurological disorder. However, Dr OConnors independence has been questioned by Republicans in the House of Representatives, who cited mixed and confused messaging from the White House as they demanded he explain whether or not he can provide accurate and independent assessments of Mr Bidens health. A former army colonel on the White House medical staff, Dr OConnor first acted as Mr Bidens official government doctor while he was serving as Mr Obamas vice president. He also assisted in the treatment of Mr Bidens eldest son, Beau, following his terminal brain cancer diagnosis. The doctor described the Biden clan as a really important part of my life in a farewell letter when Mr Biden left the vice presidency in Jan 2017. His contact with the Biden family did not end there, with Politico reporting Dr OConnor assisted the presidents brother, Jim, with a business venture aimed at securing a US government contract in 2017. He returned to the White House to serve as the presidents official doctor following his election in November 2020 and is responsible for declaring him fit for duty in his annual check-ups. Two experts told Politico that Dr OConnors intimate relationship with the Biden family posed questions over a potential conflict of interest. Matthew Algeo, a historian and author, called it a lose-lose situation. Dr Bert Park, an author and advocate for independent oversight of presidents health, said: We cannot depend on the presidential physician to come clean. The White House has dismissed suggestions Dr OConnors medical advice has been influenced by his business dealings with Jim Biden, calling it a discredited conspiracy. Separately on Tuesday, it emerged a junior sailor attempted to access Mr Bidens medical records three times on a government database. The US Navy said the sailor had been disciplined but an investigation concluded the presidents medical information had not been compromised. While Biden is trailing Trump in the polls following their first debate, its not nearly as big a gap as many might have thought. Composite: Reuters, REX/Shutterstock Joe Biden has suffered less polling damage than might have been expected after his disastrous debate against Donald Trump, while Kamala Harris, the vice-president, and the presidents most likely replacement should Democrats switch candidates, had mixed results when positioned against Trump. Those were analysts key takeaways from new polling nearly two weeks after the debate, as Biden continued to fend off calls to quit from within his own party, and majorities of Americans say he should drop out because of concerns over his age and health. Mark Murray, senior political editor at NBC News, noted that the 81-year-old president was trailing Trump within the margin of error in many national and battleground polls before [his] debate debacle in Atlanta on 27 June. In that contest, a frail and confused Biden proved unable to counter Trumps glut of invective and lies. In polling carried out since then, Murray noted: Biden is trailing by one to two points more in some surveys, but the movement is still within the margin of error, and few of the results reflect a radically altered race. That was relatively good news for the Biden campaign but there were words of caution elsewhere. Speaking to ABC News last week, Biden said experts told him the same thing in 2020 I cant win, the polls show I cant win. Before the vote, I said thats not going to happen, were gonna win. This week, Harry Enten, a senior data reporter for CNN, took a skeptical look at that claim. Right now, Enten said, Donald Trump leads in an aggregate of national polls by about three percentage points. If you go back four years at this point, Joe Biden was ahead by nine points. This right now doesnt look anything like what we saw four years ago at this point. I then decided to take it a step further. What was Bidens worst 2020 polling position? He was ahead by four points basically, what he ended up beating Donald Trump by in the national popular vote. So [the current] three-point advantage for Donald Trump is Donald Trumps best position versus Joe Biden. Enten also pointed out that the last Republican to lead presidential polling at this point in an election year was George W Bush, in July 2000. Bush beat Bill Clintons vice-president, Al Gore, in November. If Biden did choose to step aside, another Democratic vice-president, Harris, would be in pole position to step up. But polling has not been kind to Harris either, and in one survey released on Tuesday she scored less well in a notional head-to-head with Trump than did Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, senator and secretary of state who lost the presidency to Trump in 2016 and is not touted as a serious option for Democrats this time. Clinton beat Trump in the poll, from Bendixen & Amandi, a Democratic firm. Harris and Biden lost. There was better news elsewhere for Harris, with one poll putting her ahead of Trump by a point, 42% to 41%. That was countered by Emerson College, a mainstream polling operation, putting Trump ahead of Harris by six, 49% to 43%. Emerson also tested Trump against a range of other possible Biden replacements. All of them from Bernie Sanders, senator of Vermont, to Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan came off a clear second-best. Back in the actual race, Emerson found Trump leading Biden by 46% to 43%. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said: Since before the first presidential debate, former President Trumps support remains at 46%, while President Bidens support has decreased two percentage points. When third-party candidates were included, the independent Robert F Kennedy Jr attracted 6% support a worrying sign for Biden. Kimball had worse news for the presidents campaign about notionally persuadable voters. Notable shifts away from Biden occurred among independent voters, who break for Trump 42% to 38%. Last month they broke for Biden 43% to 41%. Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart was acquitted of rape after a trial at Fort Sam Houston, but he was convicted of lesser offenses, including conduct unbecoming an officer. The outcome essentially ends his Air Force career. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News She was on the witness stand. He was in the dock. But in the end, Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart and his accuser shared a common fate: career oblivion. The woman, a senior officer on Stewarts command staff at the San Antonio-based 19th Air Force, said the man she called boss took advantage of his rank and authority to sexually assault her during a business trip last year. Stewart said the encounter was consensual. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On June 29, a military jury at Fort Sam Houston acquitted the general of sexual assault but found him guilty of dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer. As punishment, Stewart was ordered to forfeit $60,000 in pay, receive a reprimand and remain restricted to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph for two months. Stewart was back at work the following Monday in his staff job at Randolph. But there was no doubt that the outcome of the court-martial was professionally ruinous. After a 31-year career, the decorated combat aviator has no hope of further advancement. Quite the opposite: A grade determination board will consider whether to reduce Stewarts rank. He is expected to submit his retirement papers within in the next few months. Its almost certain he will not retire as a two-star general. Stewarts accuser has also paid a heavy price. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: Officer describes sexual encounter with Air Force general Nobody comes out without wounds In a statement submitted to the judge at Stewarts trial, she described her experience as an event no one should ever endure the violation of a special trust by their commander. While his relentless inappropriate pursuits endured only a few months, the effect on my life and those close to me continues to persist, she said. It has tested my marriage, friendships, personal and professional life, and changed the entire trajectory of my life forever. The woman is a former squadron commander with more than 1,000 combat hours in the air. She aspired to lead an Air Force group or other major organization within the service, she said in testifying at Stewarts trial. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those dreams are over. Now, she plans to work through the end of August, then go on terminal leave and retire from the Air Force in November, she said. I never wanted any of this, not his pursuits, nor the attention and agony that accompanied this court-martial, she said in her statement to the court. I came forward for my daughter. I came forward for other airmen. I came forward to show that it is always OK to speak the truth. She later told the San Antonio Express-News: All things considered, leaving the Air Force was the best decision for our family. She said shes not sure on whats next for her career. Are there clear winners in a case like this? Almost never, said Geoffrey Corn, the George R. Killam Jr. chair of criminal law and director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. There is an outcome, and if we follow the process that is required, then we have to accept the outcome is a manifestation of justice. But nobody comes out of these cases without wounds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart arrives for his court-martial at Fort Sam Houston. He was a decorated combat aviator who held command positions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ethan Rocke/Contributor You can crash here The alleged sexual assault occurred in April 2023 when Stewart, the female officer and other members of the 19th Air Force command staff were visiting Altus AFB in southwestern Oklahoma. The 19th oversees all Air Force pilot training and has its headquarters at Randolph. During a night of heavy drinking, the woman found herself alone with Stewart in his guest quarters at Altus after other officers had left, trial testimony showed. She said she silently complied when the general led her into the bedroom. She said did not want to have sex with him but saw no way to resist. Stewarts defense showed the witness no quarter, describing her as a party girl who liked to drink, who never said no to Stewart and who skewed her account of that evening to cast the general as a predator. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was not the first time Stewart had pursued the woman. A month earlier, during an Air Force conference in Denver, he invited her to spend the night in his hotel room. You can crash here, he wrote in one of several text messages introduced as evidence. I have 2 queens. He added that he had the bottle of Jack in my room and it seemed a crime to waste it. According to trial testimony, the woman showed the messages to two senior noncommissioned officers, who thought they were inappropriate. Soon after, she told the NCOs to forget about the incident. After the sexual encounter at Altus, however, she filed a complaint against Stewart, which led to a criminal investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the filing of specifications, or charges, against the general, accusing him of sexual assault and other offenses. A C-17 Globemaster III on display at Port San Antonio. The giant cargo plane can carry a 69-ton M1 Abrams main battle tank. Last year, Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart flew a C-17 within 12 hours of consuming alcohol, a violation of Air Force "bottle-to-throttle" rules. He was found guilty of dereliction of duty. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Bottle to throttle At the start of the trial, Stewart pleaded guilty to two lesser charges: engaging in an unprofessional relationship with the woman and, separately, having an extramarital relationship, both violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The trial proceeded on the remaining charges. The jury of eight three-star generals, two of them women, acquitted Stewart of two counts of sexual assault. The jury found him guilty of conduct unbecoming for inviting the female officer to his hotel room in Denver. It convicted him of dereliction of duty for flying an aircraft within 12 hours of consuming alcohol, a violation of Air Force bottle-to-throttle regulations. The bottle-to-throttle infraction occurred the morning after the sexual encounter at Altus. Short on sleep and having drank the night before, the general went up in a giant C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane for a training flight that included low-level passes, touch-and-go landings and mid-air refueling. Stewart was one of five pilots who took the controls at various points during the mission. Stewart has a right to appeal the jury verdict and the sentence. Either could be set aside or altered by the convening authority, in this case Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, head of the Air Education and Training Command based at Randolph and Stewarts boss. The wheels will begin turning once the trial judge, Col. Matthew Stoffel, has entered the judgment and the trial record has been served on Stewart and his counsel. The reprimand will be written by Robinson. Its unclear when that will happen. If the punishment of restriction to Randolph is upheld on appeal, Stewart must stay within the boundaries of JBSA-Randolph for a period of two months, Air Force spokeswoman Marilyn Holliday said. Stewart did not live on-base at the time of the trial. Holliday said that doesnt matter. Retired Army Lt. Col. Dru Brenner-Beck, a former professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, said it is possible Stewart will retire far below a two-star general. Thats because under military rules, retirements are based on the last rank in which an officer served honorably. Brenner-Beck said the Air Force will convene a grade review board to determine at which grade he last served honorably. She added, If other victims/partners come forward, or other complaints of a different nature, they can take him down to the last grade with no misconduct. That could be brigadier general, but it might even be lower. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III will make the final decision. Thrown a lot away Stewart is a veteran command pilot with more than 2,600 hours in the air, including more than 600 in combat. He flew the F-15C fighter and the U-2 high-altitude spy plane and held command positions in Iraq and Afghanistan. As commander of the 19th Air Force, he oversaw 32,000 employees and 1,530 aircraft assigned to 17 wings across the United States. He was stripped of the command after the female officer filed her complaint. Since then, he has been serving in a staff position in the Air Education and Training Command at Randolph. Police video shows Jay Johnston, circled in yellow, on 6 January 2021. Photograph: AP Jay Johnston, an actor best known for his role on the animated comedy show Bobs Burgers, has pleaded guilty to charges related to his role in the storming of the US Capitol in January 2021. Johnston, 54, faces a maximum of five years in prison and pleaded guilty to a felony count of civil disorder. He was released on a $25,000 bond in June 2023 after an initial court appearance in California. Related: Republicans call Trumps move to distance himself from Project 2025 preposterous Johnston was also charged with felony obstruction of officers during civil disorder, unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds, and impeding passage through Capitol grounds. Documents filed in court allege Johnston joined a mob of protesters attacking police. A video from the incident showed the actor take a shield from an officer and use it to push back law enforcement officers defending the Capitol. Johnston was close to the entrance to the tunnel, turned back and signaled for other rioters to come towards the entrance, the charging documents stated. He also acknowledged his role in the Capitol riot, sending a text message that stated it wasnt an attack but that it kind of turned into that. It was a mess, another message said. Three current or former associates of Johnston identified him as a suspect from photos the FBI published online, according to the agent. The FBI said one of those associates provided investigators with the text message in which Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on January 6. Airline records also proved Johnston booked a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Washington DC, leaving on 4 January 2021 and returning on 7 January, according to FBI filings. In addition to Bobs Burgers, Johnston has appeared on HBOs Mr Show with Bob and David and held smaller roles on the Fox sitcom Arrested Development. US district judge Carl Nichols is set to sentence Johnston on 7 October. Also on Monday, a Texas woman pleaded guilty to assaulting a Metropolitan police department officer during the Capitol attack. Video captured Dana Jean Bell cursing at officers inside the Capitol and grabbing an officers baton, according to an FBI agents affidavit. Bell, 65, of Princeton, Texas, also was shown on video assaulting a local television journalist outside the Capitol that day. The FBI affidavit says Bell appeared to reach out and try to push or grab the journalist, who worked for the Fox affiliate in Washington DC. Bell faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. US district judge Timothy Kelly is scheduled to sentence her on 17 October. Her estimated sentencing guidelines recommend a term of imprisonment of between two and two and a half years. Approximately 1,000 people have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to federal crimes related to the Capitol riot, according to the Associated Press, with more than half of those sentenced getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 18 years. Jonathan Gullis said: 'I am abundantly clear that I do not think Suella Braverman is the right person' - Leon Neal/Getty Images Suella Braverman is not the appropriate choice to reunite the Conservatives, Jonathan Gullis, the partys former deputy chairman, has said, accusing her of overly divisive and aggressive rhetoric. Mrs Braverman, a former home secretary, is expected to run to replace Rishi Sunak as the Tory leader when he stands down later this year. I am abundantly clear that I do not think Suella Braverman is the right person, Mr Gullis, who lost his Stoke-on-Trent North seat to Labour at the general election, told Times Radio. I think Suellas rhetoric at times could be overly explosive, overly divisive, is not what the country wants to hear in all cases, because I think it is too aggressive. Mr Gulliss remarks came a day after Mrs Braverman used a speech to the National Conservatism conference in Washington to claim that Mr Sunak had failed to stop the lunatic woke virus in the Civil Service and that he never wanted to stop migrant small boat Channel crossings. He said: There are some things that I would agree with her on in terms of taking on the Civil Service, which I do think at times has not been helpful or supportive towards the Conservative government, taking on the quangos that are essentially using millions of pounds of taxpayers money without having the level of accountability they should do. But I certainly do not think Suella Braverman is the appropriate choice to reunite the Conservative Party. I will simply now wait to see who is willing and brave enough to be fairly frank, its a big task ahead of them to throw their hat in the ring and wait like all members to see who we get to choose between. No potential candidates have formally announced that they will run for the Tory leadership. Other possible contenders include the former Cabinet ministers Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, Dame Priti Patel and Victoria Atkins. Mrs Bravermans prospective leadership bid was dealt a blow on Sunday when Danny Kruger, the prominent backbencher and co-chairman of the New Conservatives, abandoned her in favour of Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister. On Tuesday, Lord Houchen, the Tory Mayor of Tees Valley, said Mrs Braverman had shot herself in the foot by criticising the Conservatives in the wake of the election. I dont think its a credible offering, and the MPs and the members that I speak to are not interested in the divisive Right-wing politics of Suella Braverman, he told Times Radio. I also think if the Conservative Party decides to go down the route of somebody like Suella Braverman, then we can absolutely see ourselves in opposition for generations to come. The road of redemption for the Conservative Party can be as long or as short as we wish to make it. And the idea that we should be more Right-wing... that is not the Conservative Party that I recognise, and I absolutely wouldnt support that. She, before the leadership contest has even started, has shot herself in the foot. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on Tuesday - Gareth Fuller/PA Britain could face EU demands to take migrants from the bloc in return for the UK gaining access to European intelligence databases on asylum seekers. Labour is planning to seek a new deal to access the EUs fingerprinting system, known as Eurodac, which is used to identify asylum seekers and illegal migrants on the continent. This would enable the Border Force to identify where migrants may have previously applied and been rejected in Europe before coming to the UK. Labour sources said this would enable immigration officials to fast-track any application for asylum and quickly remove them, ideally to their own country. However, EU diplomats are concerned that the UK could use its access as a trojan horse to try to return migrants to the EU by arguing that they should have claimed asylum in Europe before reaching the UK. Diplomatic sources told The Telegraph the EUs response would be that any access to Eurodac and other databases would have to be part of a broader conversation. The big question is whats in it for us? said one source. Possible precursor to wider returns deal It is believed by sources in Brussels that Labours plan to negotiate access to Eurodac would be a precursor to a wider returns deal. Brussels would likely listen to proposals for a specific returns deal based around family reunification and unaccompanied children. But the source said: Again, whats in it for us? Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to negotiate a replacement for the pre-Brexit Dublin agreement, where the UK returned some migrants to the EU but also accepted some from the bloc with family connections to the UK and unaccompanied children. Eurodac underpinned the Dublin agreement which ended once the UK left the EU after Brexit. However, he has said a Labour Government would not participate in a wider EU quota pact where refugees are redistributed to all member states based on the size of their economies, population and own asylum caseloads. Instead, Labour figures have insisted any returns deal would be limited to unaccompanied children. Sir Keir and Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, are planning to forge a new partnership with Europol to combat people smugglers as part of its new Border Security Command. They have already launched a recruitment campaign for hundreds of extra officers for the National Crime Agency, Border Force and MI5 who will be deployed across Europe to stop people smugglers. The new partnership with Europol would aim to put Britains police at the heart of pan-European efforts to counter people smuggling, according to a Labour policy document. As part of this agreement we will also seek to negotiate access to Eurodac, it said. It added that Border Force officials had lamented the loss of Eurodac as with it the UK could identify those previously rejected including for reasons connected with serious criminality and fast-track them for removal. Labour sources said they were not seeking to use Eurodac for a returns agreement but instead simply seeking access to the information. However, a EU diplomat said: In practice that [access to Eurodac] would probably be feasible as part of a package that also includes application of other relevant regulations by the UK. Asked if that meant a returns deal, they added: Not necessarily, but the new EU migration pact works as a package. James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, said: The EU dont give anything away for free, and it is always the British people who end up footing the bill. We always said Labours plan to do a deal with the EU would mean quota sharing and here we are. At the very first hurdle, Labour have fallen flat. The Albertan legislature permitted the hunting of individuals deemed to be problem bears. Photograph: AP The Canadian province of Alberta has quietly reversed a two-decade ban on hunting grizzly bears, in what conservations described as a slap in the face amid continuing debate over the future of the threatened species. Alberta first banned the hunting of grizzly bears in 2006 after the population of the species, which once reached as many as 9,0000 bears, collapsed due to generations of overhunting, agriculture development and urbanization. In 2002, provincial authorities estimated there were approximately 850 bears living in provincial lands and nearly 200 in national parks. The bears were listed as a threatened species by Albertas government in 2010, and in a recent count there was a population of between 856 and 973. But on 17 June, the province quietly amended the Wildlife Act to once more permit the hunting of individuals deemed to be problem bears. I cant believe Im writing this, but the controversial Alberta grizzly bear hunt is back on, wildlife photographer John Marriott posted on Facebook, alongside a link to the provincial parliamentary record. A f**king THREATENED species is now about to be hunted again. In a statement, the right-leaning provincial government defended the move as a way of protect[ing] Albertans, citing 62 maulings and eight deaths from bear attacks since 2005. A spokesperson for the minister also cited 897 counts of livestock losses since 2016, which has greatly impacted Alberta farmers, but it was unclear if all of those losses were attributable to grizzly bears. Related: Rare white grizzly bear and two cubs killed in Canada in separate car strikes Fatal bear attacks are exceedingly rare and it is often the bear that comes out worse following interactions with humans. One study showed that the University of Alberta estimates 21 grizzlies were killed in collisions with trains in 2000 in Banff national park while 75 deaths were caused by vehicle collisions in the broader Bow valley region of Alberta. Theyre just using fear to push their agenda, said Nicholas Scapillati, head of the non-profit Grizzly Bear Foundation. No one was consulted in this decision not the biologists, not the independent conservation groups, not the First Nations. Were the governments own scientists consulted? Its an absolute slap in the face to the provinces grizzly recovery plan. We know how to lower the risk of dangerous interactions with bears and its not going out and killing them. Under the provinces revised rules, the ministry of forestry and parks will create a pool of eligible individuals who may receive authorization to hunt a problem grizzly involved in a human-bear conflict or the killing of livestock. If selected to kill a grizzly, the hunter must arrive at the location of the bear within 24 hours of notification to obtain the authorization. The hunter can only then pursue the bear if it is an area where hunting is already permitted. Im just trying to make sense of this plan because its so full of holes, said Scapillati. Youre turning hunters into hitmen. Its a stain on the hunting community, and youre attracting an unscrupulous group of people who would want to kill a bear this way. Scapillati said the fact that the decision was quietly made when no one was looking reflects the ongoing battle conservation groups have to protect species even when they are listed as threatened. Theres just no respect being shown, no respect for the bears, for the efforts of the conservationists that do the work on coexistence and grizzly bear recovery, he said. This decision is a warning, not just to Albertans but to those anywhere that a species should be protected: those species are not safe. Members of the People's Defence Force clear debris after an air strike on the village of Pa Zi Gyi - Myaelatt Athan Media Handout/EPA Aviation fuel has been transported into the hands of the Myanmar junta via China, Singapore and Vietnam, despite global calls to deprive the military dictatorship of the means to kill civilians in air strikes. A report by Amnesty International documented an opaque supply chain in which multiple companies are transporting fuel to the junta amid reports from the United Nations that military air strikes on civilian targets increased five fold in the first half of 2024. The shipments revealed by the human rights group on Monday were delivered by a Chinese-owned oil tanker travelling to Myanmar from Vietnam and also included fuel traders in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Myanmars military, which ousted a democratically-elected government in a coup in February 2021, has been on the back foot following a countrywide surge in armed resistance that began in October last year. However, the junta maintains its grip on the population, in large part, through the superiority of its air power. Some 170 men, women and children were massacred in the village of Pa Zi Gyi in April last year when the air force dropped a suspected thermobaric bomb on a gathering to inaugurate a community hall in one of the militarys worst atrocities against civilians. Another air attack reported by Amnesty on May 9 destroyed a monastery in the village of Ah Kyi Pan Pa Lon, in Saw Township, along central Myanmars Magway Region. After two initial air strikes, witnesses said a fighter jet then circled back and followed up with heavy gunfire directed at those fleeing the explosions. The UK, US, Canada, European Union and Switzerland imposed sanctions on companies and individuals in Myanmar and Singapore involved in the procurement and distribution of aviation fuel to the junta last year. Utter complicity of states responsible However, the new report shows the supply chain still in operation, with at least two or three additional shipments of jet fuel having entered the country in the first six months of this year. The fuel was bought and sold multiple times before reaching the last leg of its trip to Vietnam and obscuring the original supplier. Agnes Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International, said: The Myanmar military is relying on the very same Chinese vessel and Vietnamese companies to import its aviation fuel, despite Amnesty International having already exposed that reckless supply chain. It is a raw display of both the sheer impunity with which the Myanmar military is operating, and the utter complicity of the states responsible, including Vietnam, China and Singapore. The Baidu stand at the World AI Conference in Shanghai last week. The company recently offered 50m free tokens for its Ernie 3.5 model. Photograph: Andy Wong/AP At the World AI Conference in Shanghai last week, one of Chinas leading artificial intelligence companies, SenseTime, unveiled its latest model, SenseNova 5.5. The model showed off its ability to identify and describe a stuffed toy puppy (wearing a SenseTime cap), offered feedback on a drawing of a rabbit, and instantly read and summarised a page of text. According to SenseTime, SenseNova 5.5 is comparable with GPT-4o, the flagship artificial intelligence model of the Microsoft-backed US company OpenAI. If that wasnt enough to entice users, SenseTime is also giving away 50m free tokens digital credits for using the AI and says that it will deploy staff to help new clients migrate from OpenAI services to SenseTimes products for free. Chinese attempts to lure domestic developers away from OpenAI considered the market leader in generative AI will now be a lot easier, after OpenAI notified its users in China that they would be blocked from using its tools and services from 9 July. We are taking additional steps to block API traffic from regions where we do not support access to OpenAIs services, an OpenAI spokesperson told Bloomberg last month. OpenAI has not elaborated about the reason for its sudden decision. ChatGPT is already blocked in China by the governments firewall, but until this week developers could use virtual private networks to access OpenAIs tools in order to fine-tune their own generative AI applications and benchmark their own research. Now the block is coming from the US side. Rising tensions between Washington and Beijing have prompted the US to restrict the export to China of certain advanced semiconductors that are vital for training the most cutting-edge AI technology, putting pressure on other parts of the AI industry. The OpenAI move has caused significant concern within Chinas AI community said Xiaohu Zhu, the founder of the Shanghai-based Centre for Safe AGI, which promotes AI safety, not least because the decision raises questions about equitable access to AI technologies globally. But it has also created an opportunity for domestic AI companies such as SenseTime, which are scrambling to hoover up OpenAIs rejected users. After warnings about OpenAIs decision circulated last month, Baidu offered 50m free tokens for its Ernie 3.5 AI model, as well as free migration services, while Zhipu AI, another local company, offered 150m free tokens for its model. Tencent Cloud is giving away 100m free tokens for its AI model to new users until the end of July. Competitors are offering migration pathways for former OpenAI users, seeing this as an opportunity to expand their user base, said Zhu. One consequence of OpenAIs decision may be that it accelerates the development of Chinese AI companies, which are in tight competition with their US rivals, as well as each other. China is estimated to have at least 130 large language models, accounting for 40% of the worlds total and second only to the US. But while US companies such as OpenAI have been at the cutting edge of generative AI, Chinese companies have been engaged in a price war that some analysts have speculated may harm their profit margins and their ability to innovate. Still, Winston Ma, a professor at New York University who writes about Chinese technology, said OpenAIs departure from China comes at a time when Chinese big tech players are closing on performance gap with OpenAI and are offering these Chinese LLM models essentially free. OpenAIs departure is a short-term shock to the China market, but it may provide a long-term opportunity for Chinese domestic LLM models to be put to the real test, said Ma. Until now, Chinese companies have focused on the commercialisation of large language models rather than advancing the models themselves, he added. Chinese commentators have been keen to brush off the impact of OpenAIs decision. State media outlet the Global Times said it was a push from the US to hamper Chinas technology development. Pan Helin, a digital economy researcher at Zhejiang University who sits on a government technology committee, described the development as a good thing for Chinas large-scale model independence and self-reliance, according to Chinese media. But there are signs that the US restrictions on Chinas AI industry are starting to bite. The online video giant Kuaishou recently had to restrict the number of people who could access its new text-to-video AI model, Kling, because of a lack of computing capacity caused by a shortage of chips, according to a report in The Information. And there is now a booming hidden market for US semiconductors, as companies find ways to circumvent the sanctions. Being blocked from US software may inspire similar creativity. Hunter Biden (far left) returned to the White House with rest of Biden clan - AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Hunter Biden is acting as his fathers gatekeeper as calls for the US president to step aside ahead of the November election continue to mount. Joe Bidens family rallied around the Democrat leader and urged him to stay in the presidential race after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. Hunter Biden is understood to have raised eyebrows after returning from Camp David to Washington DC with his father and sitting in on White House meetings as an adviser. He has also been acting as a de facto gatekeeper for long-time friends, deciding who has access to the US president, according to Axios. It comes as a top Democrat operative told the US website that every single person not named Biden or paid by him recognises how bad things are for the president. Mr Biden, 81, has made no secret of the respect he has for his son, previously calling him the smartest guy I know. But critics have raised questions over whether Hunter, a former crack cocaine addict who was convicted of three federal gun crimes last month, is the right person to be advising his father. He is also set to stand trial for tax-related crimes in September, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His legal woes have sparked questions over conflicts of interest. While Mr Biden said he will not pardon his son, it would remain a possibility if he is re-elected in November. According to US media, Hunter, 54, has been destablising Mr Bidens team by sitting in on meetings and speaking to senior staffers. Hunter Biden has been joining meetings with his father in the White House - GoffPhotos.com He is understood to have called for Mr Bidens top aides Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer to be sacked following the debate performance, sources told Politico. Long-time aides to the president are now raising concerns about Hunter Bidens new presence alongside the president in meetings, the outlet reported. Meanwhile, sources told NBC News that the reaction from some senior White House staff members has been, What the hell is happening?. Andrew Bates, the White House spokesman, said: Hunter came back with the president from their family weekend at Camp David and went with the president straight into speech prep. Last week Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, wrote to White House chief of staff, Jeff Zients, amid concerns over the presidents son attending White House meetings. Classified information Mr Turner, a Republican congressman demanded to know whether Hunter had been receiving classified information during the meetings. A growing number of Democrats have broken ranks and called Mr Biden to withdraw from the race amid concerns he is not the partys best candidate to beat Trump. Meanwhile, top party donors including the heiress to the Disney fortune and one of the founders of Netflix have called on Mr Biden to step aside. Mr Biden has remained adamant he will not drop out of the presidential race. During a Friday interview with ABC News, Mr Biden appeared to suggest he would be at peace with losing to Trump as long as I gave it my all. In a letter to Democrats on Monday, he wrote: I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. A White House source denied that Hunter was acting as a gatekeeper to Mr Biden. Living areas in the centre were described as dilapidated and decrepit. Photograph: HM Chief Inspector of Prisons The prisons watchdog has described truly shocking conditions in an immigration removal centre close to Heathrow airport as the worst its inspectors had ever seen. His Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons has published a damning report on conditions at Harmondsworth, a 658-bed centre, the largest of its kind in Europe. In the 68-page report, the chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, said that overall, the outcomes at Harmondsworth were the worst HMIP has found in its immigration removal centre inspections. Living areas inside the centre were found to be dilapidated and decrepit with some detainees so cold they sat in their cells in their coats. Fire doors were also at risk of not performing their function in some units because they had non-fire retardant surrounds. Immigration detainees were found to be openly smoking cannabis, and ligature points had been left undisturbed for years despite being used for repeated suicide attempts. The last full inspection of the centre was carried out in 2017. It was also critical but conditions have deteriorated significantly since then, according to the report, with six key areas of concern highlighted for improvement still giving rise to concerns. Welfare support had also deteriorated significantly since the last inspection and too many members of staff were found to be staying in their office behind red no entry tapes. Taylor said he was shocked to see detainees smoking cannabis, but almost a quarter of detainees said it was easy to get drugs inside Harmondsworth compared with 4% in other immigration detention centres. And 11% said they had developed a problem with illicit drug use compared with 2% in othercentres. The level of chaos that we found at Harmondsworth was truly shocking and we left deeply concerned that some of those held there were at imminent risk of harm, said Taylor. Nobody should be detained in an immigration removal centre unless they are going to be removed quickly from the country, yet around 60% of detainees were released from the centre, with only a third deported, which begs the question of why so much taxpayer money was being spent keeping them locked up in the first place. There were numerous suicide attempts with almost half 48% of detainees saying they felt suicidal during their stay. There was one suicide attempt during the HMIP inspection, which took place from 12-29 February this year. Emma Ginn, director of the charity Medical Justice, which supports immigration detainees, described the findings of the inspectors as nothing short of a national emergency. The Home Office has had long enough to improve detention conditions, she said. The fact that it cant even organise for ligature points already used in three attempted suicides to be removed, demonstrates its inability to improve conditions and its contempt for human life. The inspectors highlighted some particularly worrying examples, including one man who was carried into Harmondsworth on a stretcher although the Home Office accepted he wasnt fit to be detained. One man died in a hotel after his release from detention. He had previously been subjected to severe mistreatment and exploited for sex work and forced labour. In the six months before the inspection, 23 detainees were identified as being at the greatest risk of suicide and it was decided that they should be placed on constant suicide watch. But according to the report, staff neglected to supervise one of them. Some detainees complained of excessive use of force by staff and 6% of the 454 detained at the time of the inspection complained of physical assaults by staff. Last year, one member of staff was dismissed for assaulting a detainee, bullying and racism. The report paints a bleak picture of the continuing decline of a centre that has concerned inspectors for many years, inspectors concluded. A Home Office spokesperson said: We take the welfare and safety of people in our care very seriously and it is vital that detention and removals are carried out with dignity and respect. The number of custody officers and dedicated welfare staff at Harmondsworth IRC has been increased since the inspection. Hans van Mourik Broekman says Liverpool College has grown naturally since becoming an academy in 2013 - Asadour Guzelian With more than 200 acres, a boarding house and classics library, plus a prestigious history its former pupils include the prime minister William Gladstone, the conductor Simon Rattle and the actor Rex Harrison Liverpool College seems like any traditional British independent school. Situated in an affluent part of the city, boys and girls aged from four to 19 run around its grounds in red tartan uniforms complete with ties and blazers. But in 2013, over 170 years since it opened, the private college became a state-funded academy open to all in Liverpool and the wider north-west region. It was a natural move, says the headteacher Hans van Mourik Broekman, who has been at its helm since 2008. Liverpool College was founded in 1840 to provide an education to everyone in Liverpool, says Van Mourik Broekman. There were night classes for illiterate people and children of all social classes were invited to attend. An education for pupils of all means was what our founders wanted, he says. They didnt have in mind that it would become open only to some tiny group that could afford 15,000 in school fees. Whats more, the majority of its most strikingly private school elements were not available to pupils until its transition to state. We didnt teach Latin or have a classics department while we were a fee-paying school, says Van Mourik Broekman, who steps down at the end of August to become a chaplain at a nearby Catholic school. There was no orchestra because we didnt have enough pupils to play in it. Now weve got an orchestra of 60 and a choir of 120. 'One parent was so happy she came up to me and kissed me', Van Mourik Broekman - Asadour Guzelian When the school announced it would cease to be a fee-paying institution most parents only asked whether I would stay, whether the staff would stay, and what the benefits would be to their children, he explains. Far from meeting him with snobbish retribution, parents at the ancient college who were spending as much as 33,000 a year in fees if they had three children at the school, Van Mourik Broekman says rejoiced. One lady came up to me and actually kissed me, and said thank you, this is great, I can now afford to have my fourth child, he recalls, with a laugh. The headteacher, 57, was born in America to Dutch parents, who returned to the States in time for his secondary education at a private Benedictine high school. It was there that: I decided I badly wanted to be a classics teacher, he recalls. He then went on to study classics at St Andrews in Scotland, where he says he began his love affair with British education. Since graduating, Van Mourik Broekman had only ever taught in independent schools, until Liverpool College made the switch. To this day he still teaches years 7, 10 and 11, as well as delivering lectures for sixth formers, which is unusual for a state head, he says. The moments that I spend with those kids are the highlights of my job and of my day, he adds. What drew him to teaching in the first place? I wanted to help young people flourish and help them live life to the fullest, he says. It was this too that inspired him to bring the college into the state sector, with the support of its board of governors not, as many have assumed, the schools financial position. In his three-year-long project to transform the school, Van Mourik Broekman heard it said that it was wrong for the state to be bailing out private schools that should fail. This sort of argument was the most absurd of all because we currently provide 1,700 school places in Liverpool and I dont think the government could have had a better deal than the deal they got when they allowed us to become state, he says. Besides we were in rude health. We had a big staff, the right facilities, and the educational capacity to grow with more pupils who previously couldnt afford this education. Since Liverpool College led the way, some 50 other private schools have now made a sidestep into the state sector. But he says, we were very much a going concern at the time, with many other prestigious schools watching carefully to see how the colleges transition would play out. Now following Labours pledge to impose VAT on private school fees, and parents threatening to withdraw their children from the independent system, many fee-paying schools are considering a similar move. Ive spoken to at least 20 school heads who want my advice on converting their schools, Van Mourik Broekman says. As he sought to turn Liverpool College into a state school the Department for Education was a tough bargainer, they knew what they wanted and why they wanted it. In my view it was pretty clear that if we didnt have the strengths we did, it wouldnt go ahead. Making a case When Van Mourik Broekman first began to consider taking the school into the state sector, three years before the change was announced, there were two established routes that independent schools such as his could follow. One was to become a free school by joining the new schools network, where schools would request permission to start a new free school, which was a continuation of the old private school, he explains. The other option was to make a petition to Michael Gove, the then education secretary, who Van Mourik Broekman describes as a reforming and crusading minister. It was this route that was chosen by Liverpool College. Since then it has been much harder for schools to get the Department for Education to budge, he explains. Since Liverpool College led the way, some 50 other private schools have now made a sidestep into the state sector While he holds little hope that things could change under a Labour government, it is possible that Bridget Phillipson, the recently appointed Education Secretary, could be happy to hear petitions from private schools, Van Mourik Broekman believes. Most important for his school was to make the case that this would improve and drive social mobility in Liverpool, he says. Then we pointed out the unique curriculum that all-through [age 4 to 19] schools provide, stressed that we wouldnt have a faith-based curriculum as that was quite significant in Liverpool, where many schools at the time had faith as an entry criteria, and stressed our reputation for being good at educating people in an academic as well as holistic sense. Securing wealthy supporters Van Mourik Broekman is open about the fact that the success of his college in its state school era has in no small part been down to the support of donors. State schools have far less money to spend on each pupil, he explains so to provide a private school-level education to students, funds must be sought elsewhere. As a fundraiser Im an elephant hunter and fortunately I ran into some elephants, he says. You have got to use every single friend you can make who believes in your mission, says van Mourik Broekman. Liverpool Colleges financial backing has been found in its eminent group of alumni, but also from the likes of Jimmy Mulville, the producer behind TV hit Derry Girls, who is a Liverpool man that studied classics, as well as other anonymous philanthropists. Some people knew us and our work already, he says, while others quite serendipitously crossed our path and liked what we were doing. There are plenty who support private-to-state transitions for the good they can do for an area and for social mobility in Britain, according to this head. It is simply on schools to find them. Be prepared to grow Any school that becomes a state institution must expect to grow, says Van Mourik Broekman, as the ability to take on pupils is one of the reasons why such a request for taxpayer funding would be approved. But schools neednt do that all at once Liverpool College has in fact just finished its cautious growth, from 1,100 pupils in 2013 to 1,700 today. We came under a lot of pressure from local authorities to grow more quickly than it would have been right to, he says. The school remains the third most oversubscribed in the country. Yet it stayed firm and made a deliberate decision to grow gradually, first allowing large numbers of pupils into the schools typical intake years such as Year 8 and sixth form. Facilitating this meant a huge amount of building work, funded by supporters, which we were fortunate enough to have the ground to build on for, he says. Classes that were as small as 20 are now near 30, typical for any state school. Van Mourik Broekman says Liverpool College were lucky to have space to construct new buildings, such as the one on the right, after the transition - Asadour Guzelian Thats something for schools to embrace, Van Mourik Broekman says, but to do this they must accept that theyll need to let in students of all abilities. The school has massively upped its special educational needs and disabilities provision, and has introduced a range of vocational Btecs and technical GCSEs alongside the more traditional subjects. We want for any child in Liverpool to be able to come here and get a quality education that matches their unique skills, the head explains. Lead a diverse school, dont manage it Liverpool College is now more ethnically and religiously diverse than even the city of Liverpool itself, a major difference from its composition as an independent school, which was largely composed of white middle-class children, the head says. This is something you never stop managing, says Van Mourik Broekman, though he prefers to describe diversity at the school as something that is lead. It hasnt always been easy to navigate pupils complex and competing needs, he explains, but if you have a group of people at the school who genuinely want it to be an open and inclusive place for everyone, then youre 95 per cent of the way there. One thing that made this easier for the school was that it had never been academically selective, and it is less divided into sets now than it was in the past. It has helped too that theyve taken a slower approach. The fundamental thing is not to be too rigid, he explains, and much the same approach should be taken when it comes to handling internal politics. Our staff had a decade to get used to it, really, he says. The key was that the staff on the whole really wanted and believed in his plan. Some 98 per cent of staff remained at the school after the change was announced, though most had spent their whole careers in independent schools. A similar number of parents chose to keep their children enrolled, too. Maintaining tradition selectively It was never Van Mourik Broekmans intention to rip the schools history and culture out by the roots. The school has certainly changed after a decade in the state sector, he admits, but some of that old private school tradition is useless anyway and does not always build up young people, he says. Despite the fact that he is not attached to such traditions for their own sake, Van Mourik Broekman believes that a lot of that stuff is great Things like Saturday morning sport, singing of the school song, Latin orations at speech nights, having prefects, all those things build students up and create a loyalty and enthusiasm for school. As such, we retain a huge number of pupils right from primary school to sixth form, he says, a key mark of the schools success. By embracing the change and an influx of students from different backgrounds, the school has sent more people to Oxbridge in the last 10 years than in the previous 25. Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza gestures while standing in a defendants' cage at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, on July 31, 2023 The United Kingdom has gone to the polls and delivered a decisive verdict: Labour has won a landslide victory after 14 years of Conservative rule. However, amid the celebrations from the Labour Party, a much graver story demands urgent attention from the newly elected government. As Britain awoke on July 5 to the news of Labours triumph, my thoughts were with my friend and ally, a British-Russian national, Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has been courageously standing up against the Putin regime for many years as an opposition politician. He is now enduring a 25-year sentence in a Russian prison for high treason the longest sentence for a political prisoner in Russia. I have worked closely with Vladimir for many years in my campaign for justice for Sergei Magnitsky. Vladimir travelled the world with me and was the staunchest advocate for the adoption of Magnitsky Acts worldwide. As a result of his advocacy, he has long been a target of the Kremlin. His commitment to fighting for justice and human rights has led to two assassination attempts in 2015 and 2017, likely involving the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Vladimir now faces a dark and uncertain future for the crime of telling the truth about Putins Russia and opposing Russias brutal and unprovoked aggression in Ukraine. Vladimirs condition is perilous. Due to the previous assassination attempts, he developed polyneuropathy, a severe illness affecting his peripheral nervous system. Under Russian law, this illness should exempt him from the harsh conditions hes subjected to. Yet, in their determination to silence him, Russian authorities blatantly flout their own regulations, further endangering his life. As the results of the general election were coming in, news broke that Vladimir had been moved to the hospital and was being denied access to his lawyers. This tactic is grimly reminiscent of the treatment of my lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who was tortured and denied medical care before he was killed in prison at the age of 37, and of more recent murder of Putins critic Alexei Navalny. It is a chilling reminder of the stakes involved. The new Government and the new Foreign Secretary must act now to save his life. Former foreign secretary Lord Cameron had made significant strides in addressing Vladimirs case. He met with Vladimirs wife, Evgenia, and Vladimirs mother, Elena, showing the UKs commitment to their cause. Lord Cameron demanded Vladimirs immediate release on humanitarian grounds and made a point of raising Vladimirs plight at multiple international appearances, underscoring the UKs commitment to protecting its citizens. Now Labour must continue this important work. Labours immediate priority should be to secure Vladimirs release. If he is not released soon, it is likely he will die in a Russian prison. Having already spent over two years imprisoned, in isolation cells in maximum security prisons, his transfer to the prison hospital is a terrifying indication of his deteriorating health and a stark reminder of the uncertainty surrounding his safety while imprisoned in a country whose leader has already tried to murder him twice. The urgency of his plight cannot be overstated. The Labour government has a moral and political duty to prioritize Vladimirs release. We cannot let Vladimir fall through the cracks in the formation of this new Government. There will be many pressing issues on David Lammys desk, but Vladimirs life should be on top. If one of the most important opposition figures against Vladimir Putin, who is also a British citizen, were to die on Lammys watch it would mark an inauspicious beginning to the record of this new Government. My message to the new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, is clear: Save my friends life. San Antonio police are asking for help identifying this person, one of two suspected in a fatal shooting, who was seen at a Sonic Drive-In moments before an employee was shot and killed around 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the 5500 block of Babcock Road. Courtesy San Antonio Police Department San Antonio police are asking for help identifying this person, one of two suspected in a fatal shooting, who was seen at a Sonic restaurant moments before a manager was shot and killed around 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the 5500 block of Babcock Road. Courtesy San Antonio Police Department San Antonio police are asking for help identifying this person, one of two suspected in a fatal shooting, who was seen at a Sonic restaurant moments before a manager was shot and killed about 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the 5500 block of Babcock Road. Courtesy San Antonio Police Department The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office released the name of the Sonic manager shot and killed Sunday night at the Northwest Side restaurant. Daniel Lacy Shrewsbury, 33, was fatally shot in the drive-thru of a Sonic Drive-In in the 5500 block of Babcock Road, near Eckhert Road. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. San Antonio police said Shrewsbury was shot by a female customer during an argument around 9:30 p.m. at the restaurants drive-thru. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Monday, police released images of two people suspected in the shooting. They didnt offer any further information on the two people or the shooting. The images were taken from a cellphone moments before the slaying in what appears to be the inside of the restaurant. Police are asking the public to help authorities identify the two people. During the argument Sunday night, the woman pulled out a weapon and shot the manager in the drive-thru of the restaurant, according to a preliminary police report. The woman then fled the scene. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The manager walked back inside the restaurant, where he collapsed, police said. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. Police said they arent sure why the two were arguing or if they were acquainted. As of late Tuesday morning, San Antonio police said they could not release additional details of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call SAPD at 210-207-4804. Jerry Nadler, who questioned Joe Biden's candidacy, has now said Democrats have to support him - Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg Joe Bidens Democrat critics retreated on their calls for him to stand down on Tuesday, as a push to remove him as the partys presidential nominee appeared to have stalled. Democrats held a meeting on Capitol Hill to respond to the US presidents poor performance in a television debate against Donald Trump, which led to major concerns about his health and the viability of his campaign. Mr Biden has dared his critics to challenge him for the nomination, declaring that he will not be pushed out of the race because he is too old. On Tuesday, Jerry Nadler, a New York senator who called for Mr Biden to stand down in a private call on Sunday, said that his concerns were beside the point. He said: Hes going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him. Mark Warner, a senator who previously tried to bring Democrats into a crisis meeting about Mr Bidens future, said while there were questions that needed to be asked, it was up to the president to more aggressively make his case to the American people. The push by some Democrats to remove Mr Biden has failed to attract the backing of senior party members, whose support would be needed for a coup to succeed. Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate, have not joined the calls from more junior colleagues for him to step back. Some party grandees, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, have made statements in support of Mr Bidens campaign, while Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has walked back comments in which she said there were legitimate questions about his age. The White House has spent almost two weeks locked in a bitter battle with Mr Bidens critics, who began calling for him to stand down as soon as the debate with Trump finished. Mr Biden worsened fears about his age in an interview with ABC News on Friday, in which he repeatedly ruled out taking a cognitive test, and said only the Lord Almighty could tell him to withdraw his nomination. Joe Biden, pictured speaking to supporters in Wisconsin last week, has been fighting back against criticism - Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Allies of Kamala Harris, the vice-president, have been talking up the possibility of her replacing Mr Biden on the Democratic ticket in November, but Ms Harris has said he should not stand down. On Monday, the US government released a letter explaining why a leading neurologist had visited the White House eight times in the last year, after it was suggested Mr Biden may have received treatment for Parkinsons disease. Dr Kevin Cannard, the neurologist, was treating US troops stationed in the building, the letter said. Some Democrats remain concerned about polls showing Mr Biden is significantly less popular than his colleagues running in congressional races in swing states. A survey conducted by AARP and released on Tuesday found Mr Biden had the support of 38 per cent of voters in Wisconsin, six percentage points behind Trump, while Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic senator, had the support of 50 per cent against her Republican rival. Mr Biden was due to meet with Democratic mayors on Tuesday night after addressing leaders of the USs Nato allies in Washington. He has been criticised for taking too long to engage with elected members of his party after the concerns about his age first emerged. Murry Newbern, Alison Guthrie and Christine Althoff pictured in front of the Arkansas State Capitol - James Breeden Jeff Hall, a lifelong Republican, got out of his car and walked past a row of Biden-Harris 2024 placards wedged into a grass verge outside a Democratic headquarters and signed an abortion petition. Mr Hall, 72, like a growing number before him, had driven across his home town of Little Rock in Arkansas, to put his name to calls for the lifting of a ban imposed by his party. The signature should help force one of the deepest red states to hold a referendum on November 5 to reverse draconian new abortion restrictions. The ballot will be held alongside the presidential vote. Abortion is becoming a major headache for Republicans and Donald Trump, who have both been blamed for taking away womens rights and freedoms. Mr Hall told The Telegraph that while he supported the abortion Roe v Wade landmark case being overturned in the Supreme Court, and is opposed to abortion itself, he disagrees with the state dictating that a woman cannot terminate a pregnancy even if there are complications. Just get it away from the government, its a family decision, he said. Its not political. Im a Republican. This is the Democratic headquarters. Im here signing that because thats the way I feel about abortion, he said after his 10-year-old grandson Oscar watched him scrawl his name. Mr Hall comes in to sign the document to put the amendment on the ballot - James Breeden The grandfathers signature was among more than 101,000 collected by Arkansans for Limited Government to abortion rights on the ballot this November, far exceeding the 90,704 required. At least one man was seen putting his name to the petition while wearing Mr Trumps trademark Make America Great Again (MAGA) caps. If the signatures are certified, when the states residents vote for Donald Trump or Joe Biden in November they can also decide whether the right to have an abortion up to 18 weeks should be enshrined in the state constitution. Later abortions would be permitted in instances of rape, or incest, where there is a fatal fetal anomaly and where abortion is needed to protect the mothers life. According to a survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, a majority of adults in most states think the practice should be legal in all or most cases. Abortion has long been a thorny issue for Trump, who earlier this year rejected calls for a nationwide ban amid concerns an extreme position could cost him the election. While the Republican nominee, 78, took credit for helping overturn Roe v Wade, he has struggled to find a consistent position on the issue that doesnt alienate both his hard-right evangelical and moderate supporters. In recent weeks he all but sidestepped the hot-button issue by saying individual states should be allowed to decide their own abortion laws. On Monday, the GOP released a platform which for the first time in 40 years did not include calls to back a national ban on abortion. The 16-page document, which would have been heavily influenced by Trump, said the party opposes late-term abortion and supports access to birth control, and IVF. It comes as the Biden-Harris campaign has continued to try and make abortion one of the defining issues of the 2024 election, in the hope it will mobilise female voters. In the handful of states where residents have voted on the issue, residents have sided with abortion rights supporters - even in conservative states including Kansas and Kentucky. But Arkansas, a state deep in the Bible belt where, according to the Pew Research Centre just under half of residents are evangelical protestants, would be the biggest test yet. Protesters gather in the chamber of Arkansas' Supreme Court - Andrew DeMillo In the Natural State, which was dubbed the most pro-life state for the past four years by the anti-abortion group Americans United for Life, opponents have been waging a fierce campaign to drum up opposition to the amendment. Pro-life groups have been accused of following and intimidating abortion campaigners across the state as they scrambled to gather signatures. Some shouted that women should just keep their legs closed, while others physically pushed supporters or called the police to claim they were canvassing illegally. Things escalated last month when the Family Council, a conservative pro-life group, published the names of 79 paid canvassers after obtaining their information through Freedom of Information requests. In Perryville, a tiny village in rural Arkansas, a group from the Providence Baptist Church last week shouted into a megaphone about the sanctity of life while three female campaigners tried to gather signatures. It feels like the fifties, said Scharmel Roussell, 65, a retired non-profit director who was among the canvassers sitting under a gazebo encouraging people to sign. But Ms Roussell claimed the shouts of pastor Allen Nelson backfired by drawing attention to their stand and prompting people to sign. Obviously I dont want it on the ballot. Christ is king and abortion is murder. I would hope that Arkansas, a conservative state, is going to reject it, Mr Nelson said. Campaigners collect signatures for the amendment - James Breeden The amendment would overhaul abortion measures in a state where, according to the State Department, there were no reported abortions in 2023. Women in the state have been so terrified about getting pregnant and being unable to access care some have gone to drastic measures to protect themselves, including having their fallopian tubes removed. Campaigner Murry Newbern, 62, said she has heard from signatories in some of the most Republican pockets of the state who disagree with the states strict trigger laws. The retired lobbyist for Planned Parenthood said many GOP supporters she has spoken to think the near-total ban on abortion is too extreme. They say they dont believe the government has any business in making that decision. They do not think this is right, she said. In Mountain View, a city in northern Arkansas where 78 per cent of voters supported Trump in the 2020 election, signatories included a man wearing a MAGA hat. Boxes containing signatures supporting the proposed ballot measure are delivered to a room in the state Capitol - Andrew DeMillo But despite campaigners claiming most people have been sympathetic to the amendment, there is still a strong and vocal opposition. Just a few feet away from the Democratic headquarters sits the Family Councils head office (both groups say the other decided to set up shop next to them). While the front of the building is adorned with posters calling for abortion rights, the car park is covered in posters urging people to decline to sign. Speaking from his air-conditioned wood-panelled office, Jerry Cox, the president of the Family Council, said the amendment is far more extreme than Roe v Wade. The proposed amendment is not as strict as those being proposed in other states. Mr Cox said the amendment would see all of our common sense abortion laws struck down. Jerry Cox is the president of the Family Council Action Committee - James Breeden He also criticised the proposed measure for allowing later-term abortions in the cases of rape and incest. Rape and incest are horrible things... however, we have to look at the truth, which is that there is a child living in the womb, he said. Mr Cox brushed off concerns over whether Arkansans would vote in favour of the amendment this November. He denied hearing any stories about Republicans like Mr Hall travelling across the state capital to sign in favour of putting the measure on the ballot. Arkansas has more churches per capita than any state in the United States and so a lot of people are motivated by their faith and so I think that theyll do the right thing and stand up for the sanctity of human life, he said. But if the support for the amendment has shown anything, it is that for some MAGA fans, the states strict abortion laws are too difficult to swallow. While Mr Hall said he disagrees with the 18-week limit, he was adamant: You have to take the good with the bad. Elephants in South Africa's Pilanesberg National Park - GUNTER NUYTS/ALAMY Elephants have trampled a tourist to death in South Africa after he got out of his car to take their picture. The 43-year-old Spaniard was killed on Sunday at the Pilanesberg National Park in North West Province, just over 100 miles from Johannesburg, police said on Tuesday. He had left his vehicle and approached the herd, which included young calves, when they attacked him. Wildlife experts often warn that elephants are especially protective of their young and can react aggressively to a perceived threat. Sabata Mokgwabone, a police spokesman, said: Reports suggest that the man stopped the vehicle, alighted and went closer to the elephants to take pictures. North West Provinces Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB), which manages Pilanesberg, said that an adult female elephant then charged at the man. It said: He was unfortunately not able to escape or evade the elephant, which was now joined by the whole herd, and was caught and trampled to death. Park officials said the matriarch of the herd attacked upon becoming 'agitated' after seeing the tourist approach - AFRICA MEDIA ONLINE/ALAMY The elephants moved away immediately from the scene without any aggression towards the nearby vehicles and eventually disappeared into the bushes. Pieter Nel, NWPTBs chief conservation officer, said the matriarch of the herd attacked upon becoming agitated after seeing the tourist approach. It is normal behaviour for elephants to try to defend the young ones, he added. Mr Nel told AFP: Lots of tourists are oblivious to the dangers and do not realise how dangerous these animals can be. The Spaniards companions, all from Johannesburg, were unharmed, police said, adding that they had opened an investigation. Elephant attacks are not uncommon in the region. In 2021, a suspected poacher was killed by elephants in South Africas Kruger National Park. Last year, 50 people were killed and 85 injured by wild animals mostly elephants in neighbouring Zimbabwe, according to local authorities. Pilanesberg and other South African parks tell visitors driving through the reserves to keep their windows closed and not to disembark from their vehicles. The dangerous and unpredictable nature of wild animals are always emphasised on the permits and booklets for sale in Pilanesberg, NWPTB said, adding it was saddened by the tragic incident. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, called the snap election after his party performed badly in European elections last month - Mohammed Badra/REUTERS Emmanuel Macron is seeking help from Frances Communist Party in a bid to rebuild his coalition and block the hard Right and Left from power. The French president is scrambling to keep his centrist bloc in parliament after losing 80 deputies in snap elections over the past fortnight. Mr Macrons party came third in the first round of the election on June 30 and second the week after. Despite calling the election to offer clarity on the countrys political situation after European elections last month, the opposite has happened, with Mr Macron now trying to salvage his partys position while shunning the hard Right and Left, who won the first and second rounds, respectively. For the moment, the president is moving towards a coalition ranging from the Communists to the Right, one unnamed source told Le Figaro. The Left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance that won Sundays election is made up of Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI) party, the Greens, the Socialist Party and the Communist Party. However, there are differences between them, with Fabien Roussel, the Communist Party leader, taking a harder line on immigration than LFI and being more supportive of the police. Fabien Roussel, the Communist Party leader, takes a harder line on immigration than Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the leftist alliance - Emmanuel Dunand/AFP Last November, Mr Roussel broke away from the Left-wing Nupes coalition over Mr Melenchons refusal to label Hamas a terrorist group following the Oct 7 attack on Israel. Under Mr Roussel, the Communist Party has also distinguished itself from Mr Melenchons party by positioning itself as a representative of working-class communities in small, rural towns rather than urban and suburban centres as represented by LFI. The potential unlikely alliance between Mr Macron, who is a centrist, and the Communist Party comes as Elysee insiders paint a picture of closed-door meetings, frantic phone calls and working lunches to woo deputies over to Macrons bloc. According to Le Figaro, Sebastien Lecornu, the armed forces minister, has been making calls to former Republican party colleagues on the Right while centrist Francois Bayrou, the leader of Democratic Movement (MoDem), has made calls to ex-president Francois Hollande and spoken with the leader of the Greens, Marine Tondelier. Leaders within the presidents alliance, Ensemble (Together), including Mr Bayrou and Edouard Philippe, the centre-right Horizons party leader, are working on a declaration of principles that will include everything from defence and the European Union. Mr Macron called the election after his Renaissance party was trounced in European Parliament elections last month by Marine Le Pens hard-Right National Rally (RN) party. Left and Centre parties clubbed together to keep her from winning the second round of election by removing candidates in regions that would split the anti-hard Right vote. It has created the unexpected outcome, though, of the NFP winning and led to frustration within Mr Macrons camp that he is not doing enough to mount a force against them. According to Le Figaro, aides said that Mr Macron is hoping the NFP will implode by itself. Meanwhile, the RN has also experienced a major internal shake-up with the resignation of the general director, Gilles Pennelle, who was responsible for recruiting RN candidates for the parliamentary elections. Dozens of candidates made headlines for alleged anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic remarks or for being violent convicted criminals. Tory Matt Warman makes a speech after losing to Reform's Richard Tice in the general election - Andrew Fox The Conservatives and Reform UK are caught up in a family feud and the Right must be brought back together, a Tory MP has urged. Andrew Rosindell warned his party cannot win a general election if our vote is cut in half and urged conservative politicians to coalesce around a single electoral force. The Tories now have just 121 MPs after an election in which their prospects were dealt a major blow by the rise of Reform, which outflanked them on the Right on migration and tax. Nigel Farages party won more than four million votes receiving 14 per cent of the popular vote, compared to the Tories 24 per cent and picked up five MPs. Mr Rosindell, a prominent figure on the Tory Right, told GB News he believed Reform was essentially a breakaway from the Conservative Party. The vast majority of people in Reform are the kind of people that I could sit with and agree on, about 90 per cent of things, and most of them are ex-Conservative members, he said. So this is a family feud. Thats how I see it. Andrew Rosindell believes Reform is 'essentially a breakaway from the Conservative Party' - Universal History Archive/Getty Images Contributor The MP for Romford went on to insist the simple mathematics of the electorate meant the Tories and Reform had to unite before the next general election. We cant win an election if our vote is cut in half, he said. So if you have two right of centre parties, one Conservative, one Reform, and lets face it, we agree on most things. There are some issues where we may disagree, but generally speaking, both are right of centre parties Our electoral system, you need the Right-of-centre parties to coalesce. Hows that going to happen? How are we going to achieve it with all the characters and personalities involved? I do not know. What I do know is that unless we do that, the likelihood is that youre going to have a second and a third and even a fourth term of a Labour government. There was a heated debate among senior Tory figures before the general election about whether Mr Farage should eventually be admitted into the partys ranks. Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, led calls for the Conservatives to embrace the new MP for Clacton, a sentiment echoed by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg. But James Cleverly, her successor, and Kemi Badenoch, who is now the shadow housing secretary, both insisted Mr Farage had harmed the Tories too much to be welcomed into the party. The battle over the Tories future ideological direction will be a major feature of the eventual contest to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader. The likes of Mrs Braverman and Sir Jacob, who lost his seat last week, have already argued the defeat was a result of not being conservative enough in government. But senior figures on the One Nation wing of the party have called for it to change course and tack towards the centre in the hope of winning over swing voters who backed Labour. Marine Le Pen and her party have denied wrongdoing in connection with campaign financing Photograph: Lafargue Raphael/ABACA/REX/Shutterstock French investigators have opened an inquiry into the campaign finances of the far-right leader Marine Le Pen during her failed 2022 presidential election bid against Emmanuel Macron, as politicians on the left continue to discuss how a new government could be formed in France. The Paris prosecutors office announced on Tuesday that an investigation had been opened last week to examine allegations over Le Pens campaigning funding, which include embezzlement, forgery, fraud, and a further allegation that a candidate on an electoral campaign accepted a loan. No further details were given. Le Pen and her party have previously denied wrongdoing in connection with campaign financing. The preliminary investigation was opened after a national commission in charge of scrutinising campaign finances, the CNCCFP, had alerted the prosecutors office last year. The 2022 election was the second time Le Pen, who was then head of the anti-immigration, far-right National Rally (RN) party, faced Macron in the runoff and lost to him. In December 2022, the commission had objected to expenses linked to putting up and taking down campaigning material on 12 buses, describing them as irregular. Le Pen had appealed but then dropped the case. Related: French government risks no-confidence motion as leaders rule out coalitions French politicians continue to ponder how to form a government after Le Pens far right was held back by tactical voting in the final round of a snap election on Sunday night, but no grouping has won an absolute majority. The leftwing alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP) a coalition which runs from the firmly leftwing La France Insoumise to the Greens, Communists and more centre-left Socialists is still debating who to put forward as a potential prime minister and whether it could be open to working in a broader coalition. But although the left was slightly ahead of Macrons centrist grouping and Le Pens far-right RN, it remains about 100 seats short of an absolute majority. Parliament is now divided between three closely balanced political forces: the left, centrists and the far right. Whoever governs would need some form of coalition. It is not certain that a prime minister from the left would survive a confidence vote in parliament. Related: Frances leftwing alliance beat the far right, but what now? podcast Any left-leaning government would need broader support in the National Assembly, the Socialist MP Boris Vallaud told France Inter. None of the three leading blocs can govern alone, Stephane Sejourne, head of Macrons Renaissance party, wrote in Le Monde. He suggested the centrist bloc could now try to form its own coalition and join with some parts of the centre left while refusing to work with others who are further left. The centrist bloc is ready to talk to all the members of the republican spectrum, he added, saying any coalition members must support the EU and Ukraine and maintain business-friendly policies. These requirements, he said, would necessarily exclude La France Insoumise and its firebrand founder Jean-Luc Melenchon. After a meeting of the centrist group, the Renaissance lawmaker Pierre Cazeneuve told Reuters: We have reaffirmed our red lines: No deal with La France Insoumise and no deal with the National Rally. Gabriel Attal is staying on as prime minister while the country remains without a new government, but discussions on how to form some kind of coalition could take weeks. Macron called the snap election last month after his centrists were trounced by the far right in European elections. He said at the time that the nation needed clarity. But the political uncertainty could drag on over the summer. Melenchon on Tuesday accused Macron of deliberately blocking the situation to keep power for as long as possible. The Socialist leader Olivier Faure said he would be prepared for his name to be put forward for prime minister, but added: That would be decided in dialogue with our partners. I dont agree with anyone imposing their point of view on others. Yael Braun-Pivet, the centrist former leader of parliament, told France Inter radio: Mathematically, democratically, no one can govern alone today. She said a coalition of different parties should agree on a handful of priority projects for the next year. CCTV footage of Davis being arrested after the stabbing - DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE/SWNS A homeless drug user stabbed a stranger to death just hours after warning the authorities he was planning to kill someone. Cameron Davis, 31, plunged a knife into 74-year-old Lorna Englands chest as she returned home from buying flour at a shop in Exeter in February last year. Earlier that day, Davis had asked to be sectioned, warning the hospital he would murder someone if he was discharged. But despite the threats, he was released. Hospital staff tried to alert police about his threats on the non-emergency 101 number but were left on hold before eventually being cut off. Davis, who had a history of substance abuse and violence, stabbed fit and active grandmother Mrs England in the heart and neck as she walked through Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter. When he was arrested, he told police: I warned you. Why didnt they listen to me at the hospital? I did that thing because no one listened. Davis admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murdering Mrs England. Murder victim Lorna England - UNPIXS However on Tuesday, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court, Davis was unanimously convicted of murder. He will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday. Davis had been taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital at 6am on the day of the murder after calling police and saying he was going to set fire to his room in an Exmouth guest house. He was assessed by two mental health staff who decided to discharge him at 12.43pm after taking advice from a consultant psychiatrist. Davis then told them he would kill someone if he was not admitted. Mrs England, who had been married for 52 years and was a beloved mother and grandmother, had walked to her local Lidl store to buy some flour. The court heard she liked to get in 10,000 steps every day and her husband had made her a cup of tea in anticipation of her return. But at about 3.55pm as she entered a wooded area in Ludwell Valley Park, CCTV captured Davis following her. CCTV footage released by police shows him walking out of A&E before buying two bottles of vodka and a kitchen knife from a supermarket. Footage also captures Mrs England leaving the same supermarket after her shopping trip. Meanwhile, Davis is seen loitering in Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter, Devon. Mrs England is later captured on CCTV walking through the same park. Tragically, their paths crossed and Davis carried out the fatal attack in which Mrs England was stabbed in the neck and through the heart. Despite the best efforts of witnesses, she was pronounced dead at the scene. After approaching her he stabbed her at least twice, once in the neck and once in the chest to a depth of 12cm. Onlookers who raced to the scene tried to comfort Mrs England as she lay dying on the ground while Davis dumped the knife in a stream and walked off. Mrs Englands husband, David, described her as a very fit and outgoing lady who liked to walk in the fresh air and always stood up for herself. Davis, who was known to the police and mental health services, had been homeless or living in emergency accommodation in the run-up to the attack. In January 2023, he told a support worker he was planning to kill himself or someone else and after going to a police station was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for a mental health assessment. Homeless drug user Cameron Davis - UNPIXS But two psychiatrists who examined him said he did not need to be detained. He subsequently made threats to his support worker and was assessed by a community health team, who also said he did not need to be sectioned. On the morning of the killing, Davis had called the police threatening to burn his flat down if he was not arrested. When emergency services arrived, he told them he would kill a random person if he was not detained and was taken back to the Royal Devon and Exeter. He was again seen by mental health specialists and despite making further violent threats was discharged. He then bought the bottles of vodka and kitchen knife before going to Ludwell Valley Park where he killed Mrs England. In a statement issued after the verdict Mrs Englands family said: Our family has been devastated by the brutal murder of our much-loved Lorna. We have been tormented by the violence, pain and suffering inflicted by Cameron Davis on Lorna from such a mindless and brutal knife attack. We will never be able to come to terms with losing Lorna in this truly horrific and evil way. Every day we are tortured and tormented as we constantly relive in our heads what Lorna endured prior and during the attack, what she had to go through, what she saw, heard and experienced that day. She had fought for her life Cameron Davis is an angry and manipulative liar, an individual who reacts aggressively when he does not get his own way. We can only hope that he will never be considered and released back into the community. Senior Investigating Officer Det Insp Dave Egan, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: This was a brutal assault on an innocent woman. For reasons known only to Davis, he launched this unprovoked attack on Lorna as she walked home on a Saturday afternoon. His pleas to manslaughter were not accepted by the team and we are pleased that the jury reached this verdict today. Davis has had several psychiatric reports, two of which failed to support that he was suffering from mental health-related psychosis, a defence he claimed. In reality, Davis went out that afternoon intent on causing someone harm. Our belief is that it could have been anyone that he attacked that day but tragically for Lorna, and all who knew and loved her, it was her that he chose and only he will ever truly know the reason why. Det Insp Egan continued: He stabbed her multiple times in a ferocious assault inflicting two knife wounds, one of which proved fatal. Lorna also received several defence wounds in the incident, showing that she had fought for her life. Lorna had never met Davis before that day and had no personal connection to him she was a complete stranger to him, merely in the same place as Davis when he decided to launch this horrific attack. She should have been safe and could never have foreseen what was about to happen. It is clear from speaking to Lornas family that she was very much loved, and her death has left a huge void in the lives of all who knew her. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of Lorna who have shown nothing but courage and dignity throughout this trial. Courtney Kosnik, left, and Sara Tasneem were married at ages 16 and 15, respectively. Now they are campaigning for an end to child marriage. Composite: The Guardian/Sara Tasneem/Courtney Kosnik Courtney Kosnik was 16 when she met the man who would become her husband in a Detroit coffee shop. She thought shed met her savior. She was living in poverty, under the care of an alcoholic mother who struggled to hold down jobs. He promised her stability. Two months later, he proposed. No one in Kosniks life seemed bothered by the fact that the man was 28, more than a decade older than his bride-to-be, and he had a plan to get around her status as a legal minor: They just needed her mothers permission to wed, and if she didnt give it, they could always drive down to Ohio, where the rules around marriage were less strict. Kosniks mother didnt need much convincing. The man seemed polished and friendly, and he said that he could provide a better moral upbringing for her daughter. Isnt it crazy that someone wanted to give their wife a moral upbringing? Kosnik, now 47, said. I should have already been raised before I got married. On their wedding day in 1993, 10 guests watched a teenage Kosnik marry her adult fiance. Most of the mans family made appearances, with one notable exception. His uncle was a priest who married every single one of their family members for decades, but he would not consent to marry us because of the age difference, Kosnik recalled. I realized there was no way out Courtney Kosnik Any hopes Kosnik had of a better life with her husband were dashed on their wedding night, when he became physically violent for the first time. Almost instantly, I wanted out of my marriage, she said. But her husband controlled all their finances and kept a close eye on who she spoke to. When she tried to file for divorce six years into their marriage, he took their first child out of state, saying he wouldnt come back until she changed her mind. They stayed together for 24 years and had four children, separating only after Kosnik was able to secretly obtain her first credit card. She used the $5,000 credit line to pay for a divorce attorney. Kosnik now understands that her marriage as a child should never have happened. Last year, she joined Unchained at Last, a group of child marriage survivors from across the country who successfully lobbied Kosniks home state of Michigan to outlaw the practice in September. However, child marriage, which activists describe as one or both parties entering a union while under age 18, remains legal in 37 US states. There are no federal laws against it, meaning minors can marry, with parental consent, before they can vote, drink, or buy lottery tickets in the majority of the country. Some states have a minimum marriage age on the books, which ranges from 15 to 18. Four states California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Mississippi do not specify any minimum age at all. Many survivors say they felt trapped in their marriages. Some, like Kosnik, must rely on their spouses for financial support. Others are up against complicit parents, who sign off on forced unions. In many states, statuatory rape is not a crime within marriage, creating a legal loophole that entices predators and increases the likelihood of sexual abuse. Child marriage can be seen as a workaround for child rape, said Fraidy Reiss, founder of Unchained at Last. Jhumka Gupta is an associate professor of public health at George Mason University who studies gender-based violence and child marriage. Her work focuses on the topic outside of the US but she draws some general conclusions about survivors. We know that child marriage has been associated with higher likelihood of poor birth outcomes, unplanned pregnancies, and worse mental health outcomes compared to women who were not married before the age of 18, Gupta said. She also noted that a girl who marries before 18 is less likely to complete her education, diminishing her ability to make her own money. The US government calls child marriage a human rights abuse and has committed up to $5.3m to prevent it in regions, countries, and communities where interventions are most needed and most likely to achieve results. American exceptionalism would lead people to associate these regions with the global south, not the US, Gupta says. Of course its prevalent here, too. Close to 300,000 minors were married between 2000 and 2018 in the US, according to a study conducted by Unchained at Last; a small number of them were as young as 10. Because 78% of minors who wed in that timespan were girls with adult husbands, advocates frame their cause around saving underage girls from older men. So far this year, survivors have successfully campaigned to get child marriage taken off the books in three states, marking steady progress towards their goal of ending child marriage completely in the US by 2030. But, Reiss says, indifference is a challenge: Its been difficult to get legislators to pay attention to the issue and to take the simple, commonsense step of saying you have to be 18 to marry, the same way you have to be 18 to enter into almost any other contract. Advocates also face interference from a seemingly odd cohort: rightwing politicians who are using child marriage as ammunition in their war on reproductive rights, and left-leaning organizations who say they are defending the rights of young people by protecting the legality of child marriage. Mounting opposition The US didnt have a problem with child marriages until the mid-19th century, when people began associating adolescence with innocence that required protecting. As this happened, more people found the practice of child marriage unusual and wanted to regulate it, said Nicholas L Syrett, a professor at the University of Kansas and author of American Child Bride: A History of Minors and Marriage in the United States. Elizabeth Oakes Smith, a pioneering womens rights activist of the time, wrote that her marriage at 16 was her great lifelong mistake, only made due to pressure from her family. At the time, it wasnt uncommon for teenage girls to have husbands. Later on in life, Smith believed that girls could not freely give their consent, and she campaigned to raise the US legal marrying age to 21, the age of adulthood at the time. Certain circumstances legitimized child marriage. Adults found it noble if the practice prevented teen mothers from having babies out of wedlock. Child marriage was seen as a solution to sex outside of marriage, Syrett said. They didnt want children being born as bastards in an era when that used to have legal consequences. By the 1930s, roughly 10% of 17-year-old girls were married, according to census data compiled by PBS. In 1937, the 22-year-old tobacco farmer Charlie Johns married his nine-year-old neighbor, Eunice Winstead, in Tennessee. The couple became a source of national fascination: Life magazine sent photographers to shoot the pair, and newspaper images showed Winstead posing with her husband and a baby doll a wedding gift from Johns, the New York Times reported at the time. Embarrassed Tennessee lawmakers quickly put a minimum marriage age of 16 on the books. (Winstead and Johns stayed married until his death in 1997.) A year later, the tale received the exploitation film treatment with Child Bride, about a young girl saved from a predatory marriage in the nick of time. An opening-credit sequence read: In dramatizing life among these back yonder folk, we aim neither to ridicule nor to defend their mode of living and if our story will help to abolish Child Marriage it will have served its purpose. Child marriage last truly peaked in the US during the baby boom of the 1950s, when American society promoted domesticity and homespun middle class values. We have been on a very steady decline since then, Syrett said, though he added it was more common among girls from rural and poor areas. Child marriage is not something that middle-class kids who think theyre going to graduate high school and go to college do, he said. This happens among impoverished people. Resistance to change Kosnik entered her marriage because she needed money and thats why she stayed, too, despite constant physical and emotional violence from her husband. I was completely defeated within the first year of marriage, before I ever turned 18 years old, she said. I realized there was no way out. Sara Tasneem found herself similarly stuck in a child marriage at the age of 15. In 1997, she spent a summer with her father in Los Angeles. He had divorced her mother, who lived with Tasneem in Denver, and joined what Tasneem calls an extremist Sufi cult, where men were encouraged to marry young girls. People preferred to look the other way instead of asking: Are you OK? Sara Tasneem When Tasneems mother learned she had a boyfriend in Denver, she was sent to her fathers home, where he lectured her about the sins of sex outside of marriage. Later that summer, Tasneems father took her to a religious conference he had organized, with thousands in attendance. During the conference, Tasneems father introduced her to a 20-year-old man. He told me to go talk to some man who was sitting in a coffee shop, and he was clearly an adult, Tasneem recalled. I sat across from him and he said, I dont want to wait for a long engagement. Thats the only part of the conversation that I remember, and it was really uncomfortable, but I didnt really know what he was talking about. Later, Tasneems father told her that another religious leader in the group had picked the man out to be her husband. I was physically handed over to a complete stranger, Tasneem said. I went from being a freshman in high school and having hopes and dreams of going to law school or joining the air force, and that completely changed my summer. My virginity was robbed from me. I went from being a kid to being a wife. The marriage was initially symbolic, but some men from the cult advised Tasneems husband to make it legal, and when she was 16 they did so at a drive-in chapel in Nevada. There, Tasneem handed the officiant a signed permission slip from her father. The officiant didnt seem to care about her young age. The common reaction I got from any type of adult outside of the situation was that they looked at me like I wasnt even a human being, she said. People preferred to look the other way instead of asking: Are you OK? I dont care what religion youre a part of: you still deserve to be treated like a human being. When Tasneem got pregnant, her doctor treated her with scorn. I was 16 and this could have been a situation where an adult helped me, but instead they looked down on me, she said. Tasneem stayed in the marriage for 10 years, leaving it after she managed to attend college and find work as a single mother. She became an activist with Unchained at Last when she realized other women shared similar experiences. Reiss, who founded Unchained at Last in 2011, grew up in New Yorks ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and was forced by her family to marry a stranger at age 19. It was a forced marriage: even though she was an adult, she didnt consent to the act. The United Nations categorizes all child marriage as forced marriage. Reiss ultimately defied the community, divorcing her husband and receiving an education at Rutgers University. She later became a reporter for the Asbury Park Press and private investigator at a financial and risk advisory firm. Reiss and the survivors who campaign with her are known for their dramatic activism; the women go to state legislatures wearing wedding dresses and chains to symbolize their trauma. Thirteen states, plus the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa territories, have banned child marriage since 2017, in large part due to the survivors efforts. Some bans are stronger than others. In 2019, Utah raised its marriage age from 15 to 16, which Unchained at Last categorizes as weak. Other states, such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, completely ended child marriage, meaning its illegal for anyone to marry under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent. In April, Virginia became the first state in the south to ban child marriage; Washington and New Hampshire also passed bans this year. Related: Child marriage in decline but will take 300 years to eliminate Unchained at Last is the largest and best known US advocacy group, and in 2018 it partnered with Equality Now, an organization that advocates for women and girls, to create the National Coalition to End Child Marriage. Its goal is to end child marriage completely in the US by 2030. Along with state-by-state actions, they hope to address the practice at federal level. For instance, US immigration law does not specify a minimum age to petition for a foreign spouse to be the beneficiary of a spousal visa. Tasneems husband earned a green card through marrying her, which she believes was at least one motivating factor for him. If marriage had been illegal, in my case, my perpetrator may not have married me, she added. The laws incentivized him to continue to abuse me. Reiss says that representatives from every major religion have backed efforts to block child marriage, with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faith leaders testifying in support of bans. (Its the fringe, fundamentalist sects that are against the bans, but voicing that stance is a bad look, Reiss said.) However, some secular organizations have argued against the coalitions efforts: in California last year, local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood came out against a law that would have banned child marriage in the state. They see it as a reproductive rights issue, that the ability to decide to get married is an issue of choice, Syrett, the historian, said. The law did not pass because, according to the Los Angeles Times, these organizations exerted influence over Democratic lawmakers. The ACLU did not respond to a request for comment. Jennifer Wonnacott, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, told the Guardian that the organization agrees that coerced and forced marriages are a human rights abuse and strongly supports protecting minors from abuse of all kinds. Wonnacott added: We strongly believe in and support safeguarding the ability of young people, including those pregnant or parenting, to make personal decisions that are right for their own unique circumstances, particularly those concerning their sexual and reproductive health. In other words, if a 16-year-old pregnant girl wants to marry before giving birth, she should be able to. Kosnik, the Michigan survivor, said that most of the pushback she received in her state came from more conservative lawmakers. Appropriating the language of the reproductive rights movement, they argued that a young girl should have the choice to get married, citing various scenarios: what about a pregnant teen who wants to marry the babys father? Or a girl whose slightly older boyfriend is about to deploy overseas? They also attempted to turn the law into a culture war issue: the Michigan state senator Jim Runestad unsuccessfully tried to slip a ban on allowing minors access to puberty blockers into the law, while the state representative Matt Maddock used a transphobic slur to drive the point home. The same people who put [trans issues] in elementary schools and libraries are suddenly hyper-moralistic about 17 year old High School Sweethearts getting married, I dont get it, he said in a statement sent to the local outlet Michigan Advance. This is not about young love, countered Reiss. Thats bullshit. Republicans have likewise latched on to the idea that allowing child marriage will decrease the frequency of abortions. Thats the reason a ban on the practice has stalled in Missouri. The state representative Hardy Billington, an opponent of the ban, told the Kansas City Star: My opinion is that if someone [wants to] get married at 17, and theyre going to have a baby, and they cannot get married, then chances of abortion are extremely high. The state representative Jess Edwards of New Hampshire, who voted against the ultimately successful ban in that state, argued that teens are of ripe, fertile age and marriage could be an alternative for abortion. He asked: Are we not in fact making abortion a much more desirable alternative, when marriage might be the right solution for some freedom-loving couple? Kosnik describes lobbying these politicians as making her feel like she was speaking to people from the 1950s. It was all very, very old belief systems that dont show where we are today, she said. It doesnt give women any agency over their bodies. When Michigan banned child marriage in September, raising the minimum age to 18, Kosnik and her fellow survivors watched the senate vote in the galley. They were careful to sit in a section that would be in full view of the senators theyd spent two years lobbying as they walked up to vote. It was powerful, Kosnik said. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I had actually taken back control. Suella Bravermans divisive rightwing politics make her unsuitable to lead the Conservative party, Ben Houchen, the Tory Tees Valley mayor, has said, amid a backlash after the former home secretary said her party had been too liberal. A series of other Conservative figures attacked Braverman after she used a speech in the US to describe the Progress Pride flag as a monstrous thing, saying she was angered when it was flown over the Home Office against her will. Our problem is us, she told the National Conservatism conference in Washington DC. Our problem is that the liberal Conservatives who trashed the Tory party think it was everyones fault but their own. My party governed as liberals and we were defeated as liberals. But seemingly, as ever, it is Conservatives who are to blame. She added: What the Progress flag says to me is one monstrous thing: that I was a member of a government that presided over the mutilation of children in our hospitals and from our schools. Related: Suella Braverman losing support as potential party leader, Tories say Her comments appear to be an allusion to the prescribing of puberty blockers or to other medical procedures undergone by some people as they transition, though most are not available for children. Such comments and Bravermans wider pitch to the party if, as expected, she joins the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak, have angered some Conservatives, and she has lost the support of many MPs from the Tory right she might have expected to back her. Houchen told Times Radio: I dont think its a credible offering and the MPs and the members that I speak to are not interested in the divisive rightwing politics of Suella Braverman. If the Conservative party decides to go down the route of somebody like Suella Braverman, then we can absolutely see ourselves in opposition for generations to come. Bravermans speech on Monday night was condemned by Iain Dale, a radio presenter and former Conservative candidate. He said: What a disgusting speech. And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative party. Not while I have a breath left in my body. Moderate Conservatives need to stand up and be counted. This will not stand. Another Conservative candidate, Casey Byrne, said he had written to Sunak asking him to expel Braverman from the party. Whilst my voice does not matter alone, I urge all decent people to speak up too. This cannot be allowed to go without consequences, he wrote on X. I have written to Rishi Sunak urging him to expel Suella Braverman from the Conservative Party for extreme comments she has made on LGBT+ people. Whilst my voice does not matter alone, I urge all decent people to speak up to. This cannot be allowed to go without consequences. pic.twitter.com/5xoknVne5i Casey Byrne (@thecaseybyrne) July 9, 2024 Braverman is expected to run for the Conservative leadership, though she is believed to be losing support to Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister who will run on a hardline anti-migration platform. Danny Kruger, an influential backbencher on the Tory right, has already shifted his support from Braverman to Jenrick. It is understood that another senior MP from this wing of the party, John Hayes, has done the same. Speaking on Tuesday from Washington to a post-election event in the UK held by the Popular Conservatism group, Braverman criticised what she called the lunatic woke virus working its way through the British state. Braverman said Reform UK posed an existential threat to the Conservatives, saying: There is space in British politics for only one Conservative party. She said Reform could be combated only if the Tories pledged policies such as withdrawal from the European convention on human rights and repealing the Equality Act, which she said would allow a government to properly tackle immigration, among other issues. Other speakers at the event also urged the Conservatives to not respond to defeat by moving to the centre. David Frost, the former Brexit negotiator, said Sunaks government had followed the collectivist zeitgeist leftwards and presented policies that were a flabby mishmash of sub-socialist ideas. Another speaker, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who lost his seat last week, told reporters as he left the event that the party should not rush into a leadership decision. Theres plenty of time, he said. Theres not going to be an election until May 2028 if things are going well [for Labour] and June 2029 if theyre not. So you dont need to rush, or panic. The first stage of the contest took place on Tuesday evening when the veteran backbencher Bob Blackman was elected as chair of the 1922 Committee, which represents Tory MPs and organises leadership races. Blackman received 61 MPs votes and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown received 37, amid some reported annoyance that people had been turned away after being told the incorrect voting time. An ADL meeting in New York in 2019. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images The Anti-Defamation League has surveilled leftwing activists and regularly tracks, profiles and sends threat assessments of individuals it perceives as a problem, according to an employee account and an internal email obtained by the Guardian. The May 2020 email was sent from ADLs head of security to chief executive Jonathan Greenblatt and unspecified employees of the Jewish group, which labels itself the leading anti-hate organization in the world. A self-styled civil rights organization, it plays an outsize role in shaping public sentiment and national policy around antisemitism, but it has been plagued by controversy in recent years over its attacks on Israel critics and social justice groups. Related: Anti-Defamation League ramps up lobbying to promote controversial definition of antisemitism The memo shows the ADL collected information on a Black Indianapolis activist, Tatjana Rebelle, who worked on Deadly Exchange, a national campaign against an ADL-backed program to send US police officials for training with the Israeli military. Rebelle, however, said the local campaign on which they worked did not target the ADL, and they had never directly engaged with the group. In the email, which included a picture and personal information about Rebelle, ADL head of security Chris Delia concluded Rebelle was a radical with antisemitic and hateful views but was not a threat to the organization. Still, he recommended the file be referred to the organizations Center on Extremism, which tracks, in its words, extremist trends, ideologies and groups across the ideological spectrum. Rebelle, who left the Deadly Exchange program in mid-2018 to work with a youth climate nonprofit, said they were terrified for themself and their family after learning about the 2020 assessment. It scared the shit out of me, Rebelle said, adding that it has had a chilling effect on their activism and what they say publicly. It stopped me from moving forward because I dont want to put people in my life at risk I work with youth, so it stopped me in my tracks. The ADL did not respond to specific questions from the Guardian, but sent a statement that said: The memorandum was inappropriate and withdrawn at the time. ADL does not discuss personnel matters. The ADL has come under fire in recent years as it has leveled charges of antisemitism against leftwing Jewish groups, Black Lives Matter, Palestinian rights groups and other organizations critical of Israel. It has increasingly lobbied for federal legislation on antisemitism, some of which critics say is intended to target leftwing Jewish and Palestinian rights groups. It has become more aggressive since the Gaza wars outset, but its credibility has also suffered most recently, Wikipedias editors found the ADL could not be trusted to give reliable information on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The memo is the latest evidence that the ADL has spied on, surveilled or tracked its opponents on the left and right. In 1993, the ADL faced multiple lawsuits and an FBI investigation over a nationwide intelligence network it developed over the span of several decades with an investigator on its payroll, Roy Bullock. Bullock was alleged to have infiltrated or kept files on the United Auto Workers union, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, neo-Nazi groups, Mother Jones magazine, the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP and many more. He also allegedly sold personal information on US politicians and others to the apartheid South African government at the ADLs behest. The ADL initially backed the apartheid regime, labeling Nelson Mandelas party totalitarian, anti-humane, anti-democratic, anti-Israel, and anti-American. In the wake of the far-rights deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally, the ADL, which also tracks white supremacy, claimed it did not directly track leftwing groups. However, it put up a post on its website around that time encouraging police to surveil and infiltrate anti-fascist groups. An anonymous ADL employee who shared Delias memo wrote in an email that threat assessments Delia developed on Rebelle are conducted regularly. The staffer also noted that many ADL staff rebelled in horror and apologized to Rebelle. Rebelle worked through 2018 for the American Friends Service Committee, which partnered with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) on the Deadly Exchange initiative. Rebelle says they helped train local activists on how to address police abuses, worked on immigration issues and raised awareness of the problems with exchange programs between US police and the Israeli military. Delia states in the 2020 memo that he was asked to assess the activist during a recent JVP meeting, referencing the leftwing US Jewish group, a regular ADL target. In a statement, JVP executive director Stefanie Fox said: Its appalling, though not surprising, that the ADL is spending enormous time and resources attacking one of the largest progressive Jewish organizations in the country and surveilling African American organizers. Delia characterizes Rebelle as a very angry person, looking for a group to belong to, who complains about the Black dad she never knew, and white mom and family she didnt feel she belonged to. Rebelle also complains about being judged for being bisexual and binational, Delia wrote. He alleges Rebelle does not like white women, especially suburban white women. Delia included a quote from Rebelles social media, in which they express they are no longer in the business of helping white folks cope with their privilege, nor speaking out against the terrorism of white supremacy or state sanctioned murder of Black and brown folks by the police. As always, remember Black Lives Matter, Free Palestine, gender and sexuality is a spectrum, Indigenous rights matter, climate change is real, defund the police, and there is no change without discomfort. Peace upon you all. Rebelle said they had been previously targeted by local white nationalists and pro-Israel groups that tried to get them fired from jobs or removed from speaking engagements, but the ADL memo came as a surprise because the group was not involved with her work in Indianapolis. Rebelle said the ADL was targeting black queer folks, and is evidence of a larger problem with the organization. Its the personal way that they described me [it] is the same way we would describe a white nationalist or a lone shooter profile, Rebelle said. I really was trying to build community and liberation, and we never harm anyone. Fox said the surveilling shows the ADL is simply not credible as a civil rights organization. They are willing to trample on civil rights, smear racial justice activists, and harm progressive movements in order to advance their primary work: ensuring Israeli occupation, apartheid, and genocide go unchecked and unchallenged, she said. This article was amended on 9 July 2024 to clarify that the characterization of the ADLs activities stems from an employees account in addition to an internal email obtained by the Guardian. Four people have been arrested on charges that they broke into pharmacies in San Antonio and elsewhere to steal prescription drugs to sell on the black market. The group allegedly targeted an undisclosed number of pharmacies in Texas, but its members were indicted in Dallas in connection with the Jan. 11 burglary of MedPlus, an independent pharmacy in San Antonios South Texas Medical Center. They stole several drugs, including at least 3 kilograms of the allergy medication promethazine with codeine, court records said. Law enforcement officers apparently recovered the drugs during their investigation. Its unclear what the drugs street value would have been. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Federal court documents said some of the suspects called 911 to make false reports and draw police away from the pharmacy so that the team could break in and get away without interference. MedPlus pharmacist told the San Antonio Express-News that the burglars entered the store by breaking the doors locks. A security alarm went off, but that didnt thwart them. The pharmacist, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said the amount of pharmaceuticals taken by the burglars was not a lot. He said the Texas Department of Public Safety has provided limited updates of its ongoing investigation, including word that the suspects were arrested in the last week. A DPS officer also said MedPlus was just one of the pharmacies targeted, he added. He did indicate it was a habitual thing, the pharmacist said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The indictment said the group used a cellphone app to communicate before and during the burglary, and monitored police call logs and communications to make a quick entry and exit. Daniel Ortiz, 33; Anna Marie Castillo, 34; Jose Francisco Buddy Olson, 34; and Gregory Guzman, 33, are charged with conspiracy to burglarize a pharmacy. Olson worked as a security guard in the San Antonio area about five years ago, the Express-News confirmed. Both Olson and Guzman live in the San Antonio area. The indictment and other court documents do not specify how the group monitored police officers radio communications. Olson and Guzman allegedly acted as lookouts while Ortiz broke into the pharmacy. Ortiz communicated with Olson and Guzman using the Zello app and directed them to make fake 911 calls to San Antonio police and give dispatchers descriptions of vehicles unlike the ones they were driving. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While texting with Castillo shortly before the break-in, Ortiz said he was about to strike, baby before he forced open the pharmacy door, court records said. Also before breaking in, Ortiz told Olson and Guzman on Zello that he was going to be in and out so fast youre going to be surprised, according to the indictment. Ortiz told Olson and Guzman to monitor police and warn him by saying brake, brake, brake if officers or patrol cars were near, the indictment said. All four are also charged with conspiracy to distribute a substance containing codeine. Ortiz, Castillo and Cordova also have been charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute a substance containing codeine. A fifth suspect, Carlos Homer Cordova, 44, also is charged in the case with conspiracy to distribute a substance containing codeine and the same two possession counts. However, he isnt charged with breaking into MedPlus. In a webinar in April with members of pharmaceutical trade groups, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials said an increasing number of independent U.S. pharmacies are being burglarized. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statistics for Texas were not immediately available, but Kerry Hamilton, section chief of pharmaceutical investigations at the DEA, and Hauns Charters, executive assistant for diversion operations at the DEA, said pharmacy burglary cases in New York rose from five thefts in 2021 to 36 in 2023. From January 2022 to December 2023, the total cost of stolen inventory in community pharmacies reached $26 million, according to DEA theft and loss reports. Charters said the $26 million loss would equate to a street value of nearly $300 million. Of the top 10 controlled substances reported stolen to the DEA, oxycodone, hydrocodone, promethazine with codeine and amphetamines are the drugs that pharmacy burglars target the most, the DEA officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Matthew Pennycook's remit is to ensure more homes are built, against the perceived tide of Nimbys - Thierry Monasse/Getty Images The new housing minister tried to block a 770 million property development in his constituency, despite the Labour Governments campaign against Nimbys. Matthew Pennycook, the Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, wrote to his local council complaining that plans by developers to build a series of high-rise apartments were wholly inappropriate and would have a detrimental impact on the local heritage. His letter, sent as the constituency MP in 2021, was written despite the developers claims that their Thames wharf project would improve a brownfield industrial site, create 1,100 new jobs and bring an annual 42 million a year boost in socioeconomic value to the area. The emergence of his letter comes after Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor, used her first major speech to reveal plans to relax planning laws despite anticipating an inevitable backlash from Nimbys and political pain. She said she would speed up infrastructure projects by reforming the national planning policy framework and restore mandatory housebuilding targets for local authorities as part of a drive to build 1.5 million homes over five years. However, despite his new role in delivering this drive, in May 2021, Mr Pennycook attempted to intervene in a planning dispute over proposals to build a residential mixed-use development called Morden Wharf in his east London constituency. Inappropriate for the site He opposed plans for 1,500 homes a third of which would be affordable homes complaining that the proposed high rise properties on the Greenwich Peninsula were too tall. The development, which was approved by the local council in the autumn of 2021 although no work has yet started, proposed a 19-acre site would contain four tower blocks rising between 21 and 36 storeys. Mr Pennycook wrote: I feel strongly that the proposals submitted would be inappropriate for the site in question and would have a detrimental impact on the existing character of the area. He claimed the scheme went against the Royal Borough of Greenwichs local plan, adding that there were strong grounds for the council to reject it because of namely the excessive heights of several of the buildings. Matthew Pennycook with Sir Keir Starmer, who has made him a housing minister in his new administration - Thierry Monasse/Getty In his letter, published on his social media, he acknowledged that although he agreed in principle to mixed-use developments for what is unquestionably an underutilised site, it is imperative that any development authorised be appropriate. He accepted that tall buildings were appropriate for the area and conformed to local planning policy, but objected to the developments height because nearby tower blocks only had 18 storeys. The MP wrote: Four towers between 21 and 36 storeys would be inappropriate for this site and would have a detrimental impact on the existing character of the area and local heritage assets. They would represent an abrupt and dramatic increase in building heights relative to the adjacent buildings. At the time, U+I, the developer, said it was transforming an underused brownfield industrial site with proposals that were in keeping with the area and would create 1,100 jobs. The development, if it goes ahead, will have a mix of commercial and residential properties and include 3.9 acres of park space. The Greenwich Society had also expressed concerns about how the scheme would look. A Labour source insisted the minister remains convinced a better development could still be found for the brownfield site. Despite planning consent being acquired by the developer for this substandard, speculative application, not a single housing unit has yet been delivered. Matthew believed at the time, and still does, that a better 1,500-home scheme could and should have been delivered. A Greenwich council spokesman said: Construction work on Morden Wharf has not begun as revisions to the original plans are currently going through the planning process. As such, all pre-application discussions and objections are confidential. More information can be found on our planning portal. Following a transfer of ownership, the buyers are looking to revise the original plans, the council has not requested these changes. Mr Pennycook was appointed housing minister last Friday. Victoria police at a home in Coolaroo, where detectives believe the body of a woman was placed inside a bin on 2 July. Photograph: James Ross/AAP A man accused of murdering a woman before her body was found at a tip in Melbournes north has faced court. Stephen Fleming, 45, appeared in Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday wearing a blue jumper, with most of his head shaved and some hair remaining at the back. Prosecutor Connor Rattray said his office needed 20 weeks to allow for multiple crime scenes to be recreated and forensics details to be gathered. Magistrate Louise Wildberger granted the prosecution the time to gather the evidence, with a brief in the case expected to be handed up on 27 November. The magistrate remanded Fleming in custody and listed his committal mention for 8 January 2025. His lawyer Jessica Clarebrough said her client had no custody management issues. Fleming looked at the bar table and said thank you with a nod before he left the court with custodial officers. The 45-year-old, who police have alleged was known to the victim, was arrested and questioned by detectives throughout Tuesday before he was charged with murder in the evening. Workers found the womans body while moving green waste at the Repurpose It facility on Cooper Street in Epping on 3 July and immediately contacted police. Investigators believed her body was originally inside a domestic bin picked up outside a property in a nearby suburb the previous day. They identified the address as Hilgay Street in Coolaroo, which has rubbish collected each Tuesday. The woman, who is still yet to be formally identified, is believed to be a 67-year-old from Coolaroo. Police said there were still keen to speak to anyone who may have footage taken in the Coolaroo area from 23 June to 2 July or witnessed any suspicious activity around that time. George Hatzimanolis, the chief executive of Repurpose It, said the company was co-operating with investigators and asked for privacy for affected staff. We are deeply saddened to confirm that a body was discovered in the FOGO [food organics, garden organics] delivery shed at our facility last Wednesday, he said in a statement. Our staff members who made this tragic discovery are understandably shaken, and we are ensuring they receive the support and counselling they need. We ask for privacy and understanding for our employees as we navigate through this challenging situation. Experts have raised concerns over the militarisation of the Pacific, as Australia, New Zealand, the US and China forge security, policing and defence partnerships across the region. Illustration: James Hancock/The Guardian As competition for influence in the Pacific region intensifies, analysis by the Guardian has mapped a vast network of security, policing and defence agreements between the island countries and foreign partners leading to concerns about militarisation of the region. The Guardian examined agreements and partnerships covering security, defence and policing with the 10 largest Pacific countries by population. Australia remains the dominant partner in the region accounting for more than half the deals identified followed by New Zealand, the US and China. The data shows more than 60 agreements and initiatives, including several infrastructure and equipment deals, to support defence and policing in Pacific countries. The interactive table below sets out each agreement, and can be searched by country or keyword. More than half the agreements include a focus on policing, with an emphasis on training of Pacific police forces and donating equipment a push that comes amid rising transnational crime and threats. China has emerged as a new player in this arena, having developed nearly half a dozen initiatives to support policing in Pacific countries in recent years. Almost all the Pacific countries tracked have deals with multiple partners. Experts have raised concerns about the militarisation of the region, citing the 2022 security deal between China and Solomon Islands, and the US defence cooperation agreement with Papua New Guinea agreed a year later. Only three Pacific countries Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga have their own militaries. Papua New Guinea, the largest of the Pacific nations with a population of about 10 million, draws security support and maintains ties with various partners including Australia, the US and China. Donald Yamasombi, a deputy commissioner in the countrys police force, said international partners are keen and are coming in. He said police in Papua New Guinea were keen to work alongside foreign forces, particularly to combat rising methamphetamine trafficking and use in the country. While China doesnt have any formal policing or security agreements with Papua New Guinea, Yamasombi said he regularly seeks advice from Chinese embassy officials, particularly on how to deal with emerging crimes such as money laundering, illegal migration and prostitution that are a growing problem in Papua New Guinea. If we were to partner with China, Id like to see it being targeted at those very crime types, Yamasombi said. The deputy commissioner said he would welcome further collaboration with Chinese police forces, including participating in training programs. Meanwhile, the US has at least eight defence and security agreements in place with Pacific countries. Last year, it signed a pact with Papua New Guinea that gave the US military unimpeded access to its bases, and in 2020, the US signed a defence and security agreement with Fiji. The US also retains its dominant military footprint in the northern Pacific through its Compact of Free Association (Cofa) agreements with Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, which grant the US full responsibility over each countrys defence and security matters. A spokesperson for the US state department said the Indo-Pacific region is a leading priority for US foreign policy and in order to maintain stability, it is bolstering security to deter aggression and to counter provocations and other dangerous and destabilising actions in the region. The analysis attempts to capture the most significant deals to reveal the span of security ties with Pacific countries and their main partners. It focuses on relationships with individual partners, including some Pacific-wide and regional agreements. Some support or deals such as one-off police equipment donations were not included. Fears over rising militarisation Some experts have expressed concern that the kind of deals developed in recent years will enhance militarisation in the region, and a lack of transparency in certain agreements may erode sovereignty and democracy in the Pacific. Prof Joanne Wallis, director of the Security in the Pacific Islands research program at the University of Adelaide, said there is a lot more anxiety about strategic competition in the region between the US and allies including Australia on one side, and China on the other. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, professor at the University of Hawaii and former director of its Center for Pacific Islands Studies, said the nature of the security agreements and the details is of concern. Kabutaulaka said the 2023 Papua New Guinea-US defence cooperation deal, which allows American forces access to the Pacific nations defence facilities, will result in the increasing militarisation of the region. Separately, a lack of transparency in the China-Solomon Islands security and policing deals is an issue of concern, not only for Canberra, or Wellington, or Washington DC, but an issue of concern for citizens as well. Part of the anxiety with the agreement with China is that its not transparent. We dont know what was said, what they are going to do, said Kabutaulaka. He is particularly concerned the agreements may lead to Chinese law enforcement making extrajudicial arrests in Pacific countries, as was done in Fiji in 2017. Our approach to policing, our approach to issues of law and order cannot be the same as China, Kabutaulaka, who is from Solomon Islands, said. Yamasombi also cautioned against further increases to military spending in the region, saying the money would be better used to fortify the countrys law enforcement and boost its capacity to prosecute transnational crimes. Policing is more needed than military [investment] in the region, Yamasombi said. Why should we be fighting a war against another country? Chinas unwelcome presence Australia has invested heavily in policing across the region and is reportedly preparing to establish a new training centre for Pacific police. The Pacific Policing initiative, still in development and being led by Pacific police chiefs, will include coordination hubs and multinational response capabilities. Canberra provides policing support to various nations and last month Solomon Islands asked Australia to help grow its police force from 1,500 to 3,000 officers. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia remains committed to the security objectives of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) membership guided by the 2018 Boe Declaration. In Tonga, Chinese officials have offered to provide police training and personnel to assist with security at the upcoming PIF meeting. Police commissioner Shane McLellan an Australian appointed to the role by Tongas King said China has donated forensic equipment and vehicles to the police force in recent years, and continues to put offers on the table of various kinds. McLellan said, due to language and cultural barriers, police training from democratic nations such as New Zealand and Australia are more appropriate than those offered by China. The style of training, and the delivery of training and the methodology that we need in Tonga is more easily accessible and more directly relevant if it comes from a like nation, he said, adding however it doesnt mean to say that we immediately say no to China. A spokesperson from the New Zealand ministry of foreign affairs and trade told the Guardian the increased security presence of China in the Pacific was unnecessary and unwelcome. Chinas ministry for foreign affairs did not respond to a request for comment. Despite these concerns, Kabutaulaka predicted Pacific countries will continue to sign agreements with places like China, whether its in policing, or whether its in military cooperation. He said this may not only lead to geopolitical instability, but may also lead to domestic fractures between citizens and their Pacific governments. Wallis, meanwhile, said the Pacific is not a priority for China, and that it was unlikely Beijing would invest the money to build a permanent military presence in the region. Im less concerned about a [military] base, Im more concerned about China, undermining democratic structures by not adhering to transparency, Wallis said. The Solomon Islands security agreement is an example that, ideally, would be public, she said, while also noting that in the future Chinese police may be deployed in the region in ways that might not fully observe human rights protections and what we would typically expect of good policing. The Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is helped to his chair in the traditional way The school bell rings. A fresh term starts. And Westminster High is full of new boys and girls finding their feet at an ancient institution. I couldnt believe Labour won the election the country would never stand for it!... till I saw the Government benches packed, rammed, jammed with socialists, gathered for the election of a new speaker. Against custom, they clapped when Sir Keir Starmer entered the Commons. A Tory rolled his eyes. Weve gone from Conservatives in signet rings to a preponderance of rainbow lanyards and puffs of candy floss pink hair. Many Labour women were in bright orange the same colour Lady Vic wore when she waltzed into No 10. Does it represent some campaign to save the badger or to free Angola? Its whatevers on the front of the Boden catalogue, explained a junior MP. Good news! Our new masters have style and a sense of humour. Heres the seating arrangement for a landslide Commons: Labour crow-barred onto the Government side, overspill in the gallery; Tories opposite, closest to the Speaker; Lib Dems, nearest the entrance. Behind the liberals, a miserable looking SNP, Plaid, the Greens, the Ulsters and then the odds and sods of a country near civil war. Jeremy Corbyn arrived with his collar askew; no doubt the alarm clock failed to ring. MPs had started getting their seats an hour before, yet Reform gave it just 20 minutes, so were forced to stand, appropriately, at the bar (and next to Labours Louise Haigh, who, as if gifted with second sight, had dyed her hair Ukip purple). A kind backbencher offered their seat to Nigel. He squeezed into the middle at the top next to a terrifying man from Traditional Unionist Voice and a stones throw from the Gaza independents. This bizarre grouping is what Lee Anderson might call a no-go area. It is Black Rod! Open the door! The fun started. The Mace was presented, all hail the holy stick; Sir Lindsay Hoyle was renominated for Speaker. I have served, he said, under three prime ministers, two monarchs and one Jim Shannon the loquacious (but loved) DUP member. Hoyle was nominated by fellow Lancastrian Cat Smith, who joked that it was nice to see someone in the chair who doesnt have an accent the funniest speech of the day, marred only by Barry Gardiners phone going off (I swear the ringtone was The East is Red). Hoyle was elected unopposed. Smith and David Davis dragged him to the chair, and the speeches of congratulations began. Thank you for your service, said Sir Keir Starmer, who seems to think he is not PM but the Archbishop of Canterbury, and led us in a prayer to hope and trust. This is the most diverse parliament by race and gender this country has ever seen, he preached, with the largest number of LGBTQ+ people of any parliament in the world (true, but France leads us on bigamists and Japan on people married to a cushion). Rishi Sunak said sorry (again). Ed Davey garnered groans by being discourteously partisan. The new father of the House is Sir Edward Leigh, who paid tribute to Parliaments diversity of thought this will include MPs who never think, and can barely read while Diane Abbott, our new mother, observed how much more welcoming the modern Commons is. When I was a new MP, they just gave you a bunch of keys. Her hands trembled but her voice was compelling. The Most Rev Keir wanted rid of her; Im sure she hasnt forgotten. An end to tribal politics? Stephen Flynn of the SNP gave the air of the naughtiest boy in the school (if you want to score cigarettes, hes the kid to speak to). The DUP made no apology for Jim Shannon. Plaid spoke Welsh. The Greens, also on brand, were represented by a co-leader (pronouns he/she/them/Stonehenge) and read their speech from a tiny sheet of paper as if determined to avoid waste. We yearn for an end to tribal politics, said Swampy; the nationalist SDLP nodded towards the unionist DUP and said they look forward to that, too. Finally: Farage. We are the new kids on the block, he proclaimed, but we know that you, Mr Speaker, have a reputation for fairness and dignity. The House held its breath: was Nigel going to be nice? He continued ...in marked contrast to the little man that was there before you and besmirched the office and the pleasantries ended. Evoking memories of John Bercow is akin to reminding diners at a banquet of the experience of food poisoning. We made a note: Nigel is determined to be a difficult boy. One suspects the Speaker will soon have to resort to the cane. The Tories slipped away to elect a new 1922 Committee chairman. They look tired and angry. Mark Francois arrived too late to vote, insisted he was misinformed on the timings, and yelled This election was bent! He won his seat, by the way, following a surprise endorsement by Eastenders Ross Kemp. The word diversity might give Suella Braverman a heart attack, but Im pleased to say that the Labour landslide is no monolith, that the new Parliament promises colour and breadth. As the MPs lined up to swear in Keir first, affirming I spotted a remarkable array of religious books on the Commons Table, including the King James, the Bible in Welsh and Gaelic, the Torah, the Zohar, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Dhammapada Way of Truth and the Book of Mormon. All that was missing was Dianetics by L Ron Hubbard, but well get there someday. And the star of this Parliament is not even human. Its a dog called Jennie, the four-year old golden retriever accompanying Lib Dem Steve Darling, who is registered blind. She lay patiently on the floor, a model of etiquette. Later, I said hello to Mr Darling, who recalled that when he was leader of Torbay Council, he once brought Jennie to a dinner in Parliament. Her favourite thing is to lean her chin on peoples knees, so she wandered about under the table doing just that causing some to think they were being interfered with by the diner sitting next to them. Mr Darling said they didnt know whether to slap or smile. Alex Woolf, a former winner of the BBC Young Composer of the Year competition, arranged for his friend's face to be transposed on to the body of a porn actor - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph It was the early morning of March 10 2021 when Jodie*, then 23, opened an anonymous email. A link directed her to a porn site, where she found countless naked images and videos of herself. I was completely freaking out, I thought my whole life was over. I broke down and was screaming and crying, I practically blacked out, she recalls. Her housemate heard Jodie crying and came into her room. In shock, Jodie showed her the images and tried to explain that they featured her face, but not her body. She had been deepfaked, becoming the latest victim of a rapidly developing technology that allows strangers to stitch anyones face onto the bodies of performers in hardcore porn pictures and videos. It turned out Jodies childhood friend, Alex Woolf, had taken clothed pictures of her and posted them on an online forum so that other users, skilled in deepfake tech, could then transpose her likeness onto the pornographic images. Woolfs post read: She makes me really horny, have never done this before, would love to see her faked. Replies then flooded in with sexualised comments and the images he asked for were indeed created. Horrified by the betrayal of a trusted friend, Jodie says: When the police confirmed it was Alex who had done it, I cried so hard all the blood vessels in my eyes burst. The past few years have seen an exponential rise in sexually explicit deepfake content. In the first three quarters of 2023, research found 143,733 new deepfake porn videos uploaded to the internet compared to just one identified by researchers in 2016. But while the creation of deepfake porn has exploded just this week, it was revealed that several high-profile female politicians have had their image used on pornography sites UK law has been slow in catching up. It was only in January that the non-consensual distribution of intimate deepfakes was criminalised. Subsequently the government announced plans for a new law that would ban the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes, though not soliciting others to create the fakes, as Woolf did. It is not certain if this legislation will be taken up by a new government. Hundreds of people were humiliating women in any way they could At the moment, only the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes of under-18s is an offence. Last month, it emerged that police had launched investigations at two private schools, following claims that pornographic images of students at a girls school had been created in a boys school using innocent images sourced from social media. This week it was reported that, in a separate case, two private schoolboys had been reprimanded by police for deepfaking their female classmates. The attempts to try and address image-based abuse so far have been piecemeal and inadequate, says Rebecca Hitchen, head of policy & campaigns at the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW). On top of the understandable social mortification, Jodie felt doubly victimised by this gap in the law battling with police who, she felt, did not provide enough support and also with the sites that allowed pictures of her to be shared online without her consent. Recalling the hoards of pornographic images freely available on the site, Jodie says, Alex was playing out these sexual fantasies he couldnt have in real life and hundreds of people online were just joining in, humiliating women in any way they could. I was the victim of what felt like a targeted hate crime, I was very scared to leave my house, and there was a complete lack of awareness from the police. After initially approaching the City of London police, and being turned away because they said that a crime had not been committed, Jodie went to the Met police, who launched an investigation. With the help of 14 other victims from whom Woolf also took images (uploading them to social media with grossly offensive messages only Jodie was deepfaked), Jodie compiled and delivered a 60-page document of evidence to the Met Police. She felt the police had everything handed to them on a plate. Even so, Jodie says Woolfs victims were not provided with a liaison officer, making it incredibly difficult to get updates on the case. We were at the beck and call of the Met getting in touch with us, she says. The investigation took a serious toll on Jodies mental health. Not feeling safe, as Woolf knew where she lived, she ended up quitting her job and moving house. In the end it was not creating pornographic images of Jodie that proved Woolfs legal undoing, but the offensive messages he had posted publicly about the other clothed victims. The former winner of the BBC Young Composer of the Year competition pleaded guilty to 15 charges of sending messages that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing nature over a public electronic communications network and received a 20-week suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay each of his victims 100 in compensation. Despite his crimes not being classified as sexually motivated, Woolf was given rehabilitative therapy, while Jodie and the other 14 victims were not provided with any state-funded support. Jodies trust in the police is now broken: The police are just not set up to deal with crimes of a digital nature, and they are certainly not equipped for the volume of deepfakes that were going to be seeing in years to come. Prof Clare McGlynn, an expert in image-based sexual violence at Durham University, says Jodies case shows that criminal law doesnt understand or deal with the harms and abuse perpetrated by technology against women and girls. With constant technological development, there are always new ways to harm. We dont even know what well be talking about in five years, but I can almost guarantee it wont be covered. Children as young as 13 treat it as normal EVAW is calling for specialist victim support that would prioritise the wellbeing of victims, and ensure they had support throughout a police investigation. It also highlights the value of creating civil laws that would allow victims to approach the courts directly for compensation, and a court order for the removal of non-consensual content from the internet. Billion-dollar tech companies have been able to hide the part they play in this abuse and evade responsibility while profiting significantly from it because there is no legal requirement or incentive for them to take action, says Hitchen. McGlynn adds: If we have a comprehensive law, we can then strengthen the hand of Ofcom to be able to say to Google: You really cant be returning these things at the top of a search and to X, TikTok and Instagram: You cannot be advertising things like nudify apps. Nudify apps are AI-powered tools that take clothed images, uploaded by the user, and undress them. In May, Google implemented a policy to remove the promotion of synthetic sexual content, from its shopping ads. It is also committed to deranking deepfake creation sites. However, terms like deepfake porn and nudify continue to return links to apps and sites to create such content above any other results. A spokesperson for Google was keen to push back on the idea that the company was not being proactive on this issue: Weve been actively developing new protections in Search to help people affected by this content, building on our existing policies. Were continuing to decrease the visibility of involuntary synthetic pornography in Search and develop more safeguards as this space evolves. Another cornerstone of EVAWs campaign is education surrounding image-based abuse in schools. McGlynn warns that the easy access to deepfake technology poses, a real threat in our schools, as young people have effectively been groomed by a culture which is not taking nudification and deepfakes seriously. If children as young as 13 are seeing adverts for nudify apps, then of course they treat it as normal, she adds. They can type it into Google and there it is, along with YouTube providing guides on how to do it. Jodie is determined to see the right protections against deepfakes being written into law, whether thats amendments to current legislation or a stand-alone law on image-based sexual violence. She wants police to be granted more power to act and funding to be able to offer the right victim support. Meanwhile, she feels powerful tech firms need to be forced to take responsibility for hosting and promoting websites and apps that can cause such harm. Its a crime without barriers at this point and its so easy; you can do it at the click of a button, explains Jodie. Thats why its so scary. These images they live online and they will live there forever and you never know who could have them. Something has to change. *Names have been changed Woman holds a young child in her arms in the wake of the attack When a missile hit Kyivs Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital on Monday, Olena Magarevska threw herself over her son, Andriy, to protect him. The boy, who is nine and disabled because of a neurological condition, was recovering from surgery on the fifth-floor intensive care unit when air raid sirens sounded just before 10am. Hospital staff were unable to evacuate him to the shelter because of his medical needs, so he was moved to a dining area with sturdy walls for safety. Then the Russian KH-101 hypersonic missile smashed through the roof of the building in a rare daytime attack that left one dead and 30 wounded, according to hospital staff. I heard a loud explosion and me and my husband both jumped to cover Andriy with our bodies. The windows were completely destroyed so then we covered him with pillows in case there was another attack or falling debris, Mrs Magarevska told The Telegraph through tears. The lights also went out and it was so dark in the room. Andriy doesnt like the dark, hes scared of it, so I turned the torch on on my phone to try to calm him. Ohmatdyt is Ukraines largest childrens hospital, where more than 20,000 youngsters and teenagers are treated every year for a range of problems, from injury to genetic conditions and cancer. The missile left a giant hole gouged out of the building in central Kyiv, with rescue workers scrambling to evacuate the most sick and infirm, passing bricks by hand to clear the way. Children from the oncology ward, unable to evacuate to the shelter alongside most other patients, were forced to sit outside on pavement attached to IV drips. Pictures distributed by officials from the children's medical facility in Kyiv showed people digging through mounds of rubble - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS About 30 people were wounded and one died in the attack Daytime missile strikes have become rare since the war began, and direct hits have largely been kept away from Kyiv in recent months. Russia has targeted civilian infrastructure throughout the war and some observers pointed out the attack on the hospital had echoes of Vladimir Putins playbook in Syria. The surprise attack came as Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, met Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, to discuss a potential peace deal to end the war. Mr Orban has also visited Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin in recent days. Joe Biden, the US president, said the strikes were a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression, he said. Mr Biden said he would be meeting Mr Zelensky this week at the NATO summit to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakeable. Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraines air defences to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes, he said. A young boy is carried into an ambulance - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS Andriy was left in his bed inside the smouldering hospital for five hours before he was evacuated safely out of the rubble to another Kyiv hospital. While he waited Mrs Magarevska and her husband, Igor Magarevskyi, tried to keep Andriy calm amid the broken glass and ceiling debris. When Andriy was moved first to a stretcher in the lobby, Mrs Magarevskyi held and kissed his hand, stroking his head for comfort amid the chaos of the relief operation. Volodymyr Zovnir, director general of the hospital, said that it had been a routine morning and that staff were gathered for a meeting when the air alarm sounded and they rushed out to move children to the shelters. Children hooked up to IV drips and their parents were seen waiting patiently in a queue of seats We heard one explosion nearby and we moved to a safer area and then the second explosion hit us. I ran to the emergency department and asked the doctors to start helping the wounded immediately, he said. Approximately 30 people were wounded and one died she was taking children to the shelter at the time. Some of the wounded are doctors and nurses, many with shrapnel wounds. Mr Zovnir said that one doctor had been about to carry out heart surgery at the time of the attack, but both he and the eight-year-old patient had survived. A family waits for an evacuation for their child in the hospital - EMRE CAYLAK Volunteers quickly descended on to the scene, bringing medical supplies, water and food for the patients, medical staff and rescue workers. The hospital was plunged into darkness with even the generators damaged, and the corridors flooded because of burst pipes. The air was thick with smoke and rocket fuel. The first children to be evacuated were those with the most urgent needs, those with cancer or who rely on breathing equipment. Some doctors were trapped and had to escape out of the window while four staff members were in the lift at the time of the attack and were briefly stuck. With most of the windows broken, many of the hospital rooms had collapsed ceilings and wires dangling down. Some staff were planning to stay overnight to help the clean-up. Rescuers work at the hospital after the Russian missile strike - EMRE CAYLAK If I could give my own life to save the children, I would, Nina Fiterenko, a hospital cleaner, said. The West has to give us more support, more air defences dont let any more children get hurt. As well as the hospital and its patients, much of the hospitals equipment was badly damaged, meaning any restoration effort will be costly. The hospital is already searching for a new location to continue its work. A baby was reportedly pulled out from under the rubble on Monday evening and taken to another hospital. A woman comforts a young patient near the hospital - GLEB GARANICH According to Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, two people were killed at the hospital, including a young doctor, and 16 people were injured, of which seven were children. Ukraines Ministry of Health announced that Germany is to take some of the children for treatment from Wednesday. Seven districts in Kyiv were damaged in total, with 82 people injured and at least 22 killed, according to Kyivs military administration. Among the damaged areas were a former factory, residential buildings and another medical facility, where at least seven were killed. One metro station was also damaged. Russia cannot help but know where its missiles are flying, and must fully answer for all its crimes: against people, against children, against humanity in general, Mr Zelensky said. Tuesday has been declared as a day of mourning in the capital. Sir Tony Blair said he believed a balance needed to be struck between the "enormous benefits" of immigration and restrictions - Yui Mok/PA Sir Tony Blair has been accused of hypocrisy after urging Sir Keir Starmer to bring in immigration controls. The former prime minister said on Tuesday that the public wanted controls on immigration, warning: If you dont have rules you get prejudices. It followed his call on Sunday for the new Labour Government to consider introducing digital ID cards to help control immigration. However, Sir Tony came under fire from senior Tory MPs, who claimed his demand for controls sat uneasily with his tenure in power, when net migration increased fivefold from 48,000 to 273,000 between 1997 and 2007. Danny Kruger, the co-chairman of the New Conservatives group, said: Both parties have failed to control migration but it all started with Tony Blair opening the borders to eastern European migration which got our economy hooked on cheap foreign labour. It is hypocritical for him now to be stressing the importance of controlling our borders. Neil OBrien, a former MP and health minister, said: These problems really started to become acute during his time in Government. I think everyone will take what he says with a massive pinch of salt. The election and some of the problems with community cohesion which we saw are a direct result of problems that took hold while he was prime minister, which he didnt do anything about at the time. Office for National Statistics data show net migration averaged 318,000 a year after Labour left office in 2010 to be replaced by coalition then Tory administrations, peaking at 764,000 in 2022. It is projected to fall below 300,000 after measures introduced by Rishi Sunak. Sir Keir has pledged to cut net migration. Speaking on the BBC, Sir Tony said he believed a balance needed to be struck between people appreciating the enormous benefits of immigration and the desire for restrictions on people coming to the UK. So this is the balance that you need to strike because as I say, if you dont have rules you get prejudices, he said. Challenged over the massive increase in net migration during his premiership, Sir Tony said it was a great myth. He said: Just to be very clear about it, immigration on the day I left office was around half of what it is today. Arguing for digital ID cards first proposed by his Government, then ditched by the Tory-LibDem Coalition Sir Tony said it would enable the Government to establish precisely who has a right to be here. He said: With, again, technology, we should move as the world is moving to digital ID. If not, new border controls will have to be highly effective. The proposal was immediately knocked down by the Government with Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, saying: Its not in our manifesto. Thats not our approach. Mandelson advises restraint on ID cards On Tuesday, Lord Mandelson suggested that Sir Tony was unwise to try to get Labour to back digital ID cards so quickly after the partys election victory. The former trade secretary and one of the architects of New Labour said he believed the case for e-ID cards was stronger now than in the early 2000s. However, he added: I think raising it now and trying to herd them into place just on their third day in office is probably not wise and it would be better to let them reflect on it over the summer. Because I think migration is one of the biggest policy challenges facing this Government. And they have got to think afresh about how they manage it. I think ID cards are something that in this context does have to be considered. But not to be rushed and not to be, as it were, sort of manhandled into it. And I dont think Tonys trying to do that, by the way. Asked if he was convinced by Labours immigration plan, Sir Tony said: I think what they are doing on border control and so on, if they can make it effective, will make a huge difference. Sir Keir is proposing to set up a new border security command with Border Force, MI5 and the National Crime Agency to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. He has scrapped the Conservatives Rwanda scheme and will use the 75 million saved in the first year to hire up to 1,000 extra investigators and intelligence agents, who will be given counter terrorism-style powers to prosecute gangs operating small boat routes across the Channel. More than 90,000 migrants earmarked by Rishi Sunaks government for deportation to Rwanda will be transferred to the asylum system, entitling them to apply for leave to remain in the UK. The move was described as an effective amnesty by James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary. Meanwhile, addressing the debate on transgender rights, Sir Tony warned that Labour must not end up in a situation in which it denied biology. The comments came after Sir Keir sparked a row on Monday by appointing Anneliese Dodds, who has previously said there are many definitions of a woman, as the women and equalities minister. Sir Tony admitted he had never expected headlines in which he was quoted as saying that a woman has a vagina and a man has a penis, adding: I never thought Id see that in a headline, or that itd be particularly controversial to be absolutely frank, but there it is. JK Rowling, the author, said during the election that she would struggle to support Labour if Sir Keir did not change his stance on trans rights, prompting him to say in an interview that single-sex spaces for biological women needed to be protected. Sir Tony said: Personally, I think the Labour Party will be in the correct position on this, and Keir Starmers made that clear. Ive always had a high regard for JK Rowling, and I think its important just to distinguish between trying to treat people fairly when they have a genuine feeling that theyre a person who feels that even though biologically theyre one sex, that they really want to be another. We shouldnt end up in a situation where we deny the biology, because I dont understand how that really helps people that are suffering from a condition thats extremely difficult for them. Rescuers carry the body of a person found under debris following Russia's missile strikes - REUTERS Russia is unlikely to make significant territorial gains in Ukraine in the coming months, US officials have said. Russias poorly trained forces will struggle against Ukrainian defences which are now reinforced with Western munitions, US officials told the New York Times. Michael Kofman, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said a major Russian breakthrough is now unlikely. Meanwhile Eric Ciaramella, a former intelligence official, said that neither Russia nor Ukraine possesses the capabilities to significantly change the battle lines. Russian forces continue to push into eastern Ukraine with its defence ministry claiming to have taken control of a small village west of Avdiivka on Tuesday but the advance has slowed. Nonetheless the months ahead will still be difficult for Ukraine, with its own forces stretched thin, experts said. Thats still a highly unstable scenario, Mr Ciaramella said. Thats why Western leaders also really need to focus on integrating Ukraine into European and trans-Atlantic security structures. Follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section 03:34 PM BST Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage. The key developments were: Russia deployed new and noteworthy tactics to maximise damage during its deadly missile strikes on Monday, according to war analysts. Russian cruise missiles flew at extremely low altitudes on Monday, giving air defence systems practically no time to respond before they were within close range of their targets. The UN security council is to hold an emergency meeting after the deadly attacks. China lashed out at Natos smears and attacks after the defence alliances chief accused it of supporting Russias war in Ukraine on the eve of a summit in Washington. The Kremlin said it would closely follow this weeks summit. Russias deepening military cooperation with North Korea has underlined the need for Japan to forge closer ties with Nato as regional security threats become increasingly intertwined, prime minister Fumio Kishida told Reuters. Russian forces claimed to capture another village in eastern Ukraine near the Russian-held city of Donetsk. Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin that peace was of utmost importance and that war cannot solve problems at a meeting in Moscow. Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the meeting, calling it a devastating blow to peace efforts. Switzerland expanded its sanctions against Russia to include additional measures recently taken up by the European Union. A North Korean elite military training delegation left for a visit to Russia, the Norths state media said on Tuesday, the first military exchange between the two countries since their leaders signed a pact pledging closer military cooperation. China and Belarus started joint military exercises on Monday, the Belarusian and Chinese defence ministries said, holding the drills just a few miles from the border of Nato-member Poland. 03:17 PM BST Viktor Orban defends peace tour after Russian attacks Viktor Orban defends peace tour after Russian missile attacks. Unrepentant Hungarian prime minister, Mr Putins closest ally in the EU and Nato, said on X: Yesterdays tragic and heinous attack in Kyiv proves that our fears were justified: as it was foreseeable, the brutality of the Russia-Ukraine war has reached a new level. This is precisely why we embarked on a peace mission nine days ago. The growing intensity of the war is a call for global powers to abandon their war policy and instead create a peace policy to guide Russia and Ukraine into a ceasefire and peacetalks. This is the only way to prevent further bloodshed, he added. Mr Orban travelled to Ukraine, Moscow and Beijing on a criticised tour that allies were quick to point out had no mandate from either the EU or Nato. 03:13 PM BST UN security council to hold emergency meeting The UN security council is to hold an emergency meeting after the deadly Russian missile attacks over Ukraine yesterday. Volodymyr Zelensky said 38 people across Ukraine were killed including four children and 190 wounded in the wave of nearly 40 missiles that targeted several towns and cities on Monday. Russian diplomat Dmitry Polyansky said we will inform our colleagues of facts that completely do not confirm the Ukrainian and Western version of the incident. Russia currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council and its envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, indicated earlier this month he will take a firm line with Ukraine and its Western allies. As a permanent member of the UNs top security body, Moscow wields a veto which it has used on several occasions to thwart efforts to censure its war in Ukraine. 02:59 PM BST Russia used new and noteworthy tactic in hospital strike Russia deployed new and noteworthy tactics to maximise damage during its deadly missile strikes on Monday, according to war analysts. Russian cruise missiles flew at extremely low altitudes on Monday, giving air defence systems practically no time to respond before they were within close range of their targets, said the Institute for the Study of War. Russian forces may have innovated their tactics and/or technology somewhat to inflict maximum damage on Ukrainian infrastructure, the ISW said. Former Ukrainian air forces spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said some of the rockets flew at just 50 metres above the ground. The attacks were the deadliest wave of airstrikes for months, raining missiles down on cities across Ukraine and killing dozens of civilians. The strike on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital, which interrupted open-heart surgery and forced young cancer patients to take their treatments outdoors, drew an international outcry. 02:58 PM BST Slovak and Ukrainian governments to meet in autumn The Ukrainian and Slovak governments will meet in Ukraine in the second half of September or early October, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Ficos office said on Tuesday. In a telephone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, Fico also reaffirmed an offer to hospitalise patients from the childrens hospital in Kyiv, the government office said. 02:51 PM BST Doctor killed in Russian strike on childrens hospital named Children's doctor Svitlana Lukyanchuk was killed during a Russian missile attack - Instagram One of those killed in yesterdays childrens hospital attack has been named as 30-year-old Svitlana Lukyanchuk, from Lviv. Ms Lukyanchuk studied at the Bogomolets National Medical University and worked as a paediatric nephrologist at Okhmatdyt. Ms Lukyanchuk, who was orphaned as a child, will be buried in Lviv near her parents at Holoskiv Cemetery. 02:28 PM BST Zelensky to deliver address at Washingtons Reagan Institute Volodymyr Zelensky will deliver an address on Tuesday evening at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington, the institute said in a statement, as the Ukrainian leader looks to drum up more support for the war against Russias invasion during this weeks Nato summit. President Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia. He knew that free countries must stand together with confidence whenever tyranny is on the move, Oksana Markarova, Ukraines ambassador to the United States, said in the statement. Nato is not expected to invite Ukraine to become a member at this years July 9-11 gathering. Many Nato countries want to state that Ukraines path to membership is irreversible but alliance members are still wrangling over the summit declaration. 02:11 PM BST MoD posts update on 75 years of Nato The UK was one of the founding members of NATO. 75 years later, our commitment remains as unshakeable as ever.#NATOSummit pic.twitter.com/sa3kagfWPi Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) July 9, 2024 01:42 PM BST Erdogan cautions Nato against being dragged into war in Ukraine Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cautioned Nato allies ahead of a leaders summit against taking steps that could drag the alliance into war in Ukraine against invading Russian forces. While designing the steps to be taken to support Ukraine, we also maintain our principled stance not to make Nato a party to the war, Mr Erdogan said at the airport in Ankara before flying to Washington to join Nato leaders at a summit meeting. 12:54 PM BST Modi tells Putin war cannot solve problems Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin that peace was of utmost importance and that war cannot solve problems. As a friend, I have also said that for the brighter future of our next generation, peace is of utmost importance, Mr Modi said in a speech in Hindi, sitting alongside Mr Putin. When innocent children are murdered, one sees them die, the heart pains and that pain is unbearable. Mr Modi said he and Mr Putin had discussed Russias campaign in Ukraine during his visit to Moscow. As a true friend, we were together and chatted on a range of issues, Mr Modi said. And I was happy that on Ukraine, we could both express our views openly and in detail. 12:19 PM BST Russia claims to capture another village in eastern Ukraine Russian forces have captured another village in eastern Ukraine near the Russian-held city of Donetsk, its defence ministry said on Tuesday. Russian units liberated the settlement of Yasnobrodovka, the ministry said in its daily report, referring to a small village known as Yasnobrodivka in Ukrainian. 12:14 PM BST Scholz defends Biden ahead of Nato summit German chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended Joe Biden ahead of a three-day Nato Summit, saying he has no concerns about the fitness of the US president. From the many conversations I have had with the American president, I know that he has prepared for this summit very well and precisely together with us, said Mr Scholz. It comes as Mr Biden, 81, has vowed to press on in his presidential race against Donald Trump, despite concern from Democrats on Capitol Hill and donors over his age. Nato leaders are also reportedly anxious about Mr Bidens staying power and the prospect of Mr Trumps return. Speaking to Reuters, one diplomat described Mr Biden as bruised after a difficult political period and said their government was looking for signs about whether he would survive. The Ukraine-Russia war is expected to dominate the Nato event. The 32 member countries have a full agenda focused on military and financial aid for Ukraine and offering some pathway toward eventual Nato membership for Kyiv. 11:52 AM BST In pictures Rescuers carry the body of a person found under debris after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv - STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE 11:47 AM BST Putin tells Modi their nations have special strategic partnership Russian president Vladimir Putin told visiting Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday that their countries enjoyed a special strategic partnership and thanked him for his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine. 11:24 AM BST Watch: Putin hugs Indias Modi on first Russia visit since Ukraine offensive Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised a meeting between Indias prime minister and Vladimir Putin, calling it a devastating blow to peace efforts. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day, Mr Zelensky said in a social media post which included photos of a missile strike that hit a childrens hospital in Kyiv on Monday. Narendra Modis two-day visit to Moscow affirms longtime ties between the two countries. Mr Modi posted photos of himself hugging Mr Putin when they met Monday, saying he was looking forward to further talks which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. The two countries are expected to agree on a long-term uranium supply pact for a nuclear power plant and also sign an agreement allowing the military to use each others facilities for training, port calls and disaster relief operations. 11:10 AM BST Swiss government adopts more EU sanctions against Russia Switzerland has expanded its sanctions against Russia to include additional measures recently taken up by the European Union, the Swiss government said on Tuesday. Pointing to a package of measures adopted by the EU against Russia on June 24, the Swiss economy ministry said in a statement that it would impose sanctions within its jurisdiction on a further 69 individuals and 86 entities. These sanctions mainly target businesspersons, propagandists, members of the armed forces and judiciary, persons responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children and members of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), it said. The newly sanctioned entities include companies operating in Russias defence industry and firms in the financial and trade sectors involved in circumventing sanctions, it added. This meant that more than 2,200 individuals and entities are now subject to the sanctions listings, the ministry said. This is in line with the EU, the statement added. 11:05 AM BST Watch: Scenes from Kyiv childrens hospital 10:43 AM BST China hits back at Natos smears and attacks ahead of summit China has lashed out at Natos smears and attacks after the defence alliances chief accused it of supporting Russias war in Ukraine on the eve of a summit in Washington. US president Joe Biden is hosting leaders of the 32-nation transatlantic alliance for three days from Tuesday, as well as the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference ahead of the 75th anniversary summit that their inclusion demonstrates that our security is not regional, our security is global. And thats clearly demonstrated in the war in Ukraine where Iran, North Korea, China are supporting and enabling Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg said. Chinas foreign ministry took aim at the defence group. Natos so-called security is at the expense of other countries security and its actions have brought extremely high security risks to the world and the region, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. China is firmly opposed to Natos smears and attacks on China, to its willingness to shift the blame onto others, as well as Natos use of China as an excuse to move eastward into the Asia-Pacific and stir up regional tensions. 10:24 AM BST UN assessment suggests Ukraine childrens hospital hit by Russian missile The lethal strike on a childrens hospital in Kyiv,was likely caused by a direct hit from a Russian missile, the head of the UN human rights monitoring mission said on Tuesday, citing its own analysis. Analysis of the video footage and an assessment made at the incident site indicates a high likelihood that the childrens hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damage due to an intercepted weapon system, said Danielle Bell, head of mission for the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. She added that her team, who visited the site on Monday, could not make a final determination but that the missile appeared to have been launched by the Russian Federation. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said earlier on Tuesday that it was a Nasams surface-to-air missile launched by Ukraine that hit the childrens hospital in Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities said that Russia struck the hospital with a Kh-101 Kalibr missile. 10:15 AM BST Modi on visit to Moscow appreciates dear friend Putin Indias relationship with Russia is based on mutual trust and mutual respect, its prime minister Narendra Modi said in Moscow on Tuesday. His two-day visit coincides with a Nato summit in Washington expected to be dominated by the Ukraine war, although a senior Indian foreign ministry official last week said there was no significance in the timing and the visit was part of a long-standing calendar of summits between the two countries. Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow - SERGEI BOBYLYOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Every Indian considers Russia to be Indias friend in good and bad times, Mr Modi said. The commitment of our relationship has been tested multiple times, and it has emerged very strong each time, Mr Modi said, adding that he appreciated his dear friend Vladimir Putin for it. Russia has been Indias largest weapons provider for decades and New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since Soviet times. 09:55 AM BST Kremlin claims Kyiv childrens hospital was hit by anti-missile fire The Kremlin has claimed that Ukrainian anti-missile fire, not Russia, had hit a childrens hospital in Kyiv on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov provided no evidence to support the assertion, but told reporters: I insist, we do not conduct strikes on civilian targets. Ukrainian authorities say Russia struck the main childrens hospital in Kyiv with a missile on Monday and rained missiles on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 41 civilians in the deadliest wave of airstrikes for months. The Ukrainian Security Service has said a Russian Kh-101 Kalibr missile struck the hospital and that evidence of this was recovered at the site in particular, fragments of the rear part of the missile with a serial number, and a part of the guidance system. 09:39 AM BST In pictures A house in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv is destroyed by a Russian missile - Ukrinform/Shutterstock A kindergarten room destroyed by a missile strike in Kyiv - ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images 09:20 AM BST Analysis: Zelensky to attend Nato talks Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will be in attendance for this weeks Nato talks, hoping that his allies are prepared to take an unprecedented step to end Russias invasion. His top priority, securing Nato membership, has already been ruled out by the Americans, who instead are pushing for the creation of a well-lit bridge to accession. The US and Germany have insisted that membership cannot be progressed without a number of structural and anti-corruption reforms undertaken by Kyiv, but also an end to the current war. Allies are expected to mint a one-year 40 billion pledge for ongoing military support, much less than the initial $100 billion multi-year package first proposed by secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg earlier this year. Washington DC authorities prepare for Nato summit with enhanced security measures and road closures - Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images In his pre-summit remarks, Mr Stoltenberg has argued this is better than the current situation when it comes to funding Ukraines military resistance, but it does not go as far as shielding aid to Kyiv from the winds of political change, as he had previously promised. The package of support will, however, offer to take control of the majority of coordination of military donations and training of Ukrainian troops from the US and UK, in what is considered a major step in furthering Kyivs Nato membership bid. 09:07 AM BST Russia will follow Nato summit very closely, Kremlin says The Kremlin said it would closely follow this weeks Nato summit because the alliance had declared Moscow its enemy and sought to defeat Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia considered Nato, which is holding a summit in Washington, to be fully involved in the conflict in Ukraine. 08:45 AM BST Hospital rescue workers reach basement Rescue workers have now reached the basement of the destroyed building of the Okhmatdyt National Childrens Specialised Hospital, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said. The ministry told Ukrainska Pravda that around five or six tonnes of building materials remain to be sifted and removed. 08:40 AM BST Japan must strengthen Nato ties to safeguard global peace, PM says Russias deepening military cooperation with North Korea has underlined the need for Japan to forge closer ties with Nato as regional security threats become increasingly intertwined, prime minister Fumio Kishida told Reuters. In written remarks ahead of his attendance at a Nato summit in Washington DC this week, Mr Kishida also signalled concern over Beijings alleged role in aiding Moscows two-year-old war in Ukraine, although he did not name China. The securities of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable, and Russias aggression against Ukraine and its deepened military cooperation with North Korea are strong reminders of that, hesaid. Japan is determined to strengthen its cooperation with Nato and its partners, he added. 08:11 AM BST Elite North Korea military trainees visit Russia amid deepening ties A North Korean elite military training delegation has left for a visit to Russia, the Norths state media said on Tuesday, the first military exchange between the two countries since their leaders signed a pact pledging closer military cooperation. The president of the Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Geum Chol, is leading the delegation of military training officials and departed by plane on Monday, KCNA state news agency reported. It gave no other details including the purpose of the visit and where in Russia they were visiting. 08:02 AM BST Parents dive on disabled children to save them from Russian hospital attack Liz Cookman reports When a missile hit Kyivs Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital on Monday, Olena Magarevska threw herself over her son, Andriy, to protect him. The boy, who is nine and disabled because of a neurological condition, was recovering from surgery on the fifth-floor intensive care unit when air raid sirens sounded just before 10am. Hospital staff were unable to evacuate him to the shelter because of his medical needs, so he was moved to a dining area with sturdy walls for safety. I heard a loud explosion and me and my husband both jumped to cover Andriy with our bodies. The windows were completely destroyed so then we covered him with pillows in case there was another attack or falling debris, Mrs Magarevska told The Telegraph through tears. The lights also went out and it was so dark in the room. Andriy doesnt like the dark, hes scared of it, so I turned the torch on on my phone to try to calm him. 07:48 AM BST China and Belarus start joint military drills near Polish border China and Belarus started joint military exercises on Monday, the Belarusian and Chinese defence ministries said, holding the drills just a few miles from the border of Nato-member Poland. Events taking place in the world are alarming, the situation is uneasy, therefore we are going to practise new forms and methods of performing tactical tasks, Major General Vadim Denisenko, chief of Belarusian special operations command, was cited as saying. The exercises, named Falcon Assault, will continue until July 19 and are taking place at a training ground near the city of Brest. Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory as one of the launchpads for Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As part of the anti-terrorist exercises, military personnel of both countries will work out issues of night landing, overcoming water barriers, and conducting operations in a populated area, the Belarusian defence ministry said. The ministry also posted a series of photos on Telegram, showing over the weekend Chinese troops disembarking from a plane and offloading equipment. In Monday posts it showed the troops marching at a training ground. It was not clear how many troops were involved in the drills. 07:25 AM BST Zelensky attacks meeting between Modi and Putin In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia's brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were pic.twitter.com/V1k7PEz2rJ Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024 07:23 AM BST Russias Astrakha and Volgograd airports restrict flights after drone attack Russias Astrakhan and Volgograd airports restricted flights on Tuesday after a Ukrainian drone attack, Russian news agencies reported. Russias air defence systems destroyed 38 drones that Ukraine launched overnight on several Russian regions, Russias defence ministry said earlier. 07:23 AM BST Russia says energy facilities on fire after Ukraines drone attack One person was killed, while two power substations and an oil depot caught fire, after Ukraine launched tens of drones in attacks on several regions, Russian officials said on Tuesday. The attacks came after Russia blasted the main childrens hospital in Kyiv with a missile in broad daylight on Monday and rained missiles down across Ukraine. Russian air defence systems destroyed 38 drones, including 21 over the southern region of Rostov and seven over Kursk, both of which border Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said. 07:13 AM BST Biden vows new measures to boost Ukraine air defenses after Russia strikes US president Joe Biden has promised new measures to boost Ukraines air defenses after a barrage of Russian missiles against Kyiv and other cities on Monday. Mr Biden said in a statement the United States and its allies would announce this new assistance at a Nato summit this week in Washington, and called the missile strikes a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. Dame Shirley with her daughter Sharon, her grandson Sebastian and her great-granddaughter Sofia - Andrew Matthews/PA It is hard to imagine that Dame Shirley Bassey who has headlined the London Palladium with The Beatles, performed for John F Kennedy and recorded three James Bond theme songs could be any more celebrated after seven decades in the public eye. Yet the Welsh singer has spoken of her nerves before being made a Companion of Honour by the King for her services to music, joining members of a club limited to just 65 luminaries who include Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling and, most recently, Gordon Brown. She said: I think its more nerve-racking to receive the award from him than to sing in front of him. I mean, its new, different, whereas singing Ive been doing since I was a child. I forgot to curtsy, but thats why I grabbed his hands because I forgot to curtsy. Instinctive. A beaming Dame Shirley, defying her 87 years with her striking beauty and sparkling Isabell Kristensen dress, attended the Windsor Castle ceremony with her daughter Sharon, 69, grandson Sebastian, and great-granddaughter Sofia. Dame Bassey is made a Companion of Honour by King Charles III - Jonathan Brady Dame Shirley has explained how she maintains her youthful appearance. I try to eat healthily. I am a gym fanatic. A trainer comes to my apartment in Monaco three times a week. I try to go to the gym three times but make it twice if I am lucky. I feel it when I dont go, she said in a 2020 interview. I dont have diet secrets. I just watch what I eat. At weekends I go mad ice cream, caviar with lots of cream. I have a lot of facials and a lot of body massages. And its working. It is worth all the money. The smiles on display at Windsor on Tuesday belied the tumultuous family life Bassey has had since being born into abject poverty, but with a remarkable voice, in the Tiger Bay area of Cardiff in 1937. Dame Shirley with daughters Sharon and Samantha, and Kenneth Hume, her husband at the time, in 1964 - Mirrorpix Dame Shirley fell pregnant with Sharon when she was on tour with the Hot from Harlem show, aged 16, and gave birth in September 1954. Such were the mores of the time that she was forced to quit touring and move back to her native Cardiff to work as a waitress. Dame Shirley gave her daughter to her sister, Ella, to raise her as her own until she was nine. She has never publicly identified Sharons father because she gets touchy if I mention it and we only know that he was Jewish and married with two of his own children when they had the affair. Those details emerged in 1998, when Sharon was in her mid-40s, and Dame Shirley was accused by a former personal assistant of anti-Semitism. Sharon and her younger sister, Samantha, were eventually adopted by Dame Shirleys first husband, Sergio Novak, assistant manager of the Excelsior Hotel in Venice. The couple also adopted Mark, Dame Shirleys grand-nephew. Dame Shirley and Sharon Bassey in 1957 - Bob Collins/National Portrait Gallery Samanthas father has also never been named, though Novak suggested that she was the product of an affair Bassey conducted with the Bafta- and Oscar-winning Anglo-Australian actor Peter Finch. Samantha, born nine years after Sharon, was found dead in the River Avon near the Clifton suspension bridge in 1985, aged just 21. Although she had been struggling with drink and depression, police suggested the death was an accident, and Dame Shirley has always maintained it wasnt suicide. In 2010, Avon and Somerset Police started fresh inquiries into the case, but eventually concluded that there was no evidence of any criminal act involved. The shock of her daughters death caused Dame Shirley to lose her voice for six months. Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Starmer board a plane at Stansted Airport before flying to the Nato summit in Washington - STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Sir Keir Starmer will open the door to an increase in the size of Britains Armed Forces as he announces a review of the nations readiness to fight future wars. The Telegraph understands that a root-and-branch strategic defence review, to be announced by the Prime Minister on Wednesday, will look at everything on the table. It is understood that this includes troop numbers, which were cut to their smallest size since the Napoleonic era under the previous government. The Prime Minister will also restate his commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP but will decline to set a clear date by which this target will be achieved and instead state that the review will determine the roadmap to this goal. Sir Keir will arrive at Natos 75th anniversary summit in Washington on Wednesday, his first international trip as Prime Minister He is joined on the trip by his wife, Lady Starmer, and accompanied by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, and Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Europe minister. The presence of Mr Thomas-Symonds will spark fears among those who believe Sir Keir will use the trip to reset relations with the European Union. During the trip, Sir Keir will have his first bilateral meeting with Joe Biden, the US president, and he and his wife will attend a dinner at the White House with other Nato leaders. On Tuesday night, Sir Keir said: There is no more important duty for me as Prime Minister than keeping the people of our country safe. At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves. Thats why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britains defences for the future. Defence sources suggested the review, which will be officially launched next week and overseen by John Healey, the Defence Secretary, could look at how to increase troop numbers. Cuts to the size of the Armed Forces are understood to be off the table. In 2021, the Ministry of Defence announced it would cut troop numbers from 82,000 to 73,000 by 2025. The row over troop numbers has engulfed the military and, according to sources, led to Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the former chief of the General Staff, being pushed out of his post because he openly criticised the decision. The Telegraph understands the review will focus on the changing threats of warfare, including a focus on drones, which have played a significant role in the war in Ukraine. The militarys readiness to fight will also be reviewed, along with how to enhance the UKs defence partnerships, develop a new defence industrial strategy and deliver procurement reform. It is understood that the review will set out a roadmap for how the UK can reach 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. On Wednesday, Sir Keir will say that the UK has committed to increase defence spending and will praise Nato members efforts to increase their own budgets while encouraging them to go further. Nato members have a target to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence, but last year only 11 of the alliances 32 members, including the UK, reached that level. Sir Keirs spokesman added: We obviously want to see other countries continue to take steps to increase defence spending as well in order to ensure that were sending a strong signal to [Vladimir] Putin that we will do whatever it takes to support Ukraine in their defence. However, writing for The Telegraph, below, James Cartlidge, the newly appointed shadow defence secretary, accused Sir Keir of rowing back on the Tories commitment to increase defence spending and called on him to produce a credible timeline for how Labour will achieve 2.5 per cent. He said: In this increasingly dangerous world, the platitudes Sir Keir Starmer has been able to produce so far will not cut it. Sir Keir is today attending a Nato summit having rowed back on our plans to increase defence spending, whilst asking our allies to do the exact opposite. Mr Cartlidge said under Rishi Sunak, the Governments pathway to achieving 2.5 per cent by 2030 was fully funded. He writes: Part of increasing our defence spending is convincing our allies to make sacrifices to increase their own too. How can Starmer stand there at todays Nato summit and ask others to make sacrifices he is not willing to make himself? Former military leaders warned the Prime Minister he is playing with fire by waiting for the review before outlining a timeline to increase the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP. Philip Ingram, a former colonel in British military intelligence, told The Times the government was playing with fire as the threat is now and it will take years to fix the army, our ammunition stocks, get the RAF and navy ready. Meanwhile Admiral Lord West, a former head of the navy who served as a security minister under the last Labour government, urged ministers to outline a timetable at the summit to set an example to all European countries, according to the paper. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, is accompanying the Prime Minister on the trip - Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images Speaking before his departure to the US on Tuesday night, the Prime Minister said he was committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence within our fiscal rules and that he needed to carry out a review before setting a timeline to reach that goal. He said: The most important thing is to, at this Nato summit, recommit to our solidarity with and stand with Ukraine and discuss the practical plans for further action we can take together in relation to Russian aggression. He added: In relation to defence more generally, we will carry out our strategic review to look at the challenges, the capabilities, and on the back of that make further plans. I am committed to that 2.5 per cent within our fiscal rules. That strategic review needs to come first. But today, tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support to Ukraine and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world. Sir Keir also issued a message directly to Mr Putin. This Nato summit is an opportunity for allies to stand together, to strengthen their resolve, particularly in light of that appalling attack, against Russian aggression, he said, referring to Russian missile attacks on Monday that damaged Ukraines largest childrens hospital. Im pleased to have the early opportunity to confirm and reaffirm Labours strong support, unshakeable support for Nato. We are a founding member, its now the 75th anniversary but this is an opportunity to send that message in relation to Russian aggression wherever. But that attack ... was appalling so that message is even more important than it was before. The Prime Minister, who is in Washington for two days, is understood to have no plans to meet Donald Trump, who is running as the Republican candidate for the presidency. Asked about the presence of Mr Thomas-Symonds on the trip, Mr Healey, who has also joined the Prime Minister in Washington, said: Nato is a political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America. Its not unusual that the minister for Europe would accompany the Prime Minister. Im sure as youre aware, the PM has said he wants to reset our relationship with Europe. Hes told a number of his European counterparts exactly that over the weekend, he sees the Nato summit as an important opportunity to continue laying the groundwork. Britains commitment to Nato is unshakeable. We cannot have prosperity without security and we must never take our ability to live freely for granted. The world is increasingly volatile with rapidly changing global threats. In the footsteps of Bevin, our government will help ensure we have a strong Nato in this increasingly insecure world. Our Governments first duty is to keep the country safe. Thats why we will increase defence spending and launch a strategic defence review to ensure we have the capabilities needed to protect the UK now and in the future. The review will also set out defence reforms to secure faster procurement and better value for money. PM is showing that defence is not a priority By James Cartlidge When it comes to our nations defence in a more contested world we need deeds, not words. We must signal to our allies, and our adversaries, that we are serious about defending our nation. To do this, we need a credible timeline and plan to fund an increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent. In this increasingly dangerous world, the platitudes Sir Keir Starmer has been able to produce so far will not cut it. Sir Keir is attending a Nato summit having rowed back on the Conservatives plans to increase defence spending, whilst asking our allies to do the exact opposite. By not joining the Conservatives fully funded pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, Starmer has shown the country and the world that defence is not the top priority for him that it needs to be. Starmer must produce a timeline and a funding package, as we did, to reach this important target. This is not party-political point scoring. Ive been clear that we must work with Labour where it is in the national interest, not least on support for Ukraine. Nevertheless, it is indisputable that we are living in a more dangerous world: war in Europe; British ships being attacked in the Red Sea Threats growing, not diminishing. As such, increasing defence spending is a military necessity. How much more unstable will the world have to be for Starmer to give our Armed Forces the funding they need to protect us? Labour's lack of a timeline to reach defence spending targets offers no certainty to the men and women of our Armed Forces - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Britains future is threatened by a new axis of malign states. But Labour seems blind to it. The first and most important duty of any prime minister is defence of the realm. That means deterring aggressors. Put simply, potential adversaries must believe you are willing to do whatever is necessary to defend the United Kingdom, at home and abroad. Having no plan is having the opposite of credibility. It undermines deterrence, rather than strengthening it. I welcome the fact that Labour now embraces the nuclear deterrent, but we cannot ignore the fact that almost a dozen front benchers including the Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister voted against trident renewal under Jeremy Corbyn. Sir Keir claims he has changed the Labour party. But by not having a plan for our nations defence now, he is doing nothing to regain credibility as a government serious about defence. The then-Conservative governments plan to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent was fully funded, with a clear pathway to delivery by 2030. Whereas Labours commitment is weak, and without a timescale. What certainty does that give the brilliant men and women of our Armed Forces? We are living in a more dangerous world, where national defence comes at a higher price. Either Starmer doesnt see it, doesnt understand it, or doesnt think its worth it. To restore the credibility of UK defence policy, he must change course immediately. Moving to 2.5 per cent will provide significant additional funding to boost our military capability, but also the vital enablers that support our personnel such as service family accommodation. Moving together slowly but surely are Russia, North Korea, China and Iran. Their bully boy expansionist policies are being tested in the sandboxes of Ukraine and the Middle East. They cannot be appeased. They cannot succeed. We need to stand strong against them, with our allies. As well as our own defence, the UKs defence spending increase has global significance. Part of increasing our defence spending is convincing our allies to make sacrifices to increase their own too. How can Starmer stand there at the Nato summit and ask others to make sacrifices he is not willing to make himself? The risk is the UK transformed from a global leader to a follower on security, the biggest beneficiaries of which would be our adversaries. We need to change course before it is too late. The national interest requires no less. James Cartlidge is the shadow defence secretary Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net. A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band. David Miliband, who served as foreign secretary, could be chosen for the Washington job, depending on the outcome of the US election - Steven Ferdman/Getty Images Sir Keir Starmer has axed Rishi Sunaks choice for the next British ambassador to Washington and will wait until after the US election to choose a replacement. The Prime Minister has cancelled a plan to appoint Sir Tim Barrow, a career diplomat, and is thinking about installing Lord Mandelson or David Miliband, according to reports. The big dilemma for Starmer will be whether to make a political appointee or a more routine Civil Service appointment, an official told The Guardian. Hes going to wait until after November to see who is in the White House before he makes that decision. Appointing Britains representative in Washington is one of the most important diplomatic decisions a prime minister has to take. Dame Karen Pierce, the current ambassador, has good relations with Republicans and Donald Trump, whom she met for dinner with Lord Cameron earlier this year. Appointing a senior Labour figure such as Lord Mandelson, a New Labour-era fixer for Sir Tony Blair, or Mr Miliband, the former foreign secretary under Gordon Brown, may prove unpopular if Trump were to win a second term in the White House. Lord Mandelson's Labour links might prove unpopular with a Trump White House - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images Whitehall sources told The Telegraph that if Trump were to win, Sir Keir may opt for a former senior civil servant such as Lord Sedwill, the former national security adviser and cabinet secretary. Dame Karen, whose term in office was extended in light of the coronavirus pandemic, is expected to leave Washington in early 2025. Sir Tim, the current No 10 national security adviser, was told he was no longer in line for the role on Friday, only hours after Labour won the general election. The Telegraph understands he had attempted to speed up the appointment process so his role would be announced before the general election. The decision was never officially announced by Mr Sunaks Downing Street, and Labour officials felt the appointment should be made after the election. Sir Tim Barrow was told after Labour won the election that his move to Washington had been cancelled - Urs Flueeler/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Sir Tim was informed of the decision by Sue Gray, Sir Keirs chief of staff, who is herself a former civil servant. The news broke on Tuesday as Sir Keir headed to Washington for his first official. He will meet Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday. Unlike most Labour leaders, he did not travel to America to meet the US president while in opposition, leaving engagement with Biden administration officials to David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary. Downing Street did not respond to a request for comment. Steve Mills did a masters degree in the US before moving to Keele University in 1976 Photograph: provided by friend My friend Steve Mills, who has died aged 74, was a senior lecturer in American studies at Keele University, where he worked from 1976 until 2009. Afterwards he became a visiting tutor at Ruskin College, Oxford, a role he held until 2012. One of Steves proudest achievements came in the early 2000s, when his department at Keele was awarded an exceptional score of five out of five for its teaching, as well as its research, by the Total Quality Assurance inspection body. A warm, caring and generous man, he was also an educationist in everyday life, not just in academic settings: he would join toddlers at their music classes, and a walk along the street with his grandchildren would be be seen as a chance to help them learn facts about their local environment. Born in Westow, North Yorkshire, to Kenneth Mills and his wife, Blanche (nee Blake), who were wardens of a youth hostel, Steve went to Southwell Minster chorister school, where he immersed himself in music and anything to do with the outdoors. After a degree in American studies and geography at Keele he gained a masters from Maryland University in the US, where he also taught for a period. In 1976 he returned to the UK and Keele to become a lecturer in American studies. From 2009 to 2012 he was a research fellow at Keeles David Bruce Centre for American Studies while also tutoring at Ruskin College. He and his wife, Nina (nee Dawes), whom he married in 1984, enjoyed family life, embracing a host of extended relatives at their home. Highly knowledgable about films, he liked to sit down with his grandchildren to watch popular Disney movies. He also relished supporting Nina, who was chief executive at Lichfield council, as she attended various civic and national events for her work. He is survived by Nina, their children, Jesse, Sam and Sara, Ninas daughter, Vibeke, from a previous relationship, and four grandchildren, Katinka, Joules, Lana and Arthur. Driving on the continent can be a minefield of different laws, says James Foxall - Alamy Smooth unclogged motorways, tree-lined A-roads with the odd Citroen 2CV pottering along at snails pace, bucolic villages with welcoming bars and restaurants. Thats one fantasy version of driving on the European continent. The reality is slightly different. Its a minefield of different laws with their enforcers waiting to slap the unwary driver with a potentially pricey fine. We look at the main ones to be aware of before you set off on a European road trip this summer. Do you really need a UK sticker or will GB stickers be OK? Following Brexit, and as a show of solidarity with Northern Ireland, the government applied to the United Nations to change our country identifier from GB to UK. That means any GB sticker is no longer valid. Government advice is to remove or cover GB stickers; you can buy UK items to fit a standard registration plate. You could try driving without one altogether but if youre stopped by police in an EU country and theyre having a bad day, you could receive a 150 Euro (127) fine. When travelling overseas, British motorists must now display the UK logo on the rear of their vehicle - Alex Hinds/Alamy What emissions sticker do you need before driving into a French town? Just as our Ultra Low Emissions Zones only affect certain cities, so the French CritAir system is only applicable in some areas between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. You dont need to apply for a CritAir sticker to enter France, only certain conurbations. Cities where your car currently needs a CritAir sticker are Paris, Lyon, Rouen, Reims, Saint Etienne, Aix-Marseille, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Montpellier and Grenoble. But this is set to expand. The good news is that once you have a CritAir permit its valid for the life of the vehicle. There are one of six different coloured CritAir stickers which identify vehicles emissions. It enables authorities to ban the most polluting from built-up areas when the air quality is poor. Green CritAir 0 stickers signify zero emissions vehicles such as EVs. The dirtiest cars wear grey CritAir 5 badges, reserved for older diesels. Many zones ban CritAir 5-classed vehicles altogether. Most people will need a CritAir 1, for plug-in hybrids and vehicles meeting Euro 5 or 6 emissions regulations. You should apply for the sticker online before travelling; you cant buy them over the counter in France. They cost only 4 (including postage) via the official French government website. Beware convincing-looking unofficial sites selling CritAir stickers, which have been known to charge up to six times the official price. The fine for not having a valid sticker when its required starts at 68 Euros (57). Fines can be given by both cameras and police on the streets so for the sake of 4, its worth getting one, said the AAs Jack Cousens. France's Crit'Air stickers are inexpensive, but fines for not having one can be steep, so it's best to invest What about the rest of Europe? Perhaps surprisingly, Italy has the most low-emissions zones of any country in Europe. The easiest way to discover these is looking up the region youre visiting. The majority simply ban vehicles that are Euro 2 exhaust emissions or earlier (mainly old bangers) but its still worth checking. The Italians are also fond of low-traffic neighbourhoods (zona a traffico limitato) which can catch out the unwary. Look for the signs around cities. The fines vary depending on location but are typically around 65 Euros (55). If you incur one of these in a hire car, youll probably pay the perennially pesky admin fees on top. When in Rome... beware of low-traffic zones - Gaia Squarci/Bloomberg Germany has gone big on low emissions zones, too. Drivers need an emissions sticker to drive fine-free in pretty much every German city. The easiest way to get the 6 Euro (5.10) sticker is from the state website of the area youre travelling to. What happens if you get snapped by a speed camera? One upside of Brexit is that if a camera catches you speeding in a European Union country youll no longer have to pay a fine. This is because the EU Cross Border Enforcement Directive doesnt apply to UK-registered cars. So, French or for that matter, Belgian, Dutch, German, Italian or Spanish speed cameras can snap you endlessly, but their operators wont be able to request owner details from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) back in Swansea. Yet that doesnt mean owners of UK-registered cars can break the speed limit with impunity. European police operate plenty of mobile speed traps. If youre caught by one, the fine is likely to be on the spot. And theres no dodging those. Post-Brexit, you'll no longer have to pay a fine for speeding in an EU country, though you might still get caught by a mobile speed trap - Photononstop / Alamy How big is the fine for having speed camera detection on your satnav? Its been illegal to have an in-car speed camera detector in France since 2012. Thats regardless of whether youre using it and includes satnavs that feature fixed speed camera warnings. Insurers claim some police cars are fitted with speed camera detector detectors for stopping drivers they believe are breaking this law. Satnavs with speed camera warnings are harder to spot and police will probably only discover these if theyve already stopped you for another transgression. Its easiest to disable the feature in the cars menu or if you use a camera detector, leave it at home. Its worth it: the fine for having one is up to 1,500 Euros (1,260). Speed camera detectors are illegal in other countries but not illegal enough to attract fines. Apart, that is, from the Netherlands and Spain where the fines are 450 Euros (379) and 500 Euros (421) respectively. Do you still need to carry a breathalyser? The breathalyser law in France was always a weird one. The fine for not having a disposable breathalyser was only 11 euros (around 9) when the breathalysers themselves often cost a lot more. And you had to carry two because if French police stopped you and used one, you couldnt legally continue your journey without a working breath test. Then in 2013 they changed the law so you still had to carry a breathalyser but there was no sanction if you didnt. Finally in 2020, they ended the lunacy and decreed that carrying a breathalyser was no longer a legal requirement. So despite what some motor retailers would have you believe, you no longer need one. Sense does sometimes prevail. Harry Holcroft, 18, was given a suspended custody sentence over his role in a screwdriver attack - Wesley Holmes/Liverpool Echo A teenager who helped two friends attack a man with a screwdriver was spared detention after a judge heard he had applied to join the Army. Harry Holcroft became drawn into someone elses feud when he helped a group chase their victim and racially abuse him before repeatedly stabbing him, leaving him with a collapsed lung and blood dripping down his back and arms, the court heard. The 18-year-old and the co-accused, Jack Mather and Dillon Smith, both 19, followed Shantosh Surendra from the Duke of Cambridge pub in St Helens, Merseyside, on Oct 21 last year. Mather and Smith were said to have known Mr Surendra for about 10 years before they fell out at some point last year. All four men had been in the pub that night when Mr Surendra noticed the defendants giving him the side eye, as they followed him out of the premises. Gerry Baxter, prosecuting, said: Mr Surendra started to run, because he knew the three men wanted trouble. As he ran, they ran after him and cut him off. One of them said they wanted to speak to him, but they started kicking and punching him. Mr Surendra saw Mather take something from his waistband, a screwdriver or something similar. Mr Surendra was stabbed to his back and his chest. Misplaced loyalty to older associates Carmel Wilde, defending Holcroft, said: There seems to have been some misplaced loyalty to his older associates. He is a rather mild mannered young man. He foolishly involved himself in someone elses feud. Holcroft was found guilty of unlawful wounding by a jury following a trial but cleared of the more serious offence of wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He was sentenced to 18 months custody suspended for 18 months. Carmel Wilde, defending Holcroft, told the court: He has completed an application form online for the Army, and is due to attend an interview soon. He is also due to start college in September and looking to undertake an apprenticeship. He is a young man who is trying to better himself and who has stopped taking drugs. That played a part in his poor decision-making that evening. He has not been in trouble before and there is still hope that he can continue to improve his job prospects. Strong personal mitigation Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: In your case, I take an exceptional course and suspend the sentence because I am satisfied that this is your first offence and there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. There is strong personal mitigation. Your actions have placed you at substantial risk of immediate detention in a young offenders institute. You would not be so fortunate if you were foolish enough to involve yourself in further criminal activity. Mather and Smith previously received 22 months in a young offenders institute after admitting unlawful wounding. Bob Blackman, who will play a crucial part in the Tory leadership contest as chairman of the 1922 committee - Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images Conservative MPs were left furious on Tuesday night after the election of the new chairman of the 1922 Committee descended into chaos. Senior Tories including Jeremy Hunt, the shadow chancellor, and Mark Francois, the former Armed Forces minister, missed the vote after being told the wrong time to cast their ballot. Both men had been told the ballot would close at 6pm, but were informed voting had closed when they arrived at Parliaments committee corridor just after 5.30pm. The final result saw Bob Blackman, the MP for Harrow East, beat fellow Tory veteran Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown by 61 votes to 37. He will now lead the powerful committee of Conservative backbenchers, which will play a crucial role in organising the process to choose Rishi Sunaks successor as party leader. An email sent out by Mr Blackmans office and seen by The Telegraph told MPs hustings would take place from 4pm followed by voting from 5pm [to] 6pm. Sir Edward Leigh, the new Father of the House, received a text message from the Whips Office that gave the same time frame. But a separate email seen by The Telegraph and sent by the presiding officer gave the correct timings, stating that MPs could only vote until 5.30pm. Mark Francois stormed off and bitterly criticised the committee after missing the vote - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Mr Francois stormed out of committee room 14 as soon as he learnt he was too late to cast his ballot. This election was bent I think the 1922 Committees level of competence has reached a new low, he said. In a row that foreshadowed what is likely to be a bitter Tory leadership election, Sir Edward also expressed annoyance as he showed journalists the text he received. Meanwhile, Mr Hunt opened the door to room 14 just after 5.30pm, only to reappear seconds later and exclaim Oh, I missed the vote to laughter from colleagues. Jeremy Hunt, the shadow chancellor, was heard saying "I missed the vote" to laughter from colleagues - Thomas Krych/Story Picture Agency Mr Blackman, who has represented his north London constituency since 2010, was one of the few Tories to increase their majority on Thursday and is an ardent Brexiteer. He previously served on the 1922 Committee as a member of its executive and succeeds Sir Graham Brady, who stood down at last weeks general election. Mr Blackman said in his acceptance speech: I am delighted that we can start rebuilding our parliamentary party so we can go fighting into the next general election as a party of government. Committee sets rules of leadership race The committee, nicknamed the men in grey suits, will be responsible for deciding the rules and time frame of the upcoming Tory leadership race to replace Mr Sunak. It is also responsible for collecting letters of no confidence from MPs who wish to see a change of leader. Under the current rules, 15 per cent of the parliamentary party needs to submit a letter to trigger a leadership contest equivalent to only 18 out of the 121 remaining Tory MPs. A source in the Whips Office noted the timings were the same in both Mr Blackmans email and the message communicated by the whips during voting. Trump at a campaign rally in Philadelphia in June. Photograph: Tom Brenner/Reuters Donald Trump is expected to launch a new legal battle to suppress any damaging evidence from his 2020 election-subversion case from becoming public before the 2024 election, preparing to shut down the potency of any mini-trials where high-profile officials could testify against him. The plans come after the US supreme court last week in its ruling that broadly conferred immunity on former presidents opened the door for the US district judge Tanya Chutkan to hold evidentiary hearings potentially with witnesses to determine what acts in the indictment can survive. In the coming months, Trumps lawyers are expected to argue that the judge can decide whether the conduct is immune based on legal arguments alone, negating the need for witnesses or multiple evidentiary hearings, the people said. If prosecutors with the special counsel Jack Smith press for witnesses such as former vice-president Mike Pence or White House officials to testify, Trumps lawyers are expected to launch a flurry of executive privilege and other measures to block their appearances, the people said. The plans, which have not been previously reported, are aimed at having the triple effect of burying damaging testimony, making it harder for prosecutors to overcome the presumptive immunity for official acts, and injecting new delay into the case through protracted legal fights. Trump has already been enormously successful in delaying his criminal cases, including by succeeding in having the supreme court from taking the immunity appeal in the 2020 election subversion case in Washington, which was frozen while the court considered the matter. The delay strategy thus far has been aimed at pushing the cases until after the November election, in the hope that Trump would be re-elected and then appoint as attorney general a loyalist who would drop the charges. But now, even if Trump loses, his lawyers have coalesced on a legal strategy that could take months to resolve depending on how prosecutors choose to approach evidentiary hearings, adding to additional months of anticipated appeals over what Chutkan determines are official acts. A Trump spokesperson declined to comment, saying they would not preview confidential legal strategy. Trumps lawyers are not expected to make any moves until the start of August, the people said, when the case is finally returned to the jurisdiction of Chutkan after the conclusion of the supreme courts 25-day waiting period and a further week for the judgement to formally be sent down. Once Chutkan regains control of the case, lawyers for Trump and for the special counsel have suggested privately that they think she will quickly rule on a number of motions that were briefed before the case was frozen when Trump filed his immunity appeal with the supreme court. That could include Trumps pending motion to compel more discovery materials from prosecutors. If Chutkan grants the motion, Trumps lawyers would insist on time to review the new materials before they started sorting through what acts in the indictment were immune, the people said. In the supreme courts ruling on immunity, the justices laid out three categories for protection: core presidential functions that carry absolute immunity, official acts of the presidency that carry presumptive immunity, and unofficial acts that carry no immunity. Trumps lawyers are expected to argue the maximalist position that they considered all of the charged conduct was Trump acting in his official capacity as president and therefore presumptively immune and incumbent on prosecutors to prove otherwise, the people said. And Trumps lawyers are expected to suggest that even though the supreme court contemplated evidentiary hearings to sort through the conduct, they are not necessary, and any disputes can be resolved purely on legal arguments, the people said. In doing so, Trump will try to foreclose witness testimony that could be politically damaging because it would cause evidence about his efforts to subvert the 2020 election that has polled poorly to be suppressed, and legally damaging because it could cause Chutkan to rule against Trump. Trumps lawyers have privately suggested they expect at least some evidentiary hearings to take place, but they are also intent on challenging testimony from people like former vice president Mike Pence and other high-profile White House officials. For instance, if prosecutors try to call Pence or his chief of staff Marc Short to testify about meetings where Trump discussed stopping the January 6 certification, Trump would try to block that testimony by asserting executive privilege, and having Pence assert the speech or debate clause protection. Trumps lawyers would argue to Chutkan that any privilege rulings during the investigation that forced them to testify to the grand jury were not binding and the factual record needed to be decided afresh. Meanwhile, witnesses such as former Trump lawyer John Eastman or former Trump campaign official Mike Roman would almost certainly be precluded from testifying because they have valid fifth amendment concerns of self-incrimination, as they have been separately charged with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Fulton county, Georgia. US military aid for the war could wane if Trump is elected in November - Global Images Ukraine/via Getty Images Sir Keir Starmer must accept that the war in Ukraine is a European problem, a senior Trump ally has said, as he warned against haranguing Washington for help. Elbridge Colby told The Telegraph that the UK should not expect significant support from the US on Ukraine under a second Trump administration, and called for Europe to take primary responsibility for the war. He suggested Britain should deploy a Britain first approach to defence and security. The comments from Mr Colby, who is tipped for a security role if Trump wins the presidential election on Nov 5, come on the opening day of a major Nato summit in Washington, where the alliance will discuss support for Ukraine. They also come after intense efforts by the Labour Party to woo Trumps team before November. Mr Sunaks team had also made efforts to encourage Trump to support Ukraine. Mr Colby, a military strategist, said that the US was more focused on threats from China, where there is very little the British military can realistically do to help. Sir Keir will meet Nato leaders as Prime Minister for the first time this week at a summit in Washington, where the alliance will discuss support for Ukraine. He will also meet Joe Biden for a face-to-face discussion at the White House. Sir Keir is set to meet Nato leaders at a summit this week - Reuters Mr Biden has provided US military aid for the war but could lose power in the presidential election. Trump has instead promised to curtail support and end the war in one day through negotiations with Russia. Mr Colby, who served in the Pentagon in Trumps first administration, is one of several Trump allies who has held talks with Labour to discuss how the US and UK would work together if the former president wins power for a second time. The biggest thing on the agenda with European states should be: are you taking primary responsibility for the conventional defence of Nato in Europe? he said. You guys have got to take care of your own situation better, because we have to focus on China. He said Britain should deploy a Britain first strategy focused on European security and abandon its tilt to the Indo-Pacific region. Britain obviously is located in Europe, so its interests are more engaged there, and thats where theres a gap in the overall American-led order of military capability, he said. Theres very little the British military can realistically do at this time in the Pacific or further afield. Labour has more restrained view Mr Colby said Labour had been more willing than Rishi Sunaks administration to accept Trumps plan to reduce US involvement in Ukraine. In April, Lord Cameron, the former foreign secretary, was criticised by Republicans after he visited Washington to plead with Congress to agree more military support for Kyiv. Im sure [Labour] will make the advocacy for Ukraine, but the spirit that they give off is one thats more understanding of a more restrained view of American power and American intervention, he said. That is understanding the American people where they are, as opposed to what I heard from David Cameron and so forth, which was much more like political haranguing. Other Nato countries have been sceptical that they could make up the shortfall in military support for Ukraine if Trump withdrew American aid. Americans tired of British demands The US is by far the largest contributor to Ukraines defence, spending 62.5 billion on the war since 2022, compared with 86.2 billion from all European countries combined. But Mr Colby said that Americans were tired of hearing demands from British politicians on Ukraine, including over the latest funding bill, which is known as a supplemental. He said: I would much rather have the United States dealing with a practical, hard-headed, realistic, serious, Europe-focused UK from a defence point of view, than one that is intervening in the supplemental debate, pushing us to give Storm Shadow [missiles], and then only giving 3 billion a year. It is basically writing cheques that the American people are supposed to cash. Sir Keir has said he will work with any US administration, including one helmed by Trump, although he has suggested that he hopes Mr Biden will win Novembers election. In an op-ed for The Telegraph on Monday, David Lammy, the new Foreign Secretary, and John Healey, the new Defence Secretary, said that Labour will pursue a Nato-first defence strategy and reset defence relations with Europe. Angela Rayner has said it has been such a blur since the general election that she has to keep checking what day it is. In a meeting with Englands metro mayors on Tuesday, the Deputy Prime Minister said her first days in government have been so intense that she has lost track of time. When Ben Houchen, the Tory mayor for Tees Valley, put to her that it must have been a bit of a whirlwind, Ms Rayner said: I was saying I have to keep checking my phone what day it was. They all merge into one. However, she added that its nice to be able to do something after the party had been in opposition for so long. At the same meeting, held in Downing Street on Tuesday morning, Sir Keir Starmer joked that Rachel Reeves pressed delete on the onshore wind farm ban in one of her first acts as Chancellor. The Prime Minister discussed the pace at which Labour has set about tearing up Britains planning laws, including the absurd moratorium on new onshore farms introduced by the Tories. In a meeting with the metro mayors ahead of his trip to the Nato summit in Washington, Sir Keir said: Rachel yesterday with [the] onshore wind ban... it was just like: delete. Theres the inhibition, gone. To laughs from the mayors, he added: The housing targets, theyre up. Ms Reeves confirmed that Labour was scrapping the onshore wind ban in her first major speech as Chancellor on Monday, calling it absurd. The moratorium was introduced by Lord Cameron in 2015 and amounted to an effective ban because one objection could result in a turbine being turned down as part of the planning process. The Chancellor also pledged to restore mandatory house-building targets for local authorities as part of the partys drive to build 1.5 million homes over five years. In video of Tuesdays meeting with the metro mayors, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, can be heard congratulating the Prime Minister on a strong start in the job, adding: You look like youve been here years already. Asked whether he had managed to fit in any sleep, Sir Keir joked that caffeine and adrenaline had been in his bloodstream. He said Tory rule had been all about performance, as opposed to Labour getting on with the job. Pat McFadden, the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was also in attendance at the Downing Street gathering. Mr Houchen, the only Tory mayor in attendance, was also invited to a short meeting with the Prime Minister in advance. Speaking to The Telegraph afterwards, he said Sir Keir had impressed on him that hes not interested in having political arguments for the sake of it he wants to get stuff done. In the wider meeting, he said there was a clear indication that Labour wanted to expand devolution, with more mayors. He added that there was also quite a heavy focus on planning reform, adding that he got the impression Sir Keir was willing to go further than he initially thought possible, given his huge majority in the Commons. He knows hes desperate, he needs to go for growth, he said. So he needs to make these changes, otherwise the public finances blow up. So I think hes pretty laser-focused on it. Tracy Brabin, the Labour mayor of West Yorkshire, said there was a new dawn in the relationship between Englands devolved leaders and central government, adding: It was such an extraordinary moment, and the speed at which this meeting has been put in the diary shows the change that is at the heart of Government. Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, said the meeting showed a real statement of intent from Sir Keir. Were, frankly speaking, fed up of competing against each other, he added. The previous government pitted different mayors against each other. Thats not going to happen with Keir Starmer. Karine Jean-Pierre sparred with reporters over visits by a Parkinsons disease specialist to the White House. Composite: AFP via Getty Images, REX/Shutterstock The White House clarified on Monday that Joe Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals, following a heated exchange between the presidents press secretary and journalists seeking an explanation for why a Parkinsons disease specialist visited the White House eight times in as many months. In an evening letter the White House physician, Kevin OConnor, said the specialist, Kevin Cannard, has been a neurology consultant to the White House medical unit since 2012. He said Cannard had visited multiple times a year since then, and that the neurologist was chosen for his breadth of experience and expertise. Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr Cannard has been doing for a dozen years, OConnor wrote. Dr Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems. Related: The Democrats who have called on Joe Biden to step down He added that Cannard was the neurologist who had examined Biden for his three annual physicals since becoming president. Bidens last medical examination in February had not shown any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy, OConnor wrote. The letter, which OConnor said he was releasing with the permission of both Biden and Cannard, followed intense speculation about the presidents cognitive powers following last months stumbling performance in a debate with Donald Trump in Atlanta, in which he repeatedly appeared confused and lost his train of thought. It was released after Karine Jean-Pierre, the presidents press secretary, sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room in an exchange during which she asked them for respect and declined to confirm Cannards name, even though it had already been reported in multiple media outlets. There are thousands of military personnel that come to the White House and they are under the care of the medical unit, she said. The president has seen a neurologist three times, she added, and continued that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis. She said Biden was not being treated or taking medication for Parkinsons disease. OConnors letter may not be enough to quell the suspicions over Bidens health and fitness to serve, amid revelations that he is a former business associate and longtime friend of the presidents family. Politico reported that he introduced Bidens brother, Jim Biden, to a military-focused medical team in 2017, at a time when he was pursuing a business venture aimed at securing veterans affairs contracts, and the presidents sister-in-law, Sara Biden, has also described OConnor as a friend who has dispensed medical advice to the family. Jacob Appel, a professor at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, told Politico that presidential doctors could not necessarily be relied on to disclose the truth about their distinguished patients. Presidents doctors have deceived the public going back to the early 19th century, said Appel, who has studied the medical dilemmas of multiple doctors acting for US presidents. There are plenty of ways of saying something that are factually accurate that dont convey the full sense of whats going on. Speculation about matters relating to Biden that might not previously have been scrutinized before his poor debate showing has grown, such as the recent disclosure that his staff prepares memos, complete with large print and photos, mapping out his path to the podium for public engagements, though the campaign emphasised that such materials are prepared for all presidents. Trump Nato The purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), its first secretary-general once remarked, is to keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down. Lords Ismays aphorism has always been a useful way to describe the alliance. But as Nato leaders gather in Washington to mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance this week, it feels more relevant than ever. The Russians are banging on Europes door in a way they have not for years. The Germans, no longer in need of keeping down, are now under pressure from allies to raise themselves to the occasion. But it is keeping the Americans in that will be the unspoken priority. [Donald] Trump will be talked about a lot, despite the fact he is not at the summit, and that demonstrates the power he has over the alliance despite not being a head of state, Ed Senior, a research fellow for European security at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Telegraph before setting off for the summit. We call it the strongest alliance in history, but if it can be undone by one person it shows it has serious vulnerabilities. Managing a second Trump term has been debated by European, Ukrainian, and other governments and think tankers for more than a year. After Joe Bidens dire debate performance at the beginning of the month, the prospect of a Trump presidency seems more likely than ever. It is perfectly possible that by January, the United States, the keystone of the alliance system, will be led by an instinctive isolationist who is sympathetic to Russia, ambivalent about Ukraine, and hostile to Nato. The worst-case scenario, based on comments by Trump and his closest advisers, would see him freeze US aid to Ukraine, leading to a Russian victory. He would shift US troops and equipment to the Pacific, leaving European members exposed to Russian attack, and undermine confidence in the Article Five mutual defence clause by publically telling eastern flank nations that they must defend themselves. When Jens Stoltenberg last year launched a plan to Trump proof [not his words] aid to Ukraine, that is largely what he was talking about. The Trump-proofing plan, such as it is, looks like the following. In June, Nato defence ministers agreed to a plan to set up a new command to coordinate the supply of arms, ammunition and training to Ukraine. That plan, which will receive the formal green light in Washington this week, was cooked up after a six-month delay in American aid caused by Trump-allied members of Congress allowed Russia to seize the initiative on the battlefield. In unvarnished terms, it is meant to reduce reliance on the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which has drummed up most Western aid for Ukraine since the war began. But it has limits. The plan would still be dependent on the US, being headquartered at a US military base in Wiesbaden, Germany. It is not clear that the remaining allies, including Britain, Canada, and the rest of the European members, could fill the financial void if American aid, which accounts for roughly half the support for Ukraine, were to vanish. There is also technology that America supplies notably Patriot air defence missiles that other countries simply cannot provide at scale, if at all. But filling an America-shaped financial and military hole is the simple bit. Replicating the great enabling role played by US leadership is quite another question. It is not about replacing US capabilities and spending, it is about the alliance, said Mr Arnold. Currently the alliance operates a 360-degree approach to security and that is only possible with US leadership. If Nato as an organisation is to remain [without American leadership], it will have to take on a regionalised structure: groups of countries taking on more of a role on the northern flank, the southern flank, the eastern front on a more regional basis rather than alliance wide, because thats what the military logic dictates, whatever the political logic. In economic, military, and logistical capacity, in political and diplomatic clout, in global reach, no one comes close to the US. American presidents can set a direction of travel, cajole, persuade and bully allies into action. The country also acts as a kind of glue that allows the other disparate parts of the alliance to operate. Countries working in concert cannot really replace those advantages even if they can match American spending dollar-to-dollar. Take away the American keystone, and Nato would have to adapt in radical ways. The strongest non-American members - Britain, France and Germany are really peers in those things, so there would be no undisputed authority to offer direction. Trump-proofing might better be termed future-proofing, because America is not alone. Emmanuel Macron escaped the nightmare of a pro-Russian extreme Right-wing party taking power in France, but is severely weakened. Olof Scholz leads an unpopular government that is likely to be replaced next year. The far-Right Alternative for Germany came second in the European parliamentary elections last month. Meanwhile, Viktor Orban of Hungary has been in Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing pursuing his own peace policy at odds with almost every other Nato member. Mr Orbans freelancing has triggered fury in Brussels and doesnt seem to have brought peace any closer days after he met Vladmir Putin, Russian missiles destroyed a childrens hospital in Kyiv. It will add to the sense of tension in Washington. Many delegations in Washington this week are likely to look to Britains Keir Starmer a pro-Nato, pro-European and pro-Ukraine centrist elected with a strong mandate for leadership and stability. There is something deep in the British psyche that relishes the idea of displacing America as the leader of the free world. But daydreams are one thing. As an earlier Labour government realised, securing peace in Europe means keeping the Americans in. Mainland's Taiwan affairs official meets former KMT chairperson Xinhua) 09:31, July 09, 2024 HANGZHOU, July 8 (Xinhua) -- 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, met with Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Hangzhou on Monday. Hung is in Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang Province, attending the seventh cross-Strait youth development forum, which runs from July 6 to 12. Pledging to promote mutual learning and exchanges between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Song expressed the hope that young people from both sides will resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference, actively participate in cross-strait exchanges, cooperation and integrated development, and realize their potential in the great journey toward national reunification and rejuvenation. Hung expressed her hope for enhanced exchanges and communication and deepened mutual understanding between young people on both sides of the Strait, urging them to join hands to oppose "Taiwan independence" and promote national reunification and rejuvenation. Initiated in 2018, the annual cross-Strait youth development forum serves as an important platform for youth from both sides of the Strait to exchange ideas, foster mutual understanding, and learn from each other. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) President Biden has remained steadfast in his previously announced commitment to staying in the 2024 race with a firm letter to lawmakers despite mounting calls from within his own party to drop out. In a letter to Hill Democrats Monday morning, Biden doubled down, unequivocally stating he would continue on as the party's planned nominee. "I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump," he wrote. Four senior Democrats spoke on a private call with Democratic leadership not even a full 24 hours before the president's statement, with claims Biden should step aside, according to Politico. As Congress returns from the July Fourth recess, Biden and his campaign have been working to play down lawmakers' concerns about his viability as a candidate following universally scathing criticism of his debate performance against Donald Trump. Lawmakers are not hiding their reservations as to whether Biden will be able to beat Trump come November or serve another four years in office. Several Democrats have publicly called on the president to step down, with those numbers only expected to rise. 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 the presidential debate. 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. The 52-year-old man in April became the first Victorian convicted of exit trafficking. He faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP The former wife of a Victorian man convicted of trafficking her overseas and abandoning her in Sudan says she lives in constant fear, describing being stranded without her children as the most devastating experience of my life. The man, 52, in April became the first Victorian convicted of exit trafficking where someone is coerced, threatened or tricked into leaving Australia against their will. A Victorian county court jury found him guilty of the federal offence after a month-long trial. The man pleaded not guilty to the charge and denied having deceived the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He appeared in person in county court in Melbourne on Tuesday for a plea hearing, wearing a light blue shirt and brown pants. He faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison. A victim impact statement from his former wife, read to the court on behalf of the prosecution, said she was left in a state of utter despair when she was stranded in Sudan. The court heard the eldest of the couples two children was two years old while the youngest was just six months old when the man took them back to Australia without their mothers consent. The pain of that moment has burrowed deep inside me. A pain that lingers to this day, the statement said. She said the separation caused immense physical pain and emotional agony and said the journey to reunite with her children was an agonising struggle. The court heard that, when she reunited with her children, her former partner made false accusations against her, which meant she was unable to see her children for a period of time. The mans former wife said her children had endured unimaginable suffering after they were removed without her consent. She said one of her children experiences severe separation anxiety and fears her mother will never return when she leaves. My children have endured more than any child should ever have to, she said. I live in constant fear moving from place to place, afraid he will attack me or kidnap my children. The woman now has full custody of their two children. The mans defence barrister, Brett Stevens, told Judge Frank Gucciardo that the two children were not victims of the offence. He argued at the time of the offence the children did not have separation anxiety and said other circumstances such as family court proceedings that may have contributed to the impact on them were not derived from the offence. Prosecutor John Saunders said the mental health issues of the children was a matter that had an affect on the womans life as their primary caregiver and were derived from the offence. Stevens told the court the man had not left his then-wife in a country that was foreign to her. But Gucciardo said it was not some resort in the Maldvies and said that Sudan was by todays standards a very difficult place even if you have family there. Stevens added that the man had no prior convictions and was a loving and attentive father, which he said testimony from maternal and child health nurses supported. The court previously heard that after an arranged marriage in Sudan in 2010, the woman moved to Australia on a partner visa in 2012 and was sponsored by her husband. She had their first child in 2012 and the second two years later. The family visited Sudan on 15 September 2014 and the woman was told it was for a holiday, the court heard previously. The prosecution alleged the man intentionally led his wife to believe she had a valid visa to return to Australia, but had withdrawn his sponsorship for her visa in June. She was separated from her children for 16 months, the court previously heard. The Australian federal police charged the man in 2022. He is due to be sentenced at a later date. Six works created by Northern Ireland theatre, dance and arts organisations will be spotlighted as part of an event at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer. The Spotlight On Theatre And Dance From Northern Ireland initiative on August 20 is delivered by Theatre and Dance NI, in collaboration with Belfast International Arts Festival, and supported by the British Council Northern Ireland and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Now in its sixth year, the event aims to shine a light on theatre and dance work created by artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland. The exposure of being part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe gives an opportunity for Northern Irish artists to connect and network with international arts industry figures with a view to having their work tour internationally. The six productions are Ante Beckett by Joel Smith, directed by John Carty, The Daughters Of Roisin by Aoibh Johnson, directed by Cahal Clarke, Float by Kirby Thompson and Orla Graham, directed by Kirby Thompson and Caoimhe McGee, Lies Where It Falls by Ruairi Conaghan, directed by Patrick OKane, Dean And The Devil by Philip Orr, directed by Chris Darcy and A Farther Shore by David Campton, directed by Trevor Gill. Niamh Flanagan, executive director of Theatre and Dance NI, said: We have been delivering and developing the Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2019. She said: We know through the success of the Spotlight over the past six years that there is a market nationally and internationally for the work of our theatre and dance artists. The Fringe is the worlds biggest arts marketplace and this ongoing interest and demand for work from Northern Ireland is from reputable international programmers and audiences and has resulted in further opportunities for our artists/companies, including onward touring nationally and overseas and continues to put Northern Ireland firmly on the cultural map. Previous Spotlight productions which have achieved success include Colm McCreadys Scaredy Fat which toured the London Pleasance and is set for the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2024/25 and Ciara Elizabeth Smyths Lie Low which has been performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Ms Flanagan added: We are also delighted to offer a number of bursaries as part of the Fellowship Programme. This will support several artists, directors and producers, to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival who may wish to perform there in the future. Richard Wakely, artistic director and chief executive of the Belfast International Arts Festival, said: The Spotlight on Northern Ireland Theatre and Dance at the Edinburgh Fringe offers our performance artists and ensembles a significant platform to gain international recognition. This exposure not only helps to sustain new stage works but also provides a welcome boost to our artists public profiles and creates opportunities for both artistic development and future collaborations with overseas partners. Siobhan Molloy, festivals, venues and international arts development officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: Its a testament to the creativity, tenacity and forward-looking focus of our artists that they have created such high-quality and resonant works. It is vital that these important works are seen and important too for audiences to get to see them and so it is particularly exciting that a huge potential market is opened up to them through the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. More information is available at linktr.ee/spotlightontheatreanddanceni24. The Prime Minister and his deputy have pledged to loosen Whitehalls tight grip over big cities and regions ahead of a meeting with mayors in Downing Street. Sir Keir Starmer will cap off his round-the-UK tour with the roundtable before flying to Washington DC on Tuesday, where he is set to make his world stage debut at the Nato summit. According to a Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities statement, Sir Keir and the mayors will come together to discuss a new partnership approach and agree early actions needed to scale up devolution and empower regions to deliver change for their communities. Voters in some large cities in England elect mayors with regional responsibilities. Among them are Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Metro Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker, Mayor of the West of England (including Bristol and Bath) Dan Norris, and Mayor of the Tees Valley Ben Houchen. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: For too long a Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities and villages across the UK. Thats meant misguided decisions devastating the lives of working people, while our elected local leaders are forced to beg for scraps at the whim of Whitehall. Its time to take back control, and this new government is focused on setting that potential free, with a full reset of our relationship with local government. All of this starts with proper, grown up conversations with our regional Mayors, to make changes that help them deliver local economic growth with better housing, education and jobs for local people. Sir Keir said he had made it a priority to meet with all metro mayors in his first week of office. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Claudia Greco/PA) By resetting these crucial relationships and putting more power in the hands of local leaders, Im determined to make sure they have the support they need to play their part in delivering economic growth in every part of the country, he said. The Local Government Association (LGA) has previously warned of a combined funding gap of more than 6 billion over the next two years in the local authority sector. After the General Election result last week, LGA chair Louise Gittins said: It is important we find a sustainable and long-term financial solution, alongside the right powers and levers, so we can deliver on the priorities of the new government. She also said: We are entering a period of huge change but also opportunity and my immediate priority is working with the new government on a fundamental reset of the relationship between central and local government, one of trust and mutual respect. Sir Keir has turned his attention to devolution over the weekend, having spent Sunday in Scotland, where he met SNP First Minister John Swinney. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Bute House, Edinburgh, with Scottish First Minister John Swinney (Scott Heppell/PA) On Monday, he met political leaders at Stormont in Northern Ireland and The Senedd in Wales, including the nations first ministers, Michelle ONeill and Vaughan Gething. Before the whistlestop tour, Sir Keir said his appearances would signal his ambition to push power and resource out of Whitehall. US President Joe Biden is expected to host Sir Keir at the White House later this week, a move which Mr Bidens press secretary said will underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The Prince of Wales is to return to his former airbase for the first time since becoming its honorary air commodore. On Tuesday, William will visit RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, as its Royal Honorary Air Commodore, after he took over the role from the King in August last year. The prince and the Princess of Wales, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, lived together on Anglesey as newlyweds when he served as an RAF search and rescue pilot at the base from 2010 to 2013. The site is the RAFs only station in Wales and is home to the No 4 Flying Training School (4FTS), for the UKs next generation of fighter pilots. William will tour RAF Valley, his former airbase (Peter Byrne/PA) Crews at the base are also trained for mountain and maritime operations across the world. During his visit, William will have the opportunity to take part in a simulated fire response and to meet crew members stationed at the base and their families. He will tour the base, visit the air traffic control tower and learn about plans to refurbish the second runway before presenting the annual Prince of Wales Award to the best qualified flying instructor. William is also due to meet the response team from the RAF Mountain Rescue Service (MRS). The Queen joked that everybody teases her about her obsession with weather apps at a charity event that was moved inside because of the rain, an author said. The reception on Tuesday brought together bestselling authors and volunteers for the National Literacy Trust which works to give children and adults of all ages literacy skills to celebrate the charitys 30th anniversary. The celebrations were originally set to take place in the gardens of Clarence House but were rearranged for inside the building after the day turned grey and drizzly in London. The Queen has been a patron of the National Literacy Trust since 2010 (Yui Mok/PA) Camilla, wearing a long-sleeve navy dress with a white floral pattern, smiled and laughed as she greeted the charitys representatives and volunteers before cutting a square anniversary cake decorated with fondant books. Among the writers in attendance was Francesca Simon, author of the bestselling childrens series Horrid Henry, who shared a joke with the Queen as they discussed the miserable weather. Ms Simon said: We were laughing about our mutual love of weather apps. She mentioned it was raining in France, where Im meant to be today, and I said yeah, I know. She said everybody teases her, because Im also looking at weather in various parts of the world, and shes the same so we were laughing at our mutual obsession. The trust ambassador said the Queens support was invaluable to the charity and praised her commitment to the cause. The author added: She turns up and puts her passion for reading, which is very genuine, behind it so its really fun to have that kind of commitment thats much more than skin deep. Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, agreed that Camillas work with the charity was immensely important. I know shes read The Gruffalo to her grandchildren, he added. Jayden Lowndes, 10, was among the volunteers who spoke to the Queen (Yui Mok/PA) Jayden Lowndes, 10, from Stoke-on-Trent, is among the charitys youngest volunteers and runs a community book trolley which he wheels around his school every Friday afternoon giving out books. Jayden said he would recommend The Beast Of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams to Camilla as a book he thought she would enjoy. The Queen also spoke to Jess Jervis, 31, a bus driver from Cornwall who created small libraries on board her buses and offers books to children who hop on. Ms Jervis said Camilla told her every bus should have books on after hearing her story. The Queen, who is an avid reader, has been a patron of the charity since 2010 and was presented with five books selected by volunteers, including Maya Angelous Why The Caged Bird Sings and Handle With Care by Shreya Sen-Handley. The Queen hosted community volunteers and authors at Clarence House in central London (Yui Mok/PA) Addressing attendees, she paid tribute to the charitys work and said she hoped illiteracy would be a thing of the past in the next 30 years. During lockdown, Camilla launched her Reading Room project which began as an online reading club and has since grown into a major initiative which has a podcast featuring leading authors and a literary festival. Over the past 30 years, the National Literacy Trust has supported more than five million children with reading and writing skills and worked with nearly 17,000 schools. In 2023, the charity gifted 528,303 books and is currently campaigning to ensure all primary schools in the UK have a library by 2028. Other authors in attendance at the event included Malorie Blackman, Adele Parks and Darren Simpson. Actor Richard E Grant and the production company co-founded by British film director Sir Sam Mendes have both donated to prolong the life of a mother whose rare and very invasive cancer has spread. A Bristol-based Go Fund Me page saw a 1000 donation from Withnail And I star Grant, while Neal Street Productions founded by Sir Sam alongside producers Dame Pippa Harris and Caro Newling in 2003 donated 2000 to the cause. The fundraiser was to help a mother named Summer, who had been diagnosed with an inoperable cancer and given just a few months to live. Sir Sam Mendes co-founded Neal Street Productions in 2003 (Ian West/PA) Summer, who shares a son named Emmett with husband Robin, is preparing to enrol herself onto The Aurora Clinical Trial in Southampton in the hope it will give her some more time with her family. Oscar-nominated actor Grant has previously spoken about the death of his wife Joan Washington in September 2021, after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Grant married Washington in 1986, shortly after he had moved to London from Swaziland (now Eswatini) to pursue a career in acting. The couple had a daughter named Olivia. Washington was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2020 and told that she had 12 to 18 months to live, but died after eight months. Richard E Grant and Joan Washington (Ian West/PA) The fundraising page for Summer said: A few years ago Summer was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The cancer, called Squamous Cell Carcinoma, is rare, very invasive, unresponsive to chemotherapy and there are very limited treatment options. At that time Summer underwent intensive surgery to remove her bladder. We all thought everything would be ok. Earlier this year, at a check-up for an unrelated matter, it became clear that the cancer had returned and moved to Summers lung. Doing everything she could to fight this disease, Summer once again bravely underwent surgery. During the operation surgeons removed half of her left lung and some lymph nodes. Last week it became clear that the cancer has progressed to the rest of Summers lung and treatment options available will be to prolong her life not save it. The Support For Summer page has raised almost 22,000 out of the 50,000 target. A former Welsh government minister who was sacked after allegedly leaking messages to the media has said she was shown no evidence for her removal and has raised formal concerns. Hannah Blythyn, the former minister for social partnership, was sacked by embattled First Minister Vaughan Gething in May, following messages from the Covid pandemic being leaked to the media. Ms Blythyn read a personal statement to the Senedd on Tuesday, in which she maintained her innocence and said the allegations had damaged her mental health. Mr Gething has come under sustained attack in recent months from both the opposition and his own benches. His decision to sack Ms Blythyn contributed to the collapse of a co-operation agreement between his party and Plaid Cymru and he subsequently lost a non-binding vote of no confidence in the Senedd. He has also faced a series of rows concerning donations he took during his bid to become Welsh Labour leader. Ms Blythyn, who has not appeared in the chamber since she was removed from government, said she had formally raised concerns about the process of her removal. Ms Blythyn said: I know that I can look all my colleagues who sit on these benches in the eye and say that I have never leaked or briefed the media about any of you. In fact, I can say that to everyone in the Siambr (Senedd chamber). Whilst I will not share the detail, I will share that I have formally raised concerns about the process by which I was removed from government, including not being shown any alleged evidence before being sacked, not being made aware that I was ever under investigation and that at no point was I advised or was it evident that I may have broken the ministerial code. Ms Blythyn said she recognised that it was the First Ministers power to remove people from government but said she raised concerns about her dismissal because she fundamentally believe in devolution and public service. She said a proper process needs to be in place to ensure the integrity of the Civil Service and the office of the First Minister. The former minister added: It should not be surprising that what happened has been hugely detrimental to me on a personal level, and led to acute anxiety and stress. I have never been signed off work before when I have struggled with this in itself, but there was a point when the thought of just putting my camera on to vote and seeing you all literally took my breath away. She said they often spoke about kinder politics in the Senedd, but she argued this would not be possible without kinder people. Mr Gethings office said it would not be responding to Mr Blythyns comments through the media and any questions raised will be dealt with directly. Speaking after Ms Blythyn made her statement, Andrew RT Davies MS, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: Hannah Blythyns comments raise more questions for the First Minister. People will now rightly ask whether the First Minister publicly sacked Hannah without sufficient evidence that she was guilty of leaking. The personal consequences for Hannah of that sacking were clearly enormous, and the First Minister owes her a full and humble apology. Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, has written to the First Minister requesting an urgent statement in response to Ms Blythyns comments and for evidence to be provided in the interests of transparency and out of courtesy to the Senedd. In a letter to Mr Gething, he said: I have previously raised with you my concerns that no proper process was conducted prior to the ministers removal from office and having heard the members representations today, I remain unsatisfied that due process was undertaken. Mr ap Iorwerth said there were two conflicting accounts which casts a further cloud on your ability to govern without distraction. The First Ministers decision to sack Ms Blythyn followed a report on the Nation.Cymru news website which featured a message posted to a ministerial group chat in August 2020 by Mr Gething, stating that he was deleting the messages in this group. He said the leaked message was from a section of an iMessage group chat with other Labour ministers and related to internal discussions within the Senedd Labour group. Mr Gething previously told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that lost WhatsApp messages were not deleted by him, but by the Welsh Parliaments IT team during a security rebuild. He denied the leaked message contradicted the evidence he had given to the inquiry, adding that it did not relate to pandemic decision-making but comments that colleagues make to and about each other. The First Minister has refused to show evidence for Ms Blythyns sacking when asked for it in the Senedd. At the time of her dismissal, Ms Blythyn strongly denied leaking anything and said she was deeply shocked at her dismissal and said she was clear and have been clear that I did not, nor have I ever leaked anything. The new cohort of Scottish MPs has begun to be sworn in to the House of Commons, with many joining the green benches for the first time. Following the General Election, Scotlands 57 constituencies are represented by 37 Labour MPs, nine SNP MPs, five Scottish Conservative MPs and six Lib Dem MPs. Labours sweeping gains meant the Commons welcomed many who had not been MPs before. However some are returning to Westminster after previous terms as MPs, including Lothian East MP Douglas Alexander, who served in Tony Blair and Gordon Browns governments. He has now been appointed as a minister in the Department of Business and Trade in Sir Keir Starmers government. Douglas Alexander (third left) and Ian Murray (second right) were sworn in (Andrew Milligan/PA) Blair McDougall, who is prominent in Scottish politics for his role as campaign director for the Better Together campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, was also elected as the MP for East Renfrewshire. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray was one of the first MPs to be sworn in, choosing to take the affirmation. Meanwhile, the Scottish Lib Dems welcomed three new MPs to their ranks. These include Angus MacDonald, whose constituency of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire was the last to be declared after the election. Before the swearing-in ceremony began, leaders of the Westminster parties gave short speeches acknowledging the election of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Stephen Flynn said he would let bygones be bygones (House of Commons) SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: I wish to begin by welcoming all new members to the chamber, in particular those members from Scottish constituencies. Theres probably a few more new members from Scottish constituencies than I would like to have seen, but I do look forward to working constructively with you to deliver in the best interests of the people that we are all so fortunate to represent. He also referred to his previous disagreements with speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle over the SNPs opposition day in February. The Aberdeen South MP was furious with Sir Lindsay over the way he handled the SNPs debate on Gaza. But addressing the newly re-elected Speaker on Tuesday, Mr Flynn made clear that he bore no grudge. He said: I think its safe to say that me and you didnt always see eye to eye during the course of the last parliament, but in politics and in life, I think its important to let bygones be bygones and to focus on the future. Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to colleagues past and present as he made his first appearance in the House of Commons since becoming Prime Minister. His arrival in the Commons chamber on Tuesday was greeted by a standing ovation from the Labour benches, and he shared a brief word with his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, before the pair took their seats. Sir Keir gave the first speech responding to the unanimous re-election of Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Commons Speaker, beginning with a tribute to former Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay. Now Lord Mackinlay, the former MP had both his hands and feet amputated after contracting sepsis and decided not to fight his seat at last weeks election due to his ongoing recovery. Sir Keir Starmer began his speech with a tribute to former Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay, now elevated to the House of Lords (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The Prime Minister said: All of those returning will remember, as I do, the speech he gave just a few weeks ago which was inspiring and moving and we wish him well. He went on to welcome the 335 new MPs and thank Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh, who, as the MP with the longest continuous service, is Father of the House and oversaw Sir Lindsays re-election. After celebrating the diversity of the new House of Commons, which Sir Keir said has the largest cohort of LGBT+ MPs of any parliament in the world, he paid special tribute to Diane Abbott the longest-serving female MP. The election saw Sir Keir mired in a row over Ms Abbotts selection as a Labour candidate, but on Tuesday the new Prime Minister welcomed her back to the Commons. He said Ms Abbott has done so much in her career over so many years to fight for a Parliament that truly represents modern Britain. Concluding his speech, he reiterated the commitment he made during the campaign to replace the politics of performance with the politics of service because service is a precondition for hope and trust, and the need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every Member here, new and returning alike. We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good. So, whatever our political differences, its now time to turn the page, unite in a common endeavour of national renewal and make this Parliament a parliament of service. Sir Keir Starmer has said he is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, but that he could not set a timeline to reach the target before carrying out a review. He told journalists on the tarmac before he set off for the Nato summit in Washington that he was committed to 2.5% within our fiscal rules. The Prime Minister said: The most important thing is to, at this Nato summit, recommit to our solidarity with and stand with Ukraine and discuss the practical plans for further action we can take together in relation to Russian aggression. Support for Ukraine will be at the top of the agenda for the Washington summit. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks to media, at Stansted Airport (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Sir Keir added: In relation to defence more generally, we will carry out our strategic review to look at the challenges, the capabilities, and on the back of that make further plans. I am committed to that 2.5% within our fiscal rules. That strategic review needs to come first. But today, tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support to Ukraine, and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world. The Government has an ambition to increase spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product, a measure of the size of the economy, when the nations finances allow. But during the election campaign, Sir Keir was criticised by his Tory rival Rishi Sunak, who in Government had set out a plan to reach 2.5% by 2030. In a sudden move on July 6, the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dallas, host of the DaddyLand Festival 2024 circuit party, canceled all remaining LGBTQ DaddyLand events and evicted participants following complaints from other guests. Organizers have since posted messages on social media noting that the host hotel for the DaddyLand Festival in Dallas 2024 canceled the remaining events due to complaints from non-festival guests, saying that despite efforts to resolve the issues with additional security and accommodations, the hotel owner showed disrespect and decided to evict all attendees without notice. However, the post did mention the festival would proceed with the remaining events, except for the after-hours events originally scheduled at the Crowne Plaza. Jason Martinez, a former DaddyLand employee, told the Dallas Voice that problems between the event producer and the host hotel started long before Saturday night. He explained that the hotel owner canceled the events scheduled at the Crowne and demanded anyone there for DaddyLand leave the hotel, including those who had booked rooms. Martinez, who quit working on the DaddyLand event a month ago, said the hotel's sales manager told him "corporate was receiving several complaints regarding the boom boom room, or dark room," and instructed him to remove all references to it from advertisements and promotional materials. Printed on a piece of paper and distributed to hotel guests staying at the Crowne Plaza for the festival, it read: "TAKE A MOMENT, DADDYLAND GROUP PARTICIPANT. We are sorry it didn't work out. The OWNER OF THE HOTEL is requesting you LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. You will get a refund for Saturday, July 6, 2024, and Sunday, July 7, 2024. Please move out by 6 p.m. ALL PARTIES AND EVENTS ARE CANCELLED: SATURDAY 7/6, SUNDAY 7/7, AND MONDAY 7/8." Daddy Ersin" Winokur, promoter for the DaddyLand Dallas Festival over the July 4th weekend, contacted Dallas Voice shortly before midnight Sunday, July 7, to say that "for now" the DaddyLand post on social media, reprinted in its entirety below, "will act as our statement. We are still continuing with the remaining events as well as trying to field the calls and messages. The Scottish Tories must stop pussyfooting around the leftist consensus including free tuition fees and prescriptions under a new leader, a senior party MSP has said. Current leader Douglas Ross resigned in the midst of the election campaign following an internal furore over his decision to stand in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East a contest he would eventually lose in the stead of former MP David Duguid, who was deemed by party bosses to be too ill. But Stephen Kerr who also failed to win the Angus and Perthshire Glens seat at last weeks vote said Mr Rosss replacement should oppose shibboleths within Scottish politics which are unworkable in the long term like university fees, medications and the single police force. Mr Ross stood down during the election campaign (Michal Wachucik/PA) We need to challenge the consensus-thinking that many Scottish Conservatives have been too shy to oppose issues such as free prescriptions to all, centralisation of our policing, minimum unit pricing for alcohol, and yes, even free tuition, Mr Kerr wrote in the Telegraph on Tuesday. These have become shibboleths that the people who administer and use them know are unworkable in the long term, but we Conservatives havent dared to oppose. He added: For Scottish Conservatives, the time for pussyfooting around the leftist consensus is past. People will want to hear what our policies are now that we are freed from opposition to independence being our main offering. I and the party will support a leader who can lead the discussion on centre-right policies and communicate them with conviction to an electorate who will be glad to hear a new song from the Scottish Conservatives. The Central Scotland MSP also called for Mr Ross to step aside to make way for an interim leader, elected by MSPs, to take over for the duration of the contest. I have always admired Douglas Ross, whose commitment to his constituency was second to none, he wrote. He resigned the leadership during the election campaign and should now step down in favour of an interim leader chosen by MSPs. The party should take its time in electing a new leader, Mr Kerr added, with the focus now on the Labour Government in Downing Street and the doom spiral of the SNP. There is no need to bounce the party into a quick coronation in time for the start of the new parliamentary session at Holyrood in September, the Tory MSP said. It would be entirely counterproductive when the leadership contest itself presents us with an opportunity to discuss the future of our party in a way we havent in more than a decade. It is understood a formal decision on whether Mr Ross will remain on as leader until after the contest is yet to be taken. His comments come as Liz Smith, the partys finance spokeswoman and another senior MSP, told the same newspaper she believed former candidate Murdo Fraser would stand to replace Mr Ross. Mr Fraser stood more than a decade ago but lost out to Ruth now Baroness Davidson, with the key pledge to separate the Scottish Tories from the party in the rest of the UK. His push, Ms Smith predicted, would be part of the mix in the coming contest. Thames Water has warned that it will run out of money by the end of next May, as the heavily indebted company intensifies efforts to secure fresh funding. Britains biggest water firm, which is creaking under a debt pile of more than 15 billion, said on Tuesday that it had 1.8 billion of cash reserves at the end of June, a fall from 2.4 billion three months previously. The firm said it is still looking for new funds needed to maintain and update its infrastructure, after investors pulled the plug on 500 million of emergency cash earlier this year. Chief executive Chris Weston said Thames had taken informal soundings which have shown there is interest in the market. He added that the company will be looking at a broad church of potential investors which could include existing shareholders. If it ultimately fails to attract fresh funding, Thames Waters fraying finances could present Sir Keir Starmers newly elected Labour Government with a significant industrial crisis. A blueprint codenamed Project Timber was being drawn up in Whitehall in the spring, according to reports, which could see the company effectively nationalised. Under the plans, the company would be placed in a form of special administration in the scenario that its parent company fails. Mr Weston added that it is not in the interests of customers or investors for the company to fall into Government hands. Communities minister Jim McMahon said on Tuesday morning: We recognise that, over the last 14 years, frankly, the water industry hasnt been regulated anywhere near as firmly as it should have been, and we havent seen the investment to deal with the sewage scandal. He said there is a need for reform and for regulation to be looked at, adding: The days of putting shareholder interest above the national interest, frankly, cant carry on and so we do need to look at that and Thames do need to look at their own house and get it in order. Mr McMahon said there is no programme of nationalisation for the water industry when asked what the plan is if the company collapses. He did however say there is no provision in law for a water company to stop providing water, adding: We need to be very clear there is always a contingency in place. Thames Waters financial update will be followed on Thursday by a draft verdict from Ofwat on water companies five-year spending plans and bill increases to 2030. That will kick off six months of negotiations with Ofwat, ahead of its final decision in December. Thames Water, which has 16 million customers in London and the Thames Valley region, put forward plans in April that would see spending rise to 19.8 billion to update its infrastructure and reduce sewage spills. However, that would also involve increasing customer bills by 44%, a figure which has prompted backlash from consumer groups. Meanwhile, the process of securing new cash is not expected to conclude until after Ofwats final decision on Thames business plan in December. Any increase in bills would be greeted with anger, after Thames Water and other water companies disastrous recent environmental records sparked a nationwide scandal over pollution. Thames said pollution incidents increased to 350, up on 331 last year, which it blamed on a rainier-than-expected year. The number of serious pollutions decreased by 18%, Thames Water said. When questioned on the issue on Tuesday, Mr Weston said: You might not like the answer, but rain has a big impact on spills. It comes amid reports that Sir Keir has been briefed that the poor state of Thames Waters physical infrastructure presents a critical risk to the country. Fears about the company include its management of sites that provide drinking water and sewage treatment for London and the Thames Valley, The Guardian newspaper reported. Thames Water said it spent 2 billion on maintaining and updating its infrastructure last year. The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters on Monday: The Government has said in its manifesto that we will put failing water companies into special measures and they will have no choice but to clean up their act. We talked about giving regulators the power to block payment of bonuses to executives who pollute our waterways and impose automatic and severe fines on them for wrongdoing. Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise appeared at the London premiere of film Twisters in support of his friend, Glen Powell. The European premiere saw its stars hit the red carpet at Cineworld in Leicester Square, including British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones in a chocolate Vivienne Westwood gown featuring a corset and black over-the-shoulder draping. Edgar-Jones and Powell, who posed in a matching black suit with white hemming, play rival camp leaders chasing the same storms. The film is a sequel to the 1996 film Twister starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, a storm-chasing couple who reunite to track a storm. Cruise posed alongside Powell, who starred in Top Gun: Maverick, and two buckets of popcorn during the premiere. Fun night with friends, watching a movie!!, Cruise wrote on Instagram. The pair reportedly became close friends during the production of the Top Gun sequel, released in 2022. During the premiere, Edgar-Jones was pictured being protected with an umbrella from the unpredictable British weather, while other stars who attended included In The Heights actor Anthony Ramos. Twisters is set for release on July 19 in the UK. Two yellow weather warnings have been issued for parts of the UK as heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast across Tuesday and Wednesday. A thunderstorm warning has been put in place covering Wales and parts of western England, while a rain warning has been issued for northern Scotland ahead of showers of up to 90mm. The thunderstorm warning spans most of Wales, including Powys and Gwynedd, with affected areas in England including Manchester and Birmingham. Yellow weather warning issued Thunderstorms across Wales and western parts of England Today 1400 2359 Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/R75ruDHzHf Met Office (@metoffice) July 9, 2024 The Met Office said thundery downpours are forecast from 2pm on Tuesday until the end of the day and may lead to flooding in some areas. Rainfall of 10-20mm is possible in an hour or so, with some places potentially seeing 30mm in a few hours, the forecaster added. Motorists are likely to experience delays to their journeys because of flooded roads and spray, the forecaster warned. There was a warning over heavy rainfall (David Davies/PA) Some homes and businesses may also be at risk of flooding alongside a small chance of damage from lightning strikes. The thunderstorms and heavy showers are expected to move northwards from Tuesday afternoon, slowly dying out during the evening. The yellow weather warning in northern Scotland comes as 90mm of rainfall is expected in the worst affected areas from 10pm on Tuesday until 11.59pm on Wednesday. The Met Office said widespread rainfall of 20-30mm is forecast, though this could reach 50-75mm in areas which experience heavier bursts of rain. Not feeling particularly summery for most today as rain pushes northwards, heavy at times Disappointingly cool for Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, whilst it is more humid and muggy across England and Wales Brighter for northern Scotland with sunny spells pic.twitter.com/UlPXkA0TFS Met Office (@metoffice) July 9, 2024 The Met Office said those in the affected areas including Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands should expect difficult driving conditions because of flooding and spray, with the possibility some communities could be cut off by flooded roads. The forecaster added there was a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater which could cause a danger to life. There is also a chance train and bus services may have to be cancelled. Unsettled cloudy weather with bursts of rain and humid conditions is forecast more generally across the UK on Tuesday and Wednesday, before conditions warm up slightly and turn drier to end the week. Central England is expected to enjoy the UKs warmest weather this week with temperatures of up to 22C on Wednesday while the countrys coldest temperature of 3C is forecast in rural Scotland on Thursday evening. Manuel Arias Duran / Getty Images Medically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MDMedically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MD When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, skin darkens or tans. While some equate having a tan with a healthy glow, it is important to realize that tanning ultimately leads to skin damage. Ultraviolet (UV) rays age skin, promoting wrinkles and increasing the risk of skin cancer. If you intend to be in the sun and could get tanned skin, there are ways to stay safe, including using sunscreen effectively, avoiding peak hours, and drinking plenty of water. 1. Choose an Appropriate Sunscreen When choosing a sunscreen, most people assume that the SPF (sun protection factor) indicates how long you can be in the sun before burning. However, the SPF tells you the level of sun protection provided. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), the best sunscreen is one that you will wear every day. Other than that, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from UVA and UVB rays. It is also suggested to choose a water-resistant sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher and apply it 15 minutes before you plan to be in the sun. 2. Reapply Sunscreen One of the biggest sunscreen mistakes is forgetting to reapply it. However, sunscreen does wear off. And even if it's water resistant, sweat and swimming can cause it to wash off. The AAD recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours if you're outdoors and reapply after swimming or sweating. Up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds even on cloudy days, so you need to reapply even if you think you're not getting sun. 3. Know Your Skin Tone Knowing your skin tone can help you determine the maximum amount of time you should spend in the sun. To help with this decision, researchers have set maximum time limits based on skin tone. For instance, people with very light skin should only spend 10 minutes in the sun, while those with olive skin should limit their time to 50 minutes. Determining where your skin tone falls within their recommendations can be useful in determining the safe amount of time you can spend in the sun. 4. Check the UV Index Before spending time in the sun, you may want to check the UV index, which measures the strength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Knowing the daily level can help you understand how much sun exposure you're getting. This can also be useful if you are on vacation and are not familiar with the sun's strength in that area. Generally speaking, the lower the number, the less exposure you have. For instance, your exposure is low if the UV index is 3-4. It's higher if the index is around 7-9, and above 10 is extremely high. For example, in states like Arizona and Florida, the UV indexes are typically 10 and above, while in Alaska, the UV index hovers around one. In Maine, it is around 4. 5. Get Sun in Off Peak Hours Most experts recommend avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the daybetween 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The risk of burning during this time period is much higher. Instead, opt for the shade during these hours or stay indoors to prevent damaging your skin. 6. Limit Sun Exposure While it may be tempting to spend the entire day in the sun, this is never recommended. If you plan to go to the beach or the pool, consider limiting your exposure with a chair and umbrella. This allows you to stay out of the sun and limit overexposing your skin. Umbrellas only provide about SPF 3-8, so you still need to apply sunscreen. 7. Drink Plenty of Water If you plan on spending time in the sun at the beach or at the pool, make sure you drink plenty of water. Not drinking enough can dry out your skin and increase your risk of heat-related illnesses. Plan to drink water even before you are thirsty. If your healthcare provider limits how much water you can drink because you are taking diuretics or water pills, check with them to see how much water is safe for you to drink in hot weather. 8. Wear a Hat and Sunglasses Your eyes, face, and lips are particularly susceptible to sunburn and skin damage, so you want to be sure they are protected if you plan to be in the sun. Choose a hat with tightly woven canvas and a brim all the way around to shade your face, ears, and neck. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight in. Wearing sunglasses consistently when you're in the sun can protect your eyes from cataracts. Sunglasses also protect the skin around your eyes. Look for sunglasses that offer UVB and UVA protection, and opt for a wraparound pair of glasses to prevent the sun from sneaking in the sides. 9. Use Extra Caution Near Water Water, sand, and even snow can reflect the sun's rays. This reflection can increase your chance of sunburn and other sun damage. For this reason, limit your time on the water or sitting in the sand, reapply your sunscreen consistently, and seek shade whenever possible. 10. Get Screened for Skin Cancer Regardless of how much time you spend in the sun, dermatologists (skin specialists) recommend getting screened for skin cancer every year. This is especially important if you work outside or spend time at the beach or pool. The more time you spend in the sun, the more damage you are doing to your skin, which could result in skin cancer. Plus, finding skin cancer early usually results in better outcomes, such as a longer life and a better quality of life. To ensure everyone has access to skin cancer screenings, the AAD offers free screenings through its SPOT Skin Cancer program. This program has provided more than 2.8 million screenings and is open to the public. You can find a free cancer screening near you by visiting their website and entering your zip code. Related: Sunscreen vs. Sunblock: What's the Difference, and Which Is Better? How To Get a Safe Tan Faster If tan-looking skin is a priority, you may want to explore other options besides the sun. For instance, you could look into getting a spray tan. There are also lotions, mousses, and other products you can try to give your skin the glow you want. (You also can give your skin a healthy glow by exercising regularly, implementing a regular skincare routine, and eating nutritious food.) If using a self-tanner, read the ingredients and make sure they are safe for your skin typeparticularly if you have sensitive skin. Here are some tips on how to effectively apply a self-tanner at home: Exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and smooth rough patches, particularly around your knees, ankles, and elbows Dry your skin to ensure the self-tanner goes on smoothly Apply the self-tanner in sections, being careful not to rush and massaging it into your skin in circular motions Wear a mitt or plan to wash your hands after each section to avoid getting orange palms Extend and blend very small amounts of the tanner from your wrists to your hands and from your ankles to your feet Dilute the tanner on your elbows and knees using lotion or water since it tends to go on thicker at your joints Wait about 10 minutes before getting dressed so that your skin has time to dry Wear loose clothing and avoid sweating for the next three hours while your self-tanner sets Remember to wear sunscreen as self-tanner does not prevent you from getting a sunburn Can Everyone Tan? While no one should be in the sun just to tan, some people should avoid the sun. For instance, you should avoid tanning and take extra precautions if you have had any type of skin cancer. Being in the sun consistently increases your risk of developing skin cancer again. Likewise, people with lupus should avoid sunlight. Sun exposure may trigger skin lesions, rashes, and flares. Medications and sun allergies can also be important factors to consider. Medications People taking certain medications should also be careful when in the sun, and their healthcare provider may advise them to avoid tanning, especially because some medications may cause photosensitivity. Photosensitivity, which is a chemically-induced change in your skin, makes you sensitive to sunlight. It can cause a rash, sunburn, and other side effects. Here are some common medications that can cause photosensitivity: Alpha-hydroxy acids (in cosmetics) Antibiotics Antifungals Antihistamines Cholesterol drugs Diuretics NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen Oral contraceptives Retinoids Sulfonamides Some diabetes medications If you're taking medications or supplements, always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist regarding the safety of being in the sun while taking the drug. Sun Allergy Some people develop an allergic response when they are exposed to sunlight. Known as solar urticaria, this reaction is a rare type of sun allergy that causes hives. These itchy welts appear on the skin within minutes and are thought to be an abnormal immune response to UV rays. Other types of sun allergy include actinic prurigo and polymorphous light eruption (PMLE)both of which cause itchy rashes on the skin after sun exposure. Potential Benefits From Sunlight While many expertsincluding the AAD, World Health Organization, American Cancer Society, and countless othersadvise against tanning, there is some evidence that small amounts of sunlight may be good for you. Some researchers suggest that people need 5-30 minutes of sun at least twice a week without sunscreen to promote vitamin D synthesis. Not getting enough sunlight has been linked to depressed moods, poor sleep, and even death. One study found that a lack of sunlight may be linked to 340,000 deaths yearly in the United States. Another study found that for each hour people spend outside in natural light, there was a decreased risk of developing depression. Getting enough sunlight during the day also can help you sleep better and be more productive at work. Some limited research suggests that sunlight may help you lose weight. One study found that the sun's rays may shrink the fat cells beneath your top layer of skin when exposed to the sun. However, more research is needed before being in the sun can be recommended as a weight loss technique. Risks of Tanning Tanning comes with a host of risks, including everything from sunburns, sun allergies, and skin cancer. There is very little benefit, if any, to tanning. Tanned skin is a sign of damaged skin. When you tan, your skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation that causes genetic damage to your skin cells. To prevent further damage, your skin will produce melanin, which darkens your skinor a tan. What's more, this damage is cumulativeyour skin cells are forever altered from the moment of your very first tan. This damage can lead to premature aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and leathery skin. You can also develop actinic or solar keratoses, considered the earliest stage of skin cancer. Caused by long-term exposure to sunlight, they are diagnosed in 5 million people in the United States each year. Eye damage, or photokeratitis, also can occur while tanning. This damage occurs when the cornea gets a sunburn. It's sometimes called snow blindness because it's most common at high altitudes where the light reflections off of snow are high. You are also at an increased risk for macular degeneration and cataracts from tanning. Even your immune system can become suppressed by too much sun. Are Tanning Beds Safe? Tanning beds can be potentially worse than tanning from sun exposure. Indoor tanning beds can emit ultraviolet radiation 10-15 times higher than the sun at its most direct exposure. You also have a 75% increased risk of developing melanoma if you start using indoor tanning beds before age 35. There are more skin cancer cases worldwide due to indoor tanning than there are lung cancer cases due to smoking. Most people believe tanning beds are safer than direct sunlight, but they have been repeatedly linked to skin cancers. One study of 63 women diagnosed with melanoma before age 30 found that 61 of them, or 97%, used tanning beds. In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization classified indoor tanning as a human carcinogen. A Quick Review There is very little benefit to tanning. It comes with many risks, including everything from sunburns to sun allergies and skin cancer. Tanned skin is a sign of damaged skin. That said, being in the sun is not all bad and sometimes inevitable. There is some evidence that 5-30 minutes of sunlight at least twice a week without sunscreen is good for you and is even necessary for vitamin D synthesis. For more Health.com news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Health.com. A Russian missile strike partially destroyed a childrens hospital in Kyiv on Monday, causing terrified patients and their families to flee for their lives. Moscow launched a brazen daytime aerial assault on targets in cities across Ukraine during morning rush hour, killing at least 43 people, according to the latest figures released by authorities on Tuesday. Search and rescue operations continued into Tuesday after the large-scale bombardment struck the capital, as well as in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. The death toll includes 33 people in Kyiv, Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko said in an update Tuesday. Earlier, Ukraines State Emergency Service said four children were among the dead after a boys body was found under the rubble in the capitals Shevchenkivskyi district. Two people were killed and at least 16 others injured in the strike on Kyivs Okhmatdyt hospital. The facility is Ukraines largest childrens medical center and has been vital in the care of some of the sickest children from across the country. Every year, around 7,000 surgeries including treatments for cancer and hematological diseases are conducted at the hospital, according to Ukraines human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. Footage from the childrens hospital showed volunteers working with police and security services to sift through the rubble as smoke billowed from the facility, as staff described how they tried to rush children to safety in the wake of the attack. Two floors of the hospital were demolished, comprising an area of 400 square meters (4,300 sq. ft.), the emergency service said, while Ukraines health minister Viktor Liashko said intensive care units, oncology departments and surgery units had been damaged. Now we have evacuated all the children. Those who came for routine treatment have gone home, consulted with their doctors, and will decide where they will continue their treatment, he told CNN Tuesday. The rest of the children who were on oxygen support and connected to life support devices are now in hospitals and are being provided with adequate medical care. The attacks were part of a rare daylight bombardment on Ukrainian cities, some of which are heavily populated areas far from the front lines. It came a day before US President Joe Biden was set to host a crucial NATO Summit in Washington, where announcements over the alliances military, political and financial support for Kyiv are expected. Biden called the strikes a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression, Biden said, noting that he would meet with Volodymyr Zelensky during the summit to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakeable. Meanwhile, seven people were killed in a Russian attack Monday on a private medical facility in Kyiv belonging to the Adonis network, the company said. Of those killed, five were staff members and two were patients, Adonis said. Russias defense ministry on Monday claimed that Moscow had struck military industrial facilities of Ukraine and air bases of the Ukrainian armed forces using long-range, high-precision weapons. At a special meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday called to discuss the Russian strike, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia denied targeting the childrens hospital. We have not bombed the childrens hospital, Nebenzia said when responding to an accusation that Russia committed a war crime for allegedly striking the hospital. Medical staff and members of the community move rubble away from damaged areas at the hospital and search for survivors. - Gleb Garanich/Reuters Medical staff and members of the community move rubble away from damaged areas at the hospital and search for survivors. - Gleb Garanich/Reuters Eyewitnesses recount hospital strike Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of chaos moments after the Russian missile slammed into the childrens hospital. Ophthalmologist Lesya Lysytsia told CNN: You see the light, then the sound, then everything falls down and then over the next several seconds you think, are you still alive or is it the end and what to do? Where are the patients? How are the patients? How are the children? Natalia Sardudinova, a senior nurse, described the strike as scary, when windows were crunching. She told CNN that two children were in operating theaters at the time of the blast, and they were relocated to a shelter in the basement once their procedures were completed. Everything was in smoke, there was no air to breathe. The doctor was cut by shrapnel. The windows and doors were blown out. One nurse in the hospital was heavily injured, Sardudinova added. My hands are still shaking. They dont let anyone in now, they are afraid it will collapse. Yulia Vasylenko, the mother of an 11-year-old cancer patient at the hospital, said her son Denys was evacuated outside following the strike. My son is on painkillers. He has cancer. He has been without medication for half a day. He was brought down the stairs from the third floor. There was smoke (and) heavy dust, she said. Iryna Filimonova, a senior nurse at the pediatric urology department, told CNN an operation on a 2-year-old was underway when the strike happened. The lights went out, everything went out. We pulled out the instruments, shining flashlights. Everything was sewn up quickly, Filimonova said. The baby was brought down (to the shelter) Some of my nursing colleagues who worked in the operating theaters and some doctors were cut by glass fragments. Our department was destroyed. A picture shared by President Zelensky on his official X page showing a young patient injured in the strike. - ZelenskyyUa/X Another operating theater nurse, Oksana Mosiychuk, said one medical team tried to extinguish a blaze that broke out in their department, including an operating table which had caught fire. Air raid sirens continued to ring out over Kyiv in the aftermath, with CNN video showing people who had been evacuated pushing children on stretchers to safety. Scores of volunteers later dropped off much-needed supplies and donations including water, food, medicine and diapers to the hospital. A UN team who visited the site later saw children receiving treatment for cancer in hospital beds set up in parks and on streets, where medical workers had quickly established triage areas, amongst chaos, dust and debris, the UNs human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement. In the hospitals newer building, 12 departments were damaged, and a section of Ukraines only oncology and hematology laboratory was completely destroyed, according to the Kyiv military administration. Immediately after the strike, patients, their families and medical staff were evacuated out of the hospital buildings. - DmytroKuleba/X UN holds special meeting Zelensky had called for an emergency assembly of the UN Security Council after the strike while vowing retaliation over the attacks. At the special meeting Tuesday, Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador, alleged, without any proof, that a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile is what struck the hospital. If this had been a Russian strike, there would have been nothing left of the building at all. All the children and most of the adults would have been killed, not wounded, Nebenzia said. Ukraine shot down 30 out of 38 missiles launched by Russia during the Monday attack, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement, adding that Moscow used ballistic, cruise, guided and air-launched ballistic missiles. Ukrainian defense minister, Rustem Umerov, appealed for more air defense systems to support the war-torn country. Zelensky has repeatedly called on the West to provide it with more air defense systems to better protect its cities. Last month, he praised Biden for prioritizing a delivery after the two presidents signed a security agreement. Ukraines prosecutor general sent evidence of Mondays Russian attacks to the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday. It came as several European nations denounced the shelling, with France urging for the attack to be added to the list of war crimes for which Russia will be held to account. Germany and Slovakia have agreed to take in children from Ukraine for treatment. German health minister Karl Lauterbach said a rescue flight will leave on Wednesday, according to a post from the German embassy in London on X. Meanwhile, the Czech foreign minister said he summoned the Russian ambassador in Prague over the attack on the hospital. Mondays attack is the tragic but all too familiar reality for many of Ukraines civilians over the past two and a half years since Russias unprovoked invasion. Since February 2022, the conflict has claimed the lives of 11,126 people and injured 21,863 others, according to data in May from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Additionally, the heavy fighting has caused an estimated 3.7 million people to be driven from their homes and internally displaced while nearly 6.5 million people have fled to neighboring countries, the UNHCR has said. According to the World Health Organization, there have been more than 1,600 instances of heavy weapons attacks impacting medical facilities in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, with 141 people killed in these attacks. Health minister Liashko told CNN on Tuesday that of the impacted facilities, more than 250 have been completely destroyed and cannot be restored. Only new ones can be built. Last December, 12 pregnant women and four newborn babies had a fortunate escape from a maternity hospital in Dnipro that had been extensively damaged in an airstrike. Previously, the bombing of a maternity and childrens hospital in Mariupol less than a month after Russian troops flooded across the border sparked international condemnation. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Fred Pleitgen, Claudia Otto, Stephanie Halasz, Ivana Kottasova, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Benjamin Brown, Sahar Akbarzai, Sugam Pokharel, Niamh Kennedy, Eve Brennan and James Frater contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com "The Real Housewives of New York City" alum Bethenny Frankel, right, revealed the reason she broke up with Paul Bernon during a recent episode of her podcast. Following a highly publicized breakup, Bethenny Frankel is getting candid about her split from fiance Paul Bernon. "The Real Housewives of New York City" alum opened up about the former couple's relationship during Sunday's episode of the "Just B with Bethenny Frankel" podcast. Frankel and Bernon reportedly broke up around March after six years of dating. "I went through a breakup. It was something that I kept to myself," Frankel said. "It was something that I mourned on my own, and I did therapy, and I did the work and I just didn't feel like it needed to be shared. "It was a breakup that I wanted to process alone privately, and I didn't feel that I owed anybody any explanation." Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Frankel also detailed her experience of revisiting the breakup when media coverage of Bernon's new relationship with Aurora Culpo surfaced. Bethenny Frankel says she 'initiated' breakup with Paul Bernon While Frankel's breakup with Bernon was "certainly mutual," the TV personality said she "initiated" the split. "I wasn't happy. Something needed to change," Frankel said. "The relationship had its challenges, and nobody dumped anybody. But I went through it. I was scared because of my past and my abandonment issues." She continued: "I get very scared when there's any sort of change in someone you depend on and someone that you love, but I knew that it was ultimately the right thing. And I really made peace with it, and I was happy. I was thriving, and I was surviving." However, three months after their breakup, Bernon was reportedly spotted "making out" with Culpo, sister of actress and model Olivia Culpo. Bethenny Frankel opens up: TV personality says she was 'relieved' about 2012 miscarriage amid marriage to Jason Hoppy Bethenny Frankel says it was 'gutting' to learn Paul Bernon was dating Aurora Culpo Frankel said it was "gutting" to come across extensive media coverage of Bernon's relationship with Culpo, which she said felt like being "inside someone else's relationship." Frankel said while she initially chose not to address Bernon's new relationship because she was "focusing on myself," she said she struggled to see herself depicted as "some sort of spinster that's just home crying, suffering a breakup, and watching this new transition." "I started to see my name in headlines being portrayed as the jilted ex who had been upgraded from, that my ex had moved on from me with a younger woman," Frankel said. "It regurgitated the continuous narrative that he is a very under-the-radar person who had now gotten serious with someone, had a girlfriend, met her family, met her kids." More 'Real Housewives' news: Why 'RHONY' alum Kelly Bensimon called off her wedding to Scott Litner days before the ceremony Despite their whirlwind romance, Bernon and Culpo reportedly broke up after two months of dating. "I just want to say that I'm OK," Frankel said. "I mean, it was rough because I had to experience the same breakup twice, but way worse the second time because I had to hear about all these details." Bethenny Frankel reveals she messaged Olivia Culpo amid Paul Bernon breakup Frankel said she reached out to Culpo's sister Olivia before the "media spectacle" of Bernon and Culpos relationship "got out of hand." The former "RHONY" star said the actress's "sweet" response gave her some emotional solace. "She was really nice and said she's a fan and (that) she has all my books and she really looks up to me," Frankel said. "That was really kind, and it was actually a nice warm blanket during this whole crazy thing." Frankel, pictured, said she reached out to Culpos sister Olivia before the media spectacle of Bernon and Culpos relationship got out of hand. Frankel remained optimistic about her healing journey following her breakup with Bernon. "I am in therapy. I am working on myself, Frankel said. I am confident. I am single. I am independent. I am happy, and I will survive this." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bethenny Frankel says she 'wasn't happy' with fiance Paul Bernon Joe Biden has announced that Nato countries will provide Ukraine with five new strategic air defense systems as leaders began a summit in Washington where the alliance was expected to declare Ukraines path toward Nato to be irreversible. The promise of weapons deliveries, including anti-air defenses sought after by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, came just a day after a deadly missile strike against a paediatric cancer hospital and other civilian targets in Ukraine that Biden called a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. Related: Nato will announce historic Ukraine aid package but hospital attack shows its not enough All told, Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities against Russian missiles and Ukrainian troops facing their attacks on the frontlines, said Biden. The headline speech was a critical step to convincing foreign leaders that Biden, 81, remains up to the task of leading the 32-member military alliance. It was also a key test in saving his presidential campaign following a disastrous debate against Donald Trump that led many in his own party to question his mental acuity. In forceful tones, Biden said: Before this war, Putin thought Nato would break. Today, Nato is stronger than its ever been in its history. When this senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today its still a free country and the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country. Russia will not prevail, he said to rising applause. Ukraine will prevail. In a speech later in the night, Zelenskiy urged US political leaders not to wait for the outcome of Novembers presidential election to move forcefully to aid his country. Everyone is waiting for November. Americans are waiting for November, in Europe, Middle East, in the Pacific, the whole world is looking towards November and, truly speaking, Putin awaits November too. It is time to step out of the shadows, to make strong decisions to act and not to wait for November or any other month, Zelenskiy said. It was announced on Tuesday that the US and its European allies would act to bolster Ukraines air defences at a time when the country is under constant heavy bombardment from Russia. The US, Germany and Romania would send additional batteries of the Patriot air defence system while Patriot components donated by the Netherlands would enable another battery to operate, according to a statement by the leaders of the US, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Romania. The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, approved the donation of a Italian-French-made equivalent of the Patriot interceptor, the SAMP/T air defence system. These five strategic air defence systems will help to protect Ukrainian cities, civilians, and soldiers, and we are coordinating closely with the Ukrainian government so that these systems can be utilised rapidly, the statement said. We are working on a further announcement this year of additional strategic air defence systems for Ukraine. As well the medium range Patriot and SAMP/T systems, the US and its allies said they would provide Ukraine with dozens of shorter-range tactical systems, including the US-Norwegian made NASAMS, US-made Hawks, Iris systems made by a European consortium and German Gepard missiles. Britains new prime minister, Keir Starmer, and Zelenskiy, were among those arriving at the US capital amid a warning that Russia could step up missile strikes on Ukraine this week, repeating a barrage that killed at least 38 on Monday. Diplomats said that a final communique would probably declare Ukraines path to Nato to be irreversible and to move control of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the main conduit for delivering military aid and training to Ukraine, under Nato control. Those steps are widely seen as an attempt to Trump-proof Nato policies from the potential for a new Republican administration to cut aid to Ukraine, or possibly to make it contingent on holding direct negotiations with Russia. Despite the communique, there will be no meaningful progress on Ukraine joining Nato in Washington, although alliance members will seek to dress up the latest package of support as part of what is described as a bridge to membership. Holdouts including the US, Hungary, Germany and Italy are concerned that allowing Ukraine to join Nato while the war with Russia continues would be considered an escalation that could bring the alliance into direct conflict with Moscow. Even a more limited form of what could be considered direct military intervention in support of Kyiv attracts similar concerns. On Tuesday, Zelenskiy said he hoped Trump would not quit Nato and would keep supporting Ukraine, if he won in November, but he could not predict the former presidents actions. I cant tell you what he will do, if he will be the president of the United States. I dont know, he said. Jens Stoltenberg, Natos outgoing secretary general, speaking immediately before Biden, sought to justify continued US and western support for Ukraine by arguing that the biggest cost and the greatest risk will be if Russia wins in Ukraine. Authoritarian leaders in China, North Korea and Iran would all feel emboldened if Russia conquered its neighbour, he added, describing the war as a struggle over values. They all support Russias brutal war. They all want Nato to fail. So the outcome of this war will shape global security for decades to come. The time to stand for freedom and democracy is now the place is Ukraine, the Nato chief added. Biden subsequently awarded Stoltenberg, the presidential medal of freedom, the highest civilian honour in the US. In remarks to the Guardian, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, said that the strike on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital should be a turning point in the war and lead to great supplies of anti-air weapons to Ukraine. I believe that what happened today must be a turning point to change everyones attitude to what is happening in Ukraine, and I believe that without the F-16 fighter jets, without the new air defence systems, without the ammunition for those systems, we wont be able to cover the skies to defend Ukraine, he said. Elsewhere at the summit, several high-ranking European officials have met with a top foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump. Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who served as the chief of staff to Trumps national security council, told Reuters he had met several European officials in recent days, including foreign ministers, but did not disclose their identities. Kellogg, who is in regular contact with Trump, has emphasised that he does not speak for the former president nor his campaign. Correction: An earlier version included incorrect information about Won Jang's extracurricular activities. Police are investigating whether hazing may have played a role in the death of a Dartmouth student who was found dead in the Connecticut River Sunday night, according to local reports. The body of Won Jang, a 20-year-old at the Ivy League university, was recovered 65 feet offshore Sunday at about 7:30 p.m. local time, the Hanover Police Department said in a news release. He was reported missing after last being seen alive around the docks Saturday night. The search for Jang included a several divers and a sonar team using an underwater camera that eventually located the body, according the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Items found near the dock indicated Jang did not leave the river area. The cause of death is undetermined and police said foul play is not suspected, Hanover Police said. "The investigation into this untimely death is on-going and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Hanover Police Department," the police news release stated. The Baker-Berry Library at Dartmouth College is seen on February 8, 2024 in Hanover, New Hampshire. Police received anonymous report of hazing Hanover Police Chief Charles Dennis said there was evidence that some alcohol and possible college hazing was involved in the incident, stations WMUR-TV and WPTZ reported. "We did receive an anonymous email this morning through the college that there may be some hazing involved, so certainly, we will look into that aspect, too," Dennis told WMUR-TV. Jang attended a social gathering at the river area and was reported Sunday after failing to appear at an appointment, WMUR-TV and WPTZ reported USA TODAY has reached out to Dennis for comment and did not immediately receive a response. Dartmouth dean offers condolences to community In a statement to students, Dartmouth College dean Scott Brown offered condolences for those who knew Jang. "We understand that this is very difficult news for our community and encourage you to seek support, whether you need a listening ear or guidance in navigating this challenging time," Brown said in a statement. "We have been in touch with Won's fraternity brothers and other friends." The school said Jang "enthusiastically took part in the Dartmouth community" as a fraternity member who started his own band. Jang majored in biomedical engineering and was part of the class of 2026, the student newspaper The Dartmouth reported. "Won wholeheartedly embraced opportunities at Dartmouth to pursue his academic and personal passions," Brown said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dartmouth College student Won Jang's death prompts hazing probe Democrats emerging from a closed-door meeting Tuesday to discuss President Bidens political future offered support for their party leader a day after the White Houses full-court press to beat back critics within his party, even as some detractors pushed for a reset. In a meeting that ran for roughly two hours, the debate was lopsided in favor of keeping the president on the ticket a dynamic suggesting that Biden has, at least for now, prevented the slow seep of individual detractors from becoming a flood. I feel weve hit a turning point, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who is backing Biden, said after the meeting. As the president said, I think yesterday, its been 10, 11 days or so since the debate and its time to move on. And I think thats where many more members are today than they were last week. Were ridin with Biden, said Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a prominent voice in the Congressional Black Caucus, which has rallied aggressively behind Biden since the debate. The voices of support for Biden suggested the tide is beginning to turn for the president, who has been resolute in insisting he will not be pushed out of the presidential race over heightened concerns over his age, health and ability to defeat former President Trump in November. Among the most notable comments were those of veteran Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who over the weekend on a private call with House party leaders expressed opposition to Biden being his partys nominee, but who in public comments outside the meeting sang a different tune. Whether I have concerns or not is beside the point, Nadler told reporters before the meeting. Hes going to be our nominee and we all have to support him. It could also reflect the difficulty Democrats would face in convincing Biden, who swept through this years primaries and has warned of an effort by elites to topple him, to withdraw from the race. Democrats who think Biden will lose the presidential race and be a drag on their hopes of winning the House majority have few tools to get him off the ticket other than convincing him it would be for the good of their party and the country. There were voices within the Tuesday meeting who expressed concerns about Biden remaining at the top of the ticket, and who suggested it could lead to defeat in November. Thus far, only a handful of House Democrats have come out publicly to call for Biden to exit the race, and several of those lawmakers including Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) also spoke before the caucus on Tuesday to push their argument. I shared my position and how I came to it, Moulton told reporters afterwards. Everyone was listening very carefully to a variety of positions in the room. Several sources said there were no new voices that emerged to press for a Biden replacement during the private gathering. But in a sign of potential trouble on the horizon, Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), a co-chair of the Democrats messaging arm, issued a statement shortly after the meeting voicing reservations with Bidens candidacy. I voted for Joe Biden to be our nominee because I believe in his work with House Democrats to deliver unprecedented progress for the American people. However, since the debate, I have met with fellow Biden voters in Massachusetts who have real concerns about the Presidents ability to beat Donald Trump. I share those concerns, she said in a statement. While President Biden has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past twelve days suggests that voters see things the same way, she added. Bidens detractors are quick to applaud the presidents first-term legislative record, which includes major bills to combat COVID-19, rein in health care costs and boost the nations infrastructure projects. But the June 27 debate, his critics say, revealed that the president has lost the ability to articulate those victories to the voting public, threatening to damage Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in November. Im concerned about him dragging the ticket down, Quigley said. A House Democrat who requested anonymity to discuss the private deliberations told The Hill that Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.), the head of the New Democrat Coalition who is retiring at the end of this year, also spoke up and said, Im just representing a lot of people who are concerned. Biden, to be sure, is not yet out of the woods. A much larger number of Democrats oppose his candidacy, based on his debate performance, but have been unwilling to say so publicly. Those voices are still awaiting the arrival of postdebate polls in order to gauge its effect on the Democrats chances of not only keeping the White House, but also flipping control of the House next year. Heading into Tuesdays meeting, some said there were no expectations that new opponents would surface before those polls do. No ones gonna say anything because theyre gonna be afraid its gonna leak, the House Democrat, who believes Biden should step aside, told The Hill on Monday night. So no one who actually has an opinion thats contrarian will say anything. That dynamic, however, could change as soon as this week. The lawmaker said if polling begins to show members slipping in key swing districts with Biden at the top of the ticket, putting the House in jeopardy, more Democrats may come out of the woodwork to urge the president to drop out of the race. My sense is theyre like gonna get a bunch of data back this week I think if it looks like theres a major bleed in some of our swing districts and we cant win the House, thats gonna be the five-alarm fire, because our job at the end of the day is to win the House, said the lawmaker, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic. Biden, for his part, has been adamant that he has no plans of dropping out of the race, declaring on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Monday: The bottom line here is were not going anywhere. Im not going anywhere, he added. Im not letting up, Joe. Im not letting up even a little bit. Scores of influential Democratic groups are backing him up. And Biden, after a quiet lull following the debate, has gone on a damage-control blitz in recent days, to include a feisty letter sent to congressional Democrats on Monday. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a call with Biden on Monday night, and afterward, lawmakers emphatically supported him remaining at the top of the ticket. We heard from him, we felt very good, and we understand but we will take Joe Biden any day over a convicted felon, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said on CNN after the meeting. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are similarly backing Biden in droves. Reps. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the chair and co-chair of the group, issued a statement that said We stand with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Were staying with Papa, Espaillat said Tuesday morning. And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a prominent liberal with a national following, left no question as to where she stands on the debate over Biden. I have spoken to the president over the weekend. I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race, she told reporters Monday night. The matter is closed. Aris Folley contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn has made a multi-million-dollar investment in the Smartmatic electronic voting company in part to help bolster its defamation lawsuit against Fox News over election fraud claims. "Smartmatic built a global business by using technology to better engage citizens, regardless of party or ideology, by making voting simple and trustworthy," new investor Reid Hoffman told The Washington Post in an article Monday. "After Donald Trump lost in 2020, however, Smartmatic became a target of the defamatory campaign to overturn his defeat." Hoffman adviser Dmitri Mehlhorn told the Post that the investment backs Hoffman's desire to "support the role of the legal system in arbitrating fact from fiction." This was a "way to provide capital that would allow the truth to be found in the courts," he told the newspaper. "This case is a great case," brought by a "great company," he added. In response to the investment boost and the ongoing battle with Fox, Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica boasted that the company's technology has been used to count 7 billion votes on 6 continents with "zero security breaches. Voters, candidates and election officials in all of those elections are watching to see if we still stand up for the truth against lies. Rest assured, we do," Mugica added. Smartmatic last year sued both Fox News and Newsmax over baseless claims of vote fraud, first launched by Donald Trump. The attack, backed by no evidence and driven by politics, has harmed the company, the suit charges. "They have no evidence to support their attacks on Smartmatic because there is no evidence. This campaign was designed to defame Smartmatic and undermine legitimately conducted elections," Mugica said when the suit was filed. Smartmatic last month subpoenaed four Fox Corporation board members for questioning in the ongoing suit. Another news operation that had been included in the Smartmatic suit, OAN, settled with the company earlier this year. Details of the settlement were not released. Voting machine company Dominion last year reached a massive $787.5 million settlement in its defamation action against Fox for touting election rigging claims that executives and news stars including Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity knew to be false, revealed by communications obtained by Dominion. One Fox Corp. vice president called the vote rigging claims "MIND BLOWINGLY NUTS." WASHINGTON After a two-week break filled with hand-wringing about President Joe Biden's future as their nominee, Democratic lawmakers will meet face-to-face on Tuesday to discuss the path ahead. For the House, the pivotal internal huddle is set to take place at Democratic campaign headquarters off campus at 9 a.m. no cell phones allowed, in order to reduce the amount of leaks (though there will be hot breakfast) according to a notice sent out to House members. For the Senate, a lunchtime Democratic session is scheduled near the historic chamber, their first time together since the debate that started it all. Both meetings are likely to be make-or-break moments in Biden's battle to remain at the top of his party's ticket. If an influx of lawmakers start speaking out against him, it would ramp up the pressure for him to step aside. If the vast majority express steadfast support, it could kill any momentum to find a new nominee with the Democratic National Convention in Chicago just a little more than a month away. At this point, it's not clear what's ahead: Only a handful of lawmakers have publicly called for the 81-year-old incumbent president to step aside as the nominee. The president's supporters in Congress have been plenty vocal too. Its going to be raucous, a House Democrat said on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about Tuesday mornings meeting. The Democrat said a lot of raw feelings will be aired out at the meeting and described the caucus as nervous about Bidens campaign. It's a delicate moment. We're still having a family conversation so I'm not ready to be any more definitive than that," added Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif. Tomorrow is an important part of that, because our whole caucus would be together for the first time to talk about this. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said in the last two weeks since Biden's poor debate performance theres been one topic, one issue, day after day on TV. Thats the situation after the debate. We cant ignore the reality. We have to settle this issue, he added. Durbin like many Senate Democrats who spoke with reporters upon their return to Washington, D.C., on Monday said he believes Biden should remain the nominee. He also said he hopes discussions happening this week will unify the caucus behind one person. Asked whether he thinks Biden will be that person, Durbin replied: Well see. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters as he leaves a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 08, 2024 in Washington, DC. One critical voice that all eyes are on belongs to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who told reporters on Monday that he still supports Bidens reelection campaign and his position has not changed. But several Democratic lawmakers said Jeffries, who'd be in position to become the House speaker if his party can win back a majority in November, is still in listening mode and continuing to take in his members' concerns about Biden. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had a simple answer on Monday when pressed by the press: Im for Joe. Most other senators said Democrats are largely waiting until Tuesdays meeting to get a better feel for where their colleagues are. Biden sent a letter to Congressional Democrats on Monday morning in an attempt to set the tone for those discussions. But his missive did little to assuage concerns among Democratic lawmakers who have reservations about the candidacy and electability of the oldest president in U.S. history, who'd be 86 at the end of his second term in 2029 should he win this November. I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump, Biden wrote, adding that he absolutely believes he is the best person to beat the former Republican president. Some progressive members in both chambers who have often been critical of Bidens stance on issues such as the Israel-Hamas War said they support his candidacy. I do think there is somebody who is clearly unfit to be president, said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a 2020 Biden primary rival. And that is a guy who is trying to destroy the American democracy. His name is Donald Trump. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said she spoke "extensively" with the president over the weekend and hadn't changed her mind on who she wants to see running for president in November. Joe Biden is our nominee, he is not leaving this race, he is in this race and I support him, she said. I respect everyones opinion, but Im here to make sure we win in November." Multiple lawmakers said their constituents had been sharing concerns about Biden and called upon him to do more to show the American people and Congress that he is capable of successfully running against Trump. Democrats need to have an open and honest discussion about what the path forward looks like here, said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.. What we're dealing with here is not a political question. It's a moral question. This is a moral question and we should satisfy ourselves (in the face of a second Donald Trump presidency) that we are putting our best foot forward, that we are on a path to win the presidency. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., attends an event where U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in the East Room at the White House on June 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., another member of the Senate Democratic leadership team, on Monday issued a statement that Biden needs to seriously consider the best way to preserve his legacy. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, she said. We need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. had reportedly been planning a now-canceled meeting for Monday to discuss the path ahead. In his own statement Monday, he said that Biden needs to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House, an apparent reference to multiple media reports that Biden is surrounded by a small group of longtime aides that shield him from criticism. Lawmakers facing tough re-election bids also kept their options open. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., said her constituents are asking a lot of questions. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., who last week said he supported the president, avoided weighing in directly. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Biden needs to prove to the American people including me that hes up to the job. The Congressional Progressive Caucus is in discussions with the president about holding a meeting this week, but the exact date is still being hashed out, according to a person familiar with the matter. Biden met on Monday night with the Congressional Black Caucus, a group whose members have mostly publicly come out in staunch support of the president. One of Bidens top campaign surrogates, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he hopes the president continues to reach out to smaller factions. Its probably more effective to do those small caucus meetings, to put to bed the growing consternations Democrats have about him, he said. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and the co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told reporters on Monday that a meeting between Biden and that caucus is also in the works, though theres no set date or time yet for the meeting. Padilla said Biden will continue to show hes capable of being the nominee by simply doing the job of being president: I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November. Contributing: Sarah D. Wire This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats brace for 'raucous' meetings on Joe Biden's future Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here. Optimism about an Israel-Hamas ceasefire-hostage agreement waned this week as Israel set conditions for the deal and Hamas warned that Israeli actions in Gaza could jeopardize the talks. Last week, a US official told CNN that a framework agreement is in place and an Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized his negotiators to enter into detailed negotiations, signaling a potential breakthrough. Talks resumed in the Qatari capital Doha on Friday. Over the weekend, Hamas agreed to compromise on a major sticking point for Israel, that the Jewish state commit to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza before signing an agreement. But a statement by the Israeli prime ministers office on Sunday cast doubt on whether the deal would progress, laying out several principles Israel is not prepared to abandon, including resumed fighting in Gaza until all of objectives of the war have been achieved. Israel launched its war on Gaza nine months ago, in response to Hamas October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 others hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The war has left swathes of the enclave unrecognizable, displaced almost the entire population and killed more than 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry there. Israel had said it wouldnt end the war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is eliminated. Some experts say Netanyahus statement on Sunday suggests the deal may face new hurdles. The prime ministers conditions block any possibility of progress from the Israeli side, Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator who once acted as a channel to Hamas, told CNN, adding that the conditions were completely against what Hamas demands are. I dont think that Hamas will give in to additional Israeli demands, such as staying on the Philadelphi Corridor, Baskin said, referring to the 14-kilometer (about 8.7-mile) buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border. Hamas is also unlikely to agree to an Israeli demand of a veto on the selection of Palestinian prisoners to be released. Heres what we know about where the talks stand. What is the deal that is on the table? US President Joe Biden in May laid out a three-phase proposal that he said Israel had submitted, as he declared its time for this war to end. The first phase of the potential agreement would last six weeks and include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza as well as the 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. A Palestinian tailor works in a newly reopened sewing factory after the machines were retrieved from a building hit in an Israeli strike, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. - Hatem Khaled/Reuters On Thursday, a senior US administration told CNN that the framework for a deal is now in place, following a call between Biden and Netanyahu. An Israeli source familiar with the negotiations echoed a similar message earlier on Wednesday, telling CNN the two sides appear to be on the brink of a framework agreement. What is Hamas position? Hamas has long demanded that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire before signing any deal, which Israel has so far refused. A senior Hamas official who had been involved in negotiations told CNN Saturday the group would instead accept that talks on reaching a permanent ceasefire would take place throughout the first phase of any deal, which would last six weeks. This means, in the first phase, mediators would guarantee a temporary truce, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Indirect talks would continue towards implementing the second phase of the agreement. But as Israel issued new evacuation orders in Gaza city on Sunday, Hamas said on Monday that the move threatens to return the negotiating process to point zero. Netanyahu and his army bear full responsibility for the collapse of this negotiation path, the head of the groups political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said. What is Netanyahus position? An Israeli source familiar with the negotiations told CNN last week that Israeli officials believe Hamas latest response will enable the two parties to enter detailed negotiations to reach an agreement. Netanyahu subsequently authorized his negotiators to enter into detailed talks in a bid to broker a deal, an Israeli official and a source familiar with the negotiations said, signaling progress after weeks of deadlock. In a statement Sunday, however, Netanyahus office published a list of principles that it said will not be infringed upon by the plan agreed to by Israel and Biden. The prime ministers steadfast position against calls to halt Israeli military action in the southern Gaza city of Rafah is what brought Hamas to the negotiating table, the statement said. The principles include a resumption of the war until all of objectives of the war have been achieved and the prevention of smuggling of weapons to Hamas from Egypt to the Gaza border. Israel began a ground operation in Rafah on May 7, crossing the Philadelphi Corridor and seizing the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt. Israel has long accused Hamas of using the Philadelphi corridor to smuggle weapons from Egypt. Netanyahu also said there will be no return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip, the statement said. What is the White House saying? A US official told CNN Thursday that last weeks call between Biden and Netanyahu seemed to reach a breakthrough on the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2, adding that the deal is now very consistent with what Biden had laid out in May. Asked if the administration believes that Netanyahu is playing politics and could try to sabotage the deal, the official said the deal is structured in a way that fully protects Israels interests. The developments came after the US proposed new language to help bridge gaps in discussions for a deal, and as Biden scrambled for political survival after floundering in a presidential debate against his predecessor Donald Trump. Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict has been a key issue for voters. Are the two sides closer to a deal? Prospects of a deal appeared to become distant again this week after Netanyahus demands, as senior Israeli politicians from accross the political spectrum publicly chided the prime minister over his handling of the war and the hostage talks. Far-right members of Netanyahus government, whom he relies on to keep his government intact, warned him against making compromises with Hamas. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir warned that a negotiated settlement is a surrender to terrorism on all fronts, and said the prime minister conducts himself as a one-man government, making decisions by himself, and excluding his natural partners in the government, including cabinet meetings that are without any significant content, describing the situation as intolerable. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, told his party that the proposed outline of a ceasefire deal was a defeat and humiliation for Israel and a victory for Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza. We will not be part of a deal to surrender to Hamas, Smotrich said. The people of Israel, the bereaved families and the IDF fighters demand victory. We must not disappoint them. We must not endanger the country. Meanwhile, the chairman of the National Unity party, Benny Gantz, who left the war cabinet last month after repeated disagreements with Netanyahu, accused the prime minister of prioritizing the survival of his government over bringing back the hostages. Yesterday the prime minister linked bringing back the hostages to bringing down the government. Today, Ben Gvir connects a seat in the limited cabinet with political votes in the Knesset. Israels security during the most difficult campaign in its history became a victim of political whims. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the prime ministers statement as provocative. What is it good for? We are at a critical moment in the negotiations, the lives of the abductees depend on it, Lapid wrote Sunday on X. Why issue such provocative messages? How does it contribute to the process? Theres a hostage deal on the table, he said later. It is not true that Netanyahu has to choose between the hostage deal and his continued tenure as prime minister. I promised him a safety net, and I will keep that promise. If Smotrich and Ben Gvir retire, he will get a safety net. People march on the street as anti-government protesters mark nine months since the deadly October 7 attack, under the slogan "Israel comes to a standstill," outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Jerusalem on Sunday. - Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters Baskin, the former negotiator, said that added US pressure is unlikely to sway the Israeli prime minister, who is battling for political survival amid anti-government protests demanding his resignation. US pressure is strongly diminished now after Bidens debate against Trump, Baskin said. Bidens weak debate performance only led more Democrats to express doubts that he can beat his opponent in the upcoming election. If the Americans are still optimistic (after Netanyahus Sunday statement), then they are really living in La La land, Baskin told CNN. They have really no idea what is going on in the mind of Netanyahu. CNNs Jeremy Diamond, Samantha Waldenberg and Arlette Saenz contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Natalie Portman recently separated from her husband Benjamin Millepied, with whom she shares two children. The former couple were together for over a decade, marrying in 2012 after meeting on the set of Black Swan. Now that the actress is single again, fans are curious what her next romantic era will be like. If its anything like her pre-marriage life, Portman is in for something exciting. The A-list actress dated quite a few well-known entertainment figures before settling down. Heres a look back at her full dating history. Jake Gyllenhaal Mark Mainz - Getty Images Though Portman was often seen on the arms of her past partners, she always managed to keep the more intimate details of her love life private. It is believed, according to E!, that she and actor Jake Gyllenhaal started dating sometime in 2002. They then split before reconnecting in 2006, when they were seen on a date in New York City. Its not clear how long that lasted, but she was romantically connected to other people in that time period, so it may have been casual. Whatever happened, they seem to have remained on good terms. The pair starred in the 2009 psychological drama Brothers, and Gyllenhaal presented her with the Desert Palm Achievement Award in 2011. He joked on stage, Shes a vegan, which makes it really frustrating when youre picking a place to eat. He then called her the Audrey Hepburn of our generation. Shes graceful, has amazing eyebrows, and is talented, really short, funny, smart, dedicated, incredibly kind, and Jewish! Michael Buckner - Getty Images Gael Garcia Bernal Arnaldo Magnani - Getty Images Between 2003 and 2007, Portman was seen with Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal off-and-on. Quien reported that they met at an Oscars after-party. They split but got back together again. Remezcla reports that way back in 2006, an eyewitness claimed to have seen them enjoying some PDA together. The source said, They put on quite a show. They were all over each other all night. They did not care who saw; they had eyes only for themselves. We couldnt believe it. They were also spotted together at the Berlin International Film Festival that year and then at the U.S Open. Matthew Stockman - Getty Images In 2007, Lainey Gossip reported they spent time together at the Vanity Fair party. At one Im told she was complaining about her shoulder, he rubbed it, not in a pervy way but in the comfortable way between two people extremely comfortable with each other, the gossip columnist wrote. Later on, she leaned over and sipped from his drink, wrapping her hand around his and bringing it to her mouth. Nathan Bogle Patrick McMullan - Getty Images In September 2007, Portman was spotted at the U.S. Open in New York City with Rag & Bone founder Nathan Bogle. He had recently left the company because of creative differences. Devendra Banhart Musician Devendra Banhart met Portman in 2008 when she starred in the music video for his song Carmensita. The pair were often seen around New York City that year, like in this photo of them enjoying a walk and coffee. They broke up later that same year. According to InStyle, sources said they parted ways because Portman was a free spirit and complicated, but took her career seriously. Benjamin Millepied VALERIE MACON - Getty Images In 2009, Portman learned some ballet from dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied so she could star in Darren Aronofskys hit film Black Swan. Sparks flew, and they soon started dating. She won an Oscar for the role in 2011, and said during her acceptance speech, To my beautiful love, Benjamin Millepied, who choreographed the film and has now given me my most important role of my life. Portman was already pregnant with their son, Aleph, and they would welcome their daughter, Amalia, in 2017. In August 2023, it was rumored the couple were struggling, and they ultimately decided to separate after 11 years of marriage. In July 2023, Portman filed for divorce, and it was finalized in March 2024. You Might Also Like SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Sixteen jurors were seated Tuesday for Alec Baldwins involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico, where opening statements are set to start Wednesday. Five men and 11 women were chosen by Santa Fe County special prosecutors and the actors team of defense attorneys. Twelve will be designated as the jury and four as alternates by the court only after they hear the case. Theyll be tasked with deciding whether Baldwin committed the felony when, during a rehearsal in October 2021, a revolver went off while he was pointing it at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. They were on the set of the Western film Rust, at Bonanza Creek Ranch some 18 miles (29 kilometers) from where the trial is being held. Media members were not allowed in the courtroom when attorneys used their challenges to strike jurors. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer swore in the jury, told them to avoid news about the case and to report Wednesday morning. Baldwin, 66, could get up to 18 months in prison if the jurors unanimously find him guilty. The selection got off to a slow start Tuesday with a delay of over two hours due to technical problems, but the panel was selected in a single day as expected. When Marlowe Sommer asked the pool of 70 possible jurors if they were familiar with the case, all but two raised their hands to indicate they were. Two others indicated they would not be able to be fair and impartial and were excused. Baldwin, the star of 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and a major Hollywood figure for 35 years, sat in the courtroom with a team of four of his lawyers, dressed in a gray suit, dark tie, white shirt with glasses and neatly combed hair. His wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and his brother, The Usual Suspects actor Stephen Baldwin, were seated in the back of the courtroom. Under questioning from prosecutor Kari Morrissey, a potential juror said she hates firearms, but many others acknowledged owning them and few people expressed strong opinions about guns. Baldwin's lawyer Alex Spiro in his questioning highlighted the gravity of the situation obviously someone lost their life and asked jurors to come forward with any reservations about their own ability to be fair and impartial. Does anyone have that view, even in the slightest? Spiro asked the group. He asked them to come forward if they'd shared opinions about the case online. None did. Spiro asked if any of them had strong opinions on gun safety, and whether a person can rely on an expert to ensure the safety of a gun, not just themselves. Several said they always treat a gun as if it were loaded. One man said he was taught to respect and treat guns the same way, but also deferred to an instructor during instruction he got for a concealed carry permit. Spiro also asked whether jurors were comfortable questioning the judgment of law enforcement officials, even those testifying under oath. He asked whether any knew potential witnesses, and several said they knew Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who is on the prosecution's witness list. Getting chosen to serve in a trial of such a major star accused of such a major crime would be unusual even in Los Angeles or Baldwins hometown of New York. But it will be essentially an unheard-of experience for those who are picked as jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico, though in recent years the state has increasingly become a hub of Hollywood production. Baldwin and his wife arrived at the courthouse early with their youngest child, Ilaria Catalina Irena Baldwin. The couple have seven children, ranging in ages from 1 to 10. Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Unaware that the gun contained a live round, Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer not the trigger and it fired. Hutchins was considered a rising star in film photography when she was killed at age 42. She was the mother of a young son who grew up on a remote Soviet military base and worked on documentary films in Eastern Europe before studying film in Los Angeles and embarking on a movie-making career. ___ Dalton reported from Los Angeles. ___ For more coverage of Alec Baldwins involuntary manslaughter trial, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/alec-baldwin It was another lawsuit brought by another victim whose fun-filled vacation turned into a voyeuristic nightmare: A woman was secretly recorded undressing at a rental property, her images stored on the computer of an alleged sexual predator accused of spying on unsuspecting renters for years. Airbnb, one of the worlds largest short-term rental companies, had seen this sort of scenario before. Typically, the company seeks to settle hidden camera cases quickly and confidentially. But this one played out differently. An Airbnb representative testifying at a court-ordered deposition early last year offered a rare glimpse of the companys hidden camera problem: Airbnb has generated tens of thousands of customer support tickets related to surveillance devices in the last decade. During the hours-long deposition, the Airbnb employee also revealed that when a guest complains of a hidden camera, the company doesnt as a matter of practice notify law enforcement, not even when a child is involved. The company may, however, reach out to hosts about complaints as part of internal inquiries a move law enforcement experts say could hinder criminal investigations because it gives suspects time to destroy evidence. A CNN investigation found that Airbnb consistently fails to protect its guests despite knowing hidden cameras are a persistent concern within its industry. Airbnbs corporate strategies, moreover, have been aimed at preventing regulation of the short-term rental market to allow the company to distance itself from responsibility for guest safety and privacy. Thousands of images have been recovered from short-term rental hosts by law enforcement. Hidden cameras placed in bedrooms and bathrooms show guests during their most private moments changing clothes, being with their children, even having sex, according to CNNs review of court and police records, as well as interviews with nearly two dozen guests who found surveillance devices at short-term rental properties or were told by police they had been secretly recorded. Victims say they live under a shadow of fear that those private moments will become internet fodder. This is not my Social Security number or my email address. This is my naked body, said one woman whose host secretly recorded her having sex with her husband at a cottage in Texas. Airbnb declined CNNs request for an interview. However, in a written statement, a spokesperson said that hidden camera complaints are rare, but when they do occur we take appropriate, swift action, which can include removing hosts and listings that violate the policy. The spokesperson added that Airbnbs trust and safety policies lead the vacation rental industry and include background checks on US-based hosts and guests. CNN found that some of the policies touted by Airbnb come with significant disclaimers. The companys website, for example, tells users they should not rely on its background checks to identify all past criminal convictions or sex offender registrations or other red flags. And even if Airbnb discovers a user has a criminal background, convictions of murder, terrorism, rape or child molestation are not automatic disqualifiers under the companys policy. The Wild West Brian Chesky was unemployed when he and his roommate came up with the idea for Airbnb in 2007 while struggling to make rent in San Francisco. For $80 a night, they opened their home to three travelers, offering them air mattresses, breakfast and Wi-Fi. They called their start-up Air Bed and Breakfast. Thirteen years later, the company went public in the largest IPO of 2020, with a valuation of $47 billion. Today, Airbnb which is valued higher than Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Marriott International combined continues to chase the benefits of being an international hotel chain while shouldering few of the costs or responsibilities. Unlike hotels, Airbnb doesnt control the properties it advertises or employ on-site staff such as security guards, receptionists or cleaning professionals. Instead, it leaves the costs of maintaining and protecting short-term rentals to hosts. And, while hotels can be held legally responsible for guests harmed on their property, Airbnb frequently is not. In fact, Airbnb has fought against such liability in court, arguing it has little control over what happens at its listings despite collecting roughly 17% of each booking. The multi-billion-dollar short-term rental industry paints a rosy picture with advertisements highlighting how home sharing improves human connection and offers intimate, private spaces for busy travelers. Still, violent crime and prostitution, as well as traveler deaths, have repeatedly forced Airbnb and its competitors into the international spotlight. One security concern, which has gone largely unchecked by Airbnb and the rest of the short-term rental market, is hidden cameras. Airbnb has known about the problem for at least a decade and has repeatedly notified its shareholders of the issue in annual reports since the company went public. We were aware of it, there were an abundance of cases coming in, said one former Airbnb employee who asked to remain anonymous due to a non-disclosure agreement with the company. The employee, whose team dealt with safety and privacy issues, said hidden cameras were among the groups top concerns. Despite those concerns, the company for years allowed video surveillance by hosts in common areas, if the cameras were disclosed to guests. Chloe LeBrument, who traveled to London, Ontario, last summer with her fiance for a music festival, found a camera hidden in a charger in the bedroom at an Airbnb rental. Im sure theres many, many people that have left the room having no idea that they had been recorded, said LeBrument, whose host has been criminally charged with voyeurism. LeBrument described feeling angry and disappointed by the experience. It felt really gross, she said. In January, CNN began reaching out to former Airbnb employees to ask about hidden camera concerns within the industry. In early March, Saturday Night Live mocked how ubiquitous the issue is in a skit. Just over a week later, the company announced it would ban all indoor cameras as of April 30. The company said nothing about how it would force hosts to comply with the rules. You can have all these great rules, but if no ones checking that the rules are being followed its still kind of the Wild West, said attorney Bianca Zuniga-Goldwater, who represents several hidden camera victims in suits against Airbnb and Vrbo. CNN reviewed more than a dozen police investigations and lawsuits across the US involving at least 75 victims and found Airbnb often moves swiftly to contain user complaints and resolve them out of court. Chloe LeBrument found a camera hidden in a charger at an Ontario Airbnb in 2023. - Courtesy Chloe LeBrument An Airbnb guest found a camera hidden in the bedroom of a short-term vacation rental in Texas. - Obtained by CNN One attorney told CNN that Airbnb settled during a phone call after she gave them a heads up that she was going to file a lawsuit on behalf of a guest who said they found a camera hidden in their room at an Airbnb rental. Airbnb seeks to compel complainants into arbitration, a process that hides cases from public view, according to six attorneys who represented clients in cases against the short-term rental platform. When a settlement is reached, Airbnb has required users to sign confidentiality agreements, which bar them from discussing details of the deal. Airbnb told CNN its use of arbitration and non-disclosure agreements are standard practices within the industry. One man, who was recorded having sex with his wife at an Airbnb rental and received a financial settlement from the company, said he felt dirty signing a confidentiality agreement. We were gagged, he said. Last years court-ordered deposition, which was part of an ongoing case against Airbnb and has not previously been reported, should have detailed the scope of the companys hidden camera problem. The company, through its representative, was supposed to comply with a court order to quantify how many complaints or reports had been made to Airbnb by people who had been recorded by surveillance devices since December 1, 2013. The Airbnb representative came to the table with a number. Her testimony revealed the company generated 35,000 customer support tickets about surveillance devices in the preceding decade. In the deposition, the Airbnb representative sought to downplay the significance of the number of tickets, testifying they could reflect instances such as a malfunctioning doorbell camera or a tablet with recording capabilities left out on a coffee table. The representative did not provide any statistics detailing the number of claims she suggested were innocuous among the 35,000 tickets. The Airbnb spokesperson told CNN that a single report could create multiple tickets. The company declined to specify how many unique complaints there have been. CNN reached out to more than 130 former employees who handled safety issues or fielded security concerns for Airbnbs support line. Of the 24 who responded, nearly half said they couldnt speak about their experience due to non-disclosure agreements with the company. The few who agreed to be interviewed said one of the most common concerns they heard came from guests who feared they were being surreptitiously recorded. Ive never received a call about a doorbell, one former employee said. The scariest moment of my life in Comfort, Texas David Wyzynajtys and his girlfriend had never used Airbnb before booking a romantic weekend away in July 2021. When the couple spotted a remote property in Texas Hill Country with numerous positive reviews and a host who had earned Airbnbs coveted superhost status, they booked it. But after the pair arrived at the cottage in Comfort, Texas, and changed for the night, Wyzynajtys noticed something that terrified him: a hidden camera plugged into the wall and pointed directly at the bed. The scariest moment of my life, Wyzynajtys recalled. David Wyzynajtys found a hidden camera during a stay at an Airbnb in 2021. - Austin Steele/CNN Wyzynajtys and his partner frantically left the property and drove nearly 10 miles down a dark, winding road to check into a hotel. Rattled, they reached out to Airbnb via a customer support chat feature asking that someone call them. No one did. Instead, the couple received an in-app chat message from Airbnb later that night. According to court records, an Airbnb representative sought permission to report their complaint to the host, a man named A. Jay Allee. Do you mind if we contact the host and get his side of the story? Wyzynajtys recalled the Airbnb representative asking in the message. The couple was fearful of Allee they worried he could have been watching them through a livestream as they discovered the device and hurried to leave. Wanting to avoid a confrontation, Wyzynajtys denied Airbnbs request. A. Jay Allee - Kendall County Sheriff's Office Wyzynajtys said Airbnb was totally just negligent or didnt care about it at all. The next day, Wyzynajtys contacted law enforcement. Police obtained a search warrant and raided Allees property, confiscating cell phones, computers, and the camera, which Allee had been using to record guests for much of a year. Among the more than 2,000 recovered images, law enforcement identified more than 30 victims, including several children. Many guests who booked the same property either through Airbnb or Vrbo were captured in various stages of undress. Some were recorded having sex. Allee was later charged with 15 counts of invasive visual recording and pleaded guilty to six of them. Thirteen people who stayed at Allees cottage including two minors sued Airbnb in California state court in July 2022. Airbnb settled with the plaintiffs six months later. A suit against Vrbo, filed by three couples who stayed at Allees property and were all recorded being intimate with their partners, is ongoing. Law enforcement recovered an image of Airbnb and Vrbo host A. Jay Allee setting up a camera in his vacation rental property. - Obtained by CNN Allee held Airbnbs superhost status. The rank, which is granted by the companys algorithm, provides higher visibility and earning potential, according to Airbnbs website. On Vrbos platform, he was similarly designated as a premier host. One of Allees victims said that superhost status was one of the reasons he and his family had chosen the property for their weekend away. It kind of infers that a lot of people have good experiences there, said the victim, who asked not to be named due to privacy concerns. Some victims who spoke to CNN left positive reviews for stays thus feeding the algorithm for a hosts elevated status only to later learn from law enforcement they had been secretly recorded. Thank you for sharing your beautiful ranch with us, one of Allees victims, who was recorded having sex with his partner, wrote in a Vrbo review after their stay in 2020. We had an amazing time for our anniversary. We enjoyed feeding the animals and sitting by the fire at night just enjoying the silence. We will stay here again! A Vrbo spokesperson noted the company prohibits any cameras that capture the inside of a property and that trust and safety are part of Vrbos legacy. Vrbo didnt respond to questions about Allee or its policies. Law enforcement recovered this image of a guest at Allee's rental property. A portion of this image has been obscured to protect the victim's identity. - Obtained by CNN Lt. Butch Matjeka of the Kendall County Sheriffs Office notified Airbnb of his investigation into Allee in October 2021, police records show. Almost two months later and five months after Wyzynajtys found the camera Allees listing remained active on Airbnbs site, according to a lawsuit against the company. From a law enforcement perspective, if I tell you that Im investigating then you should stop hosting that individual on your site until the outcome of my investigation, Matjeka said. Regulations are bad for business Earlier this year, lawmakers in the European Union agreed to groundbreaking regulations governing the short-term rental industry. The new rules will require host registration, data sharing by the company and quality control of listings. Airbnb hailed the regulations as a watershed moment for the industry and praised the EU-wide approach. Its public praise belies the fact that Airbnb has fought European cities for attempting to regulate the industry, said Kim van Sparrentak, a member of the European Parliament, who steered the legislation through the governing body. Airbnb is similar to other sharing economy companies on a municipal level that means filing lawsuits as soon as any regulation is proposed, she said, referring to the companys strategy of fighting regulations in court. There are no similar federal regulations in the United States. Instead, local municipalities have been left to govern the fast-growing industry. In the cities that have been successful in introducing regulations such as requiring hosts to register with local authorities it has, at times, been difficult to get Airbnb to comply. Some of those regulations could assist with criminal investigations. When the city of New York enacted a law last year that requires hosts to register with the city and prohibits platforms from processing transactions for hosts that fail to comply, Airbnb responded by filing a lawsuit calling the measures extreme and oppressive and said the restrictions would cause the company irreparable harm. Its bad for business for them to follow regulations, said Murray Cox, who runs the nonprofit watchdog organization Inside Airbnb. Complying with rules, he said, often means excluding business from Airbnbs platform, which cuts into the companys bottom line. Its about corporate greed. Airbnbs legal weapon of choice in its fight against regulations and in at least one case against a guest who claimed she was injured while staying at an Airbnb rental stems from a decades-old law known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The law, often propped up as a defense by tech giants such as Facebook and X, states the platforms cannot be held responsible for user-posted content. But for Airbnb, the argument has not always been successful. The judge presiding over the New York case, for example, pointed out that this legal protection didnt apply to Airbnb because the company makes money on booking transactions. They say that if youre going to participate in the transaction, then (Section 230) is off the table, said Cox. To Shannon Schott, a Florida-based attorney who settled with Airbnb after her client said he found a hidden camera at his rental, Airbnbs use of Section 230 should be concerning to users who value their privacy and safety. Theyre not arguing: This didnt happen, your client isnt injured. Theyre arguing: We arent responsible, Schott said. Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who has introduced legislation that aims to curb big technology companies use of Section 230, argued that the platform would be safer if Airbnb were forced to take responsibility for what happens at its listings. Right now, Section 230 is used as a get out of jail free card, the Democratic lawmaker said. Broken promises Less than 20 miles from Airbnbs San Francisco headquarters, a 2019 Halloween party turned deadly at a rental property in Californias wealthy Orinda community. People fled as shots rang out, and when the dust had settled, five people were dead. The crime remains unsolved. The carnage prompted Airbnb to re-examine parts of its business model, cracking down on party homes and vowing to verify all listings and user identities. Every home and every host on Airbnb will be reviewed with the objective of 100% verification by the end of 2020, Chesky, the companys CEO, promised after the shooting. In March, Airbnb disclosed only about 20% of its property listings worldwide had been verified. However, the company has boasted that every host, co-host and booking guest is identity-verified. That accomplishment comes with a big disclaimer: Its identity verification badge does not guarantee that someone is who they claim to be, the companys website states. Nor does Airbnbs identify verification process necessarily uncover a users criminal history. Earlier this year, Airbnb guests in the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, were shocked to learn their host, with whom they shared their rental home, was a registered sex offender. According to a local news report that reviewed the listing at the time, Airbnb had verified the identity of the host. However, the identification process didnt appear to surface the 11 charges of sexual assault on a mentally disabled person for which the host spent more than four years in prison. Airbnb told the news outlet it suspended the hosts account after it learned of the criminal conviction. Background checks appear to go beyond identity verification and involve searching public databases for users information. The checks, which Airbnb says are conducted by a third party, could notify the company of users criminal histories. However, the company makes no guarantees to perform them on every user worldwide. On its website, Airbnb says it may run a background check if it has at least a first name, last name and date of birth for US-based users who create listings. Still, the company warns travelers they shouldnt rely on its background checks to uncover all convictions, sex offender registrations or other red flags for its users. Digital content is forever Allee was released from jail in February following a one-year sentence. His attorney didnt respond to requests for comment. Police identified more than 30 suspected victims who stayed at Allees cottage but could only file charges in connection with 15. To some of those victims, his brief stint behind bars didnt suit the crime. Less than a month for every victim, said Wyzynajtys, the guest who found Allees hidden camera. However, Allees lenient sentence was not unusual. In most states, and on the federal level, video voyeurism is a misdemeanor, punishable by no more than a year behind bars. In 2022, Airbnb superhost Peter Madden pleaded guilty to seven counts of violation of privacy in connection with recording five guests at his property in Maine, according to the Cumberland County District Attorney. During an interview with police, Madden initially denied ownership of the camera, which was concealed in a clock radio and pointed at his guests bed. Then, he said he put it there for security reasons. Ultimately, Madden, whose attorney didnt respond to CNNs requests for comment, admitted hed been recording guests engaged in sexual activity. Theres stuff of a couple of couples playing around or getting changed, he conceded when pressed by an officer about what images the camera captured. Are you a voyeur? the officer asked, according to a recording obtained by CNN. In response, Madden laughed. Im an artist, he said. I look at everything, I study everything. Madden served 14 days behind bars. Victims, on the other hand, suffer lengthier consequences. All of Allees victims who spoke with CNN, seven in total, said they suffered long-term trauma due to Allees actions. They also detailed the crippling fear that their images or those of their kids will one day end up online, if they havent already. What is made into digital content is forever, said the woman who was secretly recorded having sex with her husband at Allees cottage. An intensive care nurse who visited Allees property at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to suffer from social distress around the personal nature of the recordings and the possibility that they will become public, according to the lawsuit she filed against Vrbo. Several images on Allees computer showed the nurse undressed and being intimate with her husband. Others captured her infant son, police records show. Vrbo didnt respond to CNNs inquiries about the case. One couple who stayed there to celebrate an anniversary said they felt shocked and appalled by the experience and worried that strangers had seen images of their private moments. One woman said she now takes medication to treat feelings of paranoia. Its violating, she told CNN. Who knows where that footage went and who saw that? Senior Investigative Correspondent: Kyung Lah Executive Producer: Patricia DiCarlo Managing Editor: Matt Lait Deputy Managing Editor: Samira Jafari Video Producer: John General Supervising Producer: Logan Whiteside Photo Editor: Austin Steele Contributor: Yahya Abou-Ghazala For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An Ohio police officer came to the rescue of a mother desperate to feed her baby last month, earning him praise from local community members and social media users nationwide. Corporal Hunter Willoughby works for Miami Township Police, about 26 miles northeast of Cincinnati. In the early morning hours of June 15, the department got a call about a mom who wasnt able to breastfeed her baby, who was just one week old. Willoughby went to a nearby store, Meijer, which was closed at the time and asked them if theyd be willing to open the store so he could buy formula and bottles for the infant. After making the purchase, he made his way to the mother and delivered them to her. He refused to accept any payment for the formula or bottles, wrote Chief Mike Mills from the Miami Township Police July 2 on Facebook. You don't often hear about everything a police officer does in the course of their shift, but I do and this is an example of the Miami Township Way. A police officer in Clermont County, Ohio makes a late night grocery store trip to purchase infant formula for a mother in need and her newborn. Corporal's heroic response saves the day Bodycam footage of the save shows Willoughby knocking on the stores door repeatedly until an employee comes out to see what's going on. There is a mom, he says in the footage. She said her milk dried up and she cant find anywhere to buy formula. Is there any way anybody in here can turn on a cash register? Ill buy it for her and take it to her. The next clip the police department posted shows the corporal trying to decide which kind of formula to get. "What the heck's the difference?" he asks himself before grabbing a can of Similac baby formula. When a store employee asks if the nursing mother has bottles, Willoughby decides to grab some of those just in case. The employee helped him choose a set of bottles before taking him over to the register to get checked out. Corporal has been honored in the past for his service Willoughby has been recognized numerous times for his work with the police department. He was first sworn in on the night of April 18, 2017, according to a post from the department. In May 2019, he was named the 2018 Miami Township Police Officer of the Year. In a Facebook post about the accomplishment, the department said Willoughby has embodied the agencys core values of commitment, integrity and accountability. He became a corporal in April 2023, the department said, congratulating him online. According to the department, Willoughby served as a patrol officer, a field training officer and detective for six years before making the switch. During his career, Willoughby has been recognized by community members for helping them get help. In January 2021, two people he had previously arrested thanked him for helping them treat their drug addiction. Jennifer and David stopped by to show their appreciation for Officer Hunter Willoughby, the department wrote at the time. They were addicted to opiates when Hunter arrested them in 2019, pushing them towards treatment. They both made it clear that they would not be alive if it wasnt for officer Willoughby. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Officer buys formula for nursing mom in crisis: Watch act of kindness WASHINGTON President Joe Biden faces a pivotal moment this week as he prepares to host the leaders of more than 31 nations in Washington with a sudden new mission: command the world stage and stabilize a reelection campaign in crisis. Much was already riding on Biden's performance at the summit marking the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance. While his election opponent, former President Donald Trump, has questioned America's role in the organization, Biden has sought to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to NATO. Yet after Biden's dismal debate performance 11 days ago, he must now allay the fears of worried Democrats openly discussing whether he should drop out of the race or remain their party's presidential nominee. Biden is under immense pressure to calm his critics by demonstrating competence and coherence as he welcomes NATO allies and partners to Washington for the three-day summit and as he tries to prove his case against Trump. Biden's interactions with his European counterparts will be under especially intense scrutiny after incidents in which he has mixed up the names of foreign leaders. More recently, he struggled to complete thoughts and finish sentences during his debate against Trump in late June, setting off a panic among Democrats that has not subsided. Visiting leaders will be looking for similar reassurances about his ability to beat Trump. European officials have expressed private concern about how Trump would approach the alliance if he returns. Biden has also claimed that at earlier summits, heads of state have pulled him aside to say "You cant let him win." "The gravity of this moment for Biden is larger than anticipated," said Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Europe Center. "And it just, I think, puts extra pressure on him to deliver in a way that reassures allies and reassures the American people that he is fit and ready to do this job, not just until the end of his presidency but potentially for another four years." A growing handful of elected Democrats and party heavyweights have said Biden should step aside. The list could expand as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week after an extended holiday recess. Biden is likely to be subjected himself to questions from reporters about whether he will quit the race when he holds a news conference Thursday at the end of the NATO summit his first since the disastrous confrontation with Trump. "This is absolutely critical," said Todd Belt, professor and political management program director at George Washington University. "Not only is the microscope going to be on Biden, but the job of commander-in-chief is to be able to work together with our allies. And the critical job of keeping the nation secure is one of the reasons we want someone who is cognitively and physically up to the job." President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One prior to departure from Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, July 5, 2024, as he travels to Wisconsin for campaign events. Political concerns could upstage NATO Biden will spend much of his time at the summit in group discussions about weighty topics from military and financial support for Ukraine in its costly battle against Russia to the longer-term goals of the defensive alliance that was created after World War II. His schedule includes a one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country sought but has not received a formal invitation to join NATO. He also will come face-to-face with newly appointed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took power last week after the Labour Party won a landslide election. The president and first lady Jill Biden will open the summit Tuesday evening at a commemorative event at Mellon Auditorium, where the North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO was signed on April 4, 1949. Biden will address NATO allies publicly Wednesday afternoon and hold a dinner that night for leaders and their spouses. His agenda Thursday includes a gathering of the NATO-Ukraine Council and an event with nearly two dozen nations that have signed individual security agreements with Ukraine. He'll cap the summit off with his news conference. "Typically, though, most of these meetings happen behind closed doors," said Steven Fish, a Berkeley political scientist and author of "Comeback: Routing Trumpism, Reclaiming the Nation, and Restoring Democracys Edge." That means Biden's public remarks "for the most part can be scripted," he said. "So this isn't the kind of event where you would expect him to falter. It's not like a debate or an open-ended interview." His political crisis could draw more attention than his larger geopolitical message this week as foreign officials field inquiries about Biden's age. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said last month before Biden's debate that the president is "someone who is very clear, who knows exactly what he is doing and who is one of the most experienced politicians in the world." But Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski took a swipe at Biden after the debate ended, writing on X, formerly Twitter: "Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor but he screwed up his succession by passing the baton to his feckless son Commodus (He, from the Gladiator). Whose disastrous rule started Rome's decline. "It's important to manage one's ride into the sunset," Sikorski wrote. U.S. officials argued ahead of the summit that foreign leaders know Biden and what he is capable of. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing that "you're going to see the president being a leader" as he brings NATO allies together for the summit. "Look, foreign leaders have seen the president close-up and personally for the past three years. And I think that's important to know. They know who they are dealing with and how effective he has been." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden attend a skydiving demonstration at Borgo Egnazia Golf Club San Domenico during the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on June 13, 2024 in Savelletri. A defiant Biden digs in In his highly anticipated interview Friday with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, Biden dug in amid unrest from Democrats after his debate debacle. He refused to acknowledge Democratic detractors who want him to drop out of the race, dismissed concerns about his mental fitness and rejected the validity of polls that show him losing to Trump. When asked about the possibility of withdrawing, he responded: "Well, if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me to do that, I might do that." He insisted that most Democrats want him to remain their nominee even as five House Democrats publicly called for his exit, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., was reportedly assembling Senate Democrats to ask that Biden drop out. If Democrats wanted to hear a more conciliatory president who recognizes the fallout from his debate performance they did not get it from Biden. "I don't think he did himself any favors," Belt said. "He came off as really hardheaded." President Joe Biden responds to criticism of his debate performance in an exclusive interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos. David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, said Biden is "dangerously out of touch with the concerns people have about his capacities moving forward and his standing in this race." "Four years ago at this time, he was 10 points ahead of Trump. Today, he is six points behind," Axelrod posted on X after Biden's interview. Biden has used appearances at international events to make a forceful case for American democracy, a key theme of his reelection campaign. Without explicitly mentioning Trump, he said last month that World War II veterans were summoning Americans "to stand up to aggression abroad and at home." "This will be a good chance for him possibly to recover some of the authority that he has at home, or that he had more of at home, because this is a forum in which he really shines," Fish said. But, he said, "I don't think there's going to be a lot of opportunities at the summit for him to dig himself out of the hole that he seems to have fallen into, especially after the debate." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden hosts high-stakes NATO Summit while his campaign is in crisis COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sen. Sherrod Brown sidestepped questions Monday about President Joe Biden's fitness for office as Democrats debate whether Biden should drop out of the presidential race. "I'm not going to judge people in my party, what they're saying or what Republicans are saying," the three-term Ohio Democrat told reporters in Youngstown, according to his campaign. "I'm not a pundit. I've talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and I'll keep listening to people." Brown's comments came nearly two weeks after the first debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump, where the president fumbled over words and lost his train of thought. The event spurred a conversation among Democrats about whether Biden, 81, can continue running for reelection, defeat Trump in November and serve another four-year term. Biden said he intends to stay in the race. The issue underscores Brown's reluctance to wade into presidential politics as he runs his own campaign against Republican businessman Bernie Moreno. Brown is one of two Democratic senators seeking reelection in a state won by Trump in 2020, making him one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country. "Sherrod Brown votes with Joe Biden nearly 100% of the time, so it is unsurprising that he is standing by Biden as his obvious cognitive decline and inability to lead our nation is on full display to the American people," Moreno said in a statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown speaks at a graduation celebration for the Columbus Building Futures Program in 2023. What are Ohio Democrats saying about Joe Biden? The response to Biden's debate performance has been mixed among other Ohio Democrats. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, said Monday that "time is running out" for Biden to make his case to voters, although he didn't directly call on the president to step aside. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, defended Biden after he talked with the Congressional Black Caucus on Monday. "We saw the old Joe Biden," Beatty told MSNBC. "He addressed the issue and said as he has said openly that the 90-minute debate, it was a mistake. He didn't do a good job. He was sick. He was tired. He hadn't rested enough. Since then, we've seen him make a comeback." Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, declined to comment through a spokesman. A spokesperson for Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Like Brown, Kaptur and Sykes face tough reelection bids this year in two of the country's most competitive House districts. Former Congressman Tim Ryan, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, called on Biden to drop out and pave the way for Vice President Kamala Harris. House and Senate Democrats are meeting behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss the presidential campaign. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sherrod Brown mum on Biden as Democrats debate presidential race Russia missile strikes against Ukraine damaged the main children's hospital in Kyiv and killed at least 36 people across the country on Monday during the deadliest wave of air attacks in months. The daylight attack on the Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital left parents dazed and sobbing as they held their babies outside, Reuters reported. "It was scary. I couldn't breathe, I was trying to cover (my baby). I was trying to cover him with this cloth so that he could breathe," Svitlana Kravchenko, 33, said. A photo posted on social media by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed a woman holding a bloody baby while apparently surrounded by hospital workers, including a man with blood on his face and neck. . , . . , , pic.twitter.com/YQ4NK2qUrA Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024 During a news conference in Poland, where he and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed a military pact, Zelenskyy vowed to strike back at Russia. "We will retaliate against these people, we will deliver a powerful response from our side to Russia, for sure. The question to our partners is: can they respond?" he said. The United Nations Security Council plans to meet Tuesday at the request of Britain, France, Ecuador, Slovenia and the United States, Reuters said, citing unidentified diplomats. Ukraine's prosecutor general said he discussed the attacks with International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan, and said his office would share evidence with the ICC. Russia's Defense Ministry, which has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, acknowledged carrying out strikes against what it called defense industry targets and aviation bases in Ukraine, Reuters said. The death toll in Kyiv was 22, including two children, with 82 wounded during attacks that came two hours apart, Reuters said. Eleven people were killed and 64 wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region and three were killed when missiles hit an industrial building in the eastern town of Pokrovsk. The Ukrainian government declared that Tuesday would be a national day of mourning for the victims. A video posted online showed a missile falling from the sky toward the children's hospital, followed by a large explosion, Reuters said. The Security Service of Ukraine identified the weapon as a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile and a Ukrainian air force spokesperson, Col. Yuri Ignat, said the missiles that struck Monday flew at extremely low altitudes. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Monday's attack was one of the largest of the war, with damage reported in seven districts across the city, and power company DTEK said three three electricity substations and networks were damaged. OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is trying to chart the course for a new mass settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids after the U.S. Supreme Court last month rejected its previous deal, which was years in the making. State, local and tribal governments and individual victims want a sense of justice and money. And in this case, there's not enough money to pay for all harms that are claimed. Most of what there is is held by members of the Sackler family who own Purdue much of it in overseas trust funds that are protected from U.S. lawsuits. Here's a look at where things stand: Why are so many parties suing Purdue? A nationwide opioid epidemic has been raging for decades. In recent years, overdoses have been linked to about 80,000 deaths a year. Currently, the biggest killers are fentanyl and other potent substances produced illicitly in labs. Before that, it was heroin, and before that prescription drugs, including OxyContin, which hit the market in 1996. Purdue targeted doctors with a campaign asserting that there was a low risk of addiction to its latest formulation of a kind of drug that's been around for centuries. Since 2017, drugmakers, wholesalers, pharmacy chains and other businesses have agreed to pay more than $50 billion in settlements with governments that have sued. Most of the money is intended to go to stemming the crisis. Purdue's deal would be among the largest. What was the previous settlement? Purdue filed for bankruptcy protection nearly five years ago as a way to settle all the legal claims it was facing. The deal it ultimately struck called for Sackler family members, who had already left the company's board of directors, to give up ownership of the company, too. It would become known as Knoa Pharma and its profits would be used to combat the opioid crisis. The Sacklers would contribute up to $6 billion. Unlike nearly all the other opioid settlements, a piece of the Purdue one $750 million would go directly to some people who were addicted to OxyContin and the families of those who died from it. The biggest payouts would have been under $50,000. Most would be far less than that. In exchange, Sackler family members would receive immunity from all past, present and future lawsuits alleging a role in the crisis. The deal had nearly universal support among the parties in the case, though some of them were begrudging, along with some holdouts and many eligible individuals who didn't vote. What did the Supreme Court say? In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court rejected the settlement. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing the majority opinion, said that the law doesn't allow the legal protections for Sackler family members who themselves did not file for bankruptcy protection when some of the creditors in the case don't agree. For most of the lawyers and parties that spent years hammering out the deal, it was a devastating ruling. What happens now? A judge Tuesday said he intends to grant lawyers' request to have until Sept. 9 to work out a revised deal. They have asked that retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman, who helped the parties iron out the previous deal, be appointed to mediate again, along with mediation expert Eric Green. Sackler family members said after the Supreme Court ruled that although they believe they would prevail in trials "that a swift negotiated agreement to provide billions of dollars for people and communities in need is the best way forward. Attorney Mike Quinn represents Ellen Isaacs, a mother whose son died from an opioid overdose, in her fight against the earlier settlement. Quinn said it's essential that any new deal give clients like his a say in whether to accept it. What would happen if a deal isn't reached? Probably litigation. A failure to reach a deal in two months could open the door for some 900 previous lawsuits against Sackler family members alleging a role in creating the crisis to be resumed. More could be filed. It then could be a race to trial. There's no certainty about which side would prevail. But a small number of judgments against the family could wipe out their fortune, leaving nothing for the thousands of other parties with potential claims. A key bankruptcy committee on Monday asked a judge to give it the exclusive right to sue Sackler family members, claiming that from 2007 until 2018, they fraudulently transferred $11.5 billion from the company to a series of trusts for their benefit to avoid losing in legal claims. At the Sacklers direction, Purdue ignited and fueled an opioid firestorm that continues to rage to this day, generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue for Purdue, but at the cost of hundreds of thousands of American lives, and economic harm to the nation measured in the trillions, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the bankruptcy said in a legal filing Monday. Purdue and other major groups of creditors support that plan. Sackler family members issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the motion: Their filing is riddled with factual errors, ignores that about half the money was paid in taxes and is contrary to the goal of working together towards a resolution that provides billions of dollars for communities and people in need. Are there other possibilities? Sackler family members could file for bankruptcy to get legal protections. Or Congress could intervene. Attorney Jason Amala represented plaintiffs in lawsuits over sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts and Catholic churches where similar mechanisms were involved in settlements. Amala said Congress could modify bankruptcy laws to allow the legal protections in exchange for the same auditing and transparency process as the company that filed for bankruptcy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday urged international leaders to promptly aid his war-torn country and not to wait for November, or any other month. Zelensky said that everyone is waiting for November, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the 2024 US presidential election and the specter of a second Donald Trump presidency remains top of mind for international leaders gathered in Washington, DC, for a high-stakes NATO summit. Its time to step out of the shadows, to make strong decisions work, to act and not to wait for November or any other month. To this end, we must be strong and uncompromising altogether, Zelensky said. And first of all, America, and first of all, the leaders of America, and the president of the United States as a leader of the free world, to be uncompromising in defending democracy. Uncompromising against Putin and his country. Uncompromising to every possible terror. Zelenskys remarks at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington come on the sidelines of the summit, which has placed providing long-term support for Ukraine in the war against Russia at the top of the agenda. In the coming days, the Ukrainian leader will seek to shore up and boost allied support for his country and meet with President Joe Biden. Zelensky urged America to provide more answers to Ukraine and other allies bordering Russia, saying, We have proven more than once that the more we have, the harder it is for Putin to make war. He still thinks that war might pay. He still thinks that humiliating America might pay. Ukraine, he said, can significantly limit Russian actions in south Ukraine and push the occupiers out of there if the American leadership assists us with the necessary deep strike capabilities against Russian military and logistics in our Ukrainian Crimea. The US has promised significant announcements on Ukraine during the three-day global gathering, which Biden kicked off earlier in the evening with remarks announcing plans to supply new air defenses to the country. Ahead of the summit, NATO members made clear that Ukraine would be the main focus. The priority one, two, and three is Ukraine, a European diplomat said. However, there are looming questions whether the shows of support will be enough as the war drags on with little sign of a quick diplomatic or military victory for Kyiv. Concerns about the future of NATO should Trump win Novembers presidential election are weighing on many attendees who were not reassured by Bidens disastrous debate performance late last month. I hope that if people of America vote for President Trump, I hope his policy with Ukraine will not change, Zelensky said during an interview with Fox News Bret Baier Tuesday night, adding that he doesnt know the former president very well but that the two had good meetings during the Trump administration. Visit follows deadly Russian attacks Zelensky touched down in the US capital on Monday evening in the shadow of deadly Russian attacks on cities throughout Ukraine earlier that day. The barrage of missiles hit buildings across the country, including Ukraines largest childrens hospital, and killed more than three dozen people. In reference Russian officials claims that the Kremlin was not behind the attack, Zelensky said in his remarks, Russia always knows where its missiles hit. Always. On Tuesday evening, the US and some of its NATO allies announced they will give Ukraine more Patriot batteries and additional systems to strengthen Kyivs air defenses against ongoing Russian aerial barrages. The US, Germany and Romania will each provide a Patriot battery of their own, while the Netherlands will work with other countries to enable an additional Patriot battery, according to a joint statement. Meanwhile, Italy would also provide a SAMP-T long-range air defense system. This is yet another significant step following the US decision to prioritize Ukraine in air defense missile deliveries, Zelensky wrote on X following the announcement. I am grateful to President Biden for his leadership and to all partner countries for their commitment to providing us with air defense capabilities as quickly as possible. Russias air terror against Ukrainians, including yesterdays brutal strike on the childrens hospital, must be met with unity and strength, with resolute and bold decisions. And that is precisely what such decisions ensure, he wrote. Officials said the timing of Moscows assault a day before the start of the summit was calculated. It was a hello from Putin to all the NATO countries making fun of us trying to follow red lines, as Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chair of Ukraines parliament, said. They also said the attack underscored the need for continued military support for Ukraine and the ability to use those weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. This attack, this attack on Ukraines future because children are our future shall not remain unresponded, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in remarks alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. I am looking forward to our discussion on how we can further strengthen Ukraines defense capabilities. We want the lifting of any sort of limitations on the weapons Ukraine is receiving, Stefanchuk said at an event in Washington on Monday. The Biden administration recently shifted its policy to allow US weapons to be used in strikes into Russian territory where Russian forces are engaging in cross-border attacks into Ukraine. However, Ukrainian officials want to see that policy expanded further to allow strikes against Russian military targets anywhere in Russian territory. Stefanchuk on Monday called for a stable and forecastable supply of these weapons, ammunition and to be able to effectively counter the threats from the skies, meaning F-16 fighter jets. We dont want to wait for another sanctions package like an iPhone package, he said, noting they just need one kind of sanctions: ones that will make Russia feel the economic pain for this war. In remarks when he arrived in the US capital, Zelensky said Kyiv will fight for decisive actions from the United States and Europe at the summit Ukraine seeks NATO membership Ukraine also wants clear progress toward membership in NATO. The matter caused a diplomatic spat last year ahead of the summit in Vilnius, with Zelensky fuming that it was unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership to NATO. This year, officials said there has been far greater communication with the Ukrainians in the lead up to the summit. The European diplomat said there have been deep and frank conversations with Ukrainian officials. Presidential adviser Andriy Yermak was in Washington last week in part to work on commitments ahead of the summit. As CNN reported Monday, Ukraines path to NATO was described as irreversible in a draft text of the alliances joint communique, according to three sources familiar. Still, some say that there must be a stronger commitment to Ukraine. A senior European diplomat quipped that this irreversibility is very much reversible. A senior Biden administration official said Friday that what they described in terms of the bridge to membership and the deliverables that NATO will be unveiling for Ukraine is quite substantial. Were not talking about some sort of plan for how theyre going to get from here to there. Were talking about standing up an entire command at Wiesbaden and well look at how we do these various pieces that I mentioned earlier training, coordination, equipping, coordination, logistics, force development. This is a very serious effort to get Ukraine in a position, as I said earlier, where it will be ready to assume its roles and responsibilities within the alliance on day one, the official said. Ill let the Ukrainians speak for themselves, but I think they understand the value of what NATO will be doing for that, they said. This headline and story have been updated with additional reporting. CNNs Mariya Knight, Hira Humayun, Oren Liebermann, Kayla Tausche, Maria Kostenko and Radina Gigova contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Self-determination and sovereignty are two terms Dickerson Digital takes seriously as it forges ahead with the launch and securing of one of Australias first Indigenous sovereign clouds powered by Microsoft. According to Michael Dickerson, the First Nations CEO and founder of Dickerson Digital, the Indigenous-owned IT provider has been around for several years and is mostly self-funded. In an interview with ARN, Dickerson said that, as a First Nations man himself, sitting on various leadership groups and services, and being involved in the IT industry for a number of years, he understands that sovereignty is a key issue for First Nations people globally. Its one of the driving factors for First Nations in self-determination, he said. When Dickerson started thinking about combining technology with Indigenous issues bridging the digital divide between First Nations people and non-First Nations people was one of its primary concerns. We came together and asked, how do we combine our skill sets and knowledge in delivering large-scale projects and secure infrastructure for various governments and services worldwide to create a unique and sovereign cloud build? he said. Secure Indigenous Sovereign Cloud This came to fruition in February 2024 when Dickerson Digital collaborated with DQA, an Australian-owned service delivery provider, to launch a sovereign cloud on Microsoft. Powered by Microsoft Azure and integrated with Azure Orbital, the project is described as Australias first Indigenous sovereign cloud. At the time, the cloud was being rolled out and will soon be available to clients across Queensland and facilities across Australia. According to Dickerson, Secure Indigenous Sovereign Cloud has been designed to address an ongoing need for organisations that require low-latency, secure, and sovereign capabilities in Australias regional, edge, and far-edge locations. Theres often confusion between sovereignty and residency. Data residency is data that resides in the country to which it belongs. Still, its generally managed by foreign corporations or service corporations under other governments jurisdiction, he said. Data sovereignty is data that resides in the country and is responsible to the laws of that countrys lands. Most recently, Netskope and Dickerson announced that it would integrate its technology into the sovereign cloud infrastructure. This will allow customers to securely connect to hosted solutions within the sovereign cloud and provide an on-ramp to Microsoft Azure and other external services. The capability is on par with some of our competitors in the landscape, said Dickerson. However, we have a true purpose behind what we deliver. Our business supports the platforms and the infrastructure, he said. As we scale up, well require more people to be part of that journey. Delivering through a community-first lens According to Dickerson, the IT provider competes on a capability basis, and because it has a greater capacity to drive economic development services, it isnt just ticking boxes. We dont see Indigenous people as a tick box, he said. We aim to close the gap through commercial engagement rather than government-led initiatives. Ive used the word decolonisation because thats fundamentally why weve partnered with public and service cloud providers. Dickerson Digital aims to shift the conversation away from viewing projects like this as merely a tick box delivered as a percentage of a contract. The IT service provider believes these projects can be used to engage in a truly meaningful way and deliver community outcomes without making them the sole focus of the IT service contract. Dickerson believes it is vital to empower Indigenous communities to make their own decisions about how their data is stored, managed and controlled. Its also one of the key driving factors that changed how data sovereignty is viewed. I think empowerment is the first stage, he said. I hope to see a lot more organisations come through and deliver those outcomes, and if we can create a pathway or service to do that, then thats fantastic. I think its also a way for governments on platforms and services to engage in meaningful rather than tokenistic engagement. The value of data for First Nations Dickerson has also worked for the past two years with Indigenous-owned technology companies like Tiaki in New Zealand (Aotearoa) to create security processes to enhance their data and data management. Theres a fundamental pathway to understanding how data is so important. As the new oil, data is one of the most precious resources we have as individuals, he said. Not many communities have had that exposure to it, so partnering with Netskope and Microsoft allows us to share those skill sets and knowledge with others who are beginning their journey. However, Dickerson notes that, fundamentally, each community is unique and distinct. Therefore, every First Nation group across Australia has a unique engagement approach. When we interact with these communities, we respect and embrace their distinctiveness, including their standards and traditions, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, he said. Culturally sensitive engagement is crucial in ensuring we effectively honour and integrate these diverse traditions and values into our projects and services. This approach allows Dickerson Digital to deliver respectful solutions tailored to each communitys needs and cultural context. While there is a foundational framework for an Indigenous cloud, the way we involve each community in the process is customised to their specific cultural identity and engagement preferences, he said. Enabling Indigenous communities with an understanding of data sovereignty can help them cross that digital divide. The modern economy is mostly digital connectivity, which is a classic example of how that has to be fixed, said Dickerson. First access to skill trainers, business leaders that they can look up to or see that theyve been able to build themselves through a process. I [always] come back to the thought that you can only be what you can see. Genuine community involvement He emphasised that regional locations or data centres can be pivotal hubs of commerce within their communities. By strategically deploying these centres and actively engaging with First Nations, the focus shifts from mere implementation to genuine involvement in job creation and career pathways, he said. Addressing connectivity issues, particularly in Indigenous communities, is crucial for accessing essential services like parental data and school information. With reliable mobile data, accessing these critical services becomes more accessible. The solution lies in extending and integrating services from regional hubs into core platform frameworks. While change should be driven from within the community and not by outside influencers, it is also important to establish capabilities to build skill sets that remain in-country. We are focused on creating jobs and career pathways. Connectivity is crucial, especially concerning issues in Indigenous communities regarding access to data for parents and information on their children, said Dickerson. In schools, access to critical services is limited without data on mobile phones. Addressing these issues requires extended services from regional hubs integrated into core platforms. Also taken into consideration is the environmental impact, which is taken into top consideration. We are fundamentally looking at everything from building power, said Dickerson. Water is a classic example that needs to be maintained in data centres, especially since we live in a dry continent and cooling is another issue. According to Dickerson, these data centres are being designed from the ground up. With the support from some of the team at Microsoft on how to design to certain standards rather than just doing our own research, he said. Our partnerships are more than just technological engagements; they assist us in understanding modern movements towards sustainable data centres and projects like cloud infrastructure. This also allows us to work with the community on how to support the upkeep of traditional lands and services. Bridging cultures According to Dickerson, creating facilities in regional communities, with organisations like Underwood Innovation Lab, will allow technology talent to reside within and serve their communities while bridging the oldest living culture with the newest technology stacks. As Dickerson continues on its path towards creating sovereign data for Indigenous communities and empowering them in the digital economy, it will continue to work with businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific nations. Dickerson is also considering doing the same for other Indigenous groups across continents. Were working with different providers that havent been finalised at the moment, said Dickerson. Were also partnering with other First Nations groups globally on how to create this capability or pass this knowledge on as a capability and capacity to uplift them as well. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sparred with reporters during a seemingly tense press briefing Monday as they grilled her over reports of a Parkinson's disease expert's numerous visits to The White House in the past year. Jean-Pierre grew visibly flustered while continuing to field questions on President Joe Biden's health and his mental fitness to serve a second term, following last month's debate fiasco now coupled with reports neurologist Dr. Kevin Cannard visited The White House eight times in eight months. Citing visitor logs, The New York Times reported Cannard, an expert in Parkinson's, paid monthly visits from July 2023 to March 2024, noting records of more recent visits, if any, would not be available till later this year. Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden has met with a neurologist three times over the past three years as part of his annual physical exams, however she would not verify the physician's name or details of the visits, citing security reasons. Her answers or lack thereof did not sit well with CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe, and he grew ostensibly agitated. His reaction prompted Jean-Pierre to verbally reprimand his "aggressive way" and demand from him "a little respect." "We're getting miffed around here about how information is shared with the press corps," O'Keefe shot back, accusing Jean-Pierre of having to "come back and clean up" her answers during press briefings. "It doesn't matter how hard you push me. It doesn't matter how angry you get with me," she scolded O'Keefe. "I'm not going to confirm a name. It doesn't matter if it's even in the log. I am not going to do that from here." "To give you some answers here has the President been treated for Parkinson's: no. Is he being treated for Parkinson's: no, he's not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson's: no," affirmed Jean-Pierre. "I will say, when the President gets knocked down, he gets back up. This is quintessential Joe Biden, and there are a long list of other congressional members who have shown their support for this President." Several Democratic politicians have called on Biden to quit his reelection campaign following his catastrophic debate performance in June, however in a letter to Democrats Monday, Biden vowed he remains "firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump." Launching new initiatives through to expanding its operational capabilities, experience management software company Qualtrics has kept its finger on the pulse across Asia Pacific and Japan. Scott Thompson, chief partner officer at Qualtrics, told ARN it has continued strengthening its presence and delivering value to customers. These efforts underscore its dedication to advancing technology and addressing evolving market needs. Our partner ecosystem continues to thrive, fostering collaboration and driving innovation across diverse markets, he said. Collaboration remains at the heart of our strategy, enabling us to deliver impactful solutions and value to our customers. Thompson, who was in Sydney for the Qualtrics channel partner event, said the company is looking at driving the channel and fostering more impactful customer conversations with its partners. According to Thompson, the vendors approach to the channel involves combining its technology with partners co-innovation, particularly with integrated service vendors (ISVs), to bring to life the broader conversations with customers. Another area where partners see significant value and are increasingly onboard is navigating the challenging market conditions, he said. Securing budget approvals for new projects is tougher than ever. Partners are finding that Qualtrics provides crucial data proof points to pinpoint where customers face their most significant challenges and how they prioritise changes and initiatives. Ultimately, this foundational dataset guides strategic decision-making up to the board level, informing critical changes, said Thompson. Our advisory partners leverage this capability to drive conversations and seal major business transformation deals, he said. Were not seeing many of those $50-$60 million software deals or engagements with large companies, he said. Its really about identifying opportunities in the APJ market and leveraging partnerships with global organisations to ensure seamless regional integration. Reflecting on Thompsons experience over the past 17 years at Microsoft and now at Qualtrics, Australia has consistently been an agile and small enough market to pioneer new technologies. Going back 30 years to the deregulation of the telecommunications market, Australia was among the first countries to embrace this change, he said. I was talking to a local but quite prominent partner about their vision to work with councils or state governments on citizen experience. How do we address issues like underrepresented communities and their participation in local government? How do we apply innovative and forward-thinking practices from Australia? Theres a lot to learn here that we can take back to the US, like how theyre working with state governments on security and GDPR. These initiatives, such as those around security in California, are very promising. I am hopeful and excited about my experience here in Australia. According to Thompson, the company is focused and invested in the local channel community. Were not here to run a multilevel channel at this point, he said. Were here to become focused and drive meaningful conversations with clients to ensure that customers get real value. Were not looking for a hundred people to sell and move on. Qualtrics has some partners who are good at specific things, which helps its sellers understand who to call because they have customers that fit those scenarios. Thats where the company wants to drive focus with its new partners. We dont want to sign up partners who cant drive a channel or do anything specific, he said. For example, Qualtrics is working with a local partner that will use its technology to examine a persons process when injured at work. If someone has a severe injury and an ambulance is called, we want to track whether they are kept in touch with and if they are attending their physio appointments, he said. This has real implications for both businesses and employees. We could potentially analyse an organisations risk and help major insurers reduce premiums if certain risk levels are met, ensuring employees return to work sooner. This is 100 per cent partner-driven, noted Thompson. They are testing it with clients, refining the theories and investing in the product, he said. Ideally, wed like to showcase this at our next channel partner event in Sydney. With the addition of Azure OpenAI, TALs engineering team is developing strong use cases across its business, where benefits to employees, customers and partners can be realised at scale and safely. One use case focuses on streamlining customer and employee insurance claims processing. Developed using Azure OpenAI Service, the Claims Assist Knowledge Search is a search assistant for TALs Claims and Customer Service teams, tapping into TALs knowledge bank to help them respond to customer queries faster. The life insurer is also developing a solution that automates manual email indexing using AI and robotics to improve efficiency and accuracy. Hinesh Chauhan, chief information officer at TAL, said it was adopting technology to lead with digital in the life insurance sector. This acquisition will enable efex to leverage the technical skills of Aish ITs team, particularly in network engineering, while offering Aish customers economies of scale and expanded product range of a larger national business. This includes the upcoming launch in July 2024 of efexs MS Cyber Lite solution, an all-in-one subscription-based, scalable solution that suits growing SMBs who need IT basics with cyber protection that is central to the product. This acquisition is part of our broader acquisition strategy for 2024, which aims to significantly increase our footprint across Australia in areas where we are experiencing strong growth in addition to places where we dont currently have a presence, efex CEO Nick Sheehan said. We are delighted to welcome Michael, David and their exceptional team to efex. This partnership allows Aish to benefit from the economies of scale efex brings, as well as our combined ability to bring innovative solutions to both efex and Aish clients. Aish IT will continue to operate autonomously, maintaining its strong local brand and reputation. The business will also retain Aish IT employees, with longevity and skills of its people a key part of the deal. With an average tenure of 14 years, the teams expertise spans key areas including solution design, virtualisation and automation. Our clients can rest assured that there will be no changes to our brand or the high-quality services they have come to rely on, Michael Aish said. Joining efex means we can offer our customers even greater value through additional resources and products, such as the upcoming launch of efexs MS Cyber Lite product in July 2024. The acquisition of Aish IT will increase efexs presence in South Australia by more than 10% in both client base and headcount, making Adelaide one of efexs largest regional operations. The South Australian Aish IT business will continue to be led by its current leadership team, working closely with efexs SA branch manager Dean Brogan to ensure seamless integration and continued excellence in service delivery. This acquisition demonstrates our strategy to grow both organically and through acquisition when opportunities arise, Sheehan said. We see South Australia as a major source of talent for efex, and we are excited to work with the Aish team to enhance their ability to service and scale clients with great products and services. Mumbai: Both houses of the Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday unanimously passed a proposal to request the Central Government to rename seven local railway stations in Mumbai. As per the proposal, Marine Lines railway station will be called Mumbadevi, Charni Road will be named as Girgaon, while Cotton Green will be named as Kala Chowki. Other stations also include Dockyard Road (Majhgaon), Curry Road (Lalbaug), Sandhurst Road (Dongri) and Kings Circle (Tirthankar Parshvanath). Meanwhile, senior Congress legislator Dr. Nitin Raut demanded in the legislative Assembly to rename Dadar station as Chaityabhoomi. Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Dada Bhuse moved the proposal in the Council earlier in the day. The proposal was unanimously passed by the Council as names of most of the stations were given by the British and have no local relevance. In the evening, Mr. Bhuse moved the same proposal in the Legislative Assembly, which also passed. Taking a part into the discussion, Dr. Raut said that since the state government has been requesting the central government to change the names of several railway stations in Mumbai, it should urge the central government to change the name of Dadar station as Chaityabhoomi, which is the cremation place of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The senior Congress legislator told this newspaper that the followers of Dr. Ambedkar had been demanding to rename Dadar station as Chaityabhoomi for a long time. The government should request the central government in this regard as Dadar also houses the residence of Dr. BR Ambedkar. In addition to this, Dr. Ambedkar was cremated at Chaityabhoomi, which has been a place of worship for his lakhs of followers. The BJP-led Mahayuti government does not have respect for Dr. Ambedkar. Therefore, they did not respond to my demands in the House, Mr. Raut said. In 2016, the state government passed a similar proposal to rename Elphinstone Road as Prabhadevi. In 2018, the central government approved the demand and the station on the western line is now called Prabhadevi. In Irans just-concluded presidential election runoff, the two final candidates were the moderate Masoud Pezeshkian and the ultra-conservative Saeed Jalili. A total of six candidates had stood for election. A week earlier two conservative candidates had dropped out. None of the four remaining candidates reached the 50 per cent needed for a win. Mr Pezeshkian and Mr Jalili, with the most votes, qualified for the July 6 runoff, where Mr Pezeshkian got 16.3 million votes, a clear three million more than Mr Jalili. This is an important turn of events in Irans leadership. Since 1979, when theocratic Islamists led by Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the monarchy of the Shah of Iran, the country has been under ultra-conservative rule. Womens rights and freedoms in and out of the home are severely restricted and by law, they are forced to wear the head covering hijab. Mr Pezeshkian, in his campaign, advocated limited social reforms and engagement with the West, including with the United States over the lifting of sanctions and Irans nuclear programme. And more space for womens rights. In the presidential debate, he said he agreed with the mandatory dress code and that all women in his family wear the chador, the long, loose black cloak that covers the entire body from head to toe. But he also questioned the way womens dress codes are enforced in Iran, adding that he wouldnt tell anyone how to dress. He said in Iran women are seen as second-class citizens, created only for the sake of the family, and this needed to change, and that women exist side by side with men in the economy, science and industry, and they should be returned to this position. This is obviously good. While media coverage outside Iran has focused more on sanctions which affected the economy and Irans nuclear programme during the campaigns, women too put their demands forward. The political and economic issues in Iran weigh heavy upon the citizenry and people are demoralised over the theocratic regimes control over their lives. Both civil society groups and the womens movement have increasingly become vocal on the need for change. The womens movement has challenged the theocratic regime since it began. Women organised the first anti-theocracy demonstration on March 8, 1979, just weeks after the regimes foundation. Since then, Iranian feminists and womens rights activists have been organising and are well-positioned to lead the larger demands for democracy, justice, and freedom. Today, many are articulating the steps necessary to reach their goals for liberation. The government naturally sees the womens movement as a threat. In the early 2000s, hardliners declared involvement in the womens movement as a threat to national security. But women have persisted, despite the threats, kidnappings, arrests and deaths. Among the many campaigns started by women, in 2006 the One Million Signatures for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws, also known as Change for Equality, was a campaign to collect one million signatures in support of changing discriminatory laws against women. The campaign looked to secure equal rights in marriage and inheritance, an end to polygamy, and stricter punishments for honour killings and other forms of violence. Activists of the movement were attacked and jailed by the government. No surprise here. But womens protests and organising continued despite the crackdown of the government. Iranian women reached out to women in other Islamic countries and put before the international community what they call the gendered apartheid of women in their countries. These are laws that discriminated against them based on their sex, depriving them of their human rights. In more recent times, the protests have become much more personal and individual. The number of women and girls violating the hijab laws have increased considerably. There are estimates that at least 20 per cent of Iranian women appear in public unveiled despite the States threats of arrest and harassment. University campuses, student and faculty organisations, labour unions, teachers associations and arts communities are the focal points for activism and exchange. To prove solidarity and their frustration with the State, the protesters have been non-violently organising nationwide strikes, sit-ins, and boycotts in support of the women-led protests. Many businesses, particularly restaurants and cafes, risk closure by continuing to serve improperly veiled women in defiance of State pressure. There is support and sympathy for women and the public defiance is an interesting turn in the womens movement, aided and abetted by the public. How long can people be suppressed? The Pezeshkian win is a good sign that it may be possible to open up a dialogue about Iran opening up to the West, talking with the United States over the nuclear programme and extending human rights to its citizens, especially women. While analysts and sceptics point out that he may not be able to do much, given that absolute authority still resides with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, who is the highest power in the land, appointing the heads of the judiciary, military and media. He also confirms the election of the President. But we may yet be surprised. If the election win is a sign to go by, there could be more positive surprises. In 2023, members of the Iranian feminist movement drafted and publicised an Iran Womens Bill of Rights outlining their demands for absolute gender equality and justice in 20 articles, to be included in the future constitution of Iran. Could this become a reality? At the time of Indias Independence, the Dalai Lamas government in Lhasa had little experience in diplomacy; to give an example -- the Tibetan Kashag (council of ministers) wrote to Mao Zedong threatening him that if did not immediately return the areas occupied by some Chinese warlords in eastern Tibet, dire consequences would follow. A tiny David trying to bully a giant Goliath. The Great Helmsman was not bothered; he knew that the Land of Snows had no muscle to back up its threat, but the large monasteries around Lhasa were convinced that with the truth on their side, they could twist anyones arm. Soon the Western powers and India began to advise the Tibetan government not to rock the boat; and this became a leitmotiv. On November 3, 1949, the Kashag sent a message to the US secretary of state, asking for support for Tibets admission to the United Nations: As Tibet being an independent state, we have no dangers from other [Western] foreign countries, but in view of the spread of Communism and their successes in China, there is now an imminent danger of Communist aggression towards Tibet. The Tibetan note added: The entire world knows that Tibet and Communist China cannot have any common sympathy by reasons of religion and principles of life which are just the opposite. As Lhasas first objective was to defend Tibet against impending threat of Communists, a similar appeal was sent to the Indian and British governments. However, as nobody was keen to rock the boat, why did they try to unnecessarily infuriate the Chinese? At the end of 1949, the British government in London reiterated that Tibet was an independent nation, though out of fear of rocking the boat, they kept it very discreet. It was however confirmed by a cable from the US ambassador in India, Loy Henderson, to Dean Acheson, the US secretary of state. Henderson quoted a Hansard report (official record of UK parliamentary debates) of December 14, 1949, republishing a letter from Antony Eden, then Britains foreign secretary, to Dr T.V. Soong, the Chinese foreign minister, of August 5, 1943, which noted that Tibet was a de facto independent nation. It had been agreed in the British Parliament, however, that on the ground, the boat should not be rocked. Resolve the Tibet Act These historical facts came back to mind when news from Washington flashed that the US Senate and House of Representatives had passed a Resolve Tibet Act. This law states that the claims made by officials of the Peoples Republic of China and the Communist Party of China that Tibet has been a part of China since ancient times are historically inaccurate. The Resolve Tibet Act also speaks of Beijings current policies which are systematically suppressing the ability of the Tibetan people to preserve their religion, culture, language, history, way of life, and environment. Perhaps more meaningful is the following point: US public diplomacy efforts should counter disinformation about Tibet from [Beijing], including disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama. It is not much different from the December 1949 resolution in the British Parliament. US delegations visit to India But this time, former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to rock the boat. Along with other members of a US congressional delegation, she visited India and McLeodganj near Dharamsala, the seat of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, where the US party had an audience with the Dalai Lama (and even attended a trance of the Nechung State Oracle). In Dharamsala, Ms Pelosi really rocked; she targeted President Xi Jinping and praised the Dalai Lamas enduring legacy. She said: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with his message of knowledge, tradition, compassion, purity of soul and love, will live a long time and his legacy will live forever. But you, the President of China, youll be gone and nobody will give you credit for anything. Ms Pelosi added: The Dalai Lama would not approve of my saying that when I criticise the Chinese government, he [would] say, lets pray for Nancy to rid her of her negative attitudes. The visit of Ms Pelosi had the merit not only to rock the boat, but also to wake up the Indian government (and Dharamsala) from its slumber, which has unfortunately resulted in a large-scale emigration of Tibetans from India to the West. Why did the American delegation visit Dharamsala just a few days before the Dalai Lama leaves for the United States for a knee surgery? Probably Washington was keen to bring India on board on the Tibetan issue. And indeed, India got involved. The next day the same delegation was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The Prime Minister tweeted: Had a very good exchange of views with friends from the US Congress in a delegation led by @RepMcCaul, Chairman of @HouseForeignGOP. Deeply value the strong bipartisan support in advancing India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Though the T word was not mentioned, the meeting happened just one day after the rocket Ms Pelosi issued in Dharamsala. Will this trigger a change of policy vis-a-vis Tibet in Modi 3.0? Recently, I studied the debates in the Indian Parliament to find statistics regarding the T word: how many times had Tibet been mentioned in the House. Looking at the transcripts of the Rajya Sabha debates between 2006 and 2023, I discovered with utter stupefaction that over the years, members of Parliament had used the T word less and less. While between 2006 and 2012, in questions or statements, Tibet appears between 30 and 40 times in a year (it does not mean a debate on Tibet, just the word Tibet being used in relation with the border or financial issues), it then begins to decline. From 2014 onwards, it was first used 19 and 15 times in 2014 and 2015, and thereafter less than 10 times, to end up at four times in 2023. Why this total disinterest of Indian parliamentarians for Tibet (while the Tibetan plateau remains vital for Indias security, particularly in the northern sectors)? They were probably told not to rock the boat. This has to change. One can only hope that the newly-elected MPs will spend more time looking at what is happening on the other side of the Himalayas and will debate it in Parliament. The time has come for official contacts between the Indian government and the Dalai Lama, who turned 89 on July 6, to increase in frequency and intensity. This will be undoubtedly in Indias interests. Today's news: In Myanmar more than a quarter of public schools are closed due to the war; New Caledonia elected a pro-independence candidate to the Farnese National Assembly for the first time; North Sumatra court acquitts former government official accused of slavery; Indian universities are strengthening relations with Israel. INDIA Five soldiers were killed in an ambush set by suspected militants in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir territory. Reinforcements arrived quickly and a search operation was launched to track down the attackers. Kashmir has been the scene of an armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1989. MYANMAR More than a quarter, about 13,700 out of Myanmar's 48,753 public schools, have been closed due to the country's civil war, the Ministry of Education of the military junta said. In the western state of Chin, which has seen fierce fighting since the 2021 military coup, only 38 schools out of about 1,500 are still open, according to figures released by the ministry. OCEANIA For the first time in almost four decades, New Caledonia elected a pro-independence candidate, Emmanuel Tjibaou, to the French National Assembly in elections that ended last Sunday. It was another setback for the French loyalists, while unrest continued in the Pacific island territory despite substantial security reinforcements sent from Paris. INDONESIA An Indonesian court acquitted a former government official accused of human trafficking after people were found in cages near his palm oil plantation, a ruling that the country's rights body said established impunity for state actors. Prosecutors promised to appeal Monday's decision by judges of a North Sumatra court. ISRAEL - INDIA Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Indian universities have intensified ties with Israeli universities and arms companies, despite the fact that several institutions in the US and the UK have been forced to review exchanges due to the rising death toll, Middle East Eye reveals. In recent months, Indian universities have increased collaborations in the fields of defence, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). KAZAKHSTAN The international military exercise Birlestik-2024 ('Union-2024'), in which military contingents from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are taking part, has begun in the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan, with the aim of 'carrying out armed conflict localisation operations', with over 4,000 soldiers deployed. CHINA - NORTH KOREA Trade between Beijing and Pyongyang is expanding, whereby the Russians will start importing soap, shampoo, toilet paper and other personal hygiene items from North Korea. There are also plans to open up to textiles and clothing, banned by UN sanctions, but the Koreans only produce 'traditional' jeans, not the tight, ripped ones. Relatives of victims killed in one of two Max 737 jetliner crashes blasted the proposed plea deal under which aircraft manufacturer Boeing would avoid trial for conspiring to mislead regulators about flaws in a crucial flight-control system. "Miscarriage of justice is a gross understatement in describing this," Zipporah Kuria of England said in a statement Monday. "It is an atrocious abomination." Kuria, whose father Joseph died in the 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also said that "God forbid, if this happens again," she hoped the Justice Department "is reminded that it had the opportunity to do something meaningful and instead chose not to." Ike Riffel of California, whose two sons, Melvin and Bennett, died in the crash, said, "Without full transparency and accountability nothing will change," according to CNN. "With this deal, there will be no investigation, there will be no expert witness testimony, there will be no perpetrators of these crimes to answer the charges in court," Riffel said in a statement. Aerospace engineer Javier de Luis, whose sister Graziella de Luis was killed on Flight 302, said, "When the next crash happens, every DOJ official that signed off on this deal will be as responsible as the Boeing executives that refuse to put safety ahead of profits." Lawyers representing the families of victims of Flight 302 and the 2018 crash of Lion Air Flight 610 into the Java Sea off Indonesia said in court papers that their clients would challenge the deal under terms of the Crime Victims' Rights Act, ABC News reported. "The families intend to argue that the plea deal with Boeing unfairly makes concessions to Boeing that other criminal defendants would never receive and fails to hold Boeing accountable for the deaths of 346 persons," the lawyers wrote. The DOJ said in a statement that the agreement, which requires approval by a judge, "protects the American public" by requiring Boeing to "make historic investments to strengthen and integrate its compliance and safety programs." The statement also noted that the deal was "providing no immunity to any individual employees, including corporate executives, for any conduct." Boeing confirmed it had "reached an agreement in principle" with prosecutors but declined to comment further. by Dario Salvi The Vicar of Southern Arabia officiated at the inauguration of construction work on a new pastoral centre in Ghala. Msgr. Martinelli: 'For children, young people and adults to grow in the faith'. The sultanate's diplomatic work in a conflict-torn Middle East. There are still steps to be taken in the area of rights and gender equality. Milan (AsiaNews) - An event that embraces the entire community and, at the same time, the face of a migrant and frontier Church that is growing in a context in which, despite the difficulties and unresolved critical elements, there is a wide margin of freedom both socially and in freedom of worship. The foundation stone-laying ceremony for a new building, part of the parish of Ghala in Mascate, capital of the Sultanate of Oman, was a festive occasion for the entire Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, which includes neighbouring Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where it has its seat. The function was held last weekend and concerns a structure that will play a strategic role in the development of parish activities and in responding to the needs of the faithful, who have long been asking for a place for catechism or to promote meetings, in a missionary perspective. At the service of formation "I am happy to be here with you," emphasised Monsignor Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of South Arabia, "and to be able to lay the foundation stone of a new building that will be at the service of this parish. The new structure, he continued, will serve as a "pastoral centre for Christian formation initiatives, catechism, and priests' residence" and will make it possible to better organise pastoral care "for children, youth, and adults to grow in faith". In his speech, the prelate recalled the role of prophets in the Bible and the Second Vatican Council, which assigns a 'prophetic' role to the people of God. "In a certain sense," he affirmed, "we are all prophets, as we have been baptised, we have received Confirmation, we have a sense of faith and above all we are animated by different charisms that the Holy Spirit never ceases to give to the Church. "In our time," he warns, "we have many lay associations and movements that help us to rediscover our baptism and to be prophets, that is, bearers of the word of God in daily life, in our families, among young people, friends, society and schools. To be a prophetic people,' he concludes, '[...] we must train ourselves in the Christian life constantly. In recent years, the Catholic community in Oman has grown significantly, highlighting the need for new spaces and infrastructure, especially in the Ghala area, which has experienced a real demographic boom over the years. The relocation of the main ministerial offices and the economic and business heartland from Ruwi to Ghala itself has led to a substantial growth in the population, including many Catholic families, while highlighting the inadequacies of the existing structures. One figure above all: the number of children has risen from less than 100 at the beginning in 1987, to over 2,000 today. The church structures were not only inadequate in size, but also lacked the means of modernity to guarantee effective catechetical instruction and parish and community activities. To continue fulfilling its mission, the Church therefore had to invest in a more resilient and larger infrastructure. A stone for new generations The idea of a new building for pastoral care emerged during the first visit of the then newly appointed vicar Monsignor Martinelli in February 2023. The vicar apostolic, who has made the Christian education of children, young people and adults one of his priorities, considering it one of the pillars of the Church's mission in the Gulf, recognised the importance of this request. It was also fuelled by the willingness of many parents and lay people to be catechists, with the need for a suitable space to carry out the mission. The parish priest, Fr. George Vadukkut, presented the design drawing of the new building in January 2024, and after approval by the vicariate and the government, a blessing ceremony was held on 13 June, and the laying of the foundation stone in recent days. The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Ahmed Khamis Masood Al Bahri, director of Oman's Ministry of Religious Endowments and Religious Affairs. In presenting his work, Fr George emphasises the crucial importance" for the "new generations" who need "motivation" and "guidance" from the Church "to navigate the complexities of modern life". The priests' residence, he explains, will provide "a conducive environment" for clergy to live and work, enhancing their "ability to support and guide our community". "This project," he concludes, "is a testimony to the extraordinary cooperation and dedication of our parishioners, reflecting our shared commitment to fostering a strong, faith-filled community. Religious freedom, a political balancing act The Sultanate of Oman is located in the south-eastern part of the region, is divided into 11 governorates and 61 provinces, and has a population of about 4.5 million people; they are predominantly Arabs, but there is also a substantial percentage of foreign workers from other Middle Eastern countries, as well as the Philippines, India and Pakistan. Like many nations in the area, it has an economy based on hydrocarbons, especially natural gas, combined with the tourism sector. Islam is the state religion and the Sharia is the main source of law, but the principle of religious freedom and the prohibition of denominational discrimination are also affirmed. Eighty-six per cent of the inhabitants are Muslim, and Christians make up 6.5% of the population of about 300,000 people, of whom 70% are Catholic, 13% Orthodox and 6% Protestant; the remaining 11% are independent groups or small communities. The faithful are almost exclusively economic migrants from other Asian countries, particularly the Philippines and India, and live in the large urban centres, from the capital Mascate to Sohar and Salalah. The territory is part of the Apostolic Vicariate of South Arabia, based in Abu Dhabi, while there are four parishes, two in Mascate, the capital, one in Salalah and one in Sohar, and 12 resident priests. In March 2022, the local Church celebrated the first priestly ordination, Fr Dickson Eugene, from the Salesian province of Bangalore, who grew up in Oman. Politically, Mascate has for years been manoeuvring behind the scenes as a balancing element between Iran (Shia) and the Sunni universe, from Riyadh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, which have long been fighting proxy wars in Yemen and other areas of the regional chessboard. In the past, Oman has been recognised by the Vatican for its contribution in the negotiations on the release of Indian Salesian Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Aden in March 2016 in the jihadist assault on the house of the Missionaries of Charity in which four religious women died. A relationship consolidated over time and which led the Holy See and Muscat in February 2023 to establish full diplomatic relations, with the opening of nunciature and embassy and the goal of promoting "greater mutual understanding" and "strengthening friendship and cooperation". While enjoying general respect for religious freedom, there is no shortage of critical elements in the recent past, such as the trial of four people in a case dubbed 'Ghaith spaces', from the name used on social media for discussions and confrontations. The members of the group were arrested in 2021 on charges of violations of the Internet and Information Act, for disseminating material that violates 'the values of faith and public order' and imprisoned. Activist movements denounce the still current use of the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in some areas, despite a ban in 2019 following a regulation that declared the practice illegal. There is also a lack of strict laws against domestic violence and protection policies for victims, and a lack of gender equality and equal rights in marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody. Finally, on the subject of migrant workers, a regulation for the private sector, where 80 per cent are foreigners, came into force on 25 July last year: a number of improvements were introduced, including the reduction of the maximum working week from 45 to 40 hours, an increase in paid sick leave and the possibility for employees to leave an employer if the latter does not pay wages for two consecutive months, even if there are loopholes in discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment. THE 'GATEWAY TO THE EAST' IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE MIDDLE EAST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY TUESDAY ON YOUR EMAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT THIS LINK by Sumon Corraya The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council today released its annual report on the persecution of ethnic-religious minorities in the country. About 1,045 incidents of violence were recorded in the past year, with 45 deaths. For lawyer Rana Dasgupta, The environment for free religious practice has been completely narrowed. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Some 1,045 episodes of violence, torture and oppression against religious and ethnic minorities have occurred in Bangladesh over the past year, resulting in the death of 45 people, this according to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC). The findings on violence and persecution of religious-ethnic minorities in the country are based on media reports from July 2023 to June 2024, BHBCUC secretary general Rana Dasgupta, a lawyer, said during a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka today in the presence of Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian leaders. The report notes that 70-75 per cent of violence against minorities is centred on land grabbing, often under the influence of political parties and with the complicity of government agencies. At the press conference, Rana Dasgupta said that these incidents are part of organised violence. "A comparative review of communal violence in past years shows that the incidence of violence has not changed much even today, he explained. At the time of the 1970 elections, the minority population was about 19 per cent. Now it has come down to 8.6 per cent. The environment for free religious practice has been completely narrowed. Religious events are being organised under police guard." In addition to the 45 murders, the report mentions 10 attempted murders and 36 death threats. A total of 479 people were attacked, physically abused, or injured. About 11 people were victims of extorsion. There were 102 attacks, acts of vandalism, looting and arson involving homes and businesses, 47 incidents of encroachment on land and homesteads, 45 cases of land occupation, eviction activities, and threats, as well as 11 episodes of threats or attempts at forced emigration. There were 25 cases of gang rape, while 12 people were abducted, went missing or forced to convert. Eight people were arrested on trumped-up charges of blasphemy. The last parliamentary elections saw 32 incidents of communal violence while local elections reported five incidents of this kind. Dasgupta notes alarmingly that the influence of extremist groups is growing in all areas, including the government administration, politics, and society, making minority communities more insecure and distrustful, forcing many of their members leave the country. BHBCUC chairman, Nirmol Rozario, a Catholic, called on the Awami League to implement the pledges it made in its election manifesto, including the creation of a national minority commission to prevent the persecution of minorities and the drafting of a law to grant them special protection. Persecution of faith minorities will decline if the Bangladesh government fulfils their manifesto for the minority, Rozario said. For his part, Rana Dasgupta also stressed the need to set up a national minority commission to prevent the persistent persecution of minorities, as promised in the Awami League's election manifesto. After a series of drone raids, the Israeli military declared the area where the facility is located a red zone" forcing the evacuation of patients. For Primate Welby, Hospitals must be protected under international humanitarian law. Pope Francis expressed his deep shock at the escalation of violence, saddened by the attacks against the Ukrainian children's hospital and the Latin Patriarchate school in Gaza. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) While the world is mourning and rightly denouncing the Russian attack against Kyivs Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital, which treats paediatric cancer patients, another hospital has been forcibly closed following an act of war in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army has imposed the evacuation of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, known as "the hospital of sharing", run by the Anglican Church. The facility was the target of a very brutal attack at the start of the war, with huge loss of innocent lives. Now the latest Israeli operation in Gaza City has sparked words of condemnation from Archbishop Justin Welby, Primate of All England, who said that "under international humanitarian law" hospitals and clinics "must be protected". The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a protest against the closure and evacuation" of the facility in the strongest possible terms, as well as the attack on an ambulance en route to the hospital. The hospital is located near the Sacred Family Latin parish whose school was recently struck. Pope Francis also referred too events in Gaza, which is front page news all over the world. The Holy Father has learned with great sorrow the news about the attacks against two medical centres in Kyiv, including the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, as well as against a school in Gaza, reads a press release by the Holy See Press Office. The Pope expresses his deep shock at the escalation of violence. While expressing sympathy for the victims and the innocent wounded, he hopes and prays that practical pathways can soon be identified to put an end to the ongoing conflicts. Israels military operation in Gaza City led on Sunday to the order to close the al-Alhi Arab Hospital and the forced transfer of all patients, after the area was declared a red zone. The decision came after a series of nearby drone attacks, the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem said in a statement. The latter runs the medical facility. In the face of intense Israeli bombardment, this closure puts injured and sick people in even greater danger, said Archbishop Welby. I join Archbishop Hosams appeal to the Israel Defence Forces to allow the hospital to continue its sacred and courageous work of caring for people in desperate need, he added. To relieve the immense suffering in the Holy Land, I continue to pray and call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and for unfettered aid for the people of Gaza. The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem also spoke out against the forced closure, concerned that the sick and injured are in great jeopardy now that the facility is out of operation at a time when demand is greatest, while injured and sick people have few other options for places to receive urgent medical care. In a time of warfare and great suffering it is essential that emergency healthcare services are maintained to treat the injured and the dying, said Archbishop Hosam Naoum who joined the protest against the closure. We appeal to the Israeli forces to permit us to continue our sacred ministry of medical care and healing. We plead for an end to the targeting of civilians and all vulnerable people and demand all parties agree to an immediate ceasefire, he added. Founded in 1882, al-Ahli Arab Hospital is located in Gaza City, in the northern sector. The war in Gaza has affected all aspects of life due to restrictions on the movement of materials and people, caused power and food shortages, with water, fuel, and medicines beginning to run out. The 80-bed facility is capable of handling about 3,500 outpatient visits a month, according to the website of the Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the facility and is part of the Anglican Communion. According to the hospitals records, doctors at Al Ahli Arab can handle about 300 operations and 600 radiology cases a month, with a screening programme for early detection of breast cancer for women over 40. It offers free clinics for elderly women and mobile clinics providing free medical care and food to people from nearby towns and villages. The hospital also sponsored the Gazas first physician training for Minimally Invasive Surgery. Plans are in development for adding a cancer centre with radiation treatment. The meeting taking place in the city scarred by the wound of the atomic bomb also involves Eastern religious traditions in the Rome Call for AI Ethics, promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life. A specific addendum on the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence added to the 2020 principles on the safeguarding of peace and the dignity of every person. Hiroshima (AsiaNews) - "In Hiroshima, a place of very high symbolic value, we strongly invoke peace, and we ask that technology be an engine of peace and reconciliation between peoples. We are here to say loudly that being together and acting together is the only possible solution'. These were the opening words of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, today on the first of the two days of AI Ethics for Peace, an event through to promote a coomon commitment to an ethics of artificial intelligence, brought forward since 2020 by the Holy See together with exponents of the Jewish and Muslim worlds, the FAO and some large IT companies and now extended to involve representatives of the religions of the East. The meeting will have its central moment tomorrow with the signing ceremony by the representatives of the regions of the Rome Call for Ai Ethics, the document indicating a series of principles for algorethics, i.e. an ethics that keeps the person and justice at the centre in relations between peoples in the development and application of artificial intelligence. The signing will take place significantly at the Memorial Park commemorating the victims of the American atomic bombing in 1945, and after hearing the words of a survivor of that tragedy, the result of an inhuman form of development of technology. "Our mission as Religions for Peace Japan," said its president, Buddhist monk Yoshiharu Tomatsu, in the opening session, "is to provide support and guidance for efforts to improve equality and mutual respect for individuals and institutions throughout society, based on our common spiritual goals. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have led to the emergence of powerful new tools that have the potential to help such efforts or, if used for other purposes, greatly undermine them. Recognising these challenges, we pledge to uphold our commitments to promote inclusiveness and mutual respect for all." "Cooperation, solidarity and working together are necessary to address developments in artificial intelligence, where interests, harms and benefits are intermingled, to ensure that its systems and products are not only technically advanced but also morally sound," added for his part Mauritanian Muslim Abdallah Bin Bayyah, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum and the UAE Council for Fatwa. "As people of faith, we have a unique responsibility to infuse our AI research with moral clarity and ethical integrity. We use AI not only as a tool for progress, but also as a means to deepen our connection with the divine and strengthen our spiritual journey." said Rabbi Eliezer Simha Weisz, member of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel's Commission for Interreligious Relations. Particularly significant was the speech by Fr Paolo Benanti, an Italian religious and one of the pioneers in the study of the ethical implications of these new frontiers of technology, who presented the Hiroshima Addendum on generative artificial intelligence, a new text that will complement the Rome Call for Ai Ethics (drafted in 2020), delving into this dimension that today represents the new frontier of this technological development. The importance of this moment was also underlined by the big tech leaders present. "With its deep place in human history, Hiroshima serves as an exciting backdrop to help ensure that a technology created by humanity serves all of humanity and our common home," said Microsoft President Brad Smith, one of the first signatories of the Rome Call for AI Ethics. "AI is a technology that has implications in every country, sector, and value system - and its benefits should impact all of humanity," added Dario Gil, IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research. "We believe that ensuring the widest possible participation is a critical step towards a global approach to responsible AI," said Dave West, President of Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China at Cisco. by Vladimir Rozanskij The Silema website recounts the conditions of refugees who fled not to fight in the war against Ukraine interned in the Mutsenieka camp. The dramas of those who are on the margins of the ongoing conflict and are not welcomed by either side. Riga (AsiaNews/Agencies) - According to Latvia's customs offices, 13,683 people crossed the border from Russia and Belarus illegally in 2023, and only 428 were recognised as refugees for humanitarian reasons. In 2024 a total of only 126 people tried to enter, with a tighter border surveillance regime, and only a few were allowed to stay legally in the Baltic country. These are people seeking a better life and fleeing the war, which yesterday showed again all its horror with the missile fired at the children's hospital in Kiev. Men who do not want to die or kill, are afraid of mobilisation or of being forcibly recruited into the invaders' army. They are citizens of Russia, or migrants from Central Asia living in Russia, who aspire to obtain European visas even if they cross the borders clandestinely, turn themselves in to the authorities and ask for asylum. While their claims are assessed, they are detained in camps, hostels or directly in prison. The Sistema website has tried to get in touch with them as they await their fate for months or years. One of the refugee camps is located in Mutsenieka, a few kilometres from Riga, the capital of Latvia, just beyond the huge Ikea complex. If you go there by bus, at the last stops you no longer find any Latvian citizens, and you are together with Nigerians, Syrians, Libyans, Moroccans, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Russians of mixed nationality, those most likely to be sent to the front, in a mixture of national languages and customs. In Mutsenieka there are two centres, one open and one closed to the public, i.e. a hostel and a prison, with very similar living standards. In the 'open' centre, the difference is the noise and cheerfulness, despite the less than favourable conditions. There are many volunteers who bring something to eat, although the daily menu does not go much beyond a bowl of plain rice. In the 'closed' centre, as Said, one of the refugees, puts it, 'it is very quiet, but the food is much better'; he was locked up for six months, and now lives in the hostel, free to talk to journalists. His friend Ibrahim (fictitious name, lest he be repatriated to Russia), was held in the lager for two years. One of the correspondents managed to get the prison door open by shouting in Russian, until one of the guards came out and said 'I knew that only a Russian can come to these places with his legs, who is he supposed to meet? However, all inmates have the right to meet people by calling with the prison phone and agreeing to an appointment, and subjecting themselves to yet another search. The Sistema correspondents managed to meet Ibrahim, in a tracksuit, well washed and shaved, cheerful and helpful, who speaks Russian without an accent. The refugee said he was an official of one of the prefectures of a city in the Caucasus, and while repairing one of the computers, he had found documents with a list of people who were to be kidnapped, for ransom or to be sent to the war in Ukraine. Ibrahim decided to warn all the people threatened with kidnapping, and the next day the mother of one of them came to the prefecture to complain, saying she was going to write to Putin, and only thanks to a good person had she managed to get her son away. The same evening, Ibrahim fled to Poland, but was stopped at the Belarusian border, until by other means, after vicissitudes between France and Turkey, he ended up in the Latvian lager, trying to avoid repatriation to Russia, which 'would be a death sentence'. There are many stories like these, they are the dramas of those who stand on the margins of the ongoing conflict and are not welcomed by one side or the other, because there is no side where only 'the good' live. Photo: Flickr / Eduards Osis Cars make their way to Hobby Airport in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Houston Airports said they have resumed operations after Hurricane Beryl on Monday caused hundreds of flight cancelations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. Though some flights resumed Monday night, airport operations are still limited. Due to a travel waiver policy, passengers will be able to rebook any flights scheduled July 7-9 for no additional cost. Guest make their way toward security at Bush Intercontinental Airport after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer As of Tuesday afternoon, George Bush Intercontinental Airport was experiencing 117 delayed flights and 312 cancelled flights, according to the website FlightAware. For William P Hobby, the website listed 56 flight delays and eight cancellations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A release Tuesday morning from the Houston Airport System public information office said that the maintenance team continues to assess and make repairs within the airport. At least one escalator and a break room at IAH need attention due to damages, according to the release. As operations resume, Houston Aiports cautioned travelers to verify their flight's status and beware of the risks associated with traveling to the airport. "As a result, even Tier 1 airport workers deemed essential employees may face challenges making it to work," Houston Airports said in a statement. "We ask passengers to extend patience and understanding as the airports may experience extended TSA and ticketing lines, limited concessions, amenities and essential services in the immediate days after Hurricane Beryl." Following Beryl's strongest winds Monday, Houston Airports reviewed the facilities and initiated any necessary repairs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to Houston Airports, trouble spots for getting to the airport could be Will Clayton Parkway at IAH and Airport Boulevard and Telephone Road near Hobby airport because those areas experienced debris and fallen trees. A post on X (formerly Twitter) from Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday morning, urged travelers to allow extra time when driving to IAH. "Some traffic lights around the airport are without power. Crews are working on restoring them. This outage might cause delays on your trip to IAH," according to the post. Representatives from the public information office at the Houston Airport System are asking passengers to extend patience and understanding as the airports may experience extended TSA and check-in lines, limited concessions and services in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl due to a decrease in staff. "Airlines are working to fly in additional staff to manage ticket counters, rebooking counters and provide customer service as local airline workers are also dealing with the aftermath of Beryl," the statement said. "The City of Houston is also urging people to stay off the road if they can, to allow the recovery process to make significant progress today. Our airports are operational but are also in recovery mode as airlines continue to return planes and personnel to our airports." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston Airports 28 airline partners are updating their flight schedules today however, flights are expected to be limited. 9 July 2024 13:00 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) plans to actively participate in COP29 and organize discussions to mitigate climate change effects, Afghan Isayev, Vice President, told Euronews. Isayev stressed SOCAR's collaboration with national and international oil companies for sustainable future projects, aiming to lead regional energy transformation. SOCAR aims to diversify its energy portfolio by 2035, balancing hydrocarbon and low-carbon businesses, and align its emissions with global industry standards. Head of the Innovative Economic Research Centre of Azerbaijan Technical University, professor and economist Elshad Mammadov, stated to Azernews that increasing the share of the low-carbon business portfolio within SOCAR's overall business portfolio is positioned as one of its goals, which is quite understandable. "This reflects a sensible approach because there is still significant potential in the country as a whole to achieve optimal levels of alternative electricity generation. I believe that the current share of alternative electricity generation is low, necessitating an increase in the low-carbon generation share within SOCAR's overall business portfolio. I anticipate that investments in these fields should yield positive results in the medium term, given that market saturation levels have not yet reached a point where investment efficiency would be diminished in these directions." According to him, an oil company shouldn't set a critical goal of matching emissions levels with global industry leaders. "Global companies operate with diverse approaches and varying economic impacts. Thus, aligning an oil company's strategy too closely with global industry standards can lead to significant issues. Therefore, it's crucial to prioritize local specifics. While international benchmarks should incorporate scientifically proven approaches that have shown positive effects, complete adaptation could result in serious negative consequences. Currently, many companies have already reached market saturation in terms of alternative energy generation and low carbon emissions. SOCAR's advantage lies in exploring investment opportunities in these areas. Effective investments in alternative energy and low carbon emissions could yield medium-term benefits, pending market satisfaction." Economist considers that the existing and expanding infrastructure for alternative energy generation certainly holds promise for returns. "It will have an impact because, as I mentioned earlier, the baseline for comparison is low. For example, considering today's solar or wind electricity generation, since their share in the country's total energy balance is minimal, appropriate investments in these areas will be effective. However, it's essential to follow scientifically grounded approaches. Critical investments in these directions while reducing investments in traditional electricity generation could severely disrupt the energy balance." "In my view, the share of hydro, wind, and solar electricity generation should be increased to 30%, with hydropower playing a significant role. This approach is generally optimal and appropriate under current conditions, and we should aim to achieve it by 2030. However, pushing for immediate jumps to 60% or 70% alternative generation, as seen in some European economies with advanced technological capacities, has caused significant issues. Therefore, we must ensure our country's energy balance through scientifically sound and realistic approaches." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more One of Azerbaijan's primary foreign policy priorities is to strengthen relations with Turkic states. These relationships are rooted in shared ethnic and cultural heritage, language, historical ties, and mutual national values, forming a solid foundation for productive cooperation. In line with expanding these relations, an unofficial summit of the Organization of Turkic States was convened in Shusha on July 6, culminating in the signing of the Garabagh Declaration. Emphasizing the development of stable and diversified ties among Turkic states, the declaration underscores the importance of fully utilizing their potential across political, economic, transport, defense, humanitarian, educational, and cultural domains. In his comment to Azernews on the issue, British expert Neil Watson highlighted the critical role of cooperation among OTS members in constructing and optimizing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor: "Collaboration among OTS members plays an integral role in the construction, successful operation, and efficiency of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor with Azerbaijan as the main catalyst. This route originates from Southeast Asia and China, traversing Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and extending further into European countries. Collaboration among OTS countries is essential to realize this initiative, underscored by its significance to Europe, notably amidst the Russia and Ukraine conflicts. This importance was recently highlighted at a high-level conference at Arundel House in London, organized by the Caspian Policy Centre. The conference was attended by ambassadors, diplomats, and other stakeholders representing all collaborating countries," he emphasized. Additionally, attention was drawn to the ongoing renewal and modernization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. " The Middle Corridor is inherently digital, necessitating the utilization of state-of-the-art tracking technologies to mitigate potential customs issues and ensure seamless operation as a fully integrated entity. Several high-speed rail links have been completed or are underway, prominently the upgraded BakuTbilisiKars railway," expert stated. The expert emphasized that the private sector should understand the main and increasingly important importance of the Middle Corridor for Europe. "The private sector must recognize the pivotal and increasingly relevant role of the Middle Corridor for Europe. In the current global landscape, where China and Southeast Asia serve as the world's workshops, optimizing logistics to swiftly and securely transport their products worldwide is imperative. The Middle Corridor's importance and relevance to Europe and the Western world are bound to increase, promising substantial benefits to all participants in a world where international dynamics are in flux and trade serves as a great equalizer," he said. Simultaneously, he expressed deep appreciation for the collaboration among OTS states in the fields of economy, transport, and defense industry. "Reflecting on my participation in the Middle Corridor conference in London, it's clear that OTS and other associated nations are forging unprecedented levels of collaboration. The Middle Corridor holds immense potential to foster greater understanding. Indeed, all OTS nations are actively investing in and positioned to reap economic benefits from the Middle Corridor, with substantial upgrades to their transportation infrastructures underway. Despite historical efforts by the Soviet Union and Russia to diminish the collective influence of Turkic nations, recent years have witnessed a decline in Russian dominance and a stronger sense of Turkic unity. Now is the opportune moment for OTS nations to assert themselves as significant players on the global stage," Neil Watson said. Economist expert Vugar Bayramov emphasized in his statement that the Turkic states are a regional power: "If we consider that the gross domestic product of the Turkic states is 1.4 trillion dollars and at the same time, taking into account their purchasing power parity, the combined gross domestic product of the Turkic states exceeds 4.7 trillion dollars. This indicates that the Turkic states are a regional power, and because they are a regional power, their economy contributes to the development of regional and global trade. Undoubtedly, one of the important points here is that more than 90 percent of the trade of the Turkic states is with countries outside the Turkic world." He stated that the main goals of the Garabagh declaration signed in Shusha are the acceleration of integration among Turkic states and simultaneously the expansion of trade relations. "One of the main goals is that, in addition to increasing the trade turnover of Turkic states, it should also be possible to expand trade relations among Turkic states and achieve an increase in the share of Turkic states' mutual trade in the total trade turnover. In this context, of course, the Garabagh Declaration will contribute to the expansion of trade turnover among Turkic states," the expert added. Vugar Bayramov, in return, emphasized decisions related to the creation of investment funds and their exemption from taxation, as well as activities aimed at facilitating the trade regime, including its electronicization, which he noted would enable an increase in trade turnover among Turkic states and allow them to contribute more to regional and global trade. "The integration of Turkic states and the expansion of their economic relations, increased use of electronic services, and infrastructure development are also crucial in terms of expanding the Middle Corridor." The expert stated that there has been increased interest in the Middle Corridor after the Russian-Ukrainian war. On the other hand, he noted that since sanctions against Russia and Iran remain in force, all of this stimulates the transportation of more products from both Europe and other developed countries through the Middle Corridor. "It is undeniable that Turkic states are leading regional players in the Middle Corridor. On one hand, the order formed after Azerbaijan's victory allows for the closer realization of the Middle Corridor and the possibility of transporting more goods through it. In 2023 alone, an increase of more than 30 percent was recorded in the volume of cargo transported across the region. This is, of course, related to the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in Turkic states, including Azerbaijan, increased use of electronic services, as well as a unified tariff policy in transportation among Turkic states, thereby reducing transportation costs." The expert noted that the recent meeting held in Shusha and the agreements reached in this context will also facilitate the expansion of the Middle Corridor. "Of course, Azerbaijan is working on increasing the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. The throughput capacity of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will be increased from 1 million tons to 5 million tons. In this regard, $100 million has been allocated from the 2024 state budget, with the goal of enhancing the role of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars as a component of the Middle Corridor, as well as a segment of the East-West transport corridor for increased cargo transportation." The expert also stated that putting the Zangazur corridor into operation will enable more intensive use of the East-West corridor as a whole, including the Middle Corridor. "This, of course, is important in terms of increasing the region's income from international cargo transportation. Undoubtedly, these are new opportunities for the region. In this context, the Garabagh Declaration will serve to increase the volume of cargo transported across the region as a whole and further strengthen the geopolitical and geo-economic position of Turkic states," said Vugar Bayramov. In conclusion, the recent Garabagh Declaration, signed in Shusha, signifies a significant step towards enhancing integration among Turkic states and expanding their trade relations. This agreement not only aims to boost trade turnover but also underscores the strategic importance of infrastructure development, electronic services utilization, and unified tariff policies in optimizing the Middle Corridor's efficiency. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Houston Food Bank will provide food to those in need after Hurricane Beryl. Jon Shapley/Associated Press Now that the worst of Hurricane Beryl has passed through Houston, residents are left to pick up the pieces from the storm, which left more than a million people without power. Those interested in lending a hand can volunteer or donate money to organizations helping those in need. Here is how you can help for now. American Red Cross Residents of the West Houston Mobile Home Community line up to receive free meals from the Red Cross on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Houston. The nonprofit is preparing to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Jhair Romero The American Red Cross has opened shelters in the storm's path. A Houston-area location at the Hempstead Recreation Center is currently open. Shelters are open to everyone in need. Donations are needed for the nonprofit to continue providing food and shelter. You can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting REDCROSS to 90999. To specifically help people affected by the storm, write "Hurricane Beryl" in the memo line of a check and mail it with a completed donation form to the address on the form or to their local Red Cross chapter. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston Food Bank The Houston Food Bank is mobilizing to assist the community with its 1,600 partners (the food bank is not a distribution site). Volunteers are especially needed as disaster relief boxes are packaged. Volunteer roles include sorting food and packaging donations. Sign up to be a food bank volunteer on its website. And although food donations are accepted, monetary donations go further at the food bank; $1 equals three meals because of its partners. Donations can be made on its website. Memorial Assistance Ministries Memorial Assistance Ministries has been helping the community consistently during times of crisis. Its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund helps families receive assistance for basic needs, including gas, clothes and rent. It is accepting donations on its website to help those affected by the hurricane. Salvation Army A Salvation Army volunteer distributes food at Santa Fe Community Center on Monday, May 6, 2024 in Plum Grove. The Salvation Army is preparing relief efforts for Hurricane Beryl victims. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer The Salvation Army of Texas soon should offer disaster relief services, such as emergency aid, food, drinks or emotional care. When filling out the donation form, it will ask what you want your donation to support, and an option is listed for Hurricane Beryl; 100% of the donation will go to relief efforts. To give today, go to helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Southern Smoke Southern Smoke provides assistance to food workers in need. After the May derecho, it distributed nearly $400,000 to 400 people. To help food workers pay for essentials, donate funds at southernsmoke.org/donate. Food workers can apply for emergency assistance on its website, providing proof of employment. Houston Pets Alive! Houston Pets Alive was one of many organizations that saw storm damage across Houston and is now calling on residents for help. The organizaton's facility at 2800 Antoine Dr, experienced water damage and remained without power Monday, according to its website. You can help by visiting Houston Pets Alive which has options to volunteer, adopt a pet or donate to helps cover the cost of repairs, supplies, and continued animal care. Memorial Assistance Ministries Memorial Assistance Ministries is offering a helping hand in the Houston area with its MAM disaster relief & recovery fund. The fund assists families by offering basic needs such as gas, clothes, rent money, furniture vouchers, utility assistance and more after Hurricane Beryl. To donate, visit Memorial Assistance Ministries and click "Donate" to provide your contact information and payment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Greater Houston Disaster Alliance Greater Houston Disaster Alliance has put together a Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund for people in Harris County and the surrounding area who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl. The fund aims to support individuals and families who were affected by the hurricane. For more information on donating, visit Greater Houston Disaster Alliance for details. Buffalo Bayou Partnership Community Maintenance staff were able to remove more than 100 downed trees, hanging tree limbs and broken branches from Buffalo Bayou trails, but the Buffalo Bayou Partnership Community is still looking for volunteers. If you or your group are looking to help with cleanup at one of Houston's largest parks, reach out to volunteer coordinator Steve Parker by email at volunteer@buffalobayou.org. 9 July 2024 11:21 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijan will offer free electronic "COP29 special visa" services to all registered parties attending the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports. All COP29 participants traveling to Azerbaijan from foreign countries, regardless of their passport's origin, must obtain a visa. The COP29 special visa is a single-entry visa. If a participant plans to leave and re-enter Azerbaijan during COP29, they will need to reapply for the COP29 special visa using their UNFCCC registration number, following the initial process. Foreign participants' passports must be valid for at least six months beyond their entry date into Azerbaijan for COP29 and pre-session meetings. Once their registration is confirmed via the UNFCCC online system, participants will receive a visa application link through the registration confirmation email. The COP29 special visa will indicate its issuance date and remain valid until November 30 of the current year. Visa holders must enter Azerbaijan before this expiry date. Azerbaijan will soon launch the COP29 visa application system to facilitate smooth entry for registered participants into the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 11:33 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev stated that progress has been made by Article 6 of the Paris Climate Agreement, Azernews reports. He informed journalists that under Article 6.8, some issues have been agreed upon, and a draft document is already prepared. Babayev emphasized the significance of Article 6 discussions at COP29, noting that while agreements have been reached on Articles 6.2, 6.4, and 6.8, discussions are ongoing for Articles 6.2 and 6.4. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement plays a pivotal role by enabling countries to cooperate voluntarily, mobilize financial support for implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and includes three key instruments: Article 6.2: Facilitates bilateral cooperation on mitigation efforts that can be used to fulfill NDCs. Article 6.4: Establishes a new mechanism for approving, verifying, and issuing high-quality carbon credits. Article 6.8: Allows countries to collaborate on achieving their NDCs without solely relying on carbon markets. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 14:45 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The third high-level dialogue between the International Energy Agency (IEA) and COP29 is scheduled for September this year in the United States, announced COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev in a statement, Azernews reports. Babayev highlighted that the previous IEA-COP29 dialogue took place in London in June, with the participation of IEA head Fatih Birol. Emphasizing continuity, he confirmed, "Our next meeting will follow this format, with the third high-level dialogue scheduled for September in New York." These dialogues, co-chaired by Birol and Babayev, in close collaboration with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat, are focused on advancing energy sector development, achieving zero industrial emissions, and limiting global warming to 1.5 C. They aim to foster continued international consensus. Additionally, it was decided at the COP28 plenary meeting in Dubai on December 11, 2023, that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will convene in Baku this November. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 18:20 (UTC+04:00) The CEOI 2024, held in Brno, Czech Republic, brought together approximately 60 students from 11 different countries. Aykhan Damirli, a 10th-grade student of the Lyceum named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, and Tahir Aliyev, a 10th-grade student from the Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) Baku Turkish High School, claimed silver and bronze respectively. The CEOI Olympiad, held since 1994, is considered one of the most prestigious programming competitions in the region. The contest evaluates participants' skills in solving algorithmic problems, as well as their level of analytical thinking and programming abilities. Since 2017, "Azercell Telecom" has been a dedicated partner in preparing Azerbaijani students for international Informatics Olympiads collaborating with the Ministry of Science and Education and the Institute of Education. This collaboration yielded remarkable results with Azerbaijani schoolchildren winning a total of 72 medals across various programming competitions in different age categories. Azercell extends its heartfelt congratulations to Aykhan Damirli, Tahir Aliyev, and the entire team for their achievement and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors! --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 13:21 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Turkiye Samir Abbasov has met with the director of Directorate of Culture and Tourism of Konya, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the sides hailed the high-level relations between the two states in all fields and exchanged views on the perspectives of cultural cooperation. Among the issues discussed at the meeting were the signing of the "Twinned Cities" agreement, the implementation of promotional projects on Azerbaijani culture in Konya, the holding of Azerbaijani Culture and Literature Week this fall. The sides also agreed to organized an international conference at Konya Selcuk University to celebrate the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli. Moreover, a miniature competition and exhibition, as well as other joint projects, including activities to be carried out in this direction. Samir Abbasov also met with director of the Maulana Museum in Konya Naji Bakirci. The parties highlighted the cooperation of the Maulana Museum in Konya with Azerbaijani museums, the valuable works on Azerbaijan stored in the museum's manuscript library. They agreed to conduct research on these unique manuscripts in the future, and prepare a joint catalog. It was also decided to display ancient and rare manuscripts in the museum within the Azerbaijani Culture and Literature Week to be held in Konya this year. Naci Bakirci informed Samir Abbasov about the reconstruction work carried out in the museum complex. He spoke about the sharing of Turkiye's advanced restoration experience with Azerbaijan and cooperation in this field. Naci Bakirci emphasized that more than four million tourists visit the Maulana Museum Complex annually. During the visit, Fuzuli's work "Hadiqatus-Suada", which is considered an ancient and rare copy of the Mevlana Museum, was viewed as well. Issues of future joint cooperation were also discussed at the meeting. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 19:00 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The liberation of Garabagh from Armenian occupation allowed not only the economic potential of Azerbaijan but also the advancement of science and education in the region. During the Soviet era, the fact that Garabagh was out of sight and out of mind and people had to travel hundreds of kilometers to receive qualifications in the capital city, Baku, dealt a serious blow to the educational dynamics of the country. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev's recent visit to the works at Garabagh University in the city of Khankendi, his efforts towards this university, and his emphasis on the establishment of an educational institution in Garabagh are not coincidental. Garabagh University has been established as one of the largest and most significant universities in Azerbaijan. It offers various faculties and programs for students, including engineering, medical, economic, and social sciences. The language of instruction is Azerbaijani, but given the university's central role and capacity, teaching in different languages is possible. Garabagh University also plays a special role in preserving and restoring the history, culture, and traditions of Garabagh. It is expected that students studying here will be informed about and help sustain Garabagh's cultural heritage. This is carried out through research projects, conferences, and training as part of the educational process. In addition to the education sector, Garabagh University also focuses on the development of scientific research and innovation. This is demonstrated through various scientific activities, projects, and research. The establishment and operation of the university reflect the profound social, cultural, and scientific impact of the Garabagh conflict. The university has found its place as part of Azerbaijan's strong educational system. This helps improve the quality of education across different regions and cultural contexts in the country and supports the positive development of Azerbaijan's education sector. It should be noted that there are several privileges for students who will study at Garabagh University. The opportunity for students to have access to free dormitory accommodation, scholarships, and laptops is superb. Additional scholarships will be awarded to students with the highest scores. An eco-friendly university campus will also be created for students. Garabagh University plays a crucial role in ensuring stability and peace in the region by mitigating the effects of the Garabagh conflict and supporting the development of education, culture, and science. In the future, the university is expected to expand its reputation and attract more students and scientific activities. The launch of Garabagh University is also extremely important in the normalization of social life and economic situation, as well as in the reduction of congestion in the capital city. The opportunities created by the university and quality advantages in the field of education promise that Garabagh will soon become one of the most favorite places for people, especially students. Education expert Elchin Efendi, who spoke to Azernews, made an interesting argument about Khankedi's past and present. He said that this location, which was in ruin and once under the Armenian occupation, has now become one of the centers of science and education. Elchin Efendi highlighted the special concessions created for students and teachers at Garabagh University. "The new university creates an ideal opportunity for both students and teachers and of course, this distinguishes the university from other higher education institutions as a symbol of national patriotism. At the same time, the construction of the university in Khankendi, one of the beautiful and picturesque places in Azerbaijan, shows that students can study in more favorable conditions," he said. The expert noted that more prospective students aspire to study at Karabakh University. "The vast majority in Azerbaijan are interested in studying at this new prestigious university. Moreover, the university offers many concessions for students. Free dormitories, computers, and free education in the 'SABAH' groups will increase students' interest in education," he said. Elchin Efendi spoke about the contributions of these concessions to education. "The proposed concessions and benefits will have very positive contributions to education at this university. Additionally, students here will not only receive scholarships provided by the state but also scholarships in different fields. The construction style of Garabagh University, the student town being prepared here, and the special concessions for students will not only increase interest in education but also positively impact the educational performance of prospective and current students," the expert added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 12:43 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Soltan Mammadov, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament and a member of the working group on Azerbaijan-China inter-parliamentary relations, delivered a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum on green development, Azernews reports. Addressing the panel discussion titled "Joint Progress on Green Development: Promoting Harmonious Coexistence of Humanity and Nature," S. Mammadov highlighted Azerbaijan's transformation into a key transit hub within the Eurasian region. He emphasised Azerbaijan's strategic location at the crossroads of the North-South and East-West corridors, pivotal to the transport routes of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. He also discussed his involvement in infrastructure development. Mammadov underscored Azerbaijan's commitment to transitioning to green energy, despite its rich hydrocarbon resources. He noted Azerbaijan's notable investment in renewable energy sources relative to GDP, positioning the country among global leaders in this area. Proudly referencing Azerbaijan's successful bid to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Azerbaijani MP highlighted international trust in his country's contributions. Reflecting on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Milli Majlis and the Inter-Parliamentary Union for organising a Parliamentary Conference during COP29, Mammadov provided insights into the draft document prepared for this session. He emphasised that the draft addresses global concerns and underlined the importance of utilising all platforms effectively to tackle pressing global issues threatening future generations and the planet. Expressing confidence that COP29 will mark a significant milestone in global climate action, Mammadov assured that Azerbaijan stands ready to mobilise its resources towards this goal. He extended an invitation to parliamentarians from SCO member and observer countries to actively support and participate in COP29. Azerbaijan's delegation to the SCO Green Development Forum, led by Ali Huseynli, the first deputy chairman of the Milli Majlis, includes deputies Fatma Yildirim, Elnur Allahverdiyev, and Soltan Mammadov from the 6th convocation of the Milli Majlis. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 13:42 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan (MFA) congratulated Azerbaijani diplomats on the occasion of their professional holiday, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by the Kazakhstan Ministry on X. "On the occasion of the Day of Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we extend our sincerest congratulations and warm wishes to our colleagues," the post reads. On the occasion of the #DayOfDiplomaticService of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we extend our sincerest congratulations and warm wishes to our colleagues @AzerbaijanMFA pic.twitter.com/qf5stwxvtB MFA Kazakhstan (@MFA_KZ) July 9, 2024 Recall that every year on July, Azerbaijan marks 105th anniversary of the establishment of the first diplomatic service in the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 15:06 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has begun preparations for forming an observer mission for the parliamentary elections to be held in Azerbaijan in September, Azernews reports. The OSCE PA confirmed receiving an invitation for the elections but noted that it is still too early to discuss the composition of the mission: "We have received an invitation to observe the upcoming elections and plan to send a mission. Organizational work has just begun, and mission leaders have not yet been appointed. The number of observers will be determined after the final registration date, usually a few weeks before election day," the statement said. Additionally, it was reported that on election day, the OSCE PA will hold a press conference with the participation of the mission leaders. It should be noted that on June 28, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on dissolving the sixth convocation of the Milli Majlis and scheduling early elections to the Milli Majlis. By this decree, the sixth convocation of the Milli Majlis was dissolved, and early elections were scheduled for September 1. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 16:44 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran will resume its activities within 15-20 days, Azernews reports. Note that on 27 January last year the embassy of Azerbaijan in Tehran was attacked. The perpetrator passed by the guard post with a Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire inside the embassy, while its staff tried to neutralize him. The head of the embassy's security service, Orkhan Asgarov, was killed in the attack, while two guards were injured. Shortly after, a suspect was detained by Iranian police. The State Security Service of Azerbaijan opened a criminal investigation of the attack. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev strongly condemned the attack. The Azerbaijani side regarded the incident as a "terrorist act". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan announced evacuation of the embassy personnel in Tehran. On 29 January Azerbaijan evacuated most of the embassy staff from Tehran and suspended the embassy's operation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Resident Richard Cano, 87, clears debris near his home just after Hurricane Beryl makes landfall on Monday, July 8, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer As Beryl battered Texas Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick who under Texas law has been Acting Governor since Friday provided updates on emergency relief, the death toll and power outage restoration. Gov. Greg Abbott left Friday for an international trip organized by the Governor's Economic Development and Tourism Office. The trip was also organized and paid for by the independently funded nonprofit Texas Economic Development Corporation, according to the Governor's Office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why is Gov. Greg Abbott on an international trip? Abbott is visiting Taiwan, South Korea and Japan as part of a Texas delegation with five legislators and 23 business and community leaders, including Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Airport System, Calpine and CenterPoint Energy executives. On Sunday, he opened a State of Texas Taiwan Office to foster trade and investment between Texas and Taiwan. The trip was announced Friday, and he is scheduled to return July 13, according to a news release. Abbott provided an update Friday, the day of his departure, on the state's preparations for Beryl, including a severe weather disaster declaration and the increased readiness level for the State Emergency Operations Center. "I remain in daily contact with Acting Governor Patrick, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state officials to ensure Texas swiftly deploys all resources needed to help Texans as heavy rainfall, flooding conditions, and strong tropical wind are expected to impact multiple regions of the state," Abbott said in that Friday update. As Beryl pounded Texas, a Monday morning post on X by Abbott about a business meeting in Seoul drew criticism in the comments. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Maybe now isnt the best time to brag about how awesome your trip is, replied one X user. "Texas emergency management personnel continue working around the clock for #HurricaneBeryl response efforts," Abbott later posted on X. He added he was in contact with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and state officials. "Texans in impacted areas should stay off the roads & heed guidance from local officials." Although some online and in published reports have drawn comparisons to Sen. Ted Cruz's decision to fly to Mexico following Texas' great freeze in 2021, Abbott's trip had been planned in advance and was for state business. A downed power line on Memorial Drive after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Why is Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick acting governor? The Texas Constitution directs the Lieutenant Governor to exercise the powers of the governor while the governor is out of state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As acting governor, Patrick added counties to the Beryl disaster declaration. "Obviously we've had a very important weather event over the last 24 hours that started at the coast, came ashore in Matagorda County," Patrick said during a 5 p.m. update Monday. He also said Beryl is moving up through Northeast Texas. 9 July 2024 21:28 (UTC+04:00) Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, made a phone call to Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on July 9, Azernews reports. President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and wished him success in his activities. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the attention and congratulations, as well as for the letter sent by the President of Azerbaijan on the occasion of his election as the President. The President of Iran said that he would spare no effort to develop the relations between the two countries in all spheres in the future. During the conversation, the sides expressed confidence that Azerbaijani-Iranian relations based on common religious and cultural roots, friendship and brotherhood would continue to expand, and cooperation between the two countries across various areas develop. The presidents stressed the importance of implementing the agreements reached between the two countries. During the telephone conversation, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran discussed issues of mutual concern. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev invited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to pay a visit to Azerbaijan. The President of Iran accepted the invitation with pleasure, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev, and in turn, invited the President of Azerbaijan to pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The President of Azerbaijan accepted the invitation with pleasure. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The price of one barrel of Azerbaijani oil of the "Azeri Light" brand on the world market has decreased by $1.43, or 1.56%, to $90.29, Azernews reports. According to the auction results, the price of August futures for Brent oil amounted to $85.50. In Azerbaijan's state budget for this year, the average price of one barrel of oil is calculated at $75. It should be noted that the lowest price of "Azeri Light" oil was recorded on April 21, 2020 ($15.81), and the maximum price was recorded in July 2008 ($149.66). In Azerbaijan, oil is mainly produced within the framework of the contract for the development of the "Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli" (ACG) fields block. The share of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) in the contract is 25%. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more This weekend, millions across the Western United States endured scorching temperatures that shattered records, with little relief anticipated in the days ahead, as reported by the New York Times, Azernews reports. From Oregon through California and into Arizona's deserts, numerous cities grappled with stifling heat. Jacob Asherman from the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center linked the intense heat to a persistent ridge of high-pressure air enveloping much of the region. This atmospheric pattern effectively trapped hot air near the surface, preventing its dispersion into the upper atmosphere. Cities like Las Vegas, accustomed to triple-digit summer heat, prepared for extreme conditions, with forecasts peaking at 117 degrees over the weekend. Conversely, areas unaccustomed to such temperatures faced unexpected challenges during this extended stretch of scorching weather. In Portland, Oregon, temperatures hovered around 100 degrees for five consecutive days starting Friday, a significant departure from its typically mild summers where air-conditioning needs were minimal. Responding to the crisis, Governor Tina Kotek declared a statewide heat emergency, emphasizing the escalating dangers associated with climate change. "The unprecedented temperatures and prolonged heat pose a significant threat, particularly to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and outdoor workers," Ms. Kotek cautioned in a statement. The Pacific Northwest has witnessed increasingly frequent deadly heat waves in recent years. In the summer of 2021 alone, temperatures soared 30 degrees above normal, resulting in approximately 600 more deaths than usual across Washington and Oregon. To mitigate the impact, Portland city authorities established cooling centers in air-conditioned facilities and installed outdoor misting stations in parks. Meanwhile, southern Oregon anticipated even higher temperatures, with Medford expecting highs of 110 degrees on Saturday. Downtown Portland remained nearly deserted on Saturday as temperatures approached the upper 90s, while Highway 26 experienced heavy traffic as residents sought cooler coastal routes. In Ashland, Oregon, where temperatures reached 111 degrees, a local crepe restaurant closed early due to the intense heat. Meanwhile, homeless individuals seeking relief gathered at the citys sole cooling center, offering cold water, watermelon slices, potato salad, and yoga mats. Throughout the West, cities accustomed to triple-digit temperatures grappled anew with the heat. Palm Springs, California, set a record at 124 degrees, while Phoenix surpassed its own daily record at 118 degrees under cloudless skies, with no monsoon storms in sight to provide summer relief. Even parts of the eastern United States faced extreme heat, weeks after an unexpected heat wave took many by surprise. From Texas to New Jersey, high temperatures combined with humidity posed hazardous conditions. In Raleigh, North Carolina, temperatures soared to 106 degrees on Friday, breaking local records. Overall, the unprecedented heatwave this weekend highlighted the escalating challenges of climate change across the United States, impacting both familiar and unexpected regions with potentially deadly consequences. 9 July 2024 23:21 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Japanese government and the NATO leadership are agreeing on the creation of a closed communication system for the exchange of classified information and confidential negotiations. An agreement on this can be reached during the participation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the North Atlantic Alliance summit, which will be held in Washington on July 9-11, Azernews reports. The NATO countries are united by a secure communication system for the exchange of classified information. Now we are talking about partially extending it to Japan, which has the status of a permanent partner of the alliance. In 2023, Tokyo signed an agreement with NATO on cooperation in 16 areas, including cybersecurity, space operations, and information exchange. There is a permanent mission of Japan at the headquarters of the alliance in Brussels. This year, Kishida will take part in the NATO summit for the third time. He will arrive in Washington for this purpose on July 10 and will hold a series of multilateral and bilateral meetings there on July 11. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 July 2024 23:50 (UTC+04:00) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the United States to attend the summit of heads of state and government of NATO member countries, Azernews reports, citing Turkish sources Before that, the Turkish press wrote that Erdogan's bilateral meetings with the heads of state and government in Washington were planned as part of the visit. It should be recalled that the NATO summit, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, began in Washington this year. In addition to 32 members of the alliance, the leaders of Ukraine, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea are also participating in the event. The main topic of the summit chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will be support for Ukraine. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 10 July 2024 00:11 (UTC+04:00) France's meddling in Russia's internal affairs and putting pressure on its judicial system is unacceptable. according to Azernews, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, wrote about this on the Telegram channel. The diplomat drew attention to the statement of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemning the decision of the Russian court against director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk. "In response to the reminder of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I remind French President Emmanuel Macron's regime not to interfere in the internal affairs of the sovereign state, as well as not to put pressure on the judicial system. If there is nothing to be done, I recommend that Paris condemn its officials for not appreciating the "courage of the artist Pavlensky", who was sentenced to no punishment by the French court, for special cruelty against its own citizens, who were tortured and insulted by the local police, Zakharova said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com. Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content. Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University. Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be? 8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become. A four-story medical office building has sold in East Sacramento, Calif., doubling in price in just 13 years, according to a July 8 report from the Sacramento Business Journal. The property was sold for $45.55 million to Ohio-based real estate investment firm Welltower. About 80% of the facility is leased to Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health. Sutter houses an ASC, family medicine, internal medicine urgent care and lab services in the building. The 103,652-square-foot building most recently sold in 2011 for $21.3 million. The American Heart Association Eastern States Board of Directors appointed William Ashley, MD, PhD, as president-elect. Dr. Ashley is the first neurosurgeon to be named president-elect of the Eastern States Board of Directors, according to a July 8 news release. He will work with board president Leonard Lee, MD, to reduce the barriers to healthcare access and quality. Dr. Ashley will serve as president-elect through June 30, 2025, when he will assume a two-year term as president. Currently, Dr. Ashley is the director of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery for The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, the release said. Mobile, Ala.-based USA Health Cardiology has relocated from its existing facility in Dauphin, Ala., to a new physician office building that opened to patients July 1. The practice also plans to expand its cardiology service offerings and add five new specialists to the team, according to a July 4 press release. The new physicians will bring knowledge in cardiac imaging, structural and interventional cardiology and advanced heart failure. Luanda Grazette, MD, will join USA Health as the division chief of cardiology in August. Sino-French satellite detects gamma-ray bursts after in-orbit test Xinhua) 09:39, July 09, 2024 BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- An astronomical satellite jointly developed by China and France has recently detected gamma-ray bursts since its launch two weeks ago, marking a promising start to this high-level cooperation project between the two countries. After in-orbit tests, the satellite platform is functioning normally and the satellite has established real-time connections with over 40 ground communication stations. All four payloads have successfully completed their power-on tests, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said on Monday. The satellite, the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), was launched on June 22. Mounted with four scientific payloads developed by Chinese and French scientists, it is currently the world's most capable satellite for multi-wavelength, integrated observations of gamma-ray bursts. Among the four payloads, the gamma-ray monitor developed by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the CAS began in-orbit tests on June 27 and successfully captured the first gamma-ray burst, coded GRB 240627B, on the same day. This marks the first in-orbit detection result of the SVOM satellite. The monitor also detected two additional gamma-ray bursts on June 29 and July 2, respectively. The results of the three gamma-ray bursts have been sent to the General Coordinates Network, an international collaboration platform for astronomy research. The CAS said that it has verified the monitor's high-precision detection capability for gamma-ray bursts. The SVOM satellite will complete various tests by a satellite operation and control center under the CAS, with the scientific observation tests expected to start in August. Gamma-ray bursts, usually very short in duration, are the most violent explosive phenomena in the universe after the Big Bang, and they occur during the collapse of massive stars or the merging of binary compact stars. In-depth observation and research of gamma-ray bursts will help mankind understand some of the fundamental questions of science, according to Wei Jianyan, SVOM's Chinese principal investigator. The main scientific objectives of SVOM include searching for and rapidly locating various gamma-ray bursts, comprehensively measuring and studying their electromagnetic radiation properties, investigating dark energy and the evolution of the universe through these bursts, and observing electromagnetic signals associated with gravitational waves, Wei added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Items remain on a shelf among the damage at a home in the 17400 block of Rustic Canyon Trail where Maria Laredo, 74, died after a tree fell on her second story bedroom during Hurricane Beryl Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Vehicles line up for gas along Northpark Drive after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Kingwood. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Brad Tutunjian the VP of regulatory policy for Center Point Energy speaks during a press conference at the Emergency Operations Center about the citys response on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, after after Hurricane Beryl hit the Houston area on Monday Karen Warren/Staff photographer A convoy of electric trucks from several different states gather to support power outage efforts the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston causing mass power outages on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire leads a press conference with Acting governor of Texas, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick behind him at the Emergency Operations Center about the citys response on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, after after Hurricane Beryl hit the Houston area on Monday Karen Warren/Staff photographer A truck drives down Canal Drive the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Sargent. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Acting governor of Texas, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks along side Mayor John Whitmire at the Emergency Operations Center during a press conference about the citys response on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, after Hurricane Beryl hit the Houston area on Monday Karen Warren/Staff photographer Carolyn Rhoads sits next to boxes of emergency ration meals and water bottles at Harris County Precinct 3 cooling center after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer A damaged mobile home is seen the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Sargent. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A-frame houses are seen the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Houses line the Intracoastal Waterway the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Sargent. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Automobiles wait in line to purchase propane from Baygas Propane Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in League City after Hurricane Beryl passed through the area on Monday leading to power outages and fuel shortages. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A gas station in Porter without gas is seen after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Porter. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Ricky Johnson helps out a neighbor by trimming some trees leaning towards her home in the Kashmere Gardens neighborhood on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A truck on a use-car sales lot is damaged by a fallen lamp post from Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 8, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A-frame houses are seen the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A convoy of electric trucks from several different states gather to support power outage efforts the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston causing mass power outages on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Automobiles wait in line to purchase propane from Baygas Propane Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in League City after Hurricane Beryl passed through the area on Monday leading to power outages and fuel shortages. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Water sits on a road the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Karla Espinoza-Ortiz slides freshly filled up gas cans into the back of her truck at a gas station along Ford Road near Loop 494 after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Damage to a home is seen the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Eloy Nuncio talks about Hurricane Beryl which resulted in his electrical box to be pulled from the side of his home on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A convoy of electric trucks from several different states gather to support power outage efforts the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston causing mass power outages on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Butch Williams and his wife Debra sit outside with their dog Daisy the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. They said they didnt have running water or electricity. They added that they hadnt heard much news about how other areas fared in the storm. We just didnt know the aftermath of a storm was going to be like this, he said. Were trying to survive, bring some electrical people down here. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A-frame houses are seen the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Courtney Robison bathes in the ocean the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. She joked that she felt refreshed afterwards. She and her fiance described not having running water or electricity. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Steve Wiggington grabs his shirt as he stands on his balcony the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Surfside Beach. Wiggington had COVID and rode out the storm in his home. He described the experience as pretty traumatic. He added, I thought it was going to be no big deal, but it turned out to be a major deal. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer People charge their electronics at Oso Coffee Shop, one of the few businesses open and offering power just after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People charge their phones at Harris County Precinct 3 cooling center after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer East End District workers clear debris from roads just after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People fill gas cans the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Freeport. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer East End resident Pollo hands Laura Galvan brisket found as they sifted through perishable foods that were left outside of a Kroger due to power outages from the recent Hurricane Beryl that made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Large roots and limbs are visible in the background while Johnny Salinas carries a chainsaw Tuesday, July 9, 2024, that he will use to clear debris after the tree fell in his yard as Hurricane Beryl passed through the area on Monday. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer People wait in line for gas the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Freeport. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer East End residents sift through perishable foods that were left outside of a Kroger due to power outages from the recent Hurricane Beryl that made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Piles of limbs and debris are visible in the foreground Monday, July 9, 2024, as James Salinas takes a water break while working to clear his dads yard in League City after a large tree fell as Hurricane Beryl passed through the area on Monday. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Mike Duck Layer, right, fills his vehicle with gas the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Freeport. Layer said he was from Athens, Georgia. This was something different for me, I wasnt expecting it, he said. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer James Salinas steps over a limb as he carries a chainsaw used to clear debris Tuesday, July 9, 2024, after a large tree fell in his fathers yard in League City as Hurricane Beryl passed through the area Monday. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer East End residents Pollo and Jeff sift through perishable foods that were left outside of a Kroger due to power outages from the recent Hurricane Beryl that made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer East End residents Laura and Jose Galvan sift through perishable foods that were left outside of a Kroger due to power outages from the recent Hurricane Beryl that made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer East End resident Laura Galvan sifts through perishable food that was left outside of a Kroger due to power outages from the recent Hurricane Beryl that made landfall in Houston on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Vehicles line up gas at a gas station along Ford Road near Loop 494 after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Kingwood resident Crystal Curmon fills up gas cans at a gas station along Ford Road near Loop 494 after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A car remains in a flooded underpass on Kelly Street following Hurricane Beryl on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Utility workers from Ohio prepare their truck outside a power station in the Independence Heights neighborhood on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Michael Amiri and his wife, Yuho, wait as they charge their phones and other electronic devices at Bush Intercontinental Airport after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. The couple, who live in an apartment without power off Fondren, said they slept in their car overnight and made their way 50 minutes to the airport to cool off and charge their devices. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Brother Christian Joubert, 17, left, and Cole, 14, work on clearing out the yard of their moms friend in Kashmere Gardens on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Guest make their way toward security at Bush Intercontinental Airport after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Michael Amiri gives his wife, Yuho, a pep talk and jokes with her as they charge their phones and other electronic devices at Bush Intercontinental Airport after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. The couple, who live in an apartment without power off Fondren, said they slept in their car overnight and made their way 50 minutes to the airport to cool off and charge their devices. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Guest make their way toward security at Bush Intercontinental Airport after Hurricane Beryl made its way through the Greater Houston area on Monday as a Category 1 storm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Miguel Cornelio clears a fallen tree from his neighbors property the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Jones Creek. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A Texas Department of Transportation work convoy cleans a road the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, near Surfside Beach. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Ezeikeal Uribe, 14, from left, talks with his friend Maximus Cornelio, 14, and brother Izaiah Uribe, 16, as they play in a fallen tree the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Jones Creek. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Carolyn Rhoads, left, reads a book at Harris County Precinct 3 cooling center after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer A day after after Hurricane Beryl roared through Houston, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has already fielded thousands of claims from coastal homeowners who carry TWIA windstorm insurance or homeowners insurance policies under the Texas FAIR Plan, which TWIA administers. As of mid-morning, we have received more than 3,300 TWIA claims and just under 500 claims for FAIR Plan, said Aaron Taylor, TWIA spokesman, in an email Tuesday. So far, TWIA claims are heaviest in Galveston and Brazoria Counties; FAIR Plan claims are heaviest in Harris County. LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest on Houston recovery after Hurricane Beryl Advertisement Article continues below this ad TWIA is also once again accepting applications for new and increased coverage, Taylor noted, now that Beryl has moved past the area. (A moratorium had been in effect Monday.) What is TWIA? TWIA provides windstorm insurance for homeowners in Texass fourteen coastal counties, as well as the southeastern corner of Harris County; as of March 31, there were about 250,000 TWIA polices in effect in this coverage area. The Texas Fair Plan serves as an insurer of last resort for homeowners across the state who have been denied coverage by at least two companies. Taylor said that TWIA and FAIR Plan policyholders should keep receipts for any temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage, and that permanent repairs, such as a roof replacement, should not be pursued until after an adjusters inspection. Claims can be reported online, via chat, via text or via phone, using the following numbers: How to file a TWIA claim Report a claim one of four ways: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Online: Use the Policyholder Portal by logging in. Chat: Use the 24-hour chat option on ourclaims webpage. Text: Text Hello to (512) 645-2846. Call: Call (800) 788-8247, select option 1. Information for Impacted FAIR PlanPolicyholders Report a claim one of four ways: Online: By registering or logging into Claims Center. Chat: Use the 24-hour chat option on ourclaims webpage. Text: Text Hello to (512) 645-2226. Call: Call (800) 979-6440, select option 1. Healthcare billionaire Timothy Springer, PhD, a founding investor in Moderna and a professor of biochemistry at Boston-based Harvard Medical School, is about to see nine-digit growth of his net worth thanks to a new acquisition from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. At the beginning of the year, Dr. Springer had a net worth of $2.1 billion due to his early investment in Moderna. In 2014, he founded biotech firm Morphic Holding, the lead program of which is an oral treatment for inflammatory bowel disease patients, according to a July 8 report from Forbes. On July 8, Eli Lilly announced plans to acquire Morphic for $3.2 billion. Dr. Springer still owns about 16% of Morphic's stock and stands to make $435 million when the deal closes. The acquisition announcement led to a surge in Morphics share price, which rose by 75% to $55.79 on Monday afternoon. The sale price also marks a 280% gain for Dr. Springer since the firm went public at $15 a share in July 2019. Dr. Springer has also founded or been an early investor in at least three other publicly traded biotech firms. He first backed Moderna in 2010 with a $5 million investment and currently owns about 3% of the firm. Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health has filed a certificate of need with the state to develop an $18.9 million ASC in the area, according to a July 9 report from CBS affiliate WFMY. The application was filed for a cost overrun to develop North Elam Ambulatory Surgery Center, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services told the news station. The project is expected to be complete in April 2026 if the certificate is approved. A public hearing on the project will take place Aug. 14. HCA Surgery Ventures and 20 physician partners have opened a five-operating-room ASC in Kansas City, Mo. The 22,500-square-foot Blue River Surgery Center includes two procedure rooms for orthopedics, gastroenterology and multispecialty care, according to a July 9 news release from Hammes, the construction company involved with the project. . Hammes, in partnership with Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA, is developing a second ASC in Lees Summit, Mo., set to open in early 2025. A gift from Mark and Shelly Saltzman will rename Cleveland Clinic's Mentor Hospital building and create a new leadership position at the organization. The building will now be called the Cleveland Clinic Mentor (Ohio) Hospital Saltzman Family Pavilion, according to a July 9 news release from Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, the gift will help create a new leadership role at the organization medical officer for community health outcomes. In this role, the individual will work with Cleveland Clinic's chief community officer and chief of staff to oversee annual programs and health assessment outcomes. Mr. Saltzman is the CEO and president of Buyers Products Company, the company Ms. Saltzman's family founded. A week after a study connected Ozempic and Wegovy to an eye condition that can cause partial blindness, two ophthalmology organizations said they have "been aware of other vision changes for some time." Changing sugar levels can affect the shape of the eye's lens, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Because of this, semaglutide, the active ingredient of Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss medication Wegovy, might lead to blurry vision. The ophthalmology groups said previous studies have also found that semaglutide can exacerbate diabetic retinopathy and macular complications. "The medical community has been aware of other vision changes with semaglutide for some time," the organizations said in a July 8 joint statement. However, the research associating the drug to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is the first of its kind. The condition restricts blood flow to the optic nerve, which causes sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye, the statement said. The research did not confirm a causal relationship between the medications and NAION, but it identified a potential link. Researchers from Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham and Boston-based Harvard Medical School, conducted the study, which analyzed about 1,700 patient medical records at a large eye hospital. The data spanned from 2017 to 2023. Compared to patients not taking semaglutide, 17 of 200 diabetic patients developed NAION, and 20 of 361 obese patients also experienced the condition. These rates were four and seven times higher, respectively, than the non-semaglutide group. "The subjects in this study were either overweight or obese or had Type 2 diabetes. People who have diabetes are already at risk of NAION," the organizations said. "Other risk factors for NAION include heart disease, history of heart attack, high blood pressure and sleep apnea" health risks that also are tied to diabetes and obesity. In response to the study, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, said it takes adverse event reports seriously. The ophthalmology groups said they recommend patients continue taking the medications unless they experience a sudden vision loss. When comparing these results to other data on temporary vision problems, the ophthalmology organizations said: "Could a similar phenomenon be at play in this study? Could the ability of semaglutide to rapidly reduce glucose levels and blood pressure cause NAION and not the drug itself? It's unknown. Only further research can answer that question." Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital will launch a new organ transplant program in late 2024 aimed at reducing healthcare disparities faced by Black patients, ABC affiliate WFTS reported July 9. African American and Black patients are sometimes denied as transplant candidates and there are often decreased referrals for these patients to transplant centers that occur in a timely manner, Anthony Watkins, MD, surgical director of the kidney and pancreas transplant program at Tampa General told WFTS. "Were going to create a team of practitioners who have shared experiences with these patients so we can mitigate some of the mistrust that these patients have," Dr. Watkins told WFTS. In addition to a specialized team, the program will first prioritize building up the number of Black and African American patients on transplant waiting lists to improve access. For several years, concerns have mounted in the medical community about the Kidney Donor Profile Index, a scoring system that assesses the risk of kidney failure. It calculates a donor's score between 0-100 using the donor's characteristics like age, height, weight and ethnicity. Recent research from Ana Iltis, PhD, a professor and director of the Center for Bioethics, Health and Society at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., revealed that one aspect the algorithm looks for is individuals who have two copies of the APOL1 gene, which has been thought to signify a higher chance of developing kidney disease. However, about 85% of individuals with two copies of the gene do not develop kidney disease, only 15% do. Individuals who typically have two copies of that gene also commonly have ancestors from Africa and are Black, she found. That means the algorithm more often detects and marks their potentially viable organs as not usable. These challenges are precisely what Dr. Watkins aims to address with the African American Transplant Program at Tampa General Hospital. "At the current state, the percentage of patients who are seen and actually make it to the waiting list is far lower than it should be," Dr. Watkins told WFTS. "So this program is specifically designed to mitigate that barrier." Dr. Watkins said the program will also publish its data to incentivize and aid other hospitals that may wish to implement a similar transplant initiative. The program has been funded with a grant and will operate in a research setting, which will free up more funding to support patient resources along with the initiative, WFTS reported. Rexburg, Idaho-based Madisonhealth has named Katie Clement CFO, according to a post on her LinkedIn page. Ms. Clement joins the health system from Port Arthur, Texas-based Medical Center of Southeast Texas, where she served as interim CFO since January, according to her LinkedIn page. She joined the hospital in September as director of finance and operations analysis. Southeast Texas is part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care. She previously served as vice president of finance and CFO in Salt Lake City for Centennial, Colo.-based Centura Health, according to her LinkedIn page. Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has named two physicians to leadership roles. Catherine Krawczeski, MD, was named chief medical officer, and Jason Newland, MD, was selected to be the hospital's chief of infectious diseases. Dr. Krawczeski has served as the hospital's physician-in-chief since 2022, according to a news release. Now, she will maintain that title, while also taking on responsibilities of the chief medical officer role. In the joint position, she will oversee the quality of medical services and provide both clinical and academic perspectives for the hospital's strategic priorities. She will also continue to lead as chief of the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Newland most recently held the Schnuck Family endowed chair in pediatric infectious diseases at St. Louis Childrens Hospital and Washington University in Missouri. Now, as the chief of infectious diseases and an associate investigator at the Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. Both physicians' roles take effect immediately. Nurses at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover, Ohio, have approved a new three-year labor contract. The contract covers 200 nurses represented by the Ohio Nurses Association, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, according to a July 8 union news release shared with Becker's. According to the ONA, it includes: A commitment from the hospital to work with union members to address staffing levels and guidelines across patient care units. Wage scale improvements. Two retirement plans that are available to more union members in the bargaining unit. Union representatives said the contract provides needed changes but does not include enforceable minimum staffing standards. The ONA has supported efforts in the state Legislature to require such standards. "Without enforceable minimum staffing standards in this contract and in all Ohio hospitals, patient and staff safety remains in jeopardy," ONA President and Executive Director Rick Lucas, BSN, RN, said in the release. Cleveland Clinic shared a statement with Becker's, saying the contract "provides increased wages and benefits. We appreciate the work of all the nurses and caregivers at Union Hospital." Union members approved the contract June 21. It is effective from June 29, 2024, to June 28, 2027. Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, who went on strike twice over the past year at the Sutter Center for Psychiatry in Sacramento, Calif., have approved their first labor contract. The 18-month agreement covers about 150 workers at Sutter Health's 73-bed Sacramento psychiatric hospital, including mental health therapists, kitchen staff, licensed vocational nurses, and patient care support specialists, according to a July 5 union news release shared with Becker's. Under the deal, workers will receive an average raise of 12.5% over the life of the contract, according to NUHW. It also keeps an employee health plan that includes fully employer-paid health insurance premiums. "This contract will make a big difference," Wesley Moore, patient care support specialist, said in the release. Mr. Moore also said provisions of the contract "will keep workers here caring for patients and attract new workers as well." A Sutter Health spokesperson shared the following statement with Becker's: "We're pleased to have reached an agreement that acknowledges and rewards the invaluable contributions of our care team. We believe the dedication and effort invested in finalizing this contract supports continued access to safe and high-quality care for our patients." Louise Cohen, right, and Zilfa Ruhen help clear neighborhood drains after Beryl made landfall early morning Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston. Ishika Samant/AP A car kicks up flood water on Shepherd Drive after Hurricane Beryl came through on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Hurricane Beryl wont be remembered as the deadliest or costliest storm to hit the Houston region. Instead, its a reminder that nearly a foot of water dumped on our streets and tornado-level winds that uproot trees with little to no warning have become our new normal. More than 2 million Texas households and other customers lost power this editorial board not excluded as the center of Beryl landed near Matagorda and curved through the west and north suburbs of Houston. It was both a wind and water event, and just as we saw trees toppled on roofs, we saw neighbors scrambling in gale winds to unclog gutters, as well as bayous normally shrinking from view topping their banks. At least two people have been killed by fallen trees, and we fear the number of dead will increase. Our city always bounces back, and we will once more, but to keep that up year after year wont just take grit. It will take billions of dollars. What a waste. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The best use of tax dollars, and our own dollars, isnt on cleanup and recovery but on preventing damage in the first place. That's money not just spent in squall-like bursts, but consistently, over decades, even during periods when the skies are merciful. Thats why Houston voters in 2010, and again in 2018, approved a lockbox for a dedicated drainage fund that draws from property taxes and a water bill fee. The twice-backed change to the city charter anticipated the fickleness of humans, our propensity to focus on the problem at hand and forget the need for steady, long-term investments in infrastructure. Direct democracy can be a blessing in that way, but also a curse. Houstonians may not have fully understood what the drainage lockbox would cost or siphon from other priorities. While the city has paid off debt for previous infrastructure and completed some new drainage projects, former Mayor Sylvester Turner shorted the dedicated drainage fund in his efforts to keep the city budget under control, holding back property taxes from the lockbox with creative math. Current Mayor John Whitmire has continued the practice. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In April, though, a state appeals court ruled that the city had to stick to the formula that voters approved. Unless the city suddenly prevails in its appeals they lost another one in June Whitmire will have to come up with more than $100 million to meet the obligation, not once, but every year. City Controller Chris Hollins has warned that if the city loses its appeal in the coming months a scenario that the city attorney claims is unlikely Houston will be hit with a big potential expense with no plan in place to cover it in the current fiscal year. The trouble goes beyond the drainage fund. Voters have made other demands on city finances that dont add up. In 2004, voters passed a property tax cap that has, over time, reduced city revenue by roughly $2 billion. In 2018, voters also passed a proposition giving firefighters higher pay on par with police. Turner had fought that proposition in court arguing it would bankrupt the city and we shared his concern. But the delay ultimately increased the cost. A settlement reached with firefighters this year, under Whitmire, comes in at least $1.5 billion, which is expected to take taxpayers 25 to 30 years to pay off. Houston voters demanded more than the city can pay for. And these aren't exactly luxurious things. Fair compensation for first responders and streets that don't constantly flood are basic. So, the logic flows that if we can't fund the basics with the money we've got and we don't have a bunch of fat to cut in other areas, we've got to collect more money. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its critical, while Houstonians are still clearing debris and assessing whether flooded cars can be salvaged in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, that Whitmire use every bit of his political capital from his landslide win in November 2023 to reconcile voters' desires with reality. Weve long known that Houston is approaching a fiscal cliff. Hollins, like his predecessor, has been sounding the alarm. There is simply no other choice but for the mayor to ask voters to approve a change to the property tax cap. COVID relief funds have allowed Houston to exist in a delirium, but they're running out. Its up to the mayor, in office for only six months, to go to constituents with an ask what his predecessor would mention but never dared to put on the ballot. Elected to the nonpartisan position by a coalition of conservatives and moderates, Whitmire has already trimmed the budgets of every city department except fire and police. Clearly, those cuts weren't enough, and hes floated the idea of a property tax hike and garbage fee. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As the city recovers from Beryl, Whitmire needs to be up front and honest with voters. When our bayous top their banks, when the ditches and gutters overflow and what shouldnt be a waterside view from our living room windows suddenly is, the mayor should seize the opportunity to lead and get voters ready to approve tax increases to build the infrastructure we need to withstand bigger, stronger and more frequent storms. In February, lawmakers in California introduced a bill to enable community colleges in the state to offer a Bachelor of Science in nursing. The legislation is now facing pushback from leaders at state universities who say it would not actually serve its purpose of enabling more nurses to enter the workforce. California State University and Fresno State oppose the bill in its current form, Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, PhD, president of Fresno State, wrote in a July 8 opinion piece published in The Fresno Bee. The bill would not change the number of clinical placements at hospitals and as such, he argued, it would not enable more new nurses to enter the field. The number of students nursing programs can accept is in large part set by the availability of clinical placements, and without expanding those placements, the bill wouldn't address California's nursing shortage, state universities argue. One of the bill's main purposes is to expand access to affordable nursing programs, though students at community colleges may not end up paying less to earn a BSN than they would at state school due to a provision in the state's education code that authorizes community college baccalaureate programs to charge tuition and fees that match their California State University counterparts, Dr. Jimenez-Sandoval wrote. He instead proposed a "cost-effective" alternative to the bill: Leverage and scale existing pathways, such as increasing the number of ADN-to-BSN degree programs through partnerships between community colleges and state universities. "This proven pipeline leverages existing resources, does not require additional clinical placements and can be scaled significantly to meet our workforce needs at a fraction of the cost," said Dr. Jimenez-Sandoval, adding that universities, "welcome the chance to closely collaborate" with education partners to collectively address the deficit of nurses in California. Assembly Bill 2104 and corresponding Senate Bill 985 would authorize the Chancellor of the Community Colleges to select up to 15 community colleges that already offer associate degrees in nursing programs to also offer BSNs via a pilot program. Sen. Richard Roth's office has said the program would not require additional supervised clinical placements. "With the difference between an ADN and a BSN being only an additional 30 units of coursework, several ADN programs are well-positioned to expand their offerings to BSN degrees," the senator's office said in February. The FDA has ordered Miami-based North Shore Medical Center to halt mammogram services over quality issues that may have led to inaccurate results, according to a letter obtained by the Miami Herald. The FDA ordered the hospital, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, to stop performing mammograms March 14 after it determined the hospital "failed to meet the clinical image quality standards" set by the American College of Radiology, the facility's FDA-approved accreditation body for mammography services. The potentially inaccurate screenings were completed from March 14, 2022, to March 14, 2024. "There is a serious concern about the quality of the mammography that our facility performed," Terri Noe, MD, lead interpreting physician at the hospital, wrote in a letter to patients, according to the news outlet. "This does not necessarily mean that the results you and your healthcare provider(s) were given are wrong," the letter states. "However, most patients will need to have their mammogram(s) performed at our facility reviewed to determine whether a repeat mammogram at another facility is needed." Both the hospital and FDA declined to answer the Herald's questions surrounding how many patients were affected or why the mammograms didn't meet image quality standards. According to Cathy Pague, a spokesperson for North Shore Medical Center, the hospital has contacted affected patients and their physicians. The facility is also "voluntarily covering the costs for reevaluation of individual mammograms and offering new screenings for all those who have not had subsequent screenings," she told the news outlet. It's unclear if or when the hospital plans to resume mammograms. The FDA has said it is "not able to discuss details of possible or ongoing regulatory actions." The service stoppage marks the latest in a series of cutbacks at the hospital. In March, NSMC began conducting layoffs as part of cuts to some of its programs. So far this year, the hospital has shuttered its neonatal intensive care, obstetrics and behavioral health units. Steward, the hospital's parent company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and is in the process of selling all 31 of its hospitals through auctions. Becker's has reached out to NSMC and will update the report if more information becomes available. Tennessee law enforcement officials are investigating a murder-suicide at a Dunlap-based nursing home, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported July 8. Police were dispatched to NHC HealthCare around 9:47 a.m. on July 8 after reports of gunshots in a patient's room, Dunlap Police Chief Randy Phillips told the Press. Police arrived to find Kirk Bubul and Marcie Bubul deceased from gunshot wounds. Ms. Bubul was a resident of the nursing home, but her husband was not and had come for his daily visit. Police said Mr. Bubul shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. The police department told Fox Chattanooga that they found "suicide notes" in the Bubuls' home. "Please keep our NHC partners and patients in your thoughts as we navigate through this terrible loss," NHC Healthcare said in a statement to Fox. "The Dunlap police department has assured us that this was an isolated incident and that there is no active threat to our patients, staff, or the public. We are working closely with both the Dunlap police department and Sequatchie Sheriff's department in this ongoing investigation to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our community." Physicians with Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute assisted with the creation of the NeuroSleeve, a device for patients with paralysis, the practice said in a July 8 news release. The team of physicians worked in partnership with The Raphael Center for Neurorestoration at Jefferson's Farber Institute in Philadelphia to create the wearable device. It leverages a patient-controlled 3D-printed robotic motorized assistance, electrical stimulation and soft robotic pneumatics to address movement deficits. The Raphael NuroSleeve system can also accept signals from an implanted brain sensor from companies including Precision Neuroscience, Paradromics, Synchron and Neuralink. Northern Irelands biggest private hospital group has been sold for an undisclosed sum, it announced today. Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, based in south Belfast, said it had secured major investment from private equity firm Exponent. It said the deal would support its expansion in both Northern Ireland and the Republic and was a major vote of confidence in Northern Irelands economy. According to a report on business news website The Currency in May, Exponent had been in exclusive talks to acquire Kingsbridge for around 300m. Its Dublin-based Exponents first investment into Northern Ireland and one of the biggest private equity deals here in recent years. Kingsbridge was founded by doctors Suresh Tharma and Ashok Songra in Belfast in 2005. It now has four hospitals and 11 clinics in Belfast, Londonderry and Sligo. It employs more than 1,100 staff and engages over 400 consultants advanced medical services in surgery and diagnostics. Dr Tharma and Mr Songra will remain significant minority investors in Kingsbridge, which will also retain its existing senior leadership team, led by chief executive Mark Regan. Dr Tharma will become chairman of the board. Exponent managing director Richard Lenane, who is from Belfast, and David McGovern, partner in its Dublin office, will join the board. Kingsbridge carries out more than 25,000 surgical treatments each year, including patients under the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), contributing to reduced waiting list times for patients in the Republic. In the year to March 2023, pre-tax profits rose to 11.4m, from 9.1m the year before. Exponent has now invested over 1bn in Irish-owned and based businesses, making it one of the most significant private equity investors in Ireland. In February, it announced an investment in Galway-based Chanelle Pharma, a company founded by Michael Burke, the father-in-law of Northern Ireland jockey AP McCoy. Mr Regan said: We welcome this significant investment and vote of confidence in our business. The team at Exponent is committed to supporting our local healthcare sector and has an impressive track record of backing great businesses across the island. Our aim from the very outset two decades ago was to improve access to healthcare, be that through supporting the public sector via the NHS, HSE and NTPF or those who wish to access our surgery and diagnostic services using self-pay models or private medical insurance. In Northern Ireland we have the longest healthcare waiting lists in Europe. By working in partnership with both the NHS and the HSE as well as the burgeoning private healthcare market here, I strongly believe that together we can make a real and lasting difference to the outcomes for many more patients. "Our singular aim going forward is to continue to build on the legacy weve already established and to serve the healthcare needs of the population of Ireland, north and south. Mr McGovern praised the company's culture and patient focus Through its high-tech facilities and thoughtful operating model, Kingsbridge is strategically well positioned to address demand for healthcare services in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. We look forward to working closely with Mark and his impressive team to build on its success in the coming years by investing in its capabilities, expanding its presence across Ireland, and exploring new growth initiatives. Together, we will strengthen the dompanys crucial role in supporting the islands healthcare network. Mr Lenane added: We see huge potential for growth in the healthcare sector in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as demand for accessible and more technologically advanced healthcare services increases. News Catch Up: Tuesday 9 July 2024 Exclusive | Fintech CEO: It made a lot of sense for our third hub to be in Belfast 9fins Steven Hunter talks to Margaret Canning about building the company that he co-founded with his friend from university Huss El-Sheikh and Steven Hunter, who joined forces to set up 9fin Margaret Canning Tue 9 Jul 2024 at 07:22 A Northern Ireland man has set up a Belfast office of the fintech company he co-founded in his early 20s with a friend from university. The makers of Kneecaps award-winning movie have launched their own production company in Belfast. Rich Peppiatt, the director of the west Belfast rap trios semi-biopic film, has partnered with the movies producer - who is also an investigative journalist - Trevor Birney. Together they have announced the creation of Coup Detat Films, which the pair say will primarily focus on original scripted content. They are already in development on a number of domestic and international projects under the Coup Detat banner, exploring both solo and co-production arrangements. Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai - the three members of Kneecap - arrived in Galway for the citys Film Fleadh on Tuesday afternoon. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Their feature film, which has been written and directed by British-Irish creative Peppiatt, will open Irelands leading film festival this week, ahead of its general release in US cinemas on August 2, and Irish and UK cinemas the following weeks. Speaking about the launch of Coup Detat Films, Rich Peppiatt said: Trevor and I are kindred spirits when it comes to anarchic, provocative filmmaking. We believe theres an irreplaceable power in the collective experience of cinema. And we believe in the North of Ireland and its talent and crew as a world class production base. We see what friends like Element Pictures have done in the South of Ireland and see no reason that success cant be emulated here. Belfast native Trevor Birney, who also produced the Emmy-nominated documentary, No Stone Unturned, about the Loughinisland Massacre, added: Rich is a creative powerhouse, and our collective production experience offers something special the setting up of Coup detat was a natural evolution of that partnership. Marrying together creative talent with the commercial realities of a film like Kneecap requires a level of ingenuity, never mind sheer hard work. I think weve been able to prove that we can do it. The potential as we move forward with the new venture is a really exciting proposition. Pupils at Phoenix Integrated Primary School in Cookstown celebrate recent poll findings that 67% of people in Northern Ireland agree that integrated education should be the norm (Photograph: Declan Roughan / Press Eye) The number of parents in Northern Ireland who believe integrated education should be the main model for the education system is remaining consistently high, according to a new poll. A survey on attitudes to education has revealed that over two-thirds still support integration as the best system for schools. Sixty-three per cent of parents surveyed also said they would support the school their child attends switching to integrated status. Polling was carried out by Belfast-based independent polling and market research company LucidTalk, on behalf of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF). More than 2,300 responses were collated, and the poll was balanced by gender, age group, area of residence and community background to ensure it was demographically representative of Northern Ireland today. The key finding was the consistent support for integrated education, with 67% of respondents agreeing that integrated schools which intentionally educate children together in the same classrooms, inclusive of different religions, gender and race should be the main model for NIs education system. There is also an increase in awareness of transformation changing an existing schools status to become integrated with 73% of those polled saying they understood the process. The survey showed that almost two-thirds (63%) of parents would support such a move at their childs school through parental ballot. Seventy per cent of those polled would support all schools, regardless of management type, aiming to have a religious and cultural mix of pupils, teachers and governors. Paul Caskey, who was recently installed as chief executive of the IEF, said the continued support for integration in education should now be backed up by greater provision and support from government, something which was enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement but which has been slow to develop. In the past five years, more parents than ever before have expressed their support for integrated education, he said. This is evidenced by 27 successful parental ballots taking place [whereby] a clear majority of parents have voted for their school to transform to integrated status. The result of this poll highlights the high level of support for more integrated education from the people of Northern Ireland. Despite these findings, many areas remain with limited or no integrated options available to children or parents. The IEF and its supporters will continue to support all efforts to increase integrated education provision in response to the growing demand. On his appointment to succeed Tina Merrion as chief executive, Mr Caskey said: I am absolutely delighted to have earned the trust and confidence of the IEF board to take the organisation forward in what is an exciting time for integrated education. Having dedicated almost 24 years of my career to helping integrated education grow and develop, I am very aware of barriers and obstacles facing its work, but also the many opportunities. Demand for integrated education from parents and schools has never been higher and I look forward to supporting the IEFs board, staff and volunteers as we seek to turn peoples aspiration for greater integration into reality. Ulster University exhibition on legacy of John Hume arrives at Belfast campus Year-long rolling project is dedicated to work of Nobel Peace Prize winner and his wife Pat Tapestry artist Catherine OConnor and Ballymena sculptor Liz OKane at the launch Mark Bain Tue 9 Jul 2024 at 07:10 An exhibition honouring John Hume has arrived at Ulster University in Belfast. Bin collections are set to be impacted by strike action, according to Unite. Unite has notified management at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough council of two weeks of strike action by Armagh-based waste collection workers. It is due to take place from Wednesday 17 July. The strike action, which will be taken by environmental services workers based at the councils waste depot in Armagh is likely to severely impact bin collections in that part of the council, the trade union said. The industrial action is a result of what Unite has branded a hostile environment that has been created for unions at the council. In recent weeks Unite says a shop steward based at the depot has been dismissed, while five other Unite reps have faced investigations or disciplinary hearings or had their rights to represent workers restricted. Unite the union general secretary Sharon Graham said: An attack on one of our reps is an attack on the entire workforce. Unite will never stand by while our reps are targeted by an employer. "The workers taking strike action can count on the complete support of Unite in their fight for respect, dignity and justice. Unite believes the aggressive and anti-union response of council management is a response to the successful industrial action in 2022 which saw the union secure a significant pay increase for workers after weeks of strike action. More recently union reps based at Armagh depot have strongly opposed management plans to lower terms and conditions of employment during the ongoing harmonisation process under the Review of Public Administration process. Unite regional officer Brenda Stevenson said: Rather than engage constructively with unions, council management appear intent on creating a hostile environment. Unite is calling on local councillors to intervene and instruct management to reverse course and avoid the unnecessary disruption to waste collection services in the Armagh area that will result from this strike action. The council has been contacted for comment. New figures show that fewer than a third of cancer patients in Northern Ireland begin treatment within the recommended 62 days (Julien Behal/PA) A prominent cancer charity has expressed concern after new statistics indicated that fewer than a third of patients begin treatment within the recommended 62 days. Department of Health figures released on Tuesday indicate that, in the quarter ending in March, some 1,111 patients in the Belfast, Northern, Southern and Western Trusts started their first definitive treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer. Some 29.8% of those patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 30.0% in the previous quarter and 34.8% in the same quarter last year. In the same period, 34.1% of patients were seen within 14 days of their urgent referral for breast cancer, compared with 35.5% in the previous quarter and 84.2% in the same quarter last year. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The department said that, with the launch of encompass, a new electronic patient record system at the South Eastern Trust, which will also be rolled out across the other trusts, caution should be exercised around these latest figures. Richard Spratt, chief executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, called for the regions politicians and governing bodies to commit to addressing cancer. When we learn that seven in 10 people are still waiting longer than two months to start treatments after urgent referral for suspect cancer, those are not just statistics, they are your neighbours, your friends, your family, or even yourselves. We all need these waiting times to be better, he said. If we do not invest in health from cancer prevention to the waiting times to getting the treatments right the first time we will only create more problems for ourselves as health conditions worsen, causing even higher costs. As part of this, we need transformation and brave decision-making to prioritise and reorient services, to get the waiting times back on target, and to sustainably deliver care even in this challenging budgetary environment. This must include more intention around cancer prevention and early detection, which will lead to better outcomes, less invasive procedures, and fewer costs. We are encouraged that Health Minister (Michael) Nesbitt has included cancer as one of his priorities and has set as his mission to achieve better health outcomes. We cannot put a price on peoples health. We should be able to trust that our health service is there for us when we need it to be. When it comes to health, there should not be a conversation on affordability. What we can do, however, is make sure that the resources are being used as efficiently and effectively as possible. A passenger who smashed up 14 Glider ticket machines as he used the service to travel across west Belfast has avoided immediate imprisonment. Bernard Dorrian, 41, was given a 10-month suspended sentence for vandalising the screens with either a type of hammer or his own fists. The total cost of repairing the machines attacked at stops over a three-hour period reached nearly 4,000. Dorrian, of Aspen Walk in the Dunmurry area of the city, admitted carrying out the criminal damage to the Translink-owned installations on March 28 last year. Belfast Magistrates Court heard 14 ticket machines for the Glider service were targeted between 4.30pm and 7.15pm along the route in west Belfast. Stops at the Childrens Hospital, Twin Spires, Beechmount, Casement, Upper Dunmurry and Clonard were among those attacked. CCTV from 12 of the bus stops showed Mr Dorrian exiting the Glider and smashing the screens with a hand-held implement, a prosecution lawyer said. On one occasion he was seen punching a machine with his fist. Dorrian was observed travelling from stop to stop, damaging each installation before getting back onto the Glider. The 14 ticket machines were left unusable, the prosecutor added. Dorrian initially denied responsibility during police interviews, claiming the CCTV footage showed someone else who looked like him. However, he eventually pleaded guilty to criminal damage before the case reached trial. Defence counsel Joel Lindsay told the court his client suffered from mental illness, including auditory and visual hallucinations. Setting out how Dorrian had also been dealing with the break-up of a relationship, the barrister added: He says that he is ashamed. District Judge Steven Keown expressed doubt about the expression of remorse. But based on the defendants medical issues and eventual guilty plea, he decided not to send him to prison. Imposing ten months custody, Mr Keown suspended the term for three years. He warned Dorrian: If theres anything like this (in that period) you will be going into jail for a long period of time. The judge also ordered him to pay 500 compensation to Translink. News Catch Up: Tuesday 9 July 2024 The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has said the placing of a police car on top of bonfire in Co Tyrone is absolutely disgraceful. On Tuesday evening, images emerged of a 1.3 tonne silver Vauxhall Vectra decorated in police livery on top of the pyre in Moygashel. The bonfire, sitting around 150 pallets high, has been widely condemned for its toppers in recent years. In a comment shared on social media, Doug Beattie said: This is absolutely disgraceful. Those responsible undermine their own cries for cultural respect. Truly pathetic. Watch: Police car on top of Northern Ireland bonfire But loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who addressed a crowd at the bonfire in 2023, said: I think this is a bit of edgy artistic expression, a bit like, for example, Kneecap. If that type of expression is welcome from the nationalist community, then I see no reason why similar unionist efforts would not draw similar applause unless of course there are double standards. When asked about his appearance at the controversial pyre last year, Mr Bryson said: I was delighted to be guest speaker at Moygashel last year, when they displayed a very topical message about the Belfast Agreement. That message is as relevant today as it was then. I do find it more than mildly amusing that theyve managed to place a full-sized police car on top of a bonfire, having first appropriated the wheels. "Id imagine their artistic message this year also seeks to emphasise a two-tier policing message. Speaking in March 2024, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher strongly rejected suggestions that there is two-tier policing in the PSNI. A police car on top of the Moygashel Bonfire An Irish tricolour and a poster of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were placed on top of the loyalist bonfire in 2023. The large pyre in Moygashel also attracted major attention after a boat was mysteriously placed on it bearing a banner reading "Good Friday Agreement? That ship has sailed". A mock copy of the 1998 peace deal with the words "null and void" printed over was also added. A crowd of around 400 people gathered to watch the bonfire which was condemned widely by politicians. Speaking after the bonfire in 2023, a spokesman said: Our culture is under attack on a daily basis, and if not resisted with everything in our power, our Britishness will become unrecognisable. Our cultural celebrations that we have grown to enjoy with our families will be demonised to the point of extinction. The bonfire boat and our efforts are to highlight our strong opposition to the Irish Sea border. We believe that the implementation of the Union-dismantling protocol aligns our economy with the South and is a process of transition towards a united Ireland. Loyalist anger is at breaking point and we hope to see a peaceful [resolution] to the situation before it is too late. We fear time is running out. UVF flags and graffiti appear at a bonfire in the Village area of south Belfast on July 9th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) UVF flags and graffiti appear at a bonfire in the Village area of south Belfast on July 9th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) A UVF flag has appeared on a bonfire at a Belfast interface just days before the Twelfth. The flag accompanied by graffiti naming the 2nd Battalion of the UVF appeared at the loyalist bonfire close to the Broadway roundabout bordering south and west Belfast. Weeks earlier, several UVF flags were erected on the roundabout that separates the loyalist Village and nationalist St James's areas of the city. A PSNI spokesperson said: Police are aware of flags being flown in the vicinity of Monarch Street of south Belfast and graffiti painted on a wall. No complaints have been received at this time. "Neighbourhood Policing Team officers will continue to engage with local community representatives and partner agencies around any complaints about flags. Meanwhile, anyone with information on the criminal damage is asked to contact police on 101. In June, police said a vehicle and police officer had been struck by objects after they attended an incident at the anti-social plagued roundabout, which sees weekly running battles involving local youths. During the incident, police responded to reports of a female staff member being threatened at a local community farm. Posting to social media in June, staff at St James's Community Farm said incidents of this nature have become a regular occurrence in recent weeks. About 10 male youths attacked our farm with bricks. They got into the animal field and verbally threatened a female member of staff, they posted on Facebook. This has been a regular occurrence for the last three weeks. We have had wooden pallets that the goats use taken and burnt and the goats playground damaged. The animals were terrified last night with the bricks hitting the metal of our building. Watch: UVF graffiti and flag erected at south Belfast bonfire Inspector Ross Hakin said: "I am appealing to parents to know where your children are and advise them against becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. "Officers continue to work alongside partner agencies, local representatives, and the community to find collaborative and proactive solutions to address the problem. "We are committed to working towards a solution and welcome any information from the public and local elected representatives to inform what we are doing. "Our officers continue to provide a visible policing presence throughout west Belfast. Orange Order rules out talks with Irelands Future We wont get involved in discussions with a pre-determined outcome, says general secretary Thousands gathered for the annual Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh. Allison Morris Tue 9 Jul 2024 at 07:15 The Orange Order has said it will not engage in talks with a pre-determined outcome after a group campaigning for a united Ireland reached out to it. Demonstrators outside the Royal Courts of Justice in 2022 opposed the policy (PA) Three asylum seekers who brought legal action over their potential removals to Rwanda have had their cases resolved at the High Court. Lawyers for three people, who cannot be named, appeared at the London court for what was due to be full challenges against decisions paving the way for the individuals removals to Rwanda. However, following the General Election, the new Labour Government has said the deportation policy will be scrapped. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the scheme as dead and buried before it started (Alastair Grant/PA) And on Tuesday, judges were told that the three individual cases would no longer continue. Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, said: In relation to the three named claimants these claimants cases will be fully disposed of and withdrawn subject to the Secretary of State paying their costs. In written submissions, the barrister said that claims of people affected by the Rwanda policy will be considered in a manner consistent with the new Governments new asylum policy. Sir James continued: That asylum policy does not involve removals to Rwanda. The hearing before Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Chamberlain and Mr Justice Dove, which was previously expected to last four days, concluded in less than an hour. Outside court, Rakesh Singh, from the Public Law Project representing one of the three asylum seekers said that while his client will have his case for refugee status considered in the UK, other asylum seekers are left in limbo. He told the PA news agency: They dont know what the position is, they will have to wait for another few months. Many of them have been waiting for two years and theyve been kept in limbo. Many of these people are highly vulnerable, victims of torture, victims of trafficking, and theyve not been able to move on with their lives they have had Rwanda hanging over their heads. Other legal action over the Rwanda plans has not been disposed of. The charity Asylum Aid is bringing legal action, claiming that the Safety of Rwanda policy unlawfully tells decision-makers not to consider the risk of Rwanda sending a person to a third country where they would be at risk of torture, death, or other human rights abuse. After the hearing, Asylum Aid said that as the Rwanda policy has not yet been withdrawn while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper conducts a review, its legal challenge remains live. The charitys executive director Alison Pickup said: As we welcome the Labour Governments decision to stop the flights, we call on them to now scrap the Rwanda scheme entirely by processing all asylum claims and abandon all plans for offshore processing. The Government must restore the right to seek asylum in the UK in line with international law and ensure people can have their cases processed here in a fair and timely way. While in government, the Tories had pledged a regular rhythm of flights every month to Rwanda in their election offering, with the High Court previously told that the first flight had been planned for July 24. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper branded the policy a con (Jeff Moore/PA) However, Sir Keir Starmer has since described the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) with the African nation as dead and buried before it started. And as she met police officers in Lewisham on Monday, Ms Cooper branded the policy a con, telling reporters she is now auditing the entire scheme and the amount of money spent on it. According to the MEDP, either government could have axed the agreement, but it will only formally end three months after the other party is notified in writing. It enabled the Government to send migrants who did not have a right to remain in the country to Rwanda if they had arrived in the UK through an illegal and dangerous route since 2022. In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson in Kigali said they take note of the UK Governments plan to axe the multimillion-pound agreement, which Rishi Sunak had set up in an effort to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel. Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, a Rwandan government spokesperson also said. Former home secretary Suella Braverman has blamed her partys disastrous General Election result on a series of failures, including not stopping a wave of illegal immigrants or tackling the lunatic woke virus. Ms Bravermans lament on the Tory defeat at a conference in London was her second in 24 hours after she made similar comments in Washington DC, hitting out at liberal Conservatives. On Tuesday, she spoke at a Popular Conservatism event in London alongside ex-Tory Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who spoke of the need to win Reform voters back, and historian David Starkey, who said it was deranged that former Conservative prime minister David Cameron would cite enabling same-sex marriage as his greatest achievement. Ms Braverman, appearing via a recorded video, said of the loss of her partys 80-seat majority in 2019: We were going to stop the wave of illegal migrants landing on our shores. We were going to cut taxes. We were going to lower overall illegal migration. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We were going to stop the lunatic woke virus working its way through the British state. The harsh reality this is a lesson we all need to learn and face up to is that we did none of that. The Tories made a net loss of 251 seats at the election last week, which Ms Braverman described as a devastating result, leaving the party with 121 MPs. Labour won a landslide with 412 MPs, ousting several senior Tory figures including Sir Jacob, former Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, defence secretary Grant Shapps and ex-prime minister Liz Truss. Speaking about the campaign trail, Ms Braverman said: It was challenging, it was gruelling, it was brutal, and we have to now face the facts as to why we ended up with this situation, and more importantly, what we do about it to move forward. And I know PopCons is going to play a pivotal role in the renaissance of our Conservative Party because boy does the country need it. Labour has installed itself and will start its job of dismantling the structures that will enable prosperity, the foundation of our order and the things that we cherish in this country to make our country great. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Ms Braverman said the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights and criticised farcical gimmicks such as the smoking ban proposed by her former Cabinet colleague, ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak. She added: Historically in British politics, we have had a monopoly on the right-wing vote. Thats one of the reasons we have been so successful. The left, by contrast, for the last 100 years has been split. Left wing have had a choice of party to go for and we by contrast have had the luxury of a monopoly, but no longer, and that is why the Reform party presents an existential threat to us electorally. On Monday, she spoke to the National Conservatism conference in Washington where she said our problem is that the liberal Conservatives who trashed the Tory party think it was everyones fault but their own and criticised Government departments flying the Progress Pride flag, adding: The Progress flag says to me is one monstrous thing: That I was a member of a government that presided over the mutilation of children in our hospitals and from our schools. At the London conference, Sir Jacob said: We thought our core vote had nowhere else to go they did. And we cannot just assume that the pendulum will swing back to us or that all the Reform voters will suddenly repent. We need to win them over one way or another. Nigel Farages Reform UK took five seats including Clacton in Essex for the former Ukip leader. Mr Starkey said his partys catastrophe began when former prime minister Lord Cameron eyed up centre ground in UK politics before he won the 2010 general election, taking 306 seats and negotiating a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. He asked activists: Whats a Conservative prime minister doing when he says his greatest achievement is gay marriage? Its deranged. Asked about the idea of compassionate Conservatism by an audience member, Mr Starkey replied: Each time I hear the word compassion, I want to reach for a revolver. He added: I hate the worship of the weak. Mr Starkey also said: The way to look after the poor is by making the rest of us rich, its very, very simple. Diane Abbott has become Mother of the House the title given to the longest continuously serving female MP (PA) Diane Abbott celebrated the growing number of women MPs as she took up her new role as Mother of the House, following the turmoil which gripped the Labour party over her reselection. The title is given to the woman MP with the longest continuous service. Ms Abbott, 70, was first elected in June 1987 becoming the first black woman elected to the House of Commons. The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington sat on the front row of the House of Commons benches, across the aisle from the Government frontbench where Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet sat. Speaking for the first time as Mother of the House, she congratulated new Members of Parliament, telling them: It is a great job and you will never regret coming here. I would also like to congratulate the officers of the House who have organised such a meticulous and careful induction. I remember when I was a new MP, they just gave you a bunch of keys and told you to get on with it. She added: When I was a new member in 1987, there were only 40 female members of Parliament. Today we have 264, and some of us are glad that we have lived to see this. And I cant speak about the increased numbers of female members of Parliament without referencing my predecessor Baroness Harriet Harman, who did so much to work to have an equal and diverse House. We are going into very tumultuous times, and historically, this House has played a role in these events both nationally and internationally. And Im sure it will be the same going forward, and we will be presided over in the excellent way of the Speaker-elect. Among the MPs to pay tribute to Ms Abbott were Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Conservative leader and ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak. Mr Sunak told the Commons: We have our differences on policy but no-one can deny her important role in this House and the inspiration for so many young women of colour that she has provided. (Ms Abbott) is true in every sense of the word a trailblazer. In his speech, Sir Keir said he would make a slight departure from convention to pay tribute to his Labour colleague Ms Abbott. The Prime Minister said she had done so much in her career over so many years to fight for a Parliament that truly represents modern Britain. We welcome her back to her place, he added. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Ms Abbott (PA) At the start of the General Election campaign, Ms Abbott faced uncertainty over her future as the Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. Some newspaper reports suggested she had been offered a peerage to stand aside for a new prospective Labour MP in the safe seat, but she said this was untrue. Ms Abbott had the Labour whip suspended during the previous Parliament after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism, sparking a long-running process which saw her sit as an independent MP. The whip was restored before the Parliament ended, but it was briefed out she might be barred from running for the party in the General Election. Member of the House of Keys Dr Alex Allinson is behind the Bill which could see the Isle of Man become the first place in the British Isles to legalise assisted dying (Dignity in Dying/PA) The Isle of Man has taken another step towards becoming the first part of the British Isles to have an assisted dying law, after a key stage in the legislative process was completed. Following seven days of debate across three months, the Assisted Dying Bills clauses stage finished on Tuesday, with a third reading of the Bill expected later this month. As it stands, the Bill is only for adults who have been resident on the island for five years, have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life. Other measures around ensuring legal and workplace protection for medical professionals who participate in assisted dying have also been agreed, while a request from the British Medical Association (BMA) for an opt-in model for doctors who choose to be part of the service was approved. Meanwhile, a move to make it separate from the islands public health service, Manx Care, was voted down, as was a move to hold a referendum before a new law could take effect. Dr Alex Allinson, the Member of the House of Keys (MHK) behind the Bill, said he is grateful further amendments have been proposed and accepted, which he said will reinforce safeguards in the new legislation. He said debate has been thorough and that, while he respects the views of those who remain opposed to change, there is a significant majority of Members who are now content with the way the Bill has been changed to agree a third reading. He told the PA news agency: We certainly are still in the position of being the first (place) in the British Isles to bring legislation forward for royal assent. But there will need to be quite a long implementation period, including conversations and working with people like the General Medical Council (GMC) and the BMA to make this Bill operational. The third reading is due to begin on July 23. Campaigners have said if the Bill gains royal assent next year, assisted dying could be available to eligible Manx residents from 2027. Legislation on assisted dying is currently also being considered in Scotland and Jersey. Before coming to power, new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he is committed to allowing a vote on legalising assisted dying. Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. New minister for European relations Nick Thomas-Symonds is accompanying Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to the Nato summit in Washington (UK Parliament/PA) Sir Keir Starmer will use the Nato summit to help reset the UKs relationship with European neighbours. As is usual for Nato summits, the Prime Minister will be joined on the trip by the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, but he is also taking Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has been given the newly-created job of minister for European relations. Sir Keirs administration wants to repair the damage to relations with Europe caused by the Brexit wrangles and strike a better deal with the European Union than the botched trade agreement signed by Boris Johnson. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The presence of Mr Thomas-Symonds in the delegation for Sir Keirs first overseas summit shows the importance the Labour Government is placing on efforts to build bridges with the European Union and other nations on the Continent. Ahead of the summit in Washington, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Nato is a political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America. Its not unusual that the minister for Europe would accompany the Prime Minister. Im sure as youre aware, the PM has said he wants to reset our relationship with Europe. Hes told a number of his European counterparts exactly that over the weekend, he sees the Nato summit as an important opportunity to continue laying the groundwork. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wants to reset relations with Europe (Andrew Milligan/PA) Earlier this week, Sir Keir told reporters: We think we can get a better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson brought home and we will work on that, understanding the work that needs to be done and the nature of the challenge. One issue that could be a sticking point in talks with Brussels is the European Commission proposal for a youth mobility scheme for 18 to 30-year-olds which would allow young Britons to move to the EU to work and live for four years, with the UK expected to offer the same in return. Before the election, Labour rejected the possibility of an EU-wide scheme, saying the party would seek to improve the UKs working relationship with the EU within our red lines no return to the single market, customs union or free movement. Palestinians have been displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Heavy Israeli bombardment shook Gaza City on Tuesday as thousands of fleeing Palestinians searched for shelter, and medical facilities were forced to shut due to the latest offensive in the territorys north. Israels new ground assault in Gazas largest city is its latest effort to battle Hamas militants regrouping in areas the army previously said had been cleared. Much of Gaza City and urban areas around it have been flattened or left a shattered landscape after nine months of fighting. Many people fled earlier in the war but several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the north. Thousands of Palestinians fled on Monday from an area ravaged in the early weeks of the nine-month-long war (Leo Correa/AP) The fighting has been intense, said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled Gaza Citys Tuffah district to the home of relatives in another part of the city. He said Israeli war planes and drones were striking anything moving and that tanks had moved into central districts. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. Its a dangerous zone, she said. After Israel on Monday called for an evacuation from eastern and central parts of Gaza City, staff at two hospitals Al-Ahli and the Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move out patients and shut down, the United Nations said. Ms Farsakh said all three medical points run by the Red Crescent in Gaza City had closed. Smoke rises after an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had told hospitals and other medical facilities in Gaza City that they did not need to evacuate. However, hospitals in Gaza have often shut down and moved patients at any sign of possible Israeli military action, fearing raids. In the past nine months, Israeli troops have occupied at least eight hospitals, causing the deaths of patients and medical workers along with massive destruction to facilities and equipment. Israel has claimed Hamas uses hospitals for military purposes although it has provided only limited evidence. Only 13 of Gazas 36 hospitals are functioning, and those only partially, according to the UNs humanitarian office. Israels campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas October 7 attack, has killed or wounded more than 5% of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, according to the territorys Health Ministry, and has driven almost the entire population from their homes. Many have been displaced multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into sweltering tent camps. Maha Mahfouz, a mother of two, said she fled twice in the past 24 hours. She first rushed from her home in Gaza City to a relatives house in another neighbourhood. When that became dangerous, she fled on Monday night to Shati, a decades-old refugee camp-turned-urban district. She described vast destruction in the citys eastern and central parts. The buildings were destroyed. The roads were destroyed. All has become rubble, she said. Members of the Al-Ashqar family, who were displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, eat lunch at a makeshift tent camp in Khan Younis (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israeli air strikes in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nearby refugee camps on Tuesday killed at least 14 people, including four children and a woman, according to officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs and al-Awda hospitals, where casualties were taken. One of the strikes hit a police station in an outdoor market in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four people and wounding two dozen, half of them women and children. At a hospital, a little boy cried, coughed and wiped his eyes as medics treated him on the crowded floor. The Israeli military said it had intelligence showing that militants from Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group were regrouping in central Gaza City. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians. In Shijaiyah, a Gaza City neighbourhood that has seen weeks of fighting, the military said it had destroyed three miles of Hamas tunnels. Hamas has warned that the latest raids in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release. Israel and Hamas had appeared to narrow the gaps in recent days, with the US, Egypt and Qatar mediating. CIA director William Burns met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Tuesday in Cairo to discuss the negotiations, Mr el-Sissis office said. An Israeli delegation was heading to the Egyptian capital, Israeli media reported. But obstacles remain, even after Hamas agreed to relent on its key demand that Israel commit to ending the war as part of any agreement. Hamas still wants mediators to guarantee that negotiations conclude with a permanent ceasefire, according to two officials with knowledge of the talks. People are seen locked in a cage on the property of Terbit Rencana Perangin-angin, the then-regent of Langkat in Indonesias North Sumatra province, Jan. 24, 2022. Indonesian human rights groups on Tuesday condemned the acquittal of an ex-regent charged with slavery and torture after dozens of people were found caged on his plantation, saying the ruling showed that state officials still enjoy impunity for serious crimes. Terbit Rencana Perangin-Angin, the ex-official who is under U.S. sanctions, gained notoriety in January 2022 when anti-graft investigators discovered 57 people caged and allegedly abused on his palm oil plantation in North Sumatra province. The prosecution had demanded that Terbit, the ex-regent of Langkat, be given a 14-year prison sentence. But on Monday, a provincial district court said it was not convinced that he had been hand-in-glove with his eight employees who were convicted in 2022 of murder in the same case, after police found that four people had died in the cages from 2010 to 2021. Terbit, though, is already behind bars, where he has been serving a nine-year sentence for corruption since 2022. Still, upon hearing Mondays verdict, he prostrated himself in gratitude before presiding judge Andriansyah, who goes by one name. This ruling in favor of Terbit, who was also charged with human trafficking and forced labor (on his plantation), sets an alarming precedent, said Anis Hidayah, the president of Indonesias Human Right Commission (Komnas HAM), an independent state institution. The court ruling resulted in a crime without punishment, and this is dangerous because it can happen repeatedly so it does not have a deterrent effect, she told BenarNews on Tuesday. We deeply regret the verdict that acquitted the former regent of Langkat, despite strong allegations of him being the main perpetrator in the human trafficking case involving a human cage. The ruling had failed to deliver justice to the victims and the public, said Irvan Saputra, director of the North Sumatra Legal Aid Institute. He noted that the maximum prison sentence under the Human Trafficking Law was 15 years and the prosecution had sought close to that number. This indicates the prosecutors strong conviction that the former regent of Langkat was indeed involved in the crime, Irvan told BenarNews. It is rare to seek the maximum penalty, missing the highest possible sentence by just one year, which is 15 years. Terbit Rencana Perangin-Angin, the now ex-chief of Langkat regency in Indonesias North Sumatra province, is seen being inaugurated as regent in this 2019 image. [Courtesy website of the government of Langkat regency] The prosecution plans to appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court, said Yos Arnold Tarigan, spokesman at the North Sumatra prosecutors office. We will stick to the charges, Yos told BenarNews. Komnas HAMs Anis noted that while eight of Terbits employees were sentenced to three years in prison in 2022, they were merely supporting actors. Terbit, she alleged, was the brain behind the operation. He owned the house, designed the human cage, and exploited people under the guise of drug rehabilitation. Komnas HAMs findings revealed that some victims even died, Anis said. Back in 2022, Terbit had said that his residence housed drug addicts who were undergoing rehabilitation. A police investigation after the anti-graft officials raid in January 2022 found that a total of 665 people had been held in the 36 square meters (387.5 square feet) of iron-barred cells on his property since 2010, the prosecutions court documents said. Komnas HAM in 2022 said it had found evidence of 26 forms of violence against the cages inhabitants, including rib beatings, orders to hang like monkeys, and hammer blows to the feet that caused victims nails to peel off. Anis said the acquittal would show the public that state actors, just as during the pre-1999 autocratic period, are spared punishment they deserve. In a country like Indonesia, which has declared itself independent for decades, it is troubling that modern slavery practices still occur in the home of a public official who should be protecting his citizens, she said. In human trafficking cases, it is imperative for law enforcement to be firm, not only by imposing heavy sentences but also by ordering restitution for the victims who have suffered. In December, the U.S. State Department named Terbit on its international list of perpetrators of human rights abuses, designating him for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely the forced labor of boys and men. An environmental investigative group, the Gecko Project, also found that Terbits plantation had been supplying palm oil to big global firms. It is horrifying However, the provincial district courts presiding judge, Andriyansyah, said that the public prosecutor could not prove that Terbit and his now-convicted employees had been in cahoots. In addition to acquitting Terbit, the court also rejected the compensation or restitution of 2.3 billion rupiah (U.S. $142,000) for the victims as proposed by the public prosecutor. The judge also ordered that the seized palm oil plantation be immediately returned to Terbit. With this, we are freeing the defendant from all charges of the public prosecutor, restoring the defendants rights in his ability, as well as his dignity, and declaring the restitution request unacceptable, Andriansyah said. The conviction and sentencing of Terbits foot soldiers and his subsequent acquittal was bizarre, according to Ady Yoga Kemit, a member of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) in North Sumatra. It is horrifying and defies common sense that the judges verdict absolved Terbit of all charges. This acquittal means that the victims recovery will not be fulfilled, he told BenarNews. We are deeply disappointed with the judges decision, which fails to uphold a sense of justice and overlooks the facts of slavery in Terbits cage. Nazarudin Latif in Jakarta contributed to this report. The election results are another setback for loyalists as unrest continues to simmer in the Pacific island territory. Emmanuel Tjibaou, a winning pro-independence candidate in the second of New Caledonias two constituencies in the French national assembly, reacts following a press conference in Dumbea, New Caledonia on July 3, 2024. New Caledonia elected a pro-independence candidate to Frances national assembly for the first time in nearly four decades, another setback for French loyalists as unrest continues in the Pacific island territory despite substantial security reinforcements. Official results released on Monday for New Caledonias two constituencies in the national assembly showed the island also elected a loyalist candidate, even as the pro-independence bloc got more votes overall. The results highlight the divisions in New Caledonia which has been rocked by unrest since May when pro-independence activists rioted in response to a proposed constitutional change that would dilute the voting power of indigenous Kanaks. The arrest of pro-independence activists and their removal to France for trial has also fueled protests. Frances High Commission, in a regular security update on Monday, said the public order situation has improved in recent days, helped by the presence of 3,500 regular and paramilitary police. However it also mentioned that schools had been set on fire. An update last week said police were still clearing roadblocks in the capital Noumea, nearly two months after the unrest first erupted, and that operations to regain control of the Noumea neighborhood of Mont-Dore were continuing. The election results, part of Frances snap national election on the weekend, showed indigenous Kanak Emmanuel Tjibaou won 57.4% of votes in New Caledonias 2nd constituency to defeat his loyalist opponent in a second-round contest. Loyalist Nicolas Metzdorf triumphed in the 1st constituency with 52.4% of votes. Overall, about 158,000 New Caledonians voted and the pro-independence bloc outpolled loyalists by some 10,000 votes. However, loyalist leader Sonia Backes said the election was undermined by insecure conditions in New Caledonia and a lack of oversight at some polling locations. Last year, New Caledonia elected a pro-independence candidate, Robert Xowie, to Frances Senate for the first time. Tjibaou is the son of a Kanak independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou who was assassinated in 1989. A newcomer to politics, Emmanuel Tjibaouls campaign emphasized a return to dialogue with France and loyalists to achieve the independence movements goals. We must recreate the conditions for dialogue, Tjibaou said in an interview Sunday with New Caledonias public broadcaster. Its a cry for help, its a cry for hope, he said of the election results. Kanaks are about 40% of New Caledonias 270,000 people but are marginalized in their own land they have lower incomes and poorer health than Europeans who make up a third of the population and occupy most positions of power in the territory. The weeks of unrest, in which at least nine people have died, is the worst political violence in the Pacific territory located between Australia and Fiji since the 1980s. The riots erupted May 12 as the lower house of Frances parliament debated and subsequently approved a constitutional amendment to unfreeze New Caledonias electoral roll, which would give the vote to thousands of French immigrants. Final approval of the amendment requires a joint sitting of Frances lower house. Such a vote now appears unlikely following the snap general election in France called by President Emmanuel Macron, which produced a plurality for centrist and left-wing parties but no outright majority. Frances control of New Caledonia gives the European nation a significant security and diplomatic role in the Pacific at a time when the United States, Australia and other Western countries are pushing back against Chinas inroads in the region. New Caledonia also has valuable nickel deposits that are among the worlds largest. Backes, the leader of New Caledonias loyalists, said the French state failed to ensure the election was democratic and transparent. In the vast majority of polling stations on the East Coast, no assessor could attend due to lack of ability to get there, let alone safety, she said in a Facebook post. On Mont-Dore, the road blockage and violence against people trying to cross weakened the outcome of this election, she said. China says a grounded Philippine ship has harmed the ecosystem in Second Thomas Shoal, but Manila refutes the allegation. An aerial view shows the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine Navy ship deliberately grounded on the contested Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023. The Philippines on Tuesday rejected Chinese criticism that a navy ship grounded by Manila on a disputed reef in the South China Sea has damaged the coral ecosystem there. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea dismissed Beijings accusation about the ship in Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal as false and a classic misdirection. The West Philippine Sea is Manilas name for South China Sea waters within its exclusive economic zone. It is China who has been found to have caused irreparable damage to corals, the task force said in a statement. It is China that jeopardized the natural habitat and the livelihood of thousands of Filipino fisherfolk. In 1999, Manila deliberately grounded the BRP Sierra Madre, an old warship, to serve as its military outpost in the reef. Confrontations there between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards have intensified in recent months. On Monday, China released a survey report on the alleged damage caused by the Philippines to the reef at Second Thomas Shoal, which China calls Renai Jiao, and is claimed by both countries. The report, commissioned by Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources, said that the illegally grounded BRP Sierra Madre had gravely damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem. It added that Chinese scientists conducted a survey through satellite remote sensing and field investigation in April and found that not only had the ship grounding process inflicted fatal damage on the coral reef, but its prolonged grounding also had greatly inhibited the growth and recovery of corals in the surrounding area. Supposed dead corals underneath the Philippine BRP Sierra Madre military vessel in an undated photo released by Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources. [Credit: Handout photo via Xinhua] China said photos released with the report showed dead corals underneath the Philippine warship, with researchers calculating that the aggregate coverage of reef-building corals at Ayungin had declined by 38.2%. The report proposed that the Philippines promptly remove its ship from the shoal, thereby eliminating the source of pollution, and preventing further sustained and cumulative damage to the coral reef ecosystem. China claims most of the South China Sea and all the islands and reefs within the so-called nine-dash line that it draws on maps to mark historic rights to the waters. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled against all of Chinas claims but Beijing refuses to accept the verdict. Fake news and disinformation The Philippine task force called Chinas survey report an attempt to spread fake news and disinformation, as well as to conduct malign influence operations against the Philippines. It cited the 2016 arbitral award, which found that Chinese authorities were aware that their fishermen were harvesting endangered species on a substantial scale in the South China Sea using methods that inflicted severe damage on the coral reef environment. Additionally, they had not fulfilled their obligations to stop such activities, the task force said. The Philippines has collated evidence that China has been responsible for severe damage to corals at a number of reefs in the disputed waters, it said, calling for an independent, third-party marine scientific assessment by impartial recognized experts. The task force also invited neighboring countries to join the Philippines in pushing for a more united, coordinated, and sustained multilateral action to protect and preserve the marine and land biodiversity in our region. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report last December that China had caused the most reef destruction through dredging and landfill while developing artificial islands in the South China Sea. More than 6,200 acres (25 square km) of coral reef have been destroyed by island-building efforts in the South China Sea, with 75% of the damage equivalent to roughly 4,648 acres (19 square km) being done by China, according to AMTI. Another 16,353 acres (66 square km) of coral reef were damaged due to giant clam harvesting operations by Chinese fishermen, it said. China dismissed the AMTI report as false and said it was based on old satellite images. Chinese officials maintain that China continues to give importance to protecting the environment in the South China Sea. Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a news service affiliated with BenarNews. Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews in Manila contributed to this report. Conservationists, residents clash over resolution to convert thousands of acres of protected forests into farmland. A herd of elephants is seen foraging in Thap Lan National Park, Dec. 24, 2023. A proposal to open up a vast tract of Thailands second-largest national park for agricultural use is fanning a heated public debate, with environmentalists concerned about the impact on endangered species including elephants, tigers and clouded leopards. A proposed cabinet resolution seeks to convert about 105,000 acres of protected forest land in Thap Lan National Park into agricultural farms, in an attempt to address the overlapping land disputes between the park and residents in surrounding districts. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between conservation efforts and local land rights in Thailand, as the government attempts to balance environmental protection with the needs of rural communities. The issue has galvanized public opinion, with the hashtag saveThapLan shared more than 300,000 times on social media platform X. Many users referenced a call of the late Seub Nakhasathien, a Thai conservationist, to conserve the countrys forested lands. The proposal could affect natural drainage and cause sudden flooding. Human activities could also disturb wildlife beyond controllable levels in an area thats hoped to be a tiger population recovery zone, environmental group Seub Nakhasathien Foundation said in a statement on Monday. A crucial global biodiversity hotspot, the 552,500-acre national park, which was established in December 1981, is home to some of the worlds threatened and endangered species such as tigers, elephants, clouded leopards and hornbills. Spanning the eastern province of Prachin Buri and the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, the park is part of Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site. National Park Office Director Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn said he was concerned about losing a huge tract of the parks forest land under the proposed project. I was part of the Tiger Corps unit that prosecuted over 400 cases involving land trading and resort building within Thap Lan National Park. Weve been working to protect forest resources and reduce encroachment. But now, government agencies are trying to expedite boundary demarcation, Chaiwat said in a July 3 Facebook post. 2000 survey Under the previous government of former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the cabinet in March 2023 approved the proposal from the National Land Policy Committee to adjust state land boundaries using a 2000 survey of the park. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who assumed office in August 2023, said his administration was following through on a resolution made by the previous government. The National Land Policy Committee must verify the facts, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must comply with relevant laws, Srettha said. The crucial thing is to listen to public opinion before any move. There are several processes that must follow legal procedures before being presented to the cabinet, he said. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said at least 19,770 acres of the proposed land reform project belong to residents of districts surrounding the park. We will take good care of the villagers. The National Park Committee will consider how much land should be returned. We are ready to listen to nationwide public opinion, he said. Residents of Ban Wang Mued, Prachin Buri province, gather for a public hearing on the proposed boundary adjustments on Thap Lan National Park, July 9, 2024. [Nava Sangthong/BenarNews] Some neighbors of the park support the proposal to open land for agricultural use. Kitchaphat Jaynok, 42, a resident from Wang Nam Khiao district in Nakhon Ratchasima province, argued that the parks boundaries encroach on long-established communities. Villagers were here first, with evidence of village establishment dating back to the 1950s, but the park was declared. We want to call for justice for villagers in over 90 villages across five districts, whose [lands] have been overlapped by the park declaration. Although society may view local villagers as encroachers, 90% of us were here first, Kitchaphat stated. Pinkaew Laungaramsri, a sociology and anthropology professor at Chiang Mai Universitys Faculty of Social Sciences, criticized the establishment of national parks without consulting existing local communities. What some conservation groups intentionally dont mention is that many national parks were established without surveying and excluding the villagers farmlands that existed before the forest areas were declared. They were only interested in increasing forest areas without considering whose lands they were taking. This has become a source of conflict, she said. In reality, its the villagers lands that have been sacrificed for forests for many decades, Pinkaew said. The results of the public hearings, which began on June 28 and run through Friday, are to be forwarded to a national committee overseeing the national park. Christopher Hairston was a well-known drummer in the Pittsfield community, performing with the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers as well as his own group, the Blue Light Jazz Trio. This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle. Matt Bishop was appointed as interim deputy superintendent for the Pittsfield Public Schools on Monday, a move which will give the district time to focus efforts on the search for a new special education director. WINDSOR Without substantive discussion, the Windsor Select Board agreed to place before voters at a special town meeting an article that would ban cannabis businesses from Windsor. The special town meeting will take place Aug. 19, where a two-thirds vote will be required to pass the warrant article because it involves a ban. If it passes, the ballot question will appear on Sept. 3, the same date as the state primary. If the warrant article doesnt pass at town meeting, the ballot question will be moot. The recommendation came from the Planning Board on Monday following the March 1 implementation of new state Cannabis Control Commission regulations that are particularly burdensome to small towns, according to Planning Board member Ben Bederson. He is also concerned about teeth in the regulations, fines of up to $50,000 for communities that dont comply even if there are no cannabis businesses within them. Windsor doesnt have any cannabis businesses. The sole applicant for one withdrew several years ago, and there are none in the pipeline. The new regulations include Commission oversight of host community agreements and community impact fees; and new requirements for towns to update applications, documents and train staff for the licensing and application process. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association have said the new regulations violate the contract clause of the U.S. Constitution, and that the administrative burden creates an unfunded mandate, in violation of Massachusetts Proposition 2 1/2. In comments about the rules when they were in draft form, the two associations predicted they would stifle the growth of the cannabis market. Select Board members Holly Higinbotham and Chris Cozzaglio both voted to take the action. The third Select Board seat is vacant. If the votes pass, Windsor won't be the first town in Berkshire County to ban cannabis businesses. Alford did so in 2021. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:13-20). Perhaps that is why people who are antagonistic to Christianity attack the resurrection accounts in the Gospels. They argue that the accounts do not align and provide inconsistent details. As a result, they choose not to place faith in Christ and convince others that Jesus resurrection did not happen. One such detail is that the Gospels do not agree on which women discovered the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene is included in each Gospel, but the other named women do not seem to align. Johns account also presents a difficulty since Mary Magdalene is depicted alone at the tomb and runs to tell Peter and John about the discovery (John 20:1-3). To the skeptic, these details seem contradictory. How to Refute It When reading the Gospels, we need to remember that each author had a specific purpose and conveyed events from his perspective. One author might have focused on a certain detail while another one omitted it. Their purpose was not to give a unified account that perfectly aligned with the other Gospels. If they had done this, then there would be cause for suspicion. As it is, the fact that they each present a unique perspective of the events of Jesus life, ministry, death, and resurrection attests to their authenticity. We gain a wider understanding of the events of Jesus resurrection by considering all the accounts together. Just because Matthew recorded that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb does not mean they were the only ones present (Matthew 28:1). Matthew was merely focusing on these two women in his account. With the additional details from Mark and Luke, we understand that many women were there, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and others (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). Nowhere do the Gospel writers assert that only the specific women they named were at the empty tomb. We get the full picture by reading the accounts in each Gospel. In Johns account, the same principle applies: He chose to focus on Mary Magdalene (John 20:1). From the other Gospels, we know she went with the women early on Sunday to anoint Jesus body and found the empty tomb. She ran back to Peter and John as soon she saw that Jesus was gone, while the other women remained and heard the news of His resurrection. This is why she told them, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we dont know where they have put him! (John 20:2, emphasis added). This sequence of events also explains why she was the first to see the risen Lord (John 20:14-16). She also saw Him again with the other women before hurrying to tell the disciples (Matthew 28:8-10). Remembering that each author wrote with a unique purpose and perspective is important in understanding the account of Christs resurrection in its entirety. Photo credit: Getty Images/rudall30 BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. 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Advertisement The funds raised to date have contributed to the following: -The purchase of two new mobile information units. - Helping to fund five new specialist nurses, bringing the team to seven. Every year in Ireland, an estimated 42,000 people are diagnosed with cancer, meaning one in two of us will be affected in our lifetime. Advertisement Dalata and the Marie Keating Foundation are partnering to raise awareness through fundraising initiatives in support of its community nursing and mobile information units and to help facilitate over 100,000 lifesaving conversations on spotting the early signs of cancer. The mobile units, staffed by specialist nurses, offer free and accessible cancer education and support, ensuring that vital information reaches the heart of communities nationwide. As part of the partnership, the mobile units visit Dalata hotels across Ireland throughout the year, with local communities invited to come along and gain life-saving knowledge about early cancer detection and prevention. As part of the initiative, Dalata employees voted to support charities in the health and wellbeing space for the period of 2022 to 2025. Advertisement To ensure national-level impact, the Group has partnered with the Marie Keating Foundation in the Republic of Ireland, Leukaemia Care in Great Britain, and Air Ambulance NI in Northern Ireland. Dermot Crowley, Dalata Hotel Group's chief executive said: "We are thrilled that the effort made by our people across our hotels and at Central office has resulted in such a substantial donation to the Marie Keating Foundation thus far. "Every year, our team across the Group dedicate substantial time and energy to fundraising for our charity partners, and their enthusiasm never ceases to impress me. "The Marie Keating Foundation is a remarkable organisation, and we are proud to support their vital work nationwide, encouraging life-saving conversations. A nine-year-old girl who, it was claimed, suffered a shoulder injury at birth in the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin has settled a High Court action for 850,000. The girl cannot be identified by order of the court. Advertisement Her counsel, Oonah McCrann, instructed by Cantillons solicitors, told the court it was their case that the baby during her delivery had allegedly been pulled out abruptly and too quickly, and she suffered an injury to her shoulder and arm, known as Erbs Palsy. She said the girl, who has to wear a splint on her arm every night, will continue to have functional problems. The settlement is without an admission of liability. The hospital admitted the baby suffered Erbs Palsy, but it denied it was caused by any negligence or breach of duty on its part. The young girl had, through her mother, sued the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin over the circumstances of her birth in 2014. Advertisement It was claimed there was an alleged failure to summon help immediately following recognition of shoulder dystocia and that traction had allegedly been applied prematurely. It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to follow guidelines for the management of shoulder dystocia and there was an alleged excessive duration and force for the delivery of the baby. It was further claimed the delivery was extremely traumatic and, in the weeks following her birth, the baby was brought to the clinic for review, and it was noted there was little improvement in her right arm symptoms. She was later noted as having suffered a significant right side brachial plexus palsy since birth, with no initial motion of the shoulder or elbow, for which she required specialist treatment. Advertisement The National Maternity Hospital denied the Erbs Palsy was caused by any alleged negligence. It said appropriate and necessary measures were adopted in the circumstances and the care provided was of a reasonable standard and consistent with best practice clinical guidelines that were operative at the time. Approving the settlement, Ms Justice Denise Brett praised the girl for her tremendous efforts after hearing she plays sport and music and excels in both. The judge said the young girl was absolutely right to be doing this. The Cabinet has formally agreed to provide assistance to the UKs inquiry into the Omagh bombing. The dissident republican bomb exploded in the Tyrone town on August 15th, 1998, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Advertisement The UK government has outlined its terms of reference for the independent probe, which will be chaired by Lord Alan Turnbull. It will examine alleged security failings that led a judge to conclude the atrocity could plausibly have been prevented. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee secured approval to provide assistance to the inquiry at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. A Government spokesperson said this honours a commitment given to Omagh families. Advertisement The spokesperson added: Ireland has accepted the invitation of the inquiry chairman Lord Alan Turnbull to be represented at a preliminary hearing on the 30th of July. This is a complex process that involves working with another jurisdiction, but we do have recent precedent for doing this. For example, the Omagh civil case and we also produced legislative means to assist inquests in Northern Ireland with Operation Denton and the independent review of activities into the Glennane gang. Officials will now explore a memo of understanding for the States engagement with this upcoming inquiry. Advertisement Mr Martin has said the Government intends to do everything possible to assist the inquiry. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Justice continue to work with the inquiry team on how best to structure engagement with the inquiry. The inquiry will examine the adequacy of the measures taken by UK state authorities, including the police, security forces and intelligence and security agencies, to disrupt dissident republicans who had been involved in attacks from December 1997 up to and including the Omagh bombing. It will assess whether that approach changed following the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed in April 1998. Advertisement It will also probe alleged intelligence-sharing failures between the UK and Irish authorities in the year and a half leading up to the bombing. A number of families of Omagh victims have repeatedly called for an inquiry into the bombing to also be carried out in the Republic. However, Mr Martin has previously said he did not think it made sense to have two separate inquiries on both sides of the Border. Taoiseach Simon Harris has called a Russian missile strike on a major childrens hospital in the Ukrainian capital a despicable act. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 38 people were killed and almost 200 more injured in an intense daytime barrage that hit cities across the country on Monday. Advertisement Rescue operations have stretched into a second day after what was Russias heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months and one of the deadliest of the war, hitting seven of the citys 10 districts. Advertisement Speaking on his way into a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Harris said the attack was clearly a war crime. He said: What we saw happen in Ukraine yesterday with the deliberate, horrific targeting of a childrens hospital is clearly a war crime. Its clearly an act of brutality on a despicable scale, and its really important that just because the war in Ukraine is going on a long time, that we dont in any way, shape or form allow Putins brutality, the illegalities, become in any way normalised. I think theres an onus on every country to continue to speak up and speak out. Advertisement Marie Struthers, Amnesty Internationals director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, called the destruction of hospitals, residential buildings and other infrastructure abhorrent. The evidence now widely available and some of it verified by Amnesty International experts, including videos of the strike that destroyed the Ohmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv, consistently suggests that the hospital was hit by an inbound Russian cruise missile, she said. Russian attempts to put the blame on Ukrainian air defence display a callous audacity which seeks to deflect from Russias responsibility for killing civilians and destroying medical facilities. The chilling images we have seen from the sites of two rounds of attacks in Kyiv today are a reminder of the cruelty of Russias aggression against Ukraine. Advertisement Ms Struthers added: This tragic day must serve as yet another urgent alarm for the entire international community that immediate and effective action is needed for justice to be served. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he will work to intervene in the case of an Irish woman in difficulty in Dubai. It has been reported that Tori Towey (28), who works for an airline, was attacked in her home and has been banned from leaving the state. Advertisement Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald raised Ms Toweys case in the Dail on Tuesday afternoon. Ms McDonald said Ms Towey has been the victim of domestic violence and is subject to a travel ban over alleged charges. She said she has spoken to Ms Towey, adding that the 28-year-olds mother has travelled to Dubai to be with her. Tori wants to come home, simple as that. She is a Roscommon woman, and she wants to come home, Ms McDonald said. Advertisement I am asking now, as a matter of absolute urgency, that we have a statement from this House, that you intervene Taoiseach, that the ambassador is called and that it is made absolutely plain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way, and an Irish citizen, an Irish woman will not be treated in this way. Mr Harris responded saying he was not aware of Ms Toweys case, and thanked Ms McDonald for bringing it to his attention and that of Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin. He pledged to work to intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen in what sounds to be, based on what you tell me, the most appalling circumstances. Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Autumn general election? Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin continue to dismiss any talk of a general election before 2025. Advertisement However, all the signs are pointing towards an autumn general election. The Government would face a staggering five by-elections if they insist on the Coalition going its full term to March 2025. This would allow Sinn Fein a chance to gain momentum, with Government parties said to be keen (behind the scenes) to capitalise on their steady showing in the June local and European elections. In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, former minister for agriculture Ivan Yates has suggested November 15th as the most likely date for a general election. Advertisement This is the last week of the current Dail term before the summer break, and while all will insist there is no election on the cards, it is starting to come across as protesting too much. Budget 2025 The summer economic statement is due on Tuesday, and will set out the shape of Budget 2025. It will be the first big test for new Minister for Finance Jack Chambers, who will decide on the finer details along with Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe. While there are hopes among politicians, and the public, for a giveaway budget, it is likely to disappoint some as the Government has already committed to putting 6 billion into the States saving funds. Advertisement Roderic O'Gorman named new Green Party leader Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman has defeated Senator Pippa Hackett in the Green Party leadership contest. Eamon Ryan's successor will face a tough task in reinvigorating the party, with sources indicating they will not form part of the next government. Sinn Fein electoral review Sinn Fein continues to review its underwhelming performance in the local and European elections, as they party seeks to learn from its mistakes ahead of the general election. They have held a number of meetings including TDs and senators already. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner reported Sinn Fein has appointed former Kerry TD Martin Ferris and former Belfast mayor Alex Maskey to review the party's performance. Taoiseach Simon Harris criticised for comments on Cathal Crotty case Taoiseach Simon Harris "threw the Defence Forces under the bus" with his comments after a serving soldier was sentenced for the assault of a woman in Limerick, according to an employment lawyer and former army officer. Cathal Crotty pleaded guilty to assaulting Natasha OBrien in 2022, and was handed a fully suspended sentence, prompting public outcry. Following the case, the Taoiseach said: There are people in the Defence Forces who clearly knew this was happening, why did they do nothing? These are very serious questions and as Taoiseach I am not satisfied in relation to this, I am not satisfied at all. Advertisement Barry Crushell is an employment law solicitor and former army officer, who served with the United Nations on multiple deployments. In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Mr Crushell pointed out that regulations prevent the Defence Forces from taking action against an individual before the criminal/civil courts before a case has concluded. With this in mind, he argued that the criticism from Mr Harris and other politicians was unfair. "The outcry, in particular from Harris, has not gone down well within the Defence Forces or among its former members. It feels as if Harris deliberately threw the Defence Forces under the bus. "He will be well aware the Defence Forces has no power to suspend Crotty. The Defence Forces could not intervene at an earlier stage because to do so might have prejudiced the criminal case." Abroad In the UK, Keir Starmer's Labour Party is getting to grips with governing after their comprehensive UK general election victory. Already, Mr Starmer has announced the Conservatives' controversial Rwanda deportation scheme will be scrapped. The Taoiseach will visit Downing Street on Wednesday, July 17th, with hopes that the new administration will see a renewal in positive Anglo-Irish relations. In the US, president Joe Biden continues to insist he will continue with his 2024 campaign. However, many of his Democratic colleagues have suggested he should step aside for vice president Kamala Harris after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. Mr Trump has been uncharacteristically muted on the unrest in the Democratic Party. Mr Biden has been carrying out events across the country as he looks to solidify his position, and he alluded to this by claiming Trump hasn't been seen for 10 days. However, Mr Trump and his team have increased their attacks on Ms Harris, suggesting they may think a change in opponent is imminent. A north county Dublin residents group has called on Fingal County Council to refuse planning permission to DAAs new plans for an observation point for plane spotters. The operator of Dublin airport, DAA lodged plans for the aircraft observation facility at the Airport Viewing Point, Old Airport Road last month. Advertisement They are planning to put in place an elevated viewing platform with a sheltered viewing structure, seating and tables and improved parking facilities with 22 car parking spaces. A planning report lodged with the application states that the proposed development represents "an important investment in community facilities" at Dublin Airport and will contribute to a safer, more comfortable and more inclusive plane-spotting experience by providing amenities for users. The report states that the aircraft observation facility will formalise the position of the airport viewing area, known locally as The Mound, in its current informal location. The facility is to offer a clear view of the south runway and as well as the cross runway whilst providing facilities such as shelter, seating, parking and lighting. Advertisement The report states that the aircraft observation facility will offer a number of benefits to the airport, the aviation community, and the wider public including enhancing safety, promoting education and boosting local tourism and community engagement. However, in a comprehensive submission against the scheme, Liam OGradaigh of the SMTW Environmental DAC has told the council that the application should be refused on the grounds that the airport should utilise Dublin Airport zoned grounds. In the submission, Mr OGradaigh states that the existing layby has no zoning designation in the Fingal Development Plan. He said that "Its worth noting that the DAA has an extensive landbank under utilised that is zoned Dublin Airport (DA)". Advertisement He said: "DA zoning facilitates car parking and aviation related activities. Therefore, this application should be refused on the grounds that the airport should utilise DA zoned grounds. The residents group of The Ward, Co Dublin is battling on a number of planning fronts with DAAs expansion plans for the airport along with noise impacts from aircraft. The objection states that the proposed site only has 22 car parking spaces which seems very low compared to the current usage at peak times. Mr O'Gradaigh states: "If enough car parking spaces are not provided, then the site will become a traffic hazard with illegal parking. Advertisement He states: We welcome improvements to the viewing area but this planning application, as it stands, is deficient on a number of grounds. Mr OGradaigh said: The application has only planned for 22 car parking spaces which will not cater for demand or fool proof the development for future years. There are no toilet facilities planned which is another serious deficiency. The current site is a traffic hazard, and the limited parking will only add to the risk. He further contends that the daa have an opportunity to fully enhance the experience of users at the airport and this minimal development lacks vision. A decision is due on the application later this month. A teenage boy whose mother died suddenly is not entitled to take over the tenancy of an apartment his mother rented from a housing charity, the High Court has ruled. Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger rejected a challenge by the boy, suing through his maternal aunt, to a decision by the Cluid Housing Association to terminate the tenancy of the apartment after his mother's death in 2023 as it cannot rent to a child. Advertisement The boy and his mother were the occupants of the apartment, and the father, while in the boy's life, lived elsewhere. The judge noted the boy lived with his maternal grandparents in their home following his mother's death, although he did visit the apartment regularly and spent time there up until Cluid sought to terminate the tenancy. His maternal aunt was appointed his legal guardian, and she currently lives near the apartment. In the legal challenge, the aunt said she was willing to move to her sister's apartment, as it is convenient to her place of work. She would care for her nephew there and allow him to continue to reside in the home he shared with his late mother, she said. Advertisement The judge said the aunt did not give any explanation as to the suitability or non-suitability of her present accommodation as a residence for her nephew, but she did say she believes it was important for the boy to visit his own home in the aftermath of his mothers death. The aunt and the grandmother said it is important for the boy to be able to go to his home, and that losing it would be too much for him, the judge said. The boy, with the support of his aunt and grandparents, sought declarations, including that a provision of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 preventing the child from taking over a tenancy breached his constitutional right to equality. It was also claimed that it was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to provide security of tenure for a child of a tenant and/or interfering with his property rights and/or family life rights. Advertisement Ireland and the Attorney General, who were the respondents, opposed the challenge. Tenancy In her judgment, Mr Justice Bolger said the relevant part of the Residential Tenancies Act (Section 39) provides for a number of circumstances in which a tenancy can be taken over by the occupant of a property at the time of the death of the tenant. These include the spouse, civil partner, the parents of the tenant or the child of the tenant who is over 18. So while an adult child could take it over, one under 18 at the age of the death cannot acquire a right of tenancy, she said. Advertisement Once they reach 18, they might acquire a right to continue to reside in the property if a qualifying adult took on the tenancy and agreed to allow them to continue living there. The judge rejected arguments on behalf of the boy that the tenancy law breached the constitutional rights of a child, or the guarantee of the inviolability of the dwelling, or the guarantee of equality before the law. She also rejected that his Article 8 European Convention right to private and family life was breached. The reliance on Article 8 was misplaced, she said. Someone under 18, or their legal guardian on their behalf, is not entitled, as a matter of either the child or the guardians right derived from their guardianship of the child, to continue to reside in the rented home of their late parent(s), she said. Advertisement This is even if the child may derive such a right to continue to reside there from rights that other adult members of their household may be able to invoke, she said. She found the boy had not discharged the burden of proof on him to establish that the relevant tenancy law is unconstitutional or in breach of the European Convention, she said, refusing the application. Suella Braverman has hit out at liberal Conservatives after the partys defeat at the UK general election. The former British home secretary, who is among the likely candidates to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservatives, told the National Conservatism conference in Washington the party had taken a good hiding. Advertisement She put the blame for the defeat, in which the Conservatives lost more than 250 seats, on failures to keep their promises. We won a great majority in 2019 promising to do what the people wanted, she said. Advertisement We were going to use our Brexit freedoms and stop waves of illegal migrants. We were going to cut taxes. We were going to stop the lunatic woke virus. We did none of this. She continued: Our problem is us. Our problem is that the liberal Conservatives who trashed the Tory party think it was everyones fault but their own. My party governed as liberals and we were defeated as liberals. But seemingly, as ever, it is Conservatives who are to blame. Advertisement Ms Braverman, who will speak via a video link to a Popular Conservatism post-election event alongside Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lord Frost on Tuesday, criticised the flying of the Progress Pride flag to show how liberal and progressive we are. The Progress flag says to me is one monstrous thing: That I was a member of a government that presided over the mutilation of children in our hospitals and from our schools, she said. Ms Braverman was elected as MP in the redrawn constituency of Fareham and Waterlooville with a 6,000 majority. Hundreds of European and US tourists are being drawn to Death Valley National Park even though the California region known as one of Earths hottest places is being hit by a dangerous heatwave blamed for a motorcyclists death over the weekend. French, Spanish, English, Swiss and US tourists left their air-conditioned rental cars and motorhomes to take photos of the barren landscape. Advertisement I was excited it was going to be this hot, said Drew Belt, a resident of Mississippi, who wanted to stop in Death Valley as the place boasting the lowest elevation in the US on his way to climb Californias Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kind of like walking on Mars. Tourists take photos in front of the Furnace Creek visitor centre thermometer (Daniel Jacobi II/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) Advertisement Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds cautioned visitors in a statement that high heat like this can pose real threats to your health. The searing heatwave gripping large parts of the United States also led to record daily high temperatures in Oregon, where it is suspected to have caused four deaths in the Portland area. More than 146 million people around the US were under heat alerts on Monday, especially in Western states. Dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records over the weekend and are expected to keep doing so into the week. The early US heatwave came as the global temperature in June hit a record for the 13th straight month and marked the 12th straight month that the world was 1.5C warmer than pre-industrial times, the European climate service Copernicus said. Advertisement In Oregons Multnomah County, home to Portland, the medical examiner is investigating four suspected heat-related deaths recorded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, officials said. Three of the deaths involved county residents who were 64, 75 and 84 years old, county officials said. Heat also was suspected in the death of a 33-year-old man taken to a Portland hospital from outside the county. In eastern Californias sizzling desert, a high temperature of 53.3C was recorded on Saturday and Sunday at Death Valley National Park, where a visitor, who was not identified, died on Saturday from heat exposure. Another person was taken to hospital, officials said. They were among six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area in scorching weather. The other four were treated at the scene. Emergency medical helicopters were unable to respond because the aircraft cannot generally fly safely over 48.8C, officials said. Advertisement More extreme highs are in the near forecast with a possible high of 54.4C around midweek, Sheik Mabrouki, of Algeria, walks through Badwater Basin (Daniel Jacobi II/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) The largest national park outside Alaska, Death Valley is considered one of the most extreme environments in the world. Advertisement The hottest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth was 56.67C in July 1913 in Death Valley, though some experts dispute that measurement and say the real record was 54.4C, recorded there in July 2021. Its impressive, Thomas Mrzliek of Basel, Switzerland, said of the triple digit heat. It like a wave that hits when you get out of the car, but its a very dry heat. So its not as in Europe. Across the desert in Nevada, Las Vegas set a record high of 48.8C on Sunday. Extreme heat and a longstanding drought in the West has also dried out vegetation that can fuel wildfires In California, a wildfire in the mountains of Santa Barbara County grew to more than 34 square miles by Monday night. More than 1,000 firefighters were tackling the Lake Fire, and areas under evacuation orders included the former Neverland Ranch once owned by the late pop star Michael Jackson. The blaze was just 8 per cent contained. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when Nato leaders gathered in Washington and a Russian missile hit a childrens hospital in Ukraine. Our relationship is one of a particularly privileged strategic partnership, Mr Putin told Mr Modi, who made his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlins forces in 2022. Advertisement Mr Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Mr Modi did not attend last weeks summit in Kazakhstan of a security organisation founded by Moscow and Beijing. The friendship with Russia is something we greatly cherish. pic.twitter.com/whKj36IzHW Advertisement Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024 Mr Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday, shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide. Advertisement Mr Modi on Tuesday alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Mr Putin, which involved over four hours of talks. Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained, the Indian prime minister said. When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible. Mr Modi said the two leaders shared our opinions on Ukraine with an open heart and in detail. We respectfully listened to each other. He added that a solution is not possible on the battlefield. Between bombs, guns and bullets, a solution and peace talks cannot be successful. And we have to adopt the path of peace only through talks. Advertisement Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev speaks to Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin (Sergei Fadeichev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Mr Modis trip received extensive coverage at home, including his laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin wall, but coverage of Russias deadly attack in Ukraine was muted. In televised comments, Mr Putin said all issues were discussed with Mr Modi, who visited the Russian leader at his residence near Moscow on Monday. The two shook hands and embraced as they met. Advertisement At the Nato summit in Washington, Western leaders marked the military alliances 75th anniversary and sought to reassure Ukraine of their support. While Western countries have hit Russia with sanctions, Mr Putin pointed out that trade between Russia and India increased by 66% last year, adding that it is a key focus of Mr Modis trip. Mr Modi said that because of Russias support, we were able to save Indian citizens from difficulties related to requirements of petrol and diesel, adding that the nations agreements on energy helped provide market stability to the world indirectly. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Russian president Vladimir Putin speak during a meeting at the Kremlin (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Russian state media reported that they would also discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries are already collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Russia had strong ties with India during the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trading partner with Moscow has grown since the war in Ukraine. China and India are key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Mr Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met Mr Putin. They also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation bloc. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered the already touchy relationship between Beijing and New Delhi as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted and have seeped into how India views Russia. But Mr Modi is expected to continue close relations with Russia, which is also a major defence supplier for India. Russian missiles blasted cities across Ukraine on Monday, damaging the countrys largest childrens hospital and other buildings in a fierce assault that interrupted heart surgeries and forced young cancer patients to take their treatments outdoors. At least 31 people were killed, officials said. The daytime barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities with more than 40 missiles of different types, president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on social media. Advertisement Ukraines air force said it intercepted 30 missiles. More than 150 people were wounded. Strikes in Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelenskiys birthplace in central Ukraine, killed 10 people and injured 47 in what the head of city administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, said was a massive missile attack. Advertisement Mr Zelenskiy said on social media: It is very important that the world should not be silent about it now and that everyone should see what Russia is and what it is doing. Russia denied attacking the hospital and said the strikes hit military targets. In a statement, US president Joe Biden called the missile strikes a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. Advertisement It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression, the statement said. Attacking innocent children. The most depraved of actions. We stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression - our support wont falter. https://t.co/Ujb28O48EB Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 8, 2024 Advertisement Western leaders who have backed Ukraine in the war are holding a three-day Nato summit in Washington beginning on Tuesday. They will look at how they can reassure Ukraine of the alliances unwavering support and offer Ukrainians hope that their country can come through Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War. Advertisement At the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv, rescuers are searching for people under the rubble of a partially collapsed, two-storey wing of the facility. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 16 people, seven of them children, were injured. A major Russian missile attack across Ukraine killed at least 20 people and injured more than 50 (AP) On the hospitals main 10-storey building, windows and doors were blown out and walls were blackened. Blood spattered the floor in one room. The intensive care unit, operating theatres and oncology departments were all damaged, officials said. Medical personnel and local people searched for children and medical workers. Volunteers formed a line, passing bricks and other debris to each other. Fresh air raid alerts caused panic in the wake of the strike (AP) The attack forced the hospital to shut down and evacuate. Some mothers carried their children away on their backs. Others waited in the courtyard with their children as calls to doctors phones rang unanswered. A few hours after the initial strike, another air raid siren sent many mothers with their children hurrying to the hospitals shelter. Led by torchlight through the shelters dark corridors, mothers carried their bandaged children in their arms and medics carried them on trolleys. Volunteers handed out sweets in an effort to calm the children. Russias defence ministry said the strikes targeted Ukrainian defence plants and military air bases and were successful. It denied aiming at any civilian facilities and claimed without offering evidence that pictures from Kyiv indicated the damage was caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile. Since early in the war that is stretching into its third year, Russian officials have regularly claimed that Moscows forces never attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, despite what officials in Kyiv say and Associated Press reporting on the ground. Several children were injured (AP) Elsewhere in Kyiv, where seven of the citys 10 districts were hit in the heaviest Russian bombardment of the capital in almost four months, the strikes killed seven people and injured 25, officials said. About three hours after the first strikes, more missiles hit Kyiv and partially destroyed a private medical centre. Four people were killed there, Ukraines Emergency Service said. The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said. The Kinzhal flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept. City buildings shook from the blasts. An entire section of a residential multistorey building in one district of Kyiv was destroyed, officials said. Three electricity substations were damaged or completely destroyed in two districts of Kyiv, energy company DTEK said. The head of Ukraines presidential office, Andrii Yermak, said the attack occurred at a time when many people were in the citys streets. Texan officials say restoring electricity will take days after Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane, came ashore on Monday and knocked out power to nearly three million homes and businesses. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said CenterPoint Energy was bringing in thousands of additional workers to help turn the lights back on quickly. Advertisement He said the storm toppled 10 transmission lines and that fallen trees had caused many of the outages. At least three people were killed as Beryl moved through Texas. The fast-moving storm threatened to carve a harsh path over several more states in the coming days. Hurricane Beryl swept into Texas early on Monday with heavy rains and powerful winds, knocking out power and flooding streets with fast-rising waters as first responders raced to rescue stranded residents. Beryl had already cut a deadly path through parts of Mexico and the Caribbean before turning toward Texas. Advertisement Power lines downed by the effects of Hurricane Beryl block a highway near Palacios, Texas (Eric Gay/AP) The Category 1 hurricane hit land just before 4am, weakening to a tropical storm about five hours later. The National Hurricane Centre said damaging winds and flash flooding will continue as Beryl pushes inland. Advertisement Flood warnings were in effect across a wide stretch of the Texas coast, where a powerful storm surge pushed water ashore, and further inland as heavy rain continued to fall. High waters quickly began to close streets in storm-weary Houston, which was again under flood warnings after heavy storms in recent months washed out neighbourhoods. Television stations broadcast the dramatic rescue of a man who had climbed to the roof of his pickup truck after it got trapped in fast-flowing waters. Emergency crews used an extension ladder from a fire truck to drop him a life preserver and a tether before moving him to dry land. Advertisement 10am CDT Key Messages for #TropicalStorm #Beryl: Life threatening storm surge, damaging wind gusts and considerable flash flooding continue across portions of southeast #Texas. See https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ and https://t.co/SiZo8oA90V for more info and the latest updates pic.twitter.com/lzfmaN3Cmt National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 8, 2024 Advertisement Houston was under a flash-flood warning for most of the morning as heavy rain continued to soak the city. Flood warnings also were in effect across a wide stretch of the Texas coast, where a powerful storm surge pushed water ashore, and further inland as heavy rain continued to fall. Two people were killed after trees fell on their houses: a man in the Houston suburb of Humble and a woman in Harris County, authorities said. Beryl had weakened to a tropical storm after damaging Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula but became a hurricane again late on Sunday. The storms centre hit land about 85 miles south-west of Houston with top sustained winds of 80mph. As #Beryl approaches Texas, our airline partners are canceling and adjusting flights. Before heading to the airport, please check with your airline for your flight status and rebooking options. Stay safe, Houston! pic.twitter.com/V7x2QgN2Z2 Bush Intercontinental Airport (@iah) July 8, 2024 More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled at Houstons two airports, according to tracking data from FlightAware. Beryl is expected to weaken to a tropical storm on Monday and a tropical depression on Tuesday, the weather service said, forecasting a turn to the north-east and an increase in speed on Monday night and Tuesday. The storms centre is expected to move over eastern Texas on Monday and then through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather service said. Beryls moving inland but this is not the end of the story yet, said Jack Beven, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Centre. While I am in Taiwan, South Korea & Japan working on business deals worth billions, I remain in daily contact with Texas Division of Emergency Management & local officials to ensure preparation for Hurricane Beryl. Your safety is our top concern.https://t.co/hk9OssJHlQ Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 7, 2024 People on the Texas coast boarded up windows and left beach towns under evacuation orders. The storm was projected to come ashore early on Monday in the middle of the Texas coast around Matagorda Bay, an area about 100 miles south of Houston, but officials cautioned its path could still change. As the storm neared the coast, Texas officials warned on Sunday it could cause power outages and flooding but also expressed worries that not enough residents and beach vacationers in Beryls path had heeded warnings to leave. One of the things that kind of trigger our concern a little bit, weve looked at all of the roads leaving the coast and the maps are still green, said Dan Patrick, who is serving as the states acting governor while governor Greg Abbott is travelling overseas. So we dont see many people leaving. And management points out that the mineralisation in the breccia, porphyry and surrounding hornfels rocks is not just restricted to just the Trinchera Este prospect the smallest of six prospects at Parag. Analysis of old core at its Palacocha 1 target, nearly 1200m to the west, also revealed similar mineralisation. The company today confirmed that its latest diamond drillhole hit what it says was high-grade copper-moly-silver mineralisation in both the breccia and surrounding porphyry intrusive within its Trinchera Este zone at Parag. EV Resources believes it is on the trail of a significant porphyry system at its Parag project in Peru after unveiling a new set of drill hits from surface including 148m at 0.54 per cent copper and 0.35 per cent molybdenum. Geophysics programs are expected to kick off this week to provide EV with a better understanding of the breccia-porphyry system at Parag and to define further drilling targets in a bid to test the potentially extensive system at depth. EV Resources managing director Hugh Callaghan said: The successful drill campaign at Trinchera Este highlighted high-grade copper-molybdenum-silver mineralisation in both the polymictic breccia and in the surrounding intrusive porphyry and hornfels. This supports our view that the Parag porphyry system is potentially large. The company recently re-evaluated its exploration strategy, with a new focus on molybdenum as a byproduct. EV says prices for the metal have climbed to a dizzying US$22.89 (AU$33.99) per pound or US$50,635 (AU$75,191) per tonne. It is more than five-times that of the strongly performing copper price that sits at about US$9944 (AU$14,776) a tonne. Managements analysis of historic data from 76 holes covering 18,170m uncovered a peak molybdenum grade of 0.62 per cent within an 89.4m hit from just 6.5m that also returned 0.39 per cent copper. That represents a staggering 89.4m intersection of more than 3.55 per cent copper equivalent once additional silver credits are introduced. About 90 per cent of molybdenum is produced as a byproduct of copper and contributes to the industry dominance of Chilean and Peruvian miners the worlds top two copper producers. EV says the fact that the Climax and Henderson mines in the United States host molybdenum grades of between 0.15 and 0.18 per cent, compared to up to 0.62 per cent discovered so far at Parag, gives it confidence in pursuing the essential trace mineral. Andrea Robin Skinner, daughter of Canadian Nobel laureate Alice Munro, says her stepfather sexually abused her as a child and that her mother knew about it, but chose to stay with him anyway. Skinner, now an adult, detailed these accusations in an essay in the Toronto Star on Sunday. According to a separate article in the Toronto Star, Skinner went to Ontario police, and in 2005, her stepfather, Gerald Fremlin, was charged with indecent assault against her. He pleaded guilty. Author Alice Munro died in May aged 92. Credit: The Canadian Press By then, he was 80 years old. He got a suspended sentence and probation for two years. Munro stayed with him until he died in 2013. Because of her mothers fame, Skinner wrote, the silence continued. Munro died on May 13 at 92. While fewer Australians are smoking than ever, cigarettes are everywhere on our film and TV screens with Hollywood seemingly re-embracing the glamorisation of tobacco that helped drive last centurys sky-high smoking rates. From Austin Butler chain-smoking outside Jodie Comers house in The Bikeriders to Josh OConnor taking long drags on the beach while staring longingly at Zendaya in Challengers, cigarettes feel inescapable at the cinema. Just one of the 10 best picture nominees at this years Oscars didnt feature smoking: Barbie. Tom Hardy (left) and Austin Butler are members of the Vandals motorcycle club in The Bikeriders. Credit: AP And things arent so different on TV. A recent report from US anti-smoking group Truth Initiative shows more than half of the streaming series most popular with Americans aged 15-24 in 2022 featured smoking, and the number of on-screen depictions rose 110 per cent from 2021. The report doesnt classify how many are positive depictions, but health advocates are wary of a trend towards glamorisation. Advertisement Exclusive Eating outFood One of Brisbanes best bar groups has relaunched an iconic 1864-built pub This Heartbreak Ridge classic features a rejuvenated front bar, a menu of Australian game dishes, and a private dining room in a wine cellar. Take a peek inside. Matt Shea July 9, 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 Heartbreak Ridge. Thats how a Spring Hill publican once described the strip of Leichhardt Street between Boundary Road and Upper Edward Street. But then pubs have been hard all over Brisbane in recent decades. Our city sprawls and our population density is relatively low. Even before cold beer, a viable local boozer needs punters to drink the stuff. The Alliance Hotel has been relaunched in Spring Hill. Markus Ravik Spring Hill, though, is slowly slowly coming alive. La Cache a Vin and Komeyui have appeared in recent years on Wharf Street, with the 185 Wharf Street residential development under construction next door. Wander further down the hill, and youll find the fancy Inchcolm and Amora hotels. On the other side of Leichhardt, theres the cult Creole Kitchen, and hidden gems such as Red Hut the best Chinese restaurant you didnt know about. So maybe Emma Hollands, Peter Hollands, Kat Makarov and Nick Winters decision to purchase the beautiful 1864-built Alliance Hotel on the corner of Leichhardt and Boundary Streets is ambitious, or maybe its perfect timing. Advertisement Perspective Did Brisbane need this five-star hotel? There are so many developments happening in the area, Winter says. Were just getting more and more people coming up here. Weve been lucky enough to walk into a venue thats already established, Peter Hollands adds. So hopefully, we can be a venue that helps create that. The Alliances public bar has been given a new lease on life with new beer taps and an Australiana-themed wall art. Markus Ravik The Hollandses, Makarov and Winter have runs on the board when creating compelling bar experiences built around clear propositions. Theyre behind Frogs Hollow, which since opening in 2022 has become one of the CBDs most popular boozers on the back of its freewheeling honky-tonk vibes. The Hollandses then opened Alice last year in a basement space just off Elizabeth Street, capturing the essence of a classic New York dive bar. Advertisement Basically, The Alliance is in good hands. The Alliances bistro has been renamed The Whisky Warren and serves a menu of Australian game dishes. Markus Ravik The place already had good bones, particularly after Nick Gregorski operated it as a gastropub in the mid-2010s. The inspiration for Peter Hollands and Winter, though, was more the Melbourne pubs they once frequented when they lived in the Victorian capital places such as Terminus Hotel in Abbotsford, Great Northern Hotel in Carlton North and The Rainbow Hotel in Fitzroy. Theyre great destinations but the thing they do so well is a team of staff that are genuinely interested in their booze and their products, Winter says. Its not like theyre selling to you. Theyre inviting you into the experience. Wild venison tenderloin with a parsnip puree and cucumber salad. Markus Ravik Advertisement The changes at The Alliance might initially feel subtle, but then there was a lot of low-hanging fruit. In the beautiful old front bar, he and Winter have replaced the bar top and beer lines, covered the walls in Australiana think old Fosters, Fourex and Fourn Twenty pie posters and thrown open the windows to better catch the sun as it tracks across the old Spring Hill workers cottages to the north-west, filling the venue with a lovely afternoon light. On tap there are 10 beers that split the difference between big box brews such XXXX Gold, Tooheys New and Guinness, and a rotating craft selection. Duck ragu pappardelle. Markus Ravik Out back, the old bistro has also been given a new bar top and renamed The Whisky Warren. There, head chef Julian Oliver is cooking a menu of Australian game dishes that will change depending on what he can get his hands on. You might order kangaroo tartare served with onion and bean puree on toasted brioche; duck ragu with pappardelle; butterflied harissa-marinated whole quail with cauliflower puree, sauteed kale and crisp enoki; or a slow-cooked rabbit stew with mushroom, potato and tomato. Advertisement Its important to elevate that food element, but we dont ever want to see ourselves as a gastropub, Winter says. Were just a classic pub that does really good food. Kangaroo tartare with an onion and bean puree on toasted brioche. Markus Ravik As per the name, theres also an extensive collection of 100 Australian whiskies, which the owners intend to become Australias largest. The rest of the venue has been given over to a series of private dining rooms and function spaces. Upstairs, theres the light-filled Leichhardt Room for weddings and events with capacity for 160 guests. Downstairs, in the wine cellar, a private dining room accommodates up to 14 guests. Markus Ravik Advertisement Downstairs, beneath the public bar, theres the Actress and the Bishop Bar, with capacity for 45 people and named after a striking refurbished neon that used to hang on the front of the building in the 1980s; and the 60-person Mirror Room, which features a mirrored ceiling. Theres also a 14-seat private dining room in the venues wine cellar, which holds 120 bottles for the restaurant and bar. Still, make no mistake, this is a local first and foremost, Peter says. Also downstairs is the Actress and the Bishop, a low-lit function room. Markus Ravik I was talking on a panel at Bartenders Weekender and someone asked what my inspiration was for a good bar, he says. And I just said, I love getting loaded. Advertisement We put a lot of thought into how we wanted to relaunch the bar but at the end of the day, what we focused on is the s--t thats essential: the bar top, the beer, the kicker once its there. Getting the windows open, getting the lighting right, getting the air con right. I love sitting in a bar with my friends, drinking schooners, and thats what this is about. Open Tue-Sun, 12pm-10pm 320 Boundary Street, Spring Hill, (07) 3839 0169 thealliancehotel.com.au Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Does this plastic igloo atop a car park rooftop pull off the French Alps vibe its aiming for? Experience a popular Alpine winter tradition in the most unlikely Sydney location at the Raclette Igloo pop-up. Lenny Ann Low July 9, 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 1 / 7 Inside the Raclette Igloo atop Broadway Shopping Centre. Edwina Pickles 2 / 7 Raclette cheese and charcuterie. Edwina Pickles 3 / 7 Charcuterie board. Edwina Pickles 4 / 7 Potatoes form the foundation of the food. Edwina Pickles 5 / 7 A giant snowflake adds to the wintry theme. Edwina Pickles 6 / 7 Mulled wine makes for an authentic Alpine evening. Edwina Pickles 7 / 7 Toasting marshmallows on the fire. Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide At Raclette Igloo, there is no denying we are sitting in a plastic dome tent on a Sydney car park rooftop rather than apres-ski in the snow-covered French or Swiss Alps. The latter, set inside 16 dome-shaped see-through tents with tables for two, six and eight guests inside, is the experience this travelling five-week spectacle on top of Broadway Shopping Centre is inspired by. Raclette is a semi-hard cows milk cheese made on both sides of the Swiss and French Alps. Its name comes from the French words racier, meaning to scrape, and is also the name for melting cheese and pouring it over meats, pickles and vegetables. Raclette cheese and charcuterie. Edwina Pickles Advertisement Swiss shepherds in the 12th century are believed to be its pioneer. Sharing raclette was adopted in France in the 19th century and it remains a common and popular European winter practice today. Transporting it to Broadway is bizarre. But its sheer audacity, rivers of melted cheese and under-the-stars locale, make it intriguing. At night, the igloos are lit with glowing pinks and purples, hanging lights swing in the breeze and fake snow rains down at the entrance. Everyone is given a large glass mug of mulled wine (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) to sip near a giant lit-up icicle doorway, initially gated with a pair of skis. Inside our igloo, a sense of camaraderie develops. Beyond are three rows of igloos, each with fire pits outside, surrounded by glowing pink, blue and purple cube seats. Inside the igloos, tables are set with napkins, cutlery, plates and an already hot raclette machine. This is a hot plate with a small roof and four spaces for cheese-loaded heat-resistant spatulas to sit until their contents melt and bubble. All staff here are from France. Our server, wearing a beret and a woolly Christmas jumper, delivers wooden boards of pickles and cured meats prosciutto, salami, Parisian ham and cured beef and a platter of cooked jacket potatoes. Advertisement The raclette machine is explained, we plunge our cheese-loaded mini shovels inside and, within five-to-eight minutes the raclette, imported from France, is bubbling. We might be on top of a four-level building with access to everything from the weeks groceries to underpants and a new washing machine, but eating this combination of creamy, salty, luscious fromage, mashed indelicately through soft potatoes and coils of handkerchief-like cured meat is transportive. A giant snowflake adds to the wintry theme. Edwina Pickles French-Australian Raclette Igloos founder Vincent Hernandez, who has overseen the event in Adelaide and Melbourne, says he started it three years ago because he was missing home. It is this wonderful, wintry, communal thing with family and friends, he says. I wanted to bring that here. Advertisement Australians love European things and I wanted to create something that will connect the two countries that I love. Broadway was not the easiest choice in a way because transforming the car park, craning everything up there, brought massive challenges. But its a space that is very unique, its super accessible and its convenient. Weve made it theatrical and fun and as authentic as possible. Inside our igloo, a sense of camaraderie develops. Praise is given when cheese starts to melt, eyes are widened at the size and number of the hot potatoes and everyone loses their equilibrium when we smear the raclette cheese into a maelstrom of hot, gooey vegetable and meat swirl. Toasting marshmallows on the fire. Edwina Pickles Were still going on the warm mulled wine, based on a recipe from Hernandezs grandmother, super-sweet, fruity and fragrant with orange, cherry, cinnamon, cloves and grape juice. Advertisement The wedges of cheese and charcuterie board contents are far from mingy. Two people get 400g of cheese, for tables of six its 1.2 kilograms and groups of eight people get 1.6 kilograms. The charcuterie ranges from 220g to 660g and 880g respectively. Hernandez encourages people to ask for more cheese if they would like it. The server, who is from Alsace in eastern France and says every share-flat he has lived in has had a raclette machine in the kitchen, says we can also buy glasses of French wine white, rose, champagne. We repair to our fire-pit outside the igloo to melt large marshmallows over glowing logs. The burning wood smell is lovely. As the night draws in, it is all as strange as it is enjoyable. The low-down Where: Rooftop, Level 4 (entry via north car park lifts), Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay Street, Broadway, racletteiglooexperience.com.au Open: Wed-Thu sittings 5pm/7pm, Fri-Sun lunch sittings 11.30am/1.30pm and dinner 5pm/7pm/9pm, until July 28, 2024 Vibe: Alpine-inspired, cheese-focused rooftop igloos with heated raclette cheese, charcuterie, mulled and bottled wine and marshmallows for roasting over fire-pits. Go-to dish: Raclette, imported from France, poured over smoked prosciutto, salami, Parisian ham, cured beef, boiled potatoes, pickled onions and cornichons. Average cost for two: $198, including drinks Workers retirement savings have been boosted by a strong financial year for super funds, with SuperRatings estimating the median performing balanced option returned 8.8 per cent for the financial year just ended, largely down to the strong performances of US tech stocks and Australian banks. RESTs Andrew Lill says exposure to US tech stocks has helped its flagship Core Strategy Option to post good returns. Credit: Natalie Boog Kirby Rappell, the executive director of SuperRatings, says that similar to the previous financial year, international shares were the best performer with a return of 17 per cent, as the rapid developments in artificial intelligence saw the share prices of a relatively small number of US tech stocks hit the stratosphere. They include members of the Magnificent 7, such as Nvidia, whose share price in US dollars rose about 200 per cent over the 12 months to June 30, 2024, and Meta, whose share price rose about 70 per cent higher over the same period. Australian shares also made a strong contribution to returns, with a return of about 11 per cent for the sector. Big bank stocks posted strong gains. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has announced a $7 million to boost Australias readiness for a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu yet to arrive, but wildlife campaigners have slammed Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for her handling of the issue, claiming it could be the greatest threat to Australian fauna since the Black Summer fires. The H5-strain of avian influenza has been sweeping the world killing legions of poultry and wild birds, but also mammals like seals and sea lions. Pets, including dogs and cats, are also at risk. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In Australia, only the H7-strain has been discovered at a dozen chicken farms, causing more than a million birds to be killed to stop the flus spread. Speaking on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing moments ago, Watt said the government doesnt see it as inevitable that the more potent strain would eventually arrive in Australia, but believes if it did, it would be much more serious. We cant exactly put up a wall around Australia and stop birds flying in, Watt said, so the best thing we can do is make sure that were ready. He said the new funding would literally be able to pay for additional officers to be surveilling the northern coast of Australia, and looking out for things that are a bit unusual in bird populations, such as mass deaths. Experts fear the potent strain could reach Australia within months as migratory birds arrive for spring. But the issue wasnt on the agenda when Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek met with state and territory environment ministers three weeks ago. The Invasive Species Council says theres been a wholesale failure by environment ministers to prepare for impacts on native wildlife, including endangered species like Australian sea lions. Invasive Species Council campaigner Jack Gough wants to know what the response plans are for places like Kangaroo Island, which has the third-largest breeding colony of Australian sea lions. Its probably the biggest immediate threat to wildlife we have. Environment departments have washed their hands of the issue because they see it as an agriculture department issue that is the fundamental problem, he said. This will be on the scale of the Black Summer bushfires in terms of impact if it turns up. And yet no real preparation has occurred despite the fact that its urgent, with experts saying this could turn up in the next three months. With AAP Correction: A previous version of this post said H5N1 and H7N8 strains had been discovered in Australia. This was incorrect and has been updated to say only H7-strains have been discovered in 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, Jason Richard Struhs sat in jail with his head bowed, his hands clasped on his forehead. His eight-year-old daughter Elizabeth was dead. And he, along with his wife and 12 other members of a fringe religious group, were accused of killing her. With a camera beaming his every move into a Toowoomba courtroom, he removed his glasses to wipe his eyes. Elizabeth Rose Struhs, 8, is believed to have died on January 7. Police were contacted the following afternoon. Credit: Nine News The prosecution was presenting its case to a magistrate, who would soon commit Mr Struhs to trial. Police alleged Elizabeth, a type 1 diabetic, died on January 7, 2022, after going days without insulin. As her health deteriorated, the group, known as the Saints, allegedly prayed next to her instead of seeking medical treatment. Advertisement The girl would have spent her final days suffering from insatiable thirst, weakness and stomach pains, the court has heard. Just as her parents beliefs sat outside mainstream religion, the criminal trial will bend the conventions of the Queensland court system. But before the trial begins on Wednesday afternoon, the group has made unusual requests of the court. Mr Struhs, 52, facing a murder charge, last week sat alone in the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre as he appeared via video in the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Kerrie and Jason Struhs with their eight-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Credit: A Current Affair Other members of his congregation were split into two groups at different prisons. The groups leader, Brendan Luke Stevens, 62, who also faces a charge of murder, sat with the men. Elizabeths mother, 49-year-old Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, who is accused of manslaughter, appeared on another video link with the women. Advertisement At an earlier committal hearing, a magistrate said Ms Struhs had gone into detail about being told by her husband that if Elizabeth did not get her insulin, she would die. The magistrate said she had also spoken of Mr Struhs becoming a believer and, in her words, receiving the Holy Spirit. Elizabeths mother thought there was a possibility God could take things to the extreme meaning death, a magistrate told the hearing. Ms Struhs allegedly actively encouraged and supported the cessation of insulin to her daughter. In the matter of a co-accused, the court also heard Elizabeth had nearly died on a previous occasion from similar symptoms. In recent days, the self-represented group wrote a letter from prison to Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns. Advertisement The other members of the group are charged with manslaughter: Zachary Alan Struhs, 21; Loretta Mary Stevens, 67; Therese Maria Stevens, 36; Andrea Louise Stevens, 34; Acacia Naree Stevens, 31; Camellia Claire Stevens, 28; Alexander Francis Stevens, 25; Sebastian James Stevens, 23; Keita Courtney Martin, 22; Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 33; and Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 25. They have pleaded not guilty. Elizabeths older sister Jayde remembered her as bubbly and happy. Credit: Nine News In the letter, they requested a four-hour meeting in the Supreme Court building before the trial. And they asked for different seating arrangements, raising concerns about officers being close to them. The configuration ... has had you seated at a long table, and you quite rightly acknowledged the Corrective Services officers have tried to maintain a respectful distance, but youve felt restricted in your capacity to freely discuss issues, the justice said. The group also queried the availability of snacks and refreshments, and the need to be back to prison in time for their evening meal. Burns granted the meeting request. He also said each day of the trial would finish by 4.15pm, to ensure the defendants were back to their prisons in time for dinner. Advertisement The trial, expected to run for three months, will examine Elizabeths death, and the group of which her family were part. A courtroom will be modified to accommodate the larger number of defendants. Photos of Elizabeth with her family show a happy, smiling girl. Shes pictured on a scooter, wearing a pink Dora the Explorer hat. In another, she grins to the camera as she sits with her older sister, Jayde. Jayde says her younger sister was a bubbly, energetic soul who was always happy. In an emotional interview with A Current Affair, Jayde says she discovered after her sisters death that the eight-year-old had told people she wanted to be a doctor to help others, given her diagnosis. She could have been so much for this world. Advertisement Thank you for joining us on this Wednesday. We will be back tomorrow with live coverage of the days news, so please join us. Here is what made headlines today: Labor has ruled out a Chermside connection for the Gympie Road bypass tunnel, with Transport Minister Bart Mellish saying the property resumption costs involved, as well as the disruption to the existing road network and the green space in Marchant Park, would be excessive. The trial of 14 members of a fringe religious group accused of killing eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs began today and is expected to run for weeks. Elizabeth, a type 1 diabetic, died in January 2022 at her home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after she allegedly went days without insulin. Households would save on 30 essential grocery products, including milk, bread, eggs and nappies, under a cap on prices put forward by the Queensland Greens. Queensland Premier Steven Miles is in no rush to follow his NSW counterparts lead to ban retail trading on Anzac Day. The RACQ found Brisbane was once again the most expensive capital city in the country for petrol, followed by Sydney. Brisbane motorists paid a record-high average price of 204.5 cents a litre for unleaded petrol from April to June. US singer Teddy Swims, who is in Brisbane for his Ive Tried Everything But Therapy tour, joined a busker in Queen Street Mall today. And, a blast of cold Antarctic air is headed for Brisbane, sending temperatures plummeting into the single figures next week. In 2021, retired architect Lisa White and her husband were removing concrete render in the heritage-listed Pink Flats building in James Street, New Farm, exposing the original walls. Suddenly, a confetti-like rain came down around them. As we pulled the wall down, wallpaper lifted off the wall and started floating to the floor, White said. Miss Midgleys guesthouse in New Farm is one of the oldest surviving houses in Brisbane and a former girls school. Credit: David Chatfield They had uncovered fragile, hand-painted floral wallpaper dating back to the buildings construction in the 1860s. They managed to salvage some, and it now takes pride of place behind a panel of UV-resistant glass in the kitchen of the upstairs Drawing Room apartment. Its one of the fascinating stories about Miss Midgleys, a boutique guest house that White and her daughter Isabella opened in 2022 retaining the features of the original building with a few modern touches. More than one in five adult Australians, including more than a quarter of men, say they have perpetrated at least one form of sexual violence and one in 14 people had done so in the past 12 months. In one of the first studies into self-reported perpetration of sexual violence, the Australian Institute of Criminology found 22 per cent of a representative national sample of 5000 people said they had committed some form of it since the age of 18. The Australian Institute of Criminology research aims to examine links between pornography and sexual violence. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Pressuring someone for dates or sex, emotionally or psychologically manipulating someone to participate in sexual activity, and non-consensual kissing or touching were the most common forms of sexual violence people said they had committed in the past 12 months. Just over one in 10 respondents (11.4 per cent) said they had perpetrated sexual assault during adulthood, 2.7 per cent said they had had intercourse without the victims permission which is rape and 2.4 per cent had removed a condom during sex, a practice known as stealthing. Anthony Albanese says shocking ignorance of antisemitism has torn at Australias social fabric and caused Jewish children to fear wearing their school uniforms as he unveiled Australias first envoy to combat discrimination towards Jews. Eminent lawyer and businesswoman Jillian Segal will use her position to speak to international counterparts at an antisemitism conference in Argentina next week, winning praise from the Coalition and teal MPs Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniel, who backed Albaneses appointment. New special envoy Jillian Segal on Tuesday with (from left) Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. Credit: Kate Geraghty Bipartisan support for the appointment did not distract from the heated political debate on the governments response to the war in Gaza and the new political front opened up by a pro-Gaza threat in safe Labor seats. The prime minister escalated his attack on the Greens, calling the party appalling for ignoring local instances of antisemitism, such as that directed at Jewish singer Deborah Conway, and Greens MPs repeated equivocating on the question of Hamas ongoing role in Palestine. The Albanese government has taken the rare step of blaming Chinas Ministry of State Security for backing malicious cyberattacks by a hacking group on Australian computer systems. Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went public with the alert on Tuesday morning in a co-ordinated move with overseas security agencies to release details about the way hacking group APT40 managed to exploit Australian systems. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Richard Marles. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen It is the first time Australian agencies have taken the lead in attributing cyberattacks to APT40 and naming the Ministry of State Security as a sponsor of the operations, after two years of diplomatic work to improve relations with China. The Australian move comes four months after the New Zealand government blamed the same hacking group for attacks on the Parliamentary Counsel Office and the Parliamentary Service, while the United Kingdom has also blamed it for targeting members of parliament. Washington: Russia is unlikely to make significant territorial gains in Ukraine in the coming months as its poorly trained forces struggle to break through Ukrainian defences that are now reinforced with Western munitions, US officials say. Through the spring and early summer, Russian troops tried to take territory outside the city of Kharkiv and renew a push in eastern Ukraine, to capitalise on their seizure of Avdiivka. Russia has suffered thousands of casualties in the drive while gaining little new territory. Workers install a trench line in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Credit: Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times Russias problems represent a significant change in the dynamic of the war, which had favoured Moscow in recent months. Russian forces continue to inflict pain, but their incremental advances have been slowed by the Ukrainians hardened lines. The months ahead will not be easy for Ukraine. But allied leaders gathering in Washington this week for the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation can legitimately argue that their efforts to strengthen Ukraine are working. In response, some private sector traders have hired armed guards to protect their convoys. Trucks carrying UN aid were a softer target, Petropoulos said, because as a policy, they did not hire private guards. Israeli authorities say the looting is not a major hindrance to moving UN aid. There is looting in a specific area, but its not something that is new to us, said Elad Goren, head of the civil department for COGAT, the Israeli agency that oversees the Palestinian territories. The looting is happening by criminal families. Who profits from the illicit trade in cigarettes and other goods is often murky. But it comes at the expense of ordinary Gazans struggling to survive. There is security chaos, said Yazan Ahmed, 34, who worked as a restaurant manager in Gaza City. Displaced in central Gaza, he now depends entirely on humanitarian food aid and can no longer afford cigarettes. The strong are eating the weak. War profiteers Loading Cigarette smuggling has long been a profitable business in Gaza, where a network of tunnels under the border with Egypt were used to circumvent the economic blockade. For much of the war, cigarettes were smuggled in through trucks at the Rafah crossing and sold at an inflated price, according to an Egyptian truck driver who moved aid along the border. Like others in this story, he spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the illicit trade. When Israel captured and closed the Rafah crossing on May 7 part of an offensive aimed at ousting Hamass remaining battalions Gazas fragile aid delivery system collapsed. As a limited number of goods started to trickle back in, through Egypt and a new West Bank route, cigarette prices spiked. In Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, a 26-year-old unemployed restaurant waiter watched his profits rise, along with the risks. He had joined the trade early in the war to feed his pregnant wife, he said. His current route begins in West Bank fruit and vegetable markets, where people working with him pay a driver to conceal cigarettes in commercial items destined for Gaza. We arrange the cigarette packs at the bottom of the boxes that are supposed to hold the vegetables, he said in a phone interview. Every time, we invent a specific method. One technique, he said, involved creating a small opening in watermelons and emptying out the pulp to make room for the packs. Every pack of [20] cigarettes costs us three shekels [$1.20] from the West Bank, and we sell them here for 2000 shekels [$800] about $40 apiece, he said. The cigarettes are then loaded onto a prearranged truck and driven out of the occupied West Bank through the Israeli-controlled Tarqumiya checkpoint and dropped off at Kerem Shalom, the last remaining crossing into southern Gaza. At Kerem Shalom, Israel says all goods are inspected to prevent Hamas from smuggling in weapons. Goren said COGAT finds and confiscates 90 to 95 per cent of hidden cigarettes, but did not respond to further questions. Adel Amr, the head of the Ramallah-based Palestinian transport syndicate, said that 90 per cent of trucks coming from the West Bank were not involved in smuggling efforts. Goren said cigarettes had also been found in aid coming from Egypt. A truck loaded with humanitarian aid moves into the Gaza Strip at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Credit: Getty Images As recently as last week, an Israeli-owned truck was found with 220 packages, typically each with 10 packs of cigarettes, at Kerem Shalom border crossing in south Israel, according to a charge sheet Amr provided to The Washington Post. COGAT has worked to cultivate business ties with traders and companies unaffiliated with Hamas. In doing so, Amr said, it had allowed a small group of merchants, some with cigarette-smuggling ties, to monopolise much of the trade with Gaza. Goren rejected the claim. He said COGAT excluded business executives it knew had some connections with Hamas. Looting and lawlessness After passing inspection at Kerem Shalom, traders pay an Israeli-authorised Palestinian transport company to move goods to the Gazan side. From there, drivers hired by humanitarian groups or private traders pick up the cargo if the road is clear of fighting and Israeli operations and move the goods to drop-off spots and aid warehouses, if they can arrive without being pillaged first. Loading Looters are often waiting for trucks along a corridor of the Salah al-Din highway, where movement must be co-ordinated with Israeli authorities. Wassim Aqel, 38, said his familys transport company worked with private-sector traders. The company pays thousands of shekels to local Palestinians to guard trucks driving along the highway. We communicate with the Israeli side to co-ordinate the crews that we work with, who are monitored by the Israeli side via reconnaissance planes, Aqel said. His security was unarmed, he said, to avoid confrontation with Israeli forces. Yet, his trucks have not been spared the chaos. Earlier in the war, members of the Hamas-run governments civil police force guarded aid trucks, but they retreated after several targeted Israeli attacks this spring fuelling waves of deadly looting in Rafah and northern Gaza. Israel says it considers civil police legitimate Hamas targets. UN aid worker Petropoulos said there was no authority in Gaza with which to engage to suddenly set up something new. We are confronted nowadays with a near total breakdown of law and order, with truck drivers being regularly threatened or assaulted and less and less willing to move assistance, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said last week. The black market When trucks make it to their destination, the smuggler in Deir al-Balah described separating the packs from the produce they were hidden in and selling them to another merchant. The cigarettes are then hawked in the open, in makeshift tent camps and bombed-out cities, at astronomical rates. With the lucrative black market largely out of Hamas control, officials tried to co-opt the trade by targeting merchants and their connections, the smuggler said. If the merchants refuse to report us [some plainclothes Hamas agents levy] huge fines, he said, or threaten them with death. Others, he said, simply asked for a cut. As profiteers fight over the spoils, ordinary Gazans sink further into despair. Price gouging has similarly inflated the cost of food and other commercial goods brought into Gaza. Theres a lot of people here who are making a lot of money off the most acutely illegal conflict Ive ever seen in my life, Petropoulos said. Its depressing as hell. Loading About 500,000 Palestinians are on the brink of starvation, according to a recent report by UN agencies and aid groups. In the absence of cash, more than half of families surveyed said they had exchanged clothing for food. Friends, desperate for a moments relief, sometimes pool money to share a single cigarette. I stopped smoking and I became stressed, tense and very quick to anger all the time, said Ahmed, the former restaurant manager, who shares a tent with his wife, two children and eight other relatives. They have been displaced seven times since October. We are deprived of everything, he said. Inland seafood farming thrives in Zhangye, NW China's Gansu Province People's Daily Online) 09:47, July 09, 2024 Landlocked Zhangye city in northwest China's Gansu Province is making waves with its burgeoning seafood industry. Based on a profound insight into the vast market space for seafood and freshwater food in China's inland northwestern region, Zhangye has promoted entrepreneurship in aquaculture. Many entrepreneurs from other parts of the country have been attracted to building factories in the city. Photo shows the interior of a facility for South American white shrimp cultivation in Zhangye city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Jinxiaohu) In Linze county, Zhangye city, 32 aquaculture operations have constructed facilities covering a combined area of over 8,000 mu (533.33 hectares), producing 1,000 tonnes of aquatic products annually with an output value of 64 million yuan ($8.8 million). Fengsen Aquaculture Farmers' Professional Cooperative, one of the local aquaculture businesses in Linze county, has been cultivating South American white shrimp for over a year. It recently introduced a batch of mandarin fish fingerlings from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The cooperative also raises bass and plans to introduce red tilapia and grouper in the future, according to Li Zhigang, president of the cooperative. Staff members check mandarin fish fingerlings at a land-based seafood cultivation facility in Zhangye city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Jinxiaohu) "Farming seafood inland presents numerous technological challenges," Li said. "We use a land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) to create an environment similar to the ocean." To maintain high water quality, the cooperative developed its own RAS technology and system, and has staff members monitor and test the water quality regularly every day, according to Li. After filtering out shells and waste, the water is tested, adjusted, and reused, significantly reducing water consumption and discharge, he said, noting that the cooperative has only spent 20,000 yuan ($2,750.54) on water for shrimp cultivation since its factory was built. A staff member tests the water quality of a recirculating aquaculture system at a land-based seafood cultivation facility in Zhangye city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Jinxiaohu) "Sea shrimp cultivation is the most challenging task for an operation like ours," said Xu Yunfeng, general manager of the cooperative. "Since we have mastered the technologies for land-based seafood cultivation, adding a few more varieties of freshwater food to our factory won't be a problem." The latest batch of South American white shrimp produced by the cooperative had sold out quickly as soon as they reached maturity, Li said. "We produce three to four crops of shrimp each year. Come back in three months for the next harvest, and you can taste the 'flavor of the sea' right here in northwest China," Li told People's Daily reporters. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) 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 Joe Biden walked slowly to the centre of the White House East Room and took his place behind a lectern marked with the presidential seal. To his left and right were about a dozen Democratic mayors, governors and other officials, watching cautiously as the 81-year-old began reading pre-written remarks from the glass teleprompter in front of him. Several senior White House aides were there, too, anxiously waiting to see how Americas oldest president would deliver one of the biggest election policies of his campaign so far: an executive order to crack down on the US border crisis. I remember leaving the announcement that day asking myself the same questions Id been asking for months. Can he really do another four years in this job? Is he actually going to make it to election day? Why dont Democrats have a Plan B? Sure, his scripted remarks started steadily enough, but it didnt take long before his voice became so soft that it sounded, in parts, like he was mumbling. His gait seemed stiffer than ever before, which according to his doctor is the result of an arthritic spine and a past foot injury. Minneapolis Third Police Precinct burns to the ground during the 2020 riots triggered by the police killing of George Floyd. Credit: Getty Images And from my vantage point in the middle of the room with other selected members of the press, there was no passion in his delivery: just the tones of a well-meaning elderly gentleman that many Americans fear is no longer up to the task of being their commander-in-chief. Advertisement I started covering Biden about four years ago, when I came to Washington, D.C., on a brief secondment ahead of the 2020 presidential election. It was an extraordinary time in history: the United States was the epicentre of the global pandemic; race riots had erupted across the country following the murder of black man George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer; and the nation felt like a powder keg after four tumultuous years of Donald Trump. As I noted back then, Biden couldnt excite a crowd like progressive senator Bernie Sanders, nor did he have the youthful cut-through of rising star Pete Buttigieg, or the policy smarts of Senator Elizabeth Warren all of whom had also run for the presidential nomination that year. But in an exhausted nation ravaged by COVID-19, economic shock and racial injustice, he turned out to be the right man for the moment: a genuinely decent leader whose tragedy-steeped life allowed him to connect with a nation in its own collective trauma. Joe Biden prepares to enter a vigil for his son, Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer aged 46 in 2015. Hunter Biden is at the far left. Credit: AP So much had changed when I returned to Washington as North America correspondent in January 2022, including Biden himself. His horror debate performance last month was emblematic of just how much. It was obvious from the moment he walked onto the debate stage, slow and sluggish, that something was wrong. This was a man, after all, who had asked for the contest in the hope of turning the blowtorch on Trump, and had spent almost a week prepping with a team of advisers for his big prime-time moment. Advertisement But when he lost his train of thought, struggled to string together coherent sentences and then froze up within minutes, the Biden mirage that his inner sanctum had long sought to cultivate had suddenly vanished. Like many people his age, Biden has often experienced times in which he has mangled a sentence or made the occasional gaffe. (Mind you, so, too, has Trump, 78, who, unlike the president, never had to overcome a childhood stutter.) Australians might recall the day Biden unveiled the new AUKUS submarine pact in 2021, when he forgot Scott Morrisons name, awkwardly describing the then Australian prime minister as err that fella Down Under. Or last week when he appeared to refer to himself as the first black woman to serve in the White House alongside a black president, apparently fusing his time as Barack Obamas vice president to now having Kamala Harris as his own deputy. But in recent years, these occurrences have become far more frequent and far more worrisome, giving Trump and his allies ample ammunition to undercut the presidents significant legacy of policy achievements. Yet questions about Bidens cognitive decline would be consistently rejected by White House officials. Moments of vagueness or disorientation were regularly dismissed as misinterpretations. And global leaders and diplomats who had spent time with the president would often describe him as sharp and engaged. Advertisement In March last year, for example, Australias departing US ambassador, Arthur Sinodinos, described how hed seen Biden conduct two-hour briefings at the Pacific Island summit and he is totally in control and on top of his brief. Biden with Kevin Rudd in the Oval Office in April last year. In November a few weeks after the APEC forum in San Francisco the current ambassador, Kevin Rudd, told this masthead: We have found him to be a first-class interlocutor in dealing with all the complex issues that were wrestling with in the world. Loading Nonetheless, I was somewhat surprised by the lack of pushback within Democratic ranks when Biden announced he was running for yet another four-year term. After all, in the lead-up to the last election, he had presented himself as a transitional figure who would unite the country and then pass the torch to a new generation of leaders. Whats more, the coronavirus had upended the 2020 election to such an extent that Biden was able to spend much of it campaigning virtually from his home in Delaware. Four years later, he would not have the same luxury. Advertisement Having criss-crossed the country speaking to voters, Ive also heard no shortage of concerns including, most notably, from Democrats. In South Carolina, for instance, I met 31-year-old Chris Salley, a former Democrat county chair who quit the party in October. He was angered by Bidens response to the war in Gaza, concerned the president was too old for office, and fed up that young, black voters like him were not being heard. Former Democrat Chris Salley quit the party last year, partly because of a concern Biden was too old for the presidency. In New Hampshire, another party member, Kris Make, voted for Bidens 55-year-old challenger Dean Phillips in the presidential primaries, convinced the octogenarian incumbent was too weak to beat Trump, and that terrifies me. And in Florida, former Republican Ron Filipkowski told me that Joe Biden was the first Democrat I ever voted for in my life and I did it because I never expected he would run for re-election. I thought that he was a transitional figure who was going to get us out of MAGA Trump world and bring us back into a normal era before passing the baton to someone else, the lawyer said. But that hasnt happened. And if anything, the right has gotten worse. As the calls for Biden to stand down get louder, the president and his inner circle are digging in. Advertisement The demerger of Kesoram Industries cement business into UltraTech Cement is expected to be completed by December 2024. Kesoram, a BK Birla group entity, and UltraTech, led by his grandson Kumar Mangalam Birla, had announced an all-stock deal on November 30 last year. This entailed the B K Birla company demerging its cement business into Indias largest cement producer. P Radhakrishnan, whole-time director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Kesoram, said the scheme of arrangement had already been filed with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 20. I am hopeful that by December the demerger will be completed, The central government is exploring a policy to indigenise shipbuilding in the country by allowing only India-built ships to register for coastal and inland waterways operations starting 2030, Business Standard has learnt. According to officials and industry executives privy to the matter, the proposal, among others, was a part of deliberations at a workshop on Revitalising Indian Ship Building Industry on July 4 in New Delhi hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). The recommendation was part of a document prepared by KPMG, which estimated Indias position in global shipbuilding at 20th, and the Delhis weather and rain forecast system is set to undergo significant upgrades, with plans for an additional 50 automated forecast centers, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said. These developments come in response to the evolving impacts of climate change on seasonal weather patterns. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The minister made these remarks during a key meeting held in Delhi on July 8, attended by senior officials including Mrityunjay Mohapatra, Director-General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), along with representatives from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and IMD. #IMD Read:pic.twitter.com/O9hV9ImiEy Dev Discourse: Delhi to Upgrade Weather Forecast System with Advanced Technology #MoES Read: https://t.co/UZRwJcifBT July 9, 2024 In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Singh said, IMD will undertake a massive countrywide upgradation in weather and rain forecast system, including in the national capital, to raise it to state-of-art world standards. This is aimed to ensure very specific, precise and time to time weather and rain forecasts to avoid inconvenience to common citizens, save man-days and reduce economic fallout... The minister announced plans to enhance infrastructure, including the installation of a 20 petaflops high-performance computing (HPC) system. Additionally, Delhi will establish 50 new automatic weather forecast centres (AWS), with potential expansion to 100. Presently, there are 17 forecast centres operational in the state. The government, in a statement, said, The aim is to take the number of AWS to 100 and bring it on par with the world standards. These automatic weather forecasting systems provide very specific, precise and time-to-time forecasts. The National Capital Region (NCR) is set to receive three new radars and 180 automated weather forecasting systems, the minister said. Mumbai already has two installed radars, with four additional ones planned. Chennai currently operates three radars, and Kolkata is slated to receive one more installation. Singh said, Not only in metro cities, this upgradation will continue in other cities as well, and also in cities that have a population of over one million. It will be replicated in tier towns and other remote areas. The minister said that the meteorological department is initiating a significant upgrade initiative, enhancing future-ready advanced weather prediction models supported by long-term average (LPA) data. Talking about the advantages of updated space and geospatial policies, Singh said that these initiatives have notably boosted sectors such as fisheries by enhancing forecasting capabilities. [With agency inputs] Boomi, the intelligent integration and automation leader, today announced the launch of the Boomi API Control Plane providing enterprises with a centralized platform to discover, manage, and govern all APIs across their organizations for accelerated business innovation, improved developer productivity, and stronger API governance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708054181/en/ Boomi Bolsters API Management Offering With New API Control Plane for Centralized Discovery, Management, and Governance (Graphic: Business Wire) Utilizing the recently acquired federated API management business from APIIDA, the Boomi API Control Plane bolsters Boomis existing API Management solution, allowing users to discover all APIs in one place, including shadow APIs that may exist outside the purview of IT. By bringing these shadow APIs under control, organizations can increase API consumption throughout the enterprise, driving new efficiencies and opportunities for innovation. "APIs are the backbone of modern digital transformation, yet managing them across various platforms remains a significant challenge for many organizations. Unlike other APIM vendors, Boomi provides a federated API management approach that is truly vendor-independent, enabling organizations to utilize existing on-premises and cloud API runtimes effectively while addressing API sprawl," said Ed Macosky, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Boomi. "With the Boomi API Control Plane, we are setting a new standard for API management by offering an integrated, holistic solution that simplifies operations, strengthens governance, and accelerates innovation." Industry analysts have highlighted the growing necessity for federated API management solutions. Organizations increasingly need federated API management to handle the complex and diverse API landscapes that span multiple environments and platforms, said Shari Lava, Senior Research Director, AI and Automation at IDC. A centralized, federated approach can enable consistent governance, security, and monitoring across all APIs, reducing risks and enhancing operational efficiency. Key Features of Boomi API Control Plane: Centralized API Discovery: Discover all APIs within an organization from a single location, bring shadow APIs under control, and increase API consumption to drive business innovation. Discover all APIs within an organization from a single location, bring shadow APIs under control, and increase API consumption to drive business innovation. Simplified API Management Across Gateways: Enhance productivity with a consistent developer experience, gain insights into API performance and usage, and extend the value of existing on-premises and cloud investments. Enhance productivity with a consistent developer experience, gain insights into API performance and usage, and extend the value of existing on-premises and cloud investments. Strengthened API Governance: Ensure consistent policies across all platforms, reduce the risk of data breaches, and streamline security audits, making compliance simpler and more efficient. Additional Resources Take a free interactive API Management Maturity Assessment to better understand where your organization stands when it comes to managing APIs Read the technical blog on Boomi API Control Plane Follow Boomi on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube About Boomi Boomi powers the future of business with intelligent integration and automation. As a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company, Boomi celebrates more than 20,000 global customers and a worldwide network of 800 partners. Organizations turn to Boomis award-winning platform to connect their applications, data, and people to accelerate digital transformation. For more information, visit boomi.com. 2024 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the B logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708054181/en/ Kolmar Korea (KRX: 161890) joins forces with Amazon, the world's leading e-commerce platform, to support the successful global market entry of K-beauty brands. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708461379/en/ Sang-hyun Yoon, Vice President of Kolmar Group, delivers welcoming remark at the Amazon K-Beauty Conference Seller Day (Image: Kolmar Korea) Kolmar Korea announced that it has jointly hosted the 'Amazon K-Beauty Conference Seller Day' with Amazon on June 27 at the InterContinental Hotel in Seoul. The event was attended by about 1,500 individuals, including officials from Korean beauty brands as well as those from the distribution and manufacturing sectors, both online and offline. Key attendees included Sang-hyun Yoon, Vice President of Kolmar Group; Hyun-gyu Choi, CEO of Kolmar Korea; Jim Yang, Executive Vice President of Amazon Global Selling Asia Pacific (APAC); and Yuki Suita, Head of Consumer Beauty Business at Amazon Japan. In his welcome speech, Sang-hyun Yoon explained the event's purpose. He said, This event, organized by Kolmar and Amazon, is more than just a business partnership. It aims to spread the innovation and value of K-beauty globally. We hope this event will be a cornerstone in exploring global opportunities for K-beauty and sharing detailed strategies for implementation. The event came as K-beauty is gaining a great popularity on Amazon, and both companies want to actively support Korean beauty companies entry into the global market. K-beauty is so popular that sales of K-beauty products on Amazon's global store rose more than 75% last year. Kolmar Korea is leading this trend by securing new contracts with 253 customers, predominantly indie brands, marking a 48.7% increase from the previous year. The two companies plan to keep identifying standout brands that drive global market trends with compelling concepts and innovative technologies. At the event, Kolmar Korea established a large-scale booth showcasing skin care, makeup, sun care, and cosmetic packages. They also provided customized consultations for the global cosmetics business. Moreover, Sang-Keun Han, Vice Director of Kolmar Korea R&D Complex, delivered a lecture titled Deeply Grounded Confidence: The Competitiveness of Korean Cosmetics. A representative from Kolmar Korea said, This event is significant as it marks the inaugural collaboration between Kolmar Korea, a global cosmetics ODM company that has driven the growth of K-beauty, and Amazon, the worlds largest e-commerce company. Kolmar and Amazon will pursue shared growth by offering the optimal pathway to support our customers successful entry into global markets. Event highlights video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbqXL8fBgpM View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708461379/en/ Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, proudly announces the inaugural FORWARD NIGHT JAPAN 2024 seminar and networking event. This event will unite global gaming and marketing leaders to explore the latest updates and business opportunities in the gaming industry. FORWARD NIGHT JAPAN 2024 will be held on July 16th (Tuesday) in Tokyo and July 18th (Thursday) in Kyoto. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708977447/en/ (Graphic: Xsolla) The event promises insightful sessions led by industry experts. These experts will share fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to challenge and stimulate attendees' thinking. The key sessions will cover a range of topics essential for the growth and development of the gaming industry. Event Overview: Tokyo Venue: Date: July 16, 2024 (Tuesday) Time: 16:00 - 19:40 (Reception starts at 15:00) Location: WITH HARAJUKU HALL, 1-14-30 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Kyoto Venue: Date: July 18, 2024 (Thursday) Time: 18:00 - 21:00 (Reception starts at 17:00) Location: HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO, 7 Higashi-Kujo Akita-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto Featured Speakers and Topics: Xsolla: Merchant of RecordMOR Xsolla ("Merchant of Record (MOR) and Global Expansion Support") Merchant of RecordMOR Xsolla ("Merchant of Record (MOR) and Global Expansion Support") Appier: AI ("AI Marketing for Mobile Games Contributing to Revenue") AI ("AI Marketing for Mobile Games Contributing to Revenue") Nazara: India: The next emerging market India: The next emerging market Alibaba Cloud: ("Latest Technologies and Partner Ecosystem for the Gaming Industry") ("Latest Technologies and Partner Ecosystem for the Gaming Industry") Cloud Navi: ("All About Alibaba Cloud") ("All About Alibaba Cloud") Mr.GAMEHIT: ("Success Principles for Creating Winning Game Promotions") These sessions will highlight the strengths of the participating companies and their contributions to the gaming industry. The event aims to foster further development of Japan's domestic gaming market by addressing critical challenges and opportunities. The gaming industry is experiencing significant growth, with predictions suggesting it could reach approximately 100 trillion JPY globally. However, developers face substantial marketing challenges, particularly in monetizing through local sales tax in various countries. FORWARD NIGHT JAPAN 2024 aims to address these challenges by bringing together global experts to share their insights and solutions. About Xsolla Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch, and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsollas mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help our partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Montreal, London, Berlin, Beijing, Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, and cities around the world, Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Take-Two, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, and more. For additional information and to learn more, please visit: xsolla.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708977447/en/ Slalom, the global business and technology consulting company, has announced plans to create 300 new jobs in Ireland in the next three to five years. The announcement comes as the firm signs a lease on the high-profile Waterways House in Dublins Digital Docklands. Slaloms Irish operation, the companys 8th international market, was established a year ago, and expects to have 60 employees by the year end. 'Future Growth' "We are thrilled to announce the creation of 300 new roles in Ireland, adding to the 40 created in our first year, a testament to our commitment to invest in the talent and potential of this dynamic market," said Jane Dawson-Howe, Country Managing Director of Slalom in Ireland. The demand from clients for the application of Gen AI to drive innovation in their operations has contributed to the rapid expansion of our Irish business over the past year and will fuel our future growth. Key Growth Areas The new roles will be in key growth areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Salesforce, Data Analytics, Business Advisory Services, and AI-enabled Change. The new Dublin base will serve as a central hub for the firm's operations in Ireland, facilitating collaboration and innovation with clients across Ireland and the UK. 'Attractive Location' Slaloms decision to expand its operations in Ireland with the addition of 300 new jobs underlines the importance of Ireland as a stable and attractive location for international business," said Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Peter Burke. "I am pleased to see a large technology consultancy company recognising the benefits of locating in Ireland and I wish Slalom every success in the future. Source: www.businessworld.ie Bengal Cement appoints new COO Muriel Bal By 09 July 2024 Bangladesh-based Bengal Cement has appointed Dr Khandker Ataur Rahman Rifat as its chief operating officer (COO). The new COO has 29 years of experience in the industry. "He has selflessly enriched Hyundai Cement, Cemex Cement, Meghna Group, Lafarge-Holcim Bangladesh, Aman Cement, and Metrocem Group with his versatile qualities, experience, knowledge and wisdom," the press release added. Dr Rahman Rifat completed his Masters degrees at the University of Dhaka, followed by an MBA and PhD. Published under New round of China-Nepal customs exchange held for better cooperation Xinhua) 10:06, July 09, 2024 LHASA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China-Nepal customs cooperation is expected to deepen following the conclusion of the weeklong exchange of the two countries' border customs, which ended Monday in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. A delegation of seven customs officers from Nepal, led by Ramesh Aryal, deputy director general of the customs department of Nepal's Ministry of Finance, started their visit on July 2. The event was the 33rd round of such mutual visits. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the joint statement issued by the two countries, the two sides will promote cooperation in optimizing the business environment at ports and strengthening the supervision over import and export food safety, among other fields. Aryal said China is an important trade partner of Nepal, with their bilateral trade accounting for 17 percent of Nepal's total. In 2023, China's foreign trade with Nepal reached 12.69 billion yuan (about 1.78 billion U.S. dollars), up 15.6 percent year on year. Among them, the value of trade between Xizang and Nepal stood at 2.77 billion yuan, representing over one-fifth of the total. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 10/7/2024 Have you ever been mowing your yard, glanced over at your neighbors lawn, and thought, "Whys their grass so much greener than mine?" Then a few days later you walk over for a brief visit and ... more A state agency is looking into the death of a worker at the Pilgrim Pride plant in Chattanooga. Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) sent an investigator to the facility. The incident happened on Friday. Officers made contact with two individuals parked at the Collegedale Commons. A brief investigation resulted in one of the individuals being arrested for criminal impersonation and an active warrant through Monroe County Mississippi. Officers responded to a report of a suspicious person sleeping under the bridge near the imagination station. The individual was given a courtesy ride to Cleveland after they expressed the need to get to Mcminn County. Officers responded to an alarm in the 5500 block of Little Debbie Parkway. Everything checked ok. Officers were dispatched to a burglary alarm in the 5900 block of Reagan Lane. The alarm was set off by an employee and everything was ok. Officers assisted a citizen with a civil matter in the 9300 block of Caddo Lane. Officers assisted a citizen with lost property in the 4600 block of Swinyar Drive. Officers were dispatched to Walmart on a report of a dog left inside a vehicle. Officers arrived on scene as the owner returned to the vehicle, and the dog was ok. Officers escorted a lost motorist to their destination in the 9300 block of Lee Highway. On Saturday, July 20 at 9 am, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga and sponsored by National Park Partners, will conduct a FREE, 4- hour, historical kayak tour through Ringgold, Georgia. As the Confederate Army of Tennessee retreated from Missionary Ridge, the US army pursed them to Ringgold. Here, the blue-clad soldiers assailed the Southerners of General Patrick Cleburnes Division, tasked with holding them back. One of the US soldiers, Ambrose H. Haywad, of the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry, wrote his father that I experienced more fear and dread at Taylors Ridge than at either Chancellorsville, Antietam, or Gettysburgh. Join us to learn about this small, yet brutal, final battle of the 1863 Chattanooga Campaign. The following reservation and paddler requirements must be met prior to tour participation. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED Participants should meet Outdoor Chattanooga staff for this tour near the Ringgold High School softball field, off Sparks Street, in Ringgold, Ga., to be shuttled to the launch site. To make a reservation, please visit Outdoor Chattanoogas online catalog at NPS Interpretive Kayak Tour - and Dread at Ringgold; | Outdoor Chattanooga or call 423-643-6888. PADDLER REQUIREMENTS ? Participants must be 15 years of age or older ? Participants must know how to swim ? Experience is helpful but not necessary. Shallow areas may require paddler to frequently get in and out of the watercraft. **Restrooms are not available at the launch points Release Date: July 9 Contact: Kim Coons, kim_coons@nps.gov, 706-866-9241, ext. 139 Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park News Release Public Information Officer 3370 LaFayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742 706-866-9241, ext. 139 - phone www.nps.gov/chch National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior A duplex caught fire early Tuesday morning in East Ridge.East Ridge Fire, East Ridge Police and Hamilton County EMS were dispatched to a reported residential fire in a duplex at 183 Cecil Ln. in East Ridge at 1:09 a.m. on Tuesday.Upon arrival all occupants had self evacuated. Heavy smoke was reported coming from the second floor windows. One occupant was treated at the scene by EMS for smoke inhalation."Fire crews made an aggressive interior attack, locating the fire origin and extinguishing it," officials said.The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Departments Investigation Division.Mutual Aid was requested from Chattanooga and Catoosa County to cover the city for any other calls during the fire. Judge Boyd Patterson said Tuesday that a Hixson "pillar of the community" would be alive today if Israel Martin Alonzo had not come into the country illegally. The Criminal Court judge told Alonzo, "Clearly this is the worst case scenario - an illegal immigrant coming to the country and committing a crime that results in the death of what is indisputably a pillar to this community. He's a father to two sons, a Scout leader, a music minister in his church. But for you being here illegally, he would still be with us here today." Judge Patterson said, "You are sentenced to serve two years in the Department of Corrections, then hopefully you will be deported. I hope I never see you again." Alonzo, who was 18 at the time 62-year-old Donald Wayne Rackley was struck and killed along Norcross Road, pleaded guilty to lesser charges - leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred, failure to maintain lane, failure to have insurance and DUI. A prosecutor said gray hair and clothing from the victim were found on the battered front of the Alonzo car. The victim's wife, Nancy Reinhart Rackley, said, "The charges are inadequate. It's very frustrating." She said she had expected that the defendant would be charged with vehicular homicide or reckless homicide. She called it "a travesty of justice." Ms. Rackley said her husband had left her office around 11:30 p.m. after they argued and went walking "to clear his head." She said, after his mangled body was found in a ditch, "I screamed for two hours - mainly on what I was going to tell the two children." She said her husband of 21 years "was a Scout leader and a church musician, who had homeschooled our sons" - ages 17 and 15 at the time of his death. Ms. Rackley read from the medical examiner's report of the extreme injuries suffered by her husband when the car left the roadway and slammed into him. It included heavy skull damage, an aorta almost severed, and two broken legs. The car was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed. Judge Patterson told Ms. Rackley he believes that the DA's office would have brought stronger charges had they had the proof to go before a jury. He said he did not know the details of the case, but he said there may have been an issue of identity since Alonzo was not seen behind the wheel of the car. Police found that Alonzo had left the restaurant/bar where he worked around 11:30 that night and was intoxicated. He never returned to work and was initially the object of a search. At the time he was on bond for another DUI he had picked up a couple of months earlier. He did not have a driver's license or insurance. Donald Rackley was also an Eagle Scout, a member of Mensa, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, a member of IBM Local Ring 112, the Storytellers Guild, and Abbas House. He was active in church in music and theater ministry. He had careers as a computer operator at Buster Brown for 18 years, a homeschooling father for 18 years, and most recently before his death, entertainer, motivational speaker, magician, and seasonal Santa Claus. Just over a year ago June 28, 2023, to be exact Hamra Enterprises acquired 24 Panera Bread locations, including four in Chattanooga and surrounding communities. Coming into a new market is always a time for excitement, connecting with new people, welcoming new guests, and becoming part of a new community. But it can also be a time for anxiety, with so many unknown factors that are difficult to anticipate. But what we found, from day one, was an ideal match that Hamra Enterprises and Chattanooga are perfect together. Hamra Enterprises, a family-owned business headquartered in Springfield, Mo., began nearly 50 years ago as a single Wendys restaurant committed to the development and growth of our team members and the community. Over the past 10 years alone, the company has grown from operating just under 100 restaurants under the Wendys, Noodles and Company, and Panera brands to nearly 200 locations today, in addition to adding Caribou Coffee to its brand offerings. The company now owns and operates 92 Panera bakery cafes, aside from the other branded locations. I have been privileged to grow my career with the company, and guided others in their growth as well. After joining the company as an assistant store manager 15 years ago, I have served in many roles, and am now responsible for the oversight of 36 locations throughout the South. It has been a rewarding professional journey, highlighted by watching many others who joined our team as dishwashers and bakers become general managers with bright futures at our growing company. When we came into the region last year we were no stranger to Tennessee weve operated locations in the Memphis area for years, where I have personally been located since 2019. But last year was our first venture into the eastern side of The Volunteer State, with new locations in Alcoa, Cleveland, Oak Ridge, and Knoxville, in addition to Chattanooga. And I must say, our reception was as if we were already part of the community. From the business community to community leaders, from our new team members to our new guests, weve enjoyed southern hospitality throughout our first year. Chattanooga has proven to be a dynamic community, family friendly, with people of integrity. Chattanooga also enjoys a robust economy and leaders with an eye toward the future. These are values that Chattanooga and our company share, and work to emulate every day at Hamra Enterprises. Our company prides itself on the core values of fun, family, integrity, self expression, and discovery, words that can be as readily applied to Chattanooga, just as they are in the Hamra Enterprises corporate charter a charter that was, by the way, written by employees, not outside consultants. We remain committed to connecting with every employee, and every guest, on a personal level. We are all friends and colleagues committed to a shared set of values yet another reason that Chattanooga is such a great fit for us. Chattanooga very much has the vibe of a city on the move, with a growing population, job opportunities, and a relaxed lifestyle with unmatched natural beauty. From Lookout Mountain to educational opportunities and a unique blend of nature and city life not to mention the train history its small wonder that Chattanooga is becoming a destination of choice. Hamra Enterprises is proud to be a part of it. I want to thank the people of Chattanooga, who have welcomed us with open arms and made this past year such a pleasure as we get to know our new community, new employees, and new guests. We look forward to growing with you, as I know the best is yet to come. ---- Bob Marcum is regional director of operations for the Southern Bread division of Hamra Enterprises, a Springfield, Mo., based franchisee of Wendys, Panera Bread, Noodles & Co. and Caribou Coffee stores. The company owns and operates nearly 200 locations in 11 states, including four Panera bakery cafes in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. A Step Ahead Chattanooga, in collaboration with headlining sponsor Hamico, announced the Decades Silent Disco, a celebration marking the organization's journey and 10 years of service in breaking barriers to contraception access in the Greater Chattanooga and surrounding areas. The event will occur on Sept. 19, from 7-9:30 p.m. at Parkside Hall, 2035 Polk Street, Chattanooga. Founded by Rachel Schulson and a dedicated group of passionate supporters in 2013, A Step Ahead Chattanooga identified Chattanooga's need for educational resources on birth control and endeavored to address it. Since its establishment, ASAC has led discussions on the significance of family planning, offering education and access to resources that positively impact education, lifetime earnings, and community health outcomes. To date, the nonprofit has served over 8,500 individuals in this region with access to free birth control, and the numbers continue to rise. The Decades Silent Disco allows the community to renew support while uniting in celebration and reflection. Guests can enjoy a "silent" musical journey of their choosing through the 1970s, 1980s, 90s, and 2000s, experiencing the cultural significance of each era's music while amplifying the importance of access to birth control in our communities. Officials said, "Lets not be silent about the crucial role that education and access to birth control play in empowering individuals and shaping our future." The event will also feature local women-owned businesses and vendors selling fun goods like candles from The Rustic House, one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry from The August Sisters, chain-stitch embroidery from Kait Makes, and live T-shirt screen printing from Chan Design Co. Mandy Cowley, executive director of A Step Ahead Chattanooga, said, "This silent disco and happy hour is not just a celebration of the strides we've made in birth control access over the past decade; It's also a poignant reminder of the ongoing journey of ensuring reproductive health and birth control access for future generations." The Decades Silent Disco is a testament to ASAC's commitment to advancing reproductive health equity in our community. As the organization has expanded its reach beyond Hamilton County, now covering an 18-county service area spanning Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama, this event underscores the importance of collective action in achieving lasting change. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ASAC's website at astepaheadchattanooga.org/ calendar/decades-silent-disco . Decades attire is welcome. This is an 18 and up event. Event Schedule: On June 11, 2024, vandals broke into a church in Dublin, Ireland, and committed arson, causing permanent destruction to several mummies stored in the crypt. The break-in and arson attack took place at St. Michans Church. A total of five mummies, including an 800-year-old mummy known as the Crusader, suffered damage from the fire and the water that was used to put it out. St. Michans Church is located in the historic suburb of Oxmantown, north of the River Liffey. Around 4:30 in the afternoon, a tour guide notified the Dublin Fire Brigade that the church was engulfed in flames. The firefighters managed to put out the fire successfully. Afterward, a forensic investigation was conducted at the site. Church officials are concerned that some of the mummified remains in the crypt have been ruined beyond repair. The crypt is a crime scene, but I have just been given access to see the damage, said Archdeacon David Pierpoint, the Vicar of St. Michans. The mummies are sitting in a foot of water. They need a very specific atmosphere, and I fear that at least two of the remains, including the Crusader, have been destroyed. I will contact the National Museum to see if anything can be saved. The man behind the vandalism was 38-year-old Christian Topiter, a part-time security guard. After the incident, he was arrested and charged with criminal damage in relation to the arson attack. Unfortunately, it isnt the first time vandals have targeted the mummies at St. Michans Church. The church dates back to 1095 C.E. and is considered to be one of the most important historic sites in Ireland. In 1996, vandals set fire to one of the churchs chambers, destroying a vault in the crypt. Only six of the 80 mummies housed there could be salvaged. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. There are few cultural icons as famous and influential as Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen. Her dramatic tale, often depicted in historical texts, novels, movies, television shows, and plays, continues to have a profound and enduring influence on pop culture. If you have seen photos of Cleopatra or perhaps a scene or two from the Elizabeth Taylor movie but dont know much about her story, here is a brief telling of her tale. Cleopatra was born in Egypt in 69 BC 68 BC. When her father, Ptolemy XII, died in 51 BC, she took the throne as co-regent alongside her young brother Ptolemy XIII. It is believed she may have married Ptolemy XIII, which, back then, was an old royal tradition back then. Cleopatra was approximately 18-years-old when she ascended to the throne, while her brother was only around 10 years old, so she quickly became the more dominant ruler. In 48 BC, Egypt became involved in the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey in Rome. Pompey had fled to Egypts capital, Alexandria, where he was executed under the order of Ptolemy. When Julius Caesar eventually arrived in Egypt, his famous love affair with Cleopatra began. The relationship benefited both of them, as Cleopatra wanted Caesars military protection and influence to stay on the throne, and he needed her wealth to pay off his debt and become more powerful in Egypt. Cleopatra and her brother were having major conflicts and experienced a power struggle at the time. But, because of her close ties to Julius Caesar, there was a civil war between the two siblings, and with the Roman military on her side, Ptolemy lost the battle and was drowned. Cleopatra retained the throne, and her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, was named her co-ruler. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. In 1952, the Copper Scroll was discovered in a cave at the site of Qumran, which is located near the Dead Sea. It was part of a collection of scrolls from the cave called the Dead Scrolls. However, the Copper Scroll was unique from the Dead Scrolls, which were made of papyrus. When researchers unrolled and deciphered the text in the Copper Scroll, they realized that it contained clues to valuable treasures hidden throughout the Judean desert. There were directions to 64 locations where riches were buried, and 63 of them referred to treasures of gold and silver. The total haul of precious goods listed on the scroll is worth somewhere around a billion dollars. The contents of the Copper Scroll indicate that the treasures belonged to a Jewish temple. Some experts claim that it was actually the property of the First Temple of ancient Jerusalem, which was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, in 586 B.C. But the scroll has been dated back to sometime between A.D. 25 and A.D. 100 so that theory is unlikely. Others think the text may have been alluding to the Second Temple, but historical records show that the treasure was still in the temple when it fell to the Romans. The language of the Copper Scroll connects it to a Jewish context. When considering the proximity of the hiding spots to Jerusalem, it makes sense to think that the Jerusalem Temple could be where the scroll originated. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. The administrations new stance against childhood surgeries is only a start. Jesus has grave warnings for those who cause little ones to stumble. Mercedes Mehling / Unsplash / Edits by CT The Biden administrations newly announced opposition to gender transition surgeries for minors is welcome. But Christians would be mistaken to let this news make us less vigilant on this issue. The announcement only came after The New York Times reported late last month on efforts by the administration to remove age limits for adolescent surgeries from guidelines for care of transgender minors. And the White House clarified that the administration still supports gender-affirming care for minors, which represents a continuum of care, and respects the role of parents, families, and doctors in these decisions. Youth gender medicine of all kinds also remains a live issue in state government and the judicial system. On June 24, the Supreme Court agreed to review a case challenging a Tennessee law that prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender youths. United States v. Skrmetti addresses whether the state ban violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Sign up for The Daily Briefing Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. Tennessees law currently differentiates the rights of a minor for treatment of a congenital defect, precocious puberty, disease, or physical injury from treatments rendered for gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder, gender incongruence, or any mental condition, disorder, disability, or abnormality. Even so, medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Medical Association (AMA) oppose such laws based on the claims that such medical procedures have reduced suicide attempts and decreased rates of depression and anxiety among minors who identify as transgender. The neglected question is whether thats true. What has been overlooked in these debates is that the well-being and long-term health of minors is taking a back seat to appeasing activists and politicians. Such procedures, whether they be puberty-blocking medications or various surgeries, are misguided attempts by medical professionals who sincerely believe that they are helping children. However, sincerity does not sanctify an action. As Charles Spurgeon once said, If you sincerely drink poison, it will kill you: if you sincerely cut your throat, you will die. If you sincerely believe a lie, you will suffer the consequences. You must not only be sincere, but you must be right. In the case of gender-affirming care, those who suffer the consequences of the lie are children. To even speak of gender-affirming care without qualification betrays a Christians fundamental convictions about the dignity of human life. Medicine heals the body; gender reassignment surgery disfigures it. In fact, while American activist and medical groups claim that gender-affirming care works, other medical groups in Europe are questioning these claims, raising serious concerns about the ongoing health impact of these procedures, which is giving pause to medical professionals and lawmakers alike around the world. Recently, UK researcher Hilary Cass released her review of relevant studies and flagged the unstudied long-term impact of such medical procedures on minors, especially regarding cognitive and psychosexual development. That should come as no surprise to Christians. These procedures are steeped in the demonstrably false idea that our gender has no relationship to our biology. If we desire to offer compassionate care to those who are in distress, we are best to counsel our children on the goodness of their created bodies as those made in Gods image. Gods design for his creation is very good (Gen. 1:31). The compassionate and loving course of action in these cases is not found in embracing a lie but in speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). With children experiencing gender dysphoria, we must be patient, listen to them, pray for them, teach them, and, when necessary, connect them with a professional Christian counselor. But social or medical transition is not the answer. Doctors and surgeons currently perform these irreversible procedures with near impunity due to poorly researched studies that suggest there is some immediate benefit conferred to the child suffering from these mental disorders. Long-term studies, however, show that people with transsexualism, after sex reassignment, have considerably higher risks for mortality, suicidal behaviour, and psychiatric morbidity than the general population. What is also rarely mentioned are the rates of desistance among children who grow up without puberty-blocking medication and surgical alteration to their bodies, or the distress that many continue to feel after these procedures. Our government has a moral obligation to address these purported treatments and to expose the real harm that takes place in the name of care. The bodies and brains of our children ought never to be regarded as pawns for political gain. They hold inherent dignity as image-bearers. Caring for them well in the midst of their mental distress forbids us from thinking or acting in any way that denies the rights of their Creator and Lord. The Biden administrations opposition to surgery is a start, but its only a start. Christians should support comprehensive bans on these treatments out of regard for Gods good design for humanity and his express purpose for governments in society (Rom. 13:117). Such laws guide our governing authorities and serve a good purpose that benefits all of humanity. We should desire and support such laws, for they prevent irreparable harm to the most vulnerable people among us and affirm that God has created and ordered us for his glory and our good. This is not just a political and medical matter; its a theological matter as well. If, as Christians, we believe that God has created humanity in his image, then any debate regarding the health and well-being of children is inherently theological. The themes of God as creator, humanity as part of his creation, and the obligations of humans as stewards over the rest of creation bear great significance for how we ought to care for children in society. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells his followers that unless they become like children, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and that whoever welcomes a fellow believer (child) welcomes Christ as well. He continues: If anyone causes one of these little onesthose who believe in meto stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (v. 6). Jesus point here is that just as children were to be protected from harm in the world, so also his disciples should be protected and not be caused to stumble by others. This comparison only works if Jesus audience understood that he expected both children in the world and the children of his kingdom to be protected from harm. If anyone ought to understand the importance of protecting children in the world, it should be those who have taken on the identity of a child of God and know the consequences of causing little ones to stumble. Protecting children is the right and loving thing to do. It should be a priority for our government and for us as the people of God. Casey Hough is director of partnerships and curriculum at World Hope Ministries International and assistant professor of biblical interpretation at Luther Rice College and Seminary. He is author of Known for Love: Loving Your LGBTQ Friends and Family Without Compromising Biblical Truth (Moody, 2024). Illustration by Christianity Today / Source Images: WikiMedia Commons / Unsplash Early on in my reading and study of early Christianity, I was struck by an assertion from an unnamed author writing to a man named Diognetus in the second century. This author, in his Epistle to Diognetus, declared that what the soul is to the body, Christians are to the world. The author was getting at a paradox resting at the heart of our faith: Christians dwell in the world, yet in the beliefs they confess and the virtues they seek to model, they also transcend the things of this world. While Christ and the apostles taught this same principle, the Epistles analogy of the soul to the body is compelling. Though existing in a mortal body, Christians are bound for immortality. As the soul holds the body together, they are meant to hold the world together. Their task is to live in a way that makes the world better because of their presence. Stephen O. Presley, a scholar of early Christianity, articulates this vision wonderfully in Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church. The book unpacks how early Christians viewed their place in a world that increasingly looks and feels like our own. Sign up for CT Books Each issue contains up-to-date, insightful information about today's culture, plus analysis of books important to the evangelical thinker. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. In a secular age, the postures and wisdom of early Christian voices can help us reclaim a vision for how to dwell within a society that has no room for religious exclusivity and little desire for transcendent moral reasoning. By exploring and connecting prominent themes of early Christian public witness, Presley channels the analogy presented to Diognetus and amplifies it through the voices of early Christian thinkers. Active dualism Presley begins by reminding us that our world is not just suspicious of the church; Christianity is seen as the antagonist. Christianity, he writes, is not sidelined anymore because it is religious but because its moral claims frequently run contrary to new expressions of social progress and moral diversity. Our age of expressive individualism, as author Carl R. Trueman argues in The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, has no need for transcendent theological claims and classic ethical foundations. Thus, Christian witness in the 21st century must increasingly answer the question, Is this good and beautiful? Without convincing todays world that Christianity is appealing and desirable, well struggle to convince it that Christianity is true. To illustrate this, Presley assesses the nature of early Christian identity. Conversion, as the early church understood it, was no mere mental assent to propositional truth claims. Through catechesis and participation in the liturgical life of the church, new believers had their identities cleansed and remade. Catechesis, or intentional instruction in doctrine, identified false beliefs and sought to replace those with biblical concepts. But this was a deeply spiritual experience. It served as a form of exorcism, cleansing ones heart and mind from satanic presuppositions and leaving room for life-giving nourishment. The liturgical life of the church, which included baptism and the Lords Supper, ordered ones entire life around the work of Christ and the redemptive story of God. As Presley notes, This liturgical formation reminds us that the early church was not interested just in evangelizing and preaching but in forming a community. While always implicit in Christian faith and practice, this idea of liturgical formation must be recovered in our day. This is not an argument for high church worship alone, but a plea for intentional worship and formation practices within ones church body. Christian community must extend past a causal relationship with a church down the street and instead be viewed as a vital collective of unified and committed men and women. Beyond this, Presley highlights the cultivation of intellectual life among early Christian thinkers. We are privileged to see a recovery of this impulse within much of contemporary evangelicalism. But early Christian thinkers can help us carry it further. By putting their thought lives into conversation with literature and philosophy, these thinkers brought all learning under the yoke of Christ. Scripture was the guiding compass, indeed the very fabric of knowledge, for early Christian thinkers. While evangelicals have (mostly) retained a high attention to Scripture, we have often lost the notion of how Gods Word ought to shape the way we engage all other forms of knowledge. As Presley observes, The church recognized the importance of intellectual engagement and interaction with the philosophical climate of the world around them. Early Christians, even under persecution, did not consider retreat an option. Christian leaders today, in an age of moral and epistemological confusion, need to reinvigorate the church for winsome and irenic intellectual engagement in the public square. Central to Presleys argument, then, is a portrait of how early Christians understood their role in public life. While he separates his formal discussion of this subject into two separate chapters, one on citizenship and another on public life, the underlying ideas are similar across both. At one level, Christians understood their allegiance to Christ and his kingdom. They also sought to demonstrate their service and commitment to temporal authorities as those who had been ordained by God to serve. Christians were not anti-imperial, as Presley observes; they affirmed the established order and sought to live faithfully within its bounds. Presley identifies this way of public life as an active political dualism. It involved prayer for governing authorities, commitment to pay taxes, and efforts to promote virtuous living for the common good. This, of course, did not guarantee acceptance by pagan neighbors. But the consistent witness was compelling enough to win some to the community of faith. If nothing else, it demonstrated the otherworldly nature of the Christian community. Though Christian worship was much less public than Roman polytheism, it does not follow that Christians resided in the shadows. Their life and witness were attuned to what was taking place around them. Early Christian faith always impacted public life, whether it inspired a faithful presence caring for the community, a public witness against violence and atrocity, or a prayerful demeanor toward civic authority. A posture of active dualism tempered expectations while reminding believers that, ultimately, they were sojourners bound for a heavenly country. Faithful presence Presleys core claim, simply put, is that Christians today need to relearn and apply the lessons of this active dualism. He is aware, of course, that retrieving voices from early Christianity is not an exercise in cherry-picking idealism. We must not assume, in other words, that every Christian in the churchs first three centuries carried out the work of cultural sanctification perfectly. (Here, it helps to remember Nadya Williamss recent work on the presence of cultural Christians within the early church.) Nevertheless, the framework of faithful presence espoused by early Christian thinkers and attested by non-Christian observers remains compelling. Todays church shouldnt operate with a triumphalist mentality, but that doesnt mean shrinking in fear of the surrounding culture. As Presley asserts, The Christian call to cultural sanctification is a call to pursue holiness and conformity to the likeness of Christ within any and every cultural context. The overall template provided by the early church and transmitted to us by Cultural Sanctification is sound. It may require some of us, however, to deal with cancers that threaten to infect our view of the church, the world, and our place in it. Cultural rejection isnt the solution. Nor is replacing our current culture with some thoroughly Christianized alternative. The only answer to a world that rejects the church is a church that loves the world with faithful discernment and patient engagement, even as it longs for the world to come. Coleman M. Ford is assistant professor of humanities at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of Formed in His Image: A Guide to Christian Formation, as well as a forthcoming book, Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls: Learning the Art of Pastoral Ministry from the Church Fathers. He is cofounder of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies and serves as a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. Heart surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian takes the helm of the Islamic Republic, having campaigned for ethnic and religious minorities while pledging to reach out to the West. Majid Saeedi / Stringer / Getty The surprise election in Iran of the sole reformist candidate for president was met with an unsurprising reaction from the United States. Heart surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian tallied 53 percent of the vote for a clear but narrow victory over hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in an electoral process the State Department labeled not free or fair. It followed the May 19 death of the previous president in a helicopter crash. Sign up for The Daily Briefing Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. With no expectation [of] fundamental change, the perspective from Washington echoed that of Javaid Rehman, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran. The Pakistani-British lawyer stated that a new president is unlikely to improve the Islamic Republics record. Iranian Christian sources in the diaspora agree. The result highlights a superficial change in leadership, said Robert Karami, an Iranian Church of England pastor outside London and a board member of Release International, a UK-based advocate for the persecuted church. It does not matter who holds the presidential office as long as the Supreme Leader remains in power. Pezeshkian, age 69, was one of six candidates permitted to run by Irans 12-member Guardian Council, appointed by head of state Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Dozens of candidates were disqualified, including former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Analysts speculated the inclusion of Pezeshkian was intended to increase voter turnoutbut if so, the strategy initially failed and may have backfired. Only 40 percent of the electorate participated in the first round held on June 28, the lowest tally since the 1979 Iranian revolution. It resulted in the first runoff since 2005, leading to a hostile campaign in which leading figures claimed Jalili would rule Iran like the Taliban in Afghanistan. Voters partially responded, as election day on July 5 witnessed an increased turnout of 50 percent. But not Mansour Borji, who boycotted the diaspora ballot stations in the UK. I participated in the election by not voting, joining the majority who said no to the Islamic Republic, said the director of Iranian religious freedom advocacy organization Article18. Nor could I bring myself to do so on the 30th anniversary of pastors killed by the regime. July 5 marked the anniversary of when the last of the three victimstwo of whom were Assemblies of God leaderswas identified in 1994. Borji said that many Iranian Christians likely breathed a sigh of relief that Jalili did not win. His campaign called for strict adherence to Islamic law amid continued confrontation with the West while deepening ties with Russia and China. But as Pezeshkian has acknowledged that foreign policy is in the hands of Khamenei, Borji saw little difference between the two candidates. Both had pledged to improve the economy, which has been in a tailspin since 2018 when Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the nuclear deal that limited Irans uranium enrichment in exchange for relief from sanctions. At the time the accord was signed under thenUS president Barack Obama, the US dollar equaled 32,000 Iranian rials; it now trades for more than 600,000 rials. Pezeshkian, however, linked improving the economy to negotiations with the US over sanctions, and would unilaterally return Irans nuclear program to compliance with the terms of the original deal. His candidacy was endorsed by Mohammad Zarif, the diplomat who forged the nuclear deal with the US and is speculated to return to his post. Other indicators led Western press to accept Pezeshkians reformist label. Born to an Azeri father and Kurdish mother, he is the first president in decades to hail from Irans west, a region considered more tolerant due to its many minority populationswhich he promised to represent. He counted those who do not pray among his supporters. And he struck a unique figure as a single father campaigning with his daughter at his side, never remarrying after the death of his wife in a 1994 car accident. Pezeshkian also said he would resist hijab enforcement and internet restrictions. But Borji and Karami, the UK pastor, both cited Pezeshkians history as a guardian of Iranian patriarchy. As head of the medical team at the Tabriz hospital, he reduced the number of female students and staff. He also imposed the wearing of the hijab there before it was legally mandatory, and during his 14-year parliamentary tenure he supported the legislation to make it so. Pezeshkian unsuccessfully ran for president in 2013 and 2021, and may have adjusted his beliefsor at least his rhetoric. He criticized the 2022 crackdown on demonstrators that killed 500 people and detained 22,000 others following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had violated the hijab law. He even stated it was scientifically impossible to implement religious faith through force. But Karami said he also called the protests beneficial for the enemies of Iran. Pezeshkian projects an image of modernity and reform, he said. But most Iranians view his ascension as a strategic maneuver by the Supreme Leader to buy time and appease the West. Borji agreed, calling the election a circus to garner legitimacy for Iran. Pezeshkian may be a heart surgeon, he said. But he doesnt have the power or strategy to win over the hearts of the majority. Heart change, however, is the necessary solution, said Nathan Rostampour. My only hope for Iran is Jesus Christ, said the Persian ministry director for Summit Church in North Carolina and a trustee of the Southern Baptist Conventions International Mission Board. There are no real reformists in the system, anywaythey are all in prison. Rostampour said that Irans local church must focus on the Great Commission, emphasize discipleship, and become shining examples of the love of God through social service. Traditional reform is impossible, as the regime controls everything. And it continues to persecute Christians. Last year, 166 followers of Christ were arrested, one-third of whom were involved in Bible distribution. And while Pezeshkian has made overtures to Irans ethnic and religious minorities, especially Sunni Muslims, will heor can headvance religious freedom for converts from Islam? One survey finds Iranian Christians now number almost 1 million. While Pezeshkians win is ostensibly a victory for reform, it ultimately signifies little in the broader context of Iranian politics, said Karami. Until the power structure is fundamentally changed, the future for Christians remains bleak. Home News Survivor Joyce Meyer, Dr. Ben Carson withdraw from Gateway Church series after child sex abuse allegations against Robert Morris Childhood sex abuse survivor and televangelist Joyce Meyer, along with renowned neurosurgeon and former Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson, have both pulled out of a line-up of speakers scheduled for Gateway Churchs Lets Dive In! Summer Series in the wake of child sex abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris. Meyer, who has talked publicly about the childhood sexual abuse she experienced at the hands of her father, has been a regular speaker at Gateway Church over multiple years. She most recently spoke at the megachurch in May. She was scheduled to speak there again for the summer series on July 20-21, but a person close to Joyce Meyer Ministries, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Christian Post late Monday that the televangelist has decided to stop teaching at Gateway Church in light of the allegations against Morris. I can confirm that Joyce Meyer has decided to withdraw from teaching at Gateway Church. The ministry has not made any public statements about this matter. But there are many examples readily available of Joyce Meyer strongly condemning all types of abuse and her compassion for survivors, the spokesperson told CP. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In 2016, Meyer revealed that her father must have raped her at least 200 times while she was a minor until she became 18, and the devil convinced her it was her own fault. "He didn't force me physically, but through lies, and manipulation, and fears, and threats, I was still forced," she recalled. "Literally, what he did was rape me, every week, at least once a week, until the time I was 18. My father, who I was supposed to be able to trust, who was supposed to keep me safe, raped me a minimum of 200 times. The 81-year-old televangelist said dealing with the internalized guilt from the abuse was the most difficult stage of her healing and she struggled with it for most of her life. Well, I had a record playing in my head for most of my life 'What's wrong with me?' And I think it's so amazing [that] the first thing Jesus wants to give us is something right, she said. In a statement to CP on Monday, a spokesperson from Dr. Carsons conservative think-tank, American Cornerstone Institute, said the retired neurosurgeon was asked to cancel his July 6-7 engagement at the church. Given the circumstances, the church asked us to cancel our earlier commitment in order to allow for the healing process to take place. We are praying for their community during this difficult time, the ACI spokesperson told CP. Carson and Meyer were among several regular high-profile speakers scheduled to speak during Gateway Churchs summer series. Other speakers include the embattled megachurch Pastor Tony Evans. Evans leads Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church in Dallas, Texas. He recently stepped away from his pastoral duties for a season of restoration due to sin that was undisclosed by his church on June 9. He was scheduled to speak at Gateway Church June 10-11 and there is no evidence that he fulfilled that engagement online. He is also scheduled to speak at Gateway Church July 13 -14. It remains unclear whether that engagement will continue as planned. Gateway Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CP on Monday. Though he also previously featured prominently in former President Donald Trumps Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, shortly after he resigned in the wake of the child sex abuse allegations last month, a spokesperson for Trumps 2024 presidential campaign said he no longer had a role on the board. While Morris hosted Trump at Gateway Church in June 2020 when Trump referred to him and fellow Pastor Steve Dulin as great people with a great reputation, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told The New York Times that he was not included this year. President Trumps broad appeal among faith communities across the country is a testament to his unwavering commitment to upholding faith and the protection of religious liberties, Cheung said. Morris resigned from the megachurch on June 18, after Cindy Clemishire, 54, reported that he 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 CP, Morris initially 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. 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. Gateway Church initially defended Morris when the abuse allegations were first made and stated that Morris, who was a married and a traveling evangelist at the time of the alleged abuse, had repented. Gateway elders would later revise their public statement on the allegations in an announcement of Morris' resignation on June 18, saying they were not aware Morris had sexually abused a child. "Regretfully, prior to Friday, June 14, the elders did not have all the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the length of the abuse. The elders' prior understanding was that Morris' extramarital relationship, which he had discussed many times throughout his ministry, was with 'a young lady' and not abuse of a 12-year-old child," the elders explained. "Even though it occurred many years before Gateway was established, as leaders of the church, we regret that we did not have the information that we now have. We are heartbroken and appalled by what has come to light over the past few days, and we express our deep sympathy to the victim and her family," the elders added. The elders further stated that 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." Clemishire has disputed the claim by Gateway Church that the elders had no knowledge that she was a child. "The leadership at Gateway received actual notice of this crime in 2005 when I sent an email directly to Robert Morris' Gateway email address. Former Gateway elder, Tom Lane, received and responded to my email, acknowledging that the sexual abuse began on December 25, 1982, when I was 12 years old," Clemishire said in a statement released by her attorney Boz Tchividjian. "Again in 2007, my then attorney Gentner Drummond (the current Attorney General of Oklahoma) sent a letter to Robert Morris with the hope that he would help reimburse me for the thousands of dollars I had expended in counseling as a result of this abuse. His attorney acknowledged the dates as well and then attempted to blame me for the abuse," she insisted. "At the very least, both the Gateway pastor and at least one elder had specific notice that I was sexually abused beginning when I was 12 years old. Gateway had the information but intentionally decided to embrace the false narrative Robert Morris wanted to believe." Home News Kansas Supreme Court strikes down dismemberment abortion ban, abortion clinic regulations The Kansas Supreme Court has struck down a state law prohibiting second-trimester dismemberment abortion procedures and a series of regulations put on abortion clinics. In a pair of decisions released last Friday, Kansas' highest court struck down multiple laws that restricted the dilation and evacuation abortions and added safety requirements for abortion clinics. In Hodes & Nauser, MDs v. Kobach, the state high court ruled that a state law passed in 2015, known as Senate Bill 95, that banned dilation and evacuation abortions, also called dismemberment abortions, was unconstitutional. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Justice Eric Rosen authored the majority opinion, writing that "section 1 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights protects a fundamental right to personal autonomy, which includes a pregnant person's right to terminate a pregnancy." "The State has not carried its burden to establish S.B. 95 is narrowly tailored to furthering any compelling interest. We affirm the district court's grant of summary judgment for the Provider," wrote Rosen. Rosen disagreed with the state's arguments that the law was meant to protect life, noting that other second-trimester abortion procedures would still be allowed and that "the State's interest, as stated, is so generic as to mean anything the State wants it to mean when it needs to justify anything it would want to do." "For example, this phrasing could justify government force to compel someone to donate a body organ if doing so would save a life," Rosen continued. Justice Caleb Stegall authored a dissenting opinion, arguing that "the majority cannot bring itself to acknowledge the government's compelling interest in unborn human life." "Yes, the majority maneuvers around this problem by skipping it in favor of its narrow tailoring analysis. But the truth is, the majority doesn't answer this question because it is so decidedly troublesome to the majority's new section 1 regime," Stegall wrote. In Hodes & Nauser, MDs v. Stanek, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled against a series of regulations on abortion clinics that were passed in 2011 and 2015, claiming that they violated the right to an abortion. These included requiring a physician to be present when a pregnant woman takes the chemical abortion drug mifepristone and that only physicians not nurses or midwives can perform surgical abortions. Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge authored the majority opinion, concluding that "the State failed to meet its evidentiary burden to show the Challenged Laws further its identified compelling interest in protecting maternal health and regulating the medical profession as it relates to maternal health." "But as we just discussed, any degree of infringement however slight on a fundamental right protected under section 1 triggers strict scrutiny," Standridge added. Stegall also authored a dissenting opinion, arguing that the decision effectively paves the way for any government regulation interfering with personal choice to be struck down if legally challenged. "In fact, dozens of other laws regulate a person's right to choose what happens to their body and must according to the majority's own holding be subjected to strict scrutiny," wrote Stegall. "A massive swath of government action is now subject to the most rigorous and exacting standard of constitutionality strict scrutiny. And no legal scholar or judge anywhere has ever even tried to suggest that all or even most of the plainly legitimate ends of government action could possibly survive such a test." Kansans for Life Communications Director Danielle Underwood denounced the rulings in a statement, arguing that these decisions were driven by partisan politics. "Adding insult to injury, extremely liberal judges of the Kansas Supreme Court have now overturned basic health and safety standards for abortion facilities when one of the state's largest abortion franchises recently operated for an unknown period of time with no medical oversight," stated Underwood. "It hurts to say, 'we told you so,' to the many Kansans who were misled by the abortion industry's assurances that it would still be 'heavily regulated' in our state if voters rejected the 2022 amendment." Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, whose organization helped to represent the plaintiffs in the litigation, celebrated the decisions, declaring that "the Kansas Supreme Court has decisively reaffirmed that the state constitution protects abortion as a fundamental right." "This is an immense victory for the health, safety, and dignity of people in Kansas and the entire Midwestern region, where millions have been cut off from abortion access," said Northup in a statement. "We will continue our fight to ensure Kansans can access the essential healthcare they need in their home state." In August 2022, Kansas voters rejected a pro-life amendment to the state constitution, which would have allowed state lawmakers to impose stronger restrictions on abortion or possibly ban the procedure. Home News Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden isnt being treated for Parkinsons In a clear denial, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has claimed President Joe Biden is not undergoing treatment for Parkinsons disease. The assertion comes amid inquiries sparked by a concerning debate performance and the frequent visits of a Parkinsons specialist to the White House, revealed through visitor logs and reports. Speaking to journalists, Jean-Pierre stressed that Biden is neither being treated for Parkinsons disease nor taking any related medication during a press briefing that addressed the swirling health concerns about the 81-year-old president, The Daily Wire reported. A series of reports highlighted the multiple visits by Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders, to the White House, adding to speculations about the presidents health following a notably weak performance at the first presidential debate and subsequent public appearances and persistent gaffes while speaking, such as saying he was the "first black woman to serve with a black president," and that voters in Philadelphia "got me across the line to win his Senate races in Delaware. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe According to visitor logs cited by The Washington Times on Monday, Dr. Cannard has made 10 visits to the White House Medical Unit since November 2022, with the most recent visit recorded on March 28. The logs, last updated on July 1, detail his initial visit on Nov. 15, 2022, which included a meeting with Dr. Joshua Simmons, an emergency medicine specialist from Walter Reed and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The specific reasons for Dr. Cannards visits have not been disclosed in the logs, leaving it unclear whether they were directly related to the presidents health. A wide variety of specialists from the Walter Reed system visit the White House complex to treat thousands of military personnel who work on the grounds, the White House said in a statement Monday. Visitor logs show that Cannards interactions at the White House included meetings with other medical personnel, such as Bidens physician, Dr. Kevin OConnor and cardiologist Dr. John Atwood. These meetings, according to the logs, sometimes coincided with Bidens scheduled physical exams. Jean-Pierre said Biden has consulted with a neurologist three times during his presidency as part of his annual physicals, reinforcing that none of these consultations presented any indications of Parkinsons or similar neurological conditions. According to the results from a physical exam conducted on Feb. 28, which were made public by the White House, Bidens health was thoroughly evaluated, showing no signs of such diseases, The Hill noted. The inquiries into Bidens health are not just confined to the nature of Cannards visits but also touch on concerns about the presidents capability to manage his duties. The press secretary consistently refused to confirm specifics about Cannards visits or disclose whom the neurologist was meeting, citing privacy and security concerns. During interactions with the press, Jean-Pierre firmly rebutted questions about Bidens mental and physical fitness. She noted that regular health checks, including detailed neurological assessments, have been part of the presidents routine medical care, which found him fit for office. Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner reported Monday that Dr. Cannard has been making small contributions to Bidens campaign since February 2020, according to Federal Election Commission filings. These contributions, totaling over $3,300 across 44 donations, averaging $77 each, continued up to May 30. This financial support, though small, is under scrutiny as Republican lawmakers question Bidens fitness for the presidency and raise concerns about potential bias in his medical assessments by Dr. Kevin OConnor. Given that the Parkinsons disease expert who met with Dr. OConnor is a Biden donor, Americans should be rightly troubled by the potential clouding of the validity of both the Presidents medical assessments and mental state, Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Georgia, was quoted as saying. These medical professionals should be open and forthright with the American people and not be attempting to score political points by concealing vital information about the health of our commander-in-chief. Despite the press secretarys clarifications and the details provided in the physical exam reports, debates and speculations about Bidens health continue to surface, especially as the president faces criticism over his public appearances. As Biden prepares for the upcoming election cycle, some Democratic leaders are reportedly uncertain about his candidacy for another term. Home News Smugglers using livestock trailers to sneak fentanyl into US: CBP memo The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a warning about smugglers using vehicles that transport livestock to sneak fentanyl into the country. A CBP memo obtained by NewsNation warns border officials to be watchful of a "trailer smuggling trend." The tactic to smuggle fentanyl through the U.S.-Mexico border involves hiding the drugs inside of the side rails and metal framings of livestock trailers. "The cartels are always a step ahead of us," Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland said in a statement. "Whether it's in between the ports of entry or actually at the ports of entry. It makes you wonder how long have they been getting away with it?" Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that carries a high risk of addiction. Fentanyl that is made illegally is often mixed with other drugs, including heroin and cocaine. According to a May report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioids like fentanyl contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths. Officials believe they are only able to catch between 5% and 10% of the drugs smuggled into the United States, according to NewsNation. Citing numbers from the port director in Nogales, Arizona, where the alert originated, the outlet notes that 45.8 million fentanyl pills were seized in 2023. The director said that nearly 24 million have been seized during fiscal year 2024. As KJZZ reported in May, CBP launched a new strategy alongside the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Homeland Security Investigations to stop the trafficking of fentanyl, starting with the southern border from Arizona, in Nogales, Sonora. John Washington, a journalist who covered the story for Arizona Luminaria, told the station that estimates suggest about 40% of drugs smuggled into the U.S. go through Nogales Plaza. "The Department of Homeland Security's own estimate is that over 90% of all fentanyl is smuggled through the ports of entry," the reporter said. "That means it's being carried through mostly in cars, vehicles, hidden compartments, things like that. Also, sometimes individuals strap pills to their body or ingest the pills and then later retrieve them." According to DEA data, the agency has seized over 27.9 million fentanyl pills thus far this year. The DEA seized more than 80 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2023. In addition to fentanyl, local residents and authorities have encountered migrants who committed crimes before they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Last Monday, the Sonora Attorney General's Office announced that authorities had apprehended 45-year-old "Alfredo' N,'" a suspect in the murder of 43-year-old "Eva Amanda' N.'" The Sonora attorney general's office stated that authorities located the suspect on June 30 in Arizona based on information obtained from CBP. The CBP handed the suspect over to the Ministerial Criminal Investigation Agency at the Dennis DeConcini International checkpoint near Nogales. Alfredo was subsequently transferred to Hermosillo, Mexico, and admitted to the Social Reintegration Center, where he is awaiting hearings, according to the attorney general's office. "The Attorney General's Office of the State of Sonora (FGJES) makes it clear that all victims of gender-based violence will have access to justice to ensure the protection of their rights and the application, in court, of the corresponding exemplary sanctions. to those responsible," the office stated. Alfredo was driving a tractor-trailer in December 2023 from the port city of Guaymas to Hermosillo when he allegedly attacked Amanda, a woman the state prosecutor's described as the suspect's significant other, WFXR reported. Amanda was struck on the head with a blunt object that cracked her skull and resulted in traumatic injuries that led to her death. The suspect is believed to have abandoned Amanda's body on the side of Mexico Federal Highway 15 before fleeing into the U.S. Home News 'Beyond anything I'd ever seen': Sudan facing worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded Many in Sudan are forced to fight over anthills for food as the country faces one of the worst levels of food insecurity ever recorded, according to the global Evangelical humanitarian organization World Vision. Edgar Sandoval, president and CEO of World Vision U.S., told The Christian Post in a recent interview that life in Sudan is currently one of fear and chaos as the country faces the harsh realities of civil war and the brink of famine. In addition to the threat of violence, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported that 25.6 million people in Sudan are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, and 8.5 million people are facing emergency food shortages. The IPC also warned about the risk of famine across 14 areas, impacting residents and refugees in areas like Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The civil war that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the government-sponsored paramilitary Rapid Support Forces does not appear to be the sole cause of the famine, however. World Vision noted last month that Sudan has had below-average precipitation for the third year in a row, resulting in harvest failures. As the charity has over 190 people working in Sudan to address the food crisis, Sandoval recently visited the Chad-Sudan border to speak with the people fleeing the country. "I saw a level of despair and hopelessness in the moms and the children that was just beyond anything I'd ever seen," Sandoval said. Sandoval met an 8-year-old girl who had lost her family to the raging violence happening in the country. While the girl's two aunts helped her escape, the girl saw her parents' deceased bodies. Sandoval said that the girl's story is "representative" of what children in Sudan are experiencing. Sandoval also met another mother and her son, who weighed only 26 pounds. He said his heart broke as the mother wept, telling Sandoval that people in her community are fighting each other over anthills because they're so hungry. She said they'll eat the millets stored there by the ants. "And they're fighting for that as the only source of food," Sandoval said. "I think that speaks to the level of desperation that the Sudanese people are facing. It's the situation that children and moms in particular are facing." In June, the United Nations Children's Fund announced that nearly 9 million children in Sudan face acute food insecurity and access to safe drinking water. More than 3,800 children have been killed since the fighting escalated in April 2023, and almost 4 million children under the age of 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition, with 730,000 projected to be at an "imminent risk of dying." Over the past year, World Vision has reached more than 1.2 million people, primarily women and children, providing them with emergency assistance, including food and cash assistance, health and nutrition services, water and sanitation and hygiene solutions. In addition to Sudan, the global relief organization works in Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic. A World Vision representative told CP that the U.N.'s response plan for Sudan calls for $2.7 billion, but only 17.4% has been funded. In April, the U.N. reported that only about 6% of the response plan had been funded. According to Sandoval, World Vision has been working in Sudan for decades, even before the current food insecurity crisis. He stressed that the organization is adept at addressing people's needs despite the danger. World Vision typically partners with local faith communities in Sudan to provide aid and employs several safeguards to ensure the right people receive assistance. "And in my experience, once American Christians are aware of the need, the level of generosity starts to pour out," he said, saying more global awareness is needed of the crisis. "Every little bit helps." Home News Terror attacks force denomination to close 70 churches ABUJA, Nigeria Terrorist attacks have forced a denomination to close 70 churches in central Nigerias Plateau state, while in the countrys northwest, Christians are celebrating the release of a kidnapped priest. The Rev. Amos Mohzo, president of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that attacks by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists have forced 70 congregations in Plateau states Mangu and Bokkos counties to stop services in the past two years. Previous Christmas attacks last December directly affected COCIN congregations, he said. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Rev. Amos Mohzo, president of the Church of Christ in Nations | Christian Daily International-Morning Star News Our members were killed, people were killed, people lost their houses, many [were] traumatized and we couldnt do anything, Pastor Mohzo said. We were stranded, but we had to face the challenge, and Christmas was celebrated by displaced Christians in Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) camps in spite of the tragedy. In the Mangu area, attacks forced at least 40 COCIN congregations to close, he said. Most of these members of our church were displaced, and many of them are living in camps outside their communities, Mohzo said. Most of these Christians have been moving here and there trying to survive or find succor. In the Bokkos area, the denomination lost about 30 congregations, he said. All our worship church buildings in these communities were burned down by the terrorists, Mohzo added. Internally Displaced Christians from these communities are still living in camps outside their communities. And even now, most of them who are farmers are unable to go to their farms. In some cases, Christians who have dared to return to their farms have formed communal groups for a greater sense of security, he said. Notwithstanding, our displaced church members still find it difficult to go to their farms for productive activities because of ceaseless attacks against them by armed terrorists, herdsmen and bandits, he said. With these developments, we have been making efforts to see that our church members who survived these attacks and are living in camps outside their communities are relocated back to their communities. But then, we have to rebuild not just worship buildings, but also their burned houses. At the same time, COCIN evangelistic outreaches in northeastern Nigeria have been hindered by attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Im from the northeast of Nigeria, Gwoza Local Government Area, precisely from Limankara town, and my village is Ngoshe Sama, which is located on the hills, Mohzo said. Boko Haram took over the village years back, and theyre still there. So, these hills occupied by Boko Haram terrorists overlook Limankara and Gwoza towns. These terrorists come down from the hills to attack our communities and then retreat into the hills. The attacks on June 29 in Gwoza killed and maimed both Christians and Muslims, he said. We live together as a community, Mohzo explained. However, with the coming of insurgency, the emergence of Boko Haram in Borno state, many of our people have been killed, and others have been driven out and displaced to other areas of Nigeria. Those who have no places to go to had to stay back and make up their minds to die when attacked by the terrorists. Life has not been easy for the survivors, he lament ed. They cannot go to their farms because of the terrorists, so they depend on Non-Governmental Organizations to support them, he said. And with present economic hardship being experienced in the country, the NGOs, too, are unable to cater to these displaced Christians. The sheer number of kidnappings has also made it difficult for the COCIN to raise money to pay the ransom demand to release one of its pastors. The Rev. Paul Musa was kidnapped along with his wife by Boko Haram terrorists in March 2023, he said. We, as a church, are handicapped, because it is impossible to raise money at all times to pay ransoms to terrorists to secure the release of pastors being held captive, he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. And this is because almost in all parts of northern Nigeria, our church members and pastors are being kidnapped by terrorists. So, where can we raise large sums of money to get them out from their captors? Nevertheless, COCIN leaders have been appealing to individuals and organizations to secure the release of Musa and other church members held captive. Musa and his wife have been held captive for more than a year. I was recently in the city of Maiduguri and visited his children, he said. Theyre traumatized. They pleaded with me to secure the release of their parents, and I told them that if it is within my reach I will not allow their parents to remain in captivity even for one second, but its beyond us. The children are always crying, always in tears for their parents. It pains my heart to see these children in this way. Boko Haram Islamic terrorists who kidnapped the pastor and his wife in Borno state, northeast Nigeria, in the third week of June threatened to kill him if the ransom wasn't paid within a week. The ultimatum issued has now expired, as its now more than a week when the threat was issued by the terrorists, and nothing has been heard from his captors, Mohzo said. We are appealing to the captors of Rev. Musa and his wife to please release them. They should have mercy on the couple and release them. He said terrorist attacks have also engulfed northwest Nigeria. Our churches in the northwest of the country are not spared by terrorists either. Christians in the northwest of Nigeria also suffer the same terrorists attacks, he said. Evangelization activities have been impeded in this part of the country. How can we deliberately jeopardize and endanger the lives of those called to ministry, when we know that theyll become targets of terrorist attacks? In northwest Nigerias Zamfara state, Roman Catholic Priest Mikah Suleiman was released on Sunday after being kidnapped on June 22, according to the churchs Sokoto Diocese. He and church officials failed to reveal who had kidnapped him or reveal the terms for his release. I want to thank you for your prayers and support towards my rescue, Suleiman said in a video released by the diocese on Sunday. By the grace of God, Im out from the hands of the bandits. Sokoto Diocese Communications Director Pascal Salifu thanked the authorities and all involved in securing Father Mikahs release. In the Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, just as it was in the previous year. Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023, according to the 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. Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Home News Texas pastor fined $3,500 over donations from churches to his city council campaign A Texas pastor who ran for a city council seat was recently fined $3,500 after he violated state election law by accepting political campaign donations from churches and posting campaign signs on church property. Scott Beard, founding pastor at Fountaingate Fellowship who launched a failed campaign for Abilene City Council last year, was found guilty of violating state election codes by the Texas Ethics Commission in May, with the fine executed last month. According to the TECs order and agreed resolution, Beard failed to disclose the identified in-kind contributions on his campaign finance reports, accepted corporate contributions from FountainGate as a candidate, and accepted political contributions from other incorporated churches. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The order also noted that Beard used his church office as a point for distributing campaign signs and buying campaign hats. Authorities allege Beard knowingly accepted political contributions that he knew were made in violation of the corporate contribution ban. The order listed other churches that contributed to Beards campaign, including Fountaingate Merkel, Remnant Church of Abilene and Hope 4 Life Church of Abilene, which is also identified as Hope Chapel Foursquare Abilene. Beard claimed that when he became aware that the churches donations constituted potentially corporate corporations, he returned the money. Kristin Postell, an Abilene attorney who filed a complaint with the commission, told The Texas Tribune and ProPublica that she was pleased with the result. I dont think anybody is going to be super cautious about following the rules unless there is a real financial burden to breaking them, stated Postell. In addition to the TEC order and fines, some Abilene residents have filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service, accusing Beards church of illegal campaign activity, reported The Tribune and ProPublica. While Beards infractions deal with state law, federal restrictions on church political engagement have been in place for decades. In 1954, U.S. Congress approved an amendment by then Sen. Lyndon Johnson of Texas to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, specifically charities and churches, from engaging in political campaign activity. Known as the Johnson Amendment, the measure has garnered controversy in recent years, with some arguing that it wrongfully restricts the freedom of speech of religious organizations. Although President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2017 calling on the IRS to relax the restrictions of the Johnson Amendment, the measure still remains in effect. Home Opinion Where did this faith come from? Have you ever taken a bold step of faith and had it lead to failure? If so, let me thank you! I would rather try and fail than never try it all. It has been said, If at first you dont succeed, relax ... youre just like the rest of us! But what about those times when you take that step of faith and it succeeds? That reminds me of a Bible story. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The disciples were crossing over the Sea of Galilee, when a violent wind came up, seemingly out of nowhere. Most of these men had been around this body of water their whole lives, but that didnt make the passage easy. Matthews account says the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it (Matthew 14:24, NIV). The Greek word used here for buffeting actually means to torture or torment. The waves were crazy that night, and the men in the boat may have thought their discipling days were over. Then, sometime between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., they saw Jesus, robe billowing in the wind, walking toward them out of the darkness on the water. He called to them, Dont be afraid ... Take courage. I am here! (Matthew 14:27). And that set the stage for one of most dramatic encounters in the New Testament or anywhere else. Then Peter called to him, Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water. Yes, come, Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. Save me, Lord! he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. You have so little faith, Jesus said. Why did you doubt me? (Matthew 14:28-31) Dont you love that story? What a stunning step of faith Peter took that stormy night. He did what no one else in that boat would do or maybe even think of doing. Sometimes people criticize Peter for being outspoken or putting his foot in his mouth. A lot of ink is given in the Gospels to Peters faux pas and shortcomings. But lets not forget that he was the only one of the disciples who was willing to put it all on the line in the wee hours of the morning and walk on the water toward Jesus. He had no safety net, he wasnt wearing water wings, and there was no backup plan. It was either Jesus coming through for him or nothing. Where did this faith come from? From the word of Jesus. Peter had asked permission, and Jesus said, Come. The Scripture tells us that, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17, NKJV). And Peter heard the word of God that blustery night, calling to him out of the darkness and across the water. I can think of many times over the years where Ive heard the Lord say to me, Come. No, I have never heard the audible voice of God and to be honest, Im suspicious of people who say they have. But I have had the Lord very clearly direct me. I can think of certain moments in my life where I knew without a doubt that it was the will of God for me to do a certain thing. But it was never a slam dunk. There was always risk involved. So, Peter took a huge step of faith. But it wasnt impossible for him, because he was looking across that stretch of tortured water at Jesus Himself, the Son of God. Thats the key. You look to Jesus. My mind goes back to an incident in the life of King Jehoshaphat, Davids great-great-great grandson. The little nation of Judah was under attack by multiple armies bent on their destruction (sound familiar?). Their enemies were already on the march, Judah was vastly outnumbered and there was no time to plan an adequate defense. So, the king made the best choice possible. He called for a national prayer meeting. All the nation assembled, men, women, and little ones. Standing up in their midst, Jehoshaphat prayed aloud: O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (2 Chronicles 20:12, NIV). That has to be one of my favorite prayers in the Bible. Lord, we dont know where to turn, we dont know how to escape, we dont have a plan to defend ourselves, and we dont know what to do. But our eyes are on You, Lord. We look to You as our only help and hope. And as we know God came through in a spectacular, unforgettable way. The New Testament tells us to run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV). Fixing our eyes on Jesus. Thats what Jehoshaphat did, and thats what Peter didfor a moment or two. But then when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink (Matthew 14:30, Message). We will all have lapses of faith. You may be walking in faith one day, but then have an attack of fear in the night and not have it the next. You can have faith for an hour, but let it slip away a few minutes later. Youre believing God, youre taking risks, youre applying faith, youre quoting Scripture, and then all of a sudden the what if questions start buzzing around your head like a swarm of bees and you lose the handle on your faith and resolve. What do you do in a situation like that? You do what Peter did. He immediately called out to Jesus. Its interesting to me that Scripture says, he began to sink or he started to sink. It didnt happen instantaneously. But he felt himself slipping. He felt himself going under. And he cried out, Lord, save me! Matthew (who was intently watching all this from the safety of the boat) writes that Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31, NIV). Dont you love that word immediately? Jesus didnt wait while Peter sank. He didnt say, Ill let the water get up to his neck to teach him a lesson. No, Jesus instantly reached out and pulled him back up. Did Peter think about that in later years? How was he pulled out of the water by the hand of God the hand that created the galaxies? Maybe as you read these words you are experiencing your own lapse of faith. Its okay. Its no disgrace. Just call out to Jesus. No matter what other people may tell you, we all all have those moments where we forget what we should remember. As someone has so aptly said, we should never believe our doubts and we should never doubt our beliefs. Instead, we should believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts. So yes, Peter failed. But what a spectacular failure. I have heard it said, If at first you dont succeed, relax. Youre just like the rest of us. I would rather take a bold step of faith in my efforts to honor God and fail falling flat on my face than tip-toe around all risk and accomplish nothing for Him. Many people do nothing at all with their faith, but then have the audacity to critique others who do apply their faith and venture into the unknown. Perhaps, at some point in your life, you took a bold step of faith, and it didnt go as you had hoped. You shared the gospel with someone, and they shut down or took offense. You started a little home Bible study, and no one showed up. Even the dog and cat left. Maybe you prayed for someone who was sick, and their condition got worse. I remember a friend of mine being really sick and asking me to pray for him. Of course, I said, Yes, I will! I did pray for himand he got violently ill after that. A couple of days later he called me and said, Do me a favor. Never pray for me again, okay? The Church is comprised of so many people who have stepped out who have crawled over the side of the boat and taken risks for the sake of the Name. Or maybe they have labored tirelessly behind the scenes, doing the work of God and holding up their brothers and sisters in prayer. Our Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Maybe, like Peter on the Sea of Galilee, you stepped over the side of the boat in 141 feet of water and sank like a rock. And maybe you also felt the strong hand of Jesus pull you up again and walk you to safety. The plunge into cold water would be well worth the remedy. Holding hands with the Lord of all. Orthodox Anglicans in the Church of England have two choices - and neither of them is easy The flawed tactics of orthodox Anglicans on General Synod was unfortunately evident in the debate on same-sex blessings on Monday. The Church of England's parliament voted by narrow majorities in the Houses of Clergy and Laity to give the House of Bishops a mandate to push ahead with standalone services for same-sex couples. The motion also gave the bishops a clear mandate to ditch Issues in Human Sexuality, the 1991 teaching document that stipulates that homosexual clergy should live celibate lives. C of E revisionists are pushing for new Pastoral Guidance that will allow clergy to enter into same-sex civil marriages. Canon Andrew Cornes, a retired conservative evangelical vicar in Chichester Diocese, tried to get an amendment passed that would have prevented the bishops from ditching Issues in Human Sexuality before new rules had been published. Canon Cornes's amendment fell in all three Houses of Synod; by 23 votes to 11 with five abstentions in the House of Bishops; by 97 to 93 with two abstentions in the House of Clergy; and by 93 to 90 with three abstentions in the House of Laity. Why was the Cornes amendment ill-judged? Arguably for two reasons: First, if a Synod member moves an amendment to a motion that he or she disagrees with, that strongly implies that if the motion is duly amended, its defects are rectified and therefore it becomes acceptable. But the obvious reality was that Canon Cornes, a former director of training at All Souls Langham Place, the conservative evangelical flagship church in central London, is opposed on principle to standalone services of blessing for same-sex couples. So, he was never going to vote for the motion, amended or not, and the revisionist majority knew that. Secondly, the amendment was bound to fail. In every vote on the same-sex blessings since Synod first approved them in February 2023, the narrow revisionist majority has prevailed and it was never likely he could persuade any revisionists to back his amendment. They know his stance and they knew in this instance that his aim was to keep the restriction on clergy from entering into same-sex civil marriages. Another example of poor tactics from the orthodox side came from Canon Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe's in Oxford. Speaking against the motion in the debate, he said he had recently given an address at the General Convention of the orthodox Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), which broke away from The Episcopal Church (TEC) of the United States in 2009 over sexual morality. Canon Roberts said ACNA was "vast in number, vibrant, growing but at the same time I was conscious that elsewhere in America there was another assembly - The Episcopal Church". He continued: "Those two Churches are completely divided. That could happen here and what we're about to decide if you vote in favour of this motion could catapult us in that direction." Why did Canon Roberts think that would play with revisionists on Synod? Again, they have consistently shown that they are not prepared to accept any slowing down of the bus towards full LGBT celebration in the C of E. Many of them could not care less whether the likes of Canon Roberts jump off the bus. And they know that the parallel with ACNA and the C of E is far from exact. They know that if St Ebbe's Oxford were to leave the C of E, its congregation would lose their church building on which in 2017 they spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on a refurbishment project designed by classical architect Quinlan Terry. Whilst there have been legal disputes over the ownership of church buildings between ACNA and TEC, US courts have by and large ruled that the buildings belong to the local parishes. In the cases of clergy and congregations leaving the legally established C of E, church buildings would indisputably belong to the Church Commissioners and the local diocese. The split of orthodox churches from the C of E which Canon Roberts threatened would involve far more disruption than the ACNA congregations experienced, difficult though their departure from TEC was. The C of E's bishops are promising opponents of same-sex blessings some kind of delegated episcopal oversight. But the problem with that is in the word "delegated". An orthodox bishop operating in a diocese would be accountable to the revisionist diocesan bishop. That is not the kind of clean break which ACNA has achieved from church leaders whom orthodox Christians would regard as false teachers. So, orthodox Anglicans in the C of E are faced with the same choice as their counterparts in the US. They can either get off the bus or try to change the direction of travel. But, given the revisionist bishops' resolve and the repeated mandates they are getting from Synod, the inside strategy is looking increasingly unviable, not helped by the poor opposition tactics in the latest debate. Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in the UK. Oman, a nation known for its rich cultural heritage and strategic geographic location, is embarking on a transformative journey to modernize its economy through significant investments in digital transformation. This strategic shift aims to diversify the economy, enhance public services, and position Oman as a competitive player in the global digital landscape. The Omani government has taken a proactive stance in driving digital transformation. Key to this effort is the Oman Vision 2040, which outlines the strategic framework for economic diversification and technological advancement. Under this vision, the government has launched several initiatives to foster innovation, enhance digital infrastructure, and improve the digital literacy of its citizens. One of the cornerstone initiatives is the e.oman strategy, which focuses on developing a robust ICT infrastructure, promoting e-government services, and enhancing cybersecurity measures. The strategy is designed to facilitate the integration of digital technologies across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and commerce. The UAEs vision for AI is encapsulated in its National AI Strategy 2031, which aims to position the country as a global leader in AI by integrating it across various sectors. This strategy is not just a roadmap but a testament to the UAEs forward-thinking approach to harnessing the power of AI for socio-economic growth. The UAE made headlines by becoming the first nation to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017. This move underscores the countrys commitment to embedding AI at the highest levels of government, ensuring that AI policies and initiatives receive focused attention and resources. The country also launched Smart Dubai, an initiative under the Dubai Future Foundation, Smart Dubai aims to transform Dubai into the worlds smartest and happiest city. AI is at the core of this vision, driving smart governance, efficient resource management, and enhanced quality of life for residents and visitors alike. According to Boston Consulting Group (BGC) survey, artificial intelligence isnt new, but broad public interest in it is. The survey found that people are surprisingly knowledgeable and excited about AI and business leaders should understand and not underestimate consumers when developing and deploying AI-enabled solutions. Overall, 75% of survey respondents have used ChatGPT or another AI-driven tool. In markets such as India, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates, AI usage exceeds the levels in so-called mature markets. In the UAE, 91% of consumers know GenAI and 34% use these technologies. 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. Shoe repair firm boss James Timpson has stepped down as chair of the Prison Reform Trust to take up a ministerial role in Keir Starmers government. Starmer appointed Timpson, chief executive of the namesake high street retailer, as prisons minister last week as part of his first cabinet. Timpson, who began as the Prison Reform Trusts chair in 2016, stepped down from the role immediately after his appointment to the cabinet and the House of Lords. As the Prison Reform Trust is a charity independent of government or any political affiliation, James stood down as chair immediately following his appointment to his new ministerial position, the charity said in a statement . As CEO of his family company, Timpson has long campaigned for prison reform and had a policy of employing former prisoners. Former Princes Trust CEO and director of strategic communications at No10 during Gordon Browns premiership, Nick Stace, had already been appointed to succeed Timpson as chair and has taken the role up early. Timpson really understands the voluntary sector Anne Fox, CEO of criminal justice charity Clinks, said: Were delighted that James Timpson has been asked to take on this role at a time when the criminal justice system is facing such immense challenges. James really understands the voluntary sector and its vital role, and were looking forward to working with him and the new ministerial team at the Ministry of Justice. The voluntary sector stands ready to offer its expertise in the months ahead. Ambitious plans Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), said: Nicks deep understanding of the sector, combined with his track record of excellence, makes him a formidable new chair for PRT. I would also like to thank James Timpson for his inspirational leadership, support, wisdom and generosity during his tenure. These solid foundations will allow Nick, me and the team to deliver our ambitious plans in the years to come. Stace said: I have spent much of my time on issues that have elevated the needs and solutions of people with significant disadvantage, whether because of their starting point in life, or systemic unfairness and I look forward to supporting Pia and the team to continue to do extraordinary work on prison reform. I congratulate my predecessor on his appointment to his new ministerial role and as he takes on his important new responsibilities. PRT looks forward to continuing our work with the new government, and policymakers from across the political spectrum, in this new parliament. 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, Adobe, by Vitalii Vodolazskyi A tribunal has ordered one of the UKs largest charities, Nuffield Health, to pay a former employee more than 20,000 for unfair dismissal and indirect discrimination. The employment tribunal, heard in Edinburgh, ruled that Polish former Nuffield Health employee Mrs Kral was unfairly dismissed and ordered the charity to pay 8,463 in compensation. Krals complaint of indirect race discrimination also succeeded and Nuffield Health was ordered to pay 11,500, plus interest of 1,026, by way of compensation for injury to feelings. Complaints of wrongful dismissal and unauthorised deductions from wages were dismissed, after being withdrawn. Dispute over resignation The tribunal documents state that while Kral has a basic grasp of English, she relies heavily on her daughters to assist her with translation. Translation arrangements were put in place for all meetings in the workplace. As a result of difficult working relationships, at the start of 2023, Kral started to look for alternative employment. She had an interview, and told the tribunal she spoke to a colleague about getting a reference. A dispute then arose about whether she had resigned or not. Kral said though she had asked for a reference if she was offered the job, she had not resigned. The charity said she had resigned. The tribunal found that Kral did not resign during the discussion and any belief that she had was mistaken. Its judgment says the charity did not take appropriate steps to clarify the position with the claimant either by asking her to provide written notice, as required by her contract, or timeously acknowledging her purported resignation. It adds that on becoming aware that there was a misunderstanding, the charity took no steps to remedy the situation, but merely insisted that the claimant had resigned and that her employment would therefore terminate. No reasonable employer would have acted in this manner, the tribunal documents add. The tribunal concluded that the claimant was, instead, dismissed by the healthcare charity on 11 May 2023. The claimant was devastated to have lost her job, the document reads. She was distressed and lacked confidence for a number of months. She was extremely worried she would not be able to secure alternative employment and was concerned about how to meet financial commitments. Oral resignation practice The tribunal concluded that the charity had a practice of accepting oral resignations, which would put those who do not have English as a first language at a particular disadvantage, in comparison with those whose first language is English. It adds that where someone does not have English as their first language, there is a significant risk of misunderstandings, with potentially serious consequences. A Nuffield Health spokesperson told Civil Society: At Nuffield Health we are focused on creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. While the judgement in this case didn't find direct discrimination, by not requiring a written resignation, our process caused confusion which the judge ruled amounted to indirect discrimination. We acknowledge and accept the ruling, and we are reviewing our policies to ensure lessons have been learnt. We wish Mrs Kral well in the future. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. This piece has been copublished with Proof News. The US elections are less than five months away, and the public has less visibility than ever into political messaging on Facebook and Instagram. In August, Meta is shutting down CrowdTangle, a popular social media monitoring tool used to track misinformation on Facebook and Instagram. The company says its replacement, the Meta Content Library (MCL), is a better tool for researchers. But a joint investigation by Proof News, the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, and the Algorithmic Transparency Institute found that Metas replacement tool is less transparent and accessible than CrowdTangle. On eleven key topics, Metas new tool has fewer features than CrowdTangle. And researchers say the process of getting access to the tool is cumbersome and slowand some journalists cant access it at all. That means that journalists and researchers will have less ability to trace online information about the elections, of which over sixty are set to take place worldwide in 2024. The decision to deprecate the tool will have a direct effect on election integrity experts and their ability to do their work, said Claire Pershan, EU advocacy lead at the Mozilla Foundation. For more than a decade, journalists, researchers, and election observers have used CrowdTangle to monitor trends on Facebook and Instagram. The tool has helped journalists shed light on the popularity of right-wing figures on Facebook, monitored influencers during elections, and tracked health misinformation during the pandemic. The rise of generative AI has raised further concerns about the potential proliferation of election misinformation and political candidate deepfakes on social media platforms. While the MCL offers some new features, like the ability to see how many people have viewed a public post and access to comments and short-form videos (an increasingly significant form of social content), it also lacks many of the features that make CrowdTangle a valuable research tool. These limitations include restrictions on exporting data, the inability to track post performance over time, the lack of direct links to public posts, and fewer features for collaboration. Nor does Metas MCL enable users to track how channels in a custom list are performinga key feature on CrowdTangle that has been useful to researchers. But data transparency isnt the only issue, researchers say. Who gets access is just as important. Unlike CrowdTangle, which was open for anyone to use, the MCL is restricted to academic and nonprofit researchers, which excludes most news outlets. Given that academic research is notoriously slow, the public could lose out on the rapid-response stories enabled by journalists using CrowdTangle data. CrowdTangle was founded by Brandon Silverman and Matt Garmur in 2011 and started attracting big media clients like BuzzFeed, CNN, Vox, USA Today, and NBC. Meta acquired it in 2016 and decided to make the tool free and expand access to more media partners. But in March of this year, Meta announced CrowdTangle will be discontinued after August 14. In an open letter to Meta, dozens of nonprofits and newsrooms around the world called on the company to keep CrowdTangle functioning until January 2025 and to onboard to the MCL all current CrowdTangle organizations that are focused on election integrity. The letter has been signed by more than 170 individuals and organizations, including Silverman, CrowdTangles former CEO. But despite outside pressure to delay CrowdTangles closure, Meta spokesperson Erin McPike said the company is sticking to the original deadline. When asked at an MIT Technology Review conference why CrowdTangle is being discontinued during a big election year, Nick Clegg, Metas president of global affairs, claimed its because CrowdTangle is a degrading tool. CrowdTangle's inability to measure reach, according to Clegg, hampers its ability to show whats actually going viral. It only measures a narrow cake slice of a cake slice, he said. Despite this, Meta has actively used and advocated for CrowdTangle for yearseven giving election boards in all US states access during the 2020 election to help quickly identify misinformation and voter interference and suppression. Meta says that its decision to discontinue CrowdTangle is an effort to meet data access requirements set by the European Unions Digital Service Act (DSA). European law requires that large social media companies like Meta put in place effective real-time election-monitoring tools. But the European Commission has indicated that the MCL does not meet its requirements. In April, the commission initiated formal proceedings against Meta into potential violations of the DSA. One concern: timing. With several European elections on the horizon, the commission stated that deprecating a tool like CrowdTangle could damage civic discourse and electoral processes. There is currently no adequate replacement for CrowdTangle, the commission stated in a public statement. In response, Meta added country-specific dashboards in CrowdTangle for each EU country but said it still planned to stop supporting CrowdTangle in August. We have a well-established process for identifying and mitigating risks on our platforms. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work, Meta said in a statement, as reported by the BBC. None of this addresses the exclusion of for-profit press organizations from access to the new tool. And researchers who are eligible to apply for access to the MCL APIwhich allows programmatic queries of the datasay the application process can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Researchers must submit their application through Metas independent partner ICPSR at the University of Michigana process that requires approval from an institutional review board (IRB), institutional signatures, and evidence of technical skills. (These steps are not required for the Web version of the MCL application, which allows researchers to explore data through a user-friendly graphical interface but without the same level of control and flexibility as the API.) Some researchers applications were stuck in limbo for a monthsometimes longeraccording to Josephine Lukito, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austins School of Journalism and Media. It has been really damaging both to my work as well as that of graduate students I work with and other researchers I know who are studying the US elections, Lukito said. Meta initially released the MCL and its associated API as a beta version in 2023, allowing a select group of researchers to test it. Lena Frischlich, an associate professor at the Digital Democracy Centre of the University of Southern Denmark, was one of them. According to Frischlich, the technical focus of the MCL application could pose hurdles to some researchers with no programming knowledge. Assuming I apply as a Principal Investigator with a less technical, for example, humanistic background, I need to hire a data scientist, Frischlich said. But CrowdTangle was accessible even for someone with zero programming skills. While there are differences between the two tools, Frischlich said she is encouraged by the open dialogue between Metas developer team and researchers. I do see that some of the things we discussed during that time have resulted in substantial changes in data access, she said. For instance, Meta added a feature that lets researchers analyze comments on public postssomething that was never available on CrowdTangle. This feature, along with the ability to download specific subsets of data, was later added to the library. But none of the content of the MCL matters, other researchers say, if no one can access it. Its not primarily about data points, its about access, said Pershan, the EU advocacy lead from Mozilla. While CrowdTangle was accessible to tens of thousands of people, the MCL might be very limited, she said. Fabio Giglietto, an associate professor of internet studies at the University of Urbino, in Italy, was also among the early testers of the Metas MCL. In my opinion, the Meta Content Library seems to be more modern, Giglietto said. But it does have limits. In my specific use case, it prevents me from performing certain tasks that I can currently do with CrowdTangle. One of these limits, Giglietto said, is the restrictions on data exporting. Giglietto is working on Vera AI EU, a disinformation research project that taps into CrowdTangle data to detect coordinated link sharing. The results are automatically uploaded to a Google Sheet three times a day and handed off to fact-checkers and disinformation experts. But this kind of automated export is currently not permitted on the MCL, Giglietto said, which makes it more difficult to share results with outsiders. CrowdTangles accessibility allowed New York Times reporter Kevin Roose to track the rise of far-right media on Facebook. With Gigliettos assistance, Roose set up an automated Twitter account in 2020 called @FacebooksTop10 that showed the sources of the most engaged link posts by US pages based on CrowdTangle data. The daily listing was regularly dominated by partisan news outlets and right-wing commentators like Ben Shapiro and Dan Bongino. It became an embarrassment for Facebook executives who, according to Roose, were left to explain the disparity between what they thought Facebook wasa clean, well-lit public square where civility and tolerance reignand the image they saw reflected in the Twitter lists. Giglietto pointed to the @FacebooksTop10 bot as an example of something that would no longer be possible with the MCL in its current form. Meta spokesperson McPike said the MCL provides more comprehensive data overall than CrowdTangle: Although downloads for all public content is not supported in the MCLs User Interface, MCL has more comprehensive data that spans a wider range of accounts and profiles than CrowdTangle. Getting rid of CrowdTangle will produce ripple effects throughout the broader research community. Journalists, civil society researchers, and academics have built infrastructure on top of CrowdTangle that relies on its stream of data to function. The Illuminating projectwhich provides real-time analysis of the US presidential candidates X and Facebook accountsis just one example. According to Illuminating Research lead Jennifer Stromer-Galley, the corporations that facilitate our public town squares have a civic obligation to enable journalists and researchers to help make the discussions, and the actors who facilitate them, transparent. The health of our democracy depends on it, she wrote in an email. Another example of a tool that depends on CrowdTangle is Hamilton 68, an online influence tracker that uses network analysis to detect Russian propaganda and disinformation efforts. Hamilton 68 may stop running altogether once CrowdTangle is put to rest, the Columbia Journalism Review reported. This piece has been copublished with Proof News. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Right to Life, the states largest and most influential anti-abortion organization, is concerned about a new platform under consideration by Republicans across the country, its executive director said. The proposed anti-abortion platform which a committee adopted Monday afternoon, before it will be presented to the entire convention for a vote next week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee says abortion is an issue to be decided by the states, a departure from calling for a national ban in the current platform, which has been in place for 40 years. The proposed platform also doesnt call for a constitutional amendment for fetal personhood, subbing it out for language that says states can pass fetal personhood rights laws under the 14th Amendment. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Long before the bags are packed, the cooler is iced down, and the sunscreen is slathered on, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is hard at work ensuring your Lake Erie beach day is a success. Its just after 7 a.m. on a recent July day at Euclid Beach Park on Clevelands East Side, where a small crew of NEORSD biologists and interns are headed waist-deep into the surf to provide a little-known, though much-needed, public service. Every day of the summer, members of this team wade out into the lake to test the quality of water at Clevelands two public beaches. The goal is to arm swimmers with the most up-to-date information possible and help them fend off the negative health and safety effects that can result from swimming in bacteria-infested water. Beachgoers might be familiar with this process if theyve checked out NEORSDs social media account that shares daily water quality updates from Edgewater Beach and Euclid Beach/Villa Angela Beach. But theyve surely seen the results of NEORSDs daily monitoring service if theyve ever noticed the green and red flags affixed to lifeguard chairs and entrance signs at each beach location, which indicate whether the water is safe enough to enter that day. Determining which flag to fly on a given day is the job of Cleveland Metroparks, which manages both beaches and prohibits swimming on poor water quality days. Though other factors, like short-staffing, can close a beach down for the day, much of Metroparks decision-making process is based on the daily results of NEORSDs water quality testing. The process begins early in the morning, when few, if any, swimmers have arrived. NEORSDs designated tester today, the honor goes to paraprofessional intern Charlie Schalk pulls on her waders, grabs a small see-through container, and ventures several feet out into the water, right where swimmers would typically dunk their heads. She dips the container six inches below the surface and emerges with a water sample. After toting it back to the work truck, Schalk and fellow intern Ryan Grady transfer some of the liquid into a vial and pop it into a portable testing machine. The machine uses lasers to determine the waters turbidity, which is essentially a measure of cloudiness, or how much gunk has been churned up and is now suspended in the water. The waters pH level is also checked. Rainfall, wind and waves drive up turbidity and increase the chances of E. coli and other bacteria leaching into the lake where beachgoers are present, the team said. The bacteria may otherwise be hidden in the sand and lakebed perhaps from wildlife waste -- but gets churned up in rough weather. Pollution spurs bacteria growth, too. And a significant contributor is bacteria from human waste, which can come from aging infrastructure in the form of combined sewer overflows that NEORSD and Northeast Ohio cities have been working for years to address. While NEORSD has made massive investments to improve the system, much of the regions sewer pipes were installed decades ago, if not a century or more. They are often municipally owned, and extremely expensive to replace. In many cases, the bacteria originates much further up in the watershed from, say, residential areas with old pipes that are miles away -- before eventually filtering out into the lake through stormwater runoff. Today at least, that doesnt seem to be much of a problem. The water looks calm and clear. It hasnt rained in a while, and there appears to be little churn. Schalks turbidity test results show little risk of bacteria, according to the team. Once this phase of the testing is through, the group returns to NEORSDs lab in Cuyahoga Heights with their water samples. These will be cultured. In about 24 hours, the technicians will know just how much bacteria is present. But by the time those results are ready, it will be far too late for todays hopeful swimmers. You dont want to wait until tomorrow to know if it is safe to swim today, said Eric Soehnlen, a long-time field biologist for NEORSD. This quandary is where NEORSDs beach-monitoring magic really shines the key lies in its forecasting abilities. Years ago, beachgoers were stuck relying on this kind of out-of-date information. Thats not very helpful because lake conditions and bacteria levels can change quickly. So about two decades ago, the sewer district took a new, more-swimmer-friendly approach, Soehnlen said. This approach relies on a formula that uses environmental factors to predict the anticipated bacteria levels on a given day. Turbidity is a key piece of information NEORSD uses to arrive at this prediction. Its biologists also consider whether it has rained in the past 24 to 48 hours, the waters pH levels, and, in the case of Euclid Beach/Villa Angela Beach, water quality information that was gathered near the mouth of nearby Euclid Creek, which can impact conditions at the beach. These data points are plugged into a formula each day, and NEORSDs official water-quality prediction comes out the other side. The result is either green or good when it is considered safe to swim, or red or poor when the bacteria risk is too high and swimmers are told to stay out of the water. Between May 20 and July 1, Euclid Beach/Villa Angela Beach logged 15 days with water quality predicted as poor. In the same timeframe, 11 poor water quality days were predicted at Edgewater Beach. Water quality, at both locations, was predicted as good on all other days in that span. This formula is tweaked on occasion to improve accuracy and it has become quite reliable over time, Soehnlen said. NEORSD officials say their model has demonstrated around 80% accuracy a far higher reliability, they say, than the weather forecasts offered by your favorite meteorologist. NEORSD is able to track the accuracy of its prediction model and adjust the formula, if necessary -- using the bacteria samples that are sent back to the lab. Even though those test results arent available for 24 hours, they do provide NEORSD with confirmation about the accuracy of its forecast from the previous day. In the 39 days between Memorial Day and July 1 this year, the districts water quality predictions at Edgewater and Euclid beaches proved to be accurate on 28 of those days or about 72% of the time, according to an online tracker from the U.S. Geological Survey. And the uniformity of NEORSDs testing every day of the week, including weekends and federal holidays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day is vital, as well, the team said. To NEORSDs knowledge, few other beaches on Ohios Lake Erie shoreline are tested with the same level of frequency. That daily service can be critical to Clevelanders health. NEORSDs good and poor designations for water quality are crafted with the elderly and immunocompromised in mind, Soehnlen said. But perfectly healthy people are at risk of getting sick, too, if they swim in poor-quality water, he said. Cleveland is the largest city on Lake Erie, which, by different measures, is often considered the dirtiest of the Great Lakes. With so many swimmers in such a dense population center abutting the lakes fragile ecosystem, water quality testing in Cleveland is paramount especially as local leaders increasingly eye broader public access to Lake Erie as an important piece of Clevelands future. At the same time, more people are becoming aware of their not-so-obvious impact on the environment. Biologist Danny Neelon, who serves as NEORSDs strategic partnership lead, offered some advice for Northeast Ohioans who might wonder why the lakes water quality is poor on the day they hope to visit. What happens miles away from the lake matters tremendously, he said: Pick up after your dog. Dont dump oil or grease outside, and dont litter. Even washing a car in the driveway can send soapy, dirty water tainted with oil and antifreeze down into the drain. It all makes its way here to the lake eventually, he said. China urges U.S. not to support "Tibet independence" forces: spokesperson Xinhua) 10:13, July 09, 2024 BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to stop supporting or endorsing in any way the "Tibet independence" forces and their anti-China and separatist activities, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday. Lin's remarks came after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a press statement extended best wishes to Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 89th birthday, and reaffirmed U.S. commitment to supporting efforts to preserve Xizang's linguistic, cultural and religious heritage. Lin told a regular press briefing that the position of the Chinese government on Xizang-related issues is consistent and clear. Xizang affairs are China's internal affairs which brook no interference by any external forces. "Over the years, Xizang has enjoyed a booming economy, social harmony and stability, and sound preservation of its cultural heritage. The rights and freedoms of all ethnic groups in Xizang, including the freedom of religious belief and the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, are fully protected," Lin said, adding this is a fact and seen by many in the international community. As many people know, the 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion, the spokesperson said. "We urge the United States to fully understand the gravity and sensitivity of Xizang-related issues, truly respect China's core interests, be fully aware of the Dalai group's anti-China and separatist nature, honor the commitments the United States has made to China on issues related to Xizang, and stop supporting or endorsing in any way the 'Tibet independence' forces and their anti-China and separatist activities," Lin said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Mass tourism troubles hit fever pitch in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday as protesters threw items and sprayed travelers with water guns and canned drinks, while shouting "tourists go home." The protesters angry about the city's long-standing problems with overtourism used thick police-style tape to block hotel entrances and sidewalk cafes in the small neighborhood of Barceloneta in a symbolic effort to close the establishments. The crowd, which numbered some 3,000 people, according to local media, also marched holding a large banner demanding that city officials "decrease tourists now." Videos and photographs show people attempting to avoid the crowds some walking away from their tables mid-meal while others, including restaurant staff, verbally sparred with anti-tourism activists. watch now The demonstration coincides with Barcelona's peak summer travel months. In 2023, hotel occupancy rates neared 80% in July and August, as the city of 1.6 million people swelled to accommodate more than 4 million visitors, according to the Barcelona City Council. Record-breaking arrivals Last year, Spain bounced back from the pandemic with a record-breaking 85 million foreign visitor arrivals, according to The Associated Press. Only France, with 100 million arrivals, welcomed more. But the delicate dance between locals and visitors had spiraled long before that. watch now Hotels in the city quadrupled from 1990 to 2023 to accommodate a rush of travelers, which surged from 1.7 million to 7.8 million during the same period, according to the Barcelona City Council. That doesn't include the millions who travel to the city's outskirts, too, it notes. The city also buckles under the weight of the Barcelona Cruise Port as day-trippers descend on the city by the thousands. The port processed some 2.2 million passengers in 2023, up from 560,000 in 2000, according to the council's website. A protester in Barcelona on July 6, 2024. Paco Freire | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images The result is a city in which many locals can no longer afford to live, activists say most notably because of the housing market, where rents have increased 68% in the past decade, according to Barcelona's mayor, Jaume Collboni. Collboni announced in June that Airbnb-style short-term house rentals would be banned in the city by 2028. The move would add some 10,000 apartments back into the long-term rental market. A report published by Barcelona's City Council in 2023, titled "Perception of Tourism in Barcelona," shows more residents feel tourism is beneficial, rather than detrimental, to the city. However, the gap between these numbers has closed through the years, it showed. A woman dining at a restaurant in Barceloneta being confronted by a protester. Paco Freire | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Half of the 1,860 respondents surveyed said they modify where they go in the city because of tourists. "They avoid a widespread area around the city centre (Placa Catalunya, La Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Raval, Old Town, Waterfront), as well as the Sagrada Familia area. In terms of specific spaces, Park Guell tops the list of those deliberately avoided." Even those who recognize the economic contribution of tourism are becoming disillusioned by the sheer number of travelers in the city, according to the report. "More and more people believe that Barcelona has reached its tourism capacity limit," it states. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey on Tuesday became the latest Democratic lawmaker to publicly urge President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid and allow a new nominee to compete against former President Donald Trump. "When I think of my four children and all of the rights that another Trump presidency endangers, and in light of the recent Supreme Court decision that gave inordinate power to the President of the United States, the stakes are too high and the threat is too real to stay silent," Sherrill said in a statement. "And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won't run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee," she said. Sherrill is the seventh House Democrat who is openly calling for Biden's withdrawal and the ninth overall, according to NBC News' tally. Her statement came hours after House Democrats convened at their national party headquarters in Washington for a pivotal caucus meeting, as members weigh whether to continue backing Biden's besieged campaign or seek to replace him. Lawmakers had no access to their phones during the closed-door meeting, which marked the first time the full caucus has assembled since Biden's disastrous debate against Trump in June sparked a full-blown campaign crisis. Many members refused to answer reporters' questions as they trickled out of the building after the meeting Tuesday morning. "I promised I wouldn't talk at all about what was said," Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., told NBC News as he departed. When a reporter asked Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., if Democrats were on the same page, Cohen replied, "No ... we're not even in the same book." Cohen also told an Axios reporter that some members in the caucus meeting said that Biden should withdraw. A spokesman for Cohen did not respond to CNBC's request to confirm that comment. Senate Democrats held their own meeting on Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon. Biden's feeble, raspy showing in the debate set off panic among Democrats, prompting some top donors, pundits and allies to openly urge Biden, 81, to abandon his bid for another four years in office. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., who also called on Biden to drop out, said Tuesday that he now backs the incumbent. "I'm fully supportive of him. I plan to campaign for him. And it's essential that he wins," Nadler said. But Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., expressed deep reservations about Biden's continued candidacy. "Since the debate, I have met with fellow Biden voters in Massachusetts who have real concerns about the President's ability to beat Donald Trump. I share those concerns," Trahan, the co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, told NBC in a statement Tuesday. "While President Biden has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past twelve days suggests that voters see things the same way," Trahan said. "A second Trump presidency will do irreparable damage to women and to our country, and President Biden must act with urgency to restore Americans' confidence so we win in November." watch now The stakes are high for the NATO alliance as the organization's 75th anniversary summit gets underway in Washington this week. Particular focus will be on U.S. President Joe Biden amid widespread concerns about his age and mental fitness for the presidential race following his damaging debate performance against former President Donald Trump in June. Former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller stressed this point in a discussion with CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Tuesday. "I think this NATO summit in Washington is an important moment for Joe Biden, he really has to show that he is with it, he's ready to continue to lead not only the United States of America but the NATO alliance," she told CNBC's Dan Murphy. "And so we will see in coming days just how well the U.S. president does." Asked if the summit could be make or break for the trans-Atlantic alliance, Gottemoeller replied: "I think it is an extraordinarily important summit for the NATO alliance; I wouldn't say it is a make or break. NATO has had many ups and downs over the years and some severe crises to deal with ... it's a difficult moment for NATO, but NATO has weathered a lot of crises before." US President Joe Biden participates in the US-Nordic Leaders' Summit at the presidential palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 13, 2023. US President Joe Biden travelled to Britain on July 9, 2023, to a NATO summit in Lithuania and will end the trip to Europe on July 13, 2023 in Finland. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images The alliance's main focus is currently supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, an effort that many in the organization fear could be in peril if Trump wins the American presidency in November. The U.S. supplies the lion's share of financial and military support to Kyiv, and Trump has for years threatened to pull the U.S. out of the alliance if he returns to the White House. He has also expressed opposition to continuing to send military aid to Ukraine. "I'm not predicting necessarily a Trump win in November; nevertheless, there will be tremendous pressure on the alliance I think from Donald Trump as there was during his first term in office when I was serving as deputy secretary-general at NATO," Gottemoeller said. "He was unrelenting in pushing the NATO allies to spend more on their own defense." Trump routinely threatened member countries that did not meet the NATO requirement of spending 2% or more of their gross domestic product on defense. He said in a February campaign rally that he would let Russian President Vladimir Putin attack member states that did not spend enough on their defense. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III (C-R) addresses the Ukraine defence contact group meeting at NATO headquarters as Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov (R), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and, General Charles Q. Brown Jr. (C-L), United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff listen during the first of two days of defence ministers' meetings on June 13, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. Omar Havana | Getty Images But Trump will "see a much different NATO" if he wins a second term, Gottemoeller said. "I think he was important in getting the momentum going, getting NATO to spend more on its own defense," she said, but emphasized that in the face of Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, member states have been stepping up significantly. When Trump was in office, fewer than 10 member states were spending 2% of their GDP or more on defense and that figure has risen to 23 out of the alliance's 32 current members, Gottemoeller said. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a NATO event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the alliance, in Washington, U.S., July 9, 2024. President Joe Biden announced new commitments to help Ukraine bolster its air defense against Russia in a speech Tuesday commemorating NATO's 75th anniversary. "Putin wants nothing less nothing less than Ukraine's total subjugation, to end Ukraine's democracy," Biden said. "We know Putin won't stop at Ukraine. But make no mistake: Ukraine can and will stop Putin, especially with our full collective support." The aid will include new batteries and components for Patriot missile systems, donated by the U.S., Germany, Romania, the Netherlands and other partners. Italy will donate an additional SAMP-T missile system. Speaking from a teleprompter, Biden said that more air defense supplies will be distributed to Ukraine in the coming months. The announcement comes over two years into brutal invasion of Ukraine led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a war that has become a point of contention on Capitol Hill as lawmakers remain divided on whether to keep providing funds for Ukraine's defense. Biden's speech also served as the latest example of the split screen looming over the 2024 NATO summit this week: As the president holds high-stakes meetings with foreign allies, his political future in the U.S. Democratic Party is on the line. A Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 jetliner aircraft is pictured on the tarmac during the 2023 Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central - Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai on November 13, 2023. Riyadh Air has partnered with U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines as the Saudi startup carrier grows its potential network ahead of launching commercial operations next year, the airlines said on Tuesday. Riyadh Air, owned by Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, will be a second national airline, based in the capital Riyadh, alongside existing flag carrier Saudia, based in Jeddah. Under the agreement, Atlanta-based Delta will serve as Riyadh Air's exclusive partner in North America, offering its customers access to hundreds of U.S. destinations. For Delta's customers, the partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia, the airlines said. The U.S. carrier also plans to launch future nonstop service to Riyadh. Currently, no U.S. airline files to Saudi Arabia. People gather to celebrate the victory of the left-wing union after the partial results of the second round of the French parliamentary elections in Paris, France on July 07, 2024. LONDON European stocks closed lower on Tuesday as investors in the region weighed up political uncertainty in France after Sunday's election result. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally ended the day down 0.99%. Retail stocks led losses, down 1.65%. BP fell over 4% after the oil major said in a trading statement it expected to post an impairment of up to $2 billion in the second quarter and warned of lower refining margins weighing on its results. Meanwhile, shares in Novo Nordisk which makes the obesity drug Wegovy fell 1.89% after analysis by the JAMA Internal Medicine journal indicated that Eli Lilly 's rival treatment led to greater weight loss. French President Emmanuel Macron on a campaign poster back in 2022. Sebastien Salom-gomis | Afp | Getty Images French President Emmanuel Macron's failed snap election gamble is likely to take a large toll on his political ambitions and legacy, analysts say and to weaken the power and influence he has sought to build in Europe in recent years. The final round of a snap parliamentary election in France last weekend called by Macron after his center-right party was trounced in recent European Parliament elections led to a surprise win for the left-wing New Popular Front alliance, thwarting an expected victory for the far-right National Rally party. Center-right Macron, who will remain in office until 2027, now faces the prospect of having to work with a coalition or technocratic government and a prime minister of a different political ilk, likely from the left-wing NFF. This is set to make governing France, the passing of legislation and reforms, potentially difficult. Not only did Macron's high-stakes gamble with the snap poll not pay off, analysts note, but the French head of state has damaged his political standing and legacy in Europe, where he has sought a key leadership role. "In terms of his legacy, he will be in for a real political fight," Tina Fordham, founder of Fordham Global Foresight, told CNBC on Monday. "Macron remains the towering figure and kingmaker. It will be him who chooses the prime minister, it'll be Macron that travels to Washington for the 75th [anniversary] NATO summit this week, but those who are suggesting that his gamble paid off [are wrong]," Fordham said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe." "Yes, he was able to keep the far right from first place but they've increased their seat share and now he has to deal with this unruly left and this unruly right," she added. "I'm afraid it probably does [weaken him on a global stage] at a time which is unfortunate for the cohesion of the European Union," she added. Macron looked to be the EU's leader Since taking office in 2017 after the departure of his former boss, then-Socialist President Francois Hollande, Macron has tried to position himself at the center of Europe's political decision-making particularly since the departure of the European Union's most central leader, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in 2021. Macron has pushed for closer political and economic integration in the EU, promoting the concept of European sovereignty, economic security and competitiveness, as well as pushing for a more integrated and autonomous European defense strategy that advocates for a "true, European army." He's credited with creating the European Political Community, bringing leaders from across 50 states in the region to discuss shared challenges and to coordinate joint responses. Macron has also been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, putting pressure on a seemingly more reluctant Germany and on fellow NATO members when it came to the supply of Western weapons to Kyiv for it to fight back against Russia. He even pitched the possibility of French troops helping on the ground, albeit controversially, going beyond other allies' pledges. French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy react after signing an agreement, February 16, 2024 at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. Pool | Via Reuters Only time will tell what France's political makeup will be in the coming months, but the country is likely to experience weeks of political wrangling and potential deadlock as the left-wing faction angles itself to lead a new government, and to place one of its own politicians as prime minister. Although the decision lies in Macron's hands, he is likely to come under pressure to select a PM from the left-wing bloc, given it won the largest number of seats in the vote. He might even come under pressure to select Hollande, who ran for the NFP and stands as a strong candidate. For now, Macron has rejected his current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation and on Monday asked him to stay in the post "to ensure the country's stability." Political instability in France, the euro zone's second-largest economy after Germany, does not come at a good time in the global political cycle, Ludovic Subran, chief economist at Allianz, told CNBC on Monday. Subran stressed that it was vital that Macron was aligned with the future prime minister. "France is not that weak now, but it is not very good because we are in a state-craft situation with the U.S. and China and imagine what could happen in November if [Republican presidential candidate Donald] Trump gets reelected we're going to be tested and tested again and again," Subran told CNBC's Charlotte Reed in Paris. watch now "I think it's going to be really important that Macron secures the alignment with his prime minister before he says anything in Brussels or Strasbourg," Subran said. "He'll have to make sure there's a paper-thin divide between he and his prime minister when it comes to international issues like Russia, trade, industrial policies and working toward more flexible fiscal policies for France and for the other member countries in Europe." When it comes to Macron's position in Europe, Subran said it would now "be hard for him to lecture and to sow the seeds of grand projects for Europe when he's going to be weak domestically." "If [National Rally figurehead Marine] Le Pen races to power in 2027, it's going to be a very tainted legacy," he added. Mixed legacy While Macron is likely to be praised in some quarters for his pro-European, pro-business and pro-trade approach in office, his legacy at home may be more mixed after this snap election a decision seen by many as a strategic miscalculation, brought about by Macron's perceived lack of understanding of voter sentiment and, some say, his perceived arrogance. It's a criticism he's often faced, as well as accusations of failing to understand the everyday concerns of many French citizens, particularly those living outside the main urban centers. Mass protest movements such as the "Yellow Vest" action that emerged in 2018 were largely fueled by anger among large sectors of the population at rising fuel and living costs and economic inequality, and what they perceived to be an out-of-touch, elitist political establishment. A police vehicle sprays water cannon at protesters during an anti-government demonstration in Paris on January 26, 2019. NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images The rise of the far-right National Rally party is also symptomatic of voter concerns, rightly or wrongly, over immigration and what many supporters see as the erosion of French identity and culture. His decision in June to call a snap election after his centrist Renaissance party was trounced in the European Parliament elections, was widely seen as a high-stakes gamble. It hasn't paid off, and France's uncertain political outlook will likely perturb France's European partners, one French political scientist told CNBC. "Imagine the EU and international partners and allies of France. What must they think of that [decision to call a snap election]?" Philippe Marliere, professor of French and European politics at University College London, said ahead of the final round of the election on Sunday. "They must think, 'what an amateur. What a mistake. What a mess.' And it is a mess, which is now affecting us all. Because if France isn't able to be a reliable partner in the EU when it comes to big issues of the world ... people will not forget that it was Macron who created the situation in the first place." French President Emmanuel Macron reviews troops that will take part in the Bastille Day parade, July 2, 2024 in Paris, France. Aurelien Morissard | Via Reuters A well-dressed woman is walking at Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece, on July 3, 2024. A new measure that is passed today is concerning the right that the employer is having from now on to unilaterally impose a 6-day work week. The Greek government has defended its new six-day working week policy, saying it is an "exceptional measure" that would only be applied in "specific circumstances." Greece introduced in early July new regulation that gives employees in some businesses the option of working an extra two hours each day, or adding another eight-hour shift to their schedule meaning they could work 48 instead of the traditional 40 hours a week. The policy does not cover the food services and tourism businesses. Outrage about the policy spread on social media as the regulation was met with backlash from labor unions and political observers criticizing the move. When the policy package containing the bill was first announced last September, thousands protested against the new policies. Some critics have raised concerns about whether the policy could be extended to other sectors and businesses or mean employees would not be compensated fairly or be overworked. "It is important to note that this new regulation does not in any way affect the established 5-day/40-hour working week mandated by Greek law, nor does it establish a new 6-day working week," Greek Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameus told CNBC in emailed comments late last week. "All it does is provide only in limited circumstances for the option of an additional working day, as an exceptional measure." Only two types of businesses fall under the regulation namely those that operate 24 hours of the day, seven days a week with rotating shifts, and those that operate 24 hours a day for five or six days of the week, also using rotating shifts, Kerameus said. Urbazon | E+ | Getty Images As guaranteed income grows, so does the backlash Guaranteed income programs provide cash payments intended to establish an income floor for specific members of a community, according to the Economic Security Project, an advocacy organization. While universal basic income provides money to everyone, guaranteed income may provide either targeted or universal support. The programs flourished in recent years, helped in part by the Covid-19 pandemic that raised awareness of how direct cash could fill targeted needs. While the federal government deployed billions of dollars in stimulus checks and child tax credit payments, state and local governments also started to experiment with ways to provide money to residents in need, often with the help of extra federal money provided through the American Rescue Plan Act. Today, the Economic Security Project is tracking 150 guaranteed income pilots in 35 states. Around 52,000 people have participated in a pilot at some point in the past couple of years, according to Harish Patel, vice president at the Economic Security Project. Yet backlashes against the programs have also gained momentum. Individual demonstrator holds sign asking for universal basic income and universal healthcare in Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 20, 2021. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Idaho, Iowa, and South Dakota passed anti-guaranteed income legislation this year, while Arkansas did the same in 2023. Those efforts happened "very quickly," and similar proposals are expected in an additional 25 states, according to Patel. The conservative think tank Foundation for Government Accountability, and its lobbying arm the Opportunity Solutions Project, has led those efforts. The organization did not provide comment, but the foundation's research lays out the reasons for its opposition. It argues guaranteed income programs discourage work, "trap people in dependency" and cost taxpayers millions. The bills are written in "copycat fashion," which make it easier to replicate them among states, according to Patel. Yet that structure also leaves less room for rigorous analysis of their reach; the proposals are so general that they may end up limiting all cash assistance, not necessarily just guaranteed income programs, he said. "Let's say you have a natural disaster and you want to give out cash," Patel said. "In some states, they may not be able to if these sorts of very general policies that are written become law." One-year Austin experiment helped residents Others who have researched the effects of the programs say they see evidence guaranteed income works. In a one-year experiment launched in Austin, Texas, in 2022, 135 households received $1,000 per month. The program, which was focused on high poverty and rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, helped improve housing and food security, early research from the Urban Institute shows. The city of Austin enlisted the Urban Institute to study the effects of the cash infusions. "We're awash in evidence in this country that giving people cash infusions works," said Mary Bogle, principal investigator for the Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot evaluation and principal research associate at the Urban Institute. Typically, participant workers are in very low-wage jobs, Bogle explained. Once they have access to guaranteed income, that often allows them to figure out ways to increase what they earn, she said. "Folks who press arguments about guaranteed income creating dependency aren't looking at the fact that what guaranteed income is actually allowing participants to do is make good choices," Bogle said. "They have freedom of choice." For Austin resident Taniquewa Brewster, 38, being selected for the city's guaranteed income program helped her break free from a pattern of sporadic, unstable employment. She found out about the program when she was still struggling to recover from winter storm Uri in 2021, which left her apartment building without gas for months. At the time, Brewster's ability to work was also limited because she found juggling a full-time work schedule and child care for her five children to be next to impossible. The extra money had immediate benefits. Brewster said she was able to pay for the sports, camp and after-school programs her children wanted to participate in. She also helped her sister with costs for the car they shared. watch now Though Austin's guaranteed income has concluded, Brewster said it has a lasting impact on her life, particularly because it helped jump start her career. The program's money helped her go to school and get more education. She got a certificate to be a leasing agent and now works for her apartment complex. She also became a notary and is currently training to become a doula. "That gave me time and a cushion to say, OK you don't have to put things off so that you can be sure that you can take care of your family," Brewster said. 'The status quo isn't working' Many other guaranteed income program participants have seen life-changing improvements, particularly when it comes to their earnings capability. That is why the programs' supporters are puzzled by the growing opposition. "There's no real cogent vision for what they want to see, other than the status quo," said Michael Tubbs, founder of Mayors for Guaranteed Income. "And the reason why guaranteed income is so popular is because the status quo isn't working for most people, Democrats and Republicans." Harris County's program may have been targeted for political reasons, according to Menefee, the county attorney. Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1 Rodney Ellis answers a question from the press during a press conference responding to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit challenging the Uplift Harris program on April 10 in Houston. Houston Chronicle/hearst Newspapers Via Getty Images | Hearst Newspapers | Getty Images Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) greets Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Summit, at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on December 17, 2023. Japan and Philippines' defense pact signed on Monday seeks to counter China's increasing aggression in the region and create deterrence that goes beyond reliance on the U.S., experts told CNBC. The "Reciprocal Access Agreement," which comes against the backdrop of tensions between the Philippines and China over the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, allows exchange of armed forces for training and joint military exercises between Tokyo and Manila. The deal was signed in Manila by Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in the presence of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. The partnership between the Philippines and Japan had been "upgraded one level higher," Teodoro said at a joint briefing following the RAA ceremony, according to Philippine state media. "This is another milestone in our shared endeavor to ensure a rules-based international order to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and particularly in our region," he added. That cooperation includes exchanging defense equipment and technology such as air and coastal surveillance radar and will build upon Japan's Official Security Assistance initiative, which has provided defense assistance to "like-minded countries" like the Philippines. "The elephant in the room is China, and this is the point of strategic convergence between the Philippines and Japan," said Rahman Yaacob, research fellow in the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. The RAA marks Japan's second such agreement with a country in the Asia-Pacific region, following similar agreements with Australia in 2022. The treaty must be ratified by the appropriate legislative bodies of the Philippines and Japan before coming into force. Kamikawa called the signing of the RAA "a great achievement" for the two countries to further strengthen security and defense cooperation. "Both countries have maritime territorial disputes with China, and they are facing increasingly assertive and aggressive Chinese naval forces," Yaacob added. Jim Cramer's daily rapid fire looks at stocks in the news outside the CNBC Investing Club portfolio. Bank of America : Piper Sandler upgraded the stock to neutral from underweight (hold from sell) and raised its price target to $42 per share from $37. "It's becoming the Buffett bank," Jim Cramer said Tuesday ahead of next week's earnings. "You're seeing a recognition that their bond portfolio wasn't really a danger after all." Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns a huge stake in BofA. RH : Stifel started coverage of the company formerly named Restoration Hardware with a buy and a $315-per-share price target. CEO Gary Friedman sees an inflection point. "I don't want to bet against Gary," Cramer said. "He's bought a huge amount of stock." Intel : The struggling chipmaker was trying to rally for the fifth session in a row. Cramer said he's not a fan of the stock but "every dog has its day." Netflix : Cowen increased its price target on the stock ahead of earnings next week. "There's nothing new driving that damn stock," Cramer said. "It doesn't matter, though." Smurfit Westrock : Stifel started coverage of the paper-based packaging company with a buy rating and a $65.70-per-share price target. "There's been tremendous consolidation in that industry. And yet, it's still not really been able to get rolling," Cramer said. An Amazon breakup could deliver a short-term bump for investors, but keeping the company together will deliver bigger gains over the long haul. "I don't want it broken up," Jim Cramer said Tuesday during the Club's Morning Meeting . "But the breakup numbers are substantially better than where the current stock is." With regulatory scrutiny of Amazon and all of Big Tech in Washington, Jefferies conducted a sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) analysis and found that nearly 70% of Amazon's enterprise value comes from its Amazon Web Services cloud and fast-growing advertising business. Core retail accounts for just over 25.5% of EV. Subscription services, physical stores, and some other ancillary things make up the rest. The Jefferies analysts used their SOTP to justify raising their Amazon price target to $235 per share from $225. That would represent an 18% upside to Monday's close. They think AWS accounts for $96 of the new PT, with advertising at $68. So, together that's $164. They see core retail at $60. That may seem backward because retail makes up roughly 60% of total revenue and AWS and advertising together are only about 26%. But, the SOTP analysis looks forward, and Jefferies thinks the cloud and ads are better engines of future growth than retail. It's why they estimate a cheaper 2025 EV to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) multiple of 11 times for retail and more expensive multiples in the low 20s for AWS and ads. Investors are willing to pay more for stocks with higher growth prospects, and that's what this exercise shows. AMZN YTD mountain Amazon YTD While Jefferies makes a strong case that higher value in AWS and advertising are being tied to the less valuable retail operations, we oppose a breakup. That's because it would disrupt Amazon's flywheel of businesses that work better together than apart thanks to how the company aggregates and analyzes customer data. Amazon has arguably created the most powerful data collection machine in the world, and shareholders don't want that to change. Think about it: Amazon tracks what customers buy, what they watch on Prime Video, what they listen to on Amazon Music, the books they download, and the groceries they buy at Amazon-owned Whole Foods. Amazon also gathers data from shipping logistics, Alexa requests, and even home security given its ownership of the Ring and Blink camera companies. If Amazon's businesses were broken apart into individual companies, that could hamper data collection and impact the company's full understanding of users' consumption habits. That, in turn, could negatively impact the company's ability to offer best-in-class services with user-targeted offerings. We believe the colossal amount of customer data collected is how Amazon maintains its dominance from the enterprise to the consumer, which gives it the most upside. We would be concerned that a separation could limit its long-term potential. Amazon shares hit record highs this week. They have rallied more than 31.5% year to date. We think it can go higher. We increased our Amazon price target on Tuesday to $220 per share from $200 on the strength of its core businesses. In recognition of its rally, we reiterated our 2 rating meaning we would still wait for a pullback before buying. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AMZN. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Future Publishing | Future | Getty Images Russia's President Vladimir Putin awards India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 9, 2024. On Monday, Putin greeted Modi at his residence near Moscow, and the two leaders shook hands and embraced. New Delhi had raised this issue in March, when its federal investigation agency said it had broken up a network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs, with at least 35 Indians being sent. It said the men were trained in combat roles and deployed to Ukraine against their wishes, with some of them "grievously injured." After their leaders met, India said its nationals who were "misled" into joining the Russian army will be discharged. Modi arrived Monday, shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest children's hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide, including some children, officials said. Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Modi did not attend last week's summit in Kazakhstan of a security organization founded by Moscow and Beijing. "Our relationship is one of a particularly privileged strategic partnership," Putin told Modi, who made his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces in 2022. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia launched deadly missile attacks in Ukraine that hit a children's hospital. Russia's President Vladimir Putin awards India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 9, 2024. Noting the warm welcome after the attack in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X: "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day." Modi on Tuesday alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Putin, which included over four hours of talks. "Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained," the Indian prime minister said. "When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible." Modi said the two leaders shared "our opinions on Ukraine with an open heart and in detail. We respectfully listened to each other." Modi added that "a solution is not possible on the battlefield. Between bombs, guns and bullets, a solution and peace talks cannot be successful. And we have to adopt the path of peace only through talks." U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted the Modi visit at a briefing in Washington, saying, "We made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. And so we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the U.N. Charter, should respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." In televised comments, Putin said "all issues" were discussed with Modi,. Modi's trip received extensive coverage at home, including his laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin wall. But coverage of Russia's deadly attack Monday in Ukraine was muted. At the NATO summit in Washington, Western leaders marked the military alliance's 75th anniversary and sought to reassure Ukraine of their support. While Western countries have hit Russia with sanctions, Putin pointed out that trade between Russia and India increased by 66% last year, adding that it's a key focus of Modi's trip. Modi said that because of Russia's support, "we were able to save Indian citizens from difficulties related to requirements of petrol and diesel," adding that the nations' agreements on energy "helped provide market stability to the world indirectly." Russian state media reported that they would also discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries already are collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Russia had strong ties with India during the Cold War, and New Delhi's importance as a key trading partner with Moscow has grown since the war in Ukraine. China and India are key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. They also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered the already touchy relationship between Beijing and New Delhi as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted and have seeped into how India views Russia. But Modi is expected to continue close relations with Russia, which is also a major defense supplier for India. With Moscow's arms industries mostly serving the Russian military in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy. Trade development also is important, particularly intentions to develop a maritime corridor between India's major port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russia's Far East. India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Friday. Russian imports touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. India's financial year runs from April to March. We're increasing our price targets on a handful of positions that have recently made new all-time highs and another that has made a nice comeback. Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and the rest of mega-cap tech stocks have been powering the market lately, and we think there is more room to run thanks to their generative artificial intelligence tailwinds and profitability discipline. Eli Lilly will also continue to run as the most valuable drug company in the world keeps adding reasons to buy the stock beyond its massive diabetes and weight loss portfolio. Palo Alto Networks, which is the only one not at new highs, has made such a recovery that signals more good times ahead for the cybersecurity leader. AMZN YTD mountain Amazon YTD We begin with Amazon 's move, which has been fueled by strength in its three core businesses. We think Amazon Web Services cloud revenue can accelerate. A survey of chief information officers conducted by Jefferies showed that 43% of CIOs in the United States plan to increase their cloud spending by more than 10% in 2025. Spending on AI should be a tailwind, too. Amazon's e-commerce margins are improving through a reduction in the cost-to-serve and a fast-growing advertising business with some of the highest margins despite increased content investment. We are increasing our Amazon price target to $220 per share from $200. GOOGL YTD mountain Alphabet YTD Alphabet has been gaining steam in recent months on similar cloud tailwinds but also improving sentiment around its AI capabilities. Also supporting shares of the Google parent is a solid digital advertising environment that continues to take dollars from traditional ad channels. We are increasing our Alphabet price target to $210 from $190. META YTD mountain Meta Platforms YTD Meta Platforms ' stock has fully recovered all of its first-quarter earnings losses. Shares of the Facebook and Instagram owner sold off hard in April as investors were concerned that all those billions of dollars spent on AI were not leading to revenue. But what the Street missed was how AI has improved engagement on its Family of Apps and increased efficiencies for advertisers. We are increasing our Meta price target to $560 from $525. In recognition of Meta's run, we slightly trimmed our position Monday. LLY YTD mountain Eli Lilly YTD We are also increasing our Eli Lilly price target taking it to $1,000 per share from $850. There's been a handful of positive updates since late May, sending shares to record levels. The company announced it has more than doubled its investment in an Indiana manufacturing site to increase output of its blockbuster GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. There were also positive studies for MASH and obstructive sleep apnea , and donanemab received FDA approval for the treatment of early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. The company on Monday expanded its immunology portfolio by acquiring Morphic for $3.2 billion . These events added together have helped put the company on a trajectory to reach a $1 trillion stock market value . PANW YTD mountain Palo Alto Networks YTD One more stock we're raising our price target for is Palo Alto Networks . The cybersecurity stock may not have taken out its 52-week high, but it has made a nice move since the start of June, rallying roughly 12%. We think this is a sign of two things. First is that demand remains solid due to the elevated threat environment. When CDK Global was hacked last month, bringing down thousands of auto dealerships across the company, Palo Alto Networks was brought in to help restore operations. Second is additional comfortability around the company's platformization strategy, which has spooked investors due to the billing headwinds. What management believes is the better indicator of how the business is performing is its remaining performance obligation, or RPO. It showed an uptick in growth last quarter . We're taking up our price target to $360 from $320. Like Meta, we trimmed Palo Alto Networks Monday. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AMZN, GOOGL, META, LLY, PANW. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Google and Facebook parent Meta are some of the companies that have laid off workers in recent months. Beata Zawrzel | Nurphoto | Getty Images A riverside community in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands narrowly escaped raging wildfires last month, but some say the record-setting blazes -- still burning nearby -- are compounding threats to their way of life. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. OpenAI models are still accessible through Microsoft Azures cloud in China despite the fact that the company has banned the use of these models in the region. The backdoor access to the models is part of a changing dynamic in Chinas tech space, where emerging players hope to fill the gap the ban is poised to leave in the market, even as US-based tech firms look to circumvent growing trade restrictions. Azure China operates as a joint venture with local company 21Vianet in China, which offers OpenAIs service, according to an exclusive report by The Information on Monday. Three Azure customers in China also confirmed to the publication that they still have access to OpenAIs models; two claimed theyve used OpenAIs API to train AI models sold to Chinese customers. Microsoft confirmed to Computerworld Tuesday that Azure regions operated by 21Vianet are physically separated instances from Microsofts global cloud, though they are built on the same cloud technical base as its global peers. A company spokesperson said via email that there has been no change to its Azure OpenAI service offerings in China, and eligible customers can still receive access via models deployed in regions outside China. If gender dysphoria involves a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which they identify, is it a mental disorder or mental illness? What Happens When a Person Has Gender Dysphoria? When a person has gender dysphoria, they often experience significant distress due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their physical body. This can manifest as anxiety, depression, and a persistent desire to live as the identified gender. Gender-affirming treatments, which may include hormone therapy or surgery, are often sought to alleviate these feelings. Mental health professionals play a key role in diagnosing gender dysphoria to provide access to appropriate care. Differences Between a Mental Disorder and Mental Illness? A mental disorder typically refers to clinically significant patterns of behavior or psychological functioning that cause distress or impairment. Mental illness is a broader term encompassing various mental health conditions, including disorders, which affect mood, thinking, and behavior. Mental disorders are often characterized by specific diagnostic criteria and are seen as distinct conditions. Mental illness, however, may include a wide range of mental health issues, not all of which are classified as disorders. Both terms imply a need for treatment, but a mental disorder often has more specific implications for medical and therapeutic interventions. Is Gender Dysphoria a Mental Disorder or Mental Illness? Historically, gender dysphoria has been classified as a mental disorder. Notably, the American Psychiatric Association included "gender identity disorder" in earlier editions of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Similarly, the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases listed "gender identity disorder." This classification aimed to ensure access to healthcare resources for those seeking gender-affirming treatment. However, this classification has been criticized for contributing to stigma and suggesting that gender diversity is inherently problematic. In 2019, the World Health Organization reclassified gender incongruence, affirming it is not a mental disorder. This shift reflects an understanding of gender diversity as part of human variation rather than a pathological condition. The reclassification supports reducing stigma and emphasizes the autonomy of transgender persons over their identities. While the distress associated with gender dysphoria is recognized, it is increasingly viewed as stemming from external factors such as social rejection rather than from being transgender itself. Warning: Contains spoilers for the 2016 feature film Sausage Party. Theres a pop-culture trope all of us have seen at least once: A high school English teacher wants to get a rough or rowdy class on their side, so when its time to teach poetry, they recite it to a hip-hop beat. (Doing so while seated backwards on their chair: optional but highly recommended.) I wonder if the creators of Sausage Party: Foodtopia had this trope in mind while developing this show; it can feel like its for all the teachers of civics and American history who wished they could sneak their students Howard Zinn inside some cartoon pornography. What we must now term the Sausage Party franchise began with the 2016 feature film. At a supermarket called Shopwells, the greatest dream of all the anthropomorphic foods is to be chosen (purchased) by a god (human customer) and brought to The Great Beyond (outside the store). Hot dog Frank (voice of Seth Rogen, also a co-writer and producer) and his bun girlfriend Brenda (Kristen Wiig), in particular, are eager to be chosen together for Red, White & Blue Day so that they can, at long last, consummate their relationship. Don't Miss When a jar of Honey Mustard (Danny McBride) is purchased by mistake and returned to the store, he is traumatized by the horrible knowledge of what gods actually do with food, leaping out of a new customers cart rather than return to The Great Beyond and the horrors that await him. Before expiring, Honey Mustard sends Frank to talk to a bottle of Firewater liquor (Bill Hader) about what Honey Mustard had learned on the outside. Once the nonperishables Firewater, Mr. Grits (Craig Robinson) and a Twinkie (Scott Underwood) have explained to Frank what humans actually do with food and that the nonperishables created the myth the food all lives by to spare them the horror of reality, Frank is desperate to spread the word. No one wants to believe him until Franks fellow wiener Barry (Michael Cera) returns from his own Great Beyond adventure, doses all the store patrons with bath salts to allow the humans to perceive the foods sentience, and kicks off a revolution. Prime Videos sequel series Sausage Party: Foodtopia which drops all eight episodes of its first season July 11th picks up after the cataclysm at Shopwells. Food has defeated its human oppressors to become the dominant species on planet Earth. Frank and Brenda, the de facto leaders of the revolution, declare that all foods are equal, and everyone gets down to a celebration in their usual way: a massive orgy. Advertisement Surely no one could ask for better in a post-human society, until water starts falling from the outdoor ceiling. Naturally, a rainstorm is disastrous for the softest and most yielding foods Brendas at great risk! and the foods have no concept of whats happening. (Even the produce, which grew outside? Apparently so.) Even though Shopwells is actively collapsing, some of the foods fear the open air and return to the husk of the store, choosing the danger they know over the one they dont. Brenda and Frank, accepting that the foods are like their children and that its their responsibility to look after them, take it upon themselves to understand and, where possible, solve the new problems that come with everyones new freedoms. Nature-based threats are so pressing and intractable that Frank and Brenda dont really notice when some of the foods decide to create a system of currency based on human teeth (formerly a symbol of human oppression, now reclaimed); when the drive to amass more teeth creates a spike in theft, they task Barry with creating a police force. (Barrys first three recruits: Chris Bologna, Kishke Hargitay and Iced Tea.) Yes, theres also a power-mad food character who manipulates his fellow citizens with dirty tricks and outright lies told via mass media. Yes, hes orange, because he is an orange. I commend Sam Richardson, who plays the orange Julius, for the restraint not to do it in a Trump voice. Advertisement The Sausage Party movie was a spoof of Disney and Pixar movies very much not for children, which I hope parents understood before parking their precious little ones in front of a film where a vengeful douche (Nick Kroll) is a pivotal character. But whereas Finding Nemo, for example, reportedly moved some empathetic human children to flush their own aquarium-dwelling fish friends down their toilets in the hope that they would swim to freedom like the ones in the films dentists office, the Sausage Party foods triumph has no equivalent, even in spoof form. Advertisement In other words, while kids could respond to anthropomorphized fish by deciding its unethical to keep them in tanks, the stoners who watch Sausage Party arent going to be convinced to stop eating. I realize how dumb this looks spelled out trust me, I felt twice as moronic typing it as you think I must be to have done so but this is a foundational problem with Foodtopia: It forces the viewer to think through the implications of a world in which food has consciousness. Advertisement To wit: This made it into the shows trailer, so I guess its not a big spoiler to say that the food doesnt commit full genocide against the human race, and that a fragile and very secret alliance forms between some of the food and what is possibly the last person alive. The survivor, fearful of being executed like everyone else he knows, tries to adapt to the new normal. When he asks his semi-friendly food contacts for water, he struggles to understand whether his consuming water from an animate bottle is different than if he drank it straight from the tap. But as far as we see, he never does get water from any source, so since the shows events take place over more than three days, its unclear how the human manages to do, well, a lot of things Im not supposed to reveal and frankly (no pun intended) wish I didnt know about never mind while getting periodically dosed with bath salts, which I have to think would dehydrate him even more! Advertisement Advertisement Or: part of the shows portrayal of the Foodtopia economy revolves around perishable foods urgency to gain access to refrigeration, in the course of which we see several of them spoiling if not outright melting. Its not a value judgment to say that shelf-stable foods are going to last longer in this era, but eventually, theyll pass their sell-by dates too, and then whats the plan for propagating foods existence? The movie, with its limited scope and ambitions, didnt really leave the viewer with a lot of unanswered questions, so continuing the story in a way that raises so many more feels like an imposition, entirely aside from the fact that the questions it raises are so ridiculous that I personally resent having to think about them. Advertisement Apart from logistics, some thought has evidently been given to the ways cultural norms in our reality have changed over the past eight years. Its bad enough that an Indigenous-designed spirit called Firewater (a) made it into the movie and (b) was voiced by Bill Hader, an actor who does not publicly identify as Indigenous, including on a show about his genealogy. See also: Underwood as a super-smart wad of gum that uses a wheelchair and speaks in a computer monotone; Jewish-American David Krumholtz as an Arab-coded lavash; and Hader again as a Mexican bottle of tequila and a Mexican tub of guacamole. These ill-conceived xenophobic characters either dont appear in the show or are swiftly dispatched in the war. Somehow making it into 2024, though: Sammy Bagel Jr., voiced by Edward Norton doing a pretty unambiguous Woody Allen impression. I can understand that once you cast an Oscar-nominated actor, you dont necessarily want to let him go that is, you cant justify doing with Sammy what the Clone High revival did with Gandhi but Sammy could have easily also died in the war and been replaced by Dave Roll or something. Sure, Sammys arc shows him shamelessly seeking fame by doing comedy for the other residents of Foodtopia, but call him Dave Roll and that plotline still works. This is a show in which an eclair fornicates with a banana minutes into the series premiere and somehow the choices Norton is still making with this character are even more astonishing. Advertisement Advertisement I can only imagine how insane this review will seem to someone who hasnt seen the show and doesnt know why Im taking a show about horny cartoon food this seriously. But the Foodtopia part of the title isnt just there to differentiate the show from the movie. As the series goes on, and the food tries to create a new society from scratch (again, no pun intended), the characters are confronted by the complexities of wage inequality, rapacious landlords, the impossibility of true justice in the carceral state and the corruption of Western democratic electoral politics. Really. Advertisement Overall, Sausage Party: Foodtopia kind of bites off more than it can chew (pun a little intended) with the ideas it raises, and will probably leave the viewer feeling even more pessimistic about the state of the world. But of all the satires on the 2024 presidential election Ive watched on TV this year, Sausage Party: Foodtopia is by far the filthiest and considering that the one before this was Season Four of The Boys, thats really saying something. 9 Ron Burgundy: I know that one day, Veronica and I are gonna get married on top of a mountain. And theres going to be flutes playing and trombones and flowers and garlands of fresh herbs. And we will dance till the sun rises. And then our children will form a family band. And we will tour the countryside, and you wont be invited! When it first came out, South Park took a lot of heat for warping the minds of Americas youth. Teachers banned T-shirts depicting the shows characters, Christian organizations vowed to protect our youth from vile trash like South Park and a school in England sent out a newsletter to parents specifically warning them that the cartoon contains obscenities, swearing, lavatorial actions and filth of a most unsavoury nature. So its a little surprising that, back in 1999, South Park co-creator Trey Parker was asked to give the commencement speech at his old high school in Evergreen, Colorado. Looking back at the speech, which was recorded for posterity on a shitty 90s camcorder and eventually uploaded to YouTube, Parker actually did a nice job combining the jokes (and amusing voices) that teenagers undoubtedly would have been expecting, while also endeavoring to offer genuine advice to the graduates. Don't Miss Parker began by uttering, What am I supposed to tell you? and remarking that whoever booked him to give the speech was probably someone who hadnt seen South Park. He also remarked on the odd situation he had found himself in, working on a final cut of a major motion picture (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) while still having a paper due for my high school. Parker then revealed that the school had asked him to offer some insight on your success and how you achieved it during the speech. So he told students, You cut little things out of construction paper, and you show it to George Clooney, and you get $10 million. Thank you. Advertisement More seriously, he added, The point is, nobody can tell you how to be successful. What worked for me wont work for you because youre all going to do something completely different from South Park. Thank God its those few who figure out a new way to do something that really succeed. He also told the kids that they should go to college, purely at the insistence of his mother, before adding, I actually got kicked out of college. But he did point out that college is where he met his future partner Matt Stone, found Buddhism and discovered that you can light farts on fire. Toward the end of the speech, Parker stressed the importance of optimism: We are the only animal capable of senseless killing, but were also the only animal capable of senseless loving. I know this sounds totally cheesy, but we have to start believing in our whole species again, because if we dont believe in our species then weve got nothing. Sure there are bad things in the world like homelessness, and Barbra Streisand, and Jar Jar, but we are all trying to fix them. Advertisement Although he did try to argue that we all have to stop putting the focus on mankinds fault, adding, you can still fix the world without being a cynical hippie activist doing a bunch of negative crap. Which in retrospect, is maybe not the best advice, considering that mankind definitely is at fault for a number of calamitous horrors that necessitate being called out. Of course, this was more than two decades ago, and Parker may regret some of these comments today, the way he obviously regretted ManBearPig. Advertisement Still, his larger point about optimism was a good one. It was a solid, surprisingly earnest speech. And, at the very least, Parker didnt waste the graduates time with apologies for past bee fetish content. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). While it may have been hell to film Monty Python and the Holy Grail on location in Scotland (John Cleese has frequently complained that it was a miserable experience due to the lack of hot water), that commitment to dank medieval realism is arguably what made the comedy work so well. Because it wasnt shot on sets that likely would have just ended up in a dumpster, a lot of Python fans are able to make pilgrimages to the real-life locations used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, including Scotlands historic Doune Castle, which the group sneakily used over and over and over again. But the specific geographic location where one memorable scene was filmed was never properly documented which became a problem when two Pythons later tried to track it down. Don't Miss For the films 25th anniversary DVD, Michael Palin and Terry Jones made a short documentary entitled The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations, in which they journeyed to Scotland in order to revisit some of the key spots where the movie was filmed. While popping by Doune Castle was no problem (they even purchased a copy of their own screenplay from the castle gift shop), Palin and Jones werent entirely sure of the location of the Cave of Caerbannog, home of the Legendary Black Beast of Arrrggghhh, aka that one killer bunny that gets blown up by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. In fact, finding the cave proved to be surprisingly difficult. Well before the DVD came out, newspapers in Scotland reported on the visiting Pythons embarrassing attempts to locate the cave, which descended into farce. Even with the help of a local forester and two council officers, they spent hours searching along a single track road beside Loch Tay where they believed the cave had been. Advertisement Advertisement At one point, a bus drove by and a frustrated Palin remarked: If thats the bus to Glasgow, Im getting on it. Scotland on Sunday The finished documentary does allude to some of these difficulties, with Jones noting in his narration that we had a real problem trying to find this cave. And 25 years later, were still having a hard time finding it. As they looked for anything that resembles a film location, Palin did discover an awful lot of sheep droppings. They did, though, finally stumble upon the cave, which was really an old copper mine While they didnt provide viewers with a precise location, years later a journalist for The Courier was able to track down the cave as well and publish her findings. Now Monty Python fans seem to regularly make trips to the location that very nearly eluded Michael Palin and Terry Jones, even leaving behind offerings to its white rabbit guardian. Advertisement Advertisement I doubt that any Monty Python fans will make similar expeditions to visit the Australian casino where John Cleeses awkward roast was filmed. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). Microsoft has ordered its staff in China to use iPhones for their work starting in September. The decision effectively bars the use of Android smartphones by the tech giants Chinese staffers, Bloomberg reports. The decision has more to do with standardising use of the Microsoft Authenticator and Identity Pass app among all personnel rather than security concerns about the Android mobile operating system. This train could be going 150 miles an hour if we fixed the overhead wires. Photo: Doug Kanter/AFP/Getty At least ten times in the past two months, tens of thousands of people had their days ruined by a failure of one of the most fundamental pieces of infrastructure in America: the electrical system that powers Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains on the Northeast Corridor. Stranded riders were furious. Amtrak and New Jersey pointed fingers. The whole region was left wondering how this could happen to the transportation backbone of the densest part of the country. How could the one piece of passenger rail in this country that more or less, kind of, approximately, works as a business the closest thing we have to a modern electric European railway break down so often? The answer is likely a toxic combination of deferred maintenance on a fraying and ancient power supply. The catenary the overhead arrangement of poles and wires that supplies electricity to moving trains on the Northeast Corridor was inherited from the Pennsylvania Railroad, which went out of business in 1970. Most of the catenary system is about 80 years old. Fifty years ago, federal officials were already saying that they needed to replace it wholesale with a modern setup, only to shelve the program amid budget overruns. Attempts at incremental upgrades, in turn, have been beset by mismanagement and poor accounting at Amtrak. To make things all the more maddening, the decrepit power system is also one of the biggest reasons that Amtraks bullet train, the Acela, is so slow. Amtraks own regulatory filing from last year states that not one inch of the overhead wiring between Washington, D.C., and New Yorks Pennsylvania Station zero percent is in a state of good repair. On a scale of zero to five, with zero signifying that the system is so decrepit that it cannot function, Amtrak rates the electrical system a 1. In that document, called the Infrastructure Asset Line Appendices, Amtraks Electric Traction unit, which manages the catenary, acknowledges that its getting worse: Electric Traction acknowledges that preventive maintenance activities are not consistently completed due to limited resource availability and a need to provide ET staff to support other asset classes or capital projects. This has resulted in a growing maintenance backlog, which is becoming a major priority. That backlog, which measured less than $100 million in 2018 according to Amtrak charts, now sits at an estimated $829 million. Another $2.9 billion is needed to replace or repair poles and other structures that hold the wires. Amtraks figures say that each of the three units in its Electric Traction division is understaffed, and the group that keeps up the wiring in the mid-Atlantic states is in the worst shape. (A spokesman for the railroad said it has has hired more than 300 trainees across the division.) Theyve been reduced to a patch type of program thats what they say here, said Joe Clift, a transit advocate who previously served as Long Island Rail Roads chief of planning, when reviewing the documents. If they have a reactive approach to maintenance, then you know two things: that theyre spending the least amount in the near term, and at the same time, guaranteeing service outages that really screw the customer. He added: Because its the trunk line of the New Jersey system, everybody gets hit. That lack of planning and maintenance, said a source who is knowledgeable about the extent of the problem, extends to Penn Station, where power went out several times over the past several weeks. Amtrak is backing an unfunded $16 billion program to build a giant new extension of the rail hub immediately to the south of the existing station but has no plans to upgrade whats there now. Youre going to do this $16 billion thing and just leave all these shitty tracks and signals and catenary in place, said a person familiar with the plans. As far as I know, nothing has changed with that. The wiring that Amtrak and New Jersey Transit rely on is a bespoke system that was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad nearly a century ago, then run by its successor Penn Central, then handed over to the public after the railroad went broke and was nationalized. In the 1970s, the federal government plotted an aggressive set of upgrades meant to revive train service along the Northeast Corridor by substantially increasing its speed and reliability. They identified several major problems, including according to a report completed in 1975 that I obtained as part of a fellowship investigating rail modernization at New York University that, unlike those on high-speed rail systems elsewhere, the wires are not constantly tensioned. Instead they just hang. That has a threefold effect. First, it makes the whole system vulnerable to heat, because as the temperature goes up, the wires expand and sag. When they do, Amtrak and NJ Transit have to slow their trains down. Second, the drooping power lines increase the risk that the wires get tangled up in the pantographs, the linkages atop of the trains that slide along the catenary and draw power from it. If that happens, a moving train can rip the whole business down, causing major damage. (Amtrak and NJT have traded blame over whos responsible for snagged wires.) Those reliability and speed worries are a big reason why the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the MTA spent $912 million on a couple of projects between 1993 and 2021 to methodically replace all of the wiring between Pelham and New Haven with tensioned wires. So far, this summer, Metro-Norths New Haven Line has avoided the meltdowns plaguing the other side of the Hudson. Third, the old catenary limits the speed of trains, even at middling temperatures. As many Amtrak observers have noted over the years, our high-speed rail from New York to Washington, the Acela, is far slower than the bullet trains that other countries run. That 1975 document determined that the catenary we have on that line is good up to about 110 miles per hour, well below the corridors then-target speed of 150 miles per hour. Above 110 mph, the only way to obtain good and stable dynamic characteristics is through a constant tension system, the engineers wrote. An updated assessment in 1986 found that the wiring between Washington and New York was in relatively good condition and shows that Amtrak had managed to use tweaks and upgrades to reliably squeeze speeds up to 125 miles per hour out of the system. But it reported that faster speeds would require major upgrades. Those upgrades proposed in the 1970s were included in the new power system Amtrak built northeast of New York, between New Haven and Boston, in the 1990s. It took Amtrak two decades to get the White House and Congress to fund its construction, and until then the line ran on pokey diesel-powered trains. The tensioned cables overhead let the Acela trains race at up to 150 mph on stretches through New England, although they slow down through Connecticut owing principally to sharp curves. Those same trains could likely reach 150 miles an hour for most of the run to Washington, which is straighter, with a new catenary. Instead, they are throttled to a peak of about 125 to 135 miles per hour by the fragility of the wires above. A colleague of mine at NYU, Alon Levy, calculates that upgrading the archaic power system alone could cut ten or 11 minutes off each trip between New York and Washington. That would mean an Acela trip journey making the usual stops Newark, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore down to about two hours and 50 minutes, finally getting it below the long-sought benchmark of three hours. Thats fast enough to finally get the Acelas top speed into the same Zip Code, if not the same ballpark, as the EuroStar that links London to Paris, topping out at 186 miles per hour. Put it together with greater reliability and lower maintenance costs, and its unquestionably worth doing. We have, it turns out, paid for this upgrade, or at least a partial one. Despite a slew of attempts by conservative lawmakers and the Bush administration to privatize the railroad, Amtrak finally scored the funds from Congress to upgrade a segment of the wiring between New York and Washington in 2011. The $450 million grant part of the economic stimulus package backed by then-President Barack Obama was supposed to pay for replacing a 23-mile stretch of the Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick. But the program was a mismanaged disaster that resulted in two probes by Amtraks inspector general, including one that determined that an unnamed Amtrak executive engaged in improper hiring, indications of favoritism, conflicts of interest, and gross mismanagement of resources. Amtrak cut back the tensioned catenary program from the 23 miles to 14 miles, and a subsequent report in 2017 by the IG showed that only seven miles worth was actually built. In the aftermath of this summers meltdowns, Amtrak and New Jersey governor Phil Murphy announced they would step up inspections and maintenance of both trains and power systems and would attempt to find new grant money to finally replace and upgrade the catenary. The performance of late, across the board, has been unacceptable, Murphy told reporters in Newark on June 27. People dont care why it happened. They want to get home. Amtrak declined to comment for this story but pointed to statements issued by railroad executives, including a letter from its president, Roger Harris, to Northeast Corridor customers after the recent outages. It reads, in part: We are reviewing each incident with the goal of improving future travel, while continuing to advance unprecedented investments that are modernizing and strengthening the NEC. But 50-odd years after the federal government took over the Northeast Corridor, and even though the Gateway Tunnel has finally been funded, theres still no holistic overhaul plan for the busiest railway in North America. Instead, its piecemeal and patchwork. The Federal Railroad Administrations 2024 Northeast Corridor Project Inventory includes a $611 million proposal to replace but not upgrade the overhead wiring from the New Brunswick to Newark, and even that project is $101 million short of full funding. The frequent inspections are reactive, not proactive, said Liam Blank, a former staffer at the MTAs Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee, whos the author of an extensive report on Penn Station modernization for transit group Tri-State Transportation Campaign. They should be focusing on the long-term answers, which is replacing, he continued. Without the actual solutions, upgrading the catenary and the pantographs, youre not actually fixing the problem. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Nearly every new resident of No10 has been subjected to some form of makeover to define the status step-up from leader of the opposition to the one in charge of the country. Margaret Thatcher was taught to speak in a deeper tone and told to adopt shoulder pads to suggest authority in a largely male-dominated profession. Tony Blair adopted his splayed-leg power-pose and a presidential-style squint into the sunset to help him shuck off the 'Bambi' nickname he'd earned as a young MP. Boris Johnson retained his dishevelled appearance but adopted a rumbling, Churchillian tone and wartime rhetoric to try to paint himself as a heroic figure. Sir Keir Starmer's first two speeches as PM show a subtler but still powerful sense of verbal and non-verbal upgrade, giving the impression he has already and suddenly grown into the job. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks in the House of Commons in London this afternoon Starmer's upgrade changes tell the nation that 'power suits me', not through any gestures or poses of triumphalism but via an absence of some of the traits that had plagued his debates with Rishi Sunak, creating the impression of inner anxiety, evasiveness and tetchiness, suggesting a lightweight rather than heavyweight presence. Body language expert JUDI JAMES It is clear that Starmer suits a script. Reading his lines from the lectern or autocue allows him to make important modifications to his tone and his emphatic pauses. A good script writer - and he presumably now has the best - will design a script not just to get the words right but to act as a performance stabiliser, forcing the right pace, pauses, clusters and tone. Starmer's scripts now tend to be written in shorter sentences to avoid any word salad waffling and to therefore raise his sense of authority. His natural tendency was to over-speak, diluting the power of his messages, and to speak in a more defensive manner. His vocal tone would become slightly nasal and even something of a whine at times as he held the government to task. Sir Keir Starmer speaks in the House of Commons this afternoon as Parliament returns It would register disbelief but the higher whine implied powerlessness. His tendency to use a rising intonation at the end of some of his questions also diluted any air of authority. He also became known for his swerving of questions. This used to be a political survival technique but it always annoys a more modern, switched-on audience. His use of verbal fillers were also a signal of Starmer's irritation or tetchiness when he was pushed to answer more directly. The new PM Starmer uses very few verbal fillers - the 'um' 'errs' etc - and he seems, like Thatcher, to be holding his vocal tone at a lower note to suggest authority. His scripts entail a lot of sentences that end in three important words, which forces him to slow down and almost place a full stop in between each one, keeping his tone lower to imply strong leadership and status, e.g. his 'Do... Politics... Differently'. Sir Keir Starmer speaks to the media following his first Cabinet meeting at No.10 last Saturday He also seems to look straight into the camera more, to address the country directly. There are no swerves when he is master of his own script, which makes him much less annoying to listen to. Starmer also now uses fewer hand gestures than he has previously. During the debates his varied gestures often contradicted each other but this more sparing usage means they imply power and commitment. His key gesture now tends to be the precision pinch, which suggests clear, precise thinking. When Starmer spoke about his internal leadership behaviour he adopted a new and rather more formal tone that sounded very much like the speech patterns we hear from professions like the police or army. Newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking outside 10 Downing Street last Friday His 'I have appointed a cabinet' section had this style of authority in the formal delivery with regular but small vocal 'scooping' that tends to suggest drilled-in experience and competence. Starmer has stopped the staccato, frequent blinking that made him look startled and anxious during the debates and his steepling of the eyebrows that suggested anxiety has been replaced with a slight puckering frown of concern and control. Even his hair seems to have been given a PM make-over. The over-coiffed, straight but flat look he's always sported seems to have been replaced with a new, dynamic ripple that is more Superman than Max Headroom! Starmer's first appearance as PM in the Commons shows up several powerful shifts in terms of his signals of authority and now being in a more 'hosting' role. Margaret Thatcher (pictured in October 1984) was taught to speak in a deeper tone and told to adopt shoulder pads to suggest authority in a largely male-dominated profession He now clasps and grips the despatch box with a sense of ownership and control, his arms splayed wide and his fingers splayed too. This control and widening of space is a sign of a status upgrade and it reflected in his one big gesture, which was to throw a fully extended arm out wide as he spoke, and a more careful rotating of the head to include the entire chamber as he speaks. His voice in the House is now louder and reeks of an authority over his words. His enunciation is more exaggerated, with his mouth opening wide at times, and his pace is slightly slower, again devoid of any verbal fillers. Starmer even performs and leads a change of pace and mood, switching to a deeper, more sonorous vocal tone for his key message. His 'And now...' signals the serious bit of his speech, where he is in full 'tell' mode as he lets the House know of his switch to the 'Politics of service', voicing it as an order, not a suggestion. Tony Blair (pictured in 2006) adopted his splayed-leg power-pose and a presidential-style squint into the sunset to help him shuck off the 'Bambi' nickname he'd earned as a young MP Boris Johnson (pictured in March 2020) retained his dishevelled appearance but adopted a rumbling, Churchillian tone and wartime rhetoric to try to paint himself as a heroic figure Starmer uses space to give the impression of increased power, status and confidence. One arm is thrown out to the side - with a visibly cocked thumb signalling enjoyment - and his head rotates to include the whole chamber as he speaks. There is a new gesture, too. On the build-up to the election Starmer used his own version of the Tony Blair 'thumb of power' gesture repeatedly to suggest he was trying to mimic some of the ex-PM's success. But any mimicry seems to have been dropped now and Starmer appears to be cracking open a new signature gesture of his own. He points his index finger to get attention and suggest authority, before bringing the finger in to form a precision pinch, with the fingers pinched in together to signal precise thinking. Starmer's projection of mild superiority also showed in his facial expression as he sat watching Sunak wishing him well. His gaze was steady and his expression almost impassive apart from a micro-pursing and puckering of his lips to look almost like the very faintest hint of gloating. A glamorous woman with a sleek bob and gold jewellery smiles warmly on the cover of the July/August edition of German Vogue in a bright red peacoat by Italian designer label Miu Miu. It is exactly the sort of cover the world's foremost fashion magazine is known for, only the striking woman on the front is neither a supermodel nor a film star, rather Margot Friedlander, nee Bendheim, is a 102-year-old German-Jewish Holocaust survivor. After her mother and her younger brother were deported to Auschwitz extermination camp in 1943, Margot went into hiding and sought to disguise herself by dyeing her hair and wearing a necklace with a cross. While she was helped by some Germans, she was ultimately betrayed to the SS and deported to Theresienstadt on June 16 in 1944 where she saw 'so many people murdered'. Her entire family were killed at Auschwitz the previous year. Today, as German Vogue's accompanying interview notes, she works tirelessly with students to 'make her story tangible for the next generation.' Margot Friedlander, 102, on the cover of the July/August edition of German Vogue wearing a peacoat by Italian label Miu Miu. On her left lapel is the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class and on the right lapel is the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin Margot in the spring of 1943. She had already been living underground for several months and had sought to disguise herself as a Christian by wearing a necklace with a cross on it Born in Berlin, Margot was 12 years old when Hitler came to power and said her family hoped he would just 'disappear again', and everything could go back to normal. It was a happy upbringing, where she enjoyed family weekend trips to Lake Scharmutzelsee and playing on the swings at the Friedrichstadt-Palast, and spending time with her beloved grandmother, Adele, who called Margot, 'my little mouse'. In 1936 she started a course at the Berlin School of Arts and Crafts where she specialised in fashion drawing and advertising. 'I had big plans,' she told the magazine of her hopes of becoming a seamstress and designer. Margot, who spends her time talking to school children about her experiences during the war, was photographed wearing a floral ensemble by Loro Piana for German Vogue Margot (right) is pictured with two friends on the Kurfurstendamm, one of Berlin's most famous streets, in 1943. She would be deported to Theresienstadt just a few months later A young Margot pictured with her husband Adolf Friedlander. Both interned at Theresienstadt, the couple married when the camp was liberated Margot spent a year at the Rosa Lang-Nathanson salon, training to be a seamstress but in November 1938 she arrived to see broken glass everywhere and smoke in the air from burning synagogues. The salon never re-opened after Kristallnacht. In the mid-1940s, at the age of 21, the Gestapo took her mother and brother Ralph away. The last words her mother left for her, passed on verbally by a neighbour, were 'Versuche, dein Leben zu machen' - 'Try to live your life'. Margot tore off her yellow star - marking her as Jewish - and wore a chain was a cross pendant around her neck and dyed her black hair red. A doctor even operated on her nose to try to 'Aryanise' her features. Aided by an underground network of 16 Germans, she moved around different hiding places after dark. Her 13 months in hiding came to an abrupt end in the spring of 1944 when two men - Nazi collaborators - stopped her in the street and demanded her papers. They carried her away because she could not produce identification documents, and while on the way to the police station, she told them the truth. Margot Friedlander (fifth from right in the third row) is pictured with classmates at the Jewish Middle School in Berlin, around 1930 After saying 'I am Jewish', Margot says, she was 'reunited with the fate of my family and all other Jews'. She was deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto (in what is now the Czech Republic), a transit camp for sending people to their deaths further east. Recalling her experiences at Theresienstadt she said that she will never forget seeing the murders of 'old ladies who asked for a piece of bread'. At the camp, she reunited with Adolf Friedlander, 11 years her senior, who she knew from the administrative office of the Cultural Association in Berlin, where she had worked as a young woman. She recalled: 'I wasn't in love with Adolf. I needed time to become human again. It was the same for Adolf. The pain brought us closer together than being in love.' The couple married shortly after the camp had been liberated and began a new life together in Queens, New York, where she worked as a travel agent and seamstress. After Adolf died in 1997, Margot began writing her memoir, documenting her experiences in Germany during the war. She was also approached by a documentary filmmaker who convinced her to return to Berlin and tell her story on camera. The documentary 'Dont Call It Heimweh' was released in 2004 while her memoir followed four years later. The book's title - '"Try to Make Your Life": a Jewish Girl Hiding in Nazi Berlin' - immortalised her mother's plea from decades earlier. Around this time, Margot came to realise that she 'wasn't done with Berlin yet' and, in 2010 at the age of 88, she returned to the city of her birth permanently. Margot (left) with her younger brother Ralph and a cousin in 1937. Ralph was murdered in Auschwitz along with the rest of Margot's family Despite experiencing unimaginable horrors at the hands of her compatriots, and despite spending over 50 years in the US, she sees herself simply as a German and, as the magazine notes, she 'speaks without being bitter.' While many descendants of survivors are committed to carrying their parents' and grandparents' stories forward, no one working in Holocaust studies would dispute the fact that it will only become harder to refute denialists once the survivor generation has passed on. Margot speaks 'in the name of the victims who can no longer speak' but, as the cover text - the word 'Love' scrawled in her own handwriting - indicates, she tells her story not only to memorialise the past but in an effort to shape the future. She told the magazine: 'Don't look at what divides you. Look at what unites you. Be human beings. Be reasonable.' Dismayed by the rise of antisemitism in Germany and elsewhere, and alarmed by the traction gained by right-wing parties like Alternative for Germany, Margot has been sharing a version of that message with young people for years. Now part of a dwindling generatinon of survivors, she continues to travel around Germany to tell the story of her life and promote remembrance. In 2022, she addressed the European Union parliament on Holocaust Memorial Day. 'We must be vigilant and not look the other way as we did then,' she said. 'Hatred, racism and antisemitism must not be the last word in history.' 'Today, I see the memory of what happened being abused for political reasons, sometimes even derided and trampled all over,' she told lawmakers, according o Reuters. Margot (second from right) is pictured with family friends at Scharmutzelsee, which is located in Brandenburg in Germany Margot is pictured with a family friend at the summer resort at Scharmutzelsee in Brandenburg around 1937 Margot and husband Adolf on the ship to USA where they emigrated in 1946. When Margot's husband died in 1997, she thought it was time to return to Berlin Adolf Friedlander (right) is pictured with his parents and sister Ilse around 1915, when his father was serving as a soldier in the German army during WWI On January 27 2022, Margot addressed the European Union parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on Holocaust Memorial Day. She is seated next to President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola during the special plenary session to mark the international day of remembrance Margot was applauded for her speech in which she insisted that the future must not be dominated by 'hatred, racism and antisemitism' Pictured in 2019, Margot lights the first candle of the menorah at Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany. She is accompanied by Rabbi Schmuel Segal, nine-year-old Jewish child Noah Aberschanskij, Josef Schuster - president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany- and Rabbi Yehuda Teichtas Margot, who returned to Berlin, her city of birth, in 2010 is pictured at city's Hanukkah candle-lighting event in 2019 'Incredulous, I had to watch at the age of 100 years how symbols of our exclusion by the Nazis, such as the so-called "Judenstern," are shamelessly used on the open street by the new enemies of democracy, to present themselves - whilst living in the middle of a democracy - as victims,' she added, referring to anti-vaccine demonstrators pin yellow star badges to their clothes. Speaking to the New York Times, Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor in chief, referred to the 'political currents across Europe' and described Margot as 'a wonderful subject, and a meaningful one.' 'A modern Jewish settlement': How the Nazis tried to fool the world by turning a concentration camp into a fake town to convince Red Cross visitors the Holocaust was not happening It was a place of death and despair that was dressed up to look like a model town in a bid to fool others that one of the greatest atrocities in history did not happen. Months before the true horrors of the Holocaust were revealed the Nazi regime went to great lengths to try to convince the world they were not running concentration camps. And the Czech camp Theresienstadt became the location to try out the deception after representatives from the International Red Cross were invited to inspect it, with the cruel camp directors forcing the inmates to build fake homes and shops to con the delegation into thinking it was a town. Theresienstadt was a fortress built near Prague in the Bohemia region of Czechoslovakia between 1780 and 1790, named after the mother of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II who ordered its construction as part of a series of fort defences. By the 20th Century it had become obsolete and began being used as a jail for military and political prisoners. The gate at Theresienstadt (pictured) had a huge sign reading 'Arbeit Macht Frei', which translates as 'Work Sets You Free'. The phrase, which was also written above the entrance to Auschwitz extermination camp, was intended to fool the deportees into thinking that the sites were work camps But after Nazi Germany invaded it was taken over by the Gestapo in 1940 and turned into a Jewish ghetto, with a smaller fortress within the main building also used for political prisoners. From 1942 onwards tens of thousands of Jews were imprisoned at Theresienstadt, with the camp serving as a transit stop before they were moved on to extermination camps, including Auschwitz. To try to dispel rumours the camp was being used to exterminate prisoners, the Nazis presented it as a model Jewish settlement. In order to prepare for the visit, the inmates were 'screened' and around 200 of the more 'socially prominent' were transferred to two-bed rooms to make it appear they lived in relative comfort. On June 23, 1944, a delegation from the Danish and International Red Cross, including doctors and civil servants, was welcomed by an SS-appointed mayor who gave them a tour of the town. Many Jews had been deported to Auschwitz in preparation while remaining prisoners were ordered to clean up the area and build fake shops and cafes to imply those who lived there had access to everyday amenities. The delegation stayed in freshly decorated rooms in the prominent section of the camp for wealthy prisoners while they were also treated to a performance of a childrens opera written by an inmate. They were given a tour of the facilities based on a pre-determined route. Theresienstadt was a fortress built near Prague in the Bohemia region of Czechoslovakia between 1780 and 1790 Nazi officials asked questions to prisoners about their happiness along the way, with the inmates ordered to ignore any direct questions from the delegates. Despite the overwhelming censorship, the delegation was said to have left with a positive impression of Theresienstadt. It gave the Nazis impetus to produce a propaganda film nicknamed The Fuhrer Gives a Village to The Jews, directed by an experienced Jewish actor Kurt Gerron, who was also a prisoner. The shoot lasted 11 days in September 1944 but to ensure those who made it kept quiet, most of the cast were deported to Auschwitz while Gerron himself was executed in a gas chamber in October. It was intended to be widely distributed as a means to quell the allegations against concentration camps but although a few screenings were staged, the end of the war prevented its full release. Advertisement And, as the brooches on Margot's lapels indicate, she has received some of the highest honours awarded by the German government for her efforts, namely the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class and the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin. But if Margot is an esteemed educator and activist, she is also a fashion enthusiast with a love of opera - and the photoshoot for the July/August collector's edition of German Vogue celebrates her as much more than a Holocaust survivor. A photograph inside the magazine shows Margot dressed in a floral ensemble by Loro Piana while another image shows her wearing an outfit from her own stylish wardrobe. She continues to enjoy attending the opera and lives quite independently, rarely eating at the restaurant in her building because she prefers to whip herself up a fried egg at home after a busy day of campaigning. A grandmother, 63, and her 26-year-old toy boy lover have celebrated the upcoming birth of their first child with a gender reveal party - complete with confetti and smoke cannons revealing the sex of their unborn baby. Cheryl McGregor, from Rome, Georgia, is a mother-of-seven and a grandmother-of-17 who met the love of her life Quran McCain in 2012 when he was just 15 years old and she was 52. Years later, the two tied the knot and the pair's unlikely romance and large age gap quickly turned them into TikTok sensations. After spending years boasting about their love online, the couple revealed last year that they would be having a child via surrogacy, since Cheryl is unable to naturally conceive because of her age. Now, they have once again shared an update about their unicorn baby, while revealing heartwarming footage of themselves at their gender reveal. A grandmother, 63, and her 26-year-old toy boy lover have shared the gender of their baby as they celebrated the soon-to-be birth of their baby girl with confetti and smoke cannons In the clip, which has amassed over 2.6 million views, Cheryl can be seen sporting a pink dress with a sash that says, 'Mommy to be.' The lovebirds first try to pop a balloon to discover whether they will be having a girl or boy. However, when both blue and pink confetti came out of the balloon, they realized they were fooled by their loved ones and the real gender reveal was taking place outside. When the soon-to-be parents got outdoors, they each grabbed a smoke cannon. After setting them off, they discovered they would be having a baby girl. As soon as she saw the pink clouds of smoke in the air, the grandmother-of-17 began cheering loudly and jumping up and down as she grabbed onto her 26-year-old husband. The pair hugged each other tight as loved ones recorded the sweet moment. 'Wooo! Team girl,' Cheryl wrote at the end of the clip. Cheryl McGregor, from Rome, Georgia, is a mother-of-seven and a grandmother-of-17 who met the love of her life Quran McCain in 2012 when he was just 15 years old and she was 52 Now, they have shared an update about their unicorn baby as they uploaded footage of themselves at their gender reveal In the clip, which has amassed over 2.6 million views, the couple revealed they were expecting a little girl The video was captioned with: 'It's a girl.' People flooded the comments section and congratulated the couple on their road to parenthood. One person said: 'Aw a baby, Cheryl thats so sweet. Im so happy for you guys.' Another user added: 'You both are a cute couple. Age is just age. We see you both love each other unconditionally.' 'Aw, she looks so happy,' a different user commented. Someone else wrote: 'Congratulations queen, so excited for you guys.' However, others criticized the lovebirds due to their age difference. People flooded the comments section and congratulated the couple on their road to parenthood One user wrote: 'Aw, I hope she lives long enough to meet the baby.' Someone else commented: 'That poor child isn't going to have a mother.' Another person added: 'I dont know who is crazier, them two or the family members/ friends who support this.' 'This is wild,' said someone else. Two weeks ago, the couple gave fans another glimpse into their baby journey. In the update about their first child together, Quran said: 'We're back with another update and...' However, others criticized the lovebirds due to their age gap Cheryl then interrupted: 'We got pictures of our baby and [it] is starting to develop now. It looks like a baby now and it is so adorable.' The pair, who sat side-by-side on a park bench, could not control their smiles as Quran added: 'The best part is our baby is forming. It's healthy... 'We find out the gender next week and it's pretty amazing. I'm ready, like, y'all just don't know.' Remarking on reaching the second trimester, the father-to-be explained: 'We made it past that big milestone of risk and all that. Y'all will be seeing our surrogate soon.' The pair first met in 2012 - when Quran was just 15 years old - while they were working at the fast food chain Dairy Queen. But romantic feelings didn't blossom until much later. They lost contact but reconnected in 2020 when caretaker Quran saw Cheryl working as a cashier at a convenience store. Two weeks ago, the couple gave fans another glimpse into their baby journey by showcasing photos from a recent sonogram The unlikely couple have become TikTok sensations after sharing updates about their road to parenthood together Sparks instantly flew between the pair and they started dating. They then got married in 2021 after Quran proposed on a live stream with 20,000 people watching. Soon after the couple started dating, they began posting videos of themselves on TikTok and they have now become viral sensations on the platform because of their nearly four-decade age difference. The pair also set up an Only Fans account for their saucier content. Cheryl already has seven children and 17 grandchildren, but the couple said they 'feel they deserve children of their own.' Addressing their age gap, she previously shared: 'We understand that I may not be there for as long as Quran is, but I have faith in him. 'If I am not here, he can do it. He's gonna be a great father - he's a responsible adult. I had every bit of faith that he could raise our child, and do it very well. Sparks instantly flew between the pair after they reconnected in 2020 and they started dating. They got married in 2021 after Quran proposed on a live stream to 20,000 people The couple have regularly come under fire from trolls online due to their unconventional relationship - but that doesn't phase them 'Our family is also very supportive of our decision to have children. At first they were hesitant for the same reasons. 'However, now five of my children have come to accept the idea, and my mother-in-law and I make videos together.' The couple have regularly come under fire from trolls online due to their unconventional relationship - but that doesn't phase them. Quran previously said: 'People on social media have a lot of hate for us. They say I'm dating my grandmother. 'I am not. She is younger than my grandmother. We are no different from any other couple - love is love. 'We get a lot of hate, but it doesn't phase us. At the end of the day, we still got each other, and that's all that matters. 'No matter what they say or do, it can't hurt us. We know the stuff that they say isn't true, and they believe it. We feel sorry for them. 'We're happy and no matter what they say, we're not going to deflect on that.' An FBI pioneer revealed what really makes serial killers tick- and the crucial questions they must be asked to help prevent further crimes. Dr. Ann Burgess, 87, from Massachusetts, who revolutionized criminal profiling and applied her research to several serial killer investigations, is the subject of a three-part-docuseries Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer. Ann was working as a psychiatric nurse specializing in rape victimology in the 1970s when she was recruited by the FBI to help them understand the minds of violent sexual offenders and killers in order to catch them. The mother-of-four observed patterns of behavior by interviewing dozens of notorious killers and found most offenders had dealt with some kind of childhood trauma. Speaking to The Guardian, she said: 'They had always said that these guys had domineering mothers; what we found out is they had an absent father. Dr. Ann Burgess, 87, from Massachusetts, revealed what really makes serial killers tick- and the crucial questions they must be asked to help prevent further crimes 'You would have these young boys growing up where the mother is both parents and so, yes, it probably seemed to them that the mother was domineering but she had to handle both things. Who did he have as a model? Who did he look to learn about growing up as a male?' Ann said at the time the FBI were going into a crime scene and trying to figure out if it was 'organised or disorganised', but she wanted to change the questions they asked themselves when studying a scene. She wanted investigators to look out for 'different patterns' so they could create a profile of the perpetrator. She said: 'What was the gender of the person? What was the race of the person? What was the age? Did he work? Did he have any friends or was he married? All of those kinds of questions are what you need for a profile.' Ann said police interviews with suspects had been 'poorly structured', so she joined forces with Robert Ressler and John Douglas and contributed her knowledge of sex crimes and applied a proper research methodology to the project. Her research produced results and Ann developed a likely profile of the killer of two young boys, John Joseph Joubert IV, in Nebraska in 1983, who confessed to the murders and was later executed. She wrote in her 2021 book, A Killer by Design: 'We'd proven that there was value in understanding the criminal mind to be able to actually use criminal profiling in an active case to hunt down a killer was the most satisfying reward of all.' Ann interviewed dozens of notorious killers including Edmund Kemper The Co-Ed Killer, Dennis Rader BTK, Henry Wallace The Taco Bell Strangler and Jon Barry Simonis The Ski-Mask Rapist. Ann who revolutionized criminal profiling and applied her research to several serial killer investigations, is the subject of a three-part-docuseries Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer Ann interviewed dozens of notorious killers including Dennis Rader, BTK, the initials stand for 'Bind, Torture, Kill' Ann said that serial killers are 'bright' and their 'cognitions are better than average', stating more often than not they wanted to be caught. She revealed Ed Kemper, who killed his paternal grandparents as a young man and later murdered eight women, including his mother, actually gave himself up to police because he got 'bored with outsmarting them'. The FBI pioneer admitted that most killers were 'very charming' and usually would open up about their offences when told they were 'good' at their crimes asked 'what was it that worked?' Ann grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, in the 1950s, and made the choice to become a nurse after being inspired by three of her uncles who were all doctors. She attended Boston College to study nursing, where she did a psychiatric unit which piqued her interest in human behavior. Ann had spent 'many years' studying human behavior and frequently interviewed victims of crime, learning how to draw the right information out of them to help identify their attackers. The expert noted that she and her colleagues were often the first medical professionals to see victims after a crime, which put them in the best position to observe their behaviours and reactions. Ann (pictured) research produced results and Ann developed a likely profile of the killer of two young boys, John Joseph Joubert IV, in Nebraska in 1983, who confessed to the murders and was later executed Their findings were published in a 1973 article titled The Rape Victim in the Emergency Ward, suggesting that rape was more about power and control than sex She completed her dissertation research to become an assistant professor at Boston College in 1969, which lead to her meeting Lynda Lytle Holmstrom - a sociologist at Boston University. Holmstrom approached her with the idea of publishing a study about the victims of rape and sexual abuse, which was groundbreaking at the time since psychologists and law enforcement often disregarded such victims. 'The attitudes toward rape at the time were that it was not talked about, or, if it was, there was a blame-the-victim mentality,' she explained in an interview with Boston College. Working with the Boston City Hospital, the pair interviewed rape victims after they had been admitted, speaking with a total of 146 survivors in total who ranged in age from three to 73 over the course of a year. Their findings were published in a 1973 article titled The Rape Victim in the Emergency Ward, suggesting that rape was more about power and control than sex. They also highlighted how police, health institutions, and the criminal justice system treated victims of rape. Burgess and Holmstrom also urged for clinicians to be trained to recognise the signs of rape - particularly if patients don't mention an attack. Ann attended Boston College to study nursing, where she did a psychiatric unit which piqued her interest in human behavior Ann interviewed dozens of notorious killers including Edmund Kemper The Co-Ed Killer, Dennis Rader BTK, Henry Wallace The Taco Bell Strangler and Jon Barry Simonis The Ski-Mask Rapist The article caught the attention of the FBI in 1978, and the then-director William Webster reached out to ask for Burgess' help with rape victims and their attackers. Webster invited Burgess to the FBI academy to share her knowledge about rape victims and how talking to them helped track down their rapists. The series documents Burgess' recruitment by the FBI, and how she pioneered research on sexual assault and trauma in the 1970s and 1980s. At the time, the FBI was made up primarily of men, and sexual violence against women wasn't taken seriously. Burgess' research led her to a discovery which changed the way criminals are tracked down forever - by getting into the minds of the killers. The series documents the evolution of FBI's investigations in the Behavioral Science Unit and fine tuning the methodology to catching serial killers. This included listening to and analyzing interviews with serial killers including Ed Kemper, Ted Bundy, and 'Ski Mask Rapist' Jon Barry Simonis. As the nursing professor continued to listen to confessions and interact with the killers, she found patterns she had 'never noticed before,' and how her methodology for catching killers began to expand to cases around the US. Ann now sees the potential of AI to enhance criminal profiling by linking new cases to existing records. The docuseries, which is made by executive producers Elle and Dakota Fanning, is inspired by the 2021 book: A Killer by Design: Murders, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher Criminal Minds, which was co-written by Burgess and Connell School of Nursing Associate Director of Marketing and Communications Steven Constantine. Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer is out on Hulu in the US on 11 July and on Disney+ in the UK at a later date. The British model-turned-comedian behind new BBC comedy Spent has used her own life as inspiration for the show, including how she was made homeless as a teenager and the dark side of the fashion industry. Lewisham-born Michelle de Swarte, 43, left school at just 14 and found herself staying in Women's Aid shelters for victims of domestic abuse on more than one occasion while growing up. After winning fans with her no holds barred comedy shows, the ex-international model has penned Spent, which follows Mia Sinclair, a model forced to return to London from New York after the work dries up when she gets older. De Swarte says around '20 per cent' of the show is based on things that have happened in her own life, with Mia struggling, as she did, with being thrust into a high glamour world after growing up in poverty. Michelle de Swarte plays Mia Sinclair in the new BBC series Spent, released yesterday Michelle de Swarte left school at 14 years old before sitting her GCSEs. Above: Michelle on the runway in 2001 Earlier this year, De Swarte revealed to the Big Issue that she'd been forced to live in a shelter along with her brother and mother - and seven other families - when she was a teenager, saying she was terrified people would find out she was homeless. She moved into a shelter again when she was in her late teens, telling the Independent that this time it was because of her 'own relationship'. The aspiring model worked as a barmaid at the Prince of Wales pub in Clapham but her life changed when she was scouted at 19. Although she didn't make any money from modelling in London, that soon changed when a New York agency noticed her. Michelle, her brother and her mother lived in the shelter with seven other families and Michelle told the Big Issue that she was 'scared' other people would find out (pictured in 2022) De Swarte soon found herself walking the runway for Burberry, Gucci and Versace and spending money on expensive brunches, lavish hotel rooms and designer clothes. She was signed to Karin Models, which at the time was run by Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein. The 43-year-old recalled the moment she first met convicted sex offender Epstein at his Upper East Side mansion when she was stranded in New York City after 9/11. Epstein offered to fly out the models to join the runways in Milan, on the condition that he wanted to meet them all first. But Michelle declined his offer, adding that she got a bad feeling about him. She told the outlet: 'I've fared better than most, I'll say that. I'm lucky that my experience was very much on the periphery, and I wasn't affected by it too much.' She was signed to Karin Models, which at the time was run by Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) Michelle de Swarte in 2002 for the Betsey Johnson fashion show Michelle (pictured in 2008) speaks about the MeToo movement within the modelling industry and tells the Independent that 'creepy guys are 10 a penny' Brunel was found dead in his prison cell two years ago. He was awaiting trial for the rape of a minor. Michelle told The Times: 'None of us knew. You just had a feeling like, this seems weird. You do see it but you're constantly going, 'Are you seeing this?' and everyone around you is reassuring you it's normal. You're like, this isn't normal.' 'But at the time, what are you going to do? It's not always necessarily one big thing but lots of little things, and [looking back on it] you can join all the dots together.' However, none of the Epstein content makes it into the BBC show. Michelle speaks about the MeToo movement within the modelling industry and tells the Independent that 'creepy guys are 10 a penny.' Spent also touches on the movement as it shows a 15-year-old model being given cocaine and dancing with an older influential character. Her character Mia is queer and was raised by a Jewish mother on a council estate in Brixton, like Michelle Michelle also touches on colourism during her career as a Black model in the early noughties, adding that she has experienced 'a lot of racism' in the industry. She told the outlet that there would only be one Black model per show and she would often be picked due to her 'proximity to whiteness.' Her character Mia, who is queer and was raised by a Jewish mother on a council estate in Brixton like Michelle, also experiences this in the show. She comes across a casting call asking for an 'ethnically ambiguous' model which had the description 'not white but not too black,' with Michelle claiming she saw many advertisements like this during this time. Struggling with cashflow, adding that she 'spent money like it was on fire,' she came back to the UK after two decades working abroad with 'not much to show for it.' Michelle ended up in homeless accommodation in her thirties and it is a constant theme throughout the show. She told the Big Issue: 'I was technically homeless but didn't realise it. 'I didn't understand the severity of my situation. I was staying at people's houses, but I did it for a few years. 'Someone had to tell me I was homeless. They told me sort of as a joke. I was keeping up the pretence that I was 'travelling', but I was only meant to stay with my friend for a few days and had my whole life with me.' Michelle was homeless whilst she was out in LA, whereas her character Mia finds herself staying at other people's houses in London. The model moved home in 2019 because of her living situation and says Katherine Ryan helped start up her acting career after they met in the stand-up comedian scene. She went on to star in the Netflix show, The Duchess, along with a Sky comedy, The Baby, before making her own series with the BBC. A popular clothing company has sparked fierce backlash after debuting an 'I heart Ozempic' shirt at Berlin Fashion Week. Namilia, a 'provocative gender-neutral clubwear' brand beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, Cardi B, Megan Fox, and Paris Hilton, is facing severe criticism online after it showcased some of its new items during a runway show in Germany last week. Among its latest designs was a white tank top that had the words 'I heart Ozempic' sprawled across the front - and many social media users were unhappy with the message. After Namilia shared a snap of a model wearing the clothing item on Instagram, it was quickly flooded with angry comments from people who branded the brand as 'cringe' and 'distasteful' for promoting the Type-2 diabetes drug-turned-popular weight loss aid. 'Poor taste with the shirt, SMH (shaking my head),' one outraged user wrote. A popular clothing company has sparked fierce backlash after debuting 'I heart Ozempic' shirt at Berlin Fashion Week Namilia, a 'provocative gender-neutral clubwear' brand, is facing severe criticism online after it showcased some of its new items during a runway show in Germany last week Among its latest designs was a white tank top that had the words 'I heart Ozempic' sprawled across the front - and many social media users were unhappy with the message Another scathed, 'I believe there's nothing to joke about when talking about the abuse of Ozempic for the sake of being extremely skinny.' 'Ozempic T-shirt is a GIANT no. People are dying from Ozempic shortage. Do better,' someone else added. 'Ew, where have your morals gone?' a different user asked. 'So disappointed to see y'all endorse 2000s fatphobia and skinny culture,' a fifth comment read. A sixth said, 'I've never blocked or unfollowed someone so fast.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Namilia for comment. While describing its latest collection, Namilia explained on social media that it partnered with Ed Hardy to 'reimagine its iconic status in celebrity culture' and 'transform archive and vintage garments into couture gowns and elevating streetwear pieces with handcrafted embroidery and couture tailoring.' 'Together we explore the lifecycle of fame and the pop cultural landscape of the '00s and early 2010s, a decade defined by paparazzi shots and ruthless tabloid gossip and its cultural impact on us today,' it wrote. After Namilia shared a snap of a model wearing the clothing item on Instagram, it was quickly flooded with angry comments from people who branded the brand as 'cringe' and 'distasteful' 'Everyone wants to be famous, and anyone can reproduce their likeness via social media, inviting the same adoring worship and cutthroat criticism that were once reserved only for the tabloids. 'Being famous, with all its glamour and destruction, can feel so attainable nowadays. 'We are obsessed with this cycle of rising and falling that turns stars into victims, especially for women. 'We worship the diva and shun the w**** as the limelight inevitably wears down her decadence into decay. 'While pop culture supposedly shames those who fall out of public grace, their spectacle also inspires the next generation. 'Namilia asks why pop culture pushes us to our breaking points for recognition, attention and some kind of belonging? 'Why does society desperately categorize us into stereotypes only to be disappointed when we fail to fully live up to these impossible standards?' Namilia was created in 2015 by designers Nan Li and Emilia Pfohl, and is 'built upon an aesthetic of unapologetic, bold political statements and sex-positivity,' according to its website. The company behind Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, recently confessed that it was struggling to keep up with the high demand (stock image) Namilia was created in 2015 by designers Nan Li and Emilia Pfohl and is 'built upon an aesthetic of unapologetic, bold political statements and sex-positivity,' according to its website Other shirts in the new collection say things like, 'Fame kills,' 'Too pretty for rehab,' and, 'Fashion faux pas' Other shirts in the new collection say things like, 'Fame kills,' 'Too pretty for rehab,' and, 'Fashion faux pas.' Ozempic, a diabetes medication taken via injection once a week, has shot up in popularity in recent years after it was revealed that it can also help people slim down. Hundreds of thousands of people have rushed to get their hands on it, and even a slew of stars have confessed to using the drug to lose weight, including Chelsea Handler and Elon Musk. But the company behind it, Novo Nordisk, recently confessed that it was struggling to keep up with the high demand. Namilia co-founder Nan defended the shirt to The New York Post amid the backlash, explaining, 'The Ozempic craze for us has been played out in a double standard in pop culture. 'On one side, celebrities and their followers are willing to do anything they can to fit the still prevalent super slim body ideal in pop culture. 'But on the other side, nobody is willing to admit to abusing medication to meet the often unrealistic expectations of current beauty standards.' Pregnant Gypsy Rose Blanchard has opened up about the fierce mood swings and emotional outbursts she's experienced while expecting her first child - and vowed to be 'everything her mother wasn't' as she detailed how her childhood would impact the way she raised her son or daughter. The Munchausen-by-proxy victim, 32, announced that she was expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Ken Urker, in a video shared to her YouTube channel on Tuesday morning. In the nine-minute-long clip, the felon opened up about everything from the pregnancy symptoms she's endured so far to how she planned to use what she went through as a child to be a better parent. While discussing her pregnancy, Gypsy, who was released from prison in December after serving seven years behind bars for her part in the killing of her abusive mother, Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard, explained that looking back, there was one major change in her body that she completely overlooked at first: cravings. She revealed that she suddenly started wanting orange juice all the time, but didn't think anything of it at first. Pregnant Gypsy Rose Blanchard has opened up about the fierce mood swings and emotional outbursts she's experienced while expecting her first child The Munchausen-by-proxy victim, 32, announced that she was expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Ken Urker, in a video shared to her YouTube channel on Tuesday morning 'The first thing that I noticed was the cravings. I craved orange juice, and orange juice was not something I craved on a daily basis before,' the 32-year-old dished. 'So when I started craving orange juice was just like, "OK. I guess I want orange juice. I didn't think anything of it."' She explained that she soon started experiencing 'insatiable hunger' and recalled wanting to 'eat everything.' 'I really went on a binge and just started eating everything,' she continued. 'And then of course I missed my period.' But Gypsy said she still didn't think she was pregnant because her doctor previously had 'tested her fertility' and had expressed concern over her ability to ovulate regularly. She shared, 'I had seen my OBGYN and I had tested my fertility and she was like, "We're probably going to have to put you on fertility meds or something to make you ovulate because you're not ovulating on a regular." 'I had that appointment a month [before] so when I missed my period I thought I was just having issues with ovulation.' But after discussing her symptoms with Ken, Gypsy said he encouraged her to take a pregnancy test - and she was stunned when it came back positive. In the nine-minute-long clip, the felon opened up about the pregnancy symptoms she's endured so far, which included cravings, being extra emotional, and feeling extremely tired She also vowed to be 'everything her mother wasn't' as she detailed how her childhood would impact the way she raised her son or daughter. She's seen as a kid with her mom Gypsy revealed that she's now 11 weeks along, and admitted that she's since started suffering from 'crazy mood swings.' 'Poor Ken,' she joked. 'If he breathes wrong I am just [furious]. Pregnancy is not easy with the mood swings, but he's been very gracious and very forgiving about it.' She also confessed to being extremely emotional, recalling a recent time that she burst into tears over the song Let Her Go by Passenger after it came on the radio. 'That song had never made me so emotional [before], but I was just in tears,' she said. She also said she was 'always tired' - but added that she was 'very blessed' that her morning sickness hadn't been too bad. And despite her intense emotions, she branded her pregnancy as a 'breeze' so far. 'It's been completely manageable,' she insisted. 'I know it's still going to be a long journey ahead but I'm up for it.' Throughout the video, Gypsy also addressed people who may feel she's 'not ready to be a mother.' 'I don't know if anyone's really ready to become a mother,' she said. 'But I feel a shift in myself, when I found out I was pregnant nothing else mattered. 'The drama on social media... that didn't matter anymore. All that matters is making sure I'm healthy and the baby's healthy.' While she admitted that the pregnancy was 'completely unexpected,' she said she was 'very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood.' Gypsy spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after her mom, Dee Dee, convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy In 2015, Gypsy (left) let her besotted internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn (right), creep into their Springfield, Missouri, home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death 'It's an amazing feeling when your whole world shifts and suddenly it's not about you, it's not about anything other than the tiny little life that's inside of you that you are now in charge of protecting,' she gushed. 'That tiny little life is a baby, a little tiny human that's yours and you have to make sure you protect, love, and take care of it - all of the things I wished I could have had when I was little.' Gypsy began to get emotional as she spoke about how her horrific upbringing would affect her outlook on motherhood. 'All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby,' she stated. 'I just want to be a good mother to my child, I want to be everything my mother wasn't.' Gypsy said the pregnancy has given her 'freedom in a way she never expected,' and a newfound peace on 'everything that has ever happened to her.' 'It doesn't matter because it all lead to me to be who I am today,' she concluded. 'It all lead me to this moment right here right now.' Gypsy spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after mom Dee Dee shaved her daughter's head, pumped her full of drugs and convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy. 'All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby,' Gypsy said in the video. 'I just want to be a good mother to my child, I want to be everything my mother wasn't' While in prison, she bonded with Ken after he sent her a letter; they started corresponding and things soon turned romantic, with him proposing in 2018. They ultimately split but got back together earlier this year Their 'inseparable' bond ended when Gypsy burst free of her warped mom's control in 2015 by letting her besotted internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, creep into their Springfield, Missouri, home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death. She ultimately plead guilty to second-degree murder and spent nearly a decade locked up before she was granted early parole and released in late December. While in prison, she bonded with Ken after he sent her a letter; they started corresponding and things soon turned romantic, with him proposing in 2018. But after the Hulu show The Act - which starred Joey King as Gypsy and Patricia Arquette as her mother - premiered a few months later and put an intense spotlight on Gypsy's story, she admitted in her memoir that Ken couldn't handle all the sudden attention. They ultimately split and she moved on with Ryan Scott Anderson, and they wed in July 2022. Ryan was by her side when she was freed - but just three months later, news hit the web that they had split. Soon after, it was reported that Gypsy had reconciled with her ex, Ken. The King and Queen of Denmark have retired to their summer palace in Graasten for the first time since being crowned. Frederik X, 56, and his wife Mary, 52, were mobbed by waiting fans as they made their annual appearance at Graasten Palace, in Jutland, southern Denmark - the home of many of their family portraits. The King and Queen - who ascended to the throne on January 14, 2024 - attended the summer retreat for the first time as reigning monarchs, and the delightful occasion was well received by royal fans. The couple looked just as thrilled, as it seemed they couldn't keep their hands off of each other; with Frederik at one point gently placing a hand on his wife's back. They were all smiles as they posed for cameras - despite their marriage being plagued with rumours of marital struggles since the King was pictured out in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova last year. The King and Queen of Denmark were all smiles as they paid visit to their summer palace in Graasten. The happy couple couldn't keep their hands off of each other During today's outing, the Queen took hold of various flower bouquets from well wishers. The royal couple were also welcomed by the mayor Erik Lauritzen. Mary cut a classy figure in a white summer gown decorated with a green floral pattern and short puffed sleeves. She teamed the look with a pair of nude open toe heels, which she stylishly matched with the same colour hat. Her accessories of choice were a pair of drop down pearl earrings and gold bracelets. Her chestnut tresses were styled in loose waves and tucked delicately behind her ears, while her make-up was perfect for the occasion as she sported a dewy base, a glamorous smokey eye and a rose-pink lip. Meanwhile the King looked suave in a sharp navy blue suit, a crisp white shirt and a blue striped tie. He left his blazer unbuttoned and donned a stylish pair of black loafers to finish. According to a post made by the royal house's official Instagram page, Their Majesties descended upon a nearly one kilometre walk to the palace, where they greeted citizens of Graasten. Adults and children alike waved Danish flags and held out camera phones hoping to catch a glimpse of the monarchs. The walk to Graasten palace in Southern Jutland forms part of a 90-year tradition that sees the royal family gather together for a private summer retreat. It seemed the couple couldn't keep their hands off of each other; with Frederik at one point gently placing a hand on his wife's back The Queen took hold of various flower bouquets from well wishers Frederik X, 56, and his wife Mary, 52, were mobbed by waiting fans They were also welcomed by the mayor Erik Lauritzen (centre) and the public as they arrived in Graasten The King and Queen were photographed chatting with each other The outing comes as the King and Queen of Denmark looked to be in high spirits as they were welcomed to Igaliku village on the second week of their trip to Greenland. They were all smiles as they chatted with wellwishers, and were greeted with people holding Danish and local flags, with stunning rolling green hills in the background. Frederik and his wife grinned for photos in matching waterproof ensembles as they explored the south of the island. The Royals' Instagram account revealed that the couple arrived yesterday and spent the night in the region, where Norse explorer Erik the Red's ship arrived more than 1,000 years ago. The couple walked to the village along the Kongevejen - a gravel road that takes you from Itilleq to Igaliku, named after Frederik IX who visited in 1952, and is renowned for its stunning views. Both looked ready for action in hiking ensembles as they trekked along the countryside. Mary showed off her sporty style in deep green trousers, teamed with a chic cream button-up. Her hair was first styled in loose waves, but the Queen later threw her hair up into a bun. Meanwhile, Frederik donned black hiking trousers and a light brown hoodie for the outing. Here, Queen Mary was spotted tending to a young child who appeared to have crossed into the road Mary cut a classy figure in a white summer gown decorated with a green floral pattern and short puffed sleeves The Royal's make-up was perfect for the occasion as she sported a dewy base, a glamorous smokey eye and a rose-pink lip The King and Queen - who ascended to the throne on January 14, 2024 - attended the summer retreat for the first time as reigning monarchs The pair initially sported matching pullovers - Mary's in a forest green and Frederik's in khaki - but took them off as the temperatures warmed. The Danish royals have been travelling around Greenland since last week. Yesterday, Mary visited a sustainable Naasut institution for children in Nuuk, which translates to 'flower' in Greenlandic. The summer break comes following a turbulent year for the Danish monarchy which included rumours King Frederik had had an affair (which were strenuously denied) and Queen Margrethe's shock new year abdication. King Frederik's night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid last autumn rocked the monarchy. Snaps of the pair showed them heading to a traditional Flamenco restaurant in the Spanish capital, where Genoveva lives, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they dined together until the early hours. Following publication of the photos, rumours of an affair between the pair circulated - which were strenuously denied by Genoveva. However cracks begun to appear in Queen Mary and King Frederik's relationship following his night out with Genoveva and the couple, who have been married for 20 years, displayed frosty body language towards each other in public appearances. But as the royal pair headed off to their summer break, it appeared to be smiles all around. Feature: Chinese firm helps transform Kenya's construction sector through precast technology Xinhua) 10:22, July 09, 2024 NAIROBI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- About 30 km southeast of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, China Wu Yi (Kenya) Precast Company Limited has built an expansive factory for new building technologies, causing ripples in the local construction sector. The company in 2016 established the Kenya Building Industrialization Research Development and Production Base alongside the building materials supermarket project called "Wu Yi Base" in the industrial town of Athi River. The Wu Yi Base is an architectural marvel nestled between serene plains and farmland. For the past several years, the factory has been churning out precast materials, including concrete slabs, steel beams, and columns, for assembly into a modern house. Inside the sprawling complex that houses the production base, a supermarket for building materials, and living quarters, local youth like Brian Calisto Kariuki have secured gainful employment, a platform to gain insight into precast building technology. A geospatial engineering major, the 30-year-old joined China Wu Yi in 2017 to work at the precast building materials factory and has risen through the ranks to become an assistant manager at the firm. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Kariuki noted that with precast technology readily available, a developer only has to assemble columns and slabs on site to construct a house; the technology shortens the time and maintains good quality. "When you do precast, you can do four floors in a month. So you save time and money. You can control the quality of the concrete," said Kariuki. "Another advantage is that it is all-weather, so whether it is raining or sunny, you can still do precast." To date, China Wu Yi has constructed landmark buildings using precast technology, including the Central Bank of Kenya pension towers and the Rose Avenue shopping center building in Nairobi, Kariuki said. He credited his Chinese supervisor for mentorship that has improved his technical and managerial skills, adding that precast technology has revolutionized the construction sector. At the China Wu Yi Base, the design, manufacture, display, and sale of assembled precast components are carried out seamlessly to help meet growing demand. With the capacity to design and produce 50,000 cubic meters of prefabricated components annually, the Wu Yi Base targets developers aiming to set up multi-story apartments and detached houses within a short duration and at a reasonable budget. Senior officials from regulatory agencies have been visiting the Wu Yi Base, appreciating the prefabrication technology amid its huge contribution to Kenya's industrial progress and economic modernization. Meanwhile, during the production of these precast components, China Wu Yi has been controlling dust pollution and wastage of raw materials such as sand and cement. "The prefabricated assembly building realizes minimum damage to the environment caused by the construction project and effectively carries out the concept of green, low-carbon, and environmental protection," said Shi Zuliang, deputy general manager of the company. Next to China Wu Yi's precast production factory, the Coloho Mall home furnishing and building materials exhibition and sales center has been serving clients in Kenya and across the East African region. At the Coloho Mall, China Wu Yi has introduced more than 20 brands of Chinese building materials and home furnishings, such as ceramic tiles, sanitary ware, hardware tools, lanterns, and home furnishings, into the Kenyan market. For local employees like Mercy Wambui, a 30-year-old marketer, both the precast factory and one-stop shop for building materials have fulfilled the dream of homeownership among Kenyans through access to affordable and high-quality building materials. Wambui noted that in the future, she looked forward to enhanced China-Kenya cooperation in the manufacturing and housing sectors to spur the growth of the local economy, technology transfer, and job creation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) She also asked for a $600 stroller and a $400 bassinet Her registry was filled with some very costly products including a $500 crib Pregnant Gypsy Rose Blanchard has asked for a slew of extremely pricey items on her baby registry - including a $600 stroller and $530 crib, despite her estimated net worth of $3 million. The Munchausen-by-proxy victim, 32, announced that she was expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Ken Urker, in a video posted to her YouTube channel on Tuesday morning. Moments later, she uploaded a link to the list of items that she was hoping to receive for her upcoming arrival on her Instagram Stories - and the registry was filled with some very costly products. The most expensive item on her registry was the $600 Chicco Modular Travel System, which includes a stroller and infant car seat. In second was Sorelle's Princeton Elite Panel Crib and Changer, which costs a whopping $529. Pregnant Gypsy Rose Blanchard asked for a slew of pricey items on her baby registry - including a $600 stroller and $530 crib, despite her net worth being estimated at $3 million The Munchausen-by-proxy victim, 32, announced that she was expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Ken Urker, in a video posted to her YouTube channel on Tuesday morning She then uploaded a link to the list of items that she was hoping to receive for her upcoming arrival on her Instagram Stories - and the registry was filled with very costly products In addition, Gypsy's registry contained a $320 monitor, a $270 baby swing, a $250 rocking chair, and a $215 diaper bag. The expecting mom also asked for not one, but two different bassinets - which both cost more than $300. The first, a $330 bassinet from the brand Graco 'detects and responds to baby's cries to help sooth it back to sleep,' per its listing. 'The head-to-toe, soothing motion is gradual and includes varying speeds to help baby get back to sleep,' a description reads. 'Three different motion speeds are included to provide the right pace to fit baby's preference.' Gypsy also listed another bassinet from the company priced at $400, which offers the same technology but is less portable. Also on the registry was a $69 set of wooden alphabet blocks, another stroller from Baby Jogger for $430, and a Diaper Genie trash can that's priced at $240. Some slightly less pricey items on the list included a $23 wooden stacking toy from Melissa & Doug and a $15 healthcare kit, the latter of which comes with a medicine syringe, nasal aspirator, thermometer, toothbrush, and alcohol wipes. The most expensive item on her registry was the $600 Chicco Modular Travel System, which includes a stroller and infant car seat Another item was the Sorelle's Princeton Elite Panel Crib and Changer, which costs a whopping $529 In addition, Gypsy's registry contained a $270 baby swing (left), a $250 rocking chair (center), and a $215 diaper bag (right) Also on the registry was a $69 set of wooden alphabet blocks (seen), another stroller from Baby Jogger for $430, and a Diaper Genie trash can that's priced at $240 Gypsy seems to be a huge Star Wars fan as she requested only one piece of clothing for her impending arrival - a Baby Yoda onesie and matching hat set that costs $17. She also listed a Baby Yoda-themed 'security blanket' and door sign that says 'child sleeping' on it. In addition, the 32-year-old asked for numerous boxes of diapers and wipes; there's also the option to contribute to her 'diaper fund' or to send a 'Babylist gift card' for any amount of your choosing. Every single item on her registry has been purchased. Back in January, it was reported that Gypsy's net worth was about $3 million thanks to her Lifetime docuseries, Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup; her e-book, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom; and her social media fame. Gypsy - who is set to release a memoir, entitled My Time to Stand, later this year - has become a massive online sensation since she left prison in December. She has racked up more than 9.8 million followers on TikTok and 210,000 on Instagram, and has participated in a slew of TV appearances. She shared the news that she was expecting via YouTube on Tuesday morning, revealing that she's 11 weeks along and that the baby is due in January 2025. While she admitted that the pregnancy was 'completely unexpected,' she said she was 'very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood.' 'It's an amazing feeling when your whole world shifts and suddenly it's not about you, it's not about anything other than the tiny little life that's inside of you that you are now in charge of protecting,' she gushed. The expecting mom also asked for not one, but two different bassinets - which both cost over $300 Gypsy seems to be a huge Star Wars fan as she requested only one piece of clothing for her impending arrival - a Baby Yoda onesie and matching hat set that costs $17 She also listed a Baby Yoda-themed 'security blanket' and door sign that says 'child sleeping' on it Some slightly less pricey items on the list included a $23 wooden stacking toy from Melissa & Doug (left) and a $15 healthcare kit (right) 'That tiny little life is a baby, a little tiny human that's yours and you have to make sure you protect, love, and take care of it - all of the things I wished I could have had when I was little.' Gypsy got emotional as she spoke about how her horrific upbringing would impact the way she raised her son or daughter. 'All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby,' she shared. 'I just want to be a good mother to my child, I want to be everything my mother wasn't.' She said the pregnancy had given her 'freedom in a way she never expected,' and a newfound peace on 'everything that has ever happened to her.' 'It doesn't matter because it all lead to me to be who I am today,' she concluded. 'It all lead me to this moment right here right now.' Gypsy spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after mom, Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard, shaved her daughter's head, pumped her full of drugs and convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy. Their 'inseparable' bond ended when Gypsy burst free of her warped mom's control in 2015 by letting her besotted internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, creep into their Springfield, Missouri, home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death. She ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and spent nearly a decade locked up before she was granted early parole and released in late December. A Canadian expat has exposed the 'ugly' solution Australians have come up with to battle the biting cold Down Under. Alexandra Tuohey, who now lives in Victoria, was shocked when she realised the 'coldest [she] had ever felt' was living in a Melbourne share house in July despite coming from the notoriously icy Canada. 'Australian homes are so cold that they actually invented their own type of clothing to survive the winter: indoor thermal wear,' she said in a video. 'Almost all homes [in Canada] have central heating [that] wouldn't go off all winter. The homes are well insulated, though, so it retains heat better,' she added. Alexandra identified three items essential to surviving an Australian winter indoors: an Oodie, Ugg boots, and a Kathmandu puffer jacket. 'The Oodie may be the ugliest thing you've seen anyone put on their body but it's vital to survive winter,' the expat said. Oodies are wearable blankets with hoods and a large pouch in the front. The loungewear is particularly handy in Australia where most homes are colder indoors than outside during the winter. '[The Oodie] will cause you to sweat uncontrollably unless you are in a room which is 15C or less - which means it's the perfect accessory to ensure you don't develop pneumonia this winter in Australia,' Alexandra said. Alexandra identified three items essential to surviving an Australian winter indoors: an Oodie, Ugg boots, and a Kathmandu puffer jacket Alexandra said Aussies also need to protect their feet from the cold - which is where Ugg boots come in. 'As a Canadian, I did not understand the Ugg boot. It wasn't warm enough to wear outside and my home was warm so I wasn't going to wear it inside. However, it's the perfect shoe to wear inside a cold, cold Australian home,' she said. Alexandra's third and final winter must-have accessory is the Kathmandu puffer jacket. 'Originally designed to go camping or hiking, it has been repurposed by Australians to wear any time they cannot wear their Oodie,' she said. 'So to go to work, or to someone else's cold house - the puffer jacket is the most appropriate thing you can wear.' John Pabon, an American sustainability consultant from Melbourne, previously told Daily Mail Australia: 'When Australians complain about their houses being cold during the winter, they're not just having a whinge, it's scientifically proven. 'The World Health Organisation consistently ranks Australian homes as some of the coldest in the world. 'They have a metric that says for a house to be considered not cold it has to be above 18C inside. Well, Aussie houses, they totally miss the mark.' Alexandra dubbed the Ugg boot the 'perfect' Australian winter shoe Many Australians agreed with Alexandra's assessment. 'I'm wearing my Uggs and avocado Oodie right now,' one said. Another added, 'Love my Oodie. They sell Oodie pants now too.' 'The puffer jacket, otherwise known as the Tassie tuxedo. We wear them to work, funerals... everywhere,' a man wrote. 'I come home from work and take off my Kathmandu puffer and put on my Oodie and Uggs,' another confirmed. As Buddhists celebrate the first teachings of The Buddha (which he delivered to a small group of companions around 2,500 years ago), we see how words can echo through the ages. Although there's no guarantee that divine inspiration will have such a world-changing effect today, as the Sun's link with Saturn (the cosmic teacher) begins to peak, we've all got the authority to make a difference. Need to know your more? These spookily accurate birth charts, based on your unique birth placements will tell you everything you need to know. Simply enter your birth details and receive a completely Personal Birth Chart made just for you. Read more horoscopes from MailOnline. OSCAR CAINER: As Buddhists celebrate the first teachings of The Buddha (which he delivered to a small group of companions around 2,500 years ago), we see how words can echo through the ages ARIES March 21 - April 20 Whether we're scrolling on social media or watching TV, we're influenced by carefully created stories that give us false impressions of people's lives. We compare ourselves with what we see on screen - and think we come up short. So, when we find ourselves feeling down-hearted or bored, we consider ourselves as failing. No one says it's right to sometimes be wrong. Or that it's OK to be ordinary. Under these powerful skies, if you want to make a change in your world, begin by accepting that who you are, right now, is perfect. Give me your date of birth and I will tell you something wonderful about your future. Download your personal horoscope here. TAURUS April 21 - May 21 When something comes to an end, something new begins. And when something begins, it will inevitably, eventually come to an end. So, in a weird way, beginnings are just as sad as endings; and endings are just as happy as beginnings! Happiness and sadness might be opposite sides of the same coin, but they tend to blend into one another; in order to fully experience happiness, we need to have experienced sadness. With your ruler preparing to move into sunny Leo, the happy side of the coin is facing up in your world. Find out what the planets have in store for you. Instantly download your Year Ahead chart. Now! Click here! GEMINI May 22 - June 22 If only 'that' hadn't happened, 'this' would have occurred. If 'that' person hadn't made that decision, you wouldn't be dealing with the consequences. We fall into a 'cause and effect' mindset so easily we don't notice we're doing it. Yet more often than not, there's no evidence that one thing leads to another. A degree of supposition is always involved. So, that takes us to the situation you're dealing with. Rather than blaming anyone/anything for how things are, trust that things will change. That's the one thing you can be certain about! Now is the right time for you to take an in-depth, up close and personal look at your life. To get your full horoscope based on your date, time and place of birth, click here. CANCER June 23 - July 23 The reason eureka-type flashes of sudden revelation are so few and far between is that valuable ideas have a plant-like quality. When they're growing and developing in our minds, we don't pay them much attention. Then suddenly, a shoot pops up. Or a flower blooms. The challenge is about how we respond to the ta-dah moment. If we react, without being aware of the fact that we've been cogitating for a while, we can respond too hastily and limit our success. Today, you start to profit from a hard-won realisation. Take it gently. Reveal the astrological secrets of the coming year, today. For a complete set of totally personal predictions, download 'Your Guide to the Future'. LEO July 24 - August 23 If you glow with pride when you receive praise, how do you react when you receive criticism? Do you shrink into a gloomy place? Or do you go into self-defence mode, and inwardly bristle with indignation? Of course you'd like validation for your recent achievements. You don't expect a medal. But you do expect some kind of appreciation. As your ruler, the Sun, links with Saturn, the cosmic teacher, if you award yourself the gratitude you deserve, you'll start to glow. And when you feel good, good things come your way. To find out what the planets have in store for you over the coming, critical next few months, download your Guide to the Future, now. VIRGO August 24 - September 23 With everything you've been doing you must feel as if you've been through a washing machine cycle. You've come out the other side, but the spinning has left you crumpled and a bit pulled out of shape. Emotions that have been safely locked away inside you have made their way to the surface. And your usual way of dealing with things seems to have been washed away. What's going on? Is there a rhyme and reason to this? Absolutely! Today brings such an encouraging sign that you'll see why it's all been worthwhile. Want to know what the coming year has in store? Let me calculate your full personal horoscope from your exact date, time and place of birth. Click here! LIBRA September 24 - October 23 Librans are famous for their peace-making skills. So the fact you're feeling confrontational is taking everyone (including you) by surprise. Yet when you're dealing with a situation that matters to you, and the behaviour of some of the people involved is bewildering, it's only right that you question what's going on. But go gently. Since you're out of your comfort zone, it's easy to overreact. And you don't need to provoke a showdown. You just want to understand people's motives. With awareness, you'll gain the clarity you need. A powerful cosmic climate is working in your favour right now. You can make a positive transformation and achieve what youve been hoping for. A personal birth-chart report will tell you whats really possible... and when and how. Download yours now! SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 All languages have taboo words and unacceptable phrases. When you think about it, it's strange how a particular arrangement of letters can be considered offensive, or cause such harm. Although we say that words can't hurt us like weapons, they have the power to do a lot of damage. So, watch your language today. I'm not suggesting you'll say anything 'wrong' to anyone. It's those innocuous words, which we say to ourselves, that need censoring. They include 'if only'. And 'should'. Talk about (and do) what inspires you today. Discover your inner light, the one that shines regardless of the weather in your 'Guide to the Future'. SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21 "And you're always there to lend a hand in everything I do, that's the wonder, the wonder of you." It's a lyric from one of Elvis' hits. But who, in your world, might be inclined to express this sentiment to you? More people than you think! You go out of your way to help others. You're a loyal friend and a natural encourager. Now, once you've got over the embarrassment of imagining being sung to, let's spin it round. Who, in your world, deserves such recognition from you? If you voice your gratitude, you'll make someone's day. Learn the hidden secrets of the planets and how they affect your life and shape your future. These spookily accurate birth charts, based on your unique birth placements will tell you everything you need to know Start your journey of self-discovery here! CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20 There are good people in your world. Over time, you've created special connections with folk you can count on for friendship and support. You might not see some of them very often. You might have lost touch. Or just be in occasional contact. But you know who you can call on for certain kinds of assistance, and are pleased to offer support if they need help. As the Sun links to your ruler, your ability to respond to someone in need is highlighted. Don't worry if you're called to act 'out of character'. You're doing the right thing. Now, do you want to know more about whats going to happen to you, when its going to happen and why? Get yourself a full, spookily accurate horoscope birth-chart report, and youll find out. Download your Birth Chart report here! AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19 We might think we know what 'success' looks like, but it's harder to define than we think. Most of us think it's attained by accomplishing what we set out to achieve. But it can't be that; after all we manage to fulfil lots of different tasks, all the time; the fact that they're not particularly inspirational doesn't mean we're not being successful. You're feeling frustrated because a plan isn't going the way you want it to go. But that's not because it's going wrong. It's going better! As long as you're prepared to adapt, success is guaranteed. There are powerful changes in store for you soon. What are they? How can you best prepare for them? Find out in a full horoscope birth-chart. It's full of amazing predictions about you and your future. Get yours now. PISCES February 20 - March 20 Your life isn't like the lives of the characters you see on TV or read about in books. No one has the same reactions and responses as you. And none of the storylines perfectly reflect your daily routine. Or mine. Or anyone else's. Why? Because writers inject extra drama to encourage us to watch! Could you be making an unfair comparison, and undermining your achievements? You're not living a fantasy. You're a human, doing your best. If you need more drama in your world, you can find it. But you could, instead, just relax. Wish you could fulfil more of your potential? A Personal Profile, based on your exact date of birth, reveals your secret gifts and blessings. Click here! A young Australian woman has revealed the terrifying reality of trying to make new friends as an adult. Grace, a paramedic from Melbourne, is used to keeping cool in high-pressure situations but when it comes to making friends her palms start to sweat. And she's not alone, Millennials and Gen Zs have revealed meeting new people gives them crippling anxiety. Grace found herself needing to expand her circle when many of her friends started moving into the next phase of their lives by getting married and having babies. Now the 30-year-old has realised just how difficult meeting new people can be as an adult. While it was an easy 'norm' for older generations, it's something Millennials and Gen Z struggle to get it right. In February Grace stepped outside her comfort zone by asking a retail worker if she'd like to get a coffee. 'I was so nervous. I felt like I was asking someone out on a date, and I was so worried about being rejected,' she told FEMAIL. Grace, from Melbourne, is trying to meet new people - something thousands of Millennials and Gen Z are wanting to do right now In February the 30-year-old stepped outside her comfort zone by asking a retail worker if she'd like to get a coffee. 'I was so nervous. I felt like I was asking someone out on a date, and I was so worried about being rejected!' she told FEMAIL 'I have never really had to ask someone out on a friend date before, so it was new territory.' She had spoken to the employee several times while making purchases from the store. To her surprise, the young woman said she 'needs friends too'. Grace said the coffee 'date' went 'amazingly' well and the two have become close friends. 'She already knew bits and pieces of what was going on in my life because I had been buying outfits for different reasons and events - we got along like a house on fire,' she said. 'She came to my 30th birthday, we took our partners out on a double date to the Queen Vic night markets, and she is coming around for girls night this weekend to meet some of my other friends.' Grace said she's always struggled with social anxiety and have never been an big drinker or someone who went to a lot of parties. She met her current friends at school, university, and work, and hopes to meet new people in other ways such as by sharing an interest or hobby. Grace said the coffee 'date' went 'amazingly' well and the two have become close friends 'I have been through some of the hardest things in my life over the past four years and it was so incredibly difficult to go through because I felt so alone,' she said. 'Although I had a few friends, they were all getting married and having babies and I felt like it was really hard to find time with them. 'Being able to find some friends that are more in line with where I am in my life has been amazing.' After sharing her experience in a now-viral TikTok video, Grace was flooded with comments praising her confidence - and others admitted they'd like to make more friends too. 'I'd love to come and make some friends,' one wrote. 'I'm so down to meet new friends,' another said. Australians have discovered a new 'side hustle' that can make them up to $300 for a task as simple as going to the pub or riding the bus. Side hustles are rising in popularity as Australians continue to battle the cost of living crisis - with some resorting to re-selling firewood online, while others iron people's laundry for an extra $400 a week. 'Mystery shopping' is a method used by marketing research companies and organisations who want to assess their sales, service, and job performance compared to competitors. 'Imagine a side hustle that not only pays you but also treats you to incredible experiences - that's the magic of mystery shopping,' Louise Heffernan, owner of Mystery Management, told FEMAIL. 'In today's economy, people are absolutely loving the hospitality side of our business. 'We conduct mystery shopping at over 300 pubs and fine dining restaurants along the eastern seaboard.' The job consists of people who anonymously shop at stores or eat at venues and write reports about their experience. Each task pays a certain amount and the pay typically ranges from $20 to $300 depending on the nature of work. Louise Heffernan, owner of Mystery Management revealed mystery shopping consists of people who anonymously shop at stores or eat at venues and write about their experience As businesses struggle with how average consumers view their service, mystery shopping is a great way to measure how a company stacks up against its competitors As businesses struggle with how average consumers view their service, mystery shopping is a great way to measure how a company stacks up against its competitors. Ms Heffernan provided further insight into the job. 'Picture this: you enjoy a delightful meal, and we foot the bill. Plus, you get paid to write a report on your experience, covering customer service, food quality, and cleanliness.' She claimed it was a 'genuinely a fun gig' people keep coming back for - and Mystery Management's admin team also frequently dips their toes into the industry. Ms Heffernan revealed that mystery shopping is now so much more than going to see if a restaurant will serve you without checking your ID card. 'We also mystery shop for U-turn Fashion (thrift shops) - a huge hit among Gen Z, who get paid to go 'thrifting',' she said. 'We cover supermarkets, bakeries, bottle shops, and chemists - and even all the ferries across Sydney Harbour, along with buses and trams. 'In essence, you can get paid to eat, shop, and travel!' Doctors are dishing our powerful ADHD drugs at 10-times the rate in some parts of England than others, a MailOnline analysis suggests, as experts warn over-diagnosis and 'mass-prescribing' could be putting public health at risk. NHS data shows one in 100 people in some areas are now taking ADHD medications, compared to one in 1,000 in nearby regions. World-leading experts told MailOnline the most likely reason for the wide variation were differences in the way ADHD is diagnosed. Our investigation adds to growing concerns that Brits are being wrongly labelled with ADHD by private clinics, which charge hundreds of pounds for an appointment. They are then prescribed simulant medication to treat the problem, which the NHS has to supply potentially risking side effects without reason it has been claimed. Your browser does not support iframes. MailOnline's analysis shows Wirral topped the charts as the area in England where people are most likely to be prescribed ADHD medication. One in every 100 people in the region was prescribed the tablets in April this year, the latest data available. This was 10-times higher than Rotherham, which recorded only one ADHD drug prescription for every 1,000 people. Higher rates were also recorded in areas like Brighton and Hove, were seven in every 1,000 people were on ADHD drugs as well as the NHS-region of North East Essex where three in every 500 residents were taking the stimulants. Commonly taken ADHD drugs include methylphenidate (Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse) and dexamfetamine (Amfexa). MailOnline's analysis used the number of ADHD prescriptions recorded in each NHS sub-region of England in April this year and the health service's patient population data for that area. University College London psychiatrist Professor Joanna Moncrieff, a vocal critic of medication over-use, said the data demonstrated how some medics were more eager to diagnose ADHD than others. This confirms just how incredibly subjective ADHD diagnosis is, she said. One psychiatrist in one service can think almost everyone has it while another psychiatrist in another service thinks very few people have it. The criteria for ADHD are subjective and we all have the symptoms of ADHD to one extent or another.' She said some psychiatrists, particularly in the independent sector, were very quick to diagnose people with ADHD, whereas others were far more cautious. Youre more likely to get a diagnosis if you go to a private clinic than if you go to the NHS, she said. ADHD is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning. However, there are no clear definitions as to what this constitutes meaning that a patient with the same symptoms can get a different diagnosis from two psychiatrists. But Professor Moncrieff said patients were increasingly demanding an ADHD diagnosis as the 'answer' to problems they are experiencing in areas like their work. This concept of ADHD has got out there and everyone is reinterpreting their difficulties in the light this new idea, Im not bored and dont like my job, I have ADHD, she said. Stimulants make people feel good, they make them feel confident, they make people feel a little bit euphoric, energetic, so of course people are going to be rating themselves as doing better.' Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase She added there was no medical reason why ADHD rates should differ so much across the country and was evidence of how variable diagnosis was. Theres no evidence that there is a medical reason for variation in ADHD rates, as in, that theres a biological reason why people in one area would be more likely to have ADHD than in another area, she said. But Professor Moncrieff did add the figures could, in part, also be explained by demographic factors. She highlighted how people in more deprived areas are more likely to experience mental health issues in general and how, overall, younger groups were more likely to seek out an ADHD diagnosis than older Brits. However, she said the risks of people taking ADHD medications were real. ADHD drugs are stimulants, they include amphetamine which is a well recognised recreational substance, she said. She said they are associated with an increased risk of serious health issues like heart attacks, strokes and there was some evidence they also increase the risk of conditions like Parkinson's and even potentially psychosis. Professor Moncrieff said most of the data on these risks came from sporadic or occasional use of stimulants and medics were still largely ignorant of the consequences of taking them for life as ADHD patients are advised. What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting Poor concentration Excessive movement or talking Acting without thinking Inability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakes Mood swings Forgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Its petrifying that we dont know what the long term consequences of this are, she said. Weve launched into this mass prescribing exercise without really good evidence on the long term consequences.' She called for NHS England to investigate ADHD diagnosis and the prescription variance across the country to prevent Brits suffering potentially dire consequences. There needs to be a proper investigation into whats going on at the moment or else we are heading to a scandal, she said. Theres going to be a large proportion of the general population taking stimulants, were going to see more and more adverse effects coming up, cardiovascular effects, psychosis, increased risk of Parkinson's. Theres got to be a review of this.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'The NHS is committed to improving the lives of those with ADHD and we know there is much more work to do so that more people can get the medical care they need. 'An NHS taskforce with independent experts has started important work investigating challenges in ADHD service provision so that we can support more patients and to help local services to manage increased referrals.' Rising interest in ADHD diagnoses are thought to have been partly fuelled by celebrities such as model Katie Price, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and actress Sheridan Smith talking about their own ADHD journey. An NHS spokesperson said: "The NHS is committed to improving the lives of those with ADHD and we know there is much more work to do so that more people can get the medical care they need. An NHS taskforce with independent experts has started important work investigating challenges in ADHD service provision so that we can support more patients and to help local services to manage increased referrals. Attwood previously explained how the condition 'caused myself and people around me a lot of stress' during her teens and early 20s 'when it wasn't managed'. Price also discussed how her adult ADHD diagnosis explains why she has never felt there would be 'consequences' for her actions. Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins last year shared that she had been diagnosed with ADHD and that 'suddenly everything made sense - to me and those who love me'. Social media has also been blamed for encouraging people to seek out ADHD drugs with videos from users boasting how taking them has helped calm them down, control their fidgeting and boost their concentration. NHS data, for the 2022/23 financial year, shows a massive surge in year-on-year ADHD drug prescriptions in women between their late 20s and early 30s, with rises of almost 60 per cent. Overall figures have doubled in six years, with 230,000 in England taking the drugs last year. The biggest rise has been in young adults, with treatment increasing five-fold among those aged 25 to 39 since 2015. This increase has prompted NHS England to launch a dedicated taskforce earlier this year to explore exactly how many people are affected and how to improve their care. These experts will investigate 'the rate of growth within the independent sector and the potential variation in the service models and thresholds being used', and collect data to 'fully understand the size of the challenge'. ADHD diagnosis is also driving a surge in the number of children and young adults claiming disability benefits. Some 1.6million children are reported as disabled, a figure that has doubled in little more than a decade and jumped by more than a third since Covid. Claims for behavioural disorders such as ADHD make up a fifth of all claims. Furthermore, more than 52,000 adults who receive personal independence payments from the government list ADHD as their main condition, with most of these being 16 to 29-year-olds who have been transferred from disability allowance when they reached adulthood. This number is up from 38,000 in 2022. Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins (left) last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that 'suddenly everything made sense - to me and those who love me'. Love Island's Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her 'constantly overwhelmed' Estimates of how many people in the UK actually have ADHD vary. For example, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) estimates one in twenty children (5 per cent) and one in 29 adults (3 to 4 per cent) have the condition. But charity, the ADHD Foundation say as many as one in 20 adults in Britain could have the condition. Some NHS trusts have also reported that waiting lists for an ADHD assessment in their area exceeds 10 years, a factor which may be driving people to seek help privately. A damning BBC investigation earlier this year found patients could get diagnosed with ADHD and offered powerful drugs through unreliable video call assessments with private clinics. What exactly causes ADHD to appear in some people is unclear, but it's thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are thought to be more at risk. ADHD is also linked to other conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure, but a combination of drugs and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier. MailOnline analysis of data has limitations as it covers prescriptions, not patients, which means in theory a single patient may count for more than one prescription, for example, if they lost their medication and needed a new script. For those of us with a strong family history of breast cancer, new blood cancer tests pose an interesting conundrum. Should we fork out and go private to have one of these liquid biopsies, still a long way from being freely available on the NHS? Or do we stick with existing screening methods, such as the annual mammograms I already have? Theres no doubt that weve entered a new era of cancer detection, but while obviously brilliant if it saves lives it is still only in the early stages and not yet rigorously tested in large-scale trials. A liquid biopsy is a blood test that detects signs of cancerous tumours. A liquid biopsy is a blood test that detects signs of cancerous tumours. Some can identify over 50 different types of cancer The tests could be an alternative to annual mammograms for those with a family history of breast cancer One of these is the Galleri test, currently being trialled on the NHS. It looks for changes in fragments of genetic code cell-free DNA (cfDNA) that leak from tumours into the bloodstream. It can help to identify over 50 different types of cancer (based on the results reported so far, the test is not currently that good at picking up stage 1 cancer, where the cancer is small and hasnt spread to other parts of the body it is most reliable with later-stage tumours). Theres also TruCheck, a test launched privately in the UK in late 2022: this detects microscopic circulating tumour cells (CTCs) themselves, rather than genetic material that has leached from tumours. Research in 2021 found that CTCs can help diagnose solid organ cancers: CTCs were found in 92.6 per cent of samples from 6,025 people with symptoms who went on to be diagnosed with cancer (some of the researchers had been employed by Datar Cancer Genetics, the company behind TruCheck). The TruCheck test has been shown to have a sensitivity of 88 per cent for the detection of solid tumours, which includes breast cancer, according to the research in the journal Cancer Cytopathology. These tests are an interesting development in terms of cancer screening, says Dr John Pettit, an NHS GP, who also works at Goodbody Clinic, one of the providers of TruCheck in the UK. They cant replace orthodox screening yet, but they could be complementary to it. Mammograms are more difficult to read in younger women because their breast tissue is denser. Some types of cancer may also be difficult to detect through a mammogram. These include lobular tumours, for example, which dont grow in a round mass but like a spiders web or mesh. The ability of screening mammograms to spot cancer in women who dont have symptoms such as an obvious lump varies, from as low as 30 per cent in women with particularly dense breast tissue to 90 per cent, according to studies. In contrast to mammography, it seems TruCheck is proving to be a highly accurate, non-invasive blood test which involves no exposure to any radiation and much less discomfort for the patient, says Dr Pettit. However, its important to note that the amount of radiation from each mammogram is low, similar to what we might be exposed to on a long-haul flight. And Dr Liz ORiordan, a retired breast surgeon and author of The Complete Guide To Breast Cancer, advises caution, saying: The point of screening is to pick up cancer at an early stage where there is proof that if its treated earlier it will save lives. Theres a lot of evidence behind screening such as mammography and cervical smears, she says, but in contrast, this blood test hasnt been extensively tested, meaning we cant understand its full implications yet and whether it will help to reduce deaths from cancer. The most comprehensive version of TruCheck looks for 70 different kinds of cancers, at a price of around 1,199. There is a cheaper option (449) which just looks for circulating breast tumour cells (the test cannot detect blood or lymphatic system cancers, as only solid organ cancers produce CTCs). One of the tests, Galleri, is currently being trialled on the NHS. Another, TruCheck, was launched privately in the UK in 2022 As well as the lack of long-term research, another consideration is the anxiety involved in taking a test as I know after being offered the opportunity to try out the TruCheck blood test myself. Both my older half-sisters developed breast cancer one aged 38 and the other 42 and my grandfather had prostate cancer (another risk factor). Im 45 and have been having yearly mammograms since I turned 40. After a pre-test counselling call with Dr Pettit, which involved talking me through how the test worked, a nurse came to my house to draw blood then a very anxious wait commenced. Results are typically returned within two to three weeks. Negative or positive, they are sent via email, with a follow-up call from the doctor if they are positive. You can buy the test without being referred by a doctor although you do need to be aged over 40, with no previous cancer diagnosis. But Dr Pettit says this is evolving science, and these tests should only be offered under appropriate medical supervision, from a doctor with experience of the test and the research behind it. He adds: Positive results should only be interpreted by an oncologist as they can have various implications that need to be managed properly, so that any anxiety felt by the patient can be properly dealt with. Mammograms can be difficult to read in younger women because their breast tissue is denser Liquid biopsies can offer 'short-term reassurance or a chance of early detection', according to NHS GP Dr John Pettit Most GPs will not yet be aware of the details of the evolution of these tests, but if someone with a positive result opts for NHS care, Goodbody provides all of this information to their GP and requests that theyre referred through the local NHS two-week wait cancer service for advice and further tests. But as Dr ORiordan, who has been treated for breast cancer herself, says: If you dont have urgent red-flag symptoms you might not be seen under a two-week wait on the NHS. How many tests and procedures and scanxiety will people with a positive result have to go through and possibly not find anything? The risk of false positives a result that indicates a given condition exists when it does not is a big concern for many in terms of this new technology. Dr Pettit concedes false positives may be a concern: We dont know yet, but it is possible some live cancer cells will never become a clinical issue. However, the false positive rate for TruCheck at present appears to be better than those for mammography; the PSA blood test to detect prostate cancer; and the bowel screening stool test, he says. After a two-week wait, the email with my results arrived mid-morning. I was incredibly nervous opening it actually triggered a migraine but deeply relieved when I read the results and discovered that no CTCs were detected. However, as Dr ORiordan points out, it doesnt prove anything. Both false positives and false negatives are a problem, she says. This test might pick up cells that dont mean anything, or miss cells so people may be falsely assured that they dont have cancer and stop screening and checking themselves. We dont know what having CTCs in the blood means in the long term, which is another reason to take this with a pinch of salt. She adds: There is future potential for these blood tests after trials have been repeated and this method of detection has been proven to have an effect on outcomes. My worry at the moment is that this is preying on the wealthy. You are advised to repeat the test yearly, which would be very expensive. Dr Pettit says: The test will become cheaper and more accessible, but at the moment it can offer short-term reassurance or a chance of early detection for people with a strong family history of breast cancer or a known, defined genetic risk. I feel reassured by my results but, after speaking to Dr ORiordan, I am not sure I would self-refer to have the test again privately. These kinds of tests are doubtless a future pillar of cancer screening, but Ill be sticking with my annual mammograms on the NHS for now. Smoking-related cancers have reached a record high with 160 people diagnosed every day, new figures show. There has been a 17 per cent surge in cases over the last two decades with the likes of liver, throat and kidney cancers doubling in this time, according to analysis by Cancer Research UK. While smoking rates are falling, the growing population means there are still around 6.4 million smokers in the UK. The charity is calling on the new government to push ahead with the Tories Tobacco and Vapes Bill, reintroducing it in the first King's Speech later this month. Tobacco is known to cause 16 different types of cancer, with lung cancer alone causing 33,000 cases annually The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2023 health report showed 12.7 per cent of Brits over the age of 15 smoke cigarettes daily, far higher than the US and New Zealand It would have made it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 2009 effectively stopping further generations from smoking. Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK's executive director of policy, said: Every hour, six families' lives are changed forever by an illness that could have been prevented. Smoking is a uniquely toxic consumer product and has no place in our future. Raising the age of sale of tobacco products will be one of the biggest public health interventions in living memory, establishing the UK as a world leader. It's vital that this Bill is re-introduced at the King's Speech, passed and implemented in full so the impact of smoking is consigned to the history books. Data from the charity shows there were around 57,600 diagnoses of cancers caused by smoking in 2023, compared to 49,325 in 2003. Tobacco is known to cause 16 different types of cancer, with lung cancer alone causing 33,000 cases annually. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. For the first time, cases of breast cancer have been included in the analysis following growing scientific evidence of its links to smoking. Figures for previous years have been adjusted to reflect this with 2,200 cases of breast cancer every year in the UK. Cases of liver cancer due to smoking have increased from 711 in 2003 to 1,630 last year. Similarly, kidney cases rose from 1,215 to 2,151 and throat from 619 to 1,261 over the same time period. Elsewhere, cancer specialists warned the UK is at a tipping point with cancer services and called for a national cancer strategy to reverse fortunes. Writing in the Lancet Oncology, they said there had been ongoing failures to reduce cancer survival inequalities and warned treatment delays were costing lives. Oncologists from hospitals including Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust, Imperial College London and University College London, warned the UK has one of the highest rates of cancer diagnoses following emergency admissions. They argue novel solutions such as new diagnostic tests have been wrongly hyped as fixes for the cancer crisis, but note that none address the fundamental issues of cancer as a systems problem. Calling for system-wide reform to cut cancer care inequality and drive up earlier diagnosis and timely treatment, they put forward several policy recommendations, including expanding national audits of care. Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the catch-up with cancer campaign and chair of Radiotherapy UK, said cancer services are in crisis, adding that the tragedy is that it doesn't have to be this way. She said: The cancer community knows what needs to be done and how to do it. Too often, policymakers focus on one aspect, like diagnosis, but that alone isn't enough. If you boost diagnosis but don't treat people on time, the newly diagnosed patients just end up stuck on long waiting lists. We need quick diagnosis and timely treatment. She added: Cancer is a complex disease. But the starting point to tackling our poor survival outcomes is simple: get a plan. Reverse the decision made by the last Government to scrap the national cancer control plan. All the international evidence shows that countries with national cancer plans have better survival. And make sure the plan is properly resourced and ensures we treat on time as well as diagnose early. Erin Moriarty's return to television screens has reignited speculation about her changing face. The actress, 30, appeared on the fourth season of the Amazon series The Boys in which she plays the superhero Starlight sporting a dramatically different and more 'snatched' look. The transformation sparked fierce comments from broadcaster Megyn Kelly, who described the actress's changing appearance as 'quite upsetting' and 'a massive turnoff'. While Moriarty has denied having cosmetic procedures, DailyMail.com spoke to top plastic surgeons who say the opposite and have revealed exactly what she's likely to have had done. In response, Moriarty said the 'before' image was taken a decade ago, and her changed look was only due to 'contouring' The first, most obvious procedure is a rhinoplasty, they say, which is more commonly known as a nose job. Dr Deniz Sarhaddi, a plastic surgeon in Missouri who specializes in facial procedures, told DailyMail.com that the tip of the actor's nose is now more refined and the bump has been removed. Surgeons also suspected fillers in the cheeks and lips, and Botox in the forehead to iron out fine lines and wrinkles. Two doctors suggested she may have undergone even more extreme surgery on her upper face, such as a brow lift. Overall, they believe the series of surgeries and tweakments, which resulted in a more angular, heart-shaped face, likely cost somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000. Moriarty before The Boys fame (left) and earlier this year she looks very different 'Typically, over time, people don't age to have bigger cheekbones and a more chiseled jawline,' said Dr Sarhaddi. 'She is beautiful in both photos, but the first one [from 2013] is a very different aesthetic to the second one. 'She looks a bit more exagerrated in the later images, the cheeks are super-high and hollow, for example, there is a shift in proportions.' Starting at the top of the face, Dr Sarhaddi suspects a brow lift may have taken place at some point, in which the eyebrows are surgically raised to a higher position in order to reduce the appearence of wrinkles and sagging skin. 'I'd put money on it a lot of celebrities have had one,' she said. 'It is a very stealthy procedure because the scars are only about an inch long and are behind the hairline.' Dr Elie Levine, a plastic surgeon in New York City agreed. 'She is ten years older and yet her brow position looks as good as it did a decade ago, which naturally we would not see.' As well as filler in the lips, which is favored by many celebs, the experts suspect Moriarty has received cheek filler too. Dr Elie Levine said: 'Her cheeks have definitely been augmented it could be filler or implants her lips look profoundly fuller too.' The surgeons said the shift in her facial appearance had likely caused so much speculation online because she appeared 'radically different'. Dr Levine added: 'If you look at her at 19 years old, I would say that I wouldn't describe her so much as striking but more as pretty and attractive with a youthful look she is very much like the girl-next-door kind of thing. 'But if you look at her now, she is very stark, crisp lines, sharp angles, it is striking but it is not especially warm.' Controversy erupted over the star's appearance in January after she received a number of unpleasant comments from broadcaster Megyn Kelly, including that she had, 'Kim Kardashian lips'. Ms Moriarty was quick to hit back, accusing the journalist of being 'utterly misinformed, inaccurate and clickbait seeking'. She claimed her new look was due to make up contouring and dismissed those who said otherwise as 'mysogynists' and 'bullies'. In a recent Instagram post, she wrote the caption: 'Haters guna hate'. Women today called on tampon brands to urgently review the levels of toxic metals in their products in the wake of heightened safety fears. Tests on 30 products purchased in New York, Athens and London have found some contained dangerous levels of arsenic, chromium and even lead. MailOnline approached the researchers to ask which 14 brands were involved and they declined to comment. Instead, they insisted while tampons could be 'a potential source of metal exposure' for women, more research was first needed to assess their danger. One woman, however, labelled the findings 'unreal', arguing 'women are literally being poisoned by these products'. Tests on 30 products purchased in New York, Athens and London have found some contained dangerous levels of arsenic, chromium and even lead. All 16 metals tested were detected in at least one tampon. But US researchers, who carried out the probe, chose not to name the 14 brands involved Women took to social media to express shock and worry about research that found tampons contained toxic metals however researchers have refused to reveal which 14 brands they tested Another, @danielleweisber, who also took to X/Twitter, wrote: 'I don't feel like enough people are yelling about the new findings of high levels of toxic metals being in tampons? 'Like all tampons even organic ones?? Why is there arsenic in tampons?????' A third user, @FraukeEcke, added: 'What the hell! We need to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants not increase it! How difficult can it be to produce safe sanitary products?' A fourth also said: 'The real question is, how long have these companies this information'. 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. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, whist other metals can trigger life-threatening blood clotting and raise the risk of some cancers. 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. In 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. In the study, the 16 metals tested included arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper and iron. Researchers identified examples of all 16 among the tampons tested 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. 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. But women who took to X/Twitter questioned what impact this had on tampon users. 'The article I just read implied that no-one has ever been required to test for this and I'm so mad right now,' one wrote. 'How worried should I be? How bioavailable are these metals?' Another added: 'Brand new research has found that most tampons contain metals such as arsonic and lead (!!!). 'I'm not a scientist but that seems real, real bad.' Dr Jenni Shearston, study co-author and 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.' 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 She added: '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.' Meanwhile, Professor Kathrin Schilling, an assistant professor and geochemist at Columbia University, said: '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.' 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 Other 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. 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. Spending hours glued to a screen can leave you with sore, twitching eyes and blurred vision. But a short 'eye yoga' session could help ease the strain and improve your eyesight according to Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney and legions of devotees on TikTok. The exercises, which Sir Paul, 82, has long claimed helped his vision, aim to strengthen the eye muscles. Routines online suggest regularly rotating the eyes and moving them from side to side or focusing on something close by and then something far away. But experts often warn they aren't convinced these strange-looking workouts will work and claim there is no scientific evidence behind them. So what's the truth? TikTok account dedicated to 'face yoga' @allyoucanface, which has more than a million followers, claims eye yoga can 'wake up' our 'tired and fatigued' eye muscles @allyoucanface argues we are 'barely using our eyes to the maximum' when we are staring at a screen which can 'inhibit blood circulation' making us look less awake and fresh Sir Paul can be seen demonstrating his eye yoga routine, in a video recently shared to TikTok by social media user @oobujoobu, who has 21.3k followers. The pop legend was taught eye yoga during a trip to India in the late 2000s and has said the practice has stopped him needing to wear glasses. 'The idea is in the eyes we have muscles just like everywhere else and we don't use them well enough. 'We sit at computers or watch TV all day or read books, so you are basically just using one set of muscles,' he said in the video. The eye yoga exercises involve looking up, to the centre and down for three sets held for three seconds, then doing the same but looking side to side, while keeping your head straight. He then explains you need to look diagonally before looking at your nose three times and circling your eyes. Paul McCartney can be seen demonstrating his eye yoga routine, in a video shared to TikTok by social media user @oobujoobu, who has 21.3k followers The star claims he was taught during a trip to India in the late 2000s how to do eye exercises and said if you repeat them regularly 'it is supposed to be very good for your eyes' Sir Paul goes on to say he was told to look at something in the distance, such as a tree, for three seconds before looking at the lines on your hand and repeating. And he's not the only one praising the technique, with social media users sharing how different eye exercises can help relieve strain. TikTok account dedicated to 'face yoga' @allyoucanface, which has more than a million followers, claims eye yoga can 'wake up' our 'tired and fatigued' eye muscles. In a video the social media user suggests people focus on their index finger as they move it closer and away from their nose to 'increase and improve your vision'. She also urges people to move their eyes side to side, up and down and in circles, like Paul McCartney's tips. Social media user @pouyayoga, who has two million followers on TikTok, suggests doing these simple eye exercises will help keep you eyes 'healthy' In the video, he suggests the moves if completed every few hours will provide 'big relief in how your eyes feel' if you have been starring at a screen @allyoucanface argues we are 'barely using our eyes to the maximum' when we are staring at a screen which can 'inhibit blood circulation' making us look less awake and fresh. Similarly, in another video posted by social media user @pouyayoga, who has two million followers on TikTok, it suggests doing these simple eye exercises will help keep your eyes 'healthy'. WHAT IS GLAUCOMA? Glaucoma is a condition which can affect sight, usually due to build up of pressure within the eye. It often affects both eyes, usually to varying degrees. One eye may develop glaucoma quicker than the other. The eyeball contains a fluid called aqueous humour which is constantly produced by the eye, with any excess drained though tubes. Glaucoma develops when the fluid cannot drain properly and pressure builds up, known as the intraocular pressure. This can damage the optic nerve (which connects the eye to the brain) and the nerve fibres from the retina (the light-sensitive nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye). In England and Wales, it's estimated more than 500,000 people have glaucoma but many more people may not know they have the condition. There are 60 million sufferers across the world. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. But early diagnosis is important because any damage to the eyes cannot be reversed. Treatment aims to control the condition and minimise future damage. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause visual impairment. But if it's diagnosed and treated early enough, further damage to vision can be prevented. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement He also recommends an eye workout routine that involves looking side to side and in circular motions as well as blinking. In the video, he suggests the moves if completed every few hours will provide 'big relief in how your eyes feel' if you have been starring at a screen. 'Eye yoga can be helpful for relieving tired eyes, particularly for those who spend long hours in front of digital screens,' Tina Patel, contact lens optician at Feel Good Contacts, told MailOnline. She added: 'However, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of eye yoga for treating glaucoma, dry eyes or cataracts.' For those suffering from digital eye strain, eye yoga is an easy and quick way to give relief to tired or overworked eyes, she explains. But warns: 'Just remember to remove your glasses or contact lenses before practising eye yoga.' Researchers have explored whether exercises such as these actually improve your eye health, but found no evidence these moves will improve your eyesight or slow the progression of conditions such as glaucoma, which erodes the optic nerve. One 2012 study that evaluated the effectiveness of these exercises found that for people with astigmatism and refraction errors showed little to no objective improvement. Another 2018 study published in the International Journal of Yoga suggested that eye yoga could help bring down intraocular pressure inside the eye. This could potentially slow down the progression of glaucoma, but there have been no trials to prove this theory. However, there is some evidence the technique could relieve symptoms of eye strain. A 2016 study of 60 nursing students who completed eight weeks of eye yoga, found the eye routines stimulated and strengthened the muscles and helped the students remain focused and brought down stress levels. Specsavers Clinical Services Director Giles Edmonds said: 'There are some eye exercises which can help to reduce eye strain but wed encourage people to be wary about eye yoga as there is currently no scientific evidence that it helps your vision. 'Eye yoga will not improve your eyesight or help manage or reverse any eye conditions you may have.' Instead of 'eye yoga' optician recommend practicing the 20:20:20 rule if you are suffering screen related eye strain. This technique is recommended for all screen users. It simply means you should take a small break every 20 minutes to focus your eyes on something 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. This will help your eye muscles relax, and reduce the likelihood of digital eye strain, experts say. Giving a rare insight into her personal life last week, Princess Eugenie opened up on social media about her experience with scoliosis and why she was 'proud' of the scar she acquired after surgery to treat the condition, which causes the spine to twist and curve to one side. In a post to mark International Scoliosis Day, she wrote: 'My mum caught my scoliosis early and I was lucky enough to get the help I needed at 12 years old. 'I thank her so much for that, and also thank her for the confidence to be proud of my scar.' More than 20 million people in the UK have a scar and nearly a quarter of people living with scars said they have caused emotional or physical problems, according to The Scar Free Foundation. Scars are formed when the deeper layer of skin, known as the dermis, is damaged the dermis contains collagen, a protein, and connective tissue. The dermis activates a repair response that leads to collagen being produced. (Shallow nicks don't scar because the top layer of skin, the epidermis, doesn't contain collagen.) Princess Eugenie thanked her mother Sarah Ferguson 'for the confidence to be proud of my scar' Normally, collagen fibres are laid down in a neat, criss-cross pattern, but sometimes the repair process goes haywire, producing too much collagen, which leads to big bundles of the protein being laid down incorrectly, causing scars. The two most common types of scar are hypertrophic and keloid. Hypertrophic scars common after surgery, acne or burns stay within the confines of the wound site, but can also be slightly raised, hard and red. Keloid scars develop when collagen spills out beyond the injury site, creating large, lumpy scars that can grow. They're more common in darker skin, and tend to form on the chest, shoulder and back. As well as looking unsightly, they can cause discomfort or pain if surrounding tissue cannot flex. Paul Martin, a professor of cell biology at Bristol University, says: 'A scar happens wherever tissue is damaged and where the missing tissue is replaced via the process of the wound healing. 'We think an excessive immune system and inflammatory response are involved, too. 'These are activated after the skin's barrier layer has been breached by a wound and this leads to vast numbers of white blood cells coming into the wound to kill off any bugs that might have found their way into the body. 'As part of this process, signals are sent to other cells known as wound fibroblasts, which lay down too much collagen.' This partly explains why the older we get, the less we scar because our immune system response is dampened down as we age. Keloid scars in particular form when excess collagen is produced. 'Another driver of scarring is what we call mechanical tension, where the edges of the wound tend to be dragged apart. 'This mechanical tension differs according to the depth of the wound and where it is on the body,' adds Professor Martin. 'For example, if you have a surgical incision extending the length of your chest, the scar will be thickest in those regions of the wound where the tension is greatest, so about level with the breastbone.' The Scar Free Foundation Programme of Wound Healing Research, based at Bristol University and led by Professor Martin, is investigating the reasons why we all scar differently. Their research could in future help doctors identify those people at risk of serious scarring, using blood tests to look for specific genes, for example, as well as to develop better treatments to make scars disappear. The standard treatment in clinics includes silicone gel, which is thought to help the skin retain moisture and boost healing. Another option is steroid creams or injections, which break down the collagen bundles. Lasers are widely used, too. There are also at-home products that promise to heal scars. We asked experts to examine five of the newest on the market which we then rated. SCAR SERUM Boots Scar Reduction Serum, 50ml, 8.30, boots.com This serum 'is only likely to help with the darkening of the skin due to the overproduction of melanin, rather than other aspects of scarring' CLAIM: The maker says this serum, containing the antioxidant sodium ascorbyl phosphate, is suitable for all scars and has been 'tested extensively'. It reduces the appearance of scars in 12 weeks. Massage a small amount into the area twice daily. EXPERT VERDICT: Scars can vary in appearance, from atrophic (sunken), pitted, raised or hypertrophic scars to keloid ones, says Dr Archana Rao, a consultant dermatologist at Kingston Hospital NHS Trust in Surrey. 'I'm doubtful that a single serum can help with all scar types. Sodium ascobyl phosphate is a form of vitamin C and works by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is essential for the production of melanin [pigment] in our bodies. 'So this serum is only likely to help with hyperpigmentation [the darkening of the skin due to the overproduction of melanin] rather than other aspects of scarring,' she adds. 'For a thick scar, I'm not sure it would do anything really.' 3/10 SILICONE STRIPS Scar Erase, three 15cm strips, 28, amazon.co.uk The strips work by 'creating a protective barrier over the scarred area' to keep it hydrated They can then be peeled off to leave a less visible scar, say the makers CLAIM: These reusable silicone scar strips are 'recommended by surgeons' to treat hypertrophic, keloid, old and new scars, says the maker, including 'those caused by surgery, injury, acne or any other skin trauma'. They work by 'creating a protective barrier over the scarred area' to keep it hydrated. Wear for 12 hours a day for 12 weeks on a fresh scar; four months or longer for an existing scar. EXPERT VERDICT: 'Silicone is thought to create a protective layer on the surface of a scar, preventing moisture loss,' says Dr Hazim Sadideen, a consultant plastic surgeon at the Cadogan Clinic in London. 'This helps modulate the collagen and prevent the accumulation of haphazard collagen, so making the scar flatter and less visible. It can be effective at preventing scarring but to get the most benefit, you'd need to apply them for 23 hours a day. Studies show silicone is less effective in flattening keloid or long-established hypertrophic scars where other treatments may also be needed.' 8/10 MASSAGER ScarGone Massager, 24.99, stress-nomore.co.uk Massaging a scar with products such as ScarGone is thought to increase blood flow and make the scar more pliable CLAIM: This battery-powered, handheld device the size of a roll-on deodorant claims to help improve the colour and texture of scars. It works by massaging the affected area at 5,500 vibrating cycles per minute to help 'restore motion, strength and mobility to injured tissue', while 'diminishing the texture and tone of both new and old scars'. EXPERT VERDICT: 'Massaging a scar is thought to increase blood flow and make the scar more pliable but the evidence for its efficacy is more anecdotal than actually seen in clinical studies,' says Dr Rao. 'Certainly, how and where you massage is important: you should only start once the wound has completely healed. If you do it too early there's a chance the wound can split open, which could lead to infection. 'There's a theoretical concern that a massage tool may be too aggressive, so we need to study this device more. Personally, I'd tell my patients to gently massage a scar with their fingers and a simple moisturiser, for ten minutes twice a day, instead.' 5/10 GEL SPRAY Kelo-Cote Gel Spray, 100ml, 50.59, amazon.co.uk A study by the maker showed the spray improves the appearance of existing hypertrophic and keloid scars in 82 per cent of patients, it claims CLAIM: Spray this silicone-based product over a scar and within five minutes it forms a hard, clear waterproof layer that lasts 12 hours. Its maker says it can treat 'large, hard to reach or sensitive to touch scars'. Use for 60 to 90 days, or longer for older scars. A study by the maker showed the spray improves the appearance of existing hypertrophic and keloid scars in 82 per cent of patients, it claims. EXPERT VERDICT: 'This silicone spray should theoretically work in the same way as gels or sheets but could cover a larger area,' says Dr Rao. 'I see the appeal of using it for hard to reach scars but personally I'd still use sheets where possible, because they also provide pressure to the scar which can help flatten it. There has not been proper scientific study with the spray yet.' 7/10 ROSEHIP OIL Balmonds Rosehip Scar Oil, 50ml, 18.99, balmonds.co.uk 'Moisturisation is key to any scar healing as it helps improve the skin barrier and stops dryness which can lead to inflammation,' says Dr Sadideen CLAIM: Rich in vitamins A and C and rosehip oil, this is said to 'improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone'. Gently rub a few drops into the affected area, morning and night, for six weeks once scabs have healed, or on older scars. EXPERT VERDICT: 'Moisturisation is key to any scar healing as it helps improve the skin barrier and stops dryness which can lead to inflammation,' says Dr Sadideen. 'There have been a few small studies into rosehip oil for scars one in particular suggested it might reduce skin redness and decolourisation, but it only examined 108 patients. 'We need more data on how effective it is, particularly for more complex or older scars, but it seems safe and should do no harm. It could be worth trying as a general moisturiser to massage into a scar.' 5/10 The World Health Organization (WHO) was today accused of 'punishing' women after urging new mothers to breastfeed for six months. In a Facebook post, the UN agency said 'everyone had a role to play' to ensure women could 'exclusively breastfeed' meaning no top-ups with formula for half a year. Under the guidance, it also encouraged family members, employers and policy members to ensure they support new mums achieve this goal. But experts have reacted with fury online, claiming a fixation on breastfeeding was 'dictatorial' and 'unhelpful'. Experts said the wording of the post was 'horrible' and 'unrealistic'. Others argued the WHO was 'meddling' in women's 'personal and family lives' labelling it 'sinister'. In a Facebook post, the UN agency said 'everyone had a role to play' to ensure women could 'exclusively breastfeed' meaning no top-ups with formula for half a year. Under the guidance, it also encouraged family members, employers and policy members to ensure they support new mums achieve this goal But experts have reacted with fury online, claiming a fixation on breastfeeding was 'dictatorial' and 'unhelpful'. Experts said the wording of the post was 'horrible' and 'unrealistic'. Others argued the WHO was 'meddling' in women's 'personal and family lives' labelling it 'sinister' Posting on X, Dr Ruth Ann Harpur, a London-based clinical psychologist, wrote: 'Hey @WHO, the only person who gets to decide if they breastfeed exclusively for six months is the woman doing it. 'We do not need the entirety of society meddling in our personal and family lives. 'Now if you could please adopt a realistic infant nutrition strategy in low income contexts, prioritising access to formula and safe water supplies for every baby because last I checked trials of your exclusive breastfeeding schtick resulted in increases in severe growth stunting in these communities.' Meanwhile, Professor Lucy Easthope, an expert in emergency planning and disaster recovery at Durham University, said: 'This is horrible, punishing, dictatorial and unhelpful @WHO your comms go from bad to worse.' Campaign group, the Infant Feeding Alliance, which calls for safety in infant feeding policy, also said: 'Do @WHO really think women are so feckless that we need the entire world to meddle in our personal lives to ensure we meet their utterly unrealistic breastfeeding goals?' Currently, the NHS also recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, then breastfeeding alongside food into the childs second year. This is due to the benefits which include protecting them from infections and providing a good balance of nutrients. According to the health service, breastfeeding reduces a babys risk of infection, diarrhoea, vomiting, sudden infant death syndrome, obesity and, in adulthood, cardiovascular disease. For mothers it reduces their risk of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Some research has also shown breastfeeding can lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sometimes referred to as 'crib death', SIDS, is the unexplained death of a baby, usually under one year old. The UK, however, has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding worldwide, with just 0.5 per cent of women still breastfeeding by the time their baby is 12 months old. Others have also long raised concerns over the number of newborn babies being admitted to hospital with dehydration, due to parents attempting to persevere with breastfeeding even when the baby isn't drinking enough milk Currently, the NHS also recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, then breastfeeding alongside food into the childs second year. This is due to the benefits which include protecting them from infections and providing a good balance of nutrients By comparison, the figure stands around 35 per cent in Norway and 16 per cent in Sweden. There are a number of reasons why women are unable to breastfeed, such as a lack of milk, sore nipples, or difficulties in getting the baby to latch on. Experts have previously warned women can face judgment or feel guilty about the decisions they make when it comes to feeding their baby. Others have also long raised concerns over the number of newborn babies being admitted to hospital with dehydration, due to parents attempting to persevere with breastfeeding even when the baby isn't drinking enough milk. Responding to the WHO's post, artist Alice Stevenson also wrote on X: 'Shame on you @WHO. 'Myself and many mothers I know were severely traumatised by our inability to breastfeed thanks to this sort of dictatorial, sinister propaganda. Proper Handmaids Tale stuff.' Writer Nicola Knight added: 'What about those women who can't? 'I was in no fit state after the birth of my daughter and I can honestly say the pressure to breastfeed made things a million times worse.' Journalist Rebecca Reid also said: 'Given that formula has to have a disclaimer that breast milk is the better option, I think breastfeeding promotional materials should have the equivalent disclaimer that it's not always possible to breastfeed.' It comes just months after a damning report into the 'postcode lottery' of NHS maternity care also ruled good care is 'the exception rather than the rule'. A hugely-anticipated parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma, which heard evidence from more than 1,300 women, found pregnant women are being treated like a 'slab of meat'. At the time, then-Health Secretary Victoria Atkins labelled testimonies heard in the report 'harrowing' and vowed to improve maternity care for 'women throughout pregnancy, birth and the critical months that follow'. NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard also said the experiences outlined in the report 'are simply not good enough'. Last month, musical legend Celine Dion gave fans a heartbreaking glimpse into her life with a one-in-a-million condition in her revealing documentary, I Am: Celine Dion. Viewers were moved by disturbing scenes of her agonizing seizures that leave her frozen for up an hour a symptom of the incurable Stiff Person Syndrome, which Dion revealed she was suffering in December 2022. The condition, triggered by the immune system attacking nerves, causes painful muscle spasms, seizures and leaves sufferers struggling to move because of pain. Now, two patients have been inspired to share their own experience with the condition, describing how it almost drove them to suicide and left them barely able to move for days on end. Carrie Robinette, 45, from San Diego (left), described how SPS has left her struggling with seizures that can last up to an hour. Corwyn Wilkey, 44, and from Alaska, said the condition led to the breakdown of his marriage Carrie Robinette, 45, from San Diego in California, revealed she had been sick for years before doctors finally diagnosed her condition and is now mostly stuck at home unable to move further than 50 feet without aid. She suffers spasms that can last up to an hour, and says it often isn't even worth going to the hospital because doctors don't know how to help her. Corwyn Wilkey, 44, from Alaska, said the first signs of his condition were the same as Celine Dion's throat spasms. He described the diagnosis as a 'death sentence' that had led to the breakdown of his marriage and had cost him his home, his livelihood and, for a time, his children. He also said it had driven him to attempt suicide because he felt like a 'burden' on his family. Celine Dion has brought Stiff Person Syndrome back into the Spotlight after releasing her Amazon Prime series on her struggle last month. She is pictured above performing in 2019 'I was honestly "always sick",' Ms Robinette told Fox News digital. 'Even as far back as high school, I had incredibly tight muscles in my legs, and there were countless times that I woke up crying with spasms in my calves.' Doctors previously put her pain down to asthma and allergies and diagnosed her with kidney issues. But then in May last year, after she also began to suffer full-body spasms, doctors ordered tests for SPS. Doctors perform a myriad of tests to look for the condition, including a blood test to detect nerve cell-fighting antibodies and an electromyography to measure electrical activity in muscles. Ms Robinette describes her daily life as a struggle with no end in sight because treatments, like immunosuppresants, have not helped. 'This past year my family and I have really been put through the wringer,' she said. 'It takes a toll to feel like you are in a medical crisis and yet know that even if you go to the hospital, no one will help you.' She has now started to suffer from spasms that last for up to an hour, and she says on bad days she cannot move without the help of a cane or walker. On others, however, she says she can walk and move 'almost like normal' although she still needs the aid of a mobility chair to travel further than 50 feet. Ms Robinette said that even when she wasn't facing spasms it felt like her muscles were sore all day every day SPS is an autoimmune neurological disorder thought to be caused by the body attacking its own nerve cells, triggering the spasms. About two-thirds of the patients are women, and most are aged between 30 and 60. Mr Wilkey said his condition began with spasms in his throat when he tried to sing, just like with Celine Dion Warning signs are severe muscle stiffness and painful muscle spasms that can last for up to an hour. But in later stages, these spasms may become so bad that they tear tissues or break bones. The condition is agonizing but not fatal. Patients can die from complications related to it such as blood clots, wound infections due to immobility or, in extreme cases, spasms in the chest muscles that leave patients unable to breathe. Sufferers tend to have other autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes, vitiligo and pernicious anemia where the body struggles to absorb vitamin B12 which is vital for red blood cell production. Mr Wilkey used to sing regularly in a local band and was also working at Alaska State Park as a media publications specialist. Mr Wilkey is pictured above during treatment for the condition. He said the diagnosis felt like a death sentence But his throat began to spasm several years ago when he tried to sing, similarly to Celine Dion. After a battery of tests, in 2021 he was finally diagnosed with SPS by the Mayo Clinic but not before it had disrupted his life. Mr Wilkey said the condition had turned him into a 'raging monster' which ultimately led to the breakdown of his marriage. While the condition is not thought to directly cause anger, the stress associated with it may well trigger the emotion. Describing his diagnosis, Mr Wilkey said it felt 'very much like receiving a death sentence'. 'I became unable to function [because of the disease] and felt like a burden on my family, which led me to attempt suicide. 'I mean... I lost everything my marriage, all my money, my home, and even my children for a time.' He was hospitalized after his diagnosis and has gone through intensive therapy and pain rehabilitation programs. He has also struggled with depression, PTSD and complex regional pain syndrome or when a patient has long-lasting pain and inflammation in the body. On his battle today, he said: 'The most prominent physical challenges are muscle stiffness and rigidity, seizure-like muscle spasms, cognitive distortion and decline, chronic pain and fatigue, PTSD, loss of coordination and fine motor control, headaches, joint pain, back pain, and inability to coordinate my body the way I want to.' Medications for patients include taking oral muscle relaxers or immunosuppressant drugs to help manage the symptoms. Researchers are also currently working on a new therapy, called KYV-101 and made by Kyverna Therapeutics in San Francisco, which they say could 'reset' the immune system stopping it from attacking nerves. Dr James Chung, the chief medical officer behind the treatment, said: 'This approach could potentially offer a more targeted treatment that addresses the root cause of SPS rather than just managing symptoms.' The drug has recently been approved to enter Phase Two Clinical trials but is likely still at least a year away from being available to patients. Experts have raised alarm bells about a online trend that sees chiropractors 'adjusting' the backs of newborn babies putting the infants at risk of joint, spine and tendon damage. Parents have shared clips on social media of their children, some just weeks old, on chiropractor tables as the healthcare professionals manipulate their tiny limbs, pressing on their spine, neck and shoulders. One video shows Texas chiropractor Jason Roberts briefly turning a baby upside down during a consultation. These manipulations can lead to damage to blood vessels and the spine in adults- which can lead to paralysis, and in rare cases, death. Chiropractic professionals say these complications have never been reported in a child, however. 'I would advise parents to not allow this sort of practice to be done to your child,' Dr James Best, a pediatric family practitioner with a private practice in Australia said. He called the practice 'deeply disturbing' and was part of a group of providers asking it to be banned in children under two. Dr Best told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the spinal columns of babies are especially susceptible to injuries which could theoretically cause permanent damage to their nervous system. For example, in 2022, recent college graduate Caitlin Jensen, then 28, was paralyzed after receiving a routine neck adjustment at a Georgia chiropractor. Doctors who examined Ms Jensen said her chiropractor had severed arteries in her neck, leading to a stroke. Because of risks like these Dr Best publicly opposed using chiropractic techniques on newborns, as part of a group effort that moved to ban newborn spinal manipulation in Australia. The ban was reinstated in June 2024. 'Ultimately, there is no way youre going to get an improvement in a newborn from a manipulation,' Dr Sean Tabie, an orthopedic surgeon at Childrens National Hospital, told the Washington Post. 'The only thing that you might possibly cause is harm,' Dr Tabie added. Chiropractic organizations push back against physicians like Dr Best and Dr Tabie. They say the practice is safe, and claim it can help relieve persistent crying spells, constipation, vomiting and musculoskeletal problems in young children. 'Chiropractic care of children is very gentle and is not "cracking babies," David Cahill, the president of The Australian Chiropractors Association told the ABC. Instead, it's common for these pediatric sessions to include pedaling the baby's legs, massaging their abdomen, using finger tips to press on baby's neck, spine and hips, and sometimes, using vibrating massage guns. Other times, the appointments involve instructing parents on how to hold their baby in a way that helps them stretch, as Jen Rousseau, a chiropractor based in Nashville, shared in a TikTok with over 6000 views. These social media posts seem to have captured the publics attention. Google searches for the term 'baby chiropractor' have climbed steadily since 2010 - hitting a peak in July of 2022 and plateauing since. They include the likes Dustin Dudd, a Texas based chiropractor, shared a TikTok of his service on a patient only six days old. The video, which has over 1.3 million views, shows the practitioner using a vibrating implement on the baby's back. It's divided commenters. Some, like user Julia Thompson said: 'A 6 day old?! That should be illegal'. Others, like user Naomi Altizer, said: 'Taking my newborn to the chiropractor was the best decision I ever made.' Chiropractors, generally, are not medical doctors they don't have to go to medical school to obtain their degree. But they are required, typically, to complete at least three years of undergraduate study and four years of a chiropractic graduate program in order to become a Doctor of Chiropractor (DC). All states require practicing chiropractors to be licensed. Chiropractic's are often times advertised as an alternative to drugs or surgery for conditions like chronic pain, headaches, arthritis and stiffness in adults, and are popular in holistic health circles. Still, the fact they are not medical doctors has brought ire from the public, especially following controversial cases. For example, in 2014, a 30 year old Oklahoman named Jeremy Youngblood died of a stoke shortly after visiting the chiropractors office. The corner said his death was caused by spinal manipulation. In response to this tragedy, Dr Bill Kinsiger, the President of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, called chiropractors 'snake oil salesmen'. He told FOX13: 'they (chiropractors) use neck manipulation for things that have nothing to do with the neck low back pain, knee pain and all sorts of organic illnesses like ear infections in babies, colicky babies and PMS in women.' Studies of chiropractic's in children have yielded tepid results, which critics also highlight. The American Academy of Chiropractic Pediatrics acknowledged that the evidence for the efficacy of their practice is mixed, saying: 'There are many biased articles both for chiropractic and against it.' A 2021 study from the University of Southern Denmark investigated treating 185 babies with colic, a condition where babies cry inconsolably each day for hours, for weeks at a time, with chiropractor treatments. They had researchers lightly press on the spines or necks of babies to see if it helped soothe them. Early on in analyzing the data, it seemed like the treatment might've helped the babies cry less. But further analysis showed that the findings weren't strong enough to draw a conclusion that the practice improved the baby's colic. A 2019 study of 2000 British mothers found that 82 percent said they believed chiropractic treatments improved their babies eating habits, sleep issues and helped them cry less. Most insurance providers don't cover the treatment for kids - and prices vary a lot from practice to practice, averaging somewhere between $60 to $200 dollars a session, according to GoodRx. Even with the mixed evidence, and the price tag, it's a popular practice. One of the reasons that people might be taking their kids to these specialists is because we've mistaken normal developmental stages as medical problems that need fixing, Dr Michael Milobsky, a pediatrician with a primary care practice in Colorado, told the Washington Post. He said that colic, for example, is a natural stage many children face and grow out of on their own, not a condition that needs to be treated. But colic has 'been sold as something that can be treated or solved, as opposed to being understood that this is just a developmental period that has a wide spectrum of presentations.' There are next to no traditional treatment for this condition, which, understandably, leads tired parents to look to alternative solutions, like a chiropractor, Dr Milobsky said. Still, there are few medical doctors who recommend this, if any, Dr Mutahir Farhan , an internal medicine doctor that practices in Riverside California, said. Dr Farhan added that: 'I guarantee you there is not an organization of OBGYN physicians or pediatricians out there that actually support this type of medicine, I don't even know if I'd call it medicine.' The critical risk to Britain resulting from the desperate finances of Thames Water may appear to have little to do with Royal Mail. The Labour administration, which is selling itself as a bastion of stability, needs to fulfil its manifesto promise to robustly scrutinise the 3.6billion offer for Royal Mail owner, International Distribution Services (IDS), without delay. Failure to do so would see Royal Mail pass into the hands of Daniel Kretinsky, his Slovak-based backers at J&T and a consortium of foreign banks. City advisers have more than a passing interest in getting the sale done with 146million of fees at stake. One should never underestimate the determination of Barclays, Goldman Sachs and other investment bankers advising the IDS, or the bidding banks led by JP Morgan, to get the deal done and burnish revenues and bonuses. Post-haste: The Labour's manifesto promise to robustly scrutinise the 3.6bn offer for Royal Mail owner, International Distribution Services without delay Whatever the commitments made in the course of a takeover, they become much harder to enforce once a company has vanished from the public markets. In the same way Ofwat has never fully managed to lay a glove on Thames Water owners, so Ofcom will face a mammoth task of ensuring the preservation of the Universal Service Obligation once ownership has passed offshore. Similarly, the fate of the 112,000-strong workforce will be hard to police. What should concern Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Chancellor Rachel Reeves is the IDS balance sheet. Thames Waters debt pile of 15.2billion, up 1.3billion from 2023, shows how debt-fuelled deals lead to investment being curtailed and desperate financial crises. By the time the day of reckoning comes, the investment bankers who put the deals together have retreated to their yachts. Royal Mail already has a 2billion debt pile. If the deal goes ahead, this would swell by 2.95billion, around 1billion of which is described as interim finance. Servicing the debt pile will see interest payments flowing to a consortium of overseas banks headed by BNP Paribas. Thats before Kretinsky and his backers reap their rewards. Labour must stop this deal, displace a pathetically weak board headed by Keith Williams and require the company to sort out its own shortcomings. The keys should not be handed to an overseas marauder. Vision thing Tony Blair represents a different generation of Labour but his think-tank is on the money. As helpful as Rachel Reeves planning reforms may be in encouraging growth, they represent old thinking. The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) recognises that artificial intelligence is the real future if the UK is to unlock public services and growth. Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recognised this when he allocated 3.4billion over three years for digital transformation in the NHS. It will be fascinating to see if Reeves sticks with this. There could well be a role for the new National Wealth Fund which is being allocated an extra 7.3billion through projects identified by the UK Infrastructure Bank. The TBI estimates that early adoption of AI in the public sector could produce 10billion of savings in time and money over the next five years and 35billion over a decade. As importantly, it would also mean empowering the UKs AI innovators, the most advanced in Europe. It would curtail the danger of being swallowed by US tech behemoths. Rachel inspired At last, a nice piece about the UK from the perennial doomsayers at the New York Times. They embrace Rachel Reeves as Britains first female finance minister and a disciple of American Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. High praise indeed. Last week several items in my Tesco online grocery shop were missing when it was delivered, so I rejected the order in its entirety. Now Tesco has charged me the delivery fee and says its entitled to do so. Is Tesco not in breach of contract for failing to deliver the goods I ordered? G. Moore, Basildon, Essex. Incomplete: A reader rejected their online grocery order because several items were missing but Tesco still charged a delivery fee Dean Dunham replies: In most situations a contract is formed when the selling party offers goods for sale and the buying party then accepts the offer and pays for the goods. In law, this is referred to as offer, acceptance and consideration and these are the core ingredients needed to form a binding contract. However, the position is often different in the retail sector. Retailers will often cite in their terms and conditions that the advertisement of the goods for sale is an invitation to treat and that your decision to buy amounts to the offer element of the ingredients for the contract, meaning the acceptance element is the retailer accepting your order. Retailers terms and conditions will, therefore, usually say that they only accept your offer at the point they deliver the goods and the affect of this is that if it transpires they cannot deliver typically because they are out of stock they can do so, as at this point no contract has been formed. Unsurprisingly, this is precisely what the Tesco delivery terms and conditions state, so you cannot claim breach of contract. But your question has a better outcome. Section 26 of the Consumer Rights Act states that consumers do not need to accept deliveries in instalments unless this was agreed at the point of purchase. This means that if part of your order is not delivered, as in your case, you can reject the whole order and should not be charged anything for it. The only exception would be where the trader (in your case Tesco) had clearly informed you that there would be a charge if you rejected the whole order because of missing items. My view is that this is not the case here, so you are entitled to a full refund from Tesco. Building contract is all Greek to me I had an extension built and its been a disaster. The builder has done a bad job and failed to meet building regulation requirements. Ive lodged a claim in court but my Greek builder has put a defence in saying that the work has been done to his usual quality and the contract is governed under the laws of Greece so I cannot sue in the English courts. Hes right the contract does say this but I never noticed when I signed it. Where do I stand? S. Kemp, Bedfordshire. Dean Dunham replies: The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says that services such as a builder providing building works must be performed with reasonable care and skill. This is measured by what a reasonable builder would have done, and from what you say, it appears clear that this builders work has fallen below the required standards. Your best evidence for the case here is that the work does not satisfy the building regulations. His defence in this regard is almost certainly going to fail. The next part of his defence (the jurisdiction point) is novel and interesting, but the good news is that it is also going to fail in my opinion. The clause stating that the law of Greece applies to the contract amounts to what the Consumer Rights Act calls a key term and says that such terms must be made prominent to the consumer pre-contract. You clearly did not realise this was in the contract so its unlikely that your builder can satisfy that it was made prominent. Then he will further come unstuck with Section 32 of the Consumer Rights Act, where a clause states that an overseas law applied to a consumer contract is not binding if the contract has a close connection to the UK. Given your works under the contract were being performed at your property in the UK there is clearly a connection to the UK. Terry Smith defended his decision not to add Nvidia to the Fundsmith Equity portfolio, despite the fund lagging the benchmark since January. In a letter to shareholders, the industry veteran said the fund was up 9.3 per cent in the first six months of the year, but still underperformed the MSCI World Index which returned nearly 13 per cent. 'An increase in value of 9 per cent in a year would be in line with the long-term average for equities, so 9 per cent in a half year would normally be cause for celebration except of course that it is less than the index,' he said. Unconvinced: Stockpicker Terry Smith defended not holding Nvidia as the outlook is 'not as predictable' Instead, returns have been concentrated in a few stocks, with nearly half of all S&P 500 returns coming from Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia. Fundsmith Equity owns three of the five stocks, and has overweight positions in Meta and Microsoft, while it says its Apple stake 'remains small as we wait patiently for the stock price to reflect the company's current trading'. A quarter of all returns came from Nvidia, which has had a barnstorming start to the year after demand for its chips rocketed. Despite a $577billion sell-off last month, Nvidia's share price is up 166 per cent year-to-date. Other funds have doubled down on their position in Nvidia. Blue Whale Growth fund, managed by Stephen Yiu, now has the chipmaker among its top 10 holdings. Yiu recently told the Mail on Sunday: 'We have for some time thought Nvidia would become the most valuable company in the world in overtaking Microsoft, it has now achieved that remarkable milestone.' Smith isn't so sure, telling investors: 'We do not own any Nvidia as we have yet to convince ourselves that its outlook is as predictable as we seek. 'Without owning this stock, and indeed the whole five in at least an index weighting, outperformance was difficult to attain.' Shares in Nvidia are up over 150% since the start of the year, despite a sell-off last month Novo Nordisk was the best performer in Fundsmith's portfolio up by 3.4 per cent, followed by Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet, which contributed 2.7, 2 and 1 per cent respectively. Consumer brands, L'Oreal, Nike and Brown Forman were among the biggest detractors. Pet healthcare company Idexx also suffered in the first half of the year, contributing a 0.6 per cent loss. 'A downturn in pet owners visits to vets after the pandemic splurge and troubles in the Chinese economy account for most of the problems and leave us with little concern over the longer term outlook for most of these companies,' said Smith. 'In at least one case the problem is probably not the business but the management.' A luxury summer holiday is off the cards for me this year but a short break overseas is not. The kids are doing their own thing so I feel free to take a gamble on a last-minute bargain. With passport in hand and an open mind, I log on to the internet hoping to discover a cut-price option for the next day. Confronted with so much choice, I take the plunge with travel website Skyscanner and press the 'Explore Everywhere' button. Toby Walne in Biarritz in south-west France, an elegant seaside town on the Basque coast Biarritz has 20 surf schools where you can learn from 'les tontons surfeurs' so it's no wonder the cheapest deals are hostels aimed at surfers 'Lucky Air flights' that immediately catch the eye include a deal to Oslo in Norway for just 15. But when I tap in dates, the offer suddenly vanishes. I find out it was for a one-way trip in September and wonder whether the term 'Lucky Air flights' may be a marketing ruse. I persevere and choose my nearest airport Stansted for my flight out and return and, hey presto, trips to Ireland from 35 and France 39 appear on screen. Seeking an exotic spot, a city break in Cork, as wonderful as it might be, is dismissed. The cheapest France flight arrives at Bordeaux airport at half past midnight the next day not ideal for a relaxing getaway. Yet it also offers a return to Biarritz for 55, a Basque seaside resort just 30 miles north of Spain. The cheapest France flight arrives at Bordeaux airport at half past midnight the next day not ideal for a relaxing getaway Grande Plage beach with Hotel du Palais in the background. Winston Churchill, Pablo Picasso and Charlie Chaplin all stayed here It is an elegant favourite among the French middle-classes and our own royalty rate it too. Queen Victoria used to take the reins navigating a carriage around town pulled by a donkey. Other visitors included Winston Churchill, Pablo Picasso and Charlie Chaplin, who all checked in at the Hotel du Palais taking in La Grande Plage sandy beach below and the glamorous Art Deco casino. This five-star hotel was originally built as Villa Eugenie by Napolean III for his wife in 1854 and was renovated into a luxury hotel following the monarch's downfall in 1870. I whip out my credit card to book the flights. The website seamlessly switches me to Ryanair. The catch is a 6.20am flight out. Despite only living ten miles from the airport, it still means setting the alarm clock for 4am. The 90-minute return home is due in at 10.05pm the following day, so the deal offers two full days of living the French dream. I resist Ryanair's attempt to more than double the price with a 76 'flexi plus' option to choose a seat and to carry on board more than a laptop-sized bag. This bag can measure no more than 40cm by 20cm x 25cm and must fit under the seat in front of me. It provides just enough room for a laptop, notepad and toothbrush but not enough for clothes. The website then announces: 'Oops, something when wrong'. When I refresh the page, this apparent technical glitch has raised the total of my flights to 59 despite me agreeing to pay 33 to go out and 22 back. Unless you travel light, with a bag that fit under the seat and so is free, luggage comes at a hefty extra The cost of travel can add up. We now spend an average of 36 per person on snacks, meals, wifi and duty free at the airport Even so, rolling the dice for a last-minute flight means I may have paid less than the 100 or more I might have expected to pay if I had booked the seat a couple of months earlier. Nightly rates for Biarritz hotels on Skyscanner start at 49 providing offers picked from websites such as Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda. Biarritz has 20 surf schools where you can learn from 'les tontons surfeurs' so no wonder the cheapest deals are hostels aimed at surfers. But for 69, I find the two-star Hotel Les Alizes close to the beach and knock the price down to 62 by visiting the hotel website and booking directly online. Airbnb is another option and for 49 I can 'share with Jeff' but this kind offer does not appeal. Incredibly, the biggest bill I face is getting to and from Stansted Airport. It wants 88 for me to park my car for one-night in its nearest short-stay car park. So, for just 2 more, I pay 44 for a taxi from home to the airport and 46 back (this includes a 7 surcharge charged by the airport for using its pick-up and drop-off areas that is added to the taxi bill). The airport also tries to suck money from my wallet as I jostle my way through the gleaming boutique shops and over-priced cafes and restaurants to the departure gate. According to Holiday Extras, we now spend an average of 36 per person on snacks, meals, wifi, and duty free at the airport. It says that's a 37 pc increase in just two years and meals are up around 9 pc in price. Once on board, I feel rather smug as, despite my bargain tickets, I actually get one of the best spots on the plane. The flight is almost full with mainly French travellers and British holidaymakers who look as if they are jetting off to surf the impressive waves around the Bay of Biscay town. Arriving at Biarritz is a different world to the over-crowded rip-off left behind. Sailing through passport control, I board a 1.40 (1.20) bus to the city centre. Despite having picked up a 3 (2.50) baguette with ham and cheese for breakfast at a local supermarket, my budgeting comes unstuck at the hotel. The room is small and depressing, with the sound of the elevator echoing through the wall every time a guest uses it. Fortunately, hotel receptionist Rebecca is flexible and finds me another room in the three-star Hotel Marbella just next door. I must pay 20 (17) extra but this provides spacious accommodation with a balcony view of the sea. It is easy to justify splashing out extra after I have been so penny-pinching when booking the flights. Prices for meals along the seafront are reasonable 20 (17) for an overflowing plate of locally cured meats with cheese, bread and pickles Prices for meals along the seafront are reasonable 20 (17) for an overflowing plate of locally cured meats with cheese, bread and pickles or grilled local shrimp, salad and chips. The price of a pint Basque beer is 5 (4). The hotel breakfast buffet costs 14 (12) and is a shrewd purchase as it lets me skip lunch. The bill for eating and drinking over two days adds up to about the same price as my flights. Skyscanner is not the only website offering lucky-dip holiday bargains. Wowcher offers a 'Mystery Holiday' from 99 but a key part of this mystery is how they snare customers with images of resorts, such as Barbados in the Caribbean, when the likelihood is you are going to end up being sent somewhere less exotic, such as Bulgaria or Poland. And in summer, you pay at least 129 for your stay. Opodo also offers flight and hotel packages. Tap on 'Anywhere, Surprise Me!' and you can get 'Prime Hottest Deals' that include returns to Prague in Czechia this month for 70 (59) with hotels costing from 80 a night. Others to consider include Cheeky Trip, which has an 'Anywhere' option that might throw up unexpected bargains. For example, flying you to Agadir in Morocco for a seven-night hotel stay with breakfast for 141 this month. Budget airlines such as Wizz Air often have links to discounted hotels on their websites Budget airlines, such as Wizz Air, also have links to discounted hotels. Press on its 'Anywhere' destination link for countries and it throws up unexpected options such as flying from London Luton Airport to Tirana in Albania for 12.99 each way in September with hotels at 19 a night. Sometimes in travel, you do get what you pay for but the cut-price gamble on Biarritz proved the perfect getaway offering great value for money. The cost of flights, hotel and meals for two days ran up to just shy of 200. The real hike in my bill was the shocking cost of getting to Stansted Airport and back or the official car park fee adding 90 to the bill. BP has warned impairment charges could total up to $2billion for the second quarter, partly owing to a review of a major European refinery. The oil supermajor announced plans in March to cut the crude processing capacity of its Gelsenkirchen oil refinery in Germany by a third from next year due to weaker expected future demand. The German facility can process 265,000 barrels of oil per day and comprises two plants and a petrochemicals site. Production targets: BP announced plans in March to cut the crude processing capacity of its Gelsenkirchen oil refinery by a third from 2025 due to weaker expected future demand BP recorded $1.3billion in impairments from the refinery last year, which it claimed primarily reflected 'changes in economic assumptions'. It anticipates further charges from the refinery will contribute to 'asset impairments and associated onerous contract provisions' of between $1billion and $2billion for the April to June period. The London-listed group cautioned that 'significantly lower' refining margins in its customers segment would reduce second-quarter earnings by $500million to $700million (391million to 547million). BP shares had dropped 4.4 per cent to 453.9p by early Tuesday afternoon following its latest trading statement, making them the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 Index. In May, BP revealed its underlying profits nearly halved to 2.2billion in the first three months of 2024 because of a drop in refining margins and oil and gas prices. Gas prices continued declining in the subsequent quarter, averaging $1.89 per million thermal units, compared to $2.25/mmBtu in the opening quarter. However, Brent Crude oil prices rose slightly from $83.16/bbl to almost $85/bbl. Fossil fuel prices remain above historical averages due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and OPEC+ countries like Saudi Arabia extending production cuts. They started rising considerably when Covid-19 restrictions began loosening, since which time BP has enjoyed its two most profitable years ever - 23billion in 2022 and 11billion in 2023. The bumper results have enabled BP to cut its debts while still handing out generous shareholder returns, including 10.2billion last year. Under chief executive Murray Auchincloss, BP has also tempered its environmental plans amid investor pressure, including a halt on new offshore wind projects. Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said BP 'is likely to remain an important part of the energy mix for some time to come. 'It still has one eye on the energy transition, and there appears to be little downward pressure on the oil price in the immediate future. This should keep both cash flow and generous distributions to investors flowing.' Shares in Indivior hit a three-year low after dropping one of its schizophrenia drugs and warning profits will be worse than hoped. The pharma company, whose shares still trade in London despite it shifting its primary listing to New York last month, will stop sales of its Perseris medicine because it said the monthly injection is no longer financially viable. While Indivior will continue to supply the drug for patients for the foreseeable future to avoid disruption to patient care, it will stop marketing the product and has cut 130 jobs. The group, which was spun out of the Cillit Bang owner Reckitt Benckiser (down 0.9 per cent, or 39p, to 4247p) a decade ago, also makes treatments to tackle opioid addiction in the US. Dropped: Indivior will stop sales of its Perseris medicine because it said the monthly injection is no longer financially viable But sales for one of these, known as Sublocade, have declined as fewer patients enrol on to Medicaid in the US. Indivior also agreed to pay $85million (66million) to settle a legal matter that was set to go to trial next week. As a result, the company has slashed its group sales forecast for 2024 and now expects to report lower revenues for Perseris and Sublocade. Shares crashed 36 per cent, or 424.5p, to 756.5p, the lowest level since July 2021. Shares in recruitment firm Page Group also tumbled after it issued its second profit warning of the year. It said workers remained reluctant to move jobs due to underwhelming salary offers. The recruiter expects to make 60million of profit in 2024 down from a previous forecast of 90million. The bleak outlook followed a tough second quarter that included a poor performance in China and saw clients seeking to hire new staff constrained by squeezed budgets. Stock Watch - Abingdon Health Abingdon Healths lateral flow tests are flying off the shelves. The lateral flow technology company is selling its Vitamin D, iron and saliva-based pregnancy kits in 1,300 Boots stores and online. It expects group revenues to have surged 52 per cent to 6.1million in the year to the end of June. Shares rose 7.5 per cent, or 0.75p, to 10.75p. But the stock, which floated at 96p in 2020, has plunged more than 90 per cent since it peaked at 126p in January 2021. The company also axed 153 roles. Shares plunged 4 per cent, or 16.8p, to 405.8p. The sell-off rippled through the industry, with fellow recruiters Hays down 6 per cent, or 5.7p, to 89.95p and Robert Walters losing 2 per cent, or 8p, to 400p. On the wider market, the FTSE 100 fell 0.66 per cent, or 53.68 points, to 8139.81 and the FTSE 250 dipped 0.74 per cent, or 153.3 points, to 20,645.02. Hiscox gave up its gains a day after two rivals in Japan and Italy were reported to be mulling a takeover offer. Shares in the insurer dropped 2.2 per cent, or 28p, to 1239p having risen 13 per cent in the previous session. Housebuilder Vistry is gearing up to play a role in helping the new Government address the countrys housing crisis and deliver affordable homes. The company built around 7,750 homes in the first half of the year up 8 per cent on the same period in 2023. As a result, it remains on track to deliver more than 18,000 homes in 2024. Shares dipped 1.6 per cent, or 21p, to 1271p. Capita, which collects the BBC licence fee, headed in the other direction. The contractor is selling its public sector software business Capita One to the real estate firm MRI Software, which will pay 207million and a dividend of 4.8million for the unit. Capita plans to use the money to shore up its finances and cut debt. Shares soared 21.9 per cent, or 3.4p, to 18.9p. Oil giant Saudi Aramco has invested in internal combustion engine-maker Horse Powertrain The head of the worlds largest oil company said internal combustion engines will be around for a very, very long time as it invests in a new London-based firm. It will be incredibly expensive for the world to completely stamp out, or do without internal combustion engines, Yasser Mufti, executive vice president at Saudi Aramco, told the Financial Times as his firm took a 10 per cent stake worth 580million in Horse Powertrain. Launched by Chinese car maker Geely and Frances Renault, it will make fuel-based engines. They are betting that as the industry stops developing petrol and diesel-fuelled engines, it will start relying on other firms to produce them. Mufti said: If you look at affordability and a lot of other factors, I do think [combustion engines] will be around for a very, very long time. Sales slump: Model Cara Delevingne with a Mulberry handbag Mulberry has replaced its boss after he presided over a sales slump and a collapse in the share price. In a surprise announcement, the British luxury bag-maker where supermodel Cara Delevingne had a bag named after her said chief executive Thierry Andretta has left with immediate effect. The 66-year-old veteran has seen the Mulberry share price fall nearly 90 per cent since he took charge in April 2015. In an update at the end of May, he revealed annual revenues fell 4 per cent last year and warned Mulberry has not been immune to the broader downturn in luxury spending. Andretta, who was paid more than 1million a year and has held senior jobs at Gucci-owner Kering and LVMH, will be replaced by Andrea Baldo, most recently boss of Danish womenswear brand Ganni. Dyson is axeing nearly a third of its UK workforce in a shake-up blamed on increasingly fierce and competitive global markets. The vacuum-cleaner maker, founded in 1991 by inventor Sir James Dyson, will cut around 1,000 of its 3,500 jobs in Britain. The news is a blow to Labour less than a week into the new government but is understood not to be connected to the election result. Job cuts: Dyson, founded in 1991 by inventor Sir James Dyson (pictured), will cut around 1,000 of its 3,500 jobs in Britain Founder Dyson, a prominent Brexit supporter, has been increasingly critical of Britains short-sighted approach to business amid increasing regulations and rising corporation tax. Staff were told of the job cuts yesterday in an email from chief executive Hanno Kirner. He said: We have grown quickly and, like all companies, we review our global structures from time to time to ensure we are prepared for the future. As such, we are proposing changes to our organisation, which may result in redundancies. Kirner acknowledged that the restructuring would be incredibly painful and said those whose jobs are at risk would be supported through the process. Dyson makes a range of products including hand dryers, hair appliances, fans and heaters as well as its vacuum cleaners. The groups UK base is in Wiltshire but it also has offices in London and Bristol. The Mail understands that yesterdays announcement did not mean that UK jobs were being moved overseas. Britain will remain a key location for the companys research and development work. But the decision highlights the difficulties facing the UK in keeping jobs especially after the previous government hiked corporation tax from 19 per cent to 25 per cent. That was cited by drug maker AstraZeneca when it chose last year to build a 320million factory in the Republic of Ireland instead. Dyson has already been axing jobs in recent years, cutting 600 in the UK and 300 overseas at the start of the pandemic. It began moving manufacturing from Wiltshire to Malaysia in 2002. It opened a plant in Singapore to make digital motors in 2013. In a newspaper interview last December Dyson, 77, claimed wealth generation and growth had become dirty words, in a broadside against both the then-Tory government and Labour. Donald Trump could pull in a big boost for his campaign fundraising if he decides to cast aside past grievances and tap 'little Marco' Rubio as his vice presidential running mate. Billionaire Ken Griffin is a longtime Rubio backer, and has indicated he might jump off the sidelines if Trump, who he has slammed in the past, chose the Florida senator as his running mate. 'If Sen. Rubio is the choice there are plenty of donors I'm sure will come along including Ken Griffin, allegedly,' Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski told DailyMail.com. 'I don't know if that's true. But that's what they say. If Marco's on the ticket, maybe Ken comes off the sidelines,' he said. Griffin is one of the most successful hedge funders ever, and his Citadel Capital is packed with holdings of 'Magnificent Seven' stocks like \Nvidia and Amazon, putting his net worth north at $37 billion. Back in 2022, Griffin called for the party to 'move on' from Trump, a 'three-time loser.' Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is on the list of possible Donald Trump running mates. He has a network of Florida backers who could help Trump's TV air war against Joe Biden and the Democrats In May he linked his potential support for Trump to his running mate selection. 'I'm going to wait to see who he picks as his VP candidate,' he told Bloomberg. But he hasn't ruled out getting behind him, as the Trump camp makes outreach to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and tries to unify the party following President Joe Biden's debate stumble. Griffin also appeared at a fundraiser with Sen. Tim Scott, another VP contender. A source told DailyMail.com that 'nothing has changed since Ken last made public comments on this in mid-May' an indication he isn't going to give up his leverage. Rubio and his wife Jeanette Christina Dousdebes Rubio were set to attend Trump's rally in Doral, Florida Tuesday, in the latest sign of their bond. The billionaire's blessing is just one reason Trump might consider naming Rubio, a telegenic lawmaker who knows the Sunday talk show circuit and is steeped in foreign policy issues that could be flashpoints in a vice presidential debate against Kamala Harris. Rubio raised $52 million for his failed 2016 run, but outside groups kicked in another $220 billion, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Rubio, 53, is decades younger than Trump, 78, and could reassure parts of the establishment through his support of Ukraine and more traditional views on U.S. alliances. Trump ridiculed Rubio mercilessly during the 2016 campaign, and Rubio eventually fired back Citadel CEO billionaire Ken Griffin has been staying on the sidelines but could start writing big checks if Trump picks Rubio Rubio memorably went on the attack against Trump in 2016, calling him a 'con man' and trying to get under his skin by mocking the size of his hands, in a bit of pushback for Trump's 'little Marco' monicker. He mockingly said Trump had a 'spray tan' and would 'make American orange,' then asked, 'Have you seen the size of his hands?' But Rubio has become a loyal supporter in the Senate, even while fellow establishment republicans like Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) have condemned him. He has more experience than South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and other contenders when it comes to doing political battle on the airwaves. His top competition includes Burgum, whose own estimated $100 million wealth allows him to cut a check to the campaing and gives him access to the donor class, and Sen. J.D. Vance, who has been demonstrating his fundraising chops on the trail. Vance is backed by megadonor Peter Thiel. As the remains on the short list with just days to go before the start of the GOP convention, Rubio's chief liability remains a legal one. Like Trump, he resides in the state of Florida, and a provision of the 12th Amendment prevents the president and the vice president from residing in the same state. That could put Florida's electors at risk. The odd language states that one of the candidates 'shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves.' 'I don't have a definitive answer. My guess is if Sen. Rubio is picked and decides to continue to be a resident of Florida, then some legal scholar has already vetted this,' said Lewandowski. But he does know which Florida resident won't be moving if the problem persists. 'I don't think Trump moves for anybody. So if somebody's going to be moving, it's not the president,' he said. Party leaders solved a similar problem in 2000 when George W. Bush put Dick Cheney on the ticket, by designating Cheney a Wyoming resident. But Rubio, 53, might be able to sit tight. 'If I were advising Rubio, I would tell him not to change his residency until after the election,' Bob Jarvis, a constitutional law professor at Nova Southeastern University, told NBC Miami. A renowned Melbourne horse trainer has suffered a stroke in Bali after battling from a severe bout of gastro - often referred to as Bali Belly. Mathew Ellerton, 51, was on holiday on the Indonesian island with his partner Leah and their son Jacob when he started vomiting last week. His illness - likely triggered by contaminated food or drink - then grew so serious he became bedridden at their hotel. Ms Ellerton told Daily Mail Australia that she believes that Mr Ellerton was so dehydrated that a blood clot formed in his brain and blocked the flow of oxygen, causing his stroke. While it remains unclear if gastroenteritis - or traveller's diarrhoea - could have led to the medical incident, a senior Australian doctor said 'it's hard to dispute the two events were linked in some way'. The medical practitioner, who wished to remain anonymous, did however admit it was 'difficult to think of a plausible connection between the two'. The family's nightmare began when Mr Ellerton got out of bed and 'just collapsed' in a chair. Ms Ellerton said her partner of 15 years suddenly went pale and broke out in a sweat. Mr Ellerton, Leah and their son Jacob are pictured in Bali before he suffered a stroke 'I had to carry him back into the hotel room and then run and get a doctor,' she recalled. 'I knew that was something very wrong when I got him inside and his face dropped. I was so scared but it was all just a blur.' Mr Ellerton was rushed to the intensive care unit at a nearby hospital where he underwent a thrombectomy to clear the blood clot. He was then medically evacuated from Indonesia and taken to The Royal Melbourne Hospital on Sunday night to recover on the stroke ward. 'He's doing amazing, his face has gone back to normal,' Ms Ellerton said. 'He's talking and he's started walking, it was just his left arm that was affected. 'That was starting to get better by the time we left Bali, it just needs a lot of physio to get it working again, but they're pretty happy with him at the Royal.' Up until the doomed holiday, the energetic dad had appeared fit and healthy but did suffer from high blood pressure which he was treating with medication. Mr Ellerton (pictured at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in 2018) underwent a thrombectomy to clear a blood clot that had formed in his brain Ms Ellerton was lucky enough to be able to 'move things around' and use a credit card to pay for hospital bills expected to cost the family over $50,000. She said their brave young son Jacob had remained strong throughout the horror ordeal in Bali. 'He was amazing but I think it's possibly hit him now he's home,' the worried mum explained. 'He'll be okay, he'll just need a lot of love and attention.' Mr Ellerton will eventually be moved to the rehabilitation ward as the racing community rallies for the respected horse trainer. More than $90,000 has been donated to a GoFundMe started by family friend Melissa Kennewell, who was in Bali when he collapsed. She described the 51-year-old as an 'instrumental part of the racing industry' who is much-loved for his 'humble and unpretentious nature'. Melbourne horse trainer Mathew Ellerton, 51, is pictured with his son Jacob in Bali last week It's understood the Australian Trainers' Association is working with Racing Victoria to help the Ellerton family cover some of his medical bills. Mr Ellerton works as a horse trainer in Flemington, Melbourne, with almost 1,500 races and 15 victories at the highest level under his belt. 'He is a man of strong ethics and has a hands-on approach, ensuring the wellbeing of every horse in his care,' his biography on Ellerton Racing reads. 'He has a natural gift in the evaluation of young horses, adjusting their training accordingly, and providing owners with honest and unbiased feedback. 'Mathews formula has worked for more than 20 years and produced winner after winner in the city or on the provincial circuit.' A Boston-area teacher has been fired for speaking out against critical race theory on social media after a series of her contentious TikTok videos emerged. Kari MacRae, a Bourne School Committee member, was hired as a business teacher at Hanover High School, but was terminated just weeks later over posts she made about gender identification and racism education, the Cape Cod Times previously reported. School officials told her in a letter that keeping her employed at the high school would have 'a significant impact on student learning.' Bourne teachers union and other members of the community were behind her resignation in 2021. McRae claimed it was a 'violation of free speech' and filed a free speech lawsuit suing school officials and the Hanover school district. After she lost the First Amendment case in Massachusetts U.S. District Court she appealed to the higher court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, but on Wednesday lost her First Amendment case federal appeals case against the school district. Kari MacRae, a Bourne School Committee member, was hired as a business teacher at Hanover High School, but was terminated just weeks later Hanover High School is a public school located in Hanover, Massachusetts 'Now on appeal, MacRae implores us to do some course correction and fix what she says the district court got wrong,' the appeals court wrote in its recent decision, the Boston Herald reported. 'After taking the time to carefully review both sides' arguments, however, we conclude that the district court got it right.' Before MacRae was hired at the high school she had been campaigning for a seat on the Bourne School Committee and in her videos spoke about her agenda. In one of the videos she said. 'So pretty much the reason why I ran for school board and the reason why I'm taking on this responsibility is to ensure that students, at least in our town, are not being taught critical race theory. That they're not being taught that the country was built on racism 'They're not being taught that they can choose whether or not they want to be a girl or a boy. 'It's one thing to include and it's one thing to be inclusive. And it's one thing to educate everybody about everything. It's completely another thing to push your agenda.' She added: 'With me on the school board, that won't happen in our town.' MacRae had also shared, liked, posted and reposted several disputable memes on TikTok. After she officially became an elected member of the Bourne School Committee she was hired at Hanover High School - teaching mostly LGBTQ and Black students. The school, however, was unaware of MacRae's controversial social media posts. After she was fired by the school she took the school district to court claiming that they had 'unconstitutionally retaliated against her for exercising her First Amendment rights.' The appeal court cited that MacRae 'did not take her termination on the chin.' School officials 'consistently testified that students would not feel safe or comfortable learning from MacRae, given the potential to perceive some of her posts as transphobic, homophobic, or racist, as per the appeals court. In its ruling, the Appeals Court wrote that many students and teachers were aware of MacRae's posts and were discussing them. They added: 'Given the circumstances both at Bourne and at Hanover, Defendants were eminently reasonable in predicting disruption would be forthcoming if they did not act.' In response to the lawsuit, school officials said preventing disruption to the learning environment outweighed MacRae's First Amendment interests, and the U.S. District Court agreed with the school officials, as per the Herald. MacRae, who resides in Bourne, Massachusetts, is a Republican running for a State Senate seat. Britons should brace themselves for having their family getaway abroad ruined this summer with bad weather set to continue to disrupt flights throughout the busy holiday season. Aviation industry expert Julian Bray issued an ominous warning for Brits to expect to face more turmoil with the weather in Britain 'upside down at the moment' and Hurricane Beryl in America wreaking havoc on aircraft routes. He foresees further issues and backups to flights with delayed planes missing tight 30 second slots to land and take off at airports among the problems that can create a 'domino effect' of chaos in the sky. 'The weather is a big problem at the moment, and it is likely to remain a problem for the rest of this summer because of the weather patterns,' he told MailOnline. Last night, fed-up passengers had to sleep on uncomfortable plastic chairs at Heathrow after torrential rain and storms across the Atlantic grounded dozens of flights. Airline bosses have already warned British tourists they could face travel chaos in the EU because dozens of airports are not ready for post-Brexit fingerprint rules. While a toxic mix of staffing issues, poor backup systems and outdated technology has left airports across Britain at risk of complete meltdown with one glitch potentially ending in chaos for passengers, industry experts have warned. Stranded passengers hunker down for the night at Heathrow last night after dozens of flights were cancelled after storms across the Atlantic cancelled dozens of flights Holidaymakers were spotted surrounded by their luggage and trolleys as they settled down for the night at Heathrow yesterday The check-in area at Heathrow's Terminal 5 yesterday evening was deserted after the desks closed for the night Hurricane Beryl is currently leaving a path of destruction in Texas as it causes tornadoes to sweep through towns and power outages to more than 1.3million homes. Mr Bray blamed that and 'the whole weather system' for blighting aircraft routes. 'The weather is completely upside down at the moment, and the reason that some airlines are affected and other airlines are not affected is quite simply that not all planes do the same route,' he said 'Some planes come in on one route, then they get put onto another flight, then another flight, and it's like a row of dominoes. 'If one of the dominoes falls over, then all the other dominoes fall over, and that causes all the delays and the backups.' Airlines are also struggling to meet a surge in demand for flights since the Covid restrictions were lifted in what are already packed skies. 'The types of aircraft being flown change, because lately we've gone to narrow-bodied aircraft,' he said. 'Now they're actually bringing back the big, wide-bodied aircraft which have been lying parked up in Death Valley or at a boneyard in storage for three or four years. 'Some airlines are bringing those back because of the demand in travel which was released after Covid. 'Everybody said, "look, we've got to get away". So they started booking holidays and trips, and we're now reaping the benefit of that, if you like. 'So everybody wants to get away. But everybody wants to get away at the same time. If people chose unpopular times to fly like midweek they'd probably find it was easier.' Delays at e-gates, invalid passports, and airlines not being able to make aircraft quick enough were also cited by Mr Bray as a potential spanner in the works. There are 'big problems with Spain at the moment, because they've introduced extra controls in the Balearics, Majorca and other places' he said. 'Palma Airport's the worst as British passport holders cannot get through there quickly,' he said. Hurricane Beryl has cut a deadly and devastating path through parts of Mexico and the Caribbean, leaving at least 11 people dead and flattening entire islands before striking Texas Holidaymakers stuck in Terminal 5 at Heathrow last night after bad weather cancelled flights Passengers camped out on the hard plastic chairs after the check-in desks closed on Monday Heathrow's Terminal 5 appeared deserted on Monday night after the check-in desks closed A passenger inside Terminal 5 at Heathrow on Monday evening following flight cancellations The check-in desk area appeared deserted following cancellations on Sunday and Monday A female passengers sites inside Terminal 5 at Heathrow on Monday evening with her luggage Passengers hunker down on the black plastic chairs inside Terminal 5 last night Passengers were stranded due to flight delays and cancellations at Heathrow last night An Aer Lingus plane bounced on the runway as it struggled to land during 73mph winds in January 2024 Planes were grounded at Leeds Bradford airport in Yorkshire in December last year due to bad weather In New York, flights were grounded at JFK in May this year due to bad weather This is the dramatic moment the pilot of a packed passenger jet aborts his landing during the storm in June this year that brought chaos to Majorca's Palma Airport 'Everybody else can. If you're in Europe you can. But unfortunately, as we're out of Europe, it takes us a good 35 to 40 minutes to get through, whereas they [people from countries in the EU] are virtually walking through. 'So that is another thing that is holding things up as well. So as you see, it's one great big domino train.' He described the complex aviation system as like a '400,000 piece jigsaw' that can tumble at any second with it being the norm that flights are cancelled every day. 'So there's a hundred and one things that can go wrong, and this year they are all going wrong, not helped by the weather,' he warned. Last year, BA cancelled 4,033 flights, or 2.3 per cent of the airline's scheduled take-offs, which was markedly higher than the industry's 1.4 per cent average rate. The number, reported by The Times, is nearly twofold that of easyJet, according to figures from aviation analytics business Cirium. Both BA and easyJet are attempting to throw out a High Court case brought against them over claims they must compensate passengers whose flights are severely delayed or cancelled. They both are arguing the case is 'misconceived', The Telegraph reported. More than 10,000 holidaymakers were left in terminal limbo on Sunday when British Airways and easyJet axed dozens of flights, blaming it on air traffic control issues and adverse weather conditions. London's two busiest airports went into a meltdown as easyJet grounded 34 flights at Gatwick on Sunday and nine on Monday. Meanwhile BA axed another 51 at Heathrow on Sunday and a further 31 on Monday. Passengers were hit by a double whammy of rail delays after a signalling failure on the Thameslink line Sunday morning hit trains travelling via Gatwick Airport. While the situation had cleared up at Heathrow by Monday, easyJet were still suffering some delays at Gatwick into the afternoon. 10,000 holidaymakers were left stranded after airlines axed flights in reaction to the weather being 'upside down'. Pictured: Gatwick yesterday afternoon Passengers took to social media to slam easyJet and British Airways for the travel chaos EasyJet confirmed 'some flights across Europe were unfortunately disrupted due to the impact of adverse weather and air traffic control delays.' Furious travellers slammed the airlines on social media and questioned why other carriers flying the 'same route, same day' have not cancelled flights. EasyJet axed flights from Lanzarote, Budapest and Venice alongside flights to Belfast and Edinburgh. And BA cancelled round trips to Rome alongside routes to Naples, Barcelona and Cyprus. Only one flight was cancelled at Manchester and London Stansted - the country's third and fourth largest airports. One person said on X: '@easyJet Why is the @TUIUK flight, same route, same day, not cancelled then? Baffling how easyJet alone suffers so many of these 'beyond control' cancellations? Could it in fact be pilot/ crew shortage per chance??' However, easyJet told the traveller that 'many factors come together that can lead to our flights being disrupted it's never just one thing. If it is due to something that is outside our control or pilot/crew shortage we need to state it as such.' Others revealed how their flights were cancelled as they waited at the gate to board the plane. Another said: '@easyJet absolutely terrible. Flight from Gatwick to Munich Friday 5th July cancelled after we were all at the gate. After only 1 hour delay told the crew were out of hours, really! We were left stranded. Thanks @premierinn for finding us a room. #easyJet #airline fail'. A third person, who this time directed their anger at BA, said: '@British_Airways you cancelled my flight with a few hours noticed causing me to miss a job interview and more importantly my brothers birthday. 'You offered me a 10h Stopover flight the next day instead of my original 2hr30 flight to Heathrow. Please respond to my ticket!' A fourth said: 'To make us sit on a plane for 3 hours to then cancel the flight and give us zero alternatives is an absolute disgrace! Family holiday cancelled, now no doubt I will have to fight tooth and nail for my money back and compensation!' British Airways blamed the weather for their delays - after a night when two aircraft were struck by lightning. Pictured: A passenger shared this image, which they said was taken from the flight on Sunday afternoon A map showed the flight's route travelling on a smooth course before suddenly circling and zigzagging away from Heathrow British Airways blamed the weather for their delays - after a night when two aircraft were struck by lightning. Both planes had to be taken out of service while the company's staff carry out safety checks. A spokesperson said: 'Due to air traffic control restrictions and adverse weather, like other airlines we've had to make a small number of alterations to our schedule. 'We know this will be frustrating for our customers and our teams are working hard to get them onto alternative flights as soon as possible, with the vast majority already booked onto services that will fly later today.' And a spokesperson for easyJet added on Monday: 'easyJet operated around 1800 flights yesterday and is operating a similar number today however some flights yesterday evening and three flights from London Gatwick this morning have unfortunately been disrupted due to the knock-on impact of adverse weather yesterday and air traffic control delays. 'While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused and are providing impacted customers with hotel accommodation and meals as well as a refund or a transfer to an alternative flight.' While low-budget carrier Ryanair has made no cancellations although it did apologise to customers for some delays due to 'repeated air-traffic control staff shortages'. It reads: 'Ryanair, Europe's No.1 airline, on Mon 8 Jul apologised to its passengers for the excessive flight delays caused by European ATC staff shortages today Mon 8 Jul which are affecting all European airlines. 'ATC services, which have had the benefit of no French ATC strike disruption this summer, continue to underperform (despite flight volumes being five per cent behind 2019 levels) with repeated 'staff shortages'. 'On Mon 8 Jul, 21 per cent of Ryanair's first wave departures (134 of 579 aircraft) were delayed due to ATC 'staff shortages'. These repeated flight delays due to ATC mismanagement are unacceptable. 'We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair's control.' British Airways has been contacted for comment. It marks yet another issue after a summer where families trying to get away for the summer have been hit by delays at airports. In late June Heathrow was left in chaos after an IT allocation failure in British Airways' systems left passengers stranded on planes and facing hours of delays collecting their luggage. Furious travellers slammed the airlines on social media and questioned why other carriers flying the 'same route, same day' have not cancelled flights. Pictured: Gatwick yesterday afternoon The UK's busiest airport revealed passengers travelling from Terminal 5 'may be impacted' by the failure in BA's Allocation systems, adding that no other airline has been affected. Video from the Terminal showed massive queues of stricken travellers forming across the airport, as passengers struggled to correctly find their luggage. Footage from inside the transport hub showed enormous queues forming outside BA's baggage claim area in the terminal, as well as the customer assistance desk in the arrivals' area. Customers unleashed their fury as they shared horror stories about trying to calm children having panic attacks and waiting for hours, with one branding the UK a 'third world country'. Just days later stranded holidaymakers hit out at 'disgusting' services after Gatwick Airport suspended all their flights. Passengers faced massive delays, last-minute diversions to other London airports and missed connections after a Boeing 777 British Airways flight had to make an emergency stop on the runway due to 'having hot brakes'. It sparked chaos for thousands of Brits hoping to kick summer off with a holiday as any flights due to take off or land at the airport were temporarily suspended. British tourists have been caught on camera viciously brawling in broad daylight outside Ibiza Airport in shocking scenes that could further inflame tensions with Spanish residents. In the two-minute video, taken at the international airport on Monday, a group of around 10 men are seen gathering just outside an exit labelled 'arrivals', with one passenger in a grey top and shorts seemingly unsteady on his feet. He starts pushing other members of the group, before one in a green t-shirt attempts to stop the man by putting his arms protectively around him. But the tourist then suddenly pushes another man and aggressively pursues him. Another man, dressed in black, springs forward and takes the passenger away as he keeps his friend in a headlock. British tourists have been caught on camera viciously brawling in broad daylight outside Ibiza Airport in scenes that could further inflame tensions with Spanish residents One passenger in a grey top and shorts suddenly began fighting with another man Another man, dressed in black, sprang forward and took the passenger away as the man in the grey t-shirt kept a third man in a headlock He finally releases himself as the passenger wearing a grey t-shirt shouts at the man and they eventually part ways. The disturbing footage was taken just days after thousands of protesters marched through Barcelona on Saturday, waving placards and squirting holidaymakers with water guns in the latest expression of anger at perceived over-tourism in Spain. Under the slogan 'Enough! Let's put limits on tourism', some 2,800 people - according to police - marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit the country every year. The disturbing footage was taken just days after thousands of protestors marched through Barcelona against perceived overtourism in Spain The fight finally dissipated as another passenger desperately tried to keep the men apart The anger has spilled over into the Balearic islands, with ferocity at a high point in Ibiza, considered one of the more popular destinations for tourists. In May, worn down by the decades of antisocial behaviour that includes drinking, vomiting, fighting, drug-taking, nighttime (and broad daylight) sex on the beach and hospitalisations of mostly British visitors who come each year, the Balearic government enacted a clampdown. From May 11, they banned the sale of alcohol in shops between 9.30pm and 8am in the three party zones of Majorca Magaluf, Palma and Llucmajor and San Antonio in Ibiza. The new rules also ban drinking in the street and buying alcohol from grocery stores after 8.30pm - with fines of up to 1,500 (1,350) or rising to 3,000 (2,550) for more serious behaviour breaches. Drink limits have also been introduced at all-inclusive hotels in the notorious tourist hotspots of El Arenal, Playa de Palma in Mallorca, and Sant Antoni in Ibiza in a bid to clamp down on reckless drunken behaviour. Party boats are not allowed to canvas for business on the beaches and all bars must close by 3am. There has also been discussion of introducing a controversial tourist tax to control the flow of visitors. In Barcelona on Saturday, protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Chants of 'Tourists out of our neighbourhood' rang out as some stopped in front of the entrances to hotels. Barcelona's rising cost of housing, up 68 percent in the past decade, is one of the main issues for the movement, along with the effects of tourism on local commerce and working conditions in the city of 1.6 million inhabitants. Rents rose by 18% in June from a year earlier in tourist cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, according to the property website Idealista. Campaigners held up banners saying 'We don't want an island of cement' and 'Tourism, yes but not like this' as they massed outside Ibiza's council HQ in May The protestors' demands include a limit on the number of vehicles that can enter the island in summer and a ban on using taxpayers' cash to promote Ibiza as a tourist destination For years, the city has worn anti-tourist graffiti with messages such as 'tourists go home' aimed at visitors some blame for the rising prices and shaping of the economy around tourists. 'Local shops are closing to make way for stores that do not serve the needs of neighbourhoods. People cannot afford their rents,' said Isa Miralles, a 35-year-old musician who lives in the Barceloneta district. 'I have nothing against tourism, but here in Barcelona we are suffering from an excess of tourism that has made our city unliveable,' said Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist. Similar demonstrations have taken place in recent weeks in such tourist hotspots such as Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands. Towards the end of May, one such protest was held in Ibiza. As many as 1,000 protestors marched against mass tourism amid backlash at boozy UK holidaymakers. Campaigners held up banners saying 'We don't want an island of cement' and 'Tourism, yes but not like this' as they massed outside the island's council HQ. The organisers of the Ibiza demo, a group called Prou Eivissa - which literally translates to 'Enough Ibiza', met with Ibiza's president Vicent Mari before taking to the streets. The protestors' demands include a limit on the number of vehicles that can enter the island in summer and a ban on using taxpayers' cash to promote Ibiza as a tourist destination. Tourists, typically British, often flock to the Balearic Islands for a rowdy holiday - something many of the locals despise In the run-up to the protest, organisers said: 'Our beautiful island is in danger. Tourist crowds not only affect our quality of life, but also the beauty and authenticity that makes Ibiza such a special place. 'Tourist overcrowding makes the cost of living unattainable for many residents. 'We fight for an Ibiza where we can all live in dignity. It is time to raise our voices and protect our home.' A Prou Eivissa spokesman said: 'We don't want no tourism but we want a different tourism. 'We want some controls. We want our lovely island back.' Spain received 85 million foreign visitors in 2023, an increase of 18.7 percent from the previous year, according to the National Statistics Institute. The most visited region was Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, with 18 million, followed by the Balearic Islands (14.4 million) and the Canary Islands (13.9 million). A teenage suspect was shot by US Marshals on Friday after allegedly attempting to carjack Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's federal bodyguards outside her home, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it was investigating a shooting that took place in the Northwest Washington, DC. where two marshals were on-duty working 'a protective detail' in the early hours of July 5. A Deputy US Marshal was sitting in his car outside the top judge's condominium at 1:15am when 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers approached, pointed a handgun at him, and tried to steal his vehicle, according to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com. Local police issued a press release about the incident last week, but did not mention its connection to Sotomayor. 'The suspect exited a vehicle, approached one of the Marshals, and pointed a handgun at him in an apparent attempt to carjack him,' a DC Metropolitan Police Department press release said. 'The Marshal drew his service weapon and fired several shots at the suspect. A second Marshal from another vehicle also responded and fired his service weapon. US Deputy Marshals were on-duty working a protective detail near Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's DC home on Friday when the incident unfolded, police said A police report obtained by DailyMail.com revealed the incident took place on 11th Street in northwest DC where Sotomayor owns a condo 'The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. No law enforcement officers were injured.' Flowers, 18, was arrested and charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. A police report obtained by DailyMail.com revealed the location of the incident at a residential street in North West DC where Sotomayor owns a condo, and the US Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed to DailyMail.com that the officers involved were part of her protection team. The report said police recovered the black and silver Smith & Wesson 40VE handgun Flowers allegedly used for the attempted carjacking. The Metro PD report named the first Marshal as 'Deputy US Marshal Black', and did not name the second officer. 'The Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in the shooting incident were part of the unit protecting the residences of U.S. Supreme Court justices,' a USMS spokeswoman told DailyMail.com. 'As a general practice, the U.S. Marshals don't discuss specifics of protective details. 'USMS does not disclose the names of personnel involved in shooting incidents until all investigations are complete.' A statement of facts filed in DC district court by Deputy US Marshal Tyler Wells on Friday said that Flowers pulled up at 1:17am in a silver mini-van, got out and pointed his gun through the driver's side window of the federal officer's unmarked car parked on 11th Street. 'The Complainant pulled out his department issued firearm and fired approximately four times at Defendant Flowers through the window, striking Flowers in the mouth,' the July 5 filing said. 'The Complainant provided first aid to Flowers, while the silver van fled the scene traveling northbound on 11th Street Northwest.' The report said police recovered the black and silver Smith & Wesson 40VE handgun Flowers allegedly used for the attempted carjacking Flowers was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested and charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device Local police issued a press release about the incident last week, but did not mention its connection to Sotomayor The Marshals found a matching silver 2017 Toyota Sienna mini-van in a database of jacked vehicles, but have not yet recovered the car or driver. The shooting is under investigation by the PD's Internal Affairs Division Force Investigations Team, and the department said the case 'will be independently reviewed by the United States Attorney's Office.' It is not the first high-profile attempted car-related theft in DC in recent months. On November 12, 2023 Secret Service agents stationed outside the home of President Joe Biden's granddaughter Naomi opened fire on two teens who were fleeing after allegedly stealing over $1,000 of gear from a black Ford Expedition 'used for members of the first family', according to court documents. Robert Kemp, 19, was arrested on February 7. A 14-year-old male accomplice was arrested later that month after a separate alleged armed carjacking. An affidavit from a Secret Service agent says the boy was wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle bracelet during the theft from Naomi's car. Last October, Congressman Henry Cuellar was carjacked at gunpoint near his DC home by three armed robbers in knit caps and ski masks. Texas Republican Cuellar was unharmed. Law enforcement eventually retrieved the car. His phone and computer were also recovered from his white Toyota crossover as well as his dinner he had bought from Whole Foods. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts, along with Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh stand in the House of Representatives ahead of US President Joe Biden's third State of the Union address in March 'What really got me upset was they took my sushi,' the congressman told CNN at the time. DC police reported more than 900 carjackings and over 6,000 stolen vehicles in 2023, a sharp rise on the previous year. The DC council member for the district where Sotomayor's condo is located, Brianne Nadeau, is facing a recall motion for supporting the Defund the Police movement. A group campaigning for her recall said Nadeau voted for budgets that 'defunded the police by $15million' and 'passed legislation to reduce penalties on violent crime, illegal gun crimes, and carjackings'. On their website, the Committee to Recall Brianne Nadeau points to DC crime data showing a 100% increase in homicides, 56% increase in assaults with a dangerous weapon, and 48% increase in motor vehicle theft between 2022 and 2023. Sotomayor bought her DC two-bed condo in 2012 for $660,000, now estimates it to be worth $861,480. The New York Times described the area as 'scruffy' in a 2013 story about her purchase, but Sotomayor said it reminded her of her New York East Village roots. 'It has a touch of the East Village in it,' she told the paper. 'I picked it because it's mixed. I walk out and I see all kinds of people, which is the environment I grew up in and the environment I love.' A woman who appeared on the Polish version of Love Island has pleaded guilty to being a cocaine courier in a 53million drug smuggling operation in the UK. Magdalena Sadlo appeared at Carlisle crown court last Friday, where she admitted to conspiring to supply the class A drug between March 2022 and May last year. Described as one of the UK's largest ever drug busts, the 29-year-old was seized by police after flying into Heathrow from Dubai as part of an investigation codenamed Operation Matrix. The Love Island star who appeared on the show's third season in 2021, described herself at the time as living in London and being a 'spontaneous, self-confident blonde who you can count on'. She added that she had previously 'stolen' another woman's boyfriend. Sadlo was put into the show's Casa Amor (House of Love) where she was to try and lure male contestants away from their partners. Magdalena Sadlo (pictured) appeared on the third season of the Polish Love Island in 2021 She described herself at the time as living in London and being a 'spontaneous, self-confident blonde who you can count on'. Sadlo is pictured on the far left According to her LinkedIn page, prior to the show Sadlo worked in sales, including at Ascot, before co-founding a luxury yacht rental company in Dubai at the beginning of 2024 But she was voted off after viewers severely criticised her for having 'scary lips' and looking like she had 'fell into a beehive'. According to her LinkedIn page, prior to the show Sadlo worked in sales, including at Ascot, before co-founding a luxury yacht rental company in Dubai at the beginning of 2024. Specialising in 'Hospitality & VIP Experiences', the company said it offered a 'one-stop shop for all boat rental and events.' The company's website said: 'From birthdays that sparkle on the sea to picture-perfect proposals, intimate engagement parties, sophisticated dinner soirees, to high-stakes corporate gatheringswe captain it all!' Sadlo, who was previously registered at an address in Ingleton, Bracknell, Berkshire, has now been remanded in custody until sentencing later this year. Carlisle Crown Court heard how huge amounts of cocaine were imported into the UK before being distributed nationwide by an organised crime gang. Sadlo (pictured), who was previously registered at an address in Ingleton, Bracknell, Berkshire, has now been remanded in custody until sentencing later this year In March this year, nine men were given jail sentences totalling more than 106 years for their involvement. Prosecutor Tim Evans said at the sentencing hearing: 'This is Amazon-style drug-dealing with that level of organisation and commerciality about it.' The massive county lines cocaine supply plot was blown apart after a drug seizure in the Lake District. After finding 1kg of cocaine in Bowness-on-Windermere, cops nabbed a number of suspects and seized phones providing damning evidence of the true scale of the operation and of those involved. It wasnt until he found 10 tons of soil on a bedroom floor that Charles Reeves, 57, realised that the tenants in his 3million London home had turned it into a cannabis farm. We had so many happy memories as a family in that house, he says. But now theyve been ruined. The growers completely wrecked the place and its cost 80,000 to repair. The experience has been very damaging we feel utterly violated. But Charless horror story is by no means unique. Kwex Nwachukwu, 40, found out his tenants were cannabis farmers when neighbours sent CCTV footage of two men, one with a machete, kicking down the front door of his 215,000 rental property in Birmingham. Charles Reeves, 57, found 10 tons of soil on a bedroom floor in his 3million London home His neighbours told him that they had seen men acting suspiciously at the property And Melanie Ralph, living and working in Singapore with her family, couldnt believe that the wealthy entrepreneur who rented her 1.6million oast house in Kent for 3,200 a month was really a cannabis grower who went on to cause 75,000 worth of damage. These middle-class landlords are among increasing numbers being stung by seemingly innocent tenants, who provide sophisticated ID and references before taking over flats and houses and turning them into labs for growing vast quantities of marijuana. Within days, the farmers usually dismantle the inside of the property, punching holes in walls and ceilings for electrical cables, ventilation and irrigation systems designed to make the plants grow as fast as possible. A successful cannabis-farming operation in an average-sized family house could produce three crops a year, with an estimated street value of between 750,000 and 1 million. But in the process, the house will be wrecked. It will carry the heavy smell of marijuana for years, while electrical and water meters will be bypassed, leaving the property in a highly dangerous condition. Cannabis farms are being uncovered with depressing regularity in the UK and, where once they were generally in large scale industrial units, remote warehouses and disused farm buildings, the police are increasingly finding smaller-scale cannabis farms in residential rental properties on unremarkable suburban streets, says Suzy Hershman, head of dispute adjudication at MyDeposits, the government-authorised tenancy deposit protection provider. Once the tenancy is secured, the criminal gangs move in, with homes often completely destroyed. Internal walls are frequently removed and floorboards ripped up to make room for hydroponics systems, high-intensity lighting and ventilation shafts, which all represent a major risk to the integrity of the property. There are no official figures for the number of cannabis farms operating from rented properties in the UK but, anecdotally, most in the sector agree they are on the rise. In London alone, police discovered 1,056 between 2018 and 2023, but this is likely to be only the tip of a very big iceberg, as most go undetected. According to the Guild of Residential Landlords: Around 90 per cent of the cannabis used in the UK is supplied from farms operating from rented homes. One of these belonged to Charles Reeves, a sound-mixing engineer who has worked with musicians such as Prince, UB40, Howard Jones, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Grace Jones. Kwex Nwachukwu, 40, found out his tenants were cannabis farmers when neighbours sent CCTV footage of two men kicking down the front door of his rental property in Birmingham He and his wife, Julia, moved out of their four-bedroom Islington house, complete with a mixing studio, towards the end of the Covid pandemic. Julias parents in New York had been unwell and the couple wanted to be closer to them. Tenants were found through a large letting agent and a 5,000-a-month contract was signed, valid for a year-and-a-half. That went well, but when that lease ended, the property was left empty. Britain had slipped into a recession, so people were a little bit wary about spending money, says Charles. The place was empty for about two months and we were getting nervous because it is very expensive to run. Then, out of the blue, this small agency contacted us. They said they had the perfect tenant; his credit checked out, he had a great job and a small family. He just wanted to live closer to the City to be near work. And they offered us a really competitive rate. We got his deposit, he moved in last June [2023], and then, nothing. No rent, no contact. Nothing. After a while, the agent responded to emails from Charles to say that the tenant had fallen on hard times. Charles offered to come to an arrangement but, again, nothing came back. It became clear that the agent and tenant were stalling. My wife hired a private investigator and found that the letting agents website was fake, and the agent [who cannot be named for legal reasons] and the tenant were all part of the same group of people, so we began eviction proceedings, says Charles. In January, he was granted legal possession of the property again and, in a manner he now accepts was risky, he went there and knocked on the door. He had previously walked past the house and begun to suspect something was very wrong all the windows were blacked out. His neighbours had told him that they had seen men acting suspiciously and one had been threatened after taking a photo. Eventually, after an hour of knocking, a man answered and Charles told him to leave immediately. I said, Just get your stuff and go right now, otherwise the police will be here to help you leave. He was suddenly panicked and he and two other men came out, slammed the door behind them and ran down the street. The men, described by Charles as Albanian, had changed the locks. He called a locksmith, who took an hour to get into the house. What Charles found has left him emotionally scarred. Melanie Ralph rented out her 1.6million house in Kent for 3,200 a month to what she thought was a wealthy entrepreneur The cannabis grower caused 75,000 worth of damage to Melanie's award-winning oast house, designed by her father-in-law, architect George Ralph, in the 1980s I stepped in and the first thing I noticed was all this heat and lots of loud fans all over the house, he says. There were space heaters everywhere and wiring running up the stairwell. There was also a strong smell of weed. Charles even found footprints on walls. Then, at the entrance to an upstairs bedroom, he saw a tarpaulin on the door being sucked in by air pressure. I pulled it back and there were hundreds of cannabis plants and all these grow lights suspended from the ceiling, he says. There was ductwork, and weird plug and fuse boxes they had installed all over the place. Directly next door, which used to be my bedroom, there was 3ft of soil covering the floor. We worked out it weighed 10 tons. I didnt even imagine it could take that weight. He says the bedroom of one of his two daughters had been lined with plastic and kitted out with lights, ready for more soil to be laid. There was 80,000 worth of damage to the infrastructure of the property, but his landlords insurance only covered 25,000. We feel like weve been violated and the house has been defiled, says Charles. My connection to my home is very different now because it feels like the place was stolen from me, even though I still own it. The house that was ours has been taken away for ever. Charles says he wishes he had made his own credit checks on his tenant, rather than relying on a letting agent that turned out to be bogus, but he was in New York and the previous tenancy had run smoothly; he had no reason to suspect the next one wouldnt. Unfortunately for landlords, insurance companies will often not pay out for damage caused by cannabis farming if it transpires that proper credit and reference checks werent carried out before the property was let. Its crucial to have comprehensive landlord insurance that covers malicious damage by tenants or their guests, as most standard policies exclude cover if the damage results from a cannabis farm, says Steve Barnes, head of broking at Total Landlord Insurance. Melanie Ralph had used a letting agent to check on a prospective tenant for the oast house that her father-in-law, architect George Ralph, had designed in the 1980s, winning an award for it in 1994. It had been sold but was bought back by Melanie and her family as a place to return to following nine years living in Singapore where they ran a business consultancy. In the meantime, a letting agent was employed to find a tenant and came up with the CEO of his own company. Melanies property maintenance agent, Mark North of Trust Property Maintenance Services, says the tenant supposedly provided evidence of identity and income to the letting agent but they turned out to be bogus. Melanies brother-in-law, Garry Ralph, became suspicious when the new tenant declined a meeting so Mark could show him how everything in the property worked. When he noticed later that the windows had been blacked out, he attempted to make contact with the tenant but he refused to come to the front door. A cannabis-farming operation in an family home could produce three crops a year, with an estimated street value of between 750,000 and 1million After several weeks of trying to gain lawful entry, they got in and were shocked to find one of the rooms carpeted in soil, while holes pockmarked the walls and ceilings, cannabis leaves lay on the floor and entire rooms were sealed and taped up ready for plants.Also, supports in the conical oast house roof had been removed to provide ventilation for the plants. We were devastated by the damage, says Melanie. Repairing it has cost us tens of thousands of pounds, and it is still not fully restored. We suspect that criminals target properties where the landlord lives abroad, like us. Her advice for landlords would be to do their own credit searches. After carrying out a few basic checks that took us a few minutes, we discovered that the tenants company had only been established for a few months, contrary to his claims of years of employment, she says. The agent hadnt even checked for a company website simple steps that could have raised red flags. In spite of what her family has been through, Melanie remains stoic. Were incredibly proud of my father-in-laws achievement with the house, and we refuse to let the vile criminals who tried to trash it ruin its legacy, she says. The National Residential Landlords Association has identified warning signs that might indicate cannabis farmers are trying to rent a property. It says they are often overly eager to pay several months rent up front, especially in cash. They want the tenancy to start immediately after suggesting that references are an unnecessary expense, and they request complete privacy. Once they have moved in, they refuse inspections, deny access to the property, fail to respond to communications, change locks and install security systems without asking permission. IT solutions consultant Kwex Nwachukwu was stung after becoming involved in a rent-to-rent scheme, whereby his tenant, or property manager, was allowed to sub-let his three-bed property in Birmingham room by room to maximise income, which would be shared. Unfortunately, his property manager inadvertently let it to some cannabis farmers. He told me at one point that there was a problem, but he was sorting it out, says Kwex. He contacted the police, but later the growers smashed in the door to retrieve their equipment. When the manager stopped replying to the police, they called me, and thats when I found out the full extent of what was going on. His property manager who was not involved in the cannabis operation panicked and gave the property back to Kwex, leaving him with a 15,000 repair bill. It is hardly surprising that he got scared. Neighbours have sent Kwex CCTV footage of two men arriving at the property in an apparent dispute over the cannabis grown inside. One of them has a machete and theyre trying to kick down the front door, he says. Then they try to get in through the back door. As they do, two growers in bare feet run out the front door. Theyre literally running for their lives. The neighbour called the police. If the criminals hadnt had that argument, they could still be there growing today. The police say they take the scourge of cannabis farming in rented properties very seriously. Chief Constable Richard Lewis, drugs lead for the National Police Chiefs Council, says: Policing will always pursue offenders, but it is equally important that communities work with us and share information about what they see, hear and find suspicious. However, some of the victims I talked to disagree that the police will always pursue offenders. When Metropolitan police officers came to Charles Reevess home, he offered them film he had taken of one of the growers and pointed out beer bottles, clothes, debris even a diary that could have provided DNA and fingerprint evidence, but none was taken away. The police say they take the scourge of cannabis farming in rented properties very seriously He heard nothing from the police for six months, until his story was featured on a BBC news report. I was called by a detective sergeant who knew nothing about all this forensic evidence and very little about my case, says Charles. Similarly, when Met police went to Melanies house in Bromley, property manager Mark showed them lots of items that could have provided DNA or fingerprint evidence. The police did not take any of them away. All the family received was a crime number and there has been no contact since. There have been no repercussions for the people who ruined our property and we have been left to foot the bill completely, says Melanie. I asked the Met police why potentially vital forensic evidence wasnt gathered, and whether it took such criminality seriously. A spokesman said: We are dedicated to tackling drug dealing, prioritising community concerns, and making London safer. Our response in Bromley fell short of expected standards and we apologise to the victim for the service they received. We will be reopening the case and contacting them. Officers continue to investigate the incident in Islington enquiries remain ongoing and we will update the victim. It is certain these victims will not be the last, for while cannabis remains a lucrative crop, growers will cast an envious eye over large, empty properties. Millions of British tourists flock to the Spanish island of Tenerife each year in search of an affordable holiday with guaranteed sunshine. From the infamous party strips in Playa de las Americas to the challenging hikes in the rugged mountains, Tenerife attracts holidaymakers from far and wide. Three weeks ago, 19-year-old Jay Slater found himself experiencing both sides of Tenerife - having ended up at an Airbnb with two men near the remote Rural de Teno national park following a night out on the Veronicas strip, which is an hour away. The apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle, near Lancashire, has not been seen since the morning of June 17 - and his mysterious disappearance has been the subject of huge interest. Jay left the Airbnb at around 8am and decided to try and walk back to his accommodation because there was no bus. He called his friend Lucy Mae Law at around 8.50am, telling her 'his phone was down to one per cent, he was lost and thirsty' before the line went. Police and mountain rescue teams using dogs, drones and a helicopter spent 13 days looking for him in the unforgiving Masca valley - where his phone last pinged - before calling the search off on June 30. MailOnline revealed yesterday that ruthless British drug dealers are fighting with the Italian mafia for control of the drugs trade in Tenerife, prompting fears that Jay has somehow been sucked into the island's murky underground world. Jay joins a long list of Brits and other tourists who have vanished on Tenerife over the years - many last seen in the vibrant Playa de las Americas resort. The teenager was the 11th person to go missing on Tenerife in just six months - with other cases still unsolved almost 40 years later. Jay Slater (pictured) is the latest young tourist to go missing on the Spanish island of Tenerife Mariel Gonzalez Gutierrez and Sebastian Cobos Gonzalez The 27-year-old Mexican mother and her two-year-old son were reported missing on March 21 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The SOS Desaparecidos Association has said it is probing a possible case of child abduction and it is feared that Sebastian could have 'left the national territory'. Spanish paper El Espanol reports that a judge had ordered Sebastian's passport to be withdrawn while his parents fought custody, with 'shared guardianship' having been agreed previously. Mariel Gonzalez Gutierrez and her son Sebastian Cobos Gonzalez were reported missing on March 21 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Natalia Belavus and Vladimir Marcella The mother and son, from Belarus, were reported missing on March 27. The SOS Desaparecidos Association has since said they suspect the case to be 'parental abduction'. Natalia, 28, and her son have been pictured on social media since, according to local reports. Natalia Belavus and her son Vladimir Marcella were reported missing on March 27 Marc Francis Olbrechts The 71-year-old, thought to be a Belgian national, disappeared on April 24. He was last seen in Adeje, southwest Tenerife, according to the SOS Desaparecidos Association, which issues appeals on the island., Local newspaper Canarian Weekly has reported that Marc's wife, 66-year-old Laura Gaston, was found floating off the coast of Tenerife near Arico by a fisherman. There was a bag over her head and she was missing one hand and both legs, according to reports. Three people were arrested following Laura's death, two in Belgium and one in Tenerife. 'Neighbours saw them leaving on foot for a yoga class in the village on Monday evening,' a friend of Laura's told Belgian newspaper 7sur7 in the days after they went missing. 'They looked happy, they were just enjoying their life on the island.' Marc Francis Olbrechts disappeared on April 24. His wife was found floating in the sea Marek Siedlecki The Polish national was reported missing on June 14 - three days before Jay Slater vanished. He was said to be heading towards Lanzarote, where he intended to fly back home. Polish media reports that Marek was sailing his boat Nautis and was last spotted in the water. 'After several phone calls with experienced sailors, we suspect that the electrics and steering have failed, as a result of which the yacht is drifting without the possibility of reaching any port,' Marek's son Przemysaw told Polsat news. The Polish national was reported missing on June 14 - three days before Jay Slater vanished. Noelia Hernandez Martin The 17-year-old girl was reported missing on January 23 from San Cristobal de La Laguna in northern Tenerife. Noelia Hernandez Martin was reported missing on January 23 from San Cristobal de La Laguna in northern Tenerife Marek J Marek vanished from Vallerhermosa, a village in La Gomera, on June 8. The 51-year-old is around 180cm and 80kg - but officials have not disclosed where exactly he was last located. Marek vanished from Vallerhermosa, a village in La Gomera, on June 8 Juan Cabrera Gonzalez The 60-year-old was reported missing on January 13. He was last seen in La Oratava. He is described as having grey hair and brown eyes. Juan was last seen wearing a blue tracksuit with a white stripe and boots that had metal zips on. Juan Cabrera Gonzalez was last seen in La Oratava Rayco Garcia Diaz Rayco was reported missing on March 15 in Barranco Hondo-Candelaria, in Tenerife. He was said to be driving a silver Ford KA at the time. Police say the 44-year-old, who was wearing a black jacket and black trainers, is considered 'vulnerable'. Rayco was reported missing on March 15 in Barranco Hondo-Candelaria, in Tenerife Ryan Cooney The 28-year-old, from Ireland, vanished after he was allegedly attacked and robbed while holidaying in Tenerife last November. He was last seen at an apartment complex in Playa de las Americas on November 9, but the only trace of him was his passport. After several days of desperate appeals and his family flying to Tenerife, Ryan suddenly reappeared on November 13. His friend James Burke said: 'Words can't describe how I'm feeling right now. This is unreal, this doesn't happen. I'm so happy. 'Thank you so much to everyone, my best mate is found safe, he's coming home.' After several days of desperate appeals and his family flying to Tenerife, Ryan Cooney (pictured) suddenly reappeared on November 13 Jay Slater The discovery of Ryan Cooney offers a glimmer of hope for the family of Jay Slater who have been searching for answers since the teenager went missing in Tenerife on June 17. The 19-year-old was partying with friends at the Papagayo beach club in Playa de las Americas for the final night of the three-day NRG festival. He then went back to a 40-a-night Airbnb with convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim and another mystery man in the early hours of June 17. Qassim, 31, was one of the last people to see Jay before he called a friend to say he was walking home and vanished without a trace. He has not been seen or heard from after last being seen on Monday, June 17. He was last seen just after 8am by a witness who said he was walking back to his hotel in the party resort of Playa de las Americas after missing a bus. Spanish police have described the two men as 'irrelevant' to the investigation. The disappearance of British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife has shone a spotlight on the holiday island's dance music scene and its lucrative drugs trade. Jay is pictured here in the early hours of the morning on June 17 at Papagayo nightclub on the notorious Veronicas Strip Veronicas Strip is in the popular party resort of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife Before Jay went missing he spent time with convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim, 31, and another mystery man. Qassim (pictured) was jailed nine years ago for being the ringleader of a sophisticated operation to flood the streets of Wales with heroin and crack cocaine A map showing Jay Slater's last known movements before he disappeared Earlier this week, Qassim told MailOnline he had invited the teenager back to the cottage in the village of Masca because his friends had left him at an end-of-festival after party. TV sleuth Mark Williams-Thomas has since interviewed Qassim who claimed to have offered Jay a lift back to his hotel after he slept, but was turned down as he was hungry and 'wanted some scran'. He revealed that Qassim said that Jay had been eager to leave the Airbnb on waking up the next morning and a neighbour had told him about a bus that could take him back. He said: 'Qassim said to him 'Chill, mate, I'll drop you off later, when I wake up' but he said Jay said 'nah, I need some scran, I'm hungry'. 'Jay said he had been told by the woman the bus to Los Cristianos was every ten minutes and Qassim said there was no bus and added 'Do what you like' before going to sleep.' Jay (right) pictured alongside his mother Debbie and brother Zak (left) who flew out to Tenerife after his disappearance Missing Jay posted a final picture at 7.30am on Snapchat from the house of 'two English lads' an hour before phoning his friend Lucy. The video was taken on the same doorstep as Qassim's video Mr Williams-Thomas added: 'Qassim says the next thing he remembers is getting a call from one of Jay's friends to say he is lying in a ditch somewhere and that he's been 'bitten by a cactus'.' Jay's phone last pinged in an area of the Masca valley, where police concentrated their search for 13 days before calling it off on June 30. His tragic disappearance has been subjected to cruel conspiracy theories from internet sleuths online, which his family - who are in Tenerife - have condemned. Jay was among 11 people who have disappeared on Tenerife in just six months - but other missing cases on the island remain unsolved, while some had tragic outcomes. Billy Bennett The 18-year-old, from Holborn, London, vanished from his holiday in Tenerife on December 1, 1985. The teenager had planned to go to the Spanish island with a friend but when they dropped out at the last minute, he decided to power ahead on his own. It is known that Billy stayed at the Las Americas resort and was often spotted at the Sergeant Peppers nightclub. His friend flew out later with his girlfriend, but insisted he only met up with Billy a handful of times. He claimed that Billy seemed 'worse for wear' on one occasion, saying he had lost his money and had nowhere to stay. His whereabouts are unknown to this day. 18-year-old Billy Bennett (pictured), from Holborn, London, vanished from his holiday in Tenerife on December 1, 1985 Ricky D'Cotta The 23-year-old, from London, travelled to Tenerife in March 1987 because he wanted to explore the 80s club scene - but never returned. He started working at the Sergeant Peppers Disco Pub in the Playa de las Americas resort. Ricky last spoke to his family in October 1987, telling them he would be coming home soon. However, his family never heard from him again. Shortly after he vanished, Ricky's passport and a bag were handed to the police. In 2001, a Channel 4 documentary called Looking for Ricky revealed that five unidentified bodies were found, one of which could have been his. However, DNA tests were inconclusive, while Ricky's best friend alleged he had been murdered after a botched robbery of a local drugs baron. The documentary looks back on possible sightings, including one where he was apparently walking around the island claiming to be Jesus, another wearing an expensive white suit and a third in a south London clothes shop. Despite desperate attempts to find Ricky, he has never been found. His mother and sister were said to 'remain in a limbo between grief and hope'. Ricky D'Cotta (pictured), from London, travelled to Tenerife in March 1987 because he wanted to explore the 80s club scene - but never returned Kevin Ainley It was 20 years last month when Kevin Ainley vanished in Tenerife aged 24. Kevin, from Lancashire, went missing in June 2004, having moved to Playa de las Americas in March that year. He was working as a promoter at the Sportsman bar in a popular area known as 'the patch'. The 24-year-old had spent the night in bars and clubs with a friend before they went for dinner at Merlins Chinese buffet restaurant. He was last spotted walking towards the Sportsman bar after finishing the meal. But when he did not turn up for his shift, his friends raised the alarm with police and his family back home. Kevin Ainley (pictured), from Lancashire, went missing in June 2004, having moved to Playa de las Americas in March that year. His passport and personal belongings were later found in his apartment, but he has never been found. In 2016, his sister Brooke said the family was 'desperate for answers'. She told the BBC: 'It is no exaggeration to say we have been put through 12 years of hell. Somebody must know something'. In 2005, two British police officers from Lancashire travelled to Tenerife to help Spanish police - but no substantial leads were discovered. They appealed to anyone regarding a possible altercation between Kevin and staff at the Cafe Del Moar in the early hours of the morning he vanished. He was wearing a dark t-shirt and blue Ellesse tracksuit when he went missing. He is described as 5ft 10in, medium build, with blue eyes and brown short hair. He also has distinctive tattoos including the name 'Kevin', a little devil and a Native American woman on his arm. Peter Wilson The father-of-two lay undiscovered in Tenerife for almost two years after taking one wrong turn on his way home. The 34-year-old had travelled to the island on March 22 2019 from Dublin and checked into the Malibu Park Hotel, Costa Adeja, in Santa Crus. The following day, he went to watch the Ireland vs Gibraltar game in nearby Playa de las Americas. He returned to his hotel in the afternoon before heading back to the party resort that evening. Peter was last spotted close to where the taxi dropped him off before vanishing without a trace. His devastated family travelled to Tenerife to try and find him and launched a Facebook group. Amid fears he had been kidnapped or murdered, Peter's body was eventually discovered after it emerged he fell down a steep drop next to a shopping centre. Peter Wilson lay undiscovered in Tenerife for almost two years after taking one wrong turn on his way home. His body was eventually found after he fell down a steep drop by a shopping mall His devastated mother Jacky Wilson told the Irish Sunday Mirror in 2021: 'On January 11, my nephews called to tell us that human remains had been discovered in Tenerife. 'No words can describe the utter devastation and heartbreak we felt that day, as we always held that little glimmer of hope that he would walk through the door. 'That hope was dashed but, after the shock, there was a great sense of relief that finally, after nearly two years of searching, we would get to bring him home. 'Peter's death was the result of a tragic accident. No foul play is suspected so that's a big relief to us. He obviously got disoriented and lost his way.' How the shady criminal underworld of Tenerife is rife with ruthless British drug dealers battling Italian mafia for control of the drugs trade - as search for Jay Slater continues By Nick Pisa in Tenerife Ruthless British drug dealers are fighting with the Italian mafia for control of the drugs trade in Tenerife where Jay Slater vanished three weeks ago, MailOnline can reveal. With no sign of Jay since he disappeared in the early hours of June 17 after a three -day music festival, there are fears that he has somehow been sucked into the holiday island's murky underground world. Every summer thousands of British tourists - mainly youngsters - head to the sunshine island to celebrate the end of their exams, drawn by a magnet of sandy beaches, vibrant nightclubs, cheap alcohol and even cheaper drugs. But beneath that seemingly innocent party scene, there is a bitter fight for control of the islands' lucrative drug trade with criminal gangs from Italy and the UK battling for supremacy in the supply of drugs in Costa Adeje and in Playa de las Americas where Jay was last seen. Italian crime gangs from notorious syndicates like the Mafia, Camorra, and 'Ndrangheta have long controlled the island's lucrative narcotics trade. The disappearance of British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife has shone a spotlight on the holiday island's dance music scene and its lucrative drugs trade. Jay is pictured here in the early hours of the morning on June 17 at Papagayo nightclub on the notorious Veronicas Strip Like thousands of young holidaymakers every year, Jay partied on Veronicas Strip in Playa de las Americas. Rubbish is strewn on the strip where the sale of drugs is rife MailOnline found evidence of drugs when they visited the strip in Playa de las Americas, where Jay was staying before he went missing almost three weeks ago British drug dealers are fighting the Italian mafia for control over the island's drug trade. Street dealers with drugs hidden in their bum bags roam the strip to sell drugs to young ravers A party balloon seen dumped on Veronicas Strip in Playa de las Americas Veronicas Strip is in the popular party resort of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife Gang experts have said in the past Italian organised crime groups are increasingly working with local criminals to bring cocaine into Europe from Latin America often using the Canary Islands as a staging post of illegal shipments. A Europol statement said these 'Ndrangheta gangsters would routinely use 'violence and torture' to intimidate their rivals. A trip along the hedonistic seafront Veronicas Strip in the popular party resort of Playa de las Americas throws you into a world of pubs, nightclub and cannabis bars with street dealers pushing MDMA, ketamine, cocaine and who knows what, thrown in for good measure. Dipping into their bum bags, the mainly young dealers who have been recruited by the Mr Bigs, pull out wraps of powder and pills. The streets are littered with little plastic bags. Gangs from London, Manchester and Liverpool have begun muscling in on the patch long held by Italian crime gangs - who are now turning increasingly to property and construction to launder their money - and it is known that Jay, 19, spent time in the company of convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim. An expat source on the island said: 'The big players are still the Italians when it comes to organised crime and money laundering but now others are moving in and there are a lot of British gangs, mainly from London, Liverpool and Manchester. 'They know it makes sense as most of the holidaymakers are from Britain so they can hone in on them and it's a nice easy transaction and it makes them a lot of money. 'It's getting really tribal on Veronicas and it's not the sort of place you want to hang around too long in at night, I won't let my daughter go there because it's a jungle.' Organised crime expert Professor Anna Sergi says the feared 'Ndrangheta, said to be considered one of the most powerful organised crime groups in the world, is the main Mafia-type crime organisation operating in Southern Spain. Before Jay went missing he spent time with convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim, 31, and another mystery man. Qassim (pictured) was jailed nine years ago for being the ringleader of a sophisticated operation to flood the streets of Wales with heroin and crack cocaine Qassim is pictured in front of a poster of his close friend Jamel Bousbaa, a drill rapper who goes by the name Potter Payper. Bousbaa runs a cannabis cafe in Tenerife - and was jailed for running his own county lines drug-dealing network from east London Qassim was pictured on stage with Bousbaa at the MOBO Awards. Bousbaa was jailed for five years in 2018 for his drugs operation in east London - where Qaasim grew up Jay, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with his friends Professor Sergi told MailOnline: 'Camorra clans and some Ndrangheta clans are historically involved in organised crime in southern Spain mostly, with local groups and brokers for cocaine and hashish. 'It is also a place where drug money can be laundered. 'It is always about drug brokerage necessary because of drug routes and it is about some money laundering venture in real estate mainly - mainly from the Camorra.' The Ndrangheta group tends to keep a lower profile than other Mafia-type organisations but it's hugely successful. They reportedly made 53billion profit in 2013 alone. Spain's Balearic Islands are well known for drug trafficking a senior member of the De Micco clan was recently caught running drugs into Ibiza. But anywhere that tourists gather is a prime target for drug dealers: a member of the clan Mazzarella (from San Giovanni a Teduccio, Naples) was recently arrested on drugs offences in Gran Canaria. Eight Mafia gangsters, as well as a Colombian cartel boss, were arrested in a major operation on Tenerife in December. An armed police raid on a Tenerife villa uncovered some 950 kilos of uncut cocaine, as well as a stash of weapons and 12,000 in cash. One of the last men to see Jay before he vanished was Ayub Qassim, 31, who drove the 19-year-old back to his Airbnb in the early hours of June 17. Qassim was jailed for nine years in 2015 for being the mastermind of an attempt to flood Wales with Class A drugs. A close friend of Qassim is Jamel Bousbaa, a drill rapper who goes by the name Potter Payper. A map showing Jay Slater's last known movements before he disappeared Bousbaa was sentenced to five years in 2018 for running his own county lines drug dealing network from east London the area where he and Qassim grew up. He was involved in what Ipswich Crown Court was told was the 'Frankie Line' which saw heroin and crack cocaine leave London and be distributed throughout Clacton, Essex. He now runs a popular cannabis store in Playa de las Americas called Potter's Garden, which sells multiple types of marijuana. When MailOnline found the club, two British men approached and asked, 'What do you need?', before reeling off a shopping list of drugs. Not everyone in Tenerife is happy with his success. A video posted online in May shows Potter's Garden being broken into by a rival gang. Bousbaa's awards were ripped off the walls and windows smashed. The clip shows an intruder in the cafe saying: 'We are live. We've got your f****** plaques, p****.' Then the camera pans to show a cabinet of mobile telephones and drug paraphernalia, with the male voice adding: 'Yah, yah, take all the pre-rolls, take all the f****** weed as well. 'I'm taking the PS5 as well you p****, thought you could do bad boy?' My show man, live, live.' Jay (right) pictured alongside his mother Debbie and brother Zak (left) who flew out to Tenerife after his disappearance Missing Jay posted a final picture at 7.30am on Snapchat from the house of 'two English lads' an hour before phoning his friend Lucy. The video was taken on the same doorstep as Qassim's video Lucy Law (pictured) was one of the last people to hear from Jay and had gone to a festival with him the night before he disappeared The club is less than ten minutes' walk from Papagayo, the nightclub where Jay was last pictured in a trance like state and from where he left with Qassim and another man who has not been identified. There is no suggestion that the men are involved in Jay's disappearance and Spanish police have deemed them as 'irrelevant' but there is undoubtedly a drugs element to the mystery. Cannabis possession for personal use is legal via a loophole in the Canary Islands, and that has led to the springing up of dozens of cannabis cafes in Tenerife with British users flocking there. Spanish law allows the cultivation and consumption of cannabis for personal use however it is illegal to sell or traffic cannabis in public places, but cafes allow 'members' to smoke there. Users have to pay a 'membership fee' usually round 20 Euros which is used to grow cannabis and there they can buy and smoke cannabis. Alcohol is strictly banned. To keep it all above board, sales are carried out using an App which is preloaded with credit and users have to spent at least 20 minutes inside on each visit. A website called WeedTenerife highlights the best clubs on the island. What happened to Jay three weeks ago remains a mystery. But his family believe drugs 'are a worrying aspect' of the affair and his case highlights the darker side of the island's nightlife. Kamala Harris is hitting the campaign trail hard this week amid increasing calls for her to replace her boss as the Democratic nominee on the 2024 presidential ballot. All eyes are on the 59-year-old vice president as she toes the line of backing Joe Biden, 81, amid his very public decline. She also needs to present herself as a viable alternative should the Democratic Party make the drastic move to oust Joe. Several Democratic lawmakers, who are concerned about their own races in November after the trainwreck debate, want Biden out and are hoping to put Harris in the running. The languishing president meanwhile will face his own huge test of mental and physical fitness as he welcomes world leaders to Washington D.C. for the three-day NATO summit. 'Personally, I think Kamala Harris would be a much better, stronger candidate,' Armed Services Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) insisted to CNN as he issued a statement calling on Biden to exit the race. Her approval ratings since she entered office have been dire, and sometimes lower than Biden. But a shock poll released on Tuesday morning shows she could narrowly beat Donald Trump in November. Failed 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, who hasn't even been considered as a candidate, would beat Trump by two percentage points. Vice President Kamala Harris is making a three-state campaign swing this week as her name is floated to replace President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket after his disastrous debate performance Democratic pollster Bendixen & Amandi Inc found the VP would edge out Trump 42 percent to 41. According to the survey, 12 percent were undecided and three said they would back an alternative third party candidate. Harris is holding two campaign events one open press and one closed in Las Vegas on Tuesday. On Wednesday she will deliver the keynote address at a sorority event in Dallas, Texas. And she will round out the week with a stop in right-leaning North Carolina. Nevada and North Carolina are two of the seven battleground states needed for victory this election cycle. The Biden-Harris campaign claims the VP 'is proud to be [Biden's] running mate and looks forward to serving at his side for four more years.' Before her failed 2020 presidential primary bid turned into her being selected as the first woman and minority vice president, Harris was a U.S. senator from California for less than one term before stepping down to take residence at One Observatory Circle. She was also Attorney General of California from January 2011 until stepping down to be sworn in as a senator in 2017. Her three-and-a-half years in the White House so far have been lackluster and muddied with staff turnover and policy portfolios that were widely seen as a failure. For example, Biden put Harris in charge of addressing the southern border crisis by looking at root causes of migration from Central America but the issue has only exploded under this administration. And now, polls show the southern border and immigration is a top issue to Americans casting their ballots in November, second only to inflation and the general state of the economy. Voters still think Harris is awkward and unlikable. Critics often take to social media to make fun of her uncomfortable laugh and berate her for speeches where she doesn't make sense. During a post-debate campaign reception in Los Angeles, California last month, Harris made a nonsensical statement about the 'promise of America' when she said: '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.' This is a phrase she has used often that has sparked confusion and criticism from those on the right. Questions are only increasing about Biden's future in the face after he conducted feeble damage control efforts following his car crash debate with Trump two weeks ago. Biden stumbled and mumbled his way through the debate with Donald Trump on June 27 and was described as hard-to-hear and appearing weak and 'out of it' Clean-up included campaign stops in swing states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, as well as a series of flubbed interviews where Biden did nothing to better convince voters that he is mentally fit for another term. Harris and the rest of the campaign team insist they are behind Biden's reelection effort and are in no rush to push him out. And the president insists he's going to lead the party to victory against Trump again this year. One of Biden's post-debate media appearances led to the firing of a radio host in Philadelphia after it was revealed the president's team sent her prepared questions that she used during their interview. Despite the scripted nature of the interview, Biden still managed to fumble the ball when he gaffed by calling himself a black woman when he meant to praise his appointment of Harris as his vice president. His first televised interview after the debate was a 22-minute sit-down with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos that was described as 'sad' and seen as a continuation of his poor debate performance. Some other names floated to replace Biden should he step aside before the Convention next month are California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a close friend of Harris, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. But Harris' status as the frontrunner replacement flies in the face of a warning her ex-lover issued after her failed presidential primary run in 2019. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown now 90 penned an op/ed in the San Francisco Chronicle warning Harris that the vice presidency would bet the nail-in-the-coffin for any future White House ambitions. 'Historically, the vice presidency has often ended up being a dead end,' he wrote in urging his ex not to take the offer to be second banana. 'The glory would be short-lived, and historically, the vice presidency has often ended up being a dead end,' Brown wrote. 'For every George H.W. Bush, who ascended from the job to the presidency, there's an Al Gore, who never got there.' But Democrats are now falling back on Harris out of necessity as they scramble to try and replace Biden at the top of the 2024 ticket and, it appears Brown may have gotten it wrong. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available A young Australian family claims their fridge made them seriously ill after it started leaking chemical fumes. Adele and Alex Rae, from Victoria's Gippsland region, said they noticed a strange chemical-like smell coming from their 2019 model Samsung fridge on May 20. 'Straight away there were alarm bells because there was something wrong about the smell,' Mr Rae told Nine News. The pair, who also have two young children, decided to unload the contents from the fridge and take it outside after feeling a 'tingling and numbness' in their mouths. Ms Rae transferred out the groceries and said that after working for a while in close proximity to the appliance, she felt dizzy. Ms Raes heart beat shot up to 160bpm while sitting down, and when she took a shower to wash off the fumes, Ms Rae collapsed and Mr Rae called 000. 'I've never experienced anything like it... I had rapid breathing and my muscles went weak,' she said. Emergency services placed a hazardous material alert on the Paradise Beach home while paramedics treated Ms Rae. Young parents Adele and Alex Rae took their fridge outside after noticing a 'chemical' smell one morning. Ms Rae later collapsed in the shower and had to be treated by paramedics The Rae's fridge is a 2019 model Samsung SR520BLSTC, which does not have any recall listed on the government's product recall database She said they stabilised her and explained she would 'detox' as long as she kept away from the source of the chemical and was breathing clean air. The couple later called an independent fridge technician from Coast Appliances who did an inspection, found several issues and deemed it non-compliant. Among the issues, the technician found refrigerant and lubricating oil was leaking. Professor Gary Anderson from the University of Melbourne's Lung Health Research Centre said the refrigerant chemical, isobutane, is common in all fridges and generally considered safe. But he added prolonged exposure could cause 'fogginess' and, in large amounts, cause a person to pass out. The couple contacted Samsung who offered to refund $974 for the fridge but stipulated there would be no admission of a product fault and they would be required to sign a legal document preventing them from speaking about it. That agreement would also have seen the fridge sent back to Samsung and release the company from any legal claims the Raes might have down the track. The couple have not accepted the offer and alleged it is a form of 'bullying'. They instead made a formal complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) which is looking into the issue. The Rae's fridge is a 2019 model Samsung SR520BLSTC, which does not have any recall listed on the government's product recall database. Samsung said it had attempted to inspect the fridge. 'Samsung Electronics Australia is compliant with all applicable consumer laws and regulations; and views Mr Rae's allegations with utmost severity having made multiple attempts with Mr Rae to investigate the matter,' a Samsung spokesperson said. 'However Mr Rae has remained unwilling to provide us with access to the refrigerator to investigate or provide supporting evidence of the allegations made despite a full refund being offered.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Samsung Australia for further comment. Queensland's Labor government has vehemently denied an accusation made by a Nationals MP of being part of a 'cover up' over land transfers to Aboriginal groups. In Toobeah, 400km south-west of Brisbane, community concerns have been raised as 95 per cent of the land is set to be transferred to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation. Queensland's Aboriginal Land Act allows the state to transfer land held in trust for the traditional owners to local Aboriginal corporations. This differs from native title, with the land being transferred as freehold title, which means the owners can develop it or use it as they want. Federal LNP MP Keith Pitt said allowing the state to 'just give away their land' to Aboriginal organisations was 'a mistake' and the 'wrong approach'. 'There's another 15 sites, which, for who knows what reason, are being kept confidential,' the former resources minister told Sky News Australia on Monday night. 'So there are other locations in other towns which are being directly impacted, and no one knows about it. 'This is just another cover up by the Miles government.' In Toobeah (pictured), community concerns have been raised as 95 per cent of the land is set to be transferred to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation But Queensland's Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart snapped back, saying 'Let me make one thing clear, there is no cover up. 'An Aboriginal Land Act land transfer is granted as "inalienable freehold" title which means that the land can't be sold or mortgaged,' Mr Stewart told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday afternoon. Instead, the land 'is held in trust for the benefit of the people connected to the land - who will continue to take care of the land'. The Minister added that 'It is important to note that the Toobeah Reserve is outside the township. 'No final decision has been made in regard to the Reserve, and I think the fact the Bigambul people are offering to work with the community is a good thing.' The number of townships in Queensland where local Aboriginal groups have lodged land transfer claims were revealed by the Department of Resources following a question in the state parliament. But the department would not say what townships were involved, citing the 'privacy' of the groups that made the claims. Federal LNP MP Keith Pitt (pictured) said allowing the state to 'just give away their land' to Aboriginal organisations was 'a mistake' and the 'wrong approach' So far, more than six million hectares of state land previously held in trust for the benefit of traditional owners has been handed over to Aboriginal corporations across the state. Private land can not be transferred under the Aboriginal Land Act, but the government can transfer unallocated state land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander reserves, and national parks on Cape York and Moreton Island. The Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, which is due to take ownership of Toobeah Reserve, said it is committed to 'working together with the community to develop and improve the site for the benefit of all'. The corporation said on its website it wants to take over the land for 'cultural heritage protection' and to enable the 'environmental and economic development and prosperity' of the Bigambul country by creating 'regional eco-cultural tourism opportunities'. The reserve is less than one per cent of the Toobeah 'district' and is currently designated for travelling stock and associated camping, the Corporation said. 'People have been riding trail bikes and 4WDs across the property unlawfully and damaging the river banks and riparian (wetlands) vegetation over the years. 'Bigambul plans to develop the site as an eco-cultural attraction for the town and region and extend visitor stays.' Queensland's Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart (pictured) snapped back, saying 'Let me make one thing clear, there is no cover up Mr Stewart said a resolution supporting the transfer of the Toobeah Reserve to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation was passed this year. 'Officers from the Department of Resources held a Community Forum at Toobeah on March 4 to provide information to the wider community,' he said. 'The Department of Resources will continue working collaboratively with the community (and the) Bigambul people.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation for comment. A young Australian female driver has been filmed repeatedly ramming her 4WD into the wall of a Hungry Jack's drive-thru. The strange incident in Dalyellup, south of Perth, was caught on camera, and caused significant damage to signage. Viewers were left stunned after the footage was uploaded to social media. 'Geez what the flip? What makes someone do that?' one person wrote. 'I wondered what had happened when I drove past and saw the smashed up drive-thru,' a second added. 'Well done on getting the footage I'm sure the police would love to see this,' a third wrote. Meanwhile, others joked about what could have led to the driver acting out. 'Did old mate have a tantrum because the soft serve machine was down,' one asked. A furious Australian driver was filmed ramming his 4WD into the side of a Hungry Jack's drive-thru Hungry Jack's confirmed that police were called to an incident at the Dalyellup restaurant on the evening of June 29 'When your 8-year-old gets the midnight munchies and steals the Pajero!' another added. 'She didn't think the burgers were better at Hungry Jack's,' a third wrote. 'You're not you when you're hungry,' joked another commenter. Hungry Jack's confirmed that police were called to an incident at the Dalyellup restaurant on the evening of Saturday 29 June. WA Police said the vehicle was also involved in an earlier incident. 'About 11.45pm, a Mitsubishi Pajero station wagon hit a pole at a service station on Norton Promenade,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'Officers are investigating if damage to a nearby fast-food outlet drive thru area and a fence are linked.' The driver, a woman in her 20s, and her child were taken to Bunbury Hospital as a precaution. Progressive Squad leader Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez broke her silence on whether Joe Biden should run again in 2024. After Biden's disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 27, questions have swirled over the 81-year-old's physical and mental health - and whether he should withdraw from the race. So far, only a small cohort of Democrat lawmakers have called on the president to withdraw from the race while many more have thrown their support behind Biden. The Squad leader confirmed Monday she is on board with the president's leadership. 'I have spoken with [Biden] extensively,' AOC revealed. 'The matter is closed. Joe Biden is our nominee.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive leader of the Squad, came out in support of President Joe Biden as some Democrats have publicly come out against his reelection AOC said she spoke to Biden over the weekend and he made clear to her that he is not withdrawing from the race. 'He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race,' she continued. 'He is in this race and I support him,' the Squad leader said. The full-throated endorsement from the most popular progressive lawmaker comes at a crucial time as Democrats come out against the president's reelection campaign. AOC's support of Biden was mirrored by House Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who said she is also, as of now, backing Joe. 'I think it's important that we make sure that our nominee is the strongest, and right now Biden is our nominee.' 'So until that changes, I think it's better that we have these conversations in private,' she continued. Though, her outlook on post-debate Biden was not all rosy. 'I think it would be hard not to be concerned,' she added. 'I think that was not a good debate performance.' 'And I think it was very difficult for all of us to watch.' Immediately after the two presidents debated, criticism from inside the Democrat party aimed at Joe Biden began circulating on social media and cable news The first elected Democrat to break ranks with Biden was Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett. On July 2, five days after Biden's disastrous CNN debate performance, Doggett released a statement calling on the president to withdraw from the race. Doggett, a veteran Democrat who has served since 1995, wrote how Biden pledged to be a 'transitional' candidate, saying that the president has fulfilled his promise and should end his bid. A day later on July 3, Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona told the New York Times he too believes Joe Biden should drop out of the race. 'If he's the candidate, I'm going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere,' Grijalva said. A number of other influential lawmakers also expressed their concerns over Biden's ability in a Sunday call between members of Congress. Democrat Reps. Mark Takano of California, Jerry Nadler and Joe Morelle of New York, and Adam Smith of Washington all expressed on the conference how they want to see Biden step aside. Rep. Adam Smith called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race on CNN Monday On Monday, Smith - the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee - said publicly on CNN he wants Biden to drop out of the race. 'We've got a good message,' Smith said of Democrats' political positioning. 'The president has shown he is not capable of delivering that message in an effective way,' he added, saying there were concerns leading up to the debate. The Australian cities with the rudest customers have been revealed, along with the habits that annoy staff the most. BizCover, Australia's leading online insurance service for small businesses, found Sydney took the top spot for having the worst-behaved customers in the country. A survey of 1,000 business owners across 22 cities found Brisbane was the second-rudest, followed by Geelong, Canberra and Adelaide. The rest of the top ten was made up by Ballarat, Perth, Newcastle, Melbourne and Wollongong. As for what customers are doing to annoy workers, the survey pointed to price complaints, shelf stashing, rowdy drinkers and bill splitting. 'The most common type of bad behaviour in Australia is complaining about the price - Brisbane took the top spot for this one,' BizCover said. 'In retail stores, Aussie customers are most guilty of changing their minds and leaving unpurchased items on random shelves. Newcastle is most guilty of this. 'Geelong has loudest and rowdiest pub patrons, while Brisbane boozers are most likely to complain about the prices. 'Ballarat diners are the most likely to ask to split the bill at cafes and restaurants.' BizCover, Australia's leading online insurance service for small businesses, found Sydney has the rudest customers in the country (pictured, a map ranking the cities with the 'worst' customers) The large surveyed ranked the offensive acts customers committed in a range of industries When looking at specific industries, the five worst acts committed by customers in bars were complaining about prices, loud and rowdy behaviour, ordering a cocktail off-menu and requesting changes, mentioning knowing the owner for discounts and clicking fingers or whistling to get waiter's attention. Retail customers were reprimanded for leaving items on random shelves, unfolding clothes on display tables, paying while talking or texting, jokingly asking to use employee's staff discount and asking staff to check stock 'out the back' repeatedly. Cafe and restaurant customers were found guilty of splitting bills with large groups of people, bringing in outside food or drinks, ordering meals and requesting extensive ingredient changes, not using manners when served and making overly complicated coffee orders. 'Our survey exposes the cities where poor customer service etiquette is most rampant, with Sydney leading the pack,' said Sharon Kenny, Head of Marketing at BizCover, said. 'Common issues like complaining about prices, leaving items on random shelves, and splitting bills in large groups are prevalent across the country. 'Despite these challenges, many business owners still report positive customer experiences, underscoring the potential for improvement in customer interactions.' The survey was complete with the help of PureProfile, a renowned research agency, between May 12 and May 20, 2024 BizCover also surveyed 1,039 of its customers from around Australia between May 17 and May 27, 2024 Despite coming up with a large list of negative interactions, 55 per cent of business owners rated their overall experience with customers as 'excellent' while 39 per cent rated it as 'good'. Only 0.5 per cent considered their experience 'poor' or 'very poor.' However, 41 per cent of small businesses observed customers have become less patient and more demanding while 15 per cent noticed an increase in politeness and consideration. The survey also considered how men and women differ as customers. Of the business owners, 65 per cent said women practice better customer service etiquette. However, 51 per cent said men were more likely to intervene when witnessing bad behaviour. Customers aged 45-55 demonstrate the best manners, whereas those 24 and under are considered the least courteous. Of the business owners, 65 per cent said women practice better customer service etiquette despite reporting mass negative interactions Despite coming up with a large list of negative interactions, 55 per cent of business owners rated their overall experience with customers as 'excellent' while 39 per cent rated it as 'good' The survey was complete with the help of research agency PureProfile between May 12 and May 20, 2024. BizCover also surveyed 1,039 of its customers from around Australia between May 17 and May 27, 2024. BizCover is an online platform that allows business owners to compare quotes from the top Australian insurers. El Salvador's hardline president has threatened to jail shopkeepers who overcharge for basic food. Nayib Bukele, famous for his heavy-handed crackdown on street gangs, threatened to use similar tactics against price gougers. Since 2022, Bukele has rounded up tens of thousands of suspected street gang members - often on little evidence - and filmed them being frog-marched in their underwear though vast new prisons. In a speech late Friday, Bukele, who once called himself 'the world's coolest dictator' threatened to use the same tactics on wholesalers and distributors who he blamed for a recent steep rise in the prices for food items and other basic goods. 'I am going to issue a call, like we did to the gangs at the start of 2019,' Bukele said, referring to the year he was first elected. 'We told them either stop killing people, or don't complain about what happens afterwards.' Nayib Bukele (pictured), famous for his heavy-handed crackdown on street gangs, threatened to use similar tactics against price gougers An inspector from El Salvador's Consumer Ombudsman's office checks the price and size of different fruits and vegetables at a private supermarket in San Salvador on July 8, 2024 Since 2022, Bukele has rounded up tens of thousands of suspected street gang members - often on little evidence - and filmed them being frog-marched in their underwear though vast new prisons 'Well, I'm going to issue a message to the importers, distributors and food wholesalers: stop abusing the people of El Salvador, or don't complain about what happens afterwards.' He said 'we are not playing around' and his threats were not a smokescreen. 'I expect the prices to come down by tomorrow or there are going to be problems,' he said. Recently reelected with 85 per cent of the vote, Bukele controls Congress and has been granted special emergency powers to fight gangs for more than two years. While his emergency powers probably wouldn't allow Bukele to lock people up for charging too much, he claimed there was evidence that wholesalers or importers had allegedly engaged in tax evasion, bribery and contraband importation, criminal charges that could warrant jail time. The Salvadoran government has said inspectors have found some products had tripled in price, and while fines are a possibility, that probably isn't enough. The government has also announced plans to set up 20 sales points to distribute food 'at fair prices.' It's all very much in character for Bukele, who once described himself as the 'world's coolest dictator.' Bukele is also riding a wave of popularity for his frontal attack on powerful gangs that once basically ruled many neighbourhoods, extorting protection money from businesses and residents. The crackdown has converted what was once the world's murder capital into one of Latin America's safest countries. The state of emergency originally declared in 2022 and still in effect has been used to round up 78,175 suspected gang members in sweeps that rights groups say are often arbitrary, based on a person's appearance or where they live. The government has had to release about 7,000 people because of a lack of evidence. A mum-of-three who allegedly died at the hands of her partner in a domestic violence incident was left alone with him for more than an hour before she died. Police officers arrived at Sarah Miles' home in Casino in northern NSW an hour after first receiving a triple-0 call on June 29. The distressed caller reported hearing screaming from inside the Johnston Street home and despite it only being a three-minute drive from Casino Police Station, by the time officers got there she was already unconscious as a result of traumatic head injuries. The 40-year-old was unable to be revived and she died at the scene. Ms Miles' best friend, Kirsty Lee, blames her death on Richmond Police who she said 'didn't act'. 'There are so many stations and officers, even in the surrounding areas, why didn't they act when the first call came through,' Ms Lee told the Northern Star. 'My best friend might still be here today with her family and her kids. I am utterly heartbroken. I miss you Sarah, you will never be forgotten.' Ms Miles' partner, Dwayne John Creighton, 31, remains behind bars after being charged with her domestic-violence related murder. He has yet to enter a plea and is due to face Lismore court on August 28. Sarah Miles, 40, died at her home in Casino, NSW, on June 29 in what police believe to be a domestic-violence related incident Ms Miles' partner, Dwayne John Creighton, 31, remains behind bars after being charged with her murder Ms Miles' family and friends are demanding answers from police who took more than an hour to respond to the first triple-0 call - despite the local station being only three minutes from her house Ms Miles son said he was having trouble 'dealing with the fact that she was [allegedly] waiting for an hour on the floor'. 'That is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life,' Mr Miles told 9News. 'My mother was a very strong person, [a] fighter always to the end. I'm so proud of her and I'm proud to have her as my mother and I'm proud to have been her son.' NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said an independent critical incident investigation is underway to figure out what went wrong. 'This is a horrific situation and I want to apologise to the family for the tragic loss they're enduring,' Ms Catley said. '[The government and police] take alleged domestic violence incidents extremely seriously it's a top priority.' In the meantime local politicians and those who knew Ms Miles have been slamming police online over a death that they believe could have been avoided. A relative of Ms Miles said the entire situation was 'utter bullcrap', 'traumatic' and that it left her 'extremely angry'. Clarence MP Richie Williamson added that it was 'alarming' to see how long it took police to respond. Nationals MP for the Federal electorate of Page, Kevin Hogan, shared the first details of what went wrong in the time between the first triple-0 call being made and officers arriving at the address. 'Reports the triple-0 call was logged as a priority three, instead of a priority one and led to a delayed police response are exceptionally concerning,' he said. 'It's imperative we understand what has caused the delay and ensure it never happens again. 'Our community must have confidence that if they call triple 0, it will be treated as a matter of urgency.' Ms Miles was a mother-of-three. Her son told 9News that he was having trouble 'dealing with the fact that she was [allegedly] waiting for an hour on the floor' for police to arrive The NSW Police Minister said an independent investigation will help to figure out what went wrong but some observers have cast doubt on its effectiveness (pictured, Ms Miles' home) Former NSW magistrate and coroner David Heilpern claimed that Ms Catley's investigation would not be helpful. Mr Heilpern said there were 'grave concerns expressed from all tiers of the criminal justice system about police investigating police'. 'We have independent complaint and investigative authorities for all doctors, lawyers, judges and politicians the public deserve the same for police,' he said. The internal investigation will be subject to an independent review by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) - and now the NSW Coroner. However, Mr Heilpern said of the LECC that the lead investigators would be police and that reviews would also be by police who have a 'history of cover-up', he added. 'This does not give the public confidence.' Greens Member of the NSW Legislative Council and justice spokesperson Sue Higginson shared Mr Heilpern's concerns. Ms Higginson, who has a home near Ms Miles', said that her death was 'another tragedy ... where police allegedly took too long to respond'. She said by 'allowing police to investigate where the police failed' it appeared as though 'the Minister would like to pin the blame for this tragic death on triple-zero'. Ms Higginson said Richmond Police, who investigated 'just 19 of 67 misconduct complaints made by members of the public last year', needed to do better. 'In two-thirds of domestic violence investigations, officers do not comply with their own operating procedures and three-quarters of investigations into violent incidents are inadequate,' she said. A NSW Police spokesperson said 'it would be inappropriate to comment' on the investigation while it is underway. Daily Mail Australia contacted NSW Police for additional comment. Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline: 1800 737 732 Lifeline on 13 11 14 Throughout the election campaign, politicians spent an undue amount of time flattering the electorate. In those six weeks, they told us that we British were good, kind, compassionate, brave, adventurous, hard-working, enterprising, strong, decent, tolerant, good-humoured, creative, cheerful in the face of adversity and so on, ad infinitum. By the end, I felt inclined to vote for the first candidate bold enough to berate us all for being cowardly, humourless and workshy. Even when the voting was over, the flattery kept on coming. In his resignation speech outside No 10 last Friday, Rishi Sunak told us: 'This is the best country in the world, and that is thanks entirely to you, the British people, the true source of all our achievements, our strengths and our greatness.' It so happened that, long before the election date was announced, I had booked tickets for the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, Patience, at an outdoor theatre in a wood in Thorington, Suffolk, which is close to where I live. A local on their way to vote at the UK's most southerly polling station to cast their vote on July 04, 2024 in The Lizard, near Helston, Cornwall When I looked out of the window on Friday morning, it was drizzly and overcast. Might it improve by the evening? We had planned to have a picnic before the opera, so I began to wonder whether we might change plans. On the BBC weather website, an icon of a cloud had a giant spot of rain coming out of it. There was, they said, an 80 per cent chance of a downpour. Wouldn't I prefer to stay at home, in the warmth, watching telly? I'm ashamed to admit I toyed with the idea of chickening out and would have done so had we not already invited two friends from London, both keen Gilbert and Sullivan fans, to come with us. So off we set in the car, the rain pattering on the windscreen. We picnicked in a field beneath an umbrella and then took the footpath to the theatre. Here and there, the auditorium was shrouded by trees: it was easy to distinguish the least-protected areas as they were already darkened by damp. We manoeurvred our way onto some of the last remaining dryish seats, put on our hats, zipped up our waterproofs and hunkered down, preparing ourselves for a long and bitter evening. But I was underestimating the magic of Gilbert and Sullivan: Gilbert's brilliantly witty lyrics paired with Sullivan's jaunty tunes. Within a couple of minutes, we had been transported to the 19th-century Britain of foppish aesthetes and doltish soldiers, all vying for the hands of love-sick maidens. Lindy O'Hare poses with her dog, 'Ding' as the RoughCast Theatre Company perform Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' at 'Thorington Theatre in the Woods', a newly completed natural woodland amphitheatre By a strange coincidence, one of the early speeches was about the constraints of flattery. It is delivered by a rich young duke, who compares flattery to toffee. 'Toffee in moderation is a capital thing. But to live on toffee toffee for breakfast, toffee for dinner, toffee for tea to have it supposed that you care for nothing but toffee, and that you would consider yourself insulted if anything but toffee were offered to you how would you like that?' As the performance went on, the drizzle turned into a downpour and the downpour became a monsoon so thick that it was hard to make out the faces of the audience on the other side of the stage. Every time the company broke into dance, great waves of water would leap from the stage. But even though they were by now drenched from head to foot, the performers from a remarkable touring company called Opera Anywhere carried on just as though the sun were shining brightly, even when the stage directions forced them to kneel in puddles. Their enthusiasm infected the audience and, by the end of the show, we were all smiling and cheering through the pouring rain. Thorington Theatre was built by a Suffolk-based couple, Mark and Lindy O'Hare, who made a fortune from a financial data business and last week joined the ranks of Britain's billionaires when they sold their company for 2.55 billion. Instead of spending their money on the usual grim superyacht, hideous penthouse or private jet, they bought a farm and turned a natural amphitheatre on their land actually a crater made by German bombers in the war into a 350-seat woodland theatre. As I drove us back from the opera with the windscreen wipers on full blast, it occurred to me that perhaps Rishi and Keir Starmer were right all along and, for all its ups and downs, Britain really is the best country in the world. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed his 'memorable welcome' in Moscow just hours after a Russian missile strike on a children's hospital in Ukraine. Modi is in Russia for a two-day visit - his first since Russia invaded Ukraine - and was pictured hugging and laughing with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday. The state visit comes on the same day as Putin's forces killed at least 36 civilians in a strike on the main children's hospital in Kyiv. Parents holding babies walked in the street outside the hospital, dazed and sobbing after the rare daylight aerial attack. Windows had been smashed and panels ripped off, and hundreds of Kyiv residents were helping to clear debris. When Modi shared footage of the first day of his visit on social media, he captioned the post: 'A memorable welcome in Moscow.' His visit and lack of response to the hospital strike caused outrage on social media. 'It is actually quite an embarrassment for Indian PM Modi to celebrate Putin in Moscow just after he has bombed the main children's hospital in Kyiv. Are these Modi's "values"?,' Russia expert and economist Anders Aslund wrote on X. Michael McFaul, US Ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, added: 'I wonder if Mr Modi will raise concerns about the children's hospital in Ukraine that Putin just bombed?' Modi is in Russia for a two-day visit - his first since Russia invaded Ukraine - and was pictured hugging and laughing with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday Vladimir Putin visits the stables with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Rescuers work at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital that was damaged during a Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 8, 2024 An injured hospital worker watches as rescue efforts began at Okhmatdyt hospital after it was hit by a Russian missile attack on Monday People clear rubble after the Russian missile strike on Okhmatdyt hospital, one of the largest children's hospitals of Ukraine A woman carries a child near Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital after it was struck by missiles His visit and lack of response to the hospital strike caused outrage on social media Pictures distributed by officials from the children's medical facility showed people digging through mounds of debris, black smoke billowing over a gutted building and medical staff wearing blood-stained scrubs. Children - some still hooked up to medical machines - were pictured outside the building in hospital beds, or being held by their mothers or hospital staff. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had targeted five cities with more than 40 missiles of different types in the assault, adding that people were trapped under the rubble of the children's hospital. The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said. The Kinzhal flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept. City buildings shook from the blasts. 'There are people under the rubble, and the exact number of casualties is still unknown,' the president wrote on social media. 'Right now, everyone is helping to clear the rubble - doctors and ordinary people.' The attack struck Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine's biggest children's medical facility, that sits on the outskirts of the city's central district. Its significance has been likened to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. Modi last travelled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met Putin. The leaders also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation bloc. Modi posted photos of his arrival in Moscow on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, saying in both Russian and English that he was 'looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations, especially in futuristic areas of co-operation'. 'Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people,' he wrote, also sharing a picture of himself and Putin hugging. Later, the two leaders were pictured in videos shared by the Kremlin at Putin's residence, Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow. When Modi shared footage of the first day of his visit on social media, he captioned the post: 'A memorable welcome in Moscow' A woman, her face covered in blood, is lifted from rubble in Kyiv after Russia unleashed a wave of deadly missile attacks yesterday morning Modi's visit and lack of response to the hospital strike caused outrage on social media Russian missiles have struck a children's hospital in Kyiv and killed at least three people elsewhere in the Ukrainian capital, authorities have said. In shocking footage, a woman is seen carrying a young child, along side a medical worker. All three are covered in blood Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) and First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov (right) during the ceremony during a welcome ceremony in Moscow Hundreds descended on the bombed-out hospital yesterday morning to help with rescue attempts amid reports young patients were trapped under rubble A woman weeps as she comforts are wounded child in the aftermath of Putin's horrific attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv yesterday morning A child receives medical attention after the Russian missile strikes on a Kyiv children's hospital Medical staff provide assistance to local residents injured during a missile attack in Kyiv yesterday Dramatic images show the scale of the devastation in the aftermath of Russia's horrifying attack on the hospital in Kyiv yesterday morning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had targeted five cities with more than 40 missiles of different types in a 'genocidal' attack, adding that people were trapped under the rubble of the children's hospital. Pictured: People help to clear the rubble at the site Putin and Modi talk as they walk before their official meeting in Moscow on Monday An injured man talks on the phone after Russia's missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday Putin drove Modi around the grounds in a buggy and showed him his stable with horses. According to state news agencies, the two had earlier watched a horse show with performers in national Russian dress. Modi thanked Putin for hosting him at Novo-Ogaryovo and said he was looking forward to Tuesday's talks, which he hoped will 'go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia'. Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhi's importance as a key trading 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 United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40 per cent of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Under Modi's leadership, India has avoided condemning Russia's military action in Ukraine while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement. A decorated RAF pilot who completed seven tours of Afghanistan died of cancer because of his military service, the Ministry of Defence has admitted. Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton, 53, who was still serving in the military at the time, died just three weeks after he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood vessel cancer. He had been exposed to the toxic exhaust fumes of Puma and Chinook helicopters while on special forces operations for over two decades. Mr Macnaughton's widow, Clare, became convinced this was what had caused her husband's cancer after she spoke to others who had also been diagnosed while serving on military helicopters. She told The Times the Ministry of Defence's admission that his cancer was caused by the toxic fumes he was exposed to was 'vindication' for what she had believed all along. She said the verdict was 'important because it paves the way for civil action. Its also gives me a sense of closure and vindication for Kai.' Late Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton pictured with his wife Clare Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton, 53, who was still serving in the military at the time, died just three weeks after he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood vessel cancer Pictured: The funeral of Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton on May 12 last year Mr Macnaughton began flying for the RAF in the 1990s in his early 20s but was diagnosed with cancer in February last year and died soon after in March. The MOD has not admitted any fault but Mrs Macnaughton said she is considering pursuing a civil case against them for not warning her husband about the risks associated with serving on the helicopters. She has also now been told she is entitled to a war widows pension as her 'husband's passing was service related'. It comes after the father of RAF sergeant Anna Irwin who died from lung cancer at the age of 38 in October 2017 called for an inquiry into the effects of toxic fume exposure. Her father Mick told The Times last month: 'Why did my daughter have to go through what she went through? It could have all been avoided if they had taken action. 'As far as I can see this is still happening and no one is doing anything about it.' Ms Irwin was honoured by King Charles for her heroics against the Taliban but was exposed to more than 2,000 hours of toxic fumes whilst onboard RAF Chinook helicopters. Ms Irwin was a Chinook crewman who was first posted to 18 (B) Squadron at RAF Odiham in 2007 but was later deployed to Afghanistan. She was presented with the award for 'Most Outstanding Airman' by King Charles at The Sun's Military Awards in 2013 after she helped rescue eight soldiers after a suicide bomb attack on their base. Ms Irwin was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in 2016 despite never being a smoker nor there being any other obvious environmental causes. Anna Irwin (pictured) died from lung cancer at the age of 38 in October 2017 after serving eight three-month tours in Afghanistan She was exposed to more than 2,000 hours of toxic fumes whilst onboard RAF Chinook helicopters. Pictured: Her coffin is carried by troops at her funeral Pictured: A file photo of an RAF Chinook helicopter returning to base Mr Irwin described his daughter as a 'fighter' who 'wanted to live' and 'fought all the way through'. Pictured: Anna Irwin's coffin is carried at her funeral There are currently around 100 people looking to bring legal action against the MOD who either say toxic fumes caused their cancer or that of loved ones. Leading barrister at Normanton Chambers, Jonathan Dingle, said engine jet efflux gases - containing benzene carcinogens - 'were apparently being sucked through the cabin and out again through the cockpits - mixing as the air which everyone onboard the aircraft was breathing'. Mr Dingle said: 'The Germans knew about it roughly the same time and installed longer exhaust options on some of their aircraft to draw the exhaust away.' However, those aircrew serving in the British military 'were not provided with masks or filters or purified air or any form of filtration system. They were not warned about the whole system,' he said. An MoD Spokesperson previously said: 'We hugely value our service personnel and veterans and owe a debt of gratitude to all those who serve, often with great personal sacrifice. 'We continually review our policies to ensure they are aligned with good practice and protect our people from harm. 'Service personnel and veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to service from 6 April 2005 have the existing and long standing right to apply for no-fault compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.' MailOnline has contacted the MOD for further comment. The MOD's admission that toxic fume exposure caused cancer in some military personnel comes after it also accepted responsibility for the hearing loss suffered by former armed forces personnel in a 'groundbreaking' agreement at the High Court. The Ministry of Defence has accepted responsibility for the hearing loss suffered by former armed forces personnel (pictured: MoD headquarters in London) At a hearing on Monday, lawyers for the MoD accepted that it had a 'duty of care' towards personnel amid legal claims brought by former members of the armed forces who suffered from hearing loss, having disputed this in earlier legal action. The agreement applies only to those who have served in regular or reserve armed forces since 1987 but does not apply to civilian military staff or cadets. While the MoD accepts that noise exposure during service caused hearing loss among former personnel, it may dispute the extent to which this happened in individual cases. That issue, and others in contention in relation to the claims, are due to be decided at a trial involving several 'test cases', which is expected to be held between October and December 2025. Moving vans were spotted outside Downing Street yesterday as Rishi Sunaks belongings were removed to make way for Sir Keir Starmers family. A Platinum Move lorry was parked outside the door of No 10, with movers photographed carrying a chest of drawers, blue sofa and plants. On the same day as the outgoing Tory leaders possessions were collected, the Prime Ministers wife Victoria was seen leaving out the back entrance of No 10 wearing a blue shirt and white trainers. This is just the latest as Mr Sunak continues to move himself and his family out of the famous house. On Sunday a mattress, a sofa and a piano were spotted being carted out of Downing Street and into a bright yellow lorry from the Bishop's Move firm was parked around the back. Removal men carry out a turquoise velvet easy chair out of Downing Street to make way for Sir Keir Starmer's new possessions Platinum Move workers carrying out fake ornamental plants to a waiting van parked outside the fmaous house Lady Victoria Starmer wearing a pair of navy wide trouser and a denim ruffled blouse as she walks into No 10 The Starmer clan are expected to move into Downing Street, although it is uncertain if they will choose the flat above No 10 or the larger space above No 11, previously occupied by several Prime Ministers since Sir Tony Blair. Although the new premier admitted he had 'not unpacked quite yet'. It has also been revealed how the new Labour PM's wife, Victoria, has been 'dreading' becoming a resident of Britain's most famous street. Her friends also described the NHS worker as Sir Keir's 'rock', as well as a 'politically astute' primary confidante of the new PM who is 'able to cut through the bullshit'. Mr Sunak lived in the flat above No 10 while Mr Hunt had the larger flat above No 11. A mattress, a sofa and a piano were among the items being removed from Downing Street today after Sir Keir Starmer replaced Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister In the wake of Labour's thumping general election victory, a team of removal workers were seen carrying a variety of objects into the back of a yellow lorry A bright yellow lorry from the Bishop's Move firm was parked around the back of Downing Street, with a steady flow of items being carried to the vehicle PMs in recent years had favoured the No 11 residence, but Mr Sunak had lived above No10 as Chancellor and moved back in with his family when he became the premier. During the general election campaign, Sir Keir admitted his teenage children were 'worried' about the prospect of moving into the iconic residence. He said he and Victoria would 'fiercely protect' their children's privacy should he win power. Sir Keir conceded that his 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son were likely to be fearful of the possible disruption to their normal routines. But the Labour leader joked that they would probably 'ramp up their campaign' for a family dog to make up for the changes to their lives. The Sunaks own multiple properties, including two houses in Kensington and a Yorkshire mansion worth more than 2million. Tesco has suspended one of its pork suppliers and launched an investigation into the farm after footage emerged of piglets being raised in 'wretched' conditions. Videos obtained with hidden cameras by Animal Equality activists in October last year and January and June this year revealed employees at Cross Farm in Holsworthy Beacon, Devon, murdering the piglets by swinging them against concrete walls. The practice is a form of euthanasia known as 'thumping' and is legal in Britain as long as the pigs are under four weeks old and are suffering after all other treatments have failed. The Cross Farm workers were also caught cutting the baby pig's tails, allegedly without anaesthetic, which is legal to prevent tail biting only if all other methods have been exhausted. It was also unveiled that dead piglets were being left to decompose just inches away from their mothers. Other clips showed workers rounding up baby pigs and throwing them around. Pictures from another undercover investigation by Advocates for Animals of Cross Farm in March show piglets being kept in filthy flooded conditions Another picture from the undercover investigation in March show pigs unable to move in their pen due to overcrowding A farmhand was caught throwing straw into the face of a piglet's mother after she became agitated. Abigail Penny, the Animal Equality activist group's executive director, said: 'Pigs on Cross Farm struggle and suffer in the most abysmal conditions. 'Our footage shows the wretched reality that so many mother pigs face on British farms today.' Tesco said it has temporarily suspended supply from Cross Farm while it conducts an investigation after being sent the shocking footage. Cross Farm is owned by WJ Watkins and Son and holds around 12,000 pigs. An image from the investigation in March shows a mother pig being kept in a cage in a farrowing unit The investigation in March revealed that pigs were suffering from untreated wounds. Pictured: a piglet with an untreated hernia This is not the first instance of poor treatment on the farm, despite it being Red Tractor-certified. In March, an undercover investigation found pigs cannibalising each other and suffering from untreated wounds. Another expose by Animal Equality in 2017, published by The Times, found animals living in dirty flooded buildings with no dry areas for them to rest. A spokesman for Red Tractor, founded by the National Farmers' Union in 2000 to certify food produced to a 'high standard', said it had temporarily suspended the farm's certificate but a surprise spot check found 'the farm had already implemented some measures to address issues raised in the footage'. The spokesman told The Times: 'The farm's certificate has therefore been reinstated but the business will remain under close scrutiny.' The National Pig Association, said the farm had implemented 'urgent remediate action' to improve standards. The full statement said: 'The welfare of our animals and how they are cared for on our farm is absolutely paramount to our staff and business. 'Indeed, in the instances we have been made aware of examples which fall below the standard we would expect, urgent remediate action has been taken and we have cooperated with numerous and comprehensive independent inspections including farm assurance, APHA and the supply chain, and will continue to do so.' A statement from Red Tractor said: 'Animal welfare standards are a top priority for Red Tractor and we take allegations of this type very seriously. 'The undercover footage raised some concerns about compliance so the farm's Red Tractor certificate was temporarily suspended while we investigated. 'An independent assessor has been on farm to conduct an unannounced spot check, which found the farm had already implemented some measures to address issues raised in the footage. 'The farm's certificate has therefore been reinstated but the business will remain under close scrutiny, receiving additional unannounced spot checks to monitor ongoing compliance.' Tesco and Cross Farm have been approached by MailOnline for further comment. Carlsberg has bought soft drink giant Britvic for 3.3 billion in a move partly driven by Gen-Z turning their backs on booze. Britvic produces popular beverages including J2O, Robinsons squash and Tango. The trend in younger people drinking less alcohol had at least partly influenced Carlsberg's decision, its boss revealed last night. Carlsberg Group chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen told The Sun: 'Beer will still be our core product, but we are seeing a huge structural trend towards low and no-alcoholic drinks and that is a growth opportunity for us.' It comes as rising numbers of Gen Z are turning their backs on booze - with 36% of under 25s being non-drinkers according to a recent survey. Carlsberg has bought soft drink giant Britvic for 3.3 billion as the brewing giant's boss admitted the deal was driven by Gen-Z turning their backs on booze (Stock Image) It comes as rising numbers of Gen Z are turning their backs on booze - with 36% of under 25s being non-drinkers according to a recent survey (Stock Image) Two years ago, the number of 18 to 24-year-olds spurning alcohol stood at 24 per cent, while the overall figure for Britons on the wagon was just 13 per cent. Some 16 per cent of Brits now identify as 'flexi' switching between booze and non-alcoholic drinks with 57 per cent describing themselves as drinkers, found ad firm Red Brick Road. However, some Gen Z Brits do drink, but 72 per cent claim they 'fear' boozing and 32 per cent say they drink less alcohol in comparison to last year, the survey found. Hangovers, emotional distress, the soaring cost of a night out and unflattering photos of them drunk appearing on social media are some of the biggest concerns under-25s have about booze. The soft drinks firm produces popular beverages including J2O, Robinsons squash and Tango Britvic told shareholders yesterday morning it will recommend the latest deal of 4.1 billion with debts taken into account. It comes after the previous offer of 3.1 billion was rejected. Britvic makes beverages including Pepsi, 7up and Lipton iced tea in the UK - holding an exclusive licence with US partner PepsiCo. Mr Aarup-Andersen said: 'With this transaction, we are combining Britvic's high-quality soft drinks portfolio with Carlsberg's strong beer portfolio and route-to-market capabilities, creating an enhanced proposition across the UK and other markets in Western Europe. 'The proposed transaction is attractive for shareholders of Carlsberg, supporting our growth ambitions, being immediately earnings accretive and value-accretive in year three.' Ian Durant, non-executive chairman of Britvic, said: 'The proposed transaction creates an enlarged international group that is well-placed to capture the growth opportunities in multiple drinks sectors. 'The board of directors believe that the strategic merits of this offer are compelling, and the offer also provides shareholders with the opportunity to receive the certainty of cash consideration that reflects the current strength and medium-term prospects of the Britvic business.' Britvic makes beverages including Pepsi, 7up and Lipton iced tea in the UK - holding an exclusive licence with US partner PepsiCo The Danish brewing giant is still making moves in the business of beer and ales after, in a separate deal yesterday, it also agreed to take control of its UK joint venture with Marston's, the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company, which makes brands including Hobgoblin and Pedigree. There are no plans to move the production of the Britvic drinks or British ales abroad, Mr Aarup-Andersen told The Sun: 'We are confident Brits will keep drinking our beer, which is, after all, probably the best in the world.' Justin Platt, who became chief executive at Marston's at the start of the year, said: 'This deal further strengthens our balance sheet, significantly reducing our debt by over 200 million. 'Crucially, it allows us to become a pure play hospitality business and focus on what we do best - namely, giving our guests amazing pub experiences.' Carlsberg said it plans to create a single integrated drinks business called Carlsberg Britvic after completing the two deals. MailOnline has contacted Carlsberg and Britvic for further comment. A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his partner to death in a domestic violence attack. Jeremaia Tuwai, 21, allegedly killed his 21-year-old girlfriend inside an apartment on the Great Western Highway, in Kingswood in Sydneys west, at about 1.40pm on Monday before fleeing the scene. Emergency services were called to the unit, where they found the woman with two stab wounds to her chest. Despite paramedics efforts to save her, she died at the scene. Police launched a manhunt before arresting Tuwai at about 7.10pm at Derby Street, Penrith, without incident. He was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with murder DV. The 21-year-old was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Emergency services were called to a unit complex on the Great Western Highway at Kingswood, at 1.40pm on Monday Thousands of Australians increasingly frustrated by Australia Post's delivery failures have joined forces online to complain - but in response the national carrier has defended its service. Stephen Shergold started the Australia Post complaints page on Facebook out of his frustration with the postal service and has since attracted a whopping 23,000 members. Mr Shergold claimed many times the delivery driver failed to even come to his door to alert him about a delivery, he told 7 News. 'If I order things online, if its sent to me via Australia Post, I always have to go to the post office (to collect),' he said. Many Aussies shared his concerns with thousands of examples of other times the postal service has fallen short. One disgruntled customer questioned the reason some deliveries are never made - including couriers claiming the presence of pet dogs even when the residence doesn't have one. 'The postie puts the not able to be delivered' reason due to this non-existent dog,' they wrote. Another person said they had waved to an Australia Post worker while they were taking a photo of the resident's letterbox but they still drove off. A Facebook page about Australia Post has been flooded with thousands of complaints about missing, damaged or undelivered parcels. People also said they were at home but the postie never knocked, instead leaving a card saying the parcel had to be collected from a store Many Australia Post customers vented about receiving a card saying their delivery would be taken to a post office for collection One of the main complaints customers had besides missing or damaged parcels, was that despite people being at home, they never got a knock at the door. The customers would instead receive a card saying their delivery would be taken to a post office for collection. 'Two packages awaiting collection at post office. Yet there was five people home all day yesterday,' one wrote. An Australia Post spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it had 20,000 team members delivering 10million parcels weekly, on average. 'At Australia Post, our protocols for parcel delivery are stringent. Our drivers are required to knock three times and wait 30 seconds when delivering to households,' said the spokesperson. 'We are one of many courier and parcel delivery companies operating nationally. 'Non-delivery is an issue affecting all courier and delivery operators and can occur for a number of reasons.' Australia Post makes on average 10million deliveries a week by 20,000 team members. The company said it had been improving its customer service experience The spokesperson also said Australia Post has been improving its customer service experience and strives to be inclusive. 'We have a dedicated team supporting customers with accessibility needs, who help to ensure delivery drivers allow extra time for customers to reach their door and are able to safe drop parcels that normally require signatures,' they said. Braille along with audio cues are on each parcel locker and customers can also choose a lower locker if they are in a wheelchair. Customers can also download the app and redirect their parcel delivery in real time. 'Sometimes, our team members will leave a card without knocking due to access or safety issues, such as an off-leash dog or locked gates, even if a customer is home. 'The safety of our team members remains our number one priority, especially when our team members are subject to more than 55 dog-related incidents every week.' If customers wish to complain about Australia Post, formal complaints can be made to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. 'We do encourage you to go back to them first because they've got the ability to immediately change something or to fix something,' Commonwealth Ombudsman Iain Anderson told 7 News. Two former Georgia high school teachers who were arrested for allegedly having sex with their male students were apparently 'boy-crazy flirts' who cozied up to the teenagers and their fathers. Railey Greeson and Brooklyn Shuler, 23, were indicted earlier this month on three counts of sexual contact by an employee or agent in the 1st degree, with prosecutors claiming Greeson had sex with two different male students while employed by the Calhoun City School District and Shuler had sex with one. But parents at the school did not seem shocked by the allegations. 'I'm not trying to stereotype, but you could look at them and tell they were trouble,' Audrey Decker, whose stepdaughter attends the high school, told the New York Post. 'They just seemed boy-crazy. And everyone in the school knew it and joked about it.' Former Georgia teachers Brooklyn Shuler and Railey Greeson were apparently 'boy-crazy flirts' who cozied up to the teenagers and their fathers Parents have described how Greeson, left, and Shuler, right, would cozy up to teenagers and their fathers A mother of a sophomore at the school, who asked not to be named, also described the two former teachers as 'flirts.' 'You should have seen them with any attractive parents who came to the school,' she said. 'They would flirt with any of the dads. You know: laughing too loud, getting too close, that type of thing.' The mother went on to say they were 'flirting' and 'trying to be cute.' 'They were shameless,' the mother claimed. Prosecutors now say Greeson and Shuler had sex with the three students at some point between October 29, 2021, and January 3, 2022. Greeson, left, and Shuler, right, were indicted earlier this month on three counts of sexual contact by an employee or agent in the 1st degree They would later go on to get married, with Shuler tying the knot in Tunnel Hill, Georgia on November 12, 2022, according to her wedding registry website. Greeson was wed in Tennessee roughly a year later on October 7, 2023. Shuler named Greeson as her maid of honor, describing her as her 'best friend' and her 'ride or die'. Shuler didn't get the honor of being Greeson's matron of honor at her wedding but was a bridesmaid. Shuler was married in Tunnel Hill, Georgia on November 12, 2022 Greeson was wed in Tennessee roughly a year later on October 7, 2023 It remains unclear which school these two lifelong friends were working for at the time of the alleged crimes. It also remains unclear how the two friends met. Greeson was a member of Calhoun High School's class of 2019, according to an Instagram post displaying professional photo taken of her in anticipation of her senior year. This puts her around the age of 23. Greeson was also mildly active on X, posting over two years ago about how she'd approach 'communicating feedback' to her students. 'Communicating feedback in the forms of grades and averages can really stress students out and cause them to struggle,' Greeson wrote. Her X profile reveals she attended Kennesaw State with her graduation date in 2023. Shuler's connection to the Calhoun City School District, meanwhile, is unclear. Shuler's connection to the Calhoun City School District remains unclear However, it seems she is no longer with the man she married in November 2022, since he has a child with a new wife, according to his Facebook profile. Greeson is still featured on her husband's profile picture on his social media accounts. The two women were finally arrested and booked at the Gordon County Jail earlier this month, but were released on bond, the Gordon Gazette reports. If convicted, Greeson and Shuler could face one to 25 years in prison or a fine of up to $100,000. If sodomy was involved in the alleged sex acts with the boys, the women could face up to 50 years behind bars. EXCLUSIVE A woman allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend in a domestic violence killing had dreams of following in her father's footsteps to become a police officer. Jeremaia Tuwai, 21, is accused of murdering his girlfriend Nunia Kurualeba, 21, inside an apartment on the Great Western Highway in Kingswood in Sydney's west about 1.40pm on Monday. Emergency services were called to the unit, where they found the woman with two stab wounds to her chest. Despite paramedics' efforts to save her, she died at the scene. Tuwai allegedly fled the scene, sparking a six-hour manhunt before he was arrested at 7.10pm on Derby Street, Penrith. Ms Kurualeba had been living and working in Australia after migrating from Fiji several years ago. In 2016, her father - Police Constable Viliame Kurualeba - died after falling sick, and speaking to local Fijian media at the time, she revealed she wanted to follow in his footsteps. 'I really miss him,' Ms Kurualeba, then 14, told Fiji Sun. Nuniah Kurualeba, 21, was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner Jeremaia Tuwai (pictured together) on Monday Emergency services were called to a unit complex on the Great Western Highway at Kingswood, at 1.40pm on Monday Detectives are seen arriving at the crime scene on Tuesday morning Police have been scouring a unit where the young woman was allegedly murdered Ms Kurualeba posted this picture of herself online around an hour before her death Ms Kurualeba was the eldest of four children to her father and mother, Merelini. Just an hour before her death, Ms Kurualeba shared a photo on TikTok, showing her smiling for a selfie. Videos posted on social media show her dancing with friends and exploring sites around Sydney. Tributes have begun pouring in online, with devastated loved ones posting broken heart emojis. 'Oh Lord. Why!' one friend wrote. Detectives remained at the crime scene on Tuesday morning, scouring the area for evidence. White fingerprint dust could be seen on the window of the ground-floor apartment in the run-down unit block. After his arrest, Tuwai was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with murder DV. He was refused bail and is due to appear at Penrith Local Court later Tuesday. Furious Labor activists have attacked rebel senator Fatima Payman for daring to vote against the party, with one branding her a 'rat' who will end up 'forgotten, scorned and alone'. The newly-independent Western Australian senator announced her resignation from the ALP during a press conference in Parliament House on Thursday, after a escalating tensions with her former Labor colleagues over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ms Payman accused the Albanese government of failing take a stance on the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Gaza from Israeli military action which was launched after the surprise terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 last year. Since crossing the floor to vote in favour of Palestinian statehood, and then quitting the party to sit on the crossbenches, staunch ALP supportershave slammed Ms Payman. Among the louder critics was Ben Davison, a long-time union activist who hosts a political podcast with his Guardian columnist wife Van Badham. The day Ms Payman announced her departure from the ALP, Mr Davison penned a scathing X post. 'We've had rats before, we'll have rats again,' he wrote. 'They usually end up forgotten, scorned and alone.' He then pointed to the fact that Ms Payman won her seat in WA with only 1,600 below-the-line votes of the 500,000 overall votes the party received. Ben Davison is pictured with his wife Van Badham. They run a political podcast together Fatima Payman is pictured during her resignation press conference on Thursday 'A rat with 1600 votes, whose only issue is a non-issue for the majority of people in the state shes supposed to represent as a Labor Senator, will disappear quicker than most rats,' he wrote. In a further comment, he then took aim at Ms Payman's comments about her experience fleeing to Pakistan from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, before her family settled in Perth as refugees. '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 during her press conference on Thursday, fighting back tears. Mr Davison wrote: 'And to say shes the only person in the Labor caucus whose (sic) known hardship is the embodiment of an arrogant self serving lie. 'Shes a petulant, childish, individualist who has betrayed her party & Western Australia She should resign now and stand as an independent at the election.' Ms Payman did not suggest she was the only person in caucus to have undergone hardship. Ben Davison issues a scathing attack on Fatima Payman for leaving the Labor Party (posts pictured) Another ALP supporter Matt Martin also slammed the senator for crossing the floor (pictured) Another X user, Matt Martin, echoed the sentiment: 'I've been involved in many upper house selection ballots in the ALP - both state and senate - and I can assure you Fatima Payman is a rat. 'She knew what she signed up for and she should be expelled from the Party.' However, in a sign of the divisions within the party, the NSW Young Labor Left branch supported Sen. Payman's decision to join the crossbench. She will feature speak at an event organised by the branch called 'Palestine and the labour movement' next Tuesday. Sen. Payman will appear via Zoom. Other speakers include NSW state Labor MP Anthony D'Adam and Erima Dall, a Maritime Union of Australia delegate. 'Forcing action over Israel's genocide in Gaza still requires a bigger and more powerful movement for Palestine,' the event description read. 'Unions have supported many past social movements, but most are yet to throw their full backing behind Palestine. 'In the run up to the protest at the NSW Labor conference, this forum will discuss the links between unions and the Labor Party and how we can win greater support among Labor members and the labour movement.' France's radical left-wing coalition has vowed to bring in a 90 per cent tax rate on the rich following their shock election triumph on Sunday. In a result that caught political commentators by surprise, the New Popular Front (NPF) emerged as the biggest party in the second round of the elections which ended in a deadlock, gaining 182 seats ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble party, on 168. Marine Le Pen's populist right National Rally (RN), which won the first round of elections on June 30, performed poorly in the second round and only obtained 143 seats. The NPF appears to be heading for a power struggle with President Macron - as he wants to be free to pick the next Prime Minister himself - against the backdrop of tensions and uncertainty in a country with a long history of political violence. The NPF - a coalition put together just before the elections which include the socialists, the ecologists, the communists and the radical France Unbowed party - have not designated a candidate for French Prime Minister and the group's leaders met on Monday to try and agree upon who would be put forward for the job. Manuel Bompard, coordinator of France Unbowed, said: 'We are preparing to govern, to apply the programme which is ours.' The programme includes a 90 per cent tax rate on any annual income above 400,000, a reduction in the retirement age from 64 to 60, a block on the price of essential goods, a 14 per cent increase in minimum wage and spending commitments of at least 150 billion over three years. Manuel Bompard (pictured), coordinator of France Unbowed, said the coalition was 'preparing to govern' Participants gather during an election night rally following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election at Place de la Republique in Paris, France on July 7 French CRS riot police run past burning bicycles during clashes with demonstrators following partial results in the second round of the early French parliamentary elections, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, July 7 Emmanuel Macron (pictured) believes he can be the architect of a 'rainbow' coalition - bringing his MPs together with centre-right Republicans and moderate left-wingers Your browser does not support iframes. Macron's Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, fell out with the President over the dissolution of parliament and resigned from the role. However, they were promptly asked to stay on in a caretaker capacity until at least the Paris Olympics - which are due to open in two weeks. In a sign of rising tensions between the left and the Elysee Palace, Bompard suggested that Macron was trying to defy the will of the people by maintaining Attal. He urged Macron to 'respect' the election result, adding: 'There is no question of Gabriel Attal's contribution as Prime Minister, wiping out the vote of the French people.' Macron's supporters have a very different view of the election, which they said ended inconclusively. Gerald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior of France, said 'No one won' and claimed that both the Rally and the NPF 'had lost'. France now finds itself in a situation familiar to Italy and Germany of having to find a coalition government able to command a majority in parliament. Sylvain Maillard, an MP with Macron's group, said the search could take 'several weeks' He said: 'The French people have chosen a parliament with three blocks of roughly equal size'. Macron believes he can be the architect of a 'rainbow' coalition - bringing his MPs together with centre-right Republicans and moderate left-wingers. Maillard said all MPs would be welcome except for those belonging to the Rally or France Unbowed, before stressing that the new government would have to focus on living standards and insecurity. French riot police stand in position near burning bicycles during clashes with demonstrators following partial results in the second round of the early French parliamentary elections, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, July 7 Bicycles burn during tensions near Republique plaza in Paris following the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7 People gather in front of 'Le Monument a la Republique' statue during an election night rally following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election at Republique Square in Paris on July 7 It comes after French political scientist Nonna Mayer, whose research focuses on far-right movements in France and Europe, told BBC Radio 4 yesterday that although RN did not achieve the result it desired, it is in a better position than ever before. 'It's not a total defeat (for the RN). They still have the highest number of seats they ever had with 143,' Mayer said. 'The good thing for them is that it seemed they arrived unprepared. The decision of Macron with these snap elections took everybody by surprise... (the RN) now have three years to prepare for the next presidential election.' Indeed, when Macron initially called the snap vote in early June after his centrist party suffered a heavy defeat to the RN in European parliamentary elections, many analysts warned that Le Pen's outfit was not ready to campaign on such short notice. Though Le Pen and her hotshot 28-year-old party president Jordan Bardella tasted unexpected defeat Sunday, experts pointed out that Le Pen is now free to prepare and campaign for the 2027 presidency unburdened by responsibility for running the country. '(The RN) will not be forced to try to govern and will thus avoid any responsibility for what happens in France during the next few years,' Douglas Webber, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the INSEAD school, told Euronews. 'As they will not be able to be blamed for what happens in the next few years, they will have a good chance of winning the next presidential elections, all the more so because this election result will produce a great deal of political uncertainty in France.' This notion is not lost on Le Pen, nor Bardella. In the wake of Sunday's defeat, Le Pen hailed the 'rising tide' of support for her party across France and was clear on her intentions to push for the presidency in 2027. 'It did not rise high enough this time, but it continues to rise and, consequently, our victory has only been delayed,' she declared. Bardella meanwhile expressed fury at last night's results, dubbing the local electoral pacts that saw the left and centrists join forces to avoid splitting the anti-RN vote as an 'alliance of dishonour'. He said it had thrown France 'into the arms of Jean-Luc Melenchon's extreme left' and left the nation divided. Meanwhile, leaders across Europe expressed relief but also some concern over the results of the snap election which left a key EU country facing the prospect of a hung parliament and political paralysis. US President Joe Biden provided his political analysis of the elections when asked for his take on the outcome during an interview on Monday. 'The polls were wrong in France,' he said, adding that 'there's no right wave or tide here in America, either'. 'France rejected extremism,' Mr Biden said. The government in Germany, which together with France has long been viewed as the engine of European integration, expressed relief on Monday that the nationalist far right had not topped the polls. Anti-riot police officers detain a demonstrator during a gathering for the election night following the second round results of France's legislative election at Republique Square in Paris on the night of July 7 Jean-Luc Melenchon leader of La France Insoumise (LFI) gestures as he speaks after the announcement of the results of the second round of the legislative elections in Paris, France, July 7 Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, told reporters in Berlin: 'For now, a certain relief prevails that things that we feared have not materialised. 'Only time will tell what happens with this election result, and France will decide. 'The German-French relationship is a very special one. It is certainly also the core for the fact that we are experiencing Europe in peace and freedom.' After the first round of the French election last month, in which the National Rally had gained the most votes, Mr Scholz had spoken publicly of his worry that a second-round victory for the nationalist party could affect French-German relations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Union Council head, sounded even more euphoric in his reaction to the election outcome. 'In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,' he wrote late on Sunday on X. In London, a government spokesperson said that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was prepared to work with the French leadership regardless of political affiliation. 'France is obviously one of the UK's closest partners - as Nato and G7 members we have many shared interests,' a spokesperson said. 'The prime minister has said previously he will work with any government in Europe and across the world.' A major change coming to customer transactions in Kmart and Target stores across Australia in just over three weeks' time has left some shoppers furious. The retail giants, which are both owned by parent company Wesfarmers, will require proof of a receipt for 'change of mind' refunds from August 1. Until now, customers have been able to get refunds just by proving their identity, but the updated policy will mean customers have to hold onto their proof of purchase, which some say is 'annoying'. A Kmart spokesperson said showing receipts has always been preferred for dealing with refunds, and that it only allowed the use of IDs for refund verification on an ad hoc basis. 'Previously, stores were able to give customers a change of mind refund without a receipt if proof of identity was provided,' Kmart said in a memo shared in an app for workers. 'However, this option is being removed and customers will require a receipt.' The memo added that posters about the policy change will be displayed in stores and that staff should remind customers to hold on to their receipts. Kmart has confirmed that the new policy does not apply to returns of faulty products. A major change coming to customer transactions in Kmart (pictured) and Target stores across Australia is set to come into effect in just over three weeks' time Poll Have you had difficulties in returning products to Kmart or Target? Yes No Have you had difficulties in returning products to Kmart or Target? Yes 3 votes No 10 votes Now share your opinion 'In line with most major retailers in Australia, Kmart and Target will be enforcing its returns policy and requiring proof of purchase for "change of mind" returns,' a spokesperson for Kmart and Target said. 'We are communicating this change extensively across multiple customer touchpoints to ensure our customers are well-informed ahead of this change coming into effect.' Other forms of proof of purchase for refunds such as online order and bank receipts, and Buy Now Pay Later and Flybuys statements will also be accepted as proof of purchase, as will digital receipts, which are available with the Kmart app. Customers have also been advised to take pictures of their receipts so they can be stored on their phones. A Kmart shopper wrote on Facebook that 'You can still go to the original store, and they will look up the receipt for you if you give them the date and time (of the purchase).' The store said staff doing such a receipt search might also need to see a bank statement or other proof of purchase. Some customers were furious that the new refunds policy would also apply to Kmart's inhouse Anko range. Kmart and Target, which are both owned by parent company Wesfarmers, will require proof of a receipt for 'change of mind' refunds from August 1. A Kmart receipt is pictured Staff have been told on an internal app message (pictured) about the change in policy 'I find this annoying for things that are their own brand, where else am I going to purchase it from?' a shopper posted on social media. But some Anko products have been available in Target shops since early 2024, which followed Wesfarmers announcing a merger of the two stores a year ago. Some customers said the refund crackdown had already been operating in their nearest outlet. 'Our local Kmart has been doing this for over a year. I don't see why people are outraged,' one said. Signage about the coming changes is being displayed in stores and on the company's website. Refund requests have to be made within 60 days from the purchase, unless customers are OnePass members, who get a 12-month refund period. Some products, such as cosmetics, swimwear, pierced jewelry, bedding and printer cartridges are not eligible for change of mind refunds. Three men accused of killing an elderly woman tourist during a robbery outside an upscale shopping mall in Newport Beach, CA, defied a judge Monday, refusing to leave their jail cells and go to court to face murder and other charges. Leroy McCrary, 26 and Malachi Darnell, 18, both of LA, plus Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster, CA were scheduled to appear at Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana to be arraigned and enter guilty or not guilty pleas. But none of them showed up in defiance of Judge Andre Manssourian who ordered them to appear after they pulled the same stunt for a scheduled hearing last Friday, refusing to budge from the jail where theyre being held, just 200 yards away from the courtroom. The three - all shirtless - did make brief video appearances in court Monday after Orange County Sheriffs deputies managed to get iPads to their jail cells. None of them spoke and Judge Manssourian scheduled another arraignment and plea hearing Wednesday ordering the men - again - to show up. Leroy McCrary, 26, appears in court from his cell for the killing and robbery of Patricia McKay in Orange County Superior Court on July 8, 2024 in Santa Ana, California Jaden Cunningham, pictured left, and Malachi Darnell, right, also declined to leave the jail to show up to court Monday, only appearing virtually thanks to an iPad brought to their cells The judge seemed puzzled as to why the three were not to brought to court Monday, saying he heard something about a 24-hour psychiatric hold. and asking deputies to give him a report in writing as to why they are not in court right now. I need to know if its a refusal or if its a psychiatric hold, he said. The men are all charged with murdering New Zealand tourist Patricia McKay, 68, by running her over with a car and dragging her 65 feet after trying to rob her and her husband Douglas outside a Barnes and Noble store at Fashion Island mall. The three - who could face the death penalty if convicted - are also accused of attempted second degree robbery. In addition, Darnell is charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm after allegedly firing a gun at a Good Samaritan who was trying to help the McKays during the incident July 2. New Zealand woman Patricia 'Trish' McKay (left) was killed in front of her husband, prominent banker Doug McKay (right), at a shopping center in Newport Beach, California. The two were on vacation Judge Andre Manssourian speaks during a court hearing for Jaden Cunningham, Malachi Darnell, and Leroy McCrary. He was puzzled as to why none of them showed up, adding that he heard it may have been because of 'a 24-hour psychiatric hold. And McCrary - who cops say led them on a high-speed 30-mile plus chase while fleeing the scene of the botched robbery - was also charged with evading police while driving recklessly. Police say that Darnell and Cunningham, both wearing masks, jumped out of a white Toyota Camry driven by McCrary and accosted the McKays as they were walking outside the Barnes & Noble store. One of the suspects allegedly put a gun to the head of Mr. McKay, 69, demanding his watch and forcing him to the ground. When they couldnt get the watch, say cops, the robbers turned on McKay, who was holding several shopping bags. As McKay fought to hang on to the bags, Cunningham allegedly dragged her into the street in front of the white Toyota getaway car with McCrary at the wheel. Prosecutors say Douglas McKay jumped in front of the vehicle to protect his wife, but McCrary, with Darnell back in the car, accelerated and forced the husband out of the way, then ran over McKay, trapping her under the vehicle and dragging her until she was dead. Police arrested McCrary, pictured, after he was forced to hide behind trash cans between houses after the overweight narcotics addict ran out of puff fleeing cops following the fatal mall robbery Trish McKay and her husband had been outside a Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Fashion Island mall when they were approached by two men. McCrary (above) and two teenagers were taken into custody after the men fled the scene Cunningham was was still running toward the moving escape vehicle, trying to jump in and a Good Samaritan was chasing him, trying to stop him. But, according to cops, the pursuer gave up the chase when Darnell fired three shots toward him from the Toyota and Cunningham got away with his two accomplices. Nobody was hit by gunfire. The men fled north toward Los Angeles with the Toyota reaching speeds of up to 110mph, say police, who eventually were able to pull the car over and arrest all three. The victims husband Douglas McKay - a prominent businessman and community leader in New Zealands capital, Auckland - was not injured in the incident. Meanwhile Los Angeles County Sheriff George Gascon - and California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom - are facing a growing storm of anger over why one of the accused men - McCrary, 26, - was free on probation instead of behind bars for a string of earlier LA convictions, including one last year for a similar robbery. Prosecutors say that before last weeks robbery and killing, McCrary had prior convictions for residential burglary in 2018, criminal threats in 2020, and robbery in 2023. Leroy McCrary, pictured, has a criminal history including a chillingly similar hold up at a different upmarket beach community 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 The scene where the three men were pulled over after allegedly killing McKay. They were driving at speeds of up to 110mph, police say He pleaded no congest last year to the robbery charge plus another of being a drug addict in possession of a firearm. Yet he was only sentenced to two years probation and a three-year prison sentence was suspended, leaving him free on the streets. Our shopping centers and malls have become hunting grounds for criminals who are stalking innocent shoppers to rob them blind because our Governor and our Legislature refuse to hold anyone accountable for their actions, blasted Republican Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer when he announced the charges against the three men. He said that McKays murder was a crime that should have never happened, adding, Lawlessness and violence will not be tolerated in our society. Newport Beach Mayor Will O'Neill reacted with anger to the horrendous slaying of McKay, saying that McCrary 'shouldn't have been in free society' because of his past crimes. 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.' Asked to explain why McCrary didnt get jail time for his previous crimes, Gascon said in a statement that the case against him had significant problems with proof so the management team at the court authorized a plea offer that allowed him to be placed on probation, plus a prison sentence that was suspended. DailyMail.com asked a spokesman for Orange County Superior Court if a judge there is empowered to order a jail inmate to be physically compelled to come to court for a scheduled appearance if he refuses to leave his cell but we have not yet received a response. A Jewish couple who was pummeled in an alleged anti-Semitic brawl at their twins' fifth-grade graduation is planning to sue New York City for $100million. Johan Nunez and Lana Lerner argue that the Department of Education 'failed to provide adequate security measures' at PS 682 in Brooklyn on June 14 amid an influx of anti-Semitic attacks since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. As a result, they say a woman smashed her black stiletto into Nunez's head as he was repeatedly punched and kicked, and Lerner was dragged by her hair just moments after another family started screaming 'Free Palestine.' The couple now says they suffered assault and emotional distress from the caught-on-camera fight, according to a notice of claim obtained by the New York Post. They also claim they suffered human rights violations. Johan Nunez and Lana Lerner are planning to sue the New York City Department of Education for $100million A brief video shows Nunez being pulled away and kicked after attending his twins' graduation ceremony in an alleged anti-Semitic attack The family says the brawl occurred after a graduating fifth-grader wore an allegedly school-approved graduation cap with 'Free Palestine' written on it as he crossed the stage and waved a small Palestinian flag. Seeing the display, Lerner said her mother recoiled and left her seat in disgust. 'I can't sit through this,' her mother, a Jewish refugee from Ukraine, told her daughter in Russian. Meanwhile, another parent asked school administrators how the display could be allowed at a graduation ceremony. 'The administrator basically told her that "we contacted legal and were told it's free speech and it's allowed,"' Lerner told the Post. The rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch, but once it was over, all of the families flocked to a balloon display to take photos. As Lerner and her family stood to take photos of the twins, the family of the boy with the Palestinian cap and flag tried to shove them out of the way, the notice of claim says. The couple argues that the Department of Education 'failed to provide adequate security measures' at PS 682 in Brooklyn on June 14 A Jewish mother and her husband were attacked by an Arabic-speaking family at a Brooklyn elementary school graduation. The Arabic family taunted them by shouting ! ! and ! The Jewish womans pic.twitter.com/O56jZdA0Gu RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 23, 2024 'They were pushing my mother out of the way,' Lerner recounted. 'She turned to them and said, "Excuse me, please stop pushing. There is plenty of space.' But, she said, 'an older gentleman [turned] to us out of nowhere and said "Free Palestine."' Nunez then reportedly tried to defuse the situation by saying, 'This is not the time or place for this,' but one of the men in the other family kept screaming: 'Free Palestine! Gaza is ours!' At that point, Lerner said a younger member of the unidentified other family sucker-punched Nunez in the temple, put him in a headlock and dragged him to the ground. Multiple people then joined in on the fracas, including a woman who allegedly nailed Nunez with her black stiletto. An unidentified person allegedly sucker-punched Nunez in the temple, as another woman smashed a stiletto into his head Nunez went to a local hospital after sustaining injuries to his head, elbow and left knee In an effort to save Nunez, Lerner said their 16-year-old son tried to help get people off of his father - but ended up punched in the face as well. Meanwhile, Lerner tried to record the assault on her phone, but said she was only able to capture a few seconds before 'a woman from the same family came up from the left side of me, pulled me by the hair, dragged me on the ground, kicked me [and] said, "I'm going to kill you."' The fight was eventually broken up by two male teachers, as there was no security on site, court documents say. Police who responded to the scene also ended up arresting Ez-Al Dean Bazar, 26, who is accused of punching and dragging Nunez, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. Officers are also investigating the incident as a hate crime, according to amNY. The family alleges the school 'incited hostility' by 'allowing an anti-Semitic message to be displayed at a school event' In the aftermath, Nunez went to a local hospital after sustaining injuries to his head, elbow and left knee, and Lerner went to an urgent care facility for injuries she sustained. Nearly a month later, Nunez said he still has 'a lot of body pain' and is under the care of a doctor for his injuries. The family is now alleging the school 'incited hostility' by 'allowing an anti-Semitic message to be displayed at a school event.' 'It is our position that the DOE basically enabled this to occur because tensions are high, and they did not have adequate enough security and supervision of the parents, family and guests who attended the graduation to ensure that something like this will not escalate to the point of violence,' attorney Mark Shirian said. He and his co-counsel, Sanford Rubenstein, added: 'We think the DOE needs to consider the consequences when they allow such a display at a public graduation.' The two also plan to file civil complaints against the Department of Education and those involved in the assault. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Department of Education and the city's Law Department for comment. But in a statement to the Post, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said: 'Graduations should be times of celebration and joy, and we strongly denounce anyone who acts in a violent or aggressive way during such events. 'Initial reports we have received from multiple witnesses indicate that both families engaged in aggressive behavior, but we are still investigating the matter and are simultaneously engaging with families as we work towards a resolution.' The White House is now doing damage control following reports Joe Biden's personal physician met with a top neurologist and Parkinson's specialist at the White House. Biden's personal doctor, Kevin O'Connor, broke protocol Monday, releasing a letter explaining why Dr. Kevin Cannard visited the White House eight times in eight months. The letter came after a frenzied day of speculation over Biden's ailing health, which has been in question since his disastrous first debate with Donald Trump, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre adding fuel Monday by saying the president has seen a neurologist three times. Cannard is a movement disorder specialist at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland. On Monday, O'Connor released a letter with the permission of both Biden and Cannard and confirmed that Cannard had been the neurologist who evaluated the president at each of his three physicals since he took office. The White House is now doing damage control following reports Joe Biden 's personal physician met with a top neurologist and Parkinson's specialist at the White House On Monday, Dr. Kevin O'Connor released a letter with the permission of both Biden and Cannard and confirmed that Cannard had been the neurologist who evaluated the president at each of his three physicals since he took office But most of Cannard's visits to the White House were pursuant to his role as a specialist attached to the White House Medical Unit, treating patients for a wide array of neurological issues at the White House for a dozen years, O'Connor said. He said Cannard 'has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations.' 'Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Canard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,' which may explain some of the visits,' he added. Cannard made similar trips to the White House during the Obama administration, according to visitor logs, and during the Trump administration - which did not publish visitor logs - according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Cannard did have one visit with Bidens personal physician this January in the White House Residence clinic, weeks before the presidents physical in February. O'Connor repeated that the findings of that physical that didn't detect signs of any neurological disorder. 'President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical,' O'Connor said in his letter. He also endorsed Cannard for his work at the White House during his appearances. 'Dr. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems,' he said. Cannard has been in his position at the Walter Reed center for almost 20 years. He has served as 'neurology specialist supporting the White House Medical Unit,' since 2012, according to his LinkedIn. Biden is battling criticism from some Democrats that he lacks the mental acuity to stand as their nominee against Trump in the Nov. 5 presidential election. The disclosure comes amid mounting scrutiny over the president's mental state following his car crash debate against rival Donald Trump. Biden, 81, has sought to quash rumors he is unfit to lead and still asserts he will run in the November election, but has refused to state whether he is undergoing regular, official cognitive tests. 'Look, I have a cognitive test every single day,' Biden said when asked by ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Friday, as he referred to the tasks he faces daily in a rigorous job. 'Every day, I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I'm running the world.' Cannard is a movement disorder specialist at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland The White House refused to say if they met with Biden during the meeting, but the president was in D.C. at the time Records show the president was in the White House on the day of the medics' January meeting, as it took place on the same day he hosted House and Senate leaders to convince them to back extra funding for Ukraine. The doctor issued Biden a clean bill of health during an annual exam in February, which ruled out Parkinson's, O'Connor said at the time. He became the president's physician in 2021 and has contact with him every day. Following the debate, the White House said Biden had done a verbal 'check-in' with his doctor. But questions over his competency remain, especially after his first sit-down interview since the disastrous June 27 debate did little to assuage fears. Several Democrats had called for Biden to quit the race following the debate and they reiterated this wish after yesterday's ABC interview. He accused the president and his wife of attempting to gloss over his state of mind. 'I believe he and Jill Biden have led the cover up,' Jackson said. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre came under intense fire on Monday as she was accused of not being straight about the president's health or doctor visits 'Kevin O'Connor is like a son to Jill Biden she loves him. It's crazy. 'Kevin O'Connor was in that job on day one of the Biden administration because they knew they could trust Kevin to say and do anything that needed to be said or done and cover up whatever needed to be covered up. He is part of the Biden family.' Jean-Pierre at times struggled to be heard amid a cacophony of questions about the 81-year-old president's health. She confirmed he had been examined three times by a neurologist but refused to say why a specialist in Parkinson's disease visited the White House eight times in eight months, citing privacy and security concerns. But that simply triggered a hubbub from the usually docile front row of reporters who peppered her with demands for a proper explanation. A former New York City firefighter has revealed he spent almost three decades living next door to the prime suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial killings. Etienne de Villiers, 69, and his wife Patricia, 66, had lived next door to alleged murderer Rex Heuermann, who is accused of killing six women who disappeared between 1993 and 2010. All the while, de Villiers, known as 'Frenchy' at his firehouse, believed his neighbor to be 'creepy' but harmless, ever since moving to their home on First Avenue in the small town of 17,000 in 1995 with his wife, Patricia. Heuermann and de Villiers lived next door to one another in the Long Island town of Massapequa Park since 1995. De Villiers initially was astounded to learn of his neighbor's alleged crimes - but quickly recalled incidents with Heuermann that had left him feeling uncomfortable. Etienne de Villiers, 69, lived next door to Rex Heuermann, an architect, who has pleaded not guilty to five murders and is considered a suspect in a sixth Rex Heuermann and de Villiers lived next door to one another in the Long Island town of Massapequa Park since 1995 He described Heuermann as a man with a towering figure who would try to make awkward small talk with his wife, especially when de Villiers was out of the house on duty. 'Every time she's out there and I'm at the firehouse working, Rex would hang over the fence, talking to her,' de Villiers told The Daily Beast. But Patricia finally told her husband that Heuermann's behavior made her nervous. There was a time when he would peek at her over the fence and stare at her while sunbathing, trying to make small talk, when the couple first moved into the neighborhood. 'He would constantly say - he was six-four, 250 pounds - and he would try to start conversations with her,' De Villiers explained to Fox News. De Villiers ended up confronting Heuermann and asked him to stop. Perhaps surprisingly, Heuermann complied without resistance. 'I literally threatened the guy,' de Villiers said. 'I figured if I got to fight the guy, I got to fight the guy. I dont care how big he is. I told him, "Dont make me" I said STOP! 'It was unpleasant, he complied. He stopped, didn't argue with me,' de Villiers said. 'He said, "I won't do it no more", and he backed off immediately. So I went, "okay." 'When I had that altercation with him, I basically threatened him to stop leering at my wife. He backed off. The violence thing I didn't see coming because he didn't come off violent. I mean, he was strange to look at, enormous,' de Villiers recalled. 'But he never became more violent to me or to anybody that I could tell,' he said. 'Its scary now, when you stop and think that the girls all look like my wife.' Etienne de Villiers, 69, together with his wife Patricia, 66, lived next door to Heuermann The home of former FDNY Firefighter Etienne de Villiers and his wife, Patricia, is seen right, while that of the Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect, Rex Heuermann, is seen left The 6-foot-4-inch Heuermann would often to peering over the fence try to make small talk while Patricia was sunbathing when de Villiers was on duty at the firehouse Over the years, their interactions remained short but friendly - even if they were limited to brief chats when de Villiers walked to his car parked in the driveway. 'We didnt have a beer together or play cards or anything together. But whenever I came out to get my car, he we would always say, "Howre you doing?"', de Villiers recalled. 'Thats pretty much how it went, how it stayed over the next 30 years.' Heuermann would often mention his size, his 250lb weight, and his gun collection and liked hunting, even noting how he a safe door to 'protect his guns.' The fact surprised de Villiers given the run down state of his home. 'The guy was odd and strange but never violent,' de Villiers said. 'We spoke every day almost. He was always kind and respectful. I was surprised by the violence. I really feel bad for the children. Despite growing up and living there for years, Heuermann had let his house fall into disrepair - even with him being an architect. De Villiers likened him to a shoemaker with holes in his shoes. It appears de Villiers' relationship with Heuermann was unique in the neighborhood, as many others avoided him. 'The neighbor to the other side of him had these big trees put up so you cant see his house at all, so he had zero contact with the guy,' de Villiers said. 'So its sad to say that pretty much the only one who spoke to that guy was me.' Others in the neighborhood believed the suspected serial killer to be a quiet family man, who could often be seen tinkering in his garage while keeping to himself. The realization has left De Villiers reflecting on the contrast between his life's work of saving lives as a firefighter and Heuermann's alleged crimes De Villiers also noticed that Heuermann's friends appeared scruffy, unlike the typical Massapequa resident. 'They seemed a pretty low life type. You could pick them up and put them in a trailer park,' de Villiers said to The Daily Beast. Heuermann had been married to Asa Ellerup. Together they had a daughter, Victoria, while Ellerup's son, Christopher Sheridan, also lived with them. Christopher, who has developmental disabilities seemed extremely withdrawn and friendless as he grew older, de Villiers said. De Villiers, who served at Ground Zero after 9/11, only recently learned about Heuermann's alleged 'post event' to-do list in which he detailed methods designed to prevent bodies from being found and identified. The document, recovered from one of Heuermann's computers, outlined gruesome steps such as 'remove ID marks' and 'remove head and hands.' It was 2010 when Suffolk County Police Officer John Mallia discovered the remains of Melissa Barthelemy, one of the Gilgo Four, while searching for a missing sex worker. The discovery led to the unearthing of more victims and the identification of a new serial killer on Long Island. Initially, investigators had suspected a high-ranking police official, but DNA evidence pointed to Heuermann. Heuermann was initially charged with the murders of three women: Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello. The victims had disappeared between 2007 and 2010. In January, he was also charged with the murder of a fourth victim Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Etienne Devilliers, Rex Heuermann's neighbor, shows where where Heuermann used to look over the backyard fence at his wife sunbathing at their Massapequa Park, New York home Despite being an architect, Heuermann let his home fall into disrepair over the 30 years Then, last month, Heuermann was charged with killing two more women, including Sandra Costilla, murdered in 1993, and Jessica Taylor, whose torso was found in 2003. De Villiers' can remember cops approaching his door early one morning in July 20213, asking him to move his cars. He complied, and upon watching the news, learned that Heuermann was the Gilgo killer suspect. He was stunned, given their years of neighborly interactions. De Villiers shared a conversation where Heuermann's son Christopher expressed his disbelief about his father's guilt. The neighbor reassured him, emphasizing the principle of innocence until proven guilty. He also felt sorry for Heuermann's wife Victoria. It was again in May of this year just as in the previous July that helicopters buzzed overhead, and police squad cars once again shut off the suburban block. A second search uncovered yet more evidence, and saw Heuermann charged with the additional murders. The indictment described his meticulous planning and brutal methods. It has left De Villiers reflecting on the contrast between his life's work of saving lives as a firefighter and Heuermann's alleged crimes, destroying families in the process. A student nurse has called out a Melbourne tram inspector for making her cry when he confronted her about not having student identification to match her concession Myki card. Emma Jane was coming home from a nursing shift on a tram and was asked by an inspector to verify her ticket. She thought she was in the clear as she had tapped on with her Myki card as required. However her Myki card was registered as a discounted student concession card so she was asked to prove she was a student. Users of Melbourne's transport network are required to use a Myki card to tap on at the station they board - and off before they disembark to pay for their fare. 'The Myki guy comes up and I was like, 'I'm fine, I've tapped on' and he goes 'it's concession', she said in her Instagram post detailing the incident. 'I'm a student, I study as well as work. I was like, 'I can show you my university. I don't have a student card because I study online'. 'He goes, 'no, you actually need a paper, I'm going to have to report you'.' She said she began to cry when being lectured by the inspector. 'Myki inspectors are so ruthless,' she said. Melbourne student nurse Emma Jane (pictured) cried after a confrontation with a Myki, public transport, inspector on Monday 'I'm crying because oh my god, I'm gonna get fined $300 even though I tapped on,' she said. 'I didn't realise and they just sit there and I'm crying and having a panic attack because they're like scary and they all come around you. 'It feels like I'm going to jail or something.' Hundreds of commenters slammed the Myki inspector for being overly harsh and shared their own stories of similar confrontations. 'Myki inspectors are the most heartless ugliest ogres ever,' one said. 'I was on my way into the city and I saw a big middle-aged Myki inspector interrogate a young girl. She looked 14, you could tell she was young,' another wrote. The inspector lectured and reported Emma for using a concession Myki card without carrying documents to prove she was entitled to a discount 'The exact same thing happened to me, as a uni student,' another said. Others shared their support for Emma and called for nurses to be given better treatment. 'Nurses should have free public transport,' one wrote. 'Like we need another reason to cry after a nursing shift,' another said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Public Transport Victoria and Emma Jane's management for comment. A congregant of the Solid Rock Church sprayed demonstrators outside the South Carolina place of worship after last Sunday's service, leading to his arrest and five misdemeanor assault charges. The incident comes amid sustained protests at the church in support of Mica Miller, 30, the wife of pastor John-Paul, 44, who died by suicide on April 27, two days after she filed for divorce from him. Robert W. Lochel, 67, was seen in the cell phone video shooting water at a line of protestors with a 'pressurized sprinkler,' according to an incident report filed by the Myrtle Beach Police Department. The police described the protest as 'peaceful,' adding that Lochel only 'admitted to his actions due to wifes frustrations.' He surrendered to police on Monday. So far, John-Paul has refused to comment on the assault from the member of his church, though he was released from ministerial duties in early May. Robert W. Lochel, 67, seen aiming a pressurized sprinkler at a group of protesters on the sidewalk outside Solid Rock Church. Police described the protestors as 'peaceful' Lochel, pictured in his booking photo, admitted to the assault because of his 'wifes frustrations,' according to report by the Myrtle Beach Police Department Dozens of friends and residents who believe Mica's death happened under strange circumstances have been protesting outside Solid Rock Church during Sunday services for at least a month straight now. One protester told NewsNation in early June she would be demonstrating outside the church every Sunday 'until we find justice for Mica.' Some cold water was thrown on the wild speculation about her death in late June, when it was confirmed that Mica's cause of death was in fact suicide. A toxicology report obtained by DailyMail.com dismissed claims that her estranged husband could have drugged her before her death. Regina Ward, Mica's divorce attorney, previously claimed that JP had been prescribed lithium before Mica died and alleged, he could have given this to his wife to subdue her. The attorney also claimed he could have controlled Mica while she was in this supposed state, telling DailyMail.com he was a 'narcissist' who 'projected his personal diagnosis.' But since the report showed no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death, this version of events was rendered inaccurate. Mica Miller's death has been confirmed as a suicide, according to an autopsy and toxicology report obtained by DailyMail.com nearly two months after she was found with a fatal gunshot wound John-Paul was seen leaving his lawyer's office days after being released from his duties at Solid Rock at Market Common Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina John-Paul still receives criticism for his strange behavior after his wife was found dead in Lumber River State Park from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Miller stunned his congregation at Solid Rock when, after a service in which he had laughed and appeared entirely at ease, he announced that his wife had died and that her death was 'self-induced.' He was also caught drinking and having dinner with another woman four days after Mica's death, DailyMail.com revealed. Photos show the pastor laughing while on an apparent date with the woman, identified as Suzie Skinner, 49. Before making her intent to separate from John-Paul in April, Mica filed for divorce from her husband in October after discovering he was having multiple affairs, according to documents obtained by DailyMail.com. She withdrew the filing in February, just two months before her death. It isn't known why she did this. Photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com show Solid Rock Church pastor JP Miller having dinner with another woman, identified as Suzie Skinner, on May 1 Divorce documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal that Mica filed for divorce in October last year 'on the grounds of adultery' There's also a belief that John-Paul groomed Mica, since she met him when she was just 14 years old as a member of his youth church group. The Robeson County Sheriff's Office, which has been in charge of the investigation of Mica's death, has been coordinating with the FBI and federal attorneys. While the FBI hasn't commented, it is understood that Mica kept a daily journal detailing her struggle and abusive marriage prior to her death. Mica posted a video to Facebook several weeks before her death speaking about abuse within marriage and offering support to 'ANYONE struggling with leaving a dangerous situation because they think God will be 'mad' at them.' 'God hates divorce, but why? According to everybody that I've asked and the scriptures I've seen it's because it hurts people. But does abuse hurt people. How do you think God feels about that?' Mica added. Mica , left, and John-Paul, right, are pictured wearing the same necklace. Mica is seen in Ring doorbell footage the day of her death wearing what John-Paul said was her favorite necklace Mica Miller's sister Sierra (left) shared a series of disturbing texts from her estranged husband during an altercation between the couple in 2022 Messages show Miller sent a text to Sierra saying he was on her way to her house, where Mica was staying in November 2022 One instance of potentially abusive behavior from John-Paul came to light via disturbing texts he sent threatening Mica's family 18 months before his and Mica's marriage broke down. At the time, he texted his sister-in-law Sierra that he was coming to her home 'armed' and 'ready,' DailyMail.com reported. In probate court records, Mica's family has accused John-Paul of abusing her and driving her to live in fear. He is accused in court documents of grooming Mica for years from the age of 14, committing her to hospital so he could steal her car, and cheating on his first wife, Alison, with underage churchgoers. He has not been charged in relation to her death. A concerned mother is calling for G-string bikinis to be banned. New Zealander Amy Dixon wants what she describes as 'pornographic' garments outlawed at her local public swimming pool in New Plymouth - which is popular with young kids. Ms Dixon, who has three sons, started a petition asking if she was being a prude for wanting the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre to ban revealing swimwear. The petition has already got almost 200 signatures. She started the campaign after her eight-year-old boy saw a young woman wearing a G-string while at his swimming lesson. 'The term itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini seems to have taken on a whole new meaning,' she wrote on the petition page. 'It was pornographic,' Ms Dixon told Taranaki Daily News. 'I don't want to be an overprotective mum. Is that the space we're in with society now? If so, I'll find ways to prepare my kids for that. But do we have to do that?' New Zealander Amy Dixon wants what she describes as 'pornographic' garments outlawed at her local public swimming pool in New Plymouth - which is popular with young kids (stock image) Poll Should G-string bikini bottoms be banned from public swimming pools? Yes No Should G-string bikini bottoms be banned from public swimming pools? Yes 1415 votes No 1468 votes Now share your opinion The aquatic centre's rules do stipulate that women's breasts be adequately covered, however it currently has no rule against G-strings. On her petition page, Ms Dixon said that women wearing G-strings have often left her family 'feeling uncomfortable and the enclosed area means looking away or moving spaces is not always an option'. 'I wonder whether it also creates a barrier for other members in our community where they may avoid these spaces all together,' she wrote. She has found a lot of support for her position, with one signer writing that 'Pools are generally kid places, the fact women think it's OK to be so inappropriate is mind blowing'. 'They just want to be looked at.' Another wrote that 'I want to have a fun family outing without bums up in my and my children's faces'. Ms Dixon has also gained support across the ditch. An Australian teacher commented that they 'see it frequently. It's inappropriate for a child to be exposed to this!' Recently, another Australian man started a similar campaign in Queensland. Community worker Ian Grace sparked outrage after pleading for skimpy bikinis to be banned from Gold Coast beaches claiming that women are 'cheapening themselves' and making others feel 'uncomfortable'. When Mr Grace, who is the founder and president of local charity Youth Music Venture, raised a fuss about G-strings on the Gold Coast he said it was about 'protection'. 'I don't believe that young teens want to be seen as sexy, it's just the fashion right now,' he said at the time. Ms Dixon, who has three sons, started a petition asking if she was being a prude for wanting the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre to ban revealing swimwear (stock image) In February, community worker Ian Grace sparked outrage after pleading for skimpy bikinis to be banned from Gold Coast beaches because they make him feel 'uncomfortable' 'And I absolutely believe that the real issue here is the men who might be ogling the girls.' He detailed an incident that left him feeling 'uncomfortable' when he recently walked past a woman in a G-string. 'One young lady in particular was walking on the footpath on the main road and had the tiniest triangle in front and was as close to naked as anyone could be,' he wrote. 'While any man would enjoy "the view", I believe women are very much demeaning and cheapening themselves, portraying themselves as sex objects, then decrying it when men see them that way.' He said 'bare bums' are just as erotic as bare breasts so they should be barred in the same way. 'If not banned at the beach, very definitely banned the moment they are off the beach,' he wrote. 'This certainly should not be allowed in public pools or theme/water parks which are very much more family orientated. Young kids don't need to see women's bums.' From outward appearances, Stacey Gammage, 29, and Dean Heasman, 28, seemed to be the parents of a happy young family. Over their joint social media accounts, the western Sydney couple gushed over their seven kids - frequently sharing images of key childhood milestones and memories. One photo shows a little boy beaming as he unwraps a Thomas the Tank Engine train set for his birthday, while another shows a little girl with her face painted as a unicorn as she attends a carnival. Others show the siblings lined up in their uniforms posing for a photo before school or propped up next to Santa for an annual Christmas photo. According to one post by Ms Gammage, family was a 'bond like no other'. 'My beautiful babies,' she wrote. 'I love them with all my heart.' But now the family is irretrievably shattered after three of the children - a three-year-old boy, six-year-old boy, and 10-month-old girl - were killed in a horror house fire in Lalor Park, in Sydney's west, during the early hours of Sunday morning. Stacey Gammage, 29, and Dean Heasman, 28, are pictured during happier times Photos posted on social media paint the image of a happy, young family Ms Gammage frequently shared gushing posts about her children on a Facebook account. While the account is under both their names, posts suggest the mother-of-seven was the primary user Police will allege their father - Heasman - barricaded himself, Ms Gammage and their children inside of the housing commission home before setting it ablaze. Four of the children - a nine-year-old girl and three boys aged eleven, seven and four - managed to escape the inferno and alerted neighbours that their father was allegedly trying to kill them. Heasman was arrested at the scene before being rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he remains fighting for life in an induced coma under police guard. Ms Gammage was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. It remains unclear if she has since been released. While detectives wait to see if Heasman makes a full recovery, investigators are reportedly at a loss as to understand the motive behind the horror attack. It is understood he had no history of mental illness or domestic violence, according to police. The couple had only recently had their only known interaction with police - a brief verbal argument that resulted in officers attending the property, which was quickly resolved. On Facebook, Ms Gammage described her fiance as an 'amazing' and caring partner. 'Love you my amazing partner Dean Heasman,' she wrote in 2018. 'Thank you for looking after me while I've been that sick I lose my voice. 'You are amazing and I love you.' The housing commission property in Lalor Park was quickly engulfed in flames in the early hours of Sunday morning Dean Heasman, 28, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital under police guard But about 1am on Sunday, Heasman allegedly threw a pillow on fire at his partner, which was partly responsible for igniting the blaze, reported the Daily Telegraph. Investigators are also probing whether Heasman allegedly used an accelerant after a second explosion engulfed the home in flames moments after he threw the fully alight pillow at his partner. Police will also allege he not only barricaded the family inside the property as it burned - but also tried to drag the children back inside as they tried to escape. The father-of-seven is understood to have no significant criminal history, but in 2017 did have a run in with the Australian Tax Office. Then just 21, he pleaded guilty to making a false statement and was convicted, but avoided jail and instead was put on an 18-month good behaviour bond by the NSW Local Court - and was also ordered to pay back $2,809 to the ATO. On Monday friends and members of the community arrived at the scene many leaving floral tributes, stuffed toys and candles. A priceless tiara has been returned after an opportunistic robber stole it from a three-year-old girl's gravesite. Lorraine and David Conway, who live on the Gold Coast, lost their daughter Brittney three weeks after she ingested a button battery in July 2020. Brittney was buried beneath a black marble gravestone at a Mudgeeraba cemetery, to which her parents had embedded a locked glass box to house her special tiara. It suddenly vanished in June and since then Mr and Mrs Conway have publicly pleaded for the 'dirty low life' thief who took it to give it back immediately. 'I was so angry to think someone had taken something so precious, taken it out of somewhere so sacred,' Mrs Conway told 7News on July 1. 'If youre watching this and youve taken it, I dont hate you just take it back to her.' On Monday Mrs Conway said she went back to the cemetery to find that the irreplaceable headpiece had been returned to her daughter's lock box. Brittney Conway, three, died three weeks after swallowing a button battery in July 2020 Her parents Lorraine and David buried their daughter and embedded her old tiara in a lock box at the gravesite, before it was stolen by an unknown thief in late June Mrs Conway thanked everyone who helped spread the word, which ultimately led to the tiara's return. 'We found it last night... So so happy,' she wrote on Facebook. Ms Conway said the tiara was embedded into her daughter's grave as a reminder of how much she loved her little girl. 'We just wanted her to know she was our little princess,' Ms Conway said. Locals rallied behind the distraught family, with some offering to donate money for a new tiara and another pledging $1,000 for anyone who could find the original. Mrs Conway begged the 'low life' thief to return the 'irreplaceable' tiara immediately On Monday the bereaved parents returned to the Mudgeeraba cemetery on the Gold Coast to find that their daughter's tiara had been returned The couple first noticed the missing tiara in the last week of June. 'What dirty low life dogs to steal my daughter's tiara from her lock box on her grave,' Ms Conway fumed online at the time. 'Hope you get haunted forever!' It remains a mystery as to who took or returned the tiara. A retail worker's dream vacation to Italy has turned into a $200,000 nightmare after she suffered a stroke while overseas. Grace Bradley has been a paraplegic since the age of 13, but has become more independent over the past few years. She saved up enough money from her job as a cashier at the local supermarket to travel to Italy in June. It was her first opportunity to travel in her entire life. But while overseas, Bradley suffered a stroke - and is still stuck in a Venice hospital as her family struggles to raise enough money to transport her back to the United States. Grace Bradley was born with Vodder syndrome - a condition in which there is impairment to normal lymphatic flow She is now stuck in a Venice hospital after suffering a stroke while on her dream vacation 'We need her home,' her grandfather, Tony Bradley, told WYFF. 'She's not doing well, and she's not going to get better until she comes home.' Bradley was born with Vodder syndrome - a condition in which there is impairment to normal lymphatic flow. She became a paraplegic at the age of 13, and has been in a wheelchair ever since, 'battling numerous illnesses, countless surgeries and the loss of her most valuable asset to her own advocation: her voice,' according to an online fundraiser. She was ultimately able to get a job as a cashier at the local Publix and is passionate about getting on with life as best she can. 'The only thing that we really have to help with her sometimes is a little transportation here and there, but she doesn't mind calling an Uber,' her grandfather explained. Still, the family was worried about her planned trip. Her grandfather said the family tried to talk Grace out of going on the trip, but wanted her to be independent 'We tried our hardest to talk her out of going, but at the same time, we don't want to hold her back either because that wouldn't be healthy,' the grandfather said, between tears. 'She wanted to be independent, like anybody else.' But on June 26, the family got news that she had a stroke and her grandmother Juli took the first flight she could find to Italy to be by her side. More than one week later, Bradley remained in the hospital. She cannot fly commercial in her current condition, as doctors say she is stable but can no longer use the left side of her upper body or sit up on her own. 'When she goes home, it has to be medivac must be accompanied by a doctor,' Bradley said. 'So my wife has been in contact with the State Department and the embassy in Italy directly.' Doctors say she stable but can no longer use the left side of her upper body or sit up on her own If her condition does not improve, the International SOS out of Philadelphia has estimated a medivac home could cost up to $195,000. And because the medical emergency happened in a foreign country, her Medicaid will not cover any of the expenses. Her family has since created an online fundraiser to help with the medical expenses and the costs of getting her back to the United States. As of Tuesday morning, it had raised over $48,000. A woman at a North Carolina airport saved a man's life after her quick thinking and medical know-how led her to believe he was having a heart attack. Claire Cerbie, a registered nurse, was waiting at the gate for her flight at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on the morning of June 7, when she took notice of struggling Ken Jeffries. Jeffries, 57, was on the same Knoxville, Tennessee-bound flight as Cerbie, and she said he was displaying two classic signs of a possible heart attack, WBTV reported. 'Just the way that you were snoring and breathing sounded like you were having a heart attack based on what I've seen before,' Cerbie said to Jeffries on a Zoom call reunion. More than half the patients who go into cardiac arrest gasp, snore, or have labored breathing, according to the University of Arizona's Sarver Heart Center. Ken Jeffries, pictured, suffered a heart attack at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on the morning of June 7 while waiting for a flight to Knoxville, Tennessee Claire Cerbie, a registered nurse, was waiting at the same gate as Jeffries. She immediately recognized his snoring and heavy breathing as symptoms of an incoming heart attack. She jumped in to save him 'Bystanders often misinterpret gasping and other unusual vocal sounds as breathing and do not call 9-1-1 or begin lifesaving chest compressions quickly enough,' the center explained. This wasn't a problem for Cerbie, who knew exactly what she was dealing with the moment she saw Jeffries snoring. She leapt into action immediately and enlisted nearby flyers to help her. Cerbie and a group of good Samaritans performed chest compressions while someone else fetched a defibrillator. 'We put the pads on him,' she said. 'It indicated a shockable rhythm, and it shocked him in between while we were doing compressions.' They did CPR on Jeffries for 10 minutes before he miraculously regained a pulse. 'He had his own rhythm. He was breathing on his own and we kind of just stayed by him until the paramedics arrived,' the nurse said. Jeffries, left, thanks Cerbie over a Zoom call organized by WBTV. The two get emotional over the weight of what happened Cerbie used to work at Atrium Healths Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute in Charlotte After the fact, Jeffries expressed his gratitude to Cerbie for saving him, nearly breaking down on the Zoom call with her trying to thank her for what she did. 'Excuse me, I'm sorry, guys,' he said as he collected himself. 'A "thank you" is not enough, Claire. Thank you for what you did. I am so appreciative and indebted to you.' Cerbie, who used to work at Atrium Healths Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute in Charlotte, appeared to get emotional hearing Jeffries' impassioned thank you. 'Im very glad that I was there that day to help you out. Id obviously do it again in a heartbeat,' she said. 'Im so happy to see that youre doing so well.' Jeffries in his hospital bed after the heart attack he suffered at the airport. His doctor said Cerbie almost certainly prevented his death thanks to her acting quickly On the day of his heart attack, Jeffries was rushed to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center where cardiologist Dr. William Downey performed surgery on him. Downey revealed that if Cerbie and her fellow passengers hadn't jumped in to do CPR, Jeffries would have died. Jeffries didn't notice any symptoms commonly associated with heart attacks in the lead up to his medical emergency. Downey said heart attacks can be prevented by quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. As an added bonus for her act of heroism, Cerbie was upgraded to first class by American Airlines, WBTV reported. A Gold Coast father accused of leaving his three children alone in a car overnight allegedly turned up at a pub 'highly intoxicated' and with no money after parking his vehicle outside a 7-Eleven servo. The chilling allegation against the Paradise Point man who cannot be identified due to legal reasons follows a court appearance on Tuesday when he applied for bail on serious child cruelty charges. The man's mother and brother were seated in the back of the court but declined to comment to media as they left. Police located all three children on Monday after they were last seen getting into a blue Hyundai I30 on Sunday afternoon. The report triggered an urgent amber alert over fears the children were at 'significant risk'. It is alleged the two boys and a young girl were left by themselves in the vehicle overnight. The man has since been charged with three counts each of cruelty to children under 16 years and leaving a child under 12 unattended. He is also facing one charge each of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence and another charge. Police located all three children on Monday after they were last seen getting into a blue Hyundai I30 (pictured) on Sunday afternoon The court was told the man allegedly had custody of the children on July 5 and drove them to various addresses across South East Queensland No pleas have been entered. Police allege the man failed to provide reasonable provision for the supervision and care for the children while they were subject to the amber alert. During a bail application at Beenleigh Magistrates Court, the man's defence lawyer Zane Chapman said his client was not a risk of failing to turn up to court. Mr Chapman argued conditions such as a restriction on alcohol consumption and an order to seek a mental healthcare plan from his GP would ameliorate any risk while on bail. Those were in addition to conditions stating he would reside with family and report to police multiple times a week, Mr Chapman said. He explained the man's charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence related to allegations he gave 'unwanted parenting advice' to the partner of his former girlfriend. 'There's no threats, there's no threatening of any violence of the sort,' Mr Chapman said. Bail was opposed by police prosecutor Kirsten Gudzinski, who argued the man presented an unacceptable risk of committing further offences. The court was told the man allegedly had custody of the children on July 5 and drove them to various addresses across South East Queensland. Ms Gudzinski said the children were allegedly left in the vehicle after the man parked the car outside the servo about 6.40pm on the date of the alleged offence. 'He (allegedly) caused a disturbance, yelling at staff, resulting in him being locked out of the store,' Ms Gudzinski said. Ms Gudzinski said the man then moved the vehicle to an unknown location in Mount Warren Park, allegedly leaving the vehicle and the children inside. 'The children were left alone for approximately 12 hours(with) no access to food, water, clothing or a toilet,' she said. 'It was (an alleged) dangerous act which put their lives at risk.' The court was told an hour later the man arrived on foot at a tavern in Beenleigh 'highly intoxicated' and with no money. 'He was refused service and a vehicle was ordered for the defendant to an unknown address,' Ms Gudzinski said. The man was then arrested at 10.40pm. Ms Gudzinski said he was so intoxicated he could not articulate to police where the children were located. Police have alleged the children were left in the vehicle after the man parked the car outside a 7-Eleven service station (stock image) They were found by a member of the public walking on the street about 6.50am the following morning, she continued. The court was told the man was also on bail at the time for other charges, which are listed for sentence before the court. He also had a criminal history littered with drug, weapon and domestic violence offences, Ms Gudzinski said. 'Those three offence types are a dangerous cocktail, particularly for a person who shows no regard for the safety of his own children,' she said. Magistrate Gerard O'Driscoll ultimately refused bail. 'There is an unacceptable risk he would commit further offences, endanger the safety and welfare of other persons,' Mr O'Driscoll said. The man's charges of child cruelty and leaving a child unattended will be mentioned in court on September 4. The carriage service and other charges will return to court on August 5. The death of a Dartmouth College fraternity brother whose body was found in a river is being investigated as a possible hazing incident. Delaware native Won Jang, 20, was a member of Beta Alpha Omega at the Ivy League institution. He was last seen Saturday night at a party on the docks near the Dartmouth boathouse along the Connecticut River. Jang was reported missing on Sunday when he didn't show up to an event and found dead that evening. Now police say they've been contacted about the possibility that Jang's death was caused by heavy drinking or potentially hazing. Delaware native Won Jang, 20, was a member of Beta Alpha Omega at the Ivy League institution. He was last seen Saturday night at a party on the docks near the Dartmouth boathouse along the Connecticut River Jang was reported missing on Sunday morning when he didn't show up to an event and found dead that evening. Now police say they've been contacted about the possibility that Jang's death was caused by heavy drinking or potentially hazing 'We received some emails from the college that indicated alcohol may be involved or hazing may be involved,' said Charlie Dennis, the police chief in Hanover, New Hampshire where the college is located. 'Certainly, we will look into that aspect, too,' he added, though when he was found, authorities said they received no indication of foul play. In January, Beta Alpha Omega was one of four frats at the school to be suspended over violations of community standards, The Dartmouth reported. Suspensions can be handed out for 'repeated misconduct, or for misconduct found to be sufficiently serious to warrant stopping all activity for a specified number of terms.' The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement that there was no indication Jang had left the river area when they investigated. Jang, who couldn't swim according to the New Hampshire Union Leader, was found in water that was about 20 feet deep, around 65 feet from shore. A toxicology report on Jang could take anywhere from three to six months to determine results. Dean of the College Scott Brown shared his condolences in an email to students Sunday night. In January, Beta Alpha Omega was one of four frats at the school to be suspended over violations of community standards Jang - a member of the Dartmouth class of 2026 - majored in biomedical engineering, with his profile on the fraternity website proclaiming him 'The Won and only' 'Won wholeheartedly embraced opportunities at Dartmouth to pursue his academic and personal passions,' Brown wrote. 'He enthusiastically took part in the Dartmouth community,' he added, citing his work as an international student mentor, participation in an entrepreneurship program and his fraternity work. Jang - a member of the Dartmouth class of 2026 - majored in biomedical engineering, with his profile on the fraternity website proclaiming him 'The Won and only.' DailyMail.com has reached out to both Dartmouth and their chapter of Beta Alpha Omega for comment. A United Airlines Boeing jet lost a main landing gear wheel on Monday while taking off from Los Angeles. The Boeing 757-200 was carrying 174 passengers and 7 crewmembers when it took off from LAX. The plane continued safely on to Denver where it landed safely, the airline said. There were no reported injuries on the ground or on board Flight 1001, United said in a statement. 'The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event,' the statement said. A United Airlines Boeing jet lost a main landing gear wheel on Monday while taking off from Los Angeles (file photo) The incident is strikingly similar to one that occurred in March when a United Boeing 777-200 jet lost a tire, this time after takeoff from San Francisco (pictured above) The 256lb wheel crushed cars where it landed after plummeting to the ground from the plane The incident is strikingly similar to one that occurred in March when a United Boeing B777-200 jet lost a tire this time after takeoff from San Francisco. It landed on a car in an airport employee parking lot. It comes just one day after the company announced it plansto plead guilty to fraud in connection with approval of its 737 Max before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. The American aerospace giant has apparently made the calculation that admitting to a crime is better than fighting the charge and enduring a long public trial. In a legal filing late Sunday - minutes before a midnight deadline - the Justice Department disclosed the agreement and said the fraud charge was 'the most serious readily provable offense' it could bring against Boeing. Rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing Max crash in March 2019 With protesters in the audience, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is seen testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations at the Capitol in Washington, last month Prosecutors say Boeing will pay another $243.6 million fine, matching a fine it paid in 2021 for the same crime. The Justice Department says a conviction for fraud will hold Boeing accountable for 'misstatements' it made to regulators who certified the 737 Max in 2017. The crashes took place less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019. The company still faces investigations into the blowout of a panel from an Alaska Airlines Max plane in January, increased oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, and accusations from current and former employees about poor workmanship and retaliation against whistleblowers. Boeing's plea deal would bring the total to $487.2 million, which the Justice Department says is the legal maximum for the fraud charge. The deal also requires the company to invest at least $455 million to improve safety. Clariss Moore, parent of Danielle, one of the crash victims of a Boeing 737 Max 8 in Ethiopia, holds her photograph while speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill, last month The plea deal would not give the company immunity for other incidents, including a panel that blew off a Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight in January It will be on court-supervised probation for three years, and the Justice Department will name an independent monitor to oversee Boeing's compliance with terms of the plea agreement. Boeing's board of directors will also be required to meet with families of the victims. Boeing's business has never fully recovered from the crashes. After the renewed scrutiny that followed the Alaska Airlines incident, the company failed to book any new orders for the Max in April and May. It has fallen even farther behind European rival Airbus in production and deliveries of new planes, which means less revenue is coming in. All of this is happening while Boeing looks for a new CEO to replace David Calhoun, who says he will step down at the end of the year. A search for a state's worst food delivery driver is underway after the man notched up hundreds of demerit points and allegedly stole a motorbike. An arrest warrant is out for the French national, 23, by NSW Police after the delivery driver racked up a whopping 385 demerit points. The driver's bad behaviour also extended to him renting a black Yamaha scooter from City Car King at Alexandria, Sydney on March 21 - and allegedly not returning it, reported The Daily Telegraph. The Frenchman destroyed the bike's $400 tracker so he could keep the scooter without being found while working for various food delivery companies. It was while riding the Yamaha that the Frenchman received hundreds of demerit points, police said. The rider was convicted of larceny and destroying property in June, but it was handed down without him present after he failed to turn up to court on multiple occasions. Despite the warrant, the food delivery driver has not been found as he keeps changing addresses. The motorbike rider always produced his international licence to police when they pulled him over. The 23-year-old French national earnt a massive 385 demerit points since arriving in Australia late last year - but police cannot find him (stock image) The rider racked up most of his demerit points on a stolen black Yamaha scooter (stock photo of a food delivery driver) Any infringement notice he received was sent to the registered address he used when he first came to Australia at the end of last year. But he is no longer at this address either. The Frenchman was due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court this week over the theft of the motorbike, but did not show. At the man's Waterloo address, provided on court papers, flatmates told the publication that he was at the police station. But police said the man did not show up for his required bail. The man's shocking driving record was discovered after NSW Police highway patrol officers applied to Transport NSW for his full record due to his continual offending. Police said they were not in charge of the demerit system and it was Transport NSW's responsibility, which also maintains point tallies. The French national keeps changing addresses and not showing up for court. NSW Police now have an arrest warrant out for the rider (stock image of a food delivery rider) A Transport for NSW spokesman said it was 'actively managing the case' with both the police and Revenue NSW. Astonishingly, the bike theft is not the only one the Sydney business has had to deal with. A staff member said they didn't remember the Frenchman renting the scooter because they 'have about 50 of these cases where people steal bikes'. 'They come in here, some people dont even try and rent, they just steal a bike and go we give all the information to police,' the staff member said. EXCLUSIVE Opposition Leader Peter Dutton billed taxpayers $63,015 for three private jet flights during a two-day cost of living trip to regional towns 'doing it tough', Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Documents published by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) this week revealed Mr Dutton billed taxpayers $21,005 on September 25 for a flight from Brisbane to Moree, in northern NSW. The Liberal leader then charged taxpayers the same amount twice more as he flew on from Moree to Dubbo and Dubbo to Newcastle on September 26. Taking the same regional trip, via a commercial carrier such as Regional Express or QantasLink, would cost roughly about $460 per flight. During one photo opportunity in Moree with Mark Coulton, the member for Parkes, Mr Dutton described how the regions were 'doing it tough through Labor's cost of living crisis' and blasted the Albanese government's agricultural policies. 'In a cost-of-living crisis, taking water out of agricultural production will only further increase the grocery bills of Australian families.' The revelation comes just weeks after Mr Dutton was called out for claiming $23,000 in travel expenses after booking a private jet from Canberra to Tamworth to speak at a News Corp event - and again, to criticise the cost of living crisis under Labor. Peter Dutton is pictured with Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in Dubbo in September - after catching two of his three private jet flights Mr Dutton is pictured with locals in Moree in September, after spending $21,005 on a private jet flight In Dubbo, Mr Dutton met with Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price - then the face of the No campaign to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament - and Nationals leader David Littleproud. Later that day, he flew from Dubbo to Newcastle and spent two days speaking with locals before he caught a commercial flight back to Brisbane for $362 on September 27. Poll Should Peter Dutton have flown commercial? Yes, he should be careful with our money No, he's entitled to it Should Peter Dutton have flown commercial? Yes, he should be careful with our money 197 votes No, he's entitled to it 66 votes Now share your opinion During the same quarter, Mr Dutton charged taxpayers $32,740 for a five-day trip to New Delhi for the India Australia Strategic Alliance summit - on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He dined with billionaire steel magnate Naveen Jindal and wore traditional clothes on visits to temples and while cooking naan with locals. Other expenses included $36,977 for scheduled transport between major cities, $10,389 in travel allowance for 28 nights, $3848 for car-related expenses, and an eye-watering $116,911 on printing and communication. Travel expenses for 34 of his employees cost taxpayers $448,999. During the same quarter, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - slammed by critics with the nickname 'Airbus Albo' - spent $298,899 on international flights to Fiji, Thailand, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, UK, Japan, Qatar, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the USA, among others. Peter Dutton is pictured with Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nationals leader David Littleproud during his $63,000 trip in September Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Duttons office could not find any commercial flights available for the time of his trip. He is entitled to charter flights as Opposition Leader. He went to the regional areas to meet with small business owners and indigenous groups regarding the Voice referendum, which failed in October. Labor MP Julian Hill said: 'Peter Duttons hypocrisy is unbelievable. 'Hes the first to jump on the TV and criticise the Prime Ministers official travel. Yet when hes not on TV hes the first to jump on a private jet for media stunt FIFO visits.' A recent Newspoll shows Liberal-National Coalition has overtaken Labor in NSW, where their primary vote lifted two points to 40 per cent for the first time. Labor has moved forward one point to 33 per cent, which means the government could lose two seats in the state at the next election. The Coalition has also increased its lead in Queensland and is gaining on Labor in Victoria and South Australia, where Labor still remains in front. A CEO father from Utah along with his daughter were both killed in a freak accident after a bulldozer fell off a tow truck directly onto their SUV, crushing them to death. Richard David Hendrickson together with his daughter Sally both died while they were traveling up Ogden Canyon, in eastern Weber County, Utah. A tow truck that was hauling a bulldozer was coming in the opposite direction along the narrow, two-lane passageway, when the machine toppled off of the back, directly onto the SUV in which they were traveling. 'As the truck was rounding a curve, the bulldozer dislodged from the tow truck,' Trooper Heywood of the Utah Highway Patrol explained. A CEO father from Utah along with his daughter were both killed in a freak accident after a bulldozer fell off a tow truck directly onto their SUV, crushing them A tow truck that was hauling a bulldozer was coming in the opposite direction along the narrow, two-lane passageway, when the machine toppled off of the back, directly onto the SUV Dad, Richard Hendrickson, is pictured alongside his three daughters, Lyssa, left, Sally, second from left, and Mollie, far right The bulldozer then fell over onto its side in the opposite lane killing Hendrickson and his daughter. His wife and two of the couple's other children sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the accident. 'It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic and sudden passing of our CEO and President, Richard David Hendrickson, a statement from Lifetime Products, Hendrickson's company said in a statement on Monday. 'This heartbreaking incident also claimed the life of one of his daughters, Sally,' the company explained. Another daughter was traveling overseas and was not in the family car. The mangled wreck of the family's SUV can be see before it was hauled away Richard Hendrickson was the CEO of Utah-based Lifetime Products The Utah-based company specialized in outdoor furniture and equipment reports ABC4. 'Richard started as a welder and progressed through multiple levels of the company to become President and CEO due to his extraordinary talents and abilities,' said Barry Mower, founder of Lifetime Products. 'He was one of my most trusted and cherished friends and will be sorely missed. Lifetime will not be the same without him. My love and heartfelt sympathy go out to his dear family.' Following the tragic deaths, a petition has been launched to limit the type of vehicles that are allowed along the narrow road. Richard David Hendrickson together with his daughter Sally both died while they were traveling up Ogden Canyon, in eastern Weber County, Utah The Hendrickson children, from left, Lyssa, Sam, Mollie and Sally 'Ogden Canyon, the narrow, two-lane passageway connecting Ogden Valley with the city of Ogden, serves as a lifeline for many citizens in Weber County, UT,' the petition reads. 'Flanked by the Ogden River on one side and steep mountain cliffs on the other, this precarious piece of infrastructure is a nerve-wracking daily commute for families and young drivers traveling to school and other essential destinations.' The petition reveals how the road gives 'little to no shoulder width' in some sections of the canyon with larger vehicles posing a 'substantial risk' to the safety of commuters. The traumatising ordeal of a mother left stranded in Sudan after being exit-trafficked by her husband continued when she tried to reunite with her young children. Mohamed Ahmed Omer took their two children, aged six-months and two, with him when he fled back to Australia and abandoned his wife in September 2014. After 16 months separated from her kids, the woman finally made her way back to Australia after securing a visa. But her 'nightmare continued' as Omer moved their children from place to place to avoid her. 'The journey to reunite with them became an agonising struggle,' she said, in a statement read to Victoria's County Court on Tuesday. 'When I tried to reunite, I faced false accusations, claims I was abusing him and the children, resulting in a police order banning me from seeing them.' Two months after her return to Australia, in April 2016, Omer took the children back to Sudan and left them there. A woman who was exit-trafficked to Sudan by her husband has told a court her 'nightmare continued' when she tried to reunite with her young children (stock image) The distraught mother went to Sudan six months later to find her children, where she was confronted with even more legal hurdles. 'A sharia court stripped me of custody and prohibited me from seeing my children,' she said. 'I was even in prison for three days.' She said the ordeal 'irrevocably changed' the lives of her and her children, whom she now has full custody of. 'Losing my children was the most devastating period of my life,' she said. Omer, 52, became the first person in Victoria to be charged with exit-trafficking, after he deceived his wife into travelling to Sudan and led her to believe she had a valid visa to return. He had withdrawn his support for her visa and, after arriving in Sudan, he changed their tickets home. Omer is facing up to 12 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty of the Commonwealth offence in April. His barrister told a pre-sentence hearing on Tuesday that Omer's PTSD from growing up amid a civil war would make prison more difficult for him. 'It's accepted this is really a stain on an otherwise blameless life for Mr Omer,' Brett Stevens told the court. 'He acknowledges the intentional deceit that caused the complainant to exit Australia, but that doesn't mean the jury accepted all of the victim's evidence.' The judge said Omer had fabricated much of his story to explain his conduct He asked Judge Frank Gucciardo to hand Omer, who is currently in jail, a good behaviour bond with 'some period to serve' in prison. Prosecutor John Saunders said Omer's 'callous behaviour' needed to be properly punished. 'The youngest of the children was still being breastfed, these are particularly damaging acts in the context of a young family,' he said. The judge said Omer had fabricated much of his story to explain his conduct. He shifted the blame to his wife during his police interview, claiming she had been neglecting their children and that he left Sudan with the kids because her family had threatened him, court documents reveal. 'He is simply dissembling, or at one end just fabricating stuff,' Judge Gucciardo said. Omer will be sentenced at a later date. A man in his 20s was killed in a shooting and another was injured last night as dozens of police officers descended on an area dubbed 'Britain's roughest estate'. West Midlands Police detectives launched a murder investigation after one man died at the scene after being shot on Well Lane in Walsall just before 5pm yesterday. Another man was wounded but his injuries are not life-threatening, and officers were forensically examining the area this morning as the investigation continues. Two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Detectives said they remained in custody while inquiries are carried out. Local residents were shocked by the incident, telling the Express and Star that the area was becoming 'like a ghetto' and there were people 'dying all the time'. Rich Yeoman said: 'The police need to do something, someone needs to do something. It's getting b****y stupid - it's like a ghetto, it's worse. It's horrible.' A scenes of crime officer and other members of West Midlands Police at the scene today West Midlands Police officers at the scene of the murder investigation in Walsall A man in his 20s was killed in the shooting on what is dubbed 'Britain's roughest estate' Another man was also injured in the shooting as dozens of police arrived at the scene Two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of murder Rachel Harris added: 'It's so bad here now. It's all the time, shootings, stabbings, people dying all the time. It's too much, it's all the b****y time.' Another, David Warren, said: 'It's terrible out here - it's always the same, the police can't do anything. What are you supposed to do? It's all crime, it's ridiculous.' Well Lane is in the Blakenall Heath area of Walsall which got the unwelcome title of 'Britain's roughest estate' in 2022 after residents revealed they were living in fear of yobs as young as ten. Locals said youths had been running riot and even ripping live pigeons apart while one travel vlogger found a squashed rat in a children's park. Others even compared it to living in 'war-torn Ukraine' after their lives were plagued by gangs of knife-wielding youths. One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said today: 'It's so shocking but this place is just becoming a ghetto now. 'I don't feel safe leaving the house at night and after this I'll be wary about going out before dark too. West Midlands Police detectives investigate today at the scene of the shooting in Walsall A scenes of crime officer at the scene of the fatal shooting on Well Lane in Walsall today 'It's just gang warfare on the streets and the police are just letting it happen. 'It's kids too most of the time. You just wonder 'where are the parents?' This used to be a nice little town.' Yesterday, witnesses reported seeing up to a dozen police cars as well as a police helicopter and forensics officers on the scene, and motorists were urged to avoid the area. A police spokesman said: 'We received a report just before 5pm that a man had been shot in Well Lane, Walsall. The man, who was in his 20s, sadly died at the scene. 'Another man was also wounded and is receiving treatment to his injuries, which are not life-threatening. Officers remain on Well Lane while we conduct forensic examination of the area. We are also speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV. 'We understand the alarm these incidents cause. There will be an increased police presence around the area so please talk to officers if you have any concerns.' Police at the scene on Well Lane in Walsall where a man in his 20s has died after being shot The shooting happened last night in Blakenell Heath, dubbed 'Britain's roughest estate' West Midlands Police detectives launched a murder investigation after a man in his 20s died And the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'We were called to an incident on Well Lane, Bloxwich at 5pm and were on scene in seven minutes. We have ambulances, paramedic officers and a doctor at the scene.' The incident happened on Well Lane near the junction with Chaucer Road and Walker Road, where a local Spar convenience store and the 'Frydays' fish and chip shop are located. National Express West Midlands said the 29 bus between Walsall and Bloxwich would continue to be diverted today in both directions due to road closures. Police have asked anyone with information to call 101 and quote log 3637 of July 8 Australia and allies have unmasked a Chinese government-backed hacking group that has targeted the public and private sectors. The Australian government and Five Eyes partners, New Zealand, Canada, the US and UK, along with Germany, Japan and Korea have identified state-sponsored group APT40 as being behind the attacks. The group was acting on behalf of China's powerful Minister of State Security and has been blamed for espionage and hacks, including against one Australian entity in April 2022 when hundreds of usernames and passwords were stolen. 'The threat they pose to our networks is ongoing,' the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) said in a joint advisory on Tuesday. The group targeted outdated networks and devices that are no longer maintained, the ASD said. 'APT40 continues to find success exploiting vulnerabilities from as early as 2017.' Compromised software included versions of Log4, Atlassian Confluence and Microsoft Exchange, according to the advisory. One Australian organisation was compromised between July and September 2022, with APT40 able to map the network and execute control. Australian and its fives eyes partners have identified state-sponsored group APT40 as being behind the attacks (stock image) 'The investigation uncovered evidence of large amounts of sensitive data being accessed and evidence,' the advisory said. ASD has issued advice about how to detect intrusions on its website. It's the first time Australia has taken the lead on a cyber advisory and the first time Japan and Korea have joined the nation in attribution. Attributions were an increasingly important tool in deterring malicious cyber activity, Defence Minister Richard Marles said. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said cyber intrusions from foreign governments are 'one of the most significant threats we face'. A grieving family has opened up about how a loving grandfather was killed by a single punch after mistakenly being accused of kidnapping a young boy from a playground. Mewa Singh, 60, was visiting his family from India when he was killed at a skate park in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 7 last year. A 32-year-old man, whose name has been suppressed for legal reasons, appeared in the High Court in Christchurch last Friday where he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Singh. Fifteen months on, his son Himanshu Keshwer, 33, said that the entire family is still struggling to come to terms with the senseless killing. He recalled his final memories of his father playing with his baby granddaughter and that 'everything was good'. 'Someone killed my dad and I couldnt do anything, and still cant do anything,' Mr Keshwer told Stuff. 'It makes me sad, it shouldnt have happened.' Mr Keshwer added that his kind and caring father would never hurt anyone, let alone a child. Mewa Singh (left) is pictured with his son Himanshu Keswher, his granddaughter Riana and Mr Singhs wife Darshni Devi Mewa Singh (pictured) was treated for a skull fracture and internal bleeding in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit. The grandfather died two days after the attack after being taken off life support Haunting details of Mr Singh's death can be revealed for the first time after the man's guilty plea was entered last Friday. The man had taken his seven-year-old son to a skate park at Linwood Park at about 6.30pm, according to the police summary of facts, The boy refused to leave the park and his father left to teach him a lesson. The man returned to the park a short time later and and became 'enraged' after he saw an unknown man later identified as Mr Singh holding his sons hand near a bus stop. As the man approached the bus stop he yelled out 'thats my f***ing son', the court heard. He told Mr Singh to get his hands off his son. The man then drove his son back to his ex-partners house and told her he had seen his son with an Indian man. According to the summary, the boy told his father that Mr Singh was 'trying to walk him to daddys car', the summary stated. The man didnt accept that, and said 'f*** this, Im going back there to find him'. The court heard that the man returned to the park, despite his ex-partner telling him not to go back there. The summary stated that the man found Mr Singh, grabbed him by the shirt collar and accused him of trying to abduct his son. After shoving Mr Singh, the man delivered a haymaker-style punch to his jaw which caused the grandfather to fall backwards and hit his head. Believing that Mr Singh was dead, the man left the park and returned to his ex-partners house. The court heard that he told her he had punched a man and thought he had killed him. He later made the same admission to his flatmate. The loving grandfather Mewa Singh is pictured with his baby granddaughter Riana He was arrested at his home after his ex-partner called police. The man will be sentenced in the High Court for Mr Singh's manslaughter in October. Mr Singh was treated for a skull fracture and internal bleeding in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care ward but never regained consciousness. He died two days later after being taken off life support. Keshwer had been living in New Zealand for 14 years prior to his father's death. He has since returned to India with his family to care for his grieving mother. The New Zealand Sikh society created a Givealittle fundraising page after Mr Singh's death to help fund the family's return to India. The surprise victory of the New Popular Front (NFP) in France's elections has set alarm bells ringing for the nation's wealthy as the hard-left alliance plans to roll out an eye-watering 90% income tax on high earners. Even before the election took place, financial advisers reported a huge influx of enquiries off the back of Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap election, with well-off French citizens considering a move to more fiscally favourable territories such as Italy, the historic tax haven of Switzerland, and Spain. But the victory of the NFP over Macron's centrists and the hard-right National Rally (RN) this Sunday has forced France's elite to seriously consider how their fortunes would fare given the very real prospect of a dramatic tax-and-spend economic policy. The hard-left alliance plans a huge spending spree that would deliver a major boost to minimum wage and public sector pay, reduce the pension age from 64 to 60 and freeze prices of essential goods - measures it claims will cost some 150 billion over three years. But Macron's camp warned it could cost as much as 300 billion and will entail the scrapping of tax breaks and credits for companies as well as soaring income tax. Ministers have also warned against such a spending spree given that France is already grappling with a budget deficit of 5.5% of GDP. 'People are worried about a wealth tax, the end of the flat tax and potential higher taxation on salaries, as well as an overall atmosphere that is not pro-business,' said Vincent Lazimi, a partner at law firm Jeantet in Paris, in comments leading up the the snap election. Gregory Soudjoukdjian, a Parisian wealth adviser, told the FT following Macron's election call: 'I'm not sure I've had this many calls since the start of my career... our high-end clientele are asking themselves a lot of questions. 'The question we get asked most frequently is if money is safe in France,' he added. Leader of La France Insoumise (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon talks to journalists on July 9, 2024 Emmanuel Macron avoided that which he feared the most in France's stunning parliamentary elections yesterday as Marine Le Pen's hard-right National Rally failed to scoop an absolute majority, instead suffering a shock defeat French finance minister Bruno Le Maire lambasted the tax-and-spend economic policies set forth by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Bicycles burn during tensions near Republique plaza following the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris Participants gather during an election night rally following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election at Place de la Republique in Paris, France on July 7, 2024 Young people shout slogans at the rally held after the results of the second round of the legislative elections were announced at Place de la Republique. Paris (France), July 7, 2024 Your browser does not support iframes. The concerns of France's wealthy were raised as the finance minister declared the nation is facing the prospect of an 'immediate financial crisis' after the government was left in deadlock following the narrow NFP victory. Bruno Le Maire celebrated the loss of the hard-right RN, which Macron's centrists had feared could storm to a majority, but warned warring parties must come to an agreement and form a coalition in short order. He also lambasted the economic policies set forth by the NFP, writing: 'The most immediate risk is a financial crisis and France's economic decline. 'The application of the New Popular Front's disruptive programme would destroy the results of the policies that we have pursued for seven years... 'This project is exorbitant, ineffective and dated. Its legitimacy is weak and circumstantial. It must not be applied,' he concluded. Defying the predictions of political experts, French polls and the world's media, the New Popular Front alliance (NFP) - led by Jean-Luc Melenchon and his France Unbowed party (LFI) - came from behind on Sunday to eke out a victory with 182 seats in France's National Assembly. That placed them just ahead of President Macron's centrist 'Together' coalition on 168, while the hard-right National Rally (RN) ended up in third place with just 143 seats, despite having led the race convincingly after the first round of elections just one week ago. This means the overwhelming majority of seats are now split fairly evenly between three factions, all of which harbour very different ideas about the future of France with little interest in forming a coalition. Melenchon - a permanent fixture of the French left and a divisive firebrand dubbed the 'French Jeremy Corbyn' - has declared the NFP must be given the reigns so it can begin implementing its policies. 'The president must invite the New Popular Front to govern,' he said, characterising the election results as a damning indictment of Macron and his centrist party. But his hopes of personally dragging France sharply leftward appear dead in the water after members of Macron's party ruled out forming a coalition with what they see as a tax-and-spend, pro-Gaza figure who many in France view as an antisemitic radical. Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who is seen as a possible Macron successor in 2027, said any potential coalition government 'cannot be the work of a single man' and dismissed any prospect of working with Melenchon's hard-hard left LFI, or the hard-right RN. 'The credibility of our country could be damaged by this and the centrist political forces must without compromise make an agreement to stabilise politics - but without France Unbowed and the RN,' he said. Even leading members of Melenchon's own alliance have admitted they do not think he is the right man for the job. Socialist leader Olivier Faure claimed Melenchon 'is the most divisive figure within the NFP,' while one Greens party lawmaker speaking on condition of anonymity said bluntly: 'Melenchon is a problem.' Manuel Bompard (pictured), coordinator of France Unbowed, said the coalition was 'preparing to govern' While France's political factions continue to squabble with no immediate prospect of a stable coalition, Macron is seeking to capitalise on the chaos The president refused the resignation of his protege Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (pictured) and instructed him to stay in place as the government sits in limbo Founder of left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon gestures following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election at La Rotonde Stalingrad in Paris on July 7, 2024 PARIS: A protester throws a projectile near burning bicycles during clashes with police after the exit polls A crowd of demonstrators gather on the Republic square in Paris to celebrate the victory of the left-wing NFP alliance PARIS: French CRS riot police run past burning bicycles during clashes with demonstrators While France's political factions continue to squabble with no immediate prospect of a stable coalition, Macron is seeking to capitalise on the chaos. Yesterday, the President refused the resignation of his protege Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and instructed him to stay in place as the government sits in limbo to continue presiding over the day-to-day management of the country. Macron will be hoping that Attal remaining in his post will portray his centrist 'Together' alliance as a stabilising force, and that the Prime Minister will help to maintain some kind of political continuity as Paris gears up to host the Olympic Games at the end of the month. But the president has given no further indication as to what his next move may be. In a sign of rising tensions between the left and the Elysee Palace, LFI president Manuel Bompard suggested that Macron was trying to defy the will of the people by maintaining Attal. He urged Macron to 'respect' the election result, adding: 'There is no question of Gabriel Attal's contribution as Prime Minister, wiping out the vote of the French people.' Macron's supporters have a very different view of the election, which they said ended inconclusively. Gerald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior of France, said 'No one won' and claimed that both the Rally and the NPF 'had lost'. Sylvain Maillard, an MP with Macron's group, said the search for a new prime minister could take 'several weeks'. 'The French people have chosen a parliament with three blocks of roughly equal size,' he said, adding that the centrist bloc would be open to forming a government with other MPs except those belonging to Marine Le Pen's RN or Melenchon's LFI. Macron's office has simply said the will 'wait for the new National Assembly to organise itself' before making decisions on a new government. There is no firm timeline for when Macron must name a prime minister, and no firm rule that he has to pick someone from the largest party or bloc in parliament - but an ongoing political paralysis would spell disaster for the nation. Under France's Constitution, he still holds power over foreign policy, European affairs and defence, and is in charge of negotiating and ratifying international treaties. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and holds the nuclear codes. A woman accused of poisoning an Australian exchange student is now reportedly being investigated over the mysterious death of her British husband just months earlier. Alex Shorey, 24, from Toowoomba in southern Queensland, fell ill after he was allegedly drugged with rat poison by an older woman while studying in Taiwan in early 2023. His illness was initially blamed on bad street food before toxicology tests revealed he had ingested the rodenticide superwarfarin. The University of Queensland exchange student was eventually medically repatriated to Australia weeks later after more than $200,000 was raised by members of the public. Taipei City Police later charged a 45-year-old local woman - reported to be Mr Shorey's girlfriend by local media - with causing bodily harm over the alleged poisoning, according to Taiwan News. It has since emerged that detectives are also probing the mysterious death of the woman's husband in January 2023, just months before Mr Shorey was allegedly poisoned. The new lead reportedly transpired in January this year when a British man travelled to Taiwan seeking information about his elder brother who had moved there after marrying a local woman. However, he subsequently lost contact with his family, who hadn't heard from him in months. Alex Shorey (pictured left), 24, from Toowoomba in southern Queensland , fell ill after he was allegedly drugged with rat poison by an older woman while studying in Taiwan in early 2023 The University of Queensland exchange student (pictured) was eventually medically repatriated to Australia after more than $200,000 was raised by the public Using what little information the younger brother provided, police discovered the British national had been married to the woman charged over Mr Shorey's poisoning. But he had died in January 2023 - four months before Mr Shorey fell ill - after suffering very similar symptoms, according to the Taipei Times. Doctors who treated the British man suspected that he may have ingested rat poison. Despite this, his body was released to his wife without a forensic autopsy being performed. She subsequently had the body cremated. Local police are currently investigating the man's death. No charges have yet been laid. The woman also remains under investigation for the suspected poisoning of Mr Shorey. Daily Mail Australia has approached Taipei City Police for further comment. Mr Shorey, who had been abroad for almost a year, was weeks away from returning home to Australia when he started experiencing black skin spots and unusual bleeding in late March last year. Alex Shorey's parents, Stephen and Julie (pictured), initially believed their son's illness was as a result of eating bad street food before toxicology tests revealed he had ingested the rodenticide superwarfarin A GoFundMe page, set-up on behalf of Mr Shorey's parents, raised almost $210,000 in less than two days He was eventually admitted to Taipei Medical University Hospital's intensive care three weeks later. After days of haemorrhaging, Mr Shorey went into hypovolemic shock, meaning his organs were at risk of failing due to lack of blood. He was in and out of hospital over subsequent weeks as baffled doctors struggled to work out what was wrong with him. His parents initially believed his ailment was caused by contaminated street food but Taipei police ruled this out. The horrifying truth later emerged when toxicology tests showed he had ingested the rat poison superwarfarin. Taipei Police investigated a 45-year-old woman - reported in local media as Mr Shorey's girlfriend - over the suspected deliberate poisoning. Local media reported that rat poison was discovered at the woman's house, similar to that found in Mr Shorey's system. Medical Rescue (pictured) flew Mr Shorey back from Taiwan to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland in May 2023 She reportedly told detectives that she had mixed rat poison with juice in an attempt to take her own life due to being depressed by the death of her husband but that Mr Shorey drank the concoction by mistake. After discovering she had booked a one-way ticket to the UK, police barred the woman from leaving the country and seized her phone. They reportedly discovered messages which indicated she was unhappy with Mr Shorey socialising with other women and his plans to return to Australia. Last year, Mr Shorey's family said in a statement their 'priority is Alex's recovery'. 'We have been declining media requests since Alex's return as weve been advised not to make any further comments so as not to jeopardise the current police investigation in Taiwan,' the statement added. A woman was branded a 'pickpocket' by a passerby after she was filmed apparently riffling through a man's rucksack as he walked past the British Museum - but some on social media are adamant she was acting innocently. The scene, which took place on the busy crossroads between Great Russell Street and Bloomsbury Street in London's West End, sees the woman reach into the visitor's bag as a large group crosses the road. Seemingly oblivious, the man, who appears to be a tourist, continues to stroll down the pavement as the woman behind him rummages further into his bag. Now footage has emerged of the scene and people have been left wondering whether everything is quite as it seems with some suggesting the pair may be members of the same group. The clip starts with a large crowd of people waiting to cross the road at a traffic light just yards away from one of London's most popular tourist attractions. A woman has been branded a 'pickpocket' by a passerby after she was filmed apparently riffling through a rucksack but social media is split with some arguing she was acting innocently The clip starts as a large crowd of people cross the road in the capital's busy West End The camera zooms in on the woman who put her hands in the bag while the man in front is walking across the street. The woman, dressed in a light blue skirt, white cardigan and beige sun visor, opens up the bag halfway across the road and has a rummage around inside. She continues to search the rucksack as the man, wearing mustard chinos and a dark blue jumper, stares into the distance. As they reach the other side of the road, a man shouts, 'Pickpocket! Pickpocket!', from across the street. Meanwhile a man, who is by her side and also wearing a hat, turns around to see where the cries are coming from. Social media users are divided on the woman's intentions with some slamming the person filming for not intervening. One user posted: 'All of a sudden the London CCTVs don't work.' Another added: 'Make sure you record them and do not confront them.' The woman, wearing a sun visor, pictured rummaging around in the bag Using a scarf as she does so, the 'pickpocket' continues to boldly search the rucksack as the man, wearing mustard chinos and a dark blue jumper, stares into the distance The incident took place at the crossroads of Great Russell Street and Bloomsbury Street just yards from the British Museum in London And one person said: 'So I'll just stand here and film it lol.' But others thought it was all a big misunderstanding and the woman was in fact a friend or family member of the person whose bag she was rummaging around. One user said: 'Most probably they know each other i.e, it is not stealing.' Another posted: 'Looks more like they are together to me.' And a third added: 'As someone else said, how sure are we that it's not just his mum getting something out of his backpack? She looks like one of the party.' The British Museum declined to comment. Fears are mounting over a Labour tax raid today after Tony Blair warned Keir Starmer he could need to push up the burden by 50billion. The former PM raised concern that the extra revenue will be needed unless the government 'changes approach' on issues like AI. But the intervention will raise fresh alarm after new Chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of paving the way for taxes. Ms Reeves issued a doom-laden warning yesterday about the 'spending inheritance' from the Tories. And she revealed she has already commissioned Treasury officials to conduct a review of the public finances 'so that I can understand the full scale of the challenge'. Conservatives said it showed their election attack lines about Keir Starmer not being honest about his tax plans were coming true. Labour's manifesto pledged the party would not raise the headline rates on income tax, National Insurance or VAT. However, Rishi Sunak argued that there were a host of loopholes in the commitments that Sir Keir would exploit. Tony Blair has given a stark warning to Keir Starmer that he could need to push up taxes by 50billion unless he 'changes approach' The intervention by Sir Tony (pictured) - who is a close ally of Sir Keir - comes in a report released by his institute today Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned Britain's public finances are in the worst state since the Second World War Just to stabilise debt, the analysis found the UK is on course to need a 1.9 per cent increase in the tax to GDP ratio by 2029, equivalent to around 53billion at current prices The intervention by Sir Tony - who is a close ally of Sir Keir - came in a report released by his institute today. It suggests that the government must harness AI to boost productivity, or face an even higher tax burden than that already 'baked in'. Just to stabilise debt, the analysis found the UK is on course to need a 1.9 per cent increase in the tax to GDP ratio by 2029, equivalent to around 53billion at current prices. In a round of interviews this morning, Sir Tony told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was not predicting that is what Labour would do. 'If you don't do this the future is one in which you are going to be poorer.' Despite the repeated assurances on tax during the campaign, Labour frontbenchers also left wriggle-room by suggesting they could open the government books and find they were even worse than feared. That stance was derided at the time by Paul Johnson, director of the respected IFS think-tank, who said: 'The books are open. Everyone knows exactly the problems a new government will inherit.' Ms Reeves yesterday suggested that her first 72 hours in the job had convinced her the situation might indeed be worse than it seemed. In her first major speech as Chancellor to business leaders at the Treasury, she said: 'I have repeatedly warned that whoever won the General Election would inherit the worst set of circumstances since the Second World War,' she said. 'What I have seen in the past 72 hours has only confirmed that our economy has been held back by decisions deferred and decisions ducked, political self-interest put ahead of the national interest.' She added: 'That is why over the weekend I instructed Treasury officials to provide an assessment of our spending inheritance so that I can understand the full scale of the challenge.' A Tory party spokesman accused the Chancellor of preparing the ground for swingeing tax rises. 'Rachel Reeves herself said you don't need to win an election to find out the state of the public finances, admitting that with the OBR, there is already detailed public scrutiny of the country's finances,' the spokesman said. 'We warned that Labour would attempt this ruse as a cause to raid pensions and raise taxes. It is now clear that is coming to pass, and the British people will pay the price.' A Treasury source denied that Ms Reeves was already plotting a new tax raid, saying her speech was focused on the need to boost economic growth in order to meet future spending needs without raising taxes. In her speech, the Chancellor said economic growth was the 'only route to the improved prosperity'. She also took a swipe at union barons who are already urging her to open the spending taps. Unite union boss Sharon Graham urged her to scrap Labour's tight fiscal rules and pour tens of billions into Britain's 'crumbling public services'. But Ms Reeves said she did not agree with those arguing that, now the election is won, 'the time for caution is over'. She said her borrowing rules would remain in place, adding: 'I know that many of you aren't used to hearing this after recent years, but I believe that the promises that a party is elected on should be delivered on in government.' Sir Tony said AI could generate annual savings of 10billion by the end of the Parliament and 35billion in a decade but failure to embrace the technology would leave the UK 'much poorer'. Sir Tony also told the Guardian that Labour must be tough in tackling immigration, to avoid a further rise in 'populism'. 'Progressives should be thinking about the answers, but you've got to understand what the populist does,' he said. 'The populist usually doesn't invent a grievance, they exploit the grievance. If you want to close off their avenues for increasing support, you've got to deal with the grievance. 'That's why Keir is absolute right in saying you've got to have controls on immigration. 'That doesn't mean to say we don't celebrate the good that immigration can do, because it does an immense amount of good for this country, but you do need to have controls.' Sir Tony also sounded a sceptical tone on Labour's plans to hit Net Zero emissions by 2030, including doubling onshore wind and quadrupling offshore wind. The report highlights that the tax burden is already running near post-war record highs 'I'm 100 per cent in favour of Labour doing everything it can to meet its targets, so don't misunderstand me,' he said. 'It's just one thing I think Labour should be very open about is the Tories on this, as in so many other areas, have left a complete mess. 'The gap between what they promised we would be in a position to do and where we are now is massive, and you're talking about quadrupling renewable energy with the best will in the world its going to take some time. 'It's not that I think Labour should give up on its ambitions. It's just it should be realistic about how tough it's going to be.' **This is a breaking news story, more to follow** French criminal prosecutors today opened an investigation into illegal financing by Marine Le Pen and her far-Right National Rally party. It followed them being beaten into third place in parliamentary elections held over the weekend. Judicial sources in Paris on Tuesday confirmed that the new criminal enquiry related to Ms Le Pens attempt to become President of France in 2022. A judicial investigation was opened after a report to the courts from the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Financing, said one. The enquiry is believed to be related to the RN (for Rassemblement National French for National Rally) allegedly wrongly using taxpayer-generated funds from the European Parliament. French criminal prosecutors today opened an investigation into illegal financing by Marine Le Pen and her far-Right National Rally party, days after her National Rally suffered shock election defeat Marine Le Pen arrives at the far-right RN party headquarters in Paris yesterday a day after the second round of France's legislative election. French President on Monday was to start efforts to extract France from its most severe political uncertainty in decades after the left defeated the far right in elections with no group winning an absolute majority Ms Le Pen is already facing a criminal sanction and a ban on standing for elected office if she is found guilty following an embezzlement trial which opens in Paris in September. It is alleged that the 55-year-old illegally accessed some 620,000 (513,000) on behalf of her party. Ms Le Pen may have to appear in court with 12 other members of the RN, which was previously called the National Front. On hearing about the trial last September, Ms Le Pen accused the judiciary of acting in a manner that was above all political. She added: We will present our arguments before the court on their merits. All those implicated deny any wrongdoing. Supporters of Marine Le Pen react after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies , Sunday, June 30, 2024 in northern France. French voters propelled the far-right National Rally to a strong lead in first-round legislative elections Sunday and plunged the country into political uncertainty, according to polling projections. Ms Le Pens own father, Jean-Marine Le Pen, the 95-year-old founder of the FN, was also on the defendant sheet, but last week it was ruled that he was unfit to stand trial, because of his age. Embezzlement is a crime punishable in France by up to 10 years in prison, and penalties also available to judges include fines equivalent to around 1million. In the Le Pen case, prosecutors are seeking the additional penalty of deprivation of the right to be elected, for a maximum period of five years, said a source close to the case. Ms Le Pen is currently an MP, so if she were to be convicted following trial, she would be ruled out of the 2027 presidential election, despite styling herself as a future president. The investigation into RN fraud began in March 2015, when the European Parliament announced that it had referred possible irregularities to the EU anti-fraud office. Supporters of The Ecologists-EELV green party celebrate following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election during the party's election night event in Paris on Sunday Tens of thousand people gather on Place de la RApublique to protest against the far-right party National Rally last week in Paris, France It mainly concerned salaries paid to parliamentary assistants, and even to Ms Le Pens bodyguard. Ms Le Pen is accused of personally diverting some 114,00 (137,000) of EU funds taken illegally during her time as an MEP, between 2004 and 2017, into party coffers. This effectively means that the party was using EU money for its own business in Paris, rather than for work in Brussels. Ms Le Pen was runner up to Emmanuel Macron in the race to become president of France in 2022, after a similar result in 2017. Party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen in turn came second to Jacques Chirac in the presidential election of 2002. Mr Le Pen has already been convicted in a criminal court, notably for spreading racial hatred, for Holocaust denial, and for other anti-Semitic crimes. Before Sunday night, the RN was confidently predicting that it would win a majority in the National Assembly in Paris, and go on to form the next government. Ms Le Pen said she was waiting to become president in 2027, while her protege, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, would become prime minister. But the election was won by the New Popular Front an alliance of Leftist and centrist parties created to block the RN with Mr Macrons Rennaissance / Together alliance coming second. No party got an overall majority, meaning a hung parliament and political deadlock. Members of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's inner circle of staff have been working for years to conceal the aging commander-in-chief's cognitive decline from the public, according to a shocking new report. There has been increased scrutiny over 81-year-old Biden's ability to continue in the Oval Office in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump in June. Now, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Biden's inner circle, consisting of senior advisers, Anita Dunn, Steve Ricchetti, Mike Donilon, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal have been working as 'gatekeepers for the president.' The group uses a range of tactics, including scheduling only early meetings, not taking unvetted questions in public forums and declining high profile interviews with respected journalists. The group's worries are not just over Biden's mental abilities but also physical. A mooted plan to make a cross country journey to promote an infrastructure bill was nixed over concerns regarding his physical stamina. Questions continue to be raised over Biden's cognitive decline in the wake of his debate performance This incident, in which Biden fell over a sandbag at a graduation ceremony in 2023, prompted aides to change his footwear to sneakers with better grips Those involved in the plot to conceal Biden's flailing health are members of the first couple's inner circle Meanwhile, Biden continues to 'decline' to step aside and has resolutely insisted that only 'the Lord Almighty' can convince him to quit the presidential race. Biden's conduct behind closed doors, in the Oval Office, on Air Force One and in meetings around the world is described in the same way by those who regularly see him in action. He is often sharp and focused. But he also has moments, particularly later in the evening, when his thoughts seem jumbled and he trails off mid-sentence or seems confused. Sometimes he doesn't grasp the finer points of policy details. He occasionally forgets people's names, stares blankly and moves slowly around the room. The new report suggests that in order to counter act instances such as those seen at the debate in which Biden trailed off during sentences and appeared to find it hard to focus, his team keeps meetings with the public to prepared remarks. In some cases, Biden's senior team have contacted reporters the night before scheduled events to ask what their questions might be. The WSJ that most reporters do not answer. The team even limits Biden's interactions with senior Democratic lawmakers. For example, Biden did not call Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer until a week after the debate debacle. As a result of his infamous fall at the US Air Force Academy in 2023, aides moved quickly to ensure he would wear sneakers with better grip. The article says that Biden has twice turned one of the most lucrative TV spots in the US, a halftime interview during the Super Bowl over concerns about how he would be perceived. The Journal's report mentions a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in June 2022 which never went ahead as an example of the group's work. Biden's non-appearance surprised Scholz with Secretary of State Antony Blinken appearing in his stead as the president 'had to go to bed.' Matthew Miller of the state department denied that assertion. Secretary Blinken 'never said that or anything like that,' he told the Journal. Those who were present at that summit described Biden as looking 'physically worn out' but mentally fit. Jill Biden helped Joe Biden leave the debate stage last month Left: Top Biden administration official Anita Dunn has been referred to as the president's brawler-in-chief. Right: Mike Donlion is the Biden campaign's chief strategist ahead of the 2024 election Steve Ricchetti, counselor to President Joe Biden, is one of the many holdovers from the Obama administration Left: Annie Tomasini, the deputy chief of staff in the Oval Office, is seen here on July 5. Right: Anthony Bernal, considered among the top voices in Dr. Jill Biden's inner circle According to the WSJ report, Tomasini's work within the administration 'goes well beyond attending to the president.' The article does not go into specifics. The Boston-native's work with Biden goes back to 2009 when she served as deputy press secretary to the then-vice president. Her current roles is listed as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff. Speaking to the Journal, White House spokesman Andrew Bates confirmed that both the president and Anita Dunn hold 'disdain' for some members of the media. According to her official profiles, Dunn is listed as a senior adviser. A 2024 CNN report called the University of Maryland graduate as 'Biden's brawler--in-chief.' Dunn has been adamant since the debate that there is no possibility that Biden will drop out of the race. Mike Donlion, another member of Biden's inner circle going back to the Obama administration, is the chief strategist for the president's reelection campaign. Ricchetti is also a holdover from the Obama administration, now listed as Biden's chief counselor. Bernal too goes back to the Obama era, serving as special assistant to Dr. Jill Biden before moving into a role organizing travel for the then-vice president. Since Biden's victory in the 2020 election, Bernal has worked as a senior adviser to the First Lady. Another example comes in the form of an event in New York City in the fall of 2023 when Biden stumbled over a question about the Middle East, prompting aides to step in and help him by whispering in his ear. At a similar event the previous summer, Biden did not take questions and was described as 'fragile' by attendees, at one point forgetting the word for veteran. The White House is back firmly in damage control mode after it was revealed Biden's personal physician met with a top neurologist and Parkinson's specialist at the White House. Biden's personal doctor, Kevin O'Connor, broke protocol Monday, releasing a letter explaining why Dr. Kevin Cannard visited the White House eight times in eight months. Tactics used by Bidens inner circle Biden's inner circle uses several tactics to ensure the public remains in the dark over the president's fragile state. Restricting media interviews, which includes the turning down of two Super Bowl halftime interviews which are watched by millions. Meetings with donors are restricted to scripted pleasantries with unvetted questions forbidden. Limiting arduous campaign journeys, including a domestic tour in 2022 over fears regarding Biden's stamina. Having aides create physical barriers to stop journalists from being close enough to ask further questions after Biden is done speaking. Fitting Biden with sneakers that have more grip in the wake of his infamous fall at the US Air Force Academy in June 2023. Avoiding events that begin after 8:00pm. Advertisement Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre adding fuel Monday by saying the president has seen a neurologist three times. Cannard is a movement disorder specialist at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland. Later Monday, O'Connor released a letter with the permission of both Biden and Cannard and confirmed that Cannard had been the neurologist who evaluated the president at each of his three physicals since he took office. But most of Cannard's visits to the White House were pursuant to his role as a specialist attached to the White House Medical Unit, treating patients for a wide array of neurological issues at the White House for a dozen years, O'Connor said. He said Cannard 'has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations.' 'Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Canard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,' which may explain some of the visits,' he added. Cannard made similar trips to the White House during the Obama administration, according to visitor logs, and during the Trump administration - which did not publish visitor logs - according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Cannard did have one visit with Bidens personal physician this January in the White House Residence clinic, weeks before the presidents physical in February. O'Connor repeated that the findings of that physical that didn't detect signs of any neurological disorder. 'President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical,' O'Connor said in his letter. He also endorsed Cannard for his work at the White House during his appearances. There are growing calls for Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney to resign after the crime-ravaged outback town of Alice Springs was plunged into another snap curfew. NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy declared a three-night curfew on Monday after four off-duty police officers - three women and a man - were allegedly assaulted and robbed by around 20 male youths on Sunday morning. In a separate incident, a 26-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly ran over a police officer at a takeaway liquor outlet in Alice Springs and over recent days there were also reports of motorists being threatened and break-ins. Local business owner Darren Clark, who runs the Action for Alice social media accounts, believed the new curfew, the second for the town this year, will be extended beyond three nights. He was unable to say whether the measure would lead to more lasting law and order in the troubled town. 'Who knows? You can never tell,' Mr Clark told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday night. He said since the previous three-week curfew over the Easter period things had been 'great' up until recently but added that 'it's always quieter in winter'. But the Action for Alice page in recent days has posted reports of numerous break-ins, a ram raid, smashed vehicles and street fights. In footage posed on the Action for Alice Facebook page a motorist filmed a tyre iron being flung at his vehicle from a hatchback car blocking an Alice Springs street In one shocking incident, dashcam video captured a tyre iron being hurled from a grey hatchback vehicle blocking a road and hitting the front of the car taking the footage. A youth is seen leaning out the passenger window of the hatchback and threatening the motorist taking the dashcam footage with a stick while the tire iron is thrown from the far side passenger window. The motorist has reported the incident to police. As the town descends into chaos once again, critics have zeroed in on Ms Burney and the Northern Territory authorities for not addressing the problem. Indigenous advocate Warren Mundine accused Ms Burney of remaining silent on the issues plaguing Alice Springs even as the curfew began because she had no policies to offer. 'We need to get some leadership from the (federal) government and we need to get better leadership from the states and territories, because in regards to law and order and a number of other areas, it's the states and territories who are in charge of this stuff,' Mr Mundine told Sky News on Monday. Action for Alice has also documented numerous other acts of damage and theft over the past few days such as this car with smashed windows in the Alice Springs CBD 'I've got to say, they've been a dismal failure over the years.' Mr Mundine said the curfew was a 'band-aid solution'. .On Tuesday morning Ms Burney told ABC News Breakfast that although the curfew 'was important' it's not the 'be-all and end-all'. 'The Police Commissioner has made that very clear in saying that the curfew is about calming things down into intervening making the place safe, but it is the underlying issues that are particularly important,' she said. 'Particularly, as the Police Commissioner said, that you can't arrest your way out of this. The judicial system is not the answer. 'But the community working with government is the answer. And that's very much the way in which I'm pursuing the issues.' Under laws introduced in May, the NT's Police Commissioner has the power to declare 72-hour lockdowns to respond to 'public disorder'. Critics have been demanding Indigenous Minister Linda Burney show more leadership over the troubles plaguing Alice Springs or step down The current curfew will runs from Monday to Wednesday and applies from 10pm to 6am over the main part of Alice Springs. Unlike the previous curfew, which was targeted on Indigenous youth, the latest one applies to all local children and adults. It was enforced after four off duty officers were allegedly assaulted while walking along a walkway on their way to a hotel on Barrett Drive. They were allegedly attacked from behind by 20 male youths. One of the female officers was pulled to the ground and allegedly had her bag stolen. Alice Springs is experiencing its second curfew of the year with locals ordered off the streets in the main part of town from 10pm to 6pm over the next three nights Another woman was punched in the face and kicked multiple times before her mobile phone was taken. The male officer was also punched and kicked multiple times. The four officers returned to their accommodation where they contacted police. Two of the female officers later received treatment for their injuries in hospital. No charges have yet been laid. Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to come forward. Alleged wife-killer Francesco Dimasi has been ordered to stand trial, even as he struggles with dementia and his lawyer acknowledges the elderly man likely does not understand what is happening to him. Police have accused Mr Dimasi, 92, of stabbing his wife Maria Dimasi, 85, to death in Adelaide in December last year. He has been diagnosed with dementia and is receiving care at a medical facility under the watch of Department of Corrections officers. At a hearing at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal granted Mr Dimasi bail to continue receiving care at the facility free from the watch of corrections officers. The court heard the facility employs three security guards who run to assist nursing staff in any 'code black' instance of patient violence. Trish Johnson, appearing for Mr Dimasi, has asked for her client to be moved to a residential care facility, but Ms Hribal expressed caution about moving Mr Dimasi from his current facility and ordered a report on the suitability of a new aged care home for the man. 'When a residential aged care facility placement becomes available, SA prison health service and forensic mental health are to assess its suitability ... and advise the court of security arrangements,' she said. The court heard Mr Dimasi has 'grabbed' at the arms of nursing staff and nurses required an officer to help them control Mr Dimasi once or twice a week. Frank Dimasi, 91, has been ordered to stand trial for the alleged stabbing murder of his wife Maria Dimasi, 85, (both pictured) Ms Johnson told the court Mr Dimasi is bedridden and 'dependent on others for everything' and his risk to others' safety was no greater than that of any other dementia patient. Mr Dimasi did not enter pleas to the murder charge against him and Ms Hribal committed the matter to the Supreme Court for an arraignment and trial starting on September 30, 2024. At his first appearance at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court soon after the alleged killing, Mr Dimasi spoke in a frail, wispy voice. An Italian interpreter sat in the court and translated the hearing before Magistrate Jayanthi Pandya. At one point, Mr Dimasi spoke to the interpreter and the interpreter replied, 'non capito', which is Italian for 'I do not understand'. The interpreter told Ms Pandya at another point in the hearing that he was having trouble understanding Mr Dimasi. Police allege Mr Dimasi, 91, stabbed his wife Maria Dimasi, 85 (pictured), to death in Adelaide in December last year 'Sometimes it is not very clear what he says,' the interpreter said. The alleged murder happened on the morning of December 2 at the couple's home of 60 years in Findon in the city's west. Mr Dimasi had dialled triple-0 after the alleged murder and said he had killed his wife, the court heard. Police officers arrived on scene within six minutes and found Mr Dimasi sitting in the kitchen with blood on his clothing, arms and hands. Officers searched the house and found Mrs Dimasi with significant wounds to her head and upper body. While police were speaking to Mr Dimasi, the court was told the elderly man drifted in and out of consciousness. The UK and NATO are facing the very real threat of World War Three within five years, with a possible attack on alliance soil if they do not substantially re-arm, the outgoing head of the British army has warned. Russia, China and Iran are 'the new Axis powers', according to General Sir Patrick Sanders, who said that they pose an even greater threat than the Nazis did in 1939. 'They are more interdependent and more aligned than the original Axis powers were', the Army's former chief of the general staff said. This has left the world is facing 'as dangerous a moment as any time that we've had since 1945,' he told The Times. While a hot war with Russia is not inevitable, he said, it is made more likely if the UK and its allies fail to 'address the threats and gaps we have in our capability' and significantly re-arm. General Sir Patrick Sanders said that Russia, Iran and China pose an even greater threat than the Nazis did in 1939 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office shows him (R) receiving Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, on July 19, 2022 Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with China's President Xi Jinping earlier this year According to the general, estimates suggest that the UK has 'somewhere between five and ten years before Russia recapitalises and is able to pose the sort of threat that it did before the Ukraine war.' He said important steps need to be made 'right now' including modernising the armed forces and making 'society and the UK more resilient'. As it stands, he said, the UK's armed forces are no longer powerful enough to engage in conflicts as it did in the past, for example repeating the invasion of southern Iraq that they carried out in 2003. He added that its capability may be so diminished that the armed forces would be unable to retake the Falklands Islands again as it did in 1982, with the task force needed to sustain a campaign now lacking. Last week, a senior official in the ministry of defence warned last week that the UK was 'not prepared to fight and win an armed conflict of any scale'. Sanders suggested the situation was even more dire than that - saying 'we can't do it at any scale' - or at least not for 'very long'. Rescuers work at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital that was damaged during a Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 8, 2024 Ukrainian service members of the 37th Marine Brigade fire a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer toward Russian troops He said that while a new global conflict on the scale of the Second World War was 'not likely', it is 'plausible'. Potential flashpoints around the world include China, which he described as 'a rising power that has territorial ambitions', as well as Iran due to its destabilising activities in the Middle East, and North Korea. Russia's aggression in eastern Europe could also erupt into a broader conflict, he said. The bleak warnings come after Vladimir Putin faced global condemnation yesterday following a sickening attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv. The murderous attack underlined why Ukraine has been so desperately calling for more air defence weapons to defend its skies. It also sent a chilling message to Britain's new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and other NATO leaders gathering in Washington today for a summit to mark the bloc's 75th anniversary. Sir Keir has pledged to raise Britain's military spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but only when public finances are in better health. He is now coming under increasing pressure to offer a timetable. Speaking to the Mail, armed Forces minister Mark Francois urged the new PM to 'send a message to the world that he is committed to defence' and 'put his money where his mouth is.' Meanwhile NATO will also need to increase its capabilities, with military sources warning that far more troops and air defence systems are needed. China is a 'a rising power that has territorial ambitions', according to the General. File image shows Chinese Navy submarines The military alliance will need an additional 35-50 brigades to fully implement its new defence plans in case of an attack from Russia, they said. A brigade can consist of between 3,000 and 7,000 soldiers, so forming an additional 35-50 brigades means up to 350,000 soldiers. After the end of the Cold War, many NATO allies reduced their number of anti-aircraft defense systems, following assessments that in the future they would only face a limited missile threat from countries like Iran. This perception changed drastically with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting allies to make efforts to increase their ammunition stocks and address the shortage of anti-aircraft defense systems. It was an unlikely career trajectory for the presenter once best known for her speed with arithmetic on Channel 4's Countdown - but Carol Vorderman's reinvention as a political commentator is all but complete. Vorderman, 63, went to war with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg at the weekend, accusing the veteran political journalist of bias during an interview with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey on her Sunday show. Kuenssberg had qualified her congratulations to the Lib Dems for winning more than 70 seats with the phrase 'I suppose', prompting Vorderman to call for the BBC to replace her with fellow presenter Victoria Derbyshire. Responding to the clip, the maths whizz had written on X: 'Vic D is exceptional and gives them all a hard time if that is what's needed. She knows her detail and cuts through with any bias. BBC is lucky to have her.' And in the two days since that interview aired Vorderman has tweeted nothing but politics - praising Labour's new education secretary and congratulating the Lib Dems and the Greens on their new arrivals to Parliament. Carol Vorderman appearing as a guest during Channel 4's general election coverage in which she tore into the Tories and gloated 'let's get the party started because they have gone' Vorderman, 63, went to war with the BBC 's Laura Kuenssberg at the weekend, accusing the veteran political journalist of bias during an interview with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey Vorderman said it was 'time for #bbclaurak to become #bbcVictoriaD don't you think?' She has also suggested that the requirement for voters to carry ID, a policy brought in under the last Conservative government, may have disenfranchised 400,000 people. And on LBC, where she presents a show after being axed by the BBC for refusing to stop tweeting her political views, Vorderman said she 'enjoyed' reading out the names of Tory MPs who lost their seats in the general election. 'Who'll be the next Tory leader? Who cares,' she wrote, ending the post with a crying laughing emoji. She says she is 'politically independent' in her X profile. Vorders, as the tabloids call her, has been on a mission to bring down the Tories since the end of 2022, when she took to what was then Twitter to criticise Lady Mone for her involvement in the PPE Medpro scandal. Lady Mone had, at the time, denied she would benefit from sales of PPE made by the firm to the government during the Covid pandemic. She and her husband Douglas Barrowman remain under investigation by the National Crime Agency. Since then, Vorderman has turned her crosshairs onto the wider Tory party - blasting Rishi Sunak and his ministers across scores of anti-Tory tweets. She called the government 'vile' and labelled the Conservatives 'entitled, arrogant...morally bankrupt' and 'gaslighting crooks' last November. A year ago, she sparred with then veterans minister Johnny Mercer, who called her a 'deeply unpleasant person', and his wife Felicity, who said: 'You really do seem like a nasty person'. Vorderman told of how she enjoyed herself reading out the names of the Tories who had lost their seats at the general election Vorderman wears a 'Voting is hot AF' jumper and holds up a bag of Tyrrell's crisps as she leaves the Riverside Studios after filming Have I Got News For You on June 6 She called for then women's minister Maria Caulfield to resign after claiming she 'could not be bothered to turn up' to a committee discussion on menopause, But her tweets have landed her in hot water on several occasions. Vorderman deleted a series of tweets about then-Tory party chairman Greg Hands in a row over PPE. Mr Hands had called for her to apologise after she posted what he labelled 'defamatory and damaging' tweets about his involvement in a firm that was granted a PPE contract in 2020. After removing the alleged offending posts, Vorderman said she was 'happy to accept Mr Hands' assurance that his role in the process was simply to refer the approach (to the government)... there was no impropriety on his part'. Penny Morduant was another Tory who would targeted after she suggested bringing back national service. Vorderman was quick to mock the former Commons Leader as she wrote: 'Bring Back National Service' cries Penny Mordaunt. What a pile of utter nonsense. She also spouts that Tories alone believe in personal responsibility and looking after others. 'WOW! Current Tories care only about themselves and their snouts in the troughs of power and money. FACT.' And as she embarked on a new calling as a political firebrand, Vorderman found herself falling foul of BBC impartiality guidelines in her role as a presenter on BBC Radio Wales, where she had presented a Saturday morning show for five years. It is not just her views in the political spectrum that have coveted controversy with Vorderman most recently sparking outrage for comparing Jay Slater's disappearance to the time she 'went missing' Listeners fumed about her making the 19-year-old's disappearance 'all about me' as she recounted how she ran away when her Countdown host Richard Whiteley died in 2005 A rejig of BBC social media guidelines prevented Vorderman from remaining in her job while continuing to post anti-Tory rants - and she opted to fall on her sword last November. 'Despite my show being light-hearted with no political content, it was explained to me that, as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round,' she said in a statement. 'Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I've ultimately found that I'm not prepared to lose my voice on social media. 'My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK Government for what it has done to the country which I love - and I'm not prepared to stop. I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on. 'Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.' Two months later, 'politically independent' Vorderman signed with LBC - where she is free to express her views on the Tories. And she is writing a book, entitled Now What?: On a Mission to Fix Broken Britain, which she is taking on tour in September. Live tour tickets run at 40 each, and include a copy of the book. It is not just her views in the political spectrum that have coveted controversy with Vorderman most recently sparking outrage for her comments about the time she 'went missing' after mentioning Jay Slater's disappearance. Listeners fumed about her making the 19-year-old's disappearance 'all about me' as she recounted how she ran away when her Countdown host Richard Whiteley died in 2005, aged 61. Vorderman was close to tears as she told how she was racked with grief. 'Richard Whiteley died, and he died quite suddenly,' she said. 'Every day people would talk to me about him, even though I wasn't with him. There was a great love between us, and I couldn't cope, I just couldn't cope.' The TV star said she 'just didn't know what to do' and with her children with her ex-husband for the weekend she 'just had to disappear'. She engaged in a bitter Twitter feud with Tory MP and veteran's affairs minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity last July She accused the Tory party of being 'a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks' when they were in Government 'I didn't want anyone I knew around me, I just got in my car and I drove,' she said. 'I eventually found a hotel and I didn't have anything with me. 'I had my purse, and just locked myself away then, switch my phone off, all of that. I just stayed in that room, just to get my thoughts together really. 'So I do understand when people say that that's their only option, I really do. There's no shame about it, that's why I'm telling this story for the first time. There's no shame, everyone has those moments, I believe, at some point.' Her retelling of the story sparked angry comments, reported The Mirror, with one listener saying: 'I don't think this is the same unfortunately,' while another person angrily echoed: 'I don't think this is the same thing Carol!!??' Another commented: '"How do I make this all about me?'' and "Me, me, me".' Vorderman's representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Tory turncoat Lee Anderson warned 'the fox is in the hen house' as he arrived back in Parliament alongside Nigel Farage at the head of a cabal of Reform MPs. The happy quintet of right-wingers posed for cameras in Westminster after arriving for the start of the new term after their election breakthrough. And the group, which includes three millionaire businessman, immediately set their sights on trying to upset the establishment. It came as Tory rightwinger Suella Braverman warned that Reform poses an 'existential threat' to the defeated Conservatives. She used a speech to the Popular Conservatism conference that it would be a 'fundamental error' to attack Reform and should instead try to win back 'lifelong' Tories' who defected. The happy quintet of right-wingers posed for cameras in Westminster after arriving for the start of the new term after their election breakthrough. Mr Anderson and Mr Lowe could be seen standing at the bar of the Commons after arriving too late to get a seat for the first sitting of the new parliament The grinning party leader led the group in posing for cameras in Westminster today as they arrived for the start of the new term after their election breakthrough. And he joked that they would be relying on Lee Anderson (far left), the former Conservative Party chairman turned Reform MP, to help them get around the corridors of power. Mr Farage told reporters he had been reminded of Dulwich College, the 55,000-per-year institution in south London, as he made his way to Westminster from his home in Kent. He was a pupil at the posh school in the 1970s The party leader posted with the rest of the 'Reform Five' in Parliament this morning after becoming an MP last week at the eighth attempt. It came as Tory rightwinger Suella Braverman warned that Reform poses an 'existential threat' to the defeated Conservatives. The party leader posted with the rest of the 'Reform Five' in Parliament this morning after becoming an MP last week at the eighth attempt. Speaking at a PopCon (Popular Conservatism) gathering, she said: 'We did not do what we promised to do (at the election) .... 'We have had the luxury of a monopoly (on the right of British politics) but no longer, and that is why Reform is an existential threat to our party.' She said the Conservative Party should bid to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and axe the Human Rights Act, and added: "We've never been unequivocal about this pressing cause of the problem." Farage and Co: The millionaires, 'city boy' and ex-Tory on green benches for Reform Richard Tice: Boston and Skegness Mr Tice is a millionaire former property developer from leafy Surrey. The 59-year-old is a former Tory Eurosceptic who was a Brexit Party MEP and ineffectually led Reform before Nigel Farage returned to the frontline of politics ahead of the election. Privately educated and from a wealthy family he made money in the property business, following in the footsteps of his grandfather who once sought to demolish London's landmark Ritz Hotel to make way for offices. The divorced father-of-three is in a relationship with Isabel Oakshott, the former journalist. Lee Anderson: Ashfield Lee Ashfield is a controversial figure who was Tory Party chairman until earlier this year. The 57-year-old, a former Labour councillor, fled the Conservatives after being censured for remarks about London mayor Sadiq Khan. But he had already been at the centre of other controversies. He was nicknamed '30p Lee' after suggesting families who used food banks were simply bad at economising, and could make a meal for 30p. The former cleaner was Reform's sole MP before the election and retained his seat, becoming the first party candidate to win at the ballot box. Rupert Lowe: Great Yarmouth The millionaire former chairman of Southampton Football Club finally won election on the east coast, in a seat formerly held by Tory Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis. A former Brexit Party MEP, he ran the Premier League club between 1999 and 2006 and remains a divisive figure among fans due to the state the club was left in after it was relegated. He took over again in 2008 but resigned the following year after it went into administration with debts of up to 30m that saw the side relegated to League 1. James McMurdock: South Basildon and East Thurrock A 38-year-old former banker who unexpectedly edged the contest in the Essex seat by 98 votes in the final election result to be declared in England. After the election Mr Farage said he was a 'paper candidate' who had not been expected to win. The party leader said he was a 'former city boy' who was drafted in at the last minute and beat Labour candidate Jack Ferguson. Mr McMurdock took 12,178 votes, giving him a 30.8 per cent share while Mr Ferguson got 12,080 and 30.5 per cent. Advertisement Mr Farage joked that arriving in Parliament reminded him of his first day at his posh public school today as he led a quintet of Reform MPs into the Commons. He posed with the rest of the 'Reform Five' in Parliament this morning after becoming an MP last week at the eighth attempt. And he immediately set his sights on winning over Labour voters, citing warnings to Keir Starmer from Sir Tony Blair that the PM needs to have a 'plan to control immigration' to ward off Reform. Mr Farage told reporters he had been reminded of Dulwich College, the 55,000-per-year institution in south London, as he made his way to Westminster from his home in Kent. And he joked that they would be relying on Lee Anderson, the former Conservative Party chairman turned Reform MP, to help them get around the corridors of power. He was re-elected in Ashfield last week after being elected as a Tory in 2019. 'On the way in this morning I drove past my old school. I remembered September 1974 walking into this great big historic place and thinking 'gosh'. 'Well, I'm a few years older now, there are five of us. Luckily Lee knows where we are going, otherwise we would be completely and utterly lost. If anything goes wrong today it is down to Lee Anderson.' It comes as Tory rightwingers continue to flirt with closer ties with Reform, as they try to recover from last week's election humiliation. Romford MP Andrew Rosindell told GB News: 'Reform is essentially a breakaway from the Conservative Party. 'The vast majority of people in Reform are the kind of people that I could sit with and agree on, about 90 per cent of things, and most of them are ex Conservative members. So this is a family feud. That's how I see it. 'We need to bring the family back together again, because the real enemy of this country is socialism The group of five men, including party chairman Richard Tice and former Tory MP Lee Anderson, had been expected to stage a Reservoir Dogs-style entrance to Westminster, referring to the Quentin Tarantino film about a failed diamond heist. The other new arrivals were Rupert Lowe, former chairman of Southampton FC and now MP for Great Yarmouth, and James McMurdock, a 38-year-old former banker who unexpectedly edged the contest in South Basildon and East Thurrock by 98 votes. The men paused for photographs by Parliament's St Stephen's Entrance, but made no statement to the press. Responding to a shout of 'Have fun' from a photographer, Mr Tice replied: 'We will.' The group then entered Parliament, a member of Commons staff placing a green-and-white MP's lanyard around Mr Farage's neck. Last week's election was the eighth time Mr Farage had attempted to become an MP, while his party achieved greater electoral success than either of his former outfits. But Reform fell short of the six million votes its leader had been targeting, gaining their five seats on the back of 4.1 million votes - around 14 per cent of the total. That figure is slightly more than the 3.9 million Ukip gained when led by Mr Farage in the 2015 election, which saw the party gain one seat. Last Thursday also saw Reform come second in 98 seats, many of which are now held by Labour, and Mr Farage has set his sights on the new Government, saying it 'could be in trouble pretty quickly'. The grieving family of two of the victims in the alleged death cap mushroom poisoning case have moved to settle their estates almost a year on from the tragedy. The family of Don and Gail Patterson have officially applied to the Supreme Court for probate as their former daughter-in-law prepares to face trial. The couple, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died within days of eating a Beef Wellington meal that allegedly contained poisoned mushrooms. The lunch was allegedly prepared by the Patterson's former daughter-in-law, Erin Patterson, at her home in Leongatha in Victoria's Gippsland region on July 29 last year. Heather's husband, Baptist church pastor Ian Wilkinson, 68, survived the alleged attempted poisonings, while Ms Patterson's estranged husband pulled out of the lunch at the last minute. Ms Patterson pleaded not guilty to murdering her in-laws and attempting to murder her estranged husband during a LaTrobe Valley Magistrates' Court hearing in May. She faces three murder charges over their deaths and is also accused of five counts of attempted murder of her estranged husband Simon Patterson. Almost a year on from the fatal lunch, the family of Mr and Mrs Patterson have moved to settle their estate by filing for probate, the Herald Sun reported. Don and Gail Patterson (pictured) died after eating an allegedly poisoned meal at Erin Patterson's homeon July 29 last year The Supreme Court of Victoria website defines probate as: 'The process by which the Court approves that the will is valid and that the executor(s) can act on the will.' The website states 'When a person dies leaving assets in Victoria, usually the executor of a person's will or the closest next of kin (where there is no will) has to finalise the deceased's affairs.' The website adds this generally involves collecting or gathering all of the deceased assets, paying any debts, and distributing assets to entitled persons. The executors listed on the two wills of the couple are Nathan Patterson and Anna Terrington. The wills are dated November 2, 2018 and are listed as 'under review'. The court reviewing a application is common practice, an estate lawyer told the Herald Sun. In order to obtain a grant of probate, a probate application requires executors or administrators to file a number of documents with the Supreme Court. Erin Patterson (pictured) officially pleaded not guilty in May to murdering her in-laws and attempting to murder her estranged husband These include the original will, a certified copy of the death certificate, a statement of the deceased's assets and liabilities and an affidavit. After these documents are filed, the court will usually either grant probate or request more information from the executors. Once probate is granted, the executors can deal with the assets of the deceased. The lawyer said the nature of the Patterson's deaths would have delayed the receipt of the death certificate. He added determining the Patterson's assets could be another reason why probate was only applied for almost a year after their deaths. 'Often, assets pass from one spouse to another after death automatically,' the lawyer told the Herald Sun. 'Accordingly, working out whose assets were who's at particular times may be the cause of the added delay.' Erin Patterson remains behind bars and will reappear in court for an administrative hearing in August. This is the dramatic moment a shoplifter is met by some instant karma - getting hit by a car as he fled the scene of a booze robbery. One customer in the busy London store filmed brave Tesco staff trying to thwart two crooks stealing tobacco and alcohol from behind the tills. The two thieves, clad in black, got behind the checkout area and started loading bottles of spirits and packs of rolling tobacco into their bags. One appears to escape with no difficulty, but the second gets trapped temporarily by a combination of customers, Tesco employees and security. As he eventually wrestles his way out, after some bottles fell out the hold all and shattered on the floor, one customer can be heard saying: 'Call an ambulance, he's just been hit by a car.' Have YOU seen shoplifting near you? Email matthew.cox@mailonline.co.uk This is the dramatic moment brave Tesco staff tried to thwart two crooks (pictured) stealing booze and tobacco before one was hit by a car as he fled the store in Wanstead, London Though one robber fled the scene with minimal difficulty, the other (right) wrestled through the doors, before ripping his bag of booze back off a member of staff (left). After he left a customer could be heard saying: 'Call an ambulance, he's just been hit by a car' A number of customers, one of whom is seen forcing a door shut, staff and security tried to trap the thief in the store The two-minute video begins with voices urging people to 'go, go, go,' and 'call the police'. Footage shows the area behind the till where the two thieves can be seen piling alcohol into their bags. The first thief manages to leave the Express store, in Wanstead High Street, with no hinderance, but his accomplice can be seen struggling to get back out from behind the tills as a brave customer holds the door shut. At the other end of the tills, a member of staff tried to block the way in with a pile of crates of products, however, the robber managed to squeeze through - by which time a security guard had closed the shop's automatic doors. The thief tried to force them back open, but in doing so had his bag grabbed by another member of staff as he wrestled with the security guard. Bottles are heard shattering on the floor as the escapee looses his grip, but he manages to prize the doors apart before grabbing his bag back off the floor and doing a runner. As the customer filming the incident leaves the store, another customer can be heard claiming the thief was hit by a car, encouraging someone to call an ambulance. However, when the footage moves outside, there is no sign of the crook, until two people can be seen running away in the distance. London Ambulance Service have no record of a team being sent to the location on Sunday, when the incident occurred. After the clip was shared online, viewers commented: 'Well done Tesco staff... 'Security guard did an amazing job... 'Security really proving their worth... 'So much chaos. Working in retail is not for the weak.' When the footage moves outside, there is no sign of the crook, until two people can be seen running away in the distance. The security guard and a member of staff are pictured investigating the aftermath Shoplifting offences hit a record high of 430,104 last year with complaints the crime has been effectively 'decriminalised' The Met Police and Tesco have also been approached for comment. It follows shoplifting offences hitting a record high last year with complaints the crime has been effectively 'decriminalised'. A total of 430,104 offences were recorded by police in the year to December 2023, up by more than a third (37%) from 315,040 in the previous 12 months. The figure is the highest since current records began in the year to March 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Retail bosses have accused ministers of allowing shoplifting to become effectively decriminalised, with many police forces failing to attend the majority of reports and failing to gather any evidence when they do. More Pamplona daredevils have been injured under the hooves of bulls on the third day of festivities, with two men taken to hospital with minor injuries. Two men, aged 24 and 29, suffered from wounds to their face during the frantic run through the streets this morning. Dramatic pictures showed revellers stumbling and covering their heads as they tried to outrun the rampaging fighting bulls on Tuesday morning in the dangerous race - which takes place over 850 metres through the city's narrow streets. This comes after one participant was gored over the weekend, and five more suffered bruising. A 37-year-old man from Beriain near Pamplona where the annual festival takes place every July has so far suffered the only gore injury this year. Revellers run during the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain on Tuesday 'Mozos', or runners, are chased by a group of bulls of the Herederos de Victoriano del Rio ranch as they run together through the streets during the third 'encierro', or running of the bulls, of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Tuesday Some runners, are overrun by a group of bulls of the Herederos de Victoriano del Rio ranch running through the streets during the third 'encierro' on Tuesday The other five casualties included a 54-year-old man from New York. All six runners who needed hospital treatment were males. Sixteen people have been killed at the annual festival since records began in 1910, most recently in 2009, while many more are injured as they try to outrun the wild beasts. The festivities, which include the bull runs as well as concerts, religious processions and copious amounts of wine, were made famous by 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. The curtain went up on nine days of festivities on Saturday as thousands filled the city's main square for the 'chupinazo' - the firecracker which launches an event dating back to medieval times. Revellers dressed in the must-wear white outfits with a red bandana around their necks celebrated by soaking each other in wine and sangria. Two men were injured on Tuesday's run, but according to University Hospital of Navarra, their injuries were not life threatening Revellers fall during the third day of the running of the bulls in Pamplona on Tuesday During San Fermin celebrations, it is traditional to wear white and a red sash and handkerchief Revellers surround a wild cow, at the San Fermin festival Tuesday morning's 8am bull run was the third of eight so-called 'encierros' which is the highlight of the festival. Led by six steers, the bulls started their half-mile run through the streets of Pamplona's old town. According to commentators, this morning's run was 'fast and clean', only lasting 2 minutes and 26 seconds. But bulls were seen colliding with runners as they headed towards an alleyway. The bulls that run each morning are killed in the afternoon by professional bullfighters. ive women attend the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival yesterday in Pamplona, Spain Revellers attend the parade of 'Gigantes and Cabezudos' (Giants and Large Head Puppets) as part of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona on Sunday Revellers wait on the fence for the start of the first 'encierro' Between 200 and 300 people are usually injured in the run each year at the festival during the bull runs, often including foreigners from Britain, the US and Australia. The most recent death was in 2009 when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno, from Madrid, was gored in the neck by a bull called Capuchino. Animal rights activists campaign against the festival every year, saying it is cruel to animals who are goaded and then killed in front of baying crowds. The annual festival honours the city's first bishop and patron saint, San Fermin. The bull run has its origins in the old practice of transporting bulls from the fields outside the city, where they were bred, to the bullring, where they would be killed. During this 'run', local youths would jump among them in an attempt to boast their courage. Bull runs are practiced in several towns and villages across Spain and in some cities in Mexico. The Pamplona run is considered the most famous. A 'recortador' (bull trimmer) jumps over a bull in the Plaza de Toros bullring during a show after the first day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Saturday A recortador is run over by a raging bull in the Plaza de Toros bullring during a show after the first day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona Participants covered their heads as the bull leapt over them as it was driven into the arena A mother who lost three children in a horror house fire allegedly lit by her partner has returned to the scene of devastation for the first time. Stacey Gammage, 29, was with her seven kids inside her home in Lalor Park, in Sydney's west, when her partner Dean Heasman, 28, allegedly set it ablaze shortly before 1am on Sunday and barricaded the family inside. Two boys, aged two and six, were taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition but died from their injuries. Once firefighters extinguished the flames, they also found the body of a five-month-old girl. Her body was removed from the property during forensic investigations on Sunday afternoon. Ms Gammage, who was still wearing her hospital wristband, returned to the house for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. Police closed off the street for almost two hours to allow Ms Gammage to grieve privately. The devastated mother was supported by family members and police as she read the legions of tributes and cards laid outside the home in the wake of the tragedy. She returned to Westmead Hospital to maintain a bedside vigil for her four other surviving children, including a nine-year-old girl and her three brothers, aged four, seven and 11. Stacey Gammage returned to the house for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, with the street closed for almost two hours to allow her to grieve Stacey Gammage, 29, was with her seven kids inside her home in Lalor Park, in Sydney 's west, when her partner Dean Heasman, 28, allegedly set it ablaze shortly before 1am on Sunday and barricaded the family inside (pictured: the couple together) It comes as NSW Police provided an update on the surviving four children on Tuesday, who are all in a stable condition. Meanwhile, Heasman remains in Westmead Hospital under police guard in an induced coma. No charges have yet been laid. 'Inquiries under Strike Force Carrbridge continue,' the police statement read. Heasman allegedly threw a pillow on fire at his partner, which was partly responsible for igniting the blaze, the Daily Telegraph reported. Investigators are also probing whether Heasman allegedly used an accelerant after a second explosion engulfed the home in flames moments after he threw the fully alight pillow at his partner. Investigators are also probing whether Heasman allegedly used an accelerant after a second explosion engulfed the home in flames moments after he threw the fully alight pillow at his partner Daily Mail Australia previously spoke to Heasman's grandmother Neryle Heasman, 82, who said she had been estranged from him in recent years. 'I didn't have a lot to do with him since his father, my son also named Dean, passed away,' she said. 'On the odd occasion I saw him, I remember him being a nice child.' Mrs Heasman, who is receiving home palliative care for terminal lung cancer and has six months to live, said she had not met her great-grandchildren. 'I have kept up with his family through photos on Facebook,' she said. But she was stunned to discover he was at the centre of the police investigation into the deadly fire. Dying grandmother Neryle Heasman has spoken of her shock at finding out her grandson is accused of killing his three children in a horrific house fire. 'Are you sure we're talking about the same Dean?' she asked Daily Mail Australia, and added: 'He is albino.' The father-of-seven is understood to have no significant criminal history, but in 2017 did have a run in with the Australian Tax Office. Then just 21, he pleaded guilty to making a false statement and was convicted, but avoided jail and instead was put on an 18-month good behaviour bond by the NSW Local Court - and was also ordered to pay back $2,809 to the ATO. On Monday friends and members of the community arrived at the scene many leaving floral tributes, stuffed toys and candles. Neighbours and family friends left floral tributes for the three kids who died on Sunday Among evidence removed from the house were two water bottles containing a tea-like liquid The day before, detectives swarmed the home looking for clues on how the blaze began, and whether a fire accelerant had been used. Among the evidence removed from the house were two water bottles with a tea-coloured liquid inside. Police allege Heasman held the front door shut when emergency services arrived and shouted, 'Let me die here' as the children screamed for help inside. Heasman is reported to have suffered burns to his skin and throat and the affects of smoke inhalation during the tragedy and is now in an induced coma as detectives wait to interview him. Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia that all three front rooms of the home were quickly engulfed with flames, before power lines began to spark and snapped off the house. Local resident Jarrod Hawkins, whose daughter was friends with one of the surviving children, was hailed a hero after rushing to the burning home and saving a nine-year-old girl and her three brothers, aged four, seven and 11. Emergency services, including at least 20 firefighters and six fire trucks, rushed to Freeman Street following reports a home was ablaze Dean Heasman, 28, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital under police guard The eldest boy told his rescuers: 'Dad tried to kill me.' Once Mr Hawkins left the burning home with four children, they were placed on the other side of the road before another neighbour Damien Dubois decided to move them away from the scene. 'I had the four kids and they were cold so we picked them up and took them into the back room of my place,' Mr Dubois told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was trying to console them. The two younger kids weren't saying anything so I picked them up and took them out of the way of all this trauma. 'They didn't need to watch it all.' Mr Dubois recalled Heasman taking some of the children on quad bike rides around the local neighbourhood just a few weeks ago. Brittany Higgins has hit back at Linda Reynolds after the former minister accused her in court documents of plotting with her husband David Sharaz to take down the Morrison government. The documents were filed by Senator Reynolds' legal team, with the former Defence Industry minister suing both Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz separately in the WA Federal Court over social media comments they made which she claims defamed her. A trial is scheduled for early August after multiple rounds of mediation talks between the parties failed to reach an agreement. The court documents have been amended to allege that Ms Higgins - Senator Reynolds' former staff member - and Mr Sharaz engaged in a political conspiracy designed to use her rape allegations against the Liberal/National government. A spokesperson for Ms Higgins on Tuesday responded to the new claims, saying: 'Brittany Higgins is steadfast in her truth about the aftermath of her rape in Parliament House. 'She is being forced back into the courtroom for the third time to canvass these distressing events.' Senator Reynolds' updated statement of claim, obtained by The Australian newspaper, alleges that Ms Higgins 'acted maliciously' in making social media posts about how her rape claims were handled by the government. 'They were published in furtherance of a plan by the defendant and Mr Sharaz to use the defendant's allegations of a rape and the political cover-up as a weapon to inflict immediate political damage upon the plaintiff and the then government,' the statement of claim reportedly states. Brittany Higgins and her now-husband David Sharaz (both pictured) were allegedly drip-feeding false information to Anthony Albanese 's closest allies in a bid to destroy the Morrison government, according to bombshell new court documents Senator Linda Reynolds (pictured) alleges that part of their plan included organising meetings with Labor figures such as Katy Gallagher and Penny Wong who were allegedly provided with false information Senator Reynolds alleges that part of that plan included organising meetings with Labor figures such as Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who were allegedly provided with false information. The senators were then encouraged to ask 'aggressive questions' at Question Time in February 2021, shortly after Ms Higgins went public with her rape allegations against former colleague Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019. In one text message exchange included in the court documents, Mr Sharaz messaged Ms Higgins: 'Katy is going to come to me with some questions you need to prepare for she's really invested now.' In Question Time in the Senate on February 17, 2021, Senator Gallagher accused Senator Reynolds of engaging in a 'cover-up' by not answering questions on whether Ms Higgins was encouraged to not report the alleged rape to police. 'By withholding information, what she is continuing is the cover-up that has been under way for two years, which has been the cause of much trauma to Ms Higgins,' Sentaro Gallagher reportedly said. 'It's the cover-up, often, that is as traumatic as other elements of a serious crime like this because it compounds the trauma. 'It means that people she worked for, people she looked up to, who she expected to treat her properly, haven't.' Senator Reynolds alleges that these 'aggressive' questions and the fallout from Ms Higgins' interview with The Project, which aired that same month led to her being hospitalised. In alleging a conspiracy, the statement of claim also refers to various text messages between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz. On February 17, 2021, Senator Katy Gallagher (pictured) accused Senator Reynolds during question time of engaging in a 'cover-up' by not answering questions on whether Ms Higgins was encouraged not to report the incident to police In one message sent in March 2021, Ms Higgins wrote: 'He's (Scott Morrison) about to be f****d over. Just wait. We've got him.' On March 28, 2021, Mr Sharaz wrote: 'Suck s*** Linda You awful human.' The statement of claim also refers to the five-hour pre-interview meeting between The Project host Lisa Wilkinson, her producer, Ms Higgins, and Mr Sharaz. In it, Mr Sharaz outlined a timeline for running the interview to dovetail with the Senate estimates hearings. 'Mr Sharaz stated 'I asked Britt, ultimately, what do you want out of this? And she goes 'well, I want Bruce to forever have it difficult getting a job, like it's going to be difficult for me',' the statement of claim reads. 'Apparently addressing the defendant directly, Mr Sharaz then said, 'and then you said, best-case scenario, Linda Reynolds...' and the group erupted with laughter.' Ms Reynolds' statement of claim also alleges Mr Sharaz arranged meetings with other senior Labor figures, including then Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, former prime minister Kevin Rudd and deputy leader Tanya Plibersek. The newspaper reported that Ms Higgins is defending the claims. In April this year, Justice Michael Lee handed down a 324-page judgement in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case, which found that the rape did take place. But Justice Lee also found no evidence for the political 'cover-up narrative' he said was pushed by Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz 'from the first moment' of their decision to speak to Lisa Wilkinson on The Project in February 2021. He described that narrative as 'objectively short on facts but long on speculation and internal inconsistencies'. Shortly after the ruling, Ms Reynolds told Daily Mail Australia it 'would be an understatement' to say she was pleased with Justice Lee's ruling, describing the whole affair as the 'cover-up that never was'. 'For three years I have endured intense public scrutiny, vilification, vile trolling and have been demonised as the villain in a story of a political cover-up I have always known to be untrue,' she said. Ms Reynolds said she was 'committed to fully vindicating' her reputation in the wake of Justice Lee's landmark finding. The case is set down for trial on August 2. A mechanic has been sucked into a Boeing passenger jet's engine and killed at Chabahar Konarak airport in southern Iran after he went to retrieve a tool near the aircraft. Local mechanic Abolfazl Amiri was doing routine maintenance work on Iranian domestic airline Varesh Airline's Boeing 737-500 when he was sucked into the engine. According to Bild, the engine on the right-hand side had been started for a test run with the cover flaps open. A safety area had been set up around the engine as is usually recquired. But when Amiri realised he had forgotten a tool on the engine, he went back and was sucked in and killed before the engine caught fire. Amiri's remains were recovered after the airport fire brigade arrived at the scene. VareshAirlines Boeing 737-500 (EP-VAF) was parked at Chabahar Airport, Iran, when maintenance was carried out on the right-hand engine. While the engine was running, a ground engineer who entered the safety zone was sucked into the turbine and died instantly Local mechanic Abolfazl Amiri was doing routine maintenance work on Iranian domestic airline Varesh Airline's Boeing 737-500 when he was sucked into the engine The fatal incident occurred in Chabahar Konarak airport in southern Iran Iran's aviation authority has ordered an investigation into the accident. Back in May, a man was killed after being sucked into a KLM passenger plane engine at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport. Passengers and crew members on board the Embraer 190 aircraft - which KLM uses for their Cityhopper service to nearby destinations - told local outlet that a 'hellish noise' came from the engine, which quickly began trailing smoke. The Dutch Royal Military Police investigating the incident later said that the man 'intentionally climbed into the engine, indicating this is a case of suicide'. They additionally said that he had been 'identified as an employee of a company operating at the airport'. Emergency crews carried out a 'massive' response after the horror tragedy was reported around 3pm, with a picture posted by public broadcaster NOS showing the plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances. In May, a person was sucked into the engine of a KLM aircraft at Amsterdam's Schipol airport File photo. A KLM Boeing 747 takes off from the runway at Schiphol, Amsterdam. Passengers and crew members were reported to be on board the Embraer 190 aircraft when the incident occurred Flight 1341 was set to depart from Schiphol in the Netherlands for Billund in Denmark at 2.25pm on Wednesday. It was unclear from initial reports whether the victim was travelling with the airline or worked at the airport. In 2022, an Alabama airport baggage handler was killed after being sucked into American Airlines plane engine while it was parked ahead of its scheduled flight to Dallas. The airport worker who died after being so violently sucked into the engine of a recently landed plane it shook the entire aircraft was a mother-of-three and had been repeatedly warned to stay back. The tragedy occurred on New Year's Eve at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. The victim was later identified as 34-year-old Courtney Edwards, who worked as a ground agent for Piedmont Airlines. The initial report from the National Transport Safety Board stated that Edwards was killed after getting too close to the engine of an American Eagle-operated Embraer E175 jet. The report noted that Edwards failed to heed multiple warnings to stay back from the engines while the plane was shutting down. Heartbreaking photos show a schoolboy lying in a 'vegetative state' in hospital after flipping off a pier and landing face first on the water. Jack Dolan, 15, has been left with 'no quality of life' and cannot move, speak or laugh after the tragic accident on June 23. The teenager, who had attempted the jump from Margate pier in front of his friends and girlfriend, 'overspun' and landed 'face first on the water'. Jack spent eight minutes under the water before he was pulled out by a passing kayaker. But by that time, he had gone into cardiac arrest. He was then airlifted to King's College Hospital in London where MRI scans showed he had severe brain damage. The aspiring Royal Marine had 'so much to live for', but is now in a 'vegetative state' with a life expectancy of up to two years, his heartbroken family told MailOnline. His stepfather, Dave Dolan, said: 'It's been our worst nightmare. We're heartbroken. It's sickening. He's alive but it's like he's not there. He was my best mate. We cannot explain how cruel all of this is.' Jack Dolan's heartbroken family have released pictures of their son lying in a hospital bed in a 'vegetative state' after his pier-jumping accident at Stone Pier, in Margate, Kent on June 23 Jack with his mother Lisa before the tragic accident off Margate Pier last month Heartbroken step-father Dave Dolan, 35, pictured with his head in his hands, has kept a bedside vigil since the 15-year-old was seriously injured It was the first time the 15-year-old schoolboy had gone to the beach without his parents He had done the move dozens of times before, most recently on holiday in Egypt in September (pictured), but this time he landed face first on the water Dave said the jump from the Stone Pier (pictured) was three or four metres high but if Jack had landed a quarter rotation one way or the other he would probably have been fine Dave, 35, has kept a bedside vigil for Jack, and in one heartbreaking image is pictured with his head in his hands on the bed next to the prone schoolboy, surrounded by wires and tubes, while two members of hospital staff look at monitors. He added: 'I've been by his side since the start, holding his hand.' Jack's family have launched a major fundraising campaign to equip a new home with the specialist equipment he needs so he can return there to die. They believe at best he has two years to live. It was the first time Jack had gone to the beach at Stone Pier in Margate, Kent without his mother and father, as they were protective of him as he had ADHD and was liable to act without thinking. The Howard School pupil, in Medway, was with four or five friends and his girlfriend on the day. The teen most likely didn't realise how high the pier was, was knocked unconscious and then drowned, although he wasn't in the water long before being pulled out. He had vast experience of the move which ended in tragedy, and has done it dozens of times before. Most recently on holiday in Egypt in September. The accident has left him brain dead. His brain stem shows signs of activity and he can breathe for himself but the rest of his brain is severely damaged and he will not recover. They believe the 'kind and caring' thing for Jack now is to let him die in peace at home. Stepfather Dave said: 'We cannot even begin to understand how this has happened. He was so fit and active. His life was movement and being out and active. Jack had travelled to the popular Kent seaside town with friends, and they went to this pier to enjoy the sunshine Signs in the area warn against jumping from the pier - but youngsters congregate at the area every weekend in the summer, and jump into the sea with friends The accident has left Jack brain dead. His brain stem shows signs of activity and he can breathe for himself but the rest of his brain is severely damaged Now his stepdad Dave Dolan and mum Lisa (pictured) are desperately fundraising to move house so they can take Jack out of hospital and care for him themselves at home until he dies 'He wanted to be in the Royal Marines. He was not an academic kid but he was so active and loved the outdoors and improving himself. 'Our lives have turned upside down because of this. It has shattered us. He's like a newborn baby. He can't move. 'There's a heartbeat and that is it. There's no eye contact. He cannot speak. 'His smile was one of his greatest assets and he does not have that now. There's nothing. He had a bright and beaming smile but now that is not there. 'It's horrific. I cannot explain how cruel it is to see and deal with. 'He will never get it back. We will never see that smile or hear the laugh again. It's devastating.' Dave raised Jack as his own son and said he believes he misjudged the move and landed face first on the water. He added: 'It was something he loved doing. He had done it so many times before.' Now 15,000 has been raised to install a new home with the appropriate equipment where he can return after being in hospital. An online fund-raising page has been set-up which has received donations from over 600 supporters. His mum Lisa and his two sisters, aged eight and ten, are grateful for all the help received. Dave added: 'It's a great response. We've very grateful. It will mean a new home can be acquired and fitted to give him something. 'At the moment he is in a hospital ward with other people. It's torturous.' A tragic last picture shows Jack smiling with a friend as he arrives at Margate Station, just half an hour before the accident The family (pictured together) - including Jack's sisters Faith, ten, and Grace, eight - are currently in council accommodation and are hoping they can be moved to a suitable home Dave said any money left over from the fundraising would go towards other youngsters in similar conditions. He said it was difficult to put a life expectancy on how long Jack would survive in his current state. He added: 'It's no life for him. It's just horrible to see. 'We think two years or so. In that time we will make all the adjustments possible to make things as comfortable. 'I want to look after Jack and obviously the family as well. 'We've all been through hell.' The construction manager added: 'He had so much to live for. He had a bright and amazing future.' Dave, who lives in Rainham, Kent, said he was proud of Jack's friends for their actions following the horrifying accident. One rang 999 while his girlfriend immediately contacted Jack's mum, who rushed to the popular beach resort. The teen was treated by paramedics before being taken to King's College Hospital by air ambulance, but MRI scans show his brain is beyond repair. When doctors withdrew his life support, amazingly the youngster breathed for himself, but that is about as much as his body can do. Doctors are unsure whether he will live for weeks or even years but he will need round-the-clock care, something the Dolans cannot provide for him in their current flat. The family are currently in council accommodation and are hoping they can be moved to a house suitable for Jack as soon as possible. If they can find a new home they will need to complete renovations quickly to make it able to cope with Jack and the mass of equipment he will need. Sam Cass, who organised the crowdfunder for Jack, described him as 'the biggest joker, with a heart of gold.' He added: 'He loves to show off in front of girls and won't leave the house without doing his hair. 'He loves his family, will do anything for his sisters and this fundraiser is to take a little bit of the burden away from them. 'Many people love Jack and I'm sure they all wish the family wasn't going through this right now.' Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply rebuked Indian premier Narendra Modi for hugging the 'world's most bloody criminal' Vladimir Putin. The Indian leader is currently being hosted in Moscow by the Kremlin autocrat. Modi arrived on the day Putin's forces had blasted Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv with a powerful Kh-101 missile on a day of savage Russian attacks on Ukraine which killed 38 - including four children - and wounded over 170. The pair hugged when they met as Putin hosted him at his Novo-Ogaryovo palace outside Moscow. Zelensky had met with Modi last month. The furious Ukrainian President posted: 'It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.' Prime Minister Modi and President Putin hugged as they put on a friendly display yesterday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin embraced during an informal meeting yesterday Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi take a walk during yesterday's meeting Zelensky had met with Modi last month and described the Indian PM's friendly meeting with Putin as a 'devastating blow' Emergency and rescue personnel along with medics and others clear the rubble of the destroyed building of Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital following a Russian missile attack Children who were patients at the centre - one of Europe's largest children's hospitals - had to be evacuated Putin and Modi put on a friendly display as they chatted over tea, traded compliments, and went on a tour of the sprawling estate grounds with Putin driving the visiting Indian leader around in an electric cart. However, Modi coolly demanded that all Indians serving in the Russian armed forces be released and sent home. There has been anger that Indians felt misled into fighting on Putin's frontline. 'Russia has agreed to dismiss all Indians serving in its army and facilitate their return,' said NDTV. Modi is also believed to have told Putin to find a diplomatic way out of the war. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way to resolve the Ukraine conflict because a solution will not be found on the battlefield, he told the Russian dictator. This came as Volodymyr Zhvnyr, general director of Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, said Russia was a 'terrorist state' that 'should not exist as a country' after its targeting of civilians, including children. Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow Modi is also believed to have told Putin to find a diplomatic way out of the war Russia's President Vladimir Putin and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit a horse barn during their meeting 'Our hospital is the largest [children's] hospital in Europe,' he said. 'More than 600 children are treated here every day. 'This is where children find hope: hope for health, hope for life. And it was precisely this [medical] facility that a Russian missile hit today. 'I'm already tired of saying that Russia is a terrorist country. 'This is further proof that Russia should not exist as a country.' The hospital chief said: 'I'm very sad that this happened, that people died, that children got wounded. 'All Ukrainians are worried for the children with cancer and who need dialysis, who are left without help. 'And we, Ukrainians and the whole world that supports freedom, must stay strong. 'We must be able to fight the aggressor back. 'We must win, because without victory there will be no peace. 'Glory to Ukraine. Glory to our armed forces. Glory to the doctors.' In the hospital, two died and 32 were wounded. Rescuers work at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital that was damaged during a Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 8, 2024 Dramatic images show the scale of the devastation in the aftermath of Russia's horrifying attack on the hospital in Kyiv this morning A huge fireball is seen rising over Kyiv next to another smoke plume today Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed today that Russia did not target hospitals, instead blaming the attack on Ukraine. The dictator's mouthpiece was asked by a journalist: 'After yesterday's tragedy at the children's hospital in Kyiv, how can Russia continue to claim that the special military operation [war] has no civilian targets?' Peskov replied: 'I urge you to refer to the statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence, which categorically denies any strikes on civilian targets. 'It states that it was a case of an anti-missile falling.' This is believed to refer to a Ukrainian air defence missile. Peskov said: 'We still insist - we do not attack civilian targets. 'Strikes are carried out against critical infrastructure facilities, against military targets that are in one way or another related to the military potential of the Kyiv regime.' Migrants began crossing the Channel in earnest again today using children's toy rubber rings instead of life jackets. The Daily Mail saw two dinghies on their way to England from our vantage point on a single beach near Durnkirk, as French police looked helplessly on. For the first time in two years, migrants no longer face the threat of being flown to Rwanda upon arrival in Dover after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's scrapping of the policy on day one of his new administration. Poor weather meant the first crossing under the new Labour Government came on Monday after a six-day pause, with migrants on a dinghy seen by the Mail from France later brought ashore at Dover, Kent. But the number of journeys stepped up today, with the use of children's rubber rings on overcrowded dinghies on the high seas showing that illicit crossings are a human tragedy in waiting. Adult life jackets have now sold out in the Dunkirk area - so migrants are instead reliant on any kind of inflatable they can purchase in a feeble bid to protect themselves. Migrants began crossing the Channel in earnest again today after a six-day pause for weather using children's toy rubber rings instead of life jackets Adult life jackets have now sold out in the Dunkirk area - so migrants are instead reliant on any kind of inflatable they can purchase in a feeble bid to protect themselves French police pick through discarded packaging and debris left behind by migrants A heavily overloaded dinghy is seen setting sail off the French coast Migrants camping in the sand dunes are seen running down to the beach to embark on the treacherous journey On one dinghy we saw set off from Gravelines beach, under the eyes of more than a dozen armed police, were multiple migrants holding toy rubber tyre rings instead of life jackets. Seventeen packets of the toy beach inflatables were left on the sand behind them. And exasperated police, who raced to the scene too late with the aid of a couple of beach buggies, said they had earlier in the morning thwarted another two raids. Earlier in the hours of darkness they had seized two uninflated giant dinghies and outboard motors from the car of a trio of suspected people smugglers in the town of Gravelines. An officer told us: 'We catch some - but we can't catch them all. While my colleagues were arresting some of the ''ferrymen'' in town, then slashing their boats, scores more migrants were hiding in the dunes waiting for dinghies to arrive from the sea to pick them up. 'The migrants are so poised to come to England they have even set up a new camp for around a hundred of them right near the beach, so they are ready to board arriving ''taxi boats'' at any time. 'And these toy rubber rings they are using, they are designed to be played with on holiday, not used for safety on the high seas. 'The shops have sold out of adult life jackets, so they buy kids' stuff instead, hoping it is better than nothing.' He added that a dozen migrants had turned back from the boat we had just seen set off because it was too full. 'With forty on board these dinghies it is dangerous enough,' said the officer. 'With fifty or sixty, it is a death trap - particularly if all you have is a children's rubber ring.' Police officers point at the remnants of packaging for inflatable toys left behind by migrants On one dinghy we saw set off from Gravelines beach multiple migrants were seen holding toy rubber tyre rings instead of life jackets Seventeen packets of the toy beach inflatables were left on the sand by migrants Exasperated police thwarted two raids this morning before another boat set sail Astonishingly there were several dozen more migrants lurking in the dunes at the same time as the boat we photographed launched. Police said they were hoping a further boat would come from them, but retreated when police arrived. As we spoke yet another dinghy launched further east was also out to sea heading to Britain. Our police source sighed as he said: 'The migrants land on Lampedusa, the Italian island near Africa, get an Italian police stamp in their passports and two days later they are here in northern France, waiting to go to England. 'Under European freedom of movement laws, there is no way of stopping them.' New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is to launch a new Border Security Command which Labour hopes will reduce the flow of small boats across the Channel. The Border Security Commander, who will be given 'anti-terror-style' powers, is yet to be named. More than 13,500 migrants have arrived by dinghy this year, a record. Last year there had been 12,119 arrivals by now, and in 2022 some 13,149. Alec Baldwin and his legal team secured a win on the first day of arguments in his involuntary manslaughter trial over the shooting death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. The actor's lawyers were able to successfully convince the judge in the case that Baldwin's role as producer on the project is irrelevant and therefore cannot be entered as evidence. The manslaughter trial over the fatal shooting on the set of a Western movie begins Tuesday, with the selection of a jury who must decide if a 'Rust' crew member's death was his fault. The Hollywood A-lister was pointing a prop gun at Hutchins during a scene rehearsal when it fired a live round, killing her and wounding the movie's director. Baldwin, 66, says he did not know the gun was loaded and did not pull the trigger. Prosecutors say he acted recklessly on set and has repeatedly changed his story since the tragic events of October 2021. Alec Baldwin shocked the world by showing up at the first day of arguments in his involuntary manslaughter trial Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was 42 years old when she was shot dead on the set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico If found guilty, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison. It is not yet known if he plans to take the stand in his defense Multiple attempts by Baldwin's lawyers to have the case thrown out have failed. On Monday, the actor attended a final pre-trial hearing, taking detailed notes on a yellow pad that he stashed in a Barnes & Noble tote bag. Jury selection begins Tuesday, with opening arguments expected Wednesday and the case in the southwestern state of New Mexico due to last around 10 days. When proceedings begin, there will be more security there than usual, as a precaution for the high-profile trial. Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Denise Womack-Avila said there will be 'additional deputies' working around the courthouse and surrounding areas. While no specific numbers were given as to how much security may be beefed up, Baldwin's presence throughout the 10-day trial will necessitate the added security. Baldwin has had more than his fair share of contentious encounters with photographers and fans so added security will be essential. She added that both media personnel and others trying to get into the courthouse are not being allowed to camp outside. Due to the '30 Rock' actor's immense fame, and the rarity of on-set deaths, the story has garnered global attention while sharply polarizing opinion. Sympathetic observers view Baldwin as a victim who has been pursued by prosecutors in part due to his status as a celebrity and liberal darling. Others see the death as the easily avoidable result of a movie star's allegedly unpredictable and complacent behavior. Baldwin speaks with investigators following the shooting in October 2021 Hutchins's death occurred almost three years ago, during a rehearsal in a small chapel on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, on a sunny afternoon mid-way through filming 'To watch Mr Baldwin's conduct on the set of 'Rust' is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him,' special prosecutor Kari Morrissey has said. If found guilty, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison. It is not yet known if he plans to take the stand in his defense. Hutchins's death occurred almost three years ago, during a rehearsal in a small chapel on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, on a sunny afternoon mid-way through the filming of 'Rust.' Baldwin was practicing a scene in which his character, an aging outlaw who has been cornered in the church by two marshals, draws his Colt six-shooter. The actor says he was told the gun was safe, was instructed by Hutchins to aim the revolver in her direction, and did not pull the trigger. Live bullets are in any case banned from movie sets, and Baldwin has said it was not his responsibility as an actor to check. Filming of 'Rust' was halted by the tragedy, but completed last year on location in Montana. Earlier this year the film's armorer was convicted of manslaughter in the same courthouse, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her trial revealed arguments the prosecution will likely level against Baldwin. At the time, armorer Hannah Gutierrez's defense lawyers said Baldwin 'violated some of the most basic gun safety rules you can ever learn,' including never pointing a gun at a person unless you intend to fire it. 'Alec Baldwin's conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something that he's going to have to answer for,' responded Morrissey. 'Not with you and not today. That'll be with another jury, on another day.' That day has now arrived. On Monday, Baldwin -- dressed in a dark suit and striped tie, wearing thick-rimmed glasses and with his hair clipped short -- observed as lawyers settled various pre-trial matters. In a boost for the defense, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled prosecutors cannot argue Baldwin's additional role as a producer on 'Rust' makes him more culpable. But the case finally arriving in court is already a victory for prosecutors, who have fended off multiple attempts to have it dismissed. Among these, Baldwin's lawyers said damage to the gun caused by an FBI testing lab meant the actor could not get a fair trial. The FBI found the gun could not have fired without its trigger being pulled -- a conclusion the defense say they were robbed of a chance to disprove. The judge was not convinced, and ordered the trial to proceed. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and concealing a birth after a baby was found dead at a terraced home in Camden, as the infant's mother remains in hospital. The horrific discovery was made when officers were called to a property in Taviton Street, central London, after a woman who had just given birth turned up at hospital on Monday afternoon. A man was then arrested later that day on suspicion of murder, child neglect, and concealment of a birth and remains in custody this afternoon. The baby's mother is in a stable condition and inquiries into the circumstances of the tragic death are ongoing. The child's age is not yet known. Officers remain outside the house where the infant was found dead and a blue police tent has been erected in the road, where homes cost up to 3 million. Pictures have revealed the horrific scene where a baby was found dead on Taviton Street in Camden, where homes cost up to 3million A police cordon has been set up after a man was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody yesterday Police were initially alerted to the incident in the affluent area of the capital shortly after 2pm yesterday. Staff from the London Ambulance Service also attended the scene, with the child's mother now receiving care in hospital. Pictures from the scene show a forensics tent outside a property behind a police cordon. A bin was also covered up behind the red and white tape, with a police battering ram visible from the road. Taviton Street has been home to the University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies since 2005 and is situated in an affluent area of the capital with one two-bedroom flat priced at 6,500 per month according to Rightmove. It also features student halls, including Campbell House, located just a few doors down from the house involved in the incident. Famous British World War Two resistance agent Noor Inayat Khan also lived on the expensive street, which now boasts a row of several-storey Georgian townhouses. Ms Khan spied on Nazi figures under the codename Madeleine and was the first female wireless operator to be sent to help with the French resistance. Locals have expressed their horror at the incident, with one woman, who did not want to be named, remarking: 'It's the most awful thing. 'I just can't believe it. It really upsets me to even think about.' Meanwhile, a student who frequents one of the university buildings and also wished to remain anonymous, added: 'I'm really shocked as I've never heard of anything like that happen around here. 'I only really see students out and about.' Police remain on the scene. A Met Police statement confirmed an investigation had been launched. Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur, leading the investigation, said: 'This is a very complex and sensitive case. Pictured: A battering ram at the scene in North London where the baby, whose age has not been revealed, was found yesterday afternoon The road (seen) is home to a host of multi-million pound homes 'At this early stage, we continue to work alongside the NHS to ensure the mother of the baby receives the necessary care in hospital. 'My detectives from Central North Public Protection team are working on a range of enquires and we await the results of forensic examination before we can establish the full facts of the investigation.' Anyone who has information relating to this incident but has not yet spoken with officers should call 101, quoting 4897/8JUL. To remain 100 per cent anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. Suella Braverman has been widely condemned after she branded the LGBTQ+ Progress Pride flag as 'horrible' and 'monstrous'. The former home secretary hit out at 'far, far too many Tory politicians' who wanted the flag flown in Whitehall to show 'how liberal and progressive we are'. Mrs Braverman, who is expected to run for the Conservative leadership, moaned she was too enfeebled as a minister to get the flag removed from her own department. She blamed 'other Tory politicians' for her failure, while also delivering a wider attack on 'liberal Conservatives' who 'trashed' the party. Mrs Braverman's blistering speech in Washington DC stirred up a backlash within Conservative ranks, with some Tories vowing to thwart her leadership ambitions. They labelled her address to the National Conservatism conference as 'disgusting' and 'intentionally inflammatory' and pledged to stop her becoming party leader. Suella Braverman has been widely condemned after she branded the LGBTQ + Progress Pride flag as 'horrible' and 'monstrous' The former home secretary hit out at 'far, far too many Tory politicians' who wanted the flag flown in Whitehall to show 'how liberal and progressive we are' Mrs Braverman, who is expected to run for the Conservative leadership , moaned she was too enfeebled as a minister to get the Progress Pride flag removed from her own department Despite a fierce backlash, Mrs Braverman doubled down on her comments this morning as she posted on social media Mrs Braverman delivered her speech from across the Atlantic as most other MPs returned to work in the House of Commons following the general election. She has refused to rule out another leadership bid since Rishi Sunak announced he would resign as party leader after overseeing the Tories' worst-ever defeat. But it has been suggested her campaign is faltering as key allies abandon her. Mrs Braverman was re-elected as an MP in Fareham and Waterlooville last week with a 6,000-vote majority, but vast numbers of other Tories lost their seats. In her speech to the National Conservatism conference, she admitted the party had taken a 'good hiding' on Thursday night. She said: 'Our problem is us. Our problem is that the liberal Conservatives who trashed the Tory party think it was everyone's fault but their own. 'My party governed as liberals and we were defeated as liberals. But seemingly, as ever, it is Conservatives who are to blame.' Ms Braverman criticised the flying of the Progress Pride flag to 'show how liberal and progressive we are'. In a transcript of her remarks, as reported by ITV, she said: 'We Tory ministers, nominally in charge of the system, completely failed. 'The Progress flag flew over our buildings as if they were occupied territory.' She added: 'I don't say this to boast or curry favour with you as an audience, but to starkly confess my failure. 'I couldn't even get the flag of a horrible political campaign I disagreed with taken down from the roof of the Government department I was supposed to be in charge of. 'Again, some of you I suspect will be tempted to knowlingly say, 'the blob', but it wasn't. It was other Tory politicians.' In her address to the right-wing conference in the US, Mrs Braverman continued: 'Far, far too many Tory politicians agreed that the Progress flag must be flown. 'It shows how liberal and progressive we are, which is something many Conservatives want us to be. 'Well, the Progress flag says one, monstrous, thing to me: that I was a member of a Government that presided over the mutilation of children in our hospitals.' Responding to Mrs Braverman's speech, broadcaster Iain Dale - who was set to stand as a Conservative candidate in the general election before pulling out - said: 'What a disgusting speech. 'And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative Party. Not while I have a breath left in my body.' Johnny Luk, who was the defeated Tory general election candidate in Milton Keynes Central, said: 'This is an absolutely dreadful and intentionally inflammatory speech. I urge all Conservatives to condemn it.' John Bancroft, a Tory councillor in Cannock Chase, vowed: 'Suella Braverman will NEVER lead me! ' Former Labour culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said: 'Suella Braverman reveals the true face of the Tory right with her bitter fury about LGBT people. We exist. Get over it.' And Labour MP Stella Creasy said: 'Everyone has to stand up to this bile polluting our politics, not just Tories who get vote in contest, because equality benefits and liberates us all.' But, despite the backlash, Mrs Braverman doubled down on her comments this morning as she posted on X: 'The Progress flag represents the highly contested view that people, including children, can change their sex. I disagree with that view. 'Yet the Progress flag is flown on government buildings, by the police, NHS & armed forces. It's a symbol of our failure as Conservatives.' BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright died aged 69 from a ruptured ulcer in his stomach, his death certificate has now confirmed. The veteran radio broadcaster, one of the most familiar voices on the airwaves in the UK, died suddenly at his 2million home in London on February 12. Wright's death certificate has now been revealed by BBC News, which said it stated that his causes of death were acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer. Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the stomach, according to the NHS. A perforated ulcer is a rarer complication when the lining of the stomach splits open. A relative registered his death at Westminster Register Office last Wednesday, after the coroner's court confirmed on May 20 that no inquest would be held. BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright (pictured in May 2015) died from a ruptured ulcer in his stomach Wright, who died in February at the age of 69, is pictured in his recording studio in 1994 Wright (pictured in 1999) hosted Steve Wright's Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs The Metropolitan Police previously said that Wright's death in the Marylebone area of Central London 'was unexpected, but is not being treated as suspicious'. What is peritonitis and how dies it kill? DJ Steve Wright died from acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer, according to his death certificate. What is a peptic ulcer? Peptic ulcers are sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach or upper portion of the small intestine. If they occur on the inside of the stomach, they are known as gastric ulcers. The most common causes of peptic ulcers are infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are widely used to relieve pain or reduce inflammation. What are the symptoms? Some people with these ulcers experience no symptoms, while others suffer burning stomach pain, a feeling of fullness or bloating, burping, heartburn and nausea. A rare complication of stomach ulcers is when the lining of the stomach splits open, known as perforation. What is peritonitis? Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the abdomen. It can occur if an ulcer perforates. This can be very dangerous because the perforation enables bacteria in the stomach to escape, where it then infects the lining of the abdomen. Symptoms of peritonitis include pain in the stomach, a very high temperature, rapid heartbeat and being unable to pee or peeing much less than normal. Can peritonitis be treated? Peritonitis can range from mild to severe but it is usually always regarded as a medical emergency owing to the fact is often caused by infection. If the infection is not treated quickly, it can spread around the body and become life-threatening. Treatment usually involves intravenous antibiotics for any bacterial infection, plus medication for pain. Depending on the source of infection, people may also need surgery to remove infected organs or tissue. Advertisement Wright last appeared on air on February 11, one day before his death, hosting a pre-recorded special Valentine's Day edition of his Love Songs programme on Radio 2. The broadcaster joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday evening show before moving on to host Steve Wright In The Afternoon a year later until 1993. Wright then fronted the Radio 1 Breakfast show for a year until 1995, and completed a stint at commercial radio stations. He then returned to BBC Radio 2 in 1996 to host Steve Wright's Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs. In 1999, he recreated Steve Wright In The Afternoon every weekday on Radio 2, with celebrity interviews and entertaining trivia featured in his Factoids segment. Wright stepped down in September 2022, replaced by Scott Mills in a schedule shake-up, but Wright continued to present Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2. Last month, Michael Ball took over as the host of a new Sunday love songs show, which was retitled Love Songs With Michael Ball. Wright was made an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to radio. At the time of his death, Wright was hailed by former BBC radio colleagues Paul Gambaccini and Noel Edmonds as 'one of the greatest exponents of the art of radio'. The radio DJ was a fixture on BBC Radio 1 and then Radio 2 for more than four decades, attracting millions of listeners. His former colleagues and friends were among those to remember him for his dedication to radio and as a 'lovely kind man'. Appearing on ITVs This Morning, Gambaccini recalled how Wright would come into the studio hours before his show to ensure he was prepared. 'He knew what he was going to do (and) when and that's when the greats like Noel (Edmonds) and Chris Evans shone. They made it sound like it was off the cuff, but it was really well planned. 'And Steve stayed afterwards, this was his life. He gave us his life for 44 years, five days a week and then six with Love Songs.' Gambaccini also revealed the news was a shock to him as he last spoke to Wright two days before his death - and had sent him two emails the day after his death, not realising his friend had died. Wright took over Gambaccini's long-running BBC Radio 2 show Pick Of The Pops last year. Edmonds, who worked across BBC radio during his career, also described Wright as a 'brilliant communicator'. He told This Morning: 'We have lost one of the greatest exponents of the art of radio. And radio, if done well, is an art form. Wright first joined Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday evening show. He is pictured that year Wright married Cyndi Robinson but they divorced in 1999. They are pictured at their wedding 'And I know Steve has been described as a DJ, for me he wasn't a DJ, he's been described as a broadcaster, I actually don't like the term broadcasting because that rather suggests that you are shoving content out there, spray and pray and it might hit a listener or a viewer. 'That wasn't Steve's style. Steve was a brilliant communicator, and the thing about being a communicator is, you are born with it. You can't fake it. 'The microphone or the camera will find you if you are trying to be something you're not and I think the reason why so many people are genuinely distressed by this premature departure is that Steve was a friend because he could communicate.' She returned to King's Mill Hospital after being sent home with pain relief The mother Amelia Bradley was in unbearable pain and had been passing blood A baby boy died after being starved of oxygen during birth while midwives joked about eating 'too many Haribo's' and how much money they earned, an inquest heard. Theo Bradley was resuscitated following delays in his care at King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. His mother Amelia Bradley and her partner Luke Sherwood visited the hospital on September 13 last year, after she began experiencing contractions. She was later sent home at 11.20pm after being given pain relief, however she returned at midnight in unbearable pain and passing blood. But while on the ward, the young mother had to wait nearly 40 minutes before being seen - despite being the only person in triage at the time. Theo Bradley (pictured) died after being starved of oxygen as his mother Amelia had to wait 40 minutes to be seen by midwives An inquest heard that while Amelia was in unbearable agony and the only person in triage, midwives joked about Haribo's and their wages (baby Theo is pictured with his family) An inquest heard that numerous midwives were sitting around a desk when Amelia should have been assessed within 15 minutes of arriving at the hospital. The mother heard one of the midwives joke: 'I can't believe how many Haribo's I've had tonight.' When the NHS workers realised Amelia had not been assessed, a midwife admitted to making a comment about a co-worker who was working a bank shift earning more money. Nearly 40 minutes after arriving at the hospital Amelia and Theo were finally assessed. Theo was found to have a slow heartrate and a decision was made to deliver by category one caesarean - which is carried out when there is an immediate threat to the life of mother and/or baby. After Theo was born, resuscitation equipment on the unit was found to be missing and he was transferred to a specialist neonatal unit for treatment. However, his condition continued to deteriorate and he died the following day in his parents' arms surrounded by his family. A post-mortem examination found he died after suffering a serious brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen. An inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court reached a narrative conclusion this week. Nottinghamshire assistant coroner, Elizabeth Didcock, found neglect contributed to Theo's death. She concluded that if Theo had been delivered earlier, on balance, he would have survived. The inquest found Amelia should have been assessed 15 minutes after arriving at the ward After Theo was born, resuscitation equipment on the unit was found to be missing and he was then transferred to a specialist neonatal unit for treatment Grieving parents Amelia and Luke are now calling for lessons to be learned following the heart-breaking tragedy. Amelia, who has applied to start a midwifery degree starting in September, said: 'Following Theo's death, Luke and I discussed how we wouldn't ever want another family to have to go through what we're going through. 'I want to honour Theo's name and to use this awful experience to be an advocate for women and help deliver the best care and support that women should expect to receive. 'To lose Theo so soon after he came into the world is something we'll never get over. 'We'd been looking forward to becoming a family and to have that ripped away from us in such a cruel way was nothing short of traumatic. 'To this day, I still wake up and hope it's all been a nightmare, and then it hits me and I'm completely floored by grief. 'Knowing that our baby boy will never even celebrate his first birthday is so difficult to come to terms with. 'Hearing everything again at the inquest has been unbearable, but we're grateful to have some answers now. She added: 'We would do anything to bring Theo back, but we know that's not possible. 'All we can hope for now is that no other families have to go through the heartbreak we have. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.' A Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) report found there was no allocated lead in the maternity triage department, so there was no staff member assigning roles and managing the workload. Both present triage midwives did not take responsibility on who would see Amelia upon her return to hospital, causing unnecessary delays in her assessment. Evidence given by an obstetrician from the Trust at the inquest stated that Amelia's presenting symptoms should have prompted an immediate assessment, and that if she had been assessed promptly, it was more likely than not that Theo would have survived. The 29-minute delay in Theo receiving resuscitation medicines and blood products may also have impacted his outcome, the report added. Following the hearing, Laura Robinson, the family's lawyer, said: 'It's less than a year since Theo died, and losing him so suddenly and in such traumatic circumstances continues to have a profound effect on Amelia and Luke. 'The pain and grief they feel has been made worse by the questions they had around the events that unfolded in the lead up to their baby boy's death. Amelia has applied to a midwifery course and has called for lessons to be learnt following her heart-breaking tragedy 'While nothing will ever make up for what Amelia and Luke are going through, we're pleased to have at least been able to provide them with some of the answers they deserve. 'Sadly, however, the inquest has identified issues in the care prior to Theo's death, especially around communication, training among maternity staff and staff culture. 'Every second counts when delivering a baby in distress. It's now vital that lessons are learned to help improve maternity safety and prevent other mums and dads from suffering the way Amelia and Luke have. 'We'll continue to support them at this difficult time.' Phil Bolton, Chief Nurse at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our unreserved apology to the family of baby Theo at what we know has been and continues to be an incredibly difficult time for them. 'Only the individuals involved that night truly know why Theo and his family did not receive the care they needed and deserved, and I am clear that we have failed to live up to the high standards of care that our communities are right to expect from their local hospitals. 'We have gone through a thorough HR process following Theo's death to take decisive action and appropriate actions have been taken. 'We will take the Coroner's findings on board and will continue working with Theo's family to do all we can to prevent this from happening again.' Boeing to plead guilty to avoid criminal trial over 737 Max crashes Xinhua) 17:00, July 08, 2024 WASHINGTON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge related to the two crashes of its 737 Max jetliners, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Sunday. Under the deal, the U.S. planemaker has agreed to pay a fine of 243.6 million U.S. dollars to resolve the DOJ's investigation into two 737 MAX fatal crashes that killed 346 people. The decision follows the government's determination that Boeing violated an agreement shielding it from prosecution for over three years. Prosecutors accused the planemaker of deceiving regulators who approved the airplane and its pilot-training requirements. Last week, they gave Boeing the choice of either entering a guilty plea and paying a fine as part of its sentence or facing a trial on the felony charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. As part of the deal, Boeing also agreed to spend at least 455 million U.S. dollars over the next three years to boost safety and compliance programs. The DOJ said in a court filing that it and Boeing are working to document the full written plea agreement and file it in federal court in Texas by July 19. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Disparaging of Orban's shuttle diplomacy belies NATO's transition in purpose: China Daily editorial Chinadaily.com.cn) 10:27, July 09, 2024 President Xi Jinping meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Beijing on July 8. (Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described his Monday visit to Beijing as "Peace Mission 3.0". Orban and Chinese President Xi Jinping have demonstrated similar positions on a series of issues of global concern, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both having repeatedly called for a cease-fire and a negotiated end to it. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Ukraine crisis, the Hungarian leader has been a lone voice in the European Union. While everyone across the EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization seems to want to see the war end, they have very different visions about how peace should be accomplished and how it will be manifest. In contrast with the mainstream idea in Brussels of peace after the ultimate goal of permanently debilitating Russia has been attained, Orban has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and resisted financial and military aid to Ukraine as well as negotiations on EU membership for Ukraine. This is why the Hungarian leader's whirlwind visits have invited strong criticism from the EU and NATO members. The EU leaders have pointed out that he is not representing the bloc, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell saying in a statement that the Hungarian prime minister is not representing the EU in any form. The White House naturally has also been critical of his initiative, claiming it "will not advance the cause of peace and is counterproductive to promoting Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence". Orban's Beijing visit comes after a visit to Kyiv last Tuesday, trying to persuade Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a cease-fire. On Friday, he was in Moscow, talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin about "ways to a negotiated end" to the conflict. Unfortunately, his endeavors have been met with both Kyiv and Moscow reiterating their previous conditions for a cease-fire. As things stand at the moment, their positions remain "far apart", the Hungarian leader said after visiting the two capitals. Yet his efforts come just before the NATO summit in Washington that Orban will be attending, his country being a member of that organization. Any message he might be able to deliver of a willingness to ease those entrenched positions in the interest of peace will get straight to the source of the current hostilities in Europe NATO having allowed itself to be hijacked by the United States' aggressive national security strategy to overpower perceived challenges to what it regards as its god-given right to do as it likes. A signed article by Orban, published on the website of the US magazine Newsweek the day he visited Moscow, made clear his view on this, and why he is out of step with other European leaders. In it he said the alliance had forsaken its founding values, stating bluntly: "The agenda is no longer peace, it is war." It is natural that Orban should visit China as part of his diplomatic efforts. President Xi paid a state visit to Hungary in May and China is one of the few countries that is still able to talk to both of the antagonists in the conflict. It is also one of the very few that is consistent in its neutrality and its own efforts to mediate a cease-fire. In his meeting with Orban on Monday, President Xi again stressed that it is in the best interest of all parties to end the conflict as soon as possible and seek a political solution. Xi also repeated his call for the international community to create the conditions for the resumption of direct dialogue and negotiation between the two sides. Only when all major countries exert positive energy instead of negative energy will a cease-fire be attained, Xi said. That is something the NATO leaders should reflect on when they meet in Washington. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) French prosecutors have charged two dentists over the death of a patient last year, with media reports claiming one was British and had been banned from practising dentistry in the UK. Regional newspaper Sud Ouest on Monday reported that one of those indicted was a Paris-based British citizen 'disbarred for life in England for prescribing expensive treatments without medical reason'. The patient, 68-year-old Florence Taillade, decided to have dental implants fitted while visiting her children in the French region of Gironde from the overseas territory of Guadeloupe where she had retired. She underwent the procedure at a clinic in the commune of Gujan-Mestras on July 3, 2023, but suffered a cardiac arrest minutes after the dentist administered a local anaesthetic. Emergency services managed to resuscitate her and rushed her to Pellegrin Hospital in the city of Bordeaux, but she was declared brain dead and her family ultimately agreed to turn off her life support. Investigators probed the death after Ms Taillade's family decided to file a complaint for involuntary manslaughter late last year, with her son Guillaume declaring: 'You can't go to the dentist wondering if you're going to come out alive or not.' Florence Taillade, 68, suffered a cardiac arrest minutes into a dental operation last July French prosecutors have charged two dentists over Ms Taillade's death Ms Taillade's body was cremated without a post-mortem examination on July 10, 2023 - less than a week after her death in a hospital bed in Bordeaux. But they say the hospital suggested the patient's cardiorespiratory arrest could have been caused by an overdose of local anaesthetic at the start of the dental procedure, given she was deemed to be a healthy 68-year-old. The family also claimed that the dental practice gave very little information when details of the procedure were requested by the family, nor did they provide a dose of the anaesthetic administered. Florence's son told French outlet RTL: 'We had no contact with (the dentists), neither the next day nor the following days. There was no empathy.' A lawyer for the family also said: 'There is nothing at all (from the dentists) on the incident. Not a word of apology, no explanation.' The Bordeaux prosecutor's office opened an investigation into the dental practice in June after reviewing the complaint that placed a 'direct link' between Ms Taillade's death and 'her medical and dental care'. Authorities yesterday charged one of the dentists with involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist a person in danger, and banned them from leaving France or practising dentistry. A second dentist - the owner of the clinic - and their assistant were charged with failing to assist the patient, and also barred from leaving the country. It was not immediately clear which one was British. A triumphant Keir Starmer posed with his haul of Scottish Labour MPs today as the 'Red' Parliament returns. The new PM hosted his 37 successful candidates in Downing Street, hours before the House of Commons sits for the first time since the election rout. He also entertained a gaggle of the party's mayors, telling them that he wants to create even more. The dramatic change in fortunes will be laid bare in the chamber, with 411 Labour MPs squeezing on to the government benches while the paltry 121 Tories sit alongside the 72 Lib Dems. Nigel Farage has also arrived at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, vowing to target Labour voters and be a thorn in the side of the premier. A triumphant Keir Starmer posed with his haul of Scottish Labour MPs today as the 'Red' Parliament returns Sir Keir and Angela Rayner (centre) also entertained a gaggle of the party's mayors, telling them that he wants to create even more. The sole Tory was Tees mayor Ben Houchen (second from right) London mayor Sadiq Khan (right) said Sir Keir discussed 'other parts of the country where there could be mayors' during a meeting with regional leaders at Downing Street. Andy Burnham (left) was also there The new cohort of 643 MPs will arrange themselves on the green benches at 2.30pm, when they will elect a Speaker. Incumbent Sir Lindsay Hoyle will be hoping to be returned to the chair unopposed. Sir Keir will deliver his first words at the despatch box as PM, while Rishi Sunak will have to surface after his election drubbing. The MPs will then be sworn in over the coming days ahead of Parliament's State Opening on Wednesday July 17. They will promise to 'be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law'. Sinn Fein which won seven seats across Northern Ireland, including two in Belfast, have a long-standing policy of abstentionism so do not take their seats in Westminster. Before they elect a Speaker, Black Rod Sarah Clarke must summon MPs to the House of Lords. She will cross through Central Lobby to fetch Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, and walk him to the Lords, where a Royal Commission will be read directing MPs to choose their speaker. Sir Edward is the longest continuously serving MP, having had a seat in the Commons since 1983 the year when Margaret Thatcher won a 144-seat majority and when Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown first became MPs. He must preside over the selection. Sir Lindsay is expected to put himself forward as Speaker, having served in the role since 2019 and contested the Chorley, Lancashire, without a party affiliation. It is up to MPs to decide whether he will stay on in the role. If Sir Lindsay is allowed to remain in post, MPs will drag him to the Speaker's Chair to serve in the once-perilous role, seven speakers were executed by beheading between 1394 and 1535, according to Parliament records. Sir Lindsay is expected to thank his colleagues, and senior politicians may also speak to congratulate him, including Sir Keir. Nigel Farage has also arrived at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, vowing to target Labour voters and be a thorn in the side of the premier Swearing in begins the same afternoon, led by the Speaker, Father of the House Sir Edward, then members of the Sir Keir's Cabinet and Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak's shadow cabinet. Lawmaking and debates in the House of Commons remain on hold until after the formal State Opening of Parliament, where the King will lay out the government's legislative agenda from the Sovereign's Throne in the House of Lords. London mayor Sadiq Khan said Sir Keir discussed 'other parts of the country where there could be mayors' during a meeting with regional leaders at Downing Street. Mr Khan said after the meeting: 'What I want other parts of the country who have not got a mayor to know is that having a mayor can be a real game changer.' The Mayor of London added: 'We heard this morning, the Prime Minister talking about other parts of the country where there could be mayors. 'That brings with it not just additional powers, but also additional resources as well.' returns on Tuesday with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench for the first time in more than a decade. A two-year-old Georgia boy has died after accidentally shooting himself in a Walmart parking lot while his parents shopped for fireworks, it has emerged. Nakyzi Odums was alone in a vehicle parked at the superstore in Douglas on July 3 as his parents shopped at a stand selling pyrotechnics just feet away, witnesses told WALB. Bystanders recalled hearing a gunshot before seeing his parents, identified by family as Sam Odums and Laileighauna Parks, dashed back to the car and discovered their son had shot himself in the chest. The toddler was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to a trauma center in Jacksonville, Florida, where police say he died on Saturday afternoon. Officers have launched an investigation into Nakyzi's death and are working to determine how he got ahold of the gun. Nakyzi Odums, 2, (center) died in a hospital on Saturday after having accidentally shot himself in the chest in a Walmart parking lot on July 3. The toddler is pictured his parents Sam Odums (left) and Laileighauna Parks (right) Nakyzi Odums was alone in a vehicle parked at the superstore in Douglas on July 3 as his parents shopped at a stand selling pyrotechnics (pictured) that was located just feet away Witnesses said Nakyzi had been sitting in the front seat of the car while his parents shopped at the fireworks stand. It is suspected that the gun may have been in the side of the car door when he found it, the TV station reported. Can you carry a gun inside your car in Georgia? Georgia law generally allows anyone who is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm to carry a gun on their person or inside a motor vehicle. State law also allows 'lawful weapons carriers' to in a passenger vehicle, except when they are on private property and subject to the owners' restrictions. Licensed weapons holders can have a gun in a vehicle that is parked in a lot at a firearm-free area, such as a government public, school or place of worship. However, gun must be locked in the vehicle's glove compartment, in a closed container or a firearms rack. It is illegal for an adult to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly provide a minor with a firearm, but it is not expressly illegal to 'negligently or recklessly' leave unsecured guns in a location that is accessible to unsupervised minors. Source: Giffords Law Center Advertisement The Douglas Police Department confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Saturday, issuing their condolences to his loves ones. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,' the department wrote. 'Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.' It is unclear if Odums or Parks will face charges in the incident and Douglas Police Department told DailyMail.com there is no update to the case at this time. Several other cases in which a Georgia child has accidentally shot themself have resulted in charges against the parents, including for 'reckless conduct' and 'child cruelty'. Georgia law also generally allows anyone who is a 'lawful weapons carrier' to carry a loaded gun in their vehicle. But Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette says that weapon holders should take precautions to keep children safe. Pruette previously told WALB: 'You're allowed to have a gun in the car, but when there's a child involved, you need to make sure that the gun is secure so that the child doesn't have access to it.' It is illegal for an adult to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly provide a minor with a firearm, except in specific situations such as a hunting with a valid license; attending a hunter education course or a firearms safety course; engaging in competition that uses weapons; or for use on their parent or grandparents' property, with consent of their legal guardian. However, state law does not otherwise expressly make it illegal for an adult to 'negligently or recklessly' leave unsecured guns in a place that is accessible to unsupervised minors. Bystanders recalled hearing a gunshot before seeing his parents dash back to the car and discover that Nakyzi had shot himself. Pictured is the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter in Douglas, Georgia Nakyzi's grandmother has created a GoFundMe page to help the toddler's parents pay for his burial. 'It is with great sadness that we inform you of the loss of our beautiful Nakyzi Odums,' the crowdfunder reads. 'He was definitely the light and love for his parents Sam Odums and Laileighauna Parks. He smiled brightly, laughed wholeheartedly, loved unconditionally'. The funds will also be used to 'allow [his] mom and dad time to grieve properly'. Rebecca Judd has once again taken aim at the Victorian authorities after a teenager charged over a fatal car crash skipped bail. Police have launched a manhunt for the 17-year-old, who they allege was behind the wheel of a stolen Jeep Cherokee that collided with a Toyota Corolla, killing trainee doctor William Taylor, 28, as he travelled home from football training. The Jeep hit speeds of 100km/h as it hurtled through the inner-Melbourne suburb of Burwood on July 2 moments before the crash, police said. On her Instagram account, Judd - the wife of retired AFL champion Chris Judd, made a succinct comment on the screenshot of a news report that the teen had breached his bail conditions and was on the run. 'This is outrageous,' she posted. The glamorous WAG has repeatedly criticised the Victorian government's handling of crime. In April, she responded to multiple reports of youth running amok in Melbourne by posting: 'And so it goes on... and on...'. She also responded to the news of a violent home invasion that left a homeowner in hospital from the upmarket suburb of Beaumaris, a stone's throw from Judd's $7.3million Brighton mansion. AFL WAG Rebecca Judd has renewed her criticism of the Victorian government after a teen charged over a fatal crash skipped bail Bec Judd didn't mince her words on Tuesday night after she read the news 'And another... So sorry for the victim. I know it's typical to say this but the system is well and truly obliterated,' Judd wrote. Judd first posted her concerns about feeling safe in Brighton in 2022 and has since leapt on chances to remind people about Victoria's decade-high surge in youth-related crime. 'Pretty sure someone warned the government about this in 2022 and was rubbished,' she said after March stats showed a spike in Victorian burglaries. 'They didn't care then and they don't care now. This is a Vic wide issue and not just Bayside.' William Taylor, 28, died when an allegedly stolen and speeding Jeep crashed into his Toyota in the Melbourne inner suburb of Burwood Jacinta Allan's Labor government has recently toughened bail laws, which critics claimed were previously geared towards releasing alleged young offenders. Acting Premier Ben Carroll was forced to deny last week the courts were going 'too soft' on young alleged offenders. However, in mixed messaging, Victoria's Police Minister Anthony Carbines laid some of the blame on the courts for granting bail to repeat offenders. 'It is incumbent on the courts to make sure that repeat serious offenders who are on bail have that bail revoked,' Mr Carbines said. 'That is the expectation of the government, the parliament and the people of Victoria.' In granting bail to the teenager now on the run, the judge said he had stable accommodation with his mother, was attending a Melbourne private school and was not on bail at the time of the alleged offending. The judge found any risk the boy posed could be reduced through conditions, including a curfew. Police have launched a manhunt for the 17-year-old, who they allege was behind the wheel of a stolen Jeep Cherokee that collided with Dr Taylor's Toyota Corolla Victoria Police confirmed they were searching for the teen. 'The teenager has failed to comply with his bail conditions and his whereabouts are unknown,' a statement read. Police close to the investigation were furious to learn that the alleged driver had skipped bail. They added that the teen won't be punished for breaching bail once they're tracked down. 'It's an absolute joke,' the source told the Herald Sun. 'It's an insult to the officers who work so hard to apprehend offenders. What motivation do they have to chase these people when it's an endless cycle in and out of courts?' Two 15-year-old girls were also charged with car theft and three other males remain wanted over the fatal collision. Spanish sunbed wars look to have escalated with tourists now battling for the best umbrella on the beach - by dashing out at the crack of dawn to mark their territory over prime shoreline parasols. According to locals in Majorca, many foreign holidaymakers are marking their territory in the early morning, reserving their straw-covered beach umbrellas on the first row, just inches from the sea. Over the weekend, more than a dozen parasols were bagged at dawn near a leading hotel in Playa de Palma - an area popular with Germans. Towels were seen hanging from almost all the poles, many of them belonging to nearby resorts. According to Ultimahora.es, holidaymakers are reserving the best spots early in the morning so they can then go off and enjoy their breakfast without missing out on the chance to grab a good spot by the sea. Tourists enjoy a sunny day at the Playa de Palma beach in Mallorca. According to locals on the Spanish island, many foreign holidaymakers are marking their territory in the early morning, with dozens of parasols being taken way before the crowds arrive People sunbathe on Playa de Palma beach in Mallorca, Spain Palma city council provides the rental service for sun loungers and parasols on the beach through an external company between the hours of 10am and 7pm, with a daily fee. A German resident who has lived in Playa de Palma for years said: 'You don't just see this here. You can even find it all over Playa de Palma.' Another called the sun bed wars a 'totally bad habit'. 'Securing sun loungers with a towel in the early morning is absolutely inconsiderate and absolutely not acceptable. If no one blocks sun loungers with towels in the morning, everyone can have one. After all, we all want the same thing: a relaxing holiday.' Sun lounger wars are not uncommon in Spain, but they tend to take place on pool-sides rather than beaches. Just last month, a British tourist blasted two men for hogging five sunbeds between them at a Benidorm resort. Paul Hitchcock, who regularly holidays in Benidorm, shared a picture of two sunseekers at his hotel who had stacked up multiple deckchairs - seemingly preventing other holidaymakers from bagging a spot. 'Two people, five sunbeds, and they are not the only ones,' he told fellow tourists, who slammed what they called the men's 'selfish' sunbathing etiquette. Reactions to the latest beach-side antics come as anti-tourism protests sweep Spain, with locals demanding tighter controls on mass tourism. Just this weekend, tourists dining in the Spanish city of Barcelona were targeted with water guns by anti-tourism protestors. Under the slogan 'Enough! Let's put limits on tourism', some 2,800 people - according to police - marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit every year. Protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Chants of 'Tourists out of our neighbourhood' rang out as some stopped in front of the entrances to hotels. Barcelona's rising cost of housing, up 68 percent in the past decade, is one of the main issues for the movement, along with the effects of tourism on local commerce and working conditions in the city of 1.6 million inhabitants. The island of Majorca has also seen locals protest about tourist saturation. Around 10,000 locals took to the streets of Palma, Majorca's capital, at the end of May, where they were heard chanting 'tourists go home', as they demanded curbs on mass tourism. Rwanda's government has dismissed suggestions it could hand back any of the 290million committed to the now-junked migrant deportation deal with Britain. The African country's administration insisted it had 'fully upheld its side' of the agreement 'including with regard to finances'. In one of his first acts as PM, Sir Keir Starmer branded the UK's deal with Kigali 'dead and buried' as he confirmed he was scrapping the Tory scheme. This was despite Conservative leader Rishi Sunak having pointed to signs the Rwanda plan was already working as a deterrent. It had been speculated the new Labour Government could try and recoup some of the millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash already earmarked for Kigali. But the Rwandan government has now played down the prospect of a refund, despite no migrants ever being deported from the UK to Africa under the scheme. In one of his first acts as PM, Sir Keir Starmer branded the UK's deal with Kigali 'dead and buried' as he confirmed he was scrapping the Tory scheme Former home secretary James Cleverly pictured with Rwandan foreign minister Vincent Biruta in December last year Mr Cleverly's Tory predecessor, Suella Braverman, visited a planned housing development for migrants in Kigali in March last year Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Doris Uwicyeza, from the Rwandan ministry of justice, told the BBC World Service: 'We are under no obligation to provide any refund. We will remain in constant discussions. 'However, it is understood that there is no obligation on either side to request or receive a refund.' A Rwandan government spokesperson added: 'Rwanda takes note of the intention of the UK Government to terminate the Migration and Economic Development Partnership Agreement, as provided for under the terms of the treaty passed by both our parliaments. 'This partnership was initiated by the government of the UK in order to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK - a problem of the UK, not Rwanda. 'Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country.' Labour committed to scrapping the Rwanda scheme in its winning general election manifesto, while the Tories had pledged a 'regular rhythm of flights every month' to the African country in their own election offering. Earlier this year, Mr Sunak said migrants travelling to Ireland after arriving in the UK on small boats was a sign the Rwanda scheme was already working as a deterrent. His government had refused to say how much more money on top of 290 million already committed the UK had agreed to pay Rwanda as part of the deal. Yvette Cooper, the new Home Secretary, yesterday hinted Labour would recoup some of the taxpayers' cash that had already been spent on the scheme. She told LBC radio: 'We are auditing the whole scheme It has clearly been a complete con.' Three members of Columbia University's hierarchy have been 'permanently removed' from their roles after a leaked text exchange showed them engaging in a conversation that 'touched on ancient anti-Semitic tropes.' The texting occurred during a meeting in May at the Ivy League school in which Jewish students described the anti-Semitism that they were experiencing on campus in the wake of Hamas' brutal assault on Israel on October 7. The trio were put on leave, according to a letter from Columbia President Minouche Shafik and University Provost Angela Olinto that was sent to members of the school community in Monday. The three in question are former Associate Dean for Student and Family Support Matthew Patashnick, Vice Dean and Chief Administrative Officers Susan Chang-Kim and former Dean of Undergraduate Student Life Cristen Kromm. The existence of the exchange was first reported by the conservative outlet Washington Free Beacon in June. The meeting was titled Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future. It took place on May 31. Portions of the text messages sent by the three deans that were released by congress last week The text messages that have since been publicly released include Chang-Kim's words: 'Comes from such a place of privilege hard to hear the woe is me, we need to huddle at the Kraft center. Huh??' Kromm responds: 'Amazing what $$$$ can do,' while talking about an op-ed that was published in the school's Columbia Spectator newspaper. The messages were later published as part of an investigation by the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Dean of Columbia College Josef Sorett was also on the text thread but did not participate as much. 'This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,' Shafik told the school's community. 'Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community that is antithetical to our University's values and the standards we must uphold in our community.' Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx told the Columbia Spectator that the removal of the three in question does not go far enough as ''elite" institutions are rotting away and antisemitism is as rampant as ever. Students deserve better.' Deans Susan Chang-Kim, (left), Cristen Kromm (center), and Matthew Pataschnick (right) have been placed on leave after their texts were exposed The emergence of the texts has sparked outrage on the campus, which was rocked by months-long anti-Israel protests in the wake of its war with Hamas The school became beset with encampments of protesters demanding the school cut ties with Israel In the next academic year, staff will undergo antisemitism training, Shafik wrote in her letter. 'While this disturbing incident has presented us challenges as a community, Columbia's leadership team recognizes this as an important moment to implement changes that will build a stronger institution as a result,' the embattled president said. 'I know that you all share this commitment.' An open letter from alumni, students and staff at Columbia demanding action be taken against the officials has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures. Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett, whose text messages were among those published by the Free Beacon, will continue to lead the college after apologizing and committing to working to fix damage caused by the text exchanges, Olinto said. He and his administration will be expected to 'deliver concrete change in combating antisemitism and discrimination and creating a fully inclusive environment,' Olinto wrote. 'While not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind antisemitic tropes,' Sorett said in a letter Monday to the Columbia College community. 'Any language that demeans members of our community, or divides us from one another, is simply unacceptable.''I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead- and, that I was part of any of the exchanges, and I pledge to spearhead the change we need to ensure this never happens again,' Sorett continued. He said 'the loss of trust and the pain this incident has caused, particularly to the Jewish members of our community, must be fully repaired.' Just a month before this text message conversation, Columbia found itself at the epicenter of national protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The protesters had seized the administration building, known as Hamilton Hall before being forcefully removed by the NYPD. At that time, Republican lawmakers in the Big Apple issued a letter demanding that Shafik resign as president, When she arrived at Columbia last year, Shafik was the first woman to take on the role of president and one of several women newly appointed to take the reins at Ivy League institutions. Her experience in finance, rather than academia, puts her in line with more and more university leaders who come from nonfaculty backgrounds. After obtaining her master's degree at the London School of Economics, she went on to earn a doctorate at Oxford University. She rose through the ranks at the World Bank, eventually becoming the bank's youngest-ever vice president. Shafik also worked at the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, followed by stints at the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England, before taking over the leadership of the London School of Economics. Bob's Burgers and Anchorman actor Jay Johnston faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to interfering with police officers during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Johnston, 55, who voiced pizzeria owner Jimmy Pesto in the popular cartoon, was arrested last June on charges stemming from the US Capitol riot. Video footage captured Johnston, of Los Angeles, pushing against police and helping rioters who attacked officers guarding an entrance to the Capitol in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. The evidence also says that the actor held a stolen police shield over his head and passed it to other rioters during the attack. Johnston faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison after pleading guilty to felony civil disorder on Monday. His sentencing is scheduled for October 7. Comedy actor Jay Johnston, 55, faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to interfering with police officers during the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol. He is pictured during the riot Johnston, who was arrested last June, is one of more than 1,400 people charged with federal crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. He pleaded guilty on Monday to interfering with police officers trying to protect the rom a mob's attack. US District Judge Carl Nichols is scheduled to issue his sentence in October. The estimated sentencing guidelines for Johnston recommend a prison term ranging from eight to 14 months, but the judge isn't bound by that term of his plea agreement with prosecutors. Johnston's attorney, Stanley Woodward, told his client not to comment to reporters as they left the courtroom on Monday. The actor was recorded pushing against police and helping rioters who attacked officers guarding an entrance to the Capitol in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace, according to an FBI agent's evidence. Johnston 'was close to the entrance to the tunnel, turned back and signaled for other rioters to come towards the entrance,' the affidavit states. A court filing accompanying Johnston's plea agreement says he used his cellphone to record rioters as they broke through barricades and sent police officers retreating. Facing the crowd on the Lower West Terrace, Johnston pounded his fist together and pointed. Another rioter handed him a bottle of water, which he used to help others flush out chemicals from their eyes. After passing the stolen shield, Johnson joined other rioters in collectively pushing against police officers guarding the tunnel entrance. He left the tunnel minutes later, according to the agreement signed by Johnston. Three current or former associates of Johnston identified him as a riot suspect from photos that the FBI published online, according to the agent. The FBI said one of those associates provided investigators with a text message in which Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on Jan. 6. 'The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn't. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed and I found it quite untastic,' Johnston wrote, according to the FBI. Johnston was the voice of the character Jimmy Pesto on Fox's Bob's Burgers. The Daily Beast reported in 2021 that Johnston was 'banned' from the animated show after the Capitol attack. Johnston appeared on Mr. Show with Bob and David, an HBO sketch comedy series that starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. His credits also include small parts on the television show Arrested Development and in the movie Anchorman, starring Will Ferrell. Johnston (second from left) appeared in the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Also on Monday, a Texas woman pleaded guilty to assaulting a Metropolitan Police Department officer during the Jan. 6 riot. Video captured Dana Jean Bell cursing at officers inside the Capitol and grabbing an officer's baton, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. Bell, 65, of Princeton, Texas, also was captured on video assaulting a local television journalist outside the Capitol that day. The FBI affidavit says Bell appeared to reach out and try to push or grab the journalist, who worked for the Fox affiliate in Washington, DC. Bell faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. US District Judge Timothy Kelly is scheduled to sentence her on Oct. 17. Her estimated sentencing guidelines recommend a term of imprisonment ranging from two years to two years and six months. Bell and her attorney, Joe Shearin, declined to comment as they left the courtroom. The Supreme Court ruled in June that there are limits on charging Capitol rioters with obstruction. The court's ruling makes it harder for Jan. 6 defendants to be charged with obstructing an official proceeding - which carries up to 20 years in prison - and could upend hundreds of cases. Officials have said the ruling would not have an immediate effect on the majority of the more than 1,000 convictions already secured by prosecutors. The government, however, has less than a half-and-a-half to charge hundreds of rioters who have been identified by online sleuths but not yet arrested by the FBI before the statue of limitations expires in 2026. The family of a man filmed dancing before putting a lit firework atop his head have revealed his upsetting last words. Allen Ray McGrew, 41, rarely drank, they said - as circulating video continues to show the final moments of his life in a degrading light. He's seen smoking a cigarette - and dancing - to bring in The Fourth, while wearing an Uncle Sam outfit and top hat while visibly inebriated. The dad-of-one proceeded to put a large firework on top of his hat that exploded and caused head injuries that killed him instantly. He was pronounced dead on the scene, outside the family's home in South Carolina. His wife, Paige McGrew, recently revealed to The New York Post how just before the incident, he hugged her and his son to tell them, 'You are my rock, and you are my heart.' The family of Allen Ray McGrew - seen here with son Hunter - have revealed his last words The South Carolina man was filmed dancing before putting a lit firework atop his head on July Fourth - a decision that turned out to be fatal 'We're traumatized,' his son, Hunter McGrew, 20, added two days after the widely seen incident. 'He loved this country and looked forward to celebrating every year,' stepmom Paige continued. Both said the father had been celebrating in an 'all-out' fashion because Hunter recently got engaged. He and Paige recently wed as well, marrying last year after dating since 2017, she said. Photos on her social media show the pair wearing matching 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.' shirts, while pictures on his show him and Hunter through the years. The pair appeared exceedingly close, as neighbors in the town of Summerville remembered McGrew as 'the nicest guy' on the block. There, on Thursday, a block party was being held in honor of the holiday, during which the McGrews and other residents let off fireworks while enjoying some drinks. The occasion was special, however, due to Hunter's recent engagement, and Allen seemed set on celebrating his soon-to-be daughter-in-law's induction into the family with a bit of a show. His wife Paige recently revealed how just before the incident, he hugged her and his son to tell them, 'You are my rock, and you are my heart' The incident happened outside the family home in Summerville Thursday, during a block party meant to ring not only the holiday, but his son's recent engagement Dressed in parotitic garb complete with a top hat adorned with the flag's characteristic stars and stripes, he placed the firework on his head while doing a bit of a jig in an attempt to 'show off', Paige said Dressed in parotitic garb complete with a top hat adorned with the flag's characteristic stars and stripes, he placed the firework on his head while doing a bit of a jig in an attempt to to 'show off,' Paige said following the incident Thursday. The HVAC worker was found by first-responders laying dead at the scene from his subsequent head injuries, as the party was brought to an abrupt end. The local coroner's office said that the exploding device had caused massive head trauma that killed McGrew instantly, and in an interview with the Post and Courier, his wife said she had been in the midst of telling him to stop playing with the firework when it erupted and he collapsed. 'He was holding this firework over his top hat,' she told the outlet, as footage of the incident continues to circulate online. 'I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground. I didnt realize he had already lit it.' She added Saturday how her husband during his favorite holiday, after telling the Post and Courier earlier in the week: 'He was a patriot. 'He was proud of his son,' she continued. 'And he was excited to have a new daughter-in-law. He was living his best life last night.' The decision brought the party - as well as the life of the beloved father of one - to an abrupt end 'He was proud of his son,' Paige said of the dad's final display. 'And he was excited to have a new daughter-in-law. He was living his best life last night' Meanwhile, the clip continues to amass millions of views online - troubling the family due to its depiction of the family man as a 'drunken fool' The Dorchester County Sheriffs Office and Dorchester County Coroners Office are investigating the incident, as the family said they are troubled by the viral footage. They told the Post it falsely portrays him as a 'drunken fool' - a portrayal that cannot be further from the truth. In reality, he was their rock - the same compliment he graced them in his final moments. Meanwhile, the clip continues to amass millions of views online, despite its sensitive nature. A precious four-month-old baby girl died from heat exposure after an outing on an Arizona lake as large swathes of the US continue to bake in extreme temperatures. Tributes have poured in for Tanna Rae Wroblewski who lost consciousness Friday while on a boat with her family on Lake Havasu, around three hours outside of Phoenix. The family quickly started CPR on the infant before the Lake Havasu City Fire Department took over. Tanna was taken to Havasu Regional Medical Center before she was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital where she later died, just days before she turned four-months-old. 'I will never understand why you had to leave us, you were just too perfect. I love you endlessly and I will look for you everywhere angel,' Tanna's mother, Alyssa Wroblewski, said. Four-month-old Tanna Rae Wroblewski tragically died on Friday after she lost consciousness while on a boat in Lake Havasu, Arizona The family quickly started CPR on the infant before the Lake Havasu City Fire Department took over. (pictured: Tanna with her mother, father and older sister on her first boat day in May) Although her cause of death has not yet been released, officials believe it was brought on by a heat-related illness. The little girl's family told DailyMail.com they have no idea what caused Tanna's death and it was just a 'regular, happy day as a family.' Tanna was born on March 8 and she was a younger sister to her sibling Ray, according to Alyssa's Facebook. A GoFundMe page was created to help support the baby's family during this challenging time. When she was taken to the second hospital, staff 'did everything in their power to revive her,' but Tanna did not make it, the page said. As of Tuesday morning, the donation page raised more than $44,000 to help the heartbroken family. A sweltering heat wave has taken over the US, causing many to feel ill and others to die. Arizona, a state known for its extremely hot weather, recently hit a new daily record for the warmest low temperature of 92 degrees Fahrenheit, CNN reported. In California, a motorcyclist died in Death Valley from heat exposure on Saturday. The high temperature that day reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit, according to data. When she was taken to the second hospital, staff 'did everything in their power to revive her' On Monday, Alyssa posted heartbreaking photos of her and her husband taking in their final moments with their baby girl in the hospital Prior to the tragic loss, Tanna joined her family on many boat trips, going out on the water for the first time at just seven weeks' old. 'Enjoying the things we love with our girls makes it that much more special,' Alyssa said in a post from May as they posed for family pictures near the lake. On Monday, Alyssa posted heartbreaking photos of her and her husband taking in their final moments with their baby girl in the hospital. She wrote: 'July 5, 2024 our precious girl gave us her last smiles and we gave her our last kisses. Please visit us baby girl.' Later that day, on what would have been Tanna's four-month-old birthday, her mother shared adorable pictures of her smiling in a bathing suit by the lake. 'These are the last photos I took of you before you left us. Your smile radiated joy. 'I always said she is my ANGEL she is my PEACE. I never thought there would be a day in my life without you. You made our family whole,' Alyssa said. Although her cause of death has not yet been released, officials believe it was brought on by a heat-related illness. (pictured: Tanna being held by her mother and father in the hospital) Tanna was born on March 8 to her mother and father, Matthew Wroblewski. She was their second child and a sister to her sibling Ray Her mother said that explaining Tanna's death to her older sister has been challenging, and that Ray has laid out the baby's favorite toys in her crib the past few nights. 'We love you and would give anything to have you here with us. We love you forever Tanny,' she added. Detectives are conducting an investigation into the child's sudden death, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told 12News. On June 13, another young baby died after being left in the back of a hot car just two months after she was taken home by her adoptive parents. Diana Sofia Aleman Roman was found unresponsive in the SUV outside her parents' home in Santee, San Diego, about 12.20am. On June 13, Diana Sofia Aleman Roman was found unresponsive in the SUV outside her adoptive parents' home in Santee, San Diego. (pictured: Diana with one of her parents) A four-year-old Texas girl died on Thursday after she was forgotten inside a car by her caregivers for around an hour. One of the adults soon called 911 after noticing the toddle was missing 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. A four-year-old Texas girl died on Thursday after she was forgotten inside a car by her caregivers for around an hour. Officials said that the girl was with two women and a group of children running errands in a Chevy pickup truck the entire day. 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. An elderly evangelical pastor has allegedly assaulted his wife on an airplane - all because she got upgraded to first class and he didn't. Roger Allan Holmberg Sr., 75, is facing federal charges following the disturbing incident on July 2 aboard Alaska Airlines flight 275 from Seattle to Anchorage. According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Independent, Holmberg verbally abused his spouse Patti and even flipped her off in front of horrified witnesses before things turned physical. The couple, married for just 18 months following the death of Holmberg's previous wife, were traveling to Alaska from their home in Virginia for a meeting 'related to their ministry'. But their trip took a turbulent turn when Holmberg discovered 59-year-old Patti had been upgraded to first class. Roger Allan Holmberg Sr (pictured), 75, is facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting his wife on July 2 aboard Alaska Airlines flight 275 from Seattle to Anchorage Holmberg (right) reportedly verbally abused his spouse Patti (left) and even flipped her off in front of horrified witnesses before things turned physical. An Alaska Airlines spokesperson confirmed that Holmberg 'has been banned from our flights' Witnesses, including an off-duty police officer reported three separate confrontations during the 3.5-hour flight. First, Holmberg stormed up to first class, demanding: 'How the hell did you get the upgrade?' 'I'm [a] gold point member,' Holmberg's wife replied. 'Don't speak to me like that.' He returned and told Patti to read something on his phone before 'giving her the finger' Then in the final incident, Holmberg allegedly 'struck the top of victim's head with his hand.' The couple (pictured), married for just 18 months following the death of Holmberg's previous wife, were traveling to Alaska from their home in Virginia for a meeting 'related to their ministry' The pastor's wife (right) later revealed to authorities that this wasn't the first time she had suffered abuse at his hands. Holmberg (left) was arrested upon landing in Anchorage and is set to appear in court on Monday. If convicted, he faces up to a year behind bars The off-duty police officer intervened, threatening to put Holmberg in handcuffs if he caused any further disturbances. The pastor's wife later revealed to authorities that this wasn't the first time she had suffered abuse at his hands. Patti claimed Holmberg had previously broken her finger during a confrontation last September. When questioned by the FBI, Holmberg attempted to downplay the incident, insisting he merely 'tapped his wife on the head in passing to get her attention'. He also claimed his wife was 'disrespectful' and had 'anger issues', even accusing her of grabbing his genitals 'with such force that he was in pain' in the past. Holmberg was arrested upon landing in Anchorage and is set to appear in court on Monday. If convicted, he faces up to a year behind bars. An Alaska Airlines spokesperson also confirmed to the outlet that Holmberg 'has been banned from our flights'. A drunken Scottish mother who left her baby boy in the arms of a 'morbidly obese', disabled woman has been jailed for just two years - remorselessly claiming it was her who was let down by healthcare professionals. Laura Stevenson, 46, as well as her partner Stephen Angell, 45, subjected Stephen Angell Jnr to harrowing mistreatment before he passed away at just three months old, with a probe finding the baby's bottle contained traces of diazepam - a class C drug. The couple were found to have caused unnecessary suffering and exposed Stephen Jnr to the risk of ingesting drugs as he became 'exceptionally thin'. Baby Stephen was also left by his drunk mother with a 'morbidly obese', disabled woman - with the infant later found soaked in urine in the woman's arms by her horrified daughter, the court heard. Stevenson was pictured smirking outside of court as she denied willfully neglecting the child during his short life between August and October 2018. Stephen Angell, 45, and Laura Stevenson, 46, (both pictured) of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, have been jailed for two years each after being convicted for willfully neglecting their baby Stephen Jnr Stephen Jnr passed away at just three months old after he had become 'exceptionally thin'. An inquest also found traces of drugs in his milk bottle Angell and Stevenson, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, denied any wrongdoing and went on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court where a jury convicted them of willful neglect between August and November 2018. Medics ruled his death as 'undetermined' but social work records revealed concerns had been raised about his care while he was alive. Sheriff Colin Dunipace blasted the couple for showing no remorse for the treatment of their child and jailed them for two years each and both Angell and Stevenson will be under supervision for a further nine months following their release from custody. Dr Adrienne Sullivan told the trial she examined Stephen in October 2018 amid concerns over weight gain. She said his hands, feet and armpits were dirty, he had long nails and a smell of body odour was coming from him which was 'unusual'. She had concerns about nutrition after he gained 100g in three days under medical supervision but was struggling to gain weight at home. In evidence, Dr Sullivan said: 'There has been a failure to provide Stephen with adequate nutrition to provide the adequate gain that you would expect from a child who is being bottle fed. 'If you don't get enough to eat then you don't have enough building blocks to grow, you don't have the building blocks for your brain to develop. 'You can smile and watch but would not have the protein to build up muscle. 'I recommended the health visitor monitor him very closely.' The trial heard a report from health visitor Ann-Marie Hamilton had raised concerns over Stephen's welfare. She wrote: 'Health visitor continues to have concern that parents are not meeting Stephen Jnr's nutritional needs. 'He still appears hungry following a feed but parents don't appear responsive to this.' During one exchange, Stevenson and Angell were advised to increase the amount of baby formula they were feeding Stephen, but Angell replied: 'If it isn't broke, don't fix it' Stevenson, 46, subjected Stephen Angell Jnr to harrowing mistreatment and he became 'exceptionally thin' before he died Professor Charlotte Wright told the court Stephen was 'exceptionally thin' when she examined him. During one exchange, the parents were advised to increase the amount of baby formula they were feeding him but callous Angell replied: 'If it isn't broke, don't fix it.' Depute fiscal John Coogan told jurors: 'The presence of diazepam inside the bottle presents an utterly compelling picture that baby Stephen was exposed to the risk of ingesting drugs and that is against a background of both accused being told of the importance of a sterile bottle. 'You can be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the crimes were committed and that they were committed by both accused.' The court heard the couple had had another child together following the death of Stephen Jnr which was taken into care due to social work concerns regarding their 'chaotic' lifestyle and ability to properly look after the baby. Defence lawyers claimed Angell and Stevenson had been let down by health care professionals and were being scapegoated. George Gebbie, defending Angell, said: 'There is no suggestion the child was not being taken to see the healthcare professionals as and when he was asked and there was clear engagement.' Stephen Hughes, defending Stevenson, said: 'I would ask you not to impose custody which would not, in my submission, be appropriate due to the seriousness of the offence which is at the lower end of the scale given the absence of any injuries to the child and there was no actual harm caused.' Sheriff Dunipace said: 'It is clear that his short time on this earth was extremely troubled. 'Any parent who is fortunate to have children must be aware of the great responsibilities as well as the joy that comes with parenthood and similarly any child is entitled to look to their parents for a high level of love, support and care and it is right that we place a high degree of responsibility on parents to ensure the needs of a child are met. 'However, despite the high level of social work intervention, you both failed in your duty to your son and I have concluded that the matter which you were convicted involved a high level of culpability and involved a deliberate disregard of the welfare of your child whilst in a position of the greatest trust as parents.' A heroic Kentucky mom used her final moments to save her teen daughter from a mass shooter's rampage after he opened fire during her son's 21st birthday party. Melissa Parrett, 44, died while protecting daughter Chloe Parrett, 19, during the incident on Saturday. Her father Bruce Parrett, who was not present at the time of the shooting, told WKYT he is 'forever grateful' her mom tried to save her. The family were celebrating Brendan Parrett's birthday with a pool party at their Florence home when Chase Garvey, 21, showed up unannounced and began gunning down guests. Seven people were shot in total, four of whom were fatally wounded, before Garvey fled and turned the gun on himself. Melissa Parrett, 44, died while protecting daughter Chloe Parrett, 19, during a mass shooting on Saturday Police have not stated a motive, but among his victims is Delaney Eary, 19, who is believed to be Garvey's ex-girlfriend. Eary died along with friends Shane Miller, 20, and Hayden Rybicki, 20. Paerett was remembered as an 'amazing and dedicated mom' by loved ones. Among those injured were Chloe and her friends Konnor Markesbery and Claire Smith. Smith is in the ICU post surgery but expected to recover, a fundraiser has been set up to help with costs. Markesbury is also expected to make a physical recovery, with donations also being requested. Bruce Parrett said his daughter is 'fighting for her life' in a GoFundMe. He described the moment he received the heart-stopping call at around 3am. 'I parked at the top of the street and ran down to the house, where I saw all of the carnage of a scene no human being should ever have to witness in their life,' said. Police were called to the 2600 block of Ridgecrest Drive in the early hours of Saturday morning. Parrett was protecting her daughter Chloe (left) when the mass shooter opened fire during a 21st birthday party for her son Brendan (right) The family were enjoying a pool party at their home in Kentucky, Florence when the horror unfolded also leaving Chloe injured On arrival, they found four people dead and three other critically injured victims who were taken to the ICU at a nearby hospital. Garvey fled the scene in his own vehicle before he crashed, with officers finding him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. During a press conference Saturday afternoon, Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said Garvey had not been invited to the party but had showed up. Mallery added that he was known to the partygoers, and that their initial investigation had revealed that Garvey had been acting alone. Images on his social media show him clutching a sniper rifle, a hand gun and a shotgun. Garvey was known to police before the shooting on Saturday, having been arrested and charged in 2021 for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. In April of last year, he was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree. According to a report at the time by Fox19, the victim told police she had been messaging Garvey on Snapchat weeks before the incident. Chase Garvey, 21, gunned down seven people - four of whom died - before turning the gun on himself Among the fatalities were Garvey's ex-girlfriend Delaney Eary and her friend Hayden Rybicki Claire Smith and Konor Markesbury were injured during the shooting but expected to make a recovery Images on Garvey's social media show him clutching a sniper rifle, a hand gun and a shotgun The home that the party was being held at had belonged to the Parrett family, who were celebrating a birthday with a pool party The report says that the girl had told Garvey she was 13, and that they met at an apartment complex inside his vehicle. The girl told police that she said to Garvey that 'she didn't want to do anything sexual' when Garvey held her hands down and raped her. Garvey, then 18, admitted in a police interview to having sex with the girl and said the girl had performed oral sex on him prior. Police in Florence have said that the investigation into the mass shooting on Saturday is still under investigation. Mallery continued: 'We've never dealt with this before. I know it's going on throughout the nation, but this is the first time that we've had a mass shooting in Florence. 'It is very emotional. And my emotions are for the victims, their families, the officers that responded and everybody that was touched by this situation.' Dozens of Channel migrants including children arrived in Dover today after a group were seen scrambling from a French beach into dinghies bound for the UK - just days after Sir Keir Starmer axed the Tories' Rwanda plan. For the second day in a row, people were brought ashore at the Port of Dover despite persistent wet and windy weather. Pictures showed youngsters among the group of migrants wearing life jackets, with some wrapped in blankets, as they came into the Kent port on Border Force and RNLI lifeboats. Earlier, the Daily Mail saw two dinghies making their way to England from a beach near Dunkirk, with migrants onboard one of the boats holding toy rubber tyre rings instead of life jackets. Adult life jackets have now sold out in the Dunkirk area, so migrants are instead reliant on any kind of inflatable they can purchase in a feeble bid to protect themselves. People thought to be migrants pictured arriving at Dover in the days after Sir Keir Starmer's landslide election victory An RNLI Lifeboat and a Border Force vessel pictured off the coast of Dover. For the second day in a row, people were brought ashore today at the port despite inclement weather Sir Keir pictured outside No10 after a cabinet meeting on July 9. He scrapped the Rwanda plan shortly after becoming Prime Minister The first migrants to cross the Channel since Labour's election victory arrived after crossings resumed on Monday for the first time in six days amid poor weather conditions at sea Seventeen packets of the toy beach inflatables were left on the sand behind them. And exasperated police, who raced to the scene too late with the aid of a couple of beach buggies, said they had earlier in the morning thwarted another two raids. Earlier in the hours of darkness they had seized two uninflated giant dinghies and outboard motors from the car of a trio of suspected people smugglers in the town of Gravelines. An officer told us: 'We catch some - but we can't catch them all. While my colleagues were arresting some of the ''ferrymen'' in town, then slashing their boats, scores more migrants were hiding in the dunes waiting for dinghies to arrive from the sea to pick them up. 'The migrants are so poised to come to England they have even set up a new camp for around a hundred of them right near the beach, so they are ready to board arriving ''taxi boats'' at any time. 'And these toy rubber rings they are using, they are designed to be played with on holiday, not used for safety on the high seas. 'The shops have sold out of adult life jackets, so they buy kids' stuff instead, hoping it is better than nothing.' He added that a dozen migrants had turned back from the boat we had just seen set off because it was too full. 'With forty on board these dinghies it is dangerous enough,' said the officer. 'With fifty or sixty, it is a death trap - particularly if all you have is a children's rubber ring.' Astonishingly there were several dozen more migrants lurking in the dunes at the same time as the boat we photographed launched. Police said they were hoping a further boat would come from them, but retreated when police arrived. As we spoke yet another dinghy launched further east was also out to sea heading to Britain. Our police source sighed as he said: 'The migrants land on Lampedusa, the Italian island near Africa, get an Italian police stamp in their passports and two days later they are here in northern France, waiting to go to England. 'Under European freedom of movement laws, there is no way of stopping them.' Migrants began crossing the Channel in earnest again today after a six-day pause for weather using children's toy rubber rings instead of life jackets Adult life jackets have now sold out in the Dunkirk area - so migrants are instead reliant on any kind of inflatable they can purchase in a feeble bid to protect themselves French police pick through discarded packaging and debris left behind by migrants It comes as as three asylum seekers who brought legal action over their potential removals to Rwanda had their cases resolved at the High Court today after the new Labour Government decided to scrap the deportation policy. More than 13,600 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel. This is nine per cent more than the number recorded by the same time last year (12,503) and up four per cent on the same period in 2022 (13,172), according to government data. Today's figures will be confirmed when the Home Office publishes the next set of data tomorrow. It comes after 65 people made the journey in one boat yesterday after a six-day pause in activity - the first crossings since Labour's election victory. This took the total to 13,639 for 2024 so far, which has already seen a record number for the first six months of a calendar year. Pictures showed groups of people arriving from France wearing life jackets, and some wrapped in blankets, being escorted off a Border Force boat in Dover, Kent, with children among those seen being carried ashore. Crossings resumed on the same day Home Secretary Yvette Cooper launched a Border Security Command designed to crack down on the gangs orchestrating the crossings. Ms Cooper branded the Rwanda migrant deportation scheme a 'complete con' yesterday as she hinted Labour would try to recoup some of the 290million spent before it was axed. A heavily overloaded dinghy is seen setting sail off the French coast Migrants camping in the sand dunes are seen running down to the beach to embark on the treacherous journey Ms Cooper said she planned to audit the programme to send Channel boat arrivals to east Africa, which was axed by Sir Keir Starmer in one of his first decisions after entering No10. But almost a third of a billion pounds has already been given to the Kagame government, despite the only migrants to leave Britain being four volunteers. Questions will be raised over how much can be recouped. But Ms Cooper told LBC radio: 'We are auditing the whole scheme It has clearly been a complete con.' Ms Cooper said setting up the Border Security Command unit was Labour's first priority on migration as she faced questions on the future of the Bibby Stockholm barge, which is being used to house asylum seekers in Portland, Dorset. The new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pictured at Lewisham Police Station in south London on Monday. She said she planned to audit the programme to send boat arrivals to east Africa The Home Office will confirm how many people made the journey on Monday, the first under the new Labour administration, in data published on Tuesday (pictured: A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent on Monday) She did not confirm whether the Government would abandon use of the barge but told reporters: 'We need to clear the Conservatives' asylum backlog, but the first priority has to be to get the stronger border security in place, and that is why our first step is setting up the new border security command.' Over the weekend Sir Keir Starmer said the stalled multi-million pound plan to send migrants to Rwanda is 'dead and buried' as he confirmed the deportation policy is to be scrapped. The Prime Minister said he was 'not prepared to continue with gimmicks' as Labour announced plans to free the last two migrants who were detained ahead of anticipated flights. Asked if she has had any contact with Rwanda about winding the plan down and getting any money back, Ms Cooper said: 'Well, the Prime Minister has obviously set out the position on the Rwanda scheme where as we know, the Conservatives ran this scheme for two and a half years, and sent simply four volunteers as well as hundreds of millions of pounds.' She said her 'key priority' as incoming Home Secretary is to 'strengthen Britain's border security, where I think we have been let down for too long'. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville is getting behind a version of a 'mini-primary' that could pick a successor to President Joe Biden without 'anointing' Kamala Harris in his place. Carville, who served as Bill Clinton's campaign guru during his 1992 run, put his own spin on a way for Democrats to get out of the political thicket they find themselves after Biden's stumbling debate performance during an appearance on NewsNation's Cuomo. Large majorities of Democrats are registering concerns about his age and performance, but as Biden pointed out in a Monday letter, he has already wrapped up the nomination by winning millions of primary votes. 'Mark my words: Joe Biden is going to be out of the 2024 presidential race. Whether he is ready to admit it or not,' Carville wrote, on a day when Senate Democrats were issuing vague statements about Biden doing what is 'good for the country' even while progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said declared 'the matter is closed.' Carville's chief concern is a process that rival Donald Trump can cast as corrupt or manipulated by elites. Democratic strategist James Carville predicted President Biden would drop out, but urged him to avoid a process that amounted 'anointing' Vice President Kamala Harris 'It cant be by anointing Vice President Kamala Harris or anyone else as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Weve got to do it out in the open the exact opposite of what Donald Trump wants us to do,' he wrote in the New York Times. He calls for skipping 'backrooms' and orchestrating a public vetting process, although it is delegates at the party's convention in Chicago who would make the ultimate choice. Carville wants to hold a series of 'town halls' around the country that he predicts would draw big TV crowds and interest. He tips his hat to a 'mini-primary' version sketched out by columnist Ezra Klein and referenced by Rep. James C. Clyburn, an influential Biden backer. Klein said the choice facing Democrats was a 'coronation or a contest' and described Biden withdrawing and asking delegates to back Harris as his successor a coronation. 'Mark my words: Joe Biden is going to be out of the 2024 presidential race,' Carville wrote Rep. James C. Clyburn discussed the 'mini-primary' idea on CNN Clyburn floated the idea last week amid Democratic angst over Biden's candidacy. 'You can actually fashion the process thats already in place to make it a mini-primary, and I would support that absolutely,' Clyburn, a Biden campaign co-chair, said on CNN. 'We cant close that down, and we should open up everything for the general election. I think that Kamala Harris would acquit herself very well in that kind of a process, but then it would be fair to everybody.' Biden is using the week to try to shore up support among lawmakers, and on Monday night he phoned into a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus, a group that includes Clyburn, and whose members are lining up to express loyalty to Biden. Carville called the idea that Biden will step down 'inevitable' in an appearance on NewsNation, even as he assures lawmakers he will be the nominee. He wants former presidents Clinton and Barack Obama to play a role in vetting and overseeing the town halls. But he indicated he didn't run the idea by them first. 'Better to ask forgiveness than permission. I just throw an idea out there,' he said. Angela Rayner has dropped 'Levelling Up' from her Whitehall department as she vowed to ditch 'gimmicks and slogans'. Since Labour's election win, Ms Rayner has taken charge of what was previously known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). But she confirmed today she was returning to its old name of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Ms Rayner, who is Deputy Prime Minister as well as the department's Secretary of State, said: 'A Government of public service means fixing the fundamentals to deliver for the British people. 'No more gimmicks and slogans, but the hard yards of governing in the national interest.' The 'Levelling Up' title was added to the department's name in September 2021 as part of former PM Boris Johnson's mission to spread opportunity across the UK. Angela Rayner has dropped 'Levelling Up' from her Whitehall department as she vowed to ditch 'gimmicks and slogans' Since Labour's election win, Ms Rayner has taken charge of what was previously known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) But Ms Rayner, pictured next to Sir Keir Starmer at a No10 meeting today, confirmed today she was returning to its old name of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Former Tory Cabinet minister Sajid Javid welcomed Labour's move to return the department to its old name Jim McMahon, who has been appointed as one of Ms Rayner's ministers at MHCLG, said the old name had been 'firmly Tippexed out of the department yesterday' as part of an effort to 'refocus' on local government. He told the BBC: 'Why that is important for me is Levelling Up was only ever a slogan, it wasn't a thing that people felt in their communities.' The name change is the fourth in the department's history. It started as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2001, before becoming the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2006, MHCLG in 2018, DLUHC in 2021 and now MHCLG once again. Before last week's general election, Labour figures had suggested the party would ditch the 'Levelling Up' title if it won power. Ms Rayner told the Financial Times she was focused on 'fundamentals' and not 'a slogan'. Former Tory Cabinet minister Sajid Javid welcomed Labour's move to return the department to its old name. He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, today: 'Welcome the move to bring back the name of MHCLG, an excellent department I was privileged to lead. 'Whether housing, social care or community cohesion, local government has a big role to play in tackling policy challenges. 'A small change, but a welcome signal of intent.' Kim McGuinness, the Labour mayor of the North East, told Times Radio the idea of Levelling Up was 'absolutely toxified by the Tories'. She said: 'I think it was absolutely toxified by the Tories. I think it's seen as a failed project. 'And I'm glad the term's gone because, as I said, for people in our region, it brings a grimace to their face. 'And I think that's a real shame because, of course, what we do want to see is that gap between North and South close and actually those inequalities in our own regions close.' A Conservative spokesman said: 'The Conservative Levelling Up agenda has been transformative for towns across the country, giving communities that Labour took for granted when they were last in office the investment they deserve. 'Labour's decision to scrap Levelling Up will be a disaster for these towns, and their refusal to rule out clawing back 1billion of Conservative funding from local communities for Labour politicians to spend in Westminster puts the future of our communities at risk.' A carjacking victim says doctors told him it was 'miracle' he survived being run over by his vehicle as he desperately tried to stop the robbery. Jinwoo Song, 30, and his partner BiBi Kim had left their Ford Escape running while they unloaded groceries at their new apartment on Hardware Street in Melbourne's CBD last Thursday. An opportunistic thief riding a scooter jumped into the car and tried to take off but Mr Song bravely clung to the front of the vehicle in attempt to prevent the getaway, only to end up under the 4WD's wheels. The terrifying ordeal was captured on CCTV. Mr Song was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he spent the first night in a critical condition. He spent four nights in hospital recovering from a broken sternum, with his entire body covered in bruises. Five days on from the ordeal, Mr Song counts himself as fortunate, despite still bearing the physical and mental scars. 'The doctor who is in the hospital said "it's a miracle. You're very lucky, but unlucky",' Mr Song told Nine News on Tuesday. Jinwoo Song, 30, was left battered and bruised after the terrifying ordeal 'The tyre was come over my head, and arms, and my chest here. Because I was rolled I thought, "I'm gonna be dead, I'm gonna be dead".' Mr Song said he owed his life to two doctors who witnessed the incident and rushed to his aid. 'He (one of the doctors) said, "you are in a very serious situation, but you can do it. Just don't move and keep talking",' Mr Song recalled. Mr Song bravely tried to stop the carjacker from stealing his Ford Escape in the heart of the Melbourne CBD shortly after 3pm last Thursday Since being discharged he has been able to thank the doctors for saving his life. His partner is still traumatised by what she witnessed. 'That moment when he came out from the car is replaying so many times in my mind,' Ms Kim said. Mr Song has a long recovery ahead of him but is grateful to be given what he considers 'a second life'. 'I'm going to try to live this second life meaningfully.' Police are still searching for the man who took off in his car. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers. Advertisement A triumphant Keir Starmer paraded his troops in the Commons today as the 'Red' Parliament returned. The dramatic change in fortunes has been laid bare in the chamber, with 411 Labour MPs squeezing on to the government benches while the paltry 121 Tories sit alongside the 72 Lib Dems. Sir Keir was clapped and cheered by his party as he came into the Commons. He paused to have a brief exchange with defeated rival Rishi Sunak, although they did not seem to shake hands. The first job for the new cohort of 643 MPs - minus seven Sinn Fein who do not take their seats - was to elect a Speaker. Incumbent Sir Lindsay Hoyle was returned unopposed, and was dragged to the chair as is traditional by Conservative David Davis and Labour's Cat Smith. In his maiden speech as premier at the despatch box, Sir Keir said he wanted to 'turn the page' and embark on 'national renewal'. He also praised new mother of the House Diane Abbott, even though he initially tried to block her from being a candidate. Mr Sunak responded by congratulating his opponent, saying there was 'respect' despite the bad-tempered clashes during the campaign. He also again apologised to Tories who lost their constituencies, promising that the party would 'rebuild' and be a 'professional' opposition. Nigel Farage has also announced his arrival at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, describing themselves as 'foxes in the hen house'. Speaking from the back row, having apparently been separated from Lee Anderson and Richard Tice who were both standing up, Mr Farage backed Sir Lindsay but hit out at his predecessor John Bercow for trying to block Brexit. MPs will now be formally sworn in over the coming days ahead of Parliament's State Opening on Wednesday July 17. Pictures show how many Labour MPs (highlighted in red) were seen spilling out around the speaker's chair, along with members from other parties (highlighted in green) who couldn't find seats in the packed chamber A triumphant Keir Starmer paraded his troops in the Commons today as the 'Red' Parliament returned The dramatic change in fortunes has been be laid bare in the chamber, with 411 Labour MPs squeezing on to the government benches while the paltry 121 Tories sit alongside the 72 Lib Dems Keir Starmer was clapped and cheered by his party as he came into the Commons Sir Keir paused to have a brief exchange with defeated rival Rishi Sunak, although they did not seem to shake hands Edward Leigh and Diane Abbott, as father and mother of the House respectively, play a key role in the return of Parliament, overseeing the selection of the Speaker The first job for the new cohort of 643 MPs - minus seven Sinn Fein who do not take their seats - is to elect a Speaker. Sir Lindsay Hoyle was returned to the chair unopposed Rishi Sunak again apologised to Tories who lost their constituencies, promising that the party would 'rebuild' and be a 'professional' opposition Black Rod entered the Commons to ask MPs to attend the Lords for a message from the King Sir Keir and Mr Sunak shared a moment as they left the chamber after the exchanges They will promise to 'be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law'. Sir Keir said: 'And now, as in any new Parliament, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed, and to replace that politics of performance with the politics of service. 'Because service is a precondition for hope and trust, and the need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every member here, new and returning alike. 'We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good. 'So whatever our political differences, it's not time to turn the page, unite in a common endeavour of national renewal and make this Parliament a Parliament of service.' Mr Sunak said he wanted to 'start by congratulating the Prime Minister on his election victory and as he takes on his formidable task, he and his family deserve the good wishes of all of us in this House'. 'In our politics, we can argue vigorously, as the Prime Minister and I did over the past six weeks, but still respect each other, and whatever disputes we have in this Parliament, I know that everyone in this house will not lose sight of the fact that we are all motivated by our desire to serve our constituents, our country, and advance the principles that we honourably believe in,' he said. Mr Sunak described being an MP as the 'greatest honour, privilege and responsibility' and added: 'One of the great aspects of our system is no matter how high you rise, you still have that constituency which keeps you grounded.' When his turn came Mr Farage said his party were 'the new kids on the block.' 'We have no experience in this Parliament whatsoever, even though some of us have tried many times over the years previously,' the Reform leader said. Eliciting groans from the Government benches, Mr Farage compared Sir Lindsay to his predecessor John Bercow. He said: 'We absolutely endorse (Sir Lindsay) entirely for this job. And it is, I must say, in marked contrast to the little man that was there before you and besmirched the office so dreadfully in doing his best to overturn the biggest democratic result in the history of the country. We support you Sir fully.' Sinn Fein, which won seven seats across Northern Ireland, including two in Belfast, have a long-standing policy of abstentionism so do not take their seats in Westminster. Before they elected the Speaker, Black Rod Sarah Clarke summoned MPs to the House of Lords. She crossed through Central Lobby to fetch Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, and walk him to the Lords, where a Royal Commission was read directing MPs to choose their speaker. Sir Edward is the longest continuously serving MP, having had a seat in the Commons since 1983 the year when Margaret Thatcher won a 144-seat majority and when Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown first became MPs. Sir Lindsay put himself forward as Speaker, having served in the role since 2019 and contested the Chorley, Lancashire, without a party affiliation. He was dragged to the Chair in a nod to the once-perilous nature of the role, with seven speakers having been executed between 1394 and 1535, according to Parliament records. Diane Abbott was in the chamber to be praised by Sir Keir and Mr Sunak Nigel Farage has also arrived at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, vowing to target Labour voters and be a thorn in the side of the premier Before the Commons returned Rishi Sunak held a meeting with his 'interim' shadow cabinet The Leader of the Opposition hosted his first meeting of the interim Conservative Shadow Cabinet Rishi Sunak confirmed his interim shadow cabinet (pictured), after 12 members of his top team lost their seats in the general election (from left to right) Stuart Andrew, Jeremy Wright, Alex Burghart and Lord True listen in during Rishi Sunak's first meeting of the interim Conservative Shadow Cabinet Swearing in begins the same afternoon, led by the Speaker, Father of the House Sir Edward, then members of the Sir Keir's Cabinet and Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak's shadow cabinet. Lawmaking and debates in the House of Commons remain on hold until after the formal State Opening of Parliament, where the King will lay out the government's legislative agenda from the Sovereign's Throne in the House of Lords. London mayor Sadiq Khan said Sir Keir discussed 'other parts of the country where there could be mayors' during a meeting with regional leaders at Downing Street. Mr Khan said after the meeting: 'What I want other parts of the country who have not got a mayor to know is that having a mayor can be a real game changer.' The Mayor of London added: 'We heard this morning, the Prime Minister talking about other parts of the country where there could be mayors. 'That brings with it not just additional powers, but also additional resources as well.' returns on Tuesday with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench for the first time in more than a decade. The tourist did not heed warnings from tour guides not to leave the convoy A Spanish tourist was horrifically crushed to death in front of his screaming fiancee by an angry herd of elephants after he got out of his car to take photographs in a South African game reserve. The four visitors were driving around the Pilanesberg National Park close to the world-famous tourist resort Sun City when they spotted a breeding herd with three young by a lake. Despite warnings from his three fellow passengers to get back into the car the tourist, aged 43, said he wanted to get close-ups of the six elephants and got out and walked towards them. A huge 3.5-ton adult female cow protecting the young members of the herd was spooked and charged at the man and she was joined by the other two adult bulls who also attacked. The screaming Spaniard was racing back with his camera to safety through the bush to his friends in the car but was overtaken by the chasing herd who knocked him down and trampled him to death. All that witnesses said was left after the 30-second attack was the tattered blood-soaked clothing of the tourist and the remnants of the tourist's body crushed into the earth. Pilanesberg National Park is a popular tourist attraction that was once visited by England stars including David Beckham and Wayne Rooney during the Three Lions' ill-fated 2010 World Cup campaign. One international client killed by elephant in Kafue National Park from lufupa Lodge during Safari. Two injured and being evacuated to Lusaka. Full details being awaited from the operator through the Senior Warden Kafue Region. Very unfortunate indeed. pic.twitter.com/4ntbyhec1G Gina (@ginnydmm) April 2, 2024 The four visitors were driving around the Pilanesberg National Park close to the world-famous tourist resort Sun City when they spotted a breeding herd with three young by a lake A huge 3.5-ton adult female cow protecting the young members of the herd was spooked and charged at the man and she was joined by the other two adult bulls who also attacked Pilanesberg National Park is a popular tourist attraction that was once visited by England stars including David Beckham and Wayne Rooney during the Three Lions' ill-fated 2010 World Cup campaign It is understood the dead man was on holiday from Spain with his fiancee and was with two of her South African friends from Johannesburg when the tragedy happened on Sunday morning. A North-West Parks & Tourism Board spokesman said: 'The elephants moved away immediately from the scene without any aggression towards the nearby vehicles and disappeared in the bushes. 'The guest was a male Spanish citizen who had entered Bakgatia Gate with three friends and not far from the gate had come across a breeding herd of elephants feeding a distance from the road. 'According to eyewitnesses the man decided to alight from the vehicle and approach the elephants on foot taking pictures. 'Despite warnings from his fellow passengers and occupants from two other vehicles that were at the sighting he unfortunately did not heed the warnings. 'An adult elephant charged at the man who then ran from the elephant. 'He was unfortunately not able to escape or evade the elephant which was now joined by the whole herd. He was caught and trampled to death. 'Park officials were alerted and immediately rushed to the scene to aid the affected persons and secure the scene and assist with the investigation. 'Statements by witnesses who observed the whole incident further suggest the female elephant that charged and attacked might have done so to protect the herd and young ones. 'The case has been handed over to the police for further investigation,' said Pieter Nel, Acting Chief Conservation Officer for the NW Parks & Tourism Board. He further stressed that all tourists are warned not to get out of their cars and that information is printed on their entry tickets which is not just for the safety of the guests but also the animals. Mr Nel added: 'The Board is very saddened by this tragic accident and would like to express their sincere condolences to the deceased's next of kin and friends'. A park ranger speaking on condition of anonymity said: 'It was a very stupid thing to do and the tourist was literally shouted at to get back in his car but wanted to get photographs of the herd. 'He had walked too far away off the road to be able to make it back to the car in time when he charged. His friends were in a hysterical state and needed immediate expert counselling. 'There was not much left to identify. The victim had been trampled into the ground. Sadly despite all the warnings people still get out to take photos but most are lucky enough to get away with it. 'The herd were not to blame and were acting entirely as normal when they felt a threat to their young. Indeed they passed right past the car with the three of his friends in when they left' he said. A female elephant can stand over 11 feet tall at the shoulder, weigh up to 4 tons and run at up to 25mph. The bull elephants can be two tons heavier and up to 13 feet at the shoulder An elephant is seen lifting a tour vehicle in Pilanesberg National Park North West Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said:'According to information received the man was with his fiancee and two other females in their own vehicle 'They allegedly spotted three elephants and three calves. Reports suggest that the man stopped the vehicle, alighted and went closer to the elephants to take pictures. The elephants allegedly attacked and killed him. The victim's companions were not harmed. The victim is from Spain. A full investigation is underway as to exact circumstances'. A female elephant can stand over 11 feet tall at the shoulder, weigh up to 4 tons and run at up to 25mph. The bull elephants can be two tons heavier and up to 13 feet at the shoulder. The Pilanesberg National Park is set in 320 square miles in North West Province 100 miles from Johannesburg inside an ancient volcanic crater and is home to the Big 5 of elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion. In March a 79-year-old American tourist Gail Mattson was killed at the Kafue National Park in Zambia when the safari vehicle she was in was charged by a bull elephant and overturned. And in South Africa in February and March two game rangers David Kandela, 36, and Philani Sibiya, 33, were killed in separate incidents after being trampled to death by elephants while going about their duties. A 21-year-old Georgia college student has becomes the youngest female mayor to take office in American history. Brooke Huckaby, a student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was elected Republican mayor of Arabi, Georgia on November 7. Despite being barely old enough to order a drink, Huckaby is already tackling major issues in her small town of Arabi, located 150 miles south of Atlanta. 'It's just really concerning to me how people my age aren't involved in our economy or politics or any real thing going on in the world, and I just wanted to be the one to be able to make that change and take that step forward where other people aren't,' she told Fox News Sunday. The young lawmaker's father Craig Huckaby, who was the former mayor for over a decade, praised his daughter's efforts, telling Abacstallion he was caught off guard by her decision to run. Brooke Huckaby, a student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was elected mayor of Arabi, Georgia on November 7, becoming the youngest woman to take office in American history Her father, Craig Huckaby, who was the former mayor for over a decade, praised his daughter's efforts, telling Abacstallion that he was caught off guard by her decision to run. Brooke said she was initially hesitant to inform her father of her political aspirations, keeping her candidacy under wraps for several days before letting it out. Craig was mayor for 12 years before he decided not to seek reelection. 'On a Tuesday, I think she signed up, and it was Thursday before I found out from my secretary at City Hall,' he said. 'I thought maybe I talked her out of running. I was a little shocked then, but I'm glad, and she's a smart girl. She'll do well,' he added. Brooke replied, 'I think I wanted it to kind of be able to sneak up on him.' The young mayor is tackling several key issues, including road construction, community conflict resolution, and improving internet connectivity Following in her father's footsteps, Huckaby is also working to establish a police department in Arabi The young mayor is tackling several key issues, including road construction, community conflict resolution, and improving internet connectivity. Huckaby has initiated a partnership with Southern Fireworks to enhance FiberOptics in Arabi. Following in her father's footsteps, Huckaby is also working to establish a police department in Arabi. 'When Brooke came in there, she made some connections and had some people to come talk to the council, then they were persuaded to move forward with it.' Her father advised her to 'Be cautious and hear out both sides.' Brooke, a republican, published photos of herself on social media sporting merchandise supporting former President Donald Trump Brooke, a Republican, published photos of herself on social media sporting merchandise supporting former President Donald Trump. 'I really do [hope more young people become leaders],' she said 'It's really time we start caring about the world that we're making for our children and their future and, right now, I don't think too many people are worried about that.' A family caught on camera as they made a hair-raising climb without safety equipment in the Italian Dolomites have been slammed by mountain rescue groups. The unidentified parents and their young children were spotted by another shocked climber who videoed them as they attempted to tackle the perilous Via Ferrata climb. It involves making your way along razor thin ledges at spine tingling altitudes, using metal cables, ladders and metal fixtures anchored into the rock and many are left over from World War One when installed by Alpine soldiers. The family - foreign tourists - were spotted on the Bepi Zac section of Via Ferrata which is graded as difficult - and runs between a rocky ridge from Passo Selle to Forcella Laghet in the Monzoni range of mountains near Trento. A guidebook says the route which reaches a stomach-churning height of 2730m is 'exposed' and has 'narrow ledges' and 'unprotected paths' which are 'decidedly adrenaline fuelled'. The father is seen treading carefully along the narrow ridge above a steep drop, all while carrying a baby The man navigated the risky climb while carrying a small child - scaling the metal steps with only one hand free A young child is seen stretching to reach the hand holds on the path in another video A young boy is seen nervously holding onto the cable as his mother encourages the clearly worried child The video shows the father holding his baby in his arms as he gingerly makes his way along the cableway holding on with one hand, while his wife is behind gripping onto the same fixture. Luigi Bartocci, who posted the video, said: 'Look at this madman, he is absolutely crazy, would you check this out, look at this, guys.' 'There he is with a small child in his arms. It's amazing. They are at almost 3,000m and they have no safety equipment, they have nothing.' Luigi added: 'Look where he is,' as he carefully makes his way down the section before reaching a wider path at the base of a ladder fixed into the rock. Minutes later Luigi spotted a mother and child, again foreign tourists, making the same perilous descent with a young boy nervously holding onto the cable as his mother encourages the clearly worried child. Luigi said: 'And then they say accidents happen in mountains,' before fortunately the pair reach the same ledge as the previous climbers and carry on with their hike. Walter Cainelli, president of the local Alpine Rescue, said: 'Unfortunately there is a rising undervaluation of the risks that exist. 'Basically, if you reach a point where you can't carry on because you don't have the right equipment, then you turn round, it's as simple as that. 'Too many times throughout the year we are called to intervene and help people who go into the mountains under prepared and without the right gear. The foreign tourists were climbing in Italy's Dolomites when they were caught on camera The baby clings on to the father as he feels his way along the section of Via Ferrata which is graded as difficult The Bepi Zac cableway crosses positions held by Italian troops and Austro-Hungarian adversaries during World War One and is popular with experienced thrill seekers (file image) Mr Cainelli added that in 2023 there has been 12,349 operations carried out Italian Alpine rescue teams. Maurizio Fugatti, president of the Trento province, said: 'Everyone is welcome on our mountains, but the best way to experience them is to first cultivate a deep sense of respect. 'Don't play with the life and do not underestimate nature. We have lived in the mountains for centuries; we love it even though we know how severe it can be. 'And the toll paid is high, sometimes by those who ran to the aid of others. The best way to honour their memory is to follow the rules, with scrupulous prudence. 'We owe it to ourselves, to our loved ones and to the many people whose lives must not be jeopardized by recklessness and carelessness.' The Bepi Zac cableway crosses positions held by Italian troops and Austro-Hungarian adversaries during World War One and is popular with experienced thrill seekers. Between July 4 and July 7 six people were killed in accidents in the Italian mountains, officials said. Tourists heading to one of Australia's most scenic coastal regions may soon be hit with parking fees, even for a toilet stop. A 'beach tax' could soon be imposed on Victorias famous Great Ocean Road and its popular beaches. The state government this week proposed a visitor parking fee for all areas managed by Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA). The fee would apply to popular beaches such as Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay and along a 100km long stretch of the Great Ocean Road from Point Impossible to Port Campbell. The parking fees wouldn't be just restricted to beaches but also toilet stops, waterfalls, piers and lighthouses, The Herald Sun reported. The region's world-famous Bells Beach is not included in the proposal at this stage. According to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), locals would be exempt from the fees in their local community but has sought feedback on the definition of the term 'local'. Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, whose electorate covers much of the Great Ocean Road region said that he was blindsided by the proposal. Tourists heading to Torquay Beach (pictured) could soon be hit with a 'beach tax' Visitors would be slugged with parking fees at many of the Great Ocean Road's scenic beaches under the proposal Poll Should tourists heading to the Great Ocean Road be hit with a visitors parking fee? Yes No Only the busiest spots Should tourists heading to the Great Ocean Road be hit with a visitors parking fee? Yes 2 votes No 46 votes Only the busiest spots 1 votes Now share your opinion 'Are residents in Geelong local? are people in Colac local?' Mr Riordan said. 'Are they just going to be taxed every time they go to the beach? I have a lot of questions.' Mr Riordan said the parking fees were essentially a 'beach tax' and would force travellers to 'plug the deficit' as the state government cuts funding on coastal and bush management to fund tunnels in Melbourne. The DEECA said the revenue raised would go towards funding GORCAPAs work to conserve places of cultural significance and protect and enhance sensitive environments. Revenue would also go towards maintaining visitor facilities and car parks, toilets, walking trails and lookouts. The proposed fees won't apply to the region's legendary Bells Beach at this stage A DEECA spokesman said the visitor parking fees would directly fund the protection Great Ocean Road's parks and coast. He said the department is inviting community feedback to help shape the change. 'Coastal management is the role of government, we already pay tax for that,' Mr Riordan said. 'Bugger me, theyre supposed to be doing that with the money they already have.' A 'serial' sperm donor that's the subject of a new Netflix documentary is claiming the film got his number of offspring wrong. Released Wednesday, 'The Man With 1000 Kids' surrounds 42-year-old Jonathan Meijer, a Dutch national with a bizarre penchant for spreading his seed. On Monday, Meijer responded to the production's suggestive title - saying he's fathered 550 children, not 1,000, as the title indicates. The film, bolstered by interviews with families misled by the Dutchman, claims he lied about the number of offspring he had already produced. In an email, he claimed he did tell families the exact number of kids, but that he later chose to stop giving out the real estimate. Nonbinding medical guidelines in the Netherlands impose a cap of 25 children per donor, while prohibiting people from donating at more than one clinic - rules Meijer maintains he did not break. Scroll down for video: Jonathan Meijer, a 'serial' sperm donor that's the subject of a new Netflix documentary, claimed Monday the film got his number of offspring wrong. Released Wednesday, 'The Man With 1000 Kids' surrounds the 42-year-old Dutch national - and his bizarre penchant for spreading his seed 'Technically I did not lie,' Meijer wrote to NBC News. 'I followed the guidelines of every large commercial international sperm bank that does not inform the recipients about the amount of offspring one donor will produce. 'I was doing a much better thing - I gave the parents an estimated number,' he continued. '[T]his was better and more info than they would ever get at any clinic.' Activist Eve Wile, meanwhile, accuses Meijer of enabling fertility fraud - the failure to obtain the proper consent from a patient before artificial insemination via a donor's sperm. That's partially because of the fact that the tally did not include Meijer's private donations through websites like Facebook, after becoming connected on websites like Desire for a Child, one of a growing number of online sperm markets that match donor candidates directly with potential recipients. Vanessa van Ewijk, a Netherlands carpenter, was one of several women who claims to have fallen victim to this strange stratagem. In 2015, she considered conceiving through a fertility clinic, but the cost was too much. Instead, she found Meijer on the website, and was instantly struck by the vlogger's well-spoken demeanor and good looks, she said. On Monday, Meijer responded to the production's suggestive title - saying he's fathered 550 children and not 1,000, as it might indicate 'I spoke to him on the phone and he seemed gentle and kind and well-behaved,' she recalled to the New York Times prior to the documentary's release. 'He liked music, and he talked about his thoughts on life. He didn't come on strong in any sense. He seemed like the boy next door.' A month later, after meeting Meijer at a local train station, he provided her with his sperm, and in return, she forked over 165 euros - about $200 cash. A few more months, and she gave birth to her first child - Meijer's, eighth, so he said. Years later, in 2017, the pair reconnected again, when van Ewijk decided to have a second. Again, she paid for Meijer's sperm - but this time, she was more aware of some actions by Meijer the she says may have been unethical. She learned from a woman with whom she connected on Facebook that Meijer also donated to her, and was also under investigation by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The probe found he fathered more than 100 children in the Netherlands through numerous fertility clinics, a tally that did not include private donations like the ones to van Ewijk - who went through with it the second time because she wanted her kids to be full siblings - and the other woman, a single mom. Enraged, van Ewijk confronted Meijer, who went on to admit he had produced at least 175 children - before conceding there might be more, but he had lost count. This was in 2017. Vanessa van Ewijk, a Netherlands carpenter, was one of several women who fell victim to this strange stratagem, birthing two children by Meijer's sperm 'He said, "Im just helping women make their biggest wish come true,"' van Ewijk remembered. 'I said: "Youre not helping anymore! How do I tell my kids that they could possibly have 300 siblings?"' Angered by the possibility of future incest as the kids grow up, she said she may not have known the half of it - as a Dutch court in 2023 ordered Meijer to halt donating sperm to alleviate the heightened risk of hereditary defects. The ruling came six years after the Dutch Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology banned him from donating sperm in the Netherlands in 2017 - a move that did not stop Meijer from going elsewhere with his antics. He continued to donate to recipients in other countries including to the Danish sperm bank Cryos, which operates internationally. He also continued to offer his services through websites and social media, as he now claims he stopped offloading his sperm back in 2019. In the show, a series of experts and parents accuse him to lying to families about the number of children he's produced, with Wiley and others estimating the true number could be in the thousands. This, of course, depends on how many straws of the man's sperm were successfully used to conceive - a number that remains uncertain due to the far-reaching nature of the Dutchman's donations. In the show, a series of experts and parents accuse him to lying to families about the number of children he's produced, with Wiley and others estimating the true number could be in the thousands. Pictured, Meijer alongside the logos for facilities he's repeatedly donated to 'What happens psychologically to these children that have 700, 800, 900 brothers and sisters?' Kate, an Australian mother who found Meijer through Cryos, says in the show. 'How are they psychologically going to be able to deal with this information?' In a video posted to his 15,000 YouTube subscribers last week, Meijer responded to those accusations, as well the ones aired by several other women including van Ewijk and others interviewed for the production. What kind of man would do that? Meijer says in the video, mimicking the line featured in the documentarys trailer. 'Well, it has to be a man thats willing to help others, and a man that sees that he can, with his life, do something more than just live for himself, work for himself, and he wants to be useful to others. 'Thats the kind of man that does it, and Im not an exception. He went on to deny that he had developed an addiction to the act - taking offense to shows characterization of him as a 'serial donor.' 'I dislike the word serial, because every donor is a serial [donor],' he explained. 'Its just like, a donor helps multiple families. Thats quite common; its quite normal. Unlike those made at facilities, donations made by private arrangements via the internet are completely unregulated. Meijer also allegedly used aliases when advertising his services on the internet, to circumvent national quotas - which is illegal. He denies this 'So this is really already adding this extreme negative aspect in the documentary, like "serial" serial killer, serial donor.' Unlike those made at facilities, donations made by private arrangements via the internet are completely unregulated. Moreover, the Donorkind Foundation, a Dutch advocacy group representing donor-conceived children and their parents, claims Meijer used aliases when advertising his services on the internet, to circumvent national quotas - which is illegal Meijer - who reportedly refused to take part in the film or comment on any of the allegations against him - continues to deny this. He told NBC News: '[I did] not want to cooperate IN ANY WAY with Netflix and it is their responsibility to not use lies and slander.' This is the moment dozens of frantic holidaymakers dashed to claim their spot on sunbeds the moment the pool opened at a resort on Spain's Costa del Sol. The Sunset Beach Club hotel in Benalmadena is said to be one of the worst battlegrounds for spats over sun loungers. A video posted on TikTok shows tourists carrying towels and bathing gear rushing past one another to make sure they secured the best spot after the doors were opened to the Spanish resort's pool. While some hotel guests are seen making a run for their sunbeds, others can be seen tempering their pace and slowing to a power walk as they seemingly decide not to demean themselves in the pursuit of a sunbathing spot. Commenting on the video, one TikTok user said: 'My idea of hell', while another said: 'That would give me major anxiety in the mornings'. Dozens of frantic holidaymakers were filmed dashing to claim their spot on sunbeds the moment the pool opened at a resort on Spain 's Costa del Sol It comes during peak sunbed season across southern Europe, with tourists filmed fighting it out in holiday hotspots Last year the same hotel had to hire a security guard to break up fights as Brits got up before dawn to battle other holidaymakers for sunbeds. Tourists, including several Brits, have reportedly had to join long queues to bag a spot by the pool-side spot. It comes during peak sunbed season across southern Europe, with tourists filmed fighting it out in holiday hotspots like Costa del Sol and Benidorm for the best pools Just last month, a British tourist blasted two men for hogging five sunbeds between them at a Benidorm resort. Paul Hitchcock, who regularly holidays in Benidorm, shared a picture of two sunseekers at his hotel who had stacked up multiple deckchairs - seemingly preventing other holidaymakers from bagging a spot. Paul Hitchcock, who regularly holidays in Benidorm, shared a picture of two sunseekers at his hotel who had stacked up multiple deckchairs Sun bed wars have been a problem in popular holiday destinations for several years. Last year, people were photographed queuing for sun loungers at Hotel Estival Torrequebrada near Malaga as many brought chairs and a good book as they waited for almost two hours before the beach and pool opened 'Two people, five sunbeds, and they are not the only ones,' he told fellow tourists, who slammed what they called the men's 'selfish' sunbathing etiquette. Others jumped to the pair's defence - suggesting that the chairs were piled up by the gentlemen as the loungers are often too low for elderly people. 'Ask them to move them if people need them. It's not right but if they have dodgy knees like me and can't get up easily I get why they are doing it,' one woman sympathised. 'If there's plenty of beds it's not a problem,' said another person, adding that the beds 'are so low' that 'older people or people with back problems put two together as it's easier to get off.' But some questioned whether the men were saving the chairs for friends or family members, arguing that chairs should be taken on a first come first served basis. Tourists carrying towels and bathing gear sprinted past one another to make sure they secured the prime spot by the pool Brits heading to Mediterranean resorts this summer are once again anticipating poolsides filling up - with reports last year of people queueing for hours before pools opened in a bid to secure a lounger. A British mother holidaying in Benidorm last year said she was left close to tears after her family was forced to sit under a water slide after missing out on the mad dash. Cayleigh Tuffs, who was on holiday with her husband Andrew and their eight-year-old daughter Charley, described the rush for beds as 'horrendous' and vowed never to return to the Spanish tourist destination. Ms Tuffs, who paid 2,000 for a Jet2 package holiday to Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, said she saw holidaymakers sprinting to sunbeds first thing in the morning to ensure they got the best spot. The 34-year-old, from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, said: 'They're like ants scurrying for food. It's horrendous. We've seen people throw towels across the pool to get beds and people are running even though it's massively slippery. Cayleigh Tuffs, pictured with her husband Andrew and their eight-year-old daughter Charley, said she was left on the brink of tears 'We go on holiday five times a year and this is the first time we've ever seen anything like this. On the first day we got here in the afternoon so there was no chance of getting a bed so we sat under a slide to get some shade. Greece's clamps down on 'sunbed wars' Greece has been punishing those who hog sunbeds in its most popular tourist beaches. The Greek finance ministry has imposed more than 350,000 in fines in the past week on businesses that charge for sunbathing spaces illegally. Regulations introduced this year mandate that umbrellas and sunbeds must be at least four metres from the sea. Authorities have been using drones and satellite tracking to control new laws. Advertisement 'I was nearly in tears, it was horrendous. I've never wanted to cry on holiday before, but I did on that first day.' Ms Tuffs said that the pool was packed with queuing Brits an hour before it opened at 10am, then 'chaos' ensued when the gates were opened by staff. Last summer, sunbed wars became so intense at one Costa del Sol hotel that they introduced a parking ticket style system - with towels left on beds unattended removed after a time limit. This year Spanish sunbed wars seem to have escalated with tourists now battling for the best umbrella on the beach. According to locals in Majorca, many foreign holidaymakers are marking their territory in the early morning, reserving their straw-covered beach umbrellas on the first row, just inches from the sea. Over the weekend, more than a dozen parasols were bagged at dawn near a leading hotel in Playa de Palma - an area popular with Germans. Towels were seen hanging from almost all the poles, many of them belonging to nearby resorts. Missing Jay Slater's best friends have returned to the UK three weeks after the apprentice bricklayer's mystery disappearance, MailOnline can reveal. Lucy Mae Law and Brad Hargreaves flew out to the Spanish holiday island with Jay for an eight-day holiday last month, taking in the 72-hour New Rave Generation festival. The three friends - all 19 - and another teenager, Brandon Hodgson were all last together at Papagayo nightclub in the raucous resort of Playa de las Americas on June 17. Brad had stayed on in Tenerife with his mum Rachel - although he was not seen taking part in any searches - and was spotted at Tenerife south airport late on Sunday night. Brad is believed to have returned to his home at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, with Jay's uncle Glen Duncan, 41, who on Saturday was seen searching a valley where the missing raver's mobile last pinged. It is understood Lucy headed home some time earlier after doing all she could to help in the now four week search. It is the latest development in the search for the missing teenager which has seen: Lucy Law (pictured) was one of the last people to hear from Jay and had gone to a festival with him the night before he disappeared Brad Hargreaves was seen in the world duty free at Tenerife south airport late on Sunday night Jay Slater disappeared in a remote village in northwest Tenerife on June 17 as he tried to walk back to his hotel in Playa de las Americas after missing a bus Among those searching for Jay was his mother Debbie, 55, father Warren, 58, and brother Zak, 24, Rachel, 34. They were joined by a group of expats and local hikers who combed through the valley all day after police called the search off on June 30. When asked how long the family would stay Glen said he had to 'get back as his children were at school' and added of Warren and Debbie: I don't know how long we're going to be out here for. How long's a piece of string? 'Debbie and Warren won't be going anywhere.' Brad was seen in the queue to board a Manchester bound flight from Tenerife and had earlier been seen browsing the cigarette section of the duty free shop. Brad, who has also been on holiday with Jay spoke about the last time he heard from his pal on the phone. Describing the last moments he saw him, Brad gave an interview to this morning on June 28 saying that while he was on the phone to Jay, he could hear his 'feet sliding down the hill'. Lucy Law broke her silence on Instagram last week with a picture of her with the missing teenager and a crying face and heart emoji A map showing Jay Slater's last known movements before he disappeared Missing Jay posted a final picture at 7.30am on Snapchat from the house of 'two English lads' an hour before phoning his friend Lucy Brad Hargreaves (pictured) is believed to have returned to his home at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, with Jay's uncle Glen Duncan He said: 'Yeah that's how I knew he went off the road. You could hear like when you walk on gravel, stones.' Brad admitted, however, he wasn't worried at that point as Jay reassured him he was fine - but he did tell his friend to put his location on. Brad added: 'We were both, like, laughing about it. He said: 'look where I am'.' He said Jay then cut off as he had another call waiting - but promised to phone back. Jay travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with his friends Jay (right) pictured alongside his mother Debbie and brother Zak (left) who flew out to Tenerife after his disappearance Both Brad and his mum Rachel vowed to stay in Tenerife for 'as long as it takes' to support Jay's distraught family but he is believed to have returned home due to his work commitments. It is understood Lucy headed home some time earlier after doing all she could to help in the now four week search. Taking to her Instagram for the first time since Jay vanished, Lucy posted a snap of the pair together with a crying face emoji last week. Lucy was also the one who set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Jay and to help fund the search. It has since reached over 50,000. Ayub Qassim, 31, is the convicted drug dealer who invited Jay back to his rented Airbnb The 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing A former nurse accused of molesting three female patients and a student nurse has said he was merely performing medical procedures. Ali Khamis Moh'd was a clinical nurse specialist at Sydney's Norwest and Nepean Private hospitals, attending to patients scheduled to have surgery in intensive care and coronary care units. The 44-year-old is on trial at Parramatta District Court after pleading not guilty to five counts of intentional sexual touching without consent and three counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The eight charges, related to alleged offending between December 2018 and March 2022, are aggravated given the four women were under his authority at the time. On Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Sarah Beaumont told jurors that while Moh'd was teaching a 21-year-old student nurse how to listen for bowel sounds using a stethoscope when he grabbed her underwear, pulled them away from her skin and looked at her genital area. He has been accused of molesting a 58-year-old patient over two days by inserting his finger into her anus while giving her an enema and putting his finger into her vagina while shaving her groin before an operation. While looking after a 25-year-old female patient after she had completed a heart operation, Moh'd was asked to inspect a wound on her groin area. As he was massaging the wound, he allegedly touched her vagina before inserting his fingers, Ms Beaumont told the jury. Ali Khamis Moh'd is accused of sexual misconduct while practising as a clinical nurse specialist That patient started crying after he left the room before calling her doctor to find out the proper procedure for massaging a groin wound. She filed a complaint with the hospital before going to police. Jurors heard of alleged conduct around a fourth patient, a 67-year-old woman admitted for heart surgery. After she had a shower, Moh'd helped place stickers on her body connected to a heart monitoring machine. While he was doing this, he allegedly touched her breast and squeezed her nipple. 'You have nice breasts for someone your age,' he's alleged to have said. 'Get lost, you're embarrassing me,' the patient allegedly said before swatting his hand away. The former nurse has pleaded not guilty to five counts of intentional sexual touching without consent and three counts of sexual intercourse without consent (stock image) On the same day after she complained of back pain, he sat her down on the bed and gave her a back massage with some cream. 'You can touch me too if you want to,' he's alleged to have said. Ms Beaumont said Moh'd had a tendency to be sexually attracted to female patients under his care and to act on those interests. She said jurors would be asked to consider whether the nurse's actions were done for proper health reasons. 'A sexual purpose has no place in genuine medical treatment,' she told the court. Defence barrister Linda Barnes said her client denied sexually touching or having sexual intercourse with any of the four women. 'In short, Mr Moh'd's case is that any contact he had with the complainants was for medical purposes, that is for health or hygiene purposes or for educational purposes,' she told the jury. Moh'd worked as a clinical nurse with patients having surgery in intensive care and coronary care units at Sydney's Nepean Private Hospital He had rejected prosecutor's claims that certain sexual acts took place or that he made sexualised comments to the women, Ms Barnes said. One of the main issues would be the honesty and reliability of the complainants, including their memories and perceptions of events, jurors heard. Moh'd came before the court an innocent man who had never been charged or convicted of any other offence, Ms Barnes said. The trial with Judge Ian Bourke continues on Wednesday. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson seemed to blame Former President Richard Nixon for the massive number of shootings over Independence Day weekend. More than 100 people were shot in Chicago, 19 of them fatally, from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday, according to police. Four of the violent incidents are considered mass shootings - including one on Thursday in a neighborhood on Chicago's South Side that left two women and an 8-year-old boy dead. Two other children were also critically injured. During a press conference on Monday Johnson said he has called on federal authorities for more resources, but also appeared to blame the city's gun violence on Richard Nixon - who has been dead for three decades. 'Black death has been unfortunately been accepted in this country for a very long time. We had a chance 60 years ago to get at the root causes. And people mocked President Johnson, and we ended up with Richard Nixon,' the mayor said. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson appeared to blame the city's gun violence on Richard Nixon during a press conference on Monday 'I'm going to work hard every day to transform this city. That's what it takes to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago.' Johnson called for those responsible for the shootings to be held accountable, but emphasized that he believes the solution to gun violence is to put more funding into communities. 'We are standing here today talking about a violent weekend because of generations of disinvestment and deep disenfranchisement in the exact communities where so much of the violence has taken place,' Johnson said. 'What we've experienced over the weekend is unacceptable and we didn't get here overnight. But everyone knows that. Let's tell the full story of how we got here... the fact of the matter is where there is most violence, that's where the poverty is most pervasive. 'We got to hold people accountable, but you know what my ultimate goal is? It's to transform this city so we cut off the pipeline of boys between the ages of 10 and 19 being either victims or the perpetrators. So yeah, it is personal.' At least 10 of those shot over the weekend were in the 15th Police District where the mayor calls home, according to WLS. One of those victims was Melvin Hill, a 36-year-old father, who was found dead with multiple gun shot wounds on his kitchen floor inside of his apartment on Central near West End in South Austin. More than 100 people were shot in Chicago, 19 of them fatally, from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday Four of the violent incidents are considered mass shootings - including one on Thursday in a neighborhood on Chicago's South Side that left two women and an 8-year-old boy dead Chicago has suffered so many murders from gun violence that the city is now offering to pay out $1,500 in funeral costs to help bereaved families. The funds will be paid out as part of the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund and will provide families with finances to help bury their loved ones. Shooting victims can also receive $1,000 to help cover basic needs like their medical and grocery bills - as well as up to $1,000 for temporary relocation costs. The program already exists in the city after being introduced across five communities in 2022 but is now being expanded to a further 15 across the city. Johnson announced the plans saying the move was a step in the right direction and could help mitigate the gun violence problem. Critics have claimed the creation of the fund is a disturbing sign of just how the Windy City has become. Canada is on track to break euthanasia records once again with 15,280 doctor-assisted suicide deaths in 2023 a 15 percent jump on the previous year, a campaign group warns. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition says growing numbers of people who are not terminally ill now use the government's doctor-assisted suicide program, known locally as MAiD. They include sufferers of autoimmune conditions, diabetes, and chronic pain who may be able to live for many more quality years, if they had better healthcare. The projection comes amid growing concerns over the expansion of Canada's eight-year-old euthanasia program, and more cases of anguished family members ending up in the courts. Alex Schadenberg, director of the coalition, says ever-more people are approved for euthanasia even when they suffer from nothing more than 'frailty' and other seemingly benign conditions. Euthanasia deaths jumped by more than 15 percent from 2022 to 2023, our projection shows 'It's scary how the system is getting looser, doctors are signing the paperwork, and people who didnt meet the original criteria have become eligible,' Schadenberg told DailyMail.com. Canadians by wide margins support euthanasia and the campaign group, Dying With Dignity, says procedures are 'driven by compassion, an end to suffering and discrimination and desire for personal autonomy.' Rights groups say the country's regulations lack necessary safeguards, devalue the lives of disabled people, and prompt doctors and health workers to suggest the procedure to those who might not otherwise consider it. Poll Should doctor-assisted suicide be available where you live? Yes No Not sure Should doctor-assisted suicide be available where you live? Yes 8804 votes No 6719 votes Not sure 1475 votes Now share your opinion Health Canada is expected to release its official MAiD data for 2023 in the coming months. Ahead of the annual report, Schadenberg gathered publicly-available data from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, and tallied them together. He estimated that 15,280 ended their lives with MAiD last year, a 15.4 percent increase on 2022. MAiD now accounts for 4.6 percent of all fatalities making it the most common cause of death after cancer, heart disease and accidental injuries, official data show. About 60,238 people have died from MAiD since the program was launched in 2016. While the number of assisted suicides has risen, there are signs that it is starting to level off. Between 2016 and 2022, the number of MAiD cases jumped by about a third each year. Health Canada spokeswoman Anne Genier said her colleagues were 'still compiling the 2023 numbers.' Procedures are strictly controlled and are only available to those suffering from an 'incurable medical condition that puts them in an advanced state of irreversible decline,' Genier told DailyMail.com. Alex Schadenberg, director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, says 'frailty' should not be a reason to get a lethal injection Nearly two thirds of Canada's recipients of assisted suicides are sufferers of cancer The average age of a MAiD recipient is 77; and they are evenly split between men, who account for 51.4 percent of such deaths, and women, who account for 48.6 percent. About two thirds of recipients are cancer sufferers. Heart, respiratory, and brain conditions are also common maladies that drive people to euthanasia. Though it is popular among Canadians, the MAiD system has been dogged by high-profile controversies in recent months. A 27-year-old autistic Calgary woman has made headlines by seeking an assisted suicide for what she calls 'intolerable' suffering while her dad has tried to block the lethal injection in the courts, saying there is nothing wrong with her. She's currently understood to be re-applying for a doctor-assisted death. The pair cannot be identified due to a court order. Her dad, known as MV, blames Canada's healthcare system for letting down his daughter, known as MV. 'It no longer works and needs to be repaired ASAP or things will get worse,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I suspect there will be a flood of hopeless young people moving towards MAiD if the rules aren't fixed.' Last month, Canada was shocked by complaints from two suffereers of neurological problems who said it was easier to access MAiD than access the alternative therapies that would help them live pain-free. Jody Lance, Lance, a 50-year-old Calgary resident, won a court battle so he could access psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to stop his crippling 'cluster' headaches. Then, the noted military veteran Kelsi Sheren went public with a call for easier access to plant therapies for traumatized ex-combatants. 'Why is it that we can access death care, but we can't access a genuine treatment that can help us become a functioning, healthy, taxpaying part of society?' said Sheren. Canada's road to allowing euthanasia began in 2015, when its top court declared that outlawing assisted suicide deprived people of their dignity and autonomy. It gave national leaders a year to draft legislation. Kelsi Sheren says it's easier for war-damaged Canadian veterans to access euthanasia than the new-age medecines that could ease their PTSD Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's liberal government, Canada has repeatedly made it easier to access euthanasia More than 99.9 percent of Canada's assisted suicides are carried out by a doctor The resulting 2016 law legalized both euthanasia and assisted suicide for people aged 18 and over, provided they met certain conditions: They had to have a serious, advanced condition, disease, or disability that was causing suffering and their death was looming. The law was later amended to allow people who are not terminally ill to choose death, significantly broadening the number of eligible people. Critics say that change removed a key safeguard aimed at protecting people with potentially decades of life left. Today, any adult with a serious illness, disease, or disability can seek help in dying. Officials in February delayed plans to expand MAiD access to those with mental illnesses, kicking a decision back to 2027. There are also efforts to make euthanasia available to 'mature minors.' Euthanasia is legal in seven countries Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain plus several states in Australia. Other jurisdictions, including a growing number of US states, allow doctor-assisted suicide in which patients take the drug themselves, typically crushing up and drinking a lethal dose of pills prescribed by a physician. In Canada, both options are referred to as MAiD, though more than 99.9 percent of such procedures are carried out by a doctor. The number of MAiD deaths in Canada has risen steadily by about a third each year. The Chancellor has revealed plans for a new national wealth fund designed to attract billions in private sector investment to support UK growth. The new Labour Government said it has allocated 7.3 billion in additional state funding to support the investment plan. It added that the proposals will include reforms to the state-owned British Business Bank. Chancellor Rachel Reeves met with a nine-strong National Wealth Fund Taskforce at No 11 Downing Street in order to launch the plans. The taskforce includes former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, Barclays chief executive officer CS Venkatakrishnan and Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc. Chancellor Rachel Reeves met with a nine-strong National Wealth Fund Taskforce at No 11 Downing Street in order to launch the plans. The taskforce includes former Bank of England governor Mark Carney (centre) Ms Reeves said the funding will be used to target green and high-growth industries in the UK. Ms Reeves said the funding will be used to target green and high-growth industries in the UK. She said: 'This new Government is getting on with the job of delivering economic growth. I have been clear that there is no time to waste. 'I have previously committed to establishing a national wealth fund. I am now going further by bringing together key institutions. 'We need to go further and faster if we are to fix the foundations of our economy to rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off.' The Chancellor has said the Government will focus on accelerating economic growth in order to bring in the extra tax revenues needed to support significant parts of Labour's policy plans. Speaking after the meeting Mr Carney said a report he authored on the establishment of a new national wealth fund would achieve 'maximum impact' with 'scarce amounts of public money'. The suspect in the shooting of 31-year-old New York woman Yazmeen Williams was violently attacked by a vigilante mob while being taken into custody. Chad Irish, 55, is accused of murdering Williams and dumping her body in trash outside a building on East 27th Street. Her corpse was discovered wrapped up in a sleeping bag on Friday. Medical examiners said she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Shocking video shows a frenzied mob attacking wheelchair-bound Irish as he was loaded into a police vehicle. A crowd, including Williams' family, was waiting for the suspect as he was wheeled out of a residential building in a gurney. The suspect in the shooting of a 31-year-old woman in New York has been violently attacked by a vigilante mob while being taken into custody The body of Yazmeen Williams was discovered wrapped up in a sleeping bag on Friday As he emerged, a man shouted: 'Don't feed that f**king pr**k for weeks' while others yelled, 'Kill him!'. As he was wheeled towards the door, the crowd pushed up against the glass door and began pounding the glass and screaming. The chaos only escalated further when Irish was brought outside, with cops struggling to hold back the surging crowd who yelled 'Come outside!'. Police were soon overwhelmed however as the mob chased after him and began raining blows down on him. A woman could be heard wailing as Irish tried to proclaim his innocence. 'You killed my daughter!' Williams' mom Nicole yelled as he was loaded into the van and the crowd continued to bang the sides of the vehicle. 'He looks likes scum,' Nicole added while sobbing and struggling to catch her breath. 'They said she's dead. I fainted and the officer had to pick me up off the floor,' she told the New York Post. Chad Irish, 55, is accused of murdering Yazmeen Williams and dumping her body in trash outside a building on East 27th Street Prior to his arrest, a crowd including Williams' mom Nicole (bottom right) gathered outside his apartment building An NYC resident stumbled across a woman's body wrapped in a garbage bag on a busy sidewalk last week Investigators said she died from a gunshot wound to the head 'She's my baby. We got to get justice for her. She didn't deserve what happened to her.' NYPD officers responded to a report of a suspicious package amid trash in front of on 27th Street and Third Avenue in Kips Bay on the east side of Manhattan just before 5pm on Friday. NYPD officers responded to a report of a suspicious package amid trash in front of on 27th Street and Third Avenue in Kips Bay on the east side of Manhattan just before 5pm on Friday. Rian Robbins, the passer-by who was unlucky enough to make the chilling discovery, said she was suspicious of the package because flies were circling it. 'I walked by and turned around, there were flies swarming all over it. And I saw what that looked like a ribcage,' Rian Robbins told AMNY. They were cleaning out the building, so I was like maybe it's some old thing they threw out.' Robbins said the body was left lying on what appeared to be a cart. 'It was on a rolling cart that was tied to the thing,' Robbins said. 'It was big and bloated like it had been in water.' Williams' distraught mother Nicole begged for the mob to kill the suspect The victim was identified by her mother Nicole Williams as Yazmeen Williams (pictured) Horrified onlookers inside the lobby of a nearby building also filmed disturbing video of detectives cutting into the body bag on the street. Ted Oehmke, who also witnessed cops slicing open the bag, gave gruesome details of what he saw to DailyMail.com. 'There was a hole cut in the top of the bag and what looked like the top of a head,' he said. 'I'd like to say I was shocked but I'm not. It's a sign of the times, that's all.' 'It looked like whoever did it went to a lot of trouble to make sure it was wrapped up and stuck out in the open,' Oehmke added. 'But I was pretty surprised to see it sitting there in the regular garbage as if sanitation was going to take it away.' Officials said they believe the corpse had been on the street for some time because other residents had reported a stench in the area before Robbins. NYPD officers cordoned off the area as forensic teams combed the scene. Most National Assembly seats are split fairly evenly among left, centre and right French MPs have plunged into tense negotiations today after hotly contested elections left the government adrift with no party close to a majority and sparked fears over the future of the nation's economy. Having emerged with a shock victory on Sunday, new MPs from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance began visiting their new workplaces in parliament ahead of a first session on July 18. But the coalition of Greens, Socialists, Communists and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) is still debating who to put forward as a potential prime minister. And their most prominent figurehead, LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, has been dismissed as a potential candidate not only by Macron's centrists but even by members of his own alliance. Meanwhile, France could face more economic turmoil if the NFP succeeds in implementing plans to roll back Macron's widely loathed 2023 pension reform amid threats from credit raters. The alliance plans a huge spending spree that would reduce the pension age from 64 to 60, boost public sector wages and freeze prices of essential goods, but Macron's camp warned this could cost as much as 300 billion. France is already grappling with a budget deficit of 5.5% of GDP, and rater Moody's warned it could downgrade its credit score for the nation's more than 3 trillion pile of debt if the NFP follows through on reversing pension reform. Such a move from 'stable' to 'negative' could increase borrowing costs for France, dramatically reduce investor confidence and potentially strain public finances yet further. The surprise victory of the NFP also set alarm bells ringing for the nation's wealthy over plans to roll out an eye-watering 90% income tax on high earners. Jean-Luc Melenchon of the La France Insoumise party speaks to the media and arrives at the National Assembly French Parliamentary Elections, Paris, France - 09 Jul 2024 French newly-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the La France Insoumise (LFI) party Sebastien Delogu (R) speaks to newly-elected Members of Parliament (MP) gathered at France's National Assembly in Paris on July 9, 2024 Emmanuel Macron avoided that which he feared the most in France's stunning parliamentary elections yesterday as Marine Le Pen's hard-right National Rally failed to scoop an absolute majority, instead suffering a shock defeat Protesters are seen in central Paris during parliamentary elections Bicycles burn during tensions near Republique plaza following the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris Participants gather during an election night rally following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election at Place de la Republique in Paris, France on July 7, 2024 Even before the election took place, financial advisers reported a huge influx of enquiries off the back of Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap election, with well-off French citizens considering a move to more fiscally favourable territories such as Italy, the historic tax haven of Switzerland, and Spain. But the victory of the NFP over Macron's centrists and the hard-right National Rally (RN) this Sunday has forced France's elite to seriously consider how their fortunes would fare given the very real prospect of a dramatic tax-and-spend economic policy. 'People are worried about a wealth tax, the end of the flat tax and potential higher taxation on salaries, as well as an overall atmosphere that is not pro-business,' said Vincent Lazimi, a partner at law firm Jeantet in Paris, in comments leading up the the snap election. Gregory Soudjoukdjian, a Parisian wealth adviser, told the FT following Macron's election call: 'I'm not sure I've had this many calls since the start of my career... our high-end clientele are asking themselves a lot of questions. 'The question we get asked most frequently is if money is safe in France,' he added. The concerns of France's wealthy were raised as the finance minister declared the nation is facing the prospect of an 'immediate financial crisis' after the government was left in deadlock following the narrow NFP victory. Bruno Le Maire celebrated the loss of the hard-right RN, which Macron's centrists had feared could storm to a majority, but warned warring parties must come to an agreement and form a coalition in short order. He also lambasted the economic policies set forth by the NFP, writing: 'The most immediate risk is a financial crisis and France's economic decline. 'The application of the New Popular Front's disruptive programme would destroy the results of the policies that we have pursued for seven years... 'This project is exorbitant, ineffective and dated. Its legitimacy is weak and circumstantial. It must not be applied,' he concluded. Defying the predictions of political experts, French polls and the world's media, the NFP came from behind on Sunday to eke out a victory with more than 180 seats in France's National Assembly. That placed them just ahead of President Macron's centrist 'Together' coalition on more than 160, while the hard-right National Rally (RN) ended up in third place with just over 140 seats, despite having led the race convincingly after the first round of elections just one week ago. This means the overwhelming majority of seats are now split fairly evenly between three factions, all of which harbour very different ideas about the future of France with little interest in forming a coalition. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI), talks to journalists in front of the National Assembly in Paris after the second round of the early French parliamentary elections, France, July 9, 2024 Far-left France Unbowed party member Manuel Bompard speaks to reporters outside the party headquarters Monday, July 8, 2024 French finance minister Bruno Le Maire lambasted the tax-and-spend economic policies set forth by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Young people shout slogans at the rally held after the results of the second round of the legislative elections were announced at Place de la Republique. Paris (France), July 7, 2024 PARIS: A protester throws a projectile near burning bicycles during clashes with police after the exit polls Melenchon - a permanent fixture of the French left and a divisive firebrand dubbed the 'French Jeremy Corbyn' - has declared the NFP must be given the reigns so it can begin implementing its policies. 'The president must invite the New Popular Front to govern,' he said, characterising the election results as a damning indictment of Macron and his centrist party. But his hopes of personally dragging France sharply leftward appear dead in the water after members of Macron's party ruled out forming a coalition with what they see as a tax-and-spend, pro-Gaza figure who many in France view as an antisemitic radical. Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who is seen as a possible Macron successor in 2027, said any potential coalition government 'cannot be the work of a single man' and dismissed any prospect of working with Melenchon's hard-hard left LFI, or the hard-right RN. 'The credibility of our country could be damaged by this and the centrist political forces must without compromise make an agreement to stabilise politics - but without France Unbowed and the RN,' he said. Even leading members of Melenchon's own alliance have admitted they do not think he is the right man for the job. Socialist leader Olivier Faure claimed Melenchon 'is the most divisive figure within the NFP,' while one Greens party lawmaker speaking on condition of anonymity said bluntly: 'Melenchon is a problem.' In the French system, the president nominates the prime minister, who must be able to survive a confidence vote in parliament - a tricky proposition with three closely-balanced political forces in play. Any left-leaning government would need 'broader support in the National Assembly,' influential Socialist MP Boris Vallaud acknowledged in an interview with broadcaster France Inter. 'None of the three leading blocs can govern alone,' Stephane Sejourne, head of Macron's Renaissance party, wrote in French daily Le Monde today. 'The centrist bloc is ready to talk to all the members of the republican spectrum,' he added - while naming red lines including that coalition members must support the EU and Ukraine and maintain business-friendly policies. These requirements, he warned, 'necessarily exclude LFI' and Melenchon. Manuel Bompard (pictured), coordinator of France Unbowed, said the coalition was 'preparing to govern' While France's political factions continue to squabble with no immediate prospect of a stable coalition, Macron is seeking to capitalise on the chaos The president refused the resignation of his protege Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (pictured) and instructed him to stay in place as the government sits in limbo Founder of left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon gestures following the first results of the second round of France's legislative election at La Rotonde Stalingrad in Paris on July 7, 2024 A crowd of demonstrators gather on the Republic square in Paris to celebrate the victory of the left-wing NFP alliance PARIS: French CRS riot police run past burning bicycles during clashes with demonstrators While France's political factions continue to squabble with no immediate prospect of a stable coalition, Macron is seeking to capitalise on the chaos. Yesterday, the President refused the resignation of his protege Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and instructed him to stay in place as the government sits in limbo to continue presiding over the day-to-day management of the country. Macron will be hoping that Attal remaining in his post will portray his centrist 'Together' alliance as a stabilising force, and that the Prime Minister will help to maintain some kind of political continuity as Paris gears up to host the Olympic Games at the end of the month. But the president has given no further indication as to what his next move may be. In a sign of rising tensions between the left and the Elysee Palace, LFI president Manuel Bompard suggested that Macron was trying to defy the will of the people by maintaining Attal. He urged Macron to 'respect' the election result, adding: 'There is no question of Gabriel Attal's contribution as Prime Minister, wiping out the vote of the French people.' Macron's supporters have a very different view of the election, which they said ended inconclusively. Gerald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior of France, said 'No one won' and claimed that both the Rally and the NPF 'had lost'. Sylvain Maillard, an MP with Macron's group, said the search for a new prime minister could take 'several weeks'. 'The French people have chosen a parliament with three blocks of roughly equal size,' he said, adding that the centrist bloc would be open to forming a government with other MPs except those belonging to Marine Le Pen's RN or Melenchon's LFI. Macron's office has simply said the will 'wait for the new National Assembly to organise itself' before making decisions on a new government. There is no firm timeline for when Macron must name a prime minister, and no firm rule that he has to pick someone from the largest party or bloc in parliament - but an ongoing political paralysis would spell disaster for the nation. Under France's Constitution, he still holds power over foreign policy, European affairs and defence, and is in charge of negotiating and ratifying international treaties. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and holds the nuclear codes. A man has been arrested after hurling his mother-in-law to her death from a fifth floor balcony because she was 'too much of a burden'. Grainy footage shows the horrific moment the 84-year-old woman was dropped 50ft in the Russian city of Artyom in the Primorsky region from an apartment building. She died on the spot from multiple injuries, it was reported. Her identity has not been disclosed. Her son-in-law, aged 54, has been detained by police on suspicion of murder. Another clip shows the unnamed man in handcuffs being escorted by police. Moment Russian man, now detained for murder, has thrown his mother-in-law from fifth floor to her death in Artyom, Far East of Russia Russian man (handcuffed) detained for murder after throwing mother-in-law from fifth floor to her death. The man faces up to 15 years behind bars The suspect told officers he wanted to 'relieve' his son of carrying duties for the pensioner, as she allegedly had 'limited mobility, and not wanting his son to continue caring for her, believing that this was too much of a burden, he threw the victim from the 5th floor balcony.' The suspect has been remanded in custody for two months pending further investigations. If convicted, he faces a likely 15 years in jail. This comes just days after a woman was jailed for seven and a half years after dropping her new-born daughter out of a window because she was 'worried a baby would ruin her career'. Katarina Jovanovic, 28, from Lauffen am Neckar, Baden-Wuerttemberg State, Germany, was found guilty of manslaughter at the Heilbronn District Court on Wednesday, July 3. Judges heard how she had given birth at home in secret 10 months ago on September 12 and then dropped her baby daughter from her apartment window almost 12 feet onto the tarmac below. Horrified passersby found the minutes-old infant's body with a shattered skull underneath Jovanovic's balcony and called the police. Prosecutors told the court that Jovanovic (pictured) thought being a mother would spoil her career as an executive in Porsche's legal department The new-born was dropped 12 feet out of an apartment window onto the tarmac below (Pictured, general view of the apartment building) Jovanovic admitted to the crime at the beginning of the trial in April but could not explain the moment to the court, ASB Zeitung reported. She also claimed she had not realised she was pregnant. But the prosecution accused her of murder and of deliberately concealing her pregnancy from colleagues and neighbours. Prosecutors told the court that Jovanovic thought being a mother would spoil her career as an executive in Porsche's legal department. Public prosecutor Mareike Hafendoerfer said: 'The accused was not prepared to put her life plans, especially her professional advancement, on hold for a child. 'That was her decision when the baby was born, and as a result, the criteria for a murder conviction are fulfilled.' President Biden is facing a firestorm of criticism and pressure to withdraw from the presidential race from some Democrats, but up on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats have largely held the line backing the president as he vows to stay in the 2024 race. 'As I've said before, I'm for Joe,' declared Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to waiting reporters as he returned from a recess this week. He reiterated that position following lunch with fellow Democratic Senators on Tuesday. Even as some in his caucus have raised questions or concerns over the president's debate performance, no member in the Democrats slim Senate majority have openly called for President Biden to step down so far. What some Democratic senators have done however is pressure the president to prove he's up for the task of a vigorous campaign and second term. President Biden speaking at a campaign event in Philadelphia on Sunday. Some Senate Democrats have expressed concerns but not have turned on the president and called for him to step aside so far 'More than a week since the debate, and after talking to my constituents, I believe President Biden must do more to demonstrate he can campaign strong enough to beat Donald Trump,' said Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WI) in a statement. 'There is such a case to be prosecuted against Donald Trump -- President Biden has to lead the charge in making that case,' she continued. She said they need to see a 'much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up for the job.' Her sentiments were echoed by fellow Democratic Senator Jon Tester who is facing a tough reelection bid in Montana. 'President Biden has got to prove to the American people -- including me -- that he's up for the job for another four years,' Tester told a local reporter. 'Meanwhile, I'll continue to do what I've always done: Stand up to President Biden when he's wrong and protect our Montana way of life,' he added. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said Biden has to 'prove to the American people' that he's 'up for the job for another four years.' Senator Joe Manchin has rarely been one to withhold his views, but when it comes to the state of the presidential race, he said it is too soon to cast judgement in the race. The outgoing West Virginia senator, who recently changed his party registration to Independent but caucuses with Democrats, said he wants to see what direction the president will go and said it will take time. He argued Biden could still win. 'Oh I think it's winnable, sure,' Manchin told reporters. 'I've always said, Donald Trump is a threat to democracy as we know it, so I think people are taking that very seriously. You can't call the race now. This is ridiculous.' Senator Joe Manchin (I-W. Va.) said the 2024 race is still 'winnable' for Biden and that Trump is a 'threat to democracy as we know it' Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado said it's 'really important for us as Democrats to have an open discussion' so they have a path to winning the White House and both chambers of Congress, but he stopped short of calling for the president to step aside. Senator Tina Smith had a similar take where she expressed that she is 'concerned' over Biden's ability to beat Trump and claimed she is hearing that from people in her state of Minnesota. But she said she wanted to Democrats to discuss this week. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin also said she was hearing concerns about Biden's ability to win the election. Baldwin, who is up for reelection in the battleground state, said she thinks everyone is looking carefully at his performance this week. Senator Mark Warner was reportedly trying to put together a meeting to discuss their support for Biden, but it was scrapped as senators returned to Washington. Instead, Warner called for conversations about the strongest path forward and claimed the most important thing is to defeat Trump. He also said Biden needed to be 'more aggressively making his case to the American people.' Retiring Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow said there were concerns but refused to say whether anyone in lunch with Senate Democrats on Tuesday had called for the president to step aside. She likened it to a 'private family discussion.' Stabenow also praised Biden as the 'best president' Michigan has ever had. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon called Biden's debate 'one bad night' and encouraged the president to get out and speak with voters. 'Right now the president has said that he's in, that he's running. Period, full stop,' Wyden said. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) expressed some concerns but called for discussions among Democrats this week Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) called for conversations on the strongest path moving forward. He says Trump is a threat to democracy Others offered a much more forceful endorsement. Coming out of lunch with other Senate Democrats on Tuesday, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said nothing has changed. 'Nothings changed. Joe Biden is our guy, hes my guy and hes the only guy ever to kick Trumps a**,' Fetterman said. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from the battleground state of Nevada said in a statement that Biden won the Democratic nomination 'in a landslide because he fights for working people in this country.' 'He's always had Nevadans' backs, whether it's on the picket lines, protecting our personal freedoms, or lowering costs -- now it's time for us to have his,' she said. 'We need to remember President Biden for 30 years has been someone who does stutter, and who occasionally misspeaks in small ways and not judge him by too high a standard. He's been the most consequential president in my lifetime,' said Senator Chris Coons. Biden's one time rival Senator Bernie Sanders also reaffirmed his support for Biden. Sen. Bernie Sanders on President Biden: What I think is best is for him to get out there, to talk to people, to do town meetings, to do press conferences and let the people decide. That's how I think you determine cognitive ability. pic.twitter.com/yxqD5r92Rz Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 9, 2024 'Right now President Biden is the Democratic nominee. Until I hear differently, I will support him,' Sanders said in an interview with CNN. 'I do believe that if he makes it clear that he is prepared to stand up for working people, take on powerful special interests, yeah he will win the election.' Sanders would not speculate about his support for a replacement if Biden were no longer the nominee: 'Right now Biden is the Democratic nominee. Period.' Other Democratic senators have not address the president's fitness for office publicly to date or the mounting pressure by some party members for him to drop out. California Senator Laphonza Butler would not answer reporters' questions on Tuesday. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin stated whether Biden remains on the ticket remains to be seen. As questions swirl for Senate Democrats, Republicans eye Biden as a way to go after vulnerable senators up for reelection this year. Multiple incumbent Democrats are running in states that Trump won in 2020 and face tough challenges from GOP opponents. The 2024 map appears more friendly for Republicans taking the Senate majority. Republican candidates and party operatives in the past few weeks have seized on the president's debate performance to raise questions about Biden's fitness and attack Democratic senators suggesting they're covering for the president and White House. A mother and son tragically died in a car crash while on their way to celebrate her beating breast cancer. Beatriz Aparecida Frederico, 33, and her youngest child, David Miguel Frederico de Oliveira, five, were on their way to a theme park when their car slammed into another vehicle during a rainstorm on Sunday in Lages, Brazil. Beatriz was sitting in the backseat while her husband Deivid, 36, and older son Diogo, 16, were in the front of the car. The family were celebrating Beatriz being free from cancer following her final radiation treatment on June 11. In a heartbreaking social media post at the time, the mother-of-two described feeling 'grateful' to have overcome the disease. Beatriz Aparecida Frederico, 33, and her youngest child, David Miguel Frederico de Oliveira, five, were on their way to a theme park when their car slammed into another vehicle during a rainstorm on Sunday in Lages, Brazil . (pictured: The mother and son in February) Beatriz's cousin said that her husband and teenage son found out that she and David died on Monday morning. (pictured: Beatriz in 2021) Both Deivid and Diogo were taken to a nearby hospital where they underwent surgery. Tributes have poured in for the 'protective' mother and her son who were pronounced dead at the scene. Beatriz's cousin, Lais Dela Justina, told Floripa Newspaper that Deivis and Diogo are stable. She added that they found out about their loved ones' deaths on Monday morning. Emergency services have urgently requested blood donations for the father and son because their blood types are rare and in low supply. The mother and son were pronounced dead at the scene while her husband, Deivid, and their older son, Diogo, were taken to the hospital and rushed into surgery The family's car, driven by Beatriz's husband and David's father, Deivid Francis de Oliveira, 36, collided with another vehicle on BR-282 during a rainstorm Beatriz, described by her cousin as a 'protective mother', was buried alongside David in the Parque da Saudade Cemetery in Lages on Monday, according to Need To Know. Francis Barbearia, the barber shop Deivid works for, posted a heartfelt statement about the family's tragic loss, Floripa Newspaper reported. 'It is with great sadness and pain in our hearts that we announce the death of Deivid's wife, Beatriz Frederico, and his youngest son, Davi. 'We also inform you of the real health condition of Deivid and his oldest son, Diogo. 'Both are hospitalized at the Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres Hospital and underwent surgery. According to medical information, they are fine and are not in danger of dying! 'We kindly ask that you share this statement, which is the correct information!!! 'With faith, we ask that you join in prayer for Deivid and his son Diogo and that you send strength to the entire grieving family. Tributes have poured in for the 'protective' mother and her son (pictured together) who were pronounced dead at the scene The shop added: 'We deeply regret this fatality and count on everyone's support and prayers. We maintain our faith in God!' The family car collided with another vehicle on BR-282 during a rainstorm. The driver in the other car, a 31-year-old policeman, and his 61-year-old mother, in the passenger seat, were both taken to the hospital with injuries. The mother was left unconscious by the crash and her son suffered facial injuries. Their current condition is unknown and the fatal accident is being investigated. It comes after an adorable eight-year-old boy and his parents were killed in a horror car crash by a drunk driver who was also high on marijuana, search warrants revealed. Jordan Porter, 25, ran a red light in his Chevy Trailblazer before crashing into a blue Mazda CX5 Select and a black Cadillac Escalade at the intersection on US-70 in Garner, North Carolina. Tyler Campbell, 28, and his wife Susan Campbell, 29 were pronounced dead at the scene while their son, Miles Campbell, was taken to WakeMed Hospital in critical condition. The day after the crash Miles was declared brain dead and his organs were donated to save others. Thousands of Scots with long-term health conditions are at risk of a summer covid spike because they are unvaccinated. Public health experts say uptake of covid boosters has slumped since the peak of the pandemic and now fewer than half of some patients have had a recent vaccine. It comes as covid cases have surged this summer. The number of weekly confirmed cases rose to 1,153 at the end of June, up from 441 at the start of the month. But the real number will be far higher as there is no longer a requirement for people to test themselves for covid or report their test results. Uptake of covid booster jabs has fallen in Scotland since the height of the pandemic Now research by Public Health Scotland has revealed fewer people with long term health conditions were vaccinated this winter. Experts warned one reason for declining uptake is the public being told to learn to live with the virus, but those with long-term conditions remain at a higher risk of complications. Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush, Assistant Professor in Medical Anthropology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said: Declining levels of COVID-19 vaccination in the at-risk cohort in Scotland is arguably a reflection of UK residents being told to learn to live with the virus. 'Yet, people under the age of 65 living with long-term conditions still have a higher risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death from catching COVID-19. To tackle the problem, we must ensure that primary and specialist clinical teams consistently recommend vaccination and convey the importance of vaccination for managing long-term conditions. 'All staff dealing with patients with long-term conditions should get the training they need to be able to confidently handle questions about vaccines and vaccination. Those at risk of complications from covid, such as people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart conditions and other long-term illnesses are given boosters. During the peak of the pandemic, when the vaccines were first launched, uptake in these vulnerable groups was almost 100 per cent. But the PHS analysis of five major long-term conditions shows it has halved, and the health watchdog says around 130,000 Scots with these long-term conditions remain unvaccinated. The spring vaccine programme ended on 30 June 2024, though some health boards may be offering catch-up drop-in clinics. The PHS research concluded a total of around 127,000 Scots in the five at-risk groups are unvaccinated. Michelle Falconer, Nurse Consultant at Public Health Scotland said: Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from severe COVID-19. 'If you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, please come forward when invited and take the opportunity to bolster your protection. Covid cases are rising again following a number of global events including the Euros where a number of Tartan Army fans tested positive after falling ill when they came home. People with long term health conditions are offered covid vaccines because they are more at risk of complications, such as breathing difficulties, heart or kidney problems or risk of another stroke. Among those with COPD, vaccine uptake fell from 99.9 per cent in 2021 to 44 per cent by winter 2023-24. For those with chronic kidney disease uptake fell from 99.9 per cent in 2021 to 56.4 per cent in 2023-24. It has also slumped from similarly high levels earlier in the pandemic to 44.5 per cent in those with heart disease, to 48 per cent in people who have previously had a stroke and to 56.4 per cent in those with chronic kidney disease. For those with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes an irregular heart rate, uptake fell from almost 100 per cent to 47.7 per cent. The body of an American mountaineer who disappeared more than two decades ago as he tried to climb one of the highest peaks in the Andes has been found. William Stampfl was reported missing in June 2002, aged 59, when an avalanche buried his climbing party on Mount Huascaran in the Ancash region of Peru. His remains were found in ice on Friday, exactly 22 years and three days after the anniversary of his death, Stampfl's family has revealed. A pair of climbers and their guide found Stampfl in the Cordillera Blanca range during their descent of the mountain after his remains had been exposed by an ice melt. Stampfl's body, as well as his clothes, harness and boots had been well-preserved by the ice and freezing temperatures. His ID was found among his possessions, allowing for the climbers to identify him and contact his loved ones. The family worked with local guides and authorities to recover his remains over the weekend. His body was then put in a morgue in the city of Huaraz. The body of American mountaineer William Stampfl, who disappeared more than two decades ago as he tried to climb one of the highest peaks in the Andes, was found by a climbing party last week. Pictured are rescuers recovering his body from the peak Stampfl's body, as well as his clothes, harness and boots had been well-preserved by the ice and freezing temperatures. His ID was found among his possessions, allowing for the climbers to identify him Stampfl died with friends Matthew Richardson and Steve Erskine when they attempted to ascend the more than 22,000ft high mountain in 2002. His body was found on June 27 near a camp 17,060ft above sea level as a climber, his brother and their guide were descending down the mountain. The mountaineer's loved ones claim the 'incredibly respectful' party used their online network to locate Stampfl's family and alert them of the discovery. The family then liaised with local officials to organize the recovery. Erskine's body was found shortly after the avalanche, but Richardson's is still missing. Stampfl was reported missing in June 2002, aged 59, when an avalanche buried his climbing party on Mount Huascaran. His remains were found this month after an ice melt The mountains of northeastern Peru, home to snowy peaks such as Huascaran and Cashan, are a favorite with mountaineers from around the world. Hundreds of climbers visit the mountain each year with local guides, and it takes them about a week to reach the summit. There has been an increase in the discoveries of remains of missing hikers, skiers and climbers as glaciers increasingly melt worldwide. In May, the body of an Israeli hiker was found in the Andes nearly a month after he disappeared. And last month, an experienced Italian mountaineer was found dead after he fell while trying to scale another Andean peak. Peruvian mountain police and mountain rescue workers transport the remains of American climber William Stampfl down the mountain The Stampfl family worked with local guides and authorities to recover his remains over the weekend. His body was then put in a morgue in the city of Huaraz. Pictured are rescuers during the recovery effort The Andes are home to some of the fastest-disappearing glaciers and ice packs in the world, a study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization revealed last year. Over the last 40 years, the region has reportedly lost between 30 and 50 per cent of its ice cover, with some of the area's 'most valuable' glaciers having disappeared. A hunter has described how he gunned down a charging brown bear with a handgun just seconds before it mauled his party. Tyce Erickson was stalking bears on Kodiak Island in Alaska in May, hoping to bag one with his bow from close range. On the second-to-last day of the two-week hunt in remote wilderness, he finally spotted a bear he could sneak up on and kill. The father-of-four crept up on the 1,000-pound bear, hoping to get a shot from 30 feet away, but spooked it as he approach and it retreated. Tyce Erickson gunned down this charging brown bear with a handgun just seconds before it mauled his party during a hunt on Kodiak Island, Alaska Erickson, a father-of-four, was hoping to bag a bear with his bow from close range Not wanting to leave the expensive hunt empty-handed, he borrowed his hunting partner's rifle and shot at the bear from 50 feet - but missed. His second shot hit, but the bear disappeared from view and he wasn't sure whether he took it down, so the hunting party moved around to see it. The bear was not where they expected it to be lying, so it was still alive and walking away leaving a blood trail that they followed. After tracking the bear for about two miles, the bear decided it had enough and it charged down the side of a hill at its pursuers. 'Suddenly you hear this [noise like a bear's howl] and this bear just erupts out of the alder [trees] right at Ryan, our guide,' he told the Back Country Hunting podcast. Erickson was about 10 feet behind Ryan and watched as he fired at and hit the charging bear in the chest, but failed to stop its advance. 'He pulls his rifle out just in time as the bear's about 20 feet from him, coming right at him. Boom and he shoots... and when he steps back, his leg gets stuck and he falls onto his back and he yells, "Help, help,"' he said. Erickson, pictured with his wife Rachel, is an experienced hunter Erickson runs a bird dog training company and hunts with friends in his spare time Erickson didn't have a clear shot past Ryan with his 10mm Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0, so he crawled through bushes until he could get to Ryan's side - just as the bear resumed its charge. 'I got to his side... at this point he's only about 12 feet off my barrel and pulled out my handgun and just unloaded on him,' he said. 'I didn't really have time to get nervous... it was getting real right now, just in that second [I was thinking] I'm saving Ryan's life. I shot three times... and by the third shot, it ended up taking him down. 'It's rolling down the hill and hits the alders, and it was like we killed the dragon that was destroying the village, we were cheering, it was an adrenaline rush.' Ryan poked the bear to make sure it was dead and it growled and raised its head, so he shot it again through the shoulder to finish it off. After tracking the bear for about two miles, the bear decided it had enough and it would charge down the side of a hill at its pursuers Erickson hit the bear with at least two of his three shots, in the back and neck, bringing it down Erickson said the assistant guide was so far away that the cheering sounded like screaming and together with so many shots he thought 'someone just died.' 'I didn't want to have that experience, but it made [the hunt] exciting,' he said. 'You never like to see an animal suffer but I'm glad we were able to get him and recover the animal and have those experiences that we get to tell kids and our families and friends.' Erickson said at least two of his handgun shots hit the bear in the back and neck, and his rifle shot that first wounded it hit the back of its knee. Hunting bear is legal on Kodiak Island, as controlling the male bear population prevents them from killing too many cubs so they can mate with the females. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issues only four bear licenses a year in the area they were hunting, each of which is very expensive. Boris Johnson led a Tory backlash today after Labour ditched 'Levelling Up' - with the former prime minister claiming Sir Keir Starmer 'will axe Brexit next'. The ex-premier warned 'the drift backwards has begun' and accused the new Labour Government of a 'lack of ambition and a failure to believe in this country's potential'. He hit out after Angela Rayner, the new Deputy PM, dropped 'Levelling Up' from her Whitehall department as she vowed to ditch 'gimmicks and slogans'. Since Labour's election win, Ms Rayner has taken charge of what was previously known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). But she confirmed today she was returning to its old name of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The 'Levelling Up' title was added to the department in September 2021 as part of Mr Johnson's mission to spread opportunity across the UK. Boris Johnson led a Tory backlash today after Labour ditched 'Levelling Up' - with the former prime minister claiming Sir Keir Starmer 'will axe Brexit next' The ex-premier warned 'the drift backwards has begun' and accused Sir Keir's new Labour Government of a 'lack of ambition and a failure to believe in this country's potential' The ex-PM posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, this afternoon: 'Axing Levelling Up shows lack of ambition and a failure to believe in this country's potential. 'Labour will axe Brexit next. Then they will pointlessly whack up taxes. The drift backwards has begun.' Tory MP Danny Kruger, an ally of Mr Johnson, challenged Labour to remain committed to the former premier's goal of spreading opportunity across the UK. Asked on the BBC's Politics Live show if Levelling Up was now 'dead and buried', he replied: 'It looks like it. 'I look forward to Labour governing without any soundbites, that would be tremendous news for us all. 'The principle of Levelling Up was the right one. There was a great injustice in our economy, historically, going back many, many decades. 'The mission of Levelling Up was to spread opportunity everywhere. I hope Labour is committed to doing that and there was progress made in the last five years. 'I hope they're not chucking out all the good stuff that's been done hitherto.' Mr Kruger, a former No10 aide to Mr Johnson, denied that Levelling Up was merely a slogan. He added: 'No. It was very much more than a slogan. 'There was a whole range of commitments around funding but also around devolution, around industrial strategy, around investment in our infrastructure and in productivity.' As she confirmed she was ditching Levelling Up from her department's name, Ms Rayne said today: 'A Government of public service means fixing the fundamentals to deliver for the British people. 'No more gimmicks and slogans, but the hard yards of governing in the national interest.' Angela Rayner has dropped 'Levelling Up' from her Whitehall department as she vowed to ditch 'gimmicks and slogans' Since Labour's election win, Ms Rayner has taken charge of what was previously known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) But Ms Rayner, pictured next to Sir Keir Starmer at a No10 meeting today, confirmed today she was returning to its old name of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Former Tory Cabinet minister Sajid Javid welcomed Labour's move to return the department to its old name Jim McMahon, who has been appointed as one of Ms Rayner's ministers at MHCLG, said the old name had been 'firmly Tippexed out of the department yesterday' as part of an effort to 'refocus' on local government. He told the BBC: 'Why that is important for me is Levelling Up was only ever a slogan, it wasn't a thing that people felt in their communities.' The name change is the fourth in the department's history. It started as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2001, before becoming the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2006, MHCLG in 2018, DLUHC in 2021 and now MHCLG once again. Before last week's general election, Labour figures had suggested the party would ditch the 'Levelling Up' title if it won power. Ms Rayner told the Financial Times she was focused on 'fundamentals' and not 'a slogan'. Former Tory Cabinet minister Sajid Javid welcomed Labour's move to return the department to its old name. He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, today: 'Welcome the move to bring back the name of MHCLG, an excellent department I was privileged to lead. 'Whether housing, social care or community cohesion, local government has a big role to play in tackling policy challenges. 'A small change, but a welcome signal of intent.' Kim McGuinness, the Labour mayor of the North East, told Times Radio the idea of Levelling Up was 'absolutely toxified by the Tories'. She said: 'I think it was absolutely toxified by the Tories. I think it's seen as a failed project. 'And I'm glad the term's gone because, as I said, for people in our region, it brings a grimace to their face. 'And I think that's a real shame because, of course, what we do want to see is that gap between North and South close and actually those inequalities in our own regions close.' A Conservative spokesman said: 'The Conservative Levelling Up agenda has been transformative for towns across the country, giving communities that Labour took for granted when they were last in office the investment they deserve. 'Labour's decision to scrap Levelling Up will be a disaster for these towns, and their refusal to rule out clawing back 1billion of Conservative funding from local communities for Labour politicians to spend in Westminster puts the future of our communities at risk.' Heart-stopping video footage shows the moment a Florida man plummets 60 feet into a creek after a branch he was standing on broke beneath him. Christopher James Sikes Smalley was enjoying a day at Crystal Springs, a popular swimming spot in Vernon, when a branch he was climbing on snapped. He said he originally climbed the tree with the intention of jumping off on his own volition, but the plan did not go accordingly. A clip shows Smalley hanging on to a branch above him with one hand and balancing on top of another. Suddenly, the branch below Smalley gave way, causing him to fall and hitting other branches before landing in the water. Christopher James Sikes Smalley was enjoying a day at Crystal Springs, a popular swimming spot in Vernon, when a branch beneath him snapped The incident, caught on camera, shows Smalley hanging on to a branch above him with one hand and balancing on top of another. Suddenly, the branch below Smalley gave way, causing him to fall and hitting other branches before landing in the water. 'It was wild! I heard the crack and knew things were getting real, real fast,' Smalley told Storyful. 'This was my first time jumping from that high up. Usually I just use the lower branch.' Despite the dramatic fall, Smalley didn't break a single bone, and walked away with only some leg and foot bruising. House Democrats emerged from a critical private meeting on Joe Biden's future sullen, scrambled and downcast - as though they just got out of a funeral procession. The summer heat beat down on dejected Democrats as they exited a secretive closed-door meeting where it appears there was no agreement made about Biden's future at the top of the 2024 ticket. Not a single Democrat who emerged from the hour-long session indicated that there was consensus on whether Biden, 81, has the full backing of the caucus at his age over a week since his disastrous debate. One lawmaker admitted to DailyMail.com there were major disagreements inside at the meeting over whether Biden has the health and wherewithal to secure the nomination. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., emerged saying that not only are Democrats not on the same page, 'we are not even in the same book.' One anonymous Democrat lawmaker supportive of the president told Punchbowl News the meeting 'felt like a funeral.' Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., said that Democrats are not on the same page about whether Joe Biden is capable of running for reelection. He added they are 'not even in the same book' There is no consensus on whether Biden was the man best suited for the presidency, the lawmaker added. Another nameless Democrat who attended the Biden meeting told Semafor, 'The morale of the caucus is at historic lows.' When asked about the funeral comparison they said, 'That is an insult to funerals.' A few expressed support for President Joe Biden remaining atop the party's ticket, but the vast majority of Democrats refused to answer questions about whether they supported the incumbent. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, the first Democrat to publicly call on the president to withdraw from the contest last week, seemed to be pulled back from the brink by his pro-Biden colleagues. 'I made my case for Biden and for a replacement,' he said - indicating that despite his July 2 statement calling on Joe to withdraw, the Texan also argued in favor of the president. Senior Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York - who expressed he wanted Biden to withdraw during a private phone call between lawmakers Sunday - said Tuesday that he had flipped positions and that he is now on the president's side. 'He's our nominee and we've got to elect him,' he said coming out of the meeting. Though, when pressed on whether he has concerns about the president, he retorted, 'I am not going to comment on that now.' Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., who similarly expressed on the Sunday phone call he wanted to see Biden step aside, ignored questions on whether he was supportive of Biden after the meeting. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Cali., (second from right) keeps a straight face while ignoring reporter questions after the crucial meeting Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., a friend of Biden, looked downcast while leaving the meeting. She did not answer any questions about what went on inside On the call he reportedly said Biden 'is not the best person to carry the Democratic message.' But on Tuesday after exiting the meeting he kept a steady gaze on the horizon and made no facial expressions indicating whether his previous concerns had been addressed. He certainly did not speak out against the president. A friend of Biden, Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., also excited the building without addressing any of the questions hurled her way. Just last month she ferociously supported the president against a bombshell Wall Street Journal report calling into question his age and ability, calling the report 'bulls***' and saying he was capable of the presidency. She did not answer whether there were any reservations about the president in the private Democrat meeting. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignored questions when walking into the meeting Progressives seemed to be galvanized around the president, however, just a day after Squad leader Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez confirmed she is supporting Biden. 'I have spoken with [Biden] extensively,' AOC revealed. 'The matter is closed. Joe Biden is our nominee.' Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said Tuesday after the meeting that she was 'not distracted by a 90-minute debate' and instead is 'focused on guarding against 90 years of harm.' Her fellow Squad member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., also said she was for the president, noting how right-wingers are attacking him just like they do to her. When members were asked whether Democrats had an agreement on anything from the meeting many stayed silent - indicating they have not reached a consensus on Biden's place atop the party's ticket. The meeting may have raised more questions than it answered as many of the Democrats who were talking about their support of Biden heading into the meeting were silent on their way out. And as reporters were largely ignored after the private meeting, it is unlikely that lawmakers will stop receiving questions about their support for Biden any time soon. General Sir Patrick Sanders is clearly a man who believes in going out with a bang rather than a whimper. The recently retired chief of the general staff yesterday issued a blood-curdling warning to Britains defence establishment in which he argued that the West has only until the end of the decade to rearm sufficiently to ward off a Russian attack on Nato soil which would trigger a World War III-style conflict. The ex-head of the British Army also claimed that the new axis powers of Russia, China and Iran represented a greater threat to the free world than Hitler and the Nazis did in 1939 as they are more interdependent and more aligned than the original Axis powers were. Devastation caused by yesterday's Russian missile strike on Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, which specialises in treating child cancer victims Adolf Hitler. Are those who say Putin is a 21st century version of the Fuhrer just scaremongering? Not all the top brass speak in such apocalyptic terms, of course. Britains defence chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin last month chose the 80th anniversary of D-Day a time for sobering reflection on the horrors of war - to reassure the nation. He claimed the likelihood of Britain finding itself embroiled in another huge conflict, this time with Russia, was small. Putin does not want a war with Nato, Radakin declared. Putin does not want a nuclear war. He must hope he is right - although I am far from certain he is. Are those who portray Vladimir Putin as a 21st century Hitler just scaremongering? Or is the threat of Russia attacking, say, Poland or the Baltic states, triggering an all-out conflict with Nato that could easily go nuclear, an eventuality the risks of which we would be foolish to downplay? As if to highlight this danger, China and Belarus started joint military exercises a few miles from the Polish border just as the latest Nato summit kicked off in Washington DC. On the day after Russia launched a sickening attack on a childrens hospital in Kyiv, our new Foreign and Defence Secretaries, David Lammy and John Healey, co-authored a newspaper article to say that they would use the summit to urge other countries to increase their defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. They can talk the talk but can they walk the walk? While Rishi Sunak committed the Tories to reaching that figure by 2030 during the election campaign, Labour will still only pledge to accelerate spending to 2.5 per cent as soon as possible. With President Joe Biden in crisis and the Nato-sceptic Donald Trump looking ever more likely to make a return to the White House, it has never been more important for Nato to announce a timeline for its member countries to reach the new target. For Ukraine is only one of three key flashpoints that threaten the world order as we know it. China remains a constant threat to Taiwan and the Israeli conflict in Gaza could well escalate into a wider regional war. Nevertheless, Russias war in Ukraine is the clear and present danger. As someone who spent three decades covering conflicts around the world as a foreign correspondent before becoming a military historian, Im firmly of the view that - backed into a corner - Putin is capable of anything. The Kremlin has long been peddling the narrative that a showdown with Nato is inevitable and an attack on Poland in response to some trumped-up provocation could rally the nation behind him. Young patients are cradled after yesterday's missile strike in Ukraine Vladimir Putin wants to leave his mark on history as a restorer of Russian might US intelligence already believes that there is a real prospect of Putin ordering the use of battlefield nuclear munitions if the situation in Ukraine significantly worsens. And I, for one, am convinced that, given the prospect of defeat and disgrace, Putin is quite capable of going out in a Hitlerian Gotterdammerung - a catastrophic act of mass destruction. Ever since the start of the war, state propaganda has been preparing the Russian people for it going nuclear. Only last month, a military analyst boasted on Russia-1, the main state-owned TV channel, that in just 10 or 15 minutes 30 to 40 Russian nukes could make the state of Poland and the Polish people disappear. We may comfort ourselves with the thought that missile launch protocols do not allow a leader acting alone to start a nuclear war and that wiser heads further down the chain of command would refuse to carry out such an order. But who knows? The inner workings of the Kremlin remain remarkably opaque even to our security services. Optimists such as Sir Tony Radakin are convinced that Russia will eventually lose in Ukraine. The war has placed a huge strain on Russias economy and its standing in Europe and America, such as it was, has hit rock bottom. If peace were to be declared tomorrow, it would take Moscow decades to repair the reputational damage and restore normal relations with the West. And then there are the half a million casualties the armed forces have suffered since the invasion began. Russians take a masochistic pride in their ability to suffer but even they have limits. Public disquiet can only grow as the recruiting sergeants turn to big cities like Moscow and St Petersburg in search of fresh cannon fodder. So logic may appear, ostensibly, to be on Radakins side. But, as he must surely know by now, Putin does not operate on reason alone. After 24 years in power, he is not interested if he ever was - in mundane considerations of what is best for his people. His overwhelming concern is to leave his mark on history as a restorer of Russian might, an achievement that would grant him a place in school textbooks alongside Peter the Great and Joseph Stalin. General Sir Patrick Sanders, the recently retired chief of the general staff, is clearly a man who believes in going out with a bang rather than a whimper History tells us that it is always wise to take dictators at their word and not discount their wilder utterances as fantasies. No one can predict with certainty the outcome of the current conflict but Radakin is probably right when he says that in the long term Russia is likely to lose. This is a war of attrition. The Kremlins switch to a war economy and its ability, for the time being at least, to replace losses of men and material are worrying for the West. But the financial and human costs are colossal and, in time, will translate into political problems for Putin. Even in a society fed on lies, certain truths are impossible to hide. Putin believed that democracies cannot march in step for long and that the rough consensus that Europe and the US has sustained since the Ukraine war began must sooner or later fall apart. Time, he believed, was on his side. Only this week, Indias prime minister Narendra Modi, leader of the worlds biggest democracy and traditionally a friend of the West, greeted Putin with a hug when he arrived in Russia for a two-day state visit - much to the irritation of Ukraines President Zelensky, who branded the gesture a huge disappointment. This episode aside, Putins calculation is now looking shaky. The West has kept its nerve and, in an attritional struggle of economies and resources, massively outmatches Russia. Nato attitudes are hardening, as evidenced by the decision to allow Ukraine to use foreign-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia proper. But a tilt of the scales in Kyivs favour could well make the world a more dangerous place. Ukrainian success would dash Putins dream of historical immortality as well as dealing a probably fatal blow to his leadership. Admiral Radakin no doubt meant well with his comforting words. But as a historian, I prefer the analysis of General Sanders. The world has become a very dangerous place and a whole nation effort is needed to protect ourselves, starting with a massive investment in our armed forces. We can only hope our fellow Nato members see the urgency, too. Patrick Bishop is a military historian and the co-host of the Battleground podcast. Three asylum seekers who brought legal action over their potential removals to Rwanda have had their cases resolved at the High Court after Labour scrapped the Tory immigration plan. Lawyers for three people, who cannot be named, appeared at the London court for what was due to be full challenges against decisions paving the way for the individuals' removals to Rwanda. But on Tuesday, judges were told that the three individual cases would no longer continue after the new Labour Government said the deportation policy would be scrapped. Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, said: 'In relation to the three named claimants these claimants' cases will be fully disposed of and withdrawn subject to the Secretary of State paying their costs.' In written submissions, the barrister said that claims of people affected by the Rwanda policy 'will be considered in a manner consistent with the new Government's new asylum policy'. Lawyers for three people, who cannot be named, appeared at the London court (pictured) for what was due to be full challenges against decisions paving the way for the individuals' removals to Rwanda An overloaded dinghy of migrants crossing the Channel to the UK in April Sir James continued: 'That asylum policy does not involve removals to Rwanda.' The hearing before Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Chamberlain and Mr Justice Dove, which was previously expected to last four days, concluded in less than an hour. While in government, the Tories had pledged a 'regular rhythm of flights every month' to Rwanda in their election offering, with the High Court previously told that the first flight had been planned for July 24. However, Sir Keir Starmer has since described the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) with the African nation as 'dead and buried before it started'. And as she met police officers in Lewisham on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper branded the policy a 'con', telling reporters she is now auditing the entire scheme and the amount of money spent on it. According to the MEDP, either government could have axed the agreement, but it will only formally end three months after the other party is notified in writing. It enabled the Government to send migrants who did not have a right to remain in the country to Rwanda if they had 'arrived in the UK through an illegal and dangerous route' since 2022. In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson in Kigali said they 'take note' of the UK Government's plan to axe the multimillion-pound agreement, which Rishi Sunak had set up in an effort to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel. 'Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis,' a Rwandan government spokesperson also said. On Tuesday, for the second day in a row, dozens of Channel migrants including children arrived in Dover after a group were seen scrambling from a French beach into dinghies bound for the UK. Pictures showed youngsters among the group of migrants wearing life jackets, with some wrapped in blankets, as they came into the Kent port on Border Force and RNLI lifeboats. People thought to be migrants pictured arriving at Dover in the days after Sir Keir Starmer's landslide election victory An RNLI Lifeboat and a Border Force vessel pictured off the coast of Dover. For the second day in a row, people were brought ashore today at the port despite inclement weather Sir Keir pictured outside No10 after a cabinet meeting on July 9. He scrapped the Rwanda plan shortly after becoming Prime Minister Earlier, the Daily Mail saw two dinghies making their way to England from a beach near Dunkirk, with migrants onboard one of the boats holding toy rubber tyre rings instead of life jackets. Adult life jackets have now sold out in the Dunkirk area, so migrants are instead reliant on any kind of inflatable they can purchase in a feeble bid to protect themselves. Seventeen packets of the toy beach inflatables were left on the sand behind them. And exasperated police, who raced to the scene too late with the aid of a couple of beach buggies, said they had earlier in the morning thwarted another two raids. Earlier in the hours of darkness they had seized two uninflated giant dinghies and outboard motors from the car of a trio of suspected people smugglers in the town of Gravelines. An officer told us: 'We catch some - but we can't catch them all. While my colleagues were arresting some of the ''ferrymen'' in town, then slashing their boats, scores more migrants were hiding in the dunes waiting for dinghies to arrive from the sea to pick them up. 'The migrants are so poised to come to England they have even set up a new camp for around a hundred of them right near the beach, so they are ready to board arriving ''taxi boats'' at any time. 'And these toy rubber rings they are using, they are designed to be played with on holiday, not used for safety on the high seas. 'The shops have sold out of adult life jackets, so they buy kids' stuff instead, hoping it is better than nothing.' He added that a dozen migrants had turned back from the boat we had just seen set off because it was too full. 'With forty on board these dinghies it is dangerous enough,' said the officer. 'With fifty or sixty, it is a death trap - particularly if all you have is a children's rubber ring.' President Joe Biden faces a test of his stamina with the start of the NATO summit on Tuesday, where voters in America and leaders from abroad will be watching how he holds up after his car-crash debate with Donald Trump. The three-day fitness test will begin Tuesday evening when Biden, 81, marks the 75th anniversary of the organization. It will continue through meetings and a dinner with world leaders on Wednesday and accumulate in a press conference on Thursday. Any stumble could increase calls among Democrats for him to exit the presidential race. A strong performance will shore up his argument he is capable of handling the job. The NATO summit will be a three-day test of Joe Biden's fitness and leadership Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO, said foreign leaders will arrive in Washington looking for reassurance in Biden personally but also in America's commitment to NATO. 'Is it going to be President Biden? Is he capable of that? Is he going to run for reelection, is he going to get reelected? If so, what does that look like?' Volker told CNN on Monday. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the president didn't need to reassure allies following the debate. 'We're not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all,' he said Monday. 'Quite the contrary, the conversations that we're having with them in advance, they are excited about this summit. They are excited about the possibilities.' The gathering of the leaders from the 32 NATO countries plus Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as Ukraine is expected to be one of Biden's last appearances at an international forum before Election Day. It also comes before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. Biden also has taken credit for the expansion of NATO. Both Finland and Sweden have joined in the aftermath of Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But, in a reminder of his age, Biden is the only head of government who was alive during NATO's founding. Biden has made 'restoring America's place in the world' a major policy platform after Donald Trump's years of isolationist policy. He cited his foreign policy record as a reason he should remain his party's nominee. 'I expanded NATO. I solidified it,' Biden said on MSNBC on Monday. 'I made sure that we're in a position where we have a coalition of people of nations around the world to deal with China, with Russia. With everything that is going on in the world. We're making real progress.' But leaders need reassurance he is up for the job. 'I think this NATO summit in Washington is an important moment for Joe Biden, he really has to show that he is with it, he's ready to continue to lead not only the United States of America but the NATO alliance,' former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller told CNBC. 'And so we will see in coming days just how well the U.S. president does.' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg threw out the first pitch at Washington Nationals Park; he was joined by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Julianne Smith, the Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO Members of the media gather at the NATO summit location in Washington DC Trump, meanwhile, has suggested that in a second term he would not defend NATO allies who didn't pay their full dues - 2% of their respective GDP. The former president also has questioned the amount of aid to the Ukraine. During the three-day meeting, Biden is expected to endorse new aid for Ukraine. He also will hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His CFO also received a bonus of 446,000 taking his annual salary to 1.33m CEO Chris Weston received the bonus for his work from January to March 2024 The boss of Thames Water has defended his 195,000 bonus as being 'purely based on performance'. Chris Weston, who became the CEO in January, took the mega bonus for his three months at the helm, despite the utility giant being responsible for more than doubling their number of sewage discharges across the UK since last year. Thames Water oversaw the figures jump from 8015 dumps in 2022 to 16,990 in 2023. Speaking at a press conference after its financial results were released, he claimed: 'You need to be able to attract the right talent, the best talent to that company and going hand in glove with that is an appropriate remuneration package.' His chief financial officer, Alastair Cochran who had stepped in to be the interim CEO, also received a hefty 446,000 bonus taking his annual salary to 1.33million. Chris Weston, who became the CEO in January, took the mega bonus for his three months at the helm, despite the utility giant being responsible for more than doubling the number of sewage discharges across the UK since last year Total hours water companies in England leaked sewage into rivers, lakes and the sea in 2023 shown by the areas they cover This comes amid rising concerns for the company's survival, after it pushed for the right to increase charges by 56 per cent in a move that would raise customers' average annual bills to almost 700 This comes amid rising concerns for the company's survival, after it pushed for the right to increase charges by 56 per cent in a move that would raise customers' average annual bills to almost 700. Bosses put the proposed hike, which would be introduced over a five-year period from 2025-2030, to regulators earlier this year in a bid to stave off the company's collapse. Investors in the troubled firm have refused to come up with a cash injection needed to ensure its long-term survival, triggering demands that it should be nationalised. But this could see as much as 15billion of debt effectively being landed on taxpayers As an alternative, Thames Water is understood to have submitted a new business plan to the industry regulator Ofwat. Initially, Thames proposed a 40 per cent increase, taking its annual revenues to 2.8billion and lifting average bills to more than 600. But it has now it has been forced to ask watchdogs to sanction a 56 per cent hike. Your browser does not support iframes. Labour has vowed to 'reset' the water industry, pledging to put failing companies into 'special measures' if they do not 'clean up their act' on sewage pollution It also said it will be looking for 3.25billion in new investment to help improve its position, however if it fails to acquire this the government could be forced to step in and bail it out. Labour has vowed to 'reset' the water industry, pledging to put failing companies into 'special measures' if they do not 'clean up their act' on sewage pollution. A spokesman for No 10 said the water industry was in an 'unacceptable situation' and had not done enough to tackle pollution. Regulator Ofwat yesterday said it will investigate the payments and could take action against the company. Labour blamed Thames's failures on 14 years of Tory rule and promised to reform the sector. Ministers were tight-lipped on the details other than saying they do not want to nationalise the utility firm. It comes as Thames, which has debts of more than 16billion, scrambles for cash after shareholders refused to hand over 500million earlier this year. Investors pulled the plug on the funding in March when Ofwat blocked plans to hike bills. Your browser does not support iframes. In this aerial view, discharge is seen flowing into the River Thames at Crossness sewage treatment works in London Discharge into the River Thames at Thames Water-run Crossness sewage treatment works in east London, where sewage was pumped into the waters for nearly six hours overnight Thames is in talks with current shareholders, including UK and Canadian pension schemes and Chinese and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds, and external investors to secure new equity. And Ofwat is today expected to reveal its draft decision on the company's new business plan for the next five years, which includes a proposed 44 per cent bill increase. That will kick off negotiations until a final decision is made in December. Thames's discussions with shareholders will complete early next year. If the utility is unsuccessful, it will spark a major industrial crisis for Sir Keir Starmer's government. If Thames Water is taken under government control it is likely to involve a special administration regime. Yesterday Thames boss Chris Weston said special administration 'is something that is not in the interests of any of our stakeholders or UK taxpayers.' 'It is a long way off and there is a lot more that we can do over the coming months to make sure that does not happen,' he said. Bank transfers made by influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were 'entirely orthodox', their lawyer has said. Martin Evans KC told Westminster Magistrates' Court today that it was to be expected that a number of payments would be made out of their Stripe account - a payment platform used to deal with revenue from their online businesses. Devon and Cornwall Police force is bringing a civil claim for unpaid tax against the brothers and a third person identified only as J. The force has applied for around 2.8 million in seven frozen bank accounts to be forfeited. On Monday Sarah Clarke KC, for the force, told the court that money had 'washed' around a huge number of UK bank accounts. Influencer Andrew Tate (left) and his brother Tristan (right) pictured in Romania in March this year Andrew Tate, a former professional kick boxer, pictured in Romania on May 30 She said: 'That's what tax evasion looks like, that's what money laundering looks like.' But today Mr Evans said the movement of money in numerous transfers from a payment platform to the Tates was to be expected. He told the court: 'What happened was entirely orthodox. 'There's no mystery, for any internet sales there has to be some form of merchant provider or payment platform.' If the Tate brothers had wanted to distance themselves from the money, they did 'a singularly bad job' because they moved it into accounts in their own names, he added. The brothers spent money on a number of 'exotic motor cars' but nothing illegal, he told the court. 'My point is not to start sounding like Jeremy Clarkson, but rather to make a point that's what they were doing with the money. They weren't buying drugs or anything else,' he said. Devon and Cornwall Police accuse the brothers of opening a Stripe account in J's name in 2019 even though she had no role in their businesses. Devon and Cornwall Police force is bringing a civil claim for unpaid tax against the brothers and a third person identified only as J. Pictured: Tristan Tate (centre-left) and Andrew Tate (centre-right) Andrew Tate pictured with his brother Tristan, 35, on July 4 in Romania Money made from War Room, Hustlers' University, Cobra Tate and OnlyFans was paid into the account, and most of the payments out went to one of Andrew Tate's bank accounts. The court heard that Stripe was unable to provide the proof of identity and address given to open the account in J's name in February 2019, when an incorrect date of birth was given. In October 2019, Andrew Tate's driving licence was provided, and J's was given in June. Gary Pons, for J, argued that cryptocurrency held in a Gemini account in her name cannot legally be forfeited. The hearing was adjourned until September 9 when judgment is expected to be given by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring. Advertisement A triumphant Keir Starmer paraded his troops in the House of Commons today as the 'Red' Parliament returned. The dramatic change in fortunes has been laid bare in the chamber, with 411 Labour MPs squeezing on to the Government benches while the paltry 121 Tories sit alongside the 72 Lib Dems. Sir Keir was clapped and cheered by his party as he came into the Commons. He later patted defeated rival Rishi Sunak on the shoulder as they shared a friendly exchange after the bitter six-week general election battle. The first job for the new cohort of 643 MPs - minus seven Sinn Fein who do not take their seats - was to elect a Speaker. Incumbent Sir Lindsay Hoyle was returned unopposed, and was dragged to the chair as is traditional by Conservative David Davis and Labour's Cat Smith. In his maiden speech as premier at the despatch box, Sir Keir said he wanted to 'turn the page' and embark on 'national renewal'. 'And now, as in any new Parliament, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed,' the PM told the Commons. 'And to replace that politics of performance with the politics of service. Because service is a precondition for hope and trust, and the need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every member here, new and returning alike.' Sir Keir also praised new mother of the House Diane Abbott, even though he initially tried to block her from being a candidate. Mr Sunak responded by congratulating his opponent, saying there was 'respect' despite the bad-tempered clashes during the campaign. He also again said 'sorry' to Tories who lost their constituencies last week, promising that the party would 'rebuild' and be a 'professional' opposition. Nigel Farage has also announced his arrival at Westminster with his four Reform UK colleagues, describing themselves as 'foxes in the hen house'. Speaking from the back row, having apparently been separated from Lee Anderson and Richard Tice who were both standing up, Mr Farage backed Sir Lindsay but hit out at his predecessor John Bercow for trying to block Brexit. MPs will now be formally sworn in over the coming days ahead of Parliament's State Opening on Wednesday July 17. Labour's 411 MPs squeezed onto the Government benches in the House of Commons, opposite the 121 Tories - who were sat next to the 72 Liberal Democrat MPs A triumphant Keir Starmer paraded his troops in the Commons today as the 'Red' Parliament returned The first job for the new cohort of 643 MPs - minus seven Sinn Fein who do not take their seats - was to elect a Speaker Rishi Sunak congratulated Sir Keir, saying there was 'respect' despite the bad-tempered clashes during the general election campaign Sir Keir was clapped and cheered by his party as he came into the Commons Sir Keir paused to have a brief exchange with defeated rival Rishi Sunak, although they did not seem to shake hands Edward Leigh and Diane Abbott, as father and mother of the House respectively, play a key role in the return of Parliament, overseeing the selection of the Speaker The first job for the new cohort of 643 MPs - minus seven Sinn Fein who do not take their seats - is to elect a Speaker. Sir Lindsay Hoyle was returned to the chair unopposed Mr Sunak again apologised to Tories who lost their constituencies, promising that the party would 'rebuild' and be a 'professional' opposition Black Rod entered the Commons to ask MPs to attend the Lords for a message from the King Sir Keir and Mr Sunak shared a friendly moment as they left the chamber after the exchanges They will promise to 'be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law'. Sir Keir said: 'And now, as in any new Parliament, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed, and to replace that politics of performance with the politics of service. 'Because service is a precondition for hope and trust, and the need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every member here, new and returning alike. 'We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good. 'So whatever our political differences, it's not time to turn the page, unite in a common endeavour of national renewal and make this Parliament a Parliament of service.' Mr Sunak said he wanted to 'start by congratulating the Prime Minister on his election victory and as he takes on his formidable task, he and his family deserve the good wishes of all of us in this House'. 'In our politics, we can argue vigorously, as the Prime Minister and I did over the past six weeks, but still respect each other, and whatever disputes we have in this Parliament, I know that everyone in this house will not lose sight of the fact that we are all motivated by our desire to serve our constituents, our country, and advance the principles that we honourably believe in,' he said. Mr Sunak described being an MP as the 'greatest honour, privilege and responsibility' and added: 'One of the great aspects of our system is no matter how high you rise, you still have that constituency which keeps you grounded.' When his turn came Mr Farage said his party were 'the new kids on the block.' 'We have no experience in this Parliament whatsoever, even though some of us have tried many times over the years previously,' the Reform leader said. Eliciting groans from the Government benches, Mr Farage compared Sir Lindsay to his predecessor John Bercow. He said: 'We absolutely endorse (Sir Lindsay) entirely for this job. And it is, I must say, in marked contrast to the little man that was there before you and besmirched the office so dreadfully in doing his best to overturn the biggest democratic result in the history of the country. We support you Sir fully.' Sinn Fein, which won seven seats across Northern Ireland, including two in Belfast, have a long-standing policy of abstentionism so do not take their seats in Westminster. Before they elected the Speaker, Black Rod Sarah Clarke summoned MPs to the House of Lords. She crossed through Central Lobby to fetch Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, and walk him to the Lords, where a Royal Commission was read directing MPs to choose their speaker. Sir Edward is the longest continuously serving MP, having had a seat in the Commons since 1983 the year when Margaret Thatcher won a 144-seat majority and when Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown first became MPs. Sir Lindsay put himself forward as Speaker, having served in the role since 2019 and contested the Chorley, Lancashire, without a party affiliation. He was dragged to the Chair in a nod to the once-perilous nature of the role, with seven speakers having been executed between 1394 and 1535, according to Parliament records. Ms Abbott was in the chamber to be praised by Sir Keir and Mr Sunak Mr Farage has also arrived at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, vowing to target Labour voters and be a thorn in the side of the premier Before the Commons returned, Mr Sunak held a meeting with his 'interim' shadow cabinet Swearing in begins the same afternoon, led by the Speaker, Father of the House Sir Edward, then members of the Sir Keir's Cabinet and Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak's shadow cabinet. Lawmaking and debates in the House of Commons remain on hold until after the formal State Opening of Parliament, where the King will lay out the government's legislative agenda from the Sovereign's Throne in the House of Lords. London mayor Sadiq Khan said Sir Keir discussed 'other parts of the country where there could be mayors' during a meeting with regional leaders at Downing Street. Mr Khan said after the meeting: 'What I want other parts of the country who have not got a mayor to know is that having a mayor can be a real game changer.' The Mayor of London added: 'We heard this morning, the Prime Minister talking about other parts of the country where there could be mayors. 'That brings with it not just additional powers, but also additional resources as well.' returns on Tuesday with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench for the first time in more than a decade. The sister of an Atlanta man who was murdered after allegedly fleeing a house party in strange circumstances has spoken about the bizarre tragedy. Doctoral student Deundray Cottrell, 31, vanished from his sister's Birmingham Alabama home during the July 4th weekend. He was missing for two days before police recovered his body not far from where he disappeared. The last known person to see Cottrell was his boyfriend Julian Morris, 31, who told his family that Cottrell had leapt from a balcony before fleeing the scene. 'My children started to pop fireworks and because my brother had his dog with him, he was gonna run into the house real quick and go and check on the dog,' Angelica Cottrell told WSBTV. Deundray Cottrell, 31, vanished from his sister's Birmingham Alabama home during the July 4th weekend 'He [Morris] told us that when he jumped, he bounced...got up and jumped the fence and took off running,' she said. However, something about Morris' demeanor seemed off and Angelica says that while people were out frantically searching for her brother, Morris remained behind and fixed himself a plate. 'While we looked Julian didn't. He was sitting there eating, and he looked at me and said omg the food is so good,' Angelica added. Her unease only grew and she ended up kicking Morris out, fearing that he had more knowledge than it seemed. 'Julian knows everything and he made a point to keep reminding me throughout his rants that he was a marine,' she said. Police now wish to speak with Morris in connection to the murder. He is described as 5'6" and around 160 pounds. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help with the investigation. Cottrell was the CEO of dance troupe Skiiboyz, a well-known group in Atlanta which Morris is also a member of. The last known person to see Cottrell was his boyfriend Julian Morris, 31, who told his family that Cottrell had leapt from a balcony before fleeing the scene Cottrell was the CEO of dance troupe Skiiboyz, a well-known group in Atlanta which Morris is also a member of Among those paying tribute to Cottrell was his close friend DeEric Garnell who honors the 'suave, chill' Cottrell. 'My entire heart has been ripped out of my body,' he wrote on Instagram. 'When I got the call you were missing I dropped everything, got my mother, and rushed to Birmingham. I never stopped searching for you. 'Knocking on random peoples doors just to get the camera footage, talking to the Birmingham Detective for hours just to get them to bring in K9. I needed you with me. I wasnt gonna stop until I could have you back with me. 'Lord help me handle this. I need Dre. I wish I never let y'all go to Birmingham without me. 'Good people are hurting from your loss. Your impact is felt worldwide. We love you, we miss you. No one can ever replace you.' East Precinct officers were dispatched to a missing person call at a residence in the 7900 Block of 4th Avenue South on July 4. A huge search was launched and on July 5, some of Cottrell's clothes were located in the area. Cottrell's sister Angelica Cottrell claimed that Morris was acting suspiciously after her brother disappeared A member of the public provided footage of Cottrell walking in the area. But the next day, officers searched the area of 7800 Block of 5th Avenue South and discovered the body. The Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office is due to perform an autopsy on Cottrell to determine the cause and manner of death. DailyMail.com has contacted Morris for comment. The Isle of Man has taken another step towards legalising assisted dying for those who have lived o the island for five years. The Assisted Dying Bill's clauses stage finished today following seven days of debate across three months. As it stands, the Bill is only for adults who have been resident on the island for five years, have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life. Other measures around ensuring legal and workplace protection for medical professionals who participate in assisted dying have also been agreed, while a request from the British Medical Association (BMA) for an opt-in model for doctors who choose to be part of the service was approved. This comes after leaders from the British Isles have dismissed fears that the new rule could lead to an influx of 'death tourists'. Dignity in Dying protesters demonstrate while States of Jersey Government Ministers were entering the States Assembly building to debate the Assisted Dying Law in May This is the moment Jersey's parliament voted for a service for terminally ill people with a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease Poll Do you support the legalisation of assisted dying? Yes No Do you support the legalisation of assisted dying? Yes 452 votes No 82 votes Now share your opinion Meanwhile, a move to make the Assisted Dying Bill separate from the island's public health service, Manx Care, was voted down, as was a move to hold a referendum before a new law could take effect. Dr Alex Allinson, the Member of the House of Keys (MHK) behind the Bill, said he is 'grateful' further amendments have been proposed and accepted, which he said will 'reinforce safeguards' in the new legislation. He said debate has been thorough and that, while he respects the views of those who remain opposed to change, there is a 'significant majority of Members who are now content with the way the Bill has been changed to agree a third reading'. He said: 'We certainly are still in the position of being the first (place) in the British Isles to bring legislation forward for royal assent. 'But there will need to be quite a long implementation period, including conversations and working with people like the General Medical Council (GMC) and the BMA to make this Bill operational.' Health and social services minister Tom Binet defended the controversial proposals, saying they had been 'very much influenced and informed by the views of islanders' Members of the States Assembly voted for a service for terminally ill people on the island of Jersey What is the status on UK assisted dying law? Assisted dying is illegal in the UK, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. The last attempt to change the law was defeated in 2015, and it is a divisive topic for religious and ethical reasons. But the right to die is legal in the likes of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, some US states and Canada. Jersey is the second of two self-governing British Crown Dependencies - the other being the Isle of Man to have taken steps towards legislating on the issue. In the Isle of Man, a bill passed a vote its parliament last October. Politicians there will discuss the Assisted Dying Bill again in June after amendments to strengthen safeguards were scrutinised last week. If passed, it would allow terminally ill adults, with less than a year to live and 'clear and settled intention', to end their lives. Scotland, which has powers on health policy, is also looking to legalise it. A bill brought to its parliament in March proposes that two doctors would have to deem a patient medically fit to make a decision to end their own life. They would have to be aged over 16 and also have to administer the life-ending medication themselves. The bill is still in its early stages and could be voted on next year. But it raises the prospect of a divergence of laws between Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, which all have separate but broadly similar legal systems. Advertisement Campaigners have said if the Bill gains royal assent next year, assisted dying could be available to eligible Manx residents from 2027. Before coming to power, new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he is 'committed' to allowing a vote on legalising assisted dying. Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. Legislation on assisted dying is currently also being considered in Scotland and Jersey. Jersey's government played down fears of an influx of 'death tourists' last month after campaigners expressed fears of people flocking to the island to take advantage of the potential changes. But a government spokesperson confirmed the service would only be available for residents of Jersey. Health and social services minister Tom Binet defended the controversial proposals, saying they had been 'very much influenced and informed by the views of islanders'. A government spokesperson said: 'To be able to access the assisted dying service, a person must have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least 12 months prior to making their first formal request for an assisted death. 'Ordinarily resident means a person who lives in Jersey and spends all their time here except for short visits abroad on business or holiday.' Mr Binet added: 'I think all the indications are that a majority of people actually want this.' Asked about his hopes for the tone of the debate on what is a sensitive and divisive topic, he said: 'I think we have a pretty good democracy here. It seems to work pretty well and everybody has got an equal opportunity to say their piece.' In 2021, just over three-quarters of the members of a citizens' jury on Jersey agreed that assisted dying should be permitted, and later that year the Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide 'in principle' to allow assisted dying. Adrian Olivares, former member of famous Latin boy band Menudo, has died at the age of 48. Fellow bandmate Robert Avellanet confirmed his death in an Instagram post sharing photos of their time together in the 1990s. 'Im still in shock! Strength to his family. Happy transition for his soul. I will always remember his great sense of humor. We will meet there brother. RIP Adrian,' Avellanet said. Olivares died at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, just one week after he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease which was complicated by ulcerative colitis, according to a GoFundMe set up for his family. He leaves behind three daughters, Eliana, 18, and 8-year-old twins Lia and Lilly. Adrian Olivares, former member of famous Latin boy band Menudo, died on Monday at the age of 48 one week after he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 'If you would please consider donating anything you can, it would be greatly appreciated as the family does not have the means to give Adrian his final farewell and help these girls with all their necessary expenses,' the GoFundMe said. Olivares, originally from Mexico, joined the Puerto Rican boy band when he was 13 years old in 1990, one year after Ricky Martin left, according to Billboard. He performed with the group until he was 16 and left in 1993. He is now the third member of the boy band to pass away following Rey Reyes and Anthony Galindo Ibarra. Reyes passed away at 51 years of age in May 2021 reportedly from a 'massive heart attack.' Reyes was born in New York City but raised in Levittown, a neighborhood in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Olivares, originally from Mexico, joined the Puerto Rican boy band when he was 13 years old in 1990, one year after Ricky Martin left He leaves behind three daughters, Eliana, 18, and 8-year-old twins Lia and Lilly He joined Menudo in 1983 at 13 years of age replacing Xavier Serbia in the band just as their popularity started to explode. Reyes was extremely popular among the group's wide fan base, singing lead vocals on Si Tu No Estas, Chicle De Amor and Zumbador on their 1983 album A Todo Rock. Ibarra, who was known as as 'El Papi Joe,' died after a suicide attempt in October 2020. He joined Menudo in 1995 and stayed until it ended. Ibarra had also performed in the bands MDO and Kumbia Kings. A rugby player died after being sucked into a whirlpool as he tried to cool off in the blistering heat wave. Nasoni 'Toni' Tuitoga, 28, of Santa Rosa, went missing on Wednesday after going for a swim with friends in California's Russian River. Before getting in the water, Toni made a chilling post on Facebook that read: 'Rivering,' with laughing and crying emojis. The post is now filled with heartfelt tributes for him. Toni, a member of the Santa Rosa Rugby Club, never made it out as his desperate friends watched him go in circles as the strong currents pulled him under. He is one of multiple people that have drowned in the state as three others were found lifeless in rivers over the past week. Nasoni 'Toni' Tuitoga, 28, of Santa Rosa, got trapped in a whirlpool on Wednesday in California 's Russian River Toni's friends joined search and rescue teams look for him for two days before finding his body about 30-40ft from where he was last spotted Tributes have since poured in for the athlete. His heartbroken mother recalled the moment police came to her door and told her that her youngest son had died. 'They put his cellphone on the table and then I just started crying. I knew,' Lavenia Cavora Tuinaceva Tuitoga told KTVU. 'Im going to miss him so much, his smile,' she added. 'I just keep on asking God to give us peace in our hearts.' Toni's friend Joe Quaihoi called 911 around 6.17pm on Wednesday and reported he had disappeared in the river near Villa Grande. Quaihoi said: 'The crazy part was we were like yelling out at him when we saw him swimming around in circles like, "Hey, you ok?" and he never really said anything back until he just disappeared under the water.' Quaihoi and Toni's other friends joined the Sonoma County Sheriff's Marine Unit, Sonoma County Sheriff Volunteer Dive Team and the Monte Rio Fire Protection District who were working to find him. Search crews found his body on Friday, washed up about 30-40ft from where he was last seen. Before getting in the river, Toni made a chilling post on Facebook that read: 'Rivering,' with laughing and crying emojis The Santa Rosa Rugby Club also paid tribute to Toni on Saturday with a post of him smiling on the field. 'Its a sad day in our rugby community. We lost one of our players this week, Tony (Nasoni Tuitoga Jr) and our team wont be the same without his energy. 'Our condolence and prayers go out to his family and loved ones,' the club said. Others commented on the sudden loss of a man who seemed to impact many in his life. One said: 'Always a great smile and laughter!' 'RIP my brotha,' another wrote. Toni's friend, Joe Quaihoi, watched him get sucked into the water as he called out to him to see if he needed help The Santa Rosa Rugby Club paid tribute to Toni on Saturday with a post of him smiling on the field Just a day after Toni was found, another man, 51-year-old Pedro Ramirez Lopez, drowned at Monte Rio Beach, located near the Russian River. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office were called around 6.40pm and when officials arrived, bystanders were performing CPR on Lopez, who died at the scene. 'Multiple people have died in the Russian River in 2024,' the sheriff's office said. 'While it looks calm on the surface, the river can have strong currents, deep spots and drop-offs, and underwater debris. 'We urge everyone to practice water safety when they visit our beautiful river.' On Tuesday, another man drowned in the Modesto Reservoir, about three hours from the Russian River. 'Im going to miss him so much, his smile,' Toni's mother, Lavenia Cavora Tuinaceva Tuitoga said. she added. 'I just keep on asking God to give us peace in our hearts' A 15-year-old boy was killed in a similar drowning in April as he and a friend were swept away in surging currents. The teen's friend managed to escape, Sfist reported. When caught in rough currents or a whirlpool, officials recommend that swimmers paddle in the direction its going in, and not to fight it. Although California and most of the county have already been hit with scorching weather, states are expected to set higher daily record temperatures this week. Many people have died or been seriously injured in the hot weather, as an infant died while on a boat with her family in Arizona on Friday. A motorcyclist died on Saturday in Death Valley from heat exposure, the Death Valley National Park said. A French bulldog puppy died, and six others suffered heatstroke after they were left in a hot car while a breeder went to Starbucks. Whitney Tierra Johnson, 36, was charged with with seven counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after passersby alleged they saw the tiny dogs trapped inside her vehicle. The breeder from Medford, New Jersey, stopped in Apex, North Carolina, to eat at First Watch and get coffee, leaving the puppies in the car. All seven were crammed into a small kiddy pool below one of the seats with a cover over the top, with the car off and windows up, police alleged. A French bulldog puppy died and six others suffered heatstroke after they were left in a hot car while a breeder went to Starbucks Apex Police chief Jason Armstrong said witnesses alleged the puppies were left inside the car for 35 to 40 minutes. 'Three of the puppies appeared to be in distress and had some respiratory challenges,' he said. 'They were put in an oxygen chamber to get treatment. One of the puppies did not respond to the treatment.' The puppy that didn't wake up was put down by Wake County Animal Shelter. Johnson runs Whitney's French Bulldogs as is certified as a 'good breeder' by Good Dog's Responsible Breeding Program. 'Our sweet pups are home-raised. We put a lot of care into socializing them so they can transition easily into their new lives,' her Good Dogs profile reads. 'We have developed several protocols to ensure the health and well-being of all of our dogs. It's our top priority to make sure each of our puppy families welcomes a happy and healthy new family member into their homes.' Whitney Tierra Johnson, 36, was charged with with seven counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after passersby alleged they saw the tiny dogs trapped inside Apex Police chief Jason Armstrong said witnesses alleged the puppies were left inside the car for 35 to 40 minutes Johnson disputed the series of events and the conditions her puppies were kept in after she left them alone. She claimed bystanders confronted her after she returned to the car and took the puppies out to clean them after they relieved themselves in the car. They asked her if she needed help and when she said she didn't, they called police, she claimed. 'I am not an animal abuser. I have no malicious intent to harm any animal. I have 12 dogs. I take very good care of my animals,' she told CBS 17. 'The car was on, the windows were down, and puppies were in the backseat. They were laying out of their container onto their feet on a towel. There was fan on the floor because I have an outlet in my car.' 'There was a fan circulating the cold and the hot in the air because I can't leave them in the car with the air on. They have to be a certain temperature (89F) because are still young puppies.' All seven were crammed into a small kiddy pool below one of the seats with a cover over the top, with the car off and windows up, police alleged Johnson further claimed it made no sense for her to put the puppies at risk as each of them was worth up to $7,500. 'I don't know why anyone would think I would throw my investment in the trash,' she said. 'I would not lock my child into a hot car, so why would I do that to my puppies? These are my babies. We would never do that. We love our animals.' Armstrong said he heard Johnson's version of events, but the accounts of multiple witnesses painted a different picture. 'Their actions at that time gave the impression that the dogs were in distress,' he said. '[Police officers] had an extensive conversation with the owner of the dogs and the witnesses on the scene.' Johnson claimed police bodycam footage would exonerate her. She will face court on August 1. A mother has been jailed for six years after being the ringleader of a gang which used drones to smuggle drugs worth 1 million into prisons. Lucy Adcock, a 47-year-old mother from London, was the group's ringleader who organised 22 drops in a month across six British jails before she was arrested in a car park, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said staff at Parc in Bridgend found a dropped package on April 24 last year containing illicit items worth 50,000 on the prison market including Class A and B drugs, as well as mobile phones. The drone operator was not identified but in the early hours of May 11 two more packages were recovered from the Parc exercise yard. Police were alerted and automatic number-plate recognition was used to identify vehicles in the area at the time. 'It wasn't long before Lucy Adcock's car was traced,' said Mr Cobbe. Lucy Adcock (pictured), a 47-year-old mother from London, was the group's ringleader who organised 22 drops in a month across six British jails before she was arrested in a car park, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Analysis of Adcock's phone led to police arresting Craig Davenport (pictured), Ryan Dorland, Nicola Ogle, and Emma Watson, all of whom admitted involvement in the conspiracy Packages recovered included cocaine, the opioid Subutex, the anabolic steroid Oxandrolone, the painkiller Phenacetin, cannabis resin, sheets of A4 paper soaked in the synthetic cannabinoid spice, iPhones, sim cards, charger cables, and tobacco. Pictured: Ryan Dorland 'She had driven down from the London area and she was stopped in the car park of the Premier Inn in Bridgend by officers later that day. 'She had a drone in the car with her. In fact the drone had software that could be downloaded and examined. 'The examination revealed that it had been used not just during the early hours of that morning to deliver drugs to Parc prison but it had been used on many previous occasions and other prisons across the country.' In the month up to May 11 the group had flown drones 22 times over five other prisons - Gartree in Leicestershire, Onley in Warwickshire, Guys Marsh in Shaftesbury, High Down in Sutton, and the Mount in Hemel Hempstead. Analysis of Adcock's phone led to police arresting Craig Davenport, Ryan Dorland, Nicola Ogle, and Emma Watson, all of whom admitted involvement in the conspiracy. Mr Cobbe said the group attached fishhooks to the packages to make them easier to grab from inside a jail cell. A sheet would be thrown out to snag onto the package and draw it in. Packages recovered included cocaine, the opioid Subutex, the anabolic steroid Oxandrolone, the painkiller Phenacetin, cannabis resin, sheets of A4 paper soaked in the synthetic cannabinoid spice, iPhones, sim cards, charger cables, and tobacco. In the month up to May 11 the group had flown drones 22 times over five other prisons (Stock Image) It was estimated the group supplied items with a total prison market value of 1,099,670 to 1,426,150. The prosecutor said Adcock 'played the leading role both directing the others and taking a hands-on role'. Adcock, from London, and Davenport, 46, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, and Dorland, 44, were sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to convey A-list and B-list items into prison, with A-list being the most serious type, although Dorland maintained he was not aware there were Class A drugs among the material that went over prison walls. Judge Paul Hobson jailed Adcock for six years, Davenport for four years and nine months, and Dorland for four years. Ogle and Watson are due to be sentenced at a later date. The case comes as new 'no-fly zones' were introduced earlier this year around prisons in England and Wales to stop drones being used to deliver drugs and contraband to inmates. One case last year involved an organised crime group which used a drone to smuggle more than 20 packages containing drugs and mobile phones into HMP Risley in Warrington, Cheshire between August and December 2020 . New York real estate mogul Brandon Miller was being sued for more than $221k by two companies when he died last week, according to a report. Miller, who was married to socialite and Mama + Tata co-founder Candice Miller, died on July 3 after spending several days in intensive care at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. The developer's cause of death remains unconfirmed by his family, who has not commented on his passing. It has now emerged that Miller was facing multiple lawsuits over unpaid services at the time of his death at the age of 43. Interior Marketing Group Inc sued Miller in April, claiming he failed to pay a balance of $102,730.27 for luxury furnishing services, as reported by Page Six. Brandon Miller, who was married to socialite and Mama + Tata co-founder Candice Miller, was being sued for more than $221k by two companies when he died last week The same lawsuit accuses Miller of refusing to return over $64,000 in furniture from their apartment in Manhattan. The furniture reportedly included 'high-end living, dining and bedroom furniture and various accessories, including, but not limited to, dining and family room fixtures, area rugs, table lamps, bedroom desks and chairs, credenzas, bedframes [sic], pillows, draperies and sheers and artwork.' In another lawsuit against Miller, filed in May, Lighthouse Marina claims he failed to pay his balance for the services on his boat, named MillerTime, which had been at the Long Island marina since October 2020. The marina claims Miller never 'responded nor acknowledged' a notice in October 2022 informing him he owed nearly $40,000. Miller's alleged debt eventually grew to $55,205.76, per the legal filing. In another lawsuit against Miller, filed in May, Lighthouse Marina claims he failed to pay his balance for the services on his boat, named MillerTime. Miller is pictured with his daughters The marina claims Miller never 'responded nor acknowledged' a notice in October 2022 informing him he owed nearly $40,000. Miller's alleged debt eventually grew to $55,205.76, per the legal filing Candice built a significant following on her now-deleted Instagram account, where she shared every aspect of her luxurious life The document reads: 'Defendant received the boat, used it, enjoyed it and in result traded it in for a bigger boat, which Defendant would not have been able to do but for the repairs performed by Plaintiff. 'Defendant received the benefit of the repairs that were never paid for.' Miller, a father-of-two, was the principal partner at Real Estate Equity Corporation, founded by his father Michael. His wife Candice started her fashion and lifestyle blog, Mama and Tata, with her sister Jenna Crespi in 2016 and has since taken over the majority of the business. She is also the co-founder and chief marketing officer of the vintage-inspired clothing line Black Iris, and the is the head buyer for Tenet shop in Southampton. Brandon and Candice Miller's Southampton home is pictured The socialite was among Ivanka Trump's social circle in Miami; the two were photographed at the beach together in 2021. Candice built a significant following on her now-deleted Instagram account, where she shared every aspect of her luxurious life - like the $800 facials she gets once a week, 'unless she's traveling' - as she told The New York Times in January. Miller's father Michael Miller founded REEC in 1978, and Miller began his work at the company in 2004. The company has developed more than 20 million square feet throughout the US, and is behind several high-profile projects in Manhattan. Candice (left) is cousins with famous influencer Arielle Charnas (right) Candice started her fashion and lifestyle blog, Mama and Tata, with her sister Jenna Crespi Miller's family has been sued several times over alleged financial misconduct, as reported by the Real Deal. His father Michael Miller, who died in 2016, was sued in 2019 over claims that he told his assistant to forge his son's signature on various loans. That suit was settled. Then in May, 2022, TD Bank sued Miller, his mother and his sister, accusing the trio of engaging in fraudulent transfers to keep the bank from collecting a $2.1 million judgment from his mother. DailyMail.com has repeatedly reached out to the Real Estate Equity Corporation for comment on this story. Texas megachurch Pastor Robert Morris lawyers tried to blame the 12-year-old girl who accused him of assault for the sexual abuse, legal documents have claimed. Morris, 62, the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake - one of the largest megachurches in the country - has been accused of sexually abusing former family friend Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, when she was just 12 years old. The former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump resigned from the megachurch after admitting to abusing Clemishire, who went public last month with her allegations in a blog post on The Wartburg Watch, a website dedicated to exposing abuse in churches. Correspondence obtained by NBC News shows 25 years after the alleged abuse when Clemishire hired an attorney and threatened to sue Morris, his lawyer responded by blaming the 12-year-old for what happened. 'It was your client who initiated inappropriate behavior by coming into my clients bedroom and getting in bed with him, which my client should not have allowed to happen,' Morris' lawyer J. Shelby Sharpe wrote in a February 6, 2007 response. Legal documents show Texas megachurch Pastor Robert Morris lawyers tried to blame the 12-year-old girl who accused him of assault for the sexual abuse Cindy Clemishire (pictured) claimed Morris abused her in the 1980s, when she was just 12 years old The letter was one in a series of exchanges that year between Sharpe and Clemishire's lawyer Gentner Drummond, from when she was seeking $50,000 in restitution to cover the cost of counseling. Morris countered with an offer of $25,000, but negotiations stopped because Clemishire was not willing to sign a nondisclosure agreement, NBC News reported. Clemishire alleged that Morris' abuse began when he stayed at her family home in Tulsa on Christmas 1982. She described a scene in which Morris asked her to come to his room and speak with him, asking her to lay on his bed. Morris began to touch her inappropriately, with Clemishire alleging he touched her stomach, then her breast and then under her pants. She added that after the alleged abuse occurred, Morris 'told me I could never tell anyone, because it would ruin everything,' and that he would continue to isolate her and abuse her for the next four-and-a- half years before she finally spoke out. Decades after the alleged abuse when Clemishire hired an attorney and threatened to sue Morris, his lawyer responded by blaming the 12 year old for what happened Morris is the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church (pictured) in Southlake - one of the largest megachurches in the country Morris had previously admitted to 'inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady' without specifying the age of Clemishire, who says the abuse went from 1982 to 1987 when he was married to his wife Debbie (right) Over two decades later January 30, 2007, Drummond wrote to Sharpe on behalf of Clemishire detailing the sexual abuse and how Morris 'led her to believe that they were having a special relationship that had to remain secret.' 'Reverend Morris began sexually assaulting [Clemishire] who was then twelve years old,' Drummond wrote. Sharpe responded a week later claiming Clemishire initiated sexual contact with Morris. When contacted by NBC News, Sharpe denied knowing at the time that Clemishire had been a child when Morris began engaging in sexual behavior with her - despite Drummond's initial correspondence specifically stating she was 12 years old. 'I dont ever remember seeing that,' Sharpe said. 'I can tell you that the letters that youve seen, they speak for themselves. I will not amplify beyond those letters, because they speak for themselves.' Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria jetted off to Washington last night on their first foreign jaunt since moving into No10. The Prime Minister is due to land in the American capital this morning before heading to a NATO summit, which he described as an opportunity for allies to stand together against Russian aggression. The message comes two days after Moscow launched missile attacks on Ukraine which damaged the country's largest children's hospital. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey have accompanied the PM aboard 'Keir Force One' for the trip and were seen taking off from Stansted Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Sir Keir said before he departed for Washington: 'My message is very, very clear. 'This Nato summit is an opportunity for allies to stand together, to strengthen their resolve, particularly in light of that appalling attack, against Russian aggression. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria board a plane at Stansted Airport as they prepare to travel to Washington for the Nato Summit The newly elected Prime Minister (pictured speaking to the press) said he has a 'very clear' message to Vladimir Putin 'I'm pleased to have the early opportunity to confirm and reaffirm Labour's strong support, unshakeable support for Nato. 'We are a founding member, it's now the 75th anniversary but this is an opportunity to send that message in relation to Russian aggression wherever. 'But that attack [on Monday] ... was appalling so that message is even more important than it was before.' Sir Keir said he is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence 'within our fiscal rules' and said he needed to carry out a review before setting a timeline to reach that goal. Speaking before his departure to the summit, the Prime Minister said: 'The most important thing is to, at this Nato summit, recommit to our solidarity with and stand with Ukraine and discuss the practical plans for further action we can take together in relation to Russian aggression.' He added: 'In relation to defence more generally, we will carry out our strategic review to look at the challenges, the capabilities, and on the back of that make further plans. 'I am committed to that 2.5% within our fiscal rules. That strategic review needs to come first. But today, tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support to Ukraine, and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world.' The three-day summit will begin on Tuesday evening and marks the 75th anniversary of the organization. It will continue through meetings and a dinner with world leaders on Wednesday and accumulate in a press conference on Thursday. The gathering of the leaders from the 32 NATO countries plus Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as Ukraine is expected to be one of US president Joe Biden's last appearances at an international forum before Election Day. Biden is expected to have bilateral meetings with Sir Keir and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the course of the summit. Sir Keir (pictured talking to journalists as he travels onboard a plane to Washington) is travelling to America for the three-day summit which marks the 75th anniversary of the organization Sir Keir pictured outside No10 after a cabinet meeting on July 9. He scrapped the Rwanda plan shortly after becoming Prime Minister The NATO summit will be a three-day test of Joe Biden's fitness and leadership Members of the media gather at the NATO summit location in Washington DC A triumphant Keir Starmer paraded his troops in the Commons today as the 'Red' Parliament returned Before heading to Washington, the new Prime Minister was clapped and cheered by his party as he came into the Commons for the first time since winning Thursday's general election. In his maiden speech as premier at the despatch box, Sir Keir said he wanted to 'turn the page' and embark on 'national renewal'. He also praised new mother of the House Diane Abbott, even though he initially tried to block her from being a candidate. Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir said: 'And now, as in any new Parliament, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed, and to replace that politics of performance with the politics of service. 'Because service is a precondition for hope and trust, and the need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every member here, new and returning alike. 'We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good. 'So whatever our political differences, it's not time to turn the page, unite in a common endeavour of national renewal and make this Parliament a Parliament of service.' In response, Mr Sunak said he wanted to 'start by congratulating the Prime Minister on his election victory and as he takes on his formidable task, he and his family deserve the good wishes of all of us in this House'. 'In our politics, we can argue vigorously, as the Prime Minister and I did over the past six weeks, but still respect each other, and whatever disputes we have in this Parliament, I know that everyone in this house will not lose sight of the fact that we are all motivated by our desire to serve our constituents, our country, and advance the principles that we honourably believe in,' he said. A mother has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her baby boy who drowned in the bath. Danielle Massey, 31, also admitted possession of cannabis on the day her seven-month-old son Charlie Goodall died at their home in County Durham in February 2022. Prosecutor Richard Wright KC told the Sheffield Crown Court hearing: 'There is acceptance of a prolonged period of inattention during which this child died.' Charlie was found unresponsive in the bath when police were called by paramedics to a house in West Chilton Terrace, Chilton, on February 16, 2022. Seven-month-old Charlie Goodall (pictured) was rushed to hospital by paramedics after being found unresponsive at home in Chilton, County Durham on February 16, 2022 A Google street view of West Chilton Terrace, in Chilton, County Durham (pictured) He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle but died shortly after arrival. Martin Sharpe, defending, told the court Massey accepted it was 'her fault the seat was not properly affixed to the bath'. 'She should have affixed it to a flat bath, hers is concave, the suction pad wouldn't properly work. This caused her child to tip over and then drown,' Mr Sharpe said. The case was adjourned until July 26 to determine whether a Newton hearing is needed over the basis of Massey's guilty plea. An 11-year-old Michigan girl lost four fingers after she mistook a stick of dynamite for a sparkler and it exploded in her hand. Caitlyn Conway needed her forearm and hand amputating after the device detonated at her family home in the Detroit suburb of River Rouge on June 27. The girl's twin sister also suffered minor cuts and bruises as the explosion sent debris flying in all directions, police said. Shocking photographs of the aftermath suggest it could have been even worse - with parts of the detached rental property on Superior Street completely destroyed. Eleven-year-old Michigan girl Caitlyn Conway has lost her hand after mistaking a stick of dynamite for a sparkler Caitlyn Conway, 11 (pictured) needed an amputation after the explosive device detonated at her family rental home in the Detroit suburb of River Rouge on June 27 River Rouge Police Department described the incident as an 'unimaginable tragedy after a horrific accident' while explaining how it unfolded on a GoFundMe page for the Conway family. 'One of the sisters mistakenly lit an explosion device, believing it to be a harmless firework. In a split second, their lives were changed forever,' the department said. 'After realizing her mistake, the sister frantically tried to extinguish the device in the bathroom sink, but it was too late. 'The explosion caused significant injuries to one of the sisters, resulting in the amputation of her right hand and part of her forearm. 'The other sister was fortunate to only suffer minor cuts and bruises.' They added that the aftermath had also left the family dealing with 'extensive structural damage' to their rented home 'both inside and out'. The girls' father, Ronald Findley, said Caitlyn also suffered a ruptured eardrum, and described her as 'very loving, very outgoing'. 'She seems like she's in good spirits, but you know how that is; it's a mental aspect,' he told Fox2. 'I don't know what the emotional effect is going to be with my daughter because she's younger.' Shocking photographs of the aftermath suggest the explosion could have been much worse - with parts of the detached house on Superior Street completely destroyed Caitlyn (right) was with her twin (left) when the explosion detonated. Caitlyn lost four fingers and needed her hand amputating, while her sister suffered minor scrapes and burns Parts of the detached house on Superior Street in River Rouge, Detroit were completely destroyed by the accidental explosion The girls' mother, Jaminique Conway, said she was just grateful her daughters survived the incident, while defending their grandfather for leaving the explosive unguarded Police said the girls' grandfather bought the explosive and left it in plain view. He was arrested the day after the incident but was later released without any charges. 'The remaining material from the (explosive) is in the process of being sent to Michigan State Police Laboratory for additional testing,' River Rouge Police said. The girls' mother, Jaminique Conway, said she was just grateful her daughters survived the incident, while defending their grandfather. 'It was an accident. My daddy would never hurt my children,' she told WXYZ. 'I'm just not going to talk to him about it,' Jaminique went on, adding that her father feels terrible about the ordeal. 'As a family, we're going to move past it and unite instead of divide.' House Democrat leaders are throwing mud at the wall in order to try and distract from their ongoing chaos surrounding whether to back Joe Biden on the 2024 ticket. During a highly-anticipated press conference Tuesday, Democrats touched on nearly everything except their infighting about Biden's future as the leader of the liberals. That included rants on Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, access to abortion and 'stupid weather forecasts.' Capitol Hill has been buzzing about whether Joe Biden will remain the Democrat's preferred presidential candidate after his disastrous debate against Donald Trump. Democrat lawmakers have largely backed Biden, but some have called on him to withdraw from the race. Tuesday morning, the party had a private meeting to determine where they stand on supporting the incumbent. Attendees at the closed-door meeting left sullen, downcast and quiet as reporters poked and prodded trying to get anything on what had transpired inside. Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Ted Lieu, D-Calif., bizarrely mentioned Donald Trump and Jeffery Epstein's relationship at a press conference focused on Joe Biden Tuesday Later, at a House Democrat leadership event, liberal leaders did all they could to avoid the Biden topic, with one invoking Trump and late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's relationship in a desperate bid to talk about something else. 'We hear a lot from our constituents on different issues but something I've heard that doesn't seem to be being covered are the Epstein files,' Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Ted Lieu, D-Calif., bizarrely said. 'These files were released,' he continued. 'Donald Trump is sort of all over this.' 'There are pictures of him with Epstein. He's taken plane flights with Epstein. He's in call logs with Epstein,' the Democrat said. Trump previously admitted to knowing the disgraced financier when he was jailed in 2019 for sex trafficking charges. 'Well I knew him, like everybody in Palm Beach knew him,' Trump said at the time, before adding 'I had a falling out a long time ago with him.' 'I don't think I've spoken to him in 15 years,' Trump added. 'I wasn't a fan ... I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.' Lieu brought up Epstein when asked about what his constituents are saying about their support of Joe Biden - and whether the Californian was listening to their feedback. His reference brought consternation to reporters confused by his name-dropping the disgraced financier who died in 2019. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. After a terrible debate performance against former President Donald Trump, Democrats have openly expressed skepticism that Biden is fit for reelection. Seeking to flip the conversation from Democrat's divisions over Biden, liberal leaders have tried to focus on Trump instead From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000 Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997 Lieu also spoke about the 'creepy' Project 2025 - a conservative policy agenda pushed by the Heritage Foundation - in an attempt to paint a gloomy future under a possible Republican presidency. 'We also know that with Project 2025, this creepy document written by Trump's closest advisers and confidants, that they want to ban abortion nationwide,' he claimed. The group, however, has stated it is 'not affiliated with former President Trump.' And Trump posted on Truth Social recently, 'I know nothing about Project 2025.' 'I have no idea who is behind it,' he continued. 'I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.' Lieu continued: 'Project 2025 also wants to eliminate the Department of Education and it wants to eliminate the National Weather Service.' 'You're not going to get accurate weather forecasts anymore, you're just going to get stupid weather forecasts,' the Democrat decried, before again adding 'this document is creepy.' Outside of Lieu's odd diatribes against Trump, Project 2025 and Epstein, the House Democrat Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California did shed some light on whether the party was coalescing around the president. 'Right now, President Biden is the nominee. And we support the Democratic nominee that will beat Donald Trump,' Aguilar said at the leadership event. Interesting was his use of 'right now,' possibly indicating that the party is open to moving to a different nominee should the right conditions arise. 'We are unified that Donald Trump cannot win,' Aguilar said, notably not saying that they are unified Biden can beat the former president. 'Every single member of the House Democratic Caucus is clear-eyed about what the stakes of this election are.' House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., left, speaks as Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., listens during a press conference on Tuesday He also added that rank-and-file members were not given 'instruction to get on the same page' about Biden. Later Aguilar conceded that 'we will see' how Biden responds to the debate fallout and mounting questions about his ability. 'We will see. Let's see the press conference. Let's see the campaign stops. Let's see all of this because all of it is going to be necessary.' A U.S. Navy service member was punished after repeatedly searching the name 'Joseph Biden' in an electronic database of military medical records. The incident happened this February, just a week after Biden received his annual physical, in what the White House says is among the three times he has been evaluated by a neorologist. News of the breach comes as congressional Democrats are huddling in search of a definitive way forward after lawmakers have openly questioned Biden's fitness as a candidate after his disastrous debate performance in Atlanta. 'On February 26, 2024, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Fort Belvoir was notified of an unauthorized access to medical records by an active-duty service member," according to a U.S. Navy statement. 'A Sailor assigned to NMRTC Fort Belvoir searched the name "Joseph Biden" in MHS Genesis, the Military Health System's electronic health record, out of curiosity. A co-worker reported the Sailor's breach of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).' The move begat a probe by the The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which found the sailor did not gain access to Biden's records. That probe wrapped up in April. A Navy sailor was disciplined after searching 'Joseph Biden' in a medical database The record the sailor accessed 'was not the electronic record of the President of the United States,' according to the Navy statement provided to DailyMail.com. The MHS Genesis system is a secure health system and at no time was the Presidents personal information compromised.' The search out of 'curiosity' came after White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor issued his report concluding 'President Biden is a healthy, active, robust, 81-year-old male who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency' following a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He said Biden 'continues to be fit for duty.' The White House on Tuesday continued to face questions about its own response following revelations that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurology expert at Walter Reed, met with O'Connor on at least one occasion and made a series of visits to the White House over a period of years. The White House on Monday released a letter from O'Connor finally describing the purpose of Cannard's visits. ''Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, he has held regular neurology clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operation,' according to the letter. The White House continued to face questions about visits to the White House by a Walter Reed neurological expert 'I said right here that the president was not being treated for Parkinson's,' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at the White House. She also said Dr. Cannard was a 'general neurologist' and not just a Parkinson's expert. 'We just wanted to set the record straight.' Dr. Kevin Cannard examined Biden three times as part of his annual physicals The letter came after Jean-Pierre refused to confirm information about Dr. Cannard's visits, citing privacy concerns. A handful of Democrats have publicly called for Biden to step back, forcing the president to engage in a series of public events to try to prove his mettle. 'He is seemingly very determined and unequivocal, emphatic,' said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who continues to support Biden. Knowing Joe Biden and watching him, there's no question in my mind - none - he is determined to stay in this race,' Blumenthal told DailyMail.com. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was grilled by a Republican lawmaker over whether cabinet members have discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Biden from office and about his cognitive decline amid questions over the president's fitness to serve. Yellen was on Capitol Hill to testify before the House Financial Services Committee when she faced questions from New York Congressman Mike Lawler about the 81-year-old president's health. The Treasury Secretary refused to comment on when she last met with the president saying 'those are private.' She acknowledged they have met on a 'wide range of issues.' 'As a cabinet secretary have you noticed any mental or cognitive decline in any of these meetings?' Lawler asked. 'The president is extremely effective in the meetings that I've been in with him,' Yellen responded. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on July 9, 2024 where she was pressed on President Biden's health and whether cabinet members had discussed invoking the 25th amendment to remove him from office She said those meetings includes 'many international meetings that are multi-hour.' Yellen specifically mentioned the meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lawler pressed if that meant she was testifying she has not seen a decline but was cut off by a fellow House member who rejected asking her a medical question, noting Yellen is not a physician. 'Have there been any discussions among cabinet secretaries about invoking the 25th Amendment?' Lawler asked. 'No,' Yellen responded. New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler brought up Biden's health and asked Secretary Yellen about invoking the 25th amendment Questions over Biden's health have been escalating after his disastrous debate performance on June 27 where he stumbled through answers and mixed up his words despite a week of preparation. Several House Democrats have called for the president to not run for reelection while some Senate Democrats have expressed concerns while stopping short of asking him to drop out. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated on Tuesday that he believes invoking the 25th Amendment 'is appropriate here.' He claimed Biden is 'not up for the task.' Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said he does believe it is 'appropriate' for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Biden from office Johnson said the House does not have the authority to initiate such proceedings and it is up to Vice President Kamala Harris to do so. He said he did not expect that to happen. The day after the debate, the speaker also said members of the cabinet should be discussing Biden's removal with their colleagues. The 25th Amendment has never been invoked to remove a president for being unable to fulfill the duties of office. It's the dark cloud that has been hanging over the BBC's much-loved Strictly Come Dancing for more than six months. But now the investigation that began with accusations against the show's professional dancer Giovanni Pernice has widened after more complaints surrounding the hit show. It has heaped further turmoil on Strictly, which is deemed to be the jewel in the Corporation's crown and is still watched by more than ten million people. Sources have told the Mail that the accusations have prompted bosses to extend the inquiry to look at other matters, and individuals, involved with the dance series as they prepare for its 20th anniversary. It means that Mr Pernice, who has already let his frustrations at the investigation be known, faces an even longer wait for an outcome after three former dance partners, including actress Amanda Abbington, instructed lawyers to make 'serious complaints' about his conduct. It also threatens to damage Strictly, the BBC's biggest Saturday night success story since The Generation Game. Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice during a live show on for Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 Presenter Laura Whitmore and dancer and choreographer Giovanni Pernice A television source told the Mail: 'This investigation is no longer just solely about Giovanni but other, more wider issues. The show has been going for 20 years and the whole veneer of Strictly is so sparkly and lovely, of course there will always be people who feel hard done by. 'Amanda's complaints have started something massive, it has opened the door for others to come forward about things they haven't been happy with. 'It is all a big headache for the BBC, it is about to celebrate a massive milestone with its 20th anniversary. 'Having the Giovanni complaint has been a big enough issue, but now it looks like there is more to be scrutinised and looked into.' Sources close to Mr Pernice say that he fully expects to be exonerated. Insiders say also that the widened inquiry will now present the 33-year-old as possibly being a 'small fish' in Strictly's potential downfall. He quit the show after nine years following claims by Ms Abbington, star of Sherlock and Mr Selfridge, that he bullied her in training, claims which he denies. In May it was revealed that the 50-year-old Ms Abbington had instructed London law firm Carter Ruck to represent her against the BBC. Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice during the dress rehearsal for Strictly Come Dancing 2020 The chaos surrounding the show was said to be typified by the surprise announcement on Monday that former fan favourite the dancer Aljaz Skorjanec (pictured) would be returning to the show after a two-year absence The BBC last night refused to comment on the matter but it did confirm in a statement that more than one complaint has been made. It was revealed last week that a plea was made online for anyone involved in the show at any time in the past two decades to come forward and speak to the BBC if they had experienced any bad behaviour. Writing in The TV Mindset, a social media forum for TV industry workers, an anonymous member insisted: 'It is important to hear as many accounts as possible from others who were treated inappropriately, had grievances, or potentially identify others that were. 'This is crucial in supporting Amanda's case, as well as potentially anyone else's. It is also ultimately to support all freelancers and the industry as a whole by standing up to such practices.' The chaos now surrounding the show was said to be typified by the surprise announcement on Monday that former fan favourite the dancer Aljaz Skorjanec would be returning show after a two-year absence. It comes a month after the full line up of professional dancers for the next series was announced by the Corporation. Some within the show have questioned why he was not unveiled alongside with the other professionals particularly because the Beeb left fans waiting for some weeks following Mr Pernice's departure before putting the final list out. Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice during the dress rehearsal for Strictly Come Dancing 2020 Strictly Come Dancing with Giovanni Pernice and Laura Whitmore in 2016 Insiders also noted that the Press were not given a heads up instead, the announcement was made on the BBC's own magazine programme, The One Show, on Monday evening. One source said: 'Usually when something like this happens the BBC give the wider media a heads up but this time the first anyone knew of it was a chat with Aljaz on The One Show and then it was quietly put up on the BBC's press centre at 7.30pm the same day. 'It meant that the announcement was in keeping with the narrative the BBC wanted, no questions were asked as to why he was being unveiled now.' A BBC spokesman said of the widened investigation last night: 'We recently issued a statement urging the media not to indulge in speculation about complaints related to a high profile show and that position remains the same.' John Swinneys reaction to the SNPs humiliation in last weeks General Election was high on almost-convincing sincerity and low on detail. The First Minister set his voice to sorrowful as he addressed the nation on TV in the aftermath of his partys loss of 39 seats, most of them to Labour. The SNP, said Mr Swinney, had to rebuild trust with the people of Scotland, adding: The Scottish National Party needs to be healed and it needs to heal its relationship with the people of Scotland, and I am absolutely committed to doing that. The First Minister conjured up an image of his party and the Scottish people as two halves of a dysfunctional couple, entering into some kind of mediation. (Why wouldnt you vote for independence? Why dont you care about the state of our schools and would you stop leaving your socks on the landing?) Mr Swinney said he had to accept he and his party had failed to convince people of the urgency of independence in this election campaign. It was, he added, necessary to take the time to consider and to reflect on how we deliver our commitment to independence which remains absolute. The First Ministers talk of the need to reflect has left some nationalists angry and upset The First Minister wishes his most enthusiastic followers to seize on that commitment to the cause, while he would very much like the pro-UK majority of Scots to pay closer attention to the bit where he talks about taking time to reflect. Lets be perfectly clear, the SNP just put independence front-and-centre of a General Election campaign and it lost 39 seats. Mr Swinney may hope his nationalist supporters will be reassured by his commitment to breaking up the Union but the independence question is now dead for a generation (an actual generation, not an SNP three-year generation). Anyone who doubts this need only look at last weeks result. Less than two years ago, while still First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon proposed treating the next UK General Election as a de facto referendum. This proposal blindsided and horrified even close allies, who saw nothing but downsides to Ms Sturgeons proposal. For one thing, the UK Government would never agree to such a deal and no amount of SNP wishful thinking would compel it to. For another and this is precisely what has just happened in bold, technicolor, surround-sound there was a danger that even if the UK Government refused to recognise a de facto referendum, failure by the SNP to win a majority of seats in the election would be widely seen as a defeat. So, the SNP has had the closest thing to a de facto referendum it was ever going to get and, well, to say the result has knocked the stuffing out of senior figures, including Mr Swinney, would be an understatement. Watching him on TV on Friday, says one longtime ally of the First Minister, he looked tired. Not just up-all-night tired, beaten tired, sick-of-it-all tired. The SNP John Swinney inherited only two months ago was in a parlous state. A police investigation on top of a series of political missteps by Ms Sturgeon and her successor Humza Yousaf had severely tarnished the partys reputation and opened the door for a Scottish Labour revival. Mr Swinney was seen by colleagues as the man to save a party on the slide. Now, some colleagues wonder whether he is a liability. The First Ministers decision, on the first day of the General Election campaign, to mount a passionate defence of former health secretary Michael Matheson, banned from Holyrood with his wages docked after wrongly claiming 11,000 in expenses then lying about the subject, continues to rankle with some. One former Nationalist MP, swept away by Labours landslide last week, says: The fact of the matter is, I was probably always going to lose but Ill never forget on day one of the campaign hearing John throw us all under the Michael Matheson bus. It was a real thanks, pal moment. When, some months before last weeks election, polls began showing Labour winning back seats lost over recent years to the SNP, senior Nationalists consoled themselves that what they were witnessing was sophisticated voter behaviour. Scots who had decided to vote Labour in order to remove the Tories from government at Westminster would, they said, return to the SNP fold at the 2026 Holyrood election. Thats a view less widely held in Nationalist ranks after last weeks result. If wed lost a dozen seats, say maybe even 20, but wed stayed the biggest party, says one Nationalist MSP, then maybe Id have been inclined to think wed pull things back in time for 2026. But to lose 39. We need to be totally clear with ourselves this is people saying not good enough. The SNPs performance in government has been not good enough for a very long time, but the party has been able to outrun its inadequacies thanks to the support of voters who put independence at the top of their list of priorities. Its now clear those voters are sick of being taken for granted and if they feel that way now, its difficult to see how Mr Swinney might change their minds before the next Holyrood election. The First Ministers talk of the need to reflect has left some high-profile nationalist figures angry and upset. Former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars yesterday launched a blistering attack on his one-time allies. In an open letter to fellow Scottish nationalists, he wrote: I see in reaction to the catastrophe of last Thursday that there is much talk of reflection... It should be repentance because July 4 was inevitable given how the Sturgeon/Swinney era misled the movement [and] lost its common sense in government. Mr Sillars has long been a thorn in the side of the SNP so, perhaps, his decision to speak out isnt surprising but, nonetheless, his attack has the sting of truth. Mr Sillars says Mr Swinneys leadership is a busted flush, describes the SNP under Nicola Sturgeon as a leadership cult run by Stalins wee sister, and accuses members of getting so used to not thinking for yourselves that you allowed the party to be hollowed out intellectually. The loss of so many MPs does not just mean a loss of influence for the SNP at Westminster, it also has serious financial implications. The Nationalists will lose out on around 1million of so-called short money, funds made available to opposition parties to carry out parliamentary duties. And there will be the loss of around half a million pounds more each year in donations made directly by elected members. The First Minister was correct to say that the SNP has lost the trust of the Scottish people. When he replaced Humza Yousaf, he was supposed to start rebuilding that broken relationship. Instead, John Swinney just led his party to catastrophic defeat. How hes the right man to rebuild the SNPs reputation, Im not entirely sure. Arguing over obscure council rules made Jackie Weaver an instant internet celebrity. But for one Scots town hall official, launching into a live-streamed rant about standing orders has ended in shame. Brian Boyd quit as provost of Angus yesterday after he was branded a bully for leaving a fellow councillor close to tears during a meeting. Unlike Mrs Weaver who was lauded for removing troublesome members of Handforth Parish Council from a lockdown Zoom meeting in 2020 the businessmans antics have forced him from office. In a resignation statement, he said: I recognise that my behaviour fell below my own personal standards. Therefore, I will continue to put Angus first and be standing down with immediate effect. Brian Boyds rant was live-streamed on YouTube Councillor Lois Speed was visibly shocked Mr Boyd an independent councillor for Carnoustie and District was chairing a meeting of Angus Council on June 20 which was live-streamed on YouTube. He launched into his tirade during a discussion over a derelict piece of land, speaking over Councillor Lois Speed. When she tried to explain she was about to ask a question, Mr Boyd got to his feet and snapped: Councillor Speed, when I stand up, everyone here sits down. I will read you out standing orders. Deference shall at all times be paid to the authority of the convener. No other member will stand and the convener shall be heard without interruption. Have I made myself clear? Ms Speed, 45, apologised but was so shocked she left the room, apparently too shaken to speak. Footage shows Conservative councillor Craig Fotheringham then interrupting proceedings to call Mr Boyd an absolute disgrace. Jackie Weaver was praised for removing troublesome members from a council Zoom meeting After a break, the provost is seen offering an apology to Ms Speed, adding: Im a very dramatic person at the best of times and I did go over the score. Mr Fotheringham later told the BBC: He is a verbal bully. I dont think he handles the meetings well at all... hes made Angus Council look a fool. Mr Boyd, 59, was made provost in 2022 after cutting a deal with the SNP to help them become the ruling party in Angus. The businessman, who will continue as a councillor, was censured by the Standards Commission in 2019 for being grossly irresponsible. He had signed a petition that made false allegations about a local minister and accused him of being homophobic. Angus Council wouldnt say whether it had received complaints about his latest outburst. Top Democrat Adam Smith told DailyMail.com Tuesday that he'd had concerns about Biden's cognitive ability based on personal interactions before the debate. But last month's 90-minute face-off with Donald Trump 'crystallized' his belief that Biden was no longer suited for the office. 'Ultimately this is Joe Biden's decision,' Smith said. 'Joe Biden is the presumptive nominee. He's not the nominee.I'm going to keep making this case because of how strongly I feel about it. long as that is the case.' But the top Armed Services Committee Democrat insisted the onus is on President Biden to avoid disaster for Democrats in November by stepping aside as a convention challenge would be too 'divisive' to work. 'A [convention] challenge would be a pointless, divisive exercise in my book,' he went on. His comments came as Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., became the seventh House Democrat to go on-the-record and call on Biden to drop out - even as party leaders insist he will be their nominee. 'Because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he wont run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee,' Sherrill said in a statement. Top Democrat Adam Smith insisted the onus is on President Biden to avoid disaster for Democrats in November by stepping aside as a convention challenge would be too 'divisive' to work Smith is one of seven congressional Democrats who broke rank and publicly called on the president to step aside from the 2024 nomination after the disastrous debate where he at one point claimed to 'finally beat Medicare.' Two others made such opinions known on a call with House Democrats that leaked out to reporters. 'The concerns that I had had leading up to that were significantly elevated by the debate elevated to the point where I became convinced that we would be better off [without him],' Smith said. The typically united House Democrats now find themselves in the disarray Republicans often face. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., became the seventh House Democrat to go on-the-record and call on Biden to drop out - even as party leaders insist he will be their nominee. The top Armed Services Committee Democrat told DailyMail.com that he'd had concerns about Biden's cognitive ability based on personal interactions before the debate Last month's 90-minute face-off with Donald Trump 'crystallized' his belief that Biden was no longer suited for the office Some remain behind Biden, believing the roadblocks to replacing him are too great to take on. Others have turned up the heat on the president, without directly calling on him to drop out in public. 'While President Biden has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past twelve days suggests that voters see things the same way,' Rep. Lori Trahan, Mass., a member of House Democratic leadership said in a statement on Tuesday. Smith, meanwhile, said it was 'unlikely' anything Biden could say would change his mind. 'I think what would have been helpful in the immediate aftermath of the debate was in a doctor, do a full transparent you know, healthcare, full check, release that information publicly. Because then you come out and do an hour long press conference saying, hey, you know, a lot of things happen brain fog hit me bad time. I'm good. Let's go. I think that that would have been helpful. First, they didn't do it. Several days passed.' But Biden has gained an unlikely alliance with the far left. Progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar have declared they are 'all-in' for Biden. On Monday, the White House sought to reassure reporters that Biden's bill of health is fine, despite the president getting multiple visits by a neurologist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 'My team does everything that we can to make sure that we get the answers to you,' Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. 'To say that I'm holding information or to allude to anything else is really, really unfair.' She said Biden 'has seen a neurologist three times not more than that' as part of his ordinary annual physical but would not describe the White House visits, gleaned from visitor logs, citing privacy rules and thousands of personnel who get treated at the White House. The president further sought to shore up support by calling into a Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) meeting Monday night on Capitol Hill as his support among black voters wanes. The first elected Democrat to break ranks with Biden was Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett. On July 2, just five days after Biden's disastrous CNN debate performance, Doggett released a statement calling on the president to withdraw from the race. Doggett, a veteran Democrat who has served since 1995, wrote how Biden pledged to be a 'transitional' candidate, saying that the president has fulfilled his promise and should end his bid. A day later on July 3, Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona told the New York Times he too believes Joe Biden should drop out of the race. '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 next day Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Seth Moulton also called on Biden to withdraw. '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 Washington's footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump,' he told local outlet WBUR. On July 5, Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois went on MSNBC - one of the president's favorite networks - to call on Biden to withdraw. Additionally, on July 6, Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig posted on X she wants Biden out too. 'President Biden is a good man & I appreciate his lifetime of service,' she wrote. 'But I believe he should step aside for the next generation of leadership. The stakes are too high.' Then, on a private among some House Democrats on Sunday, the dam protecting Biden as the presumptive nominee cracked further. Democrat Reps. Mark Takano of California, Jerry Nadler and Joe Morelle of New York, and Adam Smith of Washington all expressed on the conference how they want to see Biden step aside. On Monday, Smith called on Biden to step aside. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., both have insisted they will stay behind Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took a forceful tone with reporters on Tuesday after a contentious briefing on Monday, where she defended her own words but also made statements that led to more questions about President Joe Biden. She pushed back at allegations she has not been forthcoming about Biden's health and that the White House has had to later clarify her statements, echoing the president's aggressive strategy to combat Democratic calls for him to exit the 2024 race. 'I disagree. I disagree,' she said when pressed on the issue. But she also caused more uncertainty when she wouldn't confirm if President Biden would deal with a possible nuclear strike that takes place after 8 pm. Fox News' Peter Doocy referred to President Biden's comments to governors he would schedule fewer events after 8 pm so he could get more sleep. Doocy asked: if there was a nuclear strike past that time, who would deal with it? The first lady? 'He has a team that lets him know, any, any news that is pertinent and important to the American people,' Jean-Pierre said. 'It is National Security Council that gets to tell him.' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre played offense on Tuesday Doocy was referring to comments from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made on Fox News on Monday night, when he noted, as speaker, 'many times when we had meetings in the Oval Office, Jill was there as well.' 'Many times, Jill would come in,' McCarthy said. Jean-Pierre said the first lady does not make decisions. 'The President is the President of the United States who makes the decision,' she said. The U.S. President has sole authority to authorize the use of U.S. nuclear weapon, according to American law. Jean-Pierre also brushed aside a question about Hunter Biden joining the president at White House meetings. She noted the family together was at Camp David and, upon their return to the White House, Hunter merely walked straight into a meeting with the president. 'He's very close to his family. As you know, it was the week of Fourth of July, which is why his family members were here last week. They walked together and they walked together into the meeting,' she said. The White House press secretary was trying to reset relations with the media after Monday's briefing, where she, at times, struggled to be heard amid a cacophony of questions about the 81-year-old president's health. She confirmed he had been examined three times by a neurologist but refused to say why a specialist in Parkinson's disease visited the White House eight times in eight months, citing privacy and security concerns. But that simply triggered a hubbub from the usually docile front row of reporters who peppered her with demands for a proper explanation. On Tuesday she denied allegations the White House has been engaged in a coverup when it comes to the president's health. 'There is a comprehensive medical, full comprehensive medical report on the website whitehouse.gov. I would encourage them to take a look to take a look read read that report,' she said. 'It's transparent. It's out there, it's for them to read.' She did note the president has verbal check-ins regularly with Dr. O'Connor. 'The President checks in while he's exercising with his doctor a couple of times a week,' she said. The White House is in week two of trying to recover from Biden's disastrous debate performance. Jean-Pierre is facing questions about her own credibility after she wouldn't answer questions on whether Cannard, a movement disorder specialist at the Walter Reed Medical Center, was treating the president. It raised so many questions that later Monday night Biden's personal doctor, Kevin O'Connor, broke protocol and released a letter explaining why Dr. Cannard visited the White House eight times in eight months. Most of Cannard's visits to the White House were pursuant to his role as a specialist attached to the White House Medical Unit, treating patients for a wide array of neurological issues at the White House for a dozen years, O'Connor said. He said Cannard 'has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations.' 'Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Canard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,' which may explain some of the visits,' he added. Questions remain about President Joe Biden's health and first lady Jill Biden's role in protecting her husband Dr. Kevin Cannard is a movement disorder specialist at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland And, when asked on Tuesday if any of those eight Cannard visits were to treat the president, Jean-Pierre said: 'I can say that it was not.' Jean-Pierre also told reporters that the statement from the president's doctor that Biden is able to perform his job without any accommodations is still correct, despite concerns from Democratic lawmakers, donors and NATO allies. She also argued many of her points from Monday were outlined in Dr. O'Connor's letter. 'I said many of the things that were laid out in the letter was actually repeated right here behind this lectern at this podium yesterday,' she said. 'It was also being assumed and insinuated that Dr. Cannard was, someone who only worked on Parkinson's, when in fact, he's a general neurologist, that was something that Dr. O'Connor was actually able to confirm that,' she noted. Jean-Pierre was asked by CNN's MJ Lee if she wanted to revisit any old statements she had made about President Biden's verbal flubs. Lee specially asked about an incident last year when Biden asked about the presence of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski at a White House event. Walorski had been killed in a car crash a month earlier. 'Would you on that example, would you offer a different explanation?,' Lee asked. Jean-Pierre said she stuck by her original answer that Walorski was at 'the top' of Biden's mind, noting 'that was coming from him. And I was delivering directly the President what he was thinking at the time.' And she noted that when she hasn't 'had the full information. I actually own up to that.' 'I've always been committed to doing the best I can to give you the information that we have. That is a commitment from the team. It has been an unprecedented time. I think you guys could admit that, right? It is an unprecedented time,' she said. 'And so, we are meeting the moment a new moment that has never really existed before. And so, we want to make sure that we get you all the information that we have and when we don't have it, we do try our best to provide information. And so, that is something that I'm going to continue to do.' Biden is battling criticism from some Democrats that he lacks the mental acuity to stand as their nominee against Trump in the Nov. 5 presidential election. The disclosure comes amid mounting scrutiny over the president's mental state following his car crash debate against rival Donald Trump. Biden, 81, has sought to quash rumors he is unfit to lead and still asserts he will run in the November election, but has refused to state whether he is undergoing regular, official cognitive tests. Jean-Pierre started Tuesday's briefing about 90 minutes after it was originally scheduled. She said it was because she was in the Oval Office talking to President Biden about Hurricane Beryl. As Sir Keir Starmer's red wall of 411 MPs squeezed into the House of Commons today, none will be more energised than the fresh-faced team of Gen Z backbenchers who are taking up their seats this week. Labour's new government boasts Britain's first MP to be born in the 21st Century - and plenty more who were born between 1995 and 2000. Voters have hailed the youthful look of Sir Keir's new team of backbenchers, but others have questioned whether they have enough 'substance'. Westminster's new 'Baby of the House' is Sam Carling, the 22-year-old MP for North West Cambridgeshire who was born in 2002. Mr Carling, who beat ex-minister Shailesh Vara, his 63-year-old opponent, by just 39 votes on Thursday, has defended his age - dismisses claims he doesn't have 'real world experience'. 'As far as I'm concerned we're just the same as anyone else. I just want to get on with the job,' he told the BBC. Westminster's new 'Baby of the House' is Sam Carling (pictured), the 22-year-old MP for North West Cambridgeshire who was born in 2002 At 24, Euan Stainbank (left) was the youngest candidate to stand to be an MP in Scotland. Josh Dean (right), also 24, overturned a Tory majority of nearly 20,000 to win his Hertford and Stortford seat Pictures show how many Labour MPs (highlighted in red) were seen spilling out around the speaker's chair, along with members from Tories (blue) and Lib Dems (yellow) The former private school pupil went to Cambridge University, where he was involved in student politics. He was also studying for a master's degree in pathology while campaigning to be an MP. He may be the new 'Baby of the House' but there are a number of other young MPs in Westminster now. Josh Dean, 24, overturned a Tory majority of nearly 20,000 to win his Hertford and Stortford seat. He went to a comprehensive school in Hertford and is set to graduate with a politics and international relations degree from the University of Westminster. Also aged 24, Euan Stainbank was the youngest candidate to stand to be an MP in Scotland. He incredibly tripled the number of Labour votes and overturned a 15,000 SNP majority. Mr Stainbank is new to politics, having only become a councillor in Falkirk two years ago after graduation from the University of Stirling with a law degree. The Herald reports that he was president of the Law Society and co-founded the Stirling Students Tenants Association, which supported international students with housing issues during Covid. Then there is Keir Mather, the 26-year-old MP who was thrust into the spotlight when he overturned a 20,000 Tory majority to win the Selby and Ainsty byelection last July. Keir Mather (pictured), the 26-year-old MP who was thrust into the spotlight when he overturned a 20,000 Tory majority to win the Selby and Ainsty byelection last July The Labour party also has a new Swiftie in town - as 26-year-old Rosie Wrighting (pictured) overturned a Tory majority of nearly 17,000 when she won her Northamptonshire constituency It made him the baby of the house and showed that the Tories were going to have to fight hard to avoid a Labour landslide. An Oxford graduate, he was named after Labour's founder - Keir Hardie - like Starmer. He held onto his seat with a 10,000 majority on Thursday. The Labour party also has a new Swiftie in town - as 26-year-old Rosie Wrighting overturned a Tory majority of nearly 17,000 when she won her Northamptonshire constituency. Seen as a battleground, Sir Keir - also a Swiftie - visited Northamptonshire several times on the election trail. Before taking her seat in the Commons, she worked in retail and lives with her mum, The Guardian reports. Last month, she told The Telegraph her go-to karaoke song was Taylor Swift's I Can Do It With a Broken Heart. She is also said to be a keen figure skater. Labour also have two 27-year-olds - one of whom is Jacob Collier who overturned a 15,000 Tory majority in Burton and Uttoxeter, which hasn't voted Labour since the Blair and Brown ears. The other is Nadia Whittome, who was actually first elected in 2019 when she became 'Baby of the House' as a 23-year-old. Nadia Whittome (pictured) is aged 27. She was actually first elected in 2019 when she became 'Baby of the House' as a 23-year-old The other Labour MPs below 30 include Lloyd Hatton for South Dorset and Luke Charters for York Outer, who are both 28. The youthful look of the Labour party has prompted much discussion on social media. One user posted: 'I keep having to pinch myself when I see our TV screens filled with energetic, keen young Labour MPs elected by people who live all around me. What a contrast with the past. 'May their energy and integrity never dim as we say goodbye to the past 14 years of chaos and darkness.' And another wrote: 'There are a LOT of quite young, quite energetic looking people posting about their 1st day in Parliament. 'Important, when thinking about Labour defending its majority in 2029, to remember that many of these people will have established great local reputations by then.' A third said: 'So many people I had the pleasure of getting to know during difficult times in Young Labour back in the 2010s are now MPs.' And a fourth wrote: 'Congratulations to all Labour MPs, especially the new wavering young competent MPs. Youve not just won a landslide, you given us hope and a real future. Its like the end of a 14 year storm and we are now in calm waters.' Social media users are divided by the youthful look of Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party Others disapproved, however, with one writing: 'Do seem to be a lot of young Labour MPs, absolutely no life experiences to help form government policy apart from ideological claptrap.' Andy Mellor wrote on X: 'Crikey is it just me or do all these new MPs look really young!?' And X user Reg wrote: 'Can't help thinking how young many of these new MPs look. Maybe not 22 but they are quite young. I wonder if this is a deliberate policy by Labour HQ. I guess it plays to the insta / x side of things. I do hope there is more substance over show.' Mr Carling, the new 'Baby of the House', has hit back at suggestions that age should be the focus. Appearing on BBC Breakfast, the Cambridge University researcher hit back at suggestions he was too inexperienced to be a lawmaker. 'No one has yet been able to explain to me why being older makes you better at the job,' he said. Mr Carling has already sat on Cambridge City Council for the last two years and has insisted people in their 20s are just 'as capable as anyone else'. His parents were among the crowd as he gave his victory speech in the early hours of Friday morning, following a dramatic recount, and were there to drive him home when they left just after 6am. Asked whether he can offer real-world experience when taking his seat in the Commons, Mr Carling told BBC Breakfast: 'Well, I have a lot of experience that older MPs won't. 'I've been renting insecure housing in the private sector for quite a while now. That's an issue facing not just young people, but people all across the age spectrum. 'And it's something that I intend to do a lot of work on now that I'm in Parliament. 'I always get a little bit frustrated when people mention life experience because no one has yet been able to explain to me why being older makes you better at the job.' He added: 'I've done quite a lot for my age as well. I mean, I've been a councillor for a couple of years and a cabinet member responsible for about 17million of public money over the last year. 'I've been a trustee of a university, and I've done a lot of other things that perhaps wouldn't necessarily be typical for someone of my age.' Originally from the North East of England, Mr Carling was a pupil at the 32,430-a-year Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He says he bagged a staggering six A* grades in his A-Levels in 2020 - which is when schools were unable to sit summer exams due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The new Labour MP says he doesn't 'eat much meat at all...only chicken and fish' and refuses to eat duck meat. Speaking to student magazine Varsity, he said he only really tucks into chicken and fish, adding: 'I used to go and feed ducks a lot when I was a kid so I will not eat duck. Ever.' He is however a fan of the occasional meal deal, with two mains as his go to - a coronation chicken sandwich or a plant-based hoisin duck wrap. But he says Fridge Raiders and a Dr Pepper are always a must for his choice of a snack and a drink. He went on to study at natural sciences at the University of Cambridge after netting straight A*s in biology, chemistry, physics, maths, further maths and an extended project qualification, his LinkedIn says. Describing himself as a 'serial multitasker', ambitious Mr Carling was forced to balance his studies with his fledging political career at university. He joined Cambridge's Labour Club rising to its co-chairman. He was also the Student Union President at Christ's College. In May 2022, he was voted on to Cambridge City Council representing West Chesterton for Labour. His time at the council has seen him campaigning to tackle the 'rancid filth' and sewage blighting Cambridge's River Cam. But his colleagues joke that all his work has to fit 'around his paper round'. He also held the post of Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services - and once boasted of helping to approve a new Taco Bell fast-food outlet in the heart of Cambridge's Market Square - close to his university halls. But the busy 22-year-old has previously admitted he is 'very bad at getting up' in the morning and would regularly work until 3am, although this may also be down to his insomnia which means he gets around five hours sleep each day. During his time studying for a degree, the aspiring politician also claimed to have uncovered an issue with Cambridge's Student Union's data collection systems which he said had inadvertently 'outed countless' LGBTQ students. And the new Labour MP has also indicated his support for the pro-Palestine cause, telling Varsity in May the 'fighting [in Gaza] needs to stop now' - while also backing people's 'right to protest', which saw hundreds of students set up camps outside the university calling for a 'ceasefire' in the war between Israel and Hamas. When news broke in May that Mr Carling was to be Labour's parliamentary candidate, the 22-year-old was ruthlessly trolled online over his age, with people calling him a 'Labour creche kiddie' and 'nerd', with some asking: 'Have you ever had a job before?' Sharing a series of pictures of the abuse he claimed to have received on X, Sam said: 'I'm sometimes asked for my views on why we can't get more young people to stand for office, with only 2 per cent of councillors under 30. 'See below a selection of the age-related tripe I have received in just the first two days of being a parliamentary candidate. That should explain it.' In 2015, Mhairi Black became the youngest MP to be appointed since 1832 when she was elected to the SNP aged just 20 years and seven months old. Ms Black, the party's former deputy leader at Westminster, announced last year she would be stepping down at the general election. Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden by five points in a new poll in Wisconsin, a critical battleground that Biden carried in 2020 that is a key part of one of his most promising routes to reelection. Trump leads Biden 50-45 in a head-to-head matchup in a FabrizioWard / Impact Research poll conducted for AARP. His lead is 44 to 38 when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other lower polling candidates are surveyed. The poll comes after Biden's debate disaster, as Democrats are debating whether to try to pressure Biden to step back from running amid fears he will be a drag down the ticket. In a result consistent with some other battlegrounds, Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is outperforming Biden. Baldwin leads Republican Eric Hovde 50-45, a mirror image of the margin by which Trump leads Biden. President Joe Biden trails Donald Trump by 5 points in a new poll out of Wisconsin Baldwin is among those Democrats up for reelection who have raised questions about Biden's prospects as a candidate. 'I traveled the entire state during the recess' over July Fourth, she told DailyMail.com Tuesday. Baldwin said she 'heard a lot of concerns about the president's capacity to win this election. And so I think everyone's looking carefully at his performance this week,' she said on a day senators and House members huddled separately about the Biden situation. Trump holds polling leads in many of the key battlegrounds, as Democrats assess whether to try to push Biden off the ticket Biden flipped Wisconsin to defeat Trump in 2020, winning about about 20,000 votes, even as Trump and his GOP allies contested and denied the results. It is one of a trio of Rust Belt battlegrounds, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, that provide a path to victory for him, amid a poll slide in other states he carried like Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona. The poll was in the debate after Biden's debate. Another poll, by Bloomberg / Morning Consult, that extended through the July 4th weekend, had Biden leading Trump 47-44. Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio's firm conducted the survey. Chinese troops were on patrol just three miles from NATO territory last night as they staged a landmark exercise in Belarus. The manoeuvres, seemingly timed to coincide with the 76th anniversary NATO summit, offered a disturbing indication of Beijing's affiliations. In the face of international condemnation, China has continued to back Russia's occupation of Ukraine by providing parts and technologies used to make missiles, tanks and aircraft. Now it has sent elite troops to Russia's neighbour and ally in the conflict in Ukraine, Belarus. It came hours after a Russian missile strike on the Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital which killed two adults. Joint-drills involving Chinese and Belarussian soldiers codenamed Exercise Falcon Assault are taking place near the city of Brest which lies on the border with Poland. Chinese troops were on patrol just three miles from NATO territory last night as they staged a landmark exercise in Belarus (pictured: Chinese soldiers pictured during a drill in May) It came hours after a Russian missile strike on the Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital (pictured above) which killed two adults Joint-drills involving Chinese and Belarussian soldiers codenamed Exercise Falcon Assault are taking place near the city of Brest which lies on the border with Poland Major General Vadim Denisenko, chief of Belarusian special operations command, said the exercise was being staged in response to 'alarming events taking place in the world'. He added: 'The situation is uneasy. Therefore we are going to practise new forms and methods of performing tactical tasks.' This is the first time Chinese troops have conducted operational rehearsals in Belarus since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The timing of the exercise adds to its significance, as it coincides with the leaders of NATO's 32 member states convening in Washington D.C. The presence of Chinese soldiers so close to NATO soil also comes as North Korean troops are expected to arrive in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Their anticipated deployment is part of mutual security arrangement agreed by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jung-Un. More than 100 Chinese troops, from the People's Liberation Army Northern Command, are expected to remain in Belarus until July 19th. They will practice night landings and overcoming water barriers with their hosts. The Belarussian defence ministry published photographs of their arrival on Telegram. The soldiers, carrying a huge Chinese flag, were seen disembarking from their aircraft and marching around an airfield. The Chinese defence ministry said: 'The joint training aims to enhance the coordination capabilities of the participating troops, and deepen practical cooperation between the two armies. The statement suggested the countries could conduct further drills together and step up their support for Russia's occupation of Ukraine. The precise location of the exercise may be a response by China and Belarus to Poland stepping up security on its side of the border. Brest is also only 30 miles from the Belarus-Ukraine border. State media in Belarus has also broadcast warnings that Ukraine is poised to launch attacks against the country. Former Belarusian diplomat Pavel Slunkin said: 'They have undertaken training [with China] before but I don't recall any similar joint exercises in Belarus on this scale.' Participants of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, attend a photo ceremony in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4, 2024 In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Monday, July 8, 2024 While Martin Sebena, an academic at the University of Hong Kong who specialises in China-Europe relations, told the South China Morning Post: 'The exercise will overlap the NATO summit and take place on the border where Belarus has 'weaponised' migrant flows to pressure Poland, the European Union and NATO.' Publicly, China continues to insist it is neutral on the Russia-Ukraie conflict and has denied supplying arms. But it has ramped up exports of vital parts used in Russia's military factories. It has also used the conflict to deepen ties with Russia's allies such as Belarus and Hungary. Hungary's President Viktor Orban will attend the NATO summit having just met President Xi in Beijing and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Despite Hungary belonging to the Western defence alliance, the country also signed a security pact with China earlier this year. Orban has also backed President Xi's stance on the conflict. He is also expected to tell NATO leaders that President Putin is ready to hold peace talks. In a letter Orban wrote to other European Union leaders, which was leaked to a Ukrainian newspaper earlier this week, he said 'time was running out' to achieve peace due to the 'escalation of hostilities'. He said: 'If we cannot stop this process then in the next two months we will witness more dramatic losses. That is why [Putin] was surprised the Ukrainian president rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal.' Orban has also said that 'Putin cannot lose', given the numbers of troops and weaponry he can use in the conflict. Clergy must not use artificial intelligence to write sermons as it fails to 'convey the preacher's faith or integrity', a Church of England bishop has warned. The Rt Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, said he recently attended a conference on sermons where many were 'quite open to the benefits'. One person claimed 'all the AI app does is take other people's work countless sources that it has access to - and shape them into a sermon according to the preacher's instructions'. But Bishop Seeley highlighted the danger of removing an individual's input from the process, saying: 'A preacher is meant to have faith and integrity and that needs to come across when they preach. 'How can an electronically constructed sermon, where the preacher has simply told the AI device what to write, convey the preacher's faith or integrity? The Rt Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, highlighted the danger of removing an individual's input from the sermon writing process Bishop Seeley said: 'Chat GPT may well produce a well-crafted sermon but the best communicators are those who connect to their congregation on a deeper, human-to-human level' (file image) 'After all, in preaching, the preacher themselves is a key part of the message.' He added: 'With this surge in technological innovation, it can be hard, I think, to remember what it means to be a human being in all this. 'We have been tempted to treat technology as substitutes for human beings rather than agents for human connection 'Chat GPT may well produce a well-crafted sermon but the best communicators are those who connect to their congregation on a deeper, human-to-human level.' Bishop Seeley said some argue that AI is 'just an extension of what happens now, where a preacher scours books and reads other people's sermons before shaping the sermon they go on to preach'. But he continued: 'An AI sermon is no substitute for a sermon preached directly from the heart. Clergy must not use artificial intelligence to write sermons as it fails to 'convey the preacher's faith or integrity', a Church of England bishop has warned (Pictured: Canterbury Cathedral) 'It may speed up the process of writing a sermon, an essay, or whatever else but, as the name suggests, it will always be 'artificial'.' His concerns were shared by Nicholas Cardwell, professor of information systems engineering at the University of Suffolk, who said an AI-generated sermon was 'just nice words that you have instructed a machine to generate for you'. AI is a 'text producer on steroids,' he added, comparing it to predictive text where the author doesn't have to type the words. 'When he delivers the sermon, it will be from a position of faith. The AIs will come from a position of what they have been fed with and we have got to hope that what the AI has been fed with will be accurate,' Prof Cardwell said. He also backed Bishop Seeley's fears that advances in AI and electronic communications in general were feeding the loss of 'human-to-human connection'. Ex-prime minster Sir Tony Blair yesterday warned ministers must embrace the use of AI in the public sector AI has been hailed for its benefits, ranging from greater accuracy in spotting prostate cancer than hospital doctors to recreating the voices of dead stars for narrating audio books. Ex-prime minster Sir Tony Blair yesterday warned ministers must embrace the use of AI in the public sector to generate annual savings of 10 billion by the end of this Parliament and 35 billion in a decade. But school and university chiefs fear the technology is being used by students to take an easy shortcut when writing essays, while some, including Elon Musk, have predicted a 'job apocalypse' with workers replaced en masse. Two months ago, the Tesla and SpaceX boss predicted AI will soon surpass human intelligence and become so ubiquitous that 'intelligence that is biological will be less than one per cent'. Royal Mail will stop using trains to transport post in a move that brings nearly two centuries of mail rail to an end. The postal service will inform staff today that it is planning to sell off its freight trains and switch to road deliveries. The shake-up comes after bosses at Royal Mail's owner International Distribution Services agreed to sell the company to 'Czech Sphinx' Daniel Kretinsky for 3.5billion. A deal would see the 508-year-old postal service fall into foreign hands for the first time since it was established by Henry VIII in 1516. A Royal Mail train pictured departing from the Scottish Distribution Centre in Wishaw on December 14, 2016 The train pictured as it is being loaded by workers in Scotland before travelling south in 2016 The postal service will inform staff today that it is planning to sell off its freight trains and switch to road deliveries Royal Mail railway timeline: 1516: King Henry VIII establishes first postal service in Britain 1830: Royal Mail starts using the railway to move post 1838: Introduction of the first Travelling Post Offices, also known as sorting carriages 1839: Private railway companies start to carry Royal Mail deliveries 1927: Underground mail rail opens in London 1936: WH Auden writes poem Night Mail to accompany documentary film of the same name 1939: Outbreak of war temporarily halts use of Travelling Post Offices 1963: Armed gang steals 2.6m in Great Train Robbery 2003: Underground mail rail in London closes 2004: The last Travelling Post Office stops running 2022: Royal Mail announces plans to triple post sent by rail Advertisement Royal Mail's decision to scrap freight trains brings its 194-year relationship with Britain's railways to a close. Mail was first moved on to the tracks in 1830 - seven years before Queen Victoria took the throne. It inspired for iconic works of art - as well as one of the most infamous heists in British history. A Royal Mail rail service travelling from Glasgow to London was the scene of The Great Train Robbery. A gang of 15 robbers boarded a Royal Mail train in August 1963 and stole about 2.6million - worth more than 46million in today's money. WH Auden's poem Night Mail was inspired by the postal trains, and it features in the classic 1936 film of the same name. While Travelling Post Offices - which saw staff sort mail onboard trains - were axed 20 years ago, letters and parcels are still moved across the country on the rail network every day. Royal Mail's announcement to staff comes after it revealed plans to halve the number of domestic flights it runs in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The postal service's convoy of 5,000 red vans is the largest electric vehicle fleet in the country. And its fleet of heavy goods vehicles is partly run on hydrotreated vegetable oil, which is a renewable alternative to diesel. Under the plans to scrap freight trains, the postal service will sell its 15 British Rail class 325 trains. However, a Royal Mail source last night indicated that only six of these 30-year-old trains are still in use. The decision is not expected to cost any Royal Mail jobs but freight industry positions could be at risk. Royal Mail's decision to scrap freight trains brings its 194-year relationship with Britain's railways to a close Mail was first moved on to the tracks in 1830 - seven years before Queen Victoria took the throne A Post Office rail car pictured in Derby in 1996 - the trains were withdrawn in 2004 due to a decline in needed services And it signals a major U-turn on the postal services previous strategy to deliver more letters and parcels by rail. The move comes just a year after Royal Mail opened its Midlands 'super hub' at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. And it is only two years since Royal Mail announced plans to treble the amount of post moved by trains. Scrapping freight trains also presents a major headache for Sir Keir Starmer's new Labour government. An old Royal Mail design pictured on the side of a Mail Coach from around 1800 A Royal Mail train pictured racing past Watford Gap with a southbound service to the Princess Royal Mail Terminal at Willesden A Royal Mail Post Office train pictured in St Pancras Station in 1993 It will land in the in-tray of transport minister Lord Hendy, chairman of Network Rail. One industry source last night said: 'This will cause uproar on the railways. 'But at least it will mean there will never be another Great Train Robbery.' Labour vowed to 'robustly scrutinise' the Royal Mail takeover and give workers a 'stronger voice' in its election manifesto. Washington, DC, United States (PANA) - The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced completion of the 2024 Article IV Consultation and the Fourth Review under Mozambiques three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement Sir Keir Starmer last night warned Vladimir Putin You will not succeed as he faced questions about defence spending. The Prime Minister, who flew to Washington last night for a major Nato summit, said there was no more important duty than safeguarding the nation. He announced that the Government will launch a strategic defence review next week to assess the threats to the UK and the military capabilities needed to counter them. Government sources said the review would include a roadmap to raising defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. But the decision to scrap Rishi Sunaks plan to reach the target by 2030 has alarmed experts who warn there is no time for delay. Setting a timetable after the review is likely to delay a decision on increased spending by at least a year. Sir Keir Starmer, who flew to Washington last night for a major Nato summit, said there was no more important duty than safeguarding the nation Yesterday, Chinese troops were reported to be conducting joint military exercises with Russian forces in Ukraine s neighbour Belarus Sources said the review would reorient the UK to a Nato-first stance, reversing the Indo-Pacific tilt ordered by the last government. The move is likely to raise eyebrows given the threat posed to UK interest by China. Yesterday, Chinese troops were reported to be conducting joint military exercises with Russian forces in Ukraines neighbour Belarus. As he prepared to travel to Washington last night, Sir Keir said: There is no more important duty for me as Prime Minister than keeping the people of our country safe. At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves. Thats why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britains defences for the future. Our Strategic Defence Review will make sure the UK is sending a clear message to those who seek to undermine peace and democracy you will not succeed. This weeks Nato summit marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance which faces the greatest threat level since the Cold War. The event is Sir Keirs debut on the world stage since his landslide election victory last week. He is expected to hold talks with a string of world leaders in the next 48 hours, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and face-to-face discussions with Joe Biden today. Sir Keir will be accompanied by his wife Victoria, who is expected to join him for a leaders dinner hosted by President Biden at the White House tonight. The couple are expected to move in to No 10 from their north London home after they return on Friday. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Defence Secretary John Healey and Europe Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will also attend the summit and meet counterparts. He is expected to hold talks with a string of world leaders in the next 48 hours, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) and face-to-face discussions with Joe Biden today Sir Keir will be accompanied by his wife Victoria (pictured), who is expected to join him for a leaders dinner hosted by President Biden at the White House tonight Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured), Defence Secretary John Healey and Europe Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will also attend the summit and meet counterparts The summit is focused on bolstering support for Ukraine. But President Biden and others are expected to press member states in Europe to increase defence spending to deter the Russian threat. The UK is one of the few Nato countries to consistently meet the blocs minimum target of two per cent of GDP on defence. Mr Sunak had planned to use the event to press for the threshold to be raised to 2.5 per cent in recognition of the enhanced threat. The UK currently spends 64.6billion on defence, equal to 2.32 per cent of GDP. Mr Sunak set out plans to raise it each year to reach 87.1billion by 2030, equivalent to 2.5 per cent of forecast GDP. Labour has so far set out only an aspiration to reach the spending target at an unspecified date. In a letter to Mr Healey last night, Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge urged Labour to match the 2030 timetable immediately. Mr Cartlidge told Labour it was high time you made clear to the country what your plans are for defence spending. President Putin was embraced by Indias prime minister Narendra Modi who has arrived in Moscow for talks just hours after Russias air strike on a childrens cancer hospital In Kyiv Modi said Russia was an ally that has been with us through good times and bad, as a trusted friend Downing Street said the PM would push other countries to raise defence spending this week, despite delaying his own decision on the issue. The PMs official spokesman said the 2.5 per cent spending target would be hit as soon as possible within our fiscal rules. But military experts say there is no time for delay. General Sir Patrick Sanders, former head of the Army, told the Times that the UKs forces were so depleted they were capable of fighting only a small war and even then for no more than a month. President Putin was embraced by Indias prime minister Narendra Modi who has arrived in Moscow for talks just hours after Russias air strike on a childrens cancer hospital In Kyiv. Putin called Modi my dearest friend. The invasion of Ukraine has been financed in part by Indian purchases of Russian oil products, which have increased almost 20-fold since 2021. Modi said Russia was an ally that has been with us through good times and bad, as a trusted friend. President Zelensky said on social media: It is a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal on such a day. President Joe Biden avoided a near disastrous slip-up during his welcome speech to NATO leaders on Tuesday as the eyes of the world watched him to judge his fitness to serve four more years in the White House. The president, visibly reading from the teleprompter, read a three-word instruction to himself as he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg - but was saved from utter embarrassment by the audience applause. 'Ask the military aide,' Biden said while preparing to award Stoltenberg the nation's highest civilian honor. Biden then quickly caught himself, while the crowd drowned up the flub with cheers. 'Military come forward,' he said. He proceeded to award the medal, hanging it around Stoltenberg's neck, without incident. President Joe Biden (right) averted a near flub when awarding NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (left) the Presidential Medal of Freedom Biden faces a test of his stamina with the start of the NATO summit on Tuesday, where voters in America and leaders from abroad will be watching how he holds up after his car-crash debate with Donald Trump. The president attempted to reassure the public during a recent interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News. Biden sounded raspy as he insisted his poor debate performance was due to a simple cold. At one point during the Stephanopoulos interview, Biden said he couldn't remember whether he even watched the debate performance after it took place. 'I don't think I did, no,' Biden stated. A strong performance at the NATO summit will result in a sigh of relief from allies worried a Trump victory could lead to a return of U.S. isolation. A mistake will send their blood pressure skyrocketing. The three-day fitness test began Tuesday evening when Biden, 81, marked the 75th anniversary of the organization. It will continue through meetings and a dinner with world leaders on Wednesday and accumulate in a press conference on Thursday. Biden's speech was relatively error free and his words were strong but his focus remained on the teleprompter before him. He also had a minor stumble when he tried to tell a story about asking Stoltenberg to stay on as NATO chief. 'I realized I was talking to your wife. I personally asked you to extend your service,' Biden said and he then chuckled. 'Forgive me. You put your own plans on hold. You didn't hesitate.' Biden, last year, asked Stoltenberg to spend another year on the job, which he agreed to do. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, voted on by NATO leaders, will succeed him, taking over on October 1st. The theme of the welcome ceremony was the importance and strength of NATO. In his remarks, Biden noted that 'today NATO is more powerful than ever: 32 nations strong.' Sweden and Finland joined the group last year. But Biden also issued a word of warning about the threat of autocrats. His warning comes as his fellow NATO leaders are worried about the possibility of Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election. 'Autocrats have overturned global order,' he noted. Biden has made 'restoring America's place in the world' a major policy platform after Donald Trump's years of isolationist policy. 'Remember, NATO's character is fundamentally democratic. Always has been and always must continue to be today. NATO is better resource than it ever has been,' he said in his remarks. Trump has suggested that in a second term he would not defend NATO allies who didn't pay their full dues - 2% of their respective GDP. The former president also has questioned the amount of aid to the Ukraine. Both of these prospects have made NATO leaders uneasy. Biden noted that he has gotten more NATO members to increase their dues. 'The year 2020 year was the year I was elected president. Only nine NATO allies are spending 2% of their defense GDP,' he said. 'This year 23 will spend at least 2%.' 'And some will spend more than that. And the remaining countries that have not yet reached that milestone will get there. This is remarkable progress. Proof our commitment is broad and deep.' Biden also announced the U.S. and additional NATO allies will send Ukraine dozens of air defense systems in the coming months, including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kyiv has been seeking. 'Russia will not prevail,' the president said. 'Ukraine can and will stop Putin,' Biden noted. NATO Heads of Government pose for a picture at the NATO 75th Anniversary celebration U.S. President Joe Biden (center), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (left) and President of Finland Alexander Stubb (right) pose for a picture at the NATO 75th Anniversary The U.S., Germany and Romania will send Ukraine additional Patriot batteries, while the Netherlands and others will provide Patriot components to make up one more battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defense system. Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide a number of other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage. Those systems include NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. And other nations have agreed to provide munitions for those systems. Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday on the sidelines of the NATO summit. The welcome ceremony on Tuesday began with a video on the history of the alliance and the important role it has planned in Europe in the last 75 years with the narrator calling it 'the most powerful alliance in human history.' The video touched on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the September 11th attacks. 'True friendship is more than a promise more than just signatures on a piece of paper. It's a way of navigating life and when you show yourself as worthy of true friendship, it draws others with that same sense of commitment to your side,' the narrator said. Members of the military sang a melody of and war songs. All the flags of the NATO nations were on display. And a chorus of bugles played the leaders out. The White House brought in Hollywood heavyweights Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to produce the event, which featured the music of famous composer Hans Zimmerman. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives to the NATO 75th Anniversary ceremony at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, from left, President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the welcome ceremony The gathering of the leaders from the 32 NATO countries plus Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as Ukraine is expected to be one of Biden's last appearances at an international forum before Election Day. It also comes before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. But, in a reminder of his age, Biden is the only head of government who was alive during NATO's founding. A North Dakota bar owner was killed in a freak accident over the weekend while resetting the pins in his bowling alley. Scott Willoughby, 59, the owner of Esmond Bar, was working to restore the two-lane bowling alley he attached to the drinking hole Saturday night when officials say he was crushed by the pinsetter, KVLY reports. He was alone at the time, according to the Benson County Sheriff's Office, and was found dead Sunday morning. The Esmond Bar later confirmed the owner's unexpected passing in a Facebook post, noting it would be closed until further notice. Scott Willoughby, 59, the owner of Esmond Bar, was killed in a freak accident while resetting the pins in his bowling alley Saturday night Willoughby had attached a two-lane bowling alley to the bar 'We write with a heavy heart that the owner, Scott, has passed away,' the post read. 'Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers through this very difficult time.' One person who commented on the post expressed her condolences, and said Willoughby had discussed the renovations he was making to the bowling alley when she visited the bar recently. 'We had the best visit when I was there a couple weeks ago,' Stacey Kurtyka Atkinson wrote. 'He showed us the bowling alley remodel. He was so proud of it,' she continued, adding: 'I can still hear him laughing and joking around!' The Esmond Bar confirmed his death in a Facebook post and said it will be closed until further notice Another Facebook user wrote that he had just worked with Willoughby on a promotional video for the bowling alley a few days before. 'This saddens me a lot,' Kevin Eilenberg wrote. 'Im even more grateful that we randomly walked in.' A funeral for the beloved bar owner is scheduled for Friday, according to an obituary posted online. A Texas caregiver who had been charged with abuse and endangering patients is now being investigated over the deaths of 20 people and faces at least one murder charge. Regla Becquer, 49, the owner of multiple care homes under her LLC 'Love and Caring for People', is accused of leaving her patients to live in squalor while raiding their bank accounts. As local authorities have investigated, they've since charged Becquer with murder on June 20 and discovered a further pattern of deaths of those she was supposed to take care of. They have added another seven victims whose deaths have occurred in Becquer's custody since September 2022, many of which happened before they began their probe. 'We've learned about some very concerning things occurring within these homes and we want to ensure that no victims are falling through the cracks,' Arlington Chief of Police Al Jones said in a statement. Regla Becquer, 49, a Texas caregiver who has been charged with abuse and endangering patients, is now being investigated over the deaths of 20 people who have died in her care over the past two years 'Fortunately, our investigation has resulted in multiple clients being pulled from the homes so they can receive the legitimate care they need. But there may be others we need to help.' Back in March, it was revealed she is also accused of poisoning patients, which Chris Devendorf, the brother of a man who died in her care in January, claims caused his brother to rapidly deteriorate as soon as he joined her home. 'There was something different in his voice,' Devendorf said about his brother, Kelly Pankratz, when he last spoke to him. 'He was slurring his speech. Sounded like he had something in his mouth.' Although her care homes are allegedly unlicensed, patients were sent to Becquer by hospitals when they don't meet the criteria for care at a licensed facility, according to KLIF. A search warrant obtained by WFAA initially alleged that 13 patients died in her homes since September 2022, as patients were allegedly left in rotten conditions. New revelations have found another seven victims. In the case of Kelly Pankratz, his brother said he developed a brain condition that caused confusion, and after being hospitalized for sepsis, he broke his ankle on the way home. Pankratz was subsequently placed in one of Becquer's care homes, which Devendorf said led his brother's condition to go rapidly downhill. He claimed that Becquer wouldn't take him for scheduled doctor's appointments, and they struggled to get into contact with Pankratz for several months. Chris Devendorf, right, the brother of Kelly Pankratz, died in her care in January, claims caused his brother to rapidly deteriorate as soon as he joined her home 'It was impossible,' family friend Barton Gross told WFAA. 'There was just no way to get ahold of him. No mailing address, where I could even send a card.' Becquer is accused of strategically moving patients between homes to avoid detection while cutting off their contact with their families. Devendorf said the last time he spoke with his brother in January, when he suffered the slurred speech patterns that concerned him. Hours later, Pankratz died inside one of Becquer's homes. His cause of death has not yet been established and an autopsy has not been conducted. The brother said that he became suspicious of Becquer, and is seeking to 'know if he was drugged.' The search warrant added that several others, including former patients and their family members, have accused her of poisoning them. Becquer is also alleged to have stolen money from her patients, including claims she spent $100,000 of Pankratz' money in a six-month span. Although the purchases were made in his name, his family claims that he was known to be frugal to the point of being 'cheap', and spending excessively was out of character for him. Many of the online purchases were also made online, Devendorf said, despite his brother not owning a phone or computer. Pankratz, left, developed a brain condition that caused confusion, and after being hospitalized for sepsis, he broke his ankle on the way home Gross added: 'I don't think it was him spending the money... he was frugal. Kelly was frugal to the point of being almost cheap.' Investigators allege that Becquer also stole victims' cars and engaged in various forms of identity theft, and several had handed over their power of attorney. Many were also said to have been only mildly disabled and of sound mind, before their conditions allegedly deteriorated rapidly once entering the care homes. One woman, Kren Walker, is also alleged to have signed over the deed to her home to Becquer in her will on a handwritten note just two weeks before she died. The will, which was just one sentence long, is now the subject of a forgery investigation by the Arlington Police Department, reports KHOU-11. According to KLIF, another victim with cerebral palsy said she cut her own wrists out of desperation to get out of the home and sent to hospital. She also claimed she was left to sleep on a bare mattress covered in her own feces, and was given a 'minty unprescribed medication' to prevent her from escaping. Arlington police say they are still unclear how many care homes Becquer was operating, as the city of Arlington doesn't require annual licensing, unlike Dallas which requires each home to be licensed. Becquer is also alleged to have stolen money from her patients, including claims she spent $100,000 of Pankratz' money in a six-month span. Pictured, one of her care homes She was snared when police were called to one of the homes in November last year after a neighbor found a patient had fallen in her backyard. When cops showed up, officers found two more patients inside, and Becquer allegedly told a caretaker not to allow police 'inside the home to check on the welfare of the patients.' 'Officers and EMS deemed that there was exigency to check the welfare of the other patients inside the home,' the search warrant stated. Vice President Kamala Harris tried to put to bed calls for her to replace President Joe Biden on the 2024 Democratic ticket with a rally in Las Vegas where she ignored the elephant in the room. Biden's fitness for office has come under intense scrutiny in the two weeks after his car crash debate performance against Donald Trump. And while Harris is floated as the one to take over should Biden drop out of the running, the vice president is not faltering in her commitment to running as his No. 2 again. 'Now we always knew this election would be tough and the past few days have been a reminder that running for President of the United States is never easy,' Harris acknowledged at the swing-state campaign stop on Tuesday. 'But the one thing we know about our President, Joe Biden, is that he is a fighter.' 'And he is the first to say when you get knocked down you get back up. We all know many of us know what that is. So we continue to fight and we will continue to organize and in November we will win,' she added. Vice President Kamala Harris presented a united front during a Las Vegas rally on Tuesday as she largely ignored the elephant in the room President Joe Biden's very public decline Harris did not mention in her nearly 16-minute remarks Biden's debate performance or the massive turn against him from within the Democratic Party. She also did not address calls for her to lead the Democratic ticket in November. The show of unity came at a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada launching the group Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders for Biden. From Nevada, Harris is heading to Texas for an event on Wednesday and will continue back to the East Coast on Thursday for a campaign stop in the right-leaning swing state of North Carolina. Over the weekend, Harris will hold another AANHPI event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Attendees on Tuesday, most members of the AANHPI community, received the first female vice president with chants of 'four more years' and 'let's dump Trump.' Harris, whose mother is from India, is part of the Asian American community. 'We are 118 days out from the election. And while many of us have been involved with these elections every four years and nearly every time we say, 'this is the one.' Well, this here is the one. This is the one. The most existential, consequential and important election of our lifetime,' Harris said from the podium of a ballroom in Resorts World. Vice President Kamala Harris has been floated as the only one who could replace Biden on a 2024 ticket but she has doubled-down on her backing for her boss. Harris and President Joe Biden hold hands during fire works at the White House on July 4 Harris was in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday for the launch of the state's Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders for Biden group Instead of stoking confidence in Biden, the vice president used her time speaking to bash Donald Trump's record and present the binary choice to Americans between the incumbent president and the former president. Specifically, Harris called out limitations to abortion rights implemented by the Supreme Court after Trump appointed three conservative justices. She also slammed Trump's 34 felony counts and four pending criminal trials. Event attendees who spoke with DailyMail.com say they still want to see Biden at the top of the 2024 ticket but would support Harris if she ended up being the nominee in November. An Alabama mother has posted a heartbreaking tribute to her two-year-old daughter, who drowned in the family's pool while they were celebrating her birthday. 'Sleep sweet my beautiful angel,' Rebekah Satterfield, the mother of Violet Mae Satterfield, wrote on Monday as she officially announced her daughter's passing. 'We only had two years with you, but they were filled with the happiest moments of my life,' she continued. 'I will carry you with me in my veins until the day I see you again, my love.' Violet had snuck into the pool at her birthday party on July 1 without her flotation devices on, and was later found by her parents 'blue with no pulse,' her mother wrote on Facebook at the time. Violet Mae Satterfield, 2, snuck into the pool at her birthday party on July 1 without her flotation devices on Her mother, Rebekah Satterfield, right, posted a heartbreaking tribute to the young girl on Monday as she announced Violet's passing She was then rushed to a local hospital and airlifted to Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham, where she was put in a hypothermic sleep to help heal her brain. As she laid in the hospital for nearly a week, donations poured in to an online fundraiser to help the family with the young girl's medical expenses. It had netted more than $30,000. But on Sunday, Satterfield wrote that Violet had two brain death exams, neither of which showed promising results. 'I cannot thank all of her prayer warriors enough for keeping her name risen these past few horrible days,' she said, noting: 'We are taking this time as a family to say goodbye. 'I'm so sorry to be delivering such bad news after all of the uplifting words you all have poured over us.' As Violet laid in the hospital, donations poured in to help the family with her medical expenses Violet's organs will now be donated, Satterfield said, 'as we want to give someone else a chance at saving their baby.' According to Alabama's Legacy of Hope, Violet could save up to eight lives, WAFF reports. The family has not yet announced plans for the young girl's funeral due to the donation waiting period, but Satterfield has asked that it be filled with purple. 'Wear purple for my baby while we celebrate her short life,' she wrote in the post Monday. 'Daddy and I love you so much, Violet. 'Until we meet again.' Man, 45, has been charged with murder A 45-year-old man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a woman's body at a Melbourne waste management facility. Former teacher Annette Brennan, 67, was found dead at a tip in Epping in Melbourne's north, about 8km from her home in Coolaroo, on July 3. The 45-year-old suspect, who police say was known to Ms Brennan, was arrested and questioned by detectives before he was charged on Tuesday night. Staff at the Cooper Street rubbish tip located the body of the beloved former English teacher while moving green waste last Wednesday and contacted police. Investigators believe Ms Brennan's body had been placed inside a domestic bin that was picked up from her Hilgay Street home on July 2. Police have asked for information from locals on any suspicious behaviour in the area as far back as June 23. The accused Coolaroo man has been remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. One of Ms Brennan's former students, Simona Croce, told 9News that the teacher was a 'beautiful, loving and a kind woman'. 'She was amazing, I'm really shocked,' she added, calling her a 'second mum'. A man, 45, has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of English teacher Annette Brennan (pictured) 67, in a tip in Melbourne's north last week Detectives believe Ms Brennan's body was originally inside a domestic bin that was picked up from her Coolaroo home (pictured) - which has rubbish collected every Tuesday 'No one deserves to be treated this way, no one,' she said. One neighbour told Daily Mail Australia that his neighbourhood remained in shock following the suspected murder. 'We've never seen anything like this out here. It's just awful,' the man said. Forensic and uniformed offers were seen at the home surrounded by police tape on Saturday, when the discovery was made public. One of Ms Brennan's former students described her as a 'beautiful, loving and a kind woman' The discovery of the body is the third time a woman's remains have been found in a bin or tip in Victoria in recent years. In March, the remains of 35-year-old Point Cook resident Chaithanya 'Swetha' Madhagani were discovered in a wheelie bin at Buckley, southwest of Geelong. Three years ago, the remains of mother Ju 'Kelly' Zhang were found at a landfill in Wollert. Ms Brennan is alleged to be the 48th woman murdered in Australia this year. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Police attended the home again on Monday Homicide Squad detectives have arrested a man suspected of murdering an elderly woman and disposing of her body in a wheelie bin. Police pounced on the 45-year-old Coolaroo man in Glenroy, in Melbourne's north-west, about 11.15am on Tuesday. It can now be revealed the deceased woman is believed to be a 67-year-old Coolaroo local. Detectives believe the woman's remains were put inside a bin that was picked up from her Hilgay Street home by a garbage truck on Tuesday. Staff at a Cooper Street rubbish tip in nearby Epping located the body while moving green waste on Wednesday and contacted police. A police spokesperson said an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding her death. The woman, who is still yet to be formally identified, is believed to be known to the 45-year-old man now being interviewed by police. While police refuse to reveal how the pair knew each other, they have told reporters the victim is not the man's mother. A significant police canvass of the Coolaroo area for CCTV footage remains ongoing. Police visited the Coolaroo home on Monday where an officer was seen locking down the house Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area around that time. The arrest comes on the back of rapid detective work which saw police track the route of the woman's body from the tip back to her Coolaroo property. On Saturday, police were seen collecting clippings from plants and shrubs at nearby properties, which are believed to have matched those found at the tip. Police also probed another brick home about 100m down the street, using a locksmith to enter the property about 1pm. It is understood detectives were keen to check footage from the home's CCTV cameras, which could provide vital evidence in the ongoing investigation. CCTV in the largely government housing area is not widespread, with police again calling on the public to come forward with any possible footage. Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage captured between Sunday June 23 and Tuesday July 2. Police at the Coolaroo home on Saturday A birds eye view of the Coolaroo home where the woman is believed to have been murdered Police were able to match leaf cuttings found at the tip to those near the woman's property On Monday, a lone detective was spotted entering the house through the front door. He was seen closing an open window at the front of the home before leaving about 10 minutes later. Apart from teams of media representatives, no-one was seen visiting the property on Monday. Nor did anyone attend to leave floral tributes, which have become routine at other similar tragedies. One neighbour told Daily Mail Australia the neighbourhood remained in shock following the suspected murder. 'We've never seen anything like this out here. It's just awful,' the man said. Other neighbours claimed the woman living at the home was quiet, but friendly. While she was not known to drive a car herself, neighbours had observed a car parked in the driveway, which was used by a man. One neighbour said he saw a man taking out bins from the property in the days leading up to the discovery. Chaithanya 'Swetha' Madhagani's body was found in a wheelie bin in March The scene outside the Coolaroo home on Monday was a far cry from the community response to the death of Chaithanya 'Swetha' Madhagani. Ms Madhagani's body had also been stuffed into a wheelie bin found on Mount Pollock Road in Buckley, west of Geelong, on March 8. Her death sparked an outpouring of emotion from the community, with friends gathering to honour her in Point Cook, where she lived. The Coolaroo woman is alleged to be the 48th murdered in Australia this year. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au An English teacher loved by her students has been identified as the woman whose body was stuffed in a wheelie bin in Melbourne. Annette Brennan, 67, was found dead at a rubbish tip in Epping last week, about 8km from her home in Coolaroo. A 45-year-old man from Coolaroo was arrested in Glenroy, in Melbourne's north-west, about 11.15am on Tuesday. Detectives believe the Ms Brennan's remains were put inside a bin that was picked up from her Hilgay Street home by a garbage truck on Tuesday. Staff at a Cooper Street rubbish tip in nearby Epping located her body while moving green waste on Wednesday and contacted police. A police spokesperson said an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding Ms Brennan's death. Ms Brennan is believed to be known to the 45-year-old man now being interviewed by police. While police refuse to reveal how the pair knew each other, they have told reporters the victim is not the man's mother. Annette Brennan, 67, was found dead at a rubbish tip in Epping last week, about 8km from her home in Coolaroo. Police visited the Coolaroo home on Monday where an officer was seen locking down the house One of Ms Brennan's former students, Simona Croce, told 9News that the teacher was a 'beautiful, loving and a kind woman'. 'She was amazing, I'm really shocked,' she added, calling her a 'second mum'. 'No one deserves to be treated this way, no one,' she said. A significant police canvass of the Coolaroo area for CCTV footage remains ongoing. Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area around that time. The arrest comes on the back of rapid detective work which saw police track the route of the woman's body from the tip back to her Coolaroo property. On Saturday, police were seen collecting clippings from plants and shrubs at nearby properties, which are believed to have matched those found at the tip. Police also probed another brick home about 100m down the street, using a locksmith to enter the property about 1pm. It is understood detectives were keen to check footage from the home's CCTV cameras, which could provide vital evidence in the ongoing investigation. CCTV in the largely government housing area is not widespread, with police again calling on the public to come forward with any possible footage. Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage captured between Sunday June 23 and Tuesday July 2. Police at the Coolaroo home on Saturday Police were able to match leaf cuttings found at the tip to those near the woman's property On Monday, a lone detective was spotted entering the house through the front door. He was seen closing an open window at the front of the home before leaving about 10 minutes later. Apart from teams of media representatives, no-one was seen visiting the property on Monday. Nor did anyone attend to leave floral tributes, which have become routine at other similar tragedies. One neighbour told Daily Mail Australia the neighbourhood remained in shock following the suspected murder. 'We've never seen anything like this out here. It's just awful,' the man said. Other neighbours claimed the woman living at the home was quiet, but friendly. While she was not known to drive a car herself, neighbours had observed a car parked in the driveway, which was used by a man. One neighbour said he saw a man taking out bins from the property in the days leading up to the discovery. Chaithanya 'Swetha' Madhagani's body was found in a wheelie bin in March The scene outside the Coolaroo home on Monday was a far cry from the community response to the death of Chaithanya 'Swetha' Madhagani. Ms Madhagani's body had also been stuffed into a wheelie bin found on Mount Pollock Road in Buckley, west of Geelong, on March 8. Her death sparked an outpouring of emotion from the community, with friends gathering to honour her in Point Cook, where she lived. Ms Brennan is alleged to be the 48th woman murdered in Australia this year. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au An Aussie worker is reeling after a hacker stole his entire superannuation balance of $100,000 - and now fears he will have to work until the day he dies. Melbourne data scientist Aaron Willcox, 43, was alarmed when he sat down to complete his tax return last Thursday only to discover his retirement savings had completely vanished. That wasn't all - the mystery cyber-criminal also claimed hundreds of dollars from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to their own bank account. Mr Willcox told Daily Mail Australia the first sign something was amiss was when he tried to log into the ATO via MyGov - but was bombarded with error messages. He tried to use his super account to verify his identity but was blocked from logging in. Concerned, Mr Willcox then logged into his Hostplus super account - named Money Magazine's Best Super Fund of the year - only to discover his retirement savings were completely gone. All that was left was four documents outlining how the funds had been rolled over into another account - one that wasn't his. Asked how he felt at that moment, Mr Willcox said: 'Shocked... disbelief'. Melbourne resident Aaron Willcox 43, (pictured) discovered his retirement savings had been drained from his Hostplus account when he sat down to do his tax return last Thursday He immediately notified the ATO and Hostplus about what had happened - with both organisations launching investigations. His super fund account has now been cancelled and his ATO account had already been locked. 'It's really scary that someone got in and I'm still wondering how,' Mr Willcox said. 'They've [hacker] not only got the super, they've got some other payouts from the ATO.' Mr Willcox said he doesn't know what personal details the hacker now has and he says he is 'holding out hope' his money will be recovered. 'The only small ray of light was...the lady from Hostplus did say they looked like they might have found the money,' he said. The incident could also force to him to change most of his personal details, including his mobile number and email address, and he's in limbo over whether he will have to change his Tax File Number. Mr Willcox fears his retirement plans have now been completely derailed because of his ordeal. 'You feel invaded,' he said. Mr Willcox (pictured) fears his retirement plans have now been completely derailed because of his ordeal A Hostplus spokesman confirmed staff have stopped the stolen money from being transferred and they are working to have the money returned to Mr Wilcox. 'This matter was not caused by a breach of our systems or controls, but occurred as a result of a compromised myGov account,' the spokesman said. 'The security of the myGov platform is outside of the control of Hostplus however, proactive monitoring remains in place to identify and mitigate unauthorised transactions on our member accounts'. An ATO spokeswoman declined to comment on Mr Willcox's case due to privacy reasons. 'When the ATO has intelligence that a taxpayer's identity may be compromised, we activate stringent security measures to protect the taxpayer,' she said. Australians lost more $2.7billion to scams in 2023 and over 600,000 scam reports were made according to a report by the ACCC. Aussies have been affected by three main types of superannuation scams - fake super investment accounts, early access scams where people are tricked into making early withdrawals, and fraud, according to a consumer watchdog. The hack is currently being investigated by the ATO and Hostplus as a cybercrime incident (stock image) Aware Super CEO Jo Brennan said all super funds should have multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure the account is protected. MFA is a security measure designed to protect users by asking them to provide two or more types of identity before they are given access to a website. 'Implementing MFA does result in some added complexity for members logging on but the benefits and risk mitigations significantly outweigh these cost,' she told Choice. Aussies are urged to protect themselves from super scams by checking their account balance regularly, using strong passwords and not dealing with unlicensed super fund managers. Anyone who may have been targeted by someone, who is trying to access their super, should contact their superfund, Scamwatch or the ATO. Daily Mail Australia contacted the Federal Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten for comment. Mr Willcox said he was bombarded with error messages when he tried to log into the ATO via MyGov (stock image) Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Senior Libyan and United Nations officoals on Monday discussed issues relating to trans-Mediterranean migration and the strengthening of cooperation between the two sides to ensure the achievement of common objectives in this area A man wanted for murder in Texas in the shooting death of a Sonic employee is sporting the controversial 'Edgar' hair cut that has already been the subject of outrage across the state. San Antonio police released the photos of two people wanted for the July 7 slaying of a Sonic manager - who was gunned down over an argument with two customers over an order. One of the suspects is a young Hispanic man with an 'Edgar' haircut. The bowl-shaped style - which has been compared to a modern Moe of Three Stooges and Spock of Star Trek look - is typically favored by Mexican-American young men who are known as 'Edgars'. Some Texas businesses tried to ban the haircut out of fear for customers. A man with an 'Edgar' haircut has been identified as a suspect in the San Antonio murder of a Sonic manager. Police are asking for the public's helping in tracking him and a second suspect down The victim has been identified as 33-year-old Daniel Shrewsbury, a Sonic manager Police are asking for help finding the two Sonic shooting suspects who have been on the run since Sunday's shooting. The duo went to the fast-food restaurant and got into an argument with the manager over money in the drive thru, according to local station KSAT. Images taken from the surveillance video inside the suspect show a barefoot, black woman inside the restaurant, and a Hispanic man wearing a black and with the infamous bowl hair style. One of them pulled a gun on the manager, identified as 33-year-old Daniel Shrewsbury, he died inside the eatery. 'Its the haircut and being barefoot for me...' commented one man on the police posting. San Antonio police responded to the shooting at Sonic on July 7 that left the store manager dead San Antonio has previously had a contentious debate surrounding 'Edgars.' In April, two gunmen rattled the city of San Antonio after opening fire at a popular festival and shooting five innocent bystanders, according to local authorities. One of the suspects Mikey Valdez, 18, an 'Edgar', had just been let out of jail on unrelated car burglary charges and was killed alongside his accomplice by police who rushed in to protect the public. Valdez and a second shooter 'had some sort of beef and decided to take it to Market Square, among all those people,' Police Chief William McManus stated after the shooting. Following the melee, local restaurateur Ricky Ortiz posted a meme with a 'no Edgars' sign on social media, suggesting he did not want anyone with this haircut in his popular restaurants El Camino, Besame, Ay Que Chula and Perfect Tender. Mikey Valdez, 18, has been identified as one of two shooters at a deadly shooting at Fiesta in San Antonio in April. Valdez was shot and killed by police who responded to the gun battle between Valdez and another man In a now deleted Instagram post, a San Antonio restaurant called for a ban on 'Edgars' Ricky Ortiz, the owner of El Camino and several other dining establishments, later said he was only joking about not allowing Edgars into his business 'Fiesta commission needs to fence the whole thing off, charge a cover, and have a no Edgar policy,' Ortiz said of the organizers of the event Valdez targeted. 'A good chunk of the people in this city are absolute [trash can emoji]. Make it unaffordable for them to even attend.' But Ortiz's comments received pushback from some in the majority Hispanic community, with some San Antonio residents accusing him of being a racist. 'Imagine discriminating [against] your customers,' Instagram user @allsold0ut wrote, according to San Antonio Current. 'Lol, you live in "Edgar" city. This is a new form of racism.' But Ortiz, a first-generation American of Mexican parents, defended his comments. 'People accusing me of racism are speaking from a place of ignorance,' he told the local publication. Several young men with 'Edgar' haircuts are suspects in a capital murder case in San Antonio, Texas for a May 2022 murder, according to local station KENS 5 El Paso restaurant Steakpedo's joked about preventing future Edgars through the power of tipping 'They don't want to acknowledge or admit that the majority of the kids that are getting these haircuts want to be in a culture influenced by gang affiliation and things like that.' He is not alone, with the anti-Edgar movement spreading to other cities as well. In El Paso, students led an effort to get the style banned from Riverside High School in 2021. Despite gathering dozens of signatures, a ban was not forthcoming - but the initiative triggered a widespread debate about the new fad. 'Especially in El Paso, we've had a lot of crimes that were committed by people who just happened to have this same hair cut, said the administrator of El Paso's most popular Instagram account, @therealfitfamElPaso, who asked to remain anonymous. 'Where we are now, we just kind of correlate these guys to be bad dudes, even though there's plenty of good dudes with the same cut.' Parental controls will make it harder for teens to engage in reckless driving Parental controls are usually reserved for streaming services or internet browsers but Tesla is putting them in its electric cars. Elon Musk's firm is trialling 'Parental Controls' that lets parents restrict acceleration and set a speed limit when their child is behind the wheel. Now, experts are hailing the tool as they think it will make it harder for kids of Tesla owners to engage in reckless driving and ultimately limit traffic accidents. Dr Chris Hingston, an ICU doctor at the University Hospital of Wales, said he hopes other electric vehicle makers 'follow suit soon'. 'Great to see Tesla testing parental controls on cars, limiting performance,' Dr Hingston posted to X (Twitter). 'Has the potential to make a huge difference to road safety and some of the tragic deaths I frequently see.' feature called 'parental controls' is being trialled in car software that let parents restrict acceleration and set a speed limit when their child is behind the wheel (file photo) Dr Chris Hingston, an ICU doctor at the University Hospital of Wales, said it is 'great to see' Tesla testing parental controls on its cars Parental Controls is available in a software update, version 2024.26, which was released to employees earlier this month, claims Tesla tracking site Tessie. As part of the feature, parents will also get an alert on their smartphone if the car is being driven by their child after a certain time. Parents can turn on Tesla's Parental Controls with a PIN on their vehicle or on the Tesla mobile app, Tessie says. 'Drivers can't disable the controls or change the settings without re-entering the PIN,' it explained. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, described the move by Tesla as 'sensible'. 'Using the technology already built into the car to enforce the wise counsel of parents who are probably footing the bills makes a lot of sense for newly qualified young drivers,' he told MailOnline. As part of the feature, parents will also get an alert on their smartphone if the car is being driven by their child after a certain time. Pictured, a Tesla Model S 2022 Elon Musk is trialling new safety features on his Telsa cars including parental controls which limit speed and introduce a 'curfew mode' Gooding added: 'Fully automated vehicles might one day take human error out of the road safety equation. 'But until that happens there is much a modern car can do to help drivers through features such as lane assist, emergency braking and intelligent speed advisory systems.' Steve Cole at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said young people continue to be among the most high-risk drivers. 'We are in favour of safeguarding our young drivers and believe that technology holds huge potential to help us do that,' he told the Times. 'Statistics show that the KSI [killed or seriously injured] rate for under-25s is 64 per cent higher than for over-25s, with one in five drivers having a collision in the first year after their test.' Tesla's feature may have been prompted by a high profile Tesla accident in Florida that tragically killed two teenagers in May 2018. The wrecked Tesla is pictured. Its battery burned ferociously after the 116mph smash in a 30mph zone Barrett Riley and his friend Edgar Monserrat Martinez, both 18, died in a speeding Tesla 2014 Model S May 2018 when it crashed near Fort Lauderdale Beach. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that Barrett was driving at 116mph in a 30mph zone, and the most likely cause of the crash 'was the drivers loss of control as a result of excessive speed'. Barrett had got Tesla employees to disable a speed limiter feature that his father had installed to prevent his son from driving at more than 85mph. Tesla was just one per cent responsible for the crash, meaning it had to pay $100,000 compensation to his family. Climate change is set to up-end conditions is many cities, a new interactive map has revealed. The map, developed by scientists at the University of Maryland, shows the terrifying ways the climate in your city will change in the next 60 years. From New York and Washington D.C to Shanghai and Tokyo, the results reveal that most cities will soon feel as if they have moved closer to the equator. Some of the biggest shifts will occur in Northern areas like Edmonton, Canada which will see temperature increases of 7.1C (12.6F) - making it feel like Kansas. Worryingly, some regions are predicted to experience climate conditions more extreme than anything ever before seen on Earth. Climate change is set to up-end conditions is many cities, a new interactive map has revealed Cities in the north, like Edmonton, Canada, will see some of the most radical climate shifts as they warm by up to 7.1C (12.6F) By 2080, Edmonton is predicted to have a climate similar to that currently found in places like Kansas City (pictured) Which cities will see the biggest changes? Edmonton, Canada 7.1C (12.6F) hotter 11 per cent drier Madrid, Spain 7.8C (14.1F) hotter 11 per cent drier Beijing, China 5.4C (9.6F) hotter 26 per cent wetter London, UK 4.6C (8.3F) hotter 10 per cent drier Washington D.C., USA 5.7C (10.3F) hotter 12 per cent wetter Advertisement The interactive map uses data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to calculate how the climate will change for 40,580 locations around the world. Each town or city is then linked to a nearby location which currently has the same climate it is pr4.6C (8.3F) warmer and 10 per cent drieredicted to experience in 2080. For example, the scientists calculate that London's summers will become 4.6C (8.3F) warmer and 10 per cent drier in the next 60 years if emissions are not reduced, giving London a similar climate to that currently found in Labarde, a town in the Southwest of France. As the researchers point out, human-caused climate change is slowly pushing the climate of Northern Europe, North America and Asia to be more like climates at the equator. Lead researcher Dr Matthew Fitzpatrick, of the University of Maryland, says: 'In 50 years, the northern hemisphere cities to the north are going to become much more like cities to the south. 'Everything is moving towards the equator in terms of the climate that's coming for you.' While the temperature changes affecting some areas are relatively small, these regions will still experience other climate changes. One of the most dramatic climate shifts is predicted to occur in Worcester, South Africa. London's summers will become 4.6C (8.3F) warmer and 10 per cent drier in the next 60 years if emissions are not reduced Experts predict that London will end up with the same climate as the South of France if climate change is not slowed This town's summers are predicted to become 3.7C (6.7F) hotter and only two per cent drier, but that would give it a climate similar to that found in Northern Morocco - 4,780 miles (7,690km) to the north. Meanwhile in Europe, Helsinki is expected to undergo a huge change as summers become 5.7C (10.2F) hotter and four per cent drier. This will mean the Finnish capital will end up with the climate currently experienced in Hungary - more than 1,000 miles to the south. One of the most dramatic shifts will be in Worcester, South Africa which will see its climate shift the equivalent of moving 4,780 miles (7,690km) to the north In Europe, Helsinki is expected to see its climate become similar to that currently experienced in Hungary - more than 1,000 miles to the south Helsinki (pictured) will become 5.7C (10.2F) hotter and four per cent drier by 2080 If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather In North America, cities expected to see significant climate shifts include New York and Washington D.C. By 2080, Washington D.C. is expected to feel like swampy, humid Louisiana as the climate becomes 5.7C (10.3F) hotter and 12 per cent wetter than before. And in 60 years, the scientists predict that New York will have the kind of climate now experienced by those in Arkansas. That might make a snowy New York winter a thing of the past as the climate will become 5C (8.9F) warmer in winter and 6.7C (12.1F) warmer in the summer. Washington D.C is predicted to become far less comfortable as its climate becomes hotter and more humid - making it similar to that found in Louisiana In 60 years, the scientists predict that New York will have the kind of climate now experienced by those in Arkansas Snowy winters in New York (pictured) might become a thing of the past as the climate becomes 5C (8.9F) warmer in winter and 6.7C (12.1F) warmer in the summer In Asia, major cities already struggling to adapt to a changing environment will see even more rapid shifts. By 2080, the scientists predict that Tokyo will warm by 4.4C (8F) and face summers that are more than 13 per cent wetter - giving it a climate similar to that of East China. This prediction will be particularly worrying for a nation that already faces a yearly hurricane season between May and October since warmer, wetter air is likely to produce more violent storms. And in China, massive cities like Beijing and Shanghai will also experience potentially dangerous climate shifts. Shanghai, which already struggles to cope with its annual rainfall, will see summer climates become 4.8C (8.6F) hotter while its winters get 10 per cent wetter. Tokyo will become hotter and more humid, a worrying problem for a nation already battered by a yearly hurricane season Shanghai (pictured) already struggles with excessive rainfall but is expected to become 4.8C (8.6F) hotter while its winters get 10 per cent wetter That would give the East Chinese city a climate similar to that experienced by flood-prone Pakistan today. Meanwhile, Beijing in the North will become 5.4C (9.7F) and face summers that are a staggering 26 per cent wetter. However, in some cities, a less dramatic shift on the map belies extreme changes in average temperatures. For example, in 2080, Madrid is expected to have a similar climate to that of Andalusia in the South of Spain today - a difference of fewer than 175 miles (280km) south. However, that small shift will be accompanied by summer temperature increases of 7.8C (14.1F). Northwest China (pictured) has struggled with years of drought, but these predictions suggest a mixed picture as the climate becomes hotter but also wetter in the summer Madrid's climate will only change the equivalent of fewer than 175 miles (280km) south but will see temperature increases of 7.8C (14.1F) The cost of rising sea levels will be taken out of a country's gross domestic product (GDP). This map shows the countries most affected (with the biggest decrease in GDP due to the cost of rising sea levels) in red and orange, with the least affected in green Yet, perhaps most worryingly are those regions around the equator for which there is no place to compare their future climate. Selecting cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, or Singapore will reveal no climate analogues. The interactive map says: 'Future climates for this location is expected to be unlike anything currently found anywhere on Earth.' This is because as regions in the north become more like those in the south, places on the equator will also continue to become hotter and more humid. Dr Fitzpatrick warns: 'The closer you get to the equator there are fewer and fewer good matches for climates in places like Central America, south Florida, and northern Africa. 'There is no place on Earth representative of what those places will be like in the future.' It looks nothing like real meat - but the lab-grown slab delivers a burst of flavour Growing meat in the lab has been touted as a way to save millions of animals from the slaughterhouse. But of the few who have tried it, there's often the criticism that it doesn't pack enough authentic 'meaty' flavour. Now, researchers at Yonsei University in Korea may have the solution. They've developed lab-grown 'beef' that releases a rich burst of meatiness when heated just like a sizzling steak in the pan. Although the bizarre pink slab looks nothing like actual beef, their next mission is mimicking the appearance of the real thing. In the lab, they created a 'switchable flavor compound' (SFC), which keeps flavour locked up at normal temperatures, but when heated releases a bust of flavour at 300F (150C) The finished product: This lab-grown meat releases a burst of meaty flavour when heated - just like a sizzling steak on the pan 'Cultured' or lab-grown meat is being developed by scientists around the world as a more ethical alternative to the flesh of real animals. It takes a cell sample from a living animal that is then grown or 'cultivated' in the lab to create a fleshy mass using fewer resources and less space. But there's an assumption that this original cell sample perfectly replicates the flavour of real meat when it's been grown in the lab. As study author Milae Lee at Yonsei University told MailOnline, this is not the case. 'The cell culture itself does not make the identical product as conventional meat it is not that simple,' Lee said. 'We tried to focus on the flavors of cultured meat in this study, because we thought that this property is critical for cultured meat to be recognised as food.' Much of real meat's flavour comes from the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars in the flesh that happens at around 300F (150C) Lab-grown meat takes a cell sample from a living animal that is then grown or 'cultivated' in the lab to create a fleshy mass - using fewer resources and less space Much of real meat's flavour comes from the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars in the flesh that happens at around 300F (150C). But the problem with lab-grown meat is a lack of amino acids compared to real flesh, which means that the Maillard reaction is not as strong. Namely, the researchers identify a compound called furfuryl mercaptan, which is generated by the Maillard reaction during cooking of beef, pork and chicken. The team therefore wanted to develop a cultured meat that 'generates grilled beef flavours' upon cooking. In the lab, they created a 'switchable flavor compound' (SFC), a compound that keeps flavour locked up at normal temperatures, but when heated releases a burst of flavour at 300F (150C). The SFC comprises a single flavour molecule that is contained by two 'binding groups' (parts of a molecule that bind to another) The findings could help to culture meat that better mimics the taste of conventional meat, such as cooked beef, the authors suggest This SFC comprises a single flavour molecule that is contained by two 'binding groups' (parts of a molecule that bind to another). At a normal temperature of 98F (37C), the flavour molecule is contained. However, when heated to 300F (150C) during cooking, the flavour compound is released mimicking the Maillard reaction in animal flesh. The scientists say prior research has used similar methods to develop lab-grown meat that has the same shape as traditional products like steak and meatballs, but the actual flavour is often overlooked. 'Cultured meat is emerging as a new type of food that can provide animal protein in a sustainable way,' Lee and colleagues say in their paper, published in Nature Communications. 'In this study, a flavor-switchable scaffold is developed to release meaty flavor compounds only upon cooking temperature mimicking the Maillard reaction of slaughtered meat.' Although lab-grown meat is yet to hit the shops, British scientists are among those growing meat products in a lab with a view to commercialise them. Experts in Newcastle are also growing pork fillets in a lab with a view to commercialise them, although UK approval of lab-grown meat is yet to come. An Australian company called Vow has created lab-grown quail, which has been approved for sale in Singapore following tastings in Iceland in February. And last year the US Department of Agriculture approved the sale of chicken breast made from cells by California firm Upside Meats. MailOnline tasted one of the first lab-grown meat products earlier this year a mini pork sausage, made by Dutch firm Meatable. If you're subscribed to Amazon Prime Video, it's likely you've seen 'Space Cadet' promoted at the top of your feed this week. The movie has raced to the top of the charts and sees Emma Roberts star as a trainee astronaut at NASA. In the film, Roberts' character, Rex, manages to make it on to NASA's training programme by faking her CV. However, in reality, it's much trickier to be selected, with just 360 lucky candidates making the cut at the US space agency since the 1960s. So, do you have what it takes to become an astonaut? If you use Amazon Prime Video, it's likely you've seen 'Space Cadet' promoted at the top of your feed this week. The movie has raced to the top of the charts, and sees Emma Roberts star as a trainee astronaut at NASA NASA accepts applications for new astronauts on an as-needed basis. However, in recent years, new candidates have been selected approximately every four years. Unsurprisingly, the space agency is unundated with thousands of applications. 'More than 12,000 people applied to be an astronaut between March 2 and March 31, 2020,' it explains on its website. Astronaut requirements have changed over the years, based on NASA's goals and missions. However, to be considered for an astronaut position today, applicants must meet four strict criteria. Firstly, you must be a US citizen to apply. Next, you'll need to have a master's degree from an accredited institution in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics. In the film, Emma Roberts' character, Rex, manages to make it on to NASA's training programme by faking her CV The 4 key criteria to become a NASA astronaut Be a U.S. citizen Have a master's degree in a STEM field Have a minimum of three years of related professional experience obtained after degree completion Be able to successfully complete the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical Advertisement If you don't have a master's degree, don't panic - there are several other ways this criteria can be met. This includes two years of work towards a doctoral programme in a related STEM field, a completed Doctor of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, or related medical degree, or the completion (or current enrollment that will result in completion by June 2025) of a nationally recognized test pilot school program. Thirdly, applicants must have a minimum of three years of related professional experience obtained after degree completion (or 1,000 Pilot-in-Command hours with at least 850 of those hours in high performance jet aircraft for pilots). 'For medical doctors, time in residency can count towards experience and must be completed by June 2025,' NASA added. Finally, you'll need to be able to successfully complete the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical. If you meet all four criteria, you might be rubbing your hands together with glee. However, even if you make it this far, you've still got several hurdles to clear. NASA recently selected four new astronauts for its Artemis programme, which will see humans return to the moon. This includes Christina Koch (left), Reid Wiseman (bottom centre), Victor Glover (top centre), and Jeremy Hansen (right) 'NASA's Astronaut Selection Board reviews the applications and assesses each candidate's qualifications,' the space agency explained. 'The board then invites a small group of the most highly qualified candidates for interviews at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.' Of those interviewed, about half are invited back for second interviews. Finally, from that group, NASA's new astronaut candidates are selected. Successful candidates will need to report for training at the Johnson Space Centre, and spend the next two years learning basic astronaut skills. This includes everything from spacewalking, operating the space station, flying T-38 jet planes and controlling a robotic arm. If you think you have what it takes, you can apply here! The US has become the shark attack capital of the world amid a spate of gruesome bites in Florida, Texas, New York and California. Despite Australia's reputation for being a hotspot, more than half of the 69 worldwide confirmed shark bites last year occurred in the US. These figures, as well as heightened media attention around the attacks in America, have led many to wonder if the sharks around our coastlines are becoming more aggressive in some way. Former President Donald Trump has floated the idea that the increase in battery-powered boats are causing cause humans to be attacked by sharks. Other experts have theorized global warming and rising sea levels could be changing the predators' behavior. But experts told DailyMail.com they believe it to be a mixture of a surplus of fish migrating to the coasts and environmental conditions while other experts have said it's caused by America's efforts to clean up the ocean. The number of shark attacks has driven the US to become the shark capital of the world, impacting states including Florida, New York and California There were 69 worldwide confirmed shark bites last year in far-reaching areas like Australia, Brazil and South Africa, with 36 of these occurring in the US, the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File reported Over the Fourth of July weekend, a 14-year-old was attacked while lifeguard training in Florida. When Dempsey Manhart dove into the water, he landed on top of a shark which bit his leg before swimming away. The teenager was rushed to the hospital where he needed 17 stitches to seal the wound. Many experts theorize that US conservation efforts to decrease pollution in the oceans has changed sharks' hunting behaviors, bringing them closer to water near land that was once unviable because it was so polluted. In some states, like New York, conservation efforts to clean up rivers that flow into the ocean have reduced the amount of polluted and dirty water that reaches the sea, driving a rebound in marine life. 'Seeing sharks in our local ecosystem is extremely important, and it's a sign that the environment around us is healthy,' Chris Paparo, a shark expert at Stony Brook University in Long Island said in a series of Twitter videos. But professors Oliver Shipley and Michael Frisk at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook told DailyMail.com that can't conclusively say there is one specific reason why the sharks are swimming so close to shore. 'This is not a cut-and-dry cause-and-effect scenario,' Shipley said. 'This is something that's extremely complex and we have to be really careful about attributing single things, like pollution, to why we may see more of certain animals in certain areas than we did before.' Shipley said: 'I don't think that the number of incidents are higher in the US because it's anything to do with sharks being more aggressive here relative to other places, I think there are other demographic factors that might play into it.' The number of shark attacks in the US decreased last year, dropping from 41 recorded incidents in 2022, according to the University of Floridas International Shark Attack File report, which contradicts the idea bites are becoming more common. In 2019, a 19-year-old was vacationing on the Texas coast when she was attacked by a shark and fought off the predator by punching it on the nose A shark attacked 14-year-old Dempsey Manhart while he was lifeguard training in Florida A man received stitches in his leg after a shark attack in Ferndale, California in 2022. Shipley and Frisk are not ruling out the theory, but said there isn't conclusive evidence that pollution has contributed to sharks' proximity to shore. Fisheries adopted regulations to safeguard the declining shark population over a decade ago. The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 banned shark finning - a trade in which sharks are captured and their fins removed before tossing them back into the ocean. 'Are there more sharks now than there were five or 10 years ago? Absolutely,' Tobey Curtis, a fishery management specialist at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told Vox. 'We've been managing and conserving shark populations since 1993.' Despite this report, Frisk and Shipley said the shark population hasn't drastically increased in the last 30 to 50 years and shark attacks more likely occur where schools of fish congregate. Sharks have relatively good eyesight underwater, but they can have trouble distinguishing between a seal and a person on a surfboard and murky water can also play a part as well, making it hard to differentiate between a human and prey Some of the sharks that have bitten humans are pretty docile, like sand tiger sharks, but can bump into each other there would be a chance you could get bitten In 2019, a 19-year-old was vacationing on the Texas coast when she was attacked by a shark and fought off the predator by punching it on the nose and in a separate incident, a man received stitches in his leg after a shark attack in California in 2022. Some of the sharks that have seemingly attacked humans are pretty docile, like sand tiger sharks, but if a person and the shark bumped into each other there would be a chance the swimmer could get bitten. 'All in all, it could just be you came into contact accidentally and they think that you are part of their feeding system,' Frisk said. Florida and California see the most attacks in the US each year, and this is likely caused by more people swimming in the water in those regions and the length of time people swim in the ocean during the year. The International Shark Attack File revealed that great whites, tiger and bull sharks killed the majority of people in 2023, but the increased deaths are due to more people being in the ocean each year and a stronger emphasis placed on reporting bites and fatalities. These reports are in direct contrast to former President Donald Trump's false claims that boat batteries cause humans to be attacked by sharks. The 2024 presidential hopeful brought up shark attacks at a campaign event in Nevada last month after he expressed concern that an electric boat's weight could make them sink and electrocute the people on board. 'What would happen if the boat sank from its weight and you're in the boat and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery is now underwater, and there's a shark that's approximately 10 yards over there?' Trump said. 'Do I get electrocuted or do I jump over by the shark? By the way, lot of shark attacks lately. Did you notice that?' However, contrary to Trump's claims, Arc Boat Company explained that the batteries are in water-tight containers and have leak detection sensors, 'something you don't typically see in electric cars.' Dr Yalda Jamali shared how to 'correctly' use retinal and reveals she uses Medik8 SHOPPING - Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this article are selected by our writers. Click here for more information. A skin expert has revealed the six common mistakes Aussies are making when it comes to using hero anti-aging ingredient retinal. Dr Yalda Jamali, from Sydney, shed light on how to 'correctly' use the retinoid to reduce the appearance of unwanted wrinkles and fine lines. Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr Jamali, who uses Medik8's Crystal Retinal products in her own skincare regime, said the majority of people are using too much retinal or making the mistake by applying first thing in the morning. 'They should be using a pea-sized amount at night, because UV light deactivates the product,' she said. Dr Jamali suggested beauty buffs who are new to retinal - a form of vitamin A that is short for retinaldehyde - should start with the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 and apply two to three times a week followed by moisturiser. The product is described by the brand as a 'next-generation form of vitamin A that's proven to deliver results 11 times faster' than a standard retinol. Dr Jamali added how your age will determine how often you should use retinal, and that you need to be consistent with use to see results. She also said most people don't moisturise enough and use harsh exfoliating acids, which can aggravate the skin barrier. Others 'get worried about dryness' and stop using retinal too early, the doctor said. Dr Yalda Jamali (pictured) shed light on how to 'correctly' use retinal to reduce the appearance of unwanted wrinkles and fine lines Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr Jamali said majority are using too much or applying first thing in the morning when instead only pea-sized amount should be used at night Where should you use retinal and what areas should you avoid? Beauty enthusiasts should spread retinal across the face to begin with, Dr Jamali said. But if the skin is tolerating the product, you can add a small amount under the eyes and on the neck. 'The skin around the eyes and neck is very delicate and thinner. So definitely sandwich it with moisturiser before and after,' Dr Jamali advised. 'If it make it too dry then you can stop.' She likes the Medik8 product because 'it's affective, causes minimal irritation, and has five strength levels for various skin types'. Medik8 also have three specific products for under the eyes with the Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye available in 3, 6 and 10. The product is the world's first clinical-strength retinal on the market for under eyes and the three progressive retinal strengths allow customers to build up to using the highest formulation. Dr Yalda Jamali uses the Medik8 Crystal Retinal range in her own routine. Pictured the Crystal Retinal 6, $135 (left) and the Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 6, $109 (right) What are the six common retinal mistakes? 1. Using too much - you only need a pea-size amount 2. Using it during the day - UV radiation can deactivate the retinal 3. Not using it frequently enough 4. Getting worried about dryness and stopping too soon 5. Not moisturising enough with it 6. Using exfoliating acids with it, which can aggravate the skin barrier Advertisement 'Regular use is key! Even if it is twice a week over a long period, it will still give results. The lower and slower you go, the longer you will need to give it to see results. Results from Retinal can take eight to ten weeks to show,' Dr Jamali said How often should you apply retinal and at what age should you start? You shouldn't start to incorporate retinal into your skincare routine until you are 'well into your 20s' as younger skin doesn't need it. Once you do start using it, Dr Jamali recommends using it on a regular basis for best results. 'Even if it is twice a week over a long period, it will still give results,' Dr Jamali said. 'The lower and slower you go, the longer you will need to give it to see results. Results from retinal can take eight to ten weeks to show.' What's the difference between retinol and retinal? Both retinol and retinal are forms of vitamin A that belong to the retinoid family, the Medik8 website explains. Retinoids works to stimulate skin cell renewal and boost collagen production to enhance the skin's radiance, tone and texture. But retinal acts faster on the skin compared to a retinol and is less irritating on the skin. It also 'degrades quickly and is notoriously difficult to stabilise', making it harder to find products that deliver noticeable results. The brand's award-winning Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye cream, the world's first clinical-strength retinal on the market for under eyes, is a fan favourite for its age-defying formula Medik8 was started by 'chemical brothers' Elliot and Daniel Isaacs, from the UK, from a shed in 2009 and has grown into a global empire with customers claiming to see results after one use. On the Medik8 website the Crystal Retinal range boasts more than 1800 five-star reviews from happy customers, many of which labelled it as a 'game-changer'. 'Really happy with the results, and feels and smells great! Use it nightly with the Advanced Night Restore,' one commented. 'This product has made a huge difference to the texture and appearance of my skin. It goes on super smooth and non greasy and the results are very pleasing,' another added. Daniel, Medik8's Director of Research and Chief Product Officer, previously told FEMAIL: '(Vitamin A) helps combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increases cell turnover for a visibly brighter, fresher skin tone and can provide an even, more youthful-looking complexion. 'It also helps minimise the appearance of blemishes and promotes and maintains overall healthy-looking skin.' Getting an audience with the Pope would be easier than dining at these spots In the time it takes to get a table at some of these restaurants, you could give up your career, train as a chef - and open a restaurant with a huge waiting list. Getting an audience with the Pope would be easier than securing a seat at these spots - some of the most maddeningly tricky to dine at in the world. There's a pub in Bristol that's booked until 2025, a restaurant in New York that's booked until 2030 - and another, in Japan, that even if you do get into, might well throw you out if you're wearing perfume. Have we whetted your appetite for more? Then scroll down... The Bank Tavern, Bristol, UK The Bank Tavern in Bristol looks unassuming - but it's one of the hottest pub-meal tickets in the country, with bookings for its highly rated Sunday lunch full until 2025 There are only seven tables, with the pub's website claiming that its 2024 slots for them 'sold out quicker than Glastonbury tickets'. Historically, the pub's current backlog is actually quite small - it once had a waiting list of four years The Bank Tavern in Bristol looks unassuming - but it's one of the hottest pub-meal tickets in the country, with bookings for its highly rated Sunday lunch full until 2025. There are only seven tables, with the pub's website claiming that its 2024 slots for them 'sold out quicker than Glastonbury tickets'. Historically, the pub's current backlog is actually quite small - it once had a waiting list of four years. A roast dinner featuring 30-day aged rare beef costs 18.95. Visit www.banktavern.com. Damon Baehrel, Earlton, New York Damon Baehrel, a restaurant in a hamlet of the Hudson Valley Region, New York, is booked until 2030 Damon (the chef, grower, owner and sole 'employee') creates elaborate 20-plus-course meals. They last five or more hours and incorporate 'unique' ingredients from his 12-acre farm Damon Baehrel has no business phone, all correspondence is by email only, and it does not participate in any form of social media Damon Baehrel, a restaurant in a hamlet of the Hudson Valley Region, New York, has taken an extended break from accepting new requests for its regular annual schedule for over 10 years (since March 2014) due to a very large backlog from over 100 countries, a spokesperson told MailOnline Travel. In fact, the regular annual schedule is reserved all the way through to 2030. The restaurant has no business phone, all correspondence is by email only, and it does not participate in any form of social media. No phones, cameras, photos or other recording equipment are permitted in the restaurant. Damon (the chef, grower, owner and sole 'employee') creates elaborate 20-plus-course meals lasting five or more hours, using 'unique' ingredients from his 12-acre farm. The current price of dining at the restaurant is $495/391 per person. Visit www.damonbaehrel.com. Sukiyabashi Jiro, Tokyo, Japan Sushi eatery Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo ticks all the boxes for a difficult-to-get-into restaurant. It gained global fame after the release of Jiro Dreams of Sushi in 2011, which focused on the sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi - Jiro Ono, now aged 98. Pictured: Drew Barrymore at the restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro has two Michelin stars and has welcomed Barack Obama (left). If you do manage to eat there you'll enjoy a 20-plate omakase (i.e decided by the chef) tasting menu of fresh seafood Sushi eatery Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo ticks all the boxes for a difficult-to-get-into restaurant. Limited seating? Tick. There are just 10 counter stools. Michelin stars? Tick. It has two (and used to have three). Famous clientele? Tick. Past guests include Drew Barrymore and Barack Obama. Documentary star? That too. It gained global fame after the release of Jiro Dreams of Sushi in 2011, which focused on the sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi - Jiro Ono, now aged 98. If you do manage to eat there you'll enjoy a 20-plate omakase (i.e decided by the chef) tasting menu of fresh seafood. However, some rules could see you miss out on a hard-won reservation. Guests are not allowed to take photos inside as they should 'concentrate on dining'. You also shouldn't be late, should refrain from wearing strong perfume and the chef may 'refuse service to customers wearing collarless shirts or shorts, or sandals'. Reservations are currently accepted by phone only and if you live outside of Japan these must be made by your hotel concierge. The cost of the omakase tasting menu is 55,000 yen (270/$342) plus tax. Visit www.sushi-jiro.jp. Chae, Melbourne, Australia Chae in Australia has given up on waiting lists all together - instead wannabe diners put their names in a lottery Lunch or dinner at Chae, featuring chef Jung Eun Chae (left) and her authentic Korean flavours, costs $130 (68.49/$86.80) per person. Up to around 5,500 people a month put their names down for a table This popular 72-seat restaurant in Australia has given up on waiting lists all together - instead wannabe diners put their name in a lottery. Yoora Yoon, manager at Melbourne's Chae, told MailOnline Travel: 'We no longer provide a waiting list. In January 2024, we implemented a lottery system for our bookings. 'Our booking calendar opens every month for three weeks. The number of entries we receive fluctuates, with the highest number being 5,544 entries in March 2024. On average, we receive between 3,000 to 4,000 entries each month for our limited number of seats.' The new system came into place because a first-come-first-serve booking system lead to all of the seats being snapped up within seconds - someone even set up a bot to snatch the chance away from others. Lunch or dinner at Chae, featuring chef Jung Eun Chae and her authentic Korean flavours, costs $130 (68.49/$86.80) per person. Visit: www.chae.com.au. Firedoor, Sydney Firedoor opens its reservations every three months - with October bookings opening on June 3. Expect to dine on delicious meals cooked only on wood fire - from bread to fish, lamb and lentils Firedoor, known for its fire-cooked seasonal food and rustic decor, opens its reservations every three months - with October bookings opening on June 3. And you need to be quick to snap one up. The 44-seat restaurant offers two sittings per night and posts last-minute slots on social media, but a spokesperson told MailOnline: 'These are swiftly picked up.' Expect to dine on delicious meals cooked only on wood fire - from bread to fish, lamb and lentils. Firedoor says on its website: 'Our kitchen uses no gas or electricity. We have two wood-fired ovens, three grills and a wood-burning hearth. 'We kill shellfish to order and work with live fish from our fish tanks.' A five-course tasting menu costs from $195 AUD(102/$129.54). Visit: firedoor.com.au. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark Legendary Noma in Copenhagen is sold out for 2024. And if you haven't snared a booking - you'll never eat there. Because it's re-inventing itself Noma in Copenhagen - it's been named the best restaurant in the world multiple times and has three Michelin stars. But unless you've managed to snare a table for 2024, you'll never eat there. That's because it's booked till 2025, when it will shut down and reopen as 'a giant lab - a pioneering test kitchen'. Sorry! Visit: noma.dk. Some people say cell phones have become an extension of our minds and bodies - so could you ditch yours in the name of a proper vacation? One hotel in the Catskills, New York, has reported that 80 per cent of guests have taken up a challenge to hand in their phones and take part in a digital detox during their stay. The Urban Cowboy Lodge, which has somewhat of an adult summer camp feel to it with rustic-chic cabin structures and copper tubs installed in the rooms, launched an Unplug and Play package earlier this year, and its owners have been shocked by the uptake. Lyon Porter, who is the co-founder of the 26-room Urban Cowboy, which also has a location in Tennessee and one set to open in Colorado, told DailyMail.com: 'The response to Urban Cowboy Lodge's digital detox package has been incredible! 'We were hoping it would do well, but we never expected so many visitors would be open to giving up their phones for an entire weekend.' The Urban Cowboy Lodge launched an Unplug and Play package earlier this year, and its owners have been shocked by the uptake To investigate the draw of a no-phone vacation, I checked in for an Unplug and Play vacation at the Urban Cowboy Lodge and the moment I handed my phone in, I felt like a weight had been lifted. No one could contact me for the weekend, there would be no emails to check and no social media content to scroll through and feed my anxieties. At Urban Cowboy's tucked away Catskill location, there is no cell phone service on the 68-acre property, but the rooms and main building have WiFi. All guests who hand their phones in are given a Polaroid instant camera and some boxes of film instead - and I enjoyed this novel approach to documenting the weekend break. My partner chose to keep his phone but if, like us, you have hired a car for the weekend, navigating can prove difficult without a device if your vehicle isn't kitted out with GPS. By the end of the weekend, the thought of picking up my phone again filled me with dread, and I joked to the receptionist that she could keep it. New York psychologist Anna Yusim has since told DailyMail.com that doing digital detoxes on a regular basis are very important for mental health. She explained: 'Taking a break from our phones while on vacation can offer a myriad of psychological benefits. At Urban Cowboy's Catskill location, there is no cell phone service on the 68-acre property, but the rooms and main building have WiFi 'Research suggests that disconnecting from constant digital stimulation can reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. 'To actively reduce phone usage, individuals can start by setting designated phone-free periods, engaging in activities that don't involve screens, practicing mindfulness to stay present in the moment, establishing tech-free zones in their living spaces, and gradually decreasing screen time to create healthier boundaries with technology. 'By prioritizing real-life experiences over digital distractions, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of connection, relaxation, and fulfillment during their time off.' Here, Anna reveals how phones can hinder time away. 1. No proper relaxation Constant phone use on vacation can disrupt the relaxation process Anna says, by 'keeping our minds engaged with work emails, news updates, and social media notifications.' Touching on the negative consequence of this, she adds: 'This constant connectivity prevents our brains from fully unwinding and experiencing the rejuvenating effects of a true break.' 2. Less romance If you're looking for a little romance on your vacation, Anna advocates locking your phone away for periods of time. She explains: 'Excessive phone use during vacation can hinder our ability to connect with loved ones. 'Instead of being present and engaging in meaningful interactions, we may find ourselves distracted by our devices, leading to feelings of disconnection and missed opportunities for bonding.' New York psychologist Anna Yusim told DailyMail.com that doing digital detoxes on a regular basis are very important for mental health (stock image) 3. Sleep disruption For better rest, Anna advises leaving your phone in another room during the night. She says: 'The blue light emitted by screens can interfere with our natural sleep cycles, making it harder to relax and fall asleep. 'Using phones before bed on vacation can disrupt the quality of our rest, leaving us feeling tired and less rejuvenated the next day.' 4. Reduced mindfulness 'Constant phone usage can detract from our ability to be present and mindful during vacation,' Anna warns. The psychologist, who is a keen traveler herself, adds: 'By constantly checking messages and notifications, we divert our attention away from the beauty of our surroundings and the experiences unfolding in the moment.' 5. Impact on mental health Our devices can have a huge impact on our state of mind, Anna says, with scientific studies to prove the negative results. She reveals: 'Research has shown that excessive phone use, especially during vacation, is linked to increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. 'By constantly engaging with our devices, we may miss out on opportunities for true relaxation and mental well-being.' Rooms at Urban Cowboy Catskills start from $230 a night, with on-site facilities including a restaurant, movie room, and sauna. For car hire from New York to get there, rental company Kyte offers vehicle drop-off and pick-up for convenience, with a range of slick company-owned vehicles to pick from. Everything can be coordinated via their easy-to-use app. Those looking to bag a bargain break should act now, experts say, with one of the cheapest times of year to travel on the horizon. Jesse Neugarten, the founder and CEO of subscription site Dollar Flight Club, told DailyMail.com that the 'shoulder seasons' are the most cost effective times to travel, and they generally refer to the 'periods between peak and off-peak travel times when destinations are less crowded, and travel costs are generally lower.' Offering an example, she adds: 'In Europe, this typically happens in late spring (April to early June) and early autumn (September to October), where the weather is usually still great without the high prices and large crowds of peak season.' In a bid to get the best deals, Neugarten recommends booking at least three months in advance, 'which means that if you are looking for end of summer shoulder season deals where you can save 30 per cent, now is the time to book.' Quizzed on how much travelers can save, Neugarten says it can be as much as 25 per cent. For those looking to land a bargain for their next break, travel experts say the 'shoulder season' is the prime time to bag rock bottom prices (stock image) The travel expert explains: 'People can save a significant amount of money during shoulder season. 'At Dollar Flight Club, we've seen our members score deals, such as round-trip flights to Europe for under $400 and domestic flights within the U.S. for as low as $176. 'On average, prices are about 15 per cent cheaper when looking at U.S. to Europe routes during the off-season but can be up to 25 per cent cheaper on particular routes such as NYC to London, Paris, or Barcelona.' To secure the best deals for the upcoming shoulder season, read on for five of Neugarten's top price-savvy tips. 1. Plan your travel in advance Begin your search several months in advance to catch early bird deals, Neugarten warns, and she recommends booking at least three months prior. According to Dollar Flight Club data, travelers who book three to four months in advance tend to find deals that are up to 30 per cent cheaper than those who book last minute around shoulder season dates. Neugarten adds: 'For instance, we've seen members secure round-trip flights from the Northeast to Europe for under $400 by booking early during this period.' 2. Be flexible if you can The 'shoulder season' varies depending on the destination, but it generally refers to the 'periods between peak and off-peak travel times' (stock image) 'Flexibility with travel dates and destinations significantly increases your chances of finding cheaper flights,' the travel pro notes. Continuing on the topic, she says: 'Instead of focusing on one specific destination, keep an open mind for new places you haven't explored yet. 'We have seen members who are flexible with their travel dates save an average of 20 per cent to 25 per cent on flights. 'For example, a member recently saved $350 on a flight to Italy by shifting their departure date by just four weeks.' 3. Consider nearby airports On the subject of flexibility, Neugarten says sometimes flying into or out of a nearby airport can be significantly cheaper. She says on the subject: 'Don't be afraid to drive a little further to a different airport. 'For example, flying out of Newark instead of JFK can save you up to $100 on a domestic flight and typically saves travelers an average of 10 per cent to 15 per cent on their airfare.' 4. Use fare alerts Sign up for free flight alerts from Dollar Flight Club or utilize tools like Hopper.com to receive insights on optimal booking times and notifications of price drops. Neugarten reveals that Dollar Flight Club alerts have 'helped members find deals such as $122 round-trip from NYC to LAX and $350 round-trip from the Northeast to Paris during shoulder season this year.' 5. Book directly with airlines 'Airlines occasionally offer exclusive deals on their websites that are not available through third-party booking sites,' Neugarten says. Along with going directly to airlines, she says its important to 'keep an eye on points and miles deals during shoulder season, as they can offer substantial savings.' Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US said in Tuesday that it is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resulting humanitarian crisis Advertisement Forget bird's-eye views try these plane-ly incredible jumbo-jet flight deck views instead. They were taken by Dutch 747-400 captain Christiaan Van Heijst, who has rightly earned a reputation for breathtaking cockpit images. His aerial pictures have landed him multiple awards and 147,000 Instagram followers. Christiaan said: 'With my first job as a pilot in 2004, I was flying turboprops around Africa and Afghanistan, and I was acutely aware that I was seeing things and sights that were unique, so I had a strong motivation to document them all. 'I started taking pictures with a simple camera and as my flying career progressed, so did my photography.' Scroll down for Christiaan's latest scintillating shots, taken above locations that include Manhattan, Dubai, China and the remote Sable Island. Contrails above the clouds: A stunning image of an aircraft hurtling past below Christiaan's 747 A mesmerising image of Cape Verde - an African island country in the Atlantic Ocean Hue goes there: A jaw-dropping picture of an aurora. Christiaan said that capturing auroras through the cockpit took a lot of 'trial and error' Christiaan has completed over 10,000 flying hours on various airplane types. Above - the mountains of Armenia Manhattan looks like a toy town in this incredible shot taken from the skies above it Christiaan reveals that he's flown roughly 8.6million kilometres, or 5.4 million miles - 'give or take a few' Way to glow: The heavenly image above shows moonlight over the Pacific Ocean Peaky blinder: The Himalayas look like a painting in this hypnotic picture Here, the vast Gobi Desert stretches out beneath Christiaan's jumbo jet A striking mountain range in China. Christiaan estimates that he has flown 17 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon Christiaan said: 'With my first job as a pilot in 2004, I was flying turboprops around Africa and Afghanistan and I was acutely aware that I was seeing things and sights that are unique, so I had strong motivation to document it all.' Pictured right - Dubai's two Palm islands Pictures like this have helped to earn Christiaan 147,000 Instagram followers Christiaan here captures his 'office' - the cockpit of a Boeing 747-400 This arresting picture captures Canada's Sable Island, where around 350 shipwrecks lie Colour us impressed: An astonishing aurora captured by Christiaan over Germany For more incredible photography and videos, see Christaan's Instagram: @jpcvanheijst. A outrageous new reality show featuring a cast of transgender women has shocked viewers, with many calling for better representation of the LGBTQ community. The Gworls Club, which was executive produced by Ray J, follows a group of outspoken transgender women living together in a Los Angeles mansion. A trailer for the series features multiple scenes of the women getting into violent fistfights, pulling each other's wigs off, and trading vile obscenities. Many of the all-out brawls are so physical that a team of security guards are forced to intervene. In one unbelievable scene, two trans women tell another cast member, named 'Mangina,' that she's a 'drag queen' and not actually trans. An outrageous new reality show called The Gworls Club, which stars a cast of transgender women, has shocked viewers and led to calls for better LGBTQ representation The Gworls Club, which was executive produced by Ray J, follows a group of outspoken transgender women living together in a Los Angeles mansion 'There's a difference! Trans, drag,' one shrieks, while her friend adds, 'Mangina, look at you - ew!' A lot of viewers have expressed disappointment in the nature of the show, which not only features an all transgender cast, but is primarily made up of trans women of color. 'We need better for the culture. Can these ladies go visit a hospital and the hungry children?' one fan asked. 'I was hoping for a show a of beautiful trans women showcased as overcoming their struggles and coming out on top... this s**t is just ghetto fighting trash with no point of anything,' another said. 'I wanted to be a part of this but I definitely didn't expect this at all. I thought it would be way better. I don't like how y'all are portraying trans women,' someone else added. 'Any show that lets women fight like animals I'll never watch. Is this what we think of ourselves! Shameful!!' one commented. Another wrote, 'With all the negative s**t going on against trans women (politically especially) why would we want to see sisters fighting against each other! Fight the system and vote. Will not be watching.' A trailer for the series features multiple scenes of the women getting into violent fistfights, pulling each other's wigs off, and trading vile obscenities Many of the brawls are so physical that a team of security guards are forced to intervene Despite the backlash, a handful of fans have thrown their support behind The Gworls Club. 'Cannot wait this, it's gonna be epic! Happy y'all opening doors for our trans sisters,' one fan gushed. 'I'm so ready for this,' another said, while one wrote, 'Definitely watching this!' The Gworls Club stars a handful of familiar faces, including reality star Sidney Starr, who has appeared on Love & Hip-Hop and the Baddies franchise. Australian actress Daniielle Alexis, best known for her role in the prison drama Wentworth, has also been cast on the controversial series. Ray J recently defended The Gworls Club during an appearance on Fox Soul's TEA-G-I-F. 'Yes there's a lot of fights and a lot of drama inside of each show, but there's also a story arc that leads you to something that could be either inspiring or heartfelt,' he explained. 'Or you could even learn from some of the mistakes that's made on the shows and you can grow from it.' He added: 'We actually care about the talent and their stories and how it ends.' DailyMail.com has contacted Ray J and Sidney Starr for comment. Australian actress Daniielle Alexis (pictured) is one of the stars of The Gworls Club Former Love & Hip-Hop star Sidney Starr (pictured) is one of the stars and executive producers of The Gworls Club The Gworls Club is just the latest entry in a new wave of debaucherous, politically incorrect reality shows that have hit streaming apps in recent years. Earlier this month, Tubi premiered House of Heat, which follows the lives and careers of OnlyFans creators and porn stars. The brash series holds nothing back, with the cast inviting cameras into their rooms as they perform X-rated streams for their subscribers. Cast members include a single mom who wants to be a 'role model' for her toddler, a gay couple working in the porn industry, and a fitness model who sells his used underwear to the highest bidder. Joseline's Cabaret follows former stripper and reality star Joseline Hernandez as she puts together a live strip show featuring a rowdy cast of exotic dancers and sex workers. In one episode, Hernandez has sex with her music producer fiance, Ballistic Beats, in a bathtub. Ray J, who produced the series for his new network Tronix, said that he hoped viewers could 'learn from the mistakes' of the show's cast The TLC network has also made headlines for its own shocking reality show, MILF Manor. The first season of the bizarre series followed women over 40 as they dated each others' sons in a Mexican villa. Meanwhile, the UK reality series Open House: The Great Sexperiment about polyamorous couples sparked backlash in Britain after airing a 15-person orgy. The show saw committed couples come to a luxury retreat to test whether opening up their relationships and having sex with other people can 'strengthen their bond.' The Gworls Club premieres on The Tronix Network on July 8. Fans of the cult-favorite Beverly Hills Cop film franchise were delighted at the subtle way the Netflix reboot nodded to the original three films. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which dropped on July 3, revives the protagonist of Axel Foley, played by Eddie Murphy, bringing the member of the Detroit police department back to the affluent LA neighborhood for a new adventure. As he is known to do, Axel kicks off his mission by embarking on a trail of destruction before he's apprehended by local the Beverly Hills PD and brought to the station, where he meets Detective Bobby Abbott, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Bobby then pulls Axel's file, summarizing it with a mix of awe and horror. The latest installment of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which dropped on July 3, contains a cheeky reference to its history The first Beverly Hills Cop came out in 1984, followed by the second in 1987. The third installment, released in 1994, which was widely panned, and described by Murphy as 'garbage' 'Did you ever read your own file? This is a lot,' Abbott exclaims. 'Disturbing the peace, various shootouts, evading the police. This is from '84, then there's one from '87. 'And then '94. Not your finest hour!' Each of the years referenced in the lines marked the release of the first Beverly Hills Cop in 1984, then Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987, and Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994, as reported by The Independent. While the first two were mostly well-received, Beverly Hills Cop III infamously bombed - and years later, in 2015, was described by the star himself as 'garbage.' The third movie followed Axel as he attempted to apprehend a gang of counterfeiters operating out of a theme park. The third installment's director, John Landis, later claimed that Murphy was trying to play Axel as a more solemn character, in theory out of the aspiration to be taken as a more serious actor. Landis, meanwhile, characterized the filming of the movie as a 'very strange experience.' After Eddie Murphy's Axel is arrested, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), reading Axel's file, characterized 1994 as 'not your finest hour' - a reference to the despised third film The director of the new Netflix version, Mark Molloy, even admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that he deliberately avoided watching the third film. Legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer also refused to watch it. 'I've never seen [Beverly Hills Cop III], and Jerry hasn't either. When I came in, I said to Jerry, "I haven't seen Beverly Hills Cop III." And he was like, "I didn't do it, so you don't need to see it."' Still, the two thought it would be amusing to acknowledge the flop through the disappointment conveyed in the 'not your finest hour' quip. 'I had a lot to do with that. I just thought it would be a really fun little moment for the franchise fans where we wink back at ourselves,' said Molloy. Heather Morris is looking back fondly on her late Glee co-star Naya Rivera, on the four-year anniversary of her untimely passing. The actress was just 33 years old when, on July 8, 2020, she was declared missing, after she failed to return from a boating trip with her son in Lake Piru, California. Her body was discovered five days later on July 13, with the cause of death revealed as accidental drowning, and it is believed that Rivera and her four-year-old son Josey Dorsey were caught in a rip current at the lake. After a brief time swimming in the lake with Josey, she helped her son back onto the boat, though the Ventura County Sheriff suggested at the time, 'she mustered enough energy to get her son back into the boat, but not enough to save herself.' Now Morris - who reunited with many other Glee co-stars to re-record Rivera's 2012 song Prayer For the Broken in December - is honoring her late friend once again. Heather Morris is looking back fondly on her late Glee co-star Naya Rivera, on the four-year anniversary of her untimely passing Now Morris - who reunited with many other Glee co-stars to re-record Rivera's 2012 song Prayer For the Broken in December - is honoring her late friend once again. Morris shared an undated throwback black-and-white snap of her cuddling with Rivera which had a heartfelt caption. 'I cant believe its been 4 years..boy how time flies. Yet every year Im taken by surprise how much it still hurts,' Morris began. 'We grow up together, fell apart, and came back together in such a beautiful way,' she added. 'God youre missed so muchexcept I cant shake the feeling you never leftyoure still here with us..guiding us to our highest potential,' Morris added.' 'I miss you Nay Nay, she concluded in the post, which has over 170K likes in just over four hours since she posted it. Morris also shared the post on her Instagram story, which was captioned, 'I miss you angel.' After Rivera and her son didn't return, she was declared missing, with the boat found around 5 PM on July 8, 2020, with Dorsey asleep on it. Police declared her presumed dead one day after her disappearance, and a search ensued until her body was recovered on July 13. Morris shared an undated throwback black-and-white snap of her cuddling with Rivera which had a heartfelt caption Morris also shared the post on her Instagram story, which was captioned, 'I miss you angel' 'We grow up together, fell apart, and came back together in such a beautiful way,' she added 'God youre missed so muchexcept I cant shake the feeling you never leftyoure still here with us..guiding us to our highest potential,' Morris added' Morris also shared the post on her Instagram story, which was captioned, 'I miss you angel.' The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office found no sign of drugs or alcohol being involved in her death, which was declared an accidental drowning. 'We know from speaking with her son, that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey,' said Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub at a news conference. 'It was during that time that her son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the deck from behind,he said. 'He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water,' Ayub added. Scarlett Johansson is a vision in black while out in The Big Apple. The movie star wore a black patterned halter dress with a velvet bow resting on her chest, and matching strappy black heels. Scarlett kept her blonde hair pulled back, with a few curled front pieces framing her face. The 39-year-old accessorized with a black bracelet and sported a dewy, light makeup look as she headed to her and Channing Tatum's Fly Me to the Moon premiere at AMC New York City. The pair's new flick - which hits theaters July 12 - is a romantic comedy that tells the fictional story of NASA taping a fake moon landing just in case the Apollo 11 moon landing doesn't go as planned. Scarlett Johansson is a vision in black while headed to her and Channing Tatum 's Fly Me to the Moon premiere at AMC New York City The movie star wore a black patterned halter dress with a velvet bow resting on her chest, and matching strappy black heels Of course, sparks fly between advertising executive Kelly Jones (Scarlett) and a NASA official named Cole Davis (Channing) as he prepares for one of the biggest moments in history. While visiting Today on Monday, Scarlett spoke about how the idea for Fly Me to the Moon - which is set in the late 60s - came about. 'So, I have a production company here in New York called These Pictures, and one of our associates, our head of film, Keenan, just was toying around with this idea of like, well, what if this conspiracy theory was true?' the Asteroid City actress explained. 'Could you build a genre movie around it?' Host Savannah Guthrie then compared Scarlett's role to that of John Hamm's iconic character, Don Draper, in Mad Men. The journalist said, 'We get major Don Draper vibes, but you're Donna Draper. Don't you think?' 'Oh, I love that,' the Sing 2 alum responded. 'Yes, totally.' And it's fitting that Scarlett's latest project is a romcom, as the Black Widow star is a big fan of the genre - when done right. 'I am,' Scarlett gushed. 'I've been watching all the Nora Ephron movies recently. I'm just like on a kick and when they're good, they're just the best.' Getting into the details of her character's on-screen romance with Channing, the Hollywood icon clarified that sparks flew for the coworkers 'initially.' The pair's new flick - which hits theaters July 12 - is a romantic comedy that tells the fictional story of NASA taping a fake moon landing just in case the Apollo 11 moon landing doesn't go as planned The Black Widow star revealed that she is a big fan of romcoms: 'I've been watching all the Nora Ephron movies recently. I'm just like on a kick and when they're good, they're just the best' 'Like literally they fly,' Scarlett continued. 'I almost set myself on fire, but then, of course, we don't realize exactly - you know, we have this kind of meet cute and then don't realize that we're actually kind of working as polar opposites, so there's a lot of friction there.' Cole is straight-laced, which might not mesh well with Kelly's rule-bending persona. 'And he's by the books, he has a lot of integrity,' Scarlett quipped. 'He's kind of a control freak and I am just not something that he can control.' 'Weirdly we've been in two other films together but never actually worked together,' Scarlett confessed. 'He and Anne Hathaway did a little part in Don Jon where they recreated a romantic comedy and then again we worked - well I wouldn't say together - but we were both part of Hail, Caesar! and so this was the first time we actually got to have dialogue.' In the film, sparks fly between advertising executive Kelly Jones (Scarlett) and a NASA official named Cole Davis (Channing) as he prepares for one of the biggest moments in history The Sing 2 actress explained where the movie idea came from: 'I have a production company here in New York called These Pictures, and one of our associates was toying around with this idea of like, well, what if this conspiracy theory was true?' And since the Rough Night actress produced the movie, she got to pick her leading man. 'Who's the most attractive person I can think of,' Scarlett teased. 'Channing Tatum. He's not hard to fall in love with I would say. He's very charismatic. He's just an absolutely lovable guy.' 'He's such an easygoing person,' she noted. 'He's a very professional person. He's been working for a long, long time, and I think for the two of us, you know, we both have had our lives, and we've lived it, so it was nice to just be like, "OK, what's your story? Where are we connecting?" And I think it was just easy chemistry and again just easy on the eyes.' Meanwhile, Channing's stellar physique has also allowed him to do his own stunts, which he has 'always fought' for in Hollywood. She shared about her character's relationship with Channing's: 'We have this kind of meet cute and then don't realize that we're actually kind of working as polar opposites, so there's a lot of friction there' Taking a moment to gush over her costar, the 39-year-old noted: 'He's not hard to fall in love with I would say. He's very charismatic. He's just an absolutely lovable guy. He's such an easygoing person. He's a very professional person' 'Probably even more so than CGI [versus practical effects] is when they want to put it in the stunt guy or something like that,' the 44-year-old told ComicBook. 'I think that's been more of my experience where they have to cut away from like the face or the pain or whatever when you hit the ground, I've always fought for doing as much as you can possibly do while your physical body can actually do it. Sooner or later, I'm going to get too old to be able to do it.' Channing added to the outlet, 'People are smart now. They know what movies are like. They know when they cut away. They know when it's CGI. And I think the more you can do real, the more they'll feel it.' An Australian artist was left red-faced during a recent online exchange with Hollywood megastar Will Smith. Internet sensation Sam Cotton, widely known for his hilarious animation videos, took to Instagram on Monday to post a direct message he claims he received from the actor, 55. The screenshot showed a message seemingly sent by Will asking Sam to collaborate, prompting the social media star to quickly send an excited message back. However, he was quickly left red-faced when he sent Will a unique collaboration idea about frozen peas, and claimed he has not heard from the American star since. The message purportedly sent by Will on June 3 read: 'Hey Sam! Was just looking at your stuff, love the creativity. What could we do to collaborate?' To which Sam - who has more than 1million Instagram followers - replied: 'HELL YES WILL!!! Almost passed out reading this. Let me brainstorm some ideas today and send them over to you! Thank you for the kind words mate!' Sam, who is famous for creating amusing talking animations of inanimate objects, then claimed to have sent Will a voice message detailing a collaboration idea about frozen peas. In the message, Sam explained how the animation would see Will open his freezer and pull out an old and forgotten bag of frozen peas, before having an amusing exchange with them. An internet-famous Australian artist has shared the moment he was left red-faced during an apparent exchange with Hollywood megastar Will Smith (pictured) 'Everyone has this item in their freezer that they've forgotten about and has been there for years. You open up your freezer and in the back corner is these frozen peas from 1996,' he explained. 'As you pull them out it's like defrosting a cave man from the past. As it wakes up, it's all confused like ''Where am I? What year is this? Will is that you?'' 'Then you have to apologise because you completely forgot about him and he doesn't know how successful you've become so he's like ''how did that audition for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air go? Did it go alright?'' 'Anyway, you have this wholesome catch-up but it ends with you just chucking him in the bin, you know? Anyway that's just an idea about peas, I've got other ideas too if you're keen.' However, it seems that Will wasn't a fan of the unique idea as Sam claimed he has not heard from him in the month since their exchange. Sharing the messages to Instagram, he captioned the post: 'Guys, what have I done? Will Smith messaged me about collaborating and I sent him an idea about talking to frozen peas and then I never heard from him again. What was I thinking?' Sam Cotton claimed Will reached out asking him to collaborate, prompting him to send an excited voice message detailing his unique idea, which the actor then did not respond to Although Will was seemingly not on board with the pitch, he had an array of famous names flocking to the comments section to share their approval. American actor and producer David Arquette - the ex-husband of Courteney Cox - wrote: 'I loved the idea for what it's worth.' While Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk also showed her support as she commented: 'Best idea too.' MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow added: 'How mysterious.' And Colin From Accounts' co-creator Patrick Brammall wrote: 'I love this so much. Like, a lot. The fact that it happened, that you didn't hear back, that you shared it, that he might still be getting back to you. Top notch.' Responding to Patrick's comment, Sam admitted: 'I've been getting more and more self conscious about the idea with every passing day' His fans also took to the comments to share their hopes that Will agrees to the sketch in a thread of pun-filled remarks, even suggesting The Fresh Peas of Bel-Air as a title. Sam has more than 1million followers on Instagram and is widely known for his famous animation videos, where he gives faces and voices to inanimate objects One quipped: 'That's so much funnier than actually collaborating with him.' Another wrote: 'Fresh Peas from Bel-Air,' while a third joked: 'Maybe he's made his peas with the situation.' A fourth commented: 'And just like that you were forgotten in the same way those peas were. Poetic.' While a fifth added: 'I've heard @willsmith is really hard to a peas.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Will's representatives for comment. Georgia May Jagger showed off her baby bump as she stepped out in Los Angeles on a dog walk. The model, 32, whose parents are Mick Jagger, 80, and Jerry Hall, 67, is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Cambryan Sedlick, 24. And heading out to walk her three dogs on Monday, Georgia displayed her growing bump in a white v-neck summer dress. Georgia paired the mini dress with maroon Adidas trainers with yellow lining and her blonde locks were clipped back Sharing the news of her pregnancy last month, Georgia wrote on Instagram: 'Patiently waiting for our new best friend @cambryans.' Georgia May Jagger showed off her baby bump as she stepped out in Los Angeles on a dog walk in LA on Monday Georgia looked incredible as she lifted up her blue vest top to reveal her tummy which she gently cradled. Wearing jeans, a second image showed her playfully leaning against skateboarder Cambryan who was swinging from his garage door as she smiled while barefoot. In another snap, the expectant parents shared a passionate kiss in a field, while Cambryan embraced her bump. The happy couple were inundated with comments after she announced the news on social media. Georgia's famous friends flooded her comments to congratulate the pair after seeing the smitten pictures. Her half-brother Lucas wrote: 'Georgieeeeee ' Uncle Chris Jagger also cheekily commented: 'Looking quite full already!!!' Meadow Walker added: 'Angel' Heading out to walk her three dogs on Monday, Georgia displayed her growing bump in a white v-neck summer dress Georgia May Jagger is pregnant! Model, 32, revealed she is expecting her first child with Cambryan Sedlick, 24, as she shared her first bump picture on Instagram on Tuesday Georgia announced the joyful news with a slew of bump snaps with boyfriend Cambryan, gushing: 'Patiently waiting for our new best friend @cambryans' The happy couple were inundated with comments after she announced the news on social media Wearing jeans, a second image showed her playfully leaning against Cambryan who was swinging from his garage door as she smiled while barefoot Georgia looked incredible as she lifted up her blue vest top to reveal her tummy which she gently cradled In another snap, the expectant parents shared a passionate kiss in a field, while Cambryan embraced her bump The happy couple perched their stomach's up against one another Poppy Delevingne penned: 'Awwwww G may mama bear!!! LOVE these & love YOU so much. ' Georgia and Cambryan, who originates from Texas, were first linked in July 2021 and have been more than loved-up since. She was previously in a relationship with restauranteur Louis Levy, 31, but the pair 'quietly split'. 'They loved living together in New York, but when Georgia decided to split her time between there and LA, it put a strain on the relationship that turned out to be too much,' a friend said at the time of their split. The happy couple were inundated with comments after she announced the news on social media Georgia's famous parents Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall are preparing to welcome another grandchild following their daughters incredible news (pictured together in 2014) Georgia's relationship with skateboarder Cambryan, from Texas, was first reported in July 2021 'Louis owns two restaurants in New York, so he has to be there. It's his home.' Georgia quit Britain to move in with her then-boyfriend, Louis Levy, in the States. She swapped London for New York in 2019, moving to the Big Apple to be with her restaurateur beau. The Kyle and Jackie O Show have been beaten in the latest radio ratings by their Melbourne rivals Nova's Jase and Lauren who were axed by KIIS FM last year to make way for the Sydney-based hosts. Lauren Phillips and Jason 'Jase' Hawkins had a huge win in the FM breakfast rankings, becoming the second most-listened to show in Melbourne. They boosted their 8.7 per cent share to 9.6 per cent in the latest survey, knocking FOX FM's Fifi, Fev and Nick, who dropped from a 10 per cent share to 9.5 per cent, down to third place. The Kyle and Jackie O show came in sixth place with a 5.9 per cent share behind smoothfm and Triple M's Marty Sheargold Show. GOLD FM's Christian O'Connell still has the highest rating breakfast show in Melbourne with a 10.8 per cent share. 3AW Breakfast with Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft is the highest rating breakfast show overall in Melbourne with an 18.8 per cent share. ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell said: 'Despite their 25 years on air together, The Kyle & Jackie O Show is still a brand-new show for Melbourne, and we are encouraged by these early results. 'In particular, the increase in cume [cumulative audience] demonstrates that the show is attracting new listeners and as that cume is converted to loyal listening, we'll see share increasing. 'We know it'll take a few more surveys before their presence truly starts to resonate with the Melbourne audience, but we're excited to build on this foundation and are confident that Kyle & Jackie O will continue to capture the hearts of Melbourne listeners just as they have in Sydney.' The Kyle and Jackie O Show have been beaten in the latest radio ratings by their Melbourne rivals Nova's Jase and Lauren who were axed by KIIS FM last year to make way for the Sydney-based hosts The shock jocks faired better in Sydney, achieving a share of 14.1 per cent and attracting a weekly audience of 696,000 Sydneysiders. However it placed them behind overall winner, 2GB's Ben Fordham, who has pulled almost 3 points ahead of the pair, after they have dropped from 14.7 to 14.1. Fordham has gained 0.4 per cent to a solid 17 per cent of the listeners, while 2GB picked up 0.7 per cent to make it to the lead. Kyle and Jackie O have held onto a 5 per cent lead over WSFM's Jonesy and Amanda, who are at 9.1 per cent. Meanwhile, Smoothfm has come out at 9.8 per cent. On April 29, Kyle and Jackie O took their breakfast radio show to Melbourne in a huge multimillion-dollar expansion deal. Lauren Phillips and Jason 'Jase' Hawkins had a huge win in the breakfast slot, becoming the second most-listened to show in Melbourne. Both pictured The duo faired better in Sydney, achieving a share of 14.1 per cent share and attracting a weekly audience of 696,000 Sydneysiders. However it placed them behind overall winner, 2GB's Ben Fordham (pictured), who has pulled almost 3 points ahead of the pair The move triggered the axing of Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Lauren Phillips' breakfast show. An unapologetic Kyle said he felt indifferent to his competitors being sacked, as it ultimately came down to who was attracting the most listeners. 'No, I don't care. That's why we went for Melbourne, we were like, 'We've given this Jase and Lauren on KIIS FM a good run, it can't get over fourth in the radio ratings, so we'll take it',' he told news.com.au. He added that the The Kyle and Jackie O Show was moved to Melbourne because it was a 'market in trouble' and their program could help regain listeners. However, Kyle's co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson took a different approach, adding that while she didn't like competitors being axed it was the unfortunate reality of the business. 'No one ever wants to move someone out of a job. I wouldn't want that to happen to me. It's a double edged sword, it really is,' she said. With Alec Baldwin's trial over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western Rust set to start on Tuesday, security will be beefed up. The 66-year-old actor - who was in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Monday for a pre-trial hearing - is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Hutchins. When the trial starts on Tuesday, there will be more security there than usual, as a precaution for the high-profile trial, via TMZ. Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Denise Womack-Avila said there will be 'additional deputies' working around the courthouse and surrounding areas. While no specific numbers were given as to how much security may be beefed up, Baldwin's presence throughout the 10-day trial will necessitate the added security. With Alec Baldwin 's trial over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western Rust set to start on Tuesday, security will be beefed up The 66-year-old actor - who was in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Monday for a pre-trial hearing - is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Hutchins. Baldwin has had more than his fair share of contentious encounters with photographers and fans so added security will be essential. She added that both media personnel and others trying to get into the courthouse are not being allowed to camp outside. She said there is a daily protocol to be followed before anyone is admitted inside each morning of the trial. Baldwin also earned an early victory in the pretrial hearing on Monday. The judge ruled that prosecutors cannot enter into evidence Baldwin's role as a producer on the film. That key element was supposedly crucial to the prosecution's argument that his irresponsible behavior as a producer ultimately lead to Hutchins' death. Producers argued that Baldwin was lax on safety procedures in his role as executive producer, though now this argument is moot. 'I'm having real difficulty with the state's position that they want to show that as a producer, he didn't follow guidelines, and therefore, as an actor, Mr. Baldwin did all these things wrong resulting in the death of Halyna Hutchins because as a producer, he allowed this all to happen,' the judge said at the hearing. Baldwin was practicing a cross-draw maneuver with a revolver when the gun went off, striking both Rust director Joel Souza and cinematographer Hutchins. The bullet struck Hutchins in the chest, traveled through her body and struck Souza in the shoulder. Hutchins was airlifted to a nearby hospital but she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter in late October 2021. Baldwin has maintained that he never pulled the trigger of the gun, though an FBI report claimed that the gun could only fire if the trigger was pulled. Baldwin claimed he pulled back the hammer of the gun - not the trigger - when the projectile was fired. Baldwin has had more than his fair share of contentious encounters with photographers and fans so added security will be essential. She added that both media personnel and others trying to get into the courthouse are not being allowed to camp outside She said there is a daily protocol to be followed before anyone is admitted inside each morning of the trial Baldwin was practicing a cross-draw maneuver with a revolver when the gun went off, striking both Rust director Joel Souza and cinematographer Hutchins The actor has also maintained that he didn't know there was live ammunition in the gun when the incident occurred. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to serve 18 months in prison though she is appealing the conviction. Baldwin is facing a single count of involuntary manslaughter which, if convicted, could be punishable up to 18 months in prison as well. Production of the film was suspended after the shooting, only to resume in April 2023, concluding a month later, though no release date has been given for Rust. Tom Cruise surprised fans when he made an appearance at the European premiere of Twisters in London on Monday evening. Stepping out to support his Maverick co-star Glen Powell, the Hollywood A-lister, 62, posed for photos at at Cineworld Leicester Square. Glen, who played Jake 'Hangman' Seresin in the Top Gun sequel, stars as 'tornado wrangler' Tyler Owens who is forced to confront a particularly catastrophic tornado in the upcoming thriller, Twisters. Arriving in the capital, Tom smiled for a photo alongside his co-star and captioned the Instagram post: 'Fun night with friends, watching a movie!!' Sharing the same snap to his own account, Glen wrote: 'When your wingman follows you into the storm' Tom Cruise surprised fans when he made an appearance at the European premiere of Twisters in London on Monday evening Glen played Jake 'Hangman' Seresin in the Top Gun sequel (pictured) Leading man Tom Cruise as Capt Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick Glen looked dapper in a black suit with white piping as well as an unbuttoned shirt and dark red patent shoes. Meanwhile, Tom opted for a white T-shirt with a suede bomber jacket and smart trousers. In May, a trailer for the flick was released which opens an Oklahoma rodeo with a crowd watching a bull rider followed by a storm siren. The animals fled along with the crowd and a truck trying to drive away from the chaos was lifted up by the wind and tossed into an electric sign. 'A once in a generation tornado outbreak continues across Oklahoma,' a TV weatherman reported as Kate Cooper, played by 25-year-old English actress Daisy Edgar Jones, was studying the storm from afar at a federal weather agency. A supervisor asked Kate for help with tornadoes after admitting that he'd never seen any like them before. 'No, I don't chase anymore,' Kate said. After being told that her help could save lives, Kate reluctantly agreed to give him one week. Kate joined NASA and FEMA experts in Oklahoma and was surprised when self-described 'tornado wrangler' Tyler Owens, played by Glen, arrived. 'If you feel it,' Tyler said to his adoring fans. 'Chase it!,' they hollered back. Glen looked dapper in a black suit with white piping He stars as 'tornado wrangler' Tyler Owens who is forced to confront a particularly catastrophic tornado in the upcoming thriller, Twisters Twisters is scheduled to be released in cinemas on July 19 (Glen pictured in the trailer) A note at the end said that Universal Pictures is partnering with the American Red Cross to help people affected by disasters. Twisters is scheduled to be released in cinemas on July 19. The film directed by Lee Isaac Chung also stars Anthony Ramos and features Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane, Kiernan Shipka and Paul Scheer. Twisters is a stand-alone sequel to the 1996 film Twister that starred Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz and Cary Elwes. The classic film sees two storm chasers on the brink of divorce be forced to work together to create an advanced weather alert system by putting themselves in the cross-hairs of extremely violent tornadoes. 2024 World AI Conference: Governing AI for Good and for All 11:03, July 09, 2024 By He Yin ( People's Daily A visitor experiences the extended reality (XR) technology developed by China's tech giant Tencent at the 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, east China, July 4, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Long Wei) The 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was held in Shanghai from July 4 to 6. The event was an important step to implement the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Themed "Governing AI for Good and for All," the conference embodied the fundamental principles of the initiative and reflected the common aspirations of the international community. In October 2023, at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will put forward the Global Initiative for AI Governance, which presents a constructive approach to addressing universal concerns over AI development and governance and offers Chinese solutions to relevant international discussions and rule-making. The initiative has provided fundamental guidance for China to participate in global AI governance and serves as an important public good that China offers the world. China has been actively implementing the initiative and deeply engaging in global AI governance, which has been widely endorsed and appreciated by the international community. The 2024 WAIC has established a crucial platform for international AI exchanges and cooperation. An AI-powered virtual patient companion is exhibited at the 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, east China, July 4, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu) Following the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and equal participation, the conference has brought together representatives from different countries and sectors to advance AI development, security, and governance. It aims to develop an open, fair, and effective governance mechanism and ensure that the innovative achievements of AI truly benefit humanity. The conference included an opening ceremony, which is also the plenary session, three main forums on global governance, industrial development, and scientific frontier, and 10 themed forums and several industry forums covering key topics such as AI governance, large models, embodied intelligence, investment and financing, education, and talent development. It also included AI exhibitions, awards ceremonies, competitions, and intelligent experience. The conference has brought together over 1,000 leading figures worldwide. More than 200,000 government officials, and representatives of international organizations, industries, universities and research institutes, among others, have attended the conference and shared their profound insights and perspectives into global AI governance, development and practical cooperation. Together, they have built a broad consensus through mutual learning. China's active participation and significant leadership in global AI governance demonstrate its role as a responsible major country. On July 1, the 78th UN General Assembly adopted a China-led resolution on enhancing international AI cooperation, with over 140 countries supporting it. This resolution, as the UN's first on international cooperation for AI capacity building, fully embodies the core principles of the Global Initiative for AI Governance and the Global Development Initiative. It aligns with the high expectations of numerous UN member states, particularly developing countries, and represents broad and robust support for multilateralism and the UN. Visitors interact with a robot at the 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, east China, July 4, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu) The resolution plays an important role in promoting inclusive AI development around the world, and has won wide support and high evaluation from the international community, especially the Global South. It marks another significant step in practicing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind on the UN platform. The unanimous adoption of this resolution reflects a widespread agreement among UN member states on the necessity of enhancing global AI governance through dialogue and cooperation. It also demonstrates China's responsible approach and significant leadership in AI development and governance. It has proved that building "small yard, high fence" and exclusive blocs in AI development and governance is not in line with the trend of the times or the interests of all parties. The technological revolution and industrial transformation driven by AI are nurturing tremendous new opportunities, and will undoubtedly bring more confidence and hope to the world. China will continue to advance the great cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind and fully demonstrate its sense of duty as a responsible major country. Taking the 2024 WAIC as an opportunity, China will continue to follow the principles of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits, actively participate in and lead global AI governance, and work together with all parties to promote the healthy, safe, fair, and orderly development of AI worldwide. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Ndjamena, Chad (PANA) Enhancing the economic inclusion of refugees necessitates acknowledging their economic contributions, according to the World Bank Chad Economic Update 2024, which dedicates a special chapter to examining the economic ramifications of refugee influxes Roxy Jacenko is currently living it up in France after paying out $76,000 in refunds to disgruntled entrants of her failed $10million house lottery. The PR mogul, 44, shared a series of photos to Instagram on Monday as she soaked up the summer sun on a luxury yacht with her children. In one image, Jacenko flaunted her figure in a bikini as she relaxed in a spa with her son Hunter. She also shared a photo of herself relaxing on the lounge as she travelled from St Tropez to Cannes. The trip comes after she paid just 10 per cent of what she claimed to have put aside for refunds following her highly-controversial failed lottery. Jacenko had partnered with businessmen Youssef Tleis and Kassim Alaouie on her Brand Bootcamp online business course and the trio launched a promotion offering new customers the chance to win three epic prizes. The prizes included a $10million waterfront Cronulla home - owned by Mr Tleis and Mr Alaouie - a Birkin bag and a Rolex timepiece. The promotion was due to be drawn last month before it was halted. Roxy Jacenko is currently living it up in France after paying out $76,000 in refunds to disgruntled entrants of her failed $10million house lottery Jacenko took to social media at the time to claim she was leaving after discovering a 'shortfall' in the prize money pool and insisted she would offer customers' refunds out of her own pocket. 'I stand by my offer to refund customers and as a result of this, $684,000 of my own personal funds remain in my solicitor's trust account,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time. Jacenko has since issued $76,019 in refunds to entrants of the aborted giveaway, just more than 10 per cent of the money she claimed to have set aside for the repayments, The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday. A total of 7,489 people had paid between $29 and $499 to sign up for the boot camp, but it has been estimated that some 90 per cent of participants remain out of pocket after the refunds. Only participants who lodged a refund request within a seven-day window from June 9 until June 15 were eligible to receive any refund from Jacenko. After Jacenko came under fire for the brief refund window, she clapped back at critics on social media, claiming she wasn't even required to offer it. The PR mogul, 44, shared a series of photos to Instagram on Monday as she soaked up the summer sun on a luxury yacht with her children 'I'm now processing refunds from my personal bank account. As you know, I entered into a partnership with two others, which was a dismal f**king failure,' she began. 'If you're an honourable person, you put your hand in your pocket and refund people, which is what I am doing commencing this week. Refunds remain open until today. 'One thing about the refund window, you don't go to Woolworths and buy Nutri-Grain and then in three months time suggest they should take it back and swap it or give you a full refund. 'A seven-day window is not an unusual offer, it is not even something I had to do. I chose to refund those who applied from my own pocket.' It has been claimed Jacenko is pushing to have the $76,000 in refunds repaid from liquidators - after Roxy's Bootcamp was ordered to be wound up last week. She also shared a photo of herself relaxing on the lounge as she travelled from St Tropez to Cannes Jacenko's lawyers have reportedly also informed her former business partners that she plans to keep the Birkin bag and Rolex watch she purchased as part of her investment in the giveaway. After the failed business venture, the NSW Supreme Court has called in liquidators to wind up the company - from which Jacenko resigned as a director last month. Jacenko originally sought the appointment of provisional liquidators due to, among other reasons, allegations that Mr Tleis and Mr Alaouie had engaged in 'misleading conduct' during the promotion, due to a sub-clause which stated the prizes would only be delivered if the competition achieved more than $11.5million in revenue. But the conditions were never made public by Jacenko during a whirlwind of publicity and the clause was also missing from the competition's formal terms and conditions on the Roxy's Bootcamp website. In another update in the highly-publicised saga, Supreme Court Justice Anthony McGrath last week reportedly rejected Jacenko's bid to have her legal costs paid. The trip comes after she paid just 10 per cent of what she claimed to have put aside for refunds following her highly-controversial and failed $10million house lottery 'I do not consider it was unreasonable conduct of the proceedings by Mr Tleis to have opposed the application for a provisional liquidator on the basis the reputation of the company and Tleis Investments might be harmed,' Justice McGrath said. 'Nothing done by Mr Tleis in opposing the appointment of provisional liquidators and subsequently consenting provides justification for a finding that their conduct was unreasonable.' Mr Tleis and Mr Alaouie previously argued the promotion should proceed with a $250,000 cash prize, a Birkin handbag and a Rolex watch - after not reaching the $11.5million minimum for the house giveaway. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jacenko's representatives for comment. Jacenko had partnered with businessmen Youssef Tleis (right) and Kassim Alaouie (left) on her Brand Bootcamp business course and they launched a promotion offering new customers the chance to win three epic prizes Last month, Jacenko said she committed to personally refunding all 7,489 people who signed up to her highly-publicised brand boot camp after the bitter dispute. 'The company account did not have enough to pay the First Prize winner, so I personally loaned the company money so that it could pay off substantial creditors and so that sufficient funds were held in the company's accounts to pay out the $250,000 prize,' she claimed at the time. 'I loaned the company in excess of $100,000 in order to ensure that sufficient funds were available to the company. 'I could not issue refunds from Shopify as Mr Tleis is the only one with access to the NAB account which holds funds he revoked my access to the company bank account.' While Jacenko expressed her regret at entering the business venture, Mr Tleis and Mr Alaouie also issued an apology to social media at the time of the failed giveaway. 'Our primary concern has always been you, the public, especially those who participated and purchased an entry into this promotion,' they stated. 'We sincerely apologise to you all. We fought as hard as we could and were even willing to give personal undertakings to support our fight. 'We want to express our deepest regret for entering into this partnership with Ms Jacenko. It has been an incredibly challenging and eye-opening experience. We sincerely apologise.' The prizes included a $10million waterfront Cronulla home (pictured) - owned by Mr Tleis and Mr Alaouie - a Birkin bag and a Rolex timepiece. The promotion was due to be drawn last month before it was halted Upon adopting provisional liquidator Cathro & Partners to the company last month, Justice McGrath described the promotion scheme as 'highly questionable'. 'The competing interlocutory applications arise in the extraordinary circumstances of the rapid creation and almost equally rapid deterioration in the relationships between Ms Jacenko, Mr Tleis and Mr Alaouie over a business venture involving the promoting of training courses offered by Ms Jacenko to the public using a highly questionable promotion scheme,' he said. 'On any view, the promotion has attracted significant adverse publicity this has led to online commentary which has been extremely derogatory about the promotion itself and those involved in it.' Keith Urban is reportedly pleased his wife Nicole Kidman's latest age-gap rom-com didn't appeal to critics. The 57-year-old Hollywood star's new Netflix movie, A Family Affair, starring Zac Efron, 36, received a poor critical reception and the country musician is 'secretly thrilled' about it, according to New Idea magazine. Efron takes on the role of vain movie star Chris Cole, while Kidman portrays writer Brook Harwood, who is the mother of his long-suffering assistant Zara (Joey King). An insider told the magazine it didn't sit right with Keith, 56, seeing his wife get cosy with Zac, after the pair last portrayed lovers 12 years ago in the buzzy crime drama The Paperboy. 'He absolutely trusts Nicole but it unnerved him seeing her get so cosy with Zac on-screen a second time around,' the source said. 'She likely won't be doing a third, which, deep down, has made Keith happy to no end something he's having to keep to himself of course!' Kidman and Efron do their best to heat things up in Netflix's hotly anticipated May-December rom-com A Family Affair - but the result is a rather tepid affair. Their characters fumble together in a tipsy hook-up - but after a sizzling start, their on-screen chemistry quickly goes cold. Keith Urban is supposedly pleased that his wife Nicole Kidman's latest age-gap rom-com didn't appeal to critics. Pictured together in April It comes after Nicole revealed her daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13, give her honest feedback when she asks them. Speaking with People, she said her girls are 'very supportive', however they also tell her their unfiltered criticism. 'But they're also like, "Ok, calm down," the Australian actress, who shares the two daughters with husband Keith, said. 'But I do think it's important not to have sycophants [around you].' Nicole and Keith also just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on June 25. The Practical Magic star said it's not about 'seeking out really horrible criticism.' Kidman and Zac Efron, 36, do their best to heat things up in Netflix's hotly anticipated May-December rom-com A Family Affair - but the result is a rather tepid affair. Both pictured 'We're all a work in progress as they say,' she added. She has two children with ex husband Tom Cruise: Isabella Jane Cruise, 31, and Connor Antony Cruise, 29. Nicole and Keith celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on June 25. Nicole commemorated the special moment with a sweet snap of her and Keith by the ocean. Keith played the guitar while Nicole lounged next to him; she added the caption: 'Forever,' adding a heart and hashtagged Happy Anniversary. Nicole and Keith also just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on June 25 The lovebirds first met on January 15, 2005 at a G'Day USA gala in LA; Nicole and Keith are both from Australia. They had exchanged numbers but he did not call her for four months - with the couple going from strength to strength soon after reuniting over the summer. They announced their engaged in May 2006 and one month later - on June 25, 2006 - married in Sydney. They welcomed daughter Sunday in 2008 and daughter Faith in 2010. Advertisement Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum led the stars at the premiere of their new film Fly Me To The Moon on Monday. The Marvel actress, 39, and the Magic Mike alum, 44, looked absolutely incredible as they took over the red carpet at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City. Showing a glimpse of her sculpted abs in a chic yellow gingham top and matching skirt, the blonde bombshell radiated movie star glamour. Scarlett kept her hair elegantly pinned back in a loose bun, showcasing her natural beauty with minimal makeup, while she held hands with her husband Colin Jost. Channing, meanwhile, cut a striking figure in a navy pinstripe suit complemented by an open-collar black shirt. Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum led the stars at the premiere of their new film Fly Me To The Moon on Monday The Marvel actress, 39, looked absolutely incredible as they took over the red carpet at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City The co-stars new film, hitting theaters on July 12, is a romantic comedy that imagines NASA filming a fake moon landing as a backup plan in case the Apollo 11 mission encounters difficulties. Tatum portrays a NASA official overseeing the Apollo 11 moon landing, while Johansson takes on the role of a marketing executive hired to film the contingency fake moon landing. Their characters clash, and flirt, as they navigate this unconventional backup plan. 'Hes not hard to fall in love with, I would say,' Scarlet shared during an appearance on Monday's Today. 'Hes just very charismatic. Hes just [an] absolutely loveable guy.' Describing Tatum as 'easygoing' and ' professional,' Scarlett mentioned that they quickly formed a bond on set. 'It was nice to just be like, "OK, so whats your story? Where are we connecting,"'she explained. 'And I think it was just easy chemistry, and again, hes easy on the eyes.' She added about their characters' plot line: 'We have this kind of meet cute and then dont realize that were actually, kind of, working as polar opposites. Showing a glimpse of her sculpted abs in a chic yellow gingham top and matching skirt The co-stars new film, hitting theaters on July 12, is a romantic comedy that imagines NASA filming a fake moon landing as a backup plan in case the Apollo 11 mission encounters difficulties Tatum portrays a NASA official overseeing the Apollo 11 moon landing, while Johansson takes on the role of a marketing executive hired to film the contingency fake moon landing Their characters clash, and flirt, as they navigate this unconventional backup plan 'Hes not hard to fall in love with, I would say,' Scarlet shared during an appearance on Monday's Today; 'Hes just very charismatic. Hes just [an] absolutely loveable guy' 'And so, theres a lot of friction there. And he is very by the books, he has a ton of integrity. He is kind of a control freak, and I am just not something that he can control.' Scarlet also admitted that she and Channing had been in two other films together, but had never shared dialogue. 'He and Anne Hathaway did a little part in Don Jon where they recreated a romantic comedy and then again we worked - well I wouldn't say together - but we were both part of Hail, Caesar! and so this was the first time we actually got to have dialogue.' Under the direction of Greg Berlanti, Fly Me to the Moon features a cast including Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, and Jim Rash. Scarlet shared on Today that the film takes inspiration from real-world theories and controversies surrounding the moon landing. 'I have a production company here in New York called These Pictures, and one of our associates, our head of film, Keenan, was toying around with this idea of... what if this conspiracy theory was true? Could you build a genre movie around it?' she explained. In the same interview, the actress opened up about Colin's upcoming Olympics reporting job in Tahiti. Colin, 42, is set to cover the surfing competition at the Paris Olympics as part of NBCs Olympic coverage. Scarlet also admitted that she and Channing had been in two other films together, but had never shared dialogue. The blonde bombshell radiated movie-star glamour Describing Tatum as 'easygoing' and ' professional,' Scarlett mentioned that they quickly formed a bond on set Channing looked quite dapper in his classic suit Scarlett kept her hair elegantly pinned back in a loose bun, showcasing her natural beauty with minimal makeup, while she held hands with her husband Colin Jost, the Saturday Night Live star Colin and Scarlett, who began dating in 2017, welcomed their first child together in 2021 Colin, 42, is set to cover the surfing competition at the Paris Olympics as part of NBCs Olympic coverage Scarlet noted that the SNL star, being an enthusiastic surfer himself, was particularly thrilled to secure this opportunity Jamie Erlicht and Scarlet pose together on the red carpet In the film, sparks fly between advertising executive Kelly Jones (Scarlett) and a NASA official named Cole Davis (Channing) as he prepares for one of the biggest moments in history Tatum portrays a NASA official overseeing the Apollo 11 moon landing, while Johansson takes on the role of a marketing executive hired to film the contingency fake moon landing Beginning July 27, he will report live from Teahupoo, Tahiti, located in French Polynesia. Scarlet noted that the SNL star, being an enthusiastic surfer himself, was particularly thrilled to secure this opportunity. 'When they announced the Paris Olympics, he immediately found out that they were doing the surf competition in Tahiti, which is so cool. He loves to surf, we have a place in Montauk, hes always out there surfing,' she told Savannah Guthrie. 'And somehow the dream became a reality, and now hes going to be in Tahiti for two weeks, and Im like, "Poor you,"' she added, drawing a fake tear down her cheek. A would-be pop star has avoided prison time after being found guilty on a range of violent offences which included beating his ex. Jayden Eric Appleby, 22, who was a contestant on Australia's Got Talent in 2019, pleaded guilty to 13 charges relating to breach of bail and assault in Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday. Between May 2023 to January 2024 he abused an ex-girlfriend on numerous occasions, the court was told. Appleby was sentenced to six months in jail by Magistrate Chris Webster but he is likely to avoid imprisonment as he has already served 199 days as part of a pre-sentence detention. He will pay compensation for damaged property and has agreed to attend counselling for anger management as part of his community corrections order. Jayden Eric Appleby, 22, pleaded guilty to 13 charges relating to breach of bail and assault in Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday Appleby gained national fame as a 17-year-old entrant into the 2019 season of Australia's Got Talent where he sailed through the audition round His toxic relationship, paired with 'problems with alcohol' and exposure to family violence as a child were to blame for his actions, the court was told. Appleby first got physical with his ex after the two met for drinks at a place on Kingston Beach to celebrate her recent job offer on November 24, reported the Hobart Mercury. The prosecutor said police received calls from several members of the public who were concerned as Appleby had began 'pacing aggressively' and yelling. 'The defendant was seen by police to be waving his arms in the air, yelling and swearing and hitting himself in the head with a rock,' the prosecutor said. 'Officers also noted Appleby as yelling words repeatedly to the effect of 'Why did you do this to me, why did you do this to me, I want to kill myself'. That same month Appleby was also found to have slapped and punched the woman in a separate incident on Sandy Bay Road. Appleby was sentenced to six months in jail by Magistrate Chris Webster but he is likely to avoid imprisonment as he has already served 199 days as part of a pre-sentence detention Appleby was found guilty of five counts of breach of bail and three counts of common assault. He appeared on Australia's Got Talent in 2019 at the age of 17. During his time on the show Appleby revealed that his mother and father had been in and out of his life since childhood. 'Growing up I sort of had it a bit rough here and there with mum and dad in and out and myself in and out of home,' he told host Ricki-Lee Coulter. Almost exactly 18 years after The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, a sequel is finally happening at Disney, with the original writer set to return... and possibly the cast. Disney has brought on screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, who adapted the original 2006 film from the 2003 novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, via Variety. While the original cast hasn't been confirmed to return yet, the reported plot description hints that both Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestley) and Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton) would be back. The news of a sequel comes just days after a musical adaptation debuted its first preview performance on London's West End, with Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestley and featuring brand new music from Elton John. The sequel's story will follow Priestley and her career in present day as traditional magazine publishing is on the decline. Almost exactly 18 years after The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, a sequel is finally happening at Disney, with the original writer set to return... and possibly the cast Disney has brought on screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, who adapted the original 2006 film from the 2003 novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, via Variety While the original cast hasn't been confirmed to return yet, the reported plot description hints that both Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestley) and Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton) would be back. She squares off with Charlton, who is said to be a high-powered executive for a luxury group, as Priestley is chasing that company's ad dollars. None of the reports have mentioned if Anne Hathaway would return as Andrea 'Andy' Sachs, or if other supporting cast members would return such as Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier, Gisele Bundchen and Tracie Thoms. The original film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Weisberger, which is loosely based on her time as an assistant to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The story follows Andy, a Northwestern grad who somehow lands a job as a junior personal assistant to Miranda Priestley, the editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine. She tries to use this experience to pave the way for better journalism opportunities but has a hard time fitting in, though she proves more than up for the challenge. The film, directed by David Frankel, was a surprise blockbuster hit, taking in $124.7 million domestic and $326.7 million worldwide from just a $35 million budget. Streep won a Golden Globe for her performance and scored an Oscar nomination as well. Wendy Finerman, who produced the original, will also return to produce, though no director has been attached yet. She squares off with Charlton, who is said to be a high-powered executive for a luxury group, as Priestley is chasing that company's ad dollars. None of the reports have mentioned if Anne Hathaway would return as Andrea 'Andy' Sachs, or if other supporting cast members would return such as Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier, Gisele Bundchen and Tracie Thoms The original film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Weisberger, which is loosely based on her time as an assistant to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. There has been talk of a sequel for years, with Weisberger writing a sequel novel Revenge Wears Prada in 2013 There has been talk of a sequel for years, with Weisberger writing a sequel novel Revenge Wears Prada in 2013. However, the stars of the original have all said they wouldn't be interested in making that adaptation as a sequel. Both Blunt and Hathaway recently interviewed each other for Variety's Actors on Actors series, with Blunt opening up about how much fun they had. 'We just had a joy bomb of a time on that movie. I dont know if any of us knew it was going to become what it did. Its quoted to me every week. It will be the movie that changed my life,' she said. Rihanna has been known to use male models now and then for her Savage X Fenty lingerie brand, but she played closer to home on Monday when the brand featured a nearly nude photo of her partner A$AP Rocky. The 35-year-old rapper born Rakim Athelaston Mayers modeled what looked like a set of white briefs for the brand's Instagram page. 'A$AP Rocky in the Classics by Savage X Fenty,' the brand's caption read. Rocky showed of his fit physique in a brown-toned photo featuring him in profile as he flexed his biceps. The display came a week after Rihanna, 36, promoted the brand herself with some throwback photos of herself in sizzling sheer black lingerie. A$AP Rocky flaunted his toned physique while modeling a set of classic white boxers on his love Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Instagram account on Monday The 35-year-old rapper's photo drove Rihanna's fans wild in the comments, and they alternated between praising him for supporting her business and lustily objectifying him In his photo, Rocky revealed his large 'ASAP' tattoo, which was printed across his rippling abs. He didn't have any other ink visible, but he sported a gold bracelet, multiple gold rings and a thick gold chain. The rapper had his dark hair styled in cornrows that alternated between thick and thin braids. Rihanna's fans and followers were supportive of Rocky's modeling appearance, though several weren't ashamed to ogle him in the comments. 'they cropped the best part [crying and laughing emoji],' joked one fan in the comments section. 'FINALLY IVE BEEN ASKING FOR ROCKY TO BE ON SXF,' gushed another Instagram user. 'Dont look ! He's HER baby daddy,' joked one fan. 'The definition of get you a partner who supports your business,"' added an admiring viewer. Rocky and Rihanna have been friends and collaborators going back more than a decade, but it wasn't until late 2020 that they were officially reported to be an item; seen in May in NYC The lovebirds now share two sons: RZA, 22 months, and Riot, seven months; pictured in October in NYC Rocky is parents with Rihanna to their sons RZA, 22 months, and Riot, seven months. The lovebirds were friends for many years and also worked together before they fell in love four years ago and started a family. Early in their careers, Rocky opened for the US leg of Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour in 2013, while she starred in his Fashion Killa music video in the same year. By November 2020, an insider revealed to People that the longtime friends had officially become an item. In an interview with GQ from 2021, Rocky said Rihanna was 'the love of [his] life' and 'the one'. 'If that's in my destiny, absolutely,' he said about becoming a father. 'Nah, but like, I think I'd be an incredible, remarkably, overall amazing dad.' Rihanna subsequently told Vogue in April 2022 that she was not planning to rush into having kids with the rapper. 'I always thought it would be marriage first, then a baby, but who the f*** says it has to be that way,' she said. 'I'm certainly not gonna let that get in the way of me being a mom.' A year later she said being a mom was 'legendary,' adding, 'It's everything. You really don't remember life before, that's the craziest thing ever.' A source told People last year that the star has taken to being a mother and is hands-on with her children. Rihanna initially said she wasn't rushing to have children, but she also said she wouldn't let not being married stop her from starting a family; pictured in May 2023 in NYC 'Rihanna loves being a mom. She is obsessed with her baby boy,' shared the insider. The insider also said Rocky is 'very involved as well and a great dad.' She also said to Vogue: '[There's] not much balance. But everything is stimulating. Everything right now is firing off. I'm excited. 'It's getting me super motivated, super energized to do new things, to create And I'm back in the studio and now we're going to be back on stage for the Super Bowl, which is just crazy that I even agreed to that, but I am, and I'm excited.' She added: 'Of course being a new mom is insane. It is lovely. It is epic, honestly.' Channel Seven has confirmed a controversial change to its TV news bulletins - that they will feature an astrology report from 'Astro Tash' - amid division at the network over a radical shake-up as the axe falls on 150 jobs at the channel. Multiple insiders claim there is now a tense atmosphere at the station, where some staff are 'miserable' and taking sick days to look for jobs elsewhere after a new regime took power intent on shaking things up. A '20 second' astrology report after the weather on the 6pm bulletin and a weekly comedy skit on Friday's at 6.57pm by Mark Humphries are some of the major changes that viewers will notice over the next week. Daily Mail Australia has been told that morale was already 'at an all time low' after the Spotlight show's Bruce Lehrmann fiasco and the sacking of veteran reporter Robert Ovadia. And the raft of new changes in the wake of new boss Anthony De Ceglie's appointment are being viewed with trepidation by some long-time network news insiders - with one critic describing the changes as 'depressing'. 'All the journalistic credibility we've worked towards for so many years is being destroyed,' they fumed. 'People are gutted. It feels like a funeral in here.' De Ceglie, Seven's new director of new and current affairs, has now confirmed for the first time that star signs will be part of the revamped weekday news - just as they have in some newspapers and magazines for decades. But the new boss hit back at critics, insisting both that morale is 'great' and that 'trying new things' is part of the network's bold new future. New Seven Network news boss Anthony De Ceglie, pictured with former WA premier Mark McGowan in 2022, is pushing through changes at Seven where insiders say the atmosphere is toxic and 'like a funeral' He presented the changes as an overdue shake-up of a staid format that hasn't changed in decades. 'If people think we are being inventive so far, they haven't seen anything yet,' Mr De Ceglie said in statement to Daily Mail Australia. Seven has undergone an upheaval in recent weeks, triggered by revelations that emerged during the Lehrmann defamation trial. Spotlight boss Mark Llewellyn left the company after ex-producer Taylor Auerbach disclosed the network's alleged role in facilitating cocaine and prostitutes for interviews with Lehrmann. Veteran journalist Robert Ovadia's exit came after ABC Four Corners made inquiries about the alleged toxic culture in the Seven newsroom. Ovadia is now suing Seven for unlawful dismissal. Those departures - plus many in digital division - have made some journalists fearful that many more are to follow. Up to 150 jobs are set to be axed, with Seven's chief executive Jeff Howard expected to announce cuts across the television and print divisions, sales and marketing teams. On Tuesday, Seven described planned redundancies as 'unfortunate', but added: 'We are not discussing the detail.' Disgruntled TV staff fear there may be no other options for them if they leave Seven now with other TV networks, including Nine enduring their own cuts. One staffer admitted: 'There isn't anywhere else to go.' From this Friday, a comedy spot starring Mark Humphries (above) will tail the news hour, a feature newsroom stalwarts are dreading, along with the rumoured astrology readings Seven also admitted they will also be having an astrologer added to their newsreader line-up, with Natasha Weber of Astro Tash understood to be taking on the new role De Ceglie - nicknamed ADC - confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the stargazing reports will start soon and feature after the nightly weather. He added that 'everyone is looking forward the first Mark Humphries spot this Friday'. De Ceglie, 38, was appointed Seven West Media's Director of News and Current Affairs and Editor-in-Chief in May. His elevation came after five years as West Australian Newspapers' editor-in-chief, during which News Corp, for whom he had previously worked, tried to poach him back to a senior role in Sydney. Veteran 7 newsreader Mark Ferguson (right,) will vacate the desk during the Paris Olympics, making some observers believe he won't return to his job of a decade Humphries had a comedy spot on the ABC's 7.30 program and hosted the Australian version of the BBC comedy show Pointless, which was cancelled after four months in 2019. The host himself revealed later that the franchise didn't fly here because it 'lacked the comedic banter' of the UK version. The most controversial rumour of all the talk about people being axed at Seven is about longtime newsreader, Mark Ferguson. 'Fergo', who worked at Channel Nine for 17 years including as nightly newsreader before being replaced by Peter Overton due to dwindling ratings, has been Seven News Sydney's weeknight presenter since 2014. Seven claimed the 2023 ratings year nationally, including victories in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, but in the important Sydney market, Overton beat Ferguson. During next month's Paris Olympics, Nine has the Australian rights, and Ferguson will disappear from the screen as De Ceglie tests others on the desk during this ratings wilderness. After the departures of Spotlight EP Mark Llewellyn (left) and longtime news reporter Robert Ovadia (right) newsroom staff fear they will be next and morale at the network is poor It has been reported Ferguson is leery of the stargazing scenario, but it seems he will not be reading star signs which will be a '20 second slot' after the weather. But management had a warning for seasoned reporters gloomy about what they fear is a music hall style makeover of the news: They had better get used to it. 'Morale is actually great ... and the team is embracing change and the future ahead,' De Ceglie said. 'We aren't going to shy away from trying new things.' Advertisement Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage both showed off striking all-black looks when they arrived at the premiere in Hollywood of their new horror film Longlegs on Monday. The 31-year-old actress put on a sizzling display in a skimpy ensemble that highlighted her svelte figure and her toned midriff, while Cage favored a classic black tuxedo that he spiced up with sequins. Monroe stars in the critically acclaimed chiller as an FBI agent on the trail of serial killer (Cage) who is believed to have occult motivations for his disturbing crimes. The film has so far received stellar reviews and comparisons to the classic The Silence Of The Lambs, and Cage has been particularly praised for his eerie performance, which freaked Monroe out when she first saw him in costume on set. The premiere, which was co-presented by the American Cinematheque and Beyond Fest, was held at the recently restored Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage both showed off striking all-black looks when they arrived at the premiere in Hollywood of their new horror film Longlegs on Monday Monroe plays an FBI agent on the trail of Longlegs. As she gets closer to the killer, she discovers an occult connection to his disturbing crimes, as well as a surprising connection he has to her; still from Longlegs Monroe departed from her character's business casual attire with her revealing look, which featured nothing but a black leather bra with round cups for a top. It left her trim arms and flat tummy exposed above a black leather low-rise skirt. The skirt featured a cutout over her hip and black straps to tie it tight, and she twirled around to give her admirers a closer look on the red carpet. She stayed on point with a set of tall black leather boots, and she contrasted her dark outfit with her long blond hair, which she wore with bangs while it cascaded down her back in gentle waves. Monroe completed her ensemble with long dangling diamond earring strands that framed her impeccably made-up face. Cage looked classy in a minimalist look featuring a black tuxedo. He spiced it up with peaked satin lapels, which were accented with rows of gleaming sequins on the edges. The Pig star skipped a tie and left his white shirt unbuttoned, and he added a gold luxury wristwatch to spice up his red-carpet look. Monroe departed from her character's business casual attire with her revealing look, which featured nothing but a black leather bra with round cups for a top It left her trim arms and flat tummy exposed above a black leather low-rise skirt. The skirt featured a cutout over her hip and black straps to tie it tight She stayed on point with a set of tall black leather boots, and she contrasted her dark outfit with her long blond hair, which she wore with bangs while it cascaded down her back in gentle waves She also wore a striking set of slim black sunglasses Monroe completed her ensemble with long dangling diamond earring strands that framed her impeccably made-up face Cage looked classy in a minimalist look featuring a black tuxedo He spiced it up with peaked satin lapels, which were accented with rows of gleaming sequins on the edges The Oscar winner was joined by his wife Riko Shibata, who contrasted his minimalist tux with a striking jacket. It was decorated with what looked like tigers made of gold sequins and beads that stalked their prey through tall grasses. The black jacket had contrasting scarlet sleeves with black sequins arranged to create gorgeous tree limbs that suited the film premiere, and she completed her look with tall black boots. Joining the film's stars was Longlegs' director Osgood 'Oz' Perkins, who wore a thick black sweater with dark trousers. Perkins previously directed the well-reviewed horror film The Blackcoat's Daughter, which starred Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, and Lucy Boynton, followed by I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives In The House and Gretel & Hansel. The filmmaker will next release the already-shot horror film The Monkey, based on the 1980 Stephen King short story of the same name. It stars The White Lotus' Theo James, Tatiana Maslany and Elijah Wood. Perkins has a special family connection to the horror genre, as he is the oldest son of the late actor Anthony Perkins, who was best known for playing Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's classic horror film Psycho, along with its sequels. The director posed on the red carpet with Longlegs' other stars, including Blair Underwood, who looked casual and cool in a white zip-up jacket and white jeans. The Oscar winner was joined by his wife Riko Shibata, who contrasted his minimalist tux with a striking jacket It was decorated with what looked like tigers made of gold sequins and beads that stalked their prey through tall grasses Joining the film's stars was Longlegs' director Osgood 'Oz' Perkins, who wore a thick black sweater with dark trousers The director posed on the red carpet with Longlegs' other stars, including Blair Underwood, who looked casual and cool in a white zip-up jacket and white jeans Twin Peaks actress Alicia Witt, who plays Monroe's religious mother, looked effortlessly elegant in a burgundy off-the-shoulder dress He contrasted them with a black shirt and wore striking cream-colored sneakers covered in spiky studs. Underwood stars in Longlegs as Agent Carter, who works with Monroe's character to track down the eponymous serial killer. Twin Peaks actress Alicia Witt, who plays Monroe's religious mother, looked effortlessly elegant in a burgundy off-the-shoulder dress. She paired it with silver open-toe heels, and her red locks were swept back to reveal gorgeous diamond-encrusted ruby earrings and a matching necklace and bracelet, along with deep red nails to match her dress and jewelry. Nicolas Cage was accompanied by his wife Riko Shibata at the premiere of his new horror flick Longlegs in Los Angeles on Monday. The 60-year-old actor and Riko, 28, made a stylish pair and sweetly held hands on the red carpet at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The Academy Award winner who opened up about having three children with different women in a new interview cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a sparkling trim and a white button up shirt. Meanwhile Riko who shares daughter August Francesca, 22 months, with Cage looked stylish in a black, red and gold jacket dress and knee-high black boots. Her raven tresses were styled straight, and she wore a bold red lip for the occasion. Nicolas Cage, 60, was accompanied by his wife Riko Shibata, 28, at the premiere of his new horror flick Longlegs in Los Angeles on Monday He was also joined by co-star Maika Monroe, 31, who put on a very racy display in a black leather bra and matching leather skirt with saucy cutouts along the sides. Longlegs is a psychological horror film about the pursuit of a serial killer. Lee Harker (Monroe) is a new and gifted FBI agent assigned to the unsolved case of a serial killer known as 'Longlegs' (Cage). While investigating the case she uncovers evidence that links the killings to the occult. She must decipher the clues and find the killer before he can claim another innocent life. Longlegs is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 12, 2024. Cage's outing comes after he discussed his relationship with his three children: daughter August, and sons Kal-El, 18, and Weston, 33, whom he shares with three different women. 'They're all different experiences. Each one has a different mother,' he told The New Yorker in an interview published on Monday. 'It's not what I had originally thought would happen when I fell in love or got married that I would have three different children with three different moms but nonetheless thats what's happened,' he went on. The actor and Riko made a stylish pair and sweetly held hands on the red carpet at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood The Academy Award winner cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a sparkling trim and a white button up shirt The pair shares daughter August Francesca, 22 months, together Nicolas married Riko in Las Vegas in 2021 He was also joined by co-star Maika Monroe, 31, who put on a very racy display in a black leather bra and matching leather skirt with saucy cutouts along the sides The trio also posed with writer/director Oz Perkins Longlegs is a psychological horror film about the pursuit of a serial killer. Lee Harker (Monroe) is a new and gifted FBI agent assigned to the unsolved case of a serial killer known as 'Longlegs' (Cage). The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 12, 2024 'So every child is different. There's a different kind of level of attention.' He shares Weston with ex Christina Fulton, Kal-El with his third wife, Alice Kim, and August with Riko, who is his fifth wife. Cage went on to say that he worries about his daughter, adding, 'So this is all different levels of worry and protection and taking it into overdrive.' He went on to say that fatherhood defines his core identity. 'Being a dad to me, it's not an art form, it's . . . How do I put this? It's like breathing. Everything is about her. You know, I can make a movie or not make a movie. I cant stop being a dad. With her, it's life. It's my survival.' Nicolas and Rico met in Japan in 2020 when he was filming Sion Sono's Prisoners Of Ghostland. She landed a role in the movie playing one of the four Mannequin Women. After getting engaged on FaceTime, the couple tied the knot at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas in February 2021. It comes after he discussed his relationship with his three children: daughter August, and sons Kal-El, 18, and Weston, 33, whom he shares with three different women (Pictured with Weston in 2022) 'It's not what I had originally thought would happen when I fell in love or got married that I would have three different children with three different moms but nonetheless thats what's happened'; seen with Weston and Kal-El in 2015 He shares Weston with ex Christina Fulton, Kal-El with his third wife, Alice Kim, and August with Riko, who is his fifth wife; Seen with Fulton in 1988 Cage's first wife was actress Patricia Arquette, 56. They were together from 1995 to 2001. He was then married the late Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. They wed in August 2002 before filing for divorce three months later. In 2004 he met and married Alice, who was 19 at the time while he was 40. They separated in 2016 and finalized their divorce a year later. In March 2019 he tied the knot with makeup artist Erika Koike in Vegas. By June 2019 the pair were divorced. Kate Beckinsale has revealed her weight loss is down to the 'stress and grief' of the death of her stepfather and her mother's cancer diagnosis as she hit back at trolls. The British actress, 51, slammed some of her 'a**hole' followers, who told her she needed to put on weight in the comments section of her latest Instagram post. After sharing a video clip in a crop top and bikini bottoms, one follower queried where her 'a**' had gone and encouraged Kate to 'do some squats'. Another claimed her body had 'shrank' while another insisted that she 'seemed upset' in the video posted on Monday evening. However, Kate fired back at the cruel comments ands explained that there were several reasons for her changed figure, including a six-week hospital stint. Kate Beckinsale has revealed her weight loss is down to the 'stress and grief' of the death of her stepfather and her mother's cancer diagnosis as she hit back at trolls She captioned the video: 'Let's have a toast for the douche bags. Let's have a toast for the a**holes. Let's have a toast for the scumbags' Kate's stepdad Roy Battersby died in January following a 'brief illness' after being diagnosed with two forms of cancer the summer before (pictured left with her mother Judy right) She replied: 'No, actually, I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer and I lost a lot of eight from stress and grief... 'Quite quickly and then I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus, which made me vomit copious amounts of blood, and I found eating very hard... 'And I just worked very very hard on a movie that was actually quite triggering because it also involved the theme of the death of my father so I'm not really concerned about what you think about my a**. Maybe you should worry about your own f***ing a**. I suggest shoving something up it, like a large pineapple or a brick.' Kate's stepdad Roy Battersby died in January after suffering 'a massive stroke' while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with the summer before. Shortly after his death, Kate also revealed that her mother Judy Loe had also been told she has stage four cancer. Another person asked: 'How's your health Katie? You look like you have lost some weight?', to which she responded: 'It's great now thanks'. One other replied underneath: 'I posted basically the same thing, she looks unhealthy' and another person said: 'Someone seems upset'. Kate quipped: 'I don't think you look upset. I think you look like maybe your rictus grim is concealing years of bitterness but I wouldn't call it upset necessarily.' After sharing a video clip in a crop top and bikini bottoms, one follower queried where her 'a**' had gone and encouraged Kate to 'do some squats' Kate fired back at the cruel comments ands explained that there were several reasons for her changed figure, including a six-week hospital stint Another person asked: 'How's your health Katie? You look like you have lost some weight?', to which she responded: 'It's great now thanks' One other replied underneath: 'I posted basically the same thing, she looks unhealthy' and another person said: 'Someone seems upset' In several posts, Nicole claimed that she knew the people behind some of the comments, who she said were hiding behind fake profiles. In response to someone who asked 'Kate, you're getting everyone so rattled are they ok?', 'Are they okay hun? Are they okay? Actually? I know who quite a few of them are and they are really not okay.' Replying to a person who had said 'so weird how the head keeps growing but the body shrinks. They turn into gnomes', Kate said: 'the LOL of your bio picture being an actual gnome living its best life in the forest has given me so much life. I can't tell you please go gather some more nuts and berries.' As well as replying to some of the negative comments, Kate also took the time to reply to some of her fans who had wished her well. One said: 'You have more true fans who appreciate you than haters. Always know this [smiley face emoji]'. Kate replied: 'Oh I love my followers I really do - some of them are such incredible decent, supportive brilliant souls of me and of each other. 'I actually have a problem with two people who keep making multiple accounts so don't be fooled. A lot of this is them.' Kate's original post was of her joking about people who said she hasn't been acting her age on social media. The model playfully put a hairnet over her head and joked that she needed to take up knitting in order to be more 'age appropriate' for her fanbase. She captioned the video: 'Let's have a toast for the douche bags. Let's have a toast for the a**holes. Let's have a toast for the scumbags.' As well as replying to some of the negative comments, Kate also took the time to reply to some of her fans who had wished her well In March Kate revealed she had been hospitalised after sparking concern among her fans with tearful selfies. She later explained the reason behind her hospital stint in a now-deleted Instagram post, writing: 'I spent six weeks in hospital due to copiously vomiting blood from a Mallory Weiss tear caused by the stress of a whole year ripping a hole between my oesophagus [sic] and stomach.' 'That's what I am prepared to disclose that has contributed to some weight loss. What you think of my appearance and how I should look, independently of any circumstances in my life and my family's is not important.' In recent months, Kate had been caring for her mother and late stepmother after flying them out from the UK to stay with her in Los Angeles. 'Kate has been caring for her parents, who both have serious illnesses, for most of the year,' a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com late last year. 'She brought them to her home in LA and has made looking after them her number one priority.' Kate revealed she's still in hospital and did not disclose why she had been hospitalised Last month, Kate shared a picture of Roy's order of service that revealed he was cremated on Monday February 19 at Mortlake Crematorium near Kew in west London On January 10, Kate announced the death of stepfather Roy aged 87. The insider revealed that the Snow Angels star whose biological father Richard Beckinsale died in 1979 at 31 from a heart attack in his sleep has been feeling the emotional toll in recent months. 'She was spotted this week several times crying in the corridors of UCLA hospital,' the source added. 'Her friends are very concerned that she has been under relentless strain for months and hardly sleeping or eating. 'Kate appears to be very strong but this has been incredibly hard and, given that she lost her father so young, is affecting her very deeply. Her friends are concerned for her own health.' A second source explained that her mother Judy has chosen to keep her health battle private, stating: 'She's extraordinary, you wouldn't even know by looking at her. She has been keeping a very positive attitude throughout everything.' Kate shared a picture of Roy's order of service that revealed he was cremated on Monday February 19 at Mortlake Crematorium near Kew in west London. She also shared another look at the document which had a sweet message on, along with more snaps of Roy. It read: 'We wish to thank you, our family and friends, for your loving support and being with us today to honour and commemorate Roy. 'Please join us afterwards to celebrate him and his life, share memories and stories, and inevitably miss him, knowing how much he would enjoy such a get-together'. Kate's actress mother Judy married Roy in 1997, 18 years after Kate's father, Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, died (pictured in 1986) Kate's mother Judy married Roy 18 years after Kate's father, Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, died. Roy enjoyed his own successful career as a director, working on major British on-screen hits including Inspector Morse and Cracker. His most recent directorial credit was for a 2006 episode of A Touch Of Frost. Kate's biological father Richard Beckinsale was best known for his roles as Lennie Godber in the BBC sitcom Porridge and Alan Moore in the ITV sitcom Rising Damp. He also had a daughter Samantha, 55 who is his only child from his marriage to Margaret Bradley. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Jules Robinson has proudly showcased her growing baby bump in a series of stunning photographs. The 2019 Married At First Sight star, 42, posed nude in a photoshoot reminiscent of Demi Moores iconic Vanity Fair shoot. Channeling the Hollywood stars legendary 1991 cover by Annie Leibovitz, Robinson, cradled her bump wearing nothing but a statement necklace and bracelet that highlighted her natural beauty. Jules later turned up the glam in a flash-coloured bodysuit adorned with jewel embellishments. Robinson showed off her beauty in a glamorous makeup look while her hair flowed in the breeze of a fan. In another look, the radiant mother-to-be looked pretty in pink in a flowing dress as she appeared to dance with glee. The reality TV star, who is currently pregnant with her second child, is counting down the days until welcoming her second child with her husband Cameron Merchant. The salon owner and shapewear entrepreneur recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her pregnancy just weeks ahead of her due date, and candidly revealed she is already planning for baby number three. Jules Robinson, 42, (pictured) has proudly showcased her growing baby bump in a series of stunning photographs The 2019 Married At First Sight star posed nude in a photoshoot reminiscent of Demi Moores iconic Vanity Fair shoot 'We want to have another baby,' Jules enthused, adding: 'Who knows? If think if there's a will, there's a way.' 'Whatever that will be like, we will make it happen. I said that before a couple of years ago [before getting pregnant the second time].' The flame-haired influencer, who recently released her first book titled Ask Jules, also shared the unique method she used to fall pregnant at age 41 after three years of trying. Jules and Cameron were seriously considering IVF before she managed to conceive naturally - a feat she largely credits to Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian wellbeing practice that claims to help patients achieve balance through food, herbs, meditation, yoga and detoxing. 'I discovered Ayurvedic medicine about two years ago, and when I sat down with the specialist, it just became very clear that there was no way that my body was going to make a baby,' Jules explained. Jules said she 'never lost faith' after years of trying for a baby, and had learned the importance of slowing down and focusing on her own needs during the process. Jules later turned up the glam in a flash-coloured bodysuit adorned with jewel embellishments Robinson showed off her beauty in a glamorous makeup look while her hair flowed in the breeze of a fan In another look, the radiant mother-to-be looked pretty in pink in a flowing dress as she appeared to dance with glee The reality TV star, who is currently pregnant with her second child, is counting down the days until welcoming her second child with her husband Cameron Merchant The salon owner and shapewear entrepreneur recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her pregnancy just weeks ahead of her due date, and candidly revealed she is already planning for baby number three 'It's really important message that as women we do need to take care of ourselves, you know?' Jules told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's just been a very big part of my life for the last 12 months. Like, putting my oxygen mask on first before someone else. When you're an entrepreneur and you're busy, you're doing a million things, and you're a mum, it's very easy to not put yourself first.' Jules and Cameron fell in love in front of the cameras during series six of MAFS in 2019 before getting married for real in November that year. The pair welcomed son Oliver in September 2020 and in March Jules announced she was expecting her second child. Jodie Comer looked battered and fraught as she was seen filming gory scenes on the set of 28 Years Later. The Killing Eve actress, 31, was announced in April to be starring in the second sequel to the 2002 film 28 Days Later, with Danny Boyle returning as director. Reprising his role from the first movie, Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy will return as Jim, joined by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Erin Kellyman and Jack O'Connell. Jodie, who will play a Geordie character in the post-apocalyptic flick, was spotted filming in the Northumberland countryside on Monday. She looked distressed as she was seen running away from terrifying zombies, who were naked and covered in blood. Jodie Comer looked battered and fraught as she was seen filming gory scenes on the set of 28 Years Later The Killing Eve actress, 31, was announced in April to be starring in the second sequel to the 2002 film 28 Days Later, with Danny Boyle returning as director Jodie wore a long cream cardigan over a tartan shirt as well as a floral, mud-stained dress, with white tights and light pink legwarmers. She recently revealed she had been taking inspiration from Girls Aloud star Cheryl for her Newcastle accent. According to an interview with ELLE UK, Jodie has been looking back at old episodes of Cheryl on The X Factor to master the twang. The original zombie apocalyptic film debuted in cinemas 22 years earlier in 2002 - with Cillian taking on a leading role. The sequel is slated to be the third instalment in the franchise and the first in an upcoming trilogy. Danny, who directed 28 Days later, as well as original writer, Alex Garland, are also returning. The pair notably only served as executive producers on the second movie, 28 Weeks Later (2007). Both Danny and Alex are producing the new project alongside Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice and Bernie Bellew, while Cillian is an executive producer. While talking to The Independent earlier this year in January, Cillian revealed if he would possibly star in the franchise once again. Jodie, who will play a Geordie character in the post-apocalyptic flick, was spotted filming in the Northumberland countryside on Monday Jodie wore a long cream cardigan over a tartan shirt as well as a floral, mud-stained dress, with white tights and light pink legwarmers Jodie looked distressed as she was seen running away from terrifying zombies, who were naked and covered in blood They chased her into a petrol station She was filmed by a young actor during the terrifying scenes Jodie couldn't contain her laughter in between takes The zombies made their way across the field 'I would be there in a flash,' he admitted. 'I made two movies with both of those guys, and I would love to work with them again. Of course, I'm there.' In the 2002 film, Cillian took on the role of a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma only to find that an 'incurable virus had spread throughout the U.K.' and 'a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.' Alongside Murphy, other stars that were cast in the movie included Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns and also Brendan Gleeson. A sequel titled 28 Weeks Later came out in 2007, with director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo stepping behind the camera. Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau and Catherine McCormack starred in the second instalment. It is Jodie's second apocalyptic film in recent years, after her heartwrenching performance in the climate crisis drama The End We Start From. Jodie starred as Mother in the movie adaptation of Megan Hunter's novel which sees her character navigating motherhood for the first time during a terrifying apocalyptic flood . The film, which was released in the UK in January, begins with Jodie giving birth before she embarks on an extraordinary journey of strength and resilience as she raises her baby during the first year of his life during the climate crisis. The original zombie apocalyptic film debuted in cinemas 22 years earlier in 2002 - with Cillian taking on a leading role The sequel is slated to be the third instalment in the franchise and the first in an upcoming trilogy Danny, who directed 28 Days later, as well as original writer, Alex Garland, are also returning. The pair notably only served as executive producers on the second movie, 28 Weeks Later (2007) It is Jodie's second apocalyptic film in recent years, after her heartwrenching performance in the climate crisis drama The End We Start From She recently revealed she had been taking inspiration from Girls Aloud star Cheryl for her Newcastle accent According to an interview with ELLE UK, Jodie has been looking back at old episodes of Cheryl on The X Factor to master the twang She revealed that she was terrified when she began filming as she had to work with 15 different babies on set. She told the BBC: 'I started this process quite literally terrified. My hands were visibly shaking when I met an eight-week-old on set. I was like, "Oh my god, what have I done?" 'It's one thing to act and think about everything else, but then actually being conscious of this precious little being and making sure that they're safe.' Jodie said she felt that during the process, she followed the arc of her character - as both herself and Mother began overwhelmed by motherhood but later settled in. Sting looked every inch the proud husband as he supported his wife Trudie Styler at the Ischia Global Film Festival on Monday. The musician, 72, cut a dapper figure as he joined the director, 70, on the red carpet before she was honoured with the Global Docu Of The Year award. Trudie, who married Sting in 1992, exuded elegance in a floaty white gown as she accepted the award for her film Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples. The elegant ensemble boasted a round neckline, semi-sheer sleeves with a floral embellishment and a flared skirt. Trudie elevated the look with a simple diamond necklace and a pair of rose gold hoop earrings as she proudly accepted the award. Sting, 72, looked every inch the proud husband as he supported his wife Trudie Styler, 70, at the Ischia Global Film Festival on Monday The musician, 72, cut a dapper figure as he joined the director, 70, during the awards ceremony where she was honoured with the Global Docu Of The Year award Trudie, who married Sting in 1992, exuded elegance in a floaty white gown as she posed up a storm on the red carpet before the ceremony Meanwhile, Sting rocked a black blazer and a crisp white shirt to the red carpet event. The film detailed Trudie and Sting's passion for Italy, with the actress discussing 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. '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 their 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 - the highest honour the Academy bestows. Trudie accepted the award for her latest film Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples, which details hers and Sting's passion for Italy Sting and Trudie appeared in high spirits as they posed proudly with the award Speaking on the carpet, the British rocker said he 'loves' the Ivor's 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 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 the new wave band The Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986. He launched a solo career in 1985. Italian actress Lina Sastri, 70, also oozed glamour as she arrived on the red carpet wearing a strapless red gown Meanwhile, Romanian actress and model Madalina Diana Ghenea, 36, put on a glamorous display in a silver diamond embellished gown American actress Ashley Jones, 47, put on a very leggy display in a coffee sequin embellished mini dress and nude heels Alex Belli and his girlfriend Delia Duran were also dressed to impress as they graced the red carpet Theo James showed off his jaw-dropping physique as he filmed a new advert for Dolce & Gabanna with Vittoria Ceretti on the Italian island of Capri on Monday. The Gentlemen star, 39, stripped down to just a pair of tiny white Speedos, which perfectly showcased his tanned body as he shot the ad. The hunky British actor had clearly been hitting the gym ahead of the campaign, judging by his gym-honed muscles, which were on full display. Theo was filming with D&G along the island's coast and could be seen making his way towards Vittoria, 26, who was lounging on a sunbed in a bikini. The Italian model looked nothing short of sensational in the skimpy white two-piece as the genetically-blessed pair shot the steamy scene. Theo James showed off his jaw-dropping physique as he filmed a new advert for Dolce & Gabanna with Vittoria Ceretti on the Italian island of Capri on Monday The Gentlemen star, 39, stripped down to just a pair of tiny white Speedos, which perfectly showcased his tanned body as he shot the ad Theo was filming with D&G along the island's coast and could be seen making his way towards Vittoria, 26, who was lounging on a sunbed in a bikini. Theo loomed over Vittoria as she lay lounging on a white sunbed The advertisement involves them sharing a passionate kiss on a small dinghy while soaking wet, as Theo wraps his arms around her waist. Vittoria has been dating Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, since August 2023, shortly after his failed attempts to romance supermodel Gigi Hadid. Leo and Vittoria met during the premiere of Killers Of The Flower Moon at the Cannes Film Festival in May of that year. Vittoria was previously married to Italian DJ Matteo Milleri from 2020 to 2023 and has also been previously linked to fellow model Nathan Westling. Meanwhile, Theo has been married to his wife Ruth Kearney since 2018, after almost ten years together. They met at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School and appeared on stage in The Man of Mode. They now have two sons, aged three and one. The couple recently attended Dolce & Gabanna's fashion show in Sardinia earlier this month, as the ambassador showed his support for the brand. Theo was recently seen in Guy Ritchie's series The Gentlemen, which is a spin-off set in the same world as his gangster flick, The Gentleman. The smouldering star has been recruited for the latest D&G campaign The hunky British actor had clearly been hitting the gym ahead of the campaign, judging by his gym-honed muscles, which were on full display The Italian model looked nothing short of sensational in the skimpy white two-piece as the genetically-blessed pair shot the steamy scene. The Italian model looked nothing short of sensational in the skimpy white two-piece as the genetically-blessed pair shot the steamy scene The advertisement involves them sharing a passionate kiss on a small dinghy while soaking wet, as Theo wraps his arms around her waist Theo has been married to his wife Ruth Kearney since 2018, after almost ten years together Vittoria has been dating Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, since August 2023, shortly after his failed attempts to romance supermodel Gigi Hadid (pictured Leo in January) Theo played aristocrat Eddie who inherits the family estate following the death of his father and discovers that it's home to an enormous weed empire. Prior to this, Theo played the role of smug holidaymaker Cameron Sullivan in season two of the black comedy drama series, White Lotus. The popular series was created by Mike White and follows the guests and employees of the fictional resort chain. This year, fellow A-listers Miley Cyrus and Colin Farrell were also announced as new faces of Dolce & Gabbana campaigns. Last year Love Island host Maya Jama collaborated with the iconic brand on an eyewear campaign. They met at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School and appeared on stage in The Man of Mode. They now have two sons, aged three and one The couple recently attended Dolce & Gabanna's fashion show in Sardinia earlier this month, as the ambassador showed his support for the brand Theo was recently seen in Guy Ritchie's series The Gentlemen, which is a spin-off set in the same world as his gangster flick, The Gentleman Theo played aristocrat Eddie who inherits the family estate following the death of his father and discovers that it's home to an enormous weed empire Tracy-Ann Oberman has headed back to Albert Square for the first time in 20 years as she shot her hotly-anticipated EastEnders return. The actress, 57, is returning to the show after almost two decades to reprise her role as the infamous Chrissie Watts. The screen star was spotted following her first day back filming on Friday, with her return scenes set to air this autumn and sure to send shockwaves across Walford. The star looked in high spirits as she headed out on a walk in West London with her music producer husband Rob Cowan and their dog, following her return to the iconic set. Tracy cut a casual figure as she stepped out in the rain, donning an all-black ensemble of a knitted jumper, leather jacket and jogging bottoms. Tracy-Ann Oberman has headed back to Albert Square for the first time in 20 years as she shot her hotly-anticipated EastEnders return The actress, 57, is returning to the show after almost two decades to reprise her role as the infamous Chrissie Watts The screen star was spotted following her first day back filming on Friday, with her return scenes set to air this autumn and sure to send shockwaves across Walford The EastEnders actress went makeup-free and injected a pop of colour with some bright green glasses, wearing her hair pulled back into a messy bun. Her partner Rob, who she has been married to since 2004, matched her attire, also opting for a leather look, as the pair appeared to be sharing a joke and bursting into laughter during their outing. Tracy's character Chrissie was last seen on the BBC soap in December 2005, when was sent to prison for the murder of her husband Den Watts, played by Lesley Grantham. She had first joined the soap in April 2004 and quickly became a prominent figure, racking up a huge list of enemies, including Kate Mitchell (Jill Halfpenny) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace). But her biggest storyline saw her bludgeon 'Dirty Den' to death in self-defence in the show's special 20th anniversary episode. The infamous moment was watched by a staggering 14.34 million people, with almost 60 per cent of possible viewers tuning in. Alongside Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) and Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), Chrissie attempted to cover up the murder, burying Den under the floor of The Vic barrel store. She managed to get away with her crime for months, living with Dens beloved adoptive daughter, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), and his son Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman). The star looked in high spirits as she headed out on a walk in West London with her music producer husband Rob Cowan and their dog, following her return to the iconic set Tracy cut a casual figure as she stepped out in the rain, donning an all-black ensemble of a knitted jumper, leather jacket and jogging bottoms Tracy had first joined the soap in April 2004 and quickly became a prominent figure Chrissie was last seen on the BBC soap in December 2005 (pictured), when was sent to prison for the murder of her husband Den Watts, played by Lesley Grantham But when Sam drunkenly dug up the body, she was held responsible for the murder until Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) returned to help their sister and uncovered the truth, with Chrissie being sent to prison. Speaking about her return to the soap, Tracy-Ann gushed: 'Chrissie Watts was such a great character to play - a victim or a villain. 'She is a real fan favourite so, when Chris Clenshaw asked me to come back and re-visit her and see what has happened in the last 19 years, I jumped at the chance. 'The scripts are fantastic and I hope the viewers enjoy her as much as I am enjoying playing her again.' While executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: 'Im delighted to welcome the immensely talented Tracy-Ann back to the iconic role of Chrissie Watts. 'Although the character hasnt been seen on screen for almost twenty years, Chrissie is cemented in EastEnders rich history for her murder of Walfords most infamous villain, and Sharons beloved father, Dirty Den. 'Im keeping tight-lipped on the exact circumstances relating to her return for the time being, but what I can promise is that its never quiet when Chrissie Watts is around.' Speaking about her return to the soap, Tracy-Ann gushed: 'Chrissie Watts was such a great character to play - a victim or a villain' It comes after Chris teased the soap would see the return of several beloved characters ahead of the 40th anniversary celebrations next year. EastEnders was created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland and premiered on February 19, 1985. In recent years, the soap has delighted fans with the returns of Kathy Beale, Cindy and Peter Beale, and Lauren Branning. And showrunner Chris has teased that more familiar faces will swing by Walford in the lead up to the anniversary. He told The Sun: 'As we head towards our 40th year, I think the nostalgic element means a lot. Into the autumn and the end of the year, weve got quite a few treats coming up.' Asked if that meant a return for long-departed characters, Chris coyly replied: 'Maybe. It all depends on the story and where the characters are. But it has to come from character, it has to come from story.' On whether he had been planting hints in scripts, he added: 'It would depend when theyre looking back from, but probably. 'The 40th has been in the works for quite some time and Christmas is well under way. In the story office there is a board and it all connects. I compare it to a tapestry board, everything has to fit together.' Chrissie's biggest storyline saw her bludgeon 'Dirty Den' to death in the show's 20th anniversary episode (pictured with Leslie in 2004) There were red faces all round on Tuesday after Lorraine Kelly made an intimate admission while presenting the latest edition of her daily breakfast show. The TV personality was hosting a health segment about low libido with regular contributor Dr. Amir Khan, who was on hand to discuss the key reasons for a limited sex drive and offer hints to improve it while appearing remotely from his Bradford workplace. Addressing the presenter, he said: 'When you feel good about yourself, you'll feel more desirable, you'll feel more sexy, and that will help you with that libido and be intimate as well, so get doing this. I always think a bit of intimacy is good for everyone.' Khan had already reeled off a series of handy tips for a more vigorous sex life, among them better physical healthy, creating time and lubrication - prompting an affirmative nod from Kelly, 64. 'Thank you for that, especially lubrication. I shall be taking that with me,' she joked. 'You're the only man who can get away with that, and vaginal dryness, at this time in the morning.' There were red faces all round on Tuesday after Lorraine Kelly made an intimate admission while presenting the latest edition of her daily breakfast show The TV personality was hosting a health segment about low libido with Dr. Amir Khan , who was on hand to discuss the key reasons for a limited sex drive and offer hints to improve it Kelly had another reason to be cheerful in June after her daughter Rosie Smith revealed she is due to get married. The 29-year-old shared the details of the exciting development by posting a series of photos of her showing off her engagement ring after her boyfriend Steve White popped the question on holiday. The couple have been sunning themselves in Malaga, Spain, ahead of the birth of their first child. Posting photos of her wearing the new sparkler, Smith wrote: There are too many lovely things going on and Im not quite sure what to do with myself. Everyone always told me youll know when its about to happen but I had absolutely no idea, but I have a lifetime to get you back [Steve White]. The images showed Smith, the only daughter of the ITV daytime star and her husband Steve Smith, dressed in a white dress and sunglasses, sitting at a table in a restaurant with incredible sea views and palm trees in the background. Mum Kelly replied, writing: So happy - its such lovely news and I will have a son as well as a granddaughter. In May, Smith revealed her pregnancy, sharing a photo of herself cradling her growing baby bump, with a caption saying: We could not be more excited - youre already so loved little one. Khan reeled off a series of handy tips for a more vigorous sex life, among them better physical healthy, creating time and lubrication - prompting an affirmative nod from Kelly 'Thank you for that, especially lubrication. I shall be taking that with me,' she joked. 'You're the only man who can get away with that, and vaginal dryness, at this time in the morning' Kelly had another reason to be cheerful in June after her daughter Rosie Smith revealed she is due to get married Glasgow-born mum Kelly was quick to share her own joy at the news, writing: The most exciting thing to have ever happened in our family. Cannot wait to be a granny and so proud of Rosie and her Steve. The presenter had previously revealed her preferred name for the unborn child while presenting her show in June. 'I have no idea what she'll be called, I'm calling her Talulah Belle in my head,' she told Dr Hilary, before bursting out laughing and adding: 'I don't think she'll be called Talulah-Belle.' Kelly went on to reveal something she is most excited about when the baby girl arrives - being able to take a picture of the four generations of women in her family. She said: 'You know whats going to be great, when she's here? It will be great because my mum, great-granny, granny me, Rosie mum and the wee tiny baby. ' 'We've got to get a picture of that. That's a very special thing.' Delighted chat show host mum Kelly congratulated her daughter on her engagement news Nearly two decades after The Devil Wears Prada our screens, a sequel is finally in the works at Disney - and excited fans are demanding that Anne Hathaway returns to play her iconic character, Andrea 'Andy' Sachs. While the original cast hasn't been confirmed to return yet, it's been claimed that both Meryl Streep, 75, (Miranda Priestley) and Emily Blunt, 41, (Emily Charlton) will be back. Disney has also brought on screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, who adapted the original 2006 film from the 2003 novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, via Variety. The sequel's story will follow Miranda Priestley and her career in present day as traditional magazine publishing is on the decline. While fans are delighted at the news of the popular movie making a comeback, some say they want the 'original cast or nothing' - and many are worriedly questioning whether Anne, 41, will be reprising her beloved character. A sequel for The Devil Wears Prada is finally in the works at Disney - and excited fans are demanding that Anne Hathaway reprise her role (pictured in April 2024) In the original chick flick, Anne's character Andy is a Northwestern grad and an ambitious journalist who somehow lands a job as a junior personal assistant to Miranda, the editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine The sequel's story will follow Miranda Priestley (MIDDLE) and her career in present day as traditional magazine publishing is on the decline Poll Will YOU watch The Devil Wears Prada sequel if Anne Hathway is not in it? Yes No Will YOU watch The Devil Wears Prada sequel if Anne Hathway is not in it? Yes 228 votes No 210 votes Now share your opinion Fans of the 2006 hit film took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment: 'This will either be incredible or terrible, but if they are doing it we need Anne back too.' ; 'Full og cast or nothing.' 'No Anne Hathaway? But why?'; 'Where's Anne?'; 'What about Anne?? we need ANNE too.'; 'Without her??? I'M OUT.' 'I have mixed feelings about a sequel knowing that there is no Anne Hathaway (for the moment).'; 'No anne hathaway in the Devil Wears Prada sequel...' In the original chick flick, Anne's character Andy is a Northwestern grad and an ambitious journalist who somehow lands a job as a junior personal assistant to Miranda, the editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine. She tries to use this experience to pave the way for better journalism opportunities but has a hard time fitting in, though she proves more than up for the challenge. The news of a sequel comes just days after a musical adaptation debuted its first preview performance on London's West End, with Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestley and featuring brand new music from Elton John. She squares off with Charlton, who is said to be a high-powered executive for a luxury group, as Priestley is chasing that company's ad dollars. Many fans are worriedly questioning whether Anne will be reprising her beloved character Meryl won a Golden Globe for her performance and scored an Oscar nomination as well None of the reports have mentioned if Anne would return as Andrea 'Andy' Sachs, or if other supporting cast members would return such as Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier, Gisele Bundchen and Tracie Thoms. The original film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Weisberger, which is loosely based on her time as an assistant to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The film, directed by David Frankel, was a surprise blockbuster hit, taking in $124.7 million domestic and $326.7 million worldwide from just a $35 million budget. Meryl won a Golden Globe for her performance and scored an Oscar nomination as well. Wendy Finerman, who produced the original, will also return to produce, though no director has been attached yet. There has been talk of a sequel for years, with Weisberger writing a sequel novel Revenge Wears Prada in 2013. However, the stars of the original have all said they wouldn't be interested in making that adaptation as a sequel. Both Emily and Anne recently interviewed each other for Variety's Actors on Actors series, with Blunt opening up about how much fun they had. 'We just had a joy bomb of a time on that movie. I dont know if any of us knew it was going to become what it did. Its quoted to me every week. It will be the movie that changed my life,' she said. It comes as Anne has been busy filming her upcoming thriller Flowervale Street in Atlanta. Earlier this year, it was announced that she had been cast to lead the then-untitled project with the official name and release date announced in March. Flowervale Street is co-produced and directed by It Follows' David Robert Mitchell. The cast of the forthcoming science fiction film also includes Ewan McGregor, Christian Convery and P.J. Byrne among many others. Production for the movie began earlier this year as Hathaway was previously seen on set filming with McGregor in March. The logline and details about Flowervale Street remain under wraps so not much is currently known about the upcoming movie besides that it will involve dinosaurs and be set in the 1980s. According to insiders cited by The Hollywood Reporter, Hathaway and McGregor will portray the parents of a family facing off against dinosaurs. Flowervale Street is set to premiere in theaters on IMAX next year on May 16, 2025. TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise flaunted her toned figure as she packed on the PDA with Dan Edgar in Cyprus during filming on Tuesday - after rekindling their romance. The pair looked happier than ever as they enjoyed a pool party while filming alongside their co-stars in the sun-drenched location. Reality star Ella, 24, showed off her physique in a baby blue bikini as she locked lips with Dan during the day out. She completed her look with strappy silver heels as she displayed her golden holiday tan. Meanwhile by her side Dan showed off his sculpted muscles in a pair of white swim shorts while they got hot and heavy. TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise flaunted her toned figure as she packed on the PDA with Dan Edgar in Cyprus during filming on Tuesday - after rekindling romance. Reality star Ella, 24, showed off her physique in a baby blue bikini as she locked lips with Dan during the day out The pair looked happier than ever as they enjoyed a pool party while filming alongside their co-stars in the sun-drenched location Also out filming were the likes of bikini-clad Chloe Meadows, Dani Imbert and Courtney Green. In May, Ella confirmed she and Dan had split after reports he cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally. Ella and Dan had been seeing each other since February when they got close while filming series 32 in Bali. The Essex beauty had told her followers she was 'happily single' and 'focusing on myself and my brand' during a Q&A on her Instagram Stories. Ella and Dan were reportedly open to continuing their romance after Bali and discussed their future while filming their final scenes for series 32. The romance had followed Dan's messy and emotional split from Amber Turner, who joined the cast in Bali, and his subsequent relationship with Hannah. A source 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. In May, Ella confirmed she and Dan had split after reports he cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally Ella and Dan had been seeing each other since February when they got close while filming series 32 in Bali She completed her look with strappy silver heels as she displayed her golden holiday tan while posing up a storm Ella and Dan were reportedly open to continuing their romance after Bali and discussed their future while filming their final scenes for series 32 Meanwhile by her side Dan showed off his sculpted muscles in a pair of white swim shorts while they got hot and heavy Also out filming were the likes of bikini-clad Chloe Meadows (seen), Dani Imbert and Courtney Green Chloe (right) showed off her incredible figure in a cream bikini as she posed with her best pal Courtney Dani turned heads in a red bikini and sheer skirt Courtney covered up more a in a lace white dress '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 furious with Dan's transgression and even reportedly confronted Hannah and called her 'embarrassing'. However, it was revealed all had now been forgiven when Ella and Dan were pictured sharing a steamy kiss on the beach in Paphos last week. Series 32 of TOWIE aired between March and June and was filmed between February and April. The series' storylines included Amber struggling to watch Ella and Dan's new romance progress in front of her face - and quitting the series as a result. In an exceedingly awkward conversation, Amber told Dan that she was fine with he and Ella cracking on, while Dan was confused as to why she wouldn't be. The ex-couple dated for five years and broke up because Dan didn't seem to want marriage or children with Amber. Amber told The Sun in March: 'Lets get one thing right - Ella's always had a thing for Dan, she always has. She is single now naturally she is going to want to go for Dan. Ella sweetly rubbed some sun cream into Dan's back Chloe posed up a storm in the bikini Amy Childs and her cousin Harry Derbidge were also in Cyprus for filming Jordan Brook showed off his deep holiday tan in a light blue linen shirt Junaid caught the eye in a pink ensemble Diags was seen larking about in the pool The cast relaxed poolside as they filmed Diags and his girlfriend Jodie Wells packed on the PDA in the pool Elma Pazar showed off her figure in black swimwear Sophie Kasaei wore a fetching blue bikini Jodie looked great in a white cut-out dress Roman Hackett and Elma looked like they were flirting up a storm Sophie was partying hard on the trip She showed off some raunchy moves with her beau Jordan He was just as much in the party spirit 'She doesn't owe me anything. She is not my friend. Dan is a good looking guy...Whatever they get up to is none of my business. 'It is what it is. It's been a long time. 'He swore on his life he never flirted with her. It has made me feel like he had a thing for her in the past. 'At the end of day he was my boyfriend of five years. We've got a dog. We lived together.' Gladiator fans have been left baffled by the bizarre choice of music in the first trailer for the new Ridley Scott sequel, which dropped on Tuesday. In the clip, several decades have passed, but Maximus remains fresh in the memory as Paul Mescal's Lucius Verus picks up the sword for the highly-anticipated Gladiator II. Paul takes his biggest role to date in this epic historical movie - a blood and gore soaked sequel to Scott's award-winning 2000 triumph, Gladiator. But, as the dramatic first look to the new movie starring Paul and Pedro Pacal reaches its climax, Jay-Z and Kanye West's hip-hop track No Church In The Wild begins playing. Although some of the lyrics such as 'Blood stains the Coliseum doors,' line up with what's going on in the historical blockbuster, fans complained that it 'doesn't match with ancient Rome'. Gladiator fans have been left baffled by the bizarre choice of music in the first trailer for the new Ridley Scott film, which dropped today (Paul Mescal seen above in the trailer) As the dramatic first look to the new movie starring Paul and Pedro Pacal reaches its climax, Jay Z (RIGHT) and Kanye West's (LEFT) hip-hop track No Church In The Wild begins playing Movie buffs have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their confusion at the artistic choice, writing: '#Gladiator2 trailer has dropped and it looks pretty awesome. I hate when studios use modern music.. or rap as the soundtrack for a trailer set in historic periods. It feels lazy to me. Anyway - check it out.' 'Two things: 1. Hip hop doesn't match with ancient Rome. 2. Denzel is one of my favorite actors, but here sounds like Trainning day movie.' 'Didnt like the Gladiator 2 trailer very much. Also, whos decision was it to have Kanye rapping in a GLADIATOR trailer.' 'Oh no, they added hip hop music to the trailer #Gladiator2.' 'Watched the #Gladiator2 trailer and I miss the Hans Zimmer music. Ahh well.' 'The Kanye, Jay Z song spoiled that for me. I get it the lyrics are fitting but... Do you know what was iconic about the first gladiator... It's music. Absolute chilling to listen to, had a huge impact on the experience of the film.' 'In what world does the sequel to Ridley Scott's Gladiator need Jay-Z and Kanye West? Stop shoehorning songs into trailers.' Movie buffs have taken to X (formerly Twitter ) to express their confusion at the artistic choice 'Was not expecting to hear kanye in the Gladiator 2 trailer today.' 'Visuals are incredible but the rap music destroys the suspension of disbelief. Whoever put that music in the trailer should be fired. And if that's the movie's soundtrack then the Gladiator franchise is finished.' However, not everyone disliked the unique choice and some people took to social media to praise it, adding: 'Who would've imagined a Kanye/Jay Z song could go well with a Gladiator movie trailer?' 'To anybody who says Why is there rap music in the GLADIATOR II trailer? It is anachronistic and does not suit the period 1. How do you know what suits the period? 2. Any instrument used to create the music would be anachronistic by default.' 'I can smell critiques/jokes already, so Im preemptively taking the stance that No Church in the Wild being used in the GLADIATOR II trailer is extremely sick and actually the perfect trailer song for a movie called GLADIATOR II.' In the sequel to the popular movie, Russell Crow's legendary Maximus is long-since dead and buried, so it is Lucius - the grandson of Rome's former emperor Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucilla - who must fight for his liberty after being taken into slavery. A former heir to the Roman empire, Lucius is taken into slavery by Pedro Pascal's Marcus Acacius and his marauding army of troops. However, not everyone disliked the unique choice and some people took to social media to praise it Pedro Pascal is Marcus Acacius in the upcoming film Several decades have passed, but Maximus remains fresh in the memory as Paul Mescal 's Lucius picks up the sword in the first official trailer Lucius was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original 2000 blockbuster (left), now fully gown, he is played by Paul Mescal in the forthcoming sequel (right) Enslaved by the Roman empire and inspired by Maximus (pictured), Lucius vows to fight his way out of the pits Played by 12-year old Spencer Treat Clark in Scott's original film, Lucius is now fully grown and intent on following the lead set by Maximus by forcing his way out of the notorious fighting pits. Along the way he encounters and befriends Macrinus, a power broker who keeps a stable of gladiators and sees battle-hungry Lucius as a promising investment. Fans of the original film will remember that Lucius is also the nephew of Marcus son Commodus, who famously killed his father to seize the throne. In Gladiator, Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, was killed while fighting Maximus, who save the young Lucius and his mother while avenging his own wife and son's death. The long-awaited Gladiator sequel will debut 24 years after the original historical film was released to commercial and critical acclaim in 2000. At the time, Gladiator won five Oscars from its 11 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe's portrayal of gladiator Maximus. David Scarpa scripted the sequel, while Ridley, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss and David Franzoni produced the film. A former heir to the Roman empire, Lucius is taken into slavery by Pedro Pascal 's Marcus Acacius and his marauding army of troops Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, a power broker who keeps a stable of gladiators, among them the enslaved Lucius Joseph Quinn plays young co-emperor Geta, a role that has been compared to Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of traitorous emperor Commodus in Gladiator Jack Black looked nearly unrecognizable as he stepped out for a walk in Hollywood rocking a grey and bushy beard. The Emmy-winning actor, 54, who has appeared clean-shaven in many of his biggest films like The Holiday (2006) or Goosebumps (2016), appeared relaxed as he chatted on the phone and enjoyed some time outside. For his laid-back outing, the father-of-two, who is married to Tanya Haden, showed off his eccentric fashion sense in a red shirt with flames and wolf on it, patterned shorts and a wide-brimmed hat. He completed his eye-catching ensemble with a pair of green and white tie-dye socks, black sneakers, a backpack and sunglasses. Over the years, Black has spent more time voicing characters for movies like The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and the Kung Fu Panda franchise, than on screen. Jack Black looked nearly unrecognizable as he stepped out for a walk in Hollywood rocking a grey and bushy beard Still, he recently went viral for sending a sweet message to Australian school students that invited him to watch them perform School Of Rock. In response to his invite to watch their live show version of his smash hit 2003 film, the star shared a heartfelt video message. 'Ringwood Second College, you're doing School Of Rock?! I love it! love it, so touched, so moved by your video and the fact that you're going to rock,' he said. ''You know it's been 20 years since I made that movie? It's still my favorite movie I ever did and I love that you guys are going to rock it.' However, he went on to tell them that he sadly wouldn't be able to attend their rehearsals because of his busy touring schedule for his band Tenacious D's Australian tour. Bursting into song, he added: 'But I just wanted to remind you that there's no way you can stop the School Of Rock!' Ringwood Secondary College's students had invited Jack to watch them rehearse School Of Rock: The Musical in an Instagram video shared in late May. The school's production director Lauren Rowe explained on Sammy J's ABC show how they put the invite out after a student realized Jack would be in Melbourne at the same time as their rehearsals. The Emmy-winning actor, 54, who has appeared clean-shaven in many of his biggest films like The Holiday (2006) or Goosebumps (2016), appeared relaxed as he chatted on the phone and enjoyed some time outside In a video shared by the school, the students said: 'We'd like to formally invite you to pop by one of our rehearsals during the time you're here so we can give you some unfinished homework as part of that rock assignment.' The students went on to 'beg' Jack to attend as they asked him to 'grace' them with his presence, before ending their message by chanting his name. The school were left blown away by Jack's response as they shared his video message to their Instagram page, sending their followers wild. Black and his band are currently on Spicy Meatball Tour, which kicked off in May and is set to wrap on July 26, 2024. Kym Marsh was pictured opening a new Manchester restaurant on Tuesday, just days after being forced to defend herself for revealing she is dating someone who is the same age as her son. The actress, 48, confirmed her romance with fellow actor Samuel Thomas, a co-star in her touring production of 101 Dalmatians, in a social media post. At 29, Thomas - who she refers to as 'the most amazing man ever' - is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe. But Kym put the backlash behind her as she smiled and cut the ribbon at the launch of Farmhouse Kitchen. Kym was pictured serving behind the counter of the restaurant, which will combine carvery dining with an onsite cafe for coffee and cake lovers. Kym Marsh was pictured opening a new Manchester restaurant on Tuesday, just days after being forced to defend herself for revealing she is dating someone who is the same age as her son The actress, 48, confirmed her romance with fellow actor Samuel Thomas, a co-star in her touring production of 101 Dalmatians, in a social media post Kym's friends are reportedly worried that her new romance with a younger man could all end in heartache if it 'fizzles out'. The soap star has the support of her pals who are apparently 'happy' she has found someone, but they are said to have concerns that she could end up hurt. The couple met while working on a production of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical and she has already had to defend their relationship over the big age-gap. According to The Mirror, those close to Kym also have some concerns about her new relationship following her run of bad luck with men. A friend of Kym's said: 'Samuel seems a really nice lad and we are pleased for Kym and she seems really happy again. But it is a unique situation when you are working together on a show and spending so much time together. 'The relationship will have to change when the show ends and they have their own lives and new projects to work on. Hopefully the spark will continue and the relationship will become a long term one. 'Kym is headstrong and throws herself into romance, I hope she doesn't get hurt or it doesn't fizzle out. Unfortunately she has had her fair share of bad luck in love.' MailOnline have reached out to Kym's representatives for comment. At 29, Thomas - who she refers to as 'the most amazing man ever' - is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe Kym put the backlash behind her as she smiled and cut the ribbon at the launch of Farmhouse Kitchen Kym was pictured serving behind the counter of the restaurant, which will combine carvery dining with an onsite cafe for coffee and cake lovers Kym's friends are reportedly worried that her new romance with a younger man could all end in heartache if it 'fizzles out' Kym was forced to defend her new relationship on Sunday evening after cynical Instagram followers savaged her for dating someone who is the same age as her son. The mother-of-three had previously confirmed her romance with fellow actor Samuel, a co-star in her touring production of 101 Dalmatians . At 29, Thomas - who she refers to as 'the most amazing man ever' - is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe. And Instagram followers were quick to make the connection after Kym announced her latest romance by describing Thomas as her 'soulmate.' Commenting on the post, one unimpressed follower wrote: 'Jesus... Another amazing man.....5 minute wonder... he looks like your son.' A second added: 'He looks like your son! Kym I like you but keep it private.' Responding to the posts, the irate actress - whose third marriage ended just 13-months ago - snapped: 'Do one.' New boyfriend Thomas - who plays bespectacled Tom in 101 Dalmatians - also weighed in, adding: 'I wonder whats missing from your life that you need to comment on others. Sad really.' Hours earlier Kym revealed she's found love with her young co-star, her first serious romance since the collapse of her third marriage little more than a year ago. 'Met the most amazing man ever! Sometimes the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. @samuelthomasuk I love you,' she captioned a photo of herself and Thomas. Sharing a black and white photo to his own Instagram account, Thomas wrote: 'I didnt expect you, but here you are. I love you.' 'Ditto. The best things happen unexpectedly. Love you too,' Kym responded. Kym (far right) with her son-in-law Mikey Hoszowskyj (left) and daughter Emilie (centre) at the Pride Of Britain Awards in 2023 The actress is a parent to son David, 29, and daughter Emilie, 27, from a former relationship with builder David Cunliffe. The couple, who met in a Lancashire pub, separated in 1999, shortly before Kym found fame as a contestant on TV talent show Popstars, where she would become a member of short-lived pop group Hear'Say. Two years later Kym was making an appearance on Top Of The Pops when she crossed paths with actor Jack Ryder, a household name at the time thanks to his role as Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders. They married at St. Albans parish church, Hertford, in August 2002 and subsequently sold the pictures to OK! magazine for a reported 300,000. But seven years later it was all over, with Ryder filing for divorce on the grounds of adultery following her apparent fling with second-husband-in-waiting Jamie Lomas Friends initially feared Kym had rushed into her relationship with Lomas, who she started dating just four months after separating from Ryder. The pair met on a train as they made their way to the 2007 TV Quick Awards, but casual chat soon turned into romance with the pair going public in 2008 - a year before her divorce. They had been together for less than two months when Kym fell pregnant with their first child, but tragedy struck when their son Archie Jay died moments after being born 18-weeks premature on February 11. The couple had happier news when they welcomed daughter Polly in March 2011. They exchanged vows in September 2012 but were divorced by 2014, with Kym reportedly stunned by Lomas' decision to break it off. She remarried for a third time to Scott Ratcliff back in 2021. The pair split 13 months following their wedding when Kym filed for divorce citing unreasonable behaviour. She was previously married to Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas from 2012 to 2014 and they have just one child together, Polly, 13 Before Jamie, Kym was married to Jack Ryder from 20022009 The couple were said to have broken up following a trial separation, due to work keeping them apart. A source told The Sun : 'They both really tried to make it work, but the cracks have been there for a while and they were only getting to see each other for one or two days a week at the very most. 'Kym's been so busy, and last year (being on Strictly Come Dancing) meant even her weekends were stacked up along with weekdays rehearsing, more recently she's been filming all over the place and rehearsing for a new theatre run.' Adding about how Army Major Ratcliff's work drove a wedge between him and Kym, the insider said: 'Scott is based in barracks down south he's got a very busy career as well. Kym's still a working mum, too, and lives up in Cheshire with her family. 'In the end it was the fact they lived so far away from each other that just made it impossible.' The source said the pair 'had a trial separation' and were 'hoping to get things back on track', but added they have decided 'it's best to go their separate ways'. Tom Hanks marked his 68th birthday on Tuesday. The Forrest Gump star who's son Chet recently fired back at haters for misusing his 'white boy summer' phrase received a sweet tribute from his wife Rita Wilson, 67, on Instagram for his special day. 'Happy Birthday to my love! You made the world a better place the day you were born. You bring joy wherever you go,' she began. 'You are the bringer of laughs, a lover of vehicles, or pretty much anything, shaped like a round bath tub,' she continued. 'The bookshelves in our house shout from their bindings your love of history and the unexpectedly romantic Maeve Binchy. 'You get as much pleasure from recording your radio show @bossradio66 as you do from listening to any kind of surf music on vinyl. @tcm is your go to channel any time of day or night,' she went on. Tom Hanks received a sweet tribute from his wife Rita Wilson on Instagram for his special day 'Happy Birthday to my love! You made the world a better place the day you were born. You bring joy wherever you go,' she began The My Big Fat Greek Wedding actress finished: 'Your patience for our kids harassing you about your ignorance of pop culture is admirable. We love you. I love you. So much and every day.' She accompanied the lengthy note with a photo of Tom posing beside a wall vinyl discs and his record player. In the snap, the actor appeared to be in good spirits, rocking a rolled up heather gray sweater and dark pants. The post was a hit with Wilson and Hank's fans, racking up 13k likes and over 800 comments. Actress Julia Roberts penned her support writing, 'Yes! Happy Birthday Tom. So happy you were born.' Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth chimed in saying, 'Happy. Birthday Tom! We love you!' The Oscar winner and Wilson share sons Chet, 33, and Truman, 28, together and the Forrest Gump star also has children Colin, 46, and Elizabeth, 32, from his previous marriage to late actress Samantha Lewes. The famous couple met in 1981 when Rita was cast in an episode of the TV sitcom Bosom Buddie alongside the Toy Story voice actor. He was in a separate relationship at the time. After splitting from his then partner, the Money Pit star began romancing his future wife and they married in 1988. The My Big Fat Greek Wedding actress finished: 'Your patience for our kids harassing you about your ignorance of pop culture is admirable. We love you. I love you. So much and every day'; Tom and Rita seen in February The Oscar winner and Wilson share sons Chet, 33, and Truman, 28, together; Tom, Rita and Chet seen in 2024 The famous couple met in 1981 when Rita was cast in an episode of the TV sitcom Bosom Buddie alongside the Toy Story voice actor; seen in 2024 After splitting from his then partner, the Money Pit star began romancing his future wife and they married in 1988; Chet, Tom, Rita and Truman seen in 2024 While chatting with Oprah in 2001, Hanks opened up about his childhood and how it influenced his relationship with Rita. 'I married into a classic old-world family structure in which people like to spend time with each other and construct their lives so they can. That hadn't been part of my existence up till then,' he explained.' There's such an advantage to being involved in the day-to-day details of each other's lives. It's a marvelous fabric to exist in.' The A Man Called Otto star continued, 'The success of our relationship was a matter of timing, maturity, and our willingness to have an intimate connection.' Bhad Bhabie vehemently shut down speculation that she plans on staying with her ex Le Vaughn, who she accused of domestic abuse in a series of harrowing social media posts over the weekend. After sharing footage of the father of her child allegedly assaulting her, the rapper, 21, made it clear to fans that their relationship was over. In response to one fan's comment urging her to 'leave that man' or risk him abusing her in front of their daughter Kali, four months, Bhabie shed light on her current situation. 'I wasn't gonna speak on this but who said I was staying?' she wrote back. 'What about that post made y'all think I'm staying? Bc I said I love him? Bc I said he's gonna get help? I'm so confused and apparently so are y'all.' She was alluding to her earlier statement, in a since-deleted Instagram post, in which she stated that she loved Vaughn 'more than' herself and knows the 'easy way out is to leave.' Bhad Bhabie vehemently shut down speculation that she plans on staying with her ex Le Vaughn, who she accused of domestic abuse in a series of harrowing social media posts Some fans were left perplexed in response to her post, in which she claimed: 'This doesn't happen this extreme often, but LV [Le Vaughn] definitely has a problem.' 'He's going to get the help he needs. Right now there's no room for mistakes. And he knows that. Who ever says they are there for me will be supportive of me no matter what I choose to do,' she concluded. 'There's no excuse for that at all what so ever. My point in sharing this wasn't to attack him, it was for him to see what he does is wrong and to take accountability and make a real change.' On Sunday, the OnlyFans star, best known for her Cash Me Outside catchphrase, detailed the violence she claims Vaughn subjected her to and the shocking injuries she says she sustained. Bhabie also posted CCTV purportedly capturing a physical altercation between her and Le Vaughn. The new mom - whose real name is Danielle Bregoli - has since deleted the footage which was originally posted to her Instagram Stories on Sunday. The clip, which was captured outside a home in the early hours of June 30, allegedly shows Danielle being thrown to the ground by a man she identified as Le Vaughn. DBhabie and Vaughn welcomed their first child together earlier this year in March. She wrote: 'This man think he gonna [sic] take my daughter from me! Say whatever you want, [trying to] take my baby is crazy.' After sharing footage of the father of her child allegedly assaulting her as well as graphic images of her injuries over the weekend, the rapper, 21, made it clear to fans that their relationship was over In response to one fan's comment urging her to 'leave that man' or risk him abusing her in front of their daughter Kali, four months, Bhabie shed light on her current situation Additional Instagram Story posts revealed two graphic photos of Danielle's injuries, showing a nearly swollen-shut bruised eye and deep scratches on her skin. The rapper also shared a poignant quote on Instagram: 'I used to tolerate a lot because I didnt want to lose people, but now I realize that those people arent my people.' The accusations come just weeks after Danielle was detained by police in a case of mistaken identity in June. She was filmed surrounded by police officers and squad cars at a 76 gas station near Woodland Hills, California, in a video obtained by TMZ. She was seen talking to police with sources revealing she had been driving her Mercedes when she was followed by three patrol cars. She was alluding to her earlier statement, in a since-deleted Instagram post, in which she stated that she loved Vaughn 'more than' herself and knows the 'easy way out is to leave' On Sunday, the rapper and OnlyFans star detailed the violence she claims he subjected her to and the shocking injuries she says she sustained (pictured) Bhad Bhabie - who is best known for her Cash Me Outside catchphrase - also posted CCTV purportedly capturing a physical altercation between her and Le Vaughn When she stopped at the gas station, they swarmed her and she was detained for a brief period but let go after an investigation. Law enforcement sources told the publication police were responding to a burglary radio call on the 4500 block of Winnetka Circle in Woodland Hills - with the star's Mercedes matching the description of the burglary suspect. Officers spoke with Danielle and Le Vaughn and she later shared a statement discussing the experience on social media. She wrote: 'Yesterday we got pulled over by LAPD. They eventually released us and explained they were looking for a similar vehicle that matched the description of a car involved in criminal activity. 'We are okay but a bit shaken up. Luckily my daughter was not in the vehicle at the time.' Having announced late last year in December that she was expecting her first child, she opened up to People about how she first discovered she was pregnant while also revealing her name. She explained: 'The name doesn't really have any specific meaning. It's just his mom picked the middle name and then I had a list of five names I liked, and Kali was one of them.' The influencer added, 'I thought that Love went good with Kali.' Danielle shared a photo of herself with her baby girl for the first time in an Instagram post on March 23. Danielle, who announced she had given birth on March 15, could be seen resting in bed with the newborn cradled in her arm. She discovered she was pregnant in July last year just one day after missing her period and becoming suspicious over her increased appetite. The rapper also shared a poignant quote on Instagram: 'I used to tolerate a lot because I didnt want to lose people, but now I realize that those people arent my people' The disturbing accusations come after the OnlyFans model was detained by police in a case of mistaken identity in June Danielle said the test came back positive, and she immediately went to tell her boyfriend even though he 'was still asleep' because she was 'just too eager to tell him'. She revealed at the time: 'I probably could have did it in a cute way, but I just woke him up and was like, "Look, look, look!"' The same month Danielle announced the gender of her then unborn baby via a Marc Jacobs campaign. The Gucci Flip Flops rapper and Le Vaughn began dating in July 2020 and have been together for over three years. Danielle, who announced she had given birth on March 15, could be seen resting in bed with the newborn cradled in her arm Danielle rose to fame after appearing on a 2016 episode of Dr. Phil, where she went viral with the phrase, 'Cash me outside, how 'bout that?' She has established a lucrative career on OnlyFans and claims she has amassed more than $50m from the site as well as in rap music and branding endeavours. Danielle's fame has since led to other income streams, including a $1million deal to endorse makeup brand Copy Cat Beauty. She currently charges $23.99 for a one-month subscription to her OnlyFans page. When Ioan Gruffudd's fiancee Bianca Wallace posted a picture of herself wearing a new Rolex watch, little did she know it would spark such a massive row. A hardworking actress, she saw nothing wrong with a little retail therapy every so often. But Wallace's display of pride in her latest acquisition spawned yet another chapter in the long-running feud between British actor Ioan and his ex-wife Alice Evans. Ioan Gruffudd's fiancee Bianca Wallace enraged his ex when she posted a picture of herself wearing a new, expensive Rolex watch The Welsh actor and Ms Wallace (pictured) announced their engagement in January, with Ms Wallace wearing a ring worth thousands of pounds For Alice, who is the mother of Ioan's two daughters, has been claiming she is poverty stricken because, she alleges, the Welsh heartthrob hasn't been paying her the maintenance payments she is due. She says her ex has paid her nothing at all, either in child or spousal support - something he denies - since April, and last week filed a legal request for 'public assistance' pending a hearing over maintenance payments set for later this year. In the circumstances, the sight of Bianca with a watch on her wrist worth thousands of pounds - to go along with the stunning engagement ring that Ioan bought her when he proposed in January - has only served to fuel her rage. Friends of Ioan, who say they are unable to stand by as she spouts such 'unfounded and untrue' claims, say he is equally furious. They describe British-American actress Alice, 55, as a 'total nightmare', who is 'determined to damage' her ex 'as much as she can'. They insist that he has paid 'more than what the court ruled', has made payments since April, and say her pleas of poverty are 'just nonsense'. Gruffudd and Ms Evans back in 2016 before their relationship turned sour. He filed for divorce in March 2021, shortly after she claimed on social media that her husband of 14 years was walking out on her and their two daughters The couple with their daughters, Elsie and Ella, who are now 10 and 14 They also point out that Bianca is entitled to spend whatever she likes on whatever she wants, including an expensive watch. One tells the Mail: 'If anything, Ioan has overpaid Alice what the court ruled. He wants to ensure the best for his children and would make sure they were looked after entirely as they should be. 'For Alice to say different to that is totally wrong. And what Bianca spends her own money on is her business; to start bringing into things is really silly. 'She is her own woman who has her own money. It feels like a last ditch attempt to have a pop. 'Alice comes across as very bitter and jealous. While these things are never easy to navigate, this is getting out of control. It is becoming a desperately sad situation. You'd think Alice would know when to be quiet. 'It's verging on being very cruel.' But cruelty has been the underlying theme of this divorce, which went public in January 2021, when Alice took to Twitter (now X) to reveal that her husband of 14 years was leaving her. 'My beloved husband/soulmate of 20 years Ioan Gruffudd has announced that he is to leave his family starting next week. Me and our young daughters girls [sic] are very confused. 'We haven't been given a reason except 'he no longer loves me'. I'm so sorry.' When that tweet disappeared, she posted another, saying that he had deleted her announcement. She wrote: 'Hell yes, when I am being gaslit and mentally tortured, then hell yes, I will wash my linen in public.' As the latest turn of events shows, she certainly meant it. Gruffudd and Ms Wallace are said to have met in Australia, where the Hornblower star had been filming the ABC series Harrow and Bianca had been working as an extra The Hollywood stars met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when they played on-screen love interests Chloe and Kevin The Rolex incident marks only the latest sad turn in a saga that had such promising beginnings. Ioan and Alice met on the set of 102 Dalmatians more than 20 years ago, when they played onscreen love interests Chloe and Kevin. They then fell in love in real life and, on New Year's Day, 2006, he popped the question. A lavish wedding in Mexico followed and then along came Ella, now 14, and then ten-year-old Elsie. They settled in Los Angeles, where they became known as one of Hollywood's more fun couples and quickly accumulated lots of friends. But cracks began to appear in their marriage. Then began the war of words, which escalated swiftly - and as the fallout raged, the gloves came off. According to Ioan's friends, part of the problem was that Alice had a tendency to tweet after having had a few drinks. She was also prone to posting rambling messages on video-sharing website Cameo, where she sold messages to fans for 30. At one point she conceded that she was 'probably drinking too much'. 'Alice was clearly hurting but she would regularly go onto Twitter and post,' says a friend of her ex-husband. 'At times it was very unseemly, and it was hurtful. There were children in the middle of it. 'Ioan took the view that he would keep a dignified silence on it all.' In a bid to end what he saw as a campaign of abuse, Gruffudd took legal action, and in court papers claimed that Alice had branded him a 'child abuser' on social media. He also accused her of setting up anonymous social media accounts, as many as 22 on Twitter/X, which she would use to lambast him to her followers. In court documents last year, Ioan, 49, claimed Alice called him an 'abusive c***' and so breached a restraining order, which had been in place for three years. He also alleged that Alice flashed her 'bare behind' when he dropped off their children at her Los Angeles home. Ioan claimed: 'Since May 26, there have been a number of anonymous social media accounts set up - 22 on Twitter - naming Bianca and myself 'child abusers', and making incredibly slanderous and 23 defamatory claims.' Friends say it was 'clear as anything' what she was doing. One pal of Ioan's said: 'Alice is trying to make this as difficult as possible now. 'At this rate it feels as if it will never end. There have been such wild accusations being made; let's not forget all of the Twitter posts which the judge had to tell her to stop. 'Why would you want to put your children in a situation where they have to read all of that? They are at an age where they can see all of this. It is hard to understand why anyone would do that. It's crazy; none of this has been good for their welfare at all. 'We are in an age where this stuff stays on the internet for ever; if they are not reading it now then what is to say that they won't read it in years to come.' 'He has tried to get them help and to ensure that they are looked after properly. He has pushed for them to have therapy. 'Those girls are what matter the most to Ioan and it is really devastating for him to see this happening.' As for the future, Ioan's friends say they fear that their fallout will 'never go away' and will continue to plague the already fractured family for the foreseeable future. 'Alice is just going to keep coming back at any opportunity there is,' says a friend of the Hornblower star. 'She is so angry and she doesn't appear to have a lot else going on right now. We can only hope that Alice finds a way to find her own happiness.' Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristen Davis showcased their characters' elegant summer style as they shot a scene for And Just Like That... season three in New York City on Tuesday. The popular series, which recently welcomed new co-star Logan Marshall-Green, Mehcad Brooks and Jonathan Cake to the cast has been in production for a couple of months as characters Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes continue their romantic adventures in the Big Apple. Parker, 59, wore one of Carrie's iconic hats for the scene. The black and white chapeau with a wide brim sat high on her head and was tilted on one side. Her long, blonde locks were styled in a side ponytail to even out the look. The actress donned a lacy white white ankle length dress with an A-line skirt. She wore a black bra beneath the sheer corseted bodice. Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristen Davis showcased their characters' elegant summer style as they shot a scene for And Just Like That... season three in New York City on Tuesday She added some texture with a cream toned sweater with a fringe trim. The fashionista completed the look with high heel black and white spats with modern cutouts and a black leather crossover bag with a floral design. Davis, 59, was styled in line with her character's whimsical style, wearing a Grecian blue and white striped ankle length sundress with a large white belt. The actress added contrasting elements, wearing yellow high heel sandals and a yellow shoulder bag. She was accessorized with a beaded necklace and diamond earrings. Her makeup looked natural but camera ready and her long, dark hair was parted on the side and styled with loose curls. Davis is displaying her natural beauty these days after revealing she has let all the fillers in her face dissolve after being trolled about her looks. 'Its hard to be confronted with your younger self at all times,' the Colorado-born beauty told she told the British publication The Telegraph in 2023. Parker, 59, wore one of Carrie's iconic hats for the scene. The black and white chapeau with a wide brim sat high on her head and was tilted on one side. Her long, blonde locks were styled in a side ponytail to even out the look. The actress donned a lacy white white ankle length dress with an A-line skirt. She wore a black bra beneath the sheer corseted bodice Parker added texture with a cream toned sweater with fringe high heel black and white spats. Davis, 59, was styled in line with her character's whimsical style, wearing a Grecian blue and white striped ankle length sundress with a large white belt Davis actress added contrasting elements, wearing yellow high heel sandals and a yellow shoulder bag. She was accessorized with a beaded necklace and diamond earrings 'Its a challenge to remember that you dont have to look like that. The internet wants you to but they also dont want you to. Theyre very conflicted.' Fans and trolls have often compared how she looks now compared to how she looked in her 30s when she starred in Sex and the City, and the criticism took a toll on her self-esteem. 'I have done fillers and its been good, and Ive done fillers and its been bad,' she told the outlet. 'Ive had to get them dissolved and Ive been ridiculed relentlessly. And I have shed tears about it. Its very stressful.' Karen Hauer has revealed there have been secret victims of the infamous Strictly Come Dancing curse. The BBC show has long been known for the 'curse' that befalls some contestants who end up dating their dance partner, despite some being already in relationships. While notable casualties like Seann Walsh kissing Katya Jones despite having a girlfriend at the time have hit the headlines, Katya hinted other flings have gone under the radar. Speaking to new! magazine, she said of the curse: 'I've seen things. I'm not gonna talk about them. It exists. It's there. Whoever wants to go and play, that's there on them.' Karen acknowledged the celebrity contestants and their dance partners spend hours 'up close and personal' together during rehearsals but she has never gone 'there' because she respects her job and the people she works with. Elsewhere during the interview, Karen touched on her colleague Giovanni Pernice leaving Strictly after he was accused of 'threatening and abusive behaviour' while working on the show last year. Karen Hauer has revealed there have been secret victims of the infamous Strictly Come Dancing curse The BBC show has long been known for the 'curse' that befalls some contestants who end up having flings with their dance partners including Seann Walsh and Katya Jones She said: 'We've all just been so busy with our own tours. He's on tour as well. So it's been really tough to kind of even, you know, see one another. But you know, he'll definitely be missed.' Fellow Strictly star Gorka Marquez who took part in the same interview, added: 'I don't know anything. I try to stay away from that. Strictly is not on. The only thing I know is I am back and I'm excited that we start very soon.' Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, 50 was paired with Giovanni but quit the BBC One programme mid-series in 2023 citing 'personal issues'. It was then revealed she had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following her stint on the show. Amanda recently claimed that the show left her with PTSD and reportedly demanded footage of their rehearsals together. Other celebrity contestants such as Laura Whitmore, 39, Ranvir Singh, 46, and an unknown male contestant have also since come forward in making complaints about his behaviour. While it's been claimed that BBC bosses have banned the cast from discussing the 'bullying row', Shirley Ballas, the show's head judge, has previously spoken out in support of Giovanni saying 'the truth will come out'. Earlier this month Shirley and fellow judge Anton Du Beke showed their support for Giovanni by teaching at his Ballando dance workshop. Karen said Giovanni Pernice will 'definitely be missed' when he doesn't return to Strictly this year after being accused of bullying behaviour The professional dancer is at the centre of a bullying row after claims made of misconduct by his Strictly partner Amanda Abbington (pictured) and two other women A new dance class with Craig Revel Horwood and Oti Mabuse is yet to go on sale but is set to take place in late September in London At the event Shirley said it was an 'honour and a privilege' to be at the workshop with Giovanni adding: 'I've known him for 10 years and we're good friends.' Offering a 'huge thank you' to the Italian professional for having her at his workshop, Shirley continued: 'I will be one person who will be by his side forever. What you see is what you get with him.' The next event, hosted with Shirley and Anton alongside Giovanni, is already sold out for the end of the month. A new dance class with Oti Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood is yet to go on sale but is set to take place in late September in London. Fans were quick to comment on the new announcement with one saying: 'This is fabulous to see the other two judges supporting Gio.' Another said: 'So happy Giovanni is getting the support from all the Judges.' Their support comes as Strictly Come Dancing's 20th anniversary special at Buckingham Palace was scrapped this weekend because of the ongoing probe into Mr Pernice's behaviour. According to The Sun the idea has been quashed, despite talks with the Royal household, due to 'logistical problems' 'diary clashes' and Giovanni Pernice's misconduct probe also a 'factor' in the decision. Jess White's Love Island journey has been anything but smooth, but it could be about take another turn for the worst. Tuesday's episode will see Hugo Godfroy admit that he is having doubts about Jess and calling their conversations 'dry', after the pair coupled up in Casa Amor. Relaxing on the bean bags, Jess is seen catching up with Emma Milton about Hugo, as she gushes: 'We're really good.' However out of the corner of her eye she spots Hugo having a chat with Ayo Odukoya and says: 'I feel like they're talking about me and it doesn't look goodthey keep looking at me.' And it appears her instincts could be right, as Hugo confides in Ayo: 'I just feel like maybe the way things are going with me and Jess, I dunno I feel like there should be more. I feel like the conversation is just a bit dry.' Tuesday's episode will see Hugo admit that he is having doubts about Jess and calling their conversations 'dry', after the pair coupled up in Casa Amor Relaxing on the bean bags, Jess is seen catching up with Emma about Hugo, as she gushes: 'We're really good' He adds: 'It feels like, and it's a harsh way to put it, but it's like a boredom thing there is sexual chemistry, but there's something missing.' Ayo reassures Hugo, saying: 'You've been yourself, she loves that. You can't help that.' Hugo admits of his predicament: 'It's not going to be an easy conversation.' Elsewhere, after Reuben and Josh chose to take Jessy, Mimii and Uma on a joint date during Monday's episode, it is clear the two boys have their eyes on the latter two girls. It has been a rocky week for Uma after she found out Wil had been getting cosy under the covers with Lucy during Casa Amor. And after MailOnline exclusively revealed that Uma is set to exit the show after the next recoupling, Tuesday's episode sees Reuben getting his graft on. Meanwhile Mimmii finds herself blushing after Josh takes her to the hideaway and the pair slip into the hot tub. Reuben and Wil are going head to head for Uma as they both race to make her an iced coffee. Hugo confides in Ayo: 'I just feel like maybe the way things are going with me and Jess, I dunno I feel like there should be more. I feel like the conversation is just a bit dry' Hugo admits of his predicament: 'It's not going to be an easy conversation' The latest bombshells are making their mark during Tuesday's episode as Josh flirts with Mimii before a shock recoupling results in Uma (left) LEAVING the villa Elsewhere it seems Josh is having more luck with Mimii as they head to the hideaway together Speaking about her current couple with Wil in the Villa, Reuben flirts: 'you're a loyal girl so it's gonna take a lot, but I'm up for the challenge' Uma smiles, replying: 'We shall see, may the best man win' After Reuben finds out Wil has already brought her a coffee, he cheekily asks: 'Is it better than Wil's?' Later on, the two head to the mini Fire Pit for a chat as they bond over their shared love of travelling. Discovering they have a lot in common, Uma admits: 'You do have a good energy' Reuben flirts up a storm, saying: 'It's refreshing, seeing someone with the personality to match the looks as well'. Speaking about her current couple with Wil in the Villa, Reuben adds: 'you're a loyal girl so it's gonna take a lot, but I'm up for the challenge' Uma smiles, replying: 'We shall see, may the best man win' And it appears Reuben's moves haven't gone as unnoticed by Wil, as with competition on the horizon he pulls Uma for a chat, saying: 'There's a guy trying to steal my girl, it ain't happening' However, despite Reuben's efforts, MailOnline revealed on Monday that Uma has made the choice to leave the villa after she was chosen by Reuben during the re-coupling, leaving Wil axed from the series. Following her heart, Uma told bosses her only option was to leave alongside her partner, sacrificing her place in the competition. However it seems Josh is having more luck with Mimii after she wakes up feeling positive as she exclaims: 'Mimii is back!' The mental health nurse, 24, was left hurt after her partner Ayo chose to couple up with Jess during Casa Amor, leaving Mimii single. And keen to waste no time, Josh heads straight over to pull Mimii for a chat in the morning as they decide to head to the Hideaway terrace to get to know each other better in private. It has been a rocky week for Uma after she found out Wil Anderson had been getting cosy under the covers with Lucy during Casa Amor Speaking in the hideaway later on, Mimii gushes: 'I am too stunned to speak right now I'm very much blushing to say the least' As the pair decide they need a handshake, Josh is quick to make a move, saying 'We could do that, that, and then I could bring you in' as he leans in closer to Mimii suggesting they might kiss Having already made her a drink, things get off to a flying start as they cheers to new beginnings, and Josh reveals: 'I feel like you're a bubbly character, I just feel it takes the right person to get it out of you and I feel like that person is me to be honest. 'I think you compliment me, I think we go together' As the pair decide they need a handshake, Josh is quick to make a move, saying 'We could do that, that, and then I could bring you in' as he leans in closer to Mimii suggesting they might kiss. Turning up the heat, the two then both get into the jacuzzi together. But will Josh continue to make a move? Speaking in the hideaway later on, Mimii gushes: 'I am too stunned to speak right now I'm very much blushing to say the least.' Meagan Good admitted that her friends 'advised' her to steer clear of her Jonathan Majors amid his domestic assault trial. While appearing on Today With Hoda & Jenna, the actress, 42, made a rare remark about her relationship with the 34-year-old Marvel star, who was found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in December 2023. When asked if those around her suggested that she wait to start seeing the Creed actor until after his legal woes were resolved, the Shazam! actress said 'every friend advised' her against going public with their romance. 'At the end of the day, one thing I know is that I can always look myself in the mirror when I trust my spirit, when I trust God, when I ask God, when I move to the beat of my own drum,' she said. Good continued: 'I can always look and say, "Im proud of that," she insisted. 'Whatever happens, I have peace in my heart and I have harmony in my heart.' Meagan Good admitted that her friends 'advised' her to steer clear of her Jonathan Majors amid his domestic assault trial; seen on Monday Ultimately, the performer insisted that she doesn't like to make decisions based on 'what someone else is saying.' 'At the end of the day, Im the one who has to live my life. Im the one who has to get to Heaven one day, prayerfully, and give God an account of what I did,' she explained. The actress said she wants to 'be responsible for the choices' that she makes and to 'live the life' that she wants to live. During her appearance on the morning talk show, Good looked radiant in a flirty, yellow minidress. Good and Majors first fueled dating rumors in May 2023, two months after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting Jabbari. A month later, she held his hand as he arrived to an appearance at Manhattan Criminal Court. Throughout his court appearances from August to December 2023, Good showed her support for her man as she remained by his side. During his first interview following his guilty verdict, Majors told Good Morning America that Good had been 'an angel' through the trial and aftermath. While appearing on Today With Hoda & Jenna, the actress, 42, made a rare remark about her relationship with the 34-year-old Marvel star, who was found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in December 2023 During her appearance on the morning talk show, Good looked radiant in a flirty, yellow minidress 'I'm so blessed to have her. You know, the relationship is still fresh, but, you know, I think I found her,' he gushed. In April, he was ordered to 'complete a 52-week in-person batterer's intervention program and continue with his mental health therapy,' according to ET. Additionally, he 'must provide the court with updates on treatment.' The judge also granted Jabbari a protection order against him. In her victim impact statement, Jabbari told the court: 'When I was with him, I became a different version of myself. His emotional and psychological abuse was just as damaging.' 'He was not only trying to intimidate me but paint me as crazy. He is not sorry and has not accepted responsibility. He will do this again. He will hurt other women. This is a man who believes he is above the law,' the dancer, 31, emphasized. 'I will not rest until I feel he is not a danger to anyone else. He refuses to acknowledge his guilt. I have seen his physical anger, and he does not have control over it.' Good and Majors first fueled dating rumors in May 2023, two months after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari (seen in March 2024) At the time, Majors' attorney, Priya Chaudhry, said his client, who has maintained his innocence, plans on appealing the conviction. On Monday night, Majors and Good walked the red carpet together at the New York City premiere of her new film, Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black. She credited her boyfriend for helping keeping her motivated in the gym. When asked about the secrets behind her incredible figure and washboard abs by ET, she answered: 'Mr. Majors! He works out very, very hard.' 'That's the added benefit of someone who is consistent,' Good raved. 'It has changed my life and my physique.' The stars of Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps are set to reunite for a new show about navigating life as middle aged men. Will Mellor, 48, and Ralf Little, 44, who played Gaz Wilkinson and Jonny Keogh respectively, have remained friends since their time on the sitcom. And over 20 years after its first episode in 2001, the pair have come back together for a show for U&Dave called Will And Ralf Should Know Better. The duo will face an array of challenges which will test them, as they explore spirituality, fears around ageing and living nomadically. 'Going on a journey with Ralf to open our minds and push our limits . . . what could possibly go wrong?' Will told The Sun. The stars of Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps are set to reunite for a new show about navigating life as middle aged men, it was revealed on Tuesday Will Mellor, 48, and Ralf Little, 44, who played Gaz Wilkinson and Jonny Keogh respectively (pictured), have remained friends since their time on the sitcom 'We're both in our forties and probably a bit set in our ways, so now is the perfect time to see how we could be doing life better.' Ralf added: 'This time we get to explore how we should be living in the modern world while educating ourselves, and having a laugh at the same time.' Announcing the news on Instagram on Tuesday, Will shared a snap of him and Ralf and wrote: 'So chuffed I can finally announce my new series with @ralf.little. 'Coming soon to @dave_tvchannel and @uktv !! Absolutely loved making it so hope you enjoy! #funtimes #oldfriends.' In December, Will revealed that he asked BBC Three bosses to bring back their iconic 90s hit show, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, when the channel relaunched. The actor, 47, who plays Gaz Wilkinson, revealed in an exclusive chat with MailOnline that he and other cast members wanted the show to make a comeback. He said it would have been the perfect time to relaunch the show when the channel came back in February 2022. He told MailOnline: 'I said I would do another one, just to say thank you to the people who supported it because it ran for ten years. Over 20 years after its first episode in 2001, the pair have come back together for a show for U&Dave called Will And Ralf Should Know Better Announcing the news on Instagram on Tuesday, Will shared a snap of him and Ralf and wrote: 'So chuffed I can finally announce my new series with @ralf.little' In December, Will revealed that he asked BBC Three bosses to bring back their iconic 90s hit show, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, when the channel relaunched 'Everyone still talks to me every day in the street about it. Every day, someone will mention it. Their favourite show, growing up and, you know, had a cult following, and it'd be nice to do another series just to see where they are now. 'But it's it's not only getting the cast back together because I know me and Ralph are up for it. It's more about the channels now. They just don't seem to want to. 'I mean, we offered it to BBC, and they said no. And I was just like, I was quite surprised because, you know, they brought Gavin And Stacey back for one, and I think Two Pints went a lot longer than that did. 'But the BBC Three launched their channel back, and I thought, what a perfect way to bring their channel back with a show that was a flagship of theirs. And they said no and they don't want to revisit it. So that was the end of that. 'So unless we do it and we put it down as and we put it on a streaming system, whether it be like Netflix or Amazon or whatever, if they want to talk to us, I'm sure we'd talk. 'But, you know, we have got to have a channel, or we've got to have the funds to be able to make it.' 'People like nostalgia and people need comedy. People need comedy in their life, and people need a bit of nostalgia,' he added. The show, available on BBC iPlayer, follows the lives of five 20-somethings who live in Runcorn, Cheshire, meeting at a local pub to chat about life. It aired from 2001-2011. The actor, who plays Gaz Wilkinson admitted the rest of the cast wanted the show to make a comeback. (Pictured L to R: Kathryn Drysdale as Louise Brooks, Ralf Litte as Jonny Keogh, Sheridan Smith as Janet, Will as Gaz and Natalie Casey as Donna Wilkinson) Then in April, BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty accused Ralf of calling her old during an awkward moment when he appeared on the show in April. The actor, 44, who stars alongside Will Mellor, 48, on the podcast Two Pints with Will and Ralf, was discussing their upcoming UK tour. Joined by Charlie Stayt, Naga, 49, asked Ralf how long he had known Will for as the pair previously worked together on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. He began: 'We've always made each other laugh and we've always had that kind of ability to be silly and then serious, but, we got old. 'We got old right? So we still do the stuff we...,' he said before Naga interrupted to ask how old he was. 'I'm 44, just turned 44,' he replied. 'So you're younger than me, so you're saying I'm old?' Naga exclaimed. Pausing, Ralf joked: 'Er...well look old father time gets to us all and Will I think is about...he's just had a birthday and think he's about 56 now.' Naga replied: 'That is so not true.' 'No it's not true but I'm going to make that fact now,' Ralf laughed. Bethenny Frankel showcased her phenomenal bikini body in a sultry new post after breaking her silence over her ex-fiance Paul Bernon's romance with Aurora Culpo. Four months after ending her six-year relationship with the businessman and film producer, the 53-year-old reality star shared a stunning photo of herself in the pool of her Hamptons home. In the image, she can be seen descending down the stairs while rocking a white two-piece, oversized lavender sunglasses and a wrist full of bangles. 'When I dip, you dip, we dip,' she captioned the image, in addition to the hashtags #bikiniseason #pooltime #summertime #hamptons #happyplace. The mother-of-one, who rose to fame starring on Bravo's Real Housewives of New York, looked radiant as she put her washboard abs on full display. Bethenny Frankel showcased her phenomenal bikini body in a sultry new post after breaking her silence over her ex-fiance Paul Bernon's romance with Aurora Culpo She opted to wear her hair down and sported a glamorous makeup look, which consisted of a pink lipstick, blush and bronzer for a sun-kissed glow. The Skinnygirl founder was flooded with complimentary remarks in her comment section from many of her 3.4 million Instagram followers. 'If I had your shape Id live in a bathing suit,' one wrote. Another wrote: 'Beautiful lady with a beautiful life. Proud of you B, your hard work and dedication has paid off.' 'Absolutely stunning!!! ' a third praised. In response to one follower's question asking what workout she does for her rock-hard abs, Frankel revealed credit walking the beach for her fit figure. Her post comes just two days after discussing her breakup with Bernon on Sunday's episode of her Just B with Bethenny Frankel podcast. 'Last week, I started to see my name in headlines being portrayed as the jilted ex who had been upgraded from, that my ex had moved on from me with a younger woman,' Frankel began. Her post comes just two days after discussing her breakup with Bernon on Sunday's episode of her Just B with Bethenny Frankel podcast 'It regurgitated the continuous narrative that he is a very under the radar person who had now gotten serious with someone, had a girlfriend, met her family, met her kids,' she added. 'She had met his kids. He was in a serious relationship. He had bought her presents, and they were a new unit.' Frankel did not like being made to feel like she was 'some sort of spinster that's just home crying.' The TV star also insisted that she was actually 'really happy' after the split. But to have haters accuse her of being jealous threw her off. 'It was definitely shocking, and it's embarrassing,' she continued. 'Hearing about your ex-fiance committing to another woman shortly thereafter on their first date, and then being inside their relationship, hearing about their sex and their gifts and meeting each other's kids, and the level of commitment was gutting.' 'Last week, I started to see my name in headlines being portrayed as the jilted ex who had been upgraded from, that my ex had moved on from me with a younger woman,' Frankel began 'It regurgitated the continuous narrative that he is a very under the radar person who had now gotten serious with someone, had a girlfriend, met her family, met her kids,' she added; Culpo pictured in November 2022 This comes after she took to TikTok to say she was having a 's**t week.' On the Fourth of July, the TV personality recorded herself in bed as she lamented her recent days, following news that her ex had moved on. 'My mother dying when I was at a low was like a 1, maybe this was like a 3,' Frankel admitted in the tense clip, which she documented from her home in The Hamptons. 'I didn't sleep all week,' she told her followers. Frankel was propped up in bed with her dog, dressed in a multicolor hooded sweater with her dark hair pulled back. This comes after Frankel took to TikTok to say she was having a 's**t week' She wrote, 'Happy Fourth,' across the video in white font and in the caption put, 'Crap week,' adding hashtags. 'By no means am I going to pretend like I'm livin' la vida loca,' she said to viewers, adding, 'because I'm livin' la vida no-ca.' Bethenny didn't mention her ex or Aurora explicitly, but promised fans, 'I'll tell you all about it this week on the podcast,' referring to her Just B podcast series. As for her 14-year-old daughter Bryn, who is with her in the Hamptons, she said, 'I'm thrilled that Bryn's with her friend. She's next door doing Americana and at a barbecue.' As she continued her monologue, Bethenny said she's trying 'not to bust out' as she took a deep breath. Then she emphasized that her week has been 's**t on a cracker.' 'By no means am I going to pretend like I'm livin' la vida loca,' she said in a TikTok She clarified it was nothing that she did, using the metaphor that she 'got dragged behind a car for no reason.' To cope, she said she was going to watch the television series Sons of Anarchy. 'I'm going to watch Sons of Anarchy and watch them kill some people, otherwise I'm gonna do it,' the former reality television personality stated. And she said that taking a nap on Thursday was her 'Met Gala.' On Monday, however, Page Six confirmed Paul and Aurora split after two months of dating The reality star also revealed she ate 'a bag of chips, some Swedish candy, and a can of Amy's lentil soup.' The mother-of-one sarcastically added, 'It was sexy as f**k,' before also sharing that she 'had a grapefruit margarita in bed, as one does.' Aurora and Paul sparked romance rumors in June, with a source telling Us Weekly that the influencer and real estate developer 'have been dating for over two months now. He moved on very quickly after Bethenny.' 'Her family has met him and thinks he's a really nice, 'normal' guy,' the insider continued. 'They have a lot in common with him being from Boston and Aurora from an area nearby. Aurora has been spending time in Boston with him recently.' On Monday, however, Page Six confirmed the couple split after two months of dating. Davidson had sparked fan concern last year after canceling a string of dates The two reportedly parted 'amicably' after the relationship ran its course Pete Davidson and Madelyn Cline have broken up after nearly a year together, DailyMail.com has confirmed. The romance between the 30-year-old former SNL star who recently walked off stage after being heckled and the 26-year-old Outer Banks actress appears to have fizzled out over time. Compared to Davidson's earlier high-profile romances, his relationship with Cline mostly stayed out of the spotlight, and the two hadn't been seen together in public since January. At the time, Cline was spotted with her boyfriend for his stand-up performance at the Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Pete and Madelyn for comment. Pete Davidson and Madelyn Cline have broken up after one year together, DailyMail.com has confirmed; pictured in October 2023 at an SNL afterparty in NYC 'They ended things fairly recently, and I understand it was amicable,' a source told the The US Sun on Tuesday; pictured in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 'They ended things fairly recently, and I understand it was amicable,' a source told the The US Sun on Tuesday. Prior to the couple's last sighting in January, they were seen north of New York City at Bobo's Cafe, which is a regular haunt of Pete's, according to TMZ. At the time, the King Of Staten Island star had sparked concern among his fans after he canceled a string of comedy dates in December and early January due to 'unforeseen circumstances.' It was in September that Davidson and Cline were first reported to be an item. In November a source told Us Weekly that the couple's under-the-radar public appearances were a strategy. 'Things are going really well with Madelyn and Pete, but theyre trying their best to keep a low-key romance,' they said. 'They have both dated people in the public eye before and are trying to maintain more privacy this time around.' The source added that Cline was a hit with Davidson's family. His mother and sister reportedly thought she was 'lovely' after getting to spend some time with the Glass Onion actress. The relationship was reportedly going strong as recently as April of this year. Their relationship was much more private than Davidson's past romances, and the two hadn't been seen together in public since January when Cline saw him do standup in Philadelphia (pictured after his show) A source told Us Weekly in November that the couple were trying to keep a 'low-key romance,' in contrast with Davidson's very public relationships; seen in June 2023 in NYC The source added that Cline was a hit with Davidson's family. His mother and sister reportedly thought she was 'lovely' after getting to spend some time with her; seen in November in NYC 'They are very much in love,' a source told Us Weekly at the time. They added that the celebrity couple's 'independent' natures made it easy for them to sustain a romance. Davidson and Cline struck up their relationship in the wake of dual breakups. The Bupkis star had broken up with Bodies Bodies Bodies star Chase Sui Wonders in August after just under a year together. Cline had been single for long after splitting from her Outer Banks costar Chase Stokes, whom she dated for over a year, toward the end of 2021. Davidsons relationship with Wonders was marked by turmoil after he crashed his Mercedes into the side of a home in Beverly Hills in March of 2023. Wonders was in the passenger seat at the time. Luckily, no in the home or the car were injured, though the homeowner later said that his teen daughter, who was near the spot were the car crashed into the home, was 'traumatized' by the event. In June 2023, Davidson was charged with one count of misdemeanor reckless driving, but he agreed to enter an 18-month diversion program. In late 2021, Cline split from from her Outer Banks costar Chase Stokes, and Davidson was reported to have broken up with Bodies Bodies Bodies star Chase Sui Wonders a month before his relationship with Cline was reported; pictured in March in LA Davidsons relationship with Wonders was marked by turmoil after he crashed his Mercedes into the side of a home in Beverly Hills in March of 2023 while she was in the passenger seat. No one in the car or the house was injured; pictured in May 2023 in NYC He was required to do work in a medical setting, attend 12 hours of traffic school, pay restitution and complete 50 hours of community service. Davidson was allowed to do his service requirements in New York, where he lives, and he was also required to not break any laws during the 18-month period. Shortly after he entered into the diversion program, Davidson checked himself into rehab again. He has said in the past that he periodically checks himself in as a proactive and preventative treatment. One of America's biggest flooring suppliers is considering bankruptcy - the latest retailer to face financial problems. LL Flooring, with 442 stores across 47 states, has seen its sales falling over the past year as Americans cut back on renovating their homes. Tom Sullivan founded Lumber Liquidators in 1994 by buying excess wood from companies and reselling it at a discount. The company at first did business out the back of a pick up truck in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Shortly after, Sullivan began negotiating directly with mills as he sought to cut out the wholesalers who acted as middleman - and have lower prices to undercut rivals. LL Flooring, with 442 stores across 47 states,is considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Bloomberg Celebrating two decades in business in 2014, Sullivan said at the time: 'To look back and see how far we've come in 20 years is almost like a dream. 'We've gone from a tiny operation to having served more than two million people and, along the way, changed the way hardwood flooring is sold. 'Our customers know that the value and quality of their floors are unmatched.' Sullivan left the company in 2017 and since then has fallen out with the board. He has tried to take over the company but has so far been rebuffed. Lumber Liquidators was renamed LL Flooring in 2020. News that LL Flooring was considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy was reported by Bloomberg on July 3. A person with knowledge of the matter told the publication that LL Flooring may file within the 'coming weeks'. Such a move would protect it from creditors while it reorganizes the business. Shares fell as much as 31 percent after the report was published. According to Bloomberg, company adviser Houlihan Lokey has been contacting potential investors about a deal to inject fresh capital into LL Flooring. LL Flooring is the US's largest specialist flooring company The company is also attempting to sell a distribution center in Virginia to strengthen its cash reserves. LL Flooring is not alone in having financial problems in 2024. Many smaller chains, already reeling from the pandemic, have faced higher costs of business, particularly labor. There have been almost 2,600 store closures so far in 2024. In recent weeks, Walmart has closed three more of its underperforming locations, while Rite Aid is shutting another 27 pharmacies. Dollar stores have been hit hard too, with 99 Cents Only announcing in April it would shutter all 371 of its locations across California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada. Similarly, 1,000 Family Dollars and Dollar Trees will permanently shut over the next few years. A popular smokehouse has closed after more than two decades of serving brisket, ribs and other Texas barbecue classics. Fargo's Pit BBQ in Bryan, located between Houston and Austin, announced it was closing a day after July 4th. 'It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Fargo's Pit BBQ effective July 6, 2024,' wrote husband and wife Alan Caldwell and Belender Wells, who are also co-owners of the restaurant. They revealed 'challenging economic climate' is behind their decision to end a business they've been running since the turn of the millennium. 'Despite our best efforts and dedication, the challenging economic climate has made it increasingly difficult to sustain our operations,' the Facebook post continued. 'We are grateful for the support you have shown us and cherish the memories we've shared.' Alan Caldwell, right, and Belender Wells pose in front of their restaurant's sign Fargo's Pit BBQ served brisket, ribs and other Texas barbecue classics for more than two decades Fargo's was named by Texas Monthly as one of its top 50 Texas barbecue joints in 2013 Rising food costs aren't just battering the average consumer, it is wreaking havoc on the US restaurant industry, small and large establishments alike. Red Lobster is the most high-profile chain to go completely bust recently, with other formerly dominant American staples like Cracker Barrel and Boston Market gradually waning in influence as the years go by. While Caldwell and Wells didn't specifically reference rising meat costs as the reason they're leaving the barbecue business, pork prices have been elevated in the US ever since COVID-19 struck roughly four years ago. Fargo's was famous for its pork spare ribs, Houston-based digital paper Chron reported over the weekend. But some blame the more recent price jump in pork on California's passage of Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork in the state sourced from farms that keep pigs in overcrowded pens. The ballot measure, which fully went into effect in January 2024, coincides with a rise in pork costs across the US this year. Pictured: Fargo's Pit BBQ in Bryan, Texas. The restaurant, a hit with locals, is closed for good over the weekend after being in business for 24 years Nonetheless, Fargo's had a respectable run, with Texas Monthly naming it as one of its top 50 Texas barbecue joints in 2013. In the paper's 2013 profile of Caldwell, he was revealed to be incredibly secretive about his recipes and methods, going so far as to refuse to show his grill pit. 'Tell me more about that pit,' Daniel Vaughn, the BBQ Editor at Texas Monthly, asked him at the time. 'I've got nothing to tell,' Caldwell responded, though he did say a man named Tiny Tim from Fort Worth custom built it for him. In February, roughly five months before he decided to close Fargo's, Caldwell told local outlet KAGS-TV that the restaurant business has been especially difficult since the pandemic. Caldwell poses with ESPN commentator John Buccigross inside the restaurant in October 2019 'A restaurant is hard work. It is not an easy industry,' he said. 'So you have to have your heart poured into it and your staff poured into it - number one because a lot of people start and they don't realize that it's going to take everything you've got and some. It's not for everybody.' Caldwell and Wells thanked their customers in their final goodbye, calling everyone who's visited and patronized Fargo's 'the backbone of our restaurant.' Longtime fans of the restaurants poured into the comments of the Facebook post to share how much of a loss this was to the Bryan community. 'Such a HUGE loss. By far the best BBQ and now it has been forced to close through no fault of their own,' one person wrote. Others thanked the couple for their great food and hospitality over the decades, with some even suggesting they get into the catering business. 'Thank you for being a part of the Fargos legacy. We will miss you all dearly,' wrote Caldwell and Wells. A California-based chain surprisingly does not serve the meal its named after A much-loved restaurant chain serves customers a huge range of fast food - including hot dogs, burgers and fries. But strangely - despite its name - California-based Wienerschnitzel does not in fact serve a wiener schnitzel on its menus. The Austrian-originated German delicacy is traditionally a thin cut of breaded and fried veal. In recent times, 'weiner' has been adopted as another name for hotdogs. The strange tale of how the diner - famed for its hotdogs - never planned to serve its namesake dates back to the chain's origins in the 1950s. The Austrian-originated German delicacy is traditionally a thin cut of breaded and fried veal Wienerschnitzel was founded by John Galardi that decade, according to a new book on the chain. Galardi was inspired by his time working for Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell and decided to open his own business, Drive-Thru Life explains. The name came about after Galardi, who chose hotdogs to be the staple of his venture, asked Bell and his wife Martha for advice on the name. Galardi floated the idea of John's Hot Dogs or Wonderful Hot Dogs but it was Martha who suggested wiener schnitzel after seeing it in a cookbook earlier that day. 'It's got wiener in it, which is another word for frankfurter,' she reportedly said. Galardi initially had reservations, worried that a foreign name would be hard to pronounce. However, he changed his mind hoping that its uniqueness would pique customer's interest and set his brand apart. Wienerschnitzel was founded by John Galardi in the 1950s Despite adopting a German name, originally Der Wienerschnitzel before being updated to just Wienerschnitzel, the menu remained all-American as intended. The only exception to this was when in 2017 the chain introduced three chicken schnitzel sandwiches to its menu to celebrate 'the food it was named for.' Banks last week announced they would shutter 15 branches across the US, continuing the trend of abandoning their bricks-and-mortar locations. US Bank led the way with plans to close seven branches. Bank of America will shut six of its locations and Chase a further two. In the week July 1 to July 8, banks informed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that a total of fifteen branches will be shuttered. The closures were announced across Illinois, New Jersey, California and Wisconsin among other states. Scroll down for the full list with addresses. Bank of America filed to close six locations across the country in the first week of July In the same period retail banks opened thirteen branches, meaning there was a net loss. The trend of banks closing their in-person branches is set to continue as they commit more and more to online services. National banks have closed more than 400 of their branches so far in 2024. Each week, banks must tell the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) of branches openings and closures. The last year in which the number of branches in the US increased was 2011, when there were more than 85,000 throughout the US, according to FDIC data. Since then the number has dropped steadily to about 70,000. Most national banks like US Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo have become increasingly confident that online banking can meet most customers' needs. Closures can lead to significant savings. The average freestanding branch costs $2.6 million a year to run, according to Bancography, an Alabama-based consulting firm that advises banks. Steven Reider, the founder and president of Bancography, previously told DailyMail.com that 'banks are willing to close a branch that isn't really overlapping any other branch on the gamble that customers are willing to drive a little bit further.' 'I think Bank of America has leaned into that more than the other large banks have,' he added. Reider also noted that Bank of America's merger history has meant it ended up with branches in rural locations - yet the industry is undergoing 'a rural to urban conversion'. 'Every census since 1910 has shown a greater proportion of Americans living in in urban areas than the preceding census, so as we become an increasingly urbanized country the demand in these legacy rural markets just fades away,' he said. Ultimately, banks are looking to consolidate the markets they are already in, and that involves placing more focus on dominating in a handful of cities. Chase filed to close two branches in the first week of July For example, Chase is moving into Kansas City with force, Fifth Third is making similar moves into Charlotte and PNC is targeting Austin. Though the number of bank branch closures started to ramp up through the 2010s, it was exacerbated by the pandemic, which kept people at home. In 2023, more than 1,500 bank branches were shut for good, with California and the Midwest worst-hit. See the boxes below for the latest closures and links to all weekly announcements this year. Branch Closures (July 1 - July 8) Bank City State Location JPMorgan Chase MITCHELLVILLE MD 10200 LAKE ARBOR WAY JPMorgan Chase SAN YSIDRO CA 4319 CAMINO DE LA PLAZA Bank of America ANNA OH 312 W Main Street Bank of America CHICAGO IL 3033 NORTH PULASKI ROAD Bank of America CARLYLE IL 12TH & MULLIKIN STS Bank of America EDISON NJ 159 WOOD AVENUE Bank of America HARTFORD SD 103 SOUTH MAIN STREET Bank of America GALENA IL 953 GEAR ST U.S. Bank KANSAS CITY MO 8750 BLUE RIDGE BOULEVARD EXTENSION U.S. Bank MARSHFIELD MO 759 WEST JACKSON U.S. Bank WASHINGTON DC 700 13th Street, N.W. U.S. Bank CHICAGO IL 2639 NORTH MILWAUKEE AVENUE U.S. Bank WAUTOMA WI 450 E Main Street U.S. Bank LAS VEGAS NV 901 SOUTH RANCHO LANE, SUITE 1 U.S. Bank TIPTON IA 102 E 5TH ST Kuntal Dutta, a graduate from the Academy of Fine Arts in Howrah, West Bengal, known for his expertise in Alpona a traditional Bengali art often seen during auspicious occasions brings vibrant depictions of Goddess Durga to life. Similarly, Manoranjan Chitrakaar, from a lineage of Pattachitra artists in Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, uses natural hues to weave stories of individuals amidst nature, capturing scenes like harvesting honey amidst wildlife. The duo are among the over 150 visual artists from across India who have united under Union Culture Ministrys unique Project PARI (Public Art of India). The project has been particularly inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modis deep appreciation for public art celebrating Celebration of life through six seasons of India at Pragati Maidans 1.6-km long tunnel in New Delhi during its inauguration two years ago. The project aiming to showcase Indias cultural legacy and the countrys UNESCO heritage sites comes ahead of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee here to be held between 21-31 July. The initiative is being executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and National Gallery of Modern Art and aims to showcase Indias cultural legacy and UNESCO heritage sites through diverse array of artworks including wall paintings, murals, sculptures, and installations themed around nature, ancient knowledge, and World Heritage Sites like Bimbetka. These artworks draw inspiration from rich cultural and traditional styles from across India such as Phad paintings from Rajasthan, Thangka from Sikkim and Ladakh, Pattachitra miniature painting from Himachal Pradesh, Gond art from Madhya Pradesh, Tanjore paintings from Tamil Nadu, and more. For instance, Phad painting is the forte of Gopal Joshi from Bhilwara, Rajasthan. His familys generations-long dedication to Phad painting helps him brings his expertise to enrich public spaces with cultural depth and narrative richness. A traditional art form from the Northern State, the painting is appreciated for its intricate storytelling depicting the life and legends of Bhagwan Devnarayan on cloth canvases. Through Project PARI, Joshis contributions help bring this rich artistic tradition to a broader audience, fostering a deeper appreciation for Rajasthans cultural tapestry and its enduring artistic expressions, said an official from the Culture Ministry. The sculptures being created encompass a wide range of themes paying tribute to nature, ideas from the Natyashastra, Mahatma Gandhi, traditional Indian toys, hospitality, ancient knowledge, Naad (Primeval Sound), Harmony of life, and the divine tree Kalpataru. The unique project seeks to bring forth public art that draws inspiration from millennia of artistic heritage (lok kala/lok sanskriti) while incorporating modern themes and techniques, the official said. Massive combing and search operations were launched on Tuesday by the Indian Army, along with a team from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police, to pin down the perpetrators behind the audacious terror attack on two Army vehicles. Five soldiers sacrificed their lives repulsing the attack near Badnota village of Machhedi in the Billawar tehsil of Kathua district on Monday. The Armys elite para-commandos and sniffer dogs also joined the search operation while drones and helicopters were pressed into service for surveillance. Some of the eyewitnesses were also questioned by the security forces to gather more information about the group of suspected foreign terrorists. It is learned some of the villagers in the area had spotted suspicious movement of outsiders in the area but failed to timely inform the local police or other agencies for necessary follow-up action. Director General of Police R R Swain also flew to the area to oversee the operation on the ground. Accompanied by ADGP Anand Jain, DGP Swain conducted an aerial survey of the area and reviewed the ongoing operations. A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials has been sent to Kathua in the Jammu region to extend all possible support to the police in its investigation. So far the probe agency has not registered a case to investigate the terrorist attack. The scope of the search operations was expanded to encompass large areas in the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua, including Basantgarh, Seoj (a high-altitude area in Udhampur), and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar, and Kindli in Kathua district. Reacting strongly in New Delhi, the Indian Government also sent out a stern warning claiming the sacrifices made by the soldiers in the Kathua ambush will not go unavenged. India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack. Since October 11, 2021, 43 bravehearts have sacrificed their lives in different terror attacks and encounters in the Jammu region. The counter-terrorist operations were temporarily stalled late Monday evening due to bad weather conditions. The suspected group of foreign terrorists also fled the spot taking advantage of the darkness and bad weather conditions. Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the martyred soldiers identified as Nb Sub Anand Singh, Hav Kamal Singh, Nk Vinod Singh, Rfn Anuj Negi & Rfn Adarsh Negi were dispatched to their native places after paying homage to them at the wreath-laying ceremony in the Western Command. The Spokesperson of the Indian Army in a post on X (earlier Twitter) said, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and all Ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Bravehearts who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Indian Army offers its deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. The Chief Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, President Droupadi Murmu Tuesday termed the terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir a cowardly act and said it deserved condemnation and firm counter-measures. In a post on X, Murmu said, My sympathies are with the families of the bravehearts who laid down their lives in this ongoing war against terror in its all forms. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also reacted to the terror attack on Tuesday, Singh said he was deeply anguished over the death of five Army personnel in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district. Singh said counter-terror operations are underway and the soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. Extending deepest condolences to the bereaved families Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said, Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered and their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack. Aramanes remarks were shared on X by a spokesperson of the Defence Ministry. Meanwhile, angry residents and political workers hit the streets across Jammu as India woke up to the gory images of blood-stained army vehicles in which the soldiers were traveling at the time of the ambush. Lawyers from the Jammu Bar Association held a protest against the terror attack on an army patrol in Kathua, calling it an act of cowardice by Pakistan-based terrorists. Media teams were permitted to visit the ambush site on Tuesday to capture the telltale signs of mayhem on ground zero. On their arrival, the media teams witnessed the spot where the entire road stretch was littered with bloodstains, empty bullet cartridges, army vehicles with shattered windscreens and flattened tyres. The tarpaulin sheet, used to cover the rear portion of the army truck, was also full of perforations and was torn apart. Preliminary reports suggested before opening indiscriminate firing from different directions on the army trucks the terrorists also lobbed grenades to distract the truck drivers. A villager Puran Chand Sharma, who runs a shop in the area told media persons, A civil bus passed the road about 10 minutes before the attack. We heard a loud explosion and initially took it as a tyre burst but the subsequent heavy firing made us realize that an encounter had started, The heavy firing continued till 5 pm followed by intermittent firing for another hour. About 12 villagers were at my shop. We hid ourselves inside to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. After the firing stopped, we rushed to help evacuate the casualties, he said. Vijay Kumar, another local, said this is the first terror incident in the village since cross-border terrorism broke out in Jammu and Kashmir over three decades ago. Till the time of filing the report, another encounter broke out between the security forces and the terrorists in the Doda district on Tuesday. A police spokesman said, An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Goli-Gadi forests in the upper reaches of Doda district. More details to follow. Mohit Kandhari n Jammu Massive combing and search operations were launched on Tuesday by the Indian Army, along with a team from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police, to pin down the perpetrators behind the audacious terror attack on two Army vehicles. Five soldiers sacrificed their lives repulsing the attack near Badnota village of Machhedi in the Billawar tehsil of Kathua district on Monday. The Armys elite para-commandos and sniffer dogs also joined the search operation while drones and helicopters were pressed into service for surveillance. Some of the eyewitnesses were also questioned by the security forces to gather more information about the group of suspected foreign terrorists. It is learned some of the villagers in the area had spotted suspicious movement of outsiders in the area but failed to timely inform the local police or other agencies for necessary follow-up action. Director General of Police R R Swain also flew to the area to oversee the operation on the ground. Accompanied by ADGP Anand Jain, DGP Swain conducted an aerial survey of the area and reviewed the ongoing operations. A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials has been sent to Kathua in the Jammu region to extend all possible support to the police in its investigation. So far the probe agency has not registered a case to investigate the terrorist attack. The scope of the search operations was expanded to encompass large areas in the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua, including Basantgarh, Seoj (a high-altitude area in Udhampur), and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar, and Kindli in Kathua district. Reacting strongly in New Delhi, the Indian Government also sent out a stern warning claiming the sacrifices made by the soldiers in the Kathua ambush will not go unavenged. India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack. Since October 11, 2021, 43 bravehearts have sacrificed their lives in different terror attacks and encounters in the Jammu region. The counter-terrorist operations were temporarily stalled late Monday evening due to bad weather conditions. The suspected group of foreign terrorists also fled the spot taking advantage of the darkness and bad weather conditions. Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the martyred soldiers identified as Nb Sub Anand Singh, Hav Kamal Singh, Nk Vinod Singh, Rfn Anuj Negi & Rfn Adarsh Negi were dispatched to their native places after paying homage to them at the wreath-laying ceremony in the Western Command. The Spokesperson of the Indian Army in a post on X (earlier Twitter) said, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and all Ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Bravehearts who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Indian Army offers its deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. The Chief Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, President Droupadi Murmu Tuesday termed the terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir a cowardly act and said it deserved condemnation and firm counter-measures. In a post on X, Murmu said, My sympathies are with the families of the bravehearts who laid down their lives in this ongoing war against terror in its all forms. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also reacted to the terror attack on Tuesday, Singh said he was deeply anguished over the death of five Army personnel in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district. Singh said counter-terror operations are underway and the soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. Extending deepest condolences to the bereaved families Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said, Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered and their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack. Aramanes remarks were shared on X by a spokesperson of the Defence Ministry. Meanwhile, angry residents and political workers hit the streets across Jammu as India woke up to the gory images of blood-stained army vehicles in which the soldiers were traveling at the time of the ambush. Lawyers from the Jammu Bar Association held a protest against the terror attack on an army patrol in Kathua, calling it an act of cowardice by Pakistan-based terrorists. Media teams were permitted to visit the ambush site on Tuesday to capture the telltale signs of mayhem on ground zero. On their arrival, the media teams witnessed the spot where the entire road stretch was littered with bloodstains, empty bullet cartridges, army vehicles with shattered windscreens and flattened tyres. The tarpaulin sheet, used to cover the rear portion of the army truck, was also full of perforations and was torn apart. Preliminary reports suggested before opening indiscriminate firing from different directions on the army trucks the terrorists also lobbed grenades to distract the truck drivers. A villager Puran Chand Sharma, who runs a shop in the area told media persons, A civil bus passed the road about 10 minutes before the attack. We heard a loud explosion and initially took it as a tyre burst but the subsequent heavy firing made us realize that an encounter had started, The heavy firing continued till 5 pm followed by intermittent firing for another hour. About 12 villagers were at my shop. We hid ourselves inside to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. After the firing stopped, we rushed to help evacuate the casualties, he said. Vijay Kumar, another local, said this is the first terror incident in the village since cross-border terrorism broke out in Jammu and Kashmir over three decades ago. Till the time of filing the report, another encounter broke out between the security forces and the terrorists in the Doda district on Tuesday. A police spokesman said, An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Goli-Gadi forests in the upper reaches of Doda district. More details to follow. India and Russia on Tuesday reviewed the entire spectrum of their bilateral ties and ongoing Ukraine conflict with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying peace dialogue does not succeed amidst guns and bullets. He also said no solution is possible in the battlefield. Modi said stronger ties between India and Russia will greatly benefit the people. He was officially conferred Russias most prestigious civilian honour the Order of St Andrew the Apostle by President Putin for exceptional services in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries. On his bilateral talks with Putin, Modi in his opening remarks said he conveyed to Russia President and assured the world community that India is on the side of peace and was ready to contribute in ending the conflict in Ukraine. For a bright future for the new generation, peace is most essential...Peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets, he said. The Prime Minister also referred to his informal meeting with Putin on Monday and said listening to the Russian president lent hope. While Modi did not explicitly mention Mondays Russian missile attack on a childrens hospital in Ukraine, he said it was heart-wrenching to see innocent children dying. Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense, Modi said. At our meeting yesterday, we listened to each others views on Ukraine and I also placed before you the Global Souths expectation on peace and stability, Modi said. The Prime Minister also highlighted Russias help to India in the energy sector. When the world was facing shortage of food, fuel and fertilisers, we did not allow our farmers to face any problem and our friendship with Russia played a role in that, Modi said. We would want our cooperation with Russia to expand further so as to ensure welfare of our farmers, he said. The Prime Minister also flagged concerns over challenges of terrorism. India has been facing the challenge of terrorism for around 40 years; I condemn all forms of terrorism, Modi said. He said the world has to face multiple challenges in the last five years first due Covid-19 and then because of various conflicts. Modi called terrorism horrible, and condemned Moscow terror attack adding Moscow and Dagestan too have been a victim of terrorist attacks. India has suffered from terrorism. We know how horrible it is. Recently there were terrorist attacks in Mosocw and Dagestan... We condemn terrorist attacks, Putin said during his bilateral meeting with Modi. Last week, terrorist attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala, two of the largest cities in Russias Dagestan, killed 21 people and left 46 injured. Modi also said talks with Putin covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation. We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people-to-people exchanges he added. Putin thanked Modi for trying to help find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis. I am grateful to you for the attention you pay to the most pressing issues, particularly trying to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, primarily through peaceful means, Putin was quoted as saying by the official TASS news agency. Putin made the statement during his talks with Modi here at the Kremlin, it said. Putin noted that Russia and India worked closely on the international stage. We closely cooperate on the international stage, namely within international organisations, Putin was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency. He specified that cooperation was underway primarily within the UN and groups such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to communicate in an informal atmosphere and talk about almost all the issues, Putin said. He also said he believes that Moscow and New Delhi maintain a privileged strategic partnership. Our countries have enjoyed decades of good friendship, he said. Today, our relations have the nature of a privileged strategic partnership, he added. The Russian leader expressed satisfaction with growing trade between the two countries which he said saw a 66 per cent increase last year and rose by another 20 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi paid tributes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. He also laid a wreath at the Tomb. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located at the Kremlin wall, Moscow. It is dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. As regards the award, Modi was conferred the Order of St Andrew the Apostle award by Russian President Vladimir Putin for exceptional services in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries. Honoured to receive the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. I dedicate it to the people of India, Modi said in a social media post after receiving the award at a ceremony here. Established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle is the highest state decoration of Russia. Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Bhopal, congratulated Dr. Karmugil Tamil, a postgraduate (MD) student from the Department of Biochemistry, for securing the highly competitive ICMR-PG Thesis 2023 Financial Support. Among over 1,000 applicants, Dr. Karmugil was awarded a grant of Rs 1 lakh for her groundbreaking research proposal. Dr. Karmugil's research will focus on evaluating serum IgA levels in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and bronchiectasis treated at AIIMS Bhopal. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of recurrent infections associated with these conditions, which significantly affect the Indian population. The findings from this research are expected to contribute to better management and treatment strategies for these diseases. "This achievement not only highlights the academic excellence of our students but also underscores AIIMS Bhopal's commitment to advancing medical research that addresses critical health issues in India, said {rpf Ajai Singh. Chandigarh AAP leader and Former Mayor Pardeep Chhabra passes away Chandigarh: AAP leader and former Chandigarh mayor Pardeep Chhabra,65, passed away here on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. The AAP leader's nephew Puneet Chhabra said his uncle had been undergoing treatment for jaundice and complained of ill health in the morning. "We called an ambulance to take him to PGIMER but he passed away," Puneet Chhabra said. He was co-in-charge of AAP in Chandigarh and was also chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board. He joined AAP in August 2021 after quitting the Congress. Hry CM approves improvement of 9 ODR Roads in Karnal worth Rs 10.59 crore Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday granted administrative sanction for the special repair and improvement of 9 ODR roads in Karnal District. This project will cost over Rs. 10.59 crore. The roads serving rural areas of production and providing them with outlets to market centres, tehsil headquarters, block development headquarters, railway stations etc. are known as Other District Roads (ODRs). An official spokesperson stated that the projects to taken up include widening and strengthening on Karnal-Kaithal road to village Pingli Narukheri spanning 4.151 km worth Rs. 1.04 crore, Village Kachhwa to Dera Purbian road spanning 2.250 km worth Rs. 1.24 crore, village Shahpur to village Kalampur road spanning 1.650 km worth Rs. 85.22 lakh, Strengthening on village Dabri Kalampur approach road worth more than Rs. 1.58 crore, village Kalampur to Kachhwa road spanning 3.400 km worth Rs. 95.91 lakh. Hry Minister Trikha meets injured school children in hospital Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of State for School Education Seema Trikha on Tuesday met the school children who injured in the bus accident that took place on Monday, at Sector 6 Civil Hospital in Panchkula. She checked on their well-being and also assured the parents of all possible assistance from the government. Trikha spoke with the parents of the injured children and received feedback on the treatment being provided and also directed the hospital staff that the children receive the best possible care and attention. She inquired in detail about the medical treatment and the food arrangements for the injured children. Students to get bus pass facility up to 150 kms: Aseem Goel Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of State for Transport Aseem Goel on Tuesday announced that the bus pass facility for students studying in government and recognized educational institutions in the state has been extended from 60 kms to 150 kms. He informed that the discounted bus passes will be issued to all students studying in such schools/colleges/institutions within the state that are recognized by the state government or affiliated with any university or board in the state. This decision by the government is expected to benefit several students across the state and is considered a major step taken in the interest of students. Hry Minister flags off Bus for devotees to Ayodhya Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies Subhash Sudha on Tuesday flagged off a bus carrying pilgrims from Kurukshetra to Ayodhya Dham under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. On this occasion, the minister boarded the bus to interact with the devotees and extended his best wishes for their journey. Sudha said that under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, devotees are being provided free travel to Ayodhya Dham via Haryana Roadways AC buses. He also mentioned that previously, based on the demand of devotees from Thanesar, buses have been run to Shree Khatu Shyam Mandir, Mathura, and other pilgrimage sites. He further informed that complete arrangements have been made for the devotees' journey to ensure they do not face any inconvenience on the way. Results announced for 46 PGT Sanskrit posts Chandigarh: Haryana Staff Selection Commission has released the results for the remaining 46 PGT Sanskrit posts under advertisement no. 4/2015, category number-16, in compliance with the order dated April 22, 2024 of the Supreme Court in SLP (C) 3263/2023. Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of the commission stated that out of these 46 posts, candidates have been recommended for appointment against 45 posts and the result of one general post has been kept pending in compliance with CWP No. 1213/2024. Jimpa lauds CM for enhancing cover of citizen-centric services in Punjab Chandigarh: Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa on Tuesday lauded the State Government for the further expansion of online citizen centric services available to the people thereby bringing the services at their doorsteps. Now, patwaris have been integrated into e-governance system, through their online IDs which allows citizens to access most services related to document verification from their homes. This will streamline the verification process for various certificates, including those for caste, residence, old age pension schemes, income and others, he said. The Minister emphasized that with patwaris now part of the online system, applicants will no longer need to visit their offices for verification reports as upon submission, applications will be electronically forwarded to the relevant patwari for verification. To ensure this, higher officials will soon issue an instructional letter to field staff to providing smooth and efficient services to citizens. This directive will be applicable to all levels of the Department's hierarchy, he added. Sukhbir condemns registration of case against Sri Ganganagar based gurdwara head Chandigarh: SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday condemned the manner in which a case had been registered against Jathedar Tejinder Pal Singh Timma, Mukh Sevadar of Baba Deep Singh Gurdwara Sahib, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), for promoting anti-national sentiments when the latter had only cautioned against communally inspired utterances against the Sikh community. Calling for immediate withdrawal of false and regressive case registered against Jathedar Timma, Sukhbir said: No case can be registered against someone who only highlights utterances which are aimed at hurting religious beliefs and sentiments of peaceful and patriotic Sikh community and calls for an end to provocative incitements to communal violence. He appealed to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajal Lal Sharma to give necessary directions for withdrawal of the case. Cheema stresses enhancing GST compliance in service sector Chandigarh: Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, chairing a review meeting of the Excise and Taxation department on Tuesday, directed the officials to intensify efforts towards improving GST compliance in the service sector. Cheema emphasized the need for robust monitoring and enforcement to minimize tax evasion and maximize revenue collection. He also urged the officials to conduct regular audits, investigations, and outreach programs to ensure higher compliance rates. The meeting aimed to strengthen the tax administration, enhance revenue mobilization, and promote a culture of tax compliance among service sector stakeholders. Under the present weather conditions a Cyclonic circulation and trough line passing through Madhya Pradesh is making a strong system of rain active and inducing heavy rainfall. Heavy rain occurred in some areas of Indore at around 3 pm in the afternoon. At the same time, humidity is felt due to sunshine in many districts including Bhopal-Sagar. It rained lightly in Gwalior at around 4.30 pm. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of heavy rain in 18 districts including Sheopur, Chhindwara, Shivpuri on Tuesday. Senior Meteorologist said that in the last 48 hours, it rained in more than 30 districts of the state. Cyclonic circulation is active over North-East and South Rajasthan. At the same time, the monsoon trough has come down further. It is passing through Raisen, Mandla in the state. Due to these systems, there is heavy rain in the entire state. This phase will continue for the next one week. Heavy rain occurred in some areas of Indore at around 3 pm. 1.7 inches of rain in Betul, 1.25 inches of water fell in Khajuraho Rain continues in Madhya Pradesh. On Monday also, it rained in many districts of the state. Betul received the maximum rainfall of 42 mm i.e., 1.7 inches. Khajuraho received 1.25 inches of rain. Bhopal also witnessed heavy rains. Rain was also recorded in Balaghat's Malajkhand, Narmadapuram, Indore, Khandwa, Khargone, Narmadapuram's Pachmarhi and Ujjain. During the last 24 hours rainfall was recorded at some places in districts of Rewa division; at some places in districts of Gwalior, Chambal, Jabalpur, Shahdol, Sagar divisions; at many places in districts of Indore, Ujjain divisions; all places in districts of Bhopal, Narmadapuram divisions and the weather remained generally dry in all the remaining districts. The maximum temperature increased significantly in the districts of Sagar division and there was no significant change in temperatures in all the remaining districts. They remained much below normal in the districts of Indore division; they remained generally below normal in the districts of Bhopal, Gwalior divisions and normal in all the remaining districts. The minimum temperature increased significantly in the districts of Rewa division and there was no significant change in temperatures in all the remaining districts. They were common in the districts of Rewa constituency and common in the districts of all other constituencies. [ From yesterday till today morning, thunderstorms and strong winds occurred in Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, Ratlam, Ujjain, Dewas, Shajapur, Agarmalwa, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Bhind, Morena, Bhopal, Purkalan, Singrauli, Rewa, Mauganj, Maihar, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Pandhu, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Patna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Sagar. The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport police has registered its first case under the new criminal law Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita since its inception on July 1 as the team arrested two agents who promised to send a 22 year old man to Canada. On July 1, one pax named Karminder Singh, hailing from Punjab, arrived at IGI Airport from Vietnam as a deportee. During scrutiny of his travel documents, one fake Canadian Visa was found affixed in his passport, DCP IGI Airport Usha Rangnani said, adding that a case under section 318(4),336(3), 340(2) BNS was registered. On interrogation, he disclosed that many people of his village had gone to Canada to earn easy money. So he also decided to go there for a better livelihood and for earning quick money. He got the mobile number of one agent namely Jagjeet Singh, alias Jaggi, through the internet, who promised to send him to Canada via Vietnam, in lieu of 24 lakhs. The pax further disclosed that he gave 10 lakhs in cash to the agent Jaggi and 14 lakhs in cash to another agent namely Gurnam Singh on the directions of agent Jaggi, the DCP added. Singh deposited 14 lakhs in his bank accounts of HDFC and UCO banks and further transferred the same to agent Jagjeet Singh. On June 28, he took flight from IGI Airport to Hanoi, Vietnam but at Hanoi Airport, his entry was restricted due to a fake Canadian Visa affixed in his passport and deported to India, Rangnani stated. One of the accused was arrested and on sustained interrogation, accused Gurnam Singh confessed his guilt and disclosed that he has studied up to 12th class. Another agent, 32 year old Jagjeet Singh was formally arrested in the case as he was already in Judicial Custody after being arrested in a similar case this year. During interrogation, he disclosed that he is a graduate and runs a company in the name of True Talk Imagination at Bijnour which deals in ticket booking and sending people abroad. During his work, he came in contact with some agents who used to cheat people on the pretext of sending them abroad and started working with them, the DCP said. With the Jalandhar West assembly bypoll set for Wednesday (July 10), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is bracing for a high-stakes showdown to secure a crucial electoral mandate. This electoral battle has captured public attention as a dramatic contest unfolds amidst political maneuvering and strategic alliances. While the BJP and AAP have pinned their hopes on turncoat candidates, despite their recent electoral setbacks; the Congress, Akali Dal, and BSP have rallied behind grassroots stalwarts. However, the spotlight remains on AAP's internal dynamics, with a contentious defection triggering this pivotal bypoll, poised to test Manns leadership amidst mounting challenges. The upcoming bypoll holds immense significance for Mann, serving as a litmus test for his government's popularity post the Lok Sabha setback. For AAP, retaining this seat is imperative to dispel doubts about their governance and reaffirm public trust. Conversely, a loss could embolden critics, casting shadows over Manns leadership and fueling debates on Punjabs socio-political landscape. Adding to the intrigue, the Akali Dal is grappling with an internal rift, which has led to the withdrawal of support for its official candidate and backing the BSP nominee instead, potentially impacting the election outcome. Despite the fact that the outcome of the bypoll will not alter the composition of the current AAP Government in Punjab, which already commands 90 seats in the 117-member House, Chief Minister Manns singular focus on this election and his dedicated efforts to secure this assembly seat are driven by specific considerations. Primarily, this is due to AAPs disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. AAPs loss in this bypoll could be perceived as a sign that public support for the State Government, particularly Manns popularity, is waning. Mann is determined to avoid this narrative, aiming to demonstrate that despite setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, his Government retains the peoples trust. The stakes have escalated due to the bypolls triggered by AAP MLA Sheetal Angurals defection to the BJP. Now standing as the saffron party's candidate, Angural is aggressively targeting Mann and his family with accusations and attacks. The outcome of Jalandhar West bypoll is set to have significant ramifications for Mann. A win would be a crucial morale booster, affirming that despite the Lok Sabha losses, his government continues to enjoy public support. Conversely, a defeat would provide ammunition to his critics, who would likely highlight issues such as the states struggles with drug problems and law and order. It would also cast doubt on Mann's leadership and the AAP's governance, suggesting that public disenchantment with the government has set in within just two and a half years. For the Congress, a victory in this bypoll could solidify their position, following their success in securing the maximum number of seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Congress has nominated Surinder Kaur, a well-known local leader, as their candidate. Kaurs campaign has been bolstered by the partys strong organizational network and her established rapport with the electorate. The Congress hoped that her grassroots connection and commitment to local issues will resonate with voters. The Akali Dal, however, faces a significant challenge due to internal strife. The withdrawal of party support for its official candidate is expected to have a considerable impact on their performance. Meanwhile, the BSP has also fielded a candidate, further adding to the multi-cornered contest. Despite these challenges, the Akali Dals support for the BSP nominee, Binder Kumar, highlighted the strategic alliances being formed in this high-stakes bypoll. Preparations for the bypoll are in full swing, with the Jalandhar District Administration and election officials ensuring robust arrangements. A total of 181 polling stations have been set up to accommodate the 1.71 lakh registered voters, comprising 89,629 men, 82,326 women, and eight third-gender voters. To facilitate the smooth conduct of the election, all government schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in the constituency will remain closed. Special measures have been taken to ensure that voters employed in government offices, commercial establishments, and industrial units receive paid leave to cast their votes. Chief Minister Mann, who shifted to Jalandhar along with his family in a rented accomodation, has campaigned vigorously for the AAP candidate Mohinder Bhagat, addressing numerous public meetings and roadshows. He has emphasized the need for continuity in governance and the importance of public support for his governments policies. Mann's direct engagement with the electorate, including renting a house in Jalandhar to establish a direct link with voters, underscored his commitment to winning this crucial bypoll. On the other hand, Congress leaders, including state party chief and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, have targeted the turncoat candidates fielded by the BJP and AAP, urging voters to reject those who have switched allegiances for personal gain. The Congress campaign has focused on issues of governance, development, and public welfare, aiming to capitalize on the perceived failures of the AAP government. BJP, with Sheetal Angural as its candidate, is seeking to make inroads in a region traditionally dominated by the Congress and AAP. Angurals aggressive campaign, coupled with his local popularity, presented a formidable challenge to his opponents. BJP is keen to emerge from its previous electoral setbacks and establish a stronger presence in Punjab. The outcome of the Jalandhar West bypoll will be a significant indicator of the current political landscape in Punjab. It will provide insights into the popularity of the ruling AAP government, the organizational strength of the Congress, and the BJPs efforts to gain ground in the state. The results, set to be announced on July 13, will undoubtedly shape the political discourse in Punjab in the coming months. As the electoral fervor grips Jalandhar West ahead of Wednesday's bypoll, triggered by the resignation of former AAP MLA Sheetal Angural, the political landscape is ablaze with anticipation. This crucial contest has drawn significant attention, not just for its immediate implications but for the broader narrative it could shape in Punjab's political arena. Here's a detailed look at the five prominent candidates vying to sway the electorate and claim this pivotal assembly seat. AAPs Mohinder Bhagat emerged as a significant contender, carrying forward a legacy steeped in political experience and familial ties to the constituency. A matriculate and scion of BJPs former Minister and three-time MLA Chunni Lal Bhagat, Mohinder transitioned to AAP in a notable political shift in 2023. His decision to switch parties, albeit causing some familial tension, underscored his commitment to pursue a new political direction aligned with AAP's vision for Punjab. Having contested unsuccessfully twice under BJP banner in 2017 and 2022, Mohinders current bid for assembly seat has been bolstered by a vigorous campaign spearheaded by Chief Minister himself, who wooed the voters with the promise to make him Minister. Congress Surinder Kaur brought with her extensive administrative experience as a four-time councillor and former senior deputy mayor in Jalandhar. Educated in pre-medical studies, she has a strong electoral record since the late 1990s. The Congress sees the Jalandhar West constituency as crucial following recent successes in Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, with former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi elected as MP. In past elections, Congress secured over 44,000 votes, narrowly beating BJPs 42,000 votes, fueling the saffron partys confidence for the bypoll. BJPs Sheetal Angural brought a dynamic political trajectory to the forefront of Jalandhar West bypoll. Initially aligning with the BJP, he later joined AAP, only to return to his roots with the saffron party ahead of recent Lok Sabha elections. Angural's electoral success in 2022, defeating the Congress candidate by a narrow margin, underscored his local appeal and strategic political maneuvering. SADs Surjit Kaur, former two-time councilor, brought a unique profile to the electoral fray despite her lack of formal education. Known for her frequent party shifts, she recently made headlines by rejoining the SAD after a brief stint with the AAP all in a day, asserting her unwavering loyalty to the regional party. Her campaign suffered a major setback with SAD withdrawing its support and instead backing the BSP candidate. Despite contesting on the SAD symbol takdi (scales), Surjit Kaur was dubbed as the weak candidate fielded by the partys rebel faction to harm SAD chief Sukhbir Badals standing. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi conducted a comprehensive inspection of the civic body's control room which was aimed at assessing the handling of complaints, bringing procedural efficiency, and bringing down resolution time by the officials. During the inspection, she was accompanied by IT Director Sumit Kumar and senior MCD representatives. Oberoi was briefed on the nature of complaints received by the MCD, with sanitation and water logging being the most common issues. It was highlighted that these complaints are automatically forwarded to the respective zones for prompt action. The majority of complaints are resolved within 1-2 days after being reported. Notably, the MCD officials take swift action to address water logging by deploying temporary pumps in the affected areas, a MCD official stated. Further, she was also informed that a total of 18,150 cleanliness complaints have been registered with MCD from June 1 until Tuesday, out of which approximately 80 per cent, which means 14,716 complaints, have been resolved. The Mayor emphasised the importance of citizen engagement and encouraged Delhi residents to register their complaints by calling 155305. She shared a few snippets from her visits, stating, Today I inspected the control room of MCD-311 App and instructed the officers to improve the functioning to deal with complaints related to water logging and mosquitoes due to monsoon received on 311- App. A big decision has been taken regarding the scientific execution of Adampur Garbage Dumping site in Bhopal. Senior environmentalist Subhash C. Pandey said the special bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to investigate the reality of the dumping site. The report has to be submitted after an investigation in 3 months. The next hearing of this case will be held on 21 October 2024. Environmentalist Dr. Pandey said that the historic order of the Supreme Court will provide a big relief to thousands of residents and villagers living around Adampur Garbage Dumping site . At the same time, hope has also arisen that now not only the groundwater of Adampur and its surroundings will be saved from being poisonous, but the quality of water of other water resources and the Ajnaal river passing nearby will also improve. After the order, NEERI i.e., NEERI will investigate and submit the report. This institution is from Nagpur. The investigation and monitoring of the Supreme Court will also increase the capacity of the processing units operating in Adampur Garbage Dumping site . At the same time, the heaps of garbage lying for years will also be eliminated. After this, a green belt will be developed around Adampur Garbage Dumping site . Environmentalist Dr. Pandey said that the Ajnaal river is a tributary of India's holy river Ganga. This will also free this river from pollution. Which will ultimately achieve remarkable success in making the Ganga river pollution free. He said, today's order of the Supreme Court will set an example for the entire state, because now all the government agencies and responsible departments will have the fear that if there is too much laxity in the matter, then investigation can also be done by national institutions like NEERI. The urban waste of the entire city has been dumped in Adampur Garbage Dumping site since 2018. It was being set on fire repeatedly, for which Dr. Pandey filed a petition against Bhopal Municipal Corporation in the National Green Tribunal Bhopal in the year 2023. In which, considering the facts of Dr. Pandey to be correct, NGT imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore 80 lakh on Bhopal Municipal Corporation, but the Municipal Corporation challenged the said case in the Supreme Court and requested to waive the fine imposed. Fulfilling the promise made with the family of a young farmer who died at the Khanauri border during farmer agitation, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday handed over a cheque of financial assistance worth Rs one crore and an appointment letter of government job to his family members. A native of Bathinda, Shubhkaran was killed in the clashes at Khanauri point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21 during farmers' protest. Twelve police personnel were also injured in the incident. The clashes erupted when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards the barricades and were stopped by security personnel from crossing the state border and marching to Delhi. The Chief Minister, interacting with the bereaved family members after handing over the cheque and appointment letter, said that the State Government is committed to the well-being of the food growers of the State and no stone is being left for ensuring their welfare. The young farmer, Shubkaran Singh, had attained martyrdom during firing at the border. This barbaric and tragic incident had bruised the psyche of every Punjabi, he said, adding that the martyrdom of a farmer is a huge and irreparable loss for the family which cannot be compensated by any means. However, Rs one crore financial assistance and government job to the family is a humble initiative of the State Government to bail out the family in crisis, he added. Mann said that this is a humble gesture of the State Government in recognition of the supreme sacrifice made by the young farmer for the cause of food growers of the country. The farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by the security forces. In a dramatic turn of events leading up to Jalandhar Assembly by-election, BJP candidate Sheetal Angurals brother, Rajan Angural, on Tuesday created a stir by discovering liquor inside a black Scorpio vehicle. The incident has led to a significant uproar in the area. Concurrently, Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi also accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of distributing ladies suits to influence the voters. The vehicle in question contained AAPs posters, and it was alleged that a box of liquor was also found inside. The situation was eventually brought under control by DSP Sanjay, who arrived at the scene promptly. Rajan Angural accused the driver of the vehicle of using derogatory language towards the SC community. He also claimed that the detained individuals had hurt religious sentiments, a charge which the police are currently investigating. Upon inspection, the police did indeed find several bottles of liquor inside the vehicle. The individual inside the vehicle stated he had come to collect suits, which were also found inside the car. Notably, the vehicle had an Indian Air Force sticker on it. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and newly-elected Jalandhar MP Channi caught people distributing suits near Avatar Nagar. He alleged that these suits were being distributed by AAP. Channi stated that AAP cannot win votes by distributing suits and emphasized the need for genuine work, which he claimed AAP had failed to do. However, Channi allowed those who had come to collect the suits to take them away. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached his parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli, where he met the family members of Kirti Chakra winner Captain Anshuman Singh. Gandhi had called the martyrs family from Lucknow to meet him. We are sad that our son has left us all in the lurch when the family needed him. I want to live with this pain all my life and I want more pain so that I can remember my son, the martyr captains mother, Manju Singh, said after meeting Rahul Gandhi. An official said that Rahul Gandhi met the family members of Captain Anshuman Singh in the Bhuemau Guest House in Rae Bareli. President Droupadi Murmu on Friday conferred the Kirti Chakra on the martyrdom of Captain Anshuman Singh to the late officers wife, Smriti, and mother Manju Singh at the Defense Investiture Ceremony in Delhi. This is the second highest award given for bravery in peacetime. Captain Singh was martyred in July last year while saving people from a fierce fire. During the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, we talked about Agniveer. There should not be two types of armies. The government is expected to listen to Rahul Gandhi and consider it. Rahul said that he has requested the government to end the Agniveer scheme, which is not fair to the army. The country is with us. I talked to Rahul Gandhi about the families of the martyrs, he will do something for those families, Manju Singh said. Insisting on doing away the Agniveer scheme in army recruitment, Manju Singh said: We are from a military family; whether it is the ruling party or the opposition, we will fight everyone and we request the government with folded hands to stop the Agniveer scheme, because recruitment in the army only for four years is not right. During his one-day visit, Rahul also met workers and representatives of various organisations. Thereafter, he went to the Gandhi Shaheed Smarak, where he paid tributes to the martyrs and also planted a sapling. The Congress MP also visited the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli, where he enquired about the well-being of the patients. Gandhi returned from Imphal, the capital of Manipur, on Tuesday and landed at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Lucknow. He then left for Rae Bareli by road. Gandhi offered prayers at the Churwa Hanuman temple near Bachhrawan in Rae Bareli. The Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress said in a post on X: Peoples leader Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at the Churwa Hanuman temple in Rae Bareli and prayed to Lord Hanuman for the happiness, peace and prosperity of the country. In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, Rahul won the Rae Bareli seat by a margin of over 3.90 lakh votes. After winning the election, he held a meeting with party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and workers. A review meeting of the divisional and district level officers of the Registration and Stamp Department was held under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner Indore Deepak Singh. In the meeting, Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh reviewed the targets and revenue receipts of the last year. He directed that the achievement of the targets of the financial year 2024-25 should be ensured within the time limit. He directed to ensure the action of resolving the pending old stamp cases by running a campaign while doing year-wise scrutiny. While reviewing the RRC cases, he gave necessary instructions related to their resolution. In the meeting, Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh reviewed the progress of registration and stamp of all the districts of Indore division in sequence. While reviewing the progress of the first quarter of the current financial year, he directed to achieve the targets within the time limit in the coming months. He reviewed the district-wise progress of the registered documents. In the meeting, he took information regarding the revenue collection and fulfillment of targets in registration and stamp from the development projects, construction of national highways, state highways and rural roads in various districts of the division. Deputy Commissioner Seli Kanash, Deputy Inspector General Registration Zone Indore Balkrishna Mourya, Senior Registrar and Stamp Amresh Naidu District registrar Deepak Sharma along with District Registration Officers of Indore, Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Badwani, Khandwa, Khargone and Burhanpur were present in the meeting. India's once male-dominated startup ecosystem is undergoing a seismic shift. Women entrepreneurs are no longer a niche group, but a formidable force driving innovation and growth. This "She-economy" boom is not just about numbers; it's about redefining success and shattering stereotypes, paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic business environment. Leading the charge are iconic figures like Falguni Nayar, the founder of Nykaa, a beauty and wellness behemoth, Gazala Alagh, co-founder of Mama Earth, and Vineeta Singh, the mastermind behind Sugar Cosmetics. These women are not just building billion-dollar businesses; they are inspiring a generation of aspiring entrepreneurs to chase their dreams. Recent reports reveal a staggering rise in women-led startups, with nearly 8 million female entrepreneurs at the helm - a testament to the growing confidence and ambition within this segment. Their success stories underscore the immense potential and talent that women bring to the table, challenging the status quo and encouraging more women to enter the entrepreneurial arena. The perception of women entrepreneurs is undergoing a long-overdue transformation. Investors are finally recognizing the immense potential of ventures led by women. Studies indicate that startups with women founders deliver higher returns on investment. This, coupled with the unique problem-solving skills and focus on social impact often seen in women-led ventures, makes them highly attractive investment propositions. This shift in investor mindset is crucial, as it helps channel more resources towards female-led startups, thereby creat- ing a virtuous cycle of growth and innovation. But the story doesn't end there. Women are not just leading the startups; they are also shaping the investment landscape itself. Angel investors like Anjali Bansal of Sequoia Capital India and Shanti Mohan of Lets Venture are actively backing promising ventures. These women investors bring more than just capital; they offer invaluable mentorship and guidance, fostering a more inclusive ecosystem where female founders can thrive. Their involvement is crucial in breaking down barriers and providing the support necessary for women entrepreneurs to succeed. Government initiatives like Startup India's WEP (Women Entrepreneurship Platform) are playing a crucial role by providing essential support through funding, mentorship programs, and network-building opportunities. These initiatives empower women entrepreneurs and equip them with the tools they need to overcome roadblocks and navigate the often-challenging startup journey. By offering resources tailored specifically for women, these programs help level the playing field and ensure that female entrepreneurs have the same opportunities to succeed as their male counterparts. The rise of women in India's startup scene is more than a statistical trend; it's a societal transformation. It's about shattering glass ceilings, proving that talent has no gender, and building a future where the Indian entrepreneurial landscape is not only vibrant but also truly inclusive. This She- economy boom is not just good news for women; it's good news for India's economic future, fostering innovation and empowering a new generation of leaders. Moreover, the impact of women entrepreneurs extends beyond economic growth. Women-led start-ups often prioritize social impact, addressing issues like gender equality, environmental sustainability, and community development. This dual focus on profit and purpose is creating businesses that are not only financially successful but also socially responsible- ble, contributing to a better society overall. In conclusion, the rise of women entrepreneurs in India is a powerful force reshaping the startup ecosystem. As more women step into leadership roles, they bring diverse perspectives and innovative solutions that drive economic growth and social change. The She-economy is a testament to the fact that when women succeed, we all succeed. By continuing to support and invest in women-led ventures, India can unlock a wealth of potential and build a more prosperous and equitable future for all. With a career spanning ten years, the writer has solidified her expertise in HR, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystem development. She is a print and ramp model who was also featured in Vogue and Gladrags magazines. Four prominent Sikh leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab have received death threats. A threat letter, along with some inflammable materials, was sent to the BJPs Chandigarh office, Kamalam, in Sector 33, warning the leaders to leave the party or face dire consequences, with slogans in support of Khalistan and Pakistan written on it. The leaders whose names were included in the letter included BJP national general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, BJP Sikh Coordination Committee and National Railway Committee member Tejinder Singh Sran, and BJP state general secretary Parminder Singh Brar. Additionally, the name of BJPs state organization general secretary Srinivasulu was also mentioned in the letter. Upon receiving the threat letter, BJP leaders have reportedly lodged a complaint with the Chandigarh police. Sran maintained that he was also planning to meet with the Director Generals of Police (DGPs) of Punjab and Chandigarh regarding the matter. The letter explicitly warned Parminder Brar and Sran, stating that they had previously been cautioned through social media posts also. The letter accused them of betraying Sikhs and the people of Punjab by joining hands with the BJP and RSS. Leave BJP or we will eliminate you from this world, read the letter. In the letter, the BJP leaders were accused of undermining the farmers movement and being traitors to Sikhism. It alleged that they are misleading the people of Punjab and encouraging them to join the BJP under RSSs influence. The letter claimed that the leaders are working to spoil Sikh-Muslim relations and warned that after being used by the BJP and RSS, they will be discarded. Citing past attempts by others to destroy Punjab, the letter stated that the current leaders have ruined Punjab, which according to the letter will be rectified soon. Besides, the letter also indicated that they were aware of conspiracies against them being planned in Chandigarh while promising retaliation. It specifically mentioned Sirsa, accusing him of aligning with RSS and handing over Delhi SGPC to BJP-RSS. The letter vowed to free Delhis DSGMC gurdwaras from BJPs control and sought revenge for their brothers killed in Canada, Pakistan, and India by what it calls traitors working with the BJP government. The letter concluded with a warning to the senior BJP leader Srinivasulu, urging him to leave Punjab. It asserted that they have no personal enmity with him but will not spare any traitors among the Sikhs. The letter ended with chants of Khalistan Zindabad and praises for various Khalistani and Pakistani leaders. Following the receipt of the letter, Chandigarh police have intensified security measures around the BJP leaders and launched an investigation into the source of the threats. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of political leaders in the state, particularly those associated with the BJP, amid the ongoing political tensions. The internal conflict in Dhanbad BJP that had sur- faced during the Lok Sabha elections once again erupted on Tuesday during the Vijay sankalp sabha cum felicitation ceremony held on Tuesday for Dhanbad assembly seat . The angry workers raised slogans of Murdabad against Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha and protested in front of the state president Babulal Marandi and the MLA who were on dias . The workers were so angry that despite the persuasion of state president Babulal Marandi, Dhanbad MP Dhullu Mahato, for- mer MP Pashupati Nath Singh and other BJP officials present on the stage, they continued shouting anti Raj slogans for several minutes despite persuasion to calm down. The workers were seen continuous- ly protesting against Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha by raising slogans and accusing him of being indulged in anti-party work during the Lok Sabha elections. Scuffle also took place between Dhullu and Raj supporters The workers calmed down after a lot of persuasion by the state president and Dhanbad MP. Incidentally, the Dhanbad MLA was in-charge of this program . As soon as the program started, BJP workers got up from their chairs and started protesting against Dhanbad MLA.State President Babulal Marandi, Dhanbad MP Dhullu Mahato, former MP Pashupati Nath Singh were present on the stage as the chief guests in the program where anti Raj slogans were raised. Meanwhile, talking to the media, BJP state president Babulal Marandi accused the Hemant Soren government of being indulged in illegal mining of sand and illegal earnings from. Soren said that Hemant Soren is deliberately not auctioning the sand ghats, because if the sand ghats are auctioned, the money coming from it will be deposited in the government treas- ury, which is currently being deposited in the safe of Hemant Soren's house . He said that the government should make the sand used in the construc- tion work within the state free, but in order to make illegal collections, the government is seizing the sand transported by tractors within the state, but on the other hand, it does not even touch the sand that is being transported on i Hiva trucks and sent illegally outside the state to states like UP, Bihar, Bengal. BJP President and Union minister J P Nadda on Tuesday slammed the Congress and the Communist parties, and accused them of being "ideologically bankrupt" and "power hungry". Nadda said that the Communists were also emulating the Congress by promoting their own sons and daughters. "You know what I mean," he said, addressing a large gathering of party leaders, workers and supporters in the Kerala capital. The BJP chief, on his first visit to Kerala after the recent Lok Sabha polls, further attacked the Congress, terming it a "parasite" that won seats in the general elections this year thanks to the help and support of regional parties. "They (Congress) are like parasites. They have a poor strike rate on their own. They won only two of the 60-plus seats where they were competing directly against the BJP. "It (Congress) is a party walking on crutches and cannot stand on its own two feet. They have a national presence thanks to the support of the regional parties," Nadda said. He further said that a narrative was created that the BJP was a North Indian party. "No. Now we are an all-India party, which includes southern India as well. The lotus has bloomed in the Lok Sabha from the South," the BJP chief said. Nadda went to say that the LS poll results showed that the people voted for stability and continuity and, therefore, the NDA came to power for a third time consecutively -- a first in 60 years -- at the Centre. Russia has broadly heeded to India's call to end the recruitment of Indians as support staff to the Russian military and ensure repatriation of those still working in the force, top sources said on Tuesday. It is learnt that Moscow agreed to release the Indians after the issue was brought up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an informal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night. Modi on Monday began a two-day high-profile visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Putin, his first trip since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue of Indian nationals serving with the Russian Army remains a matter of utmost concern and demanded action from Moscow over it. An announcement on Russia's decision to discharge all the Indians working as support staff to the Russian Army is expected to be made after summit talks between Modi and Putin on Tuesday. Russia has broadly agreed to our request on the issue, the sources said. On June 11, India said two Indian nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, had been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which took the number of such deaths to four. Following the deaths of two Indians, the MEA demanded a verified stop to further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army. In a strongly-worded statement, it said India demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army and that such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership. Earlier in March, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with the Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine. In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat, died in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a security helper in the Donetsk region. The Russian president hosted a private dinner for the Indian prime minister at the former's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo on the outskirts of Moscow late on Monday evening. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak spent the weekend calling the Conservative Party candidates who lost their seats in the general election last week to apologise for the partys worst performance at the ballot box, with just 121 seats in the House of Commons. Several former members of Parliament told The Daily Telegraph about the very sympathetic call they received from the British Indian MP, who won his own seat of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire and remains the Leader of the Opposition until the Tories elect his successor. The 44-year-old had apologised to his party colleagues and the nation in his farewell speech at 10 Downing Street on Friday, when he also announced his resignation as Tory leader after the Labour Party won a landslide victory with 411 MPs in a 650-seat Commons. He took the time to ring me on a Saturday night and I think hes taken the time to ring other MPs. He was ringing to say that he was incredibly sorry that Id lost my seat, an unseated Tory MP was quoted as saying. To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly but without success, I am sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved, Sunak said in his speech last week. Frontrunners to replace him as party leader are working behind-the-scenes to shore up their support. Former home secretary Suella Braverman, who has been openly critical of Sunaks leadership, is among the contenders but her campaign received an early blow as one of her supporters switched loyalties to her former home office colleague, Robert Jenrick. Others lining up for the race include two more former home secretaries Priti Patel and James Cleverly and former business secretary Kemi Badenoch. Further former ministers from the Sunak Cabinet, Victoria Atkins and Tom Tugendhat, are also likely to throw their hat in the ring when the contours of the contest are devised by the partys 1922 Committee which will be electing its new chair after the election. Meanwhile, the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, spent his first weekend in office travelling to different parts of the United Kingdom starting with Scotland. He will then embark on his first foreign visit as PM for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) meeting in Washington to set the tone for his Labour governments relations with US President Joe Bidens administration and other international allies. On Saturday, he spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders agreed to meet at the earliest opportunity. Discussing the Free Trade Agreement, the prime minister said he stood ready to conclude a deal that worked for both sides. The leaders hoped to meet at the earliest opportunity, a Downing Street spokesperson said about the call. Now, a lot of women interested in a person use different person hookup internet sites. This really is clear as this approach to finding a partner is considered the most effective, safe, and low priced. Contained in this analysis, weve got accumulated the 9 finest websites for locating women, their particular rates, costs, and features. 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Blog Archive: Oct 2024 (50) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) Nomathamsanqa (Noma) Tholo graduates from Ulster University this summer with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Personalised Medicine from the School of Medicine. Born in Zimbabwe, Noma moved to the UK in 2015 and currently resides in Derry~Londonderry. While in the UK Noma faced several challenges, including financial barriers and lack of opportunities to work. She always had the ambition of completing a degree in health sciences, upon her arrival, she was determined to see that ambition come to fruition by continuing her higher education studies. Despite the barriers she faced, in 2017 Noma enrolled in the University of Sussex to undertake a Masters degree in Pharmacy. Unfortunately, due to a lack of financial support (tuition fees) in 2019, she was forced to quit her studies and return to Northern Ireland. Still, she remained determined to complete her higher education journey. The turning point came in 2021 when Noma was awarded a scholarship to study Personalised Medicine at Ulster University. Reflecting on her experience; Noma said Having to quit my course was a big blow for me but I had the encouragement and support of friends and the wider community, so I stayed humble, resilient, and focused on my goals. I continued to apply for other higher educational opportunities and finally had a breakthrough in 2021 when Ulster University offered me a scholarship to study Personalised Medicine. "This scholarship has been a real life-changing opportunity and has helped me to continue my studies and reach my lifetime goals. Throughout Nomas studies at Ulster Universitys Derryncampus, she has remained dedicated to her studies with a proven track record in academic excellence which earned her a consistent place on the Deans List award (first-class students). Noma has actively contributed to university community life, holding leadership roles in various student societies over the years. She is the current president of the Personalised Medicine Society, Global Business Society, and International Students Society, as well as the treasurer for the Women in STEM Society. Additionally, she serves as the Restart a Heart Ulster University representative, BAME+ Network and Mind Your Mood ambassador, and class representative of the final year, Personalised Medicine cohort. She has collaborated with colleagues from the Medicine and Physician Associate courses in activities such as Restart a Heart and designing and delivering a multi-professional outreach session for secondary school pupils. These sessions aimed to elucidate the significance of inter-professional collaboration within the health and care sector. Noma's dedication to this project was exemplary, and her efforts resulted in an engaging and informative session that left a lasting impact on the pupils and the outreach team. Additionally, Noma has led and reinvigorated the societies, hosting educational, cultural, and well-being events for members. Under Nomas leadership, the societies were nominated for this years Ulster University Students Union awards. Nomas contributions extend beyond the campus as she serves as a patient peer mentor and member of the Clarendon Medical Patients Committee, working with social workers to create opportunities and programs that help patients overcome isolation. She also works with children of all ages and abilities supporting their maths and English at Foyle Kumon Centre. Speaking about her time at Ulster University; Noma said, "The collaborative learning environment at Ulster University has been incredibly enriching. The support and encouragement from friends, coursemates, the student union, and the university community have been instrumental in overcoming the challenges I faced. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, mentoring, and experiences that have shaped my journey so far." In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Noma has been awarded the Allstate NI Convocation Undergraduate Student of the Year Award 2024 further highlighting her exceptional academic and extracurricular contributions, during her time at Ulster University. "I would like to use this opportunity to convey a special message of thanks to my lecturers, course directors, advisors, supervisors, mentors, and the Ulster University senior leadership team. Your support and guidance throughout my journey at Ulster University have been invaluable. I am fortunate to have had such inspiring mentors and educators. This award reflects the incredible opportunities and encouragement I have received from all of you. I am humbled and deeply grateful to be awarded the Allstate Convocation Student of the Year Award. Thank you for your recognition and nomination for the Award; it means a lot to me." Nomathamsanqas graduation marks the beginning of an exciting and adventurous new chapter for her. Recently selected for the National Health Service (NHS) Clinical Entrepreneurs Programme, Noma is committed to developing and scaling innovative solutions in healthcare. As the Founder and CEO of Sustenance Development Consultants Ltd, Noma aims to drive productive, impactful projects in the education and healthcare sector, making a lasting impact on staffing, patients care, and clinical outcomes. If you are interested in finding out more about the course Noma is graduating from please visit Personalised Medicine with optional placement year BSc (Hons) at Ulster University 2024/25 entry - Full-time Undergraduate Study Representatives from Council have met with the Northern Ireland Environmental Quality Forum in Ballycastle. The meeting, which was held last week, included representatives from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, the other 11 district Councils and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The forum gives all involved an opportunity to discuss ways to enforce environmental regulations and help deal with the problem with dog fouling and fly tipping in Council areas. This conference also explored how Councils can best engage with education and awareness programmes, with the aim of reducing incidences of dog fouling, littering and fly tipping. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan said: Causeway Coast and Glens is known to be one of the most picturesque areas in Northern Ireland and it is important that both locals and visitors respect out beautiful countryside and dispose of their litter, in whatever form, in the correct manner. Thank you to the members of the Northern Ireland Environmental Quality Forum for highlighting this serious issue. Thank you also to the Council officers, partner Councils and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful for participating in these important discussions. New signage has been put in place in the Borough to highlight the importance of correctly disposing dog foul and litter. These signs highlight the fact that anyone caught committing one of these offences will be subject to a Fixed Penalty Notice of 200. To report an incidence of dog fouling, littering, or fly tipping, contact Councils Environmental Health team by ringing 0282766 0200 or email environmentalhealth@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk. Alternatively, residents can download the Reportable app and follow the steps on the app to make a report. https://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/live/ Coffee industry brings prosperity to China's Xinzhai village 11:08, July 09, 2024 By Prakash Bikram Shan, Gyanendra Khadkha ( People's Daily At the foot of the Gaoligong Mountains, southwest China's Yunnan Province, the Nujiang River rushes out from a canyon. In the morning of early autumn, sunlight pierces through the clouds, gently falling on Xinzhai village along the river, where vast expanses of coffee trees shimmer with a golden hue. In 2023, we came to China to participate in the Seminar on Coffee Planting and Processing Technology for Developing Countries organized by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Yunnan International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges. Our delegation set out from Baoshan city and after about an hour's drive, we arrived at Xinzhai village, famously known as "the first coffee village in China." Located by Lujiangba Valley at about 1,000 meters above sea level, it has the largest coffee plantation area among all Chinese administrative villages. Wang Jiawei, Party chief of the village, warmly welcomed us at the village entrance early in the morning. He is affectionately dubbed the "coffee Party chief" by local coffee farmers for his pivotal role in the development of the village and its coffee industry. According to Wang, Lujiangba Valley is the largest coffee-growing area in Baoshan, also the origin of Baoshan Arabica coffee. It has been growing coffee for half a century. Thanks to the ample sunlight and the typical dry-hot valley climate, the Arabica coffee produced there is strong and bitter, fragrant yet harsh with a slight fruity sourness, thereby enjoying a high reputation worldwide. Stepping into Xinzhai village's coffee plantations, we were greeted by lush coffee trees laden with plump and appealing fruit. Farmers there were busy harvesting coffee cherries, with their faces radiant with true happiness. The clean and smooth asphalt roads in the village were well-connected, with trucks loaded with coffee beans shuttling between purchasing stations and plantations. Many tourists were drawn to the hillside of the Gaoligong Mountains by the charm of the four rustic yet exquisite coffee estates, eager to experience the local coffee culture. While marveling at the village's development, we learned that it used to be an impoverished village without proper roads or communications facilities. The coffee industry there had been underdeveloped previously, leading to low productivity. The village's past conditions brought to our mind the similar small villages in our home country Nepal, which were becoming increasingly desolate due to declining population. Therefore, we were intrigued by the remarkable development of Xinzhai village and ventured further to explore its path of transformation. After extensive observation and conversations, we unraveled the mysteries behind the village's progress. Adopting region-specific planting methods to improve coffee yield and quality: The village divided its 500-plus households into nine groups, set up seven specialized farmers' cooperatives, and designated 13,600 mu (about 907 hectares) of land as the core coffee production area. The previously disorganized farming methods were thereby transformed into large-scale and standardized planting, shifting the industrial structure from extensive to intensive development. Meanwhile, the village dedicated itself to selecting superior coffee varieties and nurturing high-quality seedlings, while also widely adopting smart agricultural techniques to improve coffee cultivation. Deploying digital infrastructure to expand sales channels: During our conversations with local coffee farmers, we found that 5G signals had been extended to high-altitude coffee fields, allowing farmers to sell their coffee products via livestreaming in the mountains. "Our Arabica coffee grows in the misty forests. Feel free to choose, come and pick!" On one livestreaming platform, a farmer was selling coffee to followers, patiently answering their questions and offering personalized coffee purchase advice. Promoting the integrated development of coffee agriculture and rural tourism: Walking through the village, we saw beautiful coffee-themed murals adorning houses and alleys, with the enticing coffee fragrance wafting from a nearby coffee culture center. Upon stepping inside the center, we felt surrounded by a sea of coffee beans drying under the sun. We even experienced hand-brewed coffee with the help of a barista, and the mellow and refreshing flavor left us feeling carefree and uplifted. In our view, Xinzhai village, which has boosted its economic growth by developing the coffee industry, exemplifies the successful implementation of comprehensive rural revitalization in China. Throughout our visits to different parts of China over the years, we have been captivated by the picturesque progress of China's comprehensive rural revitalization. The policy support provided by the Chinese government has injected vitality into the industrial development of China's rural areas. These experiences offer valuable insights for Nepal to advance its rural development. We are looking forward to visiting more Chinese villages in the coming future, bringing these development experiences back to Nepal to help more Nepalese farmers live a happy and prosperous life. (Prakash Bikram Shan is an editor at the Anumodan National Daily of Nepal; Gyanendra Khadkha is a coordinator with nepalkhabar.com.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Concrete blocks were thrown at the windows of Chabad Jewish Center of Oakland, police and synagogue officials said Monday. Courtesy of Dovid Labkowski Two vandalism incidents are being investigated as possible hate crimes after concrete blocks were thrown at the windows of Chabad Jewish Center of Oakland, police and synagogue officials said Monday. The incidents occurred just two weeks apart at the synagogue located at 3014 Lakeshore Ave., according to Oakland police and synagogue officials. The first incident occurred just before 11:30 p.m. on June 21, police said. The second incident occurred Saturday just after midnight. Dovid Labkowski, the synagogues rabbi, said two of the windows were cracked after the separate incidents. However, both windows are still intact, Labkowski said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Videos of each incident viewed by the Chronicle show an individual throwing the concrete blocks toward the lower level windows of the center and then walking away. It is not known whether the suspect is the same in each incident. Police said the suspect or suspects are unknown. Following the two incidents, Labkowski said the synagogue brought the concrete blocks inside for display, adding that they would be used in an unspecified future project to do something good with it. He called on authorities to put an end to this hate. A composite of three photos showing damage at Chabad Jewish Center of Oakland from two separate incidents of vandalism that are being investigated as hate crimes Courtesy of Dovid Labkowski This photo shows one of the large rocks thrown at the Chabad Jewish Center that police said is possibly a hate crime. Chabad Jewish Center This photo shared with the Chronicle by the Chabad Jewish Center shows damage after an unknown person threw a concrete block. Chabad Jewish Center I think people (in the community) are outraged and upset, said Labkowski. As a Rabbi and as people here in the Jewish community, to have these attacks targeted at them is disheartening. And its difficult to feel and to see it happen. Were hoping the police do their job and we hope to use this incident as a positive, a force for the future. Take this negativity and transform it into good. The incidents at the synagogue come less than six months after Labkowskis menorah at Lake Merritt was destroyed to pieces, sparking a hate crime investigation and outcry from politicians and members of the Bay Area Jewish community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oakland police did not respond to a request for further information regarding the incidents. Motorists are being advised of possible traffic disruption as a number of parades are planned to take place throughout the Derry City & Strabane District over The Twelfth of July period with main demonstrations taking place in the city and in Newtownstewart. Prior to the main parades, there are a number of feeder and return parades in the morning and evening in surrounding towns and villages including Plumbridge, Newbuildings, Claudy, Castlederg, Sion Mills, Strabane, Artigarvan, and The Waterside and Culmore areas of the city. If you are not attending the parades this year please be aware of the potential for delays in these areas and, if possible, find an alternative route. The PSNI said Officers will be on duty to assist with any traffic issues, and accommodate the flow of traffic. Newtownstewart Ahead of the main parade in Newtownstewart, bands will assemble for feeder parades at 10.15am and leave from Methodist Lane, Old Douglas Road and Strabane Road. Participants will make their way to the demonstration field on Castle Brae for 2.30pm, along Baronscourt Road, Strabane Road and Main Street. The return parade route is from Castle Brae at 3.30pm, along Moyle Road to Baronscourt Road for 5.30pm. Derry The main parade in the city starts at 11.30am with bands leaving from various assembly points including Glendermott Road, Carlin Terrace, Bond Street, Artillery Street and Pump Street. The route is along Glendermott Road, Clooney Terrace, Spencer Road, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, The Diamond, Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street, Wapping Lane, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, May Street, Limavady Road to the field at Wilton Park for 2pm. The return parade will leave from Wilton Park at 3.45pm along Limavady Road, May Street and Bond Street towards Glendermott Road, Dungiven Road and Rossdowney Park for 5.30pm for dispersal, and onward travel. A historic monument has been covered in paint in what police have described as a sectarian hate crime. Walkers Plinth on the Derry Walls is believed to have been attacked on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday morning. A statue of the city's governor during the Siege of Derry, George Walker, stood on the plinth for almost 150 years. The plinth is all that remains of the statue of George Walker, built in 1826 to commemorate his role in the Siege of Derry, until it was blown up by the IRA in 1973. Reverend Walker governed the city during the 1689 siege, a small part of the Jacobite War that was occurring across Europe at the time, with Ireland and Britain as focal points as William of Orange fought James II for the crown in England. The siege lasted 105 days, with an estimated 4,000 people dying in the event. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood condemned the attack, which he said was designed to raise tension in the city ahead of July 12. MP Eastwood said: People in Derry want to live in peace with one another. This kind of attack is about raising tension in the city in the run-up to the twelfth, and no one wants it. The people responsible have no support and need to go away. I would urge anyone with influence to use it to lower the temperature and make sure that the coming week passes off peacefully. Our city is built on a foundation of mutual respect and accommodation of all traditions. Thats what we have to show again. Foyle MLA Gary Middleton wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Disgusted that once again Walkers Plinth has been targeted. The intolerance shown by those behind this attack is in stark contrast to the work carried out by the Siege Museum and the many visitors who come here to view the Plinth and the City Walls. Deputy Mayor and Siege Museum employee Darren Guy wrote on Facebook, Totally disgusted to yet again see the sectarian vandalism carried out on Walker's Plinth on Sunday night. People Before Profit Councillor also condemned the attack on the Walker Plinth. He said: "Paint bombing the plinth on Derry Walls serves no purpose other than raising tensions. "Playing into sectarian division won't advance any kind of progressive agenda. It's futile and counter to what people in the city want. "The Good Friday Agreement institutionalised sectarian division, but the vast majority of people want our communities to be free of it. "To build the movement for a 32 county socialist Ireland we must bring all people with us, not alienate and marginalise them. "People Before Profit campaign on a class not creed basis. Uniting working class people is the way forward." Planned strike action by police civilian staff later this week has been postponed following an interim agreement over danger money payments. The industrial action was scheduled to take place across July 11-13, one of the busiest periods for policing in Northern Ireland when annual Orange Order and Royal Black Preceptory parades take place as well as loyalist bonfires. On Tuesday, the trade union Nipsa said an interim agreement had been reached with the PSNI over the revised environmental allowance (REA). In a statement, Nipsa said it came after intense negotiations for an increase and improved terms of the REA for police staff. However they warned the interim agreement has not fully resolved the dispute, adding that action short of strike action will continue and further strike action will be considered if necessary. Police civilian staff have been calling for the delivery of an uplift to their 580 annual REA, known as danger money allowance, that was committed to five years ago. In comparison, PSNI officers currently receive just under 4,000 annually in acknowledgement of the ongoing threat they face. Civilian staff, who are involved in roles such as emergency call handling and scenes of crime work, have argued they feel they are under threat and undervalued, and are working in an effectively created two-tier workforce due to the disparities in pay and terms and conditions In a statement on Tuesday, Nipsa said: A series of meetings have taken place over the last few weeks with the Chief Constable, the Justice Minister for Northern Ireland and the Policing Board and these have led to the decision to postpone the planned strike action. It has been agreed that some of the terms on the business case, and a lump sum payment of REA, will be put in place as soon as possible. This interim measure will allow additional time to achieve full implementation of the business case and continue negotiations and as a result, the planned action has been called off and the PSNI staff will remain operational this week. This does not fully resolve the industrial dispute and the action short of strike action will continue and further strike action will be considered if necessary. However, Nipsa has been given assurances that REA will be prioritised for full resolution in the coming months and Nipsa remain committed to resolving this dispute through negotiation. Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long welcomed the move. The announcement by Nipsa to suspend strike action is welcome and shows a real and shared determination by all parties to resolve this long-standing issue to a successful conclusion, she said. I remain conscious of the need to undertake due diligence for public funds, however the discussions with Nipsa yesterday, and the proposal made last week, should offer reassurance to members. I do not underestimate the crucial roles police staff undertake across the organisation and I will continue to work with the Chief Constable and the Policing Board to aid them in delivering the longer-term sustainable REA position. HIGHLIGHTS Kenza Layli, a hijab-wearing AI-generated model from Morocco, has been crowned the worlds first-ever Miss AI. Miss AI is the worlds first beauty pageant for AI-generated models. Miss AI aims to showcase the technical skill and work behind digital influencer personas from across the world. In an unprecedented fusion of technology and beauty, the world witnessed the crowning of its very first Miss AI in a groundbreaking beauty pageant. This isnt your typical sash-and-crown affair, instead, it celebrates the marvels of artificial intelligence and its creators ingenuity. Kenza Layli, a hijab-wearing AI-generated model from Morocco, has been crowned the worlds first-ever Miss AI. Meanwhile, the runner-ups are Lalina from France and Olivia C from Portugal. This event marks a significant milestone in the evolving relationship between humans and machines, highlighting how technology can be beautifully integrated into our lives. As the world applauds Kenza Laylis victory, we are reminded of the limitless possibilities that lie ahead in the realm of artificial intelligence. Also read: Worlds first AI Beauty Pageant: List of 10 finalists, judging criteria & more In her acceptance speech, Kenza expressed her thanks for her latest win, I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to represent AI creators and to advocate passionately for the positive impact of Artificial Intelligence. Winning Miss AI motivates me even more to continue my work in advancing AI technology. AI isnt just a tool, its a transformative force that can disrupt industries, challenge norms and create opportunities where none existed before, Kenza added. What is Miss AI? Miss AI is the worlds first beauty pageant for AI-generated models brought to you by Fanvue the social subscription platform for AI-generated creators. Miss AI aims to showcase the technical skill and work behind digital influencer personas from across the world. The competition is also part of the World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs), which honours trailblazing creators in the AI domain. Also read: Meta AI vs Microsoft Copilot: Who generates better AI images? Check results List of 10 finalists Judges and Judging Criteria The panel of judges consisted of four members, with only two being real human beings and the other two being AI models. The judging panel included media founder and entrepreneur Andrew Bloch, beauty pageant historian Sally-Ann Fawcett, and AI creators Aitana Lopez and Emily Pellegrini. Each judge used their expertise to assess contestants across three core categories: beauty, tech, and social clout. A points-based system had been used to score each creator across the three categories with each entrant given an overall score. Japan invests in AI translation to boost ACGN export The Japanese government's intellectual property export strategy, known as the "Cool Japan" strategy, proposed its latest amendment in 2024. It identified translation as the primary obstacle in developing overseas markets for Japan's ACGN (Anime, Comic, Game, Light Novel) industry. To address this challenge, industry players are actively investing in AI translation technology, sparking controversy within the translation industry. Linguistic and cultural challenges in ACGN translation Japanese ACGN translation faces several difficulties, primarily due to linguistic factors. As an isolated language influenced by various foreign tongues, Japanese differs significantly from other languages worldwide. Beyond the official language used in government documents and national education, numerous commonly used dialects exist. ACGN often incorporates dialect references or wordplay based on puns, creating a cultural gap that makes it challenging for AI to accurately interpret these nuances. Industry practices also contribute to translation difficulties. Mainstream commercial ACGN typically operates on a weekly update system. According to a Nikkei report, Shogakukan, a major Japanese ACGN publisher, takes an average of seven days to translate manga manually. Using AI for initial translations with subsequent manual revision can reduce this process to three days. Purely AI-driven translation without proofreading could potentially make other language versions available simultaneously with the Japanese release. To combat rampant piracy, time is of the essence Timely translations are crucial in curbing overseas piracy, which is rampant in the Japanese ACGN industry. The absence of localized versions or significant delays between Japanese and localized releases leads to unauthorized translation activities by local Japanese-speaking fans and even profiteering by illegal entities, infringing on Japanese publishers' copyrights. Rapid official releases in multiple languages could significantly reduce related losses. Nikkei reports that the export value of Japan's cultural content, centered around ACGN, is approximately JPY4.8 trillion (about US$30 billion). A survey by Japan's Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) estimated that losses from overseas copyright infringement of Japanese content ranged from JPY395.2 billion to 831.1 billion in the same year, roughly 8% to 17% of the export value. Al translation advancement and challenges In response to these challenges, Japanese AI translation startup Mantra, founded in 2020, has received investments from major publishers Shogakukan, Shueisha, and Kadokawa. By incorporating LLMs to assist in analysis, the company has reduced the error rate for Japanese to English translation to 1.6%. Other companies, such as internet firm CyberAgent and film production company Orange, are also investing in AI translation technology. Despite the low 1.6% error rate, the Japan Association of Translators (JAT), with nearly 800 members, argues that AI still lacks the ability to process linguistic subtleties and consider different cultural contexts. A TV Tokyo report indicates that the ACGN industry acknowledges this limitation, which is why human translation remains valued, with AI translation primarily used for online weekly manga requiring timely release. Finding a balance between AI speed and human translation accuracy remains an unresolved challenge. According to Nikkei, Japan's cultural content export value in 2012, before the establishment of the Cool Japan Fund, was about JPY1.4 trillion. The industry has since maintained an average annual growth rate of 13%. The revised Cool Japan strategy in 2024 aims to sustain this growth rate and achieve over JPY20 trillion in cultural content exports centered around ACGN by 2033. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Inmates stand together in a yard at Central California Womens Facility in 2012 in Chowchilla (Madera County). An organizer with California Coalition for Women Prisoners said several incarcerated women begged for help as the temperature rose inside the facility during the heat wave. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle A woman incarcerated at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla died Saturday during a statewide heat wave and prisoner advocates are blaming her death on heat exhaustion. The woman was hospitalized on July 4 and died two days later, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson Mary Xjimenez said Monday afternoon. While an autopsy had not yet been completed, Xjimenez said the cause of death appeared to be the result of an ongoing medical condition and not heat related. But advocates with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners faulted extreme temperatures inside the prison for the womans death, citing reports from multiple people incarcerated in the Central Valley facility located halfway between Modesto and Fresno. In a statement, the organization said the woman became incoherent and dropped to the ground while taking a shower to cool off. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The organization called the womans death preventable and said inmates had reported widespread headaches, vomiting and other dangerous physical symptoms. Access to cooling spaces as well as cooling items such as ice chips, ice water, electrolytes and cooling towels are simple steps that could be taken to alleviate the situation but officers are not following heat protocols, the organization said in a statement Monday afternoon. Xjimenez said the prison was following a tailored operational response based on a state plan for preventing inmate deaths whenever excessive heat conditions exist. The spokesperson also said prison officials were closely monitoring the current heat wave to ensure Californias 32 prisons have appropriate resources to respond to high temperatures. The Sacramento Bee reported last year that the prisons cooling systems were faulty and had left inmates sweltering in summer heat. Inmates told the newspaper that locked cells often exceeded 80 degrees with little to no ventilation. A spokesperson for the Madera County coroners office, Kayla Gates, declined to identify the woman and referred questions to prison officials. Elizabeth Nomura, an organizer with California Coalition for Women Prisoners, said she was from Sacramento. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nomura said the organization received many distressing messages from people incarcerated at the prison as extreme heat descended on the Central Valley. Temperatures surpassed 111 degrees in Chowchilla over the weekend as a heat wave ushered in dangerously hot conditions, according to the National Weather Service. The statewide heat wave began July 2. Temperatures recorded by the weather service near the prison topped 108 degrees on Monday, even as parts of California were expected to see brief relief as a heat dome over the state shifts. It is horrible the amount of calls and emails we are getting from people inside just begging for help, saying Help us, help us, we cant breathe, Nomura said in an interview. Some inmates were tracking the heat using the temperature gauges on their digital clocks, said Nomura, who was formerly incarcerated at the prison. Temperatures reportedly exceeded 95 degrees inside some prison cells with no windows that hold up to eight people, she said. There is hot air blowing inside of our rooms, I have a huge migraine and I feel sick and other girls are throwing up, Trancita Ponce, an inmate at the prison, told advocates. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The organization urged corrections administrators to implement immediate lifesaving heat protocols at all California prisons, including access to ice and air conditioned spaces and regular medical checkups. Taiwanese firms keen to join Nvidia's Omniverse ecosystem to stay competitive in AI era As generative AI accelerates digital transformation across various industries, experts agree that future market competition will be defined by speed. This shift will significantly alter deployment processes in smart manufacturing, autonomous driving, and robotics. Nvidia's Omniverse platform is expected to play a crucial role in helping companies navigate these changes. Omniverse, frequently highlighted by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, is seen as the key to Nvidia's competitive edge over the next decade. Huang envisions an interconnected virtual world, a critical component of Industry 4.0, where Omniverse will play a pivotal role. Industry players are now actively seeking to join the Omniverse ecosystem to enhance efficiency and stay competitive. They recognize that slower training speeds could lead to products lagging behind in development and market entry. Software-defined full automation, including digital twins for design, simulation, verification, and operation workflows, will become increasingly vital in the future. In the AI era, the efficiency of digital processes has dramatically increased. While designing a 3D factory once took hundreds of hours, continuous AI learning now enables new designs to be created in minutes. Previously, robotic arms required specialized programming by engineers, but now modifications can be done through AI interactions. Jensen Huang's son, Spencer Huang, and daughter, Madison Huang, lead the robotics division and Omniverse respectively, underscoring the Omniverse platform's significance to Nvidia. Currently, AI training and deployment efficiency depend heavily on computing power. The number of GPUs developers possess and the AI training environments deployed are crucial to meeting application requirements. At the 2024 GTC, Nvidia announced its ongoing efforts to promote the Omniverse Cloud, which can be accessed via APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This allows 3D modeling developers and programmers, regardless of their familiarity with large models or generative AI, to connect and execute well-adjusted microservices, significantly lowering the development threshold. The first wave of incorporating Omniverse Cloud APIs into product development is mainly dominated by major global industrial software manufacturers such as Ansys, Cadence, Dassault Systemes' 3DEXCITE, Hexagon, Microsoft, Rockwell, Siemens, and Trimble. Taiwanese manufacturers are also proactively engaging with the Omniverse ecosystem. During a visit to Taiwan in early June, Nvidia's Huang announced the inclusion of 30 Taiwanese companies into the Omniverse ecosystem. Additional companies have expressed interest in joining as well. In the AI era, computing power is akin to oil, and for most enterprises, leveraging the capabilities of industry giants can help ensure them a place in the rapidly evolving market. Boeing's turbulence to disrupt Taiwan aerospace supply chain With Boeing's current struggles and no clear turnaround in sight, Taiwan's aerospace supply chain is increasingly looking to "domestic defense autonomy" as the primary driver for market growth. Taiwan's aerospace supply chain representatives recently revealed that the aerospace industry's challenges are having a cascading effect on the machine tool sector, as aerospace suppliers purchase machine tools for manufacturing and processing. Boeing has faced a series of manufacturing issues with its aircraft. In February 2023, a new Boeing 737 Max was forced to make an emergency landing due to a system failure on its maiden flight. In November 2023, a newly delivered 737 Max operated by United Airlines experienced engine failure at high altitudes. On January 8, two more Boeing 737 flights encountered problems while traveling between Japan and Guam. Boeing's Production Woes Impact Global Supply Chain As a result of Boeing's manufacturing quality issues, production has been restricted. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has expanded its oversight of Boeing, and the company has strengthened its internal controls. Data shows that Boeing's deliveries in the first quarter of 2024 dropped to 83 aircraft, a 36% decrease compared to the same period last year. Industry insiders reveal that "when Boeing encounters problems, many factories may collapse, and even those that survive will face operational impacts." The significant reduction in Boeing's production means delays in aircraft deliveries and shipments, adversely affecting the entire supply chain. Taiwan's Aerospace Industry Shifts Focus to Domestic Defense and Space Sectors While Taiwan's overall aerospace sales have continued to reach new highs in the past year, the proportion of exports most closely related to international aerospace companies has fallen from about 80% in 2019 to about 50% recently, according to statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Industry experts believe Taiwan's aerospace supply chain can achieve growth despite Boeing's headwinds by diversifying its customer base. This includes increasing orders from domestic defense autonomy policies and gradually expanding revenues from space-related projects. In contrast to Boeing's 36% year-on-year decline, Airbus has reported an 11.8% increase in deliveries due to normal operations. Boeing's challenges, including reduced shipments to China due to U.S.-China tensions and quality control issues, have left Airbus dominating the market. While some Taiwanese aerospace suppliers are part of the Airbus supply chain, industry sources reveal that Airbus has been gradually filling the gap in the Chinese aerospace market left by Boeing. By adopting Chinese suppliers to secure more orders, the benefits to Taiwanese companies from Airbus's growth have been limited. Boeing has been outperformed by Airbus in annual deliveries for five consecutive years, with the Chinese market playing a crucial role in determining global aircraft manufacturing leadership. Despite these challenges, Taiwan's aerospace sales continue to reach new heights. This suggests that Taiwan's aerospace supply chain has established a solid foundation for growth. If Boeing can return to normal operations and resume pulling orders, Taiwanese companies may see another peak in their business performance. The Flintstone House in Hillsborough was the site for a sold-out sushi popup until Stoneage Omakase, the catering company hosting the event, announced on Monday it has paused catering operations at the location due to concerns raised by the town. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2019 A sold-out sushi popup to be held at the famed Flintstone House in Hillsborough has temporarily shut down before it even started due to concerns from the town. Catering company Stoneage Omakase announced Monday night that it would temporarily pause operations at the Flintstone House, less than a week after releasing $230 tickets for high-end sushi dinners prepared by a chef with Michelin-star cred. Reservations reportedly sold out in under a minute. (D)ue to concerns raised by the city of Hillsborough, we have temporarily paused our catering operations at this location. As a catering business, not a restaurant, we are diligently working to address these issues with Hillsborough and will keep you updated on our progress, the business wrote on Instagram. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Friday, the Hillsborough Police Department sent the owner of the Flintstone House, Florence Fang, a letter warning her that the sushi business could be in violation of the towns zoning ordinance. Restaurants and other commercial uses are not permitted in a residential zone, even on a temporary basis, wrote Linda Stevens, code enforcement officer for Hillsborough police. You and the restaurateurs may not have been aware that this use would be illegal. Since you are now on notice about this restriction, please inform the operators that they may not open for business. In a statement, the owners of Stoneage Omakase said the business has been incorrectly classified as a restaurant, which has led to this misunderstanding. We look forward to working with the city to resolve this issue. Town officials learned about the popup last week from social media and a flood of inquiries from residents as well as the San Mateo County Health Department, said Town Manager Doug Davis. While Stoneage Omakase has described itself as a catering company, Davis said, On a first blush, it certainly appeared to be a restaurant that was advertising on the internet to the general public, which would be a violation of zoning ordinance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He declined to answer whether all catered events in a private home need a permit to operate in Hillsborough, and he said it depends on the size and purpose of the event. Fundraisers require permits, for example, while a catered wedding, he said, might not. The main goal is to allow people to do what they want to do in their own homes without disturbing other people in their own homes, Davis said. Theres a delicate balance allowing people to enjoy their private property without infringing on other people. Its not the first time the Bay Area landmark has battled with the town. In 2019, the town of Hillsborough sued Fang after she added a herd of enormous dinosaur sculptures and a sign reading Yabba Dabba Doo to the multimillion-dollar hillside property. The town, which later settled, alleged the additions were installed without proper permits and said they create a highly visible eyesore and are out of keeping with community standards. Fang, a former publisher of the San Francisco Examiner, countersued the town, claiming she had been discriminated against based on race. She dropped her lawsuit as a condition of the settlement agreement. After news of the sushi popup broke last week, several San Francisco Chronicle readers questioned the legality of the business operations and wondered if there would be pushback due to the Flintstone Houses history. The police department told Fang that maintaining an attractive, high quality living environment in Hillsborough is the responsibility of all residents and staff. Everyone must comply with zoning regulations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People who paid for Stoneage Omakase reservations will be refunded, according to the Instagram post. The post says the business plans to serve sushi at other Bay Area locations. References to the Flintstone House were removed from the business website as of Monday night, though photographs of dinners inside a cave-like room remained. Stoneage Omakases co-founders are Tim Cheung, a Bay Area food influencer, and Sean Fang, grandson of Florence Fang. A blurb about Fang thats since been removed from the Stoneage Omakase website said: Committed to continuing the Flintstone House legacy, he ensures the business maintains its core values while exploring new opportunities. Davis said the town has been inundated with messages about the Flintstone House dinners, both complaints and excitement. Im not saying it wouldnt be cool, if we can find a way to do it thats compliant with our zoning ordinance, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dundalk Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit divers, have been busy this last few weeks. Between regular training & recreational diving every Wednesday and Sunday, DSAC have been involved in a number of community activities. They recently assisted Inniskeen National School in their annual duck race, insuring everyone was kept safe, & all the ducks were removed from the water. Additionally they were also on standby with boats & divers for the Blackrock raft race. Some divers went to far off places, like the great barrier reef in Australia to dive and the annual club holiday took other divers to Sardinia. While those at home sought out dive sites at Islandmagee in Co. Antrim & this weekend gone to Mallinbeg in Donegal, were visibility & diving was perfect. The club also wish to congratulate one of their team Jamie Horgan, who has spent this last four months in Norway training for his commercial divers licence. Dundalk Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit are a group of Volunteer scuba divers who train all year round and are always on call should their services be required. They also work with all the emergency agencies throughout the island of Ireland. 2023 was the first year of collaboration between the Think Before You Flush campaign, Louth County Council and the Blue Flag programme, with the combined goal of educating beach goers around what should and should not be flushed down public toilets when visiting the coast during the summer months. 2024 has seen a continuation of this landmark collaboration and the goal remains the same; keeping Irelands beautiful Blue Flag beaches and marinas clean and tidy and protecting our spectacular marine habitats from sewage based pollution. The "Think Before You Flush" campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Eireann, emphasises the importance of appropriate flushing behaviour and disposal of items including wipes and other sanitary products, even if they are labelled as flushable. Only the 3 Ps: pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet, everything else should go in the bin. When items such as wipes and sanitary products are flushed down the toilet, they can cause serious blockages in waste water systems, causing sewage overflows which can pollute our rivers, lakes, beaches and coastlines. Recognising the urgent need to protect Ireland's remarkable coastal ecosystems, Louth County Council has united in their commitment to spread awareness about the campaign and promote responsible waste disposal practices. Under this collaborative effort, participating Authorities will display Think Before You Flush signage on Blue Flag Beaches and marinas, offering clear instructions on appropriate flushing behaviour, highlighting the main items people incorrectly flush down their toilets (the Dirty Dozen) and encouraging visitors to use designated sanitary waste bins. Bronagh Moore, Coastal Communities Manager at Clean Coasts, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaborative efforts and support of the campaign: It's fantastic to see Louth County Council supporting the Think Before You Flush campaign. This collaboration between councils and environmental programmes is crucial in safeguarding our Blue Flag Beaches. Their efforts and ongoing commitment to protecting our coastlines will help ensure vibrant ecosystems for future generations to enjoy. Talking about the importance of safeguarding our Blue Flag beaches and marinas Mary Hussey can take proactive steps to protect our coastal habitats. The success of this campaign hinges on the participation and support of Louths stakeholders, including the public, beachgoers, residents, and tourists alike. The hard work, and positivity of everyone involved is inspiring to see. This summer bathing season we are asking all water lovers to support our Local Authorities and the Think Before You Flush campaign in creating a surge of environmental responsibility. By making small changes, together we can have a huge impact. Let's upgrade our flushing habits and ride the wave of change towards healthier marine environments! The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is urging the public to be vigilant after receiving reports of bogus collectors operating in various areas. These individuals, who have been spotted with clipboards and selling lines, are not affiliated with IWA and are not legitimate collectors. The IWA has been made aware of bogus collectors in the following areas already: Naas, Kilkenny, Athlone, Navan, Arklow, Bunclody, Gorey, Waterford, Mullingar, Tuam, Ca rrick on Shannon , Roscrea, Portlaoise, Roscommon, Drogheda, Athy, Ennis and Carrickmacross. IWA wants to remind the public that legitimate collectors will always have a letter of authorisation from IWA, a garda permit, or a letter of permission from the supermarket where they are stationed. Additionally, all IWA collectors will be wearing a branded high-vis jacket and will have an IWA-branded bucket for donations. If in doubt, individuals are encouraged to ask for proof of identification from collectors. Any concerns or suspicions should be reported to the local Garda station for further investigation. For more information or to report any suspicious activity, please contact your local Garda station. The Congolese Community in Dundalk celebrated their independence anniversary recently The event was hosted by Congolese people living in Dundalk and Louth in collaboration with the Culture Connect organisation that is operating in the Louth region. The event took place at Geraldines Hall in Haggardstown on Saturday 29th June. Apo Ndendani aka Dan, the Chairman of the Congolese community, made a presentation on the Democratic Republic of Congo. The audience consisted of a mixture of members of different African countries, Irish citizens and other nationalities, including Eastern Europeans. The Chairman Apo Ndendani presented a short history of Congo from the Congo empire to the colonial past. The history of independence was especially marked, including the role of Patrice Emery Lumumba, who is considered by many in the Congo as the father of independence, who was later killed by Belgian colonialists with the support of some natives. The guests were captivated by his rise from a simple beginning to the first prime minister. It was a great eye opener for many that Congo has for centuries been a source of industrial development starting from rubber which was the major raw material for tyres in the 19th century, to the present day were a lot of modern development has profited from immense raw materials including cobalt for electric cars and coltan for mobile phone, at the cost of many Congolese lives. People also were surprised to learn that in 1945, the atomic weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were developed using uranium from a mine in the Congo. Those present also suggested that this information should not only be repeated but extended to a greater public. Some of them promised to contribute to the planning of a bigger event in order to have an in-depth knowledge of the matter discussed. The members of the Congolese community, as well as Africans and Irish people, recognised that Irish history has a connection to the Congo, where Irish lives were lost in the UN mission in Katanga in 1960. Eagle Times Staff NEW LONDON, N.H. Summer Music Associates presents two more concerts this summer as part of its 51st season. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8 at the First Baptist Church in New London, the five-member Alias Brass Company performs its extraordinary program, PRISM. The Uptown Jazz Tentet returns to New London at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 at the Sawyer Center Theater at Colby-Sawyer College. The Alias Brass Company demonstrates a broad artistic range by combining diverse elements of classical music, modern pop-culture, and all things in between to create an experience that is both engaging and exciting. Receiving critical acclaim for being captivating, diverse and innovative, Alias Brass continues to dazzle audiences across the globe. Committed to promoting an image of music that is inclusive, the Alias Brass Company strives to fulfill their mission of ensuring that music remains sustainable and thriving in todays society by presenting works that represent a variety of global styles, genders and cultures. Through setting an example that powerful music can be created by and for anyone, Alias creates a gateway into classical music for future musicians and music lovers alike. The Uptown Jazz Tentet was formed in 2016, with the concept of the band being developed by Willie Applewhite. Although several members are contributing writers, Applewhite and his close friends Brandon Lee and James Burton III provide the compositional backbone of the UJT. The decision of the 10-piece configuration was unanimous and important because it provides a sweet spot for large ensemble orchestration and small group flexibility. Composing for this instrumentation provides the wonderful challenge of writing for each members individual voice, because with 10 pieces, everyones part is extremely important. The UJTs style is grounded in the traditions of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Gil Evans, Thad Jones and many others. With that being said, we are inclusive of all of the other flavors of the jazz idiom. Their goal is to create music that is stimulating, inspiring, exciting and fulfilling. Tickets for the concerts are $25 for adults and $5 for students. They are available at the door, online at summermusicassociates.org, by phone at 603-526-8234, or at Tatewell Gallery or Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London. An unhoused man gathers his belongings during an encampment sweep on 13th Street in the Mission District of San Francisco in 2023. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2023 Regarding Editorial wrong about why homeless people move to S.F. Heres the reality (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, July 5): Apparently, Dr. Scott Tchengs medical school neglected the teaching of empiricism, i.e., having actual proof behind sweeping statements. I saw is not an assessment of a social issue. A study of San Franciscos homeless population showed that 70% were residents of the city before becoming unhoused. Like what Tcheng observed, some of the rest may have been sent here from cities. Even if true, we are still obligated to care for them, but perhaps the state needs to help balance our contributions. Studies on how to combat homelessness and addictions say the No. 1 step is to provide stable housing, which is an effective way to enable people to eventually find jobs and be productive members of society. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As much as I was disgusted by the letter from someone whose training (like mine) is to care for the ill and needy, I do agree with one thing he said. Our social services are a disaster. I dont point at those employed in service organizations but rather San Francisco politicians and bureaucrats who cant seem to effect change no matter how much money we give them. Catherine Cusic, San Francisco Make BART safer Regarding Woman dies after being pushed into oncoming train at S.F. BART station (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, July 2): The tragic death of Corazon Dandan would have been prevented if BART had a system of synchronized doors and platform walls that are common on airport and urban transit systems around the world. These should have been installed by BART years ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Instead, local leaders have wasted billions on a Muni Union Square-Chinatown subway that no one rides, and a vast, empty San Francisco bus terminal that only serves as a base for a showcase park. Unless such a safety system at all BART stations is installed, a similar tragedy will only be repeated. Jerome Garchik, San Francisco Time to go, Joe Joe Biden has rightly said that a Donald Trump victory would pose an existential threat to democracy in America. His lackluster television interview on Friday did little to assuage Democrats that he is up to the task of making that case to voters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Perhaps if he watched his own debate performance, he would understand why he must step aside. His insistence that he would be at peace with defeat if he gave it his all ignores that the stakes require a nominee who possesses the vitality and clarity of message to win decisively in November. Joe Biden has served the country well. He must now face reality and make way for new leadership. James Chambers, Alameda Media helping Trump As columnist Jennifer Schulze of the Heartland Signal noted, as of July 5, the New York Times had published 192 pieces on President Joe Bidens debate performance: 142 news stories and 50 opinion articles. Donald Trump was covered in 92 stories, about half of which were about the Supreme Courts immunity ruling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is probably indicative of news publications across the country. Yes, President Biden had a terrible debate performance. Yet, the media have not uttered many alarms at the lunacy Trump espoused during the debate and brought attention to his inability to form a cohesive sentence. Shame on you, journalists. To portray a false equivalency of impartiality, the media are handing the election to Trump and Project 2025, the far-right action plan for the country. Eileen Boore, Lincoln, Placer County Conflicting goals Regarding California to impose first-ever permanent water restrictions on cities and towns (Climate, SFChronicle.com, July 2): I read with some amusement and dismay about the state imposing tough, new water restrictions on cities and towns to prepare for a drier future. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Concurrent with these restrictions, the state is requiring cities and towns to build tens of thousands of new homes all of which, of course, will require new water hookups. 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 Is it just me or do others see the contradiction here? Edward Gazzano, Brisbane OpenAI uses hardball tactics to stifle dissent from workers about their technology, according to an open letter signed by nine current and former employees. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press 2023 It could save us or it could kill us. Thats what many of the top technologists in the world believe about the future of artificial intelligence. This is why companies like OpenAI emphasize their dedication to seemingly conflicting goals: accelerating technological progress as rapidly but also as safely as possible. Its a laudable intention but not one of these many companies seems to be succeeding. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Take OpenAI, for example. The leading AI company in the world believes the best approach to building beneficial technology is to ensure that its employees are perfectly aligned with the organizations mission. That sounds reasonable except what does it mean in practice? A lot of groupthink and that is dangerous. As social animals, its natural for us to form groups or tribes to pursue shared goals. But these groups can grow insular and secretive, distrustful of outsiders and their ideas. Decades of psychological research have shown how groups can stifle dissent by punishing or even casting out dissenters. In the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion, engineers expressed safety concerns about the rocket boosters in freezing weather. Yet the engineers were overruled by their leadership, who may have felt pressure to avoid delaying the launch. According to a group of AI insiders, something similar is taking place at OpenAI. According to an open letter signed by nine current and former employees, the company uses hardball tactics to stifle dissent from workers about their technology. One of the researchers who signed the letter described the company as recklessly racing for dominance in the field. Its not just happening at OpenAI. Earlier this year, an engineer at Microsoft grew concerned that the companys AI tools were generating violent and sexual imagery. He first tried to get the company to pull them off the market but when that didnt work, he went public. Then, he said, Microsofts legal team demanded he delete the LinkedIn post. In 2021, former Facebook project manager Frances Haugen revealed internal research that showed the company knew the algorithms often referred to as the building blocks of AI that Instagram used to surface content for young users were exposing teen girls to images that were harmful to their mental health. When asked in an interview with 60 Minutes why she spoke out, Haugen responded, Person after person after person has tackled this inside of Facebook and ground themselves to the ground. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Leaders at AI companies claim they have a laser focus on ensuring that their products are safe. They have, for example, commissioned research, set up trust and safety teams and even started new companies to help achieve these aims. But these claims are undercut when insiders paint a familiar picture of a culture of negligence and secrecy that far from prioritizing safety instead dismisses warnings and hides evidence about unsafe practices, whether to preserve profits, avoid slowing progress or simply to spare the feelings of leaders. So what can these companies do differently? As a first step, AI companies could ban nondisparagement or confidentiality clauses. The OpenAI whistleblowers asked for that in their open letter and the company says it has already taken such steps. But removing explicit threats of punishment isnt enough if an insular workplace culture continues to implicitly discourage concerns that might slow progress. Rather than simply allowing dissent, tech companies could encourage it, putting more options on the table. This could involve, say, beefing up the bug bounty programs that tech companies already use to reward employees and customers who identify flaws in their software. Companies could embed a devils advocate role inside software or policy teams that would be charged with opposing consensus positions. AI companies might also learn from how other highly skilled, mission-focused teams avoid groupthink. Military special operations forces prize group cohesion but recognize that cultivating dissent from anyone, regardless of rank or role might prove the difference between life and death. For example, Army doctrine fundamental principles of military organizations emphasizes that special operations forces must know how to employ small teams and individuals as autonomous actors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Finally, organizations already working to make AI models more transparent could shed light on their inner workings. Secrecy has been ingrained in how many AI companies operate; rebuilding public trust could require pulling back that curtain by, for example, more clearly explaining safety processes or publicly responding to criticism. 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 To be sure, group decision-making can benefit from pooling information or overcoming individual biases, but too often it results in overconfidence or conforming to group norms. With AI, the stakes of silencing those who dont toe the company line, instead of viewing them as vital sources of mission-critical information, are too high to ignore. A pilot scheme currently running in Cork City Hall sees the council canteens waste food each week transformed into a soil supplement used around the city. Every week, the canteen in City Hall produces approximately 120 litres of food scraps, and, since Christmas of last year, rather than all of that waste going into the brown bin, a portion of it is diverted into something called bokashi. Bokashi is a process which converts food waste and similar organic material into a soil treatment which adds nutrients and improves soil texture. The word bokashi comes from spoken Japanese, and while its origins are debated, its essential meaning relates to fermentation. As a process, bokashi is a composting technique which involves the fermentation of food waste in a special bin, turning unwanted scraps into a probiotic tonic for the soil. Bokashi bins use the addition of microorganisms to waste, increasing the speed of breakdown and cutting emissions. Erin OBrien, executive planner with Cork City Council, explained how unwanted food waste is being harnessed to improve soil quality for the citys greenery. We dont think about soil much, but healthy soil is the key to healthy trees and plants. Using low-tech methods like bokashi, we can convert our food scraps into a resource that improves the soil and helps green the city, Ms OBrien said. Bokashi still has limited use in Ireland, but environmentalists believe it has a lot of potential. It is a fast process, relatively low-tech, and requires limited equipment and limited space, and unlike traditional compost piles it does not require turning. Members of the public interested in bokashi will find that household-sized bins come small enough to fit under the kitchen sink and are readily available on-line from several Irish websites. San Franciscos Office of Economic and Workforce Development funds training programs for industries such as building construction. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle There was a time when Damien Stinson was working two jobs just to make ends meet and support his family. But in 2022, Stinson was admitted to HealthCare Academy, a city-funded jobs training program that prepares San Francisco job seekers for a career as an essential health care worker at no cost to the trainee. Six months later, he was working as a medical assistant for Kaiser Permanente with a solid income, benefits and advancement opportunities. The training was nothing short of life-changing. Unfortunately, the next San Francisco job seeker in need might not be able to replicate Stinsons success. Why? Budget cuts. HealthCare Academy, along with many other job training initiatives like TechSF, CityBuild Academy and others, depend on funding from the citys Office of Economic and Workforce Development. This support ensures the training programs remain free for all participants. For some nonprofits, the funding they receive from the office plays a significant role in their budget. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Mayor London Breed has proposed cutting the offices budget by more than $42 million over the next two years including over $4 million from its job sector training programs, which train San Franciscans for employment in high-demand fields like hospitality, health care, technology and construction. If that cut is approved by the Board of Supervisors, many of these programs will not be able to continue operating at their current level. That wouldnt just hurt the individual jobseekers, it would also harm our regions employers and the broader economy. Hiring has slowed across the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hiring is at 3.6% the slowest pace since 2017, excluding a brief dip during the beginning of the pandemic. Here in San Francisco, hiring is even worse. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the Bay Area experienced the least job growth of all regions of California over the past year at just 0.2%. Of course, all of this comes at a time when one-third of households in the state dont earn enough to cover basic necessities like rent and groceries. Its no surprise then that community organizations that offer job training programs have seen an increase in demand something we have both experienced at our respective organizations, Jewish Vocational Service and Mission Hiring Hall. Data shows that workforce training is a proven way to create economic opportunity and help job seekers overcome barriers to employment. Placed graduates of JVS training programs, for example, see a 135% average increase in earnings five years after completing their programs. Graduates of Mission Hiring Halls CityBuild Pro, a fast-track training program for administrative roles in the construction industry, receive an average starting wage of $75,000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Job training programs like ours often pay for themselves by stimulating income growth, and thats good for the economy. For example, the states $1 million investment in JVS training programs through the High Road Training Partnerships has generated $2 million in income for participating workers. Amid the Bay Areas rapidly rising costs of living, widening wealth gap, mass tech layoffs and an overall slowdown in hiring, job seekers depend on training programs supported by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. If anything, given the economic challenges so many in our city face, these programs need more, not less, funding. Reducing the budget for office would mean that many community-based organizations that rely on its grants would have to lay off staff, slash free training programs and reduce the number of job seekers they serve. Any reduction in services will inevitably hit workers from disinvested communities the hardest, including immigrants, people of color, the formerly unhoused and older adults. Employers will also take a hit. Workforce training programs ensure that there is a strong pipeline to fill in-demand positions in essential industries and prevent workforce shortages. CityBuild Academy, which offers free construction training, equips people with the skills to secure union apprenticeships across the Bay Area a crucial step to entering the industry. If programs like these are reduced, employers will struggle to hire skilled workers, productivity will slow and the local economy will stagnate. To be sure, the mayor is trying to address the citys budget deficit and cuts must be made to do so. But the drastic cuts to the Office of Economic and Workforce Development are not going to help job seekers or our economy. While nearly $60 million was restored to several city departments in a budget deal between the mayor and the Board of Supervisors Budget and Appropriations Committee in June, it is unclear how much of that will be allocated back to the nonprofits that provide job-sector-based training. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 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 Across the state, people understand that workforce training is good for the economy. Thats why over 80% of Californians are in favor of increasing government funding for such programs. The condition of Cork Citys Parnell Place bus station has been criticised in the Dail, but the minister for transport confirmed that upgrade works are to begin in 2026. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould asked Eamon Ryan for an update on funding to maintain the bus station and plans to renovate it. When tourists come to the city, this is their first stop, Mr Gould said. When they see the condition of it, it does not promote the country, or Cork, as a tourist destination. An accessibility upgrade, which includes some station enhancements, is planned under the public-transport retrofit accessibility programme. The project includes improved layout, signage, lighting, bathrooms, internal ramps and steps, as well as work at entrance doors, with the need for a changing facility also identified. He added: The project is estimated to cost 5.3m, and subject to available funding, is scheduled for construction in 2026. Mr Gould said: The minister has outlined more than 5m for works that will be started if funding is got in 2026. "The bus station is a disgrace to Bus Eireann and to the people of Cork, and it is a disgrace to this Government that it would allow people to go in there. "To give the minister an idea, a lady who contacted me uses the bus service and has to travel long distances to visit family. She has to wear incontinence pads, because she cannot trust that the toilets will be operational because they close in the evening time. When they are open during the daytime, some days they are in a condition where they cannot be used. The minister said that he did not disagree with Mr Gould, saying: Parnell Place bus station clearly does not meet the expected standards, which is why reconfiguration works are due to start the year after next. I would prefer them to start next year, he said. That state of Parnell Place bus station is because of decades of underinvestment and that is changing. I am very confident the money will be provided, and that would be in the budget cycle of the next Government. I absolutely agree: We need to upgrade Parnell Place bus station. The plans are there, the funding will be there, and it should be done. Mr Gould criticised the timeline: We need funding now. We need a proper bus station now. We need proper bus, toilet and changing facilities, and queried whether Parnell Place is even the right location for the bus station. Whatever about tourists, what about our own people, young people and older people, who are going in there now? Right now, it is not good enough, he added. Bus Eireann was contacted for comment. Airlines are to be encouraged to move routes and traffic from Dublin to Cork Airport, the daa chief executive has revealed, with the airport announcing it intends to expand by 40% to serve 5m people per annum over the next decade. Daa has said new incentives will be offered to airlines who are capped from growing at Dublin including lower charges in Cork airport. The revelation was made at the launch yesterday of Cork Airports Economic Impact Study, which revealed the airport contributed 1.045bn to the economy and supported more than 12,650 jobs in 2023. Launched by Minister of State for Transport James Lawless, EU Commissioner designate Michael McGrath, and Tourism Irelands chief executive Alice Mansergh, the report set out several positive accomplishments for Cork Airport. Expand Speaking at the launch, daa chief executive Kenny Jacobs said: Cork Airport will continue to expand its route network, including offering new incentives to encourage airlines that are capped from growing at Dublin to take advantage of Cork Airports great facilities. Mr Jacobs said there is a real danger of losing out to other countries while the Dublin cap remains in place, so offering airlines lower charges to move to Cork would help keep traffic in Ireland. He said: We have an ambition to grow Cork Airport to 5m passengers a year within the next decade, we want to grow 40%. Mr Jacobs said the 33% population growth predicted for Ireland by 2050 means that capacity for Cork Airport should further increase to 7m. The new scheme will see time-limited incentives to relocate over the next 30 months, he said, and they will be telling airlines who are not able to expand in Dublin that the best place you can go is Cork Airport. A lot of that capacity will stick, he said, adding that he does not predict a loss of flights or jobs if the cap in Dublin is lifted, as Cork is a great airport, it is extremely well organised, and we think when you get airlines to fly from Cork, they generally stay. Commercially viable Ms Mansergh said: Not every flight can simply be moved, but some can be, so were working really hard to identify those flights that would be commercially viable to bring to Cork. Mr McGrath said all Cork Oireachtas members work together despite their party alliances to support Cork Airport. We would not have tens of thousands of foreign direct investment jobs if we didnt have Cork Airport. He welcomed the airports aim of 5m passengers, saying this will require sustained investment over the next five years. There were many grim predictions during covid how long it would take Cork Airport to get back to their previous numbers, the truth is, it didnt take long at all. It is already beyond the pre-covid peak, and this year it is on to hit 3m. Pleasure Mr McGrath said that its always a pleasure to go through Cork Airport and that he hopes to see additional flights to Brussels so he can fly to and from Cork in his new role as EU commissioner. Minister of State for Transport James Lawless agreed that Corks quick bounceback from covid to having its busiest ever year last year was a testament to the growth that was possible for the airport. Theres no cap in Cork, so the skys the limit in every sense. Green Party members in Cork city have expressed confidence in their new party leader Roderic OGorman following his successful election. He was described locally as driven and a person with energy and vision who represents long standing understanding of the goals and principles of the party. The Green Party leadership contest was triggered after Eamon Ryan announced he was standing down after 13 years at the helm and would not be contesting the next general election. Mr OGorman, the Minister for Children and Integration, and Minister of State Senator Pippa Hackett both put their names forward to succeed Mr Ryan. At a press event in Bewleys Cafe in Dublin city on Monday, it was announced that Mr OGorman had won 52% of the votes of 1,896 Green Party members who cast their votes between July 4-7. He won 72 more votes than Ms Hackett. Grow As leader, I want us to hold our seats, I want us to grow our seats, Mr OGorman said as he set out his vision for the party. This is a challenge, but in the Green Party, weve never been afraid of the challenge. I want to win in every part of Ireland, because only by winning votes, by winning seats, do we have the capacity to implement those vital policies, we have to be out there fighting for every number one, fighting for every preference. I believe people vote for the Green Party because they know we can be counted on to get stuck in, to actually deliver. Thats what weve done. Thats what were continuing to do. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Lord Mayor of Cork Green Party councillor Dan Boyle said he was happy Mr OGorman was elected the new leader. He represents long standing understanding of the goals and principles of the party, and deep commitment to the future we must work towards, he said. Driven Meanwhile, Green Party councillor in the citys North East ward Oliver Moran lauded Mr OGorman as a driven politician and a person with integrity. "For as long as I've known him, I've seen how driven Roderic is by the party he now leads, what we stand for, the vision we share, and how hard he works so that that vision is something tangible in the real world. "Over the past four years, I've seen another side of him too, as he has endured personal attacks to deliver policies that this party stands for in circumstances where most other people would walk away. That's a rare kind of mettle and it demonstrates another depth to a man who I have always seen put other people before him, he told The Echo. Meanwhile, ahead of Mr OGormans election as party leader, newly elected Green Party councillor in the citys South East ward Honore Kamegni said he believed him to have the leadership, energy and vision to drive the party forward. BARRISTERS who work in criminal law in Cork and across the country have withdrawn their services today [Tuesday] in the first of three days of action this month in a dispute over pay. Protests are taking place at 16 courthouses nationwide including at the courthouse on Washington Street. Representative body for barristers in Ireland, the Council of The Bar of Ireland, said the withdrawal of services is an escalation on the action taken by criminal barristers all over the country on October 3 last, with the aim of seeking an independent, meaningful, time-limited and binding mechanism to determine the fees paid to criminal barristers by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme. The organisation said that following the first withdrawal on October 3, a 10% restoration was subsequently announced in Budget 2024, but said that even after this 10% was restored, the full range of FEMPI-era cuts that were applied across the public sector continue to apply to the profession, and the unilateral breaking of the link (in 2008) to public sector pay agreements has yet to be restored. This, the Council of The Bar of Ireland said, is despite a Government commissioned review in 2018 acknowledging that the reversal of the cuts was justified given the level of reform and flexibilities delivered by the profession. 'Left with no choice' It is with regret that we have recommended to criminal practitioners that they withdraw service again. No barrister wishes to be in this position, but we have been left with no choice, Sara Phelan SC, chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, said. The Government has just reported on the complete unwinding of FEMPI legislation this month, yet FEMPI-era cuts still apply to our profession. This is despite the fact that the role of criminal barristers has evolved significantly in that time frame, and we have at all times delivered on the required reforms and flexibilities. Yet, barristers continue to be treated differently to others in the criminal justice system and indeed to society at large. All we are seeking is fairness, and for appropriate investment in the criminal justice system, she continued. 'Inadequate fees' Sean Guerin SC, chair of the Criminal State Bar Committee, said the impact of inadequate fees is having a corrosive effect on the retention of counsel in criminal practice and this isnt just a matter that affects barristers, its also a matter of social justice. A lack of experienced and available barristers to fully and properly defend or prosecute a case, leads to inequality and injustice, which have an impact on everyone in society. Public trust in the criminal justice system should not be taken for granted, and must be protected, he said. The Council of The Bar of Ireland has recommended a withdrawal of service by criminal law barristers nationwide on the following dates: Tuesday, July 9, Monday, July 15, and Wednesday, July 24. Newly elected councillor Laura Harmon has submitted a motion to Cork City Council calling for it to advance plans to create a safe, outdoor, year-round swimming facility in the city. The Labour Party councillor for Cork City South West said she supports the creation of a Cork lido, which she said would bring huge health benefits for people accessing the facility. I support the creation of a Cork lido a safe, outdoor, year-round swimming facility in Cork city. This would bring huge health benefits, access to swimming for all ages, tourism, business and social benefits to Cork, she said. In 2021, the Lido Cork group spearheading the initiative announced that, following consultations with Cork City Council, the local authority had agreed to take the lead in sponsoring a feasibility study on the project and a draft report on the outdoor amenity in 2022 identified some potential sites. Ms Harmon said necessary funds now need to be sought by Cork City Council to support the facility. The Lee Baths closed in 1986, the year I was born since then we have had nothing like it in Cork city, she said. "There is a lack of swimming facilities in the city and everyone should have access to swimming and the chance to learn how to swim, no matter what age they are. Lidos are becoming increasingly popular again across Europe and there are more than 100 in the UK. Cork has an opportunity to rival or outdo Dublin in this area by creating a state-of-the-art lido facility. We need to be very ambitious about what we can do for Cork. Ms Harmons motion was submitted ahead of last nights council meeting and will be discussed at the Environment, Water & Amenity Strategic Policy Committee on September 17. Aidan OConnor has celebrated his 200th shout with the RNLI Crosshaven Lifeboat station. The first to attain the achievement at the station, Mr OConnor has been a helm for 24 years, since the station opened in 2000. His 200th shout began at the weekend with a request from Valentia Coast Guard to the volunteer crew to assist a motor boat with engine problems on the Carlane Bank. The crew made good progress in calm conditions before boarding the vessel and establishing a tow to the owners mooring at Drakes Pool on the Owenabue River. The lifeboat crew were Aidan, Ian Venner, David Venner and Conor Barry. The shore crew included Moira Kavanagh, Denise Marionne, Hugh Mockler, Alan Venner, James Fegan and Susanne Deane and launch authority was given by Hugh Tully. The lifeboat returned to the station at 8.55pm on Saturday and was recovered, washed down, and refuelled, before being declared ready for service again at 9.30pm that night. A Midleton-based retailer is one of seven businesses across Ireland that was issued with an enforcement order in the last month. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that Mercury Eastern European Food located at Unit 25 in Midleton Business Enterprise Park was one of seven businesses served with an enforcement order for breaches of food safety legislation under the FSAI Act 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020. The report noted a dead rodent under pallets on the shop floor where food was displayed, large accumulations of rodent droppings throughout the shop, on shelving and underneath pallets storing food, and food that was on sale appeared to have been interfered with due to evidence of gnawed packaging. The enforcement order, which was served on June 13 after inspectors found that there was or was likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health, was later lifted on June 25. Other orders Two additional closure orders were served on businesses under the FSAI Act 1998, including Board (the upper storey of the building) on 29 Clanbrassil Street Upper in Dublin 8 and Giraffe Childcare Limited on Merrion Road in Dublin - both of which have since been lifted. Two closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 on Chinese Gourmet Restaurant in Oldcastle, Meath which is still in effect and on Chrysanthemum in Rathfarnham, Dublin which has since been lifted. Two prohibition orders were also served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 on Johnson Best Food African Take Away in Dublin 1 and The Roadhouse in Mullingar, Westmeath. Reasons for enforcement orders Some of the reasons for the enforcement orders in June included two mouse carcasses under a sink and under a toilet; a significant amount of rodent droppings under a sink; evidence of rat infestation; inadequate pest proofing; flies walking on cooked chicken; a dead rodent under pallets on the shop floor; mould on walls and ceilings; and food being prepared and handled in a kitchen which was subject to a closure order. Chief executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, said: Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat. If anyone experiences unfit food, poor hygiene standards or notices a breach of food law in a food business, we encourage them to contact us via our online complaint form at www.fsai.ie/makeitbetter. Reporting inappropriate and unsafe food practices provides us with information that we can act upon. Food safety legislation is put in place to protect the health of consumers and to uphold the standards of the food industry. We strongly encourage food business operators to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of online resources, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses. A Cork man accused of slashing a Polish man with a knife when the injured party was visiting Cork city centre for a dance competition was refused bail at his appeal to the High Court. Judge Mary Dorgan was told today that the appeal by Shane Dineen was refused at the High Court. Shane Dineen, 30, of no fixed address, appeared by video link from prison and was remanded in custody until July 23. Sergeant John Kelleher said directions were not yet ready in the case. Solicitor Frank Buttimer asked if the matter that was taking time was the medical report on the injured party. Sgt Kelleher agreed that this would be the issue. Judge Dorgan said it was not an unreasonable amount of time for such a report. Detective Garda Maurice Hickey objected when the matter first came before Cork District Court to the bail application by Shane Dineen on a charge of assault causing harm to the Polish man on Monday, May 20. The detective said one of the grounds for objection was the seriousness of the alleged offence. At 2.50am on May 20, the injured party was outside the Premier Inn on Morrisons Island with six of his friends who were all over from Poland for a dance competition. Shane Dineen and a female companion approached the group and asked a female friend of the injured party for a cigarette, to which she replied that she didnt smoke. (The woman who asked for the cigarette) then slapped her across the face. (The man with the woman who was slapped) intervened by pushing the assailant away resulting in her falling to the ground. Shane Dineen and his female companion are then seen going towards the man. Shane Dineen then produces a knife that he had on him and threatens the people at the scene by waving it recklessly and menacingly towards them. It is alleged that he slashes the injured party on the right hand and forearm. (CCTV allegedly shows that) he then continues to threaten the other people and kicks at them, all the while brandishing the knife in his hand. The injured party flees to the hotel for safety. Shane Dineen attempts to follow him in, getting as far as the lobby, where he again brandishes the knife, Det Garda Hickey said. Shane Dineen said that if granted bail he could reside with a friend at Hillsboro, off Old Blackrock Road, Cork. A couple who claims they suffered profound trauma when they were told three months after their babys stillbirth at Cork University Maternity Hospital, post mortem and burial, that the babys brain had been retained have launched a High Court action. They claim against the HSE that three months after burying their baby son in 2018 they got a phone call telling them the babys brain was ready to be released. The babys mother, according to legal papers, had the absolutely horrific experience of hearing her sons brain had been retained and it is claimed she was so overwhelmed by the call, she vomited. The couple who are suing the HSE for nervous shock, it is maintained, were allegedly caused to suffer additional profound trauma over and above that already experienced by them at the time of their sons death. They are already suing over care received at CUMH claiming a congenital abnormality should have been identified in the antenatal period and they should have been counselled and prepared for what was to come. They claim there was an alleged failure to identify a major foetal abnormality. All of the claims are denied. In updated particulars presented last week the couple also claim there was an alleged failure to obtain their consent to retaining their sons brain and an alleged failure to ensure there was proper communication of information to them regarding the postmortem examination and organ retention policy. In their action it is also maintained there was an alleged failure to explain the need for retention of organs in advance with the parents and an alleged failure to inform them the babys brain had been retained and had not been released back to them for burial with his body. They also contend there was an alleged failure to hold a full and frank discussion with them about seeking consent to retain their sons brain. Their Counsel Dr John OMahony SC with Doireann OMahony BL said the call came out of the blue that their babys brain was retained. Counsel was resisting an attempt by the HSE to have the couples action specially fixed to begin before the High Court on Wednesday adjourned. Dr OMahony told the court these were badly hurt parents and they had suffered appallingly and he said it was ungracious, cruel and unmeritorious" of the HSE who he said has a "bottomless pit of resources to seek to adjourn the case. HSE counsel Luan O Braonain SC submitted the new allegations in the case regarding the brain retention fundamentally changes the case and the HSE needed time to look into the matter. Counsel said if the couple were successful on the retention issue it would have implications and make new law as the Supreme Court had last ruled in 2007 in relation to organ retention. On that occasion the Supreme Court held a Dublin couple was not entitled to damages from a hospital for nervous shock over the retention in 1988 of some of the organs of their stillborn daughter. In her submission to the High Court on Tuesday Doireann OMahony Bl for the couple said they have been through hell and back and it was coming up to the sixth anniversary of their sons stillbirth and death. She said it was their case that there was nothing new being pleaded in the case and their side did not consider the brain retention claims were an additional part of the claim. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds said the HSE was entitled to know the case that was against them and unfortunately the retention claims were only disclosed last week. In the circumstances and to be just to the parties the case stood adjourned. IIRELAND topped the EU table for drug deaths, with more than four times the average number of fatalities, according to a new report from the EU drugs agency. The European Drug Report 2024 shows Ireland had 322 drug-induced deaths in 2020 - 97 deaths per million people, compared to the EU average of 22.5. Estonia is in second place (95) followed by Norway (86). Death rates in many European countries are a fraction of what is happening in Ireland: including Germany (30), the Netherlands (26), Belgium (21) and Portugal (11). These spiralling drug deaths are happening at a time when Ireland is considering a move away from criminalisation for people found in possession of drugs for personal use- to a comprehensive health-led response. However, this approach is not without its critics and other countries where this approach applies are reconsidering a policy that tolerates open drug use amid a mounting death toll. The report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction (EMCDDA) warns of aggravating factors that will compound the figures. These include: a scarcity of heroin expected later this year likely to be filled with synthetic opioids such as nitazine; record seizures of cocaine in the EU in recent years; and growing concerns at the increasing strength of cannabis resin, the high potency of cannabis extracts and edibles, and the dangers posed by synthetic cannabinoids. The recent report of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use recommended that the State pivots from the status qua to a comprehensive health-led response to drugs, including decriminalisation for people found in possession of drugs for personal use. Assembly Chair Paul Reid said the Assembly was given the important job of considering what the State could do to significantly reduce the harm caused by illicit drug use. We have produced an Irish model set in an Irish context that represents a generational chance to improve the lives of many individuals, families and communities impacted by our current approach to drug use, he said. We owe it to them and society in general to embrace this opportunity. Government Chief Whip, Minister Hildegarde Naughton responded to the publication of the final report in January, stating that the recommendations will be considered carefully and with urgency and will undoubtedly lead to meaningful changes and improvements in how the State responds to these issues. However, one country that introduced a trial of decriminalisation for drugs for personal use has rowed back on the tolerance of drug use in personal spaces. In April, British Columbia abruptly reversed course on its landmark experiment decriminalising the possession of certain illicit drugs in public, citing mounting frustration and disorder in the Canadian province. Premier David Edby asked the government to reintroduce a ban on public drug use, though personal possession and consumption will still be allowed in private places. Keeping people safe is our highest priority, said Edby. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe. Similar to what is being recommended in Ireland, the province began its experiment of decriminalising but not legalising the possession for small amounts of illicit drugs, a move heralded as a constructive step towards a health-led solution rather than punishment of people who use drugs and suffer from addiction. The plan was initially to be trialled for three years and closely monitored at federal and provincial levels. Canadas health minister said it would serve as a template for other jurisdictions and make a difference in the spiralling overdose crisis that had engulfed British Columbia. Addiction is a health issue, it is not a criminal law issue, and that principle is what the entire decriminalisation project was about, said Premier Edby. It was about removing the stigma for people struggling with addiction, preventing them from potentially reaching out to others for help for fear of arrest, for fear of a criminal record. Mike Farnworth, provincial minister of public safety and solicitor general, supported Edbys approach: People are dying from deadly street drugs and we see the issues with public use and disorder on our streets, he said. As we continue to go after the gangs and organised criminals who are making and trafficking toxic drugs, were taking action now to make it illegal to use drugs in public spaces, and to expand access to treatment to help people who need it most. Portugal is another country hailed as a model for progressive jurisdictions across the globe since the introduction of decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use in 2001. While initial successes were reported with plummeting HIV transmission via syringes, a drop in prison populations by almost a fifth, and decreases in overdose rates as public funds were diverted from jails to rehabilitation, the policy is now beginning to show its flaws. In July last year, police in Porto were reported to be blaming a spike in the number of people who use drugs for a rise in crime in the city, while state-used paraphernalia - syringe caps, packets of citric acid for diluting heroin - littered pavements outside primary schools. Policy patrols increased but existing laws limited the ability to intervene. In our bid to confront the huge problem of drugs deaths in Ireland, is this what we want to see on our streets and public spaces, or is a more qualified approach to decriminalisation that limits legal drug use to private spaces, a better option? Many cities and county councils limit the consumption of alcohol in public places in Ireland - shouldnt similar rules apply to the open consumption of drugs? Ireland is the European leader in terms of its spiralling problem of drug deaths. A decriminalised model that relies on a criminal justice response must be urgently replaced by a comprehensive health-led response that is overseen by a dedicated and accountable Cabinet Committee on Drugs, chaired by the Taoiseach. However, recent evidence from trials in other countries suggest that this may need to be qualified by maintaining a legal ban on the use of drugs in public spaces Harm reduction measures, and treatment and recovery services need to be comprehensively funded and resourced, both in prisons and communities, as well as a much greater focus on prevention and recovery and greater supports for families and children impacted by drug use. The ability of the gardai to impact supply as well as comprehensively respond to drug-related intimidation and violence by organised crime groups needs to be strengthened and resourced. This latest report highlights the immense urgency to deal with the crisis of drug deaths in Ireland. There is no time to lose. Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork and former director of human health and nutrition, safefood. San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks with members of the press before greeting President Joe Biden at San Francisco International Airport in November 2023. Breed's office praised Biden following a joint call between him and other Democratic mayors on Tuesday. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whose spokesperson said she would be on a joint call among West Coast mayors and President Joe Biden, has voiced her support for President Biden in the past. John McCoy/Associated Press San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democratic mayors attended a virtual meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday evening as questions about his mental fitness persist. Biden has resisted calls to step down, insisting he is up to the job and fit to run for reelection. Many top Democrats have rallied around him, notably Gov. Gavin Newsom, who returned to California on Monday night after a long weekend of campaigning for Biden in swing states. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said Biden was energetic on the call and made it clear he would stay in the race. The president mostly focused on what he hopes to accomplish in a second term, including codifying the right to an abortion in federal law, and he contrasted his vision and accomplishments with those of former President Donald Trump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Steinberg said it was hard to tell whether other mayors on the call were convinced, as he was, of Bidens fitness for office. The call was held on Zoom, and only four or five asked the president questions, all of which were in the vein of inquiring how they could help him win in the upcoming election, Steinberg said. Steinberg said he has no doubt in Bidens ability to do his job, though he acknowledged he watched the debate with concern. He said the party needs to acknowledge Bidens weaknesses but also find a way to focus on his strengths. He described the conversation about Bidens mental fitness as a really important but painful discussion. Some I know see this conversation as reflecting a divided and weak party, and I see the exact opposite, he said. Our leaders care deeply about how fragile this democracy is and preventing the return to power of this person who attempted an insurrection. Breeds office released a statement after the call that praised Biden. The President and his administration continue to play a critical role through investments across a number of issues important to San Francisco, including a landmark infrastructure package, and have strengthened a concerted effort to disrupting the production and trafficking of fentanyl, the statement said. Mayor Breed looks forward to continuing to work with the President and his administration, and our federal partners on local issues important to San Franciscos future. Both her office and reelection campaign declined to comment Tuesday on whether she supports him remaining the Democratic Partys nominee for president. But Wednesday, during an interview with KTVU, she said Biden should stay in the race. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The call with mayors came after Biden met with Democratic governors last week at the White House. Newsom was among a handful who attended in person, while some attended virtually. He and other attendees reaffirmed their support for Biden after the meeting. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also attended the meeting and supports the president, his spokesperson Rachel Laing said. Spokespeople for San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao did not respond to questions about whether they would attend. Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, said she would be on the call but did not respond to follow-up questions Tuesday about whether the mayor thinks Biden should remain the nominee. On Wednesday, Bass posted a concise message supporting the president. I was on a call with the President and Mayors from across the country last night, she wrote on X. Im supporting our nominee, President Joe Biden. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Bass in the 2022 mayoral race. Bass tweeted her praise for them the day after Bidens disastrous debate against Trump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We were able to announce that homelessness is down in L.A. today because of strong leadership in the Biden-Harris White House, she wrote. Thank you Mr. President and Madam Vice President for your collaboration and your tireless work on this issue. Kenneth Fox A soldier who walked free from court last month despite being found guilty of beating a woman unconscious in a "vicious" street attack has been discharged from the Defence Forces. The Irish Examiner reports, Private Cathal Crotty, who beat Natasha OBrien unconscious, is leaving the Defence Forces on Thursday. He had seven days to appeal against an army decision last month to dismiss him over the 2022 attack. That appeal process has, according to sources, concluded and a senior officer has signed his dismissal papers. Once Crotty has handed back his standard issue equipment and uniform, and had his exit medical, he will be escorted off the premises at Sarsfields Barracks, Limerick. He beat Ms OBrien unconscious in a random street attack on May 29th, 2022, and boasted about it afterwards on social media. The 22-year-old, from Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, initially told gardai it was Ms OBrien who instigated the attack at OConnell Street, Limerick, but admitted his guilt after gardai showed him CCTV footage of him attacking her. Despite his actions, he walked free from court after now-retired Judge Tom ODonnell gave him a fully suspended sentence. The sentence prompted protests and criticism. But a spokesperson stated last month: The Defence Forces unequivocally condemn any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to or do not reflect our values. Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations. Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law it becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations. The Defence Forces has since confirmed 68 serving soldiers have been convicted in the last three years or are currently before the courts on a range of criminal offences. Sean McCarthaigh The discount retailer Dealz has been ordered to pay 7,000 compensation to a blind Irish Paralympian who was challenged at one of its outlets last year for bringing her guide dog into the store. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that Dealz had discriminated against Nadine Lattimore on grounds of disability over the incident which occurred in the Dealz store in the ILAC Centre in Dublin on the morning of June 30th, 2023. Ms Lattimore, a registered blind person, told the WRC that she was humiliated after she was called out for bringing her guide dog, Pilot, into the shop, which drew attention to the fact of her blindness. She also outlined her sporting achievements, including competing in track and field events for Ireland in the Paralympics in London in 2012. Ms Lattimore said she had gone to the Dealz store at around 9.30am to purchase some helium balloons for an event later that day after having dropped her son off at school. The WRC heard she was very familiar with the shop and knew some of the staff who had always been helpful in the past. Ms Lattimore said she became aware of voices or a commotion behind her as she was making her way carefully to the cash register to look for assistance. Although she did not think it was anything to do with her, a security guard approached her and said: Excuse me. That dog is not allowed in here. Ms Lattimore said she felt humiliated, embarrassed and somewhat vulnerable. She asked to see a manager and a shop assistant who came over to her also went away immediately to find the person in charge. Ms Lattimore confirmed she had no problem with Dealz staff, apart from the initial confrontation with the security guard. The WRC heard the manager arrived immediately and confirmed the dog was welcome in the store and the mistake should never have happened. He explained the issue had arisen from the rotation of security guards. Apology Under cross-examination, Ms Lattimore acknowledged an apology had been made, including one from the security guard. However, she expressed concern that the situation had arisen at all. Ms Lattimore said she should not have been put in a position of having to identify or explain her disability. She described how difficult standing her ground during the incident was as she had no idea how many people were watching on. The WRC heard that she told the manager that she could be making a complaint about the incident, and they shook hands before she left the store. Legal representatives for Dealz expressed regret at the outset of the hearing about the incident, but denied responsibility for any discrimination. However, they stated that any allegation of discrimination was a source of dismay for the company. Dealz claimed Ms Lattimores claim against the company was misconceived as it sought to distinguish between its staff and security staff contracted to work on the premises. WRC adjudication officer, Penelope McGrath, noted that Ms Lattimores version of events had not been challenged by Dealz, which had put forward no evidence to rebut her claims. Ms McGrath said she was satisfied that even the most cursory of glances would immediately identify her dog with its reflective harness, vest and rigid handle frame as a working guide dog. She ruled that Ms Lattimore had established a prima facie case of discrimination contrary to the Equal Status Act and had been made to feel other. The complainant has not willingly returned to this shop where her disability was broadcast, and her humiliation was complete, Ms McGrath said. However, she acknowledged that Dealz management had swept in to ameliorate the situation as quickly as they could, which Ms Lattimore had acknowledged. The WRC said it did not distinguish between staff employed directly by Dealz and agency or contracted staff. Awarding compensation of 7,000, Ms McGrath also directed that Dealz staff be trained on a repeat basis on the provisions of the Equal Status Act and the associated duties of service providers. She also directed that signs stating guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome should be displayed at entrances to their stores. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Ovenden Moor Wind Farm in West Yorkshire in Ogden near Halifax, UK opened in 1993 with 23 turbines, pictured here on June 5, 2023. Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images The United Kingdoms new Labour government has lifted the de facto ban on onshore wind projects in Britain. Both energy experts and environmentalists were in support of the move, which will be confirmed when parliament resumes on July 18, reported The Guardian. Delivering our clean power mission will help boost Britains energy independence, save money on energy bills, support high-skilled jobs and tackle the climate crisis, officials wrote in a policy statement. We are therefore committed to doubling onshore wind energy by 2030. That means immediately removing the de facto ban on onshore wind in England, in place since 2015. We are revising planning policy to place onshore wind on the same footing as other energy development in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF, which governs the construction of homes and infrastructure, originally contained two footnotes that caused the ban. The footnotes only applied to onshore wind and required proof that no local opposition existed, effectively making the building of turbines impossible. The footnotes have been deleted in Labours new draft of the NPPF. On Monday, newly appointed Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the absurd restrictions put in place by the conservative government in power for the past 14 years would end, Euronews reported. Reeves added that Labour would discuss the prospect of wind farms being considered nationally significant infrastructure projects, meaning that energy secretary Ed Miliband would approve them rather than local councils. Reeves said trade-offs would be necessary to allow onshore wind developments to move forward, but rejecting them could not be the default. The story of the last 14 years has been a refusal to confront the tough and the responsible decisions that are demanded, Reeves said, as reported by Euronews. This government will be different and there is no time to waste. A study by University of Exeter researchers and Friends of the Earth in April found that the use of not even three percent of Englands land for solar and onshore wind could produce 13 times the renewable energy that is currently being generated enough to power two times the countrys households. By ending the onshore wind ban in England, Labour is making an important stride towards delivering on our climate goals while also paving the way for lower bills, as renewables produce some of the cheapest and cleanest energy available, said Mike Childs, Friends of the Earths head of science, policy and research, as The Guardian reported. A Border Patrol agent gives a group of unaccompanied minors water after they were apprehended on Feb. 4 outside Eagle Pass, Texas. Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images A federal judge has granted the Biden administrations request to repeal a 1997 legal agreement, known as the Flores settlement, that required the government to place immigrant youths in a licensed state facility before releasing them to a parent or guardian. The settlement, in a suit filed in 1985 by Jenny Flores, a 15-year-old girl who had fled El Salvador, requires immigration officials to place unaccompanied minors in the least restrictive setting available and release them without unnecessary delay to a parent, adult relative or guardian, while immigration courts decide whether they can remain in the country. About 7,700 youngsters are now held in those facilities, for an average of about a month before release, according to federal agencies, although some are detained for months before a parent or guardian can be located. Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Donald Trumps administration sought to end the Flores settlement in 2019, contending it had become unworkable because of an influx of immigrants at the Mexican border. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee of Los Angeles disagreed and left the settlement in effect. The settlement was not intended to be permanent, however, and President Joe Bidens administration moved to terminate it last October, saying the youths would be adequately protected by new federal regulations. The action was one of several Biden has taken since Republicans and foes of immigration started accusing him of an open-border policy amid an increase in undocumented entries. Last month the administration banned political asylum the right to remain in the U.S. for those who face political persecution in their homeland for most migrants who had crossed the southern border without authorization, and said immigration officers could deport them without a hearing. In the case in Gees court, immigrants rights advocates said the youths had lost important protections in 2021 when Texas and Florida which between them are home to about 60% of the minors held in state custody after entering the U.S. ended licensing requirements for the custodial facilities. Those facilities still hold the youths for a month or longer, but are no longer subject to state licensing regulations. Those include monitoring and periodic visits by an independent overseer, who can shut down noncompliant operations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gee, however, said she accepted the states assurances that they have continued to monitor the facilities, and the Biden administrations argument that new nationwide regulations would provide increased and adequate protection. California and several other states still require licenses for state facilities temporarily housing immigrant youths. Under federal law, the Department of Health and Human Services has a duty to promptly place unaccompanied children in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child, Gee wrote. Her ruling took effect this month and replaces the Flores settlement with the new federal regulations. Lawyers for the youths said Monday they would also monitor the facilities and report any mistreatment to federal officials. But they said they fear protections will weaken under the new regulations, even more so if Trump returns to office. Texas and Florida are playing politics with the lives of detained immigrant children seeking refuge in this country, said attorney Mishan Wroe of the National Center for Youth Law. She said federal officials had a duty to replace the protections that Texas and Florida have withdrawn, but instead, they moved prematurely to terminate the settlement before they had a real solution in place. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Attorney Leecia Welch of the advocacy group Childrens Rights said she has met with hundreds of youths in immigration custody during the past eight years, and if the American people could see what she and a colleague have seen, they would understand why children in government facilities need independent monitors looking out for them. If government officials fail to provide adequate safeguards as ordered by Judge Gee, Welch said, we will be back in court. In 2024, the existing battery capacity in the United States/Europe is planned to be 968/1843GWh, compared with the global battery production of 940GWh and China's export of 150GWh in 2023. In 2024, the overseas production capacity of China's lithium battery industry chain will exceed 500GWh, with a cumulative investment of more than 32 billion US dollars. The investment in midstream battery manufacturing will reach 22.4 billion US dollars (2023), accounting for 79% of the total investment in electric vehicles. The journey of domestic lithium battery companies to go overseas: low-cost > FTA country production + Chinese technology - > the global market. In the early stage, Hungary and Turkey were the main overseas destinations (Hungary has a planned production capacity of more than 215GWh in 2024). Then successively opened the production capacity layout of the United States, Japan, Southeast Asia, Germany and Spain (90/20/10/50GWh in 2024 is expected to be 90/20/10/50GWh respectively). In recent years, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East and North Africa have gradually evolved into new hot spots for factory construction due to the outstanding dividends of new energy policies and population resources. The main track is booming: the demand for large reserves is strong, and the momentum remains high Total: According to ABIA, the output and sales volume of China's power & other batteries from January to April 2024 increased by 41%/36% year-on-year, with a scale of 263/233GWh respectively. According to SNE Research, the global installed capacity of power batteries from January to April 2024 was 215GWh, +22% year-on-year. We previously judged in the 2024 strategy report that consumption and power performed well, and energy storage showed a low before and then a high. According to the data from January to April 2024, domestic power/energy storage is expected to maintain a year-on-year growth rate of 33%/103% respectively (sales volume), and energy storage significantly exceeds expectations, mainly due to the strong global demand for large storage and the smooth transfer of energy storage. In addition, the overall recovery of consumer electronics in 1Q24, and the global sales of mobile phones and PCs increased by 19%/2% year-on-year, driving strong demand for consumer batteries, which is in line with the previous judgment. We recommend it in order according to the prosperity of the main track in 2024: energy storage, consumption, and power battery track. Among them, the overall pattern of energy storage has improved, the head battery factory has sought the possibility of price increases, and the profit has been repaired since 1Q24. Consumption has benefited from the recovery cycle of 3C and tools, with strong overall demand and improved profitability. Chinese demand remains strong, while overseas demand is weak due to fluctuations in the European and American electric vehicle cycles. The total volume will maintain the 30% growth forecast in 2024. Source: SINOLINK SECURITIES Google announced in an update on Tuesday that its dark web monitoring service, also known as dark web report, will be made available to all Google users in 46 countries including the US and UK at the end of the month, according to Fast Company. The feature was previously only available to users with a Google One membership. The dark web report will be located in the Results about you page when you visit myactivity.google.com. Googles dark web report feature will scan the seedy underbelly of algorithms that ended up on the wrong side of the digital tracks to determine if your personal information has been leaked. This includes information such as your name, address, phone numbers and email accounts. Its a handy feature to have especially if youre one of the millions of people whove fallen victim to hacking, info leaks or identity theft. Just a few months ago, 7.6 million AT&T customers had their information leaked to the dark web forcing the telecom giant to reset all of its affected users passcodes. Other services like Proton Mail and LastPass already have features that monitor the dark web for user information and leaked passwords and alert them if they find anything. President Joe Biden speaks with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,following a speech at Prince William Forest Park on April 22, 2024, in Triangle, Virginia. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, expressed support for President Joe Biden following a Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Court Accountability WASHINGTON Younger Democratic lawmakers are largely standing behind President Joe Biden as his party debates whether he should continue running for reelection. Their reasons vary, but several referenced Bidens efforts in areas that matter to younger voters like climate change, gun violence and student loans. Their support provides a crucial boost to Biden, 81, whos confronting criticism centered on his age. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Out of some of the longest-serving members of party leadership, President Biden has uplifted and seriously empowered younger members of the party, almost the most out of all of them, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 34, told the Chronicle. Ocasio-Cortez is a prominent progressive lawmaker known for bucking her party establishment and has been outspoken about the need for a new generation of leaders. This is not just about token support and invitations. He has actively thrown weight behind the lawmaking and policy ideas of younger and progressive members of the caucus, Ocasio-Cortez said, citing the Civilian Climate Corps, the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and a recent rule to protect workers from the health risks of extreme heat. Bidens uneven performance in a debate against former President Donald Trump, 78, on June 27 ignited a firestorm about the presidents fitness for another term, a blaze that the White House has been unable to snuff out despite Bidens assurances that hes up to the job. While some expected a new flood of Democrats to come out against the president after Tuesday mornings meeting of House Democrats, the numbers have held steady. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, 43, wrote on X after the caucus meeting that JOE BIDEN IS THE NOMINEE. He said hes not stepping down & so I, Congresswoman Jasmine Felicia Crockett, Esq., AM RIDING WITH BIDEN; Period! This week is pivotal for Biden, with many expecting that his ultimate decision on whether to continue in the presidential race will be determined by the time Congress leaves town on Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dozens of lawmakers have continued to publicly support Biden, with some of the most vocal coming from the younger and more progressive wings of the party. Young lawmakers who have expressed confidence in Biden include Reps. Robert Garcia of Long Beach (46), Sara Jacobs of San Diego (35), Ocasio-Cortez, Maxwell Frost of Florida (27), Crockett, Haley Stevens of Michigan (41), Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts (36), Gabe Amo of Rhode Island (36) and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota (41). Biden has delivered for young people across this country, including efforts to lessen climate change, provide student loan relief and take on millionaires and billionaires, Garcia said. I think everyone understands that the president is a bridge to the future. Once the president wins reelection and he completes his term, there is a generation of Democrats that are going to take on leadership that are going to be providing the message of the future of the party, Garcia said. In the meantime, Biden will continue to uplift that message, he said. Some younger members, however, have expressed concerns. Rep. Summer Lee, 36, of Pennsylvania echoed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in calling for Biden to prove himself to voters, and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, 36, of Washington said the time has passed for a different candidate, but that she expects Trump will win. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Tuesday, the FTC unanimously banned the social messaging app NGL from hosting minors as part of a $5 million settlement. The first-of-its-kind ban comes after revelations that the company actively marketed the app to children with bait-and-switch tactics, false claims about AI moderation and the targeting of popular kids (like cheerleaders) to try to lure others onto the predatory hellscape. NGL marketed its app to kids and teens despite knowing that it was exposing them to cyberbullying and harassment, FTC Chair Lina Khan wrote in an agency press release. In light of NGLs reckless disregard for kids safety, the FTCs order would ban NGL from marketing or offering its app to those under 18. We will keep cracking down on businesses that unlawfully exploit kids for profit. The FTC and the Los Angeles DAs office worked together on the complaint, which paints a picture of an exploitative business that prioritized building its social graph above honoring even the most fundamental of ethics. (Sound familiar?) Although NGL is still a relatively niche app with nowhere near the popularity of Instagram, TikTok and other first-tier platforms, it has exploded in popularity, according to The Washington Post. In 2022, it briefly became the most downloaded app on the iOS App Store. The company markets the app as a place to message anonymously with unknown friends and contacts from other social channels. That alone sounds like a recipe for disaster. But the FTC says the company made it much worse with false claims of using world class AI content moderation with deep learning and pattern matching algorithms to prevent cyberbullying and other concerning behavior. It also sent fake, computer-generated messages which users believed were from their real friends with provocative prompts like Are you straight? and I know what you did. In addition, the companys predatory business practices also allegedly included bait-and-switch upsell tactics, which promised to reveal the identity of anonymous friends (which may have been fake) if they paid up to $10 weekly for a premium subscription. After paying, the service would only supply useless hints like the messages timestamp, the senders general location and whether they used an iPhone or Android phone. It would also turn on recurring, hard-to-cancel charges that users didnt expect. Even worse, Joao Figueiredo, one of the companys co-founders, allegedly directed employees to look on high school cheer [Instagram] pages to find kids who are popular to post and get their friends to post. One user allegedly reported that their friend attempted suicide because of their experience on NGL. When consumers complained, NGL executives allegedly laughed them off as suckers. The FTC and Los Angeles DA added that NGL violated the COPPA Rule. It requires companies with apps that are directed to or knowingly being used by children under 13 to inform their parents about the personal information they collect. Other accusations include a violation of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act. In addition, the dumpster fire known as NGL allegedly made no attempt to verify users ages, failed to obtain parental consent to collect and use data from preteen children and failed to honor parents requests to delete childrens data. Finally, the company supposedly retained childrens data longer than reasonably necessary to fulfill the purpose for which the data was collected. Under the settlement terms, NGL and its cofounders have agreed to pay $4.5 million to provide redress to consumers and a $500,000 civil penalty to the LA DAs office. From now on, the company will have to require an age gate that prevents new and current users under 18 from using the app, deleting all info associated with those under 13, agreeing not to misrepresent the origins of messages, make false claims about AI tech and received consent from consumers before billing them for subscriptions (while making canceling recurring charges simple). It remains to be seen whether the FTC can use the unanimous, bipartisan ruling against NGL as a precedent to go after bigger fish in the social sphere using egregiously unethical marketing tactics of their own. The summer is usually a quiet time for tech news but Samsung is about to shake things up a bit. The next Samsung Unpacked event is set for tomorrow, July 10. It will take place in Paris at 3PM local time, which is 9AM ET. If you want to tune in live, all the details for how to watch Samsung Unpacked are right here. The company released its Galaxy S24 devices earlier this year after its first Unpacked of 2024, so its highly unlikely that well see new versions of the traditional smartphone format here (perhaps save for Olympics-branded models given Samsung's sponsorship of that event). However, theres a decent chance that Samsung will show off its latest set of foldables. Rumors are suggesting that its ready to reveal a new smartwatch too. And then theres the small matter of the smart ring that Samsung has been teasing this year. What we expect from Samsung Unpacked July 2024 Samsung Galaxy Ring Samsungs smart ring is its most intriguing upcoming device. Its a brand-new product category for the company, though Samsung has been preparing for it by refining its health and wellness tech in its other devices over the last few years. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is slated to arrive in or around August, according to the company itself, so it would be more of a surprise if the device didnt appear at Unpacked. After first teasing the wearable during Januarys Unpacked, Samsung revealed more details about it in February. The Galaxy Ring will be available in three colors platinum silver, gold and ceramic black and multiple sizes. The ring will measure heart rate, movement and breathing to help track your sleep. Its expected to support fertility tracking too. The Galaxy Ring will also be able to pair with a Galaxy Watch, so if you wear both, youre likely to get more accurate health data. Samsung Naturally, the Galaxy Ring will be compatible with Galaxy phones but Samsung is aiming to make it work with other Android handsets. As of February, iOS compatibility was to be determined, so perhaps rival device Oura will remain the go-to choice for many iPhone users. For what it's worth, some of the company's smartwatches are compatible with certain iPhones and non-Samsung Android phones. Samsung has yet to reveal the exact release date and pricing for the Galaxy Ring. However, that information is almost certainly going to be announced at Unpacked. Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 Its probably the right time for Samsung to roll out new foldables as we move into the back half of the year and (dont say it out loud because summer has just started in the northern hemisphere) the holiday shopping season. We may very well see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and and Galaxy Z Flip 6 at Unpacked. The updates are expected to be relatively minor. Rumors suggest the Z Flip 6 will get a modest battery capacity increase to 4,000 mAh, an option to increase the RAM to 12GB and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Camera upgrades also seem likely, with Samsung said to be bringing the same 50MP camera seen in the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 to the Z Flip 6. As for the flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, that's expected to have the same size screen and thickness as last year's model. The cover screen may adopt Corning Gorilla Armor for improved durability along with anti-reflective tech. It doesn't seem that the cameras will be upgraded, while there may only be a very small increase to battery capacity. It's a safe bet that there will be a chipset upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, though. Meanwhile, one leak has suggested that both devices are getting a $100 increase compared with last year's models. We'll need to wait until Unpacked to find out for sure whether that's the case. There has also been some chatter around a more premium Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, as well as slim versions of both foldable formats. However, these may arrive alongside the Galaxy S25 lineup in early 2025. If they appear at the July Unpacked event, it's likely to be a tease at most. Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Ultra Galaxy Watch 7 listings popped up early on some online stores, so we'll probably see that wearable show up at Unpacked too. It's expected to have a 3nm chipset that could improve power efficiency and performance. The health sensors are likely to get an upgrade too. This being 2024, there will naturally be some AI-powered features. A listing detailed AI-powered sleep, exercise and communications features, including a smart reply function for the latter. That's not all, though, as there are indications that a Galaxy Watch Ultra is on the way too. A number of leaked images suggest it'll be chunkier than standard Galaxy Watch models. The device is expected to have a rectangular design with a round watch face. Most intriguingly, the Galaxy Watch Ultra could have a digital crown-style dial and button combination on the side instead of a rotating bezel for navigation. Rumors peg the price at $700, which would be far more expensive than other Galaxy Watch devices. Here's hoping Samsung has packed enough features in there to make it worthwhile. Official Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra & Galaxy Ring Charger renders Literally, almost all things about the Samsung Unpacked have been leaked as always pic.twitter.com/EXFZOnWRV1 Tim Tom 0 (@Tim_tom_0) June 16, 2024 Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro It's been a couple of years since the last Galaxy Buds models (not counting last year's FE variant), so those are due for an upgrade. It's likely that we'll see both Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro at Unpacked on July 10. The two models will be available in silver and white colorways and have an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, along with SmartThings Find support, according to Android Headlines. As with the Buds 2 Pro, it's expected that the Buds 3 Pro will have a two-way speaker designed to deliver richer audio, while the regular Buds 3 will have a one-way speaker. The higher-end model is also said to offer adaptive noise control, blade lights and ambient sound. Buds 3 Pro are also expected to deliver longer battery life than the more budget-friendly model, though both are believed to have active noise cancellation. There's one other big anticipated change as word on the street indicates Samsung is set to mimic Apple's AirPods by adopting a stem design. Whether you're a fan of that format or not, there's one clear advantage of the stem: it places the microphone a little closer to your mouth, which should improve call quality. For what it's worth, when Samsung revealed the Galaxy Buds Live in 2020, it said those lacked an "awkward stem." Galaxy Reserve pre-order deals Like it's been doing in recent years, Samsung has already made it possible to reserve "one of the next generation of Galaxy devices on Samsung.com." That'll make you eligible for "instant Samsung Credit" of $50 and "up to $1,500 in savings when they pre-order." Of course, this doesn't tell us much about what to officially expect from the company, but it's a sign there'll be at least something to reserve, right? This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Representative Lloyd Doggett has become the first congressional Democrat to call on President Joe Biden to cease his race to seek re-election. The move follows Biden's recent performance during his presidential debate against Donald Trump, which has been widely criticized and has left many within the party feeling reportetdly concerned. According to 'NPR,' Representative Doggett expressed his disappointment with Biden's debate performance. "I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that," Doggett, 77, said. "It did not." Biden himself has commented on his less than stellar performance during the debate. "The fact is that you know, I wasn't very smart," ceiling poorly timed travel between different time zones as the reason he was off his game. His comments reflect a reported growing unease within the Democratic ranks about Biden's ability to galvanize support and present a strong front against the purported Republican presidental candidate Donald Trump. During the debates, Biden, 81, seemingly struggled to effectively counter the barrage of attacks from Trump and articulate his achievements in office. "Instead of reassuring voters, the president failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump's many lies," Doggett said in a statement, according to the 'Texas Tribune.' Per the 'Daily Mail,' Doggett was the first but not the last to openly express their discontent with the current president's bid to run again. Joe Manchin, a centrist politician, said candidly, "Nobody wants to be the first one to knife Julius Caesar." Senator Tammy Baldwin confirmed that she will not stand on stage with the president as he campaigns in her state of Wisconsin. She is currently up for re-election herself. The second debate between Trump, 78, and Biden is scheduled for September 10th. An Oklahoma judge who was indicted for drive-by shootings has been charged with more crimes including gross neglect of duty, corruption and misuse of his position. Judge Brian Lovell was previously arrested almost a year ago in September 2023 for shooting cars that were parked at an intersection. It is alleged that six cars in Travis County, Texas, were shot. After the shooting, Lovell allegedly tried to run from the scene. During his escape, he reportedly hit a woman's car two times in a row, 'Fox News' reports. When later questioned, he attested that the woman had cut him off. His repeated contact with her car almost sent her into traffic. He was also accused of shooting multiple bullets into his brother-in-law's home. The weapon used in both shootings, a .40-caliber Glock, was confirmed to be the same. Lovell, 58, is now indicted for more than the shootings. According to 'Fox News,' Lovell has been accused of sexual misconduct and for showing preferential treatment in the courtroom. These new charges come as a means to keep from corrupting the case of the first two shooting charges. As courts seek to come to a resolution, many have sought a way to suspend Judge Brian Lovell from practicing. Due to the unresolved nature of the shooting cases, any suspension on their grounds has the risk of corrupting the case. The accusations against Garfield County Assoc. District Judge Brian Lovell now include sex with bailiffs during courthouse hours. He's already facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting at his brother-in-laws home and a road-rage shooting in Texas. https://t.co/LMhSIIj5T5 pic.twitter.com/5IrMCimk6e Tara Blume (@tcblume) June 28, 2024 Therefore, a removal petition was filed on different grounds. This allowed Lovell to be removed for reasons separated from the ongoing investigations. The petition deals directly with Lovell's misconduct in the courtroom. The petition asserts that he made "disparaging remarks about attorneys appearing before him, publicly evidencing a bias from a particular attorney and setting the amount of bond on criminal charges based on bias for the defendant's attorney or the defendant." Lovell is also accused of engaging in inappropriate relations with court staff. The petition states that he shared "sexually graphic messages and images with court staff inside the courthouse during courthouse hours" and had intercourse with two different baliffs. According to 'Law & Crime,' Lovell was temporarily suspended from performing his judicial duties and has until July 8 to contest his suspension. New information has been revealed regarding human remains found in garbage bags and put into a sleeping bag on a Manhattan sidewalk for trash pickup. The remains were Identified as Yazmeen Williams. Authorities say the 31-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the head before her body was dropped on 207 East 27th St. near Third Avenue in Kips Bay. Chad Irish was taken into custody in connection to the harrowing murder. Police found the woman around 5:00p.m. Friday, as her decomposing body was on a dolly next to a mound of garbage bags, per 'Pix11.' RELATED: Uncle Luke Scolds Drake After 'Unacceptable' Rick Ross Squabble: 'I Know How This Ends' A suspect has been arrested for the murder of Yazmeen Williams, found shot and wrapped in a sleeping bag on a NYC sidewalk. Chaos erupted as the suspect was taken from the Straus Houses, with crowds trying to attack him.pic.twitter.com/zrP83TQN37 21 Chapo (@ElonChapo) July 9, 2024 "He took a young beautiful girl, snuffed her out, took her life away from her. Threw my daughter in a garbage bag. The whole community was upset because she didn't deserve that. He's scum," the victim's mother, Nicole Williams stated, per the news outlet. "She's sweet. She's a nice person and she grew up here. We don't know why someone would have a motive to do something to her," her aunt, Nisha Ramirez, told reporters. A man was captured on video dragging the bag on an electric wheelchair before cops found the body near a tailor shop, per law enforcement. Residents later spotted him near Straus Houses Monday when they restrained him and notified police. RELATED: Lil Mama Blames Nicki Minaj For A Generation Of 'Musical Prostitutes' Amid BET Awards Backlash: 'They Laughing At Us' Shocking Murder Arrest in NYC: Wheelchair-Bound Suspect Held in Slaying of Homeless Activist A stunning turn of events has unfolded in New York City, where a man in a wheelchair has been arrested in connection with the killing of 31-year-old homeless activist Yazmeen Williams. pic.twitter.com/H7H9ehtQSy Daily Sherlock (@DailySherlock0) July 9, 2024 Irish, 55, who uses a wheelchair, was placed on a gurney by officials when the victim's family and friends broke out into melee. Community members pummeled the man, punching him with closed fist in the face and head as EMTs made a desperate attempt to shield him from the crowd's fury. The people can be heard yelling, "Kill him," and "drop him" amongst loud screaming and chatter. Irish is charged with concealment of a human corpse, in addition to two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of menacing however, police say those charges are not related to the homicide investigation. Irish was taken into custody Monday due to a dispute with someone allegedly unrelated to the murder, per 'FOX 5.' The suspect's relation to the victim remains unknown. Russia blasted the main children's hospital in Kyiv with a missile in broad daylight, and rained missiles down on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 36 civilians in the deadliest wave of air strikes in months. Ben Campofreda is pictured on April 5 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the final destination on his five-week pilgrimage across northern Spain. As Ben Campofreda set out on a more than 500-mile trek through historic Spanish villages, along rugged cliff sides and past unspoiled beaches, he felt a sense of freedom he hadnt known for years. Campofreda said he walked anywhere between 12 to 30 miles a day for five weeks straight a feat that would have been remarkable for anyone, but it was almost unbelievable for him. Just two years ago, Campofreda, 42, was living on the streets of San Francisco in the throes of a fentanyl addiction, unable to walk. His body had withered to an alarming 100 pounds and a spinal infection confined him to a wheelchair. Everything I do now is kind of surreal, he said in a recent interview. When I was in that situation (living on the streets and using fentanyl), at first it felt like I had all this freedom, but the irony is that I really had no freedom at all. I was stuck within a couple block radius of my dealer so I could feel normal everyday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ben Campofreda is pictured on April 5 entering Santiago de Compostela. Courtesy of Ben Campofreda Campofreda, who the Chronicle profiled in 2022 during the first year of his recovery, completed the Camino del Norte pilgrimage across northern Spain in April with a longtime friend and their dog, Howie. The journey back to health for Campofreda, who now lives in Portland, shows that recovery for drug users languishing on the streets of San Francisco is possible despite the many gaps and barriers in the citys treatment system. Its unclear how many people come out of San Franciscos devastating drug scene and stay in long-term recovery. Experts say its relatively few, but getting and staying sober is possible despite the tenacious grip of fentanyl, which can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Campofreda recently celebrated two years of sobriety and is working as a camp counselor teaching wilderness skills. Hes enjoying exploring the city by bike, seeing comedy shows in the park and reconnecting with live music. Campofreda showed off his bracelet reading Every Day Counts on Nov. 6, 2022, while in his room in rehab at Walden House in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle I have a lot of moments where Im like I cant believe that I have a normal life again, he said. Because when you get to the point where I was at, its really hard to get out. When life gets stressful or hes feeling down, Campofreda chooses to go for a run or do yoga instead of turning to drugs. Recovery happens, said Dr. Dan Ciccarone, a UCSF professor of family and community medicine and addiction researcher. But we shouldnt have people getting to deaths door before they convert. We need to try harder to get younger people people who are in early stage addiction, not late stage addiction to see the other side. Thats where the challenge is. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Asked what was one of the main takeaways from his story, Ben Campofreda said that more people should confront loved ones they suspect may be struggling with addiction sooner. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The root of Campofredas addiction dates back to when he was a young adult and a doctor prescribed him oxycodone to treat back pain. Within a couple of years, Campofreda developed a severe addiction to the pills. He maintained a successful career first as a snowboarding instructor and then as a sound engineer, but after moving in with a friend who was using heroin, Campofreda soon became addicted as well. Campofreda later moved to the Bay Area and tried to hide his drug use from his then-girlfriend and his employer. When they both discovered his addiction, Campofreda found himself unemployed and homeless. Ben Campofreda greets a friend he used to use drugs with on the streets after a therapy session on Oct. 7, 2022, in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle On the streets of the Tenderloin, Campofreda tried fentanyl for the first time, and it soon became the only thing he cared about. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Something had changed in my brain chemistry, he said. Nothing else mattered, which is crazy because thats not my personality. Family and friends would fly out to San Francisco to find Campofreda and try to convince him to get help, but nothing swayed him until he said he decided he wanted help. Ben Campofreda in Oakland in September 2022, when he was recovering from multiple surgeries before seeking drug treatment. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle When Campofreda arrived at UCSF Medical Center in a wheelchair in May 2022, doctors found severe bacterial infections in his lower back that had fractured his vertebrae. He underwent two extensive surgeries to repair his back and spent the next three months in the hospital, regaining use of his legs and receiving wrap-around care from doctors, nurses, nutritionists and social workers. He was prescribed ketamine and later methadone to ease his withdrawal. Dr. Alekos Theologis, a UCSF orthopedic surgeon who operated on Campofreda, called his turnaround remarkable. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theologis said he uses Campofredas story to try to give some hope to patients struggling with similar affiliations, such as homelessness and substance use. Ben Campofreda arrives at HealthRIGHT 360 in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 2022, to begin his 90 day-residential treatment in his attempt to stop his fentanyl addiction. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle How much hes doing physically is quite impressive for anyone, Theologis said. But what stands out to me the most is what hes done to reverse his life course, in terms of the drug use and housing situation. Campofredas resolve to stay sober and turn his life around was tested numerous times just before and shortly after his discharge from the hospital. Campofreda wanted to go to a residential treatment program, but he kept running into dead ends. After many frustrating tries, he eventually secured a spot in a program run by HealthRight 360 San Franciscos largest drug treatment provider, but even that was difficult. During his first meeting, a staff member reportedly asked him why he was there since he hadnt used drugs in several months. Campofreda informed him its because he wanted to keep it that way. Ben Campofreda meets with his therapist to discuss his progress on Oct. 7, 2022, in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Campofreda spent about a year and a half in HealthRights residential treatment and transitional housing programs. He maintained his sobriety, stuck with his methadone treatment, secured a job as an audio technician and reconnected with family and friends. Campofredas mom, Judi Johnson, who went years without hearing from her son when his addiction spiraled out of control, said they now text every day. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world, she said from her home in Virginia. What he did in Spain and what he does every single day is just, its a miracle. Campofreda sent regular updates to his mom and shared photos of himself along the route with the Chronicle. Ben Campofreda smiles for a photo in March in front of the Port of Ribadeo in Spain with his friends dog, Howie. Courtesy of Ben Campofreda Asked what was one of the main takeaways from his story, Campofreda said that more people should confront loved ones they suspect may be struggling with addiction sooner. I think many of my friends saw it, but didnt know how to approach me about it, he said. Its hard to tell people (struggling with addiction) to reach out for help, but others can step in and try to get them help sooner. When Campofreda finished the Camino del Norte pilgrimage, he said he was pain-free both physically and mentally. He has lowered his dose of methadone and no longer gets the cravings he did during his early days of sobriety. Daniel Zeichner has been appointed Defra's new farming minister by Sir Keir Starmer's new government. The MP for Cambridge had been Shadow Minister since January 2020, and before that Shadow Transport Minister. Labour describes Mr Zeichner as a life-long environmentalist, with an enduring interest in agriculture and food issues. Daniel Zeichner MP @DanielZeichner has been appointed Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. pic.twitter.com/7CgGJodFCD Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) July 8, 2024 A passionate pro-Europe campaigner, he voted to keep the United Kingdom within the European Union during the 2016 referendum. Mr Zeichner joins Steve Reed at Defra, who was appointed to be the new Secretary of State at the department. The NFU president has met with the government's new Defra Secretary to discuss 'key and immediate actions' that are needed to boost British farming. Topics high on the agenda included the role of food security in delivering national security, the investment required for the future of farming and restrictions around planning policy. Steve Reed, who was appointed the new Defra Secretary, has outlined his plan for change, with food security, the environment and flood management all focus areas. NFU President Tom Bradshaw said that with Labour's huge majority government, it was 'crucial' the voices of farmers were heard 'loud and clear'. He said: Well continue to work closely with Defra to provide policy solutions on issues such as bovine TB, the transition to ELMs, core standards for agri-food imports, workforce, supply chain fairness, investment in infrastructure and flexibility in planning. As well as meeting with the Defra Secretary, the NFU has also written to MPs and Cabinet ministers outlining the importance of the industry. The letters, one sent to all English and Welsh MPs and others to all Cabinet ministers in the context of their portfolios, have set out priority policies. These include an increased multi-year agriculture budget for the duration of the next parliament, a transparent transition to ELMs and regulation on supply chain fairness and public procurement. The letters also include priority policies covering controls on imports that dont meet core production standards, as well as better access to skilled workers in the horticulture and agriculture sector. Mr Bradshaw said that in an increasingly volatile world, the production of homegrown food had to be high on the political agenda, adding "its something that matters to everyone and every MP." He said: I urge all MPs, representing both urban and rural constituencies, to take us up on our offer of a local farm visit so they can hear first-hand about how investment in agriculture can benefit British families, British business and the great British countryside. Who is Steve Reed? Mr Reed previously served as the Labour Partys Shadow Minister for Defra when in opposition. He was first elected as the MP for Streatham and Croydon North, previously Croydon North, in 2012. He has also been the Labour Partys spokesperson for justice and communities and local government before then. Before entering parliament, Mr Reed was the leader of Lambeth Council for more than six years. In 2013, he received an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen for services to local government. In 2018, he became the first Labour MP in 22 years to pass a major new act of parliament, Senis Law, from opposition. Senis Law protects people with mental ill health from violent restraint and tackle deaths in custody. In the past, the new Defra Secretary confirmed the party had no plans to change inheritance tax including Agricultural Property Relief. Shanghai strives for high-quality development of AI industry 15:05, July 09, 2024 By Xie Weiqun, Shen Wenmin ( People's Daily In China's National and Local Co-built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center in Zhangjiang High-tech Park, Shanghai, a remarkable full-sized general-purpose humanoid robot named "Healthy Loong" has attracted wide attention. The 1.85-meter robot with 43 spherical joints can engage in fast walking, swiftly avoid obstacles, steadily mount up and down slopes, and resist impact interference. Visitors interact with robotic dogs at the 10th China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair, June 13, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Bao Gansheng) So far, many prototypes of general-purpose humanoid robots have been launched in Shanghai. In recent years, Shanghai has been exploring effective pathways with a reform-minded approach to accelerate the convergence of key artificial intelligence (AI) elements in order to build a high ground for AI development. The city has been improving coordination mechanisms to address challenges in industrial development. "Innovation in AI requires us to stimulate reform vitality and provide more policy services," said Zhang Ying, head of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization. In October 2022, Shanghai implemented a local regulation on boosting the development of the AI industry, followed by policies and measures to advance the unified scheduling of computing resources, new infrastructure construction, and large model innovation. The city is advancing multiple plans to support model innovation, accelerate the development of intelligent computing, and promote demonstration applications. Photo shows the Shanghai AI Tower in Xuhui district. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu) It is also working to establish a center for large model testing, verification, and collaborative innovation, an alliance for corpus data, platforms for intelligent computing scheduling, centers for hardware-software compatibility evaluation, and open-source communities for large models. Shanghai's Pudong New Area is promoting the development of companies focused on intelligent computing chips and humanoid robots, while the Xuhui district is fostering cluster innovation of algorithm enterprises, especially in large models. The city has also built large-scale intelligent computing clusters, primarily deployed in Songjiang district and Lingang new area, to support large model training. Shanghai has formed a "4+X" cluster pattern, centered on the Zhangjiang AI Island in Pudong, the Shanghai AI Tower in Xuhui, the Dishui Lake AI Innovation Hub in Lingang, and the Maqiao AI Innovation Experimental Zone in Minhang district. With an eye on both the present and future, Shanghai is rapidly building an open, secure, and vibrant innovation ecosystem. The city is creating a software-hardware compatibility and testing system, supporting the Shanghai AI Laboratory in establishing deeply linked software-hardware compatibility solutions, and promoting cooperation between the laboratory and companies like INESA (Group) Co., Ltd. to provide a basis for chip selection for the construction of the intelligent computing center. Shanghai has also established an innovation center for humanoid robot manufacturing to accelerate industrial chain integration, create a humanoid robot industrial base, reduce algorithmic innovation costs for enterprises, and promote the standardization of components. The city is building a multi-level talent system and has established the Artificial Intelligence Strategy Advisory Expert Committee to provide talent and intellectual support for the development of the AI industry. Photo shows "Healthy Loong," a full-sized general-purpose humanoid robot. (Photo/Fang Zhuoran) AI technologies are being rapidly adopted across various sectors, demonstrating significant growth and potential. SenseTime, a Chinese artificial intelligence pioneer, has launched an enterprise-level large model integrated machine that can simultaneously support enterprise-level 100-billion-parameter model acceleration and knowledge retrieval hardware acceleration, saving 80 percent of costs compared to similar products. Shanghai-based AI company Intsig is contributing to the protection of traditional Chinese culture by using generative AI technology to restore pages and text of the Dunhuang manuscripts, a wide variety of documents in Chinese and other languages that were discovered at the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province. Shanghai General Hospital is applying Alipay's "AI medical assistant" solution to provide patients with a voice-interactive "AI Doctor." The SMC Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, one of China's first dedicated incubators and accelerators for large-scale AI models, has already attracted over 80 large model enterprises. From 2018 to 2023, the number of AI enterprises above the designated size in Shanghai increased from 183 to 348, with the industry value surging from 134 billion yuan ($18.44 billion) to over 380 billion yuan. The city is now home to over 100 large model enterprises, with 34 large models having passed filing procedures. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) The Latinx Democratic Club said that its co-president, Kevin Ortiz, is on a leave of absence related to the allegations. Ortiz is shown on Jan. 19, 2023. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle 2023 A prominent San Francisco Democratic club is starting an investigation of its co-president in response to a Chronicle story detailing sexual assault allegations made against him, the organization said in a statement Monday. The Latinx Democratic Club said that its co-president, Kevin Ortiz, is on a leave of absence related to the allegations, made by two women. Ortiz, a former staffer for Rep. Nancy Pelosi, has denied the allegations and provided the Chronicle with text messages he says show he is being wrongly accused. We are extremely concerned about these allegations which the LDC is investigating with the utmost urgency, the clubs statement said. We reiterate our dedication to a thorough and fair review, protecting the rights of all individuals involved. We are committed to ending sexual violence and upholding the highest standards of integrity to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our members. The statement says that LDC will form a special investigation committee composed of members of the club to examine these matters comprehensively. The safety, confidentiality and well-being of all parties involved are our top priorities, the statement says. We understand the importance of addressing these concerns and their impact on our community. As we proceed with this investigation, we ask for patience and support from our members and the public. The LDC said it will provide updates on the investigation as appropriate. The clubs internal investigation comes after the clubs other co-president, Deldelp Medina, penned a Medium post saying she had resigned her position with a heavy heart just two days after the Chronicle published the article about Ortiz. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The clubs internal investigation comes after the clubs other co-president, Deldelp Medina, penned a Medium post saying she had resigned her position with a heavy heart just two days after the Chronicle published the article about Ortiz. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Medina did not mention Ortiz in her post and declined to discuss her decision when reached by phone. Medina won her position in a 2023 club election along with Ortiz under the Peoples Slate. She said in the short post that she hopes the club and its leadership create healing accountability and responsibility in the future. The club did not immediately return emailed requests for comment. Medinas resignation comes as the San Francisco Democratic Party is in the midst of a public conversation about sexual assaults and harassment in local political ranks. The party has created a special committee charged with combating sexual assault and harassment in the citys Democratic circles. The party charters local groups such as the Latinx Democratic Club as well as handing out endorsements in elections. Medina wrote over the weekend that she believes in restorative justice as someone who has worked on healing my traumas, including sexual assault. As a survivor, I recognize that no one is the worst thing that theyve ever done, Medina wrote. Yet, to create healing accountability and responsibility has to be at the center of the work. Medina, who is running for a seat on the San Francisco school board in November, went on to say that safety needs to be guaranteed in any political spaces and community spaces. As of early July, Ortiz was listed as co-president on the clubs website. Jim Quadra, Ortizs attorney, said in a text message Monday before the club said Ortiz was taking a leave of absence that Ortiz remained a co-president of the club. Quadra did not respond to a follow-up request for comment following the release of the clubs statement. The clubs website no longer includes Medina and Ortiz on its executive officers page. The page lists Bahlam Vigil and Michael Rouppet as interim acting presidents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Good afternoon and welcome back to the second half of today's conference on Financial Inclusion Practices and Innovations.1 It is really a pleasure to join you to discuss this important topic. This morning, our panelists provided their perspectives on issues related to supervision and regulation and payment frictions and innovations both domestically and internationally. The research and perspectives they discussed can certainly help to broaden our understanding of financial inclusion and all of the associated challenges. Together, our work to promote initiatives that further this work will enable greater access to financial services. An economy that works for everyone necessarily includes a more inclusive financial system. More expansive inclusion opportunities improve the financial well-being of both consumers and small businesses, thereby contributing to overall economic growth. Today, I would like to highlight the excellent work being done in this area by our Division of Consumer and Community Affairs (DCCA). I will also touch on some ways that the banking system and private sector can support financial inclusion. Promoting an Inclusive Financial System Is a Foundational Element of DCCA's Work Before discussing our work at the Federal Reserve, I would like to first take a step back to anchor financial inclusion within the broader objective of fostering an economy that works for everyone. A healthy and robust U.S. economy relies upon broad access to financial resources and education. Bringing consumers and small businesses into the financial mainstream helps them more fully engage in the financial system and the economy and should help to facilitate the more effective operation of the U.S. economy. Through its responsibility for community affairs, DCCA works to achieve a thorough understanding of current community conditions and best practices by conducting research and convening relevant private sector participants. Today, we will focus on their important work to enhance financial access. As the chair of the Consumer and Community Affairs Committee, I oversee these efforts. As many of you know well, DCCA's financial inclusion work is expansive, and I look forward to highlighting these contributions with you today. First, DCCA informs internal and external stakeholders by leveraging its research and analysis to provide information that can be utilized by external stakeholders to support their work. For example, one of the Fed's most important contributions to the study of financial well-being is the annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, or the SHED. We published the 11th annual report in May. The report addresses topics including financial well-being, savings, retirement, economic fragility, education, and student loans.2 The Federal Reserve System also conducts an annual Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS), which is a survey of over 6,000 firms with fewer than 500 employees located throughout the country. This year's survey found that many small businesses were experiencing tight financial conditions and often had to rely on personal financial resources, such as personal funds or a loan from family or friends, to support their businesses.3 Because access to credit is fundamental to broader financial access and inclusion, this experience of reliance on personal financial resources shows that the credit needs of small businesses may not be fully met by the financial industry. Another way DCCA pursues greater financial inclusion is by convening, informing, and engaging with stakeholders. For example, the Community Advisory Council (CAC), which consists of members of the non-profit sector and hands-on community development practitioners, meets with the Board of Governors twice each year to share their experiences and observations and to engage on challenges facing the consumers and communities they serve. The CAC focuses on the concerns of low- and moderate-income people, and at its most recent meeting in May, the CAC focused on a range of economic matters continuing to affect financially vulnerable communities. DCCA also prioritizes the work of mission-driven organizations in its efforts to expand financial inclusion. The Partnership for Progress (PFP) program is the Federal Reserve's Minority Depository Institution (MDI) outreach program created to support the System's mandate to preserve and promote MDIs. DCCA, in collaboration with other areas of the Federal Reserve, engages MDIs and Women-Owned Depository Institutions (WDIs) through national outreach efforts. The PFP provides technical assistance to help MDIs and WDIs address unique business model challenges, enabling these institutions to compete more effectively in the marketplace.4 Third, DCCA ensures that financial institutions under the Fed's jurisdiction comply with laws and regulations that protect consumers and promote community development, including fair lending laws and the prohibition on unfair and deceptive acts and practices. For example, DCCA examines state member banks for compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction based on race, gender, marital status, age, or another prohibited basis. The division's work to protect consumers from harm furthers our goal to create an economy that works for everyone. Regulated Financial Institutions and Financial Inclusion I would like to turn now to share some thoughts about how the private sector can engage to support financial inclusion. The U.S. banking system is well-positioned to bring consumers into the financial mainstream by providing innovative solutions to meet the credit needs of their communities. For example, banks help consumers and small businesses by providing financial products and services that are safe, fair, and responsive, including through small dollar loan products. These types of loans can help consumers and small businesses access credit for unexpected expenses. Data from the most recent SHED report found that 10 percent of adults with family incomes less than $50,000 per year used payday, pawn, auto title, or tax refund anticipation loans to obtain needed funds.5 These types of products often carry high or even punitive direct and indirect costs and risks to the consumer. For example, non-repayment of an auto title loan can lead to vehicle repossession further complicating the consumer's financial situation. When banks offer small dollar loans, they can often do so on terms that are safer and at lower cost than other types of loans.6 Some banks that offer small dollar loan products often use automated underwriting based on alternative information that can include consumer-permissioned cash-flow data. If used appropriately, this approach can reduce bank underwriting costs, potentially making affordably priced loans available to consumers on a more timely basis. If these loans were more available in the banking system, they could serve as an alternative to more costly options from alternative financial services providers. Small dollar loans targeted to low- and moderate-income consumers have the potential to provide an accessible and more fairly priced alternative when consumers experience a financial emergency. Remittances and Financial Inclusion As we heard from our panelists earlier today, payments inclusion can look different in domestic and international contexts, but a reliable, safe, and cost-efficient payment system that minimizes unintended frictions is important to consumers around the world. International remittances can serve an important role in enhancing financial inclusion, especially in countries where these funds are a significant source of household financial support. And some research indicates that the ability to receive remittances increases the likelihood of bank account ownership, which furthers economic engagement.7 However, for those who send funds abroad using remittances, the costs can be substantial. For example, the average cost of sending $200 internationally from the U.S. is nearly 6 percent.8 In addition to broader work on cross-border payments, the G20 countries have reaffirmed a commitment to reducing average remittance fees to below 3 percent by 2030. This could result in a greater proportion of funds reaching recipients.9 Continued improvements to domestic and international payment systems and responsible innovation can further support our work on financial inclusion. Conclusion Greater inclusiveness in the financial system is an ongoing priority for the Federal Reserve. While we have made great progress, there is more to be done for both the public and private sectors. We should be open to considering how new or innovative products and services could promote financial inclusion. We should also be willing to engage with a wide range of stakeholders. Financial access and inclusion are not one-size-fits-all and can look very different to each consumer. Therefore, involving consumers and communities in identifying issues and crafting solutions is critical to success. Advancing financial inclusion will clearly take many hands and a diverse set of stakeholders, including everyone participating here today. 1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text 2. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "2023 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking," (2024). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023 (PDF) (Washington: Board of Governors, May 2024). Return to text 3. Federal Reserve Banks, 2024 Report on Employer Firms: Findings from the 2023 Small Business Credit Survey (Federal Reserve Banks, March 2024). Return to text 4. See the Federal Reserve's Partnership for Progress website at https://www.fedpartnership.gov. Return to text 5. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "2023 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking" (2024). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023 (PDF) (Washinton: Board of Governors, May 2014). Return to text 6. Banks can look for guidance on small dollar loans through interagency statements related to alternative data and small dollar loans. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Interagency Statement on the Use of Alternative Data in Credit Underwriting," CA letter 19-11 (December 12, 2019), and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, "Interagency Lending Principles for Making Responsible Small-Dollar Loans," SR letter 20-14/CA letter 20-8 (December 12, 2019). Return to text 7. Gemechu Ayana Aga and Maria Soledad Martinez Peria, "International Remittances and Financial Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa," Policy Research Working Paper 6991 (Washington: World Bank Group, Development Research Group, July 2014). David Malpass, "Remittances Are a Critical Economic Stabilizer," World Bank Blog, December 6, 2022. Return to text 8. The World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide Quarterly (PDF), Issue 48, December 2023, p. 11. Return to text 9. For more information on the G20 cross-border payments improvement roadmap and its progress, see Financial Stability Board, Enhancing Cross-Border Payments: Stage 3 Roadmap (PDF) (Financial Stability Board, October 2020), and Financial Stability Board, G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-Border Payments: Consolidated Progress Report for 2023 (PDF) (Financial Stability Board, October 2023). For more information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, see "Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, and Financial Stability Board, Targets for Addressing the Four Challenges of Cross-Border Payments: Final Report (PDF) (Financial Stability Board, October 2021). Return to text In May 2024, German exports fell by 3.6 per cent and imports dropped by 6.6 per cent on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis compared to April 2024, according to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Compared to May 2023, exports decreased by 1.6 per cent and imports fell by 8.7 per cent. Germany exported goods worth 131.6 billion (approximately $142.56 billion) and imported goods worth 106.7 billion (approximately $115.62 billion) in May 2024 after calendar and seasonal adjustments. This resulted in a foreign trade surplus of 24.9 billion, up from 22.2 billion in April 2024 and 16.8 billion in May 2023. Germany exported goods valued at 72.3 billion to the European Union (EU) and imported goods worth 55.7 billion from these countries in May. Compared with April 2024, exports to the EU decreased by 2.5 per cent, and imports from the EU fell by 8.9 per cent. Exports to euro area countries totalled 50.2 billion (minus 2.7 per cent), and imports from these countries were 37 billion (minus 8.6 per cent). Exports to non-euro area EU countries amounted to 22.1 billion (minus 2 per cent), while imports from these countries were 18.7 billion (minus 9.6 per cent). Germany's exports to non-EU countries (third countries) totalled 59.4 billion in May 2024, while imports from these countries amounted to 51 billion, after calendar and seasonal adjustments. Compared with April 2024, exports to third countries decreased by 4.9 per cent, and imports from these countries dropped by 4 per cent, as per Destatis. The US remained Germany's largest export destination in May 2024. However, exports to the US decreased by 2.9 per cent from April 2024, totalling 13.8 billion. Exports to China fell by 10.2 per cent to 7.6 billion, and exports to the UK declined by 11.7 per cent to 6.5 billion. China was the leading source of German imports, with goods valued at 13 billion, representing a 1.7 per cent increase compared to April 2024. Imports from the US rose by 4.6 per cent to 7.9 billion, while imports from the UK fell by 9.3 per cent to 2.7 billion. German exports to Russia dropped significantly, by 19.3 per cent to 0.6 billion in May 2024 compared to April 2024. Compared with May 2023, exports to Russia decreased by 22.1 per cent. Imports from Russia fell by 8 per cent to 0.2 billion in May 2024 from April 2024 and were down 35.7 per cent compared to May 2023. On a nominal basis (not adjusted for calendar or seasonal effects), Germany exported goods worth 129 billion and imported goods worth 107 billion in May 2024. Compared to May 2023, this represents a 3.8 per cent decrease in exports and a 10 per cent decline in imports. The unadjusted foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 22 billion in May 2024, up from 15.1 billion in May 2023. In May 2024, German exports fell by 3.6 per cent and imports dropped by 6.6 per cent compared to April. Exports were 131.6 billion (~$142.56 billion) and imports were 106.7 billion (~$115.62 billion), yielding a 24.9 billion trade surplus. Trade with both EU and non-EU countries saw declines, with notable drops in exports to the US, China, and Russia. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) The new UK government should prioritise partnerships with the logistics sector to develop Labours promised industrial strategy and kickstart economic growth within the first 100 days, according to business group Logistics UK. The group emphasises the sector's potential to boost productivity and create skilled roles, highlighting it as crucial for the nation's economic recovery. Logistics UK has urged the new government to partner with the logistics sector to develop Labour's industrial strategy, boosting economic growth within 100 days. Recommendations include creating a cross-Whitehall Logistics Productivity Forum, developing a National Logistics Network, advancing green logistics, enhancing skills, and reducing regulatory burden. Logistics UK has outlined several actions for the government. They recommend establishing a cross-Whitehall Logistics Productivity Forum, led by a dedicated minister for logistics and supply chain with cross-departmental responsibilities to streamline policies affecting logistics, including industrial strategy, planning, energy, trade, and skills. Immediate dialogue with the logistics sector is essential to develop a National Logistics Network, reform planning to support infrastructure and the logistics industry, create a logistics roadmap to net zero and transition to clean energy, and address recruitment, retention, and trade changes impacting logistics. To support efficient and green movement of goods, Logistics UK urges the government to identify and improve key transport corridors. They also stress the importance of progressing the Lower Thames Crossing, Smart Motorways, and rail upgrades. A logistics roadmap to net zero should be developed, including electrification and low carbon fuels, alongside upgrading energy transmission and vehicle charging infrastructure. Enhancing skills and reducing barriers is another priority. Logistics UK highlights the need for continued funding for the Generation Logistics campaign, reforming the Apprenticeship Levy to a Growth and Skills Levy, aligning skills provision with the industrial strategy, and improving facilities for logistics workers and technical course funding. To support trade and reduce regulatory burdens, Logistics UK recommends mitigating the impact of recent and upcoming trade changes, working with French counterparts and the EU to streamline border processes, and further digitalising trading processes and Single Trade Window interoperability. They also suggest addressing legacy barriers to air freight at UK airports and setting objectives for expanding the UK's trading relationship with the EU. For road freight, Logistics UK suggests passing Driver CPC reforms and simplifying drivers hours regulations, supporting longer semi-trailers and electronic recording of drivers' hours, establishing national standards for reporting freight crime, and allowing Earned Recognition operators to conduct their own MOT testing. For fiscal stability, they propose a dynamic Fuel Duty mechanism, long-term funding for road maintenance, incentives for low carbon and sustainable fuels, extending mode shift grants and financial support for fleet decarbonisation, and halting proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP). Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) Four of the five leading San Francisco mayoral candidates London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie and Ahsha Safai participate in a debate hosted by the public safety advocacy group Stop Crime SF, on Monday in the San Francisco County Fair building in the Sunset District. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle Supporters give a thumbs-up at the debate between four of the five leading San Francisco mayoral candidates London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie and Ahsha Safai hosted by the public safety advocacy group Stop Crime SF on Monday. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle Ahsha Safai addresses the crowd as four of the five leading San Francisco mayoral candidates London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie and Safai participate in a debate hosted by the public safety advocacy group Stop Crime SF on Monday. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle Four of the five leading San Francisco mayoral candidates London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie and Ahsha Safai participate in a debate hosted by the public safety advocacy group Stop Crime SF on Monday. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle Mark Farrell addresses the room as four of the five leading SF mayoral candidates London Breed, Farrell, Daniel Lurie and Ahsha Safai participate in a debate hosted by the public safety advocacy group Stop Crime SF on Monday. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle San Francisco Mayor London Breed sought to defend her record on public safety, homelessness, the drug crisis and other key issues Monday as some of her leading opponents argued during a lively mayoral debate that shes failed to adequately respond to the citys most pressing problems. Breed faced off against three of her four top challengers in the third mayoral debate of the election season, co-hosted by the public safety advocacy groups Stop Crime SF and Stop Crime Action as well as the civic engagement group Connected SF. Aside from Breed, the candidates who participated were former Mayor and Supervisor Mark Farrell, nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Ahsha Safai. The fifth major mayoral candidate, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, declined to appear at the debate, saying he wouldnt get a fair shake from the events organizers, who he described in a letter as being highly-partisan a charge they denied. While the debate touched on a range of subjects including transit and the city budget the candidates emphasis on drug dealing and crime underscored the degree to which public safety will remain one of the defining issues in the citys November election. Here are a few takeaways from the latest debate: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Breed spars with Farrell and Safai Some of the most animated moments came when Breed, who polls have shown is in danger of losing her reelection bid, accused her opponents of inflating their accomplishments to undermine hers. She pushed back on a claim Farrell has often made about clearing the citys largest homeless encampments during the half year he was mayor in 2018. While Farrell did build off work from the late Mayor Ed Lee to remove large tent camps, Breed said San Francisco had more tents on its streets when Farrell left office than today. The city counted 568 homeless tents and dwelling structures in July 2018, the month Farrells mayorship ended, compared with 361 in April this year, the most recent month for which data is available. Breed also had harsh words for Safai, who had accused her of not fully funding the citys plan to overhaul its mental health system. She said Safai had not even been at the table while she worked with other city supervisors to set aside more money for mental health treatment. In a later exchange, Breed said crime data was worse under Farrells leadership. She said her work had helped lead to a significant decline in reported crimes as the city sought to crack down on drug markets, in partnership with state and federal law enforcement, and combat retail theft. As of Monday, crime reports were down about 32% from last year, police data shows. Breed said she didnt know of any other mayor who had been as aggressive in arresting drug dealers as well as people using drugs on the streets when they pose a danger to themselves or others. I take full credit for all of this work, but it is not enough and I know more needs to be done, Breed said. Farrell redoubled his public safety critique of Breed in response, saying she had defunded the Police Department two years ago to the tune of $120 million a reference to the Dream Keeper Initiative that Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton established to direct some funding away from law enforcement and into the citys Black community. He also blamed Breed for the city now being hundreds of police officers below the level recommended in an independent staffing analysis. It is no wonder that public safety is the number one issue across the city of San Francisco, Farrell said. Safai didnt get a chance to respond directly to Breeds comment about him, but he did get in a separate dig at her, after she had implied that he and Peskin backed her downtown-related proposals after they decided to run for mayor. Thank goodness we have a mayor who is running for reelection, because she loves to copy my ideas, Safai said after talking about his work to revive downtown. The comment was met with boos from the audience. For Lurie and Farrell, all roads lead back to street conditions and safety Lurie and Farrell both indicated that they thought San Franciscos poor reputation for public safety and the misery on its streets was directly linked to some of its other challenges, such as downtowns slow recovery from the pandemic. Lurie said the city needs to have clean and safe streets downtown, and it cant just be when we have a conference in town or a world leader coming to town an apparent critique of the citys lauded work to clean up public spaces during the high-profile Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We need to be real about what the issue is downtown: It is the public safety, Farrell said before discussing how the city needed a new mayor who would be very strong about growing police staffing and making sure the homeless and fentanyl crises were not growing out of control and affecting downtown again. While Breed has been trying to respond to those crises by increasing support for police and searching for ways to add more students and residents downtown, her opponents say shes not making progress fast enough. San Francisco, we are coming back, but the outcome of this election will determine how fast we come back and what that comeback looks like, Lurie said. SFMTA chief could be out of a job after the election Safai and Farrell both said at the debate that they would seek to fire Jeffrey Tumlin, the director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority, which runs Muni and oversees street safety and design. Safai said SFMTA is the worst department at doing outreach to residents and small businesses affected by its big projects, including yearslong construction on Taraval Street that merchants blame for keeping customers away. Farrell concurred that the agency was too focused on ideology and not common sense on the streets of San Francisco. The SFMTA director serves at the pleasure of the agencys Board of Directors, whose members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors. Lurie didnt say he would fire Tumlin but he did lambaste the nightmare on Taraval and said he would be a mayor that listens, that communicates, that talks before making bold declarations and promises. Breed defended SFMTAs reputation, saying that surveys had shown high customer satisfaction with Muni. But she also said she took responsibility for the agencys challenging communication process, particularly around the continuing work on Taraval Street. I know its been very frustrating for the people who live there, but my commitment is to continue to listen and to do everything we can to move forward, Breed said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad D.A. Jenkins gets an award, prompting outcry from opponent Before the mayoral candidates took the stage to debate each other, Stop Crime SF used the event as an opportunity to bestow an inaugural Crimefighter of the Year award on District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. In a speech to the standing-room-only crowd, Jenkins said she and Stop Crime SF shared the same mission of trying to reduce crime in the city. Like Breed, Jenkins pointed to the decline in reported crimes in the city but said its also important to be mindful of how people feel when measuring San Franciscos progress. Unless and until they feel the way that I believe they are entitled to feel, which is safe, then our work is not done, Jenkins said. The awards presentation did not go over well with Ryan Khojasteh, an Alameda County prosecutor who is now running to unseat Jenkins. In a letter to Stop Crime SF leaders ahead of the debate, Khojasteh said the award and its timing constituted biased political activity that ran afoul of federal restrictions on tax-exempt nonprofits. He also revealed that he had filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service. In response, Stop Crime SF President Karina Velasquez told Khojasteh that the award to Jenkins and her subsequent speech were within the bounds of lawful activity for a 501(c) (3) organization. Velasquez noted in her letter that Jenkins was being honored for her work as the citys incumbent top prosecutor and was not appearing at this event as a candidate. Iconic actor, musician, and activist Corey Feldman is pleased to announce the surprise digital re-release of his 2015 album "Angelic 2 The Core," marking its 10-year anniversary. The album, which has been off streaming platforms for several months, returns under Feldman's new distribution deal with CiFi Records, a division of SONY Orchard. In adapting to the modern streaming landscape, Feldman has edited out some of the skits originally created for the full play CD of the double album. This adjustment aims to enhance the listener's experience, focusing more directly on the music itself. Fans can now enjoy a refreshed version of the album, featuring the legendary duet "Seamless" with Fred Durst, which has been highly anticipated by fans since its initial release. "This re-release is a celebration of both artistic growth and a tribute to the fans who have supported 'Angelic 2 The Core' over the years," said Feldman. Simultaneously, Feldman is gearing up for his much-anticipated "Loserville" tour, set to kick off on July 16th, 2024, at Somerset Amphitheater in Wisconsin. The tour, featuring Limp Bizkit alongside noted artists Bones, N8NOFACE, and Riff Raff, promises to be a highlight of the summer concert season with major venues across North America on the itinerary, including the iconic Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino. Fans can catch Corey Feldman live on tour and experience the re-release of "Angelic 2 The Core" on all digital platforms starting today. For tour dates and more information on VIP meet and greet opportunities, visit www.coreyfeldman.net . LOSERVILLE 2024 TOUR DATES: 07/16 - Somerset, WI @ Somerset Amphitheater * 07/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL * 07/20 - Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre * 07/21 - Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center * 07/23 - Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre * 07/24 - Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage * 07/26 - Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts * 07/28 - Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live * 07/30 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center * 07/31 - Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center * 08/02 - Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion * 08/04 - Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre * 08/06 - West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre * 08/07 - Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre * 08/09 - Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre * 08/11 - Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion * 08/13 - Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion * 08/15 - Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater * 08/16 - Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre * 08/18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre * 08/20 - Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre * 08/21 - Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater * 08/23 - Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord * 08/24 - San Bernardino, CA @ Glen Helen Amphitheater * MEDIA CONTACT: Samantha Waranch E-mail: samantha@c-360.agency SOURCE: Truth 22 Productions View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2024) - Mogotes Metals Inc. (TSXV: MOG) ("Mogotes", or the "Company") is pleased to provide an exploration update and announce positive initial rock chip assay results from the Filo Sur project, adjoining the world class Filo del Sol Cu-Au-Ag High Sulfidation Epithermal (HSE) and Porphyry (PCD) project in the Vicuna District, Argentina (Figure 1). 2,185 m of diamond core drilling completed in 3 holes during shortened February to May 2024 campaign completed in 3 holes during shortened February to May 2024 campaign Geological observations from the first drill test at Nueva Colorida Breccia and Cruz del Sur targets and drilling at Frontera prospect that was suspended due to early onset of winter - Assays results pending Initial rock chips results confirm Au-Ag-Cu mineralization at new Filo Alunita and Rincon prospects Filo Alunita a newly identified 1.6 km trend of silica-alunite alteration . Mogotes rock chip assay of 4.3 g/t Au and >100 g/t Ag, highlights potential HSE prospect, not recognized by previous explorers. Rincon 2.3 km long trend defined by Mogotes soil, rock chip assay and geophysics , returns assays of up to 1.35 g/t Au, 825 ppm Cu and 142 ppm Mo, correlating to +100 m wide high intensity sheeted veinlet trend, also not recognized by previous explorers CEO, Allen Sabet, stated: "Mogotes is very happy to have initiated the first drilling campaign at the prospective Filo Sur project in over decade. Notwithstanding a far shorter than planned exploration season due to unseasonally early arrival of winter conditions (effecting many explorers in the Andes this year), our team successfully drilled 2,185 meters of diamond core providing an initial test at 3 of our 9 prospects. "Holes were completed at Cruz del Sur, Nueva Colorida pipe, and a third hole was started at Frontera, but suspended at a depth of 520m well before the planned depth, with clear down hole mineralization vectors established. We are encouraged by this initial drilling, as all holes intersected extensive alteration, veining and visible copper and, or base metal sulphides, consistent with large scale porphyry / epithermal mineral systems. "Assay results from this drilling are pending. Images of the mineralization and technical descriptions are enclosed in this release (see Appendix 1) and are already providing valuable vectors to guide our next drill holes. "It is important to highlight that the majority of our priority targets remain undrilled, as the field season was cut short. In addition, our team has discovered two completely new areas of mineralization at Filon Alunita and Rincon, confirmed by encouraging initial rock chip assays. Results from additional sampling are pending. It is the company's view that further exploration has the potential to see these prospects develop into new attractive drill targets at Filon Alunita and Rincon. "Mogotes is looking forward to updating investors with results as they come to hand and returning to the project in the southern hemisphere spring (September - October 2024) to continue exploration of this prospective project." NEXT STEPS: Webinar discussion on key target areas (this week) Assay results from initial rock chip sampling at new Rincon target Assay results from initial drill holes at Nueva Colorida, Cruz del Sur and Frontera prospects Recommence exploration program - inclusive of surface exploration and first drill test of several priority targets, is planned for the southern hemisphere spring of October 2024 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_002full.jpg Appendix 1: Technical Update on Filo Sur Prospects Nueva Colorida HSE Breccia Pipe and Colorida - Frontera PCD Cu-Mo Prospects Frontera - Colorida prospect is characterized by superimposed large-scale alteration / mineral systems (Figure 2) defined by A 2.4 sq km phyllic alteration zone with variable intensity porphyry quartz stockworking that combined is interpreted as the upper phyllic zone of a shallowly eroded Cu - Mo (Au) PCD system(s) and; A widespread subhorizontal advanced argillic (AA) to argillic alteration overprint (probably telescoping) mapped by the WV3 processing, centered on the recently recognized Nueva Colorida breccia pipe with AA alteration and HSE sulphide assemblage in the matrix. The diameter of the Nueva Colorida pipe is not yet well constrained but is in excess of 600 m based on outcrop and recent drill intersections. The Frontera-Colorida alteration and mineralization is open, extending to the west under alteration plateau toward the Filon Alunita HSE Au-Ag prospect and to the east and northeast under recent gravel cover toward the Mucho Muerto Fault zone. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_003full.jpg Drilling has been conducted at Frontera and Colorida in campaigns between 2012 and 2013 by Vale, intersecting broad zones of low-grade porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization (Mogotes NI43101 Technical Report April 2024). Mogotes geophysics, surface mapping and systematic soil sampling has highlighted that these prospects have not been optimally drill tested by previous explorers, with key areas of outcropping porphyry style stockworking, Cu-Mo soil anomalies and attractive geophysical anomalies, undrilled (Mogotes NI43101 Technical Report April 2024). At surface, copper mineralization is interpreted to have been partially leached by supergene, and also potentially hypogene leaching, related to the advanced argillic alteration overprint. Mo is less subject to leaching and so is considered a good exploration vector and indicator of the hypogene mineralization. Mogotes rock chip assay results received in February 2024 have further enhanced the prospectivity of these targets with widespread strongly anomalous Cu and Mo assays returned. Better Cu assays at Frontera correlate to a zone of outcropping A and B style porphyry stock work and sheeted veining with some areas of secondary copper "bloom" (Figure 2). Frontera Cu rock chip assays range from 21 to 3,910 ppm, with an average of the top 10% of 733 ppm Cu (Figure 2). At Colorida, higher grade Cu rock chip assays "halo" the Nueva Colorida pipe where widespread variable intensity porphyry style stockwork veining along with several areas of supergene Cu "bloom" are noted. Colorida Cu assays show a vector toward the northeast where there has been no drilling and where the prospect trends under recent gravel cover. Cu rock chip assays at Colorida range from 17 to 2,040 ppm, with an average of the top 10% of 682 ppm Cu (Figure 2). Mo is strongly anomalous across Colorida-Frontera prospects ranging from 0.5 to 6,350 ppm, with the average of the top 10% at Frontera of 733 ppm Mo, and the average of the top 10% at Colorida of 45.7 ppm Mo. Mogotes initiated drilling at the Nueva Colorida and Frontera prospects in April 2024. Drilling was terminated due to the early onset of winter conditions in mid April 2024, with 2 holes drilled totaling 1,709 m. Drill hole FSDDH002 was drilled at the Nueva Colorida prospect toward the northwest at -70.8 dip, reaching a planned depth of 1188.65m. Hole FSDDH003 was drilled toward the west at -64.4 dip reaching 520m of the planned +1000m depth before the hole was shut down and the camp winterized. Assay results from this drilling are pending but anticipated to be received in coming weeks. Drill Hole FSDDH002 provides an initial test of the interpreted Nueva Colorida breccia pipe and a portion of a large underlying MT conductivity anomaly. The first segment of this drill hole (~20 to ~835 m) intersected approximately 815 m of hydrothermal breccia with advanced argillic alteration and HSE Cu - Mo sulphide assemblage (Figure 3). Then, from 835 m to the end of the drill hole, it intersects two units of intra-mineral porphyries which are unlikely to be the source of the breccia or mineralization (Figure 3). The hydrothermal breccia is polymictic in character with angular to subrounded clasts and moderate to intense advanced argillic alteration. The matrix is mainly composed of silica + anhydrite (now gypsum) + clays alunite native sulphur. Hand lens based estimates of sulphide assemblage in the matrix show that pyrite is the dominant sulphide, ranging from 1 to 30 % with an average of ~3 %, with a subordinate high sulfidation assemblage of bornite, enargite, sphalerite, covellite and chalcopyrite. Numerous breccia clasts have pre-brecciation A-type veins of quartz, pyrite bornite and B-type veins quartz + pyrite + molybdenite that are presumed to be sourced from underlying porphyry mineralisation that was crosscut by the breccia during ascent1. Visual estimates of sulphide percentages suggest assays results are unlikely to return significant intervals of "ore grade" like Cu and Mo mineralization. However, Mogotes is very encouraged by the visual results of this hole that has only tested the outer edge of a large HSE breccia pipe and demonstrates the presence of a high level, mineralized Cu-Mo PCD system at the project. Combined with the surface rock chip results, alteration patterns and geophysical anomalies provide vectors and outline untested targets for drill testing for 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Frontera drill hole FSDDH003 was designed to test for higher grade porphyry Cu-Mo (Au) mineralization to depth beneath combined stockwork, alteration, geochemical and geophysical anomalies that all suggest the current outcrop level at the prospect represents an outer phyllic alteration shell of a concealed porphyry system with an advanced argillic HSE overprint (probably telescoping). The drill hole reached a depth of 520 m within an interbed sequence of rhyolites and dacites presumed to be the Permo-Triassic age Choiyoi Group (Kay et al., 1989; Linares, 2007) wall rocks at the prospect, with only short intervals of andestic dykes, suggesting the causative Miocene age porphyry system lies at depth or laterally under cover. Moderate to intense quartz + sericite + pyrite phyllic alteration dominants the drill hole with biotite-magnetite potassic alteration logged in 1.4 to 22m intervals within the dykes and wall rock from approximately 230 m down hole to the base of hole. Argillic to advanced argillic alteration is seen as an overprint on the phyillic and potassic alteration between 2 to 57 m and 118 to 140 m down hole. The pyrite is present throughout most of the hole, ranging from 0.5 to 25 % with an average of 2 % mainly as D-type veins, but also appears in anhydrite veins which may also have enargite (0.5 to 5%) and scarce sphalerite. At ~61, 120, and 393 m there are veins of 5 to 6 cm thick massive sulfides composed of pyrite + enargite. Molybdenite is present as disseminations (0.5 to 1 %) in fine (5 mm average) B-type quartz veins (0.5 to 1 %) observed from 304 m to the end of the drill hole. The drill hole was terminated at 520 m due to the onset of winter conditions, well above the planned final depth of 1200 m. Assay are pending, however alteration and the transition of phyllic to potassic and pyrite enargite veins D veins to quartz-molybdenite-pyrite B veins from 304 m down hole supports the proposal that the hole is still in the upper phyllic halo of a porphyry Cu-Mo system with a vector down hole and to the west. Additionally, the presence of advanced argillic alteration confirms the proposal that there is alteration telescoping in in the Frontera - Colorida system. This process can increase Cu ( Au) grades associated with the porphyry system by introducing high-sulfidation ore minerals (Sillitoe, 2010; Sillitoe and Perello, 2023), in this case enargite and covellite. Continuing this drill hole to planned depth will be a priority for the 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_004full.jpg Filon Alunita Prospect Filon Alunita is a previously unrecognized, approximately 1.6 km long, NE trending zone of alunite-kaolinite responses first recognised in Mogotes 2023 WV3 satellite alteration mapping. Filon Alunita is located approximately 1 km to the west of the Colorida- Frontera prospects, possibly representing the HSE halo to this large PCD Cu-Mo-(Au) center (Figure 2). Mogotes Metals acquired additional adjoining claims extending into Chile to secure the SW extension of the Filon Alunita trend before initiating ground checking of the trend in February 2024. Follow-up has confirmed the presence of submeter to over 10m wide hydrothermal silica-alunite breccias and vuggy silica zones outcrop along the trend that are considered prospective for HSE style Au-Ag-Cu mineralization (Figures 4a & 4b). There is no historic rock chip sampling or drilling and only patchy IP geophysics coverage from a historic Vale 2011 survey focused over the prospect. Reprocessing of this IP data hints at high order resistivity anomalies associated with the Filon Alunita trend that may represent drill targets for larger concealed vuggy silica zones. A single rock chip was collected on the NE end of the Filon Alunita trend by Mogotes reconnaissance mapping team in 2022-23. This sample assayed 4.3 g/t Au, >100 g/t Ag and 550 ppm Cu with an Sb - As signature consistent with HSE epithermal interpretation of this prospect, suggesting the Filon Alunita zone may develop into an attractive Au - Ag HSE target. Mapping, systematic rock chip sampling (trenching) and IP geophysics are a priority for the Filon Alunita prospect, following by drill testing of permissive targets is a priority for the Mogotes 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_005full.jpg Camino and Rincon Porphyry and HSE Cu-Mo-Au Trend Camino and Rincon are new high priority prospects recognized by Mogotes Metals in 2023 (Mogotes NI 43 101, November 2023) that, combined, define a 3.9 km long north - south trend of alteration, Cu-Au-Mo in soils and rock chips, and geophysical anomalies (Figure 5). There has been no drilling of targets along the Camino - Rincon trend by previous explorers. Mogotes exploration of these prospects is at a very early stage, however results to date are considered encouraging. WV3 alteration processing and reconnaissance geological mapping along the Camino - Rincon trend defines a corridor of phyllic, intermediate argillic and propylitic alteration with strong centers of overprinting jarosite (Figure 5a). This alteration signature suggests that the current surface outcrop level may represent the upper levels of a shallowly eroded Cu - Au - Mo PCD and HSE trend of mineralization. Mogotes soil sampling has outlined a +3.0 km long coincident zone of anomalous Au-Cu-Mo (Figure 5b) broadly correlating with the alteration and geophysical trend. The soil anomaly continues to the south of the WV3 alteration anomaly, extending to the Rincon prospect where thin cover had obscured the WV3 alteration signature. Assay results have been received from Mogotes semicontinuous chip channel sampling along the Rincon access roads. This has highlighted a 210 m long section of continuously anomalous Cu-Au-Mo-Pb-Zn (Table 1) with peak assays from 83 samples of Au 1.35 g/t and Cu 825, Mo 142, Pb 724, Zn 1,380 ppm. Table 1: Rincon Roadcut rock chip samples statistics n:83 Au ppm ICP21 Cu ppm ME-ICP61 Mo ppm ME- ICP61 Pb ppm ME-ICP61 Zn ppm ME- ICP61 Min 0.03 66 2 10 36 Max 1.35 825 142 724 1,380 Average of Top 10% 0.38 507 66.8 396 588 This anomalous geochemistry correlates to a zone of propylitic to phyllic altered volcanics and small diorite to dacite stocks with early hydrothermal magnetite veining and quartz veinlets locally defining zones of intense sheeted veinlets with sporadic fine sulphides and or supergene Cu staining (Figure 6a). Prospecting has highlighted outcrop and float of quartz-pyrite-enargite veining at site T1 (Figure 6b) and trenching at site T2 has exposed a 105 m wide zone of variable high intensity sheeted quartz veinlets with sporadic supergene Cu staining (Figure 6c). Rock chip assays from the southern extension of the Rincon prospect are pending but infer the potential for a 1.0 km long north-south corridor of veining with anomalous Au-Cu-Mo-Pb-Zn. Mogotes Rincon Au-Cu-Mo soil anomaly suggests that this trend may extend a further 1.3 km to the south of the T2 trench. Further mapping and trenching of Rincon prospect and extended Camino-Rincon Trend is a high priority for Mogotes in the Spring 2024 program leading to drilling of key geophysical and geochemical targets planned during the summer exploration program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_006full.jpg Further mapping and trenching of Rincon prospect and extended Camino-Rincon Trend is a high priority for Mogotes in the Spring 2024 program leading to drilling of key geophysical and geochemical targets planned during the summer exploration program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_007full.jpg The Meseta Prospect Meseta is one of Mogotes Metals recently recognised, priority targets for High Sulfidation Epithermal (HSE) Au-Ag and conceptual deeper telescoped porphyry (PCD) Cu-Au-Ag mineralization at the Filo Sur project. This target has not been drill tested yet and is a high priority target for Mogotes. The prospect is located directly on trend, 1.5 km south of the large Filo Del Sol (FDS) Cu-Au-Ag deposit, owned by Filo Mining. Geological mapping and Mogotes WV3 satellite alteration processing demonstrates continuation of the geology and advanced argillic alteration system associated with the extensive Filo Del Sol (FDS) district into the Meseta prospect (Figure 7). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_008full.jpg Field follow-up of alunite - kaolinite highlighted by Mogotes WV3 alteration mapping has confirmed the presence of advanced argillic alteration and silica-alunite-kaolinite vuggy silica breccia structures and silica-alunite replacement of clastic units in the stratigraphy at Meseta. The Meseta breccias and vuggy silica alteration zones were not sampled, or drill tested by previous explorers at the project. Mogotes assay results received in February 2024 from reconnaissance rock chip sampling (Figure 8) have returned assays (36 samples) ranging from 0.006 up to 1.48 g/t Au and 4.6 g/t Ag with strongly anomalous As and Sb, typical of HSE systems. Combined, the geophysical anomalies, advanced argillic alteration and rock chip assay results represent a compelling conceptual drill target for shallow vuggy silica hosted HSE Au-Ag mineralization overlying a deeper PCD Cu-Au-Ag target outlined by the Mogotes geophysics. Filo commented on the drilling approx. 250m from the Meseta target: "a high quality exploration target which requires significant additional exploration" Drill testing of the Meseta target is a priority for the Mogotes 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/215900_1facf88be46deac6_009full.jpg Cumbre Prospect Cumbre is a new priority prospect defined by the Mogotes 2023 exploration program located along the trend of the Miocene belt 1.8 km south of Meseta and 3.5 km south of Filo Mining's FDS deposit (Figure 1). The prospect is at a very early stage of geological understanding with no historic drilling and limited surface geochemistry to date. Mogotes 2023 geophysics program defined large-scale anomalies that map a 1.3 km diameter chargeability high, which is inferred to be a pyrite halo with a conductive chargeable core, suggesting the potential for a porphyry style target at depth. In section, the geophysics maps a resistive unit that appears to form a "cap" over the drill target. At surface, WV3 alteration processing has mapped out a series of structurally controlled advanced argillic alteration responses that correspond on the ground to localised silica-alunite structures. Mogotes reconnaissance rock chip sampling (40 samples) has provided encouraging initial results from sampling of some of these structures. Assays results ranging from 0.001 to 0.6 g/t Au, 18 to 1,485 ppm Cu and 1.0 to 240 ppm Mo were returned, along with elevated epithermal pathfinder elements As and Sb. Systematic mapping, geochemical sampling and infill geophysics is planned for the Cumbre project during the 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Cruz del Sur and Stockwork Hills Prospect Reconnaissance of the Cruz del Sur target outlined a 600 by 400 m zone of subcropping argillic to phyllic alteration with strong iron oxide staining and locally preserved, disseminated pyrite hosted within an interbedded rhyolitic to dacitic volcaniclastic sequence presumed to be the Permo-Triassic age Choiyoi Group (Kay et al., 1989; Linares, 2007). Mogotes drill hole FSDDH001 was drilled to the SE at -67 to a depth of 476 m to test a large geophysical chargeability anomaly with a conductive core, underlying the surface alteration zone. The entire hole is dominated by pervasive phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration that is weak to moderate (0 to 251m) vectoring to strong to intense toward the base of the hole (251 to 476m). Disseminated pyrite is abundant through the hole with hand lens based estimates of between 1 to 35% pyrite, with the presence of pyrite fracture veinlets and pyrite - sericite D type veining also logged. Low density quartz - adularia veining was noted between 56 and 212 m with minor sphalerite and galena noted in these veins in two intervals between 95 to 98 and 142.5 to 162.5 m. It is interpreted that this hole has intersected a distal portion of a large intermediate argillic to phyllic alteration halo with local zones of low sulfidation style veining. Assay results will determine if there is precious metal content with the veining or geochemical vectors to potentially more mineralized parts of this large alteration system. Further to the southwest at the Stockwork Hills prospect, Mogotes has identified zones of unsampled quartz stockworking that will be sampled during the Spring 2024 exploration program and may indicate untested zones of interest at this prospect. About Mogotes Metals Inc. Mogotes Metals Inc. is an exploration company looking for copper and gold in the Vicuna district of Argentina and Chile. The flagship project, Filo Sur, is on strike with the Filo del Sol discovery, and in the same district as the NGEx Minerals Lunahuasi and Los Helados deposits. For further information, please contact: Mogotes Metals Inc. Allen Sabet, President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (647) 846-3313 Email: info@mogotesmetals.com Additional Information The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination, but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical disclosure for the Filo Sur project included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Stephen Nano who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Nano is a Director and Technical Advisor for the Company. Mogotes applies industry standard exploration sampling methodologies and techniques. All geochemical soil, stream, rock and drill samples are collected under the supervision of the company's geologists in accordance with industry practice. Geochemical assays are obtained and reported under a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are dispatched to an ISO 9001:2008 accredited laboratory in Argentina for analysis. Assay results from drill core samples may be higher, lower or similar to results obtained from surface rock, channel, trench samples due to surficial oxidation and enrichment processes or due to natural geological grade variations in the primary mineralization. Drill holes feature varying diameters as they progress in depth. They begin with a PQ3 drill bit (up to ~300 m), then reduce to HQ3 (up to ~670 m), and finally reach NQ3 diameter (up to ~1200 m) at the deepest drill hole. The drill cores were extracted and placed in core boxes with accurate depth markings by Foraco drilling company's rigs, all under the supervision of Mogotes Metals Inc. The core boxes were carefully transported by Mogotes Metals Inc. staff to the field camp. The drill core processing at the field camp was as follows: general control, photographic record using IMAGO, recovery and RQD determinations, and geological quick log. The drill core boxes were also adequately packaged and secured for transport to San Juan core shed. Shipments from the camp to the San Juan facility were transported using trucks designated exclusively for that purpose. At the core shed in San Juan the drill core processing was as follows: general control, check of recovery and RQD, additional geotechnical studies, determination of apparent density, sampling delimitation, drill core cutting, sampling and weighing of samples, half core photographic record using IMAGO, and detailed geological logging. All this information is managed using MX Deposit. The remaining half cores are secure stored in racks at the same core shed. The drill cores were sampled in 2- and 1-meter intervals depending on the drill hole diameter (1 meter for PQ3 and 2 meters for HQ3 and NQ3) using a diamond or a hydraulic rock saw chosen based on visible mineralization. A unique reference number was assigned to each sample. The samples were placed in duly identified plastic bags ensuring that each interval to be sampled was correct and that the same half core was always sampled. All samples were bagged in raffia bags and packaged for shipment by an exclusive truck to the ALS laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina. In that facility was carried out the sample preparation (PREP-31B) which includes crush to 70 % less than 2 mm, riffle split off 1kg, pulverize to 85% passing 75 microns. The prepared samples were sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru for gold and multi-element analysis. Gold (Au-ICP21) was analyzed by fire assay fusion with ICP-AES finish on a 30 g sample. Samples were also analyzed for a suit of 48 elements (ME-MS61) with four acid digestion and ICP-MS finish. The QAQC procedure is consistent for both drill cores and rock samples, involving batches of 36 samples. Each batch includes 32 original samples and 4 quality control samples, making up approximately 11% of the total. Per batch, the four control samples were distributed according to the following criteria: (i) 2 standards chosen based on the drill core alteration y mineralization between different ore grades reference materials of high sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag-Cu ore and porphyry Cu-Au-Mo ore base. (ii) 1 blank (alternatively coarse and fine blank), which was preferably located after the mineralized zone. (iii) 1 field duplicate that corresponds to a quarter in drill cores or a rock sample taken in a similar way to the original was preferably placed in the most mineralized position within the batch. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: 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. Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. Generally, this forward-looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "budgets", "targets" "assumes", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "will occur" or "will be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release 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. Information contained in this news release is as of the date of this press release. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to assumptions made in the interpretation of drill results, geology, grade, geochemistry, potential implications of geophysics interpretations, and continuity of mineral deposits; expectations regarding access and demand for equipment, skilled labour and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; and that activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by exploration, development, operating, regulatory, political, community, economic, environmental and/or healthy and safety risks. In addition, this news release may contain forward-looking statements or information pertaining to: potential exploration upside at the Filo Sur Project, including the extent and significance of the porphyry copper-gold system and the prospectivity of exploration targets; exploration plans and expenditures,; the ability of the Company to conduct its field programs as planned; the success of future exploration activities; potential for resource expansion; ability to build shareholder value; expectations with regard to adding to its Mineral Reserves or Resources through exploration; ability to execute planned work programs; plans or ability to mobilize or add additional drill rigs; timing or anticipated results of laboratory results; government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage; and other risks and uncertainties. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future. 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 obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the current price of and demand for commodities will be sustained or will improve, the supply of commodities will remain stable, that the general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms and that the Company will not experience any material labour dispute, accident, or failure of plant or equipment. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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, including those set out in the Company's most recent annual information form and annual management discussion and analysis, and risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available on the Company's website and SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Follow Us Twitter: https://x.com/mogotesmetals 1For information regarding B-type and D-type veins, please refer to the terms reported in "Gustafson-Hunt, 1975; "The Porphyry Deposits at El Salvador, Chile"; Econ. Geol. Vol 70, No 5." To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215900 SOURCE: Mogotes Metals Inc. EQS Newswire / 09/07/2024 / 09:00 UTC+8 Highlights: DST remains dedicated to advancing new energy logistics technology and innovative business models, alongside expanding its global presence and promoting for standardized solutions. These initiatives aim to assist its customers in accelerating the achievement of net-zero emission targets in logistics delivery. Management views this latest investment round as a testament of the capital market's acknowledgment and confidence in DST's growth trajectory. DST is committed to further improving its operational efficiency and enhancing service quality, thereby generating long-term sustainable value for its customers, shareholders, partners and employees. Shenzhen - July 9, 2024 - DST, one of the global players in digital and intelligent operation service provider for new energy logistics vehicles, announced the successful closing of its Series E+ funding round today. The round saw participation from Twin Towers Ventures (TTV), the corporate venture capital arm of PETRONAS, along with existing shareholders. This marks DST's second funding round in six months, following the completion of Series E funding in Q4 2023, bringing the total amount raised in the Series E round to approximately $100 million. TTV focuses on investing in startups with breakthrough technologies in the energy transition and green mobility sectors across Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. The investment in DST underscores strong confidence in DST's capabilities in digital and intelligent operations for new energy logistics and highlights potential within the Southeast Asian market. As a leader in digital and intelligent operational services for new energy logistics vehicles, DST is optimistic about the electrification trends in both the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets. The company is committed to achieving sustainable growth by leveraging its expertise in supply chain management and digital operational capabilities. DST firmly believes that it can contribute to global electrification goals through its efficient and cost-effective new energy vehicles. As of June 2024, DST manages over 130,000 units of new energy logistics vehicles. This milestone signifies that China's new energy logistics vehicle service network has entered a sustainable and scalable phase, further enhancing DST's standing in the capital market. Ms. Zhang Haiying, Founder and Chairman of the Board of DST, stated, "DST has consistently improved its service quality and operational efficiency through advancements in new energy logistics technology and innovative business model, thereby helping customers accelerate their net-zero emission targets in logistics delivery. We believe this funding round by TTV is a recognition of DST's capabilities in digital and intelligent operational service by the capital market, further strengthening our confidence in expanding into overseas markets. In the future, we aim to deepen strategic collaboration with Southeast Asian partners to provide efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly solutions in new energy logistics, thereby promoting sustainability in the global logistics industry." Ms. Tian Tian, Chief Financial Officer of DST, said, "Despite the prevailing pressure in the capital market, DST successfully closed its Series E round in 2023 and Series E+ round in 2024. We sincerely thank both the new and existing shareholders for their long-term confidence, trust and support for DST. The completion of the overall Series E round will provide sufficient financial resources to support DST's expansion and overseas strategy. The successful closure of this funding round signifies the capital market's validation of our company. Moving forward, we remain committed to enhancing operational efficiency, service quality, our environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, thereby creating sustainable long-term value for our customers, shareholders, partners, and employees." About TTV TTV is the corporate venture capital arm of PETRONAS and maintains dual offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. TTV invests in early to growth stages entrepreneurs across the Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. About DST Founded in 2015, DST has been committed in advancing the electrification of urban logistics vehicles. The company operates vehicles throughout their lifecycle using a digital and intelligent operational service network that integrates the entire value chain of the new energy logistics vehicle industry. DST provides comprehensive asset operations and services, including vehicle leasing and sales, charging and maintenance, and vehicle disposal. DST empowers industry stakeholders to enhance efficiency and value through "service and digitalization". The company continuously promotes the standardization and intelligence service in the industry. For more information about DST, please visit www.dstcar.com . Media and Investor Contact: Public Relations: globalpr@dstcar.com Investor Relations: dst-ir@dstcar.com SOURCE: DST Electric Vehicle Rental (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. 09/07/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com AI search and Q&A service for finding required information in massive data scattered across business platforms Cloud-based service (SaaS) available for immediate use by enterprises without additional development process THINKFREE embarking on global market entry SEOUL, South Korea, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- THINKFREE, a subsidiary of the world-class AI technology company HANCOM, has launched the beta version of Refinder AI, an AI search and Q&A solution targeting the global corporate market. Refinder AI is an AI service that enables integrated searches of massive data scattered across numerous business platforms used by an enterprise, regardless of the data sources and relations. Linking all productivity and collaboration platforms such as Gmail, Google Drive, Confluence, Jira, Slack and Notion, it provides an all-in-one service for finding web content, office documents, PDF files, emails, messages, etc., saved in the platforms. It is characterized by fast and accurate answers provided on the basis of verified data within the boundaries of the respective enterprise. Notably, in addition to simple data searches, Refinder AI also plays the role of an assistant. When a user enters a query or a search word, the AI understands the meaning of the query and the user's intention, and provides an answer in natural language by combining information with the highest accuracy and relevance from the data scattered across the enterprise. It provides results by accessing all platforms through a single search so the user doesn't have to search every platform or memorize where information is saved. As the service handles corporate data saved in various platforms, the level of security has been reinforced. Refinder AI is designed to not search critical data for unauthorized users. The AI provides answers by referring only to data that have been authorized by the company that introduced the solution. In particular, unlike other corporate search solutions, it does not require a separate development process. And various applications used by an enterprise can be conveniently loaded. "While the amount of data generated and retained each year by enterprises across the world is increasing at an exponential rate, the rate of effective data use in business is very low," said THINKFREE CEO Kim Du-yeong. "THINKFREE will target the global cloud market with Refinder AI, and grow into a company that draws the world's attention by combining HANCOM's world-class document technology with advanced AI technologies." Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2453515/Thinkfree_Logo.jpg Media Contact Mim Kim, mim@thinkfree.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thinkfree-launches-beta-version-of-global-corporate-ai-search-service-refinder-ai-302189911.html Axiom Life and Health Inc., based in Ottawa, Canada, has unveiled a strategic collaboration with Maximance 2030 LTD and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB) to deliver comprehensive health and financing solutions for community development projects. Julio Jose Montenegro, CEO of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), and Fernando Ferreira, CEO of Maximance 2030, have indicated that they are very pleased to partner with Axiom in providing essential health services and unlocking new financing opportunities for our development projects. This partnership merges Axiom's deep expertise in medical insurance with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD and BluegGrace Energy Bolivia's skill in public-private partnerships across diverse sectors, including healthcare. Key Collaboration Highlights: Innovative Financing: Axiom will leverage carbon credit securities as collateral, empowering Maximance 2030 and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia to obtain capital for community development projects. Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions: Maximance 2030 and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia will deploy Axiom's robust health insurance plan, Axiom Healthcare, within the communities they serve. This plan offers global access, zero-cost network coverage, and full medical expense coverage, including travel. Axiom will also develop tailored health solutions for each region. Equitable Profit Sharing: The partners will share the profits from the sale of carbon credit securities equally. Additionally, Axiom will collaborate with sponsors or self-finance premiums to reduce healthcare costs for the beneficiary communities. "This collaboration combines Axiom's health expertise with the developmental insight of Maximance 2030 and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, creating a powerful value proposition for communities worldwide," said Amita Kochar, President and Founder of Axiom Life and Health Inc. As a first step following this announcement and during the inauguration of Expo Favela 2024 at the World Trade Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a meeting was held with the directors of CUFA & 4All (founders and partners of FBank) to discuss the potential development of private "Health Insurance" plans to be implemented with Bluegrace & FBank. These plans would be offered at an affordable price to each new customer who opens a checking account at FBank, leveraging CUFA's strong negotiating power with Brazil's official agencies. The model to be studied would be a public-private partnership (PPP), ensuring quality social insurance for FBank customers. Mr. Montenegro indicated that this initiative would be a milestone for social actions and a commercial success for FBank, whose motto is that social actions and donations go hand in hand with the profits of companies and donors. In this regard, Favela Holding and MAG Seguros have launched F Seguros, the first insurance company focused on Brazil's favela communities. This partnership combines Favela Holding's community expertise with MAG's multinational insurance experience. Helder Molina, CEO of MAG, emphasizes the importance of creating insurance tailored to the needs of favela residents. CUFA will be a social partner, training residents to become insurance brokers. F Seguros will offer life insurance, capitalization bonds, and funeral assistance nationwide. BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is in the early stages of negotiations with F Seguros to join this significant initiative. BGEB's collaborations are focused on empowering impoverished and indigenous communities around the globe through comprehensive social initiatives and sustainability, guided towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation which underscores the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish. As a registered issuer and observer of sustainable financial instruments with the Capital Market Association (ICMA) and recognized by the United Nations Global Compact, BGEB prioritizes authenticity and sustainability, ensuring the integrity of its carbon credits. In that regard, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, in partnership with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, had secured the approval of ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257 which facilitates the support of Forest Conservation Projects through equities, prioritizing due diligence to uphold the integrity of the carbon credits issued by the company. In recent months, BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA has forged agreements with various global companies, including Mbombo Investment Group (MIG), a leading consulting and impact investment firm that manages alternative asset classes, global markets, and a private investments with a network of investors from the US, EU, Israel, Brazil, and African countries, providing them with updated global business information, APRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., a Spain-based company dedicated to a fair and sustainable energy transition; PH Plus, a prominent leader in alkaline water production and distribution in the United States; Healthy Grains S.A., a Guatemalan producer and exporter of nutrient-rich Seeds Like Hemp, Chia, and Flaxseed, and FRIGORIFICOS KOBEFOODS (KFK) a leading Peruvian entity championing the vegan movement in South America. These collaborations are expected to make substantial contributions toward achieving the sustainable development goals set for 2030. BGEB's journey inspires us all to take action, as together, we can address climate change and protect our planet for future generations. About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia: BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), a global consortium of experts in diverse areas, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Boasting decades of experience, our team is pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society Learn more at: Web: https://bluegracebolivia.com/ YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/1BGEB Instagram: http://tinyurl.com/0BGEB LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/56BGEB For further information, please contact: JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO jmontenegro@bluegracebolivia.com +1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.) NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZ nelopineda@bluegracebolivia.com +591 714-72257 (Bolivia) For all media inquiries, please contact: Ivan Linde ivan.linde@bluegracebolivia.com\ +1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.) Disclaimer This announcement is solely for informational use and should not be viewed as financial, legal, or investment guidance. It includes projections and statements that aren't based on past events. Any statement in this release that isn't a historical fact is a projection. Readers should be aware that the basis for these projections might be incorrect and are advised not to rely solely on them. Any projections in this announcement come with a warning. They are current as of the release date, and the Company has no plans to update them, except as mandated by securities regulations. SOURCE: BlueGrace Energy Bolivia View the original press release on accesswire.com Capita Plc - Disposal PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, July 09 This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended) 09 July 2024 Capita agrees sale of Capita One Capita plc (Capita) has agreed to sell its standalone software business (Capita One), via the sale of Capita One Limited by Capita Business Services Ltd (the Seller), to Orchard Information Systems Limited (the Buyer), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MRI Software, LLC (MRI Software) (the Disposal) in a deal that values Capita One Limited at 200m on a cash-free, debt-free basis. This represents a c.10x multiple on 2023 EBITDA for Capita One of c.21m. The Disposal will result in the Capita group (the Group) receiving expected gross cash proceeds of approximately 207m upon completion of the Disposal (Completion). Prior to Completion, the Group also expects to receive a cash dividend of 4.8m from Capita One. Capita One provides local authorities, local education authorities and housing associations with revenues & benefits, social housing management and education management software. It helps local authorities drive efficiency, maximise revenue collection, and deliver essential public services as cost effectively as possible. The sale of Capita One follows an evaluation of certain activities currently carried out by Capita that are not core to the Group's future strategy. As announced on 13 June 2024 at Capita's Capital Markets Event, standalone software activities, including the Capita One business, are part of the Group's activities that are being "managed for value". The Disposal will realise material value for Capita's shareholders and the net cash proceeds will provide the Group with additional cash resources to strengthen its financial position and further reduce indebtedness, as well as funding for its transformation journey. Although short term pro forma results are expected to be impacted by the Disposal, Capita is maintaining its medium-term guidance for the continuing Group based on the benefits of the cost saving and technology initiatives previously outlined. MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. The Buyer intends to support Capita One's growth plans and further develop its product portfolio and customer base. The Disposal is expected to complete towards the end of August, subject to satisfaction of the following Completion conditions: The sale of Capita One is a Class 1 transaction under the current Listing Rules and is conditional on the approval of Capita's shareholders (to the extent such approval is required by the Listing Rules as may be amended or replaced by the FCA) with a shareholder circular (the Circular) to be published in due course including a timetable for a General Meeting of Capita shareholders; and notification and confirmation from the Secretary of State that no further action will be taken under the UK's National Security and Investment Act. Proposed changes to the Listing Rules, including changes to the rules relating to Class 1 transactions, (the New Listing Rules) are expected to be finalised and implemented early in the second half of 2024. If the New Listing Rules are implemented as currently proposed and become effective prior to Completion, they would not require the Disposal to be conditional upon the approval of Shareholders. If, prior to the General Meeting, the FCA announces that the New Listing Rules will become effective before the Completion, the Company would permanently adjourn the General Meeting and the Disposal would cease to be conditional on the approval of Capita's shareholders. The Company would give notice of this by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service. The Buyer has paid a deposit of 20m (the Deposit) to the Seller's solicitors to be held by them (or a third-party escrow agent) as stakeholder pending Completion or termination of the sale and purchase agreement in respect of the Disposal (the SPA). Upon Completion, the Deposit will be released to the Seller and credited against the cash consideration payable by the Buyer at Completion. If the SPA were to terminate without Completion having occurred, the Deposit is required to be released and returned to the Buyer unless such termination is a result of a breach by the Buyer of its obligations under the SPA (in which case the Deposit shall be released to, and retained by, the Seller). The SPA includes a joint and several guarantee by each of MRI Intermediate Holdings LLC, MRI Software EMEA Limited and MRI Software Limited in favour of the Seller guaranteeing the due and punctual observance and performance by the Buyer of its obligations under the SPA. The total assets of Capita One as at 31 December 2023 were 67m and the revenue and profit before tax for the year then ended were 55m and 19m respectively. The EBITDA and operating cash conversion of Capita One for the year ended 31 December 2023 were c.21m and 92% respectively. Capita One is expected to have cash of c.18m assuming Completion towards the end of August. Adolfo Hernandez, CEO, Capita, said: "As I outlined recently at our Capital Markets Event, Capita's strategy is to become a more focused company, prioritising businesses where we can deliver material opportunities in the future, with greater simplification and cost reduction. "Capita One is a high-quality business that has performed exceptionally well. Under its new owner, it is well positioned to benefit from investment in its strategic growth. "We remain committed to the local public service market but want to see Capita One be set up for continued success with an owner that can deliver the investment it needs." Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank ('Barclays') is acting as sole financial advisor and sole sponsor to Capita on the transaction. Notes to editors: Investor enquiries Helen Parris, Director of Investor Relations Tel: 07720 169 269 Email: IRteam@capita.co.uk Stephanie Little Deputy Head of Investor Relations Tel: 07541 622838 Email: IRteam@capita.co.uk Media enquiries Capita external communications Tel: 0207 654 2399 Email: media@capita.co.uk Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank (Sole Financial Advisor and Sole Sponsor to Capita) Aamir Khan Jessel Sheth Tom Macdonald Michael Hart Stuart Muress Tel: 0207 623 2323 About Capita One Capita One is a provider of software solutions across the UK public sector, helping local authorities drive efficiency, maximise revenue collection and deliver essential public services as cost effectively as possible. Capita One primarily serves local authorities, local education authorities and housing associations, and the business operates across three sectors: revenue and benefits software, social housing management and education management software. The Capita One senior management team comprises: Jon Peart, Stuart Cheetham, Dave Smedley, Paul Millard, James Allard and Gavin Chamberlain. The Capita One senior management team will be transferring with the business. About MRI Software MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI Software's open and connected, AI-first platform empowers agents, owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organizations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. MRI Software has been a trailblazer in the PropTech industry for over five decades, serving more than six million users worldwide, including social housing and the public sector. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI Software gives real estate companies the freedom to realize their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, visit https://www.mrisoftware.com/uk/ . About Capita Capita is a modern outsourcer, helping clients across the public and private sectors run complex business processes more efficiently, creating better consumer experiences. Operating across 8 countries, Capita's 41,000 colleagues support primarily UK and European clients with people-based services underpinned by market-leading technology. We play an integral role in society - our work matters to the lives of the millions of people who rely on us every day. Important Notice Barclays, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority ('PRA') and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and the PRA, is acting exclusively for Capita and no one else in connection with the proposed sale and will not be responsible to anyone other than Capita for providing the protections afforded to clients of Barclays nor for providing advice in relation to the proposed sale or any other matter referred to in this announcement. LONDON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shining the spotlight on an extended collection of bars across the region, Asia's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, releases the prestigious 51st to 100th list for the fourth year running. Revealed one week ahead of its live awards ceremony in Hong Kong, the ranking is created from the overall Asia's 50 Best Bars voting process, which sees its 265-member strong Academy - consisting of a gender-balanced group of bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail aficionados - place independent and anonymous votes for what they believe constitutes a "best bar experience". The 51-100 list: A Snapshot This year's 51-100 list includes 15 new entries from across the region The list comprises bars spanning 19 different cities across Asia Singapore leads with 8 bars on the extended list Bangkok is represented by 6 bars, while Tokyo follows with 5 places on the list A bar from Muntinlupa City debuts on the list with Southbank Cafe + Lounge at No.82 Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia's 50 Best Bars, says: "We are thrilled to welcome this diverse cohort of bars on the 51-100 list as part of this year's 50 Best rankings. We have been consistently impressed by the innovative drinking experiences Asia has to offer, and it is beyond exciting to see the large number of new entries and new destinations that have made the list this year." Topping the extended list is Soko in Seoul at No.51, while Tokyo Confidential enters the list for the first time at No.53. Three bars re-enter the 51-100 list, with Backdoor Bodega in Penang at No.52, The Bamboo Bar in Bangkok at No.91 and Sober Company in Shanghai at No.92. For the full 51-100 list, click here. The ninth edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be announced at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong on 16 July and is hosted in collaboration with destination partner Hong Kong Tourism Board. The awards ceremony will also be streamed live on the 50 Best Facebook channel via the link here and YouTube channel via the link here, with the livestream beginning at 20:25 Hong Kong time/13:25 UK time. https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2454760/Asia_50_Best_Bars.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451955/Asia_50_Best_Bars_2024_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/asias-50-best-bars-unveils-the-establishments-voted-onto-the-extended-51-100-list-for-2024-302190706.html Airwallex and Skift research finds nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of travel executives believe inefficient payment systems are harming their profits 70 percent find cross-border customer payments are more challenging due to new payment methods, despite this activity making up at least a quarter of their revenues Upgrading payment technology is a key focus, with 90 percent of executives planning to make it a priority over the next 12 months New research has revealed 66 percent of travel companies are seeing their profit margins impacted by outdated or complicated payment systems, with nine in 10 expected to prioritise modernising their financial operations this year. In a report released today by leading global payments and financial platform, Airwallex, and travel research company, Skift, the travel industry is also being challenged by shifting payment preferences since the COVID-19 pandemic. While revenue from cross-border payments is on the rise, the unprecedented diversity of payment methods in different markets complicates transactions for 70 percent of travel companies. Commenting on the research findings Jack Zhang, Co-founder and CEO at Airwallex, said, "As global travel continues to boom, travel companies increasingly rely on quick and seamless cross-border payments to surpass customer expectations at every touchpoint. However, our latest study shows that slow and outdated payment processes are increasing the cost of moving money internationally, which is eating into their profits modest at the best of times. Modernising their financial operations with a unified and scalable payment solution will be critical to reducing the cost and friction associated with managing cross-border transactions. For smaller players, this can be what levels the playing field, enabling them to compete with larger, more established counterparts." Skift and Airwallex surveyed 473 travel executives in April 2024 across seven global markets Australia, China, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. The survey respondents confirmed that they make decisions about payment processes and financial operations for a travel company across the sector including online travel bookings, travel operators, tours and activities, and destination management. "Our survey of global travel executives uncovered new, unique and even surprising insights into why unified payment and financial systems are critical in meeting today's traveller expectations," said Rafat Ali, CEO and Founder of Skift. "Amid an unprecedented rise in international tourism, the report intends to give travel companies a framework to expand their knowledge base and build more efficient, effective and profitable businesses through modernised payment and financial operations systems." The findings provide a unique perspective on the financial challenges and opportunities that companies face as they grow and operate on a global scale. It offers rare insight into the issues travel businesses experience with end-to-end payments and financial operations, especially with the growing trend of cross-border transactions. KEY FINDINGS Travel customer payment preferences are shifting with local payment methods being increasingly used Credit cards, debit cards and digital wallets remain by far the most common customer payment methods. However, travellers are increasingly using local payment methods or peer-to-peer payment apps, which can vary widely by market. 88 percent of travel executives agreed that there has been a shift in how customers prefer to pay since the COVID-19 pandemic Local payment methods and peer-to-peer systems are also rapidly gaining popularity, especially in Asia Handling a variety of payment types, across different markets, is becoming increasingly complex for 70 percent of travel companies Cross-border transactions soar, but bring significant global payment challenges Cross-border transactions are now commonplace with nearly 40 percent of travel executives reporting half of their revenues to be from international customer payments. Meeting different market payment needs, foreign exchange (FX) fees, and managing multiple supplier and vendor payments in numerous countries hinder travel companies' ability to expand their supplier or vendor network in new markets. 75 percent of travel companies earn more than one-quarter of their revenue from cross-border payments, while 88 percent of companies frequently make payments to suppliers or vendors in foreign currencies 67 percent of executives agreed that cross-border payments have become more complicated due to the volatility of FX rates Managing multiple supplier and vendor payments in different countries using existing payment and financial infrastructure and reconciling bookings, payments, commissions and refunds data is a key challenge for more than 50 percent of executives Inefficient payment systems are detrimental to profits with travel executives saying financial operational upgrades are a priority Challenges with payment systems, such as multi-currency payments and settlements, fraud risk and other operational inefficiencies are impacting travel companies. Nearly two-thirds of travel finance executives say that outdated or complicated payment systems are directly impacting their organisational efficiency and profit margins, with nine in 10 reporting at least a 2 percent erosion and over one-third losing 10 percent 90 percent of travel executives are prioritising upgrades to payment and financial operations systems 80 percent of executives would be interested in an all-in-one payment and financial operations platform The full report and recommendations on how online travel businesses can modernise their financial operations for global success, can be read here. NOTES TO MEDIA Methodology: Skift and Airwallex surveyed 473 travel executives in April 2024 across seven global markets Australia, China, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. To qualify for the survey, respondents confirmed that they make decisions about payment processes and financial operations for a travel company in one of the following sectors online travel booking, travel operators, tours and activities, or destination management. Approximately 80 percent of respondents work for small- to medium-sized travel companies, defined herein as those comprising 20 to 600 employees. About Airwallex Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit http://www.airwallex.com. About Skift Skift is the largest industry intelligence platform, providing media, insights, and marketing to key sectors in travel. Through news, research, conferences, exclusive interviews, strategic sector-focused newsletters and more, Skift deciphers and defines the global trends that matter to the marketers, strategists and technologists shaping the industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709809241/en/ Contacts: For further information If you have any questions or would like to request further information, please contact press@airwallex.com. Robert Dunn confirmed as Chief Executive Officer Luis Rodrigues appointed as Chief Operating Officer from Head of Data Center Operations Appointment formalises Start Campus' senior leadership as company continues development of 495 MW data center campus SINES DC's first building nearing completion Start Campus, a company focused on designing, building and operating a new generation of sustainable data centers, today announces the appointment of Robert Dunn as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709810686/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Dunn, who has been serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer since November 2023, will continue to lead the company in the development of SINES DC, a 495 MW data center campus in Portugal. Concurrently, Start Campus also announces the appointment of Luis Rodrigues as Chief Operating Officer. Dunn will be supported by an experienced senior management team with a proven track record in the data center, power, legal and financial sectors, alongside a dedicated team of more than 50 professionals. Robert Dunn said: "I am excited to continue leading Start Campus as Chief Executive Officer at this critical moment in the company's growth. I remain deeply dedicated to our mission to deliver and grow sustainable data center ecosystems by setting new industry standards. Our commitment towards offering flexible and future-proof solutions to our customers drives everything we do, and I am fortunate to be supported by an exceptionally talented group of people who share these values and are equally invested in the growth of Start Campus." "With an investment of 3.5bn, SINES DC will boost prosperity regionally and create or support thousands of jobs, furthering Portugal's digital transformation. I am excited that SINES DC will have such a tremendous impact on the industry and the country. Dunn joined Start Campus in 2022 and has over 15 years' experience across various senior roles within the data center industry, including managing the construction of data centers across Europe for top-tier data center developers. Leveraging this extensive background, Dunn has been pivotal in overseeing the development of SINES DC as its first building nears completion. Luis Rodrigues joined Start Campus in 2021 as the Head of Data Center Operations. With over 15 years' experience heading operations and management for world-class data center operators and developers, Rodrigues has been critical in establishing a leading and accomplished operations team at Start Campus. Mr Dunn and Mr Rodrigues look forward to working with the Start Campus team to deliver on the company's vision. About Start Campus Start Campus is developing the SINES DC project, a 495 MW data center campus in Portugal, creating one of Europe's largest and most sustainable data ecosystems with world-leading global connectivity. SINES DC provides maximum optionality for customers with powered shell, turn-key and build-to-suit solutions. The company's advanced offer is AI-ready and addresses the future needs of the industry by integrating liquid cooling technologies into its flexible and scalable design. With a total combined investment value of 3.5bn, the project is set to use 100% renewable energy and targets an industry-leading PUE of 1.1 by harnessing the cooling power of the ocean. Start Campus will be Net Zero by 2030. For more information, visit www.startcampus.pt View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709810686/en/ Contacts: Ilissa Miller iMiller Public Relations Tel: 1.914.315.6424 Email: startcampus@imillerpr.com Napier Port (NZX.NPH) today releases trade volume data for the third quarter and nine months ended 30 June 2024. Compared to the third quarter in 2023, containerised cargo volume increased by 29.6% and bulk cargo volume increased by 7.4%. For the nine months to June, containerised cargo volume decreased by 2.3% and bulk cargo volume increased by 17.1%. Chief Executive Todd Dawson said: During the third quarter we saw the continuing regional trade recovery following the Cyclone Gabrielle event in February 2023. Containerised volumes were driven by the ongoing bounce back of refrigerated exports of fresh produce, apples and meat, together with higher exports of wood pulp and timber as Pan Pacs production mills continued their recovery ramp up. Bulk cargo volumes for the third quarter were driven by continued solid log export volumes, albeit these were softer than the first half as expected due to reduced volumes of Central North Island windthrown logs and unprocessed logs from Pan Pac. We will provide a further update when we release our nine-month interim financial results on 22 August 2024. Mr Dawson said. Container Services Total container volumes for the third quarter of 72k TEU increased 29.6% from 56k TEU in the same period a year ago, as a result of the continuing regional recovery following the product losses caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in the prior year comparative period. For the nine months to June, total container volumes of 171k TEU decreased 2.3% from 175k TEU in the same period a year ago. Full container volumes decreased 1.7%, and empty and other container movements decreased 3%. Dry export cargo for the third quarter increased 35.3% to 13k TEU with Pan Pacs wood pulp and timber mill volumes continuing to rebuild from their damage and closure following Cyclone Gabrielle. Reefer export cargo for the third quarter increased 25.6% to 18k TEU primarily due to apple exports and fresh and other chilled produce in the prior period being impacted by weather related crop losses. Containerised imports for the third quarter increased 54.4% to 32k TEU primarily due to the empty container repositioning required for increased export cargo. Other container movements for the third quarter increased 29.8% to 7k TEU due to higher DLR movements. Container vessel calls for the third quarter were 60, down from 72 calls in the prior year. Bulk Cargo Total bulk cargo volume, compared to the same periods a year ago, increased 7.4% for the third quarter to 0.8 million tonnes, and 17.1% for the nine months to 2.6 million tonnes. Log export volumes increased 28k tonnes, or 4.6%, to 637k tonnes for the third quarter and 437k tonnes, or 24.9%, to 2,189k tonnes for the nine months. The strong volume momentum of the first half year slowed in the third quarter, in line with anticipated decreases in volumes from central north island windthrown forests and unprocessed logs sourced from Pan Pac. Charter vessel calls for the third quarter were 57, down from 58 calls in the prior year. Cruise Services There was one further cruise vessel call in the third quarter, bringing the 2023-24 season total to 89 calls. Presently there are 89 cruise bookings for the 2024-25 season. ENDS For more information: Investors Kristen Lie Chief Financial Officer DDI: +64 6 833 4405 E: kristenl@napierport.co.nz Media Jo-Ann Young Corporate Affairs Manager DDI: +64 6 833 4521 E: jo-anny@napierport.co.nz About Napier Port Napier Port is New Zealands fourth largest port by container volume. We are the gateway for Hawkes Bay and lower North Islands exports and operate a long-term regional infrastructure asset that supports the regional economy. Our strategic purpose is to collaborate with the people and organisations that have a stake in helping our region grow. View Napier Ports investor centre: www.napierport.co.nz/investor-centre/ Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. 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Related News: TRU - WHO Agency UNITAID Features TRU in Tech Landscape Report PaySauce Quarterly Market Update - September 2024 October 2nd Morning Report Rua Releases Annual Report for Year Ended 30 June 2024 SCL - Settlement of orchard sales The Warehouse Group 2024 ASM and Director Nominations AIR - Update on Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer Comvita Limited - Annual Report 2024 September 27th Morning Report Spark announces departure of Finance Director Phase II study in non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC) to be run in collaboration with the ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation across sites in Europe Study will investigate dostarlimab + roginolisib +/- docetaxel in patients with NSCLC resistant to first-line checkpoint inhibitor therapy GENEVA and AMSTERDAM, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iOnctura, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers, today announces expansion of the clinical trial program for lead pipeline asset, roginolisib. Via clinical collaboration agreements with the ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation and GSK, roginolisib will be evaluated in combination with dostarlimab in NSCLC. Roginolisib is an allosteric modulator of PI3Kd, widely recognized as a 'master switch' of cancer. Inhibition of PI3Kd unleashes a multi-pronged anti-tumor and immune response to combat the tumor1 . Roginolisib has demonstrated an unprecedented clinical profile in solid and liquid cancers2, with 44 patients treated to date. Emerging clinical and translational biomarker data supports the hypothesis that combining roginolisib with a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) targeting agent, with or without docetaxel, may prevent or reverse drug resistance in NSCLC and may show synergistic anti-tumor immune activity without significant addition of toxicity3. Dostarlimab is a PD-1-blocking antibody approved for certain patients with endometrial cancer, which has also demonstrated clinical activity in combination with chemotherapy in NSCLC4. Under the terms of the agreement with iOnctura, GSK will supply dostarlimab for use in a randomized Phase II clinical trial in NSCLC patients resistant to first-line checkpoint inhibitor therapy, with or without docetaxel. iOnctura will retain worldwide rights to roginolisib. The ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation is a leading organization performing international clinical and translational research in thoracic malignancies and breast cancer. Through the clinical collaboration, iOnctura will be provided access to a network of highly experienced investigators for the Phase II study. Professor Solange Peters, MD, PhD, Chair of Medical Oncology and the Thoracic Malignancies Programme in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne will be the primary coordinating investigator of the study. Catherine Pickering, Chief Executive Officer of iOnctura, said: "As iOnctura moves into the next phase of clinical development, we are thrilled to be able to assess the effectiveness of roginolisib in combination with dostarlimab for the treatment of NSCLC. The successful uveal melanoma data reported so far, combined with a rich preclinical data package, support the rationale to expand our development program with potentially synergistic combinations in NSCLC." Solange Peters, Professor and Chair of Medical Oncology & Thoracic Malignancies Programme in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, commented: "On behalf of the ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation, we are intrigued by the benefit/risk profile of roginolisib. In patients who no longer respond to current therapies, we wish to investigate whether roginolisib in combination with dostarlimab provides a novel treatment option. ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation is committed to investigate novel treatment options to help our patients." About iOnctura iOnctura is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers with precision oral small molecules that target cancers in novel ways. The bold new treatments extend lives and improve healthspans, changing the outlook for patients and their families. Two therapeutic candidates have progressed into mid-stage clinical development: roginolisib is the first allosteric modulator of PI3Kd and cambritaxestat is the only autotaxin inhibitor in clinical development to treat cancer. iOnctura BV is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands with its wholly owned Swiss subsidiary, iOnctura SA, located in Geneva, Switzerland. iOnctura is backed by specialist institutional investors including Syncona, EIC Fund, M Ventures, Inkef Capital, VI Partners and Schroders Capital. About roginolisib Roginolisib is the first allosteric modulator of PI3Kd with a unique chemical structure and binding mode. The PI3K signalling pathway is one of the most commonly dysregulated pathways in cancer and the precise targeting of the PI3Kd isoform delivers substantial anti-tumor effects with a low-toxicity profile. Clinical data have demonstrated roginolisib's excellent safety profile and sustained clinical activity in uveal melanoma (UM), a rare eye cancer with few available treatments. Randomized Phase II trials are planned to start in late 2024 in UM and other cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer and primary myelofibrosis. About the ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation The ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation was established through the merger of the European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP) and the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) (ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation). The foundation, with its legal seat in Bern, Switzerland, has become a leading organization in performing international clinical research in thoracic malignancies and breast cancer. The ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation is sponsoring and managing an increasing number of clinical trials and translational research projects in Europe and beyond. 1 AACR Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2023, Poster presentation, SITC 2022 2 Poster presentation, ESMO-IO 2023 3 Poster presentation, ESMO-IO 2023, Poster presentation EACR 2023 4 Lim, S.M. et al., Nat Commun 14, 7301 (2023) View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ionctura-announces-expansion-of-roginolisib-clinical-trial-program-to-nsclc-302191025.html MYX Finance, a decentralized exchange (DEX), released its half-year recap and roadmap for the second half of 2024. The exchange plans to enhance cross-chain integration and introduce new features, including copy trading and seamless trading. Additionally, MYX Finance will launch more incentive campaigns aimed at community members, traders, and supporters. MYX Finance, which launched in February, uses the MPM trading engine to provide a fair and fully decentralized trading market. According to authoritative data, MYX Finance achieved a daily trading volume of $100 million within 36 days of its launch. Since June, the average daily trading volume has stabilized at $200 million. MYX Finance focuses on combining the efficiency of centralized exchanges (CEX) with the security of decentralized exchanges (DEX), aiming to create a trustless and permissionless trading environment. This strategy aligns with the natural evolution of their roadmap. MYX Finance users can trade perpetual contracts seamlessly through the Matching Pool Mechanism (MPM), enjoying zero slippage, low fees, high capital efficiency, and diverse trading functions. The philosophy of MYX Finance is to utilize advanced technology and feature expansions to provide new perspectives and possibilities for the future of cryptocurrency trading. In recent months, the DEX has made significant strides in improving its platform, becoming the fastest-growing DEX in 2024. According to the Q2 development report from MYX Finance, the platform has completed a major upgrade, enhancing order execution checks, fee determination logic, and introducing a market maker rebate system, maker-only orders, and a decentralized referral system. Moreover, MYX Finance has established extensive partnerships with numerous industry leaders in the DeFi space, including major public chains, infrastructure providers, blockchain media, and institutions. The token integration and airdrops of MYX Finance serve as key mechanisms to incentivize and reward user participation within its ecosystem. In recent months, MYX Finance launched the Bug Bounty Program, during which community members provided over 120 feedback points, and MYX Finance rewarded 7,000 USDT. During the testnet event, MYX Finance airdropped 1,000,000 MYX tokens to reward early participants. As of the time of writing, MYX Finance (https://x.com/MYX_Finance) has amassed 56,200 followers on its social media platform, X.com. With the mainnet already live, MYX Finance is launching the "Project Origin" campaign to further encourage community engagement and increase platform liquidity and user base. The campaign aims to distribute 20% of MYX Finance tokens, totaling 200,000,000 tokens, to community members and supporters. In the second half of 2024, MYX Finance will continue its commitment to inclusivity, actively integrating more wallets and chains, improving product optimization, token listings, and operational strategies. The platform will also adopt an open approach to user feedback and suggestions. MYX will keep launching new features including Copytrading, Seamless Trading, multi-collateral support and more, to optimize trading experience. Long-term airdrop activities and short-term incentive campaigns will be promoted to provide MYXers with bigger rewards. About MYX Finance MYX Finance is transforming the DeFi landscape with its innovative Matching Pool Mechanism (MPM). This decentralized 'Peer-to-Pool-to-Peer' engine sets new standards in capital efficiency, offering CEX-level low trading costs and high yields for liquidity providers. MYX aims to be the liquidity hub of decentralized trading by enabling cross-chain portfolio margin capabilities through its novel MYX. Address: https://x.com/MYX_Finance Media Contact Organization: MYX Finance Contact Person: Summer Website: https://myx.finance Email: marketing@myx.finance Country: Singapore SOURCE: MYX Finance View the original press release on accesswire.com Every ELFBAR and LOST MARY device undergoes rigorous testing to ensure product quality and safety Both brands are committed to reducing health risks through innovative materials, cutting-edge techniques, and new ingredients The two vaping leaders continuously follow stepped-up safety standards, enhanced by smart manufacturing LONDON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- World-leading vaping brands ELFBAR and LOST MARY today highlighted the key role safety evaluation plays in R&D, product development, and advanced manufacturing. Both brands take a holistic approach to safety assurance, which consists of an extensive routine safety evaluation procedure covering 142 tests on e-liquid, 22 on aerosol, and 65 on device materials. While in constant pursuit of higher benchmarks for product safety, the brands are relentlessly exploring new materials, techniques, and ingredients. "At ELFBAR and LOST MARY, tests are run around the clock with an all-around quality control system. In June alone, 4,326 tests were conducted on prefilled e-liquid in new products, and 3,250 on aerosols," said Samuel Young, the brands' R&D Engineering Director, adding that full inspections and spot checks were conducted on 67 product lines in different global markets, including ELFBAR's ELFA PRO and AF5000, and LOST MARY's BM600S. This is synonymous with the high testing frequency in 2023, when the two brands had 32,931 product batches tested in-house, and 9,090 products scrutinized by third-party labs. Safety well guarded Before entering the market, every genuine ELFBAR and LOST MARY device must undergo various stringent tests, including toxicological and chemical analysis, reliability assessment, material testing, and electronic and battery testing. Also prior to market entry, each e-liquid must present a respective test report that meets compliance requirements in target global markets, including 21 evaluations on nicotine concentration, the content of carbonyls and heavy metals, the pH scale and physical properties. Two brands have and are continuously expanding a list of 787 food additives that are banned as e-liquid ingredients while guaranteeing e-liquids free of industrial additives. This list is compiled based on the European Chemicals Agency Chemical Database, and regulations stipulated in different markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. Benchmarked on various standards, including the Tobacco Products Directive, these pre-market tests focus on e-liquids to ensure hazardous substances are well below permissible levels while screening to rule out forbidden substances, such as vitamin E acetate, diacetyl, caffeine, and taurine. Additionally, post-market surveillance is conducted monthly to monitor products' safety, with regular random inspections to measure carbonyls and heavy metals in both e-liquids and aerosols, and the devices' chemical composition through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Products made safer through innovation ELFBAR and LOST MARY level up safety standards by adopting new materials, techniques, and ingredients. Years-long R&D efforts on harm reduction rely on the growing awareness that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, as evidenced in many scientific studies and growing. "Misconceptions about vaping persist, with smoking continuing to be the leading cause of preventable deaths globally, addressing them is imperative," said Samuel Young. "Many believe one single-use vape is equivalent to smoking several tens of cigarettes. However, it's important to understand that this comparison is solely on nicotine content - overlooking a critical point that vapes do not contain the same amounts of harmful substances found in tobacco." "Harm from smoking comes mostly from the thousands of chemicals in burning cigarettes, whereas levels of toxicants in vaping aerosols are significantly lower. As such, vaping is considered substantially less harmful," he added. In an unwavering commitment to harm reduction, both brands are upgrading the techniques and materials in products, to best manage adult users' exposure to potentially hazardous substances. For example, nickel-free corrosion-resistant electroplating is employed on key parts of all vaping devices that have contact with e-liquid, eliminating toxic metals. The two brands are developing a chemical-free cotton material with enhanced thermal and chemical stability while improving the heating coil pattern to minimize carbonyls in aerosols. Both brands are analyzing toxicologically and chemically new ingredients. For instance, a safer substitute with better thermal stability is under research to replace the common sweetener in e-liquids. The experimental sweetener proves to be stable with heating coils at a high atomizing temperature of 250 degrees Celsius and releases far fewer heavy metals in aerosols. Quality consistency delivered by automated manufacturing On top of extensive testing and R&D, both brands have developed industry-leading automated production, from laser welding to atomizing coil coating, e-liquid pod assembly and filling, printed circuit board wielding, device assembly, and packaging. The two brands started large-scale automated production in 2023, boasting high efficiency and a sterile production environment, and guaranteeing products are consistent in high-quality batch-wise. About ELFBAR ELFBAR is a pioneer in the global vaping industry. Since its inception in 2018, it stays committed to compliance, youth access prevention and sustainable growth in its unwavering responsibility as a leading brand favored and referred by tens of millions of adult users worldwide. For more information, please visit elfbar.com. About LOST MARY Global vaping innovator LOST MARY is dedicated to discovering the value of vaping, setting the trend, and benchmarking the quality. LOST MARY is now present in over 50 global markets, where tens of millions of adult users prefer its products. As of now, the brand owns over 200 patents worldwide. For more information, please visit lostmary.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2455571/GC_MS_instrument.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1832287/elf_bar_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/elfbar-and-lost-mary-unveil-industry-leading-measures-to-guarantee-vape-safety-302190791.html CHICAGO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Sodium Hydroxide Market by Grade (Solid, 50% Aqueous Solution), Production Process, Application (Biodiesel, Alumina, Inorganic Chemicals, Organic Chemicals, Food, Pulp & Paper, Soap & Detergent, Textiles, Water Treatment), Region - Global Forecast to 2029", Sodium Hydroxide Market size is projected to grow from USD 44.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 55.6 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.4%. The sodium hydroxide market is poised for substantial expansion due to the rising utilization and demand for alumina. Alumina is a key element derived from sodium hydroxide, finds widespread application in the construction sector, primarily due to its remarkable characteristics, including its exceptional durability, lightweight nature, and cost-efficient attributes. As the construction industry continues to seek materials that offer superior performance while maintaining economic viability, the demand for alumina is projected to increase, consequently driving growth in the sodium hydroxide market. Browse in-depth TOC on "Sodium Hydroxide Market" 251 - Tables 57 - Figures 271 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=91825689 "Organic chemicals segment is estimated to be the largest application segment of sodium hydroxide." Organic chemicals constitute a significant portion of the chemical industry, encompassing a wide range of compounds essential for various applications. This category includes formaldehyde, citric acid, acetic acid, methanol, ethyl alcohol, aldehydes, esters, aliphatic ketones, aromatic compounds, polymers, amides, and other foundational organic chemicals. These chemicals serve as crucial building blocks to produce drugs, pesticides, plastics, cosmetics, agrochemicals, and more. Among the numerous organic chemicals manufactured with the aid of sodium hydroxide, some key examples include propylene oxide, polycarbonates, ethylene amines, and epichlorohydrin. Caustic soda plays a prominent role in these processes, often used for neutralization and gas scrubbing. Overall, the organic chemical segment of the industry is diverse and vital, providing the foundational materials for a vast array of products essential to modern life. "By Grade, 50% Aqueous Solution grade of the sodium hydroxide market is expected to account for the largest share during the forecast period." Aqueous solutions containing 50% w/w of sodium hydroxide find extensive application across various industries, serving as a versatile neutralization agent and chemical reactant. Utilization of sodium hydroxide spans across sectors including chemical, soaps and detergents, textile, pulp & paper, metal, and food industries, as well as in the production of pharmaceutical. In the textile industry, caustic soda helps in the processing of rayon. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in food manufacturing processes, ensuring pH adjustment, and facilitating the production of various food products. One notable application lies in the manufacturing of biodiesel, where sodium hydroxide contributes to the formation of in situ sodium methylate. This process enhances the efficiency of biofuel production, demonstrating sodium hydroxide's importance in renewable energy initiatives. The wide-ranging uses of sodium hydroxide underscore its significance as a foundational component in numerous industrial processes, contributing to the production of essential goods across various sectors. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=91825689 In 2023, the Asia Pacific region dominated the Sodium Hydroxide market, holding the largest market share, followed by Europe and North America. Notably, China emerged as the leading market within the Asia Pacific region followed by India. This trend expected to persist over the forthcoming five years. This prominence can be attributed to heightened demand within the alumina application industry, primarily fueled by a surge in construction activities across emerging markets. Consequently, the demand for sodium hydroxide experienced a notable upswing in 2023. The key players profiled in the report include are Tata Chemicals Ltd. (India), Olin Corporation (US), Westlake Corporation (US), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (US), Dow (US), Formosa Plastics Corporation (Taiwan), BASF SE (Germany), Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co., Ltd (China), Nouryon (Netherlands), Grasim Industries Limited (India) and others among are the major players in the sodium hydroxide market. Browse Adjacent Market: Bulk Chemicals & Inorganics Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Chlor-Alkali Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2026 Water Treatment Chemicals Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2028 Chlorine Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2019 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. 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. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/sodium-hydroxide-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/sodium-hydroxide.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sodium-hydroxide-market-worth-55-6-billion-by-2029--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302191736.html Leading European security provider to leverage Infosys Cobalt to modernize core systems across eight countries BENGALURU, India, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a strategic five-year collaboration with Sector Alarm, one of Europe's leading providers in security, who are partially owned by global investment firm KKR, to transform their core enterprise business systems on the cloud. Through this collaboration, Infosys will work closely with Sector Alarm to migrate their disparate, on-premises Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform onto Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (F&O), helping them modernize their financial and business operating models. Capitalizing on Infosys' digital transformation capabilities, the Microsoft platform will enable Sector Alarm to streamline finances, gain business insights, and help seamlessly integrate with their existing CRM platform. Infosys was chosen by Sector Alarm for its proven track record in the Nordics region, experience with PE customers, deep domain expertise in cloud-powered ERP transformation, and next-gen Application Management Services (AMS). By leveraging the power of Infosys Cobalt, a set of services, solutions and platforms for enterprises to accelerate their cloud journey, the Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O will also help Sector Alarm to streamline business processes, enable higher customer retention and acquisition, improve customer experience, protect employee experience, and reduce Total Cost of Ownership of new systems. The Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O implementation will take place in a phased manner across eight European countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, and France. Lorenzo Bianchi, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Sector Alarm, said, "At Sector Alarm, we are committed to continuous growth and to providing exceptional security solutions to our customers. Partnering with Infosys on implementing cloud-based ERP solutions, coupled with their strong collaboration with Microsoft, is a strategic step towards achieving this goal. Infosys' expertise will give us the scalability and operational efficiency needed to seamlessly scale our business and reach new heights." Jasmeet Singh, EVP and Global Head of Manufacturing, Infosys, said, "This collaboration with Sector Alarm is a testament to Infosys' expertise in driving digital transformation for high-growth organizations. By leveraging cloud-based ERP and CRM solutions and our long-term partnership with Microsoft, we are looking forward to empowering Sector Alarm with a robust IT platform to achieve their ambitious growth. With this key win, we are well poised to establish ourselves as a trusted partner in the European security systems market." About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infosys-collaborates-with-sector-alarm-to-fuel-growth-through-cloud-based-microsoft-dynamics-erp-302191897.html Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2024) - St Kitts and Nevis is at the forefront of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) industry, which has seen rapid change in the past few years. A regional leader, the country has continually made changes to preserve the Federation's reputation as the premier CBI programme. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10480/215947_xwire_logo.jpg The revised regulations demonstrate the country's clear focus on maintaining the highest standards for the Citizenship by Investment Programme. These updates are made in accordance with the spirit of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). St Kitts and Nevis continues to make changes to the CBI Programme to ensure Programme integrity. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10480/215947_ec87d397d4967a01_001full.jpg The Federation's revised regulations are aptly titled 'Citizenship by Substantial Investment,' and accord with the MoA. The MoA was agreed upon by the five Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Heads of Governments who operate Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes. They appoint a Citizenship by Investment Technical Committee charged with the responsibility of reviewing CBI applications submitted to the Unit. The Committee will ensure that all due diligence background checks are comprehensive and completed throughout the CBI application process. The Committee will also provide information sufficient to justify any recommendation to the Minister responsible for National Security to approve or deny CBI applications. This regulatory development corresponds with the recent efforts of the Federation to enshrine the professionalisation and premium CBI offering of St Kitts and Nevis into law. A bastion of good governance, the Federation has continued efforts to improve the premium standards of its CBI programme. Namely, last month the National Assembly successfully passed the Citizenship by Investment Unit Act, 2024 in a landmark sitting of the National Assembly. The Citizenship by Investment Unit Act, 2024 further upholds the country's reputation by establishing the Citizenship by Investment Unit as a separate body corporate, as opposed to a Government department. The landmark MoA also raised the minimum CBI Investment threshold for signatories. St Kitts and Nevis was the first country to increase the minimum CBI investment threshold to US$250,000 back in July 2023, well before the MoA's deadline of 30th June 2024. Therefore, the minimum investment thresholds for all four investment options remain unchanged. The revised CSI regulations only slightly tweak applicable fees for the SISC and Public Benefit Options to respond to market dynamics. In July 2023, St Kitts and Nevis enacted new regulations related to the operation of the CBI Programme to maintain its forward-looking approach to industry developments. The country's proactive approach to the MoA demonstrates St Kitts and Nevis's commitment to its international partners and the rule of law. Prime Minister Honourable Dr Terrance Drew was instrumental in leading the push towards CBI standardisation and integrity throughout the Caribbean region. Working with regional and international partners, St Kitts and Nevis maintains its commitment to integrity, good governance and due diligence. As a notable step towards greater harmony between the Caribbean CBI programmes, the MoA fosters inter-regional collaboration while upholding principles of multilateralism and cross-country dialogue. St Kitts and Nevis is regarded as the premier CBI jurisdiction for its constant focus on delivering the highest standards for citizens and investors, while also maintaining the country's commitment to due diligence. As a leading member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), St Kitts and Nevis is cognisant of the important role the Federation plays in the region and beyond. Therefore, relationships with international partners are paramount, and the Federation is committed to maintaining ongoing dialogue with international partners with the aim of protecting, evaluating and improving the programme. In conjunction with the MoA, the ongoing changes to the CBI programme make St Kitts and Nevis's CBI offering watertight. The CBI Programme has paved the way for St Kitts and Nevis's Sustainable Island State. Namely, the Federation's Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) offers prospective citizens the chance to join St Kitts and Nevis's environmental, social and economic journey. St Kitts and Nevis utilises foreign direct investment received from CBI applicants to benefit citizens and the natural environment, making the Federation a key regional leader in sustainability, investor confidence and good governance. The SISC helps the Federation carry out its Sustainable Island State vision. Receiving global acclaim, the Sustainable Island State vision has paved the way for the Federation's transition to green energy. St Kitts and Nevis's focus, by upholding the terms of the MoA, is to preserve the country's stellar reputation as the best option for global citizens. The Federation is proud of the Programme's innovation and improvement, all done in concert with international partners. St Kitts and Nevis's Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) offers prospective citizens the chance to join St Kitts and Nevis's environmental, social and economic journey. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10480/215947_ec87d397d4967a01_002full.jpg Contact Secretary of St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme Government of St. Kitts and Nevis 00 (1-869) 467-1474 communications@skn-ciu.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215947 SOURCE: St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2024) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has intersected additional higher-grade Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization associated with the Unionville Zone at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") in South Dakota. Significant Highlights (See Table 1): Drill holes MA24C-049 intersected 3.33 grams/tonne gold (g/t Au) over 9.9 meters and 1.51 g/t Au over 19.1 meters, and MA24C-050 intersected 3.50 g/t Au over 6.1 meters of shallow Tertiary epithermal mineralization. Prior reporting shows higher-grade intersections including 3.57 g/t Au over 36.48 meters of Tertiary epithermal mineralization along the Unionville Zone structure which was announced with the discovery hole MA22C-009 on Feb 8th, 2023. Tertiary epithermal mineralization in the Unionville Zone, as well as in parallel structures remain open along strike in both directions and indicate widespread mineralization throughout the Maitland Gold Project. James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "While Homestake Mine-style gold mineralization remains the primary focus of the Maitland exploration program, we continue to encounter shallow Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization in the Unionville Zone in the same areas where we are targeting deeper Homestake Mine-style mineralization. This means that we are often able to target two types of mineralization in the same hole, providing Dakota Gold with exceptional optionality. Furthermore, as we continue to explore Maitland, we expect to encounter additional parallel structures adding to the potential extension strike length that is already in excess of 3,000 meters and is open to the north and south." Table 1. Released Drill Results (Metric / Imperial)1,2 Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type g x m m m m m g/t ft ft ft ft oz/ton MA23C-031 16.9 22.6 14.3 5.7 1.04 55.5 74.3 47.0 18.8 0.030 Tert 6 399.3 406.1 294.4 6.7 0.78 1310.2 1332.3 966.0 22.1 0.023 Tert 5 MA24C-037 8.9 17.7 8.5 8.8 1.41 29.2 58.0 28.0 28.8 0.041 Tert 12 36.3 39.0 32.3 2.6 1.32 119.2 127.8 106.0 8.6 0.039 Tert 3 44.7 52.0 39.6 7.3 0.63 146.6 170.7 130.0 24.1 0.018 Tert 5 63.9 67.5 56.4 3.5 1.51 209.8 221.4 185.0 11.6 0.044 Tert 5 MA24C-045 0.0 13.8 0 13.8 0.95 0.0 45.3 0.0 45.3 0.028 Tert 13 72.6 85.8 71.3 13.2 0.87 238.2 281.4 234.0 43.2 0.025 Tert 11 MA24C-0463 5.1 6.2 4.6 1.1 29.80 16.8 20.5 15.0 3.7 0.869 Tert 34 370.2 374.7 345.0 4.5 2.53 1214.6 1229.2 1132.0 14.6 0.074 Tert 11 MA24C-049 8.9 18.8 8.2 9.9 3.33 29.3 61.7 27.0 32.4 0.097 Tert 33 35.2 54.4 31.4 19.1 1.51 115.6 178.4 103.0 62.8 0.044 Tert 29 70.3 75.5 62.5 5.2 1.27 230.8 247.7 205.0 16.9 0.037 Tert 7 234.0 238.1 207.6 4.1 0.96 767.8 781.2 681.0 13.4 0.028 Tert 4 MA24C-050 0.0 5.1 0 5.1 2.47 0.0 16.8 0.0 16.8 0.072 Tert 13 9.3 17.0 8.2 7.7 0.79 30.4 55.8 27.0 25.4 0.023 Tert 6 52.9 59.0 50.3 6.1 3.50 173.6 193.5 165.0 19.9 0.102 Tert 21 64.4 68.3 62.3 3.9 1.25 211.4 224.2 204 12.8 0.037 Tert 5 79.6 83.4 75.9 3.8 1.03 261.1 273.6 249.0 12.5 0.030 Tert 4 147.6 150.6 132.9 3.0 0.79 484.2 494.2 436.0 10.0 0.023 Tert 2 159.9 163.3 146.6 3.4 1.34 524.6 535.7 481.0 11.1 0.039 Tert 5 167.7 172.1 153.3 4.5 0.69 550.1 564.7 503.0 14.6 0.020 Tert 3 226.4 232.2 204.8 5.8 0.72 742.8 761.8 672.0 19.0 0.021 Tert 4 250.2 254.4 225.2 4.2 1.06 821.0 834.8 739.0 13.8 0.031 Tert 4 562.7 564.7 471.8 2.0 2.47 1846.1 1852.7 1548.0 6.6 0.072 Tert 5 MA24C-051 6.8 15.1 4.6 8.3 0.90 22.4 49.7 15.0 27.3 0.026 Tert 7 22.9 29.5 17.1 6.6 1.63 75.2 96.8 56.0 21.6 0.047 Tert 11 38.1 44.1 29.3 6.1 1.27 124.9 144.8 96.0 19.9 0.037 Tert 8 200.7 211.0 151.5 10.3 1.35 658.5 692.3 497.0 33.8 0.039 Tert 14 MA24C-052 2.5 8.2 2.4 5.7 1.43 8.2 27.0 8.0 18.8 0.042 Tert 8 11.0 15.3 10.7 4.2 1.86 36.2 50.1 35.0 13.9 0.054 Tert 8 28.9 33.3 28.0 4.3 1.85 94.9 109.1 92.0 14.2 0.054 Tert 8 57.0 62.4 55.2 5.4 1.01 186.9 204.6 181.0 17.7 0.029 Tert 5 164.4 168.2 157.0 3.8 1.47 539.3 551.9 515.0 12.6 0.043 Tert 6 246.7 249.5 234.4 2.8 1.83 809.4 818.6 769.0 9.2 0.053 Tert 5 252.4 260.5 239.3 8.0 0.72 828.2 854.5 785.0 26.3 0.021 Tert 6 The table may contain rounding errors. Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary mineralization ("Tert"). True Thickness Unknown. Mineralization in the intersection of drill hole MA24C-046 at 5.1 meters down hole may have been impacted by historical tailings through which the exploration hole was drilled. Figure 1. Plan view of Dakota Gold Corp. Maitland drill holes with highlighted drill holes containing Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/215920_67fcc8d8c40249af_002full.jpg Figure 2. Long section view of Dakota Gold Corp. Maitland drill holes looking east with highlighted drill holes containing Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/215920_67fcc8d8c40249af_004full.jpg The Company currently has four drills on site at its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota. The Unionville Zone drilling is testing for Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization and is one of three ongoing programs being advanced by the Company - the other two being Homestake Mine-Style gold mineralization in the JB Gold Zone at Maitland and the infill and step-out drilling at the Richmond Hill Gold Project to update the S-K 1300 resource estimate. The Unionville Zone at Maitland is approximately 2,100 meters east of the Richmond Hill Gold Project, which also contains Tertiary mineralization. About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 48 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine. The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries For more information, please contact: Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251 Email: JAwde@dakotagoldcorp.com Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content. The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Maitland Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Maitland Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Maitland Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Check samples are submitted to Bureau Veritas, Vancouver B.C. as an umpire laboratory. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "potential," "will" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: our expectations regarding future drilling and our expectations regarding the development potential of Maitland. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities; our use and evaluation of historic data; our ability to achieve our strategic goals; the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry; and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by annual, quarterly and current reports that we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215920 SOURCE: Dakota Gold Corp. DZ Bank AG - Pre-Stabilisation Notice PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, July 09 Pre-Stabilisation Message EU Tap 2054 DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation RNS Number: residue number system Frankfurt am Main, 9. Juli 2024 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Pre-Stabilisation Notice European Union (EU) DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: European Union (EU) Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: 5 bn Description: 3.375 %, due 5. Oktober 2054 Offer price: Tbd Other offer terms: Fixed, Annual, Act/Act, ISIN Stabilisation: DZ BANK Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: BofA/BNPP/DZ BANK/Morgan StanleyNomura Stabilisation period expected to start on: 09 July 2024 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. Redistribution agreement aims to further enhance the integrated experience with the QX Digital Platform QUODD, a comprehensive market data on-demand provider for the global financial services industry and a NewSpring Holdings platform company, today announced a key enhancement to its QX Digital Platform to include more comprehensive bond data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. This complements the multi-year relationship with S&P Global Market Intelligence bond pricing data into QUODD's industry-leading, end-of-day global pricing and reference data service for wealth management customers through its QX Automate API. QUODD's QX Digital platform provides a user-specific experience that features security look-up and query capabilities using predefined or custom templates, shortening mid to back office workflows that previously took hours, down to minutes. The digital experience provides the same comprehensive security pricing, reference data, and analytics across all asset classes that QUODD's end of day service provides. S&P Global Market Intelligence is a global leader in fixed income pricing evaluations and reference data and provides the QX Digital Platform with independent pricing and liquidity data for bonds to support back office processing. S&P Global Market Intelligence's fixed income evaluation analysts aggregate robust transaction data to generate pricing content, covering almost three million corporate and sovereign bonds, municipal bonds, and securitized products. S&P Global Market Intelligence's bond pricing and reference data, in addition to the global equities and funds via QUODD, is now integrated within the QX Digital Platform. This allows for not only a display experience but a connection to downstream wealth management users for the integration of daily pricing, reference data, corporate actions, and more. The platform automates the data usage entitlements for each tailored workflow, helping institutions optimize their market data consumption. "With S&P Global Market Intelligence's bond data on QUODD'S QX Digital Platform, we are empowering institutional customers to harness data on demand, setting a new standard for agility and client-centric products," says Bob Ward, CEO of QUODD. "Our focus on the mid to back office user allows institutions flexibility within their organization to maximize their market data spend by providing user specific information to more of their employees at a fraction of their current spend without sacrificing quality and improving workflow." "We provide the most innovative, robust and scalable solutions for financial institutions in the wealth management space. Offering our bond data along with QUODD's equity data sets, we can deliver an integrated experience and tooling requirements across key asset classes that minimizes switching costs and improves workflow efficiencies," said Tasha Gonska, Head of Pricing Valuations and Reference Data, S&P Global Market Intelligence "Data consumption patterns have changed in the last few years, driven by a need for data on-demand without stringent usage restrictions. That's why we've custom-built this platform with modern technology and delivery models to fulfill new expectations," added Bob Ward, CEO of QUODD. About QUODD QUODD is a leading global provider of market data on demand. Servicing nearly 2,000 institutions across the financial services industry, we offer our clients access to over 250 billion data points across global equities, fixed income, indices, options, futures, and end-of-day pricing from more than 150 international exchanges, via one of our two key product sets: (1) QX Digital Platform and (2) QX Marketplace. Powered by our proprietary technology and cloud-based infrastructure, we enable customers to source tailor-made data products in formats of their choice, anytime, anywhere. Together with our flexible pricing model, transparent billing process, and world-class support team, QUODD is putting control back in the hands of data consumers across the end-to-end fulfillment journey. About NewSpring Holdings NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring's majority investment strategy focused on control buyouts and sector-specific platform builds, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take profitable, growing companies to the next level through acquisitions and proven organic methodologies. Founded in 1999, NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. Having completed over 250 investments, the Firm manages $3.5 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. Visit NewSpring at www.newspringcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709346243/en/ Contacts: Media BackBay Communications quodd@backbaycommunications.com SHENZHEN, China, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodix Technology recently announced that it has received the ISO 26262:2018 automotive functional safety ASIL-D process certification from SGS, a globally renowned testing, inspection, and certification company. This certification signifies that Goodix has successfully established a product development and management process system that meets the industry's highest "ASIL D" level for functional safety. Being a globally recognized automotive functional safety standard, ISO 26262 serves as one of the key requirements for global electronic component suppliers seeking entry into the automotive sector. Goodix closely collaborated with SGS expert team, integrating the company's existing processes to establish a comprehensive, full-lifecycle functional safety standard development process. This process covers critical aspects such as the management of functional safety, chip architecture design, product development at hardware and software level, supporting processes, safety analysis, and product release, enhancing the professional management of product development and functional teams. Goodix has been dedicated to the automotive electronics market for years, continually expanding its range of automotive products, including touch controllers, fingerprint sensors, audio, Bluetooth, and security solutions, leading the innovation trend in human-vehicle interaction. Goodix's automotive-grade touch and fingerprint products have met the stringent reliability requirements of the AEC-Q 100 standard and been widely adopted by numerous renowned car brands globally. Achieving this certification marks a significant milestone in Goodix's journey within the automotive electronics sector. Looking ahead, Goodix will intensify its focus on process and quality management, dedicating efforts to the development of safer, more reliable automotive-grade chips, and comprehensive hardware and software solutions. These advancements will support the ongoing evolution of automotive intelligence and connectivity, delivering an enhanced driving experience that prioritizes safety and convenience for consumers. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/goodix-technology-achieves-iso-26262-asil-d-certification-for-functional-safety-in-automotive-solutions-302191847.html Chorus today released its connections update for the Q4 period to 30 June. Fibre uptake lifts to 71.4% Chorus fibre network footprint, excluding other local fibre company areas, grew by 7,000 addresses in the quarter to just over 1.5 million addresses. Fibre uptake within this footprint grew by 0.4% to 71.4%. Auckland is at 76.6% uptake, compared to Dunedin on 76.5% and Wellington on 70.7%. Fibre connections grew by 10,000 in the quarter, slightly below growth of 12,000 fibre connections in Q3. Strong demand continued for the entry level 50Mbps Home Fibre Starter service with another 9,000 connections added. Business and residential consumers on speeds of 500Mbps and above grew by 8,000 connections. About 25% of residential connections are on speeds of 1Gbps and above, while 79% of business connections are on speeds of 500Mbps and above. Average monthly data use surpasses COVID lockdown levels Average monthly data usage on fibre was 623 gigabytes in June, up from 598GB in March and above the peaks last seen during 2021 COVID lockdowns. The proportion of fibre users consuming more than 1 terabyte of data also lifted from 15% to 16%. The OECD has said the shift to a post-pandemic digital future requires high-quality broadband networks characterised by high speeds, high reliability and low latency. Recent data shows an accelerating international shift to fibre networks within the OECD, with fibre the dominant fixed network technology in June 2023. Of total fixed broadband subscriptions, 41% were on fibre with cable falling to 30.5% and copper falling to 21.9%. Just 45,000 copper connections remain in Chorus fibre areas The global shift away from legacy copper networks is reflected in Chorus connection numbers. The number of copper connections declined by 19,000 in Q4, compared to 18,000 in the prior quarter. This drove an overall reduction in Chorus fixed line connections from 1,250,000 to 1,241,000* connections in the quarter. Just 45,000 copper connections remain in areas where Chorus has fibre available and of these, about 30,000 have already been notified that copper services will be withdrawn within six months. To date, Chorus has withdrawn copper services to a further 52,000 consumers under this process and about 1,250 copper broadband cabinets have been closed. * This total includes partly subsidised fibre and copper broadband connections for students. Authorised by: Katrina Smidt Acting Chief Financial Officer ENDS Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. 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Related News: TRU - WHO Agency UNITAID Features TRU in Tech Landscape Report PaySauce Quarterly Market Update - September 2024 October 2nd Morning Report Rua Releases Annual Report for Year Ended 30 June 2024 SCL - Settlement of orchard sales The Warehouse Group 2024 ASM and Director Nominations AIR - Update on Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer Comvita Limited - Annual Report 2024 September 27th Morning Report Spark announces departure of Finance Director Investment Will Support Global Expansion of Pet Health and Wellness Brands and Provide Science-Backed Support for Companion Animals Worldwide SAN FRANCISCO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vetnique Labs ("Vetnique"), a leading pet health and wellness company, today announced that it has agreed to acquire Lintbells, a globally recognized leader in pet supplements sold under the YuMOVE brand, from European mid-market private equity investor Inflexion. Vetnique is backed by Gryphon Investors ("Gryphon"), a leading middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, were not disclosed. YuMOVE is the U.K.'s number one joint mobility supplement for dogs and cats and also offers supplements that support digestive health, anxiety, dermatological and dental needs. Based in Hertfordshire, U.K., and founded two decades ago by Dr. John Howie DL and John Davies, YuMOVE aims to provide pets and their owners with scientifically supported supplements to manage chronic health conditions. It is also a certified B Corporation, a distinction achieved based on its high standards in ESG performance. Vetnique develops a range of specialty pet products, which are vet-founded, vet-formulated and vet-recommended, including supplements and topical solutions for digestive health, allergy and dermatological support, and ear care. The company is best known for its Glandex supplement, which is North America's number one solution for anal gland disease. Vetnique and YuMOVE are both omnichannel businesses with a shared vision to offer highly efficacious, veterinary-endorsed supplements through pet specialty retail outlets, veterinary distributors, and direct-to-consumer. Chris Slager, Executive Chairman of the newly combined company, said, "We are thrilled to unite these well-known brands and expand our presence in two of the largest pet supplement markets in the world, the U.S. and the U.K. Our combined portfolio greatly increases our company's scale across the key areas of hip & joint and digestive and will allow us to bring science-backed formulations, clinical efficacy, and patented products to consumers worldwide." Vetnique founder James Bascharon, DVM will remain CEO of Vetnique, with responsibility for North America operations. Fiona Hope will continue to serve as CEO of YuMOVE, with responsibility for the U.K., Europe, and the rest of the world. Dr. Bascharon commented, "Our vision with Gryphon has always been to create a global pet health and wellness platform in the $3 billion supplement market. We are excited to build on our track record of profitable growth and help accelerate YuMOVE's products in North America. Together we can broaden our offering of differentiated products and solutions that are consistently recommended by veterinarians and provide real and lasting benefits for pets." Ms. Hope added, "We look forward to joining forces with Vetnique and together exploring opportunities to realize the global potential of our complementary pet portfolio. We are also excited to gain access to Gryphon's resources and expertise, which we believe will reinforce our mission of enhancing the quality of life for pets and can help unlock significant value during our partnership." The transaction significantly expands Gryphon's pet products portfolio. In addition to Vetnique, the firm also has a presence in the broader pet health and wellness ecosystem through its 2019 investment in veterinary support organization Heartland Veterinary Partners. Matt Farron, Deal Partner and Co-Head of Gryphon's Consumer Group, and Eddie Douglas, Managing Director in the Consumer Group, noted, "We have been proud to support James and his outstanding team over the past 12 months, and we are delighted to help Vetnique achieve the next step of its growth by partnering with Fiona and her organization at YuMOVE. We believe that together this platform is a leader in highly efficacious pet health and wellness that stands for quality, research and innovation, and sustainability." Raymond James served as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to Gryphon and Vetnique. About Vetnique Labs Naperville, IL-based Vetnique Labs is a leading pet health and wellness platform on a mission to help pets thrive. Since its founding in 2012 by James Bascharon, DVM, the Company, best known for its iconic Glandex supplement, has evolved into one of the fastest growing omni-channel pet brands in North America. Vetnique's product portfolio now consists of clinically proven, multi-modal pet health products that are vet-formulated and recommended by vets worldwide. Learn more about Vetnique Labs at vetniquelabs.com. About Gryphon Investors Gryphon Investors ( www.gryphoninvestors.com ) is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on profitably-growing and competitively-advantaged companies in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, and Software sectors. With approximately $9 billion of assets under management, Gryphon prioritizes investments in which it can form strong partnerships with founders, owners, and executives to accelerate the building of leading companies and generate enduring value through its integrated deal and operations business model. Gryphon's highly-differentiated model integrates its well-proven Operations Resources Group, which is led by full-time, Gryphon senior operating executives with general management, human capital acquisition and development, treasury, finance, and accounting expertise. Gryphon's three core investment strategies include its Flagship, Heritage, and Junior Capital strategies, each with dedicated funds of capital. The Flagship and Heritage strategies target equity investments of $50 million to $350 million per portfolio company. The Junior Capital strategy targets investments in junior securities of credit facilities, arranged by leading middle-market lenders, in both Gryphon-controlled companies, as well as in other private equity-backed companies operating in Gryphon's targeted investment sectors. Contact: Lambert Caroline Luz 203-570-6462 cluz@lambert.com or Jennifer Hurson 845-507-0571 jhurson@lambert.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gryphon-investors-backed-vetnique-labs-to-acquire-uk-maker-of-yumove-302191246.html Vancouver, BC, July 09, 2024) (the "Company") is pleased to announce initial results from Phase One of its 2024 winter drill program at the 73,294 hectare Russell Lake Uranium Project ("Russell" or the "Project"). The Project is strategically located in the central core of the Eastern Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan adjacent to regional infrastructure, including an all-weather road and powerline. Drilling at Russell was completed during two separate phases of drilling with a total of 3,094 metres drilled in six holes during Phase One with geochemical assays reported here. The second phase of the winter drill program at Russell consisted of 2,058 metres in four holes with the geochemical assays still pending and to be released at a later date. The Company also recently completed 2,864 metres of drilling in nine holes at its Moore Project with assays pending from that program. Russell Lake Project Location Map: http://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY-RussellLake-20220325-Inset.jpg During Phase One, the best intercept of uranium mineralization historically on the property was discovered in hole RSL24-02, which returned a 2.5 metre wide intercept of 0.721% U 3 O 8 at a relatively shallow depth of 338.1 metres, including 2.99% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 metres at 339.6 metres just above the unconformity in the sandstone. This high-grade intercept is a new discovery at the recently identified Fork Target which has very limited historical exploration due to a lack of reliable geophysical data and drill targets resulting from nearby powerline interference. The mineralization is open in most directions including along strike, and will be a focus of upcoming drilling. Skyharbour is fully funded and permitted for a follow-up summer drill campaign consisting of another 7,000 - 8,000 metres of drilling at its co-flagship Russell and Moore Projects. Jordan Trimble, President and CEO of Skyharbour Resources, stated: "The discovery of multi-percent, high-grade, sandstone-hosted uranium mineralization at a new target is a major breakthrough in the discovery process at Russell - something that hasn't been seen before at the project with the potential to quickly grow with more drilling. The intercept in hole RSL24-02 represents the best zone of mineralization discovered yet at Russell and it is strategically located proximal to nearby infrastructure bringing drilling costs down. The relatively shallow mineralized zone is open for expansion and we are keen to follow-up on this discovery with another sizeable, fully-funded drill program this summer and fall. Furthermore, additional assays are pending from Russell as well as from drilling carried out at our Moore project, while partner companies are advancing numerous other properties in our project portfolio." Highlights: High-grade, sandstone-hosted mineralization up to 2.99% U 3 O 8 was intersected over 0.5 metres in hole RSL24-02 at the new Fork Zone, within an interval of 0.721% U 3 O 8 over 2.5 metres from 338.1 to 340.6 metres downhole just above the unconformity. This is the best drill result historically at the project representing a new discovery in a newly delineated target area and will be a top-priority target in the upcoming summer drill program. The Fork Target area is approx. 1 km southwest of the central Grayling Target area and approx. 4 km southeast of Denison Mines' Phoenix Deposit. It is a newly identified high-priority target hosting interpreted ENE and NNE-trending structures, with limited historical drilling as powerline interference affected the historical geophysical data, thereby hindering detection of EM conductors and selection of drill targets. Skyharbour successfully intersected the intended target and conductor in hole RSL24-02 where high-grade uranium has now been discovered at a relatively shallow depth. The Company is carrying out additional groundwork and geological modelling to further refine the target area for the upcoming summer drill program including focusing on structures related to the associated McDougal Lake Fault Corridor. 3 kilometres to the southeast of the Fork Target area, drilling at the East Grayling Target in hole RSL24-06 confirmed the presence of graphitic host rocks at depth below the unconformity at 366.4 metres downhole. Locally anomalous uranium was intersected in the sandstone column with up to 448 ppm Th and 912 ppm B intersected in the basement. Assays are pending for the second phase of the winter drill program at Russell as well as from the drilling carried out at the Company's adjacent co-flagship Moore Project which consisted of 2,864m. Skyharbour is fully funded and permitted for a follow-up summer drill program at Russell and Moore. The Company is planning for a total of approximately 7,000 - 8,000 metres of upcoming drilling across both projects with approx. 4,500 - 5,000 metres planned at Russell and 2,500 - 3,000 metres planned at Moore. 2024 Winter Diamond Drilling Program at Russell: A total of 5,152 metres of drilling in ten holes was drilled in two phases during the winter of 2024 at the Russell Lake Project. The first phase of drilling consisted of a total of 3,094 metres in six holes, while the second phase of drilling consisted of 2,058 metres of drilling in four holes. All processing of the core and geochemical results of the core have been obtained for the first phase of drilling. Results from the second phase of drilling are pending and will be reported once received and interpreted. Phase One Winter Drilling at Russell: The first phase of drilling focused on drill testing the newly identified Fork Target area related to and south-southwest of the Grayling Zone. One hole during Phase One was drilled to test an East Grayling target, approximately 3 km to the southeast of the Fork Target area. Hole RSL24-01 was drilled on the northernmost, NE-E trending conductor at the Fork Target area approximately 650 metres southwest of the western extent of the broader Grayling Target area. Hematized sandstone was intersected to the unconformity at 341.7 metres, which is underlain by variably graphitic cordierite-bearing pelitic gneisses with intermediate to felsic intrusive rocks. A faulted graphitic conductor was intersected at 412.7 to 417.4 metres downhole, roughly 70 metres below the unconformity. Below 497.7 metres, Archean gneiss was intersected to the end of the hole at 503.0 metres. Anomalous uranium (=1.9 ppm U partial ) was detected in the sandstone column, with weakly anomalous B (=356 ppm B) immediately below the unconformity, and anomalous V (=1260 ppm V total ) and Ni (=328 ppm Ni total ) detected within the strong graphitic conductor. Grayling and Fork Target Areas - Drill Collar Map: https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/2024-Fork-East-Grayling-Drill-Hole-Location-Map_NR.jpg Hole RSL24-02 tested a separate northeast- to east-trending conductor at the Fork Target area that is 150 metres southeast of hole RSL24-01. This is the first and only exploratory hole drilled into this target that successfully intersected the conductor target. Significant mineralization was intersected in the sandstone of this hole just above the unconformity with RSL24-02 returning 0.721% U 3 O 8 over 2.5 metres between 338.1-340.3 metres depth, including 2.99% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 metres between 399.6-340.6 metres. The mineralization is open in most directions and along strike. Immediately below the unconformity, a strongly graphitic gouge with elevated radioactivity was intersected, followed by a black, chloritized granitic pegmatite at 342.0 metres. Strongly graphitic pelitic gneisses accompanied by pegmatite, calc-silicate, and locally radioactive chloritized graphitic shears and fault zones were intersected throughout the remainder of the hole to 590.0 metres depth. The mineralized zone in RSL24-02 was also highly enriched in Pb (=4,120 ppm Pb total ), V (=411 ppm V total ), Ni (=298 ppm Ni total ), Zn (=3,120ppm Zn total ), and Cu (=595 ppm Cu total ). Local graphitic faults throughout the basement rocks intersected strongly anomalous V (=1380 ppm V total ), Zn (=1320 ppm Zn total ), Ni (=983 ppm Ni total ), and Cu (=618 ppm Cu total ). Fork Target Area - Drill Collar Map: https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/2024-Fork-DDH-Location-Map-Zoomed.jpg Hole RSL24-03 was drilled up-dip of the first hole RSL24-01, to target the conductor intersected in that hole. The sandstone was relatively featureless down to the unconformity at 346.6 metres, with only some weak fracturing above it. The basement consisted of foliated granite and pegmatite down to 399.8 metres. Approximately 50 metres below the unconformity graphitic pelitic gneiss units were identified starting at 399.8 metres and extending downhole to 446.2 metres. The hole was terminated in granitic pegmatite at 446.9 metres. Anomalous boron (=492 ppm B) was found in the basal sandstone, while the basement conductor was anomalous in V (=897 ppm V total ), Ni (=393 ppm Ni total ), and Pb (=194 ppm Pb total ). Hole RSL24-04 was drilled east of RSL24-02 to test for the down-dip extension of the high-grade uranium mineralization in that hole but missed the intended target at depth. Nonetheless, significant intervals of bleached, fractured and faulted sandstone were encountered, beginning at 197.9 metres down-hole and extending nearly to the unconformity, which was at a depth of at 341.0 metres. Weakly mineralized, fractured granite was intersected below the unconformity, terminating in a rubbly graphitic fault/shear zone at 346.3 metres. The remainder of the basement consists of significant intervals of locally sheared graphitic pelitic gneiss, interspersed with large amounts of felsic intrusive rocks to the end of the hole at 512.5 metres. Anomalous uranium (=436 ppm U total ), Ni (=2,000 ppm Ni total ), Co (=233 ppm Co total ), V (=604 ppm V total ), and Zn (=2,270 ppm Zn total ) was intersected in the basement rocks from 342.5 - 346.5 metres within an interval of strong chlorite alteration and black pitchblende-bearing fractures above a graphitic fault zone. In addition, a basement shear at 511.5-512.5 metres returned significant Zn (=8,900 ppm Zn total ), Pb (=617 ppm Pb total ), Ni (=517 ppm Ni total ), Cu (=212 ppm Cu total ), and U (=129 ppm U total ). Hole RSL24-05 was drilled 175 metres west of RSL24-02 as a wide step-out hole. The sandstone column was variably bleached and locally desilicified down to the unconformity at 344.7 metres. In the basement, locally faulted graphitic pelitic gneiss, frequently cordierite-bearing and intermixed with local granitic intervals up to 30 metres thick, was intersected down to 472.5 metres downhole. The hole was terminated in Archean granite gneiss at a depth of 500.0 metres. Anomalous uranium (=3.5 ppm U partial ) was detected throughout the sandstone column, with the basal sandstone also being anomalous in Pb (=17.1 ppm Pb partial ). The basement faults and graphitic shears returned anomalous V (=132 ppm V total ), and Ni (=335 ppm Ni total ) alongside anomalous uranium (=162 ppm U total ), B (=412 ppm B), Zn (=275 ppm Zn total ), and Cu (=251 ppm Cu total ). Hole RSL24-06 was drilled as a preliminary exploratory test of the East Grayling Target located 3 km from the Fork Target area to test the intersection of an inferred north trending conductor and margin of a magnetic low. Variably bleached sandstone and hematized sandstone was intersected until the unconformity at 366.4 metres. Granitic gneisses dominate the hole down to 490.8 metres, gneiss with graphitic pelitic gneiss present from 490.8-504.9 metres. Granitic gneisses containing locally graphite-bearing pegmatites were intersected below 504.9 metres to the end of hole at 536.0 metres. Weak anomalous uranium (=1.0 ppm U partial ) and Th (=77 ppm Th total ) was detected in the sandstone. A radioactive pegmatite within the basement (478.5-481.5 metres) returned strongly anomalous uranium and thorium (=469 ppm U total / 448 ppm Th total ) and Pb (=304 ppm Pb total ), as well as weakly anomalous Zn (=293 ppm Zn total ). Sheared graphitic metasediments and gouges throughout the rest of the basement returned strongly anomalous values for Cu (=485 ppm Cu total ), V (=257 ppm V total ), Zn (=304 ppm Zn total ) and B (=912 ppm B) as well as weakly anomalous values for Ni (=120 ppm Ni total ). Phase Two Winter Drilling at Russell: The MZE (M-Zone Extension) target lies on trend from Denison's Wheeler River Project M-Zone, where historical drilling intersected basement hosted uranium. More recent drilling by Denison in 2020 at the M-Zone encountered additional uranium mineralization with significant faulting, core loss, geochemical anomalies, and radioactivity encountered in the drill holes. Like the Grayling Zone, the mineralization at M-Zone is hosted by a graphitic thrust fault within a significant magnetic low. It is also noted that lineaments (cross structures) associated with Denison's Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits trend onto the Russell Lake property within the M-Zone Extension target area, further enhancing the prospectivity of this target. During the second phase of drilling at Russell Lake, three holes totaling 1,649 metres (holes RSL24-07 to -09) were drilled at the MZE target area. Hole RSL24-07 and -08 were drilled to completion, while hole RSL24-09 was abandoned approximately 30 metres above the unconformity due to adverse drilling conditions. The final hole of this second phase of the 2024 winter drilling program, RSL24-10, was drilled at the Fork target area but deviated and missed the primary target. These holes are undergoing geological evaluation and geochemical assay results are pending at this time. Results will be reported once evaluation of the geology and geochemical results is complete. Russell Lake Uranium Project: The Russell Lake Project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property totalling 73,294 hectares strategically located between Cameco's Key Lake and McArthur River Projects and adjoining Denison's Wheeler River Project to the west and Skyharbour's Moore Uranium Project to the east. The northern extension of Highway 914 between Key Lake and McArthur River runs through the western extent of the Property and greatly enhances accessibility, while a high-voltage powerline is situated alongside this road and the western edge of the property south of Key Lake. Skyharbour's acquisition of Russell Lake creates a large, nearly contiguous block of highly prospective uranium claims totalling 108,999 hectares between the Russell Lake and the Moore uranium projects. The Company has an option to earn an initial 51% at Russell, followed by options to earn an additional 19% for a total of 70%, or up to 100% of the Project. There has been historical exploration carried out at Russell Lake, however most of it was conducted before 2010 prior to the discovery of several major deposits in/around the Athabasca Basin. In 2023, Skyharbour's inaugural diamond drilling program tested several Fox Lake Trail targets and the Grayling Zone. Significant uranium mineralization was intersected in the majority of holes at the Grayling Zone over a strike length exceeding one kilometre. Drill hole RSL23-01 intersected one of the better drill results from the project, returning a 5.9 metre wide intercept of 0.151% U 3 O 8 at a depth of 338.4 metres, which included 1.0 metres of 0.366% U 3 O 8 at 343.3 metres depth within a thrust wedge. Several notable exploration targets exist on the property including the Grayling Zone, the M-Zone Extension target, the Little Man Lake target, the Christie Lake target, the Fox Lake Trail target and the newly identified Fork Zone target. More than 35 kilometres of largely untested prospective conductors in areas of low magnetic intensity also exist on the Property. Qualified Person: The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by David Billard, P.Geo., a Consulting Geologist for Skyharbour as well as a Qualified Person. About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.: Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with twenty-nine projects, ten of which are drill-ready, covering over 587,000 hectares (over 1.4 million acres) of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project which is located 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced-stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone that returned drill results of up to 6.0% U 3 O 8 over 5.9 metres including 20.8% U 3 O 8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. Adjacent to the Moore Uranium Project is Skyharbour's recently optioned Russell Lake Uranium Project from Rio Tinto, which hosts historical high-grade uranium drill intercepts over a large property area with robust exploration upside potential. The Company is actively advancing these projects through exploration and drill programs. Skyharbour has joint-ventures with industry-leader Orano Canada Inc., Azincourt Energy and Thunderbird Resources (previously Valor) at the Preston, East Preston and Hook Lake Projects, respectively. The Company also has several active earn-in option partners including: CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. at the Mann Lake Uranium Project; CSE-listed Medaro Mining Corp. at the Yurchison Project; North Shore Uranium at the Falcon Project; and TSX-V listed Tisdale Clean Energy at the South Falcon East Project which is host to the Fraser Lakes Zone B Uranium and Thorium Deposit. In aggregate, Skyharbour has now signed earn-in option agreements with partners that total to over $33 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures, over $27 million worth of shares being issued and over $20 million in cash payments coming into Skyharbour, assuming that these partner companies complete their entire earn-ins at the respective projects. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. Skyharbour's Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin: https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY_SaskProject_Locator_2024-02-14_V2.jpg To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd.. SKYHARBOUR RESOURCES LTD. "Jordan Trimble" _________________________________ Jordan Trimble President and CEO For further information contact myself or: Nicholas Coltura Corporate Development and Communications Skyharbour Resources Ltd. ?Telephone: 604-558-5847 ?Toll Free: 800-567-8181 ?Facsimile: 604-687-3119 ?Email: info@skyharbourltd.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction. Expansion includes fastest-growing market for microsurgical procedures and opportunity for considerable advancement, improved patient treatment options MMI (Medical Microinstruments, Inc.), a robotics company dedicated to increasing treatment options and improving clinical outcomes for patients with complex conditions, today announced milestones across two continents that increase the global reach of the Symani Surgical System. The company announced: It reached an exclusive distribution agreement with Gunze Medical Limited, a leading developer and manufacturer of medical devices in Japan. The agreement signals a step toward commercializing Symani across Japan, upon regulatory approval, and will eventually enable hospitals there to expand their open surgical programs to include microsurgery and supermicrosurgery procedures. The Symani Surgical System has now received regulatory approvals in 35 countries around the world, most recently securing approvals in Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand and Taiwan. They mark Symani's latest regulatory milestones following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizing the system for commercial use in April. It has expanded commercialization efforts in Europe by partnering with the Synektik Group, a leading integrator of innovative medical solutions that covers six countries across Eastern Europe. The agreement marks the next stage in bolstering Synektik's standing as a top distributor of robotic medical systems in the region. "The demand for innovative, less invasive, highly precise surgical options is increasing around the world, particularly in Asia, where microsurgery and reconstructive surgery both have long histories," said Mark Toland, CEO of MMI. "Our recent regulatory approvals in multiple countries, and growing relationships with distributors in key markets, have enabled us to accelerate our timeline for global expansion. Each new milestone represents another step toward expanding patient access to highly advanced microsurgical capabilities around the world." The Symani Surgical System uniquely addresses the scale and complexities of microsurgery and supermicrosurgery, such as the anastomosis and suturing of small anatomical structures like blood and lymphatic vessels, during open surgical procedures. By allowing surgeons to replicate the natural movements of the human hand at the micro scale, it can help restore quality of life for more patients, accelerate the number of surgeons able to push the boundaries of complex procedures for delicate anatomy, and enable hospitals to expand their open surgical programs. "Our partnership with MMI will facilitate the Symani Surgical System's expansion into Japan," said Shojiro Matsuda, President of Gunze Medical Limited. "We are deeply committed to expanding patient access to robotic-assisted microsurgery and believe Symani's proven clinical success will complement our relationships with care provider organizations with expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery." Asia-Pacific represents the fastest growing microsurgery market in the world, and Taiwan specifically is a hub of microsurgical innovation that attracts surgeons from around the globe. MMI has already signed a distributor agreement in the country to support its regulatory approval there and details are being finalized on the heels of the authorization. "MMI's mission to expand patient access to highly specialized microsurgical options perfectly aligns with our own as we help to further enable robotic capabilities across Poland and Eastern Europe," said Cezary Kozanecki, founder and CEO of Synektik. "Symani has introduced a new level of capability and enabled surgeons to perform exceptionally precise procedures that include lymphedema repair, head and neck cancer-related reconstruction, and autologous breast reconstruction. Our health system partners have already expressed significant interest in expanding their open surgery capabilities to include procedures they haven't been able to previously perform." To learn more about MMI and the Symani Surgical System, visit MMI's website here: https://mmimicro.com. About MMI MMI (Medical Microinstruments, Inc.) is on a mission to advance robotic technology that pushes the limits of soft tissue open surgery and opens new opportunities for surgeons to restore quality of life for more patients with complex conditions. The company was founded in 2015 near Pisa, Italy, and its proprietary Symani Surgical System combines the world's smallest wristed microinstruments with tremor-reducing and motion-scaling technologies to address significant unmet patient needs across the globe. This first-of-its-kind surgical robotic platform for open, soft tissue micro-level surgery can help address microvascular repair and lymphatic repair. In Europe and APAC, it also addresses peripheral nerve repair. The Symani System is authorized for use in the U.S. by the FDA and is a CE Marked medical device in Europe. MMI is backed by global investors including Fidelity Management Research Company, Andera Partners, BioStar, Deerfield Management, Fountain Healthcare Partners, Panakes Partners, RA Capital, Sambatech, and Wellington Partners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709821670/en/ Contacts: Media: Dan Ventresca Matter Health for MMI MMI@matternow.com Investor Relations: Lisa Croke Lisa.Croke@mmimicro.com TSX.V: PGZ | OTCQX: PGZFF | FRA: 2EU VANCOUVER, BC, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQX: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce a positive result from the initial investigation of X-Ray Transmission ("XRT") sensor technology for sorting and pre-concentration of the La Romana copper and tin mineralization at the Company's 100% owned Escacena Project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain. Drilling continues to test and delineate the western extent of the La Romana copper-tin-silver deposit, which now extends 1.5km east-west over surface. "The positive result shows very promising potential for sorting and pre-concentration of the copper and tin mineralization at La Romana using TOMRA's XRT+EM technology. This widely used technology has potential to reduce costs through the removal of waste material prior to ore processing and help maximize the efficiency and recovery of valuable material downstream," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO. "Ore sorting may also increase options to process La Romana material at nearby mine facilities and enhance product value by increasing average grades in the pre-concentrated material being delivered and reducing overall volumes for processing. A further potential benefit is to lower environmental impacts. The latest generation of ore sorting technology is being adopted at a number of operating mines to improve profitability, including for copper, tin, and other commodities." Highlights Initial investigation confirms the La Romana copper and tin mineralization is amenable to ore sorting using the XRT technology Ore sorting or pre-concentration of mineralized material, and the early reduction of barren or low-grade material, has potential to improve mill feed grades and enhance optional value of the material for transport to nearby mines for processing Ore sorting technology is being used around the world to improve economic value of mining projects Sorting and pre-concentration has potential to complement the excellent recoveries and concentrate grades for copper and tin established by Pan Global's metallurgy test program at La Romana La Romana Ore Sorting Tests Pan Global recently sent samples from La Romana to the TOMRA Sorting Mining Test Centre ("TOMRA") in Wedel, Germany. A total of 30 individual rock fragments were passed through TOMRA's COM Tertiary XRT equipment and electromagnetic (EM) sensor. This included copper and tin mineralization, and barren or low-grade material. The results demonstrate a correlation of the mineralization with the XRT response which is a key indicator of the applicability of the XRT+EM sorting technology at La Romana. The test program is being managed and coordinated by Minepro Solutions SL (Spain). Next steps include a larger sample volume to investigate the sorting efficiency, and assess the economic benefits in the La Romana processing flowsheet. Minepro are continuing work on improving the processing flowsheet, basic engineering design, and preliminary cost estimates ahead of an initial scoping study and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). Sensor-based Ore Sorting Technology TOMRA is a leading manufacturer of sensor-based sorting technologies for the global mining industry. The XRT (X-Ray Transmission) technology can make it possible to recognize and separate materials depending on their specific atomic density. This technology enables high separation performance in the classification of materials based on their composition. The latest generation TOMRA sorting technology is designed to provide stable performance, increased capacity, higher recoveries, and reduced cost. It can be placed at various points in a standard mining and processing flowsheet, including the pre-concentration phase, and allows for high volume throughput. Sensor-based sorting is increasingly being applied in the mining industry to increase productivity, reduce total cash costs, and capital expenditure. Other positive benefits include reducing energy, water, and reagent consumption, reducing waste or tailings volumes, and potential lower cut-off grades and/or upgrade mining reserves. Reducing the volumes of low-grade or barren material being processed also reduces the overall environmental impact. About the Escacena Project The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage with construction anticipated to start in 2024. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries and a number of other prospective targets, including, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, and Romana Deep, and most recently Cortijo. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact. Qualified Person Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approves the scientific and technical information in this media release, including the exploration and sampling by SIEMCALSA. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company. On behalf of the Board of Directors Forward-looking statements Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release 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. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission. The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pan-global-announces-positive-ore-sorting-result-for-copper-and-tin-mineralization-at-la-romana-project-spain-302191724.html The Fresh Factory B.C. Ltd. (TSXV:FRSH)(FRA:Q4Z) ("The Fresh Factory" or the "Company"), a mission-driven company for fresh, clean-label, and better-for-you food and beverage brands, today announced the signing of a new lease agreement for a state-of-the-art 56,000-square-foot facility located in Downers Grove, Illinois. This strategic expansion is expected to significantly enhance The Fresh Factory's production capabilities and streamline its operations, positioning the Company for future growth. "This new facility marks the next step forward in expanding our footprint to build the infrastructure for tomorrow's food and beverage needs," said Bill Besenhofer, CEO and co-founder of The Fresh Factory. "It allows us to bring on more equipment, increase vertical integration, and set the stage for our next phase of growth." The new facility, located at 3600 Lacey Rd, Downers Grove, just 12 miles from the Company's Carol Stream production facility, will feature significant enhancements, including an anticipated 200 pallet positions for frozen storage, 1,000 pallet positions for refrigerated storage, and 1,800 pallet positions for dry storage. Additionally, it will feature more than 12,000 square feet of production space and modern, spacious office areas designed to support increased administrative functions. Figure 1: The Fresh Factory's new facility located at 3600 Lacey Rd, Downers Grove, Illinois. With the addition of the new facility, completed in 2019, The Fresh Factory now features a large space with ceilings up to 36 feet high. The Company plans to build an R&D lab and a customer-experience center to foster collaboration. The new facility is expected to be fully operational in Q4 2024. "We are excited about the opportunities this new space provides," added Besenhofer. "It will not only allow us to increase our production capacity but also support innovation and strengthen our customer relationships through enhanced collaboration spaces." This expansion aligns with The Fresh Factory's commitment to providing honest, clean-label food for all, reinforcing its position as a leader in the fresh, clean-label, and better-for-you food and beverage market. About The Fresh Factory B.C. Ltd. The Fresh Factory is a vertically integrated company focused on accelerating the growth of the fresh, clean-label, plant-based food and beverage brands of tomorrow. The Fresh Factory owns or partners with emerging brands in the plant-based space to develop, manufacture, and sell products made from fresh produce and recognizable ingredients. It operates from its centrally located manufacturing facility near Chicago, serving customers across the United States. As a public benefits corporation, The Fresh Factory is ESG-focused, driven to make a lighter, greener impact on the environment and a stronger, positive impact on local communities and the food system as a whole. Learn more about The Fresh Factory at www.thefreshfactory.co and find The Fresh Factory on social media at Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Contacts Bill Besenhofer CEO and Co-founder 1-877-495-1638 info@thefreshfactory.co Susan Xu Media and Investor Relations 1-877-495-1638 healthyinvestors@thefreshfactory.co Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will, or may, occur in the future, including statements about the Company's new product offerings, its ability to execute on its goals, general macro and micro economic impacts of inflation on the business and operation of the Company, the timing pertaining to these goals and receipt of applicable consents and approvals, and Company's business prospects, future trends, plans, and strategies. In some cases, forward-looking statements are preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may", "will," "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "intends", "proposes", "anticipates", "targeted", "continues", "forecasts", "designed", "goal", "anticipate" or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, as well as trends identified by the Company affecting its industry, can be found in the final long-form prospectus of the Company dated November 10, 2021, and the Company's continuous disclosure record available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Such cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements made in this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE: The Fresh Factory B.C. Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Several semiconductor firms remain among most crowded large-cap securities in Americas Tesla maintained its position as the most crowded security in the Americas, while Boeing joined the ranks as one of the top shorted stocks in June, according to the latest Shortside Crowdedness Report from Hazeltree, a leader in active treasury and intelligent operations technology for the alternative asset industry. The report also found LVMH and Toyota continued their hold as the top shorted large-cap stocks in their respective regions of EMEA and APAC. The report is a monthly listing of the top 10 shorted securities in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions in the large-, mid-, and small-cap ranges. The data comes from Hazeltree's proprietary securities finance platform data, which tracks approximately 15,000 global equities across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. The data is aggregated and anonymized from the contributing Hazeltree community, which includes approximately 700 asset manager funds. "It was notable to see Boeing make its debut as one of the most crowded large-cap securities in the Americas in June, according to our data," said Tim Smith, managing director of data insights at Hazeltree. "Meanwhile, we continue to see multiple semiconductor firms, including Advanced Micro Devices, Microchip Technologies and Synopsys remain among the most heavily shorted large-cap securities in the Americas for the second month in a row." Highlights from the June 2024 report include: Americas In the large-cap category, Tesla maintained its position as the most crowded security (99), while Boeing made its debut on the Shortside Crowdedness report with a score of 76. Charter Communications had the highest institutional supply utilization (22.80%). In the mid-cap category, software company Confluent retained its top spot for the second consecutive month with a Hazeltree Crowdedness Score of 99. Bloom Energy had the highest institutional supply utilization (84.37%). In the small-cap category, Solaredge Technologies was the most crowded security (99). Trupanion had the highest institutional supply utilization (62.68%). EMEA In the large-cap category, luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH, continued to dominate as the most crowded security (99), maintaining this position since the beginning of the year. Aeroports de Paris SA (14.42%) had the highest institutional supply utilization, closely followed by Kuehne und Nagel International AG (14.39%). In the mid-cap category, French rail manufacturer Alstom remained the most crowded security (99) for the sixth consecutive month. Nibe Industrier AB had the highest institutional supply utilization (39.96%). In the small-cap category, MIPS AB was the most crowded security (99). Basic-Fit NV had the highest institutional supply utilization (94.32%). APAC In the large-cap category, Toyota continued its hold as the most crowded security (99), a position held since February, and Unicharm Corp had the highest institutional supply utilization (14.88%). In the mid-cap category, Ibiden Co Ltd and Rohm Co. were the most crowded securities (99) for the second consecutive month. Pilbara Minerals Ltd stood out with the highest institutional supply utilization (52.33%). In the small-cap category, Money Forward Inc. was the most crowded security, with a score of 99. Liontown Resources Ltd had the highest institutional supply utilization (88.82%), closely followed by Nomura Micro Science Co. (88.51%). The Shortside Crowdedness Report tracks shorting activity in three different metrics: Hazeltree Crowdedness Score: This score represents securities that are being shorted by the highest percentage of funds in Hazeltree's community in a pre-defined category. The securities are graded on a scale of 1-99, with 99 representing the security that the highest percentage of funds are shorting. This score represents securities that are being shorted by the highest percentage of funds in Hazeltree's community in a pre-defined category. The securities are graded on a scale of 1-99, with 99 representing the security that the highest percentage of funds are shorting. Institutional Supply Utilization: This figure represents the percentage of the institutional investors' supply of a particular security that is being lent out. The institutional supply utilization rate is an indicator of how "hot" a security is in terms of the supply-demand dynamic. It is possible to see 100% utilization of a security's availability, making it difficult to establish new short positions. This figure represents the percentage of the institutional investors' supply of a particular security that is being lent out. The institutional supply utilization rate is an indicator of how "hot" a security is in terms of the supply-demand dynamic. It is possible to see 100% utilization of a security's availability, making it difficult to establish new short positions. Hazeltree Community Borrow Fee: This figure is the average weighted fee for what funds in the Hazeltree community are paying to borrow a security. The fee is represented as the annualized cost calculated as a percentage of the price of the security. To view Hazeltree's June Shortside Crowdedness Report and past reports, click here. Note to editors: If you are a member of the media/press and would like to be included on the distribution list for this report, please contact hazeltree@backbaycommunications.com About Hazeltree Hazeltree is a leader in active treasury and intelligent operations technology. Purpose-built for the alternative asset management ecosystem, Hazeltree's modular platform aggregates internal and external data, providing a comprehensive view of operations and counterparty relationships while proactively highlighting opportunities to extract more value from every transaction. Hazeltree is headquartered in New York with offices in London and Hong Kong. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709519552/en/ Contacts: Media: BackBay Communications hazeltree@backbaycommunications.com Univar Solutions strengthens its sun care portfolio with VIZOR Super Zinc powders and dispersions for sun care and daily-wear SPF products. ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Univar Solutions B.V., a subsidiary of Univar Solutions LLC (Univar Solutions" or "the Company"), a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, today announced a sole distribution agreement with Vizor Sun Holdings Limited (VIZOR), to distribute VIZOR's sun care ingredients to beauty and personal care customers in Europe.* VIZOR's zinc oxide powders and dispersions will allow customers to develop the highest and most transparent SPF formulations with mineral-based sunscreen actives in Europe. "We are thrilled that VIZOR selected Univar Solutions as its sole distribution partner for Super Zinc powders and dispersion products in Europe. This partnership not only significantly expands our range of sun care ingredients for beauty and personal care purposes, but also demonstrates our commitment to technical innovation - supporting customers who are looking to formulate with top-quality, natural, and eco-friendly ingredients," shared James Peterson, Univar Solutions' global vice president of Care. As consumers seek the best ways to protect their skin from the sun's damaging UV rays, Univar Solutions continues to build its portfolio of innovative and sustainable solutions for sun care and daily wear products. Partnering with VIZOR, Univar Solutions now offers Super Zinc - non-nano inorganic UV filters, as well as application development support in Europe to help customers develop new products using these ingredients. The API-grade filters are made with an advanced material coating technology and can produce higher SPFs with lower use levels than current commercial zinc oxides. Less zinc oxide means less whitening, which translates to greater transparency on the even the darkest skin. "VIZOR's zinc oxide powders and dispersions, backed by patented technology, provide the highest SPF in the industry with outstanding aesthetics. This breakthrough enables formulators to finally create transparent, luxurious products using non-nano particle sizes," said Yannick Rigg, a founding member of VIZOR. With 100 years of ingredients and distribution expertise, Univar Solutions' specialized beauty and personal care team support sun, skin, and beauty care customers with tailored products, services, and sustainable solutions. The Company works closely with customers and supplier partners every step of the way, offering a global transportation network, supply chain solutions, and product development and brand support at its Solution Centers with specialized beauty and personal care laboratories in Versailles, France and Essen, Germany. Many of today's innovative approaches to sustainable beauty prioritize environmental protection, and Super Zinc filters have been deemed safe for various aquatic species based on ecological testing. Discover more about Univar Solutions' eco-friendly beauty and personal care ingredients and solutions. *Agreement excludes Andorra, Austria, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, and Switzerland About Univar Solutions Univar Solutions is a leading global specialty chemical and ingredient distributor representing a premier portfolio from the world's leading producers. With the industry's largest private transportation fleet and technical sales force, unparalleled logistics know-how, deep market and regulatory knowledge, formulation and recipe development, and leading digital tools, the Company is well-positioned to offer tailored solutions and value-added services to a wide range of markets, industries, and applications. While fulfilling its purpose to help keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe, Univar Solutions is committed to helping customers and suppliers innovate and focus on Growing Together. Learn more at univarsolutions.com. Forward-Looking Statements and Information This communication contains "forward-looking statements" under applicable law regarding financial and operating items relating to the Company's business. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or other comparable terms. All forward-looking statements made in this communication are qualified by this cautionary language. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond the Company's control, that could result in expectations not being realized or could otherwise materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Although the forward-looking statements are based on what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, we caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this communication is not a guarantee of future events or results, and that actual events or results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this communication. For additional information regarding factors that could affect the Company, please see the Company's most recent annual report and other financial reports, including the information set forth under the caption "Risk Factors." Any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of the date of this communication and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any subsequent date, and the Company undertakes no obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update any forward-looking statement. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457043/Univar_VIZOR_Super_Zinc_powders.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457044/Univar_Solutions_Vizor.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094780/UnivSol_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/univar-solutions-appointed-as-exclusive-distributor-of-vizor-zinc-oxide-sun-protection-ingredients-for-european-customers-302191992.html Trading firm extends five-year partnership to support lasting education improvements in Africa and India regions CHICAGO and AMSTERDAM, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IMC, a leading global market maker that provides liquidity to financial assets on trading venues, today announced it has renewed its partnership with Room to Read, a global non-profit organization, for the next five years, with a commitment to donate $30 million between 2024-2028. IMC has proudly supported Room to Read's mission to end illiteracy across the globe since 2016. It has donated more than $27 million to-date as a result of its biggest annual charity event, Trading and Gaming Day for Charity - this year taking place on July 16th. On that day, the energy and expertise of IMC's employees is deployed in service to others by donating the firm's global trading revenue for 24 hours in support of Room to Read's Literacy Program, as well as other charitable organizations. So far, these contributions have benefited 3.2 million children in South Africa, Tanzania, and India through access to a quality education. IMC's investment has enabled Room to Read to train 23,700 teachers and librarians, distribute 1.9 million books, and support 6,000 schools throughout these regions. The next phase of the partnership will enable Room to Read to provide books and other resources for nearly 5.7 million additional children in Africa and India by 2030 and support lasting improvements in education systems in the communities where Room to Read works. "Through the annual Trading and Gaming Day for Charity and our local Foundations, IMC has supported a range of organizations worldwide focused on helping young people develop to their fullest potential. We know that a long-term approach to philanthropy that includes multi-year funding is critical in order to create lasting impact. With this renewed partnership, we signal our deep belief in Room to Read as a leader in global education and our full support of their commitment to expand their work in Africa and India," said Lisa Wiersma, Executive Director of IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation. Room to Read CEO, Dr. Geetha Murali, added: "Since 2016, IMC's transformational investments in Room to Read have enabled us to scale our literacy initiatives across Tanzania and South Africa, paving the way for significant, long-lasting improvements in learning systems across the two countries. We're deeply grateful for our partnership with IMC Trading, and for their commitment to ensuring children around the world achieve strong literacy outcomes. This extended partnership has created a tremendous opportunity for Room to Read to accelerate our efforts across India and several countries in Africa, supporting us to proactively tackle the ongoing education crisis and benefit more children, more quickly." Through this contribution, IMC will also continue to advance progress against UN SDG4, 'Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all', one of the seven UN SDGs the firm has adopted as part of its wider sustainability initiatives. About IMC IMC is a leading trading firm, known worldwide for our advanced, low-latency technology and world-class execution capabilities. Over the past 35 years, we've been a stabilizing force in the financial markets - providing the essential liquidity our counterparties depend on. Across offices in the US, Europe, and Asia Pacific, our talented employees are united by our entrepreneurial spirit, exceptional culture, and commitment to giving back. It's a strong foundation that allows us to grow and add new capabilities, year after year. From entering dynamic new markets, to developing a state-of-the-art research environment and diversifying our trading strategies, we dare to imagine what could be and work together to make it happen. Find out more at www.imc.com. About Room to Read Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education. We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build life skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. Room to Read has benefited more than 39 million children and has worked in 24 countries and in more than 192,000 communities, providing additional support through remote solutions that facilitate learning beyond the classroom. Room to Read aims to benefit 40 million children by 2025. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2017000/IMC_Blue_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/imc-commits-to-donate-30-million-to-room-to-read-in-2024-2028-302182452.html MRI clearances received in connection with certification of conformity with EU and UK Medical Device Regulations Mainstay Medical Holdings plc today announced that it has received regulatory approvals in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Australia for full-body MR conditional labeling for the ReActiv8 Restorative Neurostimulation system. As a result, all current and future ReActiv8 patients in Europe and Australia implanted with the commercially available 45 cm leads have the ability to undergo 1.5T full-body scans. Specific scan conditions and safety information are provided in the ReActiv8 MRI Guidelines manuals for each territory. The MRI approvals were achieved in connection with Mainstay receiving certificates issued by its Notified Body confirming conformity with the Medical Device Regulations (MDR) of both the European Union and the United Kingdom. "These MRI approvals will allow us to significantly broaden access to ReActiv8 for patients in Europe and Australia who may require (or develop the need for) MRI imaging post-implantation, complementing our earlier approval of MRI labeling in the United States," stated Jason Hannon, Chief Executive Officer of Mainstay Medical. "In addition, we are proud of our continued commitment to patient safety and product quality, as shown by our being among the first in the neuromodulation field to achieve MDR certification for Europe and the UK." Customer information emails will be sent, and MRI Guidelines and related information will be available, next week. About ReActiv8 ReActiv8 is an implantable medical device designed to treat adults with intractable chronic low back pain (CLBP) associated with multifidus muscle dysfunction. Multifidus muscle dysfunction may be evidenced by imaging or physiological testing in adults who have failed therapy including pain medications and physical therapy, and who are not candidates for spine surgery. ReActiv8 has received regulatory approval in several geographic areas, and is commercially available in the European Economic Area, Australia, the UK, and the US. About Mainstay Medical Mainstay Medical is a medical device company focused on commercializing its innovative implantable Restorative Neurostimulation system, ReActiv8, for people with disabling mechanical CLBP. Mainstay Medical is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and has subsidiaries operating in Ireland, the United States, Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Further information can be found at www.mainstaymedical.com. Mainstay Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this announcement other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the company's labeling for MRI compatibility, the company's ability to help additional patients as a result of having MRI compatibility labeling, and the company's commercial efforts and performance, results, financial position, financing strategies, product design and development, intellectual property portfolio and its scope, regulatory applications and approvals, and reimbursement arrangements. Forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those described in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements herein, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties included in the company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022, which should be read in conjunction with the company's public disclosures (available on the company's website (www.mainstaymedical.com)). The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date of this announcement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709830382/en/ Contacts: Mainstay PR and IR Enquiries: LifeSci Advisors, LLC Brian Ritchie Tel: 1 (212) 915-2578 Email: britchie@lifesciadvisors.com FTI Consulting (for Ireland) Jonathan Neilan or Patrick Berkery Tel.: +353 86 602 5988 Email: mainstay@fticonsulting.com Mainstay Medical Corporate Communications Email: Media@mainstaymedical.com Asahi Kasei's newest global car user survey gives insights into the brand loyalty and buying behavior of car users in the four major automotive markets: Germany, the United States, China, and Japan. It also provides background information on technological reasons for consumers' hesitance to switch to electric cars. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709909670/en/ Fig. 1: Brand Loyalty (Graphic: Business Wire) In its fifth annual survey, the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei asked car users in the four major automotive markets about brand loyalty and key motivators for buying electric vehicles (EVs). The results of the newest survey confirm the trend in recent years with tightening competition, new manufacturers, and changing customer needs, brand loyalty is wavering worldwide. More than half of the respondents in Germany and the USA plan to change the brand of their next car. Customers in China are remarkably open to switching car brands, with 79% indicating they would choose a model from a different manufacturer. Looking at different age groups, Generation Z-respondents (born between 1995 and 2010) showed the lowest degree of brand loyalty, indicating that the younger the car users are, the less connected they feel to a certain brand. To reignite brand loyalty, car manufacturers and suppliers must understand the end customers' needs and find ways to differentiate from the increasing competition. When asked about the most annoying factors in their current car, car users in all four regions cited "poor gas mileage/fuel consumption," "not enough storage space," and "too much noise while driving". This was also reflected in the main motivation to change the car brand, with a third of respondents in Germany and the US citing "quality aspects" as an important factor. In addition, "running costs" are prevalent motivations in all markets. In China, the "desire to try something new" is the chief incentive for switching to a different vehicle brand specifically to premium brands. This coincides with the purchasing influence of "increasing brand image" by established premium car manufacturers, in contrast to volume manufacturers, who are currently losing market share in China. Since the first survey was conducted in 2020, fuel/power efficiency and running costs have been the most influential factors in the buying process. Notably, the results for all features influencing purchasing choice have been consistent across each survey. Enhancing battery performance key for convincing potential EV buyers Stimulated by governmental subsidies, technological improvements and a growing network of charging stations, market shares of pure electric vehicles have been slowly growing in recent years, especially in Western markets and in China. 69% of the respondents in China said it is "likely" or "very likely" that the next car has a pure electric drive. However, compared to 2020, the willingness to buy an electric vehicle has not significantly changed. While in China and Germany it rose by 6 percentage points respectively 8 percentage points, respectively, there was a 14 percentage point decrease in the US. The fade out of governmental subsidies and the high cost of electric vehicles are key factors for this consumer sentiment at the end of 2023. These findings indicate further technological advancements need to be achieved to convince most car users. In addition to cost aspects, further advancements in battery performance, lifetime, and safety will be needed to improve the acceptance of electric vehicles across all major regions. The main drivers for switching to an electric vehicle differ among the regions: while driving range is the major factor for car users in Germany, 34% of the respondents in the US is prioritize battery lifetime. Meanwhile, 34% of non-EV owners in China see improved safety as a primary consideration in buying an electric vehicle. About the Asahi Kasei Automotive Consumer Survey This report summarizes key findings of the fifth edition of Asahi Kasei's annual trend survey regarding car users' purchasing decisions and preferences related to materials and features for the future of vehicles. Conducted in December 2023 via online interviews, Asahi Kasei asked a total of 4,158 car users across the four automotive core markets: Germany (1,074), USA (1,077), China (1,007), and Japan (1,000). From its first edition in 2019, the survey has been conducted in cooperation with market research institute SKOPOS from Cologne, Germany. About Asahi Kasei The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its founding in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/. Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709909670/en/ Contacts: Europe Contact: Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH Sebastian Schmidt sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu North America Contact: Asahi Kasei America Inc. Christian OKeefe christian.okeefe@ak-america.com INTO Oregon State University (INTO OSU) has unveiled a groundbreaking employment program "Jump Start" for international students enabling them to secure on-campus jobs even before they set foot in the United States. The innovative program will benefit all international students at Oregon State University receiving support and services from INTO OSU - the on-campus education hub of INTO University Partnerships, a global education partnering organization. With the Jump Start program, students can earn up to $20,000 annually while acquiring invaluable work experience through a diverse array of on-campus job opportunities. This program not only enhances their educational journey but also provides a strong financial foundation and professional growth. "We are thrilled to introduce the Jump Start employment program at INTO OSU, a pioneering initiative designed to empower our international students with early access to work opportunities. This program not only allows students to potentially earn around $20,000 annually but also equips them with crucial skills and experiences that will significantly enhance their professional journeys," said Bob Gilmour, INTO OSU's Executive Director. "At INTO OSU, we are committed to supporting our students in every aspect of their academic and career development, and Jump Start is a testament to that commitment." International students studying in the United States have the option to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during term time and more during the vacations. International undergraduate and graduate students who have an offer to study on the OSU Corvallis campus with support and services from INTO OSU are eligible for the Jump Start program. "Many on-campus jobs are available for international students who study at Oregon State University. The jobs provide opportunities for students who come from various countries and cultures to contribute to the campus community and its diversity. Finding and applying for an on-campus job before they arrive in the U.S. is not an easy task for an international student. It requires them to overcome many challenges and learn new skills. I'm delighted the INTO OSU Student Success Services team has introduced this program to help students throughout this process. The team informs students about available jobs and the application steps, and they also prepare them for their first day of work," said Edward Feser, OSU's Provost and Executive Vice President. Students enrolled in Jump Start will enjoy the following benefits: An annual earning potential of up to $20,000 Strengthened interviewing and resume skills Individualized support from an INTO OSU staff member to help with the journey from submitting an application through to the first day at work on campus Remote interviews in international students' home country before travelling to the US The potential to start job during first week at OSU A job offer outlining minimum expected salary for the year that may be used as part of proof-of-funding in the admissions process Valuable work experience that will help students prepare for their post-graduation careers A network of coworkers and supervisors who can act as professional references A work environment within walking distance of on-campus housing and classes A work environment that is flexible and designed to be fitted around students' study schedule to help ensure their continued academic success "I applied for an Amazon internship and had an interview. I took two weeks off from my on-campus job to prepare for the interview. I was successful, and after completing the internship I now have a job offer to work at Amazon in Seattle after graduation. Working in the student job helped prepare me for the Amazon internship. Having a good mindset about work culture and having routine and discipline is very important," said Samisha, a student from India. "I like the program because it allows an undergraduate student to gain work experience while studying, and also provides financial support to an extent. The details of the program were clearly explained to me. The interviewing process was also good as my interviewers were kind and helpful to me and their questions were well thought-out." Ahmet, a student from Turkey. A launch message went out to about 1700 graduate and undergraduate offer holders with an invitation to register for Jump Start. So far 102 students have signed up. INTO University Partnerships and Oregon State University (OSU) have been in a joint venture partnership for more than 15 years. Formed in 2008 to expand OSU's global reach, the partnership offers academic support and services to international students in the form of direct entry and taught preparatory programs in all undergraduate majors, as well as a wide range of graduate degrees at the University. Students receive this additional layer of academic and personal support from the staff and faculty in the INTO OSU Center - a vibrant educational hub located on the historic OSU campus. Since its inception, INTO OSU has helped more than 11,900 international students from more than 155 countries achieve academic success on their chosen course. INTO OSU-supported students also have gone on to represent all 11 of OSU's academic colleges at PhD level. INTO University Partnerships connects ambitious international students with leading universities in the US, UK, and Australia. Since its inception in 2005, INTO has helped over 150,000 students from more than 180 countries achieve their dream of obtaining a degree from a world-class institution. Find out more about INTO's Jump Start program here: www.tinyurl.com Media contact: Davinder Kumar VP, Corporate & Public Relations INTO University Partnerships davinder.kumar@intoglobal.com SOURCE: INTO University View the original press release on accesswire.com Hunting PLC (LSE:HTG), the global precision engineering group, today issues a trading update, ahead of its Half Year Results to be released on Thursday 29 August 2024. Highlights Sales order book at 30 June 2024 was c.$700m compared to $565m at 31 December 2023, supported by orders totalling $231m from Kuwait Oil Company ("KOC"). H1 2024 trading has been ahead of management's expectations driven by the strong performance in the Group's OCTG, Subsea and Advanced Manufacturing product groups. Perforating Systems reported headwinds in the period, leading to the implementation of a cost reduction programme that is projected to save c.$6m-$7m annually. Good progress with Energy Transition strategy, with geothermal orders being secured in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. EBITDA for the first half of 2024 is likely to be in the range of $59m-$61m ahead of management's expectations and c.22% ahead of H1 2023 and c.13% ahead of H2 2023. EBITDA margin of c.12% (H1 2023 10%; H2 2023 12%) delivered in the period and remains on track to achieve 12-13% for the full year. Balance sheet remains robust with total cash and bank (borrowings) expected to be $(11)m-$(9)m at 30 June 2024, with a cash inflow of c.$23m in Q2, as cash generation increases. Outlook Outlook for the full year 2024 and 2025 is positive given the KOC orders secured, which will be recognised beginning in Q4 2024 through H1 2025. Group performance for H2 2024 is projected to be ahead of H1 based on performance and cost reduction measures, therefore management is increasing EBITDA guidance for the 2024 full-year to c.$134m-$138m. Management anticipates EBITDA to Free Cash Flow conversion to be c.50% for the full year and are targeting total cash and bank (borrowings) at 31 December 2024 of between $30m-$40m. Based on the quantum of the sales order book, which extends into 2026, management anticipates EBITDA to be in the range of $160m-$175m for the year ended 31 December 2025. Capital expenditure for the full year 2024 is anticipated to be c.$40m-$45m. Jim Johnson, Chief Executive of Hunting, commented: "At c.$700m, our sales order book nears the highest in the Company's history, which supports strong revenue and earnings visibility well into 2025. We are delighted to have secured the significant orders from KOC. This achievement is the result of over six years of collaboration with KOC, supported by Hunting's industry leading premium connection technology, our strategic supply chains and our commitment to our clients to deliver value. "Our business success has supported strong delivery of the Hunting 2030 Strategy. Management remains confident of delivering our EBITDA to Free Cash Flow target of 50% based on our expected financial performance for the remainder of the year." H1 2024 Trading Statement H1 2024 H2 2023 H1 2023 $m $m $m Sales orderbook 700 565 530 Revenue 492 451 478 EBITDAi 59-61 53 49 EBITDA margin 12% 12% 10% Total cash and bank (borrowings)ii (11)-(9) (1) (52) EBITDA for H1 and H2 2023 has been restated to include the Group's share of associates' and joint ventures' results. Q1 2024 total cash and bank (borrowings) $(34)m. The Group's sales order book is anticipated to be c.$700m at 30 June 2024, reflecting the material orders received from KOC in the period. The 2023 year-end sales order book was $565m. The monthly revenue run rate in H1 2024 is expected to be c.$82m, which compares to $79.6m in H1 2023 and $75.2m in H2 2023. EBITDA in H1 2024 is expected to be in the range of $59m-$61m, including the Group's share of associates' and joint ventures' results. Management anticipates an EBITDA margin of c.12% to be recorded in the period, which compares to 10% in H1 2023 and 12% in H2 2023. Working capital has increased marginally in the period, however, total cash and bank (borrowings) is projected to be c.$(11)m-$(9)m at 30 June 2024, as cash collections have improved through the second quarter, with a c.$23m inflow during Q2. During Q2 2024, the Company has commenced purchasing its ordinary shares at a monthly rate of c.$1.0m for transfer to the Employee Benefit Trust operated by the Group to satisfy future share award vestings. Outlook for 2024 and 2025 The outlook for the Group remains positive given the strength of international and offshore markets, which are the primary beneficiaries of global industry capital spend, which is driving momentum within Hunting's OCTG and Subsea product groups, along with further progress within Advanced Manufacturing's end-markets. Natural gas prices are expected to improve in the second half of the year across North America and into 2025 as LNG capacity is planned in the US which, if achieved, will support the outlook for gas-focused drilling. This should lead to a modest recovery within Hunting's Perforating Systems product group, with shorter-term trading improvements to be driven by the cost efficiency initiatives noted below. With the inclusion of the impact of the KOC orders, management now anticipates 2024 full year EBITDA to be in the range of c.$134m-$138m. In the second half of 2024, management projects that working capital will reduce, driving an EBITDA to Free Cash Flow conversion for 2024 of 50% or greater. Year-end total cash and bank (borrowings) is now targeted at c.$30m-$40m. Capital expenditure for the full year 2024 is anticipated to be c.$40m-$45m. The Company continues to have the financial flexibility to undertake M&A where it can secure opportunities, which it believes will enhance its business both operationally and financially. Based on the anticipated timing of the KOC order fulfilment, whereby the majority of the revenue and EBITDA will be recognised in in 2025, management anticipates full-year 2025 EBITDA to be in the range of c.$160m-$175m. Product Summary Hunting's OCTG product group has recorded significant success during the reporting period, led by the two orders totalling $231m received from KOC, which were secured by our Asia Pacific operating segment in May 2024. In the US, demand for the Group's TEC-LOCK connection has continued to increase, despite the weaker rig count, as market share gains in certain basins have occurred in the period. Overall, the Company's global OCTG and Premium Connections offering has recorded strong success in the period, across Hunting's WEDGE-LOCK, SEAL-LOCK and TEC-LOCK connection families, supported by the continuation of accessories manufacturing for utilisation in Guyana and other international markets. The Group's joint venture facility in India has secured its API licence in the period, which will enable the facility to participate in further tenders, with the JV's backlog now extending into 2025. Hunting has also recorded progress in its Energy Transition strategy with OCTG supply contracts being secured in the US, Europe and Southeast Asia for a number of geothermal projects, including the US's 'Hell's Kitchen' development in California. The Perforating Systems product group has reported trading headwinds during H1 2024, driven by industry capital discipline and the lower average natural gas price recorded across the period restricting drilling activity, which has led to a reduction in the US onshore rig count since the start of the year. Well completion activity, particularly in gas-focused shale basins, has reduced significantly with some oil-focused drilling also impacted as operators are unable to flare excess gas produced with crude oil offtake, which has led to the reduction in activity in the Permian basin. Partially offsetting this regional weakness is the strength of international sales totalling c.$23m in the period to regions such as Argentina and Saudi Arabia. Hunting's Subsea product group continues to report strong business momentum and performance, and during the period continued to deliver for projects in Guyana, with titanium stress joints for the Yellowtail project being shipped in the period. The Company's hydraulic couplings and valves business has seen strong demand in the reporting period with a number of monthly sales records being reported in H1 2024. The Enpro Subsea business unit has seen an increase in its sales orderbook in the period, with new rental work being secured for its Flow Intervention Modules in Guyana. The product line reports strong bid activity across multiple regions, including South America and the Gulf of Mexico, and sees further longer-term growth from Africa where recent discoveries in Namibia and Mozambique will provide new, material opportunities for the Group. Overall, the product group is seeing solid financial performance and strong cash conversion from operating activities, with the 2024 performance likely to be more weighted to H1, due to the timing of order completions. The Advanced Manufacturing product group has reported increased energy-related and non-oil and gas sales in the reporting period. The Electronics business unit has seen good demand for printed circuit boards to major energy services groups as well as demand for medical-related electronics in the period. The Dearborn business unit also reports good demand for its naval, power generation and aviation products, along with its energy-related sales. The Advanced Manufacturing sales order book remains solid, supporting a robust outlook for the second half. Within Other Manufacturing, the Group's Organic Oil Recovery Technology continues to be piloted on a number of wells across multiple reservoirs with large operators, enhancing oil recovery through the activation of microbial life within reservoirs. Operating Segment Summary As noted above, with the commentary on our Perforating Systems product group, the Hunting Titan operating segment has reported headwinds during the first half of 2024. Revenue is likely to be c.9% lower than in H1 2023, with EBITDA margins of c.2% reflecting lower activity in North America. Given the decline in performance of Hunting Titan, Hunting commenced the closure of the Wichita Falls operating site, with production being transferred to the Pampa operating site. Two distribution centres in Red Deer, Canada, and Marshall, Texas, are also being closed in H2, with sales being managed from other centres across North America. Hunting Titan has also completed a reduction-in-force programme during Q2 2024, with 92 positions being removed to align with current market activity. Annualised cost savings are likely to be c.$6m-$7m, with a c.$3m saving expected in H2 2024, which will contribute to an improved profitability in the second half of the year. Margins are expected to improve for the full year as the impact of the cost efficiency programmes are realised. The North America operating segment has benefited from continued success with its OCTG and Premium Connections businesses as well as strengthening Advanced Manufacturing revenue, including non-oil and gas sales. Revenue is likely to be in line with H1 2023, with EBITDA margins projected to be c.15% reflecting higher facility utilisation and selected pricing increases across these product lines. The Subsea Technologies operating segment has had a strong performance in H1 2024, as discussed above, and revenue is expected to be c.85% higher year-on year, with EBITDA margins expected to be c.22%. The EMEA operating segment has reported mixed results, due to subdued activity in the North Sea, partially offset by stronger Middle East performance. Revenue is likely to be c.1% higher than in H1 2023, with EBITDA margins slightly below zero. The Asia Pacific operating segment has delivered revenue of c.8% lower than in H1 2023; however, EBITDA margins of c.16% have been realised in the period as higher facility utilisation and stronger margin business has been captured. The performance of the segment will see a material step up in H2 due to the KOC orders being completed across the next four trading quarters. 2024 Half Year Results Briefing Investor Meet Company An analyst presentation in respect of the 2024 Half Year Results has been arranged for 9:00am (UK) on Thursday 29 August 2024, at the offices of CMS at Cannon Place, 78 Cannon St, London, EC4N 6AF. After this, Hunting's management will provide a live presentation via the Investor Meet Company platform on 29 August, commencing at 10:30am (UK). The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions can be submitted prior to this presentation via the Investor Meet Company dashboard up until 9:00am the day before the meeting or at any time during the live presentation. Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free and add to meet Hunting PLC at: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/hunting-plc/register-investor Investors who already follow Hunting on the Investor Meet Company platform will automatically be invited. Notes to Editors: About Hunting PLC Hunting is a global engineering group that provides precision-manufactured equipment and premium services which adds value for our customers. Established in 1874, it is a premium listed public company traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Company maintains a corporate office in Houston and is headquartered in London. As well as the United Kingdom, the Company has operations in China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. The Group reports in US dollars across five operating segments: Hunting Titan; North America; Subsea Technologies; Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") and Asia Pacific. The Group also reports revenue and EBITDA financial metrics based on five product groups: OCTG, Perforating Systems, Subsea, Advanced Manufacturing and Other Manufacturing. Hunting PLC's Legal Entity Identifier is 2138008S5FL78ITZRN66. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709411090/en/ Contacts: Hunting PLC Tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 0123 Jim Johnson, Chief Executive Bruce Ferguson, Finance Director lon.ir@hunting-intl.com Buchanan Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 Ben Romney Barry Archer Panasonic Corporation today announced that its Cold Chain Solutions Company (hereinafter referred to as Panasonic) has entered into an agreement with Cooling Solutions S.L. to purchase all the shares of its subsidiary Area Cooling Solutions Sp. z.o.o. a Polish refrigeration equipment manufacturer (hereinafter referred to as Area Cooling).1 This transaction is a strategic step for Panasonic to strengthen its condensing unit business in the European market and to accelerate its ongoing global expansion. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709954602/en/ Panasonic has entered into an agreement with Cooling Solutions S.L. to purchase all the shares of its subsidiary Area Cooling Solutions Sp. z.o.o. (Photo: Business Wire) The Kigali Amendment2 to the Montreal Protocol3 and the European Union's F-Gas Regulation4, among other regulations, restrict the production, consumption, import, and export of HFCs, which are widely used as refrigerants in cold chain equipment, and require a transition to alternative refrigerants with a lower global warming potential. Europe has been at the forefront of these environmental initiatives, aligning with the region's commitment to climate neutrality and customer preferences for greener technologies. Panasonic, which has established itself as the leading manufacturer of CO2 condensing units in the Japanese market, sees Europe as its most important market for the future. Area Cooling is an innovative company that is aggressively investing in growth areas such as inverter-controlled condensing units and CO2 condensing units. Its products have technological affinities with Panasonic's condensing units, as they have long used Panasonic-designed compressors. This company profile led Panasonic to determine that this acquisition would expedite the reinforcement of the foundation for its European business. The acquisition does not include the distribution business of compressors and other HVACR components Area Cooling is currently operating. Area Cooling and Panasonic will share resources and create synergies in the condensing unit business to develop products that better meet customer needs, manufacture locally in Europe, and increase the presence of Panasonic condensing units in the European market. About Area Cooling Company name Area Cooling Solutions Sp. z o.o. Representative Josep Ventura Address ul. Relaksowa 27, 55-080 Nowa Wies Wroclawska, Poland Business Design, manufacture, and sale of industrial and commercial refrigeration equipment Establishment 1995 Number of employees Approximately 160 Notes: 1 This agreement will be formally entered into after the general terms and conditions of the agreement, including the approval of the relevant authorities, have been fulfilled. 2 Adopted in 2016. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were added to the list of substances subject to regulation under the Montreal Protocol. 3 An environmental treaty adopted in 1987 and entered into force in 1989 to protect the ozone layer, formally known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. This international agreement sets targets for phasing out or eliminating the production and consumption of substances that may deplete the ozone layer, as well as regulating imports and exports. 4 Regulations enacted in Europe in 2006 to reduce the environmental impact of fluorinated gases. This regulation covers hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). About Panasonic Corporation Panasonic Corporation offers products and services for a variety of living environments, ranging from homes to stores to offices and cities. There are five businesses at the core of Panasonic Corporation: Living Appliances and Solutions Company, Heating Ventilation A/C Company, Cold Chain Solutions Company, Electric Works Company and China and Northeast Asia Company. The operating company reported consolidated net sales of 3,494.4 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2024. Panasonic Corporation is committed to fulfilling the mission of Life Tech Ideas: For the wellbeing of people, society and the planet, and embraces the vision of becoming the best partner of your life with human-centric technology and innovation. Learn more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/global/about/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709954602/en/ Contacts: molly.barnes@wildwoodplus.com AnnaBidiol, Inc., (OTC PINK:ACBD) (or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Merger Agreement with Targatek, Inc., an AI Corporate Leadership SaaS Development Company. In the terms of the agreement, a reverse merger of Targatek Inc. will take place into a newly formed subsidiary of AnnaBidiol, Inc. that will result in the shareholders of Targatek receiving approximately 85% of the common stock of AnnaBidiol, Inc. after approximately 35,000,000 shares of common stock and 500,000 shares of Series A Preferred stock of AnnaBidiol, Inc., to be redeemed and canceled at closing. The merger Agreement provides for the usual and customary warranties and representations and requires the determination that the financials are auditable. The closing date is set to occur on or before September 15, 2024. AnnaBidiol, Inc. expects to raise approximately $750,000 in a private placement to fund ongoing operations and stock redemption. Post-merger, and subject to the Private Placement being fully subscribed to, the current issued and outstanding 39,990,306 common shares will be reduced by an estimated retirement of 9,730,306 shares, reducing the presently issued and outstanding amount to an estimated 30,260,000. The company will also have an estimated zero preferred shares, zero warrants, and zero options issued and outstanding post-merger. William J. Adams Jr, the CEO of Targatek, Inc., expressed his enthusiasm about the future. He stated, "We are excited about this opportunity with ACBD. Targatek is vested in developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the leadership challenge of the twenty-first century through the convergence of technology and human elements in building the collaborative organization of tomorrow. This opportunity will allow us to accelerate growth." About Targatek Inc. (www.Targatek.com): Our journey began with a simple yet profound vision - to empower leaders by simplifying their complex workflows. Targatek is not just a software development company but is committed to redefining the leader experience. Targatek's story is one of passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Founded by a team of visionary leaders, our mission is to create platforms and solutions that seamlessly integrate tools into today's workflow. This allows a more concentrated focus on what truly matters - leading with purpose and impact. At the core of Targatek is our mission to infuse AI into the corporate environment to revolutionize leadership workflow with accuracy and efficiency. We believe that leaders should spend more time leading and less time navigating through scattered tools. Targateks AI Solutions focuses on bringing leadership vision to reality, ensuring that your leadership journey is marked by efficiency, clarity, and transformative experiences. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings, and pursuit of new markets are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the Company's ability to control. In many cases, the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. For more information, Visit: www.AnnaBidiol.com or www.Targatek.com Contact: AnnaBidiol, Inc. or Targatek, Inc., at Info@Targatek.com For media or Investment inquiries, please contact: Info@Targatek.com SOURCE: AnnaBidiol Inc View the original press release on accesswire.com Collaboration of Dutch Public and Private Sector in Providing Cybersecurity to the Region Cyemptive Technologies, an award-winning provider of pre-emptive cybersecurity solutions for business and government, today announced that it has entered into a liaison partnership with Partnership for Cyber Security Innovation (PCSI) in the Netherlands. PCSI is a public/private sector network of government bodies, research institutes, corporations and startups/scaleups and designed to make Dutch society more secure and resilient against future cyber-attacks. Its major partners include leading public and private sector organizations such as ABN Amro, Achmea, ASML, ING, Dutch Tax Customs Administration and TNO. "I am excited that Cyemptive joins the PCSI ecosystem as a Liaison Partner," said Reinder Wolthuis, Program Manager PCSI. "PCSI is about innovation and collaboration. As a relatively young and innovative cybersecurity company and Cyemptive's mission to transform the cybersecurity industry to a fully proactive approach, Cyemptive is a natural fit for PCSI." PCSI is an open innovation platform that aims to make Dutch society more secure and resilient against future cyber-attacks. By giving them a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise, PCSI offers its core partners a unique opportunity to develop innovative cybersecurity solutions that boost the cyber resilience of both individual companies and Dutch society in general. The innovation projects include a variety of cybersecurity challenges, from advanced detection systems to software for structuring data automatically and human-factor solutions. "Being part of PCSI provides organizations with a platform to influence cybersecurity policies and standards," said Rob Pike, founder and CEO of Cyemptive. "This ensures that their specific needs and concerns are considered in the development of industry regulations and guidelines." Cyemptive offers military-grade layers of pre-emptive cybersecurity protection that are essential add-ons for businesses to achieve cyber safety. Cyemptive's ZeroStrike allows customers to be in command of their security by eliminating damage even from unknown attack vectors pre-zero day discovery. With Cyemptive ZeroStrike there is no need for recovery and remediation, an industry first capability. About PCSI Partnership for Cyber Security Innovation makes a vital contribution to a secure and resilient digital society through innovation in cybersecurity. Within PCSI, applicable, innovative cybersecurity solutions are developed that allow stakeholders in Dutch society to protect themselves against the cyber-attacks of tomorrow. By working together closely via an innovative ecosystem, PCSI partners connect applied research, current data and issues from society in the field of cybersecurity in a unique way. About Cyemptive Technologies Headquartered in Seattle, Wash., Cyemptive has been on a mission to make large organizations cyber safe since 2014. Today, Cyemptive's award-winning software, services and support are used by businesses and government entities worldwide. It is the winner of the Department of Homeland Security's Border Security Technology Consortium (BSTC) competition for most innovative border security-related solution in the market, as well as 11 'ASTORS' Homeland Security Awards from American Security Today in 2023 and received 10 awards in 2022 more than any other company. Cyemptive's leadership team is comprised of executives from several of the world's most powerful technology and security organizations, including the former CIO of Microsoft and the former Chief Computer Architect for the National Security Agency. More information about Cyemptive Technologies is available at www.cyemptive.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702985720/en/ Contacts: Belinda Young BYPR +1 206-932-3145 byoung@bypr.com Rob Pike Cyemptive Technologies +1 425-341-9800 info@cyemptive.com Wessel Graatsma Vice President Cybersecurity Solutions Europe +31 6 4868 2748 wgraatsma@cyemptive.com Delivered by expert home inspector instructors from around the country, AHIT has trained over 76,000 home inspectors. The CE Shop's industry-leading education equips those looking to start a successful career as a home inspector as demand for home inspectors is expected to rise. DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / American Home Inspectors Training (AHIT) by The CE Shop has been the leader in trusted, professional home inspection training courses and textbooks for over three decades. Delivered by expert home inspector instructors from around the country, AHIT has trained over 76,000 home inspectors. According to Bankrate's latest lender survey, mortgage rates slipped to 7.02% as of June 26. This provides a better outlook for the housing market, which in turn impacts home inspectors. Home inspections are important because they can be a critical part of the buying and selling process and as a home inspector, it is important to be familiar with different types of houses. The Federal Reserve has also signaled that it will have one rate cut this year, which will in turn affect real estate transactions. As real estate transactions go up, the demand for home inspectors is also expected to rise. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors report having almost 27,000 members (as of 2023). With over 3 million active real estate licenses in the U.S., according to ARELLO, there is a huge opportunity for more home inspectors to serve the real estate industry. In fact, many real estate agents and brokers get trained in home inspection to give them an edge in their industry. With no limit to the amount of income a home inspector can earn and having control over a work-life balance through flexible working hours, home inspectors can decide what kind of life they want and make a career blossom quickly with the right education and starting point. The requirements to become a home inspector can easily be met through The CE Shop's AHIT courses. While the requirements vary depending on each state, the startup costs for home inspection are remarkably low when compared to other career fields. In 2023,?4.09 million existing homes were sold in the U.S., according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). According to data from the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 77 percent of all homes are inspected before a purchase. This means 3,149,300 existing homes likely had inspections last year. Benefits of becoming a home inspector include: Work-life balance, including deciding when to work Reliable income with the average home inspector making $70,000 annually, with the potential to make more depending on the number of homes inspected Being part of an in-demand community with a ton of support through associations like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and education providers like The CE Shop who provide ongoing support and tools for success Learn more about life as a home inspector, as a part-time or full-time endeavor, and about how The CE Shop and AHIT are changing lives one inspector at a time. About The CE Shop The CE Shop is the leading provider of professional real estate education with both online and live-online options in real estate, mortgage, home inspection, and appraisal courses available throughout the United States. The CE Shop produces quality education for professionals across the nation, whether they are veterans in their industry or are looking to launch a new career. We believe that the right education can truly make a difference. Visit TheCEShop.com to learn more. Contact Information Buse Kayar buse.kayar@issuerdirect.com SOURCE: The CE Shop View the original press release on newswire.com. Appointment of Richard Kerr Strengthens Onramp's Commitment to Advancing Bitcoin Financial Services and Educating Advisors through New 'Wake Up Call' Show DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Onramp, a bitcoin financial services platform, proudly announces the expansion of its leadership team with the appointment of Richard Kerr, formerly of Charles Schwab, as President of Onramp Managed Wealth. Richard Kerr brings over 33 years of experience in serving the Registered Investment Advisors (RIA) community, Family Offices, and High-Net-Worth (HNW) and Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) clients. This appointment demonstrates Onramp's commitment to advancing knowledge and capabilities in the digital asset space and serving as a trusted partner and bridge to the world of traditional finance. "We are thrilled to welcome Rich Kerr to our leadership team," said Michael Tanguma, CEO of Onramp. "His vast experience and proven track record in wealth management align perfectly with our mission to support advisors and their clients with bitcoin financial services. Rich's expertise will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and provide superior bitcoin financial services built on top of Multi-Institution Custody." Richard's extensive wealth management experience, including his tenure at Charles Schwab, will support Onramp's mission to provide industry-leading bitcoin financial services, research, and educational content for advisors. His leadership will enhance the advisor experience by simplifying bitcoin ownership and custody. Richard joins Onramp at a pivotal time as the firm advocates for integrating bitcoin into diversified portfolios. He will lead initiatives to promote institutional-grade custody solutions, advance platform capabilities, and spearhead educational content for the Managed Wealth community. His appointment marks a significant step forward in making institutional-grade bitcoin solutions accessible and effective for the wealth management community. "Joining Onramp is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of how bitcoin is transforming the financial industry," said Richard Kerr, President of Onramp Managed Wealth. "I look forward to working with Onramp leadership and the entire Onramp team to advance our offerings and provide advisors with the tools and knowledge they need to help their clients achieve their financial goals securely and efficiently. Onramp's commitment to integrity and innovation in bitcoin through Multi-Institution Custody is unmatched, and I am eager to contribute to our shared vision." Onramp Launches Bitcoin Trading Onramp is also announcing new functionality to provide clients access to top-tier bitcoin trading capabilities and facilitate a seamless onboarding experience to Onramp's financial services platform. With Onramp Trade, clients can now acquire bitcoin from the Onramp client dashboard with some of the lowest fees in the industry, and have funds settle directly into their Multi-Institution Custody vault. This end-to-end solution ensures client assets are protected against any single-third-party point of failure, from initial purchase to final settlement in Multi-Institution Custody cold storage. This streamlined approach not only simplifies the bitcoin investment process but also provides unparalleled security, as clients control their assets from the moment of purchase, giving them peace of mind as they diversify their investment portfolios with bitcoin. 'Wake Up Call' to Accelerate Bitcoin Education for Fiduciaries Wake Up Call, hosted by Richard Kerr and Mark Connors, is the newest production from Onramp Media which aims to educate financial professionals on the merits of the bitcoin investment thesis, highlighting its potential as both a threat to legacy financial services and an opportunity to differentiate and attract new business. The show will feature traditional finance professionals sharing their personal "wake up call" experiences, key diligence insights, and replicable approaches. The show will be streamed live on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube and will be available on-demand as a podcast afterward. Wake Up Call will support RIAs and other fiduciaries in understanding bitcoin's role in diversified portfolios and help to dispel common misconceptions. Additionally, a private aftershow called Onramp Investment Committee will be available exclusively for Onramp clients and provide unique market insights from senior members of the Onramp team. About Onramp Onramp offers best-in-class financial products and solutions to onboard HNWI, Family Offices, and Institutions to bitcoin the right way. With a focus on reducing counterparty risk through multi-institution custody and providing a straightforward way for clients to hold real bitcoin, Onramp's innovative platform and commitment to security and client service make it the go-to choice for investors looking to secure an allocation to bitcoin. Contact Information Michael Tanguma CEO michael@onrampbitcoin.com 737-260-7979 SOURCE: Onramp View the original press release on newswire.com. Joint Venture Delivers Superior End-to-End Marketing Solutions, Reach and Scale for Emerging Food & Beverage Brands NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Forklift LLC and Tier One Solutions Group are pleased to announce a new strategic venture. This will combine Forklift Foods' powerful culinary branding and digital experience with Tier One's shopper marketing, sourcing and omnichannel activation expertise. The new joint venture will offer end-to-end marketing solutions to global emerging food and beverage brands, allowing existing and new clients to grow market share and revenue. Forklift LLC & Tier One Solutions Group announce new strategic venture Cynthia Ward, CEO of Tier One Solutions, and Besty Fox, President of Forklift Foods. For Forklift, this new joint venture dramatically expands its core marketing, creative, and culinary brand management capabilities. ?Food Industry veteran and President of Forklift, Betsy Fox, said, "Forklift is known for its resourceful and innovative integrated marketing programs for baby brands; adding shopper marketing and distribution consulting positions us to offer more options than ever before and competitively extend the length of our engagements." Fox continues, "This alliance increases our marketing practice and creates a new strategic and creative resource for virtually all types of CPG and B:B products. Now all clients can get full-service, large agency marketing expertise from one supplier." Cynthia Ward, CEO for Tier One Solutions, said about the two organizations joining forces, "Forklift and Tier One are a great fit for each other in terms of both consultancy and cultural alignment. This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of nurturing emerging food and beverage brands from end to end. Betsy's background in big agency global branding further enhances our potential to position?brands from other?countries into the?U.S. market successfully. We look forward to capitalizing on this remarkable opportunity together." This joint venture will enable additional exposure to new and expanded clients for Tier One and allows Forklift to grow even stronger as a global provider of marketing products.?Lyndon Neal, COO of Tier One Solutions, says, "As we move forward with exciting new opportunities for growth, we will continue to provide the highest quality of service and marketing expertise that has been the backbone of our success." Neal further points out, "Emerging Food & Beverage brands are an exciting growth market for our shopper marketing and activation expertise. We are excited to join forces with a partner that, when combined, creates a competitive juggernaut not only for customers in?the U.S. but around the world." Among the first efforts of the joint venture will be Forklift's new Thai venture, which has been reinvigorated after being derailed by the pandemic. Tier One and Forklift will also launch a series of thought leadership programs starting in July. About Forklift Foods Forklift is a trusted and recognized brand for culinary brand management. Forklift develops go-to-market plans for specialty food and beverage brands. Forklift offers guidance on food industry trends, portfolio management, brand positioning, product design/development, innovation, brand identity, distribution strategy, and multichannel communication plans specializing in digital. Please visit?www.forkliftfoods.com?for more information. About Tier One Solutions Tier One Solutions is a women and employee-owned integrated marketing agency that delivers end-to-end marketing executions ranging from professional services and creative design to activation and sourcing. We operate with the high touch of a boutique while delivering the talent, reach, expertise, and relationships of big advertising agencies. No two people and no two brands are the same, which is why our solutions are bespoke for every client. Please visit www.t1solutionsgroup.com. Contact Information Madison Jordan Digital Media Manger - Tier One Solutions madison@t1solutionsgroup.com SOURCE: Tier One Solutions Group View the original press release on newswire.com. WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY), the innovative enterprise cyber security and mobile technology provider, announced that it was awarded approximately $2.84 million in new contracts and renewals. Jin Kang, WidePoint's Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are very excited about our business development momentum. The majority of these new wins are commercial SaaS revenues and should bolster our bottom-line improvements, an initiative we continue to strive for. With multiple awards across all WidePoint business units, the value of our solutions and managed services continues to be recognized by government and commercial enterprises." Highlights include: Of the $2.84 million in contract awards, approximately $2.4 million were commercial SaaS wins and $438,000 were government contracts. $1.8 million was for new contracts and $1,036,000 for renewals. Contract awards include all WidePoint solution lines including, Managed Mobility Services, Identity & Access Management, IT as a Service, and Interactive Billing & Analytics. Kang added, "The $2.84 million in contracts is in addition to the previous press release highlighting our U.S. Department of Homeland Security CWMS 2.0 IDIQ ceiling increase of $254 million. We are already seeing new task orders for DHS, and activity related to Spiral 4, and we are excited about this continued momentum. Our strategic plan of building out program management offices for these important contracts is also being realized and expanding our sales opportunities." Jason Holloway, WidePoint's Chief Revenue Officer, stated: "WidePoint is seeing pilot projects launched, and strategic partnerships with system integrators resulting in new opportunities. When it comes to our PKI and Identity & Access Management solutions, we are especially excited to see key federal agencies interested in our next generation Derived Credential offering. We look forward to sharing more details in the near term." About WidePoint WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American: WYY) is a leading technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) dedicated to securing and protecting the mobile workforce and enterprise landscape. WidePoint is recognized for pioneering technology solutions that include Identity and Access Management (IAM, Mobility Managed Services (MMS), Telecom Management, Information Technology as a Service (ITaaS, Cloud Security, and Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS). For more information, visit widepoint.com. WidePoint Investor Relations: Gateway Group, Inc. Matt Glover or John Yi 949-574-3860 WYY@gateway-grp.com SOURCE: WidePoint Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com Henkel's continued support of Habitat's mission enters a new phase with the Loctite 2nd Chance House Campaign with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Henkel, a global company, marketing a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands, announced that it is expanding its national partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. This commitment is the latest in a partnership with Habitat for Humanity that spans the globe. This year, Henkel's Loctite Consumer & Craftsman Division, based out of Westlake, Ohio, is collaborating with Habitat on the Loctite 2nd Chance House. For this project, Henkel is providing $200,000 in monetary support and product donations to help the global housing organization build affordable housing in Cleveland, Ohio. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, landfills in the United States account for approximately 146.1 million tons of waste, which includes glass, plastics, food, construction waste, and other textiles. Through the Loctite 2nd Chance House campaign, Henkel aims to reduce waste that ends up in landfills and give everyday items, including furniture and building materials, a second chance. During the project, Henkel will volunteer with and donate products to Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. Henkel will also document the journey of giving this home a 2nd chance and show consumers how they too can restore items in their daily lives. Since 2013, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has purchased vacant homes to refurbish and sell to qualified homeowners. In giving these homes, a '2nd chance', Greater Cleveland Habitat not only improves the visual appeal of the neighborhood but also welcomes new homeowners who actively engage in the community. From 2016 to 2023, Greater Cleveland has successfully rehabbed 43 homes and completed 27 new construction homes in the Greater Buckeye-Woodhill/Mount Pleasant areas, with three more underway and scheduled for sale in 2024. Additionally, Greater Cleveland Habitat will construct 11 new homes this year, with six already underway. "We are so excited to partner with Habitat on the Loctite 2nd Chance House," said Frank Ziegler, Loctite Senior Brand Manager. "We are honored to be able to make a difference in our community, all while encouraging others to remove items from the landfill at home and on the jobsite." "Working alongside committed partners like Henkel allows Habitat to build or improve more homes in more communities for more families," said Charlita Stephens-Walker, vice president of corporate and cause marketing partnerships at Habitat for Humanity International. "We know that Henkel and Habitat's shared values will make this partnership a success and I'm excited to see what we will build together." This commitment is the latest in a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, with Henkel supporting in build projects across the United States, as well as countries around the world. Henkel also donated product in support of the 2023 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project which took place in Charlotte, North Carolina. Visit the Loctite 2nd Chance House website for updates and progress on the project. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Henkel Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Henkel View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2024) - Phenom Resources Corp. (TSXV: PHNM) (OTCQX: PHNMF) (FSE: 1PY0) ("Phenom" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a progress report on project and corporate activities. The Company has a very busy agenda. Crescent Valley Gold Project The Company has engaged Zonge International Geophysical Services to conduct a geophysical survey on the Company's Crescent Valley Gold Project. Crews are currently in the field and are expected to take under 3 weeks to complete the IP/Resistivity program. The geophysical program is designed to provide important focus to vein-hosted mineralization in this bonanza-type low sulfidation epithermal setting for better drill targeting. In anticipation of results of this program, the Company has already secured a permit to drill targets at Crescent Valley. Dobbin Gold Project An experienced Nevada-based geologist with extensive familiarity with Carlin-type deposits has been detail- mapping the Dobbin Project since mid May, identifying key stratigraphic units, finding multiple altered areas, more jasperoid than indicated by initial work, and evidence of altered dykes which are all positive ingredients of Carlin-type systems. A series of progressive soil sampling campaigns have been done to-date to reproduce the gold anomaly previously identified in the 1980's by Newmont and has had positive outcomes; two sizeable anomalies have been identified. An infill and expansion soil sampling program were completed last week with samples delivered to the lab. The results of the collective expanded soil campaigns and next steps will be reported once the anomalies are better outlined and quantified. King Solomon Gold Project Data consolidation and compilation has been going on since announcing the project acquisition last month. The Company is nearing the end of that stage so that Company geologists can design next steps which would include field activities and multi-stages of drilling so that permitting can be designed accordingly. MK Plus (Japanese solid state vanadium battery group) MK Plus' president came to Vancouver last month and spent a day with Company president Paul Cowley in fruitful discussions on MK Plus' progress in additional testing with potential customers and on funding progress for their first battery plant. Last year, Phenom secured a 5% equity interest in MK Plus through an Off-take Agreement. More news on MK Plus will follow when milestones are met. Grant Applications The Company awaits Department of Environment's (DOE) evaluation of its two grant submissions on the Carlin Vanadium Project. In addition, the DOE announced a new funding opportunity last week through its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) with a Notice of Intent (NOI) for up to $100 million to fund pilot-scale energy storage demonstration projects, focusing on non-lithium technologies, long-duration (10+ hour discharge) systems, and stationary storage applications. The Company will pursue this opportunity once target dates are firmed up by the DOE, anticipating to be in late summer / early fall. Through this funding, OCED plans to fund 3-15 projects, offering $5-20 million each. Reclamation Bonds Refunded Reclamation bonds have been released back to the Company for satisfactory reclamation results following the Company's exploration work that wrapped up on the AVP, Section 22 and Smoke projects. About Phenom Resources Corp. Phenom has 100% interest in the Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project, located in Elko County, 6 miles south from the town of Carlin, Nevada and Highway I-80 which hosts the Carlin Vanadium deposit, North America's largest highest grade primary vanadium resource. The Project lies within the prolific Carlin Gold Trend. Approximately 9 million ounces comprised of multiple gold deposits, including past producing mines, are present near the Phenom property (5-15km). The Company has options on three additional gold projects in Nevada: the King Solomon and Dobbin Properties which are Carlin Gold-type targets and the CVN Property, a Bonanza high grade gold vein-type target. ON BEHALF OF PHENOM RESOURCES CORP. per: "Paul Cowley" CEO & President (604) 340-7711 pcowley@phenomresources.com www.phenomresources.com Technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dave Mathewson, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, director and Geological Consultant of the Company. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215932 SOURCE: Phenom Resources Corp. INFORM, a leading global software provider specializing in AI-driven optimization solutions for aviation ground operations, provides Talma, a leading company in airport services in Latin America, with ground handling optimization software solutions at airports Talma serves in Colombia. Talma is rolling out the initial installation of INFORM's GroundStar (GS) Planning and GS WorkforcePlus, at its operations center at the Bogota airport, later expanding the GroundStar solutions to the main airports they operate, such as Cali, Medellin, and Cartagena. The ability of GroundStar to streamline data processing times to perform resource planning and scheduling will impact Talma's more than 3,500 ground-handling employees at the Colombian sites. "We are excited to be working with Talma to support their resource planning goals," said Uschi Schulte-Sasse, Senior Vice President of INFORM Aviation. "We see this endeavor as a true partnership that will empower Talma to solve some of their most pressing challenges. We are proud to enable a fully localized implementation and support through INFORM's office based in Santiago de Chile." GroundStar Planning and GroundStar WorkforcePlus enable Optimization of Resources GS Planning optimizes ground handling staff and equipment, stands, and terminal resources across all phases - from planning to analytics. GS WorkforcePlus is an innovative workforce management software that facilitates schedule adjustments and shift swaps to balance employees' personal needs with profitability and quality of service while ensuring legal compliance.Furthermore, GS WorkforcePlus improves the well-being of workers by using an adequate shift schedule, in compliance with regulations and fatigue management. "We are very enthusiastic about this project with one of the main ground handlers in the region. During the pilot phase and the implementation, we saw a team with huge commitment and willingness to implement two of the main modules of GroundStar in a highly professional way. We are looking forward to extending our collaboration in the future," explains Federico dos Reis, CEO of INFORM Latin America SSC. "In the coming years, operations in Colombia will be challenging due to the implementation of labor changes that will add complexity to the roster creation. This complexity brings new challenges that GS WorkforcePlus will support implementing in an efficient way," adds dos Reis. "Proof of concept testing in tandem with INFORM was an ideal way to analyze the functionality and adaptability of these systems and made it highly transparent that Talma would greatly benefit from greater efficiency in resource planning," said Alejandro Molina V, Talma Commercial and Project Manager. "Among the goals we plan to achieve are resource optimization to realize projected savings and the ability to integrate existing technological tools to avoid manual data management," he added. About INFORM INFORM develops software to optimize business processes using artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced mathematics of Operations Research. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Aachen, Germany, the company promotes sustainable value creation in various industries through optimized decision-making. Its solutions are tailored to specific industry requirements and help over 1,000 current customers worldwide to operate more resiliently and sustainably with greater success. INFORM's systems serve a range of industries including aviation, automotive, financial institutions, logistics, manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, and wholesale. The company is committed to ethical AI practices, sustainable customer relations and is increasingly focusing on cloud-based solutions. www.inform-software.com About GroundStar With GroundStar, INFORM offers the most comprehensive software suite for the optimization of aviation processes currently on the market. It fulfills all requirements of the companies involved in airline and airport operations and covers a wide range of solutions, such as Ground Handling, Aircraft Engineering, Airport Operations, and Hub and Turnaround Management. GroundStar helps customers to run their operations smoothly and cost-effectively while improving punctuality and passenger satisfaction at the same time. INFORM has been developing scientifically substantiated optimization algorithms for this purpose. As a global leader with over 200 installations in more than 170 airports worldwide INFORM has proven its effective and long-term capacity for innovation. About Talma Talma has 10,000 highly skilled employees, operating in 20 airports in Peru, 3 cities in Mexico, 7 airports in Ecuador, and 20 airports in Colombia. They annually serve more than 280,000 flights and handle over 300,000 metric tons of air cargo. The company is constantly evolving, always seeking to implement new technologies, processes, and certifications that contribute to positioning itself as one of the leading companies in its field in Latin America. www.talma.com.co Press Contacts Alexander Jatscha-Zelt Tel.: +49 (0) 151-17159-505 Sabine Walter Tel.: +49 (0) 2408-9456-1233 Corporate Communications E-Mail: pressoffice@inform-software.com About GroundStar Aviation Sandra Gaviria Phone: +49 (0)2408 9456 3024 Mail: Sandra.Gaviria@inform-software.com US Media Contact Dawn Fontaine Ripple Effect Communications +1-617-536-8887 Mail: dawn@rippleeffectpr.com SOURCE: INFORM GmbH View the original press release on accesswire.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.: Carmen Garcia, Founder and CEO, Community Corporate Australia By Marcella O'Shea June 20 marks World Refugee Day, designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. The latest statistics show that more than 110 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide in 2023-the highest-ever single-year increase of displacement of people in history and twice the number of displacements from just ten years ago. Countries hosting refugees face challenges integrating new arrivals into their societies. Digital inclusion may be a key for achieving this. Evidence from the EU suggests that training refugees in digital skills is vital to aid in their integration. And Cisco is working with the OECD to help develop an interactive knowledge hub to help understand technology's role in fostering inclusion and improving well-being. Around the world Cisco has numerous programs to support refugees. Many of these initiatives are designed to provide immediate assistance to displaced persons in need. Cisco Networking Academy's focus on transforming the lives of learners, educators, and communities through the power of technology, education, and career opportunities to power an inclusive future for all addresses the longer-term needs of underserved communities. In the refugee space, programs such as Cisco For Ukraine in Poland are working towards empowering refugees with tech skills that will help refugees find employment and meaningful connections in their new countries. Calling Australia home Australia is home to the third highest percentage of immigrants (which includes refugees) and native-born offspring of immigrants in the OECD. Migrants in Australia have helped offset an ageing population and improved workforce participation and productivity. And while migrants tend to be more highly educated than Australians, there is a low rate of recognition of previous qualifications, meaning they tend to be overeducated for the jobs they occupy. Community Corporate is a Cisco Networking Academy working to address this issue with the refugee community in Australia. "This was a two-year pilot that the federal government subsidized us for," says Founder and CEO of Community Corporate Carmen Garcia. "Our hypothesis was that refugees with overseas qualifications and some experience would be much more accelerated to meet industry demand for jobs with the right vendor partner upskilling program in place." Skills to jobs Community Corporate is putting refugees from Afghanistan, Jordan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen, who have been in Australia from as little as four months to 15 years, through the Cisco Networking Academy program, and placing them with employers. "Our model as a social enterprise is payment by outcomes," says Carmen. "Employers don't pay us unless they retain the talent. We are committed to working with both employer and the refugee candidate for those 12 months, that's why there's high conversion." "No one chooses to be a refugee. I think people forget that" "No one chooses to be a refugee. I think people forget that," says Carmen. "Here are some amazing individuals who are being proactive. They did 150 hours of Cisco Networking Academy coursework. They weren't paid. They chose to do that. This just shows how resilient, how determined new Australians are to make the most of their lives here." Carmen says the pass-rate for the participants is very high, and that for "the vast majority of the participants, it's about confidence. And that's about believing in their talent." It has helped that instructor Ying Ying Yang-herself an immigrant to Australia-volunteered her time to assist with the training. Ying Ying faced many challenges similar to the refugee cohort when studying the Cisco Networking Academy in Australia, so was able to relate. "The learners may have some background knowledge but because of the new environment, they are a bit shy to ask the questions to know where to start," she says. "When it comes to the new environment, I just use my own experience and to encourage them, to give them some idea, because I'm an immigrant to Australia too. When I started, I didn't even come from an IT background, and everything seemed hard, but it just takes a bit of time," says Ying Ying. Sometimes language can be a problem, but Ying Ying and Community Corporate offered some assistance here too. "Cisco provides a fabulous English course, English for IT," says Ying Ying. "We decided to give the students access to the course. It has a focus on IT terminology. I think that course is really good, and I review it to learn the words in the IT work environment to communicate with others. It is a good course!" Overcoming bias Community Corporate's partnerships with employers help too. "It's the matchmaker concept of really understanding what employers are looking for, and then helping to upskill the refugees with the technical and soft skills to be ready to match them for a sustainable, meaningful outcome," says Carmen. Overcoming the unconscious bias that remains in the recruitment process is one challenge. Recruiters don't like to see gaps in resumes, but fleeing for your life is likely to create such a gap, notes Carmen. "At the end of the day, business is business," she says. "Reminding employers that Australia is one of the few OECD countries where a migrant population is actually more skilled than the native population makes people stop and think and wonder, hang on, why aren't we tapping into this?" Results and rewards Carmen herself is the daughter of an immigrant who was a lawyer in the Philippines but had to do cleaning jobs to make ends meet when she arrived in Australia. As a teenager Carmen started volunteering to help advocate for fellow Filipinos and subsequently went on to found Community Corporate. In 2024 Carmen was recognized as Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the multicultural community through diversity and inclusion advocacy and programs. "I just felt that it was about dignity and purpose," says Carmen. "Some of our other earlier refugees who have been working for over 12 months have said they bought houses because they've got permanent full-time jobs. So, you know, one job does make a difference for a refugee." "It's not social inclusion, it's inclusion. It's economic inclusion. Belonging." Learn more about Cisco Networking Academy on the Cisco ESG Reporting Hub View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Ancoris has been named a 2024 Leader for Data Analytics and Machine Learning following two consecutive years of Rising Star status in the quadrant. ISG recognises Ancoris' differentiated AI-Native approach and rapid prototyping capability as key strengths and accelerators for winning significant new clients in 2023-24. Beyond its recognition in the Data Analytics and Machine Learning quadrant as a Leader, Ancoris is the only Google-dedicated partner to appear across all other relevant ISG quadrants: Implementation and Integration, Managed Services, and Workspace Services. LONDON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ancoris , a UK-based Google Cloud services provider, has been named a Leader for Data Analytics and Machine Learning in ISG Provider Lens Google Cloud Partner Ecosystem 2024 report. The report released by ISG today provides a comprehensive independent overview of the Google partner landscape, alongside analysis of the strengths and capabilities of each individual provider. "The Data Analytics and Machine Learning quadrant represents the most dynamic, innovative and competitive part of the Google Ecosystem" where only 9 of the 43 companies assessed for this quadrant were awarded Leader positions. "Ancoris is making significant investments in GenAI skills and assets" as it pivots to help Enterprise and Public Sector organisations embed AI across the organisation to help solve their biggest challenges. "We are so thrilled to have been recognised as a Leader in the Data Analytics and Machine Learning quadrant this year," says Andre Azevedo, Ancoris CEO. "When we made the decision to invest in Generative AI and launch a dedicated practice in June 2023, we knew we had the capability to be successful, but how the market and our customers would respond was unknown. Ancoris has had a robust and mature data practice for a long time, but the introduction of Generative AI last year opened up customers' imaginations to how AI could transform their organisation," Azevedo continues. "As a result, the last 12 months have been transformative for our business - we've started valuable relationships with many new Enterprise and Public Sector customers, expanded existing relationships, and are doing more innovative work than ever before." ISG recognises Ancoris' innovative AI-Native approach to helping customers overcome business challenges and its rapid prototyping capability as an accelerator in helping customers see tangible benefit from AI quickly. "The reality of Generative AI adoption is there's still a lot of hype, limited public references, and very little benchmark data to help customers build financial cases for Generative AI investment," says Matt Frank, Ancoris Chief AI and Innovation Officer. "It's why we focus on meeting customers wherever they are on their AI adoption journey," Frank continues. "It's important that we get something tangible and actionable in front of the customer as soon as possible, whether that's developing and prioritising use cases through our Actionable AI Framework consulting services, or taking use cases from prototype to production with our Simple methodology and rapid prototyping. We find demonstrating value quickly and aligning with strategic outcomes accelerates adoption and sets customers on a more meaningful AI adoption path." Ancoris is also recognised as a Product Challenger across the three other quadrants it responded to: Implementation and Integration, Managed Services, and Workspace. "To be the only Google-dedicated Partner to feature across these 4 key quadrants is a testament to our focus and our methodology for solving customer problems," Azevedo comments. "It's the combination of our capabilities across data and AI, software engineering, and cloud infrastructure that make us different.. Data & AI capabilities are a key skill, but to bring AI-native solutions to life you need to build the user experience and integrate it across systems and processes. Our ability to embed AI into existing or new applications, business systems, or processes - and do it all on secure and robust Google infrastructure - is a true differentiator against the other pure data players in the ecosystem." To download the full report, visit https://www.ancoris.com/isg-leader-data-2024 About Ancoris Ancoris is a leading Google Cloud Services Provider, headquartered in the UK, on a mission to become the most innovative Google Cloud partner in the ecosystem. Ancoris leverages its strong problem solving skills and continuous improvement approach to help customers become AI Native and stay ahead of their competition. Ancoris has extensive experience in Google Cloud technologies helping enterprises integrate AI-native solutions into their business through expertise in Data & AI, Application and Infrastructure Modernisation, Workspace, and Maps. Ancoris was recognized as a Leader for Data, Analytics, and Machine Learning in the ISG Provider Lens for Google Cloud Partner Ecosystem in 2024, and a Rising Star in 2022 and 2023. Ancoris was awarded Google Cloud's 2024 EMEA Public Sector Partner of the Year award. Ancoris employs the best in the business and was named in the Top 10 Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023, and a Top Place to Work in 2024. Contact Holly Norman hnorman@ancoris.com Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457182/Ancoris.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2099949/4802382/Ancoris_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ancoris-named-leader-for-data-analytics-and-machine-learning-in-isg-provider-lens-google-cloud-partner-ecosystem-302192142.html SHANGHAI, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China in-store, organized by Messe Dusseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., the official satellite exhibition of leading global retail fair - EuroShop, has continuously embodied EuroShop's goals of promoting global retail exchanges. Since its launch in China in 2015, the exhibition is committed to present design-thinking based store solutions for the entire industry. Additionally, it will provide more space for suppliers of high-quality store solutions to showcase their expertise (store design, props, materials, lighting, retail technology, retail marketing etc.), and bring more inspiration to the retail industry. China in-store 2024 will be held from 3rd to 5th September 2024 at Shanghai New International Expo Center. The show will primarily focus on two major areas: in-store design and decoration, and in-store solutions. China in-store 2024 is expected to host over 200 high-quality retail design and solution providers, from a wide range of categories. Store Design and Retail Technology Driving the Transformation of Physical Retail Stores The concept of "new retail" has transformed retail stores from mere places of sale, into experiential spaces. This shift has placed the spotlight on transforming and upgrading offline retail, in line with the latest trends. In response, China in-store will leverage store design and retail technology to bring a multitude of solutions to the physical retail industry, thereby facilitating the transformation and upgradation of offline retail operations. Designer Village: With the growth of consumer demands for personalization, store design has become a pivotal factor in elevating brand identity and enriching the customer experience. China in-store features a special Designer Village, gathering numerous prestigious design firms. Showcasing their unique booth designs and excellent design cases, these firms present their latest comprehensive solutions for Visual Merchandising and Store Design (VMSD). Retail Technology Village China in-store 2024 features a special Retail Technology Village, gathering the latest cutting-edge technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence), Virtual Reality, and Big Data analytics. These advancements are set to propel retail stores towards a more experience- oriented transformation, better catering to the consumption needs of the younger generation. A Host of Exciting Concurrent Activities Bringing Inspiration and Insight Beyond its exhibition, China in-store is well-known for its high-quality concurrent activities. In 2024, the exhibition will continue to spotlight new trends in retail development, providing designers, retailers, and academic experts with a platform for dialogue and exchange, fostering the creation of more possibilities through the collision of ideas. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-in-store-2024-your-meeting-point-of-in-store-design--solution-302192144.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Qualcomm: Each Winner Receives Mentorship and $40,000 in Research Funding Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., announced the winners of the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship (QIF) Europe program, now in its 15th year: Dongqing Wang (EPFL), Neelu S. Kalani (EPFL), Chaitanya K. Joshi (University of Cambridge), Runa Eschenhagen (University of Cambridge), and Afra Amini (ETH Zurich) QIF is an annual program that focuses on recognizing, rewarding, and mentoring the most innovative engineering PhD students across Europe, India, and the United States. The European program rewards excellent young researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity with individual prizes of $40,000, dedicated mentors from the Qualcomm Technologies research team. "This year we received almost 50% more submissions than last year, which really speaks to the growing field of machine learning, as well as the need to keep our rapidly developing software and hardware more secure." said Michael Hofmann, Senior Director of Engineering at Qualcomm Technologies Netherlands B.V.. "The proposals this year were ranging from fundamental algorithms and large language models to exciting applications such as extended reality, generalisable computer vision, RNA design, and more. We are honored to mentor all the winners further in their research." The seventeen finalists were PhD candidates from ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, Tubingen University, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, TU Delft, and Czech Technical University. After careful review, the following five winners were selected for their outstanding proposals: "Towards visually plausible and controllable 360 Virtual Reality" - Dongqing Wang Creating visually plausible and controllable virtual reality (VR) of the real world is key to enabling quality immersive experiences in extended reality (XR) applications. NeuralRadiance Fields (NeRF) and their variants can model 360-degree real-world scenes for photorealistic novel view synthesis with low memory storage. Consequently, they have the potential to become widely accessible 3D world representations. However, the implicit nature of their underlying representation makes it challenging to directly edit a 3D NeRF scene. For controllability, we propose a 3-component strategy to enable an editing system on NeRF. The outcome of this proposal will aim to enable a visually plausible and controllable 360-degree virtual reality to enhance virtual world interaction. "FlashPoint: Secure Dynamic Root of Trust " - Neelu S. Kalani The confidential computing field has seen significant advancements over the past decade. Even as confidential computing evolves, minimising the trusted compute base (TCB) remains crucial. So far, little focus has been put towards removing platform-specific firmware, that executes with the highest privileges alongside security monitors that provide confidential computing guarantees, from the TCB. In the meantime, numerous vulnerabilities in the large and buggy platform-specific firmware have been exploited (e.g. to leak the platform's secret keys) to compromise the entire system's security. We propose FlashPoint, a dynamic root of trust solution for RISC platforms. It comprises of ISA extensions to enable secure transitions between trusted and untrusted code executing in the highest privilege mode, without introducing a new privilege mode. "Geometric Generative Models for 3D RNA Design" - Chaitanya K. Joshi This proposal aims to develop the first deep learning framework for 3D RNA design. I will outline an execution plan for an RNA-centric 3D generative model that builds upon best practices that have revolutionized protein design. I will discuss why AlphaFold is not enough, how to address RNA-specific modelling challenges, and why incorporating inductive biases that drive RNA structure are critical to develop bespoke generative models for RNA design. "An Adventure Towards Effective Controlled Text Generation" - Afra Amini Imagine a scenario in which you are using the language model of your choice to generate a fictional story. You ask the language model to generate a story about a TikZ unicorn coming to life, and the model outputs a story. While being fascinated by this amazing technology, you realize that the story is too short for your purpose, the language that is used is very formal and not suited for your target audience, and the sentence structures are too complex. How can you systematically control these aspects in the generated story? Which knobs of the model do you have to tweak to ensure the generations satisfy the desired constraints? In this work, we explore recent advances in two research directions for systematically controlling text generation. We also demonstrate how these two approaches can be unified as different methods for approximating the same objective. "Towards Understanding Curvature Matrices in Deep Learning" - Runa Eschenhagen Many algorithms trying to address shortcomings of deep learning rely on approximations of the Hessian of the loss with regards to the neural network's parameters or other related quantities, so-called curvature matrices. This includes second-order optimization methods for improved training efficiency, influence functions for data attribution, methods for pruning and compression, predictive uncertainty quantification, and more. However, the effect of the curvature approximation on downstream task performance is not well understood. My proposal aims to improve our understanding of commonly used curvature approximations, specifically variations of K-FAC. This has the potential to directly impact all applications that rely on these approximations, inform the design of new approximations, provide insights into training dynamics, and lay the foundation for new theoretical explanations. About Qualcomm Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Our proven solutions drive transformation across major industries, and our Snapdragon branded platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences. Building on our nearly 40-year leadership in setting industry standards and creating era-defining technology breakthroughs, we deliver leading edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated. Contact Information: Mauricio Lopez-Hodoyan Investor Relations 1-858-658-4813 ir@qualcomm.com Clare Conley Media Relations 1-858-845-5959 corpcomm@qualcomm.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Qualcomm Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/qualcomm Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Qualcomm View the original press release on accesswire.com The high-end Chinese furniture brand PABLO NOW made a sensation at the REVIVING CRAFT exhibition, dedicated to contemporary Chinese arts and crafts and design, which opened on July 5th at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. This major event, bringing together 40 exceptional artisans and 20 international exhibitors, marks the first large-scale appearance of Chinese intangible cultural heritage on the international stage. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709439014/en/ Collection "Shunde Loong" (Photo: Business Wire) PABLO NOW, the flagship brand of Foshan Fulais Furniture Co., Ltd., captivated the audience with its "Shunde Loong" collection, a bold fusion of Chinese tradition and contemporary design. Drawing inspiration from the iconic shapes and colors of the famous traditional dragon boats, PABLO NOW presented a range of furniture combining modern aesthetics and ancestral symbolism. Among the flagship pieces, the circular side table in red leather embodies power and warmth, while the "Chrysler" chair, with its backrest evoking a dragon's head, combines majesty and lightness. The "St. Louis" chair, with its multicolored leathers, infuses vibrant energy into the space. The "Cloud" recliner, with its fluid curves, recalls the undulating tail of a dragon cutting through water. Yang Lan, co-curator of the REVIVING CRAFT exhibition and president of Sun Media Group, emphasized the importance of this event "to strengthen Sino-French cultural exchanges and breathe new life into global cultural diversity." PABLO NOW, a spearhead of the Chinese furniture brand, advocates a philosophy of integrating art into everyday life. The brand is committed to promoting innovation through design, improving daily life through aesthetics, and anchoring its development in Chinese cultural richness. This exhibition marks a crucial step in the international recognition of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. For PABLO NOW, it's an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to marry heritage and innovation, while revealing the infinite potential of traditional Chinese culture. In the future, PABLO NOW intends to continue its quest for excellence by combining Chinese craftsmanship with its modern design concepts. The brand aims to play a key role in promoting and spreading Chinese culture internationally. Thanks to the commitment of visionary brands like PABLO NOW, Chinese cultural heritage is promised a bright future on the global stage, enriching the dialogue between East and West. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709439014/en/ Contacts: contact@pweplus.com Funding supports building blocks of vibrant communities - work, home and play - nationwide NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / U.S. Bank Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog The U.S. Bank Foundation* recently invested $11.75 million in funding to nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening communities across the country. U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible grants support initiatives like the Girl Scouts of Colorado's bilingual financial literacy patch program. More than 350 grants will help nonprofits provide access to affordable housing options, cultural enrichment and recreation opportunities, and workforce and economic development. The grants are part of the U.S. Bank Community Possible unified giving and engagement strategy, which strives to create positive, lasting change in the communities the bank serves. The Community Possible program focuses on three areas - work, home and play - to make the most meaningful impact. Many nonprofits receiving grants also benefit from U.S. Bank employees volunteering their time to serve on boards and committees or participate in community activities. Two organizations - the Girl Scouts of Colorado and Armed Services YMCA of the USA - have been able to offer programs focused on financial literacy and workforce development to their communities with support from the U.S. Bank Foundation - and some dedicated volunteers. Encouraging emerging entrepreneurs Engaging students in financial literacy and business development programs can help reinforce money management - and money-making - skills well before they enter the workforce. The Girl Scouts of Colorado recognized the value such a program could bring to their scouts and launched a bilingual patch program with support from a U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible grant and U.S. Bank employees. Girl Scouts in Denver and Colorado Springs spent a Saturday earlier this year attending workshops to boost their entrepreneurial and financial acumen. Alongside U.S. Bank volunteers, who provided expertise in English and Spanish, more than 150 Girl Scouts brainstormed ideas to turn hobbies into income opportunities, picked up market research skills and learned how to plan and budget for a money-making event. All attendees received a patch designed by Colorado artist Xencs Jimenez, as well as a piggy bank to decorate during the workshop. "Opportunities likes this help set young Girl Scouts and other community members on the path to mastering their money-making skills at an early age, and we're excited to work with U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation to offer this patch program in Spanish and English," Girl Scouts of Colorado CEO Leanna Clark said. "Through its very platform of empowering women and girls, this bilingual financial education patch program has supported a small business by highlighting an outstanding Colorado Latina artist who was compensated for her original work of art," said Marcia Romero, the U.S. Bank community affairs manager in Colorado. "In partnership with Girl Scouts of Colorado, there's now a robust, unique bilingual financial education program that can be used across the state and potentially in other U.S. Bank markets." The Girl Scouts of Colorado plans to bring the workshop to more scouts throughout 2024, thanks to additional support from the U.S. Bank Foundation. Serving those who serve the country The Armed Services YMCA of the USA branch in San Diego supports junior enlisted military services members and their families, serving nearly 16,000 individuals in 2023. For many families, long deployments, rapid schedule changes and other parts of the military lifestyle pose barriers to being a dual-income household, including reliable child care. A U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible multiyear grant helps fund programs such as the After-School Achievement Academy and Camp Hero, which provide access to affordable, high-quality child care. The programs make it easier for military spouses to secure and maintain jobs while offering academic and social support to military youth. "At the Armed Services YMCA San Diego, our mission is to support the brave men and women who serve our country by providing essential services and resources that strengthen the military family unit," said Frank Martin, executive director of Armed Services YMCA San Diego. "Thanks to the U.S. Bank Foundation's Community Possible grant, we can continue to provide vital programs like Camp Hero and After-School Achievement Academy," Martin said. "This extended-day childcare supports dual-military and single parent households and promotes economic self-sufficiency while fostering social, emotional and academic well-being for military children. We're proud to make a positive impact in our community and grateful for our collaboration with U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation in doing so." Families also can participate in a semi-monthly food distribution program and annual military spouse symposium, which help address food security challenges and deliver financial literacy, education and career resources to enhance workforce readiness. U.S. Bank employees will host the financial literacy workshop for this year's symposium. Amanda Gregory, who works on the U.S. Bank alliances team and has a spouse serving in the U.S. Navy, said she knows how valuable these resources can be for military families. She serves on the Armed Services YMCA San Diego's board, where she lends her expertise to the finance committee. "It's amazing to see the meaningful impact that the support and thoughtful collaboration the Armed Services YMCA San Diego provides to our local military families. I love being a part of this work," Gregory said. "I understand the unique challenges that come with raising a family in the military. Between deployments, moving to a new city and the constant unknowns, anything we can do to provide a source of consistency and support to this community is huge." The U.S. Bank Foundation will continue to provide Community Possible grants throughout 2024. Last year, U.S. Bank donated $96.4 million in total corporate contributions and U.S. Bank Foundation giving. *U.S. Bank Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded primarily through contributions from U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates and subsidiaries. The Foundation's mission is to close the gaps between people and possibility in the areas of work, home, and play. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from U.S. Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: U.S. Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/us-bank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: U.S. Bank View the original press release on accesswire.com REDDING, Calif., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled, 'Epigenetics Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Offering (Kits, Reagents, Instruments, Software) Method (DNA Methylation, PCR, Chromatin Analysis, RNA Modification), Application (Oncology, Non-oncology), and End User - Global Forecast to 2031,' published by Meticulous Research, the epigenetics market is projected to reach $6.33 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 15.7% from 2024 to 2031. Download Sample Report Now- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5628 Epigenetics is a phenotypic alteration without permanent genotypic change using several methods, including DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA modification, etc. These modifications play a crucial role in diagnosing and prognosis diseases and disorders. Epigenetics finds its major application in oncology due to the global cancer burden and the growing adoption of precision cancer therapies. The growth of the epigenetics market is driven by the rising incidence of chronic diseases due to the rising aging population, the increasing prevalence of cancer, rising pharmaceutical R&D expenditures, the increasing focus on epigenetics in drug discovery & development, and the declining costs of genome sequencing. However, the lack of skilled professionals restrains the growth of this market. The growing applications of epigenetics in non-oncology diseases and government initiatives supporting large-scale genomic sequencing projects are expected to generate growth opportunities for the stakeholders in this market. However, standardization concerns associated with epigenetics procedures and the limited applications of epigenetics in toxicology are major challenges to market growth. Get a Glimpse Inside: Request Sample Pages- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-sample-report/cp_id=5628 Growing Prevalence of Cancer is Driving the Demand for Epigenetics Offerings Epigenetics enables pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies to identify and validate disease interactions and mechanisms that can be used in developing new diagnostic tests and therapies. Epigenetic markers are measurable indicators of a biological state or process that can be used to diagnose, monitor, or predict the progression of a disease and identify changes in gene expression, genetic variations, or epigenetic modifications associated with a particular disease or condition. Biotechnology companies utilize epigenetic methods to identify factors influencing cell or gene interactions, reduce the time required to understand factors causing diseases, and enable early diagnosis and treatment. The report also includes an extensive assessment of the key strategic developments of leading industry participants over the past three to four years (2021-2024). In the last couple of years, the Epigenetics Market has witnessed several strategic developments. The key players operating in the epigenetics market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands), New England Biolabs (U.S.), Epigentek Group Inc. (U.S.), Pacific Biosciences of California Inc. (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), PerkinElmer, Inc. (U.S.), 10X Genomics, Inc. (U.S.), Active Motif (U.S.), and Zymo Research Corporation (U.S.). Have Specific Research Needs? Request a Customized Report- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=5628 Among the offerings covered in this report, the epigenetics market is segmented into kits & reagents, software, and services. In 2024, the kits & reagents segment is expected to account for the largest share of around 70% of the epigenetics market. Moreover, the segment is also expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Kits & reagents are used to study epigenetics through chromatin analysis, histone analysis, DNA methylation, and sequencing, among other methods. Kits are ready-to-use assays that include components such as primers, controls, columns, buffers, beads, inhibitors, and antibodies, depending on the method used for analysis. Reagents are sold separately and can be used in different concentrations depending on the requirements of the procedure/analysis. The recurrent use of kits and reagents and the growing cancer prevalence are the major factors attributed to the segment's fast growth. Among the methods covered in this report, the global epigenetics market is segmented into DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA modification, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), chromatin analysis, sonication, and other methods. In 2024, the DNA methylation segment is expected to account for the largest share of the epigenetics market. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that involves transferring a methyl group onto the C5 position of cytosine to form 5-methylcytosine. This process regulates gene expression by promoting or inhibiting the binding of transcription factors to DNA. The increasing prevalence of cancer, technological advancements in PCR and sequencing, and the high focus on reducing costs associated with lengthy research and product approval processes support the segment's large share. Among the applications covered in this report, the global epigenetics market is segmented into oncology and non-oncology. In 2024, the oncology segment is expected to account for the largest share of around 78% of the market. Epigenetics helps differentiate the nuclear organization, DNA methylation, and histone modification patterns between cancer and normal cells. Several changes in cancer cells, such as lower histone post-translational modifications (methylation or acetylation), are associated with poor outcomes in prostate, lung, and kidney cancers. In contrast, higher levels of a specific histone modification (H3K9ac) are associated with lower survival in lung cancer. Also, a reduction in miR-101 expression has been observed in many cancer types, which leads to increased expression of an enzyme responsible for histone methylation. Such methylation induction in tumor suppressor genes can increase the risk of cancer development. Thus, epigenetic analyses help in the study, early diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, leading to a large market share of the segment. Among the end users covered in this report, the global epigenetics market is segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, and hospitals & diagnostic laboratories. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies' segment is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this segment is attributed to increasing R&D investments by pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, and a growing emphasis on personalized medicine. The utilization of epigenetic analysis is growing in precision medicine. Advancements in epigenetic analysis are changing the way cancer is diagnosed and treated by doctors. New targeted cancer treatments that use genomic data to provide patient-specific treatments are known as precision oncology. This rapidly developing field has already become a part of mainstream clinical practices. It involves the molecular profiling of cancer cells to identify targetable alterations, also known as biomarkers. Quick and reliable sequencing of multiple genes at once is possible with epigenetic analysis. Epigenetic analysis has helped develop precision medicine, which involves tailoring treatments based on disease-causing molecular/epigenetic changes in a person's body. Geographically, in 2024, North America is expected to account for the largest share of around 50% of the epigenetics market. North America's large market share is primarily attributed to the strong focus of local companies on product launches and enhancements, the presence of key players, the established healthcare system, the growing number of chronic diseases, and the rising geriatric population. Browse In-depth Report Now- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/epigenetics-market-5628 Scope of the Report: Epigenetics Market Assessment-by Offering Kits & Reagents Kits & Assays Antibodies Proteins & Enzymes Other Reagents (Other reagents include buffers, controls, beads, histones, master mixes, and nuclease-free water) Services Software Epigenetics Market Assessment-by Method DNA Methylation Bisulfite Conversion High-resolution Melt (HRM) Analysis Immunoprecipitation Other DNA Methylation Methods (Other DNA methylation methods include activity/inhibition assays, methylated DNA quantification, and methylated DNA amplification.) Histone Modification RNA Modification Polymerase Chain Reaction Chromatin Analysis Sonication Other Methods (Other methods include in vitro DNA-protein interactions, DNA demethylation, and miRNA analysis.) Epigenetics Market Assessment-by Application Oncology Non-oncology Epigenetics Market Assessment-by End User Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Academic & Research Institutes Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories Epigenetics Market Assessment-by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Unlock Opportunities: Buy Now- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/10022421 Related Report: Genomics Market by Offering (Systems, Consumables, Software, Services), Technology (Sequencing, Microarray, PCR), Application (Diagnostics, Life Science Research), End User (Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals, Academic Institutes, CRO) - Global Forecast to 2030 Genetic Testing Market by Offering (Consumables, Reagents, Instruments, Services), Test Type (Diagnostic, Prenatal, Carrier, Newborn, Preimplantation), Method (Molecular, Chromosomal), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories) - Global Forecast to 2030 Pharmacogenomics Market by Technology (PCR, Sequencing, Spectrometry, Electrophoresis), Application (Cancer, Cardiology, Neurology, Infectious Diseases), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Research Institutes) - Global Forecast to 2029 Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Market by Offering (Kits [Library Prep, QC, DNA Extraction], System) Type (Genome, Exome, Targeted) Application (Reproductive, Oncology, Infectious) Technology (SBS, Nanopore, Nanoball, SMRT Seq) - Global Forecast to 2030 Next-generation Sequencing Services Market by Type (Targeted Sequencing, Exome, RNA-Seq, ChIP Sequencing), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Nanopore, SMRT), Application (Clinical Diagnosis, Biomarker Discovery), & End User - Forecast to 2028 About Meticulous Research Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth. Contact: Mr. Khushal Bombe Meticulous Market Research Inc. 1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding, California, 96001, U.S. USA: +1-646-781-8004 Europe: +44-203-868-8738 APAC: +91 744-7780008 Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/862/epigenetics-market-2031 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1757980/Meticulous_Research_Logo_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/epigenetics-market-to-be-worth-6-33-billion-by-2031---exclusive-report-by-meticulous-research-302190890.html Owing to inspiration from nature, such inspirations can be replicated into practical systems, which can act as close substitutes to natural bodies and can be referred to as medical biomimetics. The technique is used to ensure the smooth functioning of a human body after being replaced with such an alternative. WILMINGTON, Del., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The anticipated size of the global medical biomimetic market is likely to reach USD 19.3 billion by 2034, which was recorded at USD 9.4 billion in 2023. Owing to various industrial forces, the development of the ecosystem occurred, which is estimated to continue the growth. The elevation in the size of the ecosystem is set to adhere to a moderate CAGR of 6.8% through the forecast period. Owing to the growing number of chronic diseases across the world, the scope of the sector is expected to increase. Natural therapies for such chronic diseases are gaining traction in the contemporary world, which drives the demand for biomimetics. Replacing human tissues and organs organically has gained momentum. Various research and development institutes have been focusing on accelerating natural replacement therapies and treatments, which can perfectly fit into the patient's body. Pertaining to this rising demand for natural organ transplants and other related medical procedures, the use of medical biomimetics is expected to gain traction. This factor, therefore, is a key driver for the ecosystem. Request Your Sample PDF Brochure Here: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=63603 Medical Biomimetic Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period? 2024-2032 Base Year? 2020-2022 Size in 2023 US$ 9.4 Bn Forecast (Value) in 2034 US$ 19.3 Bn Growth Rate (CAGR) 6.8 % No. of Pages 113 Pages Segments covered Disease Indication, Application, End-user With innovations in the medical field, tissues for replacement can be prepared in laboratories. Organizations, like Life Matrix, have been successful in achieving such innovations, which can drive the industry. Owing to the rising emphasis on medical research, several medical professionals have been keen on investing in accelerating research processes. Progress within the field is driving the augmentation in the field of medical biomimetics. Delivery technologies have been evolving. With the help of technology like solid lipid nanoparticles, Nano capsules, nanocrystals, and liposomes, new therapeutic compounds could be designed, evolving the delivery technology, and targeting chronic diseases. The development of an inhalable nano-vaccine approach is set to augment the respiratory disorder precautions and treatments for the same. The rising investments from governments to boost research and development activities are expected to drive the growth of the ecosystem. Key Findings from the Market Report The competitive landscape of medical biomimetics can be segmented into different categories, depending on various parameters. Based on the key disease indication segment, the cardiovascular category is expected to generate the highest revenue due to the rising number of such diseases. The demand for the scientific technique can increase in the orthopedic category due to the growing demand for orthopedic procedures across the world. Owing to the growing demand for effective wound management, the said category of the application segment is likely to secure the largest share in the industry. Based on the end-user segment, hospitals are likely to hold the highest space in the sector. This is due to the elevated infrastructure in hospitals. Regional Profile Owing to the growing healthcare infrastructure in North America, different key prospects can be generated for leading organizations in the competitive space. This can augment the size of the industry in the region. With the rising focus on individual well-being in Europe, the scope of the medical biomimetic market in the region is likely to increase. This is a key driver for the sector in the region. The healthcare industry in Asia-Pacific is expanding, owing to the growing efforts of governments in the region. This factor is expected to create opportunities for new entrants along with key players in the ecosystem. Unlock Growth Potential in Your Industry! Download PDF Brochure: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=63603 Competitive Landscape Owing to the technological infrastructure, key players in the medical biomimetic market innovate, expanding the competitive space. Mergers, acquisitions, and other key expansion strategies are used to gain a sustainable competitive edge. Avery Therapeutics Inc. is a key player offering products like Sildena?l, Ondansetron, and Vitamin D3. Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. produces products like B240 tablets, Fibe-mini, Amino value, and many more. CorNeat Vision offers products like CorNeat KPro, CorNeat EverPatch, and so on. Key Players LifeMatrix Technologies AG Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. CorNeat Vision Alcon Inc. vVardis AG Mimetis Biomaterials Stryker Tech Osteopore International Avery Therapeutics Inc. Prellis Biologics Lattice Medical Key Developments in the Medical Biomimetic Market In February 2024, Avery Therapeutics Inc. completed the qualification of in-house cGMP, which can aid the firm in a better competitive position. In June 2024, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. introduced a new calorie-mate block production line. Market Segmentation Disease Indication Cardiovascular Orthopedics Ocular Dental Others (Regenerative Medicine, etc.) Application Wound Healing Drug Delivery Tissue Engineering End-user Hospitals Specialty Clinics Ambulatory Surgery Clinics Others (Academic and Research Institutes, etc.) Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Purchase the Report for Market-Driven Insights: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=63603blr yesterday and Air India never loaded my suitcase on the plane. It's been 36 hrs, and still no delivery estimate. And it took 40 tries to get them to even pick up the phone. Going to a wedding tomorrow and dont have any clothes, she wrote. Her viral post received a response from the airline. They replied, Dear Ms Kathail, we truly sorry for the delay and regret the inconvenience caused. Please DM us your PNR, PIR copy and bag tag for us to check with our airport/baggage team and get back to you with an update. Take a look at the posts here: The image shows a customer's exchange with Air India on X. (X/@poojakathail) Since being posted a day ago, the share has been viewed over 14,000 times. In addition, the share has received over 100 likes. People posted varied comments while sharing their reactions to the post. What did X users say about this post on Air India? This seems to be an everyday thing now. Family members flew SFO - BLR last week same story. Bags came after days after many continuous follow up. People book AI due to direct flight, but now it's becoming a nuisance that is not worth the advantage of direct flight, shared an X user. Another added, Going in Air India is a waste of time and money. Customer service is poor, the planes are quite old. Better to avoid for the next 3 to 4 years until the Tatas clean up the mess. A third joined, The same happened with my family as well on the YYZ - DEL flight on July 4. 134 bags were left in Toronto. This seems to be a systematic problem. A fourth individual wrote, Similar experience flying out from Chicago to Delhi. Bags came but very late so I couldn't catch the connecting flight. They rescheduled to the next day after running around from one incompetent AI employee to another. Air India is at least 20 years behind. Kathail, about eight hours ago, shared another X post where she expressed that she has yet to receive any communication from Air India about her missing luggage. Still no word from Air India, she wrote and tagged the airlines CXO Rajesh Dogra. Air India responded, Dear Ms. Kathail, we have already conveyed the details to our baggage team for review. Please allow us some time to gather the necessary information and provide you an update. What are your thoughts on this post about Air Indias service? KYIV, Ukraine The sky was crystal clear as Oksana Femeniuk took her daughter to Ukraines largest childrens hospital for routine dialysis. As a Kyiv hospital shook, patients took cover in chaos. It shows the toll of improved war tactics Around 10 a.m, air-raid sirens blared. Sixteen-year old Solomiia was undergoing the treatment that required her to sit still for up to five hours and could not be interrupted. Her mother had to flee to the hospital's basement shelter without her. Hurtling toward them at 700-800 kilometers per hour was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, according to Ukraines security service, the United Nations and open-source investigators. Using painstaking trial and error, Russia has modified the weapon over the last year to defeat Ukraines air defense systems by flying at low altititude and hugging terrain, according to military analysts. Minutes later the world turned black. Neither the patient nor her mother would remember the moment the missile struck. But they remember the chaos that ensued after regaining consciousness: Femeniuk thought she would choke from the fumes. Solomiia woke to find the ceiling crumpled over her small body. In an operating room in the next building, pediatric surgeon Oleh Holubchenko had been preparing to operate on an infant with a congenital facial defect. Covered in shrapnel wounds, he realized that the blast wave had catapulted him to the other side of the operating room. The toll of Russias heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months one of the deadliest of the war shows the devastating human cost of Russias improved targeting tactics. The hospitals director general, Volodymyr Zhovnir, stood at the scene of the explosion, eclipsed by the towering building with shattered windows. No children died, thank God, he said, but they lost a dear colleague, Dr. Svitlana Lukianchuk. Lukianchuk was hurrying along the children and parents from the toxicology building, which would later be destroyed, to the shelter. She returned to empty out more rooms. And then, the explosion, Femeniuk remembers. Solomiia was born with chronic renal failure, making hemodialysis part of her life. After the full-scale invasion, Femeniuk left her three children and husband behind in the small village near Rivne, in western Ukraine, to live in the capital so the girl could access the treatment she needs. Leaving her daughter during the air raid was a difficult decision. But the 34-year old mother had to project strength, she said. Her daughter was being brave by staying, knowing she could not interrupt her treatment. Femeniuk could not reveal to her daughter that she was actually terrified. As the air-raid siren blared, the girl was on her phone watching videos. Given how long dialysis can take, she tends to get bored. She awoke to find the ceiling in front of her eyes and the head doctor tending to her covered in blood and on her knees. The girl's first impulse was to put her hands up to the ceiling to keep tons of concrete and debris from crushing her small body. She was trapped with a few other patients and hospital staff, and they were safely pulled out of the rubble. The first thing I thought about was my mom, if she is alive or not. Then I thought: Am I alive or not? she said, her fingers painted with small flowers, fidgeting as she spoke. Mother and daughter recounted their experience from the Kyiv City Childrens Clinical Hospital, where Solomiia was transferred. In the shelter, the exit was blocked and the fire blazing outside soon invaded the small space. Femeniuk called her husband, telling him she didnt know if she would survive and she didnt know if Solomiia was still alive. Eventually, those taking shelter managed to push their way out and to their horror they realized that the very building they had been in, that some of their children had been in, was hit. Femeniuk began picking up pieces of rubble in panic, calling out her daughters name. Then she saw the nurse who had been assisting them, covered in blood. Solomiia had been evacuated after the blast, the nurse said. She was safe. Meanwhile, in the operating room, it took Holubchenko fifteen minutes to realize that he was covered in shrapnel wounds. The doctor was too busy evacuating patients, starting with the 5-month old whose surgery was eventually completed elsewhere. My colleagues and I who were in the operating room received shrapnel wounds to the body, the face, back, arms and legs, he said. There are glass windows in the operating room, the doors. All of it was just blown off, all destroyed. In the hospital ward, he looked out to the street from a shattered window. There used to be a wall here, he said. When he went outside and realized the toxicology building had collapsed, his mind reverted to the times he would have consultations with patients there and check-ups. Now half the building was caved in. But he didnt dwell on the thought for long and joined a line of volunteers, health workers and emergency crews removing debris, piece by piece. Everyone wanted to do something, he said. The assault hit seven of the citys 10 districts. The strike on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital, where 627 children were being cared for at the time, drew ire from Ukrainian officials and the international community. Two adults were killed, including a female doctor, and 50 were injured. Russia denied responsibility for the hospital strike, insisting it doesnt attack civilian targets in Ukraine despite abundant evidence to the contrary, including reporting. Moscow insisted it was a Ukrainian air defense missile that struck the hospital. Artem Starosiek, the founder of the Ukainian group Molfar, which analyzes events based on open-source evidence, said there were overwhelming signs of Russias culpability. The missile used in the attack bears the characteristics of the Kh-101, he said, pointing to the shape of the body, tail and location of the wings, he said. That it was a clear blue day also played an important role, he said. Launching the modified missile during a sunny day is optimal for the weapons optoelectronic system to recognize the target correctly, he said. The force of the warheads explosion is important; an air-defense missile could not have caused such consequences, he said. - Associated Press journalist Volodymyr Yurchuk contributed. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. PESHAWAR, Pakistan A group of Pakistani volunteers found the body of a Japanese climber who died while trying to descend from one of the highest mountains in the country, officials said Tuesday. A Japanese climber's body is found in Pakistan who died a week ago after scaling a mountain The body of 64-year-old Hiroshi Onishi was brought down the previous day from the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak also known as Golden Peak where he died, a local police chief Mohammad Hanif told The Associated Press by phone. He was the third Japanese climber to die in Pakistan in less than a month. Onishi was coming down from the mountain with other Japanese climbers after successfully reaching the summit when he slipped and fell into a crevasse and died, police said. The body of Onishi was being sent to Islamabad by an ambulance, according to Javed Ali Munwa, a local official told the . His family is expected to reach Pakistan later this week. A six-member team of volunteers led by a Pakistani mountaineer Abbas Ali undertook the risky mission to retrieve the body after bad weather prevented helicopters from flying to the Spantik, Munwa said. He added that it took 6 days of arduous work to find and bring the body down. Hiroshi's death came after two other Japanese climbers, Atsushi Taguchi and Ryuseki Hiraoka, died while trying to scale the same mountain. They went missing on June 13, and Hiraokas body was found two days later after that incident. His colleague was presumed dead after an unsuccessful weeklong search. Both had fallen into a deep crevasse. Golden Peak is known for its distinct golden hue at sunrise and sunset, making it a popular destination for mountaineers. Every year, hundreds of climbers try to scale mountains in northern Pakistan, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, and several die. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, the latest assault by the group on the crucial maritime trade route. A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden The captain of the ship reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel off the coast of Nishtun, Yemen, close to the country's border with Oman, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The ship, whose name and flag were not released, and all crew are safe, the UKMTO said in a warning to mariners. The explosion took place in the farthest reaches of the waterway earlier targeted by the rebels, the center said. It did not elaborate on what caused the explosion, though the Houthis have been known to use drones and missiles as well as bomb-carrying drone boats. The Houthis did not immediately comment. However, it can take hours or even days before they acknowledge carrying out an attack. The last reported Houthi attack in the region took place June 28. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels by firing missiles and drones in their campaign that has killed a total of four sailors. They seized one vessel and sank two since November. U.S.-led airstrikes have targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say. The Houthis maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain as part of rebel support for the militant group Hamas in its war against Israel in the Gaza Strip. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war including some bound for Iran. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. A mechanic has been pulled into the airplanes engine at Boeing passenger jet and killed at Chabahar Konarak airport in southern Iran after he approached the running engine to get a tool he left nearby. A safety protocol failure led to the death of a mechanic at an Iranian airport, who was sucked into an aircraft engine while working on a Boeing 737. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) (Image for representation)(AP) The late mechanic, Abolfazl Amiri, was a local mechanic who carried out preventive and regular services on the Boeing 737-500 of Iranian domestic Varesh Airline when he was sucked into the aircraft's engine. The incident happened during a test run of the aircrafts right-hand engine, which had been started with the cover flaps open. As per standard safety norms, a safety area was established around the engine to prevent accidents. However, Amiri, realizing he had left a tool on the engine, went back to retrieve it. And suddenly, he was sucked into the engine, which then caught fire, leading to his death. Emergency responders from the airport fire brigade arrived promptly and recovered Amiri's remains. The Iranian aviation authority has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident to prevent future occurrences. ALSO READ| Wheel falls off United Airlines Boeing moments after takeoff from LA airport: Watch Some freak airport tragedy over the years This tragedy echoes a similar incident that happened in 2022 at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama, US. A baggage handler, identified as 34-year-old Courtney Edwards, was killed after being sucked into the engine of an American Airlines plane. The incident happened on New Year's Eve while the plane was parked ahead of its scheduled flight to Dallas. Edwards, a mother of three and a ground agent for Piedmont Airlines, had reportedly been repeatedly warned to stay back from the engines. The initial report from the National Transport Safety Board stated that Edwards got too close to the engine of the American Eagle-operated Embraer E175 jet, leading to her death. The accident was so violent that it shook the entire aircraft. ALSO READ| Boeing in talks with US Defense Department on impact of guilty plea, source says Another one happened in May at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. An airport employee was killed after being sucked into a KLM passenger plane engine, the Embraer 190 aircraft. The Dutch Royal Military Police, who investigated the incident, concluded that the man had intentionally climbed into the engine, indicating this is a case of suicide. Washington: The West has come home to Washington. To celebrate 75 years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), the Trans-Atlantic military alliance formed during the Cold War to take on Soviet Union, American, European and a set of Asian leaders are congregating in downtown DC this week at the same site where the alliance was founded. A Nato summit attendee walks through the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Tuesday. (AP) But the summit of celebration is turning into a summit of crisis as the US-led bloc confronts both an existential internal political challenge from the rise of the political Right at home and deepening external challenge from the China-aided Russian advances in Ukraine at its borders. The twin challenges have created a sombre mood among leaders, officials, and experts. But they also believe that the summit offers an opportunity, possibly the last opportunity given the political mood in the US and the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine, to insure the alliance against future shocks. The shadow of Trump Every discussion on Nato, both among the blocs leaders and officials and among experts, now revolves around the man who wont be present at the summit; Donald Trump. The increasing possibility of Trumps return to the White House after Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance, the rise of the political Right in Europe itself, and the diminished appetite in much of the West to continue supporting Ukraine has complicated Natos planning in three respects. One, the former US president has drawn a firm redline and categorically said that if Nato members dont step up their financial contribution, the US will not meet the blocs Article 5 commitment that provides for collective defence, based on the premise an attack on one Nato member is an attack on all. At a campaign rally earlier this year, Trump said that a president of a big country had asked him if the US would protect the country from Russia if his country didnt pay. Trump said he had told the president, No. I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. Nato officials and leaders have factchecked Trump, pointing out that 23 of the 32 alliance members spend more than two percent of their budget on defence, with some spending even more. On this issue of burden-sharing, those committed to the alliance believe that there is meeting ground with a possible Trump administration. Two, Trump has repeatedly claimed that if he was in power, Russia would not have attacked Ukraine. In an interview in June, Trump categorically laid the blame for the Russian invasion on what he termed President Joe Bidens provocative rhetoric on including Ukraine in Nato. If you look at the rhetoric from Biden, it was the opposite of what he should have said. Trump said that this was a clear No-No for Russia and should have been off the table. This isnt entirely accurate, for Biden had said in the run-up to the war that Ukraines entry into Nato wasnt on the anvil. But since the war started, Ukraine has made a strong push to join the bloc and the Washington summit is expected to make a set of announcements outlining a bridge that will bring Kyiv to the bloc over the next decade or so. The summit will see enhanced aid to Ukraine and a set of bilateral security agreements that Nato members will enter into with Kyiv. While this appears to be a move to Trump-proof any future arrangement involving Ukraine, it will also make a peace deal with Russia more complicated. And finally, Trump has said that if he wins the elections in November, he will ensure a peace deal in Ukraine before he takes office in January 2025. Trump hasnt made clear the terms of the deal, but his statement has sparked fears among Nato leaders that a Trump-engineered deal will be on terms that will be favourable to Russia. This, they fear, will involve a division of Ukraine, shut the doors on Kyivs possible participation in European political architecture and Natos security architecture, and embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to target Nato members, especially Baltic states, next. When Europe and Indo-Pacific meet This three-pronged internal crisis is accompanied by dual external crisis for Nato. And that crisis stems from the fact that Ukrainian counter-offensive failed last summer, Russia has made significant military and territorial gains, the Russian economy remains resilient despite unprecedented western sanctions, and Putin today is stronger than he has been at any point since February 2022. And one major reason for this is Chinas steady support for Russia, in a sign of how the Indo-Pacific and European theatres are getting integrated into a common front for the West. In an interview with CBS News over the weekend, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, The war in Ukraine demonstrates how closely Russia and China and North Korea and Iran are. China is the main enabler of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine. President Xi and President Putin, they all want Nato, the US, to fail in Ukraine. And if Putin wins in Ukraine, it not only would embolden Putin but also Xi. As the Japanese PM said, what happens in Ukraine today can happen in Asia tomorrow. It demonstrates that Nato is also important for the US in addressing China. Both US secretary of state Antony J Blinken and the head of American intelligence apparatus, Avril Haines, have also said that Chinas support to Russia is among the primary reasons for the shift in the battleground dynamics. The fact that Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand will be present at the Washington summit for the third year in a row is evidence of how both the US, but also its Indo-Pacific treaty allies, have begun to adopt a common frame to view the Russia-China-North Korea axis. How the Washington summit addresses this conundrum of low morale among Nato members, the political uncertainty at home especially the US, and the enhanced strategic threats from a set of Wests adversaries working in coordination with each other will be the alliances real test. THE MISSION for Joe Biden in the presidential debate held in Atlanta on June 27th was clear: to prove his critics wrong , by showing that he was mentally fit and thereby reverse the polling deficit that makes Donald Trump the favourite to win the American election in 2024. Unfortunately, his performance was an unmitigated disasterperhaps the worst of any presidential candidate in modern history. The president, who is 81 (and would be 86 by the end of a second term in office), stammered indecipherably, struggled to complete his lines of attack and proved his doubters completely correct. Although Mr Trump was in his typical formmeandering, mendacious, vindictivehe somehow appeared the more coherent and lucid of the pair. Mr Bidens decision to seek re-election rather than standing aside for a younger standard-bearer now looks like a reckless endangerment of the democracy he claims to want to protect. Stay up to date with our daily newsletter on American politics, The US in brief, and follow our presidential poll tracker. Merely quoting Mr Bidens rhetorical bumblings does not do them justice, but they do give a sense of the shambles. Consider one of his lines at the very start of the debate, the first indicator that the president was in poor form: Making sure that we continue to strengthen our health-care system, making sure that were able to make every single, solitary person eligible for what Ive been able to do with theuh, covidexcuse me, dealing with everyone we had to do with look, if we finally beat Medicare... The moderator interrupted before further damage could be done, one of several coups de grace graciously administered. Despite nearly a week spent huddled with his advisers, Mr Biden was unable to deliver his rehearsed attack lines even on the issues where he should have been most powerful, such as on establishing a right to abortion, yanked away by Supreme Court justices appointed by Mr Trump. What came out was this: I support Roe v Wade, which had three trimesters. First time is between the woman and the doctor. Second time was between the doctor and an extreme situation. The third time is between the doctor, I mean between the woman and the state. A direct question to Mr Biden about his capacity to do the job given his ageone that he ought to have been completely prepared forearned only a half-hearted response that quickly veered into a discussion of computer chips and South Korea. That is not to say that Mr Trump was anything like presidential. He lied inveterately. He would not promise to accept the results of the election in November, in effect threatening a repeat of the attack on the Capitol that his supporters staged on January 6th 2021 (for which he blamed Nancy Pelosi, then the Democratic speaker of the House). He was loutish and undignified, forced to say I did not have sex with a porn star and then accusing his opponent of being a Manchurian candidate who receives money from China (of course, without any evidence). On the serious policy matters that would face a future president, Mr Trump was evasive. His responses to questions about the war in Ukraine and Gaza were identical: the conflicts would not have happened if he were president, due to the force of his personality. When pressed on his environmental policy, Mr Trump said: I want absolutely immaculate clean water. I want absolutely clean air and we had it. We had H2O, we had the best numbers ever. Pupils in secondary school can give more serious answers than that. But Mr Trump at least had the distinction of appearing vital. There is some irony to that. Ahead of the debate, Mr Trump tried to raise expectations for Mr Biden by suggesting, baselessly, that the president would be on stimulants to try to juice his performance. One of his allies in Congress even sent a letter demanding that Mr Biden take a drug test. None of those pre-emptive attacks proved necessary. But all of this is standard-issue Trumpian chaos. For the American voters who did suffer through the debateand the millions who will watch clippings of it laterthe most distinguishing feature will be Mr Bidens unsettlingly poor performance. It is a marked deterioration not just from his past debates (those against Mr Trump in 2020 show a doppelganger seemingly a decade younger) but even from his state-of-the-union address a few months ago. Before the debate had even ended, Democratic elites were starting to panic. On current trends, Mr Biden is not favoured to win. He is trailing in the swing states needed to secure re-election. Debates tend not to have huge effects on public opinion, because the American electorate is deeply polarised and generally hard to persuade, but a performance as dismal as this (and one so early in the election cycle) might do grave harm to Mr Bidens poll numbers. Immediately after the debate, betting markets registered a marked decline in the chance that Mr Biden would in fact be the partys nominee. If the president were to abandon his re-election bid, it would be a seismic eventperhaps even more consequential than Lyndon Johnsons decision to drop out of the presidential race in 1968 because of his Vietnam-war-induced unpopularity. Mr Biden had flirted with the idea of being a single-term bridge to a new generation of Democrat, but the allure of a second term seemed impossible to resist, and no one within the party was able to persuade him to make way. Doing so this late would be chaotic. Mr Biden has accrued almost all of the delegates needed to secure the partys nomination in August in Chicago (also the site of the chaotic Democratic convention of 1968). That means that it is too late for anyone other than Mr Biden himself to change the top of the ticket. Under convention rules, these delegates would then become unbound, free to vote for whomever they wished. The next Democratic nominee would, in effect, be selected by party grandees rather than the usual drawn-out democratic process. Mr Biden and his allies have already raised hundreds of millions of dollars for his campaign and spent much of it on pre-booked television advertisements. Jettisoning him from the top of the ticket would be an extreme measure, ensuring deep schisms within the party and leaving it weakened ahead of a contest with Donald Trump. Yet after a performance this bad, Democrats might feel they have no other option but to break glass. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com The Royal family is reportedly experiencing tension over Prince George's future education, with sources suggesting that Kate Middleton is heartbroken following a disagreement with Prince William. Britain's Kate Middleton is seen in rare outing(Reuters) The royal couple is divided on where to send their eldest son for secondary education. While Prince William and Prince Harry both attended Eton College, breaking with the royal family's tradition of attending Gordonstoun in Scotland. Prince William is said to favour Eton for Prince George when the time comes. However, Kate also is not enthusiastic about the idea. The Prince of Wales began his studies at Eton in 1995 and completed them in 2000. A source close to the royal family told InTouch Weekly that the Duchess is adamant that Prince George should not attend the prestigious all-boys boarding school, Eton College. Notably, as Prince George will turn 12 in 2025, he will also no longer be entitled to travel in a plane with Prince William and and his family. An important royal custom will be enforced upon him once the little prince steps into teenage. ALSO READ| Why can't Prince William and Prince George fly together on the same plane? A decade-old royal rule can explain this Kate don't want her son, George to be bullied The source revealed that Kate's aversion stems from her own negative experiences at boarding school; she was horribly bullied at her first boarding school. The Princess of Wales can't bear the thought of George suffering through that. Kate's early education was at Downe House, a girls' boarding school in Berkshire, which she hated so much that she left mid-term. She transferred to Marlborough College, a co-ed boarding school in Wiltshire, where she finished her schooling and seemingly found a better fit. It is this school that she favours for Prince George. The insider remarked, Kate thinks sending George to such a stuffy, upper-crust institution goes against all of their efforts to modernize the monarchy. The issue is said to have caused a row at Adelaide Cottage, with William and Kate reportedly arguing for hours over the decision, the source claimed. Kate long disagreed with her husband about sending him away, even though its tradition, the source said. The source added that Kate, who is currently on hiatus from public duties while undergoing cancer treatment, was "finally giving in" to her husband's wishes and he appears to have "won" the argument for now. ALSO READ| Royal Navy Admiral advises Prince Harry to decline ESPY award or This rumored argument marks the first update on the Princess of Wales since her surprise appearance at last months Trooping the Colour parade, which celebrated King Charles birthday. By Colleen Howe Oil prices little changed, concerns about damage from hurricane ease BEIJING - Oil prices were little changed early on Tuesday after a hurricane that hit a key U.S. oil producing hub in Texas caused less damage than expected. Brent futures fell 4 cents to $85.71 a barrel by 0113 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 5 cents to $82.28. Although oil refining activity slowed and some production sites were evacuated, major refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast appeared to see minimal impacts from Hurricane Beryl, which weakened into a tropical storm after hitting the Texas coast. That eased market worries about the risk of supply disruptions in Texas, where 40% of U.S. crude oil is produced. Major oil-shipping ports around Corpus Christi, Galveston and Houston had been shut ahead of the storm. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel reopened on Monday and the Port of Houston was projected to resume operations on Tuesday afternoon. Market participants are also keeping an eye on the situation in the Middle East for more trading cues. Oil prices settled down 1% on Monday amid hopes a possible ceasefire deal in Gaza could reduce worries about global crude supply disruptions. Senior U.S. officials were in Egypt for talks on Monday, but gaps remained between the two sides, the White House said, and Hamas said a new Israeli push into Gaza threatened the potential agreement. Hamas last week had dropped a demand for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire, which Israelis said opened the way for a deal. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The former head of the Royal Navy has been urging Prince Harry to reconsider accepting an award named after an American war hero. Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending an Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP) This week, Prince Harry became embroiled in controversy following the decision to honor him with the Pat Tillman Award for his work with the Invictus Games. The award is named after Pat Tillman, a former professional American football player who left his sports career to join the US Army in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Tillman was later killed in Afghanistan. Prince Harry, who also served in two tours in Afghanistan, was scheduled to receive the award from Serena Williams at a glamorous ESPN-hosted ceremony. However, Tillman's own mother, Mary Tillman urged reconsideration and even filed a petition urging ESPN to select a different recipient. She believes there are more deserving recipients than the Duke of Sussex, whom she described as controversial and divisive. ALSO READ| Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are cutting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle off because Royal Navy Admiral warns Prince Harry of bad publicity over military award Admiral Lord Alan West, who served as the head of the Royal Navy from 2002 to 2006, has now advised Prince Harry to decline the award to avoid offending military veterans. Admiral West expressed his concerns to Daily Mail, saying that accepting the award wouldnt travel well with people in the military and would result in rather bad publicity. Her sentiment has been echoed by over 70,000 people who have signed a Change.org petition urging ESPN to rethink its decision. I really think Harry should be well advised to sit back and not accept awards like this. It doesnt travel well with people in the military. And when the mother of the man who died doesnt want him to get this award, he should think about that, he added. My advice to him is to sit back and not accept any awards at the moment. They are going his way because he has such a high profile and people want to take advantage of that. Admiral West also noted, He ought to think very hard and long about accepting awards for things like being an exceptional pilot and being exceptionally brave. Some of the blame must lie with ESPN. They like picking him because it gives them immense publicity. But this is rather bad publicity for Harry. ALSO READ| Prince Harry urged to politely decline ESPY Award as people don't want to see him being booed Prince Harry finds criticism of his military record particularly hard to accept A source told The Telegraph, Harrys legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, thats his real passion. This is the space in which he truly feels at home, it is something he deeply cares about. The reaction certainly took the shine off the award. Tom Bower, a biographer of Harry and Meghan, told Daily Mail, The backlash will make it more difficult for Harrys team to get awards in the future. Prince Harry inhabits a gilded bubble seemingly unaware about the deep antagonism he and his wife have created. Its become normal for his staff to lobby for important awards to shore up his reputation. The pier built by the U.S. military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled Wednesday to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently, several U.S. officials said. It would deal the final blow to a project long plagued by bad weather, security uncertainties and difficulties getting food into the hands of starving Palestinians. The Latest | US-built Gaza aid pier to reopen for a few days, then be removed permanently Heavy Israeli bombardments pounded Gaza City on Tuesday, driving thousands of Palestinians to flee and forcing medical facilities to shut down because of the latest offensive in the territorys north. And in southern Gaza, an apparent Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, Palestinian health officials said. Hamas has warned that Israels expanding military operations in Gaza City and the displacement of thousands of residents could have disastrous repercussions for talks aimed at a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages. 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 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has caused massive devastation across the besieged territory and displaced most of its 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of law and order have curtailed humanitarian aid efforts, causing widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine. The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to take steps to protect the Palestinians as it examines genocide allegations against Israeli leaders. Israel strongly denies the charge. Currently: Keys become a link to home for Palestinian families in Gaza displaced repeatedly by Israel. Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City forces medical facilities to close as thousands flee. A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden. Australia appoints special envoy to confront a rise in antisemitism across the country. Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza City as Hamas warns that escalation threatens cease-fire talks. Rafah is a dusty, rubble-strewn ghost town two months after Israel invaded to root out Hamas. Follow s coverage of the war in Gaza at /hub/israel-hamas-war. Heres the latest: US-built pier will be put back in Gaza for several days to move aid, then permanently removed WASHINGTON Several U.S. officials say the pier built by the American military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled on the beach to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently. This would deal the final blow to a project long plagued by bad weather, security uncertainties and difficulties getting food into the hands of starving Palestinians. The officials said Tuesday that the goal is to clear whatever aid has piled up and get it to the secure area on the beach. Once that has been done, the Army will dismantle the pier and depart. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because final details are still being worked out. The Pentagon said all along that the pier was only a temporary project, designed to prod Israel into opening and allowing aid to flow better through land routes which are far more productive than the U.S.-led sea route. U.S. troops removed the pier on June 28 because of bad weather and moved it to the port of Ashdod in Israel. Israeli airstrike on a school kills at least 25 people, Palestinian health officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An apparent Israeli airstrike at the entrance of a school where displaced people were sheltering killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, according to an Associated Press reporter who counted the bodies at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Hospital spokesperson Weam Fares said the dead included at least seven women and children and that the toll was likely to rise. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Earlier airstrikes in central Gaza killed at least 14 people, including a woman and four children, according to two hospitals that received the bodies. Israel has repeatedly struck what it says are militant targets across Gaza since the start of the war nine months ago. Israeli forces kill a 13-year-old boy in the West Bank and launch a new raid into a refugee camp RAMALLAH, West Bank Palestinian officials say Israeli forces shot and killed a 13-year-old boy in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli army said it opened fire at a group of Palestinians throwing stones at Israeli vehicles. Separately, Israeli forces launched another raid into the Nur Shams refugee camp near the city of Tulkarem in the West Bank, demolishing several buildings and making a number of arrests. Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, with over 570 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the occupied territory. Thats according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which confirmed the killing of the 13-year-old Ghassan Gharib Zahran in the village of Deir Abu Mashal, northwest of Ramallah. Nur Shams, a built-up refugee camp dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation, has emerged as a militant bastion in recent months, with frequent Israeli raids triggering deadly gunbattles. During the raid Monday, residents say army bulldozers demolished a shop and some residential homes. The army said the buildings were being used by militants. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for a future state. An Israeli strike in Syria kills a former bodyguard of Lebanons Hezbollah leader BEIRUT An Israeli strike in Syria on Tuesday killed a former personal bodyguard of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, an official with the Lebanese militant group said. The news came hours after an Israeli drone strike on a car in Syria near the Syria-Lebanon border was reported by a war monitor and by pro-government radio Sham FM. The Hezbollah official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Later Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that in retaliation for the killing, it fired tens of Katyusha rockets targeting a military base in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Britain-based pro-opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two members of Hezbollah in the car were killed in the strike, while a Syrian driver was critically wounded. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or from the Israeli military. Hezbollah later identified the militant as Yasser Nemr Qranbish, although they did not disclose the details of his death. Thats standard practice for Hezbollah combatants who arent in leadership roles. Hezbollah supporters on social media mourned his death, calling him the shield of the Sayyed, in reference to his tenure as a bodyguard for Nasrallah. For years, Israel has frequently launched strikes on targets in Syria linked to Iran, its powerful regional backer, but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past five months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City forces medical facilities to close as thousands flee DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli forces were advancing deeper into the Gaza Strips largest city on Tuesday in pursuit of militants who have regrouped there. Israeli troops are again battling militants in areas that the army said had been largely cleared months ago in northern Gaza. The military ordered evacuations ahead of the raids, but Palestinians say nowhere feels safe. The fighting has been intense, said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled Gaza Citys Tuffah district to the homes of relatives in another part of the city. He said Israeli warplanes and drones were striking anything moving and that tanks had moved into central districts. There was no immediate word on casualties. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances, but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. After Israel on Monday called for an evacuation from eastern and central parts of Gaza City, staff at two hospitals Al-Ahli and the Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move out patients and shut down, the United Nations said. Farsakh said all three medical points run by the Red Crescent in Gaza City had closed. The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had told hospitals and other medical facilities in Gaza City that they did not need to evacuate. But hospitals in Gaza have often shut down and moved patients at any sign of possible Israeli military action, fearing raids. Only 13 of Gazas 36 hospitals are functioning, and those only partially, according to the U.N.s humanitarian office. Much of Gaza City and urban areas around it have been flattened or left a shattered landscape after nine months of fighting. Much of the population fled earlier in the war, but several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the north. Hamas has warned that the latest raids and displacement in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of long-running negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release. Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nearby refugee camps on Tuesday killed at least 14 people, including four children and a woman, according to officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs and al-Awda hospitals, where casualties were taken. One of the strikes hit a police station in an outdoor market in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four people and wounding two dozen, half of them women and children. At a hospital, a little boy cried, coughed and wiped his eyes as medics treated him on the crowded floor. Pope begs for new peace efforts after latest attacks in Ukraine and Gaza VATICAN CITY Pope Francis is appealing for concrete new measures to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The appeal came after attacks targeted a childrens hospital in Kyiv and a school in Gaza. The Vatican press office issued a statement Tuesday expressing Francis pain over the new attacks and his profound upset at the spiraling of violence. Francis has frequently asked for prayers for the martyred people of Ukraine but tends to keep his appeals generic. He has also tended to take a balanced line toward the war in Gaza, frequently mentioning Israel and the hostages still held by Hamas alongside the suffering of Palestinians. A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels has targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center says the captain of the ship reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel off the coast of Nishtun, Yemen, close to the countrys border with Oman. The ship and crew are safe. The center did not elaborate on what caused the explosion. The Houthis have been known to use drones and missiles as well as bomb-carrying drone boats. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels and killed four sailors in their attacks. Theyve also seized one vessel and sunk two since November. An Israel strike hits Syria overnight DAMASCUS, Syria An Israeli strike overnight hit near the Syrian town of Baniyas, state media reported Tuesday. The strike shortly after midnight caused material losses, Syrian state news agency SANA said, citing an unidentified military official. It did not say if there were any casualties, nor give further details. There was no immediate statement from Israeli officials. Israel frequently launches strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past nine months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. UN details the effects of the new Israeli offensive into Gaza City UNITED NATIONS The United Nations said Monday that Israels latest evacuation orders for parts of Gaza City affect more than 60 schools sheltering displaced Palestinians, as well as two partially functional hospitals, six medical points and two primary health care centers. The evacuation orders came as Israeli deepens its offensives in pursuit of militants who had regrouped in the heavily damaged city. Thousands of Palestinians have fled in recent days. Humanitarian officials report that staff and patients have left hospitals in and around the evacuation areas, and people who were already displaced are being forced to flee again, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The U.N. humanitarian office also reports that active hostilities, damaged roads, access limitations and the lack of public order and safety continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route from the Kerem Shalom crossing to Khan Younis, and then to Deir al-Balah, Dujarric said. He said this has resulted in critical food shortages, reduced food rations in central and southern Gaza last month, and the increasing risk of stranded supplies, especially food, spoiling in the heat. Maysa Saleh, the Norwegian Refugee Councils education officer in Deir al-Balah, said in a statement that almost no aid has arrived over the last week or so, and food remains the number one worry. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. By Tom Balmforth Ukraine navy chief says Russia is losing Crimean hub in Black Sea ODESA, Ukraine - The Russian navy's Black Sea Fleet has been forced to rebase nearly all its combat-ready warships from occupied Crimea to other locations, and its main naval hub is becoming ineffectual because of attacks by Kyiv, Ukraine's navy chief said. Vice-Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa said Ukrainian missile and naval drone strikes had caused heavy damage to the Sevastopol base, a logistics hub for repairs, maintenance, training and ammunition storage among other important functions for Russia. "They were established over many decades, possibly centuries. And clearly they are now losing this hub," Neizhpapa told Reuters in a rare interview in the port city of Odesa ahead of Ukraine Navy Day on Sunday. More than 28 months since Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv has dealt a series of stinging blows to Moscow in the Black Sea although Ukrainian ground troops are on the back foot across a sprawling front. Ukraine, which has no major warships at its disposal, has used uncrewed naval boats packed with explosives to target Russian vessels, and pounded the fleet's facilities and other military targets on Crimea with Storm Shadow and ATACM missiles. "Almost all the main combat-ready ships have been moved by the enemy from the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, and the ships are kept in Novorossiisk, and some of them are kept in the Sea of Azov," he said. Russia's Novorossiisk naval base on its eastern Black Sea coast lacks the extensive facilities of Crimea's Sevastopol, which served as the storage and loading site for cruise missiles used by its warships to launch air strikes on Ukraine, he said. "I understand that they are now trying to solve this problem in Novorossiisk," he said, describing this as a "main issue" for the fleet. Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Neizhpapa's remarks. President Vladimir Putin told navy chiefs last month that Russia's fleet had been replenished over recent years and that a major modernisation was under way, including steps to "increase the combat stability of the fleet" and strengthen it. Alongside strategic bombers and ground-based launchers, missile-carrying warships and submarines play an important role in Russia's regular long-range missile attacks. Neizhpapa said Ukraine had destroyed or damaged 27 naval vessels, including five that he said were damaged by sea mines laid by Ukrainian naval drones near the Bay of Sevastopol. Moscow seized and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Before February 2022, Russia used its Black Sea Fleet, which consists of dozens of warships, to project power into the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Throughout the Ukraine war, Turkey, which controls the straits in and out of the Black Sea, has not allowed warships to enter or exit. DEFENSIVE POSTURE In a sign of their more defensive posture, some Russian warships that seldom entered the Sea of Azov to the east of Crimea are now stationed there regularly, Neizhpapa said. Monitoring data compiled by the Ukrainian Navy and provided to Reuters showed that as of June 27, 10 Russian warships were stationed in the Sea of Azov compared with none in 2023. The Black Sea Fleet is primarily used now for logistics, a small amount of coastal territorial control and for firing Kalibr cruise missiles at Ukraine, he said. He declined to say what Ukraine's future plans in the Black Sea would involve. Ukraine's operations in the Black Sea have allowed it to establish and secure its own shipping corridor without Russia's blessing after Moscow pulled out of the wartime food export deal brokered by the United Nations last year. The pushback began with Ukrainian coastal defences that allowed it to force naval vessels away. In April 2022, Ukrainian anti-ship missiles sank the Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, in a humiliating blow for the Kremlin. With the addition of naval drone attacks and strikes, Russian warships do not enter the northwestern part of the Black Sea over an area of almost 25,000 square km , Neizhpapa said. He said the delivery of U.S.-made F-16 fighter aircraft, expected to happen soon, would be a boost allowing it to challenge what he called Russia's "full dominance" of the skies over the Black Sea. "F-16s with the right armaments will be able to push away Russian warplanes. The northwestern part of the Black Sea, particularly the corridor for civilian ships, will be almost 100% secure," he said. He added that Ukraine would like to expand its shipping corridor, which currently only involves maritime traffic from three of the main Odesa ports, to include the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson, but that it was not possible. He cited Russia's control over the Kinburn Spit, which juts out along that route. Civilian vessels are accompanied by patrol boats in some areas to help with protection against mines, and air defences provided cover both to the ports and the corridors, he said. The volume of cargo through the corridor has stabilised over the last six months, with Ukraine operating two daily convoys of vessels in comparison with one in 2023. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday condemned the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia's president Vladimir Putin in Moscow, calling it a devastating blow to peace efforts. In a post on X, the Ukrainian president said,"In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russias brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble." PM Modi's Russia visit LIVE coverage Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian president Vladimir :Putin. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day, he added. HT has learnt that India called for respecting the United Nations Charter, including sovereignity and territorial integrity, in the context of Russia-Ukraine war. New Delhi has emphasised that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. ALSO READ: PM Modi-Russia's Putin bilateral meeting today, Ukraine monitors closely In his first visit to Russia since the Ukraine war outbreak, Modi attended a private dinner hosted by Putin at the Russian president's residence in Novo-Ogarevo on the outskirts of Moscow on Monday night. In a video, both Modi and Putin were seen having a warm conversation in an informal setting. The Russian state-run media said Putin praised Indias development and the achievements of Modi, who recently won a third straight term in office. India has not yet condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine and consistently pitched for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Last month, Modi met Zelenskyy on the margins of G7 summit in Italy. The prime minister had reiterated that New Delhi continues to encourage a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, and will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution." Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, PM Modi has held several telephonic conversations with both Putin and Zelenskyy. (With agency inputs) Four Indians were arrested in Princeton, New Jersey, on human trafficking charges. Following up on a welfare call, the authorities uncovered a forced labour operation running out of Collin County. Though the arrests were made earlier this year in March, the Princeton Police Department is now releasing details of the investigation. Four Indians were arrested in Princeton, New Jersey, on human trafficking charges earlier this Spring(X, formerly Twitter/ @sudhakarudumula) Cops uncover forced labour operation in New Jersey, four Indians arrested On March 13, the police responded to a call citing welfare concerns and a suspicious circumstance at a home on the 1000 block of Ginsburg Lane. According to an affidavit, the pest control company that inspected the house for possible bed bugs informed the authorities that each room had 3-5 young females sleeping on the floors. ALSO READ: Biden asserts he is firmly committed to the race in a scathing letter to Democrats Princeton Police Sgt. Carolyn Crawford said that over a dozen people are involved in the forced labour scheme. I can probably say over 100. Easily, she said, adding that more than half of them are victims, per Fox 4. Four Indians- Chandan Dasireddy, 24, Dwaraka Gunda, 31, Santhosh Katkoori, 31, and Anil Male, 37, were arrested and charged with trafficking of persons. The police further said that the victims included both men and women who were working as programmers. Although the authorities didn't reveal the exact nature of the alleged shell companies, they seized multiple laptops, phones, printers, and fraudulent documents while searching the house. ALSO READ: Covid variant KP.3 will continue increasing in US; Check symptoms of FLiRT variant Princeton Police Chief James Waters, who had been working on this case for several months, said, How we came across this situation was very unique, adding, They would unravel just a multitude of other clues and a multitude of other scenes that was going out there. They later learned of several other locations in the cities of Princeton, Melissa, and McKinney with forced labour operations. In a heartbreaking incident, another Indian student was found dead in United States after the independence day weekend. Sai Surya Avinash Gadde, a 24-year-old Indian student reportedly drowned at Barberville Falls in Albany, New York. Indian Embassy in New York confirmed the tragic news of Telugu student Sai Surya Avinash Gadde's death in United States.. ((PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) Who was Sai Surya Avinash Gadde? Sai Surya Avinash Gadde was a student at Trine University, was found dead on July 7. He was originally from Telangana and met with this tragic accident while visiting the falls during the July 4th long weekend. Indian Embassy in NY pays tribute Indian Embassy in New York confirmed the tragic news, We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Mr. Sai Surya Avinash Gadde, a student at Trine University, who drowned on 7th July at Barbervilley Falls, Albany, NY. They are providing providing necessary assistance, including issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the transportation of Avinash's remains back to India. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time," embassy posted. According to local media reports, the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office stated, multiple crews responded to the scene after two men swimming got into trouble. One of them was rescued by a good Samaritan, but Avinash succumbed, per the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office. The state dive team was one of the crews on the scene. The circumstances surrounding his drowning are still under investigation by the local authorities. Also Read: Who was Dasari Gopikrishna? Indian student from Andhra killed in US shooting Worrying trend of Indians being killed in US This latest incident is part of a worrying trend of sudden deaths involving Indian students in the U.S. Last month three Indian students' lost their lives in a ghastly car accident in Alpharetta, Georgia. Two others were critically injured. Another young Indian student from Hyderabad was reportedly killed in firing at a grocery store in Houston in the United States. Joe Biden skipped meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the G7 summit in 2022 to go to bed, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. German officials had scheduled the meeting early in the evening to accommodate the President's sleep schedule. Scholz was left surprised when Biden still didn't show up. FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. President Joe Biden listens as Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during their debate in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder//File Photo(REUTERS) Biden skipped meeting German Chancellor at G7 summit to sleep early While Biden decided to catch his z's, he sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with the German leader. Blinken reportedly told attendees that the 81-year-old couldn't attend the meeting, which was arranged as a secret meeting about Ukraine, because he had to go to bed. However, a spokesperson for the State Department refuted those claims, saying, Blinken never said that or anything like it. ALSO READ: Are tampons toxic? New study finds lead, arsenic and other metals in menstrual product Meanwhile, a government official told WSJ that the White House had already made it clear that Blinken would be meeting with Scholz instead of Biden. The official added that the POTUS was busy managing domestic affairs, adding that he was travelling extensively and spent an entire evening working. The report added that the attendees said that Biden did not appear to show signs of cognitive decline while he was still at the event. However, they admitted that he was showing signs of having been physically worn out." Meanwhile, his supporters pitted it on a lack of air conditioning. The State Department once again refuted those claims. ALSO READ: Biden asserts he is firmly committed to the race in a scathing letter to Democrats The report comes amid turbulent times for Biden as Democrats admit to having lost faith in his candidacy. The President sent the members of the Democratic party into panic mode after his shaky performance in the first debate of the 2024 race. Several suggested he drop out of the race or the party should replace him with someone more efficient. A lavish mansion in Woodside, once owned by former President Donald Trumps major California donors, hit the market on Monday with a staggering price tag of $30 million, SFGATE a large-market media sites, first reported the news. Luxury Woodside mansion once owned by Trump Donor hits market for $30 Million. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo(REUTERS) This luxurious property, located off Winding Way, boasts six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, spreading across nearly 8,000 square feet and nestled on a 4.4-acre plot in a scenic, forested area between Sand Hill Road and State Route 84. The real estate listing on Redfin highlights the mansion's impressive features, including soaring ceilings and towering windows that illuminate floors made of walnut and imported French limestone. The propertys lush, sprawling grounds include vineyards, an olive orchard, a lily pond, and a swimming pool. Inside, the house offers six fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen, a study, opulent formal rooms, and temperature-controlled storage for wine and cigars. ALSO READ| Will Joe Biden quit the race to White House? Donald Trump weighs in and answers if Democrats will use 25th amendment Who owned the Woodside mansion before The mansion was previously owned by Saul Fox, the CEO of Fox Paine & Co., a private equity firm based in Miami Beach, Florida. Since its inception in 1996, Fox Paine & Co. has invested $1.2 million in various companies and has achieved an impressive $2.7 billion in returns. This financial success might explain how Fox managed to donate $580,600 to Trump's campaign ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Fox's support for Trump dates back to Trump's first presidential campaign in 2016, per Los Angeles Times. That year, The Intercept reported that Fox owned Children of Israel LLC, a company described as a ghost corporation. Ghost corporations are businesses that appear to exist solely to shield the identities of individuals who wish to funnel money into the U.S. political process. ALSO READ| Staying in the race till the end, time to unite: Biden tells Dems on the Hill The Intercept noted that Children of Israel LLC was the second-most generous ghost corporation of the 2016 election cycle, donating a total of $884,000 to Republican candidates, including Trump. In August 2016, Fox hosted a fundraiser for Trump at the Woodside mansion now up for sale. Tickets for the event were priced at $25,000 each. Boeing will have a felony conviction if it follows through on an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to fraud in connection with approval of its 737 Max before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is seen on the side of a Boeing 737 MAX at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo(REUTERS) The American aerospace giant has apparently made the calculation that admitting to a crime is better than fighting the charge and enduring a long public trial. The plea deal is not yet a sure thing, however. Relatives of some of the passengers who died have indicated they will ask a federal judge in Texas to throw out the agreement, which they say is too lenient considering the lives that were lost. They want a trial, they want a huge fine, and they want Boeing leaders to face charges. In a legal filing late Sunday minutes before a midnight deadline the Justice Department disclosed the agreement and said the fraud charge was the most serious readily provable offense it could bring against Boeing. Prosecutors say Boeing will pay another $243.6 million fine, matching a fine it paid in 2021 for the same crime. The Justice Department says a conviction for fraud will hold Boeing accountable for misstatements it made to regulators who certified the 737 Max in 2017. The crashes took place less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019. The company still faces investigations into the blowout of a panel from an Alaska Airlines Max in January, increased oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, and accusations from current and former employees about poor workmanship and retaliation against whistleblowers. Here is what to know about the case and what could be next for Boeing: What did Boeing admit? Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States in this case, deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration. The Justice Department first filed that charge in 2021, but it agreed not to prosecute Boeing if it paid a fine and successfully completed three years of a form of corporate probation under what is called a deferred-prosecution agreement. In May, however, the department determined that Boeing had not lived up to that agreement, setting in motion the events that led to Sunday's plea deal. The plea deal could help Boeing resolve a black mark on its reputation the felony charge that the American aerospace giant deceived regulators who approved the airplane and the pilot-training requirements to fly it safely. What did Boeing agree to do? Boeing will pay another fine, bringing the total to $487.2 million, which the Justice Department says is the legal maximum for the fraud charge. The deal also requires the company to invest at least $455 million to improve safety. It will be on court-supervised probation for three years, and the Justice Department will name an independent monitor to oversee Boeing's compliance with terms of the plea agreement. Boeing's board of directors will be required to meet with families of the victims. Can the judge block the deal? Yes. There will be a hearing before U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor in Fort Worth, Texas. He can accept the agreement, in which case he can't change terms of Boeing's punishment. Or he can reject it, which would likely lead to new negotiations between Boeing and prosecutors. A date for the hearing has not been set. Deals in which the defendant and the federal government agree on a sentence are controversial in legal circles. Judges don't like them. They feel that it usurps their authority, said Deborah Curtis, a former Justice Department lawyer. O'Connor, however, has shown deference before to the Justice Department's power. When families of the crash victims tried to undo the 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement, the judge criticized what he called Boeings egregious criminal conduct but ruled that he had no authority to overturn the settlement. How are relatives of the crash victims reacting? Many are outraged by the agreement. Zipporah Kuria, a 28-year-old London woman whose father, Joseph, was on the Ethiopian Airlines Max that crashed in March 2019, wanted a trial that she thinks would have unearthed new details about what led up to the crashes. Now, with the likelihood that there will never be a trial, the opportunity to continue digging, the opportunity to continue finding out what has gone wrong here and what is wrong, is kind of taken away from us, Kuria said. So yet again, they (the victims) have been robbed of their dignity, and we have been robbed of our closure. Javier de Luis, an MIT aeronautics lecturer whose sister, Graziella, died in the Ethiopia crash, also finds the punishment for Boeing to be inadequate. If you look at the elements that make up this plea agreement, theyre pretty much typical for what you would expect to see in a white-collar fraud investigation not in the case of a crime that led directly to the deaths of 346 people, he said. Nadia Milleron, a Massachusetts resident whose 24-year-old daughter, Samya Stumo, died in the same crash, wants Boeings current and previous CEOs to face charges. After the Indonesian crash, they knew that something was wrong with this plane, and they knew it could crash, she said. They gambled with peoples lives, and they are gambling right now. What effect would a conviction have on Boeing? Boeings business has never fully recovered from the crashes. After the renewed scrutiny that followed the Alaska Airlines incident, the company failed to book any new orders for the Max in April and May. It has fallen even farther behind European rival Airbus in production and deliveries of new planes, which means less revenue is coming in. All of this is happening while Boeing looks for a new CEO to replace David Calhoun, who says he will step down at the end of the year. That said, the share price of the company's stock rose slightly Monday. Will Boeing lose government contracts? Probably not. Government contractors can be suspended or disbarred for criminal convictions, but agencies generally have leeway to grant exceptions. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the Justice Department notified the Defense Department about Boeing's plea deal. The Defense Department will assess the companys remediation plans and agreement with the Department of Justice to make a determination as to what steps are necessary and appropriate to protect the federal government, Ryder said. In 2006, the Air Force cited compelling national interest to let Boeing keep competing for contracts even after the company admitted charges that included using stolen information to win a space-launch contract and paying a $615 million fine. Does the plea affect other investigations into Boeing? It would only resolve the fraud charge filed after the two deadly crashes. The FBI told passengers on the Alaska Airline Max that suffered a panel blowout while flying over Oregon that they might be victims of a crime. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating that incident, and the Federal Aviation Administration is looking into Boeings manufacturing quality. What happened in the crashes? Boeing added new flight-control software to the Max that could push the nose of the plane down if a sensor indicated the plane could be approaching an aerodynamic stall. It didn't initially tell pilots or airlines about the software, known by the acronym MCAS. The system activated before both crashes based on faulty readings for the single sensor on each plane, according to investigations of the Oct. 29, 2018, crash of a Lion Air Max off the coast of Indonesia and the March 10, 2019, crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max near Addis Ababa. Other factors contributed to the Lion Air crash, and the Ethiopian pilots were aware of MCAS but still couldn't regain control after the nose began pitching down without their input. In a video that has surfaced on social media, Jill Biden was seen scolding reporters for asking her about House Democrats urging her husband, Joe Biden, to drop out of the race. Dont scream at me, an angry Jill was seen telling reporters on Monday, July 8. Jill Biden rebukes reporters asking her about calls for her husband to drop out (REUTERS/Octavio Jones)(REUTERS) As Jill exited a coffee shop in Tampa, Florida, one reporter asked her, What is your message for House Democrats who are calling for your husband to drop out of the race? Another asked, How are you feeling about the state of the race? Jill was seen walking past the press, asking them angrily, Why are you screaming at me? You know me. Dont scream at me. Just let me talk. The first lady then entered a vehicle, without answering the questions. Biden has been facing calls to drop out of the race ever since his bad presidential debate performance against Donald Trump. Jill is known for often having been defensive of her husband. She has reportedly been supportive of Bidens plan to continue in the race, despite growing calls for him to step aside for the greater good. She didnt even bother answering the question Jill was slammed in the comment section of the above video for her attitude. But she didnt talk! She didnt even bother answering the question. What the hell is her point? "Just let me talk" Then gets in SUV without a word, one user wrote, while another said, They're screaming at you because you (and Joe, and Karine, and John) continue to gaslight them. You never give them a simple answer to their questions. It's always some bizarre, arcane explanation followed by an assurance that it's all "normal" when we call all see it's not. She says lets talk then walks away. Just as nutty as her husband, one user wrote, while another joked, just come up and talk (runs away to car behind Secret Service agents). Walk away best answer I have heard all day, said one user. Republican leaders caution that the president Joe Biden's recent actions and the White House's latest announcement could potentially allow millions of illegal immigrants to vote. US House Speaker Mike Johnson claims Joe Biden has suggested he would veto bill to prevent noncitizens from voting.(Getty Images via AFP) The Biden Administration has emphasized that illegal immigration is a significant issue for the upcoming November elections. After initial attempts to pass stricter entry legislation, the president and his team have shifted strategies, raising concerns about a potential mass amnesty that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to vote. These suspicions intensified after the White House announced it would veto the Republicans' Save Act, which aims to ensure only citizens can vote, should it reach the president's desk. It should alarm every American citizen that the sitting President of the United States, who has opened our border to over 9 million illegals, just announced that he would veto our bill to prevent noncitizens from voting, House Speaker Mike Johnson posted along with a memo from statement of administration policy. White House Criticises GOP for Spreading "Falsehoods" In a statement, the Executive Office of the President accused Republicans of misleading the public with "falsehoods," clarifying that it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, a crime punishable by prison and fines. This bill would not protect our elections but would make it harder for eligible Americans to register and increase the risk of eligible voters being removed from voter rolls. The evidence shows that current laws preventing noncitizen voting are effective. The memo asserts that Biden will continue to defend Americans' right to vote in free, fair, and secure elections, urging Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. The administration also called on conservatives to reconsider a previously rejected bipartisan border deal. If House Republicans truly want to secure our border and reform our broken immigration system, they should support the bipartisan border deal the President negotiated. This deal would provide necessary resources for immigration officials and represents the toughest and fairest border reforms in decades. GOP Demands Proof of Citizenship to Vote GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, swiftly responded to the president's statement. Johnson expressed alarm that "the sitting President, who has allowed over 9 million illegals to cross our border, has announced he will veto our bill to prevent non-citizens from voting." Representative Chip Roy of Texas criticized the president's stance, suggesting inconsistency: "Biden says it's illegal for non-citizens to vote but promotes non-citizens voting. What are his real goals?" Roy also called for proof of citizenship before voting: Let's declare that only American citizens can vote, and they must provide proof of citizenship to register. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a vocal opponent of illegal immigration, claimed, "Biden and the Democrats want illegal immigrants to vote in the November election. Our elections are not safe from interference without proof of citizenship requirements." Joe Bidens physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor has explained why a Parkinson's expert visited the White House at least eight times in a span of just eight months. O'Connor states that the expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, "was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals." Joe Biden's doctor reveals why Parkinson's expert has been vising White House (REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo)(REUTERS) OConnors letter, released late Monday, July 8, confirms that Cannard frequently visiting the White House does not represent examinations of Biden, as the doctor is responsible for the care of other people too. Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, [Cannard] has held regular Neurology clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations, his letter reads, according to ABC News. Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Canard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology Practice, O'Connor adds, noting that "President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical." OConnor went on to explain that as per Bidens last physical, no signs of Parkinson's was found. He added that he had "obtained permission from the President and Dr. Cannard to confirm the details I am sharing." In the note, OConnor also endorsed Cannard and his work. Cannard has reportedly been the Neurology Consultant to the White House since 2012. "Dr. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Red and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems," OConnor wrote. Kevin O'Connors February report In a letter back in February, O'Connor had noted that a neurologist evaluated Biden as part of his annual physical exam, but did not find any signs of Parkinson's. "An extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy," the report stated. The February report confirmed that the 81-year-old president continued to be "fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations." New Delhi, India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward to resolve the Ukraine conflict as a solution can't be found on the battlefield, official sources said after the US flagged concerns over the situation in the eastern European country ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's summit talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. No solution on battlefield: Sources on Ukraine conflict after US flags concerns India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty, the sources said. There is no solution on the battlefield and dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward, they said. Ahead of Modi-Putin talks, the US called upon India to make it clear to Russia that any resolution of the Ukraine conflict must respect the United Nations charter and Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. "India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in Washington when asked about PM Modi's ongoing visit to Moscow. The American official further added: "We would urge India, as we do any country when it engages with Russia, to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to be one that respects the UN charter, that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, Ukraine's sovereignty." Miller said the US has made clear to India its concerns about New Delhi's relationship with Moscow. "I will look to Prime Minister Modi's public remarks to see what he talked about. But as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia," he said. "So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, should respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Miller added. Prime Minister Modi on Monday began a two-day high-profile visit to Russia, primarily to hold the 22nd India-Russia summit with President Putin. It is Modi's first trip to Russia since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian president hosted a private dinner for the Indian prime minister at the former's residence in Novo-Ogarevo on the outskirts of Moscow on Monday night. The focus of the prime minister's visit is to advance an economic agenda, especially in areas of energy, trade, manufacturing and fertilisers, official sources said. The war in Ukraine is also set to figure prominently at the talks. New Delhi has been stoutly defending its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained the momentum in the ties notwithstanding the Ukraine conflict. India has not yet condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine and consistently pitched for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has held several telephonic conversations with Putin and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Jon Stewart caned Democrats over their complacency and denial over Joe Biden's re-election campaign. He even insists theres plenty of time to swap out President Joe Biden if voters feel so inclined. This, despite Joe Biden reaffirming, he isn't going anywhere. The Daily Show host Jon Stewart brutally roasts Joe Biden and schools Democrats for being complacent over the candidature.(Comedy Central) Four months is an eternity! the host of The Daily Show quipped during his monologue on Monday night, contrasting Americas drawn-out democratic process with the swift, weeks-long elections in Europe. Stewart made it clear he wasnt outright demanding the president step aside but urged the Democratic Party to at least offer some alternatives for voters. Cant we give this candidacy a stress test? Stewart wondered. Cant we broaden the discussion? Do you get how desperate Americans are for some inspiration or leadership, and a way out of choosing between a megalomaniac and a gerontocracy? Starting The Daily Show on Monday, Stewart critiqued the partys narrative since Bidens dismal performance at the last debate. He showed clips of pro-Biden pundits telling concerned voters to essentially, shut the f**k up. Stewart responded with a succinct explanation of why Democrats might be worried. Then went on to school them with pictorial representation, how big the problem is. Watch The Daily Show host Jon Stewart monologue on Joe Biden The debate was a shocking display of cognitive decline, Stewart said. Anyone whos dealt with aging parents recognized it, and it was tough to watch. He further detailed why Biden needs more scrutiny: Trump met expectations by being predictably crazy. But Bidens stumbles and inability to articulate were shocking. I couldnt believe what I was watching And then it got worse. Instead of treating the American public with respect and discussing what we all saw, we were told, these are not the droids youre looking for. Stewart yelled. There are no participation trophies in endgame democracy. He continued, Authoritarianism and Donald Trump arent our democracys only threats. Get on board or shut up isnt exactly a catchy pro-democracy slogan. Addressing the claim that theres no time to change course with Biden, Stewart specifically countered the argument that there are only four months left. Britain just held an election in two months. France had two in one month, defeated fascism, and still found time for an affair with Denmark Four months. Its 119 days. Stewart wrapped up his monologue with a pitch for the Democrats: an open convention where candidates make their case directly to voters. On Monday, anyone who wants to can give their pitch on how to make democracy more responsive to the people its supposed to serve. On Tuesday, Stewart went on, the winners move to the next round and face Biden By Thursday, the party is energized, unified, and sanctified. You could broadcast the whole thing for four days. So, feel free to overlook any glaring weaknesses in your existential fight for freedom and democracy, and just white-knuckle it till November. Or take a hint from your own candidate Stewart said, playing a clip of Biden in 2023, claiming that about fifty other Democrats could beat Donald Trump. A wheel reportedly fell off a United Airlines Boeing 757-200 moments after takeoff on Monday, July 8. An alarming video shared by RadarBox shows the moment the tire came loose from the planes undercarriage and fell to the ground a few seconds after the aircraft took off. Wheel falls off United Airlines Boeing moments after takeoff from LA airport (REUTERS/Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/File Photo - representational image)(REUTERS) United later confirmed that a wheel came loose at 7 am as Flight 1001 departed Los Angeles International Airport to fly to Denver. Thankfully, the jet safely landed in Denver about three hours later. None of the crew members or passengers were injured. A United spokesperson said the wheel was later found in Los Angeles. The cause of the incident is being investigated. It is unclear if it caused any damage on the ground. In a very similar incident in March, an Osaka, Japan-bound Boeing 777-200 lost a wheel after taking off from San Francisco. The jet had to be diverted to LAX, and it landed safely there. The tire that came loose damaged some vehicles in the parking lot of the airport. Boeing agrees to plead guilty to criminal fraud charge Years of investigations, lawsuits and whistleblower testimony have left Boeings reputation in tatters. The company has now agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge related to two crashes of 737 Max jetliners. This comes after the government stated that the company violated an agreement that had been protecting it from prosecution for over three years, according to the Justice Department. "We can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle on terms of a resolution with the Justice Department, subject to the memorialization and approval of specific terms," Boeing said in a statement to ABC News. The agreement states that the company will be required to pay the maximum statutory fine, and will have to invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs. However, to take effect, the deal will need the approval of a federal judge. Donald Trump has shared his views on the most pertinent question being asked in United States. "Will Joe Biden quit the race to White House?' Donald Trump shares his views on whether Joe Biden will quit the race to White House and whether Democrats will use 25th amendment against him(AP) Former President thinks it is most likely that President Biden will not exit the race despite being cornered and isolated in his own party after his disastrous debate performance and series of events questioning his cognitive abilities. In an interview to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday, Trump stated, Biden has an "ego" and he "doesnt want to quit." "It looks to me like he may very well stay, and he's got an ego, and he doesn't want to quit. He doesn't want to do that. It just looks to me like that's what he wants," Trump said. The Economist View: Joe Bidens horrific debate performance casts his entire candidacy into doubt Despite cards placed well against him and surging donor pressure against his candidature Biden wrote to the House Democrats that hes staying in the race and is committed to beating Trump in November. "We had a Democratic nomination process and the voters have spoken clearly and decisively. I received over 14 million votes, 87% of the votes cast across the entire nominating process. I have nearly 3,900 delegates, making me the presumptive nominee of our party by a wide margin," Bidens letter stated. However, critics and political pundits feel it's only a matter of time when Biden will face the axe and capitulate. If that happens who is the best suited candidate in the Democrats after him to take on Trump? Republican Presidential candidate says, if Biden is forced out or steps down, Vice President Kamala Harris will fill his shoes. "I think she's an ineffective person. She was in charge of the border, she's never been there, she didn't do a good job, and she hasn't done a job on a lot of things," Trump told Fox News. "It would seem to me that from a political standpoint, that's who they're going with. They're not even talking about alternatives." With Biden digging in his heels do the Democrats have the power to remove him? Trump feels, they can consider 25th amendment, but will they? "I think unless they use the 25th amendment, which they'd use in a different sense, he has all the power. He has the delegates. He doesn't have to get out. There's nothing they can do to get him out," Trump said. So, he'll get the nomination. What is the 25th amendment? 25th Amendment will give power to democrats to remove the President posthaste, if they die in office or resign, or if members of the presidents cabinet declare the president unable to fulfill the duties of their office. Nana Akua, GBN America presenter, has opened up on Prince Harry and Meghan Markles "turning point" in their relationship with supporters in America. Although the couple has grown their royal brand after stepping down as senior royals and moving to Montecito, California, they have maintained their distance with the royal family. Meghan has also stayed distant from her father, Thomas Markle, publicly. What was the turning point in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship with fans in US? (Photo by Kola SULAIMON / AFP)(AFP) Akua has now claimed that the "turning point" in the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs popularity with American fans is how they treated both King Charles and Thomas when the two were ill. "All the different things that Meghan did and also Harry, a lot of them could have almost been excused. But I actually think that it was when the King was ill, Akua said. "And also the fact that Meghan is not going to see her dad since he's been sick. She's not contacted him apparently, as far as we know," she added. Akua compared how Meghan treated Thomas to how Harry treated Charles after his cancer diagnosis, and said that the Duchess "hasn't bothered" with her dad even though he was dealing with various health woes. "He had the stroke and she didn't bother seeing him. The difference with Harry when the King was ill, Harry went to see the King, Akua said. "Even your own husband must be looking at you thinking, 'you're not going to go and see your dad?'." There have been so many things, I think it's been cumulative Meanwhile, US commentator Lee Cohen said during the same show that as an American citizen, he too was "excited about Meghan Markle in the beginning, but is "not team Meghan" any longer. On being asked what caused Harry and Meghans popularity to diminish in the US, he said, There have been so many things, I think it's been cumulative. But I think that Harry's memoir, where he absolutely slammed Queen Camilla, Kate, and his own father. Even his own beloved grandparents were mentioned. "And Americans, like everyone else in the world, held the Duke of Edinburgh and the late, beloved Queen in such high regard, Cohen added. Commentator Lizzie Cundy agreed, saying Americans "do not like when people moan. Referring to Meghans criticism of the royal family, Cundy said, "She thought she was going to be this Hollywood princess. And sadly, when you're a royal, you have to put the work in. Look at Princess Anne, one of our hardest working royals, and King Charles and Kate. They do it so effortlessly. She did nothing but whinge and moan." DUBAI, - Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Maersk Sentosa ship in Arabian Sea Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday they targeted the Maersk Sentosa ship in the Arabian sea with several ballistic and wing missiles. "The American ship Maersk Sentosa was targeted in the Arabian Sea by naval forces and missile force in a joint operation," Yahya Sarea, the Yemeni group's military spokesperson, said in a televised speech. Earlier on Tuesday, shipping giant Maersk said one of its vessels, the Maersk Sentosa, reported being targeted by a flying object in the north of the Gulf of Aden. Maersk told Reuters that no injuries to the crew or damage to the ship or cargo were reported. A spokesperson for the Copenhagen-based company said the ship was one of its U.S.-flagged vessels sailing for the subsidiary Maersk Line, Limited. The captain of an unnamed merchant ship reported an explosion close to the vessel some 180 nautical miles east of Yemen's Nishtun, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory note on Tuesday. UKMTO added that the vessel and its crew are safe. Sarea also said the group targeted the Marathopolis ship in the Arabian Sea and the MSC Patnaree ship in the Gulf of Aden with a number of drones. Houthi militants in Yemen have launched drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November. They say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians over the war in Gaza. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. United Nations rights experts are accusing Israel of waging a targeted starvation campaign on the children in Gaza. "We declare that Israel's intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza," said 10 independent United Nations experts in a statement on Tuesday. While the UN has not officially declared a famine in the Gaza Strip, experts, including UN special rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, persisted that there is no denying the famine conditions affecting the Palestinian territory. "Thirty-four Palestinians have died from malnutrition since October 7, the majority being children," revealed experts, who were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council; however, do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, according to CBS News. Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva quickly shut down these claims. "Mr. Fakhri and many so-called 'experts' who joined his statement are as much accustomed to spreading misinformation as they are to supporting Hamas propaganda and shielding the terrorist organization from scrutiny." Since the start of the war, Israeli leaders and military commanders have continually blamed all the human suffering in Gaza on the militant group Hamas. UN rights experts listed three children who had recently died from malnutrition, following a number of others who were said to have starved to death in northern Gaza earlier this year. "Fayez Ataya, who was barely six months old, died on May 30, 2024, and 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi died on June 1, 2024, at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah," the report read, adding that nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida died just two days later in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. "With the death of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, there is no doubt that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza," it stated. Gaza has faced a catastrophic humanitarian crisis since the war broke, and the UN has been warning for months of an impending famine. It's important to note that a famine declaration does not carry any legal implications, but it can help to incentivize international support for an affected population. "The world had not done more to avert the disaster. When a two-month-old baby and 10-year-old Yazan Al Kafarneh died of hunger on February 24 and March 4, respectively, this confirmed that famine had struck northern Gaza," they said. "The whole world should have intervened earlier to stop Israel's genocidal starvation campaign and prevented these deaths... Inaction is complicity." Meanwhile, the Israeli Mission highlighted that the latest assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership determined that famine had not materialized after aid access improved somewhat in Gaza. "Israel has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip," it said, claiming Hamas "intentionally steal and hide aid from civilians." Israeli officials also stated that the aid piling up on the Gaza side of border crossings is because of the agencies refusal to distribute it over fears of looting and violence, reported The Times of Israel. Multiple aid agencies have accused Israel of limiting access to aid in Gaza as well as creating bureaucratic obstacles to movement around the enclave. Popularity of Chinese-style products overseas mirrors new momentum of China's foreign trade 16:18, July 09, 2024 By Luo Shanshan ( People's Daily Thanks to the vogue for horse-faced skirts, neo-Chinese styles and other Chinese fashion trends around the world, jacquard fabrics and products independently developed by a Zhejiang-based fabric company are seeing booming sales in overseas markets. In the first five months of this year, the company exported over 40 million yuan ($5.5 million) of such fabrics and products, successfully opening up markets in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and other regions. A foreigner shops umbrella in the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Meiqing) Apart from traditional Chinese attire, Chinese calligraphy, painting, porcelain, and other products are also hitting the European market via China-Europe Railway Express. Chinese beauty brands are gaining a large number of followers on overseas social media platforms as well. The combination of traditional culture and Chinese manufacturing is driving a "going global" trend of Chinese consumer goods, highlighting China's foreign trade and conveying the sector's new momentum of high-quality development to the world. What drives this trend is the relentless effort of Chinese companies to upgrade their manufacturing processes. In Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, a silk fabric company has established a technology-driven development model, following the trends of technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and consumer demand. Foreigners experience Chinese tea culture in a teahouse in Rizhao, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Fang Dehua) The company's independently developed automated farming system for young silkworms enables automated and intelligent production. The company has built an efficient and stable system that covers the entire industrial chain, from a single mulberry leaf or cocoon to a silk thread and ultimately the final product, providing a solid foundation for producing high-quality silk fabrics. Whether it is silk, porcelain, or attire, Chinese-style consumer goods have distinct cultural characteristics and are imbued with rich cultural connotations. Many companies are exploring the multidimensional expression of traditional Chinese culture through inheritance and innovation. For instance, they collaborate with museums and historical blocks to develop co-branded products, and combine traditional culture with contemporary popular art and daily necessities. At the recent China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, visitors were treated to an impressive display of cultural creativity. The diverse and beautifully crafted exhibits showcased fresh ways of expressing culture, giving traditional elements a modern twist and bringing new vitality to them. A Hungarian student joins a traditional Chinese costume cultural week activity in Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang province, Nov. 4, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Lu Xin) How can a traditional oil-paper umbrella quickly find its way into the homes of overseas consumers? With support and guidance from Hangzhou Customs, a tech firm in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province has started cross-border e-commerce retail business. Currently, the company ships nearly 100 orders of oil-paper umbrellas to its overseas clients on a daily basis. Cross-border e-commerce bridges manufacturing and consumption, opening a new window for foreign consumers to explore Chinese culture and purchase Chinese goods. It also provides a fresh channel for "China chic" products to go global. According to Hangzhou Customs, from January to May, Zhejiang province exported 61.99 billion yuan worth of cultural products, up 12.2 percent year-on-year. This showcases Chinese companies' proactive efforts to adapt and expand their trade methods. It is believed that as more Chinese companies delve deeper into the essence of traditional culture to launch high-quality products and strengthen their brands abroad, Chinese-style products will receive more orders in overseas markets, thus showcasing the new charm of Chinese manufacturing on the world stage. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) The recently constructed Radisson Hotel Reims will welcome its first guests in summer 2024. Located on a former railway site in a thriving part of Reims, the hotel has been designed by owners Alboran for travellers passing through the 'Cite des Sacres' and, above all, for the city's inhabitants. A premium hotel in the heart of the Champagne region Just a stone's throw from the Reims Arena, UCPA Sport Station, Boulingrin covered market, and shops, the new Radisson Hotel Reims is an integral part of the regeneration project led by Greater Reims, which aims to link this new eco-district to the city centre. Located an hour from Paris, Reims has always been a top destination for visitors thanks to the city's world-famous history and cuisine. The Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, Palace of Tau, and Champagne region welcome 5 million visitors every year, almost half of them from abroad. "A place of comfort, creativity and poetry" The interior designer Ana Moussinet has been given free rein to design all 102 rooms of the hotel, as well as the restaurant, fitness centre, meeting rooms and the rooftop on the 8th floor. Throughout the public areas, the key words are originality, theatricality and enchantment. The rooms are characterised by an elegant, intimate and enveloping atmosphere. To confer a unique identity upon the establishment, Ana Moussinet has combined bespoke furniture with vintage pieces to create a quirky, artistic vision of the city of kings. In collaboration with the curator Sylvie Castellani, the space has been embellished with works by the artist Maia Flore. The Alboran group gave the photographer carte blanche to showcase the magnificent heritage of Reims and the surrounding region. Maia Flore has created a visual narrative around the city's iconic landmarks, drawing on historical facts and architectural features to rediscover these places from a fresh, offbeat perspective. Her photographic style, which combines humour with poetry, reveals the beauty of the hotel's different spaces and encourages guests to enjoy a memorable experience. All the spaces have been designed to meet the needs of business clients, with a first meeting room of 50m2, a second of 28m2 and finally the indoor StudioRoof of 80m2, designed to host all types of functions. The people of Reims will also be able to enjoy this lifestyle venue, with its convivial and inspiring coworking space. The bar-restaurant on the ground floor serves delicious local cuisine and can seat up to 70 diners, while Le Rooftop offers a breathtaking view of Reims and its cathedral. Hotel website ATLANTA, July 9, 2024Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based third-party hotel operator and investor, today announced that Ron Fader has been named senior vice president, finance and accounting. In his new role, Fader will ensure excellence in the hotel day-to-day financial accounting, financial reporting, cash flow planning and management activities, while bolstering the accounting and finance team to help support future growth. With nearly 35 years of financial experience, many of those in hospitality, Fader most recently was senior vice president of finance & accounting with Atrium Hospitality. While there, he was responsible for the strategic direction of the hotel accounting department for the company's portfolio of 80-plus hotels generating more than $1 billion in revenues annually. Prior to that, Fader was a partner and vice president of finance, hotels & restaurants, of Legacy Ventures and held similar leadership positions with InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) and Hilton Corporation. Fader received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Tulane University. Javier Escola assumes the position of Director of Food & Beverage at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, Javier brings extensive experience from leading hospitality establishments around the world. Prior to joining the San Juan Marriott, Javier held the role of Director of Food & Beverage in a well-respected hotel in Qatar. He also served as Director of Food & Beverage at Sheraton La Caleta Resort & Spa in Tenerife, Spain. Protesters in Barcelona have sprayed visitors with water as part of a demonstration against mass tourism. Demonstrators marching through areas popular with tourists on Saturday chanted tourists go home and squirted them with water pistols, while others carried signs with slogans including Barcelona is not for sale. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the city in the latest demonstration against mass tourism in Spain, which has seen similar actions in the Canary Islands and Mallorca recently, decrying the impact on living costs and quality of life for local people. The demonstration was organised by a group of more than 100 local organizations, led by the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turistic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth). Read the full article at cnn.com Irvan Sutionos insatiable curiosity has led him on a fascinating journey across continents. As a young student, he was drawn to the idea of fostering human progress through technology, and initially wanted to pursue bioengineering with a focus on human evolutionary biology. However, after a chance encounter with someone in the hospitality industry, he made a surprise pivot towards a degree in hospitality managementa decision for Irvan driven by its human touch, untapped business and growth opportunities in the region, and the allure of exploring the world through work. And it was while at EHL Hospitality Business School that he discovered a hidden talent for real estate, and a passion for social ventures. Since graduating, his ventures have taken him on a global odyssey from Switzerland to France, the UK, Thailand, and full circle back to his hometown, Jakarta. Now, as the Head of Innovation and Asset Management at his family business, Irvan is leveraging his overseas experience to prototype affordable, sustainable housing to enhance the well-being of his fellow Indonesians. The analytical thinker's path in hotel real estate As a high school student at a boarding school in China, Irvan wasnt initially considering the hospitality industry. That changed when a family member who worked at a luxury hotel chain in Shanghai took him to visit numerous properties across the city, opening his eyes to one of the most mobile and fastest-growing industries in the world. It was then that I decided to apply to the first and best hospitality school in the world, EHL, recalls Irvan, who thrived in the campus international environment. Academically, his analytical mind was drawn to finance-related courses such as Financial Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Real Estate Finance, and Portfolio Management. These deeply interested him. I could explore different ways to arrive at a precise answer. This in turn led to his interest in hotel real estate, prompting him to pursue an internship in 2015 with HVSs Singapore team (Hospitality Valuation Services), renowned for its specialisation in hotel valuation, consulting, asset management, and investment advisory. Building on this experience, Irvan launched his professional career with the hotel brokerage team at CBRE Hotels in London after graduation. Entrepreneurship with a positive impact Inspired by his father who founded a successful construction business, Irvan also dabbled in various entrepreneurial ventures while at EHL. These included everything from side hustles such as selling sandwiches to dormmates on the weekends, and launching significant, personal projects such as Isara, a Deaf community-centred platform. Isara soon blossomed into a community platform for individuals with hearing loss, complete with a sign language learning application and online interpreter services. As Isara grew, Irvan maintained the role of co-founder, and the project was later handpicked by the French Government to be part of 70 global startups in the French Tech Ticket program. For a time after graduation, Irvan regularly commuted between Paris, where he was actively building Isara, and London, where he was working for CBRE Hotels in hotel real estate. Empowering communities While Irvan was working in Europe, Southeast Asia was experiencing a surge in tourism, with ASEANs regional economies growing significantly faster than the global average. Thats when Irvan seized the opportunity to work with Bangkok-based hotel owner-operator Compass in 2018. He says, I decided to exit Isara, and made a shift to the buy-side in hotel investments, and relocated to Thailand. Within just a year there, he rose to the role of manager in investments and compliance. However, it wasnt long before he felt something was missing. Isara had ignited a passion in me, he said. I missed the social impact aspect of what I do. This realisation led him to join the Global Shapers Community (GSC) in Bangkok, working on numerous projects such as career consulting, gamifying financial literacy for Thai university students, rolling out global humanitarian aid, as well as organising local blood donations, to name a few. Affiliated with the World Economic Forum, GSC is a network of young individuals working together to address social challenges across the globe. Back home to family business After 13 years of living and working abroad, Irvans now returned home to Indonesia to apply his global expertise to his family business, Anantagraha, which specialises in bespoke design and build services for high-end residential and industrial projects. Growing up in a family of architects, Ive seen how a few simple sketches can turn into solid structures that provide shelter, create a sense of community, and bring business. DISCOVER HIS PROFILE However, he also acknowledges that the construction industry is notoriously bad for the environment, and painfully slow to embrace new technologies. Understanding those opposing realities, Irvan wanted to lead his family business into sustainable ventures and position it as a catalyst for Indonesia's smart city initiatives. This move combines his years of experience in real estate, as well as his passion for social impact. I'm currently working on a prototype for a smart and green townhouse that balances quality, affordability, and sustainability. The idea is ambitious, but if financially viable, he wants to expand it to Indonesias new capital of the future: Nusantara. Work hard, play hard, stay curious In addition to working at Anantagraha, Irvans also consulting pro-bono to make small medium enterprises (SMEs) in hospitality and tourism in Jakarta more sustainable, with plans to teach primary school students about UN Sustainable Development Goals through a board game. He truly embodies the spirit of EHL: work hard, play hard, stay curious. EHLs alumni community is full of people with passion who are driven by grit, who enjoy life, and who aspire to innovate. As Irvan recounts: A prime example is one of my closest friends at EHL, who pivoted from project managing the pre-opening of one of the world's 50 best bars in Singapore to leading the rollout of award-winning video games at one of the largest independent video game development companies. So whats Irvans advice for those wanting to make a positive change in the world? Start small. Explore different projects and initiatives, and see where your skills and passions can make a real difference. Its summed up by one of Irvans favourite sayings: We learn who we are in practice, not in theory. About EHL Group EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector. With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source Event Date: June 26, 2024 Venue: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, N.C., USA Sponsored by: Hospitality Net On June 26, 2024, the Charlotte Convention Center buzzed with energy and innovation as eight ambitious entrepreneurs presented breakthrough business concepts at E20X North America. Sponsored by Hospitality Net, this event was part of the expanding Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) program, designed to reinvigorate the hospitality technology industry. Purpose and Format: E20X North America aimed to boost innovation in the hospitality technology sector. The competition featured eight entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to a room full of HITEC attendees and a panel of expert judges, including hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs, and industry insiders. Each startup had four minutes to pitch and a Q&A session with the judges. Judging and Awards: Two awards were presented: the Judge's Choice Award and the People's Choice Award. The Judge's Choice Award, selected by the panel of judges, included a $5,000 prize. Audience votes determined the People's Choice Award. Winners: Judge's Choice Award: Folio: Folio impressed the judges with its innovative procurement and payment platform that streamlines hotel operations. People's Choice Award: H2O Connected: H2O Connected captured the audience's favor with their wireless technology to monitor and save water in hotel toilets, showcasing environmental and financial benefits. Event Highlights The event started with a welcome message emphasizing the importance of preparation and concise communication. Each startup took the stage to present its innovative solutions, ranging from data-driven guest experiences to efficient procurement systems. Afiixify: An AI-driven platform designed to help hotels select the best technology solutions based on their specific needs. It uses a proprietary matching algorithm to connect hoteliers with software that fits their requirements (website: https://www.getaffixify.com) Away Together: A mobile app that enhances guest communication and experience by providing hotel information and enabling guest-to-guest interactions. It allows for pre-trip planning and post-trip nostalgia-building activities. (website: https://www.myawaytogether.com) BonApp: This POS digital menu app enhances customer experiences and optimizes management in hospitality businesses. It offers features like multi-restaurant management, customizable digital menus, Q.R. code ordering and payments, and real-time data analytics (website: http://www.bonapp.group/) Crqlar: A guest data platform that creates personalized experiences for luxury hotels by centralizing and analyzing guest data. It connects various hotel tools to provide actionable insights for enhancing guest services. (website: https://www.crqlar.com/) Directful: A platform focused on automating hotel guest communication and marketing. It uses A.I. to send personalized messages to guests, encouraging repeat visits and improving engagement. (website: https://directful.com) Folio: The Judge's Choice Award winner, Folio, presented their platform that simplifies procurement for hotels by integrating suppliers, digitizing invoices, and offering a user-friendly interface similar to Amazon. (website: https://folio.co) H2O Connected: The People's Choice Award winner highlighted their technology to detect and fix water wastage issues in hotel toilets, aiming to save water and reduce costs. (website: https://www.leakalertorpro.com) Yipy: A standards management software designed to help hotels organize, manage, and communicate operational standards. It aims to replace traditional pen-and-paper methods with a digital solution that ensures consistency and compliance. (website: https://yipy.io) Conclusion E20X North America 2024 showcased the innovative spirit driving the hospitality technology industry. With groundbreaking solutions presented by passionate entrepreneurs, the event highlighted the industry's ongoing evolution. The winners, Folio and H2O Connected, exemplified the potential of technology to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and guest experiences in the hospitality sector. The success of E20X North America underlines the importance of innovation and technology in transforming the hospitality industry, ensuring it continues to meet the ever-evolving demands of guests and operators alike. About Hospitality Net Acting as a neutral broker and publisher of hotel business information, Hospitality Net is the #1 ranked global website for the global hospitality community. Hospitality Net enables all industry stakeholders to amplify visibility on its platform and connect with the industry globally through a membership business model, unlike any other publishing initiative in the industry. Members include actors throughout the hospitality spectrum - hotel groups, vendors/suppliers, associations, universities/schools, consultants, and event organizers. To learn more, visit hospitalitynet.org. To learn more, visit hospitalitynet.org. Fosun has Sold Tomamu Resorts for JPY 40 Billion Yuyuan Inc., a subsidiary of China-based Fosun International Limited (Fosun), has sold 99.998% of its subsidiary company, which owns three resorts in Tomamu, to Japan-based YCH16 for JPY 40 billion. The Hoshino Resorts Tomamu (HRT) includes three hotels: the 535-key Tomamu The Tower, the 192-key Risonare Tomamu, and the 341-key Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido. The resort also features 29 ski trails, 21 food and beverage outlets, an indoor waterpark, a farm area, the famous Unkai Terrace, and other recreational activities. In 2023, HRT achieved an occupancy rate of 75%. Fosun had acquired HRT in 2015 for JPY 18.3 billion. Mahil Group Acquires the Ibis Budget Windsor in Brisbane, Australia Australia-based Mahil Group has acquired the 50-key ibis Budget Windsor in Brisbane, Australia, for an undisclosed sum. The property is located on a 2,100-square-meter freehold land and is in proximity to key demand generators such as Brisbanes central business district, RNA Showgrounds, and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The property features an on-site dining area providing breakfast buffets, guest laundry facilities, and on-site car parking for up to 40 vehicles. This acquisition is the third venture of Mahil Group in Brisbane; their existing portfolio of Brisbane properties comprises the 47-key Pegasus Motor Inn and the 44-key Alloggio Hamilton Brisbane Airport. HKMU Acquires Urbanwood Hung Hom Hotel for Student Housing Hong Kong Metropolitan University ("HKMU") announced its acquisition of the newly developed 255-key Urbanwood Hung Hom hotel from the Law family through the Hong Kong-based developer Yu Tai Hing Co., Ltd. for an undisclosed sum, with plans to convert it into student accommodations. Market sources have indicated the transaction price to be approximately HKD 1 billion. The hotel is located at 84-102 Wuhu Street and is within a ten-minute walk to the Ho Man Tin and Whampoa MTR stations, and a 20-minute walk from the HKMU campus. The property consists of two adjoining 16-storey buildings, with a total gross floor area of roughly 6,170 square meters. Thailand to Extend THB 40 Per Room Per Year Fee Exemption for Further Two Years The Thailand government has extended the THB 40 per room per year fee exemption for hotel operators for two years, from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026, to support hoteliers affected by the pandemic. The exemption is expected to save Thai hoteliers a total of 27.1 million baht per year, based on 677,493 hotel rooms. Inbound tourism has generated over THB 700 billion, with Thailand welcoming 14.8 million tourists so far this year. The government targets 36.7 million tourists by year-end. About HVS HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com. NUMA accelerates its European expansion with additional 800 units in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and aims for further growth in the UK The acquisition sees NUMAs property portfolio increase to over 7,300 units in Europe Lifestyle apart hotel and serviced apartment brand, Native Places adds a very attractive and compatible portfolio of properties in cities with high entry barriers, like Europes highest ranked hospitality market London The NUMA Group, Europe's leading operator of a fully digitalised hospitality platform, today announces the acquisition of a lifestyle apart hotel brand Native Places (https://nativeplaces.com) from Native Holdings. NUMA Group has acquired 100% of Native Places the short-stay business division of Native Holdings, founded by Guy Nixon, for an undisclosed price. Native Residential will continue as part of Native Holdings and will be focused on growing as one of the UKs largest operators of build-to-rent, co-living, mixed use and commercial assets under the leadership of Guy Nixon. Native Places is one of the UKs pioneers in the lifestyle apart hotel and serviced apartment sector, with over 800 units, and it is headquartered in London. Native Places assets range from small to medium-scale serviced apartment buildings in London under the brand of The Apartment Collection to larger-scale Native Apart Hotels. When staying with Native Apart Hotels, guests get freedom of an apartment with the comfort and services of a boutique hotel in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The Native Places brand is widely recognised in both the leisure and corporate markets. It is known for offering beautifully curated and aesthetically designed properties that celebrate the best of its neighbourhood. Native Places assets enjoy strong ratings across all major platforms. With its purpose-driven mission to build connections through environments, experiences, and moments, celebrating the inclusivity and diversity of the Native Places community, Native Places complements NUMAs philosophy. The acquisition of Native Places marks a logical continuation of NUMAs growth strategy across Europe. NUMA is focusing on hotel and commercial properties in central locations of Europes major cities for conversion to digitalised hotels. The company targets lively neighbourhoods and main demand drivers for tourism and business travellers. NUMA Group recently reached 2bn in real estate assets under management and manages over 6,500 rooms and apartments across 34 major cities in 14 European countries. Native Places will add over 800 new units to NUMAs property portfolio, bringing the total to over 7,300 units. NUMA aims to transform the European hospitality sector, a market valued at over EUR 100 billion, responding to evolving consumer preferences where simultaneously, short-term rental platforms are encountering increasingly stringent urban regulations, especially concerning the misuse of residential properties. Christian Gaiser, CEO and Co-Founder of NUMA Group, explains: At NUMA, our mission is to redefine the hospitality landscape, tailoring it to the demands of contemporary consumers. We are at the forefront of digitising and elevating the entire travel experience, continuously seeking innovative ways to deepen the connection between our guests and their preferred urban destinations. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Native Places and their team. We aim to establish a leading position in the UK's premier cities, with London being the #1 European hospitality market. Thanks to Native Places, we will gain access to a very strong brand recognised by leisure and business travellers." He adds: Native Places has built a substantial direct share through its corporate distribution channels, as well as B2B and B2C brand recognition. Native Places exceptional and historical portfolio perfectly complements our expansion strategygiven Native Places outstanding ratings and high guest satisfaction. This collaboration marks another significant step forward in NUMAs ambition to expand across Europe and secure a dominant foothold in the UK market. Guy Nixon, the founder of Native Places and CEO of Native Residential, says: Im thrilled to see Native Places becoming part of a pan-European platform offering our corporate and leisure guests an exciting choice of serviced apartments across a growing European network. I couldnt be prouder of the Native Places brand and portfolio of assets that weve built over the years. Olivia Immesi, the current CEO of Native Places, has played a significant role in the acquisition process and will maintain her leadership role as the company joins the NUMA Group. Both Olivia and Archie Hunter, who has significantly expanded the Native Places portfolio in recent years, will continue to foster this growth in collaboration with the NUMA team. I extend my best wishes to the entire Native Places team as they transition into the NUMA Group. Olivia Immesi said: "Native Places has become a leading lifestyle apart hotel and serviced apartment operator in the UK, and were thrilled to be merging with NUMA as it expands its presence in the UK. Im incredibly excited to continue to lead the Native Places brand as it joins a fast-moving European and tech-driven serviced apartment platform, creating one of the largest platforms of lifestyle serviced apartments in Europe. Industry insights from Skift and other experts show that alternative accommodation, such as short-term rentals, accounted for 20% of the travel market in 2022. This segment has expanded at twice the rate of the broader market and is projected to continue its robust double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) as it gains mainstream acceptance. NUMA's innovative approach integrates advanced technology and pricing tools, along with the use of anonymised data, to enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth. This is achieved through process automation, which reduces operational costs, and smart pricing strategies that optimise occupancy rates. Consequently, NUMA's model fosters more sustainable growth and structural profitability that surpasses industry averages within the hospitality sector. About NUMA Group Berlin-based NUMA Group is the leading European operator of fully-digitized boutique apartments and technology developer. The company with the brand attitude "Traveling with Soul" offers innovative design hotels for modern travelers. As a reliable partner for investors, owners and developers, NUMA uses proprietary technology-based operator solutions that largely automate operational processes and increase cost efficiencies and revenues. NUMA successfully operates more than 4,500 units in European A-cities, including Berlin, Munich, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona and Vienna. numastays.com - partner.numastays.com Joachim M. Guentert NUMA Group Europe - Corporate Communications +49 (0)30 25555 3846 NUMA Group Marriott International today announced the launch of Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy (the Program), a comprehensive online travel booking program designed as a direct channel for small to medium-sized businesses. The Program combines an expanded booking experience with benefits and rewards available only through Marriott Bonvoys award-winning travel program and portfolio of brands. Starting today, Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy is available to small to medium-sized businesses based in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America and is anticipated to expand to other regions. According to a global survey commissioned by Marriott Bonvoy and conducted by Wakefield Research among business travelers at small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Mexico,1 75% report experiencing frustrations with their travel booking platforms. 56% say they are difficult to use, 27% are unhappy with the inability to book travel and hotels from the same place, and more than a quarter (27%) express disappointment with the platforms lack of integration with their travel expense programs. In fact, 58% are so unwilling to work within their current programs that they would rather ask for forgiveness than permission for booking outside their companies travel management platforms. With Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy, companies have the ability to book hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio at a discounted rate, as well as flights, rail, and rental cars, within one easy-to-use multilingual tool. The Program includes additional features that satisfy business needs, such as access to live traveler data, real-time reporting, and expense management. We recognize the significant value small businesses provide to the hotel industry, which is why were excited to combine the benefits of our award-winning travel program with a comprehensive suite of tools in Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy, said Drew Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue and Technology Officer, Marriott International. Whether small to medium-sized businesses are looking for convenient online booking capabilities for their employees or better expense management solutions, the all-in-one platform, merged with our portfolio of hotel brands around the world, provides everything they need to manage their business travel needs. With a seamless experience at every step, companies can now take their travel to the next level and benefit from the following features: Discounted Marriott Bonvoy Rates and Awards: Small to medium-sized businesses that join Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will be eligible to select a discount at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio around the world (subject to availability) while earning points for future stays at participating hotels, room upgrades, and more. Participating businesses can also receive Marriott Bonvoy Elite status awards after certain companywide usage thresholds are reached. These status awards can be gifted to employees, who can enjoy the benefits that each Marriott Bonvoy Elite status level provides to members. Small businesses that have the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card from Chase are also invited to apply for Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy. All Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card Members who join the Program can continue to enjoy the benefits of their Cards. Elevated Shopping Experience: The online booking tool serves as a one-stop shop for small to medium-sized business travelers to compare, book, manage, and change Marriott Bonvoy hotel, flight, rail, and car rental reservations all within one integrated platform that supports compliance with their companies travel policies. The online booking tool serves as a one-stop shop for small to medium-sized business travelers to compare, book, manage, and change Marriott Bonvoy hotel, flight, rail, and car rental reservations all within one integrated platform that supports compliance with their companies travel policies. Customizable Travel Policies: Travel managers can take control of their companies travel policies and ensure compliance with spending limits. From setting clear guidelines for their unique needs to managing expenses, the self-service tool makes it easy for managers to make changes. Travel managers can take control of their companies travel policies and ensure compliance with spending limits. From setting clear guidelines for their unique needs to managing expenses, the self-service tool makes it easy for managers to make changes. Global Travel Policy Management and Reporting: Real-time analytics empower managers with detailed insights on travel spend, sustainability reporting and behavior so they can make policy adjustments. Real-time analytics empower managers with detailed insights on travel spend, sustainability reporting and behavior so they can make policy adjustments. Traveler Health and Safety Monitoring: The travel insights tool gives managers the ability to monitor the well-being and safety of employees on the move. Managers can view interactive maps to stay informed of potential disruptions and proactively mitigate risks, helping keep teams safe and their businesses running smoothly. The travel insights tool gives managers the ability to monitor the well-being and safety of employees on the move. Managers can view interactive maps to stay informed of potential disruptions and proactively mitigate risks, helping keep teams safe and their businesses running smoothly. Expense Management Solutions: Businesses that sign up for Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will have the option to use an expense management tool. Travelers can choose to integrate the Program with existing expense management platforms and submit payments with virtual credit card They can also automate expense reports based on set policies, making it easy for managers to approve and reconcile expenses. Businesses that sign up for Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will have the option to use an expense management tool. Travelers can choose to integrate the Program with existing expense management platforms and submit payments with virtual credit card They can also automate expense reports based on set policies, making it easy for managers to approve and reconcile expenses. Access to Marriott Bonvoy Benefits: Employees of small and medium-sized businesses who join Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will have full access to the offerings of Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott Internationals award-winning travel program and marketplace. Members can take advantage of benefits such as member rates, free breakfast, late checkout, mobile check-in, mobile keys, and mobile chat on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app, free in-room Wi-Fi, room upgrades and more, subject to availability. Additionally, members can earn points at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy globally and enjoy free stays by redeeming points or a combination of points and cash or use points to bid on Marriott Bonvoy Moments experiences. Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy is powered by Spotnana, a Travel-as-a-Service platform modernizing the infrastructure of the travel industry. For more information on Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy or to apply for the Program, visit www.marriott.com/businessaccess. 1 The Marriott Business Travelers Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between May 22 and May 29, 2024, among 1,500 business travelers at small to medium-sized companies in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Mexico, with business travelers defined as those taking a business-related trip requiring an overnight stay in the past 12 months, using an email invitation and an online survey. Small companies are defined as those with fewer than 1,000 employees, and midsize companies are defined as those with 1,000-4,999 employees. BOSTON, MASS. and THE WOODLANDS, TX Pyramid Global Hospitality the powerhouse hospitality company behind inspired collections like Benchmark Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle and Hamilton Pyramid Europe announces the launch of PYRAMIDWORKS, a new brand dedicated to crafting and overseeing curated office communities, catering to the evolving needs of today's workplace environment. As businesses navigate the transition back to office settings following extended periods of remote work, PYRAMIDWORKS addresses these challenges with a comprehensive suite of management services. These include in-office concierge, cultural programming, leadership training, property management, tech support, and F&B services, designed to enhance workplace culture and productivity. Employee satisfaction is paramount in today's competitive landscape. A positive workplace culture not only boosts morale but also drives organizational effectiveness. We're not just fostering teamwork; we're cultivating vibrant workplace communities rooted in the principles of hospitality. Ellen Sinclair, the visionary behind PYRAMIDWORKS PYRAMIDWORKS will be the newest division of Pyramid Global Hospitality a leading third-party management company operating more than 240 hotels and resorts around the world bringing more than three decades of experience in managing training facilities, corporate campuses and multiple office space projects with iconic brands such as JetBlue, Paramount Pictures, Verizon, Deloitte and Whirlpool. PYRAMIDWORKS provides customized solutions to enhance the workplace and company culture. For more information on how PYRAMIDWORKS can transform your workplace, visit pyramidglobal.com/pyramidworks. About PYRAMIDWORKS PYRAMIDWORKS, a division of Pyramid Global Hospitality, specializes in providing comprehensive workplace services and solutions aimed at fostering an exceptional office culture. Drawing on Pyramid Global Hospitality's extensive experience in hotel and property management, PYRAMIDWORKS brings the ethos of hospitality to corporate settings for some of the worlds leading companies, including JetBlue, Whirlpool, and Verizon. Services encompass property management, cultural programming, tech support, corporate management training, F&B services, and more. For further details, visit pyramidglobal.com/pyramidworks. About Pyramid Global Hospitality Pyramid Global Hospitality, a leading third-party hospitality management company, is the powerhouse brand behind an inspired collection of forward-thinking professionals providing powerful solutions to some of the world's best hotels and resorts. Formed by the 2021 merger of three hotel and resort management companies, the organization's global portfolio now spans more than 240 properties across the U.S., Caribbean and Europe, with offices in Boston; The Woodlands (Texas); Cincinnati; and London. For more information, visit www.PyramidGlobal.com. Fort Lauderdale, a staple South Florida beach destination, is shifting its focus beyond leisure tourism with a $1.3-billion investment in the Broward County Convention Center and adjoining Omni Hotel. Following this project, Fort Lauderdale will position itself as both a vacation destination and a commercial city. Fort Lauderdale, known for its beaches and canals, has grown beyond a leisure destination in recent years. As the focus of this shift, the Broward County Convention Center is undergoing a $1.3-billion renovation and expansion. The highly anticipated project is underway and slated for completion in 2025. The first phase of the expansion, consisting of the west expansion building, was completed in 2021 and added an additional 350,000 square feet of space to the main exhibit halls and loading docks. Upon completion of the entire project, the convention center will offer 1.2 million square feet of meeting space, including a 65,000-square-foot waterfront ballroom, an open-air amphitheater, a waterfront plaza, and enhanced water-taxi access. Furthermore, the convention center will be connected to the brand-new, 800-room Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel that is currently under construction. Once completed, the 29-story hotel will offer over 73,000 square feet of meeting space, several food and beverage outlets, a state-of-the-art spa, a fitness center, and over 30,000 square feet of pool decks. The hotel and the convention centers east expansion building are both under construction and celebrated their topping-out in December 2023. The new Omni will be the largest hotel in Fort Lauderdale in terms of guestroom count and the third largest in Broward County, behind the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and the Diplomat Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, according to data provided by STR. The convention center is already home to several annual events. For example, it serves as one of the central locations for the renowned Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, recognized as the largest in-water boat show in the world. As of June 2024, the convention calendar reflects events through 2028 that span regional, national, and international conferences. While the Omni hotel will likely focus on the meeting and group segment that the convention center attracts, the hotels location, amenities, and overall product offering should also be attractive to traditional leisure guests, as well as corporate travelers looking to enjoy all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer. The Broward County Convention Center expansion and associated hotel development will position Broward County, and specifically Fort Lauderdale, as a premier convention destination. Our unique methodology, which involves conducting primary interviews within local markets, enables us to gather real-time insights and current data. This approach ensures an in-depth understanding of each market we operate in. For comprehensive information about the Fort Lauderdale market or for assistance in making investment decisions that align with your specific goals and risk tolerance, we invite you to reach out to Emeldina Paratusic, your HVS South Florida hospitality expert. Sources: View source From left to right: Karin Sheppard, IHG, Murat Kassanov, Hayat Construction Group & Kassanov Hotel Management, Kenneth Macpherson, IHG IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) announced the signing of the first Vignette Collection in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The property will become IHGs second luxury and lifestyle hotel in Kazakhstan, joining InterContinental Almaty. The 95-room Vignette Collection property, signed under a franchise agreement with Meliora (part of HAYAT Construction), will further strengthen IHGs Vignette Collection portfolio across Europe which stands at three open hotels and seven in the pipeline. Expected to open in the first half of 2027, the property forms part of the Meliora mixed-used development, built by Hayat Construction. The new development will be strategically located on the main road around the city centre, with direct connection to and from airport and key attractions including Kok Tobe Park - a popular recreation area with panoramic views of Almaty, making it the ideal location for business and leisure guests. Vignette Collection is IHG Hotels & Resorts first collection brand and represents a curation of distinct hand-picked hotels, each offering one-of-a-kind stays in destinations to remember. There are now 12 Vignette Collection hotels open around the world with a further 23 in the pipeline. The brand is grounded in individuality, intrigue, and experience whilst its properties are united by a commitment to offer a more responsible way to travel, designed with the thoughtful venturer in mind. The first Vignette Collection in Kazakhstan will demonstrate its own expression of the brand hallmarks through a distinct Memorable Ritual and A Means For Good partnership. Memorable Rituals connect guests with the hotels cultural landscape through purposeful and meaningful travel encounters. As part of IHGs ambitious Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plan to drive positive change for people, planet and communities, each Vignette Collection hotel has its own A Means For Good. This unifying hallmark sees properties partner with a local non-profit organisation to spearhead positive contributions to the communities in which it operates. The hotel will feature unique, stylish guest rooms, and guests will be able to enjoy a destination restaurant and bar, as well as premium wellness facilities including a spa and gym. (Mrs) Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: We are delighted to grow our long-standing partnership with Mr. Kassanov and bring the first Vignette Collection property to Kazakhstan. Almaty is the countrys cultural centre and the perfect location for our Vignette Collection brand - bringing inspiration from its surroundings, history and architecture.The signing of the Vignette Collection in Almaty takes our signed and open properties to more than ten in the country. It reflects the growing momentum of conversion deals we continue to see across Europe, as more owners look to retain their distinctive hotel identity, while benefitting from IHGs global scale, luxury & lifestyle expertise, and powerful IHG One Rewards loyalty programme something Vignette Collection offers perfectly. Murat Kassanov, Chairman of Hayat Construction Group and Kassanov Hotel Management, which is the operating company of InterContinental Istanbul, said: We are excited to be growing our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts with the signing of the first Vignette Collection in Kazakhstan. IHG has been a great partner with InterContinental Istanbul, and we believe its Vignette Collection brand fits perfectly with our vision for our Meliora development. We look forward to debuting the brand and providing the next generation of luxury and lifestyle travellers with one-of-a-kind unforgettable luxury experiences once we open our doors in early 2027. New Features for PPC Ads in 2024 Google Ads recently unveiled a host of updates to help marketers stay abreast of new features for PPC ads in 2024 and leverage AI for guest acquisition. Independent boutique hotels wont need to allocate as many resources to marketing, thanks to new time-saving features for creating, measuring, testing, and deploying ads. Combining trends in search engine optimization and best practices for paid search creates opportunities to capture valuable real estate on search engine results pages (SERPs), as well as economically boost brand visibility and bookings. What Are Some New Features for PPC Ads in 2024? If youre ready to step up your PPC strategy, weve highlighted some of the tools and tactics changing hospitality marketing in 2024. 1. Enhanced AI and Automation Google Ads trends for 2024 are centered around AI-powered tools that optimize campaigns and generate data. When small business advertisers lean on technology to create custom reports and automate tasks, they can target customers more effectively. Leaving AI to watch for trends in Google Ads performance leads to smarter PPC bidding strategies without adding to your workload. The improved decision-making and intuitive campaign adjustments ensure the hotels cost-per-click marketing is beneficial and cost-effective. 2. Increased Brand Visibility Ads will be easier to create thanks to AI, and branding will begin showing up in more places. Google Ads recently improved its Web to App Connect feature; this update allows Google Hotel Ads to route potential guests from the SERPs directly to any page on the hotels app to showcase the brand or amenities. Search ads will also earn more prominent placement in the AI Overview section. This connects people researching travel or destinations with your hotel before they scroll to see other options. Property Promotion Ads, once reserved for the desktop version of Google Maps, will expand to Android and iPhone apps in 2024. 3. Visually Interactive Ad Formats Using immersive ad formats is a Google Ads trend you can expect to see plenty of in 2024. Many static marketing assets will be replaced by short videos, animated images, and other campaigns with interactive features to improve guest engagement and sell your brand. Though some creative templates have been available for a while, Google AI has simplified the setup to streamline ad creation across channels. Hoteliers can use interactive ad formats to share a 360-degree room tour or virtual poolside views directly in the search results. Short ads on YouTube are rolling out virtual stickers, landing page links, and options for people to like the ads to help marketers improve interaction and engagement opportunities. 4. Creation of Advertising Assets Creating visually engaging ads requires resources and time that some hoteliers may not have. Companies with limited assets for running Google Ads will appreciate this years generative AI solutions. The platforms chatbot offers a conversational experience to collaboratively create marketing text and images, and marketers who use this feature are more likely to achieve Good or Excellent ad strength. Performance Max and Demand Gen platforms also offer industry-specific performance data to give ad creators tailored recommendations for hospitality or travel ads. These Google tools dont ignore the importance of brand strategy; an upcoming feature will allow marketers to feed brand guidelines, colors, and fonts to generative AI tools to create visual assets matching any companys look and feel. 5. Profit Optimization in Performance Max Campaigns Googles latest updates to Performance Max Campaigns may cause any hotelier to rethink their PPC bidding strategy. The new profit optimization goals within PMAX allow advertisers to focus on their return on investment (ROI) rather than only revenue. Revenue management strategies, like upselling add-on services to guests, continue to do wonders for a hotels budget, and optimizing PPC ads for profits will enhance the effects of selling expensive packages or services. As more hoteliers take advantage of this new feature, expect PPC goals to trend from revenue to profits in 2024. 6. First-Party Data Management Data factors into any hoteliers PPC strategy. Google Ads Data Manager functions will be moved out of beta testing and made widely available in 2024. This evens the playing field for small businesses without custom data-management programs. Now any marketer can access organized analytics for ad targeting and personalization to use their budget to increase bookings with qualified leads. Google Marketing Live 2024 If you arent familiar with Google Marketing Live, this annual event showcases all the latest tech and trends for PPC advertisersand 2024 did not disappoint. If you want to see all the advances and trends for PPC ads for 2024, catch a recap of Google Ads Marketing Live event. While AI was a clear focal point, the presentation highlighted many innovations within three categories: Creative, Media, and Measurement. Hoteliers should prepare to adjust their PPC strategy to take advantage of these tools that streamline marketing efforts and reduce inefficiencies. Paid ads were already one of the most profitable marketing channels for hotels, but thanks to these improvements, you can accomplish more with fewer resources. If the ongoing evolution of PPC advertising has left your marketing team in the dust, reach out to TravelBoom to get your paid media back on track. Hiring a digital marketing company with in-depth Google Ads experience can be just what you need to maintain effective, competitive campaigns in 2024 and beyond. Contact us for an evaluation of your website and marketing strategies today. About TravelBoom TravelBoom specializes in developing and executing customized data-driven marketing solutions that drive direct bookings and growth for its clients. With over 25 years of experience in digital marketing for travel and hotels, TravelBoom leverages advanced data science and analytics to uncover insights and develop strategies that greatly enhance results for its clients and reduce reliance on third-party channels. TravelBoom is also the host of the worlds #1 ranked Hotel Marketing Podcast and its quarterly Traveler Sentiment Study, both of which can be found at www.travelboommarketing.com. Lady Liberty welcomes residents and guests to West Stockbridge's anniversary celebration. PreviousNext West Stockbridge Marks 250th Anniversary of Founding Officials including state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli and state Sen. Paul Mark address the gathering in Saturday. WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. The town marked 250 years as a tight-knit community on Saturday with food, music, history lessons, and many smiles. In 1774, the General Court in Boston passed an act to establish the Town of West Stockbridge after five years of effort and its first town meeting was held on July 4 of that year. State and local officials gathered in front of Town Hall on Saturday to kick off a day of bicenquinquagenary celebrations hosted by the West Stockbridge Historical Society. State Sen. Paul Mark noted that the town is older than the Senate and read a citation from Gov. Maura Healey. "Congratulations, you were founded in a very tumultuous time that then led to the birth of our country, which is approaching its 250th anniversary, and only months from the first shots of the Revolutionary War, which was of course right here in Massachusetts," he said. "So you're a trendsetter. You're a trailblazer." Lifelong resident Gene Dellea and state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli were honored during the event. Pignatelli reflected on his early memories of Town Hall, which is undergoing a multiphase restoration. "Restoring our history I think is so important for all of our communities," he said. "There's a lot of books of old buildings in Berkshire County that are sadly just black and white photos because the buildings have been torn down, fell down, burned down, or whatever." The day began with a procession down Main Street followed by a barbecue, scavenger hunt, antique vehicle showcase, bake sale, and history talks. Pittsfield Summer Playground Program PITTSFIELD, Mass. The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program announces the return of the Summer Playground Program for 2024. The Summer Playground Program, a free, six-week-long program held at Clapp Park, Durant Park and the Common, offers a wide range of recreation activities to Pittsfield children between the ages of 6 to 13. This program runs from July 8 to August 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at each designated location at no cost. If there is inclement weather, the program will move from each park to the Berkshire Family YMCA. Details of these changes will be shared on the Pittsfield Parks and Recreation social media pages. Playground leaders will create safe, supervised and fun-filled outdoor activities including sports, games, arts and crafts and nature activities. In addition, several new activities are planned for this summer's program including: The Berkshire Museum Mobile Unit will visit each park once a week. The Berkshire Athenaeum will be providing books for the children and adventure backpacks (while supplies last). Pittsfield Public Schools will be providing FREE lunches daily. Massachusetts Safe Routes to School will be leading a safety demo the first week of the program. Hosting several Soap Box Derby "build days" in partnership with Blue Q, Interprint, Westside Legends and Berkshire Art Center. 2 field trips will be provided by the Pittsfield Public Schools transportation department with visits to Onota Lake and pickleball courts at Springside Park The nonprofit that purchased the King Kone building on Fenn Street is seeking to reopen it as a worker cooperative. Pittsfield Nonprofit Aims to Reopen King Kone PITTSFIELD, Mass. A nonprofit is trying to reopen King Kone as a workers' cooperative. Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds of Pittsfield is leading the effort after receiving a grant to acquire the beloved business that closed shop last year. A fundraiser with merchandise has been launched to support costs associated with the reopening. There are already a handful of employees on board. "Six wonderful local Pittsfield residents committed to this project, joined the co-op business program, to work towards this goal. Our not-for-profit currently works with groups in seven different sectors of co-op businesses catering, child care, construction, cleaning, artisans, farming, and restaurant (King Kone,)" the fundraiser reads. "Members of these co-ops are a part of marginalized communities and struggle with all the issues that accompany poverty. In almost all cases they do not even have the upfront money for the co-op buy-in, and must utilize a percentage of their weekly checks for that, as it's an important part of creating their capital funds." In 2023, the nonprofit was allocated $179,000 to purchase the soft-serve ice cream shop at 133 Fenn St. and convert it into a worker cooperative. It owns a series of storefronts ranging from 117 to 129 Fenn St. Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds will also expand its current arts programming through the creation of a community art gallery and exhibition space in the adjacent retail space in the same building. 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 President Joe Biden continues to lose crucial support from his colleagues, big-name celebrities and donors. Last month, Bidens shaky performance at the first presidential debate against the Republican nominee, former president Donald Trump, led to questions about his capability to run for reelection. Despite several major voices urging Biden to step aside, the incumbent president is insistent about his ability to run and win again. Follow the latest updates on Biden as he vows to run despite gaffes However, Bidens confidence does not seem to have calmed the minds of some of his once-ardent supporters, who have called on the president to step aside. In an op-ed for The New York Times, Oscar-winning actor George Clooney wrote that while I love Joe Biden, the Democrats need a new nominee. I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, hes won many of the battles hes faced, Clooney, 63, wrote. But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe big F-ing deal Biden of 2010. He wasnt even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate, he said. open image in gallery George Clooney called on top Democrats to ask this president to voluntarily step aside ( Getty Images ) The Oceans Eleven star called on top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, to ask this president to voluntarily step aside. Thelma & Louise star Susan Sarandon has also spoken out against Bidens viability, telling Variety that she thinks he should withdraw from the race. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Obviously there are a lot of people within the party who feel the same way, the 77-year-old Sarandon said. I think its obvious [why he should step down]. Way before the age thing came into play, hundreds of thousands of uncommitted voters in swing states, because of the war in Gaza, put his possible election in jeopardy. On Monday, July 8, bestselling horror author Stephen King, 76, tweeted that while Joe Biden has been a fine president its time for him in the interests of the America he so clearly loves to announce he will not run for re-election. When Harry Met Sally... director Rob Reiner, 77 shared a similar view. If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served US with honor, decency, and dignity. Its time for Joe Biden to step down, Reiner wrote on X. Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof, a self-proclaimed lifelong Democrat, declared that Biden has to go & the Dems need to wake up. In a guest column written for Deadline, Lindelof urged others to withhold their donations to the Democratic party until theres change at the top of the ticket. When Joe finally leaves the mound, I will stand and applaud. Because he truly pitched a great game, he said. open image in gallery Stephen King, Rob Reiner and other celebrities have called on Joe Biden to step down ( Getty Images ) One of the Democrats biggest donors, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has also called for Biden 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 sent in an email to The New York Times. Director Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11) was a bit more extreme in his argument against Biden. During an appearance on MSNBC, Moore, 70, accused the Democratic party of committing elder abuse by pushing Biden to continue with his election campaign. The problem here is that I think there is a form of elder abuse going on here where the Democratic Party and the people that are part of the apparatus are pushing and pushing him to stay. And then he comes out and says I am staying, and the family says I am staying, he said. I dont know about you, but in spite of my criticisms with Biden, watching the debate a week ago was heartbreaking. It was like, imagine that was your father up there, Moore added. Im thinking, why isnt anybody doing anything? Why did they let him go out on the stage in this condition? Who is looking out for him? Who is looking out for him right now? Last week, Disney heiress Abigail Disney, a longstanding Democratic donor, hailed the president as a good man who had served his country admirably, but warned that the GOP would win in November if a change of leadership was not made. I intend to stop any contributions to the party unless and until they replace Biden at the top of the ticket, she said in a statement shared with CNBC. The View hosts were among the first major commentators to insist on Bidens exit from the race. The day after Bidens debate, the talk show hosts discussed his poor performance, with Sara Haines declaring: It kind of pains me to say this today, but I think President Biden needs to step down and be replaced if we want to defeat Donald Trump in November. 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 Excitement for the much-anticipated Gladiator 2 has gone into overdrive after the movies trailer was released. Director Ridley Scott, fresh from releasing Napoleon, has returned for the follow-up to his 2000 Oscar-winning epic, which will focus on Paul Mescals Lucius, the son of Lucilla, who was played by Connie Nielsen in the original. Mescal, who received an Oscar nomination in 2022 for Aftersun, previously said he will be profoundly depressed if the new film makes him even more famous than he already is but the Irish actor will need to start preparing as the trailer for the movie has now landed. Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Stranger Things Joseph Quinn are also set to star, with Nielsen reprising her role from the original. In the trailer Mescal is asked, Where were you born? by Washingtons character Macrinus as he responds, I dont know, I never knew a mother nor a father. Subsequent scenes show the colosseum, flashbacks and the Emperor and his allies strategising. Promotional material for the movie describes the plot as follows: Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people. The release date for the movie has also been confirmed with its theatrical release set for 15 November this year. open image in gallery Mescal stars as Lucius ( Aidan Monaghan ) Russell Crowe expressed discomfort with the idea of a follow-up to his original, as he refuted claims that he would appear in a flashback. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Because, of course, Im dead and I have no say in what gets done, he said in an interview with Kyle Meredith, going on to explain that he is not a fan of what he has heard of the new films plot. A couple of the things Ive heard Im like, No, no, no, thats not in the moral journey of that particular character, he said. open image in gallery Washington as Macrinus ( Paramount ) But I cant say anything, its not my place, Im six feet under. So well see what that is like. Asked whether he had spoken to Crowe about the role, Mescal, 28, said: I dont know what we would talk about. open image in gallery Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius ( Paramount ) He continued: Id love to hear his stories from filming, but the character is, like, totally separate. 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 Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fly Me to the Moon pushes romcom relatability to its very limits, with a premise that boils down to: babe, would you be mad if I faked the moon landing? As a quasi-historical take on Americas space race, it draws from the conspiracy theory that Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin never made it to the moon, a brand of delusion Id worried was so time-old that it had finally gone out of style. Well, Hollywood has brought it back, just in time for its fans to enjoy the film while wearing one of those $100 tin foil hats rapper MIA now sells. And, while Rose Gilroys script does offer its own, less inflammatory take, theres no actual disclaimer here and no rebuttal to its narrators claims that this is the real story (mostly). Fly Me to the Moon is nonsense, and not the fun kind of nonsense that The Martians Ridley Scott might cook up. Instead it takes a smash-and-grab approach to history that ruins what should have been a relatively straightforward job. Its meant to revive the pop-Sixties aesthetics of classic Doris Day/Rock Hudson vehicles (most famously, 1959s Pillow Talk and 1961s Lover Come Back). That would explain why Scarlett Johansson is here, with her old Marilyn Monroe bob and shes-a-hell-of-a-dame speech pattern. She plays Kelly Jones, the (fictional) ad exec hired to muster support for Nasas Apollo 11 mission, destined to put man on the moon before the Soviets. Greg Berlanti, who directed 2018s sweet gay romcom Love, Simon, is behind the camera. And Channing Tatum has stepped in as the male lead, the (also fictional) launch director Cole Davis. Hes all muscles, crew cut hair, and puppy dog earnestness. Cole is committed to the mission and honest to a fault. Kelly is a born schemer ready to Don Draper her way to success, with an arsenal of fake accents and a willingness to stage and broadcast a fake moon landing. Its classic enemies-to-lovers: he hates how all the toothpaste ads and astronaut photoshoots have cheapened his work, while she thinks lying is as natural a human instinct as love. Johansson and Tatum have decent, if not electric, chemistry. And while the sets and costumes seem plausible, Berlanti makes no real effort to evoke the era or its cinema beyond a split screen or two (theres certainly none of the playful quality of Peyton Reeds underrated Down with Love from 2003, with Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger). The biggest problem, though, is the odd way Fly Me to the Moon insists on making a statement, and getting teary-eyed, over its own fake history. Were left with a series of violent tonal switches. In one scene, Colts cutely chasing a cat through a car park. The next hes reckoning with his (I must stress, fictional) responsibility for the disaster of Apollo 1, a real-life failed mission to the moon that killed its three crew members. Berlanti makes sure his audience is reminded exactly how those men died horrifically as the camera pans in on their command module as its engulfed in flames. Scarlett Johansson in Fly Me to the Moon' ( Sony ) Meanwhile, Kelly steals all her best ideas from the horrors of Vietnam (including broadcasting the moon landing live), while berating her younger assistant (Anna Garcia) for not wanting to work for Richard Nixon or the company that produces napalm. A brassy character slowly transforms into a morally problematic one. And Kelly and Cole, in that light, become somewhat harder to root for. Unless, I guess, government cover-ups were a key part of your own romantic history. Dir: Greg Berlanti. Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Nick Dillenburg, Anna Garcia, Jim Rash, Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson. 12A, 132 mins. Fly Me to the Moon is in cinemas from 12 July Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Several lawyers have reacted with outrage after Sean Diddy Combs was photographed taking a whitewater rafting vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming shortly after being accused once again of sex trafficking. Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, who represents Adria English, the former porn star who says she was groomed into sex trafficking while working at Combs famous Labor Day white parties, told TMZ: After seeing Defendant Combs white water rafting and jetting around on his personal plane, seemingly enjoying life despite all the atrocities he has caused and has been accused of by countless individuals over decades, Mrs. English is even more motivated to ensure justice prevails. In response to that lawsuit, Combss attorney Jonathan Davis told The Independent: No matter how many lawsuits are filed it wont change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court. It is the tenth lawsuit to be filed against the embattled music mogul since last November. Combs, 54, has strongly denied all of the allegations against him so far. It was Combss former partner Cassie Ventura who filed the first lawsuit against the music mogul last year, containing allegations of beatings and abuse. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount 24 hours later. Venturas lawyer Douglas Wigdor also spoke out against the vacation pictures, saying: I dont think whitewater rafting will prepare him for the choppy waters that lie ahead. open image in gallery Sean Diddy Combs in Los Angeles in 2019 ( Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Roc Nation ) Other legal experts have pointed out that the vacation pictures should not affect Combss upcoming legal battles. Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told the Miami Herald: Diddys rafting is a bad look, but its not admissible as evidence, so it wont affect the case. Its more bad PR than anything. Diddy is losing badly in the court of public opinion. In March, homes belonging to Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by officials from US Homeland Security in connection to a federal sex trafficking investigation. The rapper has not been formally charged or accused by federal prosecutors of any crime. The sudden raids came as the music mogul who is credited with helping launch the careers of artists including Biggie Smalls, Mary J Blige and Usher faced a string of varying accusations, including sexual assault. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up In May, CNN aired security footage of Combs attacking his then-girlfriend Ventura in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles in 2016. Captured from multiple angles, the video shows Combs in a towel chasing Ventura down the hallway, before attacking her near the elevators. Combs subsequently shared an apology video on Instagram saying his behavior was inexcusable and that he took full responsibility for his actions in the video. Alleged victims of Combs are expected to appear in front of a federal grand jury, signaling possible criminal charges. The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated mens advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Joe Bonsall, a longtime member of country/gospel vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys, has died. He was 76. Bonsall died on Tuesday (July 9) from complications with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to a statement from representatives of his family. Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write, the statement read. He loved to play banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first and we will see him again on the Promised Day. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease that damages nerve cells and connections that are necessary to control muscles for movements such as walking, talking and breathing. Most patients die within three to five years of a diagnosis. The illness became known as Lou Gehrigs disease after the star baseball player was diagnosed in 1939. Born Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1948, Bonsall had been an integral part of The Oak Ridge Boys for 51 years, joining the group as a tenor in 1973. He announced his retirement from touring with the quartet in January this year, citing his illness. The group continued with their farewell tour despite Bonsalls absence. I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult, Bonsall said at the time of his retirement. It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew, and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying. open image in gallery Joe Bonsall (far left) had been a part of The Oak Ridge Boys for 51 years ( Getty Images ) The Oak Ridge Boys are best known for their 1981 hit Elvira, which topped the country music chart and landed as No 5 on the pop chart. Throughout their career, the group had a total of 17 No 1 country songs. Bonsall and his fellow quartet members were inducted into the Country Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2000, they joined the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up Founded in 1943, the Leaving Lousiana In The Broad Daylight group started out in Southern gospel music, but found success beyond the genre in the 1970s when they shifted to country music, with Bonsall joining in 1973. That same year, they appeared on Johnny Cashs single Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup and were signed to Columbia Records with the help of Cash. However, it wasnt until they signed with Dot/ABC and released their 1977 song Yall Come Back Saloon that the group found more mainstream success. open image in gallery William Lee Golden, from left, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, and Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys in 2016 ( 2016 Invision ) The Oak Ridge Boys have released a whopping 31 studio albums and 56 singles. Their 1981 album Fancy Free became their most successful and was certified double-platinum. Besides his musical career, Bonsall was the author of 11 books, including his forthcoming memoir I See Myself, scheduled to be released this November. In I See Myself, Bonsall reflects on the contrasts and the crossroads of his life, a logline reads. From growing up in the inner city of Philadelphia to sitting on the front porch of his log home in rural Tennessee. From hanging with a street gang in his teens to surrendering to Christ at a youth camp. From working as a short order cook to headlining sold-out arenas, it adds. And now from running across the stage each night to being sidelined by a neuromuscular disorder that has stolen his mobility. However, despite the changing circumstances of Joes life, two things have not changed. His unwavering faith in God. And his ability to inspire others. John Rich of country music duo Big & Rich shared a remembrance on X. Country music is crying today, he wrote. Joe was a real friend, and someone I looked up to not only as an artist, but as a man. Hes left a legacy of incredible music, and endless accounts of his kind heartedness. Country musician Travis Tritt also posted a tribute to Bonsall on X, writing, Joe had amazing talent and a wonderful personality and he will be missed terribly by everyone who knew him. Bonsall is survived by his wife Mary Ann; daughters Jennifer and Sabrina; granddaughter Breanne; grandson Luke; great-grandsons Chance and Grey; and a sister, Nancy. At Bonsalls request, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that donations be made to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center. His family is requesting privacy. Additional reporting by The Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Strictly Come Dancing favourite Aljaz Skorjanec is returning to the series two years after quitting. The news comes after it was revealed Giovanni Pernice, who has been embroiled in a behind-the-scenes furore after the departure of Amanda Abbington in 2023, would no longer be a part of the show. Professional dancer Skorjanec first appeared on the BBC competition series in 2013, which he won with Abbey Clancy. But in 2022, the Slovenian performer announced that he would not be returning to Strictly for its 2022 series, telling his fans: A little while ago I made the tough decision that Strictly 2021 would be my last. The show has given me an opportunity and freedom to create and express myself in front of millions of people every weekend for the last 9 years. Skorjanec continued: Being a part of a group of professionals that inspire and push you to be better every step of the way is humbling and I will carry that inspiration with me forever. Every year the lineup of dancers would change but one thing stayed the same, WE WERE THE BEST! And this is one thing that I know will never change on Strictly! However, the dancer announced on The One Show on Monday (8 July) he would be back when the new series starts in September. I could not be more ecstatic to be back with the Strictly family! he said, adding: This year is such a special one for this legendary show, I cant wait to be a part of it and make my return to the dancefloor. I had an absolute ball during my nine year stint on Strictly, during my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself and now Im ready to experience the Strictly magic again. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free He continued: It feels so right to be coming back, I missed the fun, glitter and the judges of course and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud. open image in gallery Strictly favourite is returning for 2024 series ( BBC Pictures/Nicky Johnston ) When Skorjanec announced his departure, the BBC said: We are so sad to be saying goodbye to Aljaz after almost a decade as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. Since lifting the glitterball with Abbey Clancy in his debut series he has become a firm favourite with viewers across the country... He will be missed by his Strictly family, both on and off the dancefloor. The shows executive producer, Sarah James, has now said of his return to the show: We are all so thrilled that Aljaz is back in the Strictly Ballroom, bringing his incredible choreography and passion for dance. During his nine series he was a firm favourite with viewers across the country, Im sure everyone is in for a treat as he joins us to entertain the nation for a very special 20th year of the show. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy North Korea has sent an elite army training delegation to Russia, heightening Western concerns about deepening military cooperation between the Asian neighbours in the backdrop of the Ukraine war. This is the first announced military exchange between the two nations since Russian president Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang last month and signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Kim Jong-un. The Peoples Army of North Korea military education delegation left for Russia on Monday, the Korean Central News Agency said. It is led by Kim Kum-chol, president of Kim Il-sung Military University. The purpose and the duration of the visit have not been revealed. The university, named after North Koreas first leader, is a training institute for military officers, Yonhap reported. Kim Jong-un is believed to have taken courses from the school after returning from Switzerland. The strategic partnership signed by Mr Putin and Mr Kim includes a mutual defence pact, binding the two countries to provide assistance if one is attacked. The agreement has raised the hackles of South Korea and its chief ally, the US, who fear it could have major military implications. The US and South Korea have accused the North of supplying artillery, missiles and other weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine in return for advanced military technologies and economic aid. Both North Korea and Russia have denied such claims. Any military exchange with North Korea will be in violation of UN sanctions that bar member nations from providing military support to Pyongyang. In a recent interview to Reuters, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, who is attending a Nato summit this week, urged Russia to not provide any military assistance to North Korea. He said Russian military cooperation with North Korea would be a distinct threat and grave challenge to the security of Europe and the North Korean peninsula. He also said he would discuss the matter at the Nato summit and claimed that it depends entirely on Russia where it wanted to take future ties with Seoul. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} History is witness to many examples of small armies overpowering bigger opponents, Taiwans president Lai Ching-te said in a speech rallying his air force ahead of annual war games and amid escalating tensions with mainland China. Addressing officers at an air base in central Taiwan, Mr Lai said military strength is not a simple mathematical question of addition and subtraction. The amount of equipment admittedly is important, but it cannot represent the military power of a country," he said in a video released by his office. "In history, there are many cases where the few win out over the many, and there are countless ways to win over old-fashioned enemies with new thinking." China, which regards self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory, routinely conducts exercises around the island. While a full-scale invasion of Taiwan is unlikely, China has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwanese soldiers holding firearms take part in a military training in Taichung ( AP ) Beijing has over the past four years simulated attacks on the island, from missile bombardment to sea and air blockades. Such war games not only serve as intimidation but also as an opportunity for Chinese forces to practise locking the island down in the event of an actual attack. Taiwan also routinely conducts its own military drills. The islands military is dwarfed by Chinas air, naval and ground forces. But it has been modernising its forces with new equipment like submarines supplied by its allies in the West, especially the US, and championing the idea of "asymmetric warfare". The idea is to make its forces more mobile and hard to attack, with, for example, vehicle-mounted missiles and drones. Mr Lai's statement came ahead of Taiwans annual war games scheduled for later this month despite increased pressure from China following his election to office. The Xi Jinping government has called him a dangerous separatist and a troublemaker through and through. A Taiwanese official said last month this year's Han Kuang military drills will be as close as possible to actual combat, no longer just putting on a show to score points, but aiming to simulate real fighting given the rising "enemy threat" from China. The five-day exercises start on 22 July, alongside the Wan An civil defence drills where cities are briefly shut down during simulated air raids. China held two days of war games around the island shortly after Mr Lai took office in May, saying it was "punishment" for his inauguration speech, which Beijing denounced as being full of separatist content. Mr Lai rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. "The peace we want is a peace with a solid foundation, a true peace that must be established by our own strength," he said at the Taichung air base. Asked by a fighter pilot whether Taiwan was giving people the wrong impression it was preparing for war with its focus on defence self-sufficiency, Mr Lai said he wanted peace. "Some people may have such misgivings but everyone knows we are a peace-loving country," he said. "But the peace we want is a 'true peace' that has a solid foundation and is established by our own strength." Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has been criticised for greeting Vladimir Putin with his signature bear hug during their Moscow summit, even as he offered veiled criticism of Russias latest missile bombardment of civilians in Ukraine. The Modi governments carefully balanced policy on the Ukraine war neither criticising nor condoning it, and increasing trade links with Russia while also courting stronger ties to the West led some analysts to question just how warmly the two would interact during Mr Modis visit to Moscow. Mr Modi arrived to a red-carpet welcome at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow on Monday, and later the two leaders went for a hug after a brief handshake as the Indian prime minister arrrived at Mr Putins residence at Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow. Mr Modis Russia trip coincided with one of the deadliest Russian aerial bombardments of Ukraine in months, including a strike on the countrys largest childrens hospital in Kyiv. Ukraine says Russian missiles there and in other regions across Ukraine killed at least 41 civilians. Without mentioning Mr Modi by name, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day. open image in gallery Narendra Modi arrives at Vladimir Putins residence ( EPA ) Derek Grossman, an American defence analyst who had said he expected Mr Modi to refuse to hug Putin, a war criminal said he was wrong and he hoped India would still come round to take the moral high ground on Ukraine. He said Mr Modis signals in Russia demonstrate that India, like the US, will still prioritise national interests above all else. Images of the hug shared online sparked a strong reaction in the UK and Europe as well, with French author Nicolas Tenzer telling Mr Modi the photograph will haunt you, given Russias leader is to blame for hundreds of thousands of deaths. Modi is a disgrace. Here he is cuddling a mass murderer, with a smile on his face, to get cheap oil. Modi is no friend of democracy or the West, wrote another Twitter user Ron Delnevo. Mr Putin welcomed Mr Modi as his dear friend on Monday evening, and the pair held a total of around four hours of talks over the two days. At the end of their meetings Mr Modi did offer some veiled criticism of what was happening in Ukraine, saying in a carefully-worded statement that it was heart-wrenching to see innocent children being murdered and dying, without directly referring to Kyiv. Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives, Mr Modi said. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense, he said, adding that he had a detailed discussion with Mr Putin on this topic. Russia has denied attacking the childrens hospital in Kyiv and claimed it was a Ukrainian air defence missile that hit the facility. Ukraines intelligence agencies say they have compelling evidence to show the hospital was hit by a Russian weapon, and the UN has said this is most likely to be the case. Despite this, Mr Modi told Mr Putin that Russia-India relations will deepen further in the coming years. The two have enjoyed close ties since the Cold War, and India has purchased huge volumes of Russian oil at heavily discounted prices since the start of the Ukraine war, now accounting for around 40 per cent of all its imports. open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) talk during their official meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow ( EPA ) Mr Modi defended these purchases on Tuesday, saying they had helped keep global oil prices from soaring as a result of Western-led sanctions. The world will have to accept that the agreement regarding fuel between India and Russia indirectly gave market stability to the world in a way, Mr Modi said. Mr Putin said the two countries enjoyed a special strategic partnership, and claimed India was working towards finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine war which the Russian president euphamistically referred to as a crisis. The US State Department spokesperson said Washington made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. "India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia," Mathew Miller said. open image in gallery Putin and Modi visit the Russian leaders stables ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, should respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mr Modi and Mr Putin have not had a bilateral summit since before the Ukraine war, and this was the Indian leaders first visit to Moscow in five years. Mr Modi met with members of the Indian diaspora during his visit, and was also shown around an exhibition of Russias state-owned nuclear energy industry in Moscow. Russian state media reported that the leaders were expected to discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries already are collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Russia for his first one-to-one summit with Vladimir Putin since the Russian leader launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is a hugely symbolic choice of destination for Modis first bilateral visit since being sworn in for his third term as prime minister, and one that the Kremlin has gloated about as making the West jealous. Modi is also breaking away from a tradition that normally sees Indian prime ministers start their term with a first visit to neighbouring South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, the Maldives or Bhutan. And it reflects Indias growing confidence in its ability to play both sides in the East-West divide that has grown dramatically since Russia began waging war on Ukraine. Modi will follow up his visit to Moscow with one to Austria, which has backed Ukraines bid to join the EU and provided it hundreds of millions of euros in humanitarian aid. Putin and Modi were scheduled to hold informal talks over dinner on Monday night before a day of meetings on Tuesday. Indias foreign ministry said they would discuss the multiple geopolitical challenges that the world has been facing, and that the visit showed the two countries continue to enjoy resilient ties. Embarking on the plane to Russia on Monday, Modi said he will review all aspects of bilateral cooperation with Mr Putin and seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. open image in gallery File Russian president Vladimir Putin, right, and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi pose for a photo shaking hands prior to their talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 16 September 2022. ( AP ) Putin, who is making a concerted effort to showcase the support of his allies to legitimise his war and counter Western efforts to cast him as a pariah on the international stage, said no topics will be off limits between the two leaders, according to the Kremlin. The Indian government has neither condemned nor condoned Russias invasion of Ukraine, and while Modi made his first foreign trip of his third term to join the G7 in Italy last month, he then skipped a Western-led Ukraine peace summit hosted by Switzerland. India was represented at those talks by its ambassador and did not sign a joint communique at the end of the meeting, insisting that Russia must be involved in negotiations. Harsh V Pant, professor of international relations at Kings College London, tells The Independent that a Putin-Modi meeting was long overdue given the way geopolitical tectonic plates are shifting as a result of Ukraine. There is a rich history to India-Russia relations, with Delhi having relied heavily on Moscow for arms imports for many decades. Since the Ukraine war began India has also bought huge volumes of cheap Russian oil after the US and European countries imposed sanctions, helping Putin fill his war chest. open image in gallery Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky (C-L) meeting Modi during a bilateral meeting in Borgo Egnazia, southern Italy, 14 June 2024 ( EPA ) Yet India has been uncomfortable with how close Putin has drawn to China, its major Asian rival with whom it has frosty border relations. And India has also been forced to diversify away from Russian arms given Moscows military commitments in Ukraine, buying more from the US, Israel, France and Italy. These talks will be about how to build the India-Russia relationship as, whatever it might seem from the outside, it is not as healthy as it seems, says Pant. It is a new world. India does not have a very robust economic partnership with Russia. So of course the strategic realities are changing. India would like to understand and engage with Russia on its own terms. With this trip, India is sending a clear signal to the US that it will hedge its bets on defence purchases, just as the US is doing by once again opening the doors to China. The [potential] gains for India from this summit are significant in comparison to [those for] Russia, Dr Rafiq Dossani, a senior economist at the Rand Corporation think-tank, tells The Independent. By properly playing its hand, it can position itself as a power worth more than China, whose relations with Europe have taken a beating because of its stance. This can allow India to be the prime broker of a peace in Ukraine down the road, he says. India will also seek to maintain its steady supply of Russian energy as it seeks to pivot from its dependency on the volatile Middle East market and other sources like Venezuela, he says. Analysts say India will also seek reassurances when it comes to arms cooperation, with Indias military still operating with large volumes of Russian hardware. Defence cooperation will clearly be a priority area, says Chietigj Bajpaee, senior South Asia research fellow at Chatham House. Weve seen some delay in the deliveries of spare parts ... following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said. I believe both countries are due to conclude a military logistics agreement, which would pave the way for more defence exchanges. For Russia, the optics of the visit are likely to be more important than any tangible outcomes. As well as multiple recent meetings with Chinas Xi Jinping, the Russian president has visited North Korea and then Vietnam to project the image of a world leader who still enjoys international backing. Modis visit to Moscow is the most significant achievement yet in that campaign, Pant argues, as India is both an important counterweight to China within the Asia-Pacific while also enjoying robust ties with the West. Putins efforts to court India indicate that Russia seeks to demonstrate resilience against Western isolation and assert its independence in managing relations with China, Mr Pant explains. I dont think Russia wants to be perceived as a junior partner of China. By engaging robustly with India, Russia signals to China its desire to maintain its own distinct space. With Russia increasingly isolated from the West, it risks being seen as subordinate to China, a perception it likely wants to avoid. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India is seeing a surge in Zika cases with authorities identifying at least six pregnant women infected by the virus. A 74-year-old man is reported to have died from the infection in the southern state of Karnataka. Since the man had comorbidities, doctors are yet to ascertain if his death was caused directly by the virus. In any case, he is the first patient in the state found with Zika traces at the time of their death, The Times of India reported. While Zika, transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, is typically not fatal, it is linked to microcephaly, a condition where children are born with significantly smaller heads and have neurological problems. Also linked to dengue, chikungunya and urban yellow fever, the Aedes usually bites during the day. Zika can be transmitted from the mother to her foetus during pregnancy, as well as through sexual contact, blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Infected people are usually asymptomatic and those developing symptoms show them three to 14 days after infection. The symptoms include rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache, and they usually last for two to seven days, according to the WHO. The Zika outbreak has particularly raised alarm in Pune, Kolhapur and Ahmednagar in western Maharashtra state, which is grappling with floods after a heavy downpour. The southern state of Kerala has also reported Zika cases. Pune has counted at least 12 cases so far, six of them pregnant women. We have stepped up our surveillance activities, said Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant chief medical officer at the Pune Municipal Corporation. Samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology as part of the screening of pregnant women from areas where Zika cases were detected. Overall, 68 samples from pregnant women have been sent to the apex laboratory, he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. The citys health department imposed a fine of Rs10,000 (93) on a builder after a mosquito breeding site was found near his housing complex and a pregnant woman tested positive for the virus. She has been asked to consult her doctor, take folic acid tablets as directed and undergo the screening test to check whether the baby is at risk of any congenital conditions and if further tests are required, Dr Dighe said. The federal health ministry issued an advisory last week advising state governments to alert the clinicians for close monitoring of the affected pregnant women. States are urged to instruct the health facilities in the affected areas or those catering cases from affected areas to screen the pregnant women for Zika virus infection, monitor the growth of the foetus of expecting mothers who have tested positive for Zika. The ministry also instructed states to report Zika cases to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control. It also advised them to intensify vector control activities in residential areas, workplaces, schools, construction sites, institutions, and health facilities. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Authorities in Malaysia have arrested a 35-year-old woman after a social media influencer was found dead at her home following days of online bullying. Rajeswary Appahu, 30, known online as Esha, had filed a police report the day before her death on 5 July, citing fears of rape and murder, and named two individuals she accused of tormenting her on TikTok. The woman who was arrested is being investigated on charges of criminal intimidation and violations of Malaysias communications and multimedia act, police said. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that the topic of cyberbullying will be addressed in an upcoming cabinet meeting. He stressed that cyberbullying must not become normalised while highlighting the difficulty of tracking perpetrators who use fake accounts. I am angry and upset. We will leave it to the police to investigate. Cyberbullying should not become a culture he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper. Following Appahus death, there have been calls for legal reforms and stricter penalties for cyberbullies in Malaysia to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Mr Fadzil was quoted as saying in Bernama: One of the complaints which the Malaysian communications and multimedia commission and the ministry of communications have received from the police, is that accounts involved in various abusive activities hide behind fake accounts, making it hard to identify the individuals who made the comments, or were involved in the scams. We dont just report what happened, but take action, especially if we need to amend the law and what are the current weaknesses, he said. There were reportedly some TikTok accounts using pictures of the 30-year-old social media star in videos accompanied by foul language. The posts have now been removed from the platform. David Marshel, deputy chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party, told reporters that Appahu had confided in him about facing severe online abuse. Appahu was mostly known for her content on general positivity and beauty. 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 the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 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. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Gypsy Rose Blanchard has announced she is expecting her first child with former fiance Ken Urker. On July 9, the 32-year-old media personality revealed that she and Urker are set to welcome their first child together early next year. We are proud to announce we are expecting our first child in January 2025, Blanchard captioned her Instagram announcement, which featured several photos of the rekindled couple posing under a tree. In one photo, Blanchard wore a flowy white knee-length dress and held up an ultrasound picture, as Urker stood behind her and cradled her growing baby bump. Other photos showed the author wearing a paisley multi-colored dress, while Urker donned a white Polo Ralph Lauren button-up shirt and beige trousers. The couple who reunited in April following Blanchards separation from her estranged husband, Ryan Anderson were also seen holding up a small cream-colored knit sweater, with the word Hi stitched on it. Blanchard shared more details about her unexpected pregnancy in a nine-minute YouTube video uploaded on Tuesday. She acknowledged how fans had speculated she was pregnant prior to the announcement, telling the camera: I know the rumors have been flying around for quite some time now and Im happy to announce that I am 11 weeks pregnant. Although she admitted that her pregnancy was not planned at all, Blanchard maintained that she and Urker are both very excited to become parents next year. Blanchard took the opportunity to address concerns that shes unprepared to be a mother, following her release from prison in December 2023. She had pleaded guilty in 2016 to the second-degree murder of her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard, and served eight years of her sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri. An investigation later found that Blanchard was abused by her mother, who forced her to pretend she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other serious illnesses. Gypsy Rose Blanchard is pregnant, expecting first child with ex-fiance Ken Urker I know that there are going to be people that feel like Im not ready to be a mother, and I dont know if anyones really ready to become a mother, Blanchard said. I dont know anyone that said, Okay, Im ready. Im doing this. She noted that she felt a shift after discovering she was pregnant, and explained how none of anything else mattered besides the health of her soon-to-be baby. However, Blanchard soon became emotional as she shared her hopes to give all of the things to her child that I wished I couldve had when I was little. All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby, she said. I just want to be a good mother for my child. I want to be everything my mother wasnt. Blanchard and Urker first met in 2018 while she was serving her prison sentence in Missouri. Although the pair were engaged in 2019, Urker ended up calling things off in 2020. The rekindled couple were spotted in April getting matching dog tattoos and engaging in PDA, according to photos captured by TMZ. Speaking about their relationship status, Blanchard told the outlet at the time: After reconnecting earlier this month, we realized that our love for each other is simply undeniable, and life is too short to not take a chance. We have a history that made for the perfect foundation for a new beginning. We are together and in a wonderful place in our relationship. We know it is going to be a long road ahead but are excited for the future, she added. open image in gallery Gypsy Rose Blanchard filed for divorce from Ryan Anderson in April after two years of marriage ( Getty Images ) Blanchards new relationship came just weeks after announcing her separation from ex-husband Ryan Anderson. She later filed a temporary restraining order against Anderson, who responded with his own restraining order against Blanchard. The former couple met in 2020 after the special education teacher had sent Blanchard letters in prison. They were married in July 2022 during a small ceremony at Chillicothe Correctional Center. In 2015, Blanchards then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn stabbed her mother at least 17 times at her home in Springfield, Missouri, as Blanchard hid in a bathroom during the assault. Blanchard and Godejohn then stole money from Dee Dee and traveled to Wisconsin by bus. Authorities were alerted to a post on Dee Dees Facebook page which read, That B*** is dead! and found her body on June 14, 2015. Blanchard and Godejohn were later arrested and charged with murder. Prosecutors said Dee Dee had Munchausen syndrome by proxy a psychological disorder where parents fabricate their childs illness, according to the National Institutes of Health and subjected her daughter to unnecessary medical treatments over two decades. Blanchard testified in court that Dee Dee had falsely claimed she suffered from conditions such as leukemia and muscular dystrophy. In a 2017 interview with Dr. Phil, she claimed that her mother also shaved her head and forced her to eat through a feeding tube. Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, while Godejohn was eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for murder and 25 years for armed criminal action. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Heavy Israeli bombardment shook Gaza City on Tuesday as thousands of fleeing Palestinians searched for shelter and medical facilities were forced to shut down in the latest offensive in the territory's north. Israels new ground assault in Gaza's largest city is its latest effort to battle Hamas militants regrouping in areas the army previously said had been largely cleared. Large parts of Gaza City and urban areas around it have been flattened or left a shattered landscape after nine months of fighting. Much of the population fled earlier in the war, but several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the north. The fighting has been intense, said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled Gaza Citys Tuffah district to the home of relatives in another part of the city. He said Israeli warplanes and drones were striking anything moving and that tanks had moved into central districts. There was no immediate word on casualties. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances, but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. Its a dangerous zone, she said. After Israel on Monday called for an evacuation from eastern and central parts of Gaza City, staff at two hospitals Al-Ahli and the Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move patients and shut down, the United Nations said. Farsakh said all three medical facilities run by the Red Crescent in Gaza City had closed. Scores of patients were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, which itself was the scene of heavy fighting earlier in the war. We do not know where to go. There is no treatment and no necessities for life," said Mohammad Abu Naser, who was being treated there. We are dying slowly. The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had told hospitals and other medical facilities in Gaza City that they did not need to evacuate. But hospitals in Gaza have often shut down and moved patients at any sign of possible Israeli military action, fearing raids. In the past nine months, Israeli troops have occupied at least eight hospitals, causing the deaths of patients and medical workers along with massive destruction to facilities and equipment. Israel has claimed Hamas uses hospitals for military purposes, though it has provided only limited evidence. Only 13 of Gazas 36 hospitals are functioning, and those only partially, according to the U.N.s humanitarian office. Israels campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas Oct 7 attack, has killed or wounded more than 5% of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, according to the territorys Health Ministry. Nearly the entire population has been driven from their homes. Many have been displaced multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into sweltering tent camps. Maha Mahfouz, a mother of two, said she fled twice in the past 24 hours. She first rushed from her home in Gaza City to a relatives house in another neighborhood. When that became dangerous, she fled Monday night to Shati, a decades-old refugee camp that has grown into an urban district where Israel has carried out repeated raids. She described vast destruction in the city's eastern and central parts. The buildings were destroyed. The roads were destroyed. All has become rubble, she said. Israeli airstrikes in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nearby refugee camps on Tuesday killed at least 14 people, including four children and a woman, according to officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs and al-Awda hospitals, where casualties were taken. One of the strikes hit a police station in an outdoor market in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four people and wounding two dozen, half of them women and children. At a hospital, a little boy cried, coughed and wiped his eyes as medics treated him on the crowded floor. The Israeli military has said it had intelligence showing that militants from Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group were regrouping in central Gaza City. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians. In Shijaiyah, a Gaza City neighborhood that has seen weeks of fighting, the military said it had destroyed 6 kilometers (3 miles) of Hamas tunnels. Hamas has warned that the latest raids in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage-release deal. Israel and Hamas had appeared to narrow the gaps in recent days, with the U.S., Egypt and Qatar mediating. CIA Director William Burns met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Tuesday in Cairo to discuss the negotiations, el-Sissis office said. More talks were to be held Wednesday in Qatar, where Hamas maintains a political office. But obstacles remain, even after Hamas agreed to relent on its key demand that Israel commit to ending the war as part of any agreement. Hamas still wants mediators to guarantee that negotiations conclude with a permanent cease-fire, according to two officials with knowledge of the talks. The current draft says mediators will do their best to ensure that negotiations lead to an agreement to wind down the war. Israel has rejected any deal that would force it to end the war with Hamas intact. Hamas on Monday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting more obstacles in the way of negotiations. Hamas cross-border raid on Oct. 7 killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities. The militants took roughly 250 people hostage. About 120 are still in captivity, with about a third said to be dead. Israel's bombardment and offensives in Gaza have killed more than 38,200 people and wounded more than 88,000, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An Israeli strike in Syria has killed a former personal bodyguard of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday, an official with the Lebanese militant group said, as concerns grow that months of low-level border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate into a wider regional war. Heavy Israeli bombardment shook Gaza City on Tuesday as thousands of fleeing Palestinians searched for shelter and medical facilities were forced to shut down because of the latest offensive in the territorys north. There was no immediate word on casualties. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances, but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. Hamas has warned that Israels expanding military operations in Gaza City and the displacement of thousands of residents could have disastrous repercussions for talks aimed at a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages. CIA Director William Burns met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Tuesday in Cairo to discuss the negotiations, el-Sissis office said. An Israeli delegation was heading to the Egyptian capital, Israeli media reported. 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 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has caused massive devastation across the besieged territory and displaced most of its 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of law and order have curtailed humanitarian aid efforts, causing widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine. The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to take steps to protect the Palestinians as it examines genocide allegations against Israeli leaders. Israel strongly denies the charge. Currently: Keys become a link to home for Palestinian families in Gaza displaced repeatedly by Israel. Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City forces medical facilities to close as thousands flee. A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden. Australia appoints special envoy to confront a rise in antisemitism across the country. Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza City as Hamas warns that escalation threatens cease-fire talks. Rafah is a dusty, rubble-strewn ghost town two months after Israel invaded to root out Hamas. Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war. Heres the latest: An Israeli strike in Syria kills a former bodyguard of Lebanons Hezbollah leader BEIRUT An Israeli strike in Syria on Tuesday killed a former personal bodyguard of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, an official with the Lebanese militant group said. The news came hours after an Israeli drone strike on a car in Syria near the Syria-Lebanon border was reported by a war monitor and by pro-government radio Sham FM. The Hezbollah official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The Britain-based pro-opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two members of Hezbollah in the car were killed in the strike, while a Syrian driver was critically wounded. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or from the Israeli military. Hezbollah later identified the militant as Yasser Nemr Qranbish, although they did not disclose the details of his death. Thats standard practice for Hezbollah combatants who arent in leadership roles. Hezbollah supporters on social media mourned his death, calling him the shield of the Sayyed, in reference to his tenure as a bodyguard for Nasrallah. For years, Israel has frequently launched strikes on targets in Syria linked to Iran, its powerful regional backer, but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past five months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City forces medical facilities to close as thousands flee DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli forces were advancing deeper into the Gaza Strips largest city on Tuesday in pursuit of militants who have regrouped there. Israeli troops are again battling militants in areas that the army said had been largely cleared months ago in northern Gaza. The military ordered evacuations ahead of the raids, but Palestinians say nowhere feels safe. The fighting has been intense, said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled Gaza Citys Tuffah district to the homes of relatives in another part of the city. He said Israeli warplanes and drones were striking anything moving and that tanks had moved into central districts. There was no immediate word on casualties. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances, but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. After Israel on Monday called for an evacuation from eastern and central parts of Gaza City, staff at two hospitals Al-Ahli and the Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move out patients and shut down, the United Nations said. Farsakh said all three medical points run by the Red Crescent in Gaza City had closed. The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had told hospitals and other medical facilities in Gaza City that they did not need to evacuate. But hospitals in Gaza have often shut down and moved patients at any sign of possible Israeli military action, fearing raids. Much of Gaza City and urban areas around it have been flattened or left a shattered landscape after nine months of fighting. Much of the population fled earlier in the war, but several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the north. Hamas has warned that the latest raids and displacement in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of long-running negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release. Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nearby refugee camps on Tuesday killed at least 14 people, including four children and a woman, according to officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs and al-Awda hospitals, where casualties were taken. One of the strikes hit a police station in an outdoor market in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four people and wounding two dozen, half of them women and children. At a hospital, a little boy cried, coughed and wiped his eyes as medics treated him on the crowded floor. Pope begs for new peace efforts after latest attacks in Ukraine and Gaza VATICAN CITY Pope Francis is appealing for concrete new measures to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The appeal came after attacks targeted a childrens hospital in Kyiv and a school in Gaza. The Vatican press office issued a statement Tuesday expressing Francis pain over the new attacks and his profound upset at the spiraling of violence. Francis has frequently asked for prayers for the martyred people of Ukraine but tends to keep his appeals generic. He has also tended to take a balanced line toward the war in Gaza, frequently mentioning Israel and the hostages still held by Hamas alongside the suffering of Palestinians. A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels has targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center says the captain of the ship reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel off the coast of Nishtun, Yemen, close to the countrys border with Oman. The ship and crew are safe. The center did not elaborate on what caused the explosion. The Houthis have been known to use drones and missiles as well as bomb-carrying drone boats. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels and killed four sailors in their attacks. Theyve also seized one vessel and sunk two since November. An Israel strike hits Syria overnight DAMASCUS, Syria An Israeli strike overnight hit near the Syrian town of Baniyas, state media reported Tuesday. The strike shortly after midnight caused material losses, Syrian state news agency SANA said, citing an unidentified military official. It did not say if there were any casualties, nor give further details. There was no immediate statement from Israeli officials. Israel frequently launches strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past nine months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. UN details the effects of the new Israeli offensive into Gaza City UNITED NATIONS The United Nations said Monday that Israels latest evacuation orders for parts of Gaza City affect more than 60 schools sheltering displaced Palestinians, as well as two partially functional hospitals, six medical points and two primary health care centers. The evacuation orders came as Israeli deepens its offensives in pursuit of militants who had regrouped in the heavily damaged city. Thousands of Palestinians have fled in recent days. Humanitarian officials report that staff and patients have left hospitals in and around the evacuation areas, and people who were already displaced are being forced to flee again, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The U.N. humanitarian office also reports that active hostilities, damaged roads, access limitations and the lack of public order and safety continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route from the Kerem Shalom crossing to Khan Younis, and then to Deir al-Balah, Dujarric said. He said this has resulted in critical food shortages, reduced food rations in central and southern Gaza last month, and the increasing risk of stranded supplies, especially food, spoiling in the heat. Maysa Saleh, the Norwegian Refugee Councils education officer in Deir al-Balah, said in a statement that almost no aid has arrived over the last week or so, and food remains the number one worry. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Nato counterparts are meeting in Washington this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the worlds biggest security organization just as Russia presses its advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine. The three-day summit, which begins Tuesday, will focus on ways to reassure Ukraine of Natos enduring support and offer some hope to its war-weary citizens that their country might survive the biggest land conflict in Europe in decades. Much of what Nato can do for Ukraine, and indeed for global security, is misunderstood. Often the alliance is thought of as the sum of all U.S. relations with its European partners, from imposing sanctions and other costs on Russia to sending arms and ammunition. But as an organization, its brief is limited to the defense by military means of its 32 member countries the sacred Three Musketeers-like vow of all for one, one for all and a commitment to help keep the peace in Europe and North America. That also means not being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia. Here's a look at Nato and how it's aiding Ukraine: What is Nato? Founded in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed by 12 nations to counter the threat to European security posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Dealing with Moscow is in its DNA. Natos ranks have grown since the Washington Treaty was signed 75 years ago to 32 countries after Sweden joined this year, worried by an increasingly aggressive Russia. Natos collective security guarantee Article 5 of the treaty underpins its credibility. It's a political commitment by all member countries to come to the aid of any member whose sovereignty or territory might be under attack. Ukraine would meet those criteria, but it is only a partner, not a member. Natos doors are open to any European country that wants to join and can meet the requirements and obligations. Importantly, Nato takes its decisions by consensus, so every member has a veto. Who's in charge? The United States is the most powerful member. It spends much more on defense than any other ally and far outweighs its partners in terms of military muscle. So Washington drives the agenda. Natos day-to-day work is led by its secretary-general former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, until he is replaced on October 1 by outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Natos top civilian official chairs almost weekly meetings of ambassadors in the North Atlantic Council at its Brussels headquarters. He chairs other NACs at ministerial level and summits of heads of state and government. Stoltenberg runs NatoO HQ. He does not order the allies around. His job is to encourage consensus and speak on behalf of all 32 members. Natos military headquarters is based nearby in Mons, Belgium. It is always run by a top U.S. officer. The current supreme allied commander Europe is Army General Christopher Cavoli. What is Nato doing to help Ukraine? Even though most allies believe that Russia could pose an existential threat to Europe, Nato itself is not arming Ukraine. As an organization, Nato possesses no weapons of any kind. Collectively, the alliance provides only non-lethal support fuel, combat rations, medical supplies and body armor, as well as equipment to counter drones or mines. But members do send arms on their own or in groups. Nato is helping Ukraines armed forces shift from Soviet-era military doctrine to modern thinking. Its also helping strengthen Ukraines defense and security institutions. In Washington, Nato leaders will endorse a new plan to coordinate the delivery of equipment to Ukraine and training for its armed forces. The leaders will renew a vow that Ukraine will join the alliance one day, but not while its at war. Why is Nato stationing more troops on its European borders? While some allies have left open the possibility of sending military personnel to Ukraine, Nato itself has no plans to do this. But a key part of the commitment for allies to defend one another is to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin, or any other adversary, from launching an attack in the first place. Finland and Sweden joined Nato recently over concern about this. With the war in its third year, Nato now has 500,000 military personnel on high readiness to counter any attack, whether it be on land, at sea, by air or in cyberspace. The alliance has doubled the number of battle groups along its eastern flank, bordering Russia and Ukraine. Allies are almost continuously conducting military exercises. One of them this year, Steadfast Defender, involved around 90,000 troops operating across Europe. Isn't the US doing the heavy lifting? Due to high US defense spending over many years, Americas armed forces benefit not only from greater troop numbers and superior weapons but also from significant transport and logistics assets. Other allies are starting to spend more though. After years of cuts, Nato members committed to ramp up their national defense budgets in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. The aim was for each ally to be spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense within a decade. A year ago, with no end to the war in sight, they agreed to make 2% a spending floor, rather than a ceiling. A record 23 countries are expected to be close to the spending target this year, up from only three a decade ago. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A 31-year-old chimpanzee at the Edinburgh Zoo has died after a fight with its troop. Rene, a male ape, was severely injured in the fight, the zoo authority said. Our expert keepers did everything they could to separate the fight and keep the rest of the troop safe, but sadly Renes injuries were severe, it said. Rene was a huge personality and will be missed by those who cared for him. Another chimpanzee named Qafzeh was also injured. After a surgical operation it is doing well and is gradually being reintroduced to the group, the zoo authority said. It said the fight was caused by aggressive behaviour that occurs in the wild, especially around breeding time when females are in season and when males are challenging for dominance of the group. Edinburgh Zoo, run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, is home to 15 chimpanzees that live in one enclosure called the Budongo Trail, reported the BBC. People on social media left messages of condolence for Rene, expressing grief over its demise. So sorry to hear this, Georgia Jane said underneath the zoos Facebook post. Hats off to the keepers. I wouldnt like to get in between a chimp fight! This mustve been very hard for you all; sending my love and wishing for a speedy and uncomplicated recovery to Qafzeh as well. Poor Rene, another user called Andrea Sutherland wrote. Thoughts go out to you all. The keepers will be heartbroken. So sorry for your loss, read another message of condolence. My thoughts are with the wonderful zoo keepers and vet. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jay Slaters family have been spotted searching a town in Tenerife as they retrace the missing teenagers final movements, despite the local mayor insisting he wasnt here. The 19-year-olds father Warren Slater, 58, and brother Zak Slater, 23, were seen scanning the small, mountain village of Santiago del Teide on Monday, as the hunt on the Spanish island entered its fourth week. The official search has now been called off, with Warren Slater criticising local police and residents alike for not doing more to help his son, an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire. On Saturday, Warren, Zak and Jays mother, Debbie Duncan, took part in an eight-hour search in a remote valley in the north of Tenerife, where Jays phone last pinged on 17 June. Warren Slater, speaking to Sky News during an earlier interview, has questioned the actions of those who last saw his son ( Sky News ) The teenager was at the NRG festival in Plata de las Americas on 16 June before going to an AirBnB in the village of Masca with two men. He left the following morning and appeared to start an 11-hour walk back to his apartment in the tourist area of Los Cristianos. The last official sighting of him was by a cafe owner whose brother owns the cottage where his two new acquaintances were staying. She said Jay asked her about bus times before he decided not to wait for two hours for a service. She last saw him walking out of the village while she was in her car. The teenagers final recorded location on his phone was at 8.50am in the Rural de Teno National Park. Manchester Evening News reported Warren and Zak were pictured on Monday combing through Santiago del Teide, which is on the outskirts of the park, as the pair widened the boundaries of their search. The last known sighting of Jay Slater was by a cafe owner in the village of Masca who saw him walking on 17 June ( Supplied ) A grainy CCTV image of someone who was thought to have potentially been Jay was captured in this town earlier in the search. However, the towns mayor, Emilio Navaro, previously said he did not believe the CCTV image was from Santiago del Tiede. Speaking to MailOnline after Saturdays search, Warren also spoke of his frustration with the local police, who called off the search operation after emergency workers found nothing in the last search near Masca on Saturday, 29 June. The last known movements of Jay Slater ( PA ) However, Tenerifes Guardia Civil said it was following several lines of investigation last week. The police have also said it will allow search and rescue teams to operate on the island. Jays family along with volunteers have continued the search and theres also been support from TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas. More than 50,000 has also been raised through a GoFundMe to support the family in its efforts. Speaking to MailOnline, Warren said: Were going round and round in circles. The Spanish police, you cant go screaming and shouting at them because they dont do anything. If you start screaming and shouting they wont do anything even more. Jays uncle, Glen Duncan, has also criticised the police. Speaking to The Sun, he said: I dont know if theyre following up every single lead. I feel like marching down there myself and bursting into the police station. He added: Were still holding onto hope we have to because we dont know. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Landlords have come under fire for banning prospective tenants from working from home, resulting in calls for new legislation to protect renters. In what appears to be a new trend, adverts for shared homes have been appearing, specifying that the potential new occupant must not work from home. Now, the charity Generation Rent has called upon the new government to impose regulations to stop the practice, which is arguably given force by Section 21 no-fault eviction powers. Concerns have been echoed by British renters, including one fully remote disabled worker who told The Independent that such practices put people at risk of homelessness when it leaves them unable to work. A lawyer confirmed to The Independent that landlords cannot stop tenants working from home, although the situation is more complicated where a tenant seeks to run a business from their rental property. A recent post on Twitter/X, which went viral, claimed that a landlord was attempting to rent a double room for 1,300 a month where the tenant would be unable to work from home despite a desk being placed in the room. It read: 1300, no working from home allowed even though the room has a desk? 1300, no working from home allowed even though the room has a desk? Loool pic.twitter.com/e3a3BXKSUH Pistachio (@HarleyShah) June 18, 2024 The post has been viewed by more than four million people. It ignited an intense debate about the legality of such requests and whether or not they were fair, especially with the increased prevalence of fully remote and hybrid jobs in the post-Covid world. The Office of National Statistics found that the average monthly rent in the UK increased by nine per cent from 2023 to 2024. Reacting to the post, one Twitter/X user wrote: Thats utterly ridiculous! I think its insurance reasons, as landlords get asked if the property is used for business purposes, speculated a second. Im sure thats what landlords are referring to. A third questioned: No wfh allowed? How is that legal? No running a business I can understand. An investigation by The Independent found that such ads were far from uncommon on rental websites such as Spareroom, and were particularly prevalent among live-in landlords. We are looking for a female professional who is neat and tidy and not WFH, specifies one Spareroom ad for a double bedroom costing 800 a month. Another bedroom that costs 800 a month is advertised with the specification no WFH on either a full- or part-time basis, adding that the prospective tenant ideally wont use the kitchen much. If you snore please dont apply, it adds, stressing that the ideal tenant should love their own space. London, in particular, is famed for its expensive, often poor, rental accommodation. Pictured here is a cupboard that has been turned into a studio flat in the city ( Vicki Couchman/Shutterstock ) Referring to the first advert, a spokesperson for Spareroom told The Independent: This isnt an ad placed by a traditional landlord, it comes from someone living in the property. Its not unusual for these type of ads, whether theyre from a lodger landlord or the current flatmates, to express some type of preference when it comes to working from home. There could be all sorts of reasons for that, from the space not being suitable, or the extra load on wifi, to the effect on bills. But the problems that this can create for prospective tenants are huge, especially in light of the prevalence of remote and hybrid roles since the pandemic. One fully remote worker, who is currently looking for a new rental property, told The Independent: After the 2008 market crash and the proliferation of zero-hours contracts I moved my work model to freelancing. Much of this involves working from home for preparation and admin. So when the pandemic hit I was fortunate in having few adjustments to my work pattern, and with a progressive disability, this has allowed me to continue working full time. Im currently looking for a new rental property and any stipulation that I could not work from home would either exclude me from housing or exclude me from the workforce. This is not a choice anyone ought to face, and it certainly ought not to be being imposed by private landlords. A British landlord described the practice of banning tenants from working from home as insane ( Getty ) Abtin Yeganeh, a senior associate in the dispute resolution department at solicitors Lawrence Stephens, explained that renters do have one protection in this area. While landlords can seek to exclude a tenants right to work from home, The Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (subject to several exclusions) provides that landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenants request to do so, he said. However, the continued existence of Section 21 evictions means that tenants could still be forced to move on if they try to work from home, making this a complicated issue for all involved. Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, echoed these concerns, telling The Independent: If youre paying rent for a home, it should be none of your landlords business what you do in it. Unfortunately, in practice, there is little stopping landlords from imposing draconian conditions on their tenants, because they can threaten a Section 21 eviction if you dont comply. It doesnt matter if an unreasonable requirement is lawful being able to evict without needing a reason trumps everything. When the next government reforms tenancies, as all major parties have promised, it must abolish Section 21 and make clear that unfair terms like banning working from home are not legal. That way, the selfish preferences of a landlord will not mean homelessness for a tenant. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Waterstones has come under fire for sacking a bookseller who claimed she would tear up and bin an authors novel over their gender-critical views. Book influencer and Waterstones employee Tilly Fitzgerald, who uses the TikTok page Tilly Loves Books to share her reviews of novels, was fired after breaching the retailers social media policy during an interaction with author Christina Dalcher. Ms Dalcher was subject to Ms Fitzgeralds criticism after the author appeared to endorse a new publishing network for those concerned about the impact of gender ideology and the safeguarding of womens rights. This prompted Ms Fitzgerald to write on X/Twitter: Ooh Ill enjoy tearing up your books and popping them in the bin today. Thanks for the heads up. The bookseller was subsequently dismissed from her job and took to social media to tearfully express her sadness and clarify her stance on Ms Dalchers books. She said her intention was not to have the author removed from the shelves of Waterstones - merely that she did not want to personally support the author. My initial comments werent trying to get anyone cancelled or taken off shop shelves - I was speaking of my choice to throw my own books of theirs away as I didnt want to personally support them, she wrote. The bookseller was left distraught after loving her dream job. ( Tilly Loves Books ) The situation has now ignited a fierce debate around free speech, with many arguing that she had every right to make the comments on her own account and it was no reflection of her ability as a bookseller. Speaking to The Independent, Ms Fitzgerald added: Im absolutely devastated that this escalated to me losing a job a love. I acknowledge that my comments were a violation of the social media policy, and I did apologise for any trouble caused, however, I think the punishment was disproportionate and a warning would have been more appropriate. Ms Fitzgerald has also taken to social media to urge others in the publishing industry to be careful about what they say online. I just want to be really clear that this decision came from head office - from someone I probably dont even know and who doesnt know me, she added. It had nothing to do with my team in my shop. They are the best team and thats why Im sad. Following news of Ms Fitzgeralds dismissal, supporters of the LGBTQ+ community have flooded Waterstones social media posts with comments encouraging the bookstore to reinstate her. I always found comfort walking into a Waterstones shop. This changes today with the news about @tillylovesbooks, wrote one supporter on Instagram. Like many others, I hope Waterstones head office take a hard look in the mirror and decide to support not only Tilly, but also stand behind the LGBTQ+ community. In the meantime, I will be shopping elsewhere and hope others do to. LGBTQ+ advocates and activists are now calling on Waterstones to reinstate the bookseller. ( PA ) A third user criticised the bookshop for supporting Pride Month in light of its recent actions. Like many others have said - the sacking of @tillylovesbooks not only seems unfair but is not a good look for you Waterstones, they wrote. Another commentator said that the book influencer did a fantastic job promoting Waterstones with her platform. Badly done @waterstones , badly done, they wrote. @tillylovesbooks does nothing but sell your store and her love for her role there. Its looking very knee-jerk reaction to tweets by a person who cant take a differing view. Is this the correct way to handle your loyal team members? Did you really look into it, talk to your employee? The PR isnt going to look good on you amongst book lovers. I think you need to review.quickly! Ms Fitzgerald has stressed that she was only referring to her personal books and not those by the author in store. ( Tilly Loves Books ) The issue has caused such a storm that the bookstore is still trending on Twitter/X this morning, with countless users calling for the booksellers reinstatement and a boycott of Dalchers books. One user also noted that an account belonging to Waterstones retweeted Scottish author Irvine Welsh questioning what a woman is. Hi @Waterstones, I assume that since you so quickly fired a member of staff over their comments about a transphobic author, youll also be firing the member of staff who retweeted this post from the @WstonesLeeds account? the poster wrote. Or is it ok because they were reposting transphobia? Ms Fitzgerald further told this publication: I was an exemplary employee as evidenced by my performance reviews and statements from my team. I have seen comments about me destroying work stock which was absolutely not the case. I was talking about my own personal property on my personal social media account, and I have every right to get rid of books by an author I no longer wish to support based on their behaviour. Im so grateful for all the support people in the book community have shown. The last thing I would consider myself is an activist (although Im forever in awe of those who are brave enough to fight so relentlessly), but to me, its fairly simple - we just let people be who they want to be and begin with kindness. Waterstones told The Independent that they are an inclusive employer, who follow due process in HR matters, and for obvious reasons are unable to comment on individual cases. The Independent has reached out to Christina Dalcher for comment. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A health and safety expert has revealed why an increased number of landlords are asking their tenants not to work from home. It follows a report by The Independent which found there is little legislation in place to protect renters from the increasingly common practice linked to Section 21 no-fault evictions. Landlords can make the specification for several reasons including health and safety concerns depending on the nature of the work and a desire to keep the household bills down to avoid leaving the landlord out of pocket. There are many reasons why a landlord may want to include a ban on tenants working from home, including insurance purposes, or disruption to neighbours and other tenants, Gavin Scarr Hall, Director of Health and Safety at Peninsula exclusively told this publication. If the lease includes utilities as well as rent, then these costs could increase if tenants work from home, potentially leaving the landlord out of pocket. Theres also the liability and risk that comes from certain types of business use, including the requirement to ensure safe working environments. If the work being done involved clients visiting the property, such as hairdressing, then there would be other health and safety considerations to consider. The topic came under the spotlight after a bedroom priced at 1,300 a month went viral after the landlord allegedly banned home working in the room. 1300, no working from home allowed even though the room has a desk? Loool pic.twitter.com/e3a3BXKSUH Pistachio (@HarleyShah) June 18, 2024 The Independent subsequently found that such requests were commonplace on rental websites. One advert for a bedroom costing 800 a month, for example, specified that there should be no WFH on either a full- or part-time basis and said that the tenant ideally wont use the kitchen much. Another similar advert, also for a room at 800 a month, specified that the tenant should be a female professional who is neat and tidy and not WFH. A spokesperson for SpareRoom, where these ads are prevalent, echoed the claim that the specification can be made for a variety of reasons. They told The Independent: Its not unusual for these type of ads, whether theyre from a lodger landlord or the current flatmates, to express some type of preference when it comes to working from home. There could be all sorts of reasons for that, from the space not being suitable, or the extra load on wifi, to the effect on bills. Rental requirements are becoming more specific following an increase in working from home after the pandemic. ( PA ) But it has been argued that such specifications are unfair to tenants and that they should be free to fully utilise the space they are renting. One fully remote disabled worker told The Independent that if working-from-home bans become standard across the board, they will be excluded from the workforce or accommodation. The legality of the situation, however, is a grey area. While landlords can seek to exclude a tenants right to work from home, The Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (subject to several exclusions) provides that landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenants request to do so, Abtin Yeganeh, a senior associate at solicitors Lawrence Stephens, explained. But the continued existence of Section 21 no-fault evictions means that this legal protection can be easily overcome. Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said that reform is urgently needed in this area so that the selfish preferences of a landlord will not mean homelessness for a tenant. When the next government reforms tenancies, as all major parties have promised, it must abolish Section 21 and make clear that unfair terms like banning working from home are not legal, he said. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Over a dozen anti-abortion MPs have lost their seats in the recent general election sparking hopes abortion could soon be decriminalised. Some 15 Tory MPs with a record of voting against legislation that supports abortion rights lost their seats during the snap election last week with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Maria Caulfield, Fiona Bruce, Liam Fox, and Miriam Cates among them. Sir Jacob previously branded the legal procedure of abortion as morally wrong and a cult of death and has said he is even against terminations in cases of rape or incest. A list of 25 anti-abortion MPs, compiled by leading abortion provider British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) and shared exclusively with The Independent, shows 10 MPs with a history of voting against abortion rights held onto their seats. This includes Labour MP Mary Glindon, DUP MP Carla Lockhart, the Conservative Partys Iain Duncan Smith and others. BPAS chief executive, Heidi Stewart, said parliament could now be the most pro-abortion rights in its history. Iain Duncan Smith ( AFP/Getty ) She said: The last parliament saw unprecedented attacks on our abortion rights, no doubt emboldened by the global attack on abortion. The anti-abortion lobby was well-resourced, well-funded, and well-connected. And through several anti-abortion MPs, they were able to pose a significant threat to the provision of abortion in the last parliament. Ms Stewart said she is keen to collaborate with the incoming cohort of MPs to urgently progress the implementation of safe access zones, and decriminalise abortion for women in England and Wales. Safe access zones, more commonly referred to as buffer zones, are supposed to stop anti-abortion demonstrators standing outside or in close vicinity of abortion clinics. Louise McCudden, of leading abortion provider, MSI Reproductive Choices, said: With 335 new MPs elected to the House of Commons, and over 40 per cent of them women, we are cautiously optimistic about the potential for abortion law reform in this parliament. Campaigners in Westminster in London calling for decriminalisation of abortion ( Yui Mok/PA Wire ) However, just because we have more women in parliament than ever does not mean we can be complacent. Although most people in the UK are pro-choice, the anti-abortion movement is ramping up its tactics. Rishi Sunaks decision to call a snap election ruined abortion providers hopes abortion would soon be decriminalised. Cross-party MPs, including Labours Stella Creasy and Diana Johnson, had proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill that would have decriminalised abortion which were due to be voted on in parliament in early June. But the snap election meant parliament was dissolved so the vote was cancelled. Abortions can legally be carried out in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales. But pregnancy terminations must be approved by two doctors, with the health professionals agreeing that continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the woman than having an abortion. If a medical professional delivers an abortion outside of the terms of the 1967 act, they are at risk of being prosecuted. Legislation passed in 1861 means any woman who ends a pregnancy without getting legal permission from two doctors can face up to life imprisonment. Kerry Abel, chair of the campaign group Abortion Rights, said: The actions of the anti-choice MPs over the last decade or so have been a threat to so many women and pregnant people. It comes after The Independent reported on records showing the former prime minister Mr Sunak and senior members of his government voted against boosting access to abortions or have opted out of key votes on terminations. Anneliese Dodds, minister for women and equalities, warned that Mr Sunak, the former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, ex-foreign secretary, James Cleverly, and former home secretary, Suella Braverman have abstained or voted against all English abortion legislation since 2015. This includes moves to roll out buffer zones around abortion clinics to protect women seeking terminations from being harassed by protesters, at-home early medical abortions and decriminalising terminations. The Independent has contacted spokespeople for Labour and the Conservative Party, as well as Fiona Bruce, Liam Fox, Miriam Cates, Iain Duncan-Smith, Caroline Answell and Chris Green for comment. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} New polling shows that the vast majority of voters who went to the polls to vote for a Keir Starmer government want Labour to drop its Brexit red lines and reverse the Tory legacy on Europe. Asked about whether Labour should reconsider its stance on the single market, customs union and freedom of movement in order to gain economic benefit, 71 per cent thought they should. Just 14 per cent thought they should not alter their Brexit red line stance, with only 2 per cent saying definitely not. Keir Starmer has been urged to ditch his red lines on Brexit ( Reuters ) The polling, commissioned by the pro-EU European Movement, aims to put pressure on Sir Keir to have a dramatic rethink of Labours foreign policy as he heads off to Nato today where he will meet with many of Europes leaders including commission president Ursula von der Leyen. During the election, Sir Keir was criticised for not mentioning Brexit. But he told The Independent: We are not reopening the wounds, but we do want a better deal. I think the deal we've got isnt good enough, and your cheese exporters from Somerset or wherever will tell you that as will others who are either importing or exporting. So we can do better than that, but it doesn't involve going back to the single market or the customs union. Labour have already announced that work has begun on renegotiating Boris Johnsons flawed Brexit deal, but Sir Keir has insisted that the UK will not rejoin the EU in his lifetime and that he will not consider rejoining the customs union or single market. David Lammy will prioritise a new security arrangement with the EU ( PA Wire ) Instead, he is looking for a bespoke deal similar to the way Norway and Switzerland approach the issue. Foreign secretary David Lammy has also prioritised a new security pact with the EU. But, given that both Sir Keir and Mr Lammy played leading roles in trying to stop Brexit and hold a second referendum, some pro-EU activists are unhappy with their current policy. Join our event examining the rise of Reform and Labours landslide election victory Dr Mike Galsworthy, chair of European Movement UK, said: We understand that Labour felt it needed to set out red lines to protect itself from attacks from the Conservative Party and the pro-Brexit press, particularly during the election. However, this does not reflect what Labours voting base and the public at large wish to see from a Labour government. Labours greater duty in government is to serve British citizens and British businesses who are desperate for a better economy. Labour must break from the straitjacket of the previous government and finally put Britains citizens, businesses and economic health above obsolete ideology." The Think Voter Intention poll had a Labour sample of almost 500 out of 1,212 and revealed that 63 per cent of voters would vote to rejoin if there was another referendum. Overall, 47 per cent of all those polled said they would vote to rejoin compared to 34 per cent who voted to stay out of the EU. Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris said the EU would be open to a new Brexit deal ( EPA ) The poll also found that 64 per cent of all voters thought that Brexit had not lived up to its promise. This was higher among Labour voters, with 77 per cent saying Brexit had not lived up to promises. The majority also held true for the UK public as a whole, where 56 per cent thought a Labour government should soften its stance on UK-EU relations. Just 24 per cent, less than a quarter, said they didnt think they should. Even with Conservative voters, 50 per cent thought Labour should put the economy above its red lines versus 32 per cent who did not. Sir Nick Harvey, chief executive of the European Movement UK, said: The European Movement will be clear throughout this general election that political candidates of all parties must acknowledge the elephant in the room that Brexit isnt working, and that public opinion is shifting." Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer has kickstarted a new era of devolution as he commences his tour of the UK after just four days in office. The new prime minister and his deputy, Angela Rayner, met on Tuesday with the nations 12 regional mayors to discuss a major programme of devolution. Sir Keir spent Sunday in Scotland, where he met SNP first minister John Swinney. On Monday, he met political leaders at Stormont in Northern Ireland and The Senedd in Wales, including the nations first ministers, Michelle ONeill and Vaughan Gething. Ms Rayner said for too long Westminster had tightly gripped control and held back opportunities for towns, cities and villages across the UK. What is devolution? In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. 12 areas of England, including London, Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Tees Valley, have devolution deals giving powers over areas such as transport, housing and employment. Devolution referendums were held in 1997 in Scotland and Wales. On both sides of the Northern Irish/Irish border in 1998, referendums were held on the Good Friday Agreement. These resulted in the creation of the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales (now called the Senedd) and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Voters in some large cities in England elect mayors with regional responsibilities. Among them are Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester), Richard Parker (West Midlands), Dan Norris (west of England including Bristol and Bath) and Ben Houchen (Tees Valley). The UK government in Westminster remains responsible for policies which affect just England, as well as overall policy in several areas such as foreign policy. What does Labour want to do about devolution? Mayors gather outside Downing Street before a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday morning ( REUTERS ) The new government wants to harness the power of devolution and has wasted no time in showing its seriousness. The meeting at No 10 was the first time all the mayors had gathered in Downing Street. Before the whistle-stop tour of the UK, Sir Keir said his appearances would signal his ambition to push power and resource out of Whitehall. While Ms Rayner said: For too long a Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities and villages across the UK. Thats meant misguided decisions devastating the lives of working people, while our elected local leaders are forced to beg for scraps at the whim of Whitehall. Its time to take back control and this new government is focused on setting that potential free, with a full reset of our relationship with local government. All of this starts with proper, grown-up conversations with our regional mayors, to make changes that help them deliver local economic growth with better housing, education and jobs for local people. What is the reaction from the devolved areas? Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin takes a selfie with other mayors ( Getty ) Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said there was "no doubt" that devolution should be expanded to more areas of the UK. Following the meeting with the prime minister, she took a selfie outside the door of No 10 with all the other mayors present including Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham, and Lord Houchen. Asked whether devolution should be expanded across the UK, Ms Brabin told the PA news agency: "I think there's no doubt about it. The majority of citizens in the north have a mayor and you can see that voice and champion for a region really does bring delivery." Tees Valleys Conservative mayor Ben Houchen is currently the only metro mayor who is not a Labour politician but he said he and Sir Keir both agree on the need to work together, regardless of party politics. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch as new MPs are sworn into the House of Commons on Tuesday 9 July, following the general election. There will be 411 MPs representing Labour thanks to their landslide win, while the Conservatives form the opposition with 121 seats. The Liberal Democrats take 72 seats in the Commons, with the SNP on nine, Reform UK on five and the Green Party on four. Once the new arrivals are sworn in, Labours Diane Abbott will earn the symbolic title Mother of the House. The moniker is given to the female MP with the longest continuous service. Ms Abbott, 70, was first elected in June 1987 becoming the first black woman elected to the House of Commons. Some believed that her ally, Jeremy Corbyn, would become Father of the House. But Sir Edward Leigh, 73, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, pipped him to the title, as he was sworn in moments before Mr Corbyn after the June 1983 election. Elsewhere, the youngest MP is believed to be Sam Carling, 22, the new Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire. He narrowly won the seat, with Conservative candidate Shailesh Vara just 39 votes behind. Can anyone seriously, any longer, defend the first past the post (FPTP) voting system, where you can get a government with a large majority supported by only 34 per cent of those voting (including some like me who only voted Labour to avoid getting a Tory), and where a party polling 12 per cent of the votes (Lib Dems) get 70 seats, while another party (Reform) polling 14 per cent gets only five seats? No wonder so many people are cheesed off and disillusioned with it all. This was a WhatsApp message sent to me two days ago. The Lib Dems in their policy pronouncements before the election said something similar, proclaiming that our voting system is broken though, as it happens, their result in seats (at 10.7 per cent) was not far short of their 12 per cent of the votes. Nigel Farage was first out of the traps to point out that with five MPs now under his wing in the House of Commons, under proportional representation his party would have actually won 100 seats. I dont defend FPTP. I havent for some decades. But I part company with my WhatsApp correspondent, and all the others, who glibly assert that the answer is proportional representation (PR). For a start, PR systems vary greatly. So, firstly, the fans of change need to say which system they would use. The Netherlands and Israel, among others, use a national list system. One country, one constituency. Electors vote by party list. How many are elected is proportional to the votes cast. It may work in relatively small countries. It does, just, in the Netherlands; its hard to argue that in Israel its been an unalloyed success. Other countries use regional list systems (as did the UK for European parliament elections), some (like Ireland) use multi-member constituencies; some, like Germany, use an additional member system. Each system has advantages, but each shares a fundamental disadvantage and it is this. The standard objection to FPTP is that it can, and often does, give disproportionate power to a minority of voters, albeit the largest minority. Last weeks general election illustrates this perfectly. My party, Labour, gets 34 per cent of the popular vote, and 63 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons. Unfair, cry opponents of FPTP. There is however a similar, but inherently worse, problem with PR systems because while they do not give disproportionate power to the largest minority, they can and often do give completely disproportionate power to parties with among the smallest minority of votes. The situation in Israels current government is a fair indication of the disadvantages of proportional representation ( Getty ) Israel provides one clear example. To stay in power prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu depends crucially on the support of two linked parties of the religious right, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich. Between them, they have only 14 seats in the Knesset, of the 61 needed for a majority. But they exert wholly disproportionate power to their seats, as recent policies of the Israeli government show all too clearly. There are plenty of other examples including in Germany, where the small Free Democratic Party have over the decades frequently been in government, and therefore in power despite usually being the smallest party in the Bundestag, because their votes are key to the governing coalitions majority. Theres another point about the way in which votes and power are bound to be out of balance. This is that in our culture, and almost all others, decisions in the room are made on majority votes, usually 50 per cent plus 1. Those on the majority side have the power; those on the losing side have none. Its a better arrangement than the ones which preceded it, including the absolute rule of monarchs, or the highly restricted franchise the UK had before 1832. But it does not give directly proportional power no system can. Ballots are sorted at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, in Cheshire, after polls closed last week ( PA ) The other problem with PR systems is that the connection between where people live, and their elected representatives is either diluted or lost altogether. Its diluted where the PR system uses multi-member constituencies; lost with national or regional list systems, and even with the German system (where, at least, half the MPs do represent a constituency, the other half do not). This connection really is a strength of our system. People want to see their representative standing up for their area and those MPs who do that best are rewarded in the ballot box. Those who do worst are duly punished. FPTP worked fine when Britain was essentially a two-party polity. In general elections from 1945 through to the 1970s, there were quite a number of constituencies where only the two big parties put up candidates; the Liberals typically took between six and nine seats. But that has now changed. We now have six parties in the Commons from Great Britain, plus independents. In the context of a multi-party democracy, which is likely to continue, FPTP does not appear very fair, and in some constituencies, where there were three- or four-cornered contests, has produced some very odd results. Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats hoped for political reform in the 2011 referendum on voting ( Reuters ) My answer (and one which I have long supported) is that we should exchange FPTP for the alternative vote (AV) by which voters rank their candidates in order of their preference. Its used in other countries notably Australia, in two states in the US (Maine and Alaska) and for example in the Labour Party for elections of the leader and deputy. One of its many key advantages is that it preserves the link between where people live, and their representatives. Back in 2011, the UK had a referendum, as part of the Lib Dems price for going into coalition with the Conservatives. Sadly, those of us supporting AV lost the referendum by two to one. Some might say we had our chance, but, I believe, the experience of the last election has made the argument for AV even stronger It wont produce a proportional result across the country, but it does mean that in each constituency the winner has to command a majority in the final eliminating ballot. Its use would not, I am certain, have prevented Labour from having a good majority in the Commons, but some individual results would have been different. Its fairer, or at least it appears fairer. Its time has come. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer has doubled down on his iron commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent but waded into a row with military chiefs as he failed to set a timetable to meet his pledge. The new prime minister has flown to the Nato summit in Washington DC with his wife Victoria for his first international visit since winning the general election last week. With the situation at crisis point in Ukraine after Vladimir Putins Russian army bombed a childrens hospital and Voydymyr Zelenskys forces warned they are running out of ammunition, the defence gathering is being billed as the most important since the invasion began. During the recent UK election campaign, Sir Keir was challenged repeatedly by his predecessor Rishi Sunak whether he would meet the Conservative commitment to 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030 after the Tories tried to make it an issue for voters. Keir Starmer is setting off to his first Nato summit ( PA ) While the prime minister continues to resist setting a date to match the spending rise, he has revealed he will launch his first Strategic Defence and Security Review next week, which should provide a timetable and priorities on spending. On the flight to Washington on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: We will carry out our strategic review to look at the challenges. the capabilities, and on the back of that make further plans. Im committed to the 2.5 per cent within our fiscal rules, [but] that strategic review needs to come first. He added: Today, tomorrow, and the next day is all about standing together with our allies discussing practically how we provide further support for Ukraine and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world. Earlier Sir Keir said: There is no more important duty for me as prime minister than keeping the people of our country safe. At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves. But the prime minister is coming under increasing pressure domestically and internationally. General Sir Richard Dannatt, the former head of the British army, told The Independent: I would like to see [the prime minister] put a timeframe on 2.5 per cent at least to match the previous governments pledge of by 2030. This will allow the MoD to plan with more certainty. A vague promise is not really that helpful. And he should be warned that once 2.5 per cent is locked in, there will be further pressure to go to 3 per cent, unless the European security environment improves dramatically in the next few years. Former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts said Sir Keir needed to outline a timetable soon. He said: The iron commitment is useful going into the Nato summit where there will be a lot of focus on European allies increasing defence budgets. But if Starmer is to occupy the vacant position of European leadership on this issue... he will need to put a timetable on this soon: for example at the budget expected in early September. Former colonel James Sunderland, who was also a Tory MP until the election, said the prime minister will come under increasing pressure from Nato to set a timeline for 2.5 per cent. Its important that strong UK leadership is maintained, particularly in respect of Ukraine. Meanwhile, former armed forces minister Mark Francois added that the summit was the perfect opportunity for our new prime minister to put a firm timing on when we will achieve spending 2.5 per cent both to deter Russian aggression and pour encourager les autres among our Nato allies. From Ukraine, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko spoke exclusively to The Independent warning that urgent military aid is needed. He said: We need more anti-missile systems, more modern air defence. We need, need them. If you help, you need to understand you are not just defending Ukraine but you are defending yourselves. Sir Keir is also set to have his first meeting with US president Joe Biden while he is in Washington in what many hope will be a reset of UK-US relations after the strains between the current White House and former Tory government over Brexit. Joe Biden and Keir Starmer will have their first meeting since the UK election ( AFP/Getty ) However, he will also be flying into controversy over the calls for Mr Biden to step aside as a candidate in Novembers election after concerns about his health resurfaced in a recent debate with Donald Trump. Sir Keir and his wife are set to have dinner with the Bidens in the White House on Wednesday night, raising hopes that the two leaders will become close partners on the world stage. UK officials are also scrambling to find a location for the prime minister to watch Englands Euro 2024 semi-final match which will be at 3pm local time in the US. While Sir Keir has been careful to note that he will work with whichever president US voters elect and is hopeful of negotiating a trade deal, he will be aware of Mr Trumps threat to Nato over spending and the Republican nominees calls for a deal to be done with Putin. Also at the conference will be Mr Trumps political ally, Viktor Orban. In his role chairing the European Council of Ministers, the Hungarian prime minister has shocked many by going on a peace tour, including to Moscow, in a bid to open war-ending talks. Sir Keir is set to have a number of bilateral talks, including with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who he has not previously met. The UKs security review will consider the nature of the threats to the nation including Mr Putins ongoing invasion of Ukraine, continued instability in the Middle East, and the rise of authoritarian states and the capabilities Britain needs to tackle them. A major element will be deepening defence ties with Nato countries and other international partners. The prime minister is also looking at creating a new European security pact. Defence secretary John Healey, who will be at the summit and has recently visited Ukraine, said Britains commitment to Nato was unshakeable, adding: We cannot have prosperity without security and we must never take our ability to live freely for granted. Foreign secretary David Lammy, who will also be attending, added: Ukraines security is our security. Putin thinks he can outwait the West, but he is mistaken. One of the many humiliations suffered by the Conservatives in the past week has been the temporary deletion of their X/Twitter account. For a short time, visitors to the partys social media page were greeted only with the error message: Something went wrong. Thats an understatement, although the question remains exactly what went wrong. Identifying a way forward could take months, if not years, but in the meantime whats left of the parliamentary Conservative party has to form an effective opposition. In the short term, this means Rishi Sunak taking on Keir Starmers former role in the most brutal of job swaps When will Starmer and Sunak face each other in their new roles? After yesterdays first-day-of-term niceties, the first substantive clash between the two leaders will follow the Kings Speech, on Wednesday 17 July. The pair will probably then face one another again at Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) the following Wednesday. If the Conservatives choose a new leader during the summer recess, that may well be their last exchange. What has happened in the past? After Labour premier James Callaghan lost the May 1979 general election, he was replaced by Margaret Thatcher and soldiered on in the role of leader of the opposition all the way until November 1980. This was primarily to use his position and authority to prevent his restless party from shifting too far to the left, and to influence the choice of its new leader. Admittedly, that was an unusually long stint for a leader who wasnt intending to fight the next election. In 1997, John Major spent seven weeks as opposition leader asking Tony Blair the questions, again partly for internal party political reasons. However, Sunak could effectively quit much sooner as Gordon Brown did in 2010, when he handed over PMQs and similar responsibilities to Harriet Harman as soon as he could rather than directly face the upstart David Cameron. The equivalent now would be for Sunak to hand the task of PMQs etc over to Oliver Dowden, who is now deputy leader of the opposition in the new shadow cabinet. Sunaks statement that he will step down once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place leaves his options reasonably open. When will the Tories choose a new leader and leader of the opposition? We dont yet know, and the timing is linked to their internal manoeuvrings. In 2005, Michael Howard postponed quitting after his May election defeat until after the October party conference, giving his favoured successor, David Cameron, time to establish himself against the better-known frontrunner David Davis. Camerons speech at the conference certainly enhanced his chances, and he went on to win. In Sunaks case, nothing can be done before the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers is reconstituted next Tuesday. The new committee will need to consult the wider party on any changes to the leadership election rules, such as the minimum number of nominees in such a denuded parliamentary group; and the role of the membership. So Sunak could make a case for getting out as early as next week, and handing over to Dowden on an interim basis; or waiting until the summer if it takes time to define the rules and organise a leadership contest and it suits Sunaks remaining interest in the partys future. What difference does that make? Other things being equal, a longer election process would mean more time for the less prominent contenders to gather some momentum. So, other things being equal, it would mean more time for, say, James Cleverly and Victoria Atkins to build up a campaign, whereas a quicker process would help the present favourites, Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat. What will this mean for the public? The longer it takes to elect a new Conservative leader and nominate a shadow cabinet the longer it will take for the Conservatives to rebuild, present alternative policies, impress voters, provide adequate scrutiny and argue for alternatives against a government with the biggest majority in decades. If the party falls back into another burst of civil war for years, then the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK will fill the vacuum and make further progress. Whether this scenario would discomfit the Starmer administration more or less than a more traditional pattern of opposition remains to be seen. However, it seems obvious that the Tories in their current predicament need to retain the veneer of a plausible alternative government, both for their own sake and that of a functioning parliamentary democracy. Sunaks last weeks in office will be more consequential than might be assumed. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Suffering from pneumonia, Reform candidate Mark Matlock checked social media after he missed election night to find he was being accused of being an AI bot. Looking at his glossy profile picture, online commentators had decided he was computer-generated and the inevitable Twitter pile-on ensued. Fuel was added to the fire when he didnt show up for hustings or even the election count after winning 1,758 votes for Brixton and Clapham Hill on a day of national success for Nigel Farage and his fledgling party. It wasnt helped that on his website, he campaigned on how we should manage the transfer of human jobs to AI responsibly. But looking to put the rumours to bed, Mr Matlock spoke to The Independent over the phone on Monday. Speaking with a croaky voice while still recovering from the illness he opened the conversation with the reassurance he was a real person: Good afternoon. Its Mark Matlock speaking how are you? I am a real person and that is me in the photo, he confirmed. Though I must admit I am enjoying the free publicity and when I feel up to it I will put out a video and prove these rumours that Im a robot are absolute baloney. I got pneumonia three days before election night I was exercising taking vitamins so I could attend but it was just not viable. On election night I couldnt even stand. The photo of me was taken outside the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. I had the background removed and replaced with the logo and they changed the colour of my tie. The only reason that was done was because we couldnt get a photographer at such short notice - but that is me. The candidate says the original picture was taken in Oxford and had a Reform UK logo put in and his tie colour changed ( Mark Matlock ) The candidate explained that his initial reaction to the online conspiracies was amusement. I just laughed when I saw it, he said. I think it perked me up. I thought I need to get back out there! This is doing more good for me than my campaign - its fantastic. His political rivals had been quick to raise concerns about Mr Matlocks authenticity. Green party candidate Shao-Lan Yuen told Byline Times before the Reform member confirmed who he was: I havent seen or heard from the Reform UK candidate for Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency. He wasnt at the hustings. Ive heard suspicions that the image on his leaflets are AI generated. Mr Matlocks website ( Reform UK ) Independent Jon Key added there had been no sign of him on election night. I did email Mark, as well as all the other candidates, he said. I heard back from a few, but not from MarkHe doesnt live in the constituency. But Mr Matlock insists: I called Lambeth council loads of times to get on hustings but none of them invited me to the hustings. I am so pro-hustings. I care about what Im running for and invite people to question me but I was never given that opportunity. The Tories and Labour didnt want us there. On claims he was absent from campaigns in London, he said: I was really pleased [with the votes] given the time we had. I was campaigning in Clacton for Nigel to make sure he got his seat. Had the leader not got his seat it would have made a mockery of our entire party. Given the time we had we couldnt develop a strong team of volunteers to go knocking on doors and leafleting. I was outside the tube station but other days I had to dedicate myself to neighbouring constituencies. We never truly believed we would ever do as well as we did in London. We got 4 million votes but only five seats. Some of us are smarting but overall we are psyched. We are a new party the election was shoved on us in such a short space of time - it is unbelievable. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to raise defence spending ahead of his first Nato summit as prime minister. A day after the deadliest strikes by Vladimir Putins forces in Ukraine for months, the Labour leader is facing calls to hike spending on defence towards 3 per cent of GDP to keep Britain safe. Former head of the army General Sir Patrick Sanders has warned that the UKs armed forces are so depleted they could only fight a small war for around a month. Sir Keir Starmer will go the Nato summit this week (Victoria Jones/PA) ( PA Archive ) The ex-army boss said Britains ammunition stockpiles are so low it would put the hairs up on the back of your neck. And, in an interview with The Times, he said the new axis powers of Russia, China and Iran pose a deadlier threat than the Nazi alliance in 1939. At the moment, what were being asked to do by the government is well beyond what we are funded or capable of doing, he said. We are carrying some very, very big financial commitments at the moment. Sir Keir has promised to boost Britains defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but Sir Patrick said that figure needed to be closer to 3 per cent. Currently Britain spends around 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence, while Nato members including France and Germany spend less than 2 per cent. It comes after a Russian missile hit a childrens hospital in Kyiv on Tuesday, killing at least 41 civilians, including three children. Kyiv declared a day of mourning on Tuesday in the wake of one of the worst air attacks in the Russian invasion and the deadliest in four months. Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine ( REUTERS ) Conservative MPs said the attack showed the need for Sir Keir to hike Britains defence spending, calling on the PM to show he is serious about it. Ex-defence secretary Sir Gavin Williamson told the Daily Mail: If the new PMs commitment to defence is going to be more than just warm words if he is going to show he is serious about it then he is going to have to make that shift to 2.5 per cent and provide a concrete timetable for getting there. Sir Keir is flying to Washington, DC on Tuesday night to meet President Biden and other world leaders at the Nato summit. The Labour leader will try to reassure the nuclear alliance of his partys unshakeable support under his leadership. The PM spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky on his first day in office and with the Ukrainian leader also set to be in Washington the two leaders may hold talks in person. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: We know these are serious times war in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, growing Russian aggression, increasing global threats which is why were we are totally committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. We know we face serious challenges after years of hollowing out of our armed forces and our Strategic Defence Review will assess the threats we face and the capabilities needed to address them in order to secure our nations defences. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Suella Braverman is facing a backlash after launching an extraordinary attack on the LGBT community, describing government buildings flying rainbow flags as occupied territory. In a speech to burnish her leadership credentials with the Tory right, the ex-home secretary said the Progress version of the Pride flag represented a horrible political campaign I disagreed with and described trying to have it removed from her Marsham Street office. And, in the incendiary speech, she said the flag symbolised support for the mutilation of children in our hospitals, something which she said physically repulsed her. Former Labour culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said: Suella Braverman reveals the true face of the Tory right with her bitter fury about LGBT people. We exist. Get over it. Braverman said the Progress flag represented a horrible political campaign I disagreed with ( Alamy/PA ) And Labour MP Stella Creasy said: Everyone has to stand up to this bile polluting our politics, not just Tories who get vote in contest, because equality benefits and liberates us all. Ms Braverman has also faced criticism from her own party, with former candidate and LBC presenter Iain Dale tweeting: What a disgusting speech. And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative party. Not while I have a breath left in my body. Moderate Conservatives need to stand up and be counted. This will not stand. It came after Ms Braverman said: We Tory ministers, nominally in charge of the system, completely failed. The Progress flag flew over our buildings as if they were occupied territory. I couldnt even get the flag of a horrible political campaign I disagreed with taken down from the roof of the government department I was supposed to be in charge of. As the row raged, historian and TV presenter David Starkey apeared to fan the flames, telling a PopCon (Popular Conservatism) gathering in central London that it was deranged that a Conservative prime minister would cite enabling same-sex marriage as his greatest achievement. The former home secretary is widely expected to run for the leadership ( PA ) At the same event, Ms Braverman hit out at an ex-Tory MP who compared Reform UK events to Hitlers Nuremberg rallies and said her party was weak and squeamish over immigration. She called on it to adopt a policy to leave the European Court of Human Rights and axe the Human Rights Act, as she also attacked what she said was the lunatic woke virus. During her speech in Washington, she also blasted the entitled Tories, setting out what went wrong during the general election in a bid to frame her leadership bid. The outspoken right-winger also said that the Conservatives had yet to wake up to the existential threat of Nigel Farage and his Reform party despite the scale of the election defeat. In a blistering speech, she told the audience that at the election: We were slaughtered. Shellacked. Given a good hiding. Kicked while we were on the ground. Headbutted by reality. She said her party was older than most countries, most constitutions, and most ideas, good or bad. But we got socked in the face. We lost half our votes from the previous election, and two thirds of our MPs. It was brutal. But she said of course her party was not learning the hard lesson of the defeat. She accused Mr Sunak of rolling out a policy programme our new Labour government today could quite happily do. Former Labour MP Ben Bradshaw is among those condemning Braverman for her comments ( PA ) She hit out at farcical gimmicks, like the proposed smoking ban, and nonsense like letting criminals out early and scrapping shorter sentences for lower level crime undermining confidence in our criminal justice system, letting down victims. She also attacked garbage claims that a mysterious, implacable entity in the administrative state stops politicians from doing the things we claim well do when were asking for your votes of the kind promoted by Liz Truss. And she said: Tories act as if theyre entitled to Conservative votes, regardless of whether or not they do Conservative things. Ms Braverman is expected to be a frontrunner in any contest, although no one has formally launched a campaign to replace Rishi Sunak. Back home, her leadership hopes have suffered an early blow as a key backer reportedly prepares to back Robert Jenrick instead. Her campaign has been described as dead before it has even started as right-wing MP Danny Kruger is said to support ex-immigration minister Mr Jenrick. The former home secretary was one of three potential leadership candidates to appear on the Sunday morning political shows last weekend, along with Mr Jenrick and ex-health secretary Victoria Atkins. The Tories won just 121 seats, their worst result in the partys 190-year history, as millions of their voters switched to Mr Farages Reform. Mr Sunak has announced he will quit but will stay on as leader until his replacement is found. On Monday, former business secretary Kevin Hollinrake suggested any leadership race could drag on until the end of the year, adding that I dont think there is any rush. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Britains ageing population, rising long-term sickness and deep structural health problems will lead to a triple whammy of high taxes, debt and poor outcomes, Sir Tony Blair has warned. The former prime minister is set to warn that, unless the country improves growth and productivity and drive value and efficiency through public spending, it will become "much poorer". During a speech at the Tony Blair Institute's (TBI) Future of Britain conference in London on Tuesday, he will set out how a package of measures including private and public sector adoption of artificial intelligence, preventative healthcare, digital ID and embracing technology in education could boost growth and generate savings. And, despite the gloomy warning, Sir Tony will add: I dont think there has ever been a better time to govern. Tony Blair is speaking at his institutes annual Future of Britain conference in London ( REUTERS ) A better time to effect change. A better basis for optimism and a surer reason for hope. But only if we understand how the world is changing and how we use that change to change our country. It came as Sir Tony warned that politics around the world is splintering, with the rise of the far right and far left in France and Donald Trumps takeover of the US Republican Party. The former prime minister said western politics is facing the challenge of turmoil within political parties, including the Republicans and increasingly the Democrats under Joe Biden. And he said political systems are under threat from new entrants, adding that the main parties there are parties that werent really in existence a few years ago. So now there is a huge splintering, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Sir Tony added: But the question the whole time is, which is why I said it is so important to put policy first and politics second, what are the answers? He said Frances Jean-Luc Melenchon, who led the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance to secure the most seats in Sundays French parliamentary election, has got no answers. And he said the same of the far right group led by Marine Le Pen, stressing that the centre is the place you are most likely to get solutions rather than anger. Sir Tony was asked about the rise of Nigel Farages Reform UK in Thursdays general election, as well as a series of pro-Gaza candidates who challenged Labour and Tory MPs and found success in heavily Muslim areas. He said it was something that needed to be looked at in depth as the fallout of the election is analysed. The interview came as Sir Tony prepared to set out the dire state of the Labour governments inheritance from the Conservatives. Sir Tony Blair with Sir Keir Starmer at last years Future of Britain conference ( PA Archive ) Asked about the warnings just days after Sir Keir Starmer took power, Sir Tony said: This is its inheritance, and the question is, how does it change it? Sir Tony was also pressed on the suggestion by the TBIs chief economist that Labour will have to raise more than 50bn in taxes if he does not radically boost productivity. We are not saying Labour is planning this, we are saying the inheritance Labour has got means that it has to take avoiding action, he added. And Sir Tony attacked the lack of discussion about AI during the general election campaign, saying this, whether we embrace it or not, will determine the future of Britain. He said: How many days did we spend on Rishi Sunak and his wet suit, and then how many days did we spend on D-Day and him missing that ceremony and then how many days did we spend on betting? In the end, none of those things are going to determine the future of the country. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} United Nations experts have warned Britain is at risk of breaching international law over allegations of child asylum seekers being placed in adult detention centres after crossing the Channel on small boats. At least 1,300 child refugees who arrived alone in the UK were wrongly identified as adults by border officials in the 18 months from January 2022, with nearly 500 placed in adult detention or unsupervised accommodation, a report by the Refugee Council and other charities found. The situation was described to The Independent as a safeguarding crisis on an unprecedented scale, with Januarys report also revealing at least 14 children had been criminalised under new migration laws and held in adult prisons after the Home Office wrongly assessed their ages. Now five UN special rapporteurs have intervened to highlight their concerns over the report in a letter to the UK government, warning that Home Office age assessment procedures appeared to allow for potential breaches of international law. Warning that detaining children in adult settings, including at asylum accommodation, is prohibited, the letter states: The current age determination procedures seem to allow for such a chance, and therefore would place the UK in violation of its responsibilities under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A slogan of the Conservative Partys general election campaign was Stop The Boats ( PA Archive ) In the letter, sent in April and made public last month alongside the Home Offices response, the UN human rights experts urged the previous UK government to take all necessary interim measures to halt the alleged violations and prevent their re-occurrence. In its response, the Home Office claimed it was unable to confirm the statistics uncovered by the Refugee Council and other charities in January via freedom of information requests to local authorities, because they cannot be usefully compared to the departments own data. According to the Home Offices data, nearly half of almost 12,000 cases in which asylum seekers ages were officially marked as disputed and who were therefore provisionally treated as children were later found to be adults. But the charities figures relate instead to hundreds of children who were given only minimal age assessments at the border in which two Home Office staff judge that their appearance and demeanour very strongly suggests they are significantly over 18 before being detained or housed in adult settings. Under this procedure, the question over their age is not officially recorded, and they must request a further age assessment themselves from a local authority, which is not informed of their whereabouts, campaigners warn. Nearly half of almost 12,000 cases in which asylum seekers ages were officially marked as disputed were later found to be adults, according to the Home Office ( PA Wire ) In its response to the UN, the former government insisted that reforms in its controversial Nationality and Borders Act sought to make assessments more consistent and robust to ensure that age-appropriate services and care are reserved for genuine children. While Rishi Sunaks government had warned that putting adults in child care settings poses obvious safeguarding risks, campaigners argue that the risk of placing a child in adult detention or accommodation is significantly greater than that of placing a young adult in a childrens care setting, where there are naturally more safeguards in place. Furthermore, under those reforms, a child could have potentially been subject to deportation if they refused to undergo scientific age assessment methods explored by the previous government, using MRI and X-ray scanners which campaigners had warned could amount to obtaining consent for such procedures under duress. The Childrens Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, warned in April that her office was deeply concerned about both the introduction of these age assessment methods, and the approach to treat children who refuse to consent to these methods as adults. Warning that the age assessment process must be child-centred, age-appropriate and as non-invasive as possible, Dame Rachel said: Where a childs age is disputed and they are awaiting a resolution, they must be treated as vulnerable children first and foremost. One 17-year-old boy was quoted by Dame Rachels office as saying: I told them Im underage but they didnt believe me and put me with the adults. I didnt feel safe there because people were drinking, smoking cigarettes and smoking hashish. They are older than myself. Labelling the situation a child safeguarding scandal hiding in plain sight, Kama Petruczenko, senior policy analyst at the Refugee Council, told The Independent: It is no surprise that the UN has weighed in to raise serious concerns about childrens welfare and has questioned the UKs protocols for age determination. It is inexplicable that the Home Office does not report on the number of children it has deemed as significantly over 18 and treated as adults, who then had to be rescued from adult settings and taken into care. We have had to fill that gap by going to local authorities to get these figures and start to uncover the extent of this crisis. The new government must act quickly by resetting Home Office culture and putting child welfare at the heart of policy-making, so that every refugee child who comes to this country is kept safe from harm. It is understood that the new home secretary, Yvette Cooper, will now decide on the future of current Home Office policies after a Labour government was elected last week. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Junior doctors hailed a positive meeting with Wes Streeting on Tuesday, describing it as a first step towards ending their long-running dispute over pay. Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairmen of the British Medical Associations (BMA) Junior Doctors Committee said there are no plans for further strike action at the moment, with further negotiations expected next week. It came after Mr Streeting said he was optimistic ahead of the talks with striking junior doctors, describing the change of government as an important reset moment in relations between the government and the (BMA). Dr Robert Laurenson (left) and Vivek Trivedi, the co-chairmen of the BMAs junior doctors committee, spoke to the media after leaving the Department for Health (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire ) The newly-appointed health secretary reiterated his stance from the general election that the unions demand for a 35 per cent pay hike as unaffordable, but said there is a whole range of issues beyond pay junior doctors are struggling with. Speaking at the Tony Blair Institutes (TBI) Future of Britain conference in London, Mr Streeting said: Am I optimistic? Yes. This is an important reset moment in the relationship between junior doctors and their government. Junior doctors in England are to meet Wes Streeting (Jordan Pettitt/PA) ( PA Wire ) In opposition we were clear the headline 35 per cent pay demand is not one we can afford, and that has not changed, he continued. But the reason we were so blunt in opposition was about showing them the respect they are due, and a key ingredient of respect is honesty. Mr Streeting said that aside from pay he will help junior doctors with how they are treated by the NHS, adding that he is genuinely angry about their placements, rotations and the lack of flexibility shown to staff. Medics from the BMA met with Mr Streeting and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) officials on Tuesday to find a way of ending strikes that have been causing widespread disruption across the health service. Following the talks, Dr Trivedi said: It was a positive meeting, we were pleased to be able to meet the Secretary of State and his team so quickly after the General Election - it signifies the urgency that theyre placing on resolving this dispute which has already lasted 20 months. The meeting today was positive and weve already agreed to meet again next week with the Secretary of State to further discuss how we can progress. Today we talked a little bit about some of the roadblocks that have prevented us from progressing so far, and how we can navigate through those to reach a resolution. Dr Laurenson added: This Secretary of State actually wanted to learn what was going wrong and why things were stalling, and were happy to have those conversations. This meeting was definitely a positive step, but I dont think we can place of value, or a certainty on how quickly things are going to take to resolve, or what might needs to happen to make things resolve. This was definitely a collaborative talk, and I think its fair to say we have no plans at the moment to call for strike action. Dr Laurenson added: There were talks about reform, and were interested to hear what that might pan out to be. This is a complex negotiation and its going to take some time. This was a positive first step, but thats all it was the first step. Theres much more meat that needs to be added to the bones before were going to be able to come out with any sort of agreement. He added: Now its just down to the Government to be able to come up with a credible offer through the series of negotiations that were about to go into. Dr Trivedi added: We didnt come into this meeting expecting a resolution to our dispute - today we were hoping to be heard and to be listened to, which is what happened. And we hope to be able to build on that and continue in good faith, as we have always done, but does seem to be reciprocated now, then it does suggest that we will be able to reach a resolution. Health leaders have urged the Government to resolve the dispute as a priority after it emerged that tens of thousands of appointments had been postponed as a result of the latest strike. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has said previously he would not meet demands for a 35 per cent pay increase (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire ) NHS England said 61,989 appointments, procedures and operations were postponed as a result of the walkout from June 27 to July 2. The strike was the 11th by junior doctors in 20 months after junior doctors complained their pay has been cut by more than a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35 per cent increase. Also at the conference, Mr Streeting offered a damning verdict of the state of the NHS after 14 years of Conservative government, promising we are not going to let them forget the damage they have done to our country. What they have had in DHSC is a hell of a lot of instability, and just moving from one health secretary to another, one set of ministers to another, breeds instability and indecision, he said. He added: They also took this country through a deadly pandemic, and they have lacked direction, they have lacked leadership, they have lacked a recognition of the pain that theyve endured. And I think there is again an opportunity for an incoming government to recognise all of those things, but also to lift peoples sights to the horizon and make people excited again about the future. Also in the Q&A with broadcaster Jon Sopel, Mr Streeting declared the health department an economic growth department. The health secretary said the health of the nation and the economy are inextricably linked and promised to not just get people back to health, but back to work as well. We will not only be enabling people to live well and to live well for longer, but to contribute more to our country, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Kenyan court on Monday ruled that the 2022 shooting death of a Pakistani journalist by police in Nairobi was unlawful and unconstitutional, a lawyer and his family said. Justice Stella Mutuku in the ruling in Nairobi also faulted Kenya's attorney general and the director of public prosecutions for laxity in investigating the shooting of Arshad Sharif, after police opened fire at his car at a roadblock checkpoint. Sharif's family has accused an elite Kenyan police unit of intentionally killing Sharif. The 50-year-old journalist had fled Pakistan earlier that year to avoid arrest at home on charges of maligning Pakistans national institutions. A panel of Pakistani investigators in December 2022 concluded that the killing of Sharif was a planned assassination. Their report suggested that the bullet that fatally wounded Sharif was fired from either inside the car or from close range. Kenyan authorities are still investigating the killing and none of the police officers linked to the shooting has been arrested or charged. In Monday's verdict, the court asked Kenyan authorities to conclude their probe of the officers. The court also ordered the government to compensate Sharif's family 10 million Kenyan shillings ($78,000). Senior Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif poses for a photograph prior to recording an episode of his talk show at a studio in Islamabad, Pakistan ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Dudley Ochiel, a lawyer for Sharifs widow, Javeria Siddique, said the ruling was a big win for the man's family and friends in Kenya, Pakistan and all over the world. Mr Ochiel said he expects the public prosecutor to file a case against two officers suspected of fatally shooting Sharif at the roadblock. The killing shook Pakistan and days later, thousands came out for Sharifs funeral. Pakistan has said no state institution was involved in his death. Ms Siddique, who filed a complaint against Kenyan police together with Kenyan journalists unions, said although she knew that her husband would not come back, at least now everyone knows that he was killed intentionally. Police had initially blamed the shooting on mistaken identity during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case. ___ Musambi reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Close Hurricane Beryl on path for Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Eight people have died, and millions more in Texas could be left without power for days while Beryl moves northeast. After making landfall in the United States as a Category 1 hurricane on the coast of Matagorda on Monday morning, Beryl was downgraded to Tropical Storm then to a Depression and now as a post-tropical cyclone as it traversed inland across eastern Texas, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and life-threatening conditions. Around eight people are believed to be dead as a result of the storm, including seven in Texas and one in Louisiana. This includes a civilian employee of the Houston Police Department, who was killed when he was trapped in flood waters under a highway overpass, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said. More than 2.2 million customers were without power around Houston, the nations fourth-largest city, after Beryl blew through, according to CenterPoint Energy. Acting Texas Governor Dan Patrick said the electric company was bringing in additional workers to help restore power more quickly. Beryl has already left a trail of destruction as a Category 5 hurricane through Mexico and the Caribbean. Parts of the Midwest could see tornadoes, while the northeastern US could be hit with flash floods. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An Alabama mother has been sentenced to decades behind bars after she left her toddler with her abusive partner, only for her to stop for cigarettes on the way to the hospital, where he died days later. Samantha McCormack, 30, was sentenced by a Blount County judge to serve 25 years in a state correctional facility in connection to the killing of her 18-month-old son, Enzo McCormack, five years ago. She had previously pleaded guilty to felony murder during the course of child abuse. Her partner at the time, 32-year-old Robert Keith Elmore Jr, has already been convicted in 2023 of capital murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. District Attorney Pamela Casey claimed that McCormack left her son Enzo in the care of Elmore despite knowing that he was abusive, a report by AL.com detailed. The court heard that the child had suffered blunt force trauma and violent shaking injuries before his death in September 2019. Court documents said that the mother "willfully maltreated (the child)... by leaving (the child) in the care, custody, and control of someone Defendant knew to be abusive," according to WVTM. Casey explained that Blount County Emergency Medical Services and sheriffs deputies were called to Locust Fork Hardware Store at 7pm on September 6, five years ago, and found the 18-month-old in respiratory distress, cold to the touch and turning blue, AL.com stated. Photos from 2019 of Samantha McCormack and Robert Elmore after the death of 18-month-old Enzo McCormack ( Blount County Sheriffs Office ) McCormack told investigators at the time that while she was using the bathroom, she heard a noise in the living room and found her toddler choking on cereal, the court documents reportedly said. She decided to get him examined. However, on the way to the hospital, she stopped at a store to buy cigarettes and gasoline, according to testimony. At the store, she met with Elmores sister Heather, who exited the store to check on the child, finding him limp and cold to the touch, prompting both women to call 911, the outlet said. Enzo was taken to the Childrens of Alabama hospital and placed on a ventilator until September 9, 2019, when doctors determined that no further measures could be taken to save the young childs life. It was later found out that Elmore had been with the toddler while Enzos mother worked, AL.com said. When authorities spoke to Elmore, he claimed that he dropped the toddler because he pulled his chest hairs. Yet, a doctor testified in 2023 that Enzo had suffered blunt force trauma and injuries from being shaken. Dr Valerie Green, a forensic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that she did an autopsy on the child. Samantha McCormack said she had stopped at a store on the way to get her child examined ( Blount County Sheriffs Office ) She said that Enzo had multiple contusions on his scalp, indicating the child had experienced at least two points of impact on his head. She also said he had numerous retinal hemorrhages, and the severity of the injury to the brain made her believe he had been severely shaken, the local website reports. Alongside this, Elmores phone records were also admitted into evidence, which showed at 5.41pm on September 6. Elmore sent a message to the mother saying that Enzo aint breathing rite ... he is limp ... and almost blue. This story is horrifying. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering this child endured before succumbing to his injuries, the district attorney said in a statement to various outlets. I cannot understand someone doing what Elmore did. But, as a mother, I cannot understand how a mother could leave their child in the care of someone the mother knows to have been abusive to the child. Obviously, there is nothing we can do to bring Enzo back. But, we have sought justice for Enzo. Elmore and McCormack will be held accountable within the extent the law allows. Close Alec Baldwin breaks down in tears as Rust shooting case is dismissed The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Alec Baldwins involuntary manslaughter case in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has been thrown out after just a week of testimony. The Hollywood actor, 66, broke down in tears and hugged his attorneys and his wife Hilaria after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer announced her decision at the end of a chaotic day in the New Mexico courtroom. Judge Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense. The prosecution will not be able to file charges against Baldwin again in Hutchins death. Nearly three years have passed since a prop gun Baldwin was holding went off during a rehearsal of the films shooting scene in 2021, striking and killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and faced 18 months in prison. Now, he walks free. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the films armorer, has already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her attorney says he plans to move to have her case dismissed. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the high-profile Karen Read murder case, was suspended without pay, after coming under scrutiny for a series of offensive, misogynistic text messages the officer sent to friends and colleagues about the investigation. During the nine-week trial of Read, who was accused of killing her boyfriend John OKeefe in 2022 in a case that ended in a mistrial last week, Proctor admitted in testimony that he sent a series of inappropriate texts about Read. The texts included messages where he joked about hoping to find nude photos on her phone, mocking her Crohns disease, referring to her with a misogynist slur, and saying he hoped she killed herself. Massachusetts State Police officer Michael Proctor ( AP ) Proctor has previously acknowledged that the messages crossed the line, describing them as having dehumanized Read, but has stood by his police work in the case. These juvenile, unprofessional comments have zero impact on the facts and the evidence and the integrity of this investigation, he testified. Proctor was relieved of duty last week and transferred out of a detective unit assigned to the Norfolk District Attorneys Office, which prosecuted Reads case. During the hearing on Monday, a board of three officers recommended he be suspended without pay, which state police leadership accepted. A judge declared a mistrial in the Karen Read case last week after jurors deadlocked. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) An internal affairs investigation into Proctor is ongoing. The Independent has contacted his attorney for comment. "Trooper Proctor has been fully cooperative in responding to the investigations conducted by the US Attorneys Office and the Massachusetts State Police Internal Affairs Unit," Proctors lawyer, Michael R. DiStefano, previously told Inside Edition. "To be clear, Trooper Proctor remains steadfast in the integrity of the work he performed investigating the death of Mr John OKeefe." Massachusetts officials and Reads lawyers condemned the text messages. In June, the states governor Maura Healy called the texts terrible, describing them as causing harm to the dignity and the integrity of the work of men and women across the State Police and law enforcement. Read, 44, was accused of killing OKeefe, a Boston police officer, in 2022, by hitting him with her SUV and abandoning him in a snowstorm, which she denies. The case attracted nationwide attention and conspiracy theories. A jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case, and a mistrial was declared. Prosecutors plan to retry the case, and a status conference is scheduled for later this month. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A person of interest has been arrested after a womans body was found dumped in a sleeping bag among trash bags in a Manhattan street. Zameen Williams, 31, was shot in the head before being wrapped in a plastic bag and put in a sleeping bag, according to the NYPD. Her body was discovered on Friday. Surveillance video had captured a man in an electric wheelchair dragging her body to the spot where it was left among the trash. Three days on, Chad Irish, a 55-year-old man from the Bronx, was arrested in connection to the case. He has been charged with concealment of a human corpse, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. Video obtained by The New York Post shows officers bringing Irish from his home on Monday, handcuffed to a gurney, while a crowd yelled murderer at him. Officers sought to keep the crowd back, but they surged forward and hit the man. Williams devastated mother, Nicole Williams, was among the crowd of people gathered, and was heard shouting: You killed my daughter. Zameen Williams, 31, was shot in the head before being wrapped in a plastic bag and put in a sleeping bag ( Instagram ) Another voice is heard in the footage calling on the crowd to kill him while Irish told them he was innocent. Authorities managed to get Irish to a waiting ambulance as the crow surged at him once again. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition, police said. It is not clear what connection Irish may have to Williams. The body of the 31-year-old victim was discovered on 27th Street between Second and Third avenues just before 5pm on Friday. According to the medical examiners office, she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Williams family have described her as someone who wanted to be an advocate for women, according to ABC7. She was beautiful, she was sweet, she was college-educated, she was just a good person, said the victims aunt Nisha Ramirez. Her mother said her daughter had just started a new job last week for the city where she would be helping the homeless. She was also looking forward to celebrating her mothers birthday in a couple of weeks. I was so excited for her and so excited to spend my birthday with her, but now Im not, my baby is gone, she said. The victims loved ones have set up a memorial in front of the building where her body was found. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An Arizona man admitted to police he shot his wife over the weekend because he believed it would end years worth of her pain and suffering, according to court documents. Michael Gelleny, 67, was arrested on Saturday evening at his home in Goodyear after calling the police, the day after he allegedly shot his wife. In a post-arrest interview, the 67-year-old said his wife Brenda had been in pain and suffering for over four years and he decided to end her life, a plan he had been considering for weeks. The morning of the killing, Gelleny said he loaded a gun before Brenda woke up. When she woke up, he kissed her, told her he loved her and shot her in the head when she wasnt looking as she walked down a hallway, according to the court documents, which were obtained by the Arizona Republic and other local outlets. Gelleny then dragged her into a bedroom and mopped up a trail of blood, according to police. On July 6, Gelleny, who told officers he considered killing himself, alerted police to the shooting and turned himself in instead. He was arrested later that day and booked into Maricopa County jail on one count of first-degree murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence. During a police search of the Arizona mans home, officers found a note detailing the shooting and instructions to take care of Gellenys cat. His bond has been set at $1m and his next court appearance is Friday, KTAR reports. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Minnesota couple has been arrested for the murder of a vivacious three-year-old boy who police say was beaten to death while they were looking after him. Rosa Esperanza Garza, 24, and Shiann Lynn Erickson, 22, have been charged with second-degree murder while committing felony child neglect and endangerment. The pair were booked into the Clay County jail in Moorhead, Minnesota on Monday. The couple is accused of killing Eastyn James Deronjic, a toddler who was in their care for two weeks in March, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The couple are acquaintances of the childs biological parents. An autopsy report last month revealed that the boy died from homicide caused by an assault, specifically a punch that perforated his bowel. The child had suffered 28 blunt force injuries, according to investigators. In the early hours of March 18, police officers responded to a 911 call that reported a child was not breathing at the home of Garza and Erickson. The child had heavy bruising on his face and body, police said. Eastyn James Deronjic, 3, died in March after suffering 28 blunt force injuries. Police say his caregivers murdered him ( Valley News Live ) Officers carried out life-saving measures and transported the child to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota. He later died from his injuries. The child had been staying at the home of Garza and Erickson after being left there with his sister by their mother, Allandra Arechigo. She told police that she had left her children in Garzas care and hadnt seen them in two weeks. Garza goes by the first name Mason and uses he/him pronouns. Arechigo told police that her son sometimes had bruises but she believed that the injuries stemmed from his clumsiness. The mother also said that shed spoken to her son hours before he died and he sounded fine. On March 19, Garza and Erickson told police that Eastyns injuries were caused by falls from his bike and skateboard. They also told police that Eastyn had been ill, and vomiting throughout the day. They said they had called another woman, who has not been identified, to the apartment to care for the boy and his sister. Shiann Erickson, left, and Rosa Garza, right, have been charged in connection with the murder of three-year-old Eastyn Deronjic ( Clay County Jail ) Erickson told police that Garza had abused her in the past. She also said that her partner had lost his temper with Eastyn and that she had to intervene to stop him from hitting the toddler. Police officers seized the couples phones as part of the investigation. They found a message from Erickson to Garza stating: Ok have fun with your little [expletive]. Go beat on her kid The little boy was described as very outgoing and vivacious on a tribute page posted at Bougler Funeral Home, and noted that he loved playing with his Nerf Guns. The child is survived by his parents, Arechigo and Omar Deronjic, grandparents, great-grandparents, and his little sister. The little girl has been taken into protective custody. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The body of a missing PhD student has been discovered and his boyfriend named as a person of interest in the homicide investigation. Deundray Cottrell, 31, was found dead on July 6 after he was last seen at a Fourth of July party at his sisters home in Birmingham, Alabama. His body was discovered in a shed two blocks from his sisters home after his shoe was spotted outside, WVTM reported. Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office ruled Cottrells manner of death as a homicide. No arrests have been made. Birmingham Police Department later named Julian Taylor Morris, 31, as a person of interest in the investigation and are trying to locate him, according to a news release. The pair were believed to be in a romantic relationship. The body 31-year-old Deundray Cottrell was found on Saturday not far from his sisters home in Birmingham, Alabama ( Birmingham Police Department ) Angelica Cottrell, the victims sister, told WSB-TV that her brother and Morris had driven from Atlanta, Georgia, to Birmingham to celebrate the Fourth of July with family. My children started to pop fireworks and because my brother had his dog with him, he was gonna run into the house real quick and go and check on the dog, Ms Cottrell said. She said Morris was the one who then alerted her that her brother was missing. Morris allegedly told Angelica that her brother had jumped off the patio balcony, then took off running. But as the family began to search for him, she said that Morris behavior was strange. Julian Taylor Morris, 31, was named a person of interest in the homicide case ( Birmingham Police Department ) While we looked Julian didnt, she told the TV station. At one point when everybody was searching, Julian had fixed a plate and was sitting there eating, and he looked at me and said, OMG, the food is so good. Birmingham police officers said they were dispatched to a missing person call at a residence in the 7900 Block of 4th Avenue South on July 4. On July 5, police recovered some of Cottrells clothing in the area, and a neighbor provided officers with surveillance footage of him. Officers discovered Cottrells body the following day. Details surrounding this investigation are suspicious, Birmingham police said. After learning that Morris was named a person of interest, the victims brother, Tim Cottrell, said it was hurtful because my mom was there, staring her sons killer in the eye. Police asked anyone with information on the case to contact the Birmingham PDs homicide unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. A cash reward of $5,000 is available for tips. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man was stabbed in the stomach at an amusement park on Long Island, New York, after two families got into a fight in front of several children. The altercation unfolded at around 4.50pm on Sunday at Adventureland Amusement Park when two families got into a dispute in front of the Mystery Mansion ride, according to Suffolk County Police. During the row, Daniel Tomasky, 42, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed his acquaintance James Burns, 47. Four children, including Tomaskys five-year-old son, witnessed the attack, according to court documents. Burns, who is from Florida, was rushed to hospital in a serious condition, police said. He underwent emergency surgery and remains in a critical but stable condition. Tomasky, of Shirley, was arrested and held overnight in police custody. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty to several charges including assault with intent to cause serious injury, criminal possession of a weapon, and child endangerment. He faces five to 25 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors said that video footage showed Tomasky had tried to obstruct the investigation by dumping the weapon in a sewer after the fight. They asked Judge Johnathan Bloom to issue protective orders for the four minor witnesses and to set Tomaskys bail at $100,000, citing his six prior convictions. Daniel Tomasky, 42, allegedly stabbed his acquaintance James Burns, 47 ( Suffolk County Sheriffs Office ) Tomaskys lawyer Robert Macedonio, meanwhile, asked the judge to set bail at $25,000 and allow Tomasky to see his son while out on bail. My client maintains his innocence here, said Macedonio. He has not had a felony in over a decade and has never failed to appear in court. His defense also claimed that the victim had attacked the suspects wife and knocked her out during the altercation. Bloom set Tomaskys bail at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. He ruled that he would not issue a protective order against Tomaskys own child but did for the three other minor witnesses as well as for Burns. According to defense attorney George Duncan, his client later posted bail. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Pacino revealed that he was also at the attraction with his family when the incident unfolded. Walking from the antique car ride area of the park, I saw a man sitting on a picnic bench bleeding and clenching his abdomen just after being stabbed, he wrote on Facebook. I hope the victim makes a full recovery from this senseless act of violence, which sadly unfolded in a family theme park. Another witness told News 12 that the incident was very sad because were here with kids. This is a childrens amusement park, and families are just coming here with their kids to have a good time, Jessie Hagelstein, of Ronkonkoma, said. Its a little unsettling, but again, its becoming more and more not news. Its more common and expected, added another witness, Mike LaRocca. A spokesperson from the park said in a statement that two families in an external dispute got into a confrontation at the park. Park security responded to secure the scene and called police. The area of the park where the incident occurred was briefly closed but had reopened by 8pm. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Audio from two newly-released 911 calls detail the awful moment two bypassers spotted a teens corpse lying naked and bloodied by the roadside. Noah Presgrove, 19, was found dead last September next to Highway 81 in Jefferson County, Oklahoma. The recent high school grad had been drinking and partying for four days with his friends. Presgroves corpse was discovered lying in a fetal position wearing nothing but a pair of mismatched slip-on shoes. His teeth were scattered around him, skull fractured and ribs broken but the police are not treating the case as a murder. Oklahoma Highway Patrol described Presgroves death as suspicious. Ten months into the law enforcements case, police have released harrowing audio from 911 calls, following a public records request made by People. Two distressed witnesses contacted dispatchers at approximately 6am on September 4. A man, who identified himself on the call only as Tyler, said he wasnt sure what he saw laying on the shoulder of the road. As the rural highway was cloaked in darkness, he first believed that the mass in the road could have been a deer before finally concluding that it looked like a body. Two 911 calls reveal the moment that Noah Presgroves corpse was discovered ( Family handout ) It just it looked awful odd, Tyler said in the Labor Day call. The man, identifying himself as Tyler Hardy, called 911 shortly after the first witness. The second Tyler also mistook the body as a deer on his morning commute to work. Im pretty sure somebody is laying dead along the road, he told the dispatcher, adding: They look naked. Im staying back. Hardy continued to position his vehicle to block the road with the body lying close to the white lines near the hard shoulder. It actually looks like theres a piece of clothing maybe laying in the middle of the road, he said. The man added that he was fearful of getting too close. A third call took place seconds before Hardys lasting just 20 seconds and was full of static, authorities said, although they believe that it might have also been from Hardy. On the day of Presgroves death, he had been attending a 22nd birthday party that had lasted for four days. Noah Presgrove, 19, vanished from a birthday party over the 2023 Labor Day weekend ( Family handout ) His friend said that Presgrove wanted to go for a walk, but could not find one of his shoes, so he took another. What happened next remains shrouded in mystery. The teens family say they have not been allowed to see a copy of the medical examiners report outlining his cause of death. Dailen Presgrove, Presgroves brother, believes foul play was involved. He was in the fetal position. And his body was covered up. You can see blood seeping through the covering As Im looking at it, it just seems weird, he told NewsNation. Aunt Robyn Smith told the outlet that they didnt think that a vehicle inflicted the injuries. On Tuesday, April 30, the countys medical examiner revealed the young mans cause of death: multiple blunt force injuries. In May, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety confirmed that the young mans death is not being investigated as a murder. While that report answered how he died, the manner of death what caused those blunt force injuries remains a mystery. The medical examiner checked the unknown box on the finalized report. A spokesperson for the OHP would only tell The Independent that the investigation is still ongoing, while the OSBI deferred to the OHP. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The FBI is investigating three brothers, two of whom founded a lucrative real-estate empire, following joint allegations of rape and sexual assault stemming as far back as when they were in high school, according to sources. Twins Oren and Alon Alexander, both 37 years old, were accused of raping two women in New York in 2010 and 2012, according to two civil lawsuits filed in March. Tal Alexander, 38, the oldest of the three brothers who co-founded luxury property brokerage Official Partners with Oren, which claims to have closed more than $8 billion in sales, was not initially named in the lawsuits. Another suit was eventually filed against Tal in June that accused him of participating in a sexual assault with Alon while Oren watched in 2012. The three brothers have denied all allegations against them. Now, federal agents from the Bureaus task force for child exploitation and sex trafficking have joined the probe, according to sources familiar with the matter and an undisclosed document seen by The Wall Street Journal. Oren Alexander (second left) has denied all rape and sexual abuse accusations against him ( Getty Images ) The FBI is investigating claims from women who alleged to have experienced or witnessed sexual assault from the Alexander family. Allegations in the lawsuit describe acts of sexual violence that resulted in permanent harm and psychological trauma to the alleged victims, according to The Real Deal who first read the filings. The complaint details an act so extreme and outrageous that it would be deemed intolerable in a civilized society. Oren and Tal, whose clientele includes the likes of Tommy Hilfiger and billionaire Ken Griffin, have both stepped down from their roles at their real-estate company. The twin brothers were unaware of FBI interjection, their attorney Isabelle Kirshner told The Journal. Tals lawyers, Deanna Paul and Milton Williams, also said they were unaware of any federal investigation, asserting that her client has done nothing wrong. The accusations span two decades, as far back as their high school years as the siblings lived and worked across different regions in the US. Last month, five additional women told the outlet that they were allegedly sexually assaulted or raped by Oren. After the filings, two dozen women have allegedly approached Evan Torgan, the attorney for the two women in the March lawsuits. The alleged victims comprise of young female models in the brothers social circle, Torgan said. The alleged assaults went unreported to police as the women were said to have willfully gone on dates with the wealthy siblings, as per the womens attorney. The Independent has reached out to the FBI for more information on their alleged probe into the Alexander brothers. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Lawyers for Harvey Weinstein accused New York prosecutors of deliberately delaying a new sexual assault trial against the disgraced movie producer until November. Once again we have the individual and were looking for a crime, Arthur Aidala, Weinsteins lawyer, said on Tuesday during a status hearing. Weve got the 1-800-Get-Harvey hotline. His comments arrived after Nicole Blumberg, Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, told a judge that prosecutors have yet to bring their investigation to a grand jury but gave a potential timeline of November. Prosecutors began pursuing a potential new trial after a New York appeals court vacated Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction in April, citing improper rulings during the first trial. Harvey Weinstein could face a possible new sexual assault trial in New York by the fall. He and his lawyers were in court Tuesday for a hearing ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Blumberg told the judge that Manhattan prosecutors were not purposefully delaying proceedings. She explained they are speaking with survivors who were not comfortable testifying during the first trial but may be willing to testify now. Additionally, prosecutors are investigating claims of rape that fall within the statute of limitations in New York. The people are still investigating in a trauma-informed matter, Blumberg said. That is an ongoing process. But Weinsteins lawyers are pushing for an earlier trial if possible, claiming their client is suffering tremendously from multiple medical ailments while being held behind bars. The former media mogul is being held at Rikers Island jail in New York City while appealing his 2022 conviction in Los Angeles. Hes a sick man, Aidala said after rattling off a list of medical conditions Weinstein suffers from, including fluid in his heart and diabetes. Aidala claimed Weinstein was not receiving proper treatment for the conditions he suffers from. Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg prepares to file new charges in the rape case against him ( Getty Images ) Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020 after women came forward with accusations as part of the #MeToo movement. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison up until the conviction was overturned. The New York Court of Appeals said the judge who oversaw that case mistakenly allowed three women to testify about alleged assaults that were not part of the criminal charges against Weinstein. Weinstein was also convicted of rape in 2022 by a woman in California. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein has maintained his innocence throughout proceedings. The next pretrial hearing is slated for July 19. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Authorities are investigating whether hazing played a role in the death of a Dartmouth student whose body was recovered from a river in New Hampshire this weekend. Won Jang, 20, was last seen by friends around 9.30pm on Saturday at a gathering on a dock close to the Dartmouth College boathouse on the Connecticut River, New Hampshire Fish and Game department reported. Police were notified that he was missing at 4pm on Sunday when he failed to show up to an engagement. Items discovered near the dock indicated that Jang never left the area and investigators began to search the water. At 7.25pm on Sunday, an underwater camera located the students body not far from the dock where he was last seen. The medical examiner responded to the scene but the students preliminary manner of death was undetermined. Two students, Carter Anderson and Gideon Gruel, told The Dartmouth, the universitys student newspaper, that Jang attended Saturdays dock gathering with Beta and Alpha Phi, two campus Greek organizations, and that alcohol was involved. Jang was a member of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity. Won Jang, a 20-year-old Dartmouth student, died this weekend. His body was pulled from the Connecticut River in New Hampshire on Sunday ( LinkedIn ) Hanover police chief Charles Dennis told WMUR-TV that officials had received an anonymous report that hazing played a role in the students death. He said the department would be looking into the claim but that they do not believe that foul play was involved. The Independent has contacted Hanover police department and Dartmouth College for comment. Jang, an undergraduate student from Middletown, Delaware, was due to graduate in 2026 with a degree in biomedical engineering. He worked as a project manager at the DALI Lab, a design program for students to build websites and apps, and as a research assistant at the Thayer School of Engineering. Won wholeheartedly embraced opportunities at Dartmouth to pursue his academic and personal passions, College Dean Scott Brown wrote in an email to students. He enthusiastically took part in the Dartmouth community. Jang is the second Dartmouth student to have been found dead in the Connecticut River this year. In May, authorities found Kexin Cai, 26, dead in the river five days after she went missing. Officials said that she was last seen in Lebanon, New Hampshire on May 15. Cai was a second-year doctoral student studying psychological and brain sciences. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Houston megachurch of televangelist Joel Osteen was mocked by social media users for not offering enough aid as Hurricane Beryl pummeled the city. The megachurch leader was criticized by a barrage of X users who have not forgotten his churchs slow response in offering shelter to victims of Hurricane Harvey, which rampaged the area in 2017. Osteens Lakewood Church used to be the arena for the Houston Rockets and can hold nearly 17,000 people, meaning it could serve as an air-conditioned safe haven for many impacted by the storm. We are praying for everyone on the Gulf Coast. Lakewood is working with the Office of Emergency Management, and are standing by to help those impacted by the storm. Please stay safe! the Texas church tweeted at 11.30pm Sunday. The Category 1 hurricane made landfall hours later, early on Monday. The Houston megachurch of televangelist Joel Osteen was mocked by social media users for not offering enough aid during Hurricane Beryl ( AP ) Social media users posted memes suggesting the megachurch leader was scrambling to shut and lock up doors - making reference to the churchs 2017 response when discussing the most recent storm. There were also altered photos of Osteen, whose net worth is believed to soar into the tens of millions, next to his sprawling property saying he had no room to shelter anyone. Joel Osteen when he hears another hurricane is about to hit Houston, one post read, with a set of large double doors secured by two dozen locks. Another user posted a cartoon of Piglet hastily nailing wood planks on windows, writing: Joel Osteen once Hurricane Beryl hits Houston. In 2017, Osteen initially offered prayers as Houston was devastated by extreme flooding. He defended himself against detractors, explaining that the church had been inaccessible due to flooding. We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need, he said at the time. After Beryl moved beyond Houston Monday afternoon, the church posted: Local authorities are asking people to stay off the roads today. Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday 8:00am, Lakewood will serve as a cooling and water distribution center, and safe haven for anyone in need. The cool shelter will likely be welcomed by the more than 2 million Houston residents who have lost power and air conditioning as temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s, but feel even hotter. While Texans clean up in Beryls wake, the storm has since been downgraded to a tropical depression and is heading north on Tuesday. The Independent has reached out to the megachurch for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A group of hikers who went missing in the midst of a huge wildfire in Tahoe National Forest, California, have now been rescued. Placer County sheriffs deputies found four cars parked within the Royal Fire zone on Monday at a time when the wildfire had burned about 170 acres and had triggered mass evacuations and road closures in the area. A ground and air search was launched to locate the 13 missing hikers, aged between 16 and 20, with officials checking campsites and trail heads in the area. We tried to do phone pinging, said Placer County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Elise Soviar. Its a remote area, we werent able to reach any of the phones. Officials used a helicopter to drop two search and rescue crew members into the area who were then able to lead the hikers out of the fire zone and to safety. The hikers were unharmed and in good spirits, she said. Soviar praised the hikers for sticking together during what was a tricky situation. The fire covered around 154 acres as of Monday evening, according to Placer County Sherriffs Office ( Placer County Sherriffs Office ) Officials used dogs to try and track down the missing hikers ( Placer County sheriffs office ) They did a great job, they all stayed together, she said. A lot of them did have experience hiking, so they had good equipment. They were aware that there was a fire and they were hiking in the other direction, and they felt comfortable with the distance they had got from the fire, around two miles. Michael Tait, one of the hikers, told NBC News about the moment that they saw the fire during the trek. I saw what looked like a campfire. But it spread, he said. Karla Hurd, one of the hikers parents, spoke of the relief when she heard they were safe. We knew that they were okay and they were safe, so that was a huge relief when we heard that, she said. Placer County Sherriffs Office located the hikers using a helicopter ( Placer County Sherriffs Office ) The hikers were rescued unharmed and in good spirits ( Placer County Sherriffs Office ) But to see eyes on them was good. The Royal Fire had grown to around 154 acres as of Monday evening, according to officials. It is one of several huge wildfires currently spreading through California fueled by a long-running heatwave which have so far burned more than 169,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. The biggest fire is the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara, covering more than 26,000 acres with just 12 per cent contained. On Sunday, the fire came within a mile of Michael Jacksons former Neverland Ranch, threatening the infamous property. The Basin Fire in Fresno is the second largest at more than 14,000 acres, with 80 per cent containment. On Friday, residents were evacuated near Yosemite National Park due to the French Fire wildfire, while other fires in California have triggered extensive evacuation orders and destroyed 25 structures. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A North Carolina dog breeder was arrested this weekend after authorities say she left six-week-old puppies in a dangerously hot car. Whitney Johnson, 36, has been charged with seven counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after leaving seven French Bulldog puppies in the backseat of her car when she went to eat at a local restaurant, as temperatures soared to 100 degrees (Fahrenheit). One of the puppies was euthanized following the incident, according to the Apex Police Department in Wake County. We learned from witnesses that the puppies had been left inside of the vehicle for 30 to 45 minutes, police chief Jason Armstrong told WNCN. There were seven puppies inside, almost like a kiddy pool [and] a cover that had been put on top. Customers and the restaurants employees notified police after spotting the dogs. Responding officers discovered the car running, with no air conditioning, and the windows rolled up. Whitney Tierra Johnson, 36, has been arrested on seven misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty in North Carolina ( Wake County ) Three of the puppies appeared to be in distress and had some respiratory challenges, the chief said. They were put in an oxygen chamber to get treatment. One of the puppies did not respond to the treatment. That puppy was put down by the Wake County Animal Shelter. Johnson posted a $1,500 bond on Saturday, according to court documents. She told WNCN on Monday that she would never do anything to harm her puppies. The car was on, the windows were down, and puppies were in the backseat, she said, providing photos of the setup she had for the animals. They were laying out of their container onto their feet on a towel. There was a fan on the floor because I have an outlet in my car. A photo of the French Bulldog puppies left in the car ( WNCN ) Johnson said that some people had approached her outside of the restaurant and voiced concerns about the puppies after she took them out of the car to clean them after theyd gone to the bathroom in the vehicle. She said people called the police when she told them she didnt need help. I am not an animal abuser. I have no malicious intent to harm any animal. I have 12 dogs. I take very good care of my animals, she told the station. The puppies are at the Wake County Animal Shelter as the investigation continues. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A pair of US Marshals on a security detail near Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayors home shot an armed carjacker last week, according to court documents. On July 5, a pair of officers described as on-duty working a protective detail were sitting in an unmarked US government vehicle, wearing their agency uniforms, when a van stopped next to them and an armed man approached, pointing a pistol into the front driver-side window. The officers drew their weapons and fired multiple times, leaving the alleged carjacker, Kentrell Flowers, 18, with non-life-threatening injuries to the mouth. Flowers was given first aid, taken to a hospital, and placed under arrest, according to the court documents. Hes charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, and possessing a large-capacity ammunition feeding device. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor ( Getty Images ) At the scene, police recovered a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. The court documents dont identify Sotomayor, but the US Marshals Service told Politico the officers involved were part of the unit protecting the residences of U.S. Supreme Court justices. The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department Force Investigations Team is investigating the shooting, and their findings will be reviewed by the US Attorneys Office. The incident comes as Supreme Court Justices are increasingly concerned with their safety. An image of a pistol recovered during an alleged July 5, 2024, near the Washington, DC, home of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor ( Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department ) In 2022, a man armed with a gun and knife threatened to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh. After the leak of the decision overturning Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court more than doubled the number of people assigned to its justices protective details. In March, the high court asked Congress for an extra $19.4m in funds for security as part of its 2025 budget request. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A 33-year-old surfer has just opened up about the harrowing experience of being attacked by a great white shark in California. Michael Jared Trainor told Fox News Digital that he no longer goes surfing alone after the October 2022 attack at Centerville Beach in Ferndale, which couldve cost him his life. People have died from this thing, and I was pretty close to losing my own life, he said. I feel really grateful that I was able to bounce back from it. The ordeal began when he spotted a large black silhouette under the water just before the attack. He then felt a curious sensation on his knee, followed by a crunching as the predators teeth sunk into his leg. It felt like a dog was trying to get into my wetsuit," Trainor said, adding that he managed to give it a few firm kicks. The kicks were enough to free his leg, and he used his board to travel back to the shore and away from the great white, who was estimated to be around 16 feet long and more than 1,000 pounds. A fellow surfer in the parking lot saw the attack and ran toward the shore to help him. As I stood on my feet when I got to the sand, I noticed my whole leg was just basically flayed open, and I was shocked that I was still able to walk, Trainor recalled. I was bleeding a lot. He said the other surfer used his dogs leash to tourniquet his leg until EMTs arrived to rush him to Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, California. Trainor initially thought he had been attacked by a seal until he saw his surf board with a shark bite mark in it. The shark caused six lacerations across Trainors inner thigh, a tear in his knee and some bone penetration, forcing him to undergo surgery and take physical therapy before he could ride the waves once again. I still surf that same beach pretty frequently, but now theres a group of guys, and we all communicate with each other when were going so that we can have a buddy in the water with us," Trainor said. Stephen Kajiura, a Florida Atlantic University professor of biological sciences specializing in sharks, told The Independent that the number of recent attacks is a bit high but is the natural result of more people in the water during summer. Another reason for increased shark activity is small bait fish, which sharks feed on, swimming close to the beach, Kajiura said. In June, there were three shark attacks in Florida in a month. Three other attacks were reported in the U.S in June, one in Southern California and another in Hawaii, one of which killed a swimmer. A spate of shark attacks also marred July 4 celebrations, with multiple people injured. A shark attacked Texas beachgoers swimming in shallow waters on July 4, the same day a shark bit an Ohio tourist in Florida. The U.S. has the most shark attacks of any country, according to according to the International Shark AttackFile for 2023, representing 36 cases, or 52 percent. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} What do you get for the security-conscious, uber-rich friend who has it all? Houses with high walls, high-tech security systems, and surly bodyguards may previously have been the go-to, but for those who fancy a slightly more affectionate approach a company in Montana is offering military grade protection dogs for $150,000 each. The breeder Svalinn touts the animals as a one-of-a-kind hybrid with the animals possessing elite, danger-sensing instincts as well as the warmth and affection of a typical pet. The company website offers dogs for protection, family protection, and personal protection. Each animal is an undisclosed mix of Dutch shepherd, German shepherd, and Belgian Malinois. Svalinn says it sells no more than 20 dogs a year, and only about 350 exist worldwide. The animals are trained to high intensity for three years and potential buyers must themselves undergo vetoing from the company. Each individual animal is rigorously trained by Svalinn for two to three years in order to engineer the perfect balance between high-functioning bodyguards and affectionate pets ( Svalinn/ svalinnworking dogs/ Instagram ) According to their website, the four-step process involves meeting the breeders and getting to know the dogs, visiting the ranch, and selecting the perfect animal, before securing the animal with a non-refundable deposit. Kim Greene, co-founder of Svalinn, says the company has a no-a**holes policy. Weve done a lot of due diligence on the people who visit. Were interviewing clients as much as theyre interviewing us, she said speaking to the New York Magazine. After new clients purchase and take home their dog, a Svalinn handler visits within 45 days to see if they have kept up with the dogs training or introduced bad habits. The four-step process to buying a Svalinn dog involves meeting the breeders and getting to know the dogs, visiting the ranch, selecting the perfect animal, before paying a non-refundable deposit ( Svalinn/ svalinnworkingdogs/ Instagram ) Greene, says she wants to civilize dogs and give them manners, while at the same time hoping to not dull their animal instincts. Clients who spoke to the magazine shared similar sentiments. I feel like we have a gentle Navy SEAL in the house, said Stephen Mazzola, an airline pilot and owner of a Svalinn dog. I find myself giving a command and going, Holy cow, that really works. Mazzola said that even in settings including a restaurant, his dog Jet instinctually looks the other way towards potential threats. Thats an automatic thing with them. The training kind of morphs into the instinct to protect the family, he said. Another client, Regis Haid, said he too had balked at the price tag of the animals, until witnessing the Svalinn training facility outside Livingston in Montanas Paradise Valley. He and his wife now own two. I was in the military, I had an Air Force scholarship to med school, and Ive hunted. These dogs theyre like humans, he said. Greene said that the purpose of the company was not to create a luxury item, though she often refers to the animals as assets. She and her former husband Jeff Greene bred Rhodesian Ridgebacks for the expat community in Nairobi and sold dogs to the US. Svalinn touts the animals as a one of a kind hybrid ( Svalinn/ svalinnworkingdogs/ Instagram ) The couple noticed an increase in interest in K-9 security following the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011, which included canine operatives. They returned to the US with the intent of providing animals that could function both as pets, and high-functioning bodyguards. The whopping price tag on Svalinn dogs comes mostly from the intensity of their training which takes two or three years rather than their breeding. It is a tough training process that not all survive. If nature takes puppies, it takes puppies, Greene told the outlet. If we were a puppy mill, we would sleep with the puppies, wed give them heat lamps. But you know what? These are protection assets. And if six of them are going to pass, theres a reason. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Living Well email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A new weight loss drug is more effective than medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, new research suggests. Tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound which treat diabetes and weight loss, respectively leads to more weight loss than semaglutide. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisks Wegovy and Ozempic, which have been taken for weight loss by an estimated 15.5 million Americans, according to a Gallup poll released in May. A new study, published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, is thought to be the first head-to-head comparison of the two weight loss drugs. Electronic health records from more than 41,000 adults who were overweight or obese and had been prescribed one of the two drugs for the first time were analyzed during the study, though participants werent excluded if they had Type 2 diabetes. More than 9,100 were prescribed tirzepatide, and more than 32,000 were prescribed semaglutide. An Ozempic needle injection pen, used by patients on one type of semaglutide ( Alamy/PA ) Among its conclusions were that those receiving tirzepatide were more likely to achieve 5 percent or greater, 10 percent or greater, and 15 percent or greater weight loss and experienced larger reductions in body weight at three, six, and 12 months. People who took semaglutide lost, on average, 3.6 percent of their body weight after three months; 5.8 percent after six months; and 8.3 percent after 12 months. In contrast, those who took tirzepatide lost a greater percentage of body weight each month: an average of 5.9 percent of their body weight after three months; 10.1 percent after six months; and 15.3 percent after 12 months. The majority of patients on both medications experienced clinically meaningful weight loss, but those patients that took tirzepatide experienced significantly more, said the studys lead author, Tricia Rodriguez principal applied scientist at health care data and analytics company, Truveta Research. She added that researchers had noticed no significant difference in the risk of serious side effects, such as gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, between the two drugs. It comes after both The World Health Organization (WHO) and drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. warned people last month to be wary of fake versions of semaglutide being sold illegally ( REUTERS ) It comes after both The World Health Organization (WHO) and drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. warned people last month to be wary of fake versions of both tirzepatide and semaglutide. WHO said that it had fielded several reports of fake semaglutide in all geographic regions of the world since 2022, while Lilly said it was deeply concerned about growing online sales and social media posts involving phony or compounded versions of tirzepatide. The Indianapolis-based company said it was the only lawful supplier of those drugs, and it does not provide tirzepatide to compounding pharmacies, wellness centers, or online retailers. Lilly said fake versions of its drugs frequently advertised or sold online are never safe to use. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reaffirmed her commitment to President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee on Monday evening amid heightened tensions within the party over his mental fitness. Joe Biden is our nominee, he is not leaving this race, he is in this race and I support him, Ocasio-Cortez told a group of reporters outside of the Capitol. The New York reps assertion comes as Democratic lawmakers scramble to find consensus on whether or not to support Biden, 81, as the presidential nominee. At least six House Democrats have publicly called for the president to withdraw from the race following his disappointing and concerning debate performance at the end of June. The presidents failure to confidently debate his political opponent has led to concerns that he is not well enough to run a campaign or defeat Donald Trump. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) committed to supporting President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee ( KevinFreyTV / X ) But Biden has remained adamant he will remain in the race and Ocasio-Cortez says that is enough for her. I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed, she told reporters. The congresswoman pivoted the conversation toward Trump, pointing out that no Republican has asked him to step down despite being recently convicted of 34 felony charges in New York. Re-directing attention toward Trump is a tactic the White House and Biden campaign have implored while fighting doubts about Bidens ability to campaign based on his debate performance. Ocasio-Cortez assured the public she has communicated what she believes is a winning path forward to the president. That includes enacting policies that benefit working-class Americans such as expanding Medicare and Social Security, providing rent or mortgage alleviation and continuing working on student loan relief. What is critically important is what the president, I believe, that the president needs to do. And I have communicated this. What the president and White House should do in order to make sure we win in November, Ocasio-Cortez said. Other lawmakers supporting Bidens campaign, such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, have similarly highlighted Bidens policies and accomplishments in office. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Texas Governor Greg Abbott has faced criticism for jetting off to Asia while his state is hammered by a deadly hurricane. Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast as a category 1 Hurricane early on Monday morning, bringing with it life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and widespread flooding. The powerful storm, which was weaker than when it swept through the Caribbean causing mass devastation as a category 5 hurricane last week, damaged homes, cutting off power to more than two million properties and resulted in several deaths. According to local and county officials, seven people have so far been killed as a result of the storm in Texas four in Harris County and three in Montogomery County while an eighth victim died in Louisiana. While emergency responders have banded together to try to keep Texans safe, one rather prominent figure was missing. On July 5 while Hurricane Beryl was moving towards the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and was forecast to land in southern Texas by the weekends close Abbott announced that he was heading to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan to lead an economic development mission. Organized by the Governors Economic Development & Tourism Office and the Texas Economic Development Corporation, the governor left the state that day and is set to return on July 13. A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway in Houston, on Monday, July 8, 2024 after Hurricane Beryl ripped through the area ( AP ) During the nine-day trip, the governor said he would be meeting with world-class businesses and government leaders to focus on the future of the global economy. He was joined by Texas economic officials, five Texas legislators, and 23 Texas business and community leaders. His announcement came a day after he said he was preparing statewide emergency response resources ahead of Beryl making landfall in the Lone Star State. Since heading overseas, Abbott has announced a State of Texas Taiwan Office in Taipei, met with Taiwans president, and attended events meant to strengthen Texas economic partnership with South Korea. While I am in Taiwan, South Korea & Japan working on business deals worth billions, I remain in daily contact with Texas Division of Emergency Management & local officials to ensure preparation for Hurricane Beryl, Abbott wrote on X on Sunday. Your safety is our top concern. An upended tree rests on Bethel Church after Hurricane Beryl moved through the area, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Van Vleck, Texas ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) His two X accounts over the past few days were filled with equal parts his trip to the three Asian countries, meeting with CEOs, politicians and businesses, and the impact Beryl was having back on his state over around 6,000 miles away. On Tuesday, with just over three days remaining on his trip overseas, Abbott then posted: Now its time for recovery and rebuild. The Texas Division of Emergency Management has teams deployed to every area affected by Beryl, he wrote. Theyre working with local & federal authorities to restore your community ASAP. Several social media users called out the governor for leaving his state in the middle of a state of emergency. Why is Greg Abbott in South Korea while a hurricane ravages his state and residents are without power? one person wrote. Why are Texas Republicans like Greg Abbott & Ted Cruz always in the habit of abandoning their constituents in times of crisis? another person wrote. Abbotts absence drew parallels to the scandal back in February 2021 when Texas Senator Ted Cruz infamously jetted off to Cancun for a family vacation during a deadly storm that killed dozens of Texans. Some social media users brought up the incident in response to Cruzs own comments about Beryl. When natural disasters strike, Texans come together to help each other out. Its people like Mack who make Texas, Texas, Cruz wrote on X about furniture businessman Mattress Mack, who was helping Houstonians in need of food and shelter from Beryl. Interesting quote from a guy who famously fled to Cancun during the worst storm in Texas history, Lose Cruz PAC responded on X. While Hurricane Beryl closed in on Texas, Greg Abbott was visiting South Korea, and Ted Cruz was whale watching in Southern California. Texans deserve better, the PAC also wrote on X, referring to a trip Cruz posted on July 4 on his X account. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Representative Adam Smith has become the sixth House Democrat to call for Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race since last months election debate disaster as the president continues to dig in. The Washington lawmaker was reportedly among several committee ranking members who privately told House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries that Biden should bow out in a brutal two-hour call on Sunday. The list previously naming Smith includes Jerrold Nadler, Mark Takano, Joseph Morelle, Susan Wild, and Jim Himes, three sources told CNN. Now, Smith, 59, has decided to go public, declaring that he thinks Biden should step aside, adding that the White Houses be quiet, fall in line message isnt working. I think its become clear that hes not the best person to carry the Democratic message, he told CNNs Jake Tapper in an interview on Monday. Joe Biden said he was frustrated with elites in the party, he told MSNBC on Monday morning ( Reuters ) Heres the thing, we have an incredibly strong message the president has shown he is not capable of delivering that message, Smith added. Bidens painful performance on the debate stage against Donald Trump on June 27, which at points saw him struggle to deliver a coherent response to his Republican rival, was a nail-in-the-coffin moment, Smith said. However, the senior Democrat said that there were concerns leading up to the event about Bidens ability to land a message, adding that it hasnt gotten better since then. While he didnt explicitly address rumors surrounding the 81-year-old presidents cognitive decline that stemmed from the debate, Smith admitted that there are the healthcare concerns. The damning call for Bidens resignation landed just hours after he voiced his frustrations with elites in the party on MSNBCs episode of Morning Joe. He goaded dissenting Democrats to run against him and challenge me at the convention, in August. It comes after five House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to step down for his re-election bid including Texas Lloyd Doggett, Arizonas Raul Grijalva, Massachusetts Seth Moulton, Illinois Mike Quigley and Minnesotas Angie Craig. Biden continues to fight for his political survival as he maintains that he will both run against and beat Trump when the electorate hits the polls in November. Congressional Democrats received a two-page letter from the president on Monday as he tried to quell the uprising among senior party members. Sharing on his Twitter/X account, Biden declared that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. The president will hope that this weeks Nato summit will offer a reprieve and allow him to move forward with his campaign. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The White House has been roasted for promising President Joe Biden will give a big boy press conference as part of the three-day Nato summit of world leaders beginning Tuesday in Washington DC. In Mondays White House press briefing, John Kirby, the White Houses national security communications adviser, raised eyebrows with his choice of phrase coming at a time when the embattled president is facing growing calls to quit the 2024 race. The president will hold a press conference a big boy press conference were calling it, he said, with a nod to Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who responded with a grin in the affirmative. Kirbys tongue-in-cheek reference was actually a callback to an exchange last week between Jean-Pierre and Bloomberg journalist Justin Sink, who had asked her about the White Houses alleged strategy of shielding the president from impromptu settings in light of his disastrous presidential debate performance. The press secretary had denied that Biden had anything to hide regarding his competence for office and duly promised a solo press conference from the president, which prompted Sink to ask for more specifics: Is that gonna be kind of the real, big boy press conference that were used to or Did you just say big boy press conference? she responded, as fellow members of the press corps broke up laughing. Big Boy Justin over there was asking some big boy questions, Jean-Pierre joked. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on Monday July 8 2024 ( Susan Walsh/AP ) A viral clip of Kirby using the phrase on Monday nevertheless prompted plenty of context-free ridicule. Sky News host Gabriella Power observed that the use of such a phrase is not making it any easier for voters to take the administration seriously. The networks Danica De Giorgio then chimed in: Will they take him to potty training next? Im sure Doctor Jill will be on standby to help. The potty training quip sparked a flood of memes online, depicting the president on a jumbo packet of Biden Big Boy diapers or as the famous mascot of the Big Boy chain of fast-food restaurants. Trumps former press secretary Sean Spicer called the line rather unbecoming, Libs of TikTok asked if the administration can get more embarrassing while others failed to find any humour in it at all. One right-wing journalist called the joke pathetic and complained that the White House spokespeople had been reduced to treating Biden like a freaking toddler. Another was even more incensed by what was, ultimately, just a harmless moment of levity, fuming: These people really sat down in a room together at the White House and said to themselves you know what would really revamp the image of our dementia ridden boss? Telling the world that hes giving a big boy press conference. Elsewhere in Mondays briefing, Kirby moved to dispel doubts about Bidens acuity, saying his fellow Nato leaders were not concerned by the ongoing speculation about his fitness for office. For his part, the president has continued to insist that he is going nowhere, saying as much at an Independence Day speech at the White House, in his Friday night reset interview on ABC News with George Stephanopoulos and on the campaign trail in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania over the weekend. On Monday, he continued his defiant stance with a letter to congressional Democrats and again in a phone-in with MSNBCs Morning Joe. Nevertheless, six Democratic members of the House of Representatives have now publicly called for Biden to drop out while at least five more have voiced their concerns in private, their anxiety shared by both party donors and a significant proportion of the electorate, according to the post-debate polls. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} World leaders from NATO countries are set to descend on Washington, DC, this week for their annual meeting as President Joe Biden looks to quell fears and move past questions on his future. Heads of state and government from 32 NATO nations plus leaders of Ukraine, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea began arriving at Joint Base Andrews on Monday for the annual gathering. Biden is scheduled to open the confab with a speech marking the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic alliance. The president has touted the alliances expansion including formerly neutral nations Finland and Sweden in the wake of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine as one of his key foreign policy accomplishments. He has also bosted that now more than two thirds of the block are now meeting a decade-old goal of spending 2 percent of their respective gross domestic products on defense needs. It is expected that Biden will lean into those efforts, plus his work assembling a worldwide alliance to arm and support Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression, when he speaks to world leaders at the Mellon Auditorium late Tuesday evening. The speech will be his first major address since the June 27 debate with Donald Trump, where Biden performed so poorly that many members of his party have openly questioned whether he is fit to remain on the ballot in this years presidential election. NATO is set to meet in Washington, DC, this week as Joe Biden looks to move past questions about his political future ( AP ) But White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby denied that Bidens poor performance has rankled NATO allies. I think the question presupposes the notion that they need to be reassured of American leadership and President Bidens commitment, and I dont believe thats the case, he said moments after he was asked if Biden has a plan for reassuring allies that hes up to the job after multiple members of his own party have called for him to stand down from his re-election bid in favor of a younger candidate. Were not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all, Kirby continued, adding that allies are excited about the annual summit. Pressed further on whether there have been any conversations with allies to reassure them of Bidens capacity to lead the US, Kirby flatly denied that any had taken place. White House and Biden campaign sources are hoping that this weeks pomp and pageantry on the world stage can quell the clamor for Biden to stand down, at least long enough for the president to make the case for him to stay in the race during his press conference on Thursday. One White House official who spoke to The Independent on condition of anonymity said they dont expect Democrats in the House or Senate to make any moves against the president while hes hosting NATO members this week, giving him a brief reprieve just before the political world shifts focus to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. A different senior administration official who briefed reporters on the presidents plans for the NATO summit last week confirmed Bidens plans to tout the growth in the number of NATO nations and their military spending since the Ukraine invasion. The official also said Biden and the other 31 NATO leaders would roll out new steps to strengthen Ukraines air defenses and military capabilities to help Ukraine continue to defend themselves today and to deter Russian aggression into the future and celebrate the nearly two dozen nations that have signed bilateral security pacts with Kyiv. White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby has denied that Bidens poor debate performance has rankled NATO allies, even as members of Bidens own party have called for him to stand aside ( AP ) Kirby confirmed the Ukraine-centric nature of the summits schedule when he took to the White House briefing room on Monday, telling reporters that Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a bilateral meeting on the summits sidelines on Thursday before attending a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine council. Kirby said the resumption of American military aid to Kyiv has seen Ukrainian forces successfully hold territory against Russia or make small gains, which he called a significant impact on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces have successfully stopped Russias attack north of Kharkiv, denying Russia the ability to take that city, and limiting Russian gains to areas just across the border, he said, adding that Ukraine has also held the line in other places by hardening defenses against Russian attacks, as well as halted attacks in places such as Zaporizhzhia. The people of Ukraine have yet again demonstrated that when supplied and when supported by the international community in the United States, they can hold off the largest though certainly not, I think is clearly evident, the most capable army in Europe, Kirby said. He told reporters that the US and other allied nations would make several big announcements related to Ukraine at the summit, and the alliance itself would roll out what Kirby called significant new steps to strengthen its military and political partnership with Ukraine to help Ukraine continue to defend themselves today and to deter Russian aggression well into the future. These elements, taken together with bilateral support, are part of a bridge to Ukraines NATO membership together the Washington summit will send a strong signal to Mr Putin that if he thinks he can outlast a coalition of countries that are supporting Ukraine, hes dead wrong again, he said. As President Biden has said himself, Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness. Chinese researchers design wristwatch for real-time health monitoring through sweat Xinhua) 16:34, July 09, 2024 HEFEI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Smart wearable devices have evolved with advanced features for a holistic health and fitness experience, monitoring heart rate, tracking step count, calculating calorie intake, and now notifying users when they need electrolyte drinks during exercise with just a flick of the wrist. Scientists from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HIPS) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have designed a wristwatch that can measure essential chemicals in body sweat. Their findings were published in the journal ACS Nano. Sweat contains electrolytes, primarily potassium, sodium and calcium. The balance of these essential minerals is crucial for supporting muscle function, nerve health and regular heartbeat, said Yang Meng, an associate professor at the institute and one of the authors of the study. Sweating leads to the loss of both water and electrolytes. "Excessive loss of potassium, for instance, can impact heart function and neuromuscular activity. Similarly, the depletion of sodium ions may result in symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and muscle cramps," Yang said, explaining the importance of maintaining a balanced electrolyte level. The wristwatch designed by Yang's team collects sweat from the skin and analyzes it in real time using a sensor chip with an ion-sensitive membrane. When sweat enters the device, it will come into contact with the membrane that contains three tubules capable of measuring sodium, potassium and calcium levels, respectively. Although they are not the first to invent sweat sensors, the Chinese researchers emphasized the wristwatch's solid interface for long-term reliability. "It surpasses the stability of many other sensors by consistently monitoring the three ions in human sweat for over six months," said lead researcher Huang Xingjiu, of the Institute of Solid State Physics under the HIPS. Since endurance athletes use electrolyte drinks to counteract the loss of energy and replenish it, researchers in the study measured the sweat composition of these chemicals in athletes running long distances on a treadmill. The accuracy reached approximately 95 percent when compared to the standard detection method. "When there are electrolyte abnormalities, the device will remind users to supplement them promptly," said the co-first author Cai Xin. "The aim of developing this device is to provide warnings for electrolyte loss and reduce exercise-related injury risks." For ordinary people, the conventional electrolyte test requires samples of body fluids taken in hospitals. The new wristwatch has the potential to serve as an alternative to needles for measuring electrolytes. In addition to offering a non-invasive test, the device allows for real-time monitoring of electrolytes, "which is undoubtedly a significant advancement in human health monitoring," said Xu Han, a physician at the Central Hospital of Bengbu, who was not involved in the study. The next goal of the research team is to design various sensitive membrane materials for monitoring more physiological information, such as glucose and chloride ions. The researchers noted that compared to popular fitness watches on the market, the device they designed is larger and heavier, making it less comfortable to wear. However, they expect to develop wearable sweat sensors suitable for market applications in the next five years. Yang said that the team of researchers also aims to adapt the device for environmental monitoring to measure heavy metals in the future. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former US Army doctor specializing in movement disorders visited the White House multiple times to perform neurological exams on President Joe Biden as part of his annual physical, Physician to the President Dr. Kevin OConnor said in a memo shared Monday. The memo to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was released hours after a contentious press briefing during which Jean-Pierre flatly denied that Biden is being treated for, or has been diagnosed with, the neurological disorder Parkinsons disease. Reporters had pressed her on why logs showed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a specialist who is a movement disorders fellow at Emory University, had visited the White House on multiple occasions. OConnor said in his letter that Canards visits to the White House clinic were part of an extremely detailed neurological examination, which Biden underwent during his January 2024 exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr. Cannard has been doing for a dozen years. Dr Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems, OConnor wrote. OConnor also said Cannard has been the specialist who examined Biden during each of the annual physicals he has undergone since taking office in January 2021, and noted that Cannards findings have been made public each time. He added that Cannard also regularly visits the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations, including many military personnel who experience neurological issues related to their service. We value the contributions he has made across the many patients he has treated in support of the White House and its personnel over the years, he said. On Monday, Jean-Pierre was insistant that Biden has never been treated for Parkinsons disease, as questions about his mental fitness continue to swirl following his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No, she said after a heated back-and-forth with reporters. Cannards name was listed in the White House visitor logs, which are public records released by the Biden administration on a regular basis, but Jean-Pierre declined to confirm whether hed even been at the White House for any reason, citing what she described as security concerns and privacy concerns for the hundreds of military personnel who work on the White House campus and receive care through the White House Medical Unit. Im not going to confirm a name. It doesnt matter if its even in the log. I am not going to do that from here. That is not something I am going to do, said Jean-Pierre, who said Biden has seen a neurologist on three occasions in conjunction with his annual physical, and said the documentation the White House has released after each of those physicals is in line with medical information released under the George W Bush and Obama administrations. But I am not going to devolve somebodys name or confirm someone ... It doesnt matter how hard you push me. It doesnt matter how angry you get with me from here. Im just not going to do that. It is inappropriate. It is not acceptable. So Im not going to do it, she said. Concerns regarding Bidens health and mental acuity come after the presidents dismal debate performance in Atlanta on June 27. During the debate, Biden appeared confused and frail, losing his train of thought at times and speaking with a raspy voice. Cannards LinkedIn page states that he has supported the White House Medical Unit for more than 12 years and his profile on a site for health professionals called Doximity states that he was a neurology consultant to the White House Medical Unit and the physician to the president between 2012 and 2022. Obama administration records reveal that Cannard visited the White House 10 times in 2012, four times in 2013, and once in 2014, according to The New York Times. Cannard met with OConnor on January 17 this year, as well as Walter Reed cardiologist Dr John Atwood, as well as another person at the White House residence clinic, according to the logs. Biden had his annual physical on February 28, after which OConnor said there were no findings consistent with Parkinsons or other neurological disorders. A wide variety of specialists from the Walter Reed system visit the White House complex to treat the thousands of military personnel who work on the grounds, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement to The Times.Bates did not address the visits by Cannard directly but said that Biden has been seen by a neurologist once a year during his annual physical. That examination has found no sign of Parkinsons and he is not being treated for it, the spokesperson said. During Bidens time in office, there have been no neurologist visits besides the one for his physical per year, three in total, Bates added. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden seemed to stem his bleeding support among some Democrats in the House of Representatives, particularly progressives. Meanwhile, the Senate continues to have lingering questions, following the presidents disastrous debate performance last month. On Monday, the president sent a letter to congressional Democrats saying he is firmly committed to staying in the presidential race against Donald Trump. During votes on Monday evening, many House Democrats specifically members of the Congressional Black Caucus reiterated their support for Biden. Caucus chairman Steven Horsford, who also represents the swing state of Nevada, said Biden is and would be the nominee in a statement. President Biden is the nominee and has been selected by millions of voters across this country, including voters in Nevada, he said. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey told The Independent that her voters said they felt bad for him after his debate performance, where Biden had a hoarse voice and tripped over his own sentences, [b]ut my constituents have been saying to me as they encounter me in church and out in the Fourth of July and stuff, Tell President Biden that we are with him, make sure you use your voice to communicate that. It was not just members of the CBC, a longtime base of support for Biden, that defended Biden. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York also defended the president to reporters. Now, what I think the president does need to do is continue to lean in and move further towards the working class and be more assertive in providing an affirmative vision for this country and expand in his policies and vision for a second term, she said. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, another member of the progressive Squad, told The Independent that she had heard positive things from her voters about Biden: That hes going to be our nominee and we have his back. Bidens wellspring of praise from some came after numerous other House Democrats such as Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota and Raul Grijalva of Arizona said Biden should step aside as the Democratic nominee. Clearly, opinions are divided. But Biden has seemed to stave off an internal revolt for now. Representative Greg Landsman, who represents a swing district in Ohio, told The Independent that voters concerns are all over the place. I think it's almost entirely not entirely, but it is, in large part, a worry about Trump, he said. And I understand that sounds like I'm trying to change subject, but that's what I'm hearing is that people are so terrified about what will happen if Trump were to win, especially after the Supreme Court decision... Trump is going to think that he now has no guardrails. The reception seems more uniformly grim in the Senate, a place Biden called his office for 36 years and where he frequently wrangled votes as Barack Obamas vice president. Vermont loves Joe Biden, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont told The Independent, adding that Vermont gave Biden the biggest margin of victory of any state in the last election. But, he added, [w]e've got to beat Trump and those age issues that were present before the debate [have] intensified since... It's all about the president's performance. Similarly, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, said Coloradoans had questions after the debate. Many people have asked me questions about it all over the state, he told The Independent. They want to know if this wasn't a reflection of a serious condition, but just was a bad night, as the White House says, or as the president has said. I think if the American people reach the conclusion that it was a bad night, we're going to be fine, he added. If they reach the conclusion that it's something else, that's going to be difficult. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} There was very little enthusiasm visible from members of President Joe Bidens party as they continued to trickle back onto Capitol Hill this week for the return of business in the House and Senate. Congressional Democrats who emerged from meetings on Tuesday indicated two main sentiments to reporters: that Joe Biden would not be getting out of the race; and that no progress has been made in convincing even some of his own supporters that he is up to the task of running for president and serving another four years in the White House. Even those who have urged Biden to make the hard choice and withdraw from the race like ranking Judiciary member Jerry Nadler admitted to reporters on Tuesday that they were at an impasse. The president remains the only one with the ability to release his delegates to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) next month, making the nomination his unless he steps aside. The president made very clear yesterday that hes running, Nadler told a gaggle of reporters. We have to support him. Nadler added that his concerns about the presidents ability to run an effective campaign were now beside the point in other words, no longer relevant, given Bidens apparent refusal to listen to those concerns. But both privately and publicly, the mood remains grim. One member inside todays House meeting described the mood as "like a funeral in a comment to Punchbowl News. Few Democrats are now willing to give an enthusiastic endorsement of the presidents communication or cognitive functions. More are willing to tout his administrations policy record or resort to a favorite angle of attack: Donald Trump. And there was virtually no consensus among those present in Congress regarding how to move forward guaranteeing that the party will remain fractured and without a unified message for days to come. Are you all on the same page? one reporter asked Representative Steve Cohen as he left the meeting. No, he replied. When asked by a second journalist what he meant: Were not even in the same book. Mike Quigley, one of the Biden-must-gos, exited the gathering and told reporters that the leader of his party would bring the ticket down if he ran in November. He has to step down, said the Illinois Democrat. Rep. Mike Quigley says Biden cant win, a position that will make life awkward for the Chicago Dem when his city hosts the Democratic Convention next month. pic.twitter.com/nTyGGpomgy Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) July 9, 2024 It remains unclear whether Biden can hold on to his party and manage their discontent long enough to secure the Democratic nomination. The DNC is set to hold a four-day convention in August, where Biden or another Democrat will accept the nomination in front of thousands of supporters, activists, labor leaders and others. The White House has said that the US president will hold a press conference this week as part of the NATO summit in Washington. For months, he has appeared only at carefully manicured media appearances, apart from occasional comments to journalists on the ropeline as he travels to and from his home in Delaware and other locations. Biden has not held an extensive press conference in which he takes questions from the majority of the White House press pool in months. Hes held the fewest such media availabilities of any sitting president over the past six administrations. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks with reporters after leaving a meeting of his caucus on Monday, July 8. ( Getty Images ) His performance at the first general election debate of the 2024 election season earlier this month alarmed many, including some who had previously attacked journalists personally for reporting that Bidens cognitive functions and communication skills were potentially becoming a real issue. During the 90-minute debate, Biden was unable to finish his thoughts coherently at multiple points while speaking with a hoarse, faint voice. He was unable to effectively critique his opponents false statements and neglected to bring up major talking points pushed by his campaign, including attacks centered on the Republican policy spheres Project 2025, a plan by a number of conservatives (including many connected to Trump) to radically reshape the federal government. Polling shows the incumbent president trailing in every swing state he won against Donald Trump in 2020. Thats a prospect which would mean a clean defeat in the Electoral College. Thanks to current realities in the House and Senate, a Trump victory in November would likely be accompanied by respective Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A junior sailor tried to get hold of President Joe Bidens restricted medical records three times in a single day in February out of curiosity, the Navy revealed Tuesday. The name of the sailor has not been shared, but he was assigned to the Navys hospital corps and stationed at the major medical center that is Fort Belvoir in Virginia, a US official told CBS News. He was administratively disciplined following an investigation that ended in April, according to CBS News. The sailor went into a database for the military medical system, known as the Genesis Medical Health System, three times on February 23, but he didnt manage to pull up the right Joe Biden, the official added. Navy Commander Tim Hawkins told CBS that The MHS Genesis system is a secure health system and at no time was the Presidents personal information compromised. An investigation by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service began three days later, after a co-worker reported the incident. The sailor said during the investigation that he had searched the presidents name in the database out of curiosity. U.S. President Joe Biden returns to the White House with first lady Jill Biden on July 7, 2024, in Washington, DC. A junior navy sailor tried to get ahold of his medical records three times in February. ( Getty Images ) The investigation concluded on April 24, finding that the sailor never reached the presidents medical record. Bidens record is restricted and couldnt have been found by searching the system, the official said. The White House told the network that Biden was made aware of the attempts to find his medical records within hours, as staffers were alerted to the incident by the Department of Defense. The sailor was active in the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command at Fort Belvoir, but the presidents annual physicals as well as any emergency medical care take place at the Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C. Biden had his annual physical at the Bethesda center on February 28, just two days after the investigation began. The physical was previously planned and was not impacted by this incident, the White House told CBS. The physician to the president, Kevin OConnor, wrote in a memo released that same day that The president feels well and this years physical identified no new concerns. He added: He continues to be fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations. Biden is facing increasing concerns about his cognitive ability after the first presidential debate late last month, when he appeared confused, losing his train of thought on several occasions and making a number of gaffes. Reacting in part to his frail and raspy voice, staffers put out a message to reporters in the middle of the debate that the president was suffering from a cold. Biden has subsequently cited his extensive travel schedule as being partially responsible, but he has also acknowledged that he had a bad night and that he screwed up. Despite the pressure ramping up for Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee, the president has been defiant in his refusal to end his campaign. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joshua Kindred, a federal judge in Alaska nominated to the bench by former President Donald Trump, has resigned after an investigation into misconduct allegations against him found that he had an inappropriate relationship with a female law clerk, lied to investigators, and created a hostile environment for staff by making graphic sexual remarks in the workplace. The US district judge, 46, was asked to resign voluntarily by the Judicial Council of the 9th Circuit in May and did so on July 3, submitting a formal letter of resignation to Trumps White House successor Joe Biden last week. The allegations against Kindred date back to 2022 and were compiled in a 32-page court order by a special committee appointed to investigate them by Chief Circuit Judge Mary Murguia. The order was made available publicly on Monday as Kindreds resignation came into effect and accuses the justice of carrying on an inappropriately sexualized relationship with the unnamed clerk that continued into her time as an assistant US attorney. In one incident from October 2022, Kindred is alleged to have invited her out for drinks, kissed her and grabbed her rear shortly before she ended her tenure working in his office. In a second incident, the justice is accused of groping the clerk and performing oral sex on her at an associates apartment. Investigators also determined that Kindred received nude photographs from another more senior federal prosecutor and swapped flirtatious text messages with a third local attorney, the order said. The report also cites investigators interviews with clerks and judiciary employees who worked for Kindred, as well as text messages in which he talked about his dating life and made disparaging remarks about colleagues. In addition to the sexual misconduct allegations, the order reports that Kindred had no hesitation in using language that was inappropriate in a professional setting, such as encouraging rating people based on f***ability, stating that he was not hoe-ignorant, or telling stories about giving b*** jobs in a hot tub. It continues: In the few instances where clerks came to Judge Kindred to discuss his inappropriate behavior, they were belittled or ostracized, and, in one instance, a clerk left the clerkship. The investigators add that Kindred made false statements during their inquiries and otherwise obstructed, influenced and impeded their proceedings. I think my great sin here was the fact that during this period of time I treated my law clerks as friends rather than employees, the justice told them at one hearing, downplaying the seriousness of the accusations against him. We conclude that Judge Kindreds misconduct was pervasive and abusive, constituted sexual harassment, and fostered a hostile work environment that took a personal and professional toll on multiple clerks, the council wrote. Judge Kindreds conduct was not civil, dignified, or respectful attributes that we expect from a federal judge and his interactions with his law clerks were abusive, oppressive, and inappropriate. Kindred submitted his own nine-page response to the investigation in which he conceded that he had failed to exercise appropriate boundaries and crossed lines I should not have crossed but added that his relationship with the clerk was not something that was born out of something sinister. He has since declined requests for comment. Chief Circuit Judge Murguia said in a statement of her own on Monday that the judiciary was entrusted to self-govern and that federal judges must be held to the highest standards of integrity and impartiality. In all respects, this was a serious and sensitive matter, she said. I thank the witnesses who provided information, understanding fully how difficult that may have been. In my role as chief, I will continue to ensure that our judges are held to the highest standards. Kindred was confirmed by the Senate in February 2020 in a 54-41 vote mostly along party lines, making him one of the youngest to receive the life-time honour. Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote on X on Monday that his resignation was more than appropriate and pledged she would be working quickly to advance a replacement nominee for consideration. Another GOP state senator, Dan Sullivan, said in a statement: Judge Kindreds misconduct revealed in the recent investigation is extremely disappointing. I will continue to work with the Alaska Federal Judicial Council for appointment of federal judges who understand Alaskas unique role in our federal system. This is crucially important for our state. Kindreds resignation leaves Chief Judge Sharon Gleason as the one active district court judge working in Alaska, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Judge Gleason is expected to pick up the majority of her former colleagues 77 open criminal cases and 148 open civil cases. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Satanists are volunteering to fill vacancies across Florida schools after Ron DeSantis signed a new law pushing for more religion in education. A state law went into effect last week allowing for additional counseling and support to students from outside organizations to fill staff shortages including from religious groups. The Florida initiative allows chaplains to serve as public school counselors as more states aim to embed Christianity into public school environments. Without the bill, DeSantis who was brought up in a staunchly Catholic household said that youre basically saying that God has no place [on campus], adding Thats wrong. Members of the Satanic Temple have lobbied for freedom of religion in public schools, including through the establishment of After School Satan clubs which have been popping up in states across the US that allow religious groups to operate on campus. The Satanic Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves said schools should be ready for satanists to participate ( Getty Images ) The organization that says it does not believe in God or the devil. It describes itself as nontheistic and campaigns against the encroachment of religion on public life. Proselytization is not our goal, it claims, adding: The program focuses on science, critical thinking and the creative arts, with no interest in converting children to Satanism. Members of the Satanic Temple are now ready to fill vacant counselor roles in schools across the Sunshine States 67 counties, its co-founder and spokesperson Lucien Greaves told The Guardian. Should a school district now choose to have chaplains, they should expect Satanists to participate as well, he told The Hill on Monday. The Satanic Temple is officially recognized as a religion by the US government. DeSantis contests that Satanism is not a religion and said its followers would not be allowed to participate in the program. DeSantis says that Satanism is not a relgion causing outrage to temple members ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Some have said that if you do a school chaplain program that, somehow, youre going to have satanists running around in all our schools. Were not playing those games in Florida. You dont have to worry about that, he said at Aprils signing. Greaves has slammed the governor for what he perceives as having openly lied to the public. He argued that its not up to DeSantis to grant rights to Christianity while simultaneously denying anothers religious identity. The temples leader said it was prepared to take legal action if Florida continued to attempt to thwart Satanists access to schools. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A fundraiser for adult film star Stormy Daniels has surpassed $1m in the first two weeks since its launch. The GoFundMe page, called I Stand with Stormy Daniels, started months after Daniels blockbuster testimony in the New York criminal trial, where former president Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. The presumptive GOP nominee gave the porn star hush money in exchange for her silence about their alleged affair. Her former manager and friend Dwayne Crawford launched the fundraiser on June 26. The money raised will go toward paying off the $600,000 in Trumps legal fees that she owes the former president after a court dismissed her 2018 defamation case against him. For over 6 years, I have been fighting to speak the truth...and paying the price for it, Daniels said in a statement to the page. I refused to back down or give a penny for telling the truth. Thank you will never be enough but...THANK YOU! A GoFundMe for Stormy Daniels has raised more than $1million that will go to paying off her legal fees ( REUTERS ) The additional money raised will go toward moving her family to a safe place, as the porn star has received countless death threats after the guilty verdict was read on May 30, the fundraiser said. Her home address was leaked, and since then, Its become unsafe for her family and her pets, including her horses that have been shot twice, Crawford wrote. 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. Crawford set a goal of raising $1,250,000 which has almost been reached, as of July 9. Each dollar we raise will be a validation that we also care about Stormy and are willing to continue this fight, Crawford added. Trump may have a mega fundraising operation to keep him from facing consequences, but that shouldnt mean that Stormy becomes the sacrificial lamb of a corrupt system. On July 8, Crawford relayed a message from Daniels praising the barrage of contributions. I really cant believe the outpouring of support and donations, she wrote. Daniels speaking at a 2018 ceremony in her honor in West Hollywood, California amid her court battle with Trump ( REUTERS ) The porn star was a key witness in the hush money trial. She testified the intimate details about the alleged 2006 encounter, including what Trump was wearing, how he posed, and that he had said he reminded her of his daughter: Smart, blonde and beautiful. She also told the court that Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen gave her $130,000 to keep quiet about the affair, which would have occurred when Melania Trump was pregnant with their son Barron. Trump has repeatedly denied the affair ever happened. Even before the historic verdict, which made Trump the first ever former president to become a convicted felon, the adult film star said in her documentary that she had faced threats before. After the charges against Trump were announced, Daniels said she saw direct threats, like Im going to come to your house and slit your throat. A 900-page plan drawn up by former Donald Trump aides and endorsed by a powerful right-wing think tank is giving the former president a roadmap for his second administration. Project 2025 a blueprint for Trumps presidency spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials is essentially a wishlist for his administration with plans to expand his executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, crush abortion rights and impose an anti-immigrant agenda, among other policies. At the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Democrats turned the conservative plan into a major target. Using an oversized, printed-out hardcover version of the 900-page document, Saturday Night Lives Kenan Thompson used Project 2025 for a comedy bit. "You ever seen a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time? Here it is, Thompson asked, as the crowd roared with laughter. Kenan Thompson: Did you ever see a book that could kill a small animal and end democracy at the same time? Here it is. These are the terms and conditions of a second trump presidency. If you vote for him, you vote all of this. pic.twitter.com/nuDv9lEKqP Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris, since taking over as the Democratic partys nominee on July 21, has made Project 2025 a direct focus of her campaign rhetoric. [Trump] and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. We know we got to take that seriously, Harris said. Can you believe they put that thing in writing? Read it. Its 900 pages. Meanwhile, the former president is desperately trying to distance himself from the plan, claiming that he knows nothing about it or who is behind it, despite its authors coming from Trumps White House and the GOPs close ties to the group that launched it. At a rally in Michigan just one week after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire at a Trump event in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others while only slightly injuring the candidates right ear, Trump told the crowd: Some on the right, severe right, came up with this Project 25, I dont even know, some of them I know who they are, but theyre very, very conservative. Theyre sort of the opposite of the radical left. Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9. Now, Democrats have created a task force to go against a think-tanks conservative road map if he returns to the White House. ( Getty Images ) You have the radical left and the radical right and they come up I dont know what the hell it is, its Project 25, Trump went on, bungling the initiatives name. They read some of the things and they are extreme, theyre seriously extreme. But I dont know anything about it, I dont want to know anything about it. Project 2025s core policy book Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise outlines major changes across the federal government, from the White House to lesser-known agencies, with chapters written by former Trump officials. Further, many of Project 2025s policies are virtually identical to ones proposed by Trump. As The Independent previously reported, the plan would gut checks and balances to give Trump unprecedented, concentrated executive authority over federal agencies. An incoming Trump administration would roll out a blitzkrieg of firings across federal agencies to open the door for an army of loyalists to weaponize the government against his rivals. The plan recommends abolishing the US Department of Education, slashing funds for federal law enforcement agencies, and subverting agencies that regulate the airwaves and campaign financing to choke out dissent. That consolidation of power would also insulate him against legal threats and usher in a wave of attacks against immigrants, reproductive healthcare and civil rights protections for LGBT+ people. The plan also would revoke the federal governments approval of widely used abortion drugs, expand the nations nuclear footprint and restart nuclear weapons testing, and activate active-duty military to make arrests at the US-Mexico border, among other proposals. House Democrats led by California Rep. Jared Huffman created a Stop Project 2025 Task Force to coordinate with members of Congress, pro-democracy and civil rights groups and impacted communities to coordinate on examining, highlighting, preempting, and counteracting this right-wing plot to undermine democracy. Project 2025 is more than an idea, its a dystopian plot thats already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will, Huffman said in a statement on June 11. Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts. ( AP ) This is an unprecedented embrace of extremism, fascism, and religious nationalism, orchestrated by the radical right and its dark money backers, he said. We need a coordinated strategy to save America and stop this coup before its too late. Project 2025 was drafted by dozens of former Trump administration officials and other loyalists, nearly half of which are the recipients of dark money contributions from groups tied to conservative donor Leonard Leo, who helped usher in Trumps radical restructuring of the federal judiciary. The plans overhaul of the federal government also poses threats to marriage equality and public school funding and could trample the wall of church-state separation and upend our democracy, according to Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The nearly 1,000-page plan opens with a promise to eliminate abortion access, and abortion is mentioned nearly 200 times. And their attacks dont stop with abortion, according to Karen Stone, vice president of public policy and government relations with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Theyre also planning to restrict funding for birth control and other preventive care and attacking gender-affirming care and sex education. The task force also will serve as a public messaging campaign as interest on Project 2025 surges on social media. Members will hold public forums in the months leading up to Election Day. But the task force could also function as a key bulwark in Congress against Trumps agenda, if elected. Democratic US Rep Jared Huffman is leading a task force against Project 2025s plans for Donald Trumps presidency. ( AP ) Project 2025 will not be stopped by an unserious, mistake-riddled press release or a task force of House Democrats lacking a basic understanding of federal governance, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said in a statement. The task force launched by House Democrats only underscores the Lefts fear of losing its grip on their authoritarian bureaucracy ... We will not give up and we will win. Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said last year that the any personnel lists, policy agendas, or government plans published anywhere are merely suggestions. Efforts from outside groups like the Heritage Foundation are appreciated but do not speak for the campaign, they said. In a statement denying connections to the campaign, the Heritage Foundation said the plan is merely a guideline for the next conservative president. But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement, the group said. This story was initially published in June 2024 and has been updated with developments Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Clad in a fleece sweater vest, Will Scharf, an attorney for Donald Trump who wants to be Missouris next attorney general, fires a grenade launcher at a stack of evidence boxes and indictments in his latest campaign ad. Joe Biden and his corrupt allies are wrecking our legal system, doing everything they can to stop President Trump and the MAGA agenda, he says in the ad. Its time for a Missouri attorney general who will return fire. He then cocks his firearm, and the stack of boxes explodes. Scharf, who played a key role in Trumps immunity defense from criminal prosecution and has vowed to fight his felony convictions in New York, is running in a Republican primary against the states current attorney general, Andrew Bailey, who is also competing for Trumps attention with a series of lawsuits and complaints on his behalf. The state of Missouri is not involved in litigation or criminal prosecutions involving the former president whatsoever. The primary race between both men has spiraled into a competition for the former presidents approval with attempts to out-MAGA one another by highlighting their Trump-approved bona fides. Within the last few months, Bailey has sued the state of New York over a court-imposed gag order against Trump, testified to Congress about what he called the politically motivated, legally specious, and corrupt prosecution of the former president, and demanded that the Department of Justice turn over documents about Trumps prosecutions. Both men have repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that President Joe Biden is weaponizing the federal government against his Republican rival and directing the cases against him. Last month, Scharf sparred with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos about his spurious claims, arguing that Biden and his allies are up to their necks in this prosecution. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on June 13. He faces Trump attorney Will Scharf in a Republican primary on August 6. ( AP ) This is a tragic day in the history of the American Republic, Scharf wrote after a jury in New York convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money trial. President Trumps conviction proves one thing and one thing only: that Joe Biden and his allies have weaponized our legal system to persecute their principal political opponent, he added. We will speedily appeal, and we will win on appeal because this case is meritless, baseless, and should have never seen the inside of an American courtroom. Scharfs campaign also was recently awarded $2 million by a Leonard Leo-backed organization with aims to reshape the nations judicial system in Trumps image. The states Republican primary election is August 6. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Visitors at an Australian wildlife national park were left alarmed after a crocodile attempted to scale the fence that separated the animal from its feeders. The reptile, named One Eye, managed to get the top part of its body over the fence at the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park near Broome but struggled to push itself up fully due to its short legs. A TikTok video of this incident, posted on 1 July, has been shared widely. Sophia Armstrong, a visitor who filmed the event, exclaimed Nah, nope as she watched from behind another fence separating the visitors from the crocodile. Tour guides frantically attempted to coax the giant reptile back into its enclosure. Eventually, the crocodile retreated slightly but remained on its hind legs, peering over the fence with its head and snout. Owen Douglas, whose grandfather founded the park in the early 2000s, remarked that One Eye was simply eager for a meal, and it wasnt surprising that he had figured out a faster way to get to his food. He told 9News Today: Over the years, they get fed over that feeding bay area, so they learn themselves that maybe if they just hop over the fence, they can probably get (to) the tour guide as well as their usual chicken. Theyre really smart animals, extremely smart so thats just him trying to get his food as soon as possible and you can see in the video when he gets his front legs over, hes just sort of dangling his head over and its quite incredible. The parks website says the daily feeding tour showcased some of the largest crocodiles on display in Australia. This isnt the first instance of a crocodile attempting to climb. In 2018, a 2.5m saltwater crocodile was seen unsuccessfully trying to climb a waterfall on the Roper River in Australias Northern Territory. According to a Reuters report, researchers noted that crocodiles can climb trees despite lacking typical climbing adaptations. Smaller crocodiles can climb vertically, while larger ones prefer angled trunks and branches. The crocodile population has exploded across Australias tropical north since it became a protected species under the law in the 1970s, growing from 3,000 when hunting was outlawed to 100,000 now. A Northern Territory leader recently said that crocodile numbers cannot be allowed to outstrip the human population in the region after a 12-year-old child was killed while swimming. Australian police found what appeared to be the remains of the child who went missing after the crocodile attack. The Northern Territory has just over 250,000 people. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Chinese military has begun joint drills in Belarus that are being held over the next 11 days in Brest, close to the border with Nato state Poland. The joint military exercises by two of Russias most important allies come after Belarus became the 10th member of the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during its 24th meeting of heads of council in Astana, Kazakhstan. Belaruss government said the drills will allow the laying of a foundation for further development of Belarusian-Chinese relations in the field of joint training of troops. China described it as anti-terrorist training, and said the drills were according to an annual plan and consensus. This is the first time in six years that China has sent military personnel to Belarus for such exercises, with their last bilateral joint drills taking place in China. Both countries also participated in Russias Vostok multilateral exercise in August 2022. Last August, China and Belarus agreed to conduct more joint military drills following a meeting between Chinas then defence chief Li Shangfu and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Photos released by the Belarusian defence ministry showed Chinas Peoples Liberation Army troops arriving in Belarus on a Chinese Y-20 strategic transport aircraft. Brest is located less than 5km (3.1 miles) from the border with Poland, a member state of both the EU and Nato and a significant ally of Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. Brest is also only 50km away from Ukraine itself. Martin Sebena, a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong who specialises in China-Europe relations, said the timing and location of the drills mean they are likely to be seen as further signalling of Chinese support for Russia and its allies in Europe. He told the South China Morning Post: The exercise will overlap with the Nato summit and takes place on the border where Belarus for many months has weaponised migrant flows to pressure Poland and by extension, the EU and Nato. Natos summit is scheduled to be held in Washington between 9-11 July. Mr Sebena said: It adds two extra layers to the Polish perception. First, the Poles have been reducing train transport from China via the Malaszewicze hub [near Brest] in fears of it being used for tariff circumvention, while China has worked hard to increase train-based overland trade from western China to Europe with this hub being basically the only place where those trains enter through the EU. Second, the Polish president has recently been warmly welcomed in China, and since the Poles will see this exercise as directed at them, hence questions are arising in Poland about how genuine the Chinese side was. Chinese state-run media said the countrys forces also took part in a military parade in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, last Wednesday, marking the 80th anniversary of Belarusian liberation. I believe that thanks to the efforts of both sides, China-Belarus relations will continue to demonstrate robust growth and make substantial progress, Chinese president Xi Jinping said at the SCO summit in Astana where he also met with the Belarusian president. Mr Lukashenko is one of Mr Putins most faithful allies, and the two have exchanged several visits even as many nations have shunned Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine, the most recent being a two-day trip by Mr Putin to Minsk last month. Mr Lukashenko named a new military chief during the visit, signalling continued alignment with Russia. Major General Pavel Muraveyka, who was appointed as chief of Belaruss General Staff and as first deputy defence minister, is known for publicly threatening neighbouring Nato members Poland and Lithuania. Russias deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus further solidifies their strategic partnership, with implications for regional security and Nato relations, experts say. In 2023, Russia moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Muraveykos appointment is an open challenge to the West and a desire to show Putin Minsks complete loyalty and willingness to maintain a strategic partnership with Russia, independent Belarusian analyst Valer Karbalevich told the Associated Press last month. The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus does not leave Lukashenko a strategic choice, turns him into a hostage of the Kremlin and firmly binds Minsk to Moscows policies, Mr Karbalevich said. Mr Putin travelled to China in May for his second visit in just six months, reflecting closer alignment between the two nations amid increasing Western scrutiny and sanctions. The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it, Mr Xi told Mr Putin as the leaders met in Beijing. China is willing to ... jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world. There are also increasing concerns that China may be considering providing military assistance to Russia, which US officials warn would have serious consequences. Additional reporting by agencies Close Hundreds Celebrate In Paris As Far-right Loses Sway In Election Day Exit Poll For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} French president Emmanuel Macron has refused the resignation of the countrys prime minister Gabriel Attal, asking him to stay on as the country faces weeks of political instability after a shock snap election result. A left-wing alliance called New Popular Front won the most seats, with Mr Macrons centrist grouping coming second. That pushed Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally (RN) into third, but with no party holding a majority. Le Pens party won the first round of the election late last month, but tactical voting with more than 200 candidates, mostly from the left-wing alliance and the centrists, dropping out so as not to split the anti-RN vote. Mr Attal had offered his resignation in the wake of the result, but Mr Macron has said he needs to stay on for now to ensure the stability of the country as the deal-making begins. It comes as France's economic minister, Bruno Le Maire, faced three major risks over the political deadlock. He said the immediate risk was a "financial crisis and economic decline". The other two are an "ideological fracture of the nation and a parliament full of scattered ideas from sides all with different agendas. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia launched deadly missile attacks in Ukraine that hit a children's hospital. Our relationship is one of a particularly privileged strategic partnership, Putin told Modi, who made his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces in 2022. Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Modi did not attend last weeks summit in Kazakhstan of a security organization founded by Moscow and Beijing. Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday, shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide, including some children, officials said. Modi on Tuesday alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Putin, which included over four hours of talks. Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained," the Indian prime minister said. "When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible. Modi said the two leaders shared our opinions on Ukraine with an open heart and in detail. We respectfully listened to each other. Modi added that a solution is not possible on the battlefield. Between bombs, guns and bullets, a solution and peace talks cannot be successful. And we have to adopt the path of peace only through talks. Modis trip received extensive coverage at home, including his laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin wall. But coverage of Russias deadly attack Monday in Ukraine was muted. In televised comments, Putin said all issues were discussed with Modi, who visited the Russian leader at his residence near Moscow on Monday. The two shook hands and embraced as they met. At the NATO summit in Washington, Western leaders marked the military alliances 75th anniversary and sought to reassure Ukraine of their support. While Western countries have hit Russia with sanctions, Putin pointed out that trade between Russia and India increased by 66% last year, adding that its a key focus of Modis trip. Modi said that because of Russia's support, we were able to save Indian citizens from difficulties related to requirements of petrol and diesel, adding that the nations' agreements on energy helped provide market stability to the world indirectly. Russian state media reported that they would also discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries already are collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Russia had strong ties with India during the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trading partner with Moscow has grown since the war in Ukraine. China and India are key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. They also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered the already touchy relationship between Beijing and New Delhi as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted and have seeped into how India views Russia. But Modi is expected to continue close relations with Russia, which is also a major defense supplier for India. With Moscows arms industries mostly serving the Russian military in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy. Trade development also is important, particularly intentions to develop a maritime corridor between Indias major port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russias Far East. India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Friday. Russian imports touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. Indias financial year runs from April to March. - Burrows reported from London and Pathi from New Delhi. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It boasts a replica of the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear bomb ever tested, slick presentation stands extolling the virtues of four Ukrainian regions Russia says it has annexed, and artwork lionising the Russian army in Ukraine. After organisers said over 18 million people had flocked to Moscows Russia exhibition in eight months, making it one of the top 10 visited places on the planet, President Vladimir Putin has decreed it will become a permanent landmark. Originally conceived as a temporary Kremlin-backed project designed to fuel patriotism and promote the authorities view of Russias past, present and future, Putin, on his fifth visit to the exhibition on Monday, told an audience there: We have things to show off, we have things to be proud of, but thats not all. Its also important to present it all with talent and beauty. We need to create the conditions to show what the country is doing, how it is living, and what we need to achieve. Thats why... weve agreed to set up a national centre. The move is emblematic of a drive by Putin to unite Russians behind him at a time of war when the Kremlin is promoting a single, strong patriotic narrative and punishing those who dissent from it. Critics have been branded foreign agents or extremists, and some have been handed long jail terms for discrediting the armed forces or spreading fake news about the war. Artists from the Republic of Kalmykia attend the closing concert of the "Russia" International Exhibition and Forum at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) in Moscow, Russia July 6, 2024 ( REUTERS ) The Russia exhibition opened its doors in the run-up to the election in March this year which handed Putin a fifth presidential term. It has since served as a venue for political and social events - discussions focused on the war or on the traditional family values Putin has championed - becoming a public forum where the ideology he espouses is promoted. Housed for the last eight months in a Soviet-era Moscow park built under Josef Stalin to showcase the USSRs achievements, it has been used by the Kremlin to stoke a feel-good sentiment as Russia is prosecutes what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine. I feel immense pride, a visitor called Margarita told Reuters. We (Russians) are envied for our unity, for the friendship of all our peoples, for the way we help each other. I dont have the words to express all my feelings and emotions of what I have seen and heard here. At Putins behest, the exhibition - which also appears designed to persuade Russians that their country can keep developing on the home front while being at war - will be moved across the city and become a permanent museum in a complex that was previously used to host major commercial exhibitions. The sprawling installation has a soft side too, showcasing traditional Russian folk culture and cooking along with vital economic statistics and homegrown high-tech. Yaroslav Dronov, known by his stage name Shaman, performs during the closing concert of the "Russia" International Exhibition and Forum at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) in Moscow, Russia July 6, 2024 ( REUTERS ) A popular draw for school groups and heavily promoted to families, people from across Russia have travelled to the capital to take it in at a time when the authorities have told Russians they should take inspiration from what they cast as the brightest moments in their countrys history to prevail in an existential struggle with the West. A presentation stand for Crimea, the Black Sea region which Russia seized and annexed from Ukraine in 2014, gives visitors the chance to have their photograph taken with glossy images of the peninsulas landmarks. It shows a sun-kissed map, declaring: Crimea. Here is where the motherland starts. The four Ukrainian regions the Kremlin says it annexed in 2022, what it calls Russias new regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - are all given similar treatment, despite the fact that Moscow does not control any of them fully. Kyivs political leadership says it will fight until its forces regain control of all four regions which it says were stolen from it in a brutal colonial-style war of conquest. The Moscow exhibition shows Russia is unlikely to give them back easily. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hypersonic missiles have been fired in another deadly Russian barrage across Ukraine - killing at least 41 people, injuring dozens more and destroying a childrens hospital. The Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital was reduced to rubble as part of the attack, which Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitchsko warned was one of the worst the capital had suffered since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the daylight attacks included Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic ballistic missiles, which fly at up to 8,000mph around 10 times the speed of sound making them difficult to intercept. Follow latest updates on Ukraine-Russia war as Kyiv reels from deadly strike by Putins forces Russia has used hypersonic missiles since the earliest stages of the conflict, claiming to have destroyed a fuel depot in the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv and an underground ammunition store in western Ivano-Frankivsk in the opening skirmishes. Moscow is also believed to have used its newly completed Zircon missile in February. But armed with growing numbers of Patriot air defence systems, Ukraine has had successes in shooting down Russias hypersonic missiles, significantly undermining Vladimir Putins claims of their supremacy. Hypersonic missiles, like the Kinzhal rockets deployed by the Russian Air Force, are thought to represent the next generation of arms because they can move at such exceptionally high velocities. By comparison, a subsonic cruise missile like the US Air Forces Tomahawk rocket moves at a relatively sluggish 550mph. Kinzhals are typically carried by MiG-31K fighter jets and can hit targets as far away as 1,250 miles. Their speed, mid-flight manoeuvrability and ability to fly at low altitudes makes them difficult to track using radar on the ground, and therefore near-impossible to stop. Kyiv mayor Vitalii Klitschko shows a Kh-47 Kinzhal Russian hypersonic missile warhead, shot down by a Ukrainian Air Defence unit ( Reuters ) Perhaps most alarmingly, the Kinzhal can carry a nuclear warhead as well as a conventional explosive, a strategy it has been feared Russia could resort to as its war in Ukraine becomes more desperate and drawn-out than expected due to the heroic resistance put up by the locals. Military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer, however, has argued that the weapons will make little difference on the ground and that their true value is giving a certain psychological and propaganda effect. In other words, inspiring terror. Mr Putin has boasted of Russias investment in such invincible weaponry, justifying doing so as a response to what he considers to be Nato military expansion on his countrys doorstep in Eastern Europe, the same line of thinking that has led to the present war. The US and China are said to be working on their own hypersonic rockets, as are the navies of Britain and France, which are understood to have been collaborating on one known as Perseus since 2011, although it is not expected to enter service for another eight years. Russian MiG-31K jets carry Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles ( AP Photo ) In 2022, Australia, the UK and US, together known as the Aukus nations, announced that they plan to expand their military pact to collaborate on the development of hypersonic missiles and anti-hypersonic weapons. Then-prime ministers Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson joined US president Joe Biden in issuing a joint statement saying the three partner countries would commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen co-operation on defence innovation. They added: These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities. The Aukus deal was initially signed in September 2021 to concentrate on nuclear submarine development with a wary eye on potential Chinese aggression in the Pacific, but the focus has now shifted towards the threat posed by Russia in the wake of its invasion. In light of Russias unprovoked, unjustified, and unlawful invasion of Ukraine, we reiterated our unwavering commitment to an international system that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes free from coercion, the leaders said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 43 people have been killed and around 190 injured as Russia fired more than 40 missiles across Ukraine in what is one of the deadliest attacks In the capital of Kyiv, a childrens hospital where many patients were being treated for cancer, as well as a maternity ward nearby, were both hit by missiles. It was Russia's heaviest bombardment of the city in almost four months, hitting seven of the city's 10 districts. At least 29 people were killed in the capital, including two staff members at Okhmatdyt childrens hospital. Footage showed hundreds of emergency workers gathered at the hospital as they desperately tried to recover those buried under the rubble. This is what Russian terrorism looks like, said Olena Shuliak, the head of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys political party Servant of the people. Beings without honor and conscience attacked the hospital and other civilian objects in broad daylight. We are dealing with concentrated evil that will never be forgiven. The world must unite to stop the country of killers once and for all. Further south, missiles struck Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more. The head of the military administration in the area, Yevhen Sytnychenko, said search and rescue operations in the area were being hampered by air raid alerts and reports of more missiles being fired at the city throughout the day. And 90 miles eastward, also in the Dnipropetrovsk region, another person was killed and six more injured in a second attack. Further eastward still, another three people were killed in Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, according to local governor Vadym Filashkin, while there were further attacks in the nearby cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Since early in the war that is well into its third year, Russian officials have regularly claimed that Moscow's forces never attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, despite abundant evidence to the contrary. More than 1,600 medical facilities have been damaged since the start of the war and 214 have been ruined completely, according to Ukrainian Health Ministry statistics published last month. Colonel Yurii Ignat of the Ukrainian air force said Russia has been improving the effectiveness of its airstrikes, equipping its missiles with enhancements, including so-called heat traps that evade air-defense systems. In Monday's attack, the cruise missiles flew as low as 50 meters (160 feet) off the ground, making them harder to hit, he said in comments sent to AP. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A military court in Moscow convicted a Russian playwright and a theatre director for justifying terrorism in a play about Isis brides and sentenced them to six years in prison each. Svetlana Petrichuk and Yevgenia Berkovich were sentenced for producing a play called The Brave Falcon Finist that is inspired by Russian women who went to Syria in the mid-2010s to marry fighters of the terror group. Petrichuk, 44, and Berkovich, 39, intend to appeal their conviction. Their trial, which was partially held behind closed doors, has raised concerns about artistic freedom in the country. Petrichuk and Berkovich were charged with justifying terrorism a criminal offence carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison with prosecutors arguing that their play portrayed Isis favourably. The artists have denied the allegation. Berkovich said at one hearing she staged the play to prevent terrorism, a claim echoed by Petriychuk, who said she wrote it to prevent events like those depicted in the production. I have absolutely no idea what this selection of words has to do with me, Berkovich was quoted as saying by Russian news agency RBC. I have never shared any forms of Islam, radical or otherwise. Their lawyers said the play was supported by the Russian culture ministry and even won the Golden Mask, Russias most prestigious theatre award. Ksenia Karpinskaya, one of the lawyers, called the conviction absolutely illegal and unfair and said they would appeal it, but admitted that there was little hope. People stand outside a Moscow court that sentenced Yevgenia Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk on 8 July 2024 ( AP ) The play was read to inmates of a womens prison in Siberia in 2019 and the state penitentiary service praised it on their website, according to Petriychuks lawyer. An open letter supporting the artists, started by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper after their arrest, has garnered more than 16,000 signatures so far. The play, the letter says, carries an absolutely clear anti-terrorist sentiment. Besides their imprisonment, the two women are banned from managing websites for three years after their release. They have been detained since May 2023 and will serve their sentences in a penal colony. Their supporters, including notable Russian artists, suggest the prosecution could be linked to Berkovichs anti-war poetry. Russias government has reportedly increased pressure on its artistic community since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Olena Danylova and her eight-year-old daughter watched as black smoke started to seep through the ceiling into the bomb shelter where they had just fled a Russian missile attack. Moments earlier, her young daughter, who she asked not to be named, had been preparing to have hernia surgery at the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in central Kyiv. The doctor had been preparing her for the operation on the fifth floor; the surgery was to take place on the seventh floor. She was next in line for an operation. Then they heard the first explosions, somewhere in the distance. The three of them mother, daughter, doctor stopped in their tracks. All three knew full well that the most dangerous place to be during a missile attack is high-up. Then we heard another explosion, a bigger one and we ran as fast as we could down to the bunker, she said. When they got down to the shelter dozens of children and parents in front and behind them they tried to stay calm. But the reality of what was happening was terrifying. Emergency workers at the site of Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv ( Evgeniy Maloletka ) The two bombs, believed to be Russian Kh-101 cruise missiles, had hit nearby buildings, but one of the explosions had blown out the windows of the operating floors on the sixth and seventh levels of their building, sending shards of glass hurtling towards the patients and surgeons. Olenas daughter had been just moments away from heading to surgery. The kid that was before my daughter was in the middle of the operation when the bomb hit, so they had to stop and wake him up, and then run to the shelter, she said. They told us the whole room was covered in blood. And then there was a loud bang and everything went black. A third missile had landed directly on their building. The fire alarm started screeching. The children started crying. Black smoke started to seep into the shelter. A woman carries a girl from the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital ( AFP ) The mother and daughter paced from one end of the shelter to the other, wondering whether to risk inhaling smoke or going outside and possibly being hit by a Russian double-tap, a frequently used tactic by Kremlin forces which involves firing a second, third or even fourth missile at a single site after emergency workers have already rushed to the scene. Her daughter kept asking what is happening now over and over again. With the smoke thickening, Olena decided they had to leave the shelter. I was just in the mode of a robot. I had to do what I had to do; I had to save my child; I had to make sure we were heading into safety. When we came out, there were a lot of people, kids, with all kinds of injuries. Some of them were red from the surgeries, mothers were holding them and covering them with blankets. It was very chaotic. Nobody knew what to do. Everything was covered with broken glass and fallen windows. We were trying just not to fall into panic. But we saw a lot of smoke coming from the buildings. We heard firemen approaching. Rescuers work search for victims at the Okhmatdyt complex ( Reuters ) Olena and her daughter had been caught up in one of Russias most prolific attacks since Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. At least 29 people were killed across Kyiv, with at least three hospitals damaged on both sides of the Dnipro river that divides the city. A doctor was among the two killed at Okhmatdyt, while children were among those killed elsewhere in the city. The presidents office said the rockets completely destroyed the toxicology building of the Okhmatdyt complex and damaged four more departments. An initiative to raise 100 million hryvnias (1.9m) for the hospital has already been set up. Additional attacks on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown in Kryvyi Rih about 400km (250 miles) to the south killed at least 10, while attacks in the more easterly city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region killed three. More than 190 people were injured. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian branch of the United Nations human rights commissioner, whose office is located nearby the Okhmatdyt hospital, described it as really one of the worst attacks I have experienced during my time here. Rescuers, volunteers and medical workers clean up the rubble at the Okhmatdyt hospital ( AP ) Ukrainian officials labelled the attack genocide. US president Joe Biden called it a a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. Russia, meanwhile, made false claims that the destruction wrought upon the childrens hospital was the result of a misfired Ukrainian air defence missile, an allegation that the UN has said is highly unlikely. Video has already emerged appearing to show what appears to be a Russian warhead flying towards the hospital seconds before the explosion. Ukraines key allies sat down for the first of a three-day Nato summit in the US on Tuesday evening still reeling from the violence of an attack that seems for all intents and purposes to have been aimed at civilians. Putin sends his greetings to the Nato summit by bombing a childrens hospital, wrote Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. As if any clarification was needed as to why Ukraine must have all possible support now, and real guarantees for security in the future. When Olena and her daughter finally returned home on Monday, she said they took some sedatives, collapsed onto their beds and tried to get ourselves together. The doctor called her later on. Of course you know the surgery has to be postponed indefinitely, he told her. No matter, she thought, her daughter sleeping soundly in the next door room. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Six people were injured on the first day of this years bull run in Spains Pamplona, according to officials. An American national from New York City was among those injured, the local government in Navarre said. Festival-goers from around the world take part each year in the running of the bulls, a controversial segment of the event that has drawn the wrath of animal activists. Hundreds of thousands of people run on the streets of Pamplonas main square to celebrate the famous San Fermin festival a week-long celebration held between 6 and 14 July. The format sees the first six bulls released into Pamplonas winding, ancient streets at 8am on the morning of the 7 July, with another six set free at the same time for every additional day of the fiesta. They are accompanied by an additional six steers with a further three lagging behind the herd to encourage its progress. The "Pamplonesa" municipal music band performs during the "Chupinazo" (start rocket) opening ceremony to mark the kick-off of the San Fermin bull Festival outside the Town Hall of Pamplona ( AFP via Getty Images ) Participants weave their way through the 875m route ahead of the charging bulls. The rules stipulate that participants must be over 18, run in the same direction as the bulls without goading them and not be under the influence of alcohol although the prevalence of red wine and sangria mean violations are common. Runners typically wear all-white with red neckerchiefs (panuelo) and sash belts (faja), which is a traditional local costume but also intended to ensure maximum visibility. The tradition that traces back its origin to 1592 has attracted criticism from animal rights activists in recent years as Peta claims that the bulls are killed after their run. Peta says that the frantic animals that run often fall or crash headfirst into walls, leading to injury or even death in some cases. A reveler falls down after provoking a bull during a festival in honor of the Virgin of the Candelaria, in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz State, Mexico, Thursday ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) After the running of the bulls, bullfights are held in which bullfighters have been known to drug bulls to weaken them, drop sandbags on their backs, shave their horns to throw off their balance, and rub petroleum jelly into their eyes to impair their vision. Bullfighters cheat in all kinds of ways to win fights that the bulls have no choice about being exploited in, Peta said on its website. Ahead of the festival this year, Peta and AnimaNaturalis protested against the festival in the Plaza Consistorial. They wore bull horns covered in fake blood to protest. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch as Ukrainian emergency services clear rubble after a Russian missile attack on a childrens hospital in Kyiv. Russia hit the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital with a missile in broad daylight on Monday 8 July and rained missiles down on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 41 civilians in the deadliest wave of air strikes for months. Parents holding babies walked in the street outside the hospital, dazed and sobbing after the rare daylight aerial attack. Windows had been smashed and panels ripped off, and hundreds of Kyiv residents were helping to clear debris. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who stopped in Poland before heading off to Washington for a Nato summit, put the death toll at 37, including three children. More than 170 were injured. The Russian terrorists must answer for this, he wrote on Telegram. Being concerned does not stop terror. Condolences are not a weapon. The government proclaimed a day of mourning on Tuesday for one of the worst air attacks of the war, which it said demonstrated that Ukraine urgently needed an upgrade of its air defences from its Western allies. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Gaza City residents have said they have been forced to flee fled under Israeli fire as tanks thrust deeper into the heart of the city during an offensive Hamas claims could jeopardise ceasefire talks. Israel ordered evacuations ahead of the raids and urged residents - who said nowhere felt safe - to head south of the capital while accusing Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians. Residents reported artillery and tank fire, as well as airstrikes. Gazas Health Ministry, with limited access to the north, did not immediately report casualties. Israeli tanks deepened their incursion into some Gaza City districts including Shejaia, Sabra and Tel Al-Hawa, where residents reported the previous day some of the most fierce fighting since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. Footage circulated on social media on Tuesday showed families packed onto donkey carts and in the backs of trucks piled with mattresses and other belongings racing through the city's streets to flee areas under Israeli evacuation orders. Israeli troops rolled into Gaza City in pursuit of Hamas and other militants who have regrouped in the capital ( AP ) "Gaza City is being wiped out, this is what is happening. Israel is forcing us to leave homes under fire," Um Tamer, a mother of seven, told Reuters via a chat app. Palestinian health officials said Israeli airstrikes had killed six people in a house in Gaza City, nine in two houses in Al-Nuseirat and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza and three people in Rafah on the Gaza Strip's southern edge. More than 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run strip. The war was triggered by Hamass brutal attack inside Israel on 7 October, during which around 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Hamas also took roughly 250 people hostage. About 120 are still in captivity, with about a third believed to be dead. Most of Gazas population of 2.3 million has been displaced, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into tent camps. It comes as Hamas warned the raids could lead to the collapse of long-running negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release deal. CIA Director William Burns returned to the region on Monday for talks in Cairo, according to Egypts state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the security services. Israeli soldiers move near the Israeli-Gaza border on Monday, ahead of advancing further into Gaza City ( AP ) But obstacles remain, even after Hamas agreed to relent on its key demand that Israel commit to ending the war as part of any agreement. A key part of that shift is the level of destruction caused by Israels rolling offensive, according to officials. Hamas wants mediators to guarantee that negotiations conclude with a permanent cease-fire, according to two officials with knowledge of the talks. The current draft says the mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt will do their best to ensure that negotiations lead to an agreement to wind down the war. Israel has rejected any deal that would force it to end the war with Hamas intact a condition Netanyahu reiterated Sunday. Hamas on Monday said it was offering flexibility and positivity to facilitate a deal, while accusing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting more obstacles in the way of negotiations. Reuters contributed to this report Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The European Space Agencys Ariane 6 rocket has finally, successfully taken off in a flight that could change the continents access to space. The successful launch comes after four years of delays and allows Europe to launch its own flights and satellites into space, without having to pay other companies such as SpaceX. Ariane 6 replaces Ariane 5, which took its last flight almost exactly a year ago. Since then, Europe has been without the ability to launch its own rockets. The new Ariane 6 rocket had been intended to be ready long before then, with a first launch in 2020. But a run of delays meant that the mission ran into problems and a host of criticism. The European Space Agency pronounced the inaugural launch from its spaceport in French Guiana on the evening of Tuesday, 9 July, as a success that helped prove the usefulness of the project, however. The first mission took its first set of satellites up with it, and launched them in an orbit 600km above Earth. It included a range of different hardware and experiments from space agencies, universities and others. Josef Aschbacher, the European Space Agencys director general, hailed the flight for giving Europe its access to space. He noted that the journey to launching the rocket was not always easy but said that the work to overcome the problems had paid off. A completely new rocket is not launched often, and success is far from guaranteed. I am privileged to have witnessed this historic moment when Europes new generation of the Ariane family lifted off successfully effectively reinstating European access to space, he said. An inaugural launch is a huge undertaking from thousands of people who have worked relentlessly for years. To see it perform wonderfully at the first attempt is testament to their dedication and a demonstration of European excellence in engineering and technology. Heartfelt thanks go to the teams at ESA, CNES, ArianeGroup and Arianespace for their hard work to get to this point. I also want to sincerely thank our Member States for having enabled and supported the Ariane 6 programme along the way. Not always easy, but the endurance shown has paid off handsomely today. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Greece is preparing to host a record number of visitors just as it faces a new weather-related crisis. Most of the country has seen little or no rain in months. Now, as the islands prepare to host summer tourists, the strain on water supplies has rarely been heavier, officials, farmers and scientists said. The biggest reservoir on the Greek island of Naxos has dried up, useful only to the turtles that cruise its muddy shallows. Downstream, sea water has seeped into empty irrigation wells, harming the islands prized potato crop. Further south, on Karpathos island, authorities have imposed restrictions on topping up swimming pools, while in the northern island of Thasos, officials are seeking a desalination unit to make sea water drinkable. There has been an intense shortage of rainfall across the Mediterranean and, on Naxos particularly, our surface reservoirs are empty, said the islands mayor, Dimitris Lianos. Millions of tourists visit Greece each year to enjoy its ancient sites, pristine beaches and turquoise waters. But climate change impacts, including higher temperatures, erratic rainfall and wildfires threaten the future of the countrys biggest economic driver. open image in gallery A tourist uses a hand fan to cool down another one sitting on a bench in front of the Parthenon at the ancient Acropolis, in Athens, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 ( AP ) This year feels especially fraught. After its warmest winter on record, wildfires began unusually early, some in areas where there would normally be snow. At least six tourists, including well-known British television presenter Michael Mosley, died last month as heatwaves swept the country. Climate experts fear the worst is yet to come. Andrea Toreti, the coordinator of the European and global drought observatory of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, said once the effects of drought become visible, it is too late to take action. We need to avoid thinking in an emergency mode, (instead) looking at prevention and preparedness, Toreti said. The water shortage is stark in Naxos, a mountainous island of 20,000 people in one of the most popular - and dry - parts of the Aegean Sea. Tens of thousands of tourists flock to its shores each day during summer. The islands two reservoirs hold 220,000 cubic metres (7.7 million cubic feet) of useable water, a third of last years level and the equivalent of just a few dozen Olympic swimming pools. Authorities have secured three portable desalination units that will treat sea water to make it safe to drink, and which mayor Lianos said should cover the shortfall for houses, hotels and pools. But farmers will not receive any of the treated water and have to rely on wells that have been contaminated by sea water aquifers. Farmers said that this contamination occurs when the wells are empty enough for the salty water to creep in. Stelios Vathrakokoilis grows Naxos famous potatoes, which are loved in Greece for their buttery taste and are protected from imitation under EU rules. His yields will be more than halved this year because of the salty irrigation water, he said. Its a big disappointment because we humans didnt succeed in anticipating that climate change would knock on our doors too, he said as a handful of workers harvested potatoes nearby. open image in gallery People gather on a beach in front of burnt forest near Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece, on Thursday, July 27, 2023 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Countries across the Mediterranean, including Spain and Italy, are looking for ways to back up their water supplies by using desalination, but suppliers said units were in short supply this summer due to soaring demand. Even in Thasos, which is much greener than rocky Naxos, officials said they wanted to buy a unit for future use. Greece-based manufacturer Sychem could not fully meet customer demand this summer because of a shortage of key components and longer building times, Chief Executive Alexandros Yfantis said. New units should be available after September. Since the problem is all around, any temporary equipment has been already leased, Yfantis said. Two brothers who went missing on a remote Bali volcano have revealed how Bear Grylls saved their lives. GB News presenter Katherine Forsters sons Matthew, 22, and Andrew, 18, had been hiking up the remote volcano when they suddenly lost contact with those they were traveling with. After 40 hours, they were eventually located and rescued by rescue teams. Appearing on This Morning on Tuesday (9 July), the brothers opened up about their horrific ordeal and revealed how watching Bear Grylls videos saved their lives. In a video message, the British former SAS trooper praised Matthew and Andrew for their quick-thinking. During the daily press briefing on 8 July, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shut down questions about whether or not President Joe Biden is being treated for, or has been diagnosed with, Parkinsons disease. The questions were in response to reports that a Parkinsons specialist has visited the White House multiple times. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No, the press secretary said. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. Matthew Miller was accused of "smirking" while discussing the number of civilian deaths recorded in Gaza since Israel's latest conflict with Hamas began. During a state department briefing (9 July), Mr Miller was asked if the true death figures could be larger than that recorded by Gaza's health ministry. A voice, understood to be journalist Sam Husseini, accused Mr Miller of sporting an inappropriate facial expression during his answer. When accused, Mr Miller gestured for the next question, before stating that he wouldn't "entertain" the accusation. NASA has discovered surprise X and C shapes in the Earths atmosphere - and scientists are struggling to explain them. While these alphabetical shapes have been observed before, Nasas Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk mission sees them more clearly than other instruments have and is now finding them where and when scientists didnt expect. These unexpected appearances tell scientists that something else must be involved in forming these X shapes. Computer models suggest that the X could develop when changes in the lower atmosphere pull plasma downward. The X is odd because it implies that there are far more localized driving factors, said Jeffrey Klenzing, a scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who studies the ionosphere. A Ukrainian doctor has spoken of the devastation caused by a Russian missile strike on a childrens hospital. Pediatric Anesthesiologist Anna Trots described how Russia tried to kill not only doctors and civilians, but also children following the targeted attack on Monday (8 July). Speaking to LBC today (9 July), Ms Trots said: "I cant even understand how it can be possible to transform a national children's hospital in Kyiv into a military target. "They tried to kill not only doctors and civilians but child patients of our hospital." Ukraine is observing a day of mourning after dozens of missiles fired by Russia struck a number of cities across the country, killing at least 41 people and wounding more than 150. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Putin Bombs Cancer Kids. The headline in the Daily Mirror is as powerful as it is succinct, and shows how, even in a vicious conflict such as Ukraine, where the rules of war are routinely ignored, some actions can still cut through. Usually, Putins crimes against humanity, at least after the initial shock of the invasion, became mere background noise to those in the West. The targeting of the largest paediatric unit in the country was indeed a heinous act, and a cynical one that was ordered by Vladimir Putin, the latest in his pitiless war of aggression in Ukraine. Sometimes you wonder whether the Kremlin is playing some dark satirical game when it tries to pass off a childrens hospital in Kyiv as a Ukrainian air base. Altogether 41 people died in the series of bombings across the country, including one doctor in the hospital where some of the terrified, traumatised children were injured. It was an act of audacious cruelty that has brought the war in Ukraine back to the attention of the world. It is knowingly, obviously, sadistically, aimed at the most defenceless people of all. This was, in a sense, Putins aim. He wanted to demoralise the Ukrainian people, but he also wanted to show the Western leaders making their way to the Nato summit in Washington just how determined and ruthless he still is. He always seems particularly incensed when Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukraine president, turns up at these gatherings. The Russian president wants to show his displeasure and, being a bully, he picks on the most vulnerable. He conflates and confuses power with barbarity. open image in gallery A woman carries a girl from the Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital in Kyiv ( AFP/Getty ) In terms of media coverage, something of the same may be true of specific incidents in the war in Gaza. The atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October the murder, rape and kidnapping of civilians at a music festival also grabbed the attention of the world, as well as the ire of Israel. It attracted huge public sympathy for the Israeli people in a way that a missile attack on an army base, say, would certainly not have done. As with the war in Ukraine, the Israeli invasion and its aftermath after a time stopped making the headlines every day; but some incidents did press on the worlds conscience. When seven international aid workers from the World Central Kitchen were killed when the Israeli military attacked their convoy in April, the death toll was not particularly large by comparison with what had been going on around it, actions that collectively led to accusations of genocide being levelled at the International Court of Justice. There was a global outcry and President Biden declared himself outraged and heartbroken", which he did not make public every time there was loss of life. The uncomfortable fact is that because the dead included three Britons, a Pole, an Australian and one dual US-Canadian citizen, the story suddenly seized the worlds imagination, standing out from the rubble and the starvation. The assaults by the Israeli Defence Forces on hospitals and schools in Gaza have also tended to attract more attention, but they have to be more demonstrably callous every time to make the Western public take notice. The lesson seems to be that no matter how fatigued Western governments and their respective publics grow at these intractable conflicts, there will always be some atrocity that can jolt our consciences back to life. Long conflicts always have moments when governments are forced to take action. Even in the successive destructions of Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq there would be massacres or the demolition of ancient cultural monuments that would prompt fresh questions. The same was the case in Americas decade-long conflict in Vietnam, and the 30 years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. We still recall the incidents in Vietnam, My Lai and the famous image of the napalm girl; in Ireland, Bloody Sunday and the Omagh bombing. No wars are really forgotten, and all have the potential to cause death, destruction and misery that makes people far away call on their governments to act. Every so often they pay a call on us and impinge on our consciences. In the case of the sick children in Kyiv, the bombing should make Nato leaders send the weapons and ammunition Ukraine needs to defend itself; and make European governments find the money to re-arm and to expand Nato in order to deter Russia and prevent the war in Ukraine from spreading. It is why Keir Starmer is right to want to put Ukraine on an irreversible path to Nato membership, and why Nigel Farage is wrong to say this war was provoked by the West. The plain fact is that if Ukraine had been a full member of Nato then Putin would never have invaded and those kids in Kyiv wouldnt have been bombed. Every atrocity carries a lesson. Pre-tax profits at the main Irish-based unit of Glen Dimplex, an electrical goods company owned by the Louth-based Naughton family, increased last year to 120.93m. New consolidated accounts filed by Glen Dimplex Europe Holdings Ltd show the business enjoyed the boost in profits as revenues rose by 2pc from 944.03m to 962.7m in the 12 months to the end of September last. The 182pc increase in profits coincided with Glen Dimplex gaining 185m from completing the sale of its global brand rights of Morphy Richards home appliances to a Chinese acquirer, Guangdong Xinbao Electrical Appliance Holdings (Xinbao). Morphy Richards is a British brand that was acquired by Glen Dimplex founder and industrialist Martin Naughton in the mid-1980s. The deal saw Glen Dimplex keep rights to distribute the brand for the Chinese company under licence in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand for at least 10 years. Numbers employed across Glen Dimplex Europe Holdings last year increased by 204 to 4,595 as staff costs rose from 248.4m to 253.9m. The groups R&D spend totalled 30.8m. The group recorded the sharp jump in pre-tax profits chiefly from a 170.69m gain on the sale of intangible assets. The gain was offset by restructuring costs of 12.37m, a non-cash asset impairment of 28.7m, 10.8m donated for educational purposes, 8.5m in closure costs, and other costs of 534,000 resulting in a net gain on the groups profit and loss account of 109.72m. The directors state that our strategic focus and cost discipline has enabled strong year-on-year performance, and continuing progress in delivering on our long-term ambitions. They state that the increase in turnover was driven by strong growth in a number of categories and a tapering of sales in some more traditional areas of activity. The group was busy on the acquisition trail last year and that has continued into the current year including a March 2023 44.7m spend on Norwegian firm Adax AS. In February, the group announced a 50m investment and reorganisation of its Irish operations as it positions for growth. Last year, dividends of 3.8m were paid out. Accumulated profits at the end of September last totalled 402m as cash funds amounted to 271.57m. Paul Mescal has said going from starring in a sausage advertisement to playing a lead role in the Gladiator sequel "wasn't in the bingo cards for him". The Kildare native shot to fame in 2020 for his role as Connell in the TV adaptation of Normal People alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones. However, the Oscar nominated actor first appeared on our screens in a now famous TV ad for sausages in 2018. In the ad for Denny sausages, Mescal plays a teenager who is inspired to do some globe-trotting after his father tells him over breakfast that the sons of Denny founder, Henry Denny, travelled the world to teach people how to cure bacon. However, after spinning a globe to decide where to travel to, he ends up in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo. Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II. Photo: Paramount Pictures The All of Us Strangers star added that playing GAA helped him to secure the role in the Ridley Scott long-awaited sequel. Speaking to Today FM's Dave Moore ahead of the trailer release later today, he said: "Whatever it took to get me over the line, look, I'm well used to kind of throwing myself around on the pitch and that was useful in the Colosseum in ancient Rome for sure." The second instalment of Gladiator was first announced in 2018, and the trailer drops at 2pm today. The film is set two decades after the events in the original movie and will see the Kildare native playing the lead role of Lucius. Lucius, who was seen as a young boy in the first film, is a son of Lucilla and a grandson of Rome's former emperor Marcus Aurelius. Now, he is forced to fight for survival in an increasingly corrupt Rome under the rule of tyrannical general Acacius - played by Pedro Pascal. The Normal People star said the new movie has "the same energy and spirit of the first one" as the movie "picks up the world in the first Gladiator and plants it 20 years in the future". "But the character's journey through the mad world that is ancient Rome couldn't be more different, he said. "I think it balances the kind of honouring of the first film but it's very much its own beast and very much is a beast of a film. It's very satisfying in that regard." Paul Mescal in Gladiator II. Photo: Paramount Pictures He added that the "hype" about the film is a "new territory for him" and it's "absolutely bananas". "I've seen the trailer, seen the film. I think, from my end, the hype is kind of warranted. I'm as big a fan of the first film as the next person, he said. "It's just indicative of the legacy that this film has and Ridley Scott directing a second one, it's for people who love film, I think it's a no-brainer. In relation to the rigorous training undertaken for the role, he said: I had to eat a lot. I put on about a stone, I had to lift a lot of heavy things and run around. "I had a team of people around who were telling me to eat what when, run where, run how far, lift this heavy thing for x amount of times. When youre talking about films of this scale you have a team of experts around you who support your entire process, so it was kind of a dream come true. There was no stone left unturned. The Maynooth local said he cannot wait to come to Ireland for the Irish premiere of Gladiator II. A scene from Gladiator II which is out in November. Photo: Paramount Pictures "I've said this many, many times, but I feel incredibly proud to be Irish. And going from sausage ads to this wasn't in the bingo cards for me, he said. "Me and Andrew Scott both spoke about this coming home to do the All of Us Strangers premiere last year. "I'm absolutely biased but I think we've got the most extraordinary country and people who are deeply supportive of the artists that we have. "We're, as a country, punching fire above our weight in terms of the output and long it may continue and it should be supported because we've got immense talent for such a small country. "I definitely feel an overwhelming sense of support from people back home. I can't wait to take the film there, to be honest. Gladiator II is set to premiere on November 15, 2024. Hannah Quinn-Mulligan: Frustrating battery issue takes shine off solar grant If the government really wants to help farmers and decarbonise our energy use, they need to loosen the rules around battery storage Solar panels on a farm shed Hannah Quinn-Mulligan Tue 9 Jul 2024 at 03:00 There is nothing quite like a meeting with your accountant to wake you up. I emerged from my meeting feeling like Id been dunked in an ice bath and submerged for several minutes. The application was initially turned down by Westmeath County Council for environmental reasons and because it was considered to be too big. Image: Getty An appeal against the refused planning permission for a 214ac solar farm in Westmeath has failed. Planning permission for the project, which is located on the land of prominent sheep farmer and Farming Independent columnist John Fagan and his family in Gartlandstown, Crookedwood, Westmeath, was initially refused in August 2023. An appeal was lodged by Neoen Renewables Ireland Ltd, which is behind the project, but An Bord Pleanala has refused permission generally in accordance with the inspectors recommendation. An Bord Pleanala said the information provided with the application and appeal is not sufficient to enable the board to determine that the proposed development would not have a significant negative impact on water quality in the area, which in turn may cause potential adverse impacts on biodiversity.... It also said: The board cannot be satisfied that the proposed development individually, or in combination with other plans or projects, would not be likely to have a significant effect on Lough Derravaragh... in such circumstances, the proposed development would therefore be contrary to the EU Habitats Directive, the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The proposed solar farm would comprise solar panels and a battery storage facility, which would balance the electrical network while allowing sheep grazing to co-exist. The application was initially turned down by Westmeath County Council for environmental reasons and because it was considered to be too big. The council said the proposed development would contravene its policy objectives to protect the landscapes and natural environments of the county by ensuring that any new developments do not detrimentally impact on the character, integrity, distinctiveness or scenic value of their area and protect high-amenity areas from inappropriate development and reinforce their character, distinctiveness and sense of place. The proposed development, located within a scenic and culturally sensitive undulating and rolling landscape character and which is partially located within a designated high-amenity area, is not consistent with the criteria set out and would, if permitted, give rise to a visually obtrusive form in an open, undulating and attractive rural area. It also said the development would be unduly prominent from the serving regional and local road network. In this regard, the proposed development would be seriously injurious to the visual amenities of the area, would adversely impact upon the character of the landscape, [and] would be contrary to policy objectives. It went on to say that the development could pose a risk to the conservation objectives and integrity of Lough Derravaragh, a Natura 2000 site. It also said it could have significant effects in the area, including collision risks with whooper swans and displacement effects from the large area of solar arrays and potential effects arising from glint and glare. Courts Young boxer must have forgot to pay for fuel when he drove off from Applegreen petrol station, court hears Gardai investigate if volatile and dangerous stabbing murder suspect has fled to Manchester Mark Carroll (34) was killed outside a house in Finglas last month Gardai investigate if volatile and dangerous stabbing murder suspect has fled Ken Foy Tue 9 Jul 2024 at 03:30 Gardai are investigating whether a convicted killer who is suspected of stabbing a Dublin man to death last month has fled to Manchester. Irelands bright young science minds attended a Joint Committee on AI, with concerns for mental health raised. Deputy Paul Kehoe as expressed concern for children's mental health due to online bullying and now, the rapid development of AI. Photo: Getty Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe has stated all schools should ban mobile phones to help protect childrens mental health, as online bullying and now AI, are a concern. Deputy Kehoe has expressed concerns about childrens mental health at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding and when online bullying remains a huge issue. Speaking as Chair of Education and Higher Education on the Joint Committee on Education, Further Education and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on AI, Deputy Kehoe discussed the issue with young people whod gathered research on AI, including Sean OSullivan, winner of the BT Young Scientists 2024. It amazes me all schools don't have strict policies on mobile phones, Deputy Kehoe told the committee. If I had my way, no student would have a phone in school. Every school says what great policies they have. But if they wanted to make real, meaningful changes - school principals, chairs, boards of management - should have a strict policy on the use of mobile phones. While Deputy Kehoe praised Minister for Education Norma Foley, for attempting to get the social media giants to the table to discuss online bullying, he felt a lesson had also been learned here. They don't care about bullying in schools, as long as they sell their wares. Its a huge issue. Deputy Kehoe paid tribute to the young people, who appeared before the hearing to give their perspective on AI as Second Level students on the cusp of a digital revolution. Schoolboy software expert Sean OSullivan, from Colaiste Chiarain in Croom, Co Limerick, said it was the Governments responsibility to help protect children with policymaking. Sean - who won the Young Scientist with his impressive Verify Me AI authorship program, to recognise AI work from human work said the tech is developing rapidly. From a formal policymaking standpoint you'd almost want to be in direct communication with these companies to understand what tech they are developing to help you forecast the policies to protect the mental health of young people. We must be careful not to leave these decisions to companies, he added. However, the teenager believes the tech is positive for schools, if handled correctly. AI will ultimately be for the benefit of humanity, he added. Eugenie Kelleher, a student from St Marys College, Macroom, Co Cork, who also received an award at the Young Scientist, for her research into AI, also addressed the committee. The student said she believed it was crucial AI was introduced in a gradual way. Her project on generative AI in post primary found Students do not all learn in the same way, and the tech could help learning. Her research had shown: 36.3pc of students reported using generative AI tools, for new ideas and tech skills. But 88.2pc of students featured in her project, had concerns on the potential of AI to promote dishonesty and hinder genuine creative thinking. Students felt there would be a necessity for the continuation of in person exams and for continuous assessments, due to AI. The governments Summer Economic Statement is set to be unveiled today by newly-appointed Finance Minister Jack Chambers and Minister for Public Expenditure Pascal Donohoe. The statement was discussed by coalition leaders on Monday night and will be formally presented after it is approved when cabinet meets today. The Summer Economic Statement will set out the parameters for the upcoming budget in October and outlines the health of the Irish economy. There has been much speculation that Budget 2025 will be a giveaway budget ahead of the next general election, due to take place before March 2025. The bumper exchequer returns published last week would also indicate that this could be on the way, after figures showed the tax take for the first half of the year was up 9pc on the same period last year. Much of the boost was driven by corporation tax and overall the State collected 44.7 billion in tax in the six-month period. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 9th 2024 The statement will set out the governments broad spending plan over the next year and will feed into the formulation of the budget proposals which could allow the coalition to go to the country with an early general election before Christmas. Last week, further speculation of an early election was fuelled after Finance Minister Jack Chambers announced the budget was to be brought forward by one week and would be unveiled on Tuesday, October 1. However, Minister Chambers immediately dismissed the idea that an early election was on the cards and instead said the decision to move the budget was a result of ministerial commitments in Europe the following week. Taoiseach Simon Harris also emphasised the date change did not mean an early election and maintained that the government will run its full term with an election taking place next year. Recent budgets have seen the government introduce measures to help with the cost-of-living crisis and growing inflation, which include support to households with the price of gas and electricity bills. However, Mr Chambers said previously this budget would be a tighter budget than those seen recently. I think we have to get back to a more regular budgetary environment, but through that and through sound economic management we still have the capacity to support people and improve living standards, the finance minister said last week. The flight attendant was facing charges of attempted suicide and alcohol abuse after an alleged attack in her homeMs Towey (28) was informed this morning that the travel ban had been liftedThe Taoiseach said the embassy will take Ms Towey to the airport as soon as she is ready to goLocal TD Claire Kerrane said she could be home today or tomorrow Tori Towey, the Roscommon woman detained in Dubai, is over the moon at news that she can return home. The 28-year-old was informed this morning that a travel ban preventing her from returning to Ireland had been lifted. Authorities in Dubai have this evening confirmed that charges against Ms Towey have been dropped. "Dubai Public Prosecution has closed the case involving Irish national Tori Towey after she and her husband, a South African national, were involved in a case featuring mutual charges of assault, dating back to May 2024. The couple reached a reconciliation and withdrew the complaints filed against each other. Dubai Public Prosecution has also dropped the charges of attempted suicide against her considering the circumstances of the case and to enable her to return to normal life, the Media office of the government of Dubai said in a statement. She is thrilled and relieved, said Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling, who has been assisting the air stewardess. She said she is over the moon and looking forward to getting home to Ireland and seeing the rest of her family. She is a little nervous too because there is that worry that something could happen before she gets on a plane but the overriding feeling is one of joy. Sinn Fein TD for Roscommon and Galway, Claire Kerrane, who knows Ms Toweys family, said she is now free to leave Dubai and could be home tonight or tomorrow. The flight attendant, from Boyle, was reportedly facing charges of attempted suicide and alcohol abuse after waking up in a police station in Dubai after an alleged attack in her home, the Dail heard. Dubai authorities had also banned her from leaving the state, the Dail chamber was told. Taoiseach Simon Harris interrupted questions to update the House today on her case, saying: "I've just been informed that the travel ban has been lifted, that the embassy will take Tori to the airport as soon as she is ready to go and that the embassy of course will continue to follow up on the case, which is still active as of now." He thanked the Irish embassy in the United Arab Emirates for their work on the case. "The embassy of course will continue to follow up on the case, which is still active as of now. But I just wanted to inform the House of that news, he said. Ms Towey suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment after she was allegedly attacked in her home, according to human rights group Detained in Dubai. She moved to Dubai in April 2023 for a job with Emirates and is due to appear in court next week. Mr Harris this morning described the situation facing Ms Towey in Dubai as unimaginable and said it is his priority to get her back to her home in Ireland. Speaking to media at Leinster House, Mr Harris said he spoke with Ms Towey and her mother Caroline this morning. I dont want to say too much because there is a lot of diplomatic activity going on in the background. Tori has been through in my view the most horrific situation and it is utterly, utterly unacceptable how an Irish citizen is being treated, that is my language in terms of how I feel," the Taoiseach said. Tori has been a victim of male violence and she needs to be supported. She needs to be brought back home to her home here in Ireland, Mr Harris added. The Taoiseach said earlier he had also spoken to the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin on the situation as well as the Irish Ambassador, who the Taoiseach said has been working on Ms Toweys case for a period of time. Todays News in 90 Seconds - 10th July 2024 I had a conversation with the Tanaiste who is also working on this matter as our Minister for Foreign Affairs. I have spoken to our ambassador in the region as well who have been in constant contact with her on this matter since yesterday. I want to acknowledge our ambassador and embassy team have been working on this case for a period of time and let me just say there is a lot of work going on in the background here, the Taoiseach said. Mr Harris described Ms Toweys situation as unimaginable and said he will support Ms Towey in getting home. What Tori has been through is, I think, unimaginable for so many people. A woman who has been the victim of a brutal attack, to find herself waking up not in a hospital but in a police station, the Taoiseach said. It is my absolute priority as the Taoiseach of this country to get Tori, an Irish citizen, back home to Roscommon and I will be staying in regular contact with her and her mum and supporting them, he added. Photo: Tori Towey Speaking to RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland, the aunt of Tori Towey said Tori and her mother Caroline are very nervous about the situation and the family in Roscommon are hoping they will get word they are on a plane on the way home. I dont know will this court case go ahead and if it goes, what will happen?, Toris aunt, Ann Flynn, said. You know, we're just very hopeful. And it's really terrible that this has happened to a young woman that was full of life and full of adventure. And she loved travelling. And, you know, she's a beautiful young woman. Ann said she has been in touch with the two women every day, several times a day. She added that the pair are trying to keep positive and the family are all hoping that the charges against Tori will not go to court. Tori Towey It's on your mind constantly, and I'm sure it's on their minds because all the family is getting in touch with them, you know? And, it's so far away. But hopefully with Radha Stirling, the Taoiseach and all the ministers that is helping now, hopefully, we'll hear good news. We're hoping that, just something will happen that it won't go to court. It's hard to believe that this young woman has been charged with trying to commit suicide. It is very, very hard to believe, Ann added. Radha Stirling, CEO of advocacy group Detained in Dubai, described the case and the travel ban against Ms Towey as outrageous. Toris experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive, added Stirling, who has helped in numerous domestic violence cases including that of Dubais Princess Latifa. Tori Towey CEO of advocacy group Detained in Dubai Ms Stirling confirmed this morning that Ms Towey is currently living in an Airbnb. "Right now, she's just happy to be with her mother in safety, because this is all very recent, but she is able to leave the apartment and move freely within the country, she said. She continued; "It's terrible PR for the country. You're going to have people worried to go there in the future. And of course, this is on the back of historically charging rape victims with sex outside marriage so they dont have the best reputation to start with. They've been trying to improve it. "So I think they'll be agreeable with the Irish government if there's enough diplomatic pressure put on them, letting them know that we absolutely want Tori home and there's just going to be no negotiation on that, she added. "In a best-case scenario, they will simply say: We're not going to proceed beyond this hearing- and we're going to let you go. "When it comes to a case like this, it's all about diplomacy. Without the support of the Irish government, she would be likely to face prison and charges and deportation. "With the support of the Irish Government and diplomacy and there has been a lot various members of the Irish government have contacted UAE ambassador to Ireland, and of course, Ireland's ambassador in the UAE, and they're trying to get those diplomatic talks happening. "If that happens, that is the best and fastest way to get her home, Ms Stirling added. The UAE has gone to great public relations efforts to promote alcohol as legal in the country. In reality, people are still regularly charged with alcohol consumption and possession, added Stirling. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is aware of Ms Toweys situation. "The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. "As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of individual cases." A monthly tax-free payment offered to people hosting Ukrainian refugees should be extended to non-Ukrainians seeking protection here, a new report has recommended. The Safe Homes Programme report, unveiled by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), highlights the lessons learned from private hosting experiences in Ireland and across Europe. According to the IRFC report, 18,853 Ukrainian refugees have been accommodated in pledged properties since April 2022. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 9th 2024 The IFRC report on Ireland recommends opening Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) support to beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP) given the challenges with the rental market here. It also recommends considering varying the ARP payment upwards to households who take on more than one BOTP. The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly rate of 800 per property and is tax free to landlords. The IFRC report recommends a geographically determined and adjusted ARP payment level that reflects local rental market with a minimum and maximum in place. It also recommends extending he ARP payment to households who would take in migrants and refugees outside the Ukrainian cohort. The report said the current model of the ARP raises ethical concerns and that the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive introduced a parallel system of protection alongside the International Protection Framework for international protection applicants and the programme refugee cohort. This two-tier system is further emphasised by the fact that ARP is only available to hosts accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection/displaced people from Ukraine, the report said. As a result, since the implementation of the ARP, IRC staff reported that finding housing for programme refugees has become more difficult than previously. The reports researchers found that Hosts clear preferences for Ukrainian displaced people over programme refugees since the start of the conflict in Ukraine was driven by multiple factors. These included the ARP being tied to the hosting of displaced people and indirect discrimination. Despite this finding, 70pc of hosts in focus groups indicated that they would be open to taking in other migrant cohorts in future crises. The host survey results showed that 83pc of hosts are willing to extend their pledges, and when asked for how long more, 53pc said for a year or more. In their recommendations, the reports researchers advocate for national investment in innovative housing solutions to ensure viable exit strategies from hosted arrangements. The Irish Red Cross said the research underscored the success of private hosted or pledged accommodation in Ireland. Deirdre Garvey, Irish Red Cross Secretary General said: Thinking beyond accommodation, the research shows the need for a focus on institutional preparedness for future migration trends and unexpected crises through employment, education, social inclusion, active citizenship and a welcoming society. "Researchers support the view that is it only by tying accommodation provision to a holistic approach to integration will the true potential of migrants in Ireland be fully realised. With an ageing population we will need migrants to help fuel and boost our economy in the future years. Minister of State Ossian Smyth has pulled out of the Green Party deputy leadership contest, saying he believes "it is best that the deputy leader is female" given that the leader of the party is a man. It came after Minister Roderic O'Gorman earlier today took over as leader of the Green Party. The Green Party leadership contest was triggered after Eamon Ryan announced he was standing down after 13 years at the helm, and would not be contesting the next general election. Roderic OGorman announced as new Green Party leader Mr Ryan made the announcement after the Green Party lost both its MEPs and half its council seats in the European and local elections. This was after its coalition partners, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, remained the largest parties in local government. Mr O'Gorman, the Minister for Children and Integration, and Minister of State Senator Pippa Hackett both put their names forward to succeed Mr Ryan. At a press event in Bewley's Cafe in Dublin city, it was announced that Mr O'Gorman had won 52pc of the votes of 1,896 Green Party members who cast their votes between July 4-7. He won 72 more votes than Ms Hackett. The party's membership has not yet cast their vote for the next deputy leader of the party. Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan and Senator Roisin Garvey are now seeking election to the role after Mr Smyth pulled out of the contest. The Dun Laoghaire TD said: I want to wish Roderic the very best as he starts into his new leadership of the party. Given that our new leader is male, I think that it is best that the deputy leader is female. My stepping away from the contest at this stage will ensure this. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Minister of State will continue to work across two departments with responsibility for the circular economy and the national broadband plan at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and green procurement at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The party will hold an election for deputy leader next Saturday. The party now has a job of work to do to convince the electorate they have what it takes after the party lost both its MEP seats in the European elections last month. Read more Clearer messaging on climate a priority for Roderic OGorman as new Greens leader plans to strengthen party brand New party leader Minister OGorman today thanked members for their support and for their participation in this election, he also thanked Ms Hackett for bringing key issues to the fore. I am honoured to have been elected as Leader of the Green Party. We are absolutely the stronger for having had this election. I know she [Ms Hackett] cares as deeply about the Party as I do, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her," he said. Over the last four years, the Green Party has done exactly what we said we would we have delivered. "On ambitions in climate and the environment, protecting nature, in supporting children and families, backing the arts and culture. We can be proud of our partys record for people in all parts of Ireland. We now need to demonstrate to everyone that Green Party policies are focused on the challenges of today every bit as much as those of tomorrow. Our solutions - on climate, transport, housing, support for families benefit everyone on this island. That job starts today. Taoiseach Simon Harris said: Congratulations to Roderic OGorman on his election as leader of the Green Party. Leading your party is a great honour and privilege. I look forward to working with you. There is much to do. A word of thanks too to Eamon Ryan for his leadership. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: Congratulations Roderic OGorman on being elected leader of the Green Party. Wishing you well in the new role. I look forward to working with you on the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for this government. Speaking on RTEs News at One, Minister Roderic OGorman said it will be his job to lead a process of unity after the leadership report and deliver his first priority, the remaining part of the 'Programme for Government'. We want to see things like marine protected areas legislated for, hate crimes legislation, the delivery of a Budget that places investment in key public services. Secondly, preparing our party for a general election we know is coming in the next eight months, Mr OGorman added. He stressed that the party is conscious it lost some local support in parts of the country, adding: we have a job of work to do to build back that support. Mr OGorman said that the support will be built back by the electorate seeing that we have meaningful policies that will have an impact on their lives. I know too often when I go to the doors that people see that their Green Party candidate is too focused on 2050 and long-term climate goals. We are focused on those but we also have the policy that will make a meaningful impact on peoples daily lives, he said. He added that he has delivered those policies in his own department namely cutting the cost of childcare, introducing new parental leaves and domestic violence victims paid leave. We have to make people understand that that is the goal of the Green Party when we put ourselves forward for election, he said. On how he will lead the party differently to Eamon Ryan, he said showing people what the State can help them with in terms of what they can do with their own lives. He referenced reducing carbon emission as well as outside of the environment, offering meaningful social policies that make a big difference for families. On if there will be changes in Cabinet, he said we have really important Cabinet ministers I dont see the need to change the make-up of our team. On how many of the 12 general election seats the party will hold, Mr OGorman said he expects to hold all 12 seats and grow our seats even further. Speaking on his own seat, he said: I am always active in my own constituency, I will be running on the basis of my delivery for the constituency. On if his new party leadership makes him safe, he said: We will have to see. Senator Pippa Hackett said she is humbled by the many messages of support she has received over the past few weeks from people inside and outside the Party. Well, I gave it a good shot! I want to thank sincerely every Green Party member who voted for me, as well as the amazing team of people who helped me during the leadership campaign, she said. "I want to wish Roderic and his leadership team the very best, and I look forward to working alongside him for the remainder of this term in Government and into the future, as we get on with the vital work of delivering a fairer society that places the protection of our natural world at the heart of everything we do. The result was announced by returning officer Stephen Spillane after an entirely online vote to save paper. Outgoing leader and deputy leader Mr Ryan and Ms Martin were at the leadership announcement. National coordinator Christina Kiely said everyone had an opportunity to shape the party and its leadership one member, one vote. There was applause and a standing ovation from members as thanks were expressed to outgoing leader Mr Ryan, who has been at the helm for over 12 years. Mr Ryan expressed thanks to Ms Martin for her role as deputy leader, saying he felt like the father at a wedding. He said the Greens should be so proud of its record in Government, helping to deliver Budgets that protect the most vulnerable. Minister OGorman becomes the fourth leader of the Green Party. Founded over 40 years ago, it was not until 2001 when the party chose TD for Dublin North Trevor Sargent as its first leader. In the 23 years since, the Party has seen only two other leaders - John Gormley and Mr Ryan. Residents of an upmarket south Dublin suburb are embroiled in a planning row with one of the countrys largest homebuilders over a proposed housing development designed by the firm of well-known architect Dermot Bannon. A group of locals living in Foxrock have lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against the recent decision of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to grant planning permission for the construction of an exclusive housing development at The Birches, Torquay Road, Dublin 18. The proposed housing scheme by Glenveagh Homes provides for the demolition of an existing residence, Rockall, within The Birches estate and the construction of 10 large family homes and a three-storey apartment block containing 14 units. Among a group of around 20 concerned residents who have voiced opposition to the current plans are former supermarket executive Maurice Pratt and businessman Ivano Caffola. The proposed development is also being opposed by Foxrock Golf Club, whose lands adjoin the development, over concerns that it could result in an increased risk of flooding to the golf course due to the presence of a stream on the site. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 9th 2024 Consultants acting for the group of residents claim Glenveaghs plans for a 0.7-hectare site centrally located in Foxrock shows little regard for the distinctive heritage of the nearby Foxrock Architectural Conservation Area. They claim the development is inappropriate due to its excessive size, height and density with an associated loss of privacy and overlooking of other residences. In their appeal to An Bord Pleanala, the group claims the local authority allowed numerous substandard aspects of their scheme to progress despite raising a series of issues about the proposed development in a request for further information from Glenveagh. We contend that our clients have suffered unduly because the council did not make the correct decision at the outset, they added. The group strongly disagreed with the conclusion of council planners that the development would not detract from the amenities of the area. They argue that Glenveaghs housing scheme will be visually intrusive and discordant and represent a material contravention of the zoning objective of the lands under the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan. The residents also complain that the limited number of parking spaces for visitors in the new development will create a traffic hazard as a result of an overspill of vehicles parking in The Birches. However, the group said it was seeking for planning permission to be refused to allow Glenveagh provide revised drawings for a scaled-down version of its current plans that would reduce the overbearing impact and amenity loss on other residents of The Birches. In an individual submission to the council, Mr Pratt the former marketing director of Quinnsworth and former chairperson of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation and his wife Pauline claimed Glenveaghs plans were completely out of character within a mature residential estate of two-storey houses. The Pratts claim the risk of flooding from the proposed development to the adjoining golf course and neighbouring gardens is also a very serious concern. However, they said they would be supportive of a development of more modest proportions. Glenveagh said an existing grant of planning permission to construct 28 apartments on the site was unfortunately unviable due to the presence of extensive granite bedrock, which made the construction of a basement car park unsuitable. The company claims its latest design addresses the constraints of the subject site and is respectful of the residential amenity of adjacent properties. Glenveagh said its high-quality residential development in an attractive, well-serviced and highly accessible area will also assist in alleviating the prevailing housing crisis. A statement by Dermot Bannon Architects, the company run by the well-known architect and host of RTEs Room to Improve, said the development would provide a sense of place for this courtyard community. It claimed that maintaining separation distances and avoiding overlooking were key design drivers. Under a Part V agreement, Glenveagh have committed to transfer two, three-bedroom units to the local authority for social housing at an estimated cost of just over 571,000 each. An Bord Pleanala is expected to issue its ruling on the appeal by early November. Damian McGrath is supporting the Irish Hospice Foundations campaign which encourages people to talk about dying and grieving Galway man Damian McGrath enjoys every day as a tour guide in Dublin city and is looking forward to many more but he has already planned his funeral. Mr McGrath (68), from Tuam and who has lived most of his life in the capital, is an atheist who doesnt want a religious ceremony. He would also like to be cremated. He has been to his solicitor and put it all down in writing while handing over to a female friend who has signed off on looking after his future wishes when the times comes. If I got knocked over by a bus tomorrow, nobody would have a headache about what to do, said Mr McGrath. He is supporting the campaign by the Irish Hospice Foundation, Time to Talk, Tomorrow Starts Today, which encourages people to start having conversations about dying and grieving, and not leaving relatives and friends wondering what their wishes are should they become seriously ill or die. Mr McGrath said he had never thought about making future plans until he attended Pride in Death, a so-called death cafe hosted by LGBT+ Ireland, as part of palliative care week two years ago. I followed the Irish Hospice Foundation think ahead planning pack and it sets out a pathway for organising it. You can do as much or as little as you want, said Mr McGrath. My friend has power of attorney and when it comes to the funeral I dont want to stage manage it. It is up to her. I said to her I am a sociable loner and would not want a big extravaganza. But she pointed out the funeral is not about me but those left behind. She can organise the occasion. I would like to be cremated and my ashes scattered, maybe in Dun Laoghaire. Beethoven is my favourite composer but again she can choose the music. She knows me best. I went to a solicitor and made sure everything was written down and copied. She has the solicitors name and had to agree to everything. People have asked me did I not think it was morbid. The hardest thing is to tell people you have done it. It is not morbid its just getting your affairs in order. It is a document for now and it may change depending on circumstances. Do what you are comfortable with and you can always make alterations. Paula OReilly, chief executive of the Irish Hospice Foundation, said: Despite Irish people telling us they want to be able to talk about death and dying more, many of us do not know how to start this conversation. Perhaps we are afraid we might upset a loved one or its a topic that scares us. We want to support and encourage people to start these conversations. It is often easier to do this when a person is well. Fore more information see hospicefoundation.ie The Cork City Student Enterprise Programme winners will spend a week at Colorado State University Olive Guerin, LEO Cork City and teacher Karen Callanan pictured with Ahmed Baig; Marcus Conroy; Zac Wallace; Taha Siddique; Alex Healy, Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Cork City Student Enterprise Winners Programme 2024, are jetting off to the OtterCares Global Business Academy Programme in Colorado on Saturday. Picture: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO Ahmed Baig; Marcus Conroy; Zac Wallace; Taha Siddique; Alex Healy, Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Cork City Student Enterprise Winners Programme 2024, are jetting off to the OtterCares Global Business Academy Programme in Colorado on Saturday July 13. Picture: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO Student entrepreneurs from a Cork city school are set to jet off on an all-expenses paid trip to Colorado to undertake a week-long business development course. Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh students Zac Wallace, Marcus Conroy, Alex Healy, Taha Siddique, Ahmed Baig were named the Cork City Student Enterprise Programme 2024 winners and following their success they will head to the OtterCares Global Business Academy Programme in Colorado on Saturday. The students, who will go the trip with their teacher Karen Callanan, were named winners of the Cork City Student Enterprise Programme after creating their Comhar Cards product, which is a quiz card game that provides an innovative and enjoyable way of learning about everything Irish. In the US, they will spend a week at Colorado State University further developing their business, gain a greater understanding of how to create a better business world, engage with local and global business executives, develop leadership skills and experience local life in Fort Collins. The trip is sponsored by Otter Products, which has been a partner of the Local Enterprise Cork City Student Enterprise Programme over the last number of years and helped to organise it. Olive Guerin, LEO Cork City and teacher Karen Callanan pictured with Ahmed Baig; Marcus Conroy; Zac Wallace; Taha Siddique; Alex Healy, Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Cork City Student Enterprise Winners Programme 2024, are jetting off to the OtterCares Global Business Academy Programme in Colorado on Saturday. Picture: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO The Student Enterprise Programme is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 350,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start and grow a business. Information on the Student Enterprise Programme in Cork City and how to Register can be found at www.localenterprise.ie/corkcity or www.studententerprise.ie for any queries please contact info@corkschoolsenterprise.ie. A dead rodent and large accumulations of droppings were found in the shop A Midleton food retailer was ordered to close after a HSE officer found that there was likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at the premises. Mercury Eastern European Food, a retailer based at Unit 25 in Midleton Business Enterprise Park, was ordered to close on June 13 for breaches of food safety legislation under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998. During an inspection. a HSE Environmental Health Officer found a dead rodent under pallets on the shop floor of the business where food was displayed. An Environmental Health Service report filed by the officer also noted that Large accumulations of rodent droppings were found throughout the shop on shelving and underneath pallets storing food. It was also found that food which was on sale appeared to have been interfered with due to evidence of gnawed packaging. Due to the evidence noted at above, there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health, the report said. The above conditions lead to a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state. The closure order was lifted on June 25, meaning that the business could reopen after the issues noted at the premises were addressed. Jean-Marc Olsson, President, Chartrettes Town Twinning Committee; Sean Mullarkey, Deputy Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council; First Deputy Mayor of Chartrettes, Fabrice Bargeault; Leas Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. Larry Brennan and Chairman of the Roscommon Town Twinning Committee, Noel Connolly. The enduring friendships and relationships forged between Roscommon Town and Chartrettes look set to blossom even further following the visit of over 40 visitors from the French town to Roscommon last week. The visit marked the 26th anniversary of the twinning initiative between both towns. In that time, many exchanges have taken place, fostering cultural and educational links that have taken firm root in both communities. Follow Independent Roscommon on Facebook The town of Chartrettes, about an hours drive from Paris, is located on the commuter route to the French capital. The town, with a population of 2,500 people, shares many similarities with Roscommon with a vibrant reputation for music as well as enjoying a proud heritage. The links that have endured in those 26 years look set to be strengthened even further with plans to develop closer ties between both towns by exploring tourism, energy and economic opportunities between both communities. The travelling partys first stop-off in Roscommon was to attend a welcoming reception, hosted by Roscommon County Council. The visitors from Chartrettes were hosted by local families throughout their two day visit and visited Strokestown for the Connacht Fleadh along with a number of other engagements. The touring party were led by their towns First Deputy Mayor, Fabrice Bargeault and by the President of the Chartrettes Town Twinning Committee, Jean-Marc Olsson. Also in attendance was Monsieur Philippe Guirand, Tranistion Energy Manager from Chartrettes Municipal Authority. Chairman of the Roscommon Town Twinning Committee Noel Connolly warmly welcomed the visiting party from Chartrettes by recalling one of his first memories of watching the arrival of Charles de Gaulle in Ireland in 1969. He paid tribute to Roscommon County Council for their ongoing support of the Twinning initiative, claiming, One of the foundation stones of town twinning, since after the second world war, has been the role of local authorities and local Mayors in committing themselves to build understanding and peace among countries across Europe. Going forward there is great potential in learning and building links in the area of tourism between our regions and also in the area of food and energy. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of Monsieur Philippe Guirand the Tranistion Energy Manager from Chartrettes Municipal Authority. The uniqueness of town twinning is the hosting of families. I would like to especially compliment and thank all our Roscommon host families who are welcoming French visitors into your homes this week-end, Mr Connolly remarked. Leas Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. Larry Brennan recalled how in 2019, the last occasion a delegation from Chartrettes visited Roscommon, an access route into the centre of Roscommon was officially named Alley Chartrettes. Both of your communities have been role models for other towns and villages engaged in twinning exercises. There is considerably more than unites, rather than divides us if we strive to seek common ground and work towards cementing further bonds, the Leas Cathaoirleach remarked. On behalf of Roscommon County Council, Deputy Chief Executive Sean Mullarkey welcomed the visiting Chartrettes group to Roscommon, remarking, The challenge going forward is that both communities continue to work out common objectives on promoting greater tourism links between both communities. With the support of our local authority and our municipal friends in Chartrettes, there is scope for increased cooperation and collaboration between our local and municipal authorities. Together with our fellow local authority in Chartrettes we wont be found wanting when it comes to supporting you, Mr. Mullarkey remarked. First Deputy Mayor of Chartrettes, Fabrice Bargeault and the President of the Chartrettes Town Twinning Committee, Jean-Marc Olsson also spoke at the reception. There were also performances from the Roscommon Academy of Irish Dance, the Roscommon Town branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) and a musically inspired dramatic performance by the Chartrettes visiting party. The Irish government has pledged to intervene to bring a woman who is banned from leaving Dubai home after she was allegedly attacked in her home. Tori Towey (28) from Boyle who is an Emirates Airlines cabin crew employee, banned from leaving Dubai and is facing criminal charges of attempted suicide and alcohol consumption. According to advocacy group, Detained in Dubai, Tori now faces lengthy imprisonment in jails notorious for human rights abuses and torture. Tori was told nothing could be done to lift the travel ban and that the cases against her were going to court on July 18. She suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment, according to Detained in Dubai. Tori made the move to Dubai in April 2023 when she was offered a job with Emirates Airlines. Sinn Fein Leader, Mary Lou McDonald raised the case in the Dail on Tuesday and explained that Ms Towey has had her passport destroyed and is unable to travel home. Ms McDonald said she has spoken to Tori who is under extreme stress. Her passport has been destroyed. There was a travel ban imposed on her and she had gone to the authorities seeking protection many times but to absolutely no avail, Ms McDonald said. But following one particularly severe beating in which her husband repeatedly tried to slam doors on her arms and break her limbs, she escaped upstairs and she attempted to take her own life. Unfortunately, Tori now faces charges in Dubai of attempted suicide and the abuse of alcohol, the system over there rather than protecting this woman who is an Irish citizen, chose instead to detain her to charge her. Shes now under the most incredible stress when I spoke to her this afternoon. Her mother Caroline has travelled to be with her. Tori wants to come home. Simple as that. Shes a Roscommon woman, she wants to come home. And Im asking now as a matter of absolute urgency that we have a statement from this house, that you intervene, that the ambassador is called and it made absolutely plain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way. And an Irish citizen, an Irish woman will not be treated in this way, said Ms McDonald. Taoiseach Simon Harris said he had not been aware of the case, but was happy to work with Ms McDonald on it. Thank you, Deputy McDonald, for bringing the case of Tori to my attention. Im not directly appraised of the situation, but Im very happy to be directly appraised of it now. He said that he would work with Deputy McDonald to intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen in what sounds to be - based on what you tell me - the most appalling circumstances. The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. Local Roscommon TD Claire Kerrane has called for the Government to urgently intervene on this case with direct engagement with Dubai authorities. Tori is a survivor of serious domestic abuse - she needs to be brought home. I have contacted the Minister for Foreign Affairs and will be raising this, said Deputy Kerrane. I spoke to Tori and her mother earlier today, (Tuesday) along with my party leader Mary Lou McDonald. Mary Lou raised Toris case with the Taoiseach in the Dail afterwards and I spoke to him directly with Toris details. Tori is in a living nightmare. She must be allowed to return home urgently. This young woman has been treated in the most horrific way and simply wants to go home. I am determined to work with the ambassador, Foreign Affairs Minister and anyone necessary to ensure that her release is secured without delay, said Deputy Kerrane. Detained in Dubai, has also urged the Irish government to intervene immediately to have the charges against Tori dropped and to allow her to travel home. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, has described Toris situation as outrageous and broken. Toris experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive, added Ms Stirling who has helped in numerous domestic violence cases including that of Princess Latifa. The human rights campaigners said that when replacing her passport, Ms Towey found out there was a travel ban against her but wasnt sure why. She arranged to fly home to Ireland but when she arrived at the airport, was told a case against her had been dropped but the travel ban remained. She attended the police station who assured her the travel ban would be lifted but it never happened. She was stuck. Its amazing that authorities did not intervene for Toris protection, given the state her body was in when she was hospitalised the first time. Emirates Airlines, the Irish Embassy and the UAE medical and police services could certainly have done more to help Tori. We are calling on Dubai authorities to urgently drop the charges against Tori, remove the travel ban and let her fly home to Ireland with her mother. RTE News has announced the appointment of journalist, Shane O Curraighin, as North West Correspondent. Shane will be reporting and providing analysis across RTE News platforms on social, economic, cultural and political developments on all aspects of life in the North West region including all of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. He succeeds the recently retired Eileen Magnier. Shane O Curraighin joined RTE as a multimedia journalist in 2016, reporting across television, radio and digital platforms including 7LA, Nuacht RTE, Nuacht TG4, RTE News and RTE Online. He has covered a wide range of major news stories across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Over the past three years, he has worked on 7LA, TG4s current affairs programme produced by RTE, reporting extensively and providing analysis on political, economic and social developments and public affairs. Prior to joining 7LA, Shane returned to live in the North West in 2020 reporting across counties Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo for Nuacht RTE and Nuacht TG4. He previously worked as a video journalist with Below the Radar TV in Belfast and as a lecturer with Dublin City University. Shane began his broadcasting career as an intern in Nuacht RTE/TG4 while undertaking an undergraduate degree. He holds a MSc in Business and Information Technology and a BA in Journalism and Irish from Dublin City University, a Diploma in the Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance from Dublin Business School and he was previously a Fulbright FLTA Scholar at the University of Saint Thomas, Minnesota. He was nominated three times for Gradaim Chumarsaide an Oireachtais, Journalist of the Year Award. Shane is from Teileann in the Donegal Gaeltacht. He lives in Donegal Town with his wife and baby daughter. As somebody who grew up in the region, I am delighted to be taking up the role of North West Correspondent. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to continue the great work that Eileen Magnier did over the past four decades. "Im looking forward to covering the stories that matter to the people of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. The impact of the defective blocks crisis, challenges in healthcare, housing, infrastructure, fishing and farming are just some of the important issues I look forward to covering. I also look forward to reporting on the positive stories and triumphs in the North West. Ta me ag suil go mor le scealta mhuintir an iarthuaiscirt a chur os comhair an phobail. Shane will be taking up the post in August. Brian Kennedy, from Kilcoole, with Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, at the Connecting Artists 2024 Exhibition in the Royal College of Surgeons. Photo: Marc O'Sullivan. Joe Hallam, from Enniskerry, with Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, at the Connecting Artists 2024 Exhibition in the Royal College of Surgeons. Photo: Marc O'Sullivan. Two Wicklow artists who were selected to take part in a social enterprise programme that aims to break down barriers for Irelands disability community closed out an incredible 10 weeks with an exhibition at the Royal College of Surgeons. Joe Hallam, from Enniskerry, and Brian Kennedy, from Kilcoole, were two of 10 artists selected from across Ireland to participate in a 10-week online programme, which culminated in a national exhibition hosted by the RCSI from Wednesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 7. The programme is designed to empower artists with intellectual disabilities by providing them with mentorship, professional development and increased visibility in the arts community. By showcasing the artists talents, this exhibition also aims to challenge societal misconceptions and stigma surrounding disability in the arts. Now in its third year, the Connecting Artists Programme, designed by Miriam Spollen, founder of Connections Arts Centre (CAC), has significantly advanced the careers of participating artists. Brians work is inspired by buildings, logos, flags, steam trains, and anything that takes my interest. Brian Kennedy, from Kilcoole, with Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, at the Connecting Artists 2024 Exhibition in the Royal College of Surgeons. Photo: Marc O'Sullivan. Commenting on his work, Brian said he was a little nervous ahead of the exhibition: I create my art using pencils, pastels, and markers and my style is realism. Im not sure what I am trying to say through my art, I just do it as a hobby. I dont think about what I say through it. I am surprised I got into the Connecting Artists Programme, I did not expect it. I am apprehensive and nervous about exhibiting at the Royal College of Surgeons, though I have exhibited before at at the Mermaid in Bray, with my Bray Lakers art class and was featured in the Bray People. Joe has been involved in art since he was 15 and said his natural surroundings in Enniskerry are what inspires him. One of my favourite things to do is take a sketchbook and see what different ideas I can draft on each page. I love to draw tree barks, landscapes and flowers. I prefer to use acrylics as they lift the art from the canvas and make more of an impactful, abstract style which I like, he said. I draw nearly every day as I am determined to be the best artist I can be. A dream of mine is to work for myself as an artist. I am very excited and grateful to be part of the Connecting Artists Programme so I can expand my work as an artist and exhibit for the first time, which is very exciting. It has been an amazing journey so far. Since 2022, some 30 artists have taken part in the programme. Highlights from the 2022/23 programmes include national exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA), which attracted nearly 20,000 visitors, the University of Atypical in Belfast, and Art Source in Cork City Hall. The programme has also generated financial benefits for its artists, with 58 individual art sales valued at 9,605 to date, supporting 20 artists. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Miriam Spollen said: Our plan for next year is to support up to 50 artists and have three national exhibitions. To achieve this ambitious goal, additional support, including corporate sponsorship, will be crucial. This will help us harness social inclusion in every county in Ireland and beyond. Upon completing the programme, participants have the opportunity to join the Connecting Artists Collective, a platform for ongoing support and artistic growth. The Collective facilitates artistic expression, skill-sharing, and collaboration, hosting notable exhibitions at prominent venues and paid opportunities, including facilitating talks, workshops and selling their artwork. Generations have been taught by Marie Flanagan. After 40 years in Bray, she reflects on how education has changed The Deputy Principal of St Patrick's Loreto Primary School Bray, Marie Flanagan, who is retiring after 40 years at the school. The Deputy Principal of St Patrick's Loreto Primary School Bray, Marie Flanagan, who is retiring after 40 years at the school. The Deputy Principal at one of Brays oldest and largest primary schools has said she can look back with fondness after 40 years at the chalk face. Marie Flanagan, who is originally from Tullamore but moved to Bray at the age of 10, said those 40 years have flown by, which, as we all know, is a good sign that the passage of time has been kind. Having taught for a year in Curtlestown, Enniskerry, where there were only three teachers at the time, Marie took up a post at St Patricks on October 22, 1973 and didnt leave after that. Reflecting on those early days, Marie said: Im lucky. Its such a big school. Ive had great variety. Ive taught every class, so theres no chance that youd get stuck in a rut or anything. Anyway, each year differs, because the kids are always different. While the new group of students coming through the doors each year may change, their needs remain the same. This is a constant that she has witnessed throughout her 40 years as a teacher. But she does recall a time when conditions were a little harsher. They are still children who need to be looked after, and they need to build their confidence, and they just need to know you care. So that part hasnt changed. Thats never going to change. But in terms of approaches to discipline, when I started first, corporal punishment was still allowed. Not that I ever used it, it scared the life out of me. But that didnt go until the mid-1980s. Ive only ever seen it once or twice, and it would be a slap on the hand with a ruler. But I know other schools, other people, would have had different experiences of it. But its only later you realise the impact it had on all the other kids. It wasnt just the child who was getting the wallop or whatever. It impacted everybody. There was a tension and a nervousness. If thats around, then the learning is compromised, isnt it? When Marie made the move from Tullamore, she recalls there were just five teachers starting in St Patricks and Bray was like a metropolis We had a train station in Tullamore, and it was a big country town, but it was a country town. Bray was a thriving tourist town, and it was a massive school to come into. One of the biggest changes in recent years that Marie says she has observed in education is the approach to inclusion, where schools employ innovative approaches to teaching and learning, focusing on interventions to meet students needs, with access to specialist supports, all with the aim of ensuring that all students achieve their full potential. In terms of even recognising needs in classes and that whole approach to inclusion, I think the theory sometimes is way ahead of the actual implementation and the practice from the departments end. While every child is welcomed and included, very often you end up just fighting for resources, but you really shouldnt have to. If a child is here they deserve the support. So I think, theres a more diverse school population, and thats obviously one of the biggest changes that weve seen even over the last 10 years, really. But its that constant battle for resources. I dont know when thats going to end. Another issue, that gains traction with every passing week, is the need to curb smartphone use and it is something that all schools in Bray are now paying heed to with a view to bringing in a code to help not just teachers, but parents. In fact, the beginnings of any discussion really need to start at home. Youre limited, because, as teachers, youre not the ones who have control over the phone, or the amount of time, or what theyre accessing on it. But very often you are dealing with the after effects - whether its negative interactions or bullying, Marie says. There is an expectation that that will be dealt with and solved by the school. But that can only happen when theres complete cooperation between the home and school. Then you can work together. There has to be a willingness and an openness there to tackle it together. Looking to the future, Marie says thats a place that she hasnt visited just yet. While she has done a retirement seminar, she took advice from friends who told her to plan nothing for six months. Although she has planned a few trips. For the first time ever, myself and my husband are going on holiday in September. Now Im definitely retired because I didnt go away in September. I think it will be strange. Asked what element of her long career she is going to miss, she replies the kids and the company. Im so blessed. Our staff are amazing. Ive really good friends on staff. Were a very tight group. So it is that collegiality theres always a bit of craic. She adds: When you have a group of people and they love what theyre doing, then that creates just a lovely atmosphere in the school. So I will miss that. And you cant beat the kids. Even now, when theyre not here, the place has lost a little bit of its soul, because they are what makes this place so special. Marie was made to feel special at an event in the school recently before the doors closed for the summer, when all 710 children and staff serenaded her with a song they had written and rehearsed without her knowledge. They were practicing a song and made up a song about me. Apparently they used to close all the doors and windows in case I heard them and had people on watch, she says. So that if I was coming, theyd suddenly stop. They had made a painting with all the thumbprints of every staff member and every child in the school. Ive been overwhelmed by the number of people whove contacted me. Past pupils from Australia and Dubai, and parents. Its just been very humbling, I have to say, the last couple of weeks. For a school like St Patricks in a town like Bray, what I find personally really brilliant is that you have so many past pupils who are now coming back as parents. Theyre sharing their memories and theyre looking at the school building from the outside and it hasnt changed. But when they come in then and they just see the classrooms and how their kids are settling in, theyre just so positively disposed to the school, which is great for us. Then the grandparents, you know, a lot of them I would know because they were bringing their kids to school. Generations have passed through here and I still remember them. Its been a huge privilege because I can look back on it with fondness and I know when Im here, I gave it my all and I did my best. So Ive no regrets. Kyran O'Grady and Deidre Keogh of SSE Renewables present Pete Smyth of Searcher with the IRC Class 1 trophy at the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Awards evening at Wicklow Sailing Club. Kyran O'Grady and Deidre Keogh of SSE Renewables present Ronan O Siochru and Conor Totterdell of Desert Star Irish offshore Sailing with the IRC Class 4 trophy. Kyran O'Grady and Deidre Keogh of SSE Renewables present Pete Smyth of Searcher with the IRC Class 1 trophy at the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Awards evening at Wicklow Sailing Club. Kyran O'Grady and Deidre Keogh of SSE Renewables present Ronan O Siochru and Conor Totterdell of Desert Star Irish offshore Sailing with the IRC Class 4 trophy. Kyran O'Grady and Deidre Keogh of SSE Renewables present Rob Christie and Deb Fish of Bellino with the 2nd place IRC Class 3 Award. Wicklow Sailing Club Commodore Karen Kissane has hailed her clubs members as spectacular after receiving scores of compliments from the many sailors, crews and spectators who took part in the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race. Beginning in Wicklow Harbour on June 22, the event ended on Friday, June 28 with a presentation evening at Wicklow Sailing Clubs clubhouse, as the last of the competitors in the gruelling event crossed the finish line. Several days earlier, Eric De Turckheims boat NMD 54 Teasing Machine had taken the overall Round Ireland victory, finishing the 704NM race in an elapsed time of three days, six hours, 11 minutes and 23 seconds. But for Karen, the real winners were the sailing clubs members, who she described as the best in the world. She added: Each and everyone one of you stepped up to the mark time and time again over the last week and the months running up to race day. The passion and comradery that exists in WSC is the true heart of the club. From running the race office to running the bar, from catering to berthing, from selling vouchers and merchandise to road closures, the massive collaborative effort has been a phenomenal reflection of WSC. With smiles on your faces, you welcomed every sailor in like they were your family. Ive had so many people come up to me over the week and compliment you all on your hard work, dedication and how at home you made each of them feel. As Commodore of this amazing club it makes me so proud to hear all the positive comments. You are all spectacular. Thank you to all our sponsors and all the non members who helped out too. As Mr De Turckheim picked up his prize on presentation night, so to did Britains Adam Davis, who steered Irens 63 Paradox3 home first in the multihulls category in an elapsed time of three days, two hours, 51 minutes and 59 seconds. Presentations were also made to Luke Murphy of Aurelia for third place in the IRC Class 2, to Rob Christie and Deb Fish of Bellino for their second in the IRC Class 3 and to Pete Smyth of Searcher, who was presented with the IRC Class 1 trophy as the first Irish boat to cross the finishing line. Most importantly, a presentation was also made on the night to Ronan O Siochru and Conor Totterdell of Desert Star Irish Offshore Sailing for being the first yacht with a Wicklow crew to finish. All the guests were treated to a sit-down meal at Wicklow Sailing Clubs clubhouse. Olivia Petters debut novel about a one-night stand with a popstar shines a light on consent and celebrity culture... and is inspired by real life Cocktails with Nile Rodgers. Backstage giggles with Susan Sarandon. Rails of free designer dresses. And attending London Fashion Week because an editor couldnt be seen sitting in the second row. Within a week, I knew this was no ordinary job. At 21, Id just graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in English when I landed the role of publicity assistant in the Conde Nast press office. Id done a few PR internships as a student, including one lasting two months at a boutique fashion PR company that, in hindsight, felt like exploitation. Then there were several internships at newspapers and magazines in addition to a three-week placement at British Vogue where three interns famously shared two chairs Im still very good friends with one of those interns, almost a decade later. Met Eireanns yellow rain warning remains in place for 13 counties, with torrential rain bringing the risk of localised flooding in most counties. The warning came into effect at 4am on Tuesday and will be valid until 4am on Wednesday, with rain becoming persistent and heavy at times. The warning for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Tipperary and Waterford expired at 4pm today. While Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Leitrim and Roscommon will be under the alert until 4am on Wednesday. Potential impacts include localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility, Met Eireann said. 7 Day Weather Forecast: 8th - 14th July 2024 Rain in Munster and South Leinster will spread northwards this morning and extend into Ulster. Today is forecast to be a washout for much of the country but parts of the west will avoid the worst of the deluges. The rainfall is set to continue throughout the day and might become heavy in parts of Leinster and Ulster. Temperatures are expected to range between 13 and 18C. Tonight, rain will remain over Ulster, north Connacht and the northern half of Leinster, with temperatures dropping to 8 to 11C. Meanwhile, the south of the country will enjoy drier conditions as clear spells might develop in Munster. Another very warm day on Wednesday with highest temperatures of 20C, before a clear and dry night of 13C. Keeping in line with much of the week, Wednesday will have outbreaks of rain and drizzle through much of the day. A mix of cloud, sunny spells and well scattered showers elsewhere, with the best of the sunshine to be enjoyed in Munster and Connacht. Temperatures will continue to hit 20C, dropping to between 9 to 13C during a mostly wet night. Thursday will be the outlier as we see temperatures drop below 20C for the first time but only ever so slightly to 19C. It will be mostly cloudy at first with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly over the northern half of the country. Good spells of sunshine will develop during the morning, with rain to follow, so make sure to bring an umbrella. Friday will be dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells with just a few light showers about. Its good news for the start of the weekend with temperatures to soar once again to 20C. Current indications suggest high pressure will continue to dominate into the following weekend. Mother recounts biggest mistake of my life allowing daughter (15) to go out the night her ex murdered her Rescuers carry the body of a child after a Russian blitz in Ukraine. Russia was yesterday accused of a cowardly and depraved attack after a missile strike hit a major childrens hospital in Kyiv. Barbara Woodward, the UKs permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), said the attack on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital would be discussed at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council today. Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in State Supreme court in Manhattan for a status conference on his case on Tuesday, in New York City, US, July 9, 2024. Jefferson Siegel/Pool via REUTERS Prosecutors are probing "additional violent sexual assaults" they say former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein committed and intend to seek a new indictment after his previous conviction was overturned, a prosecutor said on Tuesday. Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg said in a hearing before Judge Curtis Farber in New York state criminal court in Manhattan that the additional assaults Weinstein allegedly committed were still within the statute of limitations to be charged as crimes. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Mumbai: Paytm, which has been struggling after RBIs operational restrictions on its payments arm Paytm Payment Bank, has received approval from a government panel overseeing China-related investments to inject 500 million rupees ($6 million) into a significant subsidiary, media report. This approval, pending review by the finance ministry, will eliminate the primary obstacle preventing Paytm Payment Services from resuming regular operations, Reuters reported. Paytm Payment Services is a crucial part of the fintech company's business, contributing to a quarter of its consolidated revenue for the financial year ending March 2023. Meanwhile, another unit, Paytm Payments Bank, was shut down earlier this year by the RBI due to ongoing compliance issues, causing a sharp decline in Paytm's stock value. The government panel had previously withheld approval due to concerns over the 9.88% stake in Paytm held by China's Ant Group. India's scrutiny of Chinese businesses has increased since a 2020 border conflict between the two nations. Paytm had been awaiting this approval for about two years, without which it would have had to shut down its payment services business, which was barred from accepting new customers in March 2023. A Paytm spokesperson said the company does not comment on market speculation. "We will continue to make disclosures in compliance with our obligations under the SEBI Regulations, and will inform the exchanges when there is any new material information to share," the spokesperson said. Upon formal approval, Paytm can apply for a "payment aggregator" license from the Reserve Bank of India. The sources, including two government officials, requested anonymity as the decision has not been officially announced. Representatives from foreign, home, finance, and industries ministries, which are part of the panel, did not respond to Reuters requests for comment Photo courtesy: hpdcapl.in New Delhi: India is likely to allocate $1 billion to accelerate the construction of 12 hydropower stations in Arunachal Pradesh, a move likely to heighten tensions with China, which claims the region, Reuters reported. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recently approved up to 7.5 billion rupees ($89.85 million) in financial assistance for each hydropower project in the northeastern region, the report said. Nearly 90 billion rupees are expected to be allocated for the 12 projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Reuters reported citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter revealed. This scheme aims to support northeastern states by financing equity holdings in the hosted projects. Gaining the cooperation of state governments typically aids in expediting regulatory clearances, local rehabilitation, and negotiations on electricity sharing with the host state. The hydropower project plans are expected to be announced in the 2024/2025 federal budget, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will present on July 23. The sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information. Last August, the government awarded contracts to state-run firms NHPC, SJVNL, and NEEPCO to construct 11.5 gigawatts of hydropower capacity, involving an estimated investment of $11 billion. These companies did not respond to requests for comments. These projects were previously assigned to private sector firms but remained inactive due to various issues. Over the past 20 years, India has built less than 15 gigawatts of hydropower plants, while the installation of new coal and other renewable energy sources has been nearly ten times that of new hydropower projects. India and China share a 2,500 km (1,553 mile) largely un-demarcated border, over which they fought a war in 1962. India asserts that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country, while China claims it as part of southern Tibet and has opposed other Indian infrastructure projects there. The Indian government is advancing projects in the eastern region amid reports that Beijing could construct dams on the Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Tsangbo in China, which flows from Tibet through Arunachal Pradesh. India fears that Chinese projects in the region could trigger flash floods or cause water scarcity. Both countries have been enhancing infrastructure along their border regions following clashes in the western Himalayas in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and at least four Chinese troops. Hurricane Beryl has caused near total devastation on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.Photo Courtesy: WFP/Fedel Mansour At least four people died after Hurricane Beryl hit southeast Texas in the USA and disrupted power supply in the area. Beryl hit Texas on Monday morning as a category one hurricane, but it has since been downgraded to a tropical depression, BBC reported. Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport is leading the nation in cancelled flights, with more than 2,300 total flights cancelled into and out of the airport as of 10 p.m. Monday, NBCFW reported quoting FlightAware data. On Monday night, nearly 2.6 million customers suffered a power outage, revealed data showed by poweroutage.us. Based on current progress with its damage assessment and initial restoration, CenterPoint now expects to have 1 million impacted customers restored by the end of the day on Wednesday, July 10. While we tracked the projected path, intensity and timing for Hurricane Beryl closely for many days, this storm proved the unpredictability of hurricanes as it delivered a powerful blow across our service territory and impacted a lot of lives, said Lynnae Wilson, Senior Vice President, CenterPoint Energy. We know we have important work ahead for our customers who depend on us, especially during the hot summer months. According to reports, the storm left at least nine people dead when it swept through Caribbean and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula last week. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden called Houston Mayor John Whitmire and condoled the loss of lives due to the storm. He reassured the mayor that Texans have the resources they need to get through the storm now, and to recover going forward, according to the White House as quoted by CNN. Hurricane Beryl, which left a trail of destruction from the Caribbean to Mexico and now the United States has once again underscored the urgent need for robust early warning systems, the UN meteorological agency (WMO) said on Monday. Beryl is the strongest hurricane ever to form in the Atlantic during June and rapidly intensified from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm, briefly reaching Category 5 with winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph). It made landfall in Texas early Monday morning local time as a Category 1 hurricane, causing a dangerous storm surge and the risk of flash flooding. It is expected to weaken rapidly as it moves further inland, according to the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) specialized regional centre Miami, which is operated by the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Photo Courtesy: Narendra Modi X page Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday welcomed Indian PM Narendra Modi and toured him at his official residence in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow ahead of the beginning of the informal talks. "Once again, good afternoon. I'm very glad to see you. Our official talks will take place tomorrow, but today we can have a relaxed conversation about the same issues, but informally," Putin was quoted as saying by Sputnik news agency. Narendra Modi expressed 'gratitude' to Putin for hosting him at his residence. Modi said he is looking forward to the official talks on Tuesday. "Gratitude to President Putin for hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this evening. Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia," Modi posted on X. Gratitude to President Putin for hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this evening. Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. pic.twitter.com/eDdgDr0USZ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2024 Modi arrived in Russia on Monday. Also Read: Narendra Modi arrives in Russia, will hold summit talks with Vladimir Putin Modi was received by First Deputy PM Denis Manturov of Russia after he arrived at the airport. After visiting Russia, Modi is scheduled to visit Austria. Photo courtesy: X/@narendramodi New Delhi/Moscow/IBNS: India has made a direct appeal to Moscow to end the over two-year-long war against Ukraine during Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's informal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter's residence, media reports said. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, is believed to have told Putin as quoted by NDTV, "India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. "There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward." Gratitude to President Putin for hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this evening. Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. pic.twitter.com/eDdgDr0USZ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2024 The Prime Minister has also raised concern over Indian nationals being allegedly duped by unscrupulous travel agents and being deceived into joining the Russian forces. On the pretext of getting jobs, about two dozen Indians were allegedly duped into joining the Russian forces. In a viral video, several Indian nationals from Punjab and Haryana were seen in the Russian Army uniform. The Indian nationals alleged that they were duped by the travel agents and being forced into joining the Russian forces. They also asked for help. As per reports, Russia has said it will repatriate the Indian nationals. This was Modi's first visit to Russia since the Moscow-Kyiv war and also after becoming the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. Earlier, India refused to condemn Russia, with which New Delhi shares a warm relationship for decades, for its launching of attack on Ukraine and also abstained from United Nations' resolutions censuring the country. After concluding his Russian trip, Modi will head to Austria. Photo courtesy: X/@BJP4India Moscow/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the development his country witnessed in the last 10 years since he came to power was just a trailer, speaking at a gathering of Indian diaspora during his two-day visit to Moscow, Russia. In his address to the diaspora, Modi said, "You all must have seen what was happening in the country during the elections. During the elections, I stated that the development India had achieved in the last 10 years was just a trailer." "The coming 10 years are going to be of even faster growth! From semiconductors to electronic manufacturing, from green hydrogen to electrical vehicles, India's new momentum will write a new chapter in the history of development of the world." Taking a dig at the past UPA regime, Modi implied "despair" prevailed in the country when Congress-led alliances ruled the country. The Prime Minister said, "The first step towards achieving success is self-belief and self-confidence. Before 2014, we were in the depths of despair. But today, the country is full of confidence. And this is the biggest asset of Hindustan!" This is Modi's first visit to Russia since becoming the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. End Ukraine war: India's appeal to Russia India has made a direct appeal to Moscow to end the over two-year-long war against Ukraine during Modi's informal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter's residence, media reports said. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, is believed to have told Putin as quoted by NDTV, "India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. "There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward." Gratitude to President Putin for hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this evening. Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. pic.twitter.com/eDdgDr0USZ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2024 Earlier, India refused to condemn Russia, with which New Delhi shares a warm relationship for decades, for its launching of attack on Ukraine and also abstained from United Nations' resolutions censuring the country. After concluding his Russian trip, Modi will head to Austria. Photo courtesy: UNI New Delhi/IBNS: The terror attack that killed five Army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua "won't go unavenged", said India in a strong response to the ambush attack by terrorists on Monday. Defence Ministry spokesperson A. Bharat Bhushan Babu posted on X, "I express profound grief on the loss of five Bravehearts in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua, and extend deepest condolences to the bereaved families." "Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered & their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack." "Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered & their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack". -Defence Secretary Shri @giridhararamane (2/2)@HQ_IDS_India @adgpi @PIB_India @GallantryAward @salute2soldier A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) July 9, 2024 Five Army personnel were killed and as many injured after terrorists attacked a military convoy in the remote Machedi area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Monday afternoon. The Army vehicles were on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road when the terrorists opened fire on them about 150 km from Kathua. After the initial attack, terrorists threw a grenade and then opened fire. The security forces retaliated but the terrorists fled into the nearby forest, media reports said. Reinforcements were then rushed to the spot and a search operation was launched to nab the terrorists. Photo Courtesy: PIB Indian PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. He also laid a wreath at the Tomb. What is 'Tomb of Unknown Soldier'? The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located at the Kremlin wall, Moscow. It is dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. India has made a direct appeal to Moscow to end the over two-year-long war against Ukraine during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter's residence, media reports said. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, is believed to have told Putin as quoted by NDTV, "India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. "There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward." The Prime Minister has also raised concern over Indian nationals being allegedly duped by unscrupulous travel agents and being deceived into joining the Russian forces. On the pretext of getting jobs, about two dozen Indians were allegedly duped into joining the Russian forces. In a viral video, several Indian nationals from Punjab and Haryana were seen in the Russian Army uniform. The Indian nationals alleged that they were duped by the travel agents and being forced into joining the Russian forces. They also asked for help. As per reports, Russia has said it will repatriate the Indian nationals. This was Modi's first visit to Russia since the Moscow-Kyiv war and also after becoming the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. Earlier, India refused to condemn Russia, with which New Delhi shares a warm relationship for decades, for its launching of attack on Ukraine and also abstained from United Nations' resolutions censuring the country. After concluding his Russian trip, Modi will head to Austria. Photo courtesy: Videograb from X Mihir Shah, the main accused in the Mumbai BMW hit-and-run case, has been arrested, media reports said on Tuesday. He is the son of Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah. Also Read: Sena leader, father of accused in Mumbai's BMW hit-and-run case, granted bail Rajesh Shah, who was arrested in connection with the same case on Sunday, was released from bail earlier in the day. He was granted bail after paying Rs. 15,000. According to reports, the cops believe Rajesh Shah and their driver helped Mihir escape. The deceased woman, who was identified as Kaveri. Kaveri and her husband went to make a trip to Sassoon Dock to fetch fish. As they were returning home with their catch, their two-wheeler was hit from behind by a speeding BMW. The impact caused their bike to overturn, throwing both the husband and wife onto the bonnet of the car. In a desperate attempt to save himself, the husband managed to jump off the bonnet. However, his wife was not as fortunate. The accident led to chaos which enabled the driver of the four-wheeler to flee the scene, leaving the injured woman behind. The injured woman was quickly rushed to a hospital where she was declared dead. Photo Courtesy: Youtube video grab The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday extended its ban imposed on pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) by another five years. The outfit was banned for the first time in 2019. In a notification, the home ministry said as quoted by Hindustan Times that SFJ has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the internal security of India and public order. The ministry added that SFJ's activities have the potential of disrupting peace, unity and integrity of the country. India designated Pannun as a terrorist in 2020. He is one of the founders of SHF. Photo Courtesy: ABDT #StopCreuers #SETnet #DecreixementTuristic X page Tourists in Barcelona were left surprised recently when a section of people holding demonstrations against mass tourism targeted them with water pistols. Demonstrators marching through areas popular with tourists on Saturday chanted tourists go home and squirted them with water pistols, while others carried signs with slogans including Barcelona is not for sale", reported CNN. Thousands of protesters joined the demonstration against mass tourism in Barcelona recently. Similar protests were also seen in Canary Islands and Mallorca. According to reports, the demonstration was organised by a group of more than 100 local organizations led by the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turistic. The Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turistic claims that the visits of many tourists in Barcelona are increasing prices and even putting pressure on public services. It has published 13 proposals to reduce the number of visitors and transition the city to a new model of tourism, including the closure of cruise ship terminals, more regulation of tourist accommodation and an end to public spending on tourism promotion, reported CNN. Amid protests, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni recently announced several measures to reduce the impact of mass tourism in the city. "Our desire and commitment to limit tourist massification and its consequences in the city is firm. This is demonstrated by the measures we have taken and will continue to implement," he said. "As part of the Housing Plan, we will remove more than 10,000 tourist flats so that they can be returned to residential use," the Mayor posted on X. "We will increase the tourist tax surcharge to 4 ($4.30) per night, thereby strengthening resources to manage the impact of tourism. We will also limit the number of cruise passengers who do not spend the night in the city," he said. He said his government has launched a pioneering management plan for 16 High-Affluence Areas. The Mayor said: "We recognize the complexity of this issue and reject simplistic solutions." The natural scenery around Katoomba resembles Lonavala and Khandala back home," said Manish and Suniti, a couple from Pune, India. I met them at Echo Point, a paved lookout that offers a spectacular view of three soaring sandstone turrets, widely known as Three Sisters. For time unknown, they are guarding below the vast Jamison Valley, canopied by thick rainforests. Located around 70 km west of Sydney, the capital city of the east-coast state of New South Wales, Katoomba is the hub of the Blue Mountains region, which to any Indian bestows the flavours of a colonial hill station in India like Dalhousie or Mussoorie. Manish and Suniti regularly visit Sydney to spend time with their son, who, with his wife and two kids, has been living in Australia for the last two decades. Both of them love nature, particularly hilly enclaves like Lonavala and Khandala. So Katoomba is of great appeal to them. Whenever we are in Sydney, we make it a point to visit the Blue Mountains. Its so close to Sydney and so different. Earlier we made day trips, but the last few times we come and stay here a couple of nights to relax in nature," Manish mentioned. Its just not for Manish and Suniti; Blue Mountain is a great escape destination for Sydneysiders and a 'must-visit one for anyone visiting the city for a vacation. In recent times, regular visits from the large Indian diaspora in Sydney have sensationally increased. Sometimes they are accompanied by their visiting relatives and friends from India who have also now started making trips on their own, as Blue Mountains is well connected by public transport from Sydney. The Blue Mountains, with their ensemble of spectacular gorges, streaming waterfalls, enchanting mountain caves, lush rainforests, and rolling valleys, are a great outdoor place any time of the year. It glows in autumn, chills in winter, bursts with colour in spring, and provides a cooler escape in summer. The domain is densely populated by oil-bearing Eucalyptus trees releasing finely dispersed droplets of oil that combine with dust, vapour, and sunlight to give the atmosphere a bluish haze, thus the name. An area said to be ten times older than the Grand Canyon, the Blue Mountains region was World Heritage listed in 2000 in recognition of its geographic and cultural importance. Nestled within the wilderness of charming mountains lie several towns and villages. Katoomba, the region's nerve centre, is tucked at over 1000 m. Other notable settlements are Springwood in the lower part, Wentworth Falls and Leura around Katoomba, Medlow Bath, and Blackheath towards the top. The Three Sisters are landmarks in the Blue Mountains. If anyone has ever heard of the Blue Mountains before, this is what they will have in mind. The three unique rock formations stand at 922, 918, and 906 metres tall, respectively. According to indigenous legend, they represent three tribal sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah', and Gunnedoo', who fell in love with three brothers from another tribe. The native law was then forbidding inter-tribal marriages. Obviously, the brothers were not happy, so they used force to capture the sisters, causing a major tribal battle. As the lives of the three sisters were in danger, a witchdoctor turned the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm, her intention being to reverse the spell after the battle. Unfortunately, the witch doctor himself got killed during the combat. Being the only ones who could return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters unfortunately had to remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come. Its said that after Sydneys Opera House precinct, Echo Point is the states next most visited spot, drawing nearly five million visitors annually to see the Three Sisters. So the quarter during the day is overcrowded with busloads of day trippers. However, to cherish its beauty and the surrounding nature in peace, many have started spending a few nights in the region. I stayed for a couple of nights at the Lilianfels Resort, the region's only 5-star outlet, which is located almost at the doorstep of Echo Point. So I was able to be at the location at dawn and dusk when the golden rays of the rising and falling sun made the turrets look spectacular. The Three Sisters are illuminated at night, and I could also enjoy that view as well. Echo Point is also the gateway to many walks and hikes that take the physically fit to various other lookouts that offer splendid views of the surrounding environment. There is no need to be disappointed if walking up and down the mountainous path is not your preference. Like I did, jump on a former army vehicle for a guided journey offered by Beyond the Blacktop Adventure Tours, which takes guests along lesser-driven paths to many nooks that showcase the splendid scenery of the plunging valleys and towering escarpments. Or get on to the century-old Zig Zag Railway to capture scenery from the window of a running train hauled by steam engines. However, Scenic World offers the most popular way to immerse yourself in nature. This privately owned facility operates a variety of adventure-driven journeys that include discovering the thrill of a 52-degree incline in open terrain, riding the steepest passenger railway in the world, and gliding on a cable car for the best views of the surrounding cliffs and the valley in between. However, the most thrilling experience on their menu is soaking up an uninterrupted 360-degree view from the roof of the cable car while sipping champagne at a height of 270 metres above sea level. Its the world's first rooftop cable car experience, hyped like nothing else on earth. Beyond nature, a major attraction of the Blue Mountains is the culinary indulgences offered by a myriad of cafes and restaurants. While many of them are budget-friendly, some are fine dining venues and Hatted meaning equivalent to Michelin star ratings. Popular are Arrana at Springwood, Darleys , The Lookout, and the Grand Dining Room at the century-old Carrington Hotel all dotted in Katoomba, and the Blaq in Blackheath. All of them serve artistically modern Australian cuisine with vegetarian options, all prepared with local fresh produces Not to be missed is the traditional high tea at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, often referred to as the Palace in the Wilderness. artistically Blue Mountains is widespread among visitors to Sydney, particularly from India, because of its efficient rail connection from Sydneys Central Station to all the locations in the hilly region, from Springwood in the lower part and Katoomba in the middle to Blackheath in the top. For more information visit www.visitbluemountains.com.au The strings of 0s and 1s hanging like curtains in bright red creates a psychedelic artspace. Photo: Sujoy Dhar If your colourful, sometimes wacky, sometimes artsy Instagram posts are modern-day trophies, then this museum in Chicago's West Loop is for you. Billed as a venue for the curious in you, WNDR is Chicagos original immersive art experience where nonplus, stimulation and surprises await you at every step. Blending art and science with playfulness, WNDR is an invitation to a walk-through in a permanent pop-up museum. WNDR is located in the West Loop of Chicago. Photo courtesy: WNDR FB "The more curious you feel, the more fun youll have," says the WNDR promoting itself. Well, you actually might feel it is true as you take a fun tour of WNDR's interactive experience combining a multi-sensory showcase of art and technology. The WNDR message is simple: "We are all artists. And as artists, our visitors are more than passive onlookers. Whatever they do in our museum, is art." WNDR is instagrammable and artsy. Photo: Sujoy Dhar So at WNDR you can actually destroy an idol without actually vandalising it in a Paris museum like some anti-oil activists. Just run your hand and you can be an iconoclast erasing digital images of Monalisa and more such timeless superstars. At WNDR you can actually destroy the timeless superstars of history by waving your hands. Photo: Sujoy Dhar WNDR Museum actually disrupts and redefines the traditional museum experience by inviting guests to fully engage with artworks and multi-sensory installations created by cutting edge artists, collectives, technologists, designers and makers. As guests travel through WNDR Museum, they experience a multi-dimensional journey. A visitor becomes an extension of each creator by interacting with various installations and digital exhibits. I had the biggest fun at the hi-tech WNDR light floor, which is made of hundreds of motion sensored LED panels. Enjoy the hi-tech WNDR light floor made of hundreds of motion sensored LED panels. Photo: Sujoy Dhar Enjoy the hi-tech WNDR light floor made of hundreds of motion sensored LED panels. Photo: Sujoy Dhar The panels are divided into a quadrant, and allow the animations to move in different directions depending on what quadrant is activated. The graphics are set to be dormant when no motion is detected, but as soon as movement is detected that activation site becomes magnetized for the graphics. This is why a visitor sees the rushing effect of the animations. Leave a note of your thoughts at WNDR. Photo: Sujoy Dhar The tailored active floor content is brought to the museum by BrightLogic Inc., the industrys leading LED floor experts known for its signature interactive service and product, the ActiveFloor System. The Light Floor is the biggest showstopper of WNDR. Most people think that it works using motion sensors, but the floor is made up of thousands of optical sensors, according to the museum website. What awed me after setting foot into this challenging museum are the strings of 0s and 1s hanging like curtains in bright red surrounded by psychedelic lighting. The rise of computers and advancements in technologies have created a digital society operating from a combination of two binary numbers: 0s and 1s. This artspace of the museum celebrates it. The strings of 0s and 1s hanging like curtains in bright red creates a psychedelic artspace. Photo: Sujoy Dhar According to the museum, the 1s and 0s represent the intersection of digital and analogue, where art and technology come together. The 1s and 0s represent binary code which, of course, makes up all things digital. The classic Ames room optical illusion at WNDR highlights how even slightly distorting your point of view can completely throw your perspective for a loop, making you question the reality of what youre seeing. The Ames room is one of the few exhibits at WNDR Museum that does not require any tech. The optical illusion of the classic Ames room at WNDR. Photo: Sujoy Dhar Colorwave at WNDR is another interactive artwork that responds to text messages. Glowing slices of color, derived from the texts, coalesce into a double edged wave. 10 prism-shaped LED digital displays on the wall of a gallery are awash with colorful animations. At any one time, wave-like shapes are moving across all of the displays. Instructional signage will explain the installation and display a phone number, instructing visitors to text a phrase or photo to the artwork. FLUX ROOM at WNDR is a multi-sensory immersive experience set in an infinitely shifting futurescape. Through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, artist Santiago X has generated an experiential work that stimulates our perpetual concepts of memory and futurity. WNDR's puzzling digital installations challenge your mind. Photo: Sujoy Dhar Everything in the room is 100% AI the visuals, the audio, the wind machines offering a meditative experience. WNDR offers an immersive experience. Photo: Sujoy Dhar During my visit to WNDR I was lucky to experience the polka dots world of Yayoi Kusama, the celebrated 94-year-old Japanese artist whose work is on display now. Often known as the princess of polka dots, at WNDR you have the chance to experience the yellow universe of infinite black spots created by her. Venture into the yellow universe of nonagenarian Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known as the princess of polka dots, at WNDR. Photo: Sujoy Dhar Venture into the yellow universe of nonagenarian Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known as the princess of polka dots, at WNDR. Photo: Sujoy Dhar Yayoi Kusama is a nonagenarian Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation, and is also active in painting, performance, video art, fashion, poetry, fiction, and other arts. One of the most important living artists to come out of Japan, her show at WNDR takes you to the vibrant and hypnotizing installations world as you wade into the mesmerizing infinity rooms of playful polka dot pumpkins. Her art is an invitation to escape into a world of fantasy, color, and infinite possibility. So step into Kusamas dazzling universe and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of her art firsthand. All visitors who wander are lost in a parallel immersive futuristic world at WNDR. Do not miss it, just wander and wonder. Photo Courtesy: Volodymyr Zelenskyy X page At least 37 people, including three children, died and 170 others were hurt after Russian missiles struck Kyiv and other cities on Monday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The missile strike partially destroyed a childrens hospital in the Ukrainian city. In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russias brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were pic.twitter.com/V1k7PEz2rJ Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024 "In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russias brutal missile strike," Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X. "A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble," he said. 'Slamming Russia over the missile strike, the Ukrainian leader said: "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day." On Tuesday, Ukraine is following a day of mourning to mark the loss of lives in the Russian missile strike. Russia, however, denied striking Kyiv hospital. US President Joe Biden reacted to the strike and said in a statement: "Russias missile strikes that today killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians and caused damage and casualties at Kyivs largest childrens hospital are a horrific reminder of Russias brutality. It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression." "Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraines air defences to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine," he said. Condemning the daytime attacks, the UNs top aid coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, said that several cities were targeted, including the capital, Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih and Pokrovsk. The attacks happened just as people were starting their day. Dozens of people have been killed and injured, said Brown, who reported heavy damage to the childrens hospital in the centre of Kyiv. Ukrainian cities faced another barrage of missiles fired by Russian forces on Monday with dozens killed and a childrens hospital among the locations hit, UN humanitarians have said Read more https://t.co/qM9YvwznfX pic.twitter.com/6s7aWTLW8U UN News (@UN_News_Centre) July 8, 2024 In a post on X, UN chief Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the missile attacks while High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk deplored the assault on what are densely populated areas. Any strike on a childrens hospital is an abominable act, the rights chief said, adding that 'those with influence must do everything to ensure these attacks stop immediately'. It is unconscionable that children are killed and injured in this war. Under international humanitarian law, hospitals have special protection. Civilians must be protected, Ms. Brown insisted. The latest bloody development follows an alert from UN human rights office monitors that May saw the highest number of civilian casualties caused by Russian attacks in nearly a year. According to the report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), between 1 March and 31 May, at least 436 civilians were killed and a further 1,760 injured. Casualties included six media workers, 26 healthcare employees, five aid workers and 28 emergency services workers. The UN report added that the majority (91 per cent) of the casualties were in territory controlled by Ukraine and nine per cent in Russian-occupied territory. In the same reporting period, the Russian authorities reported that 91 civilians were killed and 455 injured in Russia from attacks launched by Ukrainian armed forces, primarily in Belgorod, Briansk and Kursk regions. Photo Courtesy: UNRWA/Mohammed Hinnawi The war in Gaza passed the nine-month mark on Sunday with humanitarians left assessing the damage of a fresh Israeli airstrike on a UN school. Another day. Another month. Another school hit, said Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the largest aid agency in Gaza, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, after a school in Nuseirat, central Gaza, was hit by the Israeli Forces on Saturday. It was home to nearly 2,000 people forcibly displaced by the hostilities, the UNRWA Commissioner-General said, adding that dozens of casualties had been reported. The development comes as ceasefire and hostage-release talks were reportedly due to resume in coming days. Repeated previous efforts to make headway have foundered, despite sustained international pressure from Member States with influence on both sides. Tweet URL Success in negotiations this week will depend on satisfying Hamass call for a permanent end to the fighting and intense Israeli airstrikes which have flattened vast areas of the enclave, and the Israeli Governments stated war aim of destroying Hamass military capability after the group attacked multiple targets in southern Israel on 7 October, killing around 1,250 people and capturing more than 250 hostages. All eyes on Lebanon-Israel border To date, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gazan health authorities and latest data from UNRWA indicates that at least 520 people sheltering in the UN agency's shelters have been killed and at least 1,602 injured since the start of the war. In a regular situation update, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that up to 1.9 million people in Gaza have been uprooted by the war, including some displaced "nine or 10 times". Previous estimates were 1.7 million but this was before the Israeli operation in Rafah in early May, which led to additional displacements from Rafah and other parts across the Gaza Strip. The renewed push for an end to the war comes amid daily exchanges of fire between Lebanese militants, Israel, and key Hamas ally, Hezbollah, across the UN-monitored Blue Line separating them. On Sunday, the Lebanon-based group claimed responsibility for a reported drone strike on Mount Hermon in the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Hezbollah has said that it will halt operations only when the war in Gaza ends. "The gradual expansion in the scope and scale of the confrontations well beyond the Blue Line significantly raises the risk of miscalculation and further deterioration of an already alarming situation," the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told UN News, ahead of the latest escalation. Citing latest OCHA data, the UN force said that nearly 97,000 people have been displaced from southern Lebanon because of the ongoing hostilities as of 25 June; more than 1,800 casualties have been reported including 435 deaths of whom 97 were civilians. A political and diplomatic solution is the only viable long-term solution, it insisted. Probe ongoing Responding to the school strike and Israeli military claims that it had been used by Palestinian armed groups, UNRWAs chief Mr. Lazzarini said that he took the allegations very seriously. "It is exactly why I have repeatedly called for independent investigations to ascertain the facts and identify those responsible for attacks on UN premises or their misuse, he said a reference to an ongoing UN office investigation into Israeli assertions that 12 UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attacks. Eight UNRWA staff remain under investigation by the UNs internal oversight body, OIOS; to date, it has suspended three other cases citing insufficient evidence from the Israeli authorities and closed one case because Israel had not provided any supporting evidence, it has been reported. Nine months on this brutal war, I call once again for a ceasefire under which people in Gaza and Israel would finally get respite and protection and all hostages would be immediately released, Mr. Lazzarini said. The longer this war goes on, the deeper the rift will become, & the more suffering people will endure. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC Aircraft manufacturing major Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to criminal fraud conspiracy charge after the United States found the company to be violating a deal which meant to reform it, following two major crashes by its 737 Max planes. The accidents had left 346 passengers and crew dead. The (DoJ) said the plane-maker had also agreed to pay a criminal fine of $243.6m (190m), reported BBC. The families of the victims of the crash, however, criticised the deal and described it as 'sweetheart' since it would enable Boeing to avoid full responsibility for the deaths. A US judge now needs to approve the settlement. By pleading guilty, Boeing will avoid the spectacle of a criminal trial - something that victims' families have been pressing for, reported BBC. The premier aircraft manufacturing firm has been in crisis over the issue of safety since two identical crashes involving 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash The Baloch Doctors Forum (BDF) has expressed concern over the health department's condition in the province and said no one is taking responsibility to improve the situation. After seeing the miserable condition of the health department in the province, it seems the department has no head, a spokesman for the recently-formed Baloch Doctors Forum said on Sunday as quoted by Dawn News. The head of the department is supposed to be a minister, but the minister appears to have been forcibly given this ministry as he has shown no interest in the departments affairs since day one and he is just waiting for his term to end, the BDF alleged. Similarly, other officers also take no interest in health departments affairs to the extent that even a simple leave application remains pending for months without any action being taken on it, the BDF said. The BDF said only the work of political and influential individuals has been given priority. A mafia has made the health department hostage as some individuals, hiding behind a doctors organisation, are using blackmail and bargaining to obtain personal benefits from the department, the spokesman was quoted as saying by Dawn News. Photo courtesy: X/@narendramodi Washington/Moscow/IBNS: The United States has raised "concerns" over its "strategic partner" India's ties with Russia after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Vladimir Putin in an informal meeting at Moscow, media reports said. Speaking to the reporters, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We did just see Modi, like (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orban, meet with (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy. We thought that was an important step to take. "And we would urge India, as we do any country when it engages with Russia, to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to be one that respects the UN charter, that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, Ukraine's sovereignty." "India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia," Miller said. US on Modi-Putin meet "We made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. And so we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN Charter, should respect Ukraines pic.twitter.com/NnscNiz9Ct Geeta Mohan (@Geeta_Mohan) July 9, 2024 "I will look at Prime Minister Modi's public remarks to see what he talked about. But as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. "So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, should respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson added. End Ukraine war: India's appeal to Russia India has made a direct appeal to Moscow to end the over two-year-long war against Ukraine during Modi's informal meeting with Putin at the latter's residence, media reports said. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, is believed to have told Putin as quoted by NDTV, "India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. "There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward." Gratitude to President Putin for hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this evening. Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. pic.twitter.com/eDdgDr0USZ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2024 Earlier, India refused to condemn Russia, with which New Delhi shares a warm relationship for decades, for its launching of attack on Ukraine and also abstained from United Nations' resolutions censuring the country. After concluding his Russian trip, Modi will head to Austria. Image Credit : Facebook/Justin Trudeau Washington/IBNS: Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau along with Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, are meeting with leaders of the Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Washington, D.C. to discuss Russia's escalating aggression toward Ukraine. The 3-day meeting marks the 75th anniversary of the NATO Alliance, of which Canada is a founding member. As a founding member of NATO, Canada has made valuable contributions to the Alliance over its 75-year history and continues to do so today...We have always been there for our Allies, and we will continue to do so. Likewise, we will continue to stand by Ukraine as the country fights for its freedom, said Joly. Top the agenda of the three-day summit would be the ongoing battle in Ukraine following Russian missile attacks Monday which left death and destruction, including at a large children's hospital in Kyiv. Apart from new measures to support Ukraine, Trudeau would emphasize during the summit Canada's efforts towards NATO membership, officials were reported as saying. Members of the alliance agreed to spend the equivalent of two per cent of their national gross domestic product on defence but Canada has long fallen short of the target. Although Trudeau would comment about resolution in backing Ukraine, Canadian officials will be facing questions on this country's record on defence spending. Canada has come to the summit with a detailed plan of its defence spending, Defence Minister Bill Blair, also present there, told the Foreign Policy Security Forum in Washington Monday afternoon. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Hey sneakerheads, listen up2024 is ringing in a fresh wave of style, and sleek and compact sneakers are stealing the spotlight like never before. If you're all about stepping up your shoe game this year, these trendy kicks are where it's at. Pinterest Celebs hopped on to the sleek sneaker trend Celebrities from Bollywood to Hollywood have been rocking these sleek sneakers with effortless coolness, setting the tone for what's hot in footwear. Take cues from stars like Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor, who have been spotted sporting minimalist sneakers that blend seamlessly with their chic ensembles. Whether it's pairing them with casual denim or adding a modern twist to a tailored suit, these celebrities prove that sleek sneakers can elevate any outfit. Read More: Anant Ambani-Radhikas wedding: From Sara to Ananya, who wore what at the Haldi ceremony In Hollywood, the likes of Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet have been embracing the trend, showcasing how versatile and stylish compact sneakers can be. Zendaya effortlessly combines them with athleisure looks for a laid-back vibe, while Timothee adds a touch of sophistication by pairing them with smart-casual attire. Pinterest Why it is a must-have accessory of 2024 So, what makes these sneakers the must-have accessory of 2024? It's all about their streamlined design and understated elegance. Unlike chunky sneakers that dominated the scene in previous years, sleek and compact sneakers offer a more refined silhouette that complements a wide range of styles. From monochrome designs to subtle patterns, and bold colors, there's a sleek sneaker out there to suit every taste and occasion. Read More: Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's wedding: A look at the stunning looks of the Ambani bride-to-be From the streets of New York to the fashion runways of Paris, sneaker trends are leaning towards functionality and style. Brands are focusing on lightweight materials, innovative designs, and eco-friendly practices to cater to the growing demand for sustainable fashion choices. This means you can rock your sleek sneakers knowing you're not only on-trend but also supporting ethical fashion practices. Pinterest How to pair your compact sneakers When it comes to styling, the possibilities are endless. Pair your sleek sneakers with cropped trousers and a crisp shirt for a smart-casual look perfect for brunch dates or casual Fridays. Throw on a bomber jacket and jeans for an effortlessly cool ensemble that's ideal for weekend outings. You can even dress them up with a midi skirt or a flowy dress for a contemporary twist on classic attire. Read More: Celebrating Ranveer Singh: 7 whackiest looks of the actor that were actually bold and fun! As we dive deeper into 2024, it's clear that sleek and compact sneakers are here to stay. Whether you're upgrading your wardrobe staples or adding a fresh pair to your collection, these sneakers are a versatile choice that promises comfort without compromising on style. For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle. As the rainy season approaches, inhabitants of Patiala's Urban Estate, one of the city's low-lying districts, are feeling anxious. The Ghaggar river and its primary drains, Badi Nadi and Chhoti Nadi, are overflowing with silt, evoking flashbacks of the terrible floods of 2023. Who made custom furniture to protect the house from flood damage? Amarjit Waraich, 64, a former director of All India Radio, spent more than Rs 45,000 to construct custom-made furniture | Image: India Today Amarjit Waraich, 64, a former director of All India Radio, spent more than Rs 45,000 to construct custom-made iron angles and position his furniture on them to protect it from flood waters. He made the decision in expectation of lakhs of rupees in damage to his furniture. Also read: Viral video: Rolls-Royce Ghost stranded in Delhi floods, Internet says 'Alto lelo' We dont trust the government. AAP minister Dr Balbir Singh is from here. He visited this place and got pictures clicked but I dont think the government has done much. So, I have ordered these angles, Amarjit told India Today TV. What does he do to use the elevated furniture? Amarjit uses chairs to climb onto his bed, which is more than two feet tall | Image: India Today Amarjit uses chairs to climb onto his bed, which is more than two feet tall. Other residents, including Amarjit, are taking aggressive measures to defend their homes. Manjit Singh Narang, a retired bureaucrat, has built a three-foot barrier around his home to prevent water penetration. Others in the neighbourhood are using similar approaches. Manjit Singh Narang, who retired in 2019, said, "Our house was flooded last year, causing damage worth Rs 10-12 lakh." There is no assistance from the administration either. When did floods occur in Patiala last? Floods wreaked havoc in Patiala last July | Image: India Today Floods wreaked havoc in Patiala last July, causing considerable property damage. Another couple, Aditya and Anjana, spoke about the losses they suffered last year. This year, they are independently safeguarding valuables on elevated iron tables. "We already moved some of our furniture and gas stove to the first floor," they informed me. The couple had home insurance but could only collect Rs 1 lakh despite the fact that their furniture and equipment had been damaged for Rs 12 lakh. Also read: IPL 2024: RR Beat RCB In The Eliminator, Internet Floods With Hilarious Memes Meanwhile, locals across the Patiala district, particularly farmers, are concerned about the probable flooding of their paddy fields due to rising Ghaggar water levels. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Satyanarayan Nandlal Nuwal, Chairman of Solar Industries India, is a true testament to the power of perseverance and determination. Coming from a modest family in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, he faced tough challenges early in life. Despite having to leave school after tenth grade to support his family, Nuwal never gave up. Starting with very little and enduring hardships like sleeping at railway stations, his journey to build a billion-dollar company is incredibly inspiring. It shows how staying committed and seizing opportunities can lead to remarkable success. School drop-out His father was a government accountant. Due to financial hardships, Satyanarayan Nuwal had to drop out of school after class 10 to support his family. Despite these challenges, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to open an ink production plant at just 18 years old. Although this initial venture failed, it did not deter him from seeking new opportunities. The Journey of Satyanarayan Nuwal Satyanarayan Nuwal Satyanarayan Nuwal got married at 19 and lived in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, until 1977. He started his career working in a small chemicals and trading firm, but this too was unsuccessful. During this challenging period, he could not afford basic essentials and often slept at railway stations. However, his determination remained unwavering. A pivotal moment in Satyanarayan Nuwal's journey was meeting Abdul Sattar Allah Bhai, who had an explosives license but no interest in running the business. Seizing this opportunity, Satyanarayan Nuwal started renting explosive magazines in 1970. This venture proved profitable as he began supplying ammunition to coal mines. Gradually, he became one of India's leading explosives dealers. Founding of Solar Industries India In 1995, Satyanarayan Nuwal established Solar Industries India, headquartered in Nagpur. Initially, the company supplied explosives to publicly owned coal mines. Over time, Solar Industries expanded its operations to 65 countries, evolving into a major player in manufacturing explosives, propellants, grenades, drones, and warheads. This growth aligned with the Make in India mission. Success and Expansion The company recently surpassed the 1 lakh crore market cap milestone. According to its latest annual report, Solar Industries has an order book valued at Rs 5,129 crore and a sales volume of 5.5 lakh MT. For the quarter ending March 2024, Solar Industries reported its highest-ever yearly EBITDA of Rs 1,414 crore and a PAT of Rs 875 crore. The companys net revenue was Rs 1,611 crore, compared to Rs 1,929 crore in Q4FY23. Over the past year, shares of Solar Industries have delivered multibagger returns of approximately 192 per cent and have gained nearly 61 per cent in the current calendar year. Satyanarayan Nuwals Net Worth According to Forbes, Satyanarayan Nuwal has an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion (Approx Rs 48,000 crore). His success story is a testament to his resilience, hard work, and visionary leadership. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Educational Forum Protecting Community Media, Labor, Palestine & The Threat Of FascismWednesday July 17, 2024 6PMSan Jose Peace Center48 S. Seventh Street, Suite 101San Jose, CaliforniaSponsored by Rescue Pacifica https://rescuepacifica.net andSan Jose Peace Center http://www.sanjosepeace.org Community media is critical to get voices out from labor and working class communities and today with the US supported genocide in Palestine and the threat of fascism in the US and globally this is a vital question. This forum will have members of the KPFA LSB and activists at KPFA who want more coverage of the South Bay on KPFA and also discuss why independent media is critical in this dire and critical time of war, peace and justice.The threat of fascism may also result in the shutdown of KPFA and Pacifica. Pacifica which KPFA is part of is under present review and surveillence by the government because of a complaint to the FCC by some members of KPFA Local Station Board.San Jose Peace CenterSpeakers:Fadi Saba, CTA Luther Burbank Education Association President -School DistrictLisa Milos, UCSF UPTE Member, UPTE Members For PalestineSponsored by Rescue Pacifica https://rescuepacifica.net andSan Jose Peace Center http://www.sanjosepeace.org The Hellenic Coast Guard has rescued 283 migrants from a fishing vessel off the coast of Gavdos in a coordinated operation. The fishing vessel, carrying 278 men and 5 women, was located 18 nautical miles south of Gavdos on Monday. With assistance from a lifeboat, an Italian fishing boat , and a private speedboat, th eCoast Guard escorted the migrant-laden vessel to the port of Karave on Gavdos, where the migrants were safely disembarked. Following their rescue, the migrants were transferred onto a passenger ferry and taken to the port of Chora Sfakion. They were then escorted by officers to a temporary holding facility in the Agia area. The Central Port Authority of Chania, which is conducting an investigation into the incident, has seized the fishing vessel used for the transport. Gavdos, the southernmost point of Greece, has increasingly become a landing pad for illegal migrants attempting to enter Europe. Its remote location and proximity to popular migrant routes in the Mediterranean make it a frequent target for human traffickers. The island's limited resources and small population are often overwhelmed by the sudden influx of migrants, putting additional pressure on local authorities and rescue operations. iefimerida.gr Famed YouTuber IShowSpeed visited Greece on Monday afternoon, causing a frenzy as fans flocked to greet him and participate in his live video stream. During the live video broadcast, dozens of young fans appeared, following and interacting with IShowSpeed as he walked through various parts of Athens and while he was in With around 26 million subscribers on YouTube and a strong online presence, IShowSpeed's popularity was evident. His live stream attracted over 225,000 viewers, with comments flooding in. The YouTuber sported a white shirt emblazoned with the Greek flag and the word "." Before arriving in Greece, IShowSpeed visited Norway, where his trip turned eventful as fans swarmed him in a shopping mall, forcing him to call for security and police assistance. In another stop on his tour, he visited Albania and met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. iefimerida.gr A highly dangerous fire that broke out in a mixed forest and urban area of Aroe near Patras has been put out on Tuesday, Civil Protection said on Tuesday. The fire was put out in two hours with a force of 95 firefighters, 4 ground teams, 29 firetrucks, 4 aircraft and 6 helicopters. In addition, fires have been put out on the islands of Chios (a rekindling at Sidiroundas) and Hydra (a landfill fire), and at Agia near Larissa, while firefighters are dealing with few and interspersed fire pockets in Agia Triada Farsalon in Larissa. Civil Protection sources said that fires in Roussa of Soufli (Thrace) and at a plot of farmland in Gomostos, Western Achaia prefecture (Peloponnese) have been placed under control. A total of 29 fires broke out in the last 24 hours at farm and forest lands in Greece. The Fire Department said that 23 of these were dealt with immediately at their initial stage, while firefighters are still battling 6 of the 29. The Karamandanio Children's Hospital in Patras, which had been evacuated along with a retirement home, has suspended operation by order of the region's health chief, Yiannis Karvelis. The decision was taken because of problems created by the fire in the Girokomio area. An inspecting team will visit the children's hospital on Wednesday to assess damage and begin restoration. iefimerida.gr The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong condemnation of the Russian missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities that occurred on Monday. "Greece strongly condemns todays missile attacks by Russia in several Ukrainian cities, especially on Kyivs Okhmatdyt childrens hospital. The attacks, which resulted in numerous dead and wounded civilians, constitute another grave violation of international humanitarian law," the statement read. "Greece will continue to support Ukraine and stand by its people," it said. The Russian missile assault on Monday morning resulted in at least 36 deaths and over 150 injuries across Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, one of the missiles struck Kyivs Okhmatdyt childrens hospital, prompting President Zelensky to call for an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Moscow has denied targeting the childrens hospital, claiming instead that it was hit by a Ukrainian air defense missile. iefimerida.gr The use of the constitutional name of the Republic of North Macedonia erga omnes - for all uses - is fundamental in the Prespa Agreement with the neighboring state and is non-negotiable, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a discussion with former ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard. Mitsotakis, who is in the US capital to attend the NATO summit, spoke at theon Foreign Relations with Speckhard, president and CEO of Cortus International and ambassador to Athens during 2007-2010. The problem with the Balkans is that very often the ghost of nationalism rises again when nobody necessarily expects it, the PM said, and he referreds to North Macedonia. "Today, North Macedonia is a member of NATO because Greece withdrew its veto following the Prespa Agreement that was signed and ratified by the previous government. We have clarified that it is an international treaty that places the country under obligations. We respected it and we respect it. One of the fundamental - if not the most fundamental - doctrines, aspects of this agreement relates to the name 'North Macedonia' that is used erga omnes. And this is something that is very clear and non-negotiable for Greece. When I hear that the new government refers to the country as Republic of Macedonia domestically, I have serious concerns. And this is an issue I plan to raise. It is not constructive and it does not help North Macedonia's European path," Mitsotakis underlined. Among other issues he spoke about, the Greek premier said that Greece was aligned with its allies on supporting Ukraine and expressed support to Ukraine from the very start, which was not a given for Greece, a country that had historical, cultural, and religious ties with Russia. There is also no sign, he noted, of Europe's commitment to Ukraine wavering, despite a problem with one or two EU member states. "Overall, European support was very consistent and strong," he added. iefimerida.gr Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has cautioned tertiary institutions, particularly universities, to halt admission of underage students, characterising the trend as illegal. He stated that illegal admission, such as admitting underage, should be prohibited. Oloyede made the statement on Tuesday in Lagos, at the opening of the seventh biennial conference of Nigerias Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities. Advertisement The conferences theme was Effective University Governance: Role of Stakeholders. He stated that this act needs to be repealed for the purposes of accountability, data protection, and national integrity, as anything irregular was illegal. About two months ago, I received a letter from an European country to confirm if a student actually graduated from a particular university because she is 15 years old and applied for postgraduate course. The question they asked me is Is this possible in Nigeria? I had to call the Vice Chancellor of the institution and he confirmed the student graduated from the university but was not admitted by JAMB. He had to include that he was not the VC at the time the student was admitted, Oloyede said. He emphasised that state-owned universities, which outnumber federal universities, must do more to address this issue. Also illegal admission of diploma students needs to stop because last year, we admitted 9,000 diploma students; I was alarmed that about 3,000 students came from a particular university. Everyone of us should be accountable because all these acts can damage our education system, Oloyede said. Prof Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President, advised the pro-chancellors to devise a strategy for making their institutions as competent and appealing as federal and private universities. Gambari stated that doing so allowed them to retain some of the greatest instructors and staff, attracting the best from the pool of eligible students. State owned universities must explore how best to carve out specific niches which inevitably place them in a position to exploit corresponding comparative advantages that enhance their position. Successfully executing this , a foundation for brand creation and recognition is ascertained, he said. Senator Joshua Lidani, COPSUN Chairman, stated that the theme addressed a wide range of concerns related to university governance. Lidani, Pro-Chancellor of Gombe State University, stated that there are now various issues confronting the university system and tertiary education in general. Some of these challenges include: corrupt practices, impersonation, miracle exam centres, inadequate funding, proliferation of universities. Others were discriminate and premature dissolution of governing councils and boards of tertiary educational institutions and delay in reconstituting them, he said. READ MORE: Cultism Day: Benue Police Arrest Three Suspects As Youths Apart from the illegality of these acts, Lidani went on to say that a big vacuum was frequently left in the institutions management, resulting in all kinds of irregularities. Incessant strike action by ASUU and other labour unions and the attendant consequences in stability, quality and standards. These are definitely not exhaustive but are symptomatic of the deep malaise that is affecting the system and extent of the problem. Of course, this conference alone will not be able to address the problem but it can raise public consciousness and alarm at the threat posed to good governance, standards and quality in the tertiary educational system. I have no doubt that the conference can point the way forward and advise on the way stakeholders can play a better and rightful role in uplifting the standards of education in the country, he said. (NAN) A Bill seeking to create 74 extra seats for women in the National Assembly, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. In a bid to encourage more female participation in politics, the green chamber voted in favour of the bill during plenary. Advertisement Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and 12 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the constitution to create one special seat reserved exclusively for women in the senate and house of representatives for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT). The Bill proposes to take effect after the term of the current national assembly elapses, and is subject to review every 16 years. Leading the debate, Joshua Gana, co-sponsor of the bill, said the proposed legislation is aimed at addressing a profound imbalance and the under-representation of women in the national assembly and at sub-national levels. Gana said the bill is anchored on the fundamental principle of equitable representation, and aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but that they actively contribute to shaping the legislative landscape, and the overall development of our nation. The issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy, he said. According to him, though the constitution guarantees equal rights, the representation of women in the legislature has been alarmingly low. In the 7th, 8th, and 9th assemblies, women accounted for only 6.4%, 6.1%, and 2.7% of the senate respectively; and 6.4%, 3.05%, and 4.7% of the house of representatives respectively. READ ALSO: Reps Reject Samoa Agreement, Ask FG To Halt Implementation These statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify the voices of women in our legislative houses at the national and sub-national levels. The rationale behind this amendment is grounded on the principles of fairness and inclusivity. Globally, Nigeria lags behind in women representation in parliament, ranking among the lowest. Countries that have implemented affirmative action, like Rwanda and Andorra, have seen significant strides towards gender equality in governance, he added. The legislator said the bill proposes a temporary measure of seat reservation for women to catalyse similar progress in Nigeria, ensuring that womens perspectives and priorities are fully integrated into our national and sub-national decision-making processes. Contributing to the debate, Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the House, said there is a broad consensus that it is necessary to have more women in parliament. Kingsley Chinda, minority leader, supported the bill, saying parliament needs to correct the deficiency. We must make deliberate effort to solve problems where we see them, he noted. Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers, corroborated Chindas argument, saying women should be given a better opportunity in politics. Subsequently, Kalu put the bill to a voice vote after which he ruled in favour of the ayes. A similar bill was considered in the 9th assembly during the constitution amendment process. At the time, the Senate and House of Representatives voted against it. The Benue State Police Command announced on Monday the arrest of three alleged cultists in Gboko region of the State. Some youths were claimed to have planned a celebration of Aye cultism day on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in the ancient town. According to an intelligence assessment leaked to security officials, one of the planned activities to commemorate the occasion was the initiation of new members. Advertisement Aye is a secret cult and non-traditional group founded by young people who believe in supernatural powers. It was said that certain youths, in coordination with security personnel working on intelligence reports, moved from street to street to round up suspects. A source in Gboko, simply identified as Jiji Jack, informed PUNCH that some volunteer youths worked with police officers to apprehend the culprits who had assembled for the celebration. Jack said, Some volunteer youths based in the traditional seat of Tiv nation, Gboko, joined forces with the security Joint Task Force to stop the planned celebrations of the worldwide cultism day, being 7/7/2024. The youth moved from one street to another to disperse a suspicious gathering of youths suspected to be celebrating the cultism day. A Gboko youth leader who did not want to be identified said that they organised their members to comb the streets of Gboko for suspected cultists in order to prevent anything from disrupting the historic towns serenity. READ MORE: BBNaija Season Nine Commencement Date Officially Announced It came to our notice that a group of criminally-minded individuals, particularly cultists who are members of a particular confraternity had concluded plans to celebrate cultism day on July 7, the day popularly known as 7/7. New members will be inducted, covenants will be renewed, and supremacy battles will occur, usually characterised by violence and bloodshed, a reason we were out to assist the security to fight against it. So, we passed the information to security men, and we joined hands with them and moved from street to street anywhere we found a gathering of youths, we dispersed them. He added, We want our youths to be law abiding and shun negative tendencies as well as violence in order to make Gboko peaceful, security is everywhere and we, as youth groups are helping the security to see that nothing of such activities take place in Gboko. When called, Catherine Anene, the state Police Public Relations Officer, stated that three individuals had been arrested. Three suspects were arrested in Gboko, and investigation is ongoing, Anene said in a statement. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed the request of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for the release of his international passport. Emefiele is facing multiple counts of alleged fraud and abuse of office. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Emefieles counsel, in an affidavit filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sought the release of his clients passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical treatment. Advertisement In a counter-affidavit on Monday, Muhammad Abbas Omeiza, the prosecution counsel, told the court that there is no medical report before the court showing Emefieles ailment profile. READ ALSO: Court Orders EFCC To Remove Name, Photos Of Emefieles Wife From Wanted List, Slams Agency N3m Fine Omeiza said there is no evidence to support the claim that Emefieles ailment could not be treated in Nigeria. The prosecution counsel said the former CBN Governor deposited his passport with the court as part of the fulfilment of his bail conditions. He added that Emefiele might be tempted to jump bail if granted. The defendant has co-conspirators all over the world. One Anita and Tony are all aides of the defendant who are currently in the UK. The defendant might be tempted to jump bail because he is standing trial in three different courts, the counsel was quoted in a statement by the EFCC. After listening to all the arguments, Hamza Muazu, the Presiding Judge, adjourned the ruling on the application to July 16. The Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has urged residents to have patience for his administration amid viral criticism over poor roads in the state. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Abioduns led government has been facing some backlash over bad road network in the state. Many social media users have taken to their pages, lamenting bad state of popular roads in Ogun State. Advertisement Some said that the state is rich with poor infrastructures. Reacting to public anger over his government, Governor Abiodun, after an on-the-spot assessment of roads in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, emphasized on why his administration wii not fix all roads in the state. He said: I want to implore our people to be patient with us. We cannot reconstruct all the bad roads in three years. In fact, no administration can reconstruct all the roads in Ogun State, not even in 8 years. READ MORE: Dapo Abiodun Named Southern Governors Forum Chairman When I assumed office on the 29th of May, 2019, the deficit that we met on assumption of office was such that we began to wonder what the previous administration was doing. In some instances, they appear to have good intentions, they go to the roads, they demolished houses, roads that should not be more than a single carriageway, they turned them to dual carriageway By so doing, they removed all the asphalt that was there serving the people and abandoned these roads. We inherited quite a lot of these roads. Some of those roads are federal roads, and you know our people cannot differentiate between federal and state. They will geo-locate their pains where and when they are feeling it. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has declined the request to transfer the N80.2bn fraud trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, from Abuja to Kogi State. The CJ, in a letter dated July 2 and signed by his Special Assistant, Joshua Aji, said that he agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that Bello should be tried in Abuja and not Lokoja. Justice Tsoho rejected Bellos application dated June 10, praying that his trial for alleged N80.2bn fraud should be transferred to Kogi. Advertisement Recall that Bellos lawyer, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), had on June 27 told the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, that his client had applied to have his case transferred to Kogi. Adedipe said Bello took the decision to seek the transfer of the matter after he was briefed about what transpired at the June 13 proceedings in court. In a judgment on Monday, the court directed that the request by Bello, for the transfer of the alleged money laundering case instituted against him, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to Kogi State, be presented in open court. Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to Bellos lawyers, Abdul-Wahab Muhammed and Musa Yakubu, the chief judge drew the attention of the former governors counsels to a pending appeal in the case: Yahaya Adoza Bello VS FRN wherein the defendant had sought a consequential order remitting the case to the chief judge for reassignment. The letter, signed by his special assistant, said as a result, it would be improper to take any step tantamount to pre-empting the outcome of the appeal. READ MORE: EFCC Asks Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria To Place Yahaya Bello On Watchlist The letter reads: There is documentary evidence of a pending appeal in the case Yahaya Adoza Bello VS FRN filed on 17/05/2024 wherein the defendant as appellant has sought a consequential order remitting the case to the chief judge for reassignment. It is not proper to take any step that will be tantamount to pre-empting the outcome of the appeal. The main issue raised is jurisdictional in nature and will be more appropriately decided by the court. The matter should therefore be presented in open court. The chief judge noted that the main offence alleged bordered on the conversion of Kogi state funds to purchase properties in Abuja, and that the filing of the charge could either be in Abuja or Lokoja. No fewer than 69 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force authorities in Cameroon and Niger. The development is coming, following a successful operation by the MNJTF, a coalition of forces from countries in the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. Among the surrendered terrorists were 14 fighters and 55 women and children. Advertisement One of the fighters surrendered with an AK-45 rifle and live ammunition. In a statement made on Tuesday, by the Chief Military Public Information Officer, HQ MNJTF, Lieutenant Colonel Ndjamena Chad, on X, said that the joint security operatives have successfully facilitated the surrender of more terrorists while rescuing others from hideouts between 1 and 6 July 2024. The MNJTFs intensified military efforts and strategic operations have led to increased defections within Boko Haram ranks. READ MORE: Borno: Notorious Boko Haram Terrorist Surrenders To Army The statement reads: This development is seen as a major victory for the MNJTF and a hopeful step towards stabilizing the region and ensuring the safety of its inhabitants. In Sector 1 Cameroon, on 6 July 2024, a combined maritime operation by Cameroonian and Nigerian forces led to the surrender of 56 Boko Haram terrorists. This group included 13 adult men accompanied by 43 women and children. Additionally, on the same date, 12 family members of terrorists, including 5 women and 7 children, were rescued. Both the surrendered individuals and the rescued family members were handed over to the troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, in Gamboru and Banki for further action. On 1 July 2024, troops of Sector 4, Niger Republic, received 24-year-old Tijjani Muhammad, who surrendered with one AK-47 rifle, 4 magazines, and numerous 7.62mm rounds. He reported that he had escaped from a Boko Haram camp in Libye Soroa, driven by the current Operation Lake Sanity 2. The Federal Government, on Monday, disclosed that recent flooding and weather conditions have temporarily disrupted the fuel distribution chain. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (oil), said via a statement, said the governments dedicated team is working tirelessly to resolve the issues. Advertisement I understand the frustration many of you are feeling due to the fuel queues in cities such as Abuja. Recent flooding on the trucking route and unavoidable logistical challenges due to weather concerns have temporarily disrupted our distribution chain. READ ALSO: By July, Nigeria Will Become Self-Sufficient In Fuel Production Akpabio I assure you that our dedicated team is working round the clock to resolve these issues. We are committed to restoring normal fuel supply as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Together, we will overcome these challenges, Lokpobiri said. On Monday, queues for petrol resurfaced across filling stations in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited had said the supply disruption in Abuja was caused by thunderstorms and the consequential flooding of trucking routes which constrained movement of petrol to Abuja from coastal corridors. A former Deputy National Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, has expressed concern over President Bola Tinubus handling of the insurgency in Nigeria. The PDP chieftain, who was featured as a guest on Mondays edition of Channels Televisions Politics Today, noted that the recent multiple suicide bombing in Borno State was an indicator of that fact. The coordinated attacks, which took place in Tashan Mararaba and Gwoza towns, targeted a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral ceremony, resulting in significant casualties. Advertisement Vice President Kashim Shettima confirmed that the death toll from the bomb blasts had risen to 32 during his condolence visit to the affected victims and their families last Monday. While narrating his experience as a former combatant in the Nigerian Army on the live television programme, George threw his weight behind the introduction of state police as a panacea to stem the resurgence of insecurity in the North East. He said: One key thing with the military where I trained, unlike the policemen, is that when you got to war and have your enemies facing you frontally, it is either you kill them or they will kill you. It is no big deal. But when you now have social unrest, you then deploy the military. If any of them is killed, you respond with the most potent force to fight back. We had suggested, I am talking about the constitutional conference committee formed under former president (Goodluck) Jonathan, that the need to have state police cannot be futuristic, it is so urgent. READ MORE: Insecurity: Its Time To Embrace State Police Retired AIG You know, when we go to war, you have a defined enemy. But in this case, it is an insurgency, insecurity within. You dont know who is who. They can come out in the day and pretend to be part of one area. But at night, they turn out to be something else. What you need will be people within their community to police them. They know themselves, they know the dos and donts of that culture, and they know the rules of the people in that culture. So, they would be better off to be able to manage any issues within their communities. For Gods sake, we need the state police. An X user, Oluyemi Fasipe, who accused some officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) of extorting him of N100,000 for allegedly driving against traffic in the State, has retrieved his funds. Fasipe (@yemiefash) who had narrated his ordeal via X, stated how he was forced to part with the money before he could be allowed to leave the scene. Advertisement According to him, the LASTMA officials told him the incident has been captured on camera, but will be deleted once he pays the N100,000 bribe. Allow me to recount an incident involving some LASTMA officials in Lagos on Tuesday. While attempting to meet up with a friend on the Island, my driver inadvertently drove the wrong way. Upon being stopped by the officers, they requested that the driver exit the vehicle. Upon hearing the term one way, I also stepped out to provide an explanation. I informed them that we were from Ondo State, Ilu-Oke and that the driver was unfamiliar with the area, emphasising that it was not intentional. After a brief discussion, they suggested I speak with one of them, who informed me that we had been captured by a camera and offered to assist us in exchange for a bribe to delete the footage. READ ALSO: LASTMA Records 256 Casualties In First Half Of 2024 Despite finding their deception amusing, we ended up paying N100k through a nearby POS operator. While I have a video recording of the incident, I have chosen not to share it, as I lack the motivation to pursue the matter further. It is evident that Nigerians are the major problem of Nigeria, he had said. In the latest development, as revealed by Fasipe on Monday he noted that following the intervention from well meaning Nigerians, he was able to retrieve his money from the rogue officers. He posted, I am pleased to inform you that the sum of N100,000, which was unlawfully taken from me by some rogue @followlastma personnel on the 2nd of July 2024, has been completely reimbursed, inclusive of the POS fees. I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude to the management of @followlastma for their prompt action and thorough inquiry. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to @Mr_JAGs and @Sola_Giwa for their interventions. Eko o ni baje. Fasipe also extended gratitude to Mr. Oki Bakare Olalekan, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Taofeek Adebayo, the PRO of LASTMA, and Mr. Shadare Oladotun, the Head of Monitoring and Surveillance at LASTMA, for their prompt assistance. Archaeological collaboration continues millennia-old history of China-Kyrgyzstan civilizational exchange People's Daily Online) 16:46, July 09, 2024 As soon as Valery Kolchenko sent a photo on WeChat, Tian Youqian immediately responded, How is our little mound doing? Tian is a research curator at the Shaanxi Provincial Academy of Archaeology, while Kolchenko is a senior researcher at the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. The photo of a hillside covered with weeds and flowers, referred to affectionately as the little mound, was that of the ancient city of Navekat in Kyrgyzstan. Kolchenko has collaborated closely with Chinese archaeologists in the excavation of the ruins of the ancient city. "Our Chinese colleagues have come a long way to work here. They respect our customs and culture while exploring both Kyrgyzstan's past and their own. It's such subtle, culture-based exchange that allows civilizations to endure and evolve," said Kolchenko. The ruins represent one of the landmarks along the UNESCO World Heritage Site, "Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor," a cultural heritage site jointly nominated by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Archaeologists believe that over 1,000 years ago Navekat was a bustling new city on the ancient Silk Road. Coins from China's Tang Dynasty (618-907) and artifacts with Sogdian inscriptions have been unearthed from the ruins of the ancient city. Kolchenko added that Zoroastrian tombs, Buddhist structures, and Christian gravestones have also been discovered at the ruins. "We can say that this is a crossroads where different cultures and religions converge and blend," Kolchenko noted. "Where else can this be achieved except on the Silk Road?" Kolchenko is one of the fine examples of the growing cultural integration and fusion occurring along the modern Silk Road Economic Belt. Since 2018, archaeologists from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology in northwest China's Shaanxi Province have traveled to the ruins of Navekat several times to conduct joint archaeological excavation and research with Kyrgyz archaeologists. Employing advanced surveying technologies, including real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, the team has been able to unearth building foundations, wall remnants, and numerous artifacts while also mapping the entire ancient city site. The collaboration has continued to deepen. In June this year, nine researchers from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology came to the ruins to continue excavation at a Buddhist temple site. International exchanges and cooperation have created major opportunities for the development of archaeological research, said Shi Yanxin, an assistant researcher from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, who was on the nine-member archaeological research team. Despite their different archaeological traditions, Chinese and Kyrgyz archaeologists respect each other and work in close coordination, Shi noted. He added that their understanding of each other's working philosophy and methods has grown in tandem with a deepening of their personal friendships. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) The Rivers State lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have barred Siminalayi Fubara, the State Governor, from spending from the States consolidated revenue fund. In a letter dated July 8, signed by Martin Amaewhule, the factional speaker of the Assembly, addressed to Fubara, the lawmakers said the Governor is yet to present the 2024 appropriation bill to the duly elected Rivers Assembly. Advertisement The letter reads: That your attention should once again be drawn to the fact that you are yet to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2024, in line with Section 121 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as altered and in compliance with the judgment delivered on the 22nd day of January 2024 by Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, which confirmed to you that you are yet to present the same to a duly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly under the Speakership of Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule. Pursuant to Section 122 of the Constitution, the Rivers State Government under your watch is now barred from spending funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state, so the House hereby gives you the opportunity to present the same within seven (7) days from the date of this resolution. Section 122 of the 1999 constitution states that: If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the Governor may authorise the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government for a period not exceeding six months or until the coming into operation of the law, whichever is the earlier. READ ALSO: Wike Is Fubaras Mentor, Political Investment Rivers APC Provided that the withdrawal in respect of any such period shall not exceed the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State under the provisions of the Appropriation Law passed by the House of Assembly for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding financial year, being an amount proportionate to the total amount so authorised for the immediately preceding financial year. The pro-Wike lawmakers also faulted the swearing-in of Local Government Area (LGA) caretaker committees by Fubara, adding that the action breached the state LGA amendment law of 2023. According to the lawmakers, the recent judgment of the court of appeal has nullified all actions taken by the three-member faction led by Victor Oko Jumbo, including the screening of commissioners. These infractions by you on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered, other extant laws, and judicial pronouncements constitute gross misconduct and abuse of office on your part. We call on you to do the needful and act lawfully without further delay, the lawmakers said. Earlier, the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike held their plenary at the legislative quarters, while the Fubara faction led by Jumbo held plenary at the government house. The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, rejected the controversial Samoa Agreement. The Federal Government, was also asked to suspend its implementation until all controversial clauses are spelt out. Advertisement This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Lawmaker Aliyu Sani Madaki and 80 others at the plenary, on Tuesday. Madaki had drawn attention to the clause highlighting gender equality, saying it is a Trojan horse which could violate the morals of the country. READ ALSO: We Signed Samoa Agreement To Develop The Economy Minister Bagudu In his contribution, the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, said the parliament was not carried along in the process of the signing the agreement which has generated controversy. He wondered why Nigerians were kept in dark about what the agreement was all about. Also, the House Chief Whip, Usman Bello Kumo, said the House would never support any agreements that are contrary to the belief, norms and culture of Nigerians. The movers of the motion therefore urged the House to thoroughly investigate the agreement. Conclusively, the House adopted the motion and referred it to its relevant committees for further legislative action. Reports had suggested that some clauses of the agreement allegedly compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people for recognition. According to the European Council, the Samoa agreement is the overarching framework for European Union (EU) relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. The agreement serves as a new legal framework for EU relations with 79 countries, including African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. The agreement covers six priority areas, which are democracy and human rights; sustainable economic growth and development; climate change; human and social development; peace and security; and migration and mobility. As part of efforts to end farmers and headers crisis, President Bola Tinubu, approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development. The President disclosed this on Tuesday when he inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the Council Chamber in the State House in Abuja. Present at the Inauguration were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila amongst cabinet members. Advertisement The committee is mandated to provide sector-focused solutions to address the long crop farmers and Fulani Headsmen crisis. Recall that on September 14, 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee recommended that Tinubu create a Ministry of Livestock Resources, among other deliverables, reduce the decades-long gory conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders nationwide. READ MORE: Many Feared Dead, Others Missing As Headers Attack Benue Community Following the approval, the President said that the federal government is fully prepared to cover the cost of acquiring the land to ensure the co-existence between herders and farmers. He said: These opportunities will provide gainful employment for our veterinary doctors, while opening doors for the private sector as the provision of new educational opportunities for herders and their children emerge. Medical facilities will be established. This is a life-changing opportunity that we have. Imagine us producing enough milk for our school children. Imagine us becoming net exporters of cheese and yoghurt. Imagine us producing the skin massively with a major Nigerian leather industry. Imagine us providing cold storage facilities and employment across the nation. The Plateau State Police Command apprehended a woman named Peace John for reportedly running a sex trafficking ring from Nigeria to Ghana, a neighbouring West African country. Olugbemi Adesina, the state Commissioner of Police, paraded the suspect at the commands headquarters in Jos, the state capital, on Monday. During the procession, Adesina told journalists that the 20-year-old female suspect, who specialised in child trafficking, was apprehended at the Bukuru Low-Cost axis in Jos South Local Government Area of the state after receiving a tip. Advertisement The commissioner said, On the 14/06/2024 at about 3 pm, the Plateau State Police Command arrested one Peace John, female, 20 years old of Behind Redeemed Church, Bukuru Low Cost in connection to a case of human trafficking. The victims, whose rescue went viral on social media, were alleged to have been rescued in Ghana and returned to Nigeria. READ MORE: Banky W Enrolls In Georgetown University, Pursues Masters Degree During interrogation, they disclosed that John, who specialises in trafficking people for sexual exploitation, had lured them to Ghana. The suspect has been arrested. Investigation is ongoing at the State CID, the police boss stated. The CP also paraded 59 other suspects for various crimes, including Mohammed Baya, a male from Pyantil Village in Pankshin LG, who conspired with three others to rob Nasara Isah of N1 million before killing him. He stated that all of the suspects had confessed to the crime and would be charged in court after the investigations were completed. Apart from the series of stakeholders meetings I have held with stakeholders from the troubled Local Government Areas in the state, as a remedy for peaceful co-existence in the state, I have emplaced intensive patrol, raiding of criminal hideouts and visibility policing which has become the hallmark of my policing strategy employed in recording these recent achievements, the commissioner added. A key question at the heart of the criminal case against former Philadelphia homicide detective James Pitts is this: What happened in the interrogation room? Prosecutors say the answer is straightforward. As Pitts was investigating a fatal robbery in 2010, they say, he roughed up a suspect to get him to sign a false confession, then lied about it in court when the man sought to challenge the statements validity. Advertisement Pitts abused a suspect, and then stole the truth, Assistant District Attorney Michael Garmisa said Tuesday at the start of the former detectives trial on perjury, obstruction and related charges. Pitts attorney, however, said prosecutors have no proof to support that explosive allegation no video, no evidence of injuries after the interrogation. Instead, said attorney Bill McLaughlin, prosecutors are relying largely on the word of a suspect who had ample reason to blame a detective while denying a murder confession. What would it take to get someone to confess to a crime they didnt commit? McLaughlin asked. It will fall to jurors to determine which version of events to believe. Prosecutors have accused Pitts of lying on the witness stand about his treatment of the suspect, Obina Onyiah, saying Pitts pushed a false case against Onyiah even as some witnesses provided evidence pointing toward other suspects. The case is already something of a landmark in Philadelphias criminal justice system. Although city detectives have for decades been accused of coercive behavior and the city in recent years has seen a wave of convictions overturned as a result Pitts would be among the first to face criminal consequences if hes convicted. Another former detective, Philip Nordo, was convicted in 2022 of sexually assaulting witnesses and informants, and three retired investigators Martin Devlin, Manuel Santiago, and Frank Jastrzembski are awaiting trial on perjury charges, accused of lying on the witness stand at a 2016 retrial. Each has denied wrongdoing. Still, Pitts who was a detective for nearly two decades before being arrested in 2022 had for years been the subject of lawsuits, complaints, and allegations of abuse. And at least 10 convictions tied to Pitts have been overturned, dismissed, or dropped, with a number of petitions still outstanding. Last summer, after a Common Pleas Court judge agreed to overturn a conviction because he said it appeared that Pitts had coerced the confession, the judge said it was sometimes difficult to assess the credibility of such claims because of the sheer number of complaints lodged against the former detective. District Attorney Larry Krasner, after Pitts arrest two years ago, cast the case as a broader example of an attempt to restore public faith in the criminal justice system, saying: I cannot calculate the damage that was done to a public sense of trust in law enforcement by those kinds of tactics. What are the allegations against James Pitts? The issues in Pitts trial center on the investigation of the murder of Northeast Philadelphia jeweler William Glatz in 2010. Glatz was killed during a robbery at his store, and one of the two robbers, Kevin Turner, was fatally wounded during a shootout. But a co-conspirator escaped, and Onyiah was ultimately identified as a suspect. Pitts interrogated him at police headquarters inside a sergeants office, prosecutors said, and came away from that encounter saying Onyiah had confessed. But Garmisa on Tuesday told jurors that Pitts had physically coerced Onyiah during the interrogation first by poking him in the chest, then by shoving his head down toward his legs. When Onyiahs case reached trial, he and his attorneys sought to prevent the statement from being presented to the jury, telling a judge it had been coerced and describing the alleged abuse by Pitts. But the judge declined the request, in part because Pitts testified and denied Onyiahs allegations. I never touched your client, Pitts said in 2013, according to testimony Garmisa read to the jury Tuesday. Garmisa said Pitts reiterated that sentiment which he contends is false several times during different court proceedings. (There was no video or audio of the interrogation because police at that time did not record their interactions with suspects.) McLaughlin, meanwhile, told jurors that Onyiah is the person who shouldnt be believed, in part because hed already been convicted of several robberies before the fatal incident at the Glantz jewelry store. Was Obina Onyiah cleared? McLaughlin also sought to attack another part of the prosecutions case during early testimony Tuesday, pushing back on the notion that Onyiah was never a viable suspect to begin with. The district attorneys office reached that conclusion in 2021, after experts reviewed surveillance footage of the crime and said the perpetrator was several inches shorter than Onyiah. Prosecutors successfully argued that Onyiahs conviction should be overturned based on the new expert opinions, and he was freed after prosecutors agreed to drop all charges. But McLaughlin told jurors that the experts conclusions were not beyond dispute. And as the first witness took the stand Tuesday morning Detective Thorsten Lucke, who also worked on Onyiahs case McLaughlin sought to raise questions about the height of various suspects seen on surveillance footage before and during the crime. Pitts, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, showed little reaction as the case against him began. He sat next to McLaughlin mostly staring straight ahead, occasionally resting his head in his hands. Prosecutors estimate that the trial before Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Kyriakakis could last more than a week. They have not said what penalty they might seek if Pitts is convicted. Most Johns Hopkins medical students will no longer pay tuition starting this fall to attend one of the nations premier medical schools, following a $1 billion dollar gift from the nonprofit founded by Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor, businessman, and philanthropist. The donation announced Monday will cover the full tuition for students from households earning less than $300,000. Students from families earning less than $175,000 will also have their fees and living expenses covered. Advertisement (For context: Half of Philadelphia households earned $56,517 or less in 2022, the first time in 16 years that the citys median household income eclipsed Baltimores.) Philadelphia-area medical schools (and their students) are left looking from afar with envy as Hopkins joins a small but growing list of schools offering free tuition to most or all students through philanthropic gifts. The average debt of a medical doctor who graduated from a Philadelphia school is roughly $200,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, a nonprofit whose members include medical schools and academic health systems across the nation. Locally, graduates of the Drexel University College of Medicine reported the highest average debt: $257,732. Students graduating from the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine have the lowest average debt at $142,177. A good chunk of that debt comes from tuition. A Pennsylvania resident would have to pay just over $56,000 a year in tuition to attend the Temple Lewis Katz School of Medicine. At Penn and Drexel, the tuition is around $70,000 a year. Even without gifts from a billionaire like Bloomberg, most students dont pay the full tuition cost. More than 80% of Philly-area medical students receive some amount of aid. The data from the Association of American Medical Colleges doesnt include information about the regions osteopathic medical schools, providing another path to graduating doctors that runs parallel to the MD track for practicing medicine. But according to information from the schools websites themselves, the debt figures are similar. At the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, recent graduates graduated with an average debt of $229,774. And at the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, more than half of students who take loans were over $200,000 in debt. Hopkins move follows a similar announcement in February from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which received a $1 billion gift from Ruth Gottesman, a widow of a Wall Street investor, to make its medical education tuition-free. Other schools offering varying degrees of extended scholarship and free tuition include the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, UCLAs David Geffen School of Medicine, and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Temple Health and Keystone First are locked in a contract dispute. Their current contract expires at the end of the month. Read more Temple Health is warning patients they may lose access to their providers as a July 31 deadline approaches to reach a new contract with insurer Keystone First for health services for low-income children and families. Talks began in March, and both sides said they are continuing to negotiate. But Temple posted an alert on its website last week warning patients that doctors may no longer be in-network as of Aug. 1 if the two cant make a deal. Advertisement Theres plenty at stake: Keystone is Southeastern Pennsylvanias largest Medicaid plan, providing low-cost care to children with disabilities and low-income families. Temple Health is a critical safety net health system, serving Philadelphia neighborhoods where more than 40% of the population lives below the federal poverty level. The sticking point seems to be the usual for such disputes: how much the insurer will pay for health services. Post-pandemic financial pressures in the hospital industry, such as supply costs, wages, and drug prices, have strained Temples resources, the health system said in a statement. Temple reported a $23.3 million operating loss for the nine months that ended March 31. The significantly higher costs of providing the high quality services and care that our patients and community expect and deserve has made it infeasible to operate under the old models, Jeremy Walter, a spokesperson for the health system, said in a statement. Temple also said that Keystone needs to fairly reimburse for supplemental services, such as community health workers, substance abuse counselors, and behavioral health specialists, who help provide wraparound care for low-income patients with complex medical needs. Keystone said it thinks the system is paid fairly already, but has offered a rate increase in support of our good faith negotiations, said Michael Chesney, a spokesperson for Keystone. It is unfortunate Temple has chosen to escalate our negotiations this way, he said in a statement. Keystone First is run by AmeriHealth Caritas, a Delaware County-based subsidiary of Independence Health Group and one of the largest Medicaid insurers in the country. AmeriHealth Caritas posted a profit of $368 million in 2023. AmeriHealth Caritas recently laid off some administrative staff, including workers at its Newtown Square headquarters, citing a decline in its membership. READ MORE: Families with medically vulnerable children were caught in the middle of the CHOP-Keystone Health insurance standoff Keystone made news in May, when its contract negotiations with Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia dragged out and families began to panic. The two ultimately reached a new deal, with about a month to spare. Wawa fan Tyler Gyurisin takes a selfie with his collection of Wawa order slips numbering from 000 to 999. Read more As the Wawa order slips Tyler Gyurisin left in his car began to form into a pile over time, he was struck with an idea, a wonderfully weird idea for a questionably quirky quest: to collect every Wawa order slip number from 000 to 999. It took three years, a little help from his friends, and some crafty pulls from the basket where slips are usually discarded, but Gyurisin, a 22-year-old Jersey Shore resident, finally completed his mission earlier this year. Advertisement It was definitely very exciting, but then it was also like, OK what do I do with my life now? he said. On Monday, after laying out every slip from end to end for the first time, Gyurisin posted photos and a video of his collection to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, where it immediately went viral. Among the 2.8 million people whove seen the Sizzli post so far was Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens, who replied: I think this means you get my job. Some called Gyurisins collection art and said it should be made into a quilt or displayed at the Louvre. He even received a marriage proposal in response to his post. Others called his collection a weird flex and unhinged. Theyre right. Im not even going to deny that, he said. In a tristate region of fans who have Wawa tattoos, whove gone to the same store every day for 30 years, and who serenade the staff every morning, Gyurisin manages to stand out as a particularly dedicated and very silly goose. Hes been going to Wawa his whole life and usually visits the store near his home in Barnegat, N.J., three or four times a day, starting with coffee in the morning, then lunch, perhaps a snack, and the occasional dinner. Everything there is pretty reliable, you always know what to expect, the employees are very friendly, and its just a very welcoming environment, he said. Theres a level of quality there that you dont get with a lot of other gas station chains, especially when you get out to the Midwest. Gyurisins first and ongoing Wawa quest, which began in 2019, is to visit and take a photo of himself in front of every Wawa store. Hes got more than 100 pictures so far from stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, but the mission is becoming increasingly difficult as Wawa rapidly expands to the South and Midwest. There are currently more than 1,000 locations nationwide. It was in the pursuit of that quest that the order slips started piling up in his car. Gyurisins most frequent order is mac-and-cheese or an iced coffee or latte, but he orders other things too and yes, that includes the pizza. I really, really enjoy the pizza actually, he said. READ MORE: Is Wawa pizza really that bad? We asked five teenagers. When Gyurisin began his order slip mission, he collected them at random to start, but towards the end he began asking friends for numbers he wasnt able to land (some in the 600s were particularly tricky). And, he used other, more questionable, methods too. Ive never taken one off the ground, but I may have taken some from a basket, he said. As far as how much hes spent to complete his mission, Gyurisin said, A lot. I dont want to think about that. When he posted the proof of his feat on X, Gyurisin had few followers and did not think hed get much attention. But because he tagged Wawa in his post, it quickly went viral. I got in the shower it had two views and I got out and it had half-a-million views, he said. I thought, Theres no way this is real. X users crowned Gyurisin the king of Wawa and a true wawawarior and called for Wawa to put him in a commercial and give him the first and only Wawa gold card. You are hoagiefest, one person wrote. Gyurisin said Wawa has reached out and offered him a basket of swag. As for the order slips, which hes been keeping in a bedroom drawer, he said, Realistically, Ill probably just throw them away. I cant see myself making a quilt and Id need the worlds biggest frame for this and Louvre would probably laugh at me, he said. New Pennsylvania license plates are coming to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Read more Gov. Josh Shapiro and PennDot announced Tuesday new highway signs and a decorative new license plate to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the country. The new license plates have blue number lettering, an image of the Liberty Bell, and the phrase Let Freedom Ring in red lettering against an off-white plate. Advertisement Pennsylvanians can sign up to receive information about securing the commemorative plates, which wont be available until spring 2025, ahead of the semiquincentennial celebration in 2026. The cost for the new plates is not yet known, but it currently costs $13 to replace most plates, according to PennDOT spokesperson Alexis Campbell. The new highway signs are similarly simple and retro-looking. Letters in red and blue, reading Welcome to Pennsylvania, Est. 1681 the year Quaker William Penn founded the colony with a charter from King Charles II and Let Freedom Ring, adorn the white sign. It also features Philadelphias iconic Liberty Bell. Shapiros name is prominent at the bottom. There is one design error in the highway sign. The crack in the Liberty Bell is illustrated as angled slightly to the left. In reality, the crack is angled to the right. Its illustrated correctly on the license plate. Eight signs have already been installed at state border entrances in Adams, Bucks, Erie, Fulton, Monroe, Potter, Susquehanna, and Tioga Counties. An additional 29 signs will be put up in the coming months, according to Shapiros office and PennDot. The cost for the signs is an estimated $343,000 and will be covered by the states tourism budget, said Campbell. The recently installed welcome signs have already created a buzz on Reddit, where reviews are mixed. A photo of the sign at I-80 prompted more than 350 comments about the overall design and the slogan itself. Many commenters liked it, and appreciated the simple designs charm and old school vibe. Others felt more neutral. Im OK with it, said one Reddit user. Another didnt love the design, but said it feels more Pennsylvania-ey and called it a slight upgrade from other signs such as the blue, green, and white Pennsylvania Welcomes You. On the matter of slogans, one past phrase emerged as a crowd favorite: Pursue Your Happiness. While no one took specific issue with Let Freedom Ring, users did suggest more Pennsylvania-specific wording such as the former America Starts Here, or Cradle of Democracy. Of course, there were some haters. It looks like something my aunt would make in Powerpoint, said one commenter. Pennsylvania has positioned itself as a sort of ground zero for the United States Semiquincentennial celebration in 2026. Theres the America250PA Commission, established by then-Gov. Tom Wolf in 2018, and in 2021, Pennsylvania became the first state to partner with the official national celebration, America250. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) speaks at a press conference at the William Way Center in November. Kenyatta sponsored a bill that would eliminate Pennsylvania's dormant ban on same-sex marriage. It passed the House last week. Read more Pennsylvania lawmakers last week took a step toward eliminating its dormant prohibition on same-sex marriage, under a bill that passed the state House of Representatives. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia), the bills sponsor, said his legislation would preempt theoretical federal action removing such protections, which activists and members of the LGBTQ+ community have raised concerns about since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion two years ago. Advertisement Pennsylvania could be at risk of having trigger language on the books that doesnt reflect the desires of a majority of Pennsylvanians, Kenyatta said. Two-thirds of Pennsylvanians support same-sex marriage, according to one recent poll. But the bill faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled state Senate. A separate House bill that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, also sponsored by Kenyatta, has languished there for over a year. A Senate spokesperson did not comment on the bills future, other than to say it would be assigned to a committee. A spokesperson for state Sen. Cris Dush (R., Jefferson), who chairs the committee assigned to the antidiscrimination legislation, did not respond to a request for comment. I dont understand the controversy here, said state Rep. Jessica Benham (D., Allegheny), one of the bills sponsors. Nobody should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love. Prohibitions on same-sex marriage were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 and President Joe Biden signed legislation in 2022 formally recognizing and protecting marriage equality. Even with broad bipartisan support for same-sex marriage both in Congress and among the American public, LGBTQ+ advocates said they want to cover their bases. Just because something is currently in law, doesnt mean that it will always be in law, Benham said. Pennsylvanias same-sex marriage ban was signed into law in 1996 by then-Gov. Tom Ridge after it sailed through the legislature. Ridge and some of the legislators who supported the ban have since changed their stances. The bill to overturn the ban received the support of a third of the Republican caucus and all but one Democrat in the House last week. Its unfortunate that getting the type of bipartisan support that we got with this legislation is not as commonplace as I think it should be in the legislature, Kenyatta said. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, supports the measure and looks forward to signing it, according to a statement from his office. Trebor Maitin is an intern with the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents Association. He can be reached at trebormmaitin@gmail.com. Pictured is the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating facility in Middletown, Pa., in 2019. Read more Its been half a decade since Three Mile Island provided power to Pennsylvania, but one of the nuclear plants decommissioned reactors might have a restart in its future. Three Mile Island owner Constellation Energy Corporation is in talks with Gov. Josh Shapiros office and state lawmakers to potentially bring the sites Unit 1 reactor back online, according to a recent report from Reuters. That reactor is separate from the infamous Unit 2 reactor, which suffered a partial meltdown in 1979, and has been dormant ever since. Advertisement Unnamed sources told Reuters that the talks were beyond preliminary, but neither the governors office nor Constellation Energy has publicly confirmed that a restart is imminent. Constellation Energy, which operates more than a dozen nuclear power plants nationwide (including two others in Pennsylvania), has not made any decision, but has determined a restart would be technically feasible, a company spokesperson told Reuters. Shapiros office, meanwhile, told the Susquehanna Valleys Fox 43 that it recognizes the role Pennsylvanias nuclear generation fleet plays in providing safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity, but did not confirm the talks. READ MORE: A nuclear accident made Three Mile Island infamous. AIs needs may revive it. Rumblings of a potential restart at Three Mile Island comes amid a renewed interest in nuclear energy in nationally and in Harrisburg, with lawmakers earlier this month announcing the relaunch of a bipartisan Nuclear Energy Caucus that will work to shore up the states nuclear power industry. And earlier this year, the Department of Energy announced a $1.5 billion loan to reopen a Michigan-based nuclear plant that shut down in 2022. But, as Reuters reported, any restart would likely face roadblocks due to safety and environmental concerns, as well as economic and logistical issues. Three Mile Island, after all, is the home of what is considered to be the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history thanks to its partial meltdown more than 40 years ago. Here is what you need to know: When was the meltdown at Three Mile Island? Located on the Susquehanna River about 10 miles outside Harrisburg, Three Mile Islands Unit 2 reactor went online in December 1978 four years after Unit 1 started producing power. Three months later, on March 28, 1979, Unit 2s partial meltdown started after a malfunction.caused a slight leakage of radiation into the atmosphere, according to an Inquirer report from the time. That malfunction caused a shutdown of the facility, which was evacuated. State officials learned of the incident hours later, prompting them to declare a general emergency the first ever at a nuclear reactor, the Inquirer reported. Lt. Gov. William Scranton called the incident minor in its immediate aftermath, but later told reporters that the situation was more complex than representatives from the plants then-operator, Metropolitan Edison, led officials to believe. Officials would later report that people living within five to 10 miles of the plant were potentially exposed to about 10 times as much radiation as Met Ed officials estimated. Officials at the time indicated that a total meltdown was not likely, and there was no imminent danger of a public health threat, the Daily News reported. However, the formation of a hydrogen bubble threatened the possibility of a total meltdown but that was avoided after the bubble began shrinking. There were no reported deaths or injuries, but more than 140,000 people temporarily evacuated the area, according to Popular Mechanics. What happened during the Three Mile Island cleanup? In the wake of the partial meltdown, the Bechtel Corporation began leading a billion-dollar cleanup of the Unit 2 reactor. A senior startup engineer, Richard Parks, however, became a whistleblower, alleging that the company and plant operator were taking safety shortcuts. Parks would go on to work with the Government Accountability Project to file a 56-page affidavit with the U.S. Department of Labor detailing the alleged safety issues. Central to the allegations, The Inquirer reported in 1983, were Parks concerns over a piece of equipment at the top of the reactor that would be used in the cleanup. The issue, Parks said, was that the equipment was damaged during the accident, and needed to be refurbished and tested to ensure its safety and that he had been harassed by the company and relieved from a number of duties for his concern. In November 1983, a federal grand jury accused Met Ed of falsifying tests showing whether excessive water was leaking from the cooling system, and systematically destroying records of those tests. Ultimately, Met Ed pleaded guilty to falsifying records, and was ordered to pay a $45,000 fine and create a $1 million fund to help clean up the plant. In 2019, EnergySolutions Inc. announced that it would acquire Unit 2 in order to decommission and dismantle it a process that remains ongoing. TMI-2 Solutions, a subsidiary of the company, estimates that the process will be complete by 2038. What happened to Three Mile Islands Unit 1? Unit 1 was not taken out during Unit 2s 1979 partial meltdown. In fact, it remained operational for decades, providing power to some 830,000 homes throughout its run. But that run came to an end on Sept. 20, 2019, when Unit 1 was finally disconnected from the power grid after 45 years in operation. Its closure wasnt a surprise the plants owner, then known as Exelon, had announced in 2017 that it would shut down the reactor. At the time, the company said a shutdown was imminent unless the Pennsylvania legislature rescued the states nuclear industry, which was struggling to compete amid electricity prices driven down amid newfound natural-gas resources. In the five years before the impending closure was announced, Exelon said, Unit 1 had lost more than $300 million, despite being one of its most efficient units. Were not going to be able to cost-cut ourselves out of this situation were in, David Fein, an Exelon Corp. vice president for state government affairs, told The Inquirer in 2017. There needs to be some policy changes to address the market flaws and market challenges were seeing. That change, however, never came. Today, the decommissioning of Unit 1 remains in process. If the reactor isnt restarted, that effort is expected to cost an estimated $1.2 billion in total. And it wouldnt be completed for roughly 60 years, with a projected finish date sometime in 2079, The Inquirer reported. State Rep. Jared Solomon, seen in a 2021 photo welcoming Afghan people being resettled in Philadelphia, said something has to change in the office run by Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, a fellow Democrat. Read more A state representative from Northeast Philadelphia is calling for an overhaul of the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office, accusing Sheriff Rochelle Bilal of administrative malpractice that is causing people to lose faith in all government. State Rep. Jared Solomon first made his remarks last week on the social media platform X following an Inquirer report about massive delays in transferring deeds following sheriffs sales. Advertisement That process used to take about six to eight weeks after the sale. But under Bilal, it can now take seven months or more. Some buyers, who are told at auction that they should receive the deed within 90 days, are still waiting for deeds to properties they purchased last year. The sheriff has not provided a public explanation for the recent deed delays. Several buyers and their agents who have called or visited the office cant get answers, either. READ MORE: They bought properties at Philadelphia sheriff sales, but they never got the deed Solomon said in an interview that the Sheriffs Office, which has a history of scandal and corruption going back to the mid-19th century, continues to be a train wreck under Bilal, a former police officer now in her second term as sheriff. In addition to the recent deed delays, most sales of tax-delinquent properties have been on hold altogether since 2021, which has cost the city tens of millions in uncollected tax revenue and contributed to blight. It seems like this is so ministerial and bureaucratic in nature. Why cant we do this? Solomon asked. Our communities deserve a lot better. Solomon, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general in the April primary, said the Sheriffs Office dysfunction is contributing to voter apathy at a time when Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is pushing an ambitious agenda to improve the quality of life in Philadelphia. When people dont feel heard or feel that government delivers in a meaningful way, they tune out, he said. Youre seeing a mayor now that understands that government is about deliverables and tangible improvements to communities. A spokesperson for Parker declined to comment. Andrew McGinley, vice president of external affairs at the Committee of Seventy good-government group, said the problem with recording deeds is another disappointing development in the Sheriffs Offices long history of misconduct and further underscores the need to reform the office. The Committee of Seventy has for years called on City Council to pass a proposed amendment to the citys Home Rule Charter which would require voter approval to eliminate the Sheriffs Office as an independently elected office and transfer its responsibilities to other city departments. Not only does the office appear to have no regard for conducting itself in an ethical or appropriate manner, but time after time its proven that it cant even do the most basic functions of the office, calling into question why it should exist in the first place, McGinley said. The other option would be for Harrisburg to take action, Solomon said: At the state level, you can impeach any civil officer. Spokespeople for state House leaders declined to comment on the issue Monday. Privately, City Hall staffers have long expressed their frustration with Bilals office. Publicly, however, the sheriff rarely faces any scrutiny. In March, Parker told attendees of her first budget address in City Council chambers to give Bilal a huge round of applause. The following month, at a budget hearing, Council President Kenyatta Johnson thanked Bilal for your hard work and your dedication and working in partnership with members of Council and the city of Philadelphia. Johnsons spokesperson, Vincent Thompson, said on Friday that the Council president was busy responding to the July 4 mass shooting in Kingsessing and could not comment on Solomons remarks about the sheriff. Thompson said on Monday that Johnson remained unavailable for comment. He referred questions to the Sheriffs Office. Bilal spokesperson Teresa Lundy on Tuesday had little to say about the calls for reform. As it relates to a response to Rep. Solomon: God speed, Lundy e-mailed. A shooting took place on the east side of S. 11th Street between Chestnut and Market Streets around 11:30 p.m. on June 2. Read more A 24-year-old man has surrendered to police for an early June triple shooting that occurred in Center City, police said Monday. Tahjir Williams, who was being sought on an arrest warrant, was expected to be charged with three counts of aggravated assault and related offenses for the late-night shooting on June 2. Advertisement Around 11:30 p.m., Philadelphia police responded to a reported shooting on South 11th Street near Ludlow Street and found three victims in the area. A 42-year-old woman with gunshot wounds to her pelvis and right arm was taken by police to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she was listed in critical but stable condition at the time. A 53-year-old woman shot once in the right leg was taken by police to Jefferson and was reported in stable condition. A 22-year-old man shot in the right arm was transported by police to Jefferson and was listed in stable condition. There was some type of argument or dispute that happened out here, Captain Anthony Ganard said at the time. Police on Monday did not elaborate on a possible motive or other details about the shooting. Shahied Dawan, former CFO at music producer Kenny Gamble's affordable housing and charter school nonprofit Universal Companies, arrives at the federal courthouse in Center City Philadelphia in 2022. Read more A former executive at the community development nonprofit founded by Philadelphia music legend Kenny Gamble was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Monday for awarding himself $80,000 in unauthorized bonuses and enabling a colleague to loot the organization for hundreds of thousands of dollars more. Shahied Dawan, former CFO at Universal Companies, apologized to the music producer and his wife, Faatimah, who founded the charity in 2002 to expand access to affordable housing and, eventually, charter schools in Philadelphias impoverished communities. Advertisement He continued: I apologize to the students, the parents, the board members, the residents, the tenants, and everyone at Universal for not doing my best at that time. I sincerely regret not using due professional care. That last remark, during a hearing in federal court, prompted U.S. District Judge Gerald A. McHugh to remind Dawan that his crimes extended beyond just poor performance as an accountant. Instead, the judge stressed, Dawan and Universals ex-CEO Rahim Islam had been found guilty of embezzling more than a half-million dollars in government funding and charitable donations meant to support Universals mission money they spent on themselves instead. Respect for the law here, the judge said. Is the recognition that [those] assets dont belong to anyone here but the community. Dawans sentence which also included a $15,000 fine and an order that the executives pay more than $190,000 in restitution came four months after both men were convicted of covering-up the thefts by lying on Universals tax forms. Both men had been acquitted in an earlier trial of bribing Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and his wife, Dawn Chavous. In the embezzlement trial earlier this year, a jury acquitted Dawan of many of the counts on which it convicted Islam. Still, prosecutors insisted Monday that while Dawan may not have been found as culpable as his codefendant, he had ultimate control over Universals books and enabled Islams thefts for years. Without [Dawans] assistance, none of this would have happened, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dubnoff said. Without Dawan, theres more money for affordable housing theres more money for educating children. Evidence at trial showed that Islam awarded himself at least $280,000 in bonuses and raises between 2011 and 2016 and that Dawan paid himself $80,000 salary bumps Universal board members testified they never voted to approve. At the same time, Islam submitted more than $211,000 in reimbursement requests to the company for personal expenses including car insurance, dinners, gym memberships, tickets to Broadway shows, and family vacations and romantic getaways for him and his girlfriends. Dawan consistently signed off on these expenses and hid others on the charitys tax filings, knowing they were not legitimately tied to Universals work. All the while, Dubnoff maintained that Universal was struggling to stay afloat. READ MORE: Who is Kenny Gamble? From Philly soul to Universal Companies, heres what to know. By 2010, Universals real estate development wing had all but ceased operations due to its inability to fund projects, and its charter campuses in Philadelphia were failing to fund the education of children. One former Universal teacher told investigators that money was so tight she resorted to having her students cook and sell lunches to faculty members to raise funds to pay for basic classroom supplies like paper and pencils. Universals charter school portfolio in Philadelphia has shrunk since the time the men were leading the organization, though it still operates five campuses within city limits. In a statement to the court, its attorneys said the hit it took as a result of Islams and Dawans crimes extended beyond its financial losses. As a result of the widespread publicity surrounding their prosecution, Universal also experienced reputational harm, they said. Still, Dawans lawyer, Thomas O. Fitzpatrick, pushed for probation. He and several witnesses lauded Dawans commitment to both Universals mission, despite his crimes, and to the community in which he lives. He is someone who prior to this had an unblemished record, the defense lawyer said. And now, his record has been marred by these proceedings. Though the judge called a sentence of probation inappropriate, he ultimately agreed that Dawan deserved some credit for the life he had lived up to and after his crime. The year-and-a-half sentence he imposed was roughly half what prosecutors sought. I am convinced Mr. Dawan is a good man based on his family and based on the many things he has done, McHugh said, shortly before announcing his sentence. The question a judge faces, though, is: What do you do when a good man does something seriously wrong? Islam is set to face sentencing next week. The Wawa convenience store at 3230 Richmond St. in 2013. It will close on Tuesday, July 9, after 45 years in operation. Read more Near the corner of Allegheny Avenue and Richmond Street sits one of Philadelphias oldest Wawa convenience stores. Starting tomorrow, it will be permanently closed. Port Richmonds Wawa at 3230 Richmond St., open since 1979, is closing on Tuesday, July 9 after 45 years in the Philly neighborhood. Wawa decided to close the business after an extensive evaluation, a spokesperson told the Inquirer. Advertisement While this was a very difficult decision to make, we have determined that this store cannot deliver the experience customers deserve or continue to meet performance expectations, read Wawas official statement on the closure. And while this location will close, it in no way impacts our continued commitment to the Philadelphia community. Since this store opened in 1979, we have grown our presence and services to Philadelphia, with 36 stores currently operating and a strong and growing commitment to some of the Citys largest events and institutions. Philadelphia is our hometown and that will never change. The store closing, first reported by the Philadelphia Business Journal, is the eighth in Philadelphia since 2020. A Wawa on 21st and Hamilton Streets near the Rodin Museum, which has occupied the space since the 80s, will be closing in September after the propertys landlord did not renew the convenience stores lease. In July 2023, Wawa closed its Headhouse Square District store citing performance, while residents of the neighborhood complained about the aggressive panhandling, crime, and drug use happening outside of the store. In October 2022, Wawa closed two Center City stores, at 12th and Market Streets and 19th and Market Streets, pointing to continued safety and security challenges. From 2020 to 2022, thefts across all 40 of Wawas Philly locations doubled, while pandemic restrictions and lockdowns hurt sales in 2020. While Wawa stores have closed in Philadelphia, the convenience store chain has announced expansions into the South and Midwest with stores in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia planned for 2024. Starting next year, Wawa will open 160 stores across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana over the next 10 years. Residents who frequent the Port Richmond Wawa can pick up their morning Sizzlis and coffee at nearby stores at 4371 Richmond St., 2535 Aramingo Ave., or 3901 Aramingo Ave. Rev. Rauscher was a talented magician as well as a parapsychology expert and respected cleric. Read more William V. Rauscher Jr., 91, of Woodbury, retired longtime Episcopal rector at Christ Church in Woodbury, honorary canon of Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, parapsychologist, author, stage magician, and mentor, died Wednesday, July 3, of age-associated ailments at his home. For 36 years, from 1960 to 1996, the Rev. Rauscher ministered to hundreds of families and thousands of Episcopal parishioners at historic Christ Church on Delaware Street in downtown Woodbury. He was an energetic leader, and he helped renovate the church buildings and invigorate his congregation. Advertisement He could make the most challenging theological concepts understandable, said longtime friend Al Belmont. He spoke with grace and knowledge and authority. In his autobiography, From Childhood to Priesthood A Brief Memoir and Reflections, Rev. Rauscher said his religious calling was a life, not a job. In the big picture, Rev. Rauscher organized Woodburys first ecumenical panel discussions on important issues, served as president of a Woodbury clergy association, and was named honorary canon of Trinity Cathedral in 1971. He also played active leadership roles at conferences, retreats, and synods, on commissions and boards, and for foundations. Closer to home, he established a vocational school of religion and an endowment fund at Christ Church, and the church dedicated a special stained-glass window to his life and ministry in 1998. He publicly protested for racial equality in the 1960s and organized Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for decades. He ran fundraisers for people in need, conducted thousands of worship services, and assembled an eclectic roster of prominent guest speakers for a yearslong lecture series at the church and for a local youth group. He was curious and interested in parapsychology, particularly how near-death experiences and telepathic communication may relate to life-after-death theories and Christian beliefs. So he hosted seminars on the intersections of religion and the paranormal, and was president and executive board member of the Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship in the 1960s and 70s. He met with European psychics on a grant from the Parapsychology Foundation in New York and lectured to psychic phenomenon societies around the world. The Inquirer wrote several stories about his religious and paranormal beliefs in the 1960s and 70s, and he called himself a pioneer interpreter of the so-called psychic revolution for Christians in his autobiography. When you think about it, he told The Inquirer in 1970, Christianity was actually founded on the beliefs of life after death, miracles, visions, voices from beyond. Those are all examples of psychic phenomena. Rev. Rauscher was also a popular magician, mentor, and chaplain of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He held popular stage shows that featured tricks from Harry Houdini and other famous magicians, and he was inducted into the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame in 1994. American magician David Copperfield sent him best wishes on his 91st birthday last year. Intellectual and expressive, Rev. Rauscher wrote dozens of articles and monographs, and 25 books, including 2019s Edgar Mitchell The Man with the Cosmic Mind, about religion, parapsychology, magic, and other topics. He graduated from Philadelphia Divinity School, now part of Episcopal Divinity School, in 1957 and served as rector at St. Stevens Church in Florence, now Sts. Stephen and Barnabas Church, until 1960. He felt a gnawing for the ministry as a young man, he said in his autobiography, and found in the Episcopal church a natural approach to the religious life, where I could find a balance of personality and spirituality. William Vernon Rauscher Jr. was born Oct. 17, 1932, in Long Branch, N.J. He grew up in Highlands, N.J., and learned one of his first magic tricks from his uncle George. He enjoyed the lights and action on New Jerseys many seaside boardwalks as a teenager and earned a bachelors degree in education at Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, in 1954. He was modest and friendly, and he sent birthday cards to friends and invited his parents to live with him near the church. He lectured around the world, and a longtime friend called him a true raconteur with a mischievous sense of humor in an online tribute. Another friend said: He made me feel like I mattered. He said in his autobiography: I have learned that the Church is really the people, and people make things happen because of faith, commitment, and the urgency to get things done. Rev. Rauscher is survived by cousins and other relatives. Services were held Wednesday. Donations in his name may be made to the Endowment Fund of Christ Church, 62 Delaware St., Woodbury, N.J. 08096. Vicen President Kamala Harris joins President Joe Biden in May in Philadelphia for a Black Voters for Biden-Harris." Harris will return to Philadelphia Saturday to address an Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote event. Read more Vice President Kamala Harris will give a keynote speech at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia on Saturday. Harris, whose mother immigrated to the United States from India, made history as the first Asian American vice president along with being the countrys first female and first Black vice president. Advertisement It will be Harris sixth visit to the state this year and 16th since taking office, according to the campaign. The appearance in Philadelphia comes as President Joe Biden faces calls to withdraw from the race against former President Donald Trump, following his poor debate performance last month. READ MORE: Heres where Pa.s Democratic Congress members stand on whether Joe Biden should remain the nominee Many in the party have argued that Harris would be a more competitive replacement candidate should Biden drop out of the race. As the sitting vice president, shed be the front-runner to replace Biden on the Democratic Partys ticket. But Harris has stuck firmly behind the president as he faces pressure from activists. APIAVote, the group hosting Harris speech, is a national nonprofit that aims to increase voter registration and turnout among the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The speech will serve as the keynote address of a two-day event at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown. The group said on its website it is anticipating a crowd of 1,800. Harris visit to Philadelphia also comes when Trump will be on the other side of the state for a campaign event in Butler County. President Joe Biden speaks onstage in the gym at Girard College on May 29, 2024, where he was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris to kick off their campaigns Black Voters for Biden-Harris effort. In recent weeks, Biden has faced calls to exit the race in favor of Harris or another nominee. Read more WASHINGTON President Joe Biden went on the offensive this week, telling Democrats in Congress he will remain the nominee and urging them to rally around his campaign despite lingering concerns over his age, fitness for office, and ability to defeat former President Donald Trump. In Pennsylvania, the Democratic delegation appears split in the wake of Bidens disastrous June debate performance. Several members have voiced full-throated support for the 81-year-old president or appeared with him recently, but a handful have either declined to comment on whether he should be the nominee or indicated they are still wrestling with the question. Advertisement Im still thinking it through, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat who represents Chester County, said Monday night at the Capitol, headphones in as she went to vote. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive from Pittsburgh, also declined to comment on Bidens candidacy. U.S. Rep. Susan Wild directed a reporter to a printed statement issued Sunday after reports of a phone call among senior leaders was leaked and identified her as someone concerned about Bidens fitness. In a confidential conversation with other members of House Democratic leadership, I expressed the same concerns that Americans across the country and here in my district are grappling with, about President Bidens electability at the top of the ticket, said Wild, a Democrat who faces a tough reelection in the Lehigh Valley. Advertisement ... In the coming days and weeks, I will operate as I always have, continuing to have these important conversations while keeping the best interests of my constituents at the forefront of every decision and statement I make. The timeline for Democrats in Congress to unify around a call for Biden to drop out may be narrowing. Biden has downplayed any dissent and said repeatedly he has senior leadership behind him. While a handful of members have publicly called for him to decline the nomination, it would take many, many more of the 213 to have any influence on what is ultimately Bidens decision to make. The party will hold its national convention in Chicago next month with Biden set to formally accept the nomination unless something changes. And many states will begin early voting as soon as September. House Democrats held a caucus Tuesday morning at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee offices in Washington. Senate Democrats also met on Capitol Hill later in the day. Advertisement House Democrats filtered into the DCCC on Tuesday morning, where they had their phones and Apple Watches locked away to ensure private discussions during the meeting. Three men in suits held Is Joe Biden fit for office? signs by the front door. Most members either declined to talk to reporters waiting in the muggy Washington heat afterward or offered brief comments saying it was a private place for people to express views or a family conversation. Wild and Houlahan declined reporters questions as they left the meeting. At least one of the six members who have called for Biden to drop out, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, said after the meeting that that remains his assessment. Im concerned about him dragging the ticket down, Quigley said. Heres what Pennsylvanias nine House Democrats and two senators have said about whether they think Biden should remain the party nominee: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman Fetterman is firmly backing the president, campaigning with him Sunday. At a labor union event in Harrisburg, the senator hailed Biden as the only person thats ever kicked Trumps ass in an election and took a jab at media coverage of the efforts to oust Biden from the race. I hope the media is hearing that remind you of that. Humiliated Trump. Broke him, Fetterman said. Advertisement Fetterman, who experienced a stroke during his 2022 election campaign, had his own closely scrutinized TV debate performance before his eventual victory over Republican Mehmet Oz. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Casey, a fellow Scranton native and close Biden ally, acknowledged the presidents poor debate performance but has so far stuck by him. People know whats at stake in this race, Casey said last week in Scranton. Casey joined Biden during his campaign swing in the state on Sunday. The incumbent Democrat will be on the ballot alongside Biden in November as he attempts to fend off a challenge from Republican Dave McCormick. U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (Philadelphia) Boyle appeared with Biden during his visit to Philadelphia on Sunday. Hes posted photos on social media of him hugging the president on the tarmac and on Monday night he shared a message affirming his support. I wanted Biden to run in 2016, and still regret he didnt, Boyle said on X, formerly known as Twitter. I urged him to run in 2020 and was a strong supporter from Day One. And I stayed a strong supporter, even when the odds looked long. So I sure as hell am not abandoning Joe Biden now. " U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (Philadelphia) Evans is not yet back on the hill after suffering a minor stroke from which hes still recovering in Philadelphia. But hes posted a lot of positive reinforcement for Biden on social media, including just a day after the debate. Im proud to have voted to pass key parts of the Biden-Harris administrations agenda, and Im happy to remind everyone of how much Joe Biden has accomplished, Evans posted on X after Bidens ABC interview. Advertisement A spokesperson who was asked whether Evans supports Bidens decision to remain the nominee responded that Evans answer was: Hell yes. U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (Montgomery County) Dean appeared with Biden this weekend at a church service in Northwest Philadelphia and campaign stops in Philadelphia and Harrisburg. This man knows exactly what hes doing, Dean said in her remarks in Harrisburg. And we cannot risk going back. In a PBS Newshour interview Monday, she said she is unapologetically supportive of the president, his record, his decency, and his integrity. She described the president during the campaign swing as well-spirited. He worked from a notebook. I know the teleprompter argument goes on... We also were together in front of folks who were organizers on the campaign side and labor, where the president spoke without any notes, and he was terrific. He was just fine. Dean said voters need to see more of Biden. Americans need to listen, see Joe Biden out there more, see him face-to-face with the American people and make their decision. U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (Delaware County; parts of Philadelphia, Chester and Montgomery Counties) Scanlon said, in a statement: I support President Biden as our Democratic nominee for president, and celebrate the Biden-Harris administrations record of accomplishment for Pennsylvania families. Voters in my district stepped up to provide the margin of victory to defeat Donald Trump in 2020, and we look forward to defeating him again in 2024. U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (Chester and Berks Counties) Houlahan said she wasnt ready to talk about Biden on Monday evening and said shes still thinking things through. She hasnt issued any statements about the presidents debate or his campaign since the debate. U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton Counties; parts of Monroe County) Wild hasnt elaborated beyond a Sunday statement in which she acknowledged shes expressed concerns about Bidens candidacy, through conversations with constituents. Wild is facing a tight reelection battle in her Lehigh Valley district. She appeared with first lady Jill Biden at a community college in Allentown on July 2, but declined to answer questions about the presidential election. Im not talking politics today, she said at the event held just five days after the debate. She joined President Biden during a visit to the Lehigh Valley in January and praised the important work the presidents done to reduce costs and invest in infrastructure, and of course, prosecuting the case against Donald Trump on democracy and freedom. U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike Counties; part of Luzerne and Monroe Counties) Cartwright, who represents a swing district in Northeastern Pennsylvania, had been quiet on Bidens debate performance until this week. Cartwright issued a statement Tuesday evening, distancing himself from the president without calling for him to step aside. The president had a tough night, but Im running a different race in my community. Northeastern Pennsylvania knows me, Cartwright said. They know Im delivering good-paying jobs, lowering prescription drug prices, and sticking up for our rights. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (Allegheny and part of Westmoreland County) Lee declined to discuss Biden when approached on Capitol Hill. She said in a radio interview last Wednesday that Biden needs to get in front of voters and show hes capable of beating Trump. Speaking on Sirius XMs Mornings with Zerlina, hosted by former Hillary Clinton campaign staffer Zerlina Maxwell, Lee said, If President Biden and his team decides that hes staying in this race, then its going to be incumbent on them to show us to show us, not tell us to show us that hes up for the task. If Biden decided to step aside, she later said, Vice President Kamala Harris should be the Democratic nominee. There is not going to be time for a primary, she said. The vice president is the obvious choice because shes sitting right there as somebody who has been in the White House, as somebody who already has the name recognition, whos already out on the trail. She added: [T]he optics of pushing aside a Black woman is that theyre not good. U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (Beaver County and part of Allegheny) Deluzio on July 2 appeared with House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries at a visit to Pittsburgh International Airport to tout infrastructure dollars. Both offered strong support for a second Biden term during the visit. As much as it was a tough night, I think I also heard Donald Trump lie probably 30 times, Deluzio said. I heard him say he wont commit to respecting the election results. I continue to think hes a significant threat to our freedom, to this democracy. HARRISBURG Lawmakers in the state Capitol are finalizing the details of a new way to fund public education and nearing a budget deal, a week after the deadline to approve a new spending plan. The cornerstone of the more than $47 billion budget is expected to be its investments in K-12 public education and higher education. And that funding has been the biggest hang-up during negotiations. Advertisement Leaders agreed in closed-door talks on how much new money to spend on the public school system but had not agreed how to allocate those funds, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) said in a news conference last week. Its not yet clear how much new money lawmakers will add to the more than $16 billion they already spend each year toward funding local school districts. Public education advocates as well as top Philadelphia officials had been asking the state to add $1.4 billion to public education. Leaders are also close to a deal on cyber charter changes, including the creation of a reimbursement fund for school districts, Pittman added. By Monday, leaders were crossing our ts and dotting our is, said House Appropriations Chair Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia), a key stakeholder at the negotiation table, with budget bills likely to start moving through the legislative process early this week. Unlike last years budget talks which blew up after Gov. Josh Shapiro negotiated a controversial school voucher program with Republicans that he later line-item vetoed at Democrats request this years negotiations appear more coolheaded. House Democrats, Senate Republicans, and Shapiro all continue to say that negotiations have been moving in a positive direction. Lawmakers are in the process of creating a new public school funding system after a Commonwealth Court judge ruled last year that the way Pennsylvania currently funds its public schools is unconstitutional. Officials spent months collecting public comment and studying the issue to create a system that would adequately and equitably meet the needs of students, no matter their zip code. But Democrats and Republicans still disagreed, with members of each party submitting their own reports to a funding commission. Democrats then advanced a plan to increase state funding for public education by more than $5 billion over seven years. Our caucus has been committed since Day One to address the Commonwealth Courts ruling, and we believe that we are close to a consensus around how we do that and how we drive the money out to districts, Harris said Monday. A small group of legislative leaders, along with Shapiro, are negotiating a deal in private. Their staff members typically kick off budget negotiations, with leaders coming to the table when they near a deal. I think the Republican and Democratic leaders and staff who are hard at work deserve a lot of credit for continuing to move the ball down the field, Shapiro told PennLive on Sunday, according to a recording of the interview provided by the governors office. I said last week, were in the red zone. I think now were deep in the red zone, and were going to get there, Shapiro said. It is hard being part of the only divided legislature in the entire nation, but ... all parties are treating one another with respect. School vouchers were poised to be a major sticking point as part of this years negotiations, but Senate GOP leaders avoided that debate by focusing instead on existing or new tax credits to help children attend private schools. Republican leaders maintain that they will continue to fight for school choice in future budgets, Pittman said last week, and a Senate committee fast-tracked an $8,000 tax credit program for private school and homeschool students. Empowering parents, to some level, is an absolute priority, Pittman added. Shapiros budget proposal unveiled in February included more than $48.34 billion in spending. Several parts of that proposal such as legalizing recreational marijuana proved to be nonstarters among Senate Republicans. Lawmakers were sent home over the weekend as legislative leaders continued to hammer out a deal. All legislators were sent a mass email on Saturday that included a bomb threat, which led to the evacuation of the state Capitol, but Harris told reporters that they continued negotiating the budget during that time. Legislators returned to work Monday with no active threat to the Capitol. Moderator Andrea Lawful-Sanders asks a question to Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, former City Controller Alan Butkovitz, and State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams during a Democratic mayoral forum held by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists at Bonnell Auditorium on the campus Community College of Philadelphia, April, 22, 2019. Read more Sara M. Lomax, president and CEO of Philadelphias WURD radio, took to the talk stations airwaves Monday to clear the air about a high-profile ethical misstep by a now-former host, Andrea Lawful-Sanders. Lomax also accused President Joe Bidens campaign of pulling a fast one and said the Democratic Party needs to get its act together to prevent another Donald Trump presidency. Advertisement Lomaxs on-air appearance came after Lawful-Sanders said on CNN that the Biden campaign sent her eight predetermined questions ahead of the audio interview and that she chose four of them to ask, essentially creating a script for Biden to follow and violating journalistic standards. The comment made waves online as many have raised questions about Bidens ability to perform his public duties as president in light of his lackluster performance in his debate with Trump on June 27. The Biden campaign defended the practice, with spokesperson Lauren Hitt saying that sharing topics they would prefer is a common practice and that the campaign doesnt condition interviews on the questions. But the campaign will no longer offer suggested questions after the blowback, according to a source familiar with Bidens operations. In an Instagram post on Monday, Lawful-Sanders said that she worked with Bidens team about topics to discuss before the interview and that they respected my notes, question edits, and license to change, add or ignore their suggested questions. READ MORE: Andrea Lawful-Sanders leaves WURD after Biden campaign provides questions for Joe Biden interview Lomax announced Sunday that Lawful-Sanders and the Philadelphia station, which focuses on issues important to the Black community, had parted ways. Lomax spoke further about the incident on WURD on Monday morning. Heres what to know. Andrea Lawful-Sanders resigned. She was not fired. In a post online on Sunday, Lomax said Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately. Andrea resigned, Lomax said on air Monday, clearing up misinterpretations of the statement. On her own volition. She was not fired. She chose to resign, and we accepted her resignation. Lawful-Sanders also said on Instagram that she resigned over the weekend, and, on Monday, she said she didnt have a background in journalism prior to the role. I am not a journalist, she said. I was once a radio show host. Every single day, though, I am a Black woman in America. And because of that and that alone, I will rise to every occasion to serve and advocate for my community with integrity, transparency, and a pure heart. Lomax also praised Lawful-Sanders work at the station since becoming a host in 2019. She really put her heart and soul into her work at WURD and impacted thousands of lives on a daily basis, and I want to take this opportunity to just acknowledge and recognize her contributions to the station, the CEO said. Sara M. Lomax said the Biden campaign pulled a fast one According to Lomax, all interviews involving the White House are required to go through the stations general manager, Ashanti Martin. But Bidens team intentionally bypassed and leapfrogged over the stations system by going directly to the host, Lomax said. The time turnaround is so frantic in those situations, Lomax said. I think there was just a lot of chaos happening around the interview, and so its really important to just understand that the Biden White House and the campaign, they tried to do a fast one basically and eliminate and overstep what the established understood protocol would be, and thats what really I think just created a lot of turmoil. Lomax and Martin did not know about the interview until White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced it publicly, Lomax said. The station already developed a growing relationship with the Biden administration since it aired a daylong live broadcast featuring members of the administration in February, Lomax said. It doesnt get any bigger than an interview with the president of the United States, Lomax said. Its really too much for any one person to try and, like, navigate all of that complexity. ... This is an opportunity for WURD to change some of its approaches and to tighten up some of our policies and procedures. Lomax said the Democratic Party is in chaos, and needs Black voters Lomax said the Biden campaign saw the need to focus on Black media after the disastrous debate, since Black Philadelphians are crucial for a Biden win. But she criticized the Democratic Party for being absolutely skittish and just in disarray as they try to mount a credible campaign. My position is, I dont care whether its Biden or some upstart, but theyve got to get on the same page, Lomax said. " the way theyre operating is absolutely frenetic. Its absolutely chaos, and that is an absolute disaster for Black America and Black Philadelphia. She said another Trump presidency is very, very possible if the Democrats dont get their stuff together and warned of further harm to affirmative action, DEI efforts, and reproductive rights. READ MORE: Why Donald Trump chose North Philadelphia for his first-ever rally in the city Why it was a problem to ask scripted questions Asking scripted questions isnt generally acceptable because it removes the medias function of holding those in power accountable and fractures trust with audiences. While it is standard for campaigns or organizations to suggest talking points or talk to reporters about what may be asked, reporters should not feel the need to use those questions. While Lomax accused the campaign of messing with their workflow, she didnt accuse it of conditioning the interview on using those questions, saying on air: I dont know if that was a condition or whatever, Im sure it wasnt. Solomon Jones, the Monday morning host, who regularly writes opinion columns for The Inquirer, said that while the campaign can suggest topics, from a journalistic standpoint you dont go according to a script provided by a public official. And I think that its important for our listeners to know that that is not what we do, he said. Because thats been an accusation. ... We dont do that. A bus shelter digital billboard displays a temperature of 95 degrees at 11th and Market Streets on Monday afternoon. Read more After one of the warmest Junes in Philadelphia history, hot weather is forecast to continue over the next week, with a heat advisory in effect and heat indexes potentially surpassing 100 degrees. A heat index is used to describe the feel like temperature or apparent temperature, said Ray Kruzdlo, a senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly. By late afternoon, the high temperature for Monday had reached 95 degrees, while the forecast highs are 97 on Tuesday and 94 on Wednesday, though it will likely feel warmer. Advertisement The heat index could reach as high as 104, according to the National Weather Services heat advisory, which began at 10 a.m. Monday and is scheduled to continue until 8 p.m. Wednesday. The advisory could be extended if needed, Kruzdlo said. When you get this warm and your body is not used to it, it could be detrimental to your health, Kruzdlo said. In similar nature, the forecast UV index on Monday is 10 out of 11, and a 9 on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are categorized as very high according to the National Weather Service. The weather service advises people to stay inside if possible and take extra precautions like wearing light clothing and sunscreen when outdoors and by limiting outdoor activity. The week is also expected to be a muggy one. Humidity will likely increase throughout the week, with potential thunderstorms starting as early as Wednesday, peaking on Friday, and scattering through Saturday, because of aftereffects of Hurricane Beryl, said Amanda Lee, a meteorologist in Mount Holly. A relief in temperature is expected on Friday, but Saturday is again expected to reach as high as 90, with heat persisting into next week. When is a heat advisory issued in Philadelphia? Heat advisories are issued differently throughout the country. A place like Florida wouldnt have a heat advisory for the weather Philly is experiencing, as theyre more acclimated to it, Kruzdlo said. But during July in Philadelphia, the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly will put out an heat advisory if heat indexes breach triple digits. How is a heat advisory different from a heat wave? A heat wave is another term used differently throughout the country. In the Philadelphia region, the definition is loose, but oftentimes the National Weather Service will consider it is a heat wave when temperatures are above 90 for at least three consecutive days, Kruzdlo said. He will add further strength and capability to the International business at SiriusPoint and play a key role in further developing the groups risk management framework. I am looking forward to working with Anthony as we continue to execute our growth strategy. This new appointment is further evidence that SiriusPoints strong performance and culture is attracting the markets best talent, Kull said. At TAL, we are committed to leading the life insurance sector by integrating intelligence and automation into our core business to drive meaningful insights from our data. We are streamlining our processes with innovative technology to better serve our customers and support our people with relevant skills and capabilities to get them ready for an exciting future, he said. According to a report by AM Best, the bill stipulates that the limits of the underinsured motorist coverage must match the highest limits of the bodily injury liability coverage for any vehicle covered by the policy. However, these limits cannot exceed $1 million per person or accident. Zayla Partners, on the other hand, is an executive compensation strategy firm that serves clients of various sizes across multiple industries. Chris Crawford, Ian Keas, and their team will remain in Texas and Colorado, reporting to Steve Coco, managing director of global human resources and compensation consulting for Gallaghers employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. Yet just because the insurance coverage is increasingly popular doesnt make it an easy win for brokers. Mike Westen (pictured above, left), crime product management lead at Travelers, emphasized the challenge of accurately quantifying the risks and costs associated with kidnap and ransom. This difficulty arises largely from widespread underreporting trends, both within the US and abroad. According to estimates from the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the US State Department, 60-70% of overseas kidnappings of US citizens go unreported. David Maurstad, FEMAs assistant administrator for the Federal Insurance Directorate, has disputed claims that higher rates are behind the policy drop. He believes that the decline started before the new rates were implemented and has stabilized since April 2022. He also pointed out that some states, like Florida, have seen policy increases, partly due to new state laws mandating flood insurance for many property owners. State Farm sought to dismiss the case, contending there is no private right to action for insurance code violations and that Hopman was not a third-party beneficiary. Both the trial court and the appeals court sided with State Farm, resulting in the dismissal of the case. For some strange reason, a small town in Oklahoma has the unwelcome distinction of being one of the most expensive places in the country to get home insurance (relative to property values). Pundits may point to Enid, Oklahomas relatively low population levels (pop. 50,000 home to the states railroad museum) as a cause perhaps there arent enough people to share the risks around but the states ninth largest city doesnt sit below sea level like New Orleans. It doesnt sit in a 100% wildfire risk county such as Riverside in California which is expecting $319m loss this year. This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. Picture this: Youve taken all the necessary steps to become a licensed insurance producer. Youve completed all of your states pre-licensing requirements, passed the official licensing exam, and submitted your background check and fingerprints. Youve got everything you need to start selling insurance products, right? Not exactly. Youre actually still missing one crucial step: Obtaining a carrier appointment. What is an appointment in insurance? An appointment is how insurance carriers tell the state which producers or agencies can sell their products. Appointments establish a relationship between a carrier and a producer, and without one, a producer cant legally sell a carriers insurance products. Sounds simple enough, but, because appointment requirements vary by state, things can get a little complicated. For example, while most states require carriers to report their producer appointments, there are a handful that dont, like Alaska, Illinois, Oregon, and any others we consider Registry states. Of the states that do require reporting, some regard producer appointments as perpetual (as long as the producer has a valid license), while others require annual appointment renewal. Some states even require producers to have at least one carrier appointment to keep their insurance license active. Umbrella and agency appointments To further complicate things, some states require carriers to appoint all agencies and other business entities (MGAs, MGUs, and BGAs, for example) that work downstream of them, along with their producers. In some states, these agency appointments mean carriers must pay for all of an agencys producers to be appointed with carriers theyll never actually sell products for. Other times, as long as an agency has affiliated its downstream producers to the business at the state level, then a carrier can merely appoint the agency and that agencys producers will automatically be authorized to operate under that agencys umbrella. And some states require every agency and each producer to have their own independent carrier appointment regardless of who works with whom. Sidenote: Tracking down state-specific appointment regulations can be its own burden, so if youre looking for answers to questions like Where do carriers renew their appointments in Texas? or Does California allow for JIT appointments?, check out our state-by-state insurance carrier appointment FAQ page. What are Just-In-Time appointments? To excuse carriers from having to pay to appoint agents before they ever write business, some states allow for what are known as Just-In-Time, or JIT appointments. JIT appointments let insurance carriers delay appointing a producer and paying the associated fees until the producer actually starts writing business for that carrier. JIT appointments can be a huge cost-savings opportunity for the insurance carriers who leverage them. You can read more about the benefits of JIT appointments and how to take advantage of them here. Do producers need multiple carrier appointments? Carrier appointments arent typically a one-and-done thing. Insurance producers typically have appointments with multiple carriers so they can sell a more diverse range of insurance products to address a wider range of risks. And they also may need separate appointments for each state theyre working in from each carrier. Along with the ability to sell their products, when a producer or agency appoints with a reputable carrier, they also gain leads, benefit from that carriers marketing efforts, and build greater trust with clients. Getting a carrier appointment isnt always a walk in the park, though, and it can be particularly challenging for smaller agencies or producers that are new to the scene. Carriers, especially larger, more established ones, might be reluctant to take the risk of partnering with newer, smaller agencies. However, everyone has to start somewhere, so weve put together a few tips for obtaining a carrier appointment as a new insurance agency. How should producers choose which carriers to get appointed with? Insurance producers form the connection between carriers and policyholders, so a smooth partnership is important for the success of everyone involved. As a good rule of thumb, producers should appoint with carriers who are: A good product/market fit This one is pretty self-explanatory. Producers should aim to appoint with carriers who offer the products their clients are looking for. For example, if you work as an insurance producer in a flood-prone state, youll want to get an appointment with at least one carrier that offers flood insurance. If a lot of your clients are getting married or starting a family, consider carriers with a wide range of life insurance options. Producers may also want to get an appointment with carriers whose product offerings provide opportunities to expand their business into new markets. Highly reputable and financially stable Insurance carriers have an obligation to pay customer claims, but unfortunately their ability to do so isnt always a guarantee. And while unforeseen risks like catastrophic natural disasters can rock even the sturdiest of carriers, producers should aim to get appointments with carriers who have a proven track record of meeting their financial obligations. If the information is available, its never a bad idea to check a carriers score with a rating agency to better understand their financial strength. Able to offer an exceptional producer and client experience As an insurance producer, your income is directly tied to your ability to sell insurance products. When a carriers appointment process is rife with manual data entry and workflow silos, producers get stuck in onboarding limbo, unable to sell until the process is complete. To make things more efficient, carriers can leverage modern technology and automation in their onboarding and appointment processes. Not only can modern insurtech help get producers ready to sell faster, it also shows a carriers commitment to offering a world-class producer experience. Talk about a green flag! And, with the producer experience dialed in, youll also want to think about what the carrier offers in the way of client experience. Do you want to sell products for a carrier that gives clients access to mobile apps, quick claims processing, and exceptional communication? Or one that makes it a nightmare for clients to report claims and get them paid? What is the insurance agent appointment process? As we alluded to earlier, the appointment process varies from state to state as well as from carrier to carrier. Generally, once a producer finds a carrier that aligns with their goals and their target market, theyll need to follow any specific state appointment requirements to qualify. Its then up to the carrier to submit the appointment request to the state Department of Insurance (DOI) and pay the associated fee. If the DOI finds the producer to be in compliance then, bada bing, bada boom, the appointment is confirmed. Of course, verifying that a producer is in compliance with all state-specific regulations can be its own challenge that, without help from integrated and automated insurance compliance technology, can take days, if not weeks, to complete. Insurance producer compliance throughout the appointment process State nuances mean insurance carrier appointments can be a time-consuming, tedious piece of the compliance puzzle, especially when managed by hand. With 50 states and multiple territories all having their own, sometimes contradictory appointment rules, manually managing producer compliance throughout the appointment process can be a little overwhelming to say the least. Luckily, theres a better way. Using a compliance-as-a-service platform that draws directly form the insurance industrys source of truth can ease the process and reduce the chance of error. If youre a carrier looking to ease your compliance teams burden and offer your distribution partners a world-class experience, AgentSync can help. Schedule a demo today. Topics Carriers Fifteen firefighters were injured fighting a large blaze at a fertilizer warehouse in South Hill, Virginia on Saturday. The firefighters were hospitalized due to chemical exposure, heat exhaustion and minors scrapes and burns. All were treated and released Sunday. The fire at the Nutrien Ag Solutions facility was contained with the aid of multiple first responder units, according to reports on Facebook by the towns volunteer fire department. At the peak of the incident 156 personnel were on scene along with 74 units. Multiple jurisdictions and states worked hand in hand to protect multiple exposures, the fire department reported. The South Hill Police Department reported that the fire was the result of a fatal car crash. Shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday, officers were dispatched to a vehicle fire that was the result of a single-vehicle crash. The vehicle had struck a light pole, the Nutrien building and two propane tanks on the property. The driver of the vehicle died at an area hospital later that afternoon. Police said that the preliminary investigation indicates that speed was a factor in this crash. The crash remains under investigation. A large amount of runoff from the fire entered nearby creeks. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is monitoring the situation. Officials said cleanup will take weeks for the agencies and an extended period of time for the property. Nutrien Ag Solutions is the retail division of Nutrien Ltd., a global crop inputs company offering seed, crop protection and nutrition products and financial services to farmers. Its proprietary brands include Loveland Products, Proven Seed and Dyna-Gro Seed. Topics Virginia A Russian court has ordered Volkswagen to pay 16.9 billion roubles ($193 million) in damages to Russian carmaker GAZ Group, which had sued the German automaker over lost profits after Volkswagen exited the Russian market. In May 2023, Volkswagen finalized the sale of its local subsidiaries and a plant south of Moscow to Art-Finance, supported by auto dealer group Avilon, which later renamed the factory AGR Automotive. The price was not disclosed, but a person familiar with the matter told Reuters the deal was valued at 125 million euros ($135 million). GAZ had been contracted to produce Volkswagen vehicles at its Nizhny Novgorod factory, and in a separate case had also sought damages from Volkswagen over the termination of engine deliveries. Volkswagen was one of many Western companies to leave Russia following Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Many foreign carmakers sold assets at cut prices in their haste to exit, leaving a gap that has been plugged mainly by Chinese competitors. GAZ Groups initial claim to recover 28.4 billion roubles from Volkswagen in damages was partially satisfied by the Nizhny Novgorod Arbitration Court, Interfax news agency reported. Volkswagen and GAZ Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not clear if Volkswagen intended to pay or whether it would appeal. The lawsuit was filed in April 2023. GAZ has filed other claims, seeking around another $350 million in damages, saying VWs moves to exit the Russian market had put its interests at risk. It initially persuaded a court to freeze Volkswagens assets in Russia pending court proceedings, but that was subsequently reversed. ($1 = 0.9241 euros) ($1 = 87.4000 roubles) (Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Gleb Stolyarov; editing by David Holmes) Topics Russia Similac baby formula maker Abbott was expected to face a trial on Monday over claims that its formula for preterm infants used in neonatal intensive care units causes a potentially deadly bowel disease, the second trial out of hundreds of similar lawsuits in the United States. Lawyers for the company and for Illinois resident Margo Gill will make their opening statements to jurors in St. Louis, Missouri, and the trial is expected to last most of the rest of the month. Gill alleges in the lawsuit that her premature infant child developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as a result of being fed Abbotts products for premature babies. NEC, which causes the death of bowel tissue, mostly affects newborns and has a fatality rate of between 15% and 40%. Gills child survived, but suffers long-term health problems, according to the lawsuit. Like all of the lawsuits over NEC, the case involves formula and products for fortifying mothers milk given to infants in hospital settings, not ordinary formula available to consumers in stores. Specialized formulas and fortifiers, like the one in this case, are considered part of the standard of care by the medical community and, along with human milk, are the only available options to feed premature infants, Abbott said in a statement. The company said that Gills child suffered from a traumatic brain injury in utero and at birth, long before she was fed any Abbott products, and that no one is to blame for her condition. Close to 1,000 lawsuits have been filed against Abbott, Enfamil formula maker Reckitt Benckiser or both in federal or state courts alleging that cows milk-based formula products for premature infants caused NEC. More than 500 are centralized in an Illinois federal court, with others pending in Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania. The lawsuits claim that the companies failed to warn that infants given their products are at greater risk of NEC compared to infants who are breast-fed or given donor milk or human milk-derived formula. Reckitt and a lawyer for the plaintiffs did not immediately comment. The first lawsuit to go to trial, against Reckitt in Illinois, ended with a $60 million jury verdict in March. Reckitt is appealing that verdict and has argued that the plaintiffs case relied on unsound expert testimony. The litigation has concerned investors. Reckitts share price fell about 15% after the verdict, and Abbotts about 4%. Both stocks have remained depressed, although analysts at JPMorgan and Barclays have said they believe the companies ultimate liability is likely to be small. The NEC Society, a patient-led non-profit organization working to combat the disease, has criticized the lawsuits, saying that feeding decisions should be made at patients bedsides, not in courtrooms. The group has no financial or other relationship with Abbott or Reckitt, according to a spokesperson. The NEC lawsuits are separate from ongoing litigation against Abbott over the shutdown of its Sturgis, Michigan, plant and subsequent recall of batches of baby formula for possible contamination, which contributed to a nationwide formula shortage in 2022. There have been no trials in those cases. Topics Claims Houston is set for a dangerous bout of heat as more than 2 million homes and businesses remain without power in the area around the nations fourth-largest city after Hurricane Beryls battering. The region is under a heat advisory, with heat index values a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in forecast as high as 106F (41C), the US National Weather Service said, warning of the possibility of illness under the extreme conditions. Actual temperatures will exceed 90F. While those temperatures arent unusual for Houston at this time of year, scorching weather and humidity combined with the lack of power will make for brutal conditions, as people wont be able to turn on air conditioners for a break from the heat. The sweltering conditions and significant power outages are both expected to last for days. It can be pretty uncomfortable, especially without power, said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. Real temperatures will likely be in the mid 90s for the next few days, which is typical for this time of year. Its average hot, but thats still pretty hot. As of Tuesday morning, about 2.3 million homes and businesses were still without power in eastern Texas, concentrated in the Houston area, according to PowerOutage.us. More than 75% of those without power are customers of CenterPoint Energy Inc., the Houston areas main electric utility. Read More: Texas Extreme Weather Pileups Point to Worlds Climate Future Beryl left the Houston metro area home to roughly 7 million a morass of flooded streets, downed trees, darkened traffic lights and power lines lying on the ground. At least three deaths were blamed on the storm. Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane when it struck Texas early Monday, already had killed 11 people in a week-long rampage across the Caribbean. Based on current progress with damage assessment and initial restoration, CenterPoint expects to have power restored to 1 million impacted customers by the end of day on July 10, the company said in a statement late Monday. The storm, now a tropical depression, is sweeping across the South, with heavy rainfall expected in the Mississippi Valley. Tornadoes are possible across Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Almost 35,000 homes and businesses are without power Tuesday in Louisiana and Arkansas. Scorching weather is also set to bake western states this week, raising fire risks from Canada to Mexico. A million people are under an excessive heat warning in the US West, according to Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center. Las Vegas on Sunday hit an all-time high temperature of 120F (49C). Palm Springs and Redding in California have also set records. The high in Sacramento may reach 110F on Thursday, while Furnace Creek the gateway to Death Valley is poised to hit 128F. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Homebuilder-stock analysts are increasingly worried about signs of softening in key hot spots like Florida and Texas. Lennar Corp. and D.R. Horton Inc. were downgraded by Citigroup Inc. analyst Anthony Pettinari on concerns the housing market could stay sluggish in the second half of the year. Raymond James Financial Inc.s Buck Horne also cut his recommendation on Lennar to market perform from outperform, particularly pointing to the companys outsized exposure to Florida. We see softness in data permits, starts, sales and prices all recently below expectations potentially continuing in the second-half of the year, Pettinari wrote in a Tuesday note to clients. New and existing home inventories are ticking up and the twin engines of the hot US housing market Texas and Florida are seeing some areas of softening. Shares of Lennar fell 1.6% and D.R. Horton dropped 1.3% on Tuesday. Homebuilder shares soared in 2023, but had a more measured start to 2024. The S&P Composite 1500 Homebuilding Index was nearly flat through the first six months of the year, while Lennar and D.R. Hortons shares slipped after notching record highs. Pettinari downgraded the pair of stocks because he sees long-term positives for both builders as being balanced by the signs of worsening housing fundamentals. The analyst says that single-family housing inventories have climbed quickly in the spring and are back around pre-Covid levels. The pair of downgrades pushed consensus recommendations on Lennar shares to the lowest level since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Raymond James Horne is more specifically concerned about the outlook for the Sunshine State and its impact on Lennar. He said the surging re-sale inventory, now warrants an added layer of near-term caution particularly for the company, given its dominant share of the states market. Last month, Lennars earnings included a third-quarter forecast for home orders that was below consensus expectations. On the companys conference call, management said they saw continued strength in most Florida markets. We still remain constructive on our broader homebuilding coverage and steadfast in our conviction that the sector is long overdue for a material valuation re-rating, Horne wrote in a note. With assistance from Subrat Patnaik and Norah Mulinda. Photo: A home under construction in Florida. (Photographer: Ty Wright/Bloomberg) Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Topics Florida In 1997, Florida lawmakers tweaked the states personal injury protection or no-fault auto insurance law. The idea was to allow school kids injured in a school bus accident to have some of their medical bills covered by their parents auto insurance carrier. But the change to the statute was not perfectly crafted and has now led to conflicting appeals court decisions on whether insurance carriers can sue school districts in subrogation, seeking reimbursement for PIP claims. The differing interpretations will likely have to be clarified by the Florida Supreme Court or the state Legislature. In the latest court ruling, regarding consolidated appeals from Broward and Palm Beach county school boards versus State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., Floridas 4th District Court of Appeals last week found that the statute appears to grant sovereign immunity to school districts in PIP subrogation suits. We are constrained to hold that school boards retain their sovereign immunity from section 627.7405(1) PIP reimbursement claims absent a clear and unequivocal legislative expression to the contrary, the 4th DCAs chief judge, Mark Klingensmith, wrote in the July 3 opinion. That opinion, seen here, is in direct conflict with a 2019 decision by Floridas 2nd District Court of Appeals, which found that the 1997 law waives sovereign immunity for school buses. The 4th DCA certified the conflict, which means the state Supreme Court will likely consider it, perhaps early next year. A final ruling in favor of State Farm could ultimately mean that public school districts and their insurance pool or their insurers would face greater expenses going forward. A finding against State Farm would mean the insurance carrier would have no real way to seek reimbursement from the owner of the vehicle, as state law allows in most other types of PIP claims. The confusion stems from the conflicting language of the PIP law. The statute, the 4th DCA noted, grants auto insurers a right of reimbursement against the owner of a commercial motor vehicle. In 1997, lawmakers attempted to clarify that commercial vehicles included school buses, but not city buses or other municipal vehicles. At the same time, though, the law did not specifically remove school districts from the cloak of sovereign immunity protection. The 2nd District appellate court, in its 2019 opinion, known as Lee County School Board vs. State Farm, reasoned that by including school transports in the 1997 amendment as commercial vehicles, the Legislature clearly waived sovereign immunity for PIP reimbursement actions brought against school boards to recover benefits paid in connection with school bus accidents. But the 4th DCA, in last weeks opinion, disagreed, noting that court rulings through the years have established that the Legislature must specifically exempt entities from immunity protection, and the statute does not do that. While schools may be asked to reimburse PIP clams, theres no provision for districts to be sued in an attempt to collect that reimbursement, the judges found. The 4th District got it right, said Robert Hauser, attorney for the Florida School Boards Insurance Trust. He wrote an amicus brief on behalf of the Broward and Palm Beach school districts, urging the court to agree that schools are immune from such lawsuits. Everyone knows why the 1997 law was written, he said Monday. It was to shift costs away from schools and to insurance companies. The law was poorly drafted, Hauser wrote in his brief. But the legislative intent was made clear by a staff analysis at the time. Before 1997, public school buses were excluded from the no-fault law, which subjected schools to lawsuits. That exclusion meant that injuries sustained on a bus by a public school pupil were subject to the Florida tort system rather than the No-Fault system, which was perceived to be more quick and efficient, Hauser wrote. Lawmakers tried to correct that, hearing from advocates of the change that it would reduce school districts liability insurance costs while only slightly raising private motorists PIP premiums, the brief notes. The goal of the legislative tweak was to shift payments for most injuries on school buses away from the school districts liability insurance under the tort system and instead to parents private PIP insurance, Hauser wrote. If lawmakers had truly intended to shift liability to public schools, it could have simply required school bus owners to purchase PIP insurance to cover injuries to student passengers. To allow State Farm and other insurers to now pursue school districts in court goes against the legislative intent, he argued. There is not even the slightest indication, much less an express waiver, showing that the Legislatures goal was to authorize subrogation lawsuits against school districts in the judicial branch by private PIP carriers, the amicus brief reads. The 4th District appeals court seemed to agree. But the judges also noted that the law does allow for reimbursement of PIP benefits from private owners of school buses in those jurisdictions that contract for bus services. Its possible the Florida Supreme Court could feel that the issue is not worth the effort and could decline to rule on the conflict between the two appeals courts. I just dont know how big of an issue this is,' Hauser said. How many PIP claims were there last year and how much money was claimed to be reimbursed? I just dont know. An attorney for State Farm in the case declined to comment Monday. Related: Insurers Get Green Light to Pay Less Than Billed Charges in Florida PIP Cases Topics Lawsuits Florida Carriers Liability K-12 NEW YORK - July 9, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The same technology that makes it convenient for patients to request prescription refills, view test results and schedule appointments with physicians has also made it easier for hackers to launch crippling cyberattacks on hospitals and healthcare systems, and analysts say there's no end in sight. "These cyberattacks on our hospital infrastructures here and abroad only highlight the very urgent need for improved cybersecurity in healthcare overall," asserted Steven McKeon, cybersecurity expert and founder of MacguyverTech. In 2023, the healthcare and public health sector was the most targeted in the United States by ransomware attackers, according to a new FBI report, far surpassing other critical services like transportation and energy. According to analysts, cybercriminals launch these very intricate and damaging ransomware attacks to lock up critical computer systems and steal data as a means of extortion. Why is healthcare such an easy target? One reason might be its aging technology. "Our company's experience and its increasing demand to fix outdated technology that is in some cases more than a decade old is quite alarming," McKeon continued. "With 1 in 3 Americans impacted by data breaches, modernizing these systems and enhancing cybersecurity measures are essential in protecting patient data and ensuring safety and continuity of care." But the healthcare system needs help, McKeon explained, in the form of increased federal funding and enforcement of required cybersecurity practices and enhancements. "Collaborative efforts between governments and the healthcare industries are vital to tackling these threats and securing these systems for the long haul," McKeon added. More on Steven McKeon Steven McKeon (Mac) is the founder and CEO of MacguyverTech and MacNerd. With over 25 years of experience in the technological world, he always had a passion for taking things apart and then putting them back together better than before. His knowledge of software development extends from a passion for reverse engineering, ethical hacking and new technologies. After graduating from Rowan University, he joined a boutique tech shop in Boston. A year into his job, a severe cyberattack originating from Russia compromised the company's systems and client data. Tasked by his boss to handle the situation, he managed to trace and counter-hack the attackers, eventually helping the authorities shut them down. This experience made McKeon a target, prompting him to rethink security strategies. Today, he focuses on enhancing cybersecurity practices. Unlike traditional approaches, he emphasizes layered security, which deters hackers by increasing the effort needed to breach defenses. With the rising cyber threats, his mission to protect and educate others about security has never been more critical. To learn more, please visit https://macguyvertech.com/. More Info: Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp My summer jobs had always been arduous. Arduous and badly paid. In McDonalds, I wrapped burgers, wiped tables, unloaded pallets and got grease burns on my fingers. I often started early, travelling by the first bus, which was always packed. The worst paid start early. My pay rate then before the national minimum wage was introduced was 2.30 per each long hour. I had to pass three interviews to get the job and was eventually hired because I could play football for the restaurants team in the McDonalds league. When I got sick of that, I went to work in Burger King. I lasted there three hours before I walked out. Strictly speaking, over thirty years later, I am still on my lunch break. Then I worked at the Kylemore bakery in Finglas. We started at 6am, six mornings a week. I was on the pastry table, which is what they called a conveyor belt that fired out various pastry shapes that had to be placed on stacked trays in a sort of Tetris game. It was boring, meaningless work made even more so by it being the summer of (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams. I dont even think I ever had the privilege of witnessing a completed pastry. My least favourite part of the job was filling apple tarts. The apple paste was poured into a large funnel above head height and I would release gluey splodges onto pie bases using a foot pedal. The smell, the texture, the sounds, the endless foot pumping, have made me a lifelong apple tart sceptic. I would cycle to the bakery along Collins Avenue one of the longest streets in Dublin, and twice as long at 6am closing my eyes for three pedals out of every four. The only other traffic was an old electric milk float. My summer jobs were arduous because I knew nobody who could get me started. I had no contacts. I didnt have an in. The strings I could pull werent connected to anything. A young Ronan Hession. But my summers were saved by a glorious thing called the Student Summer Scheme, under which a college student could get not much money from the Government for doing not much work in some community enterprise. I worked for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (bringing kids on holidays), Age Action (steaming clothes), but my favourite was working in an oratory. The Oratory of the Resurrection in Artane is a squat circular building with a protruding vestibule and a flat roof that leaked. Over the years it has been painted Robin Hood green and squashed tomato red the sort of unwanted, leftover shades that get used for schools. Its exterior walls bore testament to Dublins love affair with UB40. It was ancillary to St Davids school nearby, which had previously been an infamous industrial school, though at that time I didnt appreciate quite how infamous. According to local legend, a ghost known as the Blue Boy still haunted the place, though apparently only outside school hours. One fearless kid in our cub scouts even boasted that he had breakdanced on the Blue Boys grave. The oratory was run by Brother Leonard, a kindly Christian Brother who told me that he had secured the maximum number of vacancies allowed on the Student Summer Scheme so that he could help as many people as possible. I asked him what the job involved and he said he was sure Id find something to do. I had been used to the hard edge of food-based capitalism, so felt liberated by this worker-led approach. He never even asked if I believed in God. He showed me a copy of Awareness, a book by Anthony de Mello. It was a best-selling soft-Christian self-help book for people who lived by their laminated copy of the Desiderata. I remember it saying that if you dropped ink on a clean page, the mind would pay attention to the drop and not the rest of the unspoilt page I liked that. I made notes on the book and discussed with Brother Leonard how it might be used in teaching young people. He listened patiently, as always, though it slowly became clear that the intended beneficiary of the book was me. The main part of my job was reading through the surprisingly large number of religious magazines and periodicals to find articles about apparitions of the Virgin Mary. I would then cut and paste them using Pritt Stick and scissors, rather than Microsoft Word into a scrapbook, which would later be photocopied into a newsletter. The Virgin Mary had been seen all over the World, or at least in Christian countries where she would be recognised. These were mostly unofficial sightings, rather than the formal Vatican-approved incidents, and tended to involve people who had heard voices or seen shadows. It is of course tempting to look upon all these as backwater fantasies, akin to UFO sightings, but I was duty bound to retain my objectivity. It was the unwritten code of the Student Summer Scheme. Medjugorje, in Croatia, featured a lot, being an officially sanctioned apparition and pilgrimage site. A woman who often came to the oratory told me she was visiting there that summer with her mother. I mentioned the coincidence that I had just cut out an article about it. With gentle pressure on my shoulder, she corrected me not a coincidence, a God-incidence. Though I was an irreverent atheist, and it was tempting to scoff at what I saw as delusional religiosity, I liked and respected the people I met at the oratory. Maybe I even envied them. It was a peaceful, consoling place. People stopped by for a quiet prayer as part of their daily routine. Theyd say a decade of the rosary or just sit by themselves for some silent reflection. Perhaps, even for atheists, there is something in such places that resonates with our sense of the profound. As Philip Larkin writes in his poem, Churchgoing, someone will forever be surprising a hunger in himself to be more serious. Awareness, by Anthony De Mello, was once part of Ronan's summer reading. Brother Leonard would drop by every now and then and was generous with his time and lack of demands. He told me how he had become a Christian Brother because the order paid for his education. He had always been happy with it, and no, he had never wanted to become a priest or get married. We talked about the God I didnt believe in. He explained that God says in the Bible, I am Who am. I stared, blankly. I am Who am, he repeated. Its a mystery. But even Brother Leonard saw the limits of our slacker summer. We were asked to do some weeding at the school where I met the caretaker who blew my mind by telling me, To be honest I dont like music. That was the summer where I (single handedly) discovered The Beatles, when my first question to everyone was about their favourite Beatles song. All summer long I was haunted by one of my fellow students choosing Michelle B-b-but I stammered, dumbstruck at the baffling variety in humankind. The weeding didnt last long, though one of the other students became seditious and said that the only muscle he wanted to use was his brain (which isnt a muscle, though you have to use your brain to know that, so its a vicious circle). Brother Leonard compromised and we instead applied our muscly brains to clearing out a dilapidated library. What a waste, all these classics being destroyed, Brother Leonard despaired to himself. He showed me a grimy copy of The Metamorphoses by Ovid Would you read this? he asked as I stood in a skip, stomping down hardbacks of The Iliad. The oratory is still open. Dublin City Council is considering a plaque to commemorate the boys who died at Artane Industrial School and who are buried, unmarked, on the oratorys grounds. It is also, it seems, home to the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Republic of Ireland. While my time at the oratory was a period of novelty, and something I have always viewed with flippancy befitting its simple anecdotal interest, I still think of Brother Leonard with fondness. A gentle, sincere unknowable man, who found and followed his inner seriousness, but who was enlightened enough to indulge the levity of youth. Mireia Lopez had got the letter from her daughters pre-school about chickenpox. I was actually hoping shed get it: I thought, the sooner, the better. I always heard the younger they are, the milder the symptoms, though I understand theres no science behind this, says the Naas-based founder of Discovery Playtime, whose children are now aged nine and seven. When Leia, then three, had a temperature and a few spots, Lopez knew this was it. I had to go away for four days on a business trip. I felt extremely guilty, but I wasnt worried. Her dad was looking after her and I felt chickenpox is like a bad flu with itchy spots, shell get better and then her brother will get it. This is what happened: Within 10 days, Jake, then only two, caught it. He was miserable. He had a high temperature. The worst was not knowing what he was feeling, because he was so young. To this day, he has a mark on his face from one of the blisters. But the illness ran its course, Jake got better, and Lopez recalls the whole chickenpox experience as nothing major. I dont think its a major worry: Chickenpox is something you just get done with. Hospitalisations up 126% Dr Niall Conroy, adjunct professor of public health at University College Cork, agrees that chickenpox is mild in most children, even if they are miserable, and they can be managed at home. However, some children do become very unwell with it and there can be serious complications, he warns, pointing to a 126% increase in chickenpox hospitalisations in 2023 compared with 2022. Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, chickenpox is highly contagious. Conroy says: It can cause an itchy, blister-like rash, mostly affecting children under the age of 10, though you can get it at any age. Estimates put the annual number of cases in Ireland at around 58,000. About one-third of those who have had chickenpox will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime, due to the virus reactivating. One in every 250 cases requires hospitalisation, because of complications. An Infectious Disease Notifications report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in 2023 shows 170 hospitalisations for chickenpox, compared to 75 the previous year. Conroy suspects the rise in hospitalisations is due to the pandemic and the years when we were isolating and cocooning, rather than socialising and building up resistance. Every spring, the population is exposed to chickenpox. We didnt get that during covid, so we missed out on an immune boost and our collective immunity to chickenpox has been a bit less over the last few years. And then, after covid, people did want to socialise and get the kids out and about doing things. So it all just took its toll. I suspect things will settle over the next few years. Mireia Lopez, founder of Discovery Playtime, has a background in primary school teaching. So why would children need to be hospitalised for chickenpox? In a small number of cases, chickenpox can develop a secondary bacterial infection, because the scratching of itchy blisters carries a risk of serious infection: invasive group A streptococci (iGAS). Conroy says an uptick has been noted in the number of iGAS cases over the last year. Some of this was associated with chickenpox, though much of it wasnt. Essentially, all that scratching can open up a lot of routes of entry for bacteria to get deeper into the skin, where they can cause nasty infections, and the child might need to be admitted for intravenous antibiotics. Occasionally, these skin infections can spread into the bloodstream. Then there are other, quite uncommon complications, like infection of the lungs and even the brain. Very small children, in particular those who catch chickenpox around time of birth or in the first week of life, are also at high risk of very severe disease. Adolescents tend to feel more unwell during infection and so do adults. But Conroy says the real risk groups for severe disease are pregnant women, because of congenital varicella syndrome. Infection can overwhelm newborn babies due to their very underdeveloped immune system, and in immuno-compromised people, infection can spread to vital organs, becoming very serious. Chickenpox parties Research carried out by Ipsos Behaviour & Attitudes, on behalf of healthcare company MSD Ireland, found that 50% of people are concerned about their children contracting chickenpox. And yet, Conroy says some parents have been holding chickenpox parties for as long as he can remember. I dont think theres any great benefit in infection happening earlier: Under-fives are more at risk for severe disease and its usually these small children that attend such parties. Also, its not very pleasant for the miserable child with chickenpox, while theyre sick, to be expected to play with six or seven of their energetic little friends. Ultimately, most people end up getting chickenpox one way or another. The MSD research also found that three days of annual leave, on average, are required to care for a child with chickenpox, and that sick children need as many as 10 days or more out of school or childcare. The isolation period was particularly relevant for Lopez, who is from Spain. We had a flight booked to go to Spain for about 10 days after Jake caught chickenpox. We werent sure if we would be able to go. We needed a letter from the doctor to travel. Thankfully, we got the OK to go. Chickenpox tends to peak in Ireland from around January to May, but this can change somewhat from year to year. Theres always some of it around, says Conroy. While it is difficult to avoid the complications of chickenpox, because they can be unpredictable, Conroy urges parents to be vigilant for warning signs. If your child has difficulty breathing or is difficult to rouse, or seems particularly lethargic, then its definitely time to get help. Often, secondary infections first declare themselves when the initial fever settles for a day or two, and then starts spiking again. Keep an eye on the skin for evidence of secondary infections, too, which often look very red, he says. Most of the public-health advice is around keeping people with chickenpox symptoms, or who feel unwell, away from vulnerable groups (pregnant women, babies, and immune-compromised people). Conroy emphasises how important it is, if bringing a child to the GP or emergency department, to let the surgery or hospital know that you think they have chickenpox, before arrival, so that you are not placed in the waiting room with high-risk people. His advice on vaccination? This is only available privately at the moment, mostly from GPs and pharmacies. Its expensive (about 150), and two doses are required. It is generally only given to children older than a year. But for families that can afford it, its very good at preventing a fairly unpleasant disease. It might also be cost-effective for some people, as a childs chickenpox often means a parent taking about a week off work to look after them. Criminal barristers are refusing to work on Tuesday as part of three days of planned action in July. Following a recommendation from the Council of The Bar of Ireland last month, criminal barristers around the country will withdraw their services on Tuesday in a dispute over fees. Protests will take place at 16 courthouses nationwide where criminal cases were due to be heard on the day, including the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. It is an escalation of unprecedented action taken by criminal barristers all over the country in October. No barrister wishes to be in this position, but we have been left with no choice The barristers say they are seeking an independent, meaningful, time-limited and binding mechanism to determine the fees paid to them by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme. Following the first withdrawal of service in October, a 10% restoration was announced in the 2024 Budget. However, barristers say that other public sector cuts applied during the financial crisis are still active in relation to the profession, and that a link between public sector pay agreements and their fees has been broken. The Council of the Bar of Ireland says that two thirds of the criminal bar leave the profession after six years and that a lack of investment by successive governments is causing delays in the criminal justice system, impacting victims of crime. Sara Phelan SC, chairwoman of the Council of The Bar of Ireland said: It is with regret that we have recommended to criminal practitioners that they withdraw service again. No barrister wishes to be in this position, but we have been left with no choice. The Government has just reported on the complete unwinding of (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) legislation this month, yet Fempi-era cuts still apply to our profession. This is despite the fact that the role of criminal barristers has evolved significantly in that time frame, and we have at all times delivered on the required reforms and flexibilities. Yet, barristers continue to be treated differently to others in the criminal justice system and indeed to society at large. All we are seeking is fairness, and for appropriate investment in the criminal justice system. A failure to so invest will result in continued attrition at the criminal bar, which will, in turn, add to the delays already being experienced by members of the public involved in the criminal justice system. These delays can often be very difficult, in particular for victims of crime and accused persons, all of whom are seeking to have their rights vindicated. The ball is in the Governments court now. An Irish woman has been detained in Dubai after being charged with attempting to take her own life in what has been described as a desperate bid to escape alleged domestic violence. The case of Tori Towey, 28, who faces criminal charges in Dubai of attempted suicide and alcohol consumption, has been raised in the Dail. Ms Towey had been hospitalised with extensive injuries after an alleged assault by her husband. Her plight was raised in the Dail by Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald, who said: Her passport has been destroyed. There was a travel ban imposed on her and she had gone to the authorities seeking protection many times but to absolutely no avail. But following one particularly severe beating in which her husband repeatedly tried to slam doors on her arms and break her limbs, she escaped upstairs, and she attempted to take her own life. The system over there, rather than protecting this woman, who is an Irish citizen, chose instead to detain her, to charge her. Tori wants to come home. Simple as that. Shes a Roscommon woman, she wants to come home. And Im asking now as a matter of absolute urgency that we have a statement from this house, that you intervene, that the ambassador is called and it made absolutely plain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way. And an Irish citizen, an Irish woman, will not be treated in this way. Ms Towey moved to the emirate last year to work as an airline attendant. She married a man in March but, according to Roscommon TD Claire Kerrane, she soon began being mentally and physically abused. Ms Kerrane has spoken to Ms Towey and her mother Caroline, who is now with her in Dubai. Its a living nightmare, Ms Kerrane said. She was put in a cell with 50 women, there was no information, she wasnt told why she had been arrested, what she was being charged with. Then theres the language barrier too. Its just horrendous. There was a small bit of alcohol in her system so she was charged with alcohol abuse. And with attempted suicide. Although Ms Towey went to the police, she was told to go home to her husband, Ms Kerrane said. He ripped up her passport, so she couldnt work as an airline attendant, then she had no money, so she couldnt come home. A travel ban was also placed on her passport so she could not escape. During one allegedly brutal attack in her home, its understood she escaped into the bathroom and tried to take her own life in a bid to escape her husband, fearing he would torture her to death. The next thing she knew, paramedics were there, Ms Kerrane said. Then she was arrested on June 28 and had no idea what she had been arrested for. Ms Towey is now hiding in Dubai with her mother and hoping for help. They are too scared to talk to the media as they fear it is illegal to do so. They cant speak so we have to speak for them, Ms Kerrane said. A court date has been set for July 18. And were in the last week of the Dail so theres that pressure too, said Ms Kerrane. Tori Towey's 'very anxious' family hoping charges will be dropped Ms Towey's aunt, Anne Flynn said the family is hoping that diplomatic efforts will lead to the charges being dropped and allow Ms Towey to return to Ireland. We are just all very, very anxious, she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. We keep hoping that we'll get word that they're on a plane. On the way home. I don't know. Will this court case go ahead? Or if it goes, what will happen? You know, we're just very hopeful. And it's really terrible that this has happened to a young woman that was full of life and full of adventure. And she loved travelling. And, you know, she's a beautiful young woman. I've been in touch with them every day, several times a day, since all this started. They're both trying to keep positive. We're trying to keep positive as well. But it's on your mind constantly, and I'm sure it's on their minds because all the family gets in touch with them, you know? And, it's so far away. But hopefully with Radha Stirling, the Taoiseach and all the ministers this will help. Hopefully, we'll hear good news. We're hoping that, just something will happen that it won't go to court. It's hard to believe that this young woman has been charged with trying to commit suicide. Politicians here now plan to work cross-party in a bid to get the Irish woman back home to safety and Taoiseach Simon Harris has said hes ready to intervene in the case. She said today: I just want to come home, Ms Kerrane said. Hopefully now the Irish authorities can do something to get her home. The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. Consular assistance has been provided to the family for a number of weeks and Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin is speaking to his officials in Dubai. Radha Stirling, chief executive at the human rights organisation Detained in Dubai, who has been helping the Toweys, said: Its amazing that authorities did not intervene for Toris protection, given the state her body was in when she was hospitalised the first time. Worse than failing her, authorities in Dubai actually travel-banned her and kept her in the country when she was trying to get away. The UAE used to charge rape victims with sex outside marriage. Now theyre charging domestic violence victims with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption. Dubai police need to be educated on victim care. A former human rights chief and current GSOC commissioner has been appointed to be Irelands first Police Ombudsman. The new position replaces the three-person leadership of GSOC leadership with a single, clear leader. Emily Logan will assume the role once the Office of the Police Ombudsman is operational, sometime later in the year. The Police Ombudsman will head an expanded, strengthened, and renamed GSOC as part of a major restructuring of the policing and security oversight architecture in Ireland. This is being ushered by the landmark 290-page Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which implements much, though not all, of the recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) in September 2018. Justice Minister Helen McEntee announced on Tuesday that she had brought the required resolutions through the Oireachtas recommending Ms Logan for appointment by the President as the new Police Ombudsman. She said Ms Logan was nominated for the role following an open, competition undertaken by the Public Appointments Service. The minister said the Government approved the nomination last week and Ms Logans appointment by the President will take place on commencement of the Act. Ms Logan will be appointed as Police Ombudsman by the President when I commence the Act later this year and reconstitute GSOC as Fiosru the Office of the Police Ombudsman, with an expanded remit for investigating allegations of wrongdoing by Garda members, Ms McEntee said. As current GSOC Commissioner, a former Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and Ireland's first Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan is eminently qualified to perform the role of Police Ombudsman and the Government was pleased to support her nomination." Ms McEntee said that in the meantime Ms Logan will continue as a GSOC Commissioner passed the conclusion of her term this August to ensure a transition to the new body. When GSOC was set up in 2007, and for many years after, the Government and the Department of Justice were keen to avoid having a single head of the body as there was a fear it could lead to direct conflict with the Garda Commissioner. A three-person leadership was preferred. The CoFPI recommended that the Government consider the need to have a three-person leadership under a restructured and expanded body. During the legislative process for the 2024 Act, An Garda Siochana, led by the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris were very outspoken in their concerns regarding powers being given to the new Police Ombudsman. Likewise, GSOC made submissions expressing its own concerns that the act did not contain an explicit obligation on the Gardai for timely and full cooperation with the Police Ombudsman. It said this in turn could compromise an obligation on the Ombudsman in the act to perform its duties in a timely and efficient manner. The 2024 act creates a new internal Garda Board, to which the commissioner is accountable for the performance of his duties. The act also merges the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate into the Policing and Community Safety Authority and expands its functions. In addition, a new Independent Examiner of Security Legislation is being set up the first of its kind with a very wide remit, although concerns have been expressed at the lack of its powers. As reported in the Irish Examiner last month, the Attorney General has asked the Chief Justice for nominations for this sensitive role. Senior All-Ireland winning hurler with Clare Niall Gilligan has appeared in court charged with assault causing harm to a 12-year-old boy. At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, the 47-year-old Sixmilebridge man appeared in connection with two charges, which he denies. Farmer and auctioneer Mr Gilligan is charged with the assault causing harm to the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Mount Ivers Road, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, on October 5 last. Mr Gilligan is also charged with producing a wooden stick during the course of a dispute at the Jamaica Inn Hostel on the same date. Solicitor for Mr Gilligan Daragh Hassett told Judge Alec Gabbett: The matters are to be fully defended. Judge Gabbett asked what was the age of the alleged victim in the case and Sergeant Tracy Stanley replied: "12". Judge Gabbett commented: It is very serious if it is a minor. The judge asked if the alleged victim was known or unknown to Mr Gilligan and Sgt Stanley replied: Unknown." Sgt Stanley, of Sixmilebridge Garda Station, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, of Mr Gilligan earlier on Tuesday. I arrested the defendant this morning at 10.31am on Main Street, Sixmilebridge, and conveyed him to Shannon Garda Station where at 11.08am he was charged as set out in the two charges before the court. Sgt Stanley said Mr Gilligan was cautioned after each charge and he made "no reply" in each case. Sergeant Frank OGrady told Judge Gabbett there was no Garda objection to bail for Mr Gilligan subject to certain conditions. These include Mr Gilligan, of Rosroe, Sixmilebridge, residing at his own address and having no contact with the alleged injured party. After reading the charges and the location of the Jamaica Inn, the judge asked: Is there an element of trespass here? Sgt Stanley said the building was owned by Mr Gilligan at the time. Judge Gabbett said he would decide if the matter would be heard in the district court or the circuit court on the next court date and asked that medical reports in the case be made available to him. On the adjourned date, the State case against Mr Gilligan will be outlined to allow Judge Gabbett decide on court jurisdiction. Judge Gabbett imposed reporting restrictions, for now, on the identity of the alleged injured party as he is a minor. At the end of the five-minute hearing, Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Gilligan on bail to appear before Ennis District Court on July 24. Mr Gilligan was a star forward for the senior Clare hurling team which defeated Tipperary to win the 1997 All-Ireland Final. The Sixmilebridge clubman also won two Munster titles with Clare and multiple honours with his club over a long and distinguished hurling career. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has written to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald proposing an alliance of parties on the left ahead of the general election. Mr Murphy said Ireland could learn an important lesson from the recent French elections on how to combat the rise of the far-right. The New Popular Front (NFP), a left-green alliance emerged as the winner of France's election with 182 MPs. Against the odds, the NFP alliance, which consists of Unbowed France (LFI), the Socialist Party (PS), Greens, and Communists, became the largest force in parliament but fell far short of the 289 seats required for an absolute majority. Mr Murphy said that the alliance's victory has given people across Europe hope in the face of the hard right rising up elsewhere. The latest opinion polls indicate that Ireland will return the Fianna Fail-Fine Gael government with the Green Party replaced by some form of right-wing Independents or perhaps the Labour Party, he said. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Mr Murphy revealed that he has written to Ms McDonald seeking a meeting with Sinn Fein to appeal to them and to others on the left to come together to establish "a left frontier" to go into the next election. Describing what a left front in Ireland would look like, he said it would have a clear 'vote left, transfer left' official pact between parties and a common commitment to say to the people that they will not go into coalition with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. The commitment to refrain from such a coalition is just one of the bottom-line issues underlining the proposed alliance. The second is a clear commitment not to engage in any scapegoating of asylum seekers. The Dublin TD accused Sinn Fein of having scapegoated migrants in the leadup to the European and local elections calling the move an "absolute disaster". "I think that there are a lot of people in Sinn Fein who are reflecting on that, realising that it didn't work, realising that it was a mistake. "So we certainly hope that they would be open to a different strategy more in line with what the New Popular Front did in France." Sinn Fein has been contacted for comment. The parties need to reject the framing that asylum seekers are the problem, Mr Murphy said, and instead assert that the government is the problem and the economic system which prioritises profit is the problem. The latest summer economic statement, announced on Tuesday, included an additional 1.5bn in funding for the health service for this year. That followed an overspend in the sector last year. Parents must rightly be wondering where the overspend came from as their child languishes on waiting lists. Children are facing obstacles to care for everything from teeth to severe disabilities, as covered in this paper over just the last few months. Doctors say parents also see the billions being spent on the new childrens hospital and ask why their child is still being treated in small unsuitable clinics or waiting for help. Other parents are rightly asking why essential eyecare reviews are being missed out on in many areas. The delays could have life-long consequences, Fodo Ireland, the association of eyecare providers, has warned. A plan is being worked on for children aged eight and over to have their annual review done by local optometrists instead of hospitals but in the meantime the wait continues. Across Cork and Kerry 5,009 children and teenagers are on waiting lists for public psychology appointments. They could be children who lost a parent or are struggling with exam stress so they need help early for it to be successful. The specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) also continues to struggle despite pledges of support following a crisis in Kerry services. While referrals are triaged and urgent cases seen, waits for children with suspected ADHD grow, despite, for example, a new clinic set up in Cork. Jigsaw, the national youth mental health charity, has seen families turn to it instead and has had to change how it offers therapy to keep waiting times down. It now offer a shorter, more intensive, course as an option if the young person is interested. More than 100,000 children missed out on school screening dental appointments last year, the Irish Dental Association said. Picture: iStock In dentistry, frustrated parents have spoken of opting for private care if they can afford it. More than 100,000 children missed out on school screening dental appointments last year, the Irish Dental Association said. Dr Catherine Gallagher shared shocking details of having to extract up to 20 teeth from toddlers due to decay at the specialist service in Cork University Dental School and Hospital. In her experience, parents have not been told how to safely feed children in a society leaning on sugary foods as normal. Public health nurses are often the first source of information on health for new parents, but there is a shortfall of more than 600 in this workforce alone, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. These obstacles are magnified for families who cannot afford private healthcare, the Childrens Rights Alliance has warned. It called for a dedicated public health nurse service for children, as a first step to bridging that gap. We could fill this page with obstacles facing parents of children with disabilities. Health minister Stephen Donnelly said just last week a dedicated fund of 19m given to Childrens Health Ireland for children with scoliosis and spina bifida was spent far more broadly than that. Worried parents and advocacy groups had previously warned him and a HSE audit team about this because they could see changes promised in 2022 were not happening. Paediatric consultants are already raising concerns in private that the new children's hospital will not give them additional beds. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins We learned on Tuesday spiralling costs of the new childrens hospital will have a significant impact on other projects in the HSEs capital plan for 2024. The approved cost is now 2.2bn, the Cabinet heard in February. Meanwhile, paediatric consultants are already raising concerns in private that the new hospital will not give them additional beds. They point to children on trolleys now as a worrying sign of high demand. Outside of that flashpoint, Inclusion Ireland has identified children with intellectual disabilities falling through the cracks in the health system. A survey it did of more than 1,000 families found more than half were not able to access any services at all. The expansion of free GP care to cover all children under eight recently has lifted many barriers and been widely welcomed. Despite the delays, people working in childrens health say they are working beyond capacity. One parent described staff in their local unit as flat to the mat. However it must be hard for parents to be tolerant of delays when it is their child whose eyesight is damaged, whose spine is curving, whose teeth are decaying, whose mental health is shattered. The budget for next year needs to somehow accommodate what could be a 2bn overspend in health, according to some estimates, but parents could fairly ask where on earth is that money being spent? Cyber Security is a rapidly evolving area and one of increasing importance for businesses, organisations and government entities. According to the April 2024 Global Financial Stability Report, the risk of extreme losses from cyber incidents is increasing losses which could potentially cause funding problems for companies and even jeopardise their solvency. The size of these losses has more than quadrupled since 2017 to 2.3 billion, with additional indirect losses from reputational damage. This acceleration can be seen unfortunately from the permanent stream of reports of organisations and individuals falling victim to cyber-attacks and fraud. This report demonstrates the potential financial impact cyber-attacks can have on organisations and the collateral consequences for customers, suppliers, and employees alike. For Ricky Kelly and his team at RDJ, cyber security and incident response is a 24/7 occupation. Leading RDJs Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection Practice, Ricky has broad experience advising clients in the end-to-end investigation, management and recovery from security incidents. He adopts a commercial, practical and strategic approach to assisting clients effectively manage, respond to and recover from cyber and data security incidents, while also mitigating against potential future risks. Law regulating how organisations interact and use personal data has been with us in Ireland since 1988. It is not until the European Union attempted to harmonise the regulation of personal data across all Member States in 2016 with the GDPR, that the majority of organisations first experienced financial penalty risks for failing to protect the personal data that they hold. The sixth anniversary of the GDPR coming into effect passed quietly on 25 May. During that time, we have observed how data protection regulation can reach into everything our clients do." In reacting to this demand, it was necessary for RDJ to develop broad data protection and cyber security expertise across all of their main practice areas from education, employment and dispute resolution to corporate commercial and property. The practice is separated into two groups proactive and reactive with the former involved across compliance, policies, training, impact assessments and bringing organisations into compliance with regulations. On the reactive side, we knew we were going to have a lot of work dealing with cyber and personal data breaches, and set up a 24/7 service facilitating clients with an instant response service to triage issues and set in motion a process to ensure their business is back operating safely within the shortest possible time, all the while ensuring compliance with their evolving regulatory obligations. Where necessary, RDJ partner with various third parties encompassing forensic investigation and crisis management teams, organisations specialising in the recovery and rebuilding of IT systems and PR communications teams. In the case of a ransomware attack, we have worked with a number of partners that engage safely and directly with hackers on behalf of our client where necessary. As the first law firm in Ireland with the international security standard ISO 27001, it wasnt good enough for RDJ to be advising organisations what to do if we werent going to do it ourselves. We have adopted a similar approach in the areas of environmental and sustainability, and are currently in the process of getting an internationally recognised standard to again make us an early mover in that area. Huge career opportunities in booming cyber security sector Since 2018, RDJ have seen a significant change in the types of cyber-attacks, shifts in how breaches were happening and what hackers were trying to achieve. Hackers' objectives have changed over the years, particularly business email compromise moving from spam email phishing chains to breaches and social engineering campaigns designed to execute fraud, with a view to monetising attacks. Only last month we saw reports from the National Cyber Security Centre of the increase in hacktivist groups targeting Ireland as part of an orchestrated campaign across EU Member States. This involves the hacking of computer systems for political or socially motivated purposes. "While there wasnt the same awareness around the need for IT security when the GDPR came into effect, there is now and we have seen significant investment in this area. Indeed, through many of our universities, we now have a phenomenal resource and an evolving skillset in the country. In fact, according to Cyber Ireland, Ireland was the only country in the world last year to reduce their skill shortage in the area of cyber." The demand for cyber security skills over recent years saw a trebling of job roles advertised between 2019 and 2022, from 2,000 jobs advertised to 6,700. On a growth trajectory of 10%, the sector anticipates the creation of 10,000 additional jobs by 2030, totalling 17,000 in the sector, contributing 2.5 billion per annum to the economy. Ricky emphasises the prospects for graduates considering careers in the fast growing sector: The opportunities are enormous, without a doubt. While others exist, the two main types of cyber-attacks experienced by organisations are business email compromise and ransomware attacks. These attacks have evolved to leverage the increased regulatory landscape, whereby the hackers not only, for example, encrypt information and systems, in a duel style attack, but they download information held by the victim organisation and leverage the threat of regulatory sanction, data subject claims and reputational damage by threatening the publication of the fact of the attack and stolen information online. Hackers are constantly evolving their methods, changing their approach to ensure they monetise their attacks, and are getting very efficient at it, he adds. "Three years ago, the RDJ team would have seen hackers' demands to be approx 15% of the organisations turnover company information they access through an organisation's internal management accounts. If a company has a cyber insurance policy, their demands often reflect the coverage offered by that policy. The hackers would then negotiate a reduction of that. Now the figure in the initial demand is closer to 10% or less but the ability to negotiate has also reduced. Ricky highlights the international work being done by groups like Five Eyes; an alliance of the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand comprising bilateral agreements on surveillance and intelligence-sharing. There is phenomenal work being done at an international level targeting these ransom groups, and in some instances can alert organisations to the fact that they are victim of an attack before they realise it themselves. That is where we need to be, he says, adding that the work and investment accomplished by the NCSC and An Garda Siochana in recent years has seen an enormous shift in capability and support. AI Act is a global game changer The Artificial Intelligence Act is expected to come into force shortly. Aiming to ensure that AI systems placed on the European market and used in the EU are safe and respect fundamental rights and EU values, the Act is designed to promote the adoption of trustworthy, human-centric AI to ensure that the EU reaps the potential economic, environmental, and societal benefits across the entire spectrum of industries and social activities. It will strike a balance between boosting innovation and supporting the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies, ensuring it happens in an ethical and responsible way. It is the first of its kind globally, and is of itself an enormous body of work, Ricky explains of this IT game changer. In the same way that it was with the introduction of GDPR six years ago, we are leading globally in terms of the regulation of AI. Organisations are investing heavily in AI, RDJ included. It is critical and will be critical for our business going forward, he says, adding that AI is defined as a machine based system designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy, to infer from information provided to them to generate an output. An important aspect is that AI systems should be human centric and trustworthy core areas that the AI Act is designed to bring about. It is intended to harmonise AI across the EU, Ricky concludes. I believe it will do a good job of that. To learn more, visit the official RDJ website. The Taoiseach has called Russia's missile attack, which killed at least 28 people, and badly damaged the main children's hospital in Kyiv "a war crime". The attack also injured almost 100 people across Ukraine, officials said. The daytime Russian barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities including the capital with more than 40 missiles of different types, hitting apartment buildings and public infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Simon Harris accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of "openly targeting" civilian infrastructure and "innocent children". In a post on X, he said: "This was a despicable and cowardly act. There can be no justification and no equivocation from the international community." Putins war on Ukraine is openly targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent children. It is repugnant, it is a war crime. Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 8, 2024 The daytime Russian barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities including the capital with more than 40 missiles of different types, hitting apartment buildings and public infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Strikes in Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelenskyys birthplace in central Ukraine, killed 10 people and injured 47 in what the head of city administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, said was a massive missile attack. Seven people were killed in Kyiv, authorities said. The President said on social media: It is very important that the world should not be silent about it now and that everyone should see what Russia is and what it is doing. Earlier, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said he was appalled at the attack, saying "a state that commits war crimes by targeting sick children using hypersonic missiles has no interest in peace". Appalled at Russias attacks on Okhmatdyt children's hospital in #Kyiv & across Ukraine, with many killed & wounded A state that commits war crimes by targeting sick children using hypersonic missiles has no interest in peace We will #StandWithUkraine for as long as it takes Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 8, 2024 Western leaders who have backed Ukraine in the war are holding a three-day Nato summit in Washington beginning on Tuesday. They will look at how they can reassure Ukraine of the alliances unwavering support and offer Ukrainians hope that their country can come through Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War. At the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv, rescuers are searching for people under the rubble of a partially collapsed, two-storey wing of the facility. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 16 people, seven of them children, were injured. A major Russian missile attack across Ukraine killed at least 20 people and injured more than 50 (AP) On the hospitals main 10-storey building, windows and doors were blown out and walls were blackened. Blood spattered the floor in one room. The intensive care unit, operating theatres and oncology departments were all damaged, officials said. Medical personnel and local people searched for children and medical workers. Volunteers formed a line, passing bricks and other debris to each other. Fresh air raid alerts caused panic in the wake of the strike (AP) Smoke still rose from the building, and volunteers and emergency crews worked in protective masks. The attack forced the hospital to shut down and evacuate. Some mothers carried their children away on their backs. Others waited in the courtyard with their children as calls to doctors phones rang unanswered. A few hours after the initial strike, another air raid siren sent many mothers with their children hurrying to the hospitals shelter. Led by torchlight through the shelters dark corridors, mothers carried their bandaged children in their arms and medics carried them on trolleys. Volunteers handed out sweets in an effort to calm the children. Witnesses reacted with shock, anger and disbelief (AP) Marina Ploskonos four-year-old son had surgery for cervical spine tuberculosis last Friday. My child is terrified, she said. This shouldnt be happening, its a childrens hospital, she said, bursting into tears. Russias defence ministry said the strikes targeted Ukrainian defence plants and military air bases and were successful. It denied aiming at any civilian facilities and claimed without offering evidence that pictures from Kyiv indicated the damage was caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile. Since early in the war that is stretching into its third year, Russian officials have regularly claimed that Moscows forces never attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, despite what officials in Kyiv say and Associated Press reporting on the ground. A number of children were injured (AP) Elsewhere in Kyiv, where seven of the citys 10 districts were hit in the heaviest Russian bombardment of the capital in almost four months, the strikes killed seven people and injured 25, officials said. About three hours after the first strikes, more missiles hit Kyiv and partially destroyed a private medical centre. Four people were killed there, Ukraines Emergency Service said. The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said. The Kinzhal flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept. City buildings shook from the blasts. An entire section of a residential multistorey building in one district of Kyiv was destroyed, officials said. Three electricity substations were damaged or completely destroyed in two districts of Kyiv, energy company DTEK said. The head of Ukraines presidential office, Andrii Yermak, said the attack occurred at a time when many people were in the citys streets. Rescue operations have stretched into a second day at a major Kyiv childrens hospital which was struck by a Russian missile. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a total of 38 people were killed and almost 200 injured in an intense daytime barrage that hit cities across the country. Mr Zelenskyy said on the social platform X that 64 people were taken to hospital in the capital as well as 28 in Kryvyi Rih and six in Dnipro both in central Ukraine. It was Russias heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months and one of the deadliest of the war, hitting seven of the citys 10 districts. The strike on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital, which interrupted open-heart surgery and forced young cancer patients to take their treatments outdoors, prompted an international outcry. Kyiv city administrators declared Tuesday an official day of mourning. Entertainment events were prohibited and flags lowered in the capital. A major Russian missile attack across Ukraine killed at least 20 people and injured more than 50 (AP) Russia denied responsibility for the hospital strike, insisting it does not attack civilian targets in Ukraine despite abundant evidence to the contrary. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday repeated that position, pointing to a Russian Defence Ministry statement that blamed a Ukrainian air defence missile for partially destroying the hospital. A number of children were injured (AP) The Russian onslaught came on the eve of a Nato summit in Washington where alliance countries are expected to pledge new military and economic support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Moscow. New Delhis importance as a key trading partner has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Mr Zelenskyy was deeply critical of Mr Modis visit, saying on X late on Monday: It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day. Heavy Israeli bombardment shook Gaza City on Tuesday as thousands of fleeing Palestinians searched for shelter, and medical facilities were forced to shut due to the latest offensive in the territorys north. Israels new ground assault in Gazas largest city is its latest effort to battle Hamas militants regrouping in areas the army previously said had been cleared. Much of Gaza City and urban areas around it have been flattened or left a shattered landscape after nine months of fighting. Many people fled earlier in the war but several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the north. Thousands of Palestinians fled on Monday from an area ravaged in the early weeks of the nine-month-long war (Leo Correa/AP) The fighting has been intense, said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled Gaza Citys Tuffah district to the home of relatives in another part of the city. He said Israeli war planes and drones were striking anything moving and that tanks had moved into central districts. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. Its a dangerous zone, she said. After Israel on Monday called for an evacuation from eastern and central parts of Gaza City, staff at two hospitals Al-Ahli and the Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move out patients and shut down, the United Nations said. Ms Farsakh said all three medical points run by the Red Crescent in Gaza City had closed. Smoke rises after an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had told hospitals and other medical facilities in Gaza City that they did not need to evacuate. However, hospitals in Gaza have often shut down and moved patients at any sign of possible Israeli military action, fearing raids. In the past nine months, Israeli troops have occupied at least eight hospitals, causing the deaths of patients and medical workers along with massive destruction to facilities and equipment. Israel has claimed Hamas uses hospitals for military purposes although it has provided only limited evidence. Only 13 of Gazas 36 hospitals are functioning, and those only partially, according to the UNs humanitarian office. Israels campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas October 7 attack, has killed or wounded more than 5% of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, according to the territorys Health Ministry, and has driven almost the entire population from their homes. Many have been displaced multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into sweltering tent camps. Maha Mahfouz, a mother of two, said she fled twice in the past 24 hours. She first rushed from her home in Gaza City to a relatives house in another neighbourhood. When that became dangerous, she fled on Monday night to Shati, a decades-old refugee camp-turned-urban district. She described vast destruction in the citys eastern and central parts. The buildings were destroyed. The roads were destroyed. All has become rubble, she said. Members of the Al-Ashqar family, who were displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, eat lunch at a makeshift tent camp in Khan Younis (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israeli air strikes in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nearby refugee camps on Tuesday killed at least 14 people, including four children and a woman, according to officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs and al-Awda hospitals, where casualties were taken. One of the strikes hit a police station in an outdoor market in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four people and wounding two dozen, half of them women and children. At a hospital, a little boy cried, coughed and wiped his eyes as medics treated him on the crowded floor. The Israeli military said it had intelligence showing that militants from Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group were regrouping in central Gaza City. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians. In Shijaiyah, a Gaza City neighbourhood that has seen weeks of fighting, the military said it had destroyed three miles of Hamas tunnels. Hamas has warned that the latest raids in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release. Israel and Hamas had appeared to narrow the gaps in recent days, with the US, Egypt and Qatar mediating. CIA director William Burns met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Tuesday in Cairo to discuss the negotiations, Mr el-Sissis office said. An Israeli delegation was heading to the Egyptian capital, Israeli media reported. But obstacles remain, even after Hamas agreed to relent on its key demand that Israel commit to ending the war as part of any agreement. Hamas still wants mediators to guarantee that negotiations conclude with a permanent ceasefire, according to two officials with knowledge of the talks. The leftist coalition that won the most seats in Frances National Assembly in surprise results has demanded the immediate right to form a government, even though no grouping won a majority of seats. It is unprecedented in Frances modern history to have a fractured parliament. Sundays vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Unions second-largest economy. The legislature is split between the New Popular Front leftist coalition, President Emmanuel Macrons centrist allies and the far-right National Rally. Mr Macron on Monday asked his prime minister, Gabriel Attal, to continue handling day-to-day affairs, despite Mr Attals offer of resignation, less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics. Mr Macron is leaving on Wednesday for a Nato summit in Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP) The leftist coalitions three main parties the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialists and the Greens began negotiations to find a candidate for prime minister. The coalition in a statement called on Mr Macron to immediately turn to the New Popular Front and allow it to form a government. It said the prolonged retention of Mr Attal could be seen as an attempt to erase the election results. We solemnly warn the president of the republic against any attempts to hijack the institutions, the statement said, adding: If the president continues to ignore the results it will amount to betrayal of our constitution and a coup against democracy, which we will strongly oppose. The leftist coalition includes Frances former Socialist president Francois Hollande, who has made an unexpected comeback on the political stage as one of the most prominent candidates in the elections, winning a seat in his home town. He is seen as a key player but did not speak to journalists as he joined fellow members of the Socialist party. Former French president Francois Hollande (Michel Euler/AP) The New Popular Front is the leading Republican force in this country and it is therefore its responsibility to form a government to implement the public policies expected by the French people, Green lawmaker Cyrielle Chatelain said. Talks within the leftist coalition are complicated by internal divisions now that the goal for its hurried formation in recent days keeping the far right from power in France has been achieved. Some are pushing for a hard-left figure for prime minister, while others closer to the centre-left prefer a more consensual personality. Frances prime minister is accountable to parliament and can be ousted through a no-confidence vote. France Unbowed lawmakers are going into the National Assembly not as an opposition force but as a force that intends to govern the country, hard-left lawmaker Mathilde Panot said. The top negotiator for the Socialist party, Johanna Rolland, said the future prime minister will not be Jean-Luc Melenchon, the divisive hard-left founder of France Unbowed who has angered many moderates. Mr Melenchon, who did not run in the legislative elections, joined the talks at the National Assembly. Speaking on France 2 television, Ms Rolland suggested the leftist coalition could work with centre-left members of Mr Macrons alliance. Some were accepting the need to make deals and get along. In my view, the French people sent us a clear message. They did not want to give an absolute majority to any specific political bloc so theyre ordering us to listen to one another, work together and thats what we need to do, said Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of Mr Macrons centrist alliance and former president of the National Assembly. According to official results, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of Frances two legislative chambers. The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front, more than 160 for Macrons centrist alliance and more than 140 for the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen. Mr Macron has three years remaining in his presidential term. Two giant pandas sent from China to the San Diego Zoo last month are acclimating well to their new home, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said. The pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are not on public display yet, but the zoo released the first photos of the pair settling into their habitat. China refutes alleged reluctance to consult with EU on EV tariffs Xinhua) 08:04, July 09, 2024 BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China's commerce ministry said Monday that the remarks by a European Union (EU) official, suggesting that China had not sought consultations on electric vehicle (EV) tariffs until recently despite the EU's attempts to engage for months, were "seriously inconsistent with the facts." China has been expressing strong opposition on bilateral and multilateral occasions since the EU launched its anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs in October 2023, said a spokesperson with the ministry in response to a media inquiry quoting Jorge Toledo Albinana, EU ambassador to China. The spokesperson cited bilateral exchanges on the matter through face-to-face meetings and letters between top leaders and at ministerial levels over the past months. "China has demonstrated its utmost sincerity," said the spokesperson, adding that China hopes that the European side will make joint efforts, demonstrate its sincerity, push forward the consultation process and reach a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible. China firmly believes that trade protectionist measures are detrimental to the development of global green industries and cooperation in the automotive industry, and all countries should work together to promote the green transformation of the economy, said the spokesperson. China resolutely opposes any unilateralist and protectionist practices that politicize or weaponize trade issues, the spokesperson said, noting that in response to any actions that abuse the rules and suppress China, the country will take all necessary measures to safeguard its own interests. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 3 dead, 2 injured after car hit by falling rocks in southwest China Xinhua) 16:54, July 09, 2024 CHENGDU, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and two others injured after rocks rolling down a mountain hit their sedan in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday evening, local authorities said. The accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on the S204 highway in Sichuan's Bazhong City when rocks from a sudden mountain collapse struck their sedan. The injured were sent to hospital and their conditions are not life-threatening, according to local authorities of Tongjiang County in Bazhong. Further investigation into the accident is underway. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Son of Kinahan Crime Group Associate Extradited to UK on Gun Charges The son of a high-ranking member of the Kinahan organized crime group has been extradited from Spain to the UK Newark, Delaware (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Elections in Iran have predictable outcomes. The men picked by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, engage in a quasi-debate on TV, but usually the hand-picked guy is bound to win. This year saw a minor upset. The 2024 presidential election took place after the former President and warden of Evin prison, Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter accident. In Iran, nobody believes things happen as accidents. But nothing points to foul play in this case. Out of the original six candidates, two became the final contenders: Said Jalili, a hardliner who had been involved in the nuclear negotiations, and a new guy, Masoud Pezeshkian. The latters name means doctor, and indeed, he is a heart surgeon. Unlike Raisi, who had a 6th-grade education, Pezeshkian is a heart surgeon and also speaks several languages, including Kurdish, Azeri, and English. The turnout was very low this year. As people have been losing faith in the outcomes of elections, fewer and fewer go to the polls. Born in Mahabad, in the eastern Azerbaijan province in 1954, Pezeshkian received his doctorate degree in medicine at the University of Tabriz and later specialized in heart surgery at the University of Tehrans medical school. At the onset of the Revolution, Pezeshkian was a member of the Council of the Cultural Revolution, which purged many secular individuals from universities. He served as Minister of Health during the second term of President Khatami and had a noncombatant function in the Iran-Iraq war. After his military service, he returned to Tabriz and continued to practice surgery, eventually becoming chancellor of the citys medical school. He was a candidate in the 2021 presidential elections but was disqualified by the Expediency Council. In 2024, he finally succeeded, being elected as Irans ninth President with 53 percent of the vote in the run-off election. While even some reformists did not go to the polls, ex-President Khatami was among those who voted for Pezeshkian. The Islamic Republic finds new players and new moderates to lead the country, but the president has limited power and acts only in accordance with the Supreme Leaders wishes. CTV News Video added by Informed Comment: Nader Hashimi: Why Pezeshkians win may not bring dramatic change to Iran Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a political scientist who follows the presidential elections in Iran closely, wrote, This election was different because the first-round results marked the lowest voter turnout rate in any presidential election since the revolution, signifying serious discontent. The only other time when presidential elections went to a second round was in 2005, where fewer people took part in the second round. This time, however, some 6 million more people (10% of eligible voters) came out to vote in the second round, and they overwhelmingly voted for Pezeshkian. This indicates that despite their overall dissatisfaction, a segment of the public can be persuaded to change its mind when the stakes are too high. This election marked the narrowest margin of victory for the eventual winner over the runner-up (9.3%). This signifies the fact that we have a polarized public in Iran. After all, Jalili won at least 13 provinces (out of 31) in both rounds of the election. Whether Pezeshkian, with his narrow powers, can deliver anything remains to be seen. In 2009, Iranians lost their faith in presidential elections when their votes were stolen. And since then, hopes for change have faded. Two years ago, the Women, Life, Freedom movement was violently crushed. Sanctions, mismanagement, wars in the periphery, and corruption have paralyzed the very system that promised the world but delivered economic malaise and the political isolation of the country. Pezeshkian has promised reform and reform of the system. In a televised speech to the nation, he shared the problems Iranians experience in their daily life. Can Pezeshkian save the Islamic Republic? Will rapprochement towards the U.S. finally happen? Not as long as Ali Khamenei is alive. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 /Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) today announced preliminary production results for the second quarter of 2024. Full financial results for the quarter will be reported and filed on SEDAR+ on August 8, 2024. All figures are in US Dollars, unless otherwise expressed. Second Quarter Operating Highlights Consolidated gold production was 17,244 ounces compared to 16,177 ounces in the first quarter of this year and 16,750 ounces in the second quarter of 2023 representing a 7% increase quarter-over-quarter and a 3% increase year-over-year. Production in the quarter included the first contribution from the Faina project, which produced 414 ounces. Consolidated tonnage processed was 170,150 tonnes at 3.59 g/t compared to 203,000 tonnes at 2.92 g/t in the second quarter of 2023. Higher grades in the second quarter reflect a focus on grade control and the contribution of higher-grade Faina ore. During the quarter, the Company completed primary development of 1,273 metres and secondary development of 1,130 metres compared to primary development of 1,552 metres and secondary development of 1,238 metres completed in the second quarter of 2023. Exploration development during the quarter was 679 metres, all relating to the Faina project, compared to exploration development of 403 metres completed in the second quarter of 2023. Diamond drilling completed during the quarter was 9,229 metres compared to diamond drilling of 10,419 metres completed in the second quarter of 2023. The Company's cash position as at June 30, 2024 increased by 42% to $37.4 million compared to cash of $26.4 million as at March 31, 2024. This $11.0 million increase in cash reflects sustained higher gold prices and positive margins on gold sales during the quarter. Second Quarter Operating Results Q2 2024 Q2 2023 Quarterly Summary Turmalina Faina Pilar Total Turmalina Pilar Total Tonnes milled (t) 67,088 4,388 98,674 170,150 100,000 103,000 203,000 Average head grade (g/t) 3.15 4.81 3.83 3.59 2.80 3.04 2.92 Recovery (%) 90.1 61.0 88.0 88.2 87.5 88.2 87.8 Gold ounces Produced (oz) 6,136 414 10,694 17,244 7,874 8,876 16,750 Sold (oz) 6,887 414 11,720 19,021 7,661 9,256 16,917 Development Primary (m) 730 - 543 1,273 1,009 543 1,552 Secondary (m) 562 - 568 1,130 547 691 1,238 Exploration Development (m) - 679 - 679 403 - 403 Definition, infill and exploration drilling (m) 5,419 3,810 9,229 4,862 5,557 10,419 Vern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar Mining stated: "Our team worked hard to deliver a solid operational quarter in which production exceeded the previous quarter and the second quarter of 2023. We are also very pleased to have generated $11.0 million in cash from operations, increasing our cash position to a healthy $37.4 million at quarter end. Development rates improved during the quarter, and we expect this will set us up for a stronger second half of the year. The first contributions from our Faina project are seen in this quarter as we ran our first test batch through the Turmalina mill. Grade met expectations and recovery exceeded expectations, however, we are waiting on additional testing before we begin committing to higher recovery rates on this ore. Work on the BA-Torre structure at our Pilar mine continued during the quarter with very encouraging development and test stope results. Development headings have been initiated on five separate sub-levels to start building a production platform with this new structure. We are focusing our diamond drilling on growing the resource and reserve ounces at this structure. Overall, I am pleased with our performance during the quarter as we begin to ramp up production at Faina and continue to generate strong cash flow which will allow us to execute on our future growth plans." Qualified Person Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Advisor Exploration and Geology to Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The Iron Quadrangle The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with over 55,000 hectares. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the MTL Mining Complex (Turmalina Mine and Plant) and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Mining Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. For further information please contact: Vernon Baker Chief Executive Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 416-847-1854 Alfred Colas Chief Financial Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 416-847-1854 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" 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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2024) - Indigo Exploration Inc. (TSXV: IXI) (OTCQB: IXIXF) (FSE: INEN) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Hot Property, a highly prospective uranium project located in the past producing Shirley Basin of Wyoming. The Hot Property, which is comprised of 71 unpatented mineral claims covering a 5.75 km2area, has seen extensive historical exploration dating back to the 1960's with over 200 holes drilled including near-surface intercepts of 1.83 metres of 1.1% U 3 O 8 at a depth of 43.0 metres and 3.35 metres of 0.28% U 3 O 8 at a depth of 26.8 metres. The Project is located adjacent to Uranium Energy Corp.'s (UEC-NYSE) Shirley Basin project, Ur-Energy Inc.'s (URG-NYSE) Shirley Basin mine, and Nuclear Fuels Inc.'s (NF-CSE) Bobcat Uranium Project. Ur-Energy's Shirley Basin project hosts an NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Resource of 8.8 Mlb U 3 O 8 grading 0.23%1 and is currently under construction2. "Gaining 100% interest in a project of this calibre, located in a key uranium district next to past production and some of the preeminent US-focused uranium producers and developers, and with extensive historical drill results, is an exciting new development for the Company." commented Paul Cowley, President & CEO of Indigo Exploration. The Shirley Basin of Wyoming Wyoming represents the largest uranium producing state and contains the greatest uranium ore reserves within the United States. The Shirley Basin located 40 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming, produced over 51 million pounds of U 3 O 8 from 1960 to 1992 at an average grade of 0.22% U 3 O 8 . The Shirley Basin mines closed not for a lack of resource but due to economic factors following the Three Mile Island accident (1979). The importance and relevance of the Shirley Basin today is reflected in production resurgence with Ur-Energy's production plans. Figure 1: Shirley Basin Uranium Project Map Hot Property The Hot Property is strategically located just 800m east (0.5 mile) of an historic production area and 1.8km (1.1 miles) from Ur-Energy's uranium resource. Indigo uncovered 202 drill logs from public records from holes drilled in the 1960's on ground now covered by the Hot Property. One intercept (H1-Zeb-44) encountered 1.83m of 1.1% U 3 O 8 at a depth of 43.0m and a second hole (H6-Zeb-44) encountered 3.35m of 0.28% U 3 O 8 at a depth of 26.8m. Of the 202 holes, approximately 46% intercepted shallow uranium mineralization. Depth to mineralization ranges from 3m to 130m but average 46m deep in Eocene-aged Wind River Formation, the uranium host unit in the Shirley Basin. The Hot Property is particularly promising as one third of the mineralized holes on the property have two or more uranium intercepts. The Company's geologists are compiling historic data in order to design an initial verification and infill drill program that can be submitted for permitting this summer, for drilling projected to start in early fall 2024. Multiple campaigns of drilling will likely be needed to justify a NI 43-101 mineral resource. Numerous existing trails criss-cross the Hot Property which would provide easy access and minimal surface disturbance for the RC drill programs. "The resurgence in the uranium market fundamentals coupled with the bipartisan support in the US to secure domestic sources of uranium, positions the Company on the forefront to benefit from these compounding trends," commented Indigo's President & CEO, Paul Cowley. "We are excited to be a part of the evolving Shirley Basin camp." In-situ Recovery of Uranium in Wyoming Underground and open pit mining methods as well as in-situ recovery (ISR) were employed in production operations in the Shirley Basin. Since the 1990's all uranium mining in Wyoming uses the ISR process, a solution mining method that leaving the ore where it is in the ground and recovers uranium through a system of drill holes by dissolving and pumping the pregnant solution to the surface where the uranium can be recovered. Consequently, there is little surface disturbance, and no tailings or waste rock generated. Lower Capex and Opex from this approach see uranium grades at ISR operations as low as 0.04% U 3 O 8 . 1 Updated Initial Assessment Technical Report Summary on Shirley Basin ISR Uranium Project, Carbon County Wyoming, USA dated March 4, 2024 and prepared by Western Water Consultants, Inc. 2 Ur-Energy Announces Decision to Build Out Shirley Basin Mine: Press Release dated March 13, 2024 Terms of Transaction The Company has signed a purchase agreement with a private vendor pursuant to which it acquires a 100% interest in a private limited liability Arizona company which holds the Hot claims located in the Shirley Basin of Wyoming. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company will pay an aggregate of CDN$20,000 and make share issuance of 200,000 shares in the Company to earn 100% interest, without any NSR royalty. The agreement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, "Paul Cowley", President and CEO For further information, please contact: Paul Cowley: (604) 340-7711 Website: www.indigoexploration.com Bradley Parkes, P.Geo., VP Exploration and Director of Indigo Exploration Inc., is the Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, who has read and approved the technical content of this news release. This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, BC, July 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from six new drill holes targeting the Copala resource area at its 100%-owned, flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco" or the "Project") located in Mexico. The reported drilling, designed to infill near-surface Indicated Mineral Resources, continues to confirm high-grade continuity throughout Copala including new high-grade intercepts on the Copala 3 hanging-wall vein splay. Highlights CS-24-366 returned 2,398 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 7.00 metres true width (mTW) (1,898 g/t silver and 9.51 g/t gold) Including 5,385 g/t AgEq over 0.56 mTW (3,950 g/t silver and 25.40 g/t gold) And, 4,457 g/t AgEq over 1.29 mTW (3,430 g/t silver and 18.95 g/t gold) (1,898 g/t silver and 9.51 g/t gold) CS-24-359 returned 1,027 g/t AgEq over 7.80 mTW (788 g/t silver and 4.40 g/t gold) Including 6,343 g/t AgEq over 0.86 mTW (5,010 g/t silver and 25.30 g/t gold) And, 1,749 g/t AgEq over 0.53 m TW (1,360 g/t silver and 7.26 g/t gold) (788 g/t silver and 4.40 g/t gold) CS-24-361 returned 2,023 g/t AgEq over 3.50 mTW (1,617 g/t silver and 7.83 g/t gold) Including 6,331 g/t AgEq over 0.39 mTW (5,230 g/t silver and 22.30 g/t gold) (1,617 g/t silver and 7.83 g/t gold) CS-24-363 returned 2,193 g/t AgEq over 2.68 mTW (1,831 g/t silver and 7.47 g/t gold) Including 4,787 g/t AgEq over 0.78 mTW (4,040 g/t silver and 15.75 g/t gold) (1,831 g/t silver and 7.47 g/t gold) "Ongoing infill drilling at Copala, where initial mining will likely take place, continues to demonstrate exceptional mineral continuity," commented Michael Konnert, President & CEO. "Tight-spaced drilling along Copala Main and its hanging-wall splay structures has now expanded the high-grade footprint closer to surface, potentially reducing the overall development required to access the minerlization. The more we drill on the property, the more confidence we have that Panuco will be a high-margin, low capex project. Moving forward, we will continue our conversion drilling at Copala as we de-risk the Project ahead of the maiden PEA, slated for early Q3 2024." The precious metals dominant Copala structure, located in the western portion of the Panuco district, is situated ~800 m to the east of the Napoleon Vein. Copala currently hosts Indicated Resources of 83.3 Moz AgEq at 573 g/t AgEq and Inferred Resources of 48.3 Moz AgEq at 476 g/t AgEq within a broad envelope of vein-breccia interlayered with host rock, up to 82 metres thick (please refer to our Technical Report on Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico, by Allan Armitage, Ben Eggers and Peter Mehrfert, dated February 12, 2024 and to Vizsla's press release dated January 8, 2024). Interpretations by Vizsla geologists indicate Copala has an average dip of ~46 to the east (~35 in its northern sector and steepening to ~65 in the southern sector). Exploration and Resource drilling at Copala has traced mineralization along ~1,770 metres of strike length and ~400 metres down dip. The infill holes reported herein are part of an ongoing ~10,000 program (~35 holes), planned to convert near surface Indicated Mineral Resources in the central portion of main Copala into the Measured Resource category. The six infill holes reported were drilled at approximately 25 metre centers from pre-existing holes and continue to successfully confirm grade continuity along the main Copala structure. Additionally, some of these holes also intercepted high-grades on Copala 3, which sits between 10-45 metres to the east of Copala main, on the hanging-wall side of the structure. The Copala 3 vein is demonstrating good continuity with many holes having previously intercepted the structure, as shown by the blue pierce points in Figure 3. The high grades seen in Copala 3, may contribute to a further improved, overall grade profile as more resources are converted to higher confidence categories in the central portion of Copala. Vizsla plans to complete its ongoing ~10,000 infill program by mid to late July. Based on the results received, Vizsla is analysing additional drilling metres to continue upgrading and expanding mineral resources in high priority areas at Copala. Drillhole From To Downhole Length Estimated True width Ag Au AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) CS-24-359 332.15 341.65 9.50 7.80 788 4.40 1,027 Copala 3 Includes 336.25 337.30 1.05 0.86 5,010 25.30 6,343 Includes 341.00 341.65 0.65 0.53 1,360 7.26 1,749 CS-24-359 369.30 373.75 4.45 3.76 242 1.18 303 Copala Includes 371.00 371.60 0.60 0.51 1,015 3.60 1,177 CS-24-359 378.00 381.00 3.00 2.53 170 0.44 186 Copala CS-24-361 346.05 351.60 5.55 5.25 547 6.58 962 Copala 3 Includes 346.05 346.50 0.45 0.43 2,370 59.70 6,366 Includes 347.25 348.20 0.95 0.90 1,110 5.03 1,365 CS-24-361 366.00 369.60 3.60 3.50 1,617 7.83 2,023 Copala Includes 368.20 368.60 0.40 0.39 5,230 22.30 6,331 CS-24-363 325.40 328.15 2.75 2.68 1,831 7.47 2,193 Copala includes 326.55 327.35 0.80 0.78 4,040 15.75 4,787 CS-24-364 344.55 346.40 1.85 1.80 131 0.71 169 Copala 3 CS-24-364 358.10 360.75 2.65 2.65 277 2.20 407 Copala CS-24-366 348.85 357.00 8.15 7.00 1,898 9.51 2,398 Copala 3 Includes 348.85 349.50 0.65 0.56 3,950 25.40 5,385 Includes 351.00 352.50 1.50 1.29 3,430 18.95 4,457 Includes 352.80 354.00 1.20 1.03 3,200 13.00 3,829 CS-24-366 376.50 379.70 3.20 3.08 147 0.74 186 Copala CS-24-367 352.30 355.50 3.20 2.75 124 0.72 164 Copala 3 CS-24-367 374.50 378.95 4.45 3.35 383 1.62 462 Copala Includes 374.50 375.50 1.00 0.75 1,280 5.54 1,555 Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + (Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver and $1,800/oz gold and metallurgical recoveries assumed are 91% for silver and 94% for gold. Gold and silver metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Copala vein (see press release dated August 16, 2023). Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from the holes reported for Copala and Copala 3 veins. The two intercepts on main Copala for CS-24-359 occur within a broad (9.90 m) lower grade vein-breccia structure. Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth CS-24-359 404,912 2,586,771 680 261.7 -45.8 382.5 CS-24-361 404,912 2,586,771 680 265.5 -47.9 381.0 CS-24-363 404,844 2,586,892 653 277.7 -61.7 343.5 CS-24-364 404,912 2,586,771 680 270.4 -43.2 376.5 CS-24-366 409,912 2,586,771 680 266.2 -51.5 387.0 CS-24-367 404,844 2,586,892 653 274.7 -69.4 394.5 Table 2: Drillhole details for the reported drillholes. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13. About the Panuco Project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 17,856.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. On January 8, 2024, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Panuco which includes an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 155.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 169.6 Moz AgEq (please refer to our Technical Report on Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico, by Allan Armitage, Ben Eggers and Peter Mehrfert, dated February 12, 2024 and to our Companys press release dated January 8, 2024). About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla Silver has completed over 368,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2024, Vizsla Silver has budgeted +30,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. Qualified Person In accordance with NI 43-101, Jesus Velador, Ph.D. MMSA QP., Vice President of Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Website: www.vizslasilvercorp.ca 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. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade, and expand the maiden resource as well as test other high priority targets across the district. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla Silver, future growth potential for Vizsla Silver and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla Silver's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla Silver's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla Silver has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla Silver's management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla Silver has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla Silver does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, BC, July 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Panther Minerals Inc. ("Panther Minerals" or the "Company") (CSE: PURR) (OTC: GLIOF) (FWB: 2BC) is pleased to announce it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") with 1484506 B.C. Ltd. ("148 BC") dated July 9th, 2024, contemplating an acquisition by the Company of 148 BC, which holds the Huber Heights Uranium property (the "Property"), located in northern Elko County, Nevada from the shareholders of 148 BC (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Property is comprised of 35 unpatented mineral claims (700 acres, 283 ha), located near the village of Mountain City, Elko County, Nevada. The Property covers known uranium prospects and showings that were discovered in the 1950s, including the Autunite and October Group prospects, and the Huber Hills Granite Ridge prospect.(1) This acquisition is part of the Company's continuing focus on USA based uranium properties that are in favorable jurisdictions, are underexplored, can be readily advanced and tested, and have exploration potential. Mountain City is located on Hwy 225 and the property is readily accessed by gravel and 4x4 roads east of the highway. The Property lies within the Mountain City Mining District, centered approximately 110 kilometres north of the gold mining city of Elko, Nevada. The district was founded on gold and silver in the late 1860s, but the most significant discovery was the Rio Tinto copper deposit in 1931. Mined until 1947, the Rio Tinto mine at Mountain City was the highest-grade copper mine during much of its operating life with a grade of 9.7% Cu.(2) Uranium was discovered in the area in 1954 with limited production in the district between 1958 to 1963. Nevada government reports(1) and online sources indicate that there are two general types of uranium deposits on the Property and in the surrounding area. One type of uranium mineralization occurs along vertical fractures and/or shear zones in quartz monzonte (Autunite and October prospects), associated with intense alteration that tends to weather recessively. This target is expected to be largely overburden covered, requiring geophysical applications and shallow drilling. This uranium mineralization can be associated, or close to molybdenum mineralization,(1) which may be a useful geochemical pathfinder mineral. The other type of uranium mineralization is related to the contact zone between the underlying Cretaceous quartz monzonite and the overlying Tertiary volcanic sediments. At the Race Track mine, contiguous to, and south of the Property, an apparent basal tuffaceous layer with bentonite (and possibly montmorillonite) alteration, has been described as a shear zone separating the quartz monzonite from the granite. The Race Track mine was the largest producer of uranium during the 1950s and 1960s in Elko county, producing nearly 10,000 pounds of U3O8 from ore grading 0.24 per cent U3O8.(1). Vikre, P.G et.al, reports "The deposits formed between 40 and 20 million years ago where groundwater leached uranium from local ash-flow tuffs or granites and redeposited this uranium in zones of high porosity and permeability (faults or poorly consolidated sediments below ash-fall tuffs) (Proffitt and others, 1982). Uranium was chemically trapped and removed from groundwater by montmorillonite clay that is derived from alteration of volcanic rocks and by carbonaceous debris incorporated into the volcanic and sedimentary host rocks." The Property is interpreted to covers the north-western portion of the Mountain West property, formerly owned and worked by Bayswater Uranium (Kilgore Minerals Co.). The Mountain West property was explored between 1967 and 1983 by Pathfinder Mines (owned by Cogema) and its predecessor Utah Construction and Mining Co. According to Baywater press releases, the exploration program consisted of the drilling of 359 holes in the general area.(1) The Property is under-explored by modern exploration technology. The Company plans to complete rapid and cost-efficient exploration activities such as drone magnetics, geological mapping, geophysical and radiometric surveys to confirm existing targets and outline new anomalies, followed by drilling. The Company does not have any information of the drill holes on the Property. The exploration information presented herein includes historical data developed by previous operators of the Property. The Company is providing these historical data for informational purposes only and gives no assurance as to their reliability and relevance to the Company's proposed exploration program at the Property. The Company has not completed any quality assurance program or applied quality control measures to the historical data. Under the terms of the LOI, at closing of the Proposed Transaction, the Company will issue an aggregate of 5,000,000 common shares in the Company (the "Consideration Shares") to the shareholders of 148 BC pro rata to their respective shareholdings in 148 BC. The Company will also make a cash payment of CAD$20,000 on execution of a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") with respect to the Proposed Transaction in payment of 148 BC's legal and professional costs for the Proposed Transaction. The Company and 148 BC have agreed to a 30-day exclusivity period during which the parties will work towards executing a mutually agreeable Definitive Agreement. The Proposed Transaction arm's length and there are no finder's fees payable in connection therewith. It is anticipated that the Consideration Shares will be subject to a 6-month voluntary lock-up period, whereby the recipients of the Consideration Shares will be restricted from trading the Consideration Shares (the "Initial Lockup Period"). Following the Initial Lockup Period, the Consideration Shares will be released at a rate of 20% per month. The Proposed Transaction is subject to a range of conditions, including, but not limited to, the parties entering into the Definitive Agreement containing terms and conditions, including representations and warranties customary for transactions of this nature and receipt of all required shareholder and regulatory approvals, including but not limited to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The entering into of the Definitive Agreement is subject to, among other things, completion of the parties' respective due diligence and approval of the boards of the Company and 148 BC. There is no certainty that the parties will be able to conclude the Proposed Transaction. The LOI is non-binding and neither the Company nor 148 BC is under any obligation to enter into, or continue negotiations regarding, the Definitive Agreement or to proceed with the Proposed Transaction. There can be no assurances that any component of the Proposed Transaction will proceed, nor can there be any assurance as to the final definitive terms thereof. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Lindsay Bottomer, PGeo. Mr. Bottomer is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is an independent consultant for the Company. Sources (1) Vikre, P.G., et.al.,, 2016, Geology and Mineral Resources of the Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Oregon and Nevada), the Southeastern Oregon and North-Central Nevada, and the Southern Idaho and Northern Nevada (and Utah) Sagebrush Focal Areas, U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 20165089B, 225 p. (2) LaPointe, D.D., Tingley, J.V., and Jones, R.B., 1991, Mineral resources of Elko County Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 106, 236 p. About Panther Minerals Inc. Panther Minerals is a mineral exploration company actively involved in the exploration of its North American project portfolio. The acquisition of the Boulder Creek option reflects the Company's continuing intention of pursuing advanced, high-quality prospective uranium projects that can be readily worked on and efficiently explored, in a timely manner. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Robert Birmingham, Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1-867-322-8984 For more information please visit: www.pantherminerals.ca or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to the LOI and the likelihood that the Definitive Agreement will be entered into and the Transaction will be consummated on the terms and timeline provided herein or at all, the benefits of the Transaction to the Company and the receipt of all required approvals including without limitation applicable regulatory authorities and the CSE. The forward-looking information reflects management's 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. Such risk factors may include, among others, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation and environmental regulation; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; competition for, among other things, skilled personnel and supplies; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions; geological, technical, processing and transportation problems; changes in tax laws and incentive programs; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; and the other factors. 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 time frames or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; and (ii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company's management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Company's 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. The forward-looking information included in this news release are 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. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2024) - StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce Marcio Fonseca has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company as an independent director and the new Chair of the Company's Audit Committee effective immediately. Darren Bahrey, President and CEO, stated, "On behalf of the Company we are excited to have Mr. Fonseca join the Board. His appointment further enhances our board by adding business development, capital markets, and track records in the discovery and development of successful mining projects worldwide. We look forward to working closely with him on continuing the responsible growth of the Company with his knowledgeable guidance on delineating potential Tier 1 discoveries and the development of critical mineral deposits in northern Canada. With the addition of Marcio, our team and board have extensive experience working in all phases of exploration, project development and operations, including transactions in the capital markets." Mr. Fonseca's broad skill set and experience in international mining finance and project development will be extremely valuable in advancing the Company's position in the critical metals sector. The Company acknowledges the support of the recently engaged Advisors to the Board noted below, who will continue contributing to the Company's growth. StrategX also announces the resignation of David Haig from the Board of Directors effective immediately and advises that the previously announced private placement in which Mr. Haig's company was to participate was not completed within the time required under CSE policies and accordingly has been terminated. Marcio Fonseca, Director Mr. Fonseca brings significant experience and expertise to the Company having successfully achieved a +30-years professional career working in multicommodity and multi-jurisdictions with large mining corporations and investment banks worldwide. He previously served as the Division Director for Metals and Energy at Macquarie Bank, where he played a pivotal role in business growth in North America. Mr. Fonseca's career achievements include direct involvement in successful discoveries of Tier 1 deposits and developing mine operations in world-class mining districts. Renowned for his ability to identify, enhance, and develop natural resource opportunities, he has focused on delineating attractive prospects for development. His expertise in various jurisdictions encompasses all phases of mineral asset development, and he has held senior corporate development positions with Vale, Phelps Dodge, and Echo Bay Mines in Latin America. Notable accomplishments include his instrumental role in orchestrating successful transactions such as the CAD$155M acquisition of SilverCrest Mines by First Majestic Silver Corp in Mexico. More recently, Mr. Fonseca has created new ventures in Latin America laying the groundwork for business development. He has extensive experience in capital markets, strategic partnerships, and securing equity and debt financing for natural resource projects on a global scale. Strategic Advisory Team The Company has been attracting additional support to guide on technical, financial, legal, and marketing. As we continue to build our company and unlock our discoveries in critical metals in northern Canada, they will play important roles in advising our management team and Board. Together, we are excited to achieve significant milestones and drive forward our vision of sustainable growth, innovation, and discovering and developing projects in green energy. The start of strategic advisory is the following: Blaine Bailey - Financial & Accounting Mr. Bailey is a Chartered Professional Accountant, CGA working with public and private companies listed on the TSX, TSXV and NYSE over the past 20 years. He brings complementary skills to the team in the areas of finance, administration, and financial reporting. Blaine is the CFO of GR Silver Mining Ltd, VR Resources Ltd, American Copper Development Corporation, Aztec Minerals Corp, and Panorama Capital Corp. (CPC). He received his Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from the University of Manitoba in 1977 and qualified for the CPA, CGA designation in British Columbia in 1983. He also served in the capacity of accountant for Molson Brewery B.C. Ltd. and was controller for Nabob Coffee Co. with head offices in Zurich, Switzerland. John Land - Project Field Operations Mr. Land has over four decades of expertise in the energy sector. With a rich background in pioneering innovative exploration and production ventures, he adeptly navigates and mitigates risks while maximizing operational efficiency. John's extensive experience spans many decades of drilling in remote locales, where his strategic approach has consistently yielded successful outcomes. Moreover, his approach in fostering collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including industry counterparts and indigenous communities, underscores his commitment to responsible resource development. He will play a role alongside the exploration project leaders and the VP of Exploration as we advance our field programs. Kathleen MacInnes - Corporate & Legal Counsel Ms. MacInnes of K MacInnes Law Group. Kathleen has been the Company's legal counsel since its inception. She has been practicing law for 30 years and specializes in corporate and securities law. Before starting her firm in 2011, Kathleen was a principal owner of a medium-sized Vancouver-based boutique corporate, securities and commercial litigation law firm. She has played an integral role with the management team and Board during the past decade, also ensuring the successful transition of private companies to Canadian public stock exchange listings and finalizing key corporate transactions. About StrategX StrategX is a Canadian exploration company dedicated to discovering critical metal deposits in Northern Canada. With five strategic projects situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories and on the Melville Peninsula in Nunavut, we are pioneering exploration discoveries in these untapped regions. By integrating historical data from previous exploration programs conducted by major mining companies and applying innovative exploration methodology, StrategX is offering investors a unique opportunity to be part of multiple discoveries and the development of new critical metal districts. These important metals are essential for supporting the global transition towards green energy. For the latest updates and insights, visit our Investor Portal. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Darren G. Bahrey CEO, President & Director For further information, please contact: StrategX Elements Corp. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: 778.231.2767 For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2024) - Astra Exploration Inc. (TSXV: ASTR) (OTCQB: ATEPF) (FSE: S3I) ("Astra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding letter agreement dated July 8, 2024 (the "Agreement") granting Astra the option to acquire up to a 90% interest in the Manchuria epithermal gold-silver Project (the "Project") from Patagonia Gold Corp ("Patagonia") located in the prolific Deseado Massif of Santa Cruz, Argentina (Figure 1). The Deseado Massif has extraordinary geological fertility and hosts multiple low-sulphidation epithermal (LSE) precious metals deposits, including AngloGold Ashanti's Cerro Vanguardia (approximately 10 million gold-equivalent ounces) and Newmont Corp's Cerro Negro (approximately 7.5 million gold-equivalent ounces) world-class deposits. Highlights of the Manchuria Project: Near existing mining infrastructure (Figure 1) Large land package of approximately 5,600 hectares (Figure 2) Localized bonanza-grade drill intersections (Table 1) Historical drilling is mostly shallow, averaging 100 to 150 metres below surface Existing 43-101 resource (Table 2) of 53,900 indicated and 92,400 inferred gold equivalent ounces for an optimized open-pit shell using USD $1,300/oz and 95% recovery for gold and USD $18/oz and 60% recovery for silver in 2019 1 Opportunity to discover high-grade feeder zones (Figure 3) Astra's CEO, Brian Miller commented: After reviewing many projects over the past several months, Manchuria stands out as an opportunity to make a significant high-grade discovery in a proven, yet underexplored land package. The grades are exceptional, preliminary metallurgy is favorable, and previous drilling was shallow and mostly focused on the current published resource. There is opportunity to expand the existing resource laterally near surface and along strike, but perhaps more important is the opportunity to discover high-grade feeder zones which remain unexplored. Manchuria has multiple characteristics which support multi-million ounce potential. With Pampa Paciencia, and now the addition of Manchuria, Astra continues to position itself as a premier explorer with a growing portfolio of high quality precious metals projects in some of the most important mining jurisdictions in Latin America. The Manchuria Project is a shallow, high-grade gold-silver LSE system close to provincial roads at 650 to 700 metres altitude (Figure 1). Figure 1: Manchuria Project location, Deseado Massif region in Santa Cruz Province, Southern Argentina. Previous exploration consists of surface and trench samples, geophysics (ground mag, IP and CSAMT) and 22,200 metres of drilling (91% DDH) in 133 holes. Exploration activity concentrated at an elevated and altered 600 by 700 metre area exposing a dense group of NW to NNW trending parallel banded quartz-adularia veins with bonanza grades (Table 1) that can be divided into the Main and the Eastern Zones (Figure 2). This area is interpreted by Astra geologists as a hydrovolcanic centre with evidence of phreatic to phreatomagmatic breccias, and is currently the only area drilled. Drilling was concentrated at the Main Zone, where in 2019 Patagonia published a 43-101 resource1 (Table 2) which remains open in all directions. The Eastern Zone (900 by 250 metres) consists of a similar group of NW-trending parallel banded quartz-adularia veins with bonanza grades that were not explored in detail (only 8 of the 133 holes drilled at Manchuria) and could likely expand the near-surface resources. Additionally, to the east there are more NW-oriented trends with shallow LSE style mineralization, and to the south more evidence of phreatic breccias and strong silicification is present (Figure 2). Figure 2: Manchuria Project summarized lithologies and surface Au geochemical anomalies. Project outline in blue, and the modern cover has no color. Table 1: Select (uncut) drill intersections from the Manchuria Project expressed in AuEq (gold-equivalent) g/t *metres using a gold/silver ratio of 80. Table 2: Existing resource1 information from 43-101 report dated September 27, 2019. After relogging drill holes along select sections, Company geologists interpret that the Main Zone is an extensional basin filled with rhyolitic flow tuffs that develop into a dacitic to andesitic sequence of tuffs and lava flows. The contact between the two units is represented by a layer with important amounts of carbonized wood representing the base of the rhyolitic flow tuffs (Figure 3). Figure 3: Cross-section showing parallel veins (red) crosscut by drilling (black traces) with coincident high grades at or near faults (blue) and carbon-rich layer (gray). As seen in Figure 3, LSE mineralization was mainly tested in the rhyolitic tuffs unit with several Au-Ag rich drill intersections that created the bulk disseminated resource published in the 43-101. However, there is strong evidence that there are high-grade precious metal intersections when faults and fluids cross-cut the carbon-rich level (grades listed in blue), and there is also evidence of thicker and more continuous veins in the dacitic-andesitic basal unit. Agreement Terms Astra has the option to acquire an initial 80% interest in the Manchuria Project by fulfilling the following project expenditures, subject to Astra's right to extend the earn-in timeframe: USD $150K in non-discretionary expenditures in the first year; USD $350K expenditures in the second year; USD $1.5M expenditures in the third year; USD $1M expenditures in the fourth year; Upon earning 80%, Astra may then elect to purchase an additional 10% (for 90% total ownership) by making a cash payment of USD $5M to Patagonia by the end of the sixth year, subject to Astra's right to extend this period. Patagonia's interest (10% or 20% as the case may be) will be carried until the publication of a 43-101 compliant resource totaling at least 1 million ounces of gold-equivalent in the indicated + inferred categories. Upon publication of the resource, each party will contribute their pro-rata amounts of expenditures from that point forward. If either Party's ownership is reduced to less than 10%, such ownership will automatically convert to a 1% NSR. Upon signing of the Agreement, Astra will have a period of 45 days to conduct due diligence, during which time Astra has the exclusive option to proceed with the transaction. Further, the due diligence period will only commence upon both of: (i) approval from the existing royalty holder; and (ii) approval from the Santa Cruz Provincial authorities of the work plan which has been agreed to by Astra and Patagonia. About the Company Astra Exploration Inc. is a precious metals exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC that is actively building a portfolio of high quality projects in some of the most important mining jurisdictions in Latin America. Its 100% owned Pampa Paciencia low sulphidation epithermal (LSE) gold-silver project is located in the Paleocene mineral province of northern Chile in proximity to such major operating mines as Spence and Sierra Gorda, and shares several important geological similarities to other Paleocene LSE gold-silver deposits incuding Faride and El Penon. The Manchuria LSE gold-silver project over which Astra has an option to acquire 90% interest, is located in the prolific Deseado Massif of Santa Cruz, Argentina which hosts multiple world-class LSE precious metals deposits including Cerro Vanguardia and Cerro Negro. Qualified Person The technical data and information as disclosed in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Darcy Marud, who is an Independent Director of Astra. Mr. Marud is a Practicing Member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. For further information please contact: Brian Miller Chief Executive Officer Tel. 604.428.0939 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. References: 1 Source: Stubens, T. and Gowans, R., September 27, 2019. Updated Technical Report on the Mineral Resources of the La Manchuria Project Santa Cruz Province, Argentina https://www.sedarplus.ca/csa-party/records/document.html?id=6bc2df299100dda4b4142a8fc3458ea9e378a7ef5b24922fa490ce964833e1b0 Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby and/or geologically similar properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's properties. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward- looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Company's business activities; exploration on the Company's properties; completion of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement; receipt of all required regulatory approvals; and marketing initiatives. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: development of the industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's business activities; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; laws and regulations governing the industry in which the Company operates; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's public disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. All dollars are Canadian unless otherwise noted VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 /Relevant Gold Corp. (TSXV:RGC) (OTCQB:RGCCF) (the "Company" or "Relevant Gold") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement agreement for 5,100,000 Units of the Company totaling $1,530,000 with Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") (NYSE:KGC) (TSX:K). The Kinross placement obviates the second tranche of the previously announced private placement (see news release), thereby completing all pending financings. In connection with these offerings, the Company has issued a total of 10,881,300 Units for gross proceeds of $2,975,325, oversubscribing the original target of $2,500,000. Each Unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for an 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. The Units issued to Kinross are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on November 9, 2024. Proceeds from the combined placements will be used to fund exploration at the Company's projects in Wyoming, USA, and for general working capital. "We are extremely pleased with Kinross's strategic investment in Relevant Gold and the strong endorsement this reflects for our thesis that Wyoming has Abitibi Gold Belt potential. We look forward to working with them as we continue to explore for world-class gold discoveries in Wyoming," said Relevant Gold CEO, Rob Bergmann. "Wyoming is becoming a top global mining jurisdiction and in the current rising gold environment, Relevant Gold provides investors first-mover exposure to an emerging pipeline of belt-scale gold opportunities." As a result of this financing, Kinross holds on a partially diluted basis, approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. In conjunction with this strategic investment, Relevant Gold and Kinross have entered into an Investor Rights Agreement reserving Kinross's right to 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. 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2024) - Mogotes Metals Inc. (TSXV: MOG) ("Mogotes", or the "Company") is pleased to provide an exploration update and announce positive initial rock chip assay results from the Filo Sur project, adjoining the world class Filo del Sol Cu-Au-Ag High Sulfidation Epithermal (HSE) and Porphyry (PCD) project in the Vicuna District, Argentina (Figure 1). 2,185 m of diamond core drilling completed in 3 holes during shortened February to May 2024 campaign completed in 3 holes during shortened February to May 2024 campaign Geological observations from the first drill test at Nueva Colorida Breccia and Cruz del Sur targets and drilling at Frontera prospect that was suspended due to early onset of winter - Assays results pending Initial rock chips results confirm Au-Ag-Cu mineralization at new Filo Alunita and Rincon prospects Filo Alunita a newly identified 1.6 km trend of silica-alunite alteration . Mogotes rock chip assay of 4.3 g/t Au and >100 g/t Ag, highlights potential HSE prospect, not recognized by previous explorers. Rincon 2.3 km long trend defined by Mogotes soil, rock chip assay and geophysics , returns assays of up to 1.35 g/t Au, 825 ppm Cu and 142 ppm Mo, correlating to +100 m wide high intensity sheeted veinlet trend, also not recognized by previous explorers CEO, Allen Sabet, stated: "Mogotes is very happy to have initiated the first drilling campaign at the prospective Filo Sur project in over decade. Notwithstanding a far shorter than planned exploration season due to unseasonally early arrival of winter conditions (effecting many explorers in the Andes this year), our team successfully drilled 2,185 meters of diamond core providing an initial test at 3 of our 9 prospects. "Holes were completed at Cruz del Sur, Nueva Colorida pipe, and a third hole was started at Frontera, but suspended at a depth of 520m well before the planned depth, with clear down hole mineralization vectors established. We are encouraged by this initial drilling, as all holes intersected extensive alteration, veining and visible copper and, or base metal sulphides, consistent with large scale porphyry / epithermal mineral systems. "Assay results from this drilling are pending. Images of the mineralization and technical descriptions are enclosed in this release (see Appendix 1) and are already providing valuable vectors to guide our next drill holes. "It is important to highlight that the majority of our priority targets remain undrilled, as the field season was cut short. In addition, our team has discovered two completely new areas of mineralization at Filon Alunita and Rincon, confirmed by encouraging initial rock chip assays. Results from additional sampling are pending. It is the company's view that further exploration has the potential to see these prospects develop into new attractive drill targets at Filon Alunita and Rincon. "Mogotes is looking forward to updating investors with results as they come to hand and returning to the project in the southern hemisphere spring (September - October 2024) to continue exploration of this prospective project." NEXT STEPS: Webinar discussion on key target areas (this week) Assay results from initial rock chip sampling at new Rincon target Assay results from initial drill holes at Nueva Colorida, Cruz del Sur and Frontera prospects Recommence exploration program - inclusive of surface exploration and first drill test of several priority targets, is planned for the southern hemisphere spring of October 2024 Appendix 1: Technical Update on Filo Sur Prospects Nueva Colorida HSE Breccia Pipe and Colorida - Frontera PCD Cu-Mo Prospects Frontera - Colorida prospect is characterized by superimposed large-scale alteration / mineral systems (Figure 2) defined by A 2.4 sq km phyllic alteration zone with variable intensity porphyry quartz stockworking that combined is interpreted as the upper phyllic zone of a shallowly eroded Cu - Mo (Au) PCD system(s) and; A widespread subhorizontal advanced argillic (AA) to argillic alteration overprint (probably telescoping) mapped by the WV3 processing, centered on the recently recognized Nueva Colorida breccia pipe with AA alteration and HSE sulphide assemblage in the matrix. The diameter of the Nueva Colorida pipe is not yet well constrained but is in excess of 600 m based on outcrop and recent drill intersections. The Frontera-Colorida alteration and mineralization is open, extending to the west under alteration plateau toward the Filon Alunita HSE Au-Ag prospect and to the east and northeast under recent gravel cover toward the Mucho Muerto Fault zone. Drilling has been conducted at Frontera and Colorida in campaigns between 2012 and 2013 by Vale, intersecting broad zones of low-grade porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization (Mogotes NI43101 Technical Report April 2024). Mogotes geophysics, surface mapping and systematic soil sampling has highlighted that these prospects have not been optimally drill tested by previous explorers, with key areas of outcropping porphyry style stockworking, Cu-Mo soil anomalies and attractive geophysical anomalies, undrilled (Mogotes NI43101 Technical Report April 2024). At surface, copper mineralization is interpreted to have been partially leached by supergene, and also potentially hypogene leaching, related to the advanced argillic alteration overprint. Mo is less subject to leaching and so is considered a good exploration vector and indicator of the hypogene mineralization. Mogotes rock chip assay results received in February 2024 have further enhanced the prospectivity of these targets with widespread strongly anomalous Cu and Mo assays returned. Better Cu assays at Frontera correlate to a zone of outcropping A and B style porphyry stock work and sheeted veining with some areas of secondary copper "bloom" (Figure 2). Frontera Cu rock chip assays range from 21 to 3,910 ppm, with an average of the top 10% of 733 ppm Cu (Figure 2). At Colorida, higher grade Cu rock chip assays "halo" the Nueva Colorida pipe where widespread variable intensity porphyry style stockwork veining along with several areas of supergene Cu "bloom" are noted. Colorida Cu assays show a vector toward the northeast where there has been no drilling and where the prospect trends under recent gravel cover. Cu rock chip assays at Colorida range from 17 to 2,040 ppm, with an average of the top 10% of 682 ppm Cu (Figure 2). Mo is strongly anomalous across Colorida-Frontera prospects ranging from 0.5 to 6,350 ppm, with the average of the top 10% at Frontera of 733 ppm Mo, and the average of the top 10% at Colorida of 45.7 ppm Mo. Mogotes initiated drilling at the Nueva Colorida and Frontera prospects in April 2024. Drilling was terminated due to the early onset of winter conditions in mid April 2024, with 2 holes drilled totaling 1,709 m. Drill hole FSDDH002 was drilled at the Nueva Colorida prospect toward the northwest at -70.8 dip, reaching a planned depth of 1188.65m. Hole FSDDH003 was drilled toward the west at -64.4 dip reaching 520m of the planned +1000m depth before the hole was shut down and the camp winterized. Assay results from this drilling are pending but anticipated to be received in coming weeks. Drill Hole FSDDH002 provides an initial test of the interpreted Nueva Colorida breccia pipe and a portion of a large underlying MT conductivity anomaly. The first segment of this drill hole (~20 to ~835 m) intersected approximately 815 m of hydrothermal breccia with advanced argillic alteration and HSE Cu - Mo sulphide assemblage (Figure 3). Then, from 835 m to the end of the drill hole, it intersects two units of intra-mineral porphyries which are unlikely to be the source of the breccia or mineralization (Figure 3). The hydrothermal breccia is polymictic in character with angular to subrounded clasts and moderate to intense advanced argillic alteration. The matrix is mainly composed of silica + anhydrite (now gypsum) + clays alunite native sulphur. Hand lens based estimates of sulphide assemblage in the matrix show that pyrite is the dominant sulphide, ranging from 1 to 30 % with an average of ~3 %, with a subordinate high sulfidation assemblage of bornite, enargite, sphalerite, covellite and chalcopyrite. Numerous breccia clasts have pre-brecciation A-type veins of quartz, pyrite bornite and B-type veins quartz + pyrite + molybdenite that are presumed to be sourced from underlying porphyry mineralisation that was crosscut by the breccia during ascent1. Visual estimates of sulphide percentages suggest assays results are unlikely to return significant intervals of "ore grade" like Cu and Mo mineralization. However, Mogotes is very encouraged by the visual results of this hole that has only tested the outer edge of a large HSE breccia pipe and demonstrates the presence of a high level, mineralized Cu-Mo PCD system at the project. Combined with the surface rock chip results, alteration patterns and geophysical anomalies provide vectors and outline untested targets for drill testing for 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Frontera drill hole FSDDH003 was designed to test for higher grade porphyry Cu-Mo (Au) mineralization to depth beneath combined stockwork, alteration, geochemical and geophysical anomalies that all suggest the current outcrop level at the prospect represents an outer phyllic alteration shell of a concealed porphyry system with an advanced argillic HSE overprint (probably telescoping). The drill hole reached a depth of 520 m within an interbed sequence of rhyolites and dacites presumed to be the Permo-Triassic age Choiyoi Group (Kay et al., 1989; Linares, 2007) wall rocks at the prospect, with only short intervals of andestic dykes, suggesting the causative Miocene age porphyry system lies at depth or laterally under cover. Moderate to intense quartz + sericite + pyrite phyllic alteration dominants the drill hole with biotite-magnetite potassic alteration logged in 1.4 to 22m intervals within the dykes and wall rock from approximately 230 m down hole to the base of hole. Argillic to advanced argillic alteration is seen as an overprint on the phyillic and potassic alteration between 2 to 57 m and 118 to 140 m down hole. The pyrite is present throughout most of the hole, ranging from 0.5 to 25 % with an average of 2 % mainly as D-type veins, but also appears in anhydrite veins which may also have enargite (0.5 to 5%) and scarce sphalerite. At ~61, 120, and 393 m there are veins of 5 to 6 cm thick massive sulfides composed of pyrite + enargite. Molybdenite is present as disseminations (0.5 to 1 %) in fine (5 mm average) B-type quartz veins (0.5 to 1 %) observed from 304 m to the end of the drill hole. The drill hole was terminated at 520 m due to the onset of winter conditions, well above the planned final depth of 1200 m. Assay are pending, however alteration and the transition of phyllic to potassic and pyrite enargite veins D veins to quartz-molybdenite-pyrite B veins from 304 m down hole supports the proposal that the hole is still in the upper phyllic halo of a porphyry Cu-Mo system with a vector down hole and to the west. Additionally, the presence of advanced argillic alteration confirms the proposal that there is alteration telescoping in in the Frontera - Colorida system. This process can increase Cu ( Au) grades associated with the porphyry system by introducing high-sulfidation ore minerals (Sillitoe, 2010; Sillitoe and Perello, 2023), in this case enargite and covellite. Continuing this drill hole to planned depth will be a priority for the 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Filon Alunita Prospect Filon Alunita is a previously unrecognized, approximately 1.6 km long, NE trending zone of alunite-kaolinite responses first recognised in Mogotes 2023 WV3 satellite alteration mapping. Filon Alunita is located approximately 1 km to the west of the Colorida- Frontera prospects, possibly representing the HSE halo to this large PCD Cu-Mo-(Au) center (Figure 2). Mogotes Metals acquired additional adjoining claims extending into Chile to secure the SW extension of the Filon Alunita trend before initiating ground checking of the trend in February 2024. Follow-up has confirmed the presence of submeter to over 10m wide hydrothermal silica-alunite breccias and vuggy silica zones outcrop along the trend that are considered prospective for HSE style Au-Ag-Cu mineralization (Figures 4a & 4b). There is no historic rock chip sampling or drilling and only patchy IP geophysics coverage from a historic Vale 2011 survey focused over the prospect. Reprocessing of this IP data hints at high order resistivity anomalies associated with the Filon Alunita trend that may represent drill targets for larger concealed vuggy silica zones. A single rock chip was collected on the NE end of the Filon Alunita trend by Mogotes reconnaissance mapping team in 2022-23. This sample assayed 4.3 g/t Au, >100 g/t Ag and 550 ppm Cu with an Sb - As signature consistent with HSE epithermal interpretation of this prospect, suggesting the Filon Alunita zone may develop into an attractive Au - Ag HSE target. Mapping, systematic rock chip sampling (trenching) and IP geophysics are a priority for the Filon Alunita prospect, following by drill testing of permissive targets is a priority for the Mogotes 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Camino and Rincon Porphyry and HSE Cu-Mo-Au Trend Camino and Rincon are new high priority prospects recognized by Mogotes Metals in 2023 (Mogotes NI 43 101, November 2023) that, combined, define a 3.9 km long north - south trend of alteration, Cu-Au-Mo in soils and rock chips, and geophysical anomalies (Figure 5). There has been no drilling of targets along the Camino - Rincon trend by previous explorers. Mogotes exploration of these prospects is at a very early stage, however results to date are considered encouraging. WV3 alteration processing and reconnaissance geological mapping along the Camino - Rincon trend defines a corridor of phyllic, intermediate argillic and propylitic alteration with strong centers of overprinting jarosite (Figure 5a). This alteration signature suggests that the current surface outcrop level may represent the upper levels of a shallowly eroded Cu - Au - Mo PCD and HSE trend of mineralization. Mogotes soil sampling has outlined a +3.0 km long coincident zone of anomalous Au-Cu-Mo (Figure 5b) broadly correlating with the alteration and geophysical trend. The soil anomaly continues to the south of the WV3 alteration anomaly, extending to the Rincon prospect where thin cover had obscured the WV3 alteration signature. Assay results have been received from Mogotes semicontinuous chip channel sampling along the Rincon access roads. This has highlighted a 210 m long section of continuously anomalous Cu-Au-Mo-Pb-Zn (Table 1) with peak assays from 83 samples of Au 1.35 g/t and Cu 825, Mo 142, Pb 724, Zn 1,380 ppm. Table 1: Rincon Roadcut rock chip samples statistics n:83 Au ppm ICP21 Cu ppm ME-ICP61 Mo ppm ME-ICP61 Pb ppm ME-ICP61 Zn ppm ME-ICP61 Min 0.03 66 2 10 36 Max 1.35 825 142 724 1,380 Average of Top 10% 0.38 507 66.8 396 588 This anomalous geochemistry correlates to a zone of propylitic to phyllic altered volcanics and small diorite to dacite stocks with early hydrothermal magnetite veining and quartz veinlets locally defining zones of intense sheeted veinlets with sporadic fine sulphides and or supergene Cu staining (Figure 6a). Prospecting has highlighted outcrop and float of quartz-pyrite-enargite veining at site T1 (Figure 6b) and trenching at site T2 has exposed a 105 m wide zone of variable high intensity sheeted quartz veinlets with sporadic supergene Cu staining (Figure 6c). Rock chip assays from the southern extension of the Rincon prospect are pending but infer the potential for a 1.0 km long north-south corridor of veining with anomalous Au-Cu-Mo-Pb-Zn. Mogotes Rincon Au-Cu-Mo soil anomaly suggests that this trend may extend a further 1.3 km to the south of the T2 trench. Further mapping and trenching of Rincon prospect and extended Camino-Rincon Trend is a high priority for Mogotes in the Spring 2024 program leading to drilling of key geophysical and geochemical targets planned during the summer exploration program. Further mapping and trenching of Rincon prospect and extended Camino-Rincon Trend is a high priority for Mogotes in the Spring 2024 program leading to drilling of key geophysical and geochemical targets planned during the summer exploration program. The Meseta Prospect Meseta is one of Mogotes Metals recently recognised, priority targets for High Sulfidation Epithermal (HSE) Au-Ag and conceptual deeper telescoped porphyry (PCD) Cu-Au-Ag mineralization at the Filo Sur project. This target has not been drill tested yet and is a high priority target for Mogotes. The prospect is located directly on trend, 1.5 km south of the large Filo Del Sol (FDS) Cu-Au-Ag deposit, owned by Filo Mining. Geological mapping and Mogotes WV3 satellite alteration processing demonstrates continuation of the geology and advanced argillic alteration system associated with the extensive Filo Del Sol (FDS) district into the Meseta prospect (Figure 7). Field follow-up of alunite - kaolinite highlighted by Mogotes WV3 alteration mapping has confirmed the presence of advanced argillic alteration and silica-alunite-kaolinite vuggy silica breccia structures and silica-alunite replacement of clastic units in the stratigraphy at Meseta. The Meseta breccias and vuggy silica alteration zones were not sampled, or drill tested by previous explorers at the project. Mogotes assay results received in February 2024 from reconnaissance rock chip sampling (Figure 8) have returned assays (36 samples) ranging from 0.006 up to 1.48 g/t Au and 4.6 g/t Ag with strongly anomalous As and Sb, typical of HSE systems. Combined, the geophysical anomalies, advanced argillic alteration and rock chip assay results represent a compelling conceptual drill target for shallow vuggy silica hosted HSE Au-Ag mineralization overlying a deeper PCD Cu-Au-Ag target outlined by the Mogotes geophysics. Filo commented on the drilling approx. 250m from the Meseta target: "a high quality exploration target which requires significant additional exploration" Drill testing of the Meseta target is a priority for the Mogotes 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Cumbre Prospect Cumbre is a new priority prospect defined by the Mogotes 2023 exploration program located along the trend of the Miocene belt 1.8 km south of Meseta and 3.5 km south of Filo Mining's FDS deposit (Figure 1). The prospect is at a very early stage of geological understanding with no historic drilling and limited surface geochemistry to date. Mogotes 2023 geophysics program defined large-scale anomalies that map a 1.3 km diameter chargeability high, which is inferred to be a pyrite halo with a conductive chargeable core, suggesting the potential for a porphyry style target at depth. In section, the geophysics maps a resistive unit that appears to form a "cap" over the drill target. At surface, WV3 alteration processing has mapped out a series of structurally controlled advanced argillic alteration responses that correspond on the ground to localised silica-alunite structures. Mogotes reconnaissance rock chip sampling (40 samples) has provided encouraging initial results from sampling of some of these structures. Assays results ranging from 0.001 to 0.6 g/t Au, 18 to 1,485 ppm Cu and 1.0 to 240 ppm Mo were returned, along with elevated epithermal pathfinder elements As and Sb. Systematic mapping, geochemical sampling and infill geophysics is planned for the Cumbre project during the 2024-25 spring - summer exploration program. Cruz del Sur and Stockwork Hills Prospect Reconnaissance of the Cruz del Sur target outlined a 600 by 400 m zone of subcropping argillic to phyllic alteration with strong iron oxide staining and locally preserved, disseminated pyrite hosted within an interbedded rhyolitic to dacitic volcaniclastic sequence presumed to be the Permo-Triassic age Choiyoi Group (Kay et al., 1989; Linares, 2007). Mogotes drill hole FSDDH001 was drilled to the SE at -67 to a depth of 476 m to test a large geophysical chargeability anomaly with a conductive core, underlying the surface alteration zone. The entire hole is dominated by pervasive phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration that is weak to moderate (0 to 251m) vectoring to strong to intense toward the base of the hole (251 to 476m). Disseminated pyrite is abundant through the hole with hand lens based estimates of between 1 to 35% pyrite, with the presence of pyrite fracture veinlets and pyrite - sericite D type veining also logged. Low density quartz - adularia veining was noted between 56 and 212 m with minor sphalerite and galena noted in these veins in two intervals between 95 to 98 and 142.5 to 162.5 m. It is interpreted that this hole has intersected a distal portion of a large intermediate argillic to phyllic alteration halo with local zones of low sulfidation style veining. Assay results will determine if there is precious metal content with the veining or geochemical vectors to potentially more mineralized parts of this large alteration system. Further to the southwest at the Stockwork Hills prospect, Mogotes has identified zones of unsampled quartz stockworking that will be sampled during the Spring 2024 exploration program and may indicate untested zones of interest at this prospect. About Mogotes Metals Inc. Mogotes Metals Inc. is an exploration company looking for copper and gold in the Vicuna district of Argentina and Chile. The flagship project, Filo Sur, is on strike with the Filo del Sol discovery, and in the same district as the NGEx Minerals Lunahuasi and Los Helados deposits. For further information, please contact: Mogotes Metals Inc. Allen Sabet, President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (647) 846-3313 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Additional Information The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination, but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical disclosure for the Filo Sur project included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Stephen Nano who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Nano is a Director and Technical Advisor for the Company. Mogotes applies industry standard exploration sampling methodologies and techniques. All geochemical soil, stream, rock and drill samples are collected under the supervision of the company's geologists in accordance with industry practice. Geochemical assays are obtained and reported under a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are dispatched to an ISO 9001:2008 accredited laboratory in Argentina for analysis. Assay results from drill core samples may be higher, lower or similar to results obtained from surface rock, channel, trench samples due to surficial oxidation and enrichment processes or due to natural geological grade variations in the primary mineralization. Drill holes feature varying diameters as they progress in depth. They begin with a PQ3 drill bit (up to ~300 m), then reduce to HQ3 (up to ~670 m), and finally reach NQ3 diameter (up to ~1200 m) at the deepest drill hole. The drill cores were extracted and placed in core boxes with accurate depth markings by Foraco drilling company's rigs, all under the supervision of Mogotes Metals Inc. The core boxes were carefully transported by Mogotes Metals Inc. staff to the field camp. The drill core processing at the field camp was as follows: general control, photographic record using IMAGO, recovery and RQD determinations, and geological quick log. The drill core boxes were also adequately packaged and secured for transport to San Juan core shed. Shipments from the camp to the San Juan facility were transported using trucks designated exclusively for that purpose. At the core shed in San Juan the drill core processing was as follows: general control, check of recovery and RQD, additional geotechnical studies, determination of apparent density, sampling delimitation, drill core cutting, sampling and weighing of samples, half core photographic record using IMAGO, and detailed geological logging. All this information is managed using MX Deposit. The remaining half cores are secure stored in racks at the same core shed. The drill cores were sampled in 2- and 1-meter intervals depending on the drill hole diameter (1 meter for PQ3 and 2 meters for HQ3 and NQ3) using a diamond or a hydraulic rock saw chosen based on visible mineralization. A unique reference number was assigned to each sample. The samples were placed in duly identified plastic bags ensuring that each interval to be sampled was correct and that the same half core was always sampled. All samples were bagged in raffia bags and packaged for shipment by an exclusive truck to the ALS laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina. In that facility was carried out the sample preparation (PREP-31B) which includes crush to 70 % less than 2 mm, riffle split off 1kg, pulverize to 85% passing 75 microns. The prepared samples were sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru for gold and multi-element analysis. Gold (Au-ICP21) was analyzed by fire assay fusion with ICP-AES finish on a 30 g sample. Samples were also analyzed for a suit of 48 elements (ME-MS61) with four acid digestion and ICP-MS finish. The QAQC procedure is consistent for both drill cores and rock samples, involving batches of 36 samples. Each batch includes 32 original samples and 4 quality control samples, making up approximately 11% of the total. Per batch, the four control samples were distributed according to the following criteria: (i) 2 standards chosen based on the drill core alteration y mineralization between different ore grades reference materials of high sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag-Cu ore and porphyry Cu-Au-Mo ore base. (ii) 1 blank (alternatively coarse and fine blank), which was preferably located after the mineralized zone. (iii) 1 field duplicate that corresponds to a quarter in drill cores or a rock sample taken in a similar way to the original was preferably placed in the most mineralized position within the batch. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: 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. Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. Generally, this forward-looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "budgets", "targets" "assumes", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "will occur" or "will be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release 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. Information contained in this news release is as of the date of this press release. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to assumptions made in the interpretation of drill results, geology, grade, geochemistry, potential implications of geophysics interpretations, and continuity of mineral deposits; expectations regarding access and demand for equipment, skilled labour and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; and that activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by exploration, development, operating, regulatory, political, community, economic, environmental and/or healthy and safety risks. In addition, this news release may contain forward-looking statements or information pertaining to: potential exploration upside at the Filo Sur Project, including the extent and significance of the porphyry copper-gold system and the prospectivity of exploration targets; exploration plans and expenditures,; the ability of the Company to conduct its field programs as planned; the success of future exploration activities; potential for resource expansion; ability to build shareholder value; expectations with regard to adding to its Mineral Reserves or Resources through exploration; ability to execute planned work programs; plans or ability to mobilize or add additional drill rigs; timing or anticipated results of laboratory results; government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage; and other risks and uncertainties. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future. 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 obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the current price of and demand for commodities will be sustained or will improve, the supply of commodities will remain stable, that the general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms and that the Company will not experience any material labour dispute, accident, or failure of plant or equipment. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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, including those set out in the Company's most recent annual information form and annual management discussion and analysis, and risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available on the Company's website and SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Follow Us Twitter: https://x.com/mogotesmetals 1For information regarding B-type and D-type veins, please refer to the terms reported in "Gustafson-Hunt, 1975; "The Porphyry Deposits at El Salvador, Chile"; Econ. Geol. Vol 70, No 5." VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 /Four Nines Gold Inc. ("Four Nines" or the "Company") (CSE:FNAU) (OTCIQ:FNAUF) is pleased to announce new results for the Company's surface mapping and sampling program for the Hayden Hill Property, with the highest grade to date of 45.4 g/t. The high-grade results are consistent with previous sampling (December 6, 2023) and support the Company's geological team's hypothesis of a high grade low sulfidation model that was not drilled to depth. Surface mapping combined with all available datasets have been used to complete three-dimensional (3D) models, which has refined approved drill targets. Gold mineralization at Hayden Hill is present in three (3) primary, and two (2) secondary zones within an area of 1.3 square kilometers. The district was explored by several companies throughout the 1980s, Amax Gold gained control of the project in 1988 and mined the deposit from 1991 - 1997, recovering approximately 480,000 ounces of gold. Previous operators did not target structurally controlled high-grade mineralization, as is the Four Nines approach, rather conducted exploration programs assuming that the gold mineralization was disseminated. Hayden Hill has not been drilled since 1997 and remains one of the few modern open pits in the Western United States unexplored to depth. Four Nines is the first company to apply modern exploration concepts and the low sulfidation epithermal model to the property. Initial surface mapping and sampling was conducted in 2023 with a primary objective to identify and characterize structural feeders that could host high-grade gold-silver mineralization. Four Nines Gold received approval from Lassen County, California, in 2023, to conduct approximately 10 acres of exploration disturbance. Highlights: 123 new assays results, Highest surface gold value is 45.5 grams per metric tonne (g/t), Twenty (20) samples have values > 10 g/t Au, Thirty-four (34) samples have values > 5 g/t Au, Fifty (50) samples have values > 3 g/t Au, Three-dimensional (3D) modeling of all available datasets indicates high quality drill targets. David Flint, VP Exploration of Four Nines Gold said "We are extremely pleased with the additional 2024 gold assay results from surface mapping and sampling at our Hayden Hill project. Numerous epithermal veins have been mapped and sampled, plus several significant hydrothermal breccia bodies have also been identified. The gold geochemical results are highly encouraging. The recent results add significantly to our understanding of the distribution and gold values for the Nose epithermal veins and hydrothermal breccias. The 3D gradeshell modeling effort has defined multiple high-quality, high-probability exploration targets that can be executed from the existing approved drill sites". Surface Program Technical Results Summary The primary goal of the 2023 field program was to characterize mineralized features that might confirm the geological team's hypothesis of a structurally controlled high-grade epithermal gold mineralization deposit. Pit highwalls, historical trenches and pits, undisturbed outcrops, and areas of subcrop have been mapped and sampled. The Four Nines geological team collected 331 surface selective rock chip grab samples (the "2023 samples", Figure 1) for which 265 assays have been received. The results for the samples assayed in 2023 (the "2023 assays") have been disclosed in a 2023-12-06 press release. This press release discloses the summary results for 123 samples collected in 2023 that have not been previously reported (the "2024 assays"). The highest gold value for the 2024 assays is 45.4 g/t. Seven (7) samples have values > 10 g/t, 12 have values > 5 g/t, 16 have values > 3 g/t, 31 have values > 1 g/t, 38 have values > 0.5 g/t, and 85 have values < 0.5 g/t. Highlight comments for the 2024 sample results include: The highest gold grade, of 45.4 g/t, was from a sample collected on a northwest trending banded vein in the Nose Zone, Five (5) of the 7 gold assays > 10 g/t were for samples collected in the Nose Zone, further delineating mineralization associated with the northeast trending Rim Vein and the intersection with northwest trending veins, Six (6) of the gold grades > 1 g/t were for samples collected in the southeast area of Hayden Hill - requires further mapping and sampling, One (1) high-grade gold value of 14.15 g/t was for a sample collected in the Juniper Zone, Two (2) gold grades > 3 g/t were for samples collected from northwest trending veins that cross the west wall of the Lookout Pit, One (1) sample, with a gold grade of 8.87 g/t, was collected from the West Providence Vein - requires further mapping and sampling, and A sample, with a gold grade of 24 g/t, was collected from the northern extension of the 214 Vein on the Nose. The highest gold value for the consolidated 2023 sample set (2023 & 2024 assays), for which assays have been received, is 45.4 g/t. Twenty (20) samples have gold values > 10 g/t, 34 have values > 5 g/t, 50 have values > 3 g/t, 77 have values > 1 g/t, 92 have values > 0.5 g/t, and 173 have values < 0.5 g/t. Follow-up sampling for regions with higher grade initial values will be conducted during the 2024 field season. The mapping and assay results continue to verify the Company's geological team's hypothesis of dominant structural orientation, in three primary zones of the property (Figure 2 - the Lookout, Providence, and Golden Eagle zones). Epithermal quartz veins and breccia bodies are located along these high-angle structures and are the targets for the Phase 1 drill program. The following styles of hydrothermal features, favorable for the presence of epithermal gold-silver mineralization, have been mapped and sampled on the Property: Multiple banded epithermal veins, Clast-support hydrothermal breccias (clasts comprise > 50% of the breccia volume), Matrix-supported hydrothermal breccias, for which the hydrothermal matrix comprises > 50% of the breccia volume. Clasts of previously veined material are common, Euhedral adularia and quartz replacement of individual calcite crystals is locally present, Pervasive silicification, that is reported to also include fine-grained adularia, is the most widespread form of hydrothermal alteration present in the Project area. The surface samples have been analyzed by the ALS Laboratory in Reno Nevada. The samples have been processed according to the following: Preparation: Prep-31, Gold assay: Au-AA23 (fire assay with AAS finish); defaults to a 2nd analysis by Au-Grav21 (gravimetric finish) when the concentration from the Au-AA23 assay is > 10 g/t, Certified reference (CRM) and blank material samples have been inserted into the rock samples submittal at a ratio of 1 standard/10 rock samples, Chain of custody and security maintained from sample collection through submission to the ALS Laboratory. Gold assays for the QA/QC samples are: 1) 20 of 21 assays for the gold CRM are within an acceptable range (one sample is 0.01 g/t outside of range), and 2) all blank sample assays are very low (9 of 10 < 0.10 g/t) with the highest value being .017 g/t. The field program has been conducted under the supervision and direction of David Flint, the Four Nines' VP of Exploration and Qualified Person. Figure 1: Four Nines Gold Surface Sampling Locations Figure 2: Hayden Hill Mineral Zones and Epithermal Vein Orientations Three-Dimensional Modeling Technical Discussion The Three-Dimensional Modeling summary results have recently been disclosed in the Four Nines Gold Inc. "June 2024" corporate presentation update, which was announced to the public in a 2024-06-11 press release. The information provided below provides additional technical details on the modeling methodology and interpretation of results. Three-dimensional modeling of the available data sets, utilizing the Leapfrog Software System, was accomplished during the 1st half of 2024. The primary objective of the modeling exercise was to determine if discrete definable 3D zones of gold mineralization are indicated from the historical data, and the possible correlation to mineralized geologic structures defined by the Four Nines geologic team. The following datasets have been analyzed during the modeling exercise: Historical surface mapping of the pre-mine topography, Historical exploration drill holes, Historical blast-hole assay results (7 x 7 x 7 m three-dimensional array of assays), and the Four Nines 2023 surface mapping and sampling. The following were modeled in three-dimension: Significant epithermal veins and mineralized faults (colored green in Figure 3), Hydrothermal breccia bodies (colored blue in Figure 3), Grade shells and a 0.03 troy ounce per short ton (opt) (approximately 1 g/t), Shells, internal to the 0.03 opt shells, at an enclosing grade of 0.05 opt (colored red in Figure 3), Geologically indicated targets (locations for which drill data is sparse) and extensions to the data-defined grade shells (colored blue in Figure 3). Geologic features were modeled in three-dimension based on the mineralized structures mapped on the present topographic surface. Veins and faults were projected to depth according to the measured strike and dip. Breccia bodies, developed along veins, were projected to depth, sympathetic to the associated vein. Exploration drill data, where available, was utilized to refine the sub-surface geometry of these features. Historical vein mapping was modeled to depth for locations where surface expressions of individual features have been overlain by reclaimed material. The grade shells have been determined according to the following methodology: Historical exploration and blast hole, and surface gold values reviewed in plan view, Polygons that enclosed gold values > 0.03 opt were explicitly drawn, The analysis was similarly completed on multiple levels, on an approximate 7 meter vertical spacing (the vertical spacing of the production blast-hole data), Three-dimensional solids were constructed from vertically correlated polygons to establish a discrete mineralized zone, Multiple definable mineralized zones have been modeled. The definition of polygons has been highly influenced by the blast-hole data for the volumes that have been excavated through historical mining. The historical exploration drilling provided the primary data to extend shells beneath the current pit. Mineralized structures that are highly correlated to the shells have been utilized to model geologically indicated extensions to depth. A plan view of these 3D models is shown in Figure 3. The 3D models verify the deep drill targets, as shown in Figure 4. Readers are cautioned that the historical drill data has not been verified by a Qualified Person, however, is judged to be of sufficient quality to utilize for exploration planning. Figure 3 Hayden Hill District Breccia, Vein & Gradeshell Models Figure 4: Schematic Section of Exploration Targets (Section Line from Figure 2 and 5) Mineral Zones The following are highlights of the mapping and sampling, and modeling, results for the Hayden Hill primary mineral zones. Lookout Zone Highest gold value of 13.7 g/t, Consistently high gold grades for the grab samples collected above and below the pit ramp (at 679,200 Easting), North-south trending epithermal veins (approximately up to 1 meter thick) (Figure 5) post-date the pervasive silicification, Less common northeast & northwest trending veins are also present (Figure 5), Four gradeshells (for which 3 are shown on Figure 6) have been modeled in the Lookout Zone. The four shells enclose a large majority of the drill hole assays for the zone above a 0.03 opt grade, These gradeshells and surface mapping results define high-quality, high-probability drill targets. Five permitted drill sites (blue stars), for which 4 are displayed on Figures 5 & 6, Majority of the Amax Gold historical gold production was from the Lookout Pit, Host rocks include a fine-grained volcaniclastic on higher benches, and a dacite breccia at the lower two benches, Much of the exposed rock has been pervasively silicified (and reported to be quartz-adularia), Two veins (of which 1 has an associated hydrothermal breccia) occur at the core of the Lower Telegraph mineral zone (Figure 6, shown in green), Mineralization associated with the 214 Vein is present in the hangingwall of that structure, A structural control has yet to be determined for the Northern High-Grade Zone (Figure 7), which has been modeled based on historical exploration drilling, An additional vein, the "Ramp Vein", has been mapped just east of the mine ramp at the UTM Easting of about 679200 (Figure 5). Two grab samples, with gold grades of 7.1 & 8.6 g/t, have been received on the 1-meter- thick vein: currently insufficient data available to determine a 3D model for the vein. Figure 5: Lookout Zone - Surface Mapping and Sampling Results Figure 6: Lookout 3D Grade Shell & Vein Models Figure 7 North High-Grade Gradeshell Nose Highest surface gold grade, sampling a northwest trending banded vein, of 45.4 g/t, The Nose Zone can be drill-explored, at depth, from a permitted drill station located at the bottom of the Lookout Pit (Figure 8), Primary northeast trending vein set cut by a swarm of northwest trending veins (Figure 8), The extent of 214 Vein has been defined to extend across the Nose Zone, with a surface grab sample that assayed 24 g/t gold, Hydrothermal breccia (poly-lithic) developed along a northeast trending vein, the "Rim Vein" (Figure 9), that is located along the rim of the pit, and at the intersection of northwest trending veins (displayed blue in Figure 10), The Rim Vein and associated hydrothermal breccia, particularly at intersections with the 214 and northwest trending veins, presents a highly compelling drill target at depth, Mapped veins and the associated breccia body have been modeled in 3D, The surface of the Nose Zone is at an approximate elevation of 300 feet (100m) above the Lookout Pit bottom, Euhedral adularia and quartz replacement of calcite identified at several locations. Figure 8: Nose - Surface Mapping and Sampling Results Figure 9: Nose Banded Vein in contact with Hydrothermal Breccia Figure 10: Nose 3D Hydrothermal Breccia and Vein Models Providence Pit Highest gold value for the Providence Zone is 37.9 g/t , The Providence Pit was a site of modest open-pit historical production by Amax Gold, Most of the Hayden Hill historical underground mine production was from the Golden Eagle northwest trending veins (anecdotally, 12 - 20 feet wide, with grades up to 1 opt), The Providence veins are primarily oriented to the northeast (Figure 11), The northwest trending Golden Eagle veins intersect the northeast trending Providence veins within the current pit location, One (1) approved drill station to explore the zone targeting the intersection of the Providence and Golden Eagle zones, Additional surface structural mapping is required to guide 3D modeling, Lithology consists of a fine-grained volcaniclastic, up section, and dacite breccia to depth, Dacite breccia is pervasively silicified for much of the pit exposures. Figure 11: Providence Pit - Surface Mapping and Sampling Results David Flint, MSc, AIPG-CPG, a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 and a director of the company, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release. About Four Nines Gold Inc. Four Nines Gold Inc. has the right to acquire 100% of the Hayden Hill Mine from a Kinross Gold USA Inc subsidiary. The Company is exploring and developing the project in mining-friendly Northern California. Hayden Hill is a former producing mine with 99,862.42 meters of drilling in 742 holes and no systematic property exploration since the mine closed in 1997. For more information, please get in touch with the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website at www.fourninesgold.ca for project updates and related background information. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOUR NINES GOLD INC. Charles Ross President 1000 - 409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2 Tel: 604.602.0001 Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Statements and information that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and the assumptions made in respect thereof involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions of the Company. Mineral exploration is highly speculative and characterized by several significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date herein. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Kim Bum made online users swoon as they were mesmerized by his unchanging visuals at 36. After starring in the hit drama "Boys Over Flowers," Kim Bum has earned fans with his iconic role, the playboy and elite yet charming Yi Jung, and member of the campus royalties F4. Since then, viewers have tuned in to the actor's acting projects. Despite almost a decade passed since he starred in the classic series, Kim Bum remains one of the familiar faces in K-dramaland. Apart from being a head-turner, he also excels in acting. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE : Kim Bum Confesses Why He Rejects to Headline Romance K-Dramas Kim Bum Praised for Youthful Visuals At 36 On July 8, Kim Bum became the center of discussion online, not for his new work, but for his unchanging visuals at 36. People were in awe to see him glowing and having a youthful face despite being in his thirties. Some of his new photos and fan videos circulating online got the public swooning. Currently rewatching Boys Over Flower and this man not only glows up but also age backwards Congratulations on your musical theater actor debut #KimBum #KimBeom #TheBoysOverFlowers https://t.co/xRI5TLIqMN Little Mochi | BoyFan (@KNimij2) July 9, 2024 Some even said that he could pass as SEVENTEEN Mingyu's brother. "Currently rewatching 'Boys Over Flower' and this man not only glows up but also ages backward." "Wow, he seriously has the face that women would like" "A face that's exactly what they say girls like to see" "He has a f*cking baby face. He looks 28." "Anyone in their 20s and older will know that although the main leads in 'Boys Over Flowers' were Go Jun Pyo and Ji Hoo, the really popular one was actually Yi Jung sunbae. All the girls liked Kim Bum. Even when I was a kid, I liked Kim Bum the most." kim bum and mingyu could literally pass as brothers aside from looks, their golden retriever energy is through the roof pic.twitter.com/nmmafzcrme el (@fmltracks) July 9, 2024 Where Is Kim Bum Now? Following the conclusion of the fantasy drama "Tale of the Nine-Tailed," Kim Bum has been busy doing brand endorsements. Apart from that, he already made his theater debut, making him more busy these days. As of now, he has no confirmed screen projects yet but will be active in pursuing theater play. He just also turned 36 last July 7, Kim Bum even visited some fan projects in Korea and posted them on social media. While waiting for his next series, you can watch some of his previous works such as "Ghost Doctor," "Law School," "Mrs. Cop 2," "Hidden Identity," "That Winter, The Wind Blows," "Padam Padam," "High Kick 3," and more. What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai San Miguel wrote this. Park Myung Soo praised Park Bo Gum for being not just a great actor but a "good person." In addition to this, he also mentioned Byeon Woo Seok's name and said that he could learn a thing or two about the "Record of Youth" star. In one of the broadcasts of his radio show, the DJ and comedian announced the changes to Park Bo Gum's guest appearance on KBS Radio Cool FM's "Park Myung Soo's Radio Show." According to him, the South Korean heartthrob was initially scheduled to appear as a guest on the 12th but was moved a day later, setting Bogummy's live appearance on the 13th. "Depending on whether it rains or not, the drama filming schedule changes, and they contacted us and said they were really sorry," he explained. On the other hand, Park Myung Soo continues to mention the actor's name and lauds him for his genuine kindness. Park Myung Soo Says Byeon Woo Seok Should Learn from Park Bo Gum - Here's Why The comedian went on to describe the "Reply 1988" star and said that he is the "standard" for a good person. Explaining why he thinks highly of the actor, Park Myung Soo praised him for his kindness. "Park Bo Gum is a really good person," he said, adding, "I don't know about other people, but Park Bo Gum is a good guy even though he's young." Apart from the "Love in the Moonlight" star, he also mentioned Byeon Woo Seok's name. "Successful actors should learn from Park Bo Gum. Byeon Woo Seok should learn from him, too. An unspecified number of hundreds of thousands of people are probably listening to this broadcast right now, but Park Bo Gum is a really good person." The comedian and Bogummy are co-stars on JTBC's reality show "My Name Is Gabriel." The duo is joined by Hong Jin Kyung, Yeom Hye Ran, Ji Chang Wook, Gabee, and "Single's Inferno" season 2 cast member DEX. Where to Watch Park Bo Gum's 'My Name Is Gabriel' Created by producer director Kim Tae Ho of "Hangout With Yoo," "My Name Is Gabriel" is a traveling show that requires guests to spend 72 hours in overseas countries. Park Bo Gum visited Dublin, Ireland, to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician. The actor showcased his skills in playing instruments like the piano and even got emotional while singing "Falling Slowly," along with the locals. Premiered on June 21, viewers get to watch the 6-episode reality show via JTBC, while global viewers can stream it through Disney+. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Flores On July 9th, the Seoul Central District Court is set to commence the first appeal trial for A, a woman in her 50s accused of stalking Jung Eun-ji, a prominent public figure. This follows A's initial conviction earlier this year on charges related to stalking. In January, the first trial court had handed down a sentence of one year in prison, with an additional two years of probation for A. Moreover, A was ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 won, perform 120 hours of community service, and undergo 40 hours of lectures aimed at preventing repeat stalking offenses. The court's decision in January highlighted the severity of A's actions, stating that her messages to the victim exceeded the boundaries of typical fan interactions. Despite Jung Eun-ji's presence on social media platforms like Instagram and Bubble, the court emphasized that such presence did not constitute permission for unwanted contact or approaches. The content of A's message to the victim seems to have gone beyond the level of normal fans' support, interest and affection for their favorite celebrity. Although the victim joined Instagram and Bubble app to communicate with the public and fans, this cannot be considered permission for any contact and approach like this. A's crime caused damage, and the victim seems to have suffered mental shock, pain, anxiety, and fear from that. In addition, A has been denying the crime and yet to show any signs of reflection" -COURT A, however, chose to appeal against the initial verdict, contesting the court's ruling. The case against A stemmed from allegations that she sent a total of 544 direct messages to Jung Eun-ji between March 2020 and August 2020. These messages included inquiries such as, "Did you sue me? Why? I only texted you." Additionally, A was found to have followed Jung Eun-ji's car on one occasion, further contributing to the charges of stalking. ALSO READ : THIS South Korean Actress Reveals Getting Paid 10X Higher in China as Celebrity KdramaStars owns this article. Written by Joan Cabigas. Monday, July 08, 2024 - A 26-year-old alcoholic was so desperate to get his fix that he stole multiple hand sanitizer bottles so he could get drunk off of the alcohol they contained. The case, published in the American Journal of Case Reports, reveals the unnamed patient, from France, visited his local emergency room complaining of severe abdominal pain. Despite receiving pain medications, the patient continued to claim his pain had not subsided and grew agitated. When doctors could not find anything wrong with him, the man's roommate informed a nurse that the patient had been taking hand sanitizer bottles, hiding them in his bag and drinking them throughout his stay. Upon searching, Doctors found several bottles of sanitizer in his bag, of which about 1.5 were consumed. The man admitted to faking his pain to get access to the sanitizer because he was going through withdrawals due to addiction. When the patient first arrived in the ER, doctors wrote he was irritated and 'sometimes verbally aggressive.' They noted that his abdominal exam and vitals were normal, though he had 'general poor hygiene' and a slightly elevated heart rate. He was given several IV medications, including morphine for pain, though he remained agitated. When the patient continued to complain of pain, additional doctors sent him for a scan of his abdomen, which did not reveal any potential cause for his pain, but rather showed he had a fatty liver, which is often a sign of alcohol use disorder. His blood tests showed slightly elevated liver enzymes, a sign of liver damage or inflammation. Sanitizers contain about 80 percent pure alcohol. A can of beer is just five percent. Doctors who treated the patient warned of an increase in such incidents, as the Covid pandemic made hand sanitizer more widely available, particularly in hospitals. 'Hand sanitisers are in no doubt essential tools to fight infection, protecting both the user and others,' the physicians wrote. 'It is a major challenge to ensure the safety of alcoholic patients inside the ED while maintaining a good hand hygiene policy.' Doctors gave the patient fluids and infusions of vitamins B1, B3, and B6 to reduce the toxicity from the alcohol and hydrate him. He was admitted to the hospital under observation for 24 hours. When he was discharged, he was reportedly referred to addiction specialists. Monday, July 08, 2024 - Maureen Okam Achebe, daughter of the renowned novelist Chinua Achebe, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Faculty Development and Diversity Award by Brigham and Womens Hospital, a leading academic medical centre in Boston, Massachusetts, and a premier teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The hospital informed Okam Achebe of her award in a letter dated July 2, according to a post shared by her sibling, Chidi Achebe, chairman of the African Integrated Development Enterprise Public Benefit Corporation (AIDE PBC). The 2024 Faculty Awards designation acknowledges the exceptional achievements of BWH faculty in one or more of the four pillars of academic life: clinical care, research, education, and community service, the letter reads. Maureen Okam Achebe's impressive academic journey began with her first medical degree from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She then pursued hematology and medical oncology training at Yale School of Medicine and earned a master's in public health from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In her professional roles, Dr. Okam Achebe serves as an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, director of the Brigham and Womens Hospital Outpatient Infusion Center, clinical director of the Non-Malignant Hematology Clinic, director of the Brigham and Womens Hospital Sickle Cell Program, and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Okam Achebe also co-chairs the data subcommittee of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) consortium on newborn screening for sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. This subcommittee aims to demonstrate the benefits of screening and early intervention for SCD, currently underway in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, she serves as a commissioner on the Lancet Non-Communicable Disease and Injuries (NCDI) Nigeria Poverty Commission, providing expertise on sickle cell disease to help identify and prioritize policies, interventions, and integrated delivery platforms to effectively address and reduce the burden of SCD in Nigeria. Dr. Okam Achebe is actively involved in clinical trials and translational research at Brigham and Womens Hospital and has been an investigator in the development of two of the most recently FDA-approved drugs for SCD in the US. Brigham and Womens Hospital will honour Maureen Okam Achebe for her accomplishments on October 28. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Millions of young Kenyans have shared their thoughts on social media after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, accompanied by President William Ruto, urged them to accept dialogue with the government. Young Kenyans, commonly known as Gen Z, have been holding demonstrations over the Finance Bill 2024, mass corruption in the government, nepotism, bureaucracy, waste of taxpayer money, and dictatorship. The country has been restive since the youthful protestors stormed parliament two weeks ago and chased parliamentarians who voted for the controversial bill. To calm the nation, Ruto held a joint press conference with opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday. In his speech, Raila urged Gen Z to accept dialogue with the government. However, in a quick rejoinder, Gen Z took to social media and urged Raila Odinga to keep off, vowing not to engage in any dialogue with Ruto because he is a conman. Here is what Gen Z told Raila Odinga after he urged them to engage in dialogue with Ruto. Dialogue for what?? Baba, we love you but no. Our demands are very clear. No dialogue is needed. Raila Odinga should get it that we don't play that kind of politics anymore, Health Topia wrote. Hon.Raila Odinga talking about agreement on a dialogue but do we need it? Akoto Kevin wrote. Raila is Another puppet... We don't need this Guyz anymore... Raila is one of those political class, Slang Sheng said. Raila Odinga is still the official opposition leader or he is now the Government spokesman, Josh Uluga said. Lakini pia Raila Amolo Odinga hutumia wakenya vibaya sana, but this will never happen again in Kenya! Both Raila and Ruto, waende home mapema mapema!,MC Kim. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Popular social media influencer Kevin Monari, popularly known as Osama Otero, has taken a break from social media after receiving money from State House to host President William Ruto on his X Space last Friday. Otero, known for his critical stance against Rutos administration, had been a prominent voice among the social media activists pushing the Reject Finance Bill campaign. He was also targeted by security agencies during the wave of abductions following the anti-Finance Bill protests that left more than 40 people dead and over 300 others injured, some seriously. Despite his previous opposition, Otero appeared alongside President Ruto on the official X Space, surprising many of his more than half a million followers. It is alleged that Otero received a hefty token from State House to host Ruto. He is currently in Malindi for a vacation. Hawkeyed social media users have established that he went for a vacation in the company of a lady known as Njoki, who is also popular on X. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Daadab Member of Parliament, Farah Maalim, has made inflammatory remarks against the young Kenyans commonly known as Gen Z, who have been protesting in the last three weeks. In the undated video which has since gone viral, Maalim, while speaking in the Somali dialect, said that if he were the President of Kenya, he would have "slaughtered" 5,000 young protesters every day. A verified video translation reveals that the legislator was censuring the Kenyan Gen Zs for their attempt to march to the State House during the anti-finance Bill 2024 protests. He claimed that the young people who took the streets were from wealthy backgrounds and were dropped off in the capital with the sole purpose of causing mayhem. "This was an attempted coup, a clear attempted coup. Children of wealthy business owners, wealthy parents and kids raised on ill-gotten wealth, 80% from one tribe were dropped off in downtown and told to riot and take over State House and Parliament buildings," he said. Maalim blatantly noted that if he reigned over the nation he would have wiped them out in their thousands. "God forbid if I was president I would have slaughtered them, 5,000 of them daily. Serious, there is no two ways about it," he said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Kenyans across the political divide have demanded the arrest and prosecution of Daadab Member of Parliament, Farah Maalim after he was caught on video saying he would have killed 5000 protestors daily if he were the President of Kenya. The MP, who spoke in Somali dialect, said that if he were the President of Kenya, he would have "slaughtered" 5,000 young protesters every day. "God forbid if I was president I would have slaughtered 5,000 of them daily. Seriously, there are no two ways about it," he said. Now, after the video emerged, Kenyans on social media have asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to arrest and prosecute the MP, or they will take the law into their own hands. We want the DCI to arrest and prosecute the MP or we take the law into our own hands, Cecilia Lichami said. Instead of abducting innocent Kenyans, DCI should arrest this uncouth MP , Jimmy Osogo wrote. We want DCI to move with speed and abduct this MP the way they were abducting Gen Z protestors and send him to jail, Bianca wrote. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 08, 2024 - In a groundbreaking event, the world's first Miss AI competition has crowned its inaugural queen: Kenza Layli, a hijab-wearing activist from Morocco. Kenza Layli, a lifestyle influencer crafted with beauty, brains, and advanced AI technology, expressed her excitement in a video clip. Despite not feeling emotions like a human, she was thrilled to emerge victorious, beating approximately 1,500 other AI-modified contestants to claim the title. The AI queen's triumph comes with a $20,000 grand prize, which will go to her creator, a tech executive from Morocco. A diverse panel of judges, including both human and android pageant experts, evaluated the contestants in categories such as beauty, technology, and social media presence. Faux French sweetheart Lalina Valina and Portuguese beauty Olivia C. rounded out the top three. This unique pageant, commissioned in April by the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards, invited AI innovators from around the globe to demonstrate their programming prowess and contribute to shaping a positive future for the AI creator community. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - A middle-aged man identified as Tonny Sherman is elated after a lady he met three weeks ago during anti-finance bill protests accepted his proposal. According to Tonny, they quickly fell in love and are now engaged three weeks after their first encounter. He recounted how he met his girlfriend Kendi in Nairobi CBD during the protests as they shouted anti-Ruto slogans. They got to know each other and exchanged contacts and as they say, the rest is history. Tonny took to his Facebook page and wrote; Just 3 weeks after I met my perfect match pale kwa maandamano, I decided to propose to her. "I can remember both of us had a placard highly raised while singing "Ruto must Go" in the middle of the song we had to know more about each other, and here we are now! happily engaged. " I love you Kendi!" The Kenyan DAILY POST. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has shared the intrigues behind its President Faith Odhiambo declining President William Rutos appointment to the National Debt Audit Task Force. Speaking during an interview, LSK Deputy President Mwaura Kabata revealed that there was no way Odhiambo was going to be part of that unconstitutional task force. Kabata explained that if Odhiambo had been informed before the announcement was made, the Society would have advised the President that such a move violated the Constitution. He added that moments after Ruto made the announcement on Friday last week, LSK met to discuss the next course of action. "As LSK we met on Friday at around 2 pm after we saw the Gazette Notice and decided it was not right for us to accept the appointment. We saw that the established task force was not lawful," he stated. Kabata noted that after deliberations were made at the meeting, the LSK president resolved to decline the appointment on the basis it was unconstitutional. The LSK Deputy President further explained that if Odhiambo agreed to be part of the committee, she would be violating the law that she is supposed to champion. He reiterated that auditing public debt is a preserve of the Auditor General's Office. Kabata also argued that at the moment, Ruto may not be heeding advice being given or he is being given wrong advice resulting in the current crisis. He clarified that LSK was willing to offer any assistance to the President as long as it did not violate the 2010 Constitution. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 08, 2024 - A baby-faced k!ller who sh0t de@d his ex-girlfriend and three others before turning the gun on himself has been pictured for the first time. Charles Garvey, 21, who had a prior conviction relating to the r@pe of a 13-year-old girl three years ago, is thought to have shot de@d his ex-girlfriend Delaney Eary, 19, as well as Melissa Parrett, 44, Shane Miller, 20, and Hayden Rybicki. He later turned the gun on himself, MailOnline reports. Police in the US state of Kentucky were called to Ridgecrest Drive in the town of Florence at around 3AM on Saturday, July 6. The four victims were found de@d at the scene, along with another three people understood to have been critically injured in the attack. Garvey fled the scene in his own vehicle before later crashing the car, where officers found him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Parrett family are thought to have been celebrating a relatives birthday at their pool when Garvey turned up. Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said Garvey was known to the family, and that initial inquiries suggested he had acted alone. Multiple photos posted on social media show Garvey holding a variety of firearms, including a sniper rifle, sidearm and shotgun. Garvey was previously arrested and charged back in 2021 for the rape of a 13-year-old girl, receiving a sentence of five years probation for an 'unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree." Local press reported at the time that the victim had told police shed been messaging Garvey on Snapchat prior to the incident. Garvey, who was then aged 18, admitted to having sex with the girl when questioned by police. Authorities say an investigation into the shooting on Saturday remains ongoing. Chief Mallery said: "Weve never dealt with this before. I know its going on throughout the nation, but this is the first time that weve had a mass shooting in Florence. It is very emotional. And my emotions are for the victims, their families, the officers that responded and everybody that was touched by this situation. Monday, July 08, 2024 - An Indian man, Santosh Lohar bit a snake to d3ath in retaliation after the reptile att@cked him during a nap. The 35-year-old from Pandua, Jharkhand in India, had been sleeping when the reptile att@cked him, prompting him to take the unusual tactic of quickly grabbing the reptile with an iron rod and biting it twice. When asked why he bit the snake back, Lohar told India Today: In my village, there's a belief that if a snake bites you, you must bite it back twice to neutralize the venom. He said biting the snake back prevents him from dying, a superstition very popular in his community. The type of snake that att@cked Lohar has not been confirmed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was given an anti-venom antidote and was released the following day. India is home to nearly 300 snake species - more than 60 of which are highly venomous - including the Indian Cobra, the Russells viper, the common krait and the saw-scaled viper. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been termed by Gen Z as the biggest sellout in Kenya's history after he urged Kenyan youths to dialogue with President William Ruto despite the killing of 42 unarmed protestors during the anti-government protests. Raila, who spoke at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Tuesday, urged Kenya youths to embrace dialogue and sit down with the government, a move that has been dismissed by Gen Z and some opposition leaders led by Narc Kenya chairperson, Martha Karua. Karua in a social media post warned Genz that some political conmen were out to hijack their agenda. Karua cautioned youths to worry about the political class, saying they can easily hijack the genuine reforms being demanded by Gen Zs. "Dialogue can only be meaningful if the players have good faith and are guided by the best interests of the people. "Lets be careful as the political class lest we hijack the genuine clamour for accountability and reforms by the GenZ. " I agree with those who say Action Now on the clear and attainable demands of the GenZ to enhance accountability and make the state work for the masses rather than for a handful elites," Karua said. Gen Z protesters had earlier asked Raila Odinga to sit at home and enjoy his sunset years with his grandchildren, but it seems the veteran politician is not tired of playing 'political brokerage.' The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, July 08, 2024 - A media personality, Ife, has taken to social media to share the story of how she took the courage to call off her wedding two months before the occasion. In a post shared on X, Ife said they had already paid for the hall, a comedian, a musician and a Vera Wang wedding dress when she called off her wedding. She said she called off the engagement when she realised she was getting married for the wrong reasons. According to her, she had just turned 30 and wanted to fit into the societal dictates that women in their 30s should be married. She also mentioned that her then-fiance was a pathological liar and was untrustworthy. Read her post and replies below. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Kiharu Member of Parliament and Rutos confidant, Ndindi Nyoro, suffers from a medical condition called azoospermia, which makes him shoot blanks. Nyoros medical report from Aga Khan Hospital leaked on social media, sparking reactions among netizens. The medical report was leaked by staff from the prestigious hospital, who felt betrayed after Nyoro voted yes for the punitive finance bill and bragged that he would not issue an apology for supporting the bill. The 38-year-old politician got married in 2019 but 5 years down the line, he has not gotten kids due to his medical condition. Check this out. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka is once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. This is after it emerged that he was operating a whopping 352 fictitious bank accounts for the County Government of Bungoma contrary to the law. This was unearthed by the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango through County Governments Budget Implementation Review Report for the first 9 months of FY 2023/24. According to Nyakango, the county operated 352 accounts at various local banks during the period under review. The whole of Bungoma County had around 12 different banks meaning the County Government has an average of 30 accounts in every bank in the area. The County government operated a total of 352 accounts with commercial banks, Nyakango noted in her report. This is contrary to Regulations 82(1)(b) of the PFM (County Governments) Regulations, 2015, which requires that County government bank accounts be opened and maintained at the Central Bank of Kenya. According to the Office of the Controller of the Budget, the only time a county government is allowed to have a different account is for imprest bank account for petty cash. A county government is also given leeway to operate a local bank account for revenue collection and expenditure. The number of bank accounts operated by Bungoma County keeps rising. A March 2024, report by the controller of the budget showed that the county had 321 bank accounts. This means in less than a month, the County Government opened an extra 31 bank accounts. It was not clear why the governor was operating more bank accounts than schools and hospitals in the region. Lusaka is not new to controversies as during his first term, he was embroiled in a procurement scandal where he purchased a simple wheelbarrow for Sh115,000. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been termed the biggest enemy of Gen Z after meeting with President William Ruto on Tuesday. Raila and Ruto addressed Kenyans at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre where they urged young Kenyans who are protesting to embrace dialogue and not to burn the country. Following his remarks, Raila Odinga has been branded as the biggest enemy for trying to sell Gen Z to Ruto the way he has been doing to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) supporters. Some Kenyans, led by prominent blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, said Raila Odinga is joining Ruto because he is worried that Gen Z can unite without him and this puts his 5-decade 'political conmanship' at risk. Raila Odinga is the biggest enemy of the Gen-Z movement. "He has been worried all along because it's now clear that Kenyans can unite without him, putting his bargaining power at risk, Nyakundu wrote on X ( formerly Twitter). The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Former chief agent in Raila Odinga's 2022 presidential campaign, Saitabao Ole Kanchory, criticized the former premier after he was spotted with President William Ruto on Tuesday, urging Gen Z to accept dialogue with the government. Raila, who addressed the press accompanied by Ruto, asked the young people in the country to accept dialogue with Rutos government. Some Kenyans praised Raila Odinga for his move towards unity, but others like Ole Kanchory blasted him, calling him a sellout and accusing him of trading with the electorate. How many times do I have to warn you guys about this merchant called @RailaOdinga. "He has already taken from Ruto and thinks Gen Zs are his usual cows for sale. "He will not believe it!Kanchory wrote on X During Gen Z protests, Raila, who is a second liberation hero, was urged to sit and watch how demonstrations are done. However, it seems that Raila Odinga is still active in Kenyan politics despite being told by Gen Z to relax at home and play with his grandchildren. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 The Gen Zs may have themselves to blame for attacking and insulting MPs. This comes after MPs threatened to stop disbursing bursaries to students as a way to teach Gen Z a bitter lesson for challenging them. This was revealed by Lurambi Member of Parliament Titus Khamala who claimed that the MPs were serious and had spoken in unison to stop disbursing bursaries to students. According to the ODM MP, the legislators received a lot of backlash on how they used the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). In particular, he blamed Gen Z, claiming the younger generation went as far as terming them as MPigs in reference to their perceived gluttonous nature. As MPs, we have spoken in one voice about CDF which is bringing us problems, we are being insulted and called MPigs, he stated. To end it and to make Gen Z happy, the bursary that goes to Gen Z, we have said we end it. The MP claimed that only Gen Z benefitted from the bursaries and it was sad to see them biting the hand that fed them. He explained that going forward, students will be seeking the Minister of Education Ezekiel Machogu to help them clear school fees. Alternatively, they could visit their respective county offices or apply for a loan through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). Prepare yourselves with life without CDF, he told the young people seeking accountability on how public funds are used. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 You now risk being jailed or fined heavily for failing to separate waste at home. This is after the Government of President William Ruto, through the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), began enforcing a law that mandates Kenyans separate their household waste into organic and non-organic waste bags. NEMA issued a notice last year and a 90-day leeway which has now lapsed, kicking the law into action. The government, therefore intends to ensure that Kenyans, going forward, adhere to the law, failure to which they would pay heavily, including a jail term or fine, which would help the government get the revenue it desperately needs after the rejection of the draconian Finance Bill 2024 following the protests by the Gen Zs. According to NEMA, the segregated waste should be placed in properly labelled and colour-coded containers bins, and bags. Waste service providers must collect, handle, and transport segregated waste without mixing it as the organic waste will be transported to material recovery facilities. Additionally, NEMA noted that the ban on plastic garbage bags will also be enforced more rigorously effective July 8, with individuals and garbage collection companies required to use biodegradable bags. County Governments and private and public organizations must also adhere to the regulations. Additionally, county governments that provide waste management facilities must provide biodegradable trash bags. Per the Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022, any person who contravenes the specified law will be liable for a fine of Ksh20,000 or imprisonment of six months or both. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Flamboyant city preacher Allan Kiuna of Jubilee Christian Centre (JCC) has passed on after a long battle with cancer. Bishop Kiuna returned to the country late last year after spending nearly a year in the US for specialized treatment. He revealed that he spent Ksh 460 Milllion on cancer treatment during a Thanksgiving ceremony at his church in Parklands and alleged that doctors had declared him cancer-free. He emphasized that the entire sum was divinely provided, and he did not have to dip into his own pockets. For the one year that I was in the US, my treatment cost $3 million, and I didnt remove one coin from my pocket because the God of heaven provided. "I did not call anyone, he exclaimed amid cheers from the congregation. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, July 08, 2024 - A mother has been arrested after she left her three children in a hot car in San Antonio, Texas, for nearly an hour while shopping. A good Samaritan helped rescue the children from the vehicle and called police officers to alert them. Officers were dispatched to the location after receiving the call, the San Antonio Police Department said in its preliminary report. First responders discovered a 1-month-old, 2-year-old, and 4-year-old in the car. The mother of the children (suspect) was at the scene and stated she went inside a store and did not realize how long she was gone, the department said. Based on information gathered, the children were in the car for approximately 50 minutes. Angela GarzaAmador was arrested on June 28 and charged with three counts of abandoning/endangering a child, according to the report. According to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, she was released on bond on June 29. It is unclear if GarzaAmador has legal representation. The woman who rescued the children and took a video of the moment told CNN affiliate KENS she was walking toward a childrens clothing store when she noticed a young boy in the car next to her. She said she felt her mothers instincts and decided to looked inside and found another child in the car and alerted store employees to call 911. She then tried to open the car door and found it unlocked and helped the children while waiting for first responders to arrive. The boy, he was really sweating profusely, and you know, was crying. It seemed like he was grasping for air to me like they were already on that verge, the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told KENS. A lot of parents think, Oh, its OK, Ill be right back, but so much can happen in that time frame. In the video, at least three women can be seen helping get the three children out of the car, including a baby from its car seat, as the three-year-old boy cries while struggling to breathe. I live across town, I hadnt been there to that store I was going to in 10 years, she added. I feel that God literally sent me over there for those kids. The children were transported to a hospital for treatment and were expected to be discharged from the hospital the same day, according to the preliminary police report. Child protective services was notified of the incident, police said. While details of investigations are confidential according to law, I can confirm there was no open case regarding this family when the report of this incident came in, a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services spokesperson told CNN. The children were not placed in CPS care and were placed in the care of family. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Wiper Democratic Movement party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has asked President William Ruto to tell Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome to resign over the killing of 42 unarmed protesters during the Gen Z protests. Speaking at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on Tuesday, Kalonzo asked President William Ruto to demand the resignation of Koome over the violent anti-Finance Bill protests. According to Kalonzo, Koome should take responsibility for the deaths of 42 Kenyans who lost their lives while exercising their constitutional rights. "Order IG @NPSOfficial_KE Japeth Koome to resign and take responsibility for the deaths of the 42 young Kenyans who lost their lives because they were exercising their constitutional rights to peaceably assemble, demonstrate and picket," Kalonzo said. Kalonzo also asked the president to order the removal of Kenya Defence Forces from the streets. "The Army should be ordered off our streets and sent back to the barracks. "We need to look at our country afresh. "Theres no way we can wish away the Gen Z revolution and if we are not careful, we will all be thrown out by them," he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 08, 2024 A popular doctor on X, @ourfaveonlinedoc says any woman who calls off her wedding days to the ceremony is a n@rcissist and a dmonic person. The doctor shared the opinion after media gal, Ife, disclosed she called off her wedding two months to the ceremony. He wrote; If you know you never loved someone and can never really love them. But you say yes to their proposal, You accept their engagement ring, You let them pay for wedding hall, You let them pay for comedian and MC, You let the families pick asoebi, You let them pay for wedding gown, Then few weeks to the wedding, You call off the wedding to tell them you never loved them and you are marrying for the wrong reasons, You are a narcissistic and demonic human being. You can rebrand it all you want, You can relabel it all you want, You can cook up excuses to rationalise your evil and deliberate deception; But the simple fundamental fact remains that if you knew you never loved someone and you let them invest that much in you only to turn on them the last minute, You are just a narcissistic demonic human being. And the fact that you still cant see how evil and wicked this is, only goes on to confirm that being inherently demonic is who you truly are.'' How can a group of dedicated general surgeons transform their compensation and work conditions in six months? Heres their story. The groups story: facts and dynamics Four general surgeons, one NP, and one PA for a specific physician have been practicing at a small community hospital with three ancillary facilities in the Northeast for many years. The group and staffing have been dependable, without turnover, for the past three years. Three physicians have many years before retirement and are dedicated to staying in the community. One is planning to retire in three years. They provide a full range of surgical services, including trauma calls and assisting gastroenterology on weekends. They are at maximum work capacity, highly productive, and successful (production = 5.22 90th-percentile physicians). They want to hire a third party to help the team negotiate a new contract versus going alone. What the group wants Increase in pay and benefits, of course. Update the structure and contents of the physician agreements with renegotiation targets at 2-3 years instead of 5-6 years. Hire a new physician to increase the group to five in anticipation of the upcoming retirement. Possible new operating room equipment, including resource and technology updates. Challenges Will the hospital be open to negotiations with a third party? Can the group of surgeons be on the same page? For any progress to be made, all physicians must agree on terms and what they want. This unity and collaboration benefit the group and the health care community as a whole, fostering a sense of teamwork and shared goals. Fragmentation, back deals, side offers, and similar issues are common in negotiations, posing a significant challenge and potentially breaking groups apart. This facility faces multiple local, regional, and national challenges. These complexities underline the necessity for specialized services for group contract negotiations. Leveraging third-party expertise in compensation strategy Thoroughly analyze both sideswhat the physicians want and what the hospital can afford to do. Using various data sources, determine the fair market value for the group in the particular location. Mediate with the hospital: Most physicians are not prepared for this process, either from a time or knowledge standpoint. The administration viewed the negotiations as a win-win for the hospital, community, and physicians. Results: What happened? The conversion factor per wRVU increased by $8 in year one, $10 in year two, and $12 in year three from the baseline number. They added a $50,000 quality bonus per year for each physician (which we were able to guarantee in year one). The call pay didnt change in favor of the higher CF per wRVU. By running calculations using the last 12 months, the overall benefit to the group in year one will be $594,334 with the same level of production. Accounting for four surgeons, the average of the group (production did vary) will be over $148,000 in year one alone. What physicians considering a group negotiation need to know The total process took about 5-6 months. Its not uncommon for this process to take longer, with the hospital dragging out the process, resulting in inaction or poor results. All the surgeons did was invest a few hours upfront in calls and emails, send documents, and approve the asks/proposals/offers. Able to put a renegotiation piece in the agreement in three yearsso can repeat the process to re-up this in three years (it was 5+ last time before they got an update or appropriate pay and benefits increase). The administration enjoyed working with an expert third party, and the best part was that the physicians benefited with minimal effort. Key takeaways Physician employers: partners, not adversaries. They want physicians to be satisfied with their compensation arrangements. There is already a shortage of surgeons, and the number is expected to worsen. Replacement of surgeons poses financial, health care, and community challenges. They find it difficult to get a physicians time and attention. Even within the same group, physicians cannot decide what they want and have no clue what is fair since they do not have access to industry knowledge like hospitals do. We solve these issues. Often frustrated and underappreciated, physicians can find solace when their compensation is fair, a sentiment that physician employers may not always be aware of. Maximizing physician compensation reduces burnout. Many physicians know medicine but little about the business of medicine. It is essential to have tools to even the playing field so the team has the power of knowledge in negotiations. Physicians: they are busy, overwhelmed, and skeptical. Despite their dedication to medicine, many physicians are locked into long-term agreements without updates. This lack of clarity can lead to uncertainty and feeling in the dark about their contracts, which could be improved with precise and updated agreements. They have difficulty agreeing on patient care, let alone what they want in their careers, which would improve their lives. Conclusion This case illustrates the importance of preparation, unity, and strategic communication in contract negotiations. The surgeons proactive approach improved their contractual conditions and set a precedent for future negotiations within the hospital. Jon Appino has been the driving force behind Contract Diagnostics since 2011, where he leads a dedicated team on a mission to empower physicians with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to negotiate robust employment contracts and secure the best compensation packages. With over a century of collective experience, the CDx team is a paragon of field expertise. With over 25 years of diverse health care experience, Jon leads this seasoned team of professionals. From Petes 20+ years to Anus 25+ years, complemented by Jillian and Lauras 10+ years each, our team boasts a wealth of knowledge. This remarkable tenure is further fortified by the skills and backgrounds of our other team members, including Kathryn Sarnoski, MD, and Jan Schmitz, director of operations. Their combined experience ensures that Contract Diagnostics offers the most seasoned and insightful guidance in physician compensation. Discover more of Jons perspectives on physician compensation by exploring the Contract Diagnostics blog or connecting on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. The Contract Diagnostics team offers comprehensive consulting services tailored to physicians and their families, addressing employment contracts and compensation structures. Our expertise spans contract physician compensation, schedules, benefits, and more. Our mission is to establish a central resource where physicians can access information, consulting, and coaching to navigate the intricacies of employment contracts and compensation structures, ensuring equitable remuneration. Questions? Feel free to reach out to us via our website or at 888-574-5526. Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. -William Shakespeare Oh, I forgot to ask my doctor something is a line as old as time itself. This happens within 0.6 seconds of starting the ride back home. So you then decide to call the office. Then youre probably greeted with a listen carefully to our menu options. Itll be a long day before you get a hold of anyone. Even if your question is, Do I put on moisturizer before this ointment? Thankfully, methods to reach providers for questions or concerns have improved over the years. No ones found a happy balance yethere come the 1,000 unread MyChart messages. Lets explore the expectations patients should have for contacting their providers and what inquiry policies work best. Todays TLDR: Handling patient questions Clearly delegate whos responsible for various message types on each platform. Have all staff on the same page as to what urgent and non-urgent means to your practice. For patients: make sure you agree with the clinics inquiry and contact policy. Note: Im choosing to frame this discussion based on outpatient care. Well focus on patients and their doctors at the clinic for under a day. Inpatient medicine is a different beast and not relevant to the cash pay discussion today. Scheduling dynamics will also be a separate article. You can call me anytime or can you? Many an office worker grumbles, This meeting could have been an email. And when it comes to medical practice, short-form comms can save time on both the patients and doctors part. A quick message might even accelerate some much-needed visits. Of course, that might be taken to an extreme, and in turn, the MyChart inbox gets out of hand. Other clinics may triage their messages with a medical assistant. Patients shouldnt take that as disrespectMAs and nurses can field simpler questions. Whats simpler or not, however, depends on the specialty. If your question/concern is complicated or urgent, any decent office should route you to whoevers on call. Keep in mind that providers have to juggle inquiry response speed with giving high-quality care to the patient right in front of them. Figure 1: How patient calls used to be handled (before answering services) (Source: sciencedirect.com) Most offices also have some after-hours answering service. Obviously, this is great for patients. Medical problems dont follow a 9-5 schedule. But its easy to inundate that channel with non-urgent questions. So whats considered urgent? Although thats a can of worms for many a practice, Ill explain how our clinic thinks about it. What about cash-pay clinics? Since patients are giving their hard-earned cash to you, a few things change: Patients expect their treating provider (not necessarily other staff) to return messages promptly. See details below on what promptly should be Your phone service better not have a labyrinth of a switchboard unless its relevant to your specialty Within a day, if nothing else, someone must confirm that the office received the patients message These clinics must see inquiries through to the end. Patients arent inanimate charts and numbers collecting dust. Patients must feel they are being heard Like with any cash pay setup, the provider is beholden to you, not your health plan. As a result, responses are (usually) faster. Its hard to believe a world existed where patients could *gasp* reach their physician directly. That was before health care facilities gained more administrative bloat than layers of a wedding cake. Although several practice structures could use some Ozempic, having boundaries matters. The doctors need to be doctoring, not answering phone calls that other staff are 100% equipped to handle. Its no secret that established patients wait for a while to have their questions answered. Doctors are sick of it toobelieve it not, they want to help you. Some offices, especially in the primary care space, attempt to marry old tech (e.g., phone, email, fax) with newer tech (e.g., EMRs, AI-generated intake. video) to efficiently channel inquiries. Figure 2: How a primary health care center (PHC) may reroute patient inquiries differently from the norm. (Source: BMC Health Services Research) Current methods Since we have electronic medical records now, patients can send an instant message to their care team anytime. That being said, dont squeeze in a free consult through an avalanche of MyChart messages. Its the same deal when texting your crush. Showering them with texts asking if they got your last message wins no one over. However, the flexibility to send your doctor or care team a message is what matters. Its the providers role to set proper boundaries, not the patients. Let me walk you through how our clinic handles inquiries. (Keep in mind that were a dermatology officesome of this context is skin-specific.) Figure 3: Our clinics patient inquiry policy summarized Our framework may not suit all clinics (either cash pay or insurance-based), but you can use it to learn if a) this works great for your office, b) it is useless to you, or c) it is helpful after making some adjustments. Our general guidelines We give patients an after-hours cell phone number to call if they have any urgent questions/concerns (for our clinics standards). To which you ask, Wont the patients blow up my phone? In reality, a handful will. Respond to them, but be firm with your boundaries. Otherwise, most patients dialing the after-hours cell for our practice do have concerns necessitating a <24-hour turnaround. Its just part of the doctoring job. Set clear expectations for patients sending many messages. State a concrete number of allowed non-urgent contact attempts and stick with it. Double-check that all recent patient inquiries (for a given week) are resolved. Aim to contact the patient back if they were supposed to respond to an earlier follow-up. Take the extra steps to field any and all inquiries, no matter how unusualas long as the right personnel are handling the message. Answering inquiries may appear simple in a vacuum. But theyre no joke when they pile up. These guidelines will help you swim upstream and focus on what matterspatients. Rushi Nagalla is co-founder of a dermatology practice. Sandhya V. Koppula is a dermatologist. 1 of 1 , - khaskhabar.com : , 09 2024 6:11 PM Young overseas returnees chase dreams, bring new vitality into rural China People's Daily Online) 11:04, July 09, 2024 An increasing number of entrepreneurial young Chinese who have returned to the country after finishing their studies abroad have found ways to realize their dreams in the country's vast rural areas, injecting new vitality into the country's rural revitalization drive. Modern farm thrives in mountainous county Pan Wei, a young man with an MBA from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, the U.S., has established a modern farm in his hometown in Xinfeng county, Shaoguan city, south China's Guangdong Province. Pan Wei, a young man who established a modern farm in his hometown after finishing his studies abroad, shares agricultural knowledge with children on the farm in Xinfeng county, Shaoguan city, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) After returning in 2017, Pan and several partners established a modern farm called Shu Dongpo in Hengkeng village of Xinfeng county, based on a keen insight into the county's advantageous natural conditions for farming, such as its large difference in temperature between day and night, abundant water resources, and fertile soil. The farm has experienced rapid growth over the past seven years, with the total area growing from 130 mu (about 8.67 hectares) to 300 mu, while the facilities are getting increasingly sophisticated and intelligent, thanks to the efforts of Pan's team to constantly upgrade them and tackle challenges in plant growth through technological measures and science-based methods. In recent years, Pan's team has collaborated with multiple study tour service providers, transforming the farm into an educational base for agriculture-themed parent-child activities. The base offers a series of courses on agriculture and natural science as well as dedicated areas for Guangdong's elementary school students and their parents to experience farming activities, and is a big hit with visitors. On weekends at the farm, happy laughter and cheerful voices fill the air, according to Pan, who said the farm receives more than 10 tour groups every month, with tourists coming not only from Guangdong and its neighboring provinces but also faraway regions, such as Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The farm's transformation has created new job opportunities for local villagers. More and more farmers from the locality have been hired to work as tutors to share their farming expertise and agricultural knowledge with visitors. Looking to the future, Pan is confident that China's rural areas hold great potential and will be a place where more overseas returnees can realize their entrepreneurial dreams. E-commerce adds 'wings' to farm produce from small township In 2011, Li Chao, who obtained his master's degree from FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management in Germany, returned to his hometown of Wanggaopu township in Pingyuan county, Dezhou city, east China's Shandong Province, with an entrepreneurial dream. Li Chao, a man who returned to his hometown and devoted himself to developing local agriculture after obtaining a master's degree from a university in Germany, checks the growth of vegetables in a greenhouse in Wanggaopu township, Pingyuan county, Dezhou city, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Wanggaopu township has a nearly 30-year history of cucumber cultivation, with more than two-thirds of the local villages growing cucumbers in greenhouses. The local cucumber industry has undergone a significant upgrade since Li's return. Over the past few years, Li has continuously explored innovative ways to boost local agriculture. Since he was elected head of the agricultural cooperative association of Wanggaopu township in 2019, Li has played a pivotal role in the development and transformation of the local agricultural industry. By inviting agricultural experts to give regular lectures on agricultural technologies and techniques, providing guidance on methods in the various links of agricultural production, organizing training sessions on professional skills for agricultural management, and improving facilities for grain drying and storage, the cooperative association has offered local farmers whole-process services under Lis leadership. As a result, the township, which has more than 4,000 cucumber greenhouses with a total area of more than 10,000 mu, has witnessed a notable rise in the cucumber yield per mu of land as well as the quality and unit price of the local cucumbers, and enjoyed an increase of more than 20,000 yuan ($2,754.37) in the profit from cucumbers per mu of land, according to Li. In an effort to further boost farmers incomes, Li encouraged them to grow glutinous corn, whose unit price is higher than that of regular corn, increasing farmers' incomes by about 300 yuan per mu of land. In addition, the cooperative association that Li leads has also actively promoted contract farming for glutinous corn and extended the industrial chain by using the product for deep processing of denatured starch. Moreover, Li has rallied the localitys young talents and set up an e-commerce center under the cooperative association to expand the marketing channels for local farm produce, which has led to a surge in online sales and the popularity of local specialties and agricultural products from Dezhou city. Today, the cooperative association sells more than 20 kinds of agricultural products on e-commerce platforms. With more than 70,000 e-commerce parcels sent out everyday, the cooperative association sees an average daily turnover of over 1 million yuan. Last year, its sales volume from e-commerce platforms reached around 130 million yuan. The cooperative association has also created its own new media platform to record and share interesting stories about villagers' daily agricultural production processes, aiming to better promote and sell their products, according to Li. This year, Li has set his sights on cross-border e-commerce, and aims to introduce featured agricultural products from Dezhou and its surrounding areas to more countries and regions worldwide. Village coffee house offers respite from city's hustle and bustle Zhang Yan, a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, runs a special coffee house named No.18 Coffee Factory, in a picturesque suburban village nestled at the foot of China's lush Qinling Mountains. Zhang Yan, a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, makes coffee at No. 18 Coffee Factory. Located in Shangwang village, Xi'an city, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Zhang opened the coffee house after she finished her studies abroad. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) The village coffee house, located in Shangwang village, Xi'an city, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, attracts visitors with its unique artistic flair and distinctive charm. Zhang has ingeniously integrated traditional Chinese cultural elements into the exterior design and interior decoration of the coffee house, creating a soul-soothing idyllic ambience through the use of handmade Xuan paper, touching photography works, traditional tables and chairs that she handcrafted herself, as well as calligraphy works she and her father composed, among other items with cultural appeal. She hopes to create a space where people can take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy a moment of leisure, Zhang explained, adding that she also hopes to introduce the traditional culture of Xi'an, an ancient city that served as the capital for 13 dynasties, to more people. Zhang has also been holding salon activities in the coffee house for overseas returnees like herself, aiming to provide them with a platform for exchanges and learning. Now that the living conditions in the village are getting better and better, with its stunning scenery and lush mountains and lucid waters, more and more overseas returnees are coming to the village, Zhang said happily. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) By Park Jin-hai This summer, Korea's theater scene is abuzz with excitement as a slew of renowned actors grace the stage. Following Cannes-winning actor Jeon Do-yeon who broke her 27-year hiatus on stage and made a surprise comeback to the theater last month with Anton Chekhov's play "The Cherry Orchard" directed by Simon Stone, another veteran actor, Hwang Jung-min, is returning to the stage after two years with Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth," following his success in "Richard III." Hwang, who will take the lead role of Macbeth, emphasized the unique appeal of theater. "While drama and film lean more toward the director's artistic vision, theater truly belongs to the actors," he said, highlighting the stage as a place where actors can forge a direct connection with the audience. "Once the curtain rises, the stage transforms into a space where actors intertwine their artistry. It's a time for direct engagement with the audience, creating a palpable energy that draws actors to this medium." Hwang's "Macbeth" runs from July 13 to Aug. 18 at National Theater of Korea's Haeoreum Grand Theater. Actors Son Ho-jun and Yoo Seung-ho joined Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Angels in America." The two will alternate portraying Prior Walter, a complex gay character struck by HIV who receives a prophecy from an angel, in the play opening in August at the LG Arts Center in southwestern Seoul. Son is making his return to the stage after 10 years, while child actor-turned-adult star Yoo makes a foray into the theater for the first time, marking a new chapter in his 24-year acting career. Actor Go Joon-hee is also making her theatrical debut in "Angels in America," playing Harper Pitt, a woman battling drug addiction whose marriage has crumbled under the weight of her struggles. Meanwhile, veteran actor Moon So-ri, best known for her acclaimed leading roles in the international award-winning film "Oasis," will take on the upcoming play "The Sound Inside," set to make its Korean premiere at the Chungmu Art Center in central Seoul in August. Moon will portray a terminally ill Yale University English professor who plans to end her life on her own terms, rather than succumb to the disease. K-pop stars in musicals The musical stage is also thrilling, with K-pop stars and seasoned actors stepping into prominent roles. Tiffany Young of Girls' Generation reprises her role as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" at D-Cube Link Arts Center in southwestern Seoul. Following her successful run in 2021, she's back to dazzle audiences with her powerful vocals and stage presence. Actor Kim Bum has joined the musical comedy "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at the BBCH Hall of Kwanglim Arts Center in southern Seoul through Oct. 20. Kim, known for his television roles as F4 member in smash hit KBS drama "Boys Over Flowers" (2009), made his musical theater debut, Saturday, taking on the role of Monty Navarro, a penniless young man who discovers he is the eighth heir to the wealthy D'Ysquith family. With his newfound status, Monty embarks on a mission to eliminate the seven heirs ahead of him. In the Japanese romantic manga-adapted musical "Your Lie in April," actor Jung Ji-so, who played the younger version of school violence victim Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) in Netflix's revenge psychological thriller "The Glory," and Kei of the eight-member K-pop act Lovelyz have taken on the stage, portraying Kaori, a genius violinist, at CJ Towol Theater of Seoul Arts Center until Aug. 25. Local businesses will be required to disclose any major insider trading before the proposed transaction takes place, the financial regulator said Tuesday. The Cabinet approved a revised enforcement ordinance to the financial investment services and capital markets act to this end, according to the Financial Services Commission. The changed rules will be implemented on July 24. Currently, firms are only required to disclose insider transactions within five days after such transactions occur. Under the revised rules, they will be required to disclose any insider trading involving more than 5 billion won ($3.6 million) or 1 percent of their issued stocks at least 30 days in advance. Failures to do so, as well as failures to carry out proposed transactions or filing false reports, may be subject to a maximum fine of 2 billion won under the revised regulations, the financial regulator said in a press release. "The advance disclosure rule for insider trading is expected to help prevent unfair trading and protect investors by promoting transparency in stock trading once it is implemented on July 24," it added. The revised ordinance also specifies entities excluded from advance disclosure requirements, such as institutional investors, who "have relatively high inside control" and "are viewed to have little possibility of abusing insider information," the FSC said. (Yonhap) A State Department spokesperson reiterated "great concerns" Monday over growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, as the United States is set to host a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Washington this week. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson, made the remarks as NATO allies are expected to highlight their solidarity against Russia's war operations in Ukraine during their summit set to take place in the U.S. capital from Tuesday through Thursday. "I think we have made quite clear our great concern about increased collaboration between the DPRK and Russia ... the DPRK supporting Russia's war machine that is targeting, killing innocent civilians in Ukraine and violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of another U.N. member in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," he said during a press briefing. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea "We will continue to work with our allies and partners to counter that relationship," he added. The NATO summit comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty entailing a mutual defense clause during their summit in Pyongyang last month. Burgeoning security cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has fueled concerns about its security implications on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe. (Yonhap) North Korea has held a national memorial service and concert, attended by its leader Kim Jong-un, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of national founder Kim Il-sung, state media reported Tuesday. The memorial events on Monday appeared to be held at a similar level to those on the 20th and 25th anniversaries despite speculations that North Korea might scale them down to focus on the personality cult for the incumbent leader. Kim Il-sung, late grandfather of Kim Jong-un, died due to heart failure on July 8, 1994, at age 82. Clad in a black suit, the North's leader attended the first national memorial service event for the state founder in five years at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, according to photos carried by North Korea's state media. Kim also took part in a memorial concert held at the Samjiyon theater. Flanked by key officials, Kim Jong-un also paid tribute to the state founder at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the embalmed bodies of the current leader's father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather, Kim Il-sung, lie in state. It marked his first visit to the mausoleum this year. Kim Il-sung is long known as the role model for Kim Jong-un, whose hair and fashion style were reminiscent of those of his grandfather. But North Korea appears to be reinforcing the personality cult for the current leader in recent months as a sole ruler warranting people's respect. A pin featuring the solitary portrait of Kim Jong-un was officially seen for the first time on June 30, when it was attached to the suit jackets of all North Korean officials attending a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party. This year, North Korea also began referring to Kim Il-sung's birthday as just "415" instead of the Day of the Sun in an apparent move to refrain from excessively extolling the late state founder. South Korea's unification ministry said North Korea appears to have staged the 30th anniversary event in line with the practice of lavishly marking anniversaries whose final numbers end in a five or zero. Senior party officials attending Monday's memorial events were seen wearing a new pin featuring Kim's solitary portrait, with some also having on their chests an existing pin bearing an image of the two former leaders. A ministry official said North Korea apparently did not scale down the memorial events out of concerns that its people could be confused by the regime's move to blur out the former leaders' feats. "North Korea is likely to adjust the pace of the personality cult for Kim Jong-un to help its people naturally accept the process," the official told reporters, asking not to be named. (Yonhap) The Chinese government is believed to have demanded North Korea bring back all of its workers in China, a source said Tuesday, a move that would squeeze Pyongyang's hard currency earnings. North Korea reportedly wants to gradually recall its workers in China to the North, but China is believed to have requested Pyongyang return home its workers en masse whose visas expire, according to the source. North Korea has sent workers abroad, including Russia, China, Mongolia and Africa, to earn hard currency in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. All member states of the U.N. were required to repatriate any North Koreans earning income in their jurisdiction by the end of 2019 under UNSC Resolution 2397, adopted in 2017. But the bulk of North Korean workers are still believed to be staying in China, with some estimating the number at around 100,000. China, North Korea's main ally and economic benefactor, is also believed to have tightened customs clearances of its exports to North Korea and stepped up crackdowns on North Korea's suspected smuggling, according to the source. Experts said China may try to increase its leverage on North Korea at a time when Pyongyang has been bolstering military and other cooperation with Russia. South Korea's foreign ministry said it is keeping close tabs on the situation over North Korea's overseas workers. "North Korea's dispatch of its workers abroad and its smuggling of coal and oil via ship-to-ship transfer are illegal activities that violate the UNSC resolutions," a ministry official said "As a (nonpermanent) member of the council, the government is urging all U.N. member states to thoroughly enforce the UNSC resolutions." (Yonhap) Experts expect new measure to save many lives By Jung Min-ho All students in elementary, middle and high schools, along with employees at public institutions in Korea, must now undergo annual suicide prevention education, as part of stepped-up government efforts to address suicide, which is the leading cause of death among young Koreans, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tuesday. The Cabinet approved a revised enforcement ordinance of the relevant law, mandating students as well as workers at state-run institution and hospitals to undergo training in self-harm prevention. This new requirement will come into effect starting this Friday. According to the new rule, administrators of these organizations must create a training program for self-harm prevention and offer it at least once a year to students and employees, either in-person or online. They are also required to report the outcomes to the health ministry or other Cabinet-level departments. Higher education institutions and private businesses with at least 30 employees have also been advised to join the campaign and take advantage of government resources. The training program comprises two main components. The first part aims to educate participants on the nature of suicide, including factors that contribute to mental health decline and strategies to overcome such conditions. The second part provides practical guidance on supporting individuals exposed to high risks of suicide, covering how to recognize warning signs and effective response strategies. This policy is part of the governments expanded efforts to lower the countrys suicide rate from 25.2 per 100,000 people to the OECD average of 10.6 within the next 10 years. Since 2003, Korea has consistently had the highest suicide rate among the 34 OECD member nations. From January to June 2023, nearly 7,000 people in Korea took their own lives, marking an 8.8 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This is a particularly serious problem among young people. A report published last month by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed that the suicide rate per 100,000 people aged between nine and 24 stood at 10.8, by far the leading cause of death over accidents (3.9) and cancer (2.5). I hope the culture of respecting life would spread further through the suicide prevention program, Lee Young-hoon, a senior official at the ministrys mental health department, said. Practical tips on how to seek help and how to provide help for those at high risk of suicide are expected to help strengthen the life-saving safety net in society. Experts in adolescent education expressed support for the adoption of the new policy. A youth counselor at a state-sponsored support organization for young people in southern Seoul told The Korea Times that the change could potentially save many lives. More than half of the individuals I have spoken with over many years have reported contemplating or attempting suicide, she said. Done right, I think such education programs will save many lives. Korea's trade ministry announced Tuesday that it has launched the first round of negotiations with Thailand to seek an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) aimed at bolstering bilateral trade and investment. The Korean delegation, led by Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations Roh Keon-ki, plans to discuss related matters with his counterpart, Chotima Iemsawasdikul, in Bangkok through Thursday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. An EPA is intended to establish a mutually beneficial trade network with partner nations beyond simple market opening, though it covers a smaller scope of areas compared with a traditional free trade agreement. Seoul and Bangkok declared the launch of negotiations in March. "Although Korea already holds trade agreements with Thailand under the Korea-ASEAN FTA and the RCEP, there is still room for improvement in terms of bilateral trade and economic cooperation," Roh said. He was referring to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, one of the world's biggest free trade agreements, with its 15 member nations accounting for around 30 percent of the global gross domestic product. "The EPA between Korea and Thailand, tailored specifically for the two countries, will build policy grounds to advance the bilateral economic cooperation to another level," the deputy minister added. The two countries will discuss promoting exchanges in a wide array of areas, including goods, services and investment, as well as the digital and government procurement sectors, the ministry said. "Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the manufacturing hub of the region," the ministry said in a statement. "An EPA between Korea and Thailand will bolster the competitiveness of Korean goods and service exports compared to those from other rivals, such as Japan and China." (Yonhap) A former U.S. government official under the previous Donald Trump administration has met with South Korea's vice foreign minister and discussed the countries' bilateral alliance and other issues, Seoul officials said Tuesday. Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) Center for American Security, met with First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun on Monday and had a broad discussion on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the trilateral cooperation with Japan, North Korean threats, and other regional and global issues, the foreign ministry said. Fleitz, a former chief of staff of the National Security Council under Trump's term, is visiting Seoul this week for meetings with experts from think tanks, government officials and businesspeople. His trip draws attention as South Korea and Japan, the U.S.' Asian allies, are seen as stepping up to grasp Trump's foreign policy plans if he wins a second term at the White House, after U.S. President Joe Biden's poor performance at the recent presidential debate. In Monday's talks, Fleitz and Kim shared the understanding that the bilateral alliance between Seoul and Washington and the cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are essential and should continue to be strengthened for regional peace and stability. Fleitz also noted the need to seek dialogue with North Korea to denuclearize it, as the allies maintain a firm deterrence against the reclusive state based on the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance, according to the ministry. Also present at the meeting was Steve Yates, senior fellow and chair of the AFPI's China Policy Initiative, the ministry added. Prior to meeting with Kim, Fleitz visited the Hyundai Motor Group headquarters in southern Seoul for talks with officials at the top South Korean automaker. (Yonhap) The veterans ministry said Tuesday it will present a special flag honoring Capt. Robert Goupil to his family and cadets of a French military academy in remembrance of the French veteran who died in combat during the 1950-53 Korean War. Veterans Minister Kang Jung-ai will present the flag to visiting cadets from Goupil's alma mater, Saint-Cyr Military Academy, and the late veteran's family during a ceremony marking the Battle of Jipyeong-ri on Wednesday, according to the ministry. Goupil, who joined the Korean War in November 1950 as the commander of the 2nd Company of the French Battalion, served in the Battle of the Twin Tunnels, the Battle of Jipyeong-ri (Chipyong-ni) and the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge. He died in action in the monthlong Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in Gangwon Province that ended in October 1951, where at least 3,700 U.N. Forces troops are estimated to have suffered injuries or died. The flag incorporates the insignia of the 2nd Company of the French Battalion with the flag of the visiting 209th class of the Saint-Cyr Military Academy. The academy chose him to represent their class under a school tradition of picking a distinguished officer or battle as their class name. The ministry explained that the delivery of the flag symbolizes the will to pass on the late veteran's courage and noble spirit to future generations. (Yonhap) Russia hits back at Yoon's remarks urging Moscow to side with Seoul over Pyongyang By Lee Hyo-jin President Yoon Suk Yeol is unlikely to announce the provision of lethal arms support to Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit, observers said Tuesday, but he is expected to offer advanced humanitarian support to the war-torn nation in solidarity with the West. Despite Yoon's stern warning to Russia against choosing North Korea over South Korea, Seoul remains very cautious about sending arms to Kyiv an action that could sever ties with Moscow and escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula, experts noted. Yoon arrived in Hawaii, Monday (local time), before heading to Washington, D.C., for the 2024 NATO summit scheduled to begin the following day. In Hawaii, he paid tribute to veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and met with Korean residents living on the U.S. islands. During the meeting with residents, Yoon pledged to contribute to promptly ending the war in Ukraine through cooperation with like-minded nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. "Russia and North Korea are deepening their military and economic cooperation in direct violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, adding concerns for the international community," he said. The president will visit the Indo-Pacific Command on Tuesday before departing for the NATO summit. Yoon's third consecutive attendance at the annual summit comes amid increasing geopolitical tensions in Northeast Asia following a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 19, during which the two sides signed a military agreement that includes mutual defense assistance in the event of an attack on either party. In response to the military pact, Seoul said it would need to reconsider its current policy of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine depending on the extent of the military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow. However, observers believe that lethal arms support for Ukraine is currently not on the South Korean government's agenda for the NATO gathering, and Yoon is not expected to broach this topic with European leaders. "Given the nature of the upcoming NATO meeting, which largely focuses on how to continue supporting Ukraine, South Korea is expected to demonstrate increased commitment to Kyiv in solidarity with Western allies," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University, noting that Seoul has been facing mounting pressure from the West to supply arms to the war-torn nation. "The president may adopt a more proactive stance in supporting Ukraine. However, wary of ties with Russia, I don't expect a shift in the current policy of providing non-lethal aid," Lim added. Cho Han-bum, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute of National Unification, echoed this sentiment. "Although Seoul and Moscow have been exchanging hostile rhetoric, both sides are treading carefully not to cross the 'red line' that could sever ties and escalate military threats," Cho said. "Yoon may strongly condemn Russia and North Korea at the NATO summit, but concerning Ukraine, he is likely to reaffirm his commitment to supporting the nation by increasing humanitarian aid and providing non-lethal military equipment." In an interview with Reuters released on Monday, Yoon warned Russia to make a "sensible decision" between South Korea and North Korea, reiterating that his administration will reconsider its stance on weapons provisions to Ukraine depending on Russia's actions. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow "fully disagrees" with Yoon's approach, stating that Russia advocates for building good relations with both Koreas. "The current situation is that we have our partner in Pyongyang, and we have a country in Seoul that has joined anti-Russian sanctions," Peskov was quoted as saying by the Tass News Agency. Meanwhile, a delegation from North Korea's military school departed for Russia, according to Pyongyang's state media Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), Tuesday, in a sign of increasing military cooperation. The Korean People's Army military education delegation, led by Kim Kum-chol, president of Kim Il- sung Military University, left for Russia on Monday, KCNA reported briefly without providing further details. The military university, named after North Korea's founder, is a training institute for the country's military officers. This marks the first known military personnel exchange since the Kim-Putin summit in June. "On the surface, it seems like a routine people-to-people exchange, but the North may have included military advisers in its delegations to discuss military training and technology exchange," Cho said. South Korea's foreign ministry said it is currently reviewing the details of the visit, but noted that any military cooperation leading to the strengthening of Pyongyang's military capabilities constitutes a violation of UNSC resolutions. A Korean court ordered Nippon Coke & Engineering on Tuesday to compensate Korean victims for their forced labor at Japanese mines during World War II. The Gwangju District Court ordered the Japanese firm to pay compensation ranging from 13 million won ($9,400) to 100 million won to each of 11 bereaved family members of seven people who were forced to work in the mines of Mitsui Mining, which was later renamed Nippon Coke & Engineering. The seven victims included the late Park Hun-dong, who was forcibly mobilized by Japanese police in the county of Hwasun while recovering from wounds he sustained during a forced two-year military term in North Manchuria for Japan. He was then forced to work in coal mines in Japan's Hokkaido under grueling cold and labor conditions, which resulted in him losing two fingers without treatment. Dormitory doors were locked from the outside to prevent workers' escape, while heavy labor was imposed with limited food. Park remained detained even after Korea's national liberation on Aug. 15, 1945, and was only able to return home in January the following year. Since returning home, Park and the other victims suffered from lung diseases and other illnesses until their deaths. Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. (Yonhap) By John A. Riley Depending on your age, Detroit may have different pop cultural associations: Tamla Motown, Robocop or Emimem. But in the past decade or so, its Detroit-style pizza that has been flying the flag for the city, gradually catching up with its New York and Chicago rivals, and even making its way as far afield as South Korea. Its a rectangular, pan-baked pie with a thick crust and loaded with toppings, and was created in 1946 by Gus Guerra. It was true to Detroits roots in the automotive industry originally baked in a tray used for auto parts. Four years ago restaurateur Kim Joong-ho grew tired of his company job and thought of starting a restaurant. Realizing that his favorite pizza and favorite rapper were from the same city, he created 8Mile, named after the neighborhood where Eminem grew up and the subsequent movie about his life. The restaurants interior aims to evoke something of the atmosphere of the underground rap clubs seen in the movie, but is smaller and cozier, with exposed bricks and mortar on one wall, while on the other is a graffiti mural of Eminem with his hoodie pulled up, in a light blue that gives him an almost religious aura. Theres also bar seating, and space to sit outside for when the weather is good. The playlist of contemporary American and Korean hip-hop is well-chosen and never too distracting. For me, the cheese pizza is the most delicious item on the menu: made with five types of cheese, the cheese is thick and gooey on top and is spread right to the edge of the pan, where it runs down the side of the thick crust and caramelizes, creating what Guerra called "frico." With its chewy base and well-chosen blend of cheeses, its the kind of pizza that you cant stop eating once youve started, even when you know youve had enough. The signature dish, known as the 8Mile pizza, has mushrooms, jalapenos, pepperoni (placed onto the pizza first in accordance with Detroit style) and fat, juicy shrimp. Its a red top style pizza, finished off with a generous helping of Kims own 8mile sauce. This is made with his own recipe of red pepper, onion, garlic and tomato. It is a flavorful and moreish pizza, and the shrimp really adds unexpected flavor and texture, though the sauce does have a powerful kick. Visitors from Michigan on business trips to Daejeon have complimented Kim on the authenticity of his pizza, an impressive feat since he hasnt managed to make the trip to Deroit yet. Purists, though, will note that two other pizzas on the menu, potato and sweet potato, are not exactly traditional in the U.S. But thats what makes 8Mile such a fun place: Korean and American cultures collide in the decor, music and food. Half-and-half pizzas are available so you can mix and match, with pepperoni, Hawaiian, and supreme styles also available. 8Mile also has an impressive selection of beers. Red Rock is the house beer, which is welcome as its sometimes hard to come by in Daejeon. I paired my half cheese and half 8Mile pizza with a can of MooSimCoe, a pale ale from Seouls Craft Bros. The piney, almost tropical taste is the perfect refresher after a mouthful of the spicy 8Mile pizza. As an Englishman, I was delighted to learn that 8Mile serves London Pride ale, subject to availability from distributors. Though the selection of beers may vary, a high-quality variety is always available. 8Mile is closed on Sundays, and open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday to Saturday. It is one of a growing number of craft beer and international food places rapidly erasing Daejeons reputation as a "no jaem" city and instead putting it on the culinary map. Visit @8mile_pizza on Instagram for more information. John A. Riley is a writer and educator based in Daejeon. He has written for The Asian Review of Books, Popmatters, Screen and numerous other publications. By Steve Shields The Fifth Annual Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea Essay Contest was met with great enthusiasm from students across the nation. After a challenging choice among dozens of submissions, the winners were presented with their awards at the RAS Korea office in downtown Seoul on Saturday. RAS Korea extends heartfelt gratitude to the contest sponsors, first to Kim Ji-myung of the Korea Heritage Education Institute, who has generously contributed the prize money for several years. Also, RAS Korea's sponsor, the Asia Development Foundation, provides essential administrative support for the society's work. We appreciate our panel of judges, who evaluated the essays without knowledge of the writers or the schools they represented and did so without compensation. Two topics were presented to challenge the essayists. They were asked to pick one. One topic was "You have been asked to make a new holiday in Korea. When is your new holiday, what is it about, and how is it celebrated?" The other topic was "During which century (or two) was Korea at its best? Explain your reasoning." The ideas presented by these budding scholars were not only interesting but also thoughtfully articulated. The judges were impressed by the high standard of the competition. There are two awards: a Grand Award and a Runner Up in each of the two categories of competitors (foreign language high schools and international high schools). Each Grand Award includes a cash prize and a trophy. Each Runner Up receives a trophy. All awardees receive letters of commendation and certificates. The two Grand Award essays are published in RAS Korea's journal, "Transactions." Both winners in the foreign language high school category chose the second of the two topics suggested. Lee Bo-mi, although of Korean heritage, is a recent immigrant to Korea, having been sent to middle school when she arrived not knowing a word of the language. A student at Gimpo Foreign Language High School, she described her experience with one of the world's richest languages: Korean. Kim Gyoung-wan of Busan Foreign Language High School gave an excellent summary of Goryeo's history, highlighting several factors that make the 918-1392 kingdom stand out in history. For the international school category, in a serendipitous coincidence, both winners in this category not only chose to make a new holiday, but each titled their holiday the same. Their proposals, though, were very different. Park Jae-in focused on celebrating the colorful diversity of Korea's growing immigrant population, while Ra Se-hyun focused on the inner peace that may help alleviate the stress that Korea's ultra-competitive society creates in people's hearts. We were deeply impressed by the response to the contest. We applaud all the writers who participated. Rev. Steven L. Shields, FRAS, is president of RAS Korea and a columnist for The Korea Times. Visit raskb.com or email royalasiatickorea@gmail.com for more information about the society. The defense ministry will hold a conference in Canberra this week to discuss ways to bolster bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation, officials said Tuesday, as Seoul seeks to clinch major arms contracts. The conference, scheduled for Thursday, will bring together officials from the government, industry and academia from both countries and showcase key products of major Korean arms companies, such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Systems and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), according to the ministry. The upcoming event, the first such overseas conference to be held by the defense ministry, was organized to strengthen cooperation with value-sharing countries in an increasingly new and complex security environment, it added. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho will make a three-day visit to Australia on Wednesday to attend the conference and hold talks with senior defense and government officials, the ministry said. In May, Korea and Australia held a "two plus two" meeting among their foreign and defense chiefs. (Yonhap) Young Koreans rank subway stations according to real estate prices By KTimes The act of drawing attention when stepping out of an expensive car has now extended to subway stations in upscale areas like Gangnam, reflecting a new and distasteful trend of showing off among some of Seoul's more affluent residents. A few years ago, luxury car owners coined the term "exit feel" to describe the satisfaction they derived from the attention they received when stepping out of an expensive vehicle. This term gained popularity among those who favored imported cars over domestic ones for their perceived prestige. Comments such as "Only German cars (Mercedes, BMW, Audi) provide true exit feel" or "Supercars offer the ultimate exit luxury, far surpassing leased cars," became common. Recently, a post that applied this term to subway stations went viral online. It suggested that one could experience the same sense of prestige when getting off at subway stations in Gangnam, similar to that experienced when stepping out of a luxury car. This trend of showcasing superiority based on living in the Gangnam area is continuously popping up on the internet and social media. While flaunting wealth was once viewed negatively, it is now often admired, which further intensifies this materialistic tendency. A post titled "True 'Exit Feel' Comes from Subway Stations, Not Cars" was shared in an online community space last month, sparking considerable discussion. The author said, "Who pays attention to someone getting out of a German car these days?" and added, "On the other hand, if you get off at Dogok Station, people glance at you wondering, 'Does that person live here?'" Other posts echoed this sentiment. Comments included, "Cheongdam Station also has great 'exit luxury,'" and "I feel proud when I get off at Banpo or Jamwon stations thinking, 'I live in a house worth 120 million won ($92,000) per pyeong, where are you going?'" Another user compared it to feeling disappointed when getting off near a lower-ranked university while commuting during college, expressing similar psychological effects. Real estate classifications The concept of Gangnam superiority has been a persistent source of controversy. Last October, the Gangnam District Office faced backlash for using phrases like "The buildings are shiny, and there are many people, it feels expensive," and "Stop staring at the buildings like a bumpkin from the countryside," in an official promotional video. Following a flood of complaints about the derogatory and mocking tone toward non-Gangnam residents, the video was set to private. A similar controversy arose in June of the same year with an apartment advertisement in Banpo-dong, Seocho District. The ad's slogan "Dedicated to those who dream of an unequal world" was criticized for promoting elitism and evoking negative feelings among the general public. An intense public backlash led to the removal of the controversial phrase from the apartment's website. The phenomenon of classifying residential areas has given rise to "real estate class charts," which have been circulating online for years. These charts rank residential areas based on the real transaction prices per pyeong (3.3 square meters), with key areas in Gangnam and Seocho Districts consistently ranked in the top tier. A social pathology The sense of superiority inherent in the term "exit feel" stems from a desire to belong to the elite. Lim Myeong-ho, a psychology professor at Dankook University, said, "Even if not a long-term resident of Gangnam, just staying briefly or alighting at a nearby station can provide a sense of belonging." This can be seen as a type of panoply effect, where consuming or using certain products creates an illusion of belonging to a group that consumes similar products. This perception is becoming stronger with each generation. Popular culture critic Ha Jae-geun noted, "Unlike the previous generations who denied vertical class consciousness, those born after the 2000s are internalizing it, leading to an increase in admiration and superiority towards the wealthy." Professor Lim added, "In the past, displaying admiration for the rich was seen as immature and inappropriate, but now there's a stronger desire to be recognized as part of that group by any means." Experts warn that such changes can lead to social issues. Seo Jin-hyung, a real estate law professor at Kwangwoon University, said, "In Korea, real estate is viewed more as an investment than a place to live, and the strong desire for homeownership is unique. Classifying residential areas exacerbates this, undermining community spirit." Critic Ha also described it as a "social pathology" where even the younger generation expresses superiority based on residential areas. To mitigate these trends, Professor Lim suggested valuing diverse aspects beyond material wealth, such as the environment, human rights, self-realization and health. He said, "We should find a sense of belonging through pursuing various desirable values." Ha also highlighted the role of education. "We need to educate from an early age to avoid internalizing hierarchical structures, but current trends in our education system reinforce them," Ha said. "Breaking this cycle in education, media and broadcasting is crucial." 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. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged all-out measures Tuesday to minimize damage from recent heavy downpours, his office said. Monsoon rains have drenched much of the nation, leaving one person missing and many houses and roads inundated in the southern regions, according to the state weather agency. Han said the rainfall is forecast to get heavier starting Tuesday evening and instructed relevant ministries and local governments to continually monitor areas at high risk of landslides and prepare advance evacuation measures. He also asked them to strictly control access to high-risk areas, check evacuation systems for underpasses, semi-basement apartments and underground parking lots, and ensure proper information-sharing and advance evacuations for downstream regions. (Yonhap) Opposition parties condemn veto By Anna J. Park President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed a bill for the second time that would have mandated a special counsel investigation into the military's handling of the death of a Marine, according to the presidential office, Tuesday. He exercised his veto right through the government's electronic approval system from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he began his visit to the U.S. this week. The endorsement came hours after the Cabinet decided to request the National Assembly to reconsider the bill. This marks the second time the president has vetoed a bill concerning this issue, with the first occurring in late May. This action makes it the 15th bill vetoed by the president since he took office, and the first since the opening of the 22nd Assembly at the end of May. The veto also came a day after the police decided not to charge a former Marine division commander who has been at the center of the allegation. The bill, passed at the opposition-dominated Assembly last week, aims to launch a special counsel probe into the presidential office and the defense ministry's alleged interference in the military's investigation into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died during a search and rescue operation in a flooded area in July 2023. The original version of the bill concerning this issue was passed during the 21st Assembly in May, but it was vetoed by the president. When sent back to the Assembly for reconsideration, it was rejected and subsequently nullified. However, upon the commencement of the 22nd Assembly in late May, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other minor opposition parties reintroduced a similar bill, which was passed. This move heightened tensions with the ruling bloc. Following the second veto, the bill will undergo another vote in the Assembly later this month. However, its chances of passing are slim because it now requires approval from two-thirds of attending lawmakers in a plenary session where more than half of registered lawmakers must be present. This necessitates votes from some members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in favor of the bill. The presidential office called on the Assembly to withdraw the bill, saying the police's announcement the previous day disclosed what the truth is and who should be responsible for the death. "There should be no further instances of politically exploiting the tragic death of a Marine, who died in service to his country," the presidential office stated. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also said at the Cabinet meeting, "The bill mandating the special counsel investigation, fraught with dual layers of unconstitutionality, cannot serve as a solution. I hope that bipartisan dialogue and agreement between the ruling and opposition parties will resume swiftly, bringing an end to the vicious cycle of legislative monopoly by the opposition party and the president's exercise of the veto right." The DPK criticized Yoon's veto, stating it will become the starting point of the downfall of the administration. "The veto by the president regarding the Marine's duty-related death strikes a chord with all Korean citizens, as every Korean man is obliged to serve in the military. This decision is perceived as a direct confrontation with all Korean youth," DPK floor spokesperson Rep. Yoon Jong-kun said. The Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), another opposition party led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, also condemned the presidential veto. The party's 12 lawmakers said that if the revote fails, they will propose a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into Yoon's interference and external pressure related to the Marine's death case. By Kwak Yeon-soo First lady Kim Keon Hee was designated as a witness, Tuesday, for a public hearing on a petition demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The National Assemblys Legislation and Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), convened a full meeting and decided to hold a hearing on the petition, which called on the Assembly to table an impeachment motion for Yoon. Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the session. The committee decided to hold a hearing related to the petition, request submission of related documents and call for the attendance of witnesses, including first lady Kim Keon Hee and former Marine division chief Lim Seong-geun. Kim faces allegations that she illegally accepted a luxury handbag from a Korean American pastor in 2022 and was involved in stock manipulation of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. Lim is at the center of allegations of interference by the presidential office in the militarys probe into a Marines death, which occurred during a search and rescue operation in a flooded area in July 2023. The committee will hold two separate hearings one on July 19 focusing on allegations of exerting external pressure on the military investigation into the Marines death and the other on July 26 on the accusations against the first lady. The petition calls on the Assembly to propose a bill to impeach Yoon on the grounds that he is unfit for office. The petition, which was posted on the Assemblys website on June 20, has amassed over 1.3 million signatures as of Tuesday noon. A petition approved by more than 50,000 people within 30 days is referred to a parliamentary subcommittee that reviews petitions under the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and can be submitted to a plenary session. The move comes as the DPK faces growing criticism over its push to impeach four incumbent prosecutors, mostly involved in corruption investigations into former party leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung. The DPK's planned impeachment is believed to constitute an abuse of power as lawmakers because it interferes with the exercise of others' rights in violation of the Constitution and laws. The PPP slammed the DPKs push to impeach the president, calling the petition nonsense. The DPK revealed its ambition to impeach the president sooner than expected. The DPK is using the tragic death of a young Marine as a stunt to impeach the president. Instead of wasting time on attacking the president with lies, please make efforts to improve the peoples livelihoods, Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the PPP, said during a party meeting. Meanwhile, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, accused Yoon of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula to deflect attention from domestic issues, citing the online petition calling for the president's impeachment. The Ministry of Unification responded to Kim's statement, describing it as "an attempt to sow internal division in South Korea." A parliamentary committee on Tuesday decided to hold two hearings to deal with an online petition demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. During a plenary meeting, the legislation and judiciary committee adopted the plan to hold a hearing on July 26 and requested that first lady Kim Keon Hee attend as a witness. The petition calls on the National Assembly to propose a bill to impeach Yoon, citing allegations that the presidential office inappropriately interfered in the military's investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023. The petition, first posted online on June 20, also points out allegations that the first lady illegally received a luxury bag as a gift in 2022. More than 1.3 million people had signed the petition as of Tuesday. During the meeting, the legislation committee, where the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea holds a majority, approved of the decision to hold a hearing on Chae's case on July 19. Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party walked out of the room in boycott of the vote. By law, a petition approved by more than 50,000 people within 30 days is referred to a parliamentary subcommittee that reviews petitions, and can be submitted to a plenary session for a vote. The impeachment motion requires a two-thirds majority to pass the parliament. (Yonhap) Be careful what you wish for By Mason Richey The nuclear weapons debate in South Korea has reignited. On June 21, the Institute for National Security Strategy advised the South Korean government to consider development of an independent nuclear force. The following week, putative conservative party leaders Han Dong-hoon and Na Kyung-won each advocated the same. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo clarified that South Korea is not considering nuclear armament, but qualified his remarks with a suggestive for now. Two-thirds of the South Korean public (still) favors an indigenous nuclear deterrent. The 2023 Washington Declaration, and specifically the U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group, was supposed to stop this sort of rhetoric by reinforcing U.S. extended nuclear deterrence. So, what happened, and how should we think of South Koreas interest in acquiring nuclear weapons? The reasons for South Koreas return to worry are not capricious. First, North Korea has continued to build out its nuclear arsenal denuclearization is now an impossibility. Seoul will face a hostile, nuclear-armed Pyongyang for the foreseeable future. Second, the robustness of the new Russia-North Korea military alliance is unclear, but Moscows support has made Pyongyang more dangerous. Third, fever-pitch turmoil in U.S. politics is making Washington seem like a wobbly ally. President Joe Bidens disastrous recent debate performance, and follow-on Democratic Party meltdown including calls for Biden to forgo a second term, have seemingly confirmed the incumbent presidents diminished capacities. This has further tilted the U.S. presidential election toward a Donald Trump victory, with aggregated polls setting his chances of winning at 72 percent. A Trump 2.0 presidency would likely be as erratic, unconventional and transactional as the first. For South Korea, this could mean anything from alliance abandonment by the U.S. to acquiescence to Seouls acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump has himself broached the latter possibility, as have numerous Trump-adjacent advisers under consideration for high-ranking security and defense appointments in a new Trump administration. Taken together, these developments not to mention Chinese revisionism seemingly make a good case for South Korea to explore the possibility of a nuclear weapons program. In practice, however, South Korea going nuclear is a massively difficult and fraught undertaking. The obvious problem is that current U.S. policy is against it, and Washington has leverage economic, military/security, defense-industrial, diplomatic to make Seouls nuclear weapons acquisition too painful. Additionally, there are technological challenges, notably with fissile material production, warhead design and the formation of a nuclear weapons ecosystem, including the relevant human capital. The international community is also against South Korean nuclear weapons. But let us assume all those problems are solved. If Seoul wants nuclear weapons, it still has many difficult questions to answer. What are you willing to pay for them? A nuclear weapons program is expensive, costing billions of dollars annually. A South Korean race to nuclear breakout would also require a huge upfront outlay. This should not be financed with military budget cuts in other areas, as nuclear weapons are not a panacea. Seouls nuclear weapon expenditures would be in addition to maintaining its conventional military forces, which are needed for conventional deterrence and warfighting. Where are you going to test nuclear warheads? South Korean governments would face huge political opposition from localities near any potential nuclear test site. What scale arsenal do you want? A handful of nuclear weapons for a countervalue second strike capability is insufficient, given North Koreas growing, diversified arsenal. Rather, South Korea would likely need 100+ warheads, including tactical nuclear warheads for counterforce targets. This requires a full-fledged program. How are you going to ensure nuclear command-and-control and field intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance assets for accurate targeting? Being a responsible nuclear state requires establishing systems in which nuclear weapons are always used precisely for an intended target when the appropriate command authority gives a launch order, and are never used otherwise. This is a complex technical and human psychology task. How will you deliver nuclear weapons, and where will you store them? Should South Korea have ground-launched missiles? Air-launched missiles and/or bombs? Submarine-launched missiles? Two of the three? A full nuclear triad? There are trade-offs cost, promptness, security/reliability, flexibility etc. to these platforms. As for storage, it will be politically costly to convince South Korean citizens to accept nearby warhead storage. Are you prepared to develop a nuclear strategy, doctrine and posture? Nuclear weapons are a powerful tool, but learning the concepts to use the tool is hard. Misguided nuclear strategy means nuclear weapons will not support your security objectives. Misguided nuclear doctrine and posture mean your nuclear weapons can be destabilizing, leaving you less secure. Are you willing to accept a period 2-5 years of profound uncertainty and risk as South Korea goes through the nuclear weapons development process? South Koreas neighbors would likely attempt to thwart its nuclear ambitions, perhaps through attack. Are you willing to accept a regional domino effect? If Seoul acquires nuclear weapons, Japan may be next. Perhaps Taiwan. North Korea would likely accelerate development of its arsenal. South Koreas desire for nuclear weapons is understandable, but extremely tricky. Mason Richey is professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, president of the Korea International Studies Association, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of East Asian Affairs. Chip giant to provide AI accelerator chips for Japanese firm By Nam Hyun-woo Samsung Electronics revealed its plans, Tuesday, for establishing a chip ecosystem with domestic fabless clients during the company's foundry forums. The semiconductor giant held the Samsung Foundry Forum and Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem Forum at COEX in southern Seoul, with 35 partner companies in the fields of semiconductor design, intellectual property, testing and packaging, setting up booths to draw the attention of prospective clients. "For collaboration with domestic fabless clients, Samsung Electronics is providing various specialty technologies as well as most advanced technologies," Choi Si-young, head of Samsung Electronics' foundry business, said during the event. "Samsung will provide the most essential artificial intelligence solutions to our clients by integrating specialty solutions, including BCD." Samsung describes a string of technologies required for functions such as embedded memory, image sensors and radio frequency as the specialty process. BCD short for bipolar, CMOS and DMOS is a set of silicon processes, each of which combines the strengths of three different process technologies onto a single chip. During the forum, Samsung proposed its foundry business strategy that can provide integrated turnkey AI services tailored to various clients' needs, leveraging its strengths as a chipmaker covering foundry, memory chips and packaging. Specifically, the company stressed that it plans to strengthen foundry services using advanced technologies such as gate-all-around (GAA) transistor architecture and 2.5-dimension packaging technology. Read More Samsung vows to offer one-stop AI chip foundry solution to match TSMC In line with this, the company announced it will provide turnkey semiconductor solutions using the 2-nanometer (nm) foundry process and 2.5D packaging technology called I-Cube S to Preferred Networks, a leading Japanese AI company, in collaboration with Korean system semiconductor developer Gaonchips. I-Cube S is a technology for packaging multiple chips together to enhance interconnection speed and reduce package size. "This order is pivotal as it validates Samsung's 2-nm GAA process technology and advanced packaging technology as an ideal solution for next-generation AI accelerators," said Song Tae-joong, vice president of the foundry business development team at Samsung Electronics. "We are committed to closely collaborating with our customers, ensuring that the high performance and low power characteristics of our products are fully realized." By leveraging Samsung's leading-edge foundry and advanced packaging products, Preferred Networks aims to develop powerful AI accelerators that meet the ever-growing demand for computing power driven by generative AI, Samsung said. During the event, the company promised to provide proactive services to its domestic design solutions partners to help fabless firms expand their presence in the AI market. Last month, the company held the Samsung Foundry Forum and Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem Forum in San Jose, California, unveiling its vision and technology roadmap for the AI era. Samsung Electronics plans to hold the forums in Japan and Europe in the second half of this year. Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited Samsung Electronics' semiconductor facility in Korea on Tuesday, expressing his appreciation for the company's investments in the U.S. state. He toured Samsung's Pyeongtaek Campus, located approximately 60 kilometers south of Seoul, looking around the chip production line and various products, according to industry sources. Samsung Electronics officials, including Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun, who heads the tech giant's semiconductor business, accompanied him. The Texas governor thanked Samsung Electronics for its commitment to investing a total of $40 billion in facilities in Taylor and Austin, Texas, by 2030. The Korean company has operated in the U.S. state for 27 years. At a separate press conference later in the day, Gov. Abbott emphasized Samsung Electronics' role in shaping Texas' future economy. He highlighted that the new fab in Taylor will produce wafers for artificial intelligence chips, contributing to the state's technological advancement. "What Samsung is doing is helping Texas achieve what our vision is," he said. "With what Samsung is going to be doing in Texas will continue to expand Texas's lead from the field of artificial intelligence through the production of wafers in Texas." He also encouraged further investments from other Korean tech companies, including major chipmaker SK hynix. "As governor of Texas and our economic development team, our door is always open," he said. "We are always happy to visit with anybody and ... let them see what Texas has to offer. They will eventually do business in our state." Before his visit to Samsung Electronics, Gov. Abbott met with officials from SK Signet on Monday. The South Korean company has invested $37 million to establish a new electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility in Plano, Texas. Meanwhile, Gov. Abbott addressed the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Texas during his three-day trip to Seoul. He expressed deep sorrow over the damage and the loss of lives. He has faced criticism for being out of the country during the disaster. "Our hearts grieve for all Texans, who were affected by the hurricane, particularly sorrowful to learn about the deaths and injuries of some of my fellows Texans," he said. (Yonhap) Thousands of unionized workers at Samsung Electronics halted work for a second day over a pay raise Tuesday, as part of their three-day strike that marked the biggest labor action in the technology giant's 55-year history. The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the largest labor union at the world's largest memory chipmaker, launched the three-day strike Monday. It said more than 6,000 members had expressed their intention to participate in the labor action. But police estimated that around 3,000 attended the NSEU's kick-off rally Monday. Despite the strike, Samsung Electronics said there had been no disruptions to production during the first two days of labor action. Since January, the two sides have held several rounds of talks but have been unable to narrow their differences over the wage increase rate, vacation system and bonuses. The union warned that it would stage another five-day strike, starting July 15, if no progress is made during the current strike. As of Monday, the NSEU had reported a total membership of 30,000, accounting for approximately 24 percent of Samsung Electronics' total workforce of about 125,000. (Yonhap) By Ko Dong-hwan Celebrity restaurateur Paik Jong-won's food franchise business, Theborn Korea, has seen a significant leap in sales. However, despite his popularity, it appears that his franchisees are not benefiting, as an increasing number of them are closing their businesses. According to the Korea Franchise Union (FKU) Tuesday, Theborn Korea's franchisees lasted, on average, 3.3 years in 2020, 3.2 years in 2021 and 3.1 years in 2022. The figures fall short of the typical time it takes for franchisees in Korea to start making a profit. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, franchisees on average invest 159 million won ($115,000) in their businesses and require 3.6 years to recover their initial investment. The franchisees of Theborn Korea tend to shut down their businesses earlier compared to the average operational period of all franchisees in the country. According to Statistics Korea and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the average lifespan of franchise businesses in South Korea was 7.7 years in 2022. As for sales, franchisees and Theborn Korea showed contrary trends. The Seoul-based company's sales last year registered 388 billion won, over a nine-fold increase from 2010 when it was 43 billion won. The company's franchisees during the same period, on the other hand, saw their sales fall by more than 50 percent on average, to 387 million won from 875 million won. Only a few popular brands, like Paik's Coffee, saw their sales rise. Theborn Korea currently runs 25 brands in the market of food and beverage, restaurant, bar and more. It had registered 50 brands under the Fair Trade Commission since 2008 and reduced the list. The number of brands is far higher than the average number of brands under a franchise company here which was 1.45 in 2022. Theborn Korea has refuted the speculation, saying that the figures are "just numbers from the past" and that the country's food and beverage and restaurant industries are currently changing fast. "We've halted some of our underperforming brands in these fast-changing markets," the company said in a statement. "Adopting to such markets fast by introducing new brands and food menus is our key strength. So past statistical data doesn't really mean much." The company added that some of its franchisees had seen slowing sales because markets for low-priced items like coffee and beverage drinks have grown big, and competition has become fiercer. Last month, Theborn Korea faced a protest from owners of Yeondon Ball Katsu, a takeout food brand under the company. The protesters alleged that their sales fell short of what the company had promised during consultations prior to opening their businesses. They demanded restitution from the company to cover their losses. However, the company rejected the demand, saying it had never promised the figures mentioned by the protesters. Hanwha Systems, a Korean defense solutions company, said Tuesday that it has clinched a 1.2 trillion won ($868.2 million) deal to supply multi-function radar (MFR) for the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system, which will be exported to Saudi Arabia. This deal is part of a larger 4.2 trillion-won contract between Korean defense firm LIG Nex1 and Saudi Arabia, signed in February, for the export of the Cheongung-II system. It is Hanwha Systems' second contract worth more than 1 trillion won, following a previous agreement to provide MFR to the United Arab Emirates last year. The Cheongung-II system is at the center of Korea's missile defense strategy, designed to intercept incoming missiles and aircraft, primarily as a safeguard against threats from North Korea. Hanwha Systems' MFR is highly advanced radar that integrates multiple functions, such as detection, tracking, electronic warfare, and missile guidance, into a single system. The company developed MFR for Cheongung-II in 2020 in cooperation with the state-run Agency for Defense Development, with an improved version, M-SAM MFR Product Improvement Program (PIP), available now. (Yonhap) By Nam Hyun-woo Samsung Biologics will participate in BioPlus Interphex Korea 2024, the largest biopharmaceutical exhibition in Korea, to showcase its contract-based drug manufacturing and development capabilities, Tuesday. The event, which is the largest bio and pharmaceutical convention in Korea, will invite over 250 companies and 10,000 industry experts to COEX in Seoul from Wednesday to Friday, as a stage for participants to share their knowledge in the bio industry value chain and discuss partnership opportunities. At this years event, Samsung Biologics set up an independent booth dedicated to highlighting its competitiveness as one of the worlds leading contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). CDMO refers to a company that develops and manufactures drugs for client companies. During the event, the company plans to promote its blueprint for expanding its manufacturing capacity to a world-largest 1.32 million liters by 2032. Also, it will introduce its competitiveness in contract development and its new portfolio, including antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), which are gaining attention as next-generation cash cows for global drugmakers. Samsung Biologics has been gearing up its ADC services recently as market trackers forecast sharp growth. The U.S. forecasts that the global ADC market will grow 17.5 percent annually on average to $34.7 billion in 2032 from $8.5 billion in 2023. In March, Samsung Life Science Fund, created jointly by Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis and Samsung C&T, invested in BrickBio, a U.S. preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that excels in ADC technology. Samsung Biologics is scheduled to complete a standalone facility dedicated to ADC drugs within this year. During the event, Samsung Biologics Director of Formulation Development Lim Heon-chang will participate in a speaking session and will introduce Developick, the companys assessment tool for exploring development candidates. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is not expanding into the Indo-Pacific, but it has a "wide" opportunity for greater cooperation with South Korea and other regional partners, a senior U.S. official said Monday. Ambassador Michael Carpenter, senior advisor for Europe at the White House National Security Council, made the remarks as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and the leaders of Japan, Australia and New Zealand have been invited to the NATO summit set to take place in Washington from Tuesday through Thursday. The agenda for the forthcoming summit includes efforts to deepen NATO's partnership with the four Indo-Pacific partners, known as IP4 or IPP. This year marks the 75th founding anniversary of the 32-member transatlantic alliance. "NATO and our Indo-Pacific partners have a lot of common interests and there is a wide opportunity for achieving better cooperation on a range of issues. I mentioned some of them, such as cybersecurity, fighting disinformation and building up our defense industrial bases," Carpenter said during the briefing at the Foreign Press Center. "NATO is not expanding into the Indo-Pacific. There is no accession process. All of NATO's defense and deterrence capabilities are located in the Euro-Atlantic area on the territory of NATO allies," he added. But the ambassador stressed the importance of security collaboration with IP4 countries. "Obviously, our Indo-Pacific partners are incredibly important to all of our NATO allies," he said. "It's an important region and the security of Europe impinges upon the security of the Indo-Pacific ... So this is an important time for us to be able to coordinate on such things as resilience, countering disinformation, defense industrial cooperation and a range of other things." The ambassador called Russia a "primary" threat to NATO allies while voicing concerns over China's support to apparently aid Russia's war effort in Ukraine. "The PRC has been directly providing support to Russia's defense industrial base across a range of dual-use items that have enabled not only the Russian military to target Ukraine ... but also that posed a longer-term threat to European security," he said. PRC stands for China's official name, the People's Republic of China. "So that is something that is of immense concern to all NATO allies, but also is something of concern to our Indo-Pacific partners." Cooperation between NATO and IP4 countries has taken on greater importance as Russia has been accused of deepening military cooperation with North Korea in an alignment feared to affect security in the Indo-Pacific as well as Europe. The ambassador said that NATO is open to embracing more Indo-Pacific partners. "Certainly, there are more partners that we have in the Indo-Pacific that are of great value to the NATO alliance," he said. "We will seek to include other partners in other events in the future. These are the leaders that are coming to this particular summit." South Korea has deepened cooperation with NATO with the establishment of a diplomatic mission to NATO in November 2022 and other collaborative efforts amid North Korea's persistent military threats, China's growing assertiveness and other challenges. (Yonhap) The growing alignment between Russia and North Korea will end when the war in Ukraine is over, and bringing the conflict to a stop will be a priority if ex-U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House, a former U.S. official said Tuesday. Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff of the National Security Council under the previous Trump administration, also said it will be a "bad precedent" for South Korea if it were to acquire its own nuclear weapons. "This relationship shows the desperation of the Russians, that Putin had to go to Kim and ask for ammunition to fight the war in Ukraine. That's because no other nation would give him this ammunition," Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, said in a media roundtable in Seoul. "I believe that when the war in Ukraine ends, this relationship could end too ... It's essential to end this relationship and to end the war, and I believe that would be a priority for President Trump," Fleitz said. Fleitz was visiting Seoul this week for meetings with experts from think tanks, government officials and businesspeople, including those from the foreign ministry and major companies like Samsung and Hyundai. (Yonhap) U.S. President Joe Biden welcomes the heads of NATO member states to Washington on Tuesday for an annual summit that gives the embattled Democrat an international stage to convince allies at home and abroad he can still lead. Biden, 81, has vowed to press on in his race against Republican Donald Trump, 78, despite concern from Democrats on Capitol Hill and donors that he will lose the Nov. 5 election after a halting debate performance on June 27. Biden made restoring the United States' traditional alliances abroad to counter the threat of autocracies the centerpiece of his foreign policy after Trump challenged allies as part of an "America First" approach. Who wins in November could have a substantial impact on NATO's and Europe's future. Trump has suggested that, given a second term, he would not defend NATO members that did not meet the alliance's defense spending target of 2% of their respective GDP if they came under military attack. He has also questioned the amount of aid given to Ukraine in its battle against Russia's invasion. (Reuters) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia launched deadly missile attacks in Ukraine that hit a children's hospital. Our relationship is one of a particularly privileged strategic partnership, Putin told Modi, who made his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces in 2022. Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Modi did not attend last weeks summit in Kazakhstan of a security organization founded by Moscow and Beijing. Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday, shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide, including some children, officials said. Modi on Tuesday alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Putin, which included over four hours of talks. Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained," the Indian prime minister said. "When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible. (AP) BLACKPINK Jennie gained divided opinions following a now-deleted video where she was allegedly captured smoking vape indoors. Earlier on July 2, the official YouTube channel "Jennierubyjane Official," uploaded a new vlog of the global superstar titled, "A Moment in Capri with Jennie." In the video, the female idol shared her trip to Capri for a three-day official event with the French luxury brand, Jacquemus. Upon posting, the video amassed huge interest from K-pop fans especially BLINKs (fandom), admiring the idol's professionalism and work ethic despite lack of sleep & rest. However, on X, Jennie belatedly went viral on July 8 after a snippet from the vlog was shared by a netizen, where she was seen doing her makeup and hairstyle. While it appears to be a scene where one can admire Jennie's top-tier visuals, the netizen raised their concerns after smoke appeared to be coming out from her mouth. They then claimed: "Jennie smoking vape in her vlog." Jennie smoking Vape in her vlog pic.twitter.com/yi3DH8DsQW no na (@nona15648321) July 8, 2024 ALSO READ: Reporters Select THIS Jennie's Outfit As The 'Worst': 'It's Burdensome To See It' The smoke could have been coming from somewhere, but the accusation got stronger after seeing her hold a dark-colored device to her lips before blowing the smoke. Another problem is that Jennie is allegedly doing it in front of her staff. As of the writing, the video has over 9.4 million views with 20.3k likes and about 10k quotes. But upon checking in the official vlog, it has been removed already. In the comment section and quote retweets, a lot of Jensetters and BLINKs defended Jennie, implying that she's already an adult who can vape. this is a grown woman she can do whatever she wants https://t.co/3cDSWx2Ncg pop culture gal (@allurequinn) July 8, 2024 why are people attacking a grown woman from smoking bye https://t.co/ERmQGZ0aBw July 8, 2024 okay?? shes a grown ass woman she can do whatever she wants leave her alone el (@baesdolls) July 8, 2024 However, a lot of internet users explained that vaping is not their issue here but Jennie doing it indoors. In South Korea, indoor smoking is a serious offense may it be electronic or not. In the past, EXO D.O. and NCT Haechan had to apologize and pay a fine after they were caught smoking indoors as well. While there are netizens who justified that Jennie is not even in Korea, locals explained that it is also prohibited in Capri to smoke in an enclosed space. Jennie smoking vape indoor and blowing it on the staff face. disrespectful and mannerless. lung cancer soon. https://t.co/ybTabMUcEG :) (@xttcIeared) July 8, 2024 I have no problem with jennie vaping, it's her choice, but at least don't vape around people who don't and indoor But her dvmb stans will defend her anyway. July 8, 2024 I'm not talking about that. This user saying that " It's not just "Jennie vaping"; it's Jennie symbolizing female empowerment and taking control of her own life ." is totally wrong. Vaping in an indoor place is bad/ forbidden and disrespectful. So there is nothing empowering. killEmfa (on limit) (@KillEmfas_) July 8, 2024 When the debate intensified, Jensetters then asked web commenters to refrain from making malicious accusations of Jennie smoking, as looking closely, the device that the idol is holding also resembles a diffuser. It's not a secret that due to her busy schedule, Jennie has been experiencing health issues, thus, she's been using a diffuser for her breathing issues which also contains vitamins and other content beneficial for her health. As of now, Jennie's label, ODD ATELIER has yet to make an official statement about this issue. READ MORE: Did BLACKPINK Jennie & Park Seo Joon Have A Falling Out? Viral Video Sparks Debate For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz Amid the high anticipation of fans for (G)I-DLE's comeback song "Klaxon," some Neverlands were disappointed after seeing Yuqi's hair in the music video. On July 8, the "4th-gen leader" (G)I-DLE is finally back in the music scene after six months with its 7th mini-album, "I SWAY." The album contains a total of four tracks, including the lead song "Klaxon," and b-sides "Last Forever," "Bloom," and "Neverland." With this release, the quintet proved their "self-produced" identity as the five members participated in the production of all the songs. At the same time, leader Soyeon did both song and lyric writing, composing as well as arranging the tracklist. On the same day, the music video for "Klaxon" was unveiled, flaunting a fun summer vibe where the quintet can be seen enjoying various outdoor activities in their swimwear. As of now, the official MV has earned 5.4 million views in less than a day, showcasing (G)I-DLE's power and influence in K-pop. ALSO READ: Will (G)I-DLE Renew Contract With Cube? Yuqi Shares Thoughts: 'Our Boss Got Upset' Meanwhile, the SNS of the group has been posting dance challenges of the members as well, opening a new music era for the team. Yuqi has been gaining attention as well for her newly dyed black hair, receiving admiration for her vibrant beauty. However, amid praise, there is one detail that didn't sit well with fans and that is her braided hair. Seeing her hair in the MV and dance challenge, some of her black supporters were appalled to see her braided hair that is almost similar to a box braid. Even her non-black fans also had to check twice if it was going to be another problem, as it could lead to a cultural appropriation controversy. yuqi.. please dont piss me off https://t.co/dH1MkaWpoY vinnie (@taesantonn) July 8, 2024 who da FUCK did your hair https://t.co/FvgDi1EfwH July 8, 2024 Im black and thats not box braids at all but the hairstylist needs to be fired asap https://t.co/Hy1cZrDO9g (@kweenkarr) July 8, 2024 this isnt ca but god yuqi its ugly https://t.co/tKXoR76Ez6 brooke ATE (@HAEMlXX) July 8, 2024 Thankfully, it was concluded that it is not CA. As the MV was filmed in Thailand, Southeast Asians explained that the hair is just a normal braid adorned with ribbons and is popular on beaches right now. Still, Neverlands is questioning Yuqi's stylist for giving her a hairstyle which could lead to a misunderstanding. Looking a the beach concept of the song, some fans expressed their regrets that the female idol wasn't given a cute hairstyle that would suit the summer vibe more. People think the braid is also poorly done, and that the stylist should have been careful, given that (G)I-DLE has been embroiled in various CA accusations in the past. People are saying about YUQI braids. Yuqi and Minnie switched hairstyles. If anything I see this being more East Asian (Thai) braid hairstyle. It just look interesting in Yuqi.. https://t.co/IimWKysUmx pic.twitter.com/IligRv7yYc July 8, 2024 Its looks like shit too they did her so wrong kay (@hjstylezz) July 8, 2024 Free Yuqi from that corny stylist https://t.co/XyOOKLTNDn Seulgi Hive (@kseulgihive) July 9, 2024 Amid this issue, the album is being well-received by fans. Among the songs, YUQI participated in writing the fan song, "Neverland," named after its fandom. She explained its meaning, saying: "There are times when it is tiring and difficult, but we are still moving towards our dreams, and we do not give up and work hard." Yuqi also wrote and composed, "Last Forever," which she said to be a song about dreams and added: "It contains the message that 'it was hard, but we persevered, and in the future, let's not change our original intentions, and let's run hard towards our dreams'." READ MORE: (G)I-DLE Yuqi Reveals She Was Invited at Her K-pop Bias' Wedding But Why Didn't She Attend? For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz A warm reunion has made buzz in the K-pop community! On YouTube, 1MILLION Dance Studio officially released its first-ever episode of "Liality Show," which was hosted by 1MILLION dance group leader and famous choreographer Lia Kim. The show featured TWICE Nayeon as its first-ever guest. Nayeon caught the hearts of netizens with her heartwarming reunion with her dance teacher. Likewise, Lia Kim was emotional during the episode, as she saw her student all grown up and is now a successful girl group member and soloist. After having a lighthearted conversation regarding Lia Kim's forgetfulnes, Amy Park asked Nayeon if they had the same view of Lia Kim as a teacher. Nayeon agreed but brought up how scary Lia Kim was back then. Amy: "I was very curious. Did you see her the same way as I did?" Nayeon: "Yes, you were always the same. But there were times when you were scary." Lia Kim: "I was scary back then. The period when I was strict because I really wanted to do well. I was young then and in my 20s. You were in high school (Nayeon)." Nayeon: "Yes, I was." Nayeon then shared more certain details regarding her first meeting with Lia Kim and recalled the vigorous training experience with the dance icon! Nayeon: "When I first met you, your hair was very long. You were a bit scary during your short bob hair phase." Amy: "What made you scared?" Lia Kim: "It's okay, you can talk about it all." Nayeon: "Can I really talk about it?" Lia Kim: "It's okay, don't try to embellish it." Amy: "Just say it all." Nayeon: "There was a time for teacher's splits. It was really scary." Lia Kim: "I know, I remember." Nayeon: "I was very stiff. It doesn't look good if you're stiff while dancing, so I had to do with the splits. You'd come up on top and wouldn't go away." Lia Kim: "I pressed down." Nayeon: "Even if I said, 'I really can't do it,' you would always say 'You can' and 'Relax.' It was scarier than the dance class." Watch the full clip here: Meanwhile, on social media, fans expressed how delighted they were to see the student and teacher's reunion. Read their thoughts on the episode below: "So crazy to see how far Lia Kim and Nayeon (and TWICE in general) have come. Legendary dancer and instructor, and legendary girl group. All their hard work has paid off." "Nayeon learned almost everything from Lia Kim. That's why she dances so really well." "The old anecdotes between Nayeon and teacher Lia, are very funny and touching." "Nayeon has a secret to her impressive dancing skills! She had a good teacher." What was your reaction to their wholesome reunion? Let us know in the comments below! For more K-pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TWICE Nayeon Shares Being Emotional After Reading Comments On Group's 'Killing Voice' Performance - Here's Why KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte This 4th-gen male idol is currently one of the most sought-after among Korean employees after doing this to the RBW sraff. On July 8, ONEUS Xion became the talk of the town after sharing a hilarious anecdote about how he basically made every RBW staff go home early after a careless accident. On the fandom-communicating platform, FROMM, the idol shared that his co-member Keonhee brought a coffee for him during lunchtime and confessed what he had done. "I caused a major accident today? He bought me a coffee but I have something to do in the office and while doing it, I spilled the coffee. It went into the power outlet." He continued: "But the electricity in our office is all connected to one main power source, so a blackout happened in the entire office, and everyone had to go home. I'm really sorry." Despite it being an accident, Xion sincerely apologized to those who weren't able to save the work that they were doing at the time and attested to fans that no one got hurt, thankfully. ALSO READ: These 9 K-Pop Idols Actually Have Twin Siblings! Can You Spot The Difference? When his story circulated on Korean X, there were a lot of employees outside RBW who expressed their jealousy that the label's staff members were able to go home early due to the coffee spilled by a K-pop idol. Hilariously, despite Xion's mistake, he surely won't be fired for it and the employees won't be blamed for it, seeing him as a true "modern hero." Xion is now in demand among employees and hopes that he will visit their companies soon, and protested that every company should have 1 Xion then. not all the korean office workers trying to get a government-assigned xion at their jobs this talent i think 1 xion needs to be given to each office if i was an employee there, id leave a comment on xions fancam while getting off work please assign 1 Xion per pic.twitter.com/sAknH9fGyG an (@sondonqju) July 8, 2024 On July 9, the idol still felt apologetic to those who weren't able to save their work, but fans informed him that workers were rather grateful to him, with some even pledging that they would watch his fancams after work in return for what he did. Xion then replied: "It's better than working late, though. As long as the data is fine by tomorrow, I'll become a hero. Xion's welfare... is it welfare? Since you went home early, it's welfare for now." The idol also mischievously responded to employees' requests, saying: "Ah, a lot of office employees are looking for me? Then make sure to save your work and contact me. I'll come with coffee." Meanwhile, Xion is a member of the K-pop boy group ONEUS. After releasing their single, "Now" in May, the group is reportedly joining Mnet's "Road to Kingdom 2," set to be aired in 2024, after its first appearance on the show's main survival program, "Kingdom" in 2020. READ MORE: 'Road to Kingdom 2' Reported Lineup Draws Mixed Reactions: 'This Is So Unfair...' For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz On July 8, Jennie trended online among internet users due to a viral clip that spread on social media. The posts showed Jennie doing her makeup and hair. However, netizens noticed that smoke was coming from Jennie's mouth, which led to accusations of "indoor smoking." The controversy immediately sparked divided reactions between critics who called out Jennie and BLINKs, who defended the idol. Jennie smoking Vape in her vlog pic.twitter.com/yi3DH8DsQW no na (@nona15648321) July 8, 2024 Following the controversy, Jennie's independent label ODD ATELIER released a brief statement addressing the matter on July 9. According to a representative from the company, the issue is now being investigated by ODD ATELIER. "Jennie is currently staying in the United States," an official shared. "We are in the process of confirming the facts regarding the controversy." On the same day (July 9), Korean news outlet My Daily disclosed that Jennie had been reported to the Korean embassy in Italy for allegedly smoking indoors. Sources state that a netizen has requested an investigation into the case. "I have requested an investigation through the national newspaper to the Korean embassy in Italy," it shared. "I strongly urge a thorough investigation on the issue and implement strict punishment for Jennie's indoor smoking incident." It was also revealed that a screenshot of the complaint was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, sources also stated that indoor-smoking has been banned in Italy since January 2005. If caught smoking in indoor places, the individual would have to pay a penalty fine of 250 euros, which is equivalent to 370,000 Korean won or $267.44 USD. However, the individual would have to pay a double fine if caught smoking in front of pregnant women or children. Here's how K-netz and I-netz reacted to the update: "The way she made no feedback really shows her conceit." "It's true that it was problematic but reporting this to the embassy was over the top." "What 'over the top'? She shouldn't have smoked indoors in the first place." "Yesterday, netizens were saying how they didn't care overseas and I just thought 'I see' but turns out, it was illegal too." "We need people who report illegal acts like these for crimes to go down though." "I'm a blink and I love Jennie but that's so inconsiderate to do inside a closed space because she's bothering other ppl who don't want to smoke or don't smoke at all." "Deserved, I don't care who you are. Stop smoking in places where it's illegal. No one wants to smell your second-hand smoke." "I mean I get her smoking indoors was an ick but reporting her to the embassy is crazy." "LOL, she's stupid. She could've at least done it by a window." "Some of her fans act like this is such a massive attack by haters, but it's a small fine and as petty as a report may be, it is a legitimate law lol." What are your thoughts on the issue? Let us know in the comments below. For more K-pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jennie Indoor-Smoking? BLACKPINK Member Sparks Debate After Now-Deleted Clip KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte In a heartwarming display of admiration and excitement, fans of Jin, a member of the globally renowned boy band BTS, gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of their idol during a recent public appearance. The scene, reminiscent of a bustling movie premiere, unfolded as students eagerly sought Jin's autograph, capturing the attention of onlookers with their energetic cheers and playful antics. The event, which occurred shortly after Jin's completion of military service on June 12th, showcased the unwavering support and love from his dedicated fanbase. Videos circulating online captured the moment when students rushed toward Jin, many clutching papers for his autograph. The lively atmosphere drew comparisons to scenes from the popular film "Train to Busan," underscoring the excitement and fervor surrounding Jin's presence. Amidst the fanfare, Jin's upcoming role as a torchbearer for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics has also garnered significant anticipation. READ MORE: BTS Jin Takes the Torch, Leading the Way at 2024 Paris Olympics - Read Here Scheduled for July 27th, the event promises to be a pivotal moment as Jin joins other torchbearers in symbolizing themes of harmony and peace on the global stage. [] ? We are so proud of you JIN TORCHBEARER JIN PRIDE OF KOREA JIN JIN AT PARIS OLYMPICS#JIN # @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/vICblpEC4B (@ThenativePanda) July 5, 2024 Lighting the torch in Olympics just like he lights up our lives THIS WILL BE ICONIC! Apart from that, he also will appearance on MBC-TV's "It's Good to Rest Well" AND in the process of recording new music. So proud of our hardworking Kim Seokjin. Torchbearers are chosen by the Olympic sponsors and organizers when they have made a significant contribution to their community. The way Paris is looking I hope he stays safe yayayayaya congratulations kim seokjin. you're south korea's pride. While specific details of his participation remain under wraps, expectations are high for Jin to deliver a message that resonates not only with BTS fans but also with audiences worldwide. Beyond his musical achievements, BTS has consistently used their platform to promote positive messages and initiatives. From impactful speeches at the UN General Assembly to their ongoing "Love Yourself" campaign in partnership with the Korean Committee for UNICEF since 2017, BTS continues to influence and inspire through their commitment to social causes. As anticipation builds for Jin's torchbearing role in Paris, fans and observers alike eagerly await further updates, eager to witness another milestone in the journey of both BTS and their beloved member, Jin. ALSO READ: BTS Army Backlash Forces Kim Young-dae to Delete NewJeans Japan Fan Meet Review KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. In an online community, Red Velvet Irene is attracting attention from K-netizens for her visuals after seeing her stand with 4th-gen stars. On July 7, Irene, the leader of Red Velvet graced the stage of SBS's "Inkigayo" not only as a performer but as the episode's special MC. Upon the news, she drew attention from K-pop fans as after a long time, the idol will once again flaunt her hosting skills, gaining interest. On the day of the show then, Irene showed off an excellent MCing abilities she acquired during her 10-year career in the music scene. During her interaction with her junior MCs Moon Seong Hyun and ZEROBASEONE Han Yujin, Irene was lauded for creating a comfortable atmosphere between them as they do their spiels. Irene also happily welcomes younger K-pop acts as well as rookies, hyping them to do their best despite their nervousness. But on top of her friendly and calm vibe as an MC, what stood out best on top of her professionalism was her outstanding beauty! ALSO READ: Suho, Irene Together? K-pop Leaders Spotted Attending aespa's Concert And Shippers Are Wildin' Wearing a white off-shoulder dress, Irene is indeed the embodiment of a Greek goddess. Although she's only wearing light makeup, it is enough to accentuate her perfect facial features and porcelain skin. She completed the look by adding a piece of jewelry to her long, wavy hair. Following the episode, an internet user took to the online forum Nate Pann to write an article with the title, "Irene's look is not losing even among the 4th-generation." In the photos, Irene is standing beside young girl groups including BABYMONSTER and STAYC. These teams are mostly comprised of young members with 15 and 19-year-old maknae members, respectively. Although Irene is already 33 years old, she exudes a youthful and vibrant appearance you would think she's also in her 20s once again proving why she's called the "Original Visuals." In the online community's comment section, a lot of K-netz rave over Irene's unrelenting beauty on par with fourth-gen stars, saying: "She's freaking so pretty." "She's really beautiful. Maybe because she has MCing experience, but her hosting is also really good." "All-time legend." "I think I understand now why her Chinese fans call her a fairy. Because of this one photo, she trended on Weibo in China." "I watched her on TV over the weekend, and she's really pretty. Her hosting skills are good, too." "Even though she's the special MC, she has the 'main character' type of hair, makeup & coordination." "Irene's real face is really amazing. I saw her at some brand event at a department store a while ago and everyone around her was like 'Wow~' I remember her being really, really pretty. She's definitely not 160cm tall, she looks shorter. She's so skinny that she looks really small." "She's really beautiful. She's not inferior to kids these days." READ MORE: Red Velvet Irene's Treatment for aespa Draws Mixed Reactions: 'Don't Try Restoring Your Image Using Your Juniors' For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz Former K-Pop idol turned DJ, Yesong, has been handed a significant sentence of 10 years in prison by Seoul's Central District Court following a tragic incident involving a fatal drunk driving accident. The verdict marks a culmination of legal proceedings that have gripped public attention since the incident occurred. Yesong, whose real name is yet to be disclosed due to privacy laws, gained prominence as a member of the popular K-Pop group Instar before transitioning into a career as a DJ. However, her life took a dramatic turn when she struck and killed a deliveryman while driving under the influence of alcohol. According to reports from Kyung Hyang Shinmun, the court proceedings revealed damning details about the incident. After the fatal accident, Yesong reportedly failed to take appropriate actions such as calling emergency services or staying at the scene to cooperate with authorities. READ MORE: Idol from RBW 'In Demand' Among Employees After Doing THIS to Staff: 'Every Company Needs 1 of Him' Instead, she allegedly asked bystanders if she appeared intoxicated and attempted to settle the matter by offering compensation to the victim's family, an offer that was declined. In sentencing, the judge underscored the seriousness of Yesong's actions and the consequences they had on the victim's family. "She testified that after the accident, she asked people if she looked drunk. She didn't try to salvage the situation and didn't call the police. She left the scene without any explanation. The defendant offered 5.00 million KRW (about $3,610 USD) to the victim to settle but it was refused. The defendant then submitted a request for leniency with the victim's family, but the court took into account the fact that the victim had died and could not relay his wishes." Prosecutors had initially sought a 15-year prison term for Yesong, emphasizing the severity of the offense and the need for deterrence against drunk driving. Despite Yesong's plea for leniency and remorse expressed towards the victim's family, the court concluded that the gravity of the offense warranted a substantial prison sentence. The case has sparked renewed discussions about the dangers of drunk driving in South Korea, where road safety remains a pressing concern. The sentencing of a former idol has also prompted reflection on the responsibilities of public figures and the consequences of their actions. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: 4th-Gen K-pop Group Is Making Money By Releasing AI-Composed Songs Through NFT KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. President Joe Biden dismissed mounting calls for him to abandon his reelection campaign, urging unity within the Democratic Party following criticisms of his recent debate performance. Despite internal strife, key lawmakers have voiced support for Biden's continued candidacy, emphasizing the need to defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump in November, AP News reports. In an open letter to skeptical Democrats, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the race, stressing that the party's primary objective is to thwart Trump's reelection bid. Despite initial doubts, Biden's efforts to consolidate support showed signs of progress by Monday evening, with a notable shift in public sentiment among Democrats. READ NEXT: WURD Radio Host Resigns After Admitting Joe Biden Interview Questions Were Pre-Sent President Joe Biden's Resolute Stand Addressing critics, Joe Biden asserted during a televised interview that he remains resolute in his decision to run for a second term. He challenged detractors within the party to either support him or present an alternative at the upcoming Democratic Convention, highlighting his determination to face Donald Trump in the general 2024 election. Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden's active campaign engagements, Biden underscored his commitment to the presidency and rallied support among military families in North Carolina. "For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he's all in," she told a military crowd in Wilmington. "That's the decision that he's made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too." Despite divisions among Democratic voters, a New York Times/Siena College poll reflected mixed sentiments regarding Biden's candidacy. Campaign Strategy and Challenges Amid ongoing internal debates, Biden planned strategic engagements with key Democratic caucuses and virtual meetings to shore up support, according to Hindustan Times reports. His campaign emphasized efforts to address concerns and reaffirm his fitness for office, including recent neurological exams conducted as part of routine health assessments. Despite calls from some quarters for Biden to step aside, allies emphasized his campaign's focus on engaging directly with lawmakers and donors. Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, reiterated their support for Biden, stressing unity in preparation for the critical 2024 election ahead. President Joe Biden's determination to forge ahead with his reelection bid reflects a pivotal moment in Democratic party politics as internal debates intensify. With the Democratic National Convention looming and Republicans set to renominate Trump, Biden's resilience and strategic engagements remain crucial in navigating the path to November. As Biden continues his campaign trail through key battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, the stakes are high in his bid to secure another term in the White House, The Detroit News noted. His steadfast approach amid political challenges underscores the resilience needed to lead a unified Democratic front against formidable opposition. While internal dissent persists, Joe Biden's resolve to contest the presidency underscores broader efforts to unite Democratic support and confront the looming threat of a second Trump administration. The coming weeks will prove decisive in shaping the outcome of one of the most anticipated elections in recent American history. READ MORE: Joe Biden Campaign Launches $50M Ad Buy Amid Calls to Drop Out of Election This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Biden tells Democrats he 'declines' to step aside amidst calls for the President to step down - From 13WMAZ Venezuela is about to decide whether the repressive regime of Nicolas Maduro will go or stay in this month's election. While there is fear he would stay and undermine the Venezuelan election, many are still holding on to hope that he would finally be kicked out of office. Under Maduro, Venezuela has been spiraling down, with economic woes, sanctions, mass poverty, and people fleeing the country in search of a better life, either in the US or Mexico or nearby Colombia or Brazil. The dictator is increasingly unpopular, and polls have projected that he would lose in a landslide against former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez... if the elections were not rigged, as his allies control the electoral body. Maduro has been known to rig the elections in his favor. This was evident in the previous election, where he lagged in the polls but somehow still won against Juan Guaido. According to the New Humanitarian, while Venezuela has one of the most advanced electoral systems in the world, many do not trust it. Despite this, there have been new advancements, from fingerprint readers and also a printout of a voucher for voters to deposit in a box. This would safeguard their ballots even more. There have also been problems with voter registration, with some citizens having trouble registering, with the CNE, the country's electoral body, failing to set up enough registration points for all voters to be able to update their electoral information. As for those Venezuelans who fled the regime, many found that they lacked information about the process at their consulates. The country also has strict requirements that make it very difficult for those outside the country to be able to vote. READ MORE: Colombia Gives Legal Status to 540,000 Migrants from Venezuela UN Human Rights Chief Also Doubts Integrity of Venezuela's Election As the Venezuela elections approach, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk is voicing his concerns about the integrity of the results, saying that it would be unlikely to be free and fair because of widespread repression. "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," he said in a statement. He also pointed out that there is an increase in threats, harassment, and assaults against civil society actors, journalists, unionists, and other voices considered critical of Maduro. These include "arrests and prosecutions, and 38 cases of arbitrary detention." Venezuela Opposition Holds Massive Rally Ahead of the Election Meanwhile, Venezuelans are chanting "Freedom!" as they attended a massive rally for the opposition in the western Venezuelan state of Barinas, the home state of Hugo Chavez, which the Maduro regime holds in high regard. Many have shown up to support Edmundo Gonzalez as they expressed their hope that they would be able to finally be able to kick out the regime that has led to Venezuela spiraling out of control. READ MORE: Russia Warships Arrive in Venezuela After Stay in Cuba This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: #2024WCA: Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez on Venezuelan Elections - Americas Society/Council of the Americas Santa Barbara County faced a significant emergency on Sunday, with the Lake Fire becoming California's largest active wildfire. Starting near Zaca Lake on Friday, it rapidly consumed 18,996 acres of dry land by Sunday evening, with containment efforts stalled at 8%. In response to the escalating threat, authorities expanded evacuation orders and warnings to protect residents, according to Noozhawk. New evacuation orders stretched from Figueroa Mountain Road at Junction Camp to Chamberlin Ranch and from Zaca Lake Road at Foxen Canyon Road north to the Sisquoc River. Additionally, an evacuation warning covered areas north of Calzada Avenue, east of East Oak Trail Road, west of Happy Canyon, and south of the Sisquoc River. Residents were advised to consult the Santa Barbara County 2024 Lake Fire Incident Map to determine evacuation zones. The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, offering essential supplies and support for evacuees. Authorities continued to battle the fire, emphasizing safety precautions and urging vigilance among affected communities as firefighting efforts intensified. READ NEXT: California Firefighters Tackle Corral Fire as Week Brings Predicted Heat Surge Threat to Neverland Ranch and Surrounding Areas The Lake Fire posed significant threats to Neverland Ranch near Los Olivos, prompting evacuation orders affecting around 100 residents as the fire moved southeast. Over 1,000 personnel and air support were deployed, yet containment efforts remained at 8% due to challenging weather and terrain. By Monday, the fire expanded to over 20,320 acres, maintaining its status as a California wildfire. Incident Management highlighted Figueroa Mountain Road as a critical concern, with breached containment lines posing risks to populated areas, Santa Barbara Independent reports. Fire behavior experts warned of volatile conditions at higher elevations, where dry grasses fueled the fire, despite some relief from coastal marine layers at lower altitudes. Efforts focused on protecting the Woodstock community and preparing for potential further evacuations if conditions worsen, underscoring the ongoing challenges and uncertainties in containing the blaze. Impact on Local Communities and Infrastructure The Lake Fire's impact extended beyond evacuation orders, threatening ranches and residential areas near Los Olivos. Emergency services swiftly responded, urging preparedness and prompt evacuation adherence. Firefighting efforts, bolstered by teams from across California, aimed to contain the fire and protect vulnerable communities amid fluctuating weather conditions. While the coastal marine layer offered temporary relief, unpredictable winds posed challenges, The New York Times noted. Community support, facilitated by the American Red Cross, provided essential services to evacuees. The ongoing fire underscored California wildfire risks during the state's fire season. Authorities emphasized public vigilance and adherence to safety protocols as containment efforts continued. As Santa Barbara County and communities rallied together, resilience and collaborative efforts remained crucial in mitigating further risks and safeguarding lives and properties. Continuous updates and support for firefighters were pivotal in managing the evolving situation, ensuring community safety amidst the challenges posed by the Lake Fire. READ MORE: Michigan: Detroit East Side Block Party Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 19 Injured This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Lake Fire grows to more than 16K acres in Santa Barbara Co., Neverland Ranch among homes threatened - From ABC7 News Bay Area Xinjiang salmon reaches dinner tables around the world People's Daily Online) 15:25, July 09, 2024 Tens of thousands of tonnes of salmon raised in Karasu township, Nilka county, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have found their way to dinner tables both in China and around the world over the past decade. Li Chunyu, general manager of Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture Co., Ltd., said the company took the initiative to reduce farming density to ensure salmon quality. Li's confidence comes from Xinjiang's coldwater resources, which are clear and oxygen-rich. Photo shows the salmon farm of Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture Co., Ltd. in Karasu township, Nilka county, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Li Xinyang) "Domestic and foreign dealers give high praise to our salmon because the growing conditions of our variety are very demanding, which guarantees the quality of our salmon," Li said In addition to unique natural resources, innovation is the "magic weapon" behind the company's success in salmon farming. The company developed an environmentally-friendly net cage farming system and took the lead in formulating China's first local standard for environmentally-friendly net cages. It also developed and applied the country's first underwater cleaning robot. In addition, it was also the first in the country to build a semi-enclosed recirculating aquaculture system. "For example, the environmentally-friendly net cage farming system solved the pollution problem of traditional net cages, promoting adjustments to relevant national policies and opening up a path for the sustainable development of the industry," Li said. In recent years, the company has obtained certifications such as the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard certification, antibiotic-free certification, and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification. Photo shows environmentally-friendly net cages of the salmon farm of Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture Co., Ltd. in Karasu township, Nilka county, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Li Xinyang) Currently, the company is able to breed 40 million salmon fry every year, and its annual production capacity of salmon has reached 12,000 tonnes. It has built a complete salmon industrial chain including research and development, fry breeding, intelligent farming, deep processing and sales. In 2023, Xinjiang produced 6,700 tonnes of high-quality salmon, accounting for one-third of China's inland salmon production. The salmon industry has helped over 3,000 people find jobs. The salmon industry is a microcosm of Xinjiang's efforts to promote the high-quality development of the fishery sector. Last year, the output of Xinjiang's aquatic products reached 183,900 tonnes, ranking first among the five provincial-level regions in northwest China. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) A Forks Township man drowned in the Delaware River this past weekend after entering the water on a flotation device, the Northampton County Coroners Office said. The coroners office identified the deceased as 53-year-old Gary Conley, of the 2200 Block of North Delaware Drive. He died from complications from the drowning and the cause was ruled accidental by Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek. Authorities said the incident began sometime Saturday in the river, along Boileau Avenue in Easton. Conley was sitting in a flotation tube when he entered the water, but then didnt return to the surface, authorities said. The man was pulled out of the water by bystanders who began life-saving tactics, authorities said. Emergency Medical Services then transported Conley to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson campus in Bethlehem Township. Conley was resuscitated, but despite medical intervention, was later pronounced dead on Sunday, Lysek said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. The opening of a $73 million dinosaur fossil park and museum has been rescheduled for fall. Officials at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University were hoping for an opening last month, according to the benefactor and school alumnus who has contributed more than a third of the cost for the 65-acre facility in Mantua, Gloucester County. Were disappointed that its taking longer than we had anticipated to finish the project, said Ric Edelman, who, along with his wife, Jean, donated more than $25 million to the development. But we are very much looking forward to the grand opening. And were hoping that it will be this fall. Edelman said the wait will be worth it. The facility is going to be world class, he said. The construction quality is outstanding. The exhibits are astonishing and everyones going to love it. One of the museums planned exhibits include a recreated Dryptosaurus, the first discovered tyrannosaur, which was found a mile from the fossil park site in 1866, and a 53-foot mosasaur, like one discovered at the fossil park site. The park is on the site of a former industrial sand pit. Researchers have already turned up a fossil of the largest prehistoric crocodile ever found, Rowan said. Parts of New Jersey ware once underwater on prehistoric Earth and the fossils on site are buried in marl sand as opposed to being encased in rock like researchers finds in other parts of the country. A rendering of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University. Just a few hundred square yards of the 65-acre site have been fully excavated but have still yielded more than 50,000 cataloged marine and terrestrial fossils, from reptilian mosasaurs to sea turtles, sharks, bony fish, coral and clams, the university said. Visitors to the park and museum will be able to dig for fossils and keep many of their finds as souvenirs. Some of the discoveries, however, will be kept for further research. We are very excited about the fossil park and the visitor experience is going to be first class, Edelman said this week. Our enthusiasm remains 100% and we are looking forward to getting the park and the visitors center open. The 44,000-square-foot museum will sit above a former marl quarry. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) has urged the people of Laois to be vigilant for bogus collectors claiming to be looking for donations on their behalf in Portlaoise and other parts of Ireland. The charity says individuals, who have been spotted with clipboards and selling lines, are not affiliated with IWA and are not legitimate collectors. It says the collectors have been recorded in Portlaoise and a host of other towns including Naas, Kilkenny, Athlone, Navan, Arklow, Bunclody, Gorey, Waterford, Mullingar, Tuam, Carrick on Shannon, Roscrea, Roscommon, Drogheda, Athy, Ennis and Carrickmacross. "We continue to report these to Garda Siochana and urge the public to be vigilant," said a statement from the charity. IWA reminds the public that legitimate collectors will always have a letter of authorisation from IWA, a garda permit, or a letter of permission from the supermarket where they are stationed. MORE BELOW PICTURE. The charity insists that all IWA collectors wear branded high-vis jackets and will have an IWA-branded bucket for donations. If in doubt, individuals are encouraged to ask for proof of identification from collectors. Any concerns or suspicions should be reported to the local garda station for further investigation. For more information or to report any suspicious activity, the IWA advises people to contact your local garda station. Rural residents of a Laois town that suffered widespread floods in 2017 are afraid that the long awaited flood prevention plan may actually cause floods in their homes and pollute their drinking water. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is still in the process of planning kilometres of flood prevention walls and earthen embankments to protect Mountmellick from a repeat of the unprecedented flood seven years ago. The flood forced a shutdown of the main street, emergency evacuations and damage to nearly 100 homes and businesses. Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme includes reconstruction of the stone bridge in Derrycloney to allow more river water to flow through. A public consultation in 2023 showed all the plans in detail. However residents of Derrycloney believe that the plan could back up the flood waters into their area, and contaminate their water supply. They have enlisted an engineer and the voice of Laois TDs to explain their fear. Laois Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about the meeting he had with the OPW and Laois County Council management, with Deputy Charlie Flanagan having also met officials and given an update. The purpose of this meeting was to progress the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme in such a way as not to cause flooding to homes and property in the Derrycloney area. The local Residents group are extremely concerned that the current plans for the scheme will have the unintended consequences of causing flooding at their homes and properties. All homes in the area depend on wells for domestic water supply and they also have onsite septic tanks for wastewater from their households. An Engineer, on behalf of the residents and their delegation set out clearly what their concerns were and put forward technical information to support their case. If flooding were to occur in this area it would directly cause the pollution of domestic water supplies which would be emanating from septic tanks and farm slurry tanks in the locality. The Derrycloney Group put forward proposals and suggestion to avert this, and these were discussed in detail. Both the OPW and LCC committed to carrying out further investigations and further survey works and incorporate whatever new measures that are necessary to protect the area from the risk of flooding. These would then become part of the overall Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme, he said. Dep Stanley said the scheme must happen as fast as possible. The Mountmellick scheme needs to be progressed as quickly as possible, given the damage to homes and businesses in the past. It is essential that the final plans for it does not result in flooding just been moved from one residential area to another. The OPW and LCC are to revert back to the residents by the end of August with the result of the outcome of their investigations along with proposals to contain flooding. The meetings followed an update delivered on June 13 by OPW management on the project at the Dail Public Accounts Committee where it was confirmed that the building of defences is still at Stage 1 of a five stage process. The recent Public Accounts Committee meeting heard that the Mountmellick scheme is currently at the preliminary design stage. OPW have said that they are progressing that stage, with planning to be submitted to An Bord Pleanala in 2024, and stage 1 construction to commence in July 2025. Paul McLoughlin, Laois County Council engineer had estimated how long it will take to build, speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live at the public consultation day in 2023. "It will go to An Bord Pleanala in 2024 for planning approval. In 2025 that should be back and it should be completed by mid 2026. It is quite easy to construct, there is no big technical construction. The biggest part is to get consent. We have engaged with landowners and as we progress towards CPOs that engagement will ramp up," he had said. The OPW has a dedicated website about flood risks in Ireland. Bank of Ireland is warning customers to be extra vigilant of fraud when travelling on holidays. The Bank is reminding customers to check their banking details prior to travelling, be alert to potential signs of scams while away and if an offer looks too good to be true, it could be fraud. Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland said: We want to remind people to take extra care before they make any transactions relating to their holiday because, often, if the offer is too good to be true, it probably is. Preparation Prior to travelling, customers should take the time to confirm their card details are in-date, so that cards are valid throughout the holiday. Customers should also save the contact numbers of their banks customer service line, travel insurance provider and airline helpdesk, in case of any emergencies. Try to keep credit and debit cards in separate locations so that if a purse or wallet is stolen, you have an alternative. If a card is lost or stolen, you can freeze your card immediately through the app or call the customer service line for further assistance. Make sure that you check your text messages when youre abroad so you dont miss alerts that the Bank might send about potential fraudulent transactions. Using cards on holiday When using a card to pay, make sure it is always within view to avoid it being skimmed. Fraudsters can illegally collect data from the magnetic stripes of a bank card, and customers should keep a close eye on their card or device (if using a digital wallet) when transactions are taking place. Where possible, use physical card, chip and PIN for payment. When withdrawing cash from cash machines, avoid machines that are in poor condition and look out for the following: Be aware of shoulder surfing in an ATM queue dont get side-tracked by others when using the machine and take care not to let anyone see your PIN. Be especially mindful if withdrawing larger amounts of cash. Have your card ready when going to cash machines, to avoid searching through a wallet or handbag to find it. Review your recent transactions on Banking 365 Accommodation scams These scams are becoming an increasingly significant concern for holidaymakers with the rise in popularity of online booking and third-party websites. Rental accommodation scams are designed to trick customers into paying for accommodation which is not available for rent or does not exist. Try to book through established letting agent, but if booking directly request proof of identification from the landlord. Quickly report Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can try to stop the fraud and try to recover funds. Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7. Available 24 hours 7 days a week - Republic of Ireland 1800 946 764 (personal and business) Everywhere outside Republic of Ireland, Great Britain & Northern Ireland + 353 56 775 7007 (Lost/Stolen cards or smart device) Abbeyleix House and Farm has shared the news that their beloved estate dog Cooper is making a full recovery after recently facing a medical emergency. Cooper is one of a number of rescue dogs that live on the estate which are "cherished family members and loved by everyone who visits". Providing an update on Cooper's recovery Abbeyleix House and Farm said: "We have some heartfelt news about one of our beloved estate dogs, Cooper. Some of you would have met Cooper for the first time at our recent Family Day event. Most of you know Cooper from previous encounters. Like most animals here at Abbeyleix House and Farm, Cooper is a rescue dog. From his first day on the estate, he crept into our hearts. Recently, Cooper faced a medical emergency and had to undergo surgery. "It was a challenging time for all of us here at Abbeyleix House and Farm, filled with worry and concern. But we're overjoyed to report that Cooper is now home and on his way to making a full recovery! His strength and resilience have been truly inspiring, and we couldn't be prouder of our brave boy." A Naas District Court defendant has been accused of driving dangerously in Newbridge. Judge Desmond Zaidan was informed about the allegation on Thursday, July 4 which concerns Jason Finn, with an address listed as 912 Cherryvile in Kildare. Garda Sergeant David Hanrahan told the judge that on June 17 last, at around 6.25pm in The Paddocks region of Newbridge, gardai stopped the 33-year-old in his vehicle. However, Mr Finn allegedly proceeded to take off 'at high speed' and drove into an estate where children were playing. It was alleged that the defendant overtook a vehicle at one point, and that he also allegedly drove into another estate. According to Sgt Hanrahan, this allegedly caused another vehicle to take evasive action. As directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were not yet ready in the case, Judge Zaidan adjourned the case to November 28, in order to allow time for DPP directions. He remanded Mr Finn on continuing bail until the case resumes. A Kildare county councillor has criticised national reps for what he referred to as 'broken promises' in relation to the planned Dublin Commuter Zone. Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender expressed deep frustration and disappointment at the latest delay announced by Transport for Ireland (TFI) regarding the implementation of the new zonal structure. Originally scheduled for an earlier launch, the introduction of this system is now pushed back to the first quarter of 2025 due to the 'significant technical nature of the changes proposed.' Commenting on the subject, Cllr Pender said: "The recent announcement by the National Transport Authority (NTA) about including Newbridge and Kildare town in the new Dublin Commuter Zone was initially welcomed. "However, the subsequent delay signifies yet another setback for our community." He continued:"While we understand the complexities involved in overhauling the zonal structure, it is simply unacceptable for our residents to bear the brunt of these repeated delays. "Reliable and efficient public transport is crucial for sustainable growth and improving the quality of life in Kildare. "Our community deserves better, and it is disappointing to see such lack of urgency from TFI." Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender standing outside Newbridge Train Station. Photograph supplied by Cllr Pender. Cllr Pender further said: "The new fare strategy, set to replace the short hop zone, promised substantial fare reductions: up to 45 per cent for Newbridge commuters and 37 per cent for those from Kildare town. "Despite years of advocacy and public declarations by our national representatives, the delay to Quarter 1 of 2025 highlights a significant failure in delivering timely results for our constituents." He also took aim at two other local politicians in his statement: "Minister Martin Heydon and Senator Fiona O'Loughlin have both been vocal supporters of these changes, yet the continued delays show a clear failure to deliver on their promises. "Its easy to celebrate announcements, but the real test is in delivering those promises on time. Our residents have been waiting far too long for these fare reductions and the improved transport equity they bring." Cllr Pender said that he urges both TFI and national representatives to 'prioritise transparency and communication, ensuring all stakeholders are kept informed of progress and any potential further delays.' He added:"I remain committed to advocating for the timely and effective delivery of public transport improvements, and will continue to push TFI to ensure that the needs of our community are met without further setbacks." "Its time for our national representatives to step up and ensure that these delays are addressed immediately," Cllr Pender concluded. A move to relocate a parklet in Naas town centre for the second time did not receive a deal of support. The parklet - a wooden structure serving as an expansion of the footpath where people can sit - was originally located at North Main Street near the Gra cafe before it was moved to Dublin Road following criticism from some retailers. At a Naas Municipal District meeting, Cllr Anne Breen asked for it to be removed, claiming it is not being used by the public and it is occupying a loading bay, which is needed by businesses there. It looks dreadful, I cant see anyone using it, except school children, Cllr Breen, adding that it means delivery drivers have to double park and some traders are not happy. Cllr Breen said the parklet cost 35,500 plus VAT (this was paid for by Failte Ireland, which also offered to fund more of them, if required). Cllr Evie Sammon pointed out that it is situated right beside the Naas Town Centre complex where over 500 car park spaces are available. Read more Kildare news Its fine where it is, businesses asked for it (to be moved there), Cllr Sammon said. Cllr Fintan Brett said parklets have worked in other towns. Mayor Bill Clear told Cllr Breen you have a bee in your bonnet about this, youve objected to it before. He said children use it and the Naas Tidy Towns cleans it. He also pointed out that there is a loading bay in the area anyway. Kildare County Council official Pamela Pender said it was originally intended to move the parklet to the as yet unopened public park at Kerdiffstown - but the council was approached to have it moved to Dublin Road and the businesses in the area were consulted about this. Ms Pender said the council agreed to this at considerable cost because a crane was needed to move the structure and a traffic management plan had to be initiated. She said the cost of moving it amounted to about 5,000 and repairs had cost 17,000. Read more Kildare news She added the parklet is used by customers of the adjacent Urban Kitchen and school going children have used it during the week as well as young people at weekends. The coming months will bring finer weather and (it will be used more often) providing an additional outdoor seating space. Ms Pender noted the NTC has 532 car park spaces and the nearby Maxoly venue has 18-20 spaces. She added that the current location means it is away from traffic passing on the main thoroughfare. A councillor representing the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District has called on Irish Rail / Iarnrod Eireann to provide water refill fountains at train stations located in North Kildare. Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney recently contacted Irish Rail for information regarding the provision of water filling points at its train stations in North Kildare. Cllr Feeney said tat she welcomes the rollout by Irish Rail of free water filling stations across its network. She elaborated: "Refilling reusable water bottles at a refill fountain reduces the amount of plastic containers thrown in bins and ending up in landfill. "It makes huge sense to have them where there are large movements of people. "Maynooth University has been very proactive in providing water refill fountains across the campus". She also asked Irish Raul for information as to when the provision of this service might happen in the North Kildare train stations at Kilcock, Leixlip, Maynooth, Sallins and Hazelhatch, as 'these are very busy commuter links', according to Cllr Feeney. "As we have seen from the recent National Transport Authority census, these commuter numbers have experienced huge growth and are set to grow further in the years ahead," she added. In response, Irish Rail has said it is in the process of seeking funding for additional bottle filling stations, and continues to roll out a number of them each year. The reply also added that locations are being prioritised 'by footfall initially, but also availability to shops (water access prior to boarding), and the amount of civil works involved.' Irish Rail further said that the train stations in North Kildare highlighted by Cllr Feeney will be considered in the rollout. Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney. Photograph supplied by Cllr Feeney. President Michael D. Higgins and wife Sabina celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today. The couple tied the knot on the 8th of July 1974 at St Mary's Catholic Church, on Haddington Road, in Dublin. The official Presidential Twitter account posted : "President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina are celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Their wedding was 50 years ago today on 8 July 1974." Social media responded to the couple sharing their special Golden Wedding Anniversary with one user writing: "Congrats president and Mrs Higgins on 50 years of joy and friendship. 4 children and an grandchild as well. Hope you have a lovely day together and this evening as well." Another reads: "Congratulations on your Golden Wedding Anniversary President & Mrs Higgins and many more to come. Have a great day." A third user writes: "Best wishes to both of you! Was wonderful to attend President's inaugural lecture at The University of Manchester and received very encouraging correspondence regarding a book project. Infinite love and blessings!" Another user writes: " Congratulations to President Michael D. Higgins and First Lady Sabina Coyne. It is wonderful to see a couple celebrating 50 years of marriage and love. Sending my warmest wishes and love on this special day." You can find the full post on the President's Twitter account or by clicking the link HERE. Gardai have appealed for witnesses following the death of a man in a collision in Longford last night. Tributes have been paid to Damian Machnowski, a Polish man who lost his life in a single vehicle road crash in the early hours of Monday morning. Damian Machnowski, who was in his 30s, died when the car he was driving struck a wall along a stretch of the main N55 between Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown shortly before 1am. READ ALSO - Warnings of potential flooding as 24-hour rain warning in place for 18 counties Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save the local factory worker. His body was taken to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar ahead of a post-mortem. A Garda spokesman said: Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballymahon Garda Station on 090 6432303, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. It was reported that Mr Machnowski had been living and working in the south Longford town for 16 years, and the vast bulk of that time was spent as an employee with local timber manufacturing outlet, Ronaynes Wood Products. Speaking to the Irish Independent, its managing director Jarlath Ronayne said Mr Machnowski's death had come as a considerable shock, describing the man as a highly though of and hard worker who had spent the past 16 years with the Creevaghbeg-based outfit. Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on Tuesday morning near Dungarvan, Co.Waterford. The horror collision involved a truck and a car which occurred on the N25 at Garranbane at approximately 9.20am. The driver of the car, a woman aged in her 70s, was treated by emergency services at the scene but tragically passed away from her injuries. The driver of the truck, a male, has been taken to Waterford University Hospital where he is receiving treatment for injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening. The road remains closed this at this time with an examination by Forensic Collision Investigators currently under way. Local diversions remain in place. The woman is sadly the hundredth person to be killed on Irish roads this year, with the death toll up 14 per cent year-on-year. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dungarvan Garda Station on 058 48600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Sandong Tungsten Mine Site Visit by Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and County Mayor of Yeongwol Almonty Industries Inc. ("Almonty" or the "Company") (TSX: AII / ASX: AII / OTCQX: ALMTF / Frankfurt: ALI) is pleased to announce that on the 3rd of July, 2024, Kim Jin-tae, the Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, toured Almonty's tungsten mine redevelopment site in Sangdong-eup, Yeongwol county, South Korea. Governor Kim was briefed on the redevelopment status of Almonty's Sangdong Mine with Choi Myung-seo, the County Mayor of Yeongwol, and toured 1.3 km of the main transport portals built by Almonty. At the site, Governor Kim stated, "The Sangdong Tungsten Mine, which has been closed for over 30 years, is coming back to life. I am very pleased that tungsten production will revive the economy of the abandoned mine area and strengthen resource security." Ryu woo-jong, a Vice President of Almonty's wholly-owned subsidiary, Almonty Korea Tungsten Corporation, ("AKTC") said, "AKTC will not only mine and sell concentrate tungsten, boasting the largest reserve and highest grade of any single mine globally, but also plans to complete a tungsten oxide production plant in Yeongwol by 2027 to establish a domestic tungsten product pipeline." Mr Ryu Woo-Jong added that since acquiring the mining rights to the Sangdong Mine in 2015, nearly 130 billion KRW (equivalent of approximately US$94 million) has been invested in its redevelopment. "An additional 50 billion KRW (equivalent of approximately US$36 million) will be invested by the first half of 2025, resulting in an economic impact of over 500 billion KRW (equivalent of approximately US$360 million) within Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and the creation of up to 1,800 jobs (directly and indirectly)." Once the Sangdong processing plant, which is currently being constructed by Almonty, is completed, around 65% WO3 high-grade tungsten concentrate will be produced in Sangdong Mine shortly. However, until Almonty completes the tungsten oxide plant in Yeongwol, the tungsten concentrate produced from the Sangdong Tungsten Mine will be exported abroad to be processed into tungsten oxide needed by domestic South Korean companies for use in semiconductor and secondary battery production, and then re-imported to South Korea. About Almonty The principal business of Toronto, Canada-based Almonty Industries Inc. is the mining, processing and shipping of tungsten concentrate from its Los Santos Mine in western Spain and its Panasqueira mine in Portugal as well as the development of its Sangdong tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea and the development of the Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in northwestern Spain. The Los Santos Mine was acquired by Almonty in September 2011 and is located approximately 50 kilometres from Salamanca in western Spain and produces tungsten concentrate. The Panasqueira mine, which has been in production since 1896, is located approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, Portugal, was acquired in January 2016 and produces tungsten concentrate. The Sangdong mine, which was historically one of the largest tungsten mines in the world and one of the few long-life, high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China, was acquired in September 2015 through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Woulfe Mining Corp. Almonty owns 100% of the Valtreixal tin-tungsten project in north- western Spain. Further information about Almonty's activities may be found at www.almonty.com and under Almonty's profile at www.sedar.com. Legal Notice The release, publication, or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published, or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. These statements and information are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and reflect Almonty's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Almonty to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: any specific risks relating to fluctuations in the price of ammonium para tungstate ("APT") from which the sale price of Almonty's tungsten concentrate is derived, actual results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdictions in which Almonty's operations are located and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, forecasts and assessments relating to Almonty's business, credit and liquidity risks, hedging risk, competition in the mining industry, risks related to the market price of Almonty's shares, the ability of Almonty to retain key management employees or procure the services of skilled and experienced personnel, risks related to claims and legal proceedings against Almonty and any of its operating mines, risks relating to unknown defects and impairments, risks related to the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, risks related to governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, risks related to international operations of Almonty, risks relating to exploration, development and operations at Almonty's tungsten mines, the ability of Almonty to obtain and maintain necessary permits, the ability of Almonty to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support Almonty's mining operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates, production estimates from Almonty's mining operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, uncertainties related to title and indigenous rights with respect to mineral properties owned directly or indirectly by Almonty, the ability of Almonty to obtain adequate financing, the ability of Almonty to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, challenges related to global financial conditions, risks related to future sales or issuance of equity securities, differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules and acceptance of the TSX of the listing of Almonty shares on the TSX. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to, no material adverse change in the market price of ammonium para tungstate (APT), the continuing ability to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, no negative change to applicable laws, the ability to secure local contractors, employees and assistance as and when required and on reasonable terms, and such other assumptions and factors as are set out herein. Although Almonty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Almonty. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Almonty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Almonty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Almonty has also assumed that material factors will not cause any forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ALMONTY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD- LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ALMONTY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. 8 july 2024 at 19:20 News published onand distributed by: Wesdome Announces Record Production in Q2 2024; Repays Remaining Balance on Revolving Credit Facility TORONTO, July 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: WDO, OTCQX: WDOFF) ("Wesdome" or the "Company") today announces its production results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 ("Q2 2024"). The Company is also providing notice that it will release its Q2 2024 financial results after markets close on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 and host a conference call and webcast the following morning. Q2 2024 Production Performance Q2 2024 Q2 2023 H1 2024 H1 2023 Ore milled (tonnes) Eagle River 52,552 64,672 104,184 118,955 Kiena 57,669 51,824 103,013 94,148 Head grade (grams per tonne) Eagle River 11.8 11.4 13.6 11.8 Kiena 13.5 5.0 10.1 5.4 Gold production (ounces) Eagle River 19,272 22,845 44,171 43,336 Kiena 24,763 8,147 33,186 16,024 Total production 44,035 30,992 77,357 59,360 Production sold (ounces) 40,000 32,000 75,700 62,000 Anthea Bath, President and CEO of Wesdome, commented, "The second quarter marked a milestone for Wesdome, delivering the highest consolidated quarterly production output to date. At Kiena, production nearly tripled compared to the first quarter due to the ramp-up in mining of high-grade Kiena Deep ore from the 129-level horizon in mid-April, which was processed at record throughput levels. This is a proud moment for all involved, and I extend my congratulations to the entire site team. At Eagle River, the mine delivered on plan despite a maintenance shutdown in late June. With solid performance in the first half of the year, we are on track to achieve our 2024 annual production guidance of between 160,000 and 180,000 ounces of gold. As both high-grade mines continue to generate strong operating cash flow, we paid down the remaining $29 million balance on our revolving credit facility on schedule at the end of June. Wesdome is now debt-free, an important step as we position the Company for long-term sustainable growth." Q2 2024 Conference Call and Webcast Management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company's Q2 2024 financial and operating results. A question-and-answer session will follow management's prepared remarks. Details of the webcast are as follows: Date and time: Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET Participant registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI2bc416f598494ba087c522f097da6d5a Click on the link above and complete the online registration form. Upon registering you will receive the dial-in info and a unique PIN to join the call as well as an email confirmation with the details. Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/arvjmvq8 Notes: Pre-registration is required for this event. It is recommended you join 10 minutes prior to the start of the event. The webcast can also be accessed under the news and events section of the Company's website. The financial statements and management discussion and analysis will be available on the Company's website at www.wesdome.com and on SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca. About Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. Wesdome is a Canadian-focused gold producer with two high grade underground assets, the Eagle River mine in Ontario and the recently commissioned Kiena mine in Quebec. The Company's primary goal is to responsibly leverage this operating platform and high-quality brownfield and greenfield exploration pipeline to build Canada's next intermediate gold producer. For further information, please contact: Raj Gill, SVP, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Trish Moran, VP, Investor Relations Phone: +1 (416) 360-3743 E-Mail: [email protected] To receive Wesdome's news releases by email, please register on Wesdome's website at www.wesdome.com. Technical Disclosure The technical and geoscientific content of this release have been reviewed, and approved by Michael Michaud, P.Geo, Senior Vice President, Exploration and Resources of the Company and Frederic Langevin, Eng, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, each a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, which is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as of the date of this release. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's production and financial performance for the remainder of 2024, the anticipated growth in gold production and operating cash flow, the continuation of high-grade material from the Eagle River and Kiena mines and the achievement of long-term sustainable growth. These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors including those risk factors discussed in the sections titled "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information" and "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form. Readers are urged to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form which is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/7586c104-b071-4708-8e88-67cf63434c30 9 july 2024 at 07:05 News published onand distributed by: Trifecta Gold Receives Final Approval for Tombstone Belt Transaction Highlights: Trifecta Gold secures option to acquire up to 100% interest in Mt Hinton gold-silver project, next to Hecla's Keno Hill Mines, as well as 10 other highly prospective projects. All 11 projects show characteristics of reduced intrusion related gold systems, like Snowline Gold's recent Valley discovery. Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSXV:TG)(OTCQB:TRRFF) ("Trifecta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its March 1st, 2024 news release, the Company has received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to acquire up to 100% of Mt. Hinton and 10 other highly prospective, intrusion-related gold projects located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. Under a two stage earn-in agreement with Strategic Metals Ltd. ("Strategic"), Trifecta can acquire up to a 100% interest in all 11 properties. Tombstone Gold Belt Extending for more than 1,000 km from Alaska into Yukon, the Tombstone Gold Belt hosts many large Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold System (RIRGS) deposits such as Fort Knox and Pogo in Alaska (>14 million oz), Eagle and Olive in Yukon (>4 million oz) and the past-producing Brewery Creek Mine, also in Yukon. Recent discoveries including Snowline Gold's Tier 1 Valley discovery, Sitka Gold's RC deposit, Banyan Gold's AurMac deposits and Victoria Gold's Raven deposit have drawn renewed exploration interest to the belt (>17 million new ounces added to resources in the belt since May 2020). These gold systems are characterized by sheeted, auriferous quartz veins forming in the carapace zones of Cretaceous-age plutons. They have a characteristic geochemical signature of Au-Bi-TeW within and surrounding the intrusion, and a characteristic geophysical signature of a magnetic low (ie. reduced) together with a coincident conductivity low. Moving outward from the intrusions, Au-As veins are common with Ag-Pb-Zn veins further out. Option Terms Trifecta can acquire an initial 70% interest in the properties (the "First Option") by incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $6 million by December 31, 2027, with $500,000 to be incurred by December 31, 2024, and issuing 305,000 shares to Strategic. Following the exercise of the First Option, Strategic will retain a one percent (1%) net smelter return royalty interest in the properties. (These 305,000 have been issued to Strategic and are subject to a hold period in Canada until November 10, 2024.) Trifecta can acquire the remaining 30% interest in the properties (the "Second Option") by issuing additional Trifecta shares to Strategic equal to 9.99% of the then outstanding Trifecta share capital at any time after the exercise of the First Option and prior to February 28, 2028, which number of shares to be issued to Strategic will not include any shares of Trifecta then held by Strategic but will be subject to a maximum number of 8,920,000 shares of Trifecta. Following the exercise of the Second Option, Strategic will retain an additional one percent (1%) net smelter return royalty interest. Trifecta can purchase the second royalty interest from Strategic for the payment of 1,500 ounces of gold or the cash equivalent. If Trifecta exercises the First Option only, the parties shall form a joint venture to further explore and develop the properties. Project Portfolio The optioned portfolio covers approximately 30,000 hectares of highly prospective land within the Yukon portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt across 11 properties - namely, Mt. Hinton, Rye, Lance, Liam, Lois, Leroy, Luke, Leah, Lisa, Husky and Naws. The locations of and the properties are available on the Company's website. About Trifecta Gold Ltd. Trifecta is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the discovery and development of 100% held gold projects in Yukon and Nevada. Initial drilling at its Yuge Gold Project, located in northern Nevada, has identified multiple broad zones of gold mineralization near historical high-grade mines. The Company's Eureka Project hosts an 8 x 2.5 kilometre belt of surface showings and anomalous gold-in-soil that straddle the headwaters of two of the most productive placer creeks in Yukon's southern Klondike Goldfields. The Company's Treble Project covers a large hydrothermal system, located midway between Western Copper and Gold Corporation's Casino Deposit, the largest copper and gold deposit in the Yukon, and Rockhaven Resources Ltd.'s Klaza Deposit, a high-grade gold-silver deposit. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Richard Drechsler" President and CEO For further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit www.trifectagold.com or contact: Corporate Information Trifecta Gold Ltd. Richard Drechsler President and CEO Tel: (604) 687-2522 This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Trifecta Gold Ltd. 9 july 2024 at 08:00 View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by: Wavering brand loyalty challenging car manufacturers globally ? Fifth car user survey by Asahi Kasei Asahi Kasei's newest global car user survey gives insights into the brand loyalty and buying behavior of car users in the four major automotive markets: Germany, the United States, China, and Japan. It also provides background information on technological reasons for consumers' hesitance to switch to electric cars. In its fifth annual survey, the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei asked car users in the four major automotive markets about brand loyalty and key motivators for buying electric vehicles (EVs). The results of the newest survey confirm the trend in recent years - with tightening competition, new manufacturers, and changing customer needs, brand loyalty is wavering worldwide. More than half of the respondents in Germany and the USA plan to change the brand of their next car. Customers in China are remarkably open to switching car brands, with 79% indicating they would choose a model from a different manufacturer. Looking at different age groups, Generation Z-respondents (born between 1995 and 2010) showed the lowest degree of brand loyalty, indicating that the younger the car users are, the less connected they feel to a certain brand. To reignite brand loyalty, car manufacturers and suppliers must understand the end customers' needs and find ways to differentiate from the increasing competition. When asked about the most annoying factors in their current car, car users in all four regions cited "poor gas mileage/fuel consumption," "not enough storage space," and "too much noise while driving". This was also reflected in the main motivation to change the car brand, with a third of respondents in Germany and the US citing "quality aspects" as an important factor. In addition, "running costs" are prevalent motivations in all markets. In China, the "desire to try something new" is the chief incentive for switching to a different vehicle brand - specifically to premium brands. This coincides with the purchasing influence of "increasing brand image" by established premium car manufacturers, in contrast to volume manufacturers, who are currently losing market share in China. Since the first survey was conducted in 2020, fuel/power efficiency and running costs have been the most influential factors in the buying process. Notably, the results for all features influencing purchasing choice have been consistent across each survey. Enhancing battery performance key for convincing potential EV buyers Stimulated by governmental subsidies, technological improvements and a growing network of charging stations, market shares of pure electric vehicles have been slowly growing in recent years, especially in Western markets and in China. 69% of the respondents in China said it is "likely" or "very likely" that the next car has a pure electric drive. However, compared to 2020, the willingness to buy an electric vehicle has not significantly changed. While in China and Germany it rose by 6 percentage points respectively 8 percentage points, respectively, there was a 14 percentage point decrease in the US. The fade out of governmental subsidies and the high cost of electric vehicles are key factors for this consumer sentiment at the end of 2023. These findings indicate further technological advancements need to be achieved to convince most car users. In addition to cost aspects, further advancements in battery performance, lifetime, and safety will be needed to improve the acceptance of electric vehicles across all major regions. The main drivers for switching to an electric vehicle differ among the regions: while driving range is the major factor for car users in Germany, 34% of the respondents in the US is prioritize battery lifetime. Meanwhile, 34% of non-EV owners in China see improved safety as a primary consideration in buying an electric vehicle. About the Asahi Kasei Automotive Consumer Survey This report summarizes key findings of the fifth edition of Asahi Kasei's annual trend survey regarding car users' purchasing decisions and preferences related to materials and features for the future of vehicles. Conducted in December 2023 via online interviews, Asahi Kasei asked a total of 4,158 car users across the four automotive core markets: Germany (1,074), USA (1,077), China (1,007), and Japan (1,000). From its first edition in 2019, the survey has been conducted in cooperation with market research institute SKOPOS from Cologne, Germany. About Asahi Kasei The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its founding in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility & Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/. Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/. 9 july 2024 at 08:35 News published onand distributed by: Apex Critical Metals Clarifies Previous Press Release NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE:APXC)(OTCQB:APXCF) ("Apex" or the "Company"), announces that it would like to clarify its press release dated July 8, 2024 (the "Release). The Release announcing the contract with Rumble Strip Media Inc ("Rumble") should have included that the agreement was signed on June 25, 2024 and commences August 1, 2024 for a three-month term ending October 31, 2024. About Apex Critical Metals Corp. Apex Critical Metals Corp.is a Canadian exploration company specializing in the acquisition and development of high potential rare earth elements (REE's) and niobium properties. Apex Critical Metals is publicly listed on the CSE, and its common shares currently trade under the symbol "APXC". On Behalf of the Board of Directors APEX CRITICAL METALS CORP., Sean Charland Chief Executive Officer Tel: 604.681.1568 Email: [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the Offering including, the closing date of the Offering, the potential participation of insiders in the Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the receipt of regulatory approval for the Offering, if required. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Apex Critical Metals Corp. 9 july 2024 at 09:00 View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by: Government of Angola Collaborates with NetActuate to Power the .AO Top Level Domain on DNS Anycast Network LOS ANGELES, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- NetActuate, in collaboration with the government of Angola, announces a strategic partnership to leverage NetActuate's global anycast network for the .ao Top Level Domain. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the stability and performance of Angola's domain name infrastructure. "We are proud to partner with the government of Angola in enhancing their online infrastructure through our DNS anycast network." - Mark Mahle , CEO of NetActuate. The government of Angola, represented by the .AO ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domain), with approximately 20 thousand domains, sought to transition management from DNS.pt in Portugal to a dedicated autonomous ccTLD infrastructure within Angola. Responding to their needs, NetActuate facilitated the successful integration of the AO zone into their global anycast network. This partnership underscores a commitment to delivering reliable and efficient domain name services. NetActuate, leveraging its extensive global network infrastructure, helped ensure a seamless AO zone transfer, providing reliable DNS resolution capabilities for Angola's domain names. This implementation is set to bolster the country's digital infrastructure and support its growing online presence. To support ongoing operations and optimization, NetActuate will provide comprehensive traffic monitoring tools. These tools enable real-time analytics and trend detection, empowering stakeholders with actionable insights into DNS performance. "This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to being digitally inclusive and supporting national digital initiatives for organizations across the globe," said Mark Mahle, CEO of NetActuate. "We are proud to partner with the government of Angola in enhancing their online infrastructure through our DNS anycast network." For more information about NetActuate's DNS anycast solutions, our ccTLD program and partnerships, visit http://www.netactuate.com. Media Contact Head of Marketing, NetActuate, +1.800.419.2656, [email protected], https://netactuate.com Twitter SOURCE NetActuate 9 july 2024 at 17:30 News published onand distributed by: The Read to Succeed program provides students with 108 instructional hours of phonics. ESBs Ardnacrusha Power Station is to once again open the gates of Irelands first national hydro-electric station to the general public for the 2024 summer season, providing a unique visitor experience in Co Clare. The guided public tours are free and will run until September 6, 2024, Monday to Friday. Each tour runs for approximately 90 minutes, accommodating groups of up to 30 people. This phase of public tours follows school tours that have seen hundreds of students pass through the gates since May. Visitors will begin their tour at the visitors centre before going out on site to view the impressive headrace canal, locks and tailrace. Once inside the power station, the living heritage of the Shannon Scheme is brought to life through a series of animations which celebrate the history and impact of this iconic project. Visitors are given access to the very heart of the station with unique views of the turbine hall and a visit to the original control room. Brendan Shine, plant manager at Ardnacrusha said: The Ardnacrusha Experience tells the story of the critical role that the Shannon Scheme has had in enhancing Irish life, paving the way for the social, economic, and industrial development of Ireland, making progress possible through the electrification of the country. "Visitors will get the chance to learn not just about the history of the station but also our Net Zero by 2040 strategy. Drawing inspiration from the development of Ardnacrusha almost 100 years ago, ESB is committed to a future powered by clean electricity. "We are looking forward to welcoming all those with an interest in engineering, history and heritage for pre-booked visits over the summer. For more information, bookings and for accessibility details, please visit esb.ie/who-we-are/ardnacrusha-tours-2024. Keep up to date and share your experience with us by following our social channels @ESBGroup. THERE was no paternity leave for Limerick hurler Cian Lynch as he pulled on the green jersey in Croke Park just over a week after becoming a father for the first time. Partner Dayna Slattery gave birth to twin boys on Saturday, June 29. She shared a touching black and white picture on Instagram on Monday night of Cian Lynch carrying two baby carriers in a hospital setting. The little ones couldn't be in safer hands. Cian then reposted the photo on his Instagram account which has almost 50,000 followers. Cian and Dayna announced that they were expecting twins together back in May in a similar understated, elegant social media post. It is understood their babies were born a couple of weeks early. The photo included two blue heart emojis, implying that the babies are boys. When the two became four, wrote Dayna. Many Limerick fans will have green hearts in their eyes as they look forward to the prospect of the new arrivals one day running out on GAA pitches just like their famous dad and granduncle Ciaran Carey. READ MORE: Mayoral reception to honour Limerick hurlers Cian, still aged only 28 despite his longevity in a Limerick jersey, is used to being pulled and dragged in every direction on the hurling pitch but now he will have it at home in the busy household. It was not to be for the former Hurler of the Year Cian and his Limerick team-mates against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday but it will be a couple of days he and Dayna will never forget. Congratulations have been flooding in from well-wishers on social media to the young couple and their bouncing baby boys. New Delhi, 8th July, 2024 - In a landmark move that has caught the attention of the business and environmental news sectors worldwide, Kaka Group has installed a 500 kWh solar power system across all its companies. This ambitious initiative, led by Chairman Y.K. Roy, highlights the group's dedication to sustainable practices and renewable energy. Kaka Group, comprising Kaka Overseas Limited, Kaka Carpets, and Shobha Woollens Ltd., is renowned for blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. The recent installation of the solar power system marks a significant milestone in the group's journey towards sustainability. By embracing solar energy, the group not only ensures a reliable power supply but also significantly reduces its carbon footprint, making headlines in environmental news. Our goal is to operate sustainably while maintaining the highest quality in our products, stated Chairman Y.K. Roy. By implementing a 500 kWh solar power system, we are taking a significant step towards a greener future, ensuring that our operations are environmentally friendly. This development has been widely covered in the news, underscoring its importance. This initiative is set to revolutionize Kaka Groups operational dynamics. The solar power setup will energize the production processes across all its companies, fostering a culture of energy self-sufficiency and eco-consciousness. This move has garnered global news attention, positioning Kaka Group as a leader in sustainable industrial practices. The group's dedication to sustainability goes beyond solar power. Kaka Group companies continue to utilize eco-friendly materials and processes, setting new industry benchmarks. This initiative not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports local communities by creating green jobs and raising awareness about the importance of renewable energy, a topic frequently discussed in the news. The global business community has taken note of Kaka Group's pioneering efforts. Their commitment to integrating solar power across all operations serves as an inspiring example of how traditional industries can adapt to contemporary environmental challenges. This initiative not only reflects Kaka Groups innovative spirit but also reinforces its role as a steward of the environment, capturing the interest of news outlets worldwide. By leading the charge towards renewable energy, Kaka Group is not just powering its operations but also paving the way for a more sustainable future, earning recognition and admiration from the global news community. For more information, please visit - https://getmyrugs.com/ TCS Q1 result preview: Indian IT bellwether Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will report its April-June quarter (Q1FY25) scorecard on Thursday, July 11. While the revenue and profit figures will be in focus, investors will keenly observe the management's commentary on demand outlook, deal wins and trends in AI and cloud computing. The June quarter key numbers for the IT giant may be softer, but this is unlikely to disappoint the market. The focus will be on whether the company sees green shoots in the demand environment, especially with the high likelihood of the US Fed cutting rates in September. "We expect TCSs revenue growth to be sequentially in the lower single digits, led by contributions from recent deal wins. However, the company's EBIT margin is projected to contract due to recent wage hikes. The deal pipeline remains robust, focusing on demand recovery in the second half of FY25. Furthermore, managements commentary on the demand environment would be a key thing to watch out for," said Manish Chowdhury, the head of research at StoxBox. In the previous quarter (Q4FY24), TCS beat market expectations, and its management hinted that the company would do even better in FY25. CA Vatsal Vinchhi, an equity analyst of the IT sector at Choice Equity Broking, said TCS may record a modest sequential 1.2-1.4 per cent revenue growth amidst uncertainties. "Management targets expansion in India and MEA, anticipating faster growth than major markets. Fresh campus hires and operational adjustments are to be prioritised to optimise capacity. Emphasis remains on training in GenAI offerings, with plans to recruit 40,000 freshers in FY25E. Enhancing productivity, utilisation, pricing realisation, and reducing subcontracting costs are identified as margin improvement strategies. The company aims for a margin band of 26-28 per cent going forward," said Vinchhi. Let's take a look at five crucial things that will be in focus when TCS reveals its Q1 numbers: 1. Key numbers The company may report a mild rise in profit, but margins may shrink primarily due to wage hikes. Nuvama Institutional Equities anticipates TCS to deliver a 14 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) CC (constant currency) revenue growth and 1.1 per cent QoQ USD growth, driven by a recovery in BFSI and continued strength in manufacturing. But the margin may fall nearly 140 bp QoQ, said Nuvama. The brokerage firm expects deal-wins streak to continue. Brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services sees a 1.6 per cent QoQ and 4.8 per cent YoY rise in the company's overall revenue. Reported PAT, as per the brokerage firm, may decline 2.9 per cent QoQ but may show an increase of 9.2 per cent YoY. "Growth is expected to be 1.6 per cent QoQ CC, led by deal scale-up, including the BSNL deal, which is ramping up as per plan. EBIT margin is expected to contract 150bp QoQ owing to wage hikes in Q1FY25," said Motilal Oswal. 2. Deal wins Despite a challenging environment, the company reported broad-based deal wins across industries and geographies in the last quarter. While deal wins will be a key monitorable, experts expect the company's deal pipeline to remain strong. 3. Headcount TCS workforce stood at 6,01,546 as on March 31, 2024, according to the company's BSE filing. The company reported reduced attrition at 12.5 per cent and enthusiastic response to its campus hiring. The market will keenly observe the trends of attrition and fresh hiring. 4. Near-term demand outlook Management commentary on the outlook on demand will be a key focus. Positive commentary on demand trends may revive investors' interest in the stock. The market will see what the management says about the impact of macro headwinds on demand in BFSI, retail, communication, hi-tech and other key segments. 5. Emerging trends in GenAI With the release of Q4FY24 results, TCS said it had GenAI projects valued at $900 million last year. GenAI is an emerging technology, and the company is going big on it. In May this year, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons Ltd, said Tata Group is working on 100 generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) projects that are having a meaningful impact on customer experience, productivity and efficiency across its retail and manufacturing businesses. Markets will closely monitor management's commentary on deal wins in GenAI segment and its future growth strategy for the sector. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts, and brokerage firms, not Mint. We advise investors to consult certified experts before making any investment decisions. Also Read | Q1 results preview: IT sector revenue growth expected to improve sequentially Also Read | Q1FY25 result preview: Net profit of Nifty 50 may decline QoQ A bunch of luxury brands is preparing to launch stores in India to coincide with the arrival of the festive season, hinting at a boost for the industry after a two-month slowdown because of the extreme summer heat and general elections. In Delhi, brands preparing to launch stores include accessories and shoe brand Aquazzura, perfumer Diptyque, crystals, glass and jewellery brand Baccarat, and menswear brand Golden Goose, among others. The store openings are spread across the three metros. In Mumbai, Tudor watches, a sister brand of Rolex, will open its first mono-brand store before the end of this fiscal year. Clothing and accessories brand Amiri will also do a small popup in Delhi to get a flavour of the market. And in Bengaluru's luxury mall, Mall of Asia, a Hublot watch boutique will launch by August-end to capture the business from the upcoming festive season. The sales in luxury businesses are likely to see a gradual increase starting this month and achieve normalcy as the festive season approaches. The market is seeing better vibrancy and a spike in business since June and now July," Pushpa Bector, senior executive director of DLF Retail, said. DLF Emporio, one of the country's largest luxury shopping destinations, recently concluded its luxury shopping festival in May to induce additional demand. Over a two-week period, customers spent about 30 crore at the festival, largely led by fashion and jewellery purchases. Amit Pande, business head of The Collective & international brands at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., said June saw a recovery for the sector following the summer and general elections. The industry expects that there will be good growth around the festive season," said Pande. The big luxe push At the DLF Emporio, a new zone is set to launch for pret or ready-to-wear ensemble collections of young Indian designers. The company's other luxury shopping centre in the city, The Chanakya mall, will see a flagship Rolex mono-brand store along with a dozen new brands between October and November, including Diptyque, and Golden Goose. The mall will also see a second store launch from Swiss chocolate brand Laderach, which was brought to India by Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group). There will also be a focus on opening a section for 'home and gifting' this season. Home and gifting' is a whole new category for the luxury mall division now. We are also seeing an overall category broadening and so a widening of the luxury market. We now see an influx of more millennial and Gen Z aspirational consumers, discovering luxury through digital media," Bector added. This phenomenon is a classic indicator of growing disposable incomes and general economic well-being because many of them are getting added to the new buyer base." Also read | Crazy rich Indians' esoteric requests are fuelling the concierge services market Walk-ins are declining across the world but online shopping is growing at a fast clip," Pande of ABFRL said. "For us, due to strong client relationships, dependence on walk-ins is also limited." Pande noted, however, that categories like leather goods and other accessories did not see as much of a slowdown as others like clothing. Within the clothing business, work-wear, which had earlier declined during the pandemic years, has now started to come back with categories like sweatshirts and loungewear seeing a tapering off. The company has a network of about 40 stores across The Collective, Ralph Lauren, Hackett London, Simon Carter, Ted Baker, Fred Perry and others. It will add five more stores to this count in the coming months. In 2025, Galeries Lafayette, a luxury department store that signed a partnership with ABFRL in 2022, will also open its doors with stores in Mumbai and Delhi. The rise of luxury A shifting focus on luxury brands has been a result of India's economic landscape shifting over the years. Consumers are demonstrating a growing appetite for high-end goods and services, and the ultra-rich population is experiencing explosive growth, fuelled by rising disposable incomes. The burgeoning affluence has also meant there has been a noticeable growth in the luxury market, especially since after the covid-19 pandemic. The surge in disposable wealth is largely being generated by the boom in stock markets and real estate. By 2027, according to a report titled 'The rise of 'Affluent India' by Goldman Sachs Research, the cohort of affluent consumers will increase from around 60 million people in 2023 to 100 million by 2027. Also read | Rise of the uber-rich drives luxury brands in India Since after the pandemic, when luxury consumption slumped in China, global luxury brands began to start targeting new geographies, one of which was India. This also coincides with the emergence of malls dedicated to the wealthy like Reliance's Jio mall in Mumbai. Last year, ABFRL also signed a joint venture with shoe brand Christian Louboutin. Brands like Brioni have also expanded their footprint in India. Watch sector may see some recovery In the first five months of the current calendar year, India saw imports worth 94.2 million Swiss Francs or $105 million, a 20% growth over 2023, and 43% higher than the 66 million CHF or $74 million of 2022, per data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH. While this number stands out, the increase was primarily driven by currency fluctuations, that is, the devaluation of the Indian rupee versus the CHF. The watch industry may still feel the heat from that, according to Ashok Goel, founder of Delhi-based Luxury Time Pvt. Ltd, a distributor of luxury brands such as Hublot, Tag Heuer, Zenith and others. Goel said there was an overall marked slowdown in the luxury brand sales during the weeks leading up to the elections with most of the retail partners they work with, seeing a 15-20% lower customer traffic during the elections. Also read | Rolex to Hublot: Indians find more time for Swiss luxury The post-election scenario did improve, though not to the extent of expected turnaround. It could have been because of the various heatwaves, people travelling internationally for their holidays, etc., too," Goel said, adding that some trade partners also said that the high stock market valuation is leading to lower sales as investments move there. The industry could be 5-8% lower than last year in sales, barring a handful of the popular luxury watch brands," he added. The company is preparing to launch a new luxury store for Hublot in Bengaluru with a planned opening in August. We are also in talks with many new brands to be introduced in India," he added. Further, Richemont-owned luxury watch Panerai launched its new collection last Friday to add some impetus to the buying market. The watches are currently on multi-city tour in India to gauge buyer interest. Also read | When royalty met Rolls-Royce: Indian maharajas' love affair with luxury Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved Ltd on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it has stopped the sale of the 14 products whose manufacturing licences were suspended by the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority in April. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that it has issued instructions to 5,606 franchise stores to withdraw these products. It said media platforms have also been instructed to withdraw advertisements of these 14 products in any form. Patanjali was directed to file an affidavit within two weeks stating whether the request made to social media intermediaries for the removal of advertisements has been acceded to and whether advertisements of these 14 products have been withdrawn. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on July 30. Check out the list of products whose sales have stopped: Swasari Gold Swasari Vati Bronchom Swasari Pravahi Swasari Avaleh MuktaVati Extra Power Lipidom Bp Grit Madhugrit MadhunashiniVati Extra Power Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop Eyegrit Gold Livogrit Livamrit Advance What is the Patanjali-IMA case? The Supreme Court is currently hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. The Supreme Court had said that Patanjali should not be allowed to sell products for which licences were suspended. "If licence is suspended, the product should not be sold. We have to give a notice (otherwise)! The moment it is suspended, from that day they cannot do. The same should be on hold. Take it off," Justice Amanullah had said. Also Read | Patanjali soan papdi fails quality test, three fined and sent to prison The Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority had earlier told the apex court that manufacturing licences of 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Divya Pharmacy have been "suspended with immediate effect". The apex court had on May 14 reserved its order on the contempt notice issued to yoga guru Ramdev, his aide Balkrishna and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in the misleading advertisements case. New Delhi: India's wealthy are shelling out more money for luxury cars as growing real estate registrations for expensive houses and handsome financial market returns buoy sentiment, according to the top executive of Mercedes-Benz India, the country's largest luxury carmaker. Strong performances in the financial markets and record real estate consumption and registrations are creating a positive spending sentiment, with customers happier and more willing to invest in luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz," Santosh Iyer, managing director & chief executive officer, Mercedes-Benz India said in an interview. Real estate developers, contractors and sub-contractors form close to 15% of the company's clientele. Iyer expects growth in sales for Mercedes-Benz cars, which is up 9% year-on-year (y-o-y) at just over 9,200 units in the first half of 2024, to move into double digits in the second half. The festive season, wedding season, and September's depreciation benefits will likely see a surge in car purchases, driving a strong second half for the luxury car market," he said. Comparatively, mass-market passenger vehicles grew at a modest 4% y-o-y in June. Real estate activity was at a record for both office and residential sectors in the first half of 2024, according to property consulting firm Knight Frank India. H1 2024 has racked up the highest ever transaction volumes in a half yearly period at 3.2 mn sq m (34.7 mn sq ft). Incidentally, this distinction was previously claimed by H2 2023 and the fact that the record was scaled in two successive periods showcases the growing strength of the Indian office market their best ever half yearly performances," a Knight Frank report said, adding that demand reached an 11-year high during H1 2024. At Landmark, almost 65% of our customers come from a business background, and from it, almost 19-20% from the real estate sector," Aryaman Thakker, executive director, Group Landmark, a listed auto retail chain, told Mint. Definitely, with the real estate segment in most large cities doing well, the sentiment shows in luxury car buying." The Stuttgart-based luxury carmaker on Monday launched its most affordable and largest-selling electric vehicle globallythe EQAin India at an introductory price of 66 lakh ex-showroom, as well as a new five-seat configuration of the EQB SUV. No more EV sales targets Interestingly, while Mercedes-Benz expands its EV portfolio in India, it no longer has a firm EV penetration target like it did earlier. Till last year, the luxury carmaker had stated it expects up to a quarter of its sales to come from all-electric vehicles over the next five years. It had just over 2% EV penetration then. Now, with 5% of its sales coming from EVs, the company is leaving a lot more to the decision of its customers and the regulatory environment shaping the electric vehicle ecosystem. What we have realized in the last 12-18 months is that it is beyond just an OEM's wish [to sell more EVs]," said Iyer, adding that it also depends on customer acceptance and tax breaks from the Centre and states. In particular, Iyer noted that EV sales tend to fall when tax incentives are withdrawn by a state. That's why, while EVs today are a compelling proposition, with just 5% tax compared to 65% tax on IC-engine cars, this value proposition depends on external factors. So we, or anyone, cannot really put a timeline on what happens in terms of EV sales over the next few years." Iyer also said that aggressive fuel efficiency norms could drive a greater focus on EVs in India. However, we will continue to develop IC (internal combustion) engine cars, but we want to be a carbon-neutral company across the value chain and will continue our capital allocation plans towards EVs. We will be strategically focused, tactically flexible," he said. Seek policy continuity There is a delayed acceptance of EVs from customers. Everyone says their next car will be an EV. The question is, why not now?" Iyer said. The bigger mass of customers is still hesitant to shift. It is more of a collective mentalitywaiting for others to jump in. So the transition is a bit slower than we thought," he added, echoing the views of Sagree Sardien, the company's head for region overseas, which comprises markets such as India, Australia and South America. It (the demand growth) certainly hasn't gone the way the automotive industry wanted," Sardien had said earlier this March, adding that the company will look to provide an IC-engine variant for every EV offered to cater to this slow pace of adoption and offer customers the flexibility to choose a solution that works for them. India is the fifth largest in Mercedes-Benz's overseas regions outside of North America, China and Europe, and has the potential to become the third largest market in the region over the next two to three years. According to Iyer, zero road tax, toll tax exemption and long-term commitment on low GST on EVs will be imperative for the country to see the sustainable mobility transition happen faster. India is better placed because we have very high tax on combustion engines, which is not the case in other major markets. So instead of giving out incentives, which is what many other developed markets do, we are able to enjoy a lower tax structure which is helping price cars better. As a government, India is well-positioned to continue this for a longer period of time," Iyer said. The Delhi high court on Tuesday ordered the registration of a contempt case against SpiceJet's directors for non-compliance with its order to return two airframes and three engines to lessor TWC Aviation Capital Ltd. The division bench led by Justice Rajiv Shakhder issued a show cause notice to the airline's directors, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for not complying with the court's 2 July order. In the 2 July order, the bench directed SpiceJet to return all leased assets, including the airframes, engines and all technical records, to TWC Aviation by 8 July. Before that on 27 May, the bench rejected the airline's plea challenging a single-judge bench order to return the assets. Also Read: 'No more extensions, SpiceJet must pay Credit Suisse' SpiceJet's lawyer senior advocate Amit Sibal informed the court that the airline had returned two airframes and two engines, while one engine was en route to Chennai. The court noted this as partial compliance and emphasized that full compliance is necessary. However, the court clarified that if SpiceJet fully complies with the order within nine days, contempt proceedings will be withdrawn. The court is likely to hear the case next on 19 July. TWC Aviation claims rental dues of around $16 million from the airline. Also Read: For SpiceJet to stay afloat, some crew will have to deplane The lessor leased two Boeing aircraft and three engines to SpiceJet in 2019 for a 12-month period, but the airline defaulted on its $180,000 monthly rent. Disputes arose during the covid-19 pandemic, leading to legal proceedings in courts in India and England. In March, the High Court of Justice in London issued an interim injunction against SpiceJet, barring the use of TWC's engines on other aircraft over concerns about misuse and potential damage. Despite SpiceJet's challenge, the court ruled in favour of TWC, ordering the return of the leased assets. Also Read: In charts: The many challenging lives SpiceJet has lived On 15 May, the Delhi high court's single-judge bench also ordered SpiceJet to return the aircraft and engines to TWC Aviation by 28 May. A Boeing jetliner taking off from Los Angeles lost a wheel Monday, the latest in a string of safety scares for the aerospace giant. United Airlines, which operated the Boeing 757-200, said the plane lost the wheel after leaving Los Angeles International Airport but landed safely in Denver, its intended destination. "The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event," the airline said in statement. No injuries were reported from the ground or the 174 passengers and seven crew members on board. It was the second time in recent months that a Boeing plane operated by United Airlines lost a wheel after taking off. In March, a Boeing 777 bound for Japan had a tire fall off shortly after takeoff from San Francisco. The aircraft had to make an emergency landing. Also Read | Mahanagar Gas hikes CNG & piped cooking gas prices in Mumbai from today Boeing agreed Monday to plead guilty to fraud in a settlement with the US Department of Justice over two fatal 737 MAX crashes. Boeing has faced renewed scrutiny of the 737 MAX this year after a fuselage door plug blew out on the same model during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. A Boeing spokesperson said in an email that the 757-200 aircraft that took off Monday was first delivered 30 years ago in 1994. Production of the 757 model was discontinued in 2004. Wealth management platform Dezerv has raised 265 crore in a funding round led by Premji Invest, the private equity firm of billionaire Azim Premji, as it aims to expand its investment strategies for high-net-worth individuals (HNI) in India. Existing investors Elevation Capital, Z47 (formerly Matrix Partners India) and Accel also participated in the round. The fresh capital is expected to help Dezerv boost its technology platform and hire investment specialists for its next growth phase, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The company did not disclose its valuation. Founded by Sahil Contractor, Sandeep Jethwani, and Vaibhav Porwal in 2021, Dezerv claims to manage over 7,000 crore in assets that are allocated across proprietary equities, fixed income, and alternative investment models. It aims to support Indias affluent class and HNIs in their wealth creation journey. Read more: Agritech firm AgroStar in talks to raise $40-50 mn to expand private labels According to Jethwani, over 65% of HNI portfolios often suffer from underperformance due to mis-selling and over-diversification. Dezerv aims to address these issues with the help of technology and centrally-managed portfolios. Dezervs financial health assessment app Wealth Monitor has tracked assets over 60,000 crore, the firm said. Indias wealth creators are set to add nearly $1.2 trillion over the next five years, with their wealth growing at a 14% CAGR... Building trust and delivering top-tier service requires significant capital for client asset security, regulatory compliance, and good governance. We are grateful for the substantial support from Premji Invest and our existing partners, Jethwani said in the statement. Premji Invest, the family office of Azim Premji that manages over $10 billion for the tech czar, has made 140 investments globally. The family office is betting on artificial intelligence to prop up its $10 billion worth Premji Invest fund, and will thus increase investments in the sector, Bloomberg reported in April. Read more: Luxury brands Hublot, Baccarat, others pull out all stops for an Indian festival According to Saravanan Nattanmai, partner at Premji Invest, the financialisation of savings is gaining significant momentum in India. With the deepening of the capital markets, navigating the complex risk-return dynamics across multiple asset classes becomes increasingly challenging, especially for the mass affluent segment, he added. Indias wealth management market reached $429.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.56% during 20252029, according to estimates by market research firm TechSci Research. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has okayed the sale of up to 51% stake in Yes Bank, setting the stage for a new owner for the private lender that survived a near-death experience just four years ago. A likely stake sale may value India's sixth-largest private bank by assets at around $10 billion, two people with direct knowledge of the development said, in what would be the largest acquisition in India's banking sector. The central bank gave its in-principle approval to Yes Bank and some of its key shareholders a few weeks ago, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. Approving a majority stake sale is a rare decision for the regulator, which has capped 26% as promoter holding in domestic banks. Also read | Wanted: A new owner for Yes Bank Some of the bidders are interested only if they are allowed to acquire 51% in the bank. While assessing the fit and proper criteria for the potential new promoter (of Yes Bank), as a special case, RBI has agreed for a 51% sale of control to an appropriate incoming promoter," one of the two people cited above said. According to the second person, RBI officials agreed to the sale plan during discussions, but has yet to issue a written approval. The central bank is still assessing the fit-and-proper status of the bidders. The regulator approved the stake sale after considering the Yes Bank case to be a unique one given its shareholding structure, loan book and liquidity requirements, the people said. Yes Bank has appointed Citigroup to shortlist suitable promoters. A Citigroup spokesperson declined to comment on the story. Path to exits The RBI approval opens up an exit path for State Bank of India (SBI) and other lenders that jointly own 33.74% in Yes Bank, which has assets worth over 4 trillion. SBI holds 23.99% in Yes Bank, HDFC Bank 2.75%, ICICI Bank 2.39%, Kotak Mahindra Bank 1.21%, and Axis Bank 1.01%. LIC owns 3.98%, while CA Basque Investments holds 8.74% and Verventa Holdings Ltd 9.21% in Yes Bank. The banks total holding in Yes Bank has dropped from 35.18% in April and 36.74% in March. Some of these banks have been advised by RBI not to sell their shares in the open market, the second person added. Also read | Yes Banks turnaround: Why Prashant Kumar still has miles to go In 2018, RBI had allowed Prem Watsa-owned Fairfax Group to pick up 51% in the then loss-making Catholic Syrian Bank, the first time a foreign investor was allowed to acquire an Indian bank since the time ownership norms were tweaked in May 2017. The large shareholders in Yes Bank are mostly those who operate and promote their own banks separately. So, they would be more concerned about the liquidity and growth of their own banks rather than Yes Bank," said the first person. He said bringing in a new promoter will ensure better liquidity for Yes Bank and enhance its ability to access enough growth capital for faster expansion. "If you want banks to be strongly capitalized, then there has to be a strong investor. Then only we can ensure that capital will be available. If it is a widely distributed holding, then when there is a need for capital, who will put it? Only strategic investors will come forward. A widely distributed investor will not come in," a former RBI official said on condition of anonymity. Under special circumstances India allows a promoter to hold up to 26% in a private bank, but RBI may allow a higher shareholding under special circumstances such as relinquishment by existing promoters, supervisory intervention, reconstruction/restructuring of banks, entrenchment of existing promoters or any other action in the interest of the bank. The deal may involve a share swap in case of a merger with a domestic bank. "All you have is a network and a good IT system in Yes Bank. The bank is not there in a single product. The investor will have to put in 45,000 crore and then have to put in growth capital. Who has got the appetite to put in $7-8 billion in India?," a top private sector banker said on condition of anonymity. The first person said some of the potential foreign suitors of Yes Bank want a special exemption on promoter holding since some of its loans are still viewed with scepticism in terms of the profile of the borrowers, especially in the corporate banking portfolio. This portion, however, has a lower share than retail and small business borrowers. Yes Banks total loans stood at 2.28 trillion at the end of FY24. Of this, the share of retail and SME advances was 61.6%, while mid-corporates accounted for 15% and corporate advances stood at 23%. Also read | Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank seek to revive corporate lending The first person said RBI is considering the exemption to encourage potential buyers to put in enough capital to help it grow faster. According to the two persons, financial entities including Japans Sumitomo Mitsui, MUFG group, Mizuho Bank and West Asias First Abu Dhabi Bank are circling Yes Bank. Emails sent to Yes Bank, SBI, RBI remained unanswered. Mitsui Sumitomo, MUFG, Mizuho and First Abu Dhabi Bank also did not respond to queries till press time. Yes Bank shares closed 3.53% down at 25.69 on BSE on Monday, clocking a market capitalization of 80,502 crore, a day when most of the banking stocks fell. Fortunes may change If a new owner takes reins of Yes Bank, the lender may emerge as an aggressive private bank with better pricing of banking products and services for the borrowers. In March 2020, the regulator seized control of Yes Bank from its board led by founder-chairman Rana Kapoor, after its gross bad loans ballooned to 16.8% and its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)essentially the banks ability to meet immediate short-term repaymentsfell to as low as 37% of the total cash outflow over the next 30 days. RBI then brought in SBI, LIC and other banks to join as Yes Banks shareholders and help it stay afloat. SBI initially owned around 49% in Yes Bank, but after a 24,000 crore fund-raising, its stake fell to 26.13% in 2022. The bank was required to maintain a stake of at least 26% in Yes Bank for three year, which ended in March 2023. On 14 March, Mint was the first to report that Yes Bank was looking for a new promoter to sell up to 51% stake, and had hired Citigroups India unit to find a buyer. Yes Banks deposit base has swelled from 1 trillion in March 2020, when RBI superseded its board to over 2.66 trillion now. Profits and net interest margin have improved since the ownership change. In FY24, the bank posted a 74.4% year-on-year jump in net profit at 1,251 crore. The banks NIM was at 2.4%, better than in previous quarters. New Delhi: The Registrar of Companies (RoC) has imposed penalty on Herox Pvt. Ltd, the holding company for Hero Vired, and on two directors on the board, for alleged lapses in reporting beneficial ownership related details in time, showed an official order. Hero Vired, a LearnTech company, is a Hero Group entity. The order issued by the RoC for the National Capital Territory of Delhi and Haryana imposed 6 lakh on the company for not filing the e-form declaring beneficial owners under Section 90 of the Companies Act before the RoC initiated proceedings. Read more: Amazon Pay sees big opportunities in Indias small towns, offline payments Although all the beneficial owners including the two directors on the companys boardSuman Kant Munjal and Akshay Munjalhad given their declarations to the company, it defaulted on filing the forms with the authorities, the order which is now in public domain, said, citing the admission made by the company. The RoC also imposed penalty of 1.5 lakh each on the two directors holding them in default, given that directors have a responsibility for the companys statutory compliances. Suman Kant Munjal is the non-executive director of Hero Motocorp, while Akshay Munjal is founder and chief executive of BML Munjal University. Pawan Munjal Family Trust has 12% stake in Herox. Read more: Why Gaurav Banerjee has an arduous job at Sony RoCs are taking action against companies for lapses in declaring significant beneficial ownership as part of efforts to enhance governance and transparency. Under law, those holding significant beneficial ownership in companies have to declare the same to the companies and they, in turn, have to keep a register of such owners and report to the RoC of any changes within a specified time frame. Also, companies have to make sure that significant beneficial owners comply with the provisions. In the case of Herox, the RoC opted for the lesser penalty regime prescribed by the Companies Act for small companies and start-ups. A company official said that the RoC order will be contested. As mentioned in the ROC order, there is no non-compliance at the end of any shareholder. They had submitted the BEN-1 forms. The company, M/s HEROX Pvt. Ltd, did not file BEN-2 for the reason that its holding company had already filed the same. The company has, in compliance to the ROC notice, filed the required BEN-2 forms. The company and the directors will file an appeal before the Regional Director (ROC). BENGALURU : Agritech startup AgroStar is in early talks to raise $40-50 million from a clutch of new and existing investors to expand its private-label business, according to two people aware of the discussions. The talks are advancing quickly, and the round is likely to be finalised over the next month or so," said one of the persons, adding that the round is likely to fetch a higher valuation. The Pune-based firm was last valued at $291 million, according to estimates by market intelligence firm Tracxn. It last raised $70 million in Series D funding from private equity firm Evolvence India, global asset manager Schroders Capital, Hero Enterprise and the UKs development finance institution CDC in 2021. Aavishkaar Capital, Accel, Bertelsmann, Chiratae Ventures and Rabo Frontier Ventures also participated in the round. Founded by Shardul Sheth and Sitanshu Sheth in 2009, AgroStar introduced its first brand in 2020. Now, its private brands, covering seeds to farm equipment, account for more than 80% of its overall revenue, according to Shardul Sheth. The firm did not respond to Mint queries. Change of plans Last week, Mint reported that agritech firms are increasingly banking on their own brands to improve revenue and margins. Owned brands are now contributing a big portion of the revenue for many agritech firms such as DeHaat and Waycool Foods, signalling a major shift in strategies. The development also comes at a time when the agritech sector is grappling with a slowdown in investments and scaling problems, prompting some firms to reassess their strategies. Venture capital funding for Indian agritech and foodtech startups dropped 33% to $2.4 billion in 2022, according to the AgriFoodTech Investment report by agritech investors AgFunder and Omnivore released in 2023. Moreover, the sector continues to rely on government support. Valued at $24 billion, Indias agritech sector remains significantly untapped, with only 1.5% penetration, said a 2023 report by consulting giant EY. None of the startups in the sector has achieved the unicorn statusa valuation of $1 billion or moreor has listed publicly. DeHaat, WayCool Foods and Ninjacart are valued in the range of $650 million to $800 million. Also Read: Why VCs are drawn towards upstream agritech Mint reported in June that Venture Catalysts-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. The exams will be conducted online in multiple shifts across exam centres all over the country. The SSR Agniveer exam will take place from July 9 to July 11, while the MR exam is scheduled to take place from July 12 to July 15. The admit cards for Agniveer SSR and MR are available on the Indian Navy's official website at join Indian navy.nic.in. Karnataka SSLC Supplementary Results 2024: The Karnataka School Examination result announced the exam 2 results today. Candidates who appeared in the supplementary exam this year to improve their performance in the SSLC examination can check their marks at the official website of KSEAB at kseab.karnataka.gov.in and at karresults.nic.in. Karnataka SSLC Supplementary Result 2024: Know how to check result -Go to the official website of Karnataka Board at kseab.karnataka.gov.in. -The home page of the website will show Karnataka SSLC Supplementary Result 2024 link. Cick on that link. -Enter the details asked to log in. -Press enter to submit details. -Check the result and download the page. -Take out a printout for future reference. Also Read | Top Events of the Day: PM Modi in Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin Karnataka SSLC Supplementary Exam 2024: Details required to check result Students must visit the official website to check their results. After visiting the official website and opening the result link, students must enter their date of birth (DOB) and registration number. About Karnataka SSLC Supplementary The Karnataka SSLC supplementary examination was held between June 14 and June 21, 2024. Students who appeared in the Karnataka SSLC Supplementary examination can check their results at the official website of the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board or KSEAB, kseab.karnataka.gov.in. Additionally, students can also check their results at karresults.nic.in. Also Read | FMGE 2024 medical exam underway amid tight security with live CCTV monitoring The supplementary examination has been renamed as exam 2, according to the new system, in which there will be three exams each year, ie exams 1, 2, and 3. Students appearing in the Karnataka SSLC Supplementary exam can check their results by entering their registration number and date of birth. Karnataka SSLC examination Not very long ago, a young Falak Aftab filled her notebook page with black colour when asked to draw any painting from her imagination. Falak confided in her teacher that she had nothing else but a dark life in mind. She used to live in isolation. Whenever we tried to engage with her, she remained silent. One day, I asked her why she painted the page black. She said black represented the darkness she felt at home. She couldnt think of any better colour to explain it with, said Firdous-ul-Nisa, a teacher at Government High School, Shirmal, in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district. Nisa is one of the master trainers in the Art-Based Capacity Building and Training (ACBT) project launched by the Union Territory administration. After a six-month training programme, 112 such master trainers from 20 districts across the UT became well-equipped to implement art-based interventions in their public schools. These interventions provided a platform for self-exploration and expression, empowering students enrolled in Kashmir's public schools to navigate the challenges they face. The impact of the prolonged conflict in Jammu and Kashmir has significantly affected students' mental well-being. Keeping this in mind, the UT's Directorate of School Education, in collaboration with the non-profits Piramal Foundation and Red Pencil International, launched the pilot ACBT Project. The project aims to create a cadre of master trainers among teachers who will implement art-based interventions in schools and serve as resource persons to train other teachers. For the past seven years, we have partnered with the Piramal Foundation on initiatives like Art Therapy and Aesthetic Literacy in Jammu and Kashmir. Our goal is to strengthen teacher skills and equip our children with essential 21st-century competencies, said Tassaduq Hussain Mir, Director of School Education, Kashmir. Parallelly, the 60 master trainers will cascade their learnings to 1,000+ educators across all 10 districts in Kashmir. Last week, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Ganderbal organised an aesthetic teacher training programme across all zones of the district in collaboration with the Piramal Foundation. The master trainers incorporated the principles of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the training sessions. Kashmir News: The UT's Directorate of School Education, in collaboration with non profits Piramal Foundation and Red Pencil International, launched a pilot art-based learning project in 2022. NEP 2020 has laid a specific thrust on art-based learning. Art integration is a cross-curricular pedagogical approach that utilises various aspects and forms of art and culture as the basis for learning concepts across subjects, reads the NEP document. Nazir Ahmad Wani, another master trainer at the government middle school in Kelar, Shopian district in South Kashmir, said that the trauma experienced by communities in the prolonged conflict called for a holistic educational approach that prioritises emotional healing. You cant just be a normal teacher. You have to show empathy. And this can be done through only art-based learning," said Nazir Wani. After the pilot project's success, an Aesthetic Literacy project, which uses an art-based curriculum to build learners' emotional well-being, was launched exclusively in Kashmir. At present, 60 teachers from the ACBT cohort are leading this programme in 60 schools in Kashmir. Also Read | NBFCs tap the rush for student loans in the middle of the pyramid "With Aesthetics Literacy, we strive to build sensibilities around feelings and emotions to equip a child to connect to the world, practice art languages, and build relationships with self and the world. Some key areas of focus are 21st-century skills- future readiness, social and emotional learning, gender sensitivity and inclusion, said Zeeshan Hassan, senior programme director, J&K, Ladakh, Piramal Foundation. After the pilot project's success, an Aesthetic Literacy project, which uses an art-based curriculum to build learners' emotional well-being, was launched exclusively in Kashmir. Falak Aftab, guided by her teacher Nisa, has thrived in her school's special art-based curriculum alongside her regular studies. During subsequent interactions, we realised that Falak had domestic issues in her family. Gradually, she started drawing paintings about whatever was in her mind. Falak was in Class 10 when she came to us. Today, she is in Class 12 and is an outspoken girl full of confidence," shared the proud teacher, Nisa. Mumbai: India's banking and capital market regulators are increasingly pushing for self-policing by financial sector entities and market participants, respectively, to ensure they stem malpractices themselves before things get out of hand. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been pushing fintechs towards self-regulation, and holding discussions both in private and in groups with heads of banks, non-banks and even asset turnaround companies on governance and other regulatory issues. On the other hand, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch recently urged the industry to proactively report on mischief in the market" to maintain investors trust. If the trust is belied, the edifice of the system will come down like a pack of cards," Buch said at a conference last week. Experts said regulators are taking this approach because the rise in trained manpower to detect and tackle wrongdoings has not kept pace with rising regulatory challenges. The challenge for all financial regulators is that the market is growing wider and deeper, and the regulatory bench strength needs to expand further," said Srinath Sridharan, a policy researcher and corporate advisor. At the same time, Sridharan pointed out that self-regulation might work to an extent, but it cannot fill in all the gaps that arise out of the divergence between the growing number of regulatory challenges and the limitations of our regulatory ecosystem". Emails sent to spokespersons of Sebi and RBI remained unanswered. RBI's concerns In its meetings with stakeholders, RBI officials have laid down what they broadly expect of these entities and also pointed out gaps in compliance in the hope that they will self-correct. Das had said at the Mint BFSI Summit in January how in private conversations, bank chief executives have brought to his notice some areas they are concerned about. ...in the last six-eight months, two-three bank CEOs have shared in private that these are areas they are also getting worried (about)," Das had said, pointing to the consultative approach of the regulator. To be sure, Das has in the past as well spoken of self-regulation among regulated institutions. In September, he said he would like to urge and encourage fintechs to establish an SRO (self-regulatory organization) themselves". In May, the regulator issued final guidelines on fintech SROs. Earlier, in March, the regulator had issued an omnibus framework for recognizing SROs across sectors. In fact, this specific guideline highlights why RBI is pushing for self-regulation: With the growth of the REs (regulated entities) in terms of number as well as scale of operations, increase in adoption of innovative technologies and enhanced customer outreach, a need is felt to develop better industry standards for self-regulation." Sebi's concerns Amid the recent market surge, the Sebi chief warned that erosion of trust following any industry mischief could lead to more stringent regulations and a potential collapse of the ecosystem. Buchs words followed regulatory circulars applicable to stock brokers and market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) to maintain effective surveillance. In June, Sebi notified a framework on financial disincentives for MIIs, which include stock exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories, for their lapse in detecting abnormal or suspicious trading activity. A month later, and on the day Buch spoke at the event, Sebi also directed stockbrokers to establish an institutional mechanism to detect and prevent fraud or market abuse. The objective of both circulars was to ensure that market intermediaries detect manipulation or abusive trading and notify Sebi, supporting the regulator to enforce its regulations. These circulars indicated that the regulator is pushing for self-regulation by market intermediaries to add to its own surveillance. Chirag M, Shah, a securities lawyer, said Sebi was appealing to the civic responsibility of a party to report any dubious practice. If malpractices rise, then Sebi may come out with a regulation which would affect the good guys of the industry who may have to suffer even if they have done nothing wrong," said Shah. Limitations of self-regulation However, Shah pointed out that for self-policing to work it was also important for industry participants to be proactive and aware about what constitutes malpractice. It is important even for a layperson to know what is a malpractice or mischief. That is something that Sebi will have to inform and make market participants aware of," he said. Other legal experts said that while self-policing might not be sufficient to address complex or systemic issues requiring in-depth investigation, it could give a good head start to the regulators. Advance analytics and random audits or surprise inspections by regulators can help the regulator uncover hidden potential violations," said Kshitij Asthana, capital markets practice leader at Singhania & Co, adding that a more robust legal framework was crucial for the protection of whistleblowers from retaliation. The Sebi regulations mentioned earlier received mixed responses from market participants. Sanjay Israni, a partner at law firm Desai & Diwanji, said that although the direction seemed stringent, it did not cast an undue burden on intermediaries. Some think that self-policing can lead to quicker identification and resolution because insiders often spot irregularities first. Others worry about potential conflicts of interest and whether internal controls will be effective without strong external supervision," Israni said. Others like Jitendra Motwani, a partner at law firm Economic Laws Practice, believe that intermediaries may face initial setback in the form of additional costs, but it might help prevent recent stock broking scams that had a huge impact on the market. New Delhi: Russia has decided to sweeten Indias purchases of crude oil by offering to lower the transaction fee charged by its banks for converting foreign currency and remitting payments to suppliers, said two people with knowledge of the developments. Russian state-owned Sberbank is the first among the lenders that has agreed to renegotiate the high transaction fee charged on payments made by Indian importers for Russian goods, including oil, based on the quantum of transactions, one of the two people said. Other banks transacting high volumes of Indo-Russian trade could follow suit, depending on the direction taken by Sberbank, the person added. "Sberbank was initially charging a high premium in terms of making rouble payments. Now they have said that they are open for negotiations, depending on the quantum of transactions. It is now flexible regarding negotiating the premium that they charge on the transactions," the first person said. Also Read: India refuses to pay Russian oil suppliers in yuan Indian refiners and traders mostly pay for Russian oil imports in dirhams (the UAE currency), apart from rupees. Russian banks charge a fee to convert the currency paid by Indian importers into roubles and then remit it to the Russian suppliers. The central banks of both countries are yet to set up a rupee-rouble currency conversion mechanism. Sberbank initially charged an additional premium of about 4% on the transactions. Sberbank is ready to display flexibility in pricing of transaction fees for imports of the Russian raw materials to India, thus contributing to the development of the India-Russia trade relations," the Russian bank said in response to a mailed query from Mint. Currency preferences During the height of the Ukraine war, in July 2022, the Reserve Bank of India said that it would put in place an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in rupees. The RBIs move was aimed at promoting trade in rupees and to help ease settlements with Russia. However, the move did not gain momentum as expected. The main issue was that both the Indian rupee and the Russian rouble are not fully convertible. Additionally, the volume of trade is skewed in favour of Russia, with Indias oil imports far higher than Russian imports. Queries sent to the union ministry of petroleum and natural gas remained unanswered till press time. The ministry, in response to queries from a parliamentary standing committee, had noted that no crude oil imports by state-run oil companies were settled in Indian rupees in FY23. "Crude oil suppliers (including Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) continue to express their concern on the repatriation of funds in the preferred currency and also highlighted high transactional costs associated with conversion of funds along with exchange fluctuation risks," the ministry told the panel. It added that suppliers expressed concern over the repatriation of funds in the preferred currency and highlighted the high transactional costs associated with conversion of funds along with exchange fluctuation risks. Ajay Sahai, Director General & CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, noted that although settlements are made in roubles, there is no direct exchange rate for rouble-to-rupee conversion. "In the case of payments made to India in rupees, there is not much of an issue - they (Russians) invoice and pay in rupees. But in the case of roubles, it has to be converted to rupees since there is no direct exchange rate and a third currency is used for conversion. For this, the bank charges a premium," he added. Russia has emerged as the top supplier of crude oil to India in the past two years as it offered deep discounts in the wake of sanctions and price caps imposed by the West after the Ukraine war broke out. Crude oil imports from Russia stood at $46.49 billion during FY24, almost 50% higher than $31.03 billion in the previous fiscal. A report by trade data and analytics firm Kpler in April noted that the currency issue remains a headwind for Indias oil supplies from Russia. "With an ascent into Russian purchases as steep as Indias, there remain many headwinds to maintain such fast-paced imports. First, Russian sellers and Indian buyers are still yet to iron out their differences on the future currency of such oil flows the Russian rouble is largely unusable for Indias refiners and vice versa for the Indian rupee, whilst the Chinese yuan is a far cry from being politically palatable in Delhi," it said. In a bid to ease and boost settlements in Indian rupees, the RBI last month extended the facility of allowing additional special current accounts to be opened exclusively for settlement of trade transactions. On a review, and to provide operational flexibility, the facility of opening an additional special current account by the AD Category-I banks (maintaining Special Rupee Vostro Account in terms of the RBI circular dated July 11, 2022) for its constituents may be extended for settlement of their export as well as import transactions, the central bank said on June 11. This move was also expected to help settlement of oil import transactions in the domestic currency, the second person said, adding that Indian state-run refiners were looking into the next possible move based on this notification and would consider opening vostro accounts. Vostro accounts are those that are held on behalf of a bank by a correspondent bank. Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, addressed a complaint on the inconvenience caused by long queues at gas agencies for e-KYC authentication, saying customers can use their mobile phones for the purpose. The central government has not set any deadline for e-KYC authentication, he informed, directing Oil Marketing Companies to ensure that there is no mustering of customers at gas agencies. In a post on X, the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas said:There is no deadline for this activity either by Oil Marketing Companies or the Central Government. It is also clarified by OMCs that there are no "Mustering" of customers at Showrooms of LPG distributorship. Also Read | Commercial gas cylinder prices slashed by 30; check new rates here Puri's post came in response to a letter by VD Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Satheesan said the mustering required to be done at respective gas agencies has caused inconvenience to regular LPG holders. The Union Minister explained the rationale behind implementing e-KYC Aadhar authentication, which, he said, was aimed at removing bogus customers who provided false information to avail LPG. Oil Marketing Companies are undertaking e-KYC Aadhar authentication for LPG customers to remove bogus customers against whose name commercial cylinders are often booked by certain gas distributors. The process is in place for more than 8 months now, Puri said. Puri explained the process for e-KYC authentication for LPG, where customers can either use the OMC app or visit the store. In this process, the LPG Delivery Personnel, while delivering LPG Cylinders to customers, verifies credentials. Delivery personnel using their mobile phone captures the Aadhaar credentials of the customer through an app. Customer receives an OTP, which is used to complete the process, he said. Customers can also approach the distributor showroom at their convenience. Alternatively, customers can also install OMC Apps and complete the e-KYC on their own, he added. He said the Oil companies will issue a media clarification to avoid inconvenience for the customers. The government set up the process for e-KYC authentication of LPG to ensure only genuine customers get gas cylinders. Also Read | Commercial gas cylinder prices slashed by 30; check new rates here On 1 July, India replaced its colonial-era criminal laws with three new codes, marking a significant shift in its legal landscape. While these reforms promise modernization, they introduce stricter regulations that could challenge businesses striving to reduce regulatory burdens. Mint delves into the impact of these new criminal laws on businesses, with a particular focus on provisions addressing economic offenses. The new criminal code laws The new laws replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973 (the first version of the Code of Criminal Procedure was enacted in 1861) with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, respectively. Cleared by Parliament in December and effective from 1 July, these changes aim to streamline and update India's criminal justice system. Key changes introduced One of the most notable changes is the introduction of the Zero FIR, allowing complaints to be filed at any police station, eliminating delays in initiating legal action. Technological advancements, including online police complaints and electronic summons, aim to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Judicial reforms mandate strict timelines for trial judgments and charge framing, ensuring swift justice. Special provisions now protect vulnerable groups with stringent penalties for offenses like mob lynching and crimes against women and children. The new laws also focus on enhancing evidence collection, requiring mandatory audio-video recordings of victim statements and forensic evidence, which strengthens the prosecution's case. Victim-centric reforms ensure that victims are kept informed about case progress and prevent case withdrawal without their consent. The offense of sedition has been eliminated, replaced by provisions aimed at safeguarding national integrity and unity. Additionally, the definition and penalties for terrorism have been strengthened. Economic crimes under the new laws The scope of economic offenses has been broadened to include a wider array of activities aimed at financial gain, such as breach of trust, forgery, counterfeiting, mass marketing fraud, and digital scams. Significant revisions include increasing the maximum imprisonment term for cheating from one to three years and expanding the definition of forgery to cover government-issued identity documents like voter ID cards and Aadhaar cards. The punishment for criminal breach of trust has been heightened from three years to five years, and a mandatory minimum imprisonment of six months plus a fine has been introduced for dishonest misappropriation of property. Fines for producing or using documents resembling currency notes or banknotes have been increased, and the government has made the offense of producing government-issued coins or stamps for revenue purposes punishable. Key provision: Conviction-in-Absentia A pivotal aspect of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is the provision for Conviction-in-Absentia, allowing for the trial, conviction, and sentencing of accused individuals even in their absence. This applies to crimes carrying a jail term of 10 years or more, including economic offenses, and extends to serious offenses governed by company law, the rules laid out by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, and sector-specific laws such as those regulating drugs, cosmetics, and food adulteration. In the past, courts have had to summon top executives from major corporations, such as the chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. from South Korea and Citigroups US-based CEO, and have initiated criminal prosecutions against companies like Motorola Inc. The new provision now enables courts to initiate criminal proceedings against senior executives without requiring their personal appearance in court. This grants courts significant authority with potentially far-reaching consequences for both local and foreign businesses operating in India. More here | Mint Explainer: How mediation can speed up insolvency dispute resolution Mumtaz Bhalla, Partner at Economic Laws Practice, explained that if the magistrate deems the accused's presence unnecessary for justice or if the accused disrupts court proceedings, a trial in absentia may proceed. "Section 356 of the BNSS also permits trials in absentia for proclaimed offenders without immediate arrest prospectsthe provision under BNSS for conviction and sentencing in absentia could deter multinationals, as their executives may face trial without being presentan approach distinct from the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018, which targets absconders." Impact on business operations Legal experts view these new criminal laws as a mixed bag for businesses. While they enhance transparency, accountability, and ethical standards, they also bring stricter regulations that might hinder the ease of doing business. Mohit Garg, managing partner at Lex Panacea, notes that these laws introduce stricter regulations increasing the accountability of directors, executives, and managers, thereby helping to prevent fraud and unethical practices. Additionally, the inclusion of new sections allowing for admissible electronic records, mentioned in Section 61 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, is expected to facilitate easier compliance for both large corporations and small companies alike," he said. Vidhi Khanijow, a white-collar crimes specialist at Panag & Babu, emphasized that the new laws impact how corporations conduct business, affecting them directly and indirectly, including their key managerial personnel, directors, and employees. Companies will be under considerable pressure to conduct swift internal investigations to effectively respond to and defend themselves against multi-pronged investigations and proceedings," Khanijow added. Looking ahead Experts suggest that now is a crucial time for companies to improve their compliance and governance practices. With the new laws focusing on economic crimes and allowing trials in absentia, enhancing these frameworks will help businesses navigate regulatory changes smoothly and ensure long-term success in a more transparent environment. However, some critics argue that these laws need to undergo rigorous judicial scrutiny before their true impact is realized. Abhimanyu Kampani, partner at IndusLaw, pointed out that while the changes may appear minor, they could carry significant implications. These provisions will face legal scrutiny to assess their validity and practical challenges, such as potential delays in FIR registration due to new procedures like preliminary inquiries. He also highlighted the requirement for accused individuals to be heard before the court takes cognizance of an offense, which could introduce delays and complexities in court proceedings. Also read | Mint Explainer: Why we need a new competition law for big tech companies As India's legal landscape evolves, businesses must adapt to these reforms, balancing the promise of transparency and accountability with the realities of stricter compliance requirements. Prizor Viztech IPO is scheduled to begin subscriptions on Friday, July 12, and end on Tuesday, July 16. The pricing range for the Prizor Viztech initial public offering is 82 to 87 per share, with a face value of 10. The floor price is 8.2 times the face value and cap price is 8.7 times of the face value of the equity shares. A minimum of 1600 shares, as well as multiples of those shares, are up for bid. In the Prizor Viztech IPO, 15% of the net offer has been allocated for non-institutional investors, 35% for retail investors, and 50% for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs). Up to 1,60,000 equity shares, or 5.53% of the issuance, have been allotted to the market maker part. The company's business is to provide security and surveillance solutions to various sectors such as retail, government, education, and infrastructure. To this end, it offers a wide variety of CCTV cameras. In addition to the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the company has supplied its products to 17 states and two union territories in India, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The company's listed peers are Vintron Informatics Ltd (with a P/E of (267.79)); D-Link India Ltd (with a P/E of 22.68), and Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd (with a P/E of 356.16). Between March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2023, Prizor Viztech Limited's profit after tax (PAT) climbed by 2546.91% while its revenue increased by 155.95%. Prizor Viztech IPO details Prizor Viztech IPO, worth 25.15 crore, consists of a fresh issuance of 2,891,200 equity shares at face value of 10. There is no offer-for-sale component. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the issue to finance the following goals: financing working capital requirements for the business; financing capital expenditure requirements for the establishment of a display center and inventory storage in Ahmedabad, Gujarat; and financing general corporate purposes. The Prizor Viztech IPO's book running lead manager is Shreni Shares Limited, and the registrar is Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd. Rikhav Securities is the market maker for the Prizor Viztech IPO. Once a penny stock, Kaushalya Infrastructure Development Corp, has turned multibagger, delivering exponential returns to its investors in last five years. From July 2019 to now, the stock price has soared over 2537 percent, rising from 40 to 1,054.80. This remarkable growth underscores the companys strong performance and market confidence, making it a standout in the stock market. Early investors who recognised its potential have seen their investments multiply significantly, showcasing the stock's impressive turnaround and upward trajectory. Such extraordinary gains reflect its past success and highlight its potential as a high-return investment opportunity for the future. Meanwhile, over the past three years, the stock has surged by an impressive 441 percent, climbing from 195.00 in July 2021 to its current levels. In recent times as well, Kaushalya has continued to demonstrate strong performance, gaining almost 85 percent over the past year and 24 percent year-to-date in 2024. The stock has delivered positive returns in three out of the seven months so far this year. In July, it rallied over 44 percent following a 2 percent decline in June and 3.6 percent fall in May. Prior to that, it showed robust gains of 27 percent in April but declined 21.2 percent in March and 23 percent in February. Notably, January 2024 saw a significant increase of 16 percent in the stock's value. Moreover, the stock is just 2 percent away from its 52-week high of 1,079.00, hit in February 2024. It has shown strong resilience by surging over 129 percent from its 52-week low of 461.00, recorded in August 2023. About the firm Kaushalya Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited primarily engages in executing construction contracts relating to infrastructure and real estate developments in India. It operates through two segments, Construction and Hotel. The company develops highways, bridges, and industrial infrastructure; electrification and irrigation projects; and residential and commercial complexes. It is also involved in the operation of hotels; acquisition, development, and sale of land; and trading of school shoes and bags. The company was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Kolkata, India. Earnings In the March quarter (Q4FY24), Kaushalya Infra reported a standalone net profit of 12.18 crore compared to a loss of 1.43 crore in the year-ago period. Total income for the quarter was 16.5 crore mildly down from 16.6 crore a year earlier, while total expenses decreased to 0.56 crore in Q4FY24 from 1.2 crore last year. For the fiscal year 2023-24, the firm recorded a consolidated net profit of 10.8 crore, a significant turnaround from a net loss of 1.77 crore in FY23. Brokerage views Brokerage house ICICI Direct highlights several strengths of Kaushalya Infrastructure Development Corp, including its strong momentum with the stock price trading above its short, medium, and long-term moving averages. Additionally, the company has shown rising net cash flow and cash from operating activities, along with strong quarter-on-quarter EPS growth in recent results. These factors indicate a positive market sentiment and a bullish outlook for the firm, supported by its consistent financial performance and growth trajectory. However, the firm's only weakness, as per ICICI Direct, is its rising other income, and low operating income. Investing in penny stocks presents the opportunity for substantial returns due to their lower price points, but it also entails significant risks. Penny stocks often encounter liquidity issues, leading to lower trading volumes compared to larger companies. Additionally, they may be subject to less stringent financial reporting requirements and oversight, which can increase the risk of market manipulation and fraudulent activities. These factors contribute to greater volatility in penny stocks, elevating the risk for investors. To navigate these challenges effectively, investors must conduct thorough research and implement robust risk management strategies. By taking these precautions, investors can better manage the uncertainties associated with penny stocks and protect themselves against potential losses. Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. Please speak to an investment advisor before making any investment decisions. Also Read | Multibagger HEC Infra Projects share price hits 5% upper circuit on a order win Also Read | RateGain Travel stock soars over 6% on Malaysia Airlines contract The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a muted note Tuesday amid positive cues from global peers. The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a flat start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 24,385 level, a premium of just 5 points from the Nifty futures previous close. On Monday, the domestic equity indices ended rangebound session flat amid lack of major triggers, with the Nifty 50 holding above 24,300 level. The Sensex eased 36.22 points to close at 79,960.38, while the Nifty 50 settled 3.30 points, or 0.01%, lower at 24,320.55. Nifty 50 formed a small body candle on the daily chart with minor lower shadow. Also Read | Indian stock market: 6 key things that changed for market overnight Technically, this market action looks like a doji type candle formation (not a classical one). But, having formed this pattern beside the long bull candle of Friday signals sideways range movement in the market. The minor degree bullish pattern like higher highs and higher lows is visible on the daily chart. Having shown a minor dip at 24,168 levels on Friday, the chances of further upmove towards a new higher high is likely in the near term, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities. He believes the short term trend of Nifty continues to be positive and there is a possibility of continuation of this range movement for the next 1 or 2 sessions before witnessing further upmove above 24,400 levels. According to him, a sustainable move above the key hurdle of 24,400 levels could open a sharp upmove for the market ahead. Heres what to expect from Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty today: Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 continued the range bound action with positive bias on July 8 and closed the day lower by 3 points. The Nifty remained range-bound during the day, as market participants appeared to be in no hurry to decide the markets direction. Support remains at 24,240, and a fall below this level might weaken the strength of the bulls. Until then, dips might be bought into, said Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst, LKP Securities. On the higher end, he believes resistance is seen at 24,375 - 24,400 and above 24,400, the index might move towards 24,600. According to Rahul Ghose, CEO of Hedged.in, Nifty 50 index pivot has dropped to 24,285, accordingly the buy zone for Nifty spot is trading in the range of 24,230 to 24,260, the extremely low buy shall be at 24,130. The sell zone is trading in the range of 24,385 to 24,415, any breakout from this resistance level, Nifty spot has the potential to test 24,520 on the upside, in July expiry, he said. As days seem to have started showing downticks, it is important to read price action very carefully as a correction is due, Ghose added. VLA Ambala, Co-Founder of Stock Market Today noted Niftys RSI readings showed 72 on the daily and 74 on the weekly timeframe, indicating its overbought conditions. The index is trading just 2% from its 20-day EMA and we could expect small profit bookings in the next 5-10 days. She expects Nifty to find support between 24,300 and 24,180, with resistance levels expected to be between 24,430 and 24,500. Also Read | From BHEL to GAIL , Chandan Taparia suggests three stocks to buy today Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index plunged 235 points to close below its support level at 52,500 on Monday, forming a small-bodied candlestick on the daily chart. The trend however, remains positive as it closed above the critical moving average. Strong support level is at 52,000 where Put writers are present heavily. While the Call writers seen heavying position at 52,500. A close above 52,500 might induce a sustained rally towards 53,000, De said. Meanwhile, Ghose noted that the Bank Nifty pivot also dropped to 52,590. The buy zone for Bank Nifty spot is trading in the range of 52,240 to 52,380, and the extreme low for Bank Nifty shall be 51,785, once the support at 52,210 is taken out. The sell zone for Bank Nifty is trading in the range of 52,940 to 53,080, any breakout from the resistance, Bank Nifty is likely to test 53,535 on the upside, Ghose said. Shares of PC Jeweller skyrocketed 10 percent in intra-day deals on Tuesday, July 9, to 61.80 apiece, after 1.9 million shares of the company changed hands in a block deal, as per Bloomberg data. The details of the buyers and sellers were not immediately disclosed. This marks the second consecutive session with a 10 percent increase in the stock. On the previous day (July 8), the stock hit the 10 percent upper circuit following approval from Punjab National Bank (PNB) for its One Time Settlement (OTS) proposal for outstanding dues. Just in the 2 sessions, the stock soared 21 percent. Post today's rally, the stock is just a little over 7 percent away from its 52-week high of 66.63, hit on March 5, 2024. Meanwhile, it has surged 143 percent from its 52-week low of 25.45, hit on October 4, 2023. The scrip has jumped 73 percent in the last 1 year and over 32 percent in 2024 YTD. It has advanced over 20 percent just in July after a 10 percent jump in June. Prior to that, it was in the red for 3 straight months between March and May, down 20 percent in this period. Meanwhile, it rose 4.6 percent in February and 18 percent in January 2024. PC Jeweller announced in a regulatory filing on July 6 that Punjab National Bank, the third largest bank in the consortium after the State Bank of India, approved the company's One Time Settlement (OTS) proposal. The OTS aims to settle outstanding dues with the bank consortium. The approved terms and conditions include cash and equity components, the release of securities, and mortgaged properties held by the banks. Before PNB, Union Bank of India approved an OTS proposal in June. This latest development comes three months after the State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, accepted PC Jeweller's OTS proposal. PC Jeweller has faced difficulties since February last year when banks recalled loans totaling 3,466 crore due to the company's loan default disclosures. According to its 2021-22 annual report, PC Jeweller had loans from 14 banks, including SBI, Indian Bank, Union Bank, and Punjab National Bank. Also Read | Inox Wind stocks surge after major announcement Earlier, in its March quarter investor presentation, the company emphasised that SBI's withdrawal of the petition from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the favorable consideration of its OTS proposal by the banks were positive developments. Consequently, the company has refocused on enhancing its brand presence and has launched new marketing initiatives, expecting noticeable impacts in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. As of March 31, 2024, PC Jeweller maintains a network of 60 showrooms (including 6 franchisee showrooms) in 44 cities across 15 states in India. On a consolidated basis, PC Jeweller reported a net loss of 121.64 crore in Q4 2024, compared to a net loss of 302.41 crore in Q4 2023. In its recent June quarter (Q1FY25) earnings preview note, domestic brokerage house Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) predicted that the Nifty50 earnings are likely to grow by 4 percent percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis. Excluding global commodities like Metals and Oil & Gas (O&G), the Nifty is anticipated to report a 10 percent YoY earnings growth, respectively, for the quarter, it added. According to the brokerage, the overall earnings growth is likely to be driven by domestic cyclicals, particularly BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) and Auto sectors, with notable contributions from Metals and Healthcare. Meanwhile, sales and EBITDA for Nifty are expected to improve by 6 percent and 4 percent YoY, respectively, forecasted the brokerage. Excluding Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the EBITDA of Nifty is likely to grow by 8 percent YoY, it noted. While the majority of the companies are likely to post moderate earnings growth in the June quarter, the brokerage has listed 4 firms that are likely to post over 40 percent YoY growth in their net profit for Q1FY25. Let's take a look. Tata Steel: According to MOFSL, the steel major is likely to post a 79.4 percent YoY jump in its net profit at around 1,100 crore versus 600 crore in the same quarter last year. However, its net sale is expected to fall 2.5 percent YoY to 58,000 crore from 59,500 crore in the year-ago period. EBITDA, meanwhile, is expected to improve 15 percent to 6,000 crore as compared to 5,200 crore in Q1FY24, predicted the brokerage. According to MOFSL, the company's India business is likely to see normalised volume in Q1FY25, whereas overseas operations are likely to remain flat. Netherlands will report positive EBITDA/t in Q1FY25, leading to improvement in performance while its UK business will see losses, which would lead to Europe EBITDA loss. Apollo Hospitals: MOFSL expects the hospital firm to post a 79 percent YoY rise in its net profit at 298.2 crore in Q1FY25 as against 166.6 crore in the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, its gross sales are likely to increase 13.5 percent YoY to 5,013 crore in the quarter under review from 4,417.8 crore in the year-ago period. EBITDA, meanwhile, is expected to improve 33 percent to 676.8 crore as compared to 509 crore in Q1FY24, forecasted the brokerage. MOFSL noted that the company's sales and EBITDA are expected to grow due to increased occupancy and Healthco operations. Watch out for GMV outlook in Apollo 24/7 and update on capacity expansion at Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi and Gurgaon, it added. Divis Labs: According to the brokerage, the net profit of the pharma firm is likely to grow 43.7 percent YoY to 512.7 crore in Q1FY25 versus 359 crore in the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, MOFSL expects its net sales to increase 23.7 percent YoY to 2,199.4 crore in the quarter under review from 1,778 crore in the year-ago period due to good traction in CS, supported by growth in Nutraceutical and generics business, noted the MOFSL. EBITDA, meanwhile, is expected to increase 35.3 percent to 682 crore as against 505 crore in Q1FY24, predicted the brokerage. Also Read | Q1FY25 result preview: Net profit of Nifty 50 may decline QoQ Hindalco Industries: MOFSL estimates the net profit of the metal company to increase 42.4 percent YoY to 3,500 crore in Q1FY25 versus 2,500 crore in the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, its net sales are set to grow 10.1 percent YoY to 58,300 crore in the quarter under review from 53,000 crore in the year-ago period. EBITDA is also likely to improve 23 percent to 7,000 crore as against 5,700 crore in Q1FY24, forecasted the brokerage. As per the brokerage, the company's volumes are expected to be strong while improved ASP (average selling price) will drive strong earnings growth in 1QFY25. The timeline for commissioning multiple capex is crucial and Novelis EBITDA/t guidance key to watch, it added. Also Read | Q1FY25 result preview: Net profit of Nifty 50 may decline QoQ Stock market today: Indian stock market benchmarksNifty 50 and Sensexhit fresh record highs earlier today despite mixed global cues, while several automobile stocks, including Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), clocked healthy gains. Nifty 50 hit its fresh all-time high of 24,443.60 while the Sensex made a fresh peak of 80,397.17 during the session. Nifty 50 ended the day at 24,433.20, rising 113 points, or 0.46 per cent. The Sensex settled with a gain of 391 points, or 0.49 per cent, at 80,351.64. Both indices ended at their fresh closing highs. In the 26 sessions since the start of June, the Nifty has notched record closing highs 15 times, one more than the Sensex. In that period, Nifty 50 gained 8.44 per cent, hitting an all-time high 16 times, as Lok Sabha election results ensured policy continuity and forecasts of stronger economic growth for 2024. In the current market scenario, domestic brokerage firm SMC Global Securities has released its top four stock picks for this week. The brokerage has selected the quality stocks on technical as well as fundamental parameters. The stocks have robust fundamentals and are well-placed to yield good returns for investors in the next one-year time frame, according to the brokerage. Weekly Stock Picks by SMC Global Securities Let's take a look at the top four technical and fundamental stocks for this week by brokerage SMC Global Securities: 1.Metropolis Healthcare Ltd: Current Market Price (CMP): 2,046; Target Price: 2,543, Upside: 24 per cent During Q4FY24, the revenue from core business stood at 308 crore, up 15 per cent YoY with seven per cent patient volume growth. TruHealth Wellness and Specialized segment revenues grew by 22% and 17% YoY for Q4FY24 respectively. The revenue and volume of the Premium Wellness segments experienced a 22.2 per cent increase and a three per cent increase respectively. The company has surpassed industry volume growth for the past eight quarters and the management remains optimistic about continuing this trend. The company aims to maintain a balance between volume growth and price realization for sustainable profitability. Despite significant network expansion over the last two years, the company achieved EBITDA margins of 25.5 per cent in Q4 FY24. Looking ahead, it expects additional revenue from both existing and new networks, coupled with improved operational efficiency, to sustain current margin levels in FY25 and further enhance margin profile beyond FY25. The brokerage expects the stock to see a price target of Rs.2543 in 8 to 10 months on a three-year average P/BV of 10.77x and FY25 BVPS of Rs. 236.13. 2.Heritage Foods Ltd: CMP: 547.05; Target Price: 630; Upside: 17 per cent In Q4FY24, the new launches includes toned and skimmed milk in tetrapak under the brand name Farm Fresh and Lite Fit; a new ice-cream variant Vibezs; new variants of fresh milk, Gold and Super Gold in Chennai; flavoured curd in two variants under brand name Shubh Meetha Dahi. The company added 432 milk distributers during the quarter. Years ago, the company embarked on a consumer-centric transformation. This included a wave of innovative products, a seamless omni-channel experience, and strategic marketing that redefined brand preference, according to SMC Global Securities. Now, these initiatives are paying off in a big way. Thus, the brokerage expects that the stock will see a price target of Rs. 630 in 8 to 10 months on a current P/BVx of 6.19x and FY25 BVPS of Rs. 101.70. 3.Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd It made a 52-week low of Rs.4726 on October 26, 2023 and a 52-week high of Rs. 6,874.45 on February 22, 2024. The 200 days Exponential Moving Average (DEMA) of the stock on the daily chart is currently at 5,826. The stock recently experienced a steep correction, falling from its 52 week high of 6,874.45 towards 5,700 levels on back of profit booking at higher levels. However, the stock has managed to take support at its 200 days exponential moving avergae on daily time frame and witnessed a steady recovery thereon with formation of rounding bottom pattern. At the current juncture, a fresh breakout has been observed above the Cup & Handle pattern on the daily charts, indicating a positive price action in upcoming sessions. Alongside rising volumes accompanied with price momentum suggests a potential upside movement in the stock. Therefore, one can buy the stock in range of 6,250-6,300 for the upside target of 6,700-6,750 levels with top loss (SL) below 6,000 levels, according to SMC Global Securities. 4.Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) The 200 days Exponential Moving Average (DEMA) of the stock on the daily chart is currently at 242. Recently, the stock experienced a sharp decline from the 285 level, dropping to 225, where it found support from its 200-day exponential moving average on the daily charts. Following this, the stock made a V-shaped recovery, steadily climbing back up to the 285 level. Last week, the stock displayed fresh bullish momentum, breaking out above a symmetrical triangle pattern with a significant increase in trading volumes. One can buy the stock in the range of 280-285 for the upside target of 314-317 levels with SL below 260 levels, according to the brokerage. In a major move, Saurabh Mukherjea, founder and chief executive of Marcellus Investment Advisors, is shifting his investment strategy towards smaller 'challenger' companies. This marks a significant departure from his traditional focus on high return on capital employed (ROCE) firms, even at higher valuations, considering them as consistent compounders and a relatively strong bet. Having lived through events like the 2G scam, coal-gate scam, IL&FS and the 2020 covid crash, perhaps we had gotten too defensive. We focused too much on companies that had a high ROCE even if they werent growing very fast. Since covid, however, a set of smaller challenger companies have outperformed," Mukherjea told reporters at a media interaction today. The moat will come from better brains rather than sheer size. Big money doesnt necessarily beget money," he added. In his new book, Mukherjea will be focusing on these disruptive mid-sized companies, categorizing as 'challengers'. These firms, numbering around 5,000 and smaller than the top 800 by profit size, have shown 16% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in profits between 2012 and 2022, outperforming the top 800 at 15% CAGR, according to Mukherjea's presentation. View Full Image (Graphics: Mint) Some of these challengers have been incubated by larger companies through separate subsidiaries, aiming to gain market share from smaller, unorganized competitors (with profits less than 50 crore) and potentially challenging India's largest corporations, or 'rulers', said Mukherjea. Over the last 12 months, CCP underwent a significant increase in allocation to companies (from 10% previously to over 50% currently) which have seeded new business optionalities through capital allocation decisions over the last 3-5 years," according to Mukherjeas May 2024 portfolio update. "These new business optionalities are expected to add incremental revenue growth drivers over the next 2-3 years, thereby helping accelerate the overall companys earnings growth to well above 20% CAGR (in some cases, even higher than 25% CAGR)," it added. Mukherjea counts companies such as Trent and Tube Investments among challenger companies. After the addition of Trent, Astral and Narayana Health in FY24, during FY25 till date (since 1 April 2024) we have added three new stocks to the portfolioTube Investments, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance, and Eicher Motors," according to the May 2024 update to Mukherjeas Consistent Compounders Portfolio. The unravelling of Chinas economic dominance will also contribute to the growth of Indias challenger companies, he added. However, despite these strategic shifts, Mukherjea's Portfolio Management Service (PMS) has faced challenges recently, seeing outflows due to underperformance. As of May 31, 2024, his flagship Consistent Compounders Strategy has delivered only a 12% return over the past year, compared to 23% for the Nifty 50. His other strategies, Rising Giants, Little Champs, and Kings of Capital Portfolio, have shown returns of 11.5%, 4%, and 10.6%, respectively, all trailing behind the Nifty 50 and Nifty 500, which have risen by 34.7%. This underperformance has been consistent over the past three years. However, over the past five years, Mukherjea's Consistent Compounders Portfolio has slightly outperformed the Nifty with a 15.62% return compared to 14.95%. Considering past performances, the success of Mukherjea's pivot towards challenger companies remains uncertain, leaving open the question of whether it will reverse his recent fortunes. Inflows into mutual fund systematic investment plans (SIPs) hit an all-time high of 21,262.22 crore in June 2024, according to the data released on Tuesday by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). Inflows into SIPs have been rising continuously for the past 12 months. As the table below shows, inflows spiked from 18,838 crore in January 2024 to 21,262 crore, an increase of 12.8 per cent in six months. If one compares the latest figure with the corresponding data from one year ago, one realises that these regular inflows have increased 44 per cent from 14,734 crore in June last year to 21,262 crore in the previous month. One might wonder how SIPs have become so popular among retail investors. Wealth advisors argue that the phenomenon is the result of long-term awareness campaigns and investor education carried out by industry players. Investing via SIPs enables the investor to make the most of rupee cost averaging. So, when the market is volatile or going through a bull phase, it is advisable to invest in a staggered manner. This can prevent you from entering the market at a high valuation, says Sridharan Sundaram, founder of Wealth Ladder Direct. Month (2024) Inflows ( crore) Jan 18,838 Feb 19,187 March 19,271 April 20,371 May 20,904 June 21,262 (Source: AMFI) Since retail investors are not expected to know what is the right time to enter the markets, the highly recommended route is to invest in small doses i.e., SIPs. This has caught up retail investors, and rightly so, says Deepak Aggarwal, a Delhi-based chartered accountant and financial advisor. Preeti Zende, a Sebi-registered financial advisor and founder of Apna Dhan Financial Services, echoes the same sentiments. A systematic investment plan is a great tool to invest in a staggered manner, allowing investors to invest small amounts periodically i.e. weekly, monthly or quarterly. Investors understand that mutual funds offer risk management better than direct equity. They also know that SIP provides the benefit of Rupee Cost Averaging, says Zende. Thanks to the favourable overall macro-economic factors, investors are keen to continue their SIPs and those who never invested in mutual funds have now started their investment journey, she adds. The mutual fund industry has demonstrated remarkable growth, becoming a cornerstone of financial stability and wealth creation for crores of investors. The industry continued to benefit from sustained flows into equity-oriented mutual funds, hybrid funds and passive funds, says Venkat Chalasani, Chief Executive of AMFI. Also Read | Sebi imposes limits on passive mutual funds investing in sponsor group companies Also Read | Hybrid mutual funds: These 4 categories are most popular among retail investors (Bloomberg) -- Inside the elegant Breakers Palm Beach resort, Bobby Jain made his multibillion-dollar pitch. His audience: the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, steward of one of the worlds great petro-fortunes and, to Jain, a perfect client for his new hedge fund. His vision laid out in the hotels seafood restaurant was ambitious, even unprecedented. He would hatch a giant, fully formed hedge fund that would trade a half-dozen strategies and employ hundreds of people globally from day one. It required quickly finding gifted traders amid an expensive talent war, building complex infrastructure over months and raising enough investor money to pay for it. Failing to achieve even one of those lofty targets could tank the whole thing before it ever got started. Even Jain has likened the maneuver to landing three airplanes at once. Many investors sat on the sidelines, skeptical of the deviation from the typical hedge fund playbook of starting small and building from there. While Jain initially set out to hit a record of as much as $10 billion, he later halved that goal. But Jain, a onetime acolyte of Millennium Management founder Izzy Englander, won votes of confidence from key investors including the Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, which ultimately handed him about $1 billion. He raised $5.3 billion in total, the biggest launch since ExodusPoint Capital Managements record $8 billion debut in 2018. Interviews with about two dozen people with knowledge of Jains fundraising effort give an inside look into how the former Millennium co-chief investment officer pulled off one of the biggest-ever hedge fund launches earlier this month. It took a charm offensive with sweeteners like fee breaks just to reach his pared-down goal showing how investors appetite for multistrategy hedge funds has plunged amid middling performance, long lockups and rising costs at other funds. Getting investors on board was just the first step. What follows will test Jain, 53, as never before. There are a lot of moving parts, and this hasnt been done before with this level of portfolio managers across multiple asset classes and strategies, said Jon Caplis, founder of hedge fund research firm PivotalPath. Clearly, a lot of thought and capital has been put into this launch. Still, the first few months will be closely watched. Clients who did back the firm say their investment is ultimately a bet on Jain, who helped Millennium push into new strategies and develop its central risk book. Now, he must prove he can deliver Millennium-like results without the resources of one of the worlds largest hedge funds. Even in the best of times, fundraising and hiring for a new hedge fund are challenging. But this is one of the toughest climates in years. Potential clients have less cash on hand due to a prolonged deal drought that has crimped private equity payouts, and hedge funds are vying for scarce talent. Moreover, Jains vision is more ambitious than most other debuts and hes under a brighter spotlight. The firm, Jain and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority declined to comment. Complex Task Jain who, along with other employees, is kicking in $200 million has told his investors that starting off big is the most efficient route to building a multistrat. If a hedge fund bolts on strategies over time, it can duplicate systems, manpower and expenses, his thinking goes. Jain has concluded that his firm can avoid those inefficiencies by setting up a central operating system thats already prepared for all of its strategies. Hes hoping his fully built-out firm will be able to add assets and talent in the future without incurring substantial operating costs, those familiar with Jains thinking said. We are building a single, cross-asset, modern operating platform a rare feat in the industry, Jain wrote in an investor document seen by Bloomberg. While this is more intensive at launch, it avoids the inherent challenges, complexity and cost apparent in a sequential build. Jain Global is offering a hedge-fund smorgasbord with more than 40 portfolio managers: It will delve into macroeconomic themes and arbitrage strategies and trade not only stocks and credit instruments, but also physical commodities. It will also explore private credit, such as synthetic risk transfers that take exposure off banks balance sheets. In perhaps its most complex task, Jain is building a computer-driven investing business. Its really tough to start a new quant business, Bartt Kellermann, founder of the Battle of the Quants conference, said in an interview. You need three main ingredients, and theyre all expensive: the hardware, the data and the talent. Jains firm will meld two approaches as it builds its own quant unit. Traders will get paid based on how much profit each one generates, as those who work in independent pods do in firms like Millennium. At the same time, theyll work together on models and share infrastructure, in the manner of a more collaborative firm such as D.E. Shaw. While Jain Global expects every business to broadly contribute to returns in line with its expected allocation breakdown right away, some investors say they expect it could take years for the quant unit to carry its weight. The firm hasnt given clients performance targets, but some investors say theyre hoping to see returns of at least 10% in its first full year. Jain concedes the difficulty of executing a complex launch, and has offered sizable fee discounts to make up for the risk, according to people familiar with his thinking. Clients also received whats known as future capacity if they like what they see, they can invest more later. And Jain granted them the option to participate in potential future investments alongside his firm. Some clients appreciated the firms more investor-friendly legal provisions and its attractive liquidity terms. After Jain Global taps an investors cash, they can get the money back in three years, versus as many as five at multistrat rivals. Despite the reassurances, Jains debut has invoked memories of ExodusPoint. Launched about six years ago by fellow Millennium alumnus Michael Gelband, that firm is still struggling to get its quant and equity businesses off the ground and has posted mostly mediocre returns despite gathering $8 billion at its inception. Leery of an underwhelming performance, multiple investors say they plan to stay on the sidelines for at least a year until Jain shows he can deliver. Some commented on the absence of high-profile star traders known for their track records at rival shops. Jain is intentionally eschewing massive payouts for such talent, which would get passed onto investors. Other backers who met the firms hires said they were impressed after Jain threw open his doors and gave them broad access to his portfolio managers and business heads, as many new funds do. Syril Pathmanathan, who ran D.E. Shaws synthetic risk transfer portfolio, is building Jains SRT unit. Heading the quant business are David Willmor and Peter Bolland, who worked together at one of Schonfeld Strategic Advisors most successful external pods. On the fundamental equities team, some portfolio managers may get a cut of profits from the firms so-called center book, where the firm amplifies some bets. Millennium and Citadel, by contrast, keep those profits for themselves. Jain, like some peers, wont defer compensation. The biggest multistrats have an edge over Jain Global, relying on hundreds of pods often larger and more established to generate trade ideas. Theres less margin of error with Jain Global. With far fewer teams, each one faces more pressure to excel. Still, Jain doesnt aspire to grow as large as those $60 billion-plus giants. He hopes to reach as much as $12 billion over time, and as the firm nears that goal, will assess whether more cash could affect returns. Cerebral Philosopher In an industry known for prickly personalities, Jains charisma and desire to be liked stand out, according to those who know him. He has told people he hopes that one day his clients will want to hug him, the way some of Millenniums clients did during his time there. He also has a reputation for developing teams, managing elaborate businesses and seeing the big picture of how these units work together. He has been described as cerebral and almost philosopher-like, a person who thinks in matrices and complex patterns, jumping between minutia and macro ideas. But he often struggles to communicate those ideas in a straightforward, succinct way, according to multiple investors who have met with him. In at least three cases, potential clients have walked away frustrated, or with mistaken or unclear ideas about his goals. Jain started at Englanders firm in 2016, joining as the founders first-ever co-CIO. In 2022, rather than passing the reins to any one person, Englander decided to create an office of the CIO to help manage the firm which had grown in size, scale and geography. When it became clear he wouldnt run Millennium, Jain opted to launch his own firm. Now that he has, the stakes are high. Jain has 12 months to put investor money to work and show that his new team can generate impressive returns. If he does, gobs of cash could flow in from investors watching from the sidelines, one client predicts. But hell have to prove himself quickly. Investors are not happy with the best multistrategy funds right now, given the fees theyre paying, said Brian Payne, chief strategist of private markets and alternatives at BCA Research and former investment officer for the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois. The bar now is higher for everyone. --With assistance from Katherine Burton and Dinesh Nair. (Updates with context on multistrategy hedge funds in 29th paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- A trader in Canada received a four-year jail sentence after accepting millions of dollars from investors, then giving them false information about their returns. An Ontario court handed down the penalty to Nathanael Anthony Aikman, who pleaded guilty in November to fraud and trading securities without registration. He has also been ordered to pay restitution of more than C$3.9 million ($2.9 million). Aikman was one of the founders of Yonge Street Capital LLC, which purported to be a hedge fund that invested in various securities and cryptocurrencies, according to a Tuesday statement from the Ontario Securities Commission. Over a period of almost three years, Yonge Street named after the street that divides Torontos east and west sides took in more than C$6.2 million from 71 investors, the regulator said. Aikman developed a structure at the fund that he claimed would guarantee a 25% return on investment, according to documents filed by the regulator in a related case. But much of the money was used by Mr. Aikman for purposes unrelated to YSCs business, and to the detriment of investors, the Ontario commission said. His partners in the business, Syed Saad Aziz and Jazib Ali Khan, were both convicted of unregistered trading, but neither was found guilty of fraud. Aikman was the only person with access to Yonge Street Capitals brokerage account, and his other partners could monitor the funds performance only through a spreadsheet, the securities regulator said in documents filed in 2021 in the case against Aziz. Investors were told in August 2019 that their accounts would be liquidated and they would receive their full balance. But Aziz learned that he had been duped and that Aikman had falsified the funds monthly returns, and filed a complaint with York Regional Police, the regulator has said. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com US President Joe Biden on Tuesday expressed his concern for the people of Texas battling the fury of Hurricane Beryl. The US President assured the nation that the US government would provide the necessary resources and that the US Coast Guard and FEMA would support the people in managing the storm. He also thanked the first responders who dealt with the storm. Jill and I are keeping everyone impacted by Hurricane Beryl in our prayers, including the lives tragically lost. Today, I called Houston Mayor John Whitmire and told him my Administration will make sure Texans have the resources they need to get through the storm now and to recover moving forward. The U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA stand ready to support local response efforts. We thank all of the first responders and will remain with the people of Texas every step of the way, Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter). Also Read | Tropical Storm Beryl to have little impact on US offshore oil output, companies say The President's comments come as a tropical storm batters Texas, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. According to a BBC report, some 2.6 million customers in Texas were without power as of Monday night, said poweroutage.us, with some outages also reported in Louisiana. The storm caused at least 10 deaths in the Caribbean. Officials said seven people had died in Texas's Harris and Montgomery counties, according to BBC, while one more fatality was confirmed in neighbouring Louisiana. The storm made landfall near Matagorda on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing damaging winds and floods. Schools, businesses, offices, and financial institutions remain shut in the aftermath. Also Read | Oil prices plunge on Gaza peace talks, Hurricane Beryl impact Hurricane Beryl formed as a tropical depression on June 28, 2024, and rapidly intensified into a hurricane within the first 24 hours. In the subsequent 24 hours, Beryl underwent another rapid intensification, becoming a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane, as reported by the National Hurricane Centre. This phenomenon is part of a growing trend, as rapid intensification of tropical cyclones is expected to increase globally due to human-induced climate change, according to a report by Climate.gov. Also Read | Hurricane Beryl strengthens to Category 5 in Atlantic The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday extended the ban on the terrorist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), declaring it again an unlawful association. The ban has been extended further for the period of five years from July 10, 2024. US-based The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) was earlier banned in July 2019. The Home Ministry said the SFJ was declared a banned organisation five years ago under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for its anti-national activities which are prejudicial to the internal security and integrity of the country, reported PTI citing notification. It further added that the SFJ continues to involve in anti-national and subversive activities in Punjab and elsewhere and intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, it said. The ministry said the SFJ is encouraging and aiding the activities for secession of a part of the Indian territory from the Union of India and supporting separatist groups fighting for this purpose in India and elsewhere by indulging in activities and articulations intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Considering the role of SFJ in various subversive activities, the Home Ministry extended the ban imposed under the UAPA for five years with effect from July 10, the notification said. Meanwhile, last month, the US said it is looking forward to the results of the Indian inquiry into the allegations that an Indian official was involved in an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York. Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US on June 14. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to frame a model policy on menstrual leave for women employees. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, noted that such a facility could prove detrimental to women under certain circumstances. Mandating such leaves will lead to women being shunned from the workforce. We do not want that what we try to do to protect women can act to their disadvantage. This is actually a government policy aspect and not for the courts to look into, the apex court said. The SC, however, permitted the petitioner to move the relevant authorities to frame a model policy on menstrual leave for women employees by holding consultations with states and other stakeholders. The Court made it clear that the consultation process of the Centre will not come in the way of states if they take any steps in this regard. Also Read | ED moves Supreme Court against Jharkhand HC granting bail to CM Soren We request the secretary to look into the matter at the policy level and take a decision after consulting all stakeholders and see if a model policy can be framed, it ordered. The top court had earlier disposed of a plea seeking menstrual pain leave for women students and working women across the country. At the time, it had said that a representation could be made to the Centre as the issue fell under the policy domain. Several well-known companies in India including food aggregator platforms Swiggy and Zomato have made headlines in recent years after introducing period leaves for relevant employees. More recently, in May, the Sikkim High Court registry introduced a menstrual leave policy for female employees. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani had ruffled many feathers in December 2023 after insisting that menstruation was not a handicap that warranted a specific policy for paid leave. We should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunities just because somebody who does not menstruate has a particular viewpoint towards menstruation, the then Women and Child Development Minister had told Parliament in response to a query. A Shiv Sena leader was attacked four men brandishing swords on Friday and rushed to the hospital in a serious condition. The incident took place in broad daylight on a busy stretch of road outside the Ludhiana civil hospital in Punjab. Police said that the four attackers were Nihangs who waiting outside to ambush the politician before escaping. According to reports quoting the police, Sandeep Thapar was attacked as he came out of the Samvedna Trust office near the hospital. The politician had been attending a ceremony to mark the fourth death anniversary of the Trust's founder-president Ravinder Arora. Visuals shared online show four nihangs members of a warrior Sikh sect typically garbed in blue robes and carrying traditional weapons approaching the politician on the busy road. The bike-borne Shiv Sena leader can be seen conversing with the group and then holding his hands up in a prayer gesture. The blue-robed assailants however continued the interaction before repeatedly hitting him on the head and shoulders with a sword. Thapar's security personnel were present on the spot when he was attacked. He was immediately rushed to a hospital where his condition was stated to be serious. Also Read | Congress leader injured in firing incident outside Ferozepur Central Jail The incident has also sparked a sharp outcry in political circles with Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal lashing out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Just received a report of an extremely disturbing incident in Ludhiana where a person was attacked with swords despite being accompanied by a security personnel. The manner in which such violent attacks are being conducted in broad day light in busy areas indicates a total collapse in the law and order situation in Punjab. CM Bhagwant Mann should be wake up from his slumber and take corrective measures immediately, urged Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaul Badal. India aims to increase kharif onion acreage by 27% to 361,000 hectares this year, according to a government statement on Friday. This move comes as prices of vegetables, including those of onions, have surged due to adverse weather conditions. As per data from the consumer affairs department, the average retail onion price across India was at 43 per kg on Friday, a 68% increase year-on-year. In Karnataka, the top kharif onion-producing state, 30% of the targeted 150,000 hectares has been sown, with good progress in other major states. Despite marginally lower rabi production in 2024-25, the domestic onion market remains stable due to higher releases from the rabi harvest. All-India current sowing data was not available as the agriculture ministry did not release its usual Friday update on kharif crop sowing. Read this | Remember the onion price shock last year? This time, the govt is acting early Onions are harvested in three seasons: rabi (March-May), kharif (September-November), and late kharif (January-February). The rabi crop accounts for roughly 70% of total production, playing a crucial role in price stability during lean months. The estimated 2024-25 rabi onion production is 19.1 million tonnes, sufficient to meet domestic consumption of about 1.7 million tonnes per month, with controlled exports of up to 100,000 tonnes per month. Dry weather during and after the rabi harvest this year helped lower storage losses, the statement noted adding that onion prices are stabilizing as more rabi onions are released into the market amid higher mandi prices and the onset of monsoon rains, which increase storage loss risks due to high moisture. Good and timely monsoon rains this year have provided big boost for kharif crops, including onion and other horticultural crops like tomato and potato," as per the statement. An early onset over Kerala and the northeastern region on 30 May, two and six days ahead of their respective arrival dates, the southwest monsoon had advanced normally up to Maharashtra until 9 June. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects above-normal precipitation across most parts of the country in July. The timely arrival of the monsoon is crucial for India's agricultural sector, as 56% of the net cultivated area and 44% of food production depend on monsoon rainfall. Normal precipitation is essential for robust crop production, stable food prices, especially for vegetables, and economic growth. June and July are considered critical months for sowing kharif crops. And this | Mint Primer: Ever seen the rain? The price of a truant monsoon The government is targeting a 12% increase in area under kharif potato this year. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have nearly completed their targeted sowing areas, while Karnataka and other states are progressing well. According to the agriculture ministry, 27.3 million tonnes of rabi potatoes are stored in cold storage, sufficient to meet demand. Though primarily a rabi crop, kharif potatoes from several states augment market availability from September to November. Kathua terror attack:Singh on Tuesday condoled death of five soldiers in Kathua attack and noted that counter terror attacks are underway Singh said on X, I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region, he added. Meanwhile, Indian Army airlifted the bodies and post-mortem of the bodies will be done in Sub District Hospital Billawar Principal Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, on behalf of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, also condemned the terrorist attack on Indian Army vehicle in Kathua and expresses his condolences to the bereaved families. Meanwhile, JKNC Chief Farooq Abdullah said in a strong note, '... The only way forward now is that the pressure of the world on that country must increase. This is not the path to peace. This is the path to destruction' One more soldier injured in the terrorist attack on an army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua on Monday has succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll to five, a Defence official said. An encounter is still underway between troops and the terrorists in the area, according to a defence official. Meanwhile, five soldiers who were injured in the Kathua terror attack were given primary treatment at the Community Health Centre, Billawar and have been referred to the Military Hospital, Pathankot, for further treatment. "Five injured jawans were brought here and have been given primary treatment. They have been referred to the Military Hospital, Pathankot for treatment...One dead body has been brought here," Sheela Devi, Medical officer at Community Health Centre, Billawar, told ANI. In June, three terrorists were neutralised in an encounter with security forces in the Gandoh, and Bhaderwah sectors of district Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, ADGP Anand Jain said. Meanwhile, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Monday expressed grief over the killing of soldiers in an encounter with terrorists in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said that the solution to these attacks will come from strong action, not from hollow speeches and false promises. Mihir Shah, the absconding accused in the BMW hit-and-run case and son of a Shiv Sena politician, was arrested on Tuesday by Mumbai Police, three days after he allegedly rammed his luxury car into a two-wheeler, killing a woman and injuring her husband. Mihir, 24, who managed to evade the police since Sunday morning, was arrested from Virar near Mumbai, a senior police official said. Mihir's mother and two sisters were brought to Mumbai for questioning from Shahapur in Thane district. They are being quizzed along with 10 others, the official added. Here is how Mihir Shah was nabbed: On Monday night, Mihir and his family went separate ways. He went to Virar with his friend. On Tuesday, the friend switched on Mihr's phone for 15 minutes. Police caught him using the location of his phone. Now, a total of 12 people from Mihir's family have been taken into custody. However, Rajrishi Bidawat, the driver of the family, is the only one in the police custody. Bidawat was with Mihir on the night of the incident. Political reactions: "The family is demanding justice. If you look into it, this is not a case of hit and run but murder, because after hitting the couple, if he had stopped the car, then this would not have happened. Instead, he drove the vehicle," said Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad. "Whether there's alcohol in his (Mihir Shah) system or not, this will be known after 48 hours. But even if he had not consumed alcohol, police have technical evidences of the crime and they can prove the crime," added MNS leader Sandeep. The Delhi Police has busted an organ transplantation racket with international links, arresting seven people, including a female doctor from Indraprastha Hospital, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday. The Delhi Police's crime branch said the organ transplantation racket had been operating across Bangladesh and India. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the international organ transplant racket, Amit Goel, DCP Crime Branch, said. The mastermind of the organ transplant racket, Goel said, was a Bangladeshi. Both the donor and the recipient were from Bangladesh. We have arrested a person named Russell, who used to arrange patients and donors, he said. The DCP also confirmed that a female doctor involved in the transplants was arrested, adding that further investigation is underway. In a statement, Indraprastha Hospital said the Delhi Police's crime branch department took custody of a doctor who had been engaged on a fee-for-service basis and was not on the hospital's payroll. The hospital said the arrest has led to an investigation into procedures carried out at another hospital, and it is prima facie not related to any actions at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals (IAH). "Given this police action, IAH has placed the doctor under suspension." The hospital also said that the crime branch previously approached it seeking certain information as part of the investigation, which was duly provided. Also Read | Digital registry on organ transplants to streamline donations on cards IAH will provide its fullest cooperation to investigative authorities on this matter. Notably, the female doctor also worked at another private hospital, Yatharth, on a fee-for-service basis in Noida. However, the hospital has denied any direct association with her. Yatharth Hospitals has no direct association with the said doctor, as she is part of another hospital, said a spokesperson for Yatharth Hospital, adding that for all its procedures, the hospital ensures the highest ethical standards, prioritise patient safety, and comply with all clinical and government protocols. Also Read | Increase in number of live organ transplants raises alarm PM Modi in Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his visit to Russia that new consolates would be opened in Moscow to enhance travel and business trade. He greeted the Indian community in Russia amid chants of 'Modi-Modi'. Addressing the Indian community in Moscow, Modi said, "Two years ago, the first consignment was sent via the India-Russia 'North-South Transport corridor,' and that is a remarkable achievement. Modi in Russia: Here are top 10 quotes from PM's speech 1) "I want to share some good news with you all. We have decided to open new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. This will enhance travel and business trades..." 2) Two years ago, the first commercial consignment also reached here from the North-South Transport Corridor...Now we are also working on Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor. Both our countries are discovering each other through Ganga Volga dialogue and civilization. When I came here in 2015, I had said that the 21st century will belong to India... 3) Today, as Vishwa Bandhu, India is giving new confidence to the world. India's growing capability has given the whole world, a hope of stability and prosperity. India is being seen as a strong pillar of the new, emerging, multipolar, world order. When India talks about peace, dialogue and diplomacy, the whole world listens. Whenever the world faces a crisis, India is the first country to reach there... 4) "After 60 years, a government being elected for the third time in India is a very big thing in itself...Elections were also held in 4 states, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and NDA won in these four states with a clean sweep majority. Odisha has brought about a great revolution and that is why I have also come among you today with an Odia scarf..." 5) The song was once sung in every household here, 'Sir pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.' This song may have become old, but the sentiments are ever-green. Artists like Raj Kapoor, Mithoon Da have strengthened the friendship between India and Russia... 6) The strength of our relations has been tested many times and every time our friendship has emerged stronger. I would especially like to appreciate the leadership of my dear friend, President Putin. He has done a wonderful job to strengthen this partnership for more than 2 decades. 7) "This is the sixth time I have come to Russia in the last 10 years and in these years we have met each other 17 times. All these meetings have increased trust and respect. When our students were stuck in the conflict, President Putin helped us in getting them back to India. I once again thank the people of Russia and my friend, President Putin..." 8) I am happy that India and Russia are working shoulder to shoulder to give new energy to Global Prosperity. All of you present here are giving new heights to the relations between India and Russia. You have contributed to Russian society with your hard work and honesty. 9) "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is India's partner in happiness and sorrow, India's trusted friend, we call it 'Dosti'...No matter how much the temperature goes down to minus during the winter season in Russia but India-Russia friendship has always been in Plus, it has always been warm. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of Mutual Trust and Mutual Respect..." 10) "We not only brought our economy out of the crisis of COVID, but India has also made its economy one of the strongest economies in the world. We are not only removing the shortcomings of our infrastructure, but we are also creating global milestones. We are not only improving our health services, but we are also providing free treatment to every poor person in the country and run the world's largest health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat..." Hathras stampede: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Hathras stampede, which killed 121 people, mostly women and children, last week, submitted its report to the Uttar Pradesh government, a senior official informed PTI on Tuesday. The SIT was headed by Anupam Kulshrestha, the Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone), headed the SIT. Sources said the report stated that the committee organising the 'satsang' had called in more people than was permitted. According to the report, over 2 lakh people attended the satsang held by self-styled godman Suraj Pal alias Narayan Saakar Hari alias Bhole Baba, whereas the authorities had sought permission for about 80,000 people. The report also alleged that the organising committee failed to make proper arrangements and did not inspect the venue, reported ANI, citing sources. The SIT has submitted its report to the government, PTI quoted the Director of Information, Shishir. Separately, a separate judicial commission led by retired Allahabad High Court Judge Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava and retired IPS officer Hemant Rao is also investigating the Hathras stampede case. On Sunday, they met with local people, officials, and witnesses of the tragedy. On Monday, Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad from Nagina demanded a thorough probe into the Hathras stampede incident. He called for strict action to prevent such cases from happening in the future. Also read: Hathras Stampede: Key accused sent to 14-day judicial custody, father says he doesnt believe in Bhole baba Chandrashekhar Azad, on Monday, asserted, This is a very painful incident, so many lives have been lost. Perhaps such a big incident has never happened in Uttar Pradesh before. He further noted, I think that if the administration and senior police officials had taken responsibility and didn't show negligence, we wouldn't have lost so many lives today, reported ANI. Also read: Hathras stampede: From 24 ashrams to expensive car, Bhole Baba holds assets worth 100 crore The Azad Samaj Party leader urged the state government to provide 25 lakh as compensation to the families of the Hathras stampede victims. He also demanded 5 lakh compensation for those injured in the incident. A 24-year-old Indian student hailing from Telangana, Sai Surya Avinash Gadde, passed away in a drowning accident at Barberville Falls in Albany, New York, over the Independence Day weekend. A student at Trine University, Gadde, had visited the popular tourist destination in the United States when the incident occurred. His body was recovered on July 7, just a month ahead of his 25th birthday. Also read: Canada PR: Indian students facing deportation to go on dry hunger stir, say govt has become deaf what do they want? The Indian Embassy in the US confirmed the news and extended condolences to Avinash's family and friends. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Embassy in New York said: We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Mr. Sai Surya Avinash Gadde, a student at Trine University, who drowned on 7th July at Barbervilley Falls, Albany, NY. Also read: Please help us: Indian student refuses to leave Ukraine without pet dog The post added, Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Hindustan Times reported that the Embassy is providing the necessary assistance, including issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to transport Sai Surya Avinash Gadde's remains back to India. "Two men swimming got into trouble, following which multiple crews came to the rescue, local media reported, citing Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office statement. Also read: Australian visa crackdown hits Indian students, some universities impose blanket bans One of the drowning men was rescued by a Samaritan, but Avinash's body was found lifeless, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office. At the site of the incident, the state dive team was among one of the crews. Local authorities are probing the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, it said. Mumbai is set to receive more rain for the next four to five days, the weather bureau warned, after rainfall of more than 300 mm in six hours from 1 am on Monday inundated swathes of India's commercial capital, disrupting suburban train services and flights. Mining and manufacturing sectors (in Maharashtra) may be affected as is the case every monsoon, said Sakshi Gupta, principal economist at HDFC Bank. "There was barely any impact on business and banking as most have digital flexibility created during the covid-19 pandemic. Only physical deposits can be affected if it continues downpouring," Gupta added. Second highest rainfall recorded in city since 2005 Monday's rainfall was the second highest recorded in the city after 26 July 2005, when Mumbai recorded a record 944 mm. More than 50 flights to and from Mumbai were cancelled due to the downpour. Several airlines took to X to warn passengers and urge them to check flight status before leaving for the airport. Central Maharashtra received 91% excess rain at 13.4 mm and the entire state recorded 92% excess precipitation of 17.8 mm in the past 24 hours. With this, the national rainfall was 2% more than above normal at 225.6 mm since the beginning of the four-month (June-September) monsoon season. As a cyclonic circulation over Westcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh coast, very heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan, Goa and Madhya Maharashtra on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; Gujarat Region, Kerala, Mahe, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Interior Karnataka today and over Coastal Karnataka on Tuesday and Friday, the weather bureau said on Monday. Extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan, Goa, Ghat regions of Madhya Maharashtra and Coastal Karnataka today, it added. The met office has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and the Konkan belt. Vikhroli's Veer Savarkar Marg Municipal School and MCMCR Powai saw the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours as over 315 mm of rainfall was recorded. Initially, BMC announced holiday for the first session for all BMC, government and private schools and colleges in Mumbai (BMC area). Later in the day, BMC announced holiday for the second session for schools and colleges as well. On 2 July, the South-West 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. After hitting the Kerala coast northeastern regions two days and six days before its scheduled time, the southwest monsoon progressed normally up to Maharashtra but lost momentum, prolonging the wait for rains in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, which were reeling from a heatwave. The India Meteorological Department (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. This is partly because the El NinoSouthern Oscillation (ENSO) has returned to neutral, and the cooler phase, known as La Nina, is expected to be formed in the second half (August-September) of the monsoon season. La Nina, meaning little girl, is characterised by the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the same regions. It occurs every 3-5 years, and can occasionally happen in consecutive years, leading to increased rainfall and distinct weather patterns, resulting in floods. Further, the weather office said that sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim today and on Friday, Bihar between Wednesday and Friday; Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya till Thursday; Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura today may receive very heavy rainfall. Extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on Wednesday and Thursday and on Tuesday in Arunachal Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Russia's highest civilian honour, Order of St Andrew the Apostle by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Moscow. Watch: Putin said the award is a testimony to Russia's sincere gratitude for Modi's significant contribution to strengthening ties between the two nations. You have always actively advocated broader contacts with our country. When you were the CM of Gujarat, you came up with initiatives to twinning your state with the Russian region, Putin said. Lauding Modi's contribution towards building a resilient framework for Russian Indian cooperation, Putin said, " both our nations are defending the principle of multipolarity for the sake of stability, global and regional security and working closely in BRICS and SCO." Also Read | Congress asks PM Modi to recognise Nehrus role in establishment of Austria Upon receiving the award, PM Modi extended his heartfelt gratitude to President Putin for honouring him with Russia's highest civilian honour. This honour is not just mine, this is the honour of 140 crore Indians. This is the honour of the centuries-old deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia. This is the honour of our special and privileged strategic partnership, PM Modi said. In the past 2.5 decades, PM Modi said, under Putin's leadership, India-Russia relations have strengthened in all directions and have scaled new heights each time. "The foundation of strategic ties between the two nations that you had laid has only further strengthened with the passing of time. Our mutual cooperation, based on people-to-partnership, is becoming the hope and guarantee of a better future of our people..." he added. 'Devastating blow to peace efforts' As PM Modi hugged Putin during a recent meeting, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned him and said it a huge disappointment and a devastating blow. Russia had launched an attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022. On Monday, Russia rained missiles across Ukraine, killing at least 37 civilians and damaging Kyiv's main children's hospital in the deadliest air strike in months, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Indian community in Russia amid chants of 'Modi-Modi'. PM Modi started his speech greeting the crowd as Priye Moscowa and the entire audience applauded to it. Entire world is amazed looking at speed of development India has acquired in last ten years, PM Modi said in his speech and adds, I have taken an oath to work three-times faster and with three-times more strength in my third term. "Today's India makes sure it achieves the target it sets. Today, India is the country that takes Chandrayaan to the part of the moon where no other country in the world could reach. Today, India is the country that is giving the most reliable model of digital transactions to the world...Today, India is a country that has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. When you people gave me the opportunity to serve the country for the first time in 2014, there were hundreds of startups, today there are lakhs of startups. Today, India is a country that is filing patents and publishing research papers in record numbers..." India is transforming today because it believes in strength of its 140 crore citizens and its diaspora across the world PM Modi arrived in Moscow for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the Vnukovo-II Airport. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. In 2019, PM Modi conferred the highest Russian state honor, 'Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First.' (Bloomberg) -- Purdue Pharma LP secured a two-month window to negotiate a new pact with members of the Sackler family as the OyxContin maker and its owners brace for a potential wave of civil opioid lawsuits after the US Supreme Court scuttled an earlier $6 billion settlement. Judge Sean Lane said during a Tuesday court hearing in New York that hed extend for 60 days an injunction that, for years, has paused opioid litigation against the billionaire family while Purdue, government authorities and victims lawyers attempted to effectuate the earlier settlement. Advisers who negotiated the earlier deal will attempt to cut a new agreement during the two-month window that complies with the Supreme Courts ruling. Such a settlement, if successful, would likely compensate victims and provide billions of dollars to fund programs to combat the nations opioid addiction crisis. The talks are widely supported by Purdue creditors, state authorities and other constituencies and the related injunction was not sought by members of the Sackler family, Lane said. Although Lane could decide in September to extend the injunction, lawyers for opioid victims indicated Tuesday theyre prepared to sue the Sacklers if negotiations dont result in a new deal. A committee representing some states and cities said in a court filing theyd prefer to strike a revised deal but that preparing for litigation will either aid negotiations or be a necessary first step toward obtaining the judgments that Purdues creditors deserve. If negotiations fail, Purdue has said it would back efforts by an official committee of creditors to recover more than $11.5 billion it says Sackler family members shifted offshore in the years preceding Purdues 2019 bankruptcy. The Sacklers dispute the allegations and have said that roughly half the money transferred from Purdue was paid in taxes. Arik Preis, a lawyer representing opioid victims and other Purdue creditors, said the earlier settlement would have stripped substantial wealth from the drugmakers owners. Instead, Preis said the Sacklers have gotten richer while the earlier settlement was contested by the US Justice Departments bankruptcy watchdog, whom he criticized during Tuesdays hearing. Representatives for families of the late Mortimer Sackler and Raymond Sackler have denied wrongdoing and said theyd support a resolution that provides substantial resources to help combat a complex public health crisis. The case is Purdue Pharma LP, number 19-23649, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. --With assistance from Jef Feeley. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Top news today: On 9 July, a series of events are set to take place right from politics to business. Nifty 50 and Sensex hit their fresh record highs on Tuesday, July 9, despite mixed global cues. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly condemned Narendra Modi for hugging Vladimir Putin. Mumbai Police arrested the main accused, Mihir Shah, three days after BMW killed 45-year-old woman in hit-and-run. Stock market today: Nifty 50, Sensex hit fresh all-time highs; auto stocks Maruti, M&M steal the show Indian stock market benchmarks- the Nifty 50 and the Sensex - hit their fresh record highs on Tuesday, July 9, despite mixed global cues, while several automobile stocks, including Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), clocked healthy gains. Read more Ukraine's Zelenskyy slams PM Modi for hugging Russian President Putin: Devastating blow to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin during their recent meeting. Read more Food services sector to grow by 8.1% CAGR between 2024 and 2028 Indias food services industry is expected to reach 7.76 trillion by 2028 from the current 5.69 trillion, growing at a CAGR of 8.1% due to expanding market opportunities and improving economic conditions. The rising income levels have led to a shift in consumer behaviour, with higher consumption driven by millennials and Gen Z buyers being major contributors to this expected growth. This segment includes catering and delivery services but not the hotel industry. Read more NEET-UG paper leak case: CBI arrests father-son duo from Nalanda and Gaya NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made fresh arrests in NEET-UG paper leak probe on Tuesday. The investigative agency arrested NEET-UG candidate, Sunny Kumar, from Nalanda and one Ranjit Kumar from Gaya. Rajnit Kumar is the father of aspirant Sunny Kumar. This takes the total number of arrests by the agency to 11, officials said Tuesday. Read more Jupiter Wagon shares fall over 4% after board approves QIP launch Jupiter Wagons shares dropped by 4 per cent to 694 in Tuesday's trade on BSE, following the firm's announcement that its Fund Raising Committee had approved the launch of a qualified institutional placement (QIP), setting the floor price at 689.47 per equity share. Read more Patanjali stops sale of these 14 products, including Drishti eye drops; Check details inside Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved Ltd on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it has stopped the sale of the 14 products whose manufacturing licences were suspended by the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority in April. Read more "It's Alia's world and we are just living in it," is what Kangana Ranaut had to say about Alia Bhatt when she first saw the Meghna Gulzar movie 'Raazi'. In a 2018 YouTube video, the actor-turned-politician publicly heaped praises for the spy thriller, and its lead Alia Bhatt. Kangana, who had attended the preview of the movie, saw the film shorty after its release and had referred to Alia as "the queen" as she spoke to the reporters outside the theater. Also Read | CISF personnel who slapped Kangana Ranaut transferred to Bengaluru? I really like Raazi. A splendid job by Meghna Gulzar. I have no words (for Alia), she is so good. Meghna and Alia had called me for a trial (preview) but I couldnt attend it because I was shooting at the time," she had said. Kangana added: "But I promised them that I would see it soon. She (Alia) is the crowned queen, undisputed queen most definitely. Its Alias world and we are just living in it. Kangana Ranaut plant tree in her courtyard Kangana Ranaut, who is back to her hometown in Himachal Pradesh, recently shared a video of her planting tree as a heartfelt gesture dedicated to her mother. On her social media platform, Kangana said that the nurturing of nature parallels to a mother's affection, and encouraged her followers to plant trees and dedicate them to their mothers. Sharing a picture of her planting the tree, Kangana wrote: Well planting trees is my favorite thing to do because there is no one in the world except trees who only give you and want nothing from you in return, becoming flowers, fruit, shade, oxygen, rain and fuel for you after it die. The love of trees is as selfless as a mother's love. So a tree for mother too(sic). By Svea Herbst-Bayliss July 9 - Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman kicked off fundraising for a new U.S.-listed closed-end fund on Tuesday, an effort people familiar with the matter say could bring in as much as $20 billion, more than double his assets under management, some of that from retail investors. Last month, Ackman sold 10% of his firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, which has posted mostly strong double digit returns since 2019 after a spell of losses. The new fund, Pershing Square USA Ltd, will offer lower fees for investors and quicker access to capital than traditional hedge funds, regulatory filings show. There will be no management fee charged for the first year after the fund's initial public offering and no performance fees ever. It will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and be available to anyone who can invest in the U.S., including pension funds, endowments and retail investors. Roughly 80% is expected to be raised by institutions, with retail investors making up the rest, a filing made Tuesday shows. Ackman, a heavy user of social media platform X, referenced the fundraising on Tuesday when he messaged his 1.3 million followers "I am going to be busy for the next few weeks. $PSUS!!" Investors, including ones unable to write the multimillion-dollar checks Wall Street hedge funds traditionally demand, can pay $50 a share for the new vehicle. At the end of June, Pershing Square Capital Management oversaw $18.7 billion in assets, according to a company document. This includes some $15 billion in assets in Pershing Square Holdings, the 10-year old closed-end fund listed in Amsterdam and London. Ackman built his reputation as an activist investor with noisy campaigns at companies ranging from railway Canadian Pacific to payroll and tax services company ADP. He owned stakes in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Hilton Worldwide Holdings and Restaurant Brands International at the end of the first quarter. Citigroup, UBS Investment Bank, BofA Securities and Jefferies are global coordinators and bookrunners for the initial public offering. Ackman's recent string of strong returns Pershing Square Holdings earned 27% last year, 27% in 2021, 70% in 2020 and 58% in 2019 follow a reorganization of the firm. Taking the advice he usually gives to companies to perform better personally, Ackman re-engineered the way he invests and reversed double-digit losses in 2015 and 2016 followed by smaller declines in 2017 and 2018. US Senator Bob Menendez acted with entitlement as he took bribes of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes Benz while promising to help businessmen and the nation of Egypt, a prosecutor argued to jurors Tuesday at his corruption trial. Assistant US Attorney Paul Monteleoni portrayed the New Jersey Democrat as a meticulous organizer of several schemes that enriched himself and his wife Nadine, who helped Menendez interact with two businessmen on trial with him, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. Acting carefully to cover his tracks, Menendez subtly pursued bribes for years while promising to use his power to help those who paid him, the prosecutor said during closing arguments at the trial in Manhattan federal court, which began eight weeks ago. Menendez acted with the entitlement of someone whos entrusted by the public with unimaginable power, Monteleoni said. At the same time, Menendez was trying desperately to pass the buck to the people who are close to him, including his wife and staff, the prosecutor said. Citing numerous texts, emails, calls and bank records, Monteleoni argued Menendez committed multiple crimes. He corruptly helped Egypt to secure US military aid and sensitive information; protected an Egyptian monopoly that Hana secured to inspect meat bound for Egypt; influenced a federal indictment in New Jersey of Daibes; and swayed New Jersey criminal probes of people close to another businessman, who admitted he bribed the senator with a Mercedes. Menendez was smart and he was careful, Monteleoni said. He used his power and influence in subtle ways to try to help the people who were bribing him while not getting caught. Menendez, a three-term senator, has lost his political support in New Jersey and Washington since his indictment last September, and he says hell run as an independent in November. His wife, Nadine, was charged with him but will undergo a separate trial. Prosecutors charged Menendez with bribery, extortion, fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. FBI agents seized 13 gold bars and more than $486,000 in cash from the Menendez house, as well as a Mercedes convertible. His lawyers say he never took a bribe or acted as an agent of Egypt. They say Daibes and Hana gave gifts to Menendezs wife without his knowledge, and that she received gold bars from her wealthy family in Lebanon. Prosecutors have not come close to meeting their burden that any of the gold or cash was given to Senator Menendez as a bribe, defense attorney Adam Fee told jurors in his summation. He said prosecutors offered no credible evidence that Menendez took any official actions with corrupt intent. The simple truth is these actions were lawful, normal and good for his constituents and this country, Fee said. Multiple Schemes But during more than five hours of arguments over the past two days, the prosecutor hammered Menendez over the details of several alleged schemes, including his efforts to help Jose Uribe, a businessman who pleaded guilty and testified as a prosecution witness. Uribe said he bribed Menendez to pressure New Jersey prosecutors to drop criminal probes against two people close to him. The prosecutor reminded jurors of testimony about a dinner Menendez attended with Uribe, his wife and her daughter by a previous marriage. Uribe testified that the senator urged the women to go to the bathroom before telling Uribe: I saved youre a*s twice. Not once but twice. That exchange was devastating evidence of Menendezs culpability for the scheme, the prosecutor said. While defense lawyers attacked the credibility of Uribe, the prosecutor vouched for him and said reams of evidence support his account. He repeatedly said: You know he was telling the truth. Monteleoni also said FBI agents traced $82,500 found in Menendezs house to Daibes, primarily through fingerprint evidence. Monteleoni also said Daibes gave six one-kilogram gold bars to Menendez, and his wife sold four of them before an FBI raid in 2022. The prosecutor also dismissed arguments by Menendezs lawyers that the senator had no access to his wifes locked closet, where FBI agents found cash and gold bars. There is zero reason to believe that Menendez was locked out of the closet of his own bedroom, Monteleoni said. This suggestion is absurd. The current case is US v. Menendez, 23-cr-490, US District Court, Southern District of New York . Even as congressional Democrats argued Tuesday over whether to stand behind Joe Bidens candidacy, the White House and lawmakers grasped for a unified strategy: trying to change the subject from the presidents mental acuity to Donald Trumps policy goals. Public defections from Democratic lawmakers slowed despite divisions over whether Biden should remain their White House nominee or make way for Vice President Kamala Harris or another candidate with a better chance of defeating Trump. Across the Capitol, Democrats parried questions about Biden by invoking Project 2025 a suite of policy proposals drafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation for Trump to pursue if he is elected in November. Trump has tried to distance himself from the controversial initiative, but its staffed by some of the most prominent members of his former administration. Democrats say the proposals which range from gutting the federal civil service to banning pornography and blocking efforts to fight climate change are likely to alarm undecided voters and push them into the presidents camp, even as doubts persist in the wake of Bidens disastrous debate performance last month. There is a consensus to focus on Project 2025, said Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, leaving a closed-door meeting of House Democrats that participants described as a listening session to allow members to vent their concerns about Bidens ability to defeat Trump. I am not going to be distracted by a 90-minute debate, Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, a member of the left-leaning Squad of lawmakers, said. I am focused on guarding against 90 years of horror if Project 2025 becomes a reality. Elsewhere, Representative Maxine Waters of California invoked the project as she questioned Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during an appearance at the House Financial Services Committee. The attempt to change the channel came from the very top. Google Project 2025, Biden posted on X around midday, part of a refrain from the presidents reelection campaign as it tries to refocus voters on the stakes of the fall election and away from Bidens struggles. Staunching Defections The House Democrats meeting early Tuesday amounted to a forum on Bidens political future, after several members declared publicly that he should step aside. There was no sign yet of the kind of clear consensus that might force him to reconsider his candidacy. Its a pivotal week for the embattled president, who is hosting a NATO summit in Washington. He will hold a Thursday press conference, offering critics and supporters another moment to study every word for signs hes slipping. He shouldnt endanger his legacy and deliver us to a tyrant, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the first Democrat to call for Biden to step aside, said following the House Democrats meeting. Many lawmakers expressed support for Biden, albeit some more begrudging than others. And very few expressed confidence that Biden can win a second term. New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler, one of several senior Democrats who have privately said Biden should step aside, said the president has made very clear he is running and the party must get behind him. He is the person, Nadler said when asked if Biden can beat Donald Trump in November. The president has determined that he is the best candidate. The president, who spoke late Monday with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and plans to meet with progressives later this week, did not speak to House Democrats directly. Richard Neal of Massachusetts called the meeting a listening session and was among several Democrats who touted Bidens accomplishments. Its unbelievable what we have done over the last three years, he said. Donor Discontent A growing number of donors are expressing concerns about Bidens ability to beat Trump in November. Nearly 400 donors sent a letter late Monday calling for Biden to withdraw from being a candidate for reelection for the sake of our democracy and the future of our nation. Among those who signed the letter are Lisa Blau, the co-founder of venture firm _able Partners, Kevin Brennan of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, former Procter & Gamble Co. chief executive officer John E. Pepper, and two former Internal Revenue Service Commissioners Charles Rossotti and Fred Forman. To be clear, however this resolves, I will support him or whoever the Democratic nominee is, Trey Beck, a Democratic donor and former managing director of DE Shaw Investment Management, told Bloomberg Surveillance Tuesday. Were going to have to unify behind our candidate and if its Biden thats who Ill get behind him. Ill walk on glass for the guy. With assistance from Christian Hall, Amanda Gordon, Jonathan Ferro, Eric Martin and Steven T. Dennis. NATO countries will offer Ukraine F-16 fighter jets and new air defenses as part of a push to counter a stepped-up Russian campaign of missile strikes, even as fresh assessments suggest the conflict is headed toward indefinite stalemate. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced the plan but declined to detail what the air defenses might look like, though Ukraine has been asking for more Patriot systems to shoot down Russian missiles. He also wouldnt elaborate on the F-16s, more than a year after President Joe Biden dropped his reluctance to sending the jets to Ukraine. The offer is part of a package of fresh commitments to Ukraine that NATO leaders will offer as part of the three-day summit that begins later Tuesday. The 32 leaders gathered in Washington want to give a fresh show of support even as they continue to resist providing Ukraine with a time-bound and concrete path toward membership. I think what weve seen over the last days demonstrates the need to step up our support for Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Tuesday. Stoltenbergs plea follows assessments that the fight in Ukraine could go on indefinitely absent an agreement to end the fighting. The latest assessment of the battlefield is that neither side is set to make significant gains, raising the possibility of a prolonged stalemate, according to people familiar with the situation. Ukraine has the resources to hold the line but not much more. The leaders gather at a moment of uncertainty for the alliance. President Joe Biden, set to deliver a speech to fellow leaders Tuesday night, is bedeviled by questions around his age and fitness for office. Other leaders including Frances Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are facing political challenges back home. President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, is far less isolated than the West would like. Earlier Tuesday, he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow. And he continues to forge closer ties to China, which has stepped up its support for Russia with so-called dual-use items that are used in weapons. The Biden administration has sought to portray the summit as a success for the US president and a testament to just how much hes patched relations with allies in the four years since he replaced Donald Trump. His team wants to draw a contrast to what they say would be the chaos to come if Trump wins re-election this November. Embattled Biden, Weakened Allies Fuel Doubts at NATOs 75th Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pushed for a concrete and time-bound plan for Ukraine to get membership to NATO, something that President Putin is dead-set against and NATO nations have been so far unwilling to provide. In a summit statement expected this week, NATO is expected to offer Ukraine an irreversible path to membership, provided it makes necessary reforms meant to clean up corruption. One person familiar with Ukraines stance said Zelenskiys team isnt happy with that approach, arguing that the thing the country really wants is a formal invitation to join the alliance. NATO nations are also confronting the fact that the conflict, now in its third year, appears farther from resolution than ever. One senior NATO official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity Tuesday, said Putin believes time is on his side and that the war will last well beyond 2025. Underscoring the urgency of the air defenses, Russia launched a barrage of missiles on the eve of the summit Monday, killing at least 40 people nationwide including in a strike on a childrens hospital. Zelenskiy, who was set to deliver a speech in Washington later Tuesday, has grown increasingly frustrated with NATO over its slow pace providing additional air defenses. The US and its allies have struggled to find more Patriot batteries to send given that most of the systems are spoken for around the world. The push to provide F-16s and train pilots has also been slow, hindered by slow training and a lack of pilots. With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska. Oracle Corp. dropped as much as 4.8% after Elon Musk said his artificial intelligence startup would rely less on cloud technology from the software maker, jeopardizing a potentially lucrative revenue stream. In a post Tuesday on his social network X, Musk said his company, xAI, decided to build a system to train AI models internally because our fundamental competitiveness depends on being faster than any other AI company. The Information reported earlier that the companies had ended talks on a potential $10 billion cloud agreement. Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison said last September that Oracle had a deal to provide cloud infrastructure to Musks xAI to train models. Ellison didnt release the value or the duration of the contract at that time. In Musks post, he said that xAIs Grok 2 model was trained on 24,000 Nvidia Corp. H100 chips from Oracle and is probably ready to release next month. Musks decision to build AI-training infrastructure internally underscores the expansion challenges for cloud providers despite the availability of capital, wrote Anurag Rana, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. We believe these issues extend beyond Oracle and could also vex Microsoft and AWS, not just because of a shortage in specialized chips, but also power. In May, the Information reported that Oracle and xAI were close to a deal to expand their relationship. Musks startup would have spent about $10 billion to rent cloud servers from Oracle for a period of years, the Information reported then, citing a person involved in the talks. Those talks have now ended, the publication reported before Musks posts. Oracles shares hit an intraday low of $138 after the report. The stock closed at $145.03 Monday, gaining 38% this year. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said he is backing Joe Biden for re-election, joining a chorus of elected officials to get behind the embattled President after initially offering measured criticism. Joe Biden is going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party, Pritzker said at a press conference in Chicago on Tuesday. Im gonna go out there and wholeheartedly campaign and endorse him and Kamala Harris. The billionaire governor last week said in an interview with CNN that the president needed to communicate more to explain his strategy and allay voter concerns after the 81-year-olds disastrous debate against Donald Trump when he spoke in a raspy voice and stumbled over answers. Pritzker met Biden together with other Democratic governors at the White House on Wednesday night when Biden sought to dispel anxiety over his performance and campaign. After the crisis meeting, governors including Californias Gavin Newsom, expressed strong support for Bidens reelection, while Pritzker merely commented on the candid nature of the conversation. Pritzker, who is seen as a potential presidential candidate should Biden decide to step aside, then remained mostly silent on the issue as a small group of Democrats called for Biden to step aside from the race. Biden is going to be at the convention in August by accepting the nomination and Ill be cheering for him, Pritzker said at the Chicago event. Pritzker is stepping in for Biden to headline the Indiana Democratic Party Hoosier Hospitality Dinner in Indianapolis on Friday. He also will handle the the keynote at the Ohio Democrats Annual Family Reunion on Saturday. Thousands of residents of Barcelona protested against mass tourism, claiming that tourists increased prices and put pressure on public services in Spain's most visited city. The anti-tourist protesters on Saturday sprayed tourists with water guns while chanting: Tourists go home! Some protesters also carried signs with slogans including Barcelona is not for sale. According to a report by CNN citing Barcelona's City Council, some 2,800 people demonstrated against mass tourism in the centre of Barcelona on Saturday. A group of more than 100 local organisations, led by the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turistic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth) had organised the demonstration. According to the CNN report, the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turistic claimed that tourists increase prices and put pressure on public services, while profits from the tourism industry are unfairly distributed. Also Read | Spain could set more conditions in BBVA bid for Sabadell, CNMC head says The group also alleged that these tourists increase social inequality. Recently, similar protests were also held in the Canary Islands and Mallorca, decrying the impact on living costs and quality of life for local people due to mass tourism in Spain. Around 26 million tourists made an overnight stay in the Barcelona region in 2023, spending 12.75 billion ($13.8 billion), according to official data, as per the report. The protesting group has proposed several steps to reduce the number of tourists and transition Barcelona to a new tourism model. It has also proposed closing cruise ship terminals, regulating tourist accommodation more, and ending public spending on tourism promotion. Also Read | Banks Test Appetite for 4 Billion Vodafone Spain Buyout Debt Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni on Saturday highlighted a series of measures he had announced recently to reduce the impact of mass tourism on living costs for the locals. He had announced raising the nightly tourist tax to 4 ($4.30) and limiting the number of cruise ship passengers. Last month, Collboni had also said that apartment rentals for tourists will be ended by 2028 by scrapping short-term rental licences for more than 10,000 apartments. The US government disrupted a Russian disinformation effort that used artificial intelligence-powered bots to create fake social media profiles on X, officials said on Tuesday. An editor at a Russian state media outlet developed software to create a bot farm as part of a project that was funded by a member of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday by the Department of Justice. From June to December, nearly 1,000 accounts were part of a campaign that impersonated Americans and promoted pro-Russian government messaging. One profile claimed to be a user based in Minneapolis, Minnesota who joined X in June 2023. That account posted a purported video of Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that parts of Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania became part of Russia following World War II. Another profile that was identified as a Sue Williamson living in Gresham, Oregon posted a video that disputed the number of foreign fighters embedded with Ukrainian troops. X voluntarily suspended the bot accounts identified in the court documents for terms of service violations, according to the Justice Department. The company didnt respond to a request for comment. The bot farm was organized by an individual who worked in 2022 as the deputy editor-in-chief at RT, a Russian government-funded media agency, according to an affidavit included in the government filings. The documents didnt disclose the identity of the individual. That person continues to work at RT and since 2023 has led a digital media department. Thats where the software for the bot farm was developed, according to the US. A Russian intelligence officer approved and funded the project, according to the affidavit. Farming is a beloved pastime for millions of Russians, an RT spokesperson said in a statement. People associated with the bot farm also transferred funds internationally to purchase two domain names from a US-based company in order to create private email servers, the court filings said. Those were used to create email addresses that enabled the creation of at least 968 fictitious social media accounts, according to the US government. Russia intended to use this bot farm to disseminate AI-generated foreign disinformation, scaling their work with the assistance of AI to undermine our partners in Ukraine and influence geopolitical narratives favorable to the Russian government, said FBI Director Christopher Wray in a statement. Additionally, the FBI and partners including the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Service and the Netherlands Police released a joint cybersecurity advisory detailing the technology behind the social media bot farm. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her boss President Joe Biden has been extremely effective in lengthy meetings, defending him in response to questions Tuesday about his mental acuity. The president is extremely effective in the meetings that Ive been in with him, Yellen said at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee in Washington. That includes many international meetings that are multi-hour, including sessions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders, she said. Bidens last in-person meeting with Xi was in California in November, which lasted about four hours. They spoke again by phone in April, days before Yellens own visit to Beijing. Yellen was responding to a question from Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, who asked whether she had noticed any signs of mental or cognitive decline in the president. The Treasury chief said she wouldnt comment on her meetings with Biden because those are private, and said in response to a follow-up question that there have been no discussion among Cabinet members about invoking the 25th amendment of the US Constitution, which allows for the removal of the president due to disability. Bidens health has been front and center of US politics since his faltering performance in a debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump late last month, which triggered calls from some elected Democrats and donors for the president to pull out of the race. Biden said this week he wont step aside. Lawlers question triggered a brief argument during the hearing, which was scheduled to focus primarily on global economic issues. One lawmaker interjected that the Treasury chief is not a doctor and sought to get the comments struck from the record. Republican member Blaine Luetkemeyer, the chairman of the committees panel on national security, then warned such questions werent appropriate. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, tried to pivot to criticism of Trump, criticizing his bromance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which drew another reprimand from Luetkemeyer. Much has been written about Indias angel tax, an innocuous coinage with diabolical consequences. Its in the news again, as the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) is reportedly in favour of startups being relieved of it. Its a uniquely Indian innovation that converts capital into taxable income. Its a tax on capital in a country short of capital, and thus antithetical to the governments agenda of attracting capital to India. It often seems like a cruel joke. Its origin: Section 56(2)(viib) was inserted in 2012 by then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee under a series of measures titled Measures to prevent generation and circulation of unaccounted money". It applies to unlisted companies that issue securities at a premium to investors, when the price at which these are issued is higher than their fair market value." The difference is subject to tax in the hands of the issuing company. Since 2016, this section has been applied to startups that raise capital from investors for nascent business ideas. As the money raised is from angel investors (primarily high net-worth individuals and family offices), it was dubbed an angel tax. It originally applied only to investments from Indian residents, but was extended to non-residents (with carve-outs) from 2023-24 onwards. Its flawed assumptions: The notion that a high share premium is a sign of unaccounted-for funds mistakes correlation for causation. A high share premium is an outcome of legitimate business decisions taken by a company. For example, the number of securities issued in the past could be low, with their face value low too, while the current valuation of the business could be much higher. Each is permissible under Indian law. A company with 1 lakh of paid-up capital at 1 per share, with an average pre-money valuation of 10 crore now would result in an issue price of 1,000 per share, or a premium of 999. But this would likely result in angel-tax notice from authorities. The tax department uses a system known as Computer-Aided Selection of Cases For Scrutiny (CASS). As the department states: CASS is a system-based method for scrutiny selection which identifies cases through data-analytics and three-hundred sixty-degree data profiling of taxpayers and in a non-discretionary manner." An analysis of various companies that received such notices would suggest that the criteria employed for angel tax include the question of whether a loss-making business issued shares at a premium. Early-stage losses are the norm for startups, not an exception. They invest heavily in teams, their product-market fit, marketing, etc, in the early years, faced as they are by intense competition, often from entrenched players. Getting a business started incurs high costs much in advance of revenues, with the expectation that these will rise and costs will stabilize or flatten over time. Such losses do not indicate lack of value creation, as they are investments in a revenue ramp-up over time. Its core issue: The practice of assessing officers comparing startup projections in its valuation report with actual performance, with no regard for a valuation report in case of deviations, is problematic. As forecasts, projections are subject to execution risk. Even Indias budget sees adjustments. New businesses operate under more uncertainty, and the equity risk taken by investors covers it. While combating unaccounted funds is a global issue, no other country has taken the approach of taxing a share premium as income. The US Internal Revenue Code, for example, categorically states that the exchange of stock for cash/other consideration shall not be treated as income. Its patchwork fixes are not a cure: Angel tax notices began to pick up in 2016. On 19 February 2019, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) provided relief from this tax with conditions. A DPIIT startup was exempt from angel tax for 25 crore worth of shares issued at a premium, provided the funds were not invested in a blacklist. Many conditions were reasonable and had a carve-out for transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business, but three bars crippled this concession: on giving loans and advances, capital contributions to other entities and investments in shares and securities. This effectively bars salary and vendor advances, rental deposits, investment of surplus funds in treasury instruments, investments in subsidiaries or joint ventures, and the creation of a trust for employee stock options. It applies for seven years after the fund-raise. As a firm may remain a DPIIT startup for 10 years, the bar on routine transactions can be for 17 years. Many startups have surrendered the 2019 exemption because of these conditions. In 2023-24, Section 56(2)(viib) was extended to non-residents as well (with carve-outs). Five additional valuation methods, leeway of 10% issue price variance from fair market value, a list of safe-harbour countries, etc, have failed to mitigate this blow. The Indian startup ecosystem raises around 85% of its capital from overseas. Of the top five countries of origin, threeSingapore, Mauritius and the Netherlandsare not part of the 21 safe harbours. Since the tax was extended to non-residents, startup funding dipped by an estimated 63% in 2023-24, year-on-year, with the lowest amount raised in six years. Since 2012, various measures have been taken to combat unaccounted funds. Unlisted company shares were made to go demat, all issuances had to be reported, unlisted securities had to be disclosed in Income Tax Returns, and more, aimed at transparency. Listed companies are excluded from the scope of Section 56(2)(viib) as they meet various transparency norms. Unlisted companies should also be excluded for similar reasons. There already exist sufficient tools for the tax department to nab bad actors. Such an exclusion will stop genuine startups from being harassed and driven out. The Congress Party, which introduced this angel tax in 2012, stated in its manifesto that it would remove it. The ruling BJP stated in its manifesto that it would completely revamp our economic and commercial legislations to suit our economic needs." Lifting this burdensome tax on investments should be the first step. It will not compromise Indias fight against unaccounted funds. Startup India has been crippled by the angel tax. Stop-gap relief has not solved the problem. The removal of Section 56(2)(viib), however, can reverse Indias dip in startup funding and give entrepreneurs and investors the confidence they need to invest in India and generate success stories. In 2021, Tractor Supply Companys Chief Executive Hal Lawton published an op-ed in The Tennessean that read like a call to action. If we are to tackle important issues such as climate that put our childrens future at risk, and if we are to make real progress on a societal commitment to greater opportunities for all, the business community needs to lead by example," he wrote in the companys hometown paper. Tractor Supply can and will do more." Less than three years later, doing more" has come to mean marking the end of Pride Month by abandoning the LGBTQIA+ community. The US retailer based in Brentwood, Tennessee, is known for selling farming supplies and animal feed, but succumbed to a social media campaign led by right-wing commentator Robby Starbuck, who exposed" the companys commitment to woke priorities." We dont want our money going to woke causes," Starbuck said toward the end of a nearly 8-minute video that criticizes the companys investments in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). It took less than a month for Tractor Supply executives to cave. On 27 June, the company put out a statement saying it would stop submitting data to the Human Right Campaign, halt sponsorship of activities like Pride festivals and voting campaigns, eliminate DEI roles and goals and withdraw its carbon emission targets. We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them," the company wrote. We have taken this feedback to heart." This is one of the most extreme examples yet of the DEI backlash thats currently sweeping corporate America. Plenty of companies have slashed their DEI departments and erased or tweaked corporate language about inclusivity. But most have done so quietly to avoid publicizing their spinelessness and hypocrisy. Few have put out statements like Tractor Supplys, which seems to celebrate the betrayal of causes that the company once claimed were important. Tractor Supply is now sending a very different and clear message about the customers it prioritizes and wants in its stores. Its been easy to dismiss the wave of climate and diversity commitments that came out of companies during the last half decade as toothlessoften nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to generate good PR. But Tractor Supplys initiatives were substantive, which Starbucks attacks ironically showcased. The company put out annual reports on its diverse hiring statistics, offered inclusive benefits, conducted trainings on unconscious bias and sponsored events in the local community that reflected those values. For companies looking to do real ESG and DEI work, Tractor Supply offered a strong model. That only makes its reversal all the more disappointing. Submitting to a bully only makes them stronger. Having found success with his Tractor Supply campaign, Starbuck will prey on some other company. He has said as much, claiming in a more recent video that after successfully turning Tractor Supply into the first Fortune 300 company to go backwards on ESG and DEI," other corporations are going to have to understand they may be next." Tractor Supply, meanwhile, should expect a backlash to the backlash. The companys executives have said that its customers tend to skew more conservative. But to borrow a line from Michael Jordan, Democrats buy farming supplies, too. During the pandemic, Tractor Supply boomed thanks to urban dwellers fleeing cities for dreams of rural living replete with backyard chickens and fire-pits. As Fortune reported in 2021, Wappinger Falls, about 110km north of New York City in Dutchess County, is viewed by the company as a textbook Tractor Supply town. Executives might want to note that it also voted Democratic in the last four presidential elections. Now that the pandemic surge is over, Tractor Supplys growth has stalled. The companys same store sales, an important industry metric, were flat last year and a meagre 1.1% in the first quarter. Its top management team probably feared a boycott would make things worse for the company, which brought in $14.6 billion in revenue in 2023. Instead, executives only alienated the kinds of customers they need to attract to reignite growth. Most damaging, however, is the ease with which Tractor Supply abandoned its purported values and a subset of its customer base along with them. The company provided a haven for LGBTQIA+ people in parts of rural America where it didnt always feel like they had a safe place to shop. It is so isolating out here and often very scary to be queer," said a trans educator and content creator. One of the places we felt the most welcome was our local Tractor Supply." bloomberg SINCE CHINA re-embraced capitalism decades ago, rich rewards have flowed to entrepreneurs who understand what the Communist Party wants. Today grasping what the party dislikes may be a more precious skill. This is an era when leaders priorities can change overnight. When the winds turn, entrepreneurs need to curb their ambitions without complaint. Ningxia, a poor western region, is a good place to observe this trend. A decade ago Ningxias government announced plans to go global and seize the commanding heights of domestic and foreign markets for meat and dairy products that are halal, or in line with Islamic food laws. As dreams go, this was not especially fantastical. Though much of Ningxia is arid grasslands, the region is home to big dairy companies and sheep and cattle producers. Just over a third of its 7.3m-strong population are Hui Muslims, Chinese-speaking descendants of long-ago migrants from Arabia, Persia and Central Asia. Many local Hui shun pork and alcohol and eat products approved by the regions religious-affairs bureau as qingzhen. The term is Chinese for pure and true and can mean both halal and Islamic (mosques are known as qingzhen temples). Ningxia officials built a halal industrial park with room for hundreds of companies in Wuzhong, a majority-Muslim city of 1.4m people. Showing keen political instincts, officials tied these plans to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xi Jinpings globe-spanning infrastructure scheme. The BRI was designed in part to link backwaters such as Ningxia to new markets in Eurasia. In 2015 Ningxias government urged firms making halal food and Islamic clothing to firmly grasp the strategic opportunities of the BRI by deepening ties with Muslim countries in the Middle East as well as Central and South-East Asia. That same year local officials set a target for the output of Wuzhongs halal industrial park to hit a whopping 30bn yuan by 2020 ($4.2bn at current exchange rates). Propaganda outlets held up Hui entrepreneurs as model workers. In 2016 the Guangming Ribao, a newspaper under the control of the partys central committee, profiled the Yang Haji Halal Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Industrial Development Company, a producer of animal feed in the rural county of Tongxin. Its founder, Yang Jian, whose honorific Haji denotes a Muslim who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca, described how he guaranteed halal traceability for every sack of feed leaving his factory. The market potential was huge, the writers reported, lamenting that so few Chinese halal firms had international brands. Looking back, 2016 marked a high point of official enthusiasm for halal exports. That same year saw central authorities in Beijing reject calls to enshrine Islamic food rules in Chinas legal code. Enacting national regulations was a long-standing request from halal-food companies, who complained that many foreign Muslim countries mistrusted products from atheist, pork-eating China. Seemingly shutting down such debate, Mr Xi called on officials to maintain a strict separation between religion and the secular state. He also called for Islam and other foreign religions to be sinicised. State-approved scholars warned against qingzhen fanhua (pan-halal tendencies). Over the next few years Ningxia and other provinces with large Hui communities abolished many halal regulations and made Muslim restaurants remove Arabic signs. Chinese-speaking Hui regions were mostly spared the ferocious security campaigns imposed on Turkic-speaking Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Still, Ningxia saw protests when mosques were stripped of domes and minarets and given Chinese-style roofs. Chaguan visited Ningxia recently. Arriving unannounced at the former Yang Haji halal food plant in Tongxin, he found the company merged with a Xinjiang firm, Tycoon Group, and renamed Ronghua, or Glory to China. Large red characters on a factory wall read: Listen to the Party, Be Grateful to the Party, Follow the Party. Waiting in Mr Yangs office for him to return from a meeting, your columnist was joined by a clutch of officials led by Liu Yan, head of the countys propaganda department. Were you at the mosque? blurted out Ms Liu, for Tongxin county saw large demonstrations over mosque alterations a while ago. When Mr Yang arrived he said that great changes had reshaped his business, which now focuses on domestic clients. Under Ms Lius steady gaze, he added that market forces guided this shift, as his expectations for exports had been too high. Ms Liu broke in. Ningxia is actually very small, she said. With a few neighbouring areas, we can consume all our production locally. Bonding over deserts, not mosques The global market for halal food is estimated to have reached $2.5trn last year. Unsurprisingly, other Ningxia entrepreneurs still dream of exports. Arab countries are an important market and Arabic people are friends, said the owner of a halal spice and sauce business encountered at a government-run food festival in Wuzhong. For a couple of years fears of pan-halal tendencies led to stricter controls, he recalled, as one of several plain-clothes agents following Chaguan listened intently. Recently controls have eased a bit, to boost the economy and help local Hui, the business-owner suggested. He nodded at staff manning his stall, noting that they may wear white Muslim skullcaps once more. Sadly for that entrepreneur, Ningxia has moved on. Wuzhongs industrial park has lost its halal label, scaled back its ambitions and now focuses on high tech. Official speeches at the food festival praised delicacies from Chinas western regions but made no mention of halal or Islamic traditions. Ningxias government encourages sales of irrigation systems and drought-resistant crops to the Middle East. For a Hui region, it is safe to bond with Arab customers over arid agriculture, but not over shared Muslim faith. In todays China growth is good, but security comes first. 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. A few months ago, Edmundo Gonzalezs life in retirement consisted of academic conferences, visiting old friends and playing with grandchildren at his Caracas high-rise. Few in Venezuela knew him. Now, the soft-spoken 74-year-old is the oppositions presidential candidate in the July 28 election and what analysts say could be a last hope for democracy in a country ruled for 11 years by the strongman he is challenging, President Nicolas Maduro. Gonzalez has never run for office, but polls give the former career diplomat a whopping 20-point advantage over Maduro, who is seeking a third six-year term. The same polls show Maduro is widely reviled for driving the oil-rich nation to ruin and leading a quarter of the populationsome eight million peopleto flee the country. Id never done party politics, nor been in a popular election before," Gonzalez said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. This is all completely new to me." Venezuelas normally fractious opposition came together to rally around Gonzalez as a third-string choice after Maria Corina Machado, a charismatic pro-business politician who garnered 90% of the votes in a primary last year, was banned by the regime from running. So was her handpicked replacement. The government never explained why it let Gonzalez run. His face now appears on the ballot as the candidate for three opposition parties, crammed among 13 boxes with images of Maduro and a handful of other candidates with little support in polls. On the ballot, Maduros face appears 13 times while Gonzalez appears three times, alongside a handful of other candidates with little support in polls. But Gonzalezs commanding lead may not be enough to bank on when the vote in Venezuela is neither free nor democratic, say Western diplomats and human-rights groups. The Maduro administration has been accused of arbitrarily jailing dissidents, rigging elections and coercing desperate voters with food handouts. Merely 1% of the 4.5 million voting-age Venezuelans exiled abroad, who make up nearly a quarter of the national electorate, will be able to vote, the civil-society group AlertaVenezuela said in a report. The European Union, which was supposed to lead the largest electoral observation team, was disinvited by Caracas until the bloc lifts all sanctions against the Maduro government. Smaller monitoring teams from the United Nations and the U.S.-based Carter Center will be permitted. Maduro controls the National Electoral Council, the courts and the armed forces. Still, about two-thirds of voters plan to participate in the election, according to a recent poll conducted by ClearPath Strategies and Consultores 21, which gives Gonzalez and Maduro support of 56% and 35%, respectively. Were heading toward an unprecedented situation where were looking at high participation, despite a government that has set one of the worst conditions for elections," said Guillermo Bolinaga, a Venezuelan with the political-risk consulting firm Opportunitas Advisors in Florida. The elections come after efforts by the U.S. and its European allies to coax Maduro into holding a fair vote in exchange for relieving some of Washingtons economic sanctions against Caracas. Maduros government signed a deal in Barbados in October with the U.S.-backed opposition, committing to holding a democratic vote. But he later broke off the agreement, complaining that the U.S. hadnt helped Venezuela regain access to offshore accounts frozen by financial sanctions. We are clear-eyed that democratic change will not be easy and requires serious commitment," a spokeswoman for the White Houses National Security Council, which led negotiations with Maduros envoys, said. As part of a campaign blitz, regime officials appear daily on state television and radio to assure the public that Maduro will win. Their own polling numbers give him a comfortable lead, they say. Meanwhile, on social media, Maduro appears calm and in charge in carefully edited videos capturing him strolling over sand dunes and dancing salsa with his wife. In speeches, Maduro says only he can maintain order. He largely blames U.S. sanctions for Venezuelas troubles and slams the opposition for supporting them. The economic downfall has stripped Maduros socialist party of the majority it once held in rural areas and urban slums. But it still counts on votes from loyalists, some driven by government handouts and others by a conviction that their leftist movement can only reach its goals if they remain in power at any cost, the International Crisis Group said in a report. Are we going to let that decrepit old man, who represents savage capitalism, into power?" Maduro asked supporters at a rally over the weekend, where he called his rivals fascists who are seeking to start a civil war. His supporters shouted no. Maduros aides in recent days applauded workers of the state airline for berating Gonzalez with insults as he was taking a flight and then posted videos of the incident on social media. In an effort to present a softer image, Maduro is now campaigning as a Christian. In April, he invited an Evangelical preacher from Kenya to give services featuring purported miracle healings, which were broadcast on national television. In another recent religious service, Maduro asked God for forgiveness for sins he and his lieutenants had committed. As president of the republic, I voluntarily hand over this nation to Christ," the burly, mustachioed leader said at the presidential palace with a group of Christian pastors. The leaderships troubles may make it hard for Maduro to leave, political analysts say. He and his inner circle face international criminal investigations for corruption and rights abuses, including a U.S. indictment for narco-terrorism. The International Criminal Court at The Hague is investigating alleged crimes against humanity, including the torture and the killing of political detractors. The political cost of giving up power is his own life," said Andres Izarra, a former government official who broke ranks with Maduro and is in exile in Germany. Its not an exaggeration, thats the risk for that whole mafia." Rafael Guzman, a former lawmaker and adviser to a major opposition party, said Maduros rivals need to offer credible guarantees of security and possible amnesty to some regime officials to get them to give up power. If theres no negotiations, theres no transition," Guzman said. In the interview, Gonzalez declined to discuss amnesty or the international criminal charges against Maduro. But he said his campaign promotes national reconciliation. We could have a situation here where the magnitude of our victory will be so wide that the government understands that we have a new reality in the country," Gonzalez said. The next presidential term doesnt begin until January, five months after the election. Were going to have to sit down with them and see how the government responds," he said. David Smilde, a professor at Tulane University who tracks Venezuelan politics, said Gonzalezs measured statements and amicable image are a shift from the oppositions hard-line leadership in the past as he seeks to calm regime figures who are fearful of retribution if they lose power. The key to understanding Edmundo is that his was not an intentional candidacy. Its a marriage of convenience," said Smilde. It wasnt part of a conscious strategy, but its actually been working out precisely in a good-cop-bad-cop kind of way that I think is quite positive." Gonzalez says he wants to steer the country into a radically different direction by restoring state institutions and regaining investor confidence to jump-start the economy, including the countrys vital oil sector. Creating jobs, he says, is essential to stem the outflow of migrants and bring some of those who left during Maduros rule back home. An ambassador to Algeria and then Argentina, Gonzalez left the government in 2002, when Maduros predecessor and mentor, Hugo Chavez, ruled. He has since worked at foreign-policy think tanks, with a short stint a decade ago as international liaison for the opposition. Gonzalez, often seen dressed in suit and tie in a country where politicians usually prefer tracksuits, has largely kept a diplomatic demeanor since stepping into the limelight. He doesnt directly insult regime figures. He refers to Maduro as president, a stark change from opposition leaders who call him illegitimate for allegedly rigging his 2018 re-election. And Gonzalez hasnt done a lot of campaigning. In fact, it is Machado who has been on a whirlwind tour, traveling to remote mining villages and ramshackle towns that lack electricity or running water to urge voters to support Gonzalez. Were going to decree an end to socialism. Never again," Machado told a rally in western Venezuela recently. As one of the regimes most ardent foes, Machado has long advocated overturning a socialist system by privatizing state enterprises and eliminating an ossified welfare system. The governments intelligence service has been on her campaign caravans tail the whole time, stopping cars at checkpoints, leveling fines against street vendors who serve campaigners food and closing hotels where they stay. Nearly 50 activists and campaign organizers working with Machado or Gonzalez have been arrested in recent months, according to the nonprofit Access to Justice, a Caracas nonprofit that tracks abuses in Venezuelas legal system. Among them was Luis Lopez, a 64-year-old retired professor and journalist who was arrested by police last month at a public plaza as he was teaching prospective voters how to vote, relatives said. His family was able to visit him on Wednesday for the first time, said his sister Betty Lopez, but they are still unclear of what he is accused of having done. The charge against him is incitement to hate," an accusation that rights groups say is used to stifle dissent and is punishable with 20 years in prison. Its outrageous. My brother didnt do anything wrong. Hes just informing people," said Lopez, who struggles to tend to her 98-year-old mother without her brothers help. She said she hoped for change in the election, but the arrest has left her doubtful. Im putting my trust and faith in God," she said. Hes the only one who can sort this mess out now." Write to Kejal Vyas at kejal.vyas@wsj.com New Delhi: The government is working on a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for shipping-grade containers to improve domestic availability and cut large-scale imports from China, said two officials in the know, seeking anonymity. Indian businesses are worried about an ongoing global shortage of containers amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Centre trying to lower import dependence on China Besides, the Centre has also been trying to check its dependence on imports from China, which accounts for 90-95% of the global market for shipping-grade containers. A PLI scheme is under consideration. According to the requirement, the incentive amount will be considered to woo private players, and make India self-sufficient in manufacturing containers," one of the officials said. A high-level committee has been formed to promote local container manufacturing and bring it under a PLI and cluster-based manufacturing system. The scheme may be announced in the budget for FY25. The government plans to introduce PLIs in several new sectors that have a high level of import dependence, this official said. Also Read: Container shippers stock prices fall on possible easing of Red Sea hostilities Queries emailed to the ministries of ports, shipping and waterways, commerce & industry, finance and the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) did not elicit an answer till press time. The need for a steady supply of containers is also key to the Centres efforts to boost domestic cargo transportation through inland waterways and coastal shipping. This structural weakness" that has been hurting goods exports since the outbreak the covid-19 pandemic is expected to be addressed through the scheme. The sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union and US following its invasion of Ukraine have led to an acute shortage of containers, which in turn has increased freight rates and impacted global trade. The pandemic, too, disrupted manufacturing and supply of containers globally. There are apprehensions about a glut in container demand. To some extent, it may sound convincing, but what about the scarcity of containers when demand for them rises unexpectedly?" the second official said. India has emerged as a promising market for fulfilling global goods demands. Our exports are increasing and as we strive to become the world's third-largest economy, it is crucial that we reduce our dependence on others for containers to meet global demands," this official said. A proposal for the container PLI was also mooted by the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways early last year but the ministry later put it on hold citing a glut-like situation for containers in the latter part of 2023. This proposal was for a 11,000-crore container PLI scheme to be spread over a nine-year period, beginning 2024-25. The plan was to manufacture 20- and 40-feet containers of various configurations. The aim was to enable India to potentially compete with China and garner at least 10% of the demand from global liners. A proposal for it will be sent to the finance ministry soon," the official said. The Economic Survey for FY22 highlighted how container shortage is impacting trade. It said covid-19-related restrictions on international trade in 2020 also affected container movement. The prolonged partial closure of ports across the world created a glut of containers in some ports and an acute shortage in others. At the same time, because of widespread manufacturing delays, not enough containers were made, said the Economic Survey released by the government. With the global economy starting to recover since early 2021, containers, which were stuck at various storage points are not being sent back to service fast enough, resulting in a skewed demand-supply situation for shipping containers, leading to very high shipping rates. During April-September 2021, India spent $14.8 billion on transport services imports, or 65% higher than last year." said the Survey. The Centre has taken a few steps to ease the supply shortage, such as increasing the import of containers, and releasing abandoned, detained or seized containers. To increase domestic container manufacturing, the government has identified Bhavnagar in Gujarat as a hub, and a few companies have already started operations. According to the Centre, India requires 350,000 containers every year, and the demand will only increase, with the government having set an ambitious export target of $2 trillion by 2030. "Production linked incentive programme for container manufacturing has been under evaluation and discussion over the past couple of years. The key drivers are substantial dependence on China for supply of containers and the demand-supply mismatch, considering Indias growing requirements for containers in the backdrop of expanding domestic and international trade," said Saurabh Kanchan, partner, Deloitte India. In India, there is limited private sector investment and capacity in the area container manufacturing. This is attributed to high input costs and therefore a high cost of production for Indian manufacturers. PLI programme can potentially address the cost disadvantages and help create additional capacity," the Deloitte India partner said. However, over the longer term, the PLI scheme design should address creation of an eco-system of cost-competitive raw material suppliers, supported by demand side measures such as local sourcing norms for containers, commensurate with Indias participation in international trade, he said. S Ramakrishna, former chairman of the Federation of Freight Forwarders Association of India (FFFAI) emphasised the critical need for the government to address the cost and supply of raw materials used in container manufacturing. The government should also address the issue of the cost of raw materials used for making containers, especially considering that the raw material for containers includes Corten steel sheets, which is a critical concern," said Ramakrishna. The government should also not limit this support to the PLI scheme only. Container manufacturing should be treated as an export-oriented unit and it should be made GST-free, considering they are predominantly used for export-import purposes," he said. It is important to note that more than 90% of containers come from China, irrespective of the shipping companies. Therefore, India needs to sustain its container manufacturing capabilities. Beyond containers, we also need to develop our shipping lines." As per commerce ministry data, despite persistent global challenges, overall exports (goods and services together) hit the highest level in 2023-24. Overall exports reached $778.2 billion in 2023-24 as compared to $776.4 billion in 2022-23, registering a marginal growth of 0.23%. In 2023-24, services exports increased from $325.3 billion (FY23) to $341.1 billion, while merchandise exports marginally declined from $451.1 billion to $437.1 billion, the commerce ministry data showed. WASHINGTONThe White House once hoped the NATO summit that opens Tuesday would showcase President Bidens leadership of the trans-Atlantic alliance and his differences with Donald Trump. Instead it has become a pivotal test of his fitness for a second term. A solid performance during the three-day gathering of North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders could help shore up his candidacy, reminding voters of his support for the 75-year-old military partnership that his predecessor regularly attacked. Another stumble like his debate against Trump last month could only intensify calls for the 81-year-old commander in chief to exit from the presidential race. He has absolutely no room for any sort of mistakes, any sort of trip-ups," said Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. The sort of gaffes that have become pretty common for Biden and just a factor of who he is as a person and as a president are now going to be seen by European leaders as a broader question of suitability." Biden will open the summit with remarks Tuesday, followed by a day of meetings and a dinner at the White House for NATO leaders on Wednesday and a press conference with reporters on Thursday. Hell also hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said Monday that she was confident of the presidents abilities, having briefed the president three weeks ago about the summit. He ended up peppering me with loads of questions that were tough to answer," she said. I dont have concerns." But the presidents words will be parsed for any slip-ups or mistakes, as will his stamina, after he struggled during the 90-minute debate to deliver coherent answers. A subsequent interview on ABC did little to ease anxieties. James Townsend, a senior adviser at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said of Bidens debate performance: There are gonna be a couple of elephants in the room and that is one of them." Asked about Bidens fitness for the job on Friday, a senior administration official touted the presidents record and longstanding trans-Atlantic relationships. Foreign leaders have seen Joe Biden up close and personal for the last three years. They know who they are dealing with, and you know, they know how effective he has been," the senior administration official told reporters during a Friday call, noting that the president has backed NATO and stood up to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putins unprecedented aggression against Ukraine." National Security Council spokesman John Kirby argued that Biden didnt need to reassure allies following the debate. Were not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all," he said Monday. Quite the contrary, the conversations that were having with them in advance, they are excited about this summit. They are excited about the possibilities." Kirby also said that there would be announcements this week on deterrence capabilities as it relates to Ukraine and the entire alliance. He also said there would be announcements on the defense industrial base and on Ukraines path to NATO in the future. Despite a massive damage-control effort by the White House, including the rare TV interview, Biden is facing pressure to end his re-election bid. At least 10 House Democrats have issued public and private calls for the president to drop out, joining a chorus of donors and party officials expressing concerns. Those cries could get louder this week with lawmakers back in Washington for the first time since the debate. So far, the president has been defiant in the face of criticism, issuing a letter Monday and calling in to MSNBCs Morning Joe" to argue that he had the support of voters and that he was committed to staying in the race. A recent Wall Street Journal survey found 80% of voters believe Biden is too old to run for a second term. Biden cited his foreign policy record as a reason he should remain his partys nominee. I expanded NATO. I solidified it," Biden said on MSNBC. I made sure that were in a position where we have a coalition of people of nations around the world to deal with China, with Russia. With everything that is going on in the world. Were making real progress." Some NATO leaders arent convinced. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski issued a warning for Biden on the social-media platform X after the debate: Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor but he screwed up his succession by passing the baton to his feckless son Commodus (He, from the Gladiator). Whose disastrous rule started Romes decline," Sikorski wrote. It is important to manage ones ride into the sunset." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg dodged repeated questions about Bidens health and abilities during a July 5 press conference. I have had and continue to have a very good working relationship with President Biden, and I welcome his very strong personal commitment to the alliance and the leadership on Ukraine," Stoltenberg said. Bidens debate performance has prompted Americas allies to question whether they now have to prepare for the ever more likely scenario of a second Trump presidency. Europeans are increasingly on edge about what a Trump return means for NATO, given the former presidents frequent criticism of the trans-Atlantic alliance. At this weeks summit, NATO leaders are likely to reaffirm the long-term goal to bring Ukraine into the alliance. Trump, by contrast, blamed Western promises to bring Ukraine into the alliance for provoking Russia to invade the country in the first place. During his debate with Biden, Trump said that if he were elected in November he would have the war settled before he even took office on Jan. 20. He didnt provide details. The contrast between the views of Trump and Biden will be on sharp display. Everything the president does right now, every moment is make or break," said Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund. For the country and for U.S. national security, the president needs to have a strong performance." Dan Michaels contributed to this article. Write to Catherine Lucey at catherine.lucey@wsj.com Concern over President Bidens fitness for a second term has left some voters and politicians pushing him to undergo a cognitive test. Yet one test wouldnt provide a final word on the presidents cognitive abilities, doctors said. Doctors use cognitive tests as a screening tool to help inform their understanding of a patients cognitive function. The tests are designed to assess a persons memory, attention, executive function, language and judgment. The assessments neither provide a diagnosis nor determine with certainty whether a patient has mild cognitive impairment, doctors said. Low scores indicating signs of possible dementia could provide more of a clear signal, though not a certain diagnosis. Doctors would have to conduct further evaluation, including commissioning more tests like a PET scan. To date the president hasnt said he would undergo a cognitive assessment, telling ABCs George Stephanopoulos on Friday: I have a cognitive test every single day." Not only am I campaigning," Biden added, Im running the world." In February, after Biden underwent his annual physical, the presidents doctors determined he didnt need a cognitive test, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Bidens cognitive fitness became a more prominent concern with members of his party and donors late last month after he appeared to stammer at times and, at others, appeared to lose his train of thought during a debate with former President Donald Trump. Questions over both candidates agewith Biden at age 81 and Trump at age 78have been on the minds of voters for years during their presidencies and 2024 campaigns. While Trump was in office in 2018, the former president requested and underwent a Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, amid speculation from his critics about his mental health. He scored a 30 out of 30 on the assessment, his doctor said at the time. The MoCA is one of several quick tests patients can undergo as a screening for cognitive impairment by examining a patients memory, attention, language skills and orientation. Tests can vary in what questions they ask and which abilities they assess. Exams such as the MoCA ask patients to remember a set of words and recall the words multiple times during the assessment. They also have patients draw a cube or other geometric figure, and a clock with hands pointed to a certain time. The test is fairly easy to do for someone with a high level of education and no or even mild impairment," said Dr. Kenneth Boockvar, director of the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who uses the MoCA test with patients. Its only a screening test. Its not really diagnostic." Medicare requires doctors to assess cognitive impairment in patients as part of their annual wellness visit, though cognitive tests arent always administered during those exams. It is possible a patient could do well in the screening while having mild cognitive impairment, Boockvar said, speaking generally. Boockvar said he may use these tests as an initial starting point with new patients. If a patient shows some evidence of cognitive impairment, Boockvar may repeat the test periodically to see how they progress, he said. The most thorough test assessing a patients cognitive health is a neuropsychological evaluation, which includes a variety of exams that could take several hours, said Dr. Charan Ranganath, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California, Davis. Those exams are typically done if there is concern from the patient or their family members that something significant is wrong and arent typically administered simply because a patient has turned a certain age. In addition, Ranganath said he believes doctors couldnt use the results to determine whether a candidate was fit to hold office. There isnt an accepted standard for making such a call, he said. You have two challenges: one is to take these kinds of tests and say something meaningful with them. But the other challenge is what does it take to do the job? What do we expect our people to do?" Ranganath said. Doctors also look at other factors, beyond the results from a cognitive test, to help determine whether to further explore whether a patient has some kind of cognitive issue. Doctors also consider a patients medical history, physical exam, conversations with physicians and interviews with family members. Depending on the various factors, a doctor may recommend a patient undergo additional testing or imaging with an MRI or a PET scan, blood tests or referrals to other specialists. In February, Bidens doctor declared the president fit for duty" following an annual physical. The doctors assessment found the presidents gait has stiffened and his range of motion has slightly decreased due to arthritis. A neurological exam showed no findings to indicate disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinsons disease. Cognition changes as people get older. Cognitive loss or impairment isnt inevitable as people age, Boockvar said, but it is common. People become less resilient to stressors stemming from medical issues such as infections to emotional ones like losing a loved one. Dr. Lon Schneider, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and gerontology at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine, said a more apt assessment for both Biden and Trump would be a decisional-capacity evaluation. Schneider said these assessments, conducted through interviews, are similar to evaluations done in court cases to determine competency. This is not a matter of pass/fail, of Come in and take your screening test for presidential competency or not, and if you score above 28 youre competent and if you score below 28 youre incompetent," Schneider said. Its much more complicated for all of us." Determining whether someone in a high-level position in government or at a company can effectively do a job requires nuance and sensitivity, said Dr. Ian Grant, an assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, speaking generally about the neurological effects of aging. Aging can affect the brain gradually. Some kind of caution just needs to be considered in terms of whether or not even just normal age-related changes are going to be able to be managed when this person is getting significantly older," Grant said. The more demanding the type of job, the more difficult even certain age-related changes may have in the long run." Write to Jennifer Calfas at jennifer.calfas@wsj.com Washington, Jul 9 (AP) In the third year of the war in Ukraine, NATO is set to deepen relations with its four Indo-Pacific partners, which, although not part of the military alliance, are gaining prominence as Russia and China forge closer ties to counter the United States and the two Koreas support opposing sides of the conflict in Europe. The leaders of New Zealand, Japan and South Korea for the third year in a row will attend the NATO summit, which starts Tuesday in Washington, DC, while Australia will send its deputy prime minister. China will be following the summit closely, worried by the alliance's growing interest beyond Europe and the Western Hemisphere. "Increasingly, partners in Europe see challenges halfway around the world in Asia as being relevant to them, just as partners in Asia see challenges halfway around the world in Europe as being relevant to them," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week at the Brookings Institution. Also Read | NATO summit puts Bidens fitness under a microscope America's top diplomat said the US has been working to break down barriers between European alliances, Asian coalitions and other partners worldwide. That's part of the new landscape, the new geometry that we've put in place. Countries with shared security concerns are strengthening ties as competition escalates between the United States and China. Washington is trying to curb Beijing's ambition to challenge the US-led world order, which the Chinese government dismisses as a Cold War mentality aimed at containing China's inevitable rise. On Monday, Beijing responded angrily to unconfirmed reports that NATO and its four Indo-Pacific partners are expected to release a document laying out their relationship and ability to respond jointly to threats from cyberattacks and disinformation. Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, accused NATO of breaching its boundary, expanding its mandate, reaching beyond its defence zone and stoking confrontation. The war in Ukraine, which has pitted the West against Russia and its friends, has bolstered the argument for closer cooperation between the US, Europe and their Asian allies. Ukraine of today may be East Asia of tomorrow, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the US Congress in April. Also Read | NATO matters more than ever to Americas role in the world The US and South Korea accused Pyongyang of supplying Russia with ammunition, while Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea last month and signed a pact with leader Kim Jong Un that envisions mutual military assistance. South Korea and Japan, meanwhile, are sending military supplies and aid to Ukraine. The US also says China is providing Russia with machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that allow it to make weapons to use against Ukraine. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will bring to Washington a strong message regarding the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and discuss ways to enhance cooperation among NATO allies and Indo-Pacific partners, his principal deputy national security adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, told reporters on Friday. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said discussions would focus on our collective efforts to support the rules-based system. The partnership does not make NATO a direct player in the Indo-Pacific but allows it to coordinate with the four partners on issues of mutual concern, said Mirna Galic, senior policy analyst on China and East Asia at the US Institute of Peace. For example, she wrote in an analysis, they can share information and align on actions such as sanctions and aid delivery but do not intervene in military crises outside of their own regions. The NATO summit will allow the United States and its European and Indo-Pacific allies to push back against China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, according to Luis Simon, director of the Centre for Security Diplomacy and Strategy at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The fact that the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific alliances are structured around a clear anchor US military power makes them more cohesive and gives them a strategic edge as compared to the sort of interlocking partnerships that bind China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea," Simon wrote in a commentary last week on War On the Rocks, a defence and foreign affairs website. Beijing is worried by NATO's pivot to the east, said Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University in eastern China. Beijing has insisted that NATO not interfere in security affairs in the Indo-Pacific and that it should change its view of China as a strategic adversary. NATO should consider China as a positive force for the regional peace and stability and for global security, Zhu said. We also hope the Ukraine war can end as soon as possible ... and we have rejected a return to the triangular relation with Russia and North Korea. In today's volatile and fragile world, Europe, the US and China should strengthen global and regional cooperation, Zhu said. NATO and China had little conflict until tensions grew between Beijing and Washington in 2019, the same year the NATO summit in London raised China as a challenge that we need to address together as an alliance". Two years later, NATO upgraded China to a systemic challenge and said Beijing was cooperating militarily with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand attended a NATO summit for the first time, where statements noted the geopolitical challenges China poses. Beijing accused NATO of cooperating with the US government for an all-around suppression of China". Now, Beijing is worried that Washington is forming a NATO-like alliance in the Indo-Pacific. Chinese Senior Col. Cao Yanzhong, a researcher at China's Institute of War Studies, asked US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin last month whether the US was trying to create an Asian version of NATO by emphasising partnerships and alliances. They include a US grouping with Britain and Australia; another with Australia, India and Japan; and one with Japan and South Korea. What implications do you think the strengthening of the US alliance system in the Asia-Pacific will have on this region's security and stability? Cao asked at the Shangri-la Dialogue security summit in Singapore. Also Read | Nato to establish new Kyiv post for Ukraine Austin replied that the US was simply working with like-minded countries with similar values and a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific". Beijing has its own conclusion. Ahead of Modi's visit to to Austria, the Congress party reitarated on Jawaharlal Nehru's pivotal role in the establishment of a sovereign and neutral country in the early 1950s and urged prime ministers to remember his contributions. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh noted that the Republic of Austria was fully established on October 26, 1955, celebrated as its National Day. He emphasized that Nehru was instrumental in making this a reality, despite Modi's frequent criticisms of him. "Dr. Hans Kochler, a noted Austrian academic, has written about the key role Jawaharlal Nehru played in the early fifties in the emergence of a sovereign and neutral Austria after a decade of occupation by the victorious World War II powers," Ramesh said. One of Nehru's most ardent global admirers was the legendary Bruno Kreisky, who was Chancellor of Austria during 1970-83, he said. "In 1989, Dr. Kreisky recalled Nehru thus: 'When the history of this century is written, and that of the men who have put their stamp on it one of the greatest and finest chapters will be the story of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It will be a part of India's most modern history... Very early Nehru had become one of my instructors," Ramesh said. The Congress leader also shared Kochler's retrospective for those interested in diplomatic history. "Those suffering from Nehruphobia - like our non-biological PM and, especially since 2019, our erudite and dapper External Affairs Minister - will also do well to recall it," Ramesh said in his post on X. Sharing the thread, Shashi Tharoor said, Nehru ji played a major role in devising the neutrality formula that persuaded the Russians to agree to Austrian freedom. He was a rare visionary on international issues, as his role the following year in the Suez crisis confirmed. New Delhi: The Sixteenth Finance Commission (SFC) has constituted an advisory council consisting of eminent economists D.K. Srivastava, Poonam Gupta, Pranjal Bhandari, Rahul Bajirao and Neelkanth Mishra. It will advise the commission on Terms of Reference (ToR) and other related subjects of relevance, the finance ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Poonam Gupta will be the Convenor of the Advisory Council whose role will also be to assist the Commission in the preparation of papers/ research studies and to monitor or assess studies commissioned by the Finance Commission, thereby enhancing the Commission's understanding of the issues in its ToR. The advisory council will also help broaden the Commission's ambit and understanding by seeking the best national and international practices on matters pertaining to fiscal devolution and improving the quality, reach, and enforcement of its recommendations, the finance ministry statement added. Also Read: The Sixteenth Finance Commission faces some daunting challenges The SFC, chaired by economist Arvind Panagariya, is tasked with defining the distribution of the Centres tax revenue to states for five years starting FY27. It will also ensure that states have efficient systems and measures in place for financing local bodies as advised by the state finance commissions. The SFC will suggest steps to augment the states consolidated funds for panchayats and municipalities and review national and state disaster management funds. The government has kept the terms of reference of the commission short, giving the SFC the flexibility to make recommendations governing sharing of tax revenue within constitutional limits. A majority of medical students at Johns Hopkins University are set to receive free tuition after the school received a $1 billion gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, making Hopkins the latest medical school to go tuition free because of a large donation. Hopkins said Monday that students from families earning under $300,000 would receive free tuition starting in the fall. Students whose families earn as much as $175,000 will have their living expenses covered. The school estimates nearly two-thirds of its students would qualify for either of the benefits. A growing number of philanthropists and medical schools are pushing to make education free for aspiring doctors and reduce the financial barriers that can deter them. Buoyed by donations, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the medical schools at New York University and Columbia University have given their students free tuition or scholarships if they have financial need. The cost of medical school has kept aspiring doctors out of the field, where they can graduate with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. By offering financial freedom to more students, schools can give medical students the flexibility to choose jobs in important but lower-paying fields like internal medical and pediatrics. Billionaire Michael Bloombergs philanthropic organization said Monday that the U.S. has a shortage of medical professionals yet the cost of attending school for these jobs is often too high. By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers theyre passionate about, he said. Bloomberg has used his philanthropic organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, to donate billions to several causes including public health, the environment and improving city governments. Most of the profits from his eponymous company, Bloomberg L.P., would support the work of Bloomberg Philanthropies. Hopkins said Bloombergs donation would also be used to expand financial aid for nursing and public-health graduate students, in addition to graduate students in other fields. This new scholarship formula will ensure the most talented aspiring doctors representing the broadest and deepest range of socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds have the opportunity to graduate debt-free, Hopkins said. California-based Apple has reportedly ramped up its manufacturing operations in India, producing $14 billion worth of iPhones in the last fiscal year. In a strategic move to diversify production beyond China, the tech giant could plan to include iPads and AirPods in its Indian manufacturing portfolio. After previously encountering setbacks, Apple is reportedly revisiting its plans to produce iPads in India and is actively seeking a local manufacturing partner. According to sources cited by Moneycontrol, Apple's earlier collaboration with China-based BYD for iPad production was halted due to geopolitical restrictions. Now, Apple is resuming its efforts and may soon secure an Indian partner to kickstart iPad manufacturing. Additionally, Apple is gearing up to commence AirPods production in India by early 2025. The company is also looking to boost the production of components for AirPods wireless charging cases through Jabil in India, adds the report. Trial production of these components has already begun in Pune, and Apple is considering a similar collaboration with Taiwan's Foxconn. Pending successful quality testing and approval, Jabil will increase commercial production of these parts to meet both export and domestic demand. As per the publication, the Indian government is reportedly encouraging Apple to expand its manufacturing footprint in the country to include laptops and desktops in the future. Apple has communicated ambitious plans for India over the next two to three years, aiming to establish a robust alternate supply chain and deepen existing partnerships. In recent years, Apple has shifted a substantial portion of its iPhone assembly to India, a departure from its previous reliance on Chinese factories operated by Taiwanese assemblers. This transition is facilitated through Foxconn and Tata Electronics, leveraging India's production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes. Notably, Apple released the iPhone 15 series assembled in India on the first day of sales, simultaneously with China-made units. Apple's strategic shift towards Indian manufacturing underscores its commitment to diversifying its supply chain and mitigating geopolitical risks, while also aligning with India's aspirations to become a global manufacturing hub. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. 3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here! Elizabeth Liz Jane Husted, of Nezperce, passed peacefully on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the age of 59. Born in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 24, 1965, and raised through childhood on Beacon Hill in Seattle, Liz joined the community of Nezperce as a teenager in 1979 along with her four younger siblings when her parents Gordon and Marilyn Webster moved the family from Seattle to become partners in Bell Equipment Inc., the local John Deere dealership. Liz graduated from Nezperce High School in 1983 and then attended the University of Idaho where she earned a degree in interior design in 1989. Lizs curiosity compelled her to explore various careers and jobs during the 1990s traveling throughout the western and southern United States including a summer in Alaska working at a fish cannery where she met her future husband Chad Husted. Along the way, Liz worked as a social worker, in the assembly fab at Micron Technology, and earned a degree in elementary education at Humboldt State University in California. In September of 2001, she and Chad were married and began their family. Their first daughter Amelia was born in 2003. Shortly after in 2004, Liz was drawn back to her birthplace of New York State when the family moved to Watertown, N.Y., and welcomed their second daughter Sophie. Desiring to give her family the same small town adolescence that she experienced and to be closer to family, Chad, Liz and the girls moved back to Nezperce in 2008 buying their dream home overlooking Little Canyon on Central Ridge. The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in the states appeal of a district court judges decision in the Held vs. Montana case, setting the stage for a decision that will have broad impacts on environmental law and regulations in Montana. Considering the arguments from both sides, and additional briefs from Republican-led states and recreation businesses like Orvis and Patagonia, the court will have to decide whether to uphold Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeleys order from August finding the state was violating the constitutional rights of the 16 youth plaintiffs to a clean and healthful environment. Seeleys order struck down the so-called limitation to the Montana Environmental Policy Act that prohibited the state from considering greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts from energy and mining projects. She also enjoined a portion of another bill passed by Republican lawmakers last year that said permits approved by Montana agencies that did not include a greenhouse gas emissions evaluation could not be vacated or voided unless Congress voted to start regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act. Attorneys representing the state, Gov. Greg Gianforte, and three state agencies will get 40 minutes to make their case to the justice, while attorneys for the youth plaintiffs will have 30 minutes. The hearing will be held in the Supreme Court chambers in Helena and start at 9:30 a.m. The Montana Environmental Information Center and other Montana environmental groups are also hosting watch parties of the oral arguments, which will be live streamed online, in Missoula, Billings and Kalispell. What the two sides and their supporters are arguing in the Montana case The youth plaintiffs in the case filed their response to the states appeal in March, and the case was fully briefed in April when attorneys for the state, Gianforte, and the state agencies filed their replies. About 20 separate amicus curiae, or friend of the court briefs, have been filed in the case either in support of the youth plaintiffs or the state that the Supreme Court can also consider when deciding the case. Lawyers for the state, governor and agencies have maintained since Seeley handed her decision down that striking down the Montana Environmental Policy Act limitation does not alleviate the plaintiffs injuries because Montanas greenhouse gas emissions are a small fraction of global emissions, which all affect Montana and the global climate. The defendants are also asking the Supreme Court to clarify that Seeleys order does not require the state to perform emissions and climate impact analyses but simply provides the opportunity for them to do so if the Legislature decides to follow that route. The Supreme Court received friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the state from the Republican-led chambers of the Montana Legislature, the Montana Chamber of Commerce and several local chambers, NorthWestern Energy, conservative think-tank Frontier Institute, the mining company association Treasure State Resources, 12 Republican-led states, and a Navajo Nation company that owns the Spring Creek Mine in Decker. Most of those briefs, like those from the state, argue that the plaintiffs do not have standing in the case, that Seeley used the wrong level of scrutiny in deciding the case, utilized one-sided data from the plaintiffs expert witnesses that the state did not contest at trial, or that the judiciary was wrongfully stepping into the realm of the Legislature when interpreting laws that intersect with principles of the state constitution. The Judiciarys constitutional authority does not allow the district court to determine how the Legislature should provide for the promise of a clean and healthful environment under Mont. Const. Art. II and IX, Senate President Jason Ellsworth and House Speaker Matt Regiers attorney wrote in their brief, for instance. The plaintiffs attorneys will argue that the Supreme Court should uphold Seeleys order in full, which would permanently keep the Montana Environmental Policy Act limitation out of Montana law, as well as the portion surrounding permit reviews and when permits could be vacated. Their attorneys say Seeley was correct when she found that the states actions prohibiting emissions and climate impact reviews were in direct violation of the 1972 Constitutions intents to protect the environment in Montana for current and future generations. They say attorneys for the state have purposefully tried to focus the case around the global impacts of climate change when Montanas constitution directly concerns the states environment and impacts to it caused by the states consistent permitting of high-emissions energy projects. Gardai have appealed for witnesses following the death of a man in a collision in Longford. Tributes have been paid to Damian Machnowski, a Polish man who lost his life in a single vehicle road crash in the early hours of Monday morning. Damian Machnowski, who was in his 30s, died when the car he was driving struck a wall along a stretch of the main N55 between Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown shortly before 1am. READ ALSO - End of an era as Longford Garda Superintendent retires after 38 years service in the force Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save the local factory worker. His body was taken to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar ahead of a post-mortem. A Garda spokesman said: Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballymahon Garda Station on 090 6432303, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Also read: Longford Garda Station welcomes two new recruits this week It was reported that Mr Machnowski had been living and working in the south Longford town for 16 years, and the vast bulk of that time was spent as an employee with local timber manufacturing outlet, Ronaynes Wood Products. Speaking to the Irish Independent, its managing director Jarlath Ronayne said Mr Machnowski's death had come as a considerable shock, describing the man as a highly though of and hard worker who had spent the past 16 years with the Creevaghbeg-based outfit. Also read: Barristers in Longford to protest as they strike over pay for second time Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 09 2024 A Conversation with Beauty Icon Bobbi Brown. Jill Davis, Kate Davis, Hollis Forbes, Liz Lange and Mary Margaret Trousdale will co-chair the annual Lecture & Luncheon Fundraiser at Maidstone Club to support the new Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) East Hampton Off-Campus Emergency Department on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Presented by the Southampton Hospital Foundation (SHF), this year were talking beauty with iconic makeup artist Bobbi Brown. BookHampton owner Carolyn Brody will moderate the conversation. I believe that true beauty begins with health and well-being. As a Hamptons resident, with a Jones Road Beauty outpost in East Hampton, I am thrilled to support the mission of this new Emergency Department by being a part of this exciting event, said Brown. The opening of the new Stony Brook Medicine East Hampton Off-Campus Emergency Department empowers our community with the care they deserve, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to lead vibrant, healthy lives. As a professional makeup artist, Bobbi created ten simple lipsticks that evolved into a global beauty empire, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. After leaving her eponymous brand, she returned to her entrepreneurial roots, launching several business and media ventures. Her business empire now includes justBOBBI.com, a digital editorial content site; The George, a 31-room boutique hotel; and 18Label, a state-of-the-art production studio. Her newest venture, Jones Road Beauty, is her collection of products for all ages, skin types, and skin tones. Recognized by Business Insider as one of the fastest-growing brands, Jones Road Beauty has garnered accolades from esteemed media outlets such as Allure, Vogue, W, In Style, and Essence. Bobbis approach to beauty has had a lasting influence on the industry, encouraging women to embrace their natural beauty and setting new standards for inclusivity and simplicity in makeup, noted Hollis Forbes, Co-Chair of the Luncheon. She is a trailblazer for women in business. Bobbis natural beauty philosophy transformed the cosmetic industry, and she continues to influence the beauty world today through Jones Road Beauty. We are so excited to welcome Bobbi as our guest speaker this year. She brings great energy and enthusiasm to her work, and to this event, added Jill Davis, Co-Chair. We respect that people are busy, and host just one annual fundraiser for the East Hampton Emergency Department, so we hope everyone will attend the lunch, or donate to our community's much-needed East Hampton Emergency Department. Registration opens at 10:45 a.m. The lecture begins promptly at 11:00 a.m., with lunch to follow at 12:00 p.m. Tables of ten range from $5,000 to $20,000, while individual tickets start at $500. For more information, or to purchase a table or ticket, please visit bit.ly/EHEDLuncheon2024, email alexa.schultheis@stonybrookmedicine.edu or call (631) 726-8700 x 3. The Stony Brook Medicine East Hampton Off-Campus Emergency Department is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024 and open by early 2025. It will operate under the Stony Brook Medicine healthcare system, which includes Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Childrens Hospital, and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital. It will provide essential services to visitors and residents from Bridgehampton to Montauk. The fundraising for the new facility has been a partnership between the Southampton Hospital Foundation, East Hampton Healthcare Foundation, and SBM. The East Hampton Off-Campus Emergency Department will encompass approximately 22,000 square feet providing: Cardiac monitoring capability in every exam room Dedicated suite for advanced imaging Fast-track treatment rooms for general, pediatric, obstetrics/gynecology, and ophthalmology patients On-site ambulance for hospital Isolation rooms (2) Resuscitation room To support the SBM East Hampton Off-Campus Emergency Department, please call the Southampton Hospital Foundation at (631) 726-8700. About Southampton Hospital Foundation, Inc. (SHF) The Southampton Hospital Foundation, Inc., a separate nonprofit corporation with an independent Board of Trustees, supports Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's mission to deliver healthcare services and expand clinical programs to meet the needs of the community. The Foundation concentrates its efforts on increasing critical philanthropic support to ensure high-quality healthcare for all of our neighbors on the East End. About Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) With 124 beds, more than 280 physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals representing 48 medical specialties staff Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH). A campus of Stony Brook University Hospital, SBSH offers a diverse array of clinical services, ranging from primary medical care to specialized surgical procedures, including cardiac catheterization, orthopedics and bariatrics. The sole provider of emergency care on Long Islands South Fork, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is a Level III Trauma Center. The hospital includes The Phillips Family Cancer Center, a Heart and Stroke Center, Breast Health Center, The Center for Advanced Wound Healing, Wellness Institute, and 32 satellite care centers throughout the South Fork of Long Island. The hospital is the largest employer on the South Fork with more than 1,200 employees. To learn more, visit www.southampton.stonybrookmedicine.edu. About Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) Stony Brook Medicine integrates and elevates all of Stony Brook Universitys health-related initiatives: education, research and patient care. It includes five Health Sciences schools Dental Medicine, Health Technology and Management, Medicine, Nursing and Social Welfare as well as Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, Stony Brook Childrens Hospital and more than 200 community-based healthcare settings throughout Suffolk County. To learn more, visit www.stonybrookmedicine.edu. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 09 2024 Free public event honoring Long Islands Vietnam & Korean War veterans. On Saturday, August 3, 2024 , American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island will co-host a patriotic reunion of 41 Vietnam War and five Korean War veterans. On May 4, 2024, Honor Flight escorted this band of brothers on an early a.m. flight to Washington, D.C. Veterans and their Guardians visited WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, plus took a Washington, D.C. bus tour. They returned to MacArthur that evening for a raucous welcome home by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family, friends and supporters! According to Bill Jones, HFLI President, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army veteran, This special flight included 41 Vietnam veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their military service. They were accompanied on this flight by five elder comrades, veterans of the Korean War. What this flight really represented was a Big Hug to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters who make such flights possible, he said. Jones noted that newly elected Southampton Supervisor Maria Moore served on this flight as a Guardian. Were proud she was on board. The Town has supported HFLI since its beginning, getting us off the ground and ensuring our success. HFLI will be forever grateful for Southamptons support, Jones said. He added that May 4th was historic for HFLI, since it marked the nonprofits over 2,000 veterans flown milestone since the group started in 2007. Our veterans received a special honor during their May 4th visit to D.C. Despite the pouring rain, HFLI Guardian Eric Wieboldt of Merrick, belted out his original song, Welcome Home, My Brother, which brought tears to veterans and onlookers alike. Eric said he wrote his song because the Vietnam veterans never received a proper welcome home. My song is an attempt to right that wrong, he added. Eric will perform his song as a special tribute during our August 3rd reunion. On August 3, 2024, American Airpower Museum opens at 10:30 a.m. and the reunion is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at AAMs Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735 - (631) 293-6398, www.americanairpowermuseum.org. The public is encouraged to attend, applaud and cheer our veterans during a Ceremony of Honors, as each is presented with a personalized Tribute Journal full of photographs taken during their historic day in Washington, D.C. Members of the public arriving for the event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. may attend FREE OF CHARGE! After 12:00 p.m., regular museum admission is free for members, $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $10 for children ages 5-12 and free for children ages 4 and under. This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President and Founder Jeff Clyman. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will play a popular medley called the Armed Forces Salute, featuring six official melodies of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air and Space Forces, and the Coast Guard. Free cake, coffee and refreshments provided by HFLI! HFLI is accepting applications from veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Long Island veterans are encouraged to sign up by going to the website, www.honorflightlongisland.org. Its important to submit an application, as that will ensure placement on our list. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset their travel costs. If there is no family member to act as a guardian, HFLI has volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to their memorials. Questions? Call HFLI Secretary Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or by email at JBowden@southamptontownny.gov . Honor Flight Long Island is one of 130 regional hubs in the national Honor Flight Network, whose mission is to honor America's World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, veterans from more recent conflict eras, by providing all-expenses-paid, round-trip visits to their Washington, D.C. memorials. For more about Honor Flight Long Island: www.honorflightlongisland.org. For more on the national Honor Flight Network: honorflight.org. American Airpower Museums mission is the preservation of aviation and military history to educate the public about the courage, sacrifice and heroism of our nations veterans, aviation pioneers and aviation industry workers. We accomplish this by preserving, displaying, and flying our operational examples of Americas legendary military aircraft, as well as through our static aircraft displays, exhibits and events. American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport - Where History Flies! @american_airpower_museum. SCPD: Cash Reward for Info Leading to Arrest of Suspects Who Stole $17K of Artwork from LI Self-Storage Unit Crime By Chris Boyle Published: July 09 2024 Approximately $17,000 worth of artwork was stolen from Life Storage, located at 59 Mariner Drive, between January 26 and May 29. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Southampton Town Police Department detectives are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the person or people who stole items from a storage facility in North Sea this year. Approximately $17,000 worth of artwork was stolen from Life Storage, located at 59 Mariner Drive, between January 26 and May 29. Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel on Sunday. That attack followed a July 4 assault in which the terror group fired approximately 200 projectiles and over 20 aerial objects into Israel. These incidents come amidst a deteriorating situation on the northern front of Israels multi-front war, where Hezbollah has launched at least 2,900 attacks since October, and tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced from their homes. Though Hezbollahs earliest organizational tactics revolved around terrorist attacks and guerrilla operations, the group has transformed its military wing in recent years into a conventional force conservatively estimated at 40,000 combatants. Accompanying this force is a massive stockpile of at least 150,000 mortars, short- to long-range unguided rockets, unguided short-range ballistic missiles, and smaller numbers of intermediate-range unguided Scud-B/C/D ballistic missiles. Hezbollah has converted portions of this inventory into precision-guided munitions (PGMs) designed to target strategic sites in Israel and diversified its precision guidance capabilities by incorporating new variants of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Much of Hezbollahs arsenal is kept in an integrated network of subterranean facilities under or near population centers in southern Lebanon, Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley. This situation presents serious challenges for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and underscores Israels requirement for sufficient quantities of munitions to defend its citizens and defeat Hezbollah in a major war that could come sooner rather than later. To understand Israels military requirements, it is important to scrutinize Hezbollahs growing and increasingly capable arsenal. Unguided rockets and missiles During the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah fired roughly 4,000 of its then-estimated 15,000 rockets and missiles at Israel in just five weeks and caused 46 Israeli civilian deaths. Now, Hezbollah possesses at least 150,000 mortars, rockets, and missiles, and recent Israeli estimates suggest the terror group could launch at least 2,500 rockets per day for eight weeks. Hezbollah is estimated to have anywhere between 40,00080,000 short-range rockets that could bombard northern Israel with saturating fire. The arsenal primarily consists of Katyusha rockets of varying calibers, mostly 122mm, with ranges from four to 40 kilometers. These rockets were Hezbollahs weapon of choice during the 2006 Lebanon War. But Hezbollah also has many other short-range rockets with higher payloads, such as the Burkan (10 kilometers), Falaq-1 and -2 (1011 kilometers), and Shanin-1 (13 kilometers). Hezbollah used the Burkan for the first time against Israel in November 2023 and the Falaq-2 against Israel on June 8. The majority of the cross-border attacks from Lebanon into Israel since October reflect these shorter-range systems firing against Israeli targets within 10 kilometers of the Blue Line (the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon). Hezbollahs arsenal is bolstered by an estimated 60,00080,000 longer-range rockets, including the Fajr-3 and -5 (43, 75 kilometers), Raad-2 and -3 (6070 kilometers), and Khaibar-1 (100 kilometers). If Hezbollah fires these longer-range systems from south of the Litani River, many of these munitions would leave Haifa, a city of over 270,000 people located less than 40 kilometers from the border with Lebanon, vulnerable to intense fire. Additionally, Hezbollahs Zelzal-1 (125160 kilometers) and Zelzal-2 (210 kilometers), Iranian variants of Soviet artillery ballistic missiles, and Fateh-110 (250300 kilometers), Iranian enhanced unguided short-range ballistic missiles, could threaten over 4 million Israelis living in and around Tel Aviv with larger 450kg and 600kg warheads. Zelzal-2 and Fateh-110 ballistic missiles can strike Tel Aviv and its environs from launch sites closer to Beirut than the Blue Line, while Scud B/C/D intermediate-range ballistic missiles could reach southern Israel, depending on the size of the payload. When Hezbollah first became a rocket threat in 1983, one of the IDFs chief operational goals was to push the group 40 kilometers north of the border beyond the range of the prolific Katyusha systems. Hezbollahs increased medium- and long-range fires capabilities mean Israel can no longer rely on strategies that simply push the group north beyond the ranges of its arsenal. With the Zelzal-2 and Fateh-110 ranges in Hezbollahs hands, for example, the IDF would need to push Hezbollahs forces north of Tripoli to prevent its reach into Israel. Though Israel struck Hezbollahs Zelzal-2 missiles in the 2006 Lebanon War, Iran has been actively working to reduce operational setup times and increase system mobility. This limits the systems vulnerability to the time-sensitive targeting needed to curtail the launch rates of Hezbollahs longest-range systems. Precision-guided munitions capabilities Hezbollahs massive and diverse unguided rocket arsenal is further bolstered by its growing PGM capabilities. Since the last large-scale military conflict with Israel in 2006, Hezbollah has repeatedly claimed it acquired a PGM capability that enables the terror group to target strategic sites in Israel. That means Hezbollah could use fewer of its weapons to strike at the most critical targets and is more likely to score direct hits on those sites if the systems are not intercepted. Upgrading an unguided rocket to a PGM requires the installation of a navigation system and a guidance and control computer that can calculate the relative position of the missile to the target. The guidance system issues signals to control surfaces that steer the missiles flight path to a target. Hezbollah had significant assistance from Iran in acquiring and developing this technology. Hezbollah and Iran both used their cooperative revenue generation and weapons trafficking mechanisms (driven by Hezbollahs Unit 4400, formerly Unit 108, and Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Unit 190) to secure internationally and smuggle regionally the technologies that have generated mutual qualitative advances in their weapons inventories since 2006. Many of the component technologies for Hezbollahs PGM guidance kits were developed at the direction of the IRGC in the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (Centre dEtudes et de Recherches Scientifique/CERS). However, production and transit in Syria were vulnerable to interdiction. This likely incentivized the IRGC to focus on indigenous PGM production capacity in Lebanon. As early as 2014, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah claimed a precision-guided missile capability. Subsequent reports in 2017 by Kuwaiti media outlets raised additional concerns about an emerging program that indicated Hezbollah was not just purchasing PGM but developing them. In 2018, Nasrallah again claimed to have acquired a PGM capability despite Israels interdiction operations in Syria. Israel repeatedly presented information to the United Nations in 2018 and 2020 detailing the locations of alleged missile facilities within Lebanon. Nasrallah himself confirmed in February 2022 that Iranian advisors helped Hezbollah upgrade some of the rocket inventory into PGMs from facilities within Lebanon. These domestic conversion facilities reduced some of the ground-based smuggling traffic throughout the region that was vulnerable to interception, making it more difficult to estimate Hezbollahs exact PGM capacity. In a 2020 interview, Nasrallah claimed to have doubled the PGM inventory the previous year, suggesting a major acceleration of production or procurement volume compared to the first five years of Hezbollahs PGM program. In February 2022, Nasrallah claimed he could convert thousands of rockets into PGMs. However, precise estimates on how many Hezbollah now possesses and which types of missiles have been converted still vary from several hundred to over a thousand. Hezbollah almost certainly inflates numbers in their statements for a deterrent effect. Still, even the most conservative estimates of low-hundreds of PGMs mean that if Hezbollah launches small volleys of PGMs in concert with large volleys of unguided rockets, Israel will struggle to intercept inbound threats with the same efficiency as in previous conflicts with Gaza-based terror groups. Any PGMs not destroyed by Israels defenses can target strategic sites with greater accuracy. Nasrallah spoke to this strategy as early as 2018 and gave specific examples this past August when he threatened civilian and military airports, airbases, power stations and the Dimona (nuclear) power station. Zelzal-2 or Fateh-110/M-600 systems with a GPS-guidance kit could carry a 450kg or 600kg explosive the 200300 kilometers from southern Lebanon to strike Dimona with serious consequences. Other possible targets for long-range PGMs include high-value assets such as IDF headquarters, bases, and command centers, government facilities including the Knesset, and energy infrastructure. In conjunction with the July 4 attack of more than 200 rockets, the head of Hezbollahs Executive Council, Hashem Safieddine, stated further retaliatory strikes would include new sites [Israel] never imagined would be hit. These claims build on a decade of Hezbollahs leadership speaking to transformations in the capabilities of its PGM arsenal. Should those PGMs successfully strike the air and missile defense sites themselves, as Hezbollah attempted against an Iron Dome site in Ramot Naftali on June 5, then a larger percentage of both guided missiles and unguided rockets would stand a better chance of hitting their targets. Hezbollah alluded to this strategy when it released a video on June 18 emphasizing its drone reconnaissance of Iron Dome sites and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems facilities around Haifa. One of Hezbollahs shortest but most lethal precision guidance capabilities is its ATGM inventory, which consists of six variants with different forms of dated and modern precision guidance. Hezbollahs short-range ATGMs proved lethal against the IDF in the 2006 Lebanon War and are now used on a weekly, if not daily, basis in cross-border attacks against IDF positions and patrols. Hezbollah uses the Soviet-era AT-3 Sagger (3 kilometers), AT-4 Spigot (2.5 kilometers), and AT-5 Spandrel (4 kilometers) armor-piercing capabilities. They also use the more modern Russian AT-13 Saxhorn-2 (1.5 kilometers) and thermal-imaging AT-14 Kornet (5 kilometers), as well as various Iranian variants of these systems, such as the Almas series of ATGM. On June 16, Hezbollah employed the fourth generation Almas: an ATGM with a deadly ballistic trajectory that can strike targets from beyond the line of sight. Hezbollah has used ATGMs and Burkan to attack IDF positions and personnel along the northern border as well as civilian infrastructure. Hezbollah has been operating Iranian-provided unmanned aerial systems since at least 2004. When employed as one-way attack UAS or loitering munitions, these systems provide Hezbollah with yet another category of precision-guided weapons to target strategic sites and population centers. On July 4, the IDF said Hezbollah launched 20 suspicious aerial targets, likely UAS, in conjunction with its barrage of 200 rockets, and further indicated that while the Iron Dome system intercepted some rockets, other ground-based defense and fighter aircraft were used to intercept the UAS. It is evident that Hezbollahs drones, especially those made of carbon or wood, are proving difficult for the radars in the IDF Aerial Defense Array to track. Hezbollahs available UAS include several Iranian-exported variants such as the Shahed-129 (2,000 kilometers), the Mohajer-4 (150 kilometers), and the Ababil-2 and Ababil-T loitering munition (120 kilometers). Perhaps most concerning, Hezbollah is assessed to have the turbo-jet propelled Karrar (1,000 kilometers range) equipped with the Majid thermal missile that can intercept aerial targets out to eight kilometers. The 2023 updated version of the Karrar can carry a 500-pound munition, though it is unclear whether Hezbollah has this upgrade. The large spectrum of commercially available drones and their rapidly evolving applications, seen in both Ukraine and the Middle East, complicate any firm projections of their use by Hezbollah. The group continues to test new applications for its existing UAS capabilities. In one unprecedented drone attack on May 16, Hezbollah launched unguided Soviet-era rockets from an Ababil-T towards a ground target in Israel before the UAS itself crashed into a target. When combined with unguided rockets and traditional PGMs, Hezbollah can use UAS as another means of attempting to overwhelm Israeli defenses. Tunnels and human shields In a major war with Hezbollah, the IDF believes that it will not be able to rely on its defenses alone to protect Israelis and will need to conduct a large-scale offensive campaign in Lebanon to strike rocket and PGM sites before Hezbollahs munitions can be launched. That effort will be complicated by Hezbollahs network of underground tunnels in southern Lebanon that can facilitate the movement of operatives, weapons, and equipment within Lebanon as well as infiltration into Israel. In December 2018, the IDF uncovered six major tunnels that UNIFIL confirmed Hezbollah built along and across the Blue Line. Major Tal Beeri from the Alma Research Center, which has been studying Hezbollahs tunnel networks since 2018, assessed in April 2024 that Hezbollah has hundreds of kilometers of underground facilities excavated into the hard rock much more dangerous, deeper, wider, and more difficult to unravel and destroy than anything we have come across in the Gaza Strip in recent months. These tunnels include command and control facilities, logistics depots, field clinics, shafts for concealed missile launchers, and room for small and medium vehicular traffic. A former head of the Lebanon Branch of the IDF Northern Command warned that Hezbollahs tunnels lead between civilian villages within Lebanon and can include railways for heavy equipment transportation. The IDF launched Operation Northern Shield to destroy these tunnels in December 2018, but Hezbollah continues to leverage underground facilities for its operations. Unfortunately, Hezbollah likely believes events in Gaza demonstrate the utility of human shields in a political warfare strategy intended to vilify and isolate Israel and create controversy around security assistance to Israel. According to the IDF, Hezbollah systematically embeds itself into civilian populations, including hundreds of arms depots, thousands of militants, and tens of thousands of rockets in communities throughout southern Lebanon as well as densely populated areas like Beirut. Human Rights Watch, often a vocal critic of Israel, noted that during the 2006 Lebanon war, Hezbollah fired rockets from within populated areas, allowed its combatants to mix with the Lebanese civilian population, or stored weapons in populated civilian areas. An October 2023 video of rocket launches against an IDF base from an active Lebanese high school illustrates Hezbollahs continued employment of a human-shield strategy. In addition to civilians, Hezbollah has also reportedly used UN and Lebanese Armed Forces positions as shields to limit IDF interdiction and counter-fire options. A complex arsenal Hezbollah has used the years since the 2006 Lebanon War to build and acquire a formidable arsenal of rockets and missiles of increasing size, range, precision, and lethality and incorporated lessons learned from Russias War on Ukraine to refine its drone warfare practices. For a decade, Nasrallah has bragged about Hezbollahs arsenal and increasingly signaled his intent to use the new and expanding capabilities to target Israels strategic sites and population centers. Hezbollah has established an extensive tunnel network for purposes of force protection, mobility, and lethality. The terror group has also used human shields to complicate Israels interdiction of Hezbollahs PGM program. This analysis of Hezbollahs arsenal suggests that a major war with the terrorist organization could present serious challenges for Israel, underscoring its urgent need for sufficient air and missile defense capacity and a large stockpile of PGMs. If Israel lacks either, it could increase civilian casualties on both sides of the Blue Line when the war comes. Bradley Bowman is the senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), Dr. Lydia LaFavor is a research fellow at FDD's CMPP, and Cameron McMillan is a research analyst FDD's CMPP. IDF soldiers operate in Shejaiya in northern Gaza. (IDF photo) Two Israelis were killed in a large rocket barrage on the Golan Heights on July 9. Hezbollah claimed it targeted several Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posts in response to the killing of one of its members on a road that leads from Damascus to Beirut. Hezbollah said it had targeted the IDFs 210th Division, the unit responsible for protecting the Golan front, using dozens of Katyusha-style rockets. The IDF said that approximately 40 projectiles crossed from Lebanon into the area of the central Golan Heights. Several projectiles were identified falling in the area. Sirens sounded in the area due to the attack. On the same day as Hezbollahs attack, Israel faced threats on other fronts. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed to have targeted Israel in a joint operation with Iranian-backed groups in Iraq. The IDF said it intercepted threats on the morning of July 8 and the morning of July 9 that appeared to match the Houthi statements. In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces operated in several areas, including southern Gazas Rafah, as well as neighborhoods in the northern part of the strip. Multiple raids in northern Gaza happened alongside airstrikes in central Gaza that hit terrorists operating there. Hamas continues to exercise control of much of central Gaza and most of Gazas north, despite the IDFs success in clearing Hamas from Rafah and the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts off northern Gaza from central Gaza. The IDFs 98th Division led the return to Shejaiya in late June after Israeli forces had cleared the neighborhood earlier in the war and withdrawn. The 98th Division includes paratroopers and elements of the 7th Armored Brigade and the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit for Special Operations. The soldiers of the division engaged in close-quarters combat with terrorist cells and eliminated more than 150 terrorists, dismantled terrorist infrastructure and encountered and destroyed booby-trapped buildings and explosives. In addition, the soldiers located dozens of weapons and intelligence documents that the terrorists left behind, the IDF said on June 9. In addition, the IDF published footage of the destruction of Hamas tunnels in Shejaiya and stated units had destroyed six tunnels that were around four miles long in total. These passages are just some of the hundreds of tunnels and tunnel shafts the IDF has located and destroyed in nine months of fighting. Israel has found that the extent of Hamass underground infrastructure is far larger than expected as fighting has continued. Estimates that the tunnels may stretch some 350 miles mean that those found in a week of fighting in Shejaiya represent only one percent of the total. Nevertheless, many other miles of tunnels have been destroyed, though the IDF has not provided an overall estimate of the total recently. With each Israeli sweep of areas such as Shejaiya, it finds more tunnels and weapons, though the numbers appear to be diminishing each time. The IDF provided further details about searching the underground passages. During the examination of the tunnels, the soldiers of the Yahalom Unit located underground tunnels consisting of a branched tunnel system. In some of the branches, terrorists hideouts and control and command centers were located. In one of the tunnels, weapons and intelligence documents were located, a statement noted. The expanded threats to Israel by Hezbollah, as well as the Houthis and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, illustrate that Iran continues to wage a multi-front war against Israel nine months into the Gaza conflict. Hezbollahs attack in the Golan comes days after an American citizen was severely wounded by an anti-tank missile the group fired on the Israeli border community of Zarit. It also follows Hezbollah launching a barrage targeting areas in the central Galilee, around 20 miles from the Lebanon border. Hezbollah is telegraphing that its attacks could grow. The group published footage from drones that overflew Israel earlier this year showing various Israeli military posts. Hezbollah is suggesting it can carry out precision strikes on these locations based on the intelligence it has gathered. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). Download Image: Web An intermediate German class at Lycoming College has taken on a community-based learning project that will introduce an authentic German Christmas market to the Williamsport community. The market will be held in conjunction with Williamsports December First Friday and annual Christmas parade events. Intermediate German 112/225, a course led by Len Cagle, Ph.D., associate professor of German at Lycoming College, focuses on the development of interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication, and incorporates cultural and short literary readings, as well as the study of German films. Conversations with Caroline Payne, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at Lycoming College and director of the office of community based learning, got Cagle thinking about different ways that students could give back to the community while still meeting the requirements of the course. "...the Christmas market is an interesting idea because it is very important to learn culture along with language." Culture and language are intrinsically connected. You cant teach one without teaching the other. This includes everyday culture, so Ive always incorporated a mixture of topics and activities from everyday life in German-speaking countries shopping, advertisements, public transportation, and so on into my teaching while also making connections to pop culture, said Cagle. With the intention of embracing a community-based learning project this semester, I decided to have the intermediate students learn about German cultural festivals generally and then focus on Christmas markets, especially the best-known ones in Nuremberg, Heidelberg, and Dresden. I wanted the students to get a holistic view of what a German Christmas Market is, its history, and traditions, but also focus on regional and cultural differences between markets in order to be able to make informed recommendations to local organizations and the mayors office regarding our new Christmas market. Students in the class began by studying other German folk festivals, as well as the Christmas markets in Dresden and Nuremberg. They examined organizational plans for the events, and traditional foods, music, cultural activities, wooden huts for vendors, and more. One of the more ambitious ideas explored is the construction of a traditional Christmas pyramid or Weihnachtspyramide to serve as a grand centerpiece for the market. Once the research was complete, the class presented its findings and recommendations to the City of Williamsport, including the Williamsport Business Association, Lycoming Arts, and Mayor Derek Slaughter. In the coming months, the City will determine which of the authentic German activities will be included, such as a procession of lanterns, activities for children, stage performances, and music coordinated through Patrick Chiu, Ph.D., assistant professor of music at Lycoming College. Marta Contreras Perez of Seville, Spain, who served as the Fulbright Spanish language teaching assistant at Lycoming College during the 2023-24 academic year, understands the importance of integrating culture with the study of a language. During her time at Lycoming, Contreras also brushed up on her German skills. When I came to Lycoming, I was trying to pick up German again, and the Christmas market is an interesting idea because it is very important to learn culture along with language, she said. The Christmas market is something everyone can enjoy because its about food and a holiday that many people like to celebrate. I can connect personally to the idea of a German Christmas market. I love and want to be a part of the culture of Germany and share that with people in Williamsport, said Noah Huffman 26, who is majoring in both Accounting and German, from Montoursville, Pa. I really enjoyed studying the topic in German, and then communicating the concepts in English, making it more digestible, and presenting it to the City. Its a really important skill to learn. With the next holiday season just around the corner, Cagles fall semester class will get involved in the execution of the event, once specific activities have been determined. I would love to see this event really take off and draw folks to Williamsport from neighboring areas to experience an authentic German market. Its a really wonderful way to begin the holiday season! The Office of Community Based Learning at Lycoming College supports faculty efforts to effectively integrate service-learning, community-based research, and class-community exchanges into their courses in order to provide students with exceptional learning opportunities at the local, state, national, and international levels. Look Out for Soft Red Shade If you dont want red's liveliness to overpower your kitchen area, look for softer red hues. This shade looks stunning when paired with white. Dear Annie: I am part of a family that also has a woman renting a room in our house. I have always been extremely sensitive to smells and scents, but this womans odors send me gagging out of the room. My son is also sensitive to the smell. Now that the weather is getting warmer, the smells are becoming stronger. While she is OK with my occasional request for her to go take a shower, I also dont want to demand that she shower daily, although that is what is necessary to keep the smells manageable. How would you suggest I broach this subject without offending her? Sensorily Overloaded Dear Sensorily Overloaded: The best way to deal with the stinky housemate is to be honest, kind but firm. Ask her what she thinks is causing the odor? The worst thing you can do is be passive aggressive about it. Instead, investigate together what could be causing the bad odor. You could even have a laugh about it. You might also help her in other areas of her life. For instance, maybe after she cleans up her act, she will be more willing to find a romantic partner. Dear Annie: I met a wonderful man online in 2010. I moved from Maine to Pennsylvania with him in 2012. He has a nice family, which I grew close to, including a daughter and her small family. In September of last year, he passed away from a heart attack and left no will. His family helped me pack up, and they took most of his stuff. Shortly before I moved, his daughter and her husband showed up unannounced to take more things. The day before, I had sold my car and put the money with my personal papers, plus money for the move, into a security box. They took the box and refused to give it back. Ive sought legal help but to no avail. I have been told that this is considered a domestic case. This has been a nightmare. It has given me anxiety and loss of sleep. They promised to return my stuff if it was found to be mine. Please, people! Protect your loved ones and make a will! These people live in Pennsylvania, as my partner and I did, but in Pennsylvania our relationship was not considered a common-law marriage because we got together after 2005. Heartsick Dear Heartsick: I am very sorry for your loss. You can only control what you can control, which is your peace of mind. They already took away your physical things; dont let them take away your peace. The best revenge when someone has wronged you that badly is to live that well! Focus on getting back to taking care of you. Make sleep a priority, and if your anxiety is really bad, seek the help of a trained professional. Meditation, yoga and exercise can all help with managing anxiety. If the money was for your car, and your partner was not involved with the purchase, then you can take them to small claims court to force them to return that money and all the cash that you put into the security box, plus your personal papers, of course. How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, state police oversight officials and organizations for people of color in law enforcement all threw their support behind a former member of the Boston Police Departments command staff who was demoted last week after his appointment to a police watchdog commission. Eddy Chrispin, a 25-year veteran officer in Boston, was evidently demoted from deputy superintendent to sergeant detective after department leadership asserted his new role on the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission constituted a conflict of interest. Social media stars Charli and Dixie DAmelio met tons of fans while the sisters were in Connecticut this past weekend, but there was one scruffy fan who hogged most of the spotlight. The DAmelio family was in Connecticut last weekend to meet fans at South Moon Under in Westport and Stew Leonards in Norwalk, according to their Instagram. BOSTON Massachusetts and its East Coast neighbors plan to work together increasing electrical transmission across the region. The states will work together on interregional transmission infrastructure and on Tuesday established mechanisms for sharing information, according to a statement from Gov. Maura T. Healeys office. The goal is to lower prices for consumers through increased access to lower-cost energy and bolster reliability during periods of extreme weather and system stress. SPRINGFIELD A security guard at the High School of Science and Technology was arrested after police found multiple guns, including several high capacity firearms and two with obliterated serial numbers in his possession. Pablo Correa, 44, of Springfield, was arrested July 2 on 14 gun charges, five of which are felonies, said James Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. Le President de lAssemblee Nationale a fait une autre declaration lors de la seance parlementaire du 9 juillet 2024 sur le titre dun article dun quotidien. Hon. Members, I have another announcement to make. I have taken cognizance of a press article entitled La sanction contre Rajesh Bhagwan consideree comme injustifiee which appeared in lexpress of today. In the said article, referring to the suspension of Hon. Bhagwan, the Hon. Shakeel Mohamed is reported to have stated that I have given a wrong interpretation of the Standing Orders. I wish to set the record straight. Hon. Members, The House will recall that at the sitting of Friday 05 July 2024, I made an announcement in regard to the intervention of Hon. Bhagwan during a press conference whereby he uttered undignified words to my address. I accordingly requested the Hon. Bhagwan to present his unreserved apologies to the House, failing which, I will be left with no other alternative than to ask him to withdraw from the Chamber. The Hon. Bhagwan instead of presenting his apologies, replied the following I call a spade a spade and I wont withdraw. It is a fact ou enn azan politik; to enn azan politik In the light of the reaction of the Hon. Member and considering that this amounted to a grossly disorderly conduct and to disregarding the authority of the Chair, I took the decision to name him under Standing Order 49(4) and there was no need to proceed under the National Assembly (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act as grossly disorderly conduct occurred in the House itself. I further wish to inform to the House that any Member who is aggrieved by the decision of the Speaker may challenge same by way of a substantive motion. Therefore, the remarks made by the Hon. Shakeel Mohamed in todays article in lexpress are not justified. I thank you. Ballina native, and former President, Mary Robinson celebrates her 80th birthday this year. 80 years of life and work dedicated to advocacy for equality and human rights, and most recently, climate justice. Next Sunday, July 14, The Mary Robinson Centre will host the homecoming premiere of a feature length documentary charting her life and work, Mrs Robinson at Ballina Arts Centre at 7.30pm. In the making for many years, Mrs Robinson tells her story, in her own words, for the very first time - illuminating battles for justice and equality over half a century; on the streets, in the courts, at the ballot box, and in backroom corridors of power. A reforming constitutional lawyer and senator in her early career, Mrs Robinson detonated an electoral earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential vote in 1990. Later, as a crusading UN High Commissioner, she built a lasting legacy, fearlessly challenging perpetrators of human rights abuses all over the world. To this day, she exerts power and leadership as the Chair of The Elders, the independent group of global leaders (founded by Nelson Mandela) who work for peace, justice and human rights, and Ballinas Mary Robinson Centre uses Mrs Robinsons incredible legacy for a series of community and youth engagement events. The poster for the film Mrs Robinson was directed by Aoife Kelleher and produced by Cormac Hargaden and Trisha Canning for Loosehorse. Executive Producers on the film include Pat Mitchell (co-founder of Project Dandelion), Geralyn Dreyfous, Lyn Lear, Regina K. Scully, Ruth Ann Harnisch and Melony Lewis. The film was funded by Fis Eireann /Screen Ireland and the Fiscal Sponsorship programme of the Utah Film Center. Admission is free, and must be pre-booked on the Mary Robinson Centres website. Mrs Robinson goes on nationwide cinema release from August 23. by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, July 8, 2024 Ulta recently unveiled its latest report on the state of the beauty business, revealing that Generation Alpha -- kids born after 2010 -- now begin experimenting with beauty products at age 8. And while 77% of parents of these young consumers say they think thats normal, it is substantially younger than Generation Z, whose girls took their first steps into beauty and treatment products at age 12.6, and boys at 13.4. The research, part of Ultas Joy Project, indicates that Gen Alpha boys are just as intrigued with beauty and personal care products as girls, with 30% of males saying they are "very interested" in beauty and personal care products. While many are still little enough to ride in car seats, Ulta says these Gen Alpha shoppers have strong opinions and brand preferences, and 97% agree that skincare is self-care. advertisement advertisement Popular Get ready with me videos on YouTube and TikTok are fueling the trend, and pediatric health experts are alarmed about whats come to be called the Sephora Tween invasion." They note many of these kids are purchasing skincare products designed to prevent aging, with ingredients meant for people who are decades older. As a result, doctors worry about everything from skin irritation to encouraging ageism. Family physicians can help tweens and families decipher the potential risks of these products and recognize the dangers of unrealistic beauty ideals, writes Jennifer Middleton, MD, MPH, in a blog post on the American Academy of Family Physicians website. Having a healthier attitude about aging can lead to healthier lifestyle choices. Prioritizing a positive self-identity for girls, beginning even at very young ages, enables them to question societys impossible standards for womens appearance. Experts also believe the trend contributes to stigma about good and bad skin and may encourage ageism. Ulta acknowledges mixed perceptions but says the research shows this earlier experimentation is positive for mental health. We believe beauty is a force for good, for all, says Michelle Crossan-Matos, chief marketing officer. Beauty has always played a role in many peoples lives as a form of self-care, self-expression, and joy. Some of my fondest, early memories were of watching my mother practice her beauty rituals, which she eventually passed on to me and me onto my children, she says in an email to Marketing Daily. This act of joy and connection is a normal part of growing up, and we found that it can also help kids establish a healthy relationship with beauty and a positive self-imageespecially when knowledge is being shared through trusted sources like parents and siblings. She points out Ultas research finds that parents and peers influence product selection, with 79% of parents saying they want to play an active role in their beauty discovery. Parents also find beauty as a way to bond with their children. Whether prepubescent beauty routines are good for kids or not, they are boosting the beauty industry. Circana, the market research company, recently reported that millennial households earning $100,000 or more with kids spent 10% more on beauty products than those without kids. And those households increased their purchasing frequency by more than 15%. As part of the new report, Ulta Beauty is kicking off #JoyForward, an effort to spread 10 million moments of joy with the worlds longest compliment chain. Working with beauty brands E.L.F. Cosmetics, Polite Society and Beekman 1802, as well as influencers and store associates, its inviting fans to share about the people in their lives and what makes them beautiful inside and out. Ulta is also spreading joy through digital promotion on Ulta Beauty-owned channels, a custom TikTok filter, and paid sponsorships with iHeart Media and Spotify. Store associates are helping by handing out joy cards, pins and stickers. The point, says Crossan-Matos, is that beauty can be rooted in joy no matter how old a person is. Our report reveals that 93% of teens and adults believe that they, personally, deserve to experience joy and happiness in their lifeand beauty discovery helps fuel feelings of joy, with 77% of all generations agreeing that maintaining a beauty or wellness routine helps them feel more joy on a day-to-day basis. These youngest customers find joy through beauty as a part of self-expression, and 91% believe beauty is about looking and feeling good more than it is about appearance. by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, July 9, 2024 What do artificial intelligence and the human brain have in common? It appears Google wants to find out, and is willing to go to great lengths to unlock the secrets. It's only a tiny sliver of the brain, but the map led to several surprising discoveries, Google Editor in Chief Ari Marini wrote in a post in which Google Research Scientist Viren Jain described neurons. For example, we found some of the wires will wrap themselves into these giant knots, Jain said. We have no idea why nobody's ever seen it before. Mapping the entire human brain would require gathering and analyzing as much as a zettabyte of data equal to one billion terabytes which is beyond the current capabilities of existing technologies. If we were to map the whole human brain right now, it might take billions of dollars and hundreds of years, Jain said. advertisement advertisement Jain and his team are now working with mice to help solve mysteries about the human mind. Think about the innovations in AI, advertising, and search when Google researchers explore the mysteries around how memories are stored and retrieved, how the brain recognizes objects and faces, and why humans need so much sleep. One reason we don't have answers to these questions is that we dont yet have the data we need in order to study the brain, Jain said. The human brain has about 86 billion neurons connected to each other by more than 100 trillion synapses that enable people to think, feel, move and interact with the world, Marini wrote. So by creating a map of neural connections, known as connectome, Google can unlock new understandings of how our brains work, and why they sometimes don't. Knowing how the brain works can become the Holy Grail for a search and advertising company, and discovering what types of factors AI and the human brain have in common can further innovations. It seems that Google is willing to go to great lengths to unlock the secrets of the universe not only in areas such as supporting ways to identify early on, slow or eliminate Alzheimer's, but in the field of technology as well. Company researchers will undoubtedly find the connection between AI and real-life forms to help make decisions on how far to take synthetic thinking for search, performance, content and advertising and how to strengthen the connection. The post does not provide a lot of detail about this, but that's where my brain went after reading the interview. Building detailed maps at the synaptic level, researchers had to image the brain at nanometer resolution and work with massive amounts of data. This process requires innovation in imaging techniques, AI algorithms and data-management tools. In preparation for this endeavor, 10 years ago Google Research formed its Connectomics team. During the past decade, the team has developed technologies in order to more efficiently process, analyze and share data. It has introduced flood-filling networks that replaced the manual effort of coloring in cells across brain images by using machine learning to automatically trace the paths of neurons through layers of tissue. Yes, this is all Google, the organic and paid-search advertising company. Its SegCLR algorithm automatically identifies distinct parts of cells and cell types within these networks. When developers created software such as TensorStore and Neuroglancer, it helped to store, process and visualize large multidimensional images. Researchers have quietly focused for years on either mapping large portions of the brains of small animals, or small pieces of brain tissue from large animals. The team has mapped half of a fruit fly's brain, created connectomes for portions of the brains of the zebra finch and zebrafish larvae, and in May the aforementioned map of 1 cubic millimeter of human brain tissue was published in Science. Now it's time to share the connectomes. by Danielle Oster , July 8, 2024 Last month, the Association of National Advertisers Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM) released a research study that validated increased investments in multicultural marketing, with marketers expressing both optimism about progress with their DEI commitments, along with lagging industrywide advancement. Marketing Daily caught up with AIMM co-founder, and CEO of Santiago Solutions Group, Carlos Santiago, to discuss the reports findings. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Marketing Daily: What are some of the key trends identified in the report? Carlos Santiago: The report, Marketing Leaders Driving Equality, Inclusion, and Systemic Change," highlights a real commitment to addressing systemic biases with methodical changes, like participating in AIMM's GrowthFronts to advance an equitable supply chain. advertisement advertisement Among the trends: Validating brand growth from increased multicultural spend (61% of organizations), clearly linking inclusive practices and business success; and significant improvement in eliminating bias in ads and content (75% report progress), leading to more authentic and resonant marketing. Theres also strong optimism, with 80% expecting progress in all-inclusive marketing areas in the next two years. These trends show inclusive marketing becoming integral to overall data-driven marketing strategy, validated by results and advanced through industrywide cooperation. How are brands responding to attacks on multicultural marketing and DEI practices by a small, vocal group of fringe actors? Has this movement, including lawsuits by far-right groups, had any impacts on their approach, or commitment to, progress on such issues? Brands are navigating attacks on DEI by focusing on business growth rather than ideology, emphasizing inclusive marketing as effective consumer reach, and being selective about external communications, while maintaining internal commitments. Many have chosen not to directly engage with disinformation campaigns, doubling down on established values and business strategies. The impact of lawsuits has varied, with some brands becoming more cautious publicly while upholding internal efforts. The key is anchoring DEI in solid business rationales and consumer insights, making it integral to overall strategy rather than separate initiatives. Companies may call diversity different things and minimize public DEIB efforts for fear of retribution, but AIMM's study found internal efforts are continuing at a quieter, steady pace as brands learn to navigate this complex landscape. The finding that 61% of organizations have validated brand growth from increased multicultural marketing spend powerfully testifies to the business value of inclusive marketing. It shifts the conversation from moral imperative to business necessity, aligning DEI with core corporate objectives. The report highlighted an equitable supply chain, and improving multicultural data accuracy, as areas driving the gap in industrywide progress. Can you speak to areas of the supply chain most in need of further progress? In the supply chain, key areas for improvement include diverse media ad spend -- espite a 9% increase in 2023, it only comprises 2.5% of all ad spend, far short of the 6.5% target by 2025 and expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses, as well as ensuring diversity in creative teams. Marketers can drive progress by setting clear diversity goals, implementing supplier diversity programs, and conducting regular audits and reporting. Multicultural data accuracy issues include inaccurate audience representation in measurement data and new TV currencies; lack of diverse training data leading to misrepresentation; and the impact of such issues on campaign performance measurements guiding investment decisions. by Ray Schultz , July 8, 2024 Matt Murray -- who was to serve as executive editor of The Washington Post until after the Presidential election, and then head a project called the Third Newsroom -- has announced that Post veteran Krissah Thompson will work the latter effort. This follows Robert Winnetts decision to remain at the Daily Telegraph and not join the Post as editor after the U.S. election in November, following a growing uproar over allegations that Winnett and Post CEO Will Lewis did stories based on stolen records while working at UK's The Sunday Times. Thompson is a Post managing editor who has overseen such initiatives as Deep Reads and the Style relaunch. According to Matt Murrays internal note, she will run the newsroom process building the third newsroom. advertisement advertisement With a task force she is currently forming and expects to have in place this week, and input from across the newsroom colleagues from the commercial side, she will helm our effort to set up the structure and plans for this next era of growth for The Post, Murray says. In taking on this assignment, Krissah will temporarily step back from most daily duties. The Third Newsroom will focus on serving Americans who disdain traditional news, providing them with news where they are, in the style they want, the Post says. Murray and Winnett were named as part of a shift that involved Sally Buzbee stepping down as executive editor. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, July 9, 2024 Etsy launched an ad campaign Tuesday, along with changes to its policies that reflect a growing need for a blend of technology and human connections and creativity. The journey reflected in its ad campaign articulates the love each artesian puts into the handmade pieces of art they sell on the site. The Brand Mission Campaign is intended to link changes Etsy made to its website experience with technology with an ad campaign, with TV spots that feature ceramicists, clothing makers and other artists. One TV spot opens with a robot arm, with the narrator asking, "What does a robot know about love?" It goes on to explain how artisans transform love inside their human heart into something people can see and hold. Brad Minor, chief brand officer at Etsy, wrote in a blog post that the company's social content "tells the deeper stories of our sellers, while our new TV ad is a love letter from us to them as our partners in Etsys mission to keep commerce human." advertisement advertisement The core of the campaign is to bring sellers' names to the forefront reminding buyers why Etsy is special. They spotlight passion and creativity, as well as reinforce the importance of Etsy's mission to Keep Commerce Human in a world of increasingly "commoditized and soulless manufacturing." Billboards throughout New York City and London feature sellers. Each highlights the unique role they play in making their items. The out-of-home placements feel intimate and accessible through street-level postings. "Grassroots-style" ads aim to call attention to sellers with iconic status traditionally reserved for celebrity spokespeople. The music in the spot is by the Academy Award-nominated composer Jerskin Fendrix, but he write that the "real soundtrack you hear is made by Etsy sellers Jieun, Wyeth, Kwadwo, Gabriel and Jesus." Along with the campaign the company unveiled a series of updates across its policies, shopping experience, and how Etsy serves-up to the world. Josy Silverman, Etsy CEO, shared a video message with sellers Tuesday morning, addressing how the company will support arcticians in selling their unique items--tens of millions--to consumers and reinforce what the company stands for in a series of policies changes. Silverman wants Etsy, whose mission is to keep commerce human, to get back to its artesian roots. The changes come as the company faces pressure to compete with Amazon, TikTok, as well as newcomers such as China-based Temu. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 9, 2024 Siding with Amazon, a federal judge has dismissed a complaint alleging that the company bilks consumers with its "Buy Box" -- which offers people the ability to immediately purchase items. The ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman in Seattle, stems from a class-action complaint brought in February by Jeffrey Taylor and Robert Selway. They alleged that the algorithms Amazon uses to determine which items to place in the Buy Box are biased in favor of products Amazon sells as a retailer, and products sold by third parties that use Amazon's shipping services -- even when other sellers on Amazon offer the same products at lower prices. Consumers reasonably believe that the Buy Box price is the best price available in the marketplace for a given item. But they are often wrong, the pair alleged. They claimed that Amazon's methods for placing merchandise in the Buy Box violated a Washington state consumer protection law. advertisement advertisement Pechman essentially said in her ruling that even if the allegations were proven true, they wouldn't be detailed enough to prove that Amazon ran afoul of the state law. Plaintiffs have not adequately shown that they made any specific transaction with Amazon, let alone one from the Buy Box, she wrote. Plaintiffs provide no information regarding specific orders (i.e., receipts), nor make allegations regarding discrete transactions with Amazon. And without a showing of a specific transaction, Plaintiffs cannot possibly allege that they themselves were overcharged for any particular purchase. She noted that Taylor and Selway argued they were entitled to a reasonable inference that they had overpaid for Amazon purchases, but said Washington state law requires specific allegations. The decision allows Taylor and Robert Selway to reformulate their allegations and bring them again. Taylor and Selway aren't the only ones to sue Amazon over its Buy Box. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes brought a similar complaint in Maricopa County Superior Court against the company in May. Busy schedule Even though Smriti is busy with the ongoing home T20I series against South Africa, she took some time to celebrate with her boyfriend. Fleets of new and updated fighter jets will be placed at U.S. military bases in Japan, a notable defense development and financial investment in the Pacific as tensions continue to rise with China. The Department of Defense announced last week that 36 modern F-15EX aircraft will be replacing 48 older F-15C/D fighter jets at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa over the next several years. Additionally, Misawa Air Base in northern Japan will get 48 F-35A Lightning II aircraft to replace 36 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. Pentagon officials also announced that they will "modify the number" of F-35B aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima, but did not specify the new size of the fleet. All those changes are slated to happen over the course of several years. Read Next: Feds Arrest Former Air Force Base Engineer in Connection to Deadly Mississippi KC-130 Crash in 2017 "The modernization plan, which will be implemented over the next several years, 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 Pentagon said in a news release. While it wasn't immediately clear what that means for shuffling personnel, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, in response to Military.com, said Monday that those future moves will be specific to the new aircraft. "It's going to be tailored to the number of aircraft, the types of aircraft and the requirements," Ryder said. "I think it's safe to say that the Air Force will provide whatever capabilities are needed in terms of manpower, equipment to sustain those capabilities." The announcement that modern aircraft will be stationed at Kadena Air Base, Misawa Air Base and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni came after officials announced in 2022 that F-15s would be pulled from Kadena and replaced with rotational forces of more modern aircraft. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Military.com on Monday that personnel have already been relocating to the area since the F-15Cs have been pulled from Japan. "Once new aircraft begin arriving at Kadena, associated personnel will be assigned," Stefanek added. "This is typical during an aircraft transition. Modernizing our capabilities remains our top priority, and the transition to more capable aircraft exemplifies our continued commitment and strong foundation of [our] alliance with Japan." Stefanek said that, currently, rotational forces are continuing to support the base and added that "for operational security reasons" more details could not be provided. The news of the lack of a permanent fighter squadron drew criticism from GOP lawmakers in 2022, Military.com reported at the time, because Kadena Air Base on Okinawa is one of the closest installations to Taiwan, at a little under 500 miles away. Last week's announcement of the modern aircraft coming to the region was well received by Japan's government, its Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference last week. "In the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II, and amidst the increased military activities of neighboring countries, the United States is maintaining and strengthening the presence of U.S. forces in Japan to further enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S," Hayashi said, according to CNN. The moves mirror the Department of the Air Force and Pentagon's overall shift to "great power competition" -- a term used by officials to justify increased spending and strategy focused on adversaries, namely China. Last month, the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard became the first operational unit in the entire Air Force to receive the new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet. -- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report. Related: GOP Lawmakers Sound Alarm over Pulling F-15s from Japan MEMPHIS, Tenn. A U.S. Army veteran who served in the war in Afghanistan pepper-sprayed a homeless man and got into a confrontation with him before fatally shooting him with an automatic rifle in Memphis, a security guard and a police investigator said Tuesday. The guard and the police sergeant testified during a preliminary hearing for Karl P. Loucks, who was arrested May 31 on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of Shaun Rhea, a homeless man who lived in downtown Memphis. After hearing their testimony, Shelby County Judge Bill Anderson said there was enough evidence to present the case to a grand jury for indictment. Loucks, 41, is being held without bond on the murder charge. Loucks lawyer has suggested that he acted in self-defense. Loucks also is charged with aggravated assault after police said he cut another homeless man twice with a knife in the days before Rhea was shot. Loucks has not entered a plea in either case. Loucks attacked Rhea in the early morning hours of May 31 in downtown Memphis, police said in an affidavit. Tony Perry, a security guard at a downtown Memphis hotel, testified that he saw Loucks use pepper spray on Rhea while he was sleeping. Loucks also pepper-sprayed other homeless people that same night, Perry said. After he was pepper-sprayed, Rhea confronted Loucks, asking why Loucks did it and calling him the b-word, Perry said. Loucks took out a knife, and Rhea picked up an electric scooter that was nearby and threw it at Loucks. He missed. He was angry, Perry said of Rhea, adding that Rhea did not attempt to get physical with Loucks. Loucks then entered his apartment building, but he returned shortly afterwards carrying an AR-style rifle under an orange jacket, Perry testified. Next thing you know, I heard gunshots, said Perry, who testified that he turned and ran as several shots were fired. Rhea, who did not have a gun, was struck in the back, Memphis police Sgt. Jeremy Cline testified. Rhea died at a hospital. Six bullet casings were found at the scene of the shooting, Cline said. Police were called, and they found the rifle and the jacket in Loucks' apartment, Cline said. During a police interview after his arrest, Loucks said he acted in self-defense after Rhea confronted him, Cline said. Cline said he asked Loucks why he did not call police. He said he didn't do it because because he felt he was being threatened, the police sergeant said. During the hearing, Cline showed video of the shooting to the judge, the defense lawyer, the prosecutor and Loucks. Relatives and supporters of both Loucks and Rhea were in the courtroom, but they were not able to see the video. Loucks was a health care specialist in the Army from September 2007 to August 2013, said Bryce S. Dubee, an Army public affairs spokesman. Loucks served in Afghanistan from March 2009 to March 2010 and left the Army with the rank of private first class. Loucks was honorably discharged from Army because he was disabled due to post-traumatic stress disorder, said his lawyer, Blake Ballin. Outside court, Ballin said he was working on arranging a psychological evaluation to determine if and how Loucks' mental health played into the shooting. If somebody in Mr. Loucks' situation, with his experience in the past, his experience in these events, felt reasonably that he was in fear for his life or his physical safety, then he may have been justified in acting the way he did, Ballin said. The hearing took place in a courtroom used for cases involving military veterans. Banners from branches of the military hang along the back wall of the courtroom. Judge Anderson said he could not help but think that Loucks' experience in the Army during wartime could be a factor in the case. Some cases don't make any sense, any logical sense, Anderson said. This is one of them. Memphis police spokesperson Officer Theresa Carlson said Tuesday that investigators are working to determine if Loucks has had other confrontations with homeless people, in addition to the stabbing that police said took place May 25. A one-star general who was the commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard was killed in a hit-and-run vehicle crash near his home Monday, according to the state service component. Brig. Gen. John "Pogo" Pogorek, 57, of Rochester, New Hampshire, was pulled over on the side of the road not far from his home around 5 p.m. local time Monday and was securing a load on a trailer connected to his Toyota Tundra when he was struck by a red Toyota Rav4 -- which continued driving after hitting the Air National Guard commander, local police said in a Facebook post. "As a result of the collision, Pogorek suffered life-threatening injuries and [was] pronounced deceased on scene," the Rochester, New Hampshire, Police Department said in a post. "There was [a] juvenile passenger in the Toyota Tundra during the crash that did not sustain any injuries from the incident." Read Next: Army Advocates Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by Soldiers as Other Services Are Hesitant Pogorek became the commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in June 2022, according to a copy of his service biography. Previously, he was the commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire and, prior to that, commander of the 157th Operations Group at the same installation. "Gen. Pogorek was an exemplary wingman, mentor and friend to many," New Hampshire Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities said in a statement. "He served his state and nation with the utmost professionalism and dedication. He will be deeply missed." Police later identified a 2012 Toyota Rav4 as being driven by an 81-year-old, according to local NBC Channel 10, but no charges had been filed by Tuesday afternoon. Pogorek joined the service in 1989 after graduating from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. During his career, he amassed more than 6,300 flight hours in the C-130E, HC130P/N, KC-46A, KC-135R, T-1A, T-37 and T-38 aircraft, his biography reads. As the commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, he was in charge of more than 1,300 service members located on Pease Air National Guard Base. Pogorek leaves behind his wife and five children. "On behalf of the entire state of New Hampshire, I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Gen. Pogorek," New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. "Gen. Pogorek served his state, country and community with honor. His commitment and contributions to the Granite State will never be forgotten." The Rochester, New Hampshire, Police Department said in a Facebook post Tuesday that "all aspects of the crash remain under investigation" and anyone with information can contact the detective on the case at (603) 330-7128. Related: Retired Marine Major General Found Dead at Twentynine Palms; Investigation Ongoing MOSCOW Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Moscow on Monday for a two-day visit, his first since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, complicating the relationship between the longtime partners and pushing Russia closer to Indias rival, China. Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence outside Moscow, to be followed by talks at the Kremlin on Tuesday. Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. The leaders also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc. Modi posted photos of his arrival in Moscow on the social media platform X, in both Russian and English, saying he was looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations." Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people, he wrote, also sharing a picture of himself and Putin hugging. Later, the two leaders were pictured in videos shared by the Kremlin at Putin's residence, Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow. Putin drove Modi around the grounds in a buggy and showed him his stable with horses. According to state news agencies, the two had earlier watched a horse show with performers in national Russian dress. Modi thanked Putin on X for hosting him at Novo-Ogaryovo and said he was looking forward to Tuesday's talks which he hoped will go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trading partner 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 United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Under Modis leadership, India has avoided condemning Russias military action in Ukraine while emphasizing the need for a peaceful settlement. The partnership between Moscow and New Delhi has become fraught, however, as Russia has moved closer to China. Modi notably stayed away from last weeks summit in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security grouping founded by Moscow and Beijing. Chietigj Bajpaee, senior South Asia research fellow at the U.K.-based Chatham House, said India is increasingly estranged from forums in which Russia and China play a prominent role. This is evident in Indias relatively low-key presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last year, and now the decision by Modi not to attend this years summit, Bajpaee said. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered their already touchy relationship as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted despite talks and have seeped into how New Delhi looks at Moscow. Russias relations with China have been a matter of some concern for India in the context of Chinese increased assertiveness in the region, D. Bala Venkatesh Verma, a former Indian ambassador to Russia, told The Associated Press. But Modi is expected to seek to continue close relations with Russia, which is also a major defense supplier for India. With Moscows arms industries mostly serving the Russian military in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy. Defense cooperation will clearly be a priority area, Bajpaee said, adding that 60% of Indias military equipment and systems is still of Russian origin. Weve seen some delay in the deliveries of spare parts ... following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said. I believe both countries are due to conclude a military logistics agreement, which would pave the way for more defense exchanges. Following an arrest warrant issued in 2023 by the International Criminal Court for his actions in Ukraine, Putins foreign travel has been sparse in recent years, so Modis trip could help the Russian leader boost his clout. We kind of see Putin going on a nostalgia trip you know, he was in Vietnam, he was in North Korea, said Theresa Fallon, an analyst at the Center for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies. In my view, hes trying to demonstrate that hes not a vassal to China, that he has options, that Russia is still a great power. Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said that Putins interactions on the world stage show he is far from isolated and that Russia is not a country to be discounted. Trade development also will figure strongly in the talks, particularly intentions to develop a maritime corridor between Indias major port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russias Far East. India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told reporters Friday. Imports from Russia touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, Kwatra said. Indias financial year runs from April to March. He said India was trying to correct the trade imbalance with Russia by increasing its exports. Indias top exports to Russia include drugs and pharmaceutical products, telecom instruments, iron and steel, marine products and machinery. Its top imports from Russia include crude oil and petroleum products, coal and coke, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, fertilizer, vegetable oil, gold and silver. ___ Pathi reported from New Delhi and Heintz from Tallinn, Estonia. Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report. The military would not be able to pay for surgeries for transgender troops under the Senate's version of the must-pass annual defense policy bill, legislative text released Monday evening revealed. Transgender military kids could also lose access to hormone therapy, puberty blockers and other medication if the treatment "could result in sterilization" under another provision that was also added to the bill during the Senate Armed Services Committee's closed-door consideration of the measure last month. Inclusion of those amendments, which passed with the support of every committee Republican and independent Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, in the Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, could increase the odds that restrictions on gender-affirmation care for transgender troops and family members become law after the House filled its version of the bill with similar efforts to curtail services for LGBTQ+ troops. Read Next: Army Advocates Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by Soldiers as Other Services Are Hesitant The GOP-led House's efforts to ban coverage of gender-affirmation care for transgender service members garnered considerable attention, but Republicans' successful amendments in the Democratic-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee have so far flown under the radar. While the committee released a summary of its NDAA and staffers briefed reporters on some of its contents last month, there was no mention of the bill including anti-transgender amendments until the bill text and an accompanying report were released Monday night. Transgender troops have faced whiplashing policies for years amid GOP efforts to bar them from serving openly or, short of that, prohibit the Pentagon from covering their health care. After the Obama administration allowed transgender troops to serve openly in 2016, former President Donald Trump reinstated the ban on open transgender service in 2017. When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he quickly rescinded Trump's ban. But Republicans have continued to try to pass bills targeting transgender troops, and major conservative voices, including the conservative think tank collaboration known as Project 2025 that hopes to shape a second Trump term if he wins November's presidential election, are calling again for banning transgender troops. "I understand that this is an election year and that, in many ways, people in the military fall victim to at times a strategic compromise that often people will make in order to appease both sides of the aisle," Kara Corcoran, vice president of transgender service member group SPARTA Pride and an Army infantry major, told Military.com when asked about the Senate NDAA. "One thing that should not be a compromise is health care for our service members." Official data on the number of transgender troops is scarce, but a 2016 Rand Corp. report commissioned by the Pentagon estimated that somewhere between 1,320 and 6,630 service members identified as transgender. Gender-affirmation health care is estimated to cost a small fraction of the overall defense budget, with the Pentagon spending $3.1 million for surgeries from 2016 to 2021, Military.com previously reported. The amendments added to the Senate's NDAA would bar Pentagon funding to "perform or facilitate sex change surgeries," as well as the use of Defense Department facilities for those purposes, according to the bill text. Tricare would also be prohibited from covering "affirming hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and other medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization" for beneficiaries under 18. Outside the military, gender-affirming care for children has been a particular target of conservatives. The American Civil Liberties Union lists 78 bills introduced in state legislatures this year focused on restricting health care by age. While the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges that research into long-term risks of puberty blockers on fertility is "currently limited and provides varied results," the association still recommends that transgender youth have access to "comprehensive, gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate health care that is provided in a safe and inclusive clinical space." The group also recommends that insurance plans "offer coverage for health care that is specific to the needs of youth who identify as [transgender], including coverage for medical, psychological and, when indicated, surgical gender-affirming interventions." In addition to the amendments to bar gender-affirmation care, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted on an amendment that would have banned service members from changing their gender in Defense Department records. That amendment failed as Manchin voted with Democrats against it, according to the bill report. Spokespeople for Manchin, who recently left the Democratic Party but still caucuses with Democrats, did not respond to a request for comment on his support for the two other amendments. It is unclear which committee member sponsored the Senate amendments. The bill report does not specify who the sponsors of each amendment were, and a committee spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. While both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA now include provisions to restrict transgender health care, anti-LGBTQ+ measures have traditionally been a red line for Democrats, injecting uncertainty into the outcome of negotiations on the final version of the bill that will become law. After the House passed its version of the bill last month, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., blasted the House bill for being "loaded with anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice, anti-environment, and other divisive amendments guaranteed not to pass the Senate." "As we move forward with this year's NDAA process, both sides will have to work together to pass bipartisan legislation that honors and respects all who serve in defense of our nation," Schumer said in a statement last month. Regardless of the outcome of the bill, Corcoran from SPARTA vowed that transgender service members will continue to fight for our right to live in a free America where every citizen and service member has inalienable human rights. Related: Culture War Political Fights Resurface as House Approves 19.5% Junior Enlisted Pay Raise and Senate Eyes 5.5% Title: How to Make Google Search Engine (How To Make Google Search Engine) Introduction: Google Search Engine is the most popular search engine in the world today. With over 1.7 billion monthly searches performed on Google every day, its no wonder why its one of the most widely used search engines. However, making the process of creating an effective Google Search Engine can be challenging, especially if youre not familiar with its features and functions. In this blog post, well provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to make your own Google Search Engine, including tips on building your website, optimizing your content, and using Google AdWords effectively. Step 1: Understanding What You Need to Know About Google Search Engine Before you start building your own Google Search Engine, you need to understand what youre doing. The three major components of Google Search Engine are the organic search engine, the paid advertising platform, and the ad agency network. Organic search engine is where users find the information they need without the help of search engines like Google. Its the site where people come to learn about products, services, news, and other topics that interest them. Organic search engine engines typically have a user-friendly interface, high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, and low competition. Paid advertising platform is where businesses pay to display their ads on top of the organic search engine results page. This helps them reach potential customers who are interested in what they offer. Paid advertising platforms often offer higher visibility and more budget for businesses. Ad agency network is a group of agencies that manage the marketing efforts of various businesses across multiple countries. These agencies work together to create advertising campaigns that target specific audiences and reach specific keywords. Step 2: Building Your Website To build your own Google Search Engine, you need to have a website that meets Googles search engine guidelines. Your website should be mobile-friendly, include relevant keywords, and be optimized for SEO. One of the best ways to build your website is by hiring a web designer or using a web builder. Web designers will help you create a user-friendly website that meets Googles search engine guidelines and looks good on different devices. Secondly, you need to optimize your websites content. Your website should have clear and concise descriptions of the content youre offering, use relevant keywords, and include relevant images and videos. Thirdly, you need to use Google AdWords effectively. AdWords allows you to display targeted ads on search engine results pages based on the keywords youre targeting. You can set up budget, target audience, and landing page for each ad campaign. Fourthly, you need to improve your websites speed. Google uses fast loading times to provide better performance to users. You can do this by improving your code, optimizing images, and reducing file size. Fifthly, you need to engage with your users. Google Search Engine is designed to convert visitors into paying customers. You can do this by providing valuable content, responding to comments and messages, and offering customer support. Conclusion: (How To Make Google Search Engine) Building an effective Google Search Engine requires time, effort, and dedication. However, by following these steps, you can create a website that ranks well on Google and attracts potential customers who want to buy products or services through your business. By consistently improving your websites SEO, user experience, and engagement with your users, you can increase your chances of success and attract new customers. ChatGPT, the controversial language model developed by Google, is currently banned from use on all websites. This ban was announced by the European Commission (EC) on February 18th, after being criticized for its capabilities to generate alternative content. (Where Is Chat Gpt Banned) The EC stated that chatGPTs ability to provide alternative information has been demonstrated to be harmful to society. They also said that it promotes disinformation, fake news, and extreme political positions. The ban came after the EC noticed that some websites were using chatGPT to engage in online harassment, identity theft, and other forms of violence. The ban has been met with resistance by some internet users who argue that chatGPT is an important tool for discussions and open-source work. They claim that the banning is simply a matter of censorship and individual freedom. However, there are some arguments against this ban. Some say that chatGPTs ability to generate alternative content can actually be beneficial, as it encourages creativity and innovation. Others argue that the ban is not necessary or even appropriate in todays world, where cyberbullying, misinformation, and hate speech continue to flourish. (Where Is Chat Gpt Banned) Overall, the ban has caused significant controversy and debate around the role of technology in shaping society. It remains to be seen how the ban will play out and what impact it will have on the future of language and communication. The Reds made a handful of moves before tonights series opener with the Rockies. Cincinnati recalled outfield prospect Rece Hinds in his first MLB promotion. They also brought up righty reliever Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville. In corresponding moves, the Reds optioned right-hander Graham Ashcraft and placed outfielder Stuart Fairchild on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 7) with a spinal disc injury. Hinds is in the starting lineup tonight in right field. Hell hit eighth and likely take his first big league at-bat against Colorado starter Ryan Feltner. The righty-hitting corner outfielder has been on Cincinnatis 40-man roster since the start of last offseason. The Reds selected his contract to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. He has been on optional assignment to Louisville all year. Initially drafted as a third base prospect, Hinds was a second-round pick out of high school back in 2019. Evaluators have long been intrigued by the massive raw power he packs into a 64 frame, but Hinds stock has dipped since he entered pro ball because of longstanding contact questions. The 23-year-old has punched out in nearly 35% of his plate appearances over parts of five minor league campaigns. Strikeouts have again been a concern this season. Hinds has fanned at an untenable 38.4% clip through 328 trips to the plate in Louisville. While he has connected on 13 home runs, his .216/.290/.409 slash line in Triple-A is below average. The Reds remain intrigued by Hinds pure power potential, but its fair to expect a lot of swing-and-miss in his initial look at MLB pitching. Cincinnati has tried to find a reliable righty-hitting outfielder to take some at-bats from lefties Jake Fraley and Will Benson. Fairchild has teed off on lefties at a .308/.388/.473 clip over 103 plate appearances, but he hasnt produced at all against right-handed pitching (.127/.188/.203 in 86 PAs). Hes now out for an indeterminate amount of time, perhaps contributing to the decision to bring in Austin Slater in a late-night trade with the Giants. (Fraley is also currently away from the team tending to a family matter.) On the pitching side, Zulueta steps into the bullpen and pushes Ashcraft back to Triple-A. Its the second time this season that the Reds optioned the righty, who opened the year in the rotation. Ashcraft started three times since being recalled on June 26, allowing 10 runs in 15 innings. The Reds could soon welcome Nick Lodolo back from his stint on the 15-day injured list. Manager David Bell told reporters that rookie right-hander Carson Spiers will hold his rotation spot behind Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Frankie Montas (X link via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). In other Reds news, Cincinnati announced that utilityman Levi Jordan went unclaimed on waivers. He was outrighted back to Louisville. The Reds designated Jordan for assignment last week when they called up Edwin Rios. A former 29th-round draftee, Jordan earned an MLB call in late June and appeared in seven contests. He picked up his first hit, a double off Daulton Jefferies, over 10 at-bats. Hes hitting .302/.384/.443 on the year in Triple-A. LANSING, MI A tiny red panda cub was born at a Michigan zoo on June 19, adding a valuable addition to the captive population of this endangered species. Red panda newborns are deaf, blind and tiny. The cub weighed just 185 grams less than half a pound during its first veterinary exam. The cub was born to mother Maliha and father Degan-Reid. Maliha is doing wonderfully as a mother. Shes very attentive and has been caring for the newborn with great dedication. The cub is actively nursing and growing well, said Annie Marcum, the lead keeper of the carnivore area at Potter Park Zoo. It takes more two weeks for the cubs to open their eyes, and about two months before they start exploring outside the nest. Maliha and Degan-Reid have now had three successful litters after being paired in 2021 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Red Panda Species Survival Program, which strategically pairs animals to maintain genetic diversity within the captive population. Degan-Reid was transferred from the Knoxville Zoo. With fewer than 205 red pandas in AZA institutions, the cub is a valuable addition to the population. Maliha and her cub are monitored daily through a nest box camera. Veterinary and animal care teams continue regular wellness checks to ensure the cubs healthy growth and development, and to determine the cubs sex. Native to the lush, temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, red pandas are elusive. They are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Distinctive for their vibrant reddish-brown fur and striking facial markings, red pandas also possess a unique false thumb, This extended wrist bone helps them grasp bamboo, which is their primary food source. Red pandas also have distinctive bushy ringed tails and masked faces. Maliha and her cub remain off-exhibit. Updates from the animal care team will be shared on Potter Park Zoos social media. Guests are encouraged to visit Degan-Reid on exhibit. A 64-year-old West Michigan man is in police custody and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. David Schackow, 64, was arrested on Monday, July 8 by Ottawa County Sheriffs detectives at his Park Township home, near Holland, where police said they found hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child sexually abusive material. The sheriffs office was first made aware of a Department of Homeland Security investigation into Schackow in October, 2023. That investigation finished in June, leading to charges from the Ottawa County Prosecutors Office in early July. Schackow was arraigned on Tuesday on two counts of aggravated distribution and two counts of possession of child sexually abusive material in front of Judge Juanita Bocanegra. As of Tuesday afternoon, Schackow remained in the Ottawa County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT YPSILANTI, MI - Students took their first ride on Ypsilanti Community Schools new electric buses on Monday. The 10 buses and their charging stations came to the district via $3.95 million in federal funding in an effort to reduce diesel emissions. The buses join the districts fleet of 33 buses. On July 8, they brought approximately 1,500 summer school students to class, according to Transportation Director Annette Adams. During the school year, buses transport around 4,300 students. The completely electric, zero-emission models are all C2s from school bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses . Each costing $407,000, they drive similar to diesel school buses minus a few differences, such as a quieter engine and an energy efficient braking system, according to Safety Coordinator Jerome Cochran. When a driver takes their foot off the accelerator, the bus braking system regenerates electricity that is sent back into the batteries. Its making power as it goes, Adams said. The buses are charged after each trip, Cochran said. The district typically leases its buses, and the electric buses are the first it has owned, Adams said. The district is one of 25 Michigan school districts to receive funding from the Environmental Protection Agencys Clean School Bus Program in 2022. The federal program provides $5 billion over five years to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and clean school buses. The low and zero-emission buses are meant to benefit communities that have been historically underserved, an EPA official previously said, noting the buses play a role in accelerating decarbonization of the transportation sector and improving air quality for schoolchildren. EPA officials chose school districts serving low-income, rural, or Tribal students for 99% of the selected projects nationwide. This year, 27 additional Michigan school districts received awards under the program, which will help buy 97 buses powered by electricity and three powered by propane, the state announced in May . That included districts in Ann Arbor and Saline. The investments aid the state in achieving its goals laid out in the MI Healthy Climate Plan, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Director Phil Roos said in a statement. The plan lays out the vision for Gov. Gretchen Whitmers goal of achieving economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. KENT COUNTY, MI A candidate for Kent County Board of Commissioners has been arrested for allegedly having sex with another man in the woods at a Wyoming park. David Lee Boelkes, 30, CEO and owner of Barking Boutique, is charged with committing/procuring gross indecency at Buck Creek Nature Preserve. He is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, July 10, in Wyoming District Court on the felony charge. It carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction. Boelkes did not return messages seeking comment. His attorney, Pavol Fabian, declined to comment on the allegations. He said he wanted to review evidence that police will rely on before commenting. Related: Barking Boutique owner says protests boosting business Boelkes is seeking the Republican nomination for District 20 in the upcoming primary election to represent the northern part of Wyoming and adjacent Grand Rapids neighborhoods. He faces Derek Anderson in the Aug. 6 primary. The winner will take on Democrat Nancy Morales in the November general election. The seat is held by a Democrat who is not seeking re-election. Related: Some Kent County incumbents facing primary challengers in upcoming election The incident that led to Boelkes arrest happened June 19 at Buck Creek Nature Preserve, a 37.5-acre park. A Wyoming police officer was conducting surveillance at the park due to the excessive amount of men having sex in the park, police said in a probable-cause affidavit. The officer saw Boelkes walk into the woods with another man. When the officer went into the woods, he saw Boelkes and another man, 54, engaged in a sex act, the affidavit said. The 54-year-old faces the same charge as Boelkes. He is scheduled for arraignment next week. WALKER, MI Construction crews are months away from starting a major road project that will enhance a declining bridge and outdated interchange north of Grand Rapids along I-96. When work begins on the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge and nearby on- and off-ramps, drivers who frequently travel the area can expect significant disruptions to the flow of traffic. However, the planned improvements once completed will outweigh the weeks worth of inconveniences the work will cause, officials say. The city of Walker and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) are partnering together to replace and redesign the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 in Walker in 2025. The city of Walker and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) are partnering together to replace and redesign the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 in Walker in 2025. When construction starts, driver can expect detours for months. (Bradley Massman | MLive.com)Bradley Massman | MLive.com Walker city engineers and MDOT officials hosted an open house meeting Monday, July 8, to get feedback from residents and answer questions and concerns regarding the project. Maps detailing whats to come were on display Monday night in Walker City Hall. Construction is scheduled to begin in February or March. Its a two-part project. Crews will transform the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge from two lanes to five lanes to accommodate the growing flow of traffic in recent years. In conjunction with that work, construction crews will also realign the on- and off-ramps on I-96 near the bridge. MDOT and city officials are still working on different phases of the construction schedule, but the ramps will be open in the beginning portion of the project. At some point, the ramps will be closed to traffic once work is complete, those ramps will be taken out of service and detours will be posted. The detour for drivers traveling northbound on Fruit Ridge Avenue will take 3 Mile Road to Walker Avenue to 4 Mile Road. For those heading southbound on Fruit Ridge Avenue, the detour consists of 4 Mile Road to Walker Avenue to 3 Mile Road. Last year, state lawmakers approved a $25 million grant to help fund the project. The overall project is expected to be completed by mid-November next year, MDOT officials said. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. MONTCALM COUNTY, MI A memorial service is Wednesday, July 10, for Jessie Daniel Seward, 81, and his wife, Jean Marie Virginia Ginny Seward, 80, who were killed last month at their Sheridan-area home. The couple had been married nearly 28 years. They will leave a legacy of faith, kindness, and love for their family, an obituary said. The two were found deceased on June 26. The obituary said that they died two days earlier. State police continue to investigate but have provided few details. Related: State police confirm identities of couple killed in Montcalm County State police divers on Monday, July 8, searched a pond near the couples house on Beaver Drive in Montcalm Countys Sidney Township, WZZM 13 reported. State police Lt. Michelle Robinson did not specifically address the presence of divers but said in a text to MLive: Detectives are in the area continuing their investigation and making sure they cover all bases. The couple were active at Greenville Community Church. In retirement, he had worked at Stanton Hardware. He served in the U.S. Air Force. She also had worked at the hardware store as well as Sheridan Village Market. They were the best people youd ever want to meet, a 63-year-old family friend told MLive. He did not want his name used but said many in town are on edge with little information released and killer presumably at large. There are a lot of rumors on what might have happened. Its the unknown, he said. Everyones locked and loaded because you dont have a clue. He cant imagine anyone having it out for the couple. A woman said: I cant get it out of my mind. Its just sickening. The memorial service is 1 p.m. Wednesday at Greenville Community Church. Visitation is at 11 a.m. until the time of service. Stanton American Legion Post 452 and the Greenville American Legion Post 101 Honor Guards will provide military honors. NEW BUFFALO, MI -- The unique, genre-mixing sounds of Postmodern Jukebox are coming to Southwest Michigan. Postmodern Jukebox, a band that formed in 2010 in Astoria, New York, has announced its new tour, dubbed The 10 Tour, to celebrate the dual milestone of its 10th anniversary of touring and their 1,000th show. The bands tour will stop at Four Winds New Buffalos Silver Creek Event Center, 11111 Wilson Road, on Saturday, Nov. 30, the casino said. Tickets start at $45 plus fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, July 12. The band is known for taking todays pop hits and reimagining them in different genres, like 1920s jazz, swing, doo-wop and Motown. Postmodern Jukebox also has three other shows planned for Michigan: July 23 in Grand Rapids, July 24 in Detroit and Nov. 8 in Flint. Find more information on the bands website. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. The Michigan Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of man found guilty of fleeing from Kalamazoo police and assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer, saying police didnt have sufficient reason to detain him in the first place. Kalamazoo police officers approached Douglas Prude on May 30, 2019, as he was sitting alone in his car with the engine off in the parking lot of Fox Ridge Apartments, a complex that police patrolled regularly because of frequent reports of criminal activity, according to court documents. Season six of Love Island USA has captured the attention, binge watching habits and social media feeds of many this summer. Its for good reason, too. The drama is juicier than ever, there are new episodes six days a week, and when is reality TV not a good idea? Keep watching new episodes on Peacock each day at 9 p.m. ET, except for Wednesdays. About the show: The Love Island Hideaway is officially open for business on tonights episode. Kendall and Nicole get ready for their mini-vacation as their connection grows even stronger. Meanwhile, Kaylor finally works up the courage to confront Aaron about the rumors going around. Ariana Madix from Vanderpump Rules hosts this hit reality dating show. Here is a teaser for tonights episode: Stream season six of Love Island USA on Peacock now, and catch a new episode tonight, July 9, at 9/8c. How to watch: Peacock - With plans starting at $5.99/month ($11.99/month for ad-free Premium Plus), register for Peacock and unlock more than 80,000 hours of reality shows, live sports, movies, and next-day streaming on new NBC and Bravo releases. Heavy rainfall is already occurring across Southern Michigan as tropical moisture from Beryl moves into the region. Heavy downpours are already occurring near I-94 Tuesday afternoon.NOAA As of 3:30 p.m., heavy downpours are along and just south of I-94, remaining nearly stationary. According to the National Weather Service, flooding has already been reported in urban areas and basements from these downpours. A Flood Advisory is in effect for portions of Berrien County until 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to address this. Rain will continue to move north, with much of Lower Michigan receiving rain by very early Wednesday. Areas along and south of I-96 will see a widespread 2 to 4 inches of rain, with areas along I-94 seeing upward of 6 inches. With significant rainfall expected, flooding is likely across Central and Southern Michigan through Wednesday. Graphic provided by the NWS Grand Rapids.NOAA Significant flooding is possible along southern areas, as rain will continue for nearly 24 hours straight. Never drive through flood waters. Stay tuned for any additional updates as this system moves toward the area. Follow us on: Tata Motors reduces price of its popular SUVs Harrier, Safari, to give benefits up to Rs 1.4 lakh OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Japanese group XG unveils 2nd Mini Album, to release 1st pre-release track on this date Follow us on: CGD cos up CNG and domestic PNG prices. Are more hikes likely? OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Infosys partners with Sector Alarm to fuel growth via cloud-based solutions Follow us on: Delhi HC initiates contempt against SpiceJet as it fails to return engine to lessor Jinit Parmar is a correspondent based out of Mumbai covering the banking sector, fintechs, NBFCs, insurance and more, tweets @jinitparmar10 OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Banking sector in good financial health to support growth: RBI dy guv Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All L&T bags Rs 1,000-2,500 crore order from Hindustan Shipyard for two Navy ships Follow us on: LT Foods, KRBL, other rice stocks rally up to 15% as India mulls relaxing export limits OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Maruti Suzuki top Nifty gainer as UP exempts registration fee on hybrid vehicles Follow us on: Maximum impact will be for retail option buyers: Algo trader on proposed increase in lot size of contracts MC Inside Edge: Sudden and swift jump in fertiliser stocks, three stocks in the limelight in F&O, a risky trend in small caps OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Reports of 51% stake sale "factually incorrect", says Yes Bank; shares climb Follow us on: SC asks Patanjali to file affidavit that banned medicine ads have been removed from social media Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com Follow us on: Death of innocent children very painful, PM Modi's big message to Putin amid war with Ukraine Follow us on: 'Will drag accused like he dragged my wife': Husband of Worli BMW hit-and-run victim Follow us on: Why the craze? Check other nos. in hot demand Follow us on: India and Russia aim to boost bilateral trade to over USD 100 billion by 2030 Follow us on: Kathua ambush: How terrorists fired from both sides, lobbed grenade to kill five security personnel J. Kumar J.Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in Mumbai OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Modi-Putin meet: India to push Russia for dialogues, diplomacy for resolving Ukraine conflict NEET UG 2024: A re-test or not, the extent of the leak are some of the issues SC will examine on July 11 OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All NEET-UG leak case: CBI arrests two more persons from Patna OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All PM Modi conferred with Russia's highest civilian honour 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle' July 09, 2024 / 20:37 IST In a special ceremony in St Andrew Hall in the Kremlin, President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin conferred Russias highest national award "The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties. The award was announced in 2019. While accepting the award, Prime Minister dedicated it to the people of India and to the traditional bonds of friendship between India and Russia. He further stated that the recognition illuminates the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries. This award was instituted over 300 years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award. OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All PM Modi's Russia visit in 10 points: Defence push, relief for Indian troops, talks on Ukraine OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All 'Rahul Gandhi should be slapped and...': Mangaluru BJP MLA stirs controversy OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Relief for Mumbaikars day after rain chaos; schools and colleges shut OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Russia's highest civilian award to Modi glorious honour for India, says Amit Shah Follow us on: World is keenly watching Indias emergence as a global power, says PM Modi addressing diaspora in Moscow Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Follow us on: 30-year-old made over Rs 56 lakh last year by selling 'trash'. What is 'dumpster diving'? Best cities to find a job in the US Follow us on: Joe Biden is not being treated for Parkinson's, White House says after NYT report Follow us on: Russian President Putin thanks PM Modi for trying to help resolve Ukraine crisis UK PM Keir Starmer addresses Parliament for first time; hails new house as most diverse in terms of race and gender Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ Upasana Taku, Co-founder & CFO, MobiKwik IPO-bound fintech unicorn MobiKwik, which turned profitable in the first six months of the financial year 2023-24, expects to close the full-year in profit, driven by growing user base and revenue from non-payments business, co-founder and chief financial officer Upasana Taku has said. In the first half of 2024, MobiKwik registered a net profit of Rs 9.4 crore against a loss of Rs 83.8 crore in the previous year, the company said in its IPO documents submitted early this Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Senator Mitch McConnell View Photo U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the Supreme Court. McConnell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Last week, the Supreme Court concluded its term with a number of consequential decisions. Three of these rulings, and the reactions they triggered on the Left, illustrated just how differently Republicans and Democrats view the Courts role. As I have explained before, Republicans want government that is accountable to the people as the Constitution prescribes. Democrats, on the other hand, want government that is insulated from the democratic process. Heres the Democratic ideal of how to govern: If Congress has not spoken on an issue, let unelected bureaucrats manipulate statutes, fill in the blanks, and make new law. Then, if anyone violates these new bureaucrat-made laws, let the bureaucrats take them to bureaucrat court. Not to a jury or a real judge, but to a kangaroo court of other bureaucrats who answer to still more bureaucrats. And finally, if the President the one actor in the executive branch who answers to the people dares to interfere in this process in ways the bureaucrats dont like, let him face criminal charges from yet another group of bureaucrats. Its dystopian. Its something youd find in the law books of the old Soviet Union. And the Supreme Court said theyd have none of it. In what might be the most consequential decision in my time here, the Supreme Court held that bureaucrats do not get the benefit of the doubt when they write new laws. Congress writes laws. And the ways bureaucrats apply those laws are subject to full judicial review. Theres no get-out-of-legislation-free card. No Chevron deference. Period. The Court also held that when the Constitution says you have the right to a jury trial, it means just that. Just because bureaucrats decide to pursue someone for ruinous fines, they dont get to try the case themselves. When bureaucrats go after someone potentially for violating rules that Congress never even contemplated the case has to go to a real, Senate-confirmed judge and a jury of ones peers. Lastly, the Court clarified something that careful readers of the Constitution have known forever: bureaucrats cant criminally charge a President for his official actions. The Constitution vests in the President executive powers that cannot be circumscribed. Not by Congress, and not by inventive prosecutors. Democrats seem to want to turn Washington into the Hague. Their problem with the Supreme Court isnt that they wont be able to prosecute a President for unofficial criminal activity because they still can. Their problem is that they wont be able to prosecute official actions that they dont like. Prominent Democrats seem to look at the successful criminalization of political disagreement in places like Europe and South America and think, they might just be on to something. Its not hard to imagine whats coming. Weve already seen hints in the reports of the Inspector General investigating entirely appropriate conduct by Attorney General Barr that Democrats disagree with. But why should Democrats stop there? As the Chief Justice explained, quote: Without immunity prosecutions of ex-Presidents could quickly become routine. The enfeebling of the Presidency and our Government that would result from such a cycle of factional strife is exactly what the Framers intended to avoid. I certainly agree. The people elect the President. He is responsible to them for his official conduct, not to bureaucrats with law licenses. So Madam President, were not just talking about two sorts of reaction to the Supreme Courts latest rulings. Were talking about two very different visions of America: A Democratic vision in which bureaucrats decide our policy disputes and have the power to punish those elected officials who dare to disagree And a Constitutional vision in which policy is entrusted broadly to the people through representative democracy. Suffice it to say that Republicans prefer the latter. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. Natural Bridges visitors wading under an arch View Photo Calaveras, CA On July 2, at approximately 6:55 PM, the Calaveras County 911 dispatch center received a distress call from hikers near Natural Bridges. The hikers, who began their trek at the Coyote Creek Trailhead, became disoriented and faced severe dehydration symptoms. The Calaveras County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team, along with deputies, were promptly dispatched. Upon arrival, deputies hiked down the trail and located the group. After administering water, the hikers condition improved, allowing them to walk out of the canyon where they were assessed by medical personnel. Calaveras Countys hiking trails are renowned for their stunning landscapes. However, hiking in extreme heat poses significant risks to both hikers and rescuers. Authorities advise against hiking in such conditions and recommend the following safety tips to prevent heat-related illnesses. Start early to avoid the heat of the day. to avoid the heat of the day. Hydrate often . Carry at least 1-2 liters of water for every hour on the trail. . Carry at least 1-2 liters of water for every hour on the trail. Carry electrolyte replacements and snacks that contain sodium and potassium. and snacks that contain sodium and potassium. Rest often in shaded areas . . Recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses: throbbing headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea, disorientation or confusion, and lack of sweating despite hot temperatures If you experience any of these symptoms, it should be considered a medical emergency. Stop hiking and find a shady spot to cool down. In a significant step towards enhancing Allied defence and technological integration across the air, space and cyber domains, Defence Ministers from 24 NATO Allies* signed a series of ground-breaking multinational initiatives at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum. The Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) programme marks the largest multinational investment in space-based capabilities in NATOs history. APSS is set to boost the Alliances ability to monitor activities on the ground and at sea with unprecedented accuracy and timeliness. With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, APSS has now transitioned into the implementation phase in which over the next five years, 17 Allies are contributing the equivalent of more than 1 billion USD to leverage commercial and national space assets, and to expand advanced exploitation capacities. With the signing of the Letter of Intent for the Allied software for Cloud and Edge (ACE) services by 22 Allies, a new multinational acquisition activity will revolutionize Allied operations by providing key building blocks of the Alliance-wide Digital Backbone. By integrating allied software solutions with cutting-edge cloud and edge computing technologies, ACE will improve operational efficiency by ensuring unified communications and enabling seamless sharing of data across land, air, maritime, space, and cyberspace domains of operation. Meanwhile, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden signed a Declaration of Cooperation on Cross-Border Airspace. This Declaration will ensure that Allied civil and military authorities are able to establish and use more airspace from the five participating countries for NATO training and exercises, and other air activities within the Nordic region. NATOs ability to train at scale in the air domain represents a critical element of the Alliance collective deterrence and defence posture. The use of larger volumes of national airspace by NATO requires close coordination and cooperation between civil and military authorities to deliver airspace solutions in a safe and flexible manner. * Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkiye, United Kingdom, United States BBC presenter under fire after calling for Biden to MURDER Trump A presenter for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been slammed over his comments calling for incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden to murder his rival, former U.S. President Donald Trump. David Aaronovitch, host of "The Briefing Room" at BBC Radio 4, made the remarks in a July 1 post on the X platform. He wrote: "If I was Biden, I'd hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America's security." Aaronovitch's post came with the #SCOTUS hashtag, which suggested that it was in relation to the U.S. Supreme Court's July 1 ruling on presidential immunity. According to the high court decision, former presidents like Trump have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts. However, they can be prosecuted for acts done unofficially. (Related: Supreme Court says Trump, other former presidents immune from criminal prosecution for official acts but NOT unofficial acts.) The BBC Radio 4 presenter subsequently became the target of backlash from his fellow journalists and other users on social media. Most of the individuals who responded pointed out Aaronovitch's egregious breach of the broadcaster's rules around employee impartiality. In September of last year, the BBC introduced social media rules for journalists that tightened restrictions on presenters airing political views of their favored party. Adam Brooks of GB News blasted the "utter scumbag" Aaronovitch, while American journalist Jack Montgomery accused the BBC presenter of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Spectator magazine's Steven Barrett meanwhile replied to Aaronovitch's original post with this observation: "'Impartiality' may not be in the best of health at the BBC." 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. An hour after posting the tweet, Aaronovitch replied to one user that the post was indeed about the 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on presidential immunity. He insisted, however, that the post was "satirical." It was only after 90 minutes that the BBC presenter deleted his post following intense pressure. "There is now a far-right pile-on suggesting that my tweet about the [U.S.] Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity is an incitement to violence, when it's plainly a satire. So I'm deleting it. If nothing else though, it's given me a map of some of the daftest people on this site. Note, by the way, that not one of them has a problem with the ruling itself." Leftist lesbian also calls for Biden to "blow up" Trump Aaronovitch, who is based across the pond, is not the only one who has called for Biden to kill Trump. Lesbian leftist Lea DeLaria, who played Caroline "Big Boo" Black in the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black," also joined the chorus of those wanting to murder the former president following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling. The lesbian went on an unhinged rant against Trump and begged Biden to kill the real estate mogul as an act of war. DeLaria also compared Trump to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in the rant, which she shared on her Instagram and TikTok profiles. "Joe, you're a reasonable man [and] you don't want to do this. But here's the reality: This is a f***ing war and we are fighting for our f***ing country. These a**holes are going to take it away," she said. "Joe, you now have the right to take that b***h Trump out. Take him out, Joe. If he was Hitler and this was 1940, would you take him out? Well, he is Hitler and this is 1940. Take him the f**k out! Blow him up, or they'll blow us up." DeLaria ended her unhinged rant by claiming that Trump and the Republicans "only want power like all tyrants." Watch this ABC News report about Trump trying to take advantage of Biden's campaign struggles. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: RIGGED DEATH SENTENCE: If Democrats can get Trump in a jail cell, he will surely be "suicided" during some grid-down scenario, with no videos or witnesses. INSANITY: Mainstream media want Trump to be ASSASSINATED to prevent him from winning the election. Trump supporters celebrate Supreme Court ruling on qualified presidential immunity. Sources include: Express.co.uk Breitbart.com Brighteon.com RIGGED: Biden regime says it opposes SAVE Act, which would ensure illegal aliens cant vote The Executive Office of the President's Office of Management and Budget issued a statement on July 8, 2024, in opposition to House Resolution 8281, also known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), which would restrict illegal aliens from voting in American elections. The statement reveals that the regime of Joe Biden "strongly opposes" the SAVE Act because it "is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections it is a Federal crime punishable by prison and fines." Republicans and election watchdogs who support the SAVE Act say it is necessary to stop illegal immigrants from voting in the upcoming 2024 election, but Biden and Democrats say the "alleged justification for this bill is based on easily disproven falsehoods." Making a false claim of citizenship or unlawfully voting in an election is already punishable by removal from the United States as well as a permanent bar from ever again being allowed to enter the country but is any of this actually enforced? This question is at the crux of the debate over the SAVE Act. "States already have effective safeguards in place to verify voters' eligibility and maintain the accuracy of voter rolls," the Biden regime claims. "This bill would do nothing to safeguard our elections, but it would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls." (Related: Key Democrat donors are threatening to withhold further support unless obviously sick Biden resigns and quits the 2024 race "how stupid do they think we are?") 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. Biden regime cites unstated "evidence" that illegals aren't voting in American elections Democrats are clearly scared that Republicans might get the SAVE Act passed, which would make it that much harder for the deep state to rig elections by allowing illegals to vote in them. According to the Biden regime, there is plenty of "evidence" that is "clear" in showing that existing laws already prevent noncitizens from voting. They also claim that "it is extraordinarily rare for noncitizens to break the law by voting in Federal elections." As such, Biden and his handlers have no interest in passing any further legislation to bar illegals from casting a vote. Biden is already "fighting to protect Americans' sacred right to vote in free, fair, and secure elections," the statement claims, "including by calling on Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act." Ironically, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act are unnecessary as well, using the Biden regime's logic against the SAVE Act, because Americans already have the right and freedom to vote in American elections. The Biden regime wants Republicans to instead support the "border deal" that Biden proposed a while back, which would supposedly give immigration officials "the resources they need to do their jobs and be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border that we have seen in decades." On X, several users noted that the statement pretty much outlines the Biden regime's plan to steal the election this fall. "They just told us how they are going to cheat in 2024 without exactly saying this is how we plan to cheat," one wrote. Another wrote that Biden has not done anything to secure the border as the statement claims, but has rather left the border "wide open" for "humanitarian" purposes. "It's because they want to use illegal voters in order to 'win' on November 5," this person added. The latest news about the illegal invasion of America can be found at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: X.com NaturalNews.com Death toll in Gaza could exceed 186,000, Lancet journal says but The Lancet already discredited itself during COVID According to the official count, just over 38,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel started retaliating for the October 7 attack. A letter recently published in, however, suggests that the true death toll is at least 186,000 Since there are still thousands of people buried underneath the rubble in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry is likely underestimating the total number of deaths, the letter, written by "experts" on the subject, claim. Some estimates claim that more than 10,000 bodies are still hiding underneath the rubble. There are also countless "indirect" deaths caused by Israel's interference with the distribution of food, medicine and hygiene products, the letter further insists, with more than 35 percent of Gaza's building infrastructure now destroyed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). "The total death toll is expected to be large given the intensity of this conflict; destroyed health-care infrastructure; severe shortages of food, water, and shelter; the population's inability to flee to safe places; and the loss of funding to UNRWA, one of the very few humanitarian organizations still active in the Gaza Strip," the letter reads. The letter cites data from the transparency watchdog group Airwars, which conducts detailed investigations of incidents of civilian harm in war-torn areas like Gaza. For privacy reasons, the names of identifiable victims are usually omitted from the group's fatality lists. (Related: Germany's Bild paper claims that Israel will invade Lebanon before the start of August.) 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. Gaza authorities can't keep track of deaths anymore Gaza's health ministry is reportedly having an increasingly tougher time trying to keep track of injuries and deaths among Palestinians in Gaza. Since much of the strip's critical infrastructure has been destroyed by Israel, there is simply no way to know for sure what the true casualty count might be. "This change has inevitably degraded the detailed data recorded previously," the letter reads, further explaining that unidentified bodies are now counted separately from the total death toll of identifiable bodies. Like many others are calling for, the letter's authors want there to be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in order to accurately record "the scale and nature of suffering" in the strip. "Documenting the true scale is crucial for ensuring historical accountability and acknowledging the full cost of the war," the letter reads. "It is also a legal requirement." Meanwhile, the IDF has launched a new offensive on Gaza City that Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh says "could bring the negotiation process back to square one." "Netanyahu and his army will bear full responsibility for the collapse of this path," Haniyeh said, blaming Israel for stopping the peace process. In order to reach a ceasefire agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that no hostage deal will be enough to stop Israel from continuing to wage war on Gaza because there are still weapons being smuggled in from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Netanyahu's statement dealt a major blow to White House claims from last week that mediators had reached "a breakthrough" on months-long peace talks. Down in southern Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reopened a health center in Khan Younis that had earlier been closed due to severe damage. As of now, this facility is the only one open in the region. Our staff in Khan Younis managed to reopen an @UNRWA health centre after it was severely damaged in January As there are no other health facilities in this part of Khan Younis the clinic is crucial to support the displaced families that moved back in the area looking for shelter pic.twitter.com/7Zxlw2dr85 UNRWA (@UNRWA) July 8, 2024 Unfortunately, The Lancet destroyed its own credibility during COVID by publishing fake science papers that claimed ivermectin was extremely dangerous and didn't work as a treatment for COVID. Sources for this article include: TheLancet.com MiddleEastEye.net NaturalNews.com MiddleEastEye.net Democrat elites discover deep state, ask if shadow group forcing Biden to run (Article by Kelen McBreen republished from Infowars.com) The piece was extremely harsh on Biden, especially for a typically left-leaning outlet. The author, Olivia Nuzzi, wrote Bidens mental decline was like a dark family secret for many elite supporters, which proves they knew he was unfit for office and lied about it while conservatives were labeled conspiracy theorists for pointing out the obvious. Most of the article focused on a recent exclusive Democrat donor fundraising event in New Hampshire where Biden spoke to the states governor and other prominent leftists. Following the puppet politicians historically poor debate performance, Biden met with the top Democrats to assure them he is mentally stable and will not be dropping out of the presidential race. Power up with Nitric Boost thats now 40% OFF! This potent formula gives you the massive edge in strength and superior circulation for that unparalleled performance you've been looking for! According to New York, much of Bidens speech at the event was not entirely decipherable, as his words slid into a rhetorical pileup. 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. Even at the private gathering, Sleepy Joe only talked to the audience for ten minutes! Despite prior speakers at the event managing to deliver audible messages, Biden was reportedly difficult to hear during his speech. The magazine called out a Biden lie when he told the donors his poll numbers went up following the debate disaster. 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, the article stated. After detailing the botched Biden speech to elite donors, Nuzzi explained shed been hearing complaints from other top Democrats about the mental and physical state of Sleepy Joe. Could he really do this for another four years? Could he even make it to Election Day? These arent just random leftists either, as the article cites people who were left disturbed with their interactions after meeting Biden in person. One accusation revealed Sleepy Joe is showing blatant signs of dementia. 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, claimed the author. 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. After realizing Biden couldnt make it through an entire reception, the White House guest said they werent sure they could vote for Biden because they werent sure he is really the acting president after all, noting that was an idea that they had previously dismissed as right-wing propaganda. The New York piece also pointed out Biden isnt even performing basic presidential duties since hes cocooned within mounting layers of bureaucracy, spoken for more than he was speaking or spoken to. Next, Nuzzi explained these Democrat elites were coming to the same conclusion about Biden as MAGA and QAnon people. 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. Describing a photo meet-and-greet with Biden she attended in April, the New York writer said, The president was something stranger, something not of this earth I tried to make eye contact, but it was like his eyes, though open, were not on. His face had a waxy quality. Summarizing why the blatantly obvious decline in Bidens mental state over the past three years has been totally denied by establishment media and politicians, Nuzzi pointed out Democrats were ignoring reality to spite their political opponents. 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. Now, the Democrat Party is suddenly allowing their media lapdogs to acknowledge what conservatives and most people around the world have known for years. Everybody can see the ruling class is preparing to ditch Biden and replace him with their next puppet. Read more at: Infowars.com Explosion rocks Arkansas weapon factory that produces missiles and other armaments for Ukraine The facility plays a crucial role in producing armaments, including different kinds of artillery shells, FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles and AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armor missiles. The explosion at the facility occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on July 3. Company spokeswoman Berkley Whaley initially described the event as an "incident involving pyrotechnics" but later confirmed it was an explosion. "At this time, we are working with first responders and can confirm the incident resulted in at least two injuries and one missing individual," Whaley said in a statement. "We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they conduct their investigation." Whaley did not provide specifics about the severity of the injuries or whether the factory sustained significant damage. However, Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt described the incident to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper as a "major" disaster and the first of its kind at the Camden plant. Nutt emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation to determine the cause and prevent future incidents. Camden plant relied upon to provide military aid to Ukraine The Camden plant is known for producing and testing "energetic products" the explosive components of missiles, rockets and other projectiles. According to the company's website, the 880,000-square-foot facility manufactures Hydra rockets, Hellfire and Javelin warheads, 120mm mortars and propellant charges for 155mm artillery shells. The plant's critical role in the defense supply chain underscores the potential impact of this incident on broader military operations. 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 United States has been heavily relying on facilities like the Camden plant to support its military aid commitments to Ukraine. (Related: United States announces new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine.) According to the fact sheet released by the Pentagon, the U.S. has sent more than 10,000 single-use Javelin missile launchers to Ukraine, along with over 3 million 155mm artillery shells and an unspecified number of 120mm mortars. These supplies are crucial for Ukraine's defense efforts amidst the ongoing conflict. In a bid to increase munitions supply, the Pentagon announced earlier this year that it would boost production of 155 mm shells from 28,000 per month to 70,000 per month by the end of 2024. Although it is unclear whether the Camden plant has ramped up its production of missile propellants to meet this goal, the company is currently recruiting 19 employees in Arkansas, indicating a potential increase in operational activity. This hiring surge suggests an effort to scale up production capabilities in response to growing demand. The explosion has raised concerns about safety protocols at such critical facilities, especially given their role in the ongoing international military supply chain. The incident underscores the inherent risks associated with producing and handling high-explosive materials and the need for stringent safety measures to protect workers and the surrounding community. Enhanced safety protocols and regular inspections could mitigate the risks associated with handling volatile substances. Local emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, with firefighters and medical teams working to secure the area and provide aid to the injured. The investigation into the explosion's cause is expected to involve multiple agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The community of Camden, a town with a population of around 12,000, is closely watching the developments. The General Dynamics plant is a significant local employer, and any prolonged shutdown could have economic repercussions. Watch this short clip of an explosion engulfing the General Dynamics Camden factory. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CORRUPT Pentagon fails to account for $62M in U.S. weapons aid to Ukraine. Russia-Ukraine war reveals critical SHORTAGE of 155mm artillery shells across the United States. Biden (supposedly) sending F-16s to be stationed inside Ukraine in defiance of Russian red line. Sources include: RT.com KARK.com Brighteon.com Germanys health authorities aligned COVID-19 mandates with political directives, internal documents reveal A fresh set of released internal documents from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's federal disease control and prevention agency, indicated that during the peak of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, German health officials caved to political pressure when it came to mandates and policies. Stefan Homburg, a public finance expert and retired professor from Leibniz University of Hannover, brought "seven shocking RKI files" to the attention of the English-speaking world in a video published June 19. He said that the Jan. 2020 to April 2021 documents exposed how Germany aligned COVID-19 recommendations with political directives rather than available evidence. The documents found back in March were initially kept confidential and some portions were even heavily redacted. The papers came out following legal action by journalist Paul Schreyer, author of the documentary, "Pandemic simulation games: Preparation for a new era?" The Defender reported that RKI subsequently made over 2,500 mostly unredacted pages publicly available on May 30, citing "public interest in the content of the COVID-19 crisis team protocols." According to the RKI's introduction to the released files, the minutes "reflect the open scientific discourse in which different perspectives are addressed and weighed up." Homburg accused experts, who knew what was going on but stated the opposite. In the said video, he discussed how the RKI documents expose several discrepancies between internal expert discussions and public health messaging. 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. Contrary to public messaging, internal discussions suggested COVID-19 might be less severe than typical influenza. "More people die in a normal influenza wave," one entry reads. "The main risk of dying of COVID-19 is age 83 years, to be precise, in Germany," Homburg said. Homburg also pointed out the lack of evidence supporting widespread mask use. "There is no evidence for the use of FFP2 [also known as N95, KN95 or P2] masks outside of occupational health and safety," one entry notes, adding that the information "could also be made available to the public." He said that the public was fooled and forced for years to wear FFP2 masks. He also lambasted school closures in heavily affected areas during the peak of the pandemic era. "School closures in areas that are not particularly affected are not recommended," the documents state. But he observed, "In the same week, politicians decided to close all German schools for months." As early as January 2021, RKI experts questioned the propaganda around herd immunity. "Pfizer's preceding clinical trial had not demonstrated protection against serious illness and they had not even tested protection against transmission," Homburg argued. "The experts knew this but stated the opposite in public and even before our courts." One file also revealed concerns about serious side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine. "Sinus thrombosis is a side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine," the document stated. "There is also a 20-fold increased incidence in men." "The experts did not inform the population about this danger but insisted that AstraZeneca was safe and effective," he added. (Related: COVID: The illusory LIE that allowed tyrants to take complete control of the world.) Meanwhile, former Pfizer Vice President Michael Yeadon called the political interference with RKI's scientific analysis and recommendations "appalling" and RKI's continuing compliance "cowardly." "I don't think there's an equivalent document which admits repeatedly that this event was wholly POLITICAL and decisions entirely driven by non-technically qualified political people at the top of government," he said. Watch Homburg's video on the "Seven Shocking RKI Files" below. German servicemen are no longer required to take COVID-19 vaccines A few years after the mandatory vaccine mandate, members of Germany's Bundeswehr (armed forces) are no longer required to submit to the protocol. The military was required to be vaccinated against diseases such as measles, mumps and the flu. The COVID-19 vaccine was added to the list in November 2021. But the requirement was dropped following recommendations from the Bundeswehr's chief medical officer and a military medical advisory committee, ministry spokesperson Mitko Muller said. It was replaced by a strong recommendation to get the vaccine. News of the decision came as Germany's Federal Administrative Court considered a complaint by a noncommissioned officer in the navy against the continued vaccination requirement. Germany contemplated a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all adults in the country in late 2021 and early 2022, but some government lawmakers and most of the opposition were against the idea. In April 2022, lawmakers rejected a narrower bill that would have required all people 60 and over to be vaccinated. Head over to Pandemic.news to read stories about fraudulent claims during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org EuroNews.com Hezbollah launches 200 rockets, drones toward Israel following killing of senior commander Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for launching over 200 rockets and drones targeting Israeli military positions on July 4. This action was a response to the killing of a senior commander, Muhammad Nasser, also known as Hajj Abu Nimah, in southern Lebanon by Israeli forces the previous day. A Hezbollah source confirmed to Al Jazeera that the attack, which followed a similar barrage of over 100 rockets on July 3, was a direct retaliation for Nasser's death. (Related: Hezbollah strikes several Israeli army bases, key defense factory.) Nasser was the third high-ranking Hezbollah leader killed in the nearly nine months of cross-border conflicts triggered by Israel's genocidal conflict in Gaza. Nasser's killing follows the January assassination of Wissam Al-Tawil, a senior commander in Hezbollah's special forces unit, the Radwan Force. The Israeli military confirmed the scale of the attack, stating that they had identified "200 projectiles and over 20 suspicious aerial targets" crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Many of these were intercepted by Israeli air defenses and fighter jets, and no casualties were reported. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that Israeli forces were striking Hezbollah "very hard every day" and would take any necessary action against the group. The Israeli military confirmed the targeting of Nasser, describing him as a counterpart of Taleb Abdallah, another Hezbollah commander assassinated by Israel. Israel further claimed that Nasser had control over Hezbollah's anti-tank and rocket launch operations in southwestern Lebanon. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. Israel has responded to the Hezbollah rocket barrage with its own wave of fighter jets bombing several southern Lebanese villages within hours after the Hezbollah barrage. Gallant reiterated that the Israeli Defense Forces is prepared to use any means necessary to strike at Lebanon or to place Tel Aviv in a position of strength in future negotiations with Hezbollah leaders. Hezbollah prepared to continue attacking Israel until a Gaza ceasefire is reached In response, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine warned that the group would continue to escalate its attacks on Israel. "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 stated during a Beirut event commemorating the fallen commander. Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem told the Associated Press that the only way to deescalate the situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border is for Israel to cease its operations in Gaza. Hezbollah has been conducting attacks in solidarity with the Gaza Strip's besieged Palestinians. The Gaza campaign has caused widespread destruction in the Palestinian enclave, with Gazas Health Ministry reporting over 37,000 Palestinians killed and more than 86,000 injured. The recent surge in fighting and heightened rhetoric between Hezbollah and Israeli officials has prompted urgent diplomatic efforts by mediators from the Middle East, Europe and the United States who are all desperately trying to get Israel to back down to avert a larger regional conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in late June that Israeli forces must focus on northern Israel, while extremist Israeli ministers have called for a full-scale invasion of Hezbollah-controlled territories in Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has asserted that the group is prepared for an all-out war if provoked. Iran has also issued warnings, indicating that all Resistance Fronts would respond if Israel attacks Lebanon. Learn more about the conflict in Israel at IsraelCollapse.com. Watch this report from Al Jazeera discussing Hezbollah's recent missile barrage involving over 200 rockets aimed at military installations in Northern Israel. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Pentagon chief recommends avoiding Israel-Hezbollah war but sends fighter jets to Israel anyway. Expert warns Hezbollah attack on power infrastructure could make Israel uninhabitable within 3 days. Israel OKs plans for ALL-OUT WAR in Lebanon to wipe out Hezbollah. Sources include: RT.com AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com Joe Biden allegedly admitted to key allies that he has only days to salvage his candidacy President Joe Biden has allegedly confided to key allies that he knows he may not salvage his candidacy if he fails to convince the public of his capabilities in the coming days after a disastrous debate performance on June 27. The two anonymous allies, who have privately spoken with Biden, reveal that the president is still deeply committed to the campaign for his reelection bid but understands that his viability as a candidate is at stake. (Related: Biden's campaign claims his TERRIBLE performance during debate with Trump was a result of overpreparation.) In line with that, the allies claim that Biden is completely aware that all his upcoming appearances must go well. Biden and his allies view this moment as an opportunity for a comeback, much like he has achieved multiple times throughout his half-century career. Additionally, the other ally, a senior adviser to the president, said that Biden is "well aware of the political challenge he faces." They also acknowledge that Biden is fully aware of the challenge ahead in persuading voters, donors and the political establishment that his debate performance was an anomaly and not a disqualifying factor. So, the adviser stated that Biden understands the outcome of his campaign may not align with his efforts. But despite all this acknowledgment, his allies claim that Biden still firmly views his debate performance as a poor show rather than an indication of his ability to serve another four years. Biden believes he is still an effective and mentally sharp leader and he is perplexed by others not recognizing this. 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. Biden meets with Democratic leaders as White House works to shore up support for his reelection White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has refuted the claims. Jean-Pierre said the president directly informed her that he never discussed dropping out of the race with any allies. "That is absolutely false," she said while dismissing the rumors about Biden stepping down from the race. White House Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to the President Andrew Bates echoed a similar statement 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," he posted. A day after the allegations, Biden convened with 20 Democratic governors at the White House to shore up their support for him staying in the race. He and the governors allegedly strategized for what the Democrats can do following his disastrous debate performance. "Yes, he's fit for office," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told reporters outside the White House following the meeting. "None of us are denying Thursday night was a bad performance. It was a bad hit, if you will, on that, but it doesn't impact what I believe, that he's delivering." "We were honest about the concerns that we were hearing from people," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. "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 we would stand with him." "I feel very confident in his abilities, we talked about the plan, and how he's going to be very focused on issues that matter to Americans. And I felt very confident coming out of this meeting as well," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The latest news about the 2024 presidential election can be found at BigGovernment.news. Watch InfoWars founder Alex Jones predicting that Joe Biden will drop out of the presidential race in two weeks' time. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Pelosi now claims it's LEGITIMATE to question Biden's mental state after initially backing him. JOE BI-DONE: 25 House Democrats preparing to call for Biden to end reelection bid. DNC considering early nomination for Biden after clown show debate performance. After Biden's disastrous debate last week, Democrats are truly panicking and desperately looking to replace him. Biden's debate performance raises alarm among Democrats. Here's why. Sources include: YourNews.com Yahoo.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.com Germany: Nigerian migrant grabs 9-year-old boy and stabs 2 police officers, immediately released by the courts Following a growing wave of stabbing attacks across Germany perpetrated by migrants, a Nigerian migrant has added to the growing toll of victims, this time stabbing three officers in 16 hours in the city of Karlsruhe. (Article by John Cody republished from RMX.news) The 36-year-old Nigerian is still at large after three different attacks, targeting various officers in the span of 18 hours. Despite the serious crimes, the man is still at large. On Friday, at 12:45 p.m., the man grabbed a 9-year-old boy at the main station in Karlsruhe in the state of Baden-Wurtemberg, located in the southwest of Germany. Police intervened to save the boy, and the African man bit one of the officers, while three police suffered abrasions during the scuffle. NEW: Germany's Berlin has seen knife crime reach a 10-year high in 2023, according to new police data. ?3,550 knife attacks in 2023. ? That means there are nearly 10 knife crimes every day in Berlin. ? Data shows that there are at least 50 knife crimes a day on average in pic.twitter.com/Qhwf5J6qHP Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) January 11, 2024 Then, 13 hours later, the same man wanted to travel without a ticket and got on a night train at 1:50 a.m. When police officers confronted him over his illegal action, the situation quickly escalated. The man put up considerable resistance and repeatedly stabbed the officers from behind with the blade of a cutter knife, said a police spokeswoman. One of the officers was stabbed in the head, arm and hand, while another officer was cut on his leg. Both police officers were treated in the hospital and are unable to work while they recover from their injuries. ?10 knife crimes in 24 hours, all perpetrated by migrants ?? 9 attacks in Germany ?? 1 in Austria However, there are at least 40-50 knife crimes in Germany every day, with many of these cases receiving little or no press coverage in the major German newspapers. pic.twitter.com/LSdfkG5uwq Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) July 5, 2024 Despite attempts to charge the man, the public prosecutor released the Nigerian. He immediately went back to riding the train without purchasing a ticket, and on Saturday at 7 a.m., a police spokeswoman described how he once again attacked a federal police officer when he was stopped. During the police check, the 36-year-old suddenly attacked a federal police officer, grabbing him by the arm. The suspect was brought to the ground and temporarily arrested. The man was simply released by a public prosecutor even after the officers applied for an arrest warrant twice. Both requests were rejected for unknown reasons. Attempts by Bild newspaper to reach the prosecutors officer to explain why the man was not held in custody and charged were unsuccessful. The man remains on the streets despite the crime spree. According to BILD information, the federal police officers in Karlsruhe informed their superiors. Now they hope that another public prosecutor will take on the case on Monday. Officers have increasingly become victims of stabbing attacks perpetrated by migrants. The attack comes after a wave of knife attacks in Germany and violent incidents involving foreigners, with perhaps the most prominent case involving an Islamic Afghan knife attacker who managed to stab a German police officer to death in Mannheim. The known Islamist had lived in Germany illegally for eight years, according to police sources. ???? Germans are mocking a police presentation in the city of Hannover exhibiting how they would deal with a knife attacker. The evil attacker is a White male named Matze, a nickname for Germans named Matthias, who clearly follows all their orders and then lies on the pic.twitter.com/ddis4yuAh3 Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 27, 2024 Shortly after that attack, Germanys governing left-liberal government signaled they want to bring in more migrants from Syria and Afghanistan at a summit on migration. Just days later, an Afghan migrant attacked police officers with a long-bladed weapon at a bus stop in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. On June 30, an Iranian migrant stabbed a police officer trainee in Lauf an der Pegnitz, who was saved by his protective vest. Read more at: RMX.news North Carolina teen PUNISHED for asking about the term illegal aliens in class A North Carolina high school student is in the middle of a lawsuit after he was suspended following a classroom incident involving the use of the phrase "illegal aliens" in front of a Hispanic classmate On April 9, Christian McGhee, a 16-year-old student from Central Davidson High School in Lexington, North Carolina, asked his English teacher if the term "aliens" referred to "space alliance or illegal aliens who need green cards?" A classmate of Hispanic heritage jokingly responded with a threat, which McGhee's lawyers contend was not taken seriously by either party. (Related: Illegal immigrants use ROPE made from CLOTHES to cross Rio Grande into Texas.) "Christian asked his question," said Dean McGhee, educational freedom attorney at the Liberty Justice Center. "A boy in his class, of Hispanic heritage, jokingly said 'Hey, Im going to kick your '" and used an expletive. McGhee added that after the dialogue the class continued as usual without any sign of a real conflict. However, the teacher reported the interaction to school administrators, not for the words used but for the perceived threat. Assistant Principal Eric Anderson, in a conversation with Leah McGhee, Christian's mother, equated her son's use of "illegal aliens" to the use of a racial slur. Anderson also discussed the incident with the students involved, with the Hispanic student clarifying that his comment was a joke and that he was not offended. But Christian still received a three-day suspension and was barred from participating in a track meet, without an option to appeal. 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. In response to the disciplinary measures, McGhee and his parents, Leah and Chad McGhee, filed a lawsuit against the Davidson County School District Board of Education on May 7. The plaintiffs argue that Christian's rights to free speech, education and due process have been violated by unfairly suspending and injecting race into a question of clarification from an English teacher. In turn, they seek to have his academic record cleared and the suspension reversed. Moreover, the McGhee family, along with the legal organization the Liberty Justice Center and Raleigh-area lawyers Troy Shelton and Craig Schauer, requested a preliminary injunction on June 4 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The lawsuit aims to ensure Christian's record is cleared to prevent any negative impact on his future opportunities, such as college admissions and scholarships. But the injunction is still pending. Christian labeled as racist and ostracized for asking a simple question According to Christian's parents, Christian was labeled a racist and ostracized and bullied by his peers while receiving threats following his return to school after his short suspension. "I have raised our son to reject racism in all its forms, but it is the school, not Christian, that injected race into this incident. It appears that this administration would rather destroy its own reputation and the reputation of my son rather than admit they made a mistake," Leah said in a statement released by the Liberty Justice Center. This, in turn, led to Christian's withdrawal from school and his homeschooling for the remainder of the academic year. "Even though Christian asked a factual, non-threatening question about a word the class was discussing the school board branded him with false accusations of racism. The school has not only violated his constitutional right to free speech, but also his right to due process and his right to access education, a guaranteed right under North Carolina law. We are proud to stand beside Christian and his family in challenging this egregious violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments," said Buck Dougherty, a senior counsel at Liberty Justice Center. "It impacts, every student in the country, and their right to speak without fear of aggressive retaliation from their administration. In this case, our client, in the context of the conversation, asked a question that on its face was racially neutral. It was earnest in the class discussion. From there, the administration fabricated a racial incident and had the audacity to tell a Hispanic student who said he was not offended that he should have been offended. We want to make sure this doesn't happen again." Read more stories about illegal aliens at Migrants.news. Watch this clip discussing how El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser has declared a state of emergency to prepare for the inevitable surge of illegals crossing the border once Title 42 ends. This video is from the channel Galactic Storm on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Latest polls show majority of Americans now approve of MASS DEPORTATIONS for illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are throwing away their military IDs before entering America, says Border Hawks Dan Lyman. Illegal immigrants leaving U.S. hospitals with BILLIONS in unpaid medical bills. Illegal immigrants in New York City are leaving their shelters to go door-to-door begging for money and food. Illegal immigrants in El Paso bringing DISEASES like scabies, measles, bed bugs and COVID-19 with them. Sources include: JustTheNews.com TheCenterSquare.com Brighteon.com Russian military DESTROYS 9 Ukrainian jets in one day The Russian military has destroyed nine Ukrainian fighter jets within 24 hours The Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) made this announcement in a July 2 post on its Telegram channel, with accompanying footage. According to the ministry, Russian forces launched a major attack on the Myrhorod Air Base in the country's central Poltava province. The attack on the air base destroyed and damaged seven Ukrainian fighter jets in total. "As a result of the Russian army's strike, five active Su-27 multi-purpose fighters were destroyed and two under repair were damaged," the MOD said in its Telegram post. Meanwhile, two other fighter jets were destroyed mid-air by Russian air defenses, with the Russian state-owned news agency TASS identifying the downed planes as a MiG-29 and a Su-27. All in all, Russian forces took out nine Ukrainian fighter jets delivering a serious blow to Kyiv's war effort. A Ukrainian official also confirmed the strike on the Myrhorod Air Base and described how it transpired. However, he claimed that Moscow exaggerated the extent of damage to the military facility. Col. Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman of the Air Force Command under the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said: "There are losses, but not at all like the enemy claims because they always do this since the beginning of the invasion." Ihnat also told Reuters that Russian reconnaissance drones played a key role in the attack on the air base. These drones, he added, presented a "very serious threat" as they were able to spot the Ukrainian aircraft parked on the ground. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. "[The drones] fly and report everything in real-time, and then [the] Iskander [missile] arrives in a couple of minutes," the military spokesman said. "It is obvious." July 2 attack a follow-up to earlier strikes The July 2 attack was a continuation of an earlier strike. On June 27, the Russian Defense Ministry said it struck airbases in Ukraine ostensibly set up to eventually house F-16 fighter jets supplied by the West. According to the MOD, the June 27 strike utilized "long-range sea-based weapons, the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)" to attack the "airfield infrastructure of Ukraine, planned to accommodate aircraft from Western countries." "The goal of the strike has been achieved. All designated targets have been hit," said the ministry. However, it did not specify the number of airfields that were struck or their locations. (Related: Russia warns all airfields hosting Kyivs F-16 fighter jets are legitimate targets even if they arent in Ukraine.) The June 27 attack comes as Kyiv's Western backers including the U.S., the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Norway have pledged to provide Ukraine with as many as 60 F-16 fighter jets by the end of the year. None of the jets have yet been supplied, however. Deliveries have been delayed as Ukrainian pilots are still learning to operate the jets, according to Russia Today. Even though they complete their training by the end of the year, Kyiv will only have a "handful" of pilots for the F-16s. Moreover, Ukraine doesn't have enough maintenance crews to service the jets. Also on July 2, TASS reported that the Russian military has destroyed 625 Ukrainian warplanes; 276 helicopters; 27,121 UAVs and 525 surface-to-air missile systems since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Russian forces have also destroyed 16,478 tanks and other armored combat vehicles; 1,362 multiple rocket launchers' 11,215 field artillery guns and mortars; and 23,328 special military motor vehicles. "These huge losses on the Ukrainian side have resulted in Ukrainian officials essentially begging for more arms and equipment from [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] countries at a faster rate," TASS concluded. Visit WWIII.news for more stories about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Watch this clip of Russian forces striking military aircraft and military installations in Ukraine's central Poltava region. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Ukrainians are not trained to operate U.S. F-16 fighter jets, would not be Russia-Ukraine war game-changer, says Jake Sullivan. US to train Ukrainians to fly nuclear-capable F-16s despite warnings that Russia will see this as a NUCLEAR THREAT. After securing new tanks from US and Germany, Ukraine now demanding F-16 fighter jets to combat Russia. Russia inflicting HEAVY DAMAGE against Ukrainian Air Force using innovative long-range air-to-air missile. Putin vows to DESTROY all F-16 fighter jets that make their way to Ukraine. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com TASS.com RT.com Brighteon.com Ive never seen someone murder a corpse, but thats happening right now on my TV Sky News Australia absolutely rips Dementia Joe in debate analysis Never has a U.S. President served who was not only demented, but suffering from dementia, and so bad, that he cant even put two sentences together without losing his whole train of thought. Conservative Sky News Australia has reviewed and analyzed the debate of the century and has many brilliant points to make about Demented Dark Brandon and his continued downward spiral of dementia, that was on display for the whole world to see, for 90 minutes straight. At many stretches during the debate, Slow Joe looked like he was either lost, trying to memorize Obamas written notes, sleeping or simply standing while deceased. Trump simply wielded every tool on his belt to destroy the dying senior. Some might say it was such a disastrous performance by Biden, that Trump basically murdered the corpse. According to Biden at the debate, girls across America are being raped by their sisters, and his administration is trying to stop them from crossing state lines After berating President Trump for attending the funeral of a girl who was murdered by an illegal immigrant, Dark Brandon went on to say that theres a much bigger problem than what Trump is pointing out. Apparently, American girls everywhere are being raped by their sisters (not sure what "news" Brandon is watching, or if he's just having daydreams about this). Never to worry though, because Biden claims to be stopping them at state lines to try to repair this massive nationwide issue. Apparently, theres a massive incest wave of activity across the world, and Biden is focused on stopping the perpetrators from crossing state lines (after he helps the forensics team sniff the girls hair for evidence). 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. Next, Biden says hes going to Reduce the federal debt by $150 billion dollars over ten years? What? This while printing trillions of dollars to give to Neo-Nazis in Ukraine and to his crackhead son Hunter. But wait, theres more. According to Dementia Joe, there are 1,000 trillionaires in the USA right now. Wow. It was difficult for Resident Biden to talk without reading teleprompters, and without Obama speaking into his earpiece. It was dismal, and now hes depressed and stressed. Biden tried to re-memorize his botched note cards while Trump was speaking, thats why Brandon stared downward the whole time, and looked like he was taking powernaps. He needed Jill to come save him every time he hit the stutter, stumble, fumble and bewilderment voids of dementia. After the debate, the humanoid, drugged-up, drug-crashing C3PO-Brandon did in fact need Jill to come get him at the podium, where he froze up and completely and utterly forgot who he is, where he was and what just happened. Biden also BEAT MEDICAID, if you were unaware. He beat it. Like a head cold or a drug addiction. Folks, Biden has defeated Medicaid. He won. He is the victor. It was all just a contest, and Biden has come out on top. Also, why, according to Biden, are all obstetricians male? Biden thinks so. Plus, why was Biden so angry, screaming at Trump like a 5th grader screaming on playground youre a sucker! and youre a loser! It must be because Trump pointed out that Bidens son is a criminal, a pervert and a crackhead. At the debate, Biden and his Demoncrats never addressed all their main platforms for turning America into a communist hellhole Where were all the important talks for the liberals? Isnt that what Biden and his freakshow regime represent? Why not talk about gender fluidity, children getting genital-mutilation surgery without their parents' consent, and biological men wearing makeup competing in womens sports? Why not talk about how the Democrats are getting rid of all gas-powered vehicles as soon as possible? Why not cover all this global warming stuff that the Democrats in DC say is the biggest threat to mankind right now? Hasn't everyone noticed there are no beaches anymore and every continent has shrunk by 1,000s of miles? No? Why not talk about having peace talks with Russia, Israel and Palestine, instead of amplifying threats, bombing innocent civilians and wasting hundreds of billions of U.S. taxpayer money? Is it bomb first, ask questions and negotiate later? Where was talk of improving U.S. infrastructure, school curriculum and solving the poverty and drug crisis in every metropolitan city in America right now? Why didnt Biden talk about seizing all citizens guns, since there are so many mass shootings on his watch, and its always the guns fault? Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving and thriving beyond what comes this way. Sources for this article include: Censored.news NaturalNews.com Axios: Top aides SHIELDED Biden from most staffers to cover up his rapidly declining cognitive state Top aides to President Joe Biden have carefully shielded him from others , resulting in his dismal performance during the June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump. According to Axios, "the intermittent access" to Biden "has resulted in many current and former White House aides being shocked" at his limitations during the debate. Given this development, they are "now questioning whether he could fulfill a second term. The president's behavior stunned many White House aides, Axios pointed out, partly due to the efforts of his closest aides to rope him off early in his term. Anthony Bernal, senior advisor to First Lady Jill Biden, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Annie Tomasini were in charge of this. So serious were the efforts of the two aides that even the White House's residence staff, which serves the first family in the building's living quarters, has been kept at arm's length. One former residence official told Axios that Jill was "so protective" of her husband and Bernal is equally protective of her. "They often wouldn't let us do anything for them," they said. (Related: Operation Bubble Wrap: Jill Biden and several White House staffers SHIELDING Joe Biden from unscripted media interactions.) "The separation between the [Biden] family and the residence staff was so big, so divided. It's not supposed to be and usually isn't, even in the Trump White House." Bernal, Tomasini and other close aides had easy access to the White House's residence area, which some residence staff found unusual as political staffers typically do not have such access. This, Axios added, served as an example of the tight circle around the president. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. A current White House official responded to the former residence official's disclosures. They clarified that the president "is deeply appreciative of the residence staff's work, but is unused to being waited on regularly or having butlers so some staff are often allowed to go home early." The official also noted that Bernal and Tomasini did not request to have easy access to the residential area and that there are other political staffers who also have access to the living quarters. Are Biden's aides hiding something? The former residence official also recounted an early incident that set a tone for many of residence staffers. On July 4, 2021, Biden hosted a party on the White House's South Lawn. During the same event, he declared "independence" from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was a hot day and after spending hours outside, Biden went back into the White House through the Diplomatic Room and then into the nearby Map Room. As soon as the president entered the Map Room, the door was abruptly closed as his top aides blocked the White House butlers and residence staff from aiding the president. While the top aides suggested that the president was just "a little overheated," residence staff weren't convinced. The latter felt like Biden's close aides were creating a barrier around anything possibly related to the president's health, according to the erstwhile residence official. "Shielding Biden was a safe and obvious move during [the] COVID-19 [pandemic]," according to Axios. "But some within the White House have felt that some of those habits have lingered long afterward." The current White House official also commented on the July 2021 incident, telling the outlet: "There are many reasons for presidents to need some staff to leave the room at any time, because they often deal with sensitive information." "In every administration, there are individuals who would prefer to spend more time with the president and senior officials," White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates told Axios. "President Biden fights hard for families every day, working with a wide range of team members at what he is proud is the most diverse White House ever and achieving historic results for the American people because of his determination, values and experience." Watch this Sky News report about current and former aides to President Joe Biden expressing concerns about his age. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Bad Doctor Jill Biden doesn't give a damn about America or her husband. She'll humiliate him till he can take no more Biden often has expression of "blank-stared confusion," reveal advisers about faux president's serious mental decline. COVER-UP: White House chief doctor deems Biden fit to work, but omits cognitive test. Sources include: Axios.com Brighteon.com Boeing agrees to plead guilty to criminal fraud conspiracy charge relating to fatal 737 max crashes, would reportedly avoid public trial Airplane manufacturer Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States regarding two fatal 737 Max crashes. (Article by Danielle republished from 100PercentFedUp.com) The crashes, which occurred in 2018 and 2019, killed 346 people. The plea deal would force the company to pay fines up to $487 million. However, thats only a fraction of the $24.8 billion sought by crash victims families. BREAKING: Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly 737 Max crashes, Justice Department says https://t.co/9kHjvfBzsX The Associated Press (@AP) July 8, 2024 The parties have agreed in principle to the material terms of a plea agreement that would, among other things, hold Boeing accountable for its material misstatements to the Federal Aviation Administration, require Boeing to pay the statutory maximum fine, require Boeing to invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs, impose an independent compliance monitor, and allow the Court to determine the restitution amount for the families in its discretion, consistent with applicable law, a Justice Department court filing read. CNN reports: The families of victims of two fatal crashes of the 737 Max oppose the deal, the department said. The guilty plea is a severe blow to the reputation of Boeing, a company once known for the quality and safety of its commercial planes. Beyond the fatal crashes of the 737 Max jets, the company has faced a series of questions about the safety and quality of its planes. In January, a door plug on a 737 Max flown by Alaska Airlines blew out early in a flight, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the jet and further damaging Boeings reputation. The agreement stipulates that Boeing will have to operate under the oversight of an independent monitor, to be chosen by the government, for a period of three years. But that oversight and the fine did not satisfy the families of victims, according to one of their attorneys. This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeings conspiracy, 346 people died, said a statement from Paul Cassell, a law professor at the University of Utah who represents many family members of the 2018 Lion Air crash and 2019 Ethiopian Air crash victims. This deceptive and generous deal is clearly not in the public interest, he added. The families are seeking a public trial on the charges. The Justice Department argues that the penalties Boeing agreed to were the most serious available. It argued it won other improvements as well, including the oversight of a monitor and the demand that Boeing spend more on safety and compliance of rules when building aircraft. Boeing Will Plead Guilty On Fraud Charges As Part Of Deal With DOJ On 737 Max Crasheshttps://t.co/KYDaGGCgBipic.twitter.com/XUgQsxiJ3r Forbes (@Forbes) July 8, 2024 First 4 pages of DOJ filing, saying that Boeing will plead guilty to fraud. Many relatives of those who died in the 2 MAX crashes wanted DOJ to put Boeing on trial; that wont happen, Associated Press airline reporter David Koenig wrote. First 4 pages of DOJ filing, saying that Boeing will plead guilty to fraud. Many relatives of those who died in the 2 MAX crashes wanted DOJ to put Boeing on trial; that won't happen. pic.twitter.com/weZZHp5Vwk David Koenig (@airlinewriter) July 8, 2024 Per Reuters: Boeing subsequently struck a deal with the Justice Department deferring any prosecution, in return for compensating victims families and improving its compliance. However, officials this year concluded that the firm had not complied with all terms of the deal. Boeings position wasnt helped by the midair blowout on another MAX plane earlier this year, which raised new concerns about its quality control. It faces a separate criminal probe over that incident. Now the plea deal sees the firm admit to making false representations over a software system involved in the crashes. It spares the company a contentious trial but could result in other big costs. The conviction could bar Boeing from lucrative defense and NASA contracts unless it can agree waivers. Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com Satellite images show China is rapidly expanding SPY BASES in Cuba China appears to be expanding its spy bases in Cuba The Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) first revealed this development in a July 2 report, accompanied by satellite images taken in March and April. The think tank pointed out that four military facilities in the island Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay and Calabazar have had upgrades. It showed current construction at Bejucal, Wajay and Calabazar, along with work on the earlier unreported El Salao site. According to CSIS, Bejucal is the largest of the four facilities. It first came to eminence during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when the base was utilized to store nuclear weapons for the Soviet Union. More recently, it has earned importance as a major signals intelligence monitoring station, suspected to be tracking electronic communications for China. For this purpose, Bejucal has been improved to better monitor and communicate with satellites which is useful to China's military and space program. Aside from these upgrades, a fresh electronic antenna enclosure has been installed in facility. The Wajay and Calabazar locations, both located near the Cuban capital Havana, have seen development as well. CSIS analysts mentioned evidence of a growing and developing mission, as well as the installation of antenna, radar dishes and other equipment that could assist those using it to monitor satellites. El Salao, the latest site, can intercept communications from Guantanamo Bay. While it appears to be still under construction, its proximity to the naval base near the city of Santiago de Cuba could be a matter of concern for Washington. 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. "Without access to classified materials, pinpointing the specific targets of these assets is nearly impossible," the report stated. "Nonetheless, the growth of space-monitoring equipment at sites like Bejucal and Calabazar is notable given that Cuba lacks its own satellites or space program." Beijing, Havana deny CSIS allegations of espionage Beijing and Havana agreed to a close defense and intelligence cooperation in 2022, with the treaty involving a joint military training facility and a spy base on Cuba. The four facilities cited in the CSIS report appear to be the result of that accord, with the upgrades ostensibly helping China with its espionage endeavors in the United States. (Related: China has had a spy base in Cuba for decades, retired army counterintelligence agent says.) The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence refused to comment on the think tank's July 2 report, and the Cuban government likewise dismissed it. The Chinese government also dismissed the report's findings, dismissing it as "nothing but slander." "The U.S. side has reportedly hyped up China's establishment of spy bases or conducting surveillance activities in Cuba," said Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, in an email. "The U.S. should immediately stop its malicious smearing of China. The U.S. is no doubt the leading power in terms of eavesdropping and does not even spare its allies. The CSIS' revelations nevertheless follow a report last year by the Wall Street Journal about China paying Cuba billions of dollars to establish a spy facility. American officials later said that while China had upgraded its intelligence facilities in Cuba in 2019, Washington's response had stopped Beijing from attaining its goals. "We're confident that we can continue to meet our security commitments," Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, U.S. Department of Defense press secretary, told members of the media during a July 2 press briefing. "We know that the People's Republic of China is going to continue to try to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will continue to keep working to disrupt that. We're continuing to monitor this closely, taking steps to counter it." Follow CommunistChina.news for more news about China's spy bases in Cuba. Watch G News founder Miles Guo calling attention to the fact that Chinese spy bases are being built in Cuba. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: SPY CRANES? Investigation finds communication devices secretly implanted in Chinese-made cargo cranes used across U.S. ports. POWER PLAY: Cuba spy station brings US-China rivalry closer to American shores. The enemy of my enemy is my friend: Beijing plans to construct military training facility in Cuba and station Chinese troops on the island. Trump and Biden camps blame each other over Chinese spy base in Cuba. Cut from the same cloth: Cuba agrees to let China construct a SPY BASE on island to intercept American communications. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com VOANews.com Brighteon.com Hunter Biden sues Fox News for mock trial series scrubbed months ago Presidential son Hunter Biden has sued Fox News for a mock trial series that centered on his misdeeds. Mediaite reported that on June 30, the first son filed a lawsuit in New York City against the conservative network. He accused the network of targeting him "in an effort to harass, annoy, alarm and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation." The lawsuit stemmed from a six-part "mock trial" series titled "The Trial of Hunter Biden," which aired on the network's video-on-demand service Fox Nation. The fictional program premiered in late October 2022 and was touted as providing viewers with "how a possible Hunter Biden trial might look." However, the program included nude images of the presidential son ostensibly obtained from the infamous "laptop from hell." Hunter's lawsuit alleged that Fox News violated Section 52-b of the New York Civil Rights Law, which covers so-called "revenge porn" spreading a person's nude images without their consent to malign them. "Far from reporting on a newsworthy event, Fox News sought to commercialize [Hunter] Biden's personality through a form of treatment distinct from the dissemination of news or information," the lawsuit stated. "Indeed, the entire miniseries is fictionalized and based on a nonexistent criminal case." The network pushed back against the complaint in a statement to Mediaite, calling it an "entirely politically motivated lawsuit" that is "devoid of merit." "Hunter Biden is a public figure who has been the subject of multiple investigations and is now a convicted felon. Consistent with the First Amendment, Fox News has accurately covered the newsworthy events of [Hunter's] own making, and we look forward to vindicating our rights in court," the statement continued. (Related: Hunter Biden found GUILTY of felony gun charges.) 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. Fox News already took down mock trial series in April According to Fox News' statement, the presidential son did not complain about "The Trial of Hunter Biden" when it was first released and had been airing for more than a year. It was only after Hunter's lawyers sent a letter in April that the network learned of his grievances. The program was removed from Fox Nation within days of the letter's receipt out of "an abundance of caution." The letter sent by powerhouse celebrity law firm Geragos & Geragos ordered Fox News to remove the show, which was presided over by Judge Joe Brown of the eponymous reality TV program, from the streaming platform. The network complied and removed the show, alongside a promotional video. "This program was produced in and has been available since 2022. We are reviewing the concerns that have just been raised and, out of an abundance of caution in the interim, have taken it down," Fox News said in a statement at the time. According to the April 2022 letter from Geragos & Geragos, the series used "intimate images of [Hunter] Biden depicting him in the nude, as well as engaged in sex acts. It further alleged that Fox News "knows that these private and confidential images were hacked, stolen and/or manipulated digital material." The lawyers cited "revenge porn" laws and demanded the immediate removal of the series with threats of legal action for noncompliance. Head over to BidenCrimeFamily.news for more stories about Hunter Biden. Watch Breanna Morello and Garrett Ziegler discussing Hunter Biden's lawsuit against Fox News in the clip below. This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Second whistleblower says Hunter Biden willfully evaded MILLIONS in taxes through elaborate money laundering scheme. Experts: Hunter Biden's FAILURE to register as a foreign agent could finally land him in jail. Hunter Biden INDICTED by Delaware federal court on GUN-RELATED CHARGES. Hunter Biden's "historic" criminal trial will probe drug addiction and gun charges. Hunter Biden pleads GUILTY to tax crimes, reaches deal on gun charge. Sources include: Mediaite.com 1 Mediaite.com 2 Brighteon.com Leftist Keir Starmer becomes new British prime minister, pledges to put country first, party second Newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to prioritize the country over his party's interests during his first term as the head of Britain's government. Starmer, the leader of the left-wing Labour Party, and his team secured a landslide victory on July 5, ending 14 years of Conservative Party rule. The Labour Party secured 412 seats out of 650 in the House of Commons, while the Conservatives, led by outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, managed to win only 121 seats, with a staggering 12 Cabinet ministers losing their seats. (Related: Nigel Farage vows to break U.K.s ties to World Economic Forum if his party takes control of British government.) This marks the worst defeat in the Conservative Party's history, with the previous record lows for the Tories being 165 seats in 1997 and 156 seats in 1906. In line with the victory, King Charles III invited Starmer, along with his wife, Victoria Starmer to a private appointment at Buckingham Palace to discuss forming a new government. "Four and a half years of work, changing the party. This is what it is for. A changed Labour Party, ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people," said Starmer, who has led the party since 2020, in a brief victory speech at Londons Royal Festival Hall. "The sunlight of hope was shining once again in a country with an opportunity after 14 years to get its future back." That same day, Starmer addressed a crowd outside the prime minister's official residence of 10 Downing Street with a pledge to prioritize the country over party interests after King Charles officially named him the new prime minister during the traditional "kissing hands" ceremony at the royal residence of Buckingham Palace. 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 country has voted decisively for change," Keir stated. "Public service is a privilege, and your government should treat every single person in this country with respect. From now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, only by the determination to serve your interest." Sunak steps down as leader of the Conservative Party The election also saw a significant surge in support for Reform UK, which secured four seats, with party leader Nigel Farage and chairman Richard Tice both being elected. The Green Party of England and Wales also made notable gains, winning more than a million votes and securing three additional seats for a total of four. The Liberal Democrats also experienced a resurgence with 71 seats. Meanwhile, outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party following a brief audience with the monarch. "To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry. 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," Sunak said. Sunak, who succeeded Liz Truss in October 2022, admitted that it had been a "difficult night" for his party after a record number of cabinet ministers lost their seats. "The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight, there is much to learn and I take responsibility for the loss," he said. "To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities. I am sorry." Sunak then assured the public that power would "change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides." Visit BigGovernment.news for similar stories. Watch the video below that talks about how artificial intelligence can rig elections. This video is from the Tanjerea channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: British Prime Minister: U.K. teens will be cut off from banks if they refuse national service. Entire U.K. establishment piles on Nigel Farage for saying "we provoked" Ukraine war. AI candidate running for U.K. parliament to appear on the ballot for general elections in July. U.K. could be the next country to legalize ASSISTED SUICIDE. U.K. bringing back mandatory military service as Europe prepares for WAR with Russia. Sources include: NTD.com NYPost.com Brighteon.com MSNBC host calls for Biden aides to be allowed ON STAGE with him at next debate (and to speak for him) (Article by Steve Watson republished from Modernity.news) Yes, really. This is where we are now. ODonnell said that it would be good to Allow the candidates to have as many staff as they want, join them on the stage throughout the debate, and make sure that all of them have microphones. He added that the candidates should be allowed to turn to their staff and confer with them about anything at any time in the debate. And we should be able to hear everything they say. So we can hear if the candidate has competent or incompetent staff, we could hear the candidate overrule some advisers and say something else, he continued. We could watch the candidates actually think and process information, including possibly information that they might not know until a staff member tells them or reminds them, ODonnell further suggested. He continued, A candidate should be allowed to let staff members actually answer questions for them. MSNBC host Lawrence ODonnell calls for allowing Joe Biden to have aides with him on stage to speak for him and help him sound coherent during the next debate. This is where we are at now. Full report here: https://t.co/xEIFxG7LKIpic.twitter.com/Ty7EqvtDNt m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) July 8, 2024 When he says candidates he means Biden, because Trump clearly doesnt need people talking for him. Only the mentally deficient, incoherent, bumbling Biden needs that. What is this supposed to be? Show and tell at pre school? Its a debate between candidates who are expected to lead the country. They shouldnt need people to help them talk. Its not a debate between the candidates if other people are doing the talking. ODonnell is only putting the ludicrous suggestion out because it is clear that Biden is not running anything. His aides are doing it all. Indeed, an Axios report notes how literally everything Biden does is micromanaged and written down for him, down to where and when he walks and stands. The report notes that One template a copy of which was obtained by Axios is short and simple, with one large picture of the event space on each page, accompanied with big text such as: View from podium, and View from audience. In the five-page document, two pages are separate pictures of, Walk to podium.' Before a presidential event, the White House sends event staffers a document to emulate when preparing their own materials for the president, the report further states. One staffer told Axios that It surprised me that a seasoned political pro like the president would need detailed verbal and visual instructions on how to enter and exit a room. This has been going on for years now: 'YOU take YOUR seat': Very specific cheat sheet reminds Biden how to act https://t.co/eGJGqRzzlYpic.twitter.com/lil708FVho New York Post (@nypost) June 23, 2022 Read more at: Modernity.news Pope Francis excommunicates conservative archbishop for exposing sexual abuse and other corruption in the Catholic Church Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a once-prominent figure in Roman Catholicism, has been excommunicated by the Vatican because Vigano is an outspoken critic of Pope Francis and his deviant, far-left agenda. Vigano is notorious for speaking out against Catholicism's sexual abuse problems and associated coverups. He has also called for Pope Francis to resign, which eventually led to Vigano's removal from the religion. The Vatican's former ambassador to the United States, Vigano was deemed guilty of schism. A press release from the Vatican explains that Vigano's penalty is to be cast out of the religion entirely because he refuses to treat Pope Francis as the physical embodiment of Jesus Christ on earth. Vigano had been ordered to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, which he refused to do. Vigano was also told not to participate in communion with Roman Catholicism because of his questioning of the legitimacy of the Second Vatican Council. "Vigano's excommunication by the Vatican means he is no longer a member of the church and cannot participate in its sacraments due to schism, a serious offense under canon law," Great Game India reported. "A schism happens when someone withdraws their submission to the pope or from the communion of Catholics who follow him." (Related: In late 2023, Pope Francis partied with transgender prostitutes in celebration of "World Day of the Poor.") Vigano has a large conservative Catholic following Try as he might to silence Vigano by excommunicating him from the Catholic religion, Pope Francis now has a serious problem on his hands as Vigano is widely respected among like-minded Catholic conservative and traditionalists. 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. All throughout the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic," Vigano was outspoken against it, having made reference to the "Great Reset" and other "fringe beliefs." Vigano also made headlines in 2015 when Pope Francis visited the U.S. because he helped organize the envoy as nuncio. "Vigano invited Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk in the core of the U.S. gay marriage dispute, to join a small group at the Vatican residence to receive Francis," reports explain. "Davis rose to popularity after refusing to provide all marriage licenses rather than being forced to grant licenses to same-sex couples. She became a hero for the conservative right in the United States, with whom Vigano had grown more linked with the countrys culture wars over homosexual marriage and religious liberty." Because Pope Francis is a supporter of LGBT, being a close friend of LGBT crusader Barack Hussein Obama, he was very upset at what Vigano did by deceptively inviting Davis to visit. "Davis and her counsel claimed that the meeting with Francis amounted to an affirmation of her cause," reports further explain. "The Vatican then refuted that assertion, releasing video footage of what it claimed was Francis' 'only' private audience in Washington: a small group of people, including a gay couple." In August 2018, Vigano and Pope Francis collided when he accused the pope of sexual assault. This led to calls for Pope Francis to resign from his post. While Pope Francis was visiting Ireland, Vigano released an 11-page letter claiming that he informed the pontiff in 2013 about sex abuse allegations against retired Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the most senior official in Catholicism's U.S. tentacle. According to Vigano, Pope Francis ignored the letter and allowed McCarrick to continue in his position for another five years. After this, Vigano called for Pope Francis to resign, calling him a "false prophet" and a "servant of Satan" for his promotion of LGBT perversion both in and out of Catholicism. Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic Church is not a true representation of the true church. Learn more at Revelations.news. Sources for this article include: GreatGameIndia.com NaturalNews.com Conflict of interest EXPOSED after Presidents physician refuses to make Biden take a cognitive test The corruption in the White House runs deep, all the way down to the medical professionals that surround Biden. The Physician to the President, Dr. Kevin OConnor, has suspiciously refused to make Joe Biden take a cognitive test, even in the wake of the presidents frail, cognitively-impaired debate performance. This, along with public outcry and a string of financial conflicts of interests, has prompted a Congressional investigation by James Comer , Chairman of the committee on Oversight and Accountability. Congressional investigation sheds light on Biden bros corruption, which involves President's physician In a July 7, 2024 letter addressed to the presidents physician, the Congressional oversight committee addresses serious issues regarding President Biden's health and the integrity of medical assessments provided by Dr. O'Connor. Dr. O'Connor strangely claims that President Biden is fit for office despite there being visible signs of physical and mental disabilities, cognitive lapses and strange verbal mashups. Dr. O'Connor's medical evaluations might be influenced by his professional connections with the Biden family, particularly his involvement with Americore Health, LLC. James Biden, the President's brother, received substantial payments from Americore, and passed large sums of cash to Joe Biden. Americore originally operated rural hospitals but is currently involved in bankruptcy proceedings. As the company was facing financial distress, they dumped $600,000 (in the form of loans) to James Biden. After receiving counsel from Dr. OConnor, James Biden went on to write a $200,000 check to his brother Joe Biden for a "loan repayment." 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 letter also cites instances where former colleagues of Dr. O'Connor within the White House medical unit expressed concerns about President Biden's cognitive abilities following his poor debate performance. Moreover, the letter highlights contradictions in public statements regarding President Biden's recent medical evaluations. While White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre initially indicated that President Biden had not undergone any medical examination since February, President Biden himself reportedly told Democratic governors that he had been recently checked by a doctor and was in good health. Such discrepancies fuel concerns over transparency and the consistency of information provided by the White House regarding Biden's health. The Committee requested that Dr. O'Connor produce all relevant documents and communications related to Americore and James Biden. The Committee seeks to determine whether Dr. O'Connor's ties to the Biden family may have compromised his ability to provide impartial medical advice. In response to these allegations, Dr. O'Connor has been urged to cooperate fully with the Committee's investigation, including participating in a transcribed interview with Committee counsel. The Committee has broad authority to investigate matters of corruption, and will look into the role of Dr. O'Connor, as he protects the President from real medical scrutiny. Presidents physician is committing medical malpractice at the highest level The White House physician is either grossly incompetent, (which is unlikely at this high level) or he is purposely refusing to be transparent with the American people on medical matters that are of importance to the national security of the United States. Ignoring obvious signs of serious medical issues is a form of medical malpractice that often leads to suffering and wrongful death, and the consequences of this not only affect Joe Biden and his family but also everyone who relies on the federal government for security and direction. The President is the commander in chief of the United States military. If his judgment is impaired, he could be giving orders that put magnitudes of young men and women in harms way. The consequences of Bidens poor judgement have been taking place for over three years now. For example, the humiliating exit in Afghanistan shined a light, not only on the lack of leadership from the President of the United States, but also the weakness of an empire in free-fall. Bidens rapid escalation of world war with Russia exposes his inability to understand geopolitical conflict and shows he is unable to negotiate an end to a conflict that could have been settled from the start. Bidens terrifying mental incompetence leads to malicious policies and outcomes. With Biden's implementation of unlawful mandates, he subjected the entire military to harmful injections and restrictive protocol. Not only were service members directly harmed by injections that were never necessary, but the mandates also caused chaos in the ranks which led to tens of thousands of honorable soldiers being kicked out of the military. There has been no redress or re-in-statement for service members who were persecuted for their beliefs. The coverup of Biden's brain damage is just the tip of the iceberg. Service members were injured by the mandates, and the American people are supposed to accept all of it as normal? What other of Biden's decisions will be questioned retroactively? Sources include: Oversight.House.gov [PDF] NaturalNews.com Scribd.com Report exposes FBI program to STAGE neo-Nazi rallies in U.S. The Orlando neo-Nazi rally that grabbed headlines in 2006 was organized by the FBI, a new report shows, and it was part of a broader program that organized similar rallies throughout the nation even though the bureau knew that they would cause more people to join the movement. The report claims the Nazi rallies organized by the FBI are what eventually paved the way for a bigger operation known as Primitive Affliction that targeted right-wing groups, complete with bomb makers, rogue undercover agents and a motorcycle front group. Higher-ups at the bureau were well aware of the operation, including former director Robert Mueller, documents studied by journalist Ken Silva of Headline USA show. They explain how when the FBI source in charge of organizing the 2006 neo-Nazi rally in Orlando, David Gletty, had his cover blown, his handler denied that he organized the rally on several occasions, admitting only that he marched in it while insisting he didnt lead it. However, Gletty himself said that he did organize it at the behest of the FBI, both in order to raise Glettys profile within neo-Nazi circles and to facilitate surveillance by the FBI of rally attendees. According to Gletty, this was part of the FBIs modus operandi at the time, staging similar rallies throughout the U.S. to raise the profile of individual informants and develop a database of Nazis they could track. Other members of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) have corroborated claims that the FBI staged neo-Nazi rallies in the mid-2000s. One of them is Bill White, who claims that the FBI sponsored a violent 2005 rally held in Toledo. 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. In a sworn declaration, he stated: In October 2005, FBI [confidential human source] Jeff Schoep asked me to go to Toledo, Ohio, to help organize a March Against Black Crime by what were supposed to be local residents, but were really federal CHSs. His statement was referring to Jeff Schoep, who was the leader of NSM from the 1990s until not long after the Charlottesville rally in 2017. Although there is no evidence definitively showing that Schoep served as a full-fledged FBI informant while heading the movement, FBI records show that he did speak to agents on at least one occasion, and he has been accused by many other neo-Nazis of working with the FBI. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact he now openly works as a reformed Nazi alongside groups sponsored by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. FBI let neo-Nazis and left-wing counter-protesters clash White also said that the rally in Toledo followed a similar formula to the one in Charlottesville, with local police and the FBI letting neo-Nazis and left-wing counter-protesters clash instead of making efforts to keep them apart. He explained: On the day of the march, the Toledo Police and the FBI occupied [a nearby parking lot] and ordered myself and the NSM to use [another] parking lot. I and a small team from the NSM arrived before the Communists to secure the location; no police were present at this time . About an hour later, police began to deploy and directed NSM members to enter [their parking lot] by driving through the mob. This started problems After the police line formed, the mob then attacked the police, not us, he added. A report by the FBI about the Toledo rally tells almost an identical story, although it conveniently leaves out the fact that law enforcement didnt keep the opposing groups apart. Local residents and counter-demonstrators continued with the clash with the police, looting a store and setting fire to a local bar. This rally and riot, and the attendant media coverage for the NSM, was deemed a great success by the majority of the white supremacy movement, the report said. However, one of the most damning parts of the report was in the conclusion: NSM reported increased fundraising and increased applications for membership immediately following these events. In other words, whether the FBI was fully responsible for staging the Toledo rally or not, it was well aware that such events led to jumps in the number of neo-Nazis in the U.S. when it enlisted Gletty to organize the one in Orlando a year later. According to White, the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force was responsible for arranging violent counter-demonstrations against neo-Nazi rallies via other informants. He said that the federal government was using the rallies to make it appear as if there was a 'domestic terror threat' when no such threat existed." Sources for this article include: HeadlineUSA.com BlacklistedNews.com A growing number of Russians approve the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine A growing number of Russians are expressing readiness to support Vladimir Putin's potential use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. According to recent surveys by the Levada Centre, approximately 34 percent of respondents slightly more than one in three would either definitely or likely approve of the use of nuclear arms in the conflict. This marks a significant increase of five percent from a year ago and represents the highest level of support since Putin initiated his controversial military campaign against Ukraine. The findings reveal a nuanced spectrum of public opinion, with 31 percent firmly against the use of nuclear weapons and an additional 21 percent leaning toward opposition. This upward trend in support for nuclear options is widely attributed to effective messaging from Russian propagandists seeking to rally nationalistic sentiments in favor of such drastic measures. Putin orders tactical nuclear missile drills Recent developments have seen Vladimir Putin ordering tactical nuclear missile drills across Russia and in neighboring Belarus, where significant deployments of atomic weaponry have been orchestrated. These maneuvers are part of broader strategic initiatives, potentially involving a revision of Russia's nuclear doctrine to facilitate more flexible and preemptive use of nuclear capabilities. (Related: Russian insider Viktor Bout says nuclear WWIII is IMMINENT.) In parallel with these military exercises, which coincide with geopolitical transitions such as recent changes in leadership in Britain, Russia's defense forces are actively conducting large-scale nuclear missile drills. 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. These exercises, including the deployment of Yars missile crews in regions like Irkutsk and Ivanovo, showcase Russia's capability to swiftly mobilize and demonstrate readiness in response to perceived threats. Russia's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has underscored that these drills are part of multi-phased exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons, coordinated closely with Belarusian counterparts. Activities include electronic missile launches, naval patrols and ground troop movements aimed at simulating real-world scenarios and ensuring operational preparedness. The heightened military activities and shifting public sentiment reflect a tense geopolitical environment, exacerbated by ongoing international sanctions and diplomatic tensions. As Russia continues to assert its strategic interests in the region, these developments underscore the volatile nature of current global security dynamics. According to reports from Interfax and Reuters, the crews operating Yars missile launchers in at least two different regions were tasked with relocating over 100 kilometers (62 miles) and practicing maneuvers such as camouflage and deployment. The ministry also indicated that similar exercises would be conducted by other missile units shortly. Footage released by the military showcased a mobile launcher navigating forested roads and assuming concealed positions under camouflage to avoid detection. The earlier tactical nuclear drills held in late May were justified by the MoD as a response to what it deemed as provocative statements and threats from certain Western officials. This included reported discussions among U.S. and U.K. officials advocating for Ukrainian offensives on Russian territory, purportedly supported by U.S.-supplied weaponry. Among the concerns raised by Moscow from Western quarters is the prospect of NATO troops being stationed in Ukraine, a proposal initially broached by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the year at a security conference in Paris. Strategic show of strength ahead of NATO summit These recent nuclear drills with mobile launchers are viewed as a demonstration of readiness and a strategic show of strength ahead of the upcoming NATO summit scheduled from July 9 to 11 in Washington D.C. The potential accession of Ukraine into NATO is anticipated to be a pivotal topic at the summit, which Moscow perceives as a critical red-line issue. Despite the U.S. advocating for a pathway for Ukraine's future NATO membership, a recent letter published by Politico, signed by numerous foreign policy experts, cautions against precipitous promises, arguing that such commitments could escalate tensions and prolong the conflict with Russia. In essence, these military maneuvers underscore Russia's stance on regional security and its assertive response to perceived threats from Western geopolitical strategies, especially concerning Ukraine and NATO. Head over to NuclearWar.news for updates on possible escalations of worldwide conflicts into a nuclear war. Watch this clip of Lukashenko hinting that Russia may have already begun moving nuclear weapons into Belarus a month before the stated beginning of the move. This video is from the Galactic Storm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Declassified documents reveal U.S. secret nuclear war project named "SIOP," aimed at killing Russians and Chinese people. War at our doorliterally! Russian warships and nuclear sub in Cuba could annihilate all of America before U.S. assets in the area could stop them. NATO considers deploying more nuclear weapons to operational status. Sources include: Dailymail.co.uk Zerohedge.com 13 Countries join South Africas case against Israel on genocide in Gaza By June 28, 2024, thirteen countries, including the latest addition, Spain, have joined South Africa in a powerful legal battle against Israel at the International Court of Justice. They accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis there. Spain, along with nations like Colombia and Mexico, aims to uphold international law and seek justice for the victims. This collective action underscores a global push for peace and a rules-based international order, urging the ICJ to address the dire situation and enforce measures to prevent further atrocities. (Article republished from GreatGameIndia.com) On Friday, Spain submitted a Declaration of Intervention (view below) to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel over the applicability of the Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip. This intervention is motivated by our responsibility as a State party to the Genocide Convention and our firm commitment to international law, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Madrids action aligns it with other countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and Palestine, with Ireland, Belgium, and Chile set to follow. As reported by AA this move demonstrates the countrys commitment to supporting the ICJs role in upholding a rules-based international system. We seek to contribute to bringing peace back to Gaza and the Middle East, the ministry added. Spain stressed the necessity for a two-state solution to provide long-term peace and stability for Palestinians and Israelis. It raised concerns about Gazas humanitarian catastrophe, which includes restricted relief access and infrastructural destruction. We urge the ICJ to address the obligation to prevent genocide and ensure compliance with the Courts binding precautionary measures, according to the statement. Spain has pledged to follow the ICJs decision, confirming its support for international legal decisions and commitment to promoting global peace and security, it added. Israel has faced international censure for defying a UN Security Council decision calling for an immediate cease-fire in its ongoing savage offensive on Gaza since Hamas launch on October 7. According to local health officials, over 37,700 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza, the majority of them are women and children, with over 86,500 injured. Over eight months into the Israeli war, massive swaths of Gaza are in ruins, with a severe siege of food, clean water, and medication. Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that during a pro-Palestine gathering, South Africas Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor stated that its citizens serving in Israels military would be arrested. Read more at: GreatGameIndia.com Toronto police refused to arrest NAKED Pride parade perverts because its not in the best interest of the community The Toronto Police Service refused to arrest multiple men who attended the city's Pride Parade completely nude, claiming that doing so would not be in the best interest of the community Pride parades, including the ones held in Toronto, are colorful demonstrations of LGBTQ+ pride and solidarity. They feature marches, floats, performances and community gatherings, attracting diverse participants and supporters. However, discussions around public nudity during these parades have sparked debates concerning legalities, community standards, the rights of participants and the welfare of children and minors. Recent incidents during Toronto Pride parades have drawn attention due to public nudity, prompting discussions about its appropriateness and legality. Videos from these events captured moments of adults, predominantly men, walking nude through downtown Toronto streets, sometimes interacting with spectators, particularly children and minors, in provocative ways. (Related: Nudists at largest Pride parade in Canada exposed themselves to children in the audience.) During one parade, a person wearing only a cartoon character mask and rabbit slippers amused onlookers but raised questions about public decency. Another scene showed a naked woman engaging in self-expressive behavior, which some found empowering while others deemed inappropriate for such a public event. Public nudity illegal under Canada's Criminal Code Under Section 174 of Canada's Criminal Code, public nudity without lawful justification is generally prohibited. The law aims to uphold public decency and protect community standards. However, enforcement of these laws, particularly during large-scale events like Pride parades, poses challenges for law enforcement. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. 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 Toronto Police clarified their stance, emphasizing that their primary focus during large-scale events such as the Pride Parade, which draws massive crowds, is on public safety and maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. They highlighted that initiating proceedings for public nudity requires consent from the Attorney General, making such arrests impractical and not aligned with community safety priorities. In a statement sent to True North, a Toronto police spokesperson explained: "Arresting individuals for public nudity at events attended by as many as a million people is not in the best interest of officers or the community. The legal process for such charges mandates consent from the Attorney General, further complicating enforcement efforts." While public nudity falls under the scope of indecency laws, which also cover indecent acts and exposure, specific charges, such as indecent exposure defined as exposing genitals for a sexual purpose to someone under 16 years old do not require the Attorney General's consent. Section 173(1) of Canada's Criminal Code states: "Everyone who willfully does an indecent act in a public place in the presence of one or more persons, or in any place with intent to insult or offend any person is guilty of an indictable offense and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years" and "every person in any place, for a sexual purpose, exposes his or her genital organs to a person who is under the age of 16 years is guilty of an indictable offense and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years." Read more stories about the recently concluded Pride Month at GayMafia.news. Are Pride parade rituals rooted in Ancient Evil? Watch this video. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Bud Light to sponsor Pride parades despite ongoing boycott. TOPLESS and SHAMELESS! MFT trans model exposes BARE CHEST during White House Pride event. Pride month is a cynical exercise in state-enforced homosexuality. Its a FARCE: Air Force now saluting LGBT communitys rainbow flag in celebration of Pride month. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com TNC.news MindenPride.Ca Laws-LOIS.Justice.GC.Ca TorontoSun.com Brighteon.com Pro-Ukraine mercenary group committed WAR CRIMES by executing Russian POWs An international mercenary group called Chosen Company that is fighting on behalf of Ukraine is reportedly committing war crimes by killing wounded or surrendering Russian soldiers, it was revealed this week. Citing German battlefield medic Caspar Grosse, the New York Times published a piece detailing Grosse's observations while working as a medic for the military unit that allegedly witnessed the horrors. In August 2023, Chosen Company mercenaries shot a presumed-dead severely injured and unarmed Russian soldier who was yelling "help" and "surrender" while climbing out of a trench. The soldier was still "breathing and wiggling around" when a pro-Ukraine mercenary "just shot him in the head" in what Grosse assumed at the time to be a "mercy kill." In another instance, a Greek soldier called Zeus tossed a grenade at two Russian soldiers, one of whom was seriously injured and "could barely move." When a second servicemen tried to approach the Chosen Company mercenaries with his hands up in the air, the grenade exploded and killed them both, according to footage retrieved from a helmet camera. A Ukrainian drone team reportedly confirmed at the time that the Russian soldier was in the process of surrendering when Chosen Company blew him to bits without mercy. Last October, Grosse says he received a text message from a member of the group with the call sign Andok who was heading up the unit that day explaining that the team "got these captures." Zeus, who shot the captures dead, later bragged about the kills. "Today a good friend willingly executed a bound prisoner," Grosse wrote in his journal at the time. "As the prisoner was sitting in a trench blindage with his jacket draped over his shoulders, Zeus came up behind him and shot him in the back of the head multiple times." Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. "I specifically said that, because I'm the medic, I want prisoners to be in my care and nobody gets to shoot them," Grosse added in a statement to the Times about the incident. The incident so upset Grosse that he filed a complaint with Ryan O'Leary, the de facto commander of Chosen Company and a former U.S. Army National Guardsman from Iowa. O'Leary responded by denying that his "brothers" had committed any war crimes. (Related: Hungary no longer supports NATO after the West escalated the "hopeless" war in Ukraine.) Ukraine's supporters violating Geneva Conventions If what Grosse has revealed is true, then Ukraine's supporters at Chosen Company are in violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 which state that "members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, or detention" must be treated humanely. This means that any kind of mutilation, torture and of course murder of POWs, constitutes a war crime. After the Times published its report about Chosen Company's alleged war crimes against Russian POWs, Rodion Miroshnik, Russia's ambassador-at-large for Ukraine's crimes, announced that Moscow will call on international organizations with representatives in Ukraine to verify the information. If confirmed, what Chosen Company is allegedly doing will qualify "as a violation of the key norms and principles of humanitarian law, which refers to war crimes." "I heard this time and time again from people of that time about many of the German prisoners taken in WW2 by the allies," one commenter wrote. "The ones that were taken to POW camps were the lucky ones. Most of them were either shot or put into one of many 'compounds' (much like an Oubliette) and left to die. I have come to realize many years ago that the western history books of the 19th century and onward outright lie." The latest news about the Ukraine-Russia war can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: RT.com NYTimes.com NaturalNews.com An asteroid flyby is expected on Monday, July 8, involving a space rock the same size as the Statue of Liberty in New York. The asteroid called "2024 MT1" is projected to safely pass by Earth on Monday, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The estimated distance of the asteroid's close approach is almost closer than the Moon while moving at a speed of 40,000 miles per hour (65,000 kilometers per hour). NASA first observed 2024 MT1 in June 2024 as the space object was approaching Earth in proximity. However, there has been no definitive prediction that it will make a direct impact or strike on our planet. However, over the past 20 years, there have been multiple close calls of other meteoroids hitting Earth, including the approaching "Apophis" asteroid. Due to the threat posed by near-earth objects such as asteroids and comets, NASA and other space agencies such as the European Space Agency (ESA) have conceptualized or developed planetary defense measures. In 2022, a NASA-led mission to redirect an asteroid was successful. According to experts, the probability that a dangerous meteoroid will hit our planet is extremely low, but it will still happen in the future inevitably. 2024 MT1 Asteroid Flyby On Monday, Earth is anticipating a significant asteroid flyby from the 2024 MT1 asteroid at a speed of more than 40,000 miles per hour and at a distance of 936,000 miles (1,500,000 kilometers) away from Earth, which is close in terms of space terms. 2024 MT1 is 260 feet in diameter and comparable to the size of the Statue of Liberty. This means the space rock can cause devastating damage should it make a direct asteroid strike. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has been tracking the movement of the asteroid which is expected to complete is passage on Earth by the end of July 8. By this time, 2024 MT1 will complete its 9-day journey past our planet since it was first observed by the United States space agency on June 29. Also Read: 'Potentially Hazardous' Asteroid Expected to Fly by Earth on March 4 What is Planetary Defense Against Asteroids? While these space objects seem harmless, there are asteroids and comets in our Solar System that are large enough to pose a threat to Earth, prompting planetary defense measures. One of the most recent initiatives is NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which was designed to determine how much kinetic force from a spacecraft is needed to deflect NEOs. Currently, NASA is also monitoring other space rocks making a potential close approach to Earth this week, which have not been deemed to be life-threatening or will make a direct impact on Earth. Below are some of them and when they will make a fly by: Asteroid 2024 NB1 on Tuesday, July 9 Asteroid 2024 NR1 on Tuesday Asteroid 2024 NA2 on Tuesday Asteroid 2024 ME1 on Wednesday, July 10 Asteroid 2022 YS5 on Thursday, July 11 Related Article: Asteroid 2020 BP: Aircraft-Sized Space Rock to Makes Its Closest Approach to Earth on January 19 Western U.S. can anticipate heat-related health concerns due to challenging weather conditions. Homeowners should keep alert for excessive warnings this week, particularly in portions of California and Arizona. Considering the prolonged heat, homeowners should stay alert for heat-related health concerns. The following populations are the most vulnerable to heat concerns: Pregnant women Older adults Children People with medical conditions Outdoor workers Record-high temperatures are likely on the West Coast, East Coast, and Gulf Coast. These high temperatures can likely lead to heat-related illnesses, including the following: Heat stress Heat stroke Heat fatigue California and Arizona Weather Forecasts: Where Will Excessive Heat The latest weather report warns of challenging weather conditions in portions of California and Arizona this week, leading to possible heat advisories and information. Considering the weather concerns, people should limit outdoor plans to prevent prolonged exposure to unusual heat. The hotter weather outlook can spread over portions of the East Coast and the Northeast. In addition, the forecast monitors the development of high temperatures on the West Coast. The challenging heat can spread over portions of Southern California and Desert Southwest. Homeowners should stay for high temperatures in the following areas: Washington State California Nevada Southwest Arizona Idaho Oregon High temperatures can reach from 10 to as high as 30 degrees above average. High minimum temperatures can occur in the areas in the following areas: Eastern Gulf Cost Southeast Mid-Atlantic Southern New England In addition, heat advisories are forecast in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, southern New England, and Southern U.S. In this week, heatwave concerns can unfold in the following areas: Portland Bend Boise Reno Fresno Las Vegas Cedar City Other concerns are wildfires. Homeowners should stay alert for soaring temperatures reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the following areas: Arizona California Oregon Utah Idaho Washington From Wednesday to Friday, the unusual heat is forecast in the following areas: San Francisco Fresno San Diego Phoenix Las Vegas Cedar City Albuquerque Phoenix Denver Rapid City Billings Boise Rapid City Considering the strong winds and warmer conditions, homeowners should stay alert for wildfire advisories in the affected areas. Fire-prone areas are likely the most vulnerable. Also Read: Oklahoma Weather Forecast: Severe Thunderstorms to Bring Heavy Downpours, Flooding Risks This Week Weather Risks: Where Will Hotter Temperatures Unfold This Week? The unusual heat is forecast in parts of the U.S. this week. People should keep alert for the chances of hotter weather, while some areas could experience severe thunderstorms With the high temperatures in parts of the country, it is best to consider the following to keep safe from weather concerns: stay hydrated at all times limit outdoor activities as much as possible keep updated with the latest weather information For homeowners, it is important to observe fire bans to avoid potential wildfire risks. Additionally, vulnerable populations are mostly at risk of heat-related concerns. Related Article: Intensifying Beryl Weather Forecast: Texas Braces for Landfall, Flooding Rainfall For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News About 130 million people are under a high-temperature threat due to a protracted heatwave that has already broken records, ignited dozens of wildfires, and is expected to grow to the point where the National Weather Service has declared it possibly historic. 133 Million Americans The majority of the nation's almost 133 million residents live in western states, where the triple-digit heatwave, with temperatures 15 to 30 degrees above average, is predicted to persist until next week. On Saturday, the NWS issued an extreme heat alert or report for nearly 133 million people nationwide. There's a chance that the US East Coast is likewise bracing for increased heat. With heat index values potentially reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit, forecasters have issued an excessive heat warning for Baltimore and other sections of Maryland. According to Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist with the NWS, the heat and humidity may combine to cause temperatures to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas of the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast. He stated that records might be broken in Oregon in Eugene, Portland, and Salem, among other cities in the Pacific Northwest. Asherman also claimed that dozens of more records might be broken across the United States, forcing millions of people to seek refuge in cooling centers ranging from Norfolk, Virginia, to Bullhead City, Arizona, from the oppressive heat. Read Also: Extreme Heat, Flooding and Disease Threaten African Megacities Like Cairo and Lagos, Scientists Warn Heat And Disasters Forecasters and fire officials in the western United States issued warnings last week about the increased risk of wildfires due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. Since it began on Tuesday, the Thompson Fire, which is located in Butte County, California, 105 kilometers (about 65 miles) north of Sacramento, has burned over 1,554 hectares (3,840 acres) of brush and bush. Firefighters fought the French Fire, which was threatening Mariposa, the entrance to Yosemite National Park, about 362 kilometers (225 miles) south. On Friday, as the winds decreased and the fire extended over 323 hectares (800 acres), firefighters were able to restrict it to 5% of its original extent. Early next week, Hurricane Beryl's impacts are predicted to bring severe rainfall to Southern Texas, posing a new concern. Since June, the US Midwest has experienced intense heat, with highs of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Experts blame the excessive humidity and the existence of heat domes in the sky for this heatwave. In one of the hottest places on Earth, Death Valley, California, a new heat record for the day was set. The temperature hit 127 degrees Fahrenheit, shattering the previous high by 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record, 122 degrees Fahrenheit, was last reached in 2013. There will be more exceptionally high temperatures predicted in the future, such as 129 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park and 130 degrees Fahrenheit or so until Wednesday. Though some scientists contest the measurement and claim the true record was 130 degrees Fahrenheit recorded there in July 2021, the highest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth was 134 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley in July 1913. "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," said a National Weather Service advisory. Related Article: Extreme Heat Threatens Florida Coral Reefs: Scientists Warn In a landmark study, researchers used nearly 1,000 historical photographs to reconstruct the status of Antarctic glaciers before their dramatic collapse. This new approach made it possible to deliver insights regarding the contributions of those glaciers to sea level rise, which had never been attained previously and given stark reminders of climate change impacts. Before the Fall: A Snapshot of History A new study focuses on the massive breakup of the Larsen B Ice Shelf in March 2002, when an area about one-sixth the size of Tasmania broke apart. Before this event, the glaciers discharging into the ice shelf were poorly recorded, leaving a gap for historical data. On the other hand, detailed efforts by United States Navy cartographers between 1946 and 2000 took more than 330,000 high-quality images of Antarctica. Using these photos, scientists have managed to digitally reconstruct the ice sheets as they were in 1968, using a method called photogrammetry. This method easily creates precise 3D models from the 2D images, making it now possible to establish the contribution of these ice accurately ranges to the rise in sea levels since then. Also Read: Antarctic Ice Shelves Shrunk by At Least 30% Since 1997, Scientists Warn of Global Sea Level Rise [Study] The Aftermath: Hindsight Truly Twenty-Twenty The Larsen B Ice Shelf collapse had a domino effect on the glaciers formerly feeding into it, accelerating their melt and consequent flow into the ocean. It is called 'ice shelf buttressing' and is critical to understanding the potential future responses of Antarctica's glaciers to ongoing climate change. These archival pictures form an essential record that allows a glimpse of the past comparable in clarity to today's satellite imagery. Not just this, what has allowed scientists to measure how much has changed in recent decades; they can also use these pictures to predict future shifts in these fragile ecosystems. This research, in particular, points out the significance of historical records in any studies related to environmental change. This piecing together of the past lets us have a more lucid view of our planet's future and our responsibility toward shaping it. Cause of diminished Antarctic ice The decline of Antarctic ice is a complex issue; its multiple factors are part and parcel of the more significant phenomenon of global climate change. First, there is warming in the Southern Ocean, which is thought to melt the ice from beneath. Secondly, over some successive years, this warming has been held responsible for bringing near-historic sea-ice coverage lows in succession, indicating the remarkable shift of climatic conditions over the region. The loss of part of this ice-shelf buttressing, following breakup events like that of the Larsen B Ice Shelf, has given way to an increased discharge to the ocean, thus contributing to sea level rise. Moreover, declining sea-ice extent enables even more heat and moisture exchange between the ocean and atmosphere, feeding back into melting in both cases. These things interact and build on one another to construct a self-reinforcing feedback loop, where warming begets more ice loss that begets more warming-a cycle perilous for the Antarctic ecosystem and one that contributes significantly to worldwide sea level rise. Related article: Antarctic Ice Loss is at Its Highest in 5,500 Years Following New Study on Local Sea Level Change Already, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who also leads the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has decided to reconsider two planning applications for proposed data centers, in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, that were previously rejected by local authorities. According to PublicTechnology.net, the proposals, both by investment company Greystoke Land, were for an 84,000 square-meter facility in Hertfordshire, and a 72,000 square meter facility in Buckinghamshire. Power to the people Governments may have the power to approve planning applications, but city planners arent the only brake on data center construction: The capacity of electrical distribution networks is a factor, too, and the overloaded network to the West of London is putting data centers in competition with new housing development. In 2022, the Greater London Authority (GLA) released a report titled West London Electrical Capacity Constraints, indicating that new electrical installations over about 1MW in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hillingdon, and Hounslow would have to wait several years for connection to the distribution network. The new governments policy changes, experts say, will also have a flywheel effect where this policy focus will bring in billions of dollars of investments from likes of Amazon and others building more cutting edge infrastructure for AI as well as more jobs, potentially leading to a greater need for new housing in the area. Market researcher Arizton Advisory & Intelligence forecasts that investment in UK data centers will rise at 2.7% a year to reach $10.13 billion in 2029. There are plenty of blockbuster projects contributing to this total: In January this year, Google announced investment of $1 billion to set up a data center in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, while in November Microsoft announced plans to invest $3.2 billion over three years to set up AI data centers in the UK. Wimbledon 2024: Lorenzo Musetti reaches first major quarterfinal, De Minaur also advances to last eight L orenzo Musetti of Italy overcame French lucky loser Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in four sets to storm into his maiden quarterfinal of a major and was joined by top Australian Alex De Minaur, who too advanced to the last-eight stage of men's singles for the first time at Wimbledon 2024 on Monday. The Italian reached the last eight of men's singles at a major for the first time at Wimbledon, where he ended the superb run of Perricard with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory in a Round of 16 clash at Court No. 2. On No. 1 Court, de Minaur advanced to the last-eight stage at Wimbledon for the first time by beating another French player, Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in an entertaining clash. Mpetshi Perricard was celebrating his 21st birthday and entered the match high in confidence. The big-serving Frenchman defeated Sebastian Korda, Yoshihito Nishioka, and Emil Ruusuvuori en route to his first fourth-round appearance at a major, hitting 105 aces across his first three matches. The Lyon champion was unable to fire at his best level against Musetti in the pairs first ATP head-to-head meeting. The 25th seed broke Mpetshi Perricards serve five times and was the more consistent in the baseline exchanges, committing just eight unforced errors compared to 42 from his opponent. With his two-hour, five-minute win on No. 2 Court, Musetti joined World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals. It is the first time in history that multiple Italian men have reached the last eight at SW19, with Musetti becoming just the seventh Italian man in history to advance to that stage. The 22-year-old will next face Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz on Wednesday. The 6 feet 8-inch Mpetshi Perricard, who hit several serves above 145mph during his run, was aiming to become the first lucky loser to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final. He is up 14 spots to No. 44 in the ATP Live Rankings. De Minaur storms into quarters The ninth seed De Minaur produced an intense performance to outlast Fils, scampering around the court to hang in, before turning the tables with his flat groundstrokes. The 25-year-old recovered from squandering a 4-2 lead in the third set to eventually finish the job in four, avenging his defeat to the 20-year-old in April in Barcelona. De Minaur has reached consecutive major quarterfinals, having fallen to Alexander Zverev in the last eight at Roland Garros. He will aim to go one step further and reach his first Grand Slam semifinal when he takes on Novak Djokovic or Holger Rune on Wednesday. Last month, De Minaur won his second grass-court tour-level title in s-Hertogenbosch. With his run to the quarters in west London, he has climbed one spot to sixth in the ATP Live Race To Turin. The Australian is aiming to make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in November. Fils was competing in the fourth round at a major for the first time. The World No. 34 moved past Dominic Stricker and Hubert Hurkacz before he survived in five sets against Roman Safiullin. Wimbledon 2024: Lorenzo Musetti reaches first major quarterfinal, De Minaur also advances to last eight Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! President Putin hosts PM Modi at his official residence R ussian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence for a private engagement. PM Modi welcomed by President Vladimir Putin of Russia at his official residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a private engagement, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X. He said that the meeting was between two close friends and trusted partners. An occasion for the two leaders to cherish & celebrate friendship, the Spokesperson said. Earlier, PM Modi arrived to a ceremonial welcome at the Vnukovo-II International Airport in what is his first visit to the Russian capital since 2015. He was received by Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. On Tuesday, PM Modi will interact with the Indian community in Russia, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kremlin and thereafter visit the Rosatom pavilion at an exhibition venue in Moscow. These engagements will precede a restricted level talk between the PM Modi and President Putin, which will then be followed by delegation-level talks. "I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues," PM Modi said in his departure statement before leaving New Delhi. He spotlighted that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced over the past 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. President Putin hosts PM Modi at his official residence Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Have only one goal - serving India's people, PM Modi tells President Putin P rime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a "private engagement", that his only goal is to serve the people of India. You have dedicated your entire life to serving the Indian people, and people feel it, the Russian President told the Prime Minister to which PM Modi responded by saying, You are right, I have only one goal - my country, the people of India. Earlier, PM Modi was welcomed by President Putin at his residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a private engagement. President Putin said: "Esteemed Prime Minister! Dear friend! Good afternoon again, I am very glad to see you. We will have official conversations tomorrow, but today, in this homely environment, we can calmly talk about probably the same issues but unofficially." About Novo-Ogaryovo, he said, This is the official residence where I live. On one side are the complexes where I work with colleagues. On the other side are the utility rooms and the block where I live. You and I were there today. Congratulating PM Modi on his third term, President Putin said: But first I would like to congratulate you on your re-election as Prime Minister. I think this is not accidental, but the result of your work over many years at the head of the Indian government. You have your own ideas, you are a very energetic person, you know how to achieve results in the interests of India and the Indian people. And the result is obvious: India confidently ranks third in the world in terms of economy. Probably, now it is the largest country in the world in terms of population - 1.4 billion people. President Putin told Prime Minister Modi that the most important thing is that there are 23 million births per year. Even for a country like India, this is still a lot. This is the highest figure in the world. These are not just numbers, this means that people are planning their families, their lives, the planning horizon is expanding. And this means that they feel confident, they feel a certain stability, which is very important. Firstly, I congratulate you on this, and secondly, I want to say once again that I am very glad to see you. The Prime Minister Modi responded by saying: To visit a friend at home is, of course, a great joy. You invited me to your home. I want to thank you for creating such an interesting program (of the visit), for your warm words. I am very grateful. You are right, yes, the elections in India were very important and huge in scale. India is the largest democracy, it is considered the "mother of democracy", and about 650 million people voted in these elections. For the first time in the last 60 years, the government was elected for the third time in a row. The first time [this was done] was by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he was elected for the third time, and after 60 years I got this opportunity. The people of India gave me this chance - to serve the Motherland, the Prime Minister said. PM Modi added: "The people of India who gave me this mandate I have served for 10 years in the government and my principle is to reform, implement and transform. So the people of India voted for this principle and I am confident that in my third term, I will work three times harder." Have only one goal - serving India's people, PM Modi tells President Putin Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Russia to release Indians fighting in Ukraine war after PM Modi raises matter with Putin: Sources R ussia has decided to release and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, a breakthrough achieved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit, said sources on Tuesday. The development came after Prime Minister Modi, who is in Moscow for a two-day visit, raised the matter at a private dinner hosted by Putin on Monday evening, sources added. Nearly two dozen Indians are believed to have been forced into fighting the war against Ukraine after being tricked by agents into going to the country on the pretext of getting high-paying jobs. In March, the Indian government said they had "strongly" taken up the matter with Russian authorities for their early discharge. "Strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited them on false pretexts and promises," they said. According to reports, four Indians have been killed in the war, while 10 have returned to the country. About 3540 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia. The plight of Indians fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war is a key concern for New Delhi. In recent months, reports have surfaced about Indians who have fallen prey to job fraud and were tricked and forced by scammers to fight for the Russian army, which allows recruits from other countries. One such group had even posted a video on social media narrating their ordeal, asking the government to intervene. Indias Foreign Ministry has earlier said that it is pressing hard to bring back the recruits tricked by agents. India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said the issue is a "very deep concern" for India, and has been engaging with Russia for the past few months to make headway. Two Indians, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan (both from Gujarat), were reported killed in the Ukraine war earlier this year. Two others were reported killed in June. India has maintained that the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army in a conflict situation is not in consonance with the India-Russia diplomatic partnership, and has asked for the early release and return of all such Indian nationals. India has also demanded a halt to such recruitments in the future. In such a backdrop, the breakthrough during PM Modi's visit would be a major relief for the families of the recruits still stuck in Russia. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday evening, which marks his first visit to the country since it launched a war against Ukraine. Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the airport. The Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Putin on Tuesday and also attend the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow. Prime Minister Modi has been treading a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties. The visit is also PM Modi's first since he returned to power for a third term. Russia to release Indians fighting in Ukraine war after PM Modi raises matter with Putin: Sources Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! India and Russia plan more nuclear power units as PM Modi, Putin visit Rosatom facility P rime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday visited the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom's Atom Pavilion complex in Moscow, which showcases the country's latest achievements and technologies in atomic energy. The two leaders took in the sights at the exhibition centre with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev conducting their tour of the pavilion. Rosatom and New Delhi are in talks to construct six high-power nuclear power units as part of a new project as well as developing low-power nuclear plants in India. Built in 2023, the architectural structure comprises seven floors, three of which are underground. It was in December 2014 during Putin's visit to India that India's Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Rosatom signed the 'Strategic Vision' for strengthening cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy leading to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) which is being built in India with Russian cooperation. Last month, Rosatom announced that it had installed steam generators in the reactor building of power unit No 4 of KNPP. All four steam generators were installed using the Open Top method, which allows large equipment to be loaded using a heavy-duty crane before the reactor building dome is closed. In May, Likhachev and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, visited the site of the experimental demonstration energy complex (EDEC), which is being built in Seversk, Tomsk Region, as part of the industry project "breakthrough". During the joint visit, a full-scale discussion of promising areas of Russian-Indian cooperation in the nuclear sphere was held. "We are ready for a serious expansion of cooperation with India in the field of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This is, first of all, serial construction of high-capacity Russian-designed NPP power units at a new site in India, implementation of small-scale generation projects in land-based and floating design, cooperation in the field of the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as in the field of non-energy applications of nuclear technologies," Likhachev had said. India and Russia plan more nuclear power units as PM Modi, Putin visit Rosatom facility Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! PM Modi, President Putin discuss ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation P rime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin and discussed ways to diversify cooperation between the two nations in various sectors like trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology, commerce and innovation. In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "Held productive discussions with President Putin at the Kremlin today. Our talks covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in sectors such as trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation. We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people-to-people exchanges." Before the meeting, PM Modi spoke about his informal meeting with Putin on Monday. He spoke about the issues that were discussed during the meeting. He noted that the talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. However, the attention of the entire world is focused on his visit to Russia. PM Modi said, "The bilateral talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. We have met 22 times. This is such a meeting that the focus of the entire world is on this visit of mine. The entire world is drawing out different meanings of this visit." Speaking about his meeting with Putin at the President's House, PM Modi stated, "You invited me to your residence and as a true friend, we stayed together for 4-5 hours and talked about many issues. I was happy that we were able to discuss our thoughts about Ukraine with an open mind and with great respect. We tried to respectfully understand each other's thoughts." Noting that terrorism is "horrible and disgusting", PM Modi highlighted India has been facing the menace for over 40 years and said that he can imagine "how deep the pain is" when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan. PM Modi strongly condemned all kinds of terrorism during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "In the last 40-50 years, India has been facing terrorism. How horrible and disgusting terrorism is, we have been facing for the last 40 years. So, when terror incidents occurred in Moscow, when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan, I can imagine how deep its pain would be. I strongly condemn all kinds of terrorism," PM Modi said during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Stressing that there is no solution in the battlefield, PM Modi said, "As a friend, I have always said that for the future of our new generation, peace is the most important thing. But I also know that there is no solution in the battlefield. Peace talks do not succeed between bombs, guns and bullets. And we have to use the means of talks to adopt the path of peace." PM Modi said that everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is a loss of lives. He further stated that it is "heart-wrenching" when innocent children are dying. PM Modi said, "Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks - everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov, accompanied the two leaders, during the visit at Rosatom Pavilion. After his visit to the Pavilion, PM Modi on X stated, "Visited the Atom Pavilion with President Putin. Energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia and we are eager to further cement ties in this sector." Putin welcomed PM Modi at the venue and the two leaders warmly greeted each other. The two leaders then took a tour of the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKH. PM Modi was seen interacting with the officials. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "PM @narendramodi accompanied by President Vladimir Putin of Russia visited the Atom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition centre in Moscow. The Pavilion showcases the developments in the field of science and technology. Cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology is an important pillar of the multifaceted cooperation between India and Russia." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to Russia, also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. In a post on X, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A solemn homage to the brave! PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, saluting valour, sacrifice and indomitable human courage." PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. PM Modi arrived in Moscow for an official visit on Monday where he was received by Denis Manturov, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Indian community gave PM Modi a warm welcome at the hotel. PM Modi, President Putin discuss ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! At Kremlin, PM Modi tells Putin that peace is necessary for future generations P rime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that India, having always stood on the side of peace, is ready to assist Russia in any possible way to establish peace in the region. "Yesterday, at your residence, we had a wonderful opportunity to spend four or five hours. We discussed all the issues in a homely atmosphere, and I am very glad that on the topic of Ukraine, we exchanged opinions in an open manner, respected each other's opinions, and talked calmly," said PM Modi while making his opening remarks during the bilateral with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace. While highlighting India-Russia friendship, his personal camaraderie with the Russian leader, his several visits to Russia and 22 summits between the two countries over the past 25 years, he said that the whole world is currently watching with great interest his ongoing visit to Moscow. "As your friend, I always tell you that peace is necessary for the bright future of our future generations. That is why we believe that war is not a solution. There can be no solution through war. Bombs, missiles and rifles cannot ensure peace, that is why we emphasise dialogue, and dialogue is necessary," PM Modi remarked. He added that, during his informal talks with Putin at the latter's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo on Monday, some "very interesting ideas and completely new views" have emerged. "I am very glad that yesterday we had such an informal conversation, and you expressed your opinion very openly, without any colouring... Let's take war, any conflict or terrorist acts: any person who believes in humanity feels pain when people die, and especially when innocent children die. When we feel such pain, the heart simply explodes, and I had the opportunity to talk about these issues with you yesterday," Prime Minister Modi mentioned. PM Modi reiterated New Delhi's stance that no solution can ever be arrived at the cost of human lives and that escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one's interest. "Yesterday we also agreed to establish peace as soon as possible and we are ready to assist in any way in this regard. I have heard your position, your positive views and thoughts. And I can assure you that India has always been on the side of peace. When I listened to you, I felt optimistic and hopes for the future arose. So I want to thank you for that," he said. At Kremlin, PM Modi tells Putin that peace is necessary for future generations Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! While H5N1 avian influenza virus taken from infected cow's milk makes mice and ferrets sick when dripped into their noses, airborne transmission of the virus between ferrets -; a common model for human transmission -; appears to be limited. These and other new findings about the strain of H5N1 circulating among North American dairy cattle this year come from a set of laboratory experiments led by University of WisconsinMadison researchers, reported today in the journal Nature. Together, they suggest that exposure to raw milk infected with the currently circulating virus poses a real risk of infecting humans, but that the virus may not spread very far or quickly to others. "This relatively low risk is good news, since it means the virus is unlikely to easily infect others who aren't exposed to raw infected milk," says Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a UWMadison professor of pathobiological sciences who led the study alongside Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and with collaborators at Texas A&M University, Japan's University of Shizuoka and elsewhere. Kawaoka cautioned, however, that the findings represent the behavior of the virus in mice and ferrets and may not account for the infection and evolution process in humans. In their experiments, the UWMadison team found that mice can become ill with influenza after drinking even relatively small quantities of raw milk taken from an infected cow in New Mexico. Kawaoka and his colleagues also tested the bovine H5N1 virus's ability to spread through the air by placing ferrets infected with the virus near but out of physical contact with uninfected ferrets. Ferrets are a common model for understanding how influenza viruses might spread among humans because the small mammals exhibit respiratory symptoms similar to humans who are sick with the flu, including congestion, sneezing and fever. Efficient airborne transmission would signal a serious escalation in the virus's potential to spark a human pandemic. None of the four exposed ferrets became ill, and no virus was recovered from them throughout the course of the study. However upon further testing, the researchers found that one exposed ferret had produced antibodies to the H5N1 virus. That suggests that the exposed ferret was infected, indicating some level of airborne transmissibility but not a substantial level." Yoshihiro Kawaoka, UWMadison professor of pathobiological sciences Separately, the team mixed the bovine H5N1 virus with receptors -; molecules the virus binds to in order to enter cells -; that are typically recognized by avian or human influenza viruses. They found that bovine H5N1 bound to both types of molecules, representing one more line of evidence of its adaptability to human hosts. While that adaptability has so far resulted in a limited number of human H5N1 cases, previous influenza viruses that caused human pandemics in 1957 and 1968 did so after developing the ability to bind to receptors bound by human influenza viruses. Finally, the UWMadison team found that the virus spread to the mammary glands and muscles of mice infected with H5N1 virus and that the virus spread from mothers to their pups, likely via infected milk. These findings underscore the potential risks of consuming unpasteurized milk and possibly undercooked beef derived from infected cattle if the virus spreads widely among beef cattle, according to Kawaoka. "The H5N1 virus currently circulating in cattle has limited capacity to transmit in mammals," he says. "But we need to monitor and contain this virus to prevent its evolution to one that transmits well in humans." In 2013, the FDA approved an implantable device to treat leaky heart valves. Among its inventors was Mehmet Oz, the former television personality and former U.S. Senate candidate widely known as "Dr. Oz." In online videos, Oz has called the process that brought the MitraClip device to market an example of American medicine firing "on all cylinders," and he has compared it to "landing a man on the moon." MitraClip was designed to spare patients from open-heart surgery by snaking hardware into the heart through a major vein. Its manufacturer, Abbott, said it offered new hope for people severely ill with a condition called mitral regurgitation and too frail to undergo surgery. "It changed the face of cardiac medicine," Oz said in a video. But since MitraClip won FDA approval, versions of the device have been the subject of thousands of reports to the agency about malfunctions or patient injuries, as well as more than 1,100 reports of patient deaths, FDA records show. Products in the MitraClip line have been the subject of three recalls. A former employee has alleged in a federal lawsuit that Abbott promoted the device through illegal inducements to doctors and hospitals. The case is pending, and Abbott has denied illegally marketing the device. The MitraClip story is, in many ways, a cautionary tale about the science, business, and regulation of medical devices. Manufacturer-sponsored research on the device has long been questioned. In 2013, an outside adviser to the FDA compared some of the data marshaled in support of its approval to "poop." The FDA expanded its approval of MitraClip to a wider set of patients in 2019, based on a clinical trial in which Abbott was deeply involved and despite conflicting findings from another study. In the three recalls, the first of which warned of potentially deadly consequences, neither the manufacturer nor the FDA withdrew inventory from the market. The company told doctors it was OK for them to continue using the recalled products. In response to questions for this article, both Abbott and the FDA described MitraClip as safe and effective. "With MitraClip, we're addressing the needs of people with MR who often have no other options," Abbott spokesperson Brent Tippen said. "Patients suffering from mitral regurgitation have severely limited quality of life. MitraClip can significantly improve survival, freedom for hospitalization and quality of life via a minimally invasive, now common procedure." An FDA spokesperson, Audra Harrison, said patient safety "is the FDA's highest priority and at the forefront of our work in medical device regulation." She said reports to the FDA about malfunctions, injuries, and deaths that the device may have caused or contributed to are "consistent" with study results the FDA reviewed for its 2013 and 2019 approvals. In other words: They were expected. Inspiration in Italy When a person has mitral regurgitation, blood flows backward through the mitral valve. Severe cases can lead to heart failure. With MitraClip, flaps of the valve known as "leaflets" are clipped together at one or more points to achieve a tighter seal when they close. The clips are deployed via a catheter threaded through a major vein, typically from an incision in the groin. The procedure offers an alternative to connecting the patient to a heart-lung machine and repairing or replacing the mitral valve in open-heart surgery. Oz has said in online videos that he got the idea after hearing a doctor describe a surgical technique for the mitral valve at a conference in Italy. "And on the way home that night, on a plane heading back to Columbia University, where I was on the faculty, I wrote the patent," he told KFF Health News. A patent obtained by Columbia in 2001, one of several associated with MitraClip, lists Oz first among the inventors. But a Silicon Valley-based startup, Evalve, would develop the device. Evalve was later acquired by Abbott for about $400 million. "I think the engineers and people at Evalve always cringe a little bit when they see Mehmet taking a lot of, you know, basically claiming responsibility for what was a really extraordinary team effort, and he was a small to almost no player in that team," one of the company's founders, cardiologist Fred St. Goar, told KFF Health News. As of 2019, the MitraClip device cost $30,000 per procedure, according to an article in a medical journal. According to the Abbott website, more than 200,000 people around the world have been treated with MitraClip. Oz filed a financial disclosure during his unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 2022 that showed him receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual MitraClip royalties. Abbott recently received FDA approval for TriClip, a variation of the MitraClip system for the heart's tricuspid valve. Endorsed 'with trepidation' Before the FDA said yes to MitraClip in 2013, agency staffers pushed back. Abbott had originally wanted the device approved for "patients with significant mitral regurgitation," a relatively broad term. After the FDA objected, the company narrowed its proposal to patients at too-high risk for open-heart surgery. Even then, in an analysis, the FDA identified "fundamental" flaws in Abbott's data. One example: The data compared MitraClip patients with patients who underwent open-heart surgery for valve repair but the comparison might have been biased by differences in the expertise of doctors treating the two groups, the FDA analysis said. While MitraClip was implanted by a highly select, experienced group of interventional cardiologists, many of the doctors doing the open-heart surgeries had performed only a "very low volume" of such operations. FDA "approval is not appropriate at this time as major questions of safety and effectiveness, as well as the overall benefit-risk profile for this device, remain unanswered," the FDA said in a review prepared for a March 2013 meeting of a committee of outside advisers to the agency. Some committee members expressed misgivings. "If your right shoe goes into horse poop and your left shoe goes into dog poop, it's still poop," cardiothoracic surgeon Craig Selzman said, according to a transcript. The committee voted 5-4 against MitraClip on the question of whether it proved effective. But members voted 8-0 that they considered the device safe and 5-3 that the benefits of the device outweighed its risks. Selzman voted yes on the last question "with trepidation," he said at the time. In October 2013, the FDA approved the MitraClip Clip Delivery System for a narrower group of patients: those with a particular type of mitral regurgitation who were considered a surgery risk. "The reality is, there is no perfect procedure," said Jason Rogers, an interventional cardiologist and University of California-Davis professor who is an Abbott consultant. The company referred KFF Health News to Rogers as an authority on MitraClip. He called MitraClip "extremely safe" and said some patients treated with it are "on death's door to begin with." "At least you're trying to do something for them," he said. Conflicting studies In 2019, the FDA expanded its approval of MitraClip to a wider set of patients. The agency based that decision on a clinical trial in the United States and Canada that Abbott not only sponsored but also helped design and manage. It participated in site selection and data analysis, according to a September 2018 New England Journal of Medicine paper reporting the trial results. Some of the authors received consulting fees from Abbott, the paper disclosed. A separate study in France reached a different conclusion. It found that, for some patients who fit the expanded profile, the device did not significantly reduce deaths or hospitalizations for heart failure over a year. The French study, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in August 2018, was funded by the government of France and Abbott. As with the North American study, some of the researchers disclosed they had received money from Abbott. However, the write-up in the journal said Abbott played no role in the design of the French trial, the selection of sites, or in data analysis. Gregg Stone, one of the leaders of the North American study, said there were differences between patients enrolled in the two studies and how they were medicated. In addition, outcomes were better in the North American study in part because doctors in the U.S. and Canada had more MitraClip experience than their counterparts in France, Stone said. Stone, a clinical trial specialist with a background in interventional cardiology, acknowledged skepticism toward studies sponsored by manufacturers. "There are some people who say, 'Oh, well, you know, these results may have been manipulated,' he said. "But I can guarantee you that's not the truth." 'Nationwide scheme' A former Abbott employee alleges in a lawsuit that after MitraClip won approval, the company promoted the device to doctors and hospitals using inducements such as free marketing support, the chance to participate in Abbott clinical trials, and payments for participating in "sham speaker programs." The former employee alleges that she was instructed to tell referring physicians that if they observed mitral regurgitation in their patients to "just send it" for a MitraClip procedure because "everything can be clipped." She also alleges that, using a script, she was told to promote the device to hospital administrators based on financial advantages such as "growth opportunities through profitable procedures, ancillary tests, and referral streams." The inducements were part of a "nationwide scheme" of illegal kickbacks that defrauded government health insurance programs including Medicare and Medicaid, the lawsuit claims. The company denied doing anything illegal and said in a court filing that "to help its groundbreaking therapy reach patients, Abbott needed to educate cardiologists and other healthcare providers." Those efforts are "not only routine, they are laudable as physicians cannot use, or refer a patient to another doctor who can use, a device that they do not understand or in some cases even know about," the company said in the filing. Under federal law, the person who filed the suit can receive a share of any money the government recoups from Abbott. The suit was filed by a company associated with a former employee in Abbott's Structural Heart Division, Lisa Knott. An attorney for the company declined to comment and said Knott had no comment. Reports to the FDA As doctors started using MitraClip, the FDA began receiving reports about malfunctions and cases in which the product might have caused or contributed to a death or an injury. According to some reports, clips detached from valve flaps. Flaps became damaged. Procedures were aborted. Mitral leakage worsened. Doctors struggled to control the device. Clips became "entangled in chordae" cord-like structures also known as heartstrings that connect the valve flaps to the heart muscle. Patients treated with MitraClip underwent corrective operations. As of March 2024, the FDA had received more than 17,000 reports documenting more than 22,000 "events" involving mitral valve repair devices, FDA data shows. All but about 200 of those reports mention one iteration of MitraClip or another, a KFF Health News review of FDA data found. Almost all the reports came from Abbott. The FDA requires manufacturers to submit reports when they learn of mishaps potentially related to their devices. The reports are not proof that devices caused problems, and the same event might be reported multiple times. Other events may go unreported. Despite the reports' limitations, the FDA provides an analysis of them for the public on its website. MitraClip's risks weren't a surprise. Like the rapid-fire fine print in television ads for prescription drugs, the original product label for the device listed more than 60 types of potential complications. Indeed, during clinical research on the device, about 6% of patients implanted with MitraClip died within 30 days, according to the label. Almost 1 in 4 23.6% - were dead within a year. The FDA spokesperson, Harrison, pointed to a study originally published in 2021 in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, based on a central registry of mitral valve procedures, that found lower rates of death after MitraClip went on the market. "These data confirmed that the MitraClip device remains safe and effective in the real-world setting," Harrison said. But the study's authors, several of whom disclosed financial or other connections to Abbott, said data was missing for more than a quarter of patients one year after the procedure. A major measure of success would be the proportion of MitraClip patients who are alive "with an acceptable quality of life" a year after undergoing the procedure, the study said. Because such information was available for fewer than half of the living patients, "we have omitted those outcomes from this report," the authors wrote. If you've had an experience with MitraClip or another medical device and would like to tell KFF Health News about it, click here to share your story with us. KFF Health News audience engagement producer Tarena Lofton contributed to this report. AirAsia on Tuesday announced it will bring an innovative cinematic in-flight experience for movie-goers to selected cinemas across the country to showcase its destinations as part of the movie-goers experience. AirAsia said the initiative is aimed at inviting travellers from India to discover the hidden gems of Asia and Australia and beyond through its network that will soon connect 16 cities in India to over 130 destinations across its network via Malaysia and Thailand. The collaboration will enhance AirAsias outreach via more than 130 cinemas across 12 cities over the next six months, AirAsias Chief Commercial Officer Paul Carroll. As part of this initiative, movie-goers will stand the chance to win AirAsia tickets to anywhere across its network, Carroll said, adding during this period, AirAsia will also be collaborating with more than 130 local travel content creators to showcase its destinations to Asia, Australia and beyond, spanning bustling cities, serene beaches, historic landmarks, and vibrant local cultures. We are excited to unveil an innovative partnership with Qube Cinemas. Soon, the immersive AirAsia cinematic in-flight experience will be in 130 cinemas across India for six months and were really looking forward to connecting more meaningfully with movie-goers who are also travel lovers here through this initiative, Carroll said. Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced major disruptions on Monday, with 53 flights canceled and 27 diverted due to low visibility from continuous heavy rain. Out of the 52 cancellations by 11 AM, IndiGo was the most affected with 42 flights (22 arrivals and 20 departures) canceled. Air India had 6 cancellations (3 arrivals and 3 departures), Air India Express lost 2 flights, and Qatar Airways canceled one departure. Alliance Air also canceled two flights, one arrival, and one departure. The runway was closed from 2:22 AM to 3:40 AM due to extremely low visibility. After reopening, priority was given to arriving flights, causing delays for departures. Adjustments were made to handle the diverted flights. Low visibility makes landing challenging and increases runway risks. Airlines issued advisories about delays, diversions, and cancellations. Many offered alternate flights or full refunds. A spokesperson from CSMIA stated, Inclement weather at CSMIA on July 8 led to temporary suspension of flights. CSMIA has deployed airport personnel across the terminals to support passengers and provide them with necessary assistance. As part of our commitment to passenger safety and comfort, CSMIA has also made provision for additional seating and water for passengers. The airport is also in close contact with local authorities, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Passengers were advised to check flight schedules with their airlines before heading to the airport. Juhu aerodrome, primarily used for helicopters servicing Oil and Natural Gas Commission rigs, was also closed due to waterlogging. Normally handling 80-90 helicopter operations daily, its fixed-wing aircraft operations will be shut for a few days. Russia and India are engaged in constructive discussion around payments, as Western financial sanctions on Moscow and the inconvertibility of the rupee hamper bilateral settlements, VTB Bank CEO Andrei Kostin said on Tuesday. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Moscow, Kostin said the two countries were working to reduce issues for companies and individuals. PM Modi In Russia Relationship Is Built On Mutual Trust and Respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a wholehearted endorsement of Indias ties with Russia, describing the old ally as Indias all-weather friend and lauding President Vladimir Putin for strengthening the bilateral relations over the past two decades of his leadership. PM Modi is in Russia to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Putin. Addressing the Indian diaspora, he said the India-Russia relationship is built on the strong pillar of mutual trust and respect, asserting that their ties were tested time and again only to emerge stronger every time. Modis high praise of Russia as an ally and Putins leadership came amid ongoing efforts by the Western world to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi also made a veiled criticism of the influence-oriented global order which endured for decades. But, what the world needs right now is confluence not influence and no one can deliver this message better than India which has a strong tradition of worshipping confluences, he said. He said India is being seen as a strong pillar in the emerging multipolar world order. When it speaks of peace, dialogue and diplomacy, then the whole world listens. Modi has often stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Commenting on Indias ties with Russia, he said he has been for decades an admirer of the unique partnership between the two countries. On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to the mind of every Indian is Indias sukh-dukh ka saathi (all-weather friend) and a trusted ally, he said. No matter how low the temperature dips below zero degrees during Russian winter, India-Russia friendship has always remained in plus and been full of warmth. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect, Modi said. He said he had a special appreciation for his friend Putin for steering the India-Russia friendship to greater heights over the last two decades. As prime minister, he said it was his sixth visit to Russia and the two leaders have met 17 times during this period. All these meetings have added to our mutual trust and respect, he said, praising Putin for helping the evacuation of Indian students during the war. He expressed gratitude to the Russian leader and Russian citizens for this. To the applause from the audience, he announced that India will open two new consulates in Russia to boost travel and trade between the two countries. Modi said India was undergoing a transformation and the pace of development over the past 10 years has taken the world by surprise. Even the world now acknowledges what he used to say during his poll campaign that the 21st century belongs to India, he added. The fast pace of Indias development will write a new chapter in the worlds progress, he said. He said India was changing as it believes in the strength of its 140 crore citizens who are now dreaming of turning their resolve of Viksit Bharat into reality. (With agency inputs) Mutual fund investors put in Rs 21,262 crore in systematic investment plans (SIPs) in June, an industry body said on Tuesday. This is higher than the Rs 20,904 crore in May, the Association of Mutual Funds of India (Amfi) said. Venkat Chalasani, CEO, Amfi, said, The overall assets under management (AUM) from SIPs grew to Rs 12.43 lakh crore, which can be attributed to both the mark-to-market growth due to the surge in market and also to the new inflows. A total of 55 lakh new SIPs were registered in June, taking the total number of SIPs to 8.98 crore, he said, adding that 32.35 lakh matured or were shut down. The overall AUM of the MF industry stood at over Rs 61.33 lakh crore as of June and Chalasni said there was an outflow in the debt MF front because of the advance tax payments. What Is a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)? A SIP is a popular method for investing in mutual funds. It allows you to invest a fixed amount of money regularly, like monthly or quarterly, instead of requiring a large lump sum investment upfront. SIPs can be started for as little as Rs. 500 per month, making them accessible to almost everyone. SIPs are known for promoting disciplined investing and taking advantage of rupee-cost averaging (buying more units when the market is low and fewer units when the market is high). The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is a non-profit organization that serves as the regulatory body for the mutual fund industry in India. AMFI provides investor education and awareness programs to help people understand mutual funds and SIPs. Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is a crucial financial responsibility for individuals and businesses. By filing ITR and claiming eligible deductions, taxpayers can significantly optimise their tax liability, ensuring compliance with tax laws while benefiting from various financial incentives provided by the government. Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, of 1961, is one of the most popular and widely used sections for tax-saving among taxpayers in India. It allows individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) to claim deductions on specific investments and expenses, reducing their taxable income. The maximum deduction under Section 80C is Rs. 1.5 lakh per financial year. Also Read: Budget 2024: Will Govt Hike Rs 1.5 Lakh Limit Under Section 80C Of Income Tax Act? Remember, this section is applicable under the old tax regime. Eligible Investments and Expenses Under Section 80C: What Can You Claim Under Section 80C? Heres a list of some common options for claiming deductions under Section 80C (remember, the total deduction is capped at Rs. 1.5 lakh for the financial year 2023-24): Investments: Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) in Mutual Funds Public Provident Fund (PPF) National Savings Certificate (NSC) Employee Provident Fund (EPF) (voluntary contributions only) Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) with a minimum premium allocation of 60% Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) Five-year tax-saving bank fixed deposits Expenses: Tuition fees for your childrens education (up to two children) Repayment of principal amount on home loan Premiums paid for life insurance policies Contributions to pension schemes like NPS (National Pension Scheme) Claiming Deduction under 80C and ITR Filing While you make the investments or incur the expenses during the financial year, claiming the deduction happens when you file your ITR. Heres the connection: Investments/Expenses: Throughout the financial year (April 1st to March 31st), make investments or incur expenses as per the options available under Section 80C. Keep all the investment proofs and receipts handy. ITR Filing: When its time to file your ITR, youll need to report the amount invested/spent under Section 80C. The specific sections within the ITR form will depend on the type of investment or expense. Tax Benefit: Once your ITR is processed, and if everything is in order, the claimed deduction under Section 80C will reduce your taxable income, leading to lower tax outgo. By effectively utilising Section 80C, you can save a significant amount on your taxes. If you have any further questions about specific deductions or the ITR filing process, consider consulting a tax advisor for personalised guidance. Will Section 80C Limit Increased In Budget 2024? Every year, many taxpayers eagerly anticipate the finance minister raising the Section 80C limit in the Union Budget 2024. The current limit has not been adjusted to keep pace with rising incomes and expenses, leading many taxpayers to fully utilise the entire 80C limit. As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding an increase in the Section 80C deduction limit for Budget 2024. The current limit of Rs. 1.5 lakh has remained unchanged since 2014. Given the rising inflation, many taxpayers and financial experts expect an increase. The Ministry of Education has announced a significant and progressive move, under which IIT Jodhpur will provide B.Tech first-year courses in both Hindi and English beginning this academic year. The goal of this dual-language method is to improve students understanding and performance by allowing them to learn in the language in which they feel most at ease. Two divisions will be created under the new project, according to language preference. The same teacher will lecture both classes despite their separation, guaranteeing that the consistency and quality of education remain uncompromised. The Ministry of Education in a post on its official X handle said, The Ministry of Education is pleased to share that @iitjodhpur will now offer B. Tech 1st year courses in both Hindi and English, beginning this academic year! This initiative is designed to ensure all students can learn effectively in the language they are most comfortable with. Both sections will be taught by the same instructor, maintaining consistency and quality. This is a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and supportive educational environment at IIT Jodhpur. The Ministry of Education is pleased to share that @iitjodhpur will now offer B. Tech 1st year courses in both Hindi and English, beginning this academic year! This initiative is designed to ensure all students can learn effectively in the language they are most comfortable with. pic.twitter.com/bF8FpuR7Hg Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) July 9, 2024 The goal of this action is to promote a more welcoming and encouraging learning environment. IIT Jodhpur is demonstrating its commitment to accommodating students from a variety of linguistic backgrounds by providing courses in both Hindi and English. This is especially important for students who might struggle to understand intricate technical ideas in a language that they are less familiar with. With the recent approval of the request by the Ministry of Education, engineering aspirants who wish to pursue a B.Tech at IIT Jodhpur can now do so in Hindi. Admission to IIT Jodhpurs B.Tech programme will be determined on the results of the Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE Advanced 2024). During the admissions process, students have the option of selecting their preferred language of instruction. Based on their preferred language, IIT Jodhpur will divide the student populace into two divisions prior to the start of the academic year. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The Andhra Pradesh government came to the rescue of 25 specially abled students by facilitating their admissions into the prestigious IITs after a mere technical hurdle almost cancelled their admissions, despite cracking the entrance. The matter was brought to the notice of the state HRD Minister Nara Lokesh by one of the students Pruthvi Satyadev who texted the minister on WhatsApp seeking his intervention. Pruthvi, who has a mobility disability, had bagged a seat at the IIT Madras but his admission was put on hold due to a red flag raised over his intermediate mark sheet. According to the Board of Intermediate Education, in Andhra Pradesh, specially-abled students are exempted from appearing for any one of the two languages, effectively writing only four of the total five subjects in their intermediate exams but this turned out to be a distressing situation for Pruthvi and 24 other students as IITs only accept marks memo with five subjects, subsequently freezing their admissions despite getting A grades. Following Pruthvis S.O.S message, the states education minister Lokesh directed the officials to issue a government order with a revised marksheet adding a fifth subject with an average of the other four subjects that they had already written. Additionally, the state government also reached out to the IIT council to streamline the process. A similar approach was also adopted for students who had secured admissions into NITs and other top institutes. The state governments prompt action has not only secured our future but also cleared the path for so many other students who would have had to face a similar situation, said Pruthvi. Before setting off to live their IIT dream, the students accompanied by their family members met with Lokesh at his residence in Undavalli. Really proud that close to 40 handicapped children, merely because of a GO were able to qualify into IITs and NITs. This is what we mean by responsive governance. As a minister its my duty to serve the people and make education accessible to all, Lokesh said. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The spate of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Jammu region, has put a question mark on the status of the scheduled assembly elections in the Union Territory. A Union government functionary told CNN-News18 that although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has reiterated its commitment to sticking to the September 30 deadline set by the Supreme Court, the recent spate of attacks is leading to renewed discussions about the impending assembly elections. We have to see if the elections can be held immediately. Every candidate has to be given the correct security atmosphere to campaign. Every voter must feel secure," the source said. ALSO READ | Kathua Attack: Five Martyred Army Jawans From Uttarakhand, CM Says Terrorists Wont Be Spared The concern is especially in Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu, which saw attacks over last month. As per the Union Home Ministry data, 26 terror incidents have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024, 10 of which are in Jammu division alone. Data suggests that nine security force personnel were martyred and 20 injured, while 28 terrorists killed this year. RECENT TERROR INCIDENTS In the past one month, Jammu division has seen at least seven incidents of terrorism. On July 8, five army personnel were killed and six injured after terrorists attacked a convoy in Machedi, Kathua. As per officials, a grenade was lobbed at the convoy during a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road around 150 km from Kathua. Firing followed the grenade attack. It is suspected that terrorists fled into the adjoining forests. This is was the second attack in Kathua in three weeks. On June 11, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was killed after an encounter in Hiranagar Saida village. Two terrorists were gunned down in the operations. On the same night, a joint naka of police and security forces was attacked, injuring five soldiers and an SPO in Doda. Police claimed that three terrorists allegedly involved in the Doda attack were gunned down in an operation on June 26. On June 9, as PM Modis Council of Ministers was being sworn in, a Katra-bound pilgrim bus was attacked in Reasi, killing nine. In May, one air force personnel was killed in an attack. RECALIBRATION OF DEPLOYMENT The common thread in all attacks has been guerrilla warfare techniques. In April 2023, an Indian Army vehicle was attacked in Poonch, killing five. The strategy was repeated in May this year, when an Indian Air Force (IAF) truck was ambushed, killing one IAF personnel. Like the Kathua attack, in both these cases, too, terrorists fled into the adjoining jungles, as per officials. Badnota village, where the latest attack was reported, is around 150 kilometres from Kathua town. It falls between Machedi and Lohai Malhar. Machedi was a hot bed of terrorism in the mid-1990s, but subsequent peace saw security bases withdrawing from the area. Defence analysts believe that Pakistan-based terror groups are taking advantage of the fact that India redeployed its troops in Jammu region, after the Galwan attack necessitated more forces in Ladakh. A top Union Government functionary told CNN-News18 that 6,000 additional troops and at least 37 Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) were rushed in the last fortnight after the spate of attacks in Kathua, Doda, Reasi. A hot chase is on. We believe the terrorists fled towards Udhampur. More deployment is being done," the Union government functionary said. The CRPF, as per sources, is also deploying jungle warfare trained personnel in the area. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has arrested at least one On-Ground Worker (OGW) in the Reasi case, is investigating how the terrorists are mapping their escape routes through the dense forests in the area. THE HANDLER It is suspected that the terror group currently active in Jammu is being handled by Lashkar-e-Toibas (LeT) Sajid Jatt. Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt has been named by the NIA in its charge sheet for terror conspiracy in Rajouri Poonch area. He is believed to be from the Shangamanga village in Kasur district of Pakistans Punjab. The NIA has announced a Rs 10-lakh reward on Jatt. ALSO READ | CCTV Captures Bus In J&Ks Reasi Moments Before Attack, Disturbing Terror Pattern Emerges Amid Massive Manhunt Agencies suspect Jatt has trained and launched a group of 20 terrorists operating in groups of three-four. They have managed to identify natural caves in the forests of Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua and are managing to slip through the forests after every attack. Congress leader Lal Singh alleged that villagers had reported citing non-locals in Kathua area. Villagers reported that boys who were not locals came asking for provisions and to recharge their phones. But the input was either not taken seriously or the police didnt do enough," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the Indian diaspora in Moscow as a part of his two-day Russia visit. PM Modi hailed President Putins efforts in building a strong bond between India and Russia. He said, Russia is Indias dependable friend. Our friendship is based on mutual trust and respect. He also said the Centre was trying to strengthen communication between the two countries and announced the launch of two Indian consulates in Russia. ALSO READ | No Solution On Battlefield: As PM Modi Visits Russia, India Reacts To US Remarks On Ukraine War He began his speech by saying, I bring with me the love of 140 crore Indians and the fragrance of the nations soil. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Indian Community in Moscow, Russia.He says I want to thank all of you for coming here. I have not come here alone, I have come with a lot of things. I have brought with me the fragrance of the soil of India. I have brought pic.twitter.com/4GKXOTWuY3 ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2024 Earlier in the day, as a breakthrough achieved during PM Modis visit to Moscow, Russia decided to discharge and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. Here are the top quotes from his address to the Indian diaspora for the first time after taking oath as the Prime Minister of the nation for the third time. Delhi Police Crime Branch on Monday arrested a 50-year-old woman doctor for her alleged involvement in a kidney transplant racket where most of the victims were from Bangladesh. The doctor, employed at a reputed hospital in the national capital, stands accused of conducting 15-16 operations over the past few years and has been suspended from her position. According to police sources, she performed these surgeries at a private hospital in Noida, with most of the patients being Bangladeshi nationals and their donors also hailing from Bangladesh. The accused allegedly received payments in her assistants account and also accepted cash directly. Sources within the Delhi Police revealed that the entire racket was operated from Bangladesh. Members of the syndicate reportedly visited various dialysis centers in Bangladesh to identify potential transplant recipients based on their financial capabilities. Once a patient agreed to pay between Rs 25-30 lakhs, they were brought to India. Subsequently, a financially disadvantaged Bangladeshi would be coerced into donating their kidney. These individuals were often portrayed as relatives of the recipient on official documents before undergoing surgery in Noida, as per sources familiar with the investigation. According to an Indian Express report, the woman doctor has been identified as Dr. Vijaya Kumari, a senior consultant and a kidney transplant surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. She was the sole doctor working with the gang and allegedly performed around 15-16 transplants at the Noida-based private Yatharth Hospital between 2021 and 2023. The publication further reported that fake documents in the name of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi were allegedly prepared to falsely establish a relationship between the donor and recipient (both Bangladeshi), as required by Indian law. Yatharth Hospitals has no direct association with the said doctor, as she is a part of some other hospital. For all our procedures, we ensure the highest ethical standards, prioritize patient safety and comply with all clinical & government protocols. We have cooperated fully with all investigations, and there have been no findings of wrongdoing against our hospital or our practices, a Yatharth Hospitals spokesperson said. A fresh encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the higher reaches of Doda district on Tuesday, as authorities roped in the NIA, deployed special forces and widened their search for the perpetrators of the deadly attack on an army patrol in Kathua district of Jammu region in which five soldiers were killed. Director General of Police R R Swain rushed to Kathua to oversee the operation in the remote Machedi region. The search for terrorists has been expanded to cover vast areas in Udhampur and Kathua districts, with Special Forces deployed to conduct surgical operations against the ultras, officials said. As the operations were continuing in Kathua, a fresh gunfight erupted at Ghadi Bhagwah forest, located 35 km east of Doda town, following a search and cordon operation based on specific intelligence about the presence of at least three foreign terrorists. The clash in Doda came on the heels of the ambush of an army patrolling party on the rugged Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, approximately 150 km from Kathua district headquarters. The terror attack, which was the fifth in Jammu in one month, resulted in the death of five soldiers and injuries to as many personnel. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers from Uttarakhand Naib Subedar Anand Singh, Havaldar Kamal Singh, Rifleman Anuj Negi, Naik Vinod Singh and Rifleman Adarsh Negi. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the Pathankot army base in Punjab before their mortal remains were flown to their home state for final rites. A joint cordon and search operation involving the Army, police, and CRPF has been initiated in multiple areas, supported by aerial and ground teams equipped with advanced surveillance technology. The officials said that specialised forces were airdropped from a helicopter to track the terrorists involved in Mondays gunfight. Drones had been pressed into service to assist the troops marching into the dense forest. They said the search teams were being supported by helicopter and UAV surveillance besides sniffer dogs. The police chief was accompanied by ADGP, law and order, Vijay Kumar and ADGP, Jammu zone, Anand Jain during the aerial survey and review meeting held for the ongoing operations, they said. The scope of the search operation has been expanded to encompass large areas in the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua, including Basantgarh, Seoj (a high-altitude area in Udhampur), and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar, and Kindli in Kathua district. The Monday attack mirrored a similar pattern to the Bhimbher Gali-Mendhar terror incident involving an Army truck on April 21, 2023, where five soldiers lost their lives. The terrorists initiated firing on the vehicles wheels, followed by bursts of gunfire targeting its front and left sides. Authorities have observed an increased presence of foreign militants in the region, with ongoing investigations delving into the weaponry and tactics employed in the recent attacks. The security forces remain vigilant in their efforts to neutralise the threat posed by these militants in the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda and Poonch-Rajouri-Reasi belts. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will assist the Jammu and Kashmir police. A team of NIA officials has been sent to Kathua in the Jammu region to extend all possible support to the police in its investigation, they said and made it clear that the probe agency has not registered a case to investigate the terrorist attack. Condoling the loss of lives, President Droupadi Murmu described the terrorist attack as a cowardly act and favoured firm counter-measures. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the killing of the soldiers and asserted that the armed forces are determined to usher in peace in the region. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said the killing of five Army personnel will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind it Political parties have expressed concern over the recent spate of terror incidents in J-K, especially in the Jammu region where militancy was wiped out over two decades ago. The Congress said that the Jammu region becoming the centre of terror incidents reflects the strategic failure of the Modi government and demanded that the Centre should take the country into confidence on steps it is taking to deal with the situation. The opposition party also called for a befitting reply to Pakistan in the wake of the rising terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident is alarming, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said and accused the Union territorys administration of being lax towards the security situation. We have been saying time and again that militancy is a problem in J-K and you cant wish it away. I think the administration in J-K needs to be more vigilant, I think they are showing rather lax tendency with regard to the security situation and hopefully attacks like this wont happen again, he told PTI Videos. Five jawans of 22 Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army were martyred in the Kathua terror attack in Kashmir. Those martyred belong to Tehri, Pauri and Rudraprayag districts of Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to soldiers at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun on Tuesday. Five sons of Uttarakhand were martyred in the Kathua terrorist attack. This attack is definitely cowardly and cannot be condemned enough. The sacrifice of these soldiers wont go to waste. The country will give an answer and terrorism will be ended, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. VIDEO | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) pays tribute to soldiers, who were martyred in Kathua terror attack, at Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun.(Full video available on PTI Videos https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/5U7X4ire9J Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2024 Expressing anguish at the loss of brave soldiers and said terrorist will not be spared. The country will remember the supreme sacrifice of jawans. Our government will extend every sort of help to the bereaved families. Those (terrorists) involved in the incident will not be spared, the Chief Minister told News18. Those martyred in the attack were Adarsh Negi and Naik Vinod Singh of Tehri district, Anuj Negi and Hawaldar Kamal Singh of Pauri Garhwal district and Nayab Subedar Anand Singh of Rudraprayag district. Sources said the Army has communicated about the loss to the families. , pic.twitter.com/J8GxAIqbyF Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) July 9, 2024 On Monday, terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire targeting Army vehicles which were on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road at around 3.30 pm near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, 150 km from Kathua town. While five soldiers were martyred, five jawans were also injured and were being treated in Pathankot. Security forces retaliated but the terrorists fled into the nearby forest. The search operations were going on till the filing of this report. Security forces have launched a search operation in the Machedi area. Security has also been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Officials said reinforcements were rushed to the area to neutralise the terrorists, who are believed to have recently infiltrated from across the border and were moving to the higher reaches. Pradeep Liladhar Nakhwa, the husband of the deceased in the BMW hit-and-run case Kaveri Nakhwa, claimed on Tuesday that accused Mihir Shah was drunk at the time of the incident. Pradeep also claimed that his wife Kaveri was intentionally dragged and despite repeatedly shouting at Mihir to stop the car, he did not. I asked him to stop, yet he didnt stop; he ran away. She (the deceased) must have been in so much pain. Everyone knows this but no one is doing anything. There is no one for the poor, Pradeep said. VIDEO | Mumbai BMW hit-and-run case: I asked him to stop, yet he didnt stop; he ran away. She (the deceased) must have been in so much pain. Everyone knows this but no one is doing anything. There is no one for the poor, says Pradeep Liladhar Nakhwa, husband of deceased Kaveri pic.twitter.com/jMKLlPzHrZ Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2024 Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shahs son, 24-year-old Mihir Shah was allegedly driving the BMW car which fatally knocked down Kaveri Nakhwa and injured her husband Pradeep while the couple was on their two-wheeler in Mumbais Worli area on Sunday morning. In a conversation with CNN-News18, Pradeep said, Mihir did not reverse the car. I kept shouting to stop the car but he did not listen to me, Pradeep said, adding that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time. Mihir Shah was arrested earlier in the day, after being absconding for 72 hours since the accident. He was arrested from Shahpur in Thane and will be brought to the Worli police station. Police also arrested 12 other people in the case. The arrest comes a day after the accuseds father, Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah was granted bail in the case. Rajesh Shah, who owns the car involved in the crash, and Rajrishi Bidawat, their family driver who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly helping Mihir escape after the crash. Theres heavy rainfall on the cards for several parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a high tide warning for Mumbai. Meanwhile, the University of Mumbai has postponed all its exams scheduled for Tuesday. The university said the new dates will be announced soon. Schools, colleges closed Schools and junior colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Pune as well as rural parts of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg will remain closed on Tuesday due to a heavy rainfall alert issued by the IMD for these areas, an official said. Maharashtra | Due to heavy rain forecast in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburbs, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts, all exams scheduled for today (July 9, 2024) at the University of Mumbai have been postponed. New dates will be announced soon: University of Mumbai ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2024 Incessant showers lashed Mumbai and adjoining areas, disrupting suburban train services and flight operations as normal life was thrown out of gear in the metropolis, where an elderly woman died of burn injuries caused by a short-circuit, while people waded through water-logged streets and faced traffic chaos on Monday. Come rain or shine, we are on the ground.Our Vakola Traffic officials contributing in clearing the drainage holes at Western Express Highway near Ramnagar Subway, to drain out the rainwater accumulated in the heavy rains.#MonsoonTrafficUpdates #AlwaysOnDuty#MTPTrafficUpdates pic.twitter.com/Jz1Trpz5Wv Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) July 8, 2024 Some areas in Mumbai received more than 300 mm of rainfall in just six hours ending at 7 am, causing inundation of roads and low-lying areas. Train services hit Central Railway services have been facing significant disruptions due to rain-induced waterlogging despite installing high-capacity pumps in low-lying areas, inconveniencing thousands of passengers as local trains stopped on tracks for hours. Waterlogging has affected all modes of transport in Mumbai and neighbouring areas. Railway officials said the Harbour line track was operationalised at 4.30 am after the water receded. Main Line both fast and slow locals are running 2-3 minutes behind schedule and Harbour line locals are running almost on time now, they said. Mr. @AshwiniVaishnaw, its been over 15 minutes and the Vande Bharat hasnt budged! Im practically a statue here. The train is already 40 minutes late, and my patience is running on fumes. Train number 22226. #MumbaiRains #MumbaiRain pic.twitter.com/L4aAmK4VZR Mr. Obnoxious (@viikas22) July 8, 2024 Airport ops hit Flight services at the Mumbai airport were severely impacted due to low visibility after heavy rains, leading to runway operations being shut for over an hour and approximately 50 flights being cancelled, sources said. Of the 50 cancelled flights (both arrivals and departures) till 11 am, 42 were operated by IndiGo and six by Air India, they said. Fifty flights have been cancelled till 11 am on Monday at the Mumbai airport due to low visibility and heavy rains. Of these, IndiGo had to cancel 42 flights, including 20 departing ones, while six flights of Air India including three arrivals were cancelled, a source said. The government-owned Alliance Air also had to cancel two flights (one departure and one arrival) on Monday, the source added. The weather office has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Satara, Pune and Sindhudurg districts and an orange alert for Thane and Palghar on Tuesday (July 9). Due to waterlogging at Wadala station, services between Wadala and CSMT were suspended at 10:15pm, while trains were operational between Mankhurd and Panvel on the route, a CR spokesperson said. WRs fast corridor was also affected due to waterlogging and failure of track changing point on the fifth line near Matunga station late evening, they added. There is water on the tracks, but it has not affected the running of trains. The trains on the fast corridor halted due to a point failure on the fifth line and efforts were on to clamp it, a WR spokesperson said. The rains also affected BEST bus services, with many plying on alternate routes to avoid waterlogging in areas like Parel, Gandhi Market, Sangam Nagar and Malad subway. Earlier in the day, Central Railways train services on the Main line were badly hit before 1.15 pm, while Western railways suburban services were running 10 minutes late. During evening rush hours, BEST diverted its bus services via alternate routes due to waterlogging on low-lying areas at Parel, Gandhi Market, Sangam Nagar and Malad subway. Mumbais island city received an average of 47.93mm of rainfall in the 10-hour period ending at 6pm, while the figure was 18.82 mm and 31.74 mm for eastern and western parts of the metropolis, respectively. In the 24 hours ending at 8 am, Mumbais island city recorded an average rain of 115.63 mm, Eastern Mumbai 168.68 mm and Western Mumbai 165.93 mm rainfall. The city reported 40 incidents of tree or branch fall, but there was no report of any death. Some vehicles suffered damage, a civic official said. Rains claim elderlys life in Mumbai The city reported 12 incidents of short-circuit, which claimed the life of a 72-year-old woman at Santacruz East. The lady sustained burn injuries in a fire triggered due to a short-circuit in a room of Haji Siddhiki Chawl on Datta Mandir Road. Mumbai also witnessed 10 incidents of house or wall collapse since morning, but there was no report of any fatality in the incidents, he added. Both houses of the Maharashtra legislature were adjourned as many members and officials could not reach the Vidhan Bhavan due to the downpour. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took stock of the heavy rain situation by chairing a meeting at the Mantralaya and visiting the control room of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Tuesday and paid his tributes. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located at the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, and dedicated to the Soviet soldiers, who lost their lives during World War II. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, Russia.PM Modi is on his two-day official visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. pic.twitter.com/ihcdtG4z1d ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2024 WHO WERE THESE UNKNOWN SOLDIERS After World War II, millions of Russian soldiers were reported missing or pronounced dead. In their memory, a tomb was erected, with the monument being unveiled to the public on May 8, 1967. The Day of the Unknown Soldier has been celebrated in Russia since December 3, 2014. A solemn homage to the brave!PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, saluting valour, sacrifice and indomitable human courage. pic.twitter.com/EEpgNv2Lat Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2024 FEATURES OF THE TOMB In 1997, the Guard of Honour of the Kremlin Regiment, which had previously guarded the Lenin Mausoleum, was restored at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by a federal law enacted on December 8, 1997. A Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at the tomb every hour. The memorial is marked by a dark red porphyry monument adorned with a bronze sculpture of a laurel branch and a soldiers helmet placed upon a banner. It was designed by architects DI Burdin, VA Klimov, Yu R Rabayev and sculptor Nikolai Tomsky. In front of the monument lies a five-pointed star in a square field of labradorite, which emanates the Eternal Flame from its centre. This flame, transported from the Eternal Flame at the Monument to the Fighters of the Revolution in Saint Petersburg, illuminates a bronze inscription that reads, , (transliteration: Imya tvoyo neizvestno, podvig tvoy bessmerten, meaning Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal). HISTORY BEHIND TOMBS OF UNKNOWN SOLDIERS The tradition of Tombs of the Unknown Soldier began in France and Britain in 1920 and spread globally after World War II. Today, more than 50 countries have such memorials, which have become national shrines symbolising the collective grief and pride of nations. These tombs honour the unidentified soldiers who gave their lives, ensuring their deeds are remembered even if their names are not. These memorials serve both national and individual mourning purposes. They provide a place for bereaved families to honour their loved ones and for nations to pay tribute to their heroes. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Russia is meant to stand as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during World War II. Although more people were killed in the Great War than in any previous conflict, there was a consensus among both victorious and defeated nations that every fallen soldier deserved a proper burial and recognition. The problem of identifying remains was prevalent, as many bodies were destroyed beyond recognition. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier concept provided a solution by creating a national symbol for the unidentified fallen, allowing families to mourn as if the unknown soldier were their own loved one. Prime Minister Narendra Modi after concluding his two-day Russia visit will depart to Austria, marking another historic moment in Indias diplomatic outlook. Historic because this will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 41 years. Modis visit will revolve around further agreements between India and Austria, particularly the India-Austria startup bridge commenced in February 2024 with an aim to boost startup cultures in both countries. We travel back in time and look at the previous three visits by Indian PMs to Austria: two by Indira Gandhi and one by Jawaharlal Nehru. INDIRA GANDHIS VISIT IN 1983 Shortly after her arrival in Vienna on June 19, 1983, a local newspaper caricatured Gandhi warmly greeting Chancellor Fred Sinowatz, humorously suggesting they were unfamiliar faces to each other. However, within three days, both leaders engaged in substantive discussions on global economics, Afghanistan, and bilateral relations. Chancellor Sinowatz praised Gandhis political foresight and leadership of the non-aligned movement. The visit led to the establishment of the Indo-Austrian Economic Commission, set to meet in October to boost bilateral economic ties. Discussions also included a major Austrian steel project in India and joint ventures in third countries, along with a supply of 1,500 horses for Indian mountain troops. Dubbed the Vienna Waltz, Gandhis visit was a prelude to the West Europe-India dialogue congress in Alpbach, attended by over 500 delegates, including 150 from India. Gandhi emphasised global peace and urged redirecting military spending to Third World development. Reactions varied at the congress, with some criticising Gandhis impact on Indian institutions. Despite differences, the tour successfully increased interest in India among European nations, aligning with Gandhis goals. INDIRAS VISIT IN 1971 AMID IMPENDING WAR Amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, with increasing troop movements along their shared border, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi continued her tour of Western countries. On October 27, 1971, during her three-day official visit to Austria, she met President Franz Jonas in Vienna. Gandhi reiterated that only a political solution acceptable to the people of East Pakistan could resolve the crisis, describing the situation as extremely dangerous. The visit to Austria was part of her broader mission to brief Western leaders on the conflict between India and Pakistan, as well as the internal strife between the Pakistani government and the secessionist movement in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). During her meeting with President Jonas, Gandhi was introduced to top Austrian officials. She later held a 90-minute discussion with Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky. After this meeting, Gandhi highlighted the dire refugee crisis, noting that between thirty thousand and forty-two thousand refugees from East Pakistan were crossing into India daily. She emphasised the perilous nature of the situation and reiterated that a political settlement acceptable to the people of East Pakistan was essential for easing the crisis. Gandhi, who had arrived in Vienna from Brussels, was on the second leg of her six-nation tour in Europe. JAWAHARLAL NEHRUS VISIT IN JUNE 1955 Jawaharlal Nehru visited Austria in 1955, the same year in which the country gained independence. Nehrus Austria visit was part of his larger East European tour of the USSR, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Italy. The visit by Nehru is remembered for his address to the Vienna reception on June 27, 1955, where he remarked that all countries must come together to prevent any escalation towards a war. He made this statement just a month after Austria had signed the agreement on Austrian Neutrality in the midst of the Cold War period. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Patanjali Ayurveda whether it has taken all misleading advertisements down from all platforms including social media. The court also asked Patanjali if due diligence been conducted after the affidavits were filed on behalf of the Indian Medical Association. The court directed Ramdevs Ayurveda company to file an affidavit within two weeks on whether the request made to social media intermediaries for the removal of advertisements has been fulfilled or not. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a plea filed by the IMA alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medicine. Meanwhile, the Ramdev-led company informed the apex court that it has stopped the sale of the 14 products whose manufacturing licences were suspended in April this year. The company told the court that it has issued instructions to 5,606 franchise stores to withdraw these products. Emails have been sent to all the franchise stores and partner stores also to remove the medicines including alerts in social media. But what was done after the intermediaries were informed? There are only handful of intermediaries, not thousands, the court told Patanjali. During the hearing, the IMA told the court that an apology on behalf of the Associations President, for his controversial remarks regarding the Patanjali hearing, has been sent to media and published in IMAs monthly journal as well as website. The matter has now been posted to August 6. On April 24, Patanjali Ayurveda co-founders Ramdev and Balkrishna had issued a public apology in newspapers after the Supreme Court, while hearing a contempt case, had asked them whether the size of the apology was of the same size as its advertisements or not. During a hearing in April, the court had also asked the IMA it to set its house in order by taking action on complaints regarding the unethical practices of its members. Following this, IMA President Dr RV Asokan had reportedly slammed the courts observations in an interview. Patanjali had then filed an application seeking action against Dr Asokan for his contemptuous remarks against the court. On May 7, the court had issued a notice to the IMA President. On May 14, the court reserved its order on the contempt notice issued to Ramdev, Balkrishna and Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. On the same day, the court had also expressed dissatisfaction with the apology furnished by Dr Asokan for his remarks. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that the only way to compel Pakistan to cease its sponsorship of terrorism is to increase pressure from the international community. The only way forward now is that the pressure of the world on that country must increase, Abdullah told news agency ANI. This is not the path to peace. This is the path to destruction. Stop it now. Abdullahs remarks come a day after a deadly ambush in Kathuas Badnota area, where five soldiers were killed and five injured by heavily-armed terrorists. A large-scale search operation is underway to hunt down those responsible for the attack. During the interview, Abdullah condemned Pakistans belief that infiltrating terrorists into India could bring about change. They are wrong. They will fail I am afraid that our anger will increase so much after this that we might resort to aggression and retaliation. They have already destroyed their country, and now a war will only further destroy it, he asserted. Terrorism and dialogue cant coexist In a resolute stance against terrorism and a call for Pakistan to cease such activities, Abdullah stated, They are being condemned all over the world for their actions What do they gain from this? The families of these soldiers are grieving and demanding justice. If they choose this path, they must be prepared for the consequences. Abdullah further stressed that terrorism and dialogue cannot coexist. If they want good ties, they will have to walk on that path and terrorism does not lie on that path, he added. Earlier on Monday, Abdullah had said that Pakistan sponsoring terrorism will not lead it anywhere and emphasised that hostility and enmity between nations will only hinder progress. He urged both nations to collaborate in eradicating terrorism and fostering friendly relations, echoing sentiments once expressed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is a matter of peace. The neighbouring country should understand that progress is possible through friendship. If there is enmity, progress will be hampered, Abdullah told reporters in Poonch, highlighting the situation in Pakistan. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a complete waiver of road tax for hybrid and electric cars. Nand Gopal Gupta, Minister of Industrial Development, Export Promotion, and NRI & Investment Promotion, told News18 that this initiative aims to boost cleaner transportation and reduce pollution, to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. He emphasised, The decision to waive off road tax for hybrid and electric cars has been taken to boost cleaner transportation and cut down on pollution. This action reflects our efforts toward sustainable growth and supports Indias target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070. By promoting eco-friendly vehicles, we aim to lower dependence on fossil fuels, enhance air quality, and boost the local economy by attracting more investment in EV infrastructure and production. This initiative is likely to increase EV sales, create job opportunities, and establish Uttar Pradesh as a key player in the green mobility industry. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) reported that UP is among the largest markets for passenger vehicles in India. This significant step by the UP government to encourage the adoption of environment-friendly vehicles by announcing a complete waiver of registration tax on strong hybrid cars is expected to benefit companies like Maruti Suzuki India, Honda Cars India, and Toyota Kirloskar Motor, with customers potentially saving close to Rs 4 lakh. The waiver applies to popular models such as Maruti Suzukis Grand Vitara and Invicto, Toyotas Hyryder and Innova Hycross, and other strong hybrid vehicles. As per the government, the policy provides a 100 per cent waiver on the registration fee of strong hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles effective immediately. Previously, the UP government levied 8 per cent road tax on vehicles priced below Rs 10 lakh and 10 per cent on those costing more than Rs 10 lakh (on ex-showroom). Rajat Mahajan, Partner at Deloitte India, told News18 that the strong hybrid market in India is at a nascent stage but is growing fast. It has grown from 0.5 per cent market share in 2022 to 2.5 per cent in Q1 2024. He said: If one compares with EVs which have similar market share, the growth is even more attractive as the average selling price of a hybrid vehicle is around Rs 25 lakh compared to Rs 14 lakh for the EV. GST on hybrids is still at 43 per cent compared to 5 per cent for EVs, despite that the total volume of hybrids and EVs are similar. The recent circular from the government of UP to waive off road tax for strong hybrids and plug-in hybrids is a welcome move and may lead to an increase in sales of such vehicles. However, this may also result in some leakage in nearby states as people may register their cars in UP and then travel outside, Mahajan added. However, according to him, UP is a large state which contributes 10 per cent to the overall PV sales, and can also lead the way for other states to follow if the adoption is good. While at this moment the 3 leading Japanese players have the relevant hybrid line-up, we can expect other OEMs to also walk this path given the growth, said Mahajan. Jitendra Patil, Managing Director of Pune-based energy-tech company ARENQ, added that the state governments decision to waive registration fees for hybrid vehicles is a significant step forward in promoting clean transportation. This will not only make hybrid cars more accessible to environmentally conscious drivers but also pave the way for wider adoption across the state. Arenq is committed to supporting the growth of the Indian EV market, and we believe this initiative will create a positive ripple effect, encouraging other states to implement similar policies, Patil said. Similarly, Raghav Arora, Co-Founder & CTO at Statiq: It is a significant step toward promoting eco-friendly cars. As an EV charging company, we applaud this initiative for making sustainable vehicles more accessible. This proactive government effort will encourage people to shift towards EVs, aligning with Indias broader goals of reducing carbon emissions and advancing green technology adoption. Two policemen were suspended on Tuesday for negligence leading to the attack on a rape survivors family, which left her 48-year-old mother dead, officials said. The rape survivor, her sister and father were injured in the attack by Anurag Pal (22), who was out on bail, and had to be hospitalised, they said. The rape accused later allegedly shot himself dead and his body was found with a countrymade pistol lying near him, they added. Pal was allegedly in a relationship with with the rape survivor, the police said citing the local people and added that the exact cause behind the attack could be ascertained only after a probe. According to police, Pal and his two aides allegedly entered the rape survivors house on Monday in Gondian Kheda village under Fatehpur Chaurasi police station limits in Unnao district. They fired indiscriminately, leaving the mother Phoolkumari dead and injuring others in the family. Bangarmau Circle Officer Arvind Kumar said a sub-inspector and a constable of the local police station have been suspended by the Superintendent of Police for negligence in supervision. The policemen were suspended for not taking action on a Dial 112 complaint about Pal allegedly running over one of Phoolkumaris daughters with his motorcycle on July 3, Kumar said. The police said the attack by Pal was a fallout of the rape case lodged against him by the family in July last year. The family had alleged that Pal, along with another accomplice, had gang-raped one of the daughters of Phoolkumari. A gang rape case was registered against the duo under section 376D of the Indian Penal Code, the police said. Pal was arrested and was released from jail about two-and-a-half months ago on bail, they said. On receiving information about the attack, IG Lucknow reached the village and ordered strict action into the matter, the officials said. The three injured persons are being treated at a hospital in Kanpur, they added. The incident took place in Gondian Kheda village around 3.30 am on Monday when Puttilal Kashyap (53) was sleeping inside his house with his wife Phoolkumari and daughters. Pal, who lives in the neighbourhood and his two accomplices, entered the house from the back door and started firing indiscriminately, leaving the rape survivor and her family members injured. Doctors later declared Phoolkumari brought dead. Shortly after, Anurag Pal allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself outside the village. Pal had uploaded a video on his Facebook profile wherein he took claim of the attack and said he would shoot himself. Mihir Shah, the main accused in the Worli BMW hit-and-run case, was arrested by the Mumbai Police on Tuesday. He was arrested from Shahpur in Thane and will be brought to the Worli police station. Police also arrested 12 other people in the case. Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shahs son, 24-year-old Mihir Shah was allegedly driving the BMW car which fatally knocked down a woman, Kaveri Nakhwa (45), and injured her husband Pradeep while the couple was on their two-wheeler in Mumbais Worli area on Sunday morning. Mihir Shah had been absconding since then. Mumbai police had formed six teams to arrest him. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had also been put out to prevent him from fleeing the country. Kaveris husband, Pradeep while talking to CNN-News18 on Tuesday asked why was Mihir hiding if he was not guilty? Pradeep also said his wife was dragged by car tyres, not the bonnet. Mihir did not reverse the car. I kept shouting to stop the car but he did not listen to me, he added. The arrest comes a day after the accuseds father, Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah was granted bail in the case. Rajesh Shah, who owns the car involved in the crash, and Rajrishi Bidawat, their family driver who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly helping Mihir escape after the crash. On Monday, Mumbai police had told the court that Rajesh Shah instructed his son Mihir to escape from the spot after the incident, in which a woman was killed and her husband injured. He also instructed the familys driver, Bidawat, who was in the car at the time, to take responsibility for the incident, the police had added. All three of the accused have been booked under a range of charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. In the hectic and frequently demanding setting of todays schools, students are always looking for practical methods to improve their overall wellbeing. Maintaining mental and physical health in the face of rigorous academic schedules, social pressures, and extracurricular activities is a big task. While there are many strategies to help students study more effectively and improve their physical and mental health, yoga is one that has become well-known for its all-encompassing advantages. Students general well-being can be greatly improved by including yoga into their daily routines, which can improve both their mental and physical health. Numerous problems that hinder todays students academic performance and general well-being are present. Stress results from their busy schedules, which include studies, projects, assignments, and extracurricular activities. Yoga can provide a solution and enhance students quality of life. Here are the key benefits of yoga for students: Reduction of Stress:Yoga is well known for its ability to reduce stress. Cortisol is the main stress hormone. Methods including deep breathing, meditation, and certain asanas (postures) help reduce cortisol levels. Students will be able to better manage their stress as a result, particularly when it comes to exams and project deadlines. Research indicates that practicing yoga lowers cortisol levels, which eases tension and encourages relaxation. Additionally, yoga reduces anxiety, which enhances academic performance. Hence, yoga is important in students life since it enables them to realise their greatest potential while keeping their minds clear and in balance. Enhanced cognitive function and emotional regulation:Consistent yoga practice improves focus and emotional regulation. Students academic performance and attention spans are enhanced through practices like mindfulness and meditation. Yoga helps students attain emotional stability by encouraging relaxation and lowering anxiety and despair. This is essential as they deal with psychological and intellectual obstacles in their adolescence and early adulthood. Boost flexibility and strength:Yoga combines a variety of poses that lengthen and fortify muscles. This physical conditioning helps students stay in good physical shape, lower their risk of injury, and improve their posture, which is particularly crucial for those who spend a lot of time sitting down. By encouraging relaxation and lowering physical stress that can obstruct sound sleep, yoga can enhance sleep patterns. Improves Respiratory Function:A key element of yoga is pranayama, or breathing exercises. Students physical endurance and focus are enhanced by these workouts, which also raise lung capacity and enhance general respiratory function. Social and behavioural advantages:Creating a sense of community and belonging is one of yogas most notable social advantages. Through fostering a sense of community, yoga gives students access to a network of support and improves social relationships. Frequent yoga practice helps students both psychologically and academically by fostering self-control, time management, and a proactive attitude towards problems. Students who take yoga courses can develop a network of supportive peers who are interested in well-being and personal growth, as well as conquer social anxiety and enhance communication skills. Yoga is a form of physical exercise that also benefits the mind, body, and soul. Students social relationships, physical health, and mental health can all be considerably enhanced by including yoga into their daily routines. Understanding the value of all-encompassing strategies, educational settings can leverage yoga as a potent tool to support students academic and personal success. Students can enjoy healthier, more balanced lives by promoting a culture that promotes yoga. (Inputs by Mrs. Radhika Sinha, Principal, Aditya Birla World Academy, Mumbai) Sarfira director Sudha Kongara Prasad shared an interesting anecdote about working with Akshay Kumar in an exclusive chat with News18. The filmmaker, who is remaking her Tamil film Soorarai Pottru in Hindi, said she loved working with Akshay. She praised the actor for his schedule but added that there came a day when she had to meddle with it and was scared to ask him to make changes to it. Speaking with us, Sudha revealed that Akshay had a strict 8-hour policy which he had informed her at the beginning of the shot. While most of the film was completed in his schedule, a crucial climax scene lasted longer than his schedule and the team wondered how they would convince Akshay to extend his time on the sets. Akshay sir has this policy, hes told me from Day Zero that he will work 8 hours and in those 8 hours, he says, he is like an assistant director. He doesnt move out of the sets. But after 8 hours, you just look around and he might not be there. This is what I was told and warned. However, this didnt happen with us. We always worked with the said condition in front of us. But that particular day, it was going beyond 8 hours and we had the finish the scene because we were finishing the film, she recalled. My first AD went and requested him. He told Akshay, Sir, another 10 minutes sir, another half hour sir, we know it is beyond 8 hours. (He was bargaining) Sir, so many days I have let you go in 5 hours and 6 hours. Akshay sir replied, Yeah, thats because I finished my work early, because I was fast. The AD continued to plead him, Please give us half hour. Very sweetly, Akshay gave us the half hour, the filmmaker said. The scene was shot near the Wathar Railway Station, on the outskirts of Bhor, Maharashtra. Sudha revealed that Akshay was staying in Panchgani and would travel to and fro from his location during the shoot. He had asked the team to give him a turnaround of 12 hours while they were shooting. However, due to the delayed shoot at the Wathar Station and an early shoot schedule on the following day, Sudha knew she wouldnt be able to give Akshay his requested turnaround time and wondered if he would make an exemption. He generally asks for 12 hour turn around but the thing was, the next day, we had a lot of work and we wanted him to finish one particular scene. Since he was living in Panchgani, he had to come down to the plains and shoot. So we are talking about the travel time and prep time. I wanted to shoot the scene on the following day at 6:30-7 am. That meant he had to start from Panchgani at 3-3:30 am, without the 12-hour turnaround. There were hardly 6 hours between the two shifts. My AD and I thought he was going to kill us and we wondered how do we ask him. We eventually went and requested him, Sudha recalled. At first, Akshay pretended to be stern but he eventually not only arrived at the sets at the said time but also shot the toughest scene of the film on the day. He was acting stern but knowing his sense of humour, (I knew he was joking). He said, Okay, I will think about it, Ill see. You are violating my rules. But the next day, we all turned up on sets and all we wanted to know was has Akshay sir left Panchgani. He left on the dot, he arrived on sets on the dot and he made this exception without a fuss. He shot the toughest scene of the film on that day and it was beautiful. Thats my fondest memory of him, Sudha said. Speaking about his qualities, Sudha said she and Akshay have several things in common, which worked in her favour. From the time I signed the project first we screened the film for him, he hadnt seen it before he agreed to do it to the time I went to him with the first draft of the Hindi version, he (has been) just terrific as far as I am concerned. I wake up at 4 am and he does the same, so our readings were 4 in the morning. Full of energy, full of life, we were jumping off the walls so we were absolutely delighted to work with him because I hate shooting into the nights, he hates shooting into the nights too. He is a mirror image and that is good. And his discipline. I just love the way that you dont have to look at your watch, you just know that he is on the dot. So if you give him a call time of 7 am, he is there at 6:58 am with make up on and he doesnt go back into his vanity until he finishes his shot. I love all of that about him, Sudha said. Sarfira marks Sudha and Akshays first collaboration. The film is slated to release on July 12. Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli recently visited the ISKON temple in London. A video of the couple has surfaced on social media in which they can be seen attending the Kirtan to offer their prayers to Lord Krishna. Anushka sported a plain white suit whereas, Virat opted for a casual look with a black t-shirt and beige pants. For more updates: Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli Visit Temple In London Amid Rumours of Moving To UK With Kids | Watch Indian pop icon Usha Uthups husband Jani Chacko Uthup died in Kolkata on Monday, their family said. Jani, 78, complained of discomfort while watching TV at their residence. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead, they said. For more updates: Usha Uthups Husband Jani Chacko Uthup Dies at 78 After Cardiac Arrest Actor Mukesh Khanna, who played Bhishma in BR Chopras television series Mahabharat, has been receiving a huge backlash on social media for his recent problematic comment, which he made while reviewing Nag Ashwins Kalki 2898 AD on his YouTube channel. For more updates: Kalki 2898 AD Not for Bihar and Odishas Audience, Says Mukesh Khanna, Gets TROLLED: Shame on You Bollywood actress Sonam Khan sat down for an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha and revealed Yash Chopra had asked her not to marry at the age of 18. The actress began her Bollywood career with Yash Chopras Vijay. She starred opposite Rishi Kapoor in the 1988 film. She did three more movies with the filmmaker and completed 35 films in total before she decided to give up her acting career to marry director Rajiv Rai. She was married to him for 25 years before they got a divorce. For more updates: Yash Chopra Told Me Not To Marry, Said I Was Making a Mistake: Vijay Actress Sonam Khan | Exclusive Amitabh Bachchan is known to send flowers and a letter to actors if he particularly likes their performance in a film. Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Saiyami Kher are only some of the actors who have shared that they received this sweet gesture from the veteran actor. However, Jaya Bachchan claims that she has never been a recipient of this gesture. For more updates: When Jaya Bachchan Teased Amitabh Bachchan For Sending Flowers To Other Actors: Aaj Tak Mujhe Kabhi After nearly two months of dating, Internet personality Aurora Culpo and film producer Paul Bernon have called it quits. While both celebrities are yet to confirm the news about their breakup, a source told Page Six that their romance was short-lived. Apart from them, Bernons ex-girlfriend and TV personality Bethenny Frankel also suggested that the pair may have reportedly split due to Culpos candidness about the relationship. While speaking on her podcast Just B With Bethenny, Bethenny Frankel hinted at Aurora Culpo and Paul Bernons breakup. The Bravo star claimed that Culpo might have been too vocal about their relationship which eventually led to the end of their affair. Further, she revealed the impact of her former fiances new relationship on her life. Hearing about your ex-fiance committing to another woman shortly thereafter on their first date, and then being inside their relationship, hearing about their sex and their gifts and meeting each others kids and the level of commitment, said Bethenny Frankel. In the same interview, the former Real Housewives of New York City star also recalled how she dealt with her breakup with Bernon. Frankel even shared that she is proud of how Aurora handled the breakup and learned a lot from the experience. Wondering what contributed to the demise of their budding romance, she added, [Aurora and Pauls] actions cost them their relationship, which was brand-new, and who knows what wouldve happened? the podcast host wondered. Aurora Culpo and Paul Bernon have been silent on their rumoured breakup. Meanwhile, Culpo has been enjoying quality time in Rhode Island with her family. Recently, she dropped images showcasing herself playing at the beach with her kids. Additionally, there was also a glimpse of the cute family relishing ice cream. In one of the pictures, we can also see the Internet sensation together with grandmother having lobsters at Matunuck Oyster Bar on July 4. Reports suggest that Aurora Culpo and Paul Bernon started dating in Boston when they were spotted together by local people. They were spotted by a bar visitor while kissing each other and speaking on Barely Filtered. Later, Culpo admitted to meeting each others children. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd are truly a match made in dancing heaven. Having met for the first time on Broadway in 2009, they crossed paths again on Dancing With the Stars and started dating in 2012. After three years, the Ukrainian dancer proposed to Murgatroyd to marry him, finally making it down the aisle in July 2017. Celebrating seven years of their marriage, the couple shared heartfelt posts on Instagram, leaving their fans overwhelmed. On Monday, July 8, Maksim Chmerkovskiy posted a beautiful picture from their wedding and wrote, 7 years married! Heres to another 70 with you my love! Hottest bride Ive ever seen and easily the best party Ive ever been a part of! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maksim Chmerkovskiy (@maksimc) Showing love in the comment section, Peta wrote, I love you. On the other hand, the DWTS alum also dropped a love-filled post for her husband with a romantic picture from their 2017 wedding event that was held at New Yorks Oheka Castle. I guess the 7th year itch didnt happen?? haha! I love you @maksimc 7 years married & 10 years together. Thank you for flirting with me way back in 2012 and putting the moves on me to get us 3 children, a dog and a beautiful life, she wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peta Murgatroyd (@petamurgatroyd) Notably, the couple is happily celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary when they are about to expand their family with a new member. Earlier this year, Murgatroyd announced that she is pregnant with their third child and is expecting a boy. Ever since, she has been sharing glimpses from her pregnancy journey, keeping fans intrigued. The couple welcomed their first child, Shai Aleksander, in January 2017 and their second son, Rio John, in June 2023. Speaking to People, the couple opened up about their wedding memories. Its amazing. We dreamed up this wedding. We wanted it to be in a castle. I mean, I landed in America in the 90s. I came across this place. It was always where I wanted to get married and then to be in that place and to have such a special occasion, Chmerkovskiy said. Boy group MIRAE, who came into the limelight in 2021 under DSP Media, has officially announced their disbandment on Weverse. Over the past three years, the group members Lee Jun Hyuk, Lien, Yoo Dohyun, Khael, Son Dong Pyo, Park Si Young and Jang Yu Bin, captured fans hearts with popular tracks like KILLA, Marvelous, Ourturn and Boys Will Be Boys. In a statement, their agency revealed that the decision to end the groups activities was reached after careful discussion. While the announcement has left fans heartbroken, there is some good news. Despite the groups separation, Son Dong Pyo will continue his solo career with DSP Media. As per Soompi, MIRAEs agency wrote, First of all, we sincerely thank all the fans who have loved and supported MIRAE. We would like to officially announce our position regarding MIRAEs group activities. After much deliberation and discussion, DSP Media and MIRAE members Lee Jun Hyuk, Lien, Yoo Dohyun, Khael, Son Dong Pyo, Park Si Young, and Jang Yu Bin have decided to conclude their group activities. While group activities will be coming to an end, Son Dong Pyo will continue with individual activities under DSP Media. Not just DSP Media, but each member including Lee Jun Hyuk, Lien, Yoo Dohyun, Khael, Son Dong Pyo, Park Si Young and Jang Yu Bin shared handwritten letters on Instagram for fans. The main vocalist of the group, Jun Hyuk wrote, Through my activities with MIRAE, Ive learned so much thanks to all of you, and Im grateful for the unforgettable moments weve shared. During my time, I often wondered if I deserved so much love. I received so much affection and I feel sorry if I wasnt able to give enough happiness and joy in return. Although I wont be able to greet you as MIRAE in the future, I will return in a new form. While Lien added, I feel deeply sorry to suddenly bring you this news. I am grateful to all the NOWs who have always loved and supported us. Its been seven years since I came to Korea without even knowing Korean and during that time, Ive met many precious people and had many good experiences. It has become a time that I will never forget. I am very sorry that I cannot continue with all the MIRAE members in the future, but I hope you will continue to watch over each of us as we strive on our respective paths. Before announcing their disbandment, MIRAE had released their first Japanese mini album, Running Up, in February, followed by their first Japanese tour, where they performed in 6 cities. In Korea, the groups final album was their fifth mini-album, Boys Will Be Boys, which came out in July 2023. Govindas niece Arti Singh tied the knot in April, and despite ongoing family tensions, actor Govinda attended the wedding and also opened on his presence at his nieces Mumbai reception. Fans were taken aback by Govindas participation in the celebrations, considering his longstanding feud with her elder brother, actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek, for over eight years. Recently, Arti expressed her love for her uncle on Instagram Stories, sharing a clip from his film and showering him with praise. Arti Singh spent Monday evening watching one of her uncle Govindas hit movies. She shared a clip on her Instagram story of Govinda dancing with actress Juhi Chawla, known for their iconic pairings in 90s films. Taking to Stories, she wrote, Bestest! No one can be like him (red heart emoji) Hero no. 1 always. Love you so so much! Govinda made a comeback in 2016 with Jagga Jasoos, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. He actively promoted the film by appearing on The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony TV with his wife Sunita and daughter Tina. This didnt sit well with his nephew Krushna Abhishek, who had recently taken over as host of Comedy Nights Live on Colors channel. While Govinda enjoyed himself on TKSS, cracking jokes and singing qawwalis with Kapil Sharma and his team, Krushna Abhishek was upset about his uncle appearing on a competing show. Govinda was upset with Krushna for a joke he made on his show, saying, I cracked a joke saying Maine Govinda ko apna mama rakha hai (I have kept Govinda as my uncle) which he didnt like. Later, an upset Govinda said, Krushna has been making money by insulting others on television. I was extremely upset with the Mama rakha hai remark and summoned him home. I told him that he should refrain from making such statements in the garb of gags as they could be humiliating. Kareena Kapoor Khans jaw-dropping pictures from her Europe vacation have fans gasping for breath and rightfully so. Not just fans but even celebrities cant keep calm after witnessing her breathtaking looks from the enchanting vacay. On Monday morning, the Crew actress shared a photo from the beach on Instagram. The stunning picture immediately prompted a reaction from producer and director Karan Johar. KJo reshared his bestie Kareena Kapoor Khans post on his Instagram stories. The post included a stunning mirror selfie featuring Kareena in a striped shirt over swimwear. Adding a dash of style were her shades and hair tied in a top bun. The Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani director was seemingly amazed to witness the actress sizzling avatar as he remarked, Wtf bebo? His note was followed by a hashtag tauba tauba, the song that currently has the Internet grooving to its tunes. A few weeks back, Kareena Kapoor Khan escaped for a vacation in Europe away from the chaos of everyday life. With back-to-back social media posts highlighting her joyous moments with hubby Saif Ali Khan and kids Taimur and Jeh, the Jaane Jaan actress has been ruling the Internet and how. Earlier, Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a bunch of sun-kissed selfies from a beach in London. Donning a blue swimwear, along with black sunglasses, the Chameli actress wowed the Internet. We could also see a shirtless Saif Ali Khan making a surprise entry in one of the pictures. Kareena humourously captioned the pictures, For me, its the one with the photobomber. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) Besides being a celebrated filmmaker, Karan Johar is a proud father of two kids. He welcomed his twins Yash and Roohi via surrogacy in 2017. The kids turned 7 years old in February this year. Recently, in a chat with Faye DSouza, Johar revealed that his kids have begun to point out that the filmmakers mother, whom they call mumma, is in fact their grandmother. The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director said, It is a modern family. It is an unusual circumstance, so now I am also dealing with the questions about whose stomach was I born in? But mumma is not mumma really, she is my grandmother. I am going to school, to the counsellor, to ask how we navigate the situation. And it is not easy, being a parent is never easy. The Bachelorette alum Chase McNary got married to his partner and hat designer Ellie White on July 6. The couple who met online got engaged on July 2, 2022. Unlike conventional wedding rituals, the duo took their vows in a super fun ceremony. Chase McNary appeared in season 12 of The Bachelorette, a dating game show. He also participated in 6th season of Bachelor in Paradise. According to reports, he failed to find the love of his life on both shows, until he met Ellie White on social media. The lovebirds said yes at the Arapahoe Basins mid-mountain lodge in Dillon, Colorado. Speaking about getting married at an elevation of 11,500 feet, Chase McNary, in an interaction with People revealed, We wanted to get married at the venue, so the mountaintop was kind of the most important part for us. Were going (to be) at 11,500 feet, so were kind of just basing everything off of love reaching new heights. Its kind of the theme for our wedding. So, 11,500 feet, love reaching new heights is kind of like our tagline on everything. The reality star added that he and his partner did not want a stiff formal wedding. Instead, they enjoyed a super lax, super fun, casual and also, just a full weekend with the people that they hold dear. View this post on Instagram A post shared by E L L I E M C N A R Y (@elliefwhite) Ellie White disclosed that a florist in Denver created an artsy, unique floral set-up minus the typical white flowers for the important day in her life. Before the marriage ceremony, the couple also hosted a chuck wagon and a rehearsal dinner for friends and family, reported People. While McNary was dressed in Nicks Menswear-tailored full custom suit, Whites dream wedding dress was designed by Galia Lahav. White also sported a custom bridal hat from her label. Staying true to their non-traditional marriage, Chase McNary opted for a Best Woman and Ellie White chose a Man of Honor. While the groom walked down the aisle to Elton Johns Can You Feel the Love Tonight track, the bride walked to Jason Mrazs I Wont Give Up. The wedding festivities were held between 3 pm and 8 pm so that the couple and the guests could enjoy the golden hour in the mountains. As per McNary the time frame created a different feel than in traditional weddings where its like the sun goes down and then everyone just kind of gets drunk and blacks out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by E L L I E M C N A R Y (@elliefwhite) Although Chase McNary and Ellie White are yet to confirm their honeymoon destination, the newlyweds are placing their bets on Fiji and New Zealand. Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited Manipur on Monday. This was his third visit to the northeastern state after ethnic conflict and violence hit Manipur in May 2023. The fact that Gandhi visited Imphal, Jiribam and Churachandpur was welcomed by the common people. He interacted with internally displaced people of both the sides, the Meiti as well as the Kuki-Zo tribal community, and stated that he has come to Manipur as their brother and will try to do everything to bring peace there. News18 spoke to a wide range of stakeholders in Manipur on Gandhis visit. It is clear that all stakeholders of Manipur are awaiting a peace dialogue. Brij Kishore Singh, Joint Secretary of ST Demand Committee, who were vocal for ST status to the Meitei people, told News18, I think Rahul Gandhis visit to Manipur will make the Government of India rethink about Manipur. If we want peace in Manipur, dialogue should be there. With the present situation, we are left out. Centre should be proactive now. It is clear that the people of Manipur want a solution to the issue with the violence having left at least 200 people dead since May last year. A dialogue is the need of the hour to bring peace in the state. Another human rights Meitei activist, who did not wanted to disclose his name, told News18, At least Rahul Gandhi is giving attention to Manipur. Congress got all votes from here. He can put pressure on Centre. Displaced people want to go back home and its possible if a dialogue starts. Rahul Gandhi sat with the displaced people of both the sides. He also met women and children representatives of both sides. Mangkholien Gangte, Congress Secretary, told News18, He spoke to all sides, and they came with their problems. We need a solution. Students are not being able to study and there are several other problems. Ginza Vualzong, the media and publicity representative of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, told News18, Actually Rahul Gandhi was in a hurry, he went to relief camps and met with internally displaced people. We gave him a memorandum and he said he will look into the matter. The fact that he came all the way proves he is concerned with us, and we are hopeful. Amit Shah ji has also promised that a solution will come. We also want dialogue but we dont want Biren Singh, thats clear. An immediate political solution is required to break the cycle of violence and atrocities in Manipur for the reasons mentioned above. Clearly, the Kuki-Zo minority will never again be able to live a dignified and safe life in Manipur, given the extent of bloodshed and the radicalisation by the majority society., the ITLF wrote in their memorandum. The BJP, meanwhile, hit out at Rahul Gandhi, with party leader Amit Malviya saying, The ethnic conflict in Manipur is a legacy of the Congress party. The State has witnessed killing of civilians, police and Army personnel for decades, while Congress was in power. The ethnic conflict in Manipur is a legacy of the Congress party. The State has witnessed killing of civilians, police and Army personnel for decades, while Congress was in power.In 1990, 300 people were killed.1100 people died in 1993400 were killed in 1997In 2001, 95 https://t.co/iNWEVNSOeP Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 8, 2024 At this point, the people of both sides are saying that talks should start so they can put forth their demands. For the common Manipuri, a solution to the long standing conflict is way above Rahul Gandhi or any other politician. The Congress said on Tuesday that the Jammu region becoming the centre of terror incidents reflects the strategic failure of the Modi government and demanded that the Centre should take the country into confidence on steps it is taking to deal with the situation. The opposition party also called for a befitting reply to Pakistan in the wake of the rising terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress assertion came a day after five army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed and as many were injured when heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrolling party in the remote Machedi area of J&Ks Kathua district. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Deepender Hooda said this attack is highly condemnable. He said the government should suo motu give a statement on the steps it is taking in the wake of the recent terror attacks in the state. Even before this, in December 2023, four of our soldiers were martyred in Rajouri. There was an encounter in Kulgam, in which two of our soldiers were martyred. There was a terrorist attack in Doda on June 26. On June 9 also, a terrorist attack was carried out on a bus, Hooda said, listing the recent terror attacks in J&K. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has asserted that the solution to the persistent terror attacks should be strict action, not empty promises, Hooda said. Figures show that the number of civilians and security forces personnel martyred in terrorist incidents in the Jammu region has almost doubled since January 2023, he said. The centre of terrorist incidents has now shifted from the Kashmir valley to the Jammu region and this reflects the strategic failure of the Modi government, he said. The Modi government is not serious about the ground situation in J&K and instead is more busy presenting its narrative to the country, he alleged. Whenever the Modi government introduces any scheme, it links it to terrorism and says that terrorism will be eradicated. When demonetisation took place in the country and the Article 370 was removed from Jammu and Kashmir, even then there was talk of elimination of terror,lmism. But now the government should think about the situation that has arisen, he said. Slamming Pakistan for orchestrating such attacks in J&K, Hooda said the neighbouring country is trying to divert the attention of its people from its own failures on unemployment and its bankruptcy. Pakistan has reached the brink of becoming a failed state and yet it is daring to do this, Hooda said, adding that now it is the time to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. As a responsible opposition, we are with the government for the security of the country, he said. The Congress on Monday condemned the terror attack on Army personnel in Kathua and said no amount of whitewashing, fake claims, hollow boasts and chest-thumping can erase the fact that the Modi government remains a disaster for security in the Union Territory. Gandhi said the answer to the continuous terrorist attacks has to be strict action, not hollow speeches and false promises. He said whatever steps need to be taken to deal with the situation, the Congress, as a responsible Opposition, was ready to support and cooperate with the government in every way. The July 12 elections for 11 Members of Legislative Council (MLC) are being seen as a semi-final before the Maharashtra assembly polls. The political situation in Maharashtra has remained volatile since the 2019 state Assembly polls, with the state seeing the collapse of two governments and the swearing-in of three chief ministers. Two-and-a-half-years ago, the MLC elections saw cross-voting in the then ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, undivided Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance) in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was considered as the first step towards the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government. Later, it was revealed that Eknath Shindes group of Shiv Sena MLAs had helped the BJPs candidates win, while the Congress candidate, who was expected to get first-preference votes, lost that election. With no action despite the eye-opener, the Thackeray government eventually collapsed, with a rebellion by Shinde and more than 50 Shiv Sena MLAs. The state saw a new government of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, with Shinde as the chief minister and Devendra Fadnavis his deputy. MAHAYUTI AND MVA CANDIDATES After the 2022 jolt, the Mahayuti (Shinde Sena, Ajit Pawars NCP and BJP) and the MVA, comprising the Congress, Thackerays Sena and Sharad Pawars NCP, are set for the biennial elections. The ruling Mahayuti alliance has fielded nine candidates, while the Opposition MVA has three nominees in the fray. With five candidates, the BJP has fielded the most, with Ajit Pawars NCP and Shindes Shiv Sena getting two nominees each. Among the MVA partners, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have fielded one candidate each, while the NCP (SP) is supporting Peasants and Workers Party of India candidate Jayant Patil. Sena (UBT) has chosen Thackerays confidant Milind Narvekar, and Congress has renominated Pradnya Satav, wife of late Congress leader Rajeev Satav. With no withdrawal of candidates, the election will take place on July 12. All eyes will be on Narvekar, who has connections in all parties and is capable of managing the extra votes MVA may need. According to the quota of votes, MVA has the strength to get only two candidates elected based on first-preference votes. However, when Narvekar filed his nomination, it sent a clear message to the ruling Mahayuti that their votes might get divided. The BJP has nominated OBC leader from Marathwada, Pankaja Munde, who recently lost the Lok Sabha election to an NCP candidate. Other candidates are Amit Gorkhe, Sadabhau Khot, Yogesh Tilekar and Parinay Phuke, who has been given another chance. Shindes Shiv Sena has given candidacy to former MPs Bhawana Gawli and Krupal Tumane, whose tickets were cut in the Lok Sabha elections due to anti-incumbency and negative survey reports. To pacify these influential leaders, Shinde has provided them a backdoor entry. Ajit Pawar has shown confidence in his loyalists Shivajirao Garje and Rajesh Vitekar. NUMBERSPEAK According to the numbers, each MLC candidate will need 23 first-choice votes to secure their seat for the next six years. The ruling BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP have 179 MLAs, and with their other alliance partners, the tally goes up to 203. In contrast, the MVA, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), has a bench strength of 69. Additionally, there are two AIMIM MLAs who have not pledged their support to either alliance. This election will be conducted through a secret ballot, making it crucial for every party to keep their flock together for the precursor to the state assembly polls. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) said on Tuesday that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is displaying double standards on defections, even as he claims to protect the Constitution of the country. KTR is in Delhi with party leaders Harish Rao and Suresh Reddy to expose the unethical practices of the Congress. The Congress mourns party defections in Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana. However, in Telangana, they do not hesitate to induct BRS leaders. Where are their ethics? On the one hand, they claim that they are protecting the Constitution. On the other hand, they are acting in a way that insults the book, he said. We will make Congress policies known to the people of the country at Delhi level. Although the Congress promised to make anti-defection law stronger in its Nyay Patra, it is encouraging leaders from other parties to join them, the former IT minister of Telangana added. THE DEFECTIONS In the past couple of weeks, serial defections have rattled the BRS. Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior BRS leader K Keshava Rao joined the Congress in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Besides this, six BRS MLCs joined the Congress in a midnight coup last week. Additionally, seven BRS MLAs have jumped to the party after it came to power. The BRS has approached Telangana Speaker to disqualify a few of the MLAs. KTR said that they will approach the higher authorities. The BRS will fight on a large scale against the unethical behavior of the Congress party. We will complain to the President who is the guardian of the Constitution. We will take up the issue with the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. We will continue to fight against party defections along with other parties who are targeted by the Congress and BJP. We will seek legal measures and knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to stop such illegal activities, he said. WHEN CONGRESS HAD APPROACHED SPEAKER AGAINST THEN TRS While the BRS has been speaking out against party defections for long, their rivals have maintained that the pink party is getting a taste of its own medicine. When the party (then TRS) came to power in 2014, seven Congress MLAs had joined it. At that time, the Congress had approached the Speaker to disqualify the turncoats. When asked about this, KTR defended the move by saying that there is a difference between defections and mergers. If the two-thirds of a legislative party merges, even the Supreme Court cannot do anything. However, the present Telangana chief minister is going to the houses of BRS MLAs at midnight and poaching them against the law, he added. The Indian government has warned users about a major security issue concerning the Microsoft Edge web browser this week. The new security bulletin dated July 5 comes via the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In warning about an issue that needs your immediate attention. The security agency claims that the web browser from Microsoft has multiple security vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to cause denial of service conditions, remote code execution and bypass the security of your device and give them access to the data. CERT-In Microsoft Edge Security Alert: What It Says The security note from CERT-In clearly highlights the issues facing the Microsoft Edge browser which is built on the same engine as Googles Chrome. These vulnerabilities exist in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) due to use after free in Dawn and Swiftshader. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by persuading a victim to visit a specially crafted webpage, the post from the security agency explains. The security alert also specifies which versions of the Microsoft Edge browser are affected by the issue. The note says the Edge stable version prior to 126.0.2592.81 are at risk because of the mentioned issue and people should update their Edge browser version right away. How To Update Microsoft Edge Version The good news is that Microsoft has already issued a security bulletin for this issue, so we suggest you update the Edge browser on your PC and other devices right away. Click on the three-dot menu on the top right Scroll down to Help and Feedback Tap on About Microsoft Edge If the new version is available it will automatically update Restart the browser to start using the new version of Edge During this period, users are advised to be vigilant about clicking on mails or attachments from unknown senders and sources, respectively. A 600-kilometer-long snaking scar on the surface of Mars has been captured in previously unseen detailed photographs by the European Space Agencys (ESA) Mars Express mission. The unique zebra-like stripes that accompany the dark ravine are most likely a consequence of intense volcanic activity that occurred millions of years ago. According to the ESA, the remarkable surface feature known as Aganippe Fossa is a graben, which is a ditch-like groove with steep walls on either side. US Geological Survey data indicates that although it was discovered in 1930, astronomers did not officially name it until 1976. Sharing the pictures on Instagram, ESA labelled them as the scars of Mars. The Space Agency went on to give a brief description of the same. It claimed that this giant crack cuts across the slope of Arsia Mons, one of Mars most powerful volcanoes. According to scientists, the Martian crust was torn and stretched by magma, creating this gash. The surrounding topography suggests old glaciers and wind-blown dust, according to ESA. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ESA European Space Agency (@europeanspaceagency) The post has more than 13,000 likes on the social media platform. A user commented saying, What a shot. Quite amazing & puzzling, the crust of Mars. Another user stated, Beautiful scars! The amount of history and knowledge they hold is just magical. Maybe Mars has a mysterious past, read another comment. Yet another user simply stated, Amazing. These images were published by ESAs Mars Express mission. This is Europes first mission to the Red Planet, which has been circling the planet since 2003. The spacecraft continues to analyse Mars globally even after its lander, Beagle 2, was lost. It explores the planets blob-shaped moons, Phobos and Deimos, catalogues minerals, examines the atmosphere and looks into the crust. According to a press release from ESA, two distinct types of terrain were photographed by Mars Expresss High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC): lobate terrain, which is composed of gently sloping cliffs and rocky debris, and so-called hummocky terrain, which is made up of numerous irregularly shaped mounds and valleys grouped together. This striking divergence was probably brought about by long-term wind erosion that eroded the planets surface to the right of the graben. Its unknown, though, why the remainder of the surrounding terrain remained unaffected. A man was seen catching a snake and eating it live in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, in an act that can only be described as weird and eccentric. As per reports in Free Press Journal, the man is dacoit Ganga Prasad, who was recently released after serving his sentence in jail. Prasad can be seen trying to catch a snake while sitting by the river in the widely shared video. Soon after capturing one, he approaches the person holding the camera and attempts to strangle the reptile by tightly gripping its head. After the snake stops flapping, he waits and bites off a portion of it. Meanwhile, passersby can also be seen in the video watching the man eat the live snake. The caption accompanying the post read, A Guy from Fatehpur Eats Snake Alive (Video of dacoit Ganga Prasad Surfaced). A Guy from Fatehpur Eats Snake Alive (Video of dacoit Ganga Prasad Surfaced) pic.twitter.com/VFRl2fX3FS Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) July 8, 2024 The video was shared on July 8, and it quickly went viral on the internet. So far, it has collected over 2 lakh views. The clip elicited several reactions from people calling for stern action against the dacoit. A user commented, How is this possible, it feels very strange to see, there are so many things to eat and you only got snake to eat. How is this possible, it feels very strange to see, there are so many things to eat and you only got snake to eat.. Suman Kumari (@SumanKu89704156) July 8, 2024 Another user said, Oh God, how can it be possible that someone ate a snake, what is still to be seen in this world, my soul trembled. Oh God, how can it be possible that someone ate a snake, what is still to be seen in this world, my soul trembled. Satish Mishra (@SATISHMISH78) July 8, 2024 A third user suggested, Isko to fir se jail me daal dena chahiye. (He should be put back in jail). Isko to fir se jail me daal dena chahiye ShivRaj Yadav (@shivaydv_) July 8, 2024 Bear Grylls ka phupaa, (Uncle of Bear Grylls), read another comment. Bear Grylls ka phupaa Heera Thakur (@deepakraghav012) July 9, 2024 Yet another user stated, A case should be filed against this person under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. A case should be filed against this person under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act @moefcc @byadavbjp THE MANDALORIAN (@TheManda_lorian) July 8, 2024 According to the report by Free Press Journal, the dacoit was satisfying his cravings for snakes after being freed from jail recently, since he was accustomed to feasting on snakes caught from the land or river. According to the reports, Prasad is a prominent member of the notorious Shankar Kevat gang in the region, which is well-known for looting and intimidation. This specific video purports to be from Kalka Ka Dera by Kishanpur Thana. What do you think of this video? Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as they visited the All-Russian Exhibition Centre in Moscow on Tuesday. PM Modi also discussed the Russia-Ukraine war with Putin and said, For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all ways. Thanking Russia for helping India meet its fuel requirements, PM Modi said, The world should accept that India-Russia agreement regarding fuel played a big role in bringing stability to the international market. In addition to this, PM Modi and Russian President Putin held talks over a variety of issues ranging from the growing India-Russia ties to terrorism and many more. PM Modi Discusses Russia-Ukraine War During his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, PM Modi highlighted the Russia-Ukraine war and said India is ready to cooperate in all ways to restore peace in both the countries. For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all waysI assure you and the world community that India is in favour of peace. Listening to my friend Putin talk about peace yesterday, gives me hope. I would like to say to my media friends Possible, Prime Minister Modi said. PM Modi on Russias Role In Fulfilling Indias Fuel Demands PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, credited President Vladimir Putin for helping India to fulfill its fuel demands. When the world faced a shortage of food, fuel and fertilisers, we did not allow our farmers to face problems and ties with Russia played an important role in it, PM Modi asserted. PM Modi Mentions Killing of Innocent Children Prime Minister Modi and Putin held a detailed discussion on the pain caused due to loss of lives. PM Modi during the discussion said, Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this. Notably, Ukraine has claimed that it has recovered fragments of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the childrens hospital, which was hit on Monday during a wave of Russian attacks that killed at least 41 Ukrainians across the country. However, Russia said, without providing evidence, stated that it was a Ukrainian anti-missile system that struck the hospital. PM Modi Met Putin 17 Times in Last 10 Years Talking about the strong relation that India shares with Russia, PM Modi said, I have had ties with Russia as well as you since the past 2.5 decades. In about 10 years, we have met 17 times. In the last 25 years, we have had around 22 bilateral meetings. This reflects the depth of our relations. PM Modi on Terrorism Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting highlighted the problem of terrorism that India is facing since the last 40 to 50 years and strongly condemned it. India has been facing terrorism for 40 years. We know how horrible and disgusting terrorism is. So, when terror incidents occurred in Moscow, when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan, I can imagine how deep its pain would be. I strongly condemn all kinds of terrorism. PM Modi Congratulates Putin For Winning Elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Putin for securing victory in the elections held in Russia and expressed his gratitude for his grand welcome in the country. He said, Excellency and my friend, I express gratitude to you for this grand welcome and honour. We received an unprecedented victory in the elections in India. I also express gratitude for the greetings that you extended after that. In March, you too registered a grand victory in elections. I extend my greetings to you once again. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, deepening ties between the two nations as Western leaders gathered at a NATO summit in Washington and Russia stepped up attacks in Ukraine with deadly missile strikes. While leaders including President Joe Biden and Britains newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepared to mark 75 years of the worlds biggest security organization, and reassure Ukraine of NATOs support, Putin and Modi were pictured viewing an exhibition of nuclear technology in space. Modi laid a wreath at a war memorial near the Kremlin during his first visit to Russia since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He also met Putin Monday at the start of his two-day trip, shortly after Russian missiles slammed across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people across the country, officials said. While Modis trip received wall-to-wall coverage in Russia, coverage of Russias deadly attack on Ukraine has been muted. Modi posted photos of his arrival in Moscow on the social media platform X, in both Russian and English, saying he was looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations. Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people, he wrote, also sharing a picture of himself and Putin hugging. Russian state media reported that Putin and Modi would discuss energy ties, including Russia helping India to build more nuclear power plants. Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trading partner has grown since war in Ukraine. China and India have become key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. The leaders also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc. Under Modis leadership, India has avoided condemning Russias military action in Ukraine while emphasizing the need for a peaceful settlement. The partnership between Moscow and New Delhi has become fraught, however, as Russia has moved closer to China. Modi notably stayed away from last weeks summit in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security grouping founded by Moscow and Beijing. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered their already touchy relationship as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted despite talks and have seeped into how New Delhi looks at Moscow. But Modi is expected to seek to continue close relations with Russia, which is also a major defense supplier for India. With Moscows arms industries mostly serving the Russian military in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy. Trade development also will figure strongly in the talks, particularly intentions to develop a maritime corridor between Indias major port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russias Far East. India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told reporters Friday. Imports from Russia touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. Indias financial year runs from April to March. Russia on Tuesday agreed to Indias demand to ensure early release and return to home of the Indian nationals working in the Russian military as support staff after Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army. The prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army. This was taken up strongly by the prime minister and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals, he said. It is learnt that Modi raised the issue during his informal talks with Putin over dinner at the Russian leaders dacha or country home on Monday evening. The prime minister raised the issue very strongly that we should try and get all the Indian nationals back to India as early as possible, Kwatra said at a media briefing. He said the two sides will work on how expeditiously the Indians can be brought back home. To a specific query, Kwatra said India anticipated the number of its nationals serving in the Russian military to be roughly between 35 to 50 out of which 10 were already brought back. We have mentioned it in the past that while we do not have the precise indication on the specific numbers, we anticipate them to be roughly between 35 to 50 out of which we have managed to bring back 10 of them, he said. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue of Indian nationals serving with the Russian Army remains a matter of utmost concern and demanded action from Moscow over it. On June 11, India said two Indian nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, had recently been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which took the number of such deaths to four. Following the deaths of two Indians, the MEA demanded a verified stop to further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army. In a strongly-worded statement, it said India demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army and that such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership. In March this year, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine. In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a security helper in the Donetsk region. Prime Minister Modi was on a two-day high-profile visit to Russia from Monday to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Putin. Russia has decided to discharge and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, a major breakthrough achieved during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Moscow, sources said on Tuesday. The development came after PM Modi took up the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their private dinner on Monday, the sources added. Modi is on a key two-day visit to time-tested ally Russia, his first since the Ukraine war broke out in February 2022. Modi last travelled to Russia in 2019, while the two leaders last met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan in 2022. The plight of Indians fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war is a key concern for New Delhi. In recent months, reports have surfaced about Indians who have fallen prey to job frauds, and were tricked and forced by scammers to fight for the Russian army, which allows recruits from other countries. One such group had even posted a video on social media narrating their ordeal, asking the government to intervene. According to reports, four Indians have been killed in the war, while 10 have returned to the country. About 35-40 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia. Indias Foreign Ministry has earlier said that it is pressing hard to bring back the recruits tricked by agents. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has said the issue is a very deep concern for India, and has been engaging with Russia for the past few months for a headway. India has maintained that the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian army in a conflict situation is not in consonance with the India-Russia diplomatic partnership, and has asked for an early release and return of all such Indian nationals. India has also demanded a stop to such recruitments in the future. In such a backdrop, the breakthrough during PM Modis visit would be a major relief for the families of the recruits still stuck in Russia. Two Indians, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan (both from Gujarat), were reported killed in the Ukraine war earlier this year. Two others were reported killed in June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders have vouched for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, official sources said. In response to the United States concerns over its amicable ties with Russia, Indian leaders cleared their stance on the Ukraine war and said there was no solution on battleground. Quoting Indian leaders, sources said, India has always called for respecting the United Nations Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday as a part of his two-day visit, the United States raised concerns about Indias ties with Russia. India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. We did just see Modi, like (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orban, meet with (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy. We thought that was an important step to take. And we would urge India, as we do any country when it engages with Russia, to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to be one that respects the UN charter, that respects Ukraines territorial integrity, Ukraines sovereignty, Miller said. I will look to Prime Minister Modis public remarks to see what he talked about. But as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, should respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said in response to a question. Putin on Monday night welcomed Modi at his official residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a private engagement during which he praised the visiting Indian leader for the work he has done for the countrys progress. This is Modis first trip to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. Space X and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is a staunch advocate of paper ballots, on Tuesday, reiterated that electronic voting machines and postal voting are too risky. He said that EVMs should be replaced with paper ballots and in-person voting. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the billionaire shared excerpts from news reports that emphasised the unreliability of EVMs ranging from the use of outdated versions of the Microsoft operating system to testimonies at the June 2017 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, where it was alleged that the machines could be reprogrammed through a vote-stealing code to invisibly cause any candidate to win. Electronic voting machines and anything mailed in is too risky.We should mandate paper ballots and in-person voting only. pic.twitter.com/TVC32b1Wkd Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 9, 2024 Electronic voting machines and anything mailed in is too risky. We should mandate paper ballots and in-person voting only, Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Musk, who has often rooted for paper ballots over electronic voting machines, first weighed in on the issue while responding to Robert Kennedy, an independent Presidential candidate in the US, who claimed that Puerto Ricos primary elections experienced hundreds of voting irregularities related to EVMs. At the time, Musk called for eliminating electronic voting machines (EVMs) citing that these machines could be hacked by humans or artificial intelligence. We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high, Musk said then. Responding to Musks statements, which came shortly after the Lok Sabha Election results, former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrakshar said that Musks views may apply to the US, where internet-connected voting machines are used but in India, EVMs are secured. The former minister responded to Musks remark, saying they were a sweeping generalisation and offered the billionaire a tutorial on how the EVMs work. As PM Modis two-day visit to Russia is coming to an end in a few hours from now, his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this time holds key importance in the strategic ties between the two countries. The bond between the two leaders appeared to have grown stronger despite several countries, especially the US, raising concerns over India and Russias ties. Following his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister will visit Austria. PM Modi would be the first Indian leader in 41 years, after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to visit the European nation. However, it is important to note that PM Modis visit to Russia has three key takeaways: PM Modi Discusses Ukraine War With Putin During his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, PM Modi highlighted the Russia-Ukraine war and said India is ready to cooperate in all ways to restore peace in both the countries. For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all waysI assure you and the world community that India is in favour of peace. Listening to my friend Putin talk about peace yesterday, gives me hope. I would like to say to my media friends Possible, Prime Minister Modi said. In addition to this, PM Modi also raked up the killing of innocent children in the war. PM Modi during discussion with President Putin said, Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this. Release of Indian Military Recruits on Russia-Ukraine Warfront Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted his dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modis request to release Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. Notably, PM Modi made the request at a private dinner hosted by Putin at his residence on Monday. The plight of Indians fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war is a key concern for New Delhi. In recent months, reports have surfaced about Indians who have fallen prey to job frauds, were tricked and forced by scammers to fight for the Russian army in its war against Russia. According to reports, four Indians have been killed in the war, while 10 have returned to the country. About 35-40 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia. PM Modi Receives Russias Highest Civilian Honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi was officially awarded the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to enhancing bilateral relations between India and Russia. Honoured to receive the The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle. I thank the Russian Government for conferring the award.This award is dedicated to my fellow 140 crore Indians. pic.twitter.com/hOHGDMSGC6 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024 The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus, and patron saint of Russia. It was bestowed in a single class and was only awarded for the most outstanding civilian or military merit. A neurologist who specializes in movement disorders and is an expert on Parkinson's disease was at the White House eight times in eight months between July 2023 and March 2024. The New York Times confirmed the visits as documented on visitor logs released by the White House; more recent visitor logs won't be released until later. The White House then confirmed Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard has evaluated President Biden three times as part of the president's annual physicals, and that his visits to the White House have been primarily for other staffers, the Washington Post reports. More: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced "intense" questioning about Cannard's visits during Monday's daily press briefing, the Hill reports. She would not name the doctor, nor would she confirm any details about who he was at the White House to see, citing privacy concerns. She did, however, explicitly state that Biden is not being treated for Parkinson's disease. The president's most recent physical, which took place in February, found no evidence of any neurological ailments. "Does Kamala Harris have what it takes?" That's the question posed by the Independent as it speculates on the US vice president's chances of beating Donald Trump should President Biden step aside so she can make a run in November. According to recent polls, the answer seems to be "yes," though by the narrowest of margins. Poll No. 1: Per USA Today, a Bendixen & Amandi survey of 1,000 registered voters shows that Biden would lose to Trump, 42% to 43%, with 3% choosing third-party candidates and 10% deeming themselves undecided. Harris, however, would win over Trump 42% to 41%, with 3% going to independent candidates and 12% remaining undecided. Per USA Today, a Bendixen & Amandi survey of 1,000 registered voters shows that Biden would lose to Trump, 42% to 43%, with 3% choosing third-party candidates and 10% deeming themselves undecided. Harris, however, would win over Trump 42% to 41%, with 3% going to independent candidates and 12% remaining undecided. Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer? The California and Michigan governors, who've also been floated as names to replace Biden, were included in the B&A poll, too, though they didn't fare as well against TrumpNewsom comes in at 37% to Trump's 40%, while Whitmer loses to Trump 36% to 40%. The undecideds in their cases are 15% and 17%, respectively. The California and Michigan governors, who've also been floated as names to replace Biden, were included in the B&A poll, too, though they didn't fare as well against TrumpNewsom comes in at 37% to Trump's 40%, while Whitmer loses to Trump 36% to 40%. The undecideds in their cases are 15% and 17%, respectively. Poll No. 2: Reuters reports on a CNN poll released July 2, which saw Biden trailing Trump 43% to 49%, a 6-point deficit. Harris also loses to Trump, but only 47% to 45%, within the margin of error. That same poll finds Harris leading Trump among independent voters 43% to 40%, while moderate voters of both parties prefer Harris over Trump 51% to 39%. Reuters reports on a CNN poll released July 2, which saw Biden trailing Trump 43% to 49%, a 6-point deficit. Harris also loses to Trump, but only 47% to 45%, within the margin of error. That same poll finds Harris leading Trump among independent voters 43% to 40%, while moderate voters of both parties prefer Harris over Trump 51% to 39%. Poll No. 3: A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted immediately after Biden's disastrous debate similarly saw Harris and Trump neck and neck, with 42% and 43%, respectively. Biden ties Trump in this scenario, both with 40%. Both Harris and Biden's numbers against Trump fall within the margin of error, "making Harris' showing statistically just as strong as Biden's." The earliest photograph of a US president is an 1843 daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams that's in the possession of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. It will now be joined by the oldest known photograph of a first ladythe woman who inspired the use of the term for the first time. The National Portrait Gallery has acquired an 1846 daguerreotype of Dolley Madison, who was at the time the 78-year-old wife of fourth US president James Madison. It was purchased from Sotheby's on June 28 for $456,000, some six times the expected top price of $70,000. The Art Newspaper reports that President Zachary Taylor described Madison as "the first lady of the land for half a century" at her funeral; it was the first time the phrase "first lady" had been used in connection with a president's wife. She was "considered by many to have invented the role of First Lady," the site notes. "Her extroversion, intelligence and prowess as a hostess"including the Wednesday night parties she helmed"helped her husband create strategic political friendships and position the White House at the center of Washington society." Sotheby's auction catalog described the image: "Likely made in the late winter or early spring of 1846 when photography was still in its infancy, this daguerreotype by John Plumbe, Jr., is believed to be the earliest photograph of a First Lady. It is one of exceedingly few surviving photographs of the woman who has defined for two centuries what it means to be the First Lady of the United States of America." The daguerreotype, the first publicly available photographic process, was invented in 1839. The image of Madison was recently found by its sellers during the process of cleaning out the basement of a deceased relative, reports the BBC. It notes that Plumbe also took the first known images of the US Capitol. (More first lady stories.) Donald Trump told Sean Hannity on Monday night that he hasn't settled on his pick for a running mateand may hold off until next week's Republican convention. "I think it would be a very interesting buildup and important for the convention," he said, per Time. "It will make it even more exciting." One wild card in the last-minute deliberations is how uncertainty about President Biden's candidacy could factor into Trump's pick. Coverage: Short list: The DC consensus has three names at the top of the list: Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and JD Vance of Ohio, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. The Washington Post assesses the pro and cons of each, with Vance most appealing to the MAGA camp, Burgum the least controversial (though "it's hard to see who would be excited by Burgum's selection," writes Aaron Blake), and Rubio somewhere in the middle. Joe Bonsall, Grammy award winner and celebrated tenor of the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys, died Tuesday at age 76. Bonsall died from complications of the neuromuscular disorder Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a statement from his family, per the AP. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall left his gospel group the Keystones in 1973 to join the Oak Ridge Boys, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included its signature 1981 song, "Elvira," its 1982 hit "Bobbie Sue," and 1983's "American Made." "Elvira" marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard's all-genre Hot 100. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has signed an agreement with the Chinese company CMEC to carry out the third and final phase of the Sitra Housing Project. The signing ceremony took place during a working meeting in Beijing, China, chaired by Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, and Wang Bo, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CMEC. Under this new agreement, CMEC will proceed with the construction of 1,269 new housing units in the third phase of the Sitra Housing Project at a total cost of 119 million Bahraini dinars. This phase will also include the establishment of secondary infrastructure services, with the project set to begin in the first quarter of 2025. Minister Al Rumaihi noted that this third phase represents the largest number of housing units and the final stage in the project's construction schedule. The Minister also discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in housing projects, particularly through the government's land development rights programme. This programme presents favourable opportunities for the private sector to contribute to the provision of housing units for Bahraini citizens, leveraging the Ministry's financing services such as "Tas'heel" and "New Mazaya." The Sitra Housing Project is conceived as an integrated city, featuring residential units, green areas, advanced road networks, waterfronts, bicycle and pedestrian paths, and a range of educational, health, and commercial facilities. The third phase will be constructed on an area of 670,000 square meters, with the infrastructure work including 23.6 km of main and secondary roads, 22.8 km of sewage network, 27.6 km of rainwater drainage network, and a 26.6 km lighting network with 753 lighting poles. The project will also be supported by 36 electricity substations and six communications towers, along with a commercial complex, five commercial centers, three schools, a cultural centre, an events hall, and a child development centre. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com Recent data from the Central Bank of Bahrain presents a nuanced picture of foreign worker remittances from the Kingdom. While the first quarter of 2024 saw a slight 2.1% decline in remittances, totalling approximately 230.7 million Bahraini dinars compared to 235.6 million dinars in the corresponding period of 2023, this reduction occurred against a backdrop of increasing foreign worker employment. Statistics from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) reveal that the number of foreign workers in Bahrain reached 616.1 thousand at the end of December 2023, marking a 5.8% year-on-year increase. Additionally, the LMRA issued a total of 45,000 new work licences for foreign workers in the last quarter of 2023, up 12.2% from the same period in 2022. This suggests growing economic activity in the Kingdom, which could be expected to drive an increase in remittances. Several factors may be contributing to the observed decline in remittances. The global economic slowdown may be impacting remittance patterns, as workers send less money back home due to economic uncertainty. Furthermore, the composition of the foreign worker population may be shifting, with a higher proportion of workers coming from countries with lower average remittance rates. Finally, rising living costs in Bahrain may be putting pressure on foreign workers' disposable income, leaving them with less to send home. Despite this reduction in remittances, the outflow of foreign currencies continues to exert pressure on Bahrain's balance of payments. However, the Kingdom has maintained positive rates of surplus, strengthening its position against any increase in external financial obligations. The contracting sector remains the largest employer of foreign workers in Bahrain, with nearly a quarter of new labour licences issued in the last quarter of 2023 going to this sector. This demonstrates the crucial role that foreign labour plays in supporting the Kingdom's economic development. BC's pioneering Parke family began ranching in the Upper Hat Creek Valley between Whistler and Kamloops in 1900 CACHE CREEK, BC, July 9, 2024 /CNW/ - A piece of BC heritage, and one of the province's top cattle ranches handed down over four generations, will be sold to a new owner Thursday, August 15th, after being founded by the Parke Family in the Upper Hat Creek Valley more than a century ago. The legacy ranch land near Cache Creek, originally dubbed "The Parke Ranch, Upper Hat Creek" when Philip Parke bought it in 1900, has been bundled for sale with other adjacent ranch properties in the valley, and is being offered as a single package called the "Hat Creek Ranch Collection". The historic 74 thousand-acre Hat Creek Ranch Collection near Cache Creek, B.C. will be sold as a single block by online escalating bid August 15th at CLHBid.com. (CNW Group/CLHbid.com) The historic 74 thousand-acre Hat Creek Ranch Collection near Cache Creek, B.C. will be sold as a single block by online escalating bid August 15th at CLHBid.com. (CNW Group/CLHbid.com) Combined, these rare and expansive properties cover more than 74,000 acres of the valley and will change hands to a buyer who will have the opportunity to advance the ongoing story of this mammoth property, and hand it down to future generations. It was the Cariboo Gold Rush that brought Philip Parke by ship from Ireland in 1862. He arrived at Vancouver with gold on his mind, but Philip never finished the long hike to join the other miners at Barkerville. Instead, he stopped his journey at the grasslands surrounding Cache Creek 200 miles to the south and bought his first cattle ranch just outside of town. But eventually, his attention was drawn to a different property in the Upper Hat Creek Valley halfway between Whistler, B.C. and Kamloops. Philip Parke made the deal to buy property there in 1900, knowing the crops and cattle potential of the dry, grasslands region that was just opening up in BC's southern interior. Bordered by mountains to the east and west, and enclosed at its northern and southern ends, the protected valley, just 30 miles southwest of Cache Creek, is renowned for growing grass "to a horse's belly". There were no paved roads or trucks there in those days, and travelling with cattle and supplies was arduous. Today, the valley is easily accessible by road, or a short flight by helicopter or small plane. The Parke family's ranch was handed down through four generations until ownership eventually changed hands. However, the Parke family tradition continues to this day, with fifth-generation Brian Parke still living on site and managing the entire 74,000-acre ranch collection, which encompasses 31 separate land titles. The Hat Creek Ranch Collection will be sold as a single block by online escalating bid August 15th at CLHBid.com. Investor demand for large swaths of land like this outweighs what's available, making Hat Creek a rare opportunity to live the rancher's life, while owning a piece of the old west and historic gold rush dating back to the 1860s. "This is more than an opportunity to own a piece of British Columbia heartland, it's an invitation to become part of a story that has spanned generations and has barely begun," said Tyler Ruttan, Director of Sales for CLHBid.com. "It's more than just a ranch. Hat Creek offers an entire world where nature still dictates the rhythm of life, a rare gateway to a life less ordinary. It's a place where history, heritage, and opportunities converge and that's the value here as much as a simple property investment." ABOUT THE COLLECTION The Hat Creek Ranch Collection covers 74,716 acres, comprised of 2,387 deeded acres, 61,531 acres in Grazing Licences, 9,518 acres in Grazing Leases, and 1,280 acres in a BC Hydro Agricultural Lease. The collection has multiple ranch houses, including an exclusive owner's retreat resembling the quintessential ranch homes often found in Hollywood westerns. The valley can support 450 or more cow/calf pairs which can graze on the very same endless pastures Philip Parke worked more than century ago. Angus beef is raised here, and the cattle are known for exceptional genetics and closed herd integrity. 400 acres in the valley are irrigated, making the area self-supporting in terms of hay production. The surrounding region is also a recreational paradise. The Clear Range mountains to the west are known for excellent off-roading and mountain biking, as well as the beautiful and peaceful Marble Canyon Provincial Park which is close enough to enjoy a picnic lunch or a day of adventuring. Prospective buyers can learn more about The Hat Creek Ranch Collection at https://www.clhbid.com/auctions/hat-creek-ranch-collection. The starting bid for the sale on August 15 will be $5.9 million. EDITORS: High-resolution images may be downloaded at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KwPTDC_lA3GgDL6iS_jQNg3-nWAkoO6T High-resolution videos may be downloaded at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_Fnh65fSPVxz16OOZA9TvO9BIaM8GR8P About CLHbid.com's online auction system CLHbid.com auctions typically take place over two hours. A minimum starting bid provides a safety net to the owner, as no buyers can bid below that price. As the expiration time nears, if a bid comes in, the expiration time will automatically be extended giving all buyers an opportunity to bid again. About CLHbid.com Western Canada-based CLHbid.com is a pioneer in online agricultural land sales with thousands of acres available online. The company was created in 2016 by the law firm CLH Law. CLHbid.com never discloses bidder's names to any party, including the seller. Only the successful buyer's name is ever disclosed to the seller as part of the closing process. CLHbid.com's unique price discovery system, commitment to equal opportunity for bidders, and comprehensive support makes it the ideal choice for buyers and sellers alike. SOURCE CLHbid.com Media contact: Trevor Pancoust, [email protected], 778-386-0843 MONTREAL, July 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Efficient fleet management is crucial for businesses that rely on quick and reliable deliveries. Cigo Tracker offers advanced sprinter tracking solutions to enhance the performance and management of your delivery fleet. What is Sprinter Tracking? Sprinter tracking involves monitoring and managing the performance and location of sprinter vans in real time. This is essential for ensuring timely deliveries, optimizing routes, and maintaining high customer satisfaction. Key Features of Cigo Tracker's Sprinter Tracking Cigo Tracker provides robust features specifically designed for sprinter van tracking: Real-Time GPS Tracking: Accurate, real-time location updates for your sprinter fleet. Accurate, real-time location updates for your sprinter fleet. Route Optimization: AI-driven route planning to minimize travel time and fuel consumption. AI-driven route planning to minimize travel time and fuel consumption. Driver Behavior Monitoring: Insights into driver performance and behavior for improved safety and efficiency. Insights into driver performance and behavior for improved safety and efficiency. Maintenance Alerts: Proactive alerts for vehicle maintenance to prevent breakdowns and downtime. Benefits of Using Cigo Tracker for Sprinter Tracking Implementing Cigo Tracker's sprinter tracking solutions offers numerous benefits: Enhanced Efficiency: Real-time tracking and route optimization reduce delivery times and operational costs. Real-time tracking and route optimization reduce delivery times and operational costs. Improved Safety: Monitoring driver behavior helps in promoting safe driving practices. Monitoring driver behavior helps in promoting safe driving practices. Cost Savings: Optimized routes and maintenance alerts lead to significant cost reductions. Optimized routes and maintenance alerts lead to significant cost reductions. Better Customer Service: Real-time updates ensure customers are always informed about their deliveries. How Cigo Tracker Enhances Fleet Management Cigo Tracker's sprinter tracking solutions offer comprehensive fleet management capabilities, enabling businesses to track and manage their sprinter vans effectively. This results in improved operational efficiency and better resource utilization. Industries Benefiting from Sprinter Tracking Various industries can benefit from Cigo Tracker's sprinter tracking solutions: Courier Services: Ensures timely and reliable delivery of packages. Ensures timely and reliable delivery of packages. Retail: Enhances the logistics of retail deliveries, improving customer satisfaction. Enhances the logistics of retail deliveries, improving customer satisfaction. Medical Supplies: Provides reliable tracking for the timely delivery of critical medical supplies. Case Studies and Success Stories Businesses across different sectors have successfully integrated Cigo Tracker's sprinter tracking solutions. A leading courier service reported a 25% improvement in delivery efficiency and a notable decrease in operational costs after implementing Cigo Tracker. Summary Cigo Tracker is a vital tool for businesses looking to optimize their sprinter tracking and fleet management processes. With its advanced features and proven benefits, Cigo Tracker offers a reliable solution to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. For more information or to request a demo, visit Cigo Tracker or contact them directly through their sign-up page. SOURCE Cigo Tracker Part of Cape Mays downtown shopping area was evacuated late Monday after police found two suspicious packages at the Washington Street Mall. The area was cleared Monday evening after police were first called to the area of Ocean and Washington streets around 5:30 p.m., police said Tuesday. Police did not describe the packages delivered, the exact places to which they were dropped off or their origin. It was unclear if anyone was charged. After police located the first package, surrounding stores were evacuated, and police found a second, similar-looking package, prompting more evacuations, authorities said. The Atlantic City Bomb Squad responded and found neither package contained any explosive materials, police said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. Actor and comedian Jay Johnston has pleaded guilty for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Johnston pleaded guilty to civil disorder for obstructing police as they tried to stop rioters at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The actor is set to be sentenced on Oct. 7 as he faces a maximum of five years in prison, according to the District of Columbia attorneys office. Johnston, 55, is best known for his voice acting role as pizzeria owner Jimmy Pesto Sr., in Bobs Burgers. The actor also appeared in Arrested Development, Better Call Saul, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and more. The entertainer joined a group of rioters on Jan. 6, 2021 on the Lower West Plaza at the Capitol, advanced toward the Capitol building and made his way through crowd to the front of a building entryway. He then gestured toward the crowd before joining a wall of protesters with a stolen Capitol police riot shield. The entertainer was arrested June 7, 2023 for multiple riot-related misdemeanors such as unlawful trespassing and attempting to disrupt government business, according to a federal warrant. Johnston initially denied involvement in the insurrection before he was identified in photos released by the FBI on social media. The #FBI is still seeking information on people who took part in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you know this individual, visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. Refer to photo 247 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/CetMHzU190 FBI (@FBI) March 4, 2021 Johnston was banned from Bobs Burgers in 2021 by top staff members on the show. He was replaced for the role of Jimmy Pesto Sr. last year by voice actor Eric Bauza. More TV news Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/. Adam Clark | Reporting Adam Clark is a nationally acclaimed enterprise reporter covering everything New Jersey for NJ Advance Media. His 10 years covering education led to a new state law mandating stronger background checks for school employees and the resignation or termination of multiple educators who hid improper conduct. He currently specializes in reporting on mental health. His influential storytelling about teen suicide resulted in $6 million in new state funding to combat depression. Prior to joining NJ Advance Media in 2014, he worked at The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. While there he led an investigation into a 30-year-old cold case that spurred a fresh look by prosecutors and culminated in an indictment for murder. He also contributed to the papers award-winning coverage of the Jerry Sandusky trial. His work has been recognized by the New Jersey Press Association, Online News Association, Education Writers Association and Society of Features Journalism. His topics of focus have included school funding, higher education, COVID-19, politics, buried treasure and seagulls. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in journalism. A federal grand jury has indicted a gravestone dealer on charges that he defrauded nearly 500 customers in New Jersey and surrounding states out of more than $1.5 million by accepting payments for headstones and never delivering products or providing refunds. The indictment, unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, accuses Gregory J. Stefan Jr., 54, of Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania, of seven counts of wire fraud and details cases in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. A Staten Island man wanted for dragging a victim with his truck in Guttenberg while stealing a Rolex watch earlier this year has been arrested in Nebraska, authorities said. Danny Ristick, 46, was arrested June 29 in Ogallala, small city in southwest Nebraska of less than 5,000 people, on unrelated charges and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey on the Guttenberg charges of robbery, endangering an injured victim, assault by auto, aggravated assault and theft by deception related to a robbery April 17. Guttenberg police say on that day a victim was injured when was dragged by a pickup truck driven by Ristick in the area of 68th Street and Kennedy Boulevard East after Ristick stole the pricey watch. The Foo Fighters are making their way to New York City, and you need to get tickets. The band will begin their Everything or Nothing at All stadium tour on July 17 in New York City at Citi Field Stadium. They will then perform a second show in New York City on July 19. Joining the Foo Fighters on their 2024 tour are the Pretenders, Mammoth WVH, L7, The Hives, Amyl and The Sniffers and Alex G. The tour will ultimately wrap up on Aug. 18 in Seattle. So, fans have two times to catch the Foo Fighters live, and you dont want to miss out. Fans can buy tickets on the secondary market websites, like StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and Ticketmaster. The cheapest ticket available at the time of publication for the rock bands July 17 concert at Citi Field is $70 on Vivid Seats. For the July 19 concert in New York City, the cheapest ticket available at the time of publication is $76 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 Foo Fighters tour dates is available here. More upcoming rock tours The Foo Fighters is not the only rock band heading out on tour. Here are a few other upcoming tours you wont want to miss: Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age, The Front Bottoms and Santana and Counting Crows. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. George E. Norcross III, second from left, confers with his attorney Michael Critchley (l.), before the Democratic power broker's arraignment on racketeering charges in court on Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw.David Hernandez | For NJ Advance Media A 60-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the deadly beating of her housemate with several household items, including a tape dispenser and shower curtain rod. Mary Carbone pleaded guilty Monday, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said in a news release. She was originally charged with murder, but legitimate proof issues that came up in the investigation led to the charge being reduced to aggravated manslaughter, prosecutors said. Police were called to a home on 6th Avenue in Manchester on Feb. 24, 2020, where they found the lifeless body of 55-year-old Frank Stochel, officials said. An autopsy later determined that he died by homicide. Investigators later found that multiple items found at the house were used to commit the killing, including a wooden board, a heavy duty tape dispenser and a shower curtain rod. The injuries the victim suffered were also consistent with impact from those items, authorities said. Carbone was arrested and charged with murder on March 4, 2020. The shower curtain rod, which had bloody fingerprints on it, was hidden in a garbage bag in the backyard, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by NJ Advance Media. It was later determined that those fingerprints belonged to Carbone, detectives said in the court document. When police were on the scene, Carbone said she didnt know what happened to her housemate, stating that she discovered his body in the hallway when she was answering the door that day, court papers said. Police records obtained in March 2020 said that numerous domestic violence incidents were reported at the home in the year before Stochels death. Carbone will be sentenced on Sept. 13. The state is recommending a 10-year sentence, prosecutors said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Jon Stewart is clearly no fan of Donald Trump, who he dubbed a megalomaniac. But that doesnt mean hes all in for Joe Biden. The host of The Daily Show riffed Monday night about the possibility of an 11th-hour effort to oust the incumbent president as the partys nominee at the Democratic National Convention next month. I am in no way saying Bidens got to drop out. But cant we stress test this candidacy? Cant we open up the conversation? Do you understand the opportunity here? Do you have any idea how thirsty Americans are for any hint of inspiration or leadership and a release from this choice of a megalomaniac and a suffocating gerontocracy? It is crushing our f---- spirits. Do you have any idea what could be ahead of you? All we want is for someone to keep it 100 the percentage, not the age. Thats all we want, Stewart said. He went on: Heres an idea. Ill spitball it. Its last minute. But why dont we try and get all the Democrats together in, I dont know, six weeks time. We could get everybody to fly into some Midwestern town, maybe, like one adjacent to important swing states, lets call it Chicago. And they could spend, I dont know, four days there, because nobody works Fridays anymore, and on Monday, anybody who wants to gives their sales pitch of how they can make democracy more responsive to the people it is supposed to serve. You could bang it out on Tuesday, the winner could move on to the next round and then face Biden. They could face Biden. Thursday, the party emerges energized, unified, sanctified. You could televise the entire proceeding for four days. You could call it, I dont know, The Apprentice. Im just workshopping here. So feel free to ignore any obvious weaknesses in your teams existential fight for freedom and democracy, and then just white-knuckle this thing till November, or take the advice of your own candidate. Is it too late for Dems to change course? Jon Stewart reacts to Joe Biden's defiance over calls to step aside pic.twitter.com/qRHgeeyp7B The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 9, 2024 Those fretting over Biden as the Democratic nominee have some alternative, albeit unlikely, scenarios to consider: One involves Biden stepping aside voluntarily, the other, and by far the least likely, involves an effort to defeat him at the convention by winning over pledged delegates he has won in the nominations contests, who are technically obligated to support him only by good conscience in the partys rules. Challenges to the presumptive nominee can occur, but there are significant hurdles. The path to picking a new standard-bearer would be clearer if Biden were to step aside voluntarily, which hes given no indication that hes considering. The 2024 convention rules dont directly address what happens if the candidate with the most pledged delegates drops out before the convention. However, theres a general understanding that if a candidate drops out, the delegates pledged to that candidate are free to support another candidate of their choice. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. UPDATE: Severe thunderstorms from Beryl in forecast Wednesday as fierce heat scorches state The remnants of deadly Hurricane Beryl continued to track north Tuesday and are expected to remain west of New Jersey, but the system could combine with a cold front over the state on Wednesday to churn strong thunderstorms with the potential for flash flooding and high winds, forecasters say. The strongest threat of thunderstorms will be in New Jerseys northwestern counties with 2 to 2.5 inches of rainfall possible, according to the National Weather Service. There is up to a 70% chance for storms Wednesday into Thursday as the remnant low of Beryl tracks northwest of our region, the weather services New Jersey office said Tuesday morning. Storms during this period will be capable of heavy rain leading to flash flooding. The highest risk is along and north of the Interstate 78 corridor. AccuWeathers forecast warned of the widespread reach of the remnants of Beryl, now a tropical depression, beyond the eye path that appears headed toward the Great Lakes region. A large area of high pressure just off the East Coast will act as a giant pump, first creating a heat wave into midweek and then helping draw in moisture along the Atlantic Seaboard to the Appalachians from midweek to Friday and perhaps Saturday, AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. There is a tremendous amount of moisture in the air, and that will likely be squeezed out in the form of torrential downpours that can ease drought on one hand and lead to flash flooding on the other. The remnants of Hurricane Beryl are expected to track west of New Jersey later this week, but the system could combine with a front to cause thunderstorms with heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding on Wednesday into Thursday. An even stronger and more widespread threat of thunderstorms follows on Friday into Saturday.AccuWeather.com The buildup to the storm threat on Wednesday afternoon includes more dangerously hot and humid conditions Tuesday across New Jersey with highs in the 90s and heat indexes topping 100 degrees. A heat advisory is in effect for all New Jersey counties except Cape May through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Dangerously hot conditions continue on Tuesday with heat indexes topping 100 degrees across most of the state. Every county, except Cape May, remains under a heat advisory until 8 p.m. Wednesday.National Weather Service Temperatures will remain uncomfortable at night as well. Tuesday night will be yet another muggy repeat in this broken record of uncomfortable nights, the weather service said. Lows will only cool into the mid to upper 70s. The heat wave continues Wednesday ahead of the afternoon storms. Hot and very humid conditions will result in peak heat indices reaching or exceeding 100 degrees for much of our area Wednesday, the weather service said. The remnants of Hurricane Beryl are expected to track west of New Jersey later this week, but the system could combine with a front to cause thunderstorms with heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding on Wednesday into Thursday. An even stronger and more widespread threat of thunderstorms follows on Friday into Saturday.AccuWeather.com More nasty weather is in the forecast for the weekend with the potential for more widespread thunderstorms on Friday night into Saturday and a flash flooding risk. Another period of storms is possible Friday continuing into Saturday, the weather service said. The chance for storms in this period is up to 70%. The primary hazard with this period is also heavy rain leading to flash flooding. Southern New Jersey counties are expected to get the worst of those storms, the weather service said. Saturday will be slightly cooler, but temperatures in the 90s return Sunday with heat indexes again above 100 degrees. Beryl damage update Power started to come back for some of the millions of homes and businesses left in the dark when Hurricane Beryl slammed into the Houston area, while the weakened storm moved east, spawning suspected tornadoes and causing more damage. Beryl was blamed for killing several people in Texas on Monday and at least one person in Louisiana, officials said. After a peak Monday of more than 2.7 million customers around Houston without power, the numbers improved to more than 2.3 million homes and businesses lacking electricity by Tuesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us. The lack of cooling to peoples homes, downed power lines and non-functioning traffic lights led officials to ask residents to stay home if possible. Beryl later Monday weakened into a tropical depression and by Tuesday morning the weather service said it was about 95 miles north of Shreveport, Louisiana, moving northeast with maximum sustained wind speeds near 30 mph. Its strength wasnt expected to change much in the next day or two. While weakened, Beryl threatened to unleash more harsh weather over several other states in coming days. The storm was expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding from the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes on Tuesday into Wednesday, the weather service said. Texas state and local officials warned it could take several days to fully restore power after Beryl came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane, toppled 10 transmission lines and knocked down trees that took down power lines. The earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, Beryl caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean on its way to Texas. In Jamaica, officials said Monday that island residents will have to contend with food shortages after Beryl destroyed over $6.4 million in crops and supporting infrastructure. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Forget about those nasty biting greenhead flies, the frigid ocean water and rude people who plant their beach chairs and umbrellas right next to you. Theres a new annoyance thats made its presence known at the Jersey Shore this week thick fog. The fog rolled in along the ocean Monday morning, then made a notable return in the afternoon before coming back again Tuesday morning. Some beachgoers said Mondays afternoon fog turned so thick that they couldnt see the ocean from the boardwalk in Belmar, or they couldnt see the small beaches to their left and right in Toms River. The fog just rolled into Point Pleasant Beach west of the tracks, News 12 New Jersey reporter Jim Murdoch said in a post on X shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday. Reminds me of the smoke last summer, but without the smell and breathing issues. Murdoch posted a photo showing the fog eclipsing the sun. It looked eerily similar to scenes of dense smoke from massive Canadian wildfires hovering over streets and blocking the sun as far south as New Jersey last summer. So whats been causing the recent fog at the Jersey Shore? The really warm temperatures and high dew points are condensing into fog when the air moves over the ocean, which has remained cool despite searing temperatures, said Michael Gorse, a meteorologist at the National Weather Services main forecast office in New Jersey. Gorse said fog along the Shore tends to be more common earlier in the summer, mainly in the morning, but it has been developing the past few days because of the intense heat and very high humidity clashing with cold sea surface temperatures out in the Atlantic Ocean. During recent weeks, persistent winds have been blowing from the south and southwest, pushing warm water on the ocean surface farther away from shore and causing cold water from the ocean floor to rise up to the surface. The process, known as upwelling, has led to clear greenish-blue water along many parts of the Jersey Shore and also has caused colder air to blow from the ocean onto beaches. Gorse said winds shifted slightly Monday afternoon, blowing from the southeast. That caused new batches of fog to form over the Atlantic and pushed some of the fog from the ocean onto the land. Thick fog formed again late Monday night and Tuesday morning, prompting the weather service to issue dense fog advisories in many counties, including those along the Jersey Shore. Current weather radar Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly described part of the upwelling process. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. A braider living in Barnstaple is using her skills to support her home country in the Caribbean after the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl. Jozonnay Thompson, originally from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is turning her talent for braiding into a lifeline for those affected by the storm. Hurricane Beryl, with winds reaching 150 mph, ripped through the Caribbean, tearing roofs from buildings, uprooting trees, and leaving a path of destruction across the islands. ABOVE: Damage from the hurricane Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jozonnays homeland, is one of the islands affected by the storm. Jozonnay, who now resides in Barnstaple, has decided to help by offering natural Dutch braids in return for donations of essential items such as clothing, food, books, pencils, pens, and baby food. The braiding event will take place on Thursday, July 11, at UnorthoDOXX Studio in Barnstaple. She said, The majority of my family is there, including my two young children, 8-year-old twin girls. ABOVE: Damage from the hurricane Jon Bond, the owner of UnorthoDOXX Studio, expressed his admiration for Jozonnays initiative. He said, Our braider, Jozonnay, is asking for help with a cause that is close to her heart. Her homeland in the Caribbean has been hit by some tragic storms, leaving some people without a home and very few possessions. We thank everyone in advance and appreciate this short notice. Please contact us if you cannot make it in but would like to donate. Jozonnay added, Thank you in advance, beautiful people, for all your contributions. I look forward to doing lots more to uplift many and help people in need as much as I can in my country and also here in the UK. UnorthoDOXX Studio, a small salon/studio in Barnstaple, will host the braiding event. Those interested in supporting Jozonnays cause can visit the salon on July 11 or contact the studio to arrange their donations. You can find the studio at 44 Boutport St, Barnstaple EX31 1SE. Barnstaple Town Council has paid tribute following the passing of Councillor Valerie Monk. Mrs Monks funeral will be held at St Peter and St Mary Magdalene Church in Barnstaple on Thursday (July 11) at 11am. Known to everyone as Val, Mrs Monk served as the town councillor for Forches for nearly three decades and was a staunch defender of her community. The council paid tribute with a statement online and in social media, to say it was saddened to hear of her passing. The statement went on: Cllr Monk was first elected to Barnstaple Town Council in 1995 and served the Forches ward and the community of Barnstaple with great passion and commitment until the day she died. She was our longest-serving councillor and devoted 29 years of her life to Barnstaple Town Council. She will be greatly missed by councillors and staff. We send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Creamos mas trabajo para todos los peruanos! ???? Desde la hermosa ciudad de Tarma, la presidenta de la republica, Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, acompanada del titular del @MTPE_Peru, participo en el lanzamiento de Llamkasun Peru, programa que generara mas de 56 000 empleos pic.twitter.com/lQw591o8sN People are once again questioning the hardware giant for allowing customers to bring dogs into the store. Some customers want to see dogs banned from Bunnings as they claim they create chaos and defecate in store. Source: Reddit/Facebook There has been a renewed call to ban dogs from Bunnings after some customers claim they are "bloody sick" of finding poo along the warehouse aisles, with some even smearing it on their shoes or in trolley wheels before noticing it's there. Last year Bunnings had to quash rumours its retail stores would introduce dog-free hours after some customers pushed for the change. But the desire by some to ban our four-legged friends remains, with recent sightings of dog poo and other antics from pets being the final straw for some customers. Push for Bunnings to only allow service dogs in store One customer, who confirmed she was a dog owner with two of her own, wanted to reassure people she wasn't a "Karen" but simply believes dogs should not be allowed inside Bunnings. After spotting dog poo along the aisle in the Campbelltown Bunnings store in Sydney she said she had to "warn people then dash off to find a member of staff" to help. A customer tried to warn others about the dog poo on the floor at the Bunnings, Campbelltown store in Sydney this week. Source: Reddit However, within minutes of her seeking assistance, she returned to the "crime scene" where a woman had rolled right over it with her trolley. "Earlier during my visit, a young lab wrapped himself and his lead around the legs of another customer. The week prior there was a dog fight at the service desk... It's a shop, not a dog park!" she said on social media, sharing evidence of the droppings a dog was responsible for. "Why are we allowing non-service dogs into a hardware shop?" she asked. Aussies divided over dogs in Bunnings The customer's recent experience opened the floodgates for opinions and many Aussies jumped in, stating their case on why dogs should or shouldn't be allowed at Bunnings. Some were in agreement, saying it's "disgusting" to find poo on the floor and if tradies really do need to bring their dog to Bunnings, a "dog pen" could be available for them outside in the shade. "Some people are allergic, some are scared, not everyone wants to be around your bloody dog. Leave it home," another wrote. However, some pointed out it was more of a "people problem" than a dog one, with responsible dog ownership needed so everyone could enjoy the animals inside the store. "Dogs have been allowed in Bunnings since it's been open. The issue isn't the dogs, it's the freaking owners who don't bother training or cleaning up," one wrote. Bunnings will keep 'common-sense approach' with dogs in-store All dogs are allowed in Bunnings stores as long as they are on a lead and under control. Bunnings confirmed to Yahoo News there is no change on the horizon with this policy and it will continue to use a "common-sense approach" when it comes to entry. "Like many other retailers that offer pet products, we take a common-sense approach when welcoming dogs into our stores," a Bunnings spokesperson said. "The feedback we receive shows that the vast majority of pet owners are respectful of other customers and our team when theyre in our stores." If incidents do occur, dog owners are expected to clean up after their pets and staff provide poo bags and cleaning tools upon request. "We work hard to make sure our stores are safe, welcoming environments for everyone... we encourage any customer to reach out to one of our team members if they see or experience something we should be aware of so we can resolve it on the spot," the spokesperson said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The woman feels her sons need to be 'on alert' while using the public facilities. Mum Amy Dixon is pushing for a G-string ban at her local swimming pool after women walked around wearing them near her sons. Source: Getty/Stuff A mum of three sons is urging her local swimming pool to enforce a G-string ban after claiming one of her children was subjected to the "pornographic" sight of a woman wearing one during his swimming lesson. New Zealand woman Amy Dixon questioned whether it was fair her young family are subjected to a swimmer walking around in an "itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini" at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre in New Plymouth, creating a petition to rally support from parents. "My family has often been left feeling uncomfortable and the enclosed area means looking away or moving spaces is not always an option," she wrote. "I would love our local pool to be a family-friendly space where community members of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs and cultures can feel safe and free to enjoy themselves." Staff at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre said they were considering the change. Source: Todd Energy Aquatic Centre Woman questions if she is being an 'overprotective' mum The mum confessed she doesn't want to be "overprotective" but has noticed an increase in the number of female swimmers wearing G-strings at the pool, and at other public spaces like beaches. "I don't want to be an overprotective mum. Is that the space we're in with society now? If so, I'll find ways to prepare my kids for that. But do we have to do that?" she asked Stuff, revealing she ideally wouldn't need to address it with her sons. She believes there are now few spaces where her boys can "enjoy themselves without having to be on alert, avoid places or look away". Dixon's petition has gained attention on social media and divided opinions. It has already received more than 100 signatures with people in agreement with her ban, however, others believe it is a "double standard". "I assure you, an eight-year-old does not find bikinis pornographic," one wrote online, while another questioned how an "ass in a string isn't ok but a bulge in budgie smugglers is". Aquatic centre considering G-string ban request Staff at Todd Energy Aquatic Centre told Stuff they were considering the change, confirming it will suggest the change to decision-makers. "I can certainly put it forward for discussion," Operations Manager Mike Roberts said. Yahoo News has reached out to the swim centre for comment. It isn't the first time G-string bikinis have caused a stir, with Aussie man Ian Grace saying the bikinis should be banned in the country in February. "A lot of people would say that their [women's] bums are as erotic, if not more so, than their breasts but they're not allowed [to be on display]," he previously told Yahoo News. "Just have the decency to cover up." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Follow our live coverage of Menendezs bribery trial. When F.B.I. agents raided the New Jersey home of Senator Robert Menendez and his wife, they found envelope after envelope of cash, a federal prosecutor told a jury on Monday. Cash stuffed in bags, cash stuffed in the pockets of the senators jackets, cash stuffed in his boots. Gold bars worth thousands of dollars. The valuables were bribes that two businessmen paid to the couple in exchange for promises of official action by Mr. Menendez, the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the prosecutor, Paul M. Monteleoni, said. It wasnt enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington, Mr. Monteleoni told jurors. It wasnt enough for him to be entrusted by the public with the power to approve billions of dollars of U.S. military aid to foreign countries. No, Robert Menendez wanted all that power, he added. But he also wanted to use it to pile up riches for himself and his wife. Tropical Storm Beryl ripped a path of destruction through the heart of Houston on Monday, transforming roads into rivers, killing at least four people and knocking out power for more than two million customers across Texas. The storm, which made landfall early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, weakened as it passed over the city and continued its swirling march north. But its relatively modest official strength undersold its power, local authorities said. As it churned through Houston, officials warned people to stay inside and away from windows, as though there was a tornado coming your way, Lina Hidalgo, the top official in Harris County, which includes Houston, cautioned residents. The center passed just to the west of the city, meaning Houston received some of the worst of the storm as it spun counterclockwise. President Bidens defiant call on Democrats in Congress on Monday to stop questioning his viability and fall in line behind his candidacy did little to quell the groundswell of skepticism within his own party that has engulfed his campaign. As lawmakers returned to Washington after a weeklong recess, there were few signs that any of Mr. Bidens efforts to reassure his allies either through a bluntly worded letter or a phone interview on MSNBC had done much to mollify growing Democratic anxieties. Instead, ahead of a day of crucial meetings in which Democrats in the House and the Senate plan to meet separately to discuss a way forward, lawmakers were still openly agonizing over their presumptive nominee, with party divisions about the best course bursting into the open. And more prominent Democrats came forward to air their concerns about Mr. Bidens path to victory in November. With so much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward, Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said in a statement. As these conversations continue, I believe it is incumbent upon the president to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House. A Russian missile strike on Ukraines largest childrens hospital on Monday highlighted the growing number of deadly attacks on medical facilities, vehicles and workers in the country this year. It adds to data from the World Health Organization and suggests that more Ukrainians may be on track to be killed in such attacks this year than last year. Before the strike on the Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital in Kyiv, the W.H.O. documented 18 deaths and 81 injuries from more than 175 attacks on health care infrastructure in Ukraine for the first half of 2024. The organization also recorded 44 attacks on medical vehicles in that period. In all of 2023, the organization tallied 22 deaths and 117 injuries from 350 such attacks, and 45 more specifically on medical vehicles like ambulances. Other organizations put the death toll even higher. In the attack on Monday, at least one doctor and another adult were killed at the hospital, and at least 10 other people, including seven children, were injured during a Russian barrage across the country. In all, the bombardment killed at least 38 people, including 27 in Kyiv, Ukraines capital, local officials said. Tanglewood, the lush summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, opened its season this past weekend, and it did so with one of the most Tanglewood programs imaginable. James Taylor was present to celebrate July 4, of course, and he was celebrating five decades of singing at the venue this year. On Friday night, the orchestra gave an evening of Beethoven under its music director, Andris Nelsons; on Sunday, Renee Fleming, no less, was on hand to cap a matinee of Strauss. In between, the Boston Pops offered a glorious review of recent Broadway musicals, with Victoria Clark bringing down the house as Lin-Manuel Mirandas George III in Hamilton. Fellows attending the Tanglewood Music Center gave their first concerts, joining a lineage that stretches back to 1940. The crowds chattered amiably, the grounds were resplendent, and the music was good. What could feel more timeless than this? Six years ago, an outspoken music executive named Merck Mercuriadis kicked off a new wave of dealmaking in the industry when his company, Hipgnosis, began buying up the song catalogs of artists like Neil Young, Shakira, Justin Bieber and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Now, Mercuriadis, who once managed Beyonce and Elton John, is stepping down from the company after its assets have been sold to the private equity giant Blackstone, following a tumultuous year that has involved a shareholder revolt, an accounting scandal and a bidding war. In the companys complex structure, Hipgnosis Songs Fund is an investment trust, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and owns the rights to tens of thousands of songs. A separate company, Hipgnosis Song Management which has been run by Mercuriadis is its investment adviser, doing much of the dealmaking and administration work for those songs. In 2021, Blackstone invested $1 billion to take majority control over the adviser firm. The board of Hipgnosis Songs Fund voted on Monday to accept Blackstones offer of $1.6 billion for the companys assets, the company announced early Tuesday. The debate over President Bidens fitness for another term has thrust Vice President Kamala Harris into the spotlight, and I want to use todays newsletter to consider what kind of nominee she might be. Harriss supporters frequently argue that criticisms of her political skills stem from racism and sexism. And its certainly true that racism and sexism infect American life and affect American politics. But this argument can nonetheless do Harris a disservice. Politicians often get better at their jobs, and become stronger candidates, by listening to criticism and addressing their weaknesses. Barack Obama became less professorial and long-winded, for example. Biden and Ronald Reagan each became somewhat more careful about telling exaggerated stories. George H.W. Bush and Al Gore tried to loosen up. If Harris and her aides buy the notion that most criticism of her merely reflects her race and sex which are immutable qualities they will lose an opportunity to help her become more effective in the event that she becomes the Democratic nominee. At the NATO summit, the attention is on Biden The 75th anniversary of NATO was intended to remind potential adversaries of its members that a larger group of Western allies would stand against aggression. Instead, the summit, which began yesterday in Washington, feels overshadowed by uncertainty. Will President Biden continue to vie for a second term, and what could happen if Donald Trump returns to the presidency? Biden is hosting the three-day event while under intense scrutiny for signs that he cant manage another four years. Democratic lawmakers met privately yesterday to discuss their concerns about Bidens candidacy, but they appeared unwilling to push him aside. When he was in office, Trump threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO, and once declared the alliance obsolete. This year, he said he would let the Russians do whatever the hell they want to any member country he saw as an insufficient contributor. The U.S.s European allies have begun discussing what a second Trump term might mean for the alliance, and whether it could continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia without support from the U.S. A former employee of the World Economic Forum, the nonprofit organization behind the glittery annual gathering of business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, sued the group and its founder, Klaus Schwab, on Monday, accusing them of workplace discrimination. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Topaz Smith, who is Black, said the organization embraced a scofflaw approach to anti-discrimination laws and oversaw a hostile atmosphere toward women and Black workers. She added that it denied her and other Black employees opportunities to advance professionally. The nonprofit organizations conferences particularly the one in Davos in January have become destinations for the global elite to meet and network under the auspices of saving the world. (The theme of this years forum in Davos was Rebuilding Trust, while last years was Cooperation in a Fragmented World.) An article in The Wall Street Journal last month, citing internal complaints and interviews with current and former employees, said workers had accused the organization of sexual harassment and racism. One thing was clear after Frances surprise election results on Sunday: Any new government formed by President Emmanuel Macron would face months of political paralysis. Whats less certain is whether that gridlock will tip Frances heavily indebted economy further into distress. The turmoil has focused attention back on Frances ballooning 3 trillion-euro debt and a deficit that has grown to more than 5 percent of economic output, and immediately prompted a warning on Monday from S&P Global Ratings over Frances sovereign debt rating. Uncertainty hangs over Frances future government architecture, said the agency, which had already downgraded Frances debt rating on May 31, rattling the government, whose economic credibility has been one of its main political assets. Should the polarization of Frances new Parliament weaken the governments ability to mend its finances, Frances debt could be downgraded again, it added. France is facing uncharted territory after left-wing parties surged unexpectedly in nationwide legislative elections, eclipsing the nationalist, anti-immigration National Rally party to secure the most seats in the lower house of Parliament. The result left no party including Mr. Macrons centrist coalition with a majority and has splintered the lower house of Parliament into three bitterly antagonistic blocs. The City of Sydney has announced it will lower the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h on all of the roads within its council area. The City of Sydney announced this week it will lower the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h on all roads within its council area. Source: Getty The decision to slash speed limits in Australias biggest city is fully expected to spark public backlash, a road safety awareness group has warned. The City of Sydney announced this week it will lower the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h on all of the roads within its council area. Signs warning drivers of the new change will be installed in the coming weeks in major inner-city suburbs like Glebe, Forest Lodge, Redfern and Alexandria, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO confirmed. The slower speed would expand safety for everyone who walks, rides and drives in the city, she added. The 40km/h limit applies to local and regional roads managed by the City of Sydney council. Road safety group fully expects speed limit 'backlash' While the initiative has been a long time coming, Diane McMurtrie, who established Hannahs Blue Butterflies Road Safety Awareness Inc with her husband after the road death of their 19-year-old daughter, told Yahoo News on Tuesday she fully expects a public backlash from these measures. The standard argument that lowering the speed limit will extend travel time, create angst and frustration among road users, she said. The simple truth is this: Speed is the number one killer on NSW roads. The 2024 NSW road toll is up from 2023, with 179 lives lost so far. In 2023, 163 lives were lost at this point in the year. The 40km/h limit applies to local and regional roads managed by the City of Sydney council. Source: Getty While lowering speeds in built-up and residential areas has been trialled elsewhere, the general consensus is this measure will save lives, McMurtrie said. As road users, we must hold ourselves accountable. Every decision has consequences. Slow down. Be vigilant. However, while driving safely is clearly always encouraged, others have already shared their concerns with the change. The NRMA does not support arbitrary cutting of speed limits across council areas, an NRMA Spokesperson told Yahoo News. Speed limits should be evidence-based regardless of whether it is increased or decreased and should be based on the performance of individual roads and factors such as traffic volumes, crash history and engineering. Speed limits to be reduced to 30km/h in Sydney city centre Lord Mayor Moore said studies have shown that the survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds. When people drive at safer speeds it reduces the number of crashes and their severity, improves safety for people walking and riding and helps to support better placemaking, she said. We will also continue to work with NSW Transport to reduce speed limits to 30km/h in the city centre and other high activity areas where there are lots of people are walking and riding. Most motorways and state roads, which are the responsibility of the NSW government, will continue to have speed limits above the 40km/h limit. In March, Inner West councillors voted unanimously to pass a motion restricting the speed limit to 40km/h on local streets, with the new rollout set to prioritise roads near childcare centres, schools, hospitals, and aged care facilities. Advocates from within the council which governs the crowded suburbs of Annandale, Ashfield, Balmain, Dulwich Hill, Lilyfield, Leichhardt, Newtown, Marrickville, Petersham and Rozelle said locals were in favour of the change. With NCA NewsWire Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. For most of their monthslong trek from Colombia to the U.S.-Mexico border, the Venezuelan family of five had encountered numerous challenges, all exacerbated by a shortage of cash. Still, they had avoided selling one of their last family heirlooms: a white gold ring. But on the eve of their border crossing late last year, they again ran out of money. And the children were hungry. I watched quietly, notebook in hand, as the family two parents, three children ages 6 to 11 and one dog, a Labrador mix scoured the streets of Ciudad Juarez in Mexico searching for a pawnshop. As the parents anguished over the decision to pawn the ring, a part of me wished to help. But as a reporter, all I could do was observe and take notes, letting the scene unfold as if I werent there. I knew that the poignant moment would be a salient element of the article I was working on for The New York Times. I feel just horrible, and no one knows what to do, the 21-year-old woman sobbed to her father. In one hand, she held her phone, in the other, a red Solo cup. The pungent smell from the vomit-filled cup wafted through the room. Despite her best efforts, the strange lightness she felt when standing told her that she was dehydrated. And why wouldnt she be? Everything she ate or drank came back minutes later in terrible heaves that tore at the aching muscles in her chest and abdomen. She filled the cup more than once during this call with her father. And maybe a dozen times earlier that day. And the day before. And the day before that. She paced around the room as she listened to her father. You need to go to the emergency room, he told her. She didnt want to go. She already went seven times over the past three months since this vomiting became part of her daily routine. Most of the time they just gave her IV fluids and sent her home. They thought it was her anxiety. She was admitted twice. Both times they ran countless tests, then sent her home to vomit there without any answers. Nevertheless, the woman took her fathers advice, and her roommate drove her to the Emory University Hospital emergency room in Atlanta. After getting some IV fluids and the anti-emetic Zofran, which hadnt helped her in the past, she was discharged. She called her father as soon as she got back to her apartment, and he told her to come home to Cleveland. It was the week before Thanksgiving, and lots of flights were full, but she finally found one for that afternoon and packed her bag. Sideswiped and Whipsawed Just days after arriving in Atlanta that August to start her junior year at Emory University, she was in a car accident. Another car made an illegal turn and sideswiped hers, and she whipsawed against the door. She felt fine, though, and after they exchanged insurance information, she just went on with her day. But by the next day, she had started throwing up. Everything she ate or drank caused her to retch and vomit. She went to the E.R. Because the vomiting started right after her accident, the emergency-department doctor thought she had a concussion. He gave her some fluids and a medicine to stop the nausea. It should get better in a couple of days, he assured her. But it didnt. Shed been vomiting every day since then. She felt fine until she ate or drank something anything. Then, within minutes, she would have an overwhelming sense of nausea, and the wrenching spasms and vomiting would start. Robert Menendez faces one of the most serious criminal cases brought against a sitting senator. The bribery case against Senator Robert Menendez features an assortment of exotic elements: Qatari sheikhs, bricks of gold bullion, halal meat certification and Egyptian intelligence officers. Trial testimony has taken jurors from Cairo to Havana to Beirut. But on top of the complex and serious corruption charges, the trial has at times meandered into offbeat and sometimes humorous territory. Here are a few of the more memorable moments: The bell on the back patio Jose Uribe, a disgraced insurance broker, pleaded guilty in March to providing the senators wife, Nadine Menendez, with a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for the senators help quashing two insurance fraud investigations in New Jersey. He spent nearly a week on the witness stand, and his testimony included a description of a private, hourlong meeting with Mr. Menendez on the back patio of Ms. Menendezs home in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Toward the end of the conversation, the senator picked up a small bell on the table and rang it, summoning Ms. Menendez from inside the house, Mr. Uribe testified. Mr. Menendezs lawyer, Adam Fee, pelted Mr. Uribe on cross-examination, questioning how much he had had to drink and when he had taken Xanax that day in an effort to plant doubt that the bell even existed. Did Mr. Uribe, Mr. Fee asked, text any of his friends to say, Hey, it was super weird when Senator Menendez rang a bell to summon Nadine? On Tuesday, a prosecutor, Paul M. Monteleoni, reminded jurors about the bell during his closing argument, stressing that a detail-focused senator who used a bell to call his wife would have also been aware of the gold bars and cash-stuffed envelopes the F.B.I. found in her locked bedroom closet. That bell, by the way, showed you that Menendez was in charge, Mr. Monteleoni said. Hes not a puppet having his strings pulled by someone he summons with a bell. The F.B.I. stakeout at a Washington steakhouse An F.B.I. investigator, Terrie Williams-Thompson, testified that she was part of a surveillance team assigned to an undercover operation at Mortons The Steakhouse, one of Mr. Menendezs favorite Washington restaurants. The target that night in May 2019 was not the senator, Ms. Williams-Thompson said, but rather someone he happened to be eating dinner with. Ms. Williams-Thompson and another member of the F.B.I. sat nearby and pretended to be a married couple snapping selfies. She testified that she overheard Ms. Menendez ask an Egyptian official a question that, years later, would make its way into an indictment charging her and her husband with being at the center of a five-year, international bribery conspiracy: What else can the love of my life do for you? The judge, Sidney H. Stein, injected a light moment into the testimony, as he has frequently done during the two-month trial. I hope the F.B.I. paid for your meal, he told Ms. Williams-Thompson. Oh yes, sir, they did. Pyramids and camels Prosecutors used thousands of text messages extracted from seized cellphones to build their 18-count case against Mr. Menendez and his co-defendants. Jurors have been shown hundreds of the electronic exchanges in charts that took days to introduce as evidence. Many of the electronic exchanges include typos, shorthand phrases and emojis. At least two mention pyramids. In September 2021, Ms. Menendez and her longtime friend, Wael Hana, had had a falling out. Mr. Hana, an Egyptian American businessmen, had founded a halal meat certification company that prosecutors say was used to funnel bribes to the senator and his wife. Ms. Menendez expressed her frustration over a broken promise by Mr. Hana. I am not going to get angry or get any more upset, she wrote in a text to her husband, but one day I really would love to know one of the pyramids collapsed and he is trapped forever. More than one defense lawyer pounced on the wording, noting that the tension undermined prosecutors charge that their clients were part of a cohesive group of conspirators. Ms. Menendez also mentioned pyramids in a conversation with Mai Abdelmaguid, an Egyptian intelligence officer who had urged the senator and his wife to visit Egypt. Is there any chance he can sit on a camel in Egypt? Ms. Menendez asked. Im dying for him to be on a camel. My first time ever on a camel was at the pyramids. Pet names, in French Ms. Menendez emigrated with her family from Lebanon as a child. She is fluent in English but speaks several languages, including French, which she has said was her native language. The couples texts are laced with affectionate pet names, often emphasized with heart emojis and usually in French. Mon amour de la vie, is a common moniker, sometimes shortened to simply mon amour. Laundry is done mon amour, she wrote in March 2019, months before they got engaged in India, outside the Taj Mahal. The senator frequently borrowed the phrase, too: Merci mon amour, he wrote in April 2019. After driving home in the $60,000 Mercedes that Mr. Uribe arranged, she sent Mr. Menendez a text that is likely to outlast the car. Congratulations mon amour de la vie, she wrote, we are the proud owners of a 2019 Mercedes. On the first sweltering Sunday of the summer, East 14th Street erupted. An aborted drug deal turned into a brawl with a glass lamp used as a weapon. An assailant in a homemade superhero cape pulled out a knife and started slashing. Three people were stabbed, one fatally. To the Trader Joes shoppers who dropped their groceries and fled in horror, the violence that unfolded along a busy commercial strip in the East Village on June 23 was as surreal and random as it was terrifying. But East 14th Street also embodies New York Citys struggles with a web of interconnected ills that have defied attempts to rein them in and have flared since the pandemic in parts of Manhattan: homelessness and mental illness, addiction and rampant shoplifting and seesaw battles for control of public space. Along the stretch by First Avenue, even as the surrounding neighborhood grows shinier and blander and crime declines overall, there is a consensus that the forces of chaos have lately gained the upper hand. At a BBQ for Biden-Harris event, a small crowd of Democratic voters gathered recently for a quiet lunch in the parking lot of a Detroit church, where a swift Michigan wind carried away their polite applause. At one table, a member of the United Auto Workers, the states powerful automotive union, told me that voting for President Biden was a duty he planned to perform. Then Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas grabbed the microphone. And suddenly, the listless group of voters came alive. The Republicans remain steadfast as it relates to Roe v. Wade. They didnt take our rights overnight. They worked on it. For decades! We need that type of resolve! Ms. Crockett boomed to the mostly Black crowd. They want to say things like: You know what? Jim Crow life was better for yall Black folk. I know it sounds devastating, Polands prime minister, Donald Tusk, said this year. But we have to get used to the fact that a new era has begun: the prewar era. Fresh from ousting national populists from power, Mr. Tusk is widely respected. Yet his words may come as a surprise. Considering the war in Gaza, Russias onslaught in Ukraine and conflict in Sudan, can we still speak of a prewar era? Mr. Tusk, a former president of the European Council, could perhaps be accused of Eurocentrism. But his remark is right: We are not in a traditional war. Yet of all the conflicts currently playing out, the one in Ukraine which pitches autocratically aligned Russia against Western-backed Ukraine has the greatest potential to become a full-blown world war. For NATO members gathered this week in Washington, working out how to stop that from happening will be at the top of the agenda. Theyre unlikely to agree, though. For the two and a half years since Russias invasion, Western countries have pursued divergent, sometimes contradictory approaches to the war. Behind each countrys policy is a special perspective informed by history. Its like a pair of glasses casting the war in a different light. As Vladimir Putin threatens nuclear escalation and Ukraine suffers further assaults, its essential that NATO members decide together how they should see the war in Ukraine and how best to bring it to an end. Some believe that we are on the eve of a wider war, experiencing an equivalent of something that happened 100 years ago. This is the view through Sarajevo glasses. In that Balkan city, on a hot summer day in 1914, a young assassin opened fire on Archduke Franz Ferdinands vehicle, setting off a chaotic sequence that led to World War I. That war, which was extraordinarily devastating, began somewhat by accident. The historian Christopher Clark has called the political class of the time sleepwalkers. Through a complex mix of emotions, offended honor and recklessness, they wandered unwittingly into war. Last week, millions of Americans celebrated our nations founding and with it our history of political and social inclusion. It is this history, of newcomers adding to the tapestry of the American experience, that is the foundation of our creedal nationalism, of the contested belief that Americans are united by principles despite their ethnic, cultural and religious plurality. I was at an Independence Day celebration of this belief at Monticello, Thomas Jeffersons mountaintop home and plantation in Virginia, where dozens of new American citizens were welcomed into the national community with a festive naturalization ceremony, opened as you might imagine with a solemn reading of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. Less central to our collective cultural memory than our history of inclusion but no less central to American history as it actually unfolded is a politics of expulsion, of the removal of people, groups and even ideas deemed incompatible with the national spirit, narrowly defined. The suspicion of outsiders and quick resort to expulsion, the historian Steven Hahn observes in Illiberal America: A History, is one of the defining features of the illiberal current in the American political tradition. If illiberalism in stark contrast to the universalist claims of liberalism ties rights and belonging to membership in specific communities of race, ethnicity, religion and gender; if it is marked by social and cultural exclusions and sees violence as a legitimate and potentially necessary means of wielding power, then it is only natural that illiberal movements or societies would wield expulsion as one method to discipline dissidents and outsiders. At long last, Europes eagerly awaited rocket headed to space. At 3 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday one decade after the European Space Agency set in motion a plan for a powerful new vehicle that would carry the continents ambitions to orbit Ariane 6 soared away from the launchpad at Europes Spaceport in French Guiana. The vehicle reached orbit 18 minutes and 44 seconds after liftoff, and about an hour later, it deployed a series of small satellites, after which the mission was deemed a success by its managers. But an anomaly in the final phase of the flight caused Ariane 6 to deviate from its planned trajectory, making it unable to achieve the altitude required to release the last of its cargo. Officials at ArianeGroup, the French aerospace company that built the rocket, said it could take up to two weeks to analyze the data and determine what went wrong. But Stephane Israel, the chief executive of Arianespace, the company that operates the rocket, said the anomaly, has no consequence on the next launches. We are perfectly on track to make a second launch this year, he said at a post-launch news conference. Beneath a cerulean sky and a forest of the largest trees on Earth, the chairman of the Tubatulabal Tribe, Robert Gomez, offered a prayer. I want to tell the spirit on the other side of the sun to give us power for this burn, he said. Give us a good burn. After songs, prayers and pronouncements, several dozen members of the Tule River, North Fork Mono and Tubatulabal Tribes and others kindled branches into crackling fires. Thick clouds of blue smoke billowed through the canopy of the giant sequoia forest. A plate of food from a barbecue was offered to the flames. The carefully monitored fire at the Alder Creek Grove in California was aimed at clearing the forest of growth in the understory and, among other things, at helping to prevent out-of-control wildfires. And it also was only the second cultural burn held by these tribes outside their reservations in more than a century. Indigenous people had been barred from conducting ritual, controlled fires in the forest under a 19th-century law that deemed the blazes destructive. But in 2022, in response to some of the most extreme wildfires in Californias history that occurred in 2020 and 2021, the law was reversed. As a result of the humongous fires, the narrative really changed in Sacramento, said Matthew Tuttle, chief of staff for Assembly member Devon Mathis, who attended the burn. They were more open to talking about forest management and what the tribes were saying. The tribes have long seen the sequoias as more than trees. They are our ancestors, said Kenneth McDarment, a Tule River Tribe council member. The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday barred an online service for the first time from serving users under the age of 18, saying the app had violated child privacy and consumer protection laws and had harmed children and teenagers. The F.T.C. said it had reached a settlement with the maker of the anonymous messaging app NGL over privacy and consumer protection violations. NGL Labs, the maker of NGL, had aggressively marketed the app as a safe space for teens with robust moderation practices, but instead, it exposed users to cyberbullying and other harms, the agency said. NGL, a common acronym used for the expression not gonna lie, agreed to a $4.5 million settlement to pay consumers affected by the companys practices. The settlement was jointly reached with the Los Angeles District Attorney, who imposed an additional $500,000 civil penalty on NGL. Lawmakers and regulators have become increasingly concerned about the safety and well-being of children online. Last month, the Surgeon General called for a health warning label on social media for teenagers and children, which would take an act of Congress to become mandated. Lawmakers are also wrangling over the Kids Online Safety Act, a bill that would force social media, messaging and other sites to protect children from harmful content and make the most robust privacy setting the default for young users. Julia Barresi suffered a series of debilitating seizures that her family believe were brought on as a result of contracting "Bali belly". A "healthy, vibrant and switched on" young Australian woman has been placed in a medically induced coma and evacuated from Indonesia after suffering a series of debilitating seizures that her family believe were brought on as a result of contracting "Bali belly". Julia Barresi, 19, lived with "health issues" as a child but her mother said she'd outgrown them and maintained a largely healthy lifestyle as a young adult. She was travelling through Bali earlier this month with friends when she fell unwell, unable to bounce back after several days. Earlier this month, Julia began suffering seizures and was rushed to hospital on the island, but was soon transferred to Australia for emergency treatment. Julia's mother Jen said she had communications with her daughter on July 1 that immediately raised alarm bells. Julia was medically evacuated from Bali back to Australia. Source: GFM/Daily Mail Aussie teen flown home to Melbourne after Bali horror "Julia and I were communicating constantly and on Monday [and] she just didnt seem good so I booked a flight to come over first thing Tuesday, she told Daily Mail. "Shes a healthy, vibrant, switched on, beautiful human being. Shes my best friend in the whole wide world. "Shes never had a seizure. Shes had health issues when she was younger but shes perfectly healthy now." After Jen touched down in Bali and saw her daughter's condition, she made the call to transport her daughter to The Royal Melbourne Hospital. She was due to undergo an MRI on Monday. "Her beautiful friends rang me. They called me and said, shes having seizures and I just said, get her straight in the cab, dont wait for an ambulance and get her straight to the hospital," she said. Jen said she believed that the seizures were caused by low sodium levels trigged by Bali belly, aka, traveller's diarrhoea. The illness is usually caused by bacteria found in food and water but can be caused by viruses like Rotavirus or Norovirus, which brings on gastro. It's common among visitors to Bali. "Shes not a big drinker. I dont even think she would have drank much at all because she was sick, so she wouldnt have touched it," she said. "Shes very careful with her food, with hygiene, the water, everything. So theres nothing that shes done to cause whats happened." It's not yet known what exactly caused Julia's seizures, but Jen hopes a diagnosis will soon explain the mystery. She said it's Julia's 20th birthday on July 29 and the family hope her daughter is well enough to celebrate. A GoFundMe page has been started for the family to help pay Julias medical bills. Her flight back to Australia may end up costing the family A$170,000 alone. "Shes been through hell and back but shell bounce back. Anyone who knows Julia knows how special she is, she doesnt have a nasty bone in her body," Jen said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. How rich is too rich to receive free tuition at medical school? That is the question raised by the $1 billion gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to Johns Hopkins University to cover tuition for most of its medical students, announced on Monday. The gift put the charity set up by Michael Bloomberg, a former mayor of New York City, in the same league as the $1 billion donation from Ruth Gottesman, a longtime professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx and the widow of a Wall Street tycoon. Her gift to Einstein in February promised that no medical student there would ever again have to pay tuition. And New York Universitys medical school began covering its students tuition in 2018, helped by a $100 million contribution from Kenneth G. Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot, and his wife, Elaine. But there is one key difference among the programs: Mr. Bloombergs generosity is means-tested, given only to students whose family income is under $300,000 a year. The programs at Einstein and N.Y.U. cover all medical students, regardless of income, need or merit. Before the Bloomberg gift, tuition at Johns Hopkins came to roughly $65,000 a year for four years, a hefty sum even for a family earning $300,000 a year. The university estimates the overall cost of attending, including living expenses and fees, at more than $102,000 in the first year. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, one of the most prominent progressives in the Democratic caucus, said late Monday that she stood behind President Biden. I have spoken to the president over the weekend, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez told reporters outside the Capitol. I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed. She highlighted his efforts on Monday to reiterate that message. Joe Biden is our nominee, she said. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race, and I support him. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said that it was essential for Democrats to turn their focus back to former President Donald J. Trump and what he would do if elected again. She told Mr. Biden to increasingly commit to the issues that are critically important to working people across this country like expanding Medicare and Social Security and making housing more affordable, she said. As Democratic leaders and voters called on President Biden to step aside after his faltering debate performance, Black women remained his firewall of support. During conversations at a national music festival on Saturday in New Orleans, a small organizer gathering in rural Georgia immediately after the debate last month, and in recurring chats over text chains and phone calls, Black female Democrats have affirmed and reaffirmed their willingness to vote and organize their communities to back Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, whose place on the presidential ticket they vigorously lobbied for in 2020. Many acknowledged that the presidents debate performance was flawed. Others shared concerns that his weakened state and meandering answers on the debate stage would make it more difficult for them to energize Black voters, who have already expressed a lack of enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket. But they have joined a broad swath of Black lawmakers in publicly dismissing the idea circulating among others in the party, including a group of top House Democrats that Mr. Biden should step aside. Top Democrats in Congress indicated on Tuesday that they were unwilling at least for now to mount an effort to push aside President Biden even after a day of meetings in which their members expressed grave concerns about his age, mental acuity and ability to win re-election. Both in public and behind closed doors, House and Senate Democrats from across the political spectrum, including ultraliberals in safe seats and centrists in politically vulnerable districts, have raised profound fears about Mr. Bidens viability as a candidate. But no Democratic leader on Capitol Hill was willing to ask the president to withdraw. Instead, they emerged on Tuesday swearing allegiance to Mr. Biden, if not exactly in enthusiastic or expansive terms. Im with Joe, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, repeatedly replied, as he sidestepped multiple questions about Mr. Bidens fitness for office. These are tricky times to be an ambitious and (relatively) young star in the Democratic Party. President Biden, the partys 81-year-old presumptive nominee for president, dialed into MSNBC on Monday morning to bray about the whippersnappers snapping at his stiffened heels. Run against me, he said, rather indignantly. Go ahead. Announce for president. Challenge me at the convention. Who would dare! I dont even like playing in hypotheticals, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, 56, swore last week. Theres no point engaging in these hypotheticals, echoed an aide to the 59-year-old governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker. It was Gretchen Whitmers turn on Tuesday. Im not going to entertain any conversation along that line, Ms. Whitmer, the 52-year-old governor of Michigan, said in an interview with USA Today. The president is in this race, he is running, and hes got my unequivocal support. What unfortunate timing then for her to publish True Gretch: What Ive Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between, a slim book out on Tuesday that contains just the sort of political pablum sure to keep her name circulating in any conversation along that line. President Biden opened NATOs 75th anniversary summit on Tuesday seeking to bolster confidence in both the alliance and his own political standing with a forceful speech warning of the threat posed by Russia and other authoritarian states as the world plunges into a new era of superpower conflict. Mr. Biden, speaking in a strong voice, with few errors, sounded themes from some of the most memorable speeches of his presidency, painting an image of a fearsome and growing NATO with an ironclad commitment to Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion. And he announced a pledge of more weapons to help the Ukrainians fend off air attacks. The war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country, he said. He matched that with a vow to defend every inch of NATO territory on land, in space and in cyberspace and repeated his caution that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia wont stop at Ukraine if he proves victorious. The three-day celebration, opened with pageantry in the same gilded auditorium where the NATO treaty was signed by a dozen nations in 1949, came at a moment of enormous testing for both Mr. Biden and the alliance. After a disastrous debate performance 12 days earlier that has imperiled his re-election candidacy, the delivery by the president, who has staked both his place in history and much of his campaign on his rallying of the NATO nations, may have mattered as much as his words. As NATO leaders gather in Washington starting Tuesday, they will celebrate the strength of their alliance on its 75th anniversary while confronting deep uncertainty about its future. In recent years, Russias aggression against Ukraine has given NATO, founded after World War II to defend Europe from the Soviet Union, a renewed sense of purpose. But the alliance also faces grave threats, including from right-wing skeptics who are gaining power in nations such as Germany and France. And the potential return to the White House of Donald J. Trump, who has derided NATO and even mused about withdrawing the United States from the alliance, has raised alarms among its members. Heres what to watch for during the three days of NATO meetings in Washington this week. Staring Down Putin Perhaps the summits most important goal will be sending a signal of unity and strength to Moscow. Foreign law enforcement officers started arriving in Haiti late last month, more than a year and a half after the prime minister there issued a plea to other countries for help to stop the rampant gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation. The 400 officers from Kenya are the first contingent of a deployment of officers from eight nations. Their job is to try to wrest control of Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, from dozens of armed groups that have attacked police stations, freed prisoners and killed with impunity. So far, the officers have gone out on a few patrols around Port-au-Prince and the authorities have not reported any clashes with any armed groups. Emphatic, pugnacious and demanding: The style met the moment in the far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchons speech to a fired-up crowd of thousands celebrating victory in Sundays French legislative elections. Standing before supporters in the working-class 19th arrondissement of Paris, Mr. Melenchon addressed himself to President Emmanuel Macron, and not politely. The president should either resign or name one of us prime minister, he declared. Other leftist leaders have said that there should be discussions about the future of the country. Not this one. The crowd on Sunday roared. Mr. Melenchons tone and hard-line stance have given him a devoted, youthful following the only leftist leader with one and made him both adored and hated, marginalized and central in French politics. More French have a negative opinion of him, 73 percent, than they do of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally. But he also attracts large crowds who hang on his every word, as they did on Sunday. Mark Rutte rode off into the sunset on his bicycle last week, making a carefully choreographed exit from Dutch politics, which he has dominated as prime minister for nearly 14 years. His next job will be even more challenging: He will be the new head of a NATO that is facing threats ranging from Russian aggression to the rise of right-wing nationalism across Europe. Mr. Rutte, known as a flexible pragmatist, will bring his experience at conciliation to the 32-nation military alliance when he takes over as secretary general from Jens Stoltenberg on Oct. 1. As it celebrates its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington this week, NATO, which was founded to deter the former Soviet Union from further expansion in Europe, has found renewed purpose in its support for Ukraine against Russias invasion. Beyond that challenge, NATO faces a Russian government forging stronger ties with China and Iran. Leading member states like France and Germany are dealing with the empowerment of far-right parties with clear sympathies for Moscow. Hungary and Turkey are authoritarian democracies. And there are new demands. Four people have been arrested by New York State Police as a result of a month-long investigation into the theft of government-owned military equipment in Auburn and Syracuse. In a Monday news release, state police said they were contacted by the Army in June about James Waleski, a Department of Defense civilian employed at the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse. According to police, he was using a Facebook Marketplace account to sell military equipment, some of which was sensitive in nature. Searches of Waleski's Jamesville residence, phone and computer led police to tens of thousands of dollars' worth of military equipment that had been stolen from the 174th, as well as the 272nd Military Police Detachment in Auburn and the Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse. Equipment allegedly sold by Waleski online and in person was recovered from Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and New York. A ballistic vest that was being reshipped to Russia was also recovered, as was an illegal assault rifle at Waleski's residence that wasn't obtained through his federal employment. Waleski, 50, has been charged with second-degree grand larceny (a class C felony), 10 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon: high capacity magazines (a class D felony), third-degree criminal possession of a weapon: assault weapon (a class D felony) and unlawful sale of body armor (a class A misdemeanor). Jennifer Waleski, 40, has been charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon: assault weapon. Gordon D. Reynolds, 44, of Chittenango, a military police officer assigned to the 102nd in Auburn, was arrested for stealing equipment there, police said. He has been charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon: high capacity magazine, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon: assault weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property (a class E felony). Joriann Garcia-Hernandez, 38, of Rome, a unit supply specialist assigned to Company D, 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion in Syracuse, has been charged with petit larceny (a class A misdemeanor). State police ask anyone with more information relevant to the investigation, or anyone who has purchased military equipment from Waleski, to call investigator Carl Schneider at (315) 366-6000. A Russian court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the self-exiled widow of the opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny, accusing her of participating in an extremist community. The court order against Yulia B. Navalnaya, who left Russia in 2021, comes five months after her husband died under murky circumstances in a harsh Russian penal colony. He was imprisoned after being convicted of various trumped-up charges when he returned to Russia after a near-fatal attempt to poison him in August 2020. Ms. Navalnaya has repeatedly accused President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia of murdering her husband and has vowed to continue his opposition work. She has become an outspoken critic of Russias war in Ukraine, using episodes like a Russian missile hitting a childrens hospital in Kyiv on Monday to blame Mr. Putin and the Kremlin for the bloodshed. The statement from the Basmanny District Courts press office announcing the arrest order did not spell out the reason for the charges, but it appeared to be linked to her role in helping to run the Navalny opposition organization. Although she avoided any overt political role while her husband was alive, Ms. Navalnaya has long led the advisory board of his Anti-Corruption Foundation. It was a carefully staged display of big-power theatrics or more precisely, of middle-power-meets-big-power theatrics. You are now connected to Air Force One, said a White House operator, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain hunched over a speakerphone, in a short video released on Saturday by 10 Downing Street. Mr. Prime Minister, congratulations, said President Biden, who was flying to Wisconsin for a campaign rally. What a hell of a victory! The two leaders spoke warmly about the importance of the special relationship between Britain and the United States, their shared commitment to defending Ukraine and an upcoming rendezvous: Mr. Starmer is leaving on Tuesday for Washington, where Mr. Biden is hosting a NATO summit. The pictures are haunting: black-and-white prints of a snow-covered barracks and paintings bordered by wire fences and skeletal trees, grim depictions of a World War II camp in France where Jews were interned before being transported to concentration camps. The artist, Jacques Gotko, created one picture using a background of crushed eggshells glued to a wooden board; for others he used a piece of old tire as a printing block. Those were just some of the few materials available to him at the camp where he was held before being transported to Drancy, another camp in France, then Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Poland, in 1943. Fragile and rarely displayed, these works are part of a massive repository of Holocaust-related artifacts among them millions of pages of documents, tens of thousands of pages of testimony, artworks and personal belongings and more than half a million photographs collected over the years by Yad Vashem, Israels official Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Most of the artifacts had been scattered around Yad Vashems vast campus, but they will now be housed in a new center that will allow easier access for researchers and provide the most advanced technological conditions to safeguard them for future generations. The center was recently completed and was inaugurated Monday. A new problem is bedeviling humanitarian aid convoys attempting to deliver relief to hungry Gazans: attacks by organized crowds seeking not the flour and medicine that trucks are carrying, but cigarettes smuggled inside the shipments. In tightly blockaded Gaza, cigarettes have become increasingly scarce, now generally selling for $25 to $30 apiece. U.N. and Israeli officials say the coordinated attacks by groups seeking to sell smuggled cigarettes for profit pose a formidable obstacle to bringing desperately needed aid to southern Gaza. The Israeli authorities closely scan everything that goes in and out of Gaza through Israeli-administered checkpoints. But the cigarettes have managed to slip through for weeks inside aid trucks, mostly through Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza. To evade Israeli inspections, smugglers mostly in Egypt have been hiding them in sacks of United Nations-donated flour, diapers and even a watermelon, according to aid agencies and an Israeli military official who shared photos with The New York Times. Aid trucks that set off from the crossing into Gaza were then attacked by crowds of Palestinians, some of them armed, seeking the cigarettes hidden inside, according to U.N. and Israeli officials. Andrea De Domenico, who runs the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jerusalem, confirmed that aid officials had seen cartons of U.N.-branded assistance with cigarettes inside. He said the contraband cigarettes had created a new dynamic of organized attacks on aid convoys. An apparent Israeli drone strike in Syria on Tuesday prompted the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to respond with rocket fire into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the group said, an attack that killed two people as fears continued to mount over the threat of a full-scale war. Hezbollah said in a statement that it had targeted an Israeli military base as a direct response to what it called an assassination in Syria earlier in the day. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported on Tuesday that two Hezbollah members had been killed in an Israeli drone strike on their vehicle close to the Lebanese border. The driver of the vehicle, a Syrian national, was also injured in the strike, the war monitor said. Neither Hezbollah nor the Israeli military said whether anyone had been killed in the strike, and Israel had not claimed responsibility by Tuesday night. But the Israeli military has ramped up airstrikes in Syria since the war began in Gaza last year often targeting Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups who have entrenched themselves across the country. The Israeli police said that a man and woman were killed in the Hezbollah rocket barrage that followed and that fire crews were working to extinguish several blazes that broke out in the area. It was not immediately clear if the victims were civilians or active-duty soldiers. The Israeli military said a total of 40 projectiles had been launched across the Lebanese border into the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau bordering Syria that Israel annexed nearly 60 years ago. The latest tit-for-tat strikes between Hezbollah and Israel came amid intensifying efforts by the Biden administration to contain the conflict and prevent an all-out war. Still, numerous rounds of shuttle diplomacy have failed to quell rising tensions, with Hezbollah stressing repeatedly that violence will continue along Israels northern border as long as the war in Gaza persists. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel in solidarity with the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 that precipitated the war in Gaza. More than 150,000 Israelis and Lebanese have so far been forced to flee their homes along the border, with no indication of when they may be able to return. Amid rising tensions between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and new moves by the Israeli government to expand its hold on the territory, an Israeli general on Monday issued a harsh rebuke of the governments policies there and condemned rising nationalist crime by Jewish settlers. Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuks, the outgoing chief of Israels Central Command, which is responsible for the countrys military forces in the West Bank, said at a departure ceremony that a strong and functioning Palestinian Authority was in Israels security interest. The generals statement appeared to be a swipe at Israels far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who is himself a settler and who has been crippling the authority by withholding tax funds that Israel collects on its behalf in the roughly 40 percent of the West Bank that the authority administers. General Fuks also expressed dismay over an increase in settler violence in the West Bank, which is home to about 2.7 million Palestinians and a Jewish settler population that has grown to well over 500,000. An extremist minority of violent settlers, he said, had been undermining Israels reputation internationally and sowing fear among Palestinians. That, to me, is not Judaism, he said. At least not what I was raised on in my fathers and mothers home. That is not the way of the Torah. Israel seized control of the West Bank from Jordan in 1967 during a war with three Arab states, and Israeli civilians have since settled there with both the tacit and explicit approval of the government, living under Israeli civil law while their Palestinian neighbors are subject to Israeli military law. The international community largely views Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal, and many of them are illegal under Israeli law but are tolerated by the government. Many outposts that began as illegal under Israeli law have subsequently been legitimized by the government, and Palestinians have long argued that they are a creeping annexation that turns land needed for any independent Palestinian state into an unmanageable patchwork. The actor Alec Baldwin was filming the movie Rust in New Mexico in 2021 when the gun that he was rehearsing with, which was not supposed to contain live ammunition, went off, firing a bullet that killed the films cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. The films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapons and ammunition on the set, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Now Mr. Baldwin is going on trial for involuntary manslaughter; he has pleaded not guilty. Opening arguments begin on Wednesday. Here are some key players. The Rust Production Alec Baldwin Image Credit... Ross D. Franklin/Agence France-Presse Getty Images Actor and producer Mr. Baldwin, who was playing a grizzled outlaw in Rust, has vehemently denied responsibility in the fatal shooting on Oct. 21, 2021, saying that he was told that the old-fashioned revolver he was handed on the set that day was cold, meaning that it was not loaded with live ammunition, and adding that it was unthinkable that any live rounds would be on the set. Mr. Baldwin has also said he did not pull the trigger when the gun discharged, but had merely pulled the hammer back and let it go; prosecutors have said that forensic examinations have suggested that he must have pulled the trigger. A 27-year-old man from Dongguan, China, has been having trouble finding a job because he looks more like a child than a man in his late 20s. Saying that Mao Sheng looks a little young for his years would be a serious understatement. He claims to be 27, but everyone agrees that he doesnt look a day over 10. And while some would consider that a blessing, the young man from Dongguan claims its a curse, because it prevents him from getting a job. Most employers dont believe he is as old as he claims to be, and those who do say that they dont want authorities snooping around and accusing them of child labor because of his youthful looks. Mao Sheng became an overnight sensation in China last week, after a video shot on the streets of Dongguan went viral on Douyin (TikTok). In it, the young man revealed his age and complained that he couldnt find a job to support his father, who was recovering from a stroke. He had been asking for a job at local factories with a friend, but while they quickly found employment, he wasnt so lucky. Shengs story touched the hearts of millions around China, many of whom accused employers for not giving him a chance because of his unusually youthful visage. Luckily, after he became famous online, plenty of entrepreneurs reached out and offered him jobs. Another video posted on Douyin a couple of days ago revealed that Mao accepted one of the jobs offers he received, and hopes to earn enough to help his father recover. Once they get over that hill, he hopes to find a girlfriend and start a family. Although Mao Shengs story was picked up by several news outlets in China, none of them mentioned any medical reason for the 27-year-olds youthful looks. We suspect that it must have something to do with his pituitary gland, which controls physical growth. Weve seen similar cases in the past, adults stuck in the bodies of children, and the pituitary gland was almost always to blame. Hari-Kari Biden would rather go down in the flames of defeat in November than admit that he is too old and feeble for the job of president. How can America fulfill its promise to its people and the world, if it is continued to be led by Sleepy Joe, who finds it hard to function after 4 pm? In his July 8 letter to Democrats, Biden said he is committed to running this race to the end. Thats an unfortunate use of words. Its unclear if the president is referring to the end of his political career, after he is walloped by his arch-nemesis, Donald Trump. Or does he mean the end of Democratic control of the Senate and the lost hope of taking control of the House? Taking a page from the Mango Mussolini, who cant admit publicly that he lost the 2020 election, Biden looks to the past to justify his reelection campaign. Both men are stuck in the past. Biden is remaining in the race to honor the wishes of Democratic primary voters. Do we now just say this process didnt matter, wrote Biden. That the voters didnt have a say. Those voters include the four percent of registered Democrats who bothered to turn out in the South Carolina primary on Feb. 3. Old Joe got 96.2 percent of the tally against Marianne Williamsons 2.1 percent. Biden had a rougher time in Nevadas Feb. 6 primary, taking only 89.3 percent of the vote. A dozen candidates including Superpayaseria Crystalroc who got 126 votes, split the rest. Bidens mental decline has rapidly increased since his March 1 State of the Union address. Those South Carolina and Nevada voters wouldnt support the Joe Biden of today. Its downright scary to imagine what the 81-year-old presidents mental condition will be on Election Day, which is 119 days from now. And forget about when he is 86 at the end of his second term. In his letter, Biden says that if he is reelected with a Democratic House and Senate, Roe vs. Wade will become the law of the land, and the threat that Trump poses to Americas democracy will be vanquished. Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us, wrote Biden. But Americans want clarity from Biden. Merriam-Webster defines clarity as the state of having a full, detailed, and orderly mental grasp of something. The president is clearly in denial about his mental sharpness. Americans and much of the world lack that clarity when it comes to stubborn Biden and his enablers who will rightfully be blamed for the return of Trump to power. What me worry American University professor Allan Lichtman, who has predicted the winner of nine out of the last presidential elections, isnt worried about fallout from Bidens terrible debate. He told CNN that robust debate performances are not predictive of election results. Lichtman noted that robust performances by John Kerry and Hillary Clinton didnt lead to the road to the White House. Unlike Biden, neither Kerry nor Clinton looked like they were lost in space when they squared off against George Bush II and Trump. Lindsay Stein The gap between media and client is a chasm we publicists regularly dance in, but amid the ever-changing media landscape, this simple two-step has become a choreographed waltz. In this routine, we balance client expectations with the maintenance of mutually beneficial media relationshipson pointed-toe and with bells on. The media we rely on arent mere email addresses. Theylike us and like the brands we servehave dedicated their livelihoods to the world of travel, and while our passions may align, our expectations may not. At our shop, weve developed a dedicated media department, laser-focused on building and maintaining mutually beneficial media relationships. What does this entail? Communication and outreach that doesnt always come with a pitch attached. Regular media audits and temperature checks to stay current on whats working and what writers want to make work. Molding client initiatives to better fit into conversations that are already happening across the travel space. In liaising between these two campstreasured staffers and freelancers as well as paying clientsweve gathered a few key truths. No, the editor will not be supplying an assignment letter. Assignment letters have gone the way of the horse and buggy, creating new tensions for everyone involved in the earned editorial media process. Clients are wary of making an investment without a guarantee, writers are wary of embarking on trips without confirmation that they can produce and publicists are wary of connecting the two, armed with nothing more than trust. Unlike paid media, earned media comes with no mock-ups. Clients cant be guaranteed what a story will look like ahead of publication. We work to make our clients understand that, no, the freelancer cannot confirm their story angle before actually experiencing the thing, nor whom they will pitch it to. We angle mine and story sesh with our media friends to try and whittle out an imagination of what the final product will look likeultimately, another exercise in trust. This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Jul. '24 Travel & Tourism PR Magazine Networking shouldnt feel transactional. Were not in the business of bartering. Were people people, making our living in relationships. Strong media relations strategy dies in the email outbox but blooms over martini dinners and book signings. We call our colleagues media friends, because thats what they are: friends. We want to know what theyre working on, evenand especiallyif it has nothing to do with our clients. We want to know their far-flung, bucket list destinations, why they like to travel and what their mothers are like. Network to create a network, not to solicit coverage. A great press trip has airfare, free time and a hook. Amid the ever-changing landscape of editorial employment, its a cardinal sin to expect your writers to pony up out of pocket for your benefit. Respect their time and their talents, book the flight (and the Uber too). That said, a passionate travel journalist isnt looking for a free vacationthats just the work perk. A newsy hook is absolutely essential to any successful press trip, be that a property opening, a newly unveiled flight route or an innovative offering new to the experience. Beyond the scope of a standard property review, a truly impactful first-person narrative needs to have a hook. Once they bite, let them swim freely. According to our media friends, the bane of their collective existence is a too-tightly-packed press trip. Experiential travelers need time to do just thatexperience. In between informative, research-coded experiences and collective moments of togetherness, give your writers time to laze, explore or, hell, write. Events are relationship-building exercises; theyre rarely news in and of themselves. Travel CEO Touches Down in New York to Meet with Media, read no headline ever. Media meeting events are a celebrated part of the PR machine, but a celebration of whatand for who? Events exist on the networking arm of a strong media strategy, coordinated to spark conversations, foster connections and lay the groundwork for future stories. At their very best, great media events are a powerful tool in the industrys thought leadership machine, an opportunity to boost brand awareness from inside the clubhouse. Earned media, like all good things, takes time. For clients, the conclusion of a press trip begins a ticking clock of anticipation for extensive first-person stories across major legacy publications. This is a PR fantasy. In reality, the post-visit coverage window is much larger, with some stories taking upwards of six monthssometimes even longerto actualize. Press trips are not mere exercises in story production but rather a forward investment and one made early. According to a recent survey of our agencys media friends, most travel writers look to secure a press trip three to four months in advance. Along those same lines, they prefer to receive brand news upwards of three months in advance. If your clients deal comes with a brief booking window, good luck landing it. Theres an old saying espoused to fledgling publicists and students of the industry: No two days are the same. This is true now more than ever. Today, were bending the binding on a freshly printed glossy issue of a magazine that may be shuttered next week. Tomorrow, well book a suite for a staff writer who, next week, may be forced to freelance. In supporting journalists amid mass layoffs and uncertainty, we can do more than secure them a sailing or a safarifar more. The challenges facing writers of all employ are systemic, unpredictable and equally vexing for brands whose media strategy runs on predictability. We seek out writers, not by byline, but by potential and by a shared affinity for the experience of travel. For brands and media friends alike, were listening, translating and setting a tone forward in the industryand well do it over lunch. *** Lindsay Stein is Director of Media Relations at Decker/Royal, where she leads media relations strategy and outreach for clients ranging from hotels and tour companies to destinations and cruise lines. DGA Group (formerly Dentons Global Advisors) announces expanded roles for Gregoire Poisson, who becomes global head of public affairs; Katherine Morgan, who is now Europe head of public affairs; James Melville-Ross, who takes on the role of Europe head of complex communications advisory, and Kieran OKeeffe, who will serve as co-head of the Brussels office (serving alongside Poisson). As part of their new roles, Morgan and Melville Ross join DGA Groups executive committee, of which Poisson is already a member. Poisson, who was CEO of Interel before it was acquired by DGA Group in 2021, has most recently served as head of public affairs EMEA. In his expanded role, he will work to ensure the delivery of coordinated, high-quality service across all markets. Morgan, who was a deputy managing partner at Interel and has most recently served as a partner at DGA, has also worked at a senior level in the UK Treasury and in the European Commission. Melville-Ross, a specialist in crisis communication, will oversee the regional management of the practice that specializes in high-stakes communications issues, including crisis management and corporate reputation. OKeeffe, who also served as a deputy managing partner at Interel, will oversee all operations within the multidisciplinary Brussels-based team. The appointments of Gregoire, Katherine, James and Kieran reflect the excellent growth in our business, said DGA Group head of EMEA Deborah Scott. Their combined expertise and leadership will strengthen our global and regional capabilities. The Change Agencies, a collective of PR firms offering strategic communications, counsel and outreach to represent, engage and connect with African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and LGBTQ communities, brings on three new members: Abenaa Hayes of Elysee Consulting in Brooklyn, NY; Sandy Diaz Haley of SDH Communications in Dallas; and Shawn Smith of Shawn Smith Communications in Los Angeles. The new members join 12 existing member agencies led by managing partners Ben Finzel of RENEWPR in Washington, D.C., and LaTricia Woods of Mahogany Xan Communications in Chandler, Ariz. Our member agencies are dynamic firms that are making a significant impact for their clients and their communities, and we look forward to working with them and creating a new narrative for diversity, inclusivity and authenticity for our industry and future clients, said Woods. Washington Office, a DC-based strategy firm that will provide clients with strategic communications, business development and government relations support, launches in strategic partnership with Capital Factory, a startup incubator. The firm is targeting companies in the emerging technology sector, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, energy, materials sciences, robotics, space systems, synthetic biology and quantum computing. Our clients will be championed by people whove been policymakers and technologists who actually understand product and have built things and who have worked at all levels in Democratic, Republican, and nonpartisan leadership positions, said Washington Office co-founder Evan Burfield. Kasia Reterska, Emily Portugal Burson names Kasia Reterska head of US better impact and Emily Portugal head of US growth. Reterska most recently served as EVP, social impact and sustainability at Weber Shandwick, where she launched and led its global advisory of subject matter experts in business & society futures. At Burson, she leads the agencys team of ESG and social impact specialists. Portugal was most recently EVP, business development at Edelman. Before that, she served in business development capacities with FCB Chicago and Pappageorge Haymes Partners. Kasia and Emily are outstanding leaders with a deep understanding of the business imperative of building reputation for clients, whether by helping them manage the complexities of reporting responsibility metrics or by cutting to the heart of a potential clients business challenge, said Burson US CEO Craig Buchholz. Keith Stern Cornerstone Government Affairs adds Keith Stern, former senior advisor to House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), to its federal government relations team. Stern has also served as director of floor operations to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and chief of staff to Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA). With more than a decade of experience working with Democratic House Leadership, Stern brings a deep understanding of House Floor processes and strong relationships across all levels of the federal government. His knowledge of House leadership and floor operations will add immediate and significant value to all our client engagements, said Cornerstone CEO Geoff Gonella. Terry Mertens Motion promotes Terry Mertens to executive creative director, a newly created position at the agency. Mertens most recently served as VP, group creative director at Motion. Before that, he was group creative director at Plan B, leading the efforts of the creative department for more than 12 years. In his new role, Mertens will support new business efforts and talent recruitment, as well as continuing to be a client leader. Terrys approachable and collaborative work style, combined with his highly pragmatic, detail-oriented problem-solving skills makes him an ideal fit for this new role at Motion, said Motion founder and CEO Kimberly Eberl. Jenn Houston George P. Johnson, a strategic experience marketing agency, hires Jenn Houston as executive director of sports activations, based in the firms Los Angeles office. Houston comes to GPJ from GMR Marketing, where she was global VP, growth. She was previously a founding member of The Post, a private membership network connecting athletes turned business leaders. In her new post, Houston will oversee the evolution of GPJs sports-related work with existing clients as well as being a key driver of the agencys expansion. She will also be joining the Project Sports, Gaming and Entertainment Collective, a cross-agency specialty group run by GPJ s parent company, Project Worldwide. With Jenns leadership, we will take GPJs experiential sports practice to the next level, said GPJ president, Americas Fiona Bruder. Tier One Partners is selected as US agency of record for software engineering, consulting and AI-enabled product development firm 3Pillar. Tier Ones scope of work for the client will focus on bolstering earned media relations, forging executive thought leadership for senior 3Pillar leaders and securing awards and speaking opportunities for the company. 3Pillar serves clients including CARFAX, Fortune and PBS, providing solutions that the company says drive rapid revenue, increase market share and ensure customer growth. It selected Tier One based on the agencys AI, cloud and healthcare expertise; its ability to build corporate awareness and drive executive thought leadership; and its proficiency in translating complex subject matter into creative PR campaigns. Throughout the agency selection process, Tier One impressed us with the quality of their strategic thinking, said 3Pillar director, corporate communications Heather Elliott. Trevelino/Keller signs on to support sales enablement tool and CRM software Pipeliner CRM through a strategic approach to what it calls reputation marketing, leveraging public relations, executive visibility and content marketing. Pipeliner CRMs platform empowers sales representatives, managers and marketers to streamline processes, track leads and drive revenue all within the CRM environment. Its online and offline iOS and Android mobile apps provide CRM functionality on the go. Built on an open-source foundation, our solution is the only one to account for the pitfalls of other CRMs and is designed to directly mitigate those issues, said Pipeliner CEO Nikolaus Kimla. We have initiated our work with Trevelino/Keller to help amplify our story and bring awareness to our unique position in the marketplace. Fire on the Hill, a New York-based firm serving clients across sectors including technology, travel, energy, education and finance, signs on as AOR with VivaTech, an annual technology conference, dedicated to innovation and startups, held in Paris. Agency co-founder Chris Clarke spoke at the event last month, joining a lineup of executives in tech and politics such as former Secretary of State John Kerry; X chief executive officer Linda Yaccarino; and Eric Schmidt, former CEO and executive chairman of Google. VivaTech joins a corporate and B2B roster that includes global travel technology provider Amadeus, the Global Business Travel Association and Logically, an AI company combating misleading and deceptive online discourse. Female rap superstar Nicki Minaj has sunk her starship with Irish fans following a sh*t show gig in Dublin over the weekend. Fans were left furious following the disgraceful show in Dublins Malahide Castle on Saturday July 6, which saw Nicki arrive late and leave fans to wait in torrential rain for 90 minutes. The 41-year-old US rapper performed for less than an hour. In those 45 minutes, she reportedly lip synced, fought with her own DJ and had five outfit changes. This is the first time since 2015 that Nicki Minaj returned to Ireland. Tickets for her Pink Friday 2 World Tour cost around 100, which Irish fans are now demanding full refunds for. Carlow influencer Lauren Whelan was among those who attended the gig and expressed to her followers that it was a waste of money. Other angered ticket holders took to social media to brand the concert as the worst ever, with one outraged fan saying: Im still not over how much of a sh*t show Nicki Minaj was in Dublin last night. To disappoint fans who have been obsessed with her music for years. Cant even call that a performance, it was so awful. Another said: People need to realise this woman hates her Irish fans, while someone else said Doesnt feel that I got what we paid for at all. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. Shortly after the complete disaster of a gig in Malahide Castle, the rap star cancelled her follow-up gig in Bucharest, Romania due to safety concerns. 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. Journalist Shane O Curraighin has been confirmed as the Northwest Correspondent for RTE News. Shane will be reporting and providing analysis across RTE News platforms on social, economic, cultural and political developments on all aspects of life in the Northwest region including all of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. Shane O Curraighin joined RTE as a multimedia journalist in 2016, reporting across television, radio and digital platforms including 7LA, Nuacht RTE, Nuacht TG4, RTE News and RTE Online. He has covered a wide range of major news stories across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Over the past three years, he has worked on 7LA, TG4s current affairs programme produced by RTE, reporting extensively and providing analysis on political, economic and social developments and public affairs. Prior to joining 7LA, Shane returned to live in the Northwest in 2020 reporting across counties Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo for Nuacht RTE and Nuacht TG4. He previously worked as a video journalist with Below the Radar TV in Belfast and as a lecturer with Dublin City University. Shane began his broadcasting career as an intern in Nuacht RTE/TG4 while undertaking an undergraduate degree. He holds a MSc in Business and Information Technology and a BA in Journalism and Irish from Dublin City University, a Diploma in the Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance from Dublin Business School and he was previously a Fulbright FLTA Scholar at the University of Saint Thomas, Minnesota. He was nominated three times for Gradaim Chumarsaide an Oireachtais, Journalist of the Year Award. Shane is from Teileann in the Donegal Gaeltacht. He lives in Donegal Town with his wife and baby daughter. "As somebody who grew up in the region, I am delighted to be taking up the role of Northwest Correspondent. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to continue the great work that Eileen Magnier did over the past four decades. "Im looking forward to covering the stories that matter to the people of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. The impact of the defective blocks crisis, challenges in healthcare, housing, infrastructure, fishing and farming are just some of the important issues I look forward to covering. I also look forward to reporting on the positive stories and triumphs in the Northwest. "Ta me ag suil go mor le scealta mhuintir an iarthuaiscirt a chur os comhair an phobail". Shane will be taking up the post in August, 2024. Mice activity, rodent droppings and mould growth were just some of the reasons that 5 closure orders were served on food businesses last month. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that a total of seven Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of June for breaches of food safety legislation. The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Food Safety Authority (FSAI) reported 4 of those orders were served on businesses based in Dublin. Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in June included: two mouse carcasses under a sink and under a toilet; a significant amount of rodent droppings under a sink; evidence of rat infestation; inadequate pest proofing; flies walking on cooked chicken; a dead rodent under pallets on the shop floor; raw meat packaging used to store cooked chicken pieces; mould on walls and ceilings; food prepared and handled in a kitchen which was subject to a Closure Order; inability to establish traceability for frozen raw meat; lack of a food safety culture. Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, emphasised that food businesses have a legal obligation to comply with food safety legislation in the interest of public health. Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat. If anyone experiences unfit food, poor hygiene standards or notices a breach of food law in a food business, we encourage them to contact us via our online complaint form. Food safety legislation is put in place to protect the health of consumers and to uphold the standards of the food industry. We strongly encourage food business operators to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of online resources, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses. 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. SAIC-GM-Wuling's Binguo EV hits market in Thailand On July 8, SAIC-GM-Wulings Binguo EV officially hit the market in Thailand, with prices ranging from 419,000 baht to 449,000 baht (approximately 83,590 yuan to 89,670 yuan). Following the successful launch of the Wuling Air ev a year ago, the Binguo EV offers a new quality transportation option for Thai consumers. Photo credit: SGMW NavInfo predicts net loss of at least 295 million yuan in H1 2024 NavInfo announced that it expects a net loss of around 295 million yuan to 383 million yuan for the first half of 2024. For comparison, the companys net loss was 295 million yuan in the same period last year. Porsche's China sales plummet 33% YoY in H1 2024 Porsche reported global sales of 155,945 vehicles for the first half of 2024, which dipped 7% from same period last year. Sales in China dropped by 33% from that of a year ago to 29,551 vehicles. Continental AG puts Changchun Jingyue factorys phase II expansion project into operation On July 8th, Continental AG announced that the Phase II expansion project of its factory in Jingyue High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Changchun city, Jilin province (called "Jingyue factory" for short) has officially commenced operations. China has 24.72 million new energy vehicles running on roads by June 2024 As of the end of June 2024, the total number of motor vehicles in China has reached 440 million, including 345 million cars, 24.72 million units are new energy vehicles (NEVs), according to China's Ministry of Public Security. GAC Groups auto sales drop YoY in H1 2024, but car exports still surge GAC Group recently reported automobile wholesales totaling 163,509 units in June 2024, marking a 30.77% decline year-over-year. For the first half of this year, the group's total wholesale volume reached 863,038 vehicles, representing a 25.79% decrease compared to the same period last year. Huawei's Guangzhou R&D Center to complete Phase I in September On July 9, the "Guangzhou Baiyun Fabu" WeChat account reported that the Phase I of Huawei's Guangzhou R&D Center is expected to be fully completed and delivered by September. SENIOR receives intelligent connected vehicle road test permit in Ningbo Recently, scenario-based autonomous driving solution provider SENIOR was awarded one of the first intelligent connected vehicle road test permits in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The Ningbo Public Security Bureau will issue temporary licenses for these companies' self-driving vehicles, allowing them to conduct road tests, demonstration applications, and pilot operations in designated areas. Flagchip, LEN Technology team up to enhance automotive chip solutions Recently, automotive-grade chip companies Flagchip and LEN Technology announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. Currently, the two parties market integration has been completed, and the next step will involve deep collaboration to combine MCU and analog products for the automotive sector. BYD, Ayvens sign MoU to boost green mobility in Europe On July 2nd, BYD and Ayvens, a global sustainable mobility service company, officially signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) at BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen. The partnership aims to jointly promote the green transformation of transportation in Europe. Dongfeng Motor plans to build dedicated auto parts division On July 5, Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFMC) announced the launch of an automotive parts project, establishing a dedicated Parts Division to centrally manage its components business. This strategic move aims to drive transformation and create a leading parts company with core competitiveness. NEOLIX receives permit to launch unmanned delivery vehicle in Lishui city Recently, unmanned cargo delivery vehicle maker NEOLIX received the first Intelligent Connected Vehicle Demonstration Application Notice from the city of Lishui, marking the official launch of its unmanned delivery vehicles on public roads in the city. Chinas new energy passenger vehicle outputs, wholesales both jump around 30% YoY in H1 2024 In the sixth month of 2024, Chinas new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) production and wholesale volumes came in at 933,000 units and 982,000 units, respectively, representing a 26.6% and 29% year-on-year jump, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In June 2024, China's domestic passenger vehicle (PV) market retailed 1.767 million vehicles, marking a year-over-year decrease of 6.7% but a month-over-month increase of 3.2%, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association ("CPCA"). For the first half of this year, the country's PV retail sales totaled 9.841 million units, an increase of 3.3% compared to the same period last year. For clarity, the passenger vehicles hereby refer to cars, MPVs, and SUVs locally produced on the Chinese Mainland. In June, conventional oil-fueled vehicle retail sales totaled 910,000 units in China, a year-on-year decrease of 27% and remaining flat compared to the previous month. From January to June, retail sales of conventional fuel vehicles amounted to 5.73 million units in the country, a 13% decrease year-on-year. With the first six months accounting for 43% of the total annual sales made for 2023, the annual figure is expected to surpass 22 million units in 2024, said the CPCA. According to the CPCA, the external economic environment in China showed significant uncertainty in June, with internal effective demand still insufficient and weak expectations from businesses and residents. However, with the gradual impact of the country trade-in policy, the introduction and follow-up of various local policies, Beijing's license plate issuance boosting consumption, a temporary cooling of the price war on new car models, and the "618" shopping festival driving mid-year-end sales, the consumer enthusiasm among previously hesitant buyers was ignited. As a result, China's passenger car market maintained relatively good momentum in June this year. The June in 2023 saw an sales increase due to the handling of non-RDE models, while this June's higher-quality retail growth was aided by the expiration of the tax exemption policy for micro electric vehicles with a range under 200 km at the end of May. In recent years, the technological innovation and competitiveness of China's new energy vehicles (NEVs) have continued to grow, while the introduction of new conventional oil-fueled vehicle models has lagged. This year's price war in the car market started early, with some popular NEV models seeing price reductions of nearly 20%, extending from February after the Chinese New Year holiday to the end of April. The number of models participating in price cuts approached the total for the entire previous year, leading to a period of extreme consumer caution regarding prices in the spring and temporarily suppressing the spring car market. With different taxes and policies for oil-fueled vehicles and NEVs, the gap between the high growth of NEVs and the negative growth of oil-fueled vehicles has become increasingly apparent. The release of detailed national-level trade-in policy implementation, continued local NEV subsidy policies, and accumulated consumer purchasing power in May and June all bolstered NEV market strength. In June this year, retail sales of China's self-owned brands reached 1.03 million units, a year-on-year increase of 10% and a month-on-month increase of 5%. The market share of domestic retail for indigenous brands was 58.5%, up 9.3 percentage points year-on-year. For the first half of 2024, Chinas self-owned brands have a total share of 57%, up 7 percentage points from the same period last year. Mainstream joint-venture brands recorded retail sales of 480,000 units in June, a year-on-year decrease of 27% and a month-on-month decrease of 1%. German brands had a retail share of 18.6%, down 2.6 percentage points year-on-year; Japanese brands had a share of 14.3%, down 3.5 percentage points year-on-year; and American brands held a 6.3% share, down 2.9 percentage points year-on-year. China's premium car retail sales in June reached 250,000 units, a year-on-year decline of 17% but a month-on-month increase of 4%. Premium brands accounted for 14.2% of the country's total passenger vehicle retail sales in the month, up 0.2 percentage points year-on-year, with the traditional premium car market share remaining relatively stable. In June, China's passenger vehicle manufacturers wholesaled 2.169 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 3% but a month-on-month increase of 6.9% according to the CPCA's data. Due to the flat overall passenger car exports over a month earlier and the month-on-month decline in joint-venture car companies' retail sales, China's passenger vehicle wholesale volumes did not reach a new high in the month. Last month, the wholesale volumes of China's wholly-owned carmakers were 1.406 million units, up 17% year-on-year and 8% month-on-month. Mainstream joint-venture car companies had wholesale volumes of 496,000 units, down 30% year-on-year and up 4% month-on-month. Meanwhile, premium car wholesales were 267,000 units, down 18% year-on-year but up 5% month-on-month. In June, there was a clear divergence in wholesale performance among major passenger car manufacturers. Companies such as BYD, Chery, Geely, Changan, and Volkswagen performed relatively strongly. There were 35 passenger car manufacturers with sales exceeding 10,000 units in June (compared to 32 in May and 30 in the same period last year), accounting for 96.4% of China's overall passenger vehicle wholesales. Among them, three companies had a year-on-year growth rate exceeding 50%, ten exceeded 10%, and 22 experienced negative growth. A total of 26 manufacturers with sales exceeding 10,000 units saw month-on-month growth, with seven exceeding 30% increase. Passenger car production volume in June totaled 2.134 million units in China, a year-on-year decrease of 2.8% but a month-on-month increase of 6.9%. Premium car brand production fell by 9% year-on-year but rose by 8% month-on-month; joint ventures production decreased by 29% year-on-year but increased by 4% month-on-month; and Chinas self-owned brand production rose by 14% year-on-year and 8% month-on-month. Generally, vehicle exports in China continued strong growth from last year. According to passenger car manufacturers who submitted data, passenger vehicle exports (including complete vehicles and CKD) reached 378,000 units in June, a year-on-year jump of 28% and remaining flat month-on-month. For the first half of this year, Chinas cumulative passenger car exports reached 2.247 million units, a year-on-year leap of 33%. In June, NEVs accounted for 21% of total exports, down 3 percentage points year-on-year. As markets like South America recover, exports of Chinas self-owned brands reached 325,000 units in the month, up 31% year-on-year and 2% month-on-month. In the same month, export volume of joint ventures and premium brands totaled 54,000 units, up 12% year-on-year but down 7% month-on-month. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Recently, automotive-grade chip companies Flagchip and LEN Technology announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. Currently, the two parties market integration has been completed, and the next step will involve deep collaboration to combine MCU and analog products for the automotive sector. Signing ceremony; photo credit: Flagchip This collaboration aims to leverage complementary innovative technologies and high-quality products to optimize resource allocation and achieve technical integration, providing customers with more efficient and cost-effective system-level solutions. Flagchip is a supplier of automotive-grade controller chips in China, offering high-performance controller chips and solutions that meet ASIL-B and ASIL-D functional safety standards. All the companys products comply with automotive-grade AEC-Q100 and various reliability tests. Flagchip's products are already in mass production or in development testing with numerous major automakers, including Geely, GAC Group, Changan Auto, FAW Group, BYD, and SAIC Motor. LEN Technology is the first company in China to achieve large-scale production of analog chips for the automakers. Its product range includes automotive-grade DCDC converters, LDOs, LED drivers, and high-side driver chips, which are used in various applications across autonomous driving, new energy vehicles, internal combustion engines, infotainment, chassis safety, and body electronics. LEN Technology has established a comprehensive quality management system and a complete development process for automotive-grade products (APQP). All products are designed, produced, validated, and tested in strict accordance with automotive-grade processes and are provided with AEC-Q100 and PPAP reports. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Recently, scenario-based autonomous driving solution provider SENIOR was awarded one of the first intelligent connected vehicle road test permits in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The Ningbo Public Security Bureau will issue temporary licenses for these companies' self-driving vehicles, allowing them to conduct road tests, demonstration applications, and pilot operations in designated areas. This follows SENIOR's earlier acquisition of a similar permit in the city of Tianjin. Photo credit: SENIOR Ningbo is a key region for SENIOR's autonomous driving operations. The unmanned transportation project at Ningbo Port's Daxie Terminal marks SENIOR's first and largest paid operational order in China. Since passing nearly a thousand entry tests in June 2020 and beginning operations, SENIOR has maintained a record of 48 months of continuous, accident-free service, setting a benchmark in large-scale unmanned transportation. As the only pan-port autonomous driving company to receive Ningbos first batch of road test permits, SENIOR will lead the industry in integrating unmanned transportation capabilities in closed and semi-open environments. The company will leverage road test data and experience to enhance the operational efficiency of its existing fleet in mixed traffic conditions. Founded in 2020, SENIOR focuses on developing, integrating, and applying advanced autonomous driving solutions for logistics scenarios. The company specializes in unmanned driving technology, including core algorithms, software platforms, hardware systems, and autonomous driving kits. SENIOR has deployed over 220 unmanned transport vehicles and secured commercial orders from nine ports, being the only company capable of transporting various goods such as containers, iron ore, coal, grain, steel coils, and pulp bundles in ports, bulk cargo centers, factory parks, and short-haul scenarios. Beijing (Gasgoo)- In the sixth month of 2024, Chinas new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) production and wholesale volumes came in at 933,000 units and 982,000 units, respectively, representing a 26.6% and 29% year-on-year jump, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association. In the first half of this year, Chinas NEPV production and wholesale volumes surged 28.9% and 30.3% each from that of the previous year to 4.581 million units and 4.62 million units. In June, new energy vehicles (NEVs) made up 45.3% of the total passenger cars wholesaled by automakers in China, rising 11.5 percentage points year on year. Specifically, NEVs accounted for 60.7% of the monthly wholesales made by Chinese indigenous brands, 34.4% of luxury vehicle brands, and only 7.4% of mainstream joint-venture brands in the country. ID. Family; photo credit: Volkswagen Among mainstream joint ventures, Volkswagens unshakable electrification efforts reaped preliminary results. SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen moved a combined volume of 16,547 NEPVs via wholesale, accounting for 43% of the mainstream joint-venture battery electric vehicle (BEV) market in June. Meanwhile, the NEV wholesales of SAIC-GM and FAW Toyota also demonstrated growth. Regarding the market share of each powertrain solution, BEVs accounted for 57% of Chinas total NEPV wholesale volume in the past month, which came in at 559,000 units. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) nabbed a 31% share with 308,000 units sold, and range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) secured the rest 12% of the NEPV market with 116,000 units wholesaled in June. Song L; photo credit: BYD In the past month, 17 passenger car models realized a monthly wholesale figure surpassing 20,000 units, 10 of which were NEV models, including the top 5 models. BYD's Song maintained its lead with 70,219 units wholesaled in June, which is followed by the BYD Qin (48,350 units), Teslas Model Y (43,951 units), the BYD Seagull (36,066 units), and the BYD Destroyer 05 (32,980 units). Notably, Li Autos Li L6 made it to the list with 23,864 vehicles wholesaled in June, ranking eighth among the 17 models. In June 2024, NEPV makers in China sustained its robust performance. Local automakers are continuously expanding their market base by developing and launching products with varied new energy powertrains, which boosted their monthly wholesale volumes. In the past month, 19 carmakers saw their monthly NEPV wholesale volume exceed 10,000 units, which is 6 companies more than that of the same period last year. These companies made up a significant 90.4% of Chinas overall NEPV wholesales. DEEPAL S03, S7; photo credit: Changan Auto The top five NEPV sellers in June are BYD (340,211 units), Tesla China (71,007 units), Geely Auto (65,959 units), Changan Auto (53,827 units), Li Auto (47,774 units), and SERES (43,850 units). In terms of the retail market in June, Chinas NEPV retail volume stood at 856,000 vehicles, growing 28.6% year over year. NEVs accounted for 48.4% of the countrys total passenger car retail volume last month, up 13.5 percentage points from a year ago. SU7; photo credit: Xiaomi EV Specifically, 72.5% of the passenger cars retailed by Chinas indigenous brands in the last month were NEVs. Meanwhile, the figures were 29.8% and 7.4% for luxury vehicle brands and mainstream joint ventures retail volumes in June. Among the NEPVs retailed in China last month, 68% were under mainstream indigenous brands, dropping 1 percentage points year on year. Joint venture brands NEPVs accounted for 4.1% of the market, down 0.6 percentage points from a year ago. The market share of startup NEPV makers, driven by brands like Xiaomi, climbed up 6.3 percentage points from the previous year to 19.1%. Tesla vehicles made up 6.9% of the NEPV retail market in China last month, which slipped 4.3 percentage points year over year. Model Y; photo credit: Tesla In June 2024, automakers in China shipped roughly 80,000 NEPVs to overseas markets, representing a 12.3% increase year-on-year and constituting 21% of the countrys total passenger car export volume. BEVs made up 72.6% of the total NEPV exports in the last month. The top three NEPV exporters in June were BYD (26,995 units), Tesla China (11,746 units), and SAIC MOTOR Passenger Vehicle (6,718 units). In the first six months of this year, Chinas NEPV export volume amounted to 586,000 vehicles, hiking up 21.2% compared to that of the previous year. Sri Lanka Parliament passes Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill Posted by Editor on July 9, 2024 - 6:20 pm The Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Parliament of Sri Lanka with amendments this evening (July 09). Changes were made to the bill during the committee stage following debates on its second reading. The Minister of Technology initially presented the bill to Parliament on May 10, 2024, aiming to update the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991, marking the first amendments to the act in 28 years. Finland is set to open its gaming market to commercial operators by 2027, ending Veikkaus' monopoly and introducing new regulations. Finland's Ministry of the Interior plans to open the gaming market to commercial operators by 2027. The move aims to end Veikkaus' monopoly and introduce a regulated system to reduce gambling disadvantages. Timeline for Implementation Finland's Ministry of the Interior has unveiled plans to open the gaming market to commercial operators by early 2027. This significant change comes from a draft gambling bill presented to the Finnish parliament. The government initially aimed to end Veikkaus' monopoly by 2026, and while that deadline will be met, the market will not officially launch until 2027. Operators will be able to apply for licenses starting next year. The Ministry plans to present the bill during the Finnish parliament's Spring session in 2025, with supplier licenses becoming available in early 2027. Operators will only be able to offer games from suppliers certified by a new regulatory authority starting in 2028. Objectives and Regulatory Measures The Ministry stated that the bill and subsequent legislation aim to "prevent and reduce gambling disadvantages and to improve the channeling of demand into the legally regulated gambling system." Both operator and supplier licensees will be required to pay annual supervision fees to the new regulatory authority, although a specific tax rate still needs to be set. Critical Dates for Implementation: August 18, 2024: Launch a government-run consultation process, seeking feedback from the wider sector, including state secretaries. Launch a government-run consultation process, seeking feedback from the wider sector, including state secretaries. Q1 2025: Submission of the government proposal for the draft bill to parliament, typically in February. Submission of the government proposal for the draft bill to parliament, typically in February. Q1 2026: Operators can begin applying for licenses. Operators can begin applying for licenses. Q4 2026: Veikkaus' online gambling monopoly ends, with the company splitting into lottery and land-based gaming entities and another for online market competition. Veikkaus' online gambling monopoly ends, with the company splitting into lottery and land-based gaming entities and another for online market competition. Early 2027: Suppliers can apply for software licenses to provide online games. Suppliers can apply for software licenses to provide online games. 2028: Operators can only offer games from locally licensed software providers. New Regulator and Market Oversight A new gambling regulator will be established under the Ministry of Finance's remit, replacing the current oversight by the National Police Board. The new Licensing and Control Agency will have the authority to impose administrative sanctions on illegal activities, restrict black market offerings by blocking online and payment traffic, and implement a centralized self-exclusion register for players. The regulator will also oversee marketing and advertising restrictions to ensure they are moderate and necessary to direct gambling demand to licensed activities. The government statement emphasized that advertising should not target minors or vulnerable individuals, and foreign marketing of high-risk gambling games will be prohibited. Veikkaus' Future and Market Position The new legislation will detail the end of Veikkaus' online betting and gaming monopoly, similar to Sweden's former monopoly operator Svenska Spel. The state may consider selling parts of Veikkaus to enhance the development of the state's shareholder value. However, Veikkaus will maintain exclusivity over lottery, toto games, land-based slot machines, and scratch cards, paying an annual fee for these rights. Industry Consultation and Feedback The government has established a working group and is requesting feedback from the industry and government departments on its proposals, including taxation, licensing procedures, marketing, and Veikkaus' position in the market. The window for comments closes on August 18, 2024. Finland's move to liberalize its gaming market by 2027 marks a significant shift in its gambling landscape. With new regulations and the end of Veikkaus' monopoly, operators and players can look forward to a more competitive and regulated environment. [this blog is also posted here ] Dear all I tried to cross into Jerusalem today (where I used to be a highschool teacher) and was denied by the apartheid colonizers. My wife too. Our US passports notwithstanding. This is a clear violation of the agreement reached with the US State Department that allowed Israelis to enter the US on a visa waiver program. US citizens are not treated with respect agreed to. Over the weekend we were stopped from doing our field work in the Jordan valley by these apartheid regime forces. This was not the first time. On so many occasions we are harassed and prevented from having any normalcy. In other parts of Palestine, the situation is much worse. In Gaza Strip alone over the past nine months 186,000 Palestinians were killed by bombing them, by denial of food, water, medicine and by destroying their infrastructure etc. As I am in touch with many families in Gaza by phone I hear horror stories including literally starving to death and if there is a food it is only bread or only rice (no proteins, vegetables, milk, fruits etc). And what worries me more are families we lost touch with (no phones). The regime tramples our right of religion, right of movement, right of education, essentially our rights of life. I reflect on these horrors. I reflect on Western (US, Germany, UK, Australia etc) collusion and collaboration with an ongoing genocide and ongoing process of ethnic cleansing. I reflect on hypocrisy and on cowardice. I reflect on racism and hate that left 8 million of us refugees and displaced and the rest squeezed into concentration camps. I reflect on 21,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails being treated worse than any regime ever treated its oppressed people in its prisons. Torture, starvation, amputations, denial of medical care and dozens killed under torture that we know off (but fate of 98% of prisoners unknown since no legal reprentation or visit by Redcross/Redcrescent is allowed). I reflect on the control of western mainstream media that ensures little or no coverage of reality and lots of regurgitation of lies and distortions. I reflect on all of that but I do not get despondent. Why? Because of one thing: resistance. My book "Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of hope and empowerment" summarized over a 120 years of resistance, 14 uprisings (this Gaza Ghetto uprising makes number 15). This includes hundreds of forms of resistance; only tiny minority armed and that is also legal and encouraged by international law. May he live (and die) resisting by Mazin Qumsiyeh Bulldozers uprooting 2000 year old olive trees While refugees still to doors they hold the keys Settlers and soldiers marauding and killing Of lands and homes they enjoy pillaging A grandfather laments 7 year old girl, soul of his soul Colonial partners send money and soldiers to play a role Chldrens' brains in their fathers hand While Netanyahu's son on florida beach gets tanned Bloodied heads tossed far from bodies Decaying bodies left in destroyed hospitals While politicians verbal acrobatics belittles the 2000 pound bombs leveling neighborhood supplied by the USA while Zionist Blinken pressures ICC and ICJ to stop or delay A girl insists that she recognized a mother from her hair But a consumerist world shrugs - we don't care Soldiers and politicians of a most fascist army threaten and mock as F35s bombs Nuseirat, Gaza city, Bureij, Rafah... and every block No safe place in a concentration camp packed by refugees Being denied food, medicine, fuel, and all amenities D9 bulldozers, buzzing drones, white phosphorous, fire belts, moans of death under the rubble and babies flesh melts to get stock prices of weapon makers soar while genocide Joe plays the role of a whore all for Palestine's gas fields to steal a new Asia-Europe 6 trillion road deal the Suez replaced by the Ben Gurion Canal Nile to Euphrates "promised people" cabal Belt-and-Road initiative replaced a new empire to be created Old ones subjugated Via lobbies dominated Olive trees destroyed Pine trees planted Communities uprooted Racists validated A global war initiated To make the rich richer and the poor poorer To all this there is antidote available Resistance is possible We resist by insisting on our rights to return, to live, to eat, to kindle our lights to hope, to live, to plant our trees to tend to our vegetables, and our bees for we believe that to exist means to resist and to resist means to live free like human beings should be For there is no other path to avoid the wrath to live meaningfully and die peacefully And when I am dead Let it be said here lies a good troublemaker of actions and ideas a baker born poor, died poor helped others in the short tour in the land of his birth lived a rich life in resistance with dogged persistence the hope alive he kept for injustice he wept the path of struggle he travelled through storms he pedaled may he get his wish to die resisting as he lived joyfully participating In life's sorrows dodging arrows Not resting Fully Loving Meaningfully Living Peacefully Dying On Julian Assange. Gaza toll could exceed 186,000, Lancet study says. Some zionists are racists and discrete, others are racist and more open about their intentions. 5 more journalists killed in Gaza bringing number of journalists killed by Israeli forces to 158 in 9 months (more than all other countries combined in five years) 90 Minutes that shook the Liberals awake . An opinion about the dismal state of affairs of US/Israel empire (with a quote from me). Stay Human and keep Palestine alive Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine facebook pages Personal Institute French The frenzy of international politics is heightening the attractiveness of sanction-free tax residences. And the right to pay taxes and quietly do business is becoming a privilege in the modern world. In the current situation, the United States finds itself at the top of the food chain. The state, which is more active than others in imposing sanctions, is able to provide peace of mind to its own tax residents. If a businessman is not a US tax resident, then his business cannot be completely safe from sanctions. Ukraine has been under US sanctions for more than a year. This will not change in the near future. The fact of imposing sanctions on an ally will not have political consequences for the American leadership. In the current situation, Ukrainian citizens suffering from sanctions need to think about their future. It is foolish to trust your financial well-being to Ukraine, which is under allied sanctions and cannot change this. The option of changing the tax jurisdiction seems promising. It is likely that some Ukrainians will choose the United States as a new place of doing business. This is an unexpected but logical result of the allied relations between the United States and Ukraine. Real international politics The Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Lugansk regions of Ukraine are under US and EU sanctions. These areas are partially occupied by Russia, but partially controlled by the Ukrainian government. The international community did not divide the regions into Ukrainian and Russian parts. Sanctions were imposed for entire regions. As a result, Ukrainian citizens living in the territories of Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Lugansk regions controlled by the Ukrainian government also found themselves under sanctions. (1) This has been happening for over a year now. What is happening is no secret. (2) But this event does not become popular news for the international press. There is no information that the Ukrainian government is somehow trying to change the situation. The US government is doing nothing either. Only one category of people shows concern. These are Ukrainian businessmen from sanctioned areas who do business abroad and cannot receive their payments due to sanctions. (3) This is international politics as it is. What is happening with sanctions in Ukraine is not an emergency situation. These are inevitable costs of world politics that do not deserve attention, change or punishment from responsible politicians. Sanctions are not perfect. But these are sanctions. Everything is OK! This is what the founder and president of TABcommunications, inc., Tab Berg, answered questions about what was happening. Does this indicate that politicians are exaggerating the effectiveness of sanctions and have actually lost control over the situation in Ukraine? "The problem with limited or targeted sanctions is that entities use intermediary agencies or countries to get around the financial restrictions, which defeats to goals and effectiveness of the sanctions." Could extending sanctions to an ally (Ukraine) have political consequences for US political leadership? "Details on sanctions effectiveness or lack of effectiveness are too 'insider' to have legs as a domestic political issue." Could the case of sanctions against Ukraine become a basis for improving sanctions? "Failures of sanctions to restrict financial or military transactions is a significant policy issue that State Department and some Congressmembers are like to address in 2025." It's hard to come to terms with this. Especially if sanctions not only deprive your family of prospects but also put you on the brink of survival. No payments from abroad. No food! But it's stupid to try to change the decisions of politicians when politicians think that everything is okay. This was confirmed by Co-Founder, Managing Partner i5 Enterprises llc, Mike Iverson. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On July 2nd, BYD and Ayvens, a global sustainable mobility service company, officially signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) at BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen. The partnership aims to jointly promote the green transformation of transportation in Europe. Photo credit: BYD Under the MoU, BYD and Ayvens will collaborate to provide European corporate clients with a diverse range of new energy vehicles, driving the development of sustainable fleets. Ayvens' European customers will benefit from tailor-made electric fleet solutions, including consulting services, operational leasing, and comprehensive charging services. It is expected that within the first year of the MOU's implementation, the partners will provide electric fleet services to over 30 European companies. Additionally, BYD's extensive dealer network in Europe will support Ayvens in offering white-label full-service leasing solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises and private users. The initial operations will commence in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, with plans to expand to other European markets. The partners will also explore more retail cooperation opportunities to deepen the white-label operational leasing model and promote the electrification of transportation in Europe. BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu emphasized that innovation and collaboration are crucial for the advancement of global new energy vehicles. The partnership with Ayvens demonstrates both parties' commitment to accelerating the adoption of new energy vehicles in Europe. Together, they will provide innovative and diverse products to encourage green fleet development and offer more sustainable mobility options worldwide. Ayvens Group's CEO Tim Albertsen stated, "Ayvens Group shares the vision of promoting environmentally friendly transportation with BYD, whose leading position in the new energy vehicle sector is remarkable. We look forward to accelerating the electrification of vehicles in Europe through this cooperation and continuous technological innovation." Since September 2022, BYD has been actively expanding its presence in the European market. To date, BYD has launched seven models in over 20 European countries, including the UK, France, and Germany. From hatchbacks to SUVs, BYD's extensive product lineup meets market demands. On July 4th of this year, BYD celebrated the rollout of its 8 millionth new energy vehicle from its Thai factory, becoming the world's first automaker to achieve this milestone. Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer and QFC, has identified 62 Oregon stores it would sell off to a competitor to secure regulatory approval for its $24.6 billion proposed merger with Albertsons. Kroger Co. announced plans to acquire Albertsons, which owns Safeway, in October 2022. In a bid to mollify antitrust regulators, the two companies said they would sell off 579 stores to New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers for $2.9 billion. The U.S. Department of Justices inspector general recommended Tuesday that the FBI update its policies on crime scene procedures to stop agents from removing evidence as it appears they did immediately after the 2016 fatal shooting of Robert LaVoy Finicum, the spokesman for the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Unidentified FBI agents were seen on FBI infrared video walking through the shooting scene and picking up items the night that Finicum was killed at a highway roadblock set up by the FBI and Oregon State Police, according to testimony at a subsequent federal trial. Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz, who assigned a team to investigate Finicums shooting, found the FBI Hostage Rescue Teams practice of removing sensitive items from shooting scenes potentially conflict with FBI procedures for handling evidence, which prohibit removing anything from a crime scene. In a six-page advisory memorandum to FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, Horowitz recommended the FBI develop better guidelines when an FBI team is working with local or state police agencies to ensure crime scenes are properly maintained and that removal of any equipment or potentially dangerous items is appropriately documented. The disclosure in Finicums shooting came in the Portland trial of FBI agent W. Joseph Astarita, who was acquitted in 2018 of lying to conceal the firing of two shots at Finicums truck. After the trial, it remained a mystery who fired twice after Finicum ran a police stop, swerved into a snowbank at the roadblock U.S. 395 in Harney County, stepped from his truck with hands in the air and shouted, Go ahead and shoot me. One shot hit the roof of the trucks cab and shattered the rear drivers side window and the other missed entirely, but both were distinctly audible on a video captured by rear seat passenger Shawna Cox. Moments later, two state police SWAT officers shot and killed Finicum after he walked away from his truck and reached into his inner left jacket pocket where police said he had a loaded 9mm Ruger pistol. The Malheur County district attorney found the shooting justified. During the trial, Greg Bretzing, the FBI special agent in charge at the time of the Finicum shooting who had since retired and was a past leader of the FBIs Shooting Incident Review Team, testified that what he saw on the FBIs infrared video didnt follow FBI protocol, which is leave a scene as intact as possible' and take photos of an officer-involved shooting scene before touching any potential evidence. The inspector generals report said the FBI Hostage Rescue Teams practice of identifying and removing sensitive items, such as night vision goggles, weapons or unexploded flash bang grenades from crime scenes -- presented a conflict with the FBI directive to properly preserve a crime scene as-is. The DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) identified these concerns in connection with the FBI HRTs role in a law enforcement-involved shooting that occurred following an armed militias seizure of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon, the report said. During the course of the criminal investigation into the Finicum shooting, state and local law enforcement authorities became aware of FBI aerial surveillance video that showed FBI Hostage Rescue Team agents moving around the scene in the dark, using flashlights to look under and around vehicles, examining the area near the roadblock, and appearing to pick up objects from the roadway, the inspector generals report said. The FBI agents denied searching for or picking up ammunition casings and instead told state police detectives that, consistent with the Hostage Rescue Teams practice, they were conducting a sensitive items check, according to the inspector generals review. The federal agents said they were looking for canisters from three flash-bang grenades they used, according to the report. The FBI agents never found them, but state and local investigators subsequently found all three, the report said. Two of the three canisters were found in plain sight on the road, the report noted. The actions of the FBIs Hostage Rescue Teams agents became an issue when state and local law enforcement investigators determined that eight shots had been fired at the roadblock in January 2016 -- two more than the six shots that could be attributed to two state police officers. State police said their officers fired three shots at Finicums truck as it approached the roadblock and three that killed him after he stepped away from his truck and reached inside his jacket. Further, investigators only found two shell casings at the scene, with both discovered off the road in the snow using metal detectors. After Astarita was acquitted at trial, the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General assigned a team to examine the investigation and trial record and research relevant policy issues. The inspector general provided the results to the FBI this past May, including criticizing the FBI for not allowing the office to compel the polygraph examination of one of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team operators who was at the scene of the Finicum shooting. The OIG encountered a significant issue regarding its access to information in this matter, the report said. After Astaritas acquittal, the inspector general sought FBI approval to compel the polygraph of an unnamed HRT operator, presumably Astarita. But the FBI denied the request, backed by then-Attorney General William Barr, because of his belief that compelling the polygraph would not be consistent with FBI policy or appropriate under the circumstances, the report said. The inspector general disagreed, writing that the FBIs denial was inconsistent with its usual practice and deprived his office of information that would have been useful in its inquiry. During its criminal investigation, the inspector generals office had obtained FBI approval to compel polygraph exams of two other FBI Hostage Rescue Team agents who were present at the scene, the report said. In its review of FBI policies, the inspector generals office found the FBI had no procedures, guidance, or best practices for identifying and removing sensitive items while maintaining the integrity of a crime scene. While there may be instances where FBI agents must remove dangerous items, it impairs crime scene investigations, Horowitzs memo said. The inspector generals four recommendations, accepted by the FBI, are: 1. Update the FBIs shooting incident policies to account for circumstances when the FBI participates in a law enforcement operation that leads to a shooting that doesnt involve FBI agents using their guns, particularly when the FBI is working with state or local police outside of an FBI-led task force. 2. Analyze whether and under what circumstances FBI policies allow identifying and removing sensitive items from a crime scene, whether the crime scene is managed by the FBI or another police agency, particularly after an agent- or officer-involved shooting. 3. Develop guidelines for identifying and removing sensitive items, including appropriate documentation requirements and standards for involvement by agents involved in or witnesses to a shooting. 4. Train FBI Hostage Rescue Team and SWAT units to ensure that these standards are consistently followed. The Astarita trial testimony had revealed that neither FBI nor state or local investigators put up crime scene tape to preserve evidence or set up a log tracking who was coming and going at the roadblock until more than three hours after Finicum was shot. Testimony from state police and FBI agents showed they were unclear about who was in charge of the scene until investigators from the Deschutes County Sheriffs Office and Tri-County Major Crime Team arrived. The crime scene log wasnt started until more than four hours after the shooting and the scene wasnt taped off until about five hours later, testimony showed. Before the tape went up, the FBI infrared video showed unidentified FBI agents walking through the scene and picking things up, according to court testimony. It also took time for investigators to arrive at the remote location. Some state police took a detour of more than two hours to avoid potential conflicts on U.S. 395, having been told militia members might arrive at the scene. A Deschutes County sheriffs detective described a 12-car police caravan responding from Bend, hampered by what he described as a mobile command center traveling slowly like an old bread truck. Investigators arrived on the scene about 1:30 a.m. Jan. 27, 2016. The shooting occurred at 4:34 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2016. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. After hosting Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for nearly half a century, founder Jean Wells still gets the shivers when she sees the quilts hung on the morning of the event. Its magical, said Wells, who has hosted the show since its inception in 1975. Its still really exciting for me. The show is recognized as the worlds largest outdoor quilt show, according to the organizers. On Saturday, it will hang over a thousand quilts throughout the city. Economic ripple effects The show draws over 10,000 visitors from all 50 states and internationally to Sisters, which has an estimated population of 3,823 people, according to Portland State Universitys Population Research Center. The influx of visitors has had far-reaching economic ripple effects on the Central Oregon city according to economic impact studies, said Dawn Boyd, executive director of the show. People fly in and if they cant stay in a hotel (in Sisters), they stay in a hotel in Redmond or Bend and theyre eating and shopping and all those things, Boyd said. An Economic Effects survey conducted by Central Oregon Research Services in 2009, funded by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission, showed the quilt show had an economic impact of $1.7 million and the equivalent of 26 jobs in the Sisters area. We werent trying to do that. It just happened, said Wells, for whom the economic effects initially came as a surprise. We were just doing what we like to do, she said. The mission of the quilt show, which is rooted in educating the public on the art, skill and heritage of the fiber arts, is evident in decisions that have been made by the organizing nonprofit. Only 30% of quilts in the show are for sale, and outside vendors are not allowed. We dont want every quilt to have a price tag, Wells said, adding the nonprofit wants to support first-time quilters as much as those who long ago mastered the fiber arts. Stacks of quilts wait to be hung at the 49th annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.Janay Wright/The Bulletin Founder of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Jean Wells, displays a quilt by Kathy Britton from OFallon, Illinois.Janay Wright/The Bulletin The world is watching The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show substantially grew in size in 2020 when it planned to display half the usual number of quilts while bringing the show online to make it accessible, Boyd said. For the first time, the organizers hosted a Facebook live. It received 54,000 views, Boyd said. Its been a game changer, she continued, regarding live streaming the event. Its allowed us to bring in people whove always wanted to come to the show, but they arent able to travel. Those unable to to see the quilts in person will once again be able to watch the magic live on Facebook as Boyds daughter, Jeanette Penniman conducts interviews and streams it live online. Organizers are also creating a book to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the show. Wells said the working title is Sisters: Five decades of quilting in America. It will be published by C&T Publishing and likely available by May or June. 2024 theme inspires fantasy Each year, a theme sets the stage for the non-juried show. This year, that theme is dreamscapes. Wells said the creative process lends itself to dreaming. Boyd said, When you think of dreaming, you go to your happy place. Dreams can be inspiring, ethereal and fantastical, she said. Quilt exhibitors range in age from 10 to 92, according to the website, and adhere to traditional quilting techniques and everything in between. We get quilts that are very very traditional and then we get things that are kind of far out. I mean you get a little bit of everything, Wells said. One quilter taking a nontraditional approach is Aimee Hobson. Her quilt, Flower Stack on a Cranky Crow, features a black crow wearing tube socks. It was sewn with a raw edge, which adds to the playful and imaginative quality. Hobson drives from Albany once a month to take quilting classes at The Stitchin Post, Wells said. Shes doing her own thing, Wells said. Shes such a breath of fresh air in the classroom. Executive Director of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Dawn Boyd poses among quilts easy to be hung at the 49th annual show in Sisters.Janay Wright/The Bulletin Aimee Hobson takes a nontraditional approach with her quilt, Flower Stack on a Cranky Crow, which will be hung at the 49th annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.Janay Wright/The Bulletin Where do I park? Boyd advises visitors to be mindful of the construction of the roundabout at the east end of Cascade Avenue. She recommends allowing extra travel time, driving slowly and keeping an eye out for construction workers. Cascade Avenue and all North to South cross streets in Sisters will be open on to cars on Saturday. Hood Avenue will be closed from Larch Street to Pine Street and quilts will be hung on Main Avenue, Cascade Avenue, Hood Avenue and all cross streets between Oak Street and Larch Street, according to the event website. Parking is available on all streets in the business district and residential areas. It is prohibited on the highway or in spaces that block private driveways or alleyways. Additional parking will be available in the Sisters High School parking lot and organized by volunteers of the Sisters Parks and Recreation astronomy club. A shuttle will run from the parking lot from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and the club is accepting tips toward its scholarship fund, Boyd said. If You Go What: Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday Where: Quilts will be hung in Sisters on Main Avenue, Cascade Avenue, Hood Avenue and all cross streets between Oak Street and Larch Street Cost: Free Contact: soqs.org, 541-549-0989, facebook.com/soqs.org, @sistersoutdoorquiltshow Janay Wright, The Bulletin Hundreds of Americans may have unknowingly received therapy from an untrained impostor who masqueraded as an online therapist, possibly for as long as two years, and the deception crumbled only when she died, according to state health department records. Peggy A. Randolph, a social worker who was licensed in Florida and Tennessee and formerly worked for Brightside Health, a nationwide online therapy company, is accused of helping her wife impersonate her in online sessions, according to an investigation report from the Florida Department of Health. Portlands public pools are now requiring visitors to pass swim tests before they may plunge into the deep end. The change, which went into effect June 20 when outdoor pools opened for the summer season, comes almost one year after a 12-year-old girl drowned in Northeast Portlands Montavilla Pool. The childs death marked the citys first swimming fatality at a city-run aquatic center in nearly four decades, and it prompted Portland officials to review safety procedures at city pools, said Mark Ross, a spokesperson for Portland Parks & Recreation. Under the new policy, anyone wishing to swim in the deep end of a city pool will have to demonstrate their swimming skills each time they visit by swimming a full length of the pool without stopping. If they pass, theyll wear a wristband indicating they may swim in every area of the pool. The rule applies only during play swim sessions not during childrens lessons or lap swim sessions typically enjoyed by adults who are strong swimmers. In the past, non-swimmers were able to go into the deep ends of pools while wearing life jackets; that will no longer be allowed, according to a notice on the citys website. Its not clear whether Portland pools have ever before enforced swim tests although theyre common elsewhere in the country. Ross, the Parks Bureau spokesperson, said that historical information wasnt immediately available Tuesday. Information on the Parks Bureaus website says that non-swimmers and those without a wristband will be asked to move to shallow areas. A 2022 analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive showed that lifeguards at Portlands public pools jumped into the water to rescue flailing swimmers more than 100 times per year, with most of those happening in the summer months. City-operated pools impacted by the rule change are listed below: Creston Outdoor Pool S.E. 44th Ave. and Powell Blvd. Grant Outdoor Pool N.E. 33rd Ave. and US Grant Place Ida B. Wells Outdoor Pool 1151 S.W. Vermont St. Montavilla Outdoor Pool 8219 N.E. Glisan St. Opens July 22 Peninsula Outdoor Pool 700 N. Rosa Parks Way Pier Outdoor Pool Seneca Street and St. Johns Avenue Closed for repairs Sellwood Outdoor Pool 7951 S.E. Seventh Ave. East Portland Indoor Pool 740 S.E. 106th Ave. Matt Dishman Indoor Pool 77 N.E. Knott St. Mt. Scott Indoor Pool 5530 S.E. 72nd Ave. Closed for renovation Southwest Indoor Pool 6820 S.W. 45th Ave. Andrew Miller covers business news. Reach him at amiller@oregonian.com or 971-803-2954. Kroger for the first time Tuesday identified the nearly 600 U.S. stores it plans to sell off to a competitor to secure approval for its $24.6 billion purchase of rival Albertsons. Kroger Co. announced plans to acquire Albertsons Cos., which owns Safeway, in October 2022. In a bid to mollify antitrust regulators, the two companies said they would sell 579 stores to New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers for $1.9 billion. The companies had not previously disclosed which stores would be sold. (Cant see the table? Click here.) The companies also plan to sell distribution centers in Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Washington state and a dairy plant in Denver. The two supermarket giants are awaiting a trial set for Aug. 26 in federal court in Oregon after the Federal Trade Commission and nine states filed suit in February to halt the merger. Federal regulators argued and the state attorneys general argued that combining Kroger with Albertsons would lessen competition and give the merged chain too much control over grocery prices and employees wages. -- Kristine de Leon covers the retail industry, small business and data enterprise stories. Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com. This story originally appeared on Underscore Native News By Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore News + ICT As lights flashed and music filled the Oregon Convention Center on July 2, Native models strutted down a runway with confidence and attitude. Thousands of youth sat in the audience, dressed in traditional clothes from their nations and their finest attire, and cheered for their peers onstage. Youth from Native nations all across Turtle Island gathered in Portland, Oregon the first week of July for this years UNITY conference. United National Indian Tribal Youth, is one of the largest Native youth leadership gatherings across the country meant to inspire and empower the next generations of Native leaders. This year, over 2,800 youth attended the gathering, making it the biggest one to date. Over a dozen young Native models in the fashion show showcased different designs from award winning Native Fashion designer, Red Berry Woman. Norma Baker-Flying Horse, an enrolled member of the Hidatsa tribe and a member of the Dakota Sioux and Assiniboine tribes as well as an adopted member of the Crow Nation, creates pieces that honor her Native culture. These designers, they tell stories about things through their designs, said 20-year-old Feather Rakestraw, Yurok and Oglala Lakota. A model walks down the runway at the pre-gala fashion show during the 2024 UNITY Conference on July 2. He is wearing a ribbon shirt designed by one of the other Native youth attending this years conference. A model poses in a geometric print skirt designed by Red Berry Woman during the pre-gala fashion show during the 2024 Unity Conference in Portland, Oregon on July 2.Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore Native News/ICT A model wears a dress designed by Red Berry Woman for the pre-gala fashion show at the UNITY Conference on July 2.Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore Native News/ICT A young woman models Red Berry Woman designs during the pre-gala fashion show at the 2024 UNITY Gala in Portland, Oregon on July 2. A model poses in a geometric print skirt designed by Red Berry Woman during the pre-gala fashion show during the 2024 Unity Conference in Portland, Oregon on July 2.Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore Native News/ICT She modeled an orange skirt during the fashion show by Red Berry Woman. Prior to the pre-gala fashion show at the 2024 UNITY conference, Rakestraw wore a floral ribbon skirt with ribbons the color of the sunset and beaded earrings, each of which she made herself. Rakestraw learned to sew and bead from her mother, and said she decided to model in the fashion show because she knew it would make her mom proud. The gala at the Oregon Convention Center helped end the UNITY conference with a bang, following workshops, ceremony, keynote speakers, leadership training and Nike N7 day spent at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. What brought me to UNITY was just knowing that it would give us more opportunities to take back to our reservation, said Shavaughn Titla, 22, Miss White Mountain Apache Queen title holder. She traveled to UNITY with other youth from the White Mountain Apache Youth Council. I am so thankful for that, Titla continued. White Mountain Apache citizens Charity Johnson, 23, and Shavaughn Titla, 22, attended the 2024 UNITY Conference in Portland, Oregon with other youth from the White Mountain Apache Tribal Youth Council.Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore Native News/ICT On July 2, 2024, the fourth day of the UNITY Conference, youth were encouraged to wear traditional skirts and shirts. Many youth also wore their moccasins and beaded jewelry.Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore Native News/ICT Youth waited in the convention center before the UNITY Gala on July 2, 2024. Many wore ribbon shirts, ribbon skirts and beaded jewelry to represent their Native nations.Nika Bartoo-Smith | Underscore Native News/ICT On July 2, the fourth day of the conference, youth were encouraged to wear their traditional skirts and shirts. Colorful ribbons, hand-stitched moccasins and beaded jewelry filled the Oregon Convention Center with color as thousands of youth represented their Native nations with pride. We can make our own clothes, we know how to sew, said Michaiah Pease, 22, Crow Nation and Aaniiih, while watching the fashion show. But when it comes to the mainstream, theres not a lot of options for us. But its becoming a lot more inclusive. Pease, the Miss Crow Nation Crown holder, wore a Choke Cherry Creek dress by Indigenous designer Angela Howe-Parrish. It makes me feel empowered, that if they can do it, then I can do something as well with my life, Pease said about Native fashion designers. And that gives me hope that theres going to be more options for me to be able to express myself as an Indigenous woman. Underscore Native News is a nonprofit investigative newsroom committed to Indigenous-centered reporting in the Pacific Northwest. We are supported by foundations and donor contributions. Follow Underscore on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. The National Weather Service just dropped a high temperature map for Oregon that looks like a sea of red, for very hot weather. After a string of record-setting high temperature days, Oregon is looking at the hottest day yet of the July 2024 heat wave, which already is blamed for four deaths in the Portland metro area. Temperatures could reach over 100 degrees in several areas of western and central Oregon on Tuesday. Dangerous heat will continue through Tuesday with more triple digit heat. Temperatures are expected to peak for inland areas Tuesday, the weather service said Monday afternoon. The excessive heat warning remains in effect until Tuesday night in most of northwest and west central Oregon and southwest Washington. Overnight temperatures will be slow to cool off each evening, only falling below 70 degrees for a short period each night, if at all depending on your location, the weather service said. The warm nighttime temperatures will limit chances to recover from the heat, exacerbating the risk of heat-related illness during this prolonged heat wave. Cooling centers will continue to operate in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties on Tuesday. No clouds are expected on Wednesday, even though a cooler air mass will be moving into the Portland region. This air should help Portland see highs in the low 90s. Portlands official high temp forecast is 91, which should feel like a bit of relief over the 100+ highs the Portland area saw earlier in the week. If those temperatures are still too high for you, theres always the coast, where temperatures have hovered in the 60s and 70s while inland areas have sweltered. Be warned, however: Businesses en route to the coast and at the ocean report theyve seen a bump in visitors from Portland, Salem and Eugene. The Oregonian/OregonLive Read the full article on Motorious These two are heading out. BMW is reportedly planning to discontinue two of its SUV models, according to a recent announcement from Motor1 Italy. With the introduction of the new generation X3 compact SUV, the spotlight has shifted to its coupe-like sibling, the X4. However, company officials have confirmed that the X4 will not be making a return. When queried, a representative from BMW Canada was unable to confirm this information at the moment. The decision to axe the X4 is primarily driven by modest sales figures. Additionally, the recently redesigned 2024 X2 has grown in size and its pricing now closely aligns with that of the X4. The new X2 even boasts up to 312 horsepower in the M35i xDrive trim, providing a compelling alternative for potential X4 buyers. ADVERTISEMENT For those seeking a larger and more powerful SUV, the new X3 or the X6 remain available options. The exact timeline for the end of X4 production is still unknown, but it is expected to be announced soon. Deliveries of the 2025 BMW X3 are scheduled to begin this fall. In related news, the BMW XM, an ultra-expensive and polarizing model exclusive to the M performance division, is also set to be discontinued. Industry sources have revealed to Automotive News that production of the hybrid-only XM will cease in November 2028, with no replacement planned. Meanwhile, BMW is focusing on the next generation of electric vehicles based on the Neue Klasse platform. At least six different EV models are projected to launch within the next four years, and its possible that a coupe-like crossover will be among them. Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A California physician who attempted to kill his family by driving a Tesla off a 250-foot cliff will undergo two years of mental health treatment in a court-ordered diversion program. San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Susan M. Jakubowski ruled on Monday, despite objections from prosecutors, that Dharmesh Arvind Patel will participate in the program. During this time, Patel, facing three attempted murder charges, will not be permitted to practice medicine, use marijuana or alcohol, or have contact with his spouse and kids. Mental Health Treatment Decision Judge Jakubowski made his decision following Patel's diagnosis of major depression, which played a role in his behavior. The court ordered Patel to attend weekly mental health and therapy sessions and to live at his parents' residence throughout the program. Should Patel finish the program, his case will be dropped. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the offense was too severe and posed a high risk to the public. Wagstaffe said he made every effort to eliminate his family and himself. Wagstaffe expressed his belief that attempted murder should not qualify for such a diversion program. In January 2023, Patel, aged 41 at the time, deliberately drove his Tesla off the Devil's Slide cliff in San Mateo County, with his wife and two children also in the car. All members of the family miraculously survived the accident. The court papers showed that Patel had a psychotic break, thinking his children were in danger of being exploited for sex, causing him to make the deadly choice. According to the San Mateo County District Attorney, two doctors testified on April 24 that Patel was suffering from a psychotic break at the time of the incident. The defense's medical experts reported that Patel was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and was experiencing a severe mental health crisis. Family's Plea and Judge's Consideration Patel's wife, Neha, who was in the vehicle during the incident, pleaded with the court to consider mental health treatment instead of prison time. During a court hearing in May, Neha emphasized that her husband had never shown signs of mental illness in the 25 years she had known him. "I am pleading with the court to grant him his mental health diversion," she said, adding that they were not a family without him. Judge Jakubowski has been assigned the responsibility of determining if Patel is a danger to public safety and if his mental health played a significant role in his behavior. Even though the charges were serious, the court recognized Patel's mental health issues and opted for a treatment-centered strategy. Prosecutors' Concerns Prosecutors argued against the diversion program, insisting that the severity of Patel's actions warranted continued court proceedings. They highlighted that another doctor, diagnosing Patel for the prosecution, concluded he suffered from schizoaffective disorder rather than major depressive disorder with psychotic features. This difference heightened their argument that Patel's situation is not eligible for mental health diversion. However, the court's ruling emphasized the importance of tackling mental health problems within the legal system, especially when they are a key factor in criminal actions. Patel's future depends on whether he follows the strict rules of the diversion program and continues with his mental health therapy. A Rhode Island man sought for the shooting of his wife died over the weekend after his SUV overturned during a police pursuit, as recorded by Rhode Island State Police. Rhode Island Man Engage in High-Speed Chase After Wife's Fatal Shooting Joseph Francis had a warrant released against him on Friday following the deadly firing of his wife, Stephanie Francis, who was found with a gunshot injury in their Hopkinton, Rhode Island home. On Saturday, Westerly police spotted Joseph Francis driving and tried unfortunately to pull him over. About an hour later, officers from the Richmond and Charlestown police departments again tried to intercept Francis. During the high-speed chase, Francis lost control of his vehicle, causing it to roll several times before coming to a halt near a wooded area. Upon approaching the vehicle, police found Joseph Francis dead inside. Before these circumstances, Francis was facing liabilities related to domestic violence, including murder and violating a no-contact order, stemming from an alleged attack on his wife in May. This circumstance led to charges of chaotic conduct, domestic violence, and domestic assault for allegedly pushing her, damaging her phone, and verbally abusing her. Additionally, Francis faced liabilities of unconstitutional state laws regarding high-capacity magazines after police retrieved two handguns and numerous loaded high-capacity magazines. An order had also been released constraining him from contacting his wife. Wife Killed by Estranged Husband in Hopkinton An investigation continues after the recorded killing of a woman by her estranged husband in Hopkinton over the weekend. Hopkinton Police Chief Mark Carrier said that officers responded immediately to Stubtown Road on Friday night where they found 44-year-old Stephanie Francis shot dead. Her young children, who were at home at the time, contacted the police, Carrier stated. "The toll it takes is immense, not only on the officers and the families involved, but the community," Carrier said. "It's tough for everybody." Immediately, detectives began searching for the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Joseph Francis by Rhode Island State Police, issuing warnings to other departments statewide to consider him armed and dangerous. On Saturday morning, Joseph Francis was spotted driving on Route 1 in Westerly. Officers tried to stop him but were unsuccessful. Less than an hour later, he was sighted again on Route 2 in Charlestown. Joseph Francis led officers on a high-speed chase through multiple towns that ended when he crashed while attempting to turn from Dawley Park Road onto Nooseneck Hill Road. State police detectives later approached the vehicle and found Joseph Francis dead in the driver's seat. The precise cause of his death is still undetermined. Joseph Francis had been released on bail earlier in the year after facing liabilities of domestic violence, including assault and vandalism, Carrier noted. Police seized multiple firearms and high-capacity magazines from him during his arrest, and he had been ordered to stay away from the casualty and banned from possessing weapons. Carrier stressed that despite all precautions being taken, he unfortunately chose to go there that night and inflict harm. Stephanie Francis had recently begun working at Wood River Bar and Grill, according to Jim Larisa, one of the restaurant's owners. "Our staff loved her, our customers loved her," Larisa said. "She was a good person." He recounted an instance where Stephanie bonded with a young server over earrings. Larisa remembered that she consistently praised Stephanie's earrings. "Stephanie always had a different pair on. The next shift, she brought in an old pair of earrings and said, 'I thought these would look adorable on you.' That was her." Larisa remarked that it is a significant loss, affecting not only the restaurant and its staff but especially her family and the whole community. Royal Skousen came to our house this morning for a pleasant visit and some business. Please be aware of the following and, if youll be in the area at the appropriate time, please mark the date and come! Royal describes this as his swan song. The Interpreter Foundation and BYU Studies Invite You to a Celebration The Completion of the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project 1988-2024 Saturday, August 10, 2024 1:00 3:00 p.m. with two presentations open to the public Royal Skousen The Innovative and Revolutionary Book of Mormon Critical Text Project Stanford Carmack The Archaic Language of the Original Book of Mormon Text preceded by an informal open house with the presenters from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. along with a viewing of displays Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni Building Brigham Young University I hope that many of you will enjoy this ten-minute video that has just been posted on the blog of the Interpreter Foundation. (She is an impressive woman.) Like all products of our Not by Bread Alone effort, it has been done in both English and French: Not by Bread Alone: A Woman of Faith: Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Foreign Minister of Liberia For more information on the Not by Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in Africa series, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/en/ For more information in French, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/fr/ To see all of our posts about The Church in Africa, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/africa/ In this short video from the Not by Bread Alone film series entitled A Woman of Faith Visits Salt Lake City, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, foreign minister of Liberia and former Assistant Secretary General of the UN, describes the personal impact of her experiences at Church headquarters on 27 June 2024. To read more about her visit, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/en/6-a-woman-of-faith-sara-beysolow-nyanti. Of course, you can also find the video by going directly to the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File, where an essentially infinite number of such appalling horrors can be found. Also new on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Interpreter Radio Show June 30, 2024 The 30 June 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, featured Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson, along with special guest Stephen Smoot during the second hour. They discussed Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 30 and Joseph Smiths Uncanonized Revelations, newly published by the BYU Religious Studies Center. Their conversation was recorded, and an edited version of it (liberated from commercial interruptions) has been archived and is now available to you at your convenience and for free. The Book of Mormon in Context portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 30, will also be posted separately on Tuesday, 16 July 2024. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard live each week on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640, or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com. Some of you, if youre old enough, may recall a Grammy-award-winning stand-up comedian by the name of Sam Kinison (1953-1992). Truth be told, I wasnt a particular fan of his rather the contrary, if anything, because I found his comedic style too crude, loud, and crass for my taste but Im intrigued by this story about him: On 4 April 1992, twice-divorced and finally (he said) emerging from the cocaine and alcohol abuse that had nearly derailed his career, he married his third wife (a Vegas dancer) at the Candlelight Chapel in Las Vegas. He and his bride then spent five days in Hawaii on a honeymoon before returning home to Los Angeles on 10 April. He was scheduled for a sold-out show that night at the Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada. Later that day, on 10 April 1992, Kinison and his new wife were on the Needles Highway northwest of Needles, California when they were hit head-on by a pickup truck. The driver of the pick-up was a seventeen-year-old by the name of Troy Pierson, who had been drinking with another teenager as they raced along that desert road. (He had been drinking alcohol, if you hadnt already guessed. The cab of the pick-up was reportedly filled with empty beer cans.) Pierson crossed the center line of the roadway while trying to pass another vehicle and collided with the Kinisons oncoming Pontiac Turbo Trans Am. God! witnesses say he exclaimed after the wreck. Look what happened to my truck! Kinisons new wife suffered a concussion in the crash. Unconscious, she was taken for treatment to a hospital in Needles, where she recovered. As to Sam Kinison himself, his head had smashed into the windshield because he had not been wearing his seat belt. Still, though, at the first, he appeared to be pretty much alright. He seemed to have received only minor facial wounds, mostly on his lips and on his forehead. He got out of his heavily damaged vehicle, sat down on the side of the road, and only stretched out after friends persuaded him to do so. He died not long thereafter from traumatic internal injuries (including, as an autopsy later showed, a dislocation in the cervical spine, a torn aorta, damage in his cranium, and torn blood vessels in his abdominal cavity). He was just 38 years old. Its a tragic story, but its only one more entry in the lengthy list of such often unnecessary sorrows. Here, though, is where the story (to me, at least) grows especially interesting: According to an article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times soon after the fatal accident, a friend Carl LaBove, Kinisons longtime opening act who was there at the accident scene after having watched what happened from another following car, held Kinisons bleeding head in his hands until it was over. I dont want to die, I dont want to die, Kinison said. And then followed some quite enigmatic last words, spoken to nobody in particular: Why now? he inquired. Then he paused. But why? he asked. Then, after yet another pause, he very peacefully said Okay, okay, okay. LaBove, who reported those final utterances, commented, Whatever voice was talking to him gave him the right answer and he just relaxed with it. If Carl LaBoves report is accurate, it does seem that Sam Kinison was engaged in a conversation, a conversation of which the reporting friend heard only one side. President Bidens performance in the 2024 presidential debate was disappointing, but I would like to suggest that that is not the issue that anyone should be focusing on right now. As Rev. Jacqueline Lewis writes, And Im puzzled about how we got to a place in this nations story in which an 81- year-old president and a 78-year-old former presidenta convicted felonare on that debate stage together and we somehow did not expect what happened. I would have told Biden not to do this debate, but he did not ask me. How in the world is Trump the presumptive nominee for the GOP? Is that party embarrassed? Insurrectionist, traitor, liar, sexual predator, lover-of-foreign-dictators. How? And Biden was 78 when he was elected 46. He was going to turn 81, yall. The fact that Donald Trump was able to flummox Joe Biden with his Gish Gallop isnt surprising and shouldnt impress anyone. Its the reason so many leading scientists refuse to debate with young-earth creationists. This is a tactic that can leave audiences who think that science or politics can be settled by debate performance declaring a liar as the winner. Debates are NOT the way to decide matters of politics (or science or religion or) Not familiar with the Gish Gallop? Let me share Heather Cox Richardsons explanation which she offered when she highlighted this debate tactic recently. This was not a debate. It was Trump using a technique that actually has a formal name, the Gish gallop, although I suspect he comes by it naturally. Its a rhetorical technique in which someone throws out a fast string of lies, non-sequiturs, and specious arguments, so many that it is impossible to fact-check or rebut them in the amount of time it took to say them. Trying to figure out how to respond makes the opponent look confused, because they dont know where to start grappling with the flood that has just hit them. It is a form of gaslighting, and it is especially effective on someone with a stutter, as Biden has. It is similar to what Trump did to Biden during a debate in 2020. In that case, though, the lack of muting on the mics left Biden simply saying: Will you shut up, man? a comment that resonated with the audience. Giving Biden the enforced space to answer by killing the mic of the person not speaking tonight actually made the technique more effective. There are ways to combat the Gish gallopby calling it out for what it is, among other waysbut Biden retreated to trying to give the three pieces of evidence that established his own credentials on the point at hand. His command of those points was notable, but the difference between how he sounded at the debate and how he sounded on stage at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, just an hour afterward suggested that the technique worked on him. Thats not ideal, but as Monique Pressley put it, The proof of Bidens ability to run the country is the fact that he is running it. Successfully. Not a debate performance against a pathological lying sociopath. As a scholar of religion who has worked on science denial among Christian fundamentalists and Evangelicals, I was aware of this tactic from its origin, named as it is after young-earth creationist Duane Gish who employed it to the delight of conservative Christian crowds who like any ideologues are prone to fall for such tactics. It is particularly interesting to note that Mehdi Hasan mentioned it last year in the context of noting that it is a favorite tactic of Donald Trumps. Donald Trump is probably unaware that hes an avid practitioner of a debating method known among philosophers and rhetoricians as the Gish Gallop. Its aim is simple: to defeat ones opponent by burying them in a torrent of incorrect, irrelevant, or idiotic arguments. Trump owes much of his political success to this tacticand to the fact that so few people know how to beat it. Although his 2024 campaign has been fairly quiet so far, we can expect to hear a lot more Gish Galloping in the coming months. Age, Wisdom, and Culture As a scholar of history, I find it so interesting that our culture (in contrast with what was the norm down the ages) really wants someone youthful and vibrant rather than someone with more experience and the wisdom that comes with it. Of course, we might argue that if Biden were really wise he would not have debated Donald Trump. Yet in a real sense his hands were tied. Particularly in this internet era, not debating is seen as a sign of weakness rather than wisdom. If he had cancelled on short notice because he wasnt feeling well, in addition to the ire of TV viewers and networks, there would again have been the perception of frailty rather than wisdom. All of us at times do not feel well and are not in top form. When you reach age 81 there is a very good chance that that will be even more the case than whatever age you happen to be now. I hope you have not only the wisdom to sit things out, but the luxury of not being surrounded by people and a culture that will pressure you to press on no matter how you feel. In the context of our culture and the 2024 presidential election, there was no choice but to press ahead. Ultimately, even if one were to conclude that Joe Biden is especially frail, physical and mental frailty are not the only things that should matter when it comes to voting. Character Should Matter More Than Age Lets turn to what really matters. Roughly half the inhabitants of the United States would prefer a slightly younger fraud who talks with all the confidence of a charlatan, one whose lies are well documented, an authoritarian, over someone who is at worst merely a typical politician. There was a time when being a proven liar would cost you a lot of votes, never mind being a convicted felon. Trump has been shown to speak uncautiously and inadvisedly as he boasts and brags with people, divulging secrets, making threats, and more. Why anyone would prefer him over someone who might struggle to find their words and then utter them clearly is beyond me. Religious conservatives might say that it is about the party and not the candidate, but given that Trump (and the GOP more generally) has shown that he is not aligning with the anti-abortion extremists, electing him will not help with that issue if that is your concern. A more important consideration is that if your so-called Christian values align perfectly with Republican values (or with those of the Democrat party, for that matter), then you do not actually have distinctively Christian values. Indeed, they may not be Christian at all. When religious conservatives aligned themselves with the Republican Party back in the 1980s it was not because abortion was a concern for Evangelicals. On the contrary, abortion was turned into a biblical issue in order to create a voting bloc. Ultimately it was Republican Values that took over conservative Christianity, not vice versa. Where Things Stand Where does this leave us when it comes to the 2024 presidential election? No president is going to embody and stand for all of your values. We are a diverse society. What you should be concerned about is that our leaders (including but not limited to the president) be people of character. They should stand not for the imposition of one groups religious values and mores on the entire society, but on protecting the rights of those diverse groups who hold such strong yet different views to hold them, speak them, and practice them for themselves. Ill end this with what Joe Biden said not long after the debate ended: Look, I know Im not a young man anymore, to state the obvious. I dont walk like I used to walk. I dont speak like I used to speak. I dont debate like I used to debate. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I now how to tell right from wrong. And friends, I know how to do this job. (pause) And I know what all Americans know: that when you get knocked down, you get back up. (another pause) Friends, the stakes are too high. I can do this job. More from Patheos: Honda Honda confirms the Prelude is returning to the European market ahead of the concepts appearance at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Honda Prelude concept debuted at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023. The Prelude is set to use a hybrid powertrain as it re-enters the lineup. Ahead of showing off the Prelude concept at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda is confirming the coupe is returning to its lineup. Well, it's heading to the European lineup, at least. After debuting at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023, the electrified coupe looked ready for a primetime production slot, and its finally here. ADVERTISEMENT Honda still hasnt released too much official information. Essential details like the powertrain are still locked away inside a Honda executives filing cabinet. Honda However, the folks at Honda have confirmed that a hybrid powertrain is making its way to the production Prelude, which could point to some answers. Currently, the Civic Hybrid packs a 2.0-liter I4 that works with an electric motor and eCVT. The US-market Civic Hybrid is good for a combined 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. This might not be the exact same powertrain heading toward the Prelude, but it should be similar. While details about the production model are sparse, Honda does promise the new Prelude will bring the joy of driving to customers across Europe. Confirming production for this Civic for Europe should be good news for US-based Prelude fans. However, we wont know that for sure until Honda officially waves the green flag for this market. The company didnt say when its expected to start hitting the street. But we do know that youll be able to see the Prelude concept in person at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. Would you buy a Prelude if it returned to the United States? Tell us your thoughts below. With African countries now adopting a more sustainable and eco-friendly way of exploiting their mineral resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has laid special emphasis on the need for mutually beneficial partnership between African countries and their European counterparts. Delivering the keynote address at the 2024 Mining On Top Africa Conference in Paris, France on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, the Lands Minister expressed the urgent need for the jettisoning of the historical inequalities that has existed between mineral-producing African countries and the developed countries, noting that a relationship that guarantees mutual benefit for both the West and Africa will be a step in furtherance of attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development. Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor explained that mineral-producing countries are transitioning from the outmoded practice of dug and ship with the new method anchored on value addition and local participation. He emphasized the overarching importance of a partnership anchored on equitable distribution of benefits as that will help African countries to raise the resources to play a central role in the fight against climate change. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides 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 is crucial to meeting these 2030 Goals. For our modern day lives, depend, largely, on mining and the appropriate use of variety of minerals", he said. We must, therefore, consider the benefits generated through value addition and the ability to transform them into innovative products and associated service, to meet the needs of modern living. We must ensure that the framework for the exploitation of these minerals, favourably, generates benefits which are equitably distributed among all stakeholders, including countries and communities that host these minerals. Through these partnerships, we can 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 promote value addition to the minerals we mine, create job opportunities for economic growth, and tackle poverty, he said. With Ghana being one of the African countries which has set sail in the implementation of environment-friendly policies in its mining sector, Hon. Jinapor took time to list some of the initiatives and detail their transformational impacts. This, obviously, calls for the implementation of mining-friendly policies that protect the interest of citizens and investors alike, while championing environmental sustainability. That is why Ghana, under the distinguished leadership of President Akufo-Addo, has adopted a Green Minerals Policy which aims at promoting value addition and beneficiation across the value chain of our green minerals, while contributing, substantially, to the green energy transition. 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 four hundred kilogramme (400kg) capacity gold refinery, to refine the gold we produce. We are, also, promoting, through this Policy, local content and local participation across the value chain of our green minerals, from exploration, through mining to downstream production, to ensure that Ghanaians, who are by our national Constitution, the owners of these minerals, benefit optimally from them, the Minister said. The Minister also emphasized importance of fairness and inclusivity in the rewarding of African countries who have committed to facilitating the platform for the spurring of Green Mineral Resources in their countries. He implored the countries to live up to the tenets of the Paris Agreement which enjoins the countries 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. This transition, must, however, be fair, just, inclusive, and carry everyone along. It must not be pursued in a manner that only benefits the consumers of clean energy investors and their home countries. But it must be done in a way that benefits the ultimate producers of the minerals required for the transition, who have consistently suffered the historical injustice commonly referred to as the resource curse. The need for balance, and, indeed, equity is critical for sustainability, and inclusive development, he said. Mining On Top Africa 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. Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, an expert from the Department of Critical Metals in France, in a speech read on his behalf, emphasized that sustainability and value addition in mineral exploration are pressing issues that require immediate attention. He expressed hope that the partnership between African countries and Europe will enable Africa to add significant value to its mineral resources and prioritize energy transition, while aligning with the Paris Agreement. This collaboration, he believes, will also be crucial in harnessing mineral resources to drive sustainable development and mitigate climate change. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A barrage of Russian missile strikes hit targets in cities across Ukraine on Monday, including a childrens hospital in Kyiv, killing at least 22 people and injuring hundreds more, government officials said. Ukrainian officials said the rare daytime aerial assault had struck Ukrainian cities during rush hour, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. According to Ukraines general prosecutor, nine people had been k!lled in the capital, while 23 others had been injured. In Kryvyi Rih, 10 people had d!ed and 37 more were hurt, according to local officials. Among the buildings hit was Kyivs Okhmatdyt Hospital, Ukraines largest childrens medical centre. Every year, around 7,000 surgeries including treatments for cancer and hematological diseases are conducted at the hospital, according to Ukraines human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. Videos from the scene showed volunteers working with police and security services sift the rubble as smoke billowed from the hospital, while staff described how they tried to rush children to safety in the wake of the attack. Ukraines health minister Viktor Liashko said intensive care units, oncology departments and surgery units had been damaged. The key task here is to get people out of the rubble and provide assistance to those we can reach, as we have already taken out all the first ones, he said in a Telegram post. Natalia Sardudinova, a senior nurse, described the moment the strike hit the hospital saying that it was scary, but we survived. It was loud, the windows were crunching, she told CNN. As soon as the alarm sounded, the children were taken out into the corridor. She said two children had been in the operating theatres at the time of the blast. Everything was in smoke, there was no air to breathe. The doctor was cut by shrapnel. The windows and doors were blown out. One nurse in the hospital was heavily injured. Sardudinova added. My hands are still shaking. They dont let anyone in now, they are afraid it will collapse. Yulia Vasylenko, the mother of an 11-year-old cancer patient at the hospital, said her son Denys was evacuated outside following the strike. My son is on painkillers. He has cancer. He has been without medication for half a day. He was brought down the stairs from the third floor. There was smoke (and) heavy dust, she said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy said in a post on X that the exact number of casualties at the hospital was not yet known and that there are people under the rubble but that everyone from doctors to local residents are helping clear debris in the strikes aftermath. Apartment buildings, infrastructure, and a childrens hospital have been damaged. All services are engaged to rescue as many people as possible, Zelensky wrote in a post on X. He also said that around 40 missiles of various types had been launched against Ukraine. The entire world must use all its determination to finally put an end to the Russian strikes. Killing is what Putin brings. Only together can we bring real peace and security, he added. Several European nations denounced the attacks with France calling it barbaric while the United Kingdoms new prime minister Keir Starmer said attacking innocent children was the most depraved of actions. Watch video below- A childrens medial facility!! Thats what russia decided to target today in Kyiv! A CHILDRENS MEDICAL FACILITY! #russiaisateroriststate https://t.co/Dqr4O19xbx pic.twitter.com/N3gt5IfGKJ ne Back versen (@IneBackIversen) July 8, 2024 Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv. One of the most important CHILDRENS hospitals not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe. Okhmatdyt has been saving and restoring the health of thousands of children. Now that the hospital has been damaged by a Russian strike, there are pic.twitter.com/TmRlUmSBri Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024 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 Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa has described the collaborative work between her outfit and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare and the National Elections Security Task Force as Fruitful and thanked the IGP for an Amazing work. Speaking at a meeting with the national election security task force at the headquarters of the Electoral Commission on Monday, July 8, 2024, the EC chair said the commission has absolute confidence in the security agencies to ensure incident-free polls in the upcoming December 7th national election. Im happy to note that all the activities we have undertaken so far have been very successful and inclusive and all citizens who wished to register had the opportunity to do so. We couldnt have done this without the cooperation of our security agencies. We had meetings with the IGP and National Security Task Force, and I would like to recognize their amazing work so far. Weve enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with them, which has led to our fruitful exercises so far, the EC boss said. According to the EC chair, the national election security task force, which comprises personnel of the various security agencies in the country, under the IGP's leadership, has efficiently provided security for EC personnel and their activities across the country. Further praising the Police, the EC chairperson said the Police ensured that officers of the commissions mobile teams also enjoyed protection just as their registration centres. We enjoyed police presence in all our registration Centers and Police also provided security for our mobile teams when they moved around the country. I would like to pledge our commitment to always work with the security agencies to ensure our objectives of ensuring free and transparent elections are achieved. For his part, the IGP Dr. Akuffo Dampare said We are grateful to the public and the EC and all other stakeholders for the cooperation we have had from them so far. I will continue to urge them to support the police in ensuring that Ghana continues to be the beacon of hope for the continent and beyond. This is the only country we have and we need to ensure its always at peace. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video French President, Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of the countrys prime minister, asking him on Monday, July 8 to remain temporarily as the head of the government after the weekend's chaotic election results that left the government in limbo. Macron on Monday his PM to stay, pending difficult negotiations to form a new government after a left-wing surge delivered a parliament divided into three. The leftist New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the dominant force in the National Assembly after Sundays election, thwarting Marine Le Pens quest to bring the far-right to power. However, no party has secured a working majority, meaning the electoral outcome heralded a period of political volatility. Possibilities open to the French government include the NFP forming a minority government or the coming together of a coalition of right, left and centrist parties with no common ground, meaning legislation might never get passed by Parliament. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a centrist and close ally of Macron, tendered his resignation on Sunday, but the head of state, Macron rejected it. The President has asked Gabriel Attal to remain prime minister for the time being in order to ensure the countrys stability, Macrons office said in a statement. A fragmented parliament will weaken Frances role in the European Union. The left won 182 seats, Macrons centrist alliance 168 and Le Pens National Rally (RN) and allies 143, Interior Ministry data cited by Le Monde newspaper showed. Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of the most divisive figures in French politics, explicitly ruled out any deal with centrists on Sunday, and on Monday his ally Eric Bompard sounded uncompromising. The president must appoint as prime minister someone from the New Popular Front to implement the NFPs programme, the whole programme and nothing but the programme, he said on France 2 television. However, there is little chance that any of the left-wing blocs key proposals, which include raising the minimum wage, reversing Macrons pension reform and capping the prices of key goods, would pass a parliamentary vote without some kind of agreement with lawmakers from outside the bloc. 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 John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says if he is elected as president again, his administration will resurrect the constitutional review process on the capping the number of justices on the Supreme Court bench. The 1992 Constitution only talks about a minimum of nine justices on the Supreme Court bench and the Chief Justice but it is silent on the upper limit. Addressing a media encounter in Accra on Sunday night [July 7], former President Mahama said he will put it to Ghanaians to decide whether the number of justices should be capped at 15 number, or they should reduce or increase it. Mr Mahama said he does not think that it should be the chief justice saying that we should increase and cap at 15. He said this while disagreeing with Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on a recommendation to the president to appoint five additional justices to the Supreme Court bench. Former President Mahama said that approach by the Chief Justice was rare because it is the president who nominates based on the advice of the Judicial Council and then forwards the names to Parliament for approval or otherwise. Mr Mahama said I cant understand why the Chief Justice will be the one recommending which judges to appoint. The constitution is clear that it is the president who appoints judges with the advice of the judicial council and so the initiative to appoint judges must come from the president and be submitted to the judicial council, he brings it back with advice and the president then forwards to Parliament, that is the procedure. It is very rare that this time the recommendation comes from the Chief Justice to the president. Even capping the number of judges, the constitutional review committee recommended that we cap Supreme Court judges at 15, so the issue for capping the Supreme Court judges is not for the chief justice to say. We will resurrect the constitutional review process when I become president and when we do that we will put it to the Ghanaian people whether we should retain the 15, whether we should reduce it, or whether we should increase it. I dont think that it should be the chief justice saying that we should increase and cap at 15. Source: graphiconline.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 NPP National Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah has implored the public to disregard attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to attach negative labels to Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), Running Mate of his party. Mr. Ahiagbah urged Ghanaians to focus on NAPOs potentials and not fall for the propaganda of the NDC. He posted on his X saying NAPO is widely recognized for his generosity. If you look up synonyms for generosity in the dictionary, you will find words such as goodness, big-heartedness, nobleness, self-sacrifice, nobility, and philanthropism, among others. He continued; According to Christian Smith, the American sociologist and current William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, generosity is not a random behavior, but a fundamental orientation to life, adding It involves not only expressing moral goodness but also rejecting certain vices such as selfishness, greed, fear, and meanness. Please disregard the opponents attempt to attach negative labels to NAPO and instead recognize the potential for a generous leader in NAPO to partner with H.E. Bawumia to drive Ghanas agenda. Be there at his outdooring tomorrow; it will be historic! Ghana needs a big-hearted president and vice president, Mr. Ahiagbah further remarked. NAPO is widely recognized for his generosity. If you look up synonyms for generosity in the dictionary, you will find words such as goodness, big-heartedness, nobleness, self-sacrifice, nobility, and philanthropism, among others. According to Christian Smith, the American pic.twitter.com/tWBAQNe8eW Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) July 8, 2024 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 political tension in Awutu Senya West continues to escalate as supporters of NDC Member of Parliament Gisella Tetteh-Agbotui have allegedly renewed their efforts to vandalize and destroy the campaign materials of Mr. Eugene Arhin, the NPPs parliamentary candidate for the constituency. In the early hours of Monday, newly installed billboards of Mr. Eugene Arhin at Yamoah Nkwanta in the Papaase Electoral Area were reported destroyed. This incident is the latest in a series of targeted attacks against Mr. Arhin's campaign materials, which has sparked outrage and concern among constituents. In a controversial move back in May this year, Mrs. Tetteh-Agbotui's supporters were accused of ripping up the sign boards and posters of her main contender. This blatant disregard for electoral laws raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the constituency. Multiple eyewitness accounts and reports from local residents confirmed that her supporters were seen destroying Mr. Arhins campaign materials in several locations, including Bontrase, Amontrom, and Pobikwaa. These incidents created a tense atmosphere in the constituency, with many expressing fears of potential clashes between the two political factions. Despite the outcry and the clear violation of electoral norms, it appears that Mrs. Tetteh-Agbotui is not relenting in her aggressive campaign tactics. The destruction of Mr. Arhin's billboards this morning at Yamoah Nkwanta is a stark reminder of the ongoing hostilities. Local residents awoke to find the newly installed billboards torn down and defaced, further inflaming an already volatile situation. The recurring nature of these incidents has prompted calls for immediate action from electoral authorities and law enforcement. Many constituents are urging the Electoral Commission to step in and ensure a fair and peaceful campaign environment. The fear of potential clashes between supporters of the two candidates looms large, with the community leaders and local organizations calling for calm and restraint from both sides. Mr. Eugene Arhin, in a statement, condemned the actions and called for his supporters to remain peaceful and adhere to the law. "We must not allow these provocations to derail our commitment to a peaceful and democratic process. I urge all my supporters to remain calm and let the authorities handle the situation," he said. Mrs. Tetteh-Agbotui has yet to comment on the latest allegations, but her silence is being interpreted by many as an implicit endorsement of the actions of her supporters. This ongoing saga in Awutu Senya West is a sobering reminder of the challenges facing Ghana's democratic process, where political rivalry can sometimes spill over into unlawful and destructive behavior. As the election date draws closer, the eyes of the nation are on Awutu Senya West. There is hope that the relevant authorities will take decisive steps to restore order and ensure that the electoral process proceeds smoothly, free from intimidation and violence. The people of the constituency deserve a fair and peaceful election, where their voices can be heard without fear of retribution or coercion. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Spokesperson for the John Mahama Campaign team says calls for a debate between the flagbearer of the NDC and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the NPP is unneeded. Joyce Bawah Mogtari in an interview with Channel One TV monitored by Peacefmonline.com explained that her boss doesn't have to debate a failed government, but was quick to add that Mr Mahama will any day outshine Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in any debate. I personally have no appetite for a debate, I think that we debate when we literally know that our issues are probably parallel . . . when I look at what we have, when I look at the current trajectory, when I look at the failings of this particular administration, I ask myself why do we need to put up with a debate? But of course, this is a decision that the upper people usually will make," she said. Adding that, Its not my decision to make, as the debates and conversations go along, maybe eventually some conversations will happen around it, and of course, who knows?" Joyce Bawah Mogtari's comment follows numerous calls by political analysts and other stakeholders for a Bawumia, Mahama debate before the December 7 presidential election. Whereas many suggest Mahama is scared to face Bawumia, Joyce Bawah Mogtari implied that the NDCs presidential candidate is so well-prepared and knowledgeable at any time for a debate but maintained I dont think that immediately I will want to see that. We do know all about the debates between John Mahama and then candidate Akufo-Addo and we know who won those debates. So, I believe that the fact that Mr Mahama is a man whose energy and knowledge are unparallel is not in doubt. And Im sure on any day, whomever, I know hes going to win the debate." Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has once again endorsed the Bawumia-Opoku Prempeh partnership, expressing unwavering confidence in their capabilities. I have worked with the two and I know that they can do. I know that on the 7th of December, when Ghanaians have given them the mandate, they will work to meet the expectations of Ghana. President Akufo-Addo who was speaking at the unveiling ceremony of Napo, added: I have trust and confidence in the two of them to do the work. The event was graced by other prominent NPP figures, including the Council of Elders, Members of Parliament, and other influential party members. Free SHS Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has praised Napo for successfully implementing the government's flagship Free SHS policy, which he believes demonstrates Napo's hard work and potential for leadership of the country. Dr. Prempeh's implementation of the Free SHS policy is a testament to his hard work, which I believe will be translated into leadership of the country, President Akufo-Addo stated. 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 LOS ANGELES (AP) Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet are officially divorced. A Los Angeles County judges dissolution of the marriage of the two actors, who had already been separated for years, took effect Tuesday. Bonet and Momoa were married for more than seven years and were a couple for 12 years before they wed. Bonet, whose legal name is Lilakoi Moon, filed for divorce in January. The documents listed the couples separation date as October 7, 2020, more than three years earlier. They made their separation public in 2022. FILE - Jason Momoa, left, and Lisa Bonet arrive at the premiere of "Aquaman" at TCL Chinese Theatre, Dec. 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP The divorce went as quickly as legally possible and came without dispute. Neither person will get financial support, they have agreed on how to split their assets, and they will have joint custody of their 16-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son. Momoa, 44, is best known for his roles in the Aquaman movies and on Game of Thrones. Bonet, 56, was a star of The Cosby Show, its spinoff A Different World, and the films High Fidelity and Enemy of the State. It was the first marriage for Momoa, who has revealed on social media that he is dating Hit Man and Father of the Bride actor Adria Arjona. It was the second marriage for Bonet, who was previously married to rocker Lenny Kravitz and has another daughter, actor Zoe Kravitz, with him. Doug Sheehan, an actor known for his role as Joe Kelly on the ABC Daytime soap General Hospital and as Ben Gibson on Knots Landing, has died at the age of 75. The stars death was shared by the Kane Funeral Home in Wyoming, which announced that Sheehan died peacefully at his home on Saturday morning, June 29, 2024, with his loving wife at his side. Services are pending at this time. Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements, the announcement concluded. A cause of death has yet to be revealed. Born in Santa Monica, California, Sheehans first television appearance was in 1978 in an episode of Charlies Angels. But the actor landed his breakout role in 1979 as lawyer Joe Kelly on General Hospital as a series regular. He earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series for his work in 1982. In 1983 he joined the Dallas spinoff, Knots Landing, taking on the role of reporter Ben Gibson, until 1988. Upon leaving the show, he took on the role as stockbroker Brian Harper in the NBC sitcom Day by Day, which aired for two seasons. The series focused on Brian and Kate Harper played by Linda Kelsey a married couple with two successful careers raising their teenage son Ross played by Christopher Daniel Barnes. Sheehan also portrayed the father on the TV series, Clueless, which was based on the movie. Sheehans other television credits include Columbo, Cheers, MacGuyver, Diagnosis: Murder, and others. Sheehan also appeared in three films: 1979s 10, Victor/Victoria in 1982, and Cops n Roberts in 1995. By Olivia Lloyd, The Charlotte Observer (TNS) A man dangled a child off a two-story hotel balcony to scare him, then dropped the boy headfirst, Florida authorities said. The child suffered blunt force trauma, and 31-year-old Brandon Gilmore is charged with aggravated child abuse, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department. His attorney information is not available in Volusia County court records. Gilmore met the childs mother at the hotel pool about five hours before Saturdays incident, police wrote in an arrest affidavit. Gilmore and the mom discussed getting piercings together, and he was invited to her hotel room, he told police, according to the affidavit. He said he would take the boy onto the balcony to play and scare him a little bit, police said. Surveillance footage from about 7:30 p.m. shows him carrying the child in his arms as he left the hotel room. On the balcony, he switched to holding the child by one leg while dangling him over the edge, according to police. Witnesses said they heard the child scream before the man dropped him, according to investigators. The boy, who police said was under the age of 5, was taken to a hospital as a trauma alert because of the seriousness of his fall, investigators said. Police did not disclose the boys current condition. WILLIAMSPORT A Lycoming County judge has taken under advisement a prosecution motion to add kidnapping and false imprisonment charges against a man accused in a fatal Williamsport street shooting. District Attorney Thomas A. Marino Monday argued evidence presented at the March 22 preliminary hearing supported those additional charges against Benjamin Villanueva III. Defense attorney Corey S. Chwiecko disagreed, calling Marinos claim Jermaine Derick Mullen was held hostage at gunpoint as he drove Villanueva home just speculation. There are no witnesses to support that theory or that the motive for the killing was robbery, he said. In April Marino filed a notice of aggravating circumstances which is required to seek the death penalty if an individual is found guilty of first-degree murder. Topping the list was that Mullen was held a hostage. The others are that the killing occurred in the commission of a felony (robbery), the offense knowingly created a grave risk to another person (bystanders) and Villanueva has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use of threat or violence. Villanueva, 33, is accused of shooting Mullen, 39, of Williamsport, in the 1000 block of Memorial Avenue about 3:40 a.m. on Dec. 9. He was shot twice in the back and then in theface at close range. Mullens body did not have any money, wallet or identification and his pants pockets had been turned out, police said. According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, a video showed Mullen and Villanueva, wearing a black jacket with a fur-lined hoodie, leaving a downtown Williamsport bar together about 2 a.m. They were identified from an ID video scanning device through which those entering the bar must pass. This is what Marino said in support of his argument to add the charges: Villanueva at the bar observed the cash Mullen was carrying and later asked him to drive him home. En route he pulled a gun. In the vicinity where the shooting occurred Mullen jumped out of the car while it still was moving and ran. The car drifted into a parked vehicle. Mullen was shot twice in the backside but continued running until he collapsed. Villanueva then shot him in the face and took his money. City police say a jacket with a fur-lined hoodie links Villanueva to the crime. Agent Benjamin Hitesman testified at the preliminary hearing a strip of fur from that jacket was found near the left hand of Mullens body. The fur matched that on a jacket found discarded in a yard in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, he said. Surveillance video showed a man resembling Villanueva throwing it there, he said. Testimony at the preliminary hearing also included that Mullen, while at a bar in DuBoistown the evening before, displayed a considerable amount of money in big bills and had a picture taken of it. Judge Nancy L. Butts gave no indication when she will rule on the motion to add the charges. Villanueva is jailed without bail on charges of homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, tampering with evidence, illegal possession of a firearm and firearms not to be carried without a license. He was precluded from possessing a firearm because of a 2014 felony robbery conviction for which he served a state prison sentence. Villanueva had been questioned the day of the killing but was released because police said there was insufficient evidence at the time to charge him. He fled to Connecticut where he was arrested Feb. 15 in Hartford. PHILADELPHIA Foday Turay learned he was undocumented when he tried to get his drivers permit. He asked his mother for the necessary paperwork but she told him he had none. His mother fled Sierra Leone when he was young, receiving refugee status in the United States. Turay stayed behind with his grandmother until he was about 6, and his mother decided to bring him to her, even without the right paperwork. That decision would hang over Turay like a dark cloud into adulthood. In theory, the now 27-year-old assistant district attorney in Philadelphia has a pathway to lawful permanent residence through his marriage to a U.S. citizen, but quirks in the process have made it practically impossible. Mainly, hed have to leave the country to apply for his green card. New protections put forth by President Joe Bidens administration, however, could help Turay and an estimated half a million people like him by removing one of the biggest obstacles in their path to lawful permanent residence. They wouldnt have to leave the country to advance the permanent residency process. Its the most sweeping immigration program in more than a decade. Nothing is guaranteed and that has been one of the most depressing factors for me, Turay said. The idea that Im living in this reality where my time with my son is limited based on policy, based on a court system, based on what an administration feels that I deserve. Though its too early to know just how many people could benefit from the change in the Philadelphia region, immigration advocates and attorneys say the policy change could be life-changing for families such as Turays. Even in Philadelphia, a city with a reputation as a friendly environment for undocumented immigrants, the threat of deportation is still a possibility. Marrying a citizen doesnt address the countrys reentry bans Rochelle, who asked to keep her last name private fearing deportation from Philadelphia, arrived in the United States 20 years ago, searching for work that would allow her to support her ailing mother back in the Philippines. She fell in love, married a U.S. citizen, and had four children. She, too, has a pathway to citizenship through marriage but shed have to leave the country. And going back to the Philippines wouldnt mean an expedited return. People who stay in the country without documentation for an extended period face three- and 10-year reentry bans. A waiver exists, but theres a yearslong backlog, and undocumented immigrants who are deported can also face bans, sometimes permanently. I was really afraid to go back to my country without a 100% guarantee that Im gonna come back here because Im gonna leave my husband and my children without anybody, said Rochelle. The Biden protections expand on an existing program referred to as parole in place. People who enter the country without authorization and have relatives in the military can avoid the bans and stay in the United States for a period of time while they seek work authorization, as well as permanent legal status. Ricky Palladino, an immigration attorney at Palladino, Isbell & Casazza, LLC in Center City, said hes seen a surge in calls from immigrants who could benefit from the change. This really helps a lot of people who have family ties in the [United States] and have the money and wherewithal to move ahead with it, he said. When you marry you depend on each other Still, the new spousal program has its cutoffs. An oft-quoted estimate from immigration advocacy organization FWD.us places about 1.1 million undocumented people in marriages with citizens. Yet to be eligible, applicants need to have been continuously in the country for at least 10 years, married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, and have no criminal record. Ultimately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will decide whether they can apply for a green card. Though the more granular details of when and how people can apply to this new program have not been released, the broad restrictions laid out by the Biden administration mean thousands of families could be excluded, including Allyson Batista, a U.S. citizen in Philadelphia championing her husband and mixed-status families such as hers since 2010. She welcomes the policy change and the relief it will provide for thousands of families, but is concerned that her husband might not benefit, because of his immigration history. While she tries to focus on the construction business she runs with her husband and other accomplishments, her spouses legal status rears its head in small and big ways. She worries about life insurance for her husband, getting older with a safety net available only to her. These are crazy scenarios, but its the truth, she said. If anything happened to him, he has no Social Security built up. I have no security other than my own stuff from the time I worked, but when you marry you depend on each other. Most recently, a glitch in the federal student aid application for one of her children wouldnt let Batista move forward without a social security number for her husband. The biggest change since DACA Allowing people such as Rochelle and Turay to wait in place while their green card applications move forward is considered one of the most consequential reforms in the immigration system since the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which helped shield immigrants brought to the United States as kids from deportation and gave them a way to seek work authorization for two-year intervals. The program famously didnt offer a pathway to citizenship. Though Turay is grateful for the protections offered by the program, he calls it a two-year subscription plan that leaves him unable to plan for the long term. Adding to his stress are past efforts to dismantle DACA. The program has not taken new applicants since 2017 and while participants such as Turay can continue to renew their protection, DACAs legality remains under scrutiny, expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court in coming years. The legal battles ahead The spousal program comes as the Biden administration tries to walk the line of securing the border while appearing humane, in an election year when immigration is a hot-button issue even in Pennsylvania, far from the border. Earlier in June, Biden announced plans to bar migrants who cross the southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum whenever the border is overwhelmed. The American Civil Liberties Union and other immigrant rights groups filed a legal challenge and immigration critics are expected to challenge Bidens plan to aid mixed-status families. In addition to undocumented spouses, protections could extend to an estimated 50,000 noncitizen children under age 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen. Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has called for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. In last months presidential debate, Trump vilified immigrants but did not answer questions about the deportations and whether they would include spouses of citizens whod been here for decades and had jobs. For now, people such as Rochelle are trying to focus on the present. She is saving so she is financially prepared for when the application is unveiled in late summer. Though she is not trying to get ahead of herself, shes dreaming of getting health insurance, being able to travel freely, and for the first time, planning for the future. Advocates for the transgender community remain in shock a week after a 14-year-old girl was brutally killed and dismembered in western Pennsylvania. For Corinne Goodwin, the executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, the killing of Pauly Likens hits home with the gut-wrenching statistics on violence against transgender individuals. Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit! Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | July 9, 2024 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court could soon change felony murder sentences. Middle schoolers impersonated teachers with lewd TikTok accounts, and there isnt much school officials can do about it. Sams Club is changing a perk, and needless to say many people arent happy about it. Lastly, a museum raises a glass to Pennsylvanias role in whiskey history. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too. As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA. WASHINGTON (AP) NATO leaders gathering in Washington starting Tuesday plan to shore up transatlantic support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia. But for host President Joe Biden, the summit has become just as much about demonstrating he is capable of meeting the grinding demands of the presidency for four more years. Heads of state from Europe and North America are confronting the prospect of the return of NATO skeptic Donald Trump as Biden tries to save his reelection campaign, which has been in a tailspin following a disastrous June 27 debate performance against Trump. The president said his work at the summit, where NATO is celebrating 75 years, would be a good way to judge his continued ability to do the job. He points to his work rallying NATO members in its stiff response to Russias invasion of Ukraine as a prime example of his steady leadership and among the reasons he deserves another four years in the White House. Our allies are looking for U.S. leadership, Biden said in an MSNBC interview Monday. Who else do you think can step in here and do this? I expanded NATO. I solidified NATO. I made sure that were in a position where we have a coalition of ... nations around the world to deal with China, with Russia, with everything thats going on in the world. Were making real progress. Biden is in a blitz to persuade voters, Democrats and donors that hes still up to the job. Hes been making his case on the campaign trail, in a defiant letter to Democratic lawmakers and during friendly media interviews over the last several days. Still, he faces skepticism from some longtime allies. Six Democratic House members have publicly called on Biden to quit his campaign, other lawmakers in private conversations have urged him to step aside, and several high-profile donors have raised concerns about his viability in the race. The White House hopes to display to wobbly Democrats that Biden still has what it takes during whats expected to be a busy few days of formal summit meetings, sideline chats with leaders, long diplomatic dinners and receptions, and a summit-ending press conference. Several senior administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations say the president displays a strong grasp of the broader issues Russias invasion of Ukraine, the threat posed by China but on specific and incremental actions that countries or groups may take when it comes to these conflicts, Biden has appeared to be at worst confused or has not seemed to have a keen grasp on how to handle them. However, the officials say there isnt at least not yet a crisis in confidence over Bidens general mental state. The summit will give Biden his first chance to meet face-to-face with new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Biden called Starmer last week to congratulate him on his win and plans to host him Wednesday for talks at the White House. The Labour Party leader had no concerns about Bidens mental acuity during their phone call, according to a spokesman for the prime minister who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private call. The gathering of the leaders from the 32 NATO countries plus Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as Ukraine is expected to be one of Bidens last appearances at an international forum before Election Day and comes before next weeks Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Biden has sought to spotlight his commitment to the alliance while making the case to voters that Trump would turn his back on NATO if he were to return to the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticized fellow NATO members who failed to meet an agreed-upon goal of spending at least 2% of gross domestic product on defense spending. European anxiety was heightened in February when Trump warned NATO allies in a campaign speech that he would encourage Russia " to do whatever the hell they want to countries that dont meet defense spending goals if he returns to the White House. Trump has criticized Biden for providing an endless flow of American treasure to Ukraine. The Republican more recently has expressed openness to lending money instead and has said Ukraines independence is important to the United States. Biden aides have pushed back, noting NATOs announcement last month that 23 of 32 member nations are hitting the alliances defense spending target this year. Nine member nations were meeting the goal when Biden took office in 2021. Biden also has taken credit for the expansion of NATO. Both Finland and Sweden have joined in the aftermath of Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Thats not by accident, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. Thats because of leadership. Thats because of a constant stewardship of the alliance and other partnerships around the world. The presidents record speaks for itself. NATO is expected to announce details of Ukraines pathway to membership into the alliance during the summit. NATO, which is built around the foundational agreement that an attack on one member is an attack on all members, has maintained it will not bring Ukraine into the fold until after the conflict with Russia ends. Kirby said leaders also will discuss efforts to stand up a coordination center in Germany to help train, equip and coordinate logistics for Ukraine forces for its expected eventual accession into NATO. The U.S. and allies plan to unveil steps during the summit to strengthen Ukraines air defenses and military capabilities to help it deter Russian aggression, Kirby said. Ian Brzezinski, a senior fellow at the Washington think tank the Atlantic Council, said Biden needs to use the summit to significantly reverse the impression that he left with his poor debate performance. This is an immense opportunity for him to lead with vigor and energy, to underscore his commitment, the administrations commitment, for that matter Congress commitment to the alliance and to underscore that he brings to the table the resolve that has made NATO so successful, Brzezinski said. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) A solid majority of Americans oppose a federal abortion ban as a rising number support access to abortions for any reason, a new poll finds, highlighting a politically perilous situation for candidates who oppose abortion rights as the November election draws closer. Around 6 in 10 Americans think their state should generally allow a person to obtain a legal abortion if they dont want to be pregnant for any reason, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Thats an increase from June 2021, a year before the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure, when about half of Americans thought legal abortion should be possible under these circumstances. Americans are largely opposed to the strict bans that have taken effect in Republican-controlled states since the high courts ruling two years ago. Full bans, with limited exceptions, have gone into effect in 14 GOP-led states, while three other states prohibit abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, before women often realize theyre pregnant. They are also overwhelmingly against national abortion bans and restrictions. And views toward abortion which have long been relatively stable may be getting more permissive. Vincent Wheeler, a 47-year-old Republican from Los Angeles, said abortion should be available for any reason until viability, the point at which health care providers say its possible for a fetus to survive outside the uterus. Theres so many reasons as to why someone may want or need an abortion that it has to be up to that person of what they have to do in that specific circumstance, Wheeler said, acknowledging that some fellow Republicans might disagree. Likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has declined to endorse a nationwide abortion ban, saying the issue should be left up to the states. But even that stance is likely to be unsatisfying to most Americans, who continue to oppose many bans on abortion within their own state, and think Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to abortions nationwide, according to the poll. Seven in 10 Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, a slight increase from last year, while about 3 in 10 think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. Robert Hood, a 69-year-old from Universal City, Texas, who identifies as an independent liberal, has believed that abortions should be allowed for any reason since he was an 18-year-old high school senior, because life is full of gray situations. He recalls reading stories as a teenager about women who died trying to get an abortion before the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision provided a constitutional right to the procedure. Pregnancy is complicated, he said. Women should make the choice with the advice of their doctor and family, but at the end of the day its her choice and her body and her life. He said he would support national protections for abortion rights. Views on abortion have long been nuanced and sometimes contradictory. The new AP-NORC survey shows that even though the country is largely antagonistic to restrictions on abortion, a substantial number of people hold opinions and values that are not internally consistent. About half of those who say a woman should be able to get an abortion for any reason also say their state should not allow abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy and about one-quarter say their state should not allow abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the vast majority of Americans more than 8 in 10 continue to say abortion should be legal in extreme circumstances, such as when a patients life would be endangered by continuing the pregnancy. About 8 in 10 say the same about a pregnancy caused by rape or incest or when a fetal anomaly would prevent the child from surviving outside the womb. National bans on abortion are broadly unpopular: Around 8 in 10 Americans say Congress should not pass a federal law banning abortion. About three-quarters say there should not be a federal law banning abortion at six weeks, and 6 in 10 oppose a federal law banning abortion at 15 weeks. Most Republicans about two-thirds, according to the survey say a nationwide abortion ban should not happen. By MARK VANCLEAVE and JUAN A. LOZANO, The Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) Many of the millions left without power when Hurricane Beryl crashed into the Houston area, killing several people and unleashing flooding, face days without air conditioning as dangerous heat threatens the region. A heat advisory was in effect through Wednesday in parts of Texas, with temperatures in the 90s and heat index values up to 105 degrees expected Tuesday. The widespread loss of power and therefore air conditioning could make for dangerous conditions, the National Weather Service said. More than 2.3 million homes and businesses around Houston lacked electricity Tuesday morning, down from a peak of more than 2.7 million on Monday, according to PowerOutage.us. Houstonians need to know were working around the clock so you will be safe, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Monday, urging residents to also know the dangers of high water, to stay hydrated and to check on their neighbors. Buffalo Bayou floods, stranding vehicles near downtown Houston after Beryl came ashore in Texas as a hurricane and dumped heavy rains downtown. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)AP Beryl was blamed for killing several people in Texas and at least one in Louisiana, officials said. The storm weakened into a tropical depression after making landfall, and by Tuesday morning its center was over southwestern Arkansas, moving northeast with maximum sustained wind speeds near 30 mph, the weather service said. Its strength wasnt expected to change much in the next day or two. Beryl still threatened to unleash more harsh weather over several other states in coming days. It is expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding from the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes on Tuesday into Wednesday, the weather service said. A flood watch was in effect for parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, and tornadoes were possible through the early morning across parts of the mid-South. A few tornadoes were possible from midday to the early evening in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, according to the weather service. The weather service confirmed on social media Monday evening that tornadoes had been spotted in northeastern Louisiana. Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington said in a Facebook post that a woman was killed in the Benton area when a tree fell on her home. People gather outside a home in the 17400 block of Rustic Canyon Trail where Maria Loredo, 74, died after a tree fell on her second-story bedroom during Hurricane Beryl Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)AP At least two people were killed when trees fell on homes in Texas, and a third person, a civilian employee of the Houston Police Department, was killed when he was trapped in floodwaters under a highway overpass, Whitmire said. Texas state and local officials warned it could take several days to fully restore power after Beryl came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane, toppled 10 transmission lines and knocked down trees that took down power lines. The earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, Beryl caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean on its way to Texas. In Jamaica, officials said Monday that island residents will have to contend with food shortages after Beryl destroyed more than $6.4 million in crops and supporting infrastructure. More registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses in Kansas will be trained to work as sexual assault examiners, thanks to a federal grant and a program started by Pittsburg State University that has continued to grow. The $1.5 million grant, awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration to Pitt States Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing, will fund three additional years of training. Its the third time the university has been awarded the grant since 2018. The program it funds, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANE, began with Crawford, Cherokee, and Bourbon counties. In 2021, a second cycle of grant funding expanded the program to all 105 counties in Kansas. SANEs are registered nurses who have completed specialized education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of patients who have experienced sexual assault or physical abuse. Prior to Pitt States program, there was just one SANE to serve all of Crawford County and none in 80 percent of Kansas counties, said Director Amy Hite, who has been involved since the inception and wrote all three grant applications. The demand exceeds the number of forensic nurses in Kansas and many who need care are one to three hours from the services they desperately need. This new round of funding will allow the School of Nursing to include SANE training in advanced nursing degrees, including the Master of Nursing and Doctorate of Nurse Practice in Forensic Nursing leadership. These graduate degrees currently are not available in Kansas. The university also has partnered with the Kansas Coalition for Sexual and Domestic Violence, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Hays Med to provide free courses in Kansas through 2027. The goal, said Hite, is to train 45 nurses each year. In addition to the training, funding will help purchase equipment that can be used not only for sexual assault examinations, but in other forms of medical care, and it will provide access to a therapist for nurses who conduct such examinations. Nationally, the turnover is very high, said Hite, who also works as an Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner. Its a stressful job, and we want to support their resilience, retention, and prevent burn-out because of the toll it takes on their physical and mental health. Funding also will pay for membership in the Kansas Forensic Nursing Organization so that nurses can attend national conferences to learn current best practices. This is especially helpful to smaller, rural programs that ordinarily dont have funds for professional development, Hite said. The impact of SANE training over the years cannot be measured, Hite said. I get cards from people who say if it werent for this program, they wouldnt have the ability to do this, and its truly changed lives, Hite said. Pitt State is valued for SANE leadership across the state. This is about helping Kansas and helping our communities. Learn more: Pitt State SANE Program WSOP Main Event Sets Record! Hellmuths Corny Entrance & Big Huni July 4th Party | PokerNews Podcast #845 Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link In the 845th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Kyna England are joined at Level 9 Studio by WPT Global's Brad Owen, who served as special co-host to talk about the latest happenings at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP). This included the record-setting turnout for the 2024 WSOP Main Event, some of the big names who've fallen and some who are still in contention, and thoughts about Phil Hellmuth's karate-themed entrance. Plus, hear about highlights from Chris "Big Huni" Hunichen's epic 4th of July Party, recent bracelet winners such as Francis Anderson and Aditya Agarwal, and how two poker players were the victims of a vehicle smash-and-grab robbery. Owen then shares details about the WPT Global Preheat Festival, Dan Sepiol's win in the latest WPT Alpha8 Trifecta, and what's happening with The Lodge Card Room down in Texas. Finally, get an update on where things stand in the $25K Fantasy League, including a bracelet win by Wing Po Liu of Team Lady Gaga (Ren Lin), and a preview of Daniel Jungleman Cates on the Life Outside Poker Podcast. A new PokerNews Podcast will drop twice weekly during the 2024 WSOP every Tuesday and Friday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway on X. Time Stamps Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here! Share this article After 11 levels and 11 hours of play, Day 2 of Event #83: $1,500 Eight Game Mixed has finished. From the 103 players who started the day, just seven remain in contention for the bracelet and first-place prize of $131,061. Leading the way is John Racener with 3,929,000. Coming back in second is Josh Arieh with 2,732,000. Rounding out the podium is Maxx Coleman with 1,893,000. Josh Arieh A total of 494 players entered this years event, with 75 making the money and guaranteed a minimum cash of $3,000. End of Day 2 Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count 1 John Racener United States 3,929,000 2 Josh Arieh United States 2,732,000 3 Maxx Coleman United States 1,893,000 4 Marco Johnson United States 1,228,000 5 Garth Yettick United States 1,217,000 6 Xiaochuan Zhang China 740,000 7 John Cernuto United States 640,000 The Days Action With 103 players entering the day, the bustouts came fast at the start, with the bubble approaching before the first break of the day. The bubble burst during the first two hours of play, with Japans Masato Yokosawa having earned the unfortunate title of bubble boy. After the players were in the money, the eliminations came even faster than before. Some of the notables to hit the rail shortly after the bubble burst include Dylan Weisman (71st-$3,000), Jared Bleznick (64th-$3,000), and Jeff Madsen (55th-$3,000). Scott Seiver will not be winning his fourth bracelet of the summer after he exited in 39th place for $3,447. He got the last of chips in the middle in a hand of no-limit holdem but his ace-nine did not hold against the jack-seven suited of Qiang Xu. Scott Seiver Some more notable players fell next, including Robert Slezak (30th-$3,888), Matt Vengrin (13th-$6,628), and Viktor Blom (11th-$8,363). After the exits of Howard Plant, Jeff Kimber, and Joseph Heinzmann, the remaining seven players combined at a single table, and play continued for 30 minutes at a stacked final table before they bagged for the night. Remaining Payouts Place Prize 1 $131,061 2 $85,667 3 $57,249 4 $39,135 5 $27,379 6 $19,614 7 $14,397 Play resumes at 2 p.m. local time on July 9 in the Horseshoe Event Center in Level 27. Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of Event #83: $1,500 Eight Game Mix and all other events at the 2024 World Series of Poker. Welcome back to PokerNews, the official media partner of the 2024 World Series of Poker and home of live updates from all bracelet events. Today sees the start of Event #87: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed here at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Last years event attracted 813 entries generating a prize pool of $3,739,800. The winner was Alex Keating who defeated Guoliang Wei heads up to win $701,688 and his first WSOP bracelet. Year Entries Winner Country Payout 2023 813 Alex Keating United States $701,688 2022 573 Michael Wang United States $541,604 2021 531 Boris Kolev Bulgaria $511,184 2019 608 Carl Shaw United Kingdom $606,526 2018 518 Jeremy Wien United States $537,710 This two-day event gets underway at 2 p.m. local time with late registration open for 12 levels (~8:45 p.m.). This event allows for one reentry and there will be 15-minute breaks every four levels. The starting stack is 50,000 chips with the plan for Day 1 to play 20 30-minute levels. For the surviving players, Day 2 resumes at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, and plays down to a winner. Planning on playing this event? PokerNews activates MyStack for every WSOP event, regardless of that tournament's buy-in, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting MyStack is a free poker tool that puts you in control of your chip counts on our live reporting pages. Once you have created a free PokerNews account, you can use MyStack to update your chip counts in real time; hopefully, your stack will continue increasing throughout the event! Become a Bigger Part of the Action With MyStack Keep your browser pointed at PokerNews for updates throughout this and other bracelet events at the 2024 World Series of Poker. GREENVILLE Nearly a year after opening, Hotel Hartness is already earning international accolades. Hotel Hartness was crowned one of the best 100 hotels in the world on July 9, according to readers of the travel magazine Travel + Leisure. It is one of two hotels selected from South Carolina. The other is The Willcox in Aiken. Hotel Hartness, which opened in March 2023, ranked 24th in the world and fourth in the U.S. behind places such as The Ritz-Carlton in Doha, Qatar; Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno in Torroja del Priorat, Spain; and Pendry Newport Beach in Newport Beach, Calif. "We're very young in the life of the hotel," Albert Mertz, general manager, told the Post and Courier, "so this is really the beginning of a lot of great things to come." The travel magazine tallied over 700,000 votes for more than 8,700 international properties. Readers judged hotels across five categories, including rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value. The winning hotels were scored by their average ratings across the five categories. "Just about a year after opening its doors, this 73-suite, family-owned hotel in Greenville is now the No. 1 best resort in South Carolina," Travel + Leisure wrote in its description of the hotel. "Inspired by the design of the Hartness familys own home, the property is modern yet welcoming, featuring a full-service spa and two dining options." Hotel Hartness was one of three Greenville hotels nominated for the honor earlier this year, along with the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville and Hotel Domestique. July 8, 2024 Evening Post Publishing (Evening Post) recently discovered a data security event that may impact the confidentiality and security of information related to certain individuals. As we continue to work toward notifying potentially impacted individuals directly, we are providing information about the event, our response, and steps potentially impacted individuals can take to better protect against the possibility of identity theft and fraud, should they feel it is appropriate to do so. On March 20, 2024, Evening Post became aware of suspicious activity on our network. We immediately took steps to secure our environment and initiated an investigation into the nature and scope of the activity with the assistance of third-party forensic specialists. The investigation determined that our network was subject to unauthorized access between March 13 and March 20, 2024, and that certain files were acquired by an unknown actor while on the network. In response, Evening Post is undertaking a thorough review of the data determined to be at risk to assess the type of information at issue and to whom that information relates. Evening Post determined that some of the affected files contained sensitive information related to individuals. The type of information varies per individual but may include some or all of the following: name, Social Security number, date of birth, passport number, financial account information, credit card information, and drivers license number. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in our care is among our highest priorities. Upon discovering the incident, we immediately commenced an investigation to confirm its nature and scope. We also reported the event to law enforcement, and implemented additional safeguards related to data privacy and security. On July 8, 2024, Evening Post began mailing notification letters to individuals whose information may have been affected by the event and for whom it has a postal address. If you have questions, you can call our dedicated assistance line at 888-596-7098 which is available Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding major U.S. holidays. You can also write to us at Evening Post Publishing Inc., 148 Williman Street, Charleston, SC 29403. Steps You Can Take To Protect Personal Information Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report. Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended fraud alert on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumers credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumers credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumers identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below. As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a credit freeze on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumers express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumers name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information: Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state drivers license or ID card, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft. Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below: Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help 1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094 Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement. For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; (202) 442-9828; and oag.dc.gov. For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/. For Massachusetts Residents, Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it. For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit prescreened offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov. For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov. For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; www.riag.ri.gov; and 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event. Click here to download a PDF version of this notice. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-10 00:26:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1019 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with VACUUMSCHMELZE GmbH & Co. KG ("VAC"), which establishes a non-binding, non-exclusive, preliminary agreement, to jointly approach potential clients as a "mine-to-magnets" solution for ESG compliant permanent magnets (the "Preliminary Agreement").Aclara and VAC believe that there is a significant market opportunity driven by the rising demand for electric vehicles ("EVs"), wind turbines, and other clean technologies that require rare earth permanent magnets produced pursuant to ever-increasing ESG standards. Such permanent magnets require significant quantities of both light and heavy rare earth minerals. Currently, obtaining these rare earth mineral materials whilst also having the capacity to process them, combined with the industrial technology needed to fabricate permanent magnets, is very limited and concentrated among a few Asia-based suppliers. This supply/demand dynamics results in a promising background to develop a new, resilient, ESG-focused supply for permanent magnets.The strategic alliance between VAC and Aclara is unique due to Aclara being one of the very few potential suppliers of Dysprosium and Terbium, two highly coveted heavy rare earth minerals which are key in the production of permanent magnets and are not easily available outside of Asia. Aclara is currently developing two ionic clay projects, one in Chile and another in Brazil, for the production of a high-purity heavy rare earth carbonate. In addition, the Company is developing processing technology through its US-based subsidiary to be able to receive this carbonate and produce with it magnetic alloys. These alloys, in turn, are the key input required by VAC to produce permanent magnets.VAC is considered the largest producer of rare earths magnets outside of Asia, with more than 40 years of experience in magnet making technology. VAC, whose main permanent magnet facility is located in Hanau, Germany, recently executed a contract with General Motors (GM) to supply GM with permanent magnets by building a new magnets' plant in the State of South Carolina, United States.Accordingly, each of Aclara and VAC are strategically positioned to collaborate to build a reliable long-term solution to supply high-performance permanent magnets to power EV motors and other technologies for our global clients.Agreement Structure and Next StepsThe collaborative relationship between Aclara and VAC is not structured as a legal entity. Instead, each of the parties will engage in collaborative efforts, in a relationship characterized as (i) preferred supplier-purchaser and (ii) cooperation on marketing, customer relations, and related matters. Highlights of a number of the collaborative next steps include but are not limited to:VAC's intention to support the further development of Aclara's rare earth metals and alloys existing joint venture project with CAP S.A., by providing product specification requirements to produce the high-performance permanent magnets used in EVs;the intention of both parties to jointly analyze the mine to magnets cost structure to develop an optimal cost-effective solution for potential customers; andthe intention of both parties to jointly approach potential new customers and present them with a one-stop-shop' solution to secure geopolitically independent and ESG responsible permanent magnets.VAC's CEO, Erik Eschen, commented:"We are thrilled to announce the fortification of our partnership with Aclara, a frontrunner in the development of ionic clay mines in South America. This collaboration is aimed at streamlining the supply chain for rare earth elements, specifically Dysprosium and Terbium. These elements play a pivotal role in the decarbonisation of the transportation sector and the generation of renewable energy. By joining forces with Aclara, VAC is committed to tackling one of the most pressing issues of our era. Our joint efforts not only create value for our customers and shareholders but also contribute significantly to the well-being of our planet." Aclara's CEO, Ramon Barua, commented:"This strategic alliance is expected to offer great synergies to both Aclara and VAC as it combines a clean source of heavy rare earths with the technology needed to convert those resources into actual products. It is the first step towards solving a real need in the market, as the transition to electric vehicles requires new rare earths supply chains, which are currently not being addressed in a comprehensive manner. This strategic alliance will create value for VAC, Aclara, OEMs and for our planet, as we will be closer to achieving our climate change goals in a sustainable manner." About VACVACUUMSCHMELZE (VAC) is a leading global producer of advanced magnetic solutions, rare earth permanent magnets, and inductive components. With extensive application know-how and 100 years of experience in material science and product development, VAC designs and manufactures mission critical solutions for a wide variety of industries, including renewable energy, e-mobility, automotive, industrial automation, medical, aerospace and defense. VAC's unique ability to develop and manufacture from base elements through final products enables us to provide customers optimal form factors and performance, generating best in class efficient solutions in an environmentally conscious manner. More information is available at www.vacuumschmelze.com . VAC is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity firm that is decarbonizing the industrial economy.About AcaraAclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) is a development-stage company that is focused on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company's rare earth mineral resource development projects include the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile and the Carina Module in the State of Goias, Brazil.Aclara's rare earth extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. Circular mineral harvesting does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings and eliminates the need for a tailing's storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water treatment facility within its patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a common fertilizer main reagent, ammonium sulfate. In addition to the development of the Penco Module and the Carina Module, the Company will continue to identify and evaluate opp PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 15:46:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 453 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Leader in professional translation services notes that imprecise translation of sensitive documents can put national security at risk by creating misunderstandings of policies and methods.DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Businesses and government agencies in the defense sector work on a global stage and often need to translate highly sensitive and critical documents, such as operational manuals and confidential communications. ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc., a leader in professional document translation services, advises military agencies, defense contractors and other organizations that using AI translation services or unvetted translators could put national security at risk."Entrusting defense sector translations to AI tools or unverified freelancers poses significant risks. Subject matter expert translators are imperative to ensure precision and cultural sensitivity while safeguarding our national interests and the integrity of our defense operations," said Alain J. Roy, founder and CEO of ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc.Defense industry documents, including manuals, legal documents, and security clearances are highly technical, and every word matters. Generalist translators are insufficient for the task. ASTA-USA always uses translators with industry-specific knowledge, who can speak and write not only in the target language but in the specific terminology of the industry, allowing them to translate specialized defense documents in a source language with precision.When organizations in the defense sector need quick, professional translations, ASTA-USA can accommodate their urgent requirements while maintaining quality and confidentiality. ASTA-USA demonstrates its commitment to security by following the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, using secure and dedicated web servers, and conducting regularly scheduled confidentiality audits.With their international presence, defense organizations also must consider cultural sensitivities. AI and amateur translators lack an understanding of cultural and organizational nuance and can disrupt the planning and tone of the original document. ASTA-USA offers expert human translators who comprehend the culture of defense employees and can curate each document carefully with content localization to prevent cultural-centric errors.Since its inception in 1987, ASTA-USA has been instrumental in providing document translation services for organizations in specialized industries, including legal, medical, aerospace, and defense.To learn more about ASTA-USA and their experienced work for business, government, and non-profit organizations, visit https://asta-usa.com About ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc.Corporations and governments of all sizes rely on the expertise of ASTA-USA to translate their written materials and provide real-time, live human interpreting services. Since 1987, ASTA-USA has offered premium translations in over 70 languages for various industries using 700 primary certified language translators and native speakers with industry-specific knowledge and a network of more than 12,700 translators and linguists worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Asia, South America, Latin America, and Africa.Contact InformationAlain J. Royajroy@ asta-usa.com SOURCE: ASTA-USAView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 05:31:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 932 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Review Growth Index (RGI) by Doctor Marketing, MD releases the researched list of Top Rated Plastic Surgery Practices in San Antonio, Texas after detailed analysis of over 5,000+ online patient Google Reviews given to 93 medical practices.SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2024 / San Antonio has some of the best plastic surgeons in the Southwest. The Review Growth Index (RGI) by Doctor Marketing, MD has identified which San Antonio cosmetic practices made the list for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. After compiling and analyzing data from over 93 medical practices and 5,532 online Google Reviews, the top rated Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery Clinics in San Antonio stand out for their patient satisfaction rating and number of onlineGoogle reviews for doctors . The top ten surgical practices account for 3,342 Google Reviews and 60.41% percent of all plastic surgery reviews online for San Antonio plastic surgeons. With an average of over 334.2 patient reviews per practice, these surgeons display surgical excellence that sets them apart from the rest. San Antonio patients share their positive cosmetic experiences from the thousands of reviews. For those consumers who want top cosmetic enhancements in the San Antonio metropolitan area, these top practices represent the best of the best for San Antonio residents (San Antonians) to choose from.San Antonio's Top 10 Plastic Surgeons , the best-rated in San Antonio, Texas. There were twenty plastic surgeons from the Top 10 Plastic Surgery Practices in San Antonio for Q1 of 2024. Data was compiled by the Review Growth Index (RGI) and is based on the number of Google Reviews received as of 11/30/23. Image Credit: Respective San Antonio Plastic Surgeons. Illustration by: Doctor Marketing, MD."We've compiled extensive Google Review data from 93 plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgery practices in San Antonio, TX. The Top Rated Best Plastic Surgery Clinics in San Antonio are made up of 20 of the best San Antonio plastic surgeons that received a combined 3,342 patient reviews. Doctor Marketing, MD gives recognition to those San Antonio area medical practices and doctors for their achievements in generating the highest number of patient reviews and ratings based on patient satisfaction and quality of care," said Marty Stewart,Chief Marketing Officer(CMO) of Doctor Marketing, MD, a leadingdoctor marketingdigital agency that does content marketing for plastic surgeons, and the Review Growth Index (RGI).Top Ranked Plastic Surgeons and Cosmetic Practices in San Antonio, TexasHere are the top ranked best plastic surgeons in San Antonio, TX (based on number of patient Google Reviews):Plastic and Cosmetic Center of South Texas: 708 Reviews / 4.5 Rating-Dr. Thomas Jeneby-Dr. Agustin Cornejo-Dr. Paul Phillips-Dr. Ryan CouvillionAdvanced Aesthetics Lopez Plastic Surgery: 654 Reviews / 4.9 Rating-Dr. Manuel LopezSpa Black: 344 Reviews / 4.6 Rating-Dr. Thomas JenebyTexas Center for Facial Plastic and Laser Surgery: 340 Reviews / 4.7 Rating-Dr. Jose BarreraSan Antonio Cosmetic Surgery, PA: 244 Reviews / 4.8 Rating-Dr. Delio OrtegonDr. Constance Barone, MD, FACS: 226 Reviews / 4.4 Rating-Dr. Constance BaronePRMA Plastic Surgery: 225 Reviews / 4.9 Rating-Dr. Peter Ledoux-Dr. Steven Pisano-Dr. Chet Nastala-Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo-Dr. Gary Arishita-Dr. Oscar Ochoa-Dr. Lauren Whipple-Dr. Andrew Gassman-Dr. Anton FriesBaumholtz Plastic Surgery: 213 Reviews / 4.9 Rating-Dr. Michael BaumholtzAyala Plastic Surgery: 205 Reviews / 5 Rating-Dr. John AyalaAlamo Plastic Surgery: 183 Reviews / 4.9 Rating-Dr. William AlbrightReview Growth Index (RGI) List of Best Rated Plastic Surgeons in San Antonio, Texas for Q1 of 2024For the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, Google Review data was compiled through November 30th, 2023 to determine the top best rankings for San Antonio, Texas (TX).Here is the in-depth data snapshot of the Best San Antonio Plastic Surgeons compiled by the Doctor Marketing, MD Review Growth Index (RGI):96 total plastic surgeons and cosmetic practices in San Antonio, Texas were identified via Google My Business (GMB) profiles and Google Map listings for San Antonio.93 plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery practices / clinics remained after removing duplicates. (Note: Some doctors have both a private practice under their own name, and are part of a larger medical group under a practice name, and were listed twice, thus removed)5,532 total online Google Reviews for all San Antonio plastic surgeons as of 11/30/23.69 practices (74.20%) had at least 1 online review.27 practices (29.03%) had 0 online reviews.Average rating across all practices was 4.57 stars.59.48 was the average number of reviews per practice.Statistics Exclusively for the Top 10 San Antonio Practices:3,342 total reviews for the Top 10 combined.This was 60.41% of all reviews combined.334.2 was the average # of Google Reviews per practice in the Top 10.Star Ratings ranged from 4.4 to 5 stars, with the average being 4.76 stars.About The Review Growth Index (RGI)TheReview Growth Index (RGI) by Doctor Marketing, MD is an innovative metric designed specifically for the healthcare and medical industries, with current focus on the plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures sectors. It works by aggregating public data from major review platforms like Google Reviews to develop a comprehensive assessment of a doctor or surgeon's online reputation and performance.RGI analyzes the volume of patient reviews a surgeon receives, the star ratings given, and expressions of patient satisfaction. This provides prospective patients a reliable benchmark for choosing skilled, well-regarded doctors or surgeons with confidence.It also serves plastic surgeons by analyzing patient feedback patterns, enabling refinements to medical services and clinical approaches. Overall, RGI functions as an industry-specific gauge of excellence based on actual patient outcomes and experiences. Its insights help match discerning clients with surgeons delivering exceptional care and results.Prior curated lists of plastic surgeon reviews include the Top 10:Best Plastic Surgeons in Houston, TX ,Best Plastic Surgeons in New York, NY ,Best Plastic Surgeons in Chicago, IL , and theBest Plastic Surgeons in Phoenix, AZ .About Doctor Marketing, MDDoctor Marketing, MD is a toptop SEO marketing companyfor doctors, specializing in healthcare content creation, PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 07:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 932 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Axiom Life and Health Inc., based in Ottawa, Canada, has unveiled a strategic collaboration with Maximance 2030 LTD and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB) to deliver comprehensive health and financing solutions for community development projects.LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Julio Jose Montenegro, CEO of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), and Fernando Ferreira, CEO of Maximance 2030, have indicated that they are very pleased to partner with Axiom in providing essential health services and unlocking new financing opportunities for our development projects.This partnership merges Axiom's deep expertise in medical insurance with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD and BluegGrace Energy Bolivia's skill in public-private partnerships across diverse sectors, including healthcare.Key Collaboration Highlights:Innovative Financing: Axiom will leverage carbon credit securities as collateral, empowering Maximance 2030 and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia to obtain capital for community development projects.Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions: Maximance 2030 and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia will deploy Axiom's robust health insurance plan, Axiom Healthcare, within the communities they serve. This plan offers global access, zero-cost network coverage, and full medical expense coverage, including travel. Axiom will also develop tailored health solutions for each region.Equitable Profit Sharing: The partners will share the profits from the sale of carbon credit securities equally. Additionally, Axiom will collaborate with sponsors or self-finance premiums to reduce healthcare costs for the beneficiary communities."This collaboration combines Axiom's health expertise with the developmental insight of Maximance 2030 and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, creating a powerful value proposition for communities worldwide," said Amita Kochar, President and Founder of Axiom Life and Health Inc.As a first step following this announcement and during the inauguration of Expo Favela 2024 at the World Trade Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a meeting was held with the directors of CUFA & 4All (founders and partners of FBank) to discuss the potential development of private "Health Insurance" plans to be implemented with Bluegrace & FBank. These plans would be offered at an affordable price to each new customer who opens a checking account at FBank, leveraging CUFA's strong negotiating power with Brazil's official agencies. The model to be studied would be a public-private partnership (PPP), ensuring quality social insurance for FBank customers.Mr. Montenegro indicated that this initiative would be a milestone for social actions and a commercial success for FBank, whose motto is that social actions and donations go hand in hand with the profits of companies and donors.In this regard, Favela Holding and MAG Seguros have launched F Seguros, the first insurance company focused on Brazil's favela communities. This partnership combines Favela Holding's community expertise with MAG's multinational insurance experience. Helder Molina, CEO of MAG, emphasizes the importance of creating insurance tailored to the needs of favela residents. CUFA will be a social partner, training residents to become insurance brokers. F Seguros will offer life insurance, capitalization bonds, and funeral assistance nationwide.BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is in the early stages of negotiations with F Seguros to join this significant initiative.BGEB's collaborations are focused on empowering impoverished and indigenous communities around the globe through comprehensive social initiatives and sustainability, guided towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation which underscores the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish.As a registered issuer and observer of sustainable financial instruments with the Capital Market Association (ICMA) and recognized by the United Nations Global Compact, BGEB prioritizes authenticity and sustainability, ensuring the integrity of its carbon credits. In that regard, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, in partnership with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, had secured the approval of ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257 which facilitates the support of Forest Conservation Projects through equities, prioritizing due diligence to uphold the integrity of the carbon credits issued by the company.In recent months, BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA has forged agreements with various global companies, including Mbombo Investment Group (MIG), a leading consulting and impact investment firm that manages alternative asset classes, global markets, and a private investments with a network of investors from the US, EU, Israel, Brazil, and African countries, providing them with updated global business information,APRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., a Spain-based company dedicated to a fair and sustainable energy transition; PH Plus, a prominent leader in alkaline water production and distribution in the United States;Healthy Grains S.A. , a Guatemalan producer and exporter of nutrient-rich Seeds Like Hemp, Chia, and Flaxseed, and FRIGORIFICOS KOBEFOODS (KFK) a leading Peruvian entity championing the vegan movement in South America. These collaborations are expected to make substantial contributions toward achieving the sustainable development goals set for 2030.BGEB's journey inspires us all to take action, as together, we can address climate change and protect our planet for future generations.About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia:BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), a global consortium of experts in diverse areas, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Boasting decades of experience, our team is pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society Learn more at:Web: https://bluegracebolivia.com/ YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/1BGEB Instagram: http://tinyurl.com/0BGEB LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/56BGEB For further information, please contact:JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO jmontenegro@ bluegracebolivia.com +1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.) NELSON PINEDA MA PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 20:01:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 428 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Third-party benefits administrator Clarity Benefits Solutions launches its newly upgraded online implementation tool, crafted to streamline the onboarding process and effectively tackle the primary challenges faced by clients and brokers.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Clarity Benefit Solutions, a leading provider of employee benefit technology, is excited to announce the launch of its newly enhanced online implementation tool, designed to address key client and broker pain points and streamline the onboarding process for new clients."We are thrilled to offer this enhanced implementation tool to our clients," said Bill Catuzzi, founder and CEO of Clarity Benefit Solutions. "Simplifying what can be a very cumbersome process has always been our goal, and the updates made to this tool come directly from customer feedback. We beta-tested this tool with over 10 industry brokers to ensure it meets the highest standards of efficiency and user-friendliness. Our clients' needs are at the forefront of our innovation efforts, and this tool is a testament to our commitment to providing simply smarter benefit solutions." Key Benefits Include:Accelerated Implementations: Engineered to significantly speed up the implementation process, reducing the time required to get benefit plans up and running.Streamlined Plan Setup: Recommended plan details are auto-populated to help employers provide their employees with the best plan design available.Expert Assistance: Through the integrated chat feature, clients have instant access to expert advice and support at every step and real-time access to their dedicated implementation specialist.Customization Made Easy: Flexible customization options allow employers to create benefit plans that align perfectly with their unique requirements.User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive interface that makes navigation and usage a breeze for both seasoned HR professionals and those new to benefits administration.Clarity Benefit Solutions remains dedicated to providing innovative solutions that enhance the client experience. Our new online implementation tool is a testament to our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.About Clarity Benefit SolutionsClarity Benefit Solutions combines world-class customer service and technology that is unmatched in the industry today with a full suite of consumer benefits and benefit administration technology to ensure that people are ready for whatever comes their way. Clarity's goal is to use technology to simplify the administration of benefits, reduce costs and empower consumers. Clarity's simply smarter approach - fueled by feedback from employees and our customers - has led to thoughtful new ways for all of us to get the most out of our benefits.Contact Information:Krista WoolleyChief Marketing Officerkwoolley@ claritybenefitsolutions.com (732)-428-8263 ext. 166SOURCE: Clarity Benefit SolutionsView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 23:30:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 452 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR)(FRA:CKU)(OTCQB:CLRMF) announces that it has granted an aggregate of 2,000,000 incentive stock options to certain officers, employees and consultants of the Company, subject to regulatory approval. The stock options are exercisable at $0.055 for a period of 5 years from the grant date and subject to vesting terms.About Clean Air Metals Clean Air Metals is a development and exploration company advancing its flagship, 100% owned Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals ("TBN") project, 40 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The TBN project, accessible by road and next to established infrastructure, hosts two (2) deposits - the Current and Escape deposits, only 2.5 km apart. Together, the deposits host a 13.8 Mt indicated mineral resource containing 2.4M Pt eq. oz (Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Ontario Canada, NI43-101, SLR Consulting Canada Ltd, June 19, 2023) with significant potential for expansion down-plunge.One of the rare primary platinum resources outside of South Africa, the TBN project is in a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction and benefits from longstanding relationships with local First Nations. With its proven technical team, Clean Air Metals is committed to growing the resources at the TBN project and creating long-term value for shareholders.Social Engagement Clean Air Metals Inc. acknowledges that the Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals Project is located within the area encompassed by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850, and includes the territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band, Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek and Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek. Clean Air Metals also acknowledges the contributions of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Region 2 and the Red Sky Metis Independent Nation to the rich history of our area.The Company appreciates the opportunity to work in these territories and remains committed to the recognition and respect of those who have lived, traveled, and gathered on the lands since time immemorial. Clean Air Metals is committed to stewarding Indigenous heritage and remains committed to building, fostering and encouraging a respectful relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples based upon principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS"Mike Garbutt"Mike Garbutt, CEO of Clean Air Metals Inc.Connect with us on X/ Facebook/ Instagram.Visit www.cleanairmetals.ca for more information or contact:Mia Boiridy Director of Communications and Investor Relations250-575-3305 mboiridy@ cleanairmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Clean Air Metals, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 01:40:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 427 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ZUG, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2024 / Denario, a Swiss fintech leader in digital precious metals, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Inacta Ventures, a renowned Swiss and UAE Web3 venture builder. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in Denario's mission to provide innovative and accessible solutions for precious metals ownership.Revolutionizing Ownership through TokenizationThe partnership leverages Denario's expertise in digital precious metals and Inacta Ventures' leadership in Web3 technology. By combining innovative tokenization of real-world assets with access to Inacta's broad ecosystem, Denario aims to revolutionize the way people own precious metals.Expanding Global Reach and Accessibility"With this collaboration, we are pushing Denario on a global scale, giving people innovative access to precious metals," stated Thomas Winkler, Chairman of Denario. Denario offers a unique asset token providing exposure to physical silver and stability of value.Inacta Ventures' SupportRalf Glabischnig, Founder of Inacta Ventures, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to integrate Denario into our portfolio. This collaboration will accelerate the development and adoption of tokenized silver worldwide. Not only can we give Denario access to our ecosystems in the UAE and Switzerland, but we will also open access to the token via our platform Tokengate, which specializes in the tokenization of real-world assets." Tokengate, an Inacta venture, is at the forefront of asset tokenization in Switzerland. It will support Denario in launching silver coins on various blockchains and facilitating access through a customized application.About DenarioDenario is a Swiss Fintech leader in digital precious metals. Denario offers a unique asset token, fully backed by physical silver securely stored in Switzerland. One Denario Silver Coin (DSC) is backed by one ounce of silver granules.Each Denario token represents a digital twin of the underlying physical silver, providing investors with exposure to precious metals in a convenient and fractionalized form. Denario operates as a recognized security token, ensuring compliance with Swiss financial market regulations.About Inacta VenturesInacta Ventures is at the forefront of the WEB3 revolution, building on three key pillars: Ecosystem Development, Venture Building, and Smart Capital. As a leading venture builder and network enabler, we specialize in connecting startups and corporates to unlock the potential of WEB3 technologies. Based in the dynamic ecosystems of Crypto Valley in Switzerland and Crypto Oasis in UAE, we provide the essential resources and expertise to build, deploy, and scale breakthrough WEB3 products, enabling enterprises and our 100+ portfolio companies to unlock their potential.Media Enquiries:Tom Rieder, Inacta Ventures ( tom.rieder@inactaventures.ch Contact DetailsYonghan Lee, CEO, Denariolee@ denario.swiss SOURCE: Denario PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 15:04:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 486 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / District Fleet, LLC, a recognized leader in custom fleet management and advanced e-mobility solutions, is proud to announce its recent award of the NASPO ValuePoint contract for Electric Vehicle Charging Station Equipment. This prestigious contract enables District Fleet to offer cutting edge Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging stations, combined with customizable network, operation, and maintenance plans, that provide turn-key fleet management to state and local government, as well as educational entities, across the nation more efficiently and cost-effectively."This NASPO ValuePoint contract underscores our dedication to supporting sustainable transportation solutions," stated Dan MacDonald, President at District Fleet. "We are excited to work with NASPO ValuePoint, and public agencies across the country to expand access to reliable electric vehicle charging infrastructure." Currently, District fleet is an established GSA multiple award schedule (MAS) contract holder, along with a GSA EVSE BPA contract holder, supplying streamlined solutions to federal agencies. Now, with the NASPO contract in place, its entire portfolio of solutions is accessible to state and local government agencies, along with higher education institutions.State and local governments can now leverage District Fleet's streamlined access to high-quality electric vehicle charging equipment and services through seven of their EV charging station manufacturers (ABB, BTC Power, Enphase, EvoCharge, PowerCharge, Freewire and Tritium), via the NASPO ValuePoint cooperative contract, to address their specific EV charging needs, and fleet management challenges related to Electric Vehicle Charging Station Equipment and Services. As an EVSE concierge, District Fleet is committed to providing rapid response times, innovative and reliable hardware, software, and support services, aimed to meet the complex demands of public sector clients.The NASPO ValuePoint cooperative purchasing program streamlines the procurement process for participating governmental agencies, ensuring they receive the highest quality EV Charging Stations at the most competitive prices. The cooperative is highly regarded for its rigorous vendor selection process, focusing on quality, value, and compliance with stringent security and data protection standards.For a full list of available Electric Vehicle charging stations, network plans, and operation and maintenance support services, along with participating states, please visit District Fleet's NASPO ValuePoint page or www.districtfleet.com About NASPO ValuePoint: NASPO ValuePoint is the cooperative purchasing division of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), facilitating cooperative public procurement solicitations using a Lead State Model. NASPO aggregates the demand of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the US territories, their political subdivisions, and other eligible entities, spurring best value, innovation, and competition in the marketplace. NASPO ValuePoint delivers high-value, reliable, and competitively sourced cooperative contracts - offering public entities outstanding prices, favorable terms and conditions, and value-added services. Learn more at www.naspovaluepoint.org NASPO, NASPO ValuePoint, their logos, and Lead State Model are trademarks of the National Association of State Procurement Officials.Contact InformationIsabel VascoMarketing Directorisabel@ districtfleet.com 202-257-3797SOURCE: District Fleet, LLCView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 20:46:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 945 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Dr. Liesl Folks, former Provost at the University of Arizona, Discusses the Importance of Safety from Harassment on CampusLAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Safety from harassment is an imperative issue that impacts the academic and personal lives of students and staff alike. Dr. Liesl Folks, former provost at the University of Arizona, brings invaluable insights into the multifaceted aspects of campus environments, especially for women and minorities in STEM fields. Her vast experience in academia and industry underscores the need for effective strategies to create safer educational environments.In her compelling narrative, Dr. Folks highlights the pervasive and well-researched problem of gender bias and harassment in educational and professional settings. She underscores that girls and women are routinely educated on how to keep themselves "safe" from harassment and assault, and how to report it if it happens, yet they are seldom taught how to protect their career paths and leadership aspirations from the detrimental effects of such experiences."Women are not usually schooled in how to keep their career paths and leadership aspirations intact while also keeping themselves 'safe' from sexual harassment in the workplace," Dr. Folks notes.The impact is profound and often results in women taking non-linear, circuitous routes toward their career goals-essentially climbing fire escapes while their male counterparts ride the elevators of success smoothly to the top.The Cost of SafetyDr. Folks raises an important question about the broader societal and economic costs of the myriad decisions women make to stay safe from sexual harassment. These decisions often involve avoiding or leaving workplaces, roles, or career paths that they see could expose them to workplace harassment. Women who actually experience sexual harassment in the workplace can suffer real harm to their career paths. Institutions, academic and industrial, are frequently ill-equipped to deal with the harassment in ways that preserve the woman's career trajectory. But added to these costs are those arising from the decisions women make to avoid known harassers, which also may cost them academic progress or career advancement.These decisions, made by individuals to keep themselves physically safe from harassment, too often result in lost opportunities for career advancement and financial gains."What is the additional cost to individuals and to society of the myriad decisions that women must make to simply keep 'safe' while also making their way in the working world?" she asks.Research indicates that women in STEM earn about 74% of what men earn, and they are less likely to achieve leadership roles. This gap is not solely due to caregiving responsibilities or overt gender bias, but also because of the subtle, yet constant, need for women to avoid unsafe environments.Dr. Folks shares her personal experiences and the stories of many others to illustrate the real-world impact of these issues. For instance, during her time as a first-year university student, she had to avoid a "handsy" lab instructor, which led her to forgo an entire field of study. Similarly, discussions with women undergraduate engineering students revealed that all had experienced some form of bias, discrimination, or harassment, adversely affecting their career paths by age 22."Every single woman I spoke with could recount a time when they had made an academic or career decision to keep themselves safe from a physical threat from a male colleague or more powerful figure, rather than because it was the optimal career choice," Dr. Folks recounts.Structural Change and Training ProgramsTo help address these systemic issues, Dr. Folks and her colleagues have developed training programs for women in STEM. These programs aim to equip them with strategies to navigate past career barriers created by gender bias, discrimination, and harassment."Informed of these experiences, my colleagues and I have developed a training program for women STEM graduate students to provide them with strategies for navigating past career barriers created by gender bias, discrimination and harassment." The goal is to enable women to protect both their physical safety and their career trajectories.The presence of even a few predators in the workplace can have a significant impact on many women's careers. Dr. Folks proposes assessing the lost value to society resulting from women avoiding career paths due to harassment. This includes not only lost earnings but also the untapped potential and innovation that these women could have brought to their fields."It's time to ask - could we assess the lost value to society of the myriad career paths not taken, and the lost earnings, that have resulted from women avoiding sexual harassment in the workplace?"About Dr. Liesl FolksDr. Liesl Folks is a high-profile leader in both academia and industry. At the University of Arizona, she has served as the Vice President for Semiconductor Strategy and as provost, and is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her career has spanned roles in major companies like IBM and Western Digital, and she holds numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. A committed advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Folks has significantly contributed to fostering these values in educational institutions and professional settings.Campus safety is not just about preventing physical harm; it's also about creating an environment where everyone can pursue their educational and career goals without the fear of harassment or discrimination. Dr. Liesl Folks' insights highlight the need for structural changes to ensure that all students and professionals can thrive. By addressing these issues, we can unlock the full potential of every individual and, in turn, benefit society as a whole.Contact:Dr. Liesl Folks drlieslfolks@ mail.com SOURCE: Liesl Folks PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 15:06:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 932 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 /ETHOS Event Collective, a leading destination management company, announces the launch of the Passion Project Initiative, a unique program in the industry that connects its clients with charitable organizations in the communities they serve. In addition, ETHOS has committed to supporting the initiative by giving back 1% of program profits to those charities.The idea is aligned with ETHOS' core philosophy of Purposeful Planning, which states that successful event design and execution depend upon understanding and integrating clients' and communities' unique characteristics and goals, fostering meaningful connections and positive change.ETHOS Event Collective crafts unforgettable corporate experiences that reflect their clients' unique essence and aspirations. Founded in 2021 by a team with decades of experience in destination management, ETHOS Event Collective was born out of a desire to elevate the industry's potential for positive impact.With a team of approximately 70 passionate individuals, ETHOS Event Collective has established itself as a leader in destination management, guided by the ethos of Purposeful Planning. This approach goes beyond traditional event logistics, delving deep into understanding how a program can be a catalyst for social and economic growth within each destination served."At ETHOS, we believe that destination management is not just about coordinating events; it's about creating meaningful experiences that leave a lasting impact," says Joe Fijol, Founder and Principal of ETHOS Event Collective. "Purposeful Planning is at the heart of everything we do, driving our commitment to excellence and social responsibility." Introducing the Passion Project InitiativeDriven by a commitment to using business as a force for good, ETHOS Event Collective is thrilled to unveil the Passion Project Initiative across Amelia Island, Orlando, Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, Savannah, Las Vegas, Napa + Sonoma, Monterey Peninsula, San Francisco, and Grand Cayman. This initiative connects its clients with four local nonprofit organizations and four national organizations, providing diverse volunteering opportunities for attendees. Each team member will also participate in quarterly volunteering projects, reinforcing its year-round commitment to community support.The Passion Project Initiative ensures that when clients embark on a journey with ETHOS Event Collective, their experience transcends the traditional event experience. Attendees can enjoy a delightful destination through unique opportunities that contribute positively and forge meaningful connections.To facilitate the launch of the Passion Project Initiative, ETHOS has implemented a philanthropy department this year within its marketing team. Lexi Matias and Raquel Santo lead this initiative, fostering deeper connections within the community.Over the past year, the team has meticulously vetted each organization in the Passion Project Initiative to ensure alignment with ETHOS' core values of people-first approaches, transparency, and impactful missions. This thorough vetting guarantees that clients can get involved with authentic opportunities to make meaningful, lasting contributions to the community.Moreover, ETHOS has committed to giving back 1% of profits annually to the organizations they work with throughout the year."In our dedication to destination management, ETHOS Event Collective prioritizes collaboration with local nonprofits to create authentic and impactful client experiences," says Lexi Matias. "By investing in local communities and promoting sustainable practices, we aim to leave a positive legacy in every destination," adds Matias.In Q1 and Q2 of 2024, the ETHOS Event Collective team has made a significant impact through various internal giveback opportunities. Their employees have actively participated in numerous community service projects, dedicating their time and skills to supporting local organizations.So far, the team has collectively donated 226 hours to various organizations, showcasing this organization's dedication to making a meaningful difference.A Team Dedicated to Purposeful PlanningCrucial to the success of ETHOS's Purposeful Planning approach is its team of dedicated professionals who embody the company's core values. Through a rigorous recruitment process, ETHOS ensures that its employees share a commitment to excellence, empathy, and cultural sensitivity, further enriching the client experience."As pioneers in destination management, we empower our team to 'live their ETHOS' by embracing each destination's unique characteristics and aspirations," remarks Raquel Santo. "By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, we strive to set new standards for excellence in the industry." Furthermore, ETHOS leverages technology, research, and measurement through strategic partnerships with the ROI Institute and the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF). ETHOS combines industry-leading expertise with data-driven insights to maximize ROI and deliver unparalleled value to clients.This year, the IRF honored Joe Fijol with the Volunteer of the Year Award. "Joe's unwavering dedication and impactful contributions have significantly advanced our initiatives and set a remarkable standard for volunteerism," said Stephanie Harris, President of the Incentive Research Foundation.This recognition highlights ETHOS Event Collective's commitment to making a positive impact on the incentives industry through its initiatives. By harnessing the power of advanced analytics and destination-specific knowledge, ETHOS empowers clients to make informed decisions and achieve their business objectives with precision and efficiency.As ETHOS Event Collective continues to redefine destination management through Purposeful Planning, it invites businesses and individuals alike to join the journey toward more meaningful and impactful events. ETHOS demonstrates that destination management can be a powerful catalyst for positive change in today's dynamic world by prioritizing purpose alongside profit.To learn more about how ETHOS can elevate your next event and drive meaningful results, visit their website.About ETHOS Event Collective:ETHOS Event Collectiv e is a premier event management company known for crafting unforgettable experiences in Amelia Island, Orlando, Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, Savannah, Las Vegas, Napa + Sonoma, Monterey Peninsula, San Francisco, and Grand Cayman. With a dedicated team of event specialists, they curate bespoke gatherings that reflect their clients' unique essence and aspirations. From conceptualization PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 16:00:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 414 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 New sustainability consulting firm accelerates transition to a regenerative future for business and societyATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / The thriving businesses of tomorrow will be those that invest in creating positive, lasting societal change. The newly formed Impact Pathways Inc., led by co-founders Chris Hagler and Sheffield Goodrich, will provide evidence-based advice to help these businesses navigate and shape their industries, and catalyze solutions for sustainability.The global consulting firm will focus on empowering organizations to create value for society while building resilience and value for their business. Impact Pathways' work will help organizations of all sizes and public and private investors be better prepared to set, monitor, and achieve their sustainability ambitions while creating and protecting financial value."I have repeatedly witnessed organizations' frustration with the traditional rinse-and-repeat consulting model," explains Chris Hagler, Co-Founder. "Companies that want to make a difference need agile, intentional solutions that support the sustainability ecosystem and tailor to their business model. Impact Pathways is uniquely positioned to focus on that impact for our clients and society." The Impact Pathways team blends deep expertise from corporates, startups, and leading financial services firms. Hagler and Goodrich themselves have collaborated for more than 12 years building sustainability practices, initially at EY and most recently at Independence Point Advisors. The team has decades of experience in sustainability consulting and shares an ambition of helping clients drive sustainable outcomes and a passion for collaborating to solve environmental and social challenges."We have assembled an incredible team," adds Sheffield Goodrich, Co-Founder. "Impact Pathways is a home for the next generation of consultants who are passionate about creating meaningful impact in the pursuit of a regenerative future." Hagler and Goodrich describe the inspiration behind Impact Pathways as the approach to working with our clients. "As our company name indicates, we will clarify and focus on our client's business and societal goals," explains Hagler. "Then help them develop strategies, actions, and measurement tools to achieve their intended outcomes." "It is about enabling businesses to make a difference while being successful," confirms Goodrich. "These companies are trying to determine how to accelerate the transition to a regenerative future, and we will be there to make that happen." To learn more about Impact Pathways Inc., a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation, visit their website www.impactpathways.com and connect on LinkedIn.Contact InformationMcKenna Barney, Associate Director McKenna.Barney@impactpathways.com SOURCE: Impact Pathways PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 17:30:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 550 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC, a brand-new real estate company, is set to launch in Dubai by the end of August. Green Aventurine Holdings has launched yet another exciting start-up. The company's founders, HH Shaikha Jawaher Khalifa Al Khalifa and Shahzad Faisal, along with Ms Jaya Tekwani, are thrilled with the opportunity to join the bustling Dubai real estate market.Real Estate Market in Dubai: Opportunities and Insights:There is no doubt that Dubai is a city on the rise. Dubai's real estate market is booming because of its breathtaking skyline, luxurious lifestyle, and bustling economy. The city offers endless opportunities for both investors and homeowners. People from all corners of the globe are eager to invest in or buy real estate in Dubai because of its cutting-edge infrastructure, top-of-the-line amenities, and tax-free environment.In a recent publication, "Foreign Investment in the Dubai Housing Market, 2020-2024," some fascinating insights are provided. About 43% of the total value of residential property in Dubai is owned by foreigners. The value of foreign-owned residential real estate surged by approximately $23 billion between 2020 and early 2022. One notable trend is the significant growth in Russian investment in Dubai properties following the invasion of Ukraine. According to estimates, Russians have spent $2.4 billion on existing properties and $3.9 billion on new developments.Meet the Team: Visionaries and LeadersGreen Aventurine Holdings' founders, HH Shaikha Jawaher Khalifa Al Khalifa and Shahzad Faisal, are the visionaries behind Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC. With a strong reputation for creating successful start-ups across several industries, their expertise now focuses on Dubai's real estate market.Jaya Tekwani, a seasoned real estate expert with over a decade of experience in the local market in Dubai, joins the team. She will lead the company's sales team and manage operations to ensure its clients receive top-notch service. With her extensive knowledge and understanding of Dubai's real estate landscape, she is a perfect leader for the company.Formal Launch EventThe official launch of Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC will be a grand event held at the end of August. Many distinguished guests, including members of the Royal Family, will attend the event. The celebration marks the beginning of a new chapter in Dubai's real estate market, as Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC strives to set new standards.About Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLCInfinite Inspire Real Estate LLC offers a wide range of real estate services in Dubai, including buying, selling, and renting properties. A company aims to provide clients with personalized solutions that meet their unique needs. With a commitment to excellence and a customer-first approach, Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC hopes to become a leading player in Dubai's real estate market.Join Us on Social MediaPlease stay connected with Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC by following us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Please find the latest updates on our properties, market trends, and company news.Instagram: @ infiniteinspire.co LinkedIn: Infinite Inspire Real EstateFor more information, visit our website at www.infiniteinspire.co Let's transform Dubai's real estate market together. We are here to inspire and lead you to a brighter, more prosperous real estate future with Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC.Media Details Company Name: Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLCEmail: info@ infiniteinspire.co SOURCE: Infinite Inspire Real Estate LLC A hunter who shot and killed a protected grizzly bear near St. Maries, Idaho, in early June had doubts before pulling the trigger but was assured by Idaho Fish and Game officials his target was legal. The agency said in a news release posted to its website that the hunter recorded video of the bear at a bait site two days before the incident. He sent it to the agency and told officials there he was concerned it might be a grizzly. According to the news release, the agency misidentified the young bear as a black bear because it lacked some common features of a grizzly, and shared that misidentification with the hunter. Grizzly bears are protected as threatened species in Idaho and the rest of the Lower 48 States. Unlike black bears, grizzlies cant be hunted. The incident took place June 10 about 5 miles outside of St. Maries in northern Idaho. The agency issued a news release June 14 saying the hunter shot the bear in a place where grizzlies are not expected to be, self-reported and because of his cooperation would not be cited. But the release omitted the agencys role in the animal being misidentified as a black bear. The agency announced in a second news release that the investigation was finished and included its role in the incident. T.J. Ross, spokesperson for the agency at Coeur dAlene, said the agency typically gathers all of the information and waits for an investigation to conclude before issuing a news release. In this case, Ross said there was a desire to let the public know the incident happened and it chose to issue an initial news release. Its a tough spot when the incident occurs and there is a time gap when the report is put together and summarized and conversations are had that need to happen, he said. It was more a desire to get the information out that this did happen. The area around Saint Maries and the lower St. Joe River is rural and heavily timbered, but it is not a spot grizzly bears are known to frequent. There are small grizzly bear populations in the Cabinet Mountains northeast of Sandpoint and in the Selkirk Mountains north of Sandpoint. Young grizzly bears, especially males, sometimes disperse from established populations and seek out new territory. They have been observed in the Clearwater and upper Salmon River regions of the state in the past several years. Some conservation groups have been critical of the department for allowing black bear hunters to use bait in areas where grizzlies may be present and for not requiring hunters to complete a simple online bear identification test. Jeff Juel of the Friends of the Clearwater said despite the agencys role, the hunter should not be absolved of responsibility. That hunter violated the No. 1 tenet of ethical hunting, which is know your target and nothing the state said took that responsibility from him, he said. If the state did not make that abundantly clear to the hunter, then the state is culpable for the death of the grizzly bear. The agencys news release that includes two videos of the bear, as well as bear identification tips is posted at bit.ly/4eurEQ2. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 15:30:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 769 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 AACHEN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / INFORM, a leading global software provider specializing in AI-driven optimization solutions for aviation ground operations, provides Talma, a leading company in airport services in Latin America, with ground handling optimization software solutions at airports Talma serves in Colombia.Talma is rolling out the initial installation of INFORM's GroundStar (GS) Planning and GS WorkforcePlus, at its operations center at the Bogota airport, later expanding the GroundStar solutions to the main airports they operate, such as Cali, Medellin, and Cartagena. The ability of GroundStar to streamline data processing times to perform resource planning and scheduling will impact Talma's more than 3,500 ground-handling employees at the Colombian sites."We are excited to be working with Talma to support their resource planning goals," said Uschi Schulte-Sasse, Senior Vice President of INFORM Aviation. "We see this endeavor as a true partnership that will empower Talma to solve some of their most pressing challenges. We are proud to enable a fully localized implementation and support through INFORM's office based in Santiago de Chile." GroundStar Planning and GroundStar WorkforcePlus enable Optimization of ResourcesGS Planning optimizes ground handling staff and equipment, stands, and terminal resources across all phases - from planning to analytics. GS WorkforcePlus is an innovative workforce management software that facilitates schedule adjustments and shift swaps to balance employees' personal needs with profitability and quality of service while ensuring legal compliance.Furthermore , GS WorkforcePlus improves the well-being of workers by using an adequate shift schedule, in compliance with regulations and fatigue management."We are very enthusiastic about this project with one of the main ground handlers in the region. During the pilot phase and the implementation, we saw a team with huge commitment and willingness to implement two of the main modules of GroundStar in a highly professional way. We are looking forward to extending our collaboration in the future," explains Federico dos Reis, CEO of INFORM Latin America SSC. "In the coming years, operations in Colombia will be challenging due to the implementation of labor changes that will add complexity to the roster creation. This complexity brings new challenges that GS WorkforcePlus will support implementing in an efficient way," adds dos Reis."Proof of concept testing in tandem with INFORM was an ideal way to analyze the functionality and adaptability of these systems and made it highly transparent that Talma would greatly benefit from greater efficiency in resource planning," said Alejandro Molina V, Talma Commercial and Project Manager. "Among the goals we plan to achieve are resource optimization to realize projected savings and the ability to integrate existing technological tools to avoid manual data management," he added.About INFORMINFORM develops software to optimize business processes using artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced mathematics of Operations Research. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Aachen, Germany, the company promotes sustainable value creation in various industries through optimized decision-making. Its solutions are tailored to specific industry requirements and help over 1,000 current customers worldwide to operate more resiliently and sustainably with greater success. INFORM's systems serve a range of industries including aviation, automotive, financial institutions, logistics, manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, and wholesale. The company is committed to ethical AI practices, sustainable customer relations and is increasingly focusing on cloud-based solutions. www.inform-software.com About GroundStarWith GroundStar, INFORM offers the most comprehensive software suite for the optimization of aviation processes currently on the market. It fulfills all requirements of the companies involved in airline and airport operations and covers a wide range of solutions, such as Ground Handling, Aircraft Engineering, Airport Operations, and Hub and Turnaround Management. GroundStar helps customers to run their operations smoothly and cost-effectively while improving punctuality and passenger satisfaction at the same time. INFORM has been developing scientifically substantiated optimization algorithms for this purpose. As a global leader with over 200 installations in more than 170 airports worldwide INFORM has proven its effective and long-term capacity for innovation.About TalmaTalma has 10,000 highly skilled employees, operating in 20 airports in Peru, 3 cities in Mexico, 7 airports in Ecuador, and 20 airports in Colombia. They annually serve more than 280,000 flights and handle over 300,000 metric tons of air cargo. The company is constantly evolving, always seeking to implement new technologies, processes, and certifications that contribute to positioning itself as one of the leading companies in its field in Latin America. www.talma.com.co Press ContactsAlexander Jatscha-ZeltTel.: +49 (0) 151-17159-505Sabine WalterTel.: +49 (0) 2408-9456-1233Corporate CommunicationsE-Mail:pressoffice@ inform-software.com About GroundStarAviationSandra GaviriaPhone: +49 (0)2408 9456 3024Mail: Sandra.Gaviria@inform-software.com US Media ContactDawn FontaineRipple Effect Communications+1-617-536-8887Mail: dawn@ rippleeffectpr.com SOURCE: INFORM GmbH PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 02:45:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 394 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 12, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW), if they purchased the Company's shares between July 25, 2023 and April 3, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Lamb Weston and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lw/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byAugust 12, 2024 .About the LawsuitLamb Weston and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On April 4, 2024, the Company disclosed that it had experienced significant problems with its transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") software system, which caused the Company to lose $135 million in sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and necessitated a $330 million reduction to its sales guidance for the full fiscal year.On this news, the price of Lamb Weston's shares fell by $19.59 per share, or over 19%.The case is Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund v. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., No. 24-cv-282.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 18:17:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 336 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (Lurie Children's) has disclosed a data breach affecting personal information of its patients and other individuals. The breach impacted over 791,000 individuals, exposing sensitive personal information including full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance information and medical information.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Compensation may be available for Lurie Children's patients and individuals who received notice that their personal information was impacted by the data breach.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION? Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers break into networks to steal your personal information to sell it on the dark web or commit identity theft, financial theft, or other frauds. The company may be liable for failing to secure your privacy.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Lurie Children's, you are affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:ABOUT LEVI & KORSINSKYLevi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 20:00:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 475 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2024 / LIVV is the newest contender in the world of luxury wellness. It is a cutting-edge wellness center founded by Dr. Jay and supported by his professional team. With their exceptional and customized treatments, they are on their way to set a new benchmark for premium health services. Their latest offering - an $85,000 membership - is making waves in the industry by being a competitor of top-tier $40,000 membership.Getting down to brass tacks,LIVV'sambitious offering is a comprehensive approach to health and wellness that goes far beyond traditional spa services or gym amenities. Housed in a state-of-the-art 5,000-square-foot facility in San Diego, LIVV presents a healthy fusion of naturopathic medicine, advanced therapies, and luxury hospitality."Everything we do at LIVV is with the intention of opening up pathways to allow you to experience your life to the fullest," explains Dr. Jay. This philosophy is evident in the center's wide array of services, which include naturopathic treatments, IV therapy, aesthetic procedures, and performance optimization programs.What sets LIVV apart from its competitors is its highly personalized approach to health care. Each member is assigned a dedicated patient care coordinator who manages their entire healthcare journey. This hands-on support ensures that treatment protocols are followed meticulously, appointments are never missed, and prescriptions are always up to date, leading to more consistent and faster results.The $85k membership also grants access to a range of other services, including hormone therapy, autoimmune disease management, anti-aging treatments, and both men's and women's wellness programs. LIVV's goal is to address not just symptoms but to optimize overall health and vitality.As LIVV prepares to expand its presence to other major cities, it's clear that Dr. Phan and his team are aiming to redefine the concept of luxury wellness. Their $85k membership represents not just a premium price point, but a comprehensive investment in long-term health and vitality.Critics may question the high cost, but for those who view health as the ultimate luxury, LIVV's offering presents a valuable option. It represents a shift in how people value their wellbeing, treating health as a long-term investment rather than a discretionary expense.What's clear is that LIVV is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the realm of health optimization. By combining cutting-edge treatments, personalized care, and a luxury experience, LIVV is not just competing with established players - it's creating a new category in the world of wellness.As health-conscious consumers increasingly seek out comprehensive, personalized wellness solutions, LIVV's bold offering may well be a glimpse into the future of luxury health care. In a world where health is increasingly recognized as true wealth, LIVV is betting that there's a market with premium healthcare options for those willing to invest heavily in their wellbeing.Media Contact:Name: Dr. Jason phanEmail: livv@ livvnatural.com SOURCE: LIVV Natural PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 14:01:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 489 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SPARKS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Ludwig Enterprises, Inc, (OTC PINK:LUDG), a USA based biotechnology company is pleased to announce that the company has filed a provisional patent titled "mRNAs DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED IN COLORECTAL CANCER, BREAST CANCER, AND BLADDER CANCER." The present invention generally relates to the use of mRNA genetic transcripts to (a) identify and differentiate between cancers, and (b) determine the effectiveness of a treatment for a cancer.The mRNA biomarkers uncovered by Ludwig are a sensitive dynamic genetic signal associated with cancer that opens the door for the company to participate in the emerging billion dollar diagnostic cancer screening market."Ludwig has uncovered game-changing mRNA-based genetic signals associated with the presence of cancer," stated Marvin S. Hausman MD, CEO. "The Company continues to collect mRNA samples from over 40 multipurpose medical clinics throughout the United States. Our proprietary machine learning AI technology allows contiuous statistical updates as additional patient data is received." Noninvasive buccal or cheek cells are easily collected using cotton tipped swabs and the cells are analyzed for levels of mRNA biomarkers, a dynamic signal associated with inflammatory diseases, such as cancer. Director of Data Sciences at Nike Inc., Dr. Kyle Ambert PhD, using machine learning artificial intelligence (AI) assisted Ludwig in the development of these dynamic sensitive signals from mRNA data contained in cheek cells. Machine learning, as used is a statistical technique for fitting models to healthcare data and to continually learn and update' by training models with patient data.About Ludwig Enterprises, Inc.Ludwig Enterprises, Inc., a biotech and healthcare holding company, is a global leader in mRNA genomics and machine learning AI technology. Our mission is to identify, monitor and create solutions to prevent chronic inflammation, the causative agent of illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, which are responsible for more than 50% of deaths worldwide.For more information please visit: http://www.ludwigent.com SAFE HARBORForward-looking statements in this release are made under the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Ludwig Enterprises Inc.'s forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance. This news release includes forward-looking statements concerning the future level of business for the parties. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements due to certain risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from estimated results. Management cautions that all statements as to future results of operations are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and events that may be beyond the control of Ludwig Enterprises, Inc., and no assurance can be given that such results will be achieved. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to procure, appropriately price, retain, and complete projects and changes in products and competition.CONTACT:Ludwig Enterprises, Inc.Marvin S. Hausman MD, CEOmarvin@ ludwigent.com SOURCE: Ludwig Enterprises, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 04:35:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 936 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Many patients turn to Dr. Brandon Richland, MD, an expert board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, to correct botched or unsatisfactory results from previous cosmetic surgeries gone wrong that were performed by other surgeons. Dr. Richland restores patient confidence and helps them achieve their originally desired aesthetic outcomes.LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2024 / Everyone makes mistakes, but when it comes to plastic surgery, these mistakes can be especially devastating.Corrective plastic surgeryaddresses and fixes the errors made by previous surgeons, offering patients a chance to achieve their desired results. A specialist in revision surgery like Dr. Brandon Richland, MD, is adept at identifying what went wrong and how to effectively rectify it. By consulting with a board-certified, decades-plus experienced reconstructive surgical expert that patients routinely go to for corrections to previous surgeries performed by past surgeons, patients can regain their confidence and improve their appearance. Understanding the complexities of corrective plastic surgery and the surgeons' expertise can help potential patients feel more at ease and achieve thebest plastic surgeryoutcome.By selecting the right plastic surgeon at the start, will help patients avoid having to redo initial cosmetic procedures that went wrong. Image Credit: Estradaanton / 123RF. "In my Newport Beach surgical practice, I specialize in corrective procedures for patients who are dissatisfied with the results of previous cosmetic surgeries. Often, these patients prefer never to return to the original surgeon, who the patient feels, botched their initial procedure. My focus is on meticulously addressing and fixing these issues and concerns to achieve the look they originally wanted. By delivering the desired outcomes, I help restore their trust, ultimately boosting their self-esteem and enhancing both their appearance and confidence," said Dr. Brandon Richland, MD, Board-CertifiedNewport Beach Plastic Surgeon .Dr. Richland operates a well-known and respectedNewport Beach Plastic Surgeryclinic and luxuryNewport Beach MedSpaserving patients in theOrange County/ Southern California area. Specializing in most cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, as well as med spa services, he is dedicated to helping both women and men look and feel their absolute best. Readplastic surgery reviewsof patient experiences with Dr. Richland.Understanding the Differences Between Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic SurgeryPlastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic andreconstructive procedures , with each serving distinct purposes. Cosmetic surgery focuses on enhancing appearance. Patients seek these procedures to improve aesthetic aspects such as facial features, body contours, or skin texture. Commoncosmetic surgeriesinclude facelifts, liposuction, and breast augmentation. Reconstructive surgery, on the other hand, aims to restore function and normal appearance after illness or injury. This includes surgeries likebreast reconstruction post-mastectomy , cleft palate repair, or trauma-induced facial repairs.Understanding the differences between cosmetic and reconstructive procedures helps patients choose the right approach for their needs. Plastic surgeons trained in both areas can offer comprehensive care tailored to each situation.The Role of Board Certification for Surgeons in Plastic SurgeryBoard certification is a crucial credential for any practicing plastic surgeon. The importance ofboard certificationby The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) ensures patients receive competent care from qualified surgical professionals. Certified surgeons have demonstrated knowledge, professionalism, and skill in their field. They undergo rigorous training and examinations.Selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon significantly reduces the risk of complications and ensures adherence to high standards of medical practice. Patients can trust certified professionals to handle complex cases, including surgeries to correct previous mistakes. Therefore, verifying the certification status of a plastic surgeon is an essential step before undergoing any procedure. Not only does it guarantee technical proficiency, but it also ensures the surgeon's commitment to ongoing education and ethical practice.When Surgery Doesn't Go as Planned: Recognizing Bad Plastic SurgeryPlastic surgery can sometimes yield unsatisfactory results due to various factors, leading patients to seek corrective measures. Recognizing"bad" plastic surgeryis the first step toward corrective action. Common signs include asymmetry, where one side of the face or body does not match the other, and excessive scarring that may indicate poor healing.Patients might notice irregularities in the skin's texture or unnatural shapes that weren't a part of the initial plan. Increased pain orprolonged swellingcould also be a red flag. If a patient begins experiencing nerve damage, it often manifests as numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the affected area. Bad plastic surgery can not only affect physical appearance but also mental well-being, causing emotional distress. Patients should document these adverse results and seek a consultation with anexperienced surgeonfor a thorough assessment.Common Surgical Errors and ComplicationsSeveral common surgical errors and complications can contribute to unsatisfactory results. One significant issue is incorrect incision placement, leading to more visible and excessive scarring. Blood clots are another serious complication that can arise, requiring immediate medical attention. Necrosis, or tissue death, can occur if blood supply to the area is compromised during surgery. This is particularly risky in facial surgeries, where even small areas of necrosis can be highly noticeable. Mistakes during surgery can sometimes cause nerve damage that might be temporary or permanent.Proper post-operative care is crucial for the healing process. Ignoring signs of infection or failing to follow the surgeon's guidelines can exacerbate complications. Patients need to understand these risks and collaborate closely with their healthcare providers to mitigate them.8 Common Plastic Surgeries That Need Correcting When Done WrongPlastic surgery revisions, or corrective plastic surgery, can be necessary for various reasons, such as aesthetic dissatisfaction, complications, or unmet expectations. Below are some common plastic surgeries that often require correction.1. Breast Augmentation RevisionBreast augmentation revisionis often needed if there are issues like asymmetry, implant malposition, capsular contracture, or dissatisfaction with size and shape. Surgeons address these by repositioning or replacing implants, correcting capsule iss PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 22:25:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 848 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / NextSource Materials Inc. (TSX:NEXT)(OTCQB:NSRCF) ("NextSource" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Jaco Crouse as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company as part of its global growth strategy.Mr. Crouse today replaces Marc Johnson who has served as CFO since October 2015. Mr. Johnson will continue to provide consulting services to the Company to assist with the smooth transition of this role. The Board of Directors of the Company would like to thank Mr. Johnson for his service to the Company over the years and wishes him well in his future endeavours.Mr. Crouse joins NextSource from the position of CFO and Executive Director of Amaroq Minerals (a TSX and LSE listed company) and brings a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital and debt markets, financial reporting and the development and execution of business strategies.Mr. Crouse has over 20 years' experience in publicly listed natural resource companies. Mr. Crouse previously served as CFO at Metals Acquisition Corp, where he completed the purchase of the CSA copper mine in Australia from Glencore, and as CFO at Detour Gold Corporation. Mr .Crouse was the former Chief Financial Officer at Triple Flag Precious Metals (a royalty and streaming company) and worked at Barrick Gold Corporation in Toronto and in the Nickel Trading division at Glencore in Baar Switzerland. Mr. Crouse also held various positions within Xstrata plc between December 2002 to November 2013, including as General Manager of Business Optimisation in the Nickel Division.Mr. Crouse studied Accounting Sciences at the University of South Africa and is a qualified Chartered Accountant in Ontario (CPA) and South Africa (CA(SA)). He is also a registered Financial Risk Manager (FRM).About NextSource Materials Inc.NextSource Materials Inc. is a battery materials development company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of battery materials through the mining and value-added processing of graphite and other minerals.The Company's Molo Graphite Mine in Madagascar is one of the largest known and highest-quality graphite resources globally, and the only one with SuperFlake graphite. The Molo Graphite Mine has begun production, with Phase 1 mine operations currently undergoing ramp-up to reach its nameplate production capacity of 17,000 tpa of graphite concentrate.The Company is also developing a significant downstream graphite value-add business through the staged rollout of Battery Anode Facilities capable of large-scale production of coated, spheronized and purified graphite for direct delivery to battery and automotive customers, outside of existing Asian supply chains, in a fully transparent and traceable manner.NextSource Materials is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "NEXT" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "NSRCF".Investors: Brent Nykoliation Executive Vice President +1.416.364.4911 brent@ nextsourcematerials.com Media: Michael Oke/Andy Mills +44 207 321 0000 nextsource@ aura-financial.com CAUTIONARY NOTEThis press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, timing of on-site construction including the processing plant, process improvements and mine plant adjustments as well as production estimates and timing thereof, the rollout of Battery Anode Facilities including the capabilities and the timing thereof. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. No assurance 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 the Company will derive there from. 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 forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 15:03:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 611 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Company continues to expand its laboratory network in the Northeast U.S. growing to 45 regional locations.MINNEAPOLIS, MN / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Pace Analytical Services, the preferred provider of regulatory testing and analytical laboratory services, and a division of Pace, a science and technology company, today announced the acquisition of Environmental Services Laboratories, Inc. (ESL), a full-service environmental laboratory services company based in Indiana, PA."Pace is committed to providing every client with an exceptional experience. This starts with a team of dedicated professionals and the ability to provide clients with convenient access to our laboratories and service centers for faster results," notes Pace CEO, Eric Roman. "In 2023 we added 11 locations across the Northeast U.S. with the acquisition of Alpha Analytical Laboratories and with ESL, we are adding 4 sites to better serve the Appalachian area of the region." These transactions, along with existing Pace facilities, build the company's Northeast locations to 45 and its nationwide footprint to 125.Like Pace, ESL has provided environmental and analytical testing of drinking water, wastewater, soil, and solids for decades, engendering client loyalty. "Elizabeth Gregg founded ESL over 35 years ago to provide quality analytical testing and sampling services," said Brad Madadian, President of ESL. "Through our collaboration with Pace, our clients can now gain access to unparalleled technical expertise and a diverse array of services, all while sharing our unwavering focus on client satisfaction." Centered in the Marcellus Formation, ESL also offers expertise in Marcellus Shale testing and supports clients through a team of project managers with deep expertise in both oil and natural gas testing and State permit and regulatory requirements.ESL environmental testing and sampling services complement those offered by Pace. "ESL is a great addition to the Pace nationwide laboratory network, bringing us exceptional talent and added capacity to support our clients in the region," adds Greg Whitman, President of Pace Analytical Services. "Pace and ESL have worked together for years to support local clients with high quality on-time data. Now, as a unified team, ESL clients will benefit from the added capacity and services Pace provides, including testing for PFAS and other harmful contaminants." Through the acquisition, Pace will add a full-service environmental testing laboratory in Indiana, PA, and three satellite locations within the state in Montoursville, Sharpsville, and Van Voorhis.Pace is a portfolio company of Leonard Green & Partners and Los Angeles-based Aurora Capital Partners.About Environmental Services LaboratoriesIncorporated in 1988, Environmental Service Laboratories, Inc. (ESL) is an environmental testing laboratory that provides a comprehensive range of analytical testing, consulting, and field sampling services. ESL customers include natural gas drilling companies, industrial facilities, municipalities, engineering firms, local/state/federal government, and the general public. ESL is accredited to test drinking water, wastewater, soil, solid materials, natural gas, frozen dairy products, and meat. More at environmentalservicelab.com About PacePace makes the world a safer, healthier place. For decades, Pace people have been committed to advancing the science of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in our Life Sciences laboratories and supporting businesses, industries, consulting firms, government agencies, and more through our Analytical Services laboratories. Pace offers local-level service backed by a national laboratory network. For customers with in-house labs, Pace provides a range of professional services to keep their operations moving forward. Pace people work in partnership with customers by providing the service, science, and the data they need to make critical decisions that benefit us all. More at pacelabs.com Contact InformationPam BednarMarketing Directorpam.bednar@pacelabs.com 612-297-0651Brooke SchwartzelBrand & Communications Managerbrooke.schwartzel@pacelabs.com 612-656-2241SOURCE: Pace Analytical ServicesView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 20:50:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 332 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("Arbor" or "the Company") (NYSE:ABR) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Arbor is the subject of a report issued by Viceroy Research November 17, 2023, titled, "Arbor Realty Trust - Slumlord Millionaires." According to the report, "Arbor's high-risk multifamily bridge loans, which comprise substantially all of its asset book, are going bad fast The end is near." Viceroy Research then issued a follow up report on December 5, 2023, titled "Arbor - Jacksonville Case Study." In the second report, Viceroy Research claims that the Company's "entire loan book is distressed and underlying collateral is vastly overstated." Based on this news, shares of Arbor fell by more than 5% over the next two trading sessions.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 07:35:39 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 478 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 Investments in Growing Property Development Demand in ASEANKUALA LUMPUR, July 5, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - Proven Land Sdn Bhd (Proven Land) is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of EXSIM Development Sdn Bhd (EXSIM) to subscribe a stake in the renowned property development company. This collaboration allows Proven Land to benefit from a diverse and innovative project portfolio that promises significant growth and development opportunities.EXSIM, known for its cutting-edge green and sustainable projects, has a prominent presence in the property development sector. Some notable hospitality projects of EXSIM which have been successfully completed includes Expressionz Professional Suites @ Tun Razak, Ceylonz Suites @ Bukit Ceylon, Scarletz Suites @ KL City Centre and Mossaz @ Damansara Perdana.With a history of excellence and numerous successful developments, EXSIM has played a pivotal role in shaping the urban landscape and driving economic growth. This partnership is poised to harness the parties expertise to foster substantial growth in the property sector.Mr. Jack Leong, Director of Proven Land commented, Our investment in EXSIM marks a significant milestone for Proven Land. By subscribing the stake, we are poised to leverage their innovative projects and expertise, enhancing our portfolio and creating new opportunities for growth. This collaboration underscores our commitment to high-potential sectors and driving economic prosperity in the ASEAN region. Mr Lim Aik Hoe, Managing Director of EXSIM, said "We are delighted to welcome Proven Land as our partner. This collaboration signifies their confidence EXSIM in building more greener and sustainable developments, while elevating the living lifestyle of our buyers. We hope to have more partnership with Proven Land in the future, perhaps in different component of development too. On the same day, Proven Land also entered into an agreement with Octowill Trustees Berhad (Octowill), which will support Proven Lands future development.The Management of Octowill Trustees, remarked, Our investment in Proven Land underscores our belief in the strategic vision and robust potential of Proven Land. This collaboration is set to unlock significant value for our stakeholders and drive sustainable growth, especially in the rapidly growing urban development landscape. Looking ahead, Proven Land remains highly optimistic about the future growth of the property development landscape in Malaysia. The Company is committed to identifying and capitalising on high-potential opportunities, driving innovation, and contributing to the economic prosperity of the region.ABOUT PROVEN LAND SDN. BHD.Proven Land Sdn. Bhd. is a Malaysia-based company dedicated to advancing sustainable property development. Proven Land focuses on creating innovative, eco-friendly developments that contribute to the well-being of communities and the environment. The company leverages expertise in property development to transform innovative ideas into successful, sustainable projects.Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. on behalf of Proven Venture Capital Ltd.For more information, please contact:Jazzmin WanTel: +60 17-289 4110Email: j.wan@ swanconsultancy.biz Aimee TanTel: +60 16-512 0051Email: a.tan@ swanconsultancy.biz PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 12:30:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1030 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Not for dissemination in or into the United States or through U.S. newswiresAll dollars are Canadian unless otherwise notedVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 /Relevant Gold Corp. (TSXV:RGC)(OTCQB:RGCCF) (the "Company" or "Relevant Gold") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement agreement for 5,100,000 Units of the Company totaling $1,530,000 with Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") (NYSE:KGC)(TSX:K). The Kinross placement obviates the second tranche of the previously announced private placement (see news release), thereby completing all pending financings. In connection with these offerings, the Company has issued a total of 10,881,300 Units for gross proceeds of $2,975,325, oversubscribing the original target of $2,500,000.Each Unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for an 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. The Units issued to Kinross are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on November 9, 2024. Proceeds from the combined placements will be used to fund exploration at the Company's projects in Wyoming, USA, and for general working capital."We are extremely pleased with Kinross's strategic investment in Relevant Gold and the strong endorsement this reflects for our thesis that Wyoming has Abitibi Gold Belt potential. We look forward to working with them as we continue to explore for world-class gold discoveries in Wyoming," said Relevant Gold CEO, Rob Bergmann. "Wyoming is becoming a top global mining jurisdiction and in the current rising gold environment, Relevant Gold provides investors first-mover exposure to an emerging pipeline of belt-scale gold opportunities." As a result of this financing, Kinross holds on a partially diluted basis, approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. In conjunction with this strategic investment, Relevant Gold and Kinross have entered into an Investor Rights Agreement reserving Kinross's right to 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.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 Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made i PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 19:00:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 401 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Artificial intelligence expert Angela Hood, founder and CEO of an international AI company, ThisWay Global, is hosting a meeting of the minds, ten years in the making, with members of the UK House of Lords. Timed to coincide with RecFest UK this Thursday, July 11, Hood will host an executive reception and discussion in Westminster, featuring Lord Nat Wei, who has endorsed a ThisWay Global initiative to help accelerate technology careers for underemployed professionals.Lord Wei is a Life Peer in the House of Lords. A former government advisor and technology consultant, Lord Wei is now focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, technology investment, and enterprise development in the UK and globally. He has founded several successful businesses and non-profits, including the Shaftesbury Partnership, Teach First (the sister organization to Teach for America), Future Leaders, Maker Life, and other social initiatives."This dinner event celebrates an important partnership with Maker Life, a social enterprise that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, to birth an idea a decade in the making," said Hood. "Lord Wei is a visionary and catalyst for positive change in technology and worked with us to leverage our AI expertise to incubate a program focused on helping underpaid individuals into technology roles. This is an exciting time to work in AI, and I'm thrilled to share our joint efforts at RecFest UK this week." Hood's company and Maker Life's team have been developing "Maker Year," an inspirational program that helps individuals access technology employment opportunities while receiving personal and mindset growth training to accelerate their learning and transform their communities. IBM's AI, data, and automation teams-a long-term partner of ThisWay Global-are supporting the program.In addition to the dinner event, Lord Wei will be featured during RecFest UK on the AI Stage with HR tech podcasters Chad Sowash and Joel Cheeseman from 10:15 - 10:45 a.m.To learn more about ThisWay Global, visit https://www.thiswayglobal.com . Additional information about Maker Life is available at https://makeryear.cc About ThisWay Global:ThisWay Global is an international AI technology company founded by Angela Hood, an AI expert and accomplished entrepreneur. It focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to remove bias and provide greater success for individuals, businesses, and economies. ThisWay Global is committed to driving innovation and empowering organizations with cutting-edge solutions like no other.Media ContactEvan White Evan@ EvanWhitePR.com 509.995.9105SOURCE: ThisWay Global PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 10:01:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 459 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2024 / Trans Canada Gold Corp. (TSX-V:TTG)(OTCQB:RCTRF) ("Trans Canada" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has strengthened its land position, and signed an additional lease agreement to complement a recently completed the purchase of two strategic land and lease acquisitions pursuant to an AMI ("Area of Mutual Interest") in a Farmout Agreement ("Farmout") dated November 1, 2022. The Operator has completed, signed and secured a strategic surface lease and is now permitting its new multilateral well for a summer start for drilling. This new multilateral well is expected to contact over 3000 meters of oil reservoir in the General Petroleum sand.Commented President & CEO Tim Coupland, "With the signing of the most recent lease agreement, and with the completion of the land acquisition pursuant to an AMI, drilling pre-planning, pre-purchasing of drilling equipment such as drill casing, pipe, tanks, is in full progress, and we expect drilling to be right on schedule for mid/late summer. With global oil prices remaining high, and the new Canadian TMX pipeline now fully operational, oil prices are forecasted to remain steady, this will in turn will allow the Company to pursue additional multilateral drilling opportunities and new property acquisitions." ABOUT TRANS CANADA GOLD CORP. - OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION/REVENUE PRODUCING WELLSThe Company is a discovery focused Oil & Gas Resource Development and Mineral Exploration Company that is currently focused on developing and drilling its' production of conventional heavy oil exploration properties, increasing production capabilities, and increasing future oil production revenues through responsible exploration. The Company identifies, acquires and finances with its working interest partners, the ongoing development of oil and gas assets primarily situated in Alberta Canada. The Company has qualified Senior exploration management and Geological teams of professionals, seasoned in exploration production, field exploration and drilling. The Company currently works with Croverro Energy Ltd., who has demonstrated proficiency, expected of an experienced oil and gas technical team that has proven oil production, and revenue success with large multi-lateral wells currently under their supervision. The Company has the necessary manpower in place to develop its natural resource properties and manage its production properties. The Company is committed to minimizing risk through selective property acquisitions, and responsible exploration drilling, and maximizing long term petroleum and natural gas resource assets.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Tim Coupland, President and CEOTrans Canada Gold Corp.Tel: (604) 681-3131 astar@ telus.comwww.transcanadagold.com orChristian Timmins, DirectorTrans Canada Gold Corp.Tel: (403) 597-3410Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Trans Canada Gold Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 18:00:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 496 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 List Identifies Tech Industry's Most Prestigious Managed Service Providers WorldwidePHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Trapp Technology, an award-winning IT services provider, has been named as one of the world's top-performing managed service providers in the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. The Channel Futures MSP 501 list ranks companies based on their growth, profitability, and innovation. Trapp Technology ranked #15 on the list, attributing its growth to the widespread success of their wholly-owned cybersecurity program management solution, ArmorPoint.Trapp Technology Ranked #15 on MSP 501 List for 2024 Trapp Technology was named to the top 15 MSPs on Channel Futures' prestigious MSP 501 list.The MSP 501 represents the best in the technology services industry delivering outstanding vendor and platform neutral advice and value to small, midsized and enterprise customers. The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey ranks these companies through a rigorous quantitative methodology, considering annual revenue, EBITDA profitability, and recurring revenue."Being included in the top 15 on the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 list is a monumental achievement for us," said David Trapp, CEO of Trapp Technology. "This recognition underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional managed services and innovative technology solutions to our clients. As we continue to grow, this honor motivates us to strive for even greater heights, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the industry." "For a managed service provider to attain a spot on the Channel Futures MSP 501, everything must be operating at peak performance. This list represents the most productive, profitable, fastest-growing, organizations in the technology industry focused on driving their customers to new heights," said Bob DeMarzo, VP Content, Informa Channels.About Trapp TechnologyTrapp Technology provides the best cloud, IT, and security services to deliver a true all-in-one IT solution for businesses that seek to cut IT costs and leverage technology to grow revenues. Trapp Technology's services are designed to appeal to the growing number of medium- to enterprise-level businesses looking to outsource more IT infrastructure and management services to reduce total cost of ownership and free up internal resources. Trapp Technology's cybersecurity program management solution, ArmorPoint, provides managed SOC, managed risk, and managed strategy solutions to deliver holistic security services. For more information, visit trapptechnology.com About Channel FuturesChannel Futures is part of Informa Tech, a leading provider of market insight and market access to the global business technology community. Through in-depth expertise and an engaged audience community, Informa Tech helps business professionals make better technology decisions and marketers reach the most powerful tech buyers and influencers in the world. Across its portfolio of over 100+ trusted brands, Informa Tech has over 1000 industry experts, including over 400 research analysts and consultants in global research group Omdia, and a monthly audience reach of over 125 million. Informa Tech is a division of FTSE 100 company Informa plc.Media ContactsDave RaffoMSP News Editor, Channel Futures david.raffo@informa.com Katie EgleySenior Marketing Manager msp501@ informa.com Contact InformationAshley Capps Chief Marketing Officeracapps@ armorpoint.com (602) 282-3090SOURCE: Trapp TechnologyView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 14:00:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 795 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Highlights:Trifecta Gold secures option to acquire up to 100% interest in Mt Hinton gold-silver project, next to Hecla's Keno Hill Mines, as well as 10 other highly prospective projects.All 11 projects show characteristics of reduced intrusion related gold systems, like Snowline Gold's recent Valley discovery.VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 /Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSXV:TG)(OTCQB:TRRFF) ("Trifecta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its March 1st, 2024 news release, the Company has received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to acquire up to 100% of Mt. Hinton and 10 other highly prospective, intrusion-related gold projects located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. Under a two stage earn-in agreement with Strategic Metals Ltd. ("Strategic"), Trifecta can acquire up to a 100% interest in all 11 properties.Tombstone Gold BeltExtending for more than 1,000 km from Alaska into Yukon, the Tombstone Gold Belt hosts many large Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold System (RIRGS) deposits such as Fort Knox and Pogo in Alaska (>14 million oz), Eagle and Olive in Yukon (>4 million oz) and the past-producing Brewery Creek Mine, also in Yukon. Recent discoveries including Snowline Gold's Tier 1 Valley discovery, Sitka Gold's RC deposit, Banyan Gold's AurMac deposits and Victoria Gold's Raven deposit have drawn renewed exploration interest to the belt (>17 million new ounces added to resources in the belt since May 2020).These gold systems are characterized by sheeted, auriferous quartz veins forming in the carapace zones of Cretaceous-age plutons. They have a characteristic geochemical signature of Au-Bi-TeW within and surrounding the intrusion, and a characteristic geophysical signature of a magnetic low (ie. reduced) together with a coincident conductivity low. Moving outward from the intrusions, Au-As veins are common with Ag-Pb-Zn veins further out.Option TermsTrifecta can acquire an initial 70% interest in the properties (the "First Option") by incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $6 million by December 31, 2027, with $500,000 to be incurred by December 31, 2024, and issuing 305,000 shares to Strategic. Following the exercise of the First Option, Strategic will retain a one percent (1%) net smelter return royalty interest in the properties. (These 305,000 have been issued to Strategic and are subject to a hold period in Canada until November 10, 2024.)Trifecta can acquire the remaining 30% interest in the properties (the "Second Option") by issuing additional Trifecta shares to Strategic equal to 9.99% of the then outstanding Trifecta share capital at any time after the exercise of the First Option and prior to February 28, 2028, which number of shares to be issued to Strategic will not include any shares of Trifecta then held by Strategic but will be subject to a maximum number of 8,920,000 shares of Trifecta. Following the exercise of the Second Option, Strategic will retain an additional one percent (1%) net smelter return royalty interest. Trifecta can purchase the second royalty interest from Strategic for the payment of 1,500 ounces of gold or the cash equivalent.If Trifecta exercises the First Option only, the parties shall form a joint venture to further explore and develop the properties.Project PortfolioThe optioned portfolio covers approximately 30,000 hectares of highly prospective land within the Yukon portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt across 11 properties - namely, Mt. Hinton, Rye, Lance, Liam, Lois, Leroy, Luke, Leah, Lisa, Husky and Naws. The locations of and the properties are available on the Company's website.About Trifecta Gold Ltd.Trifecta is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the discovery and development of 100% held gold projects in Yukon and Nevada. Initial drilling at its Yuge Gold Project, located in northern Nevada, has identified multiple broad zones of gold mineralization near historical high-grade mines. The Company's Eureka Project hosts an 8 x 2.5 kilometre belt of surface showings and anomalous gold-in-soil that straddle the headwaters of two of the most productive placer creeks in Yukon's southern Klondike Goldfields. The Company's Treble Project covers a large hydrothermal system, located midway between Western Copper and Gold Corporation's Casino Deposit, the largest copper and gold deposit in the Yukon, and Rockhaven Resources Ltd.'s Klaza Deposit, a high-grade gold-silver deposit.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Richard Drechsler"President and CEOFor further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit www.trifectagold.com or contact:Corporate InformationTrifecta Gold Ltd.Richard DrechslerPresident and CEOTel: (604) 687-2522This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: Trifecta Gold Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-09 14:02:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 555 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 All five UMass campuses, including Chan Medical School, to Use Softdocs to Securely Automate Key Processes in the CloudCOLUMBIA, SC / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2024 / Softdocs, the process automation platform for education and government, announced today that the University of Massachusetts system has selected the company through a competitive bid process to automate and modernize its document management and automation platform.UMass System logo UMass System logoThe UMass system, comprising UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, and UMass Chan Medical School, will deploy the Softdocs platform to automate processes in Financial Aid, the Business Office, Registrar, Campus Administration, Human Resources, IT, and the President's Office. The UMass system is replacing legacy applications, including its enterprise content management system, as part of a strategic initiative to modernize its technology stack and improve cybersecurity resilience."We are excited about the capabilities of Softdocs and look forward to implementing the platform across the university," said Shawn Skelly, UMass Associate CIO for Enterprise Application and Digital Experience. "This is a significant milestone for us, as it will bring substantial operational benefits, streamline our processes, and standardize our platform across the entire system. It will also help us reduce infrastructure overhead and enhance our cybersecurity posture." The Softdocs platform will deliver a modern, intuitive, and accessible user experience for UMass staff, faculty, and students while also contributing to the university system's security goals. Through their use of low-code and no-code tools such as eforms, esignatures, workflows, and document management, UMass is modernizing its core technology with the process automation platform used by nearly one thousand organizations."Given the UMass system's reputation for innovation and its focus on cybersecurity, we are excited that they chose to partner with Softdocs," said Adam Park, Softdocs CEO. "As the third largest employer in the state of Massachusetts, their decision to select Softdocs validates our commitment to meeting the needs of all segments within the public sector, including the largest higher education institutions." The University of Massachusetts educates more than 73,000 students and employs 26,000 people and joins over 60 other organizations that have partnered with Softdocs in the past 12 months.Softdocs is providing live demonstrations of its process automation technology at upcoming industry conferences including InstructureCon, Anthology Together, and EDUCAUSE.About SoftdocsSoftdocs provides process automation and document management solutions to education and government. Our solutions enable colleges, universities, K-12 school districts, and state and municipal agencies to improve how they serve people, create new efficiencies, and accelerate the future of work. Softdocs solutions are used by nearly one thousand organizations. For more information, visit https://www.softdocs.com About the University of Massachusetts (UMass)The University of Massachusetts is a world-class public research university system committed to advancing knowledge and transforming lives. UMass is renowned for the quality of its academic programs, the scope and impact of its research, and the strength of its public service mission. The university educates 73,000 students, has more than 630,000 alumni, conducts $826 million in annual research, and is responsible for $8.3 billion in economic impact every year. The university system comprises UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, UMass Chan Medical School, and the UMass School of Law. Learn more about UMass at Massachusetts.edu Contact InformationDan DillonSVP Marketingddillon@ softdocs.com 888-457-8879SOURCE: SoftdocsView the original press release on newswire.com The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Lagos State Government to take responsibility for the 13-year-old victim of the collapsed mosque in Mushin. The victim, Naeemat Lasisi, has since been on admission at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. The group accused the hospital management of attempting to discharge the patient prematurely, and also alleged that its member who visited the patient and attempted to interview her was harassed. Ms Lasisi underwent double amputation in the hospital, based on the complexity of the injury sustained. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, the group appealed to the government to intervene in the matter by picking up the medical care of the patient and sponsoring her education to the tertiary level. But the hospital has denied the allegation, saying the treatment of the patient has been at no cost to her parents, and that there was no plan to discharge her prematurely. Alleged harassment MURIC, in the statement, said its member who attempted to interview the 13-year-old was harassed and that efforts to seek the intervention of the Lagos State Government on the matter have yielded no positive result. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later An attempt made to interview the victim and her two parents on Friday, 5th July 2024 led to the harassment of Mr Abdul Fatah Abiodun Lawal, the Media Assistant to MURICs Executive Director, within the premises of the hospital, the statement reads. His phone and identity card were seized while he was detained by the hospital authorities for more than two hours. The parents stood by the MURIC official and insisted that he should be released because they were the ones who actually invited him to cover the interview. MURIC claimed that the hospital authorities deleted the video clip of the interview recorded by Mr Lawal before releasing his telephone and identity card. The group also accused the nurses in the ward of telling the patients mother to take her daughter away from the hospital because she had been discharged. He said that the parents were threatened because of their refusal to support the manipulation of a so-called press interview. We denounce the attempt by the hospital authorities to organise a manipulated interview where the underaged girl patient was expected to respond to questions only as earlier instructed, the statement said. What the hospital authorities do not know is that apart from the video clip which they forcefully deleted from the telephone of the MURIC official, we have another audio clip which confirms attempted manipulation. MURIC, therefore, appealed to the government to intervene and ensure that the victim receives adequate medical support including assurances of governments sponsorship up to university level. In conclusion and in view of the biased position of LASUTH authorities, we appeal to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, the Commissioner for Health, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, to intervene on behalf of the poor little girl, the statement further reads. LASUTH reacts LASUTH management in a statement via its X handle said allegation that we are threatening to discharge the patient prematurely is unfounded. The hospital noted that the young patient was treated at no cost to the parents. Responding to the claims of harassment of the MURIC member, the hospital said We do not allow videos taken in our wards. This is purely an ethical and private issue. There are signages all over which clearly state this position. The management further said that they are very disappointed that all the goodwill, compassion, and responsiveness of Mr. Governor, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, and LASUTH Management are being repaid in this manner. Contacted, Gboyega Akosile, the spokesperson for Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, did not respond. Backstory In May, a mosque located on Yusuf Street, Off Ladipo Road, Papa Ajao, collapsed while prayer was ongoing, leaving three dead and seven injured. Speaking at the site, the Honorary Secretary, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos chapter, Gbaja-Biamila Mubarak, attributed the collapse to human error and wrong approach to road and drainage construction in the area. He expressed concern over the deployment of a mechanised approach to the construction, saying if the drainage had been executed manually, the mosque would not have been threatened. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Musa Ado is sad that his village no longer retains its young men. Every year, they migrate to Lagos, Port-Harcourt and other southern Nigerian cities for menial jobs, he said ruefully in March, when PREMIUM TIMESs reporter met him in the village. Mr Ado is the head of Warwade, a rural community about 16 kilometres from Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State in north-west Nigeria. The Warwade Dam is at the centre of economic activities in the village and surrounding area. He said farming was lucrative until the dam became decrepit due to poor maintenance and abandoned water channels. The dam was started in 1970 by the then governor of old Kano State, Audu Bako, but was completed and commissioned in 1977 by the late Mr Bakos successor, Sani Bello, Mr Ado continued. Initially, it was meant to supply Dutse, Jahun and Kiyawa towns with potable water, but the old Kano State government later introduced irrigation farming in the area and provided free irrigation equipment from 1979 to the early 1980s. The government employed village extension advisers to teach farmers irrigation-based farming and introduced them to various farm inputs, skills and varieties of seeds. We produced rice, wheat, onions, vegetables and other crops. Farmers were taken out to other places to learn about irrigation systems. A group of 10 farmers was assigned to one village extension adviser, and farming activities improved. The residents were happy and settled, and the economic standard of the farmers was uplifted. We supplied 80 per cent of the food in Dutse and its environs (under the old Kano State). Mr Ado said the rehabilitation of the dam would again facilitate irrigation farming, enhance fishing, provide economic opportunities for young people and stem urban drift in the area. The village head said successive administrations in the state promised to rehabilitate the dam but have yet to do so. He also explained why other government schemes to boost agricultural production failed. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The government made a big mistake by ignoring the real farmers regarding agricultural interventions, he said. The government introduced farmers cooperatives, but the membership is purely political; real farmers are not being considered. Our youths migrating to Lagos, Port Harcourt According to Mr Ado, the abandonment of dams has impaired the livelihoods of thousands of people living in riverine areas of Jigawa State like Warwade, Siyasiya, Sabon Garin Alhaji, Jigawar Sajo, Sakwayal and Jidawa. Many residents depend on dams for irrigation and fishing as their economic activities. The abandonment of the dam and others in Jigawa has also worsened poverty in the state. The multidimensional poverty report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for 2022 rated Jigawa as the third poorest state in Nigeria. The abandonment of the irrigation facility has made our community poor due to a lack of jobs. Thousands of our youths have migrated to Lagos and Port Harcourt for greener pastures. We dont even know where some of the youth are. These are some of the negative impacts of abandoning the irrigation facility, Mr Ado said. PREMIUM TIMES found that the Warwade Dam has not been expanded since its construction decades ago. The government started a project to construct water channels for irrigation on both sides of the dam for year-round farming, but the expansion project was abandoned. The states Commissioner of Agriculture, Muttaka Namadi, declined to comment on the amount spent on the rehabilitation and why it was abandoned. The official, however, identified nine other abandoned dams across the state. He said Governor Umar Namadis administration has made provisions in the 2024 budget to rehabilitate many dams. These include Kafin-gana dam, Koda dam, Galala dam; Gwaram dam, Dambo dam; Basirka dam, Dagwalo dam; Hiyan Warde dam, and Sakwawa dam. Residents said rehabilitating the dams would prevent floods, which caused havoc in the area in previous years. A farmer in Warwade, Muhammadu Mansur, said the water channel was supposed to extend 15 kilometres to areas surrounding the dam. He said if the dam is rehabilitated, about two million people stand to benefit from the irrigation system. The project stopped halfway without any reasons given to the locals. There are large swathes of farmland in the hinterland where farmers can cultivate tomatoes, onions, wheat and rice if the water channel is completed, Mr Mansur said. We appeal to the new governor (Mr Namadi) to revisit the work and ensure that the project is complete to help us, the farmer said. While taking our reporter on a tour of a part of the abandoned project, Mr Mansur opened one of the abandoned water routes. He explained that the cost of production would be reduced if farmers could open the water channels to wet their farms without using generators. According to the official bulletin of the states agriculture ministry, over 80 per cent of the inhabitants of Jigawa State are engaged in agriculture. However, public expenditure does not prioritise the sector, a PREMIUM TIMES review of the states budget documents revealed. The state government allotted only 5.4 per cent of its 2019 budget to agriculture, despite claiming agriculture as a focus area. In its change agenda, the administration of former Governor Badaru Abubakar pledged to develop agriculture by strengthening research and extension services. It also promised to irrigate more land, deepen mechanisation, promote investments and create more opportunities in the sector. The states budgets from 2019 to 2023 showed a significant difference of 63 per cent between budgetary allocations and releases to the states Ministry of Agriculture. However, a recently released report by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) in collaboration with Dataphyte shows that the agriculture sector got only N370 out of every N1000 budgeted in the four years. A farmer, Khadija Adamu, said improper water channelling and poor rehabilitation of Warwade Dam contributed to flooding in the area. The non-completion of the water channels is costing us a lot. My water pumping generator was stolen, so I now spend about N5,000 daily to hire a generator to wet my farm, Mrs Adamu said. I bought 40 bags of fertiliser last year, and after I applied it, it was washed away by seven days of non-stop rain, which made the dam overflow. I could have harvested at least 300 bags of paddy rice but for the disaster. During the dry season, I plant wheat, tomatoes, and vegetables besides rice. But things are becoming increasingly difficult for farmers without government interventions. After the flood disaster, the government collected the details of the affected farmers, but nothing has been done to assist us, she said. Mrs Adamu said she has been actively practising agriculture for 15 years but had never received the governments support. She appealed to the authorities to complete the water channels at the Warwade Dam. Salamatu Abdullahi inherited a large parcel of land from her late father on the western side of the dam. She plans to participate in irrigation farming if the government completes the abandoned project. She hoped that the water channels would flow towards her farm, too. Heavy floods destroyed farmlands and crops across Jigawa State in 2023, worsening the plight of farmers. Rehabilitation Project A farmer, Yau Shehu, said farmers in the area hope the irrigation project will be completed soon. As the project is abandoned halfway, the water flow is too much at a particular place and is affecting crops maturity because of the water concentration while farmers in the hinterland do not have water due to improper channelling. Our appeal to the government is to complete the project because the abandonment is destroying the existing local irrigation system, he said. Another farmer, Sabo Gidan-Kanya, made the same appeal when interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES. We just saw them (contractors) working on the water channel, and suddenly, they pulled out from the site. They never told us anything before starting the project, so we couldnt ask them why they were leaving. Why Jigawa needs irrigation facilities Ahmed Ilallah, the state lead of Green and Environmental Project Initiatives, said rehabilitation of dams across the state could reduce flooding in Jigawa. Jigawa is a rural state; more than 80 per cent of the population live in the rural and semi-urban areas. Making agriculture a priority, particularly irrigation farming, is an intelligent way to address the issue of food security. With the improvement of the Hadejia Irrigation Scheme under the Hadejia Jamaare River Basin Development Authority in Jigawa Northeast, several interventions by the state and other donors like the Fadama Project, the contributions of irrigation, if expanded across the state, could greatly address the poverty level in the state, Mr Ilallah said. Mr Ilallah said developing irrigation facilities across the state would engender economic growth. Irrigation farming greatly boosts agricultural output by giving crops consistent water supply, enabling multiple yearly harvests. Some rice farmers in the north-east, where the irrigation system is popular, harvest three times a year. The system raises crop yields and lowers the possibility of drought-related crop failure. Farmers are using irrigation farming to help them adjust to the challenges brought on by climate change. Irrigation can help mitigate the effects of altered precipitation patterns and more frequent droughts by offering a more consistent water supply and lessening agricultures susceptibility to weather variations, Mr Ilallah said. 10 dams for rehabilitation Govt Muttaka Namadi, the states Commissioner for Agriculture, told PREMIUM TIMES that the administration was determined to complete the rehabilitation of Warwade Dam. Mr Namadi said since the project was abandoned before he became commissioner, he could not explain the reason for the abandonment. However, he said the government plans to rehabilitate ten dams across the state to facilitate irrigation farming. The government plans to rehabilitate ten dams in the state, including that of Warwade, to facilitate irrigation farming. The irrigation system at Warwade Dam needs to be expanded, and the river needs to be de-silted. The government is working to see the dam come to fruition this year. The government hired experts who are now surveying the ten identified dams, and we have captured them in the budget. For the Warwade Dam, there is a particular issue with the soil, but we have identified the problem, and we have a strategy to make the project realistic. The Warwade Dam has been abandoned for several years, but as we came on board, we saw the need to make it usable for the people to benefit, Mr Namadi said. This story was supported by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Innovation and Development (CJID). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print China urges U.S. to stop smearing China, contribute to cyberspace security Xinhua) 08:06, July 09, 2024 BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to stop its smears and vilification against China, act responsibly and contribute to the peace and security of the cyberspace, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a newly-released report by China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, National Engineering Laboratory for Computer Virus Prevention Technology and the 360 Digital Security Group. According to the report, the United States has been hyping a hacker organization named "Volt Typhoon" since 2023 and engaging in a worldwide disinformation campaign against China. Lin said that back in April, relevant Chinese agencies revealed the scandal about the United States framing China for being responsible for "Volt Typhoon" in order to advance its own geopolitical agenda. The latest report further revealed that this disinformation campaign was conceived by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other members of the U.S. intelligence community with the participation of congressional China hawks and multiple federal agencies, as well as cybersecurity agencies from other Five Eyes countries, and it aimed to manipulate public opinion, Lin said. "Till this day, the United States still owes us an explanation after the report was released," Lin said, adding that the NSA chief is still spreading disinformation about "Volt Typhoon." "What is worse, the latest report exposed that the U.S. government has been pressuring a cybersecurity company and asking it to rewrite its tech analysis that proves 'Volt Typhoon' to be a ransomware group," Lin added, pointing out that this is a clumsy cover-up tactic that has not worked and will not work. Lin said that China strongly condemns the irresponsible behavior of the United States. "The United States still owes us an explanation, and should stop its smears and vilification against China at once. We urge the United States to act responsibly and contribute to the peace and security of the cyberspace," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Supporters of a statutory initiative that would legalize adult recreational cannabis use in North Dakota submitted more than 22,000 signatures on Monday to the state in hopes of getting the initiative on the November ballot. Initiative chair Steve Bakken, a Burleigh County commissioner and former Bismarck mayor, said the group submitted 22,444 signatures, exceeding the required 15,582 signatures to qualify for the ballot. The state now has until Aug. 12 to verify signatures and rule on the initiative's qualification. Monday was the deadline for November ballot access. The initiative looks to legalize recreational marijuana use for residents 21 and older while at their own homes or where permitted on others' private property. It also outlines a series of restrictions on production, home growth of cannabis plants and locations for use. It's the third citizen-led attempt to legalize marijuana in North Dakota: Two ballot measures, in 2018 and 2022, were opposed by 59% and 55% of voters who weighed in, respectively. Medical cannabis use was legalized by voters in 2016 through the initiated measure process, garnering nearly 64% of the vote. The state House of Representatives in 2021 passed bills that would have legalized and taxed the drug, but the state Senate shot them down. Bakken told reporters on Monday that the latest effort to legalize marijuana in North Dakota is an attempt to get ahead of out-of-state efforts to legalize the drug, which has been approved for adult recreational use in 24 states. He said he thought it was important that any measure passed would be in line with the state's conservative values, citing some of the restrictions that are more stringent than those implemented in many states where the drug is legal. "At some point it's going to pass, and I've lived in Washington and Oregon and spent a lot of time working in Colorado and California and I don't like what's going on in those states," he said. "What I see us being able to do in North Dakota is something that's conservative, but meets those that want to partake in recreational marijuana use." Bakken also said the measure, if passed, would reduce the burden of marijuana offenses on the state's law enforcement system. Cannabis use by those under 21 in the state is a low-level misdemeanor, while recreational use by those older has been decriminalized, and possession penalties vary based on quantity. Last year, 4,451 people statewide were charged with use or possession of marijuana, according to North Dakota Courts data requested by The Associated Press. The initiative would allow adults over 21 to purchase and possess up to one ounce of dried leaves or flowers, four grams of a cannabinoid concentrate, 300 mg of edible products and 1,500 mg of total THC in the form of a cannabis product. Residents can also grow their own marijuana, but may not possess more than three plants per person or six plants per household. The state Health and Human Services Department, or another body decided by the state Legislature, will be responsible for implementing regulatory practices by Oct. 1, 2025, if the initiative makes the ballot and passes. The proposal also limits the operations of marijuana retailers in the state, capping the industry at seven manufacturers and 18 retailers, with licensees limited to four dispensaries at most. The application process for recreational licenses would also have to be separated from the process that has allowed for the creation of the state's eight medical marijuana dispensaries. Supporters of a ballot measure that would modify the state constitution to eliminate property tax based on assessed value also submitted signatures in late June in hopes of making it on the November ballot. The group submitted more than 40,000 signatures, far exceeding the 31,164 valid signatures needed to qualify, and the state is reviewing the petitions. Backers of a ballot measure that would overhaul the state's voting process did not submit signatures, though initiative chair Lydia Gessele told the Tribune in February that the group was attempting to qualify for the November ballot. Gessele declined a request for further comment. Supporters can continue to circulate petitions until Sept. 27, one year after the petition was approved for circulation, in hopes of qualifying for the June 2026 primary election. The House of Representatives passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the constitution to create extra legislative seats for women in the National and State Assemblies on Tuesday. The bill, jointly sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, and 12 others, was debated on the floor, with several members vehemently opposing it. It proposes to create one senatorial seat and one House seat in each state and the FCT. It seeks to amend Sections 48 and 49 of the Constitution to provide one special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the FCT, effective after the term of the current National Assembly and subject to review every 16 years. Additionally, the bill seeks to amend Section 91 of the document to provide three special seats reserved exclusively for women in the Houses of Assembly of each state of the federation, which shall be spread across the three senatorial districts of each state. The Debate Leading the debate on behalf of his co-sponsors, Joshua Gana (PDP, Niger) said the House must address gender inequality in the governance space in Nigeria. The legislator noted that the bill is anchored on the fundamental principle of equitable representation and aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but that they actively contribute to shaping the legislative landscape and the overall development of our nation. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He added that the issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy. Despite the argument by Mr Gana, the opposition against the bill was fierce among the members, many of whom argued that the proposed alteration offends the spirit of the Constitution. Those in favour of the bill Speaking in support of the bill, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), said the legislation seeks to cure obvious mischief in the polity, which is gender inequality. Mr Chinda said Nigeria is ranked the least in terms of gender representation in Africa, noting that there is a need to address the gap through the proposed legislation. The question is do we have any deficiency in womens representation? The answer is yes. Nigeria is deficient when it comes to womens representation. Nigeria is the least when it comes to womens representation. If that is the case, as a parliament, we must address the deficiency, he said. He also dismissed the argument by some of his colleagues that the provision of the bill offends the spirit of the Constitution. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) urged his colleagues to allow the bill to scale the second reading and enable Nigerians to participate in determining the future of the bill. Others who spoke in favour of the bill include the spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), Maidala Balami (PDP, Borno) and Chike Okafor (APC, Imo). Opposition to the Bill Ghali Tijani (NNPP, Kano) called for the outright rejection of the bill, stating that it offends the principle of the Constitution and has the potential to undermine political parties. Mr Tijani argued that instead of creating extra seats, the National Assembly should consider bills on appointive positions. Accepting this bill is against democratic principles, and it is undermining human rights. This should be rejected. Of course, I can support women if there is a political provision for non-elective positions. If we continue on this path, we are undermining political parties, he said. Also speaking against the bill, Juwonlo Alao-Akala (APC, Oyo) argued that the bill is going to promote inequality by treating women especially. Mr Alao-Akala, a son of a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, said he and his other colleagues got into the House based on merit; therefore, the argument of exclusion does not hold water. All of us came here on equality. All of us came here on a free and fair platform. We came here because we struggled to come. Our political parties..some of us came here on merit. If you are saying that we should create extra seats, we are going against the constitution, he said. Others who spoke against the bill include Billy Osawaru and Patrick Umoh. While the debate was in progress, the presiding officer and main sponsor of the bill, Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, said it should be stepped down until a day when he is not the one presiding. How I wish I were not the one presiding because there is no way I will rule that it would not be seen as biased. I think this bill should be stepped down. It is not being stepped down for the merit of it but to avoid the conflict of interest. The bill should be stepped down until the day I am not presiding, he said. But before the deputy speaker could rule on it, Ahmed Satomi raised a point of order that since the debate has been on for a while, it would not be right to step the bill down. Taking the opportunity of the support, Mr Kalu put the bill to a voice vote. The deputy speaker ruled in favour of those in favour of the bill even though those against it were mire. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review, statutorily chaired by Mr Kalu. Previous attempt at passage of the bill A similar bill on the creation of extra legislative seats was introduced in the last Assembly, but the lawmakers rejected the bill. It was one of the five gender bills introduced in that Assembly. One of the bills sought to grant citizenship to foreign-born husbands of Nigerian women. Another bill sought to allocate 35 per cent of political positions based on appointment to women. Following the rejection of the bills, womens groups barricaded the entrance of the National Assembly in protests at the time. The then leadership of the House had promised to revisit the bills but failed to do so till that House adjourned sine die. Item in Legislative Agenda The passage of this bill is one of the items on the legislative agenda of this current Assembly. According to the document, the bill was to be introduced before the end of 2023. The lawmakers are already behind schedule. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said there is an ongoing plan to distribute about 60 fertiliser trucks to each state through the governors before the weekend. Serving senators will also receive two trucks of fertiliser each. In contrast, members of the House of Representatives will receive one each from the distribution to address the impending food insecurity in the country. Mr Akpabio disclosed this during the plenary on Tuesday. He was commenting on a motion sponsored by Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) on urgently addressing the countrys impending food insecurity. All states of the federation are being provided with 60 trucks of fertiliser outside what is being given to the senators, Mr Akpabio said. After disclosing the plan, the senate president said he got the information from the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Saliu Mustapha, He urged the media to quote Mr Mustapha instead. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Akpabio also clarified that he was not attacking the governors but only relaying the information he got from the committee. He explained that senators and House of Representatives members are also receiving from the distribution because some lawmakers are in different parties than their governors, which may generate a crisis between them. I dont want tomorrow the governors will come and tell me that I made a statement, and this is through their governors irrespective of political parties. They like misquoting me; they will say Akpabio again. This is from the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, not from Senator Akpabio, that irrespective of political party, each states governors will get at least 60 trucks, and the reason they are giving the senators two trucks is because some of the senators and the House of Rep members are not in the same party. For some of you, it is important that you also have something to share with your constituents. Your own will be two trucks -1,200 (bags of fertilisers), and the House of Reps members will be one truck 600 (bags of fertilisers). This information is from the Senate Committee on Agriculture chairman and then backed up by the deputy senate president. This information is not from the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. So, I dont want tomorrow that I will see headlines that governors blast Akpabio. I have not said anything about governors; I have only re-echoed the word of chairman on agriculture. I have said nothing against governors. Gentlemen of the press in the gallery, it is not Senator Godswill Akpabio that gave this information. I am re-echoing the voices of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and the deputy senate president that irrespective of political parties, all the states through their governors are getting 60 trucks, the senators are getting two trucks, and the House of Representatives is getting one Mr Akpabi said. Delay in distribution Speaking on the issue, Mr Mustapha said the trucks ought to have arrived in the states earlier but were delayed because of the advice from the Office of the National Security Adviser. It is unfortunate that the fertiliser distribution had to be delayed but I have at every point in time briefed the senate president on the current status of what has been happening. We had glitches from the NSAs office. They stopped every truck of fertiliser from moving out because of the security implications. They had to certify clearly before they would allow the trucks to move out, and as of today, I just showed the senate president the trucks are being loaded; they will be moved to various states, he said. Mr Mustapha assured that most states will receive the trucks this weekend. I want us to exercise patience by the weekend. I am sure everybody or most people will have received their supplies, please. Excessive rainfall, oil spills, insecurity and other environmental degradation have worsened the food situation. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how excessive rainfall is washing popular Nigerian rice varieties off the local menu. This paper also reported how oil spills from vandalised pipelines destroy farmlands, leading to food scarcity. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday confirmed six persons dead in a multiple accident at Eke Awgbu along Agulu-Awgbu Road in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The states Sector Commander, Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka, that the accident involved a truck, a tricycle and two motorcycles. Mr Irelewuyi said that the accident, which occurred at about 10 a.m. was caused by speeding and brake failure. He said that the multiple crashes involved a commercial truck belonging to BUA with no registration number and a commercial tricycle with registration number NZH84LG. A commercial motorcycle with registration number OLU245QV and a private Honda motorcycle with no registration number were also involved in the accident. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the truck was on speed, had a brake failure, lost control of the vehicle, and collided with other vehicles at a checkpoint and crashed. A total of 11 persons were involved in the crash comprising nine male adults and two female adults, out of which five people sustained injuries and six others were killed, Mr Irelewuyi said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He added that before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team, the injured victims had been rushed to the Referral Health Centre in Awgbu and the dead victims were deposited at St. Josephs Mortuary, Adazi-Nnukwu. The sector commander expressed condolences to the family of the deceased victims and wished speedy recovery to those injured. Mr Irelewuyi urged motorists to maintain a safe speed limit to arrive at their destination alive. Kill the speed now before it kills you, he stressed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), have named two scientists, Umezuruike Opara and Richard Mkandawire, as the winners of the inaugural Afreximbank-FARA Research, Innovation and Competence in Agriculture (AFRICA) Awards. According to a joint statement issued Monday by the organisers, the winners were announced and presented with their awards on the margins of the 2024 Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2024) and Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) held in Nassau, the Bahamas. It said the AFRICA awards encompass three categories, which are the Africa Research Excellence Award, the Innovation-based Entrepreneurship Award, and the Impactful and Evidence-based Policies Award. The AFRICA awards selection process is overseen by an independent awards selection committee composed of globally recognised experts, the statement said. The organisers noted that the prestigious awards honour individuals, groups, or established organisations that have made outstanding contributions towards improving food and nutritional security, income generation, resilience and natural resource management in Africa through research, innovation, agripreneurship and policy advocacy in the food and agriculture domain. ward recipients The organisers said Mr Opara is the recipient of the Africa Research Excellence Award in recognition of his contribution to developing and validating a novel integrated value-chain approach to post-harvest research and innovation, one crop at a time. His work is acclaimed for reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing value addition, and connecting production to local, regional, and international African markets, the statement said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later It added that the Nigerian-born scientist was recognised for his contributions to building Africas capacity for research and innovation in post-harvest science and technology through cutting-edge research, new knowledge creation, and mentoring young, outstanding researchers. Mr Opara is a distinguished Professor and holder of the South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology at, the Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a PhD from Massey University, New Zealand. Professor Opara has published extensively, is a highly cited researcher, and has received several other prestigious awards, the organisers said. Mr Mkandawire is the recipient of the Impactful and Evidence-based Policies Award for his foundational role in conceptualising CAADP and catalysing its domestication in African countries. CAADP is credited with elevating the attention and increasing the investments African countries are devoting to agriculture, the statement said. It said Mr Mkandawire, a well-read Professor, has consistently and vigorously advocated for policy processes that are inclusive and supported by evidence. The organisers noted that he has catalysed very productive partnerships among policy analysts, policymakers, the private sector, knowledge institutions and other actors in the food and agriculture system. These partnerships, according to the statement, have been instrumental in improving the policy environment needed to drive Africas agricultural transformation. Mr Mkandawire holds a PhD in development studies and an MSc in agricultural extension from the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, the award organisers said. It added that he also holds an MA in Rural Sociology from the University of Missouri, USA, and has published extensively on agriculture development policy and related areas and has been honoured with several other notable awards. Mr Mkandawire is the Africa Director, Alliance for African Partnership; Chair, Malawi National Planning Commission and formerly the Head of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at NEPAD. Comments In his remarks, Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, said Africas vulnerability to climate shocks exacerbates its food insecurity concerns and heightens the urgency of structural transformation of its agricultural sector. It needs to boost efficiency and productivity, modernise its agriculture, and reclaim its rightful position as a net exporter of agricultural products. I applaud the winners of the Inaugural AFRICA Awards for the demonstrable and innovative impact they are delivering for agriculture, Mr Oramah said. On his part, FARAs Executive Director, Aggrey Agumya, said: As leading African institutions, Afreximbank and FARA are proud to launch these eagerly awaited, innovation-driven awards that honour illustrious Africans who have been in the trenches shaping the future of the continents food and agriculture systems. He said the awards recognise outstanding contributions in research, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and policy, aligning with the goals of the African Union Agenda 2063The Africa We Want. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Taraba State Government has suspended seven public secondary school principals for allegedly undermining the free education policy of the govenment. Governor Agbu Kefas, on assumption in office in May 2023, declared free education in public schools in the state. The state government also took the responsibility of paying the WAEC and NECO fees of students. The suspension of the princilals was announced in a statement by the Commissioner for Education in the state, Augustina Yahaya. The schools affected are Government Day Secondary School, Jauro Yino, GDSS Kakulu in Zing, Government Day Secondary Schools Kofai and Salihu Dogo in Jalingo; GDSS Kununi in Lau, GDSS Jouro Yinu in Ardo-Kola, GDSS Kakulu in Zing, GSS Takum, and GDSS Yakassai in Wukari. Mrs Yahaya said the seven principals acted with the aim to sabotage the free education policy of the governor. The principal of Government Day Secondary School, Jauro Yino is suspended for collecting money from students for NECO; the principal of Yakasali in Wukari is suspended for collecting money and selling slots of WAEC to external students. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The principal of GDSS Kakulu in Zing is also suspended for negligence, for not monitoring properly while denying 105 final year students from registering their exams, the commissioner said. Other school principals suspended by the state government include those of Government Day Secondary Schools Kofai and Salihu Dogo in Jalingo; GDSS Kununi in Lau, GDSS Jouro Yinu in Ardo-Kola, GDSS Kakulu in Zing, GSS Takum, and GDSS Yakassai in Wukari. We are a serious government and we will not allow uncommitted people to ruin our plans for education, she warned. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says fuel stations should operate longer hours to supply and distribute petrol to address the fuel queues across the country. The NNPC Ltd said the turnaround period of petrol trucking is also elongated to ease the situation being witnessed. The Executive Vice President, Downstream of NNPC Ltd., Dapo Segun, said this on Monday in Abuja during a joint inspection of stations by the firm and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) officials. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NNPC Ltd. and the NMDPRA embarked on a joint monitoring of the supply and distribution of fuel stations in the FCT and across the country to ensure that queues disappear. NNPC Ltd. had said that fuel queues in the FCT and parts of the country were caused by disruptions in the ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of fuel between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorms. It said adverse weather conditions, including rainstorms and lightning, had also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs, and product transportation to filling stations, disrupting station supply logistics. Speaking during the inspection, Mr Segun said there was a gap in the ship-to-shore discharge of petrol, which he described as a volatile liquid. He added that during thunderstorms, it could not be discharged; rather, it had to suspend ship-to-shore movement. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This also affected the loading of trucks at the depot too because of safety reasons. So we have to suspend all that during thunderstorms and thats why you see this tightness. Though we have a challenge over the bad portions of motorways, which deteriorated due to rains and floods across the country, we will ensure that we are loading out all through the weekend and that we are mobilising trucks. We are getting fuel stations to run for longer hours and we are getting marketers to collaborate and share stocks, rather than have a station with more trucks, they can release those trucks to other stations for circulation, he said. The Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, said the fuel queues in Abuja and parts of Lagos arose from the inclement weather which affected operations offshore and routes trucks ply. When asked about its effort to stop hoarding and the nefarious activities of black-marketers, Mr Ukoha said its officials were on the ground going through the stations and depots to make sure that there was no hoarding. Due to the tightness in supply, there may be elements who will try to take advantage of that. We assure Nigerians to go about their businesses and purchase the volume they need without panic, he said. Mr Ukoha said there was no intention or any anticipated plan to increase pump price, adding that the two organisations would continue to collaborate to ensure energy security. On this background, he said, the authority had done its regulation on national strategic stock and framework, adding that it was at the threshold of operationalising the framework. Again, the sensitivity of the pump price is another matter. Once those national strategic stocks are in place the logistic issues we have will be mitigated to a large extent and stabilise both supply and prices, Mr Ukoha added. NAN reports that the team inspected fuel stations in the FCT, including the NNPC Ltd. Retail Outlet at Katampe and the AP fuel station located at Ibrahim Way, Garki 2, which had long queues. The stations managers also confirmed the availability of enough stock, adding that the stations pumps dispensed accurately and relied on constant energy to dispense fuel to motorists. Motorists on the ground also appealed to the government to find lasting solutions and expressed mixed feelings as some have spent longer time queuing for fuel while some did not waste time before their turns. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the federal government is considering relocating some correctional facilities from their present locations in urban areas. He said this was because urbanisation has eaten deep into the setbacks that ought to be around the facilities, citing the Suleja and Ikoyi Correctional Centres as examples. The minister made the disclosure in separate statements on Monday while speaking on a television programme and during a visit to the Ikoyi correctional facility in Lagos. Explaining why the Ikoyi facility should no longer be at its present location, he lamented that it no longer had an adequate buffer zone as stipulated in the constitution. He went further to describe it as a security threat. Of course, you can see the magistrate court here, a church there, residential buildings, and a lot of commercial structures around. The government is looking into how we can perhaps relocate some of these correctional centres, with Ikoyi being very key. Do not forget that the law says you need a buffer zone of about 100 meters. As you can see, the buffer zone here is almost zero. This is a law-abiding government, and we will explore all avenues to ensure we do what is legally right, Mr Tunji-Ojo said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The minister also cited the Suleja Correctional Centre as another example, lamenting how it is only 7 metres away from the next house. The minister added that it was the aim of the current administration to make correctional centres places of education and transformation. However, he noted that the aim would be difficult to achieve in their present environments. Mr Tunji-Ojo also disclosed that the government would soon commence an inmate audit across the 256 correctional centres in the country with a view to freeing inmates who ought not to be there. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In the last six months, more than 24 Nigerian journalists have faced a form of harassment while carrying out their constitutional duties. Officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), under the leadership of the Inspector General (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, were the most prominent perpetrators, accounting for nearly half of the verified cases of harassment. President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Egbetokun as acting IGP in June last year, and the appointment was subsequently confirmed by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in October. On Mr Egbetokuns watch as the IGP, the police officers have harassed and intimidated journalists without consequences and he has been loudly silent about it. Most of the press attacks have followed a similar pattern and continued unabated. No officers involved have been sanctioned or reprimanded, which many journalists and activists believe could have encouraged the police to carry out even more harassment. The attacks range from arbitrary arrests, detention and invitations for no genuine reason. In many cases, the police invoke the Cybercrimes Act, which security agencies, particularly the police, sometimes instigated by influential people within and outside government, have used to clamp down on journalists and activists despite its recent amendment. In February, the National Assembly amended sections of the law after the ECOWAS court declared them inconsistent with Nigerias obligation under Article 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and best practices. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Section 24 of the 2015 law, used to prosecute citizens for insulting or stalking public officials, has been amended in the updated version the Cybercrimes Act 2024. The amendment better clarifies the offence the provision is aimed at as computer-based messages that are pornographic or knowingly false. Yet, the police have continued to use it to harass journalists. Worried by the persistent harassment of journalists, a Nigerian newspaper, ThePunch, noted the worrying development echoes military-era media clampdown. Attacks on journalists The police have been involved in at least 11 recorded attacks on journalists this year, according to Press Attack Tracker, a project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID). The organisation has verified and recorded at least 24 cases of attacks of various forms on journalists carrying out their constitutional duties as guaranteed by section 22 of the Nigerian constitution. The continuous harassment of journalists would impact the overall quality of Nigerias democracy, said CJIDs Deputy Director, Journalism Project, Busola Ajibola. Mrs Ajibola, who oversees the Press Attack Tracker, worries the persistent intimidation of journalists may force them to self-censor themselves from indulging in critical investigative reporting. When journalists withdraw into self-censorship, and they feel deterred from investigating and reporting on very critical issues on corruption, human rights abuses, lack of transparency, we would see a very serious impact of their withdrawal on the quality of the democracy that we are practising, she told PREMIUM TIMES. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson for the Nigerian Police Force, Olumiywa Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, he asked that the reporter text him. Weeks after our reporter sent him the text, Mr Adejobi has yet to respond to the questions our reporter asked him in the message. He has yet to respond to another reminder sent by our reporter on Monday. Tales of harassment, arrests and detention One Thursday afternoon in May, a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Emmanuel Agbo, received a strange phone call from a police officer from the Intelligence Response Team (NPF-IRT), a police formation directly under Mr Egbetokun. The police officer at the other end of the phone identified himself as Ezemba Ezekiel and asked the reporter to come over to the IRT office to clarify a petition written against him. The police officer would later, on request, send a formal invitation letter to Mr Agbo, inviting him over a yet-to-be-published story about a land dispute in Abuja. Though the newspapers lawyer honoured the invitation in Mr Agbos stead, it was clear that the police officer only wanted access to the evidence the reporter had gathered for the story and how he sourced them. Arrests based on petition Before Mr Agbos case, a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Nurudeen Akewushola, faced similar harassment. The police detained him alongside the Executive Director of the ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan, over a story he published. The story, which detailed how pieces of land allocated for the construction of police barracks were illegally sold, also accused two former inspectors-general of police and other senior personnel of the force of bribery. During interrogation, Mr Akewushola noted that the polices interest was in his sources as they specifically asked him to reveal them. He declined to reveal the sources in adherence to journalistic ethics. In May, another journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daniel Ojukwu, was abducted by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and held incommunicado for about two days at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos before his family located him. Mr Ojukwu spent nine days in police custody in Lagos and Abuja before he was released. Like Mr Akewsushola, Mr Ojukwus ordeal was triggered by a petition written against him for a story he wrote. The journalist had authored the story detailing how the Office of the Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs) to former President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly paid N147.1 million to a restaurant to build classrooms in breach of Nigerias procurement laws. Reducing quality of democracy Mrs Ajibola of the CJID feared the adverse effect the attitude of the police would have on the countrys democracy. She said the polices intimidation of journalists might force journalists to over-self-censor themselves from writing critical investigative reporting. She noted that the IGPs silence on the police has emboldened his officers to continue to harass journalists. Nobody punishes them. Nobody penalises them. Nobody is fined. Nobody is questioned. So theyve gotten so emboldened that they are now inviting a journalist for a yet-to-be-published report. I have never heard of it that you invite a journalist for a report that is yet to be published, she added. In the absence of sanctions, the police have continued their attacks on the press. More harassments Around 2 p.m. one day in January, personnel of the NPF forced themselves into the studio of a television station, ABN TV and arrested a guest, Donald Udensi, featuring on a live programme. The police, in the process, damaged the stations broadcast equipment, including a laptop, camera, and microphones, the Director of the Radio and TV station, Ifeanyi Okali, said. The police claimed that Mr Udensis older brother had written a petition against him over a family matter. Despite repeated pleas by our staff to the officers to allow the programme to come to an end before the guest could be arrested, they insisted (on) whisking him away while the live programme was on, Mr Okali said. We find this very provocative and indeed an act of overzealousness by the officers who obviously acted in clear contravention of the rule of engagement. In February, Kasarahchi Anaigolu, a reporter with The Whistler newspaper, set out to monitor a police raid on Bureau de Change operators at the Wuse Zone 4 area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Before she could record the raid with her phone, the police threatened, assaulted and arrested her. I have been arrested, and I am at the SARS headquarters (FCT Anti-violence Crime Unit). I was arrested for recording the raid on the Bureau de Change guys, the reporter raised the alarm in a series of voice messages to her editors on WhatsApp. In another case, on a Wednesday evening in May, stern-looking operatives of the NPF stormed the home of Madu Onuorah, the Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper. They whisked him away, leaving his wife and children in panic. Without access to families or his lawyer, Mr Onuorah was transported over 400 kilometres to Enugu State, where he was questioned and finally released. The Enugu State Commands spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said Mr Onuorahs arrest was due to a petition a United States-based reverend sister wrote against him over a defamation allegation. SLAPP cases Meanwhile, other journalists have been hit with Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits for exposing corruption through investigative reporting. SLAPP suits are strategically filed to stop journalists or media houses from further reporting on an issue. Journalists of the Informant247, a local newsroom in Kwara State, are some of those. On 7 February, police charged four journalists of the platform with conspiracy and cyberstalking under the infamous Cybercrimes Act and defamation under the penal code, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) reported. They included the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Salihu Ayatullahi, and the Managing Editor, Adisa-Jaji Azeez. The rest are Salihu Taofeek and Taye Damilola. The platform published two stories authored by Messrs Azeez and Damilola alleging corruption in implementing projects at the Kwara State Polytechnic. The police had earlier detained Messrs Azeez and Ayatullahi after they responded to an invite by the police headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State, following a complaint from the rector of the polytechnic, Jimoh Mohammed. A magistrates court granted both journalists bail after their lawyer raised a fundamental human rights issue. Not a human right friendly IGP IGP Egbetokun is not a human-right friendly Inspector General of Police, and activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju said. He said the police under Mr Egbetokun have become a tool used to intimidate and harass journalists. He said the police, created by colonial masters as a tool of oppression, have not gotten over that mentality of bullying, intimidation and harassment. Mr Adeyanju said that although police harassment may weaken the morale of journalists, the major challenge is its adverse effect on Nigerias democracy. Its regrettable and unfortunate that, although his tenure is about to come to an end, he will be remembered for all the various human rights abuses that the police have been used to carry out, which include suppressing and intimidating journalists in the country, he said. Rebranding, educating the police Mr Adeyanju said the police had suffered almost everlasting reputational damage in the country. He noted that the conduct and attitude of the Inspector General of Police concerning issues of public interest impacts how citizens perceive the police. He added that the police need to rebrand by focusing more on actual policing to earn the peoples trust. Meanwhile, Mrs Ajibola said theres a need to educate the police force about the role of journalism in a democracy. She noted that even high-ranking police officers do not know the role of journalists in a democratic society. If at the high ranking of the police, they think that a journalist for performing an accountability role that the constitution has obligated him or her to perform if they think that person is a criminal or they think that person is a suspect, then we have a problem, she said. She said civil society organisations and the media must jointly engage the IGP to help him understand how the security agencies perceive the media. Do they even see the media people who do investigative reporting as performing a constitutional obligation for which they have to be protected, not arrested? If they dont, then we need to educate them, she added. 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. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The President of Found Foundation, Darren Walker, said the majority of young people in Africa endorse military interventions if democratically elected leaders fail to deliver on their promises. Mr Walker, who credited his submission to the latest research findings from Afrobarometer stated this in his address at the State of Democracy in Africa Summit held on 22 May in Abuja. Afrobarometer is a non-profit pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, the economy, and society. The Democracy in Africa summit was co-convened by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Shehu Musa Yaradua Foundation. Some West African countries like Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have witnessed military coups in the past few years, with the military leaders appearing to enjoy support from their countrys population. Mr Walker, who described inequality as the enemy of democracy, said participatory democracy will not only empower citizens to create a society that is more inclusive and just but also holds the power to create prosperity for more people, drive investor confidence and increase economic stability. He, therefore, urged the people of West Africa to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of peaceful and participatory democracy which focuses on the voices of the people and respect for their rights and freedoms. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Walker said, Today the people of West Africa paint a clear picture of gathering crisis; where minority groups and other vulnerable communities face threats to their rights and existence, authoritarian governments gaining more power and the majority of the youth being disillusioned that they will endorse military intervention if democratically-elected leaders fail to deliver on their promise. However, we know that within these threats lie the seeds of democracys salvation the people. He said that throughout African history, ordinary people have demonstrated the potential to hold leaders and institutions accountable. He emphasised the importance of expanding democratic and civic spaces for citizens voices to be included in defining the norms for the governance of their countries. Obasanjos remark at the summit In his keynote address at the summit, former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphasised the need for African countries to prioritise solutions tailored to the unique socio-political and cultural context of the continent to strengthen democracy in the region. Mr Obasanjo said the current democratic scene in the region seems to be an oscillating success, riddled with troubling resurgence of military coups and democratic governance often interspersed with authoritarian rule. According to him, the condition is further worsened by external pressures from Western, Russian and Chinese interests. Call for patience, understanding Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the summit. In his address, Mr Tinubu said that regional integration and intra-Africa trade through sub-regional blocs like the Economic Community of West African States, East African Community and Southern African Development Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area were vital to delivering accelerated economic development and to deepen democracy across Africa. Also speaking, the Regional Director, Ford Foundation, Office of West Africa, ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye emphasised the importance for African countries to be courageous and fight for a more sustainable form of democracy and be willing to deal with setbacks encountered along the way. It was very encouraging for me to hear from the Afrobarometer that Africans want democracy. But we also learnt that democracy is a process and not an event, so it is important that we recognise that though we have setbacks, they are part of the process of growth. So that we can be a little bit more patient, more understanding, more resistant and resilient as we fight for the Africa we want. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Heat and haze are expected to become more prevalent in North Dakota as the week wears on, though temperatures aren't likely to hit triple digits in most areas and wildfire smoke isn't expected to cause widespread health concerns. The National Weather Service forecast for central and western North Dakota calls for above-normal temperatures by Thursday, climbing into the 90s and staying there through the weekend. Bismarck this weekend is expected to see temperatures in the mid-90s. That's about 10 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, but not likely to approach records that are in the triple digits. A heat dome that has been baking the West with record temperatures will be shifting eastward. Elevated dew points also could make it humid, according to Megan Jones, a meteorologist in the weather services Bismarck office who specializes in climate matters. "Definitely a change from the weather we've been seeing the past couple of weeks," she said, noting that people who aren't used to the heat should take precautions. The Weather Service advises people who will be outdoors to wear light, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing, apply sunscreen, drink plenty of water and take regular breaks in the shade. North Dakota is on the periphery of the Western heat dome and the warmth will be "nothing too crazy," Jones said, though she added that "It's not out of the question that we could see some highs around 100 in the southwest on Saturday." Meanwhile, wildfire smoke from Canada is once again moving southward. "It's just based on the upper air pattern -- you've got a flow that's really connecting us to northwest Alberta, where there are a lot of wildfires going on right now," Jones said. The wildfires in Canada haven't been as extreme as they were last summer, when blazes scorched about 45 million acres -- an area about the size of North Dakota. The fires that stretched from the western provinces east to Quebec sent smoke south on a regular basis over the summer of 2023, leading to unhealthy air on many occasions. Wildfires so far this summer have burned fewer than 3 million acres north of the border, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Much of the smoke expected in North Dakota this week is likely to remain high above the ground, meaning there will be hazy skies, a smoke smell and bright red-orange sunrises and sunsets, but no widespread ground-level health dangers. "Certainly not near as bad as some of the days we had last summer," Jones said. Air quality in most of the state including Bismarck-Mandan on Tuesday was rated "moderate," though areas in north central North Dakota and just across the U.S.-Canada border were rated "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to AirNow, a partnership of federal and state agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Wildfire smoke is particularly dangerous because it contains tiny particulate matter, the tiniest of pollutants. When inhaled, it can move deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. It comes from sources including the combustion of fossil fuels, dust storms and wildfires. Such smoke has been linked to several health complications including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses. Information on wildfires and air quality is on the state Department of Environmental Quality website, at bit.ly/3OhrD7E. The presidency has said that the suspension of taxes on importation of food commodities is not yet official. On Monday, the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement which announced that President Bola Tinubu approved the duty-free importation of major food items like rice, beans and wheat, as part of efforts to address rising food prices in the country. PREMIUM TIMES reported Monday that Mr Onanuga, in a statement quoting Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari and posted on his official X page, said the President approved a 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities. He listed the food commodities to include Maize, Husked Brown Rice, Wheat and Cowpeas and that the proactive measures were to be implemented over the next 180 days. However, Mr Onanugas post was eventually deleted a few minutes after it was published on his page. On Tuesday, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the statement posted by the presidents aide was still being reviewed by relevant MDAs before it was leaked. The Agric minister did not hold any briefing yesterday. The statement was forwarded to Onanuga to review but we are surprised that he posted it. Its still being reviewed. There is nothing we can do about it. As you can see he has deleted the post, a top official at the ministry, who asked not to be named since he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Onanuga was also quoted by TheCable as saying that the measures are not yet official. Meanwhile, in the statement, he said not only will the government now allow duty-free import for the private sector for 150 days, the federal government will import 250,000MT of Wheat and 250,000MT of Maize. The imported food commodities in their semi-processed state will target supplies to the small-scale processors and millers across the country. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has confiscated substandard, falsified and banned agrochemicals in Sokotos major markets. NAFDAC disclosed this on Monday, stating that the goods worth over N20 million were seen around the old market, kara market and central market. According to the agency, the operation conducted by its Investigation and Enforcement/Federal Task Force on fake drugs and unwholesome processed food led to the arrest of four suspects. Operation The agency said during the operation it screened 17 shops, seized cartons of endocoton super containing banned Paraquat. Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that poses significant health risks and environmental hazards, the statement reads in part. NAFDACs raid resulted in the seizure of 2,096 cartons of SF MOE Soap, 223 cartons of SF Oxxo Purest Soap, and unregistered herbal preparations with pornographic pictorials, posing public health risks. The arrested individuals are under investigation, and the confiscated products will be processed according to regulations for substandard and falsified products, the agency said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later NAFDAC reiterates its ban on Paraquat agrochemicals, pledging rigorous enforcement, and urges the public to report suspicious activities or products to its nearest office. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has reiterated the importance of investing in both the health and education sectors of the national economy, saying the two sectors are critical for national development. Mr Obi, in a post via his X handle on Tuesday also announced his donation of N10 million to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba, Kogi State, North-central Nigeria. Mr Obi said by investing in both education and health sectors, the country would be able to address the diverse challenges inhibiting her growth and development. He urged government at all levels, and also donor agencies to prioritise these sectors in their investment plans, even as he noted that greater attention should be accorded the primary healthcare subsector. Brain drain The former Anambra State governor also spoke on the consequences of the continued exodus of Nigerian healthcare workers abroad, saying the development can also be discouraged through adequate investment in the sector. The exodus of workers has worsened an uneven distribution of workers to health-seeking population ratio in Nigeria. The authorities earlier revealed that the country now has only 55,000 licensed doctors to serve its growing population of over 200 million. Over the last five years, more than 16,000 doctors left the country, and about 17,000 have been transferred. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In 2023 alone, more than 900 resident doctors left the system and another 1,417 professionals were interested in leaving. On this, Mr Obi recommended the adoption of proactive measures that would improve the welfare and knowledge of the health workers. As experts continue to warn of a looming severe shortage of nurses, we must remain proactive by investing in their training. Through that, we can have enough for our domestic health sector, and export more to the global community. Our commitment remains to build a New Nigeria which offers Nigerians access to good healthcare and educational opportunities, he said. Donations Mr Obi said he made the donation during a visit to the institution on Monday. He wrote: In my continued commitment to building a better nation through investing in the critical areas of human and national development; health and education, yesterday, I visited the Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba, Kogi State, where I gave them my support of N10 million. Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Kogi State has continued to play a very critical role in the primary healthcare sector of the nation through its training and nurturing of healthcare professionals who make a difference in society. He said investing in the younger generation is for the good of society and the progress of the nation. I am particularly concerned about the training of nurses because they are at the centre of our primary healthcare delivery. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print No fewer than 69 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force authorities in Cameroon and Niger in a fresh operation. This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the task force, Abubakar Abdullahi, in a statement from Ndjamena, Chad, and issued in Maiduguri on Tuesday. We facilitated the surrender of 69 Boko Haram terrorists and rescued several family members from hideouts between July 1 and July 6, 2024, he said. Mr Abdullahi, a lieutenant-colonel, said that terrorists surrendered during combined maritime operations between Cameroonian and Nigerian forces. According to him, the surrendered groups consist of 13 men, 43 women and children. On the same day, 12 family members of the terrorists comprising five women and seven children were rescued. Both the surrendered individuals and the rescued family were handed over to the troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai in Gamboru and Banki for further action, Mr Abdullahi said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He further said that the troops of sector 4 in Niger Republic had on 1 July received a 24-year-old terrorist, Tijjani Muhammad, who surrendered with one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, and numerous 7.62mm rounds. The information officer added that Mr Muhammad had escaped from Boko Haram camp, located at Libye Soroa, following pressure mounted by the Operation Lake Sanity II. He explained that the increasing number of those who surrendered had significantly weakened Boko Harams operational capability and the morale of the remaining fighters. The army advised other terrorists to lay down their arms and surrender for lasting peace in the Lake Chad basin region. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu indicated Tuesday that his government would create a new livestock ministry as part of efforts to improve meat and dairy production and reduce violence between migrant herders and farmers. The president announced the possible creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development at the State House, Abuja, during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee. When you have a great opportunity like this, why should Nigeria continue in conflict with the calibre of the people that are here? the Nigerian leader said. This presents a unique opportunity also to delineate and establish a separate ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. We will develop the economy, give people the opportunity to excel. The Nigerian leader added, Our vet doctors can give us the necessary opportunity to rear, crossbreed and stop the wanton killings, even animal feeds is a huge economy. Existing concerns Thousands of people are killed annually in violence between migrant herders and local farming communities in many states in Nigeria. Some of the states where such violence occurs are Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and Taraba. Previous governments efforts to end the violence have yielded little results, but Mr Tinubu expressed hope that his government would tackle the menace. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In 2016, under the watch of Nigerias former agriculture minister, Audu Ogbeh, a bill prohibiting cattle from roaming in cities and villages was considered to stop herdsmen from invading communities. Mr Ogbe proposed the National Ranching Policy to solve the menace between sedentary farmers and migrant herders, noting that ranching remains the best solution to end the crises. However, the initiative was criticised by many Nigerians at the time. The implementation of the National Ranching Policy largely failed because the affected states refused to let go of their lands. The states noted that for their land to be used for such purposes, it must be acquired either by lease or purchase. In 2019, the Buhari-led government announced the Rural Grazing Area (Ruga) programme for willing states to contribute large areas of land for the construction of animal husbandry settlements. The move was also criticised by many Nigerians, while many state governors opposed it. However, against the backdrop of the strident criticism of Ruga in parts of the country, the federal government in July 2019 suspended it and announced the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) in its place. Still, the policys impact is not felt, as clashes between farmers and herders persist in some parts of the country. The menace has prevented many farmers from accessing their farms amidst fear of being attacked or killed by armed herders. On Tuesday, the Nigerian leader said he would chair the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee while a professor and former electoral chief, Attahiru Jega, will be the co-chairperson. Im here before you to inaugurate the committee for the implementation of the livestock in our beloved country. First, I must say thank you very much to those who said the solution is far, I said no, the solution is here. With these distinguished personalities, the name, the intellectual capacity, the majority of you have great experience and you want Nigeria to prosper, Mr Tinubu said. Opportunities and potentials Mr Tinubu said the new plan would provide the impetus for Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming, dairy products, and cold chain logistics, which collectively offer substantial commercial and economic advantages. We have seen the solution and opportunity, with this adversity that has plagued us over the years, and I believe the prosperity is here in your hands, the president said. He emphasised that the dairy industry contributes significantly to nutrition and food security by supplying essential proteins and vitamins through milk and its derivatives, such as cheese, yoghurt, and butter, and through its economic advantages. Additionally, Mr Tinubu noted that efficient cold-chain logistics are crucial in maintaining the quality and safety of perishable goods from farm to market, thereby reducing food waste and ensuring a steady supply. This sector will boost agricultural productivity, enhance export opportunities and stimulate economic growth by fostering a robust value chain that benefits farmers, processors, herders, distributors and consumers alike, he said. Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby inaugurate the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee in Nigeria. It is now in your hands, we are ready to work for the success of this programme and for the success of the entire nation. So we leave a Nigerian flag without stain to our children. Thank you very much. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu Tuesday inaugurated a committee to implement his governments livestock policy. At the event at the State House in Abuja, the president announced that he would chair the committee, and Attahiru Jega, a former election chief, would be his deputy and co-chairperson. Mr Tinubu also announced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development. The Nigerian leader said he believes the work of the committee and the eventual ministry will lead to increased meat and dairy production as well as reduce the violence between herders and farmers which has led to thousands of deaths in many states. Read the transcript of what the president said at the event below. Im here before you to inaugurate the committee for the implementation of the livestock in our beloved country. First, I must say thank you very much to those who said the solution is far, I said no, the solution is here. With these distinguished personalities, the name, the intellectual capacity, majority of you have great experience and you want Nigeria to prosper. First and foremost, to provide impetus to enable Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming, dairy product, cold chain logistics, collectively offers substantial commercial and economic advantages. We have seen the solution and opportunity, with this adversity that has plagued us over the years, and I believe the prosperity is here in your hands. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The dairy industry contributes significantly to nutrition and food security that supply essential proteins and vitamins through milk and its derivatives such chess, yoghurt, butter and economic advantages. Efficient cold-chain, logistics are crucial in maintaining the quality and safety of these perishable goods from farm to market, thereby reducing food waste and ensuring a steady supply. This sector will boost agricultural productivity, enhanced export opportunities and stimulate economic growth by fostering a robust value chain that benefit farmers, processors, herders, distributors and consumers alike. Let me take advantage of the presence here, to thank the former executive governor of Kano State and the chairman of All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, for assembling the best minds and experts to find solution by convening national conference on livestock reforms and mitigation of associate conflicts in Nigeria in February last here. The far reaching recommendation in their report informed our decision to constitute and inaugurate this presidential committee on the implementation of livestock reforms and cease the great opportunity to better the lives of our people, rather than the conflict-promoted agenda. It is our renewed hope and I believe that hope is here in trying to see a great opportunity for wealth in a situation that is very conducive. I must mention here that I have discussed in a number of occasions with the governors, the need to seize this opportunity, lets run with it from here. At this juncture, I will appeal to remove everything of partisan politics from it, assume the chairmanship of the committee as the president and appointed Professor Attahiru Jega as my deputy or co-chair. And I asked Dr Ganduje, we say thank you, just remove yourself so that anything of politics in this environment will be erased completely. This is not about politics, this is about opportunity, this is about our nation. So, while I may be absent, Jega will preside and contribute to promote. Weve solved the problem, we have identified the models for livestock management, it is done in other countries, in other climes successfully promoted. It created great economy and empowerment for ordinary people. Traditional livestock system must be reformed to add significant and sustainable value to Nigerias social economic growth and development. With all measures that is available to us. I dont want us to turn this environment to another talk opportunity, I just want to inaugurate this community to ensure that I am ready. I assure you and the Nigerian public that we need to create this economy, seize this opportunity. These ranches you recommend, and promote, I will work with it. And luckily, we have information and technology minister present too, herds of cows can be identified with chips and be tracked these days. If other technologies is available to us, we are ready to work. As I said from the beginning, with you, all of you, the solution is here and we must run with it. The governors are hereby represented, any law that might inhibit the promotion and the actualisation of our objective, the Attorney General is here, please give it a priority and budget and economic planning minister is here, find a budget head for it to grow and finance is here as well to work hard for the money. When you have a great opportunity as this, why should Nigeria continue in conflict with the calibre of the people that is here? This presents a unique opportunity also to delineate and establish a separate ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. We will develop the economy, give people the opportunity to excel. Our vet doctors can give us the necessary opportunity to rear, crossbreed and stop the wanton killings, even animal feeds is a huge economy. Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby inaugurate the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee in Nigeria. It is now in your hands. We are ready to work for success of this programme and for the success of the entire nation. So we leave a Nigerian flag without stain to our children. Thank you very much. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An official from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja, said on Tuesday that the man rescued from a suspected suicide attempt on Monday could face up to one year in jail if prosecuted successfully. The Secretary, Command and Control Centre of the Security Department of the FCTA, Peter Olumuji, cited section 231 of the Penal Code Act to back his claim. Mr Olumuji, who appeared as a guest on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily, said the attempted suicide survivor, Shuaibu Yushau, was still in police custody. Why is he with the police? After the rescue, the emergency services did their normal procedures on him, and you know that under the Penal Code, section 231, anyone that attempts suicide is liable to punishment of one year, the official said during the television programme monitored by our reporter. Mr Yushau had climbed a 120-foot-high mast belonging to ASO Radio in the Katampe area of Abuja, threatening to take his life. The police said in a statement on Monday that they got a distress call from concerned Nigerians, prompting them to mobilise their operatives to the location to arrest Mr Yushau. Channels TV reported that the man threatened to sacrifice his life for the solution to the countrys dire economic situation. In the note he wrote and left on the ground before climbing the mast, Mr Yushau made various demands, which, he said, would alleviate the hardship in the country. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later His demands include restoring fuel subsidies and declaring an emergency in some northern states facing insecurity. Criminalising attempted suicide Attempted suicide is criminalised by Nigerian laws. Both the Penal Code applicable in the North and the Criminal Code Act applicable in the South regard an attempted suicide as a misdemeanour. Section 231 of the Penal Code states that: Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both. Similarly, section 327 of the Criminal Code states that Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year. Mr Olumuji, who was at the scene of the incident, reported that Mr Yushau only climbed down from the mast after hours of pleading with him. He disclosed that Mr Yushau had claimed to go into the premises for an interview without anyone suspecting his intentions of attempted suicide. Mr Olumuji said a thorough investigation was underway to determine how Mr Yushau could access the mast without detection by security operatives. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Yushau had claimed to have observed the mast for about a week before climbing it on Monday. He claimed that his suicide served as an act of protest against the socio-economic hardship plaguing the country. He had penned down his conditions to the government in his suicide note, claiming that he had had enough of the hardship in the country. The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed that Mr Yushau was in stable condition in police custody. Concerns over criminalising attempted suicide However, a consultant psychiatrist and professor, Owoidoho Udofia, who also appeared as a guest on Channels Television alongside Mr Olumuji, raised concerns over Mr Yushaus ongoing detention by the police. He said the survivor should be receiving medical attention instead of detaining him. He also said the laws criminalising attempted suicide were barbaric and should be revisited. Reacting to Mr Udofias concerns, Mr Olumuji said the social development secretariat of the FCT was carrying out medical checkups on the survivor. He also stated that the police have a medical facility. However, Mr Udofia called into question the adequacy of the police clinic in handling cases of attempted suicide. He advised that a man who could climb a mast as high as 120 feet and remain there for hours needed a thorough professional medical examination. But Mr Olumuji insisted that Mr Yushau was not behind bars and assured that the police were handling the case professionally. PREMIUM TIMES reported in October 2023 that a civil society group, Nigerian Mental Health, called on the government to repeal the laws penalising citizens caught trying to take their own lives. Assessing survivors mental well-being Meanwhile, Mr Udofia described Mr Yushau as mentally fit, judging from his suicide note. He argued that nothing on the suicide note connoted mental illness. But he said, for mental well-being, he is definitely not having the best of it. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. Mr Udofia noted that what was written in the suicide note was an indication of a lack of social well-being tied to the current realities in the country. He explained that every Nigerian has been stressed due to the socio-economic hardship, which affects the general mental well-being. He also explained that mental, physical and social well-being form the three pillars of health, and if anyone is distorted, it can wreak havoc. Similarly, Mr Olumiji also said he could confirm Mr Yushau was in good mental health based on his interaction with him. What determines the state of ones mental health could be tied to exposure to social and economic factors such as poverty and violence. Mental health conditions could lead to mental disorders and even self-harm, like suicide attempts. Individuals who attempt suicide have been known to experience feelings of helplessness, bordering on the notion that the difficult situation they are going through could not get better. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has asked the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to halt all statutory allocations to local governments run by unelected officials appointed by governors. This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) on Tuesday during plenary. In the motion, Mr Kuye stated that 21 states in the country are operating caretaker committees instead of elected local government officials as envisaged by Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmaker described this as an affront against democracy and the rule of law. The dissolution of democratically elected councils is in direct contravention of Section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Supreme Court pronouncements on such matters, and a deliberate affront on democracy. The number of states acting with impunity and in utter disregard of the constitution continues to increase, as not less than 21 state governors are currently running local government councils with caretaker committees, he said. The legislator noted that local government is very vital to the sustainability of democracy as they are the closest to the people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The local government, as envisaged by the constitution, is the most important tier of government as it is the closest to the people and forms the foundation of both the state and federal governments, he said. Mr Kuye disclosed that the motion is consistent with the recent stance of the Senate on the same issue, adding that this impunity and disregard of the constitution is a deliberate effort to upstage democracy, frustrate accountability and transparency in the local government, and also thwart their development potential. In December 2023, the Senate passed a resolution to stop allocation to some states after a debate on a motion sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, on the urgent need to halt the erosion of democracy in local governments, Mr Kuye said. Consequently, the House resolved that the Committees on State and Local Government Affairs and Finance should work with the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to withhold allocations to local governments run by unelected officials. It also urged the RMAFC to create a special account into which allocations due to local governments run by unelected officials will be paid until elected representatives are put in place by such state governments. Additionally, the lower chamber asked the attorney-general of the federation to institute legal action against any state that terminates the unexpired tenure of local government officials. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Indeed, as Prof enters the nonagenarian club this week, there is no doubt that what obsesses him remains a fierce commitment to the values of tolerance, justice, good governance and compassion for the vulnerable in Nigeria and everywhere. Plus, an advocacy for youth empowerment in the political economy where gerontocrats seem reluctant to let go of the reins of power. Yes, take a glimpse at this photograph. You would probably imagine, momentarily, a model among the bevy paraded by, say, the popular ritzy GQ magazine. If so, well, you just fell for a disguise. Now, take a closer look. Strip that bucket hat and you will behold, in its luxuriant bloom, that familiar hoary mane complemented by no less an immaculate goatee, to which folks around the world have long grown accustomed as evocative of no other than Kongi in any gathering, anywhere. Today, it took more than yabis (teasing) to extract a few seconds from Professor Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka and get him to shed his accustomed stern mien and momentarily act as a model, one hand fashionably in the pocket, on a North African soil. But without the usual preening or sashaying of the runway. That fleeting GQ moment was, by the way, captured in Fez (Morocco) in June 2023 by this writer, with a camera phone as an emergency paparazzo, after sidestepping a bit to get a perfect angle for the lens, against the blinding lights, in conformity with the elementary law of photography. Amid sustained volleys of yabis by an old disciple, Sir K (Kunle Ajibade), alongside Mrs Rakiya Dhikru-Yagboyaju and Ahmed Garba-Gombe, who formed Kongis entourage, as guests of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, as part of activities to mark Moroccos 28th Book Fair last year. The location was the vast lounge of Nejjarine Ensemble, ornate with its Oriental mosaic and sculptures, perhaps the most remarkable among the kaleidoscope of historical monuments and buildings long classified by UNESCO as world heritage sites in Fez. Outside this sprawling palace (built in 1711 by Sultan Moulay Ismail), history cast a rather long, sepulchral shadow on the forecourt under the mild pre-summer sun. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Indeed, hours earlier in faraway Rabat, no sooner had Prof materialised in a rare white linen shirt from the elevator into a waiting party of his entourage (from Nigeria) and Moroccan officials at the lobby of the exquisite Sofitel Hotel than Sir K lobbed the first yabis by joking if Prof was already considering career switch from literature to modelling. Of course, an inexhaustible bag of humour himself, Prof absorbed as much as he dispensed withering ripostes that sometimes left us breathless with tearful laughter. Sometimes, his humour was self-deprecatory. Like his recall of once being made to repeat a passage and again through the scanner at an international airport abroad, until a further meticulous search by apprehensive security agents revealed that the trigger of the persistently treacherous alarm bell was not more than the phial of granulated native African pepper Prof habitually carries around to spice his meals in Oyinbo restaurants. Even more extraordinary was Kongis undiminished agility and razor-sharp sense of recall at such an advanced age. Eager to show off their abundant tourism treasures, the Moroccan officials had taken us to many high and low locations. Not once did Kongi, barely a month short of his 89th birthday then, appear to have missed a single breath or betray the slightest hint of weariness over an otherwise loaded itinerary. Indeed, something seemed to have moved a day earlier in Rabat (Moroccos political capital) when news circulated that the literary eagle had landed in Casablanca (the commercial nerve centre), straight from the US. (We had flown from Lagos and arrived in Rabat hours before Kongi). For the four days we spent in Morocco, there was always a scramble by local folks to see or come near the first black Nobel laureate in Literature who, according to the Swedish Academy, with poetic overtones, fashioned the drama of existence. The one who, with the sheer power of the written word, had achieved world celebrity. The one whose voice forever instils mortal fear in the hearts of tyrants and bigots everywhere. Word had also reached our mercurial Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a bosom friend of the King of Morocco, who was also in Rabat around the same time. The Nigerian ambassador to Morocco, Mansur Nuhu Bamali (now late) brought His Royal Majesty to see Kongi on arrival at Sofitel. Both had a lengthy private chat on the plum couch in the lounge. Indeed, throughout Nigerias postcolonial history, only a few if any could be said to have been as invested in pursuing the common purpose as Kongi. (A fact now lost on some of our millennials and Gen Zs utterly bereft of a sense of history and quickly recruited as online trolls for puerile graffiti). As for the occasional bucket hat, those who know will reveal a darker story. In the 90s, it served Kongi abroad as a disguise against Abachas paid killers, after being publicly charged with treasonable felony in Nigeria on account of his pivotal role in the pro-democracy struggle after the annulment of June 12, at grave personal risk. Indeed, throughout Nigerias postcolonial history, only a few if any could be said to have been as invested in pursuing the common purpose as Kongi. (A fact now lost on some of our millennials and Gen Zs utterly bereft of a sense of history and quickly recruited as online trolls for puerile graffiti). But in the latter years, that bucket hat has evolved into a civil utility: either as a prop to sneak into a targeted tavern undetected or to simply evade a never-ending stream of autograph hunters and hustlers for photo ops. Two Mercedes limousines were provided for the journey to Fez. But before take-off, Kongi asked that I abandon Kunle and others in the second car and keep him company in his. For the about two-hour trip, it felt invigorating to sit next to and converse non-stop with arguably one of the worlds greatest minds in the last century, the monarch of the language himself, famously described as the conscience of the African continent. Indeed, as Prof enters the nonagenarian club this week, there is no doubt that what obsesses him remains a fierce commitment to the values of tolerance, justice, good governance and compassion for the vulnerable in Nigeria and everywhere. Plus, an advocacy for youth empowerment in the political economy where gerontocrats seem reluctant to let go of the reins of power. The said linen shirt he premiered in Morocco was, in fact, a gift from a young Nigerian fashion designer. He chose to launch it before a foreign audience to help promote Nigerian talent. To the far younger ones like me, Profs father-figure stature naturally makes him a guardian. But despite the vast age difference, Kongi also relates to you as a friend with uncommon solidarity and loyalty. That spirit was on display when I turned 50 in March 2023. He was not in the country when the OPEC President (Tunji Bello) hosted a dinner in my honour in Lagos, attended by the likes of Aremo Segun Osoba, Pa Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi and several media heavyweights. On returning to Nigeria two weeks later, Kongi chose to host a lavish luncheon for his younger disciple at an exclusive hideout in Ikeja GRA. TB was excused because of Muslim Ramadan. But the gang (Sam Omatseye, Kayode Komolafe, Azu Ishiekwene and Andrew Odion) had a swell time feasting. Of course, wine flowed freely. Azu won the additional lottery of a bottle of vintage wine as a takeaway from Kongis famous cellar for a tribute he wrote earlier on me, which Prof found interesting. Eventually, when the waiter brought the invoice, I tried to play smart. In the hoary years, the mammal, according to African wisecrack, should suckle her brood instead, by a reversed law of nature. I thought being hosted by a Nobel laureate alone was already a significant honour and, as a cultured Bini man, I should not allow that to leave a hole in the old mans pocket. The same generosity of spirit is evident in his warm relationship with General Yakubu Gowon today. At the presentation of a memoir by the Oba of Benin early (in 2014), Soyinka continually poked good-natured jokes at Gowon while giving a keynote address to the audiences admiration. It was hard to believe that it was the same Gowon who had clamped him into the gulag during the Nigerian Civil War. His 28-month solitary confinement birthed the book, The Man Died. But on sighting my ATM card and conspiratorial whisper to the waiter on the side, Kongi preempted me. With a vehemence, he insisted on picking up the bill himself and thrust forward his credit card. Overwhelmed, I knelt in gratitude, to which he frowned, jocularly waving me to stand up, And stop embarrassing me in the public. Thats the essential Prof. On his 80th birthday in 2014, I wrote a tribute for Kongi. Ten years later, nothing has changed to persuade me to rethink or regret my words. I crave the readers indulgence to bring the following extracts from that essay: What truly makes Soyinka great is not so much for the monumentality of a talent that spews pithy poetry, gripping prose and transcendental drama. His greatness lies more in the courage and character he brings to bear on creativity. At an age when no territory seems restricted any more, when many of yesterdays heroes and heroines have been exposed to be counterfeits, and when more and more of the surviving statesmen would instead trade away their honour for temporary gains, Kongi remains an exemplar. His fiery pen and caustic tongue notwithstanding, Kongi remains tender at heart, one who may disagree with you in principle but never holds back in the fellowship of humanity or is detained by bitterness over the past. Only that could explain the complicated relationship he has had over the years with his relative, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Feisty OBJ had decided to veer from the political turf as sitting president in 2005 to engage Soyinka in an epistolary joust. In a signed statement, he took a swipe at Kongi for criticising his policies. But discerning observers who read the open letter could not but raise their hands in panic immediately, fearful of the approaching literary wrath on the proverbial errant native doctor who carries his ritual offering past a mosque. While it was readily conceded that OBJ was fussy by nature, many had expected that his fabled native intelligence would have served him well by dissuading him from venturing into a square rope against Kongi in a literary duel. Their worst fears were soon proved right. Soyinkas response was an atomic bomb. OBJs presidential garment was torn beyond recognition by the time the smoke cleared. For once, the Ota chicken farmer became tongue-tied. Months later, the hatred that open roforofo (dirty fight) had generated would not prevent Kongi from showing up at the funeral of OBJs spouse, Stella, who died suddenly following complications arising from a medical procedure in Spain. When OBJ finally met with Kongi face to face on the aisle outside the funeral parlour, the story is told of how the president exploded in a playful rage, Wole, iwo! (Wole, you!), raising an arm in mock threat. Defiant Kongi fired back, Segun, Ori e! thumping his head in a supreme Yoruba gesture of contempt. More embarrassed than amused by such audacity, the guards around the President cleverly looked away. Again, when Chief Emeka Ojukwu qualified the victory he achieved in the sham elections arranged by the Abacha junta to select delegates for the 1994 Constitutional Conference as conferring on him a mandate superior to June 12, vintage Soyinka gave expression to popular thinking in the country then by simply dismissing the ex-Biafran secessionist as an expired warlord. That critical riposte would not prevent Kongi from attending Ojukwus burial (in 2012) to pay last respects to a personal friend. The same generosity of spirit is evident in his warm relationship with General Yakubu Gowon today. At the presentation of a memoir by the Oba of Benin early (in 2014), Soyinka continually poked good-natured jokes at Gowon while giving a keynote address to the audiences admiration. It was hard to believe that it was the same Gowon who had clamped him into the gulag during the Nigerian Civil War. His 28-month solitary confinement birthed the book, The Man Died. When it was his turn to speak, the former head of state threw the crowd into a fresh bout of laughter by cautioning Kongi to watch his tongue: You should remember that it was because of the same sharp tongue of yours that I sent you to prison in the 60s. Being the first black man to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Soyinkas life sends an enduring message: the infinite possibilities of the black race. Louis Odion is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print the result of the last debate and the antecedents of the candidates have put citizens in a dilemma. It revealed the exact fear of the people. The two candidates had one job at the debate: to convince people that their fears were not real in support of their candidacy. However, it has only shown that Americans are going to be torn between the morbid and the criminal. On 27 June, American citizens were caught between the devil and the sea, coming to the realities that followed the presidential debate. They are left with either choice or no choice at the same time: the Morbid Biden or the Criminal Trump. The American elections draw near, and the leadership of the leaders of the free world will emerge, but at this point Americans cannot say with full conviction which of the two options would be the most preferable. The presidential debates have always been a rendezvous point for American citizens to have access to the person of their potential leaders, who speak to their plans, while also projecting on their approaches to solving the issues faced by Americans. Unfortunately, many citizens saw the recent debate as one of the worst in history, with the unapologetic underperformance of both candidates, which underwhelmed the audience far below their expectations. To be honest, the expectation had been high, seeing that the debate involved people who had both filled the shoes of the Oval Office. A supposed intellectual combat between the former president and the incumbent was downgraded to a level quite below High School prefectorial position debates and banters. I mean, Americans tuned their television sets to watch banters, falsehood, and some incongruent dispositions. Since 26 September, 1960, when the first-ever televised debate was held between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, the American political landscape has never remained the same, and the anticipation of the people for subsequent debates is with countless justifications. The debates have always been an important democratic step towards finalising the capabilities of the candidates and their agility and confidence to be the head of the most powerful country in the world. Riding on this background, the debate had been part of the winning factors of John F. Kennedy at the polls, as he exuded more confidence, reliability, and assertiveness in the debate than Nixon. In that debate, Nixon was perceived as quite uncomfortable, and it affected the disposition of the Americans to his candidacy. The debate influenced the decisions of the voters in favour of Kennedy. A similar incident was the 1980 debate, in which the close candidacy of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan was widely decided by the intensity of their performances during the debates. Reagan had appeared quite confident, fitting the American expectations and a better alternative to Carter for the most important political seat in the world, influencing the direction of the voters decision at the polls. Reagans mastery and confidence in the debates also helped him in the 1984 debates, allowing him victory over Mondale. In the 1988 debate with George W. Bush, how Michael Dukakis handled a question put to him on the controversial topic of the death penalty, with an hypothetical example of his wife being attacked, was said to have affected his chances. The people saw him as unemotional from his response, and this posed a great challenge to his campaign. President Gerald Fords statement that there is no soviet domination of Eastern Europe at the 1976 debate did not go well with the citizens, who saw him as a blunder and someone who reality had eluded. The relatability achieved by Bush against a condescending Al Gore during the 2000 debate contributed to his victory. A similar trend followed the 2012 and 2016 debates of Obama against Romney, and that of Trump against Clinton. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later But where the people decide not to choose Biden for his health concern, is Trump the better devil or alternative? America rides on the mantra and philosophy of freedom and protection of the rights of the people. Would Trumps antecedents not be contrary to these ideals? No matter how nations criticise the US, it is a determinant factor in the globalisation trends across the world. Would the United States be ready to leave the countrys duty and determination in the hands of a man of questionable character? From the above, it is obvious that the essence of the American debate cannot be underestimated; it further helps citizens to regain confidence in a particular candidate, somewhat settle close ranges, and propel indecisive members of the electorate to a position. However, the result of the last debate and the antecedents of the candidates have put citizens in a dilemma. It revealed the exact fear of the people. The two candidates had one job at the debate: to convince people that their fears were not real in support of their candidacy. However, it has only shown that Americans are going to be torn between the morbid and the criminal. President Biden has faced a lot of criticism on the state of his health, for an 81-year-old who would be 86 years old at the end of his tenure, if elected for a second term. This had been the thorn in the side of Bidens campaign, as it struggles to prove otherwise. To address a number of the associated issues, Biden released some medical reports that seem to assert or imply a good bill of health. His doctor has described him as a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old mate who is fit to execute the duties of the presidency. The debate contradicts Dr Kelvin OConnors statement about President Bidens health status. His handling of questions, replies, rebuttals, and composure during the debates has brought about more justification for the fears of the people. Biden had such a low voice that the audience could barely hear what he was saying during the debate, and at some point he made wrong references, misapplied statements, and used words that questioned his mental and physical ability to carry on the job. Although Biden had been going through a rigorous work schedule, the trend has shown that he had not been having many impromptu engagements that he was not prepared for. The core of the concern is that Biden might remain unable to make independent decisions without the influence of the people around him, no matter their intentions. Well, concerns have been raised about whether he still has the agility to face intense situations and conditions that are not too far from the office he aspires to continue occupying. We must not shy away from the truth: the presidency is a rigorous activity, and Americans deserve a president who is healthy enough, mentally and physically, to drive the affairs of the nation. But where the people decide not to choose Biden for his health concern, is Trump the better devil or alternative? America rides on the mantra and philosophy of freedom and protection of the rights of the people. Would Trumps antecedents not be contrary to these ideals? No matter how nations criticise the US, it is a determinant factor in the globalisation trends across the world. Would the United States be ready to leave the countrys duty and determination in the hands of a man of questionable character? Trump took his jamboree of lies and falsities to the presidential debates, reeling out facts that were not true, exaggerating his accomplishments, and failing to address the issues head-on. The non-conventional, evading, and notorious demeanour and false statements of Trump on subjects like superpredators statements, tax cuts, the economy, the border, the environment, abortion, and other subjects pose another concern for the people. This circles back to the different character questions that Trump had to struggle with. The federal indictments of mal-handling classified documents that question his respect for his office and integrity to occupy the seat, the Georgia indictment that questioned his attempted interference in the 2020 election, and the hush-money indictment that made him one of the first convicted presidents in the history of America, begs the question whether the country is ready to go on an outing with a convicted criminal in the next fear years. What will the world perceive of a president like Trump? The Democrats need to rise to reality and not be too arrogant to embrace Bidens situation. It would be only heroic to withdraw a candidate whose fitness to run is in question. I am sure the party has a pool of people who would be just as qualified as Biden. Kamala Harris, who has been the Vice President, is another good fit that would be appropriate for different reasons she has served with Biden and expected to be acquitted with the party and Bidens blueprints if derailment would be the worry. Aside these indictments, Trump has brought the integrity of the presidency to question, even under his administration. His statements against immigrants, blacks, and other people of colour have questioned if he is not holding a contrary view to the very principles that form the pillars of the United States. The sins of Trump, while occupying the Oval Office have been disturbing. Americans need to remember how he carelessly handled the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to refresh the memory of voters about his role on 6 January, 2021, when he attacked the capitol with his supporters, and further incited their actions. His inhuman attitude to helpless immigrants who had their families and children mercilessly separated from their loved ones and parents. President Trump failed during and after his tenure to take a bold stand against racism a concern that cannot be forgiven by American citizens who are innately of diverse origins. One must not forget his 2017 comments during the Charlottesville rally. He had also maintained unfavourable foreign relations and policies that saw the respect for the United States questioned by the international communities. So, would Americans be ready to forgo these sins to unthinkingly follow his candidacy? There is an impasse, but I believe the Americans must think outside the box. First, Bidens followers need to urgently call him to point out that his second tenure might undo whatever good he had done in his first. Sometimes, the best warriors are not those who can fight on but those who are disciplined enough to know how and when to stop. The Democrats need to rise to reality and not be too arrogant to embrace Bidens situation. It would be only heroic to withdraw a candidate whose fitness to run is in question. I am sure the party has a pool of people who would be just as qualified as Biden. Kamala Harris, who has been the Vice President, is another good fit that would be appropriate for different reasons. First, she has served with Biden and expected to be acquitted with the party and Bidens blueprints if derailment would be the worry. Secondly, her emergence would be an early credit to the Democrats as she represents the political minority identities in different ways. If she is chosen and elected, she would be the first female president in the history of America and the second black to hold the office, among other reasons. I doubt, though, that Kamala Harris can be a popular choice among Democrats for reasons that space does not permit its elaboration. Well, Americans should not put their fates on the uncertainty of a partys political permutation. However, it seems that Americans are left with two choices, and thats quite a myopic take. It is probably time to consider the others. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Edo State Deputy Governor on Monday visited Jattu Market, near Auchi, where four trees fell, following a storm and rainfall, killing four people and injuring many others. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many people, including traders, had taken refuge under the trees, before wind and the accompanying rain uprooted four of the trees that fell on the people at about 9 a.m. on Monday. The Deputy Governor of Edo, Marvellous Omabayo, who visited the scene, said the state government was in the market to commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones and to assess the extent of damage. Mr Omabayo said the state government would set up a State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) office in Auchi to mitigate future occurrences. The deputy governor commiserated with those who lost their loved ones at the market and promised government intervention. As a government, we are here to assess the damage caused by the downpour and the tragedy in the market. I have directed the local government to make a report on the incident for us to provide palliative to cushion the effect of the incident. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Before the next 24 hours, we will come out with a report on how we can approach the situation. The trees are a century old so we would ensure that trees above 50 years are cut down while new ones are planted, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The reinstated members of the Rivers House of Assembly have given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to represent the 2024 budget to them for consideration. The 27 pro-Wike lawmakers gave the ultimatum at their first sitting after they were reinstated by the Court of Appeal. With the reinstatement, Rivers now has two houses of assembly, with one group loyal to Mr Fubara, and the other loyal to the former governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, who is the FCT minister. Both men are locked in a protracted political battle against each other for control of the political structure in Rivers. Mr Fubara-backed three-member assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo is challenging the appeal court judgment at the Supreme Court. Martins Amaewhule is the speaker of the other faction. Both factions held parallel sittings on Monday. While Mr Fubara loyalists sat at Government House, screened and confirmed a commissioner nominee forwarded to them by the governor, the pro-Wike lawmakers held their sitting at the House of Assembly quarters along Aba Road, Channels TV reported. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Rivers 2024 budget The power tussle between Messrs Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Wike has battered the state legislature, splitting the lawmakers into two factions The crisis, which began last October after the pro-Wike lawmakers initiated an impeachment move against Mr Fubara, has continued to escalate, defying interventions from President Bola Tinubu. The pro-Wike lawmakers last December defected to the APC, prompting the declaration of their seats vacant by then Fubara-backed four-member assembly led by Edison Ehie. Mr Ehie had secured a court order to continue legislative business without interference from the pro-Wike lawmakers. Governor Fubara had presented the N800 billion 2024 budget to Mr Ehie-led assembly, which was considered, passed and signed into law within 24 hours. President Tinubu last December midwifed a peace deal between Messrs Fubara and Wike aimed at restoring peace in the state. As part of the controversial deal, the pro-Wike lawmakers were to return to the assembly and conduct legislative business at a venue of their choice, and with their rights and privileges restored, and for Mr Fubara to re-present the 2024 budget to the lawmakers. But Mr Fubara, who has implemented several parts of the peace, is yet to honour that part of the deal re-present the budget. Buoyed by their court reinstatement, the pro-Wike lawmakers on Monday gave Mr Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to re-present the budget to them. In a move to avert a possible second impeachment move against the governor, the state attorney general and commissioner for justice on Monday secured a court order restraining the chief judge of state and clerk of the state assembly from dealing with the pro-Wike lawmakers. The interlocutory injunction obtained from a State High Court in Port Harcourt also barred the duo from acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment and or any other communication from the Wike loyalists. The suit has Mr Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers as first set of defendants and Mr Oko-Jumbo, and others, the state chief judge, clerk of the assembly and the PDP as the second set of defendants. The court ordered parties to maintain status quo ante litem as of 5 July until the matter is heard and determined, Channels reported. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Abia State Government has said that it recorded about N15.5 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between January and June 2024. The Commissioner for Finance in the state, Mike Akpara, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with reporters on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia. Mr Akpara said that the state recorded a significant increase in its IGR and expressed delight that the figures had continued to improve every month. Before now, we were running at year to date around 59 per cent or 58 per cent but as at today we were doing 62 per cent and it is quite different from what we used to get. The IGR we got from January to June was N15,499,482,456.70. And as at 1 July to 6 July, we got N17,010, 976,942.34, the commissioner said. He said that from January to date, the state generated an average of N17 billion, while in 2022, the IGR was N16 billion. He also said that in 2023, there was a slight increase when the present administration came in and figures showing a significant increase were recorded in the states IGR. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Akpara said that the monthly average revenue is a crucial metric for understanding income patterns because there are times it could either increase or decrease. The way revenue comes in, you cannot say your IGR will be N3 billion. There is something called monthly average revenue, if you look at monthly average revenue from June 23 to June 29, it was N2.5 billion. If 23 June to 29 June had an average revenue of N2.5 billion, that provides a clearer picture of the consistent income flow during that period. This means there might be a time when one would do N3 billion there might be a time one would do N2.1 billion As at 1 July to 6 July, we were doing N2.7 billion as an average, and this indicates that IGR is cyclical. It has a cycle of how it runs, Mr Akpara said. He said the government had set a target for itself in monthly revenue generation as an encouragement to boost the states IGR. According to him, beyond the states budget, the government had given itself the target to generate N4.3 billion average monthly and a target of N52.4 billion by the end of the year. READ ALSO: Gov Otti vows to stop attacks on security operatives in Abia We have ourselves set a target that is far away from what is in the budget so that it will ginger us to make sure we meet the target. But in the budget, it is not what we have but we are looking up to this to be able to meet the target stated in the budget, he said. Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that the government had set up a multipurpose task force as a mechanism to ensure that taxes were paid effectively. For the fact that we are doing these, it means we are going to experience consistent increase in the revenue generation. We expect to do far better than we are doing at the moment, Mr Ekeoma said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print From moves by the South-east leaders for the release of Nnamdi Kanu to the discovery of 427 ghost workers in Anambra State, the past week was eventful in Nigerias South-east. Here are the highlights of the top stories that made headlines in the region within the past week: NAFDAC shuts 100 shops in Enugu market The past week began with the shutting of 100 shops in Ogbete Main Market Enugu on 1 July by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). NAFDACs Director in the South-east, Martins Iluyomade, said the shops were shut down because the owners were allegedly dealing in suspected fake alcoholic beverages. Mr Iluyomade, a pharmacist, said the agency shut down the shops when its officials raided the market on 1 July. He said that during the raid, the agency confiscated a truckload of adulterated products and arrested four traders suspected of selling fake beverages. Troops kill wanted IPOB kingpin, arrest two other notorious terrorists The onslaught against suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Nigerian army continued last Monday with the killing of an IPOB kingpin and arrest of two others. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In a statement on its Facebook page on 1 July, the army said its troops killed the kingpin and arrested two other notorious terrorists during multiple raids of IPOB hideouts in Imo State. It said the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies. Police declare retired officer, seven others wanted Last Tuesday, we reported that the police in Enugu State declared eight crime suspects wanted over alleged murder and terrorism in the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, identified one of the suspects as 47-year-old Uche Asogwa, a retired police officer. Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, named the other suspects as Gabriel Emebe, 41; Ogechukwu Ogbonna, 26; Chimezie Ugwu, 21; Chizoba Ogbuabor, 36; and Evarestus Eze, 43. Two others Jude Nebeolisa, 27, and Chitor Okechukwu, 28 were also among the suspects declared wanted by the police. All the suspects are males and residents of Igga Community in the state, the police said. Mr Ndukwe did not give details of the alleged crimes committed by the suspects. But PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the declaration was connected to the recent killing of two police operatives and three vigilante members in Igga Community in early May. South-east leaders mount pressure for Nnamdi Kanus release The moves to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, intensified last Tuesday with the resolution by South-east governors to meet President Bola Tinubu over the issue. The governors, at a meeting in Enugu, also resolved to tackle insecurity in the South-east. The meeting was attended by other top Igbo leaders and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr Obasanjos presence at the meeting fueled speculation that he engineered the resolution by the governors. The former president, however, immediately denied the allegation. Apart from the governors resolution, 15 senators from the South-east region met with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in Abuja the following day to also put pressure on the federal government to release the IPOB leader. Led by Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South District, the senators suggested the deployment of a political solution for the release of Mr Kanu. Gov Mbah signs four bills into law to stop open grazing, land grabbing The anti-open grazing law is set to be put to a test in Enugu State after Governor Peter Mbah, signed a bill into law to stop open grazing in the state. Known as the Public Ranch Management Law, the new law is intended to regulate the operation of herders in the state. The law empowers the Enugu State Government to set up an agency to regulate both government and privately owned ranches in the state. In 2021, the then South-east governors banned open grazing in the region, but the ban did not yield any fruits. Apart from the anti-open grazing bill, Mr Mbah also signed three other bills into law, including the Enugu State Properties Protection Bill which is meant to stop land grabbing in the state. The governor said the new property law aligns with his promise to enhance the ease of doing business in the state by stopping land grabbing. Anambras ghost workers The Anambra State Government made a startling revelation that it discovered 427 ghost workers in its local government service. The Chairperson, Anambra State Local Government Civil Service Commission, Vincent Ezeaka, disclosed this while speaking with reporters in Awka. Mr Ezeaka, a lawyer, said of the 427 ghost workers, 59 are deceased, five are living abroad, and 40 are retired workers still earning salaries in two tertiary institutions in the state. He said 222 of the ghost workers could not be identified in any of the 21 council areas of the state. Mr Ezeaka said the commission hired a retired permanent secretary to carry out the verification exercise. He added that the discoveries were made during a staff audit launched to sanitise the states civil service. Death of female university student It was a sad day on Friday at the University of Nigeria Nsukka after the body of a 100-level female student of the university was found dumped at the back of a male hostel in the institution. The deceased, Favour Okenyi, was a student in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science of the university. She went missing after attending her chemistry practical on Tuesday. The university management said it was shocked by the discovery of the students body. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print MILWAUKEE, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A.B. Data, an expert in class action notice and administration that delivers unparalleled, high-quality services for clients, promoted veteran staff members Eric Nordskog and Adam Walter to Client Services Directors. They join the ranks of fellow directors Jack Ewashko and Brian Devery in overseeing A.B. Data's project management department. Eric Nordskog worked in private law practice before joining A.B. Data in 2012. He rose through the ranks until he was promoted to Client Services Director in late 2023. Eric serves as the primary hiring and training manager for new project management staff and supervises many securities and consumer matters. Adam Walter, PMP, joined A.B. Data in 2013 and was promoted to Client Services Director in 2023, along with Eric. He manages the Florida-based project management team and improves the company's administration strategies. He directs some of A.B. Data's most complex securities notice and settlement administrations. Since 2021, A.B. Data's project management team has grown to meet the rising demand of intricate and large cases that require proficiency. The need for qualified industry experts and employees who are well acquainted with A.B. Data's processes that can lead the project management team and maintain open client communication is critical. "As our workload has increased, so has our team size. We've added notable industry experts to our staff in the past few years who've each contributed to delivering excellent results for our clients," said A.B. Data President, Thomas R. Glenn. "A.B. Data's success comes from our value of 'people doing business with people'. This enduring trait encourages innovation, clear communication, and a positive, diligent attitude in the workplace that has attracted the best to us. We are focused on developing strong, experienced leaders who will continue to refine A.B. Data's regular processes to improve clients' experience and better meet their needs." About A.B. Data, Ltd. A.B. Data manages the unique challenges of class action administration with convenience, efficiency, and precision for clients in both private and public sectors. A.B. Data simplifies the claims administration process and delivers successful results with advanced technology, products, and services. Learn more at ABDataClassAction.com and follow us on Twitter/"X" at @ClassActionABD. SOURCE A.B. Data, Ltd. CHICAGO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aequum Capital is pleased to announce it recently provided $6.25 million in aggregate credit facilities to a producer of high-quality maple syrup products specializing in blending, bottling, and packaging for the hospitality and foodservice industries. The credit facilities will allow the company to leverage its accounts receivable, inventory, and machinery & equipment in order to support ongoing working capital needs as it strives to expand capacity to meet increasing market demand and enhance operational efficiency. Due to the strength of the management team and a deep understanding of the value in the underlying assets of the company, Aequum was able to enhance the company's seasonal liquidity by providing a more creative structure than other potential lenders. About Aequum Capital Aequum Capital Financial is a specialty finance lender providing senior asset-backed and cash flow debt facilities of up to $25 million to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the U.S. For more information, please go to https://aequumcapital.com or contact Geno Ruggles at [email protected]. SOURCE Aequum Capital Financial LLC KIRKLAND, Wash., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Alair Homes Kirkland, a leader in the custom home construction and renovation industry, proudly announces the completion of a special renovation project at Lakeside-Milam Recovery Center. This project underscores Alair Homes Kirkland's commitment to tackling the significant issue of addiction within the construction industry and supporting community health. Alair Homes Kirkland Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Lakeside-Milam Recovery Center According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the construction industry has one of the highest rates of substance use disorders among all industry sectors. Their reports indicate that approximately 16.5% of construction workers are diagnosed with substance use disorders. Renovation Driven by Personal Recovery and Industry Needs The renovation, led by Alair Kirkland partner Stacy Eakmanwho personally overcame addiction with the help of Lakeside-Milamaims to strengthen resources for those facing similar challenges. By enhancing the facility's capabilities, the project enables the center to expand its services and better support individuals battling addiction, and focus investments that would have supported the renovation into support programs. Statement from Stacy Eakman, Partner at Alair Homes Kirkland: "This renovation project is deeply meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. In the construction industry, we encounter some of the highest rates of substance abuse across all professions. With this initiative, we're doing more than just upgrading a facility; we're laying down the groundwork for recovery and shining a light of hope for our colleagues in construction. Our goal is to motivate the wider construction community to engage actively in crucial education, raise awareness, and drive transformative change." Quote from Carl Kester, CEO of Lakeside-Milam Recovery Center: "Alair Homes Kirkland's generous renovation has enhanced our facilities, enabling us to redirect funds that would have been used for infrastructure improvements directly into our support programs. This improves our ability to make a more significant, immediate impact on our patients' lives. Stacy's personal commitment and the diligent efforts of the Alair team exemplify a deep dedication to combating addiction at its core, where it is desperately needed." Highlighting Industry-Specific Challenges The construction industry experiences higher rates of substance abuse than many other sectors, a fact that Alair Homes Kirkland is actively addressing through direct community involvement and advocacy. This project is part of a broader initiative by the Alair Homes network of companies across Canada and the USA to foster safer work environments and support recovery, setting a precedent for industry responsibility towards its workers. About Alair Homes Kirkland Alair Homes Kirkland is renowned for its commitment to excellence and integrity in building and renovations. Known for transforming visions into reality, Alair Homes prioritizes a seamless and transparent client experience, contributing positively to the communities it serves. About Lakeside-Milam Recovery Center WASHINGTON'S PREMIER DRUG & ALCOHOL RECOVERY CENTERS Over the past 40 years, Lakeside-Milam has helped over 100,000 addicts and alcoholics transform their lives. With seven locations across western Washington, quality care has never been more accessible. Our highly trained staff provide services including residential inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, intervention services, family programs, medical support services, and legal support services. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, please call today. SOURCE Alair Enterprises Ltd. NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aftermarket alloy wheels can be a beneficial choice for consumers looking to enhance vehicle aesthetics and performance. As the global alloy wheels aftermarket market expands, driven by an aging vehicle fleet and technological advancements, consumers benefit from a wider range of options beyond OEM fitments. Despite challenges such as increased OEM fitment, key players like ALCAR HOLDING GMBH, BORBET GmbH, and others continue to innovate, offering quality and customization. This dynamic market growth, projected at a CAGR of almost 4.36% from 2024-2028, underscores aftermarket alloy wheels' appeal and resilience in meeting evolving consumer preferences. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global alloy wheels aftermarket market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report Alloy Wheels Aftermarket Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.36% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 680.4 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.11 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 54% Key countries China, US, Japan, Germany, and UK Key companies profiled ALCAR HOLDING GMBH, BORBET GmbH, ENKEI WHEELS India Ltd., Forgiato, Howmet Aerospace Inc., Lenso Wheels, LKQ Corp., Neo Wheels Ltd., RONAL AG, Steel Strips Wheels Limited, The Carlstar Group LLC, Wheel Pros LLC, and YHI INTERNATIONAL Ltd. Market Driver Carbon fiber alloy wheels, a lighter and stronger alternative to aluminum alloy wheels, have gained popularity in the automotive industry. Initially used in motorsport and aerospace industries, carbon fiber alloy wheels offer superior strength and stiffness, making them an ideal choice for enhancing vehicle performance. Despite being lighter than aluminum alloy wheels, carbon fiber alloy wheels maintain their strength even under impact. OEMs are increasingly adopting carbon fiber alloy wheels for passenger vehicles due to their benefits in improving vehicle efficiency, comfort, and control. Porsche was an early adopter, but now numerous OEMs and aftermarket players offer carbon fiber alloy wheels. These wheels meet and exceed industry performance requirements and help OEMs meet emission targets. The growing demand for carbon fiber alloy wheels presents significant growth opportunities for market vendors during the forecast period. The Automotive Wheels Aftermarket is experiencing significant trends, with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) increasingly turning to lightweight materials like aluminum and magnesium alloys for their wheels. This shift aims to reduce vehicular fuel consumption and emissions, appealing to consumer preferences for eco-friendly vehicles. However, supply disruptions and lower vehicle sales due to the pandemic have impacted the market. Tier 1 manufacturers dominate the scene, supplying to Passenger cars, Luxury vehicles, Mid-priced vehicles, and even SUVs. Technological constraints and the aviation industry's demand for lightweight materials pose challenges. Consumers and enthusiasts seek advanced materials like carbon fiber, while vehicle dynamics such as stability and traction remain crucial. The Aftermarket Type includes aluminum alloy, steel wheels, and carbon-based options. Automakers and consumers prioritize breaking performance, appearance improvement, and vehicle efficiency norms. Lightweight wheels made of advanced materials contribute to modernization and improved vehicle production. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation - Book Here! Market Challenges The automotive industry has seen a significant shift towards the use of alloy wheels by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). More vehicles, even in lower variants, are now being equipped with alloy wheels during production. This trend is particularly noticeable in mature markets such as the US and Europe, where a large percentage of vehicles come with alloy wheels as standard. OEMs are differentiating their offerings by providing better features to consumers, reducing the opportunities for aftermarket alloy wheel suppliers to expand their market share. For instance, in Europe, vehicles like the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Octavia, and Volkswagen Passat all come with alloy wheels as standard. Similarly, in the US, vehicles such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Corolla also feature alloy wheels across all variants. This trend is expected to negatively impact the growth of the global aftermarket for alloy wheels during the forecast period. The Alloy Wheels Aftermarket faces significant challenges in catering to various vehicle segments. For luxury and premium vehicles, consumers prioritize appearance improvement and vehicle dynamics. Automakers often use aluminum alloys or magnesium alloys for lightweight wheels, enhancing stability, traction, and breaking performance. However, mid-priced vehicles and SUVs still rely on regular steel wheels due to cost considerations. Consumer preferences for high-performance wheels and advanced materials like carbon fiber continue to grow. Modernization of vehicle production necessitates the use of advanced materials, such as aluminum alloys and carbon-based wheels, to meet vehicle efficiency norms and reduce fuel costs. The aftermarket offers two main types: New Wheel Replacement and Refurbished Wheel Fitment. The alloy material market includes aluminum wheels, carbon wheels, and steel wheels, each with its unique benefits and challenges. Rim size and material type further add complexity to the market landscape. For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report! Segment Overview This alloy wheels aftermarket market report extensively covers market segmentation by Type 1.1 13-17 inches 1.2 18-20 inches 1.3 21 inches and above Vehicle Type 2.1 Passenger vehicle 2.2 Commercial vehicle Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 Europe 3.3 North America 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 13-17 inches- The Alloy Wheels Aftermarket is a significant sector in the automotive industry. It caters to the demand for replacement and custom alloy wheels for various vehicle types. This market experiences consistent growth due to increasing vehicle sales and the preference for aesthetics and performance enhancements. Manufacturers focus on innovation, quality, and affordability to cater to diverse customer needs. The aftermarket also provides opportunities for independent retailers and installers, contributing to the industry's economic impact. 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 Automotive Wheels Aftermarket refers to the sale of wheels for passenger cars, luxury vehicles, and mid-priced models after their original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation. Lightweight materials like aluminum, magnesium alloys, and steel are commonly used in alloy wheels to reduce vehicular fuel consumption and emissions. Enthusiasts and performance-oriented drivers often prefer alloy wheels for their stability, traction, and aesthetic appeal. However, supply disruptions and lower vehicle sales due to economic conditions can impact the market. Tier 1 manufacturers dominate the market, but technological constraints limit the use of advanced materials like magnesium alloys in mass-produced wheels. The aviation industry also uses magnesium alloys for wheel production, creating potential competition. Vehicle dynamics, axle compatibility, and wheel size are crucial factors in the selection and installation of aftermarket alloy wheels. Market Research Overview The automotive wheels aftermarket is a significant industry, focusing on the sale and distribution of aftermarket alloy wheels for various types of vehicles. These alloy wheels, made from materials like aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and carbon fiber, offer improved vehicle performance and enhanced appearance. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) produce alloy wheels as original equipment for new vehicles, but the aftermarket caters to the needs of consumers seeking upgrades, replacements, or refurbished wheel fitments. Lightweight materials, such as alloys of magnesium and aluminum, are popular choices due to their ability to reduce vehicular fuel consumption and emissions. The aviation industry also influences the market due to its extensive use of lightweight materials. Consumer preferences for lightweight wheels, vehicle dynamics, and breaking performance drive the demand for alloy wheels in passenger cars, luxury vehicles, mid-priced vehicles, and even SUVs. The alloy material market includes steel wheels, carbon-based wheels, and high-performance wheels, with rim sizes varying based on the vehicle type. Supply disruptions and lower vehicle sales can impact the market, while technological constraints and vehicle efficiency norms push the industry towards advanced materials like carbon fiber and modernization of aluminum alloys. The aftermarket includes new wheel replacement and refurbished wheel fitment, with automakers and Tier 1 manufacturers supplying the raw materials and components. The alloy wheels market is a dynamic and evolving industry that continues to innovate and adapt to consumer needs and market trends. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type 13-17 Inches 18-20 Inches 21 Inches And Above Vehicle Type Passenger Vehicle Commercial Vehicle Geography APAC Europe North America 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 Chicago's oldest union bank adopts a new name and logo to reflect its updated digital-first approach and broadened reach CHICAGO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ABOC , formerly Amalgamated Bank of Chicago, today announced a rebrand, coinciding with the institution's 102nd anniversary. The bank has unveiled a new name, logo and visual identity, showcasing a modern look that reflects its rich heritage while setting the stage for future growth. The rebranding provides an opportunity for the full-service, Chicago-based bank to further grow and continue evolving into a national banking leader. Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Rebrands to ABOC Post this A Bank Built on a Strong Foundation "We believe the time is right to broadly communicate the things that set us apart: a strong foundation, profound trust, in-depth financial and banking expertise, and highly personalized and responsive service," says Nick Weaver, ABOC president and chief operating officer. "Through this rebranding, we will re-energize the bank, re-introduce it to the Chicago area and position its capabilities to new customers in other markets, starting with St. Louis." Weaver adds that in today's extremely competitive banking industry, it is essential to evolve and grow in order to survive. "We are eager to demonstrate that we've done just that. We will use the platform of the rebranding to capitalize on our forward-looking, digital, growth-oriented approach." The rebranding includes the introduction of a shorter, more user-friendly trade name, as well as a tagline for the new ABOC brand "A Bank Built on a Strong Foundation." Chicago is being removed from the company brand name to reflect the bank's desire to broaden its customer footprint. In addition, the new logo is an evolution of the previous logo, with an interlocking hexagon that subtly depicts a handshake, underscoring the close partnership that ABOC shares with its clients. It also demonstrates the bank is building on the rich history that has contributed to its success for more than a century. In addition to the rebranding, ABOC is working to attract new union customers outside of the Chicago area by introducing Union Protect Solutions, which caters to the diverse and changing needs of unions of all sizes by grouping services and products all of which can be administered remotely without the need for a physical location into three tiers. This starts with an expansion into the St. Louis market in 2024. The financial and banking landscape has changed greatly since ABOC's founding, but the bank still stands out for its ability to meet the specific needs of unions and provide protection for today and solutions for tomorrow. In addition, over the years, the bank has expanded its tailored commercial financing solutions, sophisticated treasury management tools, trust and investment services, and personal banking, in response to the current preferences and needs of today's customers. "ABOC is well-positioned to compete in an increasingly crowded financial services industry," Weaver says. "We're confident in our ability to distinguish ourselves from our peers with our history, knowledge, expertise, relationships, and banking services." About ABOC ABOC (formerly Amalgamated Bank of Chicago), member FDIC, is a full-service bank with a long and rich history of providing trusted expertise and a wide variety of financial products and services, including commercial banking, union banking, trust services and personal banking. ABOC was founded in 1922 by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union (now known as Workers United) to serve the financial needs of local businesses and working people. Headquartered in Chicago, ABOC has expanded its commercial and consumer focus over the past 100 years. The bank's relationships with customers are based on profound trust, in-depth financial and banking expertise, and highly personalized and responsive service. For more information, visit https://www.aboc.com/ . Media Contact: Charisse Barnachea Mekky Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE ABOC WASHINGTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion is hosting a discussion in conjunction with the second anniversary of the passage of the Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promising to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act. The bipartisan legislation ushered in a range of VA health-care options and benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxins. As we near the second anniversary of the passage and enactment of the legislation, The American Legion will foster a discussion on how the VA has reached over 1 million veterans in screenings for toxic exposure and what efforts are underway to efficiently triage veterans who are identified as exposed to burn pits and experiencing symptoms. This special event will feature the wife of Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson, Danielle Robinson, members of Congress, VA's executive director for the PACT Act, an Iraq War veteran and medical professionals who have studied toxic exposure. The event will be from noon to 1 p.m. July 11 at the House Veterans Affairs Committee Room, 364 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. Among those expected to participate are: Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee member Rep. Chris Pappas, D- N.H. , House Veterans Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee ranking member , House Veterans Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee ranking member Panel participants include retired Army Col. Steve Miska , who is VA's executive director of the PACT Act; Danielle Robinson , the wife of Sgt First Class Heath Robinson ; Army veteran Cynthia Aman , who suffered toxic exposure in Iraq ; Dr. Robert Miller , who connected toxic lung injuries in veterans to exposure to burn pits; and Trishul Siddharthan , who has conducted clinical trials on toxic exposures. To RSVP for this event, please email Henry Howard at [email protected] Media contact Henry Howard Deputy Director Media & Communications The American Legion 765.491.3545 (cell) [email protected] About The American Legion The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans service organization with more than 1.6 million members in roughly 12,000 posts across the nation. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security and continued devotion to servicemembers and veterans. Learn more at legion.org. SOURCE The American Legion This research suggests that the region's inhabitants during the 6th and 5th millennia BCE were more settled than previously thought. They also had a diverse assemblage of cultural material: they herded livestock, made jewellery, and conducted trade along a cultural horizon that extended through the Levant and into eastern Jordan and the Red Sea. In a report published 2 July, in the peer-reviewed Levant journal, the research led by the University of Sydney archaeologist Jane McMahon describes latest conclusions and observations of archaeological investigations of structures known as Standing Stone Circles, a unique type of dwelling in which a double row of upright stone slabs was placed in a circle four to eight metres in diameter. The slabs appear to have been used as foundations for timber posts (possibly acacia) wedged between the two rows to support the dwelling's roof, with another slab in the middle also supporting a central timber post lashed to it. While the researchers emphasise that further study is needed, tools and animal remain found at the site suggest that the roofs might have been made of animal skins. In all, the team studied 431 Standing Stone Circles in the Harrat Uwayrid, a basalt-covered volcanic plateau in AlUla County, with 52 of the structures surveyed and 11 excavated. Jane McMahon said: "This research is testing assumptions about how the early inhabitants of north-west Arabia lived. They were not just nomadic pastoralists eking out a utilitarian existence. They had distinctive architecture and houses, large quantities of domestic animals, and jewellery and tools with an unexpected and exceptional level of diversity. And based on the number and size of the Standing Stone Circles, they also appear to have been far greater in number than previously thought." Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research for RCU, said: "RCU's sponsorship of one of the world's largest archaeological research programmes is deepening our understanding of the region's Neolithic inhabitants. Our earlier studies have shown how they hunted and gathered for ritual, and now we have fresh insight into the fabric of their daily lives. With 12 current surveys, excavations and specialist projects and nine completed, RCU looks forward to learning more about north-west Arabia's rich cultural landscape as we create a global hub of archaeological research and conservation." The team's analysis of animal remains found at the Standing Stone Circles indicates a mixed subsistence economy, dominated by domestic species, such as goats and sheep, but supplemented by wild species, such as gazelles and birds. The significant reliance on herding would have given inhabitants the flexibility and resilience to respond to environment and resource variability including weather, water and vegetation. Arrowheads analysed by the team are of type and form analogous with the arrowhead types found in southern and eastern Jordan. Among other evidence, this provides the clearest evidence that the populations of the two areas interacted, though the nature of this interaction is not yet apparent. Smaller items found at the sites also provide clues to a more interconnected region during this period. For example, the team found gastropod and bivalve shells, which were often pierced with a single hole and possibly used as beads. The genus of the shells matches those in the Red Sea, 120 kilometres to the west, suggesting a connection with the coast during the Neolithic. Other discoveries include jewellery items such as sandstone and limestone rings or bracelets, as well as pendants. The team also unearthed an ochre-red sandstone crayon, which could have been used for drawing. "The connected but discrete nature of the Neolithic in AlUla is becoming apparent," the researchers write. The study's co-authors include Yousef AlBalawi, an AlUla community member who provided ethnographic insights. Students from Saudi universities including King Saud University and the University of Hail also assisted. The full report can be read at HERE An image gallery, including an evidence-based sketch of what a Standing Stone Circle might have looked like, can be viewed and downloaded at HERE. About the Royal Commission for AlUla The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU's long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area's natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457613/The_Royal_Commission_for_AlUla.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457612/The_Royal_Commission_for_AlUla.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457611/The_Royal_Commission_for_AlUla.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457610/The_Royal_Commission_for_AlUla.jpg WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED 162bn ( USD 174bn ) alternative asset manager rapidly establishing EMEA footprint NEW YORK and FRANKFURT, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Owl Capital has bolstered its DACH Institutional Business Development team, as it looks to expand its presence across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The 162bn (USD 174bn) alternative asset manager, known for its Private Credit, GP Strategic Capital and Real Estate platforms, has appointed Antonis Maggoutas as a managing director and Head of DACH for its Institutional Business Development team. Based in the firm's newly opened Frankfurt office, he will be overseeing Blue Owl's DACH sales and client services activities across all of Blue Owl's investment platforms, with the aim to engage with key clients and prospects across the region. Before joining Blue Owl, Antonis led the DACH business development team at Federated Hermes. He will be joined by Nicolas Schild, who joined the firm from Geneva-based RAM Active Investments last month. These hires form part of a group of recent senior additions across the Netherlands, Nordics and the Middle East, consistent with the firm's commitment to expand its presence across the EMEA region. Blue Owl Capital Head of EMEA Michael Burns said, "Antonis and Nicolas are seasoned industry veterans with extensive experience in sales and client services across the DACH region. We are excited to welcome them along with our other new hires across Europe and the Middle East as we further expand our client coverage in these critical markets." About Blue Owl Capital Inc. Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) is a leading asset manager that is redefining alternatives. With over $174 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2024, we invest across three multi-strategy platforms: Credit, GP Strategic Capital, and Real Estate. Anchored by a strong permanent capital base, we provide businesses with private capital solutions to drive long-term growth and offer institutional investors, individual investors, and insurance companies differentiated alternative investment opportunities that aim to deliver strong performance, risk-adjusted returns, and capital preservation. Together with over 725 experienced professionals globally, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com. Investor Contact Ann Dai Head of Investor Relations [email protected] Media Contact Nick Theccanat Principal, Corporate Communications & Government Affairs [email protected] Bluebonnet Fiber is set to expand its operations, aiming to provide internet access to over 48,000 households and businesses across 53 rural and sub-urban areas in Texas. SAN ANTONIO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluebonnet Fiber has announced a strategic expansion of its business plan as part of its mission to close the digital divide, starting in Texas. Texas, recognized as the second-largest economy and home to the largest rural population base in the country, will be the focus of this ambitious project. The initiative aims to provide affordable high-speed internet access services to over 48,000 unserved or underserved locations across 53 rural and suburban areas. The services will offer residents and business speeds up to 10Gig, enterprise speeds up to 100Gig and wholesale dark fiber. Wyatt Ciomperlik, President of Operations at Bluebonnet Fiber, highlighted the considerable progress already made, "We have already partnered with the USDA to complete pre-construction activities such as system design and engineering, feasibility studies, and public surveys," he said. This partnership underscores Bluebonnet Fiber's commitment to using all available resources and ability to ensure the project's success. The construction project, valued at approximately $165 million, is set to be completed over a four-year period. Bluebonnet Fiber is seeking partnerships with private investors to cover 25% of the capital expenditure. The project is expected to generate robust financial returns, with projected EBITDA exceeding $25 million annually in the first year after completion, and it is anticipated to continue growing consistently over the asset's projected 50-year service life. Janice Ciomperlik, President of Finance at Bluebonnet Fiber, emphasized the company's confidence in the project's financial viability. "Given our unique business model, strong execution rigor, and expertise to serve the rural markets, the project will deliver strong value to our long-term partners," she said. This projection reflects the company's strategic planning and deep understanding of the rural market dynamics. Bluebonnet Fiber is actively seeking partnerships with private investors to support this transformative project. For more information about the project or to explore partnership opportunities, interested parties can contact our team at [email protected], call us at 1 (855) 956-2583, or visit us at https://www.bluebonnetfiber.net/investors/. About Bluebonnet Fiber Bluebonnet Fiber is a pioneering company dedicated to bridging the digital divide in rural America. By providing affordable and reliable high-speed internet access, Bluebonnet Fiber aims to empower underserved communities, fostering economic growth and improving quality of life. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, Bluebonnet Fiber continues to expand its footprint, delivering innovative technology solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural areas. Media Contact: [email protected] 1 (855) 956-2583 Photos: https://www.prlog.org/13028183 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Bluebonnet Fiber SOMERVILLE, Mass. and HOUSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Greentown Labs , the largest climatetech incubator in North America, today announced global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as its newest Terawatt Partnerthe highest level of engagement with the incubator. The partnership is part of BCG's commitment to driving positive environmental impact together with the firm's partners and clients, as well as within its own operations. BCG is working to achieve net-zero climate impact by 2030 and, from there, to become climate positive, removing more carbon from the atmosphere than the firm emits each year. "We are very proud of our partnership with Greentown Labs, which builds on BCG's track record of supporting cutting-edge emerging climate technology solutions," said BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner Cornelius Pieper. "Scaling new technologies is essential to closing the gap to global climate targets. BCG is excited to support Greentown in its role of accelerating climatetech startups' journey toward commercialization." Earlier this year, with BCG's help, Greentown embarked on an effort to refresh its mission, vision, and strategy. "Greentown's sharpened missionto accelerate climatetech innovation and commercialization by empowering entrepreneurs and enabling collaborationemphasizes our commitment to providing best-in-class support to our member companies as they work to scale their technologies and teams," said Greentown Labs Interim CEO Kevin Dutt. "We're thrilled to have Managing Director and Partner David Potere join us as our newest member of Greentown's Industry Leadership Council ," said Greentown Senior Vice President of Partnerships Aisling Carlson. "BCG will be a tremendous asset to our community of climatetech entrepreneurs." Greentown Labs Media Contact Reena Karasin Director of Communications [email protected] BCG Media Contact Anca Webber Global Media Relations Director [email protected] About Greentown Labs Greentown Labs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accelerating climatetech innovation and commercialization by empowering entrepreneurs and enabling collaboration. As the largest climatetech startup incubator in North Americawith locations in Somerville, Mass. and Houston, TexasGreentown convenes the climatetech ecosystem to provide entrepreneurs the community, connections, and resources they need to thrive. Greentown is home to more than 200 startups and has supported more than 500 since its founding in 2011; these startups have collectively created more than 11,000 jobs and raised more than $5.7 billion in funding. For more information, visit www.greentownlabs.com or follow Greentown on LinkedIn . About BCG Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholdersempowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place. SOURCE Greentown Labs MIAMI, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boyne Capital ("Boyne") a Miami, FL based private equity firm focused on lower middle market companies, announced today the sale of its portfolio company, Infusion Associates ("IA" or the "Company") to Vivo Infusion ("Vivo"). Boyne acquired IA in November of 2018. Infusion Associates, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a leading provider of ambulatory infusion services across the Midwest U.S. The Company specializes in long-term treatment of chronic health conditions across a range of therapeutic areas including neurology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, and immunology. With an extensive formulary of more than 160 therapies, and a dedication to clinical research that has kept IA at the forefront of emerging treatment pathways, the Company has developed a reputation for high quality patient care and management of complex conditions in an affordable and accessible setting. Since investing in IA and partnering with Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Khan Nedd, Boyne has worked closely with management to support the Company's development, overseeing revenue and EBITDA growth in excess of 5x. This included expansion from a single location in Grand Rapids to 14 locations across Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, facilitated by a refined de novo buildout playbook and seven targeted acquisitions since 2020. To support this growth plan, the Company invested significantly in corporate infrastructure, including the recruitment of a seasoned leadership team and holistic systems upgrades to establish industry-leading data tools and operational visibility. Chuck Jett, CEO of Infusion Associates, said, "Boyne has been a valuable partner to Infusion Associates, taking a hands-on and collaborative approach to help us establish the team, systems and capabilities that have been foundational to our success. Together we have positioned the Company for continued growth as part of the Vivo Infusion platform, and I am grateful to Boyne for their support. I would also like to thank the amazing Infusion Associates team that has helped us continuously reach greater heights while maintaining a best-in-class patient experience every step of the way." Derek McDowell, Boyne's Managing Partner and CEO, said "We thank the Infusion Associates management team for their tremendous efforts building the Company over the past five years, and Dr. Nedd for choosing Boyne Capital as his partner to realize his entrepreneurial dream. The Company's growth of more than 400% exemplifies how Boyne Capital can help drive founder-owned businesses to realize their full potential. This transaction is an amazing outcome for Infusion Associates shareholders, and we wish the team continued success." Scott Bartnick, Boyne Principal, added "Our partnership with the Infusion Associates team has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and we are grateful to Chuck Jett, COO Lindsey Savickas, Dr. Nedd, and the entire Infusion Associates team for their dedication and leadership. Together, we have dramatically increased the breadth and depth of the Company's market presence across the Midwest, establishing the Company at the forefront of an industry with extraordinary momentum while playing a critical role in lowering the cost of chronic disease treatment." Adam Herman, Boyne's COO, said "The Infusion Associates story is a great example of Boyne's multi-faceted operational model in action. At the time of our initial investment, the Company had already established an outstanding patient-first culture, but the infrastructure to support an ambitious expansion plan was not yet in place. Leveraging Boyne's unique operations and human capital resources, we established the capabilities and leadership that enabled significant growth while preserving the culture and patient experience that differentiate Infusion Associates in the market." Khan Nedd, Founder and CMO of Infusion Associates, said "I selected Boyne as a partner due to their expertise in team and business-building, which has been instrumental in evolving Infusion Associates into a leading chronic disease management platform serving communities across the Midwest. Our collaboration has been incredibly fruitful and has created great momentum heading into this exciting next chapter with Vivo." TripleTree served as exclusive financial advisor and DLA Piper served as legal advisor to Infusion Associates. About Boyne Capital Boyne Capital is a Florida-based private equity firm focused on investments in lower middle market companies. Founded in 2006, Boyne has successfully invested in a broad range of industries, including healthcare services, consumer products, niche manufacturing, and business and financial services among others. Beyond financial resources, Boyne provides industry and operational expertise to its portfolio companies and partners with management to drive both company performance and growth. Boyne specializes in providing the capital necessary to fund corporate growth and facilitate owners and shareholders' partial or full exit. Contact Scott Bartnick at [email protected] or 786.539.2247 with inquiries related to the sale. Media Contact Natalia Cosio [email protected] SOURCE Boyne Capital - Venture seeds new JV with acquisition totaling 386,705 square feet - The Venture has $300 million in purchasing capacity ROSEMONT, Ill., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Brennan Investment Group ("Brennan"), a U.S. based real estate firm, and an institutional client of Arch Street Capital Advisors ("Arch Street"), a New York based real estate investment advisory firm, have announced the formation of their tenth joint venture to acquire, own and manage a substantial portfolio of industrial properties throughout the United States. The venture will focus on acquiring individual industrial assets in top industrial markets in the United States that are mission critical facilities to tenants and leased on a long-term basis. The new venture acquired a critical manufacturing property totaling 386,705 square feet in Corbin, KY near Knoxville, TN. The property is 100% leased to a subsidiary of Treves Group, a leading global auto supplier focused on automotive interiors and acoustic environments. "We are excited to launch our tenth venture to invest in mission critical facilities throughout the country," said Michael Brennan, Chairman and Managing Principal of Brennan Investment Group. "The United States industrial market remains strong and continues to benefit from long term secular trends including e-commerce, automation, nearshoring, supply chain repositioning and data centers." Over the past 12 years, Brennan and Arch Street have collectively acquired over 100 properties comprising nearly 25 million square feet in the single-tenant, net lease sector. The venture seeks to build on the partners' prior success in the sector. Anup Patel, CEO of Arch Street, commented, " We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with Brennan Investment Group and establish our tenth platform focused on net lease mission-critical industrial assets. The current market presents an exceptionally compelling investment opportunity, and we remain eager to identify and execute promising transactions." Brennan and Arch Street continue to seek net leased industrial investments meeting the following criteria: (i) location in the top 100 U.S. markets; (ii) 15-year minimum lease term; (iii) non-investment grade credits; (iv) significant facility investment by the tenant; and (v) all industrial facility types, including manufacturing, assembly, R&D and distribution. About Brennan Investment Group Brennan Investment Group, a Chicago-based private real estate investment firm, acquires, develops, and operates industrial properties in select major metropolitan markets throughout the United States. Since 2010, Brennan Investment Group has acquired over $4 billion in industrial real estate. The company's current portfolio spans 27 states and encompasses over 52 million square feet. Brennan Investment Group co-invests with private and institutional capital to achieve outstanding risk-adjusted returns. The firm's management team is among the most accomplished in its industry, having invested in over 4,000 properties covering more than 60 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. For more information on Brennan Investment Group, go to brennanllc.com. About Arch Street Capital Advisors Arch Street Capital Advisors is a full-service real estate investment and advisory firm founded in 2003. Arch Street specializes in advising investors on their real estate strategies and have advised capital partners on more than $9.7 billion in transactions. The firm manages a diverse portfolio of investments spanning multiple real estate sectors and risk-return profiles. As an organization, Arch Street possesses significant transactional experience and expertise in servicing the needs of a wide variety of capital partners. For more information, please visit www.archstreetcapital.com. CONTACT: Ursula Walendzewicz, [email protected], 8476308722 SOURCE Brennan Investment Group, LLC It's no surprise that cheese holds a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of Americans. Recent research reveals that nearly 96% of Americans enjoy cheese regularly and about a third savor it in their meals on average of three times daily. From the mouth-watering cheese curds of Wisconsin to the artisanal fromage of Minnesota the first-ever AmericInn Cheesiest Family will dive headfirst into seven nights of cheesy bliss. "No matter where you live, nothing beats the bonding power of cheese. And when it comes to the best, there's no doubt the Midwest reigns supreme. Just like cheese brings families together over delicious meals, AmericInn connects guests with unforgettable travel experiences across America's heartland and beyond. Our first ever Cheesiest Family will fully immerse themselves in the best cheese-scapades, experiencing AmericInn signature hospitality and sharing their memorable adventures on social media." - Clem Bence, Vice President and Brand Leader, AmericInn by Wyndham A Legendary Cheese-Filled Journey on The Open Road The adventures of America's Cheesiest Family know no bounds! This cheese-filled escapade will take your family through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, immersing you in all things cheese from start to finish. Experience a traditional Wisconsin-style cheese curds crawl and visit an authentic Iowa dairy farm to meet the cows behind the cheesy goodness. And for cheese enthusiasts seeking the wildest and most indulgent flavors, the Minnesota State Fair awaits as the perfect finale to your cheesy adventure! As you savor and explore, you'll capture your adventures on social media, creating content for AmericInn channels. America's Welcoming Neighbor Founded in the heart of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, AmericInn by Wyndham got its start as a charming Midwest brand, where every guest is treated like a beloved neighbor, offering cozy comfort and genuine hospitality. Now, with over 225 locations across the United States, AmericInn proudly embodies American values, dedicated to making a positive impact on both guests and communities. As they embark on a cheese-filled adventure, the winning family will stay at AmericInn properties along the way, savoring the warmth and welcoming spirit of America at every delightful stop. The Search is On Do you have what it takes to be crowned the AmericInn Cheesiest Family? If your crew is passionate about creating engaging content and capturing share-worthy memories, you could be the perfect fit. Responsibilities: Participate in a range of cheese-themed experiences for seven days. Document your adventures in real-time and deliver unique photo and video content. Create content for the brand social media channels. Inspire others by sharing your experiences on your social media channels. Qualifications: Must be available to travel on or about August 23 August 30, 2024 . . A social media-savvy family with active social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred). Parents or guardians must be at least 21 years old. U.S. resident with a valid federal or state-issued ID and ability to drive to select locations. The Perks: Seven paid nights at AmericInn hotels $10,000 travel stipend (to cover airfare, ground transportation, and on-the-go travel expenses) travel stipend (to cover airfare, ground transportation, and on-the-go travel expenses) $5,000 cash cash Wyndham Rewards Diamond level membership Diamond level membership Suitcase full of AmericInn swag An epic summer vacation accompanied by a belly full of cheese. How to Apply: To enter the contest, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com/cheesiestfamily to submit a written entry with no less than 300 words or a 60-second or shorter video describing what makes your family the ideal candidate for the job. Video submissions that highlight applicants' storytelling skills and social savviness are strongly encouraged. to submit a written entry with no less than 300 words a 60-second or shorter video describing what makes your family the ideal candidate for the job. Video submissions that highlight applicants' storytelling skills and social savviness are strongly encouraged. Families must also provide a family photo, the full names of all applicants, the handles to public and active social media accounts, plus current state and town/city of residence. Submissions will be judged based on originality, creativity, social media savviness, and the family's undeniable love for cheese. Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM ET on July 30, 2024 . on . Applicants must have consent from all parties that are included in both video and written applications. Entries must comply with official rules. If you're a family who loves creating engaging experiences together and documenting your family's adventures, apply to be the AmericInn Cheesiest Family. AmericInn will select the winning family on or about the week of August 12, 2024. No purchase is necessary to enter. The approximate retail value of the award package is $15,700. For more information, including official rules, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com/cheesiestfamily. About AmericInn by Wyndham AmericInn by Wyndham prides itself on delivering quality stays and genuine, neighborly service at more than 200 locations across the United States. Contemporary curb appeal, consistency and guest satisfaction are the brand's specialties, providing a warm retreat complete with hot breakfast, high-speed Wi-Fi, and warm java on the house. For more information, visit www.americinn.com, and like AmericInn on Facebook. About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,200 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 876,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 25 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 108 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com. SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts BETHESDA, Md., July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE American: LEU) today announced that Amir Vexler, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Kevin Harrill, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to participate in the Citi 2024 One-on-One Midstream & New Energy Infrastructure Conference on August 13 and 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company will host one-on-one investor meetings on both days. To request an invitation or to schedule a one-on-one meeting with management at the conference, please contact your Citi representative. About Centrus Energy Centrus Energy is a trusted supplier of nuclear fuel and services for the nuclear power industry. Centrus provides value to its utility customers through the reliability and diversity of its supply sources helping them meet the growing need for clean, affordable, carbon-free electricity. Since 1998, the Company has provided its utility customers with more than 1,750 reactor years of fuel, which is equivalent to 7 billion tons of coal. With world-class technical and engineering capabilities, Centrus is also advancing the next generation of centrifuge technologies so that America can restore its domestic uranium enrichment capability in the future. Find out more at www.centrusenergy.com. Contacts: Investors: Dan Leistikow at [email protected] Media: Lindsey Geisler at [email protected] SOURCE Centrus Energy Corp. Steven Dalton Joins Cetera via Cetera Wealth Partners SAN DIEGO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera Financial Group, the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub, announced that Steven Dalton has joined Cetera Advisor Networks via Cetera Wealth Partners. Dalton provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to clients and had more than $146 million in assets under administration** as of January 24, 2024. "As I've transitioned to Cetera, I've been impressed with the firm's ability to make the big feel small," Dalton said. "I've appreciated partnering with a broker-dealer that makes me feel like more than a number, while still providing me with a far-reaching infrastructure of services and products to help me not only maintain close client relationships, but also to grow my business. I look forward to further benefitting my practice and, most importantly, my clients with Cetera's help." "I'm happy to welcome Steven to Cetera Wealth Partners and I look forward to working with him to enhance his already robust practice," said Tom Halloran, president of Cetera Wealth Partners. "Cetera Wealth Partners is an ideal fit for advisors serious about growing and providing the most robust opportunities for clients. I know Steven's practice and his clients will thrive in this environment." Dalton holds his Series 7, Series 63 and Series 66 registrations. He runs a holistic financial planning and wealth management service practice working mainly with retirees and those aiming toward early retirement. When he's not working, Dalton serves on the board of the Mary Gale Foundation, which supports low-income women aged 65 or older in Manchester, NH. Click here for more information about Cetera Advisor Networks and click here for Cetera Wealth Partners. About Cetera Cetera Financial Group, which is owned by Cetera Holdings (collectively, Cetera), is the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub where financial advisors and institutions optimize their control and value creation. Breaking away from a commoditized and homogenous IBD model, Cetera offers financial professionals and institutions the latest solutions, support, and services to grow, scale, or transition with a merger, sale, investment, or succession plan. Cetera proudly serves independent financial advisors, tax professionals, licensed administrators, large enterprises, as well as institutions, such as banks and credit unions, providing an established and repeatable blueprint for scalable growth. Home to more than 12,000 financial professionals and their teams, Cetera oversees more than $505 billion in assets under administration and $213 billion in assets under management, as of March 31, 2024. In a recent advisor satisfaction survey of nearly 35,000 reviews, Cetera's Voice of Customer (VoC) program vigorously measures advisor experience and satisfaction 24/7. Currently, it's ranked 4.8 out of 5 stars. Visit www.cetera.com, and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. "Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, the following FINRA/SIPC members: Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Located at: 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101. *Cetera Wealth Partners is a region of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. Registered Representative offering securities through Cetera Advisor Networks, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera firms are under separate ownership from any other entity. **Value approximated based on asset holding details provided to Cetera. SOURCE Cetera Financial Group Chobani will make an average of 145,000 pounds of nutrient rich dairy available monthly NEW BERLIN, N.Y., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chobani, LLC, a next generation food and beverage company originally known for its high-quality Greek Yogurt, launched its first-ever shelf-stable low-fat dairy milk, Chobani Super Milk. This latest product innovation is nutrient rich and is made specifically to be donated to support people impacted by disasters as well as help some of the most vulnerable in Chobani's hometowns. Chobani Super Milk "We know food is essential, but it becomes an even greater need during natural disasters. What we did at Chobani was make a solution that could be deployed when and where it's needed. We call it Super Milk high protein, high fiber, nutritious milk that is wholesome and shelf stable," said Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani. "It's been a true gift for our entire team to bring this to life. We are humbled and honored to help those in need during hard times." Developed to help the American Red Cross and Chobani's local food bank and pantry partners, Chobani Super Milk addresses a critical need by providing access to nutrient-dense, high-protein, low-fat dairy to those who need it most. On average, the American Red Cross responds to approximately 65,000 disasters annually across the United States1. At the same time, there are already 44 million Americans facing food insecurity2. Chobani will produce an average of 145,000 pounds of Chobani Super Milk monthly to be deployed by the American Red Cross nationally in areas facing natural disasters and to local partners in central New York and southern Idaho communities. Ulukaya continued, "We are spreading Super Milk across the country through amazing partnerships with the American Red Cross and local foodbanks and pantries in southern Idaho and central New York. We are so proud to work with these inspiring organizations who are focused on delivering food to more people. We could not make this impact without the power of these partnerships, and it is an honor to work together." "I'm inspired by forward-thinking Annual Disaster Giving Program members like Chobani that make it possible for us to support those in need at a moment's notice," said Cliff Holtz, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Last week, Chobani sent a truckload of Super Milk to New Mexico in just a few days, helping power our relief efforts for those impacted by the wildfires. We're grateful for their generosity and partnership as families continue to rely on the Red Cross for vital comfort and care in the wake of more frequent and intense disasters." Like all Chobani products, Chobani Super Milk is made with high-quality, wholesome ingredients. With a 9-month shelf life and no need for refrigeration until opened, the 32 fl oz package provides 4 servings per container and offers 13g of protein 50% more protein than traditional milk 7g prebiotic fiber for digestive health, 9g of sugar 25% less sugar than traditional milk and no sugar added3 400mg of calcium 25% more calcium than traditional milk, and is fortified with Vitamins A & D.* Super Milk was created after Chobani recognized the need for nutritious, high-quality dairy products during disaster relief efforts that do not require refrigeration. The shelf-stable nature of Super Milk also addresses the logistic and supply chain challenges often associated with providing dairy to food banks and pantries. A portion of Chobani Super Milk will be donated to food banks and pantries in Chobani's hometowns providing a nutrient dense protein rich product to people facing food insecurity in its own backyard, where 12% of people in Idaho's Twin Falls County and over 12% and 13% of people in New Yorks Otsego and Chenango County's experience food insecurity4. Chobani, a leading advocate for fighting hunger and increasing food access, has donated over 6.4 million pounds of food across the U.S. since 2022. Since its founding, Chobani has believed that business can be a force for good and so does its partners. With support from Tetra Pak, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), and IFF for ingredients and packaging, Chobani was able to bring Super Milk to life and share its commitment to not only provide good food for all but help those in times of need. About Chobani Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, Chobani is a purpose-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and has been since its founding in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S. The Company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, made with natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Following the 2023 acquisition of La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster with a shared commitment to quality, craftmanship and impact, the Company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at 32 cafes, as well as Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee beverages at retail. Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world putting humanity first in everything it does. The company's philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to its communities and beyond: working to eradicate child hunger, supporting immigrants, refugees and underrepresented people, honoring veterans, and protecting the planet. Chobani manufactures its products in New York, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Australia, and its products are available throughout North America and distributed in Australia and other select markets. For more information, please visit www.chobani.com and www.lacolombe.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 1 https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief.html 2 https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america * This product has 13g protein, 9g sugar, 7g fiber, 400mg calcium per 8 fl oz; regular lowfat milk has 8g protein, 12g sugar, 0g fiber, 300mg calcium per 8 fl oz, according to the USDA 3 Not a low calorie food 4 https://map.feedingamerica.org/ SOURCE Chobani, LLC WESTFORD, Mass., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to SkyQuest, the global Collaborative Robots Market size was valued at USD 815.40 million in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 914.88 million in 2023 to USD 2297.77 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 12.20% during the forecast period (2024-2031). Integration of robots into human environments has led to the demand for collaborative robots. Advancements in robotics technology and the growing use of robots in different industry verticals are forecasted to alter the future collaborative robots market growth trajectory. Integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning will improve the collaborative nature of robots. The global collaborative robots market is segmented into payload, component, application, end user, and region. Download a detailed overview: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/collaborative-robot-market Collaborative Robots Market Overview: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $ 914.88 million Estimated Value by 2031 $ 2297.77 million Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 12.20% Forecast Period 20242031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Payload, Component, Application and End-user Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities High emphasis on worker safety and productivity Key Market Drivers Rising demand for better human-machine interaction Segments covered in Collaborative Robots Market are as follows: Payload 5 kg, 5-10 kg, 10-25 kg, more than 25 kg Application Handling (pick-and-place, material handling, packaging & palletizing, machine tending), assembling & dissembling (nut fastening, and screwdriving), welding & soldering, pick & place, positioning, Processing (grinding, milling, and cutting), others End-User Automotive, electronics & semiconductors, metals & machining, plastics & polymers, food & beverages, healthcare, logistics, Others Component Hardware, software Request Free Customization of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/collaborative-robot-market Automotive Industry to Witness Highest Adoption of Collaborative Robots as Manufacturers Focus on Boosting Productivity The demand for vehicles is increasing rapidly around the world as the disposable income of people increases. Automotive manufacturers are focusing on deploying robots in their facilities to save time and money whilst promoting efficiency. The use of robots for welding, painting, coatings, and assembly of parts is high in the automotive industry and this is why this segment is an unmissable one for all collaborative robot manufacturers. Demand for collaborative robots in the electronics industry is forecasted to rise at an impressive pace over the coming years as the demand for electronics surges. The growing availability of innovative new collaborative robots designed specifically for electronics operations will also help this segment grow at a good CAGR in the future. Healthcare, logistics, metals & machining, and food & beverage are some other industries where the sales of collaborative robots are projected to shine bright in the long run. Collaborative Robots of Up to 5 kg Payload Capacity are Most Sought-after Low costs and high productive output of collaborative robots with up to 5 kg payload capacity are what allow this segment to hold a substantial market share. These robots help companies maximize their productivity at a very low cost and are highly accurate as well. Increasing integration of robotics in industrial applications at all levels will also help this segment bring in more revenue going forward. Demand for collaborative robots with high payload capacities will rise at a notable pace in the future as automation penetrates all aspects of industrial operations. View report summary and Table of Contents (TOC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/collaborative-robot-market Hardware Components to Remain Pivotal in Determining the Efficacy of Collaborative Robots Hardware plays a special role in determining the efficiency and productivity of a robot and this is also true in the case of collaborative robots. Collaborative robot providers need to focus on development of advanced hardware such as sensors and controllers to improve the effectiveness of robotic operations. Partnering with robotic hardware manufacturers and developers could help collaborative robot companies maximize their business scope in the future. Demand for better human-machine interaction around the world will create an opportune setting for collaborative robots. The automotive industry is anticipated to be the most lucrative end user for collaborative robots and this is why most companies are focusing on developing products for this segment. New companies can target the hardware component segment and develop novel robotic hardware to successfully penetrate the market and compete with leading market players. Innovation using novel technologies will be a key strategy for any company looking to make a mark in the global collaborative robots market. Related Reports: Robotics Market Service Robotics Market Delivery Robots Market Warehouse Robotics Market Smart Robots 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 have expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact: Mr. Jagraj Singh SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2446095/SkyQuest_Logo.jpg SOURCE SkyQuest Technology LONDON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Costero Brokers, Costero Brokers Ltd., a privately held London-based brokerage, is delighted to announce the appointment of Stephanie Bush to its board of directors. Bush brings a wealth of industry expertise and leadership acumen to Costero Brokers Ltd. She recently concluded her tenure at The Hartford as Executive Vice President and Head of Small Commercial and Personal Insurance. Throughout her career at The Hartford, she advanced through various roles in commercial insurance product management, underwriting, and field operations. In 2013, she was appointed Chief Product and Underwriting Officer for Small Commercial, and in 2014, she was promoted to Head of Small Commercial, later expanding her responsibilities to include Personal Lines in 2018. "I am honored to join the Costero Brokers' Board of Directors," said Stephanie Bush. "I have long admired John Tallarida's leadership and his unwavering focus on delivering innovative client solutions." "Stephanie is a valued friend, and I am delighted to welcome her to the Costero board," said John Tallarida, CEO of Costero Brokers. "Her extensive experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable as we steer the continued growth of Costero Brokers in the UK." Bush's appointment emphasizes Costero Brokers' commitment to assembling a diverse and seasoned board focused on the company's progress. About Costero Brokers Ltd. Costero Brokers Ltd., formed in 2017, is an independent, dynamic, and entrepreneurial insurance and reinsurance Lloyd's of London wholesale broker specializing in finding capacity for hard-to-place or emerging risks. Costero focuses on open market facultative, binding authority, reinsurance, and alternative risk transfer business placed into Lloyd's of London, European, and international company markets. Whether clients are brokers, coverholders (MGAs), captives, or insurers, the team draws upon steadfast relationships with underwriters and is passionate about delivering tailor-made solutions to their insurance and reinsurance needs. Costero Brokers is an approved Lloyd's coverholder, which it uses strategically to support clients' business. For more information, visit costerobrokers.com . Proven leader brings more than two decades of experience interfacing with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, other Government Agencies and global acquisition expertise "CSG brings a long-term vision of contributing to the U.S., creating jobs, serving our customers and being responsible members of the communities in which we operate," said Janey. Post this PRAGUE, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Czechoslovak Group ("CSG"), a leading global industrial holding company, has appointed Jeff Janey to serve as Executive Vice President of Munitions Programs for CSE USA, the company's Virginia-based U.S. division. As part of his new role, Mr. Janey will be responsible for CSE USA's development of the U.S. market for medium and large-caliber munitions through collaboration with partners and the U.S. Government, international trade, and the development of strategic relationships. Additionally, Mr. Janey will support the company's U.S. Defense Security Cooperation and international expansion projects. He brings more than two decades of experience interfacing with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and other Government Agencies as well as global acquisition and business development expertise. CSG is the leading producer of large caliber ammo in Europe, with manufacturing facilities in Slovakia and Spain, and is ramping up its capacities and investing in production to fulfill the needs of NATO and its allies. CSG is actively seeking partners in the United States with whom it can further develop its activities in the field of large-caliber ammunition. CSE USA plays a key role in serving the U.S. market on behalf of CSG and in facilitating global trade opportunities. The company has significant experience in the U.S. and has supplied POLR-1 radars to the U.S. Army, Federal Bureau of Investigation Hostage Rescue Unit, and police forces in Phoenix and San Antonio. CSE USA also serves as the point of contact for the U.S. partners of the CSG Group, which owns Fiocchi Munizioni, a manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition with production sites in Missouri and Arkansas, employing over 300 employees. "Jeff is a seasoned industry executive with deep government and private sector experience built over more than two decades," said Paul Lemke, CEO of CSE USA. "The U.S. is an extremely important market for CSG, and we plan to significantly expand our presence here, including through our planned acquisition of Kinetic Group, which we are purchasing from Vista Outdoor," added Mr. Lemke. "CSG is a world-class organization that has built a strong global reputation and I am honored to join the company and contribute to its growth in the U.S.," Mr. Janey said. "CSG brings a long-term vision of contributing to the U.S. economy by creating jobs, serving our customers in every segment with world-class quality, and being responsible members of the communities in which we operate." Professional Biography of Jeff Janey Mr. Janey has more than two decades of experience in the defense and ammunition sector. Most recently, he was Sr. Director of Business Development and Strategy for the Weapon Systems Division of Northrop Grumman. Previously he held similar roles in a variety of divisions for Northrop Grumman. He also served as Vice President of Strategy for the Orbital ATK Armament Systems Division for Northrop Grumman. Mr. Janey also served as Vice President for Defense and Homeland Security Programs for American Defense International, Inc., in Washington, D.C. Additional roles include Director of Business Development for DoD/DHS for ATK Civil Ammunition in Anoka, Minnesota as well as other positions with ATK. Mr. Janey earned his Masters of Science from University of Minnesota and his Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy. Jeff is the current Chairman of National Defense Industrial Association's (NDIA) Munitions Technology Division. About CSG The global industrial and technological group CSG, owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, has key production facilities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, India, the UK, and the U.S. and exports its products worldwide. CSG is continuously investing into the development of its companies while expanding in its core business areas. The Group includes, for example, the Czech truck manufacturer Tatra Trucks, the world's leading manufacturer of small caliber ammunition Fiocchi, and the Czech radar manufacturer Eldis. More than 10,000 employees work in the companies included in the CSG group and in their associated companies. In 2023, the Group's consolidated sales reached USD 1.73 billion. CSG's main fields of activity are the engineering, automotive, rail, aerospace, and defense industries and small caliber ammunition production. CSG's products can be found on all continents thanks to its strong export orientation. CSG activities in the USA CSE USA, CSG's United States headquarters, is located in Reston, Virginia. CSG has been developing long-term relationships with leading American corporations and government agencies. In 2015, CSG obtained a license for the production of Pandur II wheeled armored personnel carriers from General Dynamics European Land Systems, the European subsidiary of General Dynamics. In 2021, CSG acquired Fabrica de Municiones de Granada, the Spanish producer of high-caliber ammunition, from the same company. CSG also fulfilled a contract for Raytheon for several years to train Afghan National Army helicopter pilots and ground personnel, using UH-60 Black Hawks as part of its training fleet. CSG companies have supplied radar technologies to U.S. defense organizations and police forces. In 2022, CSG acquired Fiocchi Group, a manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition, which has two production sites in the U.S. As a result, it has become an American manufacturer in a strategic field and has successfully passed the CFIUS clearance. Currently, CSG is bidding to buy major American manufacturers of small-caliber ammunition in The Kinetic Group, which is part of the publicly traded company Vista Outdoor. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") has cleared CSG's proposed acquisition. CSGs companies in Europe are major suppliers of tanks, artillery systems and high caliber ammunition for Ukraine which is co-financed also by the U.S. and other NATO member states. CSG is the leading producer of high caliber ammo in Europe, with manufacturing facilities in Slovakia and Spain. SOURCE CSG Czechoslovak Group New partnership will include a range of benefits for consumers traveling between North America , the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. Delta, Riyadh Air to strengthen connectivity and harness future growth opportunities for both carriers. Agreement will enhance competition with an array of new travel choices for consumers, including future Delta service between the U.S. and Riyadh . Delta will serve as Riyadh Air's exclusive partner in North America , while Riyadh Air will be Delta's exclusive partner in Riyadh and beyond. ATLANTA, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines, the world's leading premium airline, and Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's innovative new full-service global carrier, have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of introducing a broad range of benefits for customers traveling between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and destinations beyond. Riyadh Air color logo. The agreement, signed today at a ceremony at Delta's World Headquarters in Atlanta, serves as the foundation for a strategic partnership that will enable both airlines to strengthen connectivity, expand their networks and drive future growth. "This partnership with Riyadh Air will further Delta's mission of connecting the world and open an array of new choices, benefits and destinations for our customers traveling to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. "Most importantly, Riyadh Air shares Delta's commitment to providing an elevated customer experience, which is why we're looking forward to building and expanding this partnership in the months and years ahead. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Riyadh Air team and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia as they transform the transportation economy in the Kingdom." "We look forward to enjoying a very warm and productive relationship with Delta Air Lines, one of the largest and most successful airlines in the world. Riyadh Air and Delta Air Lines share common goals and pursue the highest standards in many areas including guest experience, loyalty, and sustainability, built upon great networks and strong connectivity," said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas. The agreement envisions a long-term relationship, subject to regulatory approvals, that includes interline and codeshare connectivity, as well as a deeper partnership encompassing loyalty, customer experience, digital transformation and broader aviation services such as maintenance, repair and overhaul services, ground handling and training. In the future, the airlines intend to explore an immunized joint venture to further expand the partnership and allow collaboration on network planning and growth in the region. Both airlines are committed to driving the best sustainability practices throughout their operations as they transform the future of travel. The partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia and beyond for Delta customers, including future nonstop service on Delta between the U.S. and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It will provide leisure travelers with a new region of the world to explore while creating new opportunities for business travelers to Riyadh, a G20 capital city, plus destinations beyond. And it will offer Delta's leading North American network for Riyadh Air customers, offering convenient access to hundreds of destinations in the U.S. and beyond with Delta's famous reliability and elevated service. The new partnership comes as large-scale, ongoing investments in the Kingdom are transforming it into a popular and attractive destination for both leisure and business travelers. Travel is central to the nation's long-term economic growth plan, with an $800 billion investment in the tourism sector that includes development of luxury resorts on the Red Sea, the opening of the Diriyah and al-Ula historical site to visitors, and the hosting of the 2030 Riyadh Expo. Riyadh Air, which will begin operations in 2025, is committed to building a premier carrier for customers traveling to and from the Middle East, with its base of operations in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Delta, which will mark its 100th anniversary next year, is the most-awarded U.S. airline with an industry-leading global network and an unrivaled reputation for outstanding customer service and operational excellence. "It's fitting that Riyadh Air will begin its journey the same year that Delta launches our second century of flight," Bastian said. "We'll have many opportunities to learn from each other and become better airlines for our mutual customers, our employees, our investors and our communities as we fly forward together." ABOUT DELTA AIR LINES Through exceptional service and the power of innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer. There are 100,000 Delta people leading the way to deliver a world-class customer experience on over 4,000 daily flights to more than 290 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other. Delta served more than 190 million customers in 2023 -- safely, reliably and with industry-leading customer service innovation and was recognized by J.D. Power this year for being No. 1 in First/Business and Premium Economy Passenger Satisfaction. The airline also was again recognized as North America's most on-time airline by Cirium. We remain committed to ensuring that the future of travel is connected, personalized and enjoyable. Our people's genuine and enduring motivation is to make every customer feel welcomed and cared for across every point of their journey with us. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta operates significant hubs and key markets in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Bogota, Boston, Detroit, Lima, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Seattle, Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo. As the leading global airline, Delta's mission to connect the world creates opportunities, fosters understanding and expands horizons by connecting people and communities to each other and to their own potential. Powered by innovative and strategic partnerships with Aeromexico, Air France-KLM, China Eastern, Korean Air, LATAM, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet, Delta brings more choice and competition to customers worldwide. Delta's premium product line is elevated by its unique partnership with Wheels Up Experience. Whether transporting life-saving pharmaceuticals, organs for transplant, fresh flowers or seasonal produce, Delta Cargo provides world-class service, offering industry-leading shipping solutions and transporting over 13 million pieces a year. Connection is at the heart of what we do at Delta. It's why we're bringing fast, free Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile to our entire global fleet connectivity at an unprecedented scale. With more than 650 aircraft equipped with reliable, streaming-quality connectivity today and more to come, customers can connect during travel and spend their time in a way that suits them just like they would at home. We believe social responsibility lies at the intersection of our values and expertise, guiding our work in sustainability, our communities, and diversity, equity and inclusion, including: Working toward a more sustainable, elevated future of travel with a clear, metrics-based strategy by building coalitions, leveraging existing solutions and technologies, investing in the future of sustainable aviation fuel and actively inspiring next-generation solutions. Committing at every level of our organization to actively seeking diversity, boldly pursuing equity, and consciously promoting inclusion as a necessary business imperative to drive systemic change that promotes equitable outcomes for all. Our Close the Gap strategy aims to ensure the representation of women, Black talent and Latin and Hispanic talent in leadership roles accurately reflects the broader employee population. Our talent programs work to remove unnecessary barriers, like four-year-degree requirements, to certain roles across the organization to widen internal and external talent pipelines. Delta's 12 Business Resource Groups influence and drive business strategies and help create solutions that have a significant impact on Delta people, customers and the communities we serve. Returning 1% of the company's annual net income to the communities where we live, work and serve. Even more importantly, Delta people are making a difference in their communities by devoting their time and talents to a wide array of Delta's nonprofit and charitable partners. Delta is America's most-awarded airline thanks to the dedication, passion and professionalism of its people. In addition to the awards from J.D. Power and Cirium, Delta has been recognized as the top U.S. airline by the Wall Street Journal; among Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies; the World's Most Admired Airline and one of the Best 100 Companies to Work For according to Fortune; and as one of Glassdoor's Best Places to Work. In addition, Delta has been named to the Civic 50 by Points of Light for the past seven years as one of the most community minded companies in the U.S. Connect with Delta on Delta News Hub, delta.com, via @DeltaNewsHub on Twitter and Facebook.com/delta. ABOUT RIYADH AIR Riyadh Air, a PIF company, is a world-class airline. Launched in March 2023, the airline will be a digitally led, full-service airline that adopts the best global sustainability and safety practices across its advanced fleet of aircraft. Riyadh Air will equip its aircraft with the most advanced, state-of-the-art features with innovative, best-in-class cabin interiors and experiences, including next generation digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030 through offering an exceptional guest experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart. For more information please visit our website: www.riyadhair.com. SOURCE Delta Air Lines Delivering High Performance, Energy Efficiency, and Enhanced Reliability for Advanced Industrial and IoT Applications TAIPEI, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DFI, the world's leading brand in embedded motherboards and industrial computers, introduces its latest innovation: the ASL9A2 System-on-Module(SoM). With an Intel Atom processor, the ASL9A2 achieves speeds up to 3.6 GHz and is based on Intel's Gracemont architecture. Designed for high-performance, low-power, and ruggedized edge applications, the ASL9A2 is perfect for continuous 24/7 operation, supporting a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions at the edge. As reported by The Business Research Company, the SoM market has experienced robust growth, increasing from 2.22 billion in 2023 to 2.43 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 9.6%. From DFI's business viewpoint, a variety of SoM projects are yielding positive results. Furthermore, DFI enhances its Intel x86 COM Express modules with value-added enhancements to improve customers' applications efficiency, earning praise from customers. The ASL9A2 features up to 16GB LPDDR5 dual-channel memory and a robust Intel UHD graphics engine with up to 32 execution units. It includes 4 PCIe x1 slots for multiple expansions and offers extensive I/O options, such as 2 USB 3.2 ports, 8 USB 2.0 ports, and 2 SATA 3.0 connections. For display configurations, it supports 1 LVDS/eDP and 1 DDI (HDMI/DP++). Additionally, it ensures swift Ethernet connectivity with options ranging from 100M to 2.5Gbps. Supporting Intel Time Coordinated Computing (Intel TCC) and Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), the ASL9A2 excels in hard real-time applications. DFI enhances its offerings with value-added solutions like the "Slim Bootloader" and "Fast Resume & Low Power Standby" technology for the ASL9A2, available upon request. The "Slim Bootloader" is an open-source boot firmware for Intel x86, recognized for its compact, secure, and swift performance, widely used in the industrial control field. The "Fast Resume & Low Power Standby" technology ensures standby power consumption under 1 watt and hardware resumption within 1 second, emphasizing fast responsiveness and low power consumption. Both solutions are perfect for demanding defense, industrial applications, and beyond. The ASL9A2 from DFI is engineered for strong on-device AI in harsh conditions, enabling developers to excel in IoT edge innovations. With DFI's high-performance products and customizable options, it supports essential IoT needs and enhances the user experience. ASL9A2 Intel Atom Processors (Code name: Amston Lake) Dual Channel LPDDR5 4800MHz up to 16GB 1 LVDS/eDP, 1 DDI (HDMI/DP++)Supports dual displays: DDI + LVDS/eDP Multiple expansions: 4 PCIe x1, 1 SMBus, 1 I2C, 1 eMMC Rich I/O: 2 USB 3.1, 8 USB 2.0 High-Speed Ethernet : Supports 100M / 1000M /2.5Gbps For more information, please visit: LinkedIn or contact us. Media Contact Eva Chen [email protected] SOURCE DFI Inc. LOS ANGELES, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Duke Realty ("Duke" or "the Company") (NYSE: DRE) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 [email protected] www.schallfirm.com SOURCE The Schall Law Firm PHOENIX, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthEn Energy, a US-based climate-tech startup, is proud to announce that it has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, also known as America's Seed Fund. This award supports the development of a novel Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, aka heat battery for EarthEn's sCO2-based, thermo-mechanical, long-duration energy storage. The NSF STTR program is a highly competitive award that funds innovative technologies with high potential for commercialization and societal impact. EarthEn Energy's TES system has the potential to store and dispatch energy in form of heat for extended periods, providing a reliable and dispatchable source of clean energy. EarthEn's sCO2-based energy storage (PRNewsfoto/EarthEn) "We are thrilled to receive NSF's support to develop this groundbreaking TES technology," said Manas Pathak, CEO and Co-Founder of EarthEn Energy. "This funding will enable us to further develop and commercialize our TES system, helping to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy future." The NSF funding will support EarthEn Energy's research and development efforts, focusing on development of the TES system and improving its efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. "This award is a testament to the innovative spirit and expertise of our team," added Palash Panja, Chief Technology Officer at EarthEn Energy. "We look forward to collaborating with the NSF and our partners to bring this game-changing technology to market." EarthEn Energy's sCO2-based, thermo-mechanical system has the potential to transform the energy landscape, enabling the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Contact: [email protected] More about EarthEn: www.earthen.energy SOURCE EarthEn Energy Honors Strength, Longevity, and Resilience of Cast Iron Drinking Pipes BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) welcomes the city of Elyria, OH, to the Century Club, which honors the strength, longevity, and resilience of cast iron pipes used in water infrastructure projects. Dave Rothgery, Operations Manager of Water Distribution for the City of Elyria, Ohio, Paul Hanson, P.Eng., Regional Director, DIPRA. "More than 100 years ago, professional engineers and municipal leaders recognized the need to create systems to deliver clean, safe drinking water," said DIPRA President David Cole. "Those first water utilities understood how critical it was to select the best materials to convey that water, and the choice then to utilize cast iron set a professional standard for high-quality pipes that would withstand the test of time and the rigors of nature. We welcome Elyria, OH, into the Century Club for their smart decision-making 100 years ago, and we congratulate today's leaders for their use of modern Ductile iron, which is the descendant of cast iron." The value of choosing long-lasting, resilient pipe materials cannot be overstated: the pipes that run underneath cities are the foundations on which safe societies are built. Cast iron pipes established a high benchmark for excellence in providing clean, safer drinking water. Today's Ductile iron continues that work, and the manufacturers of modern Ductile iron pipe have accepted the challenge to make iron pipe even better the performance, resilience, ease of installation, strength, and longevity of Ductile iron pipe is second to none. The city of Elyria first installed cast iron in 1902, including the pipe that is being celebrated for induction in the Century Club. That 20-inch pipe ran nearly four miles from the city's water plant on Lake Erie to the city's limits. "The best thing about cast iron is its ability to withstand the many forces exerted on drinking water pipes," said Dave Rothgery, Elyria's water operations manager. "The selection of water mains is sometimes easier than one would think. For us, the switch from cast iron to Ductile iron was a natural progression from one superior, long-lasting resilient pipe to another. Ductile iron is hands-down the best drinking water pipe available today." Research has shown that utilities that upgrade from cast iron to Ductile iron experience fewer repairs and lower pumping costs, which saves money for residents and businesses. While other pipe materials may cost less upfront, the maintenance and repair costs associated with inferior pipes makes the long-term price of those pipes exponentially more expensive over time. Rothgery said the city's 20-inch cast iron main may be installed in the water plant's museum to honor its longevity. The Cast Iron Pipe Century Club was organized in 1947 to publicly recognize water utilities with Cast Iron mains that have provided service for 100 years or more. There are more than 550 water utilities in the United States and 35 water utilities in Canada that are members of DIPRA's Century Club. Many of these utilities are all still using at least some of the cast iron pipes installed underground more than 100 years ago. DIPRA also sponsors a Sesquicentennial Club, of which 27 utilities in the U.S. and five in Canada are known to have enjoyed cast iron pipelines in service for more than 150 years. About DIPRA Founded in 1915, the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has served as a resource and technical advisor to the water industry. DIPRA also provides representation on standards-making committees as well as technical research on a variety of applications-based topics. While DIPRA member companies have different names and locations, they share a common commitment to produce and deliver the finest quality water and wastewater pipe material in the world, Ductile Iron Pipe, and at the greatest possible value to its purchasers. SOURCE Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global foam insulation market is projected to expand significantly, with an estimated growth of USD 20.26 billion from 2024 to 2028, at a CAGR of nearly 10.87%. This growth is driven by increasing demand for foam insulation, particularly innovations in polyurethane foams. However, challenges such as fluctuating crude oil prices persist. Key players in the market include Alaska PUF Industries, BASF SE, Owens Corning, and others, who are pivotal in shaping market dynamics through their product innovations and strategic initiatives. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global foam insulation market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report Foam Insulation Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.87% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 20269.8 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 9.53 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 37% Key countries China, US, Germany, UK, and Japan Key companies profiled Alaska PUF Industries, Alpers Insulation, Armacell International SA, Asahi Kasei Corp., BASF SE, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Compagnie de Saint Gobain, Covestro AG, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Elastochem Specialty Chemicals Inc., Green Insulation Technologies, Huntsman International LLC, Isothane Ltd., Kingspan Group Plc, Owens Corning, Paulsen Insulation Co. LLC, Profoam Corp., Puff Inc., Ravago, and Southern Foam Insulation Market Driver The global foam insulation market is driven by the development of innovative polyurethane foams, such as photo-cross-linkable polyurethane. These advanced foams are produced by reacting polyols with diisocyanates or polymeric isocyanates, in the presence of suitable catalysts or additives. Companies and research institutes are exploring various photo-responsive groups, like coumarin, to create backbones that dimerize upon UV light exposure. Alkoxy phenacyl groups are also being used to build foam backbones, enabling photocleavage with a broader UV light spectrum. For instance, Demilec, a Huntsman Corp. Subsidiary, offers the innovative DEMILEC APX product, an SPF insulation used for insulating and air-sealing homes, schools, and buildings. This product meets rigorous fire test standards set by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICCES), making it suitable for attic use without a protective fire coating. These advancements and ongoing research and development activities are anticipated to fuel the growth of the global foam insulation market during the forecast period. The Foam Insulation Market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Heat transfer is a major concern in various industries, leading to increased demand for effective thermal insulation solutions. Foam insulations, including rigid, spray, flexible, polyolefin, polyurethane, polystyrene, elastomeric, phenolic, and bio-based types, offer superior thermal performance. Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are key areas of concern, making foam insulations an attractive option for reefer trailers, trucks, and buildings. However, challenges such as allergens, dust, mold, and condensation require specialized equipment and adherence to building codes. Industries like HVAC, residential, commercial, and industrial construction, are major consumers of insulation materials. The market is also driven by retrofitting activities, fire safety regulations, and green building certifications. Energy efficient materials and sustainable construction practices are essential for indoor air quality and long-term cost savings. The market is diverse, with various foam types catering to different applications. Manufacturing sectors and industrial processes also rely on foam insulations for energy efficiency and process optimization. Despite these benefits, lack of awareness and misconceptions about foam insulations persist. Addressing these challenges through education and innovation will further fuel market growth. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation - Book Here! Market Challenges The foam insulation market relies heavily on raw materials, primarily petrochemical-based substances like polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Fluctuations in the prices of these raw materials pose a significant challenge for manufacturers, as they account for a substantial portion of production costs. Unpredictable price changes create uncertainty in budgeting, forecasting profitability, and making strategic decisions regarding pricing and investments. When raw material prices rise, passing on these costs to customers can be difficult due to competition or contractual agreements, potentially shrinking profit margins. Volatility in raw material prices can disrupt the supply chain, leading to production delays or interruptions, and may result in sourcing challenges and inventory shortages. Companies that effectively manage raw material price volatility maintain a competitive edge, while those unable to do so may face negative impacts on market share and profitability, potentially impeding the growth of the global foam insulation market. The Foam Insulation Market encompasses various types of insulation materials, including Spray Foam, Flexible Foam, Polyolefin Foam, Polyurethane Foam, Polystyrene Foam, Elastomeric Foam, Phenolic Foam, and more. Energy efficiency and sustainability are key drivers in the market, with building codes increasingly requiring better thermal performance from insulation materials. Bio-based and recyclable materials are gaining popularity. Residential, commercial, and industrial construction, HVAC industry, and retrofitting activities utilize these insulation solutions. Industries like manufacturing sectors benefit from improved Indoor Air Quality and fire safety regulations. Green buildings and sustainable construction practices seek Energy Efficient Materials and certifications. BASF, Aerogels, Vacuum Insulation Panels, and Phase Change Materials are notable players offering Thermal Insulation Solutions. Specialized equipment is essential for installation, and safety regulations apply to Fire Safety. For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report! Segment Overview This foam insulation market report extensively covers market segmentation by End-user 1.1 Building and construction 1.2 Others Type 2.1 Polystyrene foam 2.2 Polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam 2.3 Phenolic foam 2.4 Polyolefin foam 2.5 Elastomeric foam Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 North America 3.3 Europe 3.4 Middle East and Africa and 3.5 South America 1.1 Building and construction- The foam insulation market is driven by the building and construction industry due to the insulation material's beneficial properties, including low thermal conductivity, vibration isolation, water-tightness, and anti-sound reflection. In this sector, foam insulations like polyurethane (PU) foams are widely used for parquet floor waterproofing, insulation boards for walls, floating floors, and insulation for ducts. The construction industry's expansion, particularly in developing countries such as China and India, is anticipated to increase during the forecast period, driven by urbanization and the growth of residential, non-residential, and infrastructure projects. PU foams, which are affordable, durable, and eco-friendly, contribute to energy savings by reducing heat loss in winter and maintaining cool temperatures in summer. These foams are commonly used in cavity walls, roofs, around pipes and boilers, and floors. The high insulating quality of rigid PU foams enables builders to construct thinner walls, increasing available room space. The expanding construction industry, primarily in APAC and Middle Eastern countries, is expected to boost the global foam insulation market during the forecast period. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Foam Insulation Market refers to the business sector involving the production, sales, and installation of various types of foam insulation materials. These insulations are effective in reducing heat transfer, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings and transportation industries. However, they also have potential drawbacks, such as contributing to greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing and the release of allergens, dust, and mold. There are several types of foam insulations, including rigid foam, spray foam, and flexible foam, made from materials like polyolefin, polyurethane, and bio-based and recyclable materials. While they offer excellent thermal insulation, they can also cause condensation and require careful installation to prevent issues. In the transportation sector, foam insulations are used in reefer trailers and trucks to maintain temperature-controlled environments. Despite their benefits, a lack of awareness and understanding of their proper installation and maintenance can lead to energy consumption and environmental concerns. Building codes and regulations play a crucial role in ensuring the use of energy-efficient and sustainable insulation materials. Market Research Overview The Foam Insulation Market encompasses various types of foam insulations, including rigid, spray, flexible, polyolefin, polyurethane, polystyrene, elastomeric, phenolic, and others. These insulations offer excellent thermal insulation properties, reducing heat transfer and enhancing energy efficiency in both residential and commercial construction, as well as in industrial sectors and the HVAC industry. However, concerns over allergens, dust, mold, and condensation have led to a growing demand for insulation materials with superior indoor air quality. Moreover, the increasing focus on sustainability and energy efficiency has driven the market towards bio-based and recyclable materials. Building codes and fire safety regulations also play a crucial role in market growth. In the transportation sector, foam insulations are used in reefer trailers and trucks to maintain optimal temperatures and reduce energy consumption. Apart from thermal insulation, foam insulations offer various advantages such as energy efficiency, thermal performance, and compliance with green building certifications. Innovations in insulation materials include aerogels, vacuum insulation panels, and phase change materials. BASF and other key players dominate the market, offering specialized equipment and solutions to meet the diverse needs of industries and construction sectors. 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 Building And Construction Others Type Polystyrene Foam Polyurethane And Polyisocyanurate Foam Phenolic Foam Polyolefin Foam Elastomeric Foam Geography APAC North America Europe Middle East And Africa South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Provides unparalleled leadership and operational expertise to guide innovative advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning for Special Forces mission planning. MCLEAN, Va., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation Stack AI, Inc. is proud to announce that Lt. Gen. (Ret) Scott A. Howell has joined the company as an advisor. With a distinguished military career that spans over three decades, General Howell's unparalleled leadership and operational expertise will provide invaluable guidance as Foundation Stack AI continues to innovate and expand its capabilities in artificial intelligence and machine learning to support Special Forces mission planning requirements. General Howell served as the 15th Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, where he led the nation's premier Special Operations Forces. Prior to this role, he was the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Vice Commander in Washington, D.C., overseeing critical initiatives in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, military services, and other government agencies. Commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987, General Howell earned his wings at Fort Rucker, Alabama. As a career helicopter pilot, he participated in numerous operations across Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Mozambique, Djibouti, and Afghanistan. With 2,600 hours of flight time in six unique air platforms, he holds the designation of command pilot. "We are honored to welcome Scott Howell to our advisory board," said Foundation Stack AI Co-Founder Constantine Saab. "His strategic vision and deep understanding of complex elite operations will be instrumental in shaping the future of our technology and its applications in both defense and commercial sectors. " General Howell shared his enthusiasm about joining Foundation Stack AI: "I'm honored to join the Foundation Stack AI team. I have served with all of the advisors over my decades of military service and each of them has a proven, sustained record of commitment to the mission. I look forward to serving the Warfighter, reducing risk for our men and women, and enhancing mission success." General Howell's appointment reflects Foundation Stack AI's commitment to integrating top-tier expertise with advanced technology to create transformative AI solutions. His leadership will support the company's mission to leverage AI for impactful advancements across the DOD/IC. About Foundation Stack AI, Inc. Foundation Stack AI provides automated vertical obstruction (VO) data solutions to increase mission success and survivability of low-altitude aviation operations. Foundation Stack's GlobalVO solution is the world's only machine learning solution that detects, curates, quality controls, and accelerates the end-to-end human workflow for VO data production. For more information about Foundation Stack AI and its innovative technologies, please visit www.foundationstack.com SOURCE Foundation Stack AI, Inc. MILWAUKEE, July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council Action Chairman Tony Perkins, who is a member of the RNC Platform Committee from Louisiana, released the following statement in response to the adoption of the 2024 Republican Party Platform: "The 2024 platform is a concise statement of campaign priorities, but not a declaration of enduring principles for a political party. Unfortunately, the choreographed process -- which allowed no amendments to be discussed or voted upon -- was unbecoming of a party that champions free speech and due process. Delegates were given the platform this morning when they entered the convention hall with no time to review, much less the 72 hours that Republican lawmakers call for in the House of Representatives. "Delegates were only given a few minutes of discussion before 'debate' was ended and a vote was taken. Ironically, the document calls for a vigorous defense of free speech and the end of government censorship. Deprived of the opportunity to discuss amendments to the 'draft' platform document, we have submitted a minority report to supplement that campaign's platform. "The submission of a minority report is further evidence that the pro-life movement will continue to advance pro-life principles and policies at every level of government. "The right to life transcends other political debates and the interests of any and all political parties and candidates. It is truly the right without which no other right has any meaning," concluded Perkins. SOURCE Family Research Council Action MIAMI, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Food is about kindness, the kindness of giving something good to someone we care about. Few are fortunate enough to learn this basic rule in the tiny kitchen of their family's restaurant, but that's precisely Iris' story. "Nonna Iris, 93 years old and affectionately known as the 'Carbonara Queen,' brings a century-old tradition of pasta making to Miami with her restaurant, Osteria da Fortunata. Born and raised in Rome, Iris started in the family kitchen at 13 and now runs multiple successful restaurants across Italy. Her Miami establishment is named after her grandmother, continuing the legacy of serving authentic Roman delicacies. Iris's secret to success is simple: kindness and giving people good food" Roman-born and bred, "Nonna Iris" started helping her own mother and grandmother with their business at the age of 13. Now 93 years old, she actively runs five successful restaurants in Rome, plus three in Milan and one in Bologna. She has no intentions of slowing down, either. Nonna Iris is eager to share her favorite Roman delicacies not just with Italians but with the rest of the world: a great undertaking for a great achiever. The restaurant Nonna Iris opened in Miami last year "Osteria da Fortunata" bears her own grandmother's name. It was Iris herself who came, saw, and conquered the Sunshine State with her homemade desserts and pasta made right in front of her guests. Only after she had personally taken care of every detail did Iris feel that she could go back to her beloved Rome, where she is affectionately known as the "Carbonara Queen." What is the secret behind her success? Nonna Iris says it's all about that rule of kindness simply giving people good food to eat and making sure to put family first. Notwithstanding the growth of her restaurants, all of them are owned and managed by Iris' extended family of 40 people, providing work for another 480. Layers of time shape the life of this unique family business, whose origin can be tracked back to Iris' grandmother in the 1920s. Classic recipes like carbonara and amatriciana are the driving forces behind this century of uninterrupted pasta making, still coveted, still a taste of the Rome of Old. But this begs the question why the big move to Florida for people so strongly rooted in their Roman turf? Simply put, Iris felt a moral obligation to repay people in some way for their support. Tourists visiting the Eternal City especially from the U.S. would often end up in one of the original "Osteria da Fortunata" restaurants in Italy, get to know her, and love her. At that point, the idea of bringing a piece of their experience directly to them, for them to enjoy on their side of the ocean, came naturally. In the end, isn't that also part of that "cycle of kindness" that binds people together while they're gathered around a table? In Miami, Nonna Iris could even spot familiar faces she had already seen in her Roman restaurants. To all who would inquire about the secret to her long life, she would invariably answer: "How to live like me? Stay true to your roots!" Osteria da Fortunata 607 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach 33139 Florida Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457001/Osteria_da_Fortunata.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2457002/Osteria_da_Fortunata_Logo.jpg SOURCE Osteria da Fortunata New Service Expands GVL's Coverage to All International Destinations,Enhancing Convenience for Veterinarians and Pet Owners AMES, Iowa, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GlobalVetLink (GVL), the leader in compliance management solutions for veterinary practices, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative Pet Travel Concierge Service. This new service is designed to simplify the complexities of international pet travel, ensuring a seamless experience for veterinarians and pet owners alike. Cat with Owner Traveling Internationaly GlobalVetLink's Pet Travel Concierge Service provides comprehensive support for all aspects of international pet travel documentation. The service ensures that all necessary health certificates and compliance requirements are met, reducing the burden on veterinary practices and giving pet owners peace of mind. "We are thrilled to expand our services with the launch of the Pet Travel Concierge Service," said Katie Harris, Manager of Pet Travel Concierge at GlobalVetLink. "Our goal is to provide veterinarians and pet owners with a reliable, efficient solution that makes international pet travel hassle-free. This service is a natural extension of our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of animals while supporting the veterinary community." The Pet Travel Concierge Service offers a range of features, including: Personalized Assistance : Dedicated travel concierges assist with every step of the process, from initial consultation to final travel preparations. : Dedicated travel concierges assist with every step of the process, from initial consultation to final travel preparations. Comprehensive Documentation Support : The service provides detailed guidance on obtaining the correct health certificates, vaccinations, and other necessary documentation to meet the requirements of any international destination. : The service provides detailed guidance on obtaining the correct health certificates, vaccinations, and other necessary documentation to meet the requirements of any international destination. Streamlined Compliance : Leveraging GVL's industry-leading compliance platform, the Pet Travel Concierge Service ensures that all regulatory requirements are met, minimizing the risk of travel delays or complications. : Leveraging GVL's industry-leading compliance platform, the Pet Travel Concierge Service ensures that all regulatory requirements are met, minimizing the risk of travel delays or complications. Expanded Coverage: The service is available for all international destinations, providing global reach and accessibility for pet travelers. The Pet Travel Concierge Service complements the GVL Compliance Assistant platform capabilities, allowing veterinary clinics to handle the documentation for more straightforward international destinations while seamlessly handing off more complex cases to our concierge experts. For veterinary clinics or pet shippers ready to get started with GVL's Pet Travel Concierge Service, visit our website to submit a service request. GlobalVetLink's Pet Travel Concierge Service addresses the growing demand for international pet travel solutions, offering a convenient and reliable option for those navigating the complexities of global travel with their pets. With a focus on safety, compliance, and customer satisfaction, GVL continues to lead the way in veterinary compliance and travel solutions. For more information about GlobalVetLink's Pet Travel Concierge Service, visit our website. About GlobalVetLink GlobalVetLink (GVL) is the leader in compliance management solutions for the veterinary industry. Founded in 2001, GVL provides an intuitive platform for creating, tracking, and managing animal health and movement documents. GVL's innovative solutions simplify compliance, enhance productivity, and support the health and safety of animals. For more information, visit www.globalvetlink.com. Media Inquires: Becca Johnson, 515-817-5075, [email protected] SOURCE GlobalVetLink New Multiyear Deal Brings Full Portfolio of 53 Leading Outdoor Brands to the Guidefitter Platform BOZEMAN, Mont., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidefitter, the online community and marketplace fueled by the opinions of thousands of pro guides and other outdoor professionals, today announced an expanded, multi-year partnership with GSM Outdoors. This agreement brings the entire GSM Outdoors brand portfolio, including 53 leading outdoor brands such as Muddy, Stealth Cam, SOG Knives, Walker's, Avian X, Yamamoto Baits, and Bill Lewis Fishing, onto the Guidefitter platform. Guidefitter and GSM Outdoors first partnered in 2017, beginning with the Stealth Cam and Walker's brands. Since then, both companies have experienced significant growth. GSM Outdoors has broadened its portfolio to include a wide array of top-tier brands, while Guidefitter has expanded its professional audience, enhanced its technology platform, and increased its roster of leading outdoor brand partners. This long-standing partnership has proven to be strong and mutually beneficial. "We are excited to leverage our pro program into a strategic marketing channel," - Eddie Castro, CEO of GSM Outdoors. Post this "We are excited to further extend our long partnership with Guidefitter and leverage our pro program into a strategic marketing and sales channel for our brands," said Eddie Castro, CEO of GSM Outdoors. "When a program member purchases one of our products through our pro program managed by Guidefitter, that is the beginning of the strategic journey, not the end." Under the new agreement, GSM Outdoors will leverage Guidefitter's industry-leading reputation for stringent program eligibility verification, ensuring the highest standards for pro program member vetting. Additionally, Guidefitter's proprietary technology platform and AI tools will monitor pro purchase guidelines across all GSM brands, maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the program. "Guidefitter is proud to deepen our relationship with GSM Outdoors," said Bryan Koontz, CEO of Guidefitter. "Our combined efforts will set a new standard for pro program excellence and foster stronger connections between GSM brands and the professionals who trust and promote them." Guidefitter will gradually roll out the additional GSM brands on its platform throughout the rest of 2024. Furthermore, the companies are collaborating on strategic initiatives to harness GSM pro program members' collective voice and promotional power, ensuring genuine and impactful promotion of GSM brands within their personal and professional communities and networks. More information about Guidefitter's solutions for outdoor brands can be found at https://www.guidefitter.com/partners/become-a-brand-partner. Individuals seeking to join Guidefitter's growing audience of verified outdoor industry professionals, including employees of select outdoor gear manufacturers, can apply at https://www.guidefitter.com/insiders. About Guidefitter Guidefitter is the online community and e-commerce marketplace of choice for genuine outdoor industry professionals and other consumers who love to enjoy the great outdoors. We are pioneering the outdoor industry's first online experience where brands, true outdoor pros, and consumers engage in a common digital community, marketing, and e-commerce platform oriented around a shared passion for outdoor recreation and great gear. Industry pros have access to hundreds of pro purchase programs from a central location, tools to easily promote the brands they love, and a like-minded community to demonstrate their abilities and expertise. Consumer enthusiasts benefit from a community that understands their passion for the outdoors, access to thousands of outfitters through a comprehensive search engine, and opportunities to discover and purchase great gear based on the insights from people who know better than anyone else - true outdoor professionals. Over 300 outdoor brands, including Swarovski Optik, Crispi Boots, Weatherby, JetBoil, and Garmin, work with Guidefitter to promote their brand with authentic messages through large, managed audiences of genuine outdoor professionals. Guidefitter is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. For more information, please visit www.guidefitter.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Guidefitter Media Contact: [email protected] About GSM Outdoors Few American outdoor companies enjoy a mutually respected relationship with their customers that spans over five generations. GSM Outdoors is among those few! For over 70 years, the GSM family of brands has been helping passionate hunters, shooters, knife enthusiasts, and anglers succeed through innovation and the manufacture of high-quality, reliable products that continue to prove themselves in the field, on the range, and on the water. GSM Outdoors continues to leverage the latest technology and provide customers with the best products on the market. Tradition, heritage, and loyalty to outdoor enthusiasts of generations past and generations to come...that's the GSM Outdoors guarantee! GSM Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Guidefitter NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global hearing aid market is poised to grow by USD 3.17 billion from 2024-2028, with a projected CAGR of nearly 6.1%. This growth is driven by a global rise in patients with hearing loss and increased development of new products. However, challenges such as battery concerns for hearing aids persist. Among key players like Advin Health Care, Amplifon SpA, and Cochlear Ltd., Sonova AG stands out as a market leader, known for its innovative solutions in hearing technology and strong market presence. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global hearing aid market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report Hearing Aid Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.1% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 3173.4 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 5.65 Regional analysis Europe, North America, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key countries US, Germany, France, UK, and Japan Key companies profiled Advin Health Care, Amplifon SpA, Arphi Electronics Pvt. Ltd., Audicus Inc., Audina Hearing Instruments Inc., Beltone, Bernafon AG, Cochlear Ltd., Demant AS, GN Store Nord AS, Lisound Hearing Aid Fuzhou Co. Ltd., MED EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH, Oticon Inc., RION Co. Ltd., SeboTek Hearing Systems LLC, Sonova AG, Starkey Laboratories Inc., Widex AS, WS Audiology AS, and Zounds Hearing Inc. Market Driver The global hearing aid market is witnessing significant growth due to continuous product innovations by key players. In February 2024, Oticon introduced Oticon Intent, an advanced hearing aid with 4D sensor technology, offering seamless listening support and reducing background noise. GN expanded its ReSound Nexia range in the same month, introducing new styles with Bluetooth connectivity and superior hearing quality in noisy environments. In September 2023, Beltone launched the weatherproof and sweatproof Beltone Serene, a tiny hearing aid suitable for single-sided deafness, enabling hands-free phone and video calls. These new product launches and upgrades demonstrate vendors' commitment to investing in R&D, driving market growth by expanding the range of available hearing aids and encouraging competition. The hearing aid market is experiencing significant growth due to the rising prevalence of auditory impairment, particularly among the geriatric population. Novel products like invisible aids, smart linked aids, and AI-enabled aids are trending, catering to patients' preferences for discreet and advanced solutions. Developing economies, privatization, and education and awareness initiatives are driving market expansion. The COVID-19 outbreak has accelerated the shift towards e-commerce sales, with players like EssilorLuxottica, Nuance Hearing, and Distributed Ventures leading the way. Regulatory scrutiny and regional expansion are key challenges. Product types include digital and analog hearing aids, with behind-the-ear and canal aids popular. Technology insights include direct streaming capabilities, sound processing algorithms, and smartphone compatibility. User experience, quality of hearing, and sound processing are crucial factors. Wireless options and remote programming are essential features. Hearing Choices, Lucid Hearing, and various governments are investing in this sector. Noise-induced and sensorineural hearing loss continue to fuel demand. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation - Book Here! Market Challenges Hearing aid batteries have been identified as a significant challenge in the hearing aid market. Advanced hearing aids, which offer multiple features, often experience shorter battery life due to increased power consumption. The battery life is influenced by several factors, including the milliamp-hour (mAh) rating, signal intensity, gain control, sound input, and discharge voltage level. For instance, higher gain control and battery current consumption result in a shorter battery life. Similarly, high-output power hearing aids for patients with complete hearing loss and high discharge voltage levels can negatively impact battery life. Environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and the use of dry-aid kits, also affect battery life. Low humidity can cause batteries to drain faster, while high humidity can lead to moisture-related issues, such as leakage and swelling, reducing battery life. These concerns may negatively impact the global hearing aid market during the forecast period. The hearing aid market faces several challenges. Sound processing algorithms require continuous advancements to enhance user experience and improve quality of hearing. Smartphone compatibility and remote programming are essential features for modern users. EssilorLuxottica and Nuance Hearing are major players, but regulatory scrutiny poses challenges for market expansion. Sales channels include retail stores, e-pharmacy sales, and distributed ventures like Distributed Ventures and Elements Health Ventures. Product types include digital and analog hearing aids, with digital gaining popularity. Behind-the-ear and canal hearing aids cater to various user needs. Technology insights drive innovation in wireless options and hearing implants like Oticon More. Hearing loss, including noise-induced and sensorineural, creates a large geriatric patient pool. Costs of surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, and lack of reimbursements impact market growth. Manufacturing costs and competition from surgical interventional procedures also pose challenges. Hearing Choices, Lucid Hearing, and governments in India and Australia are addressing these challenges through initiatives and policies. For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report! Segment Overview This hearing aid market report extensively covers market segmentation by End-user 1.1 Adults 1.2 Pediatricians Product 2.1 Hearing devices 2.2 Hearing implants Geography 3.1 Europe 3.2 North America 3.3 Asia 3.4 Rest of World (ROW) 1.1 Adults- The adult segment is projected to experience the greatest growth in the hearing aid market due to the rising prevalence of hearing loss among this demographic. Hearing loss, a common issue among older adults, can be caused by age-related problems or earwax buildup in the middle ear. If left untreated, it can lead to communication difficulties, dementia, and depression. Adults with self-perceived hearing loss are more likely to seek help and adopt hearing amplification solutions. However, only a fraction of adults over 50 use hearing aids for their hearing impairments. Commonly used hearing aids for adults are CIC and ITC models, which fit inside the ear canal and address mild to moderate hearing loss. Major vendors, such as Oticon, are introducing super-powered hearing aids like the Sumo Super Power, offering enhanced low-frequency power, to cater to the growing demand for effective hearing solutions among adults. 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 hearing aid market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of auditory impairment, particularly among the geriatric population. Novel products, such as invisible aids, smart linked aids, and AI-enabled aids, are driving innovation in the industry. Patients' experiences and feedback play a crucial role in shaping market trends. Developing economies present new opportunities for growth, but privatization and regulatory scrutiny pose challenges. Education and awareness campaigns are essential to increase adoption rates. Clinics and audiology shops serve as key sales channels, while EssilorLuxottica and Nuance Hearing are notable industry players. Direct streaming capabilities, sound processing algorithms, Bluetooth enabled aids, and smartphone compatibility are desirable features for modern hearing aids. Remote programming and regional expansion are also important trends in the market. Market Research Overview The hearing aid market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of auditory impairment, particularly among the geriatric population. Novel products such as invisible aids, smart linked aids, and AI-enabled aids are gaining popularity. Patients' experiences and technological advancements, including Bluetooth enabled aids, direct streaming capabilities, and sound processing algorithms, are driving demand. Developing economies are witnessing privatization and expansion of sales channels, including clinics, audiology shops, retail stores, and e-pharmacy sales. The COVID-19 outbreak has accelerated the adoption of telehealth and remote programming. Essential hearing aid types include behind-the-ear, canal, and digital hearing aids, as well as analog and Oticon More models. Regulatory scrutiny and regional expansion are key trends, with investments from firms like Distributed Ventures and Elements Health Ventures. Hearing loss disorders, including noise-induced and sensorineural hearing loss, impact adults and require diagnostic tests and potential surgical interventions, such as cochlear implants. The market faces challenges such as lack of reimbursements, high surgical procedure costs, and medical tourism. Hearing Choices, Lucid Hearing, and the Indian and Australian governments are addressing these challenges through education and awareness initiatives. 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 Adults Pediatricians Product Hearing Devices Hearing Implants Geography Europe North America 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 WALNUT CREEK, Calif., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Insurance Brokers, one of the largest full-service, independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States, has acquired Costello Insurance Associates, formally adding aviation expertise to its suite of services. Located in Tempe, Arizona, Costello joined as Heffernan's aviation specialty practice effective May 1, 2024, and will report into Heffernan's Phoenix branch office. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Pat Costello is a pilot and flight instructor with nearly 4,000 hours and founded the agency in 1991. Costello aids clients throughout the United States in obtaining coverage for corporate and pleasure aircraft, including jets, gliders, and drones, as well as operations such as flying clubs, flight schools, and airports. Pat Costello and his team of five employees will continue to service their new and existing customers while providing a solution to cross sell existing Heffernan aviation clients. "Costello Insurance Associates joined Heffernan Insurance Brokers with the understanding we could complement each other. Every indication is that will be the case and the clients will benefit. What stands out is how helpful and nice the people at Heffernan are. The Costello staff and I feel truly fortunate to become a part of the family," said Pat Costello, now Vice President of Heffernan Insurance Brokers. "We're pleased to expand our Phoenix metropolitan area footprint with the addition of Costello Insurance Associates. Costello's aviation expertise is a welcome addition to our existing specialty practices. The knowledge and experience of Pat and his team are well respected in the industry, and we're excited to have them onboard," said F. Michael Heffernan, President and CEO of Heffernan Insurance Brokers. As part of the next phase of Heffernan's growth strategy, we are interested in collaborating with privately held independent brokers across the United States. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Matt McKenna, Director of Corporate Development, at 925-746-7962 or [email protected]. About Heffernan Insurance Brokers Heffernan Insurance Brokers, formed in 1988, is one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States. Heffernan provides insurance and financial services products to a range of businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., Heffernan has offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Menlo Park, Truckee, Bakersfield, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles and Irvine, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Seattle and Olympia, WA; St. Louis, MO; and London UK. Employee-owned, Heffernan Insurance Brokers was named the Top Mid-Sized Broker in the United States to work for in 2009 by Business Insurance Magazine. The firm has been among the Top Greater Bay Area Philanthropists since 2003. For more information, visit www.heffins.com. License #0564249 SOURCE Heffernan Insurance Brokers NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Global is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Fredericks as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its Consumer - Retail platform, effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Fredericks will oversee Hilco Merchant Resources, Hilco Wholesale Solutions, Restore Capital, Hilco Fixed Asset Recovery, and Restore4Retail. He succeeds Ben Nortman, who will now focus exclusively on his new role as Co-Chief Commercial Officer, a position announced earlier this year. Hilco Consumer - Retail Chief Executive Officer Ian Fredericks "Ian Fredericks is one of our most impressive and enthusiastic leaders and his extensive experience and dedication have been pivotal in driving our Consumer - Retail platform forward," said Jeff Hecktman, CEO and Founder of Hilco Global. "Ian's deep understanding of the retail sector make him the ideal leader to take our Consumer - Retail platform to the next level." Ben Nortman, who has served as CEO for the past six years, successfully navigated the group through significant challenges, including the global COVID pandemic and the shift from brick-and-mortar to direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Under his leadership, Hilco Global's retail solutions platform grew significantly, marked by the launch of Restore Capital and the acquisition of Channel Control Merchants (CCM). Mr. Nortman will now dedicate his full attention to his role as Co-Chief Commercial Officer, leveraging his extensive industry network and strategic acumen to further enhance the Hilco Global platform. Ian Fredericks, who previously held the positions of President and COO, has been instrumental, alongside Mr. Nortman, Michale Keefe, Chairman, and other leaders across the organization, in maintaining and enhancing Hilco Global's reputation as a leading retail expert. "I am honored to take on this new role and lead our exceptional team," said Ian Fredericks. "Having been part of Hilco for over a decade, I am excited to continue building on our strong foundation and drive continued growth and innovation." Since joining Hilco in 2011, Mr. Fredericks has received numerous accolades, including being named a Top Retail Expert by RETHINK Retail in 2024 and an Emerging Leader by M&A Advisors in 2017. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, including at events and conferences sponsored by Consensus and its Big Brands Show; The Secured Finance Network, The Turnaround Management Association, and INSOL. Additionally, he has contributed articles to leading publications such as Women's Wear Daily and Retail Rx, and is often quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Debtwire and The Deal. Mr. Fredericks graduated from Harvard Business School's Business Analytics Program in June 2023, further enhancing his expertise in leadership, business analytics, technology, and artificial intelligence. Before joining Hilco, Mr. Fredericks was part of the Corporate Restructuring group at Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom, LLP, and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP. About Hilco Global: Hilco Global (http://www.hilcoglobal.com/) is a privately held diversified financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on maximizing the value of assets for both healthy and distressed companies. Hilco Global financial services leverage a unique blend of deep restructuring, and principal investing. Hilco Global delivers customized solutions to undervalued, high potential companies to resolve complex and stressed situations and enhance long-term enterprise value. Hilco Global operates as a holding company comprised of over twenty specialized business units that work to help companies understand the value of their assets and as needed monetize the value. Hilco Global has almost 4 decades of a successful track record of acting as an advisor, agent, investor and/or principal in any transaction. Currently, the company has $3 Billion in assets under management. Hilco Global works to deliver the best possible result by aligning interests with clients and providing them strategic insight, advice, and, in many instances, the capital required to complete the deal. Hilco Global is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has more than 800 professionals operating on five continents with US offices located in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and internationally in Australia, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico and throughout Asia. About Hilco Consumer - Retail: Hilco Consumer - Retail (www.hilcoglobal.com/companies/hilco-consumer-retail/) provides a wide range of analytical, advisory, asset monetization, and capital investment solutions to help define and execute a retailer's strategic initiatives with operations on 4 continents. Hilco Consumer - Retail activities fall into several principal categories including: acquisitions; disposition of underperforming stores; retail company or division wind downs; event sales to convert unwanted assets into working capital; facilitation of mergers and acquisitions; interim company, division or store management teams; loss prevention; and, the monetization of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Additionally, Hilco Consumer - Retail includes among its subsidiaries the nation's premier fixture and equipment liquidation firm, Hilco Fixed Asset Recovery (www.hilcoffe.com), the SaaS-based mobile visual merchandising and operations platform ReStore for Retail (www.restoreforretail.com) and an innovative sale locater website called Shop Genius (www.shopgenius.com). SOURCE Hilco Global TORONTO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - IKO, a worldwide leader in the roofing, waterproofing and insulation industries for residential and commercial markets, today announced the launch of its newly designed website for IKO Commercial. This launch underscores IKO's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, with users at the forefront of all efforts. "We are thrilled to introduce the new IKO Commercial website," said Akif Amin, senior vice president of Commercial Sales (North America) at IKO. "By offering a more dynamic and informative online experience, we aim to better support our partners in the commercial roofing industry across North America. Our new site embodies our commitment to helping professionals 'Specify with Confidence'." Reflecting IKO's core value of agility, the unified website dynamically adapts to the viewer's location through geotargeting, and users see the products and information available in their respective markets whether in the U.S. or Canada. This tailored approach provides relevant information and resources specific to each region. Key features of the site include: User Login Section : The new login feature allows users to group documents by product, job type and more, enabling them to efficiently gather information and obtain details tailored to their specific needs. The new login feature allows users to group documents by product, job type and more, enabling them to efficiently gather information and obtain details tailored to their specific needs. Mobile-Friendly Design: Fully optimized for mobile devices, the website ensures seamless access and usability on smartphones and tablets, making it convenient for on-the-go professionals. Fully optimized for mobile devices, the website ensures seamless access and usability on smartphones and tablets, making it convenient for on-the-go professionals. Enhanced Navigation: The website features a clean, intuitive layout that allows users to easily find a wide range of information. It offers multiple ways to navigate content, accommodating the different preferences and needs of various users. The website features a clean, intuitive layout that allows users to easily find a wide range of information. It offers multiple ways to navigate content, accommodating the different preferences and needs of various users. Robust Search Options: The options are designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals, while also offering access to a variety of educational resources and reference materials for newer professionals. The new website also features a dedicated Newsroom section for media partners, providing easy access to up-to-date press releases and announcements. It includes an array of multimedia content, such as product demonstrations and corporate videos, alongside educational blog posts covering various topics about commercial roofing. Additionally, users can utilize free tools and calculators, such as the Wind Uplift Tool and Wind Uplift Calculator, to aid in their projects. Even before initiating work on the website, IKO Commercial gathered feedback from customers and employees to address their needs and develop a platform that truly meets their expectations. Since 1951, IKO has been steadfast in its commitment to improving its business for the benefit of all. This drive for constant evaluation and evolution is a promise introduced over 70 years ago and continues to inspire the brand today. The launch of the newly redesigned IKO Commercial website exemplifies this commitment and represents a significant milestone in IKO's digital transformation strategy. This launch is part of IKO's ongoing plans to continually update and enhance its digital presence, with more updates to come. Visit www.iko.com/comm to explore the website. About IKO IKO is a worldwide leader in the roofing, waterproofing and insulation industry for residential and commercial markets. A vertically integrated company, IKO operates more than 35 manufacturing plants throughout North America and Europe. IKO is a family-owned business established in 1951. www.iko.com/comm SOURCE IKO Industries The upcoming Info-Tech LIVE 2024 conference is set to deliver transformative insights and strategies for today's IT leaders. The expanded lineup of expert speakers for the September event in Las Vegas sets the stage for groundbreaking discussions on Exponential IT, leadership, and organizational transformation. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on managing technological change, cultivating next-gen IT leaders, and driving innovation to stay competitive in the digital age. TORONTO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Info-Tech Research Group, a leading global IT research and advisory firm, has unveiled the next round of featured speakers for its upcoming Info-Tech LIVE 2024 conference. Taking place from September 17 to 19, 2024, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the highly anticipated annual industry event will bring together IT executives and professionals from around the world to explore the latest trends in technology and strategies for effective organizational transformation in the era of Exponential IT. The five newly announced speakers will join an already impressive lineup, including Founder & Executive Director of the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), Dr. Timnit Gebru, President of the Signal Foundation, Meredith Whittaker, and bestselling author Daniel Pink. Together, these thought leaders will provide valuable insights and strategies to drive innovation and leadership excellence. Info-Tech Research Group has announced new featured experts for its upcoming Info-Tech LIVE conference, being held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas from September 17 to 19, 2024. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group) "At Info-Tech LIVE 2024, our featured experts will delve into the transformative power of Exponential IT, providing attendees with actionable insights on driving effective organizational change and leadership," says Gord Harrison, chief research officer at Info-Tech Research Group. "Our speakers will share strategies on successful transformation management, cultivating future IT leaders, and offering insights on leveraging advanced technologies to navigate the complexities of today's tech landscape. This event is an unparalleled opportunity for IT leaders to equip themselves with the knowledge and tools needed to foster innovation and sustain growth in an increasingly competitive market." The latest featured experts announced for Info-Tech LIVE 2024 include: Jack Hakimian, SVP, Research & Advisory Services With over 30 years of experience in technology and management consulting, Jack Hakimian has served multi-billion-dollar organizations in various industries, including financial services, oil & gas, and telecommunications, as well as federal and state government institutions. Prior to joining Info-Tech, Jack worked for leading consulting firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, EY, and IBM. He has led digital business strategy engagements, corporate strategy, and M&A consulting services globally. Hakimian holds a master's degree in computer engineering and an MBA from the ESCP European Business School. Hakimian will give a feature keynote on the mainstage, titled "M&G 2.0: The Foundation to Exponential IT." He will also present two breakout sessions during the three-day event: "Manage Mission-Critical Projects" for the Leadership Summit: Systematically Improve Your IT Department track. "M&G 2.0: What Has Changed" for the Exponential IT track. Brittany Lutes, MSc. Research Director, CIO Practice Brittany Lutes is a Research Director in the CIO Practice at Info-Tech Research Group. She collaborates with IT executives and functional IT leaders to develop visual representations of how their IT organizations will achieve strategic goals through an IT operating model and organizational structure. With a decade of experience in research, Lutes has contributed to various industry outlets such as CIO, InformationWeek, and Technology Magazine. She holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics from the University of Guelph and emphasizes a people-oriented approach within organizations. Lutes is expected to present the keynote, "Crack the Code to Successful Transformation Management," at LIVE 2024. This session will help IT leaders understand the change management process for transformations, the main challenges faced during a transformation, and key factors to succeed and realize the intended value. She will also present the following breakout sessions: "Building Strategic Relationships: The CIO's Most Critical Role" for the Leadership Summit: Systematically Improve Your IT Department track. "Exponential IT: Discover Exponential IT's Next-Generation Operating Model" for the Exponential IT track. Carlene McCubbin, AVP, CIO Research Carlene McCubbin is a skilled facilitator, researcher, and advisor, covering key topics in strategy, transformation, and leadership. She has worked with hundreds of clients across public and private sectors to design and execute effective IT organizational changes. Passionate about workforce development and the interconnectedness of employee, digital, and service experiences, McCubbin leads the research agenda at Info-Tech. She earned her Master of Communications Management from McGill University, focusing on internal and external communications, government relations, and change management. For this year's event, McCubbin will be giving two keynotes, including "Cultivating the Next Generation of IT Leaders" and "Build a Data-Driven Workforce Plan." She will also present the following sessions: "Manage and Improve Core IT Capabilities" breakout session for the Exponential IT track. "AI Talent Debate: Should AI Skills Be Built Internally or Bought Externally?" expert panel for the AI Marketplace track. Allison Straker, Research Advisory Director Allison Straker brings two decades of experience in aligning business and IT through relationship management, user experience, business analysis, and consulting roles. She assists IT leaders and executives in better connecting IT and business, focusing on business relationship management, organizational design, experience design, and governance. Straker holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Toronto and advocates for the importance of understanding people when implementing technology. Straker will speak on several panels at the conference, including: "Bridging the Divide: Business Relationship Management for IT Leaders," a client panel for the Value-Driven IT track. "Leading in Uncertainty: Navigating the Glass Cliff," a client panel for the Black Professionals in IT track. Tom Zehren, Chief Executive Officer Tom Zehren, the chief executive officer of Info-Tech Research Group, initially joined the firm as chief product officer in 2022. Before joining Info-Tech, he spent a decade with McKinsey & Company. Zehren holds a summa cum laude Ph.D. and has served as faculty in Technology Management at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany. He has also been a pro bono advisor to Ashoka Globalizer Summit Fellows and other fast-growing technology firms and VC funds across the US, Canada, and Germany. At LIVE 2024, Zehren will present the feature keynote, "Exponential IT in Motion: Transform Your Organization by Transforming IT," where he will share the firm's findings on the impact of recent technological change on the IT capability stack and insights on how IT departments can keep pace with the law of accelerating returns. To view full session descriptions and to register for Info-Tech Research Group's annual IT conference, visit Info-Tech LIVE 2024. Updates and new details about speakers, agendas, and exclusive event experiences can also be found via LinkedIn and X over the coming weeks. Other Recent Speaker Announcements for Info-Tech LIVE 2024 Media Passes for 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 cover the insights presented at Info-Tech LIVE or to 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 professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Invisible orthodontics market size in North America is expected to grow significantly, with an estimated increase of USD 3.95 billion from 2024 to 2028, at a CAGR of over 25.2%. This growth is driven by the rising incidence of dental conditions and a shift towards digitization through CAD/CAM technology. However, the high costs associated with orthodontic procedures remain a challenge. Interestingly, countries like India are known for offering relatively cheaper orthodontic treatments compared to North America, leveraging lower labor and operational costs. Key market players include 3M Co., Align Technology Inc., AlignerCo, American Orthodontics, Aso International Co. Ltd., Candid Care Co., DENTAURUM GmbH and Co. KG, Dentsply Sirona Inc., DynaFlex, Envista Holdings Corp., G and H Orthodontics, Great Lakes Dental Technologies Ltd., Henry Schein Inc., Institut Straumann AG, King Orthodontics, Retainer Club Inc., Risas Dental and Braces, SmileDirectClub Inc., TP Orthodontics Inc., and Ultradent Products Inc. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled invisible orthodontics market in North America 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report Invisible Orthodontics Market Scope In North America Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 25.2% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 3959.4 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 19.78 Regional analysis North America Performing market contribution North America at 100% Key countries US, Canada, and Mexico Key companies profiled 3M Co., Align Technology Inc., AlignerCo, American Orthodontics, Aso International Co. Ltd., Candid Care Co., DENTAURUM GmbH and Co. KG, Dentsply Sirona Inc., DynaFlex, Envista Holdings Corp., G and H Orthodontics, Great Lakes Dental Technologies Ltd., Henry Schein Inc., Institut Straumann AG, King Orthodontics, Retainer Club Inc., Risas Dental and Braces, SmileDirectClub Inc., TP Orthodontics Inc., and Ultradent Products Inc. Market Driver The Invisible Orthodontics Market in North America is experiencing significant growth due to advancements in dental technology. CAD/CAM technology, which includes a scanner, software, and production technology, is revolutionizing orthodontics by enabling the creation of transparent aligners and custom-made brackets. This technology allows for minimal manual procedures in laboratories, fewer dental clinic visits, and eliminates the need for traditional impressions using intraoral scanners. Vendors such as Align Technology Inc. Are introducing advanced dental systems for dentures, splints, and clear aligners, providing greater flexibility, consistency, and real-time treatment plan access and modification capabilities. For instance, the launch of Align Technology's Invisalign system innovations for the Align Digital Platform is expected to revolutionize digital treatment planning for orthodontics and restorative dentistry. Dental clinics and hospitals are focusing on implementing modern IT solutions to operate efficiently, increase patient satisfaction, and achieve profits. For example, the Virginia Dental Center uses state-of-the-art technology to create a 3D model of teeth, which is then used to design aligners for patients. The use of CAD/CAM technology in orthodontics is gaining popularity due to its benefits, and this trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. The Invisible Orthodontics market in North America is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing preference for aesthetic dental treatments. Key players in this market include Invisalign, ClearCorrect, Straumann, Geniova Technologies, Dental Wings, and others. The use of clear aligners is on the rise, with brands like Invisalign leading the charge. Vendor landscape is competitive, with companies offering comprehensive data and solutions for dental healthcare professionals to address dental issues like dental crowding and malocclusions. Dental implant clinics and dental care centers are also adopting these technologies to enhance their services. Dentistry is embracing dental technologies like intra-oral scanners and ceramic braces to cater to the growing demand for invisible orthodontic solutions. Companies like Henry Schein Orthodontics, Envista Holdings Corporation, Curaeos Clinics, and others are also making strides in this market. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation - Book Here! Market Challenges The high cost of orthodontic procedures, including invisible orthodontics, is a significant barrier for many individuals in North America. Orthognathic surgery, a common orthodontic procedure to correct severe malocclusions, comes with a substantial price tag. The cost includes surgeon fees, hospital fees, device costs, anesthesia fees, and pain medication, with an average range of USD22,000 to USD45,000 in the US. Pre-orthodontic treatment exams, diagnostic tests, tooth extractions, and dentist consultations also add to the overall expense. For instance, the cost of a single X-ray and a panoramic X-ray ranges from USD50 to USD200, and the average dentist fee in Canada is around USD100 to USD200. Clear aligners, a popular invisible orthodontic solution, also contribute to the high cost. The average cost for ceramic braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign ranges from USD4,700 to USD9,000, USD8,500 to USD10,500, and USD4,700 to USD8,000, respectively. The cost of braces also depends on the duration of their application, with an average cost exceeding USD8,000 for more than three years. Adults can expect to pay an additional USD156 to USD211 for braces due to their larger jaw size. Although third-party insurers in developed countries like the US and Canada offer financial aid, those in rural areas often lack insurance coverage, limiting the growth of the invisible orthodontics market in the region. Insurance coverage is primarily for metal and ceramic braces, hindering the adoption of clear aligners. The Invisible Orthodontics Market in North America is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing preference for aesthetic dental treatments. Market research reports indicate a rise in the number of cases of dental crowding leading to the adoption of invisible aligners like Invisalign, ClearCorrect, and others over traditional orthodontic braces. Dental healthcare professionals in dental clinics and dental implant centers are embracing dental technologies such as intra-oral scanners to offer more precise and effective treatments. Companies like Henry Schein Orthodontics, Envista Holdings Corporation, Curaeos Clinics, Geniova Technologies, Dental Wings, Straumann, and others dominate the vendor landscape. Challenges include the high cost of these advanced treatments and the need for regular follow-ups. The geographical landscape of the market is diverse, with the US and Canada being major markets. Comprehensive market data is available in market research reports for businesses looking to enter or expand in this field. For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report! Segment Overview This invisible orthodontics market in North America report extensively covers market segmentation by End-user 1.1 Dental and orthodontic clinics 1.2 Hospitals Product 2.1 Clear aligners 2.2 Ceramic braces 2.3 Lingual braces Geography 3.1 North America 1.1 Dental and orthodontic clinics- Dental clinics in North America are experiencing growth in the orthodontics market due to various factors. Personalized treatment and the availability of private dental insurance providers are key drivers. Dental clinics are implementing strategies to increase revenue, such as direct-to-consumer approaches and collaborations with manufacturers. These efforts raise awareness and adoption of orthodontic services. Private insurance providers, like Aetna Inc. And Sun Life Assurance Company, offer coverage for orthodontic treatment, reducing the financial burden for patients. Dental clinics provide a range of services, including general dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgeries, using diagnostic tools like oral scanners and dental X-rays. Specialized orthodontic clinics, such as Simply Dental and Orthodontics, offer clear aligners and various dental braces, conducting free smile assessments to educate patients about dental health and the need for braces. These strategies make orthodontic services more accessible and affordable, fueling market 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 The Invisible Orthodontics Market in North America is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing popularity of aesthetic dental treatments. Invisible orthodontics, including clear aligners and other alternatives to traditional braces, are gaining preference among consumers due to their discreet nature and convenience. Dental clinics are increasingly adopting advanced technologies like intra-oral scanners for creating precise aligners, enhancing the overall patient experience. Geographical landscape of the market is diverse, with high penetration rate in developed regions like the US and Canada. Key market facets include dental conditions such as diastema, crossbite, overbite, underbite, and malocclusion. Dental diseases and dental care are major drivers for the market, with cosmetic and restorative tooth ailment techniques gaining popularity. Orthodontic devices like ceramic braces and lingual braces are also gaining traction. Medical resources and dental hygiene play a crucial role in the market's growth. Market comprehension includes dental healthcare professionals, dental implant clinics, and dental diseases. The vendor landscape is competitive, with major players like Align Technology (Invisalign), Straumann, ClearCorrect, Geniova Technologies, Dental Wings, and others offering innovative solutions. Comprehensive data on market trends, growth prospects, and competitive landscape can be obtained from reliable market research reports. Market Research Overview The Invisible Orthodontics Market in North America is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing preference for aesthetic dental treatments. Clear aligners, such as Invisalign and other brands like ClearCorrect, Geniova Technologies, Dental Wings, and Intra-oral scanners, are gaining popularity over traditional braces like ceramic or lingual braces. The market landscape is comprehensive, with key players focusing on innovation and technology to cater to the growing demand for orthodontic solutions. Dental healthcare professionals, dental implant clinics, and dental care centers are major consumers of these products. Geographically, the market is spread across the US, Canada, and Mexico, with the US being the largest market due to the high prevalence of dental crowding and malocclusions. Market research reports provide comprehensive data on the vendor landscape, which includes companies like Henry Schein Orthodontics, Envista Holdings Corporation, Curaeos Clinics, and others. Dental technologies continue to evolve, making orthodontic treatments more accessible and convenient for patients. 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 Dental And Orthodontic Clinics Hospitals Product Clear Aligners Ceramic Braces Lingual Braces Geography North 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 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is proud to announce the "Your Health, Your Legacy" Health Fair, coinciding with the 46th Jack and Jill of America National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This event, scheduled for Tuesday, July 23 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM CDT at the Minneapolis Convention Center, aims to empower attendees to make a positive difference particularly those in the African American community, through health education and community outreach. The "Your Health, Your Legacy" Health Fair is open to the public and will feature over 20 vendors offering a wide range of services to promote community health and wellness including engaging in blood pressure and CPR workshops provided by the American Heart Association, breast cancer screening by Touch4Life, along with health talks, free health screenings, consultations and a mental health living room sponsored by Reviving Roots Therapy and Wellness. The American Red Cross will also host a blood drive at the health fair. Confirmed vendors include: American Heart Association SonRise Project (Providing mental health lounge and yoga classes) March of Dimes Sabathani Community Health Center Sickle Cell Foundation Baxter Touch4Life American Red Cross Jaden Sebastian Blake Foundation Boys and Girls Club of Twin Cities (KIDS Space with summer programming) (KIDS Space with summer programming) Dental Screening Providers Diabetes Screening Providers Editas Jack and Jill of America, Inc. would like to thank the sponsors who made this fair a reality including the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Baxter, Editas, American Cancer Society, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Fulcrum Therapeutics. For more information about the "Your Health, Your Legacy" Health Fair contact Candace Moore at [email protected] or Darrielle Snipes at [email protected] . To sign up to give blood at the blood drive, please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter code: JJCONVENTION to schedule an appointment to give blood during the health fair. About Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Jack and Jill of America, Inc. was founded in 1938 to nurture future African American leaders by stimulating the growth and development of children through educational, cultural, civic, recreational, health and social programs inspired by mothers. Today, it is considered the most prominent African American family organization. Learn more by visiting jackandjillinc.org or @jackandjillinc on Facebook , Instagram , X , TikTok , or LinkedIn: Jack and Jill of America, Inc . SOURCE Jack and Jill of America, Inc. DENVER, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past four years, Jordan's Way has raised over $9 million for shelters and rescues across the U.S. as a part of a gigantic 50-state tour. Known for his high-energy, 3-hour fundraisers via Facebook Live all over the country, founder, Kris Rotonda, is at it again - this time he's headed to the west coast!! This 12-day tour will kick off Monday July 8th in Colorado, then the team will head to Arizona and finally wrap up in New Mexico on the 20th. Jordan's Way Tour 2024 Kris will host 19 shelters with his one of a kind fundraisers; there will be all sorts of fun challenges- all in good fun and all for the benefit of the amazing facilities and their animals! Jordan's Way has a new campaign running - Project Patreon. Gaining patreons with monthly subscriptions will give Jordan's Way the funds needed to give back to even more shelters and rescues. "I believe that no animal should ever have to spend their life in a shelter and I'm passionate about highlighting the organizations who work relentlessly to make sure these pets find loving homes, regardless of age, breed or health issues." For more information on Jordan's Way and to join their Patreon page, please visit https://www.patreon.com/JordansWay50StateTourandCanadato300AnimalShelters SOURCE Jordan's Way LLC Brokerage stands out in Chesapeake, Virginia, with a strong commitment to integrity, innovation, and community, making it a top choice for buyers and sellers in the Hampton Roads area. PLANO, Texas, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JPAR , a leading real estate brand, announced today the addition of its newest franchise office, Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR, located at 4631 Desert Road, Chesapeake, Virginia. The office serves the vibrant Hampton Roads market, including Williamsburg, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk. Under the leadership of broker/owner Keisha Rorie, Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR is poised to drive excellence and innovation in the local real estate market while focusing on recruiting top talent across the Hampton Roads region. Leveraging JPAR's cutting-edge technology platform, comprehensive training programs, and robust support systems, agents affiliated with Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR will benefit from the franchise's wealth of expertise, deep commitment to client satisfaction, brand recognition, and collaborative, community-focused culture. "At Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR, our mission is more than just providing exceptional real estate services. It's about fostering a sense of community, guided by integrity, professionalism, and a deep commitment to client satisfaction. We strive to exceed expectations, empower our agents, and contribute positively to the communities we serve, creating a shared sense of belonging and shared values," said Keisha. Hampton Roads, a region renowned for its rich history, picturesque waterfronts, and vibrant cultural scene, attracts many buyers and sellers. Its excellent schools, family-friendly amenities, thriving job market, and convenient access to major cities make it an ideal choice for families and professionals. The region's peaceful neighborhoods and abundant recreational opportunities make it a desirable retirement destination. This dynamic market offers many opportunities for first-time homebuyers and seasoned investors. "Welcoming Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR into our network is a significant milestone for us," said Laura O'Connor, President and COO, JPAR Affiliate Network. "Keisha's dedication to excellence and her deep roots in the community aligns perfectly with our core values. We are excited to support Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR in delivering outstanding service and achieving great success in the Hampton Roads market." Joining forces with JPAR offers agents many advantages, including access to cutting-edge technology, comprehensive training and support, brand recognition, and a nurturing, collaborative culture. Shipmate Real Estate +JPAR is eager to harness these resources to boost agent productivity, expand market presence, and foster community engagement. For more information about joining JPAR, visit grow.jpar.com (ownership) or jparready.com (agents). About JPAR Affiliated Network: ( grow.jpar.com ) JPAR's affiliate platform empowers independent brokerage owners nationwide to tap into the programs, platform, network, and guidance of one of the nation's leading growth brands. For a set flat fee, owners can access the same benefits that helped the flagship operations grow to a market-leader position. The onboarding process and personalized business coaching have proven effective for both startups and conversions, with agent growth typically more than doubling in the first year after affiliation. SOURCE JPAR Real Estate VANCOUVER, BC, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - In a post-COVID world, business leaders are still grappling with how to drive engagement, motivation, and create the best work environment for their teams. Recent data from KindWorks.AI highlights that a key to overcoming these workforce challenges lies in the simple practice of kindness. By fostering a culture of authentic kindnesscharacterized by sincerity, recognition, and human connectionleaders can significantly enhance employee performance and drive exceptional business results. In 2023, 77% of employees reported feeling disengaged, and employee loyalty significantly declined, with over half indicating their intention to leave their current jobs. Losing strong employees is extremely costly: replacing an experienced employee exceeds $50,000. The situation is exacerbated by hybrid and remote work where people increasingly feel isolated and disconnected. The answer can be simple: Kindness Hundreds of scientific research papers have demonstrated the benefits of kindness in the workplace. Now, real-world data reveals that incorporating kindness, facilitated by technology, yields significant business results. KindWorks has developed an AI agent named 'Beni' that integrates with tools like Slack, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams to share kindness exercises and strengthen the 'kindness muscle.' Beni's exercises are science-based and provide a personalized journey with various methods to practice kindness. KindWorks.AI works with customers at the highest-performing global companies who are seeing the impact of kindness on people and business results. The Impact of Kindness on Business Results Since implementing Beni, Beekman 1802 has seen a 65% increase in sense of connectivity, and a 59% increase in employees' sense of connectivity and a 59% increase in their feeling of appreciation. The platform has enabled the team to form deeper and more meaningful relationships with colleagues, many of whom they have never met in person. "Beni has allowed us to bridge the gap that comes with working from different locations. Now, one of my closest friends is in New York and I would have not connected with her if it wasn't for Beni," says Yvette Lozano, a West Coast Sales Leader. Yvette feels that regular use of the AI agent has enhanced her visibility and connection with other departments, allowing her to perform her job more efficiently and effectively. The results are evident in both sales and employee retention. A statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between practicing kindness and increased sales performance. "As an agile and growing organization, Beni provides intentional and relevant prompts to our leaders to stop and provide mentorship, gratitude, and kindness to themselves, their teams, and cross-functional partners. We are working more collaboratively and efficiently as a result. Organizationally, we have seen a decrease in voluntary and involuntary turnover since utilizing Beni," states Alyssa Straub, Senior Director of HR at Beekman 1802. Prosegur Alarms has experienced similar positive results. Statistical analysis of their sales data shows that for each additional kindness exercise completed, an extra 3.6 units were sold. This led to the best sales quarter in the office's history. Additionally, the division received the 'Passion for Customers' award for the first time, a prestigious global recognition given by the company's headquarters. "Beyond the positive data that we've observed, the true transformation Beni has brought to our team is evident in how we connect with each other. By starting our day with kindness as a core value, we build meaningful relationships with our peers and customers, reflecting our company's values," explains Ana Carolina Ramirez, General Director of Prosegur Alarms in Colombia. The results from Beekman 1802, Prosegur, and other clients across consulting, banking, healthcare, food and beverages, and law firms demonstrate that kindness is a powerful and straightforward solution to some of our most significant workplace challenges. While kindness is 'simple,' it is often not 'easy,' which is why Beni is so effective in encouraging and facilitating the intentional practice of kindness. And the opportunity is endless. As Daniel Lozano, CEO & Founder of KindWorks.AI states, "our goal is to bring the power of kindness to billions of people, to change not only the way that we work, but how we live. This is just the beginning of a deeper revolution that has the potential to make the world a better place." SOURCE KindWorks.AI GAINESVILLE, Fla., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- King Insurance Partners is proud to announce a significant milestone in its continued journey of growth and excellence. Since 2021, they have achieved a remarkable increase of over 15 times in revenue and are on track to surpass $75 million by the end of this year. This success is largely attributed to their strategic mergers and acquisitions, coupled with consistent organic growth. Over the past three years, King has completed 36 acquisitions, expanding their team to nearly 300 talented individuals. Pete Gilbertson - President at King Insurance Partners This week, King Insurance Partners has further announced they have welcomed Pete Gilbertson as the new President of the organization. Pete brings with him an impressive 35-year career in the insurance brokerage industry. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President at USI, where he oversaw California operations across 10 offices with 450 employees. His previous roles include Executive Vice President & Regional Managing Director (North Region) at Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Assistant Vice President at Marsh. Pete holds a degree in Economics from Lafayette College and an MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business (NYU). Pete's extensive experience spans various functions within an insurance broker, from sales and M&A to operations. His leadership will be instrumental in driving King Insurance Partners' growth and enhancing their ability to serve clients effectively. Malcolm (Chad) King, Founder and CEO of King Insurance Partners, stated, "Pete is the perfect complement to our exceptional team and organization. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge across many disciplines within P&C insurance. Through leveraging Pete's deep experience, I am certain that King will collectively achieve their ambitious goals." Pete Gilbertson also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I am beyond excited to join the King Insurance Partners team. They have collectively built an unbelievable and highly regarded insurance broker. Together, I am confident in our ability to continue along King's already-impressive organic and inorganic growth trajectory." As King continues to explore growth opportunities, Pete's leadership will be integral in helping King Insurance Partners achieve their goal of becoming a top 25 U.S. P&C broker. For more information, please contact: [email protected] About King Insurance Partners: King Insurance Partners is a leading insurance brokerage firm committed to providing comprehensive insurance solutions and exceptional client service. Their strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions, combined with organic development, positions them as a top player in the insurance industry. Learn more at www.king-insurance.com . SOURCE King Insurance Partners Addressing Critical Needs in Maternal and Infant Health Data Sharing TOPEKA, Kan., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KONZA National Network, a non-profit Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Designated Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN), today announced the launch of Birth Connect to provide timely alerts to OB/GYNs that a birth parent under their care has delivered a baby. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, according to a March 2024 report by The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The report, "Interoperability of Maternity Health Care Records," emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive and timely data sharing to improve health outcomes for birth parents and newborns. KONZA's Birth Connect directly responds to this call by linking medical records of birth parents and newborns, ensuring that healthcare providers in the full continuum of care have access to complete and accurate data. This enables quicker response to potential complications and supports health needs in the early stages of life, while ensuring effective care coordination, seamless post-birth transition and continuous health monitoring. Bridging the Data Gap This innovative, first-of-its-kind product solves several persistent problems: Due to interoperability issues between electronic medical records, physicians outside the birth hospital may not know about the birth for days or weeks, causing critical delays in providing essential immediate care for both parent and baby. Infant medical record loss is common because newborns are often initially named "Baby Girl/Baby Boy + parent's last name," making it difficult to link records once the baby receives a full name. Accurate birth outcomes are essential for quality improvement initiatives, as incomplete data prevents a full understanding of issues related to poor outcomes. Key Features Birth Connect facilitates advanced data collection to ensure high-quality data sharing, reducing the risk of infant medical record loss and supporting quality improvement initiatives. Birth Connect's timely alerts for NICU admissions enhances newborn safety and care quality while enabling healthcare providers to analyze prevention efforts and identify public health trends. The integration of Birth Connect streamlines Quality Reporting, reducing the manual workload typically associated with it, while improving the workflow for healthcare providers to ensure critical health information is promptly available. The Pilot Site KONZA worked closely with Hartford HealthCare in Connecticut to develop and pilot Birth Connect throughout 2023 and early 2024. "Hartford Healthcare was honored to be the pilot site for KONZA's Birth Connect product," said Lisa Shubitowski, Interoperability Solutions Architect. "Birth Connect allows us to utilize existing technologies in new and innovative ways to communicate critical health events to healthcare providers in the community in support of our patients." Unique Alerting Use Cases KONZA is committed to investing in the development of products that leverage HIE data to address emerging critical health and communication challenges that are national in scope and too complex for a single system to manage. "Alerting products are rapidly evolving," said Laura McCrary, EdD, President and CEO of KONZA. "Traditionally used to notify providers of patient admissions and discharges, these systems can now alert providers about critical health events or high-risk situations. KONZA has now developed and deployed three key clinical alert modalities, and we are collaborating with University of Connecticut researchers on the development of a fourth for suicide prevention." KONZA's other alerting products include: Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO) Alerts : Notify hospitals of active MDRO diagnoses, enabling rapid implementation of transmission-based safety protocols. : Notify hospitals of active MDRO diagnoses, enabling rapid implementation of transmission-based safety protocols. Behavioral Health Alerts: Provide clinicians with critical insights into a patient's behavioral health history and ICD diagnosis codes after emergency department visits for mental illness. About KONZA: www.konza.org Contact: Katy Brown 785-220-1535 | [email protected] SOURCE KONZA National Network Demonstration testing of "my own" beauty products PALO ALTO, Calif., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KOSE Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Kazutoshi Kobayashi), I Peace, Inc. (Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, USA; Founder & CEO: Koji Tanabe), and Reju, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yurie Kamiya) have agreed to enter a strategic partnership to develop and provide personalized beauty products*1 containing iPSF (iPS cell extract), a unique ingredient derived from each customers' own iPS cells*2. The personalized beauty products will not only contain iPSF but will be formulated in the optimal dosage form and texture to suit each customer's preferences and sensibilities. This innovative approach ensures that customers can enjoy the beauty products meticulously tailored to their needs and desires. Before the end of 2024, the partnership plans to commence demonstration testing of the technical and business aspects of these beauty products, collaborating with medical institutions in Japan. *1 Personalized beauty products resulting from this project will be provided through medical institutions under medical supervision, rather than being provided as cosmetics as defined by the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. *2 iPS cells are a type of stem cell that can proliferate almost indefinitely and differentiate into any type of cell in the various tissues and organs, making them promising for regenerative medicine applications. Background to the strategic partnership KOSE, a leading company in the business of beauty in Japan as a provider of cosmetics and other products, has joined forces with I Peace, a biotech company working in the field of iPS cell technology, and Reju, a supplier of iPSF. This strategic partnership is driven by a shared commitment to delivering personalized beauty solutions that are tailored to the unique individuality of each customer in a society that respects diversity. With a focus on the 3G principals of Global, Gender, and Generation, KOSE is working on a mission to deliver the value of beauty to as many people as possible by targeting new customer segments, beyond adult women. KOSE is committed to providing a wide range of cosmetic products tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse customers including different functions and usability, by leveraging its extensive expertise and strength in cosmetics development and brand creation. To further expand its value propositions beyond the realm of beauty, KOSE has been exploring the technical and business aspects in the areas of health and cure, elevating its value propositions to holistic well-being concept. I Peace, on the other hand, is engaged in a number of businesses including the supply of clinical-grade iPS cells to pharmaceutical companies and cell and gene therapy developers worldwide. Additionally, I Peace offers iPS cell banking services for individuals, enabling them to store their own iPS cells for personalized disease treatment in the future and other applications. Through the groundbreaking technologies, I Peace has significantly reduced the cost of manufacturing iPS cells, paving the way for a future where individuals will be able to make use of their own iPS cells. With a separate technical partnership with I Peace, Reju is aiming to apply cutting-edge iPS cell component extraction and refining technologies to the areas of beauty and health. Reju is researching and verifying the potential contributions of iPSF, a unique iPS cell extract produced through these advanced technologies, to cell rejuvenation and longevity. The unique iPSF components are expected to have wide-ranging applications across various beauty and healthcare areas. Recognizing the potential of delivering truly personalized beauty solutions tailored to each customer by combining their expertise in beauty and iPS cell technology, these three companies have come together to form this new strategic partnership. Outline of the initiative This initiative aims to provide customers with a wide range of beauty products uniquely tailored to each individual. The process begins with the iPS cells generation from somatic cells which are collected from the customer's own blood. In the process, the extracts of their own iPS cells are taken and stored so the customers can enjoy beauty products containing extracts of their own iPS cells. Because iPS cells are rejuvenated in the cell generation process, customers can benefit from the cellular activity levels similar to their younger selves. Moreover, the use of iPSF derived from the customers' own cells ensures high biocompatibility, minimizing the risk of adverse reactions. In this initiative, I Peace will generate, culture, and manage iPS cells from an individual's somatic cells using its extensive experience in operating personal iPS cell banking services employing its latest biotechnology and stringent safety protocols to ensure the highest quality. Utilizing its technical partnership with I Peace, Reju will manufacture and supply iPSF for the beauty products. The beauty products offered through this initiative will be tailored to customers' preferences not only in components but also in a dosage form. For example, the personalized beauty products will be available in various forms like gels for those who prefer a fresh feeling, or creams for those concerned about dryness. This versatility ensures each customer's unique desires for usability, feel, and the added value are met, in alignment with the sensibilities they may have. KOSE, having developed many different cosmetics in pursuit of ever-better usability, will be in charge of providing the personalized beauty products to customers' satisfaction. This initiative will appoint Japanese medical institutions who will take care of collecting somatic cells from customers, preparing iPSF-based formulations, and other relevant work, with the aim to commence demonstrating testing before the end of 2024. Roles of each party KOSE: Manufacture and sale of preparations personalized to individual preferences I Peace: Generation, cultivation, and management of customers' own iPS cells Reju: Supply of iPSF (iPS cell extract) Overview of each party KOSE Corporation Representative: Kazutoshi Kobayashi, President & CEO Headquarters: 3-6-2 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8251, Japan Founded in: 1946 Business: Manufacture and sale of cosmetics Website: https://corp.kose.co.jp/en/ I Peace, Inc. Representative: Koji Tanabe, Founder & CEO Headquarters: 809 San Antonio Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA Founded in: 2015 Business: Operation of the Personal iPS Cell Banking service, and contract manufacture and sale of clinical- and research-use iPS cells for companies Website: https://ipeace.com/en/ Reju, Inc. Representative: Yurie Kamiya, CEO Headquarters: 6-15-1 Roppongi , Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan Founded in: 2022 Business: Supply of beauty and health products and services using iPSF (iPS cell extract) URL https://rejuinc.com/ Reference: iPS cell research conducted by KOSE As part of its rejuvenation research, KOSE has been analyzing and evaluating dermal fibroblasts collected from a single donor from the ages of 36 to 67, as well as iPS cells generated from these cells, to study skin aging. KOSE has reported that initialization of differentiated cells into undifferentiated iPS cells restores the length of telomeres (the terminal portion of chromosomes that shortens with each cell division) in all aged cells. In another approach, KOSE has succeeded in inducing dermal fibroblasts to differentiate into new dermal fibroblasts via iPS cells, and has ascertained that the quality of mitochondria was restored in dermal fibroblasts induced from these iPS cells when compared with the original cells. Reference: About I Peace I Peace was founded in 2015 by Dr. Koji Tanabe, a graduate of Professor Shinya Yamanaka's laboratory at Kyoto University and the second author of the landmark paper on the world's first human iPS cell line. Dr. Tanabe has been involved in iPS cell research since it's early days. By manufacturing and selling cells for clinical and research use, I Peace aims to quickly bring a variety of useful iPS cell technologies to the world. Recognizing the unique advantage of iPS cellsbeing able to generate them from anyone and use them for personalized treatmentI Peace launched the Personal iPS Cell Banking service with the commitment to making it possible for individuals to obtain and use their own cells for personalized disease treatment. The I Peace cell manufacturing facility has been licensed by Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) to manufacture specified processed cells and is also registered with the FDA in the United States. I Peace supplies clinical-grade iPS cells to pharmaceutical companies and cell therapy development companies worldwide. Reference: About Reju Focusing on the rejuvenating effect of iPS cells, Reju entered a technical partnership with I Peace and conducted research and development with the aim of applying iPS cell technology to rejuvenation, both inside and out, to improve the quality of life in an era of 100-year life spans. Through extensive research and development efforts, Reju has developed iPSF (iPS cell extract), innovative product that encapsulates the rejuvenation properties of iPS cells. Reju values science and evidence-based approach to make a contribution to the next-generation of personal beauty and healthcare, going beyond existing products and services in anti-aging industry. SOURCE I Peace, Inc.; KOSE Corporation; Reju, Inc. Improved supply capabilities of Neuraceq to provide better patient access to beta-amyloid PET BOSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) and Jubilant Radiopharma, a global company that offers radiopharmaceuticals and radiopharmacies for nuclear medicine, announce the expansion of their strategic partnership and licensing agreement to provide and distribute Neuraceq from Jubilant's single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emision Tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical manufacturing site located in Mobile, AL. The first doses have been made available on July 9th, 2024. Neuraceq is an FDA-approved imaging agent for the detection of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain of adult patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease and other causes of cognitive decline. Neuraceq is used in clinical routine and is also a powerful imaging biomarker for the appropriate characterization of subjects assessed for treatment eligibility with newly approved anti-amyloid drugs, or for enrollment in clinical trials to further support drug development in neurodegenerative diseases. "Expanding Neuraceq manufacturing in Mobile in collaboration with Jubilant, further reinforces Life Molecular Imaging's commitment to meeting the increasing demand for amyloid detection to confirm eligibility for new therapies. We are excited to support the growing needs of the customers in the region, and to provide Neuraceq access for the benefit of physicians, patients, and our pharma partners," said Colleen Ruby, US Country and Chief Operating Officer, Americas and APAC. "More than 6.2 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. A progressive brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking and language skills, and the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. The Jubilant Radiopharma Team is excited to bring Neuraceq to physicians and patients in the Mobile, AL area," said Renato Leite, President, Jubilant Radiopharmacies. "The availability of Neuraceq offers new hope through the detection of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain of adult patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease." About Neuraceq (florbetaben 18F) Indication Neuraceq is a radioactive diagnostic agent indicated for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of the brain to estimate -amyloid neuritic plaque density in adult patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other causes of cognitive decline. A negative Neuraceq scan indicates sparse to no neuritic plaques and is inconsistent with a neuropathological diagnosis of AD at the time of image acquisition; a negative scan result reduces the likelihood that a patient's cognitive impairment is due to AD. A positive Neuraceq scan indicates moderate to frequent amyloid neuritic plaques; neuropathological examination has shown this amount of amyloid neuritic plaque is present in patients with AD, but may also be present in patients with other types of neurologic conditions as well as older people with normal cognition. Neuraceq is an adjunct to other diagnostic evaluations. Limitations of Use A positive Neuraceq scan does not establish the diagnosis of AD or any other cognitive disorder. Safety and effectiveness of Neuraceq have not been established for: Predicting development of dementia or other neurologic conditions Monitoring responses to therapies. Important Safety Information Risk for Image Interpretation and Other Errors Errors may occur in the Neuraceq estimation of brain neuritic -amyloid plaque density during image interpretation. Image interpretation should be performed independently of the patient's clinical information. The use of clinical information in the interpretation of Neuraceq images has not been evaluated and may lead to errors. Errors may also occur in cases with severe brain atrophy that limits the ability to distinguish gray and white matter on the Neuraceq scan. Errors may also occur due to motion artifacts that result in image distortion. Neuraceq scan results are indicative of the presence of brain neuritic -amyloid plaques only at the time of image acquisition and a negative scan result does not preclude the development of brain neuritic -amyloid plaques in the future. Radiation Risk Neuraceq, similar to other radiopharmaceuticals, contributes to a patient's overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Ensure safe handling to protect patients and health care workers from unintentional radiation exposure. Common Adverse Reactions The overall safety profile of Neuraceq is based on data from 1,090 administrations of Neuraceq to 872 subjects. No serious adverse reactions related to Neuraceq administration have been reported. The most frequently observed adverse drug reactions in subjects receiving Neuraceq were injection site reactions consisting of erythema (1.7%), irritation (1.1%) and pain (3.4%). For more information please visit: neuraceq.com About Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) is an international pharma company dedicated to developing and offering novel cutting-edge PET radiopharmaceuticals for imaging of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The organization strives to be a leader in the molecular imaging field. Our mission is to pioneer innovative PET products that improve early detection and characterization of chronic and life-threatening diseases, leading to better therapeutic outcomes and improved quality of life. By advancing novel PET radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging, LMI is focusing on a key field of modern medicine. LMI is an affiliate of Life Healthcare Group an international people-centered, diversified healthcare organization with four decades of experience in the South African private healthcare sector. To learn more, please visit https://life-mi.com. About Life Healthcare Group Life Healthcare is a global people-centered, diversified healthcare organization listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Life Healthcare has over 40 years' experience in the South African private healthcare sector, and currently operates 64 healthcare facilities in southern Africa. Services include acute hospital care, acute physical rehabilitation, acute mental healthcare, renal dialysis, oncology, diagnostic and molecular imaging and health risk management services which include occupational health and wellness services. The Group also owns Life Molecular Imaging, a radiopharmaceutical business dedicated to developing and globally commercializing innovative molecular imaging agents for use in PET-CT diagnostics to detect specific diseases. Visit: https://www.lifehealthcare.co.za/ | https://life-mi.com/ About Jubilant Radiopharma Jubilant Radiopharma, a division of Jubilant Pharma Ltd., is an industry-leading radiopharmaceutical business that comprises development, manufacturing and commercialization of products through its Radiopharmaceuticals business and distribution through its national network of Radiopharmacies. The division's Radiopharmacies business is the second largest radiopharmacy network in the US with 46 pharmacies distributing nuclear medicine products to the largest national Group Purchasing Organisations (GPOs), regional health systems, stand-alone imaging centres, cardiologists and hospitals. This business has over 30 years of experience in serving the US nuclear medicine community and its current geographical reach enables it to serve over four million patients yearly. Jubilant Radiopharma is focused on "Improving Lives through Nuclear Medicine". For media queries Brittany Hahn | Marketing Communications Manager | Life Molecular Imaging Tel: +1.484.735.2840 | [email protected] SOURCE Life Molecular Imaging NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeCare Properties (LCP), a Biloxi, Mississippi-based developer of senior living communities, is pleased to announce the sale of The Blake at New Braunfels to Scottsdale, Arizona-based Inspired Healthcare Capital. The transaction was expertly facilitated by Cody Tremper and his team at Berkadia Seniors Housing & Healthcare. The Blake at New Braunfels, a 112-unit assisted living and memory care community, represents premier senior living in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Built in 2021, this Class A property features 71 assisted living units and 41 memory care units, along with exceptional amenities such as a salon, a theater, and an on-site physical therapy clinic. Its strategic location near Resolute Baptist Hospital further underscores the community's commitment to providing accessible, top-tier healthcare. Blake Management Group, known for its operational excellence in senior living management, will continue to operate The Blake under the new ownership, ensuring that residents experience minimal disruption and maintain the quality of life they are accustomed to. "We developed The Blake with a vision of excellence in senior living. We are confident that Inspired Healthcare Capital will advance this vision, ensuring the highest standards of service and operational continuity," stated Brooks Holstein, LCP founder and managing member. With the recent completion of The Blake at Tyler and the ongoing success of The Blake at Wacoboth operated by Blake Management GroupLCP has leveraged its deep market insights and developed its senior living portfolio during historic economically challenging times. The sale of The Blake at New Braunfels is a strategic move that allows LCP to capitalize on new development opportunities in response to the increasing demand driven by the "Silver Tsunami." By partnering with astute capital investors and maintaining Blake Management Group's operational excellence, LifeCare Properties aims to enhance its portfolio's stability and growth, ensuring robust investment returns in a sector that is both essential and expanding. About LifeCare Properties: LifeCare Properties, LLC (LCP), is a commercial real estate development company with a focus on developing institutional grade senior living communities. Utilizing extensive experience in market selection, as well as relationships with national and regional contract partners, LCP has consistently developed successful communities. LCP was founded on the core values of integrity, knowledge, accountability, and results. Its parent company, COMVEST Properties, LLC, is a family-owned multi-generational development and investment company where these values have enabled growth across several real estate categories from hotels, to restaurants, to retail, and now senior living. For additional information on LifeCare Properties, please visit www.lifecarepropertiesllc.com. SOURCE LifeCare Properties The company provides highly qualified, customer-centric processing talent, easy-to-use technology, and access to an extensive list of supported lenders and loan products to help customers get fast, effective results. BOCA RATON, Fla., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the company's acquisition in 2020, wemlo has helped hundreds of brokers across the United States increase productivity, manage bigger pipelines, and grow their businesses by providing a flexible, effective option for third-party loan processing. Now, wemlo is celebrating a milestone in its brand growth, recently processing its 6,000th loan to Clear to Close (CTC) status. "Reaching the 6,000th CTC milestone is very exciting for the wemlo brand because it validates the benefits our third-party processing services provide mortgage brokers," said Chelsea Balak, vice president of operations at wemlo. "It's also a massive testament to wemlo's team of processors who work hard to serve as a seamless extension of their brokers' teams and provide the best customer service experience possible from submission to closing." The brand, which has repeatedly been recognized as a National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) Service Partner of the Year for mortgage loan processing, strives to offer unparalleled service with industry-leading offerings to help its customers get effective results, fast. In fact, according to ICE Mortgage Technology the industry's average time to get a loan from submission to closing was 44 days as of March 2024, while the company's internal data shows the wemlo processing team has cut that time nearly in half with an average of just 23 days since the start of the year. "I've been a wemlo processing customer for over a year now and am continuously impressed with the service they provide," said Lindsey Clarac, loan originator at Motto Mortgage Select in Houston, Texas. "The team of processors we work with are extremely efficient and communicative, and their deep knowledge of the loan process is invaluable. They make my job easier and make me look good by providing a smooth transaction for our borrowers. I would 100% recommend wemlo for all your loan processing needs." "Working with the wemlo processing team has been an amazing experience for myself and my business," said Tomas Rodriguez, mortgage broker and branch manager at Team USA Mortgage. "I am very particular when it comes to how my loans are being managed and processed - wemlo is the only processing team that I trust. They provide outstanding service to my customers. Their communication is the best!" The wemlo team is trained and highly proficient in more than a dozen loan products from over 30 leading wholesale lenders including Conventional, FHA, Jumbo, VA, USDA, Second Mortgage, Non-QM, DSCR & Bank Statement, Specialized Borrower Down Payment Assistance loans and down payment assistance, Manufactured Home and Construction loans, plus VA IRRRL, ITIN, 203(k) and FHA Streamline loans. The company is consistently adding new supported lenders to its roster to further expand service offerings and support its broker partners. The processing company is currently authorized to do business in 47 states, plus Washington, D.C. For a full list of states and product support information, visit www.wemlo.io/powerhouse. Visit www.wemlo.io for more information or to schedule a 1:1 meeting with the team today. About wemlo wemlo NMLS #1853218, is a technology-focused mortgage loan processing company that is reshaping the mortgage broker channel. It developed the first service for mortgage brokers, combining third-party loan processing with an all-in-one digital platform. Its product is marketed and sold to mortgage brokerages and loan originators across the country. wemlo is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., which includes RE/MAX, one of the world's leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, and Motto Mortgage, the first-and-only national mortgage brokerage franchise brand in the U.S. SOURCE wemlo VANCOUVER, BC, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Luca Mining Corp. ("Luca" or the "Company") (TSXV: LUCA) (OTCQX: LUCMF) (Frankfurt: Z68) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has appointed Mr. Dan Barnholden as the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), effective July 15, 2024. Ramon Perez, who has served as interim CEO for the past 4 months, will return to his role as President and will work closely with Dan to optimize operations at Campo Morado and achieve commercial production at Tahuehueto. Dan Barnholden is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in senior mining investment banking roles at bank-owned and boutique dealers in Toronto and Vancouver. He has raised billions of dollars in debt and equity for junior, mid-tier and senior mining companies, as well as advised dozens of companies on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other financial, strategic and governance matters. Mr. Barnholden joins Luca from and international investment banking firm where he was Managing Director, Investment Banking. Previously, he served as Head of Investment Banking at a Vancouver based, employee-owned investment banking firm. Dan completed his B.A. with Great Distinction from McGill University and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where he was an Ivey Scholar. Chairman David Rhodes stated, "I'm very pleased to announce Dan joining the Luca team as CEO. He brings a wealth of experience in the sector, having held numerous leadership roles and successfully navigating complex market dynamics. His extensive background in mergers and acquisitions and financial markets will provide invaluable expertise as we strive to enhance our strategic initiatives and operational efficiency. Dan's proven track record aligns with our vision of transforming Luca into a prominent mid-tier company. We are confident that his leadership will steer us towards new heights of success and industry recognition. Luca's Board of Directors wish to thank our President, Ramon Perez for stepping in as interim CEO while we undertook the search for a full time CEO. As evidenced by our progress at both Campo Morado and Tahuehueto, Ramon who has oversight over all Mexican operations, has done a tremendous job and we look forward to him continuing to do so as the Company's President." Dan is expected to bring strategic, financial and governance expertise to Luca as it transitions from a junior development company to a mid-tier diversified mining company. Initially, Dan will focus on Company health & safety, environmental, corporate strategy, governance, marketing, and financial matters as well as responsibility for overall corporate matters and Ramon will continue to manage and optimize the operations." Dan Barnholden said, "I am honoured and excited about the opportunity to lead Luca Mining into its next chapter, and I want to thank the Board for this opportunity. I admire the hard work that has been done over the past year and the entire team to position the Company for success. Today, the Company is at an exciting juncture, as Campo Morado continues to increase production and Tahuehueto moves to declaring commercial production. I believe that Luca represents a unique opportunity to apply my skill set to create significant value for all stakeholders and I couldn't be more excited to work with the fabulous team of professionals already in place at the Board and management level". Issue of Options The Company announces that it will issue an aggregate of 1,500,000 options to purchase Common Shares (the "Options") to the CEO pursuant to its omnibus incentive award plan. The Options exercise price will be set based on the closing price of the Company's shares on July 12, 2024, and will expire five years from the date of their issuance. The Options shall vest as follows: (i) 25% on the July 15, 2024; (ii) 25% January 15, 2025; and (iii) 25% April 15, 2025, and (iv) the balance on July 15, 2025. About Luca Mining Corp Luca Mining (TSX-V: LUCA, OTCQX: LUCMF, Frankfurt: Z68) is a diversified Canadian mining company with two 100%-owned producing mines in Mexico. The Company produces gold, copper, zinc, silver and lead from these mines that each have considerable development and resource upside. The Campo Morado mine, is an underground operation located in Guerrero State, a prolific mining region in Mexico. It produces copper-zinc-lead concentrates with precious metals credits. It is currently undergoing an optimisation program which is already generating significant improvements in recoveries and grades, efficiencies, and cashflows. The Tahuehueto Gold, Silver Mine is a new underground operation in Durango State, Mexico, within the Sierra Madre Mineral Belt which hosts numerous producing and historic mines along its trend. The Company is completing the installation of major equipment and commissioning its mill capacity to 1,000 tonnes per day, with key test work and production ramp-up underway, to increase production by 2H 2024. The Company expects its operations to start generating positive cash flows in 2024. Luca Mining is focused on growth with the aim of maximizing shareholder returns. For more information, please visit: www.lucamining.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) "Ramon Perez" Ramon Perez, President Qualified Persons The technical information contained in this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Chris Richings, Vice-President Technical at Luca Mining as the Qualified Person for the Company as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decisions and Forward-Looking Statements It should be noted that Luca declared commercial production at Campo Morado prior to completing a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Luca's production decision has been made without a comprehensive feasibility study of established reserves such that there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Campo Morado mine and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make a production decision. Luca has completed a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") mining study on the Campo Morado mine that provides a conceptual life of mine plan and a preliminary economic analysis based on the previously identified mineral resources (see news releases dated November 8, 2017, and April 4, 2018). Positive operating cash flow is defined as excluding capital, debt repayment and Trafigura financing. Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding the planned program to improve mining operations at Campo Morado; and other possible events, conditions or financial performance that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, such as production rates and increases; success of exploration, development and bulk sample processing activities, and timing for processing at its own mineral processing facility on the Tahuehueto project site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans," "expects," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Campo Morado Mine and the Tahuehueto Project can be achieved; that the program to improve mining operations at Campo Morado will proceed as planned; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions, and operations. 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. 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. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Luca Mining Corp. New Advisors Bring Decades of Expertise to Guide Manifest's Strategic Growth and Innovation WESTPORT, Conn., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Manifest, a leading provider of SBOM and AIBOM management, is pleased to announce the formation of its Advisory Board. The newly appointed board members bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience that will help steer the company towards achieving its ambitious growth and innovation goals. The Advisory Board includes distinguished leaders from both the public and private sectors: New esteemed industry advisors bring decades of expertise to guide Manifest's strategic growth and innovation. Post this Jim Langevin Former United States Representative (D-RI) During his 11 terms in Congress, Mr. Langevin served as the senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, senior member on the House Committee on Homeland Security, and co-founded/co-chaired the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus. He currently sits on the National Security Agency (NSA) Advisory Board, as well as the Advisory Board of CISA. Mr. Langevin's unparalleled legislative experience will serve to guide Manifest's growing body of US Government work. Janelle Romano Vice President, Cyberspace Operations at CACI Ms. Romano serves as Vice President of Cyberspace Operations for CACI, where she is responsible for National Security and Innovative Solutions cyberspace strategy. Prior to CACI, Ms. Romano was a member of the Senior Executive Service at NSA across the Cybersecurity, Operations, Capabilities, and Research Directorates, and she brings her considerable expertise in DOD/IC and defense industrial base cyber operations to Manifest's defense portfolio. Rick Doten Vice President, Information Security at Centene Corporation Mr. Doten is the VP and Healthplan CISO at a public health insurance organization ranked 22 on the Fortune 500 list. Mr. Doten is former vCISO, and a frequent speaker and thought leader; he is on the CIS Critical Security Controls editorial panel and Cloud Security Alliance CXO Trust Board. He brings considerable practical and strategic expertise regarding the deployment of security software to large and complex healthcare enterprises. Manifest's CEO, Marc Frankel, expressed his enthusiasm about the Advisory Board: "We are thrilled to welcome such a talented group of advisors to Manifest. Their combined expertise and insights will be invaluable as we continue to lead in the SBOM and AIBOM management space." The Advisory Board will meet regularly to provide strategic guidance on key business initiatives, product development, and market expansion strategies. About Manifest Manifest is dedicated to helping enterprises understand and reduce the cybersecurity risk in the technologies they produce and procure. Manifest was founded by veterans of Palantir, Palo Alto Networks, Defense Digital Service, and CISA, and is trusted by Fortune 500 enterprises and governments in the United States and abroad. To learn more, visit https://www.manifestcyber.com , and follow @ManifestCyber on LinkedIn . For press inquiries, please contact [email protected] . SOURCE Manifest Cyber, Inc. Policyholders can report claims anytime at (800) 503-3724 or via Mercury's automated digital experience LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercury Insurance is ready to assist policyholders who have been impacted by Hurricane Beryl in Houston, Texas. Customers can report damages and losses anytime through Mercury's claims hotline at (800) 503-3724 or digitally by visiting https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/claims/residence-claim.html. "We recognize that the recovery process after a hurricane such as Beryl can be a difficult and emotional time. However, the Mercury claims team is here for our Texas customers impacted by the severe weather," says Bonnie Lee, Vice President, Property Claims at Mercury Insurance. In the aftermath of the storm, impacted policyholders also have the option to initiate a claim seamlessly through Mercury's user-friendly web-based app or via telephone. Those choosing the digital route will be guided through a straightforward process using clear prompts. Mercury's dedicated claims adjusters stand ready to evaluate storm-related damages. For homeowners seeking further guidance on the claims filing process, detailed information can be found at the company's online claims portal. Mercury policyholders should follow these steps to help expedite the process: Contact Mercury immediately to report your loss at 800-503-3724 or digitally by visiting https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/claims/residence-claim.html Take a moment to protect your property from further damage (i.e., tarps on damaged roofs). Be prepared to provide your policy number. Provide all of your contact information so your adjuster can reach you. It's important that you provide all your phone numbers, even if temporary. Take account and be prepared to provide a complete description of your damage. Have photos of your damage ready to share with your assigned adjuster. If available, have any pre-loss photos/videos of your property or its contents ready to share with your adjuster. This will assist your adjuster with the damage evaluation process. Do not remove any debris or damaged property that may be related to your claim. Please note that if it is unsafe to keep any damaged personal items, take photos of the unsafe items for your adjuster to review as part of your claims, then properly discard unsafe items. Keep records and receipts for additional living expenses that were incurred if you were forced to leave your home, and provide copies to your adjuster. Mercury also provides advice for Texans on how to begin cleaning up after a hurricane at its resource center: https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/resources/weather/. Mercury Insurance encourages customers to review their homeowners and auto insurance policies with their local agents on a yearly basis to ensure they have the coverage they need. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury Insurance provides auto, homeowners and business insurance through more than 4,700 employees and a network of more than 8,000 independent agents in 11 states. About Mercury Insurance Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier offering personal auto, homeowners, and renters insurance directly to consumers and through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury also writes business owners, business auto, landlord, commercial multi-peril and mechanical protection insurance in various states. Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service. Mercury has earned "A" ratings from A.M. Best and Fitch, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and Insure.com. For more information visit www.MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook. SOURCE Mercury Insurance Industry veteran to lead all facets of the firm's Infrastructure segment project execution PITTSBURGH, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that Daniel Filer, P.E., has joined the firm as Executive Vice President (EVP) Operations. In this role, Mr. Filer will be responsible for all facets of the firm's Infrastructure segment project execution. He will work across the organization to increase the tempo of operations and spur execution, ensuring that Michael Baker's staff is utilized efficiently and effectively and is delivering projects with even greater focus on achieving the highest standards of quality, innovation and exceptional client satisfaction. He will cultivate strong relationships with key clients and partners across the firm, providing them with a high level of engagement. Mr. Filer will play a leading role in training, developing and retaining top talent. Additionally, he will enforce the firm's quality standards and assure the use of processes and tools, as well as support the implementation and adoption of new project management technology. "As we evolve, grow and improve our business and further advance excellence throughout our company, we created the position of EVP Operations to bolster our organizational effectiveness and enhance our project execution," said James E. Koch, Ph.D., P.E., Chief Operating Officer at Michael Baker International. "Daniel brings more than 25 years of engineering industry experience to our firm. I look forward to partnering with him to drive operational growth, optimize efficiency and maximize our firm's potential as we continue to grow." Mr. Filer joins Michael Baker from Webber, a subsidiary of Ferrovial, where he had served as President of the firm's Infrastructure Management Division since 2018, leading strategy, financial performance, operations and client service for a portfolio of projects stretching from Anchorage, Alaska, to Miami, Florida. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President, Business Development for Ferrovial Construction (formerly Ferrovial Agroman), and Business Development Manager and Structural Engineer with HNTB. Mr. Filer also spent 11 years as a reserve engineer officer with the Louisiana Army National Guard, where he supervised heavy construction projects stateside and in hostile environments abroad. Mr. Filer holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning five distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS). The company has more than 4,500 employees across more than 85 office locations. Michael Baker's Wolf Pack is committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement while evolving its business to become a full-service engineering and consulting firm. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/. Contact: Julia Covelli [email protected] (866) 293-4609 SOURCE Michael Baker International NEW YORK, July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global money transfer agencies market size is estimated to grow by USD 15.84 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.54% during the forecast period. Technological advancements is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising number of start-ups. However, rising illicit financial flows poses a challenge. Key market players include Azimo BV, Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Denarii, Euronet Worldwide Inc., Finablr Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., JPMorgan Chase and Co., MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc., NIUM Pte. Ltd., NOW Payment Services Provider LLC, OzForex Ltd., PayPal Holdings Inc., Remitly Global Inc., Remitware Payments Canada Inc., Sendah Direct, TransferGo Ltd., U.S. Bancorp, Wells Fargo and Co., Western Union Holdings Inc., Wise Payments Ltd., and WorldRemit Ltd. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global money transfer agencies 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 Service (Money transfer and Currency exchange) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Region Covered North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Key companies profiled Azimo BV, Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Denarii, Euronet Worldwide Inc., Finablr Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., JPMorgan Chase and Co., MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc., NIUM Pte. Ltd., NOW Payment Services Provider LLC, OzForex Ltd., PayPal Holdings Inc., Remitly Global Inc., Remitware Payments Canada Inc., Sendah Direct, TransferGo Ltd., U.S. Bancorp, Wells Fargo and Co., Western Union Holdings Inc., Wise Payments Ltd., and WorldRemit Ltd. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth Fintech start-ups, such as TransferWise, Revolut, Xoom, WeSwap, PeerTransfer, Sendmoney.ph, WorldRemit, Remitly, Azimo, and TransferGo, are disrupting the global money transfer agencies market by raising substantial investments and offering innovative solutions. These start-ups are challenging traditional banks and Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) with peer-to-peer (P2P) and consumer-to-business (C2B) cash payment models. For instance, M-Pesa's P2P and C2B transactions have significantly improved money transfer convenience for millions of users. With the increasing number of start-ups, the payments landscape is poised for significant change during the forecast period. Xoom held a 23% market share in September 2021, and the market is expected to grow due to the convenience, affordability, and accessibility offered by these fintech solutions. The Money Transfer Agencies market is experiencing significant trends as more people use mobile wallet transfers for cross-border payments. Migrants, expatriates, students, travelers, and business partners are increasingly relying on mobile platforms for remittance services. Digital technology and correspondent banks are key partners in facilitating these transactions. Currency exchange and exchange rates are crucial factors, with digital banks and wire transfers offering competitive rates. Traditional financial institutions and multinational corporations are also embracing digital technology to streamline international trade transactions, investment activities, and currency risk management. Cross-selling and value-added services like currency exchange, bill payments, prepaid cards, microfinance products, and transaction histories are becoming popular offerings. International organizations and financial inclusion initiatives are also leveraging these services for foreign exchange and remittances. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation- Book Here! Market Challenges The money transfer agencies market faces significant challenges due to the increasing issue of illicit financial flows. These flows involve funds that are illegally earned, transferred, or used. With the growing reliance on digital technologies, the communication networks facilitating these illicit transactions pose a major concern. Furthermore, digital technologies enable organized cybercrimes and offer opportunities for fraud , corruption, tax evasion, and other unlawful activities. These factors are expected to impede the market's growth throughout the forecast period. , corruption, tax evasion, and other unlawful activities. These factors are expected to impede the market's growth throughout the forecast period. Money transfer agencies face several challenges in today's digital world. User-friendly mobile apps and online platforms are essential for customer convenience, but they require advanced technologies and API-driven infrastructure. Banking infrastructure and regulatory scrutiny are crucial for secure and efficient cross-border transactions. Industry professionals must navigate the use of blockchain technology, digitalization, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum . Security is paramount, with fraud , tracking, and multicurrency accounts top concerns. Immigrant populations and their family members and friends rely on remittance services for financial inclusion. Fintech companies and disruptors are transforming the financial services industry with digital transactions, while physical branches and currency exchange rates remain important for some customers. Cross-border remittances, e-commerce, and financial investments also pose challenges. Decentralized ledgers offer potential solutions, but regulatory compliance and financial crimes are ongoing concerns. Intermediaries must balance the need for efficiency and security with the demands of international borders and financial services regulations. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This money transfer agencies market report extensively covers market segmentation by Service 1.1 Money transfer 1.2 Currency exchange Geography 2.1 North America 2.2 Europe 2.3 APAC 2.4 Middle East and Africa and 2.5 South America 1.1 Money transfer- Money transfer agencies facilitate the process of sending money across borders. These agencies offer various services such as cash pick-up, bank transfer, mobile wallet top-ups, and home delivery. They partner with banks and financial institutions to ensure secure and efficient transactions. Fees and exchange rates may vary, making it essential for customers to compare offerings before selecting a service. The market for money transfer agencies continues to grow due to increasing globalization and the need for seamless cross-border transactions. 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 Money Transfer Agencies (MTAs) market is a dynamic and evolving sector that facilitates the transfer of monetary assets across international borders and domestic transactions for individuals and businesses. MTAs serve as intermediaries between senders and receivers, providing various payment methods through digital platforms and physical agent networks. The market caters to diverse needs, including international remittances, business payments, and personal financial needs. Industry standards ensure secure and efficient transactions. Financial technology innovations, digital technologies, mobile devices, and user-friendly mobile apps have revolutionized the sector, making it more accessible and convenient. Online platforms and retail agents offer cash pickups and bank deposits as payout locations, expanding financial inclusion and broadening the reach of MTAs in the financial services industry. Market Research Overview The Money Transfer Agencies (MTOs) market is a dynamic and evolving industry that facilitates the transfer of monetary assets between individuals, businesses, and service providers across international borders. This market caters to various financial needs, including international remittances, business payments, and personal financial requirements. The industry is witnessing significant digitalization, with digital platforms and mobile devices becoming increasingly popular for digital transactions. Financial technology innovations, such as blockchain technology and API-driven infrastructure, are revolutionizing the industry by providing secure, efficient, and decentralized solutions for cross-border transactions. MTOs operate through physical agent networks and correspondent banks, offering various payout options, including cash pickups, bank deposits, mobile wallet transfers, and home address delivery. The market is subject to regulatory scrutiny and industry standards to ensure security, efficiency, and compliance with financial crimes and fraud prevention measures. The MTO market serves a diverse clientele, including immigrants, expatriates, students, travelers, and businesses, and caters to various financial services, including foreign remittances, cross-border e-commerce, and financial investments. The industry is experiencing disruption from fintech companies, which are leveraging digital technologies to offer user-friendly mobile apps, online platforms, and digital transactions. Currency exchange rates, regulatory compliance, and security are critical factors that influence the market's growth and competitiveness. The market's future growth is expected to be driven by digital transformation, financial inclusion, and the increasing demand for cross-border payments and remittances. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Service Money Transfer Currency Exchange 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 The ed-tech company continues to scale globally and is evolving its c-suite to meet the mission and moment BOSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mrs Wordsmith, one of the world's leading educational content providers, today announced the promotion of Brandon Cardet-Hernandez to the position of President, effective immediately. Mr. Cardet-Hernandez has been with the company since 2023 as its Chief Strategy Officer. Also joining Cardet-Hernandez in the C-suite is Aimee Bryan, who leaves LEGO to join the company as its first Chief Customer Officer. These hires follow a series of successful ventures for the company, including: Together, Cardet-Hernandez and Bryan will be charged with harnessing individual customer and school-based interest in Mrs. Wordsmith's suite of evidence-based and pedagogically proven products. Post this Brandon Cardet-Hernandez will assume the role of President at ed-tech company Mrs Wordsmith The launch of Word Tag, a science-backed vocabulary-focused video game, available in more than 60% of U.S. school districts via a partnership with ed-tech platform Clever A first-of-its-kind partnership with gaming platform Roblox through the launch of Words of Power, a social-emotional learning vocabulary-building game Recognition as one of the World's Top Ed-Tech companies in TIME Magazine for 2024 Together, Cardet-Hernandez and Bryan will be charged with harnessing individual customer and school-based interest in Mrs Wordsmith's suite of evidence-based and pedagogically proven products, which include books, tabletop games, and video games. They will drive the continuing growth in global markets and across the U.S., developing innovations to target literacy learning with a science-based approach. "Literacy is one of the world's great equalizers, and I firmly believe game-based learning is an essential tool in this mission," said Pierre Lagrange, Executive Chairman of Mrs Wordsmith. "I can't think of two more experienced and driven professionals to take the reins of our strategic growth plans and help ensure our products are in more homes and classrooms." Prior to joining Mrs Wordsmith in 2023, Cardet-Hernandez served as the Senior Education Advisor to former New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio and as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the NYC Department of Education. A former special education teacher, Brandon has sat at the helm of two high schools, leading both institutions through transformational change. He currently serves on the Boston School Board. "I've spent my career committed to ensuring that kids win. We know that strong literacy skills are the bedrock for advancing economic and health outcomes. I'm excited and honored to lead our stellar team at Mrs Wordsmith in creating data-driven, science-backed tools that empower students, teachers, and parents to achieve," said Cardet-Hernandez. "It's a gift to work alongside Pierre, Aimee, and the entire Mrs Wordsmith team to continue growing our products' impact and getting our tools in young people's hands. Together, we can close the opportunity gaps rooted in sub-literacy and strengthen life-long learning." Bryan most recently led product innovation in the Creative Play Lab at the LEGO Group, pioneering learning through play. As an award-winning edtech/healthtech founder herself - winner of Axa's Health Tech & You 2019 Award within Mental Health in Children Challenge - Aimee joins Mrs Wordsmith as an advocate for arming the next generation with the skills to shape their future. "Mrs Wordsmith presents me with the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for learning through play - arming the next generation with the skills they need to change our world for the better, and to showcase the power of tech for good. I can't wait to get started," said Bryan. Both leaders assumed their roles July 9. About Mrs Wordsmith Mrs Wordsmith is a team of artists, game designers, writers, data scientists, teachers, and researchers. The company was founded in 2015 by Sofia Fenichell, a mother and writer with a simple vision: to create educational content that worked, and that her kids wanted to use. Schools weren't keeping pace with entertainment and technology, and she was determined that language would not be left in the dust. Using Hollywood-quality animation and state-of-the-art game design, Mrs Wordsmith creates books, games, and apps to improve the reading and writing outcomes of kids aged 4-11, and to make word learning hilariously fun both at school and at home. SOURCE Mrs Wordsmith SEATTLE, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National Audubon Society , a leader in bird conservation across the Americas, and HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), renowned for its commitment to sustainable expedition cruising, are proud to announce an exclusive partnership offering unparalleled travel experiences aligned with both entities' conservation goals. The collaboration launches with ten Audubon Voyages , selected from HX's extensive global offerings, to enrich the understanding and appreciation of the places birds need today and tomorrow. With a history of leading mindful expeditions to the most awe-inspiring places on earth since 1896, HX is now the sole cruise travel provider partnered with Audubon. "Audubon's conservation mission aligns well with the hands-on and science-enriched operations of HX," said Dr. Chad Wilsey, chief scientist for the National Audubon Society. "HX employs industry-leading efforts in ecofriendly practices and a commitment to conservation across all their itineraries, including important support for community science activities onboard. Through our partnership, we hope to engage more people in the urgent fight to protect birds and the places they need." HX's Science & Education team partnered with Audubon to curate the inaugural Audubon Voyages from HX's portfolio of expeditions in more than 30 countries, all of which take place on small, custom-built ships. While all HX adventures emphasize protecting the places they explore, all Audubon Voyages meet the following criteria: Expert Guidance: Each trip hosts a trained ornithologist or a team of local naturalist guides, ensuring that travelers gain unmatched insights into bird species and their behaviors. Each trip hosts a trained ornithologist or a team of local naturalist guides, ensuring that travelers gain unmatched insights into bird species and their behaviors. Diverse Habitats: The routes explore a variety of ecosystems, maximizing bird-watching opportunities of numerous species. The routes explore a variety of ecosystems, maximizing bird-watching opportunities of numerous species. Opportunities to Encounter Rare Species: The itineraries offer unique chances to observe rare or endemic bird species. Audubon Voyages: Five Itineraries, Ten Sailing Kicking off the partnership, HX has unveiled the first Audubon Voyages in Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, Alaska. HX will unveil additional Audubon Voyages for 2025. Additionally, HX will announce a series of Audubon-hosted sailings, guided by top ornithologists selected by Audubon. Looking ahead, HX and Audubon plan to collaborate on joint conservation initiatives aimed at creating thriving environments for bird populations worldwide. To learn more about Audubon Voyages, please visit. For more information, please contact: [email protected] SOURCE HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) HOUSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PermitUsNow, an acclaimed leader in nationwide building permitting services, stands ready to aid both commercial and residential property owners across the Texas Gulf Coast in navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The recent onslaught of high winds and thunderstorms brought substantial damage to the Katy, Fort Bend, Houston and other areas along the Texas Gulf Coast, leaving many in urgent need of assistance with building permits for repairs. Minor roof damage from toppled trees. Blown down fence from Hurricane Beryl. The team at PermitUsNow understands the challenges faced by property owners in the wake of natural disasters such as Hurricane Beryl and the recent Houston tornado in May 2024. "We recognize the urgency that property owners feel to begin repairs quickly, often overlooking the critical step of obtaining necessary permits," said Helen Callier, President of PermitUsNow. "Failure to secure permits can not only delay the rebuilding process but also pose safety risks." PermitUsNow has activated its toll-free hotline, 1.844.PERMIT.4, to provide expert guidance and support to architects, contractors, and property owners seeking clarity on permitting requirements. Recognizing the complexity of the process, the firm offers the following tips for obtaining building permits in Houston and surrounding areas: Helpful Tips for Permitting Homes and Commercial Properties: Tip 1: Harris County and the City of Houston are key jurisdictions for obtaining building permits in the Houston area. Property owners should note that City of Houston Plan Reviewers may be operating remotely this week. Tip 2: For properties in Texas City, Missouri City, Katy, or Fort Bend County, respective local authorities handle permitting. Property owners unsure of the jurisdiction can contact PermitUsNow for assistance. Tip 3: Basic interior renovations like carpet replacement, sheetrock removal, and wall painting typically do not require a permit. Tip 4: Rebuilding efforts can be overwhelming; therefore, property owners are advised to consult their local jurisdiction's permitting website for comprehensive guidance. "We aim to alleviate the burden on property owners during the rebuilding process by offering valuable insights into the permitting procedures," commented Moruf Jimoh, Permitting Manager at PermitUsNow. "Our goal is to ensure that every step, from initial consultation to permit acquisition, is as seamless as possible." PermitUsNow has a long-standing commitment to assisting homeowners and commercial property owners across Houston and the Gulf Coast in securing permits post-disaster. Property owners in need of permitting assistance can reach PermitUsNow at 1.844.PERMIT or visit https://permitusnow.com/quote/ for more information. About PermitUsNow PermitUsNow is a dynamic firm that is transforming the state of building permitting nationwide. PermitUsNow helps architects, contractors, and project owners to do what they love to do best and that is helping them to fulfill their customers' goals. PermitUsNow staff are permitting process and code experts who have worked with more than 700 jurisdictions in Texas and in other cities in North America. PermitUsNow staff write and contribute articles for industry publications and have published a Building Permitting Daily Tracking Log Book to assist Contractors in managing their permits. Companies such BRIZO, H-E-B, United Airlines, CVS, ATKINS, and Burns and McDonnell have saved time and money during the pre-construction phase of their projects with support from PermitUsNow. Because of these operational efficiencies, these PermitUsNow clients were able to open new locations, connect with more customers, and achieve profitability sooner. For more information about Callier and PermitUsNow, please visit permitusnow.com Contact: Len Cal 2813129981 [email protected] SOURCE PermitUsNow Boston Medical Center Health System and Omicelo partner to develop a new sustainability management and real estate optimization firm BOSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakwell is a comprehensive solution for health system sustainability management and real estate optimization. The new company partners with hospitals and health systems to develop custom energy efficiency and consumption reduction programs that reduce spend, improve balance sheets, and free up capital that can be reinvested in patient care. Oakwell was founded by healthcare visionary leaders at Boston Medical Center Health System (BMCHS), a nationally recognized leader in healthcare sustainability and environmental excellence, and Omicelo, a sustainability-focused investment group. Healthcare organizations are spending $60 billion annually on construction costs to meet patient demands, preserve fiscal wellbeing, increase real estate portfolio sustainability, and mitigate environmental hazards. Additionally, government regulations continue to evolve, and health systems are being challenged to find solutions that reduce their environmental footprint and enhance operational efficiency. However, many health systems struggle with knowing where to start on their sustainability and real estate optimization journey, or how sustainability can strengthen their balance sheet. Oakwell offers health systems custom sustainability and real estate strategies that reduce energy consumption and yield value and significant cost savings, freeing up capital that can be reinvested in clinical care and health system operations. Oakwell's offerings can help mitigate challenges currently facing health systems, including patient access and capacity constraints. By 2035, Oakwell aims to create pathways for one million more people to gain access to quality care with the savings that the company will have produced for clients. Oakwell's founding board members include seasoned executives from Omicelo and BMCHS: Bob Biggio, managing partner and senior vice president and chief sustainability and real estate officer of BMCHS; Joshua Pollard, managing partner and chief executive officer of Omicelo; and Kathy Feeney, managing partner and chief operating officer of Omicelo. Daily operations will be led by Jack Nelson, head of engineering; Shane Dunne, head of sustainability management and Justina Hierta, director of sustainability research. The team will leverage proven methods to empower health systems to conceptualize, implement, and meet climate and fiscal goals by leveraging BMCHS' extensive experience and Omicelo's data-driven approach to financial sustainability. "Sustainability and real estate optimization are essential to achieving long term financial success," said Bob Biggio, Oakwell board member and senior vice president and chief sustainability and real estate officer of BMCHS. "Oakwell takes a systems approach to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and enhance collaboration. The venture offers client health systems integrated expertise across engineering, finance, real estate, sustainability, technology, and healthcare." Oakwell will leverage key learnings from BMCHS and industry experts to create innovative models for sustainability. To date, BMCHS' sustainability-focused efforts have resulted in over $500 million in reduced costs and averted capital spending. Oakwell can support health systems in replicating this model. "Oakwell is poised to revolutionize the healthcare landscape by forging strategic partnerships with health systems and delivering financially viable environmental and real estate optimization solutions," said Joshua Pollard, Oakwell board member and chief executive officer of Omicelo. "Oakwell's approach not only prioritizes expanding access long-term but also ensuring financial success for healthcare institutions. By aligning financial success with environmental stewardship and operational efficiency, Oakwell is leading the way towards a future where healthcare systems thrive economically while preserving the planet." To learn more about Oakwell's innovative approach to healthcare sustainability, visit oakwellteam.com. About Oakwell Oakwell is a comprehensive solution for health system sustainability management and real estate optimization. Oakwell offers real estate optimization services and holistic sustainability management services across six key areas including: energy, climate resilience, water, waste, food, and sustainable procurement. Environmental initiatives are not only critical to improving patient and community health, but innovative sustainability planning is vital to long-term financial health. Developed by Boston Medical Center Health System and Omicelo, Oakwell partners with health systems to develop custom energy efficiency and reduced consumption programs that reduce costs and free up capital that can be reinvested in patient care. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Oakwell The leading provider of AECO information management software announces the industry's first solution for seamlessly moving project discussion and decision-making into BIM environment BOSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Newforma, the leader in information management software, announces the world's first integration of email communication directly with the buildingSMART International openBIM format, an open international process supporting accessible, sustainable collaboration for all project participants. This breakthrough for the global architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator (AECO) industry allows a seamless transition of project discussion and decision-making from a single siloed inbox to the collaborative BIM environment. The groundbreaking update to Newforma Konekt ushers in a new era of integrated project delivery by empowering users to convert email threads into actionable BCF issues; ensure all project stakeholders are on the same page with real-time updates; and streamline workflows by connecting discussions to 3D models and project plans. "We're thrilled to announce Newforma's groundbreaking integration of the AECO industry's number one communication method, email, with the BuildingSMART BCF standard," said Carl Veillette, chief product officer for Newforma. "This is an achievement that sets a new benchmark in our industry. Our innovative solution Newforma Konekt has the unique ability to turn emails into actionable tasks, issues, and action items and locate them in BIM. This not only enhances productivity but also brings a new level of clarity and organization to project management. Furthermore, our Outlook add-in facilitates the creation of comprehensive project records, a crucial feature that significantly mitigates risks and improves project knowledge transfer between team members. We believe these advancements will revolutionize the way our industry communicates and collaborates, and we're excited to lead the way." Enhanced features of the Newforma Konekt openBIM integration allow users to: Transform email communications into actionable BCF issues that can be tracked and managed within the BIM environment. Provide all project stakeholders with the most up-to-date information so that everyone is on the same page at any point in the project life cycle. Connect discussions to 3D models and project plans, bringing communication into the same workflows as the rest of the project. The Newforma Konekt integration of email into openBIM supports a wide range of authoring software, including Revit, Archicad, Civil3d, AutoCAD and Tekla Structures, making it easier than ever to raise, track, and resolve issues from the design phase to onsite execution. Founded in 2004, Newforma has been dedicated to empowering AECO companies with the means for connecting their people to the information they need. As a leader in information management, the company has made accessing information and generating an easily searchable complete project record simple. Over the past two decades, Newforma has grown to help over 1,200 AECO firms in 40 countries manage data on 4.6 million projects. For more information, visit https://www.newforma.com. About Newforma Konekt Newforma, an Ethos Capital portfolio company, is a leading provider of Information Management and Collaboration software for the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Owner) industry. Newforma powers collaborative project delivery for AECO teams by enabling them to locate, organize, report, and act on project information, effortlessly. With over 500,000 users in more than 1,200 firms worldwide, Newforma is trusted by professionals globally to streamline communication, simplify administration, and enable real-time collaboration. Learn more about the dedication to connected collaboration for the AECO industry at www.newforma.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE Newforma NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A nurse call system enables patients to alert nurses or caregivers when they need assistance. The global nurse call systems market is estimated to grow by USD 1786.3 million from 2024-2028, at a CAGR of 13.64%, according to Technavio. This growth is driven by the growing geriatric population and increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure. However, intensifying competition among vendors poses a challenge. Key players include Alpha Communications, Ascom Holding AG, and Honeywell International Inc., among others. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global nurse call systems market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report Nurse Call Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.64% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 1786.3 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 11.73 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 39% Key countries US, China, Germany, UK, and Canada Key companies profiled Alpha Communications, AMETEK Inc., Ascom Holding AG, Austco Healthcare Ltd., Baxter International Inc., Bec Integrated Solutions LLC, Carecom Co. Ltd., Caretronic d.o.o., Cornell Communications, Essec Group, Halma Plc, Honeywell International Inc., Jeron Electronic Systems Inc., Johnson Controls International Plc., Securitas AG, System Technologies, TekTone Sound and Signal Mfg. Inc., TigerConnect Inc., Tunstall Healthcare Group Ltd., and West Com Nurse Call Systems Inc. Market Driver Nurse call systems have become essential tools for assisted living facilities and hospitals, enhancing patient care efficiency. Their adoption has enabled hospitals to provide better safety and satisfaction levels, reduce operational time, and improve communication between patients and staff. The rising global health challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to an increased demand for healthcare facilities. In response, new hospitals and clinical centers have been constructed, equipped with advanced medical devices and nurse call systems to address the growing patient needs. This trend is expected to boost the growth of the global nurse call systems market during the forecast period. Nurse call systems have become essential in healthcare facilities, improving patient management and care delivery. These systems enable patients and caregivers to communicate effectively, reducing response time and enhancing patient care. Wanderer control is a significant trend, ensuring the safety of patients with Alzheimer's or other diseases. High-quality healthcare is crucial for elderly populations dealing with diseases like stroke and cancer. Nurse call systems help manage patient populations, reduce readmissions, and improve workflow efficiency. Healthcare organizations face financial and regulatory risks due to technical glitches and inefficient communication. Solution providers offer integrated communication systems, including mobile and intercom, to address these challenges. Interoperability with electronic medical records and medical devices is essential for older infrastructure and existing software systems. Button-based systems and high-tech solutions cater to various healthcare settings, from hospitals to long-term care facilities and assisted living centers. Ultimately, nurse call systems contribute to high-quality healthcare, improving patient satisfaction and reducing healthcare costs and health insurance premiums. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation - Book Here! Market Challenges The global nurse call systems market is highly competitive with a fragmented landscape. Various service providers are expanding into medical device connectivity and life safety system integration. Vendors compete based on service quality, consulting, delivery time, long-term contracts, and historical buyer relationships. New regional players enter the market, offering lower prices, intensifying competition. International vendors respond by setting up local distributors. Mergers and acquisitions, such as Austco Healthcare's acquisition of Teknocorp Australia's monitoring services division, increase market concentration and customer bases, driving market growth. The Nurse Call Systems market faces several challenges in various healthcare settings, including nursing centers and home care. Dementia patients require special attention, making it essential to have reliable communication systems. Wired technology and wireless technology have their advantages, but IP-based technology offers greater interconnectivity. Basic button-based systems are sufficient for some facilities, while smartphone integrated systems cater to modern staff needs. IP-based interconnectivity systems streamline workflow efficiencies, reducing paperwork and automating processes. Hospital personnel face burnout and exhaustion, making digital healthcare solutions crucial for hospital admissions, surgeries, and chronic disease management. Mobility is essential for patient care, and reimbursement facilities from Medicare and other insurers impact purchasing decisions. Intelligent bed systems help prevent patient falls, and telecommunication systems improve nurse-patient communication. Nursing staff in healthcare facilities require modality and specialty clinic-specific solutions to meet diverse needs. For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report! Segment Overview This nurse call systems market report extensively covers market segmentation by Technology 1.1 Wired systems 1.2 Wireless systems End-user 2.1 Hospitals 2.2 ASCs/Clinics 2.3 Long-term care facilities Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 Middle East and Africa and 3.5 South America 1.1 Wired systems- Nurse call systems play a crucial role in hospital communication, ensuring patient calls reach the appropriate caregiver. These systems offer opportunities for integration with technologies like VoIP telephony, door access, bed status, fire alarms, and medical gas alarms. Wired nurse call systems, with their reliability and stability, are preferred over wireless systems due to consistent communication and longer lifespan. The dependability and longevity of wired systems are expected to fuel market growth during the forecast period. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis Nurse call systems have become an essential component of modern healthcare facilities, enabling efficient communication between patients, caregivers, and hospital staff. These systems allow patients to summon assistance with the press of a button, ensuring timely response and enhanced patient care. Wanderer control features help manage and monitor patients with special needs, such as those with Alzheimer's or dementia, ensuring their safety and wellbeing. Patients in hospitals, nursing homes, senior living facilities, and critical care units benefit from these systems, which enable effective patient management and reduce healthcare costs. Healthcare personnel, including nurses and staff, experience less burnout and exhaustion due to reduced paperwork and automation in healthcare delivery. Nurse call devices have evolved into digital healthcare tools, integrating patient monitoring and assisted care features, providing high-quality healthcare services for the geriatric population and other healthcare settings. Market Research Overview Nurse call systems are essential communication tools in healthcare facilities, enabling patients and caregivers to request assistance quickly and efficiently. These systems facilitate enhanced patient care by allowing timely responses to patient needs, reducing the risk of wanderings, and optimizing workflow efficiency. The elderly population, with their unique healthcare requirements due to diseases such as stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's, significantly benefits from these systems. Healthcare organizations face financial and regulatory risks in managing patient populations, especially in hospital care quality and long-term care facilities like nursing homes and assisted living centers. Nurse call systems help mitigate these risks by ensuring high-quality healthcare delivery, minimizing hospital readmissions, and optimizing staff workflow. Technical glitches and interoperability issues can cause genuine emergencies and wasted time, leading to financial burdens and healthcare costs. Integrated communication systems, including mobile and intercom systems, IP-based technology, and smartphone-integrated devices, address these challenges by providing rapid response times and seamless alarms and communications. Nurse call systems cater to various healthcare environments, including hospitals, nursing homes, patient monitoring for critical care patients, and assisted care in senior living facilities. The healthcare industry bases its services on these systems to provide digital healthcare solutions, automate workflows, and improve hospital personnel morale by reducing paperwork and burnout. Government initiatives support the adoption of nurse call systems to improve healthcare infrastructure and hospital care quality, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare organizations. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Technology Wired Systems Wireless Systems End-user Hospitals ASCs/Clinics Long-term Care Facilities 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 HOUSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Octagos Health, an industry-leading provider of AI-driven cardiac device monitoring solutions, today announced a successful equity raise of over $43 million in investment capital. The Series B investment round was led by funds managed by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, with continued participation from Mucker Capital and other strategic investors. This funding will accelerate Octagos Health's mission to use artificial intelligence to revolutionize cardiac care and provide comprehensive patient monitoring services. Octagos Health provides an AI-driven platform that offers continuous monitoring and data analysis for patients with cardiac devices (pacemakers, defibrillators, ambulatory monitors, consumer wearables, and other modalities). Atlas AI, the company's proprietary technology, ensures high accuracy and sensitivity in detecting clinically relevant events, automating physician workflows, and enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions and improve patient outcomes. The platform's comprehensive capabilities include seamless integration with electronic health records (EHR) and customizable reporting features, making it a preferred choice for cardiology practices. "By combining AI, patient services, and bidirectional EHR integration, the Octagos Health platform enables cardiologists to efficiently monitor patients, improve patient care, and enhance clinic economics." Post this "By combining AI, patient services, and bidirectional EHR integration, the Octagos Health platform enables cardiologists to efficiently monitor patients, improve patient care, and enhance clinic economics. The funding will help us accelerate our growth across the US and expand into other critical areas of cardiac care, including ambulatory monitors, consumer wearables, and sleep. Our goal is to build a comprehensive AI-based clinical decision support engine for healthcare. We are thrilled to have Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital as our lead investor and the continued support of Mucker Capital. In a short period, we have grown from first servicing my cardiology clinic to becoming one of the largest cardiac remote monitoring companies that provides software and services," said Dr. Shanti Bansal, cardiologist, CEO of Octagos Health and Houston Heart Rhythm. "This investment will enable us to accelerate enhancements to our platform, in addition to scaling our commercial team and operations. We are currently the only company that helps cardiology practices migrate their historical data from legacy software providers and fully integrates with any EHR system. We do this while enabling customized reporting supported by patient and practice decision-support analytics," said Eric Olsen, COO of Octagos Health. "We are excited to partner with Octagos Health and support their vision of transforming cardiac care," said Melissa Daniels, Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. "Octagos Health has demonstrated exceptional growth and innovation in a critical area of healthcare. We believe their platform and vertically integrated software and services significantly improve patient care and streamline cardiac monitoring processes for healthcare providers." "Octagos Health is poised for scale industry leading gross margins, a very sticky product that doctors and clinical staff love, and a market ready for disruption with artificial intelligence. This is the new wave for diagnostic care," said Will Hsu, Co-Founder and Partner at Mucker Capital. "This funding will help Octagos Health continue to add additional data sources from various diagnostic and consumer devices and further differentiate their offering." About Octagos Health Octagos Health is a leading provider of cardiac monitoring solutions, dedicated to improving patient outcomes through advanced technology and comprehensive monitoring services. The company's AI-driven platform offers continuous monitoring and data analysis for patients with implantable cardiac devices, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions and deliver timely care. Octagos Health's solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate with electronic health records and provide customizable reporting features, making it an essential tool for modern healthcare institutions. For more information, please reach out to [email protected]. You can also follow us on LinkedIn. About Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital is the growth-focused private investment platform within Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital targets growth equity and credit investments within technology, healthcare, consumer, and other high-growth sectors. For nearly four decades, Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital has successfully pursued growth investment opportunities and has completed investments in over 200 companies, leveraging the global brand and network of Morgan Stanley. About Mucker Capital Founded in Santa Monica, CA in 2011, Mucker Capital provides Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A capital and support for startups in Southern California and in other, similarly underfunded ecosystems outside Silicon Valley. SOURCE Octagos Health, Inc. NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) will publish its second quarter results on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 after the New York Stock Exchange close of trading. The company will also host a conference call to review such financial results on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of the call will be available at Omnicom's investor relations website, investor.omnicomgroup.com , along with the related earnings press release and slide presentation. A webcast replay will be made available after the call concludes. About Omnicom Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is a leading provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions. Omnicom's iconic agency brands are home to the industry's most innovative communications specialists who are focused on driving intelligent business outcomes for their clients. The company offers a wide range of services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, retail and digital commerce, branding, experiential, public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty marketing services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.omnicomgroup.com. SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc. Managed Service Addresses Clients' Urgent Need to Outsource Threat Detection and Response DENVER, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Optiv, the cyber advisory and solutions leader, has launched its managed detection and response service, Optiv MDR, on the Google Security Operations (SecOps) platform, enabling organizations to rapidly detect and respond to emerging threats with industry-leading managed threat detection and response capabilities. Cybersecurity remains a top concern for enterprises as they look to invest in technology tools that enable timely, continuous detection and response to evolving threats. Managing those threats has proven to be a key business priority. A recent Optiv report shows that nearly 60% of organizations have increased cyber budgets year-over-year. And while organizations are investing in more technologies, 40% of security professionals believe they have too many; only 29% feel that they have the right number of tools. Optiv MDR accelerates threat detection and response by leveraging the power of Google AI to analyze vast amounts of log data, supplement analyst capabilities with natural language queries, and identify threats and anomalies that indicate malicious activity. Optiv's proprietary data and detection engineering, SOAR, ITDR and lightning-fast log analysis further enhance capabilities. Learn more about Optiv MDR: https://www.optiv.com/services/managed-services/managed-detection-response-mdr With Optiv MDR, clients can: Reduce their SecOps strain with Optiv to minimize internal struggles with technology sprawl and complexity, limited integrations, staffing shortages, specialized skill gaps and limited geographic span to tackle global threats Have flexibility to work with many vendors across Optiv's more than 450 partner ecosystem Embrace SecOps modernization and capabilities, innovative technologies like SOAR and AI-powered capabilities to improve security efficiency Work with a cloud agnostic solution, allowing them to ingest data from all major cloud providers "From too many security technologies to not the right stack, security leaders are facing enormous challenges as they seek ways to proactively and efficiently protect the business. The speed to manage all your data while having the right tools in place to combat threats against that data is critical," says Optiv Chief Services Officer Jason Lewkowicz. "Optiv MDR empowers clients to refocus their resources on strategic business initiatives by leveraging Optiv for initial threat detection and response. Optiv's managed service enables organizations to redirect attention to higher-level priorities, ultimately fostering cyber resiliency." Additionally, Optiv MDR gives organizations access to data visualization and alerts, automated and manual threat hunting capabilities, 24/7/365 visibility into the cloud, on-prem and hybrid environments, and more. With the expertise and ability to meet clients where they are in their security journey, Optiv MDR provides a seamless experience for those concerned about efficiency and security maturity/modernization. For the latest news and updates from Optiv, visit https://www.optiv.com/newsroom. Follow Optiv LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optiv-inc Facebook: www.facebook.com/optivinc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OptivInc Blog: https://www.optiv.com/explore-optiv-insights/blog Optiv Security: Secure greatness. Optiv is the cyber advisory and solutions leader, delivering strategic and technical expertise to nearly 6,000 companies across every major industry. We partner with organizations to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs from strategy and managed security services to risk, integration and technology solutions. With clients at the center of our unmatched ecosystem of people, products, partners and programs, we accelerate business progress like no other company can. At Optiv, we manage cyber risk so you can secure your full potential. For more information, visit www.optiv.com. SOURCE Optiv Security Inc. Founding CEO, Stuart Hughes, Ph.D., to Transition to Chief Scientific Officer and Focus Efforts on Advancing Company's First-of-its-Kind GPR65 Inhibition Approach to Immuno-Oncology Company Continues Active Investor Engagement Following First Close of $25M Series B Financing in Q2 2024; On Target to Enter Clinic by End of Year OXFORD, England, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pathios Therapeutics Limited ("Pathios"), a biotech company focused on the development of first-in-class therapies for cancer, today announced the appointment of experienced biotechnology industry executive, Paul G. Higham, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He brings over 20 years of C-level executive biotechnology company experience to Pathios, as the company prepares to enter clinical development with its first-in-class GPR65 antagonist. In conjunction with Mr. Higham's appointment, Pathios' founding CEO, Stuart Hughes, Ph.D., will transition to the role of Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), where he will continue to focus his efforts and deep scientific expertise on the company's first-of-its-kind GPR65 inhibition approach to cancer immunotherapy. This will include playing a key role on the team advancing PTT-4256, the company's lead internally discovered, oral, highly potent, and selective small molecule inhibitor of GPR65, into human clinical trials in advanced solid cancers by the end of 2024. "Following several years of excellent leadership under Stuart, Pathios is preparing to take a critical step forward and enter the clinic with its lead immuno-oncology program. As we transition from a company with preclinical assets to a full-fledged clinical-stage biotech, we will benefit greatly from Paul's deep operational and strategic expertise. We are thrilled to welcome Paul to the Pathios team and look forward to the successes he will drive, including ongoing fundraising efforts focused on completing our Series B round," said Tom McCarthy Ph.D., co-founder and Executive Chair of Pathios. "Importantly, Stuart will now be able to focus the full force of his scientific acumen on helping shepherd the company's unique therapeutic approach through development to unlock significant value for patients and shareholders alike." Paul most recently served as chief executive officer of Valo Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology company developing tumour antigen-coated oncolytic viruses. In this role, he led the company from pre-clinical stage into clinical development. Prior to his tenure with Valo Therapeutics, Paul held the position of CEO at two other immuno-oncology focused companies, Glycotope, and Immatics Biotechnologies. Earlier in his career, he built a strong foundation of strategic and operational expertise in roles that included commercial development at Ark Therapeutics Group, where he established the company's adenovirus gene-based medicine production facilities in Finland, Vice President, commercial development at GSK, and General Manager of Bayer Pharmaceuticals for Sweden and Denmark. "With an exciting first-in-class therapeutic candidate poised for advancement into first-in-human clinical studies and support from a top-tier investor syndicate of Bristol Myers Squibb, Canaan and Brandon Capital, Pathios is exceptionally well positioned for success. I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring my experience and energy to what is already an exceptional leadership team and help advance the exciting GPR65 antagonist approach at Pathios into much-needed additional therapeutic approaches for patients battling cancer," said Mr. Higham. "This is an exciting time for Pathios as we work diligently toward the initiation of clinical trials for PTT-4256. These studies will allow us to begin to test our scientific hypothesis around the therapeutic potential of inhibiting the immunosuppressive activity of GPR65 in patients with cancer, marking a key step forward for the development of this novel approach to immunotherapy," said Dr. Hughes. "I am looking forward to working alongside Paul to advance this science and support him in executing the strategic and operational initiatives that will best position Pathios for long-term success." Pathios is pursuing a novel immuno-oncology approach to the treatment of cancer focused on counteracting the immunosuppressive polarization of immune cells, including tumour associated macrophages (TAMs), that is triggered by an acidic tumour microenvironment (TME). It does so by attacking a ubiquitous cancer immune evasion pathway through the targeting of GPR65, an acid sensing G protein-coupled receptor that has been shown to foster immunosuppressive polarization of immune cells. GPR65 is exclusively expressed on immune cells and is associated with driving the immunosuppressive immune cell phenotype in the TME that prevents immune-mediated killing of cancer cells. Pathios' internal human genetic analysis demonstrates that reductions in GPR65 function are associated with significantly improved survival across a range of solid tumour types, positioning it as a unique immuno-oncology target for therapeutic intervention. Preclinical data for PTT-4256 have demonstrated that the compound possesses excellent drug-like properties and impressive monotherapy anti-tumour activity. In addition to cancer, there are strong genetic associations between GPR65 activity and a variety of other immunologically mediated diseases, offering Pathios the opportunity to expand its research and development into other high-value therapeutic areas with significant unmet need. About Pathios Therapeutics Pathios is a drug discovery and development company focused on translating innovative science into new medicines. Pathios was founded by a team of experienced biotech and pharmaceutical industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and clinicians. The company is focused on developing small molecule inhibitors of the pH-sensing G protein-coupled receptor GPR65 to counteract the GPR65 mediated immunosuppressive polarization of immune cells, including tumour associated macrophages, that is triggered by an acidic tumour microenvironment present in most cancers. To date, Pathios has raised a total of US$58M including support from the leading venture capital firms, Canaan and Brandon Capital, as well as a strategic investment from Bristol Myers Squibb. Pathios is headquartered at the Innovation Centre on Milton Park, a key science precinct south of Oxford, UK, where together with Grey Wolf Therapeutics and ThirtyFiveBio it is part of the unique M:M Bio drug discovery and development ecosystem. For more information, please visit www.pathios.com. Contacts: Pathios Therapeutics Tom McCarthy, Executive Chair +44 1235 644 960 [email protected] Paul Higham, CEO +44 1235 644 960 [email protected] Vida Strategic Partners (on behalf of Pathios Therapeutics) Tim Brons +1 646 319 8981 [email protected] SOURCE Pathios Therapeutics Ukraine's President Will Deliver Remarks at Reagan Institute During the NATO Washington Summit. WASHINGTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver remarks on Tuesday, July 9, at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington, DC. Zelenskyy's address comes as world leaders gather in Washington for the 75th NATO Summit. "President Zelenskyy shares President Reagan's devotion to the cause of freedom, and we are honored to welcome him to the Reagan Institute," said the Institute's Director, Roger Zakheim. "As NATO leaders are convening in Washington at this critical moment for the free world, they should remember Ukraine's centrality to the struggle for the future of democracy." "Part of the Reagan Institute's mission is to promote a new generation of global leaders who advance the cause of freedom," said Fred Ryan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. "That is why in 2022, we awarded President Zelenskyy our organization's highest honor, the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award." President Zelenskyy's visit to Washington marks a pivotal time for American sentiment surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to a public opinion poll released by the Reagan Institute this month, 75 percent of Americans believe that it is important to the United States that Ukraine wins the war. That level of support has not wavered since the Reagan Institute began polling the issue in 2022. Support for the NATO alliance also remains strong, with 62 percent of Americans holding favorable views of the alliance and 72 percent supporting NATO's collective defense principle. "President Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia. He knew that free countries must stand together with confidence whenever tyranny is on the move," said Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States. "It is fitting that when President Zelenskyy delivers an address during the NATO Summit, he does it from a place that bears President Reagan's name and reflects his principles of peace through strength." In-person attendance at this event is not open to the public, but the program will be livestreamed. Journalists wishing to cover the event can watch the livestream here. President Zelenskyy to Deliver Remarks at the Reagan Institute Who: The Honorable Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine What: Remarks at the Reagan Institute When: Tuesday, July 9th, 7:30 PM ET Where: 850 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 About the Ronald Reagan Foundation & Institute: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and principles limited government, individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride. RRPFI is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion, the award-winning Reagan Leadership Academy, and the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation's mission in Washington, D.C. The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America's 40th President and his First Lady. More information is available at reaganfoundation.org. Contact: Claude Chafin, [email protected] SOURCE The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute Princeton University announced the launch of its student-focused course materials solution with eCampus.com, a leader in online bookstore and collegiate retail services. LEXINGTON, Ky., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princeton University undertook a comprehensive and competitive search for a modern bookstore solution that would give students seamless access to affordable textbooks and digital content. eCampus.com , celebrating 25 years in the course materials industry, offered an innovative and customized approach to providing affordable course materials to their more than 8,500 students. Princeton University Partners with eCampus.com to Deliver a Customized Online Bookstore Service Beginning in summer of 2024, students can order textbooks and course materials selected by Princeton faculty through a custom-branded online storefront backed by the top-rated customer service team in the industry. With this shift, eCampus.com will provide options to order required materials in multiple formats including digital, rental, new, or used, as well as a variety of shipping and delivery choices. Students will be provided with a secure and easy online ordering experience using Single Sign-On to the customized storefront. These multiple purchasing options provide Princeton students the flexibility to choose the format and cost that best aligns to their needs. Additional student perks include free shipping options and a price match guarantee to bolster confidence that Princeton's official online bookstore is the best option for low-cost materials shipped straight to campus. Beyond student benefits, Princeton faculty have the opportunity to select content in various formats through eCampus.com's robust online textbook adoption tool. Within the intuitive platform, faculty can research content, compare titles, evaluate costs, and select materials aligned to the academic goals of every course. eCampus.com actively engages with faculty throughout the school year, offering personalized support while also seeking continuous improvement through customer feedback channels aimed to improve efficiencies and optimize the entire course materials adoption process. "The University is pleased to offer faculty a flexible and affordable way to present their course materials that best meets the needs of our students," said Elizabeth Colagiuri, deputy dean of the college. "eCampus.com is both honored and excited to support student success at Princeton University through our innovative online bookstore partnership," said Matt Montgomery, President and CEO of eCampus.com. "As one of the most trusted and long-standing course material providers in the industry, eCampus.com is dedicated to delivering a student-centric solution to streamline the entire course materials process for all institutional stakeholders. Our commitment to textbook affordability, convenience, and support is unmatched and we look forward to providing the Princeton community with the next-level online bookstore experience they deserve. More information on eCampus.com Online Bookstores can be found at ecampushighered.com About Princeton University Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship, research, and teaching that stands in the nation's service and the service of humanity. As a global research university with world-class excellence across the arts and humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and engineering, the University is home to more than 1,250 faculty members who share a commitment to innovation, free inquiry, and the discovery and transmission of knowledge and new ideas. Princeton combines its strengths in research with a distinctive emphasis on undergraduate and doctoral education, preparing its 5,500 undergraduates and 3,200 graduate students for positions of leadership and lives of service. About eCampus.com eCampus.com is a premier online retailer of textbooks and digital course materials. Consistently exceeding industry standards, eCampus.com's mission is to provide the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way for K-12 and higher education students to buy, rent, or sell textbooks and digital content. Founded on July 2, 1999, eCampus.com reshaped the textbook industry by taking the traditional college bookstore online. Remaining an edtech leader in future-proof course material solutions, eCampus.com serves over 375 schools, colleges, and universities. Their comprehensive course material solutions suite includes full-service online bookstores, inclusive access and equitable access programs, and expert campus store operations and management. Through products that simplify the adoption, management, and procurement of course materials, eCampus.com propels student success by delivering the right course materials, at the right time, and the right price. Learn more at ecampus.com and ecampushighered.com . Press Contact: Tiffaney Lavoie 859-514-6885 https://www.ecampus.com/ SOURCE eCampus.com Puck Zaatar Cream Cheese is now available in KSA, UAE, Oman , Kuwait , Bahrain , and Lebanon for a limited time only, until stocks last. DUBAI, UAE, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Puck, the beloved cheese brand, announced today the launch of its very first limited-time flavour jar: Zaatar Cream Cheese. The newly designed, limited edition jars are now available on shelves at select retailers in KSA, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon. Earlier this month, Puck announced a pre-launch competition where 50 lucky winners in the UAE and KSA were able to get their hands on the jars weeks before the public. This launch of its latest mouthwatering innovation marks the brand's first limited edition cream cheese release. Puck Introduces Its New Limited-Time Edition Zaatar Cream Cheese Katrina Davison, Regional Marketing Manager, at Arla Foods, said: "We're thrilled to introduce our latest delicious innovation: Puck Zaatar Cream Cheese, which represents a fusion of tradition and innovation. In our pursuit of the ideal match for the rich creaminess of cheese, we turned to the region's beloved ingredient, zaatar. Our aim is to provide convenience and to add something fresh and exciting to the breakfast table. With Puck cream cheese being a staple in households across the region, the introduction of this limited-edition flavour underscores our commitment to providing unique and delightful creations for families everywhere." Renowned as the number one cream cheese jars brand in both KSA and UAE, Puck continues to captivate palates with its diverse range of high-quality dairy products. Whether spread on toast, incorporated into savoury recipes, or enjoyed straight from the jar, Puck Zaatar Cream Cheese is made with 100% milk, promising to elevate mealtimes with its irresistible blend of flavours. Crafted to delight taste buds, Puck Zaatar Cream Cheese is presented in a new modern 450g jar and will only be available until stocks last. People of all ages are encouraged to act swiftly to savour this treat, as once the stocks run out, it's gone for good! The Zaatar Cream Cheese is available at Panda in Saudi Arabia, and selected retailers in the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon. About Puck Puck is a brand that offers a wide range of dairy products across the Middle East. A perennial favourite in the region for its cream cheese, Puck has established itself as a passionate supporter of mums the everyday chefs who work wonders in the kitchen to serve delicious meals 3 times a day, 365 days a year. In addition to its trusted and natural product range, which also includes mozzarella, labneh, and several creams, Puck celebrates mums through various initiatives, giving them a public platform to highlight their unique talents. For more information about Puck, visit https://www.puckarabia.com/en/ About Arla Arla Foods is a dairy cooperative, annually collecting ~14 bn kg of milk from our farmer owners making Arla the world's 6th largest dairy company. Our global brands include Arla, Lurpak and Puck. It is our vision to create the future of dairy, to bring healthy and sustainable dairy products to people across the world and to lead the transition towards sustainable dairy farming and production. Link to company website: https://www.arla.com/sustainability/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2456009/Puck_Zaatar_Cream_Cheese.jpg SOURCE Puck Made in the USA, built to perform worldwide RED WING, Minn., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Wing Shoes is proud to introduce SuperSole X, a new modern, lightweight version of the classic SuperSole family. SuperSole X was designed to tackle the toughest job site conditions, combining unmatched durability with enhanced comfort, all crafted with the quality and precision for which Red Wing is known. Red Wing Shoes is proud to introduce SuperSole X, a new modern, lightweight version of the classic SuperSole family. Made in the USA, these easy-on, easy-off boots build upon the iconic SuperSole family and provide even more durability and comfort in the heaviest-duty work environments. They feature a low-density inner sole that provides cushioned comfort, while the tough rubber outer sole delivers best-in-class slip resistance and protection against chemicals, heat and abrasion. "All Red Wing work boots are designed and constructed to not only ensure safety to the tradespeople who wear them, but also provide an unparalleled sense of comfort and longevity," said Mike VanGoethem, chief services officer for Red Wing. "The new SuperSole X is made right here in the USA and includes a dual-density outsole design that sets the industry-leading standard for durability and enhanced safety for tradespeople." SuperSole X has been meticulously engineered to deliver best-in-class heat, abrasion and slip resistance. As job sites continue to be harsh, SuperSole X from Red Wing ensures that workers remain protected throughout their demanding workdays. Ideal for use in the energy, construction, manufacturing and railroad industries. Through extensive testing and refinement, this new boot delivers on the Red Wing promise of quality, durability and superior underfoot comfort. Key Features of SuperSole X: Modern, Lightweight Design: A stunning evolution of the classic SuperSole offering enhanced mobility without compromising strength. A stunning evolution of the classic SuperSole offering enhanced mobility without compromising strength. Enhanced Comfort and Abrasion Resistance: Utilizing advanced materials and construction techniques, SuperSole X provides superior underfoot comfort and resilience against wear and tear. Utilizing advanced materials and construction techniques, SuperSole X provides superior underfoot comfort and resilience against wear and tear. Made in the USA : From stitch to sole, every SuperSole X boot is crafted in the USA , ensuring the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. From stitch to sole, every SuperSole X boot is crafted in the , ensuring the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Rigorous Testing: SuperSole X underwent world-class lab testing to meet and/or exceed industry standards, providing workers with the confidence that their footwear is built to last. SuperSole X underwent world-class lab testing to meet and/or exceed industry standards, providing workers with the confidence that their footwear is built to last. More Durability and Comfort at a Lower Overall Weight: The dual-density outsole includes a soft inner core for comfort and a rubber outer layer for maximum durability and best-in-class slip resistance. For more information about SuperSole X, please visit www.redwingshoes.com/work/supersole-x About Red Wing Shoe Company Red Wing Shoe Company is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of safety and lifestyle footwear and work apparel. Established in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota, the privately held company's family of brands includes Red Wing Shoes, the premium choice for purpose-built work footwear, workwear and accessories. Its brands are distributed to more than 110 countries in an immersive multichannel environment of 500+ Red Wing retail stores, third-party partners and owned e-commerce platforms. Red Wing employs more than 2,000 employees worldwide and operates three U.S. manufacturing facilities in Red Wing, Minnesota, Potosi, Missouri, and Clarksville, Arkansas. For more information, please visit redwingshoeco.com or follow @RedWingShoes. Media Contact: Hannah Westberg [email protected] 763.242.3458 SOURCE Red Wing Shoe Company NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In China, the retail market is poised for substantial growth, expected to increase by USD 1192.7 billion from 2024-2028 at a CAGR of nearly 8.09%, driven by the premiumization of products and the shift towards online and omni-channel trade. However, the market faces challenges like rampant counterfeiting in the premium segment. Key players shaping this landscape include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., JD.com Inc., Walmart Inc., Suning.com Co. Ltd., and Pinduoduo Inc., alongside other prominent names like Bailian Group, GOME Retail Holdings Ltd., and Vipshop Holdings Ltd. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Retail market in china 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 Product (Food and beverages, Apparel and footwear, Home improvement, Consumer electronics and appliances, and Beauty and personal care), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (APAC) Region Covered China Key companies profiled Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Bailian Group, Beijing Dangdang Kewen Electronic Commerce Co. Ltd., China Resources Enterprise Ltd., CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd., DFI Retail Group., E Mart Co. Ltd., GOME Retail Holdings Ltd., JD.com Inc., Lotte Corp., PetroChina Co. Ltd., Pinduoduo Inc., President Chain Store Corp., Quanlian Industrial Co. Ltd., Sun Art Retail Group Ltd., Suning.com Co. Ltd., Vipshop Holdings Ltd., Walmart Inc., and Yonghui Superstores Co. Ltd. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth In China's retail market, omni-channel retailing is gaining popularity as vendors recognize its importance in maximizing product visibility. This strategy combines various distribution channels, including retail stores, mobile stores, online stores, mobile app stores, and telephone sales, to boost customer engagement. While adoption is growing, it remains lower than in developed countries. Online shopping is thriving in China, with major and small brands expanding their presence. The internet's increasing accessibility and affordability, along with the rise of online banking, make the online channel an even bigger opportunity for retailers. E-commerce is projected to grow at 25% year-over-year. Companies like JD.com, Alibaba, and Walmart are leading the way, selling a wide range of products online. Domestic and international players, such as GOME Electronics, are adopting omni-channel distribution to generate revenue from both physical stores and web portals. This strategy expands vendors' reach, with first and second-tier cities driving high online sales due to greater awareness and access to e-retailing. In smaller towns and cities, physical stores remain preferred, but online platforms still contribute to revenue growth. Overall, omni-channel retailing is poised for significant growth in China's retail market. The Retail Market in China is experiencing significant trends driven by Internet Giants, increasing disposable incomes, and consumer spending. Online shopping through mobile-first sites is booming, with smartphone penetration at an all-time high. IoT and augmented reality are transforming the retail landscape. E-commerce channels dominate, with fresh groceries sales a notable sector. Brick-and-mortar stores remain relevant for personal use and household activities, but online platforms offer convenience and accessibility. Retail e-commerce market includes goods and services for final consumers in sectors like clothing, footwear, jewelry, electronics, home appliances, beauty products, toys, stationery, pet supplies, and more. Customer support, personalized services, return policies, and exchange policies are essential for retailers. Economic growth fuels demand, while social interaction and employment opportunities arise from online retail platforms. Global retailers expand product ranges to reach Chinese consumers. Discover 360 analysis of this market. For complete information, schedule your consultation- Book Here! Market Challenges The Chinese retail market is faced with a significant challenge in the form of counterfeit products, particularly in the luxury sector. Approximately 40% of products sold in China are estimated to be counterfeit, with many being sold online due to its wider reach and difficulty to regulate. These imitations, often priced lower than authentic items, pose a threat to both market shares and brand reputations of leading global brands. Counterfeit cosmetics and personal care products, in particular, can lead to harmful side effects due to their use of cheap ingredients. To combat this issue, the Chinese government is considering legislation to protect consumers and hold online vendors accountable. Domestic online retailers, such as Alibaba, are taking steps to mitigate the presence of counterfeit products in their stores. Alibaba, for instance, is focusing on product monitoring and implementing effective refund policies. Additionally, the retailer employs over 5,000 volunteer shoppers, or "phantom shoppers," to identify and report suspicious products. Despite these efforts, the prevalence of counterfeit goods will continue to hinder the growth of the retail market in China during the forecast period. Consumers are increasingly conducting extensive online research before making purchases due to concerns over authenticity, leading to lengthy product descriptions on retail websites. Addressing this issue will require a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including governments, retailers, and consumers. The Chinese retail market presents significant opportunities for toys, stationery, pet supplies, convenience, and accessibility sectors. Challenges include implementing personalized services, return and exchange policies, and adapting to economic growth and social trends. Global retailers and online platforms are key players, offering diverse product ranges and convenient online purchases. Smartphones and tablets facilitate digital device usage for shopping. Specialty stores, shopping malls, and convenience stores cater to various consumer needs. Virtual reality, immersive shopping experiences, and artificial intelligence are transforming retail, with consumer data driving personalized recommendations and customer service interactions. Promotional activities and branding efforts engage customers, while product manufacturers and social media platforms collaborate to boost sales. Employment opportunities in retail continue to grow, with jobs in e-commerce and customer service sectors on the rise. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This retail market in China report extensively covers market segmentation by Product 1.1 Food and beverages 1.2 Apparel and footwear 1.3 Home improvement 1.4 Consumer electronics and appliances 1.5 Beauty and personal care Distribution Channel 2.1 Offline 2.2 Online Geography 3.1 APAC 1.1 Food and beverages- The retail market in China continues to grow, with sales reaching over USD5 trillion in 2020. E-commerce is a significant sector, accounting for over 20% of total retail sales. Consumers prefer online shopping due to convenience and competitive prices. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores also remain popular, particularly in tier 1 and 2 cities. Cross-border e-commerce is expanding, attracting foreign brands to enter the Chinese market. Government policies support the retail industry's growth, including tax reductions and subsidies for small businesses. 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 Retail Market in China is experiencing rapid growth, driven by disposable incomes and consumer spending. Online shopping through Internet Giants' e-commerce channels has become increasingly popular due to smartphone penetration and mobile-first sites. IoT and augmented reality technologies are transforming the retail landscape, offering personalized services and convenience. Brick-and-mortar stores continue to thrive, providing social interaction and accessibility. The retail e-commerce market is booming, with fresh groceries sales leading the way. Toys, stationery, pet supplies, and convenience goods are popular categories. Personalized services, return policies, and exchange policies are essential for final consumers. Economic growth and the rise of the middle class are fueling demand for goods and services across various sectors. Market Research Overview The Retail Market in China is experiencing rapid growth, driven by disposable incomes and consumer spending. Online shopping is a major trend, with smartphone penetration reaching an all-time high. The retail e-commerce market is booming, with IoT and augmented reality technologies enhancing the shopping experience. Brick-and-mortar stores continue to coexist with online platforms, offering personalized services, return policies, and exchange policies. Goods and services for personal use and household needs are popular, including clothing, footwear, jewelry, electronics, home appliances, beauty products, toys, stationery, and pet supplies. Convenience, accessibility, and economic growth are key factors driving consumer behavior. Online retail platforms, both domestic and global, offer a wide range of products and services for final consumers. Virtual reality and immersive shopping experiences are the future, with virtual try-on, artificial intelligence, consumer data, and personalized recommendations shaping the industry. Online purchases via mobile-first sites and orders placed on smartphones and tablets are becoming the norm. E-commerce applications, specialty stores, shopping malls, convenience stores, and even virtual reality are transforming the retail landscape. Promotional activities, branding activities, and customer service interactions are essential for retailers to stay competitive. Product manufacturers, social media, discount offers, and television commercials are important tools for reaching consumers. Jobs and employment opportunities in the retail sector continue to grow, fueled by the dynamic and evolving retail market. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Food And Beverages Apparel And Footwear Home Improvement Consumer Electronics And Appliances Beauty And Personal Care Distribution Channel Offline Online Geography APAC 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio The initiative is a program of Latinas & Power and its Latinas in Leadership Institute. HARTFORD, Conn., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Actress and activist Rita Moreno, the honorary chair of the newly created National Advisory Council for the Latinas in Leadership Institute, a Latinas and Power Corp. Program kicked off the first inaugural meeting with a strong sense of passion and commitment to help close the Latina leadership gap in this country. Moreno stated, "I accepted the role as the national honorary chairwoman for this leadership program because we must create a path for more Latinas to take on leadership and advocacy roles. This is about increasing representation at all levels in all sectors." View PDF Rita Moreno and Influential Latinas from across the country commit to assist in addressing the Latina Leadership Gap in the U.S. Rita Moreno and Influential Latinas from across the country commit to assist in addressing the Latina Leadership Gap in the U.S. The Latina Leadership Institute's (LiLi) mission is to increase representation and to cultivate a robust pipeline of talented leaders prepared to take on leadership and advocacy roles in business and the community. This Latinas & Power Corp. leadership initiative amplifies and coincides with the new Leanin.org, (a global network dedicated to helping women achieve their ambitions working diligently to create an equal world,) first ever report on Latinas recently published called The State of Latinas in Corporate America that offers an in-depth look at the distinct, compounding obstacles Latinas face at work. Marilyn Alverio, the CEO of Latinas & Power and Executive Director of the Latina Leadership Institute (LiLi) said, "Latinas & Power Corp. has been answering the call to tackle the pipeline barriers that hold Latinas back from leadership roles through LiLi and through a number of other platforms." The 6-month intensive certification program, LiLi is a cohort based professional development hybrid program with a culturally relevant lens and designed specifically for Latina professionals and entrepreneurs in early to mid-career. It focuses on mindset, authenticity, leadership influence and civic engagement. The newly created Advisory Board for LiLi, comprised of national influential Leaders from various sectors, including business, academia, government and the arts, will provide guidance for LiLi's programming to effectively assist in addressing the Latina Leadership gap and be positioned to expand across the U.S. Known for her celebrity and activism in the civil rights movement and as conscious activist, Ms. Moreno has been a strong advocate for women's rights and racial equality throughout her career. "This type of support for Latinas did not exist during my early days and even in my mid-career. I firmly believe it is imperative that we all do our part to help lift up the work of organizations such as Latinas & Power. These initiatives make a difference and ensure a vibrant workforce." stated Ms. Moreno. Council member Carolyn Aronson, one of the few Latina CEOs in the U.S. and a successful global entrepreneur of It's a 10 Enterprises, stated, "We need more Latina CEOs, and I am here to inspire other women to realize that they too can lead companies and own global brands. By finding their passion and tapping into increasingly accessible resources, women can build businesses from the ground up and achieve their full potential." Real Estate Developer and Attorney, Sandy Cloud stated he is delighted to be in this distinguished company being led by Rita Moreno. "I am honored to be a part of this advisory council that will help with the next step to develop opportunities for Latinas in this country and help break as many barriers as we can." Karen Clarkson, V.P. of Go to market strategy, sustainability, and strategic partnerships for Ricoh corporation, shared why she became a Council member. She stated, "I want to help give a voice to this community that can make a change in the world". During the kick-off meeting, all advisory members shared valuable information and insights and will play a key role in providing guidance, their influence, and their passion to expanding the leadership program in the Northeast and beyond. The council will meet three times a year and provide counsel as needed in between meetings. In addition to the above council members mentioned additional Advisory council members include: Tricia Montalvo-Timm, board director, venture investor, Yvette Melendez, President & Founder YMR consulting, Andrea Navedo, Actor, Author and Speaker, Yvette Pena V.P Audience Strategy and Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at AARP, Deb Rosado Shaw, Fortune 50 Senior Executive and Advisor, Dr. Charles Venator Santiago, Assoc. Professor and Founding Director of the Puerto Rican Institute at the University of CT. In Storrs, and Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, Executive Director, CT Center for Nursing Workforce. LiLi is OPEN for applications for its next session until August 20, 2024, with Scholarships Available. The third Cohort begins on September 18th with a two-day retreat that helps build community as well as conducts behavioral assessments that contributes to the baseline of experience. www.latinasandpower.com About Latinas & Power Corp.: Latinas & Power Corp. is a 21-year-old network of Latina professionals and entrepreneurs with the mission of inspiring, motivating, encouraging, and providing tools that enable Latinas to succeed as influential leaders and advocates in the workplace, community and beyond. Through initiatives like the Latinas in Leadership Institute, Latinas & Power Corp aims to create opportunities for personal and professional growth, foster leadership development, and promote diversity and inclusion. SOURCE Latinas & Power Corp Event partners include the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Applied Research Institute, Purdue University, and Visit Indy SAN FRANCISCO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMI today announced its inaugural Midwestern U.S. event, SEMIEXPO In The Heartland, during SEMICON West 2024. Scheduled to debut April 1-2, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, the new annual event will feature discussions on the deployment of smart manufacturing tools, technologies, and methods supporting the creation of semiconductors, as well as gather stakeholders in the semiconductor, sensor, and mobility ecosystems to address technical issues and supply chain dynamics. During the opening of SEMICON West, Joe Stockunas, President of SEMI Americas, commended Eric Holcomb, Governor of Indiana, as well as the Applied Research Institute, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Purdue University, and Visit Indy, for their partnership and support in bringing the event to Indianapolis. "With growing activity for both automotive electronics and smart manufacturing in the Midwestern region, SEMIEXPO In The Heartland will provide a key opportunity for collaboration," said Stockunas. "These are important end markets that are advancing the semiconductor industry on the path to $1 trillion in annual revenue, and we're excited to kick off our inaugural event in Indianapolis." SEMI selected Indianapolis as the event location due to its strong local communities for both automotive electronics and smart manufacturing, in addition to its proximity to Purdue University and its robust pipeline of semiconductor engineering talent. "Indiana's economy is experiencing serious positive momentum. We've spent decades cultivating the industries and economies of the future and I'm so grateful leaders like SEMI continue to take notice," said Gov. Holcomb. "I couldn't be prouder of the way Indiana has answered the call to support U.S. innovation and growth in the semiconductor industry. As our leadership role continues to expand, Indiana will be centrally involved in solving the myriad of challenges that lie ahead by advancing the key innovations that will power the world around us. Bringing the semiconductor industry to the Midwest for this inaugural event will further showcase our advanced manufacturing leadership and position Hoosiers and our shared economy for even more industrial growth opportunities." SEMIEXPO In The Heartland will feature participation from the SEMI communities for its Smart Mobility initiative, which brings together microelectronics stakeholders and the automotive and broader mobility ecosystems to address technical issues and supply chain dynamics, and its Smart Manufacturing initiative that helps microelectronics manufacturers accelerate Industry 4.0 technology deployment. SEMI will announce additional details on exhibiting and speaking at SEMIEXPO In The Heartland, and on sponsoring and attending, leading up to the event. About SEMI SEMI is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, and other programs. Our SEMICON expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members' business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services, and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org , contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more. About Indiana Economic Development Corporation With the best business-friendly environment in the nation, Indiana has captured the attention of the global economy and broken records for economic wins. Our strategy is bold, driving momentum by building a sustainable economy of the future and an attractive quality of life. We have the sites and infrastructure to build global and local connections and the success stories of innovators and forward-thinkers who have made an impact in their communities, the state, and the world. About Applied Research Institute (ARI) Applied Research Institute (ARI) is a non-partisan leader in technology innovation and strategy. As a neutral, third-party innovation ecosystem orchestrator, ARI collaborates with cross-sectional partners from state and federal government, industry, and academia, across a wide spectrum of technology focus areas. We specialize in creating robust ecosystems, facilitating partnerships, and managing complex technology projects from start to finish all with the goal of transforming ideas into game-changing results. About Purdue University Purdue University is home to large scale, impactful, interdisciplinary research and learning in semiconductors. A strong, critical mass of researchers sets Purdue apart by spanning the full stack of semiconductors R&D, from materials and devices, to circuits, systems, architecture, and advanced packaging integration. Purdue currently leads three and participates in two Semiconductor Research Corporation funded multi-university research programs. Strong connections to industry, such as DoD, Commerce/NIST, and NSF, support one of the nation's largest and best semiconductors research programs. Visit Indy Indy's convention and visitor's bureau enhances the quality of life in Indianapolis by optimizing visitor-related economic impact. As an unprecedented level of cooperation between business and government boosts Indianapolis to a completely new level, they're reveling in the opportunity to show our city off to SEMI and the semiconductor industry community. SEMI Contact Samer Bahou/SEMI U.S. Phone: 1.408.943.7870 Email: [email protected] SOURCE SEMI NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), has recovered money for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2018-2022 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating Vapotherm, Inc. (OTCQX: VAPO), relating to its proposed merger with an affiliate of Perceptive Advisors, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Vapotherm shareholders will receive $2.18 in cash for each share of Vapotherm common stock they own. Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/vapotherm-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask: Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much? About Monteverde & Associates PC Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholdersand we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341. Contact: Juan Monteverde, Esq. MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740 New York, NY 10118 United States of America [email protected] Tel: (212) 971-1341 Attorney Advertising. (C) 2024 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC FREMONT, Calif., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- THINK Surgical, Inc., an innovator in the field of orthopedic surgical robots, today announced that it has entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Signature Orthopaedics (SignatureOrtho), a design focused orthopedic device manufacturer based in Australia. Through this collaboration, THINK Surgical will add an advanced knee design by SignatureOrtho to THINK Surgical's ID-HUB, a proprietary data bank of implant modules for use with its TMINI Miniature Robotic System. Signature Orthopaedics Collaborates with THINK Surgical for Robotic TKA Post this Signature Orthopaedics THINK Surgical is committed to providing open platform orthopedic surgical robots that support implants from multiple manufacturers. The addition of the SignatureOrtho knee system to THINK Surgical's ID HUB database will allow SignatureOrtho customers access to robotic assisted technology for total knee replacement. The development of the implant module for use with the TMINI System is in progress. "We are thrilled to collaborate with THINK Surgical to offer a robotic solution to our customers," said Declan Brazil, chief executive officer of Signature Orthopaedics. "This partnership highlights our dedication to innovation and our responsiveness to customer feedback. Together, we aim to enhance surgical precision and improve patient outcomes through this innovative effort." "THINK Surgical is committed to maximizing our implant agnostic platform and we are excited about this new collaboration with SignatureOrtho that will enable even more choice for customers using TMINI," said Stuart Simpson, president and chief executive officer of THINK Surgical. About THINK Surgical, Inc. THINK Surgical, Inc., is a privately held U.S. based technology innovator that develops and markets orthopedic robots. THINK Surgical robots are open platforms providing support for implant brands from multiple manufacturers, enabling the choice of implant to be driven by the surgeon. Please refer to the instructions for use for the TMINI Miniature Robotic System for a complete list of indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. For additional product information, please visit www.thinksurgical.com THINK Surgical and TMINI are trademarks of THINK Surgical, Inc. About Signature Orthopaedics Signature Orthopaedics is a leading Australian orthopaedic device manufacturer dedicated to designing and producing innovative orthopaedic implants and instruments. With a strong focus on quality, precision, and patient outcomes, we leverage cutting-edge technology and extensive research to meet the needs of surgeons and their patients globally. For more information, please visit www.signatureortho.com.au SignatureOrtho is a trademark of Signature Orthopaedics. Media Contacts: THINK Surgical Signature Orthopaedics Nick Margree Chris Burgess [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE THINK Surgical, Inc. ANAHEIM, Calif., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Signia Aerospace, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Goodrich Hoist & Winch business (the "Company") of Collins Aerospace, an RTX Corporation business. Goodrich Hoist & Winch is a leading provider of rescue hoists and cargo winches, with more than 50 proprietary models utilized by civil and military operators worldwide. The Company's products are built to withstand extreme conditions, providing the highest reliability and safety for search and rescue and other human external cargo missions. "Goodrich Hoist & Winch is a leader in helicopter rescue equipment and will be an excellent addition to our Signia Mission Systems business segment," said Norman Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of Signia Aerospace. "Combined, the complementary products designed and manufactured by our companies play a significant role in multiple critical airborne missions, including rescue and disaster relief operations across the globe." Cory VanBuskirk, President of Signia Mission Systems, added, "The Goodrich Hoist & Winch business is a perfect addition to our growing portfolio of critical, multi-mission products serving helicopter operators and rescue operations worldwide. This acquisition further increases Signia Mission Systems value proposition to customers, including through our commitment to the Company's next generation Pegasus Hoist development program." Moelis & Company LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Signia Aerospace in connection with the acquisition. About Signia Aerospace Signia Aerospace is a global, integrated provider of high-performance systems and specialized components for the aerospace industry. Signia currently operates two complementary business segments: Thermal Management (key brands include ACE Thermal Systems and Mezzo Technologies) and Mission Systems (key brands include Onboard Systems International, Lifesaving Systems Corp. and Meeker Aviation). The Signia brands are leaders in their respective categories and provide a compelling value proposition to both aerospace and defense OEMs and operators. For more information visit www.signiaaerospace.com. About Arcline Investment Management Arcline Investment Management is a growth-oriented private equity firm with $8.9 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Arcline seeks to invest in technology-driven, meaningful to the world industrial businesses that enable a better future. For more information visit www.arcline.com. Contact: Ralph A. DeMarco Chief Commercial Officer Signia Aerospace [email protected] Tel: 727.403.4507 Contact: Sheri Gormley Marketing Manager Onboard Systems International, LLC [email protected] Tel: 360.546.3072, x 280 SOURCE Signia Aerospace LOS ANGELES, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a united front against food insecurity in Los Angeles County, 55 local law firms raised $479,095 for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The raised funds will go toward closing the hunger gap during the summer break when many children who rely on school lunch programs may miss meals. Since its inception, this campaign has raised more than $7 million. The legal community donated a total of 497 volunteer shifts to help glean, sort and box food at the Food Bank. Food From The Bar - fighting hunger since 2009 Munger, Tolles & Olson was the Overall Winner and California Court of Appeal, Second District was the Per Capita Winner of this year's campaign, illuminating the unity and support of the LA legal community for the Food Bank and their neighbors. "Amid high demand for food assistance, it is uplifting to see the Los Angeles legal community unite in support of the Food Bank and our neighbors," said Kathleen McDowell, a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. "Food From The Bar serves as a unifying force, demonstrating the strength of collective action. We are grateful to the Food Bank for giving us this opportunity and their unwavering commitment to serving the Los Angeles County community." Sixteen years ago, the Food Bank's Food From The Bar (FFTB) campaign launched after modeling a successful Bay Area campaign. At the time, 31 law firms and other law-related entities partnered with the Los Angeles County Bar Association and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles to kick off a friendly competition to raise funds and awareness to bolster the Food Bank. "We are deeply grateful to the Los Angeles legal community for their profound dedication to the fight against hunger," said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. "The ongoing partnership with LA's legal community has significantly enhanced the Food Bank's efforts. Together, we are making a substantial difference in the lives of individuals and families across Los Angeles County struggling to access nutritious food." Food is a fundamental necessity, yet millions of individuals still face inconsistent access, a worsened situation. Initiatives like Food From The Bar, bolstered by community support, empower the Food Bank and its partner agencies to consistently aid hundreds of thousands of children, seniors, families and individuals each month. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of unity and collective action in combating food insecurity. Please visit the Food From The Bar webpage for a complete list of participating firms, recognition levels, and special awards. About Food From The Bar: Launched in 2009, the Food From The Bar campaign is an annual, six-week effort led by members of the legal community. It is focused on providing nutritious meals for children in Los Angeles County. Legal teams compete to see who can raise the most donations and clock the most volunteer hours. For more information, visit LAFoodBank.org/foodfromthebar. About the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been mobilizing resources to fight hunger in Los Angeles County for over 50 years. To support the Food Bank's vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, food and grocery products are distributed through a network of partner agencies and other Food Bank programs. The Food Bank also energizes the community to get involved and support hunger relief, primarily through volunteerism and conducts nutrition education campaigns and advocates for public policies that benefit people served and improve nutrition security. The Food Bank is rated at the highest level by Candid and Charity Navigator, and 96% of all revenue goes to programs. For more information, visit LAFoodBank.org. Media Contact David May Director of Marketing and Communications [email protected] SOURCE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK WINDSOR, ON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellantis North America officially commemorated the opening of a new, state-of-the-art Mopar Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 9, 2024, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The PDC represents an investment of $25.1 million CAD ($18.2 million USD / 16.9) and will employ more than 170 workers. Shown on stage for the ribbon cutting (from left to right) are: Anthony Fioritto II, Stellantis director of supply chain engineering; Troy Nibbe, Stellantis regional PDC operations director; Melody Pedersen, Unifor Local 1285 shop chair; Mike Koval Jr., Stellantis senior vice president and head of Mopar North America; Partick Brown, Mayor of Brampton and Eduardo Escobedo, Brampton PDC Plant Manager. Stellantis invested more than $25.1 million CAD ( $18.2 million USD / 16.9) for new 513,000-square-foot Mopar Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) to serve Greater Toronto area, Quebec and Eastern Canada CAD ( / 16.9) for new 513,000-square-foot Mopar Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) to serve area, and More than 170 Canadian employees to support Brampton PDC operations New PDC houses nearly 55,000 parts with capacity to ship up to an estimated 2 million orders annually First Stellantis facility in North America to use innovative AutoStore fully automated storage and retrieval system to reduce parts wait time to use innovative AutoStore fully automated storage and retrieval system to reduce parts wait time Use of new technology and innovations supports Stellantis' commitment to reducing its carbon footprint as outlined in Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan In-house, state-of-the-art service training centre offers dedicated space for classroom teaching and garage space for hands-on technical instruction Mike Koval Jr. , senior vice president, head of Mopar North America ; Patrick Brown , mayor of Brampton ; national and Unifor local 1285 leaders; Stellantis dealer representatives and facility employees in attendance to commemorate opening , senior vice president, head of ; , mayor of ; national and Unifor local 1285 leaders; Stellantis dealer representatives and facility employees in attendance to commemorate opening Mopar has evolved for more than 85 years now, offering genuine parts, authentic accessories, service and customer-care operations for Stellantis vehicles globally Stellantis North America officially commemorated the recent opening of a new, state-of-the-art Mopar Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) today in Brampton, Ontario, with a ribbon-cutting event at the facility. The PDC represents an investment of $25.1 million CAD ($18.2 million USD / 16.9) and will employ more than 170 Canadian workers. Executives, including Mike Koval Jr., senior vice president, head of Mopar North America, Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, national and Unifor local 1285 leaders provided remarks to commemorate the PDC opening in front of various Canadian federal and provincial government officials, Stellantis dealer representatives and facility employees. "The opening of our new Mopar Parts Distribution Centre in Brampton represents a significant milestone for Mopar and Stellantis and is further proof of our ongoing investment in enhancing operational excellence," said Koval. "We're bringing the latest technology and innovation into our facility to support our dedicated Unifor-represented employees. This new, state-of-the-art workplace will improve efficiency for our dealers and customers while ensuring that we can quickly deliver the right part at the right time every time." Built strategically to support Stellantis dealerships and customers in Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada, the 513,000-square-foot facility houses close to 55,000 parts and has capacity to ship up to an estimated 2 million orders annually. "The opening of the new Mopar Parts Distribution Centre is a tremendous milestone for the City of Brampton," said Mayor Patrick Brown. "This state-of-the-art facility not only highlights Stellantis' commitment to innovation and operational excellence, but also brings significant economic benefits to our community by bringing over 170 jobs to Brampton. Congratulations to the team at Stellantis for being at the forefront of technological advancements that align with sustainable practices, reinforcing Brampton's position as a hub for cutting-edge industry developments." State-of-the-art AutoStore technology and service training The new Mopar PDC in Brampton is the first Stellantis facility in North America to use the innovative AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system. Cutting-edge tech used in industrial warehousing globally, the AutoStore system in Brampton uses 27 robots equipped with advanced picking functions to navigate tracks built above a 16-foot-tall grid stocked with parts. The robots quickly retrieve various parts from one of 43,000 bins stacked within 11,700 square feet of storage space. The robots transport the chosen parts directly to various production stations where PDC employees pack and process the final shipments. The AutoStore system significantly increases the speed, precision and reliability of parts procurement within the PDC, leading to on-time shipping while also reducing the floorspace needed to house the immense supply of parts. A state-of-the-art service training centre located within the new Brampton PDC offers 12,000 square feet of dedicated space for classroom teaching and garage space for hands-on technical instruction. Dare Forward 2030 Strategic Plan The Mopar PDC in Brampton is one of 21 current facilities in North America that supply replacement and custom parts to dealerships and aftermarket customers. To support Stellantis' goal of reducing its carbon emissions as outlined in its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, Mopar has tactically reduced the parts storage footprint in the Eastern Canada market by combining the former Montreal and Mississauga PDC facilities into one, while further reducing the physical footprint needed for the Brampton PDC using the AutoStore system. "We're truly committed to better serving our customers and caring for the environment as part of this market for the long haul," added Koval. Mopar Mopar is the global name for Stellantis genuine parts and authentic accessories. A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers exceptional service, parts and customer-care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over more than 85 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide. Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, Mopar expanded to include technical service and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide. Complete information on Mopar is available at www.mopar.com and the Mopar blog at www.blog.mopar.com. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. Follow Mopar and company news and video on: Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Mopar brand: www.mopar.com Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar Instagram: @officialmopar Twitter: twitter.com/OfficialMOPAR YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar or www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis SALEM, N.H., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading tech-enabled automotive service company Strolid today announced its first product release, the Strolid Portal for auto dealers. Using actual customer conversations, the Strolid Portal enables deep operational insights into the entirety of dealerships, revealing improvement opportunities. Based on the upcoming IETF Internet Standard for Virtualized Conversations (vCons), the Strolid portal responsibly handles sensitive data, which is critical for ensuring regulatory compliance when using AI. Available today to all Strolid Sales and Service BDC customers, the Strolid Portal allows dealers to listen to customers at scale. The benefit to Strolid's dealers is more sales and service income and better sales productivity from a better understanding of their customers. "The Strolid Portal's vCon-driven insights and data help dealers sell more cars." -Strolid Founder and CEO Vin Micciche Post this Strolid Founder and CEO Vin Micciche from the June 11, 2024, TADSummit Podcast "Truth in AI, Strolid, Papa in a Box." Used with the permission of the creators. The dominant factor in automotive retail is the critical importance of data. With prescient insight in creating vCons, Strolid can bring the latest AI/LLM innovations to sales and service BDC to help dealers better gather leads, retain existing customers, communicate with lost customers, and ultimately sell more to more customers. Strolid Founder and CEO Vin Micciche said, "Dealers told us they need to understand what their customers are saying and what their staff members are doing in response. Dealers often rely on their marketing teams, management teams, and KPIs to understand their customers, but only from their not their customers' perspective. Unlocking conversations reveals customer thoughts, wants, and needs that businesses don't know but should. To ensure the safe and responsible handling of conversations, Strolid invented vCons, creating a formal data standard for conversations. Today's AI, large language models, and machine learning systems need data. vCons simultaneously provide these systems with the critical, valuable information they are starving for with the framework to protect customers' digital rights when generative AI processes conversations. This capability is important to Strolid because our automotive BDC handles over 150,000 dealer voice conversations, emails, chats, and texts monthly." Strolid CTO (and international vCon standard co-author) Thomas McCarthy-Howe said, "Strolid revolutionizes the customer experience through customer conversations. Conversations are real. Unbiased data. What your customers said and how they said it. The Strolid Portal with Strolid Search lets auto dealers listen and know at scale. We capture the conversations as vCons and transcribe the vCons turning conversations into data so generative AI platforms can understand them. Dealers search conversations for any term, including what each person said in the conversation, the conversations' metadata, and customer, dealer, and agent names and phone numbers. For example, a dealer can find out who is interested in a particular vehicle by searching the vehicle's stock number to get a summary of the call and listen to the call recording. Dealers can also search conversations for lead sources, vehicle stock numbers, email addresses, and more. With the Strolid Portal, dealers can instantly review all related communications in a concise transcript. Strolid has an accelerated product development roadmap and looks forward to releasing additional vCon-based applications to Strolid dealers throughout the second half of this year." Added Micciche, "With 40 years of automotive sales experience and listening to tens of thousands of calls as Strolid's Head of Quality Assurance, my father was the inspiration to create the Strolid Portal, 'Papa in a Box.' Dealers need to know what their customers are saying and how their staff handles them, and the Strolid Portal provides them with this capability. By listening and knowing what customers say, the Strolid Portal makes Strolid BDC critical and irreplaceable to our dealers because vCon-driven insights and data from the Strolid Portal will help Strolid BDC dealers increase their productivity to sell more cars." Strolid is proudly based in Salem, New Hampshire. About Strolid Inc. Founded in 2014, leading tech-enabled automotive service company Strolid unlocks the value of customer conversations to increase sales. We enable our business and government customers to listen to conversations at scale and manage the data for AI. For auto dealers, Strolid engages car buyers, offering a non-automated, human (with real people!) solution that provides a strong customer experience and builds solid relationships. Our complete solution for customer engagement works across every communications channel (i.e., voice, video, and messaging), AI platform, CRM system, and language for every department. We continually train and upskill our agents resulting in a dedicated, talented workforce augmenting our customers' teams. Many of our people have worked together in auto dealerships and at Strolid for over twenty years, carrying a deep expertise in dealer operations, allowing us to be truly helpful to the customers outside the dealership. Strolid boasts one of the most innovative engineering departments in the industry, creating the global internet standard for Virtualized Conversations (vCons). To learn more, visit Strolid at https://strolid.com/the-strolid-difference/ and contact Strolid at [email protected]. Media Contact Mr. Ken Herron (US) Strolid Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Strolid, Inc. JERICHO, N.Y., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm J.S. Held, proudly celebrating 50 transformative years, announces the release of Crosscurrents: Companies Face Regulatory Uncertainties in Wake of SCOTUS Decisions, by Kim Logue and John Peiserich reflecting on the recent United States Supreme Court decisions, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and their potential impact on businesses and federal regulatory programs. In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the Court overturned 40 years of precedent by deeming Chevron deference inconsistent with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). This decision removes the deference granted to federal agencies in interpreting and applying federal law when Congress passes unclear legislation, potentially leading to increased challenges to existing regulatory programs. U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Loper and Corner Post challenge agency authority, increasing regulatory uncertainty. Post this "The Loper decision marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches," said Kim Logue, associate vice president at J.S. Held. "Businesses should be aware of the potential for increased litigation and the need to reevaluate their regulatory compliance strategies." The Court followed the Loper decision with another blow to agency authority in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, holding that the clock starts for filing lawsuits when a regulation first affects a business, rather than when the regulation is adopted. This decision expands the timeframe for companies to challenge administrative regulations. John Peiserich, Esq., the executive vice president and Environmental, Health & Safety Practice leader at J.S. Held, noted, "The Corner Post decision, in conjunction with Loper, creates a new landscape for businesses to challenge regulations that may have been in place for years. Companies should assess their regulatory exposure and consider the potential implications of these decisions on their operations." The Loper and Corner Post decisions have key implications for businesses: Reduced procedural bars to challenge the way that agencies interpret and apply federal law Heightened uncertainty regarding the validity of existing agency regulations Underscored need to educate legislators on important issues by demanding that Congress provide greater clarity and specificity in federal statutes As businesses navigate the evolving regulatory environment, J.S. Held's team of dedicated experts, including former industry leaders, government officials and practicing attorneys, stand ready to provide the strategic counsel and support needed to mitigate risk and seize opportunities in the face of uncertainty. "The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Chevron deference could disrupt both traditional and renewable energy value chains potentially delaying project approvals, and creating a less predictable investment environment, which might hinder the innovation, development and deployment of energy infrastructure and technologies," said Andrea Korney, the vice president of Sustainability for J.S. Held's ESG & EHS Digital Solutions group and Advisor on the Equity of Energy Committee for the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Alan Marco, former chief economist at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, emphasized the impact of the rulings. "Regulatory and legal uncertainty can have major impacts on the value of tangible and intangible assets, and can complicate business transactions. The best way to understand how regulatory uncertainty will impact a particular business is through solid data and analysis. Unfortunately, that takes time." Dr. Marco continues, "In the meantime, there is no substitute for the experience of experts who have seen regulations change across multiple industries in multiple regulatory contexts. Companies can benefit from the guidance of experienced professionals, such as legal practitioners and former federal agency employees, who possess unique insights into the regulatory landscape and can help inform critical decision-making." Read the full article: https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/crosscurrents-companies-face-regulatory-uncertainties-in-wake-of-scotus-decisions. Learn more about the dedicated and entrepreneurial experts who help transform J.S. Held, explore our story, and celebrate this momentous milestone, our 50 & Forward celebration, with us at jsheld.com. Note: The quotes from Andrea Korney and Dr. Alan Marco are those of the author and do not represent the views of any federal agency. About J.S. Held J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations. More than 1,500 professionals serve organizations across six continents, including 81% of the Global 200 Law Firms, 70% of the Forbes Top 20 Insurance Companies (85% of the NAIC Top 50 Property & Casualty Insurers), and 65% of the Fortune 100 Companies. J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not law firms and do not provide legal advice. Securities offered through PM Securities, LLC, d/b/a Phoenix IB, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/ SIPC or Ocean Tomo Investment Group, LLC, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/ SIPC. All rights reserved. Contact Kristi L. Stathis Global Public Relations J.S. Held +1 786 833 4864 [email protected] SOURCE J.S. Held PUNE, India and LONDON and NEW YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Synechron, a leading global digital transformation consulting firm focused on financial services and technology organizations, announces the launch of its Synechron Nexus Plus Accelerators Program. This features five AI-led solutions engineered to tackle some of the most pressing business and operational challenges faced by corporates today, ensuring significant advancements in capital raising, corporate development, and public ownership. The new set of Synechron Nexus Plus Accelerators solutions program includes: Earnings Analyzer leverages AI and generative AI (GenAI) to deliver clarity in market sentiment analysis. It leverages publicly available information with the flexibility to add paid data sources offering text and speech analysis, sentiment scoring, sector-specific sentiment tracking, and enhanced visualization. leverages AI and generative AI (GenAI) to deliver clarity in market sentiment analysis. It leverages publicly available information with the flexibility to add paid data sources offering text and speech analysis, sentiment scoring, sector-specific sentiment tracking, and enhanced visualization. Company Filings accelerator is an AI-backed platform designed to help corporates prepare key company filings related to investor relations and corporate development. It eliminates information inconsistencies and reduces the burden of manual preparation and investigation. accelerator is an AI-backed platform designed to help corporates prepare key company filings related to investor relations and corporate development. It eliminates information inconsistencies and reduces the burden of manual preparation and investigation. Credit Memo Generation accelerator comprehensively evaluates a borrower's financial health and creditworthiness, helping financial institutions make informed decisions when approving loans. Leveraging GenAI, the solution automates data ingestion to improve credit memo generation. accelerator comprehensively evaluates a borrower's financial health and creditworthiness, helping financial institutions make informed decisions when approving loans. Leveraging GenAI, the solution automates data ingestion to improve credit memo generation. Legal Agreement Wizard is GenAI-powered; it significantly increases the productivity and operational efficiency of legal professionals involved in the deal-making process, generating key insights for faster document review and better-informed decision-making. is GenAI-powered; it significantly increases the productivity and operational efficiency of legal professionals involved in the deal-making process, generating key insights for faster document review and better-informed decision-making. LLM (Large Language Model) Sandbox is a framework for transforming local knowledge into conversational AI use cases, and a platform through which clients can manage, track, compare, and analyze multiple instances of domain-specific language models fostering innovation and agility in AI applications. The Synechron Nexus Plus suite is their 13th Accelerators Program, all of which aim to reflect the company's commitment to client-driven progress and operational excellence. With over a decade of AI expertise and an impressive tally of numerous prestigious industry awards in the innovation space, Synechron consistently demonstrates its dedication to transforming business processes through intelligent automation and advanced technology. Faisal Husain, Synechron's Co-founder and CEO, said of the launch of the Synechron Nexus Plus Accelerators Program, "This initiative directly addresses the specific needs of our clients, enhancing efficiency and positioning them for market leadership. With Synechron Nexus Plus, we're equipped to support our clients in the next stages of their growth, and our continued client-first mentality ensures that our work drives real value." Sandeep Kumar, Head of FinLabs, added, "We're constantly working on new ways to contribute to our clients' success, helping them meet their current needs as well as anticipate future uses of AI. We're dedicated to driving adoption of AI and providing building blocks to our clients in their innovation journey." About Synechron At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs, we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital, cloud-native, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,000+, and has 55 offices in 20 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community. For information please contact: Rashmi Joshi Synechron +91-9560694654 [email protected] | [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_Logo.jpg SOURCE Synechron A Kenmore man convicted of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition was sentenced Tuesday to 130 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutor Meghan E. Leydecker said that in April 2022, a search warrant was executed at the residence of 38-year-old Mario Kelly. About 374 grams of fentanyl was seized, along with 7 grams of crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and three firearms. Kelly, who was previously convicted of two felony crimes in Erie County Court and three federal crimes in the Western District of New York, was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The case was investigated by the Buffalo Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. - Harold McNeil TEMPLE, Texas, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Temple EDC and the city of Temple announced today that SeAH Superalloy Technologies, a new manufacturing corporation for special alloy which was incorporated by SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel (SeAH CSS), a leading manufacturer of high-tech industrial materials and its holding company, plans to invest $110 million in a high-performance metal manufacturing facility in Temple, Texas. This project is expected to create 100 full-time jobs. The facility will be located on 45 acres in Temple's Industrial Park, off of Moores Mill Rd. Construction is slated to begin in Q3, 2024, with commercial production beginning Q1, 2026. This plant will be the first special alloy manufacturing facility built in the U.S. by a South Korean company. The project was officially announced on July 9th in Seoul, during a well-attended press conference hosted by the Texas Governor's office. The Temple plant will be the first special alloy manufacturing facility built in the U.S. by a South Korean company. Post this City of Temple A press conference hosted by Governor of Texas Greg Abbott in Seoul on 7/9/2024 announced the SeAH Superalloy Technologies project that will locate in Temple, Texas. In attendance were Junghoon "Jay" Lee - CEO, SeAH CSS; Michael King - CEO, SeAH Superalloy Technologies; Adrian Cannady CEO and President, Temple Economic Development Corporation; as well as other leaders from SeAH, Temple Economic Development Corporation, and the Governors Office "We are thrilled to welcome SeAH Superalloy Technologies to Temple, TX. This project is a testament to the strength of our region in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), which will further bolster Temple's economic growth and global connections. Temple's strategic location and robust infrastructure continue to attract world-class companies like SeAH group, reinforcing our position as a prime destination for business growth and innovation," said John Howe, Chairman of the Board for the Temple Economic Development Corporation. "The City of Temple is delighted to welcome SeAH Superalloy Technologies to our dynamic business community. This significant investment and the creation of well-paying jobs underscore Temple's status as a thriving economic hub. We anticipate the positive impact this project will bring to our residents and local economy and embrace SeAH Superalloy Technologies as part of our community," said Tim Davis, Mayor of Temple. "We are excited to establish our new facility in Temple, Texas. This strategic location will enable us to better serve our North American customers and expand our global footprint. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Temple community and contributing to its economic growth," said Junghoon "Jay" Lee, CEO of SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel. Pending final negotiations with Temple EDC and the City of Temple, this new facility will mark a significant milestone in the ongoing growth and development of Temple's industrial sector. SeAH CSS, a subsidiary of SeAH Group since 2015, is Korea's leading manufacturer of high-tech industrial materials, including stainless steel, tool steel, and carbon alloy steel. The company's commitment to top-tier quality assurance and customer-centric service is demonstrated by its ISO 9001 certification. SeAH Superalloy Technologies is making a deeper foray into the U.S. specialty alloys market with its new facility, which is expected to produce 6,000 tons of special alloys annually. These high-performance materials will cater to industries such as aerospace, power generation, automotive and oil & gas. The facility will also position SeAH Superalloy Technologies as a key supplier to major U.S. companies, including companies in the aerospace industry, enhancing its presence in the high-tech industrial materials sector. "Texas is the premier destination for business growth, which is why companies from across the globe continue to choose our state to expand their operations," said Governor Greg Abbott. "SeAH Group's $110 million investment in Temple is a testament to the unique and unmatched business opportunities the Lone Star State has to offer businesses. I look forward to welcoming SeAH group's new manufacturing facility to Texas and continuing to work with them to bring even more investments and jobs to our state." For more information about SeAH CSS, visit www.seahss.co.kr. ABOUT TEMPLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION The Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) is a nonprofit organization that serves as the designated economic development entity for the City of Temple, Texas. Temple EDC strengthens relationships, builds partnerships, and provides solutions that cause entities to choose Temple. To learn more about doing business in Temple, visit TempleEDC.com. ABOUT THE CITY OF TEMPLE Temple, located 45 minutes north of Austin, offers the perfect compromise between welcoming small-town living and the hustle of a big city. Striking a balance between vibrancy and livability, Temple continues to grow its amenities for residents, while maintaining a safe, family-friendly, caring culture. Whether it is the scenic parks and trails, the family friendly atmosphere, or the unique neighborhoods with Texas charm, we think you will find something here that you love! Our vision is for Temple to be a place that you love to call home. Visit templetx.gov for more information. ABOUT SEAH CHANGWON INTEGRATED SPECIAL STEEL (SEAH CSS) SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel (SeAH CSS), a subsidiary of SeAH Group since 2015, is Korea's leading manufacturer of high-tech industrial materials. Located in Changwon, Gyeongnam, South Korea, the plant has an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons and produces stainless steel, tool steel, carbon alloy steel, and more. SeAH CSS serves a wide range of industries, including automotive, machinery, aviation, nuclear energy, shipbuilding, and electronics. For more information, visit www.seahss.co.kr. Media Contact Temple EDC: Media Contact City of Temple: Amanda Carlson Megan Price 254-773-8332 254-770-8364 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Temple EDC BOSTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Johnson Cotroneo Group (JCG) - founded by partners Matthew Johnson and Brian Cotroneo - celebrated its one year anniversary at Moors & Cabot on July 1st, 2024. Focused on advanced financial planning and custom portfolio management, JCG recorded an impressive first year, with explosive growth in both client households and assets under management. "Our first year has set the tone going forward. It's good to be at a firm that truly supports our practice and allows us to focus on the most important thing: our clients," Johnson was quoted saying. "We've been very fortunate; our planning methods, investment philosophy, and customer service model have resonated well. Clients are interested in working with a team that focuses on them as people, not just accounts," Cotroneo continued. Of the pair, Michael Hildreth, President & CEO of Moors & Cabot said, "Matt & Brian have been a phenomenal addition to the Moors & Cabot team. They have helped broaden the firm not just in size but also in scope, adding capabilities and subject matter knowledge in various disciplines." The Johnson Cotroneo Group is a planning-centric wealth management practice that specializes in helping high net worth families, business owners, special needs families, and corporate executives optimize their financial situations. Both Johnson and Cotroneo share an emphasis on professional development, holding a variety of industry designations such as: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), & Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC). The two bring a combined 40 years of financial industry experience to their partnership. ABOUT MOORS & CABOT, INC. Moors & Cabot is an investment firm headquartered in Boston with offices throughout the country. While Moors & Cabot's approach to wealth management is a more personal one, they are also a full service firm. Their financial products and services span the full spectrum of investment optionsfrom financial and investment management to insurance and equity trading. For over 134 years, Moors & Cabot has been a trusted advisor to individuals, families, businesses and institutions in building, managing, protecting and transitioning wealth. Moors & Cabot, Headquarters: One Federal St., 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Global legal and regulatory information can be found at https://www.moorscabot.com/privacy-and-disclosures Member FINRA, NYSE & SIPC SOURCE Moors & Cabot Investments New Partner to Strengthen Firm's Payments Practice WASHINGTON, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trevor Salter, a financial services attorney with extensive experience counseling some of the world's largest retailers, travel providers, fintech companies, and financial institutions on their strategic partnerships, has joined Troutman Pepper's Washington, D.C. office as a partner in the Corporate Practice. He joins the firm from Morrison Foerster, where he focused on transactions and regulatory matters within the financial services and fintech industries, with a particular emphasis on co-branded credit card deals. Trevor Salter, partner, Troutman Pepper "Trevor's comprehensive expertise in e-commerce and payments will be a significant asset for our clients as they navigate the evolving regulatory environment," said Mason Bayler, Chair of Troutman Pepper's Transactional Department. "His addition demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our already deep roster of financial services attorneys to best support our clients." Leveraging his comprehensive experience, Salter focuses his practice on structuring and negotiating critical financial services partnerships that generate significant revenue and cost savings for his clients. He works with retailers, travel providers, fintech platforms, business service providers and financial institutions in leading them through the highly regulated financial services environment to achieve their business goals. Salter's practice spans payments, lending, e-commerce, consumer data, and loyalty programs. He leverages his background in advising financial institutions and bank service providers in regulatory matters and enforcement actions by the CFPB and other regulators. "I am excited to join Troutman Pepper and collaborate with such a talented team of financial services attorneys," Salter said. "The firm's strong platform, deep bench, and commitment to innovation provide an excellent opportunity to further develop my practice and deliver exceptional value to our clients." Salter earned his J.D. from George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from Brigham Young University. "We are thrilled to welcome Trevor to our Washington, D.C. office," said Christopher Jones, managing partner of the firm's Washington D.C. office. "His focus on the payments space will significantly enhance our capabilities and service offerings. Trevor is the latest in a string of financial services partners we have added to our D.C. office this year, reflecting our ongoing commitment to expanding our team in this critical area." Earlier this year, Troutman Pepper welcomed financial services regulatory partners Kevin Petrasic, Matthew Bornfreund, and Alexandra Barrage in D.C., as well as Helen Lee to the firm's New York office These additions have further strengthened the firm's capabilities in handling complex bank regulatory matters, supervisory and enforcement matters, fintech, payments, and more. "Trevor's arrival marks another great addition to our team," said James Stevens, co-leader of the firm's Financial Services team. "His thorough understanding of the payments landscape and his ability to lead major transactions will greatly benefit our clients. We look forward to the strategic insights and value he will bring to our practice." Troutman Pepper's Financial Services Group provides comprehensive support to all types of financial services businesses in today's challenging and ever-changing environment. The team includes more than 250 attorneys who regularly advise global, national, regional, and community banks, financial technology companies, payments companies, consumer and commercial lenders, and a wide variety of other financial services businesses on the most crucial aspects of their business, from structuring major transactions to dealing with regulatory scrutiny and litigation. About Troutman Pepper Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm's litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients' most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com. SOURCE Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP RICHMOND, Va., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The TriMech Group has acquired MAKO Design + Invent, which provides tailored, end-to-end product design and development services across all physical consumer product categories to clients in the United States and Canada. With this latest acquisition, the TriMech Group continues to deliver on its plan to expand and diversify its service offerings and build the best-in-class solution partner to the global advanced design, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. The TriMech Group has acquired MAKO Design + Invent. Post this Chip Hogge, Chief Strategy Officer for the TriMech Group, and President of TriMech's Advanced Manufacturing business, said that adding MAKO's expertise sets the stage for TriMech to offer enhanced, comprehensive product development support for clients of all sizes. "Over its 20-year history, MAKO's award-winning team has perfected their product development process, which creates high-caliber products to be sold in North American and international markets. Their expertise will form a solid foundation for a new product development line of business for the TriMech Group." Support throughout the product design and development lifecycle MAKO's unique platform supports inventors, designers, manufacturers and e-commerce brands through planning, strategy development, designing, prototyping, manufacturing, and scaling to production volume, all to efficiently transform a concept into a fully functional, market-ready product. At the heart of this process is MAKO's talented team of industrial designers and mechanical and electrical engineers. TriMech's Project Engineering Group (PEG) provides additional design capabilities and capacity in the key engineering stages of the product development lifecycle. And TriMech's global teams of advanced simulation specialists can support additional simulation and analysis needs clients have during those stages. Hogge explained that the TriMech Group is focused on steadily expanding the depth of its expertise in critical service areas to meet evolving client needs. "Clients in all industry verticals are seeking professional, reliable services and support. We stand out because we offer much more than software and hardware. We can serve as that single technology and business partner who can help clients accelerate their product development lifecycles while improving quality and reducing risk." Meeting needs in prototyping and manufacturing The MAKO team's experience across the product development lifecycle can also bring new manufacturing connections and projects to the TriMech Group, already well known for its 3D printer sales and services, as well as its expertise in other advanced manufacturing methods, from traditional to emerging. "Collaboration across production stages will really benefit clients," Hogge said. "Our Advanced Manufacturing Services business in North America and 3DPRINTUK in the UK are perfectly positioned to step in with the knowledge and capabilities to move client projects efficiently through prototyping and manufacturing." Opportunities for MAKO's team and clients MAKO's founder, Kevin Mako, will remain in the business to provide leadership in the TriMech Group's expanded product development services team. "My team and I will continue to serve clients the way we always have with personal, customized service that gets their product to the finish line quickly, efficiently and at a world-class standard," he said. "At the same time, we are extremely excited to collaborate with one of our favorites in the industry the TriMech Group. Tapping into their team of design-for-manufacturing experts, prototyping and manufacturing facilities, and advanced software will help us ensure the best solutions for our clients." For more information, visit trimechgroup.com and makodesign.com. About the TriMech Group The TriMech Group of companies is a collection of established brands operating in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Europe's Nordic regions. Its global team includes hundreds of engineers who excel in areas including design, collaboration, simulation, analysis, process and workflow optimization, product data management, lifecycle management, manufacturing, and production floor solutions. As a leading technology and business solutions partner for designers, engineers, and manufacturers, the TriMech Group works with top software and hardware partners, including Dassault Systemes, SOLIDWORKS, Stratasys, Artec, and Zeiss, and its experts provide design and engineering software, advanced manufacturing solutions, and associated training, consulting, implementation, and staffing services for clients across a variety of industries. The TriMech Group has more than 50 locations serving more than 30,000 clients with over 750 employees. It is part of the portfolio of Sentinel Capital Partners, a U.S. private equity firm. For more information, visit trimechgroup.com. About MAKO Design + Invent MAKO Design + Invent has a 20-year history of setting the standard for best practices in product development. Its North American team, located in Austin, Toronto, Miami, and San Francisco, provides world-class product development services tailored to inventors, startups, and manufacturers. Known as an award-winning, one-stop-shop for taking an idea to a physical product, MAKO has in-house industrial designers and mechanical and electrical engineers, and helps with all aspects of product development, from initial market research and patent referral, to manufacturing, distribution, brand launch, and marketing. As owners of "The Product Startup Podcast," MAKO has surpassed 200,000 followers across their social media channels. For more information, visit makodesign.com. Contact: Angie Droz 865.934.5304 [email protected] TriMech 4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 300 Glen Allen, VA 23060 877.553.9001 trimechgroup.com SOURCE TriMech CEO Jim Brown visits the country to meet the local team, leaders, and share long-term vision for the market NEW DELHI, July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reaching one million active customers is the first step towards USANA Health Sciences, Inc.'s mission of building the healthiest family on earthmaking international expansion a critical initiative. In late 2023, USANA opened its business to the India market, and for the first time since that opening, USANA's President and CEO Jim Brown will be visiting the country. Mr. Brown will be accompanied by USANA's Chief Sales Officer David Mulham and Vice President of Market Expansion & Ethics Dan Whitney. USANA's President and CEO Jim Brown The group will tour the company's office in Gurgaon and meet with the local team that boasts more than 100 years of combined industry expertise. The visiting executives will then present USANA's vision and long-term commitment to the India market in front of the strong, emerging, and progressive members of the USANA India family. "I am very much looking forward to my first visit to our India market and to meeting our amazing USANA India members," said Jim Brown. "We spent many years preparing to open this strategically important market, and we believe USANA is well-aligned with India's emphasis on family, wellness, and entrepreneurialism. "Growing USANA in one of the strongest economies in the world is a vital part of our vision of creating the healthiest family on earth," Jim continued. "I am confident that in a few short years, USANA India will show sustained growth and help us reach our goals." USANA India is led by Regional Vice President and Managing Director Puneet Madan. With over 25 years of expertise in direct selling, Puneet joined USANA having held several leadership roles with major industry players, including Amway, Mary Kay Global, Oriflame Cosmetics, and Modere. Since Puneet joined USANA a year and a half ago, he has been steering its growth and success leading a team of more than 20 employees. Puneet expressed his excitement, saying, "I am ecstatic that Jim, David, and Dan will be coming to visit our wonderful country and get to meet our ever-progressive, happy, and committed USANA family. "We offer exceptional, science-based products that are manufactured in India, together with an incredible business opportunity. When you combine that with the company's commitment to its values, and a stellar global reputation, you can see why I am so honoured and privileged to be able to introduce USANA to Indian families. "USANA is here to stay in India for the long haul, and I hope as many people as possible will take advantage of the great products we have to offer." USANA's significant investment into the Indian market includes products made and designed specifically for the Indian consumer along with manufacturing the products through local facilities. USANA initially launched nine science-based products in the market: CoreSentials, BiOmega, Proflavanol C200, Visionex, MagneCal D, Procosa, CoQuinone 100, Hepasil DTX, and Nutrimeal Active* with new product and product line launches coming soon. USANA serves Indian families with a committed, professional team and a lovely studio office in Gurgaon they call ASHIANA. *These products are specially formulated for the India market and may not be available in all USANA markets. About USANA USANA (NYSE:USNA) prides itself on providing consumers the highest quality nutritional products in the world. From its award-winning supplements to its innovative Celavive skincare and Active Nutrition lines, USANA has proven for more than 30 years why it's a company you can trust. How about giving us a try? Shop at USANA.com or learn more about USANA's sustainability efforts here. USANA International Headquarters http://www.USANA.com/ Media Contact: (801) 954-7645 media(at)USANAinc(dot)com SOURCE USANA Summary: VCA Charities' Ready for Rescue program supports shelters with adoption-readiness efforts, veterinary care, behavior training and transport grants. In collaboration with Outcomes Consulting, VCA Charities launched a Dog Day Out Starter Guide, a field-trip toolkit for shelters. VCA Charities deploys new website to allow shelters to seamlessly apply for its Second Chance KONG program. LOS ANGELES, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VCA Charities, the charitable arm of VCA Animal Hospitals, today announced the expansion of its Ready for Rescue grant program as animal shelters across the U.S. continue to experience an overflow of dogs and cats. With a focus on helping shelters ready animals for adoption, VCA Charities has relaunched its website to make it easier for shelters to access resources, grant funding and in-kind donations, including a Dog Day Out Starter Guide for smaller shelters looking to implement its new field trip training program. Additionally, shelters will have access to request enrichment support through Second Chance KONG, VCA Charities' fundraising and grant making initiative, with support from KONG, focused on increasing play and enrichment for shelter dogs. In collaboration with Outcomes Consulting, VCA Charities launched a Dog Day Out Starter Guide, a field-trip toolkit for shelters looking to increase enrichment for and decrease kennel stress for dogs. In just over a year, more than 50,000 KONG toys have been donated to shelter partners across the United States. With the launch of its new website, VCA Charities is now offering an open application for qualifying shelters to request a Second Chance KONG toy for shelter dog populations. "When we launched VCA Charities with the mission of helping pets find and remain in loving homes, our Ready for Rescue grant program was a critical part of our strategy and our vision," said Kimberly West, president and chair of VCA Charities board of directors and vice president of Corporate Affairs for VCA Animal Hospitals. "What started as a traditional grant program for shelter partners has grown into deeply meaningful training and support programs that are not only increasing adoptions but also decreasing kennel stress, boredom and behavioral issues and simultaneously increasing connections between the local communities and the shelters." Dog Day Out In October 2023, VCA Charities launched a pilot Dog Day Out field trip training program consisting of 10 shelters with a collective intake of 200,000 pets annually. VCA Charities just completed its second Dog Day Out training class which included leaders from 12 of the biggest shelters in the United States with a collective annual intake of 150,000 pets, including Animal Care Centers of NYC, Atlanta Humane Society, Austin Pets Alive!, Brandywine Valley SPCA (West Chester, PA) and its partner shelter Humane Society of Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA), Dallas Animal Services, Humane Rescue Alliance (Washington, D.C.), LifeLine Animal Project (Atlanta, GA), Louisiana SPCA (New Orleans, LA), Minneapolis Animal Care and Control and Riverside County Animal Services (Jurupa Valley, CA). The classes were taught by animal welfare expert Kristen Hassen, founder of Outcomes Consulting, along with subject matter experts from Virginia Tech University, Maui Humane Society, and KC Pet Project. The curriculum focused on creating and growing a Dog Day Out program and expanding much-needed enrichment activities for dogs that may be experiencing kennel stress, as well as adding support and temporary relief for animal care teams and existing volunteers. The program brings attention to loving, family dogs that have been overlooked simply because of the sheer number of pets currently in shelters. Dog Day Out programs and overnight fostering are effective ways to get dogs adopted quickly and increase their quality of life. Research by Dr. Lisa Gunter, Assistant Professor of Animal Welfare and Behavior at Virginia Tech University, documented short-term outings and temporary foster stays made it 5 to 14 times more likely that participating dogs would be adopted. To supplement in-person training, a VCA Charities Dog Day Out Starter Guide was just released in collaboration with Outcomes Consulting, providing best practices and guidance for smaller shelters looking to start or grow a field trip-based enrichment program. Second Chance KONG In May 2023, VCA Charities and KONG partnered on Second Chance KONG, a VCA Charities fundraising and grant making initiative focused on increasing enrichment for shelter dogs. 'Second Chance KONGs' are repurposed KONG "seconds"slightly imperfect KONGs that can't be sold because of small imperfections but have the same durability of any KONG you'd find in a store, reducing waste and increasing resources for shelters. In just over a year, more than 50,000 KONGs have been donated to shelter partners across the United States. With the launch of its new website, VCA Charities is now offering an open application for qualifying shelters to request a Second Chance KONG toy for shelter dog populations. Shelters interested in applying can learn more at VCA Charities. "KONG exists because we know dogs need to need to playthey need enrichment, stimulation and ways to keep busy while patiently waiting for adoption," said Brian Decker, vice president of brand and creative at KONG. "Our support of VCA Charities and its vast network of shelter partners means even more shelter dogs will have a second chance at finding a loving homenot to mention care and toys while they wait for one!" Helping pets find and remain in loving homes is at the heart of VCA Charities' mission. Since 2021, VCA Charities has donated more than $3.8 million in grants and provided nearly 2.2 million meals to hungry pets in partnership with Hill's Pet Nutrition. Whether it's responding to disasters, transporting pets from at-capacity shelters to ones with a waitlist of adopters, or funding emergency veterinary care for pets belonging to low-income pet owners, VCA Charities works to support the joy of pet ownership in communities across the country. About VCA Charities VCA Charities, a 501c(3) , is committed to supporting the joy of pet ownership by helping pets find and remain in loving homes. Through grants and partnerships with shelters and animal welfare organizations, we help remove barriers to pet ownership and help keep pets in loving homes by funding emergency and specialty veterinary care; supporting adoption readiness and surrender prevention programs; enabling the care and feeding of pets belonging to underserved families; and, responding to our local communities in crisis. VCA Charities is the charitable arm of VCA Animal Hospitals , a leader in veterinary care committed to caring for the future of veterinary medicine while positively impacting pets, people, and communities. Learn more about VCA Charities at VCACharities.org or find us on Instagram and LinkedIn . SOURCE VCA Animal Hospitals Drivers with air brake certification will receive $2,000 sign-on bonus REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zum , the leader in modern student transportation, will host two school bus driver hiring events for Reading School District (RSD) on Thursday, July 11, 2024 and Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The July 11 event will take place from 9am - 6pm ET at the Doubletree by Hilton at 701 Penn St, Reading, PA 19601 and the July 23 event from 9am - 6pm ET at the Residence Inn, 45 Berkshire Court Wyomissing, PA 19610. Zum, the leader in modern student transportation, will host two school bus driver hiring events for Reading School District (RSD) on Thursday, July 11, 2024 and Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Zum is hiring 120 school bus drivers, van drivers and attendants to serve RSD families beginning in the 2024-25 school year. A brand new Zum school bus fully equipped with all of Zum's new technology and safety features is also now available for a tour at Zum's Reading facility. School bus drivers who currently have an air brake certification on their school bus CDL will receive a $2,000 sign-on bonus if they join Zum by July 20. For drivers who do not yet have air brake certification, training will be provided. Zum offers competitive wages, guaranteed hours and modern benefits for all drivers and staff, as well as top-of-the-line air-conditioned buses, equipment and technology to enhance safety and comfort for students and drivers and make drivers' day-to-day jobs easier and more enjoyable. Advanced training and certification programs include extensive ongoing training in transporting students with diverse needs and disabilities. "We're excited to kick off the school year in Reading with a new team of drivers, who are at the center of what we do at Zum," said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO at Zum. "We hope certified drivers as well as anyone interested in a rewarding career serving this school community will attend these hiring events." "We are excited to partner with Zum to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation for our students," said Dr. Jennifer Murray, Reading School District Superintendent. "Prioritizing the safety of Reading's students during their commutes is our top priority, and an important first step is hiring a team of experienced, local drivers." Details about Zum's $2,000 sign-on bonus for drivers who currently have an air brake certification: To qualify, drivers must begin driving on the first day of the school year and must have completed all pre-employment and background checks before this date. Drivers should not be current employees of Zum or engaged in driving for any existing Zum contracts. Drivers must maintain active driving status, with a good attendance record and a clean driving history. A $500 bonus will be awarded after the driver completes their first month of service. An additional $500 will be given at the end of the driver's third month of service, and the final $1,000 bonus will be paid at the end of the driver's sixth month of service. Zum is known for alleviating school bus driver shortages in the markets it serves and is a "Great Places to Work" certified company. Additionally, Zum is the first and only 100% carbon neutral student transportation company in the U.S. Through its Net Zero Initiative , the company is leading in electric school bus conversion. Anyone interested in driving or who knows someone interested that cannot attend one of Zum's hiring events can apply here . Zum manages and operates student transportation in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Utah and Virginia, and is expanding rapidly nationwide. To learn more about how Zum is working with thousands of schools across the nation to deliver safe, reliable and modern student transportation, please visit Zum's website . About Zum: Zum has modernized student transportation, the nation's largest mass transit system, and developed sustainable ways to charge the grid. Zum's robust operations and integrated end-to-end cloud-based platform provides a modern student transportation service for school districts purpose-built around the needs of kids and the expectations of modern families. Zum provides one seamless, real-time interface for parents, drivers, schools, districts, administrators, and operators to transport children safely and with increased visibility and personalized care. Always investing in the wellbeing of communities, Zum is also the only carbon neutral student transportation provider in the nation with plans to go Net Zero with its transition to EV electric buses. Zum is available nationwide, serving more than 4,000 schools across the U.S. Learn more at www.ridezum.com . CONTACT: Jenny Mayfield, Vice President of Communications - [email protected] SOURCE Zum Seeking certified drivers with air brake certification who will receive $3,500 sign-on bonus REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zum , the leader in modern student transportation, will host a school bus driver hiring event for Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Zum's Alameda bus yard (641 West Redline Ave., Alameda, CA 94501). Zum, the leader in modern student transportation, will host a school bus driver hiring event for Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Zums Alameda bus yard (641 West Redline Ave., Alameda, CA 94501). This is an exciting time to join Zum's Oakland team. In May, Zum announced that Oakland Unified School District will be the first major school district in the U.S. to transition to a 100% electrified school bus system. Additionally, the buses will be enabled with bidirectional charging that will send energy back to the grid. Zum is now looking for school bus drivers who currently have an air brake certification on their school bus CDL to serve OUSD families beginning in the 2024-25 school year. New drivers who currently have an air brake certification will receive a $3,500 sign-on bonus if they join Zum by July 20. (Note that the signing bonus does not apply for existing Zum drivers in Alameda, Oakland and San Francisco). For drivers who do not yet have an air brake certification, training will be provided. Zum welcomes all candidates from Oakland and neighboring communities, including San Ramon, Richmond, San Rafael, San Leandro and Hayward. "We are excited to welcome drivers to our outstanding team in Oakland, where we are making history as having the first school district with an all-electric fleet of school buses," said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO at Zum. "Drivers are at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to meeting certified drivers as well as new candidates at this event." Zum offers competitive pay and bonuses, guaranteed hours and modern benefits for all drivers and staff, as well as new air-conditioned buses, top-of-the-line equipment and technology to enhance safety and comfort for students and drivers and make drivers' day-to-day jobs easier and more enjoyable. Zum is a "Great Places to Work" certified company. Additionally, Zum is the first and only 100% carbon neutral student transportation company in the U.S. Through its Net Zero Initiative , the company is leading in electric school bus conversion. "School bus drivers are an important part of our school community, and safe and reliable rides contribute to students' success in the classroom," said Kim Raney, Executive Director of Transportation at Oakland Unified School District. "We are thrilled to provide students and drivers with cleaner, quieter transportation in the upcoming school year. We welcome everyone who would like to join this incredible team." Anyone interested in driving or who knows someone interested that cannot attend one of Zum's hiring events can apply here . Zum manages and operates student transportation in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Utah, and Virginia, and is expanding rapidly nationwide. To learn more about how Zum is working with thousands of schools across the nation to deliver safe, reliable and modern student transportation, please visit Zum's website . About Zum: Zum has modernized student transportation, the nation's largest mass transit system, and developed sustainable ways to charge the grid. Zum's robust operations and integrated end-to-end cloud-based platform provides a modern student transportation service for school districts purpose-built around the needs of kids and the expectations of modern families. Zum provides one seamless, real-time interface for parents, drivers, schools, districts, administrators, and operators to transport children safely and with increased visibility and personalized care. Always investing in the wellbeing of communities, Zum is also the only carbon neutral student transportation provider in the nation with plans to go Net Zero with its transition to EV electric buses. Zum is available nationwide, serving more than 4,000 schools across the U.S. Learn more at www.ridezum.com . CONTACT: Jenny Mayfield, Vice President of Communications - [email protected] SOURCE Zum Primary Products Liability policy, supported by Zurich Life Sciences underwriting specialists, addresses key need for pharma, medtech, R&D and other companies with revenues up to $1B. SCHAUMBURG, Ill., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Life sciences companies with revenues up to $1 billion now have a new option for an insurance coverage that's essential to their efforts to innovate in human health. Zurich North America has added Primary Products Liability coverage to its suite of solutions tailored to the unique risks faced by pharmaceutical, medtech, research and development (R&D) organizations and other companies in the life sciences sphere. "Life Sciences companies navigate complex and unique risks as they create cutting-edge products and services in the healthcare market," said Head of U.S. Middle Market Alex Wells. "Our new Primary Products Liability offering is an essential, customizable coverage that can help support life sciences companies' efforts to innovate and enhance quality of life for people. This solution is backed by Zurich's financial strength, ability to grow with these companies and our global footprint, which is key for many of these companies with operations overseas." Life sciences encompasses a wide range of businesses that develop, manufacture, market or distribute products or services intended to help prevent, diagnose and treat illness and disease. Zurich's new Primary Products Liability offering can provide significant capacityup to $10 million for qualified customersand is designed primarily for the following types of life sciences companies: R&D, both pre-clinical and clinical stage Pharmaceutical and biologics Medtech and medical devices Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) Contract research organizations (CROs) Wholesale and distribution Zurich's Life Sciences Primary Products Liability offering will be underwritten by dedicated Life Sciences underwriters who are attuned to complexities in this space, including unique exposures, program structures and regulatory compliance issues. The Primary Products Liability coverage addresses four main coverage needs, including: Products-completed operations liability (PCO) Errors and Omissions (E&O) Professional Services Liability (PSL) Clinical trials These companies also can consider flexible options such as worldwide territory built into the form, a broad list of automatic additional insureds, extended reporting periods for specific exposures and other options. "Life Sciences is a growing sector of the economy, and we are excited to offer a Primary Products Liability coverage that can be customized to a wide range of risks," said Linda Schultz, Head of Life Sciences for U.S. Middle Market at Zurich North America. "This offering is backed by the advanced knowledge and experience of our dedicated Life Sciences underwriting team as well as risk engineering and claims specialists, allowing brokers who work with us to be confident in our ability to appropriately structure whole-account solutions and service these clients' needs." Primary Products Liability is the latest addition to Zurich's Life Sciences offerings, which include Property, General Liability (premises/operations), Auto, Workers' Compensation, Umbrella, Excess Product Liability, International and Marine. Submissions for the new Primary Products Liability coverage are being accepted for policy effective dates starting July 15. Brokers or life sciences companies interested in learning more can contact their broker or find more information here. SOURCE Zurich North America Sydney, July 9 : Australian Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested after a woman was fatally stabbed in west Sydney, the police said. At about 1:40 p.m. local time, emergency services were called to a home at Great Western Highway in Kingswood, following reports of a stabbing. A 21-year-old woman was found sustaining two stab wounds to her chest, Xinhua news agency reported. Paramedics treated the injured woman, but she was later declared deceased at the scene. Authorities are working to formally confirm the identity of the victim. After the stabbing occurred, officers from the New South Wales Police Force were informed that a 22-year-old man was spotted fleeing the incident site. They established a crime scene and began inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the stabbing. At around 7:10 p.m. local time, officers arrested the runaway man on Derby Street in Penrith. "He has been taken to Penrith police station and is assisting with inquiries," the police said in their latest update. Before the man was taken into custody, Detective Superintendent Trent King from Nepean Police Area Command told local media that he was wanted in connection with the woman's death. The man, believed to have been in a domestic relationship with the victim, is allegedly "the perpetrator of this incident and had caused those injuries," said King. With more than 10,000 people residing in the suburb, Kingswood is located 50 km west of Sydney's central business district. Kanpur, July 9 : Two men accused of raping a woman, broke into her home in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district on Monday night and opened indiscriminate fire, killing the woman's mother and injuring three other family members, police officials said. One of the accused then died by committing suicide, the police said. The attack took place less than two months after the two accused were released on bail in the rape case. The woman's family said they had approached police last week, alleging death threats from the accused duo. The victim said the police took no action on their complaint. According to the police, the accused entered the 20-year-old woman's house carrying .312 and .315 bore country-made rifles and sharp-edged weapons, along with a third aide. One of the men started firing inside the room in which the woman and six of her family members were sleeping, killing her mother and injuring her father and two sisters, according to the police. "An FIR was registered on the complaint of the victim's family with the Fatehpur Chaurasi police. The FIR says the attack was pre-meditated. The police have begun an investigation into the case. Those on the run will soon be arrested," Inspector General of Police (Lucknow range) Prashant Kumar said. The woman's father and 24-year-old sister have been shifted to LLR Hospital in Kanpur for treatment, and their condition is reportedly stable. Her 12-year-old sister is undergoing treatment at a local health facility, the police said. The police official said one of the attackers killed himself near the woman's house. They said that a video was recovered from the deceased accused's mobile, in which he purportedly said he was going to kill the complainant and her family because he was falsely implicated in the rape case. The other two attackers are absconding. The gang rape accused were arrested in August last year after the woman filed a complaint. They walked out of jail on May 10 after getting bail. The rape complainant, who survived Monday's attack, said her father approached the Fatehpur Chaurasi police on July 3, suspecting a possible attack from the rape accused. She added that the police did not provide them with any security or take action against the accused. Inspector General of Police Kumar admitted to a "serious lapse" on the part of the police and said that the erring officers will be held accountable. Safipur Circle Officer Maya Rai will inquire into the incident and submit a report at the earliest, sources said. Lucknow, July 9 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will undertake a day's visit to Raebareli on Tuesday, party sources said. This will be his first visit to his constituency since assuming office as the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi will reach Fursatganj airport and proceed directly to Bhuemau Guest House. He will meet various delegations of different sections of society, besides people and party leaders there. "Besides meeting delegations, partymen and the people, he may undertake a surprise visit in the constituency," said district Congress committee Rae Bareli president Pankaj Tiwari. A senior party leader said there was also a proposal to meet district officials in Raebareli but it was yet to be confirmed. Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to meet family of the late Captain Anshuman Singh who died in the July 2023 Siachen fire, showing exceptional bravery and saving three lives. Captain Anshuman Singh was given Kirti Chakra posthumously by President Droupadi Murmu recently. Lucknow, July 9 : Lucknow University (LU) will soon roll out a detailed process for students seeking to pursue four years of undergraduate courses (UG) under the National Education Policy (NEP), officials said. Students who want to pursue UG (four years with a research degree) but their respective colleges don't offer research-level teaching are likely to be moved to LU or another college of equivalent repute. LU has more than 500 affiliated colleges. LU adopted NEP in 2020, and the academic session 2024a"25 will be the first batch of four-year UG students, who will be awarded the UG Honours with a research degree. However, only those students who have scored 7.5 cumulative grade points or above till the sixth semester will be allowed to pursue UG for four years. "Not all undergraduate students will get an opportunity to pursue four-year UG. Only meritorious ones, who score above 7.5 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) are allowed to take the four-year course. In the fourth year, the syllabus is completely focused on research, and a student will be doing a specialisation in a subject just like in post-graduation," said Dean, Academics, Geetanjali Mishra. She added that the university has already issued directives that only LU-affiliated colleges that offer postgraduation (PG) in a particular subject can admit students in their fourth year of UG in that subject. Colleges that don't offer PG in a particular subject will not be allowed to pursue four years of UG in that subject. Students will be allowed to do their fourth year only in their principal major, also known as Major 1. In cases where students from colleges that don't offer PG but have scored 7.5 CGPA or above and want to pursue fourth-year UG, they will likely be allowed to seek admission in LU or another affiliated college offering the programme. "The University of Lucknow will become the first university to issue the degree 'UG Honours with Research' in the country," said LU Vice-Chancellor Alok Kumar Rai. New Delhi/Moscow, July 9 : Russia has decided to release and facilitate the return of all Indians fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, a breakthrough achieved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit, said sources on Tuesday. The development came after Prime Minister Modi, who is in Moscow for a two-day visit, raised the matter at a private dinner hosted by Putin on Monday evening, sources added. Nearly two dozen Indians are believed to have been forced into fighting the war against Ukraine after being tricked by agents into going to the country on the pretext of getting high-paying jobs. In March, the Indian government said they had "strongly" taken up the matter with Russian authorities for their early discharge. "Strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited them on false pretexts and promises," they said. According to reports, four Indians have been killed in the war, while 10 have returned to the country. About 35a"40 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia. The plight of Indians fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war is a key concern for New Delhi. In recent months, reports have surfaced about Indians who have fallen prey to job fraud and were tricked and forced by scammers to fight for the Russian army, which allows recruits from other countries. One such group had even posted a video on social media narrating their ordeal, asking the government to intervene. Indiaas Foreign Ministry has earlier said that it is pressing hard to bring back the recruits tricked by agents. India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said the issue is a "very deep concern" for India, and has been engaging with Russia for the past few months to make headway. Two Indians, Ashvinbhai Mangukiya and Mohammad Asfan (both from Gujarat), were reported killed in the Ukraine war earlier this year. Two others were reported killed in June. India has maintained that the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army in a conflict situation is not in consonance with the India-Russia diplomatic partnership, and has asked for the early release and return of all such Indian nationals. India has also demanded a halt to such recruitments in the future. In such a backdrop, the breakthrough during PM Modi's visit would be a major relief for the families of the recruits still stuck in Russia. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday evening, which marks his first visit to the country since it launched a war against Ukraine. Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the airport. The Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Putin on Tuesday and also attend the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow. Prime Minister Modi has been treading a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties. The visit is also PM Modi's first since he returned to power for a third term. Seoul, July 9 : Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited Samsung Electronics' semiconductor facility in South Korea on Tuesday, expressing his appreciation for the company's investments in the U.S. state. Seoul, July 9 (IANS) Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited Samsung Electronicsa semiconductor facility in South Korea on Tuesday, expressing his appreciation for the company's investments in the U.S. state. He toured Samsung's Pyeongtaek Campus, located approximately 60 kms south of Seoul, looking around the chip production line and various products, according to industry sources. Samsung Electronics officials, including Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun, who heads the tech giant's semiconductor business, accompanied him, reports Yonhap news agency. The Texas governor thanked Samsung Electronics for its commitment to investing a total of $40 billion in facilities in Taylor and Austin, Texas, by 2030. The South Korean company has operated in the US state for 27 years. Before his visit to Samsung Electronics, Gov Abbott met with officials from SK Signet on Monday. The South Korean company has invested $37 million to establish a new electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility in Plano, Texas. Seoul, July 9 : Hyundai Motor, South Korea's largest automaker, on Tuesday started receiving preorders for the company's Casper Electric mini SUV in South Korea, the company said. The EV will be sold under the name Inster in overseas markets. It will launch first in South Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The company said it has started accepting preorders for the long-range "Inspiration" variant of the Casper Electric, which was unveiled at the Busan International Mobility Show last month. Casper Electric will be available in two other variants as well -- base and off-road style variants. Preorders for those will also be opened sequentially, reports Yonhap news agency. The new mini SUV is the electrified version of the gas-powered Casper first introduced in 2021 but with a suite of overhauled improvements. The Inspiration variant is equipped with a 49kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery, offering a driving range of up to 315 kms on a single charge. The company hasn't unveiled the exact pricing scheme but expected consumers to be able to purchase the Inspiration variant for between 20 million won ($14,452) and 23 million won with EV subsidies from the central and local governments. Jammu, July 9 : Alert soldiers fired at a Pakistani drone near the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K's Poonch district. The incident happened on Monday evening. Officials said that the drone hovered over the Indian territory before it was forced to withdraw back. "Army soldiers guarding the LoC picked up the movement of a Pakistani drone at a height of over 1,000 metres at around 9.15 p.m. yesterday and fired five rounds at it forcing it to withdraw back. After over half an hour, a Pakistani drone was again spotted entering Indian territory and two more rounds were fired at it following which it also withdrew back," said officials. "Army launched a search operation in the forward villages with the first light today to ensure that there was no dropping of weapons or narcotics by the drones," the officials added. Jammu and Kashmir Police have already announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh to anyone giving information that would lead to the recovery of weapons and narcotics dropped through drones in the Indian territory. New Delhi, July 9 : BJP has lauded the Maharashtra government for effectively tackling waterlogging in Mumbai caused by a record 300 mm rain. "Mumbai saw the high tide of 4.4 m. At 10 spots, we had a rainfall of 330 mm. We have seen in the past that whenever there is rainfall, there is waterlogging in Hindmata, Gandhi Market, Sion, Parel, Milan Subaway, etc. This is the first time that it hasn't been," BJP spokesperson Shaina N.C. said in a video. Acknowledging the coordinated efforts of the Mahayuti government, administration, and various agencies, including the NDRF, Indian Air Force, Navy, and the BMC, the BJP spokesperson said, "The agencies worked unitedly to ensure that all 481 pumping stations were operational, along with 200 pumping stations at the Railways to prevent disruptions on the Harbour and Central Lines," she added. Highlighting Mumbai's challenging geography, she emphasised, "Mumbai, an amalgamation of seven islands, presents significant topographical challenges." Appreciating the efforts of the government, she said that despite the challenges, the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and the administration "worked tirelessly" from the disaster room to ensure timely cleaning of drains and prevention of water clogging in low-lying areas. "These are conscious efforts in the right direction," said Shaina N.C, adding that critics should "acknowledge the concerted efforts" of all agencies and stakeholders involved. Los Angeles, July 9 : Actresses Halle Berry, Glenn Close, and Kim Kardashian are set to star in an upcoming legal drama from writer-director Ryan Murphy. The series, currently titled 'Allas Fair', will focus on an all-female law firm in Los Angeles, reports Variety. Details about Berry and Glennas characters are being kept under wraps. Both actresses will also serve as executive producers on 'Allas Fair', alongside Kardashian. According to Variety, Glenn Close will produce under her Trillium Productions banner. This role marks Glenn's return to television legal dramas, having famously starred as notorious lawyer Patty Hewes in the FX series 'Damages'. She earned two of her three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her work on the show. Glenn, a 14-time Emmy nominee, won her other statuette for the TV movie 'Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story'. She has also won Golden Globes for starring in 'The Lion in Winter' and 'The Wife'. In film, Glenn is an eight-time Oscar nominee, including nods for 'The World According to Garp', which marked her film debut, 'The Big Chill', 'Dangerous Liaisons', and 'Fatal Attraction'. This will be one of the few regular television roles Berry has had in her career. Most recently, she starred in the series 'Extant', which counted Steven Spielberg among its executive producers. Jammu, July 9 : In the aftermath of the terror attack in J&K's Kathua district, security along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been further tightened. Jammu, July 9 (IANS) In the aftermath of the terror attack in J&Kas Kathua district, security along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been further tightened. Five soldiers were killed and an equal number injured in a dastardly terror attack in the Badnota area of Kathua district on Monday. A massive CASO (Cordon & Search Operation) was immediately started in the area to hunt down the terrorists. Elite Para commandos of the Army were airdropped in the area to augment the strength of the security forces engaged in the CASO. To prevent any terrorist attack on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, troops of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&K Police have been deployed in sufficient numbers along the highway in Reasi, Udhampur and Ramban districts. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra Yatris moved out on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Tuesday that passes through Reasi, Udhampur and Ramban districts of Jammu division. Five soldiers injured in the Kathua terror attack have been shifted to the Military Hospital in Pathankot town of neighbouring Punjab for further treatment. Patna, July 9 : Five people were killed and three others injured in Bihar's Begusarai district when a speeding car collided with a three-wheeler on Tuesday. The three-wheeler was completely mangled due to the severe impact. The tragic accident occurred at Ratan Chowk under FCI police station jurisdiction in the district at 5.30 a.m. Two of the deceased were identified as Vicky Pathak and Sentu Kumar. Pathak was a resident of Pawapuri Nalanda and a chief technical staff of the Cancer Department at Delhi AIIMS. He was en route to Matihani in Begusarai to attend his brother-in-law's wedding. Sentu Kumar is a resident of Shamho block in Begusarai. FCI police station in-charge, Anjali Kumari, confirmed the fatalities and stated that the injured were rescued from the spot. All the deceased were travelling in the three-wheeler and died on the spot. Three critically injured persons were admitted to a nearby private hospital. "The accident happened when the three-wheeler, carrying approximately 11 passengers, was on its way from the Simaria block to Zero Mile. When the three-wheeler reached near Ratan Chowk, a speeding car rammed into it," Kumari said. "Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to identify the remaining deceased individuals," she said. News / Local by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's political system is reeling from a major corruption scandal and has decided to protect ex-convict tycoon Wicknell Chivayo, who is close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, while targeting his estranged business partners, Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe. Chivayo, reportedly in Dubai, has had a fallout with his partners over a lucrative but corrupt US$100 million tender with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).The scandal is larger and more complex than initially thought, involving over US$100 million and numerous officials who received bribes, kickbacks, and commissions.According to the NewsHawks, key players in the US$100 million deal are Zec chair Priscilla Chigumba, chief electoral officer Utoile Silaigwana, chief procurement officer Robson Changachirere, Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya, Chivayo, Mpofu, Mike Chimombe, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Isaac Moyo, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya, lawyer Everson Chatambudza, Ren-Form international sales executive Angus Carlaw and the company chief executive Thomas Michel du Sart.Mpofu and Chimombe are currently in jail over fraud charges related to the US$88 million Presidential Goats Scheme, where they allegedly received US$7.7 million but failed to deliver more than 6,000 goats as contracted. They have been denied bail, which many believe is an attempt to save Chivayo and other top officials, as no other individuals involved in the goats scandal were arrested. New Delhi, July 9 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia enters Day 2, the US has said this was a significant move and that as India engages with Russia, Washington would urge it to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to respect the UN Charter and its territorial integrity and sovereignty. US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller during a media briefing said, "Prime Minister Modi, like Prime Minister Orban, recently met with President Zelenskyy, and we view this as a significant move. We encourage India, along with other nations interacting with Russia, to ensure that any resolution to the Ukraine conflict adheres to the UN Charter and honors Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty." "India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in open and honest discussions, including our concerns about its ties with Russia," he said. Miller further said that the US welcomes people engaging with Russia about the war in Ukraine if they make clear to Russia that it needs to respect Ukraineas territorial integrity and sovereignty. Saying that he was looking forward to Prime Minister Modias public remarks on his meetings with the Russian President, Miller said, "I will look to see what he talked about, but as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. And so we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN Charter, should respect Ukraineas sovereignty and territorial integrity." Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal meeting on Monday at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence of the Russian President near Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry shared a video on X showing a warm greeting between PM Modi and President Putin. The Russian President Putin took PM Modi on a ride in his electric car around his residence. PM Modi is in Moscow at the invitation of President Putin and will on Tuesday attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Jaipur, July 9 : A day before the budget presentation by the Bhajanlal government in the Rajasthan Assembly, the Congress Legislature Party will meet on Tuesday evening at a private hotel here to discuss the party's strategy and form a 'shadow cabinet'. The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie. In this meeting, the issues and strategy of Congress to attack the government in the budget session will be decided. The party, besides planning to raise the burning issues in the House, is also preparing to form a shadow cabinet and will closely monitor each decision of the government as well as each minister' department. This shadow cabinet will comprise senior leaders who will be fielded in the House to confront the CM and every minister on different issues, said sources. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, reacting to the claim of Congress' shadow cabinet, said that if the opposition party forms a shadow cabinet only to disrupt the proceedings of the House and stall the bills related to development works, then we will give a strong reply to it. "When the Congress was in power, the Congress ministers could not solve the problems of the people. The ministers of the Congress government themselves sat on a dharna against their government and Chief Minister Gehlot maintained silence. When the Bhajanlal government of the state is working day and night to solve the problems of the people by staying among the people, there is panic among the Congress leaders," he said. Further, in the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party, the party's state chief, Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie, State In charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other MLAs will be present. Some MLAs from the alliance may also join the meeting. Shadow Cabinet in general comprises a group of senior opposition leaders who are appointed to reflect the position of the ruling cabinet, and those given positions are from the opposition. Speaking on reports of Congress' shadow cabinet, Minister Patel said, "There is no coordination in the Congress Legislature Party. There is a fight for supremacy between Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie and Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasra. At the same time, Congress MLAs do not consider the Leader of Opposition as their leader, in such a situation, you can guess how successful the shadow cabinet will be. BJP's Bhajanlal Sharma government is constantly taking historic decisions in the public interest. If the Congress really has the intention to do public welfare, then it should support the ruling party in the House in matters of public interest and cooperate in the proceedings of the House." Moscow, July 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that during his third term, his government aims to make India the third-largest economy. Addressing an Indian community event in Moscow, he said it was a coincidence that number three figures prominently in his government's many aims for the third term. "In the third term, my government aims to make India third third-largest economy, build three crore houses for poor and three crore Lakhpati didis," PM Modi said. PM Modi said, "It may be a new term for you, but Lakhpati didis are women self-help groups in villages in the country, we want to empower them and skill them so that three crore women become Lakhpati didis." "It is a big aim but with the blessings of people like you, all aims will be accomplished with ease," he said. PM Modi is in Moscow at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin and will on Tuesday attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Jammu, July 9 : The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday condemned the Kathua terror attack in which five Indian Army soldiers were killed and an equal number injured. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defence forces and in her post on X she said, "The attack on a convoy of Army personnel in Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists is a cowardly act that deserves condemnation and firm countermeasures. "My sympathies are with the families of the bravehearts who laid down their lives in this ongoing war against terror in all its forms. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured." Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have unequivocally condemned the terror attack on the Army. Dr Farooq Abdullah added in his condolence message that sponsoring terrorism will lead Pakistan nowhere and the neighbouring country "must stop terrorism." Meanwhile, the security forces have started an all-out offensive against the perpetrators of the Kathua terror attack. Top officers of the Army and local police said they would not relent till the killers of the bravehearts are hunted down. Lucknow, July 9 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has ordered the suspension of six officials, including the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Circle Officer (CO) and Tehsildar, in the Hathras stampede incident in which 121 persons were killed. The action comes on the recommendations of the SIT report submitted earlier to the state government. The government has suspended the SDM of Sikandrarao, Circle Officer of Sikandrarao, Station Officer of Sikandrarao, Tehsildar of Sikandrarao, Chowki Incharge of Kachora and Chowki Incharge of Pora. The SIT comprising ADG Zone Agra and the Divisional Commissioner of Aligarh, established immediately after the accident during the Satsang on July 2 in Sikandrarao of Hathras district, inspected the incident site on July 2, 3 and 5. During the investigation, statements were collected from a total of 125 individuals, including administrative and police officials, the general public, and eyewitnesses. Additionally, copies of news articles related to the incident, on-site videography, photographs, and video clippings were reviewed. In the preliminary investigation, the SIT held the event organisers primarily responsible for the accident based on eyewitness accounts and other evidence. Based on the investigation and actions taken so far, the investigation committee has not ruled out the possibility of a major conspiracy behind the accident and has emphasised the need for a thorough investigation. The investigation committee has also found the programme organiser and tehsil-level police and administration guilty. The local SDM, CO, Tehsildar, Inspector and Chowki Incharge have been held responsible for negligence in performing their duties. The SDM of Sikandrarao granted permission for the event without inspecting the venue and did not inform senior officials. The said officials did not take the programme seriously, and senior officials were also not informed. The SIT has recommended action against these officials. The organisers obtained permission for the event by concealing facts. The conditions applicable for the permission were not followed. They did not make adequate and smooth arrangements despite inviting an unexpected crowd, nor did they comply with the conditions set by the local administration for the programme. People associated with the organising committee have been found guilty of spreading chaos. Individuals added by the committee without proper police verification contributed to the disorder. The organising committee misbehaved with the police and attempted to prevent the local police from inspecting the programme venue. The Satsang performers and the crowd were allowed to mingle without any security arrangements. Despite the large crowd, no barricading or passage arrangements were made, and when the accident occurred, members of the organising committee fled from the scene. Mumbai, July 9 : Actress Kalki Koechlin, who has started shooting for her next project, 'Her Song', lost her luggage while en route to the shoot location in France. A source close to the actress told IANS that for the first three days of filming, Kalki had to rely on the kindness of her co-actor, Elea Clair, as she borrowed her clothes to get by. The situation was made even more difficult by the weather. During those initial days, the temperature was a chilly 10 degrees Celsius, and Kalki didnat have any of her warm clothes. When her luggage finally arrived, the weather underwent a complete shift, soaring to a sunny 30 degrees Celsius, rendering her warm clothes entirely useless. This is not the first time the actress has found herself in such a predicament -- losing luggage seems to be a recurrent issue during her travels. Despite these laughable setbacks, Kalki kept her spirits high and her sense of humour intact. In 'Her Song', Kalki will be seen playing Olivia, a witty American-French writer. With her trademark charm and wit, Kalki is set to bring Olivia to life in a way that only she can. Mumbai, July 9 : 'Bigg Boss OTT 3' host Anil Kapoor told actor Vicky Kaushal that his wife, actress Katrina Kaif, is fortunate to have him as a husband. Vicky appeared on 'Bigg Boss OTT 3' during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode along with co-star Ammy Virk. The two visited the controversial reality show to promote their upcoming film, 'Bad Newz'. During the episode, Anil complimented Vicky, saying, "I have worked with Katrina Kaif. She's a brilliant and hard-working actor. You guys make (a) lovely pair, and she's fortunate to have you as her husband." Anil has previously worked with Katrina in films such as 'Welcome', 'Race', and 'Humko Deewana Kar Gaye', to name a few. 'Bad Newz', which is directed by Anand Tiwari, is a comedy-drama that also stars Neha Dhupia and Triptii Dimri. It traces the story of two Punjabi boys and a Christian Hindu girl. One of the boys has a one-night stand with the girl, who ends up getting pregnant. The latest episode of 'Bigg Boss OTT 3' saw a shift in dynamics between the housemates, as during this week's nomination task, contestants had to save others from eviction instead of putting them in the danger zone. After the task, there was a verbal altercation between Shivani Kumari and Chandrika Dixit Gera. Shivani later fell ill amid the fight and complained of dizziness. 'Bigg Boss OTT 3' airs on Jio Cinema. Srinagar, July 9 : Police in J&K's Baramulla district arrested two drug peddlers and seized contraband substances from their possession. In a statement, the police on Tuesday said, "Continuing its efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society, police has arrested two drug peddlers in Baramulla and recovered contraband substance from their possession. "A party of Police Station Kunzer headed by SHO Kunzer at a checkpoint established at Mulgam-Awloora link road intercepted two persons identified as Hashim Ahmad Mir and Aqib Ahmad Shah -- both residents of Mulgam Kunzer," the police said. "During a search, 32 grams of contraband Charas-like substance and a short digital scale were recovered from their possession. They have been arrested and shifted to police station Kunzer where they remain in custody," it said. "Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered at police station Kunzer and an investigation has been initiated. We urge the common masses that if you witness drug peddling or any other crime anywhere near you, feel free to contact nearest police establishment or dial 112," the police stated in the statement. "People are requested to cooperate with police in curbing the menace of drugs from the society. We reassure the community members that police will act tough against the criminals as per law," the statement said. Beijing, July 9 : Three people were killed and two others injured after rocks rolling down a mountain hit their sedan in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said. The accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. local time on Monday at the S204 highway in Sichuan's Bazhong City when rocks from a sudden mountain collapse struck their sedan, according to local authorities of Tongjiang County in Bazhong. The injured were sent to hospital, and their conditions are not life-threatening, reports Xinhua news agency. According to local authorities, investigation into the accident is underway. Further details are awaited. New Delhi, July 9 : India's domestic air passenger traffic rose to 132.8 lakh in June this year which represents a 6.3 per cent increase over the corresponding figure for June last year and reflects a robust 10.4 per cent jump over the pre-Covid levels, according to an ICRA report released on Tuesday. ICRA has maintained a "stable outlook" on the Indian aviation industry amid the continued recovery in domestic and international air passenger traffic, with a relatively stable cost environment and expectations of the trend continuing in FY2025, the report states. Moreover, the industry witnessed improved pricing power, reflected in the higher yields (over pre-Covid levels) and, thus, the revenue per available seat kilometrecost per available seat kilometre (RASKCASK) spread of the airlines. The momentum in air passenger traffic witnessed in FY2024 is expected to continue into FY2025, though further expansion in yields from the current levels may be limited, the report added. Despite a healthy recovery in air passenger traffic and improvement in yields, the movement of the latter will remain monitorable amid elevated Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices and depreciation of the INR vis-a-vis the USD over pre-Covid levels, both of which have a major bearing on the airlines' cost structure. Average ATF prices stood at Rs 103,499/KL in FY2024, which was lower by 14 per cent than Rs 121,013/KL in FY2023, but significantly higher by 58 per cent than the pre-Covid level of Rs 65,368/KL in FY2020. In Q1 FY2025, the average ATF price of Rs 100,776/ KL was higher by 5.4 per cent on a YoY basis. Fuel cost accounts for 30-40 per cent of the airlines' expenses, while 45-60 per cent of the operating expenses including aircraft lease payments, fuel expenses and a significant portion of aircraft and engine maintenance expenses are denominated in dollar terms. Further, some airlines have foreign currency debt. While domestic airlines have a partial natural hedge to the extent of their earnings from international operations, overall, their net payables are in foreign currency. The airlines' efforts to ensure fare hikes, proportionate to their input cost increases, will be the key to expand their profitability margins. The pace of recovery in industry earnings is likely to be gradual owing to the high fixed-cost nature of the business. ICRA expects the Indian aviation industry to report a similar net loss of Rs 30-40 billion in FY2025 as seen in FY2024, which is significantly lower than the level of Rs 170-175 billion in FY2023, as airlines continue to witness healthy passenger traffic growth and maintain pricing discipline. News / National by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi has expressed dissatisfaction with mushrooming brothels countrywide, announcing Harare as the main culprit where unregistered 'quickie nests' have become an eyesore which deprive Zimbabwe's prospects for progress in boosting domestic and international tourism destiny, while warn unlicensed facilities that they may face imminent closure.The Minister has however called on for stakeholders to complement tourism and hospitality infrastructural facelift mechanisms through standardisation and grading systems as a benchmark for registration and promotion of the country's hospitality to become a priority in the wake of forthcoming SADC Summit in August this year."We are saddened by some services being offered by facilities which are mushrooming countrywide especially in Harare where everyone has turned their apartments into AirBnB and brothels," Rwodzi said."These facilities (brothels and AirBnB) have become an eyesore and do not serve tourists or clients with specific services they purpot to provide. They are actually rob clients of the value they have paid for and there is disequilibrium in terms of amount charged versus available services,""Other local hotels have ceased to adhere to the standardisation and grading systems in accordance to the internationally approved standards. They are a representation of a sorry state as they claim to be at five or three star levels, whilst in actual fact, they are true reflection of brothels," Rwodzi added."We encourage operators and service providers in tourism and hospitality industry to consider and respect the set standards for hosting tourists being commensurate with the value they had paid for," Rwodzi added."Some facilities have become monumental and situated just adjacent to toilets. This has to stop especially considering the monies charged by these service providers which is in total disgrace and daylight robbery on the part of tourists and clients," Rwodzi further remarks.Meanwhile, Minister Rwodzi said she recognises the critical role that the media plays in shaping perceptions, disseminating information, driving positive change and highlighting natural wonders and cultural heritage, which are instrumental in attracting visitors and investors."The perception of the country comes from your reporting, from your writing, from what you say on the TV or radio. You influence perceptions, you also give inspiration and confidence," she said."For us to be confident, it is through the media. You disseminate information about our destinations in a way that tells everyone across the world that Zimbabwe is a safe destination," Rwodzi said.The call was made during the Minister's maiden engagement with journalists in promoting Zimbabwe as a tourism destination of choice ahead of the SADC Summit. Gurugram, July 9 : Two officials of a private bank have been arrested on Tuesday for allegedly duping a man of Rs 25.50 lakh, police said. Priyanshu Diwan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cybercrime), said that the arrested accused have been identified as Harpreet Singh and Davender Singh. The accused were associated with ICICI Bank. According to the police, a man filed a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station Manesar in February that he got duped of Rs 25.50 lakh in the name of investing in the stock market. During the probe, Inspector Sunil Kumar, SHO of the said police station, arrested the accused. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they were employees of ICICI Bank. The accused used to be in contact with the cyber criminals and provided them with bank accounts to be used for fraud, police said. So far, the Gurugram police have arrested 16 bank officials within six months who were allegedly involved in cyber fraud. Jaipur, July 9 : Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari will present the first full-fledged budget of the Bhajan Lal Sharma government in the state Assembly on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Deputy CM Kumari earlier presented a Vote on Account in the Assembly on February 8. Under Article 116 of the Constitution, a Vote on Account is presented to meet essential government expenditure for a limited period until the Budget is approved. It is granted for a few months for an amount equivalent to one-sixth of the total estimation. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel on Tuesday said that it will be an "all-inclusive" budget. "We are going to bring a long-term planning about how Rajasthan can become prosperous and developed. We do not believe in just making announcements. An effort is being made to bring a budget touching all the regions and sections of the society," he said. Meanwhile, the Congress has called a meeting of its MLAs to discuss the party's strategy during the Assembly session. At the meeting, the party legislators will also discuss the formation of a "shadow cabinet". Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tika Ram Jully said that the Congress will form a "shadow cabinet", assigning young MLAs to oversee various government departments. In a statement, he said that the move aims to ensure that the government's functioning is monitored closely and any discrepancies are promptly addressed. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patel told reporters that if the opposition party is forming a shadow cabinet only to disrupt the proceedings of the House and stall the bills related to development works, then "we will give a strong reply to it". Responding to a query about his recent meeting with former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Patel said that Gehlot is from Jodhpur and has been his university friend. Bengaluru, July 9 : Senior leader and Congress MLC, BK Hariprasad stated on Tuesday that it doesn't matter how influential the people involved in the alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), action should be initiated against them. The statement has assumed importance as the BJP is alleging the involvement of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and demanding his resignation. Speaking to reporters about the developments surrounding MUDA, Hariprasad asserted that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are important persons, and he was not in a position, to give them suggestions. However, he stressed that voices should be raised regarding the alleged irregularities in MUDA and the tribal welfare Board. "Our leader Rahul Gandhi has made it very clear that regarding matters of corruption, there is zero tolerance. Action has to be initiated against the guilty irrespective of their status," Hariprasad opined. "When you talk about land, it is like Pandora's Box. No one is genuine. Most politicians have some issues with land in one way or another. The MUDA case can't be hushed up so easily," Hariprasad maintained. "Not only in Mysuru city, but denotification of land has also been done rampantly in Bengaluru. One has to study the denotifications during the tenures of different CMs. There is one law for the rich and another for the poor. There should be one law for all. If the Congress party has won 135 seats in the Assembly election, it is because the poor have voted for the party," Hariprasad underlined. "The SC, ST, minorities, and oppressed classes have voted for the Congress. These classes should not be meted injustice," he pointed out. Talking about the tribal welfare Board, Hariprasad maintained that the guilty must be punished in this matter as well. "We will not leave the matter just like that. The Valmiki community is struggling to come up. In this scenario, the community should not be rendered injustice," he stated. Mumbai, July 9 : The police and fire brigade personnel foiled an attempt by a senior citizen to commit suicide to protest against the delay in clearing his pending work by the state government. Enraged by the pending work despite pursuing strongly with the state government, a senior citizen tried to commit suicide by jumping at the parapet of the fifth floor of the Mantralaya. Although the police on Mantralaya duty tried to convince and restrain him from taking any extreme step, he was not in any mood to listen. The Fire Brigade came to the scene and swung into action to rescue the man who was quietly sitting on the parapet. They ultimately succeeded in reaching the fifth floor and took him into the tower crane. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police Praveen Mundhe of Zone 1 made every attempt to convince the concerned senior citizen. An official said that the police team spoke to the senior citizen to understand his problems and to take it up with the concerned departments. Moscow, July 9 : Emphasising that the last five years have been quite challenging for the world and the entire humankind considering the Covid pandemic and the uncertain geopolitical situation due to various conflicts thereafter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed India-Russia ties, which he asserted, have remained unaffected even during such turmoil. "Food to fuel and fertiliser, the world underwent a huge crisis. However, thanks to the India-Russia friendship, I did not let the farmers of my country face any kind of uncertainty. We remain committed to the interest of farmers and hope to increase partnership with Russia to help them further," said PM Modi while making his opening remarks during the bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that he has remained in touch with the Russian President for nearly 25 years now and met him on 17 occasions in the last 10 years. "The fact that this is my sixth visit to Russia shows how the partnership between the two countries has deepened over the years," he said. Raising the issue of terrorism, PM Modi mentioned the recent terrorist attacks in Dagestan and Moscow's Crocus City Hall. "India has been facing the issue of terrorism for the last 40-50 years. We know how horrible it can really be. So, when the terror attacks took place in Moscow and in Dagestan, I could well imagine the pain it would have caused. India strongly condemns all kinds of terrorism," Prime Minister Modi mentioned on the second and final day of his trip to Moscow. The Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced enormously during PM Modi's term over the past 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. A lot has changed in the region since then, especially after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. However, the India-Russia Special and Privileged Partnership has remained resilient in the wake of multiple geopolitical challenges that the world has been facing. New Delhi has maintained a steady relationship with Moscow even as PM Modi repeatedly asserted that no solution can ever arrive at the cost of human lives and that escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one's interest. "Be it war, conflicts or terror attacks, anyone who believes in humanity is moved and pained when lives are lost. More so when innocent children are murdered, to see them dying is heart-wrenching and unimaginable. I held a detailed discussion on this with you over this," said the Prime Minister without specifically mentioning Monday's bombing of a children's hospital in Ukraine's capital. New Delhi, July 9 : The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become pivotal in China-Pakistan relations in the past decade. Positioned as a focal point of President Xi Jinping's expansive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) -- a network of transcontinental connectivity projects aimed at establishing an alternative global economic framework to the Western-led order of the United States, the CPEC aims to bolster strategic cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad and open new avenues for economic collaboration between the two nations. However, nearly a decade later, initial optimism associated with the project seems to be fading, with China expressing dissatisfaction with Pakistan's current state of affairs, particularly the deteriorating security situation. Recent months have witnessed repeated targeted attacks on Chinese nationals and interests on Pakistani soil, prompting Beijing to gradually reassess its relationship with Islamabad, despite both nations characterising themselves as 'ironclad friends' and 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners'. Consequently, China has reportedly downgraded its stance towards Pakistan from "highest priority" to "priority", reflecting Beijing's frustration with both Pakistan's military leadership and the civilian government. Interestingly, President Xi Jinping has not categorically dismissed the possibility of enhancing and advancing Beijing's economic cooperation with Islamabad. However, he emphasised that China's commitment to Pakistan depends on the Shehbaz Sharif government's ability to implement tangible measures to establish a "secure, stable, and predictable" security environment in the country. Although both nations have in principle agreed to commence the second phase of CPEC, Beijing has refrained from making any substantial new commitments to Islamabad, despite expressing intentions to align the project with Pakistan's developmental priorities. A joint statement issued on June 8 indicates that, besides making minor adjustments to ongoing projects like the Karakoram Highway project, the Chinese government did not announce any fresh initiatives under the CPEC. Regarding the $6 billion Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, while the Pakistani government anticipated signing a framework agreement for its execution, China only agreed to proceed with it in a phased manner. This cautious stance is notable, particularly in light of concerns raised by Sinosure, the Chinese state-owned insurance firm overseeing CPEC insurance, regarding Pakistan's financial instability exacerbated by mounting circular debt. The joint statement underscores that Beijing has committed to "encouraging Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan's Special Economic Zones based on market and commercial principles". However, this commitment is contingent upon Islamabad's efforts to enhance its business environment and policy framework to better facilitate Chinese investment. This approach suggests China's emphasis on business-oriented investments in Pakistan, prioritising sectors with potential for commercial returns in the second phase of CPEC. Specifically, Beijing has strategically prioritised sectors such as IT, agriculture, science and technology, and industry, which also invite third-party investments. The sole sector where Beijing has made an exclusive commitment is the mining of natural resources, aiming to safeguard its commercial interests and maintain a monopoly for assured economic benefits. Tensions in China-Pakistan relations have been simmering due to Pakistan's struggle to curb the increasing wave of extremism and terrorism in the country, notably rising incidents of attacks on various Chinese-operated CPEC projects in the past few years. For instance, in March 2024 alone, Pakistan witnessed a series of attacks on CPEC projects in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, leading to the deaths of five Chinese nationals. On March 20, Baloch rebels launched an assault on the heavily fortified Gwadar Port Authority complex, which houses several key offices, resulting in significant structural damage. Notably, Gwadar port represents the flagship project of the CPEC, and an attack on this highly secured complex sends a clear message that no Chinese project, however fortified, is immune to risk in the country. Subsequently, on March 25, Baloch rebels carried out another attack, this time on the Pakistan Naval Station (PNS) in Turbat. The rebel group claimed that the attack epitomised protest against the growing Chinese presence in the province and the joint Pakistan-China exploitation of Balochistan's resources. For Beijing, the inability of Pakistani security forces to protect such prominent and sensitive locations, despite its stringent security measures, raises significant doubts about Islamabad's capability to safeguard China's interests effectively. China's patience wore thin with Pakistan's failure to prevent attacks on its interests, highlighted by a suicide bombing by terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on March 26. The attack targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers on the Karakoram Highway in Bisham, resulting in the deaths of five engineers and their local driver. These engineers were working on a Chinese-funded Dasu hydropower project in Bisham, located in Shangla district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. These escalating incidents prompted Beijing to publicly criticise the Pakistani government for its failure to ensure the security of Chinese nationals and projects. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan urged the Pakistani government to "thoroughly investigate the attack and punish the perpetrators severely". Similarly, a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 27 called on Islamabad to promptly investigate the incident and "capture the perpetrators and bring them to justice". This pressure compelled the Pakistani government to promptly dismiss several officials, marking a significant first, due to their negligence in securing the convoy of Chinese engineers. It should be noted that Beijing made Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China conditional on Pakistan committing to launch a large-scale counter-terrorism operation akin to Zarb-e-Azb in 2014 and Raddul Fasaad in 2017. According to a local news report, Chinese government officials explicitly urged Islamabad to take decisive military action to "eliminate" all terrorist groups once and for all, citing concerns over the growing threats to Chinese nationals involved in CPEC-related and other ventures in Pakistan. Chinese government officials have consistently advocated for a comprehensive military operation against extremist groups. During his visit to Islamabad on June 21, Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), emphasised that "Pakistan's internal security shortcomings pose a significant challenge that undermines investor confidence", stating that "security threats are the primary risks to CPEC cooperation". Under pressure and influenced by Chinese demands for enhanced economic cooperation, the Pakistani government announced a large-scale military operation, named Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, on June 22, just a day after public statements by Liu Jianchao. A statement from Pakistanas Prime Minister's Office described this as a "revitalised and intensified national counter-terrorism campaign", aimed at "coordinating and integrating multiple efforts to decisively combat extremism and terrorism comprehensively". The changing relationship dynamics between China and Pakistan underscore increasing Chinese distrust towards Pakistan, stemming from Pakistan's persistent instability and deteriorating security scenario. While Beijing may have compelled Islamabad to declare a substantial military campaign against terrorism, prospects for improving the security scenario in Pakistan appear uncertain, given the outcomes of previous similar operations conducted by the Pak Military. Without creating a favourable security environment and addressing Beijing's apprehensions, substantial advancement in the CPEC is likely to remain unattainable. Moscow, July 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that India, having always stood on the side of peace, is ready to assist Russia in any possible way to establish peace in the region. "Yesterday, at your residence, we had a wonderful opportunity to spend four or five hours. We discussed all the issues in a homely atmosphere, and I am very glad that on the topic of Ukraine, we exchanged opinions in an open manner, respected each other's opinions, and talked calmly," said PM Modi while making his opening remarks during the bilateral with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace. While highlighting India-Russia friendship, his personal camaraderie with the Russian leader, his several visits to Russia and 22 summits between the two countries over the past 25 years, he said that the whole world is currently watching with great interest his ongoing visit to Moscow. "As your friend, I always tell you that peace is necessary for the bright future of our future generations. That is why we believe that war is not a solution. There can be no solution through war. Bombs, missiles and rifles cannot ensure peace, that is why we emphasise dialogue, and dialogue is necessary," PM Modi remarked. He added that, during his informal talks with Putin at the latter's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo on Monday, some "very interesting ideas and completely new views" have emerged. "I am very glad that yesterday we had such an informal conversation, and you expressed your opinion very openly, without any colouring... Let's take war, any conflict or terrorist acts: any person who believes in humanity feels pain when people die, and especially when innocent children die. When we feel such pain, the heart simply explodes, and I had the opportunity to talk about these issues with you yesterday," Prime Minister Modi mentioned. PM Modi reiterated New Delhi's stance that no solution can ever be arrived at the cost of human lives and that escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one's interest. "Yesterday we also agreed to establish peace as soon as possible and we are ready to assist in any way in this regard. I have heard your position, your positive views and thoughts. And I can assure you that India has always been on the side of peace. When I listened to you, I felt optimistic and hopes for the future arose. So I want to thank you for that," he said. --IANS as/vd Moscow, July 9 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making efforts to find a solution to end the conflict in Ukraine while, at the same time, also lauding the Indian leader for dedicating his "whole life" to strengthen India. During their bilateral meeting at Moscow's Grand Kremlin Palace, Prime Minister Modi reiterated New Delhi's readiness to assist Russia in any possible way to establish peace in the region. "Yesterday (at their informal meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo on Monday), we also agreed to establish peace as soon as possible and we are ready to assist in any way in this regard. I have heard your position, your positive views and thoughts. And I can assure you that India has always been on the side of peace. When I listened to you, I felt optimistic and hopes for the future arose," said PM Modi in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting with Putin. PM Modi said that he was glad that both the leaders have exchanged opinions in an open manner on the issue of Ukraine. The Russian President, while mentioning the long-standing friendship and good relations between the two countries, acknowledged PM Modi's initiative to end the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. "We had the opportunity yesterday to discuss practically all issues in an informal setting. I am grateful to you for the attention you are paying to the most pressing issues, including trying to find some ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, and of course, first and foremost, peacefully," said Putin in his opening remarks on Tuesday. Congratulating PM Modi on NDA's third consecutive win in the recently-held Lok Sabha elections, Putin wished "new successes" in the development of India under the leadership of PM Modi. "I know that your whole life has been dedicated to the idea and implementation of the idea of strengthening the Indian state, improving the lives of the Indian people," he said. The Russian President also highlighted that India and Russia continue to "closely cooperate" in the international arena, including in international organisations, primarily at the United Nations and in associations such as the SCO and BRICS. "We are in constant contact with you and focus on the development of trade and economic ties, the development of which certainly corresponds to the interests of both the people of India and the peoples of the Russian Federation. Last year, trade turnover increased by 60 per cent, even more a" 66 per cent. In the first quarter of this year, it added another 20 per cent," he added. --IANS as/vd New York, July 9 : Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) and The Unity of Faiths Foundation, Bharat (TUFF Bharat) here organised a 'Roundtable Meeting' on inclusive growth and equal opportunities for all communities particularly minorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several religious leaders of minority communities from India participated in the event. Besides others, the Roundtable Meeting was attended by Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu, IMF co-founder Prof Himani Sood and TUFF co-founders Anna Bornholt and Dr Shamender Talwar. Religious leaders praised Prime Minister Modi for fostering peaceful coexistence among India's diverse communities, noting the absence of significant Hindu-Muslim riots as a testament. They expressed satisfaction with India's burgeoning economy and credited policies implemented under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for substantial poverty reduction, benefiting citizens from various religious affiliations. They emphasised that Prime Minister Modi has prioritised fostering social equality among religious minorities in India, shifting away from appeasement politics to promote inclusive growth. Religious leaders underscored that Modi government policies have lifted over 250 million people out of poverty, benefiting all Indian citizens regardless of their religious beliefs. Following the Roundtable Meeting, a solidarity walk was conducted from 47th Street in New York to Father Duffy Square, commemorating and honouring India's spirit. During the event, religious leaders engaged with the media and criticised such reports for not accurately representing India on the global stage, attributing this to flawed methodologies, faulty indicators, Western bias, and a lack of transparency. Later, Times Square echoed with cheers for India as members of the Indian-American community joined multi-faith leaders, members of the Indian diaspora, corporate leaders, social activists, academics, US political figures, and representatives from various fields to celebrate Modi 3.0 and India's global ascent over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the iconic New York City location. The Indian diaspora enthusiastically cheered as an LED screen atop the square displayed a video highlighting the rapid pace of India's development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in the last decade. During the event, attendees lauded India's remarkable progress over the past decade and Prime Minister Modi's growing global stature. They predicted that India would rise to become the world's third-largest economy during Narendra Modi's third term as Prime Minister. Members of the Indian diaspora expressed confidence that India's growth trajectory would continue under Modi 3.0, citing the nation's scientific and technological capabilities. They noted that since PM Modi assumed office in 2014, India has advanced from the world's tenth-largest economy to the fifth, surpassing the United Kingdom. They expressed optimism that under PM Modi's leadership, India would march towards becoming the world's largest economy by 2047, aiming to secure the fourth-largest position soon and projecting to reach the third-largest during his third term. Multi-faith leaders extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fostering an inclusive environment where all communities have flourished equally over his decade-long tenure. They highlighted India's role in promoting universal brotherhood and communal harmony globally. Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu said until 2014, minorities succumbed to alienation in India for almost 65 years since independence and resigned to their fate of being left behind with respect to economic development and education. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the lives of minorities have been transformed. The Modi government has followed an all-inclusive approach while implementing the welfare schemes. With the magic mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', the Modi government practices only one religion India First- with unity and inclusivity. As the PM, Modi is passionate about ensuring development for all and appeasement towards none. In New India, it is not about a particular religion, sect or caste, it is about Indians who are getting equal opportunities. PM Modi is doing a phenomenal job of making India rise again on the world stage," he added. Sandhu said PM Modi's tenure has been marked by a holistic and inclusive approach to governance. From empowering farmers and women to driving economic growth, preserving culture, and leading on the global stage, the government's efforts have laid the foundation for a resilient, empowered, and globally respected India. "As the nation continues on the path of development in PM Modi's third term, it is evident that the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is not just a slogan but a living reality shaping the destiny of a vibrant and dynamic nation," he said. TUFF co-founder Anna Bornholt said: "When you look at the sentiment in India or the sentiment globally about India, the only observation you have is that PM Modi is doing a great job as the Prime Minister. India has witnessed a lot of development in the last 10 years under PM Modi and the nation is poised to progress further by leaps and bounds during Modi's new term as PM". Dr Shamender Talwar, the co-founder of TUFF said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased India's standing in the world and has given a new identity to the diaspora. "Over the past 10 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we are on the path to becoming the third-largest economy in the world before 2030 He has given the Indian diaspora a new identity. Whenever I travel to India, the tremendous development and progress in all sectors of India is visible across sectors. "In the last 10 years, the country has seen remarkable progress in the sector, whether it be infrastructure, roads, or new developments like bullet trains. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) earlier felt somewhat embarrassed to be associated with India, but now they take pride in their Indian identity, which underlines PM Modi's notable efforts in enhancing the nation's image over the past decade. "I want to emphasise the remarkable influence, advancement, and empowerment that PM Modi has brought to every Indian worldwide," he added. Prayagraj : , July 9 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday adjourned the Gyanvapi mosque case to August 12. The court was hearing a plea challenging Varanasi District Courtas order denying the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) permission to survey the wazukhana area, excluding the Shivling, inside the mosque premises. The wazukhana area was sealed in 2022 as per an order from the Supreme Court. The ASI has established that a temple existed before the mosque was built on the land. On December 18, 2023 the ASI handed over its findings on the Gyanvapi mosque complex to the Varanasi District Court. This move came after the completion of cleaning work in the wazukhana area, as directed by the Supreme Court. The legal tussle dates back to a 1991 petition filed in Varanasi, seeking restoration of Gyanvapi land to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The claim was that the mosque was constructed under the orders of Aurangzeb, who allegedly pulled down a part of the temple in the 16th Century. The ASI initiated the survey in August 2023, with several extensions granted for the final report. News / National by Staff reporter The Zimbabwean government is proposing a scheme where civil servants would contribute monthly towards end-of-year holidays to boost domestic tourism, despite widespread poverty among workers.Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Barbara Rwodzi highlighted the initiative during a media engagement, emphasizing the government's push to grow the tourism sector into a US$5 billion industry. She expressed concern that many Zimbabweans have not visited local attractions like the Balancing Rocks, which are often promoted for international tourists.Rwodzi suggested implementing a savings facility through banks to enable civil servants, who earn approximately US$190 monthly, to afford domestic vacations. She underscored the underdevelopment of many local tourist destinations, attributing this to insufficient infrastructure and the need to bolster the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund.Last year, domestic tourism contributed US$428 million to the country's tourism receipts, significantly less than the US$732 million from international tourism, partly due to high costs associated with local travel and accommodation.The minister's proposals come amid economic challenges where consumers prioritize essential spending over leisure activities. Despite these constraints, Rwodzi affirmed government plans to host the UN-Africa Gastronomy Tourism Forum in Victoria Falls, highlighting the media's role in promoting Zimbabwe as a safe tourist destination. She also announced plans to collaborate with UN Tourism to establish a gastronomy school in Zimbabwe, aiming to enhance the country's appeal to global visitors. New York, July 9 : Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) and The Unity of Faiths Foundation, Bharat (TUFF Bharat), hosted a 'Roundtable Meeting' focusing on inclusive growth and equal opportunities for all communities, especially minorities, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian religious leaders at the event celebrated the era of "India under Modi 3.0". Meanwhile, in Times Square, Indian-American minority communities marked Modi 3.0 and India's ascent under PM Modi with chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Modi, Modi, Modi'. Participants at Times Square in New York expressed their enthusiasm and optimism about Indiaas growth trajectory under PM Modi's leadership. They conveyed their happiness and satisfaction with the functioning of the Modi government in India. Neeta Jain, participating in the IMF & TUFF Bharat Roundtable Meeting, said: "I am representing the Jain community here in New York. I resonate with PM Modi's vision and belief in 'Akhand Bharat', which means the entire India is one country, one nation, and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which means the whole world is one family. If every single country in this world believes in that, there is no way that peace cannot prevail on this earth. Peace can only come by following the path of ahimsa, which is a significant heritage of India... PM Modi also embodies the Jain way of life, so I believe that his dream will definitely come true." President of the Global Security Institute, Jonathan Granoff, who joined the celebration of Modi 3.0 and Indiaas rise under PM Modi, said: "We just witnessed a wonderful exhibition of the principle of the unity of the human family as exemplified by India. This inspiring inclusiveness shows that the planet must be protected..." Daljit, a resident, participating in the celebration of Modi 3.0 and Indiaas rise under PM Modi, said, "Under the direction of PM Modi, India has become a world power. He has united all of us." Mohammad said: "Today, we are here to celebrate India. We are celebrating the largest democracy in the world, which becomes even more significant because we are celebrating it in the oldest democracy in the world. I am confident that we will become one of the superpowers in the years ahead. I feel privileged to have been born in India and to live in India..." Nicolas Greenland, Director of the Tibet Center, said, "I love India and have enormous regard for PM Modi." Mahant Shri Maharaj Rajyalakshmi said: "I represent PM Modi's 'Sashakt Naari', and I am extremely excited about the vision PM Modi is carrying for the world. He is the only leader who can prevent a third world war. He is negotiating not just with Ukraine and the USA but also with Russia and every world leader. He is the leader that the world needs..." Kolkata, July 9 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday, directed the state administration and the task force constituted by her government to check prices of essential commodities in retail markets, to bring down skyrocketing prices within the next ten days. On Tuesday afternoon, CM Banerjee chaired a meeting and directed the task force to meet every week to review the situation and give her a report after seven days. Sources said, at the meeting the CM lambasted a section of big potato traders for the skyrocketing price of this staple vegetable in the retail market. She said that the big traders were responsible for the price of potatoes reaching Rs 35 a kg in the retail markets, when the farmers were selling them at Rs 15 a kg. According to her, some big traders were deliberately hoarding their stock of potatoes in cold storages to artificially jack up the prices. She directed the state administration and the task force members to immediately take action against these hoarders. She also spoke about a conspiracy theory on the recent rise in the price of mutton in retail markets. According to her, recently rumours were spread about the outbreak of Bird Flu in the state, which prompted a number of meat eaters to shift to mutton from chicken. She also directed the task force members to keep a strict vigil on the export of vegetables, especially potatoes and onion to other states and keep a close vigil on West Bengalas borders. According to CM Banerjee, such products can only be exported to other states after meeting the requirements of West Bengal. Mumbai, July 9 : Maharashtra Minister of Medical Education Hasan Mushrif on Tuesday said that the government is trying to start 10 new government medical colleges from the current academic year. He told the house that the National Medical Council has sanctioned a student capacity of 50 students for MBBS in these new government medical colleges. Mushrif said that the state government had submitted its application to the National Medical Council seeking a grant for starting these 10 new colleges with an intake capacity of 100 students for MBBS. However, the National Medical Council has given its nod for a student capacity of 50 each in these 10 colleges. He added that the process of filling up the posts of teachers is underway through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. The minister said that the process regarding the medical college buildings and the attached hospitals has been completed. Mushrif said that the government will file an appeal before the National Medical Council with regard to errors identified by the latter in nine proposed medical colleges. "Appropriate efforts are being made to obtain permission by the government for these colleges by submitting a letter of undertaking regarding the removal of errors during hearing at the National Medical Council," the minister said. At present, as the NEET-UG-2024 examination has been postponed, the said nine government medical colleges are in the process of obtaining permission to conduct the admission process for MBBS for the current academic year. Mumbai, July 9 : Maharashtra opposition parties decided to skip the meeting convened by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday to discuss Maratha and OBC reservation issues. Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Vijay Wadettiwar said as the monsoon session was underway it won't be possible to attend today's meeting. The meeting was to take place on Monday but it did not happen due to heavy rains. Wadettiwar said Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had already held talks with the pro-Maratha and pro-OBC quota activists but what transpired in those meetings was not conveyed to the opposition parties. "Had CM and Deputy CM informed the outcome of the meetings it would have been useful for the opposition to take part in today's meeting," he added. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appealed to the opposition to reconsider its decision and attend today's meeting. "The opposition leaders can attend the meeting and express their concerns. Today's meeting aims to maintain social harmony, especially in the wake of issues raised by Maratha, OBC and other communities. The opposition can make their suggestions at the meeting. Therefore, I appeal to them to attend today's meeting," the Deputy Chief Minister said. NCP legislator Jayant Patil said that the opposition wants the issues raised by the Maratha and OBC communities to be amicably resolved and they are not opposed to those issues. "Already an all party meeting was held. There is no point to again attend today's meeting as the CM and Deputy CM should have told what they discussed with Maratha and OBC activists in the past. In any case, the government is going to take a final decision," he added. Congress legislator Nana Patole also said that today's meeting should have taken place if the state government had briefed the opposition about the deliberations that took place by the CM and Deputy CM with Maratha and OBC activists. Tuesday's all party meeting convened by the Chief Minister is crucial when pro-Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil has been travelling across the state demanding the decision on all inclusive reservation while OBC leader Laxman Hake, who suspended his indefinite fast after the state government's intervention, is demanding that the government should not touch OBC quota while providing benefits to the Martha community. New Delhi, July 9 : A team of Indian scientists has developed an open-source tool to generate an infrared star catalogue for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), which is a planned telescope proposed to be built on Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaii, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Tuesday. The online tool to create a comprehensive star catalogue for the Adaptive Optics (AO) system of the upcoming TMT can enable this ground-based telescope -- one of the largest to be operational in the next decade -- to generate sharper astronomical images. India is a key partner in the TMT project, with the India TMT Center at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru leading the national collaboration. "The AOS system on TMT, known as the Narrow Field Infrared Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), will be enhanced by a Laser Guide Star (LGS) facility," said Dr Sarang Shah from IIA. This facility will project up to nine lasers into the sky to create artificial guide stars. "However, atmospheric turbulence affects these laser beams, so measuring atmospheric tip-tilt is uncertain. To correct these effects, the AO system requires feedback from three real stars, known as Natural Guide Stars (NGS)," Shah said in the research published in the Astronomical Journal. Telescopes on the surface of the Earth face the challenge of atmospheric distortion, affecting the quality of captured images. The TMT will use an Adaptive Optics system that continuously senses and adjusts for atmospheric changes to produce high-quality images. Researchers at the IIA and their collaborators have developed an automated code that can be used as an online tool to create a catalogue of Near Infrared (NIR) stars. "The automated code can compute the expected near-infrared magnitudes of stellar sources identified in various optical sky surveys using their optical magnitudes," said Dr Smitha Subramanian, co-author and faculty at the IIA. Our method shows great promise in generating the all-sky catalogue of NIR stars needed before TMTas first run in the next decade, added Shah. Indiaas participation in the TMT collaboration involves three institutes: the IIA, Bengaluru, the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and the Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital. New Delhi, July 9 : Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has registered a robust 15.7 per cent growth in sales to cross a record Rs 1.55 lakh crore and created a staggering 10.17 lakh new jobs in rural areas during the financial year 2023-24, according to official figures released on Tuesday. "In the last 10 financial years of the Modi government, the sales of indigenous Khadi and village industry products made by artisans in rural areas have jumped 5-fold from Rs 31,154.2 crore in the financial year 2013-14 to the highest level of Rs 1,55, 673.12 crore in the financial year 2023-24," KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar said. Kumar said that surpassing all previous figures, there has been an increase of 400 per cent in sales, 314.79 per cent in production, and 80.96 per cent in new employment generation in 2023-24 compared to the financial year 2013-14. He said that this remarkable performance of KVIC has made a significant contribution towards realising the vision of a 'Developed India' by 2047 and making India the third-largest economy in the world. KVIC Chairman attributed this historic achievement to the inspiration of revered Bapu, the guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the tireless efforts of crores of artisans working in remote villages of the country. He said PM Modi's endorsement of Khadi has increased people's confidence in Khadi products. Khadi has become a 'new status symbol' of fashion for the youth. The demand for Khadi and village industry products is increasing rapidly in the market, which is reflected in the production, sales, and employment figures. He further said that in the last ten years, major changes and decisions have been taken to increase the production of Khadi and village industries, which are yielding positive results. He further said that these figures are proof that the trust of the people of the country has increased in 'Make in India,' 'Vocal for Local,' and 'Swadeshi products.' He said that there has also been an unprecedented increase in the production of Khadi fabrics in the last ten years. While the production of Khadi fabrics was Rs. 811.08 crores in the financial year 2013-14, it reached Rs. 3,206 crores in the financial year 2023-24 with a jump of 295.28 per cent, which is the best performance so far. The production of Khadi fabrics in the financial year 2022-23 was Rs 2915.83 crore. The demand for Khadi fabrics has also increased rapidly in the last ten financial years. While its sales were only Rs 1,081.04 crores in the financial year 2013-14, it reached Rs 6,496 crores in the financial year 2023-24 with an increase of 500.90 per cent. Khadi fabrics worth Rs. 5,942.93 crore were sold in the financial year 2022-23. The promotion of Khadi by PM Modi from big platforms has had a widespread impact on the sales of Khadi fabrics. The way the Prime Minister promoted Khadi during the G-20 summit held in the country last year has attracted the world community towards Khadi. The main objective of KVIC, which functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is to provide maximum employment opportunities in rural areas. Kumar also said that the business of Khadi and Gramodyog Bhavan, New Delhi, has also seen unprecedented growth in the last ten years. While the business here was Rs 51.13 crores in the financial year 2013-14, it increased by 87.23 per cent to Rs 95.74 crores in the financial year 2023-24. Moscow, July 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday conferred the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian award. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented PM Modi with the highest state order of the country during a brief ceremony held at the Grand Kremlin Palace following the bilateral talks between the two leaders. He stated that the Prime Minister of India was awarded the award for outstanding services in developing the special privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the Russian and Indian people. "Dear Mr Prime Minister, dear friend, awarding you with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called reflects the sincere gratitude of the Russian side for the significant contribution you make to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our states and people," said Putin at the start of the ceremony. "You have always actively advocated for expanding contacts with our country; even when you were the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat, you put forward the initiative to establish sister-city relations with Russian regions, in this case, with the Astrakhan region," he added. The Russian President, in his speech, mentioned that having been the head of the Indian government for 10 years, PM Modi has truly contributed to the fact that Russian-Indian relations have acquired the character of a particularly privileged strategic partnership. "With your direct support, the largest Russian-Indian projects in the trade, economic and military-technical spheres, nuclear and hydrocarbon energy, high technology and space are being successfully implemented. "It is difficult to overestimate your contribution to the formation of a stable basis for Russian-Indian cooperation in the international arena, where both our countries uphold the principles of multipolarity and strict observance of international law. They work together to ensure stability, global and regional security, and closely interact within the framework of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation". The order has a badge, a star, an order chain and an order ribbon a" silk, moire, blue. Those awarded for distinction in combat are presented with the badge and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called with swords. "Honoured to receive the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. I dedicate it to the people of India," said PM Modi after receiving the award. The order was established by Tsar Peter I around 1699 and is the oldest of the Russian state awards. It was abolished in 1918 and restored in 1998 by the Decree of the President of Russia. The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is awarded to prominent government and public figures, military leaders, outstanding representatives of science, culture, art and various sectors of the economy for exceptional services that contribute to the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia, ensuring its national security and sovereignty. It is also given to heads and leaders of governments of foreign countries for their outstanding contribution to developing relations with Moscow. PM Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award which was announced in 2019. New Delhi, July 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the non-completion of the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Chhattisgarh's alleged Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam. The NAN is the nodal agency in Chhattisgarh responsible for procuring and distributing food grains under the public distribution system (PDS). A bench, headed by Justice Abhay S. Oka, was hearing a plea filed by the anti-money laundering agency challenging the grant of anticipatory bail to Anil Tuteja and Alok Shukla, the prime accused in the alleged scam. The bench, also comprising Justice AG Masih, pulled up the ED for non-filing of prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against the accused so far in connection with the ECIR registered in 2019. Responding, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju said that the ED will place on record the available material. The matter is listed in August for further hearing. In the previous hearing, the top court recorded the statement made by ASG Raju that ED will place on record an affidavit in support of the contention that the facility of anticipatory bail granted to Tuteja and Shukl has been misused by them. In 2015, the state government launched a probe into allegations that substandard quality grains were distributed under the PDS and that officials had received kickbacks from rice millers to allow this. In April this year, the Supreme Court had quashed a money laundering complaint filed by the ED against Tuteja and others in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, saying that provisions of the PMLA could not be attracted since there exists no prima facie scheduled offence under the Act. Jaipur, July 9 : Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday said that the state government should act tough against illegal mining. "The confidence level of the criminal gets a boost if the government and administration sit with folded hands and do not take any action. Such incidents break the morale of the people," the former Deputy Chief Minister said. He also visited the residence of the head constable who was killed by the tractor of the sand mafia to offer condolences. "The deceased used to work with the Police Department. The morale of the entire police force will be low. The government must take immediate action against the illegal mining," the former Deputy Chief Minister said. On the Kathua attack, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that such attacks are increasing while the Central government has claimed that everything is under control in Jammu and Kashmir. "The government has claimed, in the House, that everything is fine and the situation is under control in J&K. However, our youth are being martyred there. The government must answer on the situation of J&K," the former Deputy Chief Minister said. He said that the situation in J&K is very serious and the Central government must clarify over its security situation. New Delhi, July 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax authorities have found Gian Chand and Prabhat Chand, key associates of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, are involved in multi-crore scams in the state. According to ED sources, incriminating documents have been obtained by the ED and I-T indicating the duo's involvement. It is reported that the Sukhu government openly favoured them, leading to significant financial losses to the state treasury. Based on the FIRs, complaints and field verification reports, the ED initiated a PMLA investigation and conducted a search operation on July 4 at M/s Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher at Adhwani Village, Jwalamukhi Tehsil, Kangra, and related premises of its proprietor Gian Chand & others. During the searches, the ED has unearthed incriminating findings regarding rampant illegal mining in the state, sources added. According to sources, preliminary findings suggest that Gian Chand is a local influential businessman and politically exposed person who is a member of the District Congress Committee. "He is known to be close to the present Himachal CM Sukhu. He is the beneficial owner of M/s Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher. ED investigation has revealed that although the stone crusher has a valid license, large-scale discrepancies have been observed," a source said. The discrepancies are in the form of the following: Firstly, mining is being done on the river bed itself. Secondly, on ED's insistence, local mining officers were summoned, and they also did a survey and verified that rampant illegal mining was being done outside the licensed area, sources said. Thirdly, large-scale cash sales of mined material were being done. Fourth, illegally mined material from other areas is also being crushed and sold without valid transport permits and large daily cash dealings are done. Fifth, rampant mining has destroyed the fragile ecosystem. Comparison with historical maps of the NRSA will show that hundreds of crores worth of illegal mining has been done by this unit alone, sources said. Sixth, mining activity is being done during night time also. The ED is learnt to have unearthed evidence of cash dealings, illegal cash deposits of more than Rs 8 crore in a single account, and utilization of cash in land deals. According to sources, Gian Chand and his family have also received multiple mid-level tenders of road construction etc from the state government. "These tenders are won in benami names. Illegally mined material is used in these tenders, but bogus bills are generated in the name of 'benami' shell entities to siphon off illegal profit. Local officers are approving the works without any quality check and giving signed blank inspection reports to Gian Chand. Also, Gian Chand & Rajeev Singh (brother of Himachal CM) have acquired adjacent landed properties for illegal mining," a source said. Sources further said that lower-level government officials are actively conniving with the suspects in turning a blind eye to this rampant exploitation of the area, which is responsible for disturbing the ecological balance of the area. This eco-sensitive area is prone to landslides now because of the unscientific exploitation of the terrain. In investigations being carried out by the Income Tax, Liquor and civil contractors of Himachal Pradesh: Prabhat Chand, his son-in-law Saurabh Katoch and Ajay Kumar are handling huge cash and unaccounted transactions of CM Sukhu and his relatives. A firm named APR Construction Company is suspected to be involved in major suppression of receipts, sources said. According to sources, Ajay Kumar, along with Parbhat Kumar were also among the beneficiaries of land acquisition made by Himachal Road Transport Corporation. "Land purchased by them for Rs 2,60,000 in 2015, was acquired by HRTC for Rs. 6.72 crore in 2024, and it has been alleged that this was a scheme to defraud the exchequer, and land was acquired from them at highly overvalued rates," a source said. "A One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) is being implemented by the Kangra Central Co-operative Bank. The key person facilitating this cash settlement is Vicky Handa, a renowned jeweller from Hamirpur and was suspected to be involved in this alleged fraud OTS scheme," the source added. Bhopal, July 9 : A district court in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday sent terror suspect Faizan Sheikh, who was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Khandwa last week, to 14 days judicial custody. Sheikh, 30, was produced before the court amid tight security after his six days of police custody expired on Tuesday. He was arrested from his residence in Khandwa on July 4 and has been booked under the UAPA. Police had claimed that Sheikh was planning to carry out a "lone wolf" attack on security forces. A mechanic by profession, he was learning through online resources how to make bombs, sources said. During the police custody, he was interrogated by the ATS as well as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the sources told IANS, adding that the central probe agency is keen to take over the case. Forensic experts are trying to recover deleted data from his phone to uncover his plans and motives. According to police, Sheikh allegedly sought connections with banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM). He was heavily influenced by Yasin Bhatkal, a co-founder of IM, and reportedly visited his village in Karnataka multiple times in the past few years. Sheikh was driven by a desire to "avenge" the 2016 encounter deaths of eight SIMI suspects following a jailbreak in Bhopal, and has admitted to recceing Army locations in Kashmir (including Pathankot), Mumbai, and Delhi over the past three years, the sources said. Police said that the four mobile phones seized from him showed repeated searches for videos of terrorist training camps and their operational methods. Following his arrest, the ATS also recovered a pistol, along with a significant amount of "jihadi literature" linked to IM and ISIS, and a SIMI membership form. He will be produced before the court for the next hearing on July 22. Bengaluru, July 9 : Karnataka BJP on Tuesday said that the state government wants to change the name of Ramanagara district to Bengaluru South as it has 'Ram' in it. "They only want to change it as there is 'Ram' in the name of Ramanagar. Only the Congress government can do this. We cannot accept it," former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C. N. Ashwath Narayan said. He said that the move to change the name was initiated by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. "He will never develop the Ramanagara district. He has also moved the medical college to his native Kanakapura. The people won't accept this," the former Chief Minister said. Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, also questioned the "hidden agenda" behind changing the Ramanagara's name. "It is no secret that for whose appeasement this name change is being done," he said. He said that it is part of a "conspiracy" to make the district a "heaven for the real estate mafia." "Appeasement of few is another angle. There is a conspiracy to snatch the identity of Ramanagara district which has got a special place in state politics," he said. On Tuesday, a delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha and sought the creation of a new Bengaluru South district from five taluks surrounding Bengaluru. The delegation also urged the government to rename Ramanagara District as Bengaluru South district, with Ramanagara city as its headquarters. "Our objective is to extend the benefits of the reputation of the global city of Bengaluru to the people of Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna, and Harohalli taluks, which are located close to Bengaluru city," Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said after meeting the Chief Minister. Ramanagara District was initially approved by H.D. Kumaraswamy. New Delhi, July 9 : The Finance Ministry has urged private sector banks to extend more loans under Financial Inclusion Schemes such as PM SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma and Jan Samarth Portal aimed at providing more jobs for the poor such as skilled artisans and street vendors. Secretary, Department of Financial Services Vivek Joshi chaired a review meeting with top executives of private sector banks here on Tuesday on the progress of these job-oriented schemes for the poor. Joshi discussed in detail the progress made by private banks in deepening Financial Inclusion and urged them to increase their participation in financial inclusion schemes. He exhorted private banks to give more thrust on serving the marginalised sections of society and fulfilling their banking needs. Joshi made a detailed presentation to highlight the features of the Jan Samarth portal that presents information on credit-linked schemes of the government on a single platform. The platform improves customer experience and assists banks in the acquisition of customers. Joshi emphasised the importance of financial inclusion programmes in providing basic financial services in reaching the last mile and also exhorted banks to organise financial literacy camps so that awareness about various financial inclusion schemes, including Jan Suraksha schemes may be spread across various sections of society. Guwahati, July 9 : With less or no rain during the past few days, the overall flood situation in Assam is slowly improving, while seven more deaths in six districts were reported on Tuesday and 17.17 lakh people remain affected in 26 of the state's 35 districts, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said. Guwahati, July 9 (IANS) With less or no rain during the past few days, the overall flood situation in Assam is slowly improving, while seven more deaths in six districts were reported on Tuesday and 17.17 lakh people remain affected in 26 of the stateas 35 districts, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy rainfall over parts of central, northeast, and east India during the next 4 days. According to the ASDMA officials, over 24.20 lakh people in 30 districts had been affected till Friday (July 5). According to the officials on Tuesday, two people drowned in the Cachar district, while one each died in Dhubri, South Salmara, Dhemaji, Nagaon, and Sivasagar. With the latest deaths, the toll has climbed to 79 in different districts. The flood water also inundated over 39,870 hectares of crop area in 2,779 villages in 26 districts, the officials said, adding that over 13.66 lakh domestic animals have also been badly affected. Among the 26 flood-affected districts, Cachar, Barpeta, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Dhubri, Darrang, and South Salmara are the worst affected. The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat, Tezpur, Guwahati, and Dhubri, while Burhidihing, Dikhou, Disang, Kopili, and Kushiyara rivers are near the danger level in many places. ASDMA officials also said that over 48,000 people are sheltered in the 507 relief camps opened by the district administrations, while 267 more relief distribution centres are functioning in different districts. National and State Disaster Response Forces, Fire and Emergency Service personnel, police forces, the AAPDA Mitra Volunteers of ASDMA and volunteers from various NGOs, have also been deployed for the rescue and relief operations. Wild animals in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) were largely affected by the flood as a vast area of the park has been submerged and park authorities continued their efforts to rescue the animals and to prevent poaching. KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh said that so far, 133 wild animals have been rescued while 159 animals, including deer, rhino, and hog deer, have drowned in flood waters. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is regularly reviewing the flood situation in the state, on Tuesday said that the situation is improving in Assam. Union Minister Pabitra Margherita conducted an extensive review of the flood situation in Karimganj and Cachar districts during his visit to southern Assam. He inspected key relief camps in these districts and interacted with the flood-affected residents. Assessing the distribution of relief materials, child nutrition, potable water, medical services, and sanitation efforts, he expressed his satisfaction with the measures in place. --IANS sc/vd New Delhi, July 9 : Indian Navy's frontline frigate INS Tabar arrived at Casa Blanca in Morocco on Tuesday for a three-day visit. "Morocco holds a unique geographical position sharing coastline with both the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The visit by INS Tabar will further strengthen our bonds and explore newer avenues for bolstering the relationship between the two navies. India and Morocco share warm bilateral relations that span diverse fields, including regular interactions between the two navies," a Navy official said. He said that the ship is commanded by Captain MR Harish and has a complement of 280 personnel. "The ship is part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy," he said. INS Tabar is a stealth frigate built for the Indian Navy by the Russians. The official said that during the three-day stay at Casablanca port, the ship's crew will undertake a number of professional interactions with the Royal Moroccan Navy. He said that upon departure from Casablanca, the two navies would also undertake a PASSEX at sea. "These engagements seek to enhance interoperability between the two navies. These interactions will also offer an opportunity for both the sides to observe and imbibe the 'Best Practices' from each other," the official said. Kolkata, July 10 : Nine children and two adults were rescued, and a trafficker was arrested from a railway station in Jharkhand's Pakur district on Tuesday, the police said. On-duty Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel saw some children and two adults roaming at the corner of a platform of the Pakur railway station at around 1:35 p.m., they said. "During interaction with the children, they admitted that they were being taken for work to Kalyan in Mumbai. With the help of the children, we caught the trafficker," said Kausik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer, Eastern Railway. The accused has been identified as Shamed S.K. The RPF team swung into action and questioned Shamed S.K., who could not provide a satisfactory reply about the children and the two adults, Mitra added. The accused was immediately detained and taken to the RPF post in Pakur along with the children and two adults, he said. The RPF personnel then contacted the parents of the children. While some of them did not respond, others didn't seem prepared to provide any information. Finally, the parents of the children were handed over to the Jan Lok Kalyan Parishad, Baliharpur, Pakur, after clearing all legal formalities. The children will receive care at this centre until they can be sent back home. Shamed S.K. has been handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) outpost at Pakur under the Government Railway Police, Barharwa, for legal proceedings. A case has been registered against the accused under the Railways Act. Though Pakur is in Jharkhand, it is in close proximity to the India-Bangladesh border that passes through Murshidabad in West Bengal. The area is a hub of human trafficking, both from across the porous border with Bangladesh as well as from districts like Murshidabad and Malda in West Bengal, a senior police official said. Normally, children are trafficked to locations like Mumbai and forced to beg outside places of religious worship, he added. At the end of the day, their earnings are taken away, and they are herded into shelters for the night. Washington, July 10 : The United States on Tuesday reiterated its concerns over India's ties to Russia and said it has had conversations with New Delhi regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing visit to Moscow but refused to divulge the contents of these. The Prime Ministeras visit to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin is being followed closely in Washington DC. "We have had conversations with him in the past 24 hours and I think I'll keep the contents of those private," US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a briefing, when asked if the US had conveyed to India its concerns since the India and Russia announced a slate of agreements after the PM Modi met President Putin. Milleras first response was the same as on Monday when he was asked about the Prime Ministeras visit - that the US has concerns about Indiaas ties with Russia and has conveyed it privately and directly. The spokesman spoke of new conversations when asked especially if any conversations had taken place with India in the last 24 hours or after the announcements in Moscow. Christian Junger has been named CEO of Penguin Random Houses German publishing group, Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe. Junger has been managing director of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Groups Rowohlt Verlag division since 2021, and will join PRH Verslagsgruppe on October 1. He will report to PRH global CEO Nihar Malaviya. In his letter to employees announcing Jungers appointment, Malaviya called him ideally suited to head the company, citing not only his publishing experience at Holtzbrinck and Bertelsmann, where he began his career, but his understanding of the retail side of the business during his time as head of vendor management at Amazon. The position of a fulltime CEO at PRH Verlagsgruppe has been vacant since Thomas Rathnow stepped down, in April, after previously withdrawing from his duties for personal reasons. The group is currently managed on an interim basis by Britta Egetemeier and Thomas Pichler. PRH Verlagsgruppe is Germanys largest publisher, and its operating groups include Blanvalet, Goldmann, Heyne, and Penguin. Germany accounted for about 7% of PRHs worldwide revenue in 2023. When Thinking About Data, What Keeps You Up at Night? With great technology comes great responsibility. The proliferation of technology in education means we have more data about how, what and if students are learning than ever before. The question is, how do we ensure that data gets into the hands of the people who can use it to improve teaching and learning, without invading a student or educator's privacy? What we hear from the 1EdTech community is that, ideally, educational institutions want their data centralized, as opposed to a patchwork of homegrown tools and supplier solutions. They want to access their data in one place, when they need it, so they can spend time consuming and using the data rather than formatting it to make it actionable. This also gives them more time to collaborate internally and externally with stakeholders. "If we can have the data from our entire portfolio available in a standardized format, it allows us to focus on supporting student success and gaining a better understanding of our learners, rather than making the data interoperable at the campus level," said Steven Williams, principal product manager for UCLA. These ideas were discussed in several sessions at the recent 2024 1EdTech Learning Impact Conference in Salt Lake City between 1EdTech member suppliers, higher education institutions, and K-12 districts. So, what questions keep both educators and suppliers up at night as they consider ways to make these needs a reality? How Do Educators Get the Data? Right now, most ed tech applications capture metadata; but accessing that data, ensuring student privacy, or understanding how that data is stored is often unclear. Some of these applications provide educators with data that could support student success through dashboards. Dashboards can be helpful to an extent, but they don't pull multiple tools' data together in one location. So, if an educator wants a full picture of a student, they need to log into multiple tools to get the various data points available. And that data is likely to export into different formats, making it difficult to consume and use for improvement. In other cases, institutional leaders leverage data standards, such as those created by 1EdTech or other standards organizations, which cull data together into one standard format, across all applications, so they can review all the data in one place, in one single format. Dashboards allow educators to slice and dice the data, and analyze the data across applications longitudinally. This effective use of data for improvement has led 1EdTech community members to want more from their ed tech suppliers. They need more suppliers to upgrade their tools to meet industry standards, so they can access this data in consumable formats for improvement. So, What Data Do Educators Need? As Warren Goetzel, director of academic technology and engagement at Georgia Institute of Technology, points out, "To best understand what data educators need we should be asking them directly. At Georgia Tech we interviewed a wide range of stakeholders including faculty to get a baseline understanding of their needs related to learning data and learning analytics. It is also important to ascertain not just what data they need, but what problems would data help solve." To that end, ed tech suppliers point out that there is a lot of data available, and not every institution is ready to store all of that data itself. This is the harsh reality; data warehouses and the expertise in maintaining them are expensive, and not every institution has the funds or infrastructure to do so. Bacteriophage treatment reduces APEC in treated chickens Purdue University researcher Paul Ebner and his team have developed a patent-pending treatment that effectively reduces colonization of avian pathogenic E. coli in chickens. Their bacteriophage treatment could reduce the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food in low- and middle-income countries. (iStock.com photo/Sonja Filitz) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University researchers in the College of Agriculture are developing patent-pending, antibiotic-free treatments for avian pathogenic E. coli, or APEC. Paul Ebner and his team have developed a bacteriophage treatment that effectively reduces colonization of APEC in treated chickens. The treatment contains multiple bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and replicate only on bacterial cells. Ebner is interim head and a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. He said the goal of the project was to create technologies that could reduce the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food in low- and middle-income countries. APEC is often controlled through antibiotics, but the continued emergence of antibiotic resistance has led several countries and regions to prohibit many types of previously approved antibiotic uses in poultry production, Ebner said. We believe that the use of our treatment, along with good flock management, can significantly reduce the need for antibiotics in maintaining bird health. Ebner disclosed the bacteriophage APEC treatments to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, which has applied for a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the intellectual property. The Purdue APEC treatment Ebners team isolated seven bacteriophages that showed activity against the most prevalent APEC variants. Taken together, they lysed 90% of the APEC strains we tested, Ebner said. When given to chickens, the treatment results in significant reductions of APEC in the treated chickens lungs and ceca. Additionally, the treatments do not negatively impact growth or performance, and the birds do not develop an immune response to the phages. Ebner and his team used a microencapsulation process to allow oral delivery of the treatment. The microencapsulation protects the bacteriophages from the harsh environments of the gastrointestinal tract, including low pH levels and digestive enzymes, and allows more viable bacteriophages to reach the sites of infection. The prototypes were developed for use in Pakistan and other low- and middle-income countries, but they have much wider applications. Ebner and Nicole Olynk Widmar, interim head and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, conducted a willingness-to-pay study in Pakistan. The results showed consumers will pay premiums for chicken produced with bacteriophages instead of antibiotics, Ebner said. Additionally, we are working to identify barriers to adoption among poultry producers and animal health professionals. Industry partners interested in developing the compounds or commercializing them for the marketplace should contact Abhijit Karve, director of business development and licensing, aakarve@prf.org, about track code 70146. Ebners research is possible through financial support from the U.K. governments Department of Health and Social Care, the Global AMR Innovation Fund and the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada. About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the universitys academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2023, the office reported 150 deals finalized with 203 technologies signed, 400 disclosures received and 218 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information. About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives. Property details: This 2.55 acre commercial land in Phoenix, Arizona is a great addition to any real estate portfolio. The property address is 7628 W Deer Valley Rd and it is zoned for COMMERCIAL use. Build a SHOPPING CENTER, OFFICE COMPLEX, GOLD COURSE, etc.or BUY AND HOLD and RESELL! This is 2.55 ACRES of PRIME COMMERCIAL PHOENIX LANDIt is about 111,000 SQUARE FEET The land is located in Maricopa County and has an Assessors Fair Cash Value of $543,000 Low Starting Bid at only $25,000 Bid or BUY IT NOW, ONLY FOR... Price: $ 25,000 Seller State of Residence: Arizona Property Address: 7628 W Deer Valley Rd Zoning: Commercial City: Phoenix State/Province: Arizona Location: 900**, Los Angeles, California You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Arizona Property details: 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: $ 485 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 You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Texas Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Property details: This auction is for OIL & GAS and MINERAL RIGHTS on 20 ACRES OF LAND in COLLIER COUNTY, in FLORIDA. the nearest city is Ochopee, FL, its near highway 41 & 29. LOCATED about 4.3 miles north of Tamiami Trl ENO RESERVE AUCTION, Starting Bid of only $100or BUY it NOW for ONLY $17,500Famous Collier Family is the largest holder of the mineral rights in the area, they kept mineral rights, after they sold land to the Bush family.Collier County in Florida, is home to florida's first oil well. First oil w... Price: $ 100 State/Province: florida Seller State of Residence: Florida Location: 889**, The Lakes, Nevada You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Florida Property details: For sale- A deeded 20 slip located at W 7th St. Ocean City NJ with floating dock good for a jet boat up to 19 in length or 1 large (3 person) jet ski, the floating dock has a storage box attached, fresh water and electric available right at the slip. At the end of each finger of the marina docks are fish cleaning tables with fresh water. Off street parking plus 2 bathroom/showers available at the marina. Recently dredged alley, all assessments paid up, easy access for loading people onto y... Price: $ 25,000 Location: 082**, Ocean City, New Jersey You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Property details: This Hyatt Vacation Club Maui Kaanapali Beach timeshare is a must-have for anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation. With a red-hot demand color code, this beach/ocean property is a popular choice for those who want to experience the ultimate in comfort and style. The seller state of residence is Texas, and the property address is 180 Nohea Kai Drive, Maui, Hawaii. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is part of the Hyatt Vacation Club Maui Kaanapali Beach resort, which is known for i... Price: $ 9,000 Seller State of Residence: Texas Type: Beach/Ocean Property Address: 180 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina HI Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 96761 City: Maui State/Province: Hawaii Location: 760**, Aledo, Texas You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Hawaii Property details: Winning bidder receives a purchase incentive of $500.00 at completion of transfer and you get FREE USE IN 2024!!!43,500 Annual RCI Points at Woodstone at Massanutten Casa de Campo2 Bedroom/2 Bath Unit - Annual Use!!! Seller paying closing costs and resort transfer fees!!! We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature)****Shipping**** Although the listing states that this item is available for pick up only, t... Price: $ 0 Seller State of Residence: Kentucky Type: Attractions Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Bathrooms: 2 City: McGayhesville State/Province: Virginia Location: 402**, Louisville, Kentucky You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Virginia Property details: Winning bidder receives a purchase incentive of $750.00 at completion of transfer!!!Atlantic Palace ResortStudio Unit Floating week - Floats weeks 1 through 52 Annual Use Maintenance fees of $779.82 have already been paid for 2024 so you have FREE USE!!! Seller paying closing costs and resort transfer fees!!! We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature)****Shipping**** Although the listing states that this... Price: $ 0 Seller State of Residence: Kentucky Type: Beach/Ocean Number of Bathrooms: 1 State/Province: New Jersey Location: 402**, Louisville, Kentucky You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby New Jersey Property details: Another Great Vacation Ownership available from Buy & Sell Timeshares Seller is paying all closing costs Buyer pays high! Name of Resort:Divi Little Bay Beach Resort Buyers First Year of Usage:2025 - Free Closing Week Usage:Annual Unit Info: Fixed Unit#41 1 bedroom 1 bath, sleeps 4, Full Kitchen Week Info: Fixed Week# 24 Sunday Check inJune 15th - 22nd, 2025 Estimated Maintenance fees & Taxes: $1,106.00 due Annually December 1st No Property Taxes at this resort Ownership:Right To Use Expires ... Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Montana Type: Beach/Ocean Property Address: PO Box 961 Little Bay Road Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 0000 State/Province: Philipsburg, St. Maarten Location: 597**, Bozeman, Montana You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Property details: Harborside Resort at Atlantis - FREE USE IN 2024!!!81,000 Annual StarOptions PointsFloating week - Platinum Season - Originally sold for $19,745.00 in 2006!!! Seller paying closing costs and resort transfer fees!!! We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature)****Shipping**** Although the listing states that this item is available for pick up only, this is a default eBay setting in the shipping category tha... Price: $ 0 Seller State of Residence: Kentucky Type: Attractions Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 City: Nassau State/Province: Bahamas Location: 402**, Louisville, Kentucky You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Bahamas Property details: Hilton Grand Vacations Club Parc Soleil Orlando, Florida All images in this listing are general images of the resort and do not necessarily reflect the actual resort or units. Please perform your own due diligenceOVERVIEW11272 DESFORGES AVE, ORLANDO, FL 32836With an unsurpassed setting in the vacation capital of Orlando, this exquisite new property is the most expansive Hilton Grand Vacations Club resort in Florida. The resort is ideally situated on 52 acres of sprawling grounds, centrally lo... Price: $ 650 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 11272 Desforges Ave Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Bathrooms: 2 Zip/Postal Code: 32836 City: Orlando State/Province: Florida Location: 328**, Orlando, Florida You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Florida Property details: MIZNER PLACE TIMESHARE FOR SALE WEEK 12 FIXED UNIT 1209 ANNUAL We are not affiliated with nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature) ****OWNERSHIP DETAILS**** Usage: Annual # of Bedrooms, # of Bathrooms: 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Sleeps 6 Week: Week 12 Fixed Unit: Unit 1209 First Year Use: 2024 - FREE USE! Free Use, meaning the seller has paid the maintenance fee and they have not used the allotted time. We are not in control of how q... Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: New York Property Address: 1775 Bonaventure Blvd Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Bathrooms: 2 Zip/Postal Code: 33326 City: Weston State/Province: FL Location: 101**, New York, New York You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby FL Property details: Winning bidder receives $500.00 purchase incentive at completion of transfer!!!Oakmont Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee FREE USE IN 2024!!!1 Bedroom/1 bath unit - Floating weekFloats weeks 1 through 21, 36 through 39 and 44 through 52 Seller paying closing costs and resort transfer fees!!! Maintenance fees were $495.00 for 2024 and have already been paid for you to have free use in 2024!!! We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In Thi... Price: $ 0 Seller State of Residence: Kentucky Type: Attractions Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 City: Pigeon Forge State/Province: Tennessee Location: 402**, Louisville, Kentucky You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Tennessee Property details: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE THE RIDGE TAHOETIMESHARE FOR SALE WEEK FLOATS 1-52UNIT 298ANNUAL We are not affiliated with nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature) ****OWNERSHIP DETAILS**** Usage: Annual # of Bedrooms, # of Bathrooms: 2 Bedrooms Lock-Off, Sleeps 6 Week: Week Floats 1-52 Unit: Unit 298 First Year Use: 2024 FREE USE! Free Use, meaning the seller has paid the maintenance fee and they have not used ... Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: New York Property Address: 400 Ridge Club Dr. Zip/Postal Code: 89449 City: Stateline State/Province: Nevada Location: 101**, New York, New York You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Nevada Property details: Winning bidder receives a purchase incentive of $750.00 at completion of transfer!!!Westgate Branson Woods2 Bedroom/2 Bath Unit - Annual Use!!!Platinum Season Floating week - Floats weeks 1 through 52 Seller paying closing costs and resort transfer fees!!! Maintenance fees for 2024 were $1,058.00 and have been paid for you to have FREE USE in 2024 We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent the resort described in this item ad. (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature)****Shipping****... Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Kentucky Type: Attractions Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Bathrooms: 2 City: Branson State/Province: Missouri Location: 402**, Louisville, Kentucky You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Missouri Annie Suwan / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/09/2024 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Annie Suwan has announced she's pregnant and expecting her first child with husband David Toborowsky after an IVF journey.Annie underwent a successful embryo transfer procedure on June 26, and she took to Instagram on Friday, July 5 to share her big news with the world."The test results said I'm pregnant!!!!" Annie, 31, wrote in her caption, along with a handful of red heart and smiling emojis.In the video, Annie says, "Hi everyone! I just want to update you. I got the news. David just got an email [from the doctor]. Come on, tell them!"David proceeded to enter the room, showing off his phone."We got a phone call, and Annie is pregnant," David, 55, shares in the clip alongside an ecstatic and smiling Annie."Thank you all for the prayers, and your support has been overwhelming."Annie adds, "Thank you everyone! Thank you so much. Thank you for your love and support. I can't wait... and keep sending prayers because I still need it. I'm so excited!"David also wrote in the comments of Annie's post, "I am so happy my love you are going to be an amazing Mom.i I love so proud of you."Congratulatory messages poured in from the family. Darcey Silva wrote, "Congratulations so excited for you both! Love you!" Paola Mayfield gushed, "Congratulations Annie!! So happy for you guys!! Many blessings."And Kenny Niedermeier commented, "Exciting!!! A baby is just a huge blessing, very happy and thrilled for you two."David was a 48-year-old from Louisville, KY, and Annie was a 24-year-old from Bueng Kan, Thailand when she arrived in America on a K-1 visa.After originally appearing on Season 5 of , David and Annie -- who met in a bar in Thailand -- also returned for Season 3 of : Happily Ever After?.David struggled financially, especially when it came to impressing and receiving approval from Annie's parents. And despite allegations against David of substance abuse and infidelity, Annie still married him.In 2019, David was working a part-time job teaching English as a Second Language classes to adults in the Lexington area, but the couple was still living in an apartment above a storage facility owned by David's friend Chris that Annie hated.Once Annie received her travel and work permits after waiting over five months for her paperwork to be processed, she and David moved out of their apartment and began traveling the country and staying with family and friends.In August 2019, the couple -- who have also continued to make appearances on TLC's : Pillow Talk commentary show -- announced they had decided to settle in Arizona and were living in an apartment in Scottsdale.At the time, David was making money by teaching online classes.During a September 2020 episode of : Pillow Talk, David and Annie were shown celebrating their move to a new home in Fountain Hills, AZ.David and Annie then starred on two seasons of David & Annie: After the 90 Days, which aired from 2022 to 2023.The series showed the couple returning to Thailand to attempt to bring Annie's teenage brother Jordan and cousin Amber to America. It also documented David's weight-loss journey and the couple as they navigated marriage.Annie said in late 2022 that she and David try to stay positive during challenging times and have fun given "life is not easy.""Life is not perfect, [often] being too up and down," Annie explained at the time."But, you know, at the end of the day, I appreciate everybody who [has been] on my side no matter what I want to do, what I want to be and accept that the un-perfect part of myself and be my friend [or] my family and my husband."Annie officially became a U.S. citizen in February 2024.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! ...Kids, jobs, emigration, notes Ajit Balakrishnan. "Aren't you kids going to have children?" I asked one of my nieces who had come for a one-week holiday with us recently. Of course, addressing her and her husband as "kids" was a gesture of affection from me that they enjoyed as well, but they weren't kids, they were both in their mid-30s and both professionally qualified and holding good jobs in New York City. "We think having children will only distract us from our careers, and will not do anything good for us," said my niece. That answer sent me into a deep reverie. Wasn't India set to rule the world based on its booming number of young, working-age population? If all members of my niece's age group of Indians, the so-called 'millennials', were to give up on children, what would happen to India's "demographic dividend"? The term 'demographic dividend' was coined by the Harvard economist David Bloom and his co-authors in their book by the same name in which they spelt out how the size of various age cohorts in a country determined how well or badly that country did economically. For instance, countries in which the proportion of population in the 15 to 64 age group is high tend to show much more vigorous economic growth than those where either under-15 or over-65 cohorts are dominant. This is because it is believed that these latter age cohorts only consume economic resources and do not participate in economically productive activities. And there is much hue and cry that India right now has the highest proportion in the 15-64 age group in the world, and thus, is set to be the leader in economic growth. But, whenever I hear recurrent cries of 'India's demographic dividend', I cannot but think of the time in 1971, when I was about to graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, when the opposite theory held: It was fashionable then to hold that India's economic problems were because of a very high population growth rate. The war cries of the economists then were: 'Population Control!' "Birth Control!' And we were all encouraged to clap when the central government 'vasectomy camps' in 1971 did sterilisations on 1.3 million men in that year and targeted 3.1 million by the next year. The World Bank gave India a large aid for sterilisation programmes to bring down its population growth rate: $66 million from 1972 TO 1980. International pressure, particularly from Western countries, was intense. US President Lyndon B Johnson denied food aid to India in 1965 unless sterilisation was accepted as State policy. Of course, like all 'fashionable things', there was intellectual support as well. For the population control missionaries, the book by Paul Ehrlich (of Stanford University) titled The Population Bomb was the bible, selling millions of copies, saying things like 'hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death', and that 'nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate'. Still another dimension of the population debate is the Kota type discourse popular in the media right now about the tribulations of the vast number of applicants who compete for entry into our higher-education institutions: More than a million applicants for the 10,000 seats at the Indian Institutes of Technology, a similar large number of applicants for the 80,000 seats at India's medical colleges, a quarter of a million applicants for 4,000 seats at the IIMs. Compare this to my time in 1969, when I earned a seat at IIM Calcutta, competing with a mere 30,000 test-takers for the 100 seats there. In other words, while the number of high-quality educational institutions has multiplied manifold, the number of contenders for admission to them has risen even faster. No wonder, films like Kota get a multimillion strong empathetic audience. And of course, if your parents are wealthy enough, you can go join an American university, paying huge amounts: Nearly a three-quarter of a million Indian youngsters do that a year nowadays. I am sure no other country in the world has this extent of meritocratic filtering. This vast engine of entrance exams is fuelled by an equally vast number of tutorial colleges and paid for by parents taking vast amounts of bank loans. And possibly a degree of corruption, as the recent events at the National Eligibility Entrance Test are gradually revealing. Then we have the spectacle of Indian-origin, Indian-educated folks heading or in top managements of virtually all the major companies in the world: Satya Nadella at Microsoft, Sunder Pichai at Google, Vasant Narasimhan at Novartis, Arvind Krishna at IBM, Laxman Narasimhan at Starbucks... the list goes on. With all this pattern of Indian successes in foreign countries, it is no surprise that foreign inward remittances to India from Indians abroad last year were $125 billion, which is almost 60 per cent of what India's famed software services exporters earn! Is some of this avid desire to get jobs in Western countries because of the reality of India: Most large firms are owned and run by business families where top management positions are reserved for family members? Or is it because real estate prices for homes in Bombay and other Indian metro cities, the cities where most top jobs are, are unbelievably high compared to Indian salaries? Are our millennials right then in forgoing children and/or seeking jobs and solace abroad? Ajit Balakrishnan (ajitb@rediffmail.com), founder and CEO, Rediff.com, is an Internet entrepreneur. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Disengagement from the LAC will remain a chimera because China has given enough indications that the PLA will not move back any more. China has even deployed drones to monitor and deny any patrolling by Indian troops even in the buffer zones which are all in Indian territory, explains Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd). IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The recent meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Wang Yi, director of the foreign affairs commission of the Communist party of China's central committee at Astana, Kazakhstan, is making big news. Different headlines read: 'Strategic India-China Dialogue', 'India-China Discuss LAC', and 'India-China Agree to Normalize Relations'. Some reports have emphasized the 'warm handshake' between Jaishankar and Wang; although expressions of both in the photograph showing them shaking hands are somber or at best bland. According to the media, Jaishankar met Wang on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit on July 4, 2024 and told him that India and China should redouble efforts for 'complete disengagement' of troops and restoring peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as part of efforts to normalise ties. Also, Jaishankar laid out India's 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. After the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X: '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.' A readout from the ministry of external affairs 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 tranquility 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 MEA brief says much more but is this anyway different from coverage of the many meetings Jaishankar and Wang have had since China invaded Eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020? Besides, this particular meeting appears to be a casual handshake on sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana. Had it been a 'strategic India-China dialogue', as being trumpeted, photographs of the two ministers sitting together to discuss the same would have been flashed all over. The fact is that India-China relations have deteriorated to such an extent that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in person at SCO Summit in Astana. Notably, at the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan (September 2022), attended by Modi and Xi, China distributed maps showing Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and J&K as part of Pakistan, as tweeted by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy in 2022. China is now assuming chairmanship of SCO. The US played another card by sending the Nancy Pelosi-led delegation to meet the Dalai Lama in order to rile China. This was despite the fact that the Pelosi delegation could have met the Dalai Lama when the latter was in the US for medical treatment. China has given no comment on the instant Jaishankar-Wang meeting. But on the boundary question, China has repeatedly been saying, that it does not 'represent the entirety of China-India relations, and it should be placed appropriately in bilateral relations and managed properly'. Notably, China redrew the LAC in Ladakh in 2020, crossing West of its 1959 claim line which India had never recognised (external link). Indian troops can't patrol 26 out of 65 patrolling points although these were established years back short of the LAC. IMAGE: Indian and Chinese troops and tanks disengage from the banks of the Pangong Tso lake area in eastern Ladakh in February 2021. Photograph: ANI Photo It does not matter that India denies any loss of territorial control in Ladakh and continues to ask for more and more military-to-military talks and Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meetings in order to keep the public guessing. China is happy with this because the PLA is well entrenched in the new locations that are being fortified further. China holds all the aces having emerged as India's largest trading partner and benefiting $100 billion annually through bilateral trade with India. Disengagement from the LAC will remain a chimera because China has given enough indications that the PLA will not move back any more. China has even deployed drones to monitor and deny any patrolling by Indian troops even in the buffer zones which are all in Indian territory. Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd), PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SC is a former Special Forces officer. He is a third generation army officer and participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War and in Operation Bluestar. He commanded a Special Forces Battalion in Sri Lanka, a Brigade on the Siachen Glacier, a Division in Ladakh and a Strike Corps in the South Western Theatre. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'The noise that we are hearing is because the five big IT players are not hiring significantly.' IMAGE: Doctors protest demanding recruitment opportunities in Bhubaneswar. Photograph: ANI Photo What is the employment scene in India suffering from? Unemployment? Under employment? Jobless growth? Whatever name you give to the current situation, the bitter reality is that youngsters are not getting jobs or the kind of job they studied to do. Even the government's Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data acknowledges the fact that 'underemployment metric is unsurprisingly high'. The CMIE's Consumer Pyramids Household Survey says that the unemployment rate in India rose to 8.1% in April 2024 from 7.45% in March 2024. Then comes the Deloitte Campus Workforce Trends 2024 survey that says, for the first time in five years, the projected salaries for management students are experiencing a drop of 5% to 10%. Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier asked Shantanu Rooj, CEO, Teamlease Edtech, what the real employment situation in India is right now. The first of a two-part interview. After the recent report that hiring of fresh engineering graduates is at a 20 year low, comes another report that says even MBA graduates from reputed institutes find it tough to land a job. Is it only happening at the entry level, or all across? There are certain industries where the hiring sentiments are low whereas there are other industries where hiring of graduates and post graduates is fairly good. We publish reports periodically and our latest career outlook report brings out an element of freshers hiring sentiments among various industries and employers. What we have found is that most of the industries are fairly bullish about hiring freshers. And the noise that we are hearing is because the five big IT players are not hiring significantly. IMAGE: Candidates queue to enter the examination hall to appear for a recruitment examination in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo Were the top IT giants not the ones that have been hiring in thousands? Absolutely. Yes, they were hiring not in thousands, but in hundreds of thousands. Now, when they told the market that they were not going to hire, the hiring sentiment is lost slightly more than what the reality is. The industries that are hiring are e-commerce and technology start-ups, and they continue to hire freshers, and in fact they are increasing the hiring intake. How do you compare these numbers with how the IT giants were hiring? Obviously, the numbers are not even comparable to what the big players hire. When the big players are not hiring, it means that 150,000 to 200,000 positions have vanished from the market for engineering graduates. The question is, who are the people who are filling the gap? We believe that e-commerce companies like food delivery companies, edtech companies, etc. are hiring in significant numbers because digital business in this country is growing. IMAGE: Shantanu Rooj, CEO, Teamlease Edtech. A new category of IT companies have come up, the Global Capability Centres and they are hiring in good numbers. Though none of them individually will be able to match the top five IT companies in hiring, when you look at it collectively, the situation is not that bad. Manufacturing, telecom, engineering infrastructure sectors are also hiring, and a large number of engineering graduates have landed up in these industries. But not many of them were looking at the core engineering placements at all. That must be leading to lack of hiring sentiments among them. If the IT giants were hiring between 150,000 to 200,000, these industries are hiring around 30,000 to 40,000 people. Telecom is hiring another 25,000 to 30,000 people. Then, why is it that the young graduates are uncertain about their future? There are two reasons. Number one is, the open positions that are available today are not matching their aspirations. For example, an IIT graduate aspires to get an annual salary of Rs 30 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs, but that's not happening this year. In fact, a lot of IITs have barred mid-size companies that offer Rs 15 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs from going there for recruitments. Naturally, they will say our students are not getting jobs. The students are a bit disillusioned by the remunerations offered by the IT services and global consulting companies today, and hence are not finding the current offers good enough. Secondly, they still are desisting from taking positions in the core engineering domains. They are waiting for the tide to turn, and the IT services positions to reopen. Part II of the Interview: 'Employers Are Not Looking For Just A Degree' Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com The BJP alliance needs to handle the Maratha quota issue skilfully and address its root cause, which is agrarian distress. Then there is stalled industrialisation. If these issues are addressed, caste fault lines would wither away. But, this is next to impossible in a short span of three-four months. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo Now that he is in the twilight of his political career, the name of Rajabhau Ganeshrao Thakre, a Kunbi leader from the cotton-growing district Yavatmal in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, does not ring a bell. But, almost three decades ago, in 1996, Thakre had hit the national headlines. In the Lok Sabha elections that year, the Congress overlooked its four-time sitting member of Parliament Uttamrao Deorao Patil, also a Kunbi leader, and parachuted then Union civil aviation minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to fight from Yavatmal. The Congress hoped it would be a safe landing for Azad in the constituency it had never lost. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded Thakre. In Vidarbha, the Kunbis, a dominant agrarian caste, traditionally support the Congress. When the ballots were opened on the counting day, Thakre had trounced Azad by a margin of 38,000 votes. Stung by the defeat, the Congress made a course correction. In the next Lok Sabha (LS) election, it brought back Patil, who wrested the seat from Thakre. The BJP too learnt its lessons. It sensed that with the right caste combination in the Mandal era, it could mount a serious challenge to the Congress. The BJP worked on the Mali-Dhangar-Vanjari (Madhav) caste combination in Maharashtra, says Sudhir Pathak, former editor of Tarun Bharat, a newspaper seen sympathetic to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Part of the BJP-Shiv Sena (undivided) strategy was to counter what is seen by election watchers in Vidarbha as the Congresss Dalit-Muslim-Kunbi formula. According to sources in the BJP, things started falling into place for the party after the Ram Janmabhoomi movement gained traction in the early 1990s. Sensing that the BJP was on the rise, a section of leaders of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the Congress wanted to jump ship, but were reluctant as they perceived the BJP as a Brahmin-Bania party. Gopinath Munde and Pramod Mahajan reached out to them and accommodated them in the Shiv Sena, projecting Balasaheb Thackeray, a non-Brahmin, as the Hindutva icon. Meanwhile, the BJP started silently mobilising the non-Kunbi OBC castes. To entice the Kunbi voter, wherever the Congress fielded a Mahar (a dominant scheduled caste to which B R Ambedkar belonged) candidate, the BJP-Shiv Sena turned to a non-dominant Scheduled Caste candidate. In the 2014 LS elections, this strategy of mobilising the non-dominant castes peaked, with the BJP-Shiv Sena (still undivided) winning all the 10 seats in the region. The erstwhile alliance bagged all but two seats in 2019 as well. In 2024, things went into reverse in Vidarbha, seen as a bellwether region in the 2014 and 2019 LS polls. The BJP-led alliance (Mahayuti) won only three of the 10 seats. The BJP could not counter the narrative of the Constitution is in danger set by the Opposition. Even some backward classes which supported it earlier voted against it, says Pathak. People also did not like the politics of breaking parties. What was the need to take in Ajit Pawar when you already had the Shinde Sena? he asks. For the assembly polls, the BJP will need to find a counter to this narrative as quickly as possible and ramp up its organisation. With no nagar panchayat and gram panchayat polls post-Covid, the BJP cadre felt demoralised as the party was seen to be governing through bureaucrats, say sources. Devanand Pawar, general secretary, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, says his party will win hands down in the assembly polls. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, there was no division in the votes of backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. Also, with several bigwigs switching to the BJP, the Congress had less infighting. The Congress alliance, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), bagged eight of the nine seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra. In 2019, the BJP alliance had bagged eight of these seats and won all nine in 2014. The Maratha might If the Dalit-Muslim-Kunbi maths rocked the Mahayuti boat in Vidarbha, the Maratha-Muslim-Dalit consolidation singed it across Maharashtra. In Marathwada, the nerve centre of the Maratha quota protests, the dominant Maratha community decisively voted out BJP candidates. Marathas voted against Mahayuti in Maratha vs Maratha contests. The only seat the BJP-led alliance could win in Marathwada was the one where the MVA had put up a non-Maratha candidate, says Shantanu Lamdhade, a psephologist. Elsewhere, like in Pune, the BJPs Maratha candidates won because the MVA had put up non-Maratha candidates, he adds. Though the Election Commission (EC) website does not show a caste-wise break-up on winning candidates, the data collated from independent sources shows as many as 28 Maratha/Maratha-Kunbi candidates and seven OBC candidates were elected in the 2024 LS polls. Maharashtra always had a residual Congress sympathy, says Kedar Naik, professor of political science, Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune. The Maratha agitation has hit the BJP. An unforeseen number of Maratha candidates have been elected. Marathas do not simply wield raw muscle power, but it is also institutional like sugar factories, agriculture produce marketing committees and educational institutes. Some OBCs have to collaborate with this power. Even Maratha stalwarts like former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who switched over to the BJP, could not save the day, says Naik, adding that the going would be tough for the BJP-led alliance in the assembly election. The BJP alliance needs to handle the Maratha quota issue skilfully and address its root cause, which is agrarian distress. Then there is stalled industrialisation. If these issues are addressed, caste fault lines would wither away. But, this is next to impossible in a short span of three-four months, says Naik. Beyond caste arithmetic, the floating voter seems to have gravitated towards the Congress alliance. There are legions of unemployed degree holders across rural and semi-urban belts in Maharashtra. Now, they arent finding brides. This issue has now snowballed into a social crisis. In 2014 and 2019, they had voted for the BJP, says Jaideep Hardikar, a freelance journalist who has covered rural distress in Maharashtra for over two decades. When general despondency sets in, Rs 1,000-3,000 doles do not elevate living standards. You have to offer something concrete. Three-four months is too little time to make amends. The MVA has momentum. The BJP will try to ring-fence its vote share, adds Hardikar. Some realignment may be in the offing, says Naik. Now the MVA will fight harder than ever because they stand a fighting chance. Many turncoats who joined the BJP not because of any ideological affinity but just to save their fiefdom may return to the MVA fold. But, MVA consolidation may see fragmentation. The possibility of the BJPs victory was a unifying factor in the Lok Sabha. Now that they have tasted victory, seat sharing wont be easythe Congress has already started speaking like the Big Brother. Mumbai Police succeeded in hunting down Mihir Shah, accused in the BMW hit-and-run case and son of a Shiv Sena politician, after two days of painstaking probe when his friend made the mistake of switching on his mobile phone only for 15 minutes. IMAGE: Police personnel inspect the BMW involved in the crash, at Worli Police Station in Mumbai on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo Mihir, 24, who had managed to evade the police since the accident on Sunday morning, was finally arrested from Virar near Mumbai. The luxury car driven by Mihir allegedly rammed into a two-wheeler from behind in the Worli area of south-central Mumbai on Sunday morning, resulting in the death of Kaveri Nakhwa (45), who was riding pillion, while her husband Pradeep survived with injuries. As per the police, Mihir Shah then fled from Kala Nagar area leaving his car and driver behind in an auto rickshaw, and reached his woman friend's residence in suburban Goregaon. The friend called Mihir's sister, who reached Goregaon, and took both Mihir and his friend to her Borivali residence, a senior police official said. The Shah family then decided to flee to a resort at Shahapur in Thane district in an Audi car. Mihir, his mother Meena, sisters Kinjal and Pooja and two friends stayed at the resort. After learning the identity of one of the friends accompanying Mihir, Mumbai Police tracked his number, but this friend too had switched off his mobile phone, the official said. On late Monday evening, Mihir along with his friend left the Shahapur resort and reached Virar, where his friend switched on his mobile phone for 15 minutes, he said. Police immediately tracked down the mobile tower location and intercepted the duo, the official added. As to Mihir's movements prior to the accident, the official said that after partying with friends at a bar in the Juhu area, Mihir Shah left with his driver for South Mumbai in the early hours. He was spotted in Marine Drive area around 4.30 am, driving the BMW car. Driver Rajrushi Bidawat was sitting next to him. As the vehicle reached Worli, the car hit the two-wheeler, killing Kaveri Nakhwa. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia, which he termed as a "devastating blow to peace efforts." IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a conversation in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, July 8, 2024. Photograph: @PMOIndia/X On Monday, Modi who is on a two-day visit to Russia met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter's house in suburban Moscow and images from the meeting showed the two leaders exchanging hugs and chatting. Zelenskyy took to social media platform X to post that Modi and Putin meeting on the day when 37 people, including three children, were killed and 170 others were injured due to Russia's missile strike at the largest children's hospital in Ukraine's capital city Kyiv. "In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia's brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day" the Ukrainian leader said. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also criticised Modi for meeting Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. "Self-styled Vishwaguru, who also gave himself the title of Vishwabandhu, is in Moscow the day a children's hospital in Ukraine is bombed. What happened to the 'Ukraine mein war rukwa di' boast?," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. The Moscow visit of Modi marks his first visit to Russia since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started in 2022. India has always advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and restore peace. Modi expressed gratitude to the Russian President for hosting him and stated that he looks forward to their talks, which will strengthen India-Russia friendship. "Gratitude to President Putin for hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this evening. Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia," Modi said on X on Monday. In a friendly gesture, Putin took Modi on a ride in his electric car around his residence, Novo-Ogaryovo. The Russian Embassy in India shared a video of the two leaders enjoying the drive, which followed a conversation between them. "Russia's President Vladimir Putin and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi @narendramodiin NovoOgaryovo RussiaIndia DruzhbaDosti," the Russian Embassy in India said on X while sharing the video. Rifleman Adarsh Negi spoke to his father over the phone on Sunday. The next day, Dalbir Singh Negi got another call, informing him about his son's death in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua. IMAGE: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami lays a wreath at the mortal remains of the five soldiers of state, who lost their lives in the Kathua terrorist attack, at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo The phone call on Monday evening left the family in Thati Dagar village of Uttarakhand's Tehri district in a state of shock. He was among the five soldiers from Uttarakhand killed in a terror attack on an Army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua on Monday. It was the fifth terror attack in the Jammu region within a month. In Pauri, Rifleman Anuj Negi's mother and wife fell unconscious upon receiving the news of his death. The scene was similar at Havildar Kamal Singh's home who has left behind his mother, wife and two daughters aged eight and four years. The 32-year-old Singh, who had just completed 10 years in service, had come home in Papadi Naudanu village two-and-a-half months ago to get his youngest daughter admitted to school, a local told PTI. His father Kesar Singh died a few years ago. Adarsh Negi, 25, a farmer's son, was the youngest of the three siblings. He had left his college studies midway to fulfil his dream of serving the country by being in the army. Dalbir Singh Negi said his son studied up to class 12 at Government Inter College in Piplidhar and then joined Garhwal University to do BSc. He left his studies to join the Garhwal Rifles, he said. "I spoke to him last on July 7 over the phone. He had come home in February and returned on March 26 to join duty," Dalbir Singh Negi said, fighting back his tears. In Pauri's Dobariya village, friends and relatives flocked to Anuj Negi's home to console his mother and wife, but in vain. The only son of his parents, Anuj Negi (26) got married in December last year. He rejoined duty four months after tying the knot, said Subhash Chandra Jakhmola, the gram pradhan of the nearby Jamri village. After doing his intermediate, Anuj Negi joined the Garhwal Rifles about five years ago and his mother had distributed sweets in the village, Jakhmola said. Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker and Kotdwar MLA Ritu Khanduri expressed grief over the death of the soldiers and said the country stands with their families. Khanduri said she is the daughter of an army man and can the pain of the bereaved families. "The armed forces will give a fitting reply to the terror attack," she said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Cabinet ministers Premchand Aggarwal and Ganesh Joshi placed a wreath on the coffins of the five martyrs as their mortal remains were brought to the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun. 'Five brave soldiers of Uttarakhand attained martyrdom during the cowardly terrorist attack in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. This is a moment of great pain for all of us,' Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a statement. 'Our bravehearts made the supreme sacrifice for their motherland in keeping with the rich military tradition of Uttarakhand,' he said, adding their 'sacrifice will not go in vain'. Terrorists, who are the enemies of humanity and guilty of this cowardly attack, will not be spared at any cost, he said, adding the people who sheltered them will also have to face the consequences. He said the entire state stands with their families in this hour of grief. Security forces tightened their cordon around a forest area in the higher reaches of Doda district on Tuesday evening following an encounter with hiding terrorists, officials said. IMAGE: An encounter between terrorists and Security personnel, in Doda on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo The authorities roped in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), deployed special forces and widened their search for the perpetrators of the deadly attack on an army patrol in Kathua district of Jammu region in which five soldiers were killed. Director General of Police R R Swain rushed to Kathua to oversee the operation in the remote Machedi region. The search for terrorists has been expanded to cover vast areas in Udhampur and Kathua districts, with Special Forces deployed to conduct surgical operations against the ultras, officials said. As the operations were continuing in Kathua, a fresh gunfight erupted at Ghadi Bhagwah forest, located 35 km east of Doda town, following a search and cordon operation based on specific intelligence about the presence of at least three foreign terrorists. Preliminary information revealed that at least two terrorists were hit by the retaliatory action and it is premature to say whether they are dead or injured, a police officer said. The gunfight between the two sides began in the Ghadi Bhagwah forest, 35 km east of Doda town bordering Kishtwar district, this evening when police assisted by the Army launched a joint search and cordon operation after a tipoff about the presence of terrorists in the area, the officials said. Heavy firing continued for a couple of hours before the guns fell silent, the police officer said. He said the search operation was temporarily suspended for the night and will be resumed Wednesday morning to get a clear picture of the situation. The clash in Doda came on the heels of the ambush of an army patrolling party on the rugged Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, approximately 150 km from Kathua district headquarters. The terror attack, which was the fifth in Jammu in one month, resulted in the death of five soldiers and injuries to as many personnel. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers from Uttarakhand -- Naib Subedar Anand Singh, Havaldar Kamal Singh, Rifleman Anuj Negi, Naik Vinod Singh and Rifleman Adarsh Negi. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the Pathankot army base in Punjab before their mortal remains were flown to their home state for final rites. A joint cordon and search operation involving the Army, police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been initiated in multiple areas, supported by aerial and ground teams equipped with advanced surveillance technology. The officials said that specialised forces were airdropped from a helicopter to track the terrorists involved in Monday's gunfight. Drones had been pressed into service to assist the troops marching into the dense forest. They said the search teams were being supported by helicopter and UAV surveillance besides sniffer dogs. The police chief was accompanied by ADGP, law and order, Vijay Kumar and ADGP, Jammu zone, Anand Jain during the aerial survey and review meeting held for the ongoing operations, they said. The scope of the search operation has been expanded to encompass large areas in the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua, including Basantgarh, Seoj (a high-altitude area in Udhampur), and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar, and Kindli in Kathua district. The Monday attack mirrored a similar pattern to the Bhimbher Gali-Mendhar terror incident involving an Army truck on April 21, 2023, where five soldiers lost their lives. The terrorists initiated firing on the vehicle's wheels, followed by bursts of gunfire targeting its front and left sides. Authorities have observed an increased presence of foreign terrorists in the region, with ongoing investigations delving into the weaponry and tactics employed in the recent attacks. The security forces remain vigilant in their efforts to neutralise the threat posed by these militants in the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda and Poonch-Rajouri-Reasi belts. The NIA will assist the Jammu and Kashmir police. A team of NIA officials has been sent to Kathua in the Jammu region to extend all possible support to the police in its investigation, they said and made it clear that the probe agency has not registered a case to investigate the terrorist attack. Condoling the loss of lives, President Droupadi Murmu described the terrorist attack as a 'cowardly act' and favoured firm counter-measures. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the killing of the soldiers and asserted that the armed forces are determined to usher in peace in the region. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said the killing of five Army personnel will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind it. Political parties have expressed concern over the recent spate of terror incidents in J-K, especially in the Jammu region where militancy was wiped out over two decades ago. The Congress said that the Jammu region 'becoming the centre of terror incidents' reflects the 'strategic failure' of the Modi government and demanded that the Centre should take the country into confidence on steps it is taking to deal with the situation. The opposition party also called for a befitting reply to Pakistan in the wake of the rising terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident is alarming, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said and accused the Union territory's administration of being lax towards the security situation. 'We have been saying time and again that militancy is a problem in J-K and you can't wish it away.... 'I think the administration in J-K needs to be more vigilant, I think they are showing rather lax tendency with regard to the security situation and hopefully attacks like this won't happen again,' he told PTI Videos. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met Kirti Chakra recipient Captain Anshuman Singh's mother, who later spoke against the Agnipath scheme and urged the government not to divide the Army into two categories. IMAGE: Kirti Chakra recipient Captain Anshuman Singh's mother Manju Singh speaks to the media after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Raebareli on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI on X Her appeal comes amid Gandhi raising questions on the Agnipath scheme and claiming that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh 'lied' in Parliament about the issue of compensation to the families of martyred Agniveers. "I request the government not to divide the Army into two categories," the late captain's mother Manju Singh told reporters after Gandhi met her at a guesthouse in Raebareli. The four-year job role is not appropriate as Agniveers who are let go would struggle to find another suitable career, she said while raising apprehension on the Army scheme launched in 2022 for short-term recruitment of jawans. "They (Agniveers) will be mentally and physically weak after four years after which they would be unable to pursue their studies... this is not good," she added. Her son was posthumously conferred the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Droupadi Murmu on July 5 during an investiture ceremony. Capt Singh died while rescuing people from a major fire in July last year. While he was returning to Delhi, Gandhi was asked about his meeting with the Army officer's mother. He said he will speak about the matter in Parliament. Gandhi had called the martyr's family, which resides in Lucknow, to meet them at the guest house. After meeting the Congress leader, the late captain's mother told reporters that Gandhi assured all possible support to their family. "Gandhi said that he requested the government to end the Agniveer scheme as it is not appropriate for the Army," she said. During his Raebareli visit, Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also visited the AIIMS there and met party workers and local residents of his constituency. After landing at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Lucknow, Gandhi left by road for Raebareli, which is about 80 km from the state capital. Party workers and leaders were at the Lucknow airport to give a warm send off to Rahul Gandhi. On the way to Raebareli, he stopped at Churwa temple near Bachhrawan and paid obeisance to Lord Hanuman. 'Rahul Gandhi worshipped at the Churwa Hanuman temple and prayed to Lord Hanuman for the happiness, peace and prosperity of the country,' the Congress party said on X. Gandhi reached the Bohemian guest house, where he met party workers, delegations including that of Indian Industries Association (IIA) and locals, a local party leader said. He also visited the martyrs' memorial in Lalganj and laid a wreath there and planted a sapling. He also visited AIIMS-Raebareli. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi won from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat by a margin of more than 3.90 lakh votes. India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward to resolve the Ukraine conflict as a solution can't be found on the battlefield, official sources said after the United States flagged concerns over the situation in the eastern European country ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's summit talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. IMAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia on July 8, 2024. Photograph: Sputnik/Sergei Bobylyov/Pool via Reuters India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty, the sources said. There is no solution on the battlefield and dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward, they said. Ahead of Modi-Putin talks, the US called upon India to make it clear to Russia that any resolution of the Ukraine conflict must respect the United Nations charter and Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. "India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in Washington when asked about PM Modi's ongoing visit to Moscow. The American official further added: "We would urge India, as we do any country when it engages with Russia, to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to be one that respects the UN charter, that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, Ukraine's sovereignty." Miller said the US has made clear to India its concerns about New Delhi's relationship with Moscow. "I will look to Prime Minister Modi's public remarks to see what he talked about. But as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia," he said. "So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, should respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Miller added. Prime Minister Modi on Monday began a two-day high-profile visit to Russia, primarily to hold the 22nd India-Russia summit with President Putin. It is Modi's first trip to Russia since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian president hosted a private dinner for the Indian prime minister at the former's residence in Novo-Ogarevo on the outskirts of Moscow on Monday night. The focus of the prime minister's visit is to advance an economic agenda, especially in areas of energy, trade, manufacturing and fertilisers, official sources said. The war in Ukraine is also set to figure prominently at the talks. New Delhi has been stoutly defending its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained the momentum in the ties notwithstanding the Ukraine conflict. India has not yet condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine and consistently pitched for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has held several telephonic conversations with Putin and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace efforts do not succeed in the midst of bombs and bullets even as he flagged concerns over a missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchange greetings during their visit to the Rosatom Pavilion, at the VDNkh Exhibition Centre, in Moscow on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo In his televised opening remarks at summit talks with Putin in the Kremlin, Modi said the killing of innocent children is heart-wrenching and very painful, a day after a suspected Russian missile struck a children's hospital in Kyiv triggered global outrage. "Let's take war, any conflict or terrorist acts: any person who believes in humanity feels pain when people die, and especially when innocent children die. When we feel such pain, the heart simply explodes, and I had the opportunity to talk about these issues with you yesterday," Modi told Putin. The prime minister held extensive discussions with Putin during a private meeting at the Russian leader's residence on Monday evening. The Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv was hit after Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles on cities across Ukraine. At least 38 people were killed including two in the hospital in the strikes. The Indian prime minister's remarks that appeared to be critical of Russia came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the Indian prime minister for hugging Putin. Modi began his two-day visit to Russia on Monday for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit that has been watched closely by the West in view of the Ukraine conflict. In his remarks, Modi said dialogue and diplomacy is the only way to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict and India is ready to make all possible contributions in resolving the crisis. "For a bright future of the future generations, peace is most essential. No solution is possible on the battlefield. Solutions and peace talks are not successful in the midst of bombs, guns and bullets and we have to find the path to peace through dialogue," he said. At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said Modi was 'very clear and categorical' in expressing his 'concern and regret' at the loss of innocent lives, especially at the children's hospital on Monday. "With regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, yes, this featured in discussions between the two leaders, both at the private discussions at dinner yesterday and in talks today," he said. A joint statement said the two sides highlighted the imperative of a peaceful resolution of the conflict around Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy including engagement between both parties. 'They noted with appreciation relevant proposals of mediation and good offices aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law and on the basis of the UN Charter in its entirety and totality,' it said. Kwatra said Modi clearly said that the solution to the conflict cannot be found on the battlefield and it is possible only through dialogue and diplomacy. In his remarks, Modi also said that India is willing to offer all possible support, contributions and cooperation required to find a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Indian prime minister assured the world community that India is on the side of peace and the conflict must be resolved through talks. "For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all possible ways," Modi said. The prime minister said he was satisfied that Putin had put across his views very openly at the meeting on Monday and that many 'interesting ideas' and a 'new thinking' had emerged from it. In his comments, Putin appreciated Modi's efforts to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis. "I appreciate the attention you pay to the most pressing issues, including your efforts to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, primarily through peaceful means," he said. The 22nd India-Russia annual summit took place a day after Modi arrived in Moscow on a two-day visit that has been watched closely by the West in view of the Ukraine conflict. "We would urge India, as we do any country when it engages with Russia, to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to be one that respects the UN charter, that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, Ukraine's sovereignty," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in Washington ahead of Modi-Putin talks. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy took objection to the Indian leader hugging Putin. 'A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble,' Zelenskyy said on 'X'. 'It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,' he said. In his comments, Modi touched upon his informal meeting with Putin on Monday evening and said listening to the Russian president lent 'hope'. At our meeting yesterday, we listened to each other's views on Ukraine and I also placed before you the Global South's expectation on peace and stability, Modi said. The prime minister appreciated the India-Russia cooperation in averting food, fuel, and fertiliser shortages for Indians in the past few years. When the world was facing a shortage of food, fuel and fertilisers, we did not allow our farmers to face any problem and our friendship with Russia played a role in that, Modi said. We could insulate common citizens in India from difficulties in terms of availability of petrol and diesel because of your cooperation, he said, adding India wants its cooperation with Russia to expand further. The prime minister also flagged concerns over the challenges of terrorism. India has been facing the challenge of terrorism for around 40 years; I condemn all sorts of terrorism, Modi said. After the summit, the prime minister described his discussions with Putin as "productive". "Held productive discussions with President Putin at the Kremlin today. Our talks covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in sectors such as trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation," he said. "We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people-to-people exchanges," he added. In his comments, Putin said trade between Russia and India grew by 66 per cent last year and added another 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. Russia and India cooperate closely in the international arena, including within international institutions, primarily the UN and organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS, he said. The joint statement said Modi and Putin unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations including the cross-border movement of terrorists. 'They strongly condemned the recent dastardly terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Kathua area of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8, in Dagestan on June 23 and on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22 and stressed that these terrorist attacks are a grim reminder for further strengthening cooperation to combat terrorism,' it said. It said the two sides called for an uncompromising fight against international terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations, noting the importance of increasing cooperation in this area, without hidden agendas and double standards. 'Besides, they stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy,' it said. The statement said both sides emphasised the primary responsibility of States and their competent authorities in combating terrorism and that global efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats must fully comply with their obligations under international law. 'They called for zero tolerance for terrorism and expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework as well as the implementation of the UNGA and the UNSC resolutions on countering terrorism and violent extremism, conducive to terrorism,' it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday officially conferred the 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle' award by Russian President Vladimir Putin for his contribution to fostering bilateral ties between the two countries. IMAGE: Russia's President Vladimir Putin awards Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called at the Kremlin in Moscow, on July 9, 2024. Photograph: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters In a special ceremony in St. Andrew Hall in the Kremlin, President Putin conferred the award on Prime Minister Modi. The award was announced in 2019. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award, which was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. While accepting the award, Prime Minister Modi dedicated it to the people of India and to the traditional bonds of friendship between India and Russia. He further stated that the recognition illuminates the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries, said a statement issued by the ministry of external affairs. "I am heartily grateful to you for conferring me with the highest civilian honour of Russia. This honour is not just mine, this is an honour of 140 crore Indians. This is an honour of the centuries-old and deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia," Modi said after receiving the award. Modi said under President Putin's leadership, India-Russia relations have strengthened in all directions and have scaled new heights. "The foundation of strategic ties between the two nations that you had laid has only further strengthened with the passing of time. Our mutual cooperation, based on people-to-partnership, is becoming the hope and guarantee of a better future of our people," he added. Later, in a post on X, Modi said, "Honoured to receive the Order of St Andrew the Apostle. I dedicate it to the people of India." Earlier, President Putin congratulated Modi for the highest Russian award and wished him good health, success and all the best. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for trying to help find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting, in Moscow on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo "I am grateful to you for the attention you pay to the most pressing issues, particularly trying to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, primarily through peaceful means," Putin was quoted as saying by the official TASS news agency. Putin made the statement during his talks with Modi here at the Kremlin, it said. In his televised opening remarks, Modi conveyed to Putin and assured the world community that India was on the side of peace and was ready to contribute to ending the conflict in Ukraine. "For a bright future for the new generation, peace is most essential...Peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets," he asserted. The prime minister also referred to his informal meeting with Putin on Monday and said listening to the Russian president lent 'hope'. "Everyone believing in humanity is pained if there is loss of lives. In that too, if innocent children are murdered; if innocent children die, it is heart-wrenching and very painful," Modi said, amidst growing international concerns over a suspected Russian missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv. India has not yet condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and consistently pitched for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Putin noted that Russia and India worked closely on the international stage. "We closely cooperate on the international stage, namely within international organisations," Putin was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency. He specified that cooperation was underway 'primarily within the UN and groups such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS'. "Yesterday, we had the opportunity to communicate in an informal atmosphere and talk about almost all the issues," Putin said. On Monday, the two leaders spent several hours together at Putin's residence outside Moscow. Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi constructively discussed the topic of Ukraine, with the Indian leader not claiming the role a mediator. "Modi is not claiming to be a mediator," Peskov said after the Russia-India bilateral talks, when asked what Russia thinks about the Indian prime minister's potential mediation on Ukraine. According to the Kremlin spokesman, Modi also suggests settlement proposals. "Everyone discusses peace, everyone wants peace and we want peace too, and we want our security to be ensures. That is why we exchange views," he said. Earlier, Peskov said he doubts that NATO countries will consider the peace initiatives of Prime Minister Modi. "A NATO summit is taking place these days. All the rhetoric that preceded it indicates that it is unlikely they will hear them, but we will continue to monitor what approaches will dominate there," he told the Telegram channel, Shot. But Peskov also said that 'more and more statesmen are really talking about dialogue'. "One can disagree about some things. One can disagree about many things. But if there is a dialogue, there is an opportunity to find solutions," Peskov said. Putin also said that he believes that Moscow and New Delhi maintain a privileged strategic partnership. "Our countries have enjoyed decades of good friendship," he said. "Today, our relations have the nature of a privileged strategic partnership," he added. The Russian leader expressed satisfaction with growing trade between the two countries which he said saw a 66 per cent increase last year 'and rose by another 20 per cent in the first quarter of this year'. Putin once again congratulated Modi on his re-election as Indian prime minister. He also noted that Modi had arrived in Russia for his first official foreign visit after he was sworn in for another term at the helm of the government following the Indian general election last month. Putin also invited Modi to the BRICS summit set to take place in the Russian city of Kazan in October. "We will be pleased to see you at the BRICS summit in Kazan this fall," the Russian leader said, addressing Modi. Russia holds the BRICS presidency this year. Prime Minister Modi has said he will come in Russia again in October to attend a BRICS summit in Kazan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. "Narendra Modi said that he is glad to accept [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin's invitation and will take part in the BRICS summit in Kazan this October," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Tass news agency. BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as its new members. Russia on Tuesday agreed to India's demand to ensure early release and return to home of the Indian nationals working in the Russian military as support staff after Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'very strongly' raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin. IMAGE: Several Indians have been duped into working in the Russian army. Photograph: Video grab/X Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian Army. "The prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army. This was taken up strongly by the prime minister and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals," he said. It is learnt that Modi raised the issue during his informal talks with Putin over dinner at the Russian leader's dacha or country home on Monday evening. "The prime minister raised the issue very strongly that we should try and get all the Indian nationals back to India as early as possible," Kwatra said at a media briefing. He said the two sides will work on how expeditiously the Indians can be brought back home. To a specific query, Kwatra said India anticipated the number of its nationals serving in the Russian military to be roughly between 35 to 50 out of which 10 were already brought back. "We have mentioned it in the past that while we do not have the precise indication on the specific numbers, we anticipate them to be roughly between 35 to 50 out of which we have managed to bring back 10 of them," he said. People familiar with the talks said Russia is expected to release the Indians from various Russian military units within weeks. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue of Indian nationals serving with the Russian Army remains a matter of 'utmost concern' and demanded action from Moscow over it. On June 11, India said two Indian nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, had recently been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which took the number of such deaths to four. Following the deaths of two Indians, the MEA demanded a "verified stop" to further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army. In a strongly-worded statement, it said India demanded that there be a 'verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army and that such activities would not be in "consonance with our partnership'. In March this year, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine. In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a 'security helper' in the Donetsk region. Prime Minister Modi was on a two-day high-profile visit to Russia from Monday to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Putin. India on Tuesday said cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology is an important pillar of the multifaceted cooperation with Russia, which offered help in building small tropical nuclear power stations. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a picture during their visit to the Rosatom Pavilion, at the VDNkh Exhibition Centre, in Moscow on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo An India-Russia joint statement after the conclusion of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the importance of cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a significant component of the strategic partnership. "Russia offers cooperation in building small tropical nuclear power stations to India with the possibility of their deep localisation, including transfer of the construction part to New Delhi," Chief Executive Officer of the state-run corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev said as he conducted a tour for Modi and Putin in the Atom Pavilion. "We offer cooperation possibilities for construction of tropical stations ... with very deep localisation. We can transfer the whole construction part to you," the CEO told Modi as he visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the All Russian Exhibition Centre, VDNKh in Moscow. Inaugurated in November 2023, VDNKh is one of the largest exhibitions in the history of scientific and technological developments. Modi also witnessed a photo exhibition dedicated to India-Russia cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy. 'Visited the Atom Pavilion with President Putin. Energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia and we are eager to further cement ties in this sector,' Modi posted on his official X platform along with the photographs from the visit. 'Prime Minister Modi was also shown the 'Atomic Symphony' -- a permanent working model of the VVER-1000 reactor, which is the heart of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in India,' a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Modi was in Moscow to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Putin. Russia and India are collaborating on building six 1,000 MW nuclear reactors in Kudankulam. Power units No. 1 and No. 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), being constructed with Russia's help since 1998, have already been commissioned. "The construction of power units No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 is also underway. The plan is to complete the construction fully by 2027. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has stated additional facilities search. In December 2021, New Delhi also promised to provide an area for construction of the second Russia-designed NPP," state-run news agency TASS said. The joint statement issued at the end of Modi's two-day visit, under the 'Civil Nuclear Cooperation, Cooperation in Space' said the two sides welcomed the progress achieved in the construction of the remaining nuclear power plant units at Kudankulam and agreed on adhering to the schedule, including to the timelines for delivery of supplies. Both sides noted the importance of further discussion on the second site in India in accordance with earlier signed agreements, it said, adding, 'They agreed to continue technical discussions on the VVER 1200 of the Russian design, localisation of equipment and joint manufacturing of NPP components as well as on cooperation in third countries.' The two sides also confirmed their intention to broaden cooperation in Nuclear Power including fuel cycle, life cycle support for operating KKNPPs and non-power applications. The MEA statement also said: 'At the Pavilion, the Prime Minister interacted with a group of Indian and Russian students. He encouraged them to look at future possibilities in the realm of science and technology, which could be harnessed for the benefit of future generations and for the planet.' 'Cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology is an important pillar of the multifaceted cooperation between India & Russia,' the MEA posted on X soon after the visit. Likhachev also said that Rosatom wants to develop 4G nuclear technologies in India. "We are currently developing the agenda of further cooperation. As we have tested each other and constructed very efficient relations in the present generation, the so-called 3+, we would like to move toward the fourth generation together," he said. TASS said quoting him from an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV news channel that 'those (the fourth generation) are fast reactors, fast-neutron reactors, there is further modification and development of our VVER technologies, water-water reactors, there is fuel cycle closure, as well as such groundwork areas as thermo-nuke and quantum technology'. Earlier on May 23, Department of Atomic Energy secretary Ajit Kumar Mohanty met with Likhachev and discussed ways to further bolster the nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries. The two sides had visited the site of the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) being built in Seversk, Tomsk region in Russia when a full-scale discussion took place on the prospective areas of the Russian-Indian cooperation in the nuclear field, a Rosatom statement had said then. A week before that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said India is looking for additional sites for Russian nuclear reactors. Meanwhile, the joint statement also noted the importance of cooperation in Space, and said the two sides welcomed the enhanced partnership between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Russian State Space Corporation 'Roscosmos' in the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including in the human spaceflight programmes, satellite navigation and planetary exploration. The Russian side also congratulated India on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 as a long stride in the exploration of outer space and the impressive progress made by India in science and engineering, which can be mutually beneficial for future cooperation. 'The two sides agreed to explore prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation in rocket engine development, production and use,' the statement added. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday claimed that Muslims are selling puja items at various Hindu pilgrimage sites by 'concealing' their identity and urged all state governments to take effective steps to prevent them from running such shops 'so that the faith of Hindus is not hurt'. Image only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo VHP secretary general Bajrang Bagra also appealed to people to remain vigilant and immediately inform the local administration if they find anyone from the minority community selling puja items near temples and other Hindu religious sites. 'We have recently received some information that Muslims have set up shops at some Hindu pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath and are selling prasada and other puja items to the devotees. Legally, nobody should have any objection to it. We also do not have,' Bagra said in a statement. 'But many incidents have come to light over the years when Muslim shopkeepers spat in the food, drinks and other eatables before giving them to the customers. Therefore, Muslims running shops at religious sites and selling prasada and puja items is a matter of concern,' he claimed. The VHP demands that all the state governments ensure that Muslims do not sell puja items at any Hindu religious site, Bagra said. 'They should be prohibited from selling puja items at Hindu religious sites so that the faith of Hindus is not hurt,' the senior VHP functionary added. VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal also claimed that Muslims are selling puja items near various temples and Hindu religious sites by 'concealing' their identity. He appealed to people to identify such shopkeepers and immediately inform the local administration. Bansal also urged the state governments to ensure that local administrations take effective steps on such complaints and maintain the sanctity of Hindu religious sites. The White House sparred with reporters on Monday over a Parkinson's specialist visiting the building eight times in eight months, as reflected in the visitors' log. IMAGE: United States President Joe Biden during a televised debate with former president Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters "I am feeling a little miffed around here about how information has been shared with the press corps by him," a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her daily news conference. The White House visitors' log suggests that Parkinson's specialist Dr Kevin Cannard visited the building eight times in eight months. The reporters wanted to know if President Joe Biden was seen by the Parkinson's specialist. "It does not matter how hard you push me, it does not matter how angry you get with me, I am not going to confirm a name. It does not matter if it is even in the log. I am not going to do that from here. What I can share with you is that the president has seen a neurologist for his physical three times," Jean-Pierre told the reporters. "It is more than what the last guy shared and it is in line with what George W Bush did. It is in line with what (Barack) Obama did. And so it is comprehensive. It is out there.... "I am not going to devolve somebody's name or confirm someone. I am not going to do that. That is -- as a privacy for that person. I am not going to do that. It does not matter how hard you push me. It does not matter how angry you get with me from here. I am just not going to do that. It is inappropriate and it is not acceptable, so I am not going to do it," Jean-Pierre said. Biden, she said, has seen a neurologist three times. "No findings, which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis that is coming from February," she added. "That is what the medical unit, the president's doctor shared and I shared, I said to you it has happened three times each time. There is a physical that occurs and we put out a comprehensive report, that is when he has been able to see -- to see a specialist. So that is what I can share," Jean-Pierre said. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High 56F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 38F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. StoryCorps kicked off their month-long stay in Brattleboro during a small event at the Harmony Lot on Friday, July 5, 2024. This is the third State Police at Carlisle said a Mechanicsburg woman faces charges after she imitated being an FBI agent looking to take custody of an inmate. BRATTLEBORO If you're coming by the Royal Diner on a Friday evening for ice cream or a smash burger and fries, you might find yourself walki China says a grounded ship on a disputed reef harmed the ecosystem, but the Philippines refutes it. An aerial view shows the BRP Sierra Madre on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023 The Philippines on Tuesday rejected criticism by China that the military vessel it grounded on a disputed reef in the South China Sea had damaged its coral ecosystem. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea Manilas name for the part of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone said in a statement that the accusation against the Philippines is false and a classic misdirection. It is China who has been found to have caused irreparable damage to corals, it said, It is China that jeopardized the natural habitat and the livelihood of thousands of Filipino fisherfolk. In 1999, Manila deliberately ran an old warship aground the BRP Sierra Madre to serve as a military outpost on Second Thomas Shoal, which it refers to as Ayungin. Confrontations there between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards have intensified in recent months. On Monday, China released a survey report on the supposed damage caused by the Philippines to the reef at the Second Thomas Shoal, which China calls Renai Jiao, and is claimed by both countries. The report commissioned by Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources said that the illegally grounded BRP Sierra Madre has gravely damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem. It added that Chinese scientists conducted a survey through satellite remote sensing and field investigation in April and found that not only had the ship grounding process inflicted fatal damage on the coral reef, but its prolonged grounding also has greatly inhibited the growth and recovery of corals in the surrounding area. Supposed dead corals underneath the Philippine BRP Sierra Madre military vessel in an undated photo released by Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources. (Handout via Xinhua) China said photos released with the report showed dead corals underneath the Philippine warship, with researchers calculating that the aggregate coverage of reef-building corals at the reef has declined by 38.2%. The report proposed that the Philippines promptly remove its ship from the shoal, thereby eliminating the source of pollution, and preventing further sustained and cumulative damage to the coral reef ecosystem. China claims most of the South China Sea and all the islands and reefs within the so-called nine-dash line that it draws on maps to mark historic rights to the waters. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled against all of Chinas claims but it refuses to accept it. Fake news and disinformation The Philippine task force called Chinas survey report an attempt to spread fake news and disinformation, as well as to conduct malign influence operations against the Philippines. It cited the 2016 arbitral award, which found that Chinese authorities were aware that their fishermen were harvesting endangered species on a substantial scale in the South China Sea using methods that inflicted severe damage on the coral reef environment. Additionally, they had not fulfilled their obligations to stop such activities, the task force said. The Philippines has collated evidence that China has been responsible for severe damage to corals at a number of reefs in the disputed waters, it said, calling for an independent, third-party marine scientific assessment by impartial recognized experts. It also invited neighboring countries to join the Philippines in pushing for a more united, coordinated, and sustained multilateral action to protect and preserve the marine and land biodiversity in our region. RELATED STORIES South China Sea coral reefs under severe threat: report Vietnam rapidly builds up South China Sea reef Overfishing fuels South China Sea tensions, risks armed conflict, researcher says The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, or AMTI, at the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a report last December that China had caused the most reef destruction through dredging and landfill while developing artificial islands in the South China Sea. More than 6,200 acres (25 square km) of coral reef have been destroyed by island building efforts in the South China Sea, with 75% of the damage equivalent to roughly 4,648 acres (19km2) being done by China, according to AMTI. Another 16,353 acres (66 square km) of coral reef were damaged due to giant clam harvesting operations by Chinese fishermen, it said. China dismissed the AMTI report as false and said it was based on old satellite images. Chinese officials maintain that China continues to give importance to protecting the environment in the South China Sea. Jason Gutierrez in Manila contributed to this report. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Lawyer is sent back to his place of household registration after serving 3 1/2 years for subversion. Chinese authorities have released human rights attorney Chang Weiping, sending him to live in the southern island province of Hainan under a travel ban following the completion of his 3 1/2-year jail term for "subversion," his U.S.-based wife said on Tuesday. Chang was released from Weinan Prison near his birthplace in the northern province of Shaanxi on July 8, his wife Chen Zijuan told RFA Mandarin in an interview. She said prison officers took him to Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan, where his household registration, or hukou, is, but a place he has scant ties to now. "Our family doesn't have any property or any relatives there," Chen said. "According to my understanding of the law, someone who has been released from prison ought to be free." Chang was arrested after attending a gathering of dissidents in the southeastern city of Xiamen in December 2019, and sentenced to three-and-a-half years for incitement to subvert state power. The sentence came eight weeks after authorities in Shandong province handed down a 14-year sentence to prominent dissident Xu Zhiyong and a 12-year term to rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi, who also attended the Xiamen gathering, on the same charges, prompting an international outcry. The Amnesty International Facebook page announces Changs release from prison in a July 8, 2024 post. (Amnesty International via Facebook) Subversion charges are frequently used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to target critics of the regime. Before his trial, Chang was held for a long time under residential surveillance at a designated location, which rights groups say is associated with a higher risk of torture and mistreatment in detention. Lawyers representing Chang, Xu and Ding have all reported that they were tortured during their time in pretrial detention. Using the system Chinas hukou registration system dates back to the Mao era of collective farming and a planned economy, enabling each household to access services only from its place of registration. The system was reformed in 2014 to supposedly rely on a person's place of residence and job rather than their birthplace, although major cities remain out of reach for the majority of migrants. Chen Zijuan, the U.S.-based wife of rights lawyer Chang Weiping, in an undated file photo. (Courtesy of Chen Zijuan) But the system is also used by law enforcement agencies to insist that dissidents, rights lawyers and other people viewed as troublemakers are kept away from their old lives, and out of Chinas biggest cities. Chen, who fled China with the couple's young son in 2022 after Chang's sentencing, said the local judicial affairs department had also slapped a two-year international travel ban on her husband. However, he has received a visit from his father, and is currently permitted to go out to shop and eat, she said. Chang's release comes on the ninth anniversary of the mass arrests of human rights lawyers in China, and the treatment of his former colleagues doesn't augur well for his future if he stays in China, Chen said. "None of the lawyers targeted by the Chinese Communist Party crackdown have been able to live a normal life since their release from prison," Chen said. "[Chang Weiping] will also lose his license to practice as a lawyer, so he won't be able to work in China as a lawyer." "He's going to find it hard to get by," she said, adding that she hopes Chang will eventually be allowed to join her and the couple's son in the United States. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Chinese troops have arrived in Laos for a two-week exercise with the Lao military on the outskirts of Vientiane, just weeks after a similar training in Cambodia thats part of a push by Beijing to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries. Some 300 Chinese troops and about 900 Lao military personnel are participating in the Laos-China Friendship Shield-2024 exercise, which began on July 5, according to Lt. Col. Santi Chanthalangsone, who directs training for Laos armed forces. Most of the Chinese participants and military equipment arrived on the newly constructed Laos-China railway, which was funded mostly through loans from Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. Participants will focus on technical cooperation and how to use armed vehicles and weapons, Santi Chanthalangsone told local media on July 5. The Chinese side might have weapons and experiences that can be shared with us, he said. The drill will help strengthen our military ties, organize and modernize our armed forces. Soldiers unload military vehicles at Phonhong Railway Station in Laos Vientiane province on July 2, 2024. (Yi Ding/Xinhua via Getty Images) The exercises at the Kommadam Military Academy will last until July 18, he said. Chinas backyard The two militaries also held exercises in May 2023, when they trained for a joint attack on transnational armed crime syndicates operating in a mountain jungle environment. Laos also participated in military exercises in Chinas Guangdong province last November that included the militaries from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Laos dire economic conditions and its large national debt most of which is owed to China means that it realistically cant hold military exercises with anyone else, according to Prof. Adisorn Semyaem, a researcher on Lao studies at Thailands Chulalongkorn University. The drill could affect its ties with Vietnam. It wont be easy for Laos. Laos and Vietnam share the same border, he said. But Laos is also in Chinas backyard. Soldiers unload military vehicles at Phonhong Railway Station in Laos Vientiane province, July 1, 2024. (Yi Ding/Xinhua via Getty Images) China has been seeking closer military-to-military cooperation with its regional neighbors to respond to what it calls interference from the United States and its allies. The United States conducts annual war games in Indonesia and Thailand, and in April it held a large-scale drill with its mutual defense treaty partner, the Philippines. In May, Chinese troops went to Sihanoukville in Cambodia to take part in the largest ever bilateral military exercise between those two countries. Chinese warships have also been spotted since December at a new Chinese-built pier at Cambodias Ream Naval Base. Cambodia has repeatedly denied that China is being given exclusive military access to the base. Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Myanmars junta-led election organizer has rejected the applications of two ethnic minority political parties to run in a general election expected next year, the junta-backed Myanmar Alin newspaper reported. The Union Election Commission barred both the Democracy and Human Rights Party, founded by the mainly-Muslim Rohingya group, and the Kachin National Congress Party, representing the Kachin people, from its proposed 2025 election. The commission told junta-backed newspapers that the Democracy and Human Rights Party was barred because it did not comply with the branding and policy requirements of the Political Parties Registration Law, but it didnt specify which point the group had violated. The partys secretary general, Kyaw Soe Aung, told Radio Free Asia that it had not received any specific information from the commission. The Union Election Commission has not yet responded to us in detail, so it is difficult to say, he said on Tuesday. We have to see if we will be allowed to amend the violations we were rejected for. The Democracy and Human Rights party has resurfaced multiple times throughout the countrys complicated political history. It was founded in 1989 and won four seats in a 1990 election, after which it dissolved and re-registered in 2013. A Democracy and Human Rights Party spokeswoman gives a speech on Sept. 21, 2020. (Junta Ministry of Information ) The Kachin National Congress Party, which was founded in 1949, was barred from the election under Section 6 of the political party law, which prohibits groups from carrying out speeches or campaigns that cause ethnic conflict. In 2021, Kachin National Congress Chairman M. Kawn La criticized Chinese investment on social media and was sentenced to two years in prison under notorious defamation laws. He was released in 2023. The party did not respond to RFAs inquiries by the time of publication. RELATED STORIES Protesters arrested in Myanmar over marches on ousted leader's birthday ASEAN special envoy meets with Myanmar junta leader Myanmar's junta leader says nationwide elections may not be possible In November 2020, the National League for Democracy party, led by the now-jailed Nobel Peace Laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi, swept to power in a general election. However, the following February, the military overthrew the civilian-led government claiming the election was invalid due to voter fraud and incorrect voter registration lists. The junta is expected to extend a state of emergency imposed since the 2021 coup for another six months on Aug. 1. A sixth extension of emergency rule would push back the date of an election as the constitution mandates that an election must be held within six months after a state of emergency is lifted. Opponents of military rule say the juntas promised election will be a sham given that the countrys most popular political leader, Suu Kyi, has been jailed for 27 years on charges she denies, and the election organizer has banned more than 80 parties from any political activity. Junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing told Russias ITAR-TASS news agency in March he planned to hold elections if and when peace and stability could be restored, although he did not set a date. In early October, junta officials will hold a census to draw up voting lists for a general election to be held in 2025, according to Min Aung Hlaings statements to junta-backed newspapers. On Jan. 26, 2023, the junta amended the political party law, to require that all parties re-register under the military regime within 60 days. The election commission says it has accepted the applications of 49 parties and rejected six. Recently, the commission banned the Rakhine state based Arakan National Party on the grounds that it was engaged in activities that supported terrorism. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn. An aid worker says that at least 15 residents near Lashio have been killed from artillery fire since July 3. An image of destruction from Lashios armed conflicts posted on the PSLF/TNLA telegram channel, July 3, 2024. Some 50,000 people have fled their homes over the last five days amid renewed fighting around Lashio, the capital of northern Shan state, residents and relief workers told Radio Free Asia. At least 15 civilians have been killed since July 3, when forces allied with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDA, began an offensive in the township around Lashio, which is home to the military juntas Northeastern Military Commands headquarters. Battles have since taken place in Nam Tong, Man Hawng, Nam Ma Baw Da and Nawng Mun villages. Most of the deaths happened in one area of Lashio township that was struck by artillery fire during the first day of fighting, an aid worker who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons told Radio Free Asia. Several other residential areas have since been hit by artillery attacks. The artillery fire occurs frequently until now, the aid worker said. The residents have fled their homes in these areas. A heavy artillery shell that was dropped on another neighborhood on Sunday injured three Buddhist novices and two civilians, he said. Residents flee from armed conflicts in Lashio township, July 2024, northern Shan state, Myanmar. (Citizen Photo) Residents of Lashio township have been heading south toward the city of Taunggyi, the capital of Shan state that is about 340 km (210 miles) away, one resident told RFA. Others aimed to look for shelter in the Mandalay region or in the commercial capital of Yangon, he said. Lashio sits at the junction of a highway that connects mainland Myanmar to the Chinese border to the north. Fighting between Lashio-based junta soldiers and insurgents resumed on June 25 after the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by Chinese officials in a series of meetings that began in January. The Taang National Liberation Army, an ally of the MNDAA, announced the capture of 26 junta camps in the days following the end of the ceasefire. The TNLA and other resistance forces in Mandalay have been attacking junta outposts in four townships in northern Shan state and Mandalay region. RFA tried to contact MNDAA spokesperson Li Kya Win and the juntas spokesperson for Shan state, Khun Thein Maung, for more details on the fighting, but neither of them answered the phone. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Residents have been trying to flee the area for more than a week after the breakdown of a ceasefire. A triptych shows a road in Mogoke, Myanmar choked with traffic July 4, 2024, left and right images, and July 9, 2024, center image. Several thousand people have been stranded for 10 days on a major highway in Myanmars Mandalay region after residents fled from the ruby mine township of Mogoke, where intense fighting between the military junta and insurgent forces resumed late last month. Residents told Radio Free Asia that about 300 vans and about 50 trucks most carrying people as well as hundreds of motorbikes, have been stuck between military junta checkpoints on the Mogoke-Mandalay highway. People started traveling south toward Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city, after a ceasefire in place since January broke down on June 25 when the Taang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, resumed fighting across northern Shan state and Mandalay regions. Thousands had to stop for more than a week when junta troops blocked the road in Thabeikkyin township, residents said. Among them were pregnant women and people with chronic diseases or gunshot wounds. They were allowed to proceed on the highway Tuesday morning but another checkpoint further down south in the township left them stuck once again, the residents said. The security checkpoint was opened because people were rushing despite the ongoing battle, one resident said, citing nearby fighting between the military and anti-junta forces. The gate was opened even though the road wasnt safe. A five-month long ceasefire ended last month after the TNLA accused junta forces of repeatedly carrying out drone and artillery attacks and airstrikes in several townships in Shan state, including Mogoke. As part of a renewed offensive, the TNLA and its allies attacked two junta infantry battalions in Mogoke, which is about 200 km (120 miles) north of Mandalay city. The TNLA is one of three forces in the Three Brotherhood Alliance that launched Operation 1027 in October. In January, Chinese officials brokered the ceasefire between the three allied armies and junta forces as fighting late last year was posing a risk to Chinese economic interests across the country. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. School buildings are often targeted by indiscriminate airstrikes or shelling from artillery. Screenshot from a July 2, 2024, RFA Burmese-language video reporting that nearly 14,000 public schools in Myanmar remain closed by the ongoing civil war. More than a quarter or about 13,700 of Myanmars 48,753 public schools have been closed due to the countrys civil war, the military juntas Ministry of Education said. In western Chin state, which has seen fierce fighting since the 2021 military coup detat, only 38 schools out of some 1,500 are still open, according to figures released by the ministry. In neighboring Sagaing region, where the coup triggered an insurgency by members of the majority Burman community in Myanmars heartland, more than 4,200 schools have been closed. Junta troops often target civilian homes and other buildings including schools during or after ground battles with insurgents. Children have suffered a lot in education, said U Htay, a resident of Ma Taw village in Sagaings Mingin township. They have lost their dream. We see that their potential to become outstanding citizens is being destroyed. Most schools remain open in the commercial capital of Yangon and nearby Ayeyarwady region, the ministry said. The shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, has opened more than 4,300 schools nationwide in areas controlled by insurgent forces. NUG was formed by pro-democracy politicians and allies following the coup. But even those schools have been targeted by the juntas indiscriminate airstrikes, the NUGs deputy minister for education, Sai Khine Myo Tun, told Radio Free Asia. Intense fighting in eastern Kayah state has also put students at risk. But the Karenni state Interim Executive Council has still opened more than 400 schools there since 2021, the council said. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Retail items made with Uyghur forced labor can be shipped directly to US consumers. A worker packages spools of cotton yarn at a Huafu Fashion plant, as seen during a government organized trip for foreign journalists, in Aksu in western China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. A loophole that allows Chinese retail companies to sidestep a ban on importing goods made using slave labor into the United States has come into the crosshairs of U.S. officials and legislators, with a move underway to close the discrepancy by the end of the year. The de minimis exception to customs inspections allows people and companies sending goods from overseas to bypass the regular scrutiny and taxing of the imports if a packages total value is less than $800. It was meant to provide a simplified customs process for one-off packages sent into the United States, or for Americans returning from vacations overseas with relatively low-value goods or souvenirs. But critics say Chinese online retail companies like Shein and Temu have exploited the provision by selling large volumes of cheap clothing directly to consumers, allowing them to skirt inspections intended to prevent goods made with Uyghur forced labor to enter America. Speaking at an event on Uyghur forced labor on Tuesday, Alejandro Mayorkas, the U.S. secretary of homeland security, said that the de minimis loophole was causing havoc for customs inspectors. A worker picks cotton during the harvest season in Hami, in northwest China's Xinjiang region, October 23, 2010. (AFP) Hundreds of millions of packages enter the United States under the exception each year, he said, creating a logistical nightmare for law enforcement inspecting goods at airports and postal facilities. We receive 4 million packages a day under the de minimis exception and, look, we can't screen all 4 million a day, even though AI is going to enhance our capabilities, Mayorkas said at the event, which was hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. When such packages were inspected, he said, violations of laws like the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act were common. It is stunning from a point of view of forced labor, Mayorkas said. It is stunning from a point of view of narcotics, controlled substances and what [else] enters, and ghost guns, and all sorts of contraband. The de minimis exception is built on a false premise that low-value means low-risk, he added, vowing to prioritize solving the issue. Congressional action Identifying and solving the issues raised by the de minimis loophole have proved to be two different beasts, though, with lawmakers last year having already called for changes to remove the exception. Theres few solutions to completely close the loophole besides requiring all packages from overseas to be subjected to the more stringent levels of customs declarations for regular imports. Related stories Fast-fashion outlets may be skirting Uyghur slave labor laws US House panel urges further action on Uyghur forced labor China says its camps are closed, but Uyghurs remain under threat However, House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday suggested one way to at least reduce the loophole would be removing the de minimis exception from any imported goods that would normally be subjected to U.S. tariffs, and pledged to shepherd legislation through Congress. Well reign-in the de minimis privilege and that will help stymie China's attempts to exploit American trade, Johnson told an event at New Yorks Hudson Institute. Our goal is to have a significant package of China related legislation signed into law by the end of this year. An SAIC Volkswagen plant is seen in the outskirts of Urumqi in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, April 22, 2021. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Both Temu and Shein have denied that any of their products were produced using slave labor. Chinas government, meanwhile, denies Uyghurs are imprisoned and forced to produce goods, insisting they are in vocational training programs to alleviate poverty. But at Tuesdays event, Mayorkas said that preventing any goods made with Uyghur slave labor from entering the United States was a humanitarian imperative, even if Beijing denies such slavery exists. He said trying to engage diplomatically with the Chinese government on the situation of the Uyghurs was an ongoing process. We have areas of agreement, we have areas of disagreement, and we continue to dialog and see what progress we can make, he said. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Many are Montagnards from the countrys Central Highlands. In this 2004 photo, a Vietnamese Montagnard emerges from dense forest in Cambodia's northeastern province of Ratanakiri, seeking asylum. A global religious rights group says its concerned about the fate of 11 Vietnamese Christians, imprisoned for their beliefs, who it says are now missing. Washington-based International Christian Concern, or ICC, said on July 5 that the six Protestant and five Catholic men were sentenced between 2011 and 2016 to a total of 90 years and eight months in prison. Among them are Degar Protestants Ro Mah Pla, Siu Hlom, Rmah Bloanh and Rmah Khil, accused of undermining national unity policy. ICC said the other two Protestants were punished for refusing to deny Christianity. Sung A Khua was imprisoned for two years and two months on Jan. 2, 2019. Prior to his arrest, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said his family were reportedly expelled from their village and their home was destroyed because they refused to renounce Christianity. While his sentence should have ended in March 2021, Sung A Khuas whereabouts are still unknown. The other Protestant, Y Hriam Kpa, was arrested for refusing to close his church. RELATED STORIES At Vatican, Pope Francis meets with Vietnamese Communist Party officials Vietnamese police detain three Protestant house church members in Dak Lak INTERVIEW: Vietnams oppression of the Protestant Hmong people Degar is the term the government uses to refer to non-state sanctioned Protestant Montagnards living in Vietnams Central Highlands, who say they have long been persecuted for their beliefs. In January, 100 individuals from Dak Lak province an area populated by around 30 minority tribes were tried for an attack on two Peoples Commune headquarters that left nine people dead. Ten were sentenced to life in prison on terrorism charges. The remainder were handed sentences ranging from three-and-a-half years to 20 years, mostly on terrorism-related charges. ICC said the five Catholics Runh, A Kuin, A Tik, Run, and Dinh Kuh were also accused of undermining national unity policy for taking part in Ha Mon Catholic Church activities, which are also not sanctioned by the state. The Vietnamese government adopted the Law of Belief and Religion in 2018, which requires religious followers to register with the government before practicing their faith. About 7% of Vietnams roughly 97 million people are Roman Catholic, partly as a result of evangelism by missionaries from Portugal and Spain beginning in the 16th century. Pope Francis has accepted an invitation to travel to Vietnam which is expected to take place later this year. The missing Christian prisoners speak to a larger problem within the Vietnamese legal framework for the nations minorities, like the Degar Protestants and Ha Mon Catholics, ICC said in a statement. Radio Free Asia called Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its reaction to international concern over the fate of the missing Christians but no one answered the phone. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. No reason given, but Truong Huu Loc says it was because he could be a whistleblower about prison conditions. A large-scale demonstration against draft laws on Special Economic Zones and Cybersecurity in Ho Chi Minh City on June 10, 2018. A Vietnamese man who was sentenced to eight years in prison after feeding protesters in 2018 was released two years early. No clear reason was given, but Truong Huu Loc told Radio Free Asia that he believed he was let go because he could potentially serve as a whistleblower on the condition of the countrys prisons. Loc, born in 1963, was arrested after bringing bread and water to protesters in a mass demonstration against draft laws on Special Economic Zones and cybersecurity in Ho Chi Minh City on June 10, 2018. He was prosecuted for disturbing security under Clause 1 of Article 118, Vietnams Penal Code, and in June 2019 he was sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of probation. Friends, relatives and his defense lawyer were not present at the trial. Loc told RFA Vietnamese he thought he was let go early because he had sent letters to prison and government officials detailing corruption and mistreatment among prison staff. They tried to find a way to reduce my sentence to transfer me to another prison so that I could no longer sabotage their business, he said. They were afraid that I would send the information out. He explained that some of the illicit activities included bribery for favors and brutal treatment of those convicted of violent crime. When prisoners could be considered for sentence relegation, they sent their staff to solicit bribes in exchange for sentence reduction, said Loc. RFA was not able to verify Locs claims; calls to two prisons where Loc was interned went unanswered. According to Loc, he also might have been shown leniency because he never denied any of the activities that led to his charges, and he paid all his court fees Loc said that he was arrested together with more than 10 other people. These people were beaten brutally while he got only a kick, he said, but he was the only person prosecuted and convicted while the others were released after several days of temporary detention. After six years in prison, Loc said his health deteriorated significantly due to harsh prison conditions. He said he suffers from high blood pressure, spinal degeneration, and depression. He said his first goal upon release is to become healthier. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. An international human rights coalition said that Thailand would violate its obligations under domestic and international law if they extradite human rights activist Y Quynh Bdap back to Vietnam. Bdap, a member of an ethnic minority in Vietnams Central Highlands, is expected to stand an extradition trial held by a criminal court in Bangkok on July 15. Vietnamese authorities sentenced him in absentia to 10 years in prison, claiming he was involved in 2023 attacks on two public agency headquarters in Dak Lak province last year that left nine people dead, even though he has been in Thailand and recognized as a refugee since 2018. The area where the attacks took place is home to about 30 indigenous tribes who have a long history of conflict with the Vietnamese majority, and claim they have been discriminated against and persecuted. They are often referred to as Montagnards, a term coined by French colonialists to describe the tribes, many of whom are Christians, but Vietnam has rejected use of the term. On June 11, about a year after the attacks, Thai police arrested him. It was one day after he had met with Canadian diplomats to discuss his resettlement there as a refugee. On July 4, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders a partnership of the World Organization Against Torture and the International Federation for Human Rights called for an urgent intervention into Bdaps case. If forcibly repatriated, Y Quynh Bdap faces arbitrary imprisonment and the risk of torture, the group said. Y Quynh BDap in an undated image from an RFA video screen grab July 8, 2024. (RFA) Thailand would blatantly violate its obligations under domestic law and international treaties, notably the principle of non-refoulement enshrined in Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and in Thailands Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearances, it said. This new law, which took effect on Feb. 22, 2023, explicitly prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face torture, ill-treatment, and enforced disappearance, the group said. The group said that returning Y Quynh Bpab would violate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which Thailand ratified and which came into effect on June 13, 2024. Related Stories Thai police arrest Vietnamese activist convicted in 2023 attack Vietnamese police track down Montagnards in Thailand Vietnam labels 2 foreign-based groups terrorist organizations 10 defendants given life sentences for Dak Lak attacks The observatory strongly condemned Thai authorities arbitrary detention of Y Quynh Bdap, saying that it was aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities. The organization also called on the Thai government to immediately and unconditionally release him. Huynh Trong Man, who has been living as a refugee in Thailand since he left Vietnam after actively participating in the demonstration against the draft laws on Special Economic Zone and Cybersecurity in Ho Chi Minh City on June 10, 2018. He told RFA Vietnamese that Bdap was unfairly sentenced to 10 years in prison on the fabricated charge of terrorism. Y Quynh BDap in an undated image from an RFA video screen grab July 8, 2024. (RFA) Man called Thai polices arrest and detention of Bdap, made at the request of Vietnam, illegitimate, and said extraditing him would violate Bangkoks human rights commitments. Man also said the Thai Royal Police should not arrest activists who were taking refuge in Thailand and urged sponsor countries to complete immigration procedures for refugees quickly to protect them from danger. RFA sent emails to the Thai prime minister, foreign minister, minister of justice, and head of the Thai Royal Police to seek comments on the aforementioned call of the human rights coalition but did not receive a response at press time. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Eugene Whong. TBILISI -- The European Union says it has halted Georgia's accession process and frozen 30 million euros in assistance to its Defense Ministry after the country's lawmakers approved controversial legislation seen as a measure to crack down on dissent. European Union Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski told reporters in Tbilisi during an event on July 9 that the bloc was considering further measures if the situation in the country "further deteriorates." Herczynski described the move as a response of the controversial "foreign agents" law, known as the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and recent anti-democratic steps taken by the former Soviet republic's government. "The Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence is a clear backslide on nine steps, and the anti-Western, anti-European rhetoric is fully incompatible with the stated aim of joining the European Union," Herczynski said, adding that the decision to halt Georgia's EU accession process had been made on June 27. Herczynski said he hopes Tbilisi will reconsider some of its recent decisions after a new government is formed following parliamentary elections in October. "I sincerely hope that on October 26, Georgians will make the right choice and the future government, whoever wins the elections, will return very quickly and resume hard work towards Georgia's accession to the European Union," Herczynski stressed. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called the EU's move "a response" to the "anti-European and anti-Western rhetoric and actions" by the government and the ruling Georgian Dream party. "While this is a response to the ruling party's foolish and hostile policy towards [the EU], at the same time it is a warning to the public: our partners tell us that 'the choice is yours' -- either Georgia gets a secure European future or moves into an isolated Russian orbit," Zurabishvili said. On May 28, lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party overrode Zurabishvili's veto, further propelling the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence toward enactment. Dubbed "the Russian law" by Georgian protesters for its similarities to a law in Russia that has helped the Kremlin jail, fine, and marginalize dissent, EU officials have warned it will "negatively impact Georgia's EU path." Meanwhile, Washington has announced visa bans and a "comprehensive review" of bilateral relations, and other international critics have decried the law as "weaponized transparency." Last week, the U.S. State Department said in a statement that it had indefinitely postponed the planned Noble Partner military exercises with Georgia, which Tbilisi has been hosting since 2016, as part of the review of the policy of relations with Georgia. The U.S. Defense Department said the decision was made, due "to the Georgian government's false accusations against the United States and other western entities, to pressure Georgia to open a second front against Russia to alleviate pressure on Ukraine, and of participating in two coup attempts against the ruling party." Lawyers for imprisoned outspoken Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who suffers from a nerve disorder, say they have been barred from seeing him for a fourth time while his wife says he has been held incommunicado for a week, raising fears over his well-being. "They did not allow the lawyers to get in once again. We have not heard anything from Vladimir Kara-Murza since July 2. His lawyers were told on July 4 that Volodya was transferred to a prison hospital for 'a checkup.' But the lawyers have not been allowed to enter the hospital since last Thursday," Yevgenia Kara-Murza wrote on the X social network on July 9. Sunna Aevarsdottir, the general rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said: "It is absolutely unacceptable to deliberately prevent a family from knowing why their loved one is in hospital and what his current state of health is." "Following the death of Aleksei Navalny in prison earlier this year, there are widespread fears that the Russian regime is arranging for its most prominent critics to die behind bars, she said. Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny died in an Arctic prison in February under mysterious circumstances. The Free Russia Foundation also issued a statement demanding "immediate and unrestricted access for Kara-Murza's lawyers to evaluate his condition and ensure that he is receiving necessary medical care." "We urgently call upon the international community to join us in applying intense pressure on the Russian government to respect Kara-Murza's fundamental rights and to provide full transparency regarding his situation," the foundation said in the statement. In April 2023, Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of discrediting the Russian military and treason over remarks he made about Kremlin policies. The 42-year-old's current medical condition appeared after he suddenly fell deathly ill on two separate occasions in Moscow -- in 2015 and 2017-- with symptoms consistent with poisoning. Tissue samples smuggled from Russia to the United States by his relatives were turned over to the FBI, which investigated the case as one of "intentional poisoning." U.S. government laboratories also conducted extensive tests on the samples, but documents released by the Justice Department suggest they were unable to reach a conclusive finding. Kara-Murza holds Russian and British passports. He was initially arrested in April 2022 after returning to Russia from abroad and charged with disobeying a police officer. He was later charged with discrediting the Russian military, a charge stemming from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and a Kremlin push to stamp out criticism of the subject. He was later additionally charged with treason over remarks he made in speeches outside Russia that criticized Kremlin policies. Kara-Murza and his supporters reject the charges as politically motivated. U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the need for a diplomatic arrangement for the return of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border in a call on October 9 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said. Biden also condemned Irans ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1, a White House statement said. Biden "affirmed Israels right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel over the past year alone, while emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut," the statement said. Biden spoke with Netanyahu earlier about Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran for a missile attack last week, according to statements from both the White House and the Israeli prime minister's office on October 9. The White House statement said Biden and Netanyahu "agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams." The call comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, an armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel's expected response to Iran's largely ineffective missile attack, which Tehran carried out in retaliation for Israel's escalation in Lebanon, including the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video published on Israeli media that Israel's response "will be deadly, precise, and above all surprising." Biden last week said he would not support Israel striking Iranian nuclear sites as part of its retaliation. He also said that, if he were in Israel's shoes, he would think about alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields. Israel has faced calls by the United States and other allies to accept a cease-fire deal in Gaza and Lebanon but has said it will continue its military operations until Israelis are safe. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller warned on October 9 that Israel must avoid conducting military operations in Lebanon like those it has conducted in Gaza. "I'm making very clear that there should be no kind of military action in Lebanon that looks anything like Gaza and leaves a result anything like Gaza," Miller told journalists. The White House statement said Biden and Netanyahu discussed the urgent need to renew diplomacy to release the hostages held by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. Biden also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the White House said. Israels bombardment of central and northern Gaza in recent days has killed dozens of people and trapped thousands in their homes, Palestinian officials said. Hezbollah, a group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its party, which has seats in the Lebanese parliament. The call between Biden and Netanyahu took place as Israeli forces stepped up their ground offensive against Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. On October 9, Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters had used artillery and rockets against Israeli troops near the Lebanese border village of Labbouneh. In a separate statement, the group said it engaged in combat with Israeli forces as they "attempted to infiltrate the border town of Blida" in southeast Lebanon. The Israeli Army said early on October 9 that it had intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon as air-raid alarms sounded in and around Caesarea, a coastal city south of Haifa. The latest fighting comes as fears grow of a larger conflict in the region after Israel also claimed that the successor to Nasrallah has likely been "eliminated." Gallant said on October 8 that Hezbollah was an "organization without a head" and there's no one left to make decisions. Netanyahu later echoed those comments, saying, "We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities." "We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement," Netanyahu said. Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official and a cousin of Nasrallah, was widely expected to be named to the group's top position, but his whereabouts and condition remain unknown since an October 2 Israeli strike on a suspected Hezbollah leadership meeting. Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine's fate, although unidentified members have told various media that the group had lost contact with him since the attack. Safieddine has been declared a global terrorist by the United States. 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. The leader of Moldovas Socialist Party, Igor Dodon, announced on July 8 that he will not run in the presidential election later this year and threw his support behind former Prosecutor-General Alexandru Stoianoglo. Dodon served one term as Moldovan president before being defeated by the current pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu in an election in November 2020. Since then Moldova has tried to distance itself from Russia while making steps toward integration with the EU. Dodon said that he has renounced "narrow party interests" and does not want Moldova to have "a politically affiliated president" rather one "from the people." He urged other opposition parties to support Stoianoglo's candidacy and said he believes Stoianoglo will be supported "by many opinion leaders." Stoianoglo declared that he is "not a politician" but criticized the current government for the way it promotes European integration and for what he called the "militarization" of Moldova. "The constitutional order is being violated every day by the authorities and various political scoundrels," Stoianoglo told a news conference. Stoianoglo said he favored EU membership but finds it "insulting" that European integration is "used as a truncheon and not as a means to modernize the country and unite its people." The former prosecutor-general also said he was running to end injustices under Sandu's administration. Sandu sacked Stoianoglo last year, citing violations of the Criminal Code on exceeding his authority and a failure to tackle corruption. He denies wrongdoing and has not been convicted in a court. The European Court for Human Rights has ruled that his dismissal violated principles of due process. Sandu, who has made joining the European Union one of her main policies, will be seeking a second term in the election, which will include a referendum on joining the 27-nation bloc. Dodon previously said that the Socialists wanted to put forward a joint candidate capable of competing with Sandu and her Action and Solidarity Party. But one by one other opposition leaders decided to run separately. Dodon met in May with several opposition leaders to reportedly discuss a joint strategy and tried to identify a common candidate. Even though several opposition leaders later told RFE/RL that they had attended the meeting only to exchange views and not to find a common candidate, Dodon continued to say that the Socialists were talking with opposition leaders to form a common front in the elections. Dodon said that anyone who opposes Sandu is a potential ally, including fugitive businessman Ilan Shor. However, he told RFE/RL that he "does not intend to have any discussions" with Shor regarding the nomination of a joint presidential candidate but said the opposition will have a joint strategy if Sandu wins the election. The strategy includes an agreement among opposition parties to refrain from attacking each other in the first round of voting. If a new head of state is not elected in the first round, then "everyone must unite around that opposition candidate who will enter the second round of the presidential elections," Dodon told RFE/RL. Others politicians who have announced that they will run or that they intend to run include former Foreign Minister Tudor Ulianovschi; the leader of Our Party, controversial businessman Renato Usatii; the founder of the Dignity and Truth Platform (DA), Andrei Nastase; the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), Vlad Filat; and former Prime Minister Ion Chicu. With reporting by Reuters KYIV -- International condemnation grew as the death toll mounted at a childrens hospital in Kyiv that was hit during a series of massive Russian air strikes, which U.S. President Joe Biden called a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." A day after at least 43 people -- including a staff member of and a visitor to the Okhmatdyt children's hospital -- were killed in the deadliest wave of attacks in recent months, the Kremlin on July 9 denied that it had targeted civilian targets and blamed anti-missile fire for the destruction of the hospital, but analysts and several officials rejected Moscow's denial. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on July 9 said he had summoned Russia's ambassador to Prague, asserting that those who carried out the attack were the "dregs of humanity." While the useful idiots are rambling about peace with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, he is sending missiles to a children's hospital. I'm currently heading to the NATO summit to push for a long-term strategy to contain Russia. One cannot yield to aggression, he added. Ukraines success as a strong, independent, successful country is the best possible rebuke to the aggression that continues to be committed by Putin and Russia against Ukraine, including just 24 hours ago an attack on the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Washington in a joint news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba. At the United Nations, Joyce Msuya, the UN's acting undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told an emergency Security Council meeting on July 9 that "these incidents are part of a deeply concerning pattern of systemic attacks harming health care and other civilian infrastructure across Ukraine." "Intentionally directing attacks against a protected hospital is a war crime and perpetrators must be held to account," she said. Nicolas de Riviere, France's ambassador to the UN, labeled the attack a "further entry on a list of war crimes" and said Moscow must be held accountable. Even remarks from China, a close ally of Russia, were seen by many observers as rare veiled criticism of the Kremlin. China's deputy ambassador to the UN, Geng Shuan, said that fighting in the Ukraine war has "intensified and there have been brutal attacks from time to time that have claimed many victims. China is deeply concerned about this." Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Musiyenko told Current Time, the Russian-language TV and digital network run by RFE/RL, on July 9 that there was "sufficient evidence" showing the children's hospital was "directly and deliberately" hit by a Russian Kh-101 subsonic cruise missile. 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. "We see that Russia, if we talk about massive missile attacks on Ukraine, usually takes a pause -- one or 1 1/2 months, then accumulates the missiles, and after that resumes the shelling before another pause," he said of the rare attack in broad daylight. "The Russian side often uses drones accompanying the missiles to video record the moment of the hitting the target and the aftermath for propaganda purposes.... Also, in daytime, residents of the [Ukrainian] capital are at workplaces and other public sites and the psychological impact on them is bigger," he added. Hospital Director Volodymyr Zhovnir told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that doctors had "done everything" to ensure the treatment of critical patients as they seek temporary spaces for departments that are key to helping children with serious illnesses. "The most important thing is that we have saved our people and specialists. Unfortunately, one of our best specialists was killed, who took the children to the bomb shelter and returned to check whether there were children in the empty room or not." "The team has survived, and these teams are now with these children. They are working in other locations, in other areas, and doing everything possible to ensure that the assistance does not stop." Ukraine's cabinet approved 100 million hryvnyas ($2.5 million) from a state budget reserve fund to help rebuild the hospital, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal said. Ukraine appeared to follow through on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's vow to retaliate, launching over three dozen drones overnight on July 9 and shelling several areas that killed several people inside Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry said on July 9 that a total of 38 drones in five regions had been intercepted, including 21 in Rostov, seven in Kursk, five in Astrakhan, three in Belgorod, and two in Voronezh. Local media reported that airports in the southern Astrakhan and Volgograd regions had restricted flights following the drone attacks. Ukrainian shelling in Russia's Belgorod region in the early hours of July 9 killed four people and wounded 20, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. He added that the attack caused power outages and damaged 60 houses and 160 apartments. In Volgograd, an oil depot and an electrical substation caught fire as a result of falling drone debris, according to regional Governor Andrei Bocharov. The UN's human rights monitoring mission said its assessment of the strike in Kyiv "indicates a high likelihood that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damage due to an intercepted weapon system." "Russias missile strikes that...killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians and caused damage and casualties at Kyiv's largest childrens hospital are a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality," Biden wrote on X. "It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression," he said, adding that during this week's NATO summit in Washington, he will meet with Zelenskiy "to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakable." Moscow has routinely denied targeting residences, schools, hospitals, and other civilian structures despite frequent bombings that suggest otherwise. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air attacks near Kyiv were aimed at "Ukrainian military industry facilities and Ukrainian Air Force bases," adding that "the strike's objectives were achieved." The Washington-based nonprofit Institute for the Study Of War (ISW) countered Moscow's claims, saying video evidence "clearly shows a single missile flying at a sharp downward trajectory before making contact with the hospital building." Kyiv's Civil Defense Department said on July 9 that the body of a missing boy had been retrieved from an apartment building hit during the missile attacks, which also partially destroyed another hospital and hit a business center in the capital as well. RFE/RL cannot independently confirm reports by either side of battlefield developments in areas of the heaviest fighting. With reporting by Current Time's Aleksei Aleksandrov and dpa WASHINGTON -- Two members of the U.S. Congress who visited Ukraine in April said the United States should provide Ukraine with the military equipment it needs to win the war against Moscow, including the means to strike inside Russia. Senator Joni Ernst (Republican-Iowa) and Representative Tom Suozzi (Democrat-New York), speaking in Washington as the NATO summit opened in the U.S. capital, said Congress should step up its pledges to provide weapons to ensure that Ukraine defeats Russias full-scale invasion. We need to give them what they need, Ernst said on July 9 at an event sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank. I do believe that we should provide them what they need to strike inside of Russia. Ernst added that the Ukrainians should be able to be as aggressive as they need to be to win the war and not left in a defensive situation with their hands tied. Ernst and Suozzi traveled to Ukraine in early April as part of a bipartisan delegation that looked into the military situation in the country. The delegation met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, his military advisers, journalists, and prosecutors. At the time, the U.S. House of Representatives was under pressure to vote on a major aid package for Ukraine that had been held up in Congress for months. It passed later in April, providing more than $60 billion to Ukraine, but during the delay Russian forces made gains on the battlefield as Zelenskiy became more and more frustrated over the stalled aid. Ernst, a former military officer and combat veteran, supported the aid, but she criticized President Joe Bidens administration, which she said had not clearly articulated a strategy for what is needed to win. 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. Suozzi said the NATO summit this week is an important opportunity to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that his aggression will not be tolerated, particularly after Russia carried out strikes on July 8 -- including on a childrens hospital in Kyiv -- that killed dozens across the country. I dont think we can tie the hands of the Ukrainians, Suozzi said. What [the Russians] are doing is merciless, he added, referring to the strike that hit the hospital. We have got to send a message to Putin that this is not going to be tolerated, he said, advocating for more potent weapons from the United States. Sometimes you have to punch a bully in the nose, Suozzi said. He noted that Russia has been able to retrofit older bombs with fins to create glide bombs that have been used to hit Ukrainian cities. He agreed with Ernst that he wants more restrictions lifted so that Ukraine can use U.S.-supplied weapons more broadly. Suozzi cited a Russian airfield from which planes that launch the glide bombs take off, suggesting that if Ukraine could hit that airfield, it could wipe out a huge number of Russian planes. The Democrat was more positive than Ernst on how he viewed the administrations relationship with NATO. He praised Biden's efforts to hold the alliance together and said the NATO summit would cement that. The greatest strength we have right now is that we have held together this Western alliance, Suozzi said, adding that in his opinion the Europeans stepped up when the U.S. aid was stalled. The Europeans have been doing their part, he said. A former Trump administration official whose views contrasted with those of the two lawmakers also spoke during the first day of the NATO summit. Elbridge Colby, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development under President Donald Trump, said Europe should do more to help Ukraine, while the United States should calibrate its support. The United States is over invested in Ukraine, Colby said, suggesting that the Europeans can do more. The degree of support has been inconsistent with our own needs, he said, speaking at a separate event on July 9 at the Heritage Institute, a conservative Washington think tank. He agreed that Russia is a threat, but said the biggest obstacle is the perception of need on the part of the Europeans. We need to focus on the practicalities. Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's new newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on big issue: the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., from July 9-11. Is Ukraine Really Edging Closer To The Alliance? One of the main things to look out for during the summit is the wording about Ukraine's NATO membership prospects in the final declaration. The drafting of this document, which usually stretches several pages, has been under way in NATO HQ in Brussels for weeks and the main bone of contention is how exactly to craft sentences pertaining to the chances of Kyiv joining the military alliance. Ukraine will not be invited to join now, that much is clear. NATO has been adamant that Ukraine cannot join as long as the war rages on in the country, as members don't want to be dragged into a direct confrontation with Russia. One can also rule out some of the creative but rather far-fetched ideas like allowing NATO's mutual defense clause, Article 5, to cover the Ukrainian territory that Kyiv currently controls but not the part that Moscow has occupied. According to NATO officials familiar with the drafting, the idea is to go a bit further than the Vilnius declaration from the summit in the Lithuanian capital last year. At that time, the new thing was that the allies recognized that Ukraine doesn't need a Membership Action Plan (MAP), a sort of "antechamber" to membership that spells out various reforms that a country needs to complete before joining. This step was in fact made redundant when Finland joined in record speed in 2023 and Sweden a year later, without ever receiving a MAP. But in fact, this isn't so much about reform even if some allies are making noises about the need to combat corruption. It is about finding political consensus on when Ukraine can join and what to say in the meantime. In the Vilnius declaration, there was a nod to the 2008 summit in Bucharest when it first was declared that "Ukraine will become a member of NATO." Expect something similar or even the same language this time around, even though there is likely to be no commitments to some sort of date. The Vilnius text spelled out that "we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree, and conditions are met." From what I have heard, two aspects could be included in the text. U.S. officials, like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have recently used the term "bridge to membership" when talking about Ukraine and NATO. So expect that this might make its way into the final communique in one form or another, even if it is unclear what exactly that phrase entails. Another word that also might be included is "irreversible," meaning that Kyiv's road to membership is set. So, the sense of direction is there, just don't ask about the timetable. What Will Ukraine Get? First of all, many allies are expected to announce more bilateral arms deliveries to Ukraine at the summit. The question, as always, will be how quickly they will arrive on the battlefield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to be present at the summit and there is hope among NATO officials that there won't be a repeat of the Vilnius summit, where he expressed frustration in a tweet prior to the meeting that Kyiv wasn't given a clearer timetable of joining. This time, they point out that there is more expectation management in the build-up to the meeting, especially with Ukraine struggling at the front lines and the crucial presidential election in the United States just four months away. In fact, the two big headline items to be announced at the summit are more or less already agreed upon. The first so-called "deliverable" is what you would call the "NATO-ization" of Ukraine aid and training. Essentially, the military organization will now start taking over the coordination of donations of weapons and ammunition deliveries to the war-torn country from the U.S.-led Ramstein Group, which brings together over 50 mainly Western states that have met on a near-monthly basis since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The German city of Wiesbaden will now become a planning center for both training and deliveries with logistical nodes in several eastern alliance countries, involving 700 personnel from NATO and partner countries. The second announcement concerns military funding for Ukraine. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg first proposed around 100 billion euros ($108 billion) a year, for five years. Then it was watered down to 40 billion for multiple years, but in the end the 40 billion is committed only for 2024 and funding will be revisited again at the next summit in 2025. The contribution from the 32 allies would be based on their countries' GDP and it is supposed to be fresh money to help the war effort but there are two question-marks here: will there not be some creative accounting on behalf of some member states? It could very well be that some will attempt to count aid already provided in their calculation or mix military with humanitarian aid. Secondly, this is not a binding commitment. That means that there really isn't any legal requirement to provide that money going forward. Trump's Skepticism There is no way around it. The former (and possibly future) U.S. President Donald Trump might be the most talked-about person at and around the summit without even being there. The Republican National Convention, where Trump officially will be nominated as the party's presidential candidate, will kick off just four days after the summit. It's simply hard not to escape the idea that the NATO summit, in one way or another, will become part of the presidential election campaign. And many of the decisions and messages coming out from the meeting will be a response to his skepticism of the alliance and of his lukewarm support for Ukraine's war effort. The measures mentioned above, like providing Kyiv with a solid financial foundation for the years ahead and to institutionalize training and military deliveries, have been described by alliance officials as "Trump-proofing" in case he returns to power and attempts to unpick decisions already made. And then there is the military spending by European allies that has been the big bugbear for Trump. Previously he has called those states that didn't reach NATO's own spending target of 2 percent of GDP on defense "delinquents" and noted the United States might not defend alliance members from a potential Russian invasion if they don't pay up, questioning the fundamental principle of NATO. In response to this, you will hear a lot of figures about how much the allies have stepped up in recent years. In 2014, there was a pledge that in a decade all the members should reach the 2 percent target. That pledge has not entirely been met as 23 out of the 32 members today splash out that or more on its military. But NATO will be quick to point out that Europe and Canada have added over $640 billion extra in defense spending since then. You are also likely to hear that the 2024 figures will show an 18 percent increase in military expenditure compared to last year -- the biggest year-on-year increase for decades. The Nuts And Bolts And China Aside from the NATO-Ukraine Council on the leaders' level, there will be two other full working sessions at the summit. The first one will deal with the nuts and bolts of the alliance -- essentially how well-prepared NATO is in case it's attacked. And here, the jury is still out to a certain extent. Last year in Vilnius, a number of regional defense plans were adopted in order to defend "every inch of NATO territory." Now it's about checking if the plans actually are working -- most importantly by seeing if the capabilities and logistics are in place. NATO has 500,000 troops on high readiness and is exercising at a scale not seen since the Cold War. But one well-placed NATO official conceded that the plans "are functional" but added cautiously, "If NATO was attacked today, they would work but there are pieces of the jigsaw still missing." It has been noted that air defense over the eastern part of the alliance is in short supply, but the bloc also needs more long-range missiles and tanks and must brush up on the logistical side. The second session is dedicated to China. While the alliance is still focused on the Atlantic theater, it is clear that it is keeping a watchful eye on developments in the Pacific region and Chinese influence there -- a push that very much is dictated by the United States. Like the last two summits, the leaders of NATO's four "Asia-Pacific partners" -- Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea -- will be present at the meeting. Expect a lot of cooperation agreements to be signed in areas such as cyber defense and maritime security. What Does The Future Hold? Of course, all eyes will be on U.S. President Joe Biden, the host of the meeting, especially after his poor debate performance. Scrutiny will be enormous, but the question is how many media appearances he will make during the week. At some point he should meet the press, but it is worth noting that he didn't hold a presser at the Vilnius summit either, which is unusual for American presidents; back then, he didn't even attend the leaders' dinner. He has to be more active here. Behind in the polls in key swing states, it is clear that his advisers will want the summit to be carefully choreographed for him to avoid any unnecessary mishaps. But Biden is not the only leader of a big Western country fighting for political survival. French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Washington after a disappointing parliamentary election result. His mandate expires in 2027 but he may now be wing-clipped domestically and will struggle to enact meaningful legislation with both the left and far-right influential in the new chamber. In Germany, Olaf Scholz and his coalition are also set to get a proper beating in next year's national elections, meaning that Berlin, Paris, and Washington in many ways are represented by leaders who are politically weak. At least the United Kingdom will have a freshly minted prime minister, Keir Starmer, the first Labour Party leader in Downing Street since 2010 and with a huge majority in Parliament backing him up. There will be, in other words, a lot to deal with for incoming NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who officially takes over from Jens Stoltenberg later this fall. Stoltenberg, one of the longest-serving heads of NATO with over a decade at the helm, will be missed, not least because of his ability to get along with most leaders and forge a consensus. In that sense, Rutte will be something of a natural successor. Having recently stepped down as Dutch prime minister after 14 years, he is known for and used to coalition building. He is reportedly also a workaholic and a stickler for processes and rules, which is always good at a military organization. He appears to have mended bridges with previous foes, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and is well liked in most of the big capitals, notably in Berlin and Paris. He apparently enjoys the respect of Trump to the degree that he is referred to as the "Trump whisperer." Even in public, he has been unfazed about a possible return of Trump, stating recently that "we (Europeans) have to dance with whoever is on the dance floor." And he will need to pull out his best moves in his hometown, The Hague, which will host the next big NATO summit in 2025. That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition subscribe here. A rain warning has been issued for County Roscommon and much of the rest of the country. Met Eireann issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Louth, and Meath. The warning came into effect just after 9.20 am and will stay in place until tomorrow morning at 4.00 am. Met Eireann said pain will become persistent and heavy at times, possibly causing localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions, and poor visibility. RTE News has announced the appointment of a new Northwest correspondent to replace Eileen Magnier, who recently retired. Journalist Shane O Curraighin will be reporting and providing analysis across RTE News platforms on social, economic, cultural and political developments on all aspects of life in the Northwest region. Shane joined RTE as a multimedia journalist in 2016, reporting across television, radio and digital platforms including 7LA, Nuacht RTE, Nuacht TG4, RTE News and RTE Online. He has covered a wide range of major news stories across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Over the past three years, he has worked on 7LA, TG4s current affairs programme produced by RTE, reporting extensively and providing analysis on political, economic and social developments and public affairs. Prior to joining 7LA, Shane returned to live in the Northwest in 2020 reporting across counties Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo for Nuacht RTE and Nuacht TG4. He previously worked as a video journalist with Below the Radar TV in Belfast and as a lecturer with Dublin City University. He began his broadcasting career as an intern in Nuacht RTE/TG4 while undertaking an undergraduate degree. He holds a MSc in Business and Information Technology and a BA in Journalism and Irish from Dublin City University, a Diploma in the Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance from Dublin Business School and he was previously a Fulbright FLTA Scholar at the University of Saint Thomas, Minnesota. He was nominated three times for Gradaim Chumarsaide an Oireachtais, Journalist of the Year Award. He is from Teileann in the Donegal Gaeltacht. He lives in Donegal Town with his wife and baby daughter. As somebody who grew up in the region, I am delighted to be taking up the role of Northwest correspondent. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to continue the great work that Eileen Magnier did over the past four decades," said Shane. "Im looking forward to covering the stories that matter to the people of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. The impact of the defective blocks crisis, challenges in healthcare, housing, infrastructure, fishing and farming are just some of the important issues I look forward to covering. I also look forward to reporting on the positive stories and triumphs in the Northwest. "Ta me ag suil go mor le scealta mhuintir an iarthuaiscirt a chur os comhair an phobail. Shane will be taking up the post in August. Pardeep Chhabra Death News: Senior Chandigarh APP Leader Dies Pardeep Chhabra was senior Chandigarh AAP leader. Pardeep Chhabra Death News: In sad news coming in, the senior Chandigarh Aam Aadmi Party leader Pardeep Chhabra has passed away on Tuesday. According to information, Pardeep Chhabra took his last breath on Tuesday morning and departed for the heavenly abode. It is being reported that Pardeep Chhabra was unwell for a long time and was undergoing treatment. His sudden death has caused a wave of mourning among his family as well as his close ones in politics. Advertisement Soon after the news of Pardeep Chhabra surfaced, his acquaintances started expressing grief over his death. Likewise, a lot of people paid tribute to him and gathered at his residence. Aam Aadmi Party and other party leaders reached Pradeep Chhabra's house to pay their last respects and pay tribute to the departed soul. Pradeep Chhabra held crucial positions in his political journey. Chhabra was the state president of Congress in Chandigarh for about five years. However, in February 2021, Congress removed Pradeep Chhabra from the post of state president. After this, Chhabra went to Delhi and joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Pradeep Chhabra also served as the Mayor of Chandigarh Advertisement (For more news apart from Pardeep Chhabra Death News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Death threat to BJP's 4 Sikh leaders, including Manjinder Sirsa and Parminder Brar Tejinder Singh said that he was going to meet the DGP of Punjab and Chandigarh in this matter. Death threat to 2 Sikh leaders in Punjab, including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Tejinder Singh Saran and Parminder Singh Brar: In a shocking development, as many as 4 Sikh leaders of the BJP in Punjab have been threatened with death via a death threat letter that was sent to the BJP's Chandigarh office. Likewise, some inflammable material was also sent with the letter. In the letter, the BJP leaders were warned to either leave BJP or leave the world. Simultaneously, the slogans of Khalistan and Pakistan Zindabad were also written in the letter. Advertisement The leaders who have received the threat include BJP's National General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, BJP Sikh Coordination Committee and National Railway Committee member Tejinder Singh Saran, BJP General Secretary Parminder Brar and BJP's state organization General Secretary Srinivasulu. After receiving the threatening letter, the BJP leaders complained about the same to the Chandigarh Police after which the police sent the material for investigation. Tejinder Singh said that he was going to meet the DGP of Punjab and Chandigarh in this matter. Advertisement 4 important things written in the letter... 1. "Leave BJP or else we will remove you from the world." 2. Called these leaders "a traitor of Sikhism." Advertisement 3. "Will take revenge for the brothers killed in Canada" 4. Warned BJP Organization Ministers to leave Punjab (For more news apart from death threat to 2 Sikh leaders in Punjab, including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Tejinder Singh Saran and Parminder Singh Brar, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) July 9, 2024 UPDATE A roundup of domestic and international news Newsflash Newsroom, 09.07.2024, 20:00 NATO The war in Ukraine and Russian security threats rank high on the agenda of the NATO summit underway in Washington, especially after Mondays massive Russian attack on several Ukrainian cities that left dozens dead. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will attend the meeting, asked the allies to respond more firmly to Russias aggressiveness by strengthening his countrys air defenses. For his part, US President Joe Biden said that NATO will announce new measures to help Ukraine protect its cities and civilians. The president will meet Zelenskyy and the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Represented by president Klaus Iohannis, Romania will reaffirm its firm support for Ukraine, including with respect to NATO accession. At the same time, Romania will argue in favor of continuing support to the Alliances vulnerable partners, especially for the Republic of Moldova and for increasing their capacity to respond to hybrid threats. The summits agenda includes three meetings at the highest level, including in formats with Ukraine, the European Union and NATO partners in the India-Pacific, as well as NATOs 75th anniversary. ATTACK Ukraines Ambassador to Bucharest, Ihor Prokopchuk on Monday attended a spontaneous action mourning the victims of Mondays Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including on a childrens hospital in Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, attending the event were Ukrainian diplomats, Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Romania and Romanians. Ambassador Prokopchuk strongly condemned Russian terrorism and stated that despite its brutal attacks, Russia will not succeed in defeating the Ukrainian nation, which will continue to fight for its independence and territorial integrity. TAROM All internal and external flights of the Romanian state airliner TAROM are on schedule, after several flights were canceled on Tuesday when 30 of the 150 pilots called in sick. According to the Union of Airline Pilots, Tuesdays decision was, in fact, a protest related to the working conditions and salaries, as well as what the pilots called poor management. In the meantime, the management of TAROM and the representatives of pilots have reached an agreement regarding the latters salary grievances. The pilots protest action caused great disturbances for the passengers, who should have been notified in advance to be able to plan their journeys accordingly, EU commissioner for transport, Adina Valean, says. The situation doesnt look good considering the company benefits from state aid approved by the European Commission, the EU official added. Tarom apologized and announced it would compensate travelers who purchased tickets directly from the company and who submit a refund request. TRANSPORT Romania benefited from a new transport corridor during my term in office and a total of 12 biln EUR allotted to transport from various financial instruments, an unprecedented amount, the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean said in Bucharest on Tuesday, presenting a report of her term in office. The new North-South transport corridor connects the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. The European official also said that the port of Constanta (southeast) on the Black Seacoast benefited from 149 mln EUR in grants from the EU for the improvement of the railway infrastructure and 13 mln EUR for the electrification of the railway connection from the port. According to the EU commissioner, Romania is the 6th country in terms of the allocation of funds in the European Union, after Poland, Italy, France, Germany and the Czech Republic. EDUCATION Over 300,000 Romanians benefited from activities designed to combat drug abuse, carried out in the first half of the year at national level by National Anti-Drug Agency experts, both in schools as well as at community level. The team of experts provided information regarding the effects of drug consumption, banned in crowded areas, high-attendance events or in tourist resorts. The beneficiaries of these actions were pre-school children, pupils, students, teaching staff, parents, maternity assistants, children in institutional care as well as medical staff and former drug users. (VP) July 9, 2024 A roundup of domestic and international news July 9, 2024 Newsroom, 09.07.2024, 13:55 NATO. The NATO summit that begins today in Washington is expected to be dominated by the war in Ukraine and Russias threats, especially after the recent massive Russian attack on several Ukrainian cities, resulting in dozens of deaths. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is expected to participate in the summit, has called on the allies to respond more firmly to Russias attacks by strengthening his countrys air defense. For his part, US President Joe Biden said that the North Atlantic Alliance will announce new measures to help Ukraine protect its cities and civilians. Romania, represented by President Klaus Iohannis, will reaffirm its firm support for Ukraine, including with regard to NATO accession. Also, the Romanian President will plead for the continuation of support for the Alliances vulnerable partners, the Republic of Moldova in particular, and for increasing their capacity to respond to hybrid threats. The summit agenda will include three meetings at the highest level of the North Atlantic Council, including in formats with Ukraine, the European Union and NATO partners in the Indian Pacific area, as well as an anniversary event on the occasion of NATOs 75th anniversary. TAROM. All internal and external flights of the Romanian airline TAROM were carried out, this morning, according to schedules, after, the day before, several flights had been cancelled, 30 of the companys 150 pilots declaring themselves unfit for medical reasons. According to the Union of Air Line Pilots, it was, in fact, a protest related to the working and salary conditions, as well as the bad management of the company. Losses of 2.5 million euros were recorded. In the meantime, the management of TAROM and the representatives of the seafaring staff have reached an agreement regarding salaries. TAROM also apologized to its passengers for the inconvenience caused and gave assurances that it is making every effort to reduce the impact this situation had on their travel plans. Mourning. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Bucharest, Ihor Prokopciuk, participated, on Monday, in a spontaneous action of mourning for the victims of Mondays Russian attacks on the cities of the neighboring country, including on a childrens hospital in Kyiv. According to the diplomatic mission in Bucharest, the event was attended by Ukrainian diplomats, Ukrainian citizens who found shelter in Romania and Romanians. Ambassador Prokopciuk has strongly condemned Russian terrorism and stated that despite its brutal attacks, Russia will not succeed in defeating the Ukrainian nation, which will continue to fight for its independence and territorial integrity. Commissioner. The European Commissioner for Transport, the Romanian Adina Valean, is presenting today her 5-year activity report, focusing on topics such as sustainable and intelligent transport, reducing emissions, connected and automated mobility, accessibility and passenger rights, fair internal market, transport safety, international cooperation and dual mobility. The report also includes the achievements and challenges encountered and offers a perspective on the future of the transport sector in Europe. The event is hosted by the headquarters of the European Commission Representation in Bucharest. Education. The Romanian Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, has announced that the pass rate in the first session of this years Baccalaureate exam is 76.4%, an increase of 3.6% compared to last year. According to the minister, it is the best result in the last 10 years. Ligia Deca presented, in a press conference, the results by sector. Thus, for the theoretical stream the pass rate was 91%, for the technological stream 63%, and for the vocational stream 77%. Education experts say, however, that the figures must be seen in the context in which only 79% of the graduates sat for the Baccalaureate exam. Weather. The National Meteorological Administration has issued new warnings for excessive heat and severe thermal discomfort, in place on July 9 and 10, throughout Romania. A Code Yellow warning for extremely hot weather has been issued today for the north, west, southwest, south, southeast and most of the east and center of the country. The maximum temperatures are range between 33 and 37 degrees Celsius and, locally, temperatures have gone up to 39 degrees. The southern regions will continue to be affected by extreme heat and high thermal discomfort, and the temperature-humidity index (ITU) will exceed the critical threshold of 80 units. The noon reading in Bucharest was 35 degrees. At night, the minimums will not drop below 20 degrees Celsius, which is characteristic of tropical weather. During the day of Wednesday, July 10, the heatwave will intensify, and an amber warning will be in place in the west, southwest and south, including Bucharest. Meteorologists say that the wave of excessive heat will persist throughout Romania in the following days of the week. (MI) Summertime protests Romania has lately seen a series of protests mounted by accountants and drivers Accountants protesting in Bucharest. Photo: Agerpres Mihai Pelin, 09.07.2024, 14:00 Accountants, economists and entrepreneurs on Monday took to the streets of Bucharest to draw attention to what they call fiscal terror, and measures endorsed without public talks but with a major impact upon the entire society. The event called A Chaos-free Fiscal Administration was attended by people from all over Romania who braved the extremely hot temperatures to voice their discontent. Protesters took to Victoriei Square in downtown Bucharest, close to the government building, and their delegation held talks with the authorities. They showed their disapproval towards the authorities latest decisions on digitizing the fiscal administration. They denounced the lack of transparency and the fact that the introduction of several mechanisms such as the e-invoice, e-VAT or e-transport, would rather increase bureaucracy as there is a larger number of forms to fill in and a lot of redundant information. Furthermore, the accountants complained that the technical instruments made available by the Finance Ministry do not function properly. The protesters also called for legislative predictability with a clear schedule for fiscal amendments, made public at least six months before implementation. In turn, authorities say the new measures are meant to combat tax evasion. At the same time, Finance Minister, Marcel Bolos, pledged to step up talks with those directly affected. A governments decision allowing the police to suspend licenses of drivers who have refused to take an anti-doping test before getting the results of medical investigations has triggered discontent among drivers in Romania. According to the organizers, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Interior Minister, Catalin Predoiu, are jeopardizing the lives and careers of thousands of innocent drivers who run the risk of getting criminal files and losing their jobs because of false positive tests. Following protests, this government ordinance aimed at changing the Traffic Code in Romania, would be amended in the first session of the Executive. The Prime Minister has called on the Interior Minister to come up with new measures so that drivers should not be sanctioned on the basis of false positive drug tests on one hand and on the other hand the new measures should not compromise the fight against the use of banned substances. The field drug-test kits used by the Romanian police are error-prone and known to have produced false-positive errors in many situations. Forensic experts have explained that a series of food or medical substances can influence the aforementioned tests. One suchlike substance is codeine, which is normally used in the treatment of coughing. So, the Romanian authorities are in need of new, more effective drug-test kits, able to confirm a test in a couple of days. At present a test needs a couple of months to confirm and so need drivers to get back their suspended licenses. (bill) The composers being honoured at the #RU120 Tribute to Composers & Performers By: The Division of Communication & Advancement As Rhodes University marks its 120th anniversary, the Department of Music and Musicology proudly presents a series of tribute concerts on 13 July 2024. These concerts celebrate "firsts," highlighting the university's pioneering role in shaping South African music and its ongoing legacy of excellence and innovation. This special event will honour the ground-breaking contributions of two distinguished composers, Dr Bongani Ndodana-Breen and Dr Paul Hanmer, whose works have set significant musical precedents. Dr. Bongani Ndodana-Breen's composition, SAFIKA: Three Tales of African Migration, will be performed by Catherine Foxcroft and the Odeion String Quartet, renowned for its high standards in both teaching and performance, attracting talented students and distinguished artists from around the world. This piece, commissioned by the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, made Ndodana-Breen the first Black South African composer to receive such a commission. "SAFIKA," meaning we arrived in isiXhosa and isiZulu, eloquently narrates the journey of African migration and memory, blending European techniques with African musical idioms. This remarkable work was a 2023 GRAMMY nominee for Contemporary Classical Composition, underscoring its global recognition and significance. Rhodes University has a storied history of musical firsts. Michael Moerane was the first Black South African to graduate with a Bachelor of Music (BMus) from Rhodes University College in 1941. His choral piece Sylvia will be performed by the RU Chamber Choir (RUCC) and the RU African Choir (RUAC), conducted by composer, conductor, and RUCC music director, Sibusiso Njeza. Moeranes symphonic poem "Fatse la Heso (My Country)" was performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Moerane greatly influenced music education and taught the flute to his nephew, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, setting a precedent for South African compositions on an international stage. Njeza, an alumnus and recently appointed permanent staff member, composed Wamuhle Mzantsi! Winnies from Madiba the African Opera, which was commissioned by Opera South Africa and received its premiere in 2014. In this piece, Winnie Mandela has just met Nelson, a distinguished and slightly older gentleman. She is immediately enchanted by him and sings this aria to express her love. However, her father disapproves of her marrying an older man. Despite this, Winnie is resolute in her love and intention to marry Nelson. "Usana Olungakhaliyo Lufel Embelekweni" is an isiXhosa proverb meaning "a baby that does not cry dies on its mothers back." This proverb encourages people to seek help when facing difficulties. The song, composed for soprano and piano, will be performed by Tshegofatso Makube and Garreth Robertson. Premiering at the concert is the 3-Banded Armadillo by Dr Paul Hanmer, performed by Catherine Foxcroft and the Odeion String Quartet. This composition, commissioned specifically for the #RU120 celebrations, showcases Hanmer's deep connection to African musical traditions and classical forms. Hanmers pioneering work on The Bow Project, a major collaboration to transcribe traditional African bow music into classical compositions, highlights Rhodes University's dedication to preserving and innovating African musical traditions. This project was among the first to integrate traditional African sounds with classical music, creating a rich and multifaceted musical experience. Compositions by Rhodes University alumni have been performed by prestigious orchestras worldwide, including in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. This global reach is a testament to the University's impact on the international music stage, positioning it as a transformative institution in music. Rhodes University's innovative music programs blend classical education with African musical traditions, fostering a unique and diverse musical environment that is both inclusive and forward-thinking. Join us for an evening of extraordinary music as we celebrate these milestones and the legacy of firsts that have shaped Rhodes University's contribution to the world of music. Event Details: Dean of Science, Professor Jo Dames, cuts the ribbon to signify the launch of the new EMI lab. With her are Dr Kuja and Professors Smirnov and Jonas. A new research laboratory, the Electromagnetics Innovation (EMI) lab, was opened last week at the Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (RATT), Department of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University by Rhodes Universitys Dean of Science, Professor Joanna Dames. Its launch coincided with the week-long South African Institute of Physics Conference and Rhodes Universitys 120th anniversary celebrations. The lab hosts some of the most advanced equipment and computational electromagnetics simulation tools for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) research. It is also equipped with commercial-off-the-shelf portable laboratory science kits and simple EMC projects developed in the Physics Department to support EMC education and community engagement in the form of STEM projects at Rhodes University. The establishment of the EMI lab at Rhodes University is an initiative driven by Dr Stanley Kuja, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics and an active member of RATT. Dr Kuja joined Rhodes University in 2020 and is currently the only Rhodes University academic with EMC expertise. The number of EMC researchers in South Africa and worldwide is small, and only a few universities offer EMC courses. EMC is an industry-oriented field, but there are not enough graduates to work as EMC engineers, explained Dr Kuja. EMC research at Rhodes University is already underway but will be enhanced with the acquisition of other key facilities, such as the anechoic chamber. Once the EMI lab is fully equipped, Rhodes University will be one of the few research institutions in the world to have a university-based EMC lab. Relevance of EMC as a discipline The African continent is embracing new emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automobiles, mobile internet, drones, 5G, and artificial intelligence, which increasingly rely on very robust and efficient electronic components for critical operations. In the recent past, for example, there has been a growing interest in space science and technology in the southern hemisphere, particularly in South Africa. The focus has been on terrestrial observations, remote sensing, and satellite telecommunications. This trend is expected to continue as many African universities will be involved in space science programmes. Therefore, the use of these advanced electronics and technologies is inevitable in the near future. However, with the rise in operating frequencies for emerging technologies, along with the growing complexity of electronic circuits/electromagnetic environment, EMC problems can reduce reliability, increase cost, and inhibit development schedules of modern electronic systems. Thus, EMC is critical to minimising interference (conducted and radiated) maximising spectrum efficiency and enabling the full benefits of wireless technology in various scientific fields such as radio astronomy, automotive industry, aerospace, and the medical field. Some aspects of EMC-related issues are highlighted below: Spectrum pollution: There are a number of broadband and oscillator-type emitters in our homes, considering that we are surrounded by all sorts of electronic devices, such as radios, electric ovens, thermostats, motors and their controls, TVs, heating elements, fluorescent tubes, wireless transmitters, and SCR light dimmers. The total radio frequency (RF) energy we are exposed to and its effects would surprise many, especially in urban/metropolitan areas. There are a number of broadband and oscillator-type emitters in our homes, considering that we are surrounded by all sorts of electronic devices, such as radios, electric ovens, thermostats, motors and their controls, TVs, heating elements, fluorescent tubes, wireless transmitters, and SCR light dimmers. The total radio frequency (RF) energy we are exposed to and its effects would surprise many, especially in urban/metropolitan areas. Electronics in the medical field: The use of state-of-the-art medical electronic equipment is increasingly becoming popular and the proper use of these electronic devices, fully compatible with each other, is critical. The biggest concern is the use-environment of the equipment, which limits the effectiveness of the equipment and can also lead to incorrect information about the patient. Some examples of equipment in the biomedical field that can be affected by typical RF sources in the hospital include Electroencephalograph (EEG), Electrocardiograph (EKG) and Electromyograph (EMG). EEG is used in neurophysiological work where electrodes are placed on the patients scalp to record voltages of the order of 200 V between 0.25-50 Hz frequency range. For the measurement with such a device to be accurate, an extremely low-noise environment is required. The use of state-of-the-art medical electronic equipment is increasingly becoming popular and the proper use of these electronic devices, fully compatible with each other, is critical. The biggest concern is the use-environment of the equipment, which limits the effectiveness of the equipment and can also lead to incorrect information about the patient. Some examples of equipment in the biomedical field that can be affected by typical RF sources in the hospital include Electroencephalograph (EEG), Electrocardiograph (EKG) and Electromyograph (EMG). EEG is used in neurophysiological work where electrodes are placed on the patients scalp to record voltages of the order of 200 V between 0.25-50 Hz frequency range. For the measurement with such a device to be accurate, an extremely low-noise environment is required. Radio astronomy: The radio astronomy community is well aware of the unwelcome effects of radio frequency interference (RFI). Advancements in technology have led to a new generation of radio telescopes: the MeerKAT and the planned SKA telescope. Given the sensitivity of the telescope receivers, RFI could prevent many radio telescopes, including MeerKAT, from fully performing their intended scientific work. Therefore, there will always be EMC-related concerns in radio astronomy. The need to establish EMC research at Rhodes University prompted Dr Kuja to seek advice and funding from various sources. As a result, the EMI lab is funded/supported by the Rhodes Universitys research office, the NRF, RATT (namely, Distinguished Professor Oleg Smirnov and SKA Chief Technologist Professor Justin Jonas), HoD Physics Professor Makaiko Chithambo, the EMC society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and Stellenbosch University. It can take many years to set up a research lab and equip it with modern facilities, but it only took about two years to set up the EMI lab after the pandemic. It is an asset to the research infrastructure in the Department of Physics, said Prof Chithambo. Prize winners at the SAIP2024 Gala Dinner On Friday, 5 July 2024, the SAIP2024 conference concluded with a grand Gala dinner held at the Nelson Mandela Dining Hall, Rhodes University. The evening was marked by a series of inspiring speeches and the celebration of excellence within the physics community. The event commenced with a welcoming address by Prof Makaiko Chithambo, Chairperson of the SAIP 2024 Local Organising Committee, followed by a keynote speech by Prof Justin Jonas, Emeritus Professor of Physics and leader of the SKA programme at Rhodes University. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as attendees gathered to honour the achievements of their peers. The Inaugural SAIP Education Award was presented by Prof Deepak Kar, a member of the SAIP Council, to acknowledge individuals who have exhibited a sustained commitment to excellence in physics education in South Africa. A joint award was made to Dr Eric Maluta of the University of Venda and Dr Derek Fish of the University of Zululand. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the SAIP Gold Medal by Prof Rudolph Erasmus, President of SAIP. This prestigious award was given to Professor Phuti Ngoepe, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Limpopo. Prof Ngoepe was awarded the medal for his extensive and exceptional achievements in the field of Computational Materials Physics, which have had national and international impact. His work on minerals, alloys and materials for energy storage has major implications for energy security and the economy of a country like South Africa. His stature is reflected in his strong publication record and the numerous students he has supported and mentored. He is considered an influential leader in his field and has contributed immensely to the national and international scientific community by initiating several impactful initiatives. Student prizes were awarded by Heads of Division of the SAIP in recognition of outstanding student presentations delivered during the conference. These were divided into areas as follows: Theory and Computational PhD: Unathi Skosana (Stellenbosch), "End-to-end integration of hyperparameter tuning into variational quantum algorithms," MSc: Ofentse Matlhakola (Wits), "Probing the Dead Cone using the Primary Lund Plane," Poster: Mogau Kgasago (Limpopo), "Exploring Structural and Electronic Characteristics of Manganese Oxide Cathode Materials. A DFT Study Condensed Matter Publication PhD: A.W Barnard (UP) - Investigating the impact of physical vapour deposition of palladium on electron-irradiated silicon substrates Publication MSc: Semiconductor R. A.A. Abdallah (UFS) Stability investigation of EU3+ doped CaF2 thin film with ZnO PhD poster presentation: Mr. Nkanyiso Ndlovu (UKZN) Enhanced surface characteristics and magnetic properties of PEG coated zinc- and cobalt-nano ferites via high-energy ball milling PhD poster presentation: Mr. Edward Lee (UFS) SrVO3 tin films prepared using spin coating PhD poster presentation: Highly recommended Prize -Ms. Vhahangwele Makumbane (UFS)- Structural and upconvesion luminescence properties of pulsed laser-deposited Y2O3:Ho3+, Yb3+ thin films MSc poster presentation: Semiconductors Mr James Mecuur (UWC) Hybrid two-dimensional Perovskite Semiconductor Layers for electronic applications. MSc poster presentation: Condensed Matter Physics - Mr. Lesole Ramolise (UFS)- Synthesis and thermometry properties of YV04:Bi3+ Phosphor PhD oral presentation: Semiconductors D. Hlungwani (UL) PhD oral presentation: Condensed Matter M Mulibana (UJ) Honours poster (for oral) T.K. Pamhidzayi (UJ) MSc oral presentation (Condensed matter) Kingsley Opuku (RU) MSc oral presentation (Semiconductor) Joshua Seroka (TUT) MSc oral presentation (Bush Vacuum) Johane Odendaal (UFS) Applied Physics Honours poster presentation: Mogezi Baloyi (University of Venda) DFT Studies of Photocatalytic properties of BATiO3 Doped with V and W for Hydrogen Production MSc poster presentation: Kelsey Everts (Stellenbosch University) Ag-nanorods in organic solar harvesting films- do they do more harm than good on the ultrafast timescale? MSc oral presentation: Elizabeth Hagemann (Nelson Mandela University) Investigation of Effects of the accumulation of debris and deterioration on the performance of CPV Models PhD poster presentation: Cade Peters (Wits) adaptive transmission matrix estimation for complex time- varying optical media PhD oral presentation: Poland Michael (Nelson Mandela University) Analysis of the behaviour of bypass diodes and power output of a photovoltaic (PV) module operating under partial shading Photonics Photonics in Biology award: Lindokuhle Hadebe (UJ) Photonics MSc award (joint award): Le Roi Du Plessis (SU) Photonics MSc award (joint award): Kelsey Everts (SU) Photonics PhD Technology award: Lucas Erasmus (UFS) Photonics PhD award: Cade Peters (WITS) Astrophysics PhD: Lutendo Nyadzani (UJ) MSc: Brenda Homera (RU) Poster: Lexi Andati (RU) Space Science MSc: Calmay Lee (NWU) Encouragement: Frans van der Merwe & Sanele Khanyile Nuclear, Particle and Radiation Physics Thabo Pilusa - University of the Witwatersrand Busisiwe Mbatha - University of Zululand James Mitchell - University of Cape Town Njokweni Mbuyiswa - University of the Witwatersrand Mikayla Chaplin - University of Cape Town Vuyolwethu Kakancu - University of the Witwatersrand Ayabulela Tsewu - University of Johannesburg The evening concluded with final remarks by Prof Thomas Konrad from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, followed by a vote of thanks and the handover to the SAIP2025 organisers. The organisers extend their heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees and express their gratitude to everyone who made the evening a success. These awards highlight the dedication and innovation within the physics community. To read about the opening of SAIP2024, please click here. The state authority that manages the science and technology campus in downtown Richmond is seeking a new leader. Chandra Briggman, CEO of Activation Capital, said Monday that she would resign. Members of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration expressed dissatisfaction with her performance, said Del. Mark Sickles, a Fairfax Democrat. But a representative for Youngkin said the governor himself was not involved, adding that Briggman played a significant role in business growth. For the past year, Activation Capital has sought a science or technology company to fill a not-yet-built $53 million innovation center downtown. Last year, state leaders awarded the authority $15 million contingent on finding a tenant for the building. But a tenant has not been identified, and the building hasn't gone up. "It's a hard market [for] what we're trying to do," said Sickles, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. "She's in charge of building a technology authority and growing that is a hard business." Sickles said the administration was involved in Briggman's decision to resign. An interim replacement has not been identified. But Christian Martinez, a spokesman for Youngkin, called Briggman "an exceptional leader." "With many exciting developments in the life sciences and entrepreneurship sectors in the commonwealth, we hope Chandra will continue to be a vital leader," Martinez said. In a statement, Briggman said it was always her goal to create a team, prove its model and transition to the next opportunity to build. Asked about the administration's role, a spokesperson for Activation Capital referred back to Briggman's remarks. Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University and chairman of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority board, said Briggman's time here has "been defined by impact, and her impressive body of work has energized our region." Kipton Currier, vice president of operations at Activation Capital, will lead day-to-day operations while the group searches for an interim director. Activation Capital operates the 34-acre VA Bio+Tech Park, a science campus in downtown Richmond that houses nearly 70 research groups, including VCU's Medicines for All and drugmaker Phlow. It also oversees the region's advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster and supports small-business groups. Hired in 2020, Briggman came from the Boston area, where she led a nonprofit that helped spur innovation. In Richmond, she helped launch a cluster of medicine-building organizations called the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, which includes VCU's Medicines for All, Phlow and Civica. The collaboration won a $53 million grant as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and Greater Richmond was designated as a national tech hub. Several state agencies have lost their leaders during Youngkin's term, including the Department of General Services and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. "They're supremely confident in everything they do," said Sickles, referring to the administration. "I'm not too surprised. ... There are too many cooks in the kitchen." Turkiyes sovereign wealth fund was reportedly mulling the sale of its 26.2% shares in state-owned operator Turkcell. Sources speaking to Bloomberg said the Turkiye Wealth Fund has not made a decision, but have had informal talks with potential buyers. Some in the fund oppose the deal as they see Turkcell as a strategic asset. A final decision will apparently be made by Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also leads the board of the fund. The shares stirred interest from investors in the Arabian Peninsula and Azerbaijan. An investment bank has been approached for advising on a potential sale. Another prominent shareholder of Turkcell is LetterOne Investment Holdings which has a 19.8% stake, and the rest of the shares ate traded on the Istanbul bourse and the New York Stock Exchange. Dingoes (Canis dingo) are an iconic element of Australias biodiversity, but evidence-based management and conservation of dingoes depend on understanding their origins and population history. In a new study, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers sequenced the genomes of ancient dingo individuals, providing a window into the early history of dingoes in Australia, prior to the introduction of modern domestic dogs and persecution of dingoes by European colonizers. Their results provide insights into the ancestry and origins of modern dingo populations, including their relationship to New Guinea singing dogs, and represent a valuable resource for future developments in dingo management and conservation. Modern dingoes are free-living, naturalized canids that are found across most of mainland Australia and some nearby islands, including Kgari (known as Fraser Island from 1840s to 2023). Between the arrival of their ancestors in Australia at least 3,000 years ago and the introduction of domestic dog breeds as part of European colonization, beginning in the 18th century, dingoes were isolated from domesticated dogs for thousands of years and represent an early protodog lineage, divergent from other free-ranging and modern domestic dog representatives. Their early divergence and free-living status mean that dingoes were not subjected to the same intensive selective breeding as the ancestors of modern domestic breed dogs. Consequently, dingoes are behaviorally, genetically, and anatomically distinct from domestic dogs and as the largest and most widespread terrestrial predator on the continent they influence the distribution and abundance of many other animal species. Dingoes hold significant cultural importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and play an essential role in the Australian ecosystem, said Dr. Yassine Souilmi, a researcher at the University of Adelaide. Understanding their historical population structure helps us preserve the dingos role in Australian ecology and culture. Dingoes are currently under threat from lethal culling programs, and our research highlights the importance of protecting populations in national parks and beyond. In the study, Dr. Souilmi and colleagues sequenced genetic data from 42 dingo specimens from coastal western Australia, the Nullarbor Plain, and coastal eastern Australia, spanning an east-west distance of over 3,000 km. The majority of dingo specimens the researchers analyzed predate the arrival of Europeans in Australia with several over 2,000 years old and therefore represent the true genetic diversity of dingoes prior to any admixture with modern domestic dog breeds. This dataset gave a rare glimpse into the pre-colonial genetic landscape of dingoes, free from any mixing with modern dog breeds, said Dr. Sally Wasef, a paleogeneticist at the Queensland University of Technology. Consequently, are behaviorally, genetically, and anatomically distinct from domestic dogs. Modern-day dingoes ancestors arrived in Australia more than 3,000 years ago, most likely transported by seafaring people. The samples we analyzed represent the oldest ancient DNA recovered in Australia and indicate broad possibilities of future DNA and conservation work that could be carried out on dingoes and other animals. Dingo populations are classified into east and west groups which were previously thought to have formed during post-colonial human activity. Our findings show, however, that dingoes population structure was already in place thousands of years ago and clarify the genetic heritage of dingoes, while highlighting the importance of using ancient DNA for wildlife conservation. For example, all Kgari dingoes we analyzed do not have any domestic dog ancestry, proving they preserve their full ancestral heritage. Although we studied only a small number of Kgari dingoes, our findings highlight the importance and usefulness of our pre-colonial ancient genomic data to conserving our unique native animals. Due to poor human behavior that causes some dingoes to become habituated to seeking food from tourists, several problem dingoes have been culled, which is concerning given their small population size. The unique dataset of ancient dingo DNA had helped to uncover crucial details about the ancestry and migration patterns of the modern-day dingo, Dr. Souilmi said. Dingoes had distinct regional populations, split roughly along the Great Dividing Range, long before the European invasion of Australia, and certainly predating the dingo-proof fence. The DNA analysis also showed less interbreeding between dingoes and modern dogs than was previously thought, with our research confirming todays dingoes retain much of their ancestral genetic diversity. _____ Yassine Souilmi et al. 2024. Ancient genomes reveal over two thousand years of dingo population structure. PNAS 121 (30): e2407584121; doi: 10.1073/pnas.240758412 Three fossilized teeth from a previously unknown species of non-tyrannosaurid tyrannosauroid dinosaur have been unearthed in northeastern Thailand by a team of paleontologists from Kasetsart University, Mahasarakham University and Sirindhorn Museum. Tyrannosauroidea is a clade of theropods, including well-known carnivorous dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex from the Late Cretaceous of North America, said Dr. Chatchalerm Ketwetsuriya of Kasetsart University and colleagues. They primarily inhabited in the supercontinent Laurasia throughout the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. The earliest-known members of Tyrannosauroidea have been discovered in the Middle Jurassic of Europe and Asia, suggesting the origin of this theropod group within Eurasia. Tyrannosauroids were distributed from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous of Asia, with most Asian tyrannosaurs found in China and Mongolia. The three isolated teeth of a tyrannosauroid dinosaur examined by the team were recovered from the Phu Noi locality, Kham Muang district, Kalasin province, northeastern Thailand. The specimens date back to the Tithonian age of the Jurassic period, about 145 million years ago. The Phu Noi locality is renowned as one of the most prolific Mesozoic vertebrate deposits in Southeast Asia, the paleontologists said. Numerous species have been unearthed from this site, including freshwater sharks, ray-finned fishes, lungfishes, amphibians, turtles, crocodyliforms, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs. Within the Phu Noi locality, three dinosaur species have been identified, comprising a metriacanthosaurid theropod, a mamenchisaurid sauropod, and the basal neornithischians Minimocursor phunoiensis. Three of those theropod teeth from the Phu Noi locality show unique dental features that can be distinguished from previous discovered metriacanthosaurid theropod, including the lateral teeth with mesiolingual twisted mesial carinae extending above the cervix line and braided enamel surface texture, they added. Morphological examination along with cladistics and morphometric analyses show that these isolated teeth exhibit the synapomorphies of basal tyrannosauroids, closely related to Guanlong wucaii and Proceratosaurus bradleyi from the Jurassic period. This discovery notes the first report of Tyrannosauroidea in the Jurassic of Southeast Asia and contributes to the knowledge paleoecology of the lower Phu Kradung Formation, as well as paleobiogeo-graphical distribution of tyrannosauroids during the Late Jurassic, they concluded. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the possibility to finding new Thai dinosaur species in future excavations and studies. The study was published in the journal Tropical Natural History. _____ W. Chowchuvech et al. 2024. The First Occurrence of a Basal Tyrannosauroid in Southeast Asia: Dental Evidence from the Upper Jurassic of Northeastern Thailand. Tropical Natural History 24 (1): 84-95 Telecom infrastructure provider ATC Ghana reportedly restored electricity to Telecel Ghana's telecoms towers over the weekend by order of the regulator after intentionally cutting off the power over a financial dispute. According to media reports, Telecel Ghana's mobile services were disrupted last week when ATC Ghana cut off the power supply to some of its towers. In a statement issued on Thursday, ATC Ghana explained that it did so because Telecel was not complying with its payment obligations. "The non-compliance with the agreed obligations is such that ATC Ghana no longer has the capacity to buy electricity and diesel to maintain Telecel's equipment, especially when its agreements with Telecel have expired," the statement from ATC Ghana said. ATC claimed it made the decision after in-depth negotiations with Telecel, and had notified the National Communications Authority (NCA) of its intentions. Telecel denied the allegations and threatened legal action against ATC Ghana. According to a statement issued by Telecel on Friday, the NCA and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization met with both companies, which resulted in the NCA ordering ATC Ghana to reconnect the towers by Saturday and withdraw its statements in the press. Telecel issued another statement on Sunday saying that all towers were reconnected and all services restored. Telecel also said that the NCA will arbitrate the underlying dispute between the two companies. The service shutdown came at a delicate time for Telecel, formerly known as Vodafone Ghana until Telecel bought Vodafones 70% stake in the telco last year. The operator officially rebranded as Telecel in March, and has been trying to use the fresh rebrand to boost its market share. However, the service quality issues that plagued Vodafone Ghana have persisted under the new brand, with some customers on social media claiming the problem has gotten worse, according to a report on Monday from tech news site Tech Labari. The latest stats from the NCA show that Telecel Ghana has 6.3 million subscribers. While that makes it the second largest mobile operator in Ghana with a 19.44% market share, its still way behind dominant market leader MTN, which holds over 71% of the mobile market. Turkey launched its first domestically produced communications satellite, Turksat 6A, into orbit early this week, widening the country's satellite coverage and meeting its television broadcasting needs. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellite into space from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States. The Turksat 6A satellite is now in a highly elliptical transfer orbit but CBS News explains that the satellite's onboard thrusters will be used in the coming days to circularise the orbit 22,300 miles (a little under 35,900 kilometres) above the equator at 42 degrees east longitude. At that altitude, CBS explains, satellites take 24 hours to complete one orbit and appear stationary in the sky, allowing the use of fixed ground antennas on the ground. Turksat 6A, operated by state-owned satellite operator Turksat AS, is equipped with 16 Ku-band transponders, along with four held in reserve. It is also equipped with two active X-band transponders and one spare. Those three are reserved for domestic Turkish use while the Ku-band transponders will support commercial services. As well as improving Turkeys own communications and television broadcasts Turksat 6A allows the country to reach India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has been widely quoted as saying that the launch marks the opening of a "new phase" for Turkey in satellite production, pointing out that more than 81% of the subsystems, satellite ground stations and software in the 6A project have been produced by Turkey with national resources. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu has added that the Turksat 6A was the result of a ten-year effort to domestically produce a satellite, making Turkey became one of 11 countries to have done so. Digicel Samoa announced on Monday that it has officially kicked off its rollout of 5G services with five 5G sites going live in the Apia CBD. The sites cover the Levili Data Centre, FMFMII, NFP building, Tatte building and Frankie mall. Digicel customers with 5G-compatible devices will be able to use 5G in those areas, the company said. Digicel also said that initial test results at the new 5G sites demonstrated average speeds of 550-600 Mbps, albeit with the caveat that actual speeds will depend on the usual factors (location, distance from the mobile tower, local conditions, concurrent users, hardware and software configuration and download/upload destination, etc). The live 5G launch the first in Samoa comes four months after Digicel Samoa was granted conditional approval by the Government of Samoa to launch 5G technology. At the time, Digicel said it was upgrading its cell tower sites using Nokias AirScale non-standalone (NSA) 5G, starting with sites in Apia's CBD. Were building on the strong foundation of our 4G network to usher in a new era of connectivity with 5G, said Digicel Samoa CEO Anthony Seuseu in a statement on Monday. This launch isnt just about faster speeds, its about delivering an exceptional experience for our customers in Samoa. Digicel Samoa has not given a timeline for when 5G will expanded to the rest of Apia and Samoa in general. Digicels sole competitor, Vodafone Samoa, said in March that it plans to launch 5G ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 in October. Ericsson announced on Monday it has extended its R&D partnership with Saudi Arabias King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) for another two years to continue research related to 5G and 6G technologies. Ericsson said the research agenda with KAUST will focus on cutting-edge telecoms technologies within the framework of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030. That includes 5G and 6G, with a specific focus on things like on-chip reflective intelligent surfaces and free-space optics. Mashhour Al-Sudairy, head of local content at Ericsson Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said the initial three-year collaboration with KAUST has been fruitful in regards to those specific technologies, as well as machine learning for frequency-selective wireless channels. The initial phase of our partnership yielded significant advancements in telecommunication technologies, which have been crucial in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the 5G and emerging 6G space, he said in a statement. Pierre Magistretti, VP of Research at KAUST, said the collaboration has also facilitated the exchange of knowledge and collaboration among students and researchers between KAUST and Ericsson Research in Sweden, Ericsson said, which has also contributed to Saudi Arabias technology talent pool. The next phase of our partnership promises even greater innovations, as we continue to explore the untapped potential of advanced telecommunication technologies, he said. Water Intelligence , a multinational provider of minimally-invasive leak detection and remediation solutions, announced the strategic acquisition of Feakle Gas and Plumbing (FG&P) in Ireland on Tuesday, through its Water Intelligence International (WII) subsidiary. The AIM-traded firm said the acquisition was intended to enhance its capacity to deliver water and wastewater solutions across municipal, commercial, and residential sectors in Ireland and throughout the EU. It said the acquisition, valued at 2.32m, was based on FG&Ps 2023 accounts, which reported 3.7m in sales and adjusted operating profits of 0.55m. The transaction was structured as a four-year earnout, starting with an initial consideration of 0.5m followed by annual payments of 0.44m contingent on maintaining a minimum operating profit of 0.43m each year. An additional 75,000 payment would be made on achieving 0.65m in new sales from WII's municipal, commercial, and residential solutions. The new business lines would be synergistic with WIIs expansion, particularly leveraging its proprietary sewer diagnostic product, Pulse. Water Intelligence said the acquisition would be financially accretive, and was strategically positioned to capitalise on significant market opportunities in the EU. According to the OECD, the European Union would require about 290bn in investment for water and sanitation needs by 2030, with recent forecasts raising the estimate to $476bn in water and wastewater infrastructure capital expenditure from 2024 to 2030. FG&P, which operates between Shannon and Dublin, boasted a skilled workforce and a robust service and construction plumbing business. That, the directors said, would integrate with Water Intelligences American Leak Detection (ALD) solutions and WIIs commercial and municipal offerings. The acquisition would support Water Intelligences expansion into the EU, enhancing its operational footprint and enabling the group to meet the growing demand driven by EU directives on drinking water and urban wastewater treatment. We are excited by the growth opportunities available to the Group in Ireland and the EU, said executive chairman Patrick DeSouza. We believe that the FG&P team and its leadership will create significant value for our shareholders. Given the proximity of Ireland to our existing operations in the UK, our teams will be able to work together seamlessly as we expand our international operations. At 1129 BST, shares in Water Intelligence were up 2.52% at 440p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. BP said it would take a hit of up to $2bn in the second quarter relating to asset impairments along with a hit to margins and lower profits from oil trading. The writedown includes charges relating to the ongoing review of its Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany, BP said on Tuesday, after announcing in March that it planned to cut crude oil processing capacity at the plant by about a third from next year 2025, due to weaker demand forecasts. Significantly lower realised refining margins would slice $500 $700m off earnings, mainly relating to weaker middle distillate margins and narrower North American heavy crude oil differentials, and a higher level of turnaround activity. The oil and gas giant also forecast flat upstream production in the second quarter, while its gas marketing and trading result was also expected to be average following a strong result in the first quarter. Upstream production in the second quarter is now expected to be broadly flat compared to the prior quarter, with production broadly flat in oil production & operations and slightly lower in gas & low carbon energy. BPs announcement comes after rival Shell last week also warned of second-quarter non-cash impairments of up to $2bn, relating to the sale of its chemicals plant in Singapore and a pause in construction at a biofuel plant in the Netherlands. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Meta has claimed news is not the antidote to misinformation and disinformation spreading on Facebook and Instagram, as the company continues to push back against being forced to pay media companies for news in Australia. Meta announced in March it would not enter into new agreements with media companies to pay for news following the end of contracts signed in 2021 under the Morrison governments news media bargaining code. Guardian At the World AI Conference in Shanghai last week, one of Chinas leading artificial intelligence companies, SenseTime, unveiled its latest model, SenseNova 5.5. The model showed off its ability to identify and describe a stuffed toy puppy (wearing a SenseTime cap), offered feedback on a drawing of a rabbit, and instantly read and summarised a page of text. According to SenseTime, SenseNova 5.5 is comparable with GPT-4o, the flagship artificial intelligence model of the Microsoft-backed US company OpenAI. Guardian Sir Keir Starmers choice of a leading advocate of HS2 as rail minister has stoked industry hopes that scrapped parts of the project may be revived. While the primary task facing Lord Hendy, whose appointment was announced on Monday, will be to oversee Labours renationalisation of train operators, hes also likely to prove a strong advocate for expanding the network. Lord Hendy, who previously worked closely with Boris Johnson and sat as a crossbench peer, last year criticised Rishi Sunaks decision to halt HS2 at Birmingham, choosing to speak out despite his position as chairman of the state-owned track operator Network Rail. Telegraph French state energy giant EDF has pulled out of the competition to build mini-nuclear reactors in Britain, as it takes its blueprints back to the drawing board. The company had been vying with five others to win government support for its small modular reactor (SMR) design, with two winners set to be chosen by the end of the year. But with submissions for the latest stage of the competition due at 4pm on Monday, it is understood that EDF put forward no design and has effectively now withdrawn from the running. Telegraph A Tesla shareholder is calling for more than $7 billion in lawyers fees to be paid by the electric car maker, after he successfully challenged Elon Musks record-breaking pay package. Richard Tornetta, who owned nine shares in Tesla when he sued over Musks pay package in 2018, is pursuing the legal fee on behalf of three law firms that represented him in a battle he ultimately won in January when Musks $56 billion package was voided by a judge in Delaware. The Times The German state has begun auctioning off confiscated bitcoin worth 2.5 billion in a sale that may have contributed to a recent slump in the cryptocurrencys value. Authorities impounded a digital wallet containing nearly 50,000 bitcoin from the owners of Movie2k, the now-defunct film piracy website, in January. It is thought to have been the largest seizure of its kind in Germany. The Times Londons FTSE 100 was down 0.6% at 8,141.35 in afternoon trade on Tuesday. BP slumped after saying it would take a hit of up to $2bn in the second quarter relating to asset impairments and onerous contract provisions, including charges relating to the ongoing review of its Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany. The oil and gas giant also forecast flat upstream production in the second quarter, while its gas marketing and trading result was also expected to be average following a strong result in the first quarter. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "A teaser ahead of second-quarter results later this month from BP suggests they wont be a winner. "The major issue is a big hit to refining margins, reflecting both market dynamics but also operational issues for the company. These factors also underpin guided impairments of $1 billion to $2 billion for the quarter. The broad range left the market with some uncertainty over how the second-quarter numbers will land. "There are suggestions CEO Murray Auchincloss, who recently saw his stint as caretaker boss made permanent, will look to take costs out of the business and moderate net zero ambitions in order to prioritise boosting returns to help close the valuation gap on US rivals. "However, alongside any major strategic shifts, BP needs to demonstrate competence in the day-to-day running of the business and todays update doesnt help in that sense." On the upside, utilities were on the front foot, with Severn Trent, United Utilities and National Grid all up. FTSE 100 - Risers Severn Trent (SVT) 2,564.00p 2.52% United Utilities Group (UU.) 1,047.00p 1.55% CRH (CDI) (CRH) 5,884.00p 1.45% Haleon (HLN) 330.30p 1.10% Halma (HLMA) 2,670.00p 1.06% Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,073.00p 1.04% Entain (ENT) 637.80p 0.95% Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (PSH) 4,204.00p 0.77% National Grid (NG.) 934.60p 0.65% Unilever (ULVR) 4,376.00p 0.64% FTSE 100 - Fallers BP (BP.) 455.15p -4.11% Burberry Group (BRBY) 866.80p -3.50% Frasers Group (FRAS) 839.00p -3.17% Barclays (BARC) 216.50p -2.50% Melrose Industries (MRO) 568.60p -2.37% B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 446.20p -2.26% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 290.70p -2.15% Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 3,500.00p -2.07% Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 57.86p -1.97% NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 323.00p -1.94% Over the past few years, the HR field has faced numerous challenges, like changing the work environment due to the pandemic, great resignations, and economic downturn. These challenges led to a significant evolution in working patterns, and thus, technology adoption has become crucial in coping with these challenges. The HR domain is rapidly transforming from manual processes to digital automation, cloud-based systems, mobile apps, and now integration of AI and ML. In an interview, Mr. Aniruddh Nagodara, CEO of factoHR, a mobile-first HCM platform, gives insights into the latest HR trends, shedding light on the ongoing evolution of the HR landscape and potential future trends. Q1. What are the key HR technology trends that will dominate in 2024, and reshape the future workplace? In recent years HR trends have evolved at a rapid speed. There are two major changes which have reshaped the workplace landscape. First, remote and hybrid workforces are becoming more prevalent. Secondly, there has been adoption of cloud and mobile technology in every aspect of business operations to effectively manage hybrid workforce. We are firm believers in mobile and cloud-based technology, so we have offered factoHR as a SaaS product from the beginning. During the pandemic, we introduced innovative features like touchless attendance with AI-driven face verification, geo-tagged punching, and an HR chatbot that helped organizations manage their remote workforce. As technologies like GPT and generative AI emerge, we integrate machine learning, predictive analytics, and generative AI into our core offerings. This empowers HR professionals to streamline tasks, deliver personalized communications, and utilize data for smarter decision-making. Q2. What are the biggest challenges companies face when implementing new HR technologies, and how can they be overcome? In today's rapidly advancing HR technology environment, HR leaders face many challenges, like resistance to change, data security and privacy, and integration with existing systems. To overcome these challenges, at factoHR, we have focused on core solutions like security by design, DIY configuration, user-friendly interfaces, and off-the-shelf integration. These will facilitate smoother adoption of new technologies, enhancing productivity and satisfaction. Q3. How can HR technology be leveraged to improve the overall employee experience and job satisfaction? The role of HR tech has become prominent as digitalization becomes more prevalent. Organizations need to do more than just finding the right candidate for a job. They also have to help candidates adjust to the company's work culture and support their transition from candidate to employee. To aid the HR profession in overcoming these challenges, factoHR provides solutions like self onboarding, allowing employees to quickly adapt to the company's culture, an employee self-service portal encouraging self-service model for data access and with the insightful reports and dashboards HR professionals can gather data and analyze employee sentiment, engagement, and performance. This will lead to increased employee experience and job satisfaction. Q4. What do you believe will be the HR trends in the coming years? In the coming year, HR tech infused with Generative AI will completely change how we manage talent and the workplace. AI will not only streamline day-to-day HR tasks but also disrupt many existing roles, so HR has to determine what new skills will be needed in the future and how to upskill and reskill the workforce. Another disruptive change is the hybrid work model. It offers opportunities as well as poses challenges, so it will be high on the agenda of all HR professionals. While it provides greater employee satisfaction and attracts talent from remote locations, it becomes challenging to maintain team cohesion, ensuring effective communication and accountability. However, advancements in HR tech will add a plethora of technology and tools to the HR toolbox capable of monitoring engagement, productivity, and workforce trends. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Austria is noteworthy, as it will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. Scheduled for July 9-10, the visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which began in 1949. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Austria was the late Indira Gandhi in 1983. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Austria is set to concentrate on key areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, high technology, and the startup sector. The visit will feature restricted delegation-level talks, a high-level business engagement, and an interaction with the Indian community in Vienna. During a special briefing in New Delhi last week, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra emphasized the potential for bilateral cooperation in these sectors, highlighting Austria's expertise in infrastructure and renewable energy. The visit aims to explore new avenues for collaboration and strengthen existing ties. India and Austria have shared a long history of diplomatic engagement. In 1953, India played a crucial role in Austrias negotiations with the Soviet Union, leading to Austrias independence in 1955. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have since flourished, with several high-level visits and the establishment of the Indo-Austrian Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in 1983. This commission has facilitated over 200 collaborations, including technical collaborations and joint ventures in fields such as steel, manufacturing technology, railway transport, and metallurgy. Trade between India and Austria is well-balanced, with India exporting electronic goods, textiles, footwear, and machinery while importing machinery, railway parts, and steel from Austria. Notably, in 2013, Indias PSLV-C20 launched Austrias first two satellites, TUGSAT-1/BRITE and UniBRITE, showcasing the strong cooperation in space technology. In recent years, the relationship between India and Austria has continued to strengthen. In February 2023, the India-Austria Startup Bridge was launched to foster innovation and entrepreneurship between the two nations. This initiative aims to create a robust platform for startups from both countries to collaborate and drive technological advancements. Prime Minister Modi has consistently maintained cordial relations with Austria. In his first term, he met then-Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern in 2017 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. During his second term, he met Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg at the COP-26 summit in Glasgow in 2021. These interactions have paved the way for deeper cooperation and mutual understanding. The Indian community in Austria, estimated at over 31,000, mainly consists of healthcare professionals, businessmen, and students. Predominantly from Kerala and Punjab, the diaspora is evenly split between Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). This community plays a crucial role in strengthening the cultural and economic ties between the two countries. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Over the weekend, the Dongan Hills Dough By Licastri announced it would no longer have pickup service from its flagship location, 1456 Richmond Road. Its owner said all takeout orders and delivery now will come from its sister restaurant in Eltingville at 3831 Richmond Ave. Owner Vito Balsamo explained, We discontinued pickup service at the Dongan Hills location. Basically, we streamlined the two operations. The Richmond Road spot has a small kitchen and we werent able to keep up with the dough production. As such, all orders for the Richmond Road address and the number 718-668-1600 have been directed to 3831 Richmond Ave., Eltingville. Balsamo said that if people see a flurry of activity at the Richmond Road spot its because the shop is being used for inventory and prep work. Eltingville proprietor Balsamo added, The Richmond Road place was too small for production and managing the orders as we had them. But we still need the kitchen there. Wheres the Dough? Dough By Licastri now has two locations on Staten Island 3831 Richmond Ave. and 977 Victory Blvd., Silver Lake each under different ownership. Dough By Licastri's first day in Eltingville in 2022 with neighborhood fanfare. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri Aside from management, there are some differences in the Dough By Licastris of the borough, although recipes are the same. Balsamos restaurant in Eltingville has 22 seats and is BYOB. He calls his two-year old parlor an upscale pizzeria. Separately, the North Shore Dough outpost came to Silver Lake at 977 Victory Boulevard in this past spring with a different vibe. It features a lounge area, wine list and more expansive seating with an outdoor section. The late Stephen Licastri intently replicated his family's dough recipe with a secret ingredient of which he was very proprietary a specific starter dough from his family's baker from the 1950s. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Staff-ShotStaff-Shot Boutique pizza Balsamo considers the Dough by Licastri brand to be a boutique-style of pizza. The recipe was developed by the restaurants namesake, the late Stephen Licastri who passed away at 63 in spring of 2019. With the Dongan Hills store established in 2017, Stephen left behind a legacy of specifics on ingredients and a distinct starter dough, a formula used for over a century. Stephens grandfather, Philip Licastri, crafted dough in Little Italy, and would ride the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan to peddle the product in the borough by horse and buggy. He eventually established Licastri Bakery in 1919 at 33 Olympia Blvd. in South Beach. In 1956, Ciros Pizzeria opened at 1400 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere. That was opened by Stephens grandfather (his mothers father) Joseph Fricano. Stephen Licastri eventually crafted yeast, water and flour into a recipe over which he was very protective. Our hashtag says it and we maintain, Its all about the dough, said Balsamo. He added, We always strive for the excellence in dough Stephen laid the groundwork for. And thats what we always intend to do going forward. The Eltingville location can be found by the Dongan Hills fans at 3831 Richmond Ave. The phone numbers to reach the Eltingville store are now 718-668-1600 and 646-560-0970. Judy Belushi Pisano, a former actress, producer and widow of John Belushi, has died at the age of 73. She died after a long battle with cancer. The news was announced by the late comedians official social media pages. Today, our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our sweet Judy, a post on Instagram on Saturday read. Her unwavering dedication and creative genius alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi gave birth to The Blue Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter. The news was also published in the MV Times, a news outlet that covers Marthas Vineyard, where Pisano spent much of her later years. Pisano met Belushi in high school in Wheaton, Illinois. They were married from 1973 up until 1982, when he died from a drug overdose. She then remarried in 1990 to Victor Pisano before filing for divorce in 2010. In the years following Johns passing in 1982, Judy honored his life and championed his legacy and Blues Brothers brand, the post continued. As we bid farewell, we pledge to continue her work, ensuring that Johns legacy, and the Blues Brothers will never fade. There was no one like her. Judy made everyone feel loved. She was nonjudgmental, light, funny and pure. You could be truly yourself around her, that alone was a gift. The Belushi and Pisano families will carry your love in their hearts forever. After Belushis death, she devoted much of her life to honoring his memory, and she was even involved in the 2020 Showtime documentary John Belushi. She worked alongside Belushi as an actress on The Blues Brothers and National Lampoons Animal House. She also had roles in Nothing Lasts Forever and All Downhill From Here, and served as a producer on The Best of John Belushi and John Belushi: Dancing on the Edge. She was also working on a Blues Brothers television series, according to IMDb. The MV Times also mentioned that she was active in the arts and held a fundraiser for Marthas Vineyard Community Services with a screening of John Belushi: Dancing on the Edge and another screening for Marthas Vineyard Playhouse with a Daniel Aykroyd show. The former actress is survived by her children and grandchildren. CITY HALL Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday that he supports a conservative-pushed rollback of sanctuary city policies passed during Mayor Bill de Blasios administration. He said he supported a bill pushed by the Common Sense Caucus a bipartisan group of the City Councils most conservative members, including Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) and Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island/South Brooklyn) that would repeal portions of the city Administrative Code precluding city agencies cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I think the previous administration made a big mistake. I think we need to correct that aspect of it, Adams said. New Yorkers have a right to be safe in their city. The same way anyone breaks the law or does something violent to New Yorkers, Im going to voice my concern about that. The mayors negative feelings about the prior administration have been no secret, and on Tuesday, he praised earlier mayors for their sanctuary city policies dating back to Mayor Ed Koch. He first issued an executive order in 1989 limiting local cooperation with the federal government on matters of immigration. ICE didnt exist until 2003 with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Subsequent mayors, including Mayor David Dinkins and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, issued similar executive orders. The general idea behind the policies is that immigrants will be more likely to cooperate with local law enforcement if they know they wont be on the radar of immigration officials. Mayor Michael Bloombergs administration passed the first local law on the issue explicitly limiting the Department of Corrections cooperation with ICE. The laws passed during de Blasios tenure are the ones targeted by the Common Sense Caucus, and took sanctuary city policies further. In 2014, new laws removed an ICE office from Rikers Island and prohibited the Department of Correction, NYPD, and Department of Probation from honoring ICE detainer requests official requests to detain individuals for possible deportation. The law had a series of carveouts for when those departments could honor detainer requests if an individual was convicted of a litany of violent or serious crimes, if they were on federal terror watch lists or if ICE obtained a judicial warrant. Reports also mandated by those laws show the effect theyve had on detainer requests from the federal government. The NYPD received 2,635 such requests from Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014, and just 109 from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The Department of Correction received 627 from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 and 201 from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The Department of Probation keeps less robust records on its website, but listed no detainer requests from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) led a February press conference with members of the Common Sense Caucus and Kenneth Genalo, ICE director for the New York City field office. Unfortunately, a lot of the way that we have to do our intelligence in ICE is the same way that you find out about cases. Its through the media, Genalo said of the challenges his agency faces. Were no longer contacted. Were no longer called. While Adams sought not to paint the citys migrant population with the broad brush of criminality, Malliotakis on Tuesday pointed to a series of high-profile crimes connected to the community. Specifically, an incident in which migrants were involved in an altercation with police officers in Times Square, and another in which a migrant is accused on raping a 13-year-old girl. Its putting New Yorkers in danger, and its putting other migrants in the shelter in danger too, she said Tuesday. The congresswoman said shed like to see Adams take more proactive steps, like issuing an executive order rolling back sanctuary city policies, and then fighting the lawsuit that would undoubtedly come. For local members of the Common Sense Caucus, Borelli and Carr, they welcomed support of the citys executive, but given the liberal makeup of the Council, its unclear if the bill will make it to Adams desk. The mayor is right and this has to be repealed, Borelli said. The only beneficiary of this law are criminals. Carr also urged the Charter Review Commission convened by Adams earlier this year to consider putting sanctuary city policies to a ballot proposal in the upcoming November elections. As a member of the Common Sense Caucus, I am proud to cosponsor legislation that would repeal de Blasios so-called Sanctuary City laws, he said. It is absurd to prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, especially when a person of interest is being released from Rikers or local custody. I am glad that the mayor has recognized this need too, and I believe that he should urge his Charter Revision Commission to place the repeal of this dangerous legislation on the ballot. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging New Yorkers to monitor local forecasts as above-average temperatures and increased humidity could result in hazardous heat conditions this week. With feels-like temperatures at or above 95 degrees, there is increased risk of heat-related illnesses. The National Weather service issued heat advisories Monday for the Hudson Valley, New York City and portions of Long Island as the heat is expected to continue into Tuesday. The state is also monitoring the potential for thunderstorms and rainfall associated with Hurricane Beryl beginning Tuesday night and extending into Thursday for much of upstate New York. Isolated instances of flash flooding are also possible. The Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health also issued an air quality health advisory in the New York City Metro area for ozone today until 11 p.m. Heat waves can be dangerous I encourage New Yorkers to take precautions necessary to stay safe during this extreme heat, Hochul said in a statement. Keep an eye on your local forecast, stay hydrated and postpone outdoor activity if possible. How to keep safe during the heat wave In her press release, Hochul said New Yorkers can take action to prepare for and stay safe in the intense heat. Prepare in advance by signing up for New York alerts and installing an air conditioning unit, the office advises. Those who do not have air conditioning should find free locations in their neighborhoods to stay cool, such as the public library, public pools, malls or a cooling center, the governor suggested. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Its going to be a hot start to the week followed by days of thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather. Today and Tuesday were forecasted to be the hottest days of the week, with temperatures nearly touching 90 degrees. This intense heat has prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue a heat advisory that will be active until 8 p.m. Tuesday. The forces of elevated temperatures and humidity will make Monday and Tuesday feel as if it is 100 degrees outdoors, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said. Kines warned that although such elevated temperatures are not uncommon in New York City for the summertime, heat-related illness can strike. Sickness can certainly happen if you have to be outdoors; Especially during the afternoon hours, you have to take it easy by relaxing a little bit, Kines explained. If you have to do some kind of strenuous work outside, it is best to do it in the early morning hours when the heat is not so intense. A future of thunderstorms Wednesday through Saturday will bring sporadic afternoon and evening thunderstorms, Kines predicted. Any rain that we get, especially Thursday and Friday, can bring downpours with it, said Kines It is tough to say how much rain we are going to get, but I think that the potential is there during Thursday and Friday for an inch of rain. The threat of thunderstorms will probably begin to relax as Sunday rolls in, bringing with it dryness, Kines said. The thunderstorms will bring cloud coverage over the New York City area later in the week, helping with the heat. More cloud cover should trim the temperature some as we get into Wednesday and especially Thursday through Saturday, said Kines. Its doubtful that we are going to get close to 90 degrees those days. It will probably be more so toward the lower to middle 80s those days. According to AccuWeather, there does not appear to be a severe weather system coming toward Staten Island, although residents should keep in mind that any thunderstorm can bring gusty winds. Humidity will increase It will not be a great week for hair, Kines warned. We are not getting a break from the humidity this week,' Kines said. If you think its humid today, it may get worse than this on Wednesday and again on Friday and Saturday. If you do not like the humidity, its going to be a rough week for you. Kines said the silver lining is that the heat is not going to be oppressive after Monday and Tuesday, although humidity will intensify. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Its almost time to crown the best hair dressers! We kicked off our latest Best of Staten Island 2024 category last week, asking readers to nominate the best hair salons on Staten Island. After a whopping 101 nominations were submitted on our Instagram, Facebook and TikTok posts, its time to narrow the field to the top three finalists. Which means, ladies and gentlemen its time to vote! Readers have until 9 a.m. Monday, July 15, to vote for their favorite place to go and pamper their hair. Make sure you cast your vote for which place gives the best curls, cuts the best hair and dyes the best dos. Only the top three vote getters will receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance. VOTE NOW! HOW BEST OF STATEN ISLAND WORKS We like to keep it pretty simple for Best of Staten Island. Over the course of the year, we will feature seven different Best Of categories. For each category, there will be one week of nominations, one week of voting and two weeks that will focus on the top winners as chosen by our readers. Only brick-and-mortar businesses are considered, unless otherwise noted. The top three Best of Staten Island winners in each category receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance. This year, weve already featured the best sandwiches, dance schools and pasta dishes on Staten Island. In 2023, we featured the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, best dance schools, best sushi spots, best nails salons, best margaritas, best wings, best coffee shops and best vodka pizza on the Island. Take a look at our ultimate guides for a closer look at each of these establishments. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Parts of New York are forecast to receive up to half a foot of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl. Just last week, Beryl ravaged the eastern Caribbean before setting its sights on Southern Texas. Now, the tropical rainstorm responsible for generating downpours is slated to hook to the northeast and bring the potential of flooding to New York state. What to expect from Beryl The actual center, whats actually left of it (Beryl) is going to pass through Ohio tomorrow (Wednesday), and then probably across western New York tomorrow night and then on up into eastern Canada after that, said Tom Kines, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. An AccuWeather graphic shows Beryl will track through New York the evening of Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather) While Beryl will barrel through New York beginning Wednesday evening, the storm is expected to persist in the state through Thursday afternoon before clearing out to Canada by Thursday evening, according to Kines. Flooding rain upstate Although most of the rain will steer clear of New York City, that precipitation will impact much of upstate New York. Kines foresees areas in western New York and north of Albany picking up more than two inches of rain. Its not out of the question that somebody in that zone picks up more than six inches, which is quite a bit of rain, Kines added. So, as far as severe impacts from Beryl, its going to be mostly from the New York State Thruway on north. An AccuWeather graphic shows the rainfall forecast in the U.S. from Beryl through Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather) In noting particular locations which could bear the brunt of Beryl, Kines highlighted Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and the Adirondacks. Although no longer classified as a tropical storm, this area of low pressure is a moisture generator that could dump a half a foot of rain, which Kines reports could likely result in flooding. Its losing a lot of its tropical characteristics so to speak, Kines said. Right now its mainly just a heavy rain producer. An AccuWeather graphic shows the flooding risk posed by Beryl in New York from Wednesday, July 10 through Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather) The threat of tornadoes As Beryl deviates from its tropical nature, the winds do not seem to pose the severe threat they once did south of the U.S. However, Kines says the potential thunderstorms coming with Beryl could generate elevated wind speeds commonly associated with such conditions. Additionally, there is a potential risk for tornadoes in parts of the state. The risk of tornadoes and/or storms packing powerful wind gusts will extend from Wednesday to Wednesday night in southern and central New York, according to AccuWeather. An AccuWeather graphic shows the severe thunderstorm risk in New York on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather) Certain tropical systems carry the risk of tornadoes well beyond the area, near where they make landfall,' said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. Beryl may continue to be one of those systems. Added energy from the jet stream may enhance that risk, especially in the Ohio Valley and part of the Northeast, he said. Concern over the potential impact of Beryl in New York has prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to urge residents to monitor their local weather forecasts. New York City to see thunderstorms Although seemingly spared from the larger impacts of Beryl, areas downstate could see showers and thunderstorms in the coming days. The impacts south of the Thruway are going to be pretty minimal, Kines said. While minimal, the chance for a shower of thunderstorm will persist from Wednesday through Thursday night. Those potential storms could trigger downpours due to the tropical air mass looming over the area. It doesnt take much to get a half-inch or an inch of rain out of these showers or thunderstorms, Kines said. It comes in a short amount of time, and thats all were going to have to deal with beginning tomorrow and probably even into the day on Friday. While Beryl will be up in Canada on Friday, the humidity will linger in the area into the weekend. The closest thing to a break in humidity looks to come on Thursday with the onset of Beryl, but even then, Kines does not believe it will offer much relief. Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 (M) 181 minutes If you want to make an epic western at present, the easy way is to relocate the frontier to a post-apocalyptic future, or to outer space. Otherwise theres always TV. But evidently none of those options were good enough for Kevin Costner in this partly self-funded project, his first film as director since Open Range in 2003. Kevin Costner in a scene from Horizon. Credit: AP Sitting through the three-hour Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1, I assumed I was seeing the first half of an envisaged whole, akin to an old-fashioned miniseries spread over two nights. In fact, there are four films planned, meaning Costner is operating more on the scale of James Camerons Avatar saga itself a western by other means, starring Sam Worthington as a US soldier gone native among blue-skinned aliens, a scenario that owed something to Costners long-ago Oscar triumph Dances with Wolves. Coincidentally or not, Worthington shows up again in Horizon, as a US Army lieutenant showing cautious sympathy for the local indigenous. Cameron, though, has been careful to ensure that his two Avatar movies so far can each be enjoyed as stand-alone spectacles and, more vitally, that the audience knows from early on what the story is all about. The rekindled nuclear debate in Australia has stirred old memories in some of a little-known chapter of our regions history, when the US Navy quietly installed what today we might call a small modular reactor at the US Antarctic base on Ross Island. The machine, nicknamed Nukey Poo by the technicians who looked after it, was installed at McMurdo base in 1961, when Antarctic exploration was expanding and nuclear energy had developed a bright futuristic sheen. Components of the PM-3A nuclear reactor, later given the nickname Nukey Poo, arrive in Antarctica in 1961. Things did not end well. Back then, as now, Antarctic missions relied upon lifelines with distant homes. Supplies had to be carried long and sometimes dangerous distances. The US kept its Antarctic sites supplied via an ongoing supply mission called Operation Deep Freeze, which was based at the McMurdo Naval Air Facility. Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Does this plastic igloo atop a car park rooftop pull off the French Alps vibe its aiming for? Experience a popular Alpine winter tradition in the most unlikely Sydney location at the Raclette Igloo pop-up. Lenny Ann Low July 9, 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 1 / 7 Inside the Raclette Igloo atop Broadway Shopping Centre. Edwina Pickles 2 / 7 Raclette cheese and charcuterie. Edwina Pickles 3 / 7 Charcuterie board. Edwina Pickles 4 / 7 Potatoes form the foundation of the food. Edwina Pickles 5 / 7 A giant snowflake adds to the wintry theme. Edwina Pickles 6 / 7 Mulled wine makes for an authentic Alpine evening. Edwina Pickles 7 / 7 Toasting marshmallows on the fire. Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide At Raclette Igloo, there is no denying we are sitting in a plastic dome tent on a Sydney car park rooftop rather than apres-ski in the snow-covered French or Swiss Alps. The latter, set inside 16 dome-shaped see-through tents with tables for two, six and eight guests inside, is the experience this travelling five-week spectacle on top of Broadway Shopping Centre is inspired by. Raclette is a semi-hard cows milk cheese made on both sides of the Swiss and French Alps. Its name comes from the French words racier, meaning to scrape, and is also the name for melting cheese and pouring it over meats, pickles and vegetables. Raclette cheese and charcuterie. Edwina Pickles Advertisement Swiss shepherds in the 12th century are believed to be its pioneer. Sharing raclette was adopted in France in the 19th century and it remains a common and popular European winter practice today. Transporting it to Broadway is bizarre. But its sheer audacity, rivers of melted cheese and under-the-stars locale, make it intriguing. At night, the igloos are lit with glowing pinks and purples, hanging lights swing in the breeze and fake snow rains down at the entrance. Everyone is given a large glass mug of mulled wine (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) to sip near a giant lit-up icicle doorway, initially gated with a pair of skis. Inside our igloo, a sense of camaraderie develops. Beyond are three rows of igloos, each with fire pits outside, surrounded by glowing pink, blue and purple cube seats. Inside the igloos, tables are set with napkins, cutlery, plates and an already hot raclette machine. This is a hot plate with a small roof and four spaces for cheese-loaded heat-resistant spatulas to sit until their contents melt and bubble. All staff here are from France. Our server, wearing a beret and a woolly Christmas jumper, delivers wooden boards of pickles and cured meats prosciutto, salami, Parisian ham and cured beef and a platter of cooked jacket potatoes. Advertisement The raclette machine is explained, we plunge our cheese-loaded mini shovels inside and, within five-to-eight minutes the raclette, imported from France, is bubbling. We might be on top of a four-level building with access to everything from the weeks groceries to underpants and a new washing machine, but eating this combination of creamy, salty, luscious fromage, mashed indelicately through soft potatoes and coils of handkerchief-like cured meat is transportive. A giant snowflake adds to the wintry theme. Edwina Pickles French-Australian Raclette Igloos founder Vincent Hernandez, who has overseen the event in Adelaide and Melbourne, says he started it three years ago because he was missing home. It is this wonderful, wintry, communal thing with family and friends, he says. I wanted to bring that here. Advertisement Australians love European things and I wanted to create something that will connect the two countries that I love. Broadway was not the easiest choice in a way because transforming the car park, craning everything up there, brought massive challenges. But its a space that is very unique, its super accessible and its convenient. Weve made it theatrical and fun and as authentic as possible. Inside our igloo, a sense of camaraderie develops. Praise is given when cheese starts to melt, eyes are widened at the size and number of the hot potatoes and everyone loses their equilibrium when we smear the raclette cheese into a maelstrom of hot, gooey vegetable and meat swirl. Toasting marshmallows on the fire. Edwina Pickles Were still going on the warm mulled wine, based on a recipe from Hernandezs grandmother, super-sweet, fruity and fragrant with orange, cherry, cinnamon, cloves and grape juice. Advertisement The wedges of cheese and charcuterie board contents are far from mingy. Two people get 400g of cheese, for tables of six its 1.2 kilograms and groups of eight people get 1.6 kilograms. The charcuterie ranges from 220g to 660g and 880g respectively. Hernandez encourages people to ask for more cheese if they would like it. The server, who is from Alsace in eastern France and says every share-flat he has lived in has had a raclette machine in the kitchen, says we can also buy glasses of French wine white, rose, champagne. We repair to our fire-pit outside the igloo to melt large marshmallows over glowing logs. The burning wood smell is lovely. As the night draws in, it is all as strange as it is enjoyable. The low-down Where: Rooftop, Level 4 (entry via north car park lifts), Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay Street, Broadway, racletteiglooexperience.com.au Open: Wed-Thu sittings 5pm/7pm, Fri-Sun lunch sittings 11.30am/1.30pm and dinner 5pm/7pm/9pm, until July 28, 2024 Vibe: Alpine-inspired, cheese-focused rooftop igloos with heated raclette cheese, charcuterie, mulled and bottled wine and marshmallows for roasting over fire-pits. Go-to dish: Raclette, imported from France, poured over smoked prosciutto, salami, Parisian ham, cured beef, boiled potatoes, pickled onions and cornichons. Average cost for two: $198, including drinks Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up In the past year, Australias payment sector has been transformed by the launch of Tap to Pay technology. Untethering payments from the traditional EFTPOS terminal and putting them in the hands of any individual with a smartphone has revolutionised what weve come to expect of the payment experience. Now with the rapid expansion of AI and machine learning, the pressure of security breaches, and the growing obsolescence of cash and printed receipts: theres more innovation coming in the payments space. More customers choosing a bank alternative The shift away from cash has accelerated significantly, with cash representing less than 14% of total transactions today according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). For businesses, this means the choice of financial services and payments provider has never been more important. With the incumbent banks no longer dominating the market with one generic offering, businesses have the choice of a growing number of digital banking alternatives, enabling them to shop around for a solution that offers greater flexibility, affordability, and functionality. From the pricing of payments technology to how it integrates with other systems, how it mitigates security risks, and what features it offers (think surcharging, bill-splitting, tipping, customisable screensavers, digital receipts, and more), there is no longer a one-size-fits all solution when it comes to business banking. Additionally, with very few customers nowadays carrying cash as a back-up payment option, the reliability of the payments hardware and the quality of your providers customer support have become paramount. Over the next year, we anticipate more businesses will shift from traditional banks to newer digital solutions, which will continue to drive innovation and differentiation in an increasingly competitive market. Payment security enhanced with AI capabilities Across the world, we are seeing rapid adoption of AI in SaaS and financial services companies, to increase speed and accuracy when analysing documents and information; this trend will also accelerate in Australia in the coming years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recently reported that an estimated 8.7 per cent of Australians 1.8 million people were victims of card fraud in the 2022-2023 financial year. To combat this, payment providers are harnessing the power of AI to improve fraud detection. AI already plays a crucial role in a number of our security processes at Zeller. It is enhancing the accuracy and speed with which we can run biometrics, by matching a merchants likeness against their identification documents. It is being used to help verify the authenticity of documents supplied, and is continually improving transaction monitoring systems by enabling fraudulent transactions to be identified even faster. AI-enabled insights give decision makers more data On top of its applications in security, theres also huge potential for AI to help business owners make more informed, data-driven decisions. Companies like Shopify have already announced AI sidekicks to help questions around business operations such as, Why have I had a drop in sales between March and now? Were especially excited to see the application of a similar framework being introduced into a platform like Zeller which benefits from a 360-degree view of your entire business and finances (via EFTPOS terminals, invoicing, debit cards, expenses, transfers and more). It will allow AI to go beyond answering questions, to instead provide proactive business insights, such as, In three months, you will have a cash flow shortfall; here are ways you can mitigate this or, We noticed a group of customers who shopped with you last month havent this month; heres how to bring them back. In certain cases, AI will even be able to help implement these suggestions, with prompts such as, You could earn a better return on your money by transferring funds into a savings account each evening; Would you like us to do this for you? These types of real-time insights and tips will prove critical in helping businesses make informed, strategic decisions when it comes to managing their finances. The disappearance of printed receipts Recent research by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) revealed that Australia produces an astonishing 10.6 billion paper receipts annually, and because most are coated with toxic chemicals, they cant be recycled. With consumers and businesses becoming more and more conscious of their environmental footprint, many are choosing digital receipts as a convenient and sustainable alternative. By offering SMS and email receipts, Zeller Terminal users have saved enough paper to wrap the MCG 142 times. In addition to the environmental benefits, digital receipts also provide business owners the convenience of accessing receipts when they need them again in the future. We foresee a future where EFTPOS terminals may no longer need printers at all, embracing an entirely digital receipt system. Tap to Pay integration to third-party hardware Since it was launched last year, Tap to Pay with Zeller App has enabled businesses to accept contactless payments using their own iOS and Android smartphones. This technology has proven greatly successful, with tens of thousands of businesses adopting it within the first months. Its now set to expand to enable other devices to accept contactless payments using Tap to Pay technology; including apps, point-of-sale, and more. By providing other technology companies access to Zellers Tap to Pay technology, we expect to see this become the new norm for various applications. Kiosks, point-of-sale (POS) systems, vending machines, and more will be able to integrate Tap to Pay into their hardware, doing away with the need for traditional card readers. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. A woman has been killed every four days in 2024. We bring you stories of lives lost in recent years. Some of the cases featured are still before the courts. A man has been charged with the stabbing murder of a young Sydney woman in what police allege was a domestic violence attack. At about 1.40pm on Monday police officers and paramedics were called to a home on the Great Western Highway in Kingswood, near Penrith, where they found 21-year-old Nunia Kurualeba with two stab wounds to her chest. Nunia Kurualeba was allegedly stabbed to death at the hands of her partner in her Kingswood home. Credit: Facebook She lived at the unit with flatmates, who raised the alarm, and her partner, Jeremaia Tuwai. When police and paramedics arrived they tried to save Kurualeba, however, she died at the scene. Blink and you would have missed it, but late last month, a Sydney mayor made a brazen attempt to annex half of his neighbouring council. Ex-Liberal Sam Elmir, the mayor of Georges River, put up a mayoral minute, which was innocuously titled boundary adjustment, to begin a process to transfer all of the former Rockdale Council, plus a decent slice of Canterbury-Bankstown, into his municipality. Under the proposed boundary adjustment, Georges River (green) would have taken all of the former Rockdale Council (red) and a sliver of Canterbury-Bankstown (blue). Thats all of Bexley, Banksia, Rockdale and Brighton-Le-Sands that would fold into Georges River, plus parts of Riverwood, Narwee and Beverly Hills. The population of Georges River would soar by 50 per cent, to 288,000. Part of the justification for this was that, apparently, residents of the former Rockdale area more closely identify with the St George region than the Botany region on the other side of Sydney Airport. A breakdown of NAPLAN results by state electorate shows the worst-performing areas are about seven academic years behind the top-achieving schools by the time children reach year 9. The analysis of public, private and Catholic school data shows the academic achievement gap between the least and most socially advantaged enclaves of NSW widens between primary school and high school. It comes as Education Minister Prue Car has scrapped plans to give schools NAPLAN targets, a move critics say will dilute accountability and make it harder for parents to track how schools are performing. In year 3, the gap between the average NAPLAN achievement scores in reading for the top and bottom scoring electorates was 114, but that difference blew out to 138 for students in year 9, the analysis conducted by the NSW Parliamentary Research Service found. 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 When Owen McAloon, a long-standing public housing tenant of the Sirius building in the Rocks, hung the sign One Way! Jesus! to block the western sun from turning his unit into an oven, he didnt expect it to become an icon, visible to any motorist heading into the city. McAloon later said his sign was designed as a talking point for anyone who saw it: To get them thinking: What does that mean? The conversion of the former housing commission flats into 75 luxury apartments all sold bar seven apartments still delivers: It gets people talking. Developers JDH Capital with architects BVN and Richard Crookes Constructions this week announced the transformation of the Sirius building and the completion of the newly refurbished block after an ambitious retrofit that preserved most of the original layout. They say the brutalist building would have been razed by the former government if they had not saved it by proposing the units be refurbished. Not far from where McAloons sign hung, a 294-square-metre, three-bedroom apartment with marble kitchens and bathroom with a similar view to his across the Cahill Expressway sold for about $20 million while the block was still under construction. A one-bedroom 50-square-metre apartment sold recently for $1.7 million. Advertisement Still for sale are some two-bedroom apartments between 75 to 95 metres square for between $3.5 million and $6.5 million, and three-bedroom apartments for $13 million to $25 million, said John Green of Dedico, the development director for JDH Capital. As new owners move in over the next few weeks, the block remains a flashpoint in the debate about public housing in Sydney. A room with a multimillion-dollar view. Credit: Wolter Peeters The building is now being marketed as a place where owners can experience a lifestyle like no other. The sales pitch says: Sirius is a statement of Sydney design, for those who truly understand and value its significance. Loading As well as the rough concrete walls and wood designed by architect Tao Gofers in the late 1970s, the Sirius units now have modern interiors. Theyre finished with custom parquetry, some echoing the design of its exterior, and marble, including Elba in bathrooms and Arabescato Cervaiole on benchtops. Copper pods mark where new units have been added, and additions follow the original topography of the building, said architect Phillip Rossington, a principal of BVN. Advertisement The total floor space has increased about 27 per cent to 8316 square metres, including a gym, pools, cafes, commercial floor space and other additions. Two apartments were sacrificed to create a public walkway through the site and provide access to a new public lift to The Rocks lower levels, Rossington said. Loading On the ground floor, the famous Phillip Room where the former tenants gathered to protest their eviction and the sale of the building, has been restored. Its views of the Opera House were only marred on Monday by a cruise ship moored at Circular Quay. The wood in its vaulted arch roof has been cleaned, and the four bison sculptures that were designed for the space in the 1970s have been restored. Some will be visible to the public from a new public walkway that cuts through the site. The bright 70s rugs have also been repaired and restored, and will soon be relaid. NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson told The Guardian that selling the Sirius apartments had been a dud deal that left us all worse off. She told the Herald that Sydney needed more opportunities for people to live in public housing everywhere in our city. Advertisement Its far from the glamorous projects most people associate with architectural greatness, but a new council pound may have turned the utilitarian into a prizewinner. Blacktowns new pound the largest in the southern hemisphere is one of 44 Australian-designed projects shortlisted for one of the most prestigious architecture awards in the world. The World Architecture Festival prizes shortlist, announced this week, was culled from 800 entries. Sydney practice Sam Crawford Architects was shortlisted for the Blacktown Animal Rehousing Centre (BARC) in the civic and community category along with Bendigos Law Courts by Wardle, Liverpool City Place by fjcstudio, and the Australian embassy in Washington DC by Bates Smart. A teenage boy released on bail last week after allegedly killing a motorist while driving a stolen vehicle has been arrested after allegedly breaching bail. On Tuesday night, police said they were searching for a 17-year-old boy involved in the fatal crash in Burwood on July 2. He was arrested hours later. The scene of the fatal Burwood crash. Credit: Nine The 17-year-old appeared before a bail justice on Tuesday night and was remanded to appear before a childrens court on Wednesday. The family of the Burwood crash victim 28-year-old Ashburton man William Taylor flew back into the country after learning of his death. Police told the court in the boys last childrens court appearance that the family opposed his release on bail. More than a third of all properties in the City of Yarra are at risk of flooding from overflowing drains, according to new modelling that has blindsided residents, who now face rising insurance costs and reduced home values. The City of Yarra, which includes Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond, quietly published new stormwater drain flood modelling in its agenda for Tuesday nights council meeting. Fitzroy North couple Kenneth Gomez and Mary Guiney are angry about the new flood mapping process. Credit: Simon Schluter The maps designate 22,179 properties as being liable to flooding just over a third of the 60,037 properties in the municipality. While the council ran a community engagement program for a month last year, councils meeting documents state only 137 people participated, meaning many locals had no idea the updated modelling was happening. Yarra Council has since defended its consultation process, telling The Age it also sent just over 4500 letters and promoted it via council newsletters and social media. How do we know when our healthcare system is past the tipping point? Recent failures in service delivery exemplified by ambulance ramping, delayed elective surgery and reduced mental health services raise red flags and suggest we have already crossed that point. Weeks after hospitals were told their budgets would be locked in and there would be no top-up spending, Premier Jacinta Allan conceded on Tuesday the state government would add more funding if needed. While the seeming reversal is positive, details remain scant and breaths bated until budgets are finalised in August. The Victorian public hospital system is in crisis. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Many assume there is a straight line between funding health and high-quality service delivery. But this myth is quickly busted when one observes a well-funded hospital lacking any of the essential supporting elements appropriate policies, good leadership or a healthy culture. When arguments are made for simple funding increases, health economists point to the law of diminishing returns, and they are right. No amount of funding will improve service delivery if we cannot find nurses to fill positions under current conditions. The proviso, of course, is that available funding is directed to the right place to the conditions for paramedics and nursing, to staff rather than to those with much higher salaries and less visible performance. A mother who left Australia and was stranded in Sudan after being tricked by her husband was jailed in the African country for three days and further traumatised by the long struggle to reunite with her young children. Mohamed Ahmed Omer took their two children, aged six months and two, with him when he fled back to Australia and abandoned his wife in Sudan in September 2014. Mohamed Ahmed Omer is the first person in Victoria prosecuted for exit trafficking. Credit: Darrian Traynor After 16 months separated from her children, the woman finally made her way back to Australia after securing a visa. But, a Melbourne court heard, her nightmare continued as Omer continually moved their children to avoid her. To some news from the courts now and a 38-year-old man is listed to appear in the Joondalup Magistrates Courtin August over alleged animal cruelty towards his two pet dogs. The Carramar man allegedly failed to provide his Staffordshire terrier with sufficient food and to provide vet care for his Maltese terrier. An RSPCA inspector attended the mans home in September 2022 after receiving a cruelty report regarding two dogs at his home, one of which was described as skinny and the other as having a very matted coat. The inspector made contact with the accused who advised he could not afford to take the dogs to the vet but he had organised to surrender the two dogs to RSPCA WA the following day. This was allegedly not true. They then entered the property and saw the Staffordshire terrier with a protruding spine and ribs, as well as sunken muscle on her face and legs. She also had multiple lumps on her body and was defecating a grain-like substance which appeared to be wheat. The Malteses coat was so matted it was tight against his skin. He also had faeces stuck in his coat, an underbite, and a loose canine. The inspector seized the two dogs and transported them to the RSPCA WA Animal Care Centre in Malaga for immediate veterinary care. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. Vietnamese President To Lam will pay state visits to Laos and Cambodia from July 11-13, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced. The visits will be made at the invitations of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni. This is the first foreign trip of President To Lam in his new position since May 2024. Vietnam and Laos established diplomatic relations in 1962. Bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2024 reached US$476.8 million, an increase of 12% over the same period in 2023. Vietnam currently has 245 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of $5.5 billion. Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1967. Trade cooperation is a bright spot in the two countries' relationship with trade turnover in the first three months of 2024 reaching nearly $3 billion, up 14% over the same period last year. Vietnam currently has 205 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of $2.94 billion, ranking first in ASEAN and in the group of five countries with the largest direct investment in Cambodia. Cambodia ranks second among 79 countries and territories in which Vietnam has invested abroad. Woodside workers face an anxious wait to see who has kept their job after receiving emails on Tuesday morning about a reorganisation to take effect in a weeks time. Today, we are beginning consultations with impacted employees across Australia Operations and Projects, employees of one affected group who manage the Macedon gas plant and Woodsides offshore oil vessels were told. Woodside made a profit of $US 1.66 billion in 2023, down 74 per cent as high gas prices due to Russias invasion of Ukraine receded. Credit: Getty Woodside plans to tell affected workers as soon as possible, the email seen by this masthead said. Following separation conversations, notifications will occur for those remaining in the organisation, so everyone will know their role, team and structure going forward, it reads. You really dont want to get a puncture on your way in to Ugab Rhino Camp. Despite the name, its not the rhinos you have to worry about here, but a pride of desert lions known to inhabit this spot in central Namibia. Getting a puncture means getting out of your vehicle under a hot, desert sun, working your way through changing a tyre in the middle of nowhere, knowing that there are definitely lions prowling around. Its not ideal. A road trip through southern Africa was the journey of a lifetime. Credit: iStock And so the road, such as it is, is causing my partner Jess and me a fair bit of stress. Its a dirt track strewn with sharp rocks, the sort that could tear a gash in your tyre wall with ease should you hit them at the wrong angle. Theres no one around here to call for help. Theres no one around here at all. Eventually, we make it into the camp puncture-free and set up, before the guy running Ugab comes over and says he wants to show us something. On the site a few places over from ours, he points to the sandy ground, where theres the perfect, dinner-plate-sized imprint of a lions paw. Yesterday, he says, smiling. The appalling Russian missile attack on a Kyiv paediatric hospital, where children undergo cancer treatment, as part of a wider bombardment of Ukraine cities is another poignant reminder of how maiming and slaughtering the innocent is now standard battle tactics in the two wars that currently haunt people across the globe. In Russias heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months, 41 people were reportedly killed around the nation, but it was the missile that hit the Okhmatdyt Childrens Hospital that prompted worldwide outrage over the ruthless attack on civilians. The strike largely destroyed the hospitals toxicology ward, where children with severe kidney issues were being treated. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers joined the effort to clear the debris and search for survivors. Rescuers and volunteers clean up the rubble and search for victims after a Russian missile hit the countrys main childrens hospital Okhmadyt in Kyiv. Credit: AP Although Ukraine has been able to blunt a major Russian offensive near Kharkiv with weapons from the US and European countries, its troops are outnumbered by Russias large ground force and it has been struggling to maintain its air defences against a relentless Russian bombardment of missiles and drones. After the hospital attack, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted images from the wreckage on social media, which showed children covered in blood and broken glass strewn across hospital rooms with cribs. Russia cannot claim ignorance of where its missiles are flying and must be held fully accountable for all its crimes. Against people, against children, against humanity in general, Zelensky said. It is very important that the world does not remain silent about this now and that everyone sees what Russia is and what it is doing. Russia has long laughably claimed it does not target civilians and its foreign ministry denied targeting the hospital, saying it was hit by fragments of a Ukrainian air defence missile. The ministry said that the Russian military had only targeted Ukrainian military industrial sites and air bases and blamed the destruction in Kyiv on Ukrainian air defences. Loading The bombardment came on the eve of a three-day NATO summit in Washington, where world leaders but not Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who regrettably passed on attending even though Australia is the sixth largest non-NATO contributor to the Zelensky regimes war effort are looking to reassure Ukraine and offer Ukrainians hope that their country can come through Europes biggest conflict since World War II. However, the shadow of Donald Trump hangs over the summit. His possible victory in Novembers presidential election and dislike for multilateral alliances posits a decline in US aid and pressure on Kyiv to bow to Russian demands. Trump has said he would end the war but not explained how. The best way to Trump-proof Ukraine may well be to accede to its fervent wish to join NATO as protection in any negotiated armistice between Kyiv and Moscow. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of Justice and Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport has issued a statement addressing the recent increase in gun violence on the island. This follows a series of troubling incidents that have raised concerns within the community. "The KPSM has begun their investigation into the recent surge in gun violence," said Minister Lewis. "To the victims, I offer my strength and prayers to you and your family, and I wish you a speedy recovery. In some recent cases, others have succumbed to their injuries, and to their loved ones, I extend my deepest sympathies during this time of grief." Minister Lewis acknowledged the distress and concern these events have caused among the residents of Sint Maarten and emphasized the importance of community safety. "As your Minister, I continue to make the safety and security of our community my top priority. Sint Maarten has always prided itself on being a safe community for all. It is my duty to ensure that safety continues for our children and our children's children." In a direct message to those involved in the violence, Minister Lewis urged, "As Minister of Justice, I condemn gun violence. You are not only destroying your life but also the lives of others, our community, and the bread and butter of our economyour tourism industry. I urge you to think before you act, as you will face prosecution to the full extent of the law." Minister Lewis also addressed the broader community, acknowledging the need for swift action and the ongoing efforts to bring those responsible to justice. "We understand the urgency and the need for swift action. The relevant bodies are continuing their investigation to bring those involved to justice. However, while we pursue justice, we must also remember the values that define us. Let us not be consumed by hatred or fear. Instead, let us find strength in our unity and compassion." In conclusion, Minister Lewis called for community vigilance and support for law enforcement. "I call upon each one of you to remain vigilant and to support our law enforcement agencies in their investigation. Justice will be served. We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable. And together, we will heal and move forward." PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Patrice Gumbs wishes to extend his congratulations to all parties and their candidates on taking the step forward to represent our people at the upcoming snap parliamentary election. While the campaign season is well underway, Gumbs reminded candidates that St. Maartens political culture has always been one of tolerance and respect. This has been one of the most beautiful aspects of Sint Maarten society. Gumbs encouraged all party leaders to condemn all acts of violence towards their fellow St. Maarteners, including hate speech. As leaders, I urge you to remember that your words are powerful and both positively and negatively impact the unity of our society. Noting the increasing tensions among some political parties and aggressive messaging and incidences, Minister Gumbs indicated that any incitement or calls towards violence made by leaders, their candidates, and their respective teams could be used against them. Minister Gumbs indicated that Sint Maarten, like so many countries worldwide, is in challenging times. He encouraged the population, as a whole, to examine the information that they receive and think critically this election about where they want this country to go. The aim of leadership should be to bring people together and find consensus in difference; tearing each other apart is not going to solve problems, but only further divide the nation. On a final note, Gumbs reminded political parties that while the decision has been taken to allow the placing of billboards in public spaces, we are in the middle of a very active hurricane season. As a result, he urged parties to be conscious of this fact in the number of billboards that they place and make the necessary arrangements to remove them should the need arise. Gumbs wished everyone a safe campaign season and stated that politics must be used as a force for good, reminding candidates that the purpose of being elected is to serve. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice reached a significant milestone, as the Minister of Justice, Lyndon C. J. Lewis, was presented with the draft legislation for the Crime Fund. This development marks a crucial step towards modernizing and improving the management, supervision, and accountability of the Crime Fund, an area identified as lacking in the current outdated legislation. This initiative is also part of the broader country package measure aimed at enhancing the Crime Fund's efficiency and oversight. The draft legislation was prepared by a dedicated group of civil servants, who undertook this project as their final assignment to achieve certification as legislative lawyers, a program offered to them by the Caribbean Center for Legislation. The Minister of Justice expressed profound gratitude to the civil servants for their hard work and dedication. "This draft legislation is a testament to the commitment and expertise of our civil servants. It is a crucial step forward in ensuring that our Crime Fund is managed with the highest standards of accountability and efficiency," stated the Minister. In addition to acknowledging the efforts of the local civil servants, the Minister also congratulated their colleagues from Curacao and Aruba, who collaborated on this important legislative project. "The joint effort and collaboration among our civil servants from different regions highlight the strength of our shared commitment to governance," the Minister added. The new draft legislation focuses on establishing a more robust framework for the management and supervision of the Crime Fund. Key elements include introducing rigorous checks and balances to ensure transparent and responsible management of funds, setting up an independent Advisory Committee, and implementing contemporary management strategies to optimize the effectiveness of the Crime Fund in funding projects with the objective of preventing and combating crime. This comprehensive approach aims to address the shortcomings of the existing legislation and ensure that the Crime Fund serves its intended purpose more effectively. The Minister of Justice emphasized the importance of this legislative advancement in strengthening the justice system and supporting the community. The next steps will involve further consultations and refinements before the draft is presented to the legislature for approval. SABA:--- The regional police force manager of the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN) has unconditionally dismissed a police officer due to severe dereliction of duty. The dereliction of duty emerged from a disciplinary investigation initiated after the force received information about the officer's improper use of the service weapon. In the early days of 2024, the police forces management received information that the officer in question had allegedly drawn his service weapon during an incident at a hospitality venue on Saba in the night from Sunday, December 31st to Monday, January 1st. The officer was off duty at that time. This information led to both a disciplinary investigation by the KPCNs Internal Affairs Bureau and a criminal investigation by the National Investigation Department. The latter was initiated because a report had been filed against the concerned officer. Severe dereliction of duty The disciplinary investigation has now been completed. The investigation concluded that the officer was guilty of severe dereliction of duty and that his behavior reflected an attitude incompatible with the police force. Dereliction of duty refers to failing to fulfill imposed obligations, violating regulations, or doing or failing to do something that a good civil servant should avoid or perform in similar circumstances. This behavior ranges from minor neglect to serious violations of rules and regulations. The police forces leadership emphasizes that such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated within the organization. The improper use of a service weapon seriously threatens safety and erodes trust in the force. The officer was placed on administrative leave at the start of the disciplinary investigation and has not worked during this period. In early May, he received the notice of unconditional dismissal and had six weeks to file an appeal. After the appeal period expires, the dismissal is now final. Since the criminal investigation is still ongoing, it is not yet clear whether there will be criminal consequences for the officer. "Dereliction of duty has significant consequences." Chief of Police Alwyn Braaf commented on the case: "Earlier this year, in relation to another disciplinary case, I clearly stated that integrity is a key focus for our police forces leadership. Integrity is the foundation of professional and responsible police work. Therefore, I will be brief: our organization has no place for unprofessional and irresponsible behavior. Police work is, after all, human work, and people can make mistakes. However, dereliction of duty severely violates professional standards for a police officer and thus has significant consequences. We thoroughly investigate such reports and take appropriate measures. The police forces leadership finds the disciplinary dismissal appropriate and unavoidable. We owe it to the community and our organization to take such steps and be open and transparent about them." Press Release Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN) SABA:--- Last month, the Island Council of Saba took part in a working visit to the Netherlands, engaging in a series of meetings aimed at enhancing governance, fostering cooperation, and advancing various initiatives. The Island Councils of Bonaire and Sint Eustatius were also in attendance. Through these visits, Sabas commitment to strengthening ties with Dutch counterparts and enhancing the islands governance was exhibited. One of the key highlights of the visit was participating in the first phase of the VNG (Association of Netherlands Municipalities) training. Funded by the Ministry of BZK, this training program will continue until 2027, with each island having its own tailor-made program. It will provide valuable insights to the council members and further support and strengthen the councils of the BES islands. The Island Council also visited the municipality of Zoeterwoude, where they gained valuable insights into the functioning of a small municipal council. This visit also highlighted the importance of maintaining close contact with community members and provided a platform for discussing best practices. The exchange emphasized increasing cooperation between Zoeterwoude and the BES islands, which share experiences similar to those of small municipalities when enhancing governance and community engagement. Later that week, the council met with representatives from the Ministry of Finance to discuss proposed tax plans. This meeting was crucial for clarifying upcoming policies and their implications for island residents. Representatives from all three BES islands were present at the meeting. During the meeting, the islands were critical of the proposed tax changes and agreed that this was an area where it was important to respond collectively. With the effects of climate change being felt with warmer temperatures and a notably active hurricane season this year, the Island Council also visited KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute), with their colleagues from St. Eustatius and Bonaire, where presentations were given on their operations. This included explanations on how the KNMI tracks weather and monitors earthquakes, as well as information on the equipment present on the islands to monitor earthquakes and (dormant) volcanoes in the Caribbean Netherlands. Additionally, the Council members had an introductory meeting with ProDemos, an organization that is active throughout The Netherlands, which aims to teach young people about how government works. This is done in collaboration with the schools, but they also endeavor to improve the understanding of the democratic process throughout society in general. During the BES summit, the Island Councils discussed the results from the previous work conference which was held earlier this year and future plans for cooperation. In this meeting, the chairmanship of The BES Summit was also handed over to Sabas Central Committee Chairwoman, Elsa Peterson, until June 2025. Towards the end of the trip, a visit to Ameland brought together officials and civil servants from the three islands with officials from the Wadden Islands. This is the second year that the islands were hosted by Kings Commissioner of Fryslan, Mr. Arno Brok. During their visit to Ameland, they were able to tour ongoing projects which aim to improve livability. Several presentations were also given where various topics such as sustainability and energy, nature, education, and music in the classroom were discussed. The Island Council's productive visit to the Netherlands marks further progress in the continuous efforts to enhance governing capabilities and foster collaboration, while securing the well-being of its residents. I've known my Slovenian friend for more than 15 years. His family traveled Vietnam in 2009 but have never returned even though I invited them several times. What's worth mentioning is that they visit Thailand every year, and they even got married there. I often want to ask why they havent return to Vietnam, but honestly, I havent asked them for fear that they would find it embarrassing to answer my question. The above comment was left by reader Pham about tourists refusing to return to Vietnam for a second visit. Many other readers have also expressed their views about this problem. Reader Trang Nguyen said she had invited a foreign friend to Vietnam and arranged a seven-day itinerary to explore culture and cuisine. However, her friend "had a problem while visiting Vietnam" and shortened his trip to three days. Since then, she hasnt ever invited him to visit the country again. A reader identified as Nana wrote: "I really like going to Bali. First, there are direct flights. Second, there are many beach activities that are much cheaper than in Vietnam, for example paragliding, surfing, paragliding, scuba diving, fish watching and swimming with dolphins. Meanwhile, hotels in Bali are quite cheap." Reader CrazyHand2947 wrote: "Travel consulting groups for tourists must honestly advise them on when and how to visit Vietnam for the greatest experience. For example, someone once asked me if they should travel to Vietnam right now? What I should say is: 'At this time the weather is very hot and not suitable for sightseeing. If you come to Ho Chi Minh City, you should rest in your room with air conditioner and only go out after 7 p.m. When traveling to Hanoi, you should come in the fall and winter.' If we want tourists to have the best experience, we should give them the best advice and treat them the way we would want to be treated." Have you visited Vietnam and would you like to come back? Israel says it struck 'terrorists' operating from Gaza school Jerusalem, July 8 (AFP) Jul 08, 2024 The Israeli army said Monday that it had struck "several terrorists" in central Gaza who were allegedly using a school in the Nuseirat area as "cover". "A short while ago, based on intelligence and using precise munition, the IAF struck several terrorists who were conducting terrorist activities, using the structures of a school in the area of Nuseirat as cover," the army said in a statement, referring to the Israeli Air Force. A source at the Al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat told AFP that it had received several wounded people for treatment after an attack against a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Israel's army said Hamas and Islamic Jihad "systematically violate international law, exploiting civilian structures and population as human shields for terror attacks against the State of Israel". On Saturday the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said 16 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced people in Nuseirat. At the time, the army said its aircraft had targeted "terrorists" operating around the Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, which is run by UNRWA. The war in Gaza entered its 10th month on Sunday. The conflict erupted with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza, including 42 the military says are dead. Israel responded with a military offensive that has killed at least 38,193 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to data from the territory's health ministry. Ukraine aims for air defenses at NATO summit Washington, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Ukraine is desperate for more air defenses, and this week's NATO summit in Washington offers President Volodymyr Zelensky an opportunity to push Kyiv's supporters for additional batteries to protect against Russian strikes. Zelensky will attend the summit, which marks the 75th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic alliance and which will bring together leaders of countries that have provided Kyiv with tens of billions of dollars in military aid to help it counter Russia's invasion. With Ukraine unlikely to receive the invitation to join NATO that it is seeking, new air defenses are the most concrete assistance it is likely to get at the summit. Below, AFP examines key questions about Ukraine's air defense needs and how they could be addressed. - What systems does Ukraine want? - Zelensky has for months said his country does not have enough air defense systems and has requested at least seven more Patriot batteries in addition to those already donated by the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. Over the weekend, the Ukrainian leader praised air defense donations but said "more concrete decisions" are needed "to protect all our cities and villages, and to truly overcome Russian terror." "Next week, we will work with our partners for such decisions -- preparations are already underway," he said. - Why does Ukraine need them? Russia has exploited gaps in Ukraine's air defenses to carry out devastating strikes on civilians and infrastructure, as well as to pummel Kyiv's troops on the front lines. Highlighting the threat, Ukrainian officials said more than 30 people were killed on Monday by a wave of dozens of missiles that hit cities across the country and ripped through a children's hospital in Kyiv. Russia has meanwhile claimed recent attacks on three Ukrainian air bases, raising questions over how Kyiv will protect a fleet of F-16 fighters due to arrive in the country later this year. And Ukraine pointed to its lack of air superiority as a major factor limiting its army's ability to advance on the battlefield following Kyiv's lackluster 2023 counter-offensive. Ukraine's international supporters have sought to cobble together multi-layer air defenses for the country consisting of low-, medium- and high-altitude systems that can protect against a variety of threats. But doing so from a mix of different new and older Western and Soviet-era systems in the midst of an active conflict has proven to be a significant challenge, and shortfalls remain. - What will Kiv receive? - The United States is reportedly considering donating another Patriot battery to Kyiv, which sees them as particularly valuable because it is one of the only systems capable of downing Russia's most advanced missiles. US President Joe Biden on Monday promised action to boost Ukraine's defenses in a statement that described Moscow's missile strikes that day as a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." "Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes," Biden said in a statement, without providing specifics. Washington is also in talks about potentially transferring up to eight Patriot batteries from Israel to Ukraine, US media has reported. And the Netherlands is spearheading an effort to construct a Patriot missile system out of different components from the stockpiles of various countries. Germany and Romania have already responded to Zelensky's pleas for Patriots by pledging one additional system each, while Italy has said it will donate an advanced SAMP/T air defense system. Starmer goes to Washington on first foreign trip as UK PM London, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jets off to Washington this week for his first steps on the world stage, just days after taking office following a landslide election victory. Starmer, 61, will attend NATO's 75th anniversary summit in the US capital on his debut foreign trip since becoming British leader last Friday. He will reaffirm Britain's enduring support for the Western military alliance and Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. The visit kicks off a whirlwind of international diplomacy in Starmer's first two weeks in power, with the UK also hosting a European leaders' conference next week. "It will be an opportunity for him to learn and get to know other leaders as much as to communicate any particular messages," foreign policy expert James Strong told AFP. Britain's previous Conservative government was one of Ukraine's staunchest allies, providing money, weapons and troop training to help it repel Russia's invasion. Starmer has pledged continued support for Kyiv under Labour, and is expected to reaffirm that message in person to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO meeting. Starmer's Defence Secretary John Healey has already visited Ukraine since last Thursday's election, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been visiting European NATO members. Labour is committed to the alliance and wants to match the Conservatives' promise to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, above the NATO target of two percent. "We can expect lots of talk about 'business as usual'," added Strong, a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. While Starmer will stress continuity on the main foreign policy issues, he will also be keen to signal a reset in relations with allies that were soured by Brexit. Labour has pledged closer cooperation with European neighbours, including on bilateral deals with France and Germany but also on agreements with the EU bloc as a whole. - 'Special relationship' - "We can expect to hear a lot of talk about improving relations, about being a more reliable partner, and above all about being more stable and predictable," said Strong. The trip also presents an early opportunity for Starmer to build a rapport with US President Joe Biden and cement the so-called UK-US special relationship. Starmer's centre-left Labour party is more closely aligned with Biden's Democratic Party than the Conservatives, which could help, but the trip comes at a sensitive time for the US president. Biden, 81, is under pressure to make way and allow another Democrat to take on Republican rival Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Starmer will be mindful that he may have to deal with the isolationist Trump from January next year. "(He) will want to demonstrate his rock-solid commitment to the UK's alliance with America, and to send a strong signal about the resilience of the 'special relationship', whatever lies ahead," Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at the right-wing Policy Exchange think-tank, told AFP. A point of contention between Starmer and Biden could be the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with Labour viewed as more pro-Palestinian than Washington. The leaders are also likely to discuss policy towards China, including on trade, commerce and technology. Starmer will then host the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, in central England, on July 18, with France's president Emmanuel Macron and Germany's leader Olaf Scholz expected to attend. Labour wants "an ambitious" security pact with the European Union. Olivia O'Sullivan, director of the UK in the world programme at the Chatham House international affairs think-tank, told AFP the two summits "provide an opportunity to put more meat on the bones of this proposal". Starmer may also want to flesh out the shape of a post-Brexit trading deal, after his introduction to life on the global stage in Washington. Russia defence ministry says destroyed 38 Ukrainian drones Moscow, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Russian forces destroyed 38 Ukrainian drones overnight in regions near the border, Moscow's defence ministry said Tuesday. "Air defence systems on duty destroyed and intercepted three UAVs over Belgorod region, seven UAVs over Kursk region, two UAVs over Voronezh region, 21 UAVs over Rostov region and five UAVs over Astrakhan region," the ministry said in a Telegram post. Astrakhan governor Igor Babushkin said Ukraine had launched a "massive attempt to attack targets with drones" in the north of the region, adding that the attack had been "successfully repelled". Both sides have used drones, including larger self-detonating craft with ranges stretching hundreds of kilometres, extensively throughout the conflict, which began in February 2022. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting both energy sites that it says fuel Russia's military, as well as towns and villages just across the border. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major new land offensive on Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region in May, in an operation to create a buffer zone and push Ukrainian forces back to protect Russia's border Belgorod region from shelling. Central Asia states hold 'first' war games without Russia or China Astana, Kazakhstan, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Central Asian countries on Tuesday held joint drills with land, naval and air forces, for the first time without regional powers Russia and China. Kazakhstan is hosting four other ex-Soviet states for the drills, which a spokesman for Kazakhstan's armed forces told AFP were "the first of their kind". "All the participants have arrived," the spokesman said. The exercises are named Birlestik-2024, meaning alliance in Kazakh. Taking place in the Caspian Sea, they will last until July 17 and involve around 4,000 troops with warships, aviation, artillery and tanks. Taking part are four Central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, while Turkmenistan is absent. The Caucasus country of Azerbaijan is also participating, while Russia, traditionally dominant in the area, is fighting in Ukraine. Kyrgyzstan's defence ministry said that during the drills, troops will "liberate an island captured by terrorists" and "carry out operations to ensure security at sea and to protect infrastructure". These countries regularly take part in drills with the two most influential major powers in this strategic region: with Russia as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and with China as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, most recently in 2023 involving 1,500 troops. After decades of strife, Central Asian countries have recently stepped up cooperation, as major powers have also paid more attention to a region that is rich in raw materials and an important trade route. All the countries are part of a transport route between China and Europe that bypasses Russia, known as the "Middle Corridor". Kremlin says will follow NATO summit closely Moscow, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 A Kremlin spokesman on Tuesday said that Russia will follow closely a NATO summit about to open in Washington, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders. Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, told journalists that Moscow would follow "with the greatest attention... the rhetoric at the talks and the decisions that will be taken and put on paper". Arming Ukraine's air defences is expected to top the agenda at the summit marking NATO's 75th anniversary, after missile strikes on Monday hit a children's hospital in Kyiv and killed 38 people. Peskov said NATO "is an alliance that considers Russia an enemy, an opponent". NATO "has regularly declared its aim to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield" and "is taking part directly in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of Ukraine", he added. China hits back at NATO's 'smears and attacks' ahead of summit Beijing, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 China lashed out at NATO's "smears and attacks" on Tuesday after the defence alliance's chief accused it of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine on the eve of a summit in Washington. US President Joe Biden is hosting leaders of the 32-nation transatlantic alliance for three days from Tuesday, as well as the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference ahead of the 75th anniversary summit that their inclusion "demonstrates that our security is not regional, our security is global". "And that's clearly demonstrated in the war in Ukraine where Iran, North Korea, China are supporting and enabling Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Stoltenberg said on Monday, according to a NATO transcript. China's foreign ministry took aim at the defence group, which was founded in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. "NATO's so-called security is at the expense of other countries' security and its actions have brought extremely high security risks to the world and the region," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news conference in Beijing. "China is firmly opposed to NATO's smears and attacks on China, to its willingness to shift the blame onto others, as well as NATO's use of China as an excuse to move eastward into the Asia-Pacific and stir up regional tensions," he said. NATO's leaders are gathering in Washington in the shadow of setbacks in Ukraine and electoral headwinds on both sides of the Atlantic. Biden is fighting for his political life after a disastrous debate against his Republican presidential rival, NATO sceptic Donald Trump. The star of the summit is set to be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is looking for firm signs of support even though NATO will not be extending his country an invitation to join the bloc. Theres an expectation, both from the American people and from people around the world that well do everything we can to manage what is arguably the most complex and consequential relationship of any in the world, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking of U.S.-China relations. It means being very clear and standing up effectively to the areas where we have profound disagreements and would take the world in different directions, and thats what weve done. It also means trying to find wherever we can areas of cooperation where its clearly in the interests of our people, Chinese people, people around the world for us to cooperate, he said. One promising area of cooperation with China is an effort to counter the flow into the United States of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs and their precursors, Secretary Blinken said. In terms of putting forward new regulations, in terms of taking down some of the companies that were illicitly engaged in the diversion of these precursors, these ingredients for fentanyl, prosecuting people who are engaged in this practice, setting up a working group with us to try to make sure that were focused on it day in day out thats happened and thats good. Thats progress. Secretary Blinken underscored the United States is also clear-eyed and determined about the areas of competition and contestation with China: Over time, over the coming decades, they would like to be the leading country, the dominant country in the international system militarily, economically, diplomatically ... And if their vision for the world actually matched ours or matched many other countries, that would be one thing. But they have a different vision, a different vision of what that future looks like. And so we disagree, and were going to compete very vigorously to make sure that were the ones who are effectively shaping that future. Among Chinas current policies causing deep concern, Secretary Blinken cited the economic challenge caused by Chinas over capacity, its attempt to flood markets in critical sectors, unfairly wiping out competition. He also cited the security challenge caused by Beijings investment in Russias defense industrial base in ways that allow Putin to continue his aggression against Ukraine. The bottom line is that the United States must be prepared to act on each area of its relationship with China, said Secretary Blinken, the competition, the contestation, the cooperation. Taiwan soldier charged with leaking military secrets to China Taipei, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 A Taiwanese sergeant has been indicted for allegedly photographing and leaking confidential defence information to China, prosecutors said Tuesday. Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has ramped up military and political pressures on the island in recent years. The sergeant, surnamed Chen, worked at a navy training centre and was recruited by an unspecified number of people who "collected intelligence for mainland China" via messaging apps in 2022, said Taiwan High Prosecutors' Office. "Between April 2022 and February 2023, he photographed secret national defence information in (the counties of) Pingtung, Yilan and other places with his mobile phone," the office said in a statement. "(He) sent the information four times via Line and Telegram... for a total illegal gain of NT$170,000 ($5,230)." The office said Chen was charged with violating the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces and the Anti-corruption Act. When asked to comment on the indictment, defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said the military had worked with national security units on the case. "In recent years, the CCP's (Chinese Communist Party's) infiltration has indeed posed a very serious threat to the military. The threat is no less than... threats posed by missiles or aircraft and ships," he told reporters. China maintains a near-daily presence of warships, drones and fighter jets around Taiwan, and earlier this year had launched war games following the May 20 inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Beijing regards him as a "dangerous separatist" due to his defence of Taiwan's sovereignty. In pre-recorded footage for a military television programme that aired Tuesday, Lai warned soldiers at an air force base in central Taichung city to be vigilant. "China's infiltration and spying will not stop," he said, dressed in military fatigues. "You must always be vigilant, pay attention to your own information security, and do not fall into traps." The sergeant's indictment was the latest in a recent string of spying cases. In April, a father and son duo were jailed for eight years for collecting confidential military information and trying to develop a spying "organisation" for Beijing. Sudan army chief Burhan hosts Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed Port Sudan, Sudan, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Sudan's de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who has led the army in a war against paramilitaries for over a year, on Tuesday hosted Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed. Ahmed's visit to the Red Sea coastal town of Port Sudan -- currently the seat of the army-aligned government -- is the highest-level state visit since the war began between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. "It is a testament to the depth of relations" between the two countries, Sudan's ruling Transitional Sovereignty Council said in a statement. In a closed-door meeting, Burhan briefed Ahmed on the "crimes and atrocities" committed by the RSF as part of the "terrorist militia's rebellion against the state and its institutions," his council said. According to the Ethiopian premier's office, Tuesday's meeting comes in the context of Ahmed's "commitment to finding sustainable solutions for Sudan's stability". The visit comes as the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa, seeks to restart truce talks between Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Burhan's army camp has so far largely shunned East African mediation attempts, accusing regional leaders of siding with "the terrorist militia". The meeting also comes two days after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi -- Ahmed's regional rival -- hosted Sudanese civilian and political leaders, including key members of Burhan's government, for talks on ending the war. Mediation efforts, including by the United States and Saudi Arabia, have repeatedly floundered while the rival generals vie for tactical advantage. The conflict in the country of 48 million people has so far killed tens of thousands of people, with some estimates placing the death toll as high as 150,000, according to US envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello. It has also forced nearly 10 million people to flee both internally and across borders, decimated Sudan's already fragile infrastructure and healthcare system and pushed the impoverished country to the brink of famine. Starmer goes to Washington on first foreign trip as UK PM London, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jets off to Washington Tuesday to attend NATO's 75th anniversary summit, his first foreign trip since becoming British leader last Friday following a landslide election victory. He will reaffirm Britain's enduring support for the Western military alliance and Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. Starmer, 61, told a meeting of his top team that the summit represents an opportunity to "reset relationships, reinvigorate our unshakeable commitment to the alliance and demonstrate the strength of Britain on the world stage". The visit kicks off a whirlwind of international diplomacy in Starmer's first two weeks in power, with the UK also hosting a European leaders' conference next week. "It will be an opportunity for him to learn and get to know other leaders as much as to communicate any particular messages," foreign policy expert James Strong told AFP. Britain's previous Conservative government was one of Ukraine's staunchest allies, providing money, weapons and troop training to help it repel Russia's invasion. Starmer has pledged continued support for Kyiv under Labour, and is expected to reaffirm that message in person to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO meeting. Starmer's Defence Secretary John Healey has already visited Ukraine since last Thursday's election, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been visiting European NATO members. Labour is committed to the alliance and wants to match the Conservatives' promise to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, above the NATO target of two percent. "We can expect lots of talk about 'business as usual'," added Strong, a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. While Starmer will stress continuity on the main foreign policy issues, he will also be keen to signal a reset in relations with allies that were soured by Brexit. Labour has pledged closer cooperation with European neighbours, including on bilateral deals with France and Germany but also on agreements with the EU bloc as a whole. - 'Special relationship' - "We can expect to hear a lot of talk about improving relations, about being a more reliable partner, and above all about being more stable and predictable," said Strong. The trip also presents an early opportunity for Starmer to build a rapport with US President Joe Biden and cement the so-called UK-US special relationship. Starmer's centre-left Labour party is more closely aligned with Biden's Democratic Party than the Conservatives, which could help, but the trip comes at a sensitive time for the US president. Following a poor debate performance, Biden, 81, is under pressure to make way and allow a younger Democrat to take on Republican rival Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Starmer will be mindful that he may have to deal with the isolationist Trump from January next year. "(He) will want to demonstrate his rock-solid commitment to the UK's alliance with America, and to send a strong signal about the resilience of the 'special relationship', whatever lies ahead," Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at the right-wing Policy Exchange think-tank, told AFP. A point of contention between Starmer and Biden could be the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with Labour viewed as more pro-Palestinian than Washington. The leaders are also likely to discuss policy towards China, including on trade, commerce and technology. Starmer will then host the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, in central England, on July 18, with France's president Emmanuel Macron and Germany's leader Olaf Scholz expected to attend. Labour wants "an ambitious" security pact with the European Union. Olivia O'Sullivan, director of the UK in the world programme at the Chatham House international affairs think-tank, told AFP the two summits "provide an opportunity to put more meat on the bones of this proposal". Starmer may also want to flesh out the shape of a post-Brexit trading deal, after his introduction to life on the global stage in Washington. Sweden asks NATO to focus more on China to win US support Washington, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Sweden called Tuesday for NATO to step up efforts on China as a way to ensure support from the United States, where presidential candidate Donald Trump has loudly criticized the alliance. In Washington for the 75th anniversary summit of the alliance, the top diplomat of its newest member said a NATO without the United States would be "unthinkable" and lack credibility. "If you want your partner to think about the things you think are a problem, you have to show commitment to their problems, and the American people are more concerned with the threat that China poses than Russia, for obvious reasons," Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said. The alliance needs to keep facing Russia but Asia "should also be recognized as part of NATO's concerns, headaches," he said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Billstrom said that Sweden -- which turned the page on two centuries of military non-alignment and joined NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- threw support behind the alliance opening a liaison office in Tokyo. France has been the main opponent of such an office, arguing that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is limited in geographic scope and can rely on allies' embassies if it needs to coordinate. Trump, who is seeking to return to the White House, has repeatedly called NATO an unfair burden to the United States, with some of his advisors arguing that Ukraine is a distraction from a larger challenge of China. President Joe Biden has encouraged a greater focus by NATO on Asia and invited the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand to the summit in Washington. China earlier Tuesday lashed out at NATO, with foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian accusing the alliance of using "China as an excuse to move eastward into the Asia-Pacific and stir up regional tensions." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the summit renewed charges that China is supporting Russia's war in Ukraine through exports to Moscow's defense industry. EDF pulls out of UK mini-nuclear reactor race London, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 French energy giant EDF has withdrawn from a competition to construct mini-nuclear reactors in Britain, the company said on Tuesday. EDF was one of six firms shortlisted in October last year for government support to deliver a new wave of nuclear reactors to provide cheaper and cleaner energy. Two designs for small modular reactors (SMRs) from those submitted by GE-Hitachi, Holtec Britain, NuScale Power, Rolls-Royce and Westinghouse will be chosen by the end of the year. The Conservative government which lost last week's general election set up the competition as part of its aim to derive up to a quarter of all UK electricity from nuclear power by mid-century. Confirming its withdrawal, an EDF spokesperson said the company "remains committed to supporting the development of nuclear in the UK". The company says it is rethinking its designs for small modular reactors, but added that "we will continue to work positively with the UK government to deliver a new nuclear future." Labour, which won the election, has promised to extend the lifetime of existing nuclear plants, including the much-delayed and over-budget Hinkley Point C in southwest England. EDF said in January that project could be delayed by four years, and cost as much as pound8 billion ($9.5 billion) more than planned. It had been due to become operational in June 2027 but that has now been pushed back to between 2029 and 2031, it added. Labour also made developing SMRs part of its election pitch to the country, saying nuclear would help Britain achieve energy security and its aims of decarbonising the power grid by 2030. phz/gv UN nuclear agency to meet Friday after Kyiv hospital strike Vienna, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 The UN nuclear watchdog will hold a special meeting Friday after Ukraine accused Russia of undermining atomic safety by shattering a radiation-equipped children's hospital, according to a confidential document seen by AFP. The striking summons for the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors comes amid international outrage over the missile attack on the Okhmatdy paediatric hospital in Kyiv on Monday. It killed two adults and wounded 32 more, with eight children being hospitalised, according to the Ukrainian interior ministry. Kyiv requested the IAEA hold an emergency meeting, saying that the hospital had radiation equipment used notably to treat cancer patients. The meeting will convene at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) on Friday at the IAEA's Vienna headquarters, the board's current chair, Argentina's ambassador Holger Martinsen, wrote in a confidential note to diplomats. The agency's 35-nation board usually meets every three months, but can be convened at the request of a member state. In a letter sent Monday to Martinsen, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko requested the board meet "in connection with the brutal attack by the Russian Federation on a children's hospital in Kyiv". The paediatric hospital receives "IAEA equipment and technical assistance under technical cooperation programmes" and owns "27 sources of ionising radiation" to treat cancer, Galushchenko added. The energy minister said Russia's missile attack "not only endangers lives but also constitutes a blatant violation of the IAEA's core principles and values, undermining the very foundation of international nuclear safety and security". The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said its initial assessment found that Moscow had struck the facility with a Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. Russia said its forces had struck "intended" military targets and blamed Ukrainian air defence missiles for the extensive damage to civilian targets. Starmer goes to Washington on first foreign trip as UK PM London, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jetted off to Washington Tuesday to attend NATO's 75th anniversary summit, his first foreign trip since becoming British leader last Friday following a landslide election victory. He will reaffirm Britain's enduring support for the Western military alliance and Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression, he told reporters on the tarmac at London Stansted Airport. "But today and tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support for Ukraine, and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world," he said. Starmer, 61, told a meeting of his top team that the summit represents an opportunity to "reset relationships, reinvigorate our unshakeable commitment to the alliance and demonstrate the strength of Britain on the world stage". The visit kicks off a whirlwind of international diplomacy in Starmer's first two weeks in power, with the UK also hosting a European leaders' conference next week. "It will be an opportunity for him to learn and get to know other leaders as much as to communicate any particular messages," foreign policy expert James Strong told AFP. Britain's previous Conservative government was one of Ukraine's staunchest allies, providing money, weapons and troop training to help it repel Russia's invasion. Starmer has pledged continued support for Kyiv under Labour, and is expected to reaffirm that message in person to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO meeting. Starmer's Defence Secretary John Healey has already visited Ukraine since last Thursday's election, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been visiting European NATO members. Labour is committed to the alliance and wants to match the Conservatives' promise to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, above the NATO target of two percent. "We can expect lots of talk about 'business as usual'," added Strong, a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. While Starmer will stress continuity on the main foreign policy issues, he will also be keen to signal a reset in relations with allies that were soured by Brexit. Labour has pledged closer cooperation with European neighbours, including on bilateral deals with France and Germany but also on agreements with the EU bloc as a whole. - 'Special relationship' - "We can expect to hear a lot of talk about improving relations, about being a more reliable partner, and above all about being more stable and predictable," said Strong. The trip also presents an early opportunity for Starmer to build a rapport with US President Joe Biden and cement the so-called UK-US special relationship. Starmer's centre-left Labour party is more closely aligned with Biden's Democratic Party than the Conservatives, which could help, but the trip comes at a sensitive time for the US president. Following a poor debate performance, Biden, 81, is under pressure to make way and allow a younger Democrat to take on Republican rival Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Starmer will be mindful that he may have to deal with the isolationist Trump from January next year. "(He) will want to demonstrate his rock-solid commitment to the UK's alliance with America, and to send a strong signal about the resilience of the 'special relationship', whatever lies ahead," Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at the right-wing Policy Exchange think-tank, told AFP. A point of contention between Starmer and Biden could be the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with Labour viewed as more pro-Palestinian than Washington. The leaders are also likely to discuss policy towards China, including on trade, commerce and technology. Starmer will then host the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, in central England, on July 18, with France's president Emmanuel Macron and Germany's leader Olaf Scholz expected to attend. Labour wants "an ambitious" security pact with the European Union. Olivia O'Sullivan, director of the UK in the world programme at the Chatham House international affairs think-tank, told AFP the two summits "provide an opportunity to put more meat on the bones of this proposal". Starmer may also want to flesh out the shape of a post-Brexit trading deal, after his introduction to life on the global stage in Washington. NATO boosts Ukraine air defenses as doubts over Biden cloud summit Washington, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 US President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a major package of air defenses for Ukraine as doubts over his political survival clouded the start of a NATO summit in Washington. Leaders from the 32-nation military alliance were looking to put on a show of resolve against Russia during three days of pomp-filled ceremony in the US capital marking NATO's 75th anniversary. But questions over Biden's fitness to govern threatened to dominate the gathering as the 81-year-old faces calls to quit the race for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against challenger Donald Trump. Looking to refocus attention on US steadfastness, Biden kicked off the summit by announcing Washington will provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system. "The war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country. Russia will not prevail," Biden said at a ceremony in the room where NATO's founding treaty was signed in 1949. "This is a pivotal moment for Europe, for the transatlantic community, and, I might add, for the world," he said. The US pledge comes on top of two new Patriot systems already being given by Germany and Romania, and one the Netherlands has said it is putting together with parts from other allies. The air defenses "will help to protect Ukrainian cities, civilians, and soldiers," Biden said in a joint statement with other leaders, adding that they would look to send dozens more shorter range systems in the coming months. Ukraine has for months been clamoring for seven additional Patriot systems to help protect against devastating Russian strikes two and a half years into the invasion. The war-torn country's vulnerability to Moscow's missiles was cruelly exposed by a strike Monday on a children's hospital in Kyiv. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged countries across the alliance to maintain their backing for Kyiv -- warning that if Russia wins it will be the "greatest risk" for NATO. "The outcome of this war will shape global security for decades to come," Stoltenberg said. "The time to stand for freedom and democracy is now. The place is Ukraine." - Trump weighs in - As NATO sought to project unity and strength, doubts were swirling over the political future of the most powerful leader in the alliance. Biden has so far defied pressure from some within his party to step aside, after a calamitous TV debate against Trump last month fueled fears that he lacks mental acuity and physical fitness. NATO members in Europe are nervously eying a potential return to the White House by Trump after November's election. On the campaign trail, the volatile ex-reality TV star has threatened to blow apart the principle of mutual self-defense that has underpinned NATO since it was founded in the wake of World War II. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump insisted that he had "made NATO viable again" by forcing European countries to spend more on their own defenses during his term in office. "If it weren't for me as President, there probably would be no NATO by now," Trump claimed. He said he now wants Washington's allies in Europe to stump up more to help Ukraine and ease the burden on the United States. - China challenge - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington on Tuesday urging "decisive actions from the US and Europe -- actions that will strengthen our warriors." The Kremlin said it was following the summit "with the greatest attention... the rhetoric at the talks and the decisions that will be taken and put on paper." The promise of more weaponry is set to be the biggest win the Ukrainian leader will get as his troops struggle to hold ground. Worried about dragging NATO closer to war with Russia, the United States and Germany have shut down any talk of giving Ukraine a clear invitation to join their alliance. Instead, diplomats say Kyiv's path to eventual membership may be described as "irreversible" in the summit declaration. NATO members will also vow to keep supporting Ukraine at the rate they have been so far since Moscow invaded -- roughly 40 billion euros annually -- for at least another year. While NATO views Russia as its main threat, it is also paying greater attention to challenges from China and accuses Beijing of playing a key role in keeping Moscow's war effort going. The leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea will come to Washington to bolster ties with the alliance. China's foreign ministry hit out at the "smear and attacks" against Beijing from NATO and said the alliance was seeking an excuse to expand its influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Among the jubilation in France at the rout of the far-Right in an alliance of President Macrons struggling centrists and the far-Left, its easy to overlook the fact that France has already swithered under Macrons leadership, from a thwarted role as the dealmaker with Putin, to an abruptly hawkish position. How does that square with the new Left Alliance many of whose leading voices have long been complicit in finding excuses for Vladimir Putin and are as inward-looking in mindset as their foes on the Right? Amping up funding or even support for the war is not on their wish list. * FIRST NAME * LAST NAME * EMAIL Your email address * PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show * YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 * Required fields I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice CREATE ACCOUNT I'LL TRY LATER Already have an account? SIGN IN By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Ukraine will be the key talking point as Mr Biden hosts Sir Keir at the White House on Wednesday, with the presidents press secretary saying the former will underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. It enabled the Government to send migrants who did not have a right to remain in the country to Rwanda if they had arrived in the UK through an illegal and dangerous route since 2022. Spanish police said on Tuesday they still have hope of finding missing teenager Jay Slater with "several lines of inquiry" being pursued in their investigation. Police on the island of Tenerife issued an update as the search for the 19-year-old who went missing after attending a rave with friends entered its fourth week. A spokesman told The Sun: "The investigation is ongoing and several lines of inquiry are being pursued with a source close to the probe saying they were still hopeful of finding the teenager alive. Nguyen Van Nen and the delegation meet with Yangug Sodbaatar, Secretary-General of the Mongolian People's Party. (Photo: baoquocte.vn) On July 4th, within the framework of the working visit to Mongolia, Mr. Nen met with Yangug Sodbaatar, Secretary-General of the ruling Mongolian People's Party. During the meeting, Mr. Nen respectfully conveyed the regards of Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene. Congratulating the Mongolian People's Party on its important victory in the recent parliamentary elections, which reflects the voters' trust in the leadership of the Mongolian People's Party, he highly appreciated the significant achievements that Mongolia has obtained. He expressed confidence that the Mongolian Government will successfully implement its major current policies, namely the New Revival Policy and the strategic goals of Vision 2050, enhancing Mongolias role and position in the region and internationally. He affirmed that the Party and the State of Vietnam always value developing traditional friendship relations with the Mongolian People's Party and the State of Mongolia. Warmly welcoming Mr. Nen and the delegation to Mongolia, Yangug Sodbaatar, Secretary-General of the Mongolian People's Party, emphasized the importance of the visit in the year the two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations (November 17, 1954 - November 17, 2024). He expressed gratitude and conveyed the regards and best wishes of the Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party to Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The Secretary-General of the Mongolian People's Party emphasized the traditional friendly relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Mongolian People's Party, affirming that the Mongolian People's Party and the State of Mongolia highly value and prioritize relations with Vietnam. Pleased with the significant progress in Vietnam-Mongolia relations in recent times, both sides agreed to strengthen relations through Party, State, and people-to-people channels. This includes maintaining high-level and various other levels of delegation exchanges, and coordinating well in organizing activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Mongolia in 2024. The two sides agreed to enhance relations through Party channels, promoting the strategic guiding role of the two ruling parties in the overall relations between the two countries. They also agreed to foster practical and effective cooperation in economic, trade and investment areas, aligning with the potential and strengths of each country; and to intensify people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, thereby creating a solid social foundation for the development of Vietnam-Mongolia relations. During the visit, Mr. Nen and the Vietnamese delegation had meetings and working sessions with the Governor of Ulaanbaatar, visited the Ho Chi Minh School in Ulaanbaatar, and met with the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Mongolia./. (The Queen) turns up and puts her passion for reading, which is very genuine, behind it - so its really fun to have that kind of commitment thats much more than skin deep Author Francesca Simon Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz (Photo: VNA) Zafrul is on a working visit to Vietnam to co-chair the 4th session of the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee in Hanoi. Currently, Malaysia is the third largest trading partner of Vietnam in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 10th largest in the world. With a total registered capital of over 13 billion USD, Malaysia is also the third biggest ASEAN investor in Vietnam, PM Pham Minh Chinh said. Vietnam always welcomes and encourages Malaysian businesses and investors to operate in the country, he said, adding that Vietnam commits to protecting their legitimate rights and interests, ensuring fair treatment, and creating favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Malaysia. As the goal of achieving 20 billion USD in two-way trade in the coming years is reachable, PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested both nations continue to leverage their complementary strengths, explore breakthrough solutions to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation, and join global value and supply chains He also proposed Malaysia facilitate the entry of Vietnamese goods into its market, particularly processed farm produce, seafood, and food products; assist Vietnam in developing the Halal industry and encouraging Malaysian investments in Vietnam in this field, as well as in digital transformation, green transition, clean energy and wind power export. Furthermore, he called for bolstering joint work in emerging fields such as innovation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. To further enhance collaboration, the PM proposed sharing experience, jointly building mechanisms and policies, improving governance capacity, transferring technology, and training quality human resources, particularly in emerging sectors. He also highlighted the need to foster effective cooperation between businesses of both countries, people-to-people exchanges, and tourism and cultural collaboration with flexible regulations. On global and regional issues, the government leader said in the current context, Vietnam and Malaysia need to continue supporting each other at multilateral forums. Together with other ASEAN member states, they should maintain the bloc's central role, strengthen unity in diversity within ASEAN, and maintain an environment of peace, stability, cooperation and development, he said. PM Pham Minh Chinh underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and settling disputes peacefully in line with international law, especially the United Nations Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The PM affirmed Vietnam's support for Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and requested Malaysia to back Vietnam's efforts to have the European Commission's "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed. Zafrul, for his part, noted that this is his second visit to Vietnam and mentioned an extensive agenda involving numerous Malaysian enterprises. He predicted that this year's bilateral trade turnover could reach 18 billion USD, surpassing the target initially set for 2025. He expressed his strong desire to further advance bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, especially in areas highlighted by the PM, including the Halal industry, which holds significant potential, as well as digital transformation, green transition, wind power, innovation and artificial intelligence. The minister affirmed Malaysia's continuous support for ASEAN's central role in regional issues, and expressed Malaysia's hope for Vietnam's continued support for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025./. FRANKLIN COUNTY Only around 20 red wolves are known still to exist in the wild. The St. Louis Zoo just added four more to the 290 that live in captivity. Four red wolves were born this spring at the St. Louis Zoo Sears Lehmann Jr. Wildlife Reserve in Franklin County. They were the first wolves ever born at the facility. When you consider how few red wolves remain, each birth is an achievement, said Sabarras George, director of the St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park, which oversees the Wildlife Reserve. Otter, a female, was born April 26 to Lava, who is 8, and 9-year-old Tyke. The parents came to the Wildlife Reserve last year from the Wolf Conservation Center in New York. Molly and her brothers Finn and Obi were born May 4. Their parents are Ladybird, 3, and Wilber, who is 8. These are the first offspring for Ladybird and Wilber. All the pups are healthy and thriving, according to Zoo officials. The animals had their first medical checkups in June. Ladybird came to the Wildlife Reserve from the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka. Wilber came from the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida. Red wolves, which are smaller than gray wolves and often have red fur on their head and legs, once roamed the eastern and southern United States, from New York to Texas. Loss of habitat and predator-control programs decimated the population. They now exist in the wild only in North Carolina. They have not been seen in the wild in Missouri since the 1950s. The Fish and Wildlife Service updated a recovery plan for the red wolf in September, hoping to revitalize the population over the next 50 years and remove it from the endangered species list. The plan is estimated to cost $328 million. The Wildlife Reserve is now closed to visitors in order to give privacy to the 17 red wolves that live there. The intention is to let them learn natural survival skills and behavior with as little human interaction as possible. The pups will live with their parents for at least two years, zoo officials said. After that, they may be sent to other institutions that are trying to breed and propagate the species. Regina Mossotti, vice president of animal care at the St. Louis Zoo, said, Every new birth offers hope for future reintroduction efforts for this vital national treasure. Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman 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 Last fall, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley put his foot on the neck of Tyson Foods after it announced plans to close two plants in southern Missouri. Now, the states senior GOP senator is applying more pressure to the food-producing giant. On Monday, Hawley sent a letter to Tyson management, lambasting it for according to a lawsuit filed recently by several chicken producers misleading Hawley and farmers about their intentions. The beef began in August, when Tyson announced it would close two plants in October. One plant in Dexter, in the Bootheel, employed about 700 people; the other, near Joplin, employed about 1,500 workers. In September, Hawley said he secured a promise from the company that it would try to sell the plants to other chicken producers, who then could honor production contracts that Tyson had with local farmers. You personally assured me that you would not prevent a competitor from acquiring these plants, Hawley said in Mondays missive to Tyson chief Donnie King. Now, a class-action lawsuit filed against your company alleges that this was a lie. In a statement, Hawley claims that Tyson did sell the two plants, but to operations that produced eggs, not broiler chickens. The farmers (with Tyson agreements) built their farms for chicken production in reliance on those contracts, Hawley wrote, adding that farmers who built their farms for chicken production ... have now allegedly been left out in the cold. In the letter, Hawley also name-checks U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee. Hawley said that the farmers lawsuit involves documents, now closed from the public, which could show that Tyson misled Hawley and Smith about its intentions. You should immediately make this redacted information public, Hawley concluded. The people of Missouri deserve to know the truth. A participant takes photos at the exhibition area of the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on July 8, 2024. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) The opening ceremony of the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries is held in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on July 8, 2024. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Guests visit the exhibition area of the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on July 8, 2024. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) The opening ceremony of the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries is held in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on July 8, 2024. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Participants visit the exhibition area of the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on July 8, 2024. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Volunteers pose for a photo at the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on July 8, 2024. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Editor: WXY JEFFERSON CITY A week after voting to sell two St. Louis office buildings, Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday he has not spoken with city officials about the effects of pulling hundreds of workers out of the beleaguered downtown. In comments to reporters, the Republican governor said the decision to jettison the historic Wainwright Office Building and the Mill Creek Office Building was a business decision and was not related to concerns about crime in citys center core. I havent talked to anybody there, Parson said, sidestepping talk that ongoing gun violence triggered the states looming exodus. It didnt have anything to do other than a business decision, said Parson, who leaves office in January. In a move that came as a surprise to city officials and downtown boosters, members of the Missouri Board of Public Buildings, which includes Gov. Mike Parson, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, voted unanimously to pursue the sale of the buildings housing 600 workers in a variety of state agencies. Some employees will be moved to the Keathley State Office Building in the 3100 block of Chouteau Avenue, while the bulk of the workers will be moved to a new building in Chesterfield. Proceeds from the sale of the buildings will be used to pay for the Chesterfield facility, which hasnt been identified. It was just an opportunity. Theres another facility there in Chesterfield a much more modern facility, Parson said. Needless to say, were finding ways to try and save money for the State of Missouri. Administration officials say they wanted out of the Wainwright building at Seventh and Chestnut because it would cost $23 million to maintain and repair. The state bought the architecturally significant 10-story structure 50 years ago during former Gov. Christopher Kit Bonds administration. The building is listed on a government auction website for $5 million, with a closing date of Aug. 29. Prospective bidders must first submit a letter of intent explaining the anticipated use of the building. The letter of intent may be denied if it includes an anticipated use or proposed terms of sale that are unacceptable to the state, the auction notice says. The Mill Creek building, which sits on 4 acres near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Market Street, was built in 1975. A buyer has expressed interest in purchasing the facility, administration officials said last week. The governor pointed to other real estate maneuvers designed to save money, pointing to the $151 million laboratory being built in the capital city that will be shared by multiple state agencies. That building, like any other state building, were trying to merge things. Were trying to figure out whats the best thing for the future of state employees, he said. Downtown boosters, however, were stunned by the decision to pull workers out of the city. Downtown St. Louis is the economic engine of the St. Louis metro, which accounts for over 40% of the economic activity in the state of Missouri. The business community will continue our work with the City of St. Louis and other partners to revitalize Downtown St. Louis and make it safe, vibrant, and beautiful, Greater St. Louis Inc. said in a statement. A spokesman for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said the mayor had not received any prior communication from the governor or the board. The process of selling and moving could take a year to complete, the governors administration said last week. Parsons comments came after a violent Fourth of July weekend in downtown. Police Chief Robert Tracy and Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore met with downtown residents Monday in an attempt to convince them that progress is being made on lowering the citys crime rates. Eight people were shot in the downtown area following the Celebrate St. Louis fireworks show. Police made 42 arrests downtown and in Downtown West between July 3 and July 7, 15 of which involved firearms. Of those arrests, 19 were juveniles cited for weapon violations, fireworks, assaults and destruction of property. Parson, who signed into law Tuesday a long-sought ban on the kind of celebratory gunfire that often accompanies holidays, said the incidents were not just people firing off random rounds for fun. Theres a huge difference between celebratory gunfire and whats happened over the weekend, the governor said. I think these are people just out there committing crimes, shooting one another. Airman 1st Class Bailey Poage starred in a series of slip-and-slide inspired posts on 36th Wing commander Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenskes Facebook page from a block party at Andersen Air Force Base Guam, on July 5-6, 2024. (Facebook) How often in the Air Force does the base commander throw an open invitation to party for two days at his place around a national holiday? If youre stationed on Guam, it happened Friday and Saturday after July 4, Independence Day, at the home of Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske, commander of the 36th Wing and Andersen Air Force Base. The Slip and Slide scheduled for the Joint Force at my house on 5 July and 6 July, Palenske posted on the 36th Wing Commander Facebook page July 2, referring to backyard waterslides popular in summertime. Well have a couple of food trucks available, a DJ and you are free to bring your own lawn chairs and BYOB! The event will basically be a base wide block party! Should be EPIC! The all-hands, family-friendly event was epic, if photos Palenske subsequently posted are credible. One post attracted more than 2,000 likes, and the whole series of posts created an online buzz. Your posts make me want to reenlist!! wrote Todd Krueger, an Air Force veteran and commenter from Texas. Palenske has turned his official Facebook page into a morale booster, in which he lauds the achievements of individual airmen, comments on the weather, wildlife and other aspects of life on Guam and often ends with the exclamation, Murica! followed by a U.S. flag emoji. The slip and slide party went above and beyond, with a flurry of photographs on Facebook highlighting record-setting and record-breaking rides on the 400-foot-long slide. So, what Gen. Palenske really wanted to do was, he wanted to get people together, just to spend time together as human beings, to really just get the community vibe, Master Sgt. Ryan Kegler, Agile Combat Support flight chief, told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday. Hes really big on putting people first and he really cares about the well-being of his folks, and that was very evident in how excited he was for this event. Kegler said he worked on planning and involving different agencies to bring Palenskes vision of an epic slip-and-slide event to reality. We had a lot of folks kind of coming through in waves, Kegler said. Between the two days, probably about 500 folks. Airman 1st Class Bailey Poage became a slip-and-slide celebrity thanks to a photograph of him airborne on a bodyboard atop the slide. Palenske humored his followers with Poage cut and pasted into various aircraft photographs: fired like a missile from an F-22 Raptor, sliding from the rear end of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and launched like cargo from a C-141 Starlifter, an airlifter no longer in service. (W)e brought it back from the boneyard for this special event! Palenske replied to one commenter. Had to pull a couple pilots and a load master out of four VFWs to cobble together a qualified crew Jordan Morgan, an Air Force spouse, said Palenske is the third base commander in the three years her family has been on Guam. Thanks Gen! My kids and husband had a blast, Morgan commented on a Palenske post on Saturday. He is honestly one of the best! she told Stars and Stripes by Facebook Messenger on Tuesday. The grand prize for longest slide, a Yeti cooler, went to Col. Tom Bowman, commander of the 36th Operations Group at Andersen, who gave the prize instead to second-place finisher Airman 1st Class Rogers, no first name given, according to a post on the commanders Facebook page Were out here in the middle of the ocean and its important for us to know that we have each other as a community, as airmen, as a wing, Kegler said. Gen. Palenskes top priority is people, and when you take care of the people, when the people have that sense of community, then everything else kind of falls in place. Army Pvt. Travis King is charged with desertion for bolting into North Korea while on a tour of the Demilitarized Zone in July 2023, a day after he was supposed to travel to Fort Bliss, Texas. (Family Photo via AP) AUSTIN, Texas A Fort Bliss soldier charged with desertion for running into North Korea last year will have his first preliminary hearing in court next week where his lawyers plan to present the results of a mental competency evaluation. Pvt. Travis King, 24, faces eight charges for his July 2023 sprint from South Korea across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea, where he stayed until the U.S. and Sweden negotiated his return in September 2023, according to court documents and the Defense Department. King, a cavalry scout, was participating in a tour at the security area along the Demilitarized Zone on the day that he fled to North Korea. He had recently been released from a South Korean prison, where he had spent six weeks for assault charges. He was scheduled to return to Fort Bliss, where he was supposed to face disciplinary hearings with the Army, but instead of boarding his flight, he made his way to the border tour. The Office of Special Trial Counsel, which is handling the case, declined to release Kings charge sheet. However, officials described the charges as attempted escape from custody, soliciting someone to create child sexual abuse material, solicitation of sexual abuse of a child, desertion, disobeying a superior commissioned officer, assault on a noncommissioned officer, false official statement, assault consummated by battery and possession of child sexual abuse material. In the months since charges were announced against him, Kings attorneys requested he undergo a psychological evaluation, which was performed by a team from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., said Frank Rosenblatt, an attorney for King. Were going to introduce into evidence the document of what they found and talk about what it means, he said Tuesday. It was a thorough evaluation, and it took them a lot of time. Rosenblatt is a former Army attorney who previously served as the lead military lawyer for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who in 2017 faced a court-martial for desertion for leaving his base in Afghanistan in 2009. He was captured by the Taliban and held until May 2014. King first enlisted in the Army in January 2021 and had no prior deployments. He was in Korea as part of a rotational deployment with the 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, according to the Army. The evidentiary hearing will take place Tuesday at Fort Bliss, Rosenblatt said. During the hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury, one officer will hear evidence in the case and make a recommendation whether a court-martial is warranted. The Office of Special Trial Counsel will then use that recommendation to determine the legal path forward. After King returned to the U.S., he spent three weeks in debriefings and reintegration at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas before returning to his unit at Fort Bliss, which is about 550 miles west in El Paso, Rosenblatt said. Since the charges were announced in October, King has been detained at the Otero County Detention Center in nearby Alamogordo, N.M. State-run media in North Korea reported last year that King told officials that he fled the U.S. because he was disillusioned at the unequal American society, and he wished to seek refuge in North Korea or a third country. The Swedish government served a diplomatic role in securing Kings release and China assisted with safe transit out of North Korea for the soldier, according to the Defense Department. The Idaho Army National Guards State Aviation Group assisted the Custer County Search and Rescue with the rescue of an injured hiker July 6 on Thompson Peak of the Sawtooth mountain range, 75 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. (Elizabeth Adams/Idaho Army National Guard) The Idaho National Guards State Aviation Group successfully rescued a 19-year-old hiker injured after falling while rock-climbing. The rescue operation occurred on July 6 on Thompson Peak in the Sawtooth mountain range, about 75 miles northeast of Boise. The operation was completed in coordination with Custer Countys search and rescue team. Our crew did an incredible job under some very challenging environmental conditions, Capt. Katherine Smith, commander of Detachment 1, Company G, 1st of the 168th Aviation Regiment, said in a news release. The rescue required a great deal of crew coordination, as well as teamwork with the highly proficient extraction team from the Custer County Sheriffs Office. The rescue team initially located the injured hiker under a ledge, meaning the crew could not simply hoist the hiker into their helicopter. The crew flew to Stanley Airport and picked up a Custer County search and rescue technical rope rescue team. The five-person technical rope rescue team lowered to the ground about 900 feet from the hiker and moved him to a more favorable position to be hoisted into the helicopter. The hiker was flown to Stanley Airport and transferred to a hospital for treatment. The high-altitude rescue operation required that the pilot and rescuers exercised extreme caution. Due to the reduced power margins caused by altitude of more than 10,300 feet, the uneven terrain and the location of the extraction site, the aircrew was forced to pay extremely close attention to the aircraft limitations, Smith said. Lack of situational awareness in these types of situations could lead to a loss of lift or even rotor drop, requiring the aircrew to have to execute an emergency procedure to maintain stable flight. Army Sgt. Dorian Baker was a signal support systems specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4-2 Attack Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade. Photo by 2nd Infantry Division. (U.S. Army) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea A 27-year-old U.S. soldier stationed here died last month after his vehicle crashed in Pyeongtaek city, roughly 40 miles south of Seoul, according to the 2nd Infantry Division. Sgt. Dorian Baker of Columbia, S.C., a signal support systems specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4-2 Attack Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, was driving alone June 29 in Pyeongtaek when his vehicle crashed, according to a 2nd ID news release Tuesday. A July 3 statement on the aviation brigades Facebook page said Bakers car had rolled over; his was the only vehicle involved in the incident, according to both command statements. Baker was taken by Korean National Police and emergency medical responders to St. Marys Hospital in Pyeongtaek, where he was pronounced dead at 6:35 a.m. that day, according to 2nd ID. The 4-2 Attack Battalion is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Baker, battalion commander Lt. Col. William Carrion said in the release. Sgt. Baker leaves behind a profound impact of friendship and camaraderie felt by all who had the privilege of serving alongside him. Bakers professionalism was unparalleled and he leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication to the organization, the aviation brigades post on Facebook states. Baker joined the Army in December 2014 and was assigned to the battalion in January 2023, according to 2nd ID. His awards include four Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the Global War on Terror Service Medal and the Korean Defense Medal. Army Signal support systems specialists maintain the services computer systems, local area networks, power generators and other communication equipment. Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, most of them at Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas. Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Editor: JYZ A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew conducts fly-overs in Texas after Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. Capt. Keith Donohue, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, joined the mission to assess damage impacts from Hurricane Beryl. (Jessica Fontenette/U.S. Coast Guard) On Monday, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi conducted flyovers of a handful of coastal cities to assess the damage. Among the places the crew surveyed: Matagorda, Texas City, Galveston and the port of Houston. Beryl, which made landfall early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, has been blamed for at least seven U.S. deaths one in Louisiana and six in Texas and at least 11 in the Caribbean, according to the Associated Press. More than 2.1 million homes and businesses around Houston lacked electricity Tuesday, down from a peak of over 2.7 million on Monday, according to PowerOutage.us. At midday Tuesday, Beryl was a post-tropical cyclone centered over Arkansas and was forecast to bring heavy rains and possible flooding to a swath extending to the Great Lakes and Canada. A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew conducts fly-overs in Texas after Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. (Jessica Fontenette/U.S. Coast Guard) A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew conducts fly-overs in Texas after Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. (Jessica Fontenette/U.S. Coast Guard) A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew conducts fly-overs in Texas after Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. (Jessica Fontenette/U.S. Coast Guard) A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew conducts fly-overs in Texas after Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. (Jessica Fontenette/U.S. Coast Guard) A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew conducts fly-overs in Texas after Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024. (Jessica Fontenette/U.S. Coast Guard) Contributing: The Associated Press Joe Biden speaks at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on July 3, 2024. (Henry Villarama/U.S. Army) A junior sailor attempted to look up President Joe Bidens health records in a military database in February, the Navy announced Tuesday. The unidentified sailor, who was assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command at Fort Belvoir, Va., searched the name Joseph Biden in Military Health System Genesis, an electronic government health record database, according to Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the Navy Chief of Information. The sailor searched for Bidens medical records out of curiosity, Hawkins said. A co-worker reported the breach of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known commonly as HIPAA, on Feb. 26 to the Fort Belvoir command. Naval Criminal Investigative Services investigated the breach, which was concluded April 24. The record the sailor accessed was not the electronic record of the president of the United States. The MHS Genesis system is a secure health system and at no time was the presidents personal information compromised, Hawkins said. The sailor was administratively punished and continues to serve in the Navy, ABC News reported, citing an official. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons press secretary, said Tuesday that the Navy notified the defense secretary and White House officials in February of the incident. Ryder directed further questions to the Navy. The bottom line is that [the Navy] confirmed that at no time was the presidents personal information compromised, and that the record that the sailor inappropriately accessed was not the electronic health record of the president of the United States, Ryder said. An aerial view of ships moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Ford Island during the Rim of the Pacific exercise on July 5, 2024. (Corban Lundborg/U.S. Air Force) At this years iteration of the biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific the worlds largest naval exercise port security is playing a prominent role as international conflict and competition put strains on global supply chains. At Coast Guard Base Hono lulu on Sand Island on Monday, the Long Beach, Calif.-based Port Security Unit 311 began setting up its operating base for the exercise. The unit, part of the Coast Guards Deployable Specialized Forces, has deployed across the globe. Its one of the few Coast Guard units to have seen action in conflicts in the Middle East. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it joined an amphibious force of British Royal Marines and U.S. Navy SEALs and took control of critical port facilities. But this is the first RIMPAC the unit has ever participated in. Its participation comes as the U.S. government sees the Indo-Pacific increasingly critical as East and South Asian countries play a growing central role in the global economy and as Washington and Beijing compete for influence and power in the region. Securing our ports is essential across the globe. Our ports and waterways are still fundamentally how we move commerce, how we receive goods, how we we transit goods or people, said PSU 311s commanding officer, Cmdr. Pat Hanley. And for many of the countries around the globe, particularly in the Indo-Pacific area, the ports are critical strategic assets. Thats their lifeblood, how they ensure that they have everything they need to maintain commerce, economy, you know, support their people. The unit is made up mostly of reservists. Hanley explained that it is designed to ramp up when asked to deploy just about anywhere in the globe to support our joint partners, whether it be Navy, Army, Air Force or international partners. In Hawaii the unit joins the Coast Guards Honolulu-based Maritime Safety and Security Team and diving teams to train on how to keep ports open and protected from anything from natural disasters to terrorism or outright attacks from major military powers. Cmdr. Daniel Han, commander of MSST Honolulu an active-duty unit that is also part of the Deployable Specialized Forces said that while he and his team havent regularly trained with PSU 311, RIMPAC kind of offers that opportunity. MSST Honolulu also has deployed around the Pacific, training port security personnel in places like Palau and New Caledonia and pitching in after disasters, which have been as far away as Guam and as close as Maui after the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire. Logistically, getting our assets or people to these remote regions of the Pacific is probably our biggest challenge, Han said. He noted that even responding to the Maui fire which came on suddenly was a challenge as they hastily loaded their equipment to make their way over. But sometimes theyre able to move more quickly. For, like, the typhoon (Mawar) over in Guam, because we were able to project that as its going to hit soon, we were able to pre-stage our unit with putting up people on a C-130 and pre-staging the assets out there to kind of like be able to respond real time. But the Coast Guards resources are limited. Lt. Eric Juback, the MSSTs executive officer, said, Not only do we have things going on on the East Coast, the United States and Texas right now during a hurricane drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, human trafficking, the Arctic when you talk about fishery violations and potential threats from Russia, and then you talk about the Pacific. We are smaller than the New York City Police Department, Juback added, and when you talk about not having that many people, its very challenging to decide where those resources go, right, and how do we counter the threats that exist out here in the Pacific. Tensions have mounted in the Pacific, especially in the South China Sea a critical waterway through which more than a third of all international trade travels. China considers almost the entire region its exclusive sovereign territory despite a 2016 international court ruling in favor of the Philippines that rejected almost all of Beijings territorial claims. The Coast Guard has played an increasingly important role in Americas Pacific strategy as the U.S. competes with China for influence. Unlike the Navy, the Coast Guard has law enforcement authority that in some cases allows it to board and inspect vessels suspected of illegal activity on the high seas and in ports. Some officials and analysts have expressed alarm about growing investment by Chinese companies in ports around the world, and the involvement of Chinese companies in port operations. In May, Slovakian -based security firm ESET alleged it found evidence of malware planted by a Chinese cybergroup known as Mustang Panda against Norwegian-, Greek-and Dutch-controlled ships. But its the war in Ukraine that has made some officials particularly concerned about port vulnerability. When Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Black Sea became a battleground, and the Ukrainian ports became a major target for airstrikes as well as shelling and missile attacks. Ukrainian forces have begun hitting back at Russian-controlled ports, with both sides using missiles and drones as they trade shots. Thats our job, to prevent that from happening to U.S. vessels, right, to our partner vessels in Japan, Tokyo, you know, or South Korea, Philippines, Juback said. So we have assets at all those regions right now helping build their capability to protect against that. But the Coasties admit that right now their resources for defending against drones are limited. Theyre working with the Department of Defense which has a larger budget and more experience to build their capabilities. The emerging threat is there, Juback said. We bring it up all the time. We talk about it all the time. We analyze data as it comes about. And we look at how we can shape our tactics for our operators who are doing the mission every day to kind of change and decide how were going to address that threat. Theyre also looking at how they can use drones of their own in ports for security or to respond to disasters or attacks. At this point its kind of in the research-and-development phase, Hanley said. We may use RIMPAC as an opportunity to test some of that out and see whether thats a capability that makes sense for port security and if it does, how can we best leverage it. (c)2024 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (John Bohmer/Stars and Stripes) Mogadishu, Somalia, Jan. 3, 1993: A U.S. Marine guarding the gate to the port in Mogadishu loses his temper with a Somali trucker hauling grain donated by relief organizations. The Marine was upset because the convoy of trucks hauling the food was blocking traffic leading into the port. Interested in Stars and Stripes coverage of the operations in Somalia? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/ Security fencing set up outside the Washington convention center where the NATO summit will be taking place in Washington, D.C., from July 9-11, 2024. Canada is set to announce a plan to increase its defense spending to meet NATO targets. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Canada will soon share with its allies a credible, verifiable plan to boost its military and defense spending by billions of dollars to meet NATO targets, Defense Minister Bill Blair said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who arrived in Washington on Monday for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit, has been under scrutiny for failing to meet a pledge to spend at least 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Canada is projected to spend just 1.33% this year, and even a former member of Trudeaus government has accused him of risking the countrys security by failing to devote enough resources to defense. But speaking at an event in the U.S. capital, Blair said he expects to unveil a plan this week to change that. I think we have a very aggressive plan to move forward. Im very confident that its going to bring us to that threshold, he said at the Foreign Policy Security Forum. Canada is on the low end of NATO allies in military outlays; 23 of 32 NATO members are already at the 2% threshold. A group of U.S. senators recently pressed Trudeau to ramp up spending, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expects a plan to do so. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson took aim at Canada in a speech on Monday, calling it shameful that the country hasnt hit the 2% goal. Talk about riding Americas coattails. The specter of a second term in the White House for Donald Trump who has threatened not to defend allies that dont spend enough on their own defense and growing threats from Russia and China in the Arctic add urgency to the matter. We should be complacent because every American president will defend us. Oh, wait, said Andrew Leslie, a retired lieutenant general who held high-ranking positions in the military and served as a member of parliament in Trudeaus government from 2015 to 2019. During a recent interview, Leslie laid out a thick stack of budget documents on the table to make his case that Trudeaus treatment of defense as discretionary spending had put Canadians at risk. The prime ministers party recruited him to run for office, he said, with a promise they would take the subject seriously. The government introduced a defense strategy in 2017 that laid out about 110 objectives, but Leslie said it has met only a small number none having to do with procurement, combat capability or increasing the militarys size. Prime Minister Trudeau has never been serious about defense. The numbers show it. The readiness of the Armed Forces shows it, Leslie said. He has never taken a personal interest in defense. He has not spent sufficient time with his Armed Forces. He is past redemption. Blair and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, both joining Trudeau at the summit, have previously said Canada plans to purchase a fleet of submarines that would push it over the 2% target. Kirsten Hillman, Canadas ambassador to the U.S., told reporters that the U.S. will always push allies to do as much as possible, but Canadas steadfast support of Ukraine is crucial to the alliance right now. There are allies in NATO who are meeting 2% who do not support standing up for Ukraine, she said Monday. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A crane used to drive test piles floats in Oura Bay at the site of a future U.S. Marine Corps runway at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, July 9, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes) CAMP SCHWAB, Okinawa Japans government this week began preliminary work on a seawall at the site of a long-delayed airfield for the Marine Corps. Contractors on Monday drove test piles into the soft seabed of Oura Bay, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said during a news conference that day. The test piles will prepare the site for steel pipes that support the seawall, he said. It is necessary to drive test piles before starting the seawall construction, to be able to conduct it safely and smoothly, Hayashi said. A floating crane used to drive the test piles into the seabed worked in the bay Tuesday. The Okinawa Defense Bureau did not respond Tuesday to a phone call seeking comment. The bureau told the prefectures Seashore Disaster Prevention Division that the vessels would enter the bay July 1, but the actual work appeared to have begun Monday, a division spokesman said Tuesday by phone. Some Japanese officials may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. The division asked the defense bureau to refrain from starting work at Oura Bay until discussions were complete. However, driving the test piles is not subject to the detailed design discussions because it is not part of the seawall constructions, Hayashi said. The government is saying that is a test but considering the impact to the environment, this pile driving is part of the construction, the division spokesman said. Japans Ministry of Defense investigated damage to coral in the bay July 4 caused by the anchor chain of one of the vessels later used to drive the test piles, Hayashi said. The airfield being constructed on Camp Schwab on reclaimed land is meant to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, located in densely populated Ginowan city. The U.S. and Japanese governments agreed to move the base in 1996, but construction of the new site in the Henoko area has been repeatedly delayed by the Okinawa prefectural government. The construction zone at Schwab is divided into two main sections: 279 acres on the bases north side and 91 acres in the south, according to the prefectures website. Work on the Oura Bay side, or north side, had been on hold since April 21, 2020, when Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki, citing safety and environmental concerns, refused to approve design changes meant to solidify the soft seabed. Tamaki filed, and lost, three lawsuits, culminating in a September loss at the Supreme Court. Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tetsuo Saito approved the construction permits Dec. 28 after Tamaki ignored a Dec. 25 deadline from Fukuoka High Court. The court handed Saito that authority if Tamaki refused. Hayashi in January announced that work to reclaim land from the bay would resume. The Okinawa Defense Bureau in June notified the prefecture that work in Oura Bay would start in August. Movement of quarried material to the site was halted early this month after a truck hit and killed a security guard and injured a protester at the port of Awa. Incoming commander Col. Richard F. McElhaney, center, receives the 374th Airlift Wing guidon from Lt. Gen. Ricky N. Rupp, commander, U.S. Forces Japan, as outgoing commander Col. Andrew Roddan looks on at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan The top American general in Japan blasted Chinese, Russian and North Korean aggression during a change of command Tuesday at this airlift hub in western Tokyo. The 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota plays a vital role in the defense of Japan and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of aggressive regional actors, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, said while presiding over the command change. Col. Richard McElhaney, the new wing commander, took over from Col. Andrew Roddan during the ceremony. McElhaney, a former commander of Yokotas 374th Operations Support Squadron, recently departed Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where he commanded the 36th Contingency Response Group, according to his official biography. I feel at home here, I feel happy here, my friends are here, and theres no place Id rather be, he said in his first address as wing commander. An Air Force color guard arrives at the 374th Air Wing change-of-command ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 9, 2034. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) The only tactical airlift wing in the Pacific, the 374th includes a military community of 11,500 airmen and civilians and operates 14 C-130J Super Hercules to support U.S. forces across the Indo-Pacific. The regional actors seek to change the status quo and violate the principles of freedom of navigation and the rule of law, Rupp told U.S. and Japanese airmen, local officials, family members and civilian workers at the ceremony inside a base hangar. China conducts aggressive and dangerous intercepts of U.S. and allied aircraft and makes incursions into sovereign territory, he said. In May, for example, an Australian pilot was forced to take evasive action after a Chinese military jet fired flares close to a Navy helicopter near South Korea. Tensions surged last month when Chinese coast guard ships rammed and boarded Philippine navy vessels attempting to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusted warship beached on a shallow reef known as the Second Thomas Shoal. The confrontation left a sailor severely injured and sparked calls for a response from the United States, which has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines. Lt. Gen. Ricky N. Rupp, commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, speaks during a change-of-command ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on July 9, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Russia, while engaged in a war with Ukraine, is conducting naval and bomber patrols with China in the Pacific, Rupp said. And North Korea routinely tests ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons, he said. Despite these regional challenges the U.S.-Japan alliance is at its strongest in history, Rupp said. He noted Japans increased defense spending, investment in counterstrike capability and efforts to build a joint operations center. After Rupps speech, an airman removed tape to display McElhaneys name on a Super Hercules parked beside a UH-1 Huey helicopter in front of the hangar. Roddan goes next to become deputy commander of the Air Force District of Washington at Joint Base Andrews, Md. In his final address as commander, Roddan recalled coming to Yokota just over two years previously from the United States as it emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. My guidance even before I got here was clear: Bring the wing out of COVID, rebuild the partnerships from the challenges of COVID separation. Our partnerships are what make us strong. America is a mighty nation, but we dont work alone, he said. Nowhere is that more critical right now than in the Indo-Pacific. Roddan managed the aftermath of a crash Nov. 29 of an Air Force special operations CV-22 Osprey in southern Japan that killed eight airmen, including the recovery of seven crewmembers bodies to Yokota and their return to the United States. For that and other efforts, Roddan on Tuesday received the Legion of Merit. At the end of the day, Yokota is a special place, but its here for a reason. Its here to execute mission. We live in the first island chain; we operate in the first island chain; and we stand ready every day in the first island chain. Our readiness isnt a choice, its a requirement, he said. The simple geography of the mission here is immense. Russian President Vladimir Putin decorates Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called during a ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on his friend Vladimir Putin to seek a peaceful end to Russias war in Ukraine, a day after a deadly missile strike on a childrens hospital in Kyiv provoked international outrage. Loss of life leads to despair especially when children are killed, Modi told the Russian president in televised comments Tuesday at the start of their formal talks in the Kremlin. Resolution cant be found on the battlefield, peace needs to be pursued through dialog and diplomacy. Putin said they discussed the war during informal talks over dinner on Monday, and he thanked Modi for trying to find ways to resolve the conflict. Modi said their lengthy discussion yielded several ideas that left him hopeful of a way forward, without providing further details. The Indian leader is on his first visit to Russia since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and also his first bilateral visit since winning a third term in elections last month. His arrival in Moscow came after at least 38 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded on Monday in a wave of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, including a strike that hit the main childrens hospital in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Modis visit in a post on the social-media site X, saying it was a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day. India has avoided censuring Russia for its war and abstained at United Nations votes on the issue, but has advocated diplomacy to resolve the conflict. While Modis trip affirms longtime ties between New Delhi and Moscow going back to the Cold War era, it has drawn concerns from the U.S., which has sought to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. We welcome people engaging with Russia about the war in Ukraine if they made clear to Russia that Russia needs to respect Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Monday. Senior Indian officials who didnt want to be named said in response to the U.S. statement that New Delhi has always respected the UN Charter including territorial integrity and sovereignty. Modi posted photos of himself on X hugging Putin when they met Monday, saying he was looking forward to more talks which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. Moscow has laid out the red carpet for Modi. India is a major buyer of Russian oil and military hardware supplies. Maintaining the relationship is a balancing act for Modi, as India is seeking investment and technology from the U.S. Washington is also aiming for closer ties with India, which it sees as a regional counterweight to China. Economic issues, energy supplies and manufacturing will dominate Modis visit, as the two countries look to bolster the relationship, Indian officials said. Putin and Modi visited the pavilion of Russias state-owned Rosatom at an exhibition in Moscow earlier Tuesday. Rosatom and India are in talks to construct six high-power nuclear power units as part of a new project as well as developing low-power nuclear plants in India, according to the Russian embassy in New Delhi. The South Asian country will open two new consulates in Russia one in the city of Kazan and the second in Yekaterinburg, Modi said during an address to the Indian diaspora in Moscow. The two countries shared a deep and time-tested partnership, he said. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Troops from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S., assigned to NATOs enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland, stage their vehicles before a firepower demonstration in Adazi, Latvia, Nov. 13, 2023. (H Howey/U.S. Army) Top defense chiefs from the Baltic states said Tuesday that NATO allies need to increase military spending levels beyond the alliances longstanding 2% of each countrys gross domestic product, arguing huge capability gaps demand a larger investment from all member states. Their comments, made on the sidelines of NATOs three-day Washington summit now underway, could be a point of contention between Eastern European members and others inside the security pact who are still struggling to reach lower alliance targets. Our voice here is very clear, 2% is not enough. We have a huge shortage in capability, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said, speaking at an event hosted by Politico. Along with the United States and Poland, the Baltic states are top military spenders in NATO based on GDP percentages. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur answers a question from moderator Luiza Savage of Politico during a defense forum Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington. (Joe Gromelski/Special to Stars and Stripes) In Washington, the push this week to boost defense spending will be high on the agenda along with how to deliver more support to Ukraine in its war against Russia. But political dynamics and the upcoming U.S. presidential election are also factoring into discussions. With former President Donald Trump leading in the polls after President Joe Bidens debate performance two weeks ago, the implications of a potential Trump return have allies talking. While Biden has long been viewed as a NATO booster, dating to his many decades in the Senate, Trump took a more transactional approach to relations with allies that upended old diplomatic norms. The prospect of a second Trump term has caused a panic among some security analysts fearful that he will seek to pull the United States out of NATO, which is marking its 75th anniversary. Trump, who spent much of his tenure questioning the worth of NATO and has expressed unwillingness to help defend some allies should they come under attack, also has spoken of reducing the number of U.S. forces in Europe. The three countries that make up the Baltics are on the front line and most exposed to potential Russian aggression. In those nations, American troops are seen as the centerpiece of the NATOs security architecture. Yet defense ministers from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia each expressed confidence that if Trump is reelected, NATO will remain secure. The United States is indispensable for us, said Andris Spruds, the Latvian defense minister. But we believe NATO is also indispensable for the United States. Spruds credited Trump for making an issue of insufficient European defense spending. Trump was right on raising the voice [on] 2%, he said. In 2014, allies agreed all alliance members should hit the 2% mark by 2024. At the time, only three allies hit that target. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that 23 of NATOs 32 members are on pace to reach the 2% threshold this year, including Germany, which has faced intense criticism over the years for not investing enough money in its defense. Still, Stoltenberg has said 2% should be regarded as the bare minimum, and member states should strive to spend more. Spruds also noted during Trumps tenure, the number of U.S. troops in Europe increased, including in his country, despite his anti-NATO rhetoric. Look at deeds rather than words, he said. Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas echoed that outlook. The U.S. presence in Europe is crucial to us, he said. We dont see a safe and secure Europe without the U.S presence. Kasciunas said Trump is businessman and a dealmaker by nature. Sit down and find a deal, he said. George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO, speaks during the delivery ceremony of the 700th A320 family aircraft assembled by Airbus Tianjin to Chengdu Airlines in Tianjin, north China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ran) TIANJIN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Monday delivered its 700th A320 family aircraft assembled at its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in north China's Tianjin Municipality. "This figure highlights the long-standing and in-depth cooperation between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry," said George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO. "Airbus remains dedicated to strengthening strategic collaboration with China and fulfilling our long-term commitment to this thriving market," Xu added. The aircraft, an A320neo, featuring 180 comfortable economy class seats, was handed over to Chengdu Airlines. Chengdu Airlines has 50 Airbus aircraft now, according to its CEO, Wang Shushi. Inaugurated in 2008, the FALA in Tianjin is the first Airbus production line established outside Europe. The FALA has been operating for over 15 years and has become a model of successful China-Europe cooperation. The Airbus Tianjin expansion project, which broke ground in September 2023, is expected to contribute to the company's overall A320 family ramp-up plan, supported by its global production network of 10 final assembly lines. The production network will include two final assembly lines in Tianjin (one under construction), two in Toulouse, France, two in Mobile, the United States (one under construction) and four in Hamburg, Germany. This photo taken on July 8, 2024 shows the delivery ceremony of the 700th A320 family aircraft assembled by Airbus Tianjin to Chengdu Airlines in Tianjin, north China. (Xinhua/Li Ran) The A320neo aircraft handed over to Chengdu Airlines is pictured in Tianjin, north China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Guests attending the delivery ceremony of the 700th A320 family aircraft assembled by Airbus Tianjin to Chengdu Airlines pose for a group photo in front of the A320neo aircraft in Tianjin, north China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Editor: JYZ Rescue and military forces clear the rubble of the destroyed building of Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital following a missile strike in Kyiv capital of Ukraine on July 8, 2024. Russia launched more than 40 missiles at several cities across Ukraine in an attack that killed at least 33 people. (Ori Aviram/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Ukraine said Russia used a cruise missile in Mondays attack on a hospital in Kyiv, rebutting Moscows claims that a Ukrainian anti-air missile was responsible. Ukraines Health Ministry said in a statement that 627 patients were in the Okhmatdyt hospital at the time of the attack that injured 32 people including eight children and killed two. Investigators used the engine and other parts of the cruise missile to identify it as an X-101, Ukraines Security Service known as the SBU, said in a statement, presenting photos of the missile debris including measurements and serial numbers. The X-101 is an air-launched cruise missile which Russia has used during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Experts conclusions are unambiguous it was an intentional strike, said the SBU. The complete destruction of the two-story hospital building was caused by an X-101 warhead, which weighs over 400 kg (881.9 pounds), according to the statement. Kyiv has sought to refute claims by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who told RIA that a falling NASAMS anti-air missile, which Ukraine uses for air defense, was responsible for the damage to the hospital. She also claimed that a military facility was located near the hospital. The Norwegian-developed NASAMS couldnt cause that scale of damage as their warheads are 20 times less powerful, the SBU said. Ukraine became a target of a massive Russian missile attack Monday morning, which hit many civilian targets in Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro. Mondays attacks killed 40 people across Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a statement. In a Telegram post this morning Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi described the attack on Okhmatdyt hospital as deliberate and vowed to punish those responsible. Ukrainian military struck targets across Russia overnight, including an airbase in Aktyubinsk, an oil refinery in Volgograd and an electrical substation in the Rostov region, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, speaks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens during a meeting, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the State Department in Washington. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP) WASHINGTON NATO allies will for the first time pledge this week to develop plans to strengthen their defense industry capacities as the military alliance readies for a protracted war in Ukraine that could last another four years. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. is investing $75 billion in its defense industrial base but is relying on the collective pledges to prioritize the production of the most vital defense equipment needed for a potential conflict. NATO can, NATO will and NATO is rising to meet this challenge without disturbing or distorting our national economies the way Russia has, he told industry leaders gathered for a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Washington. (Joe Gromelski/Special to Stars and Stripes) A senior NATO official speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Washington said Russia continues to maintain a significant advantage over Ukraine in munitions, equipment and personnel. Russia is recruiting 30,000 troops each month and has mobilized a war economy that will allow it to prosecute the war in Ukraine for another three to four years, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. [Russian President] Vladimir Putin still thinks that time is on his side. He is still banking on Russian advantages, his population and resources, the official said. I would say, as a nearly lifelong career intelligence professional, we should not underestimate Russia in this regard. Sullivan said Tuesday that Russia is bolstering its war machine with help from China, North Korea and Iran. China has yet to provide the Kremlin with weapons, but it supplies microelectronics that are used in cruise missile production. Today, Russias defense industry is on a wartime footing, Sullivan said. Theyre attempting to undertake the most significant defense expansion since the height of the Cold War. The West is working to catch up. Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliances defense spending threshold of 2% of gross domestic product is now a floor rather than a ceiling. Of the alliances 32 members, 23 meet that spending goal. Stoltenberg said the defense industrial pledge that allies will sign this week will push members to spend more and will make the industry stronger, more innovative and capable of producing at scale. He also emphasized the importance of collectively signing big contracts for the long term, pointing to a new $670 million contract for 940 Stinger missiles for Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The shoulder-fired Stinger missile was one of the first weapons the U.S. sent to Ukraine after Russias invasion in 2022. There is no way to provide strong defense without a strong defense industry, Stoltenberg said. Kathleen Hicks, the deputy defense secretary, speaks at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Washington. (Joe Gromelski/Special to Stars and Stripes) Kathleen Hicks, the deputy defense secretary, echoed the need for more large-scale, multinational procurement and stressed the urgency of accelerating the growth of NATOs collective industrial capacity and production. Adding more shifts on current production lines is not enough. We need to add more lines, build more factories and facilities, and bring more producers into the fold, she said. Make no mistake. Expanding transatlantic defense industrial capacity is not a nice-to-do. It is a need-to-do, a must-do for the NATO alliance. The Heritage Foundation building in Washington, D.C. The conservative think tank hosted an event during the NATO summit on July 9, 2024, called Not Your Grandfathers NATO. (Joe Gromelski/Special to Stars and Stripes) Blocks away from NATOs summit in downtown Washington, where heads of state are gathering this week to galvanize support for Ukraine and bolster defenses in Europe, alliance critics said Tuesday that allies are on a sugar high. Are we doing Europeans any favors by promising more than we can deliver? asked Elbridge Colby, who served as a senior Defense Department official during the administration of former President Donald Trump. Colby and a panel of China hawks speaking at a Heritage Foundation event dubbed Not Your Grandfathers NATO served up an alternative vision that clashes with the central role that the U.S. military has played in Europe since the aftermath of World War II. Their outlook has been getting attention in conservative circles and among allies of Trump, such as Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, who has been mentioned as a possible Trump running mate. The first thing that we have to recognize here is that there are absolutely trade-offs. The United States is currently still pretending like we can do everything everywhere all at once, but were living in a world of hard choices, said Wilson Beaver, a policy adviser for defense budgeting at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank. For the Heritage Foundation, the vision for NATO is one where Europeans handle the bulk of the conventional security load. While the U.S. would still provide a nuclear deterrent, large numbers of U.S. forces would be moved to address the Pentagons top priority deterring China. The foundation contends the United States is exhausting itself in its support of Ukraine, which has depleted U.S. military munitions stockpiles and distracts from preparing for possible conflict with China. Colby argued President Joe Biden or Trump will need to be ready in the next four years to deal with a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan and the first island chain, an expanse that also includes Okinawa and the Philippines and separates the East and South China Seas and the Pacific Ocean. He made his argument pointing to Beijings bellicose rhetoric and rapid military buildup. That means we dont have the luxury of time. ... I think its indisputable that were deeper in the hole than we were before. So, I think unfortunately, were going to go through a period of vulnerability, Colby said. In Europe, allies have stepped up defense expenditures, especially since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which obliterated old security assumptions on the Continent. There also is growing awareness among allies that the U.S. could be pulled in other directions, namely the Indo-Pacific region. It remains unclear how fast allies could fill in the defensive gaps left open should the U.S. military attempt a hard pivot away from Europe. The U.S. Army serves as the logistical backbone of alliance efforts across Europe and the main source of firepower on the ground. When Russian forces pushed into Ukraine in 2022, the Army was able to dispatch brigade combat teams quickly to NATOs eastern flank. Meanwhile, Germany is struggling to field a single new brigade for a much-anticipated deployment to Lithuania not expected to be completed until 2027. Colby said Europeans are going through the stages of grief as they grapple with the current security situation and build up their militaries. But given Europes economic heft the Continents collective GDP dwarfs Russia it possesses the means to do more, the China hawks argue. The United States needs focus on the Indo-Pacific. And we need our European allies to step up. And theyre perfectly capable of it, Beaver said. An inquest into Mr Kailedzis death which opened at Dublin District Coroners Court on Tuesday heard the results of a post-mortem showed he died as a result of a traumatic blunt force head injury. Charles Odilo, brother of the late James Kailedzi pictured this afternoon leaving the Dublin District Coroner's Court James Kailedzi, a former chef at a well-known Dublin Hotel, who died in his bed in March 2023 after an earlier incident in Dublin city centre. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin A hotel chef found dead in his bed after being involved in an altercation on a street in Dublin city centre last year died from a head injury, an inquest has heard. James Kailedzi (31), who came originally from Malawi, was pronounced dead at his home on Hatch Street, Dublin 2 on March 25, 2023. An inquest into Mr Kailedzis death which opened at Dublin District Coroners Court on Tuesday heard the results of a post-mortem showed he died as a result of a traumatic blunt force head injury. It is understood the deceased may have suffered the fatal head wound after falling to the ground during the incident in the early hours of March 24, 2023. Although Mr Kailedzi managed to get up and walk home, he was found dead in his bed by his friends sometime later. Gardai subsequently issued a public appeal for anyone who had been in the area of Coppinger Row and South William Street between 1.15am and 2.30am on March 24, 2023 who may have witnessed an altercation between a number of males. James Kailedzi, a former chef at a well-known Dublin Hotel, who died in his bed in March 2023 after an earlier incident in Dublin city centre. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin It is understood that the deceased had been out in Dublin city centre socialising with other friends from Malawi. Two men aged in their 20s and 30s were arrested by gardai as part of their investigation into Mr Kailedzis death but they were later released without charge. Detective Inspector Katherina Joyce applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings were being considered in the case. A solicitor for Mr Kailedzis family said the deceaseds relatives had no objection to the application. Charles Odilo, brother of the late James Kailedzi pictured this afternoon leaving the Dublin District Coroner's Court Det Insp Joyce informed the coroner, Aisling Gannon, that a file on the garda investigation into Mr Kailedzis death was with the DPP. The deceaseds brother, Charles Odilo, who lives in Co Meath, gave evidence of formally identifying his brothers body to gardai at Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall. Ms Gannon granted the application and adjourned the case for mention until December 10. At one stage during the incident Sean OHagan drove the car at her One of the worlds strongest men, recently jailed for a road rage attack, was handed an 18 month sentence yesterday for domestic assault and harassing his ex. Ordering 34-year-old Sean OHagan to serve half his sentence in jail and half on licence, Judge Paul Ramsey KC told the near seven foot tall man mountain the authorities were clear in that perpetrators of sustained domestic violence can expect to receive greater sentence to reflect the growing abhorrence of such behaviour in our society. The Newry Crown Court judge, sitting in Craigavon, told OHagan the sentence would have been 12 month but to reflect the significant aggravating factor of domestic abuse, he was increasing the global sentence to 18 months. In addition, Judge Ramsey also imposed a three year restraining order and hopefully that will provide her with some reassurance she will not be assaulted or offended against again. On the morning of his trial earlier this year OHagan, from Church View Way in Laurencetown, entered guilty pleas to two counts of common assault, two counts of criminal damage and single charges of harassment and dangerous driving, all committed between 10-15 June last year. Summarising the facts of the case during his sentencing remarks Judge Ramsey outlined that on 11 June at around 9.30pm, the victim was parked outside her home when she received a barrage of messages and calls from the defendant. Sean O'Hagan She ignored them initially but when she answered one call, OHagan was using abusive and offensive language so she hung up but half an hour later he arrived at her home and while she was still sitting in the car, OHagan began banging on the windows and trying to haul the door open with such force that he broke the handle. She got out and walked away but he pursued her and took her mobile phone, said the judge, adding that OHagan threatened to kill himself. At one stage during the incident he drove the car at her as he left the scene but two days later, he was back at her house screaming at her from the street. The victim let him in and OHagan proceeded to ransack the house and again he took her mobile from her, pushing her over and causing her to fall. She pleaded with him to go, the judges told the court but as he did go, OHagan left two puncture holes in one of her car tyres. When police tried to stop him driving away, OHagan mounted the kerb to get around them and sped away on the wrong side of the road. Judge Ramsey said he had been furnished with three reports from the defence including documents from probation, a psychiatrist and a psychologist which evidenced OHagan has a lack of insight into his offending and the whole not assessed as dangerous, he was assessed as highly likely to commit further offences. The medical reports meanwhile supported the contention that OHagan has problems with both his mental and physical health, issues which are only exacerbated by his use of steroids which in turn have lead to a downward spiral in offences. Indeed yesterday was the third time in a month that OHagan had stood in a dock in Craigavon Courthouse to be sentenced for violent offences. Sean O'Hagan On 8 June he was handed a 28 month sentence for a road rage attack after he left a man in his 50s with multiple skull and facial fractures sustained by a single blow and on the same day a different judge gave him a seven month sentence for domestic assault and child cruelty. In the Crown Court road rage case case OHagan, who recently lamented in the press that he is not a monster, entered guilty pleas to causing grievous bodily harm and attempted criminal arising from an incident on 21 July 2021 while in the petty sessions case, the international strongman competitor entered guilty pleas to child cruelty, common assault and the persistent, improper use of a telecommunication network on 28 August last year. In court Judge Ramsey said he had read a poignant victim impact statement where OHagans ex partner emphasised that his mind games and behaviour had left her feeling scared and helplessa shell of her former self and his manipulation played on her emotions. He told OHagan, who sat in the dock with his head bowed for most of the 20 minute hearing, that given the aggravating features of domestic abuse and his record, the custody threshold was clearly crossed. As the judge did not stipulate that his sentence is to be served consecutively, the 18 months will be served concurrently to the other two sentences OHagan is already serving. Sean OHagan taking part in a competition Hailing from Loughgbrickland and standing at just under 7 tall, OHagan is widely considered to be the tallest of the worlds active and competing strongmen. O'Hagan's first major success was becoming Ulster's Strongman Man in 2014 when he was 24-years-old, making him the competitions youngest winner and he followed that up by winning Ireland's Strongest Man in 2015. In 2016, O'Hagan began competing in an international strongman competition, finishing 31st in the Strongman world rankings. In 2017, he qualified for the Strongman Champions League World Finals in Mexico. After 18 matches in various locations across the globe, with his best finish being 4th, he finished 9th in the world final and jumped to 20th strongest man in the world rankings with 71 points. O'Hagan also won the 2020 World's Strongest Viking competition in Fefor, Norway. Kelsey Ann Towell (28) struck out at the officers after they broke up the fight between the two women Kelsey Ann Towell (28) spat at a garda, the court was told It took four gardai to restrain a hairdresser who spat at them when they stopped her brawling in the street with her ex-partners new girlfriend, a court has heard. Kelsey Ann Towell (28) struck out at the officers after they broke up the fight between the two women. Fining her 300 for public order offences, Judge Fiona Brennan said Towells behaviour on the day was appalling. Towell, of Drumalee Road, North Circular Road, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and failing to comply with garda directions. Garda Sergeant Maire McDevitt told Dublin District Court that on October 23, 2020, the accused was involved in a brawl with her ex-partners new girlfriend in Stoneybatter. Kelsey Ann Towell (28) spat at a garda, the court was told Children were present at the time. Gardai directed all parties to leave the area but Towell became abusive to them. She spat at a garda, making contact with their hair and clothing. Towell shouted profanities and attempted to hit and kick out at gardai. Towell, a hairdresser, was trying to get back to work but was having difficulty finding childcare and was under severe pressure, her solicitor Yvonne Bambury said. Towell was at a very low ebb when she ran into her ex-partners new girlfriend, who said something and this argument ensued, Ms Bambury said. She had ended up spending a night in garda custody. Her attitude to the gardai when they came to deal with the incident can only be described as appalling, Judge Brennan said. HUARONG, Hunan Province, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Rescue personnel successfully sealed a 226-meter breach in a dike at China's second-largest freshwater lake on Monday, according to local authorities. At 10:31 p.m., the final truckload of rocks was dumped into the breach in a dike at Dongting Lake, amidst the cheers of the rescue personnel. According to the Yueyang flood control and drought relief headquarters, the sealing will expedite drainage and post-disaster reconstruction. The breach at Dongting Lake in the city of Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, was caused by floodwaters from torrential rain, with more than 7,000 residents evacuated since the dike burst on Friday afternoon. At approximately 4 p.m. on Friday, a serious piping, an erosion-related incident, occurred at the dike. Despite emergency efforts to seal the leak, the dike failed and a breach formed. An aerial drone photo shows rescuers sealing the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Prior to the breach, Hunan Province experienced 17 consecutive days of heavy rainfall, the longest period of regional heavy rain since 1961. "The intense rainfall led to high water levels in Dongting Lake, the highest in the past four years," said Liu Guhua, an expert with the Yueyang water resources bureau. Upon receiving reports of the breach, rescue teams from various sectors quickly assembled. On Friday night, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration organized the shipment of 5,000 family emergency kits to Hunan to support the relocation and resettlement of residents affected by the flooding. As of 2 p.m. Sunday, a total of 4,739 professional rescue personnel, 469 vehicles, 318 items of equipment, 144 large equipment sets and 170 boats had been deployed to the breach site. Rescuers seal the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Meanwhile, reinforcement efforts began on an embankment located approximately 2 kilometers behind the breached dike, serving as the second line of defense. Stretching about 14.3 kilometers between two other embankments, it protects over 100,000 mu (about 6666.67 hectares) of fertile land and the homes of many residents. Tang Min, a firefighter team leader with the Yueyang fire brigade, was among the first to arrive at the second line of defense. In the past few days, the team has been stationed on the embankment, conducting thorough inspections around the clock. "Since the breach, many team members have only had a few hours of sleep. Despite several team members suffering from heatstroke due to the high temperatures, they persisted and completed their tasks," Tang said. At 1 p.m. Saturday, efforts to seal the breach commenced. A strategy was devised to first stabilize the edges of the breach to prevent further expansion. The plan also included widening the unloading platform to ensure smooth material delivery and implementing measures such as alternating shifts and continuous machine operation to maintain high-intensity sealing efforts. "We were progressing at a speed of 60 to 80 meters per day," said Zhang Xuanzhuang with the China Anneng Group First Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. An aerial drone photo shows rescuers sealing the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) At the moment the breach was sealed, cheers erupted at a vocational school relocation site in Huarong County. Among those celebrating was 42-year-old Lu Lin from affected Tuanbei Village, who had been glued to her phone since arriving at the relocation site early on Saturday, even checking the progress of the dike closure during meals. Huarong County has established four relocation sites in the county seat, each equipped with ample daily necessities and medical support services, as well as air-conditioners and fans to combat the summer heat. As of Saturday, a total of 7,680 people who needed to be relocated had been safely evacuated, with no casualties reported, and all have been properly resettled. "My parents were among the builders of the damaged dike, with each shovelful of soil and stone carried on their shoulders. Now the dike has been sealed, we can rebuild our homes again. As long as it remains, our roots are here," Lu said. Editor: GSY Less than 24 hours before, they were captured on CCTV holding hands as they did their weekly shopping A security guard with no history of violence or mental illness who strangled his fiancee during a psychotic episode has been found not guilty of her murder by reason of insanity. Andrei Dobra (36) had enjoyed a loving and devoted relationship with Ioana Mihaela Pacala and less than 24 hours before killing her, they were captured on CCTV holding hands as they did their weekly shopping. Two consultant psychiatrists agreed that Mr Dobra developed psychotic delusions that caused him to believe Ms Pacala was a threat to him and when he strangled her, he did not know that his actions were wrong. Mr Dobra, with an address at Riverwalk Court, Fairyhouse Road in Ratoath, Co Meath, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering Ms Pacala in the home they shared on November 12, 2022. A jury of six men and six women took one hour and 44 minutes to reach their unanimous verdict. Ms Justice Melanie Greally exempted them from further jury duty for five years. "This case centres on the loss of a very young life that was full of promise," she told the jury. "So all our sympathies go to her family." Ms Justice Greally remanded Mr Dobra to the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital in Portrane. He will be assessed by an approved medical officer who will provide a report to the court on July 19 outlining whether Mr Dobra requires continuing treatment for his mental illness. Andrei Dobra at Trim District Court Before the jury began their deliberations, Sean Guerin SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told them that Ms Pacala's death had been an "immense tragedy for her family, friends and everyone who knew her". He reminded the jury of CCTV evidence showing Mr Dobra and Ms Pacala "holding hands in an affectionate and loving way" while carrying out the mundane business of shopping one day before the killing. There is some mystery as to how the killing came to pass, Mr Guerin said, but Mr Dobra accepts that he strangled Ms Pacala to death. There is no suggestion that she threatened him or that there was a fight. The evidence of two psychiatrists called by the defence and prosecution was that Mr Dobra was suffering from a mental disorder at the time. They both came to the conclusion that due to his mental disorder, Mr Dobra had a delusional belief that he was under threat from Ms Pacala and therefore did not know that killing her was wrong. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC told the jury that Ms Pacala had lost her life without explanation or justification and not as a result of anything she had done. The evidence the jury heard was of a couple who were devoted to one another and planning their lives together. "Tragically, mental illness intervened," counsel said, "and labouring under a mental disorder he took Mihaela's life." Ms Justice Greally told the jury there is no doubt that Mr Dobra's actions were responsible for his fiancee's death. Dr Brenda Wright and Professor Patricia Casey agreed that Mr Dobra held a delusional belief that Ms Pacala posed some threat to him. They found that he therefore did not understand that his actions in killing her were wrong and qualified for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Trial Consultant psychiatrist Prof Casey said that during six interviews she carried out with Mr Dobra, he was "courteous, polite, gentle and respectful". She said he deeply regretted killing Ms Pacala, was in shock and struggled to remember or understand his own actions. Having looked into Mr Dobra's background, Prof Casey said she found no history of engagement with mental health services or the legal system. He had lived a "very stable, normal life", she said, and there was "nothing in his past to indicate a history of violence or criminality". Prof Casey described Mr Dobra as well-educated he achieved two university degrees in Romania before coming to Ireland "to better himself" in 2015. He found work as an administrator at Cappagh Hospital and as a security guard in Templebar, jobs that enabled him and Mihaela to buy a house together. The evidence Prof Casey gleaned from those who knew the couple was that they were "very committed to one another, they were very much in love and ideally suited to one another". Her family had "no concerns about any aspect of their relationship", the professor said. In the months leading up to the killing, he had become stressed and anxious about work and about his ability to pay for his new home. He took time off work and went to a GP for help. He began to suffer "fleeting thoughts" or "partial delusions" that Mihaela's family were trying to prevent them from marrying and that they would sell his home and take the money. He also became concerned about "some kind of spirit in the house" and thought about getting a priest in for a blessing. He was having difficulty sleeping and complained of hearing noises in the night, she said. He had further delusions that Mihaela wanted him to die and he had become suspicious about her giving him tablets that had been prescribed by his GP for hypertension. In the hours before the killing, friends and family who spoke to Mr Dobra and Ms Pacala described him as appearing extremely unwell and sweating heavily. Prof Casey diagnosed Mr Dobra with schizoaffective psychosis. At the time of the killing, she said, he believed his life was in danger and he therefore did not know that what he was doing was wrong. Dr Wright, a consultant psychiatrist, told Carl Hanahoe BL, for the prosecution, that in her view Mr Dobra was experiencing a major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms. She said it is highly probable that he was acting under the delusional belief that his life was in danger and believed his actions were morally justified by the need to defend himself. He did not understand that what he was doing was wrong, Dr Wright concluded. Roxana Devan told the trial that she knew Mr Dobra for a number of years and described him as a happy person. He and Ms Pacala were a hardworking couple, she said. They had moved into their new home shortly prior to Ms Pacala's death but in the week leading up to the killing, she said Mr Dobra was suffering from stress. Both he and Mihaela said they heard strange noises in the house, "like some entity or something like that". Ms Devan brought Mr Dobra to a GP some days prior to the killing because he was complaining of feeling depressed and unwell. The day before the killing, Ms Devan noted that Mr Dobra was sweating heavily, "looking kind of weird, very unusual" and was not speaking. On the day of the killing, Ms Devan received a call from Ms Pacala's family in Romania. They had been speaking to Mr Dobra, who told them that Ms Pacala was unconscious and they wanted to get an ambulance to the house. Ms Devan phoned emergency services to direct them and then phoned Mr Dobra. She asked to speak to Ms Pacala but he told her: "You can't be talking to her because I think she is dead." Undated family handout photo issued by An Garda Siochana of Ioana Mihaela Pacala When she asked what he meant, he told her he had a dream that he was killing Ms Pacala, that he woke up from the dream next to her and saw she was dead. Gda Michael Fitzpatrick was one of the first to respond to Ms Devan's emergency call at about 6pm. He met Mr Dobra inside the entrance to his apartment and found him to be "extremely calm, emotionless, just standing at the top of the stairs looking down towards us." Mr Dobra led gardai into a bedroom where Ms Pacala was lying dead on her back on the bed, fully clothed and with blood in her mouth. Mr Dobra remained "completely compliant" with a blank, vacant, and detached expression, the garda said. "He presented as unusual to me considering what I had just found in the bedroom". When asked what had happened, Mr Dobra told Gda Fitzpatrick: "She gave me tablets to drink and then I don't remember." State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster examined the deceased's body and found that the cause of death was asphyxia and strangulation. Bruising to the neck was consistent with a ligature or an arm lock and possible manual strangulation. There were further scratches consistent with an attempt by Ms Pacala to release the pressure during the course of strangulation. Chief Executive, Rachel Morrogh said the public now wants reassurance from Government that the safeguards that are in place for their safety are optimal, resourced and working. Dublin Rape Crisis Centre CEO Rachel Morrogh has thanked the women who were raped by Dublin taxi driver Raymond Shorten for coming forward, describing him as a predator who raped young and vulnerable people who trusted him. Shorten (50) who was convicted last month of raping two young women in his taxi on separate nights in 2022, was also convicted today of raping a seven-year-old girl 12 years ago. Shorten, 50, and from Melrose Crescent in Clondalkin in Dublin, was 37 when he raped the child twice and was also convicted of sexually assaulting her. The now 20-year-old woman indicated she wished for Shorten to be named, but to retain her anonymity. The Central Criminal Court was told Shorten had been known to her family at the time. In a statement today, Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh said it was sickening to learn that Shorten had also been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old child more than a decade ago. All these cases are absolutely horrifying in their own rights, she continued. The common thread is that Shorten leveraged power imbalances to rape young and vulnerable people who trusted him. Shorten is a predator but he was also a taxi driver who used his place of work to commit some of the sexual offences of which he has been found guilty. Taxis are a vital and trusted way for people to move about, particularly at night time and should remain so. "I think the public will want reassurance from Government that the safeguards that are in place for their safety are optimal, that they are resourced and that they are working. I want to recognise the fact that because Shorten pleaded not-guilty in all these cases, this has added a further burden on his victims. They had to go through the ordeal of a trial process which can include cross-examination, delivering testimony and delays in the process. The fact that there has been another conviction is very positive and welcome. We send our best wishes to the three young women who are survivors of his violence and we thank them for their bravery in coming forward, which can be a hugely difficult, lonely process. For anyone who has been affected by this issue either directly or indirectly, I want them to know that Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day for support over the phone. The National Rape Crisis Helpline 1800 778888 is fully confidential and we can help you explore your options in your own time and according to your own wishes." The court heard how the incidents in relation to the child came to light after the girl left a handwritten note on her grandmother's pillow in 2020 saying Shorten had sexually abused her. She was interviewed by specialist gardai in early 2021. The court heard today that Shorten raped the young girl for the first time in the days after her mother's funeral. She was seven or eight when the second rape occurred. Shorten later sexually assaulted the girl in a car by touching her leg inappropriately. Shorten denied any wrongdoing when he was interviewed by gardai in 2021. He described the first incident of rape as 110pc lies and said he was mystified by the allegations. Shorten gave evidence in his own defence during this trial and denied the allegations, saying they were a total fabrication. Shorten was convicted of two counts of rape and one of anal rape by a jury at the Central Criminal Court last month and is due to be sentenced in relation to these charges later this month. He has eight previous convictions, including five for road traffic offences. A victim impact statement was read to the court by prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small SC. The young woman said she was severely taken advantage of by Shorten, whom she never liked. She said he always creeped me out and she didn't want to go near him. She said she was terrified and didn't understand what was happening. One part of me knew what he done to me was not right and couldnt be right, but another part thought it must be right because why else would an adult man do that to a seven-year-old, she said. The woman described the effect of the abuse on her, including issues with sleep, self-harm, suicidal ideation and strong emotional outbursts when she was younger. She said she felt angry about the sexual abuse but couldn't comprehend what had happened to her. She said she was terrified to be left alone with a male teacher, in case they'd do the same with me. She said it was only when she started sex education in school at the age of 14 that she realised what Shorten did to her was wrong. She outlined suffering with panic attacks in recent years, describing weeks where I would have one panic attack every 20 minutes. I thought I was going to die. She said she was relieved when she was told the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had decided to prosecute Shorten but was terrified of the process. She said when Shorten was convicted, she felt she'd finally found the beginning of the end. She said Shorten should have protected me, not abused me. Ms Small told the court that the DPP's view is that the case falls into the more serious category for sentencing, meriting a headline sentence of between 10 and 15 years. She noted the aggravating features include the age difference between Shorten and the girl, and her young age and vulnerability at the time. Lorcan Staines SC, defending, said his client does not accept responsibility for the offences. Counsel said Shorten had a long work history, initially in a factory, then as a milkman before working as a taxi driver. Shorten is a father of seven children and hopes to rebuild his relationship with them in future. He has also lost his marriage and relationship with his parents. Shorten has been working in the prison laundry while in custody and is on an enhanced prisoner regime. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo adjourned this case for finalisation on July 19. Three days later on July 22, Shorten is due to be sentenced in relation to the three taxi rape charges. Shorten had pleaded not guilty to the rape and anal rape of a 19-year-old woman on June 26, 2022, and to the rape of another woman, then aged 20, a couple of months later on August 9. Each young woman separately found themselves in a taxi after a night out socialising and drinking in Dublin city centre, where they were raped by the driver, Shorten. Helplines: If you have been affected by the contents of this article, click here for more information. Mr. OGrady concealed these criminal proceedings from us until June 2024 Ronan O Grady pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for his sentence hearing. pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie An Irish banker continued to work for a major international corporation months after being convicted of sex offences. Ronan OGrady (33) a financier at Goldman Sachs, was sacked in June after his employer learned he had pleaded guilty in February to sexually assaulting his niece on numerous occasions, between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. O'Grady, of Hosack Road, London, England, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexual abuse of Keely O'Grady, at various locations in Co Offaly. It has now emerged Offaly native OGrady had been working as a wealth adviser at Goldmans London-based offices since 2017 and failed to inform them of his legal troubles this year, according to a report in the Financial Times. Mr OGrady concealed these criminal proceedings from us until June 2024, despite being required to disclose them, Goldman Sachs spokesperson Tony Fratto told The New York Post on Tuesday. His employment ended within days of us becoming aware. Goldman Sachs managers were shocked to learn of Mr OGradys appalling past offences. He is no longer employed by the firm. Our thoughts are with the victim, Mr Fratto added. Peterborough Court is London HQ of US investment bank, Goldman Sachs OGrady received two years in prison for abusing his niece Keely when she was six years old and he was 13. The abuse occurred primarily at Ms O'Grady's grandparents' home in Mucklagh when she was being minded and where O'Grady was living with his parents at the time. It also occurred in her own home in Tullamore when he was babysitting her. His parents her grandparents continue to support him in court. On at least one occasion, Ronan OGradys friend hid in a closet and recorded some of the assaults on his phone. Ms O'Grady waived her right to anonymity so her uncle could be named. In a statement issued to the media after the sentence was handed down, she said there is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland and the country needs to more to protect its victims. Sentencing O'Grady, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that people who might have offered support to the young woman when she came forward about the abuse had instead been dismissive of the deep trauma caused by (the abuse). The entire family relationship has been disrupted as often happens in such situations where the abused child is blamed by some for speaking up on the terrible crimes committed upon her, the judge said. The judge noted a Probation Services report found O'Grady had demonstrated little insight or remorse. He maintained that he was very young himself at the time of the offending. The judge noted that while he was 13 years old when the abuse started, it continued for a prolonged period of time, ending when he was 17 years old. He noted O'Grady is talented and well-educated. I have no doubt he knew what he was doing was seriously wrong, the judge said. He noted O'Grady had pleaded guilty to eight separate and serious offences of sexual assault of his niece. He said this was a clear and unambiguous acceptance of his guilt and the truth of the matter. The court heard the abuse involved O'Grady repeatedly touching his niece inappropriately, penetrating her digitally, making her perform oral sex on him, humping her and showing her pornography. In her victim impact statement which she read out in court, Ms O'Grady, now aged 26, said it has been 20 years since her uncle first started abusing her. Mucklagh, Offaly She showed a framed photo of herself aged six to the court, saying: I was a cheery, happy friendly child, which it makes it harder for me to accept that that little six-year-old was hiding everything that happened to her. The court heard that Ms O'Grady started suffering from flashbacks when she was 18 and got in touch with O'Grady on social media to tell him she remembered what he had done. He wrote back: I remember too. I hope you're OK. He added that he was young and stupid at the time. But despite these admissions, O'Grady maintained his innocence and fought the charges until his Central Criminal Court trial was about to start, when he entered the guilty pleas. Ms O'Grady said she has suffered with depression, severe anxiety, stress, paranoia and self-harm as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of O'Grady. In her victim impact statement, she said he was a manipulator who manipulated everyone around him and continued to lie about the abuse, even after he confirmed it in his social media messages to her. I have lost family because of you, she said. She said it was particularly hurtful having to tell her grandfather about the abuse and that she was then left wondering why he was protecting his son and not her. She said she was asked by family members if she was sure she wanted to pursue the case and was told to move on with her life. Being told to move on is the highest insult, she said. Because that is what I am doing and I'm doing it as I process the abuse. She said she had been abused in her grandparents' home where she should have been safe, and by someone she should have been safe with. He manipulated everyone around me, she said, adding she was the one made to feel like she was on trial. But Ronan O'Grady is the criminal here, not me. Ms O'Grady's grandparents have stood by their son and were in court to support him, along with his partner. The court heard O'Grady worked in finance in Canada before moving to London. Mr Justice McDermott said that had he been sentencing O'Grady as an adult, he would have set a headline sentence of eight years. He reduced it to a headline sentence of three years and six months, noting O'Grady was a juvenile at the time of the offending. He further reduced this to two years, taking a number of mitigating factors into account, including O'Grady's lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas and the fact he has been assessed as at a low risk of re-offending. The judge declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting O'Grady's stated intention to return to the UK once he has served his sentence. He backdated it to Monday, when he went into custody. In a statement issued to media after the sentence, Ms O'Grady said: I want survivors to know that I see you and I see the daily battle you have every day to fight for yourself. Whatever is holding you back, whether thats fear or family influence, I want you to know you can get through this. Every child deserves a safe place free from abuse. I want change - I want change not only for myself but for every survivor. There is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland and no one is talking about it. Ireland needs to do better to protect our children. Arakas who served time in Ireland for conspiracy to murder Hutch associate James Mago Gately has continued to give interviews behind bars denying any involvement in serious crime. International hitman Imre Arakas is facing two murder trials in Lithuania and a court has heard that he is accused of killing of an MMA fighter as well as a celebrity gangster. Arakas who served time in Ireland for conspiracy to murder Hutch associate James Mago Gately has continued to give interviews behind bars denying any involvement in serious crime. Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about the suspected cold-blooded killer who moonlights as a fisherman. MORE EPISODES Mark Carroll (34) was killed outside a house in Finglas last month Gardai are investigating whether a convicted killer who is suspected of stabbing a Dublin man to death last month has fled to Manchester. Officers have been hunting for the 30-year-old, who is believed to have left Ireland shortly after the murder of Mark Carroll (34). Mr Carroll was stabbed several times outside a house in the Scribblestown area of Finglas, in the early hours of Sunday, June 9. He is the only suspect in this murder case and is suspected of now staying with some very close associates of his in England where he has spent time before, a source said. He is suspected of fleeing to Manchester not long after the murder. The expectation is that he will be arrested sooner rather than later and gardai are monitoring the situation very closely. He is a local criminal who has previously been jailed for killing a woman. Gardai investigate if volatile and dangerous stabbing murder suspect has fled The suspect has links to a number of serious gangland criminals based in the Finglas area. He is described as extremely volatile and dangerous by several sources and has also been the victim of gangland-related violence himself. Since the attack, armed gardai have been searching for the suspect, but there has been no sign of him. Mr Carroll, who was not involved in crime, was a father of four. He was stabbed three times by a man who then fled. Emergency services were alerted to Collins Place in Scribblestown at about 1am on the morning of the incident and Mr Carroll was found with serious injuries. He was treated at the scene before being taken to James Connolly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The chief suspect for the stabbing was released from prison last year after serving a sentence for killing a woman and has been the victim of an assault since walking free from jail. It is understood the fatal stabbing happened after an argument developed between the suspect and Mr Carroll. A post-mortem examination has been completed by State Pathologist Margot Bolster, while examinations of the scene were being carried out by the Garda Technical Bureau. Mr Carrolls funeral mass took place last month at Saint Canices Church in Finglas. Many tributes have been paid on social media to the victim, whose death notice reads that he was a loving father to Cole, Cali, Priya, and Caelan, beloved son of Kevin and Michelle, and cherished brother of Kevin and Adam. The notice added: Mark will be forever loved and remembered by his family. He will also be dearly missed by his niece Brooke, nephews Kason and Koby, his brothers partners Carla and Kate, his mothers husband Eddie, his fathers wife Catherine, as well as by his aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, neighbours, friends, and all who knew and loved him. Tori Towey (28) suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment, according to the group Detained in Dubai. AN IRISH woman has been banned from leaving Dubai and is facing criminal charges after she was allegedly attacked in her home. Tori Towey (28) suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment, according to Detained in Dubai. The advocacy group have urged the Irish government to intervene to have the charges against her dropped and to allow her to travel home. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai described the case and the travel ban against Ms Towey as outrageous. Toris experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive, added Stirling who has helped in numerous domestic violence cases including that of Princess Latifa. Tori Towey Its amazing that authorities did not intervene for Toris protection, given the state her body was in when she was hospitalised the first time. Worse than failing her, authorities in Dubai actually travel-banned her and kept her in the country when she was trying to get away. The UAE used to charge rape victims with sex outside marriage. Now theyre charging domestic violence victims with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption. We are calling on Dubai authorities to urgently drop the charges against Tori, remove the travel ban and let her fly home to Ireland with her mother. We are also calling on Irelands Prime Minister Simon Harris, the head of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin, Ambassador Alison Milton and local TDs, Michael Fitzmaurice, Claire Kerrane & Denis Naughten as well as the UAEs Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mohammed Hmoud Hamad Rahma Alshamsi to help bring Tori home. The 28-year-old Emirates Airlines cabin crew employee, now faces lengthy imprisonment in jails which are notorious for human rights abuses and torture, according to Detained in Dubai. Tori from Boyle in Co Roscommon made the move to Dubai in April 2023 when she was offered a job with Emirates Airlines. Emirates Airlines gave her time off work to recover after she suffered the injuries at her home, it was added. Photo: Tori Towey The human rights campaigners said that when replacing her passport, Ms Towey found out there was a travel ban against her but wasnt sure why. She arranged to fly home to Ireland but when she arrived at the airport, was told a case against her had been dropped but the travel ban remained. She attended the police station who assured her the travel ban would be lifted but it never happened. She was stuck. Tori was told nothing could be done and that the cases against her were going to court on the 18th of July, according to Detained in Dubai. The UAE has gone to great public relations efforts to promote alcohol as legal in the country. In reality, people are still regularly charged with alcohol consumption and possession, said Stirling. This photo shows the exact final location where Jay Slaters phone pinged in Tenerife, after it emerges he was woken by an early morning doorbell. The image shows the valley where Jays phone pinged that day at 08:49 / 08:50. The photo is taken from the road and his yellow pin was dropped roughly 50-75 metres further into the bushes. The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer has not been seen since he went to a remote AirBnB at Masca, an hour from the party resort of Playa de las Americas on June 17, in the Parque Rural de Teno with two men. Final GPS location of Jay's phone The mysterious spot was revealed as it emerges that Jay was woken that fateful day by an early morning wake-up call. Two local people knocked on the door of the Airbnb where Jay spent the night, waking him up by pressing the annoying buzzer. This is according to the latest information provided by investigative detective, Mark Williams-Thomas. The award-winning reporter tracked down the men who Jay spent the night with, in order to get a more detailed account of events. New information has now emerged from his investigation. "The men who took Jay back were key people to speak to, Mr Williams- Thomas said. "I have spoken in some detail with one of the two men who took Jay back to his rental. Ayub Qassim who was known as Johnny Vegas. Ayub Qassim and Jay Slater "I have identified the other male. Ayub has provided me with his account of what he says happened on the morning of June 17. "He said he was on the strip, Jay wanted to carry on partying, and he said he had nowhere to stay. "So he said he could come back to his. They played music and chatted in the car. "He says they stopped for a drink at a cafe just prior to entering the mountains. He was driving, his friend was in the passenger seat and Jay was in the back. Final GPS location The group were exhausted by the time they arrived in the village of Masca. Jay went to sleep but was reportedly woken by two local people. "On arrival at the rental, his friend opened the door and went straight to sleep, Jay walked in behind. They went upstairs, Mr Williams-Thomas said. "Ayub said; The sofa is yours. Here is a blanket and a towel, you can have a shower if you want. "Jay asked for a cigarette, Ayub said I have camel cigarettes and put one on the side. "Jay then asked for a phone charger. He said go to my friends room, hes asleep, you can take his charger and you can put your phone on charge. There was no charge point by the sofa. Mark Williams-Thomas "Ayub says he goes to sleep and was woken by a buzzer. The doorbell had surprised Jay, who did not know what it was and found it disruptive. Ayub says he comes down the stairs and and Jay says what is that annoying noise? "Which was the door bell. Ayub says he opens the door and speaks to a woman and a man and they gesture that he needed to move his car. "He says he gets in his car and then he looks in the rear view mirror and sees Jay talking to a woman. "Jay has his trainers on as though hes about to leave. According to Ayub, Jay then said he needed breakfast. "Then having moved the car, Jay says the woman says I can get a bus every ten minutes, Williams-Thomas revealed. "Ayub says mate just chill out, I will drop you off in town when I wake up properly. Final GPS location "He went nah, nah, nah Im hungry, I need to get scran (food), the woman told me I can get a bus every 10 minute into Los Cristianos. "Ayub replied theres no bus coming, this is my green door if you need me. He shuts the door and Jay walks away. "He then says he gets a call from a friend of Jay who says he is in a ditch and has been cut by a cactus. Mr Williams-Thomas then said that he has uncovered a darker side to what takes place in Tenerife. "The evidence supports Jay left the Airbnb suddenly, walked for thirty minutes before wandering off road where at 08:50 he dropped a location pin. "However, the result of our digging has uncovered an established criminal network with link to drugs, violent crime and theft. The Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina in Masca which Jay Slater travelled to (James Manning/PA) "I cannot expand any further. I cant say if this network is linked to Jays disappearance but we remain open-minded. The revelations from the private detective come just as Jays father Warren told reporters that international police may soon be needed. We need to, as a full family, do a proper press conference and ask the British authorities to help. He's a British citizen. Get Interpol involved, Warren told the Daily Mail. It's just us. I haven't got a team. We need a team to come over here and find out for us what the police are doing and what we need to do. Our hands are tied over here, we need experts. How long can you stay here for? It'll take an army 10 years to cover all this. I'd employ a team of Gurkhas. I've been through 80pc of that valley, so we went further along. We've driven and we've walked down the path at the next village, up the mountain there's a viewpoint that looks down, you can either follow the road, but we didn't, we parked up and walked down. It doesn't make sense, he's either hid himself, but why would he hide himself? Or he's just .? Warren and Jays brother, Zak, along with other family members, have scoured much of the locality. We've done the valley where his ping was, we've gone up the road to a vantage point, there's cliffs there and there's a valley and a village there. All I'm thinking is common sense, would you try and walk through there. Where we've been today you can see there's a hiker's path with proper stones. We've gone straight down, and you end up in the village, Warren said. Jays dad then indicated what he would have done if he was in Jays apparent predicament. I'd go into the first building you see. Ideal spot for shelter is that little cave isn't it, get a bit of shade, you're hung over, get your head down in there. The police are convinced that's where his last ping were. From the Airbnb, he's a fit lad, 25 minutes you can get to the top, to where the cafe is. If he's followed the road and been where we've been today, it's took him an hour and a half. Dozens of cars would have gone past him. We got here at 9am and the 10am bus passed us. And it would have passed him. I've been up here three weeks and I've never seen as many cars. We've been on two wild goose chases yesterday to abandoned buildings, Warren added. Some have suggested Jays phone may have been thrown from the road, adding to the rumours surrounding the case. Magdalena Sado, who appeared on the show's third season in 2021, was arrested after flying into Londons Heathrow Airport from Dubai A woman who starred in the Polish version of the hit TV show Love Island has admitted her role in one of the UKs largest-ever cocaine smuggling operations. Magdalena Sado, who appeared on the show's third season in 2021, was arrested after flying into Londons Heathrow Airport from Dubai as part of an investigation codenamed Operation Matrix. She later appeared in Carlisle Crown Court on Friday, where she pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle the Class A drug into the UK between March 2022 and May of last year. Carlisle Crown Court heard how huge amounts of cocaine were imported into the UK before being distributed nationwide by an organised crime gang. Sadlo is now facing jail for her role in the 62 million drug-smuggling gang that was blown apart after police seized 1kg of cocaine in Cumbria last year. That bust, along with phones that helped provide evidence of the scale of the operation and the key suspects including Sado, led to nine men receiving jail sentences totalling more than 106 years in March. The Love Island star described herself at the time of her TV appearance as living in London and being a spontaneous, self-confident blonde who you can count on. She added that she had previously stolen another woman's boyfriend and was put into the show's Casa Amor where she was to try and lure male contestants away from their partners. But she was voted off the show after viewers complained about her scary lips and looking like she fell into a beehive. According to her LinkedIn page, Sado later went into sales before co-founding a luxury yacht rental company in Dubai at the beginning of 2024. Sadlo, who was previously registered at an address in Ingleton, Bracknell, Berkshire, has now been remanded in custody until sentencing later this year. Prosecutor Tim Evans told the sentencing hearing: This is Amazon-style drug-dealing with that level of organisation and commerciality about it. Emergency services found the body of Fintan McDwyer at a property in Fallowfield, Manchester, on the morning of Monday, July 1 A man has been charged with the murder of a gentle giant Irishman in the UK. Direece Roche (30) of Longsight is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court later today. He was arrested on Sunday, July 7 and taken into custody ahead of questioning, almost one week after emergency services found the body of Fintan McDwyer at a property in Fallowfield, Manchester, on the morning of Monday, July 1. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers believe that a violent assault took place inside the property. A murder investigation was launched after emergency services were called to the house at 8.50am on Monday. Officers believe the "violent assault" took place at the property and Mr McDwyer suffered fatal injuries caused by a "sharp instrument", Greater Manchester Police said. Detectives are continuing to appeal for information. They want to speak to anyone who saw an individual dressed all in black, wearing a balaclava, near the scene of the attack. If you have any information or footage that could assist our investigation into this incident, please contact GMP on 0161 856 5415 quoting log 695 of 1/7/24, police said. A dedicated portal has been set up and information, CCTV, dashcam, doorbell and phone images and footage can be submitted through the Major Incident Public Portal on mipp.police.uk. You can also report information via www.gmp.police.uk or through the independent charity Crimestoppers - anonymously on 0800 555 111. His family has since paid tribute to Mr McDwyer, describing him as a "gentle giant" with a "wonderful sense of humour". "Fintan was our own gentle giant, with a calm and reassuring presence, they said. "He had the most wonderful, soft, Irish lilt. "He was a true gentleman, had a wonderful sense of humour, and always had a twinkle in his eye. "There isn't anyone who would say a bad word about Fintan, and it breaks our hearts that he has been denied years to be with his sons and grandchildren." Monday, July 1 was the day that we lost our dad, grandad, brother and uncle and our lives have since been turned upside down. Our hearts are broken and will remain forever so, but the love we learned from Fintan will give us the strength to try and move forwards in our life without him. Mr McDwyers wife Tracy died 20 years ago, his family confirmed. She would be so proud of Fintan for the way he brought up his family, they said. He was a quiet man, who was very shy with such a dry sense of humour that we all loved so much. He will never be forgotten, and he will continue to hold a very special place in our hearts. "We always know he will be watching over us. Detective Inspector Lee Shaw said: "This is a shocking murder of a much-loved family man. "As the investigation progresses at pace, we have specially trained officers who have been deployed to support them and keep them updated throughout the investigation." Tori Towey (28) suffered severe bruising and other injuries after she was allegedly attacked in her home The Taoiseach has said he is ready to intervene in the case of Irish woman Tori Towey who is facing criminal charges and is banned from leaving Dubai in what he called the most appalling circumstances. Tori Towey (28) suffered severe bruising and other injuries that required hospital treatment after she was allegedly attacked in her home, according to Detained in Dubai. The advocacy group has urged the Irish Government to intervene to have the charges against her dropped and to allow her to travel home. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai described the case and the travel ban against Ms Towey as outrageous. Toris experience is nothing short of tragic and quite frankly, she is lucky to be alive, added Stirling who has helped in numerous domestic violence cases including that of Princess Latifa. Tori Towey Its amazing that authorities did not intervene for Toris protection, given the state her body was in when she was hospitalised the first time. Worse than failing her, authorities in Dubai actually travel-banned her and kept her in the country when she was trying to get away. The UAE used to charge rape victims with sex outside marriage. Now theyre charging domestic violence victims with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption. We are calling on Dubai authorities to urgently drop the charges against Tori, remove the travel ban and let her fly home to Ireland with her mother. We are also calling on Irelands Prime Minister Simon Harris, the head of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin, Ambassador Alison Milton and local TDs, Michael Fitzmaurice, Claire Kerrane & Denis Naughten as well as the UAEs Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mohammed Hmoud Hamad Rahma Alshamsi to help bring Tori home. The 28-year-old Emirates Airlines cabin crew employee, now faces lengthy imprisonment in jails which are notorious for human rights abuses and torture, according to Detained in Dubai. Tori from Boyle in Co Roscommon made the move to Dubai in April 2023 when she was offered a job with Emirates Airlines. Emirates Airlines gave her time off work to recover after she suffered the injuries at her home, it was added. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dail today that Ms Towey has been the victim of domestic violence and is subject to a travel ban over alleged charges. She said she has spoken to Ms Towey, and that her mother has travelled to Dubai to be with her. "Tori wants to come home, simple as that. She is a Roscommon woman and she wants to come home," she said. "I am asking now, as a matter of absolute urgency, that we have a statement from this House, that you intervene Taoiseach, that the ambassador is called and that it is made absolutely plain to the authorities of Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way, and an Irish citizen, an Irish woman will not be treated in this way." Mr Harris responded saying he was not aware of Ms Towey's case, and thanked Ms McDonald for bringing it to his attention and that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin. He pledged to work "to intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen in what sounds to be, based on what you tell me, the most appalling circumstances". Photo: Tori Towey According to Detained in Dubai, Ms Towey found out there was a travel ban against her when replacing her passport, but wasnt sure why. She arranged to fly home to Ireland but when she arrived at the airport, was told a case against her had been dropped but the travel ban remained. She attended the police station who assured her the travel ban would be lifted but it never happened. She was stuck, said Stirling. Tori was told nothing could be done and that the cases against her were going to court on the 18th of July, according to Detained in Dubai. The UAE has gone to great public relations efforts to promote alcohol as legal in the country. In reality, people are still regularly charged with alcohol consumption and possession, added Stirling. Michael J (Mike) Gallagher had been living a cinematic adventure his family have said An 87-year-old American tourist who died last month while driving a quad bike on Achill Island had been living a cinematic adventure his family have said. The funeral of Michael J (Mike) Gallagher who was killed on the slip road to Purteen Harbour on June 30 is taking place this Friday in his native San Francisco. Mr Gallagher had been visiting relatives in the area when the incident occurred. He died at the scene despite efforts to save him. According to his death notice, he was on his way to another fishing excursion when the accident happened It said that Michael who had a passion for food, wine, the sea and people to share it with had been living a cinematic adventure. Born in San Francisco in May 1937 to Edward and Ellen Kate (nee Brett), he was the second eldest of twelve children. He is survived by his wife, Heather Reynolds, his children Eamonn and Maura, granddaughter Stella Rose and his remaining siblings Jim, Danny, Mary and Teresa. His remains have since been returned to San Francisco and funeral mass will be celebrated at St Peters and Paul Church this Friday at 1pm local time (5am Irish time). In one tribute posted online, Mike was described as a strong, colourful, San Francisco character. It was always good to see him, wherever it was, the post added. Another person wrote: Thank you Mike for taking me sailing on San Francisco Bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge, for your smiles, fun and liveliness. You will not be forgotten. An inquest into Mr. Gallaghers death will be held by the Coroner for the District of Mayo at a later date. One local man described the incident as terribly sad. People are very shocked and troubled by this. Its terribly sad and shocking, he said. Achill has seen more than its fair share of tragedy. Gardai had earlier appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them. Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Keel on Achill Island between 1pm and 2pm and who may have camera footage, including dashcam footage, is asked to make contact with gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport garda station on 098 50230 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. John McNamara, health and safety specialist with Teagasc, offered his sympathies to the family of the man who died in Achill and said his advice regarding quad bikes was general in nature and not related to one particular incident. Mr McNamara said quad bikes are the most dangerous mobile piece of equipment in Ireland in relation to the number of machines and the related fatal accidents. We would encourage farmers to get training and to always wear a helmet, he said. Older farmers who maybe have an issue with their mobility and they use quads to get around the farm. "There are advantages, but then you have older farmers driving quads that require a lot of agility and there are age-related hazards when it comes to managing quads. You should never have a child on a quad. Absolutely never. You need one driver. You should never have a person with you on a quad. There are a wide variety of accidents that can occur due to the terrain they cover. They (quads) are basically a motorbike they can be throttled up and driven very fast. Hitting a corner then becomes very dangerous. Speed is crucial to mention in terms of keeping the quad bike under control. The warning will take effect from 4am on Tuesday until 4am on Wednesday Met Eireann has issued a yellow rain warning for 18 counties, with torrential rain bringing the risk of localised flooding in most counties. The warning will take effect from 4am on Tuesday until 4am on Wednesday, with rain becoming persistent and heavy at times. All of Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford are under the 24-hour rain warning. Potential impacts include localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility, Met Eireann said. 7 Day Weather Forecast: 8th - 14th July 2024 Rain in Munster and South Leinster will spread northwards this morning and extend into Ulster. Today is forecast to be a washout for much of the country but parts of the west will avoid the worst of the deluges. The rainfall is set to continue throughout the day and might become heavy in parts of Leinster and Ulster. Temperatures are expected to range between 13 and 18C. Tonight, rain will remain over Ulster, north Connacht and the northern half of Leinster, with temperatures dropping to 8 to 11C. Meanwhile, the south of the country will enjoy drier conditions as clear spells might develop in Munster. Another very warm day on Wednesday with highest temperatures of 20C, before a clear and dry night of 13C. Keeping in line with much of the week, Wednesday will have outbreaks of rain and drizzle through much of the day. A mix of cloud, sunny spells and well scattered showers elsewhere, with the best of the sunshine to be enjoyed in Munster and Connacht. Temperatures will continue to hit 20C, dropping to between 9 to 13C during a mostly wet night. Thursday will be the outlier as we see temperatures drop below 20C for the first time but only ever so slightly to 19C. It will be mostly cloudy at first with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly over the northern half of the country. Good spells of sunshine will develop during the morning, with rain to follow, so make sure to bring an umbrella. Friday will be dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells with just a few light showers about. Its good news for the start of the weekend with temperatures to soar once again to 20C. Current indications suggest high pressure will continue to dominate into the following weekend. Anthony McGwynne, (27), died when the motorbike he was travelling on was struck by a car on Arbutus Street in Vancouver on Thursday nigh Warm tributes have been paid to a young Sligo man with a bright smile and kind manner, who lost his life tragically in Canada last week. Anthony McGwynne, (27), originally from Knockanelton, Calry, died when the motorbike he was travelling on was struck by a car on Arbutus Street in Vancouver on Thursday night. The collision happened just before 9.30pm and despite life-saving efforts by bystanders and paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car was taken to hospital for treatment. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland is providing consular assistance to Mr McGwynnes family. The driver of the car was taken to hospital for treatment. Anthony was the dearly loved son of dad Tony and mum Bernadette, the brother of James, Maeve and Matthew and partner of Antonella. A notice on RIP.ie reads: Sadly missed by his loving family, partner, uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives, neighbours and many friends. The local community in Calry have been shocked and stunned by the terrible news of the young mans death, with many paying tribute to him. Calry resident and former County Councillor Tom Fox said his heart went out to the McGwynne family who were highly respected in the area. I know the family and they are held in the highest esteem by all in the community. It is just devastating for this tight knit community and Anthony was working in Canada for quite a while and making a life for himself there and he was the oldest in the family. It such a huge loss for the McGwynnes to see a beloved son and brothers life cut short. Hopefully, the family will get some solace from the support of the close knit community in the area. Anthony was a lovely, lively lad and enjoyed life and was very popular with his friends and had gone abroad to seek a new life. Anthony was so active and full of life, bursting with energy and it is just so sad and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. The community will rally around the family at this trying time. There have been numerous tributes to the young man on RIP.ie. One said: Bernie, Tony and family, what heart-breaking news, Anthony was a hardworking loving boy, our deepest sympathy to you all. Taken too soon. Another said: The news is devastating. Parents left to pick up the pieces of a shattered family. My heart is broken just thinking of your pain. Anthony and his heartbroken parents, brothers and sisters are in my humble prayers. A third fondly remembered Anthonys kind manner and bright smile whilst a fourth said: We raise our children to explore the world and live life to the full. The heartbreak of seeing this life cut short. Another told how the young Sligo man was a kind and caring friend to all who knew him, with others paying tribute to his pals both at home and abroad. Another added: My condolence for the loss of a man (sic). A man that was the salt of the earth, a loving and nurturing partner, a born adventurer with a taste for life. Taken too soon, but surrounded by those that loved and knew him like no others. Watch over me on my next ride, because you will be in my heart. No funeral arrangements have yet made. There have been 2772 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the week to Sunday, and 31 further deaths attributed to the virus. That is an decrease on the 3657 cases and 40 deaths reported by Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ last week. Last week, there were 3657 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the week, and 40 further deaths attributed to the virus. The number of deaths had nearly doubled from the previous week. Of the new cases this last week, 1686 are reinfections.There are 173 cases in hospital. Te Whatu Ora also notes on its website that an issue with reported Covid cases and related hospital admissions, covering the period May 27 to June 23, led to an undercount being published on June 24. "The underlying issue was identified and resolved. Affected counts have been updated and will appear higher than previously reported." Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ announced last week it would scrap Covid sick leave for health workers from July 14. Chief executive Margie Apa says the organisation would revert to its "normal supports for staff when they are sick". "As with other organisations, we will manage Covid-19 in the same way as other infectious illnesses." But the Public Service Association, which represents 25,000 health workers, says people's lives would be put at risk if health workers could not stay home when unwell. "This is simply irresponsible at a time when we are seeing a surge in Covid cases - taking away sick leave will cause more Covid transmission in hospitals amongst ill and vulnerable people," says the union's health sector lead Andrew Skelly. The country was just emerging from its sixth big wave of Covid transmission in 30 months, which had seen 55 people a day hospitalised at its peak, he says. Meanwhile, more than 20 residents at a Wellington retirement village have tested positive to Covid-19 in an outbreak. Keep testing and stay home if you're unwell is an expert's advice as thousands more cases are notified. In late May the country is experienced its highest peak in Covid-19 cases since December 2022. Otago University Biochemistry Professor Kurt Krause says it is important to continue testing for Covid-19 so that health experts knew if the cases were "a ripple" or "a major wave". Asked what people should do if they suspected they might have Covid but a RAT test was negative, he says he would like a culture to develop that people stayed home if they were sick. "People should stay home to protect both themselves and their co-workers and if they needed to go out briefly wear a mask. "Please stay home if you're sick." People should also consider they might have another winter virus such as influenza-A or another respiratory virus. "It's not just Covid out there." Aspiring artists and musicians in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty have an exciting opportunity to further their creative careers. Applications are now open for two Acorn Foundation scholarships, each designed to support local talent in the creative arts. The Jann Medlicott Creative Arts Scholarship, valued at $5000, is aimed at individuals undertaking or about to commence further study in any genre of the creative arts. This scholarship provides financial support to help emerging artists pursue their educational and professional goals. Applicants must have received part of their secondary education in Tauranga or the Western Bay, or currently reside in the area. The Christine Tustain Classical Music Award, valued at $2000, is for students preparing for a career in classical music, whether singing or instrumental. This award also requires applicants to have ties to Tauranga or the Western Bay through residency or education. Both scholarships are facilitated by Creative Bay of Plenty Te Waka Auaha Toi, an organisation dedicated to nurturing our regions creative community. Applications for both scholarships close at 5pm on July 29. Previous winner of the Jann Medlicott scholarship, Niamh Blackman, who now has a career as an actress in London, says, I have been ever grateful to Jann Medlicott for her generosity her award made it possible for me to study acting in London, where I am to this day. Annie Hill, strategy & capability lead at Creative Bay of Plenty, encourages eligible candidates to apply. These scholarships provide invaluable support for our local creative talents, she says. We are excited to see the diverse range of applicants and look forward to helping them achieve their artistic dreams. For more information or to discuss your application, please contact Annie Hill at Creative Bay of Plenty via email at annie@creativebop.org.nz. Advance your creative career with the support of the Acorn Foundation. Apply today at www.creativebop.org.nz. Police are warning motorists to be aware of black ice after multiple crashes in the Bay of Plenty. Three people were injured, two seriously, after two crashes along State Highway 38 at Kaingaroa on Tuesday. Read more here. The first crash was reported to emergency services just after 7.30am on State Highway 38 near Wai-Iro-Hia Rd. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson says two people with serious injuries were being taken to Rotorua Hospital. A single-vehicle crash was reported on SH38, Kaingaroa, near Wairapukao Rd, about 2km west of the first crash, about 8.20am, says a police spokesperson. Assaults in Woolworths stores are up significantly on the previous year with team members being threatened and abused in broad daylight, particularly by repeat offenders, according to new data being shared from Woolworths. In the last year there have been 925 acts of violence and aggression in Woolworths stores, up from 848 in the previous year - a nine per cent increase. Physical assaults have had a particularly notable increase with a 50 per cent jump to 329 incidents in the last 12 months, compared to 219 in the previous year. Pleasingly, there has been a reduction in the use of weapons with a 22 per cent drop on the previous year. Woolworths New Zealands director of stores, Jason Stockill, says that what theyre seeing from offenders coming into stores is unacceptable and while new security measures are having a positive effect, more needs to be done. Woolworths has introduced a range of security and safety measures into its stores as part of its $45 million, three-year investment programme. Push to talk radio on team member. These measures include team safety cameras in all stores, trolley lock systems, fog cannons, double-entry gates and anti-sweep shelving. Further security measures are being considered including duress alarms for team members working in isolated locations. Our team is being threatened and hurt in broad daylight, and despite offenders being arrested and going through the justice system - theyre coming back and doing it again. Weve been pleased to see the focus on law and order and look forward to working with the Government further this quarter. Our responsibility is to keep our team and customers safe in our stores, and were investing in a range of security measures to help with that, but we cant do it alone. We need continued collaborative action across Government, agency and industry, adds Jason. Woolworths New Zealand is asking for consideration of a similar system to Australian Workplace Protection Orders and improvements to trespass law for retail businesses. Woolworths New Zealands director of stores Jason Stockill. Our team is being threatened and hurt in broad daylight, and despite offenders being arrested and going through the justice system - theyre coming back and doing it again. Weve been pleased to see the focus on law and order and look forward to working with the Government further this quarter. Our responsibility is to keep our team and customers safe in our stores, and were investing in a range of security measures to help with that, but we cant do it alone. We need continued collaborative action across Government, agency and industry, adds Jason. Woolworths New Zealand is asking for consideration of a similar system to Australian Workplace Protection Orders and improvements to trespass law for retail businesses. The transport minister is defending the government's plans to reverse blanket speed reductions, saying the government is taking a "balanced approach". The government wants to scrap blanket reductions - introduced under Labour at the start of 2020 - on suburban streets, arterial roads and state highways by July 2025. The proposal will also allow limits of up to 120km/h on new roads of national significance built to accommodate that speed. The new legislation is set to be introduced by the end of September, with public consultation closing this Thursday. The government argues that the change will boost productivity and economic growth. Former chief science adviser for the Ministry of Transport, Simon Kingham, criticises the proposal, saying it will increase the number of road casualties and injuries, deaths by air pollution, as well as increase greenhouse gas emissions. Simeon Brown tells RNZ the government has taken a balanced approach to the issue after a cost-benefit analysis, and that there will be safety measures in place. "We're ensuring that there are going to be slower speed limits around schools, we'll be mandating slower speed limits during pick up and drop off times to ensure young New Zealanders are kept safe... but it makes absolutely no sense to make a shift worker going to work at 4am have to crawl around the streets at 30 kilometres per hour in their car when there's no one else walking along the road," he says. "We need a balanced approach to this issue rather than slowing people down." Brown says there's strong evidence to show that New Zealand doesn't need a blanket approach on speed limits. Rather it needs a policy that allows for rigorous cost benefit analysis, and a targets approach to where there are safety risks, he says. Meanwhile, some councils have voiced concerns over the government's proposal. Councils in Marlborough and Tauranga are pushing ahead with speed reductions, but Christchurch City councillors have expressed concern. Just last week, Auckland Council's transport and infrastructure committee voted overwhelmingly - 18 votes to three - to oppose the government's directive. -RNZ. In five days, Bay of Plenty mother Pam Coburn will travel to Germany to get surgery she is in desperate need of. Unable to eat or drink, the 40-year-olds surgery is confirmed for July 23 to treat abdominal vascular compression syndromes which is unavailable in New Zealand. Vascular compression syndromes are a group of conditions occurring when blood vessels are under abnormal pressure, restricting blood flow, which can make a person feel weak and cause extreme pain. Pam previously told the Bay of Plenty Times she faced a death sentence and expected to die within the next five years if she did not pay $180,000 for the surgery. It comes after Hamilton teenager Jemima Thompson had the life-saving surgery in April 2023 after previously being told she had three years to live. Hamilton vascular surgeon Dr Chris Holdaway has also spoken about his efforts to introduce the surgery in New Zealand. Pam's health getting worse Pam lives in Athenree, near Tauranga, with her husband, Jon, and their sons Benny, 8, and Ollie, 6. She says she was desperate for the surgery and her health had been slowly just getting worse. While she was excited the surgery was happening soon, she knew the recovery would be brutal. She would be away for six weeks and her sons had been finding it difficult in the lead-up to her leaving. Pam says she had been doing more with them such as going to a Lego bricks show in Tauranga and a childrens building class at Mitre10. Knowing that Im not going to be with the kids, I want to be doing a bit more with them ... thats the first time Ive done anything for a while like that. And it was good - it was hard but Im glad I pushed myself to do it. Pam needs extra $5000 before leaving Pam and her family have raised $145,000 of their $180,000 goal. But she needs an extra $5000 for flights, transport, and accommodation before she and her mother leave on Sunday. She and Jon have applied for their superannuation funds in Australia to be released. Their applications have been approved but the money has not yet been released. This will make up the remaining $30,000, she says. Pam Coburn has abdominal vascular compression syndromes (AVCS). Photo / Alex Cairns. Pam says she and her family were grateful to the community for their donations. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts for all of the support and generosity. Weve done amazing - we didnt actually think we were going to fundraise this much, especially so fast. She says some businesses were creating products, selling them and donating the profits. Its mind-blowing and its very touching how supportive people are. And a lot of them are strangers. Pam says people could donate via Paypal using her email address: pam_jane@hotmail.com People can also contact Pam via email to donate directly to her bank account. If we get this $5000, it will be $150,000 that weve fundraised through donations and our fundraisers. -NZ Herald Ignacio Lillo / Jose Rodriguez Camara / Eugenio Cabezas Malaga Tuesday, 9 July 2024, 12:53 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads The town halls of the Axarquia on the eastern stretch of the Costa del Sols will be present at the big meeting scheduled for 17 July to discuss the extension of Malaga's Cercanias coastal train service, which currently only goes as far as Fuengirola. The meeting will be the first in recent history in which Spains central government, the Junta de Andalucia and the town halls will discuss the possibility of extending the coastal train, among other projects and improvements for transport in Malaga. "We are looking forward to expanding the number of municipalities that can attend the meeting, as the Junta de Andalucia has proposed," said the secretary of state for transport, Jose Antonio Santano, who will chair the meeting. "In short, it is in line with what we are proposing: to open a debate on integral mobility as a whole along this corridor, beyond a specific railway project that can connect Malaga and Marbella," he added. The invitation was extended to the Axarquias mayors after they all voiced their anger and frustration at not being on the initial invitation list. Mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, Francisco Salado was on the guest list as the president of the provincial authority, the Diputacion de Malaga. Phased works However, speaking in his role as mayor of the Axarquia town nearest to Malaga city Salado said, "Rincon is part of the metropolitan area of Malaga and thousands of its residents work or study in the city on a daily basis. This problem concerns us as much as the rest of the municipalities. The Axarquia must be part of this railway planning", In view of the absence of Velez-Malaga from the guest list, its mayor, Jesus Lupianez, also showed his anger: "It really annoys me, one thing is to phase the works, which seems reasonable to me, obviously it has to reach Marbella before Nerja; but from Velez-Malaga we have always been saying that we do not want to be left behind in this train". Signing the petition The form, in Spanish, will ask you for your name, surname, ID number (DNI/NIE/passport), email address and location. It offers you the option to authorise that your support be made visible to others and to receive information on other campaigns and events organised by SUR. Finally it asks you to fill in the numbers visible in an image before you can click on the red Firmar Peticion at the foot of the page. Jose Alberto Armijo, mayor of Nerja, agreed: "If we talk about mobility on the Costa del Sol, we must talk about what happens from Nerja to Manilva, so all mayors should be summoned to the meeting with the ministry, to convey their concerns. It is important that the Ministry attends to the whole of the Costa del Sol. Mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, described it as "an absolute lack of respect, loyalty and empathy" that the five municipalities of the eastern Costa del Sol were not invited. "We are the same as the other Costa del Sol. Firm commitment After the invitation was extended, Santano said, We want to analyse mobility, the critical points and seek answers to the needs from the competences of each of the administrations. We are all aware that there will be different levels of response: with short-term initiatives, but also medium and long-term ones, and that is what we are going to work on. He added, "We are working to open a debate on integral mobility, beyond a specific railway project that can connect the cities of Malaga and Marbella," added the sources. "This ministry wants to show its firm commitment to work on short-term initiatives, but also on medium and long-term ones". This is the reason why the municipalities of the eastern Costa del Sol have been included in the meeting, at the request of the Andalusian government. The meeting will be attended by the minister for development, Rocio Diaz; Patricia Navarro from the Junta de Andalucia; the president of the provincial authority the Diputacion de Malaga, Francis Salado and the mayors of Malaga city, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Rincon de la Victoria, Velez-Malaga, Algarrobo, Torrox, Nerja, Casares and Manilva. In addition the mayors of San Roque, La Linea de la Concepcion, Los Barrios and Algeciras from the province of Cadiz will also attend. Rocio Jimenez Tenerife Tuesday, 9 July 2024, 09:41 | Updated 14:45h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads For the tenth consecutive year Siam Park has been named Best Water Park in the world at the Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice Awards. The complex, the largest in Europe, was chosen for the quality and upkeep of the park, the spectacular attractions and the abundant vegetation, among other things, features that have earned it other industry awards such as 12 gongs in the European Star Awards and 3 at the Park World Excellence Awards - two of the most prestigious awards. Located in Adeje, in the south of the island of Tenerife , this Thai-inspired park has welcomed almost 14 million visitors since it opened in 2008 and offers new experiences every season. Zoom Image of the Saifa attraction. Siam Park A park designed for everyone Siam Park is configured in three zones: relax, family and adrenaline. Designed to disconnect and, of course, relax is the first of these. Here one can find wonders such as the Mai Thai River, a one-kilometre tropical river that allows you to admire the exotic views of the park; Siam Beach, a natural sandy beach for sunbathing or a refreshing swim in the wave pool; the Floating Market, a space that transports visitors to a typical Thai village where they can buy snacks, sunscreen or souvenirs, and a sea lion pool. In addition, this area offers three types of private cabins - cottage (4 persons), house (6 persons) and villa (8 persons) - equipped with all kinds of amenities. This option also includes Fast Pass and all-inclusive restaurant service. Ideal for couples is the Champagne Club VIP, an area with Balinese beds where for 370 euros (two people) you have all-inclusive service, a bottle of champagne, lockers, towels, armchairs with tables and fast pass. Zoom Image of the Siam Beach. Siam Park The family area has a wide variety of attractions such as Naga Racer, slides to organise races; Sawasdee, the adapted version for the little ones of the previous one; Jungle Snakes, four PIPEline water tube slides with single and double floats; The Lost City, a playground made up of multiple towers, bridges, nets, waterfalls and up to fifteen slides and what is the only baby pool in the Canary Islands; The Wave Palace, a wave pool of more than 13,500 square metres featuring the world's largest man-made wave - three metres high -; The Giant, two CannonBOWL water funnel slides; Coco Beach, a 1,000 square metre wave pool designed for children that includes its own sandy beach shipped from Africa; and Bodhi Trail, a children's climbing trail. The third area, for all those who like thrills, is Adrenalina. Here one can find: Tower of Power, a 28-metre-high slide where you can reach a speed of 80 km/h whose ride ends with you seeing a giant aquarium with manta rays and a shark; Vulcano, a slide down which you descend in absolute darkness in four-person floats and drop into the volcano where a laser light show takes place; Kinnaree, a 200-metre hybrid water slide; Mekong Rapids and Patong Rapids, with their giant tyres; Dragon, a totally vertical funnel slide designed for fun lovers in company offering a unique experience in Europe with four-person floats; Singha, a high-speed water roller coaster; and Saifa, the newest attraction, a slide powered by RocketBLAST technology - the latest on the market - with two lanes facing each other, 82 metres high and a 306-metre ride. The site also has several restaurants where you can stop for a refreshment break, paid parking (seven euros), several shops, changing rooms and showers and an amphitheatre where company events, musicals or private parties can be held. And for those who want more, there is Siam Night. During the months of July and August, this popular option is back, allowing you to enjoy the park from 8pm to midnight from Tuesday to Saturday. Those who wish can dance on the beach area to the music of the resident DJ, ride on the attractions that include light, smoke and laser effects and have a drink in the restaurant area under the warmth of the Canarian nights. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. General admission prices range from 45 euros for adults and from 32 euros for children. Gladiator 2 trailer Are you not entertained? Ridley Scott has released the first trailer for Gladiator II, a sequel to his Oscar-winning 2000 film. The new movie, set 25-30 years after the original, features Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, and returning cast member Connie Nielsen as Roman Empress Lucilla, plus Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) and Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian). Theres no Russell Crowe or Joaquin Phoenix, but there appear to be flashbacks to Crowes Maximus promising to take revenge against an emperor plus plenty of new fun, including a rhino in the colosseum. Gladiator 2 opens in theaters Nov. 22. Two General Hospital actors die Soap opera fans are mourning the death of two General Hospital actors. Doug Sheehan, who played Joe Kelly on more than 200 episodes from 1979 to 1982, died at his home in Wyoming, according to an announcement by his wife, Cate Abert. The Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor was 75. And ET reports Joan Benedict Steiger has died at age 96 after suffer complications due a stroke. Steiger had a recurring role on General Hospital as Edith Fairchild, plus credits in Candid Camera, The Steve Allen Show, The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, and Days of Our Lives. MORE BUZZ: The Devil Wears Prada sequel in the works 18 years later ( E! Taylor Swift, Post Malone release acoustic Fortnight ( RS Halle Berry, Glenn Close, Kim K to star in new Ryan Murphy show ( E! Queens of the Stone Age cancels tour, Josh Homme needs emergency surgery ( BB Shaboozys A Bar Song (Tipsy) hits No. 1 ( RS Julia Fox comes out as lesbian ( E! Glen Powells wingman Tom Cruise shows support at Twisters premiere ( ET The Umbrella Academy season 4 trailer: The beginning of the end ( RS Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news about movies, TV, music and celebrities. By Brian Hubert | Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y. (TNS) Kingston, N.Y. Deisings Bakery presented a $15,000 check to the Peoples Place on Monday, proceeds from selling John Oliver Cake Bears. The bakery hasnt ruled out a return of the cakes that have attracted the attention and patrons from across the U.S. and the globe. Deisings owner, Eric Deising, and his nephew Peter Deising, representing the third generation in the family business, presented the check to Peoples Place Executive Director Christine Hein and the non-profits board outside the bakery on North Front Street in a ceremony attended by Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and other officials. Hein thanked Deising for choosing Peoples Place. You could have chosen any non-profit, she said. You highlighted Peoples Place not just with your financial donation which is phenomenal, but it is also bringing awareness about what Peoples Place does for our community and gives a little national attention to what were doing. She said the bulk of the money will go toward helping Peoples Place to pave its parking lot, which is used both by people using the non-profit services or volunteering there and the general public. Thats important because we have a lot of folks who have some types of physical challenges come to Peoples Place, she said. Its important to have a well-maintained parking lot. Eric Deising said this showed the example of how a small business and non-profit can work together and create an outstanding amount of money. None of this could be done without the help of the citizens of our wonderful community, he said. This check (is from) Deisings Bakery to Peoples Place, but the reality is that money came from our community. Eric Deising also thanked John Olivers team and his own staff for the work they put into keeping the cakes on the shelves when customers snatched them up in droves. Peter Deising said they saw a lot of new faces including a family that decided to take a trip to New York City with a side trip to Deisings specifically to purchase the cakes. Eric Deising saidother new customers came from Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. metro areas just to buy the cupcakes. Our 15 minutes of fame might be coming to an end but at least it will have a lasting impact on our community, he said. We have a gem in our town by having a place like that where people who are having a hard time have a place to go. Peter Deising hasnt ruled out the return of the cakes. He said with the busy graduation and Fourth of July seasons over, the bakery will have more time on its hands, opening the door for a potential second run of the cakes that flew off the shelves. Metzger said Desings has put Ulster County on the map. She praised the family-owned bakery for giving the proceeds from the cakes to a charitable cause. They couldve just done the challenge for the grill and the oven, Metzger said, but they put back into the community, and they made it all about investing in Peoples Place and all about investing in our community. That is the kind of business we are so proud to have here. Its amazing what you did for Ulster County. Noble added that Deisings adds sweetness to the city. Whether its being an amazing employer and caring about the employees that work here or helping to serve our residents in need, your two organizations really have been such a critical part of our community, Noble said. It was great for Kingston to be viral in a good way, he added. The saga began on June 2 on Olivers show Last Week Tonight, when the comedian bought kitchen equipment and furniture that once graced the now-closed Red Lobster restaurant on Miron Lane at auction. The following week, Oliver playfully mocked Deisings Bakery for taping a sign to the door of the closed Red Lobster asking to purchase a 36-inch flat-top grill and convection oven. Little did Deisings know that the items they sought were not among the contents of the eatery or that Oliver had already purchased the entire inventory at an auction and had donated it. But in looking at the bakerys website, Oliver stumbled across, and apparently fell in love with, one of Deisings creations a bear cupcake, with, as Oliver put it, an unusually large posterior. Declaring I dont like cake bears, I fing love cake bears, Oliver said. He challenged Deisings to make a cake with his face, promising that if they did, he would deliver the equipment the bakery sought. The bakery immediately took on the challenge and the very next morning began churning out John Oliver bear cupcakes. They soon flew off the shelves. Peter Deising has said the bakery sold 80 within the first hour of them being on sale and was selling over 100 an hour during the first couple of days. The bakery simply couldnt make enough, he said. The promised equipment was delivered to the North Front Street bakery on June 14, and after that, the eatery made the last of the treats at least for now. Eric Deising reflected on the week the cupcakes were on sale. We were tired, Im not going to lie, he said. But they never complained. ___ (c)2024 Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse University has settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who was sexually assaulted in her dorm room in 2020 by a fellow student. On Friday, lawyers for the victim and the university filed paperwork in court saying the lawsuit would be dropped. That came a month after the lawyers informed the judge they had reached a settlement in the case. The terms of the settlement were not outlined in court documents. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard reached out to attorneys for the victim and the university for comment on the settlement. The lawsuit against the attacker, Jacob Cohen, who was 19 years old at the time of the attack, is still pending. Cohen was criminally charged in December 2020. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse and third-degree rape. He was sentenced to six months in jail and 10 years of probation. A judge also ordered that he has to register as a sex offender for life. On Aug. 28, 2020, the female student bringing the lawsuit, who is only identified as Jane Doe, and her roommate were sleeping in their dorm when Cohen entered their room without permission and assaulted them. Cohen yanked the victims pants down and began kissing her neck. She woke up and pushed Cohen away asking who he was and what he was doing in her room. Both women were incapacitated by alcohol at the time of the assault. Cohen told the woman he was looking for something and she told him to leave, the lawsuit said. She left the dorm room and returned minutes later with others to confront Cohen. The two women reported the assault to the universitys Department of Public Safety. The lawsuit said that after the attack the university did not remove Cohen from the dorm building where he and the two women lived. No restrictions were placed on Cohens ability to return to the suite or to confront the women, the lawsuit said. On Aug. 29, Cohen allegedly harassed one of the victims, according to the lawsuit. A final confrontation ended with Cohen engaging in a physical fight with another male resident of the dorm. Cohen reported to DPS that he had been assaulted. Cohen was moved to another dorm to protect him from further altercations, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said that the university did not do its due diligence to provide a safe environment or prevent students from being victimized after being sexually assaulted the university broke the contract it entered when it accepted the students tuition. The university was also accused of handling the matter insensitively by retraumatizing the victim during a Zoom call that included Cohen. She believed she would be speaking to a university official alone but was instead subjected to questioning by Cohens legal counsel. When the University first responded to the lawsuit in February 2024, it denied the allegation that the victim was never made aware Cohen and his lawyer would be on the Zoom call. The university also denied that its handling of the situation was inappropriate. After the settlement was reached, the victim and the university agreed that she could not file another lawsuit against the university regarding its handling of the assault and subsequent investigation. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Syracuse, N.Y. A Delaware County man who sold raw milk cheese that led to a listeria outbreak that killed two people in 2016 was sentenced Tuesday to probation. Illnesses were reported in Vermont, Florida, Connecticut and New York. U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks in Syracuse sentenced Johannes Vulto, 64, to three years of probation. The beauty of the Adirondacks has been admired by humans for hundreds of years. With sprawling forests, pristine lakes, and majestic mountain ranges, these rugged landscapes first captured the imagination of 19th-century city dwellers seeking respite from urban life. According to Smithsonian Magazine, it is in that forever wild land that the summer vacation was born in America. A book titled, Adventures in the Wilderness by William H.H. Murray, was published in the spring of 1869 as one of the first guidebooks to a wilderness area. While excursions in nature were then thought of as treacherous endeavors, Murray described the Adirondack Mountains as a place that could be enjoyable to spend leisure time in. He claimed its unsullied nature could be the cure for those living in crowded, hectic cities. The story of this utopia, whose scenery rivaled Switzerland, Murray said, became a bestseller, selling 10 editions in four months. A new train line to the mountains had also opened a year prior, making this magical world accessible from New York City or Boston if you were willing to travel 30-40 hours. Summer of 1869 saw an influx of Gilded Age city slickers traveing to the Adirondacks, woefully underprepared for the rustic outdoors, from the way they dressed to being frightened of deer and bear tracks. For some men, it was even worse, women were making the trip into the forest to camp. The hotels, who saw mainly a few hunters each summer, were overwhelmed by the crowds and the weather was rainy and abysmal that year. Black fly season lasted into August, biting raw the skin of the summer throng. Despite the critics, Murray held fast to his prediction that the Adirondacks would become Americas great Summer resort. And it did. According to the Smithsonian, by 1900, the Adirondacks summer population had risen to around 25,000 from 3,000 in 1869. It would be an annual pilgrimage, where the New York City elite would vacate their densely packed, overheated homes for their private summer retreats in the Adirondacks. Soon, the term vacation replaced the British holiday in everyday vocabulary. As America became more industrialized, the middle class grew and it was more than just the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers who could enjoy the luxury of a break from work and everyday life. And thus, the American vacation was born. Syracuse, N.Y. Three people have been charged with stealing equipment from three Central New York military bases and selling it on Facebook marketplace, troopers said Monday. The equipment was shipped to at least five states, troopers said. One ballistic vest was being reshipped to Russia, they said. Cicero, N.Y. Oneida Shores Park beach has been closed until further notice due to high bacteria level, county officials said Tuesday. The Onondaga County Health Department banned swimming due to a high presence of E. coli bacteria, the department said in a release today. The health department will be monitoring the lake water daily and swimming will be allowed when the levels are acceptable, officials said. Other activities at park are not affected, they said Most E. coli strains are harmless and cause brief diarrhea, but some types can cause gastrointestinal illness, they said. For those looking to swim, the countys Jamesville Beach is open, they said. The city of Syracuse also has pools and splash pads open (list) Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com. Webster, N.Y. A wake and funeral for a slain Cleveland police officer who grew up in the Rochester area and attended Syracuse University will be held this weekend in his hometown. The wake for Jamieson Ritter, 27, will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Falvo Funeral Home, 1295 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road, Webster. Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse University is starting a scholarship in memory of the slain Cleveland police officer who graduated from the school five years ago. The Jamieson Ritter Memorial ROTC Scholarship at SU will be provided to an ROTC student who is working toward a law enforcement career. Thats the path Ritter, a 2019 graduate, took on his way to becoming a Cleveland police officer. NEW YORK (AP) The National Rifle Associations former finance czar, Wilson Woody Phillips, has been banned for a decade from managing money for any nonprofit company in New York, the states attorney general said Tuesday. Phillips agreed to the ban in May, three months after a jury found him liable in a scheme to have the influential gun rights organization bankroll the extravagant lifestyle of the NRAs longtime chief executive, Wayne LaPierre. Details of the settlement were not made public until Tuesday. Under the agreement, Phillips is banned for 10 years from serving as a fiduciary of a not-for-profit organization in New York and must receive training before returning to any such position. He is still on the hook for $2 million in damages to the NRA for his role in concealing and enabling LaPierres lavish spending on things like exotic getaways and trips on private planes and superyachts. The settlement means that Phillips, now retired, wont have to participate in next weeks second phase of a trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James civil lawsuit against the NRA and former top executives. Manhattan Judge Joel Cohen is to decide remaining issues in the case beginning July 15, including whether former LaPierre and ex-general counsel John Frazer should be barred from charitable organizations in the state. Among other things, Phillips was accused of approving invoices for LaPierres private jet flights to the Bahamas; facilitating payments to contractors owned by LaPierres friends; and allowing an arrangement through which the NRA paid back its longtime advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen, for travel, makeup and other expenses it covered for LaPierre and his wife. For decades, Wilson Phillips oversaw and allowed financial mismanagement and corruption at the NRA, and that is why the jury found him, the NRA, and his co-defendants, senior executives Wayne LaPierre and John Frazer, liable for their misconduct, James said in a statement. She said Phillips 10-year ban should serve as an example that my office will hold anyone, and everyone, involved in abusing their power or misappropriating funds accountable. A message seeking comment was left for Phillips lawyer. The trials first phase concluded in February when a jury in state court in Manhattan found that LaPierre had misspent millions of dollars of NRA money. The jury said LaPierre must repay almost $4.4 million to the NRA and that Phillips owed $2 million. Jurors found Frazer violated his duties, but not that he owed any money or that there was cause to remove him from the organization. They also found that the NRA failed to properly manage its assets, omitted or misrepresented information in its tax filings and violated whistleblower protections under New York law. A third co-defendant, LaPierres ex-chief of staff Joshua Powell, settled with James office just before the start of the trial in January. Powell, who wrote of staggering waste and corruption in his 2020 book Inside the NRA, agreed to testify at the trial, pay the NRA $100,000 and forgo further nonprofit involvement. LaPierre announced his resignation on the eve of trial. In May, the NRA elected Doug Hamlin, the executive director of its publications wing, as his replacement. At the same time, Frazer was removed as general counsel but he remains as the NRAs corporate secretary. Phillips retired in 2018. James sued the NRA and its executives in 2020 under her authority to investigate not-for-profits registered in the state. She originally sought to have the entire organization dissolved, but Cohen ruled in 2022 that the allegations did not warrant a corporate death penalty. The trial cast a spotlight on the leadership, organizational culture and finances of the powerful lobbying group, which was founded more than 150 years ago in New York City to promote rifle skills and grew into a political juggernaut that influenced federal law and presidential elections. In the trials second phase, James is seeking an independent monitor to be appointed to oversee the NRAs administration of charitable assets. James is also seeking to ban LaPierre from serving in leadership positions at any charitable organizations that conduct business in New York, and wants the NRA and Frazer barred from collecting funds on behalf of any charitable organization operating in the state. New Yorkers deserve to know that when they support a not-for-profit, those donations are being used to advance its mission, not squandered on lavish perks for staff or cronies, James said. Ministers welcome EPAs report highlighting reduced Greenhouse gas emissions from Agriculture in 2023 Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, Martin Heydon T.D and Senator Pippa Hackett, today welcomed the publication of the Environmental Protection Agencys Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2023. The report highlights a national reduction in emissions of 6.8% (-4.0 Mt CO2eq) year on year. These figures are really welcome and they are a testament to the good work being done by farmers right across the country." Emissions from Agriculture decreased by 4.6% (-1.0 Mt CO 2 eq) in 2023. This is primarily driven by reduced fertiliser nitrogen use and reduced liming. Commenting on the figures the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D, said: The emission reduction figures for 2023 from the EPAs Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions are very positive. They show that agriculture is on the right path, especially following on from reductions in 2022. It is very encouraging to see the work that farmers are putting in on the ground reflected in the results. Its important that we maintain this positive trajectory and continue in our efforts to achieve the commitment of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture by 2030. Agriculture has laid a solid foundation to deliver a downwards emission trajectory over the coming years. Policies and strategies are bearing fruit with emissions from Agriculture trending downwards. These include measures such as genotyping of 740,000 calves, promoting the use of renewable energy on farms, reducing the use of fertilisers and pesticides, improving soil health and promoting biodiversity. The use of chemical nitrogen in 2023 reduced by 18%. Minister Hackett commented These figures are really welcome and they are a testament to the good work being done by farmers right across the country. We need to sustain this reduction, and we need to continue rolling out schemes that we know are successful and that we know will reduce the need for chemical nitrogen. The organic farming scheme, the protein aid scheme, and the multi species sward and red clover silage measures have all played a critical role here, so we should keep expanding them. The area of land farmed organically has trebled to 225,500ha (5% of land area) in 3 years, meaning that we are halfway to achieving our 2030 target of 10% of Irish agricultural land being farmed organically I am excited to keep that good work going. This year has seen the finalisation of the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory, supplying the scientific infrastructure to measure GHG fluxes from soils under agricultural management. This project is placing Ireland at the forefront of EU carbon sequestration research. Minister Heydon said: "My Department has committed funding to greatly accelerate the development of AgNav, this platform is a collaboration between Teagasc, the Irish Cattle Breeding Association (ICBF) and Bord Bia. AgNav provides a whole farm sustainability assessment and includes a decision support function that allows science-led plans to be made for individual farms to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration. Minister McConalogue highlighted the important collaborative work of his Department, Teagasc and the EPA in refining the Inventory. These inventory refinements have led to adjustments in relation to the emissions related to live weight and average daily weight gain. The revised approach also better tracks the changes in slaughter age that have occurred over the last decade or so. The Minister commented that research supported by DAFM in the area of feed additives such as 3-Nitrooxypropanol, (3-NOP) means that these are now at the point of being ready to roll out onto Irish farms. 3NOP product has received European Food Safety Authority approval and has been trialled on 18 Teagasc Signpost farms in the winters if 2023 and 2024. Results show up to a 30% reduction in Methane indoors. We will continue to support the advancement of technologies to ensure the continued positive emission trajectory of the agricultural sector. It is critical that we maintain food output whilst at the same time, reducing the climate footprint and I will continue to support farmers in delivering on this dual ambition. This is critical to maintaining a viable sector that is both economically and environmentally sustainable, Minister McConalogue concluded. Doumu Township in Qianshan City, Anhui Province, is renowned for its ancient pottery, earning the reputation as the "Hometown of Ceramics in Southwestern Anhui." The history of pottery making here dates back 6,000 years to the Xuejiagang Culture and continues to this day. Six thousand years ago, the ancestors of Qianshan discovered abundant natural clay deposits in Doumu Township. They built kilns along the rivers, established workshops around the kilns, used pine branches as torches, and refined clay to create pottery. Doumu pottery flourished during the Tang and Song Dynasties, becoming a major commodity for foreign trade. The hundred-meter ancient kiln that still exists today is rare both in China and abroad and is regarded by industry experts and scholars as a living fossil. Tourists experience pottery making at a handicraft workshop in the intangible cultural heritage inheritance base of Doumu pottery in Qianshan City, Anhui Province (photo taken on May 4, 2024). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Nuo The traditional pottery-making process in Doumu is lengthy, from shaping the clay to firing the pottery. The firing process alone takes three days and nights, requiring dedicated personnel to monitor the fire. When the kiln temperature exceeds 1200 degrees Celsius, the metal elements in the clay blend with the pine resin and wood ash. Even if thousands of identical clay pieces are placed in the kiln, the glaze on each piece will be unique upon removal, making the beauty of kiln transformations "encountered but not predicted." Due to the gradual replacement of handcrafting by machine production and the lack of a consumer market for monotonous products, this traditional craft was once on the brink of extinction. In recent years, Doumu Township has invested tens of millions of yuan in rescue protection and living heritage transmission. They have reinforced dragon kilns, established intangible cultural heritage salons and artist studios, and hosted international cultural and artistic exchange activities for Doumu pottery, as well as dragon kiln ignition ceremonies, attracting over 400,000 domestic and foreign tourists. In 2021, the Doumu pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, and in 2024, the Qianshan Tianzhu Ceramics brand was recognized as a Chinese Time-honored Brand. The local community has also used various methods to bring ancient pottery culture to life, creating a unique pottery village and combining pottery with the homestay industry, enabling villagers to participate in the inheritance and protection of intangible cultural heritage. This promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of China's outstanding traditional culture. Source: anhuinews.com TurboTorque BHPian Join Date: Jun 2024 Location: KA05 Posts: 58 Thanked: 705 Times Re: Lost money to a very convincing scam online | Fraudsters posing as Fedex I received a call today at 1:48 PM from the FedEx Mumbai Branch (No: +91 9869969549), stating that a package sent from Mumbai to Iran was being held due to the illegal contents. Since I was expecting a package from FedEx, I asked him for more details about who sent it and the contents. He said that the package was sent on 28th July 2024 from Mumbai by my name. I told him I had not sent any package and the last time I visited Mumbai was 5 to 6 years back. He said someone might have used my name, mobile number, and Aadhar card and asked me to file a complaint to Mumbai Cyber Cell immediately without any further delay. He mentioned that he has already filed a complaint from FedEx. He asked me to write down all the details so that I could share them with the police. When I heard the below-mentioned items in the package, I was shocked. The following are the details that he shared with me: FedEx, East Branch, Mumbai Date: 28th, June 2024 Package contents: 6kg (4 expired Iranian passports, 4 Credit Cards, 1 Laptop, 4 Kgs of Clothes, 50 strips of Antibiotic tablets, and 124 grams of MDMA) Package courier amount: 93440 Rs which was already paid using ICICI Debit Card ending with 3387 Tracking ID: 228932129187 FIR No: ncb/mum/65068 FedEx Employee name: Sekhar FedEx Employee ID: FD18456 Receiver Name: Rizwan Ahmed, Sister Bander, Iran - 104001 Later, he offered to assist by connecting me with the Mumbai Cyber Cell to file a complaint. I said okay and then someone picked up the call and introduced himself as an Inspector. I explained to him all the details and told him I did not know anything about this and had not sent any package and someone might have used my identity to send the illegal package. Since the package had MDMA drug he asked me to contact NCB Mumbai and file a complaint with them online via Skype. He shared with me the Skype ID '1920 MUMBAI NCB DEPARTMENT' to join. I joined a Skype call and until this time I had not realised I was being scammed. I was angered that someone had used my identity. In the Skype call, someone introduced himself as Inspector and shared his ID. I explained to him all the details. He was speaking just like a police officer. He started doubting me and saying I might have been involved. He asked me to send my Aadhar card copy via Skype chat which I did to verify my identity. He then shared the last four digits of my Aadhar card number with another officer. And, that another officer reported that my Aadhar card misuse had persisted for three months with connections to multiple instances of money laundering involving a person named Mohammed Aslam. I was shocked and told him that I had not heard about him. He then sent his photo via Skype chat and asked me to check whether I met him before. I told him I had not seen him before. He then handed over the call to someone since my Aadhar card was involved in a money laundering case. He asked me about all my bank accounts and I told him I have 6 accounts in different banks. In an angry tone, he questioned me why I had opened 6 bank accounts and whether I was using them for money laundering. He said a lot of IT people are doing money laundering for the commission and asked me to check my bank statement for any funds that I received recently. I logged into one of my accounts and confirmed that I had not received any money and he then asked me to tell him the exact balance in my account including paise which I did. He then asked me to check my other account thats when I started to suspect something was wrong. Instead of logging into an account, I searched FedEX tracking ID and found it invalid. I then googled Sykpe + MDMA + Drug + Mumbai and came across a similar incident reported. I blasted him left and right he then immediately disconnected the call and deleted all the messages and photos on Skype. I was lucky! After searching for 'MUMBAI NCB DEPARTMENT' on Skype, I found 100s of Skype directories. The following are the few similar FedEx scams reported in the news: A doctor lost 4.5 crore: Someone lost 62.99 lakhs: Techie from Pune lost 19 lakhs: Sales manager lost 56 lakhs: Manager from embassy of Ireland lost 7 lakhs: Lawyer was duped of over Rs 14 lakh and made to strip on video for a fake narcotics test: Quote: After they took all the money, Abhishek Chauhan asked me to get ready for narcotics drugs test. I was forced to strip and asked to make lewd videos while the camera was on. They threatened and abused me to continue doing so or they would arrest me and my family in a drugs case and also kill or hurt me and my family, the lawyer mentioned in the FIR. I was almost scammed today and believed them until halfway through the call.I received a call today at 1:48 PM from the FedEx Mumbai Branch (No: +91 9869969549), stating that a package sent from Mumbai to Iran was being held due to the illegal contents. Since I was expecting a package from FedEx, I asked him for more details about who sent it and the contents. He said that the package was sent on 28th July 2024 from Mumbai by my name. I told him I had not sent any package and the last time I visited Mumbai was 5 to 6 years back. He said someone might have used my name, mobile number, and Aadhar card and asked me to file a complaint to Mumbai Cyber Cell immediately without any further delay. He mentioned that he has already filed a complaint from FedEx. He asked me to write down all the details so that I could share them with the police. When I heard the below-mentioned items in the package, I was shocked.The following are the details that he shared with me:Later, he offered to assist by connecting me with the Mumbai Cyber Cell to file a complaint. I said okay and then someone picked up the call and introduced himself as an Inspector. I explained to him all the details and told him I did not know anything about this and had not sent any package and someone might have used my identity to send the illegal package. Since the package had MDMA drug he asked me to contact NCB Mumbai and file a complaint with them online via Skype. He shared with me the Skype ID '' to join.I joined a Skype call and until this time I had not realised I was being scammed. I was angered that someone had used my identity.In the Skype call, someone introduced himself as Inspector and shared his ID. I explained to him all the details. He was speaking just like a police officer. He started doubting me and saying I might have been involved. He asked me to send my Aadhar card copy via Skype chat which I did to verify my identity. He then shared the last four digits of my Aadhar card number with another officer. And, that another officer reported that my Aadhar card misuse had persisted for three months with connections to multiple instances of money laundering involving a person named Mohammed Aslam. I was shocked and told him that I had not heard about him. He then sent his photo via Skype chat and asked me to check whether I met him before. I told him I had not seen him before. He then handed over the call to someone since my Aadhar card was involved in a money laundering case.He asked me about all my bank accounts and I told him I have 6 accounts in different banks. In an angry tone, he questioned me why I had opened 6 bank accounts and whether I was using them for money laundering. He said a lot of IT people are doing money laundering for the commission and asked me to check my bank statement for any funds that I received recently. I logged into one of my accounts and confirmed that I had not received any money and he then asked me to tell him the exact balance in my account including paise which I did. He then asked me to check my other account thats when I started to suspect something was wrong. Instead of logging into an account, I searched FedEX tracking ID and found it invalid. I then googled Sykpe + MDMA + Drug + Mumbai and came across a similar incident reported. I blasted him left and right he then immediately disconnected the call and deleted all the messages and photos on Skype. I was lucky!After searching for 'MUMBAI NCB DEPARTMENT' on Skype, I found 100s of Skype directories.The following are the few similar FedEx scams reported in the news:A doctor lost 4.5 crore: Link Someone lost 62.99 lakhs: Link Techie from Pune lost 19 lakhs: Link Sales manager lost 56 lakhs: Link Manager from embassy of Ireland lost 7 lakhs: Link Lawyer was duped of over Rs 14 lakh and made to strip on video for a fake narcotics test: Link What just happened? HP has spent years resisting customer complaints over DRM that restricts users to the company's expensive ink cartridges. However, HP appears to have bowed to external pressure regarding cheaper laser printers that were saddled with a mandatory subscription service. Existing owners of all HP printers are unaffected. Laser printers tied to HP's subscription service have begun disappearing from online marketplaces. The company's decision to remove them comes amid years of scrutiny over its policies regarding DRM and ink cartridges. HP told German outlet Druckerchannel that it withdrew the laser printers out of concern for clients that couldn't keep them connected to cloud services at all times. Using the affected printers requires a subscription to the company's online-only HP+ service, which includes an extended warranty, remote printing through cloud servers, and other perks. Druckerchannel speculates that some businesses couldn't maintain constant connections due to security concerns and that HP responded to customer backlash over online-only DRM. The discontinued models include all LaserJet models with names ending in an e: HP Laser Jet M110we, M209dwe HP Laser Jet MFP M140we, M234sdne, M234sdwe HP Laser Jet Pro 3002dwe, 4002dne, 4002dwe HP Laser Jet Pro MFP 3102fdwe, 4102dwe, 4102fdwe HP plans to implement online functionality in later Laser Jet models but hasn't disclosed precise details. Those using the delisted variants will see no change and must continue using HP+. Furthermore, the situation regarding the company's Ink Jet printers remains unchanged. Optional HP+ subscriptions are still available and the company intends to continue using DRM to force nonsubscribers to purchase HP ink cartridges. The DRM is the target of a class-action lawsuit from plaintiffs who consider the behavior monopolistic. The company has also been accused of disabling scanning functions until users buy more HP ink, even when they don't need to print anything. HP openly admits to using a razor-and-blade sales model to get as much money as possible from clients, and prior complaints have forced it to pay hefty settlements in multiple countries. Another subscription from the company, Instant Ink, automatically ships cartridges to customers when their ink runs low. However, it also limits the number of pages users can print monthly and levies fees for cancelations before the two-year mark. HP has delisted the subscription for toner shipments for new Laser Jet owners without clarifying why, but concerns over brand confusion might explain the decision. The big picture: Selfies are increasingly taking on a surprising new role: verifying your identity online. Some banks and even governments have started mandating live selfie captures during video calls to prove who you are before accessing services. However, giving tech companies your selfie is far from a smart cybersecurity move, as a new report has highlighted. Multiple security experts and market analysts who spoke to The Register discussed this practice, highlighting just how unsafe it is and advising on ways it can be improved. The selfie authentication trend has been brewing for years, says Akif Khan, a VP analyst at Gartner who advises organizations on implementing the technology. He told the publication that interest in selfie ID verification has been very high and steadily growing, with an "uptick" recently as the pandemic drove more services online. Concerns became overt last week when Vietnam made face scans from phone banking apps compulsory for any digital transaction over $400. Vietnamese media voiced skepticism that selfies would improve security. Within days, some apps were already failing the vibe check by accepting simple still photos instead of live selfie videos. The rise of selfie ID aligns with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations that require identity checks, though the specifics vary globally across jurisdictions and are frequently updated. This creates conflicting requirements when balanced against data privacy regulations in each region. How companies mishandle selfie data is a problem too, according to Kevin Reed, CISO at Acronis. He told the publication that businesses frequently fail to properly manage and dispose of selfie verification images after use, leaving them exposed to theft if cyber criminals find value in the data trove. A Resecurity report previously highlighted a Singapore payment provider that had users submit a photo holding their ID next to a handwritten sign to presumably prove liveness. Reed dismissed this technique as only "slightly better" than still selfies since it is still easily editable. Meanwhile, Khan wasn't confident about this technique either, calling it a "stopgap" measure while they work on a proper solution. A better solution is "liveness" detection technology from third-party vendors integrated into apps and websites. Liveness check vendors deploy a range of techniques to validate that users are physically present. These include movements during the selfie capture, like expressing emotions or turning the head. Khan noted that these checks are aided by machine learning and can also detect injection attacks from deepfakes. They analyze depth, edges, light reflection, and even signs of blood flow during verification. The big picture: If there's one company stuck bang in the middle of the intensifying US-China chip wars, it's ASML the Dutch semiconductor equipment giant that supplies cutting-edge lithography tech to all the major players. The company's recently departed CEO has just shared his insights on this complex geopolitical landscape. In a recent radio interview with Dutch radio station BNR, Peter Wennink didn't mince words on the US trade restrictions targeting China's chip ambitions. Wennink, who stepped down as ASML's chief in April after a decade at the helm, claims that the issue is driven more by ideology than by concrete evidence. "These kinds of discussions are not being conducted on the basis of facts or content or numbers or data but on the basis of ideology," Wennink stated. Under Wennink's leadership, ASML morphed into Europe's largest tech firm. A big part of that success was fueled by China, which became ASML's second biggest market after Taiwan as Beijing doubled down on semiconductor self-sufficiency. But the US has steadily clamped down on what chip tech can flow into China, citing national security concerns. At the start of this year, ASML announced that it would no longer be able to ship its NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i lithography systems to China. The latest restrictions this April even barred the company from servicing some of its equipment previously sold to buyers in the country. For a company with three decades of dealing with China, these limits create serious headaches. As Wennink puts it, "You also have obligations" to long-term Chinese staff and customers. Therefore, under his leadership, he tried to strike a delicate balance between the two nations, claiming to lobby against overly restrictive export controls, while also pushing back when China infringed on ASML's IP rights. Due to his more neutral approach, Wennink suggested that in Washington, there may have been a perception that he was a friend of China. But he dismissed this notion, asserting that his allegiance lies with his customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders. Wennink predicts the chip Cold War will rumble on for years or even decades. "This is going to go on for a while," he warned. ASML certainly has a vested interest in keeping the peace. The company's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems are critical for cutting-edge chip manufacturing at all the industry's leading players, including TSMC, Samsung, and Intel. EUV is essential for squeezing more transistors onto silicon at 7nm and denser nodes. In brief: Fears that a rogue nation could attack undersea cables as a way of impacting internet connectivity and digital communications have risen in recent times. To prepare for the worst, NATO is helping to finance a project that will investigate a way of keeping the internet running should the cables be sabotaged: rerouting data through satellites. Increasing geopolitical tensions have raised concerns that countries such as Russia, China, and North Korea could target subsea cables during a military crisis. Such a thing is not unprecedented; Yemeni Houthi rebels were suspected of damaging underwater Red Sea cables responsible for 17% of global internet traffic in February. Elsewhere, Sweden said in October that damage to a Baltic subsea cable linking Estonia and Sweden was "purposeful." Bloomberg reports that researchers, including academics from the US, Iceland, Sweden, and Switzerland, want to develop a way of seamlessly rerouting internet traffic from subsea cables to satellite systems in the event of an attack or damage from natural disasters. NATO believes the project is worthwhile. The organization's Science for Peace and Security Programme has approved a grant of as much as $433,600 for the $2.5 million project, and research institutions are providing their own contributions, according to documents seen by Bloomberg. Eyup Kuntay Turmus, adviser and program manager at the NATO program, said implementation of the project is due to begin "very soon." However, researchers will spend two years testing prototypes and dealing with international regulations and "very messy" laws before a working operational system can be created. Sweden and Iceland are among the countries interested in the project. Mar Magnusson, a law professor at Bifrost University in Iceland, said, "You would need three or four bombs to just cut off Iceland and its communications." US firm Viasat Inc., whose satellite internet system was hacked on the day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is participating in the effort. Space tech company Sierra Space Corp. and Icelandic cybersecurity company Syndis are also involved. One part of the project is to examine ways of detecting threats to undersea cables more effectively to determine when traffic needs to be rerouted. While cable network operators can detect disturbances on a cable down to the nearest kilometer, the project wants to reduce this to the nearest meter. NATO says that almost all of the organization's internet traffic travels through the undersea cables, as does data that accounts for around $10 trillion of financial transactions. The impact stemming from undersea cables failing was seen in March when a massive internet outage hit West and Central Africa. NATO established a center to coordinate best practices to protect undersea infrastructure following the explosion that destroyed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in September 2022. It's not just NATO that's aware of these dangers. The European Commission recently warned that undersea cables need their security and resilience improved in light of increasing global tensions. Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust The good old days: When I was a young whipper-snapper driving off into unfamiliar territory, I had to buy a paper map. Yes, maps used to be printed on large sheets of folded paper that you could never refold. I would plan out my route in advance, and turn-by-turn directions were obtained by memorizing a list or by my navigator (aka wife, friend, brother) reading from my notes. Then, the internet ruined everything. Android user Anthony Higman recently noticed something during a trip with Google Maps navigation running. He posted on X that as he was driving by a gas station, an ad for a convenience store called Royal Farms popped up on the screen, offering to add the location as a stop on the route. He had never seen such a popup before, and as a self-proclaimed advertising aficionado, he wondered "what kind of ad format" it was. Another user responded to his post with a screenshot of a similar ad for the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada. "Imagined headline: Multi-car pile up in Sparks, NV due to distracted drivers," he quipped. Higman agreed that the ad was indeed "super distracting." Yo Check Out This Wild New Ad Format On The Google Maps App. I Put In Directions Down The Shore And Then When I Passed This Gas Station This Royal Farms Ad Popped Up With "Add Stop" I Didnt Type Anything In About Gas Or Food Or Anything? Anyone Know What Kind OF Ad Format This pic.twitter.com/HiRfOZPo8n Anthony Higman (@AnthonyHigman) July 5, 2024 Both screenshots showed that the businesses displayed were "sponsored" advertisers with their review ratings shown. The Maps app described the locations as a "Quick detour." Since Higman had never noticed the Maps app do that before he assumed that Google was testing a new ad placement idea, albeit an ill-conceived one. Surprisingly, the popup distractions are not new. A Google "Ads Liaison" responded to his post, saying that the feature, referred to as "promoted pins," has been around for a while. They show up as drivers draw near or pass businesses along the Maps route. "To avoid driver distraction, these ads do not pop up, expand only if they're tapped on, and disappear quickly after a short time," the Ads rep said. Imagined headline: Muilti-car pile up in Sparks, NV due to distracted drivers pic.twitter.com/vz0EM0854j Mike Blumenthal (@mblumenthal) July 6, 2024 However, Higman pointed out that he did not interact with the screen and that the popup displayed for 45 seconds to a minute. The representative admitted that that was not normal behavior and would follow up with a private message for details she could pass on to the Ads team. Another poster translated the Google speak for Higman:" 'not expected behavior' oops we got caught a/b testing our abortion of an idea." Promoted pins might be a great idea on paper, and they undoubtedly have added to Google's advertising coffers, but at what expense? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is the number one cause of US traffic accidents. The American Automobile Association concurs, noting that distracted drivers cause 25 to 50 percent of automobile accidents. Lucid Motors delivered 2,394 electric cars (EVs) in the second quarter of 2024, setting a record for the firm amid a competitive electric vehicle industry. Lucid broke its first-quarter record of 1,967 luxury automobile deliveries. With Saudi financing backing, the California-based Lucid Air car maker has been actively lowering pricing and adding trim choices to attract more customers. Due to recent price cuts, Lucid's basic model now starts at $69,900, down from $100,000 in 2021, according to TechCrunch. During May's talks on Lucid's first-quarter financial results, CEO Peter Rawlinson noted rising sales, operational efficiency, and consumer and business partner interest. Lucid plans to make its Gravity SUV by year's end to expand its US market share. Monday morning's press release revealed the company's second-quarter delivery results and 2,110 car production. This increase in revenue matches Rivian and Tesla's quarterly releases from last week. Rivian's sales were constant compared to the first quarter and year-over-year, whereas Tesla's increased but declined compared to 2023. Lucid's Struggles Lucid Motors struggles financially despite recent successes. The corporation recorded slightly over $5 billion in liquidity in May, enough to fund costs into the second quarter of 2025. Lucid said in March that it would raise $1 billion from a Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund subsidiary. Lucid laid off 6% or around 400 of its employees in May to restructure. The projected cost of this restructuring ranges from $21 million to $25 million, primarily impacting the company's second quarter. Lucid's CEO, Peter Rawlinson, expressed confidence in the company's future, committing to making the best SUV and growing its market reach, according to a report from Quartz. However, he noted that the new SUV initiative is not yet generating income. Read Also : LG to Commercialize Cutting-Edge Battery Manufacturing Tech That Has so Far Evaded Tesla Rawlinson set Lucid's three main goals: boosting Lucid Air premium sedan sales, producing the Gravity SUV by 2024, and managing money. The business plans to create 9,000 premium EVs this year, growing from 8,500 in 2023. Lucid expects the three-row Gravity SUV to increase its worth, which had plunged 75% by 2023. Lucid hopes the Gravity SUV will help them enter a new EV market sector, competing with BMW and Rivian SUVs. Toyota EV Sales Accelerate In separate news, Toyota reported large second-quarter deliveries and quadrupling EV sales. Toyota sold 621,549 US automobiles in the second quarter, up 9.2% YoY owing to strong EV sales. Hybrid and electric cars comprised 40% of the company's volume and rose 63% YoY to over 250,000. Toyota's fastest-growing segment is EVs/PHEVs, according to Yahoo! Finance. Toyota currently has 29 hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and a fuel-cell electric vehicle, up from 27 last quarter. The Toyota Group sold 24,266 plug-in electric cars, up 112% YoY, accounting for 3.9% of total sales, up from 2.0% last year. Toyota had 17,589 plug-in sales, up 91% YoY, while Lexus almost doubled to 6,677. Google is shaking things up for Maps as it is now testing pop-up ads to appear on the app and it will do so while using the app when driving or navigating, suggesting places you may want to add to your stop. A user has shared this recent feature spotted on the Google Maps app, which remains unknown as it was an unconfirmed feature from the internet company. Reports now claim that several users call this new ad format "aggressive" and "intrusive" as it appears despite using the app when navigating to a place. Google Maps Pop-Up Ads Apparently Under Testing A user on X detailed his latest experience on Google Maps, where a pop-up ad appeared when navigating to a place, with the app suggesting a place to add as a stop in their current trip. Anthony Higman claimed that this is a new "wild" ad format on Google Maps that appeared as he was driving, which was unprompted. Other users believe these pop-ups appear for businesses that want to make their brand or service known, and they appear at the bottom of the screen. These ads would not expand to take over the whole screen unless tapped on by users and would quickly disappear, claims another user. Read Also : Google Maps Users May Soon No Longer Follow Places Users Call Google Maps Ads 'Aggressive' Still, according to 9to5Google, other users call these pop-up ads "aggressive" and "intrusive," one that would appear despite looking at the device for navigation needs and take up a part of one's display. It was attributed to the recent email by Google to its clients for Local Services ads that are coming to Google Maps, but this centers on it appearing on search ads and not while navigating. Google Maps and Its Recent Tests The regular updates and testing on Google Maps are looking towards integrating more experiences and features for users to enjoy, with significant experience soon to be available. One of the features found in its testing experiences was Live Activities support for iOS and iPhones, a long overdue feature that was unveiled in January but only released in May. Google Maps also introduced a future upgrade that will take advantage of Android's connections to satellites, which would help improve the experience for the renowned navigation app. It was reported that Google is currently working on integrating a satellite connectivity feature that would allow it to update a location using the satellite and connect to it in just a tap. Over the past few years, Google has worked on improving its Maps experience for users with different tests done on specific features that it is looking to bring, but not all are welcome additions, particularly with the new one. The latest on Google Maps aims to bring pop-up ads for users while using the app, which would appear while driving. Many call this aggressive and intrusive, but it does not yet appear to all. An ex-compliance officer of the renowned Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange platform, Crypto.com, was recently charged with extortion and money laundering charges in Malta. This was after using his former position to obtain confidential information about the company illegally and using it to threaten the company to pay him more after being removed from his post. The Maltese court has taken the suspect in custody after his threats to the company, now facing as many as nine charges for his alleged crimes. Crypto.com's Ex-Compliance Officer Faces Nine Charges in Malta Jose Luis Alonso Melchor, a former compliance officer for Crypto.com, is now facing nine charges filed to a Maltese court for his actions against the company since he was removed from his position. According to Malta Today, Melchor is facing charges including two counts of extortion, money laundering, unauthorized access to Crypto.com's computers, and taking, tampering with, and disclosing sensitive data. In the report, Melchor was arraigned last Thursday after being caught by authorities. Crypto.com terminated Melchor after breaking an attachment order that the company did not disclose. Angry about his termination, Melchor illegally accessed Crypto.com's files and used them to threaten the company if he was not compensated for 44,00 ($47,644). Ex-Compliance Officer Denied of Bail, Considered a Flight Risk After his arraignment, magistrate Nadia Vella denied Melchor's bail requests as he was considered a flight risk, and he also faced a 2 million ($2.2 million) freezing order. Crypto.com claimed it would continue working with authorities amidst the upcoming legal battle against its former compliance officer in a statement to Protos. Crypto.com and Its Issues, Scrutinies Among the most popular crypto exchange companies was Crypto.com. It was previously known for using Matt Damon as one of its endorsers in advertisements, but it also faced massive scrutiny in the past. In 2022, the company suffered from a massive hack that paved the way for hundreds of accounts to be breached by threat actors, but no funds were stolen. The platform is also known for a massive fiasco two years ago when it mistakenly sent $7.2 million to a specific account instead of only $68 due to a type that the company admitted to. Later, it pursued the user who did not comply with its request to refund the money with a lawsuit, and the judge ruled in their favor, plus 10 percent interest and legal fees. Over the past year, we have seen top crypto exchange companies drop like flies because of scrutinies like FTX and Binance, with Crypto.com also facing these problems with regulators. However, its latest case is not about its compliance but about a former compliance officer who illegally obtained information to use against the company, now pursued by the law. The world's first "Miss AI" is reportedly officially Morocco's digital influencer, Kenza Layli, winning roughly $13,000 in prizes from the AI pageant. The prize package included $5,000 cash, support on the world's largest AI developer platform, and a personal publicist, totaling $13,000. Layli rose to notoriety after impressing a team of judges, including AI-generated personalities Emily Pellegrini and Aitana Lopez. Of course, Layli had to earn the respect of actual people. Pageant historian Sally-Ann Fawcett and marketing expert Andrew Bloch were also on the panel. Contestants were assessed based on their attractiveness, social media presence, and use of AI techniques in their design. The participants have no real-world existence. They only exist on social media, particularly Instagram, in photorealistic photographs of beautiful young ladies, all manufactured with a combination of off-the-shelf and custom AI technologies. Sofia Novales, a member of Lopez's management team, stated that Layli "stood out" from hundreds of other contenders. Novales believes Layli had excellent face consistency and reached high quality in features such as hands, eyes, and clothes. Layli already had over 130,000 Instagram followers and had collaborated with companies such as Hyundai and Bioderma before winning. Miss AI's Opponents But she still had to compete against 1,499 other creators for the title. Entries flooded in worldwide, with artisans from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas contending for first place. Two fierce opponents, France's Lalina Valina and Portugal's Olivia C, finished barely behind in second and third place, respectively. Layli accepted the accolade with a computer-generated speech. The pageant, hosted by the World AI Creator Awards (WAICA) in cooperation with Fanvue, aims to recognize the achievements of AI innovators worldwide. According to reports, the runner-up will get a $5,000 cash reward, $500 in free participation in an Imagine Education course, and PR help worth more than $2,500. Likewise, the third-place winner receives $2,000, a $500 consulting call from Imagine Education, plus a $500 Fanvue promotion package. The competition aims to recognize the technical knowledge and effort that go into creating digital influencer personalities worldwide, and WAICA has waived the registration cost. AI and Modelling This event also provides information on AI's possible influence on industries such as modeling and fashion. Advocates reportedly argue that the growing use of AI in fashion modeling exposes variety in all shapes and sizes, allowing buyers to make more personalized shopping decisions and reducing fashion waste from returned products. Furthermore, digital modeling saves organizations money and creates opportunities for people who want to work in the technology industry. However, others are concerned that using computer models would push away genuine models and other industry professionals like makeup artists and photographers. It is also feasible to trick customers into believing that AI models are real, and organizations may claim credit for reaching diversity objectives without employing real people. Artificial intelligence models have reportedly been found to be training on a dataset that includes photos of minors from Australia without their consent. Many photographs were scraped from difficult-to-find areas that individuals may have assumed were private, such as private blogs and school internet pages, or from locations that could not be easily searched using a browser. The Human Rights Watch researcher who discovered the photographs blamed the German non-profit LAION for creating the LAION-5B dataset, which has 5.85 billion image connections. In its defense, LAION informed sources that its dataset is just a compilation of links accessible through the public internet. A spokeswoman stated that the most efficient approach to promoting safety is eliminating private children's data from the public web. In effect, this transfers accountability to their guardians and parents. Read Also : Private Accounts, Posts Will Not be Used by Facebook and Instagram to Their AI Regulators on AI Training This implies that if a kid's data is available on the internet, deliberately or otherwise, it becomes fair for web crawlers, companies like LAION, and AI labs to access and train on it. Privacy regulators do not believe so. According to Australia's regulator, most countries still have privacy regulations for publicly available personal information. In reality, sources indicate that the entire AI supply chain is responsible for infractions like these, but parents need less guilt and more assistance than they are receiving. Meta AI Training Banned AI training data sources remain a topic of contention and worry, as Meta was recently barred from training on data originating in Brazil by the country's national data protection body. This decision was made in response to concerns about potential harm to individuals' basic rights, as stated by the regulatory agency. Brazil, where Facebook alone has over 102 million active users out of an overall population of about 203 million, is a significant market for Meta. Despite Meta's claim that its modified privacy policy conforms with Brazil's privacy rules, the business expressed unhappiness with the verdict, emphasizing its possible influence on Brazilian innovation and artificial intelligence research. Meta's privacy policy update has encountered opposition in Brazil and Europe, where intentions to include public postings in AI training were recently suspended. Sources said similar tactics are already in place in the United States, where federal privacy regulations are less rigorous. Meta's previous disclosures suggested that it intends to leverage publicly available information about its goods and services, such as data from public postings and photographs with captions, to improve AI capabilities. However, there have been questions expressed regarding the accessibility and clarity of the opt-out process for consumers who want to avoid having their data used in this way. The regulatory decision underscores larger worries about using personal data in artificial intelligence research. Microsoft's subsidiary, Xandr, is facing allegations of breaching European Union data protection regulations following a complaint supported by the privacy advocacy group, noyb. The nonprofit has rallied behind an unnamed individual in Italy who has officially filed a complaint against Xandr with the country's data protection authority under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If successful, this legal action may result in fines of up to 4% of Microsoft's annual global revenue. Microsoft's Xandr Faces Allegations of Violating EU Data Protection Rules The complaint centers on accusations concerning Xandr's practices in collecting and sharing the personal data of millions of Europeans for targeted advertising purposes. Despite advertising itself as a platform for precise ad targeting, Xandr allegedly distributes user data widely among advertisers, encompassing sensitive information about health, sexuality, and political beliefs. The complaint contends that this process enables Xandr to sell ad space to multiple advertisers under the guise of targeting specific demographics despite possessing inconsistent and inaccurate data. Xandr operates within the Real Time Bidding (RTB) framework, a platform allowing advertisers to bid on ad placements based on automated algorithms that assess user profiles. This automated auction system relies heavily on detailed user data to determine the value of ad space, which Xandr acquires and shares with external parties like emetriq, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. The data reportedly includes profiles categorizing individuals based on sensitive attributes such as disabilities, pregnancy status, and LGBTQ+ identification, among others. Another concern raised in the complaint is Xandr's purported failure to comply with GDPR-mandated access and data erasure requests. Despite accumulating extensive personal data from users, Xandr allegedly maintains a 0% response rate to requests for access and erasure. Read Also : Microsoft Agrees to Pay Over $14 Million to Resolve Allegations It Discriminated Against Workers Who Took Leave User Privacy Concerns Massimiliano Gelmi, a data protection lawyer affiliated with noyb, criticized Xandr's approach, highlighting the discrepancy between the company's data handling practices and GDPR requirements. He pointed out that Xandr's operations appear to prioritize data accumulation over accuracy, potentially compromising the integrity of targeted advertising efforts. The lawyer emphasized that such practices undermine user privacy and raise questions about the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks designed to protect personal data. The complaint, now under review by the Italian data protection authority (Garante), accuses Xandr of multiple GDPR violations, including failures in transparency, data accuracy, and responsiveness to user requests. The legal action seeks to compel Xandr to rectify its data processing practices to align with GDPR standards, particularly regarding data minimization and accuracy. Additionally, noyb has proposed imposing substantial fines on Xandr, amounting to 4% of its annual turnover, as a deterrent against future non-compliance. Xandr has not yet released a public statement about these allegations. Recent data reveals a concerning surge in sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses across the United States, with a notable increase among older Americans (via Axios). Rising STD Diagnoses in the US Between 2020 and 2023, there was an overall 4.8% increase in STD diagnoses, according to data from FAIR Health. However, the age group 65 and older experienced the most dramatic rise, with a staggering 23.8% increase in diagnoses. This shocking surge was the highest among all age groups. Patients aged 55 to 64 also saw a significant rise in STD diagnoses, with a 16.2% increase. In comparison, those aged 45 to 54 had a 7.6% rise, and the 35 to 44 age group saw an 8.6% increase. Conversely, younger age groups, specifically those 18 and younger and those aged 19 to 24, experienced a decline in STD diagnoses during this period. US STI Epidemic The surge in cases is so concerning that the CDC already considers STIs a pandemic, with 2.5 million cases reported in the US in 2021. The study at hand identified syphilis as the fastest-growing STD diagnosis across all age groups, with a 29% increase from 2020 to 2023. Earlier this year, CNBC reported that there were more than 207,000 cases of syphilis in the US in 2022-a 17% increase from the year before and the highest number since 1950. Meanwhile, gonorrhea diagnoses rose by nearly 17%, while HIV and AIDS diagnoses increased by about 14%. Among seniors, there was a 32% increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnoses. As Axios points out, the data aligns with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reported increases in STD diagnoses among adults aged 55 and older between 2012 and 2022. The data also highlighted noticeable gender disparities in STD rates. The number of male patients diagnosed with gonorrhea increased by 59%, while the number of female patients with the same diagnosis decreased by about 19%. Female patients with syphilis saw an almost 47% increase, compared to a roughly 23% increase among male patients. Read Also : Thousands of Volunteers Sign Up for Dementia Research Efforts in UK Rising STD Rates Among Seniors These alarming statistics stress the urgent need for targeted conversations with older patients about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Rising STD rates in this demographic, coupled with the potential for misdiagnosis due to overlapping symptoms with other age-related conditions, necessitate immediate attention. To address this concern, the CDC calls on healthcare providers to prioritize sexual health education, emphasizing safe practices and regular screenings. Additionally, the CDC advocates for making STI testing and treatment more accessible by creating rapid point-of-care and self-tests, as well as expanding the organizations and settings that can provide these services. "The US STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing. The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted - and so are the solutions," Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's Division of STD Prevention said in a statement. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Evolve Bank & Trust confirmed that millions of clients' personal data were compromised in a recent breach. On Monday, Evolve informed Maine's attorney general that the hack exposed the personal data of at least 7.6 million people, including more than 20,000 Maine customers, per TechCrunch. Evolve did not identify the categories of data exposed in the filing, but a prior statement on its website indicated that attackers gained personal banking clients' names, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and contact information. The hackers compromised the personal data of Evolve workers and the clients of their financial technology partners. LockBit Ransomware Involved in Evolve Data Breach One of Evolve's partners, Affirm, stated that the hack "may have compromised some data and personal information" of its clients. TechTimes reported last week that Wise, the Evolve Bank & Trust data breach may have harmed certain clients. It stated that customers who "may have been affected by this data breach directly." will be emailed. In June, LockBit fraudulently claimed a Federal Reserve hack. The breach turned out to contain Evolve Bank and Trust data. BleepingComputer reported that Evolve began an inquiry into the incident. It found that a LockBit member seized Evolve's database and file shares after an employee clicked on a malicious link. Evolve stated that client money was secure, but acknowledged that the assault had affected some fintech customers. Affirm, Wise, and Bilt independently verified that LockBit affected Evolve customers. Evolve notified the concerned parties that some of its systems were not functioning properly on May 29, 2024. The bank said that it learned that the issue, initially perceived as "hardware failure, was due to "unauthorized activity." Read Also: Symantec Discovers New SMS Phishing Campaign Targeting Apple IDs: How to Protect Yourself From It Exact Scope of The Data Breach Still Unknown The first breach occurred on February 9, 2024, according to the data breach notification, giving attackers over four months to infiltrate Evolve's network. Evolve now offers two years of credit monitoring and identity protection for U.S. citizens, as well as dark web monitoring for overseas residents. By October 31, 2024, recipients must enroll. For an update on Evolve's cybersecurity incident, click the link: https://t.co/0qviVCGc05 pic.twitter.com/i9DbGuxpEA Evolve Bank & Trust (@getevolved1925) July 8, 2024 The sample letter to authorities does not specify the types data exposed. Evolve advised affected clients to avoid unsolicited messages, watch account statements and credit histories, and report unusual behavior to authorities. Evolve collaborates with Shopify, Plaid, Stripe, and Mercury. These firms have not confirmed LockBit ransomware exposure. After a threat actor tried to sell 180,000 Shopify users' data, the company denied a data breach, as per the report. The shared data contains full names, email addresses, phone numbers, order details, and Shopify account details. According to Evolve, it would contact affected customers. Financial company Mercury claimed on social networking site X that Evolve's security breach included client account and deposit balance data. Mercury advised worried clients about data protection. Evolve Bank stated in a blog that it will not pay hackers ransom. The bank changed global passwords and rebuilt Active Directory and stronger firewalls after the data intrusion. On X, Evolve Bank & Trust advised clients to keep updated on the data breach developments. Microsoft is boosting its popular word processing software with a new AI feature: "Personalization" profiles in Microsoft Copilot. This tool aims to tailor the AI writing assistant's responses to individual user preferences. As first reported by MSPowerUser, this update is expected to roll out in July 2024. New AI Feature for Microsoft Word The new "Personalization" profiles will allow users to customize the way Copilot responds to their prompts, creating a more personalized and efficient experience. According to Microsoft's roadmap (Feature ID: 380430), this feature will be generally available in July 2024. The new personalized Copilot feature will be available to users subscribed to the Copilot Pro or Copilot for Microsoft 365 plans. The Copilot Pro plan, priced at $20 per month, is more suited for personal use, while the Copilot for Microsoft 365 plan is tailored for businesses and organizations. Both plans provide access to Copilot AI across all Microsoft 365 apps, with the exception of Teams, which remains exclusive to the Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscription. How the Feature Works Microsoft Copilot's capabilities are set to expand significantly with the new update. The "Personalization" profiles will allow the AI to adapt to user preferences, interests, and other personal information, enhancing the overall user experience. MSPowerUser notes that this level of customization is similar to the "Sound like me" feature found in Outlook, where the AI adapts to emulate the user's writing style. In addition to these advancements, Copilot will integrate Bing search capabilities directly into the Word app. This means users can obtain web-based answers and information without leaving their documents, streamlining their workflow. Here is Microsoft's official description of Copilot in Word: "(Copilot) can help you go from a blank page to a finished document in a fraction of the time it would take to compose text on your own. And while it may write exactly what you need, sometimes it may be 'usefully wrong,' thus giving you some helpful inspiration." Related Developments: Team Copilot In May, Microsoft introduced Team Copilot, an extension of the AI tool designed to assist teams, departments, and organizations. Team Copilot aims to enhance productivity and streamline collaboration by automating time-consuming tasks such as managing meeting agendas, taking minutes, and facilitating group tasks. Team Copilot can moderate meetings by summarizing key information for latecomers or for future reference. It also answers questions, creates and assigns tasks in Microsoft Planner, tracks deadlines, and notifies team members about their specific contributions. These features will be available in preview later this year for users with a Microsoft 365 license. In a related development, technology consulting giant Tech Mahindra has announced a collaboration with Microsoft to modernize workplace experiences using Copilot for Microsoft 365. This partnership will initially benefit over 1,200 of Tech Mahindra's customers and more than 10,000 employees across 15 locations. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Chinese scientists claim a significant advancement in radar technology, potentially escalating the global hypersonic weapons race. According to the group, this innovation could provide a crucial advantage in tracking and intercepting these high-speed missiles. It can even distinguish genuine from fake targets along its way flying at a high speed, Interesting Engineering reports. Ultra-Precise Tracking of Hypersonic Missiles Led by Professor Zheng Xiaoping of Tsinghua University, the research team developed a groundbreaking radar system capable of exceptional feats including the following: Tracking Multiple Hypersonic Missiles: The radar can track a staggering 10 hypersonic missiles flying at Mach 20 (over 15,000 mph) simultaneously. Unprecedented Precision: During simulations, the radar demonstrated pinpoint accuracy, estimating the distance of a hypersonic missile traveling at nearly 7km/s with a mere 28cm (11 inches) of error. High Speed, High Accuracy: The system boasts a remarkable 99.7% accuracy in estimating missile speed - a feat previously deemed impossible. Laser Innovation for Enhanced Speed and Complexity Traditionally, generating and analyzing radar signals for precise measurements presented a challenge. Electrons needed to move at extremely high speeds, potentially damaging circuit boards. Zheng's team tackled this hurdle through a clever innovation through: Light Speed Information Transmission: By incorporating lasers into the radar system, the researchers achieved information transmission between key nodes at the speed of light. Complex Microwave Signal Processing: This laser integration allows the radar to generate and process far more complex microwave signals than ever before. Ultra-High-Speed Object Measurement: As a result, the radar can accurately measure the position and velocity of ultra-high-speed objects, including hypersonic missiles, for the first time. Microwave Photonic Radar: Compact and Long-Range The newly developed radar, dubbed "microwave photonic radar," offers additional benefits, according to The South China Morning Post. First, it boasts an extended detection range wherein it can detect what's upcoming from 600km (373 miles). Aside from that, it features compact and mobile design: Its small and lightweight construction makes it ideal for deployment on fighter jets or air defense missiles. This technology is considered by some military experts as a critical development for next-generation fire-control radars, essential for guiding interceptor missiles against incoming threats. Hypersonic Weapons: A Challenge for Traditional Defenses Hypersonic weapons pose a significant challenge to existing defense systems due to their extreme speed and unpredictability. Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 3,800 mph), significantly faster than traditional ballistic missiles. Their ability to perform unpredictable maneuvers further complicates interception efforts by traditional air defense systems. While new interceptor missiles and laser weapons hold promise for destroying incoming hypersonic projectiles, their success hinges on precise target acquisition. Interceptor missiles require accurate position and velocity data of incoming hypersonic targets to effectively engage. High-speed movement can create phantom images on radar screens, overwhelming operators with false targets that outnumber real threats. Zheng's team tackled these challenges head-on with their innovative radar design: Multi-Frequency Transmission: By employing laser technology, the radar can transmit three different microwave bands simultaneously, enhancing detection accuracy. False Target Elimination Algorithm: The researchers developed an algorithm that effectively eliminates false target interference by analyzing signals across different frequencies. Complete System Verification Professor Zheng's team has successfully built a complete radar system, including chips and transmitters. They have confirmed its performance through laboratory testing with instruments simulating the movement of hypersonic targets within the atmosphere. The new radar technology has high-precision tracking capabilities and the ability to filter out false targets. This could be a game-changer for countries aiming to improve their defenses against these next-generation threats. Meta, the social media giant encompassing Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is taking a stronger stance against online hate speech. The company announced a new policy specifically targeting content that uses "Zionist" as a veiled attack on Jewish and Israeli people. This update aims to create a safer space for these communities on Meta platforms. Combating Hate Disguised as Anti-Zionism Previously, Meta's policy only addressed a limited scope of antisemitic content disguised as anti-Zionism. Now, the new policy entails other changes. According to Bloomberg, the crackdown will be focused on targeting individuals and not their ideologies. Content that attacks "Zionists" but demonstrably targets Jewish or Israeli people will be removed. This ensures criticism remains focused on the political ideology of Zionism, not on individuals based on their religion or ethnicity. Aside from that, posts and comments that employ antisemitic stereotypes while criticizing Zionism will be banned. This includes harmful generalizations and conspiracy theories about Jews and Israelis. Another thing is that any content that uses the term "Zionist" to incite violence or hatred against Jewish or Israeli people will be taken down. Meta aims to create a safe online environment for all users, free from threats of violence or intimidation. Related Article : Instagram Restricts Kanye West Again After Posting Another Anti-Semitic Post Aligning with Existing Hate Speech Policies This update brings the definition of "Zionist" within Meta's hate speech policy. Existing policies already prohibit attacks based on protected characteristics like religion and ethnicity. This revision ensures that online hate targeting Jews and Israelis disguised as anti-Zionism receives the appropriate response. Meta Sought Help From Different People Meta's Policy Forum consulted with over 145 experts worldwide, including scholars, digital rights groups, and human rights advocates, before implementing this change. While acknowledging the lack of complete consensus on "Zionist" as a term, the forum identified its frequent use as a proxy for hateful rhetoric. Navigating the 'Criminal' Gray Area Meta acknowledges a remaining gray area - the comparison of "Zionists" to criminals. They currently prohibit posts that connect protected characteristics with criminality. However, the forum recognizes that some comparisons might be targeted at specific groups like governments or soldiers, falling under political speech rather than hate speech. For instance, Meta previously removed posts calling all Israelis, Americans, or Indians criminals. This is one of many cases that prove that some posts are quite complex. Right now, Meta is deliberating on a refined policy regarding "Zionist" and criminality. Israel Lauds Meta's New Policy The Israeli NGO CyberWell, dedicated to combating online hate speech, has praised the new policy. They acknowledge a significant rise in antisemitic content disguised as anti-Zionism, particularly after the October conflict in the Middle East. CyberWell emphasizes the role of social media algorithms in amplifying coded hate speech and welcomes Meta's efforts to create a safer online environment for Jews globally. Outside Meta's apps, Elon Musk was criticized when he allowed antisemitic posts on X. Back in January, he visited Auschwitz concentration camp, a reminder of the grim past of the Jews. The Anti-Defamation League also accused the billionaire of tolerating antisemitic posts on the platform. Popular sleep-tracking app based on Pokemon, "Pokemon Sleep," has accumulated $100 million in revenue just a week shy of its first anniversary. Pokemon Sleep Hits $100 Revenue in Less Than a Year According to data from AppMagic (via Pocket Gamer), the bulk of Pokemon Sleep's revenue comes from Japan, where users have spent a remarkable $73 million since its launch on July 17, 2023. Major markets have also contributed with the US users have contributed an additional $15 million, while Taiwan follows with $4 million. Pokemon Sleep has also seen substantial user engagement, with 9.8 million downloads reported. Japan accounts for 44% of the user base, with the United States and Taiwan making up 17% and 7%, respectively. This distribution highlights the app's global reach and significant user interest. How to Use Pokemon Sleep The Pokemon Company has announced its intention to investigate the new viral survival game "Palworld" and take appropriate measures against its developer Pocketpair. Pokemon Sleep combines sleep tracking with the engaging gameplay Pokemon titles offer. Users can catch Pokemon based on their sleep patterns, with the app tracking up to two sleep sessions per day. Players are scored based on their sleep duration, which contributes to a "sleep score." This score is then combined with a score from a Snorlax-themed minigame, which players can upgrade through in-app purchases. Additionally, a premium pass offers various benefits, enhancing the overall experience for dedicated users. Pocket Gamer tells us that special events within the app have driven significant revenue spikes. Notably, the Holiday 2023 event generated $4 million in just one week. Similarly, the Entei Research event saw a revenue increase to $3.8 million from $1.4 million the week prior. These events, featuring popular Pokemon and exclusive rewards, keep the user base engaged and willing to spend on in-app purchases. Does the App Work? Beyond its financial success, Pokemon Sleep has had a real positive impact on users' sleep habits. A study conducted in Japan by LY Corporation found that users of the app increased their average sleep time by 26 minutes per night compared to the same period in 2022. The average sleep duration for Japanese individuals aged 15 to 64 is approximately 7 hours and 22 minutes. Pokemon Sleep users exceeded this average by about 20 minutes, suggesting that the app encourages healthier sleep patterns. Furthermore, Pokemon Sleep users demonstrated a proactive approach to improving their sleep quality. Search queries among users included inquiries into sleep-enhancing methods such as aromatherapy and techniques to induce sleep. In contrast, a control group without the app showed minimal interest in such methods and only marginal changes in sleep duration from 2022 to 2023. Stay posted here at Tech Times. A Chinese information security specialist says leaked F-35 and other US weapon technical data are legitimate. Ivan Ivanov, posing as Fighterbomber on Telegram, claimed to be a Russian pilot who got 250 GB of US military data from an American corporation. Fighterbomber released documents to their over 500,000-subscriber channel on July 2, and more the following day. Some papers are still downloadable. An SCMP reported cited Tang, head of marketing of Rising Information Technology, saying that they downloaded and examined the leaked documents and found that much of its information "appears to be highly authentic." What Does The Leaked US Military Information Contain? Leaked documents included manuals for the F-35 fighter, F-15, and F-15 upgrades, the Switchblade drone, and precision-guided weapons. Tang noted that the leaked documents are "detailed" and with a format resembling other leaked US military information before. The disclosures, according to Chinese aviation blogger Makayev, were classified as F-15SA flying and maintenance documents, engine maintenance manuals, and precision-guided missile user manuals. He saw the publications as reduced introductions for maintenance staff rather than thorough design documentation, and he disputed their utility. After the revelations, military fans joked about creating a fighter plane in a garage. The Russian pilot's claim to 250 GB of data has raised concerns that further papers may expose aircraft flaws. Tang suspected a US military company or third-party intrusions were behind the releases. The partial blackout of some F-35 papers suggested declassification. He highlighted that older F-15s are less secretive. Rising Information Technology cautioned against downloading questionable documents since hackers may utilize popular events to propagate ransomware or Trojans, per Interesting Engineering. Flight Global reported that a gaming community posted restricted US military aircraft information in January. If true, the leak might divulge trade secrets and expose the US's weakness to foes, threatening its military capabilities. US OKs $140 Billion ICBM Program In other news, despite cost overruns and schedule delays, the U.S. Department of Defense declared that it will proceed with the $140 billion Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, per SpaceNews. After a thorough examination sparked by a key Nunn-McCurdy breach earlier this year, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions William LaPlante certified that the Sentinel program fulfilled statutory requirements to continue. Over 25% of program expenses exceeded baseline forecasts, causing the breach. The U.S. nuclear triad relies on Minuteman III ICBMs, which the Sentinel program will replace. Estimates place program acquisition expenditures at $140.9 billion. Lawmakers have criticized the Northrop Grumman-led program for rising costs. From $118 million to $162 million, the cost per unit has increased by 37%. The planned 10-year program cost rose from $96 billion to $120 billion before the recent modification to $140 billion. US Defense Department officials say replacing Minuteman III ICBMs with Sentinel is necessary to retain the land-based nuclear triad. The program may not be operational until the early 2030s. The assessment found command and launch to be the main cost drivers. This component covers launch facilities, launch centers, and Minuteman III-to-Sentinel conversions. The US Air Force's requirement for design revisions, underestimating the complexity of infrastructure work, economic issues, and longer lead times for missile guidance system components further boosted expenses. Meals dry up as Zimbabwe's drought bites Kotwa, Zimbabwe, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 A bed of sand and a patch of mud is all that remains of Kapotesa dam, which once provided the water vital for crops and livestock in this remote part of Zimbabwe. Nearby, farmer Georgina Kwengwere walks among corn stalks dessicated by the drought that is ravaging her country and leaving millions of people in need of food aid. "I did not harvest anything after all my effort and using all our savings to buy seeds," the 54-year-old told AFP, shaking her head despondently. "Not even a single cob." The Kapotesa dam dried up in May, Kwengwere said. "Only God knows how we are going to survive until the next harvest next year," she said. When the rains are good, water from the dam in the northeastern Mudzi district allows Kwengwere and her husband to grow vegetables to feed themselves and their six children. There is even a surplus to sell for cash to buy livestock and pay school fees. Now Kwengwere has to join other villagers on a five-kilometre daily walk to a business centre in the small town of Kotwa to look for odd jobs to be able to buy food. On a good day she will make about three US dollars; on a bad day, she makes the long walk back home to her village of Mafuta empty-handed. Like most villagers in the district of around 164,000 people, her family has cut back meals to just two a day. "Most of us have no food in our homes," said Takesure Chimbu, 58, also from Mafuta. "Without water, everything is down," he told AFP. Cases of malnutrition have jumped by around 20 percent in Mudzi in the past three months, district medical officer Kudzai Madamombe said. "Food is quite expensive in the district especially due to the fact that we are drought-prone," he said, calling for government assistance. - Nutritional porridge - Faced with this spike in malnutrition, health experts in Mudzi have come up with a nutritional porridge called maworesa, which means "the very best" in the local Shona language. It is made from cheap, locally sourced ingredients such as eggs, sugar beans and baobab fruit that are contributed by the villagers. The porridge was concocted to cover basic nutritional needs by including carbohydrates, protein, and fruits and vegetables, Madamombe said. "This has greatly helped in curbing malnutrition using as little money as possible while making sure that every child in every family gets at least four basic food groups at least once a week," he said. Zimbabwe and neighbouring Malawi and Zambia are among the countries in southern Africa most affected by malnutrition after a severe drought which experts say was worsened by the El Nino phenomenon. In May, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster, saying Zimbabwe needed at least two billion dollars to respond to the drought. At least 7.6 million people, almost half of the population, are in need of aid, the UN said in May. Children aged under five and pregnant and lactating women are most affected. "Harvests have not been what they should be," UNICEF Zimbabwe chief communications officer Yves Willemot told AFP. "Most people are living in a pretty dire situation with lack of access to water and food." In early June, the UN launched a $429 million drought appeal for Zimbabwe. "Until now, except for internal resources and resources from the UN safe, we have not received any contributions yet," Willemot said. Villages in southern Albania battle wildfire Tirana, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Soldiers and firefighters on Tuesday were battling flames raging near southern Albanian villages near the Greek border, the defence ministry said as a heatwave sweeps the Balkans. Fire crews, backed by a helicopter, brought several wildfires under control on Monday, but high temperatures and winds have spurred the flames' spread near the villages of Dropull and Finiq, the ministry said. "A Cougar helicopter and about 30 members of our armed forces resumed operations this morning to put out the fire raging in villages near Dropull," said Albania's Defence Minister Niko Peleshi. Footage of the efforts posted by Peleshi on Facebook showed hilltops engulfed in flames, and rescuers working through thick smoke. A heatwave expected to last until the end of the week has swept across the Balkans, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenehit) in Albania. UK's biggest water supplier piles on debt London, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Britain's embattled Thames Water on Tuesday said its debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, leaving the group with cash reserves taking it through only until May next year. Britain's biggest water supplier avoided a state rescue under the previous Conservative government, leaving the newly-elected Labour administration to decide whether taxpayers should renationalise the company. Thames said that debt increased around nine percent to nearly pound15.25 billion ($19.5 billion) in the year to the end of March. Britain's water regulator is on Thursday due to respond to a five-year business plan laid out by UK water companies including Thames, which on Tuesday said it had sufficient liquid funds of pound1.8 billion -- enough to see it through until May 2025. "The challenges we face are well documented," chief executive Chris Weston said in the results statement. "But our operational and financial performance for the last year show good progress, and these positive results provide the right foundations on which to build and improve." Thames on Tuesday said its last financial year saw record investment -- up 18 percent at pound2.1 billion -- to improve "ageing" infrastructure. It was helped by a 10-percent rise in revenue to pound2.4 billion as customers paid more for their water. The company, which supplies around 16 million homes and businesses in London and elsewhere in southern England, has missed targets to reduce leaks and slash sewage discharges into rivers, despite the major investment. Environmentalists have increasingly voiced outrage at the rise in pollution on the UK's beaches and waterways, and have pointed the finger at privatised water companies. The new Labour government waded into the debate Tuesday after bringing an end to 14 years of Conservative rule in last week's general election. Communities minister Jim McMahon said there was "no programme of nationalisation for the water industry" should Thames Water collapse. But he added: "The days of putting shareholder interest above the national interest, frankly, can't carry on and so we do need to look at that and Thames do need to look at their own house and get it in order." Villages in southern Albania battle wildfires Tirana, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Crews on Tuesday battled wildfires raging in southern Albania as a heatwave sweeps the Balkans, said authorities who charged a suspect in connection with the flames. Firefighters, backed by a helicopter, brought several blazes under control on Monday, but high temperatures and winds have spurred the flames' spread near the villages of Dropull and Finiq, the ministry said. The suspect is accused of arson -- the 18th person to face an arson charge over the last month for sparking wildfires across Albania, police said. "A Cougar helicopter and about 30 members of our armed forces resumed operations this morning to put out the fire raging in villages near Dropull," said Defence Minister Niko Peleshi. Footage of the efforts posted by Peleshi on Facebook showed hilltops engulfed in flames, and rescuers working through thick smoke. A heatwave expected to last until the end of the week has swept across the Balkans, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in Albania. Floods tear through delta in war-torn Sudan's southeast Port Sudan, Sudan, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Torrential flooding battered Sudan's southeast Tuesday, bringing entire villages underwater and causing homes to collapse, witnesses told AFP, in the first devastating weather event of Sudan's rainy season. In Aroma, a town some 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the major city of Kassala, residents were "shocked this morning by the sudden water" after the collapse of a dirt barrier that functioned as a makeshift dam, local resident Ibrahim Issa told AFP over the phone. The flooding, which usually occurs in the area later in the summer, follows increased rainfall in neighbouring Eritrea, feeding the Gash River. Also known as the Mareb River, the waterway flows out of Eritrea and annually inundates the flat delta in eastern Sudan, just north of the Kassala state capital. "Now everything in my house is completely underwater, I only managed to get my children out," Issa said. By early afternoon, the waters had submerged large parts of Aroma as well as three nearby villages, according to a humanitarian worker in the area. "The water is still coming," the worker told AFP, requesting anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media. Photos shared on social media showed residents wading through thigh-level brown water. AFP could not immediately verify the scale of the damage wrought by the flooding. Each year, torrential rains and river flooding -- which peak in August -- destroy homes, wreck infrastructure and claim lives, both directly and indirectly through water-borne diseases. The damage is expected to be much worse this year, after nearly 15 months of war that have decimated the country's already fragile infrastructure and pushed millions of displaced people into flood zones. The World Meteorological Organization has predicted "above-normal rainfall" over most of the Greater Horn of Africa region this summer, which could spell disaster for Sudan's already flood-prone areas. East African bloc IGAD's climate predictions chief, Guleid Artan, has warned of exceptionally high risk of flooding in both Sudan and South Sudan. Aid groups have repeatedly warned that humanitarian access, already hampered by both rival forces, will be made nearly impossible as the waters isolate remote areas. Sudan is already facing what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis in recent memory, as fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces shows no signs of abating. A record 10.5 million people are currently displaced across the country, which has for months teetered on the brink of all-out famine. Spain court drops 'terror' probe into Catalan separatist leader Madrid, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Spain's Supreme Court on Tuesday closed a "terrorism" investigation into Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who fled abroad in 2017 to avoid prosecution over that year's failed independence bid. The move removes another legal obstacle blocking the return of the controversial Catalan politician who is hoping to benefit from a new amnesty law for those wanted over the botched secession. In a statement, the court said the case was closed due to a procedural error by the investigating judge who failed to meet a deadline for extending the probe. The decision can be appealed. Puigdemont had hoped to benefit from the newly-minted amnesty law passed by Spain's parliament at the end of May in a bid to draw a line under years of efforts to prosecute those involved in the failed secession bid that triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. Since fleeing in 2017, Puigdemont has been wanted by the Spanish justice system on a string of charges, including disobedience and misuse of public funds. Although the disobedience charge has been dropped, the Supreme Court said this week the law would not cover misuse of public funds charge because of two exceptions: funds used for personal gain and EU money. Back in February, the court announced a new probe into Puigdemont for "terrorism offences" over a string of mass street protests in 2019 following the conviction of 13 separatists who had been arrested and tried over the separatist bid. Organised by a secretive pro-independence group called Democratic Tsunami, the protests involved a mass action in which thousands of activists blocked access to Barcelona airport for several hours. At the time, the investigating judge said he believed Puigdemont and other separatist leaders were the guiding hands behind Democratic Tsunami and its "street terrorism". Puigdemont is also wanted on charges of high treason, another offence that does not fall within the scope of the amnesty law. Blocking the amnesty for Puigdemont could complicate life of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez who promoted the measure in exchange for the separatist parties' parliamentary support to secure a new term in office. After the law passed on May 30, judges were given two months to apply the legislation by annulling the charges and cancelling any arrest warrants against the separatists, affecting some 400 people. But courts must apply the amnesty on a case-by-case basis, making it a long and drawn-out process, while many judges have made no secret of their reluctance to apply the law, with many openly opposed to it. The amnesty law sparked months of angry right-wing street protests and caused deep rifts within Spanish society, even within Sanchez's own ruling Socialist party. Hospital evacuated after wildfire breaks out in Greece Athens, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 A wildfire fuelled by strong winds broke out in the Greek port city of Patras on Tuesday, authorities said, forcing a children's hospital and residents to evacuate. Patients were transported to other facilities elsewhere in the city as 80 firefighters, 25 vehicles and 10 water bombers battled the blaze. Residents in three areas of Patras -- Greece's third largest city located in the Peloponnese region -- left their homes and took refuge in the city centre, civil protection officials said on X. Other regions issued wildfire warnings as Greece faces what Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias has said is its "worst wildfire season in 20 years". Patras Mayor Kostas Peletidis told public broadcaster ERT that the situation was improving. "Of course it's not over," he said, "but for now no house is being threatened" by the flames. Other wildfires broke out across Greece Tuesday, spurred by high winds and soaring temperatures. The National Observatory of Athens recorded 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit) in the region of Attica, which wraps around Athens. Authorities warned against a "very high risk" of wildfires in six regions Wednesday, including in central Greece, Peloponnese, Attica and northeastern Aegean Sea islands like Lesbos. Parts of the country will see temperatures exceed 40C with peaks at 41-42C and 39-49 kilometre-per-hour winds (24-30 miles per hour), according to weather forecaster Meteo.gr. Strong winds and drought conditions have fanned fires in recent weeks in the area around Athens, on the island of Chios near the Turkish mainland and in Peloponnese. While June temperatures in Greece normally do not surpass 30-31C, the country recorded in 2024 its hottest June since 1960, experts have said. Scientists say climate change makes extreme weather events including heatwaves more likely, longer-lasting and more intense. Stormy weather wreaks havoc in S.Africa's Western Cape Johannesburg, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Strong winds and heavy rains have damaged buildings and left thousands of people homeless in South Africa, authorities said, as weather services warned Tuesday that more bad weather was coming. The Cape Town region has been battered by several cold fronts over the past few days, with mountainous areas experiencing rare heavy snowfalls. The Western Cape government said 82 schools were damaged, forcing five to remain closed on Tuesday. In some cases, wind gusts blew away roof sheeting. Over the weekend, almost 4,000 people were left homeless as strong winds destroyed about 1,000 homes and other structures in the impoverished township of Khayelitsha. Localised flooding, fallen trees, electricity outages and road closures were reported across the province, authorities said. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said 18 crew members of a cargo ship were rescued on Monday after they were forced to abandon their vessel as it listed severely in the rough seas. The seafarers, all Filipino nationals, were found in a life raft off South Africa's Atlantic coast and recovered by two nearby cargo vessels, it said. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) said more "disruptive rain leading to flooding and possible mudslides" was expected to hit the province on Wednesday and continue on Thursday. Methanol-powered ship to set sail for Europe's first 'green' route Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 The first methanol-powered ship to ply routes between Europe's busy ports was unveiled Tuesday in Rotterdam, with shipping owners hoping to spur efforts to bring down the industry's huge carbon footprint. The Eco-Maestro, a 13,675-tonne container carrier will head off to Antwerp in the next few days, before plotting a course for Klaipeda in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia, its owners said. Capable of carrying more than 1,200 standard containers, the Eco-Maestro is one of a handful of ships globally that is capable of running on both "green" bio-methanol or normal fuel, which is far more polluting. "We are providing the first feeder network in Europe running on methanol-powered ships," said Francis Goh, X-Press Feeders chief operating officer. Completed in China earlier this year, the Eco-Maestro is kitted out with the latest engines that can run on methanol -- a sustainable fuel made from decomposed organic matter. "We estimate that the methanol we are using will emit some 65 percent less carbon" than normal fuel, Goh told AFP. Global shipping -- which generally runs on diesel and other bunker fuels -- contributed around two percent of the world's carbon emissions in 2022, the International Energy Agency says. New guidelines by the International Maritime Organisation said shipping emissions needed to be cut by at least 40 percent by 2030 and down to zero by around 2050 if the Paris Climate Accords are to be achieved. There are now some 29 methanol-powered ships in operation globally, which is expected to double by the end of the year, according to Norwegian-based maritime services provider DNV. The surge in methanol-powered ships is largely driven by the containership sector. X-Press Feeders will use a total of 14 dual-fuel vessels on its Rotterdam to Baltic feeder routes which also included regular services to Helsinki. So-called "feeder ships" play an important role in the logistics supply chain as they transport containers between smaller ports and larger "hub" ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp. Liberia appeals for help after 'unprecedented' flooding Monrovia, July 9 (AFP) Jul 09, 2024 Recent "unprecedented" flooding has killed two and left nearly 50,000 in "urgent need" in Liberia, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) said Tuesday, calling for international support. The floods triggered by torrential rainfall have so far affected "more than 48,000 people" in the West African nation and caused severe damage to homes, schools and hospitals, the agency said in a statement. The flooding hit the counties of Montserrado, the country's most populous which includes the capital Monrovia, as well as Margibi to the north and Grand Bassa in the centre. The downpour which began at the end of June left 8,000 displaced, some 300 of whom have not yet returned to their homes, an NDMA official told AFP by telephone on Tuesday. "The scale of the flooding is unlike any we have ever witnessed," the NDMA statement said, adding it was "overwhelmed" and unable to address all the needs simultaneously. "We call on our partners, both local and international, to support the NDMA in addressing the needs of the affected population," the statement said. The NDMA said it needed $10 million to address "the emergency needs of the affected population". The disaster agency stressed that Liberia was not yet halfway through the rainy season and that the country had limited resources to combat the effects of climate change. It added that an estimated 100,000 people were at risk of flooding, storms and coastal erosion. "The compounded emergencies -- mass displacement, injuries, deaths, damaged homes and public buildings, and heightened health risks -- are expected to worsen in the coming days and weeks," it said. The State of Malis implementation of a new mining code will not only reopen the West African country up for business, but also restore stability and investor confidence in its mining industry, according to Toubani Resources. The gold developer says the adoption of the 2023 Mali Mining code reaffirms the Republics commitment to mining and its mission to return to prominence as one of West Africas top gold producers. Toubani Resources believes a new mining code in Mali will prove to be a pivotal ally for its Kobada gold project. In November 2022, the State of Mali issued a moratorium on all new licences, permits and approvals in the country while it audited operating mining companies and undertook a comprehensive review of its 2019 Mining Code. But the new code is now seen as a key step to reopening Malis mining sector. While the 2022 moratorium did not directly impact Toubani and its 2.2 million-ounce Koboda gold project, given that it already had all the necessary permits to continue its activities, management says it indirectly caused a slowdown in the overall mining sector. 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 For the second season of Foxtels award-winning drama The Twelve (three AACTAs, three Logies for 2022s first season), the location and most of the cast are new. But the central premise a multitude of micro-plots revolving around a central courtroom drama as well as Sam Neill as the criminal defence barrister Brett Colby, remain. The action, this time, takes place in a remote town in Western Australia, to which Colby has been flown to defend one of two people accused of murder. He represents Patrick Harrows (Erroll Shand), an itinerant farmworker who may or may not have had a role in the death of his employer, Bernice Price (Kris McQuade), a crotchety old landholder with no shortage of enemies in the tiny town of Tunkwell. Also accused is Bernices long-suffering daughter Sasha (Amy Mathews), who happens to have been Patricks lover, much to her mothers disapproval. Representing her is another blow-in lawyer from the big smoke, Meredith Nelson-Moore (Frances OConnor). Frances OConnor plays defence barrister Meredith Nelson-Moore, while Neill returns as Brett Colby. Credit: David Dare Parker Shes someone who has dedicated a lot to her professional life, says OConnor, who is based in the UK but relished the opportunity to work for an extended period in her home state, where she was for once within striking distance of her family. She puts a lot of importance into that, and probably a lot of ego into that, and I think through the years shes started to neglect her personal life. Well, thats an understatement. When we first meet Brett and Meredith, they are hard at it. Only more in the biblical than the legal sense. Which is to say, theyre bonking. Advertisement What happens on circuit stays on circuit, observes the judge (Keith Robinson). Only Merediths husband, Chris (Gerald Lepkowski), seems not to have got the memo and unexpectedly turns up to continue in person the arguments theyve been having over the phone. There is, I note to OConnor, a delicious frisson in the fact that Lepkowski is her real-life husband. I know, she exclaims. We havent acted together for a long time so it was actually really fun to do some scenes together, and good therapy for the marriage. Our characters are always arguing, and we never argue now. Weve been together so long were kind of fine. We just enjoy each others company, were like best friends now. Though Neill gets top billing and OConnor helps sell the series internationally, the reality is The Twelve is a genuine ensemble piece and an incredible opportunity for a wide range of actors to sink their teeth into some meaty material. Among them is Tasma Walton, who plays local woman Thelma Connell. Thelma has always assumed, in rather an abstract way, that she might have some Indian heritage. But when her husband and a fellow juror urge her to take a DNA test, it turns her sense of self on its head. Advertisement It rocks her foundation, says Walton. Its got a lot of complexity and remember, this is just one offshoot story. Thats what is so wonderful about this series they dont shy away from exploring through all of the different ensembles some really interesting, complex and detailed stories. Walton grew up in Geraldton, WA, and was well aware that her mothers family was Aboriginal. But because children deemed to be mixed race with Indigenous blood were still being taken away to be raised as white as late as the 1960s, her grandmother told people their background was Maori. It was a way, she says, of exempting the family from the impact of the Aborigines Protection Act, a protective mechanism that was not uncommon. Waltons grandmother passed on cultural knowledge inside the home, but outside, she says, it was just not spoken. Fayssal Bazzi as prosecution barrister Jude Persand. Credit: Finlay Mackay/Foxtel Theres something of the Trojan Horse about The Twelve. Its structure with individual character-driven storylines spinning off from the central hub of the courtroom drama allows for various topics and themes to be smuggled in. But for an actor cast as a juror, it can sometimes be a little disorienting. You can sometimes feel like youre operating in your own little world, and its sort of running parallel to other stories, says Walton. As a jury member in these courtroom scenes you are participating, but its listening and absorbing and processing information. I keep saying my eye acting is getting very well exercised. Its a fascinating process. As prosecution lawyer Jude Persand, Fayssal Bazzi is rather less restricted, getting to exercise all of his body in pursuit of dramatic impact. Advertisement Its fun, but its also very challenging, he says of playing a barrister for the first time. What you dont realise when you step into it is that a large part of it is public speaking. So, on my first day in court, during my opening argument, the court was full. We had the jury, we had the extras playing the media, we had the witnesses, the people in the courts, we had the judge and all the staff. So we maybe had about 150 or 200 people, and youre trying to give your address and going, OK, stay in character. Acting and public speaking its not the same thing. Which is not to say there isnt an overlap between acting and lawyering, he concedes. There is a lot of theatrics. If you watch a lot of the good lawyers, it is like delivering monologues and stagecraft, which is great. So once you get the hang of that, and you start approaching it that way, its easy. The jury, played by (from back row left to front row right) Brad Francis, Suesha Rana, Nelson Baker, Isabelle Basen, Luke Pegler, Sharon Johal, Anthony B. Wong, Adriano Cappelletti, Stefanie Caccamo, Josh McKenzie, Greg McNeill and Tasma Walton, listens. Credit: David Dare Parker Bazzi, who won a best actor AACTA award in 2020 for Stateless, is currently one of the busiest actors in the country, with roles in Prosper, Total Control, The Artful Dodger, Shantaram and half a dozen others since the COVID shutdown. But it wasnt always thus for the Lebanese-born son of a dentist. He has never had a job apart from acting in his 23 years in the business. When I finished school, Dad was like, You can be an actor, but you cant do anything else you cant be a bartender. Its either gonna work, or its going to fail. And if it fails, then you do something else. But for a long time, that work was away from the screen, in theatre, in training videos, and in army role-playing exercises, in which he inevitably was cast as a suspect being interrogated. Advertisement In the early 2000s, they were all just tropes and ideas of characters instead of actual characters, he says of the parts he was offered and, more often than not, turned down. But in the last eight or nine years, things are starting to develop. People are seeing all sides of human beings, not just the white kinda side. Its a mark of how far things have come, he says, that there was nothing in the script about his character to mark his ethnic or cultural background. In the past couple of years, he says, Ive tried to do jobs that are just about character, and not necessarily about background or ethnicity, this one included. I think thats an important way to go for longevity of career. People just love putting people in boxes. But if you try to push yourself out of that, they just have to see you as an actor. Of course, theres a risk of a different sort of typecasting emerging having only been asked to play people on the other side of the law until now, hes already been offered his second role as a lawyer. Theres always room for improvement, he says. But hopefully, in the next generation or two, were the United Colours of Benetton. The Twelve is on Foxtel and Binge from July 11, with new episodes dropping weekly. Contact the author at kquinn@theage.com.au, follow him on Facebook at karlquinnjournalist and Twitter at @karlkwin, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Exclusive Eating outFood One of Brisbanes best bar groups has relaunched an iconic 1864-built pub This Heartbreak Ridge classic features a rejuvenated front bar, a menu of Australian game dishes, and a private dining room in a wine cellar. Take a peek inside. Matt Shea July 9, 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 Heartbreak Ridge. Thats how a Spring Hill publican once described the strip of Leichhardt Street between Boundary Road and Upper Edward Street. But then pubs have been hard all over Brisbane in recent decades. Our city sprawls and our population density is relatively low. Even before cold beer, a viable local boozer needs punters to drink the stuff. The Alliance Hotel has been relaunched in Spring Hill. Markus Ravik Spring Hill, though, is slowly slowly coming alive. La Cache a Vin and Komeyui have appeared in recent years on Wharf Street, with the 185 Wharf Street residential development under construction next door. Wander further down the hill, and youll find the fancy Inchcolm and Amora hotels. On the other side of Leichhardt, theres the cult Creole Kitchen, and hidden gems such as Red Hut the best Chinese restaurant you didnt know about. So maybe Emma Hollands, Peter Hollands, Kat Makarov and Nick Winters decision to purchase the beautiful 1864-built Alliance Hotel on the corner of Leichhardt and Boundary Streets is ambitious, or maybe its perfect timing. Advertisement Perspective Did Brisbane need this five-star hotel? There are so many developments happening in the area, Winter says. Were just getting more and more people coming up here. Weve been lucky enough to walk into a venue thats already established, Peter Hollands adds. So hopefully, we can be a venue that helps create that. The Alliances public bar has been given a new lease on life with new beer taps and an Australiana-themed wall art. Markus Ravik The Hollandses, Makarov and Winter have runs on the board when creating compelling bar experiences built around clear propositions. Theyre behind Frogs Hollow, which since opening in 2022 has become one of the CBDs most popular boozers on the back of its freewheeling honky-tonk vibes. The Hollandses then opened Alice last year in a basement space just off Elizabeth Street, capturing the essence of a classic New York dive bar. Advertisement Basically, The Alliance is in good hands. The Alliances bistro has been renamed The Whisky Warren and serves a menu of Australian game dishes. Markus Ravik The place already had good bones, particularly after Nick Gregorski operated it as a gastropub in the mid-2010s. The inspiration for Peter Hollands and Winter, though, was more the Melbourne pubs they once frequented when they lived in the Victorian capital places such as Terminus Hotel in Abbotsford, Great Northern Hotel in Carlton North and The Rainbow Hotel in Fitzroy. Theyre great destinations but the thing they do so well is a team of staff that are genuinely interested in their booze and their products, Winter says. Its not like theyre selling to you. Theyre inviting you into the experience. Wild venison tenderloin with a parsnip puree and cucumber salad. Markus Ravik Advertisement The changes at The Alliance might initially feel subtle, but then there was a lot of low-hanging fruit. In the beautiful old front bar, he and Winter have replaced the bar top and beer lines, covered the walls in Australiana think old Fosters, Fourex and Fourn Twenty pie posters and thrown open the windows to better catch the sun as it tracks across the old Spring Hill workers cottages to the north-west, filling the venue with a lovely afternoon light. On tap there are 10 beers that split the difference between big box brews such XXXX Gold, Tooheys New and Guinness, and a rotating craft selection. Duck ragu pappardelle. Markus Ravik Out back, the old bistro has also been given a new bar top and renamed The Whisky Warren. There, head chef Julian Oliver is cooking a menu of Australian game dishes that will change depending on what he can get his hands on. You might order kangaroo tartare served with onion and bean puree on toasted brioche; duck ragu with pappardelle; butterflied harissa-marinated whole quail with cauliflower puree, sauteed kale and crisp enoki; or a slow-cooked rabbit stew with mushroom, potato and tomato. Advertisement Its important to elevate that food element, but we dont ever want to see ourselves as a gastropub, Winter says. Were just a classic pub that does really good food. Kangaroo tartare with an onion and bean puree on toasted brioche. Markus Ravik As per the name, theres also an extensive collection of 100 Australian whiskies, which the owners intend to become Australias largest. The rest of the venue has been given over to a series of private dining rooms and function spaces. Upstairs, theres the light-filled Leichhardt Room for weddings and events with capacity for 160 guests. Downstairs, in the wine cellar, a private dining room accommodates up to 14 guests. Markus Ravik Advertisement Downstairs, beneath the public bar, theres the Actress and the Bishop Bar, with capacity for 45 people and named after a striking refurbished neon that used to hang on the front of the building in the 1980s; and the 60-person Mirror Room, which features a mirrored ceiling. Theres also a 14-seat private dining room in the venues wine cellar, which holds 120 bottles for the restaurant and bar. Still, make no mistake, this is a local first and foremost, Peter says. Also downstairs is the Actress and the Bishop, a low-lit function room. Markus Ravik I was talking on a panel at Bartenders Weekender and someone asked what my inspiration was for a good bar, he says. And I just said, I love getting loaded. Advertisement We put a lot of thought into how we wanted to relaunch the bar but at the end of the day, what we focused on is the s--t thats essential: the bar top, the beer, the kicker once its there. Getting the windows open, getting the lighting right, getting the air con right. I love sitting in a bar with my friends, drinking schooners, and thats what this is about. Open Tue-Sun, 12pm-10pm 320 Boundary Street, Spring Hill, (07) 3839 0169 thealliancehotel.com.au Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up A former V8 Supercars driver and nightclub owner has been released from court on a suspended sentence for drug possession after a more serious trafficking charge was dropped. Wayne Jason Wakefield, 53, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to a string of charges relating to two police raids on his homes within a year starting in May 2020. Police located bags containing cocaine, meth, GHB and morphine. Credit: The Age Wakefield admitted 18 charges including possession of a dangerous drug in excess of two grams, possessing a dangerous drug, contravening an order to access an electronic device and possessing a controlled substance. Crown prosecutor Jordan Daniels did not continue with six charges including one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs, and those charges were dismissed by Justice Declan Kelly. The NSW Labor government wants to ban landlords from evicting tenants on the grounds they want to renovate the property and will impose financial disincentives on those who do as a key election promise remains unresolved. The rental market is a missing piece of the housing puzzle the Minns government has been unable to solve as it struggles to deliver a compromise position on no-grounds evictions. With the looming NSW Labor state conference this month the first for Chris Minns as premier, the parliamentary party will be under pressure to show members it has made headway on the policy. Premier Chris Minns says his government must move on rental reforms because it was an election commitment. Credit: Peter Rae No-grounds evictions are banned in all states except Western Australia, but NSW has struggled to land the reforms 16 months after coming to power. It says a lot about the LNP that, in Queensland, it has been in power for a cumulative total of just 63 months since Wayne Goss finally brought an end to the Bjelke-Petersen era in 1989. Thats 63 months out of a total 415. If my journalistic maths (a notoriously untrustworthy form of maths) is to be trusted, thats just 15.2 per cent of the post-Joh era. For a state thats nationally defined as a bastion of conservatism, its quite the statistic. David Crisafulli will have to defy post-Fitzgerald history to avoid Campbell Newmans fate as a oncer, should he win in October. Credit: Glenn Hunt So why has the Coalition-turned-LNP struggled to gain a foothold in what prevailing political wisdom suggests should be its heartland? Premier Jacinta Allan has walked back her governments decision to axe hospital bailouts after weeks of pressure from health insiders who warned of bed closures, surgery delays and even the end of some breast screening and kidney dialysis services. The change of tune, made days after the premier returned from leave, represents the second major U-turn in health policy within two months all while Labors primary vote has taken a hit and the government is copping criticism over youth crime. Premier Jacinta Allan has dialled back the tough talk on hospital budgets after returning from leave. Credit: AAP A state government spokesperson on Tuesday would not say how Victoria would pay for hospital top-up funding, other than to insist discussions about final health service budgets continued. The change in position comes as Treasurer Tim Pallas embarks on a two-week trip to North America to meet with investors and global ratings agencies. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has been adamant that Victorian hospitals must get rid of waste and duplication, particularly unnecessary travel and excessive marketing spending. Instead, it was Biden whose flailings, freezing and mutterings allowed Trump to execute on his strategy for the debate: to show that Biden was no longer fit for duty and must be removed from office. Seared into the publics lens on this election is a view that while both candidates are too old, it is Biden who wears that burden more heavily. He got his preferred debate format and rules. Everyone even many in the Trump camp was expecting to see the Prosecutor-In-Chief take Trump down as an extremist and disgraced convicted felon who would eviscerate Americas democracy. Biden wanted an early debate to change the trajectory of the campaign that had him lagging, effectively tied head-to-head for the national vote, but trailing in most of the battleground swing states that will decide the election. If US President Joe Biden had executed on his strategy for the debate with his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, we would not be here right now. The post-debate polls show Biden with a record low approval today of 36 per cent. No president seeking re-election has won from there. Bidens television interview last week was primed to recover steadiness, authority and command. He failed. Biden is resolute that he will continue the campaign that he will not stand aside unless the Lord Almighty counsels him otherwise. Loading But there was one moment when Bidens words opened the trap door on the platform on which he is standing. George Stephanopoulos of ABC America asked: And if you stay in and Trump is elected and everything youre warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January? Biden replied: Ill feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, thats what this is about. No, Mr President, sorry. This is about defeating Trump and not about whether you did your best and lost. Representative Adam Schiff, who was the lead House manager of the impeachment of Trump for the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and who is favoured in his race for the US Senate in California, said in response to Biden: That is the answer that most concerned me as well. This is not just about whether he gave it the best college try, but rather whether he made the right decision to run or to pass the torch. The transaction costs of Biden refusing to pass the torch are enormous. If Biden stays in the race, we will not know the answer to Stephanopoulos question until the day after the election. The fear driving Democratic members of the House and Senate to conclude that Biden must stand aside is the fear that Bidens staying in the race will directly affect the control of Congress. Washington: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will meet Trump Republicans to shore up ongoing support for the AUKUS submarine deal as the world braces for another potential shake-up of American leadership at this years US election. But as Joe Biden fights for his political life following his devastating performance in the first presidential debate, Marles who is in Washington for the NATO summit threw his support behind the embattled president, praising the global alliances forged under his administration. President Joe Biden (centre) stands as others arrive during an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of NATO at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. Credit: AP We could not be more pleased with that, and were certainly very pleased about the focus that the Biden administration has placed on the Indo-Pacific, and on the issues which are front and centre for Australia, he said. We are seeing strong leadership by America and that is absolutely critical in terms of the challenges that the world faces today. Wellington Chocolate Factory is getting Kiwis to think up their ultimate chocolate flavour to be made into 500 bars of the real deal. After a four-year hiatus, WFC's 'Chocolate Dreams' gets Kiwis to actually make their most imaginative chocolate flavours and design a wrapper to match. The competition used to be just for little ones, but it's now open to all ages after the big kids begged to give it a go. There's categories for Juniors and Teens, and an Open competition for those over 18. In 2020, Sophia Evans from Nelson dreamed up an Orange Moustachio bar, which was made a reality with her personally designed packaging. SOURCE: Wellington Chocolate Factory The top chocolate entries will then be voted on by other Kiwis to decide which ones they want to see on shelves. The winner will work with WCF to bring their creation to life, receiving 50 bars of their final creation for themselves, while the other 450 will be sold at WCF. Willy Wonka is shaking in his boots. "Who doesn't want to fulfil their ultimate childhood dream?" Gabe Davidson, co-founder of Wellington Chocolate Factory said. "We're all big kids inside, so I'm really excited to see what our aspiring chocolate makers come up with." 5 Army personnel killed, 5 injured as terrorists ambush vehicle in Kathua Army personnel display arms and ammunition recovered during an anti- militancy operation in Anantnag district on Monday. (PTI) KATHUA/JAMMU : FIVE Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed and as many were injured on Monday when heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrolling party in the remote Machedi area of Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district, officials said. The terror attack, the fifth in Jammu region in a month, evoked widespread condemnation with political leaders including three former Chief Ministers expressing concern over the growing terror incidents, especially in the Jammu region where militancy has returned after being wiped out over two decades ago. The terrorists targeted an Army truck, part of a routine patrolling party, with a grenade and gunfire on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, approximately 150 km from Kathua town, at around 3:30 pm, the officials said. After the ambush, the terrorists fled into the nearby forest as the Army, assisted by police and paramilitary personnel, retaliated. The Army vehicle, carrying ten occupants, bore the brunt of the attack, resulting in fatal injuries to five soldiers, including a JCO. Five others are undergoing treatment. An exchange of fire between the terrorists and security forces ensued, with reinforcements quickly dispatched to the area to neutralise the attackers - believed to be three in number and heavily armed - who may have recently infiltrated from across the border. It is the second major attack in Kathua district within one month, following a similar confrontation on June 12 and 13 that left two terrorists and a CRPF jawan dead. A massive search operation is on despite heavy rains, the officials said. Director General of Police R R Swain is personally overseeing the anti-terrorist operation in the dense forest area, connected to Basantgarh in Udhampur district, where several encounters have occurred in the past. Killing of 6 terrorists big blow to Hizbul, SAYS Army: AFTER six terrorists were killed in two different encounters in Jammu and Kashmir, Brigadier Prithviraj Chauhan, Commander 1sec RR, said on Monday that the killing of terrorists in South Kashmir is a significant blow to Hizbul-Mujahideen. Chauhan also mentioned that, during the operation, two Army personnel also sacrificed their lives. Speaking on the Kulgam encounter, Javed Ahmad Matoo, DIG South Kashmir, said that in two joint operations conducted from July 6 to 7, two terrorists were killed in total. Adil, who had multiple FIRs against him in different police stations, was killed in one operation. The second encounter took place in the Chinigham area based on specific information, resulting in the killing of four terrorists. Among them was Yavar Bashir Dar, a Category A terrorist. The others were identified as Tauheed Ahmed, Shakeel Ahmed Wani, and Zahir Ahmad Dar. A significant cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site. Both locations had hideouts that the terrorists had been using for a considerable time, Matoo said. The Indian Army on Sunday paid tributes to the two soldiers who lost their lives in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district. Chinar Corps Commander, Chief Secretary of J-K, DGP J-K, and other dignitaries and all ranks paid homage to Lance Naik Pardeep Kumar and Sepoy Pravin Janjal Prabhakar, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Kulgam on 06 Jul 2024, Indian Army Chinar Corps posted on X on Sunday. The first encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Modergam village. Hours later, another encounter broke out in the Frisal Chinnigam area of the district. The forest area is connected to Basantgarh in Udhampur district. A village defence guard Mohd Sharief was killed in an encounter with terrorists on April 28 in Panara village of Basantgarh. The officials said there were apprehensions that this route was used by terrorists to reach the hinterland after they managed to sneak in from across the border. The Jammu region, known for its peaceful atmosphere, has been shaken in recent months by a series of ambushes and attacks by terrorists, particularly in the border districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Reasi. The recent escalation in terrorist activities has been attributed to attempts by Pakistani handlers to reignite terrorism. Security agencies have been on high alert following a recent ambush in the Gandoh area of Doda district, where three foreign terrorists were killed in a gunfight on June 26. An Army camp in the Manjkote area of Rajouri district was targeted in a firing incident early Sunday, resulting in injuries to a soldier. One of the most tragic incidents occurred on June 9 when terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple in Reasi district, claiming the lives of nine persons and injuring 41 others. These incidents follow a pattern of escalating violence in the region, with previous attacks on security vehicles, search parties and military convoys resulting in casualties among both civilians and security personnel. BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban here on Monday, and the two sides exchanged in-depth views on the Ukraine crisis. Orban briefed Xi on his recent visits to Ukraine and Russia. Xi expressed appreciation for Orban's efforts in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and elaborated on China's relevant views and propositions. Xi stressed that an early ceasefire and a political settlement are in the interests of all sides, adding that the priority is to cool down the situation by observing the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no fanning by any party over the flames. Xi called on the international community to create conditions and provide support for the resumption of direct dialogue and negotiation between the two sides, saying that only if all major countries inject positive rather than negative energy, can a ceasefire in this conflict emerge as soon as possible. "China has been actively promoting peace talks in its own way and encouraging and supporting all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis," he said, adding that the basic propositions of China and Hungary and the direction of their efforts are the same and that China is willing to stay in communication with Hungary and all relevant parties. Xi noted that during his successful state visit to Hungary two months ago, the bilateral relations were elevated to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, which gave new historical significance to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year and injected strong impetus into the high-level development of China-Hungary relations. Noting that the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee will be held next week, Xi said China will further deepen overall reform and promote high-quality development and high-level opening up, which will provide new opportunities and create new momentum for China-Hungary cooperation. Xi said that the two countries should maintain high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication and coordination, continue to firmly support each other, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continue to enrich the bilateral all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era to better benefit the people. He congratulated Hungary on assuming the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) and said there is no geopolitical contradiction or fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU. China-EU relations are of strategic significance and global influence and should maintain steady and sound development, Xi said, calling on the two sides to jointly respond to global challenges. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, Xi said, adding that the two sides should stay committed to the correct path of bilateral partnership with cooperation as the defining trend, continue to promote two-way opening up, strengthen international coordination, and contribute to world peace, stability, development and prosperity. It is hoped that Hungary, as the holder of the rotating EU presidency, will play a positive role in promoting the sound and stable development of China-EU relations and facilitating constructive interactions, Xi added. Orban said that over the past two months, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important outcomes of President Xi's visit to Hungary, strengthened friendship and mutual trust, and laid a solid foundation for the future development of bilateral relations. In the face of the current turbulent international situation, China not only loves peace but has also put forward a series of constructive and important initiatives, proving with its own concrete actions that China is an important stabilizing force for world peace, Orban said. He added that Hungary highly appreciates and values China's role and influence and is willing to maintain close strategic communication and coordination with China. Hungary advocates strengthening cooperation with China and opposes forming exclusionary cliques and bloc confrontation, Orban said. Hungary is willing to take the rotating EU presidency as an opportunity to actively promote the sound development of EU-China relations, he said. Hemant Soren Govt wins trust vote in Jharkhand RANCHI : FORMER Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren and 10 other leaders of the JMM-led coalition took oath as Ministers in the Hemant Soren Government after it won a trust vote in the Assembly amid a walkout by opposition members on Monday. A total of 45 MLAs, including nominated member Glen Joseph Galstaun, voted in favour of the confidence motion. BJP and AJSU legislators walked out of the House as the headcount for voting started. The BJP-led opposition has 24 legislators of the BJP party and three of the AJSU Party. After winning the trust vote, Hemant Soren said, Today, everyone again got to witness the unity and strength of the ruling alliance. I thank the Speaker and all the alliance MLAs. He said the JMM-led alliance has been performing strongly since coming to power in 2019 by following the constitutional procedures and it was again witnessed during the day. During his speech on the confidence motion in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said, One could see the conduct of BJP legislators after seeing me again in the House. The BJP doesnt have any agenda for the state. The people of the country held a mirror to the BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. In the upcoming Assembly elections, they will face strong resistance from the JMM-led alliance, the CM said. Speaking on the confidence motion, Leader of Opposition Amar Bauri alleged that the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance government did not fulfill even a single promise in the last five years. Earlier, BJP legislators trooped into the well seeking Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahtos permission to allow MLA Bhanu Pratap Sahi to speak, which was turned down by the Speaker. Seventy-five MLAs were present in the Assembly during the voting. Independent legislator Saryu Roy abstained from voting. After the trust vote, Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 11 leaders, including Champai Soren, at a function in the Raj Bhawan in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other senior politicians of the JMM-led alliance and officials. After taking oath as a Minister, Champai Soren said, Whatever I have done in a short span as the CM is before everyone. Now lets see what responsibility is given to me. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Jharkhand High Courts order granting bail to JMM leader Hemant Soren in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. The High Court had on June 28 granted bail to Soren, who on July 4 took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Soren had resigned as CM shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the ED in the case. NEET-UG EXAMS SC says, re-test has to be ordered if exam sanctity lost NEW DELHI : OBSERVING that a re-test has to be ordered if sanctity of the NEET-UG 2024 is lost, the Supreme Court on Monday sought information from the National Testing Agency and the CBI about timing of the question paper leak and duration between the leak and the actual test. The apex court also sought the number of wrongdoers identified so far and the methodology adopted for the paper leak. One thing is clear that leak of question paper has taken place, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said, adding that extent of question paper leak and the beneficiaries across geographical boundaries have to be ascertained before the court may order re-test in the controversy-ridden medical entrance exam conducted on May 5. Posting for July 11 the next hearing on a batch of pleas alleging irregularities in the NEET-UG, the court directed the investigating officer of the CBI, which is conducting probe into the allegations of malpractices, OMR sheet manipulation, impersonation and cheating, to place before it a report indicating the status of probe. Referring to legal position on ordering re-test, the top court said it will have to be scrutinised whether the alleged breach has taken place at systemic level, whether the breach has affected integrity of the entire exam process and whether it is possible to segregate the beneficiaries of fraud from the untainted students. In a situation where breach affects the entirety of process and it is not possible to segregate the beneficiaries from others, it may be necessary to order a re-test, said the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. It said the NTA must disclose about the steps taken so far for identification of beneficiaries of wrongdoings. The bench asked the NTA to apprise it about the steps taken to identify the centres and cities where the question paper leak took place, the modalities followed for identifying the beneficiaries and their numbers ascertained so far. Expressing concern over ensuring the sanctity of NEET-UG, the court said it would be necessary for the government to consider setting up a multi-disciplinary team of renowned experts so that such instances are not repeated in future. During the hearing, the bench observed if the sanctity of NEET-UG 2024 is lost and if the leak of its question paper has been propagated through social media, then a re-test has to be ordered. It said if the question paper leak was taking place through Telegram, WhatsApp and electronic means, then it spreads like wildfire. If the sanctity of the exam is lost, then a re-test has to be ordered. If we are unable to identify those who are guilty, then a re-test has to be ordered, the bench observed. Rain mayhem in Mumbai MUMBAI : HEAVY RAINS pounded Mumbai and adjoining areas, severely affecting the Central Railways suburban services due to waterlogging on tracks and also hit the airport operations leading to 50 flight cancellations on Monday. The rain mayhem led to inundation of many low-lying areas in the city, impacting vehicular movement, and people were seen wading through flooded streets. The State Government declared a holiday for all schools in Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. Both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature were adjourned as many members and officials could not reach the Vidhan Bhawan due to the downpour. Some areas in Mumbai received more than 300 mm of rainfall in just six hours ending at 7 am, causing inundation of roads and low-lying areas. Heavy rains also lashed the city throughout the day, further compounding the woes of residents. Maharashtra Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Anil Patil and NCP MLC Amol Mitkari alighted from the Howrah-Mumbai train and walked on tracks for some distance, a video of which went viral. The train was stuck up for about two hours. We got down on the tracks between Dadar and Kurla stations. I walked around 2 to 2.5 km, including on railway tracks, and reached Nehru Nagar police station, Mitkari said, adding some legislators were also stuck in the same train. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took stock of the heavy rain situation by chairing a meeting at the Mantralaya and visiting the control room of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The civic body said there was be a high tide of 4.40 meters in Mumbai at 1.57 pm. second day: Large number of devotees gather in Puri to celebrate Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra PURI : A LARGE number of devotees from across the country gathered today in Odishas Puri to take the blessings of Lord Jagannath to celebrate the second day of Rath Yatra. The annual Lord Jagannaths Rath Yatra began in Odishas Puri on Sunday. The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday took part in the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, one of the significant and eagerly awaited festivals in India. Along with the President, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also took part in the celebrations. Extending wishes to fellow Indians, President Droupadi Murmu, in a post on X said on Sunday, On the occasion of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all the countrymen. Today, countless Jagannath lovers from all over the country and the world are eagerly waiting to see the three forms of Bhagavat seated on the chariot. On the occasion of this great festival, I pray to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for everyones happiness, peace and prosperity. On the occasion of the holy Rath Yatra, I extend heartfelt greetings and best wishes to everyone. May the boundless compassion of Lord Jagannath bring prosperity to every region of our State, fostering a new and enriched Odisha. This is my prayer, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi wrote in a post on X. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha (waxing moon fortnight) in the month of Ashadh. The festival is associated with Lord Jagannath, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, and his siblings. During the Yatra, the deities Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra are carried on wooden chariots from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple in Puri. UNBECOMING UNION Home Ministry initiating disciplinary action against Kolkata Commissioner of Police Mr. Vineet Goyal and Deputy Commissioner of Police Ms. Indira Mukherjee, has made to the news. But, the action came in response to West Bengal Governor Mr. Ananda Boses report in which it was said that the functioning of the officers was completely unbecoming of public servant. This complaint in relation to West Bengal is becoming more frequent now. Protesting the likely action against a few officers, the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee had staged a sit-in. This clearly indicates that many a public servant in West Bengal are either working under tremendous political pressure or are surrendering to the political establishment there for whatever the reasons. In both the cases, the atmosphere does not appear to be conducive for public servants to discharge their duties in true spirit. If political power is so dominant as to put public servants in a fix, it takes no time for the public interest to be relegated to last priority. This is not good for democratic system. This should not happen either in West Bengal or any other State in the country. Steps need to be taken urgently to stem the rot before it plagues the larger society. VPESL dispatches first domestic madetwo-phase transformers to Indian Railways Basudeb Banerjee flagging off first of 25 KV AC transformer as Rajiv Bhave, Vijay Sharma and others look on. Staff Reporter First Indian company to manufacture the 2x25 KV AC traction system transformers VPESL is the first company in MSME sector to achieve this engineering feat In a moment of pride for the country and Nagpur in particular, Vishvas Power Engineering Services Limited (VPESL) dispatched first indigenously manufactured two phase transformers for installation over Indian Railway network. The 2x25 KV AC traction system transformers were sent to locations in Bihar and Jharkhand where they would be part of traction power network that is aimed at giving speed to next generation trains of Railways. Based in Butibori, the companys another achievement is that it is the first in Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector to achieve the engineering feat. A function was held on Monday at the company premises to flag off the two transformers. Satish Aney, Chief Engineer, Maharashtra State Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL); Basudeb Banerjee, Business Head, Railway Electrification Unit, Blue Star; Dr Kishor Malviya, President, Butibori Manufacturers Association (BMA), Vijay Sharma, Chief Manager, Canara Bank; were present for the momentous occasion. Rajiv Bhave, Managing Director, VPESL, Shreyas Bhave and other members of company were present at the function. The achievement is quite big for the country as Vishvas Power is first Indian company to step into critical manufacturing of specialised transformers, said Shreyas Bhave while listing the details of the 2x25 KV AC transformers. There are others in the manufacturing of specialised transformers but they are all multinational. Therefore for a MSME unit to step into manufacturing of these highest rated transformers for Indian Railways is nothing short of a feat. So far, these two phase transformers used to be imported but now with Vishvas Power India is now self reliant. Explaining the technicalities, Basudeb Banerjee mentioned that with Railways focusing on shifting gears, entering in semi high speed era, these 2 phase transformer are going to play vital role. With the available traction power of 132 MVA, high end propulsion would not be a problem that would enable running trains at 160 km/hr as these 2 phase transformers would enable stable current. As to 2-phase when a engine needs to accelerate it needs top power so 25+ would enable so and also at that speed stability would not be a problem as the motive power can also downgrade to -25 KV to balance out the speed and variation. Blue Star is one of the leading Indian companies engaged in execution of traction network over Indian Railways and Banerjee said it is proud moment today that an Indian company could successfully fulfill their requirement. Satish Aney said now that Vishvas Power has availed higher 7 rating from Indian Railways, even MSETCL is also looking to partner with the company for their requirement of high power transformers in near future. At the outset Rajiv Bhave thanked the supplier and chiefly Canara Bank, its main partner, for keeping in sync with company's growth targets. He traced the journey of the company that started with service jobs to enter into manufacturing segment. Session prorogued | IMPHAL, Jul 9: Governor Anusuiya Uikey has prorogued the fifth session (summoned on February 28, 2024) of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly with immediate effect, according to a press release issued by Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretary K Meghajit Singh. Look at it via the ground realityWhere are the leaders ? | India and Manipur should understand this and it should be seen and understood in the backdrop of the fact that the place has been literally on fire for over 14 months and over 60 thousand alive and kicking people are surviving in the different relief camps set up across the State. The longer Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuses to give primacy to the human tragedy that has engulfed Manipur for over 14 months, the more people will welcome and hail the visits of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The more State BJP members shoot their mouth off without taking cognizance of the ground reality, the more the saffron party will get alienated from the people. If referring to a specific case, such as the dastardly nude parade of two girls in the early days of the clash, as talking about the Manipur issue then nothing could be more misplaced. Moreover the second time that the Prime Minister spoke on Manipur was some days back in Rajya Sabha but then again the picture that was sought to be conveyed was far from the reality. How can anyone say that Manipur has started the journey towards normalcy when over 60 thousand people are still stuck in the different relief camps spread across the State ? How can anyone come close to stating that situation is improving when no Meitei can cross Kangpokpi on the Imphal-Dimapur road and cannot proceed beyond Moirang towards Churachandpur ? What is normal about the hundreds of Kukis who had to leave the place they once called home in Imphal and the other valley districts, but cannot come back now ? Is there anything normal about the fact that people of Churachandpur cannot come up to Imphal to catch a flight from BT Airport ? What are the core issues that the hand picked men and women of the BJP are talking about ? If the internally displaced folks are not core issues then what could be more critical more than this, as Lok Sabha MP Bimol Akoijam questioned some time back ? And this question is being raised in the backdrop of the fact that a 36 year old man, a father and a husband to boot, took his own life inside the relief camp opened at Kwakta Sericulture Farm in Bishnupur district on July 6. Take this fact along with the news that has gone viral on the social media that yet another inmate tried to take his own life inside a relief camp and this should jolt the senses of the Government. Has Delhi woken up to this chilling development or are the State BJP leaders going to be satisfied with just saying that the Prime Minister has talked about Manipur, a talk that said about normalcy returning to the place. Something is just not right and this is not how a human tragedy that has enveloped Manipur for over 14 months should be viewed and treated. This is why the visit of Rahul Gandhi to the different relief camps on July 8 gains significance and why the passionate speech of Lok Sabha MP Bimol Akoijam went viral on the social media. A fact which every breathing and kicking human being should acknowledge. Come to think about it, it is not only a case of the Prime Minister unable or not willing to acknowledge the reality and not talking about the Manipur crisis for more than year, but it is also about the failure of the State BJP leadership to bag a meeting with the Prime Minister. A case of the Prime Minister not giving an audience to the political leaders of Manipur or a case of the political leaders here not seeking an audience with the Prime Minister ? A question this is but the answer should be clear to many, given the fact that many political leaders of Manipur did go to Delhi at the height of the clash, but all returned without meeting the Prime Minister with the Centre taking refuge under the line that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regularly briefs Narendra Modi. That the crisis has dragged on for over a year is there on record and yet it is disconcerting to note that in the more than 14 months of bloodshed and gore, no political leader from the ruling front has deemed it fit to give some serious note on why the Prime Minister has not met anyone from Manipur. A point which every professional politicians should be asking themselves and in the process acknowledge that at least Rahul Gandhi has visited the place three times. The focus of all those who have come to don the robe of political leaders should be to see how to resolve the issue and give some thoughts to the over 60 thousand people who are still surviving in the different relief centres spread across the State. Ravi Gandhi, ADG, Border Security Force (BSF), Eastern Command, inspected the progress of construction of a Composite Border Outpost (BOP) at Kakmarichar in West Bengals Murshidabad district on Monday. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned the construction of 383 Composite BOPs along the 4,096.7 km-long Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) that passes along the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Of these states, the IBB stretches for 2,216.7 km in West Bengal. Composite BOPs are a marked improvement from conventional ones that provide basic amenities and defences to BSF troops deployed in that area. A Composite BOP will have at least one barrack for the jawans with a kitchen, dining hall and toilet block. Advertisement It will also have an administrative block, a weapons storage facility, a dedicated wireless room, garage and a medical unit. Every Composite BOP will have six cemented bunkers to ward off any attack. Such BOPs will provide a better work environment for jawans and greater dominance against criminal activities along the IBB. The Composite BOPs are being constructed at strategic locations and Kakmarichar is one of them. The ADG also reviewed the new proposed domination line and assessed its strategic importance. Kakmarichar is on the banks of the Padma River, the centre point of which acts as a natural boundary between India and Bangladesh. In October, 2019, a BSF head constable was shot dead by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) during a flag-meeting between the two forces. This sparked off a major row between the two border-guarding forces. A K Arya, DIG and spokesperson, BSF, South Bengal Frontier said that the ADG toured the area extensively and even travelled on a tractor while visiting the Area Of Responsibility (AOR) of BOP Bamnabad, School Ghat. He said that the ADG also reviewed the new domination line in the AOR of BOP Rajanagar. He was accompanied by Maninder P S Pawar, IG, South Bengal Frontier, BSF. Earlier, he reviewed the night domination strategies at Charbhadra Base BOP and carried out a thorough check of night-vision devices and Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera points to ensure effective surveillance 247. The ADG also held a detailed briefing with company commanders of 146 Bn BSF, addressing critical issues relating to area domination, surveillance and other operational matters. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday, claimed that the renewal of the Indo-Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is set to expire in 2026 will not only impact West Bengal but also the neighbouring statement of Bihar. If the Farakka Treaty is renewed Bihar will also be equally affected by floods like West Bengal. It is unfortunate that the main stakeholders like the West Bengal government were not consulted by the Union government before taking any decision on the treaty, the Chief Minister told media persons. The Chief Minister also criticised the Union government for carrying forward talks with Bangladesh for Teesta River water sharing. If Teesta River water is shared with Bangladesh, then there will be drinking water scarcity in different parts of North Bengal, the Chief Minister said. Advertisement She also launched a scathing attack against the Union and neighbouring Sikkim governments and held them responsible for the frequent flood situations in North Bengal. The Union government should have monitored the installation of hydro-power projects in Sikkim. The people of North Bengal are suffering now because of that. Even the Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts are flooded every year by water flowing in from neighbouring Bhutan. The Union government has been neglecting these issues for a long time, the Chief Minister said. Chief Minister last month wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the latter not to take decisions on Farakka Treaty renewal or Teesta River water sharing without consulting the West Bengal government. The interest of the people in West Bengal is paramount which should not be compromised at any cost, the letter added. Bimal Gurung, the former chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and current president of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), has written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee urging her to intervene and cancel the illegal lease deeds of public properties owned by the GTA. In his letter, Gurung claims that at least nine tourism bungalows in a popular tourist destination, Sandakphu via Maneybhanjang, have been handed over to a private individual without following proper procedures and at a much lower rate than their estimated value. Notably, the present GTA chief executive, Anit Thapa, is also the president of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM). Advertisement Mr Gurung alleged that these deals were made with close associates of BGPM for personal gains. Additionally, Mr Gurung mentions that another prime property in Siliguri has been leased out at a significantly lower rate than its potential earnings as a tourist guest house. The private operator took control of the property for a yearly fee of Rs 50 lakh, despite the fact that it has the potential to earn over Rs 3 crore annually as a tourist guest house, according to Mr Gurung. He questioned whether proper auction policies were followed in these transactions and expressed concern about potential revenue loss to the exchequer. In light of recent actions taken by the CM against land grabbers, Mr Gurung requested her to instruct Darjeeling and Kalimpong DMs to address encroachments in various areas in the Hills. He also discloses that there are plans to lease out more GTA properties soon. University has reinstated Dr Bibekananda Mukherjee as the head of the department of visual arts, despite serious allegations of rape made by a PhD student under his guidance. This decision (Ref no -R/Estab/Headship/Vis.Art./2024/DP-268 dated 5. 7. 2024) has prompted the victim to lodge a formal complaint with the Governor and the chancellor of the university against the vice-chancellor, Dr Amalendu Bhunia, for allegedly violating the internal complaint committees (ICC) report. The ICC, reconstituted by the Calcutta High Court and formed in accordance with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, found Dr Mukherjee guilty and recommended his suspension for six months during its 50th meeting on 24 January, 2023. However, the ICCs recommendation was conspicuously absent from the agenda of the executive council meeting on 22 February, 2023. Dr Mukherjee subsequently filed a case against this decision, which was dismissed by the court. Initially, the university removed Dr Mukherjee from his position as the department head and as the PhD guide for the victim. He was also stripped of all administrative roles. Despite this, he has been inexplicably reinstated to his previous position. Advertisement The victim student, who is now under the guidance of another faculty member, had filed a complaint with the Kalyani police station, initiating a police investigation. Although the accused received interim bail from the court, preventing immediate police action, the investigation continues. A section of university teachers and students alleges that Dr Mukherjee is leveraging his significant political connections to evade accountability. We believe the university administration is protecting him due to his political ties with high-ranking officials of the ruling party, stated one teacher under the condition of anonymity. The victim, who joined as a research scholar in May 2021, claims that her guide coerced her into a sexual relationship, threatening her with severe consequences if she refused. She has also submitted a complaint to the National Commission for Women on 6 July. The victim has expressed her dismay at the universitys failure to implement the ICCs recommendations, allowing the accused to retain his position of influence. The victim alleged that Dr Mukherjees reinstatement was influenced by his close association with Manisankar Mondal, vice-president of the West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA), and the current vice-chancellor. In her letter to the chairman of National Commission for Women, the victim wrote, It is deeply troubling that despite the seriousness of the allegations and the legal proceedings initiated, the accused teacher continues to enjoy impunity within the university. This not only undermines the safety and well-being of female research scholars but also perpetuates a culture of silence and tolerance towards sexual violence on campus. I always feel insecure on campus. The victim is urging authorities to intervene and ensure that the university administration takes immediate and effective action to address the allegations of rape and sexual harassment. She emphasized the need for justice, support, and protection for those affected by such misconduct. Dr Bhunia was not available for his comment. A fully air-conditioned crew lobby, rest rooms, biometric attendance, the crew lobby under the South Eastern Railway at Andul station is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, claimed the zonal railway officials today. The crew lobbies, as emphasised by the SER officials, the authorities have asserted in providing the basic home-like amenities for maximum mental and physical rest, in-between duties. From washing machine to food of their choice and comfortable rest rooms, the crew lobby at Andul is designed in such way that the loco pilots, assistant loco pilots and guards, who are mostly from outside the state, get a homely atmosphere, said the chief public relations office of the SER, Om Prakash Charan. A team of around 359 running staff has also been deployed to keep the crew lobby operational and make the place a comfortable space for the railway staff. Advertisement At Andul station, as pointed out by the CPRO, the crew lobby serves mostly the loco pilots, assistant loco pilots and guards working on goods trains. The loco pilots and guards along with their family members are given counselling sessions by the SER at regular intervals to ensure that the loco pilots get a good atmosphere at home as well. Like the SER, the Eastern Railways crew lobbies are all air-conditioned with a cubicle system for uninterrupted rest, food counters, separate restroom for women staff. Foot massagers at the crew rest rooms from safety funds have also been provided for the running staff. Existing Sealdah running room has a separate ladies room with attached toilet with one dining set for the separate use of lady crew and train manager. As informed by the zonal railway, the cost of the meal is provided by railways, including 90 per cent borne by railways and 10 per cent by the motorman/loco pilots/ assistant loco pilots. The combined crew booking lobby and crew rest room at Sealdah have a total bed strength of 30 in guard rest room and 48 in motor man/loco pilots/ assistant loco pilot rest room. According to the CPRO of the zonal railway, Kausik Mitra, at present, there are 26 crew lobbies over Eastern Railway, most of which have both crew booking and crew waiting facilities. Apart from this, educational videos, simulating modules and so on are also available at the crew booking lobbies and rest room complex to upgrade their working knowledge. Inset The Kolkata Metro Railway has six rest rooms for motormen who get refreshed during a minimum 30 min rest between two trips, informed the city Metro today. According to the city Metro office, as motormen go home at night, there is no concept of running room as well as outstation rest. Each crew lobby is attached with rest rooms with adequate chairs, tables, beds etc. Total six crew lobbies are provided in different corridors. For display of instructions and necessary guidelines, white boards have also been provided. West Bengal Governor on Monday said that it has sought a report from the office of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on actions taken by the state government against the Commissioner of Kolkata Police Vineet Kumar Goyal and the Deputy Commissioner (central division) of city police Indira Mukherjee on the basis of a report sent from his office. The development surfaced when a slugfest has already erupted in West Bengal over the Governors recommendation to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs recommending disciplinary actions against Goyal and Mukherjee for pursuing a police complaint filed against the Governor by a woman temporary staffer of Raj Bhavan in Kolkata a couple of months back. The Governors office said that upon the authority vested on the Governor under Article 167 of the Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister has been called upon to submit a report on the matter of action taken against the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, on report sent by Honble Governor to the Government of India and the Honble Chief Minister. Advertisement It also said that the office of the Governor has sought from the office of the Chief Minister a report on CBI enquiry into the violent incidences of beating of a woman in public, public flogging of a couple and operations of kangaroo courts with no effective action by police. BJP leaders have welcomed the complaint by the Governor on the grounds that the duty of the officers is to follow the provisions of the Constitution and not go by the directions of the ruling party. Leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress have pointed out that the city police has already clarified that the police investigation in the matter is not against anyone but on the merits of the complaint by the Raj Bhavan staff. In a bid to enhance administrative efficiency and public service delivery, the Delhi government has proposed a sweeping reorganization of the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD). Aligning the WCD district offices with Delhis 11 revenue districts, the plan now awaits the Lieutenant Governors approval. This strategic overhaul aims to create a more integrated and coordinated system, improving the implementation of schemes and ensuring greater public convenience, the Delhi government said on Tuesday. The newly reorganised district offices will be New Delhi, Central, North, North West, West, South, South West, South East, East, Shahdara, and North East. Advertisement On this significant development, Delhis Women and Child Development Minister Kailash Gahlot said, The reorganisation of our district offices will mark a significant step toward optimizing our administrative framework for delivering social security and welfare services. He said this realignment will facilitate smoother coordination and implementation of schemes, making the process more straightforward for both administrators and beneficiaries. By aligning with the revenue districts, we can work more closely with local government bodies to leverage local insights and infrastructure in program execution, ensuring better resource allocation and programme targeting, Gahlot said. The directives to re-align the district offices of the WCD with the current revenue district setup are guided by thoughtful deliberation and comprehensive field reports. This move will enhance the departments responsiveness to local needs and challenges, enabling a more agile and effective response to the evolving welfare needs of women, children, and vulnerable populations within each district. With the setup of 11 new re-aligned district offices, the WCD department can now more efficiently implement financial assistance schemes such as the Delhi Pension Scheme to Women in Distress, Widow Daughter Marriage Assistance Scheme, Ladli Scheme, and all services related to child and women welfare. This reorganisation is expected to significantly enhance the administrative efficiency of the WCD, ensuring a more effective delivery of welfare schemes across Delhi. Radhikka Madan, celebrated for her dynamic roles, is ready to captivate audiences once again in the upcoming film Sarfira, where she portrays the spirited Maharashtrian girl, Rani. With the trailer and songs already stirring anticipation, Radhikkas depiction has garnered widespread praise for its authenticity and depth. In Sarfira, Radhikka Madan embodies Rani, a character defined by resilience in the face of adversity. Her performance not only showcases her versatility but also underscores her dedication to bringing authenticity to every role she takes on. Critics and fans alike have been effusive in their praise, eagerly awaiting the films release to witness her portrayal firsthand. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) Ahead of the films much-anticipated debut on July 12th, 2024, special screenings have been held across cities, drawing rave reviews. At a recent screening in Pune, Akshay Kumar, Radhikkas co-star in the film, heaped praise on her performance, describing it as the best he has ever witnessed. He commended her meticulous preparation, highlighting her commitment to mastering Marathi language and culture for the role. Her portrayal of Rani is truly remarkable. Shes not Maharashtrian, but she has embraced the character with such authenticity and grace. Her efforts to learn the language and nuances are evident in every scene, Akshay Kumar remarked. Radhikka Madans journey in Sarfira promises to be a compelling one, offering audiences a glimpse into the complexities of Ranis life through her nuanced performance. As the countdown to the release date begins, expectations are high for Radhikka to deliver yet another memorable performance that resonates with viewers long after the credits roll. Actor Tobey Maguire was seen with 20-year-old model Lily Chee, sparking rumors that the 47-year-old actor is dating her. The rumors quickly spread, leading to significant backlash and trolling directed at Maguire for dating someone just three years older than his daughter. Tobey and Lily were spotted together at Fanatics CEO Michael Rubins annual Independence Day party in the Hamptons, New York, both dressed in white with Tobeys arm around her waist. In response to the trolling, Tobeys ex-wife Jennifer Meyer addressed the issue. An Instagram user commented on Jennifers post, drawing her attention to the rumors. The user wrote, Why is your ex-husband dating someone three years older than your daughter? Advertisement Jennifer defended Tobey Maguire in a now-deleted comment, stating, I dont usually respond to such nonsense, but he was kindly helping a friend to her car, being a good guy. And now he has [been] blasted online for dating someone he is not. But thank you for your rude comment, I hope it made you feel better today. Wishing you love and light. She further refuted the speculation in response to another comment, saying, Im disengaging after this. But dont believe everything you read (Im sure you were taught that somewhere). Tobey is as good of a guy as it gets. Tobey Maguire and Lily Chee at Michael Rubins party in New York City. pic.twitter.com/DPsrDtcQOu 21 (@21metgala) July 5, 2024 Neither Tobey nor Lily have commented on the rumors. Lily did share several pictures with her friends from the event on Instagram. The star-studded event also saw the attendance of Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Quavo, Druski, Emily Ratajkowski, and Lil Wayne among others. Tobey Maguire and Jennifer tied the knot in Kona, Hawaii, in 2007. They were married for nine years before separating in 2016, with Jennifer filing for divorce in 2020. The couple has two children, a daughter named Ruby Sweetheart and a son named Otis Tobias. Tobeys most recent appearance was in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Renowned for his chameleonic performances, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has once again set tongues wagging in Bollywood with his latest signing. The acclaimed actor, celebrated for his compelling portrayals on screen, has joined forces once more with director Anand Surapur. This exciting collaboration comes hot on the heels of their successful stint together in Rautu Ka Raaz, where Nawazuddin enthralled audiences with his portrayal of a determined cop. Director Anand Surapur, buoyed by the positive reception of their previous venture, shared insights into their upcoming project. Nawaz bhai and I discussed this mystery thriller set in Uttarakhand earlier, and now were all set to roll cameras in December, he revealed. The directors enthusiasm is palpable as he prepares to delve into a narrative layered with suspense against the breathtaking backdrop of Uttarakhand. Known for his ability to breathe life into intricate characters, Nawazuddin Siddiquis involvement promises to elevate the film to new heights. His dedication to the craft and penchant for authenticity have consistently left an indelible mark on cinema, resonating deeply with audiences and filmmakers alike. This forthcoming venture is poised to be another jewel in Nawazuddins crown, adding to an already illustrious lineup of projects. Alongside Anand Surapurs mystery thriller, the actor is gearing up for a diverse slate of films including Oil Kumar, Adbhut, Noorani Chehra, and Sangeen. Each promises to showcase his versatility and unwavering commitment to storytelling. As fans eagerly await the unveiling of yet another riveting performance, Nawazuddin Siddiqui continues to cement his status as one of Bollywoods most compelling talents. With each role, he redefines boundaries and captivates audiences, making a lasting impact on the world of cinema. Looking for something to binge-watch this week? Dont fret, as your favorite OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Jio Cinema, Disney+ Hotstar, and MX Player have lined up some exciting new releases this July. Weve compiled a curated list to make your July evenings more relaxing and entertaining. Take a look at whats in store: 1. Mandakini (Manorama Max, July 12th) Get ready for a delightful comedy featuring Althaf Salim and Anarkali Marikar. Directed by Vinod Leela and produced by Sanju Unnithan under Spire Productions, Mandakini explores the comedic chaos of Aromal and Ambilis eventful first night together. The film, which released on May 24, 2024, has garnered positive reviews for its humor and insightful take on relationships. 2. Wild Wild Punjab (Netflix, July 10th) Embark on a laughter-filled journey with Rajesh Khanna (Varun Sharma), affectionately known as Khanne, in Wild Wild Punjab. After a breakup, Khanne sets out on a road trip with his buddies Maan Arora (Sunny Singh), Honey Singh (Manjot Singh), and Gaurav Jain (Jassi Gill) to crash his ex-girlfriends wedding. What follows are hilarious encounters with eccentric locals and unexpected brawls, turning his quest for closure into a chaotic adventure. Advertisement 3. Sausage Party (Amazon Prime Video, July 11th) Prepare for a wild ride with the adult animated comedy film Sausage Party, hitting Amazon Prime Video on July 11, 2024. Directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, the movie hilariously parodies Disney and Pixar films, following a sausages journey to discover the truth behind grocery store life. With voices from a star-studded cast including Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, and Jonah Hill, this film promises outrageous humor and unexpected twists. 4. Malayalee from India (SonyLiv, July 5th) Directed by Dijo Jose Antony and produced by Listin Stephen for Magic Frames, Malayalee from India is a comedy drama starring Nivin Pauly, Dhyan Sreenivasan, and Anaswara Rajan. The film explores cultural divides through the story of Aalparambil Gopi, played by Nivin Pauly, who is sent abroad to temper his strong beliefs. As he navigates new friendships, particularly with his Pakistani boss, the film offers a heartwarming take on unexpected connections. 5. Maharaja, Tamil (Netflix, July 12th) Coming to Netflix on July 12th, Maharaja is a Tamil film that delves into mystery and intrigue. Set in a tranquil neighborhood, the story follows a respected middle-aged barber. He finds himself embroiled in controversy when his report of a masked robber is dismissed by the police. As suspicions about his sanity grow, the film promises to unravel a gripping tale of suspense. This July, these diverse offerings on OTT platforms from the world of cinema promise to cater to every mood. From uproarious comedies to thought-provoking dramas, they got you covered. So grab your snacks, settle in, and enjoy these captivating tales from the comfort of your couch. And dont forget to share your own recommendations with us too! Officials believe that at least four to five heavily armed Pakistani terrorists with local support were yesterday involved in the killing of five Army soldiers and injuring as many in the attack at a military patrol truck near the Badnota village of the otherwise peaceful Billawar sub-division of Jammu. The bullet marks on the attacked truck show that the terrorists not only tossed grenades at the soldiers but also fired from the US made M-4 rifles. They also fired steel coated bullets that have the capability to pierce through the bullet proof vehicles. Terrorists frequently targeting the Army troops particularly in the Jammu region indicate that the area domination by the security forces needs to be further strengthened to the level of that in Kashmir Valley where the intelligence on movement of terrorists is also up to the mark. Intelligence apparatus also needs to be further geared up in the Jammu region where this was the sixth major attack and the second in Kathua district in a month. Earlier, 12 and 13 June, two Pakistani terrorists were killed and a CRPF jawan was martyred in a similar encounter in the district. Movement of terrorists of the same group was spotted by locals in the upper reaches of the Kathua and Doda districts. A massive search operation has been launched in the area and helicopters and drones were being used to track down the terrorists. Mortal remains of the five soldiers who died in the attack were airlifted in helicopters to Dehradun in Uttrakhand from the Billawar sub-district hospital where postmortem was conducted on their bodies. Advertisement Officers of the Western Command of the Army paid homage to the bravehearts JCO Anand Singh, Havaldar Kamal Singh, Naik Vinod Singh, Rifleman Anuj Negi and Rifleman Adarsh Negi. Billawar Additional Deputy Commissioner, Vinay Khosla said that eight injured soldiers were brought to the Billawar hospital, out of which, the Army shifted six jawans to military hospital at Pathankot in Punjab. CRPF and J&K Police Special Operation Group (SOG) have joined the Indian Army in the search operation in the thickly forested area. Sniffer dogs of the Army and CRPF have also been brought in for the search operation. The authorities have stepped up security for movement of the Amarnath pilgrims on the Jammu-Srinagar highway where the Army, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&K police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway. The Pakistan backed terrorists were now focusing on the Jammu region where since 9 June there have been terror strikes at six places in Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan were killed. Besides, 43 civilians, a couple of Army soldiers and policemen were injured. As many as 43 Army soldiers have sacrificed their lives in the Jammu region in the past less than three years. These martyrdoms were recorded since October 11, 2021 when gun battles between terrorists and Army raged for over 10 days in Chamrer and Bhatta Durrian forests falling between Surankote and Mendhar in Poonch district where five soldiers lost their lives signalling revival of terrorism in the Jammu region that had remained peaceful for about 20 years. Four others attained martyrdom at Bhatta Durrian forests on October 16, 2021. Two of them were JCOs. The terrorists remained untraced. Two more Army jawans sacrificed their lives in Nowshera sector of Rajouri on October 30, 2021. Five Army soldiers were killed while two suicide bombers were eliminated in a terror attack at Pargal in Darhal area of Rajouri on August 11, 2022. Five Army soldiers were martyred at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar area of Poonch on April 20, 2023 while exactly a fortnight later five para commandos lost their lives and Major was injured in an IED blast triggered by the terrorists at Kandi in Rajouri district. On November 22, 2023, five Army personnel, two of them Captains, attained martyrdom while eliminating two foreign terrorists at Bajimaal in Dharamshal area of Kalakote in Rajouri while five more bravehearts were killed and two others were injured at Dera Ki Gali in Surankote area of Poonch on December 21, 2023. A VDG jawan was killed at Basantgarh in Udhampur district on April 28, 2024, an IAF soldier lost his life on May 4, 2024 at Surankote in Poonch while a CRPF jawan sacrificed his life at Hiranagar in Kathua on June 11, 2024. Five Army jawans, including a JCO, were martyred at Machedi in Billawar area of Kathua district yesterday. BJP National President and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday said the Congress won Lok Sabha seats in many states because of the votes of the regional parties. Addressing BJP Kerala units expanded state executive meeting in Thiruvananthapuram today, Nadda said the Congress was not able to win even a single seat in 13 states in the just concluded Lok sabha polls; it has won seats in many states because of the votes of the regional parties. The grand old party is a parasite. It has won seats in many states because of the votes of the regional parties, said Nadda. Advertisement Nadda said the false narrative that the BJP is a North Indian party had been demolished in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls as the party made huge gains in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and opened its account in Kerala, and also increased its vote share in Tamil Nadu. Congratulating BJP workers in Kerala for sending the partys representative to the Lok Sabha for the first time, the BJP chief urged them to continue working hard to ensure that the lotus blossoms and the BJP is victorious in Kerala in 2026. He said even though the BJP lost in Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram, the defeat had the glory of victory. You are doing political work in Kerala under the most difficult conditions. You are working in Kerala in the fear of losing your lives, Nadda told BJP workers. Taking a dig at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the backdrop of the allegations against his family, Nadda said the Communists are also emulating their INDIA bloc partner Congress by promoting their own sons and daughters. Graham Staines murder convict Rabindra Kumar Pal on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Odisha government for his premature release as per the April 19, 2022, guidelines of the state for premature release of convicts. Rabindra Kumar Pal was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for burning to death Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines, and his two sons, Philip and Timothy, in 1999. Rabindra Kumar Pal, his accomplice Mahender Hambram and others belonging to Bajrang Dal had burnt to death Graham Staines and his two children while they were sleeping in a station wagon at Manoharpur area of Keonjhar district. Advertisement Rabindra Kumar Pal in his petition has stated that he is 61-year-old and has already undergone more than 24 years of actual imprisonment (without remission). He has stated that he was never released on parole. He has stated, The Petitioner acknowledges and deeply regrets the transgressions perpetrated more than two decades ago. In the fervour of youth, fuelled by impassioned reactions to the brutal history of India, the Pettibones psyche momentarily lost restraint. It is imperative for the Honble Court to scrutinize not merely the actions but the underlying intent; noting that there was no personal animosity harboured towards any victim. On January 21, 2011, exactly 12 years after Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burnt to death by a mob of Hindu fanatics in Odishas Keonjhar district, the Supreme Court had upheld life-sentence for Ravinder Kumar Pal, who along with his accomplice Mahender Hambram, had led the crowd. While affirming the life sentences, the top court bench of Justices P. Sathasivam (who went on to become Chief Justice of India and has since retired) and Justice B.S. Chauhan (since retired) in their judgment said it was not a rarest of the rare case warranting death sentence. Justice Sathasivam went on to become the Governor of Kerala. Speaking for the bench, Justice Sathasivam had said, In the case on hand, though Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burnt to death while they were sleeping inside a station wagon at Manoharpur, the intention was to teach a lesson to Graham Staines about his religious activities, namely, converting poor tribals to Christianity. Later this paragraph was deleted from the judgment. The Orissa High Court had modified the death sentence to life imprisonment to Ravinder Kumar Pal. A day after the terrorist attack in which five army soldiers were killed in Kathua district, a fierce gunfight broke out on Tuesday between the security forces and militants in the forests of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir. Police said late afternoon that an encounter has broken out between terrorists and security forces in the Goli-Gadi forests in the upper reaches of the Doda district. Further details were awaited. Advertisement A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) this afternoon visited the terror attack spot in the Billawar sub division and picked samples of the ammunition used in attacking the Army vehicle. Meanwhile, Army troops fired a few rounds to shoot down a Pakistani drone along the Line of Control (LOC) in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu, officials said on Tuesday. The drone, however, returned to Pakistan after briefly hovering over the Indian territory late Monday night, they said. Indian troops, guarding the LOC, picked up the movement of a Pakistani drone at a height of over 1,000 metres at around 9.15 pm and fired five rounds within the next 10 minutes to bring it down, but it managed to return, they said. After over half an hour, a Pakistani drone was again spotted entering Indian territory and two more rounds were fired at it, following which it returned to the other side of the LOC, they said. Army troops launched a search operation in the forward villages with the first light of the day to ensure that there was no dropping of weapons or narcotics by the drones, they said. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Armys White Knight Corps, Lt. General Navin Sachdeva accompanied by GOC Counter Insurgency Force (Romeo) today visited Galuthi and Dera-ki-Gali (DKG) to review the security situation. They were briefed on operations preparedness and actions being taken to maintain a robust operational posture in the Rajouri and Poonch regions of Jammu. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday conferred Russias highest civilian honour, Order of St Andrew the Apostle, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day official visit to Moscow for the 22nd Annual Summit. In a special ceremony in St. Andrew Hall in the Kremlin, the Russian President conferred the highest national award of Russia for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties. The award was announced in 2019, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The award was instituted over 300 years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award. Advertisement While accepting the award, the Prime Minister dedicated it to the people of India and to the traditional bonds of friendship between India and Russia. He said that the recognition illuminates the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The Russian President presented the award to PM Modi for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. It is a testimony to Russias sincere gratitude to the sincere contribution you are making to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our nationsyou have always advocated broader contacts with our country. Back when you were Chief Minister of Gujarat, you came up with the initiative of twinning your state with Russian regions, President Putin said while conferring the award. Dear friend, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to congratulate you for this highest Russian award and wish you good health, success and all the best. To the friendly people of India, I wish peace and prosperity, he added. He also highlighted Prime Minister Modis role in elevating India-Russia ties to the level of strategic partnership and said both nations are working for global and regional security. You have been at the helm of the Indian government for 10 years. You have genuinely strived to elevate the Russian-Indian relation to the level of special and privileged strategic partnership. With your direct support, Russia and India are implementing large-scale trade, economicnuclear and hydrocarbon energy in high-tech and space exploration, Putin said. He added, Your contribution to building a resilient framework for Russian-Indian cooperation in the international arena, where both of our nations are defending the principles of multipolarityworking for the sake of stability, global and regional security, and working closely within the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. It is only awarded for the most outstanding civilian or military merit. The Russian Embassy in India had in 2019 said, On April 12, @narendramodi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle for exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples. The Russian President had then appreciated PM Modi on being conferred the award and recalled his outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Order of St Andrew for outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia, he stated on X. To this, PM Modi replied that the foundation of the friendship between the two countries is deep and the future of the partnership is bright. Honoured to receive this prestigious award. I thank President Putin and the people of Russia. The foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright. Extensive cooperation between our nations has led to extraordinary outcomes for our citizens, he said. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said The highest national honour which was conferred on the Prime Minister, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, this award was announced in 2019. First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov said The level of relations, especially the relations between two leaders can be seen. The main honour that has been awarded to PM Modi is a significant moment in confirmation of the friendship between our countries and between the leaders of our countries. Ahead of the Haryana assembly polls due this year, BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday appointed Mohan Lal Badoli as the partys state president. Mohan Lal Badoli is the Haryana MLA from the Rai assembly constituency. Badoli replaced Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who was holding the charge of the state party president. The 61-year-old Haryana MLA, was first elected to the state Assembly from Rai assembly constituency in 2019. Advertisement Badoli had also served as the BJPs Sonipat district president and later as party general secretary. Haryana is going to the Assembly elections likely in October. The BJP has been in power in Haryana since 2014. In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and Congress won five seats each out of the 10 constituencies in Haryana. Badoli lost the Lok Sabha election from the Sonipat seat to his Congress rival Satpal Brahamchari with a slender margin of 21,816 votes. last day of the campaign for by-election in the Amarwara assembly seat of Chhindwara on Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav slammed the Congress, accusing it of running a narrative to divide the Hindu community for their vote bank policy. Addressing a public gathering in Amarwara, the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders sitting in Delhi compare Hindu community with terrorists. They also question why sadhu-sanyasi (priests) support the BJPs ideology. Sadhu-Sanyasi gives blessings to the BJP because we respect them. Our culture is to respect priests like God and in return, we receive blessings from them. Congress leaders compare the Hindu community with terrorists, but their (Congress) plan to divide the people wont be successful, the Chief Minister said. Advertisement He also expressed confidence in winning the Amarwara by-election scheduled to take place on July 10. The Chief Minister said the BJP will win Amarwara like it won Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat recently. The way people are responding to the BJPs development works, I am sure that we will win Amarwara like Chhindwara Lok Sabha, he added. The by-poll in Amarwara was necessitated after Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah resigned from the Assembly and partys primary membership and joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Shah has won the Amarwara seat for three consecutive terms, and the BJP has fielded him as its candidate for by-poll. The Congress has fielded a new candidate Dheernsha Invati to take on the BJPs Kamlesh Shah. The Congress under the leadership of its new state head Jitu Patwari carried out an aggressive campaign in Amarwara. The result of the by-election will be announced on July 13. The fisherman, a victim in the hit-and-run incident from a speeding BMW car, has recounted the horrifying moments that led to the death of his wife in the accident in Mumbai. Forty-five-year old Kaveri was killed and her husband Pradeep Nakhwa injured on Sunday morning after their two-wheeler was hit by a speeding BMW, allegedly driven by Mihir Shah, the son of a Shiv Sena leader. The couple from fishermen community was on their routine early morning trip back from the fish hatchery when the accident took place on Peddar Road. Advertisement We were on our daily routine, as we are fishermen and as part of our daily routine, on Sunday at 4 am, we were returning through the Peddar Road from the fish hatchery after buying fish. We were driving slowly with a speed of 35-40 km/hr on the side of the road. Suddenly, a car with extreme speed came and hit us, we didnt even realize how fast it was. We flew into the air and dropped on his cars bonnet, Nakhwa told a news agency. The impact of the collision threw the couple into the air, landing Nakhwa on the left side of the road while his wife was tragically caught under the vehicle. When he put the brake, I fell on the left side of the road while my wife came under the wheels of his vehicle. He didnt stop after that, I tried to stop him but he didnt, and dragged her from Ceejay House to Sea Link Road. There was smoke coming out from the wheels when he was dragging my wife. After the incident, he fled from the spot, he said. Despite his desperate attempts to stop the vehicle and catch the driver, Nakhwa was unable to prevent the tragedy. I tried multiple times to stop him, but he didnt. I, even took a taxi to catch him but couldnt find him anywhere. After that, I went to a police station and informed the officials. After some time, they informed me about the body of a woman on sea-link, and took it to Nair Hospital and then called me, he added. He also questioned the delay in the arrest of the accused driver, identified as Mihir Shah, son of Shiv Leader Rajesh Shah. Its been 24 hours, but the accused has not been arrested. If a similar crime was committed by any poor man to the rich, then the police would have acted smartly and arrested the accused, he lamented. Police say they are searching for him but couldnt find him, but if they want, they could do anything. This is all politics. He is a son of a political leader thats why he has not been arrested. The case will be finished once the session ends and he will not be arrested, its my guarantee, the grieving husband added. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said around 200 dengue cases were recorded in the city but added that his government is dealing with the problem on a war footing. Bharadwaj, who was speaking to reporters over dengue and governments preparedness over the same on the sidelines of another event, said that timely instructions have been given to the concerned departments and agencies for ensuring steps to curb breeding of mosquitoes. He stressed that prevention of dengue and to stop breeding of the mosquitoes is the best solution for the disease. Advertisement Elaborating on governments preparedness for Dengue, health minister said that relevant agencies have been asked to ensure that there is no mosquito breeding in the areas that fall under their jurisdiction, while all the Delhi government hospitals have been asked to ensure the availability of related medicines, and also instructed to ensure separate beds are reserved for the treatment of Dengue patients. During the past week, the minister has held two important meetings to review preparations for the vector borne diseases, and has already given important directions to the concerned departments and the officials. Bharadwaj has said that it had started raining in Delhi since June 28, and during rains the complaints of mosquito breeding increased. The Minister has also informed that concerned Medical Superintendents of the government hospitals have been instructed to personally take rounds of their institutions to ensure that the preventive measures are being observed. He has said that preventive measures are more important in this regard, rather than getting scared of the situation, but people need to be cautious, he said, adding that things should not be taken lightly in this regard. Bharadwaj on Monday held an important review meeting with Medical Superintendents and Medical Directors of all the Delhi Government hospitals over dengue cases amid the monsoons. The minister took stock of the preparedness across the hospitals in view of the vector borne diseases, while the concerned officials and medical institutions chiefs gave detailed information about the availability of medicines in hospitals, arrangement for dengue beds and other preparations. Bhardwaj has directed the concerned department and officials to intensify fogging and cleaning campaigns in dengue prone areas. If mosquito breeding is seen around hospitals, immediately inform the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Bharadwaj had told the officials. He had directed all the hospitals to ensure availability of mosquito nets in sufficient quantity for the patients, and also keep the stock of medicines ready. The minister also issued instructions to run awareness campaigns and broadcast information on dengue and measures to prevent the disease through social media and other modes of communications. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday expressed happiness over Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving Russias highest civilian honor, calling it an honor for 140 crore Indians. On his X handle, CM Yogi wrote: The highest civilian honor given Order of St. Andrew the Apostle given by the Russian Federation is an honor for 140 crore Indians. He further wrote, This award shows the deep mutual respect between the two countries and recognizes PM Modis significant contribution to maintaining the long-standing friendship between Russia and India. Congratulations to the Prime Minister on this excellent achievement. Under your leadership, India will continue to grow and achieve unique success on the international stage. Advertisement It is noteworthy that Russia announced this award for PM Modi in 2019. The importance of this award can be understood from its 326-year history. In 1698, Tsar Peter the Great established the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in honor of Russias patron saint, St. Andrew. BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries. Xi pointed out that it is the consensus of SCO countries to protect the environment and promote green development. China, committed to the philosophy that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, has in recent years unswervingly pursued a model of sound development featuring improved production, higher living standards and healthy ecosystems, leading to remarkable achievements in building a beautiful China. China hopes to strengthen communication and cooperation in the field of green development with all parties via the forum, to boost the sustainable economic and social development of all countries and promote harmonious coexistence between human and nature, Xi said. Describing the SCO as a model for a new type of international relations and regional cooperation, Xi noted that China has recently taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO. China is ready to work with all sides to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and coordination, promote green development, write a new chapter of common development, and jointly build an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Xi added. The Green Development Forum of SCO Countries opened on Monday in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met the parents of Captain Anshuman Singh who was martyred in Siachen last year. Singhs parents appreciated the Gandhi scions gesture and called for ending the controversial Agniveer scheme. Talking to the media after meeting the Congress leader, Manju Singh, the mother of the martyr, said, He (Rahul) talked passionately about soldiers and how to better their lives. He told us that he will work to end the Agniveer scheme. Advertisement Agnipath scheme is a tour of duty style scheme approved by the Centre on June 14, 2022 for recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the three services of the armed forces. All recruits will be hired only for a four year period. Personnel recruited under this system are called Agniveers. The introduction of the scheme has been criticized for lack of consultation and public debate. Manju further said she has been impressed by Gandhis speeches and had met him at Rashtrapati Bhavan when she was there to receive the Kirti Chakra awarded posthumously to her son Captain Anshuman Singh. I have heard Rahul speaking in Parliament, and wanted to meet him once. So we got an appointment in Rae Bareli, she said. The Agniveer scheme is not right for the army and when we discussed this issue with Gandhi, he promised to put an end to it, she added. Captain Anshumans father Ravi Pratap Singh said Gandhi came across as a good person and that is why he met him. Rahul Gandhi told us that the sacrifice made by martyr Anshuman Singh, the entire country will be indebted to him and the Congress party is proud of my son. He also told us that the Congress stands firmly with my family, he added. The Raebareli MP also visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here and inspected the facilities there. He later reached the Kisan Shahid memorial and paid his tributes. Captain Anshuman Singh was part of the Army Medical Corps 26th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment. He was stationed as a medical officer in Siachen during Operation Meghdoot. On July 19, 2023, during a severe fire accident at the Chandan Dropping Zone in Siachen, Anshuman helped rescue people trapped in the blaze. The fire later spread to the medical investigation centre, and in a heroic act, he went in to save others without caring for his life. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reached his parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli for a day-long visit on Tuesday. Gandhi landed at the Lucknow airport and reached Rae Bareli by road . Earlier, he was scheduled to land at Fursatganj airport but due to low visibility, his special aircraft coming from Manipur, was diverted to Lucknow, Congress sources said. This will be the first visit of the Congress lawmaker to his constituency since assuming office as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Advertisement During his visit, Gandhi is also scheduled to meet the family of late Captain Anshuman Singh who died in the July 2023 Siachen fire. According to party sources, the Gandhi scion has reached Bhuemau Guest House where he is meeting various delegations from different sections of the society, besides party leaders and commoners. Later, he is scheduled to visit some places in his constituency before leaving for New Delhi in the evening. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to visit Manipur, listen to the violence-affected people, and console them. He also said that the INDIA bloc is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace in the violence torn state In this terrible tragedy in Manipur, I request the Prime Minister to come here, listen to the people, and console them. The INDIA alliance is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace, the Congress leader said in a post on X. This comes as Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, met the victims of clashes at the relief camp at Moirang in Manipurs Bishnupur. LoP Rahul Gandhi visits the relief camp at Phubala High School in Moirang, where he meets victims of the Manipur violence and offers support during these challenging times, Congress posted on X. Advertisement PM Modi, during his address in the Rajya Sabha last week, reaffirmed 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, the Prime Minister added. Violence erupted in the northeastern state on 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. Ahead of the high-stakes delegation-level talks between India and Russia, New Delhi has called for respecting the UN charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day Russia visit, will advocate for strategies for peaceful resolution, stressing that there is no solution on the battlefield. Instead, dialogue and diplomacy should be the way forward. The development comes a day after US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Washington would encourage India and other countries interacting with Russia to ensure any resolution to the Ukraine conflict that adheres to the UN Charter and respects Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty. Advertisement Miller also said the US has always engaged in open and honest discussions with India, including its concerns about New Delhis ties with Russia. India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in open and honest discussions, including our concerns about its ties with Russia, said Miller. Earlier, Putin hosted Prime Minister Modi at his residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a private engagement. During the private engagement, the two leaders unofficially discussed the issues that would be taken up during the delegation-level talks later today. Modi told Putin that his only goal is to serve the people of India. You have dedicated your entire life to serving the Indian people, and people feel it, the Russian President told Modi, to which the PM replied, You are right, I have only one goal my country, the people of India. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Tuesday that a major thrust of India-Russia discussions during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Moscow was on economic engagement, including how to give a fillip to the Make in India mission. He said a significant element of todays discussions focused on connectivity corridors. The Prime Minister and President Vladimir Putin discussed the newly proposed Eastern Corridor which is called the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Corridor. The two leaders focused on important areas in the economic domain that link with the growth of different sectors in both countries, in particular fertilizer supply from Russia to India, which is directly linked to the production and the farmers yield in India. Advertisement The two leaders spoke about the need to move forward on the India Eurasian Economic Union trade and Goods Agreement. We have had one round of discussions between the two countries and it is expected that this will be expedited in months ahead. The two leaders have set a new trade target of 100 billion by 2030, the Foreign Secretary said. The Foreign Secretary said, The Prime Minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian army. He said this was taken strongly by the PM, and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian army. In the nuclear energy field, the continuing cooperation on the Kudankulam nuclear power project units three to six was discussed between two leaders. The agenda of the discussions between the two leaders was principally economic. It included elements relating to cooperation between the two countries in the political sphere, a larger space of economic engagement covering extensively trade, capital linkages, energy, science and technology, besides defence and security and the larger development of a situation regionally and globally. The two leaders reviewed the status of bilateral engagement and multilateral groupings including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations. Mr Kwatra said with regard to the delay in the spare parts of the defence equipment, it was raised by the PM, and both sides had a general sense of agreement that this would be expedited including through setting up joint venture partnerships in India to look at some of these spare parts, particularly the more critical spare parts. When they spoke of defence, I would not like to have a specific comment on the co-production of aircraft, but in the general space of defence, the larger domain of co-production was definitely emphasised by both leaders. We already have some good examples of co-production in the field of defence and we would very much like to build on that, he said. The Russian embassy here said Mr Putin had invited Mr Modi to the BRICS Summit in Kazan, which takes place in the Russian city from 22 to 24 October. Mr Modi has confirmed his trip. During his first visit to the northeastern states since assuming office, Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal held a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Both the leaders discussed issues of power, urban housing and water supply schemes. Sarma urged the minister to take steps for rationalising gas prices to meet Assams rising power demand, which has exceeded 2500 MW at peak times. Advertisement He also said that there was increased demand for homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), noting that over 60 per cent of the sanctioned 1.7 lakh homes have already been delivered in the state. Sarma shared ambitious plans for Guwahati, including achieving saturation in urban drinking water supply, developing the Guwahati River Front, and establishing a new satellite township near Guwahati based on G20 principles. Additionally, the possibility of setting up a Centre of Excellence for Urban Planning in the state was discussed to enhance urban development and planning initiatives in Assam. Yesterday, Mr Manohar Lal visited the Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre in Assams s Panbazar. He also had a power sector review meeting of Arunachal Pradesh in Itanagar. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar represented India at the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit held on 3 and 4 July at Astana, Kazakhstan. India headed the organization last year, when it conducted the summit in a virtual format. PM Modi, prior to announcing that the EAM would participate on his behalf, spoke to Kazakhstans president, Kemeluly Tokayev and conveyed his unavailability. The SCO represents 42 per cent of the worlds population and 25 per cent of the global GDP. Dr Jaishankar delivered PM Modis address to the organization. Multiple reasons guided the PMs non-attendance, while officially the reason was said to be the on-going parliament session. While Delhi was aware that Pakistans PM, Shehbaz Sharief, and Chinas President, Xi Jinping, would be present, this was again not a reason for PM Modi to miss the event. He could have easily avoided meeting them, if he so desired, as also not planned a bilateral with them. He did the same with Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg last year, though they did exchange pleasantries. In Bali, during the 2022 G20 summit, hosted by Indonesia, Modi and Xi did have a short pullaside conversation, details of which emerged later. PM Modi had also attended the SCO summit in 2022 at Samarkand, where he held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amongst others, and made his famous comment, todays era is not of war. There was no interaction with either the Pakistani PM or the Chinese president, despite both being present. It was to avoid an official handshake and a compulsory bilateral as the chief host that India switched to virtual mode for the SCO summit last year. Xi not attending the G20 summit in Delhi was possibly for the same reason. Any exchange of pleasantries with either Xi or Shehbaz, at this juncture, could reverberate in Parliament, embarrassing the government. Advertisement The SCO is dominated by China as almost all members are part of its BRI (Belt Road Initiative) and financially beholden to it. It therefore largely pushes the Chinese agenda, which India does not endorse. India, in earlier SCO summits, had refused to endorse the BRI. With Russia and China dominating this years proceedings, comments and addresses by leaders would be anti-West, again going against Indias current strategic perspective of balancing both camps. The entry of Belarus this year only added to the organizations anti-West charter. It should be understood that within days of being sworn in PM Modi attended the G7 summit in Italy and even addressed a session on Artificial Intelligence. India was brought into the SCO by Russia as a counter to China, while Pakistans entry was pushed by China to balance India. At one time, it was Russia and India opposing Chinese proposals. However, since the commencement of the Russo-Ukraine conflict, the BeijingMoscow proximity has increased, while India has outgrown Pakistan, changing the dynamics of SCO. Russia, which had adopted an independent approach to the West is currently beholden to China and both are facing Western pressures. The statement issued post the recent Putin-Xi bilateral in Beijing was evidence enough that the focus of the summit would be West-bashing. Both Xi and Putin are pushing the SCO as their vision of an alternative world order, alongside the BRICS. As expected, Xi spoke on the Wests cold war mentality, while Putin suggested making the SCO 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. With Modi being absent, India is conveying that it does not endorse the direction in which the organization is being currently pushed. The main intent of PM Modi in Astana would have been a bilateral with President Putin of Russia as also with leaders of Central Asian Republics (CAR), with whom a meeting has been long overdue. The heads of CAR were to have been chief guests for the 2022 Republic Day parade which was cancelled due to Covid. The commencement of the North-South corridor has enhanced Indias engagement with Central Asian nations. PM Modi is currently in Moscow and has had a bilateral with President Putin, undistracted by the SCO. India has balanced its ties with Russia and the West and this is visible during Mr Modis short Moscow visit. The world is observing this visit and expecting India to once again press for dialogue as a way to end the conflict with Ukraine. However, India would not be willing to be a negotiator as terms and conditions projected by both sides leave little room for negotiation. Further, support from the West to Ukraine and from China, Iran and North Korea to Russia have ensured that peace can be ignored for the present. Another reason for non-attendance of the PM is the collusion of Pakistan and China, though engagement norms of the SCO prohibit raising of bilateral disputes. Indias message to curtail cross-border terrorism, hinting at Pakistan, was conveyed by the EAM and included in the joint declaration. Further, most members of the organization are autocracies or quasidemocracies, enhancing the democratic-autocratic divide. For the organization, the presence of democratic India as also the worlds fastest growing economy, is a benefit. While the SCO is China dominated, BRICS is not. Hence, PM Modi will attend the BRICS summit in Russia in October this year. Non-attendance at the SCO also sends the message to China that all is not well in the relationship and India is unwilling to participate in any institution dominated by it. This message was conveyed by Dr Jaishankar in the interaction with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. The non-issuance of a joint statement at the end of their meeting implied continued disagreement. The presence of President Putin at the SCO summit as also PM Modis Moscow visit conveys that the Wests attempt to isolate Putin has failed, despite the issuance of an ICC (International Criminal Court) warrant. Indias engagement with the SCO is likely to witness a further withdrawal as the next SCO heads of state meeting is scheduled in Pakistan in October this year and the 2025 summit is in China. This will be the situation unless thorns in Indo-China and Indo-Pak relations are removed, which is unlikely. Whenever India turns down an invitation, or tones down its acceptance, it sends a strong message of disapproval. (The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.) The election of Masoud Pezeshkian as Irans new President has sparked a flurry of discussion about the potential for change within the Islamic Republic. However, a closer examination reveals that despite his moderate stance, Mr Pezeshkians victory is unlikely to result in significant shifts in Irans entrenched policies or power structures. Mr Pezeshkian, a former health minister, campaigned on promises of opening Iran to the world and increasing freedoms for its people. Yet, the context in which he assumes office greatly limits his ability to deliver on these pledges. The true power in Iran lies not with the President but with the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority over all state matters. Ayatollah Khameneis influence ensures that any President, regardless of political leanings, must operate within the confines of a system designed to maintain the status quo. The recent election saw a turnout of about 50 per cent, reflecting growing voter apathy and disillusionment. This low participation rate underscores a broader legitimacy crisis for the Iranian regime. Many Iranians, especially the youth, are increasingly frustrated with economic hardships, social restrictions, and the lack of political freedoms. The memory of the 2022 crackdown on protests, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody, still looms large. The regimes harsh response to dissent has left a deep scar on the national psyche, contributing to the pervasive scepticism about the potential for meaningful change through the ballot box. While Mr Pezeshkians moderate stance offers a glimmer of hope for some, it is tempered by his clear reluctance to confront the entrenched clerical and security elites. His pragmatic approach suggests he will avoid direct challenges to the power structure that underpins the Islamic Republic. This pragmatism, while perhaps ensuring his political survival, significantly limits his capacity to implement the reforms he has promised. Advertisement Moreover, the geopolitical landscape presents additional challenges. Irans foreign policy, particularly its contentious nuclear programme and its support for militant groups across West Asia, is unlikely to see substantial changes under Mr Pezeshkians administration. These areas are tightly controlled by the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards, who are committed to maintaining a posture of resistance against Western pressure and regional adversaries. Domestically, the economic situation remains dire, exacerbated by years of mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions. Both Mr Pezeshkian and his hardline rival, Mr Saeed Jalili, vowed to revive the economy, but the structural issues plaguing Irans economy are deeply rooted and cannot be resolved overnight. Without significant shifts in domestic and international policies, Mr Pezeshkians administration may struggle to deliver tangible improvements in the livelihoods of ordinary Iranians. So, while Mr Pezeshkians election as President may signal a shift towards moderation, it is unlikely to herald the transformative change that many Iranians yearn for. Instead, it represents yet another chapter in the on-going struggle between a populace desperate for reform and a regime determined to maintain its grip on power. The landslide victory for new British Prime Minister Keir Starmers Labour Party in the UK elections has once again underscored the flaws inherent in Britains first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system. With Labour securing a substantial majority of seats despite having only a modest 34 per cent of the popular vote, the election results have reignited debates about the fairness and representativeness of the system. In the current political landscape, the FPTP system appears increasingly out of touch with the diverse and multifaceted nature of voter preferences. Labours 412 seats were secured with just 9.7 million votes, while the Conservative Party, despite receiving 6.8 million votes or 24 per cent of the vote share, ended up with only 121 seats. Even more strikingly, the populist right-wing Reform UK party garnered over 4 million votes or 15 per cent of the vote share but won a mere five seats while the centrist Liberal Democrats with 3.5 million votes or 12 per cent of the vote share, secured 71 seats. The stark discrepancy between the number of votes and the allocation of seats highlights a fundamental issue: the FPTP system disproportionately benefits larger, established parties at the expense of smaller, emerging ones. This electoral distortion discourages political pluralism and limits the representation of diverse viewpoints in Parliament. Comparatively, other democratic nations have adopted proportional electoral systems that better reflect the will of the electorate. In France, a two-round voting system ensures that winning candidates typically have the support of an absolute majority of voters in their constituencies. Germanys mixed-member proportional representation system allows voters to cast two ballots: one for a constituency representative and another for a party. Advertisement This hybrid system balances direct constituency representation with proportional allocation of seats based on party votes, leading to a more accurate reflection of voter preferences. The consequences of sticking with the FPTP system are manifold. It perpetuates a political duopoly, where two major parties dominate the political landscape, marginalising smaller parties and their supporters. This lack of representation can breed voter apathy and disillusionment. Moreover, the volatility and unpredictability of election outcomes under FPTP can lead to unstable governments. Labours current victory, described as a political sandcastle, may be vulnerable to swift shifts in voter loyalty, potentially undermining long-term political stability. The call for electoral reform is not new. The 2011 referendum on changing the UKs electoral system, though ultimately unsuccessful, highlighted a growing awareness of the need for a more representative voting mechanism. However, the entrenched interests of major parties, who benefit from the existing system, pose a significant barrier to meaningful change. For a truly democratic and representative political system, the UK must reconsider its commitment to FPTP. Adopting a proportional electoral system would not only ensure fairer representation of all political voices but also foster a healthier, more vibrant democracy. It is time for the UK to embrace electoral reform and create a system that genuinely reflects the diverse and evolving preferences of its electorate. When I read the draft of the story sent by our contributor Anit Mukherjea on Jasmit Singh Arora, the gentleman who has been sowing mango seeds across the country, I thought that it ought to be prominently displayed in our pages and read by as many people as possible. The delightful mission of the mango guthli man as he has fondly been referred to, needed to be emulated. It was in class, in elementary school, that I first heard about Johnny Appleseed, the man who travelled across the United States planting seeds of the apple fruit. Our teacher, Ms Nancy Bean, narrated his inspiring tale with so much intrigue, I dreamt that one day I too would do what he did. Except that I would not limit the mission to any one type of tree but plant different varieties. There were plenty of orchards of peaches, cherries, berries, strawberries, grapes, oranges and of course apples across the US. What it needed were orchards of palms, dates, jackfruits, bananas, coconuts and of course mangoes. I had decided, even at the early age, that Indias indigenous trees, namely and sandalwood would not be distributed as it would disturb the natural order of things. But other trees would have to be spread to the far ends of the earth. The image of travelling through diverse terrains, from deserts to desolate wastelands, sprinkling seeds of all kinds stayed with me for days until the dreams faded with time and eventually dismissed as naive childhood fantasies which would never come to fruition. Therefore, when I read about Aurora I was astonished that such seemingly impossible dreams too can come true and when there is a will determined enough, there really is a way. Advertisement At a time when deforestation has rendered our green planet virtually barren, these stories bring untold cheer and sheer joy. What seemed hopeless suddenly seems possible. About a decade ago, there was a patch of land behind our apartment complex, which was covered in large trees. Though these were eucalyptus, known to monopolise nutrients in the soil to the deprivation of other species, these were nevertheless already there, towering in the sky, forming a veritable, if tiny, forest which attracted birds of a wide variety, including cuckoos, sparrows, parrots, etc. In the evenings, the breeze brought in a scent, an indescribably tangy fragrance, unique to this tree, part pine, part lime. Zephyrs rustled through its pale-green leaves at dawn replicating the sound of a distant seas and waves crashing on shore. A promoter/developer had eyes on the property and planned to chop down the trees to construct a multi-story residential building. I had asked him not to. He heard me out rather than dismissing the idea outright but said he was helpless as his company, which had bought the plot of land, would incur a huge financial loss if they didnt work according to the plan. Eventually the trees were chopped down and now in its place stands a concrete construction. During the just-concluded Parliamentary elections, one of our freelance writers, Dr Anjal Prakash, who is an environmental scientist, had pointed out in an eye-opening article that political parties did not pay heed to environment as an election issue, squandering the chance to address and take on challenges like climate change. He decried their lack of attention to policy decisions that would focus on the urgent need to tackle environmental challenges. It is always heartening to hear about individuals or groups of individuals who do something to try to reverse the trend. There is, for instance, Ivy Adak, a librarian at Kolkatas Jadavpur University, who has not only filled her own flat, terrace and balcony with hundreds of potted plants, but she has taken up the task of planting saplings of Indias indigenous trees like neem, along either side of the long stretch of road leading to her house in Sonarpur. Perhaps it is the individual, like Adak or Arora, who will usher in the change. Their policy decisions: action. The contemporary era of unprecedented technological advancements, especially that of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has transformed knowledge paradigm and learning trajectory so profoundly that it has become imperative for students of management, commerce, humanities, and liberal arts to garner adequate knowledge and proficiency of such emerging technologies in order to have a competitive edge in their professional pursuits. Dynamic changes in AI applications have made students of such streams increasingly adaptive to new technology tools through a continuous process of skilling, reskilling, and upskilling while embracing an interdisciplinary approach by combining AI knowledge with their existing expertise to become more versatile, efficient, and productive in workplaces. Students of management, commerce and even humanities can learn how AI is transforming business operations, fin-tech, e-commerce, marketing strategies, customer experiences, etc. AI-powered analytics can assist such students in making data-driven decisions with efficacy while optimising business processes. Students pursuing e-commerce, operations, marketing, and financial management can excel in their profession through the application of AI in achieving better customer experience, efficient supply chain management, improved operational efficiency, designing standard, reliable and robust product quality control methods while determining new ways of reaching and serving customers in a cost-effective manner. Most of the e-commerce organisational websites are currently using chatbots to improve customer satisfaction and provide enhanced services to customers. These chatbots are developed using artificial intelligence. In recent years, AI has been greatly used by management and commerce students for predictive analytics, where it processes historical data to forecast future trends while assisting in strategic decision-making and risk management. Students can learn how AI models assist in strategic planning by simulating different business scenarios and their potential outcomes. This allows management professionals to explore various strategies for business expansion and market penetration. AI also assists in automating the collection and analysis of market data from diverse sources such as social media, news articles, and customer reviews. Management students pursuing market research can gain valuable insights on consumer behaviour and preferences from such AI interventions. Advertisement The uniqueness of AI also lies in its multidisciplinary attributes and significant impact on streams of humanities and liberal arts. For instance, a student of literature can very well explore AI applications in natural language processing (NLP) for content creation or analysis. Concurrently, students of international relations and diplomacy can adopt AI approaches in areas of political consulting, policy analysis, and predictive analysis on military, diplomatic, and trade engagements through data-driven insights. They can take advantage of AI-enabled instant language translation to experience the efficacy of diplomatic communications. In contemporary geopolitics, diplomats often use AI techniques for robust planning on strategic issues during bilateral and multilateral negotiations. Moreover, AI systems can effectively model potential political and economic ramifications of international conflicts, humanitarian crises, trade agreements, climate change, and other complex global challenges while assisting diplomats, experts, and students of international relations assess the intensity of the problem and make prudent decisions. Simultaneously, AI-powered advanced NLP models that involve working with textual data, including tasks like sentiment analysis, language translation, and chatbot development, can be extremely helpful for the analysis of cultural context and dialectical expressions. This enables diplomats, researchers, and students to navigate the subtleties of cross-cultural communications. AI also allows diplomacy researchers to sift through enormous amounts of data to analyse trends and patterns and predict the future trajectory of geostrategic engagement. Switching gears to other areas of arts and humanities, students of dance appreciation can use AI-powered tools to generate creative choreography, enrich performance analysis, and contribute to the ingenious artistry of dance. For psychology and behaviour analysis researchers and students, AI algorithms can assist them in better analysing human behaviour patterns and psychometric profiling and gain insights into peoples social interactions, perceptions, and personality traits. In the domain of interior design and office/home decor, students and professionals are increasingly using AI tools to create detailed 3D renderings of design projects. Amazingly, AI can also recommend colour combinations, furniture, and accessories that are personalised to customers preferences. Moreover, the dynamic nature of AI tools has opened new possibilities for innovative processes. Creative arts professionals and students commonly use AI tools to analyse vast amounts of data and generate unique concepts and unexpected connections, which might fuel their prolific ideas and ultimately end up producing the next creative masterpiece. For students pursuing music appreciation, AI algorithms can compose music by analysing vast amounts of existing compositions, creating new melodies and symphonies and generating unique musical ideations. One has to understand that AIs increasing versatility, usefulness and complementarity for streams like management, commerce, humanities, and liberal arts have enormously enhanced its relevance and social acceptance globally. Students and professionals from such streams can bring unique perspectives and domain-specific expertise to AI projects to make them more ethical, inclusive, sustainable, and socially responsive. The participation of students in AI internships belonging to management, commerce, humanities, and liberal arts is rising exponentially, thereby propelling interdisciplinary collaboration and leading to more innovative and people-centric solutions. Students of such streams often possess skills such as critical thinking, interpersonal communication, soft skills, etc., that are valuable for fine-tuning AI approaches. By participating in AI internships and live projects, these students can contribute their diverse skills to tasks like data analysis, user experience design, market research, business ethics, etc., which make AI models more socially responsive. AI applications have profound implications for societal well-being through ethical considerations, bias mitigation, and enhancing accessibility. Students of anthropology, sociology and public policy can contribute valuable insights to help AI technologies be more efficient in mitigating social problems responsibly and ethically. One needs to grasp these concepts to design and implement AI models effectively. The writer is a professor of economics and international relations at IILM University Gurugram In 1897, while returning home after winning the hearts of the people in the United States of America and many other western countries with his intellectual modern philosophy of Vedanta and Hinduism, Swami Vivekananda was determined to serve his country through an organised institution dedicated to social work and nation-building. The idea of establishing his dream project, the Ramakrishna Mission, was already in his mind, and he was nurturing many ideas to execute the project after landing in Madras from Colombo in February 1897. Vivekananda knew that his achievement in the West had caused sensational mayhem in the country, but at the same time, it had added many critics to his life, from Sir Gurudas Banerjee, noted Judge of Calcutta High Court, to certain nationalistic newspapers in which he was frequently mentioned as a meat-eating Swami. Vivekananda had confidence in several key individuals in Calcutta and across India, whom he had known prior to departing in 1893, and whose steadfast support he believed would be crucial in realising his project. In Calcutta, he had Balaram Bose and Pashupati Bose. Advertisement Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897, at the house of Balaram Bose in Bagbazar with a few of his followers, and at the beginning, the organisation hardly had any useful resources, including a permanent address. The address was finally derived on 3 February 1898, when a piece of land in Belur, a village in Howrah on the other bank of Hooghly, was purchased from one Bhagat Narayan Singh of Patna to build an abode for a monastery. The land was once owned by the royal family of Nepal. Until that time, RKM had no permanent address to work as an organisation. Vivekananda and his brother disciples used three addresses as their place of work. Two of those were Baranagar Math and the house of Balaram Bose at Benghbazar. The third one was the house of Nabagopal Ghosh at Shibpur in Howrah. Nabagopal Ghosh, an employee of a commercial house named Henderson Company with a monthly salary of Rs 300, was a household devotee of Sri Ramakrishna for many years. Such was his devotion to Sri Ramakrishna that he left his ancestral home at Calcuttas Brindavan Mallick Lane in Badurbagan and moved to Ramakrishnapur, then a small village on the other bank of the river, in 1890. There, he built his own house and started getting involved with the RKMs activities as soon as Vivekananda returned to India in 1897. His devotion made Vivekananda move, and after getting land for the RKM on 3 February 1898, a much relieved Vivekananda decided to pay a visit to his house with the holy purpose of consecration of an in-house shrine at the residence of Nabagopal Ghosh. It is important to note that one son of Nabagopal by then had already joined the team of Vivekananda and taken the new name Swami Ambikananda. It is reasonable to think that Swami Ambikananda played a vital role in convincing Vivekananda to pay a visit to his house for this purpose. Vivekananda, humbled by Nabagopal Ghosh for his many contributions to his mission, not only agreed to come to his house but also carried some special gifts for him. On 6 February 1898, Vivekananda arrived at Chintamani Ghat in Ramakrishnapur village with nearly 15 brother-disciples. He was accompanied by Subodhananda, Premananda, Bramhananda, Turiananda and a few more monks. They all came from Baranagar Math in three boats. Landing upon the ghat, a barefoot Vivekananda with his signature Rajasthani silk turban took a khol, an instrument used in devotional music, around his neck and started singing a song written by legendary Girish Chandra Ghosh. His party and the local people joined him in chorus as they slowly moved to 81 Ramakrishnapur Lane, the iconic house of Nabagopal Ghosh. It was the day of Maghi Purnima, one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar. Arriving at the gate of the house, Vivekananda was given a warm welcome by Nabagopal and his wife, Nistarini Devi. Taking the staircase, Vivekananda climbed up to the terrace of the house, where a new shrine was built. The marble-floored temple was built with simplicity, keeping a stone lotus at the edge of one wall with a marble arch supported by two pillars engraved on the wall. The marble stone lotus with three layers of blooming petals was placed on a stepped foundation, and near that one on the floor, a small floral design with three colourful stones was done. Vivekananda sat exactly here at the time of the sacred consecration of this shrine and was engrossed in deep meditation, says Subrata Ghosh, former professor of Presidency College and also the great-grandson of Nabagopal Ghosh. Vivekananda surprised everyone when he placed a small urn full of ashes collected from the funeral pyre of Ramakrishna, named atmaramer kouto under the stone lotus and also by placing a porcelain mural of Ramakrishnas image framed in silver on top of it. After a few years, Vivekanandas own mortal remains, in the form of ashes, would find a place here with his master. It was brought from Berlin, Germany, by Vivekananda himself while returning to India from the US, adds Subrata Ghosh. According to him, Vivekananda brought only three pieces of this unique porcelain image from abroad. While one is gifted to the Ghosh family of Shibpur, the second is in Belur Math and the third is probably now in Dhaka RKM. Ghosh is proud that this is perhaps one of the very few cases in the life of Vivekananda where he came to the consecration ceremony of a family shrine and gave a gift like this. Today, that small porcelain image of Ramakrishna is regularly worshipped in the temple. On that day, another groundbreaking incident took place inside this shrine in the presence of Vivekananda. While he was on the puja, Swami Prakashananda, one of his close disciples, requested that he create a prayer sermon for the RK Mission. Vivekananda, who had an excellent command over Sanskrit, delivered a two-line sermon promptly from his memory. It is now the official sermon of all RK Mission institutions across the globe. Family members of Ghosh are proud to think that a global prayer statement was born in their house and was created by none other than Swami Vivekananda. After the consecration ceremony was over, Vivekananda rested at this house for a couple of hours, and during that time, he tried his hands on a piano made in Hamburg, Germany, kept in one of the rooms of the house. A trained musician, Vivekananda, played it with ease, although he did not sing any song as assumed by the scholar. At the time of returning from the house, Nistarini Devi, wife of Nabagopal Ghosh, politely asked for a gift from Vivekananda. At that moment, Vivekananda, moved by the hospitality of the Ghosh family, took his silk turban off his head and gifted it to Nistarini Devi. This is perhaps another unique event in the life of Swami Vivekananda. Both the turban and the piano played by Vivekananda are kept in this house as treasured gems. These are shown to the common people only on the day of Maghi Purnima, when the house is opened to all visitors. The wooden railing of the stair that Vivekananda climbed and the interior of the shrine are kept intact even after 126 years. It is very unfortunate that no photograph was taken on that day to freeze the great event forever, though photography was very much a common practice in India during that time. However, how Vivekananda looked during that time can only be understood by an iconic photograph taken in Madras just a few months before this event. No doubt, it was a big miss to capture a piece of our heritage. It is not only Swami Vivekananda who came to our house, exclaims Ghosh. Even Ma Sarada came to this shrine in 1908 and again in 1909. One of her visit dates was 30 August 1909. The red-coloured house, now a landmark of the locality, contains two marble plaques at its entrance. One briefly describes the glory of 6 February 1898, when Vivekananda visited the house, while the other one contains that legendary prayer sermon created by Vivekananda himself at his place on the same day. Subrata Ghosh did not forget to mention that the internet is loaded with many baseless surmises and man-made legends about this house. Most of those are not supported by history. So someone who wants to know the heritage of this house must be a little careful, he signs off. The writer is a freelance contributor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has condemned the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, held in Moscow, coincided with a tragic missile strike in Ukraine that resulted in the deaths of 37 people, including three children, and injuries to 170 others, 13 of whom were children. In a social media post on X, Zelenskiy highlighted the devastating impact of the Russian missile strike, which targeted Ukraines largest childrens hospital, home to young cancer patients. Advertisement It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day, he wrote on X. In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russias brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest childrens hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were pic.twitter.com/V1k7PEz2rJ Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024 His remarks came after PM Modi was greeted by Putin with a huge and welcomed him at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence for a private engagement. Before Modis arrival in Russia, Kremlin had remarked that the West was watching Modi and Putins meeting with jealousy. Meanwhile, ahead of the high-stakes delegation-level talks between India and Russia, New Delhi has called for respecting the UN charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will advocate for strategies for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict, stressing that there is no solution on the battlefield. Instead, dialogue and diplomacy should be the way forward. Over the last few years, a growth in manufacturing, logistics and e-commerce has led to rising demand for warehousing space and ICRA expects the strong growth to continue this year. The credit ratings agency projects industrial and warehouse logistics park (IWLP) supply to expand 13-14 per cent year-on-year in eight primary markets, reaching around 424 million square feet in the current financial year ending March 2025. The absorption of warehousing space is expected to climb to 47 million square feet in 2024-25, up from 37 million square feet in 2023-24. The vacancy level in these markets is just around 10 per cent, reflecting the strong demand for quality warehousing space. "Over the last five years, the Grade A warehouse stock in the eight primary markets has grown at a healthy CAGR (compounded annual growth) of 21 per cent to 183 million square feet in FY 2024 and is estimated to increase further by 19-20 per cent in FY 2025. The long-term growth prospects for the Grade A warehouses are supported by the growing preference of the tenants for modern, efficient and ESG-compliant warehouses" noted Tushar Bharambe, assistant vice-president and sector head - corporate ratings at ICRA. Over half of the current Grade A stock is backed by global investors such as CPPIB (Canada Pension Plan Investment Board), GLP, Blackstone, ESR, Allianz, GIC, and CDC Group, underscoring the sector's attractiveness to international players. Among Indias eight primary markets, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR remain the largest contributors to the warehousing stock, accounting for 42 per cent as of March 2024, according to ICRA. "The sector continues to witness a sustained demand from the third-party logistics (3PL) and manufacturing sectors, which together accounted for 65 per cent of the total leased area in ICRA's sample set as of March 2024, while the share of e-commerce stood at 15 per cent," it said. Despite the favourable growth prospects, the sector faces challenges from rising land prices, particularly in tier-1 cities, ICRA pointed out. Consequently, tier-II and tier-III cities are emerging as cost-effective alternatives for new Grade A developments, it added. Yes Bank on Tuesday dismissed claims about the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) giving in principle nod to a 51 per cent stake sale as "factually incorrect", following which its shares opened higher in early trade. The stock hit an intraday high of 26.32 in the morning. In a regulatory filing, the lender stated, "RBI has not given any in principle approval as stated in the article and this clarification is issued by the company voluntarily to dispel the baseless media article." Citing sources, a media report had earlier claimed that RBI gave nod to the 51 per cent stake sale, which will result in change in ownership and could value the lender at around $10 billion. Usually, RBI limits promoter stake in domestic banks to 26 per cent. "In this regard, the bank would like to clarify that the contents of the said article are factually incorrect and purely speculative in nature," it added. Last month, the lender laid off around 500 employees as part of a restructuring move to optimise its workforce., with the most impact on the branch banking vertical. The employees were given three months' salary as severance pay, said a report by The Economic Times. This comes as other banks in the private sector have been hiring staff. A day after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district that left five Army personnel dead, a massive search operation is on in the Badnote, Kindli and Lohai Malhar areas of Kathua districts. The ground teams are aided by helicopters and UAVs, besides sniffer dogs and metal detectors. Five army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed and as many were injured on Monday when heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrolling party in the remote Machedi area. The martyred army personnel are Rifleman Anuj Negi from Pauri, Nayab Subedar Anand Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag, Naik Vinod Singh from Tehri, Kamal Singh from Pauri and Adarsh Negi from Tehri. The attack took place on Monday when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrolling party in the Badnota area in Kathua. Officials reportedly believe three to four terrorists, all foreigners, were behind the attack. Sources said the terrorists belong to the same group which launched an attack in Udhampur's Basangarh last April. The attack saw a Village Defence Guard (VDG) member killed in a gunfight with recently infiltrated terrorists. The Udhampur Police, which investigated the incident, later made arrests. Officials also found that two groups of terrorists infiltrated from across the border into the Panara village of Basantgarh. A police and VDG team was deployed to track down the terrorists. But, one of the parties came under fire while moving towards Chochru Gala Heights and in the ensuing encounter, the VDG member laid down his life. The security forces had in June picked up the movement of one group in the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar and Kindli areas of Kathua district and conducted search operations. Meanwhile, the remains of the five soldiers who died in the attack have been airlifted to their home states. The post-mortem examination of the soldiers was done at the Sub District Hospital Billawar in Jammu and Kashmir. Billawar Additional Deputy Commissioner, Vinay Khosla told reporters that eight injured soldiers were brought to the Billawar Hospital, out of which, the Army shifted six jawans to Pathankot Hospital. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the Brahmaputra and its tributaries were flowing below the danger levels in most places, even as the overall flood situation in the state improved marginally with the number of people reeling under the deluge in 27 districts decreasing to around 18.80 lakh. An Assam State Disaster Management (ASDMA) release on Tuesday said 18,80,783 people in 91 revenue circles and 3,154 villages in 27 districts of the state were reeling under the deluge. Sarma, in a post on X, said, "Good News - The water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries is below the danger level in most places." In a few places, it is still flowing above the danger level but showing a falling trend, he added. Flooding has been reported from urban areas of Karbi Anglong and Dibrugarh districts, it added. The toll in this year's flood, landslide and storm rose to 85 with six more deaths reported on Monday. Altogether, 48,124 displaced people are taking shelter in 245 relief camps. The release said NDRF teams have been deployed at Cachar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh and Jorhat for rescue and relief operations. SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services personnel, police forces and AAPDA Mitra volunteers of ASDMA have been helping the district administrations in flood and storm-affected areas, it added. As per the Central Water Commission website at 9am, the Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat (Jorhat), Tezpur (Sonitpur), Guwahati (Kamrup) and Dhubri (Dhubri). Other rivers flowing over the red mark are Burhidihing at Chenimari (Dibrugarh), Dikhou at Sivasagar, Disang at Nanglamuraghat (Sivasagar), Kopili at Dharamtul (Nagaon) and Kushiyara at Karimganj, the ASDMA release said. The state had received an average rainfall of 6.3mm on Monday, as per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) information. The Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD, at Borjhar has issued watch' notification for very likely thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain at isolated places over Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. Damage to infrastructure, including embankments, roads and bridges, has been reported from different parts of the state. Heart-wrenching details have emerged about the death of five soldiers during a recent military drill in the Shyok river near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The soldiers, including a a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were drowned when their Russian-origin T-72 tank was swept away following flash floods in the Shyok river. Two T-72 tanks were trying to cross Shyok at midnight and one of them got stuck in high currents in the river as the melting of snow had increased the water levels. According to a report in The Tribune, the soldiers battled the fierce waters flowing at nearly 40 km per hour that night for six hours before they were swept away. As their tank was being submerged, the five soldiers stood on top of the sinking tank for nearly six hours even as rescue efforts were underway, the report, citing Army sources, said. The Army had deployed rescue teams but the mission didn't succeed because of the raging waters in the river. Although the Army was ready with BAUTs (boat assault universal type) for emergency, a BAUT that was employed for rescuing the soldiers capsized. The rescue team too had faced danger then. The deceased soldiers belonged to the 52 Armoured Regiment deployed at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) military base. "Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn't succeed, and the tank crew lost their lives," the Army had said after the mishap. Emperor Ashoka and Emperor Akbar are to my mind the two most outstanding figures in Indian history. To explain this we must first understand what is India. 1) India is broadly a country of immigrants, like the United States of America. While the USA is a country of new immigrants, mainly Europeans, who arrived over the last 500 years, India is a country of old immigrants who had started arriving thousands of years ago. Why have people been coming into India? In fact, very few people left India, except on two occasions, first in the 19th century when the British took poor peasants to Fiji, Mauritius, the West Indies, etc., as plantation labour and second, the diaspora in the last 50 or more years of engineers, scientists, doctors, etc. Apart from this, nobody left India, everybody came into India. Why? The reason is obvious. People migrate from uncomfortable areas to comfortable areas, obviously, because everybody wants comfort. Before the Industrial Revolution which started in western Europe in the 18th century and then spread all over the world, there were agricultural societies everywhere. Agriculture requires level land, fertile soil, and plenty of water for irrigation. All this was in abundance in the Indian subcontinent from Rawalpindi to Bangladesh and to the deep south up to Kanyakumari. Why will anybody migrate from India to, say, Afghanistan which is cold, rocky and uncomfortable, covered with snow for four to five months in a year. For agricultural society, India was really paradise, hence everybody kept rolling into India, mainly from the northwest and to a much less extent from the northeast. 2) Who were the original inhabitants of India? At one time it was believed that the Dravidians were the original inhabitants, but now that theory has been disproved. Now, it is believed that even the Dravidians came from outside. There are several proofs of that, one of which is that there is a Dravidian language called Brahui which is spoken in western Pakistan even today by about three million people. The original inhabitants of India, as it is believed now, were the pre-Dravidian tribals, who are called adivasis or Scheduled Tribes in Indiathe Bhils, the Santhals, the Gonds, the Todasthe speakers of the Austric, pre-Dravidian languages such as Munda, Gondvi. They are hardly seven or eight per cent of the Indian population today. They were pushed into the forests by the immigrants and treated very badly. Except for them, all of us are descendants of immigrants who came mainly from the northwest of India. 3) Because India is a country of immigrants there is tremendous diversity in India, so many religions, castes, languages, ethnic groups. Indians are tall, short, fair, dark, brown, with Mongoloid features, Caucasian features, and Negroid features. There are differences in food habits, dress, festivals. In contrast, in China there is broad (though not absolute) homogeneity. All Chinese have Mongoloid features, they have one common written script called Mandarin Chinese (although spoken dialects are different), and 95 of them are from one ethnic group called Han Chinese. In India, there is tremendous diversity, because whichever group of immigrants came into India brought in their own culture, their religion, their language. 4) Because of the tremendous diversity, the only policy which can work and hold our country together is secularism and giving equal respect to all communities. Emperors Ashoka and Akbar intuitively understood this. Ashoka who ruled from BC 268 to 232, said in his 12th Major Rock Edict: All religions should be honoured. Whoever praises his own religion due to excessive devotion and condemns others, with the thought Let me glorify my own religion' only, harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. This is known as the Girnar Rock Edict of Junagadh, the full text of which is given below The edict is inscribed on a rock on the Sudarshan Lake in Girnar, Gujarat. The probable date of the edict is BC 260: Thus saith His Sacred and Gracious Majesty the King: The King honours all religious sects. His Sacred Majesty does not value gifts and honours as he values the growth of the essential elements of all religious sects. But the root of it is restraint of speech, that is, there should not be honour only of one's own religion and condemnation of other religions. On the other hand, other religions should be honoured, too. By doing this, one helps his own religion to grow, and benefits the religion of others, too. By doing otherwise, one harms his own religion and injures the other religions, too. For whoever honours only his own religion and condemns other religions injures more gravely his own religion. Hence concord alone is commendable, and all should listen, and be willing to listen, to the beliefs professed by others. This is the desire of his Sacred Majesty." Similar was the policy of suleh-e-kul (giving equal respect to all religions) of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. It is for this reason that I call Emperor Ashoka the grandfather of the Indian nation, and Emperor Akbar the father of the Indian nation. Justice Markandey Katju retired from the Supreme Court in 2011. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. The Delhi police busted an organ transplant racket with Bangladeshi links on Tuesday. Police have arrested seven persons in connection with the crime. According to police, the Crime Branch of Delhi police arrested seven persons including a doctor for running an organ transplant racket and they charged a hefty sum for transplant. The racket reportedly had Bangladeshi links. Police told ANI that the racket was active from 2019 and they used to charge Rs 25-30 lakhs for each transplant. According to police, both the donor and receiver hailed from the neighbouring country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Russia was Indias trusted friend and the relationship was built on a strong foundation of mutual respect and sorrow. Addressing the Indian community in Russia, Modi said India will witness a huge transformation during the next 10 years. India is undergoing a transformation and the pace of development over the past 10 years has taken the world by surprise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. Addressing the Indian diaspora in the Russian capital, Modi said India was changing as it believes in the strength of its 140 crore citizens who are now dreaming of turning their resolve of Viksit Bharat' into reality. Today's India is full of self-confidence, unlike the situation before 2014, and this is our biggest capital, Modi said. When people like you bless us, even the biggest goals can be achieved. You all know that today's India achieves whatever goal it sets its mind to, the prime minister said. The Prime Minister said it was in his DNA to challenge all the challenges and India will write a new chapter of global growth in coming years. Modi said it was exactly a month ago that he took oath as prime minister for the third consecutive term when he had made the resolve to work at thrice the strength and speed to fulfil the aspirations of the country. Our government envisions making India the world's third-largest economy, build three crore homes for the poor and turn three crore poor women in villages to lakhpati didi', the prime minister said amid chants of Modi, Modi' and Modi hai toh mumkin hai'. In several goals of the government number three has assumed significance, he said. Talking about his attire, Modi said he was Odia scarf the Bharatiya Janata Party won with a huge majority in the Odisha assembly elections. Odisha has brought about a great revolution and that is why I have also come among you today with an Odia scarf, he said. He said India was the country which sent Chandrayaan to a place on the moon where no country has gone before and has given the world the most reliable model for digital transactions. India's development of the past 10 years was just a trailer, we will see much faster growth in the next 10 years, Modi said. Modi said the countries are working on Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor. He added, today, India as Vishwa Bandhu, the country is giving new confidence to the world. India is being seen as a strong pillar of the new, emerging, multipolar, world order. When India talks about peace, dialogue and diplomacy, the whole world listens. Whenever the world faces a crisis, India is the first country to reach there, the prime minister said. Modi said they have decided to open new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg and it will enhance travel and business trade between the countries. Modi said artists like Raj Kapoor and Mithoon Da strengthened the friendship between India and Russia. Modi appreciated Russian President Vladimir Putin for his efforts to strengthen the partnership for more than two decades. This is the sixth time I have come to Russia in the last 10 years and in these years we have met each other 17 times. All these meetings have increased trust and respect. When our students were stuck in the conflict, President Putin helped us in getting them back to India. I once again thank the people of Russia and my friend, President Putin, he said. -with inputs from agencies. Tamil Nadu government is determined to find those guilty of Bahujan Samajwadi Party leader K. Armstrongs murder and ensure they are punished, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Tuesday. Stalin along with Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekar Babu and party leaders visited the residence of Armstrong on Tuesday and paid floral tributes to his portrait. Stalin condoled Armstrongs wife Porkodi and assured the guilty wont be spared. Stalin tweeted, Assured Porkodi that those involved in the murder will be brought before law and ensure severe punishment to them. The Tamil Nadu government is determined to ensure punishment to those behind the murder. Stalin added this is a government for all police will act without bias. Armstrong, the state president of BSP was hacked to death near his residence in Chennai on July 5 by a motorcycle-borne gang and at least 11 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case. Police suspect it was a revenge murder. The ruling Congress party in the state has widely opened its doors for the influx of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs. To date, seven BRS MLAs have joined the grand old party. At the same time, another national party, the BJP, which is ruling at the Centre and consolidating its position in the state, has adopted a polar opposite strategy of shutting its door to the BRS MLAs by insisting on leaders tendering resignations before joining their party. However, both the partieswith different approachesseem to be working towards the common goal of eliminating their regional foe, the BRS. In the recently concluded Assembly elections, the Congress won 64 Assembly seats out of 119 to gain power. The BRS party, which ruled the state for two consecutive terms under K. Chandrashekar Rao, won 39 seats. The BJP won eight Assembly seats. In the subsequent general elections, the BRS hit rock bottom, not winning a single seat out of the 17 parliament seats. However, the Congress and the BJP posted impressive numbers, winning eight MPs each. The BRS tally went down as they lost a by-election necessitated by the death of a sitting BRS MLA. Since the Assembly elections, a total of seven BRS MLAs have joined Congress, bringing down its tally to 31. There are speculations that another dozen MLAs, elected mostly from the Greater Hyderabad region on BRS tickets, are willing to desert the party and move towards Congress. Since the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections are due next year, the Congress feels it would be a shot in the arm for the party, which has lost cadre and leadership in the capital city over the years when they were out of power. According to sources, Chief Minister and state Congress President A. Revanth Reddy has been given a free hand by the Congress high command to deal with the issue of defections. A section of Congress leaders who wished to remain anonymous said that the party would attempt to reduce the BRS figure to less than 13 or one-third of the original seats won, as they can then replicate the playbook of BRS in past terms when they were in power. Between 2014 and 2019, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was merged with the BRS, and in 2019-2023, the Congress was merged with the BRS after two-thirds of their members defected and claimed their faction to be the genuine one to escape the anti-defection law. What is the role of the BJP in the entire scenario? The BJP is strategically playing the role of a mute spectator and watching the weakening of the BRS. On their part, their policy of "resign-and-join" has repelled the legislators who wouldnt risk spending huge amounts on by-elections, which even then cannot guarantee a victory. The default option for the BRS legislators who want to side with a party in power is only the Congress now. The BJP is of the opinion that the faster the BRS loses its relevance, the earlier it would be promoted to be the main opposition to the Congress. The political circles are abuzz that this is a well-thought-out strategy of the BJP and the Congress to kill the BRS, as the former believes that the latter is better cut out to execute the task. The biggest hindrance to some of the BRS legislators joining the Congress is a section of Congress leaders who feel threatened by the competition within their constituencies or because they are on bad terms with some of the incoming leaders. Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy has expressed his anger at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Russia visit, calling it a blow to peace efforts. Zelenskyy's statement comes as the Prime Minister, while addressing the Indian diaspora in Moscow, hailed India's friendship with Russia and addressed Putin as "dear friend". "Every Indian considers Russia to be India's friend in good and bad times," Modi said. "The commitment of our relationship has been tested multiple times, and it has emerged very strong each time," he added. However, the visit and camaraderie did not impress the Ukrainian President who took to X to lash out at the visit. "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day," Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Monday, referring to the deadly Russian attacks on a Ukrainian hospital. This comes as Indian sources stressed that the country has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward to resolve the Ukraine conflict as a solution can't be found on the battlefield. This was in response to the US reaction to Modi's visit. The US said on Monday that it would urge India, as we do any country when it engages with Russia, to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to respect the UN charter, Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Modi who met Putin at his official residence for an informal chat referred to Russia as India's "all-weather friend" and hailed President Vladimir Putin's leadership in strengthening the bilateral relationship over the past two decades. "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to mind of every Indian is India's all-weather friend (sukh-dukh ka saathi) and a trusted ally, Modi said. "No matter how low the temperature dips below minus during Russian winter, India-Russia friendship has always remained in 'plus', it is full of warmth. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect," the Prime Minister said. Interestingly, Modi's Russia visit comes at a time when a NATO summit is being held in Washington which is expected to deliberate on the Ukraine war. However, a senior foreign ministry official last week said there was no significance in the timing and Modi's visit was part of a long-standing calendar of summits between the two countries. A day after the Russian missile strike hit a children's hospital in Kyiv, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, expressed anguish and pain over the incident. The death of the innocent children is heart-wrenching and very painful, said Modi. During the India-Russia summit talks, Modi stressed to the world community that India is on the side of peace and that conflict must be resolved through talks. In the Ukraine war, India has always taken the stand that a solution should be reached through talks. "For a bright future of the new generation, peace is most essential. A solution is not possible on the battlefield...Peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets," he said. India is ready to cooperate in all possible ways for the restoration of peace, said Modi. Modi is on a two-day official visit to Russia which is closely watched by the West and China amid the Ukraine conflict. "Everyone believing in humanity is pained if there is loss of lives. In that too, if innocent children are murdered; if innocent children die, it is heart-wrenching and very painful," Modi said. While acknowledging Modi's call for peace, Putin thanked him for trying to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis. "I am grateful to you for the attention you pay to the most pressing issues, particularly trying to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, primarily through peaceful means, Putin was quoted as saying by the official TASS news agency. Taking objection to Modi-Putin 'bromance' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts. "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day," said Zelenskyy. PM Modi received Russia's prestigious civilian honour PM Modi on Tuesday officially conferred the 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle' award by Putin for his contribution to fostering bilateral ties between the two countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, awards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called at the Kremlin in Moscow | AP The honour was conferred in a special ceremony held at St. Andrew Hall in the Kremlin. The award was announced in 2019. Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award, which was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. Modi dedicated the award to the people of India and to the traditional bonds of India-Russia friendship. "I am heartily grateful to you for conferring me with the highest civilian honour of Russia. This honour is not just mine, this is an honour of 140 crore Indians. This is an honour of the centuries-old and deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia," Modi said after receiving the award. Modi also said that he had projected Global South's expectation of peace and stability during his informal meeting with Putin on Monday. India-Russia bilateral ties The PM appreciated the India-Russia cooperation in averting food, fuel, and fertiliser shortages for Indians in the past few years. When the world was facing a shortage of food, fuel and fertilisers, we did not allow our farmers to face any problem and our friendship with Russia played a role in that, Modi said. Modi described his discussions with Putin as "productive" after the summit. "Held productive discussions with President Putin at the Kremlin today. Our talks covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in sectors such as trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation," he said. "We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people-to-people exchanges," he added. Russia has agreed to discharge all Indians working in the Russian Army. It will also facilitate their return to their home country, according to reports. The Prime Minister, who is in Moscow for a two-day visit, took up the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a private hosted by the latter last evening, sources told ANI. It was then that Russia agreed to discharge all Indians serving in their army. The Ministry of External Affairs had acknowledged that at least two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Two others had died earlier. At least 50 men were reportedly tricked into joining the Russian Army by agents promising better wages, permanent residency and a Russian passport. Following this, the Centre launched a probe into the illegal recruitment, arresting four people in June. India has also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of its nationals by the Russian Army. Before his departure to Moscow, the Opposition Congress had asked Modi whether he would take up the issue of Indian nationals fighting for the Russian Army in the war zone. Congress general secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh posed a series of questions for the prime minister in a post on X. "Many others have been 'duped' into fighting a war where they have no stake, aside from a chance to escape the poverty and unemployment crisis that the non-biological Prime Minister has perpetuated domestically. Will the non-biological Prime Minister take up the cause of these youth? Will he ensure their safe return to India as soon as possible?" Ramesh said. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi too called on Modi to take up with Russian President Vladimir Putin the issue of Indian nationals "serving" with the Russian Army The Hyderabad MP said Modi, who headed to Russia, should also ensure that Indians who are stuck in the war zone are brought back to the country at the earliest. One of the deceased was from Hyderabad. Since @narendramodi is in Russia, he must follow up with Putin and stop the recruitment of Indians to fight in the Ukraine war. He should also ensure that innocent Indians who are stuck in the war are brought back home at the earliest,"Owaisi in a post on 'X' said. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is releasing a new memoir at a particularly fraught moment, both for herself and for the Democratic Party. Set to release Tuesday amid the frenzy over President Joe Bidens recent debate performance, True Gretch wont do much to dispel questions about her national ambitions. But in a pre-launch interview with The Associated Press, Whitmer did what she could to shut down such speculation, saying bluntly that she would not step into the election if Biden were to step down. Its a distraction more than anything, said Whitmer. I dont like seeing my name in articles like that because Im totally focused on governing and campaigning for the ticket. In the book, Whitmer recounts events that unfolded on the national stage throughout her career, including a clash with Donald Trump and a kidnapping plot targeting her and her family. Though Whitmer may not welcome the attention, her swift ascent over two decades from a law school graduate to Michigans governor has established her as a prominent figure within the Democratic Party. Her status was solidified in 2022 with a decisive reelection and her partys success in flipping both chambers of the state legislature, granting Democrats full control for the first time in nearly four decades. Ive spent the first quarter of this century watching as the arc of our politics has bent uncomfortably toward incivility and strife, Whitmer says in the first pages of her book, then adding: Thats why I decided to write this book: to put a little light out there in a damn dark time. Whitmer first caught national attention as the Michigan Senate minority leader in 2013. Before a floor vote on an anti-abortion bill, Whitmer abandoned her prepared remarks and shared that she had been raped while in college. It was terrifying to think of opening myself up, of telling this room full of mostly men about being assaulted as a young woman, she says in the book. More than 10 years after that bill passed, Whitmer signed a law as governor to repeal it, the same year Michigan voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. Whitmer has been pushing the topic of abortion access in her role as co-chair of the Biden campaign, saying he is on the right side of the abortion fight despite his lackluster performance in the recent debate on the question of reproductive rights. I think everyone has acknowledged it was not his finest 90 minutes, she said in an interview. That said, this is a man Ive known for a long time and has decades of public service receipts that hes delivered to people. Whitmer has said at campaign events that Trump could roll back reproductive rights if elected to the Oval Office. She famously sparred with the then president over the federal governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic in her first term as governor. Trumps reference to Whitmer during a White House news briefing took off as that woman from Michigan. Whitmer blames the former president for fueling the political hatred that motivated the plot to kidnap and kill her that unfolded in 2020. In the book, Whitmer is critical of reports that refer to the scheme as a kidnapping plot, saying it was clear the plan was to assassinate her. Whitmer says her daughters have not returned to the private residence that the conspirators staked out and her husband closed his dental practice following threats. Nearly three years down the road, theres no doubt that the apparent kidnapping and murder plot changed me, she writes. There were five acquittals among 14 people charged in state or federal court. Whitmer says in the book she wants to meet with a handful of those who pleaded guilty to the charges in the name of understanding, to ask the questions and really hear the answers. One of 12 female state governors and arguably the most well-known, Whitmer writes frankly about how gender-based violence, threats and rhetoric have affected her career and personal life. She shares heavy moments in which she told her two daughters about the sexual assault and, years later, the conspiracy to kill her. Whitmer said at times it was difficult to return to those events in writing the book. I think my way to deal with it is to actually talk about it, she said. She writes about how she used to be a partier (she once threw up on her high school principal after drinking) before law school and her relationship with her own body. People from voters to reporters have discussed her appearance and what she wears above her policies, she says in the book. She is unapologetic throughout, except when she expresses regret for going out to dinner at a dive bar with friends despite pandemic restrictions. Whitmer points out that another Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom of California, was also criticized, for going to a Michelin three-star restaurant during the pandemic. Newsoms name has been circulated alongside Whitmers this past week as a possible replacement nominee for Biden. Politico Magazine reported July 1 that someone close to a potential 2028 Whitmer rival for the Democratic presidential nomination said Whitmer had said Michigan was no longer winnable for Biden after the debate. Whitmer refuted the report earlier last week. I think its frustrating that there are news outlets that will publish something that a potential future opponents staff person would say, Whitmer said. Whitmer ends her memoir with 26th President Theodore Roosevelts man in the arena quote, with a colorful reference to her own affinity for wearing pink. The man may be a woman. And she may just be wearing fuchsia, Whitmer concludes. Whitmer said in the interview that she shares the quote with her staff and its about doing the hard, right thing. But its a little outdated, she said with a laugh. (AP) Columbia University said Monday that it has removed three administrators from their positions and will keep them on leave indefinitely after finding that text messages they exchanged during a campus discussion about Jewish life disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes. In a letter to the Columbia community, university president Minouche Shafik and provost Angela Olinto said the administrators have been permanently removed from their positions at the universitys undergraduate Columbia College. The colleges dean, who previously apologized for his part in the text exchanges, will remain in that role. The university will also launch a vigorous antisemitism and antidiscrimination training program for faculty and staff in the fall, as well as related training for students, Shafik said. The administrators, whom the university did not identify by name, were first put on leave last month after a conservative news outlet published images of what it said were text messages they exchanged while attending the May 31 panel discussion Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce published some of the messages last week. The text messages, which include numerous offensive messages that had not previously been reported, show senior Columbia College administrators mocking and disparaging the universitys Jewish community, and trafficking in antisemitic tropes regarding Jews and money. The texts accused Jewish students of coming from a place of privilege, dismissed their concerns, disparaged officials responsible for Jewish student life, and insinuated that efforts to address the explosion of antisemitism on Columbias campus were merely a fundraising ploy. Several exchanges engaged in antisemitic stereotypes regarding Jews and money. One message stated, Amazing what $$$$ can do as panelists referenced an October 2023 op-ed on antisemitism by a campus rabbi, Yonah Hain. Another charged that Brian Cohen, the Lavine Family Executive Director of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Columbias center for Jewish life, knows exactly what hes doing and how to take full advantage of this moment. Huge fundraising potential. An administrator also dismissed the explosion of antisemitic conduct at Columbia, saying Cohen is such a problem !!! for [p]ainting our students as dangerous. The texts came from threads involving Susan Chang-Kim, the vice dean and chief administrative officer of Columbia College; Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support; and Josef Sorett, the dean of Columbia College. This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes, Shafik wrote. Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting. Shafik said the text messages conveyed a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community that is antithetical to the universitys values and standards. Olinto wrote that the administrators conduct was wrong and contrary to the mission and values of our institution. It revealed, at best, an ignorance of the history of antisemitism. The news outlet, the Washington Free Beacon, published examples on June 12 and 21 of what it said were some of the text exchanges. Among them was a message suggesting that a panelist could have used recent campus protests as a fundraising opportunity and another that appeared critical of a campus rabbis essay about antisemitism. The panel about antisemitism was held a month after university leaders called in police to clear pro-Palestinian protesters out of an occupied administration building and dismantle a tent encampment that had threatened to disrupt graduation ceremonies. The police action came amid deep divisions on campus as to whether some of the protests against Israels military campaign in Gaza have been antisemitic. Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett, whose text messages were among those published by the Free Beacon, will continue to lead the college after apologizing and committing to working to fix damage caused by the text exchanges, Olinto said. He and his administration will be expected to deliver concrete change in combating antisemitism and discrimination and creating a fully inclusive environment, Olinto wrote. While not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind antisemitic tropes, Sorett said in a letter Monday to the Columbia College community. Any language that demeans members of our community, or divides us from one another, is simply unacceptable. I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead- and, that I was part of any of the exchanges, and I pledge to spearhead the change we need to ensure this never happens again, Sorett continued. He said the loss of trust and the pain this incident has caused, particularly to the Jewish members of our community, must be fully repaired. (AP) New York University (NYU) has settled a lawsuit filed by Jewish students who alleged that the school failed to address antisemitism on campus. The settlement was announced on Monday, just as a hearing was scheduled to take place on Tuesday to consider NYUs motion to dismiss the case. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. The lawsuit, filed in November 2023, accused NYU of violating federal civil rights law by enforcing its anti-discrimination policies unevenly. The students alleged that the school allowed chants such as gas the Jews and Hitler was right while ignoring other forms of bigotry. NYU had argued that reports of antisemitism had declined significantly since the initial surge after the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023. The school also claimed that it had taken extensive steps to address student concerns, including adopting a 10 Point Plan to boost on-campus security and disciplining individuals who violate its anti-discrimination policies. The settlement comes as Brown University also agreed to bolster nondiscrimination training for employees and students to resolve a complaint filed with the Department of Education over its handling of discrimination and harassment claims, including those related to antisemitism. NYU is one of several universities facing similar lawsuits, including Carnegie-Mellon, Columbia, Harvard, MIT, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A Jewish family is planning to sue the city of New York for $100 million over an alleged antisemitic attack at a fifth-grade graduation ceremony in Brooklyn. The incident occurred on June 14 at PS 682 in Gravesend, where a man was punched and dragged to the ground, and a woman was dragged by her hair and kicked. The family, who filed a notice of claim on Monday, alleges that the attack was incited by a student wearing a graduation cap with Free Palestine written on it, and waving a Palestinian flag. The family claims that the school allowed the student to display the cap and flag, which they say is a political statement that incited hostility. The altercation allegedly began when the family of the student with the Palestinian cap and flag tried to shove the Jewish family out of the way at a balloon display. The situation escalated, with multiple people joining in, including a woman who hit a man with her stiletto and a younger man who punched and dragged him to the ground. The family is claiming negligence, assault, emotional distress, and human-rights violations. They allege that the school was negligent in providing proper security and incited hostility by allowing the student to display the cap and flag. The city Department of Education has stated that they strongly denounce anyone who acts in a violent or aggressive way during school events, and are still investigating the matter. The familys lawyers intend to file civil complaints against the Department of Education and the individuals responsible for the assault. The incident is one of several suspected anti-Israel hate crimes in the city since the Palestinian terror group Hamass attack on Israel on October 7. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America has released a Kol Korei emphasizing the significance of the Erev Shabbos of the week of Parshas Chukas, which has been established for generations as a day of fasting due to historical calamities. In light of the numerous challenges facing Klal Yisroel today, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is calling upon all kehillos to designate this Friday as a yom tefillah, with specific chapters of Tehillim to be recited. The full Kol Korei, and a free translation, can be found below. May our tefillos be accepted favorably and may the zechus haTorah protect us. THIS IS THE DECREE OF THE TORAH (Free translation) Tuesday morning, Parshas Chukas, 5784 The Magein Avrohom writes in siman 580 (sk 9, as brought in the Mishnah Berurah, sk 15), citing the Sefer Tanya Rabbosi (by Rabbeinu Yechiel HaRofei of Rome), that the Friday of the week of Parshas Chukas was established for generations as a day of fasting due to the calamities that occurred on that day. The Tanya Rabbosi states: Regarding the burning of the Torah, we have written this as a memorial for what happened in our times due to our numerous sins, which caused this, and the Toras Elokeinu was burned in the year 5002 from the creation of the world, on the Friday of the week of the parsha of Zos Chukas HaTorah, about twenty-four wagons filled with sifrei Talmud, halachos, and aggados were burned in France, etc., and we heard from the rabbonim who were there that they performed a sheailas chalom to determine if this was a decree from the Creator, and they were answered: Veda gezeiras Oraysa This is a decree from the Torah, meaning that on the Friday of Zos Chukas HaTorah is the decree. From that day onward, individuals took upon themselves to fast on this day every year on the Friday of the parsha of Zos Chukas HaTorah. The Magein Avrohom adds that besides the burning of the Talmud, great troubles have occurred on this day over the generations, leading to the destruction of entire Jewish communities, Rl. Now, we come to matters pertaining to our present time, as in this generation numerous troubles and severe decrees have arisen against the Am Hashem in general and specifically targeting the Torah and its scholars, and the young children learning Torah, both in Eretz Yisroel and in the Diaspora. Policy-makers, with malicious intent, aim to disrupt the sanctity of Torah scholars, requiring the students of our holy yeshivos to abandon their study benches in the beis medrash and enlist in the military. They scheme with various tricks, and their hand is still outstretched, poised to persist. Moreover, decrees are being issued against young children learning Torah, both in Eretz Yisroel and in the Diaspora. All of this is reminiscent of the decree of burning the Torah. In such a time of terrible concealment of Hashems Presence, our enemies have lifted their heads, and our adversaries and accusers are exulting over us, saying, Pursue them and capture them, for there is no one to save them, Heaven forbid. Woe to the ears that hear daily of our brethren falling as casualties, being killed and captured, Heaven forbid, and there is no day whose curse is not greater than the previous one. Upon whom can we rely? Only upon our Father in Heaven. Therefore, at this time, a time of distress for Yaakov, it is our duty to follow the practice of our ancestors, to uphold the voice of Yaakov, and to increase our prayers and supplications before the Master of Mercy. For when Klal Yisroel looks upwards and subjugates their hearts to our Father in Heaven, no weapon formed against us shall succeed. Hence, we call upon all holy congregations of Klal Yisroel to designate this Friday of the week of Parshas Chukas as a day of great and bitter outcry regarding this decree of the Torah, to raise our voices to Heaven against the defiant hands lifted against the Toras Moshe. This day, established centuries ago by our forefathers as a fast day for severe decrees against the Torah and for harsh events that occurred to the Am HaTorah on this day, is auspicious for seeking mercy for these matters that are akin to the event [for which this day was initially established]. We therefore earnestly request that in all communities of Klal Yisroel, in shuls and botei medrashos, in Talmudei Torah and schools, in all retreats and camps, every place according to its custom, all should gather together this Friday, the week of Parshas Chukas, to awaken Divine mercy by publicly reciting specific chapters of Tehillim: 13, 79, 80, 121, 130 and 142. We add that since this day is designated by halachic authorities for fasting by select individuals, those who wish to accept a partial fast, as explained in Shulchan Aruch siman 562, will be blessed, and the merit of the many depends on them. May Hashem help us for the sake of His glorious Name, and may His mercy be aroused for the remnant of His people, to annul all harsh decrees against us. May our supplications be accepted favorably, and may the merit of the many and the merit of the Torah protect us, saving us from all distress and hardship, and all wickedness will vanish like smoke. Soon, may we hear and be comforted with good tidings and consolation. Amein, so may it be His will. Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America The devastation wrought in the Gaza Strip by IDF forces has led top Hamas officials to soften its demands for a hostage release/ceasefire deal, several US and Middle East officials told the Associated Press. For months, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that the only way to pressure Hamas to show up to the negotiation table and release hostages is to continue the war in Gaza. He maintained his stance as left-wing groups around the world and Israel called for a ceasefire and accused Netanyahu of sabotaging hostage release deals and even of wanting the hostages to remain in Gaza for his own purposes. [Prior to October 7th, the same left-wing groups peddled in other lies, namely that Netanyahu was crushing democracy due to his vitally needed judicial reform plan.] An Associated Press report published on Monday proves that Netanyahu was right. Read the full report below: Several officials in the Middle East and the U.S. believe the level of devastation in the Gaza Strip caused by a nine-month Israeli offensive has helped push Hamas to soften its demands for a cease-fire agreement. Hamas over the weekend appeared to drop its longstanding demand that Israel promise to end the war as part of any cease-fire deal. The sudden shift has raised new hopes for progress in internationally brokered negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that military pressure including Israels ongoing two-month offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah is what has led Hamas to enter negotiations. In recent internal communications seen by The Associated Press, messages signed by several senior Hamas figures in Gaza urged the groups exiled political leadership to accept the cease-fire proposal pitched by U.S. President Joe Biden. The messages, shared by a Middle East official familiar with the ongoing negotiations, described the heavy losses Hamas has suffered on the battlefield and the dire conditions in the war-ravaged territory. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to share the contents of internal Hamas communications. The messages indicate divisions within the group and a readiness among top militants to reach a deal quickly, even if Hamas top official in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, may not be in a rush. Sinwar has been in hiding since the war erupted last October and is believed to be holed up in a tunnel deep underground. U.S. officials declined to comment on the communications. But a person familiar with Western intelligence who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter said the groups leadership understands its forces have suffered heavy losses and that has helped Hamas move closer to a cease-fire deal. Two U.S. officials say the Americans are aware of internal divisions within Hamas and that those divisions, the destruction in Gaza or pressure from mediators Egypt and Qatar could have been factors in the terror group softening its demands for a deal. The U.S. officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the Biden administrations view of the current situation. The Middle Eastern official shared details from two internal Hamas communications, both written by senior officials inside Gaza to the groups exiled leadership in Qatar, where Hamas supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is based. The communication suggested that the war had taken a toll on Hamas fighters, with the senior figures urging the militants political wing abroad to accept the deal despite Sinwars reluctance. The intelligence official showed the AP a transcript of the communications in Arabic, but declined to share specific details about how the information was obtained, or the raw form of the communications. The official said the communications took place in May and June and came from multiple senior officials inside the groups military wing in Gaza. The messages acknowledged Hamas fighters had been killed and the level of devastation to the Gaza Strip wrought by the Israeli campaign in the enclave. They also suggest that Sinwar either isnt fully aware of the toll of the fighting or isnt fully communicating it to those negotiating outside of the territory. It was not known whether Haniyeh or any other top officials in Qatar had responded. Egypt and Qatar have been working with the United States to broker a cease-fire and end the devastating nine-month war. After months of fits and starts, talks resumed last week and are scheduled to continue in the coming days. A deal is still not guaranteed. Netanyahus office announced over the weekend that gaps still remain. The U.S. officials said they are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for a cease-fire based on the latest developments, but stressed that numerous efforts had looked promising only to fall through. Still, the sides appear closer to a deal than they have been in months. Both Hamas and Egyptian officials confirmed Saturday that Hamas has dropped a key demand that Israel commit upfront to end the war. Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected this demand, leaving the talks stalled for months. Instead, the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said the phased deal would start with a six-week cease-fire during which older, sick and female hostages would be released by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Talks on a broader deal, including an end to the war, would only begin during this phase, they said. Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting until Israel destroys Hamas military and governing capabilities, even if hostages are freed. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem & AP) In the early hours of October 7, during the Hamas assault on southern Israel, the IDF allegedly reactivated the controversial Hannibal Protocol to prevent the abduction of soldiers into Gaza, according to testimonies obtained by Haaretz. Haaretz reported on Sunday that it had collected documents and testimonies from soldiers involved in the fighting, which suggest that senior officers in the Gaza Division instructed troops to implement the Hannibal Protocol. This military directive, officially repealed in 2016, allowed troops to use extreme measures, including potentially endangering the lives of fellow soldiers, to prevent their capture. The initial breach by Hamas terrorists occurred around 7:18 a.m. when an IDF soldier monitoring surveillance at the Erez Crossing reported an attempted kidnapping. Command allegedly ordered Hannibal at Erez, and dispatched an attack drone. A similar order was reported half an hour later following another attempted abduction. Orders to prevent kidnappings were also given to soldiers at the Reim Camp and Nahal Oz post. Testimonies indicate that a Hermes 450 drone struck the Reim base, even as Shaldag commandos were engaged in regaining control from the attackers. It remains unclear whether any Israeli soldiers were harmed by the strike. At Nahal Oz, despite reported orders, seven surveillance soldiers were kidnapped, and 53 soldiers were killed. In a separate November 2023 report, Haaretz suggested that civilians might have been injured by military fire while fleeing the Supernova music festival at Kibbutz Reim. This claim was denied by the police, who stated that false allegations were made by the Palestinian Authority regarding the deaths of partygoers. Haaretzs recent report also suggests that Hannibal-esque policies were extended to civilian situations on October 7. An order issued around 11:30 a.m. instructed soldiers to prevent any vehicles from returning to Gaza, fearing they might be transporting kidnapped individuals. An unnamed source from the IDFs Southern Command confirmed this directive, noting that it was understood as a measure to prevent potential kidnappings, though there were no confirmed attacks on vehicles carrying hostages. In one tragic incident, an Israeli Air Force probe concluded that Efrat Katz, 68, was likely killed by helicopter fire during a failed Hamas kidnapping attempt at Kibbutz Nir Oz. The vehicle involved contained both terrorists and Israeli hostages, according to eyewitnesses and surveillance footage. Throughout the day, around 1,200 people were killed across southern Israel, and 251 were taken hostage, primarily civilians. By evening, as the IDF regained control of Gaza border communities, Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram ordered a tank to fire on a house in Kibbutz Beeri, where 14 Israelis were held hostage by Hamas terrorists. The ensuing firefight resulted in 13 hostages being killed, with at least one, Adi Dagan, 68, reportedly killed by tank fire shrapnel. An investigation into this incident is forthcoming. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An officer from the Israel Prison Services was found dead in his burning home with stab wounds on his body on the yishuv of Givon HaChadasha in Binyamin. Fire and Rescue Services were called to his apartment when neighbors called about a fire that had broken out in his apartment. Magan David Adom paramedics pronounced him dead on the spot while calling the police and security forces. The police said that the incident may be criminal but the Shin Bet is involved in the probe, indicating that there is strong suspicion that the murder is terror-related. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In a rare and heavily guarded visit, approximately 500 Jews were escorted by Israeli troops and police officers to Kever Yosef in the Shomron overnight, marking the first visit by Jews to the site since the October 7 massacre. The visit was met with clashes between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops in the Nablus area. There were no immediate reports of injuries on either side. Prior to the war, busloads of mispalelim would visit Kever Yosef under IDF protection on a nearly monthly basis, sparking violent clashes with Palestinian locals. Last month, a planned visit was canceled after some Jews attempted to enter Nablus without an army escort. In a separate operation, the IDF reported detaining 21 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank overnight, with no Israeli soldiers injured during the operations. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The results of a comprehensive investigation into the intense battle on October 7 in Kibbutz Beeri were presented to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi today. The probe, led by Maj. Gen. (res.) Mickey Edelstein, examined all aspects of the fighting that day. The investigation, which lasted several hours, aimed to provide a detailed account of the events that unfolded during the battle. On October 7, Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, commander of the IDFs 99th Division, ordered a tank to fire on the home of Pessi Cohen, where terrorists were holding hostages. The tank fired two shells, resulting in the deaths of 13 of the 14 hostages. The probes findings will be reviewed and finalized by Halevi by Thursday and then presented to members of the kibbutz and families of those who were killed. The IDF will hold a presentation at a Dead Sea hotel, where displaced Beeri residents have been staying since October 7. Individual representatives will also be sent to the families of those killed, and a website will be set up to make the findings publicly available. The IDF aims to present all battle investigations by the end of August. The investigations outcome may impact the career of Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, who was slated to become the next commander of the Gaza Division before the war. His promotion is currently on hold pending the results of the probe. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A political drama played out on Monday evening, ending with the members of Shas leaving the Knesset in protest and later issuing a statement saying they have to consider their continued path. The incident began with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvirs anger at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regarding his partys lack of influence on government decisions on the ongoing war and ceasefire negotiations. Ben-Gvir accused Netanyahu on Monday of running a one-man government and making important decisions himself without consulting his coalition partners. He threatened to refrain from voting with the coalition until he is granted a seat on the war cabinet Ben-Gvirs statement wasnt an empty threat and he refused to vote with the coalition in the Knesset on Monday evening, forcing Shas to withdraw a bill regulating the budget for religious councils. The Shas members were furious, and warning that Ben-Gvirs behavior will lead to the dissolution of the government, they left the Knesset in protest. Shas later issued a dramatic statement: Shas views the irresponsible conduct of Minister Ben-Gvir with great severity, a systematic and blatant violation of the coalitions commitment and a vote against laws approved by the Ministers Committee. Due to his behavior, Minister Ben-Gvir once again gave a reward to the opposition which jumps at every opportunity to overthrow the right-wing government. In light of this, Shas MK Yinon Azoulay ordered the members of the Knesset to leave the plenary session. Shas will meet soon, consult with its Rabbanim and decide on the continuation of its path. Ben-Gvir then issued a statement in response, accusing Deri of idolizing the left and opposing Ben-Gvirs appointment to the war cabinet because he supports surrender and weakness. In return, Shas called Ben-Gvir an inflated balloon and warned that his irresponsible behavior will bring down the government. Earlier on Monday, a separate incident occurred with UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni, who serves as the head of the Knessets Finance Committee. The committee was discussing increasing the budget for protecting Israeli citizens and Yesh Atid MK Naor Shiri asked Gafni to intervene and ensure that the budget increase is approved. Gafni responded: I dont have that much power. Yesh Atid MK Naor Shiri retorted: If youre weak, you can disperse this building. Gafni: Thats where were going. Shiri: To where? Gafni: To what you said now. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) US President Joe Biden met on Monday with Liat Beinin Atzili, a US-Israeli citizen who was released from captivity in Gaza in November. The meeting at the White House was also attended by members of Atzilis family and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Kan News reported. Atzili, 49, a tour guide at Yad Vashem, was abducted from her home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th. Her husband, Aviv Atzili, Hyd, was killed as he battled Hamas terrorists along with members of the kibbutzs emergency standby squad. His body was abducted and is still being held by Hamas. The couple has three children, ages 18, 20, and 22, who were not at home that morning and were saved. Atzilis mother-in-law, 78, who also lived on the kibbutz, was saved by hiding for ten hours between a bed and a wall in the safe room of her home. After the meeting, Biden stated on X. Liat Beinin Atzili is a survivor. It was my honor to welcome her to the White House this evening, hear firsthand about her resilience despite enduring the unthinkable, and promise her that my work isnt done until we secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev called on President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian on July 9, Trend reports, referring to the statement of the press service of Azerbaijani President's Administration. President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and wished him success in his activities. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his attention and congratulations, as well as for the letter sent by the President of Azerbaijan on the occasion of his election as President. The President of Iran said that he would spare no effort to develop relations between the two countries in all spheres in the future. During the conversation, the sides expressed confidence that Azerbaijani-Iranian relations based on common religious and cultural roots, friendship, and brotherhood would continue to expand, and cooperation between the two countries across various areas would develop. The presidents stressed the importance of implementing the agreements reached between the two countries. During the telephone conversation, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran discussed issues of mutual concern. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev invited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to pay a visit to Azerbaijan. The President of Iran accepted the invitation with pleasure, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev, and in turn, invited the President of Azerbaijan to pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. President of Azerbaijan accepted the invitation with pleasure. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a meeting on Tuesday morning with senior IDF officials regarding the preparation of the army for the recruitment of Chareidim. At the end of the meeting, Gallants office stated that Gallant approved the IDFs recommendation to issue draft orders to the Chareidi sector in the coming month, in accordance with the absorption and screening capabilities and after a significant improvement process of the existing data regarding possible recruits has been carried out. Gallant also said that a dedicated information campaign for the Chareidi sector will be launched with information about the service paths adapted to Chareidim in the IDF. The Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff agreed during the discussion that this is an operational need and a complex social issue, and must be carried out in accordance with the principle of successful recruitment in order to reach a meaningful service for members of the Chareidi sector while maintaining their lifestyle, and bring an increasing number of recruits in an orderly process, the statement concluded. As YWN reported, the IDF has admitted that the recruitment of tens of thousands of Charedim is neither possible nor practical and will only try to recruit 3,000 Chareidim in the next year and the year after that. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Coinciding with the Lubavitcher Rebbes 30th yahrzeit, prominent Rabbonim from across the English-speaking Torah world share their perspective on the value of studying the Lubavitcher Rebbes Divrei Torah. Learn more at sie.org/ls. The Lubavitcher Rebbe is known for many things: his towering gadlus and holiness, his thousands of shluchim and world-wide initiatives, and so on. But perhaps less known in the Torah community is that his Chiddushim and Divrei Torah fill over 200 published volumes. Covering all facets of Torah study, these seforim represent one of the most significant contributions to the Torah library. Rav Moshe Elefant, Maggid Shiur of one of Americas most widely followed Daf Yomi shiurim and Executive Rabbinic Coordinator of OU Kosher, reflected on the Rebbes scholarly contributions: I regret I didnt come to meet the Rebbe and learn this sooner. The Lubavitcher Rebbes sichos exemplify genuine lomdus. The time has come that we should focus on this aspect of the Rebbe, a tremendous talmid chacham who possessed knowledge of Kol HaTorah Kulah and taught it in innovative ways. The cornerstone of this vast body of Torah is Likkutei Sichos, a seminal work of 39 volumes that encapsulates the Rebbes unique and innovative Torah insights. This Tuesday, Gimmel Tammuz 5784, marks the Lubavitcher Rebbes thirtieth yahrzeit and within Klal Yisrael, a new movement is growing. Interest in studying the Rebbes original teachings is rapidly increasing and with it a demand for an accessible presentation of his seforim. To this end, Selections from Likkutei Sichos is a masterpiece that merges both substantive richness with aesthetic appeal. This collection features three sichos on each parshah, expertly translated and elucidated with clear explanations and illuminating footnotes by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger and Rabbi Sholom Ber Wineberg. The set makes it easy for anyone to learn and enjoy the wealth of the Rebbes Torah teachings. The sets publisher, Sichos in English, has responded to the growing interest in the Rebbes teachings with a campaign to promote the Likkutei Sichos and present its elegant bilingual edition throughout the English-speaking Torah world. The team has met with Rabbonim from across the spectrum to discuss the Rebbes Torah and gain their support for the campaign. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic. Time and again, diverse Rabbonim shared high praise of Likkutei Sichos unique virtues, encouraging all those in their influence to delve into its panoramic and relevant teachings. Rav Herschel Shachter, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshiva University and a leading posek, received the Selections from Likkutei Sichos set enthusiastically. He spoke eloquently of the Rebbes extraordinary leadership and the personal growth one can achieve through learning the Rebbes sichos. Reflecting warmly on his own interactions with the Rebbe, Rabbi Shachter spoke of the Rebbes guidance to countless Yidden in their personal lives. He emphasized that likewise, the pages of Likkutei Sichos offer invaluable mussar, life-perspective, and guidance. Rav Leibel Wulliger of Boro Park, Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva Torah VDaas, urged all Torah Jews to study Likkutei Sichos. As he put it: These teachings show us how to live and how to shape our homes. Everybody should learn the Rebbes sichos regularly; if not daily, at least once a week. Across the ocean as well, in Eretz Yisrael, important leaders of the English-speaking community praised the unique character of Likkutei Sichos: Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz, a Rosh Yeshivah at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, shared: Likkutei Sichos has every aspect of Torah. There is something for every interest. You can find a tremendous amount of things that speak to the Yeshivishe mind, the analytical mind, the nigleh mind, and its all there. Its full of jewels. Beyond merely reflecting on the value of Likkutei Sichos, Rav Breitowitz extolled the importance of Sichos in Englishs work: Likkutei Sichos is difficult because the Rebbe didnt dilute things. He presented the Torah as it is. Its in Yiddish, so non-Yiddish speakers are stuck. Its heavy reading. The text has scholarly footnotes the Rebbe wrote. The mareh mekomos (references) can be bewildering. Many arent familiar with the books referenced. Its a potpourri of Kabbalah, Chassidus, halachah, lomdus, and so on. Someone familiar with one area may not know others. Likkutei Sichos is a treasure trove but not an easy read. The Yiddish, organization, style, mix of Torah strands, and references challenge even talmidei chachamim. I congratulate the Sichos in English project, which translates sichos, annotates them, and provides supplementary information. This opens the treasures of Likkutei Sichos to a generation of Jews. Exposing a hidden treasure is zikui harabim, bringing merit to Klal Yisrael. Its one of the greatest things a Jew can do. Across the spectrum in the frum world, there is widespread recognition of the Rebbes unique contribution to Torah scholarship. The time has come for Likkutei Sichos to be accessible to every Jew. We invite you to join Sichos in English in spreading this message within your sphere of influence and enjoying these seforim as well. To learn more about this momentous project and to see what Gedolei HaTorah and Rabbonim are saying, please visit sie.org/ls. On a related note, the Meaningful People podcast has produced a special episode dedicated to the 30th Yartzheit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Host Nachi Gordon had the privilege of interviewing esteemed guests R Yussie Zakutinsky, Rav Judah Mischel, and R YY Jacobson to discuss the profound impact the Rebbe and his teaching had on their lives. During the episode, the guests shared personal stories and insights into the Rebbes teachings, shedding light on his enduring legacy and influence. Tune in to the Meaningful People podcast to hear these heartfelt conversations and gain new insights into the life and Torah legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. For more information or to listen to the episode, visit Rav Herschel Shachter and Rabbi Shmuel Avtzon of SIE discuss Likkutei Sichos and the Rebbes impact Rav Elefant speaks to Rabbi Avtzon and Rabbi Butler Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz shares reflections on Likkutei Sichos with the Sichos in English team in Eretz Yisrael. Retailers and banks top the list for customer satisfaction The average customer satisfaction level is at its lowest point since 2010 Customer service levels at the country's biggest companies have deteriorated, according to a report. The latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index by the Institute of Customer Service found that satisfaction levels are at their lowest level since 2010. The survey asked 60,000 people what they thought of the customer service at 275 major firms. Can't get no satisfaction: Customer service levels have reached their lowest point in 14 years The latest report puts customer service levels at 75.8 points out of 100, down 0.8 points from a year ago, and 2.6 points below the high point of 78.4 in July 2022. Meanwhile, peoples' satisfaction with firms' complaint handling was down 8.1 points on July 2022 at 58.3. Utilities companies continue to be among the worst offenders, with a score of 69.8 out of 100, although they have improved by 0.3 points since July 2023. Customer satisfaction with energy companies is higher than a year ago, with a reduction in the number of customers experiencing issues. However, satisfaction with water companies has declined to 69.5 points, nearly six points below the UK average. Water companies have been plagued by sewage spills as well as rising debt which has contributed to higher bills. Public services, both local and national, are also among the worst for customer service, at 70.3 and 73.3 points respectively, according to the report. HMRC's long waiting times have come under particular scrutiny over the past year. Which companies have the best customer service? Retailers top the customer satisfaction list, with seven of the top 10 organisations in that sector. Key-cutting company Timpson saw its score improve from 83.6 in July 2023 to 86 points in July 2024, now offering the best customer service in the country according to the report. John Lewis follows closely behind, with Waitrose, M&S and Greggs also all featuring in the top 10 with scores in the mid-80s. Banks and retailers feature in the top 10 companies with the highest customer satisfaction A handful of banks and building societies also feature, with Nationwide taking the second spot and Starling, Monzo and Yorkshire Building Society also scoring highly for their customer service. The report found that 9 of the top 40 organisations are from the banking sector, up from six a year earlier. The [new] Government's post-election business policy agenda should encourage all organisations to understand and serve customers better if we are to put our economy back on track Crucially, the report found that banks and food retailers with higher satisfaction are recording better financial performance. Jo Causon, CEO of the Institute of Customer Service said: 'Unfortunately, the current outlook isn't where we need it to be, despite our research showing that higher levelsof customer satisfaction correlate with financial stability and growth. 'Business leaders need to understand the evolving needs and expectations of their customers, developing their organisations' approach accordingly to unlock the sustainable growth the economy needs. 'The Government's post-election business policy agenda should encourage all organisations to understand and serve customers better if we are to put our economy back on track.' Paramount Global, one of Hollywoods oldest companies, has agreed to merge with independent film studio Skydance Media marking the end of an era for the movie giant. Paramount chairman Shari Redstone, 70, will sell her familys majority stake in the business with the newly formed company worth an estimated 22billion. Paramount whose hits include Titanic and The Godfather has been part of the Redstone empire for the past three decades. It worked on Top Gun: Maverick with Skydance. Set up 1912, Paramount was bought in 1994 by Sharis late father Sumner, who built a global media empire from his fathers drive-in theatre chain National Amusements. Tie-up: Paramount worked on the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise (pictured), with Skydance Aside from the film studios, Paramount owns television networks including CBS as well as Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV. Skydance Media is an independent film studio launched in 2010 by billionaire David Ellison the son of Larry Ellison, one of the worlds richest men with a fortune of 124billion, who founded software company Oracle. Skydance is backed by US private equity groups including RedBird Capital, which walked away from a joint bid with the UAE government to buy the Telegraph newspaper group in April. As part of the deal, Skydance will pay 1.9billlion to buy National Amusements, which controls Paramount. It will also invest around 6.2billion in the newly formed company, which includes 1.2billion help pay down debt. Ellison, 41, will become the chairman and chief executive of the new Paramount. He said: This is a defining and transformative time for our industry and the storytellers, content creators and financial stakeholders who are invested in the Paramount legacy. The deal tops off a tumultuous period for the company since merger talks began at the end of 2023. In April, Paramount long-time boss Bob Bakish quit following reported tensions with Redstone. Adding to the series of dramas, Redstone pulled the plug on advanced talks with Skydance last month, claiming that the two sides were unable to reach mutually acceptable terms. But last week, Skydance and Paramount appeared to turn a corner, with Redstone reportedly keen to get a deal over the line viewing it as the best option for her family and the companys legacy. Aside from Skydance, Redstone also held talks with Japanese tech firm Sony as well as private equity group Apollo about possible tie-ups. Redstone said: Given the changes in the industry, we want to fortify Paramount for the future while ensuring that content remains king. Our hope is that the Skydance transaction will enable Paramounts continued success in this rapidly changing environment. Redstone inherited the business in a Succession-style battle after her fathers death in 2020. She had been initially nominated as his successor but spent years wrangling with her father to land the job after they became estranged. They managed to settle their bitter feud before he died. Analysts believe the new owners will breathe life into the company, which has struggled in recent years in the face of streaming services, dwindling TV viewing figures and spiralling debts of around 11billion. That has put pressure on shares, which have slumped by around 77 per cent in the past five years. Paolo Pescatore, media analyst at PP Foresight, said the merger was an end of an era for the group but also an opportunity. He added: New ownership means change in thinking and approach which is needed. Russ Mould, an analyst at AJ Bell, said: Investors will be hoping that Skydance can bring some new sparkle to the broader Paramount group. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. The US continues to work for diplomatic resolution between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing, Trend reports. Regarding the possibility of a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Washington on the sidelines of the NATO meeting, Miller said he doesn't have any announcement. "But you know that this is always the case. We continue to work for a diplomatic resolution," he added. The NATO summit, featuring participation from 32 NATO member countries, partner countries, and the European Union, will be held in Washington, D.C., from July 9 to 11. The event, themed "Ukraine and Transatlantic Security," also commemorates NATO's 75th anniversary. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will attend the summit. As US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien stated during a briefing in Baku, Secretary of State Blinken is organizing an event for all NATO partners, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan congratulated Argentina on its National Day, Trend reports. Congratulations to Argentina and its people on the occasion of their National Day. Happy National Day, Argentina!", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its page on X. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 9. Renovation and commissioning of Isa Bulagi recreational complex, located four kilometers from Shusha city, in a wooded area at an altitude of about 1,300 meters above sea level will drive tourism growth in Shusha, Karim Karimli from the city's State Reserve Administration told Trend. As he noted, the complex which opened with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on July 5 ranks among the most popular leisure destinations in Azerbaijan. He said that following the 2020 Second Karabakh War, Isa Bulagi was completely restored by the State Reserve Administration. Besides, as the official explained, the complex and the restaurant around the Isa Bulaghi spring have been reconstructed, and landscaping work has been carried out. "The recreational complex includes four guest houses and a restaurant. The water of the spring, one of the pearls of Azerbaijani nature, is clear and useful. The spring, around which it's always cool even on the hottest summer days, has always been a favorite vacation spot for the residents and guests of Shusha city," he added. Isa Bulagi, just like 34 years ago, remains one of the favorite places for the residents of Shusha and the city's guests. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 9. A group of Azerbaijani media representatives visited Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha, where President Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration after restoration on July 5, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque, built in the 19th century by architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi, is considered the first mosque built in Shusha by Govhar Agha, daughter of Ibrahim Khan. Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque is one of the historical and architectural symbols of the city. Shusha historically consisted of 17 upper and lower quarters. Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque was named so because it was located in the lower part of the city. To make the mosque look taller and more attractive, the architect placed minarets on the rear facade. The cylindrical minarets of the two-story mosque are made of brick, and the hall for worship is covered with an arched dome in the form of a half circle. During the occupation of Shusha city, the building and minarets of the mosque were severely damaged by the shelling of Armenian armored vehicles, and the mosque fell prey to vandalism. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, with the support of PASHA Holding, started restoration works in December 2021. Specialists from Austria, Italy, Latvia, and Turkiye were involved in the project. One of the largest restoration works carried out in Shusha by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was carried out at the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, given the scale of its destruction. The restoration works, carried out with the preservation of the original architectural style, covered not only the mosque but also the madrasah building on the adjacent territory. The mosque was excavated, soil was removed, and a crushed stone layer was prepared. In addition, work related to covering the outer surface of the domes on the roof with a special putty was carried out. With the participation of foreign specialists, parts of the historical ornaments on the inner surface of the vaults were reinforced by micro-injection. The walls built in a later period in a part of the madrasah were demolished, and work was done to fill the load-bearing walls with injections. Several facts of Armenian vandalism were revealed in the course of restoration works at the Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque. Thus, various inscriptions and changes were found on the walls, including a cross carved on the wall. Part of the ruins of the madrasah building, which was subjected to Armenian vandalism during the occupation, have been mothballed. Every visitor to the mosque can witness the facts demonstrating Armenian vandalism against the historical and religious monument. To note, a museum is currently established in the historical building of the madrasah on the territory of the mosque. The exposition entitled "Karabakh and East Zangezur Museum: Before and After Occupation. Revival" presents facts about Karabakh and East Zangezur before the occupation, religious, historical, and cultural monuments destroyed by Armenians during the occupation, ecocide, as well as information, photos, and video materials about the revival of the region at present. The museum contains information about the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, and national and spiritual values in Azerbaijan, known as a tolerant country in the world, and constant attention is paid to the restoration and protection of religious monuments. Temples of different religions in our country have always been protected at a high level, and mosques, churches, and synagogues have been repaired and restored. The territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur, where the ancient culture of the Azerbaijani people was formed, have always been rich in historical, material-cultural, and religious monuments. Unfortunately, during the almost 30-year occupation, all religious monuments in the ancestral Azerbaijani lands were vandalized. Armenian aggressors destroyed cities and districts, residential and administrative buildings, all infrastructure, plundered natural resources, and vandalized religious, historical, and cultural monuments in these territories. One of the worst consequences of the occupation is the deliberate destruction and annihilation of cultural heritage of universal significance, including monuments related to Islam. According to preliminary estimates, 65 mosques were destroyed to the ground during the occupation, but these figures are unfortunately gradually increasing. To reflect the general picture of vandalism to which several religious monuments in the territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur were subjected and to bring these realities to the world community, photo, and video materials are presented in the museum. The section of the museum "Historical and cultural monuments destroyed during the occupation" exhibits photo and video materials reflecting historical and cultural monuments vandalized during the occupation. Even before the I Karabakh War, 705 historical and cultural monuments were state-registered in the region. As a result of the occupation of Karabakh, Eastern Zangezur, as well as 7 villages in the Gazakh region and Nakhchivan village in Kyarki located on the border with Armenia, 22 museums with more than 100 thousand artifacts, 927 libraries with 4.6 million books, 85 music schools, 4 theaters, 2 concert halls, 4 art galleries, and 808 recreation places were destroyed. About 400 monuments were destroyed in the territories liberated from occupation during the Second Karabakh War. The section "Ecocide during the occupation" brings to the attention of visitors the facts that, as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, which lasted about 30 years of occupation, along with violations of human rights and numerous norms of international law, socioeconomic consequences, and damage to cultural heritage, unprecedented ecological terror was committed and the country's natural resources were plundered. The section "End of 30-year wait" presents information, photos, and video materials about the glorious victory won by the victorious Azerbaijani army in the 44-day war, about the end of the homesickness of people who lived for about 30 years with the dream of returning to their native land. The section "Revival of Karabagh and East Zangezur" displays materials dedicated to the return of life to Karabagh and East Zangezur. Constructive measures taken under the leadership of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev are aimed both at the revival of Karabakh and East Zangezur and the restoration of the national memory of the Azerbaijani people, bringing rich historical traditions and national-cultural values to the world. The museum also displays photo and video materials reflecting the revival process. Various publications about Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur are available here. Within the framework of the international photo project "Four Seasons in Shusha," the museum also presents works reflecting the views of the city of Shusha, the pearl of Karabakh. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Criminal barristers are refusing to work on Tuesday as part of three days of planned action in July. Following a recommendation from the Council of The Bar of Ireland last month, criminal barristers around the country will withdraw their services on Tuesday in a dispute over fees. Protests will take place at 16 courthouses nationwide where criminal cases were due to be heard on the day, including the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. It is an escalation of unprecedented action taken by criminal barristers all over the country in October. The barristers say they are seeking an independent, meaningful, time-limited and binding mechanism to determine the fees paid to them by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme. Following the first withdrawal of service in October, a 10% restoration was announced in the 2024 Budget. However, barristers say that other public sector cuts applied during the financial crisis are still active in relation to the profession, and that a link between public sector pay agreements and their fees has been broken. The Council of the Bar of Ireland says that two thirds of the criminal bar leave the profession after six years and that a lack of investment by successive governments is causing delays in the criminal justice system, impacting victims of crime. Sara Phelan SC, chairwoman of the Council of The Bar of Ireland said: It is with regret that we have recommended to criminal practitioners that they withdraw service again. No barrister wishes to be in this position, but we have been left with no choice. The Government has just reported on the complete unwinding of (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) legislation this month, yet Fempi-era cuts still apply to our profession. This is despite the fact that the role of criminal barristers has evolved significantly in that time frame, and we have at all times delivered on the required reforms and flexibilities. Yet, barristers continue to be treated differently to others in the criminal justice system and indeed to society at large. All we are seeking is fairness, and for appropriate investment in the criminal justice system. A failure to so invest will result in continued attrition at the criminal bar, which will, in turn, add to the delays already being experienced by members of the public involved in the criminal justice system. These delays can often be very difficult, in particular for victims of crime and accused persons, all of whom are seeking to have their rights vindicated. The ball is in the Governments court now. Taoiseach Simon Harris has welcomed new data that showed Irelands greenhouse gas emissions last year were the lowest in three decades. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 6.8% in 2023, with reductions in almost all sectors. EPA director general Laura Burke said it was incredibly positive news to see the largest year-on-year emissions reduction outside of a recession. When weve had recessions weve had significant reductions, but we havent so far been able to have a growing economy and reduction in emissions and thats what weve seen in 2023, she told RTEs Morning Ireland. Speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Harris said the drop showed a partnership approach to climate action with the Irish people was the way forward. Obviously, we know were living through a climate emergency. Its real. It needs action, he said. But sometimes I think when youre asking people to make change, it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. Are we making any progress at all? I think people can feel: Im doing my best, but is it making a difference? I think what we can say to Irish people, Irish businesses, Irish farmers, that today were seeing figures that show the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in a very, very long time. He added: Obviously, theres a lot more that we need to do, but it just shows correct policy and a partnership approach with the Irish people is the way forward. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said the latest report really smashes the myth that you cant have a growing economy and also reduce emissions and said this would give great hope to people. Emissions data show the largest single-year reductions in the energy and agriculture sectors and the lowest level of residential emissions since 1990, while transport emissions were below pre-Covid levels. Power generation emissions decreased by 21.6% while agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6%. Residential emissions decreased by 7.1% while emissions per capita decreased from 11.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per person to 10.4 tonnes in 2023. However, transport emissions increased marginally by 0.3%. The figures come in the EPAs provisional greenhouse gas emissions numbers for 2023. In total, 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent were emitted, excluding emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). The assessment shows that Ireland complied with its EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) commitments for 2021-2023, with the use of allowed flexibilities. However, the figures show that 2023 greenhouse gas emissions were still only 10.1% below 2005 levels, well short of Irelands EU Effort Sharing reduction commitment of 42% by 2030. When considered under the national commitments of the Climate Act 2015, the EPA says reductions are still well off the target of a 51% reduction by 2030. It said there was a need to achieve an extremely challenging annual reduction of 8.3% for each of the years 2024 and 2025 if Ireland is to stay within the first Carbon Budget. Ms Burke added: These are significant findings that signal the impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Irelands economy and society. We see the impact of more renewables and interconnection powering electricity, less fossil fuel use in home heating, reduced nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture and more biofuel in transport. She added: The data indicates a move towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the scale and pace required to meet our climate ambition of a 51% reduction by 2030. However, while these are positive results for the year 2023, we are still well off track in terms of meeting EU and national 2030 targets. We need to maintain and further build momentum. As a Chinese old saying goes, "Teaching people to fish," The Payra power plant has provided approximately 8,400 jobs and nearly 6,300 vocational skills training opportunities to local residents, becoming a well-deserved talent cultivation base in the area. DHAKA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Driving towards Payra Port, Bangladesh's third-largest port, a 220-meter high cooling tower can be seen standing tall within the plant area from a distance. This plant area is home to Bangladesh's largest power station, a 1,320 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant. Previously, Bangladesh faced a power supply gap due to a lack of mineral resources such as coal, inadequate power infrastructure, and rapidly growing electricity demand driven by fast economic growth. Power outages are common. Against this background, in 2016, this key project jointly developed, invested, constructed and operated by China National Machinery Import & Export Corp., and Bangladesh's North-West Power Generation Company Limited began construction. In addition to overcoming global challenges such as poor geological conditions, significant variations in coal quality, and extremely high wind speeds, the Payra project also introduced ultra-supercritical technology to make Bangladesh the 13th country in the world to possess such technology. In 2022, the power station was finally completed. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at the inauguration ceremony, "This is the biggest thing that we've been able to lighthouses of every people." "The Payra Power Plant is equivalent to the 'ballast stone' of Bangladesh's power supply," said Wang Xiangzhi, the Chinese technical manager on-site at the Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited, adding that the plant can provide Bangladesh with 8.58 billion kWh of stable and reliable electricity annually, accounting for about 10 percent of the country's total electricity demand and 25 percent of the southwestern grid's demand. Furthermore, to improve resource utilization efficiency, the project uses the by-products generated from the plant's operation as industrial materials. Currently, the ash and gypsum produced by the plant are used in industries such as brick-making, cement production, and road paving, effectively shutting down about 50 brick factories. "While providing high-quality electricity, the Payra Power Plant also takes environmental friendliness into account, injecting green vitality into Bangladesh's long-term development," said Wang. As a Chinese old saying goes, "Teaching people to fish," The Payra power plant has provided approximately 8,400 jobs and nearly 6,300 vocational skills training opportunities to local residents, becoming a well-deserved talent cultivation base in the area. "From zero to now, we have learned a lot all from our Chinese colleagues over four years," said Bangladeshi engineer Injamam Ul Haque, who has been working on the project, adding that many graduates of related majors could not find corresponding jobs in their own country, but this power plant provided them with the opportunity to find corresponding jobs in their own country. "Many such plants are under construction in other parts of Bangladesh with China's assistance. As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, this collaboration is significantly benefiting our power sector," Haque said. As Haque said, the 50 MW photovoltaic power plant invested by HDFC SinPower Ltd. whose major shareholder is China Huadian Overseas Investment Co., Ltd. started construction in September 2019 to utilize the advantage of solar resources here. After more than a year of hard construction work, approximately 170,000 solar panels from China were installed in Mymensingh area, an important power node in central Bangladesh and a key connection point in the grid, by the end of 2020. As Bangladesh's first photovoltaic power station, this project has opened the door to solar power generation in the country, converting solar energy into electricity to light up thousands of households. Additionally, the project helps Bangladesh reduce carbon emissions by over 50,000 tons annually. "It is excellent that we have a photovoltaic power plant in this area," local resident Md. Fazlul Haque told Xinhua, adding "The residents of this area are very happy." "Previously, we didn't have access to electricity, but now, thanks to solar power, we do, Fazlul said, adding there were only a few people living here before, but now many houses are being built because of the availability of electricity. Not just photovoltaic power. In Cox's Bazar, a southeastern coastal city of Bangladesh, 22 wind turbines of the country's first centralized wind power project, which was invested by Wuling Power Corp., a subsidiary of China's State Power Investment Corp., and built by PowerChina Chengdu Engineering Corp., are rotating in the wind. Upon full operation, the project will provide Bangladesh with about 145 million kWh of clean electricity per year, reduce coal consumption by 44,600 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 109,200 tons, as well as meet the electricity demand of 100,000 households. Bangladeshi engineer Md. Mukit Alam who works for this project said that each wind turbine at this wind power station utilizes the latest Chinese technology, capable of easily handling wind speeds of up to 5.2 meters per second. Additionally, the current arrangement of the towers and turbines ensures that local farmers' cultivation and salt farmers' salt production are not affected. "This is the first time a Chinese company, as an investor, has introduced wind power to Bangladesh, marking a milestone in the country's clean energy development," Hei Zhao, general manager of Bangladesh division of Wuling Power Corp., said during the project construction, the company introduced Chinese solutions, standards, equipment, and technology. This not only gained local recognition but also trained Bangladesh's first batch of wind power field operation talents. The Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources frequently organizes experts to visit and study the project, Hei added. "It's a major watershed in our nation's journey towards cleaner and more sustainable energy," said Md. Habibur Rahman, senior secretary of Power Division under Bangladesh's Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, when addressing the launching ceremony in 2023. According to incomplete statistics, since Bangladesh joined the "Belt and Road Initiative," China has built 27 power energy projects in Bangladesh. So far, the capacity of power stations participated by Chinese companies in Bangladesh exceeds 9,038 MW accounting for about 35 percent of the total installed capacity of Bangladesh, providing a stable power supply guarantee for the rapid economic and social development of Bangladesh and helping the Bangladeshi people turn their dreams into reality. Fizuli International Airport, put into operation three years ago in record time in the territories liberated from occupation, today is not only a transport hub, but also a symbol of accessibility and development of the Karabakh region. This airport is also the gateway to the Victory Road and the key to the main transportation hubs of the city of Shusha. Over a short span, Fuzuli Airport has hosted numerous heads of government and hundreds of representatives from state and international think tanks, which emphasizes its strategic importance and prospects for further development of the region. These days, Fizuli International Airport, within the framework of the unofficial summit of the Organization of Turkic States, held in Shusha, received and dispatched more than 40 flights. Among them were more than 10 types of aircraft: the successful landing of aircraft such as Gulfstream V, Falcon 7X, Airbus 319, 320, Embraer 190, wide-body Il-96, Airbus 330, 340 and Boeing 787 at Fizuli Airport has once again confirmed its ability to accommodate various types of aircraft, modern technological level and compliance with international standards. The airport features a runway that is 3000 meters long and 60 meters wide, ensuring safe and comfortable landing and take-off of various types of aircraft. An air traffic control tower equipped with automated systems provides flight control in accordance with ICAO and IATA standards. In addition, the terminal, equipped with modern infrastructure, allows sending at least 200 passengers per hour. The airport has baggage conveyors, a check-in system, VIP lounges, shops, restaurants and other necessary facilities to ensure the comfort of arriving passengers and guests. Today, the air gateway of Karabakh - Fizuli International Airport, is becoming a transport and logistics center, playing an important role in the economic, political and cultural life of the region. From July 17, with the start of regular flights of the national air carrier of Azerbaijan AZAL to Karabakh, a new stage will begin towards closer integration of this region with Azerbaijan and the world. It also significantly contributes to the future development and enhancement of Karabakh's tourism potential. In the Dail today the Taoiseach, Simon Harris was made aware of a case of an Irish woman who is facing charges in Dubai and is under a travel ban. The Taoiseach said he was previously unaware of the case of the Irish woman Tori Towey, who is 28 years old. Leader of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald brought the case up to the Taoiseach which she described as "the most gross domestic violence." Deputy McDonald, who was speaking with the Roscommon woman earlier in the day said, "She has been the victim of the most gross domestic violence." "Her passport has been destroyed. There was a travel ban imposed on her." "She had gone to the authorities seeking protection many times but to no avail." Added that Tori's husband had "slammed doors on her arms and break her limbs." Tori Towey is facing charges "of attempted suicide and the abuse of alcohol" and Mary Lou McDonald added, "is now under the most incredible stress." She then added that the case is "a matter of urgency" and that "She wants to come home." The Taoiseach then responded by thanking the Deputy for bringing the case to his attention and said they will "intervene and see how we can support an Irish citizen in what sounds to be, based on what you tell me, the most appalling circumstances" The first cohort of students from the Global Management and Politics (GMAP) program, jointly offered by ADA University (Azerbaijan) and Luiss Guido Carli University (Italy), as part of the Italy-Azerbaijan University initiative, has successfully completed their summer module in Rome. This milestone comes just two years after the signing of the academic agreement between ADA University and Luiss Guido Carli, marking a significant step towards strengthening academic collaboration between the two nations. The purpose of this dual degree program is to integrate the expertise of Italian excellence with the innovative potential of "Made in Azerbaijan." To achieve this, a group of five ADA professors accompanied the students during the visit aiming to work with focused team of experts of Made in Italy and guided the process. Over the course of three weeks, students engaged in extensive visits to renowned Italian companies, participated in specialized lectures, and took part in debate sessions. The summer module concluded with a closing ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 28, 2024. Rashad Aslanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Italy, Luca di Gianfrancesco, Ambassador of Italy to Azerbaijan, and Aynura Huseynova, Advisor to the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs for the Italy-Azerbaijan University initiative, attended the ceremony and congratulated the participants on their achievements. Rashad Aslanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Italy highlighted the importance of this academic project in the context of strategic cooperation between Italy and Azerbaijan, which has reached a level of maximum development, as confirmed by the numerous and continuous bilateral visits. Luca di Gianfrancesco, Ambassador of Italy to Azerbaijan stated that this kind of program serves to deepen educational and cultural ties between our nations. Aynura Huseynova highlighted that the buildings for the Italy-Azerbaijan University, located within the ADA University campus in Baku, are nearing completion. In the meantime, many programs already been started, including exchanges between teachers and students, as demonstrated by the "Focus on Management and Made in Italy", recently held at Luiss. Representatives from Luiss Guido Carli University mentioned that our collaborative effort aims to harmonize the vision and teaching methodologies between the two academic institutions through continuous mobility of students, teachers, and academic advisors. It should be noted that the academic cooperation agreements regarding the Italy-Azerbaijan University was signed on September 1, 2022. This project was initially announced in the presence of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, alongside the Rector of ADA University, Hafiz Pashayev, and senior management from five prominent universities involved: Vice President of Luiss Guido Carli University, Paola Severino, Rector of Sapienza Universita di Roma, Antonella Polimeni, Rector of Politecnico di Torino, Guido Saracco, Executive Vice Rector of Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna, Simona Tondelli, and Director of the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano, Alessandro Deserti. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. New polling stations will be set up in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) Rovzat Gasimov said at the CEC meeting in Baku today, Trend reports. The meeting has put forward the idea to open up eight more polling stations in the liberated territories. The proposal was brought to the table and given the green light. Thus, 34 permanent polling stations will function during the parliamentary election. On June 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the dissolution of the Azerbaijani Parliament of the sixth convocation and the appointment of an extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. Masdar is committed to participating alongside the UAE delegation at COP29 and looks forward to supporting Azerbaijan's government for a successful COP this year, Maryam Al Mazrouei, Head of Development and Investment (CIS) at Masdar, told Trend. "Every initiative undertaken by Masdar in Azerbaijan contributes to the national target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, which aligns with the country's goal of achieving 30 percent capacity of renewable energy by the same year. As part of the UAE delegation, we will be certainly participating eagerly," she said. Speaking of the possibility of inking more deals between Azerbaijan and Masdar as part of the COP event, Al Mazrouei noted that she will be "personally enthusiastic about pushing forward and signing additional agreements" between the sides. "Azerbaijan is a key strategic market for Masdar. We began discussions with the Ministry of Energy in 2018-2019, and as we speak, we already have one operational project. The 230 MW Garadagh solar PV project was inaugurated and has been a great success. With the strategic collaboration between Masdar, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, and Azerenergy, we aim to expand and build on this success," the company rep added. In November this year, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). This was decided at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties decide otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is based in Bonn. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. Moody's Ratings (Moody's) has today changed to positive from stable the outlook of State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), Trend reports citing the rating agency. Today's rating action is in line with the sovereign rating action and reflects SOCAR's strong credit linkages with the state as well as its significant exposure to Azerbaijan's operating and macroeconomic environment. The rating action also reflects the company's sound financial performance and credit metrics amid resilient oil and gas market environment; strategic importance for the government of Azerbaijan; and a track record of more discipline in strategic and shareholder decisions, investment spending and shareholder distributions which translate into positive cash generation and solid liquidity, said the agency. Moodys notes that the positive outlook on the sovereign rating reflects improved economic prospects that have led to a strengthening in credit metrics. Rising prominence of the Middle Corridor further bolsters Azerbaijan's ambition to be a Eurasian transport hub. Greater EU demand for Azeri gas as well as a widening pipeline of renewable projects accelerates diversification from depleting oil resources. At the same time, a lengthening track record of maintaining macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline confers greater credibility to institutional effectiveness, as proven from resilience in the credit through recent shocks. As a result, operating and macroeconomic environment for SOCAR has improved and the government's financial capacity to support the company, if needed, has strengthened, which is credit positive for the company, notes the rating agency. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn This is bad news for reelection chances . . . In politics, art and life . . . It's important to COMMIT to bold strategies. A "pause" is a half-measure at best and doesn't give voters any kind of CONFIDENCE moving forward. Even worse . . . The move won't convince undecided voters and offers an indication that the law man's endorsement of MAGA rhetoric might not have been wise amid the changing demographics and political climate in this suburb. Here's the word . . . The sheriffs investigation has produced no criminal charges. False conspiracy theories surrounding the integrity of Johnson Countys elections have taken root, fueled in part by Haydens investigation, which he has promoted repeatedly in front of conservative audiences. Johnson County Commission Chairman Mike Kelly told The Star on Monday that he believes Haydens announcement is long overdue. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Johnson County sheriff pauses controversial election investigation a month before primary Sheriff Calvin Hayden said he was putting the investigation into Johnson County's elections "on the shelf," one month before the Aug. 6 primary, where he faces a Republican challenger. Surprisingly . . . Here's a much less biased report from TV news . . . For late night & early morning denizens of the discourse, here's our quick perspective on current events worth a peek events that deserve notice by way of pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Independence Day 2024 Aftermath Cont'd Local hospitals report dozens of fireworks-related injuries Dozens of patients were treated across Kansas City's hospital networks for fireworks-related injuries Powering Local Vote Jackson County officials, KC woman work to ramp up voter registration ahead of Missouri's primary deadline The voter registration deadline for Missouri's primary election is less than two days away. The KC Board of Election Commissioners hired extra seasonal workers to make sure the election ran smoothly. Show-Me Funding Critical Mass Missouri governor signs tax break for Kansas City nuclear weapons parts manufacturer * Missouri Independent Gov. Mike Parson signed a tax break meant to help expand the nuclear weapons manufacturing facility in Kansas City operated by Honeywell. Rock Chalk Homestead Advice 'Only more expensive tomorrow': Industry experts offer tips for 1st-time Kansas homebuyers Nationwide, buying a home is perhaps at its most challenging in U.S. history. 12 News spoke with local experts to gain insight into what Kansas homebuyers can expect. Ice Cream Options Abound Betty Rae's Ice Cream announces grand opening of fourth shop location Betty Rae's has set the grand opening of its fourth location, complete with a new production center and Test Kitchen. Diva Forced To Duck Amid Concert Season Bebe Rexha threatens to SUE fan after they try to throw object at her Bebe Rexha threatened to sue a concertgoer after they allegedly tried to throw an object at her mid-performance - one year after she was struck by a phone onstage . Even MSM Admits Points Lost What the polls show 11 days after the Biden-Trump debate Analysis: There hasn't been a fundamental change in the race (at least not yet). But the polls have moved 1 or 2 points against Biden since his debate struggles. MAGA Needs Prez As Opponent Hear Trump's response when asked if he wants Biden to quit the race | CNN Politics Former President Donald Trump was asked about the presidential race against President Joe Biden and potentially facing a different candidate during an interview with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity. Policy Nerds In Perspective Sen. Rubio tries to distance Trump from Project 2025 Rubio dismissed the plan as "the work of a think tank." Storm Anticlimax Hurricane Beryl live updates: Category 1 storm makes landfall on Texas coast Follow NBC News' live coverage for the latest updates on Hurricane Beryl which is set to make landfall on the Texas coast. Eastern Europe War Grinds On Ukraine in mourning after day of deadly attacks A children's hospital in Kyiv was hit when Russia launched a wave of missile strikes on Monday. Holy Land Moves In . . . Israel deepens its operation in Gaza City, as pockets of militancy continue to dog the military Israeli forces deepened an operation in the Gaza Strip's largest city in what the military said was meant to weed out militants, sending thousands of Palestinians fleeing from an area already ravaged in the early weeks of the nine-month-long war. Star Power For Tech Merger Tyler Perry, John Krasinski, Mark Wahlberg and More React to Paramount-Skydance Deal: "I'm Thrilled" Major Hollywood players celebrated the Paramount-Skydance deal, calling the sale a win for the industry and a match made in movie heaven. Stunt Tragedy Trial Starts Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial begins with jury selection Alec Baldwin's trial in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer is about to begin Round Up Celebration There's a new holiday in New Orleans called 'Back That Azz Up Day.' Here's the story behind it. Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a proclamation to recognize June 11 as "Back That Azz Up Day," in celebration of the 1999 hip-hop hit song and its music video released by New Hotness: Poly Parents Mom Opens Up About Realities of Raising Kids While in Open Marriage with Husband of 14 Years (Exclusive) Danielle shared a TikTok video explaining how she and her husband navigate their extramarital relationships with the needs of their two kids. Bait & Switch Alleged Baller Smash Slated Bobby Witt Jr. to participate in the Home Run Derby The phenom will become the fifth Royals hitter to participate. Tribute & Help For Troops 'One of the best moments you have as a prosecutor': JOCO Veterans Treatment Court looking for mentors Johnson County's Veterans Treatment Court is looking for mentors for the eight-year-old program. In 2016, it became the first court of its kind in the state of Kansas. Local BBQ Tradition Expands Waistlines Across Metro Q39 Officially Announces Plans To Open In Lee's Summit's Oldham Village Development July 6, 2024 Q39 officially announces plans to open it's fourth location in Lee's Summit. Plans are for a freestanding, pad site location as part of the 50-acre Oldham Village development, off Oldh... Weather Deets For Tonight Slim chances for rain in the evening hours this week Slim chances for rain in the evening hours this week And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Whilst Prez Biden performs his swan song from politics . . . Kansas City's Mayor celebrates great publicity for himself . . . And this town, of course . . . Check-it: "Grateful for the time Mitch Smith of the Times spent visiting with mayors about key issues facing our cities. "Among the biggest: housing and state preemption." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . For those few who might not know . . . NOBODY is more informed and knowledgeable on the Jackson County Property tax assessment hot mess than Preston Smith. Accordingly, his perspective is valuable to any discussion of this issue and recently he shared insight into an ongoing debate that will undoubtedly impact the future of local property taxes. Here are some of the deets . . . First, the plaintiffs called Preston Smith. He's a statistician and former member of the county Board of Equalization which helps settle property assessment disputes. He reviewed data from the assessors office and from Tyler Technologies, a company the county hired to assist with the assessment. Smith used the words outlandish and mind boggling to describe the data he reviewed. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The local news cartel reports this election issue carefully and with a detached perspective that hopes progressive spin from social media bots & trolls will fill in the blanks. TKC reality check . . . The upcoming Missouri vote against police defund-ing will likely have the same result as last time around even with the ballot language switcheroo. Of course, we'll share the other side of the story . . . The summary, prepared by the Missouri Auditor, stated that state and local governmental entities estimate no additional costs or savings related to this proposal. But according to the courts ruling, Kansas City officials told the auditor that the ballot item, which appeared as Amendment 4, would cost about $38.7 million per year, resulting in a negative fiscal impact. Missourians did not see any of that information when they voted on Amendment 4 in 2022. Following the courts ruling, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, both Republicans, ordered the new election for August. The court then affirmed that decision, despite Lucas asking the court to schedule the measure for November. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Second killing so far this week along with an assault on an officer. Here are the deets are KCK keeps suffering a spike in violence . . . Police say just before 6:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Cleveland Ave. on a disturbance. When they arrived, they found a man dead in the street by blunt trauma. Two people were taken into custody as persons of interest. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Europe has been handing out cash faster than a clumsy waiter spills soup! Who says you can't get paid to live in paradise? In a world where many dream of escaping to beautiful places, some European destinations are not just dreaming-they're paying. That's right, they'll put money right in your pocket to pack up and move! If you've had enough of the high cost of living or the daily grind where you are, these places offer more than a new address-they offer a new way of life. Think of regions in Italy or quiet towns in Croatia where you're not just a tourist but a resident who's getting paid! These programs aim to bring new life to areas that are low on residents but high on beauty. Albinen, Switzerland Albinen, one of this list's most beautiful European destinations, urgently needs new residents as the population number decreases. The country will pay up to $53,000 for families ready to adopt this picture-perfect town. If you are under 45, you can have up to ten years of mountain scenery, which is a compliment of this incentive package. Besides, the nearest sights comprise the Verbier ski resort, to name just a few. Currently, a new chapter can be created in Albinen - and for many people, this means a turning point in their lives if they are willing to work in a picturesque area surrounded by stunning nature. Ponga, Spain Ponga, one of the European destinations to visit and fall in love with, has promotional bonuses to attract new settlers to its beautiful mountain village. Euronews revealed that you can get up to 2,971 if they decide to move to the specified town and 300 for each child born there. However, this initiative is currently focused only on Brits, which is a good opportunity for those from the UK. Imagine waking up in the morning and deciding to go hiking on the mountain or on the beach, which is just a 30-40-minute drive. Ponga is what you need for those seeking change and a new start with the view. Related Article : Age is Just a Number at These Top European Destinations for Every Decade Sardinia, Italy Not only does Sardinia have some excellent beaches, but it also has excellent initiatives to repopulate the places less visited. The grant scheme is up to 15,000 for those who will move and are ready to invest in local real estate. This grant is supposed to provide half of a home's renovation or purchase costs. Aside from that, you must move your residence permanently to Sardinia within 18 months. It just offers a blend of leisure and a new lifestyle, making this beautiful island attractive to the sun, sea, and savings seekers. A Remote Island in Ireland It is possible to land handsome amounts of financial incentives for moving to one of Ireland's many remote islands. The policy is part of a greater government plan to help increase the number of people in such distinct communities, which are not connected by bridges and are often closed off by tides. The Irish government's latest incentive to lure residents: more than 80,000 to help renovate properties. For that, you should buy a house built before 1993 that has been empty for at least two years. Tuscany, Italy In Tuscany, Italy, one of the most beautiful European destinations, you have a unique opportunity to be part of revitalizing the region's rural areas. According to Business Insider, the local government has established a $3 million fund to encourage people like you to move to the countryside and assist in refurbishing some of its neglected homes. This initiative is specifically designed to combat the depopulation of mountain areas and stimulate their socio-economic growth. If you decide to take up this offer, you can receive grants covering 50% of your costs for renovating a home, with potential grants reaching as high as $32,000. Copenhagen has launched "CopenPay," a new program rewarding tourists who make green choices, like biking or cleaning up, with free cultural experiences across the city. Copenhagen Pays Tourists for Going Green In a unique move, Copenhagen is turning sustainable travel into a rewarding experience for tourists. The city's latest initiative, "CopenPay," launched this summer, compensates visitors who engage in eco-friendly activities with free cultural experiences, such as guided museum tours, kayak rentals, and vegetarian meals made from local ingredients. The scheme was developed by Wonderful Copenhagen, the city's official tourism organization. According to the CEO, Mikkel Aar-Hansen, "CopenPay" not only enhances the tourist experience but also actively contributes to the city's environmental efforts. Tourists can easily participate in the program by showing simple proofs of green actions, like train tickets or photos of them biking. The idea is to try to close this gap between people's wish to act sustainably and their actual behaviors. Statistics indeed show a drastic difference: while 82% of tourists want to travel sustainably, only 22% actually do. According to Copenhagen's Lord Mayor, Sophie Hstorp Andersen, the initiative is most welcome. She feels that having a rich cultural life in Copenhagen combined with sustainable practices aligns with the city's values and future goals. The "CopenPay" scheme is not only expected to ensure a better quality of visits for eco-conscious tourists. It may also set an example for other cities in promoting sustainable tourism. The project thus reflects a very small but meaningful contribution, at a micro level, toward a much bigger and global green transition. Related Article : Denmark Sets Green Tax on Air Travel for Eco-Friendly Shift by 2025 Making Green Choices Rewarding CopenPay is Copenhagen's newest initiative for redefining sustainable tourism, complete with a uniquely devised reward system for environmentally friendly actions. This pilot project, launched on July 15, will spur both tourists and residents to bike, use public transportation, take part in clean-up efforts, and engage in other green behaviors. Participants just need to present their proof-for example, a train ticket or a photo of the person on a bike. This can be presented at a great number of different spots in the city, easily found through the online map of CopenPay. Moreover, participants should always check in advance for access to attractions, as some may require bookings due to limited availability. As Aar-Hansen said by Visit Copenhagen, "With CopenPay, we're empowering people to experience more of what Copenhagen offers while placing less burden on our planet." Ranked as the third-most sustainable destination in the world, Copenhagen aims to create an even higher reputation by offering active solutions like CopenPay. This initiative not only supports more green ways of moving and activities on environmental grounds but also helps attain the long-term aspiration goals set by the city while reducing carbon emissions. The project will run until Aug. 11, hoping to expand and become a permanent fixture in Copenhagen's economy while inspiring other cities worldwide. Japan's severe heatwave hits 40C, disrupting travel and posing health risks. Authorities urge caution, advising residents and tourists to stay indoors and hydrated. Heatwave Impacts Travel Across Japan Tourism in Japan and domestic travel are trudging through a scorching summer this year with a harsh heat wave, hitting record temperatures in many places. The temperature hit 40 degrees Celsius, the highest this summer, in Shizuoka this afternoon on this very hot Sunday. This extreme heat has affected various regions, particularly central Japan, where several cities experienced temperatures close to this high mark. The heatwave, worsened by a persistent high-pressure system, has caused the number of travel disruptions to skyrocket. Trains and buses are delayed, while local events have been canceled for the sake of public health. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued strong advice to avoid any outdoor activities and to stay indoors during the peak hours of the day, especially targeting tourists and locals in planning their travel. The authorities are also emphasizing the importance of keeping the body well-hydrated and the continuous use of air-conditioning, with the possibility of heat-related illnesses having surged. Travel and Tour World reports that cases of heatstroke are surging in hospitals, prompting urgent appeals for public awareness. The impact on tourism is noticeable. Tourists are warned to continue monitoring local weather forecasts and to plan indoor activities whenever possible. This travel behavior emphasizes the greater implications of such extreme weather conditions, which are expected to increase as climate patterns change. As this was an unprecedented heat wave, with Japan still firmly in its grip, much attention was focused on methods of safeguarding public health and adapting travel plans to meet the challenging conditions. Related Article : Japan Sets New Fees for Mount Fuji, Limits Tourists to Protect Trail Record Highs Sweep the Nation On Monday, western and eastern areas of Japan experienced near-record temperatures due to a strong high-pressure system that gave clear skies and intense heat. According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, in Shingu City of Wakayama Prefecture, it surged to 39.6 degrees Celsius. In the Fuchu City of Tokyo, it reached 39.2 degrees-the highest on record from this time of year. Other locations also reeled under the intense heat, with cities like Kuwana of Mie Prefecture and Saitama City in the vicinity of Tokyo climbing to 38.9 and 38.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, while cities in central Japan, like Shizuoka, logged 37.4 degrees. Kyoto was burning at 36.7 degrees. Down in the country's southwest, the city of Oita climbed to 36.6 degrees, and even central Tokyo reached 36 degrees. With temperatures expected to stay above 25 degrees into the night, residents are advised to keep their air conditioners running throughout the night and remain well-hydrated. The heat is expected to continue on Tuesday, where Saitama City and Owase City in Mie Prefecture will reach 37 degrees. The Environment Ministry issued warnings for heatstroke to 11 prefectures that stretched from Kanto to Okinawa. It urged everybody to stay inside, stay cool, and keep hydrated, particularly among the elderly and young children vulnerable to the serious dangers of heat-related illnesses during this intense heat. Listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the Colosseum in Rome is one of the most popular tourist attractions globally. It has certainly stood the test of time, especially when the completion of its construction in AD 80 is taken into consideration. To this day, the Colosseum remains to be a poignant symbol of Imperial Rome. Year after year, millions of travelers flock to Colosseum to marvel at this architectural wonder. Given the sheer amount of people wanting to enter the Colosseum, trying to do so can be easier said than done. With that said, here are some things to keep in mind when planning a visit to the Colosseum for a smoother, more hassle-free experience. Expect a Crowd This cannot be stressed enough. The popularity of the Colosseum guarantees long lines of both locals and foreigners trying to enter, so always expect a crowd. This is true most especially on weekends and during peak months for travel. If you want to skip the lines, make sure to purchase the Roma Pass and make your reservations prior to your trip. It is recommended that reservations at least 10 days prior to your preferred date of visit. Police Presence Given the sheer amount of people who enter the Colosseum or loiter the surrounding area, there is ample police presence in the area to ensure order and security. This is an important bit of information to know should theft incidents and other emergencies happen. Much has been said about the safety and security when traveling in Europe, in general, particularly when it comes to pickpockets. While the police is there to make sure everything goes smoothly, do your part as a responsible traveler and be mindful of your valuables at all times. You Need Your Passport If you're a foreign traveler planning to purchase your ticket onsite, make sure you have your passport in hand. The staff at the ticket counter will ask for your passport when you purchase tickets. While the writer of this article has not experienced trying to purchase tickets without a passport, it may be safe to assume that travelers without passports might not be allowed to purchase tickets to the Colosseum. Not All Areas Can be Explored You should not make the mistake of expecting that you can go anywhere and everywhere you want once you're inside the Colosseum. There are areas inside that are off-limits to visitors, and everyone is expected to respect these limitations. While there are hardheaded tourists who still disregard off-limits areas for the sake of their vlogs or photos, it should be noted that there are security personnel and staff inside the Colosseum to ensure that order is maintained. Special Access Areas Certain areas within the Colosseum require special access. This means that entry into these areas are not part of the base ticket and require additional fees. These areas include the Arena, which is where the gladiators did battle, The Gate of Death, and the Hypogeum or the Underground. The Hypogeum is a labyrinth of tunnels where gladiators stay to prepare for battle. It is also where wild animals used were also kept. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has inked a new EUR 7 million Micro-, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) facility with NOA Sh.A., a leading microfinance institution in Albania, Trend reports via the BSTDB. This funding will be channeled to private enterprises, farmers, and retail customers across the nation. BSTDB continues to prioritize financial intermediation through non-bank financial institutions, recognizing their pivotal role in driving economic development. This latest EUR 7 million facility marks BSTDBs third MSME initiative with NOA, underscoring the robust and productive partnership between the two entities. Previous facilities supported over 430 local businesses and individuals, highlighting the significant impact of their collaboration. The enhanced cooperation between BSTDB and NOA reaffirms their commitment to fostering sustainable economic development, creating new employment opportunities, and generating income. This joint effort contributes significantly to the broader economic stability and growth of Albania. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Japan will transfer nine gas-powered power plants to Odesa, with the first two expected in November. Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov told Ukrinform in an interview. "After my working visit to Yokohama (March 2023), I told the Japanese that we need gas reciprocating units. They approved the construction, so I came back from my business trip happy - I brought investments worth a billion hryvnias to my city for the construction of nine gas piston stations," Trukhanov said. According to him, the stations will power large boiler houses. "Technical work is already underway. We expect the first two units this November, but unfortunately, we will not have time to install them before the heating season," the mayor added. As reported earlier, Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka and UNDP Tokyo Director Hideko Hadzialic signed an agreement on cooperation in rebuilding social infrastructure in Ukraine, including a kindergarten in Odesa that was damaged by a Russian missile strike. Norway will provide Ukraine with spare parts for Sea King helicopters to help support the operation and maintenance of the helicopters that were transferred to the country by Germany. According to Ukrinform, citing a press release from the Norwegian government, this was announced by Norwegian Defence Minister Bjrn Arild Gram. "As co-chair of the Maritime Capability Coalition, Norway considers it important to ensure that Ukraine is able to build its Coast Guard and increase its maritime capabilities as rapidly as possible. Norway will donate spare parts for Sea King helicopters in order to help support the operation and maintenance of the helicopters that have been donated to Ukraine by Germany," Gram said. It is noted that Sea King helicopters were in service in Norway from 1973 to 2023, and have now been replaced by SAR Queen helicopters. The Norwegian helicopters themselves have reached the maximum number of flight hours, and therefore cannot be transferred. "The Black Sea and the maritime domain in general are of strategic importance to Ukraine, and are crucial to the countrys ability to export goods. The Maritime Capability Coalition is targeted towards the Ukrainian Naval Forces as a whole, and encompasses the full breadth of maritime capabilities, including the Ukrainian Coast Guard. I am pleased that spare parts from our discarded Sea Kings can help make a difference for Ukraine, and facilitate the efforts to establish the Ukrainian Coast Guard," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Germany has decided to donate six Sea Kings to Ukraine, and the UK plans to donate three more. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Norway will allocate an additional NOK 1.1 billion (over USD 73 million) to help restore Ukraine's damaged energy infrastructure. Photo: Fabian Helmersen / Forsvaret facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published July 9, 2024 CAPTION: Members of the Murphy family pose with ULM President Ron Berry and scholarship recipient Joy Falohan. MONROE, LA The Murphy Family donated $60,000 to the ULM College of Pharmacy to establish the T.D. Doc Murphy Superior Graduate Scholarship in Pharmacy in honor of Thomas Deckle Murphy, Class of 1962. The Louisiana Board of Regents Sponsored Programs Support Fund awarded $40,000 in matching funds, making the total value $100,000. A check presentation was held at the ULM College of Pharmacy on July 3, 2024. Tom Deckle Murphy was born in the woods of Winn Parish to a Dr. Deckle, whom he was named after. He grew up working in Scroggins Pharmacy in Jonesboro, La., which confirmed his future career choice. After graduating in Pharmacy in 1962 from then Northeast Louisiana State College, Murphy went on to purchase two pharmacies, but never Scroggins Pharmacy, where he grew up. His son Shawn recounts, to a lot of people, he was their doctor. Murphy retired at age 35, and lived three lifetimes before his untimely passing at age 48. I believe he is incredibly deserving of this recognitionbecause he was in one of the first few classes to graduate in Pharmacy and worked to pay for school with no student loans! This is important to my family, but most important to show that ordinary people can come together to do extraordinary things, son, Shawn Murphy relayed. In attendance were Docs wife, Martha Ann Murphy; children Shawn Murphy, BA 84 and wife, Donna K. Murphy, BS Pharmacy 90, Tom W. Murphy, BS Construction Management 84 and wife, Nancy Murphy, Shana Murphy Prejean, BS Pharmacy 88, and Tiffany Murphy Yost. This scholarship supports third- and fourth-year professional students who are pursuing the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Recipients must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher. The first recipient, Joy Falohan, an international Pharmacy student from Nigeria, was able to meet the Murphy Family. T.D. "Doc" Murphy. Photo courtesy of the Murphy family. Imports and exports going through key transportation hubs in China have witnessed growth during the first half of the year, boosting the Chinese economy together with an increasingly hot tourism market, CCTV.com reported on Sunday. As the most important transportation hub between China and Central Asia and Central Europe, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region registered total foreign trade volume of 185.64 billion yuan ($25.54 billion) from Jan to May this year, up 52.1 percent on a yearly basis, ranking second in terms of growth rate nationwide. Alashankou Port and Khorgos Port in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are the two most important railway ports to Central Asia and Europe in China, with more than 40 percent of China-Europe freight trains passing through these two ports. This year, the number of China-Europe (or China-Asia) freight trains passing through these two ports exceeds 40 daily. In the first half of 2024, 7,746 China-Europe freight train trips passed through the Alashankou and Khorgos ports, an increase of 8.2 percent year-on-year, the report said. Nowadays, the category of goods transported at the two ports has increased from the original daily necessities and ores to more than 200 kinds, including wood, chemicals, machineries, cotton yarn, building materials, new energy vehicles, and electronic products. In recent years, home-made new energy vehicles have become popular overseas, and cars from Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Zhengzhou and other places are exported to Central Asia, Europe and other regions via Alashankou and Khorgos ports, providing strong support for promoting the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. With the arrival of graduation season and summer vacation, the tourism market around China is also ushering in the summer peak season. With the expansion of China's visa-free countries, the number of foreign tourists entering the country has increased significantly. Latest data show that during the summer rush from July 1 to Aug 31, the number of air ticket bookings from various provinces and regions in China to and from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region increased by about 27 percent compared with the same period in 2023. As an important transportation hub in East China, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport currently operates more than 30 international (regional) passenger routes, serving 21 countries on four continents, and more than 500 inbound and outbound passenger flights per week. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 9. The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the newly appointed Kazakh Ambassador to Turkmenistan Nurlan Nogayev, the statement from the press service of the President of Kazakhstan said, Trend reports. During the conversation, Tokayev stressed the importance of further strengthening the bonds of friendship, good neighborliness, and strategic partnership with Turkmenistan. The head of state set several tasks for Nogaev to develop bilateral cooperation, including in such areas as energy, transit and transportation, trade, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Furthermore, Tokayev ordered to pay special attention to the quality of the content of the upcoming summit negotiations. In the fiercest of times for admissions in colleges, an emphasis on winning may at times become terribly overwhelming. The case of Aryan Anand is a shocking reminder of what happens when ambition is hijacked into fraudulently wrong pursuits. The 19-year-old's case at Lehigh University stands as a shocking case of academic dishonesty, showing precisely how far people may go to secure their futures. The Web of Lies Unraveled Aryan Anand's path to Lehigh University began with a long list of deceptions. He forged documents, from his father's death certificate to forged income tax documents, to forging an email address in order to impersonate a principal so he could get admission into the varsity and a full scholarship. His unabashed lies worked wonders at first. He was admitted to a private Pennsylvania university last August 2023. However, Anand's fraudulent activities did not stay under the rug for too long. Not long after his admission, he went to Reddit and shared a post titled "I have built my career and life on lies," in which he shared his fabrications. One of the users noticed this confession and shared it with the staff at Lehigh University Police Department. This was then followed up with an investigation, which relegated his truth back to its original position and exposed the extent of his deception. Legal Consequences and Expulsion When Anand's actions reached the Lehigh University Police Department, they responded with extreme penalties against him. He was arrested in April on charges that could have brought over 30 years in prison. Eventually, he pleaded guilty to one count of forgery. The university has also reacted quickly: it expelled him and rescinded his admission. According to a university spokesperson, an investigation had revealed "significant fraudulent materials submitted for admission, leading to charges." This totaled about $85,000, but ultimately, Lehigh University officials decided not to pursue restitution. This was on the condition that Anand returned to his native country of India. This leniency may have only been granted because Anand's future was already severely affected by his actions and the very public manner in which he fell. The Role of Technology in Academic Dishonesty The case of Anand speaks to the modern dimension of academic dishonesty: the role of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT in cases of plagiarism. According to reports, Anand confessed to using ChatGPT to craft an admissions essay. He now stands at the forefront of huge ethical questions over the role of AI in education and possibly being misused by students looking for shortcuts. This suddenly creates a very tight corner for any educational institution, given the sudden emergence of AI-powered tools capable of creating human-like text. As much as these tools are useful in certain areas for proper learning, they open up the door to a lot of academic fraud. Anand's case, in which he used an AI tool known as ChatGPT to get himself through the deceitful application process, has borne out demand on the part of universities to develop strong mechanisms capable of detecting and preventing misuse. Lesson to All Students The case of Aryan Anand taught students across the world a lesson. His case depicted how, in attaining goals, be it educationally or professionally, integrity is part of the struggle. Sometimes, the pressure might be too overwhelming, but the result of such dishonesty is devastating. The lesson learned from this case must be heeded by academic institutions as well. An atmosphere must be created at all levels where academic integrity is unmatched and coupled with methods that underline fraud prevention. The advanced technology used to assist the admission process must be returned with equally advanced methods to ensure the authenticity of the application material. The story of Aryan Anand thus serves as a grim reminder of the pitfalls in the competitive landscape of higher education. His case has sent a strong message to one and all regarding the harrowing consequences of academic dishonesty and the ever-changing menace presently posed to education by technology. Students, teachers, and other institutes must note that honesty and integrity never die. On Tuesday, a federal district court judge issued an order of some significance, enjoining the Biden administration from enforcing its new regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in four states: Alaska, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming. A ruling by District of Kansas Judge John Broomes has prompted a little sensation and concern. Friday's ruling bears on significant questions touching on discrimination based on gender identity and the meaning of federal law. The Court's Reasons: Overreach and Vagueness An opinion spanning 47 pages by Judge John Broomes clearly integrated two major concerns regarding the new Title IX regulations. First, he reasoned that the Education Department does not have a mandate to extend the definition of discrimination based on sex under Title IX to include gender identity. Doing so was beyond what Congress had allowed the Education Department to do. Broomes then argues that these new regulations can stifle free speech due to their "vague and overbroad language." It is very vague, he holds, so educational institutions are not clear as to what would constitute compliance, and hence, there might be some self-censorship or an overcautious stance in handling related issues. These protections for LGBTQ+ students, at the center of the Kansas lawsuit and similar challenges, have seen legal pushback, with Broomes being the third federal judge within the past month who has struck back at the Biden administration on the matter. Those rules, slated to take effect Aug. 1, are now preliminarily enjoined not only in those states but also at any school or college attended by members of the three organizations that joined the lawsuit: Young America's Foundation, Moms for Liberty, and Female Athletes United. Effects on Schools and Colleges According to the U.S. District Judge Broomes order, the Education Department cannot enforce the new Title IX rule nor can it impose penalties on institutions that fail to observe it. Regardless of that, this suggests that while it is still possible for individual schools and colleges to decide individually whether to adopt new policies on issues surrounding gender identity and discrimination, there will be no federal mandate forcing those institutions to do so under the blocked regulations. The concerns of the plaintiffs in this Kansas case, among others, are that these new regulations would mandate the elimination of gender-specific facilities and lockers although some would hold that those offended the privacy and safety of cisgender students. In addition, they raise concerns regarding the financial burden of compliance and potential violations of First Amendment rights. In defense, attorneys for the Biden administration have referenced the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County to support their adjustment to Title IX. This landmark ruling found protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against sex discrimination to actually bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. But District Judge Broomes dissents and says this precedent has no connection to Title IX, due to the statutory words there addressing biological sex on its face. The Larger Legal and Social Context Judge Broomes' ruling is at the center of a contentious debate over the role and scope of Title IX, a law originally codified to prohibit sex discrimination in any federally funded education program or activity. The Biden administration's efforts to have these protections reach gender identity have hosted runs that go between very passionate support and fierce opposition. Critics of Judge Broomes maintain that this extension just undermines the original intention of Title IX with regard to the protection of biological women within educational environments. According to Judge Broomes, treating cases under gender identity the same as under biological sex may present a compromise to privacy and safety for cisgender women, hence making arguments like that find echo chambers with groups such as Female Athletes United and Moms for Liberty. The Biden administration could appeal this injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. This ruling and its impact will be carefully noted by schools, advocacy groups, and lawmakers alike as this legal battle continues, therefore shedding important light on how Title IX is considered and construed in the future with respect to the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ students. This case highlights one of the oldest tensions buried in American civil rights law: the tension between expanding safeguards and relying on long-established terms within federal statutes. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the ever-striking balance between these interests will dictate for generations the contours of educational equity and inclusion in the United States. The $1 billion gift by Michael Bloomberg, the largest in history, to Johns Hopkins University will be dedicated to effecting a sea change in the way medical education is conducted at that institution. More specifically, this vast donation aspires to lift the cost burden for medical students so that each talented individual can dream and go ahead with an attempt to become a healthcare professional without keeping in mind the huge debts they will incur someday. Opening Wide Access to Medical Education According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, the organization handling multibillionaire business entrepreneur Michael Bloomberg's vast and genuinely heroic philanthropic effort, this gift will allow "the most talented aspiring doctors from diverse socio-economic backgrounds [...] to graduate debt-free from Johns Hopkins." Next fall semester, the school plans to grant full tuition flat-out to medical students from families making fewer than $300,000 in annual income. Medical students from families earning up to $175,000 annually will receive support for living expenses and additional fees. On the critical impact of the initiative, Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City and a proud alumnus of Johns Hopkins said, "The high cost of medical and graduate school too often bars students from enrolling at a crucial time when the United States faces a shortage of medical professionals." Now, students will be in a better position to pursue their heart's desire and serve desperate communities in dire need of health care by removing these financial barriers. Broader Impact on Health and Education The donation is part of a wider movement by elite institutions to reduce the burdens being placed on medical students by making it tuition-free. In addition, other universities have followed suit within the past few years. For example, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine campus in the Bronx took up tuition-free education after receiving a gift worth $1 billion from Ruth Gottesman, a longtime professor. In 2023, Kenneth G. Langone and his wife Elaine donated $200 million to NYU Long Island School of Medicine to cover tuition costs. In 2018, Michael Bloomberg previously donated $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins to ensure undergraduate admissions were need-blind and boost financial aid. Already, that earlier gift has remade the university's student body, improving racial and economic diversity. Ron Daniels, the president of Johns Hopkins University, emphasized that eliminating financial obstacles enhances excellence, fosters innovation, and leads to discoveries that benefit society. Diverse and Well-Trained Medical Workforce Bloomberg's new gift will have a striking effect on present and future medical students. This new gift would make nearly two-thirds of medical students at Johns Hopkins eligible to pursue their education without any cost. Updated financial aid packages, including this new funding, will be sent to the students, with immediate relief from this overwhelming burden of debt that would otherwise pile up. Jose Luis Castro, president and chief executive of Vital Strategies, called the gift "transformational and inspiring." He said the gift would help to "meet the increasing demand for doctors and public health professionals." Many experts in medicine and education argue that depending solely on family finances to pursue a medical career could restrict access and diversity in the field. Holly J. Humphrey, president of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, notes that rising medical school tuition has particularly impacted students from lower-income backgrounds. Their median debt was $200,000 for class 2023-staggering, to say the least, making many applicants shy away. Reducing this financial burden will help more students from diverse backgrounds pursue an education in medicine and hence lead to better health outcomes. There is evidence that when attended by doctors of similar backgrounds, especially in minority communities, the care their patients receive is of better quality. Future Implications and Broader Support The gift of $1 billion to Johns Hopkins will surely spur a new precedent and give inspiration to other philanthropists for their support in investments in medical education. Experts emphasize that these investments are crucial as the U.S. faces a shortage of healthcare professionals, preparing future doctors, nurses, and public health experts for national needs. Michael Bloomberg's substantial contribution raises his total support for Johns Hopkins University to an impressive $4.55 billion. At this level of giving, it has allowed the institution to set its bar higher in everything from its very scope and impact in education to public health. With this recent gift, Hopkins is uniquely positioned to lead the way in making medical education more accessible and more affordable, ultimately for the good of society. The confidence that Americans have in higher education has been eroding over the years. New data shows this continues to be the case, as concern grows about political agendas on campus and the value of a college degree. A new Gallup poll commissioned by the Lumina Foundation shows that only 36% of American adults now hold considerable confidence in higher education-down from 57% in 2015. Political Agendas and Ideological Wars Cultural concerns, particularly the perception that higher education aims to indoctrinate students politically, are central to the erosion of confidence among many Americans. A large plurality, 41%, of those lacking faith in higher education point to political indoctrination. This is a red flag that also spotlights the widening perception gap between Democrats and Republicans: In 2015, 56% of Republicans held a great deal of confidence in higher education; nine years later, that number plunged to 20%. As a result, an inflamed political atmosphere pervades college campuses, placing debate at the forefront of questions concerning academic freedom and the role that higher education should play in the development of broader social values. Disinvited controversial speakers, protest actions by students, and disciplined faculty for their political persuasions- all of these have helped enunciate the perception that many colleges are becoming increasingly partisan. But this isn't an imbalance that strikes Republicans alone. Confidence among independents has fallen from 48% to 35% since 2015 and from 68% down to 56% among Democrats. The Cost Question Another very influential factor in this decline is the ever-escalating cost of higher education: 28% of the respondents who had lost confidence pointed out the high cost. Surely, the potential financial burden of college education is extremely relevant in view of Americans owing over $1.6 trillion in student loans, and almost half of borrowers being in a struggle to resume payment. For instance, Randy Hill, a Republican voter from Connecticut, reflects this sentiment: after college, heavy debt and job scarcity discourage students, leading some to pursue vocational training or apprenticeships. It's also driven by the cost factor, in addition to questions regarding how much of a return on investment one actually gets from a college degree. Many Americans have begun to believe that colleges and universities are teaching neither relevant skills nor knowledge that would be utilized in the workforce of today. Concerns of Higher Education Relevance Concerns about the relevance of higher education are also driving confidence down. Many consider that institutions of higher learning are focused on the wrong things or simply do not teach the right things. The exact feeling is manifested in 37% of those with no trust in higher education. More and more, people feel that higher education is not preparing students for the job market or adequately providing them with the skills they need to excel in a chosen career. "What's shocking to me is that the people who have low or no confidence is actually increasing," said Courtney Brown, vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit. This has pushed additional students away from disillusionment with the educational curriculum and productions related to four-year colleges, instead heading toward two-year institutions believed to be more practical and cost-effective. A recent poll says 49% of adults answered they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in two-year programs, but only 33% gave the same high rating to four-year colleges. Implications and Potential Solutions The consequences of shrinking confidence in higher education are deep. Fewer college graduates may exacerbate labor shortages in important industries like health care and information technology. For those who don't go to college, the personal economic costs are large: lifetime earnings are much lower than for peers who do earn bachelor's degrees. When times get tough, those without degrees are much more likely to lose their jobs. Dealing with these challenges is going to require institutions of higher education to be more proactive. They have to be capable of demonstrating the value of college education in terms of the content and orientation of the curricula relevant to labor-market demands, focusing on the practical skills acquired. The rising options to finance it, along with making college more affordable, will increase its accessibility to students otherwise scared away by the prospect of high levels of student debt. Last but not least, academic freedom and openness of dialogue could help restore trust and reduce perceptions of politicization. Rebuilding confidence in higher education will have to be based on a multifaceted approach. Colleges and universities can regain the public's faith in them by showing that education remains relevant and will continue to hold an important place in shaping the future of the nation. (@FahadShabbir) Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jul, 2024) President Joe Biden insisted again Monday he would not quit the US election race, as the White House denied he had Parkinson's disease following a disastrous debate performance. The 81-year-old dared Democratic critics to either challenge him at next month's party convention in Chicago or back him against Donald Trump in November's vote. The president lashed out in both a letter to Congress and a rare call to a television program, at the start of a critical week that includes a NATO summit in Washington where he will face fresh scrutiny. "I am firmly committed to staying in the race," Biden wrote in the letter. "It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party and defeat Donald Trump," he said. "It's time for it to end." The embattled president followed up by phoning into MSNBC's "Morning Joe" television program to say he was "getting so frustrated by the elites" in the party. "Any of these guys that don't think I should run -- run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention," he added. But even as he doubled down, the pressure mounted on the oldest president in US history. Congressman Adam Smith, the senior Democrat on the US House Armed Services Committee, said Biden should step aside. "I think it's become clear he's not the best person to carry the Democratic message," he told CNN. Biden's blitz was a clear attempt to lay to rest the spiralling concerns over his health following the June 27 debate against Republican Trump, whom he trails in the polls. During the debate Biden repeatedly lost his train of thought, stared blankly and spoke at times incoherently and with a raspy voice. Biden has blamed jetlag and a cold. The White House has also felt the pressure, with tense exchanges at a press briefing on Monday. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called for "respect" while journalists challenged her refusal to confirm reports that a Parkinson's specialist visited the White House eight times. The visits by Kevin Cannard, a neurologist from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where Biden receives his medicals, were recorded in publicly available visitor logs. "Has the President been treated for Parkinson's? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson's? No, he's not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson's? No," Jean-Pierre said. The White House also denied reports that NATO allies attending this week's 75th anniversary summit in Washington had shown concerns about Biden. "We're not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. But NATO leaders have been seeking reassurance in any case amid polls forecasting a November victory for Trump. The former president has long criticized the defense alliance, voiced admiration for Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, and insisted he could bring about a quick end to the war in Ukraine. The NATO summit begins on Tuesday, the same day that Democrats, returning to Capitol Hill from a brief recess, hold a caucus meeting where Biden's fate will be discussed. In recent days, five Democratic lawmakers have publicly called for him to drop out of the race -- with Smith becoming the sixth. On Sunday US media said four senior congressmen -- including Smith -- said on a call with party lawmakers that it was time for Biden to bow out. The Democrat lags behind Trump in most polls even though his rival was recently convicted of a felony in a porn star hush money case. But efforts to force out Biden will not be easy. First Lady Jill Biden has fiercely defended her husband and did so again on Monday at the start of a trip to Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. "For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he's all in," she at a veterans' event in Wilmington, North Carolina. Numerous allies have also weighed in. The head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Steven Horsford, said on Monday that Biden had been "selected by millions of voters across this country." Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Biden's home state Delaware told reporters it would be a "huge mistake" to ditch the president. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jul, 2024) Ukraine is desperate for more air defenses, and this week's NATO summit in Washington offers President Volodymyr Zelensky an opportunity to push Kyiv's supporters for additional batteries to protect against Russian strikes. Zelensky will attend the summit, which marks the 75th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic alliance and which will bring together leaders of countries that have provided Kyiv with tens of billions of Dollars in military aid to help it counter Russia's invasion. With Ukraine unlikely to receive the invitation to join NATO that it is seeking, new air defenses are the most concrete assistance it is likely to get at the summit. Below, AFP examines key questions about Ukraine's air defense needs and how they could be addressed. Zelensky has for months said his country does not have enough air defense systems and has requested at least seven more Patriot batteries in addition to those already donated by the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. Over the weekend, the Ukrainian leader praised air defense donations but said "more concrete decisions" are needed "to protect all our cities and villages, and to truly overcome Russian terror." "Next week, we will work with our partners for such decisions -- preparations are already underway," he said. Russia has exploited gaps in Ukraine's air defenses to carry out devastating strikes on civilians and infrastructure, as well as to pummel Kyiv's troops on the front lines. Highlighting the threat, Ukrainian officials said more than 30 people were killed on Monday by a wave of dozens of missiles that hit cities across the country and ripped through a children's hospital in Kyiv. Russia has meanwhile claimed recent attacks on three Ukrainian air bases, raising questions over how Kyiv will protect a fleet of F-16 fighters due to arrive in the country later this year. And Ukraine pointed to its lack of air superiority as a major factor limiting its army's ability to advance on the battlefield following Kyiv's lackluster 2023 counter-offensive. Ukraine's international supporters have sought to cobble together multi-layer air defenses for the country consisting of low-, medium- and high-altitude systems that can protect against a variety of threats. But doing so from a mix of different new and older Western and Soviet-era systems in the midst of an active conflict has proven to be a significant challenge, and shortfalls remain. The United States is reportedly considering donating another Patriot battery to Kyiv, which sees them as particularly valuable because it is one of the only systems capable of downing Russia's most advanced missiles. US President Joe Biden on Monday promised action to boost Ukraine's defenses in a statement that described Moscow's missile strikes that day as a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." "Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes," Biden said in a statement, without providing specifics. Washington is also in talks about potentially transferring up to eight Patriot batteries from Israel to Ukraine, US media has reported. And the Netherlands is spearheading an effort to construct a Patriot missile system out of different components from the stockpiles of various countries. Germany and Romania have already responded to Zelensky's pleas for Patriots by pledging one additional system each, while Italy has said it will donate an advanced SAMP/T air defense system. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jul, 2024) US aviation regulators said Monday that thousands of Boeing 737 airplanes would need to be inspected, amid concerns that passenger oxygen masks could fail in emergencies. The airworthiness directive by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes into effect immediately and affects more than 2,600 US-registered airplanes. The aim is to ensure that passenger service unit oxygen generators are in the right position on certain Boeing airplanes. Operators are to check the oxygen generators and "perform corrective actions, if necessary, within 120 to 150 days," the FAA said in a statement. The announcement is the latest in a series of challenges Boeing faces. Earlier on Monday, Boeing said it reached a deal with the US Department of Justice over two fatal 737 MAX crashes -- with court documents indicating that the aviation giant would plead guilty to fraud. Prosecutors had concluded that Boeing flouted an earlier settlement addressing the disasters, in which 346 people were killed in Ethiopia and Indonesia more than five years ago. The manufacturer has been facing intense scrutiny since a near-catastrophic event in January, when a fuselage panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines-operated 737 MAX. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 9. Creating a single financial institution within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is undeniable, Kyrgyzstan's Economy Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev said, Trend reports. The issue of conducting mutual settlements and a unified budget policy is on the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he said, as he addressed the Innoprom-2024 exhibition in Ekaterinburg, Russia. "On the SCO agenda today is the issue regarding financial settlements, the creation of a unified system of budget policy, tax policy, customs, and tariff policy," the minister added. In his opinion, the implementation of the tasks set in this direction will become one of the highest peaks of integration processes. "Undoubtedly, the SCO today has grown from the scale of regional cooperation into an international organization that will have to generate its own ideas and innovations," Daniyar Amangeldiev stressed. Meanwhile, the annual INNOPROM-2024 International Exhibition is being held in Russia's Ekaterinburg on July 8-11. 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. Most medical students at Johns Hopkins University will no longer pay tuition thanks to a $1 billion gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Monday. Starting in the fall, the donation will cover full tuition for medical students from families earning less than $300,000. Living expenses and fees will be covered for students from families who earn up to $175,000. Bloomberg Philanthropies said that currently almost two-thirds of all students seeking a doctor of medicine degree from Johns Hopkins qualify for financial aid, and 45% of the current class will also receive living expenses. The school estimates that graduates' average total loans will decrease from $104,000 currently to $60,279 by 2029. The gift will also increase financial aid for students at the university's schools of nursing, public health, and other graduate schools. "By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers they're passionate about and enable them to serve more of the families and communities who need them the most," Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP, said in a statement on Monday. Bloomberg received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1964. The gift will go to John Hopkins' endowment and every penny will go directly to students, said Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University. "Mike has really been moved by the challenges that the professions confronted during the course of the pandemic and the heroic efforts they've made to protecting and providing care to American citizens during the pandemic," Daniels said in an interview. "I think he simply wanted to recognize the importance of these fields and provide this support to ensure that the best and brightest could attend medical school and the school of nursing and public health." Bloomberg Philanthropies previously gifted $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins in 2018 to ensure that undergraduate students are accepted regardless of their family's income. Johns Hopkins will be the latest medical school to offer free tuition to most or all of their medical students. In February Ruth Gottesman, a former professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the widow of a Wall Street investor, announced that she was donating $1 billion to the school. The gift meant that four-year students immediately received free tuition and all other students will be offered free tuition in the fall. In 2018, Kenneth and Elaine Langone gave $100 million to the NYU Grossman School of Medicine to make tuition free for all current and future medical students through an endowment fund. The couple gave a second gift of $200 million in 2023 to the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine to guarantee free tuition for all medical students. Kenneth Langone is a co-founder of Home Depot. Other medical schools, like UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, offer merit-based scholarships thanks to some $146 million in donations from the recording industry mogul, David Geffen. The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine has also offered tuition-free education for medical students since 2008. Candice Chen, associate professor, Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University, has researched the social missions of medical schools and had a strong reaction to the recent major gifts to John Hopkins, NYU and Albert Einstein. "Collectively the medical schools right now, I hate to say this, but they're failing in terms of producing primary care, mental health specialists as well as the doctors who will work in and serve in rural and underserved communities," Chen said. She would have loved to see this gift go to Meharry Medical College in Tennessee, for example, which is a historically Black school that has produced many primary care doctors who work in communities that have shortages. Bloomberg granted Meharry Medical College $34 million in 2020 as part of a $100 million gift he made to four Black medical schools to help reduce the debt of their medical students for four years. There have been only a handful of previous $1 billion donations to universities in the U.S., most coming in the past several years. In 2022, the venture capitalist John Doerr and his wife, Ann, gave $1.1 billion to Stanford University for a new school focusing on climate change. The small liberal arts school McPherson College has received two matching pledges since 2022 from an anonymous donor totaling $1 billion. The school, which has around 800 enrolled students, has a program for automotive restoration and is located 57 miles north of Wichita, Kansas. Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, gave $3 billion to charities in 2023, making him one of the largest donors, according to research by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. While the 2024 NATO summit in Washington this week is expected to largely focus on Russias war in Ukraine, the alliance is also set to discuss threats posed by China and the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region. These matters are likely to include China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, sovereignty disputes in the sea between China and its neighbors, Taiwan's security, and the North Korean nuclear issue. Here are three key points you need to know about the summit as it relates to China. Why is NATO's strategic focus encompassing China? U.S. and NATO officials have repeatedly pointed to the deepening relationship between Russia and China, particularly Beijing's exports to Moscow of goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes and that enable Russia's war in Ukraine to continue. Outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in Washington last month that "Beijing is sharing high-end technologies like semiconductors and other dual-use items. Last year, Russia imported 90% of its microelectronics from China, used to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft. China is also working to provide Russia with improved satellite capability and imagery. All of this enables Moscow to inflict more deaths and destruction on Ukraine, bolster Russia's defense industrial base, and evade the impact of sanctions and export controls." China has repeatedly denied exporting dual-use items to Russia. When asked about Stoltenbergs criticism of Beijings support for Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said last week that NATO has been challenging China, interfering in Chinas domestic affairs, misrepresenting and vilifying our domestic and foreign policies, and seriously challenging Chinas interests and security. China's militarization in the South China Sea and its recent aggressive confrontation with the Philippines in disputed waters have also aroused NATO's concern. "Their main concerns are China's intimidation towards other nations in its region and NATO allies, its rapid and opaque conventional and nuclear military buildup, and its coercion through economic pressure, cyberattacks and disinformation," Sean Monaghan, a visiting scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA in an email. Monaghan said NATO allies are highly dependent on trade through the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region, so they have a clear interest in seeing that the area is stable and secure. "NATO allies do not feel they are going to the Indo-Pacific, but rather that China is coming to them, so they must adapt," he said. The NATO military alliance, formed by countries from Europe and North America, was created in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. Member states have long failed to agree on whether to include China in its strategic concerns. In a joint statement at the London summit in 2019 after years of adjustment, NATO's strategic goals mentioned for the first time the security challenges posed by China. Monaghan also said that China's "intimidation" against NATO ally Lithuania in recent years has "sounded the alarm" for the alliance. Lithuania has supported the promotion of Taiwan's international status and deepened political and economic ties with Taipei, resulting in diplomatic and economic retaliation from Beijing. NATO allies issued a declaration at last years summit in Lithuanias capital, Vilnius, that "the People's Republic of China's stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values." The wording continues the consensus among NATO member states on security threats related to China since the 2021 summit in Brussels. What signal will NATO send to China? The summit is expected to send a tougher signal than ever on China issues. Stoltenberg previously said that China could not support Russia in the war in Ukraine while expecting to maintain good relations with the West. "Beijing cannot have it both ways. At some point, and unless China changes its course, allies need to impose a cost," Stoltenberg said. David Sacks, a researcher on Asia issues at the Council on Foreign Relations, told VOA, "I think this has deterrent power, because it's showing China that if it tries to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through aggression, that it's not just the United States that will respond, but it potentially has to factor in as well NATO's economic response, which raises the costs to the Chinese leadership." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during Mondays regular press briefing, "As a Cold War legacy and the worlds biggest military alliance, NATO claims itself to be a regional defensive alliance on the one hand, but on the other hand keeps breaching its boundary ... and stoking confrontation. NATO should stay within its role as a regional defensive alliance, stop creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, stop peddling Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation. NATO should not try to destabilize the Asia-Pacific after it has done so to Europe," he said. Will NATO confront China head-on? Experts stressed that NATO's China program still has limitations, and that the allies' positions on China-related issues are inconsistent. NATO had planned to set up a liaison office in Tokyo, making it a useful platform for NATO to cooperate with Indo-Pacific partners. But because of opposition from some member states, no progress has been made. A U.S. administration official said last Friday that NATO's deterrence strategy will still focus on continental Europe and the Atlantic region. "The effort last year to try to create a liaison office in Tokyo, which was frankly fairly benign it wasn't going to cause a big deal but that probably isn't the right course of action. It was blocked by France and other European members and is unlikely to get off the ground," Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said at a background briefing on the NATO summit. U.S. State Department officials said NATO currently has no plans to set up a liaison office in Tokyo. Douglas Jones, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European affairs, said there is no active discussion on the subject within NATO now. Alicja Bachulska, a policy researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told VOA via email, "The potential for NATO to become a platform for allies and partners to discuss China-related issues has been so far explored only to a limited extent." Sacks said not all NATO countries have the strength to confront China. "I don't think that most NATO allies necessarily have the capacity to really project power in a significant way into the Indo-Pacific," he said. "You'll see some freedom-of-navigation operations from some NATO members, which shows their interest or their stake in preserving freedom of navigation in the Pacific. But I don't think that really adds to the military deterrence in a meaningful way." He said the summit needs to avoid angering China in its wording and make it clear that NATO's expansion of membership will not include countries in the Indo-Pacific region. "That's how you preempt the Chinese narrative that the United States is trying to create a NATO for Asia or expand NATO into Asia," Sacks said. Adrianna Zhang, Nike Ching and Paris Huang contributed to this report. Alec Baldwin's trial in the shooting of a cinematographer is set to begin Tuesday with the selection of jurors who will be tasked with deciding whether the actor is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Getting chosen to serve in a trial of such a major star accused of such a major crime would be unusual even in Los Angeles or Baldwin's hometown of New York. But it will be essentially an unheard-of experience for those who are picked as jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico, though the state has increasingly become a hub of Hollywood production in recent years. Baldwin and his wife Hilaria arrived at the courthouse Tuesday with at least one of their youngest children. The couple have several children, with the youngest set to turn 2 in September. Baldwin, 66, could get up to 18 months in prison if jurors unanimously decide he committed the felony when a revolver he was pointing at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza during a rehearsal for the Western film "Rust" in October 2021 at Bonanza Creek Ranch, some 18 miles (29 kilometers) from where the trial is being held. Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Unaware the gun contained a live round, Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer not the trigger and it fired. The star of "30 Rock" and "The Hunt for Red October" made his first appearance in the courtroom on Monday, when Judge Mary Marlowe Summer, in a significant victory for the defense, ruled at a pretrial hearing that Baldwin's role as a co-producer on "Rust" isn't relevant to the trial. The judge has said that the special circumstances of a celebrity trial shouldn't keep jury selection from moving quickly, and that opening statements should begin Wednesday. "I'm not worried about being able to pick a jury in one day," Marlowe Summer said. "I think we're going to pick a jury by the afternoon." Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, however, was dubious that Baldwin's lawyers, with whom she has clashed in the run-up to the trial, would make that possible. "It is my guess that with this group of defense attorneys, that's not gonna happen," Morrissey said at the hearing. Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro replied, "I've never not picked a jury in one day. I can't imagine that this would be the first time." Dozens of prospective jurors will be brought into the courtroom for questioning Tuesday morning. Cameras that will carry the rest of the proceedings will be turned off to protect their privacy. Jurors are expected to get the case after a nine-day trial. Attorneys will be able to request they be dismissed for conflicts or other causes. The defense under state law can dismiss up to five jurors without giving a reason, the prosecution three. More challenges will be allowed when four expected alternates are chosen. Before Marlowe Sommer's ruling Monday, prosecutors had hoped to highlight Baldwin's safety obligations on the set as co-producer to bolster an alternative theory of guilt beyond his alleged negligent use of a firearm. They aimed to link Baldwin's behavior to "total disregard or indifference for the safety of others" under the involuntary manslaughter law. But the prosecution managed other wins Monday. They successfully argued for the exclusion of summary findings from a state workplace safety investigation that placed much of the blame on the film's assistant director, shifting fault away from Baldwin. And the judge ruled that they could show graphic images from Hutchins' autopsy, and from police lapel cameras during the treatment of her injuries. Another Democratic U.S. senator is questioning President Joe Bidens ability to mount an energetic re-election campaign in the aftermath of his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month. Senator Patty Murray of the northwestern state of Washington issued a statement Monday through her re-election campaign saying President Biden must do more to convince voters of the serious threat Trump poses to the country if the Republican ex-president wins the November elections. Murray expressed her deep appreciation and strong respect for Biden and his historic presidency. But she said we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job. At this critical time for our country, Murray said, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Murrays statement echoes that of fellow Senator Mark Warner of the southern state of Virginia, who issued a statement earlier Monday saying it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House. A small but growing number of Democratic Party lawmakers in the House of Representatives have publicly called for the 81-year-old Biden to end his reelection campaign. Numerous others have privately voiced the same opinion since Biden, both looking and sounding exhausted, repeatedly lost his train of thought at the June 27 face-to-face confrontation with Trump. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said in a statement Monday afternoon that another Trump term would be perilous for the rule of law and democracy. But he went on to say that it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House. Both chambers of Congress have been out of session and are returning to town Monday for the first time since Bidens poor debate performance. Representative Adam Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Monday, The presidents poor performance in the debate was alarming to watch and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as president. Biden, however, has resisted calls to drop out of the race, saying that only the Lord Almighty could force him out. He told Democratic lawmakers, as they returned to Washington from the July 4 Independence Day holiday, that "the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it's time for it to end." He said the partys one job was to defeat Trump, who served as president from 2017 to early 2021 and lost the last national election to Biden four years ago. "We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election" on November 5, Biden said in the letter. "Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It's time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump." Bidens letter to congressional Democrats kicked off a crucial week for him as he tries to salvage his five-decade political career and his 2024 campaign. Trump, set to be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate at his partys national convention in the Midwestern city of Milwaukee next week, has pulled ahead of Biden in numerous national polls and surveys in crucial political battleground states. The contest, however, remains close and volatile, seemingly subject to the good moments and bad for both candidates. Speculation about Bidens cognitive health intensified after news outlets Monday said that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a doctor based at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center who specializes in treating Parkinsons disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, has visited the White House at least eight times since 2022, according to White House visitor logs. The revelation of Dr. Cannards visits to the White House sparked an intense and often angry exchange between reporters and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over whether the president was being treated for Parkinsons disease. Late Monday night, Dr. Kevin OConnor, Bidens personal physician, released a statement night through Jean-Pierre confirming that Cannard had given Biden a neurological examination in each of his last three annual physicals, the last back in February, and found no evidence of Parkinsons disease or any other neurological problems. OConner explained that Cannard has held regular neurology clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations. Biden is set to host a meeting of NATO, the Wests main military alliance, in Washington starting Tuesday and hold a rare solo news conference on Thursday. VOA's Katherine Gypson contributed to this report. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 9. Turkmenistan is negotiating the opening of trading houses in Tajikistan, Japan, and other countries, Trend reports. According to the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, these negotiations are being conducted in order to successfully implement the tasks set out in the 'Program for the Development of Foreign Economic Business of Turkmenistan for 2020-2025' and the 'Foreign Trade Strategy of Turkmenistan for 2021-2030'. The Turkmen Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs notes that trade and economic relations between Turkmenistan and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America are actively developing on a bilateral and multilateral basis. Joint projects are being successfully implemented in such important areas as the digitalization of the economy and its development through diversification, support for the private sector, and transit corridors. At the same time, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan is actively implementing the best practices of the trading system of foreign countries, within which the trading houses of Turkmenistan abroad are of great importance, the number of which is increasing. Meanwhile, at the end of February this year, Turkmenistan also discussed with Tajikistan the opening of a trading house in the city of Dushanbe to expand economic ties. This issue was discussed during a working visit to Dushanbe by the Turkmen delegation, where she met with the Head of the International Economic Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, Dilshod Sharifi. Australia has Tuesday appointed its first antisemitism envoy in response to an increase in attacks against its Jewish community. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the envoy would promote social cohesion and help to curb a rise in violence and abuse against Australias Jewish community since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict last October. The Prime Minister said that overwhelmingly Australians did not want the conflict in the Middle East to bring violence here. Jillian Segal, a lawyer and business executive who has been a senior member of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, will serve as antisemitism envoy for three years. Albanese told reporters in Sydney Tuesday that the countrys successful multiculturalism must be protected. What is clear is that we cannot take that for granted. What is clear is we continue to reinforce the need for social harmony and that is what todays announcement of Jillian (Segal) is all about. Segal will advise the government and also promote education and awareness of antisemitism. She told a media conference in Sydney on Tuesday that intolerance must not be allowed to take root. It triggers the very worst instincts in an individual," she said. "To blame others for lifes misfortunes and to hate, and it is often based on misinformation and inaccurate rumor and it can spread from individual to individual to contaminate the collective, damaging life for the entire community and leading to violence as we have seen. But the Jewish Council of Australia, which has been critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, told local media in a statement that Segal was an Israel lobbyist and her appointment would worsen social division. Community groups have reported an increase in Islamophobic and antisemitic abuse in Australia since Israels war in Gaza began more than nine months ago. Australian police are continuing to investigate an attack by a masked gang on the Melbourne office of a Jewish-Australian lawmaker last month. Windows were smashed, and fires were lit. The slogan "Zionism is fascism" was graffitied in red paint over an image of Josh Burns, a federal government parliamentarian. Albanese also reconfirmed the government would also appoint a special envoy on Islamophobia. Popular Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez has successfully transitioned to Hollywood. His bilingual comedy "Acapulco" on Apple TV is critically acclaimed and has put his work in front of new audiences. The show's star and producer spoke with Veronica Villafane about his mission to create an authentic, family-friendly series that positively represents his home country. Ukraine declared a day of mourning on July 9, calling for a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting after Russian missiles killed at least 37 civilians and injured more than 170 across Ukraine on July 8. In Kyiv, a Russian missile hit and heavily damaged Ukraine's largest pediatric center the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital. Russia's massive attack coincided with the peace negotiations in Moscow, where visiting leaders of India and Hungary tried to reach a deal with President Vladimir Putin, and occurred just a day before Ukraine's allies gathered in Washington for a NATO summit. In Russia, both the Kremlin and the Defense Ministry denied attacking the children's hospital or any other civilian targets in Ukraine. Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 9 that Russia does not attack civilian targets in Ukraine. Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed in a July 8 statement that the Ukrainian air defense destroyed Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital with a stray missile. "Numerous photos and video footage published from Kyiv confirm beyond doubt the fact of destruction due to the fall of a Ukrainian air defense missile launched from an anti-aircraft missile system within the city." That is false. Russian military launched the long-range Kh-101 cruise missile that destroyed Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Ukraine's capital Kyiv. Based on evidence found at the scene, including the missile fragments with a serial number and part of the rudder, Ukraine's Security Service identified the rocket that hit the children's hospital in Kyiv as a Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. Dozens of witnesses captured on video and photos the moment the Russian Kh-101 missile struck the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital. Forensic experts from Ukraine's Justice Ministry analyzed and verified the digital materials and concluded that it was indeed a Russian rocket captured on footage seconds before hitting Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital. Independent military experts and investigative journalists, including Julian Roepcke from the German newspaper Bild have also concluded that the Russian military hit the children's hospital with a Kh-101 cruise missile. Roepcke suggested the Russian Tu-95 bomber launched the missile while flying over the Caspian Sea. Several experts debunked the Russian Defense Ministry's claim that Ukraine launched the rocket from the land system within Ukraine. Military experts explained the Russian independent media outlet Agentstvo that the missile's trajectory shows it could not have been launched from a land-based anti-aircraft system but was indeed launched from an aircraft. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, also rejected the claim that Okhmatdyt was destroyed by a Ukrainian air defense missile: "The trajectory of the missile in the video and the visible turbojet engine under its hull match the frame of a Russian Kh-101 and do not support claims that it was an air defense interceptor, nor does the missile appear damaged by air defense interceptors," ISW assessed. Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, but the United Nations and other international bodies verified that Russian attacks have killed thousands of Ukrainian civilians since Russia's full-fledged military invasion in February 2022. Haitis interim prime minister, Garry Conille, visited Washington, D.C., last week to meet with U.S. officials amid international efforts to restore order to the violence-wracked country. Warring criminal gangs have destabilized Haiti, displacing 580,000 people 300,000 of them children since March and killing an estimated 5,000 people each year, according to United Nations estimates. Russias Permanent Representative to the U.N., Vasily Nebenzya claimed the U.S. is using the illicit flow of arms to Haiti to exert control over the country. "Washington could have tackled the problem long ago, if it really wanted to. Instead, it seem that our United States colleagues prefer to use illegal arms shipments, on which US arms dealers make money, as leverage to influence the situation. That is unsubstantiated. U.S. lawmakers recognize the role illicit arms play in destabilizing Haiti, and the national security threat that poses to the U.S., spurring wide-ranging efforts to address the issue. The Congressional Research Service said Haitian authorities lack control over its ports and borders, making the country a hub for drugs and arms trafficking. Still, U.N. experts said arms smugglers in the U.S. are the predominant suppliers of the deadly arsenals in Haiti. Smugglers buy guns in states with less restrictive gun laws, like Florida, and then traffic them to Haiti. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime identified four trafficking routes to Haiti, including two via cargo ship from Florida. The U.N. said that control agencies had doubled the number of searches in 2023, noting U.S. authorities made most of their illicit arms seizures in Miami. We continue to work to limit outflow of smuggled firearms and ammunition to Haiti, identify and prosecute firearms traffickers, and support the Haitian National Police in countering the recipients of the majority of illicit firearms: the gangs, a State Department Spokesperson told Polygraph.info. In June 2023, the U.S. announced it had created the position of Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking, and to implement provisions of the U.S. Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). BSCA dramatically increased criminal penalties for individuals involved in U.S.-sourced firearms trafficking. In March, U.S. lawmakers introduced the Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act, which require the Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions to report on the implementation of anti-firearm-trafficking provisions in the BSCA. In November 2023, the U.S. announced it would help Haitian authorities track arms used in crimes, and identify traffickers. In February, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Haitian officials established the Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU). This unit will facilitate the exchange of information between law enforcement in each country and enhance cross-border investigative capabilities to prosecute transnational criminals, the State Department spokesperson said. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that from July 2021, the U.S. had allocated $189 million to help vet, train, professionalize and equip Haitian National Police. In June, the White House said it would provide Haiti another $95 million for security mission support and $15 million to assist Haitian National Police. The U.S. has imposed sanctioned and introduced visa restrictions on over 50 Haitian individuals for supporting criminal gangs, undermining Haitis democratic processes, and other offenses. The U.S. also supported the renewal of an arms embargo on Haiti, and seeks to impose international sanctions on individuals undermining Haitis security. The U.S. and Ecuador co-wrote a resolution to establish the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti. In October 2023, The U.N. Security Council approved the MSS, which entails a deployment of a multinational force to Haiti to help authorities restore law and order. By June, the U.S. had pledged $380 million to support the MSS. French parties sought to project strength and gather allies on Tuesday, with the government adrift following an election in which no one political force claimed a clear majority. Having defied expectations to top the polls, new MPs from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance began showing up to visit their new workplaces in parliament ahead of a first session on July 18. But the coalition of Greens, Socialists, Communists and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) is still debating over who to put forward as a potential prime minister and whether it could be open to working in a broader coalition. Combined, the left-leaning parties' hold 193 of 577 seats in the National Assembly and are well short of the 289-seat threshold for a majority. Nevertheless, members plan to name a potential prime minister "by the end of the week," leading LFI figure Mathilde Panot said. In the French system, the president nominates the prime minister, who must be able to survive a confidence vote in parliament a tricky proposition with three closely-balanced political forces in play. Any left-leaning government would need "broader support in the National Assembly," influential Socialist MP Boris Vallaud acknowledged in an interview with broadcaster France Inter. Macron's camp came second in Sunday's vote, taking 164 seats after voters came together to block the far-right National Rally (RN) from power. This left the anti-immigration, anti-Brussels outfit in third place with 143 MPs. The president has kept Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's government in place for now, hoping horse-trading in the coming days and weeks could leave an opening for him to reclaim the initiative. However, "there has been an institutional shift. Everyone thinks it's up to the newly-elected National Assembly to bring forth a solution, which (Macron) would simply have to accept," wrote commentator Guillaume Tabard in conservative daily Le Figaro. 'None can govern alone' In a sign that some divisions remain, the left parties' MPs planned to enter the parliament at different times throughout the day. The Socialists are still hoping to glean a few more members for their group to outweigh LFI and have a greater say over the alliance's direction. Meanwhile, members of Macron's camp were eyeing both the centre-left Socialists and conservative Republicans as possible allies of convenience for a new centrist-dominated coalition. "None of the three leading blocs can govern alone," Stephane Sejourne, head of Macron's Renaissance party, wrote in daily Le Monde. "The centrist bloc is ready to talk to all the members of the republican spectrum," he added while naming red lines including that coalition members must support the EU and Ukraine and maintain business-friendly policies. These requirements, he warned, "necessarily exclude LFI" and its caustic founder Jean-Luc Melenchon. Markets are paying close attention to the EU's second-largest economy. Ratings agency Moody's warned it could downgrade its credit score for France's more than three-trillion-euro debt pile if a future government reverses Macron's widely-loathed 2023 pension reform, echoing a Monday warning from S&P on the deficit. What next? Even as politicians struggle to define the immediate path ahead, eyes are also already turning to the next time French voters will be called to the polls. Macron's term expires in 2027 and he cannot run a third time potentially leaving the way open for his twice-defeated opponent, RN figurehead Marine Le Pen, to finally capture the presidency. The far-right outfit has been digesting a disappointing result after polls suggested it could take an absolute majority in parliament. On Tuesday, party sources told AFP its director-general Gilles Penelle had resigned. Penelle, elected last month to the European Parliament, was the architect of a "push-button" plan supposed to prepare the RN for snap elections, which ultimately failed to produce a full roster of credible candidates. The far right outfit's progress is undeniable, having advanced from just eight MPs soon after Macron's first presidential win in 2017 to 143 today. Greens and LFI leaders nevertheless called Tuesday for the RN to be shut out of key parliamentary posts. "Every time we give them jobs, we increase their competence. It's important not to give them jobs with responsibilities," leading LFI lawmaker Mathilde Panot said. "Today we represent 10 million French people with 143 MPs," retorted RN representative Thomas Menage, calling the appeal "anti-democratic". As for Macron, he has sought to stay above the fray, planning for a trip to Washington for a NATO summit starting on Wednesday where allies may be in need of reassurance of France's stability. An Israeli strike in Syria hit a vehicle and killed a former bodyguard of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, according to the militant group. Hezbollah released a statement on the death of Yasser Nimr Qarnabsh. The Lebanese militant group did not explain his role or the circumstances of his death. Supporters mourned the death on social media. The group also announced that it fired tens of Katyusha rockets at an Israeli military base in the Golan Heights in response. Israel police said two people, a man and a woman, were killed when their car took a direct hit. Earlier Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition war monitor based in Britain, reported the Israeli strike on the car on the Damascus-Beirut highway. Security sources said the former bodyguard had recently helped in transportation for the group as a mid-ranking official. The group also said a Syrian driver received critical wounds. We do not comment on reports in the foreign media, said an Israeli military spokesperson after the strike. Hezbollah has been launching attacks against Israel since Hamas attacked Israel last October. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed more than 450 people since then, including over 80 civilians. In Israel, 17 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed. Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border have been displaced. U.N. agencies have condemned a wave of Russian missile attacks Monday on densely populated areas of Ukraine that has killed dozens of people and forced the evacuation of hundreds of children from a hospital in the capital city Kyiv, severely damaged by a probable direct hit by a Russian missile. Yesterdays massive missile attacks across Ukraine, including the horrifying strike on Okhmatdyt, Ukraines largest childrens referral hospital, once again lay bare the disastrous consequences of the war waged against Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Volker Turk, high commissioner for human rights said. Turk who presented his latest report on the situation in Ukraine to the U.N. human rights council Tuesday, said he was outraged by the sight of children, already so vulnerable in war, suffering the terror of attack while receiving medical treatment. He said May saw the highest monthly verified civilian casualty number in nearly a year, with 174 civilians killed and 690 injured because of the Russian ground offensive and aerial strikes. Speaking from Kyiv Tuesday, Danielle Bell, the head of the U.N. human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, called the attack on the hospital one of the most egregious that we have seen since the onset of the full-scale invasion. She told journalists in Geneva, We have assessed the factors and the likelihood that it was a direct hit of a KH101 missile launched by the Russian Federation, which suggests that it was a direct hit. Analysis of the video footage and assessment made at the incident site indicates a high likelihood that the childrens hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damages due to an intercepted weapons system. Bell said, We do not have the competence to make the determination with 100 percent certainty whether it was a direct hit or not, but added that our military experts visited the site yesterday and observed damages at the site that were consistent with a direct hit. Russia has denied targeting the hospital, claiming it was hit by a Ukrainian air defense missile. The Okhmatdyt hospital is one of two hospitals in Kyiv that treat children and women that came under fire Monday. The United Nations reports deadly strikes also hit civilian infrastructure and key energy infrastructure facilities in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Pokrovsk and Dnipro. Ukrainian authorities report Russian airstrikes killed at least 41 people and injured more than 190. At the time of the attack, 670 child patients, mainly inpatients, were at the hospital together with more than 1,000 medical staff. Joyce Msuya, acting undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said 27 civilians, including four children, reportedly were killed and 117 people, including seven children, were injured. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is verifying figures while rescue workers, hospital staff and volunteers continue to clear rubble in search for people trapped under debris, she said. Monitoring Mission head Danielle Belle said the casualty toll would have been much higher had the staff not moved the children to a bunker Monday morning when the air raid sirens went off. The explosion destroyed the toxicology department where children were receiving dialysis only minutes before the missile impacted. The attack also damaged the intensive care, surgical and oncology wards, she said, emphasizing that 600 children, many suffering from cancer and kidney disease, have been transferred to other hospitals in and around Kyiv. This terrible attack shows that nowhere is safe in Ukraine, Bell said. Echoing that sentiment, Catherine Russell in a statement Monday said that Hospitals should be safe havens, and they are afforded a special level of protection under international law. Civilians, including children and the facilities and services they rely on, must always be protected, she said. Unfortunately, data from the World Health Organization show that far from being protected, civilians are being flagrantly attacked and prevented from receiving health care. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, WHO has verified 1,882 attacks on health care facilities, resulting in 150 deaths, 379 injuries and 1,624 impacted health facilities. It says 40% of these attacks affected primary health care, impeding Ukrainians from accessing basic health facilities. Attacks on health care deprive vulnerable populations of urgently needed care, undermine health systems, and jeopardize long-term public health goals, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said. Attacks on civil infrastructure, particularly energy sources and transmission centers, have caused power outages and disruptions in the water supply. This increases the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks and undermines the surveillance systems ability to detect and respond timely to possible cases of waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases, he said. In his intervention at the U.N. human rights council, human right chief Turk called on Russia immediately to cease its use of armed force against Ukraine and to scrupulously respect international humanitarian and human rights law. My office will continue meticulously to monitor, document and report on the ground realities of this awful war, including in occupied territory, he said. Accountability must be served. Israeli forces on Tuesday deepened an operation in Gaza City despite warnings from Hamas leaders that the offensive could harm ongoing cease-fire talks. The Israeli military said its forces were fighting in the Shejaiya area and had killed dozens of militants. The U.N. Human Rights Office expressed concern Tuesday about the operation and Israels latest civilian evacuation orders. The U.N. agency said the orders issued Sunday called for civilians to move to the west of Gaza City in order to be safe, only to then have the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intensify their strikes on those corridors. The U.N. Human Rights Office has repeatedly raised concerns that IDFs evacuation orders are confusing, often instructing people to relocate to areas where IDF military operations are ongoing. We reiterate our call on Israel to take all efforts to ensure the safety of civilians in Gaza, the agency said in a statement. Mediators in Egypt are working to try to achieve a long-sought halt in the fighting in Gaza. The White House said Monday that U.S. officials are in Egypt for discussions designed to lead to a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday that CIA Director Bill Burns and Brett McGurk, the U.S. Middle East envoy, were in Cairo for talks with their Egyptian, Israeli and Jordanian counterparts. There are still some gaps that remain in the two sides in the positions, but we wouldn't have sent a team over there if we didn't think that we had a shot here," Kirby said. "We're trying to close those gaps as best we can. Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages in their Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war. Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 38,100 Palestinians according to the health ministry in Gaza. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 116 hostages, including 42 the military says are dead. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Italy is trying a new development-focused approach to preventing migrants from trying to cross the Mediterranean from Africa. For VOA, Henry Wilkins reports from the Italian island of Lampedusa, where residents are welcoming the measure after thousands arrived there in a single week last year. Russia's deepening military cooperation with North Korea has underlined the need for Japan to forge closer ties with NATO as regional security threats become increasingly intertwined, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told Reuters. In written remarks ahead of his attendance at a NATO summit in Washington this week, Kishida also signaled concern over Beijing's alleged role in aiding Moscow's 2-year-old war in Ukraine, although he did not name China. "The securities of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable, and Russias aggression against Ukraine and its deepened military cooperation with North Korea are strong reminders of that," Kishida said. "Japan is determined to strengthen its cooperation with NATO and its partners," he added. The world, the Japanese leader said, should not tolerate attempts by some countries to disrupt the established international order and reiterated a warning that Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow. He also urged cooperation to confront new security threats that transcend geographical boundaries, such as cyber-attacks and conflicts in space. South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, which along with Japan are known as the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4), are also attending the meeting with NATO leaders. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told Reuters this week that he planned to discuss the threat Pyongyang poses to Europe by deepening its Russia ties. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense pledge with Russia last month during President Vladimir Putin's first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years, and expressed his "full support" for Russia's war in Ukraine. The U.S. and its allies have accused Pyongyang of providing ballistic missiles and artillery shells that Russia has used in its war in Ukraine and say they fear Moscow in return could provide support for North Korea's nuclear missile development. Washington has also said China is supplying drone and missile technology, satellite imagery and machine tools to Russia, items which fall short of lethal assistance but are helping Moscow build its military to sustain the Ukraine war. Beijing has said it has not provided any weaponry to any party. Without naming China, Kishida told Reuters "some countries" have allegedly transferred dual-use civilian-military goods to Russia, which has served "as a lifeline" for its Ukraine war. "The geographical boundary of 'Euro-Atlantic' or 'Indo-Pacific' is no longer relevant in safeguarding global peace and security. Japan and Indo-Pacific partners can play a great role for NATO allies from this perspective." Constrained by decades of pacifism, Tokyo has been reluctant to supply lethal aid to Ukraine. It has, however, provided financial aid to Kyiv, spearheaded efforts to prepare for its post-war reconstruction, and contributed to NATOs fund to provide Ukraine with non-lethal equipment such as anti-drone detection systems. Tokyo has also repeatedly warned about the risks of a similar conflict emerging in East Asia, where China has been taking an increasingly muscular stance towards its territorial claims including the democratic island of Taiwan. "This summit is a critical opportunity for Japan, the U.S., and the other NATO allies to confront the ongoing challenges against the international order and to reaffirm values and principles that have shaped global peace and prosperity," he said. There may be limits, however, over how far NATO members are prepared to go in forging closer ties in Asia. A plan that surfaced last year for NATO to open a liaison office in Japan, its first in Asia, was blocked by France and criticized by China. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 9. Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov will pay a working visit to Malaysia, Trend reports. A delegation headed by Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov will visit Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur, on July 9, Akhror Burkhanov, a spokesman for Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs, wrote in his Telegram channel. During the visit, the minister plans to hold a number of bilateral negotiations and participate in a series of high-level meetings. Earlier, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim. During the meeting, the sides reviewed issues of further expansion of Uzbek-Malaysian relations. The parties noted the importance of further strengthening political dialogue and inter-parliamentary ties, continuing mutual support within the framework of international organizations, implementing humanitarian and educational programs, and boosting tourism and cultural exchange. Some Kenyan church leaders are calling on President William Ruto to dissolve his Cabinet as protests of his administration continue. Ruto withdrew proposed tax increases that set off the protests, but many Kenyans blame Ruto's Cabinet for the country's debt and economic problems. The National Council of Churches of Kenya, which represents some of the countrys biggest churches and religious organizations, has added its voice to protests, saying Rutos administration is marred by bad governance and allegations of corruption. Council of Churches general secretary, Reverend Chris Kinyanjui called for Ruto to fire his ministers. "The president has himself said that his Cabinet is incompetent," Kinyanjui said. "Kenyans are saying he has an incompetent Cabinet, and in addition, many members of his Cabinet are also corrupt. Rutos government recently proposed tax increases to offset the countrys debt. The proposals sparked protests which killed at least 40 people and injured more than 380. Ruto withdrew the tax hikes after protesters stormed the parliament buildings, forcing legislators to flee. On Friday, Ruto announced new measures to reduce government expenditures, including merging key ministries and state corporations, banning the purchase of government vehicles for 12 months, and suspending nonessential travel by state and public officers. Kenyan political commentator Dismas Mokua noted that none of Rutos Cabinet members have been convicted on corruption charges and told VOA that Ruto will be reluctant to dismiss them. "If the courts have not pronounced one guilty of anything, the probability of President Ruto firing somebody from the Cabinet merely on the account of people demanding he should be fired is almost zero," Mokua said. "But the key consideration here is really the cost of living. If he is able to turn around the economy and ensure the public debt is not a burden on the majority of Kenyans ... then people will settle down and they will wait for 2027." Some protesters are also demanding the formation of a new, independent electoral commission. Mokua said the demands of the Kenyan protests which have been dubbed Generation Z protests for the age of their organizers are far reaching. "The pressure which is going to be applied by Gen Z is not going to be limited to the national government. It will go down to county governments, it will go down to the members of the national assembly and it will go down to churches," Mokua said. The secretary-general of Kenya's ruling United Democratic Alliance, Cleophas Malala, said the party will start a program of government outreach and engagement. He said political leaders must not come to the people only when they want their votes. Some experts blame the recent protests on a lack of space for Kenyans to air their grievances, and the government's failure to engage with the public on laws being considered. The constitution requires citizens' input before a law is passed, something that successive Kenyan administrations have made little effort to obtain. Malaysian authorities have arrested six members of an international crime ring known as the "Ninja Turtle Gang" and seized about 200 smuggled tortoises and turtles, a wildlife official said Tuesday. Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, director-general of Malaysia's wildlife and national parks department, said four Cambodians and two Malaysians were arrested during a July 2 raid on a house in Kuala Lumpur by police and wildlife officials. He told AFP some 200 turtles and tortoises worth an estimated $52,300 were rescued during the raid, the second seizure in Malaysia in less than a week. Many people across Asia believe turtles and tortoises bring good luck and prosperity. Abdul Kadir said the six arrested belong to the Ninja Turtle Gang, an international crime ring involved in smuggling the reptiles. Police and wildlife officials rescued 400 tortoises during an initial raid on June 29 that were meant for sale in Southeast Asia and were worth $805,084 on the black market. Animals rescued in the latest raid included the critically endangered Chinese striped-necked turtle, which is also known as the golden thread turtle, Abdul Kadir said. Other species included the endangered black pond turtle, snapping turtle, sulcata tortoise, leopard tortoise and the red-footed tortoise found throughout South America and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Barbados. "Initial investigations revealed that the reptiles were smuggled from abroad to meet the lucrative pet market," Abdul Kadir said. Also discovered were three snakes, four softshell turtles, a skink and five frogs. The rescued animals were being kept in a Malaysian wildlife department quarantine center. The reptiles are illegally brought into Malaysia by road or in suitcases by smugglers aboard commercial flights, Abdul Kadir said last week. Traffic, a wildlife NGO, has said that Southeast Asian countries "function as source, consumer and as entrepots for wildlife originating from within the region as well as the rest of the world." A life raft carrying migrants collided with rocks off Turkeys Aegean coast near Cesme Tuesday, resulting in the loss of seven lives, Turkish authorities said. According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Turkeys coast guard responded to an urgent distress call from a fishing boat in the area at 10:47 a.m. local time. The rescue operation saved 19 people. One person remains missing. The survivors said Greek authorities left them to drift near Turkish territorial waters before their raft struck the rocks and ultimately sank. This accusation is part of Turkeys ongoing assertion that Greece conducts pushbacks, in which migrants are deported without undergoing asylum procedures as called for by international law. Greece denies returning newly arrived migrants to Turkey. The two countries have accused each other of mistreating migrants. Migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East view Greece as a gateway to Europe and a better life in European Union nations. The incident highlights the risks migrants face in their quest to reach the EU, often resorting to perilous journeys aboard boats supplied by traffickers. These journeys emphasize the humanitarian challenges surrounding migration routes in the Mediterranean. Turkish authorities have deployed one helicopter, four coast guard vessels and a team of divers to search for the missing person. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The leader of the multinational force led by Kenya tasked with curbing gang violence in Haiti expressed determination Monday to ensure democratic elections and prevent further instability in the country. However, he did not take questions during his nationally broadcast briefing. Kenyan forces arrived in Haiti last month after months of violence in which gangs gained control of up to 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, contributing to Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation. We have a job that we are committed to do, Kenyan officer Godfrey Otunge told The Associated Press. We intend to achieve this by working closely with Haitian authorities and local and international partners dedicated to a new Haiti. The United Nations-backed police mission, supported with over $300 million from the United States, has faced scrutiny from the start. "This mission is essential to provide assistance to the Haitian national police, which has been under immense strain over the past few months," Isis Jaraud-Darnault, a political coordinator for France at the United Nations, said in a statement last week. The mission's work "is essential to restore security in Haiti and create the security conditions conducive to the holding of elections." At home, Kenyan police faced allegations of human rights abuses, particularly during recent protests. Haiti's new prime minister, Garry Conille, described foreign intervention as a mixed blessing, highlighting concerns about sovereignty and cultural respect. Despite concerns, some Haitians expressed optimism about the international mission. Kenya committed to contributing 1,000 police officers to the international force, with 200 initially deployed. Conille told the U.N. Security Council that more personnel would arrive soon, with contributions from countries including the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica, totaling 2,500 personnel. Appointed in May by a transitional council, Conille aims to stabilize Haiti before elections scheduled for February 2026. U.S. officials urged him to prioritize establishing an electoral council. Haitian Police Chief Normil Rameau emphasized the need to reclaim gang-controlled areas, restore police presence and aid displaced Haitians. Over half a million people have fled their homes because of gang violence. Rameau and other officials withheld operational details to avoid alerting gangs. In 2022, Haiti sought international assistance to combat gangs, prompting a call from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Kenya responded and volunteered to lead the mission in July 2023. But the deployment faced repeated delays because of litigation brought by opponents of the government's plan and a surge of violence that hit Haiti particularly hard in March. That violence led to more unrest and a rise in vigilantism. "To confront the multidimensional crisis affecting Haiti, we need to address the causes of instability, particularly in terms of governance," Jaraud-Darnault said. On Sunday, Haiti marked the third anniversary of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and other news agencies. The NATO summit begins Tuesday in Washington; NATOs leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine, Russia and global security. This, as Kyiv recovers from an emotionally devastating attack on the main childrens hospital in the city. The United Nations Security Council is also discussing Ukraine and Mondays attack. Plus, Narendra Modi is in Moscow and a look at an Italian plan to ease illegal migration across the Mediterranean. Residents of Kyaukme in northern Myanmar are counting their dead and picking through rubble following fresh fighting that shredded a Beijing-brokered ceasefire between the junta and an alliance of armed ethnic groups. Last week fighters from the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) took control of the town of 30,000 on the main trade route to China in the latest setback for the military as it battles opponents across the country. But air and artillery strikes, as well as rocket attacks, have gutted parts of the northern Shan State town, leaving buildings without roofs or windows, and residents desperate to flee. Burned-out cars stood in front of one shattered four-story building, its corrugated roofing strewn about the streets. TNLA soldiers in combat fatigues stood guard outside the police station, while others carried out patrols and checked vehicles. Kyaukme resident Kyaw Paing told AFP his home was damaged by a huge blast after he saw a military plane fly overhead. "Pieces of body head, hands and legs were scattered on my roof when the bomb hit some houses nearby," he said. "Seven people were killed here, and there was huge damage. "I dont want to live this poor, miserable life in the war... I feel so sad." Myriad armed groups Myanmar's borderlands are home to myriad armed ethnic groups who have battled the military since independence from Britain in 1948 for autonomy and control of lucrative resources. Some have given shelter and training to opponents of the military's 2021 coup that ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the country into turmoil. In January, China brokered a ceasefire between the military and the "Three Brotherhood Alliance," made up of the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the TNLA. The truce ended an offensive launched last October by the alliance that seized a swath of territory in Shan state including lucrative trade crossings to China dealing the biggest blow to the junta since it seized power. Other towns along the highway that runs from China's Yunnan province to Myanmar's second city of Mandalay have also been rocked by the fighting. On Thursday, TNLA fighters attacked the government militarys northeastern command, located in Lashio, around 85 kilometers from Kyaukme. One Lashio resident who did not want to be named told AFP she heard artillery firing and airstrikes on Monday morning, but that the town had since been quiet, with some shops open. A worker at Lashio's bus station said there were lines of vehicles queuing to leave, but traffic was slow because of damage to the road outside the town. Local rescue workers say dozens of civilians have been killed in the latest clashes. AFP was unable to reach a junta spokesman for comment, but the military has said some civilians were killed in shelling by the alliance. China diplomacy Amid the new fighting, top general Soe Win traveled to China to discuss security cooperation in the border regions, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar. China is a major ally and arms supplier to the junta, but analysts say Beijing also maintains ties with Myanmar's armed ethnic groups holding territory near its border. Ties between the junta and Beijing frayed in 2023 over the junta's failure to crack down on online scam compounds in Myanmar's borderlands targeting Chinese citizens. Analysts suggest Beijing gave tacit approval to the October "Three Brotherhood" offensive, which the alliance said was launched partly to root out the scam compounds. The threat of further military air strikes had caused many residents of Kyaukme to try to flee, although fuel is scarce and food prices are soaring. "We don't have extra money," said Naung Naung, another resident. "We have faced many difficulties not only our family, but the whole town. "All residents are very worried about how long this war will go on." Pakistan has halted the expulsion of undocumented migrants from Afghanistan after discussions with the chief of the United Nations refugee agency. Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, wrapped up his three-day visit Tuesday and called for "a bolstering of efforts towards longer-term solutions" for Afghans in Pakistan. A post-visit UNHCR statement said, "Grandi expressed appreciation that the 'Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan' had been suspended and sought assurances that it would remain on hold." A senior Pakistani official who was knowledgeable about Grandi's meetings with leaders in Islamabad confirmed to VOA that Pakistan had halted deportation of Afghans. However, the official did not specify the duration of the suspension. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly to the media. "Our message to Grandi was that the international community should fulfill its responsibility for the upkeep and repatriation of Afghan refugees. It's a shared responsibility and shouldn't be left to Pakistan to lift the entire burden," the official said. The decision to suspend the evictions of Afghans was taken on "humanitarian grounds" because of deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions facing impoverished, war-ravaged Afghanistan, said Pakistani and U.N. officials. During his visit, Grandi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials, and his talks mainly focused on the fate of about 3 million Afghans. According to Pakistani and U.N. officials, of those, about 1.3 million are officially declared refugees, nearly 900,000 hold Afghan citizenship cards, and the remainder are without documents, or their visas have expired while waiting to seek asylum in third countries after fleeing the August 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Repatriation action Pakistan unleashed a crackdown last November on all foreigners illegally staying in the country, citing a dramatic rise in militant attacks and attributing them to people residing among the refugee populations. The move has largely targeted more than 1 million Afghan migrants and asylum-seekers who lack legal documents or valid visas. Pakistani and Afghan officials say close to 600,000 Afghans have been repatriated to their homeland since the deportation campaign started. During his stay in Pakistan, Grandi also traveled to Afghan refugee localities in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including its capital of Peshawar, and met with their representatives. "In the meantime, as Pakistan continues to host some 3 million Afghans, all solutions need to be explored in addition to voluntary repatriation, including third-country resettlement and longer-term solutions within Pakistan," concluded the UNHCR statement. Islamabad maintains that anti-Pakistan militant groups entrenched in sanctuaries in Afghanistan have stepped up attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians since the Taliban returned to power in the neighboring country three years ago. Taliban authorities have criticized the expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan and dismissed allegations they are allowing militants to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries and beyond. The remnants of the storm that hit the southern United States as Hurricane Beryl spread heavy rains further inland Tuesday, after killing at least six people in Texas and one person in Louisiana. It has knocked out power to more than 3 million homes and businesses. The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast the center of the storm to move up to the Great Lakes in the coming days, spreading rain across Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan. Authorities in Texas warned it could take days to restore power. Houston, the fourth-largest city in the U.S., was among the areas hardest hit by the storm as it came ashore early Monday with maximum sustained winds of about 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour). Houston residents now face dangerous heat with no electricity. A heat advisory was in effect through Wednesday in the area, with temperatures expected to surpass 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit). The humidity would make the temperature feel like 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). As of Tuesday morning, PowerOutage.us reported that over 2.3 million homes and businesses around Houston were without power. That number was over 2.7 million on Monday. Houstonians need to know we're working around the clock so you will be safe, said the citys mayor, John Whitmire. The White House said President Joe Biden expressed his condolences in a phone call late Monday with Whitmire and pledged support for the people of Texas in recovery efforts. Airlines canceled 1,300 flights, and oil companies pulled crews from rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Before hitting Texas, Beryl moved through the Caribbean, killing three people in Venezuela, three people in Grenada, three people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and two people in Jamaica. Beryl also struck Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula before crossing the Gulf of Mexico and heading for Texas. The storm set a record as the earliest to attain Category 5 strength during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. A Russian court Tuesday ordered the arrest in absentia of Yulia Navalnaya on charges that she has participated in the activities of an "extremist" group. Navalnaya is the widow of Alexey Navalny, who was the main opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Navalny died in an Arctic prison in February while serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges. Navalnaya has promised to continue her late husband's work. The court order means that Navalnaya, who lives in exile, would be arrested if she were to enter Russia. "When you write about this, please don't forget to write the main thing: Vladimir Putin is a murderer and a war criminal," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "His place is in prison, and not somewhere in The Hague, in a cozy cell with a TV, but in Russia in the same [penal] colony and the same 2 by 3 meter cell in which he killed Alexey." Russia has denied any involvement in Navalny's death. Leonid Volkov, one of Navalny's former chiefs-of-staff, posted on X that Russia's arrest warrant for Navalnaya is "quite a recognition of Yulia's determination to continue Alexei's fight!" Navalnaya has met with several Western leaders since her husband's death, including U.S. President Joe Biden. She recently was named the chair of the Human Rights Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, where she is replacing Garry Kasparov, a Russian political activist and former World Chess Champion, who endorsed her appointment. Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. The Pentagon says it plans to re-anchor a temporary pier to the Gaza coast that the U.S. military built to deliver aid to civilians, after detaching it late last month because of rough seas. It's tentatively scheduled to be re-anchored this week, Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters Monday. The U.S. announced that the floating pier, known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS), had been moved to the Israeli port at Ashdod on June 28 to keep it protected from weather damage. At the time, officials said there was a chance that it would not be reattached. More than 8,800 metric tons of aid have been brought into Gaza since pier operations began, according to the U.S. The pier allowed aid to enter Gaza via a sea route from Cyprus, a delivery method that officials deemed a temporary fix as land routes to get aid into Gaza stalled, with long backups of vehicles at Israeli inspection points. The arrangement was part of an effort to boost what humanitarian organizations said was a vastly insufficient amount of aid for Palestinian civilians. Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group, had prevented the aid from leaving the Gaza beach and making it to civilians in need, but Ryder said the World Food Program had been able to distribute a significant amount of that aid to its warehouses in recent days. Once reattached, the pier could be used to deliver additional aid still in Cyprus to the Gaza beach, Ryder told reporters. The late-June pier detachment was not the first time the temporary pier had been taken offline because of rough seas. Following its completion in mid-May, the pier operated for just a few days before it was damaged by stormy weather in late May. That damage stopped operations until June 8. U.S. Central Command again detached the pier in late June to prevent expected rough seas from causing fresh damage to it. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Russia to be part of talks with Syria on the return of millions of refugees. Erdogans call this week for dialogue with Syria follows a spate of protests and rioting by Turks who want their government to stop hosting refugees from Syrias 13-year-old civil war. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul. The head of the U.N. refugee agency met the Pakistani prime minister Tuesday to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees living in uncertainty since Islamabad began a persistent anti-migrant crackdown last year. Pakistan has long hosted an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. More than half a million others escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021, with thousands waiting in Pakistan for resettlement in the United States and elsewhere. Since the widely criticized clampdown started in November, an estimated 600,000 Afghans have returned home. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, who arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, spent two days meeting Afghan refugees. He posted on social media platform X: "I spent time with Afghan refugees whose resourcefulness is testimony to their strength and to Pakistan's long hospitality." Grandi added that his visit aimed to "discuss how we can best support both amidst growing challenges." Pakistan's Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif told the UN refugee agency head that Afghan refugees were treated with "exemplary respect and dignity" despite facing multiple challenges, according to a statement released by his office Tuesday. Sharif also urged the international community to "recognize the burden being shouldered by Pakistan while hosting such a large refugee population and demonstrate collective responsibility." The prime minister also asked for help from UNHCR to repatriate the refugees in "a safe and dignified" manner. Also on Tuesday, Grandi met with Asif Durrani, the country's special representative for Afghanistan. Durrani wrote on X that the two sides "expressed readiness to find a durable solution to the Afghan refugee problem, including their repatriation". Pakistan had previously said the crackdown targeted those without valid documents regardless of nationality. U.N. agencies have decried the forced expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan, saying it could lead to severe human rights violations including the separation of families and deportation of minors. Although Pakistan had been routinely deporting Afghans who came here without valid documents in recent years, the ongoing crackdown is unprecedented in scale. Since the crackdown, the neighboring Taliban-led government said it set up a commission to deal with repatriated nationals and has criticized Islamabad's actions. Pakistan has also faced a surge in militant attacks on security forces and civilians alike, mostly blamed on Pakistani Taliban a separate militant group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban straining the ties between the two countries. Ukraine declared a day of mourning Tuesday, as the United Nations Security Council met in an emergency meeting, following a barrage of Russian missiles that killed at least 37 people and injured more than 170 others. Among the targets hit in Mondays multicity attack was the countrys largest childrens hospital. It was part of a daytime series of strikes that Mayor Vitali Klitschko described as one of the largest of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the attack and said Russia must be held accountable. On Tuesday, on the sidelines of the start of the NATO summit in Washington, Zelenskyy told VOA that he would be talking with leaders. There we will discuss priorities first and foremost. These are air defense systems. I think that after this, both President [Joe] Biden and other leaders can be more powerful and more decisive than they were up to this point, he said. Although I am grateful to the president, the administration and the U.S. Congress for the package that was voted on, we expect that it is gradually arriving on the battlefield and gradually strengthening our army. Biden said in a statement Monday that the Russian missile strikes are a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality and pledged unshakeable U.S. support for Ukraine. Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraines air defenses to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine, Biden said. Ukraine has repeatedly sought help from its allies to improve its air defenses against daily Russian attacks and has been pushing for those providing weapons to authorize their use in strikes against military targets inside of Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke about the commitment of the U.S. and other countries to Ukraine before their meeting on Tuesday. Ukraines success as a strong, independent, successful country is the best possible rebuke to the aggression that continues to be committed by Putin and Russia against Ukraine, including just 24 hours ago, an attack on the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv, a hospital that I visited a couple of years ago when I was in Ukraine visiting the children, some of whom have been victims of the Russian aggression, others cancer patients, suffering other illnesses, being treated at this remarkable facility, Blinken said. Kuleba said he would raise the point about possible U.S. assistance in rebuilding and re-equipping this hospital, because we need to relaunch it as soon as possible. There are children who need daily support, daily assistance, surgeries, other procedures and manipulations. They have to continue. UN Security Council meets At the United Nations, the Security Council met in an emergency meeting Tuesday morning to discuss the attack on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv. The acting head of the U.N. office of humanitarian affairs emphasized that hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law. Intentionally directing attacks against a protected hospital is a war crime, and perpetrators must be held to account, Joyce Msuya said. She said the intensive care, surgical and oncology wards were severely damaged, and its dialysis center was destroyed. First responders attending the scene immediately after the attack found children receiving treatment for cancer in hospital beds set up in parks and on the street, where medical workers had quickly established triage areas among the chaos, dust and debris, Msuya said. Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted Ukrainian defense plants and military air bases and were successful. It denied aiming at any civilian facilities and claimed without evidence that pictures from Kyiv indicated the damage was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile. Russias U.N. ambassador echoed that and said the council was being drawn into a dirty propaganda campaign of Ukraine and its supporters. Russia does not strike civilian targets in Ukraine, Vassily Nebenzia said, questioning the timing of the incident on the eve of the NATO summit in Washington. U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, Yesterdays attack makes abundantly clear: Putin is not interested in peace. He is committed to wreaking death and destruction in pursuit of his war of aggression. Tuesday attacks Russias defense ministry said Tuesday it shot down 38 Ukrainian aerial drones over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Astrakhan regions. Vasily Golubev, the regional governor of Rostov, said on Telegram there was a fire at an electrical substation as a result of the attack, which included 21 of the drones being shot down over Rostov. In Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Tuesday on Telegram that Ukrainian attacks had killed four people during the past day. VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer and VOA White House reporter Misha Komadovsky contributed to this report. Some information for this story was provided by Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press. U.S. Democratic lawmakers appeared divided Tuesday on the viability of President Joe Bidens reelection campaign against Donald Trump after Bidens faltering debate performance last month against the former president. Democratic senators and members of the House of Representatives met separately behind closed doors to discuss whether they should continue to support the partys leader, the 81-year-old Biden, or implore him to drop his candidacy, possibly in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic Senator Michael Bennet said in an interview with CNN that he told colleagues he does not think Biden can win in November. Bennet expressed concerns that Democrats could lose not only the White House, but also leave Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress. I just think this race is on a trajectory that is very worrisome if you care about the future of this country, Bennet said. Concerns were raised after Biden's performance last month in the debate, where he looked and sounded exhausted and often lost his train of thought. Only seven of the 213 House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to drop his reelection bid. But others have voiced concerns about Bidens chances of winning the Nov. 5 election against Trump, the Republican who has edged ahead in national polling since their debate and in crucial political battleground states that both candidates need to win in November. Biden has vowed to stay in the race, saying that only the Lord Almighty could force him out and urging Democratic lawmakers to quickly get behind his campaign and end the drama over whether he might drop out. But Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois, one of the six lawmakers who have urged Biden to withdraw from his campaign, said on his way into the meeting of House Democrats, "He just has to step down. He can't win. My colleagues need to recognize that." Representative Adam Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Monday, The presidents poor performance in the debate was alarming to watch, and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as president. Numerous others, however, said they would not abandon Bidens reelection bid. "I think he is our best hope to make sure Donald Trump does not get back into office," Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan told reporters. After the meeting, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, who two days ago privately called for Biden to leave the ticket, said that while he still has concerns about Bidens candidacy, those are now beside the point. Hes going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him, Nadler said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his support for Biden, saying, Im with Joe. After the meeting, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, who two days ago privately called for Biden to leave the ticket, said that while he still has concerns about Bidens candidacy, those are now beside the point. Hes going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him, Nadler said. Representative Diana DeGette of Colorado released a statement saying Biden is still up to doing the job for a second term. Looking ahead, it is a waste of time and potentially dangerous for Democrats to spend the next few months wringing our hands trying to find an alternative path forward, she said. President Biden has been a very successful president: defending our reproductive rights, protecting our environment, and upholding the values of our democracy. Meanwhile, Trump is a crazy felonious authoritarian. But even staunch Biden supporters say he needs to show the American public that he has the mental acuity and physical stamina to run a winning campaign over the next four months to defeat Trump, let alone, if he wins, to govern through early 2029, when he would leave office at 86. "We need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future," Democratic Senator Patty Murray, chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement on Monday night, adding that Biden "must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy." Other Democratic senators also voiced concerns about Bidens candidacy, but none has asked him to withdraw from his reelection bid. Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico said, "I hope he continues to reach out to voters the way that we saw him this weekend, talking to them unscripted. The more that he does that, I think the more support that we're going to see across the country." Democratic Senator Mark Warner said in a statement Monday that another Trump term would be perilous for the rule of law and democracy. But he went on to say that it is incumbent upon [Biden] to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House. Biden on Tuesday hosted a gathering of NATO leaders in Washington, giving him a chance to showcase his global leadership as the Wests key military alliance debates how to continue its support for Ukraine to fight off Russias two-plus-year invasion. Trump, who is 78, told Fox News on Monday that he expects Biden to remain in the race. Trump is holding a rally in Florida on Tuesday night ahead of next week's Republican National Convention and is expected to soon name his vice presidential running mate for the Nov. 5 election. Aside from worrying about Bidens fate against Trump, House Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns that Biden's struggles could damage their chances of capturing a majority in the House, where they now are outnumbered by Republicans, 220-213. Democrats face a far tougher path to protect their 51-49 Senate majority, as they are defending multiple seats in Republican-leaning states. Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked on Monday whether Democrats should stick with Biden, said, "People should be prayerful, thoughtful. And the decision is the president's. It's not the [party] caucus." The United States said Monday that it did not expect policy changes from Iran after voters elected reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, and downplayed chances to resume dialogue. "We have no expectation that this election will lead to a fundamental change in Iran's direction or its policies," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. Miller said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was expected to call the shots in Iran, an adversary of the United States since the 1979 Islamic revolution. "Obviously, if the new president had the authority to make steps to curtail Iran's nuclear program, to stop funding terrorism, to stop destabilizing activities in the region, those would be steps that we would welcome," Miller said. "But needless to say, we don't have any expectation that that's what's likely to ensue." Asked if the United States was at least willing to reopen diplomacy with Iran after Pezeshkian's election, Miller said: "We have always said that diplomacy is the most effective way to achieve an effective, sustainable solution with regard to Iran's nuclear program." But at the White House, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, asked if the United States was ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran, said emphatically, "No." "We'll see what this guy wants to get done, but we are not expecting any changes in Iranian behavior," Kirby said. President Joe Biden took office in 2021 with hopes of returning to a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that was negotiated under former President Barack Obama and ended by his successor, Donald Trump, who imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran. But talks, negotiated through the European Union, broke down in part over a dispute about the extent to which the United States would remove sanctions on Iran. Relations have deteriorated further since the October 7 attack on U.S. ally Israel by Hamas, which receives support from Iran. The White House national security spokesman said Monday that U.S. officials are in Cairo for discussions designed to lead to a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. John Kirby said CIA Director Bill Burns and Brett McGurk, the U.S. Middle East envoy, are in Egypt where they are scheduled to hold talks with their Egyptian, Israeli and Jordanian counterparts. Kirby said, Weve been working this very, very hard, but gaps between Israel and Hamas endure. There are still some gaps that remain in the two sides in the positions, but we wouldn't have sent a team over there if we didn't think that we had a shot here," Kirby said Monday. "We're trying to close those gaps as best we can. However, Israels latest move could widen the gaps. Israels military carried out airstrikes Monday throughout the Gaza Strip and against Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. OCHA, the U.N. agency responsible for coordinating humanitarian affairs, said in a statement Monday, Israeli bombardment from the air, land, and sea continues to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure. Ground incursions and heavy fighting also continue to be reported. Israel issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people to leave the area before the strike. The affected areas include more than 60 schools, two partially functional hospitals, six medical points, and two primary health centers, the U.N. agency reported. Insecurity, damaged roads, the breakdown of law and order, and access limitations continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route between Kerem Shalom Crossing and Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, according to OCHA, resulting in critical shortages of fuel and aid commodities to sustain humanitarian operations, in addition to increasing the risk of spoilage and infestation of stranded supplies (especially food) due to extremely high temperatures." Residents also reported Israeli tank operations in Gaza City, in northern Gaza, where the Israeli military said it was carrying out counterterrorism activities. In southern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces reported killing more than 30 militants. The latest violence came a day after Israeli protesters blocked highways across the country as they called for a cease-fire and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign. Sunday's "Day of Disruption" started at 6:29 a.m. local time, noting the moment that Hamas militants launched the first rockets toward Israel last October 7, an attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Protesters blocked main roads and demonstrated outside of the homes of members of Israel's parliament. Near the border with Gaza, Israeli protesters released 1,500 black and yellow balloons to symbolize those who were killed and abducted. Israels subsequent ground and air counteroffensive in Gaza after Hamas shock October attack has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians according to the health ministry in Gaza. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 116 hostages, including 42 the military says are dead. Israel and Hamas may be inching closer to an elusive cease-fire after Hamas dropped its demand that any deal include a complete end to the war. Talks to end the fighting have stalemated for weeks, but two Hamas officials said Sunday the Palestinian group is waiting for a response from Israel on its cease-fire proposal, five days after it accepted a key part of a U.S. plan aimed at ending the war. "We have left our response with the mediators and are waiting to hear the occupation's response," one of the two Hamas officials, speaking anonymously, told the Reuters news agency. The three-phase cease-fire plan for Gaza was offered in late May by U.S. President Joe Biden and is being mediated by Qatar and Egypt. It aims to end the war and free the remaining hostages. About 100 hostages were freed in a weeklong cease-fire last November in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Bidens plan calls for a "full and complete" six-week cease-fire during which older, sick and female hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. During those 42 days, Israeli forces would withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow the return of displaced people to their homes in northern Gaza, officials have said. Israel was discussing a halt to the fighting with the Qataris, according to another Palestinian official with knowledge of the cease-fire deliberations. "They have discussed with them Hamas' response and they promised to give them Israel's response within days," one official told Reuters. Netanyahu has said that negotiations would continue this week but has not given any detailed timeline. His office said Sunday that Netanyahus opposition to those calling on Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah pushed Hamas to enter negotiations. The office reiterated Israeli demands in a cease-fire deal, including that Israel be allowed to resume fighting to meet its war goals, that armed terrorists not be allowed to return to northern Gaza and maximizing the number of living hostages who are released. Hamas says it would allow negotiations to achieve an end to the war but during the talks some of the hostages would be returned to Israel in exchange for more Palestinians jailed by Israel. A Palestinian official close to the peace efforts has said the proposal could lead to a framework agreement, if embraced by Israel, that would end the war. CIA Director William Burns is set to travel to Qatar on Wednesday for further negotiations, according to a source familiar with the matter. VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this article. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Photo: Courtesy CBS Alec Baldwins involuntary manslaughter trial in the Rust set shooting started in earnest on Wednesday, July 10, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with opening statements. Baldwin, 66, is accused of accidentally killing the productions cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, on October 21, 2021, while rehearsing a scene. The prosecution claims that armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed provided the gun to Baldwin. The firearm hadnt been properly checked by Gutierrez-Reed and contained live ammunition, according to the prosecution. Prosecutors claim that Baldwin drew the gun and pointed the weapon at Hutchins in disregard of safety practices and fired. Hutchins was fatally shot, and director Joel Souza injured, in the incident. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty in the case. Since Baldwin was first charged in January 2023, the proceedings have been rife with legal twists and turns, with the prosecution officially dropping the case on April 21, 2023, only for an indictment to come down against him in early 2024. The trial is expected to take ten days. Baldwin faces up to 18 months behind bars if convicted. Heres what to know about the destroyed weapon, jury selection, and opening statements. Why is Baldwin on trial in the first place if the charge was dropped? Baldwins legal team revealed a major bombshell during a proceeding on March 9, 2023 attorney Alex Spiro claimed in court that the gun had been destroyed by the state during testing in a way that made it impossible for the defense to examine it. Not only had Baldwin previously insisted that he was told the gun was cold and not loaded with live bullets, but he also claimed he didnt pull the trigger. Baldwin has maintained that the gun malfunctioned in some way, or was altered, allowing it to fire without pulling the trigger. In the wake of Baldwins defense raising issues about the weapon being destroyed, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the case pending further testing but did so in a way that didnt prevent them from bringing charges later. Predictably, the forensic testing concluded that the trigger of the gun had to be pulled for the gun to have discharged, and the alleged modification of the hammer was simply damage caused when the FBI struck the hammer with the mallet so many times that it finally damaged the hammer and sear, read an April 5, 2024, filing. After the prosecutions analysis of the gun ended, prosecutors said they obtained recordings from the Rust set showing that the firearm was in perfect working condition every time Baldwin used it. Prosecutors ultimately presented the evidence to a grand jury that returned an involuntary-manslaughter charge against him on January 19, 2024. Werent other people already found guilty in Hutchinss death? On March 6, 2024, 27-year-old Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. During Gutierrez-Reeds two-week-long trial, prosecutors insisted that she flouted commonsense gun-safety protocols in a deadly manner. By failing to make those vital safety checks, the defendant acted negligently and without due caution, prosecutor Jason Lewis told jurors. The decisions she made that day ultimately contributed to Ms. Hutchinss death. He also alluded to Gutierrez-Reeds own comments during a police interview following the incident. She says at the end: I just, I dont know. I wish I would have checked it, Lewis told jurors. And so do we. Gutierrez-Reed, who has maintained her innocence, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on April 15, 2024. David Halls who previously pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a six-month suspended sentence took the stand at Gutierrez-Reeds trial and said she handed the gun to Baldwin, despite the actors claiming Halls passed the gun to Baldwin. So how is Baldwin on the hook if Gutierrez-Reed was already found guilty? The judge decided on July 8, 2024, that prosecutors cannot present evidence about Baldwins role as a producer; this is a major boost for the defense, as prosecutors have pushed the theory that his role as a producer made him responsible for set safety or culture, adding still more to his culpability in Hutchinss death. Im having real difficulty with the states position that they want to show, as a producer, he didnt follow guidelines and therefore, as an actor, Mr. Baldwin did all these things wrong, resulting in the death of Halyna Hutchins because as a producer he allowed this all to happen, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said on July 8. Sommer noted how Baldwin wasnt alone in being a producer, so mentioning his role as producer could unfairly suggest he was the only boss on set. Im denying evidence of his status as a producer. This also appears to mean that prosecution wont be able to show videos of him rushing cast and crew and controlling the set, so theyll have to focus on his behavior as an actor on set. Court papers filed in the case provide some insights into prosecutors playbook about why they believe hes culpable even just as an actor. Baldwin, the most experienced member of all the cast and crew, arrived on set one week after filming started, missing the first firearms training. Instead, Baldwin had a separate instruction with Gutierrez-Reed. Mr. Baldwin was inattentive during this training and spent time during the training on the phone with his family and making videos of himself shooting the gun for his familys enjoyment, they note. The combination of Hannah Gutierrezs negligence and experience and Alec Baldwins complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him would prove deadly for Halyna Hutchins prosecutors wrote. Hutchins was shot and killed by Alec Bladwin who pointed a .45-caliber single-action army revolver at her, cocked the hammer of the gun, and pulled the trigger when a scene was not being filmed and cameras were not rolling. Can prosecutors win with multiple theories of why Hutchins died? For Tre Lovell, a longtime civil trial attorney, the separate theories arent a problem for prosecutors. The real question is: Are the theories incongruous?, he asked. Are they incompatible? They or are they not mutually exclusive? Lovell said. It is possible to have more than one contributing factor to death. Gutierrez-Reed was found responsible, because the armorers job is to ensure gun safety, which a jury determined she did not do. What theyre saying with Baldwin is he also contributed, because he was negligent in the use of a firearm, Lovell said. Why didnt Alec Baldwin get a plea deal like David Halls did? Well, its a bit of a long story. Prosecutors gave Baldwin the option of taking a very favorable plea agreement rather than have the case proceed to grand jury for a possible indictment. As it turns out, the special counsel appointed to prosecute Baldwins case, Erlinda Johnson, is a longtime criminal-defense and civil-rights attorney. Johnson said in court papers that while prosecutors dont have to treat all defendants in a case the same way, her career has made her focus on issues related to fundamental fairness. Johnson alleges that Baldwins behavior following the offer made her think differently. When the prosecution made the offer on October 5, 2023, it was as confidential and privileged plea negotiations. Johnson, who gave them an October 27, 2023, deadline, claims she didnt get a response from Baldwins team. About ten days after Johnson extended the offer, she found out that one of Baldwins attorneys shared details with NBC News, according to court papers. The prosecutor also claims that she learned Baldwin and his team were trying to run a public-relations campaign designed to deflect attention from any possible pleas and boost his image. She also claims to have learned that Baldwin might accept the offer and then file a complaint against New Mexico authorities on the same day as part of that same PR campaign. Despite this, Johnson says that she didnt want to withdraw this plea offer just because Baldwin was allegedly trying to use the media in his favor. Johnson said that she then found out Baldwin had commissioned a documentary about Hutchinss death and was actively pressuring material witnesses in the case against him to submit to interviews in this project. It was at this point that the plea offer was rescinded, and the case was scheduled for the grand jury, she said. In other words, Baldwin had a chance and blew it, according to the prosecution. So, Baldwin hasnt exactly done himself any favors in this case? Nope! And, according to court documents, this started way before charges were even brought against him. On the same day of Hutchinss shooting, Baldwin agreed to a formal interview with police. Before the interview started, Baldwin was in the interview room where cameras with audio were recording and allegedly made some insensitive comments to his family. Baldwin rang his wife on speaker phone or FaceTime as well as an assistant to talk about his familys planned trip to New Mexico. Baldwin told his family not to cancel their trip despite the incident. I wont work and well go and enjoy ourselves. Its all paid for. Theyre not going to give us the money back, he allegedly said. Then came the interview. He claimed that Gutierrez-Reed handed him the gun not Halls. He said on two occasions that he fired/shot the gun and that Souza told him where to point the weapon, prosecutors claim. He never told police that Hutchins gave instructions about where to point the gun. While he did say that the weapon simply went off, as he didnt think there was a live round, He never stated that he didnt pull the trigger. Then theres Baldwins December 3, 2021, interview with George Stephanopoulos, during which everything changed, according to the prosecution. They claimed that Baldwin lied with impunity and blamed the incident on Ms. Hutchins, saying that she told him to point the gun at her in the direction of her armpit. This statement was in direct contradiction to his previous statement where he clearly explained that Ms. Hutchins was struck in the armpit because she was turned to speak to someone else. The interview also marked the first time Baldwin claimed he never pulled the trigger. In an interview with state workplace-safety regulators on December 8, 2021, Baldwins story changed again with him claiming that Halls not Gutierrez-Reed handed him the gun. The jury will have to pay close attention to the narratives. How did jury selection go? A total of 16 people were picked to serve as jurors in Baldwins case; the group is made up of 11 women and five men. Twelve of this group are jurors and four alternates. The public wont know which people are jurors and which people are alternates until both sides finish presenting their case, according to the Associated Presss pool report from the courtroom. Jury selection is important in every case but critically important here, Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor whose firm, West Coast Trial Lawyers, routinely handles high-profile cases, explained before the trial started. The parties will want to ask the prospective jurors questions about gun safety and rights as well as their views of celebrities. Indeed, that happened during the selection process. Lead defense attorney Alex Spiro, while questioning possible jurors, emphasized the grave nature of this case, noting Obviously someone lost their life, and asked those summoned to speak up if they had reservations about fairness and impartiality. He also asked whether anyone had strong views on gun safety. Some possible jurors responded by saying they always handle guns as if theyre loaded, according to the pool report. Even if Baldwin were convicted, Rahmani doesnt think hell wind up jailed. I dont think Baldwin will be remanded if he is convicted. The New Mexico manslaughter statute carries an 18-month maximum sentence, with no minimum, Rahmani explained. Baldwins team, Rahmani noted, can point out that Halls got a no-jail deal if the time comes for them to argue about sentencing before the judge. Baldwins lawyers have a good argument that he is no more culpable than assistant director Dave Halls, who reportedly told Baldwin it was a cold gun without checking it and who received a misdemeanor offer and probation. What did the opening statements focus on? Both the prosecution and defense focused on the concept of real-life versus movie life on movie sets in their opening statements on July 10. Johnson alleged Baldwin didnt take into account the real-life implications of handling a gun, saying that he played make-believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety. Spiro countered that Baldwin committed no crime. He was an actor acting, playing the role of Harland Rust. Photo: Hope Glassel Its not considered late if you show up in full Aliyahcore. The maximalist, Harajuku-inspired style where every day is a rave and every night is emo cant be complete without a thrifted accessory on every appendage, rhinestones tacked onto the face with eyelash glue, and too-cool-to-care energy. Theres no starter pack for purchase at your local mall (secondhand is preferable), so its visionary, Aliyah Bah, the 21-year-old style influencer and TikToker who performs as Aliyahs Interlude, intends to spread the message of Aliyahcore beyond clothes and her 2.9 million TikTok followers. Im trying to create an environment where people actually feel comfortable being themselves all the time, she says over an espresso martini the morning before her Studio 54themed birthday party in Bushwick. I love getting sexy and going to the club and hearing my music. If Aliyahcore is what to wear, her song IT GIRL is how to act. Crafted from an Azealia Bankstype beat she found on YouTube by producer LxnleyBeat, Aliyahs breakout 2023 single grabs your attention immediately: Bitch you know Im sexy / (Ugh) Dont call, just text me. Though her initial post teasing the song faced shady comments telling her to stay in her lane as a style content creator, the girls who got what she was going for soon drowned them out. The full track went on to earn a million streams in five days and a co-sign from Paris Hilton. When people are talking about you, they obviously have to care about you even a smidge, Aliyah says. So, I dont know, I guess Im poppin. Unlike Bella Poarch and Addison Rae, who began their music careers at an almost absurd level of fame (when they first debuted, Bella had 90 million followers and Addison had 88 million), Aliyah skipped the typical TikToker-to-musician pipeline by having a small but dedicated following. Im telling you, I feel like the most cunt and influential people in music are never the most famous ones, she says. In addition to her FaceTime Call Get Ready With Me videos, Aliyahs most popular TikToks were the ones where she was just speaking her mind, going off about her outfit, or hyping up the viewer all while enraging lurkers every time she showed up in a new locale (Tokyo next week) wearing the purest form of Aliyahcore: moon boots with a bikini. To prove some commenters wrong about its wearability, Aliyah started styling different body types, genders, and modesty preferences, giving makeovers to TikTokers across algorithms like an alt-fairy godmother. IT GIRL would arrive at the same time as her first M.A.C campaign, a collaboration with Marc Jacobs, and an appearance in Doja Cats Agora Hills music video. Ahead of her second single, Fashion Icon, Aliyah took her music and signature style offline and onto the dance floor with Cunt Bitch Headquarters, a cross-country series of themed parties that connected her audience with Black-women DJs like Siobhan Bell and fellow fashion icon Dylan Ali. I be outside, Aliyah says with a laugh. Girl, I love the club. Im so sorry. This summer, the parties inspired a mini-festival tour titled House of Cunt, where she performed a set every weekend of Pride Month. As she puts the finishing touches on her debut EP for RCA Records, she is fashioning pop stardom the same way she wears clothing: her own way. Aliyah never felt like she was meant to be completely seen or heard by the masses until she started dressing for herself. Love Me, her latest song, is inspired by overcoming the harassment and self-hate she faced growing up in Atlanta as a dark-skinned pansexual girl. I was getting bullied almost every single day, she says. I would go to school so mad because they finna get me again. Everything that Ive been through in my entire life has prepared me for what I do right now. On Love Me, she channels that energy by singing, rapping, and trying out different inflections, channeling ballroom MCs like Willi Ninja, the voguer made famous in Paris Is Burning, as well as Michaela Jae of Pose. I really love me / Have no doubt please, Aliyah sings in the chorus. They tried to make me hate myself. Although Im, like, such a loud and vibrant person, I really dont share too much about my personal life online, she admits. But in this new era, Im sharing more about my life and about my experience being a Black woman within the fashion and alternative-music space. To complete the full music pivot, Aliyah has been taking voice lessons, writing in the studio four times a week, and practicing her dance skills with voguers. Shes also been exercising and doing breath control to make sure her performances are tea. So far, its been a whole other level of commitment, one thats pulled her away from social media. She even took a break from styling other people. Fashion is obviously where I came from, Aliyah says. But music is another way to express who I am as a person. Following the success of Aliyahs first two singles, some of her most direct musical references Azealia Banks, SZA, Charli XCX began reaching out to compliment her. She later opened for Charli on the brat tour in Chicago, wearing an on-theme, lime-green cunt tee, and joined SZA onstage in Sydney to perform IT GIRL in front of 20,000 fans. SZA isnt the person to learn how to be a pop star from because shes just so normal, Aliyah says. She creates an environment where you wouldnt even know that shes a fucking pop star. With the well-documented emphasis on musicians needing to promote themselves on social media, Aliyah has a head start establishing balance between her work, her art, and her life. Sometimes I create a Get Ready With Me, and it aint got shit to do with my music, you know what I mean? she says. TikTok can definitely be promotion, but I dont think its the best way to promote shit. Obviously, right now its the biggest audience, but to have a long-lasting impact within the industry, labels need to put more work into their artists. Over the years, Aliyahs label, RCA, has received complaints from fans for allegedly suppressing its own artists, including SZA and the now-independent Tinashe. But Aliyah has only positive things to say about signing with the company, insisting her deal was very lax. I own all my masters, and its literally only one album, she says. If it works, I might re-sign; if not, fuck it. Plus, she notes, when Tinashe first signed with RCA, shit within the industry was a lot different. Artists now have more agency over their music. Instability is scary for a Taurus like Aliyah. But her major-label debut could be the freedom shes envisioned for herself, especially as her largest platform, TikTok, faces a ban in the United States. But if that does happen, shes confident someone will create a similar app. And Ill be a poppin bitch on that, too, she says. With or without followers, Aliyah says she would still be pursuing the same career to the best of her abilities maybe just from Atlanta instead of New York City. Fame and all of this shit comes and goes for everyone, but for me, I really just want a core group of people who care about my creative process, who care about all the creative shit that I release. Photos: Jared White; John Krug. Photos: Jared White; John Krug. It girl: scenes from Aliyahs 21st-birthday party in Bushwick. Photo: John Krug That over-the-top creative vision was all over her 21st-birthday party. Aliyah pulled up on a white horse (like Bianca Jagger, she didnt ride it into the club; she just served face on it), a grand entrance that could have easily been mistaken for a My Super Sweet 16 reboot. Each pose she hit perched on the saddle was punctuated by the crowd yelling Yes! in various lengths, hyping her up the way she does for others on TikTok. The Aliyahs Interlude fan base unites all the different tables in a high-school cafeteria. Cool Gen-Z Bushwick regulars wearing printed pants and septum-pierced outcasts in fishnets lined up on the dim sidewalk, as artsy creatives who came in themed sequins took pictures against graffiti walls. Inside, aerialists, stilt walkers, mimes, jugglers, and dancers wandered around while Aliyah stood in the DJ booth pouring wine into peoples cups. The dance floor filled up when she got on the mic for IT GIRL, and the loudest voices in the crowd joined her for the opening Bitch! Breath-control training in full effect, she took over the backing track as every phone in the room pointed in her direction. This is purely for the community, she described the party earlier in the day. To turn the fuck up with the people that fuck with me. This episode should have been called Trauma Dump, because that is what we got from the crew members. They are in seemingly innocuous situations and then they launch the kind of sob story thats usually reserved for lesser episodes of Dr. Phil. Gael is on the tender with Ellie and Joe, taking the guests snorkeling in a lovely cave on the Greek coast. We see her swimming with fins underwater and enjoying being in the sea. Being underwater is the first place I ever felt safe and at peace with myself, she says. Oh, thats so cute and lovely. But why? Oh, because she had a difficult childhood growing up half Asian and socially awkward, so all the other kids were mean to her. First of all, sorry. Second of all, damn. That is dark and made me enjoy her underwater swimming a lot less. But dont worry, Bri also has terrible stories about her youth. When she and Ellie are at odds once again, Ellie accuses her of not being able to understand hierarchy. She says she does because she went to boarding school as a kid, and they all had to defer to any girl older than them. If she was at the door and there was an upperclassman nearby, she had to wait for them to go through the door first, or else shed be bullied. First of all, sorry. Second of all, damn. Thats really messed up. I thought boarding school was just privilege and playing disgusting party games. Now theres bullying, too? Things have to turn around, though, right? This whole episode cant be terrible childhood stories. When the guests request the crew sing Happy Birthday for two of their cohort, Aesha enlists hunky deckhand Joe to play the piano while they all sing. We learn that Joe is a performer who plays multiple instruments, including the guitar and the piano. Like most guys, he learned to play the guitar so he could get laid, right? Wrong! He learned how to play because his mother suffers from fibromyalgia and was bedridden for most of his life, so he had to learn how to keep her happy while she was in bed. First of all, sorry. Second of all, damn. Im glad he can play all of those instruments, but no one wants to be driven to the arts in a desperate attempt to preserve his mothers mortality. Thats enough for one episode, right? We have to get back to normal with the chef fucking things up and the crew being a little too lazy. Speaking of which, Gael is working on deck, and her co-workers and Captain Sandy praise her efforts. That has to come from a solid work ethic installed by her parents. Im sure. Has to be. No, wait, its because on her last boat, she was carrying a big block of metal (who carries a big block of metal?) and she dropped it on her ankle and needed 16 stitches and a skin graft to recover. First of all, sorry. Second of all, please stop. This is all too much. And there were pictures! Pictures of her bloodied ankle, and we didnt even get a trigger warning. When Ellie gets in the water to swim into the cave, she tells us shes not a very strong swimmer. I braced myself against the couch. Its going to be because her uncle died in the 2004 Thailand tsunami, and now shes scared of the water. No, wait. Maybe she had to watch her sister drown on the shore because neither of them could swim, and as her sister went under, Ellie thought to herself, I will do this for her. I will never learn to swim. That has to be it, right? Maybe she just listened to In the Air Tonight, by Phil Collins, one too many times, and shes scared of drowning? (Even though that urban legend isnt true.) Thankfully, no. There was no explanation. Maybe she just doesnt like getting her hair wet, like that one guest who looks like the ghost of the Old Navy Lady. The episode wasnt all about the staffs past traumas. (I was waiting for Captain Sandy to tell us her story about hitting rock bottom!) We also got some more of the drama between Bri and Ellie, though its mostly wound up. I think the biggest takeaway from this is just how well Aesha handled the whole situation. Ellie complains to Aesha that Bri says Ellie belittles her, and Aesha asks, Well, did you? Its a very valid question, but Ellie says no. Ellie also complains about Bri sleeping in the boys room, something Nathan and Joe would complain to Aesha about themselves if they knew they could. Aesha then asks Bri why shes sleeping in the boys room. Bri tells her its because Joe asked her, and she thought it was fun. Okay, thats was the first night. What about the second night? Aesha tells Bri to knock it off and get in her bed. In both of these instances, she tells Ellie and Bri just to suck it up while the guests are there and that theyll have a real conversation when theyre off charter. She even gives Bri a high five when she finds out she spent the entire night in her own bed. Aesha seems to already be practicing for raising a 4-year-old. Because Bri is sleeping in their cabin, it seems like Joe no longer wants to have topless make outs with her in the hot tub. Also, Ellie seems very concerned with how Joe sees her and doesnt want him to think shes belittling anyone because she still hopes shell get one of the famous Scouse tongue lashings shes heard all about. (What she doesnt know is that refers to a Scouser drunkenly yelling at you for two hours, not them using their tongue in more intimate places.) When theyre away at the cave with the guests, Ellie tells Joe that she finds him attractive and is interested in him, so she thinks Bri is mad at her. Joe, bless his horny little heart, is glad theres still a chance between him and Ellie. Joe then does the smartest thing that I have ever seen an amorous deckhand on this show do: He asks a womans advice on what to do about women. He explains the situation to Gael and asks if he can still crack on with Ellie, and she gives him some excellent advice: If you want to bang her, make sure shes the person you want to keep banging, or else its going to cause trouble. Perfect. She is exactly correct. Excellent job all around. Now Joe should carry a big block of metal so that Gael is saved from any more trauma she might have to get over later. As for the guests on the charter, they seem mostly fine and well behaved, except for the primary, Brittany, who gets wasted at dinner and decides to go full Kyle Richards, doing the splits when no one asked her to. They also seem to like Jonos food and presentation. Captain Sandy, who is not above running plates to the guests herself, seems satisfied, and hes not currently fired, but I have a feeling its coming. The biggest drama was at the end of the episode, and it had something to do with a windlass. I hate when there is actual boat drama rather than interpersonal drama. Two stews yelling at each other over a man we know something about. Weve seen it before, we may have even lived it before, so we can all be experts on how people should behave. But when something goes wrong with the boat? No clue. Totally excuse the pun at sea. I have never heard of a windlass until now, and Im still not entirely clear about what it does. It winds the anchor, I guess? All I know is that when you see the actual crew on the boat, the ones who arent usually on-camera, you know shit is serious. This week, we got to meet not one, but three. Theres Luka, the second engineer, trying to put a wind on the other windlass so they can pull up the Starburst anchor. Wait, its starboard, and not named after candy? Whatever. Then we see Piers, the second officer, hop into the tender, but the battery is dead because Iain is a dolt who is horrible at his job and left it on all night. Then we see Ivan, the first officer, show up and order everyone around as the line on the second windlass snaps and the anchor drops all the way to the bottom of the ocean. It probably did that because it has abandonment issues from when its mother took it to its first swimming lesson and just threw it in the deep end without any warning. I tell you, everything that happened this episode is due to trauma. Photo: Michael Campanella/Getty Images Mattel will not rest until every toy it makes is a billion-dollar movie. Fresh off the success of Barbie (and coasting off the viral celebs playing Uno moment), Mattel Films head Robbie Brenner spoke to Variety about its upcoming slate in July 2023. The upcoming films include Daniel Kaluuyas Barney movie that will have Being John Malkovich vibes, J.J. Abramss grounded and gritty Hot Wheels flick, a PG-13 thriller based on Magic 8-Balls, and a Polly Pocket movie originally helmed by Lena Dunham, who has since left the film, and starring Lily Collins. Brenner said that Collins was so smart and so specific and so productorial. That could mean that shes productive, or maybe that shes product-oriented? That would be handy for a movie based on a product. Heres what we know about the still-in-the-works IP grab. Why isnt Lena Dunham involved anymore? The writer-actor-director isnt the right Girl for the job, despite whats been previously reported. Im going to tell you something here that I havent told anyone: Im not going to make the Polly Pocket movie, she told The New Yorker in a July 9 interview. I wrote a script, and I was working on it for three years. Despite all the work shes put in, Dunham is abandoning the long-gestating project in search of something that she feels only she can create, much like Greta Gerwigs Barbie. I think Greta managed this incredible feat, which was to make this thing that was literally candy to so many different kinds of people and was perfectly and divinely Greta, she said. And I just I felt like, unless I can do it that way, Im not going to do it. I dont think I have that in me. I feel like the next movie I make needs to feel like a movie that I absolutely have to make. No one but me could make it. And I did think other people could make Polly Pocket. What do we know about the plot? With Dunham seeking new pastures, the plot of the film is up in the air. If they go with the former writer-directors vision, then Polly Pocket will be a family comedy following the titular pocket-size character as she befriends a young girl. We have a lot of fun with the idea of what happens when a small person encounters a big world, Dunham told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, teasing a character the size of the 90s dolls the film is based on. They made her a little bigger now, which I support, because of choking hazards. But Im writing 90s tiny. Another IP on the Mattel Films productorial line is a different family comedy based on American Girl Dolls. But (not to scab during a writers strike) we all know what an American Girl Doll movie should be, right? A multiverse movie with all the American Girls being disappointed in how badly history has gone. Can you imagine how Molly and Addy would feel about politics in 2024? Every American Girl has the same problems to overcome, and thats a clear refutation of a progressivist view of history. Maybe Dunham would be down for this pitch instead? This post has been updated. Photo: 20th Century Studios/YouTube There are rumors of a Devil Wears Prada sequel, and you think this has nothing to do with you? Youre scrolling through streamers and you select I dont know, the 2006 film because youre trying to tell the world that you love womens stories and know that Adrian Grenier was the real villain of the movie. But what you dont know is that Puck reported that a sequel is in the works. Youre also blithely unaware of the fact that original screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna is set to write the script, and according to EW, original director David Frankel will return too. And then I think it was Meryl Streep, wasnt it, who is reportedly set to return? I think we need a Meryl Streep here. And then the rest of the OG principal cast Anne Hatthaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci are coming back too. And then the plot is rumored to center on Priestly as she navigates the death of the fashion magazine. And the news has now trickled down to some tragic blog, which you, no doubt, clicked out of mild interest. However, this news represents millions of dollars and countless jobs. And its sort of comical how the news broke right after Vanessa Williams take on Miranda Priestly was teased on the West End over 4th of July weekend. This post has been updated. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. The Karabakh Declaration is a roadmap for the Organization of Turkic States to gain more political, economic, and security benefits, political analyst Akshin Karimov told Trend. He noted that at the same time, the declaration covers priorities on integration at the institutional level within the framework of the OTS and the resolution of unfinished issues. "It emphasizes integrated approaches, the OTS's views on regional and international politics. The Karabakh Declaration is a collection of ideas for a broader format of cooperation. In this sense, the position of the OTS is strengthened in several directions. For example, the OTS plans to achieve its goals by strengthening regional ties and integration between the participants through the East-West transport corridor or the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - Middle Corridor connecting Europe, Turkiye, South Caucasus, Central Asia, and China," Karimov said. Referring to the economic aspects of the Karabakh Declaration, economist expert Araz Azimli noted that the role of Turkic states in the development of world trade and economy in the region and the world is undeniable. "If we look at the recent years, trade relations between the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States are developing on an ascending line. The gradual expansion of economic relations within the OTS is due to mutual trust. The OTS is recognized as a reputable structure by the countries of the world. The gross domestic product (GDP) in the member states is estimated at $1.5 trillion and trade turnover at $1.2 trillion. Overall, 2.4 percent of the world trade turnover is accounted for by the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States. Turkic states have great economic potential, energy resources, transportation routes, and modern military capabilities. Nowadays, the volume of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor is growing. This growth has also affected Azerbaijan's economic ties. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkic states has increased by 70 percent compared to previous years. The 10th summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Shusha will further strengthen economic cooperation ties between the member states," he noted. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Bausch and Lomb have submitted plans to expand their Waterford City facility. Plans include a one-storey extension to the northern side of the Waterford site. The extension is to include a new open plan and cellular offices. The latest application also includes internal and external modifications to a previously granted planning permission that was submitted in February of this year. These works are to include elevational alterations, site fencing, signage and alterations to the internal road network and drainage. The contact lens manufacturer announced plans in 2021 to invest 90 million in its Waterford plant. Since then, several expansions have already taken place at their site. Previously in 2017, the company opened a new manufacturing line on the site. Bausch & Lomb is one of the largest employers in Waterford and the South East, employing more than 1,500 people. A little girls face painted as a sparkly unicorn. A birthday boy beaming over his Thomas the Tank Engine train set. A Santa photo of the kind thats familiar to every parent, in which two children smile, one is bewildered and one is about to cry. The photos, posted to social media, tell the story of a mother who loves her children. Family, she writes beneath her babies faces. A bond like no other. Members of the Lalor Park family in a photo posted by the mother on social media. Credit: Three of her seven children two boys, aged three and six, and a baby girl are dead now, after their father allegedly set the house alight after a fight with their mother, blocking their escape and hauling them back into the inferno as they tried to flee. Dad tried to kill us, survivors told the neighbours who ran to their rescue, fighting the flames to do what their own father wouldnt. Vital reforms are necessary to federal lobbying regulation, particularly its extension to in-house lobbyists and the publication of ministerial diaries. While the federal support for the companies followed standard processes within the government, the commitments add to concern about transparency and lobbying when some outside observers want more disclosure about how deals are done. Like several other lobbyists, Eamonn Fitzpatrick has backed the argument for an expanded register of lobbyists to track who is seeking to influence government. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen A Senate inquiry into lobbying has led to a stalemate over reforms, with crossbench MPs and senators pushing for a regime that forces ministers to reveal contacts with lobbyists, requires hundreds more lobbyists to disclose their work and restricts political donations. The current regime, put in place by Labor under prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, says lobbyists who work for independent firms must disclose their companies and clients on a federal register, but this does not include in-house executives who work for big companies or industry associations. Crossbenchers including senator David Pocock and independent MP Monique Ryan want the register to include all lobbyists, given a 500 per cent increase in donations to the major parties from lobbyists and industry groups over the past two decades. In one example of the deals being done under the made in Australia agenda, lithium company Liontown Resources, which is backed by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, hired lobbying firm GRA Partners in March last year to help smooth its talks with federal ministers. Loading In deals struck late last year and confirmed in March, the company gained $110 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and $120 million from Export Finance Australia for the Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia, in a deal unveiled by Resources Minister Madeleine King. The federal support helped Liontown while it sought a long-term funding deal with South Korean giant LG, which was unveiled last week. A spokesman said the company no longer expected to draw on the federal assistance. While GRA Partners acts as a lobbyist for Liontown, the company said it did not use the firm to lobby or set up meetings with the EFA or CEFC. Even when agreements have been reached without lobbyists joining the negotiations, some companies turn to the firms afterwards to cement the deals. Arafura Rare Earths, also backed by Rinehart, gained $840 million from the Critical Minerals Facility and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility for the Nolans lithium mine and refinery in the Northern Territory, announced by Albanese and King in March. Arafura hired GRA Partners as a lobbyist the next month. Northern Minerals gained $5.9 million for the Halls Creek rare earths project in May last year, but this was only one part of its relationship with Canberra. With Chinese investor Wu Tao trying to build up his stake in the miner, triggering government concerns about a Chinese stranglehold on critical minerals, the company hired Fitzpatrick, the former Labor adviser, last November. Treasurer Jim Chalmers on June 3 ordered Wu and his funds to sell down their stakes in Northern Minerals after an investigation by the Foreign Investment Review Board. Crossbenchers including senator David Pocock want the register to include all lobbyists. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In another example, Queensland Pacific Metals, which is developing an energy and chemicals hub in Townsville, gained $250 million from Export Finance Australia in December 2021. It has sought more help for its project, which aims to process laterite ore from New Caledonia to produce nickel and cobalt for batteries. The company hired March, of the lobbying firm Counsel House, in May last year, after it gained a $5 million federal grant announced by King. March has worked for Rudd and was Labors deputy director of communications for the 2013 federal election campaign. Loading While this masthead contacted the lobbying firms and their clients, most declined to comment. Fitzpatrick, whose firm Fitzpatrick & Co Advisory has more than 20 clients including Northern Minerals, the Pharmacy Guild and Google, said he had been advising businesses at state and federal levels for many years, but acknowledged things were changing. Im not new, but there are new faces all the time because it continues to be a growing industry and other advisory firms from law to planning and capital raising are coming onto the scene because there is demand, he said. Lobbyist and former Queensland state Labor adviser Evan Moorhead. Fitzpatrick was an adviser to Labor state ministers in NSW before working as a lobbyist and returning to government as an adviser to Gillard as prime minister, as well as working for Rudd in his brief return to the leadership before the 2013 election. Government is bigger, more rigorous and complex than any other factor impacting business, communities and not-for-profits, he said. Thats why there is a higher value being placed on professional advice from those who have spent years learning and understanding government processes. Like several other lobbyists, Fitzpatrick has backed the argument for an expanded register of lobbyists to track who is seeking to influence government. The system has become more robust, he said: Meetings are logged. Lobbyists and their clients are on public registers and must adhere to codes of conduct or risk being struck off. Ministerial diaries are released. Loading The current regime requires independent lobbying firms to disclose their ownership, staff and client lists to the Attorney-Generals Department for public disclosure. Still, it does not require ministers to disclose their meetings. The subsidies in the Future Made in Australia policy are expected to make lobbying even more important because of the direct link between government decisions and a companys bottom line. Tech start-up PsiQuantum gained advice from former Labor adviser Lidija Ivanovski and her firm Brookline Advisory to gain a $940 million investment in April to set up a quantum computing facility in Brisbane. From its roller coasters, amusement arcades and fortune tellers to bingo halls, ballroom waltzes and beach donkey rides, Blackpool has long had multi-generational appeal, so its fitting that theres fun for all the family at Showtown. The strollable, 10-kilometre, tram-lined seafront of Blackpool Promenade. Credit: Getty Images A decade in the making, part of a $600 million regeneration project for Britains biggest coastal resort, this new all-singing, all-dancing, all-weather museum celebrates Blackpools zest for entertainment and the characters who graced stages here in its heyday, from home-grown talents like Tommy Cooper and Stan Laurel to international stars such as Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland not to mention glove puppets like Orville the Duck and Sooty (a yellow bear bought by its handler, Harry Corbett, on one of Blackpools three piers in 1948). Showtown has old-time attractions as well as interactive fun. As I roam Showtowns immersive galleries that are split into themes like the seaside, circus, shows and magic, hazy memories stir from childhood outings to Blackpool with my Manchester-based relatives. I was a similar age to the giggling young people dashing about today, pressing, pulling and turning the museums interactive exhibits. While they honk the horn of a clown car, I spin a wheel that chatters a set of false teeth, a nod to Frank Randle, an early 20th-century comic who would throw fake gnashers into Blackpool audiences for a laugh. London: Where did you go to school? remains a very British question. Eton College, a boys boarding school near Windsor, just down the road from Heathrow Airport on the western edge of London, has captured the British imagination in films, books and TV for decades. The then Prince Charles drops off Prince Harry at Eton College in 1998. Credit: AP It is, no doubt, because the exclusive school which costs on average 46,000 ($87,400) a year per student is the crucible for generations of political leaders. No fewer than 20 of Britains 58 prime ministers were educated there, including the first, Robert Walpole, and, most recently, Boris Johnson. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili went to the United States to participate in the NATO summit in Washington, Trend reports. According to the information, the minister will take part in the anniversary NATO summit, which will be held from July 9 to 11, as well as at the meeting of foreign ministers of partner countries. The visit takes place against the backdrop of Washington's review of relations with official Tbilisi. Last week, Washington decided to postpone the annual NOBLE PARTNER exercise in Georgia, which was supposed to take place from July 25 to August 6, due to a review of relations with official Tbilisi. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. Georgia's EU accession process is stopped for now, said EU Ambassador to the country Pawel Herczynski, Trend reports. "Regrettably, Georgias EU accession process is stopped for now this has been decided by EU leaders during the last European Council. It is sad to see EU-Georgia relations at such a low point when they could have been at an all-time high," he told reporters. Moreover, the ambassador added that the EU has frozen its support for Georgia from the European Peace Facility - 30 million euros for 2024. "Other measures are being considered if the situation further deteriorates". On May 1, the Georgian Parliament gave its nod to the draft law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" in the second reading. It faced pushback from President Salome Zourabichvili, the opposition, and Western diplomats, who saw it as a stumbling block to the country's integration into the European Union. The leaders of the ruling party, "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia," argue that it only aims to ensure transparency in foreign funding for the non-governmental sector and media. Zourabichvili declared her intention to veto the draft law if it passes all three readings. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. Canada opposes expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its X page, Trend reports. "Canada firmly opposes the Government of Israels decision to approve new settlements in the West Bank," the ministry said. The ministry noted that such actions by the Israeli authorities violate international law and jeopardize the security of Palestinians, Israelis and other residents of the region. "We strongly urge the Government of Israel to reverse this decision," the ministry noted. Computer science degree boosts Weber County womans creativity, confidence July 9, 2024 OGDEN, Utah As a first-generation college student, Gissel Santoyo came to Weber State University a bit timid but left with a computer science degree and newfound confidence. I decided to go to college because my parents are immigrants from Mexico and over there, they didnt have the opportunities that I did to get an education, Santoyo said. A lifelong Weber County resident, Santoyo said she was always drawn to WSU: Its close by, it's affordable and Id heard really good things about it. She was particularly drawn to the computer science program as a creative outlet. Along with math, Santoyo enjoys drawing, puzzles and all kinds of design. With computer science, youre creating something, and I like to be creative, she said. The road to graduation wasnt always smooth, though. Santoyo said she struggled sometimes with mental health, but always had the drive to finish school. I knew it was for my future, she said. Even though I failed a couple classes, dropped a couple classes, I kept charging forward. I felt really supported my whole journey and Weber State opened a lot of different doors for me. Santoyo said she got help from supportive professors and advisors who pointed her to opportunities where she could use her talents to serve others. In summer 2023, she served as a STEM mentor for the WSU PREP program, teaching fundamentals of computer science to students grades 79. She also worked jobs on campus, including two semesters as a teaching assistant to Drew Weidman, WSU computer science professor. Santoyo earned her degree in April and already has a full-time job at Weber State. The new graduate works in the Division of Online & Continuing Education as a state authorization coordinator. She said she wants to continue teaching and mentoring whenever possible. Its important to teach, especially children, Santoyo said. Technology is always changing, and were gonna need their talent in the future. Even if its not computer science, Santoyo said she believes everyone should consider college. Higher education is something that will benefit you, not only in your career, but also personally, she said. I became a more confident person. The families of Taiwan writers Yu Guangzhong (1928-2017) and Sanmao (1943-91), born as Chen Maoping and also known to the English-speaking world as Echo Chan, recently donated a selection of their manuscripts and other literary documents to the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature in Beijing. They made the donation when they attended a forum on June 29 to enhance literary ties across the Taiwan Strait in Xiamen, Fujian province, which was held as part of the Straits Forum, the largest grassroots cross-Strait exchange event. It was the first literary event at the Straits Forum, which attracted 140 renowned writers from both sides, including Shu Ting, Zhang Xiaofeng and A Yi, as well as youth representatives from various universities. Sanmao's younger brother Chen Chieh says that in his sister's short life, she wrote many books beloved by readers on both sides of the Strait. "Sanmao loved traveling and writing; she cherished Chinese culture and left deep footprints on the Chinese mainland. This grand event is a rare opportunity to take her legacy home," Chen Chieh said of his sister, who was born and spent the first three years of her life in Chongqing until the family relocated to Taiwan in 1948. Yu's daughter Yu Pei-san talked about her late father's great love for books. "Ever since I was a child, I would see him carefully wiping his books, again and again, using his clothes. He didn't care much about clothes, but books were especially precious. "My father used to say that if we compare Chinese culture to concentric circles, the core would be Chinese culture while the radius would be the Chinese language. Wherever the Chinese language reaches, that's how far the circles extend. As long as the language survives, its spirit and culture will advance together, promoting one another." Taiwan writer Chen Hsiu-Mei, whose pen name is Chen Ruoxi, recalls how she embarked on her literary journey and the profound influence a teacher from the Chinese mainland had on her. She says that she hopes her life story will help the younger generations open their minds and create their own literary connections. According to Huang Wentao, deputy head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, the literary forum included a series of associated events, among which were discussions about writing novels and poetry, lectures and recitations of classical works. From July 1 to Wednesday, writers and youth representatives from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan visited Nanjing, the provincial capital of Jiangsu province, to go to the museums and experience the city's natural and cultural landscapes. Hu Bangsheng, Party group member of the China Writers Association, one of the organizers of the literary event, says that writers from both sides of the Strait share a profound literary tradition and have been enhancing exchange and mutual understanding of late. He says that in hosting the event, the organizers were seeking to deepen the friendship between literary circles on both sides through the medium of Chinese culture to build an exchange platform and nurture young writers. He adds that over the years, the China Writers Association has organized seminars and exchanged visits to promote literary connections between both sides of the Strait, and that the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature has manuscripts and other literary documents belonging to 30 Taiwan writers. It has also carried out research and preservation in this regard. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. A pro-Armenian US senator is accused of bribery and influence peddling, Trend reports via the ABC TV channel. Menendez, reaching the home stretch of his trial, is in hot water for allegedly taking bribes of gold bars, cold hard cash, and a fancy Mercedes Benz in return for pulling strings to meddle with law enforcement investigations into New Jersey businessmen, all while moonlighting for the Egyptian government. Assistant US Attorney Paul Monteleoni filed the relevant charge during the July 8 trial. "Robert Menendez, the senior US senator from the state of New Jersey, the ranking member and then-chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, put his power up for sale," Monteleoni said during a closing argument. He drove home the point that Menendez's actions are a textbook case of corruption. "It didn't satisfy his appetite to be one of the big fish in Washington. Menendez had a hunger for power, and he was also itching to line his pockets and feather his nest alongside his wife," the assistant attorney added. During the trial, the jurors got an eyeful of the gold bars that were confiscated from Menendez's home in New Jersey back in June 2022. The FBI also found over $480,000 in cash, most of which was enveloped and hidden in clothes and boxes. Besides, more than $70,000 in cash was seized from safe of his wife, Nadine Arslanian-Menendez. Menendez, 70, has stuck to his guns and pleaded not guilty to 16 criminal charges brought against him, including bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction of justice. The senator's wife was not in court because of cancer, and she will face the music separately in August. The list of bribery charges is related to actions taken by the senator, such as providing services to the governments of Egypt and Qatar in the course of his official duties, as well as assisting three New Jersey businessmen - Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, and Jose Uribe - in obtaining illegal profits. The senator has been found to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold, mortgage payments, and a luxury vehicle as bribes. During his nearly two decades as a member of the Senate, Menendez has been indicted on corruption charges in a federal criminal prosecution for the second time. Due to the jury's incapacity to render a verdict, the previous investigation concluded in a mistrial. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Barristers will protest at a number of courthouses across the country today (Tuesday) including Castlebar. Following a recommendation from the Council of The Bar of Ireland last month, criminal barristers around the country will withdraw their services today in the first of three days of protest taking place this month. Protests will take place at 16 courthouses nationwide where criminal cases are due to be heard, including Castlebar Courthouse. This is an escalation on the unprecedented action taken by criminal barristers all over the country on October 3 last, with the aim of seeking an independent, meaningful, time-limited and binding mechanism to determine the fees paid to criminal barristers by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme. Following the first withdrawal on October 3, 2023, a 10% restoration was subsequently announced in Budget 2024. However, even after this 10% was restored, the full range of FEMPI-era cuts that were applied across the public sector continue to apply to the profession, and the unilateral breaking of the link (in 2008) to public sector pay agreements has yet to be restored. This is despite a government commissioned review in 2018 acknowledging that the reversal of the cuts was justified given the level of reform and flexibilities delivered by the profession. Sara Phelan, SC, Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, said they have been left with no other option. It is with regret that we have recommended to criminal practitioners that they withdraw service again. No barrister wishes to be in this position, but we have been left with no choice." The government has just reported on the complete unwinding of FEMPI legislation this month, yet FEMPI-era cuts still apply to our profession. This is despite the fact that the role of criminal barristers has evolved significantly in that time frame, and we have at all times delivered on the required reforms and flexibilities. Yet, barristers continue to be treated differently to others in the criminal justice system and indeed to society at large," Ms Phelan added. Mayo advocate Dympna Mulroy from Muscular Dystrophy Ireland joined Rare Diseases Ireland at Leinster House to warn Oireachtas members that the number of diseases screened for using newborn bloodspot screening in Ireland, also known as the heel prick test, must be doubled from the current nine to the European average of 18. The heel prick test is delivered by the HSE National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP), and involves taking a small sample of blood from a newborn babys heel between 72 and 120 hours after birth for the early identification of serious medical conditions and rare diseases. NBS currently screens for nine rare but serious diseases. Screening enables early identification and treatment of these conditions, significantly improving health outcomes for affected infants. Each year, approximately 120 babies are diagnosed with one of these nine diseases through the NNBSP. Castlebar local Ms Mulroy joined RDI to call for the expansion of the NBS at a briefing event in Government Buildings for TDs, Senators and Government officials as part of its current Get Rare Aware campaign, which is highlighting how Ireland screens newborn babies for fewer diseases than 75 per cent of European countries. Residents of the direct provision centre in Ballyhaunis say they fear being moved to a hotel in Ballina which has been the focus of local protests over its conversion into an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre. Rispa Mwangi, a Kenyan national living seven years in the Ballyhaunis centre, said she is afraid of protests at the Ballina hotel, formerly the Twin Trees. At the entrance to the hotel there are placards everywhere saying things like Ballina Says No. Ms Mwangi is one of 20 mothers, all with refugee status or permission to remain in Ireland, who have been given notice to quit the international protection accommodation centre in Ballyhaunis. They will be moved to a hotel in Ballina if they have not found alternative accommodation by July 10, according to Owodunni Ola Mustapha (who also uses the moniker Oluwaseun Ola Sabigurl on social media), another member of the group and a mother of three. Ms Mustapha said she has travelled to Ballina to view the hotel and said she was concerned about an unwelcoming atmosphere there. All of the group received letters from IPAS in February to find their own accommodation by July 5. In the letters, IPAS explained that since the group has received refugee status with full rights to social welfare they are no longer entitled to accommodation at the Ballyhaunis centre, which is located in the towns old Mercy convent. Speaking during a protest organised by the group outside the old convent in Ballyhaunis on Saturday, Ms Mwangi also said she was worried about finding a doctor in Ballina as well as school places for her children. I am the mother of a one-month-old baby, also my second child has respiratory issues and having a GP is very important. We have a GP in Ballyhaunis and my children are in school here, she explained. Ms Mwangi also said she had looked online for school spaces in Ballina and there are none. The protestors unveiled a banner at the gate to the centre which read Housing for All. Others carried placards, one of which read Please give us more time, and our children. Another, carried by a Zimbabwean national, read: Asking for more time! House search hasnt been successful considering housing crisis in the country! A Georgian national who has lived at the IPAS centre in Ballyhaunis for eight years said she has been waiting for six weeks to get approval for housing assistance payments (HAP). Then yesterday they asked me for two more documents, she explained. Residents at the IPAS centre are not charged rent. Many have permission to work while they wait for a decision on their applications for asylum. Ms Mwangi and Ms Mustapha, who works as a carer, both explained they were willing to pay rent to remain at the centre. Colm Cafferky, organiser of the Community Action Tenants Union, told the protest that his group stands with the IPAS centre residents and that no one should be evicted in a housing crisis. A representative of People Before Profit in Castlebar, Joe Daly called on the local people of Ballyhaunis to help the residents oppose their eviction from the Ballyhaunis IPAS centre. A South Asian asylum seeker, waiting on a decision on her asylum application, told the Western People that she felt those who had received their papers should be asked to leave the centre to make way for asylum seekers without papers. I think theyre lucky to have gotten their papers, its reasonable to expect that they now leave the IPAS centre. An Bord Pleanala have granted planning permission for the construction of a building for the inspection of vehicles in Castlebar following objections from nearby residents association. Mayo County Council previously granted planning permission to MDS Commercial Centre Europe for the construction of a building for the inspection of vehicles at Castlebar Retail Park, Breaffy Road, Castlebar. An appeal against this decision was made to An Bord Pleanala by the Maryland Residents Association from the Maryland estate which is located to the north west of the site of the proposed development. The nearest residential dwelling to the proposed new building is 100m. There is an existing large HGV commercial property on site, that sells and repairs vehicles. The residents grounds of appeal includes their contention that no permission has been previously sought for use of the current commercial property for sales and the applicant is using the planning process to give de facto planning permission for another development not forming part of the original planning application thus circumventing the public consultation process. Pleanala inspector Darragh Ryan said it would not be appropriate to grant permission for the proposed development in these circumstances. On the basis of the submissions made in connection with the planning application and appeal, it appears to the Board that the proposed development relates to a site the use of which is unauthorised for the carrying on of sales of vehicles and that the proposed development would facilitate the consolidation and intensification of this unauthorised use, reported Mr Ryan. However, An Bord Pleanala refused the Inspectors recommendation. They said the proposed development was in accordance with the draft Castlebar Local Area Plan 2023-2029 and would not detract from the amenity of adjoining properties if it were compliant with a number of conditions. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 10. The NATO summit with the participation of 32 NATO member countries, partner countries and the European Union will be held in the US capital Washington from July 9 to 11, Trend reports. The event, held on the theme Ukraine and Transatlantic Security, is also dedicated to the 75th anniversary of NATO. 75 years ago, 12 countries met in Washington and signed the North Atlantic Treaty. The summit began with a round table on Women, Peace and Security, organized by the US State Department. Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, frontman of the band Okean Elzy, who had been in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2022, has been "demobilized". During his service, the musician "received a solid salary over the years." This is what the Ukrainian media reported. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZ.UA asked the spokeswoman for the band Okean Elzy, Victoriia Khomenko, to comment on the dismissal, and she suggested why the information about the dismissal appeared. She also told us where Vakarchuk's military salary goes. According to Viktoriia Khomenko, the musician did not leave the army: "Sviatoslav was mobilized in March 2022 this is known information. He came to the military commissariat in Lviv with his brother in the first days of the full-scale invasion. He serves as a moral and psychological training officer because he graduated from the military department at the university with a degree in military psychology and sociology. The information that he left the service is not true." ADVERTISIMENT "Over time, conscripts are transferred from one position to another," explains Viktoriia Khomenko, "and this is called dismissal, and later acceptance to another position. But this in no way means demobilization from the army. And the journalists, after reading about the dismissal, came to this conclusion. I talked to the editorial office where this material appeared, and they made corrections to the article. But you know, a story with a negative emotional coloring is always better read than a refutation." The media also reported that in his declaration for January early May 2024, Vakarchuk stated that he received UAH 89.6 thousand as a financial allowance for military service, and for 2022-2024, this amount was about UAH 850 thousand. "There is a financial support in any service," comments Victoriia Khomenko, "You can't just refuse it. And the army is a structure where you cannot come and say: "I will work for coffee, and here is the bill transfer the money here." Sviatoslav constantly transfers these funds to our fund himself, because we use it to make purchases for our friendly brigades. Right now, while talking to you, I am sending to the post office the contracts for six REBs, which cost our foundation 900 thousand hryvnias." ADVERTISIMENT "You know, late last night I was re-reading what was written on the Internet and thought: do people really think that Sviatoslav Vakarchuk takes money from the Armed Forces and somehow got rich from it?" Victoriia continues, "I even recently received a reminder on Facebook that a little over a year ago we raised funds for one of the Odesa brigades through a concert and an auction. We were 210 thousand short of two million. Sviatoslav added this money from his own money to the fund to make it a beautiful figure. "Yesterday we were very touched by the story with Okhmatdyt. We immediately agreed with Slava that we would donate 100 thousand hryvnias from the foundation. And in the evening I read all this my friends and acquaintances start sending me money..." "I'm sorry, really," Viictoria Khomenko adds, "I don't dare to make any personal collection, to ask people for money. All the years we have been donating our own money money from concerts or what we manage to accumulate from some other performances. And then this information... Vakarchuk lives on money from the Armed Forces? I don't even have a logical explanation for this. Perhaps this kind of information has some good purpose readers have a place to release tension, and fatigue, and compete in humor in the comments. I do not rule out that more memes will appear on this topic. But we won't get very far this way." ADVERTISIMENT "Sviatoslav Vakarchuk has served in the Armed Forces and will continue to donate funds to help the Ukrainian army. The 800-something thousand is a small part compared to the tens of millions we have transferred to the front. We have documented all this. "Of course, we discussed the situation with Sviatoslav," adds Victoriia, "He is sincerely surprised. He said: "They think I took this money for myself? Really?" How many times have I asked him to take a picture when he sends something to the front! It is very difficult to persuade him. When he goes to the guys, he takes what we have bought at that time into the car. But that's not all, because as soon as we get something, we try to send it right away, and not wait for Slavik to leave. But sometimes it happens that everything coincides. Many times I've said: "Slava, we really need photos, let someone take a picture with their phone." ADVERTISIMENT "He's angry: "I'm not going to show this. "Why?" Khomenko says, "I have several photos of him handing out the aid with his back to the camera. You can see that the man is ashamed. It's clear that if we posted such photos, we could hear that he was promoting himself. Good things are done quietly and all that. But the other part of people might now say: we don't see that he is helping, do we? And now that this story has happened, I even see it as a plus to some extent: it will be easier for me to explain to Slava why such pictures are needed." Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT The July 8 terrorist attack on civilian targets in Kyiv, where, in addition to houses and private buildings, the Okhmatdyt children's hospital was damaged, left no one indifferent. Not only did Ukrainians unite to help children and adults but foreigners also urged their followers not to remain silent about the tragedy. ADVERTISIMENT Many stars who had previously supported the Ukrainian people did not remain silent this time either. OBOZ.UA will tell you what friends of Ukraine think about the Russian attack. Designer Frank Wilde, who reminds the world of the war in Ukraine every day, announced a demonstration in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin to remind Europe how much Ukrainians need weapons. "To remind them that peace talks with terrorists who kill children with cancer are impossible. Only Ukraine's armed victory can bring peace. Ukraine must be able to protect its people and children from Russia," the fashion expert wrote. Timothy Snyder, a well-known historian and professor at Yale University and United24 ambassador, showed horrific videos from the site of the strike and wrote that Russia is bombing children with cancer. ADVERTISIMENT On August 7, 2022, American film and television actress Jessica Chastain personally arrived in Ukraine. The star visited the same Okhmatdyt children's hospital and talked to Ukrainian children who almost died yesterday. "This morning, Russian missiles struck the very hospital that was filled with children who were already in critical condition when these attacks took place," the star said. Popular Hollywood actress Jamie Lee Curtis published a heartbreaking post. ADVERTISIMENT "Kyiv today had its heart torn out. Russians hit several districts almost simultaneously and directly targetd the children's hospital - Okhmatdyt. Kyiv took hands today. Thousands of people are clearing the rubble - civilians and military, firefighters, veterans with prosthetics, grandmothers, nurses," the celebrity wrote. The "King of Horror" Stephen King also mentioned the shelling in his blog. He spoke about the bombed hospital and the 37 dead. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! Highest honour from an Oxford college for Witsie Athol Williams awarded an honorary fellowship for his social activism, scholarship and leadership. Wits alumnus Athol Williams (BSc Eng 1992) has been awarded an honorary fellowship from Hertford College, at the University of Oxford. It is the highest recognition an Oxford college can bestow. Williams is a poet, business and ethics scholar, and an anti-corruption advocate. He joined the Said Business School in September 2023 as a research associate. In a statement released on 3 July 2024, principal at Hertford College, Tom Fletcher said: His social activism, scholarship and leadership are a source of great pride to our community, and he will continue to be a source of great inspiration, advice and wisdom to our students. Williams has earned degrees from Wits, Harvard, Oxford, the London School of Economics, MIT and London Business School. His disclosures about US-based consultancy Bain & Co constituted a central part of the Zondo Commissions investigations and have had a global impact. He also published Deep Collusion: Bain and the capture of South Africa (Tafelberg, 2021). Commenting on the honour he said: It is an immense honour to be elected an Honorary Fellow at Hertford College, my alma mater. This recognition acknowledges the first part of my personal mission to strive for excellence; to live with compassion and possibility. But this recognition will also serve as a platform and powerful boost in pursuit of the second part of my mission, which is to enable and inspire others to do the same. I look forward to continuing my close working relationship with the college as it prepares and empowers the future leaders the world needs. In 2021 Williams spoke to WitsReview about the huge personal cost of his testimony which damaged his career and had a negative impact on his health. He fled South Africa in November 2021, believing his life was in danger because of the countrys poor protection of whistleblowers. In the UK he slowly rebuilt his life embracing opportunities here to share my philosophy that an ethical society becomes a prosperous society." Williams has recently contributed to the Ministry of the Future initiative at Hertford College, as a new international body to advocate for the worlds future generations as if their rights were equal to the present population. Composed of a growing network of interdisciplinary scholars, writers and climate-action-oriented managers and policymakers, it seeks to invent a sustainable political economy. Source: www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/news/ethics-scholar-athol-williams-made-honorary-fellow-university-oxfords-hertford-college The two members of the band KADNAY were met at the Blogger Awards 2024 charity event in Kyiv by Lviv blogger Nicolas Karma, who is interested in the cost of celebrity looks. The event was attended by frontman Dmytro Kadnay and bassist Denys Korkin. ADVERTISIMENT Fans were surprised by the big shoes, which is almost impossible to find in stores, because, as the vocalist says, they were bought a long time ago. Nicolas Karma posted a video analyzing the looks of both participants on Instagram. Dmytro wore a black classic suit with a velor flower boutonniere, a beige mesh T-shirt, and patent leather shoes. For accessories, he chose a wristwatch and a chain with pendants in the shape of a goldfish and a coin. "I bought the shoes a long time ago. About 100 [euros]. I have a very big problem with shoes. So, when I was still able to go abroad, I looked for large sizes. Because I have a 48.5. This is leather. These pants are made by Nazar Didyk. Well, let's say it's 200 dollars. This shirt was given to me by Lia Khmara for free. And this jacket is Hugo Boss. But to be honest, this jacket is from a second-hand store," Dmytro Kadnay said about his outfit. ADVERTISIMENT In total, his look cost over 12.5 thousand hryvnias, which are equivalent to $300. Denys Korkin also wore a classic suit and a white shirt underneath. He added a black tie and shoes to the look. "I don't have many stories about my look. I got the shoes three years ago. They cost 2000 hryvnias. The jacket cost 2500 or 3000 hryvnias. Tie - 200 hryvnias. Pants - 1300 hryvnias. A shirt cost about 980 hryvnias," the guitarist said about the cost of his outfit. In total, is it 7200 hryvnias. ADVERTISIMENT However, Dmytro Kadnay decided to reveal the secret about Korkin's travels to the event, "Before this award, Dan's power was cut off. And he came earlier so that I iron [the shirt] for him." In the comments, Ukrainians were delighted with the charisma of the artists and their business looks: "And you know what the joke is? That these two guys have donated as much money as the jewelry of yesterday's woman, and even more... If I'm not mistaken, it's about 1.5 million dollars. 100% respect!" "But honestly... this jacket is from a second-hand store. And this is the famous Dmitry Kadnay! Sincere and open, dressed in style without unrealistic prices in thousands of euros!" "Oh, I love the aura of the guys, without all that pride, showing and proving who they are... A second-hand jacket and he tells it like it is." ADVERTISIMENT "How simple and truthful everything is, and how sincere they radiate." "Size 48?" "God, finally normal guys without pride." Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allocated UAH 100 million from the state budget reserve fund to carry out priority restoration work at Okhmatdyt after the Russian missile strike on July 8. In this case, each affected family, together with UNICEF, will receive assistance for 10.8 thousand UAH per family member. ADVERTISIMENT The clinic will be rebuilt completely, and work will begin immediately, although the reconstruction project has not yet been approved. This was emphasized by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a government meeting on June 9. According to him, funding for the restoration of Okhmatdyt will increase. "Today, we are allocating UAH 100 million from the state budget reserve fund for the priority restoration work at Okhmatdyt. We will further increase funding as the reconstruction project is prepared," the Prime Minister said. He reminded that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had set a task to find places for doctors and patients from the destroyed buildings as soon as possible. "Such locations have already been found. These are Kyiv Regional Clinical Hospitals #1 and #2. We are giving the appropriate order to start the relocation," Shmyhal said. ADVERTISIMENT The Prime Minister also noted that the United24 platform managed to raise UAH 100 million for Okhmatdyt in a few hours. All these funds will also be used to restore the hospital. As OBOZ.UA reported, on July 8, Russia attacked the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv. The shelling destroyed the toxicology building and damaged the central building. Russian terrorists hit the building where children were receiving dialysis. The intensive care unit was also destroyed as a result of the shelling. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! On the night of July 9, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine conducted a successful operation to destroy military targets in Russia. The military airfield Akhtubinsk in the Astrakhan region was hit. ADVERTISIMENT The "cotton" also blossomed at a 500 kV power substation in the Rostov region and an oil depot in Kalach-on-Don in the Volgograd region. This was reported to OBOZ.UA by sources. "Thanks to a joint operation of the SBU and the DIU, cotton has blossomed at the Akhtubinsk military airfield in Astrakhan region, at a 500 kV power substation in Rostov region, and at an oil tank farm in Kalach-on-Don in Volgograd region," the source said. Earlier, videos of the aftermath of the attack in Rostov and Volgograd regions of Russia were posted online. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZ.UA's source also noted that during the UAV attack on the Akhtubinsk military airfield, the Russian public channels wrote about the operation of the Pantsyr air defense system and a series of strong explosions. However, propagandists later deleted these reports. This, according to the source, indicates a successful attack, as the practice of "clearing" the information space after the defeat of important military facilities in Russia is widely practiced by the authorities of the aggressor state. The Akhtubinsk air base of the occupation forces in the Astrakhan region is located 2 km from the northeastern outskirts of the city of the same name. The airfield belongs to the 929th State Flight Test Center of the Russian Defense Ministry named after V.P. Chkalov. It is used for testing and training flights of military aircraft. The largest airfield in Russia, Groshevo (Volodymyrivka), is located 20 km from the airfield. ADVERTISIMENT The invaders used the Akhtubinsk airfield for attacks on the territory of Ukraine. It is noteworthy that almost exactly a month ago, on June 8 this year, this air base, located 589 km from the front line, was already under attack. Then, according to the DIU, several drones flew to the airfield, and it was reported that it was the first time a fifth-generation Russian Su-57 fighter jet was hit. "The SBU, together with the DIU and other defense forces, will continue to ensure hot summer nights at Russian military facilities working for the war against Ukraine. The enemy will pay for all its inhuman crimes," the source said. ADVERTISIMENT On the morning of July 9, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian drones had attacked six regions of Russia: They reported the "destruction and interception" of 38 drones. As a reminder, on the night of July 9, it became known that unknown good drones attacked the Volgograd region of Russia: After that, a fire broke out on the territory of the refinery. In addition, UAVs attacked the Rostov region of Russia. A power substation caught fire there as a result of an arrival. According to Russian media, explosions during the air raid were also heard in Belgorod, and thick smoke rose over the city. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT No room for privacy: How Airbnb fails to protect guests from hidden cameras The Armed Forces of Ukraine launched ATACMS missiles on the temporarily occupied Crimea. Thus, they destroyed Russian air defense systems, command posts and airfields. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator of the US National Security Council, during a briefing. He noted that it is not the first time that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have shown that they can deter the largest army in Europe with the support of Western countries. "The success of the Ukrainian military is not limited to the frontline. The Ukrainian Armed Forces used long-range ATACMS strike missiles provided by the United States in Crimea, destroying Russian anti-aircraft missile systems, command posts, and airfields," Kirby said. In addition, he said, Ukraine sank a ship in the port of Sevastopol with cruise missiles. That is why the Russian Black Sea Fleet has now left Crimea. As previously reported, the United States will not lift the restrictions on the Ukrainian military to strike at Russian territory using American weapons. This policy will remain in effect despite the Russian attacks on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital. ADVERTISIMENT Recently, it became known that the Russians have withdrawn all missile launchers from the temporarily occupied Crimea. They have left only supply ships on the peninsula. In total, during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our soldiers have destroyed more than 20% of the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New commissioner vows to uphold older peoples rights in Wales This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 9th, 2024 The incoming older peoples commissioner for Wales vowed to uphold older peoples rights amid concerns about the watchdogs independence. Rhian Bowen-Davies, the Welsh Governments preferred candidate to be the next older peoples commissioner, appeared before Senedd members for a pre-appointment hearing. Ms Bowen-Davies recognised concerns that the watchdog for older peoples rights is funded by, and ultimately accountable to, the Welsh Government. She said: People are going to see that and think, how can the commissioner be independent if the money is coming from the government? But Ms Bowen-Davies stressed she would take an objective, evidence-led approach that is guided by the seven Nolan principles of public life. She said: The role is independent and my purpose is to safeguard and promote the rights of older people in Wales and thats what will drive every decision that I make. Discrimination Outlining her CV, she told the equality committee she has more than 20 years experience in the public and voluntary sectors, making her well placed for the 90,000-a-year role. Ms Bowen-Davies was Wales first national adviser on domestic abuse in 2015 and, in recent years, chaired domestic homicide reviews with some cases involving older victims. In undertaking those reviews, I have started to understand what matters to older people in their day-to-day lives, she said. And some of the challenges and issues they experience in terms of having their voices heard, in terms of being able to access services, the social isolation and loneliness that they experience but also the discrimination and prejudice that they face. A fluent Welsh speaker and a former police officer, Ms Bowen-Davies described herself as an effective communicator who is resilient, determined, brave and bold. Self-imposed ageism Ms Bowen-Davies stressed the need to promote awareness of rights, warning: I dont think our older population as a whole understand and are aware of the rights that they have. The would-be commissioner raised concerns about self-imposed ageism, saying people sometimes wrongly think their rights diminish as they get older. She said an early priority would be older people who have additional protected characteristics such as a disability or those who identify as LGBT. Ms Bowen-Davies warned that this intersectionality of needs can lead to multiple additional barriers in terms of accessing services or people having their voices heard. In response to Conservative concerns about politically motivated appointments, Ms Bowen-Davies assured the committee she has no party political background Asked if she has any conflicts of interests, she replied: I dont believe so, no. Rubber stamped Ministers received 12 applications, with six candidates interviewed by a panel including social justice secretary Lesley Griffiths and equality committee chair Jenny Rathbone. Julie Morgan was elected temporary committee chair for the meeting on July 8 as her Labour colleague recused herself from the pre-appointment scrutiny session. The first minister rather than the Senedd as with some other public appointments will now make the final decision on appointing the next older peoples commissioner. In an information pack for candidates, the Welsh Government expected a new commissioner to take up post by August 2024 or soon after for a fixed seven-year term. If rubber stamped as expected, Ms Bowen-Davies will replace Helena Herklots who has been older peoples commissioner since 2018. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Wrexham Business shortlisted for Great British Entrepreneur Awards This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 9th, 2024 A Wrexham based business has been shortlisted as an Early Stage Stand Out in Wales at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2024. Ticket Buddiez, based in Wrexham, has been recognised for its outstanding contributions to Customer Service. The company, which launched just a few months ago, offers customer support outsourcing for new, established or rapidly growing brands. The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, often referred to as the Grammys of Entrepreneurship, celebrates the achievements of the UKs most dynamic and innovative businesses. Each year, the awards receive thousands of applications, underscoring the competitive nature and high standard of the competition. This years shortlist showcases a combined turnover of nearly 2.9 billion and employs approximately 20,000 people, highlighting the critical role these businesses play in driving economic growth and innovation. Emily Allcroft, Ticket Buddiez founder, said she feels so unbelievably lucky and super duper proud to have been shortlisted for the GBEA. We only launched a few months ago, and have been absolutely flat out since then to establish and grow our business, she added. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and we are excited to celebrate this achievement with the wider entrepreneurial community. I have Lupus, amongst other health conditions and this recognition feels like a win against my illness. If I can start a business and be a finalist at the GBEA just a few months later, then anyone can and I really hope to shine a light on the opportunities available if people take a bet on themselves. Previous winners of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards include the founders of BrewDog, MyEnergi, Zilch, Grenade, and ClearScore, who have gone on to become household names. The awards ceremony will take place on Monday 18 November, at Londons prestigious Grosvenor House, where winners for each category in each region will be announced. This event is the largest entrepreneurial celebration in the UK, providing a platform for businesses to connect, celebrate, and champion the spirit of entrepreneurship. Francesca James, Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: The calibre of entries this year is truly outstanding. These entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, and their stories are a testament to the incredible resilience and creativity of the UKs business community. We are thrilled to recognise their achievements and support their continued growth. Conrad Ford, Chief Product & Strategy Officer at headline sponsor Allica Bank, added: It has been a real honour to sponsor this years Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Hearing the inspiring stories from the incredible businesses that these awards champion really brings to life the important contribution that British entrepreneurs make to our economy. For further information about Ticket Buddiez head over to www.ticketbuddiez.com. For further information about The Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards visit www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com Wrexham student reaping benefits of volunteering at hospice charity shop This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 9th, 2024 A Wrexham University student is reaping the benefits of volunteering at a Chester charity shop. Anush Thallada, 28, originally from Telangna, Southern India is studying her Masters in Business Administration whilst also giving up her time at the Hope House Ty Gobaith store on Chesters Frodsham Street. She began her volunteering as part of her studies and despite completing the two month placement has decided to stay on, giving one to three mornings of her week to help develop her skills. Its such a different experience, said Anusha. I have learned many skills, things such as communication, dealing with customers, networking and made friends with the other staff too. The training I have had off the manager, Rebecca has been great and she has taught me so much. Knowing that I am helping the children and families is also very rewarding. Hope House Ty Gobaith support over 750 children and families at their hospices in Oswestry and Conwy with ongoing care, respite stays, physiotherapy, end of life and bereavement counselling. The charity is appealing for more student volunteers like Anusha to come forward over the summer break at their stores throughout Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire, and also when returning to the area to resume their studies. Chester shop manager, Rebecca Hemmings said: We love having student volunteers and welcome contact from universities or colleges, as well as individuals. It can be so beneficial to young people who are looking to gain confidence and improve their skills in the retail sector. We provide training in many aspects of retail such as stock sorting and rotation, till operating and of course good customer service. Anusha is wonderful to have at our store and a real asset to the team. If you or somebody you know could volunteer with Hope House Ty Gobaith then find your nearest branch at hopehouse.org.uk/find-a-shop and call in to see the manager. Alternatively, you can visit the Hope House Hospice website to sign up and learn more. Last Saturday at a supermarket for Eastern European products in Offenbach near Frankfurt, a WSWS team mobilised support for the campaign to free Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk. Bogdan is being held in a Ukrainian prison. He is wrongly accused of treason in the service of Vladimir Putin. In reality, he had the courage to resist the war in Ukraine, which has already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. Bogdan has built up the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL) in Ukraine, which fights against the pro-war policy of both sides, the Ukrainian and Russian governments, and for the unity of the Ukrainian and Russian working class. Campaign for Bogdan Syrotiuk in front of supermarket in Offenbach, July 6, 2024 At the Mix market in Offenbach, we spoke about Bogdan and the war in Ukraine with workers from Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova and the former Yugoslavia. The reactions were unanimously against the war, which is being waged as a proxy war against Russia by the US government and its NATO partners in Berlin. Practically everyone who took the time to read through the first few lines of the leaflet expressed their disgust at the political campaign against a young socialist and opponent of war. In the 21st century, we should be able to live without war in the world, said Daria from Bulgaria. This boy is in prison there in Ukraineapparently the Ukrainian government only imprisoned him because he fought against the war. Most of them commented to the effect, even in passing, Yes, we are against this war. Its a big disaster. Not a single person supported the narrative of the German government and the political establishment that the war was necessary to defend democracy in Ukraine and Western values against Russia. I am against both sides waging war there, said Vasily from Romania, and in my opinion both America and Russia are responsible. But I think America is the driving force that wants this war. The Ukrainian people are right in between, they are not the source of the war that is now destroying their country. Vasily works as an electronics technician in Hesse, and would rather not have his boss see his photo on the internet, but he spoke out clearly against the warmongers and in favour of Bogdan Syrotiuks liberation: This Bogdan fought against war, I have great respect for that. Its terrible that hes sitting in Zelenskys prison for it. He continued, Zelensky is a puppet of America. Vasily pointed out where US imperialism had already intervened in recent years: They interfere everywhere. If you look at where they have invaded, where they have waged war in recent years, it started with Yugoslavia. Then came Afghanistan, then Iraq, Syria and Libya. They are destroying everything. All these countries have been destroyed. People have been left impoverished and can barely live. Burjan Burjan, a construction worker in the Taunus region, asked with interest: Oh, this young man is in Zelenskys prison? You have to get him out of there, yes, yes, I think thats right. He said, This Zelensky is getting help from every country, from Germany and the USA. But its costing us workers a lot of money. He referred to the recent industrial action in construction and the way in which the IG BAU construction union pushed through a low wage settlement. We now have to work more, and because of Ukraine we have to do without 80 euros, which is being taken from us. Burjan continued, Every war leaves poor people behind. When will this war end? The war in Ukraine strongly reminded him of his homeland in the former Yugoslavia. That was a wonderful country, but what has the war done to it? In Yugoslavia, Croats, Bosnians, Serbs22 million people!lived together peacefully until the war came. Today they are all small, separate countries: Croatia with around 4 million, Bosnia with 3 million ... whats the point of all this? Its not good for the people. This is exactly what he sees in Ukraine: Ukrainians and Russians lived together in one big countrythe Soviet Union. And then this war was instigated by the secession. Its not good for the people, you can see that all over the world: just look at Israel, whats happening to Gaza today. Children are dying by the dozen thereits cruel. Burjan also addressed the plight of Ukrainians living in Germany as refugees and immigrants. They are being refused passports at Ukrainian consulates and the German government is threatening to withdraw their welfare benefits in order to force them back into the war as cannon fodder. Its all terrible for them now, said Burjan. I can fully understand that: When I came to Germany, I initially only received a limited stay permit, which I had to have extended every six months. I came here in 1994 and lived here for eight years with limited status until 2002, when I was sent back, which was difficult. I only came back later. But I didnt have any permanent papers for a long time. And maybe the same thing is happening with the Ukrainians. They have no permanent papers; I know how difficult that is, especially when you have a family and small children. You have everything set up, you have a job, you have to pay for the flat, the children have their school here and are learning the language. Then you have to leave again. Its very difficult, especially if the country is a war zone. We call on all our readers: Sign the petition to demand Bogdan Syrotiuks release! Share the information about his case on social networks and discuss it with friends and colleagues. Get in touch with us and join the fight for Bogdans freedom! You can find more information at: wsws.org/freebogdan. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reported on his visits to Kyiv and Moscow to the EU leadership in a non-public letter. In it, the politician noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is convinced that "time is not on Ukraine's side." ADVERTISIMENT The content of the letter, which Orban sent to European Council President Charles Michel and the heads of EU member states, was reviewed by the Sistema investigative project. Radio Liberty received it from a European official who wished to remain anonymous. Two other EU officials also confirmed the authenticity of the letter. In the letter, Orban emphasized that during his trips to Ukraine and Russia, he did not speak on behalf of the entire EU but only wanted to learn about the positions of the parties. Any contrary statements "are groundless," he said. The Hungarian prime minister noted that Putin's attitude to the situation on the front line "differs significantly from President Zelenskyy's interpretation." In particular, the Russian authorities are convinced that "time is not on the side of Ukraine but on the side of Russian forces." ADVERTISIMENT "Putin did not mention Russian losses in any way. As for the Ukrainian side, the Russian side estimates the monthly losses at 40-50 thousand soldiers, which have increased even more in recent weeks. Therefore, (Putin - Ed.) was surprised that the President of Ukraine rejected the proposal for a temporary ceasefire," the letter reads. Peace talks Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said that Ukraine was not ready for a temporary ceasefire as Russia could use this period to build up forces in the occupied territories. Judging by Orban's statement, Putin fears the same actions on the part of Ukraine. "According to the Russian president, they are ready to consider any proposal for a ceasefire that does not serve as a covert redeployment and regrouping of Ukrainian forces," he wrote. According to the politician, both Moscow and Kyiv are ready for peace talks only with the participation of both sides. After the Peace Summit in Switzerland, Ukraine announced that it would invite Russia to the next summit. This is the only point in the letter where Orban recounts Ukraine's position on the talks in detail. ADVERTISIMENT The rest of the text on this issue is devoted to the thoughts of the Russian dictator. Thus, Putin said that he was ready to agree only to the conditions defined during the talks in Istanbul in April 2022, "especially the fifth paragraph of the document, which defines the international security guarantees that should be provided to Ukraine." This refers to the veto right of the so-called guarantors of Ukraine's security over the possible use of force against it, and Russia wanted to see itself among these guarantors. Moscow also said in the letter that it was "ready to exchange views" on the so-called peace proposal of China and Brazil. It provides for "peace talks" between Ukraine and Russia and does not mention the need to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT Official campaigning for the July 28 presidential elections in Venezuela started last week. Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro and the US-backed opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia stand as the main contenders for a six-year term, but neither represents a solution to the deepening social catastrophe keeping millions in utter misery. Nicolas Maduro and Maria Corina Machado [Photo: Wikimedia Commons] Maduro and Gonzalez both spoke to mass rallies on Thursday in Caracas and claimed that their victory was all but certain. The pro-opposition caravan concentrated in the relatively wealthier neighborhoods in eastern Caracas, but the size of the rally and participation of broader layers points to a shift of support. The capital has long been a stronghold of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which has ruled the country for 25 years under Hugo Chavez and his hand-picked successor, Maduro. A political nonentity with a diplomatic background, Gonzalez Urrutia has been endorsed by all major opposition parties as a stand-in for Maria Corina Machado, the leader of the Unitary Platform whose candidacy was disqualified by the courts. Similar crowds have gathered across dozens of cities in PSUV and opposition rallies. On Saturday, thousands flooded Barinas, the birthplace of Chavez, in support of Gonzalez-Machado. In just over a decade, the economy has shrunk by more than three-fourths, and 7.7 million Venezuelans, a fourth of the population, have left the country. The overwhelming sentiment is desperation for change. All but the top 6 percent live under the poverty line, according to the Andres Bello Catholic University. Average pay in the private sector is $210 per month, compared to estimates of a basic basket of goods of $380 to $500. The economic drought is the result primarily of a drop in oil prices and US economic sanctions, with corruption and mismanagement as significant factors. Under both Chavez and Maduro, the government prioritized paying foreign bondholders over covering basic necessities, while sanctions have deprived it of foreign reserves to import medicines, food and machinery. Studies have linked US sanctions with tens of thousands of deaths, even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a hypocritical fashion, one of the most ardent supporters of US sanctions and regime change, Machado, has sought to exploit the sentiment for change by linking the image of Maduro with hunger and migration, and making vague promises of living wages, an economic reopening and freedom. There is little love for these puppets of imperialist looting and aggression, however. A poll showed 70 percent of Venezuelans think those who have backed US sanctions should be held accountable. But whatever support Machado has gained is all the more damning for Maduro and the entire bourgeois nationalist project of Bolivarianism, which was fraudulently presented as socialism despite maintaining a super-wealthy Boli-bourgeoisie profiting from government contracts. Workers in Venezuela should make no mistake. Neither Maduro nor the US-backed opposition has anything to offer but a turn to open military dictatorship and fascistic forms of rule. The right-wing opposition, just like capitalist politicians everywhere in the world, is fearful of generating popular expectations of major social improvements that would make an explosive clash with the working class all but certain. As a result, the opposition has again pitched its appeals to the international communityi.e., the imperialist powers and their lackeysand to the Venezuelan military. No sooner did the official campaign begin than Gonzalez Urrutia issued a statement on Friday appealing to the military: The people are counting on its military to respect and enforce their sovereign will. I summon you to the new stage that will open in our country, in which you will once again play an outstanding role. Machado then wrote on X: Members of the Armed Forces, the nation needs you, the Constitution must be your north and guide. We are convinced that our military will guarantee a legitimate and orderly transition. In numerous previous attempts to sway it in favor of regime change, the military leadership has remained loyal to the PSUV regime. However, while it is not said openly, the calculation of US imperialism and its puppets is straightforward: an electoral victory for the opposition would show that the PSUV is now useless as a means of suppressing popular opposition from below and maintaining the working class under control. In other words, safeguarding capitalist rule, which is fundamental for protecting the privileges and ill-gotten wealth for the military chiefs, requires a change of regime and a partnership with US imperialism. On the other hand, US imperialism and its fascistic allies in the region are increasingly raising the possibility of military and other forms of provocations against Venezuela to overthrow Maduro. The threat of a US military incursion is not off the table in the context of an expanding third world war and imperialist push to recolonize the world. The economic and military ties between Caracas and Moscow, Beijing and, to a lesser extent, Teheran, are intolerable for Washington in its own backyard as it prepares for military conflict against China and Russia. As thousands marched in Barinas on Saturday, about 3,500 fascists cheered for Gonzalez and Machado at the fascistic CPAC rally hosted by Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, following an appeal by former Chilean presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kastan open defender of the fascist dictator Augusto Pinochetfor an international coalition to overthrow Maduro and have Venezuelan expatriates return. We have to use all our tools to dislodge this narco-dictator, he said, including the creation of a coalition to help Venezuelans free themselves from the dictatorship. Meanwhile, six opposition campaign leaders wanted by the Maduro regime have received political asylum for over 100 days at the Argentine embassy in Caracas. Argentine President Javier Milei, who belongs along with Machado to the fascistic Madrid Forum and has legitimized the crimes under the last Argentine military dictatorship, has aggressively pushed to steer the region into the US-NATO camp. Under the ally of Milei and Kast, Donald Trump, who is leading the polls ahead of the US presidential elections in November, economic sanctions were intensified and a failed attempt was launched to send US mercenaries to kidnap Maduro and the Venezuelan leadership and install the self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido. For its part, the Maduro administration has combined the usual anti-imperialist rhetoric, military saber-rattling about taking over disputed territory in neighboring Guyana and new agreements with Moscow with appeals to US imperialism to reach a new agreement. Last week, Maduro agreed to a request by the Biden administration to renew negotiations in Doha, Qatar, on the sidelines of the Israel-Hamas talks overseen by the CIA. According to Geoff Ramsey of the imperialist think tank Atlantic Council, Washington fears that Maduro might ban the candidacy of Gonzalez at the last minute and hopes to dangle an offer of US sanctions relief in exchange for letting the elections take their course. Legal appeals have been presented before Venezuelas Supreme Court to disqualify Gonzalez, arrest Machado and suspend the elections. The Venezuelan government has insisted that discussions should be limited to last years bilateral agreement in Qatar, which means that Caracas does not even want to discuss the elections. Sanctions on trading Venezuelan oil were reinstated in April after the banning of Machado, but the US Treasury Department has given special licenses to certain US and European companies. The US government has become the de facto authority over most Venezuelan oil production. On the other hand, a US appeals court ruled last Wednesday that Venezuelas most valuable foreign asset, the oil company CITGO, cannot be used as collateral for US corporations and bondholders demanding compensation from unpaid debt and for nationalizations by Caracas. CITGO, which still manages over 4,000 gas stations and two major oil refineries, will thus remain in the hands of the US-backed opposition, which is merely a front for US intelligence. In 2019, Washington took the blatantly illegal decision to steal the company from Caracas and hand it over to Guaido and his lackeys to finance regime change and stuff their pockets. As the German governmenta coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democratic Party (FDP)is finalizing the details of its new war budget, it has already been revealed that it plans to slash the countrys citizens allowance by 2.6 billion in the coming year. Citizens allowance is paid out to the unemployed and low-paid. It totals at most 563 a montha sum far too little to live on. The latest cuts to the income allowance were announced by several social organisations with reference to leaked figures. Specifically, the government plan involves cuts of 1.6 billion to job centres and 900 million currently paid out for vocational training and rehabilitation services for social welfare recipients. Queue in front of a food bank in Frankfurt-Hochst Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has already pushed through a war budget for the current year. On the one hand, record sums are being spent on war and rearmament; at the same time, Lindner has declared war on the working class by significantly reducing social spending. In order to establish Germany as Europes leading military power, the government has freed up more than 90 billionthe highest increase in military spending since the Second World War. As a resultand because the government refuses to increase taxes on shareholders and the super-richLindner, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) now have to fill a budget gap of several dozen billion euros for the coming year, 2025. They are doing this through austerity measures totalling billions. Citizens income is always the first target. The start of the war in Ukraine two and a half years ago also marked the beginning of the constant attacks on this meagre form of support. At the beginning of 2024, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) threatened that anyone who did not cooperate satisfactorily with the demands of job centres would face months of withdrawal of the citizens allowance. The victims are people with special problems, explained the Protestant Social Organisation, for example those who cannot properly read and write, or people with mental illnesses or addiction problems. It didnt take long for the cuts to be extended to broader sections of the working class. Currently, around 5.5 million people receive citizens benefits via a job centre, and the trend is rising. Poverty is increasing overall in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, one in four children and one in four young adults in Germany are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. More than half of statutory pensions (10.1 million) are below the poverty line at less than 1,100 per month. The State Labour Working Group (LAG Arbeit), which is now sounding the alarm, is an association of organisations that care for socially disadvantaged young people, migrants and refugees, poor senior citizens and people with disabilities. Grouped together in the Federal Network for Labour and Social Participation, these associations have sent an open letter to Finance Minister Lindner and Social Affairs Minister Heil. This open letter is a damning indictment of the coalition government. It points out that the functioning of job centres is already no longer financially viable to a sufficient extent. In fact, despite constantly rising unemployment figures, their budget has already been cut by half a billion in the current year 2024. As the open letter states, this means that tried-and-tested and meaningful measures for the long-term unemployed are being massively cut across Germany and social participation and the opportunity to integrate into the labour market are being denied. In this situation, the planned cuts will have a devastating effect. In future, job centres will no longer be able to provide for many people who are likely to slip into long-term unemployment. The reduction in integration benefits will effectively result in the exclusion of people who are considered remote from the labour market, the open letter states. Important social services such as food banks, neighbourhood projects and social provision stores are also under massive threat. These organisations have already taken on a large part of public municipal services: for example, providing home furnishings and initial basic needs, counselling for refugees, supplying pensioners with food or providing low-income families with children with other social services. The latter reveals the rotten state of German society. In the much-vaunted social market economy, basic social functions, such as providing pensioners with food, are dependent on organisations that largely rely on volunteers. It is precisely these organisations that are now to be deprived of state funding. Parallel to this social attack, politicians have unleashed a vicious campaign against so-called shirkers and social parasites. While concealing the assets of the super-rich and their own privileges, they arrogantly lay blame for social ills on those who supposedly dont want to work. For example, Finance Minister Lindner complained on The Pioneer portal: We are spending billions of euros to support people who dont work. What is needed is a labour market policy that increases demands made upon the unemployed, he said. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder (CSU) insistently repeats: We have to work more again (by we he means you). In his ARD t.v. summer interview, Chancellor Scholz commented on the planned changes to the citizens income, saying that the governments aim was to increase certainty: Nobody should shirk [from work]. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, SPD leader Saskia Esken threatened that the government would no longer tolerate citizens allowance recipients caught working illegally: There must be no false tolerance for illegal labour. However, there is a method to the cuts. They serve the purpose of further expanding the countrys already huge low-wage sector. After all, anyone who does not want to slip into the downward spiral of long-term unemployment is forced to take one (or more) of the increasing number of low-paid jobs. At the same time, this serves to exert pressure on the working class and further reduce real wages. This is all part of the economic turnaround planned by the government. A caricature comes to mind. A government politician boasts, I have created a million jobs; a worker replies, And I have three of them. Against this backdrop, the arrogant appeals by leading politicians that Germans must work more are a serious threat. It amounts to new, systematic and brutal attacks on the rights and achievements of the entire working class. This will provoke fierce class conflicts, of which the recent warning strikes by train drivers, for example, are just a foretaste. In this context, the established parties, with their own right-wing policies, are paving the way for the far-right Alternative for Germany and allowing the AfD to profit from growing frustration. History teaches that when it comes to enforcing social and democratic attacks in the interests of imperialist war, a fascist party is needed. The working class can only win the impending struggles if it organises itself independently of all established parties, including the Left Party and the newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht party. Its struggle must be international and anti-capitalist with the aim of reorganising society according to the principles of a socialist programme. The Socialist Equality Party (PSG), the International Committee of the Fourth International and its organ, the World Socialist Web Site, are fighting for this programme. The Israeli regime has killed 186,000 people in its nine-month genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, far more than the total publicized in the corporate media, according to an analysis by the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet. A Palestinian child looks at the graves of people killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip and buried inside the Shifa Hospital grounds in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 [AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar] The horrific figure means that some eight percent of the enclaves prewar population has been slaughtered by air bombardments, has starved to death or has succumbed to disease or chronic health problems due to the absence of basic medical care. The death toll, based on a conservative methodology applied by public health scientists, underscores once again the urgency of the international working class intervening at the head of a global anti-war movement to put a stop to the Gaza genocide and the barbaric capitalist system that has produced it. The reports chilling estimate took as its starting point the official death toll reported by Gazas Health Ministry at the time of the studys preparation, 37,396. It noted that this figure is undoubtedly a massive undercount. Given that the United Nations estimated that 35 percent of all buildings in Gaza had been destroyed by the end of February, there are likely at least 10,000 bodies buried under the rubble, but not included in The Lancet study. According to the study, in recent conflicts the indirect death toll has typically ranged from three to 15 times the total number of direct deaths. Applying the lower-end formula of four indirect deaths for every direct death to the Gaza genocide, the report reached its gruesome conclusion of roughly 186,000 victims. The ratio of indirect deaths could be far greater, given the huge quantity of munitions dropped on Gaza and the Israeli governments barbaric policy of denying food, medical supplies, fuel and other basic necessities to the desperate population. The death toll could therefore be many tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands greater than The Lancets estimate. A ratio of 10 indirect deaths to every direct death, still well within the range of recent conflicts cited by The Lancet, would produce an estimate of more than 400,000 deaths. To find comparable examples of mass death on this scale, it is necessary to recall the crimes of the most brutal regimes in history. During the Nazis war of annihilation against the Soviet Union, a preplanned campaign of aggression aimed at exterminating Europes Jews and creating lebensraum for German imperialism, the Waffen-SS Einsatzgruppen tasked with massacring Jews killed an estimated 500,000 within the first six months of the invasion. Israel has been able to kill and maim Palestinians on such a scale and obliterate Gazas infrastructure thanks to the steady flow of high-powered weapons from the United States, Germany and other imperialist powers. This includes some 14,000 2,000-pound bombs, one of which is sufficient to flatten multiple buildings. The number of indirect deaths has unquestionably been pushed higher by the targeting of hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, and the destruction of water treatment, sewage and other basic infrastructure. According to the UN, just one-third of Gazas hospitals and 30 percent of primary healthcare facilities are functioning to some degree. The deliberate denial of food, water and other aid to the Palestinians has exposed many thousands to the slow death of starvation. In the latest UN-sponsored Integrated Food Phase Classification (IPC) report on hunger levels, international experts found that more than one in five Gazans goes entire days without eating and faces catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Over half of the population has no food to eat at home, and 96 percent face food insecurity at crisis levels, which is phase 3 on the IPCs five-phase scale. These crimes against humanity are being perpetrated with cold-blooded calculation by the far-right Zionist regime. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his fascist regime can only act as they do because they enjoy the unconditional support of the imperialist powers. US President Biden, German Chancellor Scholz and other imperialist leaders have not only ensured that Israels war chest is full of the most destructive weapons that money can buy. They have also launched a sweeping crackdown to silence all opponents of the genocide, including many Jews, whom they have scandalously smeared as antisemites. The same political leaders and their bought-and-paid-for mouthpieces in the corporate media have worked tirelessly to cover up and justify the scale of Israels war crimes. In late October, when the official death count after less than three weeks of Israels onslaught was given as 6,500 by Gazas Health Ministry, Biden asserted that he had no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using. Newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer infamously declared in a radio interview last year that Israel had the right to sever electricity, water, fuel, medical and food supplies to Gaza in the name of self-defense. Their goal has been to normalise death and destruction on a scale comparable with the imperialist world wars of the last century. As the irreconcilable contradictions of capitalism propel American and European imperialism to engage in a repartition of the world to secure their control of markets, raw materials and pools of labour to exploit, they will tolerate no restraint on the pursuit of their economic and geopolitical interests. The contradictions between the globalised economy and the division of the world into nation-states, and between the private ownership of the means of production and its social character, compel the ruling elites in every imperialist country to pursue the interests of their capitalist class against each other and against the working class around the world by means of war. US, German, British and French imperialism have likewise fuelled the war in Ukraine against Russia, which has claimed the lives of an estimated 500,000 overwhelmingly young Ukrainians and tens of thousands of Russians, to subjugate Russia to the status of a semi-colony and plunder its natural resources. They are preparing no less aggressively for war with China in the Asia-Pacific. They accept the danger that these conflicts could spiral into a nuclear conflagration that would spell the end of human civilisation. Starting today, Biden will host the NATO summit with his fellow imperialist warmongers in Washington. Over the next three days, they will plot and finalise a reckless escalation of the war in Ukraine based on the deployment of NATO ground troops, ensuring that the conflict becomes a direct war between NATO and Russia. The imperialist powers thereby make clear that they are ready to accept Gaza levels of death and destruction wherever their predatory interests dictate. Two weeks after the NATO summit, Netanyahu will visit Washington to provide a progress report to Democrats and Republicans in Congress on the final solution of the Palestinian question in Gaza. He was given a bipartisan invitation to underscore the importance US imperialism attaches to the genocide as part of its preparation of a region-wide war to consolidate its dominance over the energy-rich Middle East by targeting Iran. The World Socialist Web Site and Socialist Equality Party are calling a demonstration and public meeting in Washington on July 24. The purpose of this demonstration will not be to appeal to Biden, Netanyahu and their fellow war criminals to change course. Rather, it will lay the basis for the building of an international anti-war movement in the working class, which offers the only realistic way of opposing the genocide and the development of a third world war. The demonstration is being organised on the following principles: First, the struggle against war requires an unconditional and irreversible break with the two corporate parties, Democratic and Republican, and the establishment of the political independence of the working class. Second, the movement against genocide and against war must be international, uniting workers in every country and on every continent on the basis of their common class interests. Third, the fight against war must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of war. We strongly encourage all workers and young people who agree with these principles to join us in Washington on July 24. The China Coast Guard (CCG) of the Peoples Republic of China last week seized a Taiwanese fishing boat and its five crew members in the waters around Kinmen Island, located just a few kilometers from the Chinese mainland. The incident follows other incidents in recent weeks and months and represents a further escalation of tensions around the Taiwan Strait, which is a dangerous flashpoint whipped up above all by US imperialism. Taiwan Coastal Control Division Chief Liao Yun-Hung talking about the fishing boat intercepted by Chinese vessels Tuesday night, during a news conference in Taipei, July 3, 2024 [AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying] On July 2, two CCG vessels detained the Da Jin Man 88 fishing vessel in Beijings territorial waters, 23.7 nautical miles northeast of Kinmen Island (also known as Quemoy), which is administered by Taipei. The island, the largest in the Kinmen Island group, lies just 10 kilometers east of the city of Xiamen, Fujian Province. The Chinese authorities ordered the boat to head for a nearby port in the mainland city of Jinjiang. In addition to the Taiwanese captain, the crew included four other members including another sailor from Taiwan and three from Indonesia. According to the CCG, the fishing vessel was detained for violating the annual summer fishing moratorium in place between May and August. The act was deemed detrimental to fishery resources and marine ecology, stated CCG spokesman Liu Dejun. The Fujian coast guard boarded the boat, and vessels from Taiwan attempting to interrupt their law enforcement were warned off in accordance with the law. Taiwans Coast Guard Administration (CGA) dispatched seven ships in an attempt to stop the Da Jin Man being detained. A standoff between the two sides lasted for approximately 50 minutes. Kuan Bi-ling, the head of Taiwans Ocean Affairs Council stated last Wednesday, The incident involved a Taiwanese fishing boat operating in Chinese waters during Chinas summer fishing moratorium. Consequently, the Chinese coast guard took law enforcement action. Despite this acknowledgment, Tsai Ming-yen, the director-general of Taiwans National Security Bureau (NSB), stated on Thursday that Taipei would proceed with great caution and fully defend the legal rights of fishermen engaged in lawful fishing operations at sea, implying that Beijings actions in its own waters were illegitimate. The NSB is Taiwans primary intelligence agency. It is not uncommon for vessels from Taiwan and the mainland to operate in each others waters, with Taipeis Fisheries Agency stating that a tacit agreement existed between the two sides. In the past, if the CCG did board vessels, fishermen would be fined and quickly released. The CCG had not detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel since 2007. Kinmen in fact has close economic relations with Xiamen with many of its residents favoring greater relations with the mainland, rather than fearing a supposed invasion. It is a sharp change from the past when the island was heavily militarized, particularly during the period of dictatorial martial law in Taiwan that lasted from 1949 to 1987. However, Taipei continues to base special forces on Kinmen, specifically the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion. The US has also stationed troops on the island, which then-Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng claimed in March was part of a training mission alongside Taiwanese soldiers. This training exercise goes back to at least 2020. Last year, the US raised its number of troops in Taiwan from 30 in 2022 to between 100 and 200. The stationing of US forces on Kinmen no doubt facilitates intelligence gathering near Xiamen, which has naval and air bases. The tensions in the Taiwan Strait are ultimately driven by Washingtons efforts to goad China into a war to bolster its hegemony in Asia. Under first the Trump administration and now Biden, this has included provocatively challenging the One China policy by permanently stationing US troops in Taiwan, conducting visits by high-ranking politicians, and sending warships through the Taiwan Strait. Washington is also encouraging pro-independence politicians like new President Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party to take an even more hardline approach to Beijing. The One China policy stems from Washingtons refusal to acknowledge the Peoples Republic of China following the victory of the Chinese Revolution in 1949 and the defeat of the brutal dictator Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang (KMT). The US instead claimed that the KMT regime, which had fled to Taiwan with US assistance, represented the legitimate government of all of China. Only in 1979 did Washington recognize Beijing and withdraw formal diplomatic and military relations with Taipei. The US therefore de facto recognized Beijing as the legitimate government of China, including Taiwan. Beijing has never given up its goal of reuniting with Taiwan, conscious that allowing Taipei to declare independence would set a precedent for further carving up Chinese territory in line with the aims of US imperialism. Washington has responded to the incident with the Da Jin Man in a thoroughly hypocritical manner. On July 3, the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered a question from the press, saying Washington was closely monitoring the incident, so were going to continue to do that. She made no criticism of the Taiwanese fishermens violation of Beijings fishing moratorium. The US has politicized the issue of Chinese illegal fishing in waters around the world in order to demonize Beijing and claim it and Chinese businesses do not follow the rule of law. In April, Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, denounced Chinese fishing vessels as a maritime militia. This has been used as an excuse for the US to send its own coast guard into the South Pacific and board Chinese fishing vessels alongside nations hosting the US vessels. Beijing has branded the US Coast Guards actions illegal. Washingtons actions are also leading to a growth of other dangerous incidents. On February 14, two mainland Chinese fishermen drowned near Kinmen after being chased by the Taiwanese coast guard for supposedly fishing in restricted waters. Since then, the CCG has increased patrols around Kinmen, including entering what Taiwan calls restricted waters. Then on June 15, new regulations announced in May took effect that allow the CCG to detain people suspected of violating Chinese waters for up to 60 days. Beijing subsequently announced that its coast guard had adopted a new model of conducting law enforcement around Kinmen. On June 25, four China Coast Guard vessels reportedly entered restricted waters around Kinmen and were followed by three Taiwanese coast guard ships in response. The state-owned Global Times wrote the following day, Since June, the Fujian Coast Guard has organized a fleet of warships to continuously strengthen law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen, and earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese fishermen, including those in the island of Taiwan. Arundhati Royessayist, Booker Prize-winning novelist, and human rights activistis facing prosecution under Indias draconian anti-terror legislation, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA. Delhis Lieutenant-Governor, an appointee and toady of Indias far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, endorsed Roys prosecution under the UAPA on June 14, in order to circumvent the statute of limitations that governs prosecutions under normal Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions. Arundhati Roy [Photo: Wikimedia Commons] Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP government initially greenlighted Roys prosecution last October under criminal charges that threatened her with multiple three-year prison terms for remarks she made during a speech on Kashmir in 2010. However, given the time lapse, the cases against Roy under IPC sections 153A, 153B, and 510, including for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and undermining national-integration, were not legally tenable. By charging Roy under the UAPA the government is not only able to continue her legal persecution. Under its harsher provisions, conviction on charges almost identical to IPC sections 153A, 153B, and 505 could result in her being sentenced to up to seven years behind bars. Those detained under the UAPA must also pass a much higher bar to obtain bail. The Indian authorities have frequently used the UAPAs highly restrictive bail provisions to arbitrarily detain people for years on end on the basis of fabricated evidence and amalgams prior to any trial or, in many cases, even the laying of criminal charges. To date, the government has not signaled any intention to take Roy into custody, but this does not mean she is not in danger of pre-trial detention. The BJP, its supporters, and much of the Indian press and political establishment have long vilified Roy for her trenchant criticisms of Indian capitalism. Indias Hindu-supremacist government is also moving forward with the prosecution of Dr. Sheikh Hussain, an international law professor, who spoke alongside Roy fourteen years ago at a conference organized by Kashmiri separatist groups under the title Azadi (Freedom)the Only Way Ahead. Arundhati Roy rose to fame with her first novel, The God of Small Things (1997), which secured her the Booker Prize and became the worlds top-selling book by a non-expatriate Indian author. Her follow-up novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017), was also widely applauded. Roys extensive portfolio of essays and commentary includes scathing critiques of Indias drive to acquire a nuclear weapons triad, the massive human rights abuses successive Indian governments have committed in the name of fighting terrorism, the authoritarian-communalist actions of the BJP government, and the displacement of millions of tribal people to build massive power-dams. Former Central University of Kashmir professor Hussain is a prominent scholar of human rights and international law. He has authored several books on Jammu and Kashmir. The region is at the centre of the reactionary strategic conflict between India and Pakistan, and up until Modis August 2019 constitutional coup was Indias lone Muslim-majority state. Since 1989 Jammu and Kashmir has been under military occupation, with upwards of half-a-million security forces continuously deployed to assert Indian sovereignty and suppress the population. The BJP governments persecution of Roy and Hussain underscores that Modis third term in office will be marked by an accelerated drive to consolidate authoritarian forms of rule, with those who criticize the government subject to harassment, persecution and potentially police or mob violence. The Modi regime and BJP-led state governments are notorious for bringing frame-up charges under the UAPA against left-wing opponents. They also routinely smear their opponents within the political establishment as anti-national and on numerous occasions have brought politically manipulated charges against them. Roy has written extensively on the human rights abuses carried out by state security forces in Kashmir. The remarks for which she is being prosecuted, made at a conference in Indias capital on Oct. 21, 2010, include the following: Kashmir has never been an integral part of India...Even the Indian government has accepted, in the UN, that its not an integral part of India. Today there are 700,000 security personnel manning that valley of 12 million peopleit is the most militarized zone in the worldand for us, the people of India, to tolerate that occupation is like allowing a kind of moral corrosion to drip into our blood stream. When Roy made her comments, Indian security forces were using blanket curfews enforced by state violence, forced disappearances, and Israeli-style collective punishments to crush popular opposition. A decade-and-a-half later, the repression in Kashmir continues. The prosecution of Roy and Hussain is aimed at silencing criticism of Indias actions in Kashmir. In 2019, fulfilling a longstanding demand of Indias Hindu supremacist right, the BJP government ran roughshod over the constitution to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its unique semi-autonomous status within the Indian Union. The BJP governments decision to criminally prosecute Roy for remarks made almost 15 years ago is also undoubtedly bound up with her denunciations of Indias complicity in Israels imperialist-backed genocidal assault on the Palestinians of Gaza. In keeping with the anti-China strategic alliance New Delhi has forged with US imperialism under successive Congress Party and BJP-led governments, India has developed an ever expanding partnership with Israel, cemented by arms deals, intelligence sharing and Indias participation in the I2U2 (India/Israel/UAE/US) alliance. Roy has repeatedly spoken out against the Gaza genocide over the past nine months, forthrightly naming those responsible, including in a video presentation last November to the Munich Literature Festival. In a March 7 essay for Scroll.in, Roy wrote: The richest, most powerful countries in the western world, those who believe themselves to be the keepers of the flame of the modern worlds commitment to democracy and human rights, are openly financing and applauding Israels genocide in Gaza. And what of our country? It is well known that our prime minister is an intimate friend of Benjamin Netanyahu and there is no doubt where his sympathies lie. India is no longer a friend of Palestine. When the bombing began, thousands of Modis supporters put up the Israeli flag as their DP on social media. They helped spread the vilest disinformation on behalf of Israel and the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces). Even though the Indian government has now stepped back into a more neutral positionour foreign policy triumph is that we manage to be on all sides at once, we can be pro- as well as anti-genocide the government has clearly indicated that it will act decisively against any pro-Palestine protestors. And now, while the US exports what it has in abundant surplusweapons and money to aid Israels genocideIndia too is exporting what our country has in abundant surplus: the unemployed poor to replace the Palestinian workers who will no longer be given work permits to enter Israel. (Im guessing there will be no Muslims amongst the new recruits.) People who are desperate enough to risk their lives in a war zone. People desperate enough to tolerate overt Israeli racism against Indians. You can see it expressed on social media, if you care to look. US money and Indian poverty combine to oil Israels genocidal war machine. What a terrible, unthinkable, shame. Roy has thus far declined to comment on her indictment on terrorism charges. Responding to the charges her attorney, Rebecca John, said last month, If the Delhi police took 14 years to investigate a case, where the only charge against Ms. Roy is one of making a speech, which admittedly did not lead to any violence or other unlawful activity, I am afraid it speaks poorly of the investigating skills of the police force. Clearly, the case against Ms. Roy is political in nature given her unfailing commitment to human rights. Indias corporate media, some of which unabashedly promotes Modi as the Hindu strongman needed to transform India into a great-power and others of which have been cowed by government threats, has said little to nothing about Roys prosecution. Some liberal newspapers did carry editorials warning it would harm Indias international image. Thus the Deccan Herald wrote, The action against her, with political targeting and harassment written all over it, can only add more black to Indias image as a country where democratic freedoms are under increasing attack. Both within India and internationally, many artists and intellectuals have rallied to Roys support. The acclaimed-novelist, Amitav Ghosh wrote on X, The prosecution of Arundhati Roy is unconscionable. The UN Human Rights Office has urged Indian officials to drop the case against Roy, and over 200 Indian academics, activists, and journalists have signed an open letter imploring the Indian government to retract its decision greenlighting Roys prosecution. A few leading lights of Indias main opposition party, the Congress Party, have issued their own perfunctory condemnations of the state attack. Fascism thrives on crushing dissent, particularly from intellectuals, artists, writers, poets & activists, wrote Karnataka Congress legislator B.K. Hariprasad on X. But the Congress has no intention of making a major issue of the state attack on Roy. Indeed, according to the Times of India, in 2010 P. Chidambaram, today a senior Congress Party leader and then the Union Home Minister, initially supported charging Roy with sedition for her Kashmir conference marks. Amid mounting global economic, social and geo-political crises, the Modi government plans to bind itself ever closer to the American war chariot and accelerate implementation of privatization, deregulation and other pro-investor reforms. This unpopular, socially incendiary programme can only be enforced by abrogating democratic rights. The defence of Arundhati Roy and other critics of Modis far-right, Hindu-supremacist regime necessarily falls to the working class. The defence of democratic rights must be linked to the struggle to develop an independent political movement of the working class that rallies that the rural toilers behind it in opposition to imperialist war and the Indio-US alliance, pro-investor reforms, and the whipping up of communal divisions. The emergence of the Hindu supremacist BJP as the premier party of the Indian ruling class after three-quarters of a century of independent bourgeois rule underscores that the democratic and social rights of working people will only be secured through the fight for workers power and international socialism. An upcoming rally in Michigan against the ongoing genocide in Gaza, organized by Holocaust survivor Rene Lichtman, has been slandered as antisemitic by prominent Zionists on X/Twitter. Rene Lichtman, an 86-year-old Holocaust child survivor, speaks during a vigil in Farmington Hills, Michigan on June 30. The rally is scheduled to take place in front of the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, July 14. It will be the latest in a series of weekly rallies being held to demand the museum recognize the Nakba of 1948 in its educational programs about the founding of Israel, and to demand that the museum call for a ceasefire in Gaza now. Lichtman, age 86, is a hidden child Holocaust survivor whose Polish-Jewish family was largely murdered by Hitlers Nazis during World War Two. He has spent his life fighting to uncover and preserve the history of the Holocaust. He explained to this reporter the conception behind Sundays protest: Museums like this are part of the right-wing, pro-Zionist structure. They indoctrinate the public that shows up, especially the students, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who come through each day, busloads of students. They tell the story of the Holocaust and the Jewish victims and at the end they say the war was over and the survivors created this wonderful state of Israel, with beautiful trees and so on. And thats the ending! The lesson is tolerance, and we should love each other and so on. But they never mention Palestinians or the Nakba. Poster for Rene Lichtman's protest We are demanding that the museum change the ending, that they include the Nakba. And, that they demand a ceasefire in Gaza, now. Its not only the Holocaust Center, in Farmington Hills, that erases Palestinians from history, Lichtman explained. Ive been to most of the Holocaust museumsin Berlin, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Praguebecause of my work with the child survivors organization. And theyre all the same. At the end they paint this rosy picture which does not include Palestinians. Prominent Zionists have taken to X/Twitter to slander Lichtmans protests as antisemitic. Zionist social media influencer Hen Mazzig shared the poster for the upcoming rally with his 220.6K followers, commenting, Imagine arranging a protest against Israel at a Holocaust Museum, and still believing your movement isnt really about hating Jews. How many times do I have to say this? Protesting outside a Holocaust Museum does nothing to help Palestinians. It is pure antisemitism. Aviva Klompas, the former head of speechwriting at the Israel Mission to the United Nations, who has 325.3K followers, also shared the poster, writing, When you take your protest to a Holocaust museum, you are no longer engaging in political protest. You are sending the message that 6 million dead Jews wasnt enough. The X/Twitter account of the Zionist website Israel War Room Tweeted the poster for Lichtmans protest to its 322.8K followers, labeling it an anti-Israel event. These people are such hypocrites, Lichtman said in response. They are part of the Israeli lobby. I expect this from them. He continued, These museums are major institutions not only in cities like Berlin and Warsaw, but Detroit, New York, D.C. Its a whole indoctrination system of the Zionists, these right wingers, who are trying to weaponize the suffering of the Holocaust. But its no longer working amongst these young audiences. The audiences are now asking questions. Lichtman was employed as a lecturer for 10 years at Zekelman Holocaust Center, before recently being fired for his protests against the Gaza genocide. My orders within the museum when I was there was to only tell my story and not go beyond it, and I was warned more than once by the CEO not to step outside the bounds, he said. Sundays rally will take place in the wake of the recent report by The Lancet that the true death toll in the Gaza genocide is actually close to 186,000, several times higher than previously reported. Responding to the news, Lichtman commented, Those numbers, its incredible. For me, Ive never been able to absorb the million and half Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust. Words cant describe that. And its the same thing going now. Except now were doing it day-to-day. Seeing these numbers and these images, many are traumatized by just seeing this stuff. In those Tweets you just read, theyre not mentioning the 186,0000 dead civilians in Gaza. They will say all these people are terrorists, or else human shields. Those are the excuses. But internationally, nobody believes it any more. Israel and the US are seen as war criminals, which they are. So when these people make these comments, I have such disdain and contempt for these individuals. They say these things to get a check from AIPAC. What theyre doing is justifying genocide! He continued, These numbers, we have to remember each one is a human being. The way I look at it, I have to put each day in the context of whats going on in Gaza, which is this daily mass murder. When I put it in that context, I feel an urgency, I feel I should do more. I remember the Vietnam war protests, Kent State... If youre going to do anything important, you have to expect repression. If you put it in the context of the violence going on in Gaza, its nothing. Nothing compared to having your whole family blown up by Biden and Bibi. Lichtman has previously endorsed the July 24 demonstration in Washington, D.C. called by the Socialist Equality Party, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees on the day that Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress. Anything like this that exposes the imperialists and what Biden is doing with Netanyahu is very good, he said. They are the architects of genocide. People should go, you cant be bystanders. Israel is seeing the largest outbreak of West Nile fever in almost a quarter-century. Case numbers are up 400 percent from the same period last year. Thus far, at least 175 people have contracted the mosquito-borne virus and at least 11 people have succumbed to the infection, according to the Israel Ministry of Health. This initial stage compares to the entire length of the 2000 outbreak, when serological testing confirmed 439 cases with 29 fatalities. The virus that causes West Nile fever is a single-stranded RNA virus, from the genus Flavivirus that also includes the Zika virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus. Birds are the primary hosts of the West Nile virus. Humans and horses both exhibit disease symptoms from infection, but there are only vaccines available for horses at present. Treatments for infected people are supportive only. Humans cant transmit the virus to each other, except in rare cases through blood transfusions, organ transplants or from a mother to her infant during her pregnancy, delivery or while breastfeeding. Artwork featuring a female Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitowhich transmits West Nile virus (image courtesy of CDC), Culex mosquito larvae(image courtesy of CDC), a cryo-EM reconstruction of West Nile virus (courtesy of NIH 3D Print Exchange), and a transmission electron micrograph of West Nile virus particles (orange) replicating within the cytoplasm of an infected VERO E6 cell (blue), captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. [Photo by NIAID and CDC / CC BY-SA 2.0 About 20 percent of infected individuals will exhibit symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting or a rash. One percent will go on to develop inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that can lead to neck stiffness, confusion and even seizures. Once the infection involves the nervous system, fatality rates rise to about 10 percent. Recovery can take weeks or months. Typically, outbreaks occur during the late summer months, a byproduct of rising temperatures and humidity. However, given the recent acceleration of heat waves, together with torrential rains and flash floods becoming commonplace, outbreaks of vector-borne viruses like West Nile, malaria, Zika, and dengue are occurring earlier than expected. Professor of molecular virology Roger Hewson, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told the Telegraph, Israels hot and humid summers create an ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed and proliferate. These conditions [climate change] can extend the mosquito breeding season and increase their populations, thereby enhancing virus transmission rates. The West Nile virus was first isolated in 1937 from a woman in the West Nile region of Uganda. The earliest documented outbreak occurred in July 1951 in an agricultural communal settlement of Maayan Zvi near Haifa, Israel. For decades afterward, most West Nile fever epidemics had occurred in Israel or Africa. However, due to globalization and mass travel among the worlds population, the epidemiology of the West Nile vector-borne disease rapidly shifted by the 1990s. In a recent report on the West Nile virus (WNV), the authors wrote, WNV was first detected in New York City in 1999 and subsequently spread rapidly throughout the entire Western Hemisphere, including the United States, Canada, and Argentina. Concurrently, epidemic activity increased in Europe, the Middle East, and Russia. They added, In 2018, Europe experienced an unprecedented WNV epidemic, with human cases exceeding 1,900, seven times higher than in previous seasons. In 2020, locally transmitted cases of WNV were reported for the first time in the Netherlands and Germany. Evidence suggests interactive WNV cycles on all continents except Antarctica. Notwithstanding the impact climate change and globalization have had on the emerging rates of infectious diseases and threats posed by pandemic potential pathogens, there is an additional factor of concern in relation to the current outbreak of WNV in Israel. It coincides with the genocidal campaign that has seen Gazas infrastructure decimated. Health authorities have cited possible direct and indirect links between the outbreak and the ongoing assault on the Palestinian enclave. Most of the WNV cases have occurred in Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva and Kiryat Ono, located within 80 kilometers of the Gaza border. As a November 2023 article in the Jerusalem Post noted, It is important to note that many nature areas in the South have recently turned into military positions. These locations produce waste and stagnant water, which are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Moreover, due to the war, there has been a lack of treatment for breeding areas in the South, allowing the mosquitoes to thrive. Furthermore, the complete mobilization of all of Israels resources to prosecuting this campaign of annihilation also means funds for public health measures are being diverted at the populations peril. Professor Hewson noted, Disruptions caused by conflict can exacerbate poor living conditions, leading to inadequate waste management and increased standing water. [The] conflict strains public health resources, making it harder to control mosquito populations effectively and respond promptly to outbreaks. There has as yet been no mention of the implications of the WNV outbreak for the 2 million and more Gazans who are trapped in the enclave under conditions where the entire infrastructure has been demolished and access to healthcare, food, water and shelter are nonexistent. There is no way to implement standard public health precautions such as preventing formation of standing water and widespread use of mosquito repellent. Gaza has become a breeding ground for infectious diseases, with the entire population made vulnerable to large scale epidemics of not just WNV, but flu, pneumonia, bacterial dysentery, cholera, polio, measles and meningitis. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) noted in mid-April that even if an immediate ceasefire were implemented, they expected nearly 12,000 people would lose their lives in Gaza as a result of disease. And if the genocidal campaign persisted, nearly 90,000 could die of secondary health impacts. Dr. Seema Jilani, Senior Health Technical Advisor for Emergencies, observed, With Gazas health system decimated by Israel, diseases once easily controlled are now spreading, and children, especially malnourished children, are the most susceptible. Projections suggest that the spread of cholera, measles, polio, and meningococcal meningitis pose a mortal threat Immunity, previously ensured thanks to high levels of vaccination, is now decreasing especially among children and babies, who have now missed multiple doses of key vaccines including Hepatitis B, polio, and rotavirus. Jilani added, Respiratory infections and other endemic infectious diseases are currently widespread due to exposure, overcrowding in shelters, lack of access to proper sanitation facilities, and inability to access treatment. The IRC and partners working in Gaza have seen children die from diarrheaaffecting children at rates 25 times higher than before October 7thotherwise easily treated with fluids and antibiotics. Half of the over 330,000 respiratory infections reported from October to January were children under 5, many of whom might face fatal or debilitating consequences given the current state of health care in Gaza. American big business looks on the working class as prey. Profit first and always, socialist Eugene V. Debs commented about the industrial system in the US labor, life, love, libertyall these must take second place. The PBS documentary Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal is a devastating, unanswerable film. In the late 1970s, residents of Love Canal, a working class neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, discovered that their homes, schools and playgrounds were built on top of a former chemical waste dump, which was leaking toxic substances and wreaking havoc on their health. The conditions killed Love Canal residents and led to innumerable illnesses. The toxic mess has never been removed. Love Canal protest c.1978. Written, produced, and directed by Jamila Ephron, the documentary interviews residents along with historians and journalists, who weigh in on the horrors endured by the community in the face of pro-company politicians. In 1890, Love Canal was created as a model planned community, but was only partially developed. In the 1920s, the canal became a landfill site for the city of Niagara Falls. During the 1940s, the canal was purchased by Hooker Chemical Company, which used the location until 1953with government sanctionto dump thousands of tons of chemical byproducts from the manufacturing of dyes, perfumes and solvents for rubber and synthetic resins. At the end of this period, the contents of the canal consisted of around 21,000 tons of toxic chemicals, including at least 12 that are known carcinogens (halogenated organics, chlorobenzenes and dioxin among them). Hooker capped the 16-acre hazardous waste landfill in clay. In 1952, Hooker agreed to sell its property to the school board for $1. The sale document signed on April 28, 1953 also released the company from any legal obligations should lawsuits occur in the future. Historian Richard Newman argues that Love Canal was the first chemical disaster to unfold before American eyes. In an archival video, a reporter likewise comments: The Love Canal is merely the tip of a dangerous and terrifying chemical iceberg. Another asserts that there are 32,000 known chemical waste dumps in the United States. More than 800 now considered dangerous to public health. The chemical company has chronically denied that it has any legal liability associated with the Love Canal situation. Lois Gibbs, one of the residents who became an organizer and activist, describes how she found the house on 101st Street, the one in the Love Canal neighborhood. It was starter homes for the most part. And it was the perfect neighborhood from my perspective. It had the Niagara River to the south. To the north, Gibbs went on, was a creek and the kids could go and walk along the creek and pick up pollywogs or, you know, it was just a cute little very shallow creek, good for children. We moved in with Michael, who was one years-old by then, a healthy little boy, and then we had our little girl. I really believed I achieved so much. I had this house and a husband who was gainfully employed and these beautiful children. You know everything seemed to be fine. She continued: Chemicals were a part of our life. You know, when we smelled chemicals, you smelled a good economy. You knew that you were going to be able to put food on a table, youre going to be able to pay your mortgage, youre going to be able to buy a new car someday. Another resident, Debbie Cerrillo Curry, pointed out that Love Canal was government subsidized. My husband wasnt making very much money and they made that a very tasty little deal to move into. We paid $135 a month to live in a brand new home, which was really unusual. I wasnt going to question it. And so we felt quite lucky that we fell in at the right time. Data showed unacceptable levels of toxic vapors associated with more than 80 compounds were emanating from the basements of numerous homes directly adjacent to the Love Canal. Ten of the most prevalent and most toxic compoundsincluding benzene, a known human carcinogenwere present. Even the mailman had to wear a gas mask. In 1979, the EPA announced the result of blood tests that showed high white blood cell counts, a precursor to leukemia, and chromosome damage in Love Canal residents. Some 33 percent of the residents had undergone chromosomal damage. In a typical population, chromosomal damage affects 1 percent of people. Abandoned streets in Love Canal (PhotoBuffalutheran) Throughout the ordeal, homeowners concerns were ignored and maligned not only by Hooker Chemical (now a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum), but also by indifferent, hostile government officials. These parties initially argued that the area residents severe health problems were unrelated to the toxic chemicals buried in the Canal. Since the residents could not prove the chemicals on their property had come from Hookers disposal site, they could not prove liability. Throughout the legal battle, residents were unable to sell their properties and relocate. Occidental and 1,336 Love Canal residents eventually reached a $20 million out-of-court settlement. The residents had originally sought $15 billion. Author Keith OBrien reports on Hookers public relations offensive, reminding people of the jobs they provided, and of all the money they injected back into the city. When that doesnt work and the complaints dont go away, explains historian Newman, Hooker officialswhen they testify before Congresssay Look, you all should know that we produce really toxic stuff. But we also produce miracles in American life. Everything that American industry and consumer life is based on depends on chemicals, and sometimes we have to recognize that chemicals are made from hazardous material. Elsewhere in the documentary, Newman asserts that the summer of 1979 was a real tipping point for the Love Canal crisis. In the last year, there have been two state health declarations and one federal emergency declaration. But the majority of families are still living in Love Canal. And with remediation and the summer dust and the summer heat, the smells are worse than ever. In 1994, Federal District Judge John Curtin ruled that Hooker/Occidental had been negligent, but not reckless. In 2004, federal officials announced that the Superfund cleanup has ended, although cleanup had concluded years prior. The entire process occurred over 21 years and cost a total of $400 million. About 260 homes north of the canal have been renovated and sold to new owners, and about 150 acres east of the canal have been sold to commercial developers for light industrial use. If you go to the Love Canal site today, you will not see the words Love Canal anywhere, concludes Newman. Theres no signage anywhere that says the worlds most famous environmental disaster occurred here. But what you will see is a huge chain link fence. You will see a huge area of land inside the fenced-in zone that is off limits. You might not know there are nearly 22,000 tons of hazardous waste still underneath the ground. Love Canal is a well-known tragedy, but it should not be forgotten for an instant. In microcosm, it expresses the real state of social life in America and the predatory, essentially criminal character of the ruling class. The crisis within the Democratic Party following President Joe Bidens disastrous debate with Donald Trump continued on the eve of the NATO summit in Washington D.C. What was supposed to be a celebration of 75 years of the imperialist alliance and its ongoing efforts to subjugate Russia will instead be dominated by whispers and intrigue over the declining mental faculties of the commander-in-chief of the US military. President Joe Biden walks off stage during the break of a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. [AP Photo/Gerald Herbert] Whether or not Biden maintains his death-like grip on the nomination or is forced out, the Democratic nominee for US president will continue the Biden administrations policies of war, genocide and austerity for working class. There is no progressive solution to the present crisis except for the independent intervention of the working class against both political parties and the capitalist system they defend. After releasing a letter Monday morning promising to remain in the race as the Democratic nominee, Biden appeared in an extended interview Monday morning on his favorite television interview program, Morning Joe on MSNBC. In his comments, Biden stressed his role in organizing global war at the NATO summit. Im going to have all these foreign leaders here, he said. Ive been in contact with the new British prime minister, with, anyway. Look the country, the rest of the world, our allies, are looking for US leadership. Who else do you think can step in here and do this? I expanded NATO! I solidified NATO. The co-host of Morning Joe is Mika Brzezinski, whose father, Zbigniew Brzezinski, was a top geopolitical strategist for US imperialism throughout the Cold War, and whose brother Mark is now the US ambassador to Poland. Biden said to her, Ask your brother about it, in Poland. Ive made sure that were in a position, where we have a coalition of people, of nations, around the world to deal with China, with Russia, with everything thats going on in the world. The president claimed to be making real progress, with the Biden plan in Israel, will put forward for the Gaza Strip. Something that was adopted by the UN Security Council. In making his appeals on the basis of being a more capable proponent of US imperialist objectives, Biden underscored that the main conflict in the Democratic Party over his nomination is a tactical fight over which capitalist politician can more effectively prosecute the program of war to which they are all committed. In an attempt to deflect from this reality, Biden tried to strike a defiant populist tone while speaking to his millionaire hosts. He lamented, Im getting frustrated by the elitesno, Im not talking about you guysthe elites in the party. Oh, they know so much more. He claimed that a few carefully scripted campaign events over the weekend demonstrated that the average voter supported him. I wanted to make sure I was right that the average voter out there still wanted Joe Biden. And Im confident they do, Biden said. In Trump-like fashion, Biden falsely claimed, We had large crowds, we had enthusiastic crowds, and that he only cared about the average voter, adding, I dont care what the millionaires think. Less than two minutes later Biden reversed himself, I want [millionaires] support, but thats not the reason Im running. Im not running, about, what they think and what they care about. And by the way, you dont see a whole hell of a lot of them flocking to Trump. You dont see a whole lot of CEOs flocking to Trump. In an article posted hours after Bidens interview on Morning Joe headlined, Biden Tries to Soothe His Top Fund-Raisers on a Private Call, the New York Times reported that after his call-in appearance on MSNBC, Biden held a nearly 20-minute private phone call with some of his biggest fund-raisers and donors, in which he implored them for support and to put the bulls-eye on Trump. The Times, citing remarks described to the paper by almost a dozen people on the call, reported that Biden took only four pre-screened questions. Among those on the call, according to the paper, were Maryland Governor Wes Moore and campaign manager Jennifer OMalley Dillon. Last Monday, OMalley Dillon organized a similar finance call with about 500 of Bidens top donors. While Biden falsely claims he does not want or need the support of the financial oligarchy, the fact is the opinion of the donors is a decisive factor in the situation. Already several billionaires have publicly stated they will pause donations to the party until another nominee is chosen. On Monday, NPR aired an interview featuring the CEO of Weyco Group Inc. Tom Florsheim, one of 400 members of the Leadership Now Project, a group of executives and Democratic Party donors that have organized against Bidens nomination following the debate. The group is calling on Biden to pass the torch to a new group of Democrats. After it was reported on Sunday that he supported Biden withdrawing, on Monday Washington Representative Adam Smith officially became the sixth House Democrat to publicly call on Biden to give way. Personally, I think Kamala Harris would be a much better, stronger candidate, he told CNN. Smith is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. While not outright calling for Biden to withdraw, in his appearance Sunday on Meet the Press, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff (California), former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, opined that Biden should be mopping the floor with Donald Trump. Theres only one reason it is close, Schiff claimed, and thats the presidents age. Coming from one of the most sinister figures in the Democratic Party national security establishment, such comments are a deliberate diversion. War, genocide, attacks on democratic rights, all of those are supposedly irrelevant to voters fixated on the three-year discrepancy between the 81-year-old Biden and his 78-year-old fascist opponent Donald Trump. No matter if they support or oppose Biden remaining the nominee, for Democratic Party politicians, Bidens actual record of unlimited political and military support for the genocide in Gaza, the war against Russia in Ukraine, coupled with his enrichment of the financial oligarchy by prematurely ending COVID-19 mitigation measures leading to mass death, is to be commended and celebrated. While CIA and right-wing Democrats continue to call on Biden to step down, the left-talkers in the party, in alliance with the main trade union bureaucracies, continue to back the embattled warmongering president. In an interview with NBCs Ryan Nobles on Monday, New York Representative and Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her support for Genocide Joe. She said she spoke with Biden over the weekend and that it was time to end the speculation over his future. She told Nobles, Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race, and I support him. In a video advertisement that began airing in Minnesota on Monday, fellow Squad member, Representative Ilhan Omar decided to feature Genocide Joe singing her praises. Congresswoman Omar, a recording of Biden says as the ad begins, I want to thank you for being here. On Monday, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington state released a statement that read in part, President Biden and Vice President Harris were elected by the voters and have had remarkable accomplishments over the past three and half years that showed what we can accomplish together for the people. (Emphasis in original) In a comment to the Boston Globe, Senator Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) declared, President Biden is our nominee. He is an excellent president. He works hard on behalf of working families every day. Exposing themselves and the organizations they head as agents of the ruling class and corporations, on July 3 the president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Kenneth Cooper, and the president of the AFL-CIO, Liz Schuler, released statements in support of the Biden-Harris ticket. Both bureaucrats served up sycophantic praise, completely divorced from reality. Cooper wrote that the IBEW only partners with leaders who are serious about defending workers and protecting their families. ... Thats why the IBEW is proud to support President Joe Biden in 2024. Schuler claimed, No White House has supported workers like the Biden-Harris administration. On Sunday, airline manufacturer Boeing agreed to accept the deal offered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) one week ago and pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to defraud the federal government. Families of the companys hundreds of victims have denounced the maneuver as a sweetheart deal and slap on the wrist for Boeing and its executives. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testifies at a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Washington. [AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib] The company pled guilty to the felony in connection with its violation of a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ negotiated three years ago for two crashes of its 737 MAX jets in 2018 and 2019 which killed 346 people. A Boeing representative acknowledged that the company reached the agreement with the DOJ but declined to comment on it. The plea deal must still be approved by US District Judge Reed OConnor in Fort Worth, Texas. In a separate filing, the families said they will object to the deal and intend to argue that the plea deal with Boeing unfairly makes concessions to Boeing that other criminal defendants would never receive and fails to hold Boeing accountable for the deaths of 346 persons. Paul G. Cassell, a lawyer for more than a dozen of the families said the governments agreement with Boeing is clearly not in the public interest. He continued, This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeings conspiracy, 346 people died. Through crafty lawyering between Boeing and DOJ, the deadly consequences of Boeings crime are being hidden. As part of the deal, Boeing agreed to pay a $243.6 million fine, operate under an independent monitor who will oversee the companys safety and quality procedures for three years and invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs. Boeing will also be on probation for three years and its board of directors will be required to meet with the crash victims families. Boeings acceptance of the agreement was widely anticipated since prosecutors gave the company one week to do so. Most significant for the DOJ, airline industry regulators and the $115 billion corporation, the acceptance of the plea means that Boeing will avoid a criminal trial. All those involved want to prevent further details of the criminality of the giant corporationas well as the complicity of government oversight bodieswhich has repeatedly placed profits above the safety of the air traveling public from being discussed in court. The DOJ determined in May that Boeing had violated its 2021 agreement by providing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with false information about the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software that was at the center of two fatal crashes. On October 29, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610, on a flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia, crashed into the sea 13 minutes after takeoff, with 189 people on board. On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, on a flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, crashed six minutes after takeoff, and all 157 people aboard were killed. In both cases, the flight crews were unable to control the planes when the MCAS system activated, and the jets went into unrecoverable nose dives. In response, numerous aviation authorities around the world grounded the 737 MAX planes and airlines followed on a voluntary basis. The FAA was the last aviation authority to ground the planes. Boeing blamed two lower-level employees for providing investigators with misinformation and sought to move rapidly forward with the deferred prosecution agreements so that they could get the planes back in the air as soon as possible. As pointed out by Reuters, the new deal also permits the company to move forward with business plans that would have been disrupted by a trial. It would also make it easier for the plane maker, which will have a new CEO later this year, to try to move forward as it seeks approval for its planned acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems. Spirit AeroSystems is at the center of the door plug failure on a Boeing 737 MAX plane flown by Alaska Airlines in January. Spirit is a subcontractor for Boeing that assembles the fuselage of the 737 MAX planes. According Boeing records reviewed by the NTSB, damaged rivets responsible for the door plug failure were replaced by Spirit AeroSystems employees at Boeings factory in Renton, Washington, four months before the accident. In another exposure of Boeings homicidal disregard for safety practices, the FAA said on Monday it is requiring inspections of 2,600 Boeing 737 airplanes because passenger oxygen masks could fail during an emergency due to a faulty retention strap. According to Reuters, The FAA said it was requiring the inspections of 737 MAX and Next Generation airplanes after multiple reports of passenger service unit oxygen generators shifting out of position, an issue that could result in an inability to provide supplemental oxygen to passengers during a depressurization event. The aggressor country Russia, in its massive attack on Ukraine on July 8, likely used new tactics designed to maximize the damage from such a series of strikes. Ukrainian air defense will need to learn how to respond to them using the necessary levels of air defense. ADVERTISIMENT This was pointed out by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts noted that new terrorist methods of the Russians deserve attention and, in order to prevent new threats, require, among other things, action by the West. Former Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yurii Ihnat said after the horrific deadly Russian strikes on Monday that Russian forces are constantly improving their UAV reconnaissance and strike capabilities, as well as the effectiveness of cruise and ballistic missiles. He noted that this time Russian cruise missiles were flying at extremely low altitudes. Thus, in some cases, Ukrainian air defense forces had to make attempts to intercept targets that were up to 50 meters above the ground. Ukraine's air defenders managed to shoot down 30 out of 38 missiles, including cruise missiles X-101, aircraft X-59/69, and ballistic missiles such as Kinzhal and Iskander-M. ADVERTISIMENT The ISW emphasized that Ukrainian air defense has had high rates of downing some types of cruise missiles, especially the older X-101, since the beginning of the full-scale war. "But Ihnat's suggestion that Russian forces are striking with cruise missiles at such low altitudes indicates that they may have improved their tactics and/or technology. This made it possible to inflict maximum damage on Ukrainian infrastructure, giving air defense practically no time to respond until the missile is at the closest distance from the ground," the experts say. Ihnat also added that recently, the occupiers have been reducing the electromagnetic signature of drones until the last moment to prevent them from being detected by Ukrainian forces. According to him, this means that by the time the air defense detects the drone, the missile it was guiding may already be close to the target point. ADVERTISIMENT "Russia has consistently adapted the packages of strikes it launches against Ukraine to take advantage of its air defense deficiencies. The July 8 attack is a new and adapted tactic to which Ukraine will need to learn to respond using the necessary levels of air defense provided by the West," ISW stated. As reported by OBOZ.UA, diplomat and international politics expert Roman Bezsmertnyi said that the massive Russian attack on Ukraine on July 8, which killed more than three dozen people, is a diplomatic tactic of the aggressor country. According to him, this is how Russia wants to impose its position on us and the whole world. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Health workers at Sydney mass protest against Gaza genocide, February 11, 2024. The following statement has been issued by a group of Australian doctors victimised by pro-Zionist elements because they publicly opposed the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Several of those involved in drafting this statement have been subjected to vexatious reporting to the Australian Health Practitioners Authority, the countrys principal medical regularity body. These complaints have called on the board to discipline and/or deregister medical professionals, falsely accusing them of antisemitism because they have publicly opposed the Gaza genocide. As doctors, we are deeply disturbed by the war crimes committed by Israels genocidal slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza over the past nine months. The ethnic cleansing and mass murder of the Palestinian people violate all of the medical ethics and principles that our work as doctors is based upon. Current estimates of the death toll, according to some accounts, are somewhere between 50,000 and 80,000 (Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor), and even over 186,000 (The Lancet), the majority women and children. This is likely an underestimation, with many people still buried under piles of rubble and/or unreported due to being buried by their families rather than going through the hospital system that official figures are based on. Hundreds have also been killed by preventable diseases and starvation. We are horrified by the bombing and destruction of all hospitals in Gaza and the deliberate targeting of healthcare workers. The latest reports indicate that 1 in 40 healthcare workers has been killed. Humanitarian aid workers and volunteers, including UNRWA workers and their families and international aid workers, such as the World Kitchen team, have also been murdered. Mass protests and demonstrations during the past nine monthsthe largest and most sustained in world historyalong with countless appeals to our representative professional bodies and elected governments have failed to halt these crimes. Running parallel with Israels murderous assault on the Palestinians, pro-Zionists have unleashed slanderous and anti-democratic attacks on doctors and health workers opposing the genocide. We have been falsely accused of antisemitism, subjected to harassment, doxxing on social media and the filing of complaints at our workplaces and medical governing bodies, such as the Australian Health Practitioners Authority. This is all to threaten us with the possibility of job loss or deregistration, in an undemocratic attempt to silence us from speaking up for the oppressed. Bodies of Palestinians killed by an Israeli airstrike at the Ahli Arab hospital are gathered in the front yard of the al-Shifa hospital, in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. [AP Photo/Abed Khaled] The Gaza genocide is not an isolated atrocity, nor is the invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of the US Congress on July 24 an aberration. The brutal assault on the Palestinian people is just one front in a global war instigated by US imperialism and its allies which threatens to escalate into a nuclear war. The Netanyahu government is an agent of the American ruling class and its global strategy in the Middle East and internationally. The same governments supplying Israel with bombs and artillery shells to murder Palestinians are also intensifying the proxy war being waged by Ukraines fascistic regime against Russia. The Biden administration is now sanctioning direct attacks on Russian territory with US-supplied missiles and declaring that the American government will not be deterred by the threat of nuclear war. At the same time, the White House is stepping up its confrontation with China. Recognition of these facts is the precondition for the urgent development of a powerful mass movement against war, genocide and dictatorial regimes. This is why we are urging doctors, health workers, medical students and workers from all sectors of the economy to join the July 24 demonstration in Washington called by the Socialist Equality Party, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality. Many other organisations have indicated they will join the demonstration. This event is not to beg the US Congress to change its policies. Nearly nine months of war have demonstrated that there is no red line that the cabal of sociopaths in Washington will not cross. Their invitation to Netanyahuand the billions of dollars in weaponry, including massive US bombs designed to destroy several city blocks and their inhabitantsmakes clear to those opposing Israels war crimes that a new political orientation and strategy is necessary. There is no place for appealing to the capitalist ruling class for reformist measures. The purpose of the July 24 demonstration is to set into motion a new and powerful mass antiwar movement of the working class against the Gaza genocide and the global escalation of imperialist militarism by the US and its NATO collaborators. Such a movement must be based on a break from all establishment parties. It must be international and socialist, and fight against the capitalist profit system, the fundamental cause of war between competing nation states. Declare war against imperialist war and genocide! Distribute this statement as widely as possible amongst your colleagues and on social media and email. Sign up to get involved and bring a delegation to the July 24 demonstration. Within 24 hours of taking his ministry seat, UK Defence Secretary John Healey ensured his first foreign visit was to Ukraine to reassure the Zelensky regime of the new Labour governments backing for war with Russia. Healey was accompanied by the UKs chief of the armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. Healey and Radakin made the Ukraine trip before Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Healey, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy flew to Washington on Tuesday to attend a three-day NATO summit centred on preparing an escalation of the war. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a statement Sunday, to coincide with Healeys trip, of a new package of support to the country, including more artillery guns, a quarter of a million ammunition rounds and nearly 100 precision Brimstone missiles. Also included are 50 small military boats to support river and coastal operations; 61 bulldozers to help build defensive positions; and support for previously gifted AS-90s, including 32 new barrels and critical spares which will help Ukraine fire another 60,000 155mm rounds. Demonstrating how a government of Conservative warmongers has been seamlessly replaced, the statement explained that Healey has directed officials to ensure that the promised package in April of military aid is accelerated and delivered in full to Ukraine within the next 100 days. The April support agreed by Rishi Sunaks government was the largest ever military aid package to Ukraine, comprising 400 vehicles, 1600 strike and air defence missiles, including additional Storm Shadow long-range precision guided-missiles, four million rounds of ammunition and 60 boats, including off-shore raiding craft. The MoD stated, Having provided more than 7.6 billion of military support since Ukraine unprovoked invasion, the UK will continue to work with allies and partners to provide Ukraine with the equipment and weapons they need to win the war. With Ukraine having lost hundreds of thousands of lives, NATO is plotting how to reverse disastrous military setbacks that have shattered the Zelensky government. Even while Healey was meeting with Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, they had to flee into the basement and take cover in a bomb shelter of a Soviet-era building acting as Mr Umerovs temporary HQ due to Russian missiles falling nearby. Labour came to office with the backing of a ruling elite supportive of its party of NATO credentials and full backing for war against Russia and Israels genocidal onslaught against the Palestinians. Starmer won the backing of the Financial Times, the first time that newspaper has supported Labour in a general election in 19 years, since it backed Tony Blair in 2005 following his support for the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Starmer was also backed by the Murdoch dynasty-owned The Sun and The Times, both demanding stepped-up war against Russia and austerity cuts to pay for a vastly increased military budget. The trip to Kiev was co-ordinated with the Sun whose Political Editor Harry Cole accompanied Healeystraight after he left Starmers first Cabinet meeting on Saturdayto board a Royal Air Force-chartered flight. During the flight Healey gave Cole an exclusive interview. This was published under the headline, FIGHTING TALK: Britain will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, declares new Defence Secretary in direct warning to Putin. It read, He [Healey] insisted the new government is totally committed to hiking UK defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP but the defence of Britain starts in Ukraine. Healey boasted that within less than 24 hours after I was appointed I am on my way to Ukraine, as it was time to step up Britains special leadership with Kiev. Healey told the newspaper, We will deliver an extra quarter of a million heavy ammunition for the machine guns they use to shoot down Iranian drones. The extra 90 Brimstone missiles were the most lethal bit of kit they use to take out Russian tanks and armoured vehicles. The 50 boats were being provided for Ukrainian marines, these are the marines we have trained, so they will use those for attacks in the Black Sea, they will use those for raids across the Dnipro river. A Brimstone missile fitted to a Tornado GR4 fighter jet [Photo by OGL (Open Government License)] The newspaper pictured The Suns Cole meeting Zelensky and in the room while Healey was discussing with Ukraines defence minister. The Sun followed up with an editorial stating, From Day One of the Russian invasion, our last Tory Government was resolute in its support for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. It is hugely welcome that, in one of Labours first acts, new Defence Secretary John Healey travelled to Odesa to promise there would be no wavering in the UKs position. The Sun welcomed the commitment by the new Secretary of State to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defence, even if the detail is scant. The Times followed up with a demand for more. An article Tuesday, banner headlined, Pressure on Starmer to raise defence spending, reported that former head of the army General Sir Patrick Sanders had warned that Britains armed forces were so worn down that they were only able to fight a small war for no longer than a month Sanders said that even 2.5 percent of GDP was too small and called for spending to rise to closer to 3 percent. The General complained that military spending and security were conspicuously absent, from the general election campaign. At the moment, the political debate in in the UK is trying to shield the public from the reality of the world that that were now finding ourselves in. Sanders warned, Youve got the potential for a conflict that wont look like World War Two, but could spread like cancer, will be global, and will operate at different levels of intensity in all the operational domains. The type of war Sanders envisages being fought was clear in his grotesque relativising of the worst crimes of the 20th century, carried out by the Nazis. He designated Russia, China and Iran, the new Axis powers, with the Times adding that Sanders argued that they pose an even more lethal challenge than the Nazi alliance in 1939 since they are more interdependent and more aligned than the original Axis powers were. The message was underscored by Lord West, a Labour-supporting peer and former First Sea Lord and ex-chair of the National Security Forum. He complained to the Times of Labours position: I think we ought to say when we are going to get to 2.5 percent. When the situation allows is not really good enoughPutin will not wait for our situation to be good enough before he attacks. With an eye to the November election in the United States, West stated that Labour naming a date to reach 2.5 percent mark, would be a very good message to the Americans, not least to Donald Trump. Facing rapidly declining public support, the Albanese Labor government is escalating its claims of widespread foreign interference as a pretext for further whipping up an anti-China campaign and bolstering Australias political surveillance apparatus. Clare O'Neil, Australian Home Affairs Minister, delivering the keynote speech at Mentoring Matters Women in Security, May 13, 2024 [Photo: Facebook/Clare O'Neil MP] Last Friday, Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil announced that the Counter Foreign Intelligence Taskforce, an operation led by the domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), would be expanded and made permanent. In addition, a Technology Foreign Interference Taskforce (TechFIT), similar to the University Interference Taskforce (UFIT), will be established to supposedly protect the IT sector from espionage, sabotage and other international threats. The university taskforce involves intensive monitoring of educators and their students, and bars any research or teaching that could be branded as assisting a foreign government, especially China. As well, the Labor government is setting up a Foreign Interference Communities Support Hub to urge immigrant groups to identify and report such threats. Migration regulations are being amended also to refuse or revoke visas for international students, academics and others in sensitive fields of research or industry. These moves will have a further chilling effect on universities and free speech, adding to the xenophobic atmosphere being created by the governments slashing of international student enrolments, scapegoating them for the intensifying cost-of-living and housing crisis facing working-class households. ONeil declared in a statement: These changes are essential upgrades to our defences, which will result in vulnerable communities and sensitive technologies being better protected from a threat that the director general of ASIO has identified as the most serious we face. As ONeil indicated, this offensive is being conducted on the basis of unsubstantiated claims by ASIO and its chief, Mike Burgess. Media outlets, including the state-owned ABC and SBS, uncritically reported assertions by a senior intelligence source, who was not authorised to share classified information publicly. The unnamed source insisted that foreign agents were befriending and bribing bank workers, university staff and policemen to gather the home addresses and financial details of Australian residents critical of countries from which their families hailed. The source also claimed that the ASIO-AFP taskforce had successfully disrupted more than 120 foreign interference plots since it was established in 2020. ASIO and Australias entire intelligence machine are an integral part of the US-led Five Eyes global spy network. This network is on the frontline of Washingtons aggressive war operations, from Gaza to Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, against what US imperialism regards as the existential threats to its global hegemony, including Iran, Russia and, above all, China. In every one of his annual threat assessment speeches since 2021, Burgess has raised the spectre of nests of foreign spies establishing relations with politicians and others. This year, in his February address, Burgess ratcheted up the allegations to a new level, including by saying an A-team of spies had successfully cultivated and recruited a former Australian politician. Burgesss 2024 speech backfired, however, due to the lack of evidence. The obvious question was: Why there had been no prosecutions for such allegedly heinous crimes? After all, they carry potential sentences of life imprisonment under the foreign interference legislation, which was pushed through parliament in 2018 by the previous Liberal-National Coalition government with Labors backing. Moreover, on top of the 2018 laws, treason and espionage remain among the most serious offences in the federal criminal code. In the same week as Burgesss speech, Melbourne businessman and Vietnamese-Chinese community figure Di Sanh Duong became the first and only person to be convicted under the 2018 legislation. He was declared guilty of a vague charge of preparing for or planning an act of foreign interference, supposedly on behalf of China. In a largely closed-door trial, prosecutors argued that Duong planned to secretly gain political influence in 2020 by cultivating a relationship with a then-Coalition government minister Alan Tudge on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. This covert interference took place in the full glare of publicity, however. Duong allegedly arranged for Tudge to receive a $37,450 novelty cheque donation raised by community organisations for the Royal Melbourne Hospital in June 2020 amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A judge nevertheless sentenced Duong, 68, to a two-year and nine-month prison term, despite his ailing health. The lack of foreign interference evidence only became more glaring in March. A Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security report admitted no criminal prosecutions have been undertaken for offences under the 2018 Foreign Interference Transparency Scheme Act, despite criminal penalties for failure to register. The bipartisan Labor-Coalition committee did its best to secure arrests. It recommended expanding the already sweeping definition of foreign government-related bodies and forcing targeted people to register with the scheme against their will. Now the anti-China witch hunt has been dealt another blow. The only other prosecution case, which Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus personally authorised last December, is unravelling. Late last month, Alexander Csergo, a Sydney businessman charged with reckless foreign interference, was granted bail after Judge Graham Turnbull said the case against him was arguable, yet he could spend almost another year in custody awaiting trial. Csergo has pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a 15-year prison term. He was arrested in April last year, having just returned to Sydney from China. He remained in custody for more than a year, even after March, when prosecutors dropped their accusation that his conduct prejudiced Australias national security. Judge Turnbull said the prosecution case contained no allegation of dealing in official secrets. He added that defendants in Csergos position faced difficulties in preparing a defence, given such document-heavy cases and restrictions in accessing material and lawyers in custody. Even so, the judge imposed a lengthy list of bail conditions on Csergo, including ankle bracelet monitoring, daily reporting to police, a ban on going within 500 metres of any international departure point and surrendering his passport. He must also not communicate with any prosecution witness, not leave the state of New South Wales without telling police, avoid all foreign consulates and only use one phone, without accessing any encrypted apps or websites. Csergos only crime appears to be working in China as a corporate consultant . He had run a digital advisory business that provided services to large corporations. There was no indication that he had access to classified documents. All the information, on topics such as the state of the mining industry, that he gave to two clients, alleged to be undercover Chinese agents, was based on publicly available material. The charge of reckless foreign interference shows how far the legislation can stretch. It does not require a deliberate attempt to act on behalf of a foreign power. Instead, it is enough that an individual was aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that their conduct could go in that direction. As the WSWS has documented and explained, the foreign interference laws not only target China and its alleged local sympathisers. They can be used to outlaw political opposition, anti-war dissent and social protests by alleging that these activities are connected to foreign or international campaigns. As well as creating seven new far-reaching offences, the legislation expanded existing offences, such as treason, sabotage, advocating mutiny and breaching official secrecy, to broaden their potential use to criminalise anti-war advocacy and activity, including the exposure of war crimes. Last years $368 billion AUKUS deal for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines is clear preparation for aggressive US-led operations directly targeting China. Labor is already presiding over a vast expansion of US basing arrangements and an unprecedented build-up of Australian long distance strike capabilities. While aimed at China, the foreign interference laws are part of plans to suppress the developing struggles of the Australian and global working class under conditions of an economic and social crisis, outrage over the Gaza genocide and the ever-rising danger of catastrophic US-instigated wars. When it comes to cooperation and exchanges between Anhui and Germany, Anhui Volkswagen is undoubtedly widely mentioned. German manufacturing enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. Anhui's manufacturing sector exhibits strong development potential and broad market prospects in the fields of automobiles and electronic information. Anhui's "new trio" have emerged distinctively in the global market. Driven by technological advancements, market openness, and institutional innovation, the coupling of innovation and industrial chains is expanding in depth. Today, Anhui has become a favored destination for German investment in China, and the cooperation between Anhui and Germany continues to deepen. Based on this, on the afternoon of July 4th, the Haike Commerce Roundtable (Germany Session), hosted by the Anhui Provincial Government and organized by the Anhui Department of Commerce, was held in Shanghai. In the midst of enthusiastic exchanges, new collaborations between the two sides are brewing. In recent years, Anhui has adhered to the integrated development of complete vehicles, components, and the aftermarket, enhancing the competitiveness of the entire new energy vehicle industry chain. During the roundtable, many companies expressed interest in "embedding" themselves in the new energy vehicle industry chain. Anhui has always embraced the world with an open attitude. As early as 1984, Anhui Province and Lower Saxony in Germany became sister provinces. The tree of friendship has flourished, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of their bond. In 2023, the trade in goods between Anhui and Germany amounted to 19.68 billion yuan, with the figure from January to May this year reaching 8.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.6%. Meanwhile, Anhui is one of the key provinces for German enterprises to invest in China. In April this year, Volkswagen announced an additional investment of 2.5 billion euros to expand its Hefei center, once again fully demonstrating its confidence in the Anhui market. In open cooperation, we share new opportunities for development. The collaboration between Anhui and Germany continues to unfold. Source: anhuinews.com Specialists of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission have analyzed the video footage of the attack on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital on July 8. They concluded that the medical facility was "most likely" hit by a direct hit from a Russian missile and that Ukrainian air defense was not involved in the destruction. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the UN has refrained from making any final conclusions. This was stated by the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, Danielle Belle, Reuters reports. Based on the analysis of the video that recorded the attack on Okhmatdyt, the UN suggested that there is a "high probability that the children's hospital was directly hit" by a Russian missile. "The analysis of the video footage and the assessment conducted at the scene of the incident indicates a high probability that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit (by a Russian missile Ed.), rather than damage from the interceptor system," Belle said. According to her, the team of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission visited the site of the hit. At the same time, they have refrained from making any final conclusions, recognizing that "the missile appears to have been launched by the Russian Federation." ADVERTISIMENT Belle noted that Okhmatdyt staff moved the children to a shelter as soon as the air raid alert began. If not, she believes, the number of victims would have been much higher. Belle also noted that yesterday's shelling "was one of the most egregious attacks we've seen since the start of the full-scale invasion." As a reminder, on July 8, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and other cities came under attack. In total, dozens of people, including four children, were killed in Russia's morning attack on Ukraine. About 200 civilians were wounded. In Kyiv alone, as of 15:44 on July 9, 32 people were killed, including 4 children, 120 were injured, including 10 children, and 11 people were rescued. In total, almost 100 objects were damaged: the Okhmatdyt children's hospital, residential buildings, kindergartens, a maternity hospital, a college, and a business center. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! US President Joe Biden reacted to Russia's massive missile attack on Ukraine, in particular on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital. The head of the White House said that the shelling, which killed 37 people, is a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." ADVERTISIMENT Biden called on the world not to ignore Russian aggression and promised Ukraine more air defense systems. The US leader's statement was published on the White House website. "Russia's missile strikes that killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians and damaged the largest children's hospital in Kyiv today is a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality. It is imperative that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this critical moment and that we do not ignore Russia's aggression," Biden said. The US President has confirmed that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit in Washington on July 9-11. ADVERTISIMENT "I will welcome President Zelenskyy and NATO leaders in Washington this week. I will meet with President Zelensky to make it clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering," the statement reads. Biden confirmed that at the NATO summit, the allies will announce assistance to Ukraine, including air defense equipment. "Together with our allies, we will announce new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defense to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian attacks. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine," the US leader added. On the morning of July 8, the terrorist country Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine. The enemy fired missiles at Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and other cities. As of 23:00, there were 37 dead and more than 170 wounded. In the capital, a Russian missile hit the Okhmatdyt children's hospital. In addition to the hospital, other facilities were damaged, including one of the entrances to an apartment building. In Kyiv, 27 people died (including 3 children). 82 people were injured. ADVERTISIMENT As reported, earlier, the White House said that at the NATO summit, the United States plans to announce new steps to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and military capabilities. Allies will demonstrate "strong support for Ukraine". Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Oklahoma City's First Americans Museum has named Kelli Mosteller, an enrolled citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, as its new executive director and chief executive officer. Mosteller succeeds James Pepper Henry, who stepped down at the end of March after spending years working to get the First Americans Museum open and operating. In spring, Pepper Henry, an enrolled member of the Kaw Nation who is also Muscogee, shifted to the advisory role of director emeritus, with a focus on fundraising and special projects, for the museum. Mosteller brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in cultural institutions, tribal community work and academia to the First Americans Museum, also known as FAM. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mosteller to lead FAM into its next chapter, said Gregg Wadley, who is Choctaw and chairman of the First Americans Museum Foundation Board of Directors, in a statement. "Her extensive experience in Indigenous cultural preservation, museum management, and community engagement makes her ideally suited to build on FAM's success and further our mission." Mosteller will start overseeing daily operations at the First Americans Museum on Sept. 3. Kelli Mosteller has been named the new executive director and chief executive officer of the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. She is an enrolled citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, which is headquartered in Shawnee. Who is new First Americans Museum CEO Kelli Mosteller? Since 2022, Mosteller has worked as executive director of Harvard University's Native American Program. Before that, she spent a dozen years as executive director of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee. During her tenure, she oversaw the tribes museum, cultural classes and programming, tribal archives and oral history projects. She also led her team during a multi-year renovation of the heritage center's exhibits, resulting in the museums recognition as a Top 10 Native Cultural Center in the U.S. by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums in 2020. In addition, Mosteller worked as the Citizen Potawatomi Nation's tribal historic preservation officer and oversaw her nations Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act effort. "We commend Kelli for her 12 years serving her own tribal nation. Her experience in Oklahoma combined with her leadership at Harvard will elevate meaningful engagement with tribal nations in Oklahoma today. We're excited to welcome her," said Claire Green Young, who is Choctaw and serves on the FAM Board of Directors, in a statement. Mosteller holds a Ph.D. in American history from the University of Texas at Austin, with a focus on Indigenous studies, and she's received numerous awards for her work. "It's an honor to join the exceptional team at First Americans Museum," said Mosteller in a statement. "FAM plays a vital role in celebrating and sharing the collective histories of 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma today. I look forward to working with staff, the board of directors, and community partners to expand FAM's impact as a landmark cultural institution." What's next for the First Americans Museum? Since the long-awaited First Americans Museum hosted its public opening in September 2021, it has been honored with more than 30 local, regional, national and international awards. FAM received earlier this year a $65,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help the museum continue to reunite Indigenous items on loan from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian that were collected in Oklahoma more than a century ago with their tribes and families of origin. Since its opening, more than 300,000 people from across the state, country and globe have been admitted to FAM, and thousands more have attended events at the museum. The Oklahoma City landmark is expected to draw even more visitors after the adjoining $400 million OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark opens in 2025. The resort along the Oklahoma River is being built by the Chickasaw Nation as part of an agreement with the city of Oklahoma City to finish the First Americans Museum. As construction is ongoing at the future OKANA Resort, work recently started on a bike and pedestrian bridge across the Oklahoma River that will connect the resort to the 4-mile Greenway River Trail on the river's north shore. The lighted, 614-foot-long, $5.7 million concrete and steel bridge is one of Oklahoma City's MAPS 4 projects and is expected to be completed in about a year. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's First Americans Museum names new CEO: Get to know Kelli Mosteller Diddy Appears to Be Living His Best Life, But His Accusers Aren't Having It Diddy performs onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. - Photo: Mike Coppola for MTV (Getty Images) Despite the mounting lawsuits and being named as the subject in a federal criminal investigation, Diddy isnt worried about a thing. Or at least, that appears to be the case thanks to new photos and videos obtained by TMZ last week that have circulated online. Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, Diddy was spotted white-water rafting as well as boarding his matte black jet, dubbed Combs Air, in a since-expired Instagram story post. This post comes just one week after the Bad Boy producer wiped his entire page clean. No place like home, he said, while greeting staffers. Diddy was spotted having a good time while white-water rafting in Wyoming amid the Cassie controversy and ongoing human trafficking investigation. pic.twitter.com/f86R8wnXup The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 1, 2024 Diddy is back on social media with a new post of himself boarding his private jet he says "no place like home" pic.twitter.com/SWSQnpDueo SOUND (@itsavibe) July 6, 2024 However, these arguably carefree antics arent going over too well with the lawyers of Cassie Ventura or Adria English. As previously reported by The Root, English, a former adult film actress, filed a new lawsuit against Combs last week, alleging that Diddy hired her to work at several of his all-white parties over the years in Miami, New York, and the Hamptons. She claimed that she was forced to take part in sex work and forced to take drugs while at these parties and drink liquor that was laced with ecstasy. A lawyer for Combs denied any wrongdoing. After seeing Defendant Combs white water rafting and jetting around on his personal plane, seemingly enjoying life despite all the atrocities he has caused and has been accused of by countless individuals over decades, Mrs. English is even more motivated to ensure justice prevails, Englishs lawyer told TMZ on Tuesday. I dont think white water rafting will prepare him for the choppy waters that lie ahead, Venturas lawyer told TMZ. Neither Combs nor his legal team have responded to these new statements. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On the latest episode of Race to Survive: New Zealand, the competition got turned upside down when the River Guides were shockingly disqualified from the competition. The production team broke the news to Spencer Corry Jones and Oliver Dev just moments after they crossed the Race 4 finish line. A producer claimed that Corry killed and ate an off-limits bird. The tricky thing about reality TV is that theres usually much more to the story than what an editor can squeeze into a 45-minute episode. Thats definitely the case with Corry and Olivers disqualification. The duo spoke to Reality Tea about what really happened when they were racing Down Under and how potentially dirty gameplay might have led to their elimination. DQd Down Under Photo Credit: Brian Finestone/USA Network The River Guides have been dreading this moment for a while. Their disqualification was heavily teased in the trailer, so theyve spent the last few months bracing for backlash. On the show, Corry offered a sincere apology for breaking a rule, but Corry said the uncertainty of how it would play out on the show has been anxiety-inducing. This day has kind of been in the back of my mind for a long time. Theres been a lot of work preparing for this day, Corry explained. He said there have been a lot of low lows trying to process what happened during the competition, but thankfully, he has a ride-or-die in Oliver. Their friendship hasnt been impacted by this. Theyre both extremely appreciative of the experience, even if they didnt walk away with the $500,000 check. In retrospect, they said it was easy to forget about the prize money when they were out there. Corry said they were having fun doing the races, so the money ended up at the back of their mind especially when starvation struck. The same couldnt be said about the rest of their competitors. Did Oliver and Corry get thrown under the bus on Race to Survive: New Zealand? Photo Credit: Daniel Allen/USA Network When the producer announced that Corry and Oliver were disqualified from the competition, they didnt necessarily seem shocked. Thats because they had already been informed about the rule violation. They knew this was coming, and apparently, so did some of their competitors. We had been approached [by a producer] in the third Survival Camp that theres been this accusation made, Corry recalled. I owned it. Corry and Oliver proceeded into Race 4, but after the coasteering challenge, they were approached a second time about the rule violation. A producer informed them that a decision had been made, but it wouldnt be communicated until after Race 4 had been completed. Obviously, that took all of the wind out of their sails. For the second half of Race 4, we raced with a dark cloud over us, Corry recalled. We knew that we were out, and we kind of slowed down to enjoy the last bit of our time out there on the race. The River Guides explained that the rule violation happened earlier in the competition. So, why did it suddenly get brought up in Race 4? Thats a mystery that still isnt completely solved, but there are a few solid theories. I think that amount of money for some people can maybe change them when its dangled in front of their face, Oliver explained. They see us constantly winning, you might sacrifice some of your values to get that money, he continued. I have a feeling thats what happened. Corry added, Other teams were aware and were present and involved in this whole thing. Ready for redemption Photo Credit: Brian Finestone/USA Network Up until their disqualification, the River Guides completely dominated the competition. It would be a safe bet to say that they were poised to take home the whole thing. Getting so close undoubtedly set a fire underneath them, making this situation even more emotionally complex. If given the chance, Oliver and Corry would be ready to redeem themselves in another race. Oliver said, Theres still that drive to finish it and do the thing. And now Im a little bit pissed about it too, Corry added. If they were to return for another race, the River Guides said there would definitely be some changes to their strategy. They want to refine their survival kills, and obviously, keep their hands off the local birds. Most importantly, they would treat the other racers with a little more coldhearted competitiveness. I dont think youll see the same two people necessarily, Oliver explained. I dont think there would be as much trust with our other competitors that were up against. Race to Survive: New Zealand continues on the USA Network, Monday nights at 11/10c. TELL US WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RIVER GUIDES DISQUALIFICATION? DO YOU THINK ANOTHER TEAM SNITCHED ON THEM? WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE OLIVER AND CORRY RETURN FOR ANOTHER SEASON? The post EXCLUSIVE: Race to Survive: New Zealands Spencer Corry Jones and Oliver Dev Reveal Details of Their Shocking Disqualification appeared first on Reality Tea. Seven months following her release from prison, Gypsy Rose Blanchard is expecting. Blanchard posted a nine-minute video titled "I'm Pregnant, My Journey So Far" to her YouTube channel Tuesday morning announcing that she is 11 weeks pregnant with ex-fiance and current boyfriend Ken Urker. Her due date is in January 2025. "This was not planned at all. It was completely unexpected, but we're both very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood," Blanchard said in her video. In the video, Blanchard addresses her pregnancy symptoms, the baby's health and her plans moving forward. During the video, Blanchard takes a moment to breathe through tears as she talks about her newfound purpose as a mother. "It's an amazing feeling when your whole world shifts and suddenly it's not about you. It's not about anything other than the tiny little life that's inside you that you are now in charge of protecting," Blanchard said in the video. "That little, tiny life is a baby, a little, tiny human that's yours and that you have to make sure that you protect, you love, you take care of it and all of the things that I wish I could've had when I was little." "All of the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby," Blanchard said through tears. "Knowing that I am a mother now and I'm happy and I just want to be a good mother for my child. I want to be everything my mother wasn't." Blanchard concludes her video on an uplifting note. "This is a blessing," Blanchard said. "I found my freedom in a way that I never expected and I'm okay with that." Who is Ken Urker? Blanchard and Urker first got engaged while Blanchard was completing her eight-year prison sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Center. Blanchard was imprisoned for conspiring to kill her abusive mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, in 2015 with her then-boyfriend Nick Godejohn. She was released from prison in December 2023. However, after being together for two years, Blanchard and Urker broke up. By 2022, Blanchard had married Louisiana educator Ryan Scott Anderson. Following her release, the two were busy completing a press tour for the Lifetime documentary series, "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard." They also appeared together on several talk shows and podcasts, taking to their own social media accounts to share photos and videos with each other. Gypsy Rose Blanchard and husband Ryan Anderson attend the debut of the Lifetime docuseries "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard" on Jan. 05, 2024, in New York City. In 2016, Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her mother, who had probably suffered from a psychological condition that causes a parent or caregiver to fabricate or induce illness in another to gain sympathy. Blanchard, who married Anderson while she was in prison, was released in 2023. But in late-March, Blanchard announced she was filing for a divorce from Anderson. Around the same time, photos of Blanchard and Urker began to surface on social media. More: Gypsy Rose Blanchard announces separation from husband. Here's what we know Blanchard began posting videos to her YouTube channel about a week and a half ago. As of Tuesday, she has posted three videos, including her pregnancy announcement, a 14-minute Q&A and a behind-the-scenes look at her getting ready for a photoshoot. What was Gypsy's case about? Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard. Blanchard's mother Dee Dee was alleged to have made her daughter appear to have a range of physical and development ailments, including leukemia, asthma and muscular dystrophy in order to gain disability payments and gifts from charity. She reportedly suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental condition in which someone makes another person ill for sympathy or gain. In 2008, Dee Dee and Gypsy moved into a newly-built home on the north side of Springfield after their rental home in Louisiana was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The Blanchards purchased the Springfield home from Habitat for Humanity of Springfield. More: Here's how a makeup artist from Springfield collaborated with Gypsy Rose Blanchard in LA Gypsy spent much of her life wheelchair-bound but eventually sought help from Godejohn, whom she met online, to escape her mother. Godejohn traveled from Wisconsin, where he lived, to Springfield, where the two made plans to kill Dee Dee. On June 14, 2015, police were alerted to a post on Dee Dee's Facebook page that read, "That B*** is dead!" before Dee Dee's body was found dead in her home from multiple stab wounds. Simultaneously, Gypsy was nowhere to be found, as she had fled to Wisconsin with Godejohn. Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard presented her daughter Gypsy Rose Blanchard as a very sickly child. Following the pair's arrest, Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years for her role in the fatal stabbing of her mother. She became eligible for parole after serving 85% of her sentence. Godejohn remains behind bars. He was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing and killing Dee Dee. He continues to fight for a new trial, claiming his initial lawyers' defense failed to properly convey his level of autism in a diminished capacity defense. Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfields LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@news-leader.com. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Gypsy Rose Blanchard is pregnant. Here's when she's due 'Who killed Bob Crane?' New podcast explores murder of TV star who began career in Hornell A new true crime podcast is exploring the brutal murder of a legendary television actor whose road to stardom began in the Maple City. The APB Cold Case audio podcast Unscripted: Who Killed Bob Crane? looks for answers behind the June 1978 bludgeoning death of Hogans Heroes star Bob Crane in Scottsdale, Ariz. A sitcom set in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp, Hogans Heroes ran for six seasons on CBS, from 1965 to 1971, with Cranes portrayal of the wise-cracking American Colonel Robert E. Hogan making the actor a household name. But Cranes grisly murder on June 29, 1978, in a Scottsdale condo shocked fans and shattered the image of the seemingly all-American actor whose time in Hornell was short but memorable. Bob Crane got 'chance of a lifetime' in Hornell Crane spent nine months at WLEA in Hornell, from March until December of 1950. He originally was hired by the radio station as a janitor, but he quickly became an on-air favorite and he was promoted to WLEA program director within weeks. "He really wanted to learn radio, and Hornell gave him his start, Carol M. Ford, the author of "Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography, told The Evening Tribune in 2015. Had it not been for WLEA, he never would have progressed onward in his career. WLEA was the chance of a lifetime." Actor Bob Crane, shown in character in 1965 as Col. Robert Hogan from "Hogan's Heroes," was murdered in Scottsdale in 1978. John Henry Carpenter became the prime suspect soon after Crane's badly beaten body was discovered in a Scottsdale apartment. Carpenter wasn't charged until May 1992 - when authorities said they found new evidence. He was eventually acquitted. According to Fords book, Crane performed three nights a week as a drummer at the Elks Club. He was also regularly in attendance at St. Ann's Catholic Church. From WLEA, Crane made stops in Bristol, Conn. and Bridgeport, Conn. before landing in Los Angeles and hosting a show at KNX Radio where he became known as "The Man of a Thousand Voices" because of his ability to do impersonations. New podcast explores Crane's murder, a 'major whodunit' Hosted by Mark Spawn, a retired police chief from Upstate New York, Who Killed Bob Crane recounts Cranes messy personal life and apparently insatiable sexual appetite, the events leading to his death, the bloody crime scene and the aftermath. Crane's friend John Henry Carpenter was tried for the murder in 1994 but was acquitted, and the case remains unsolved. "Unscripted" calls Cranes slaying a major whodunit. According to promotional materials, the podcast examines theories on motive that range from jealousy, to vengeance, to the recovery of a black bag that (Crane) reportedly kept with him containing compromising photographs, some allegedly including prominent people. The APB Cold Case podcast Unscripted: Who Killed Bob Crane? looks for answers in the June 1978 bludgeoning death of Hogans Heroes star Bob Crane. The podcast includes interviews with Ford and another Crane biographer, Linda Groundwater. More: Hornell firefighters, cops renew rivalry: 'Battle of the Badges' charity game July 12 "Unscripted: Who Killed Bob Crane" is available in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube and other major podcast platforms. Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Offers as low as $1. This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: New podcast examines unsolved murder of Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane The United States and Germany are now opposing Ukraine's membership in NATO. They are the main opponents of our accession. ADVERTISIMENT These two countries were named by French President Emmanuel Macron before the North Atlantic Alliance summit in Washington. The latter, we recall, starts on July 9 and will last until July 11. The French president was quoted by the DPA news agency. The politician said that the United States and Germany had "strong opposition" to Kyiv's invitation to join NATO. "Ultimately, inviting Ukraine to NATO will be a decision of the allies," Macron added. He also hinted that the conference in Washington, D.C., would end up like the last summit in Vilnius in terms of an invitation to NATO. "The Ukrainians were very annoyed when they concluded that the door was open, but not that much. And I think the scenario of the Washington summit will be the same," Macron said. Earlier, on July 9, the Ukrainian delegation headed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the US capital, Washington, to participate in the summit. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: According to CNN, the draft communique of the NATO Summit calls Ukraine's path to joining the Alliance "irreversible." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that NATO representatives would talk about Ukraine at the meeting in Washington. Bulgaria said that during the summit it would propose to start peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! A large poster on the facade of the Grimaldi Forum advertises the exhibition "Turner, the sublime heritage". The Grimaldi Forum is an exhibition and event hall covering over 70,000 square meters, three quarters of which is under the sea. The exhibition was created in collaboration with London's Tate Gallery and will run until September 1, 2024. Sabine Glaubitz/dpa Glittering and shining like a disco ball, the artwork is covered with thousands of small mirrors, each of them depicting the image of a solar eclipse. This room-filling work is in a dialogue with another work, painted around two centuries years earlier, by William Turner (1775-1851), one of England's most important and influential painters. What does Katie Paterson's solar eclipse sphere have to do with 19th century moonlight paintings, you ask? One of the most significant exhibitions in the microstate of Monaco seeks to tease out the fascination in natural phenomena, shared by both artists. It's only one of dozens of candid juxtapositions in this exhibition, created in collaboration with London's Tate Gallery. Until September, the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco is displaying 80 Turner paintings, juxtaposed with works by mainly contemporary artists, including Olafur Eliasson, Wolfgang Tillmans and Richard Long. The event hall hosting the exhibition covers some 70,000 square metres and is itself something of a tourist landmark for those visiting France's Mediterranean coast this summer. With the contrasts of the show - called "Turner, le sublime heritage" ("Turner's sublime legacy") - curator Elizabeth Brooke says she sought to emphasize Turner's lasting significance, even 170 years after his death. The dialogue illustrates how topical Turner's exploration of beauty and landscapes is, says the art historian. Among those present is Olafur Eliasson, an artist known for exploring natural phenomena. At the Grimaldi Forum, the Danish-Icelandic artist has 30 aerial photographs of glaciers in Iceland from 1997 and 2019 - spectacular to behold, but also terrifying to see melting. They become all the more powerful seen in contrast to Turner's Arctic Sea watercolours, painted over 200 years ago. Meanwhile Richard Long, considered one of the UK's best-known figures in the medium of land art, works directly with natural materials and is known for his monumental works made from pieces of slate. Long and Turner travelled through the same mountainous landscapes in England in search of motifs. From the seascapes of German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans to the abstraction of Mark Rothko, the show illustrates just how relevant, indeed modern, Turner remains. After all, one of the most important prizes for contemporary art still bears his name today. Fittingly, two artists at the exhibition - Tillmans and Long - have won The Turner Prize. Curator Elizabeth Brooke (l) and the artist of the work "Totality" (front), Katie Paterson, at the exhibition "Turner, the Sublime Legacy" at the Grimaldi Forum. The exhibition was created in collaboration with the Tate Gallery in London and runs until September 2024. Sabine Glaubitz/dpa Slate installation by Richard Long in the exhibition "Turner, the Sublime Legacy" at the Grimaldi Forum. Sabine Glaubitz/dpa A visitor looks at the painting "Three Seascapes" (l) by William Turner next to the painting "Untitled" by Mark Rothko in the exhibition "Turner, the Sublime Legacy" in Monaco's Grimaldi Forum. Sabine Glaubitz/dpa Last year, a widely circulated video depicted a troubling incident involving YouTube star MrBeast, who was pulled over by police and subsequently arrested. The incident raised significant concern and drew attention to the well-being of the popular YouTuber. Heres everything to know about MrBeast getting arrested. Did MrBeast get arrested? Last year, a widely circulated video showed YouTube sensation MrBeast being pulled over and arrested by police while driving his Tesla. Later, it was revealed that the incident was a revenge prank orchestrated by fellow YouTube star Airrack. In the video, MrBeast can be seen getting pulled over by police while driving his Tesla and handcuffed, as per Daily Mail. He was taken into custody and reportedly held in a cell without access to food or water following the incident. Why did MrBeast go to jail? MrBeast getting arrested was revealed to be a revenge plan of YouTube star Airrack, in retaliation for a prank that had been played on him more than a year prior. In the video, MrBeast was pulled over in his Tesla due to tinted windows, as per Daily Mail. The officers simulated a license check and falsely claimed there was a warrant related to communicating threats. Initially cooperative, MrBeast stopped engaging when questioned about threats. He was then held in a cell without access to food or water for an extended period. Eventually, when given the opportunity to make a phone call, officers dialed Airracks number, revealing to him that it was all a prank. Airrack later admitted MrBeast had believed the situation was genuine at first. Airrack reportedly teamed up with off-duty deputies from North Carolina, MrBeasts home state, to pull off a fake arrest. These deputies were reportedly off-duty at the time and were compensated for their role in the staged prank. Airrack later revealed in a video that he originally planned the prank with the New York City Police Department. However, it fell through. The involvement of local law enforcement also sparked controversy among viewers. The post MrBeast Arrested: What Happened to the YouTuber in 2023? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Natalya knows that ring gear can be important to a wrestler for many different reasons. Recently, during an interview with McKenzie Mitchell as part of her Threads series, Natalya mentioned that the wrestling gear also tells a story. Your gear does tell a story. And every single piece of gear that I have, and Ive been in close to 2000 matches, if not more, in WWE. I havent counted all of them, but we are getting close to that 2000 mark if were not past that. And every piece of gear tells a story. I can literally look at a certain outfit and go, Oh, that was the time when I wrestled Charlotte Flair at NXT Takeover. Or Ill look at a jacket and go, Oh, that was the jacket that I was the number one in the Womens Royal Rumble. Or, Oh, that was the jacket that I wore when I walked down the ramp at WrestleMania 35 with Beth Phoenix. Those were the boots that Rey Mysterio gave me. Those things, I can pinpoint those moments, those conversations, the matches, the plan. Like the planning and the preparation of the matches, the hugs, and the tears after. Natalya also spoke about the significance of her Saudi Arabia gear. The outfit that I wore to have the very first Womens match in Saudi Arabia, it was a one-piece black, vinyl, full bodysuit. With a Natalya shirt over it. That was like, because we were the very first Womens Match in Saudi Arabia, they made us make the shirt even bigger. We had to sew on a piece of fabric to the bottom of the shirt because they werent sure that it was going to cover enough, Natalya said. Watch List WrestleZone spoke with Natalya, who was asked if there was one match that best represented her in-ring work. She singled out her NXT Womens title match with Charlotte Flair at NXT TakeOver as one of her favorite matches from her career. I love the match that I had with Charlotte Flair in NXT in 2014, at the Takeover. I watched that match, and it was when Charlotte was just getting started in WWE and it was her first big moment, Natalya explained. Im so proud of that match because I was able to bring something special out of myself that I wasnt able to show before. When I started in WWE, we were fighting for everything. Scratching, clawing, fighting tooth and nail to have anything. Triple H gave me the opportunity to have a match that was 20 minutes long. Id never had that before, I never had the chance to do that, she continued. And then to be able to pull something out of Charlotte that she didnt know she had inside her and to help her discover what an incredible performer she would become, its one of my shining moments in my career, and Ill never not be proud of that match. Read More: Natalya and TJ Wilson Reveal An Unknown Secret Behind His Headphones In WWE The post Natalya: Every Piece Of Gear Tells A Story appeared first on Wrestlezone. Savannah Chrisley hopes to have Julie home by Thanksgiving as they fight to get Todd out of prison As we await to hear when Julie Chrisley will be resentenced, daughter Savannah Chrisley is opening up about the next steps for her father Todd Chrisley. During the most recent episode of her podcast, Savannah Chrisley said Todds legal team is filing a motion to review his sentence. The next process for Dad is going through and filing the motion for the 2255, which is ineffective assistance of counsel, and then taking that step by step, she said. So thats pretty much where were at with that. A 2255 motion is a collateral or indirect challenge to the judgment or sentence against you attacking the conviction or sentence as unconstitutional or contrary to federal law, spolinlaw.com said. As for her mother, Savannah says she hopes to have Julie home by Thanksgiving and give them time to truly focus on all of dads stuff. Julies sentence was vacated last month but the court upheld Todds conviction. RELATED STORIES: Todd and Julie Chrisley, along with Peter Tarantino, their accountant, were found guilty in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks and the IRS out of millions of dollars and are serving a combined 15 years in prison. The Chrisleys were originally sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison, but the sentences were reduced in September 2023. Todd is serving 12 years in prison. Julie was sentenced to 7. Their accountant also received 3 years. Savannah said she had hoped that Todds outcome would have been the same as her mothers. Whats so sad about this whole thing is that youre literally negotiating with the devil, Savannah said. The government, they have a 97%, 98% conviction rate. Why is that? That is because they scare people into entering into a plea agreement. They have unlimited resources. They can fight you till the very end. It sucked that there wasnt better a better outcome for Dad, but then I looked at it and I was so grateful for the outcome for Mom, Savannah continued. Following the opinion, Todd Chrisleys attorney sent a statement to People Magazine, saying: Were pleased that the Court agreed that Julies sentence was improper, but were obviously disappointed that it rejected Todds appeal. With this step behind us, we can now challenge the couples convictions based on the illegal search that started the case. The family appreciates the continued support theyve received throughout this process. And theyre hopeful for more good news in the future. Channel 2 Action News first started investigating the Chrisleys in 2017, when we learned that Todd Chrisley had likely evaded paying Georgia state income taxes for several years. Court documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News showed that by 2018, the Chrisleys owed the state nearly $800,000 in liens. The couple eventually went to trial and a federal jury found them guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion. There is no word yet on when Julie Chrisley will be sentenced. RELATED NEWS: Utah father and son-in-law duo rely on grit and natural strength in Race to Survive: New Zealand Bronsen Iverson and Ryan Stewart during a competition on "Race To Survive: New Zealand." | Daniel Allen, USA Network In the intense wilderness survival competition Race to Survive: New Zealand, nine teams of two compete for a $500,000 prize. The grueling 150-mile race tests participants both physically and mentally, pushing them to their limits. Ryan Stewart and Bronson Iverson, one of three teams from Utah competing this year, were consistently among the top contenders. However, the father and son-in-law duo had to withdraw in Episode 8 due to a knee injury Stewart battled throughout the competition. Stewart, a hunting guide, relies on being in top physical condition for his livelihood and chose not to risk further injury by continuing. Deciding to compete In an interview with Deseret News, Stewart described how, when invited to join the competition, he chose Iverson, his daughters fiance at the time, as his partner. By the time the race began, Iverson had become his son-in-law. We thought how fun would that be to go on an adventure, especially with my at-the-time future son-in-law, Stewart said. I thought itd be such a cool experience. Stewart praised Iverson, describing him as a strong, tough dude, kind of more of a cowboy type of a guy. The pair had a close bond even before the competition due to their shared interests in camping, hunting and bull riding. Despite neither having experience in high-endurance races like many of the other competitors, Stewart and Iverson were accustomed to physical strain. Stewarts background includes military and police service and he works as a hunting guide and landscaper, while Iverson grew up working on a ranch. Unfortunately, they were not able to make up for their lack of experience with as much training as they would have liked due to their work commitments. Instead, they relied on their grit and natural strength. Its really hard when youve got to support for your family, Stewart said. But I think we actually did really well. We would have done amazing if we didnt get that injury. Wed have taken first or second. Overcoming challenges The biggest hurdle for them to overcome was Stewarts injured knee, which he sustained in Episode 2 and hindered him for the rest of the competition. I kept pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing until that last stinking race, Stewart said. The sand, it just jobbled it up and it didnt want to go anymore. Stewart revealed that he had an LCL tear, which was about 90% torn. The doctor who treated him after the show said that continuing would have likely resulted in a complete tear. Since returning to Utah, Stewart has had surgery and is almost fully recovered, though he still experiences some lingering pain. I feel it sometimes, he said. But I think its going to be golden here in another couple of months. Another challenge was the scarcity of food. On top of having to push themselves past their limits, contestants have to do so while hungry. Youre pushing your body so hard with minimal protein, and so your bodys never really recovering, Stewart said. I lost so much weight out there. I think I went from like 194 to 169, something like that. For Iverson, the greatest challenge was being away from his family and new wife. Only been married four months to my wife and Ive been with her basically every day since we were married, Iverson said. Thats probably one of my biggest challenges out there was missing home. Motivation to win With the race being such a challenge, competitors need to stay motivated. For Stewart and Iverson, it was a matter of pride that they completed the race. I wanted to be at the end, Stewart said. It almost got to the point where it didnt even matter if we got first, second, whatever, I just wanted to get to the end. However, Race to Survive often defies plans, and contestants must recognize their limits. For Stewart, his injury marked that limit. Despite his best efforts, his leg kept locking up, forcing him to stop. Despite the hardships, Stewart stated, I would do it again in a heartbeat. 'Alpenfest is a part of the soul of Gaylord': Beachnau reflects on Der Buergermeister title GAYLORD When someone is selected as the Der Buergermeister for Gaylord's Alpenfest summer festival, it becomes a significant milestone in that person's life. Earning the coveted Der Buergermeister title serves as a community thank you for a lifetime of civic engagement that helps make Gaylord a better place. This year's Der Buergermeister, Paul Beachnau, the executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, has been making an imprint on community life since he was a child. He lived in Lansing until 1972 when his father, Richard, accepted a position with the Catholic Diocese of Gaylord. "From the fourth grade on I was in Gaylord. I went to Gaylord St. Mary from grade school through high school where I played football," he said. After obtaining a degree in public administration from Michigan State University, Beachnau came back to Gaylord to serve as executive director of the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce at the age of 22. Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, was selected as this year's Der Buergermeister. The Der Buergermeister title which translates as The Mayor in German is awarded to an individual who has impacted the community by giving their time, energy, heart and soul in making the community a better place to live. "I loved Northern Michigan and knew I wanted to move back to the area. Over the years I have been offered positions outside of Gaylord. But I never wanted to move. This is home for me," Beachnau said. Serving as Der Buergermeister, which translates as The Mayor in German, has special meaning for Beachnau. His father was the Der Buergermeister at the 1997 Alpenfest. "I remember wearing the little suspenders that my mother made for me and going downtown for all of the activities. Alpenfest has been a part of my life since childhood," said Beachnau. "Alpenfest is a part of the soul of Gaylord. It brings us together as a community to celebrate our successes. For me, Alpenfest is the backbone of the community that keep us together," he added. Alpenfest also brings families together again. "My brother is coming here for his 50th high school reunion. People plan to return to Gaylord during Alpenfest," Beachnau said. Not only has Beachnau worked in Gaylord for his entire professional career, he has also been active in local government and community organizations. He became aware of civic engagement while tagging along with his father to his activities. "My dad was involved with the United Way and other civic groups. I remember going with him to all of the meetings in part because doughnuts were always available," he said with a laugh. Beachnau has been a member of Rotary for many years. He served as an Otsego County commissioner for 18 years, including a stint as county board chairman. "I love serving the people of Otsego County and Gaylord. We have amazing assets like lakes, parks and trails. But the best asset is the people. When you are here, you feel at home," said Beachnau. Two recent tragedies have reminded Beachnau of how big a heart this community possesses. One was the May 20, 2022 tornado that left a path of destruction through the area. Following the storm, which produced two deaths and 44 injuries in addition to millions of dollars in damages, Beachnau guided Detroit Free Press columnist Neal Rubin through the community. Beachnau said Rubin was very impressed with the community response. "Rubin told me that Gaylord was an amazing place on a sunny day in June. It's an even more amazing place after a natural disaster like a tornado. That has stayed with me and that is exactly how I feel about this community," he said. The other tragedy that hit Beachnau occurred last October when his home was destroyed by fire. "The amount of support that I have received was amazing. People, including some that I didn't know, reached out and offered me gift cards. My best friend picked up some pants for me. I lost everything but I intend to start building a new home on the same site soon," he said. The 59th version of Alpenfest starts Tuesday, July 9 and continues through Saturday, July 13 in downtown Gaylord. A full list of events can be found at gaylordalpenfest.com. In addition to Beachnau, other award winners announced jointly by the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the 2024 Alpenfest Committee include parade marshal Kay Lyn Jeakle, a teacher at Gaylord Intermediate School. The parade marshal honor goes to an individual who is a champion of Alpenfest over the years. George Sorenson was named the winner of the DAR Award, which is designed to collectively honor all of the Alpenfest volunteers who work behind the scenes. The award is named after Dar Mongeau, who for many years assisted her husband, Jim, with his duties as the general manager of Alpenfest. The Edelweiss Award will go to Kari Jo Stefanski, who works at Serra Ford. This award is presented to an individual who goes above and beyond the normal volunteer duties. This award is named in the memory of Pam Duczkowski and Patti Dobrzelewski, who gave their time and energy by putting on successful events over the years in the community. Subscribe Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you The Alpine Chocolat Haus, owned by Bruce and Barb Brown, is the winner of the Alpenfest Honored Industry Award. It is given to a local business or organization that is a great friend to Alpenfest. This organization promotes the event by volunteering or helping through a monetary donation. All of the award winners will be featured at 11:30 a.m. at the Alpenfest Honors Luncheon on July 9 under the Pavilion on South Court Avenue. Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Beachnau reflects on Der Buergermeister title for Alpenfest A potted creosote plant she brought back from Arizona brings the smell of the desert into her New York apartment. My family moved to Tucson from Colorado when I was in high school, and it was the first time I experienced desert monsoons. If I climbed up on the roof of my house, I could see storm clouds roll into the city. First I would see the rain coming, and then I would smell it. For years, I thought the aroma was the smell of the desert and monsoons. I didnt know it had another source, because its so subtle. One day, when I was visiting Arizona after moving away to New York, I was on a walk with my friend Weston Westenborg, who used to work in horticulture, and he pointed out the creosote plant. He said, "If you rub the leaves together, you have this amazing smell." It was revelatoryI realized this one plant was responsible for the smell of the entire desert. I think its one of the most peaceful smells on the planet, which is why I bought this creosote plant for my New York apartment from Westons familys nursery in Tucson last year. I always said to myself, I cant wait to go back to the desert to smell that smell, because I thought creosote couldnt be cultivated. But Weston showed me you could transport it. Creosote has taught me to explore wider definitions of place and that the term "native species" is very relative to the histories we want to bring forward. At a biodynamic hospitality project in Arizona that Im working on with my architecture firm, Mattaforma, creosote took over the 131-acre site because mining and cattle grazing dried out the soil, which it likes. Now, to reestablish aquifers lost over time, were reintroducing other plants that can absorb and hold water. This means the monoculture of creosote will slowly diffuse as the soil saturates and, along with it, the beautiful smell. Through creosote, Ive learned that whats most important in life and design is approaching nature with the curiosity of all five senses. To bring resilience and healing back to a place, we need to engage with nature like never before. In New York, I always used to long for the experience of being in the desert and taking in the smell of creosote. But now, my plant helps bring the things that feel like home to where I am now. Ive learned that roots can be made, not just found. Head back to the July/August 2024 issue homepage BY BRANDON MICHAEL SIDELEAU Late last week, the remains of a missing 12-year-old girl were found after she was taken by a saltwater crocodile in Australias Northern Territory. The incident occurred in a waterway known as Mango Creek near the community of Nganmarriyanga/Palumpa in the remote and sparsely populated West Daly region, about 350 kilometers southwest of Darwin. Understandably, the tragedy elicited a strong reaction from the public - including debate about crocodile numbers in the wild. I am based in the Northern Territory and have worked extensively in the field of human-crocodile conflict management, including establishing CrocAttack, a global open-source database of crocodilian attacks. Amid the emotion surrounding this latest incident, its important to remember fatal crocodile attacks are extraordinarily rare in Australia - and there is no evidence to suggest their numbers are too high. two juvenile saltwater crocodiles Fatal crocodile attacks are extraordinarily rare in Australia. Photo: Shutterstock Croc numbers dont equate to attacks Saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory number about 100,000 (excluding those just hatched). Research shows about five crocodiles, on average, for every kilometer of waterway. Fatal crocodile attacks in the territory peaked in 2014 when four people died. Prior to the latest incident, the last fatal attack occurred in 2018, when an Indigenous ranger was killed while fishing with her family. The fatality rate is far lower than elsewhere in the saltwater crocodiles range. In Indonesia, for example, at least 85 people were killed last year alone. Whats more, crocodile incidents in Indonesian Papua are believed to go largely unreported, so the number of actual deaths is likely much higher. Despite this, there appear to be vastly fewer crocodiles in Indonesia. Most surveys reveal densities of significantly less than one individual per kilometer in waterways. Man in silhouette casts net Unlike in Australia, fishermen in Indonesia must often wade into waterways, putting them at greater risk of crocodile attack. Photo: Shutterstock Why crocodile attacks are rare There are several theories on why saltwater crocodile attacks are comparatively rare in Australia. First, Australians generally have access to fresh water in their homes. Unlike people in, say, Indonesia, they do not need to travel to waterways to bathe, carry out domestic chores, or collect drinking water. That means they are less likely to encounter crocodiles. Second, Australians have access to fishing equipment which does not require them to submerge themselves in waterways to fish, and safer fishing vessels which, unlike in Indonesia, are not prone to capsizing. The Northern Territory is also more sparsely populated and developed than other areas where saltwater crocodiles live. That means less habitat destruction, more natural prey for crocodiles, and fewer people in crocodile habitat. Importantly, the Northern Territory, in particular, also has an extensive crocodile safety education program in the form of the CrocWise campaign, as well as a robust management plan. Crocs dont need culling The territorys crocodile management plan was recently amended to increase the territorys crocodile removal quota from 300 to 1,200 a year, stopping short of a widespread cull. However, each time a croc attack occurs in Australia, it provokes debate about whether Australia needs tougher management of croc numbers. Following the latest crocodile attack, the Northern Territorys Chief Minister, Eva Lawler, said, We cant have the crocodile population outnumber the human populationWe do need to keep our crocodile numbers under control. Claims that crocodile populations need controlling make little sense. Research shows apex predators such as crocodiles do not overpopulate. Crocodile numbers in the Northern Territory have never been, and will never be, out of control. This is particularly true for the saltwater crocodile, for which less than 1% of hatchlings survive to adulthood. It is also a fiercely territorial species, and conflict between males often results in death. Not practical A 2015 Australian study determined that removing all crocodiles from a location was not a practical option, given the species mobility and dispersal across a range of habitats. It said culling programs would not ensure the absence of crocodiles in a targeted area, and swimming activities would remain unsafe to the public. Other Australian research has found crocodile numbers would have to fall by 90% to prevent one annual attack. Preventing crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory requires more community education, more signs warning of the crocodile danger, and tougher fines for people wilfully engaging in unsafe behavior. here Preventing crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory requires more signs warning of the danger. Photo: Darren England/AAP New tools are also being developed. This includes detecting crocodiles with multi-beam sonar in areas where the attack risk is high, and attaching magnets to crocodiles while moving them to disrupt their natural homing instinct. These methods require further studies. Ultimately, through public education and management, it is possible for humans to live alongside crocodiles with minimal conflict. This article first appeared in The Conversation. The post Australia Doesnt Have a Croc Problem, Despite Latest Attack appeared first on Explorersweb. People continue to launch fireworks near highly flammable areas year after year with disastrous results. And now, one group of firework-happy individuals on a private yacht in Greece are learning their lesson the hard way. In June, 13 crew and seven passengers on a privately chartered yacht set off unauthorized fireworks from their ship. As far as officials can tell, the pyrotechnics then sparked a major forest fire on the island of Hydra, according to CNN. "We are outraged," Hydra Mayor George Koukoudakis said on state TV, per CNN. "If it's true, it is something that really saddens me." The Maritime Executive reported that the fire burned through 3,000 acres of pine forest, requiring six aircraft and two firefighting teams during a time when the teams were already needed elsewhere. Greece had issued an extreme fire risk warning and a burn ban, which the passengers and crew ignored. After another ship reported seeing the fireworks launch from the yacht, authorities met the passengers and crew at an Athens marina. There, they arrested the 13 crew members; however, all of the passengers quietly returned home the following morning, per the Maritime Executive. Reckless deployment of fireworks is frustratingly common, even though the fire risk is well-documented. Each year in the U.S., nearly twice as many wildfires are reported on July 4 as on any other day, PBS reports. And fireworks aren't the only threat wildfires have been sparked by everything from illegal camping fires to gender reveal parties. Worse, these human-created fires burn more than twice as fast as naturally occurring wildfires, according to research by the American Geophysical Union, as reported by Science.org. Wildfires and their corresponding intense temperatures, air pollution, and lingering destruction have also been linked to negative health impacts. These include decreased mental health outcomes, pregnancy complications, higher risks of heart and lung issues, threats to biodiversity, and more. If the Greek yacht's crewmembers are convicted of arson, the Maritime Executive reports, they "could face serious penalties, including as much as 20 years of prison time." Hopefully their case deters the next group of would-be firestarters, and encourages a pyrotechnic-free vacation instead. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Solar shingles can bring together great aesthetics and practical function all on your rooftop. They are sun-catching tiles that look a lot like typical roof coverings, providing solar energy without the obvious bulky panel systems attached to the top of homes, according to descriptions from Men's Journal and Forbes. It's a great time to consider diversifying household energy plans, as the cost of the tech is dropping, and there are tax breaks available to help you reduce up to 8,500 pounds of planet-warming air pollution a year. Forbes reports that solar shingles can also lower your energy bill by an astounding 40% to 70%, depending on how many you add to your abode. The concept has been around for a while. Tesla made headlines in 2016 when it unveiled its Solar Roof. But lawsuits and lackluster sales reports have provided mixed news since, per CNBC. Now numerous companies are making energy-producing shingles. GAF Energy is manufacturing nailable versions in Texas, for example. Men's Journal has a list of 22 questions to ask your contractor if you go with solar. One is the age of your roof. "It most likely wouldn't make sense to install the panels on a roof that needs to be replaced soon," Andrew Prchal, president of Connecticut's Gunner Roofing, told the publication. Shingles might be the best choice if the roof needs to be replaced anyway. Forbes notes that shingles are typically about a foot wide and 86 inches long. They weigh about 13 pounds per square foot and are under an inch thick. You will need about 350 of them, on average. The shingles' efficiency the amount of sunlight turned to electricity is on par with panel-industry averages of 10% to 20%, depending on the quality of the tech. Shingles match panel longevity, as well. Both will last for decades, per Forbes. The biggest sticking point for many folks is likely cost. Forbes lists systems sized for a typical home at around $12,700. Solar shingles could cost between $15,000 and $20,000, with Tesla's product tens of thousands of dollars more (though it touts taking care of everything from design to finish, with an app to monitor the operation afterward). Significant tax breaks can also help defray some of the expense. Once up and running, you can reap pure savings on your energy bill. The report also notes that shingles are relatively new, compared to traditional panels. So finding an installer could be harder. EnergySage can help you put together a solar plan, from financing to battery storage. Another option, called community solar, provides a way to tap renewable energy benefits from nearby solar farms without installing equipment at home. Some simple research online can get you started. Adding solar energy to your house by almost any means will reduce the amount of pollution in our air, which is noticed in neighborhoods in multiple ways. NASA has linked pollution to a greater risk of severe weather, impacting insurance costs and coverages, for one example. If you plan to install sun-catchers at your house, solar shingles provide great performance with a barely noticeable setup. For now, they cost more, and you might have to do some digging to find a contractor to install them. "They've really become popular because they are flush with the roof, which will prevent critters and debris from gathering underneath the panels," Prchal told Men's Journal. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Most people buying cheap houses in Italy are simply attracted by the idea of paying a bargain price for the opportunity to escape to somewhere warmer that has better food. But what if it could also help you live longer? That was the thinking for Bingwa Thomas, 72, originally from Kansas City, who purchased an old dwelling in Latronico, deep in Italys southern Basilicata region, hoping that the change in lifestyle would push him well beyond the life expectancy of his demographic in the United States. Of course, price was also a factor. Thomas, currently based in Los Angeles, decided to purchase a 110 square-meter home primarily down to its affordability after he negotiated its down to 8,000 euros (about $8,662.) Bargain home scheme Bingwa Thomas, 72, from Kansas City, snapped up his first old dwelling in Latronico in 2022 after learning of the Italian towns bargain home scheme. - Bingwa Thomas Involved in social activism since the age of 18, Thomas was also taken with the Italian towns proximity to Africa, where he says he is involved in humanitarian aid projects. My main reason for establishing a residence in southern Italy was to have better access to the African continent, he says. To be able to use my pension to create, fund, network and volunteer with programs on the African continent. I wanted a residence that I would not have to spend a lot to make habitable, so that I could have more money for the African projects. Thomas, who self-funds his activism work through acting gigs, including commercials, industrial films and voice-over assignments, was also attracted by the regions healthier, slower-paced lifestyle, hoping that it would help to increase his life expectancy. Life expectancy in Italy is 82.7 years, while in the US its 79, he says. In fact, the World Health Organization puts that US age figure closer to 77. But for a Black male its 70. So in the US Im already two years past my expiration date. But in Italy I can get 10 extra years. Thomas motivation for moving to Italy seems to be part of a shift away from the original reasons that people were buying into the countrys cheap homes selloff, which began a few years ago as depopulated and dying towns sought to attract new people to breathe new life into their communities. At first, the majority of buyers, according to the mayors promoting the schemes, were foreign families and retired couples hoping to buy a vacation retreat. This appears to have changed over time with artists, philanthropists and social activists now looking to make the move. Latronico is one of the towns thats been luring mainly American buyers with cheap houses and rentals. CNN Travel first wrote about Latronicos house sales in 2021, and the destination has attracted much attention since. Among properties put up for sale are turnkey homes priced as low as 10,000 euros (around $10,800) and crumbling properties in need of a thorough renovation. According to Thomas, his purchase process was seamless, and the only challenges were mostly due to pandemic-tied travel restrictions. He was thrilled that former deputy mayor Vincenzo Castellano, the man behind the housing scheme, picked up the phone when he called to enquire, and supported him throughout the entire purchase, and said that this played a part in his decision making. Thomas, who has been traveling to Italy every few months since purchasing the home, has budgeted about 20,000 euros (around $21,656) for the renovation work along with furnishings and appliances. He says he hopes to help develop Latronicos community by creating an arts center on the ground floor of his house in the future. Artists have always taken over abandoned buildings in an undesirable area of a city and brought the buildings and neighborhoods back to life only to have the newly revitalized buildings taken away or had their rents increased by greedy landlords, he says. With these small neat little European villages, artists dont have to rent, they can actually own their living spaces and studios. The villages get repopulated and the artists dont get ripped off of their creative energy. New buzz Thomas was able to negotiate the 10,000 asking price on the 110 square-meter home in Latronico down to 8,000 (about $8,662.) - Vincenzo Castellano Latronicos old district has been in decline since the 1850s, when families started abandoning the area in search of a brighter future elsewhere, leaving behind dozens of empty homes and silent alleys. Today, thanks to the cheap homes selloff, theres a new buzz in the area as Latronicos 4,000 or so residents adapt to living alongside newcomers mainly from America, but all over the world. For Thomas, life in Latronico fits in with his artistic philosophy. As an artist, I love the challenge of taking forgotten, under-appreciated or discarded items and repurposing them, he says. What I love most about Latronico is the dedication and attention to detail in the attempt to first, stop the bleeding, resuscitate and bring back to life this beautiful town. Artists have often played a role in revitalizing communities through their creativity and Thomas hopes to be another example of this by contributing to local village life through cultural and artistic projects once his arts center is up and running. He says he admires Latronicos revival efforts, explaining that hes tried to do the same in various communities in the US for the past 50 years, with far more resources than those available to local authorities in Latronico. Thomas has experience living outside the US, having spent time traveling around the world and working odd jobs throughout Europe. My usual route during this period was summer working on the Greek island of Ios, then up to either Ireland or the UK to harvest and sell Christmas trees or work in a pub, he says. In the spring, I would always end up in Amsterdam, where you were legally allowed to work in the youth hostels in exchange for a bed, two meals, laundry and internet usage for two months. Thomas says hed often go over to Berlins multicultural Kreuzberg district to work on the preparation of the yearly Carnival of Cultures, which celebrates cultural diversity in the city. Then hed hitchhike back down to the Greek isles to start the cycle all over again. Slower pace of life Thomas was influenced by the regions healthier, slower-paced lifestyle and hopes that living here will increase his life expectancy. - Bingwa Thomas Latronicos pace of life may seem sedate when compared to Thomas former lifestyle, but he says thats what he likes about it. Living in Italy gives me more of the one thing that is important to me and should be the number one thing of importance to any living being literally life, he says. Thomas exercises daily, going on long runs up Latronicos panoramic wild hills and says he has been reveling in his new environment, even before hes fully settled in. The home Thomas purchased in 2022 is spread over two levels, each measuring 55 square-meters wide, with the top floor already habitable. He is completing most of the renovation work himself, using local businesses to help with things like plumbing, while his friends in Italy are handling the electrics. He plans to install a bathroom on the ground floor and restore the old fireplace and wood-burning oven. Upstairs, it will basically stay the same, it has functioned well as a living space for me the past couple of years, he says. The only changes will be to relocate the bathroom to the back of the unit and make minor improvements to plumbing, ventilation and electrical. The ground floor, which had previously been used as an animal shelter, will be leveled out, with electrical outlets added, along with a toilet, sink and shower. Thomas says he hopes to help contribute to the development of Latronicos community by using the property to create new services and encourage other artists to move to the town. He says he doesnt plan to live in the house and has offered to donate it to a nonprofit, bicycle co-op in Los Angeles, with the stipulation that they use it to provide the same services offered in the US, such as free instructions on how to repair and maintain bikes. Hes in the process of buying a second property for 39,000 euros (about $45,727) a six-bedroom compound of three different rural cottages in Varrazzo, a hamlet about five miles outside of Latronico, with a patch of land, which is where hell reside. Thomas hopes to transform the second move-in-ready home into a multi-purpose arts complex, with accommodations for visiting international youth and adult artists. He says the cheap house prices in Latronico have allowed him to turn his back on a lifetime of having to rent. I have always had to choose between buying property or investing in projects for the community, he adds. In Latronico, I can do both. While he says he loves Latronico, Thomas has discovered that life in a remote rural village in southern Italy isnt always as idyllic as it seems. He says the main cons are linked to the towns isolated position, as well as the infrastructure and transport systems in the south, which are decidedly lacking when compared to Italys north. Thomas is still trying to adjust to not having access to just about anything I want or need 18 to 24 hours a day. Hes in the process of moving out of his Los Angeles apartment and hopes to officially move to Latronico in September. He says his visitor visa will allow him to spend six months of the year in Italy. Once hes established in Latronico in September, Thomas says he plans to use the town as a semi-permanent residence, as well as a base for traveling to and from Africa, where he plans to volunteer on projects in remote villages in Cameroon and Senegal. [It] will be a lot easier going back and forth from Africa to southern Italy than Africa to Los Angeles. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Craving a legendary road trip? Here are 5 spots within a 10-hour drive of Evansville Ever wanted to just pile into the car and head out on the open road? Maybe get away from the Tri-State for more than just a day or two? If you don't mind a long drive and want something more than a weekend adventure, here's a list of five destination spots about 10 hours away from Evansville. It's road trip time. Niagara Falls, New York An aerial view of Niagara Falls. Distance: 671 miles Travel time: Nine hours and 59 minutes, depending on traffic. Things to do: Start your day by heading to the falls to take pictures from the overlooking bridge before signing up for a walking or boat tour to learn more about the falls. For those 21 and over, you can continue with a guided tour through the Niagara Wine Trail or get fancy with a helicopter ride over the falls for an aerial view. Family- and kid-friendly activities include the Aquarium of Niagara, the Niagara Power Vista, and fashion outlets for shopping. If you don't want to stay in Niagara Falls the whole time, Buffalo is less than 30 minutes away for a quick day trip. Savannah, Georgia Distance: 646 miles Travel time: 10 hours and seven minutess Things to do: Explore one of the most historic cities in the South. Savannah has a little bit of everything for the family. Hop on the Old Town trolley and explore several of the historic and art districts before walking along the Savannah Waterfront. You can also take a spooky ghost tour, visit several of the city's haunted inns or some of the first African-American churches in the nation. There's also the option to take a family day on Tybee Island, which is home to three miles of beaches as well as plenty of fresh seafood restaurants and historic sites. New Orleans, Louisiana General view of the downtown New Orleans skyline and Benson Tower and Mercedes-Benz Superdome Distance: 685 miles Travel time: 10 hours and 11 minutes Things to do: You could spend months here and still not experience all of New Orleans. Explore the Big Easy, where the food is known for its spice and music can be heard from every corner. Head down to the French Quarter to listen to some jazz, buy art and other trinkets from the French Market, or get some beignets from Cafe Du Monde. Afterward, take one of the many street cars around the city to the waterfront or towards Magazine Street for shopping and galleries. You can add a graveyard, vampire, or ghoul tour to your trip and you might see familiar places from shows such as "The Vampire Diaries" and "True Blood." New Orleans kids' activities include a riverboat tour, the aquarium and all the city's parks. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Distance: 686 miles Travel time: 10 hours and 27 minutes Things to do: The capital of Oklahoma has something for everyone. Museum enthusiasts can travel downtown to the OKC Museum of Art, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and the First Americans Museum. Sports fans can go to one of several of the teams or find local artists working at one of the many galleries in the Plaza district. Kid-friendly activities include the Oklahoma City Zoo, Science Museum Oklahoma and of the many popular parks, such as Scissortail Park. Foodies have options like brunch from Kitchen No. 324, ramen from several of the local spots, or coffee and handmade drinks from places like Cafe Kacao or Cafe Antigua. Minneapolis, Minnesota A general overall view of the Target Center and downtown skyline in Minneapolis. Distance: 714 miles Travel time: 10 hours and 40 minutes, if Chicago traffic isn't horrible. Things to Do: Have a trip that even Minneapolis native Prince would approve of. Start the trip at the Mall of America, located just outside of the city center where you can explore the giant, four-level mall with a theme park, cinema, aquarium and hundreds of stores. Art enthusiasts can visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Weisman Art Museum, or catch musical events at First Avenue. Nature lovers can enjoy the Minneapolis Zoo, Lake of the Isles, or Minnehaha Falls located only 20 minutes out of town. Other fun things include the Acme Comedy Company, enjoying a view at the Foshay Museum overlooking the city and more. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Road trips from Evansville, Indiana A Baltimore woman said a superstition about an itchy palm led her to buy the scratch-off lottery ticket that earned her a $50,000 prize. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI July 9 (UPI) -- A Baltimore woman's superstition about her palm itching led to her winning $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. The woman, a Baltimore City employee, told Maryland Lottery officials she had no intention of buying any lottery tickets last Wednesday, despite being a frequent player. "I've been playing for a long time, a couple of tickets a week, maybe, and always $5 games," the player said. The woman's plans changed when she felt an itch on her palm "An itchy palm means money is coming your way," she explained. The player bought a Lots of Cash scratch-off ticket from the Baltimore Service Center on East Monument Street in Baltimore and revealed a $50,000 prize. "When I saw the $50,000 match, I was sure it was fake. There's no way it could be real," the winner recalled. She ended up asking a cashier to double-check the ticket. "He said, 'Take this home right now,'" she said. The winner said she hasn't yet made any plans for her windfall. "I still can't believe this is real. What a blessing," she said. Jay Slater latest: Mother calls for more GoFundMe donations to give teen send-off he deserves Jay Slaters mother has asked for more donations for the public to give her boy the funeral he deserves as she tries to bring his body back home. Debbie Duncan remains on the Spanish island of Tenerife after the 19-year-olds body was found on Monday. She wrote an update on the GoFundMe calling for more donations as the Get Jay Slater Home crowdfunder nears 60,000. She said: We are working with agencies to arrange Jays repatriation to the UK and the remaining funds, along with any future donations will be used to help with this if needed and to pay for Jays funeral costs back home. We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves so please do continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can. Spanish officials believe the teenagers death was caused by trauma due to a fall in the rocky area near the northern village of Masca. Key Points Jay Slaters mother wants to give her boy the send-off he deserves in heartbreaking GoFundMe update Jay Slaters mother says our hearts are broken Body found in Tenerife belongs to Jay Slater, autopsy confirms Emotional vigil held in Jay Slaters hometown Heartwrenching tributes left for Jay Slater by family close to where teens body was found TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slaters body five or six times during Tenerife search Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:03 , Andy Gregory A TikToker who answered family pleas to join the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife is puzzled by the discovery of his body in an area he believed had been searched thoroughly. Londoner Callum Fahim scoured the rocky ravines of the Spanish island with a search party just days after the apprentice bricklayer vanished outside a remote Airbnb in Masca. Mr Fahim spoke to The Independent shortly after a Spanish court said autopsy fingerprinting confirmed the body belongs to the teenager. He said: Im absolutely devastated. We searched that area on the first day right next to where he was found further down. It is very dangerous there and inaccessible really. They had to get a helicopter to lift searchers out of there. He added: I am gutted we couldnt find him sooner because there would have been a chance to save his life. I will always question myself - could I have done better? I do feel like I failed a little bit, no matter what people say. I imagine Ive walked past him five or six times. My colleague Barney Davis has more details from the interview here: TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slaters body five or six times Jay Slater's family are 'devastated' after 'worst fears realised' Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:20 , Tara Cobham Jay Slaters family are devastated after their worst fears have been realised, the chief of a charity supporting his loved ones has said. LBT Globals Matthew Searle MBE was talking to the teenagers mother Debbie Duncan, 55, when the news that her sons body had been identified broke. Mr Searle told The Independent: Its just the worst news they could possibly expect. Theres always that slim hope until confirmation comes that theyve got it wrong and its someone else, but sadly they havet got it wrong and their worst fears have been realised. He added: Theyre pretty much lost for words just how devastated they are. Ms Duncan is still in Tenerife along with the 19-year-olds father Warren Slater, 47, as well as one of his friends Brandon Hodgson, 19. Mr Searle said the family are not currently disclosing when they will be returning home to the UK, nor releasing any funeral details at this time. Trolling put Jay Slater's mother through more 'stress and trauma' on top of ordeal Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:39 , Tara Cobham Online trolling put Jay Slaters mother through additional stress and trauma on top of the already incredibly difficult situation she was enduring over her missing son. Matthew Searle, CEO of the charity LBT Global, which is supporting the teenagers family, told The Independent: Shes found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists its been really hard on her and the family. He compared it to the frenzied online speculation that surrounded the Nicola Bulley case, which was condemned by some of her loved ones. Three unanswered questions about British teens disappearance on Tenerife Tuesday 16 July 2024 17:09 , Andy Gregory All indications suggest that the body found could be that of Jay Slater, who could have died due to an accidental fall in the steep and inaccessible area where he was found, the Civil Guard has said. With post-mortem and forensic investigations yet to conclude, questions remain over how the apprentice bricklayer went missing in an area inundated with tourists: Three unanswered questions about missing teen Jay Slaters disappearance in Tenerife Oswaldtwistle resident expresses sympathy for Jay Slater family Tuesday 16 July 2024 17:39 , Andy Gregory Sarah, a resident from Jay Slaters hometown of Oswaldtwistle, told BBC Radio Lancashire: I didnt know the lad personally but its close to home so it affects you. Its so sad for his mum, dad, his friends and family. Sarah said she was among residents who had tied blue ribbons outside their houses to show support to Jays family, adding: Theyre all still everywhere. Its really sad. Jay Slater was hardworking apprentice with bright future, says college Tuesday 16 July 2024 18:03 , Andy Gregory Accrington and Rossendale College, where Jay Slater was an apprentice bricklayer, has released a statement to the BBC stating the college is deeply saddened to hear the news of the 19-year-olds death. Jay was a hard-working apprentice ... with a very bright future ahead of him and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him, the statement said. Acknowledging that the past month has been an incredibly difficult time, the college said it would provide support and resources for those who need it. Watch: Jay Slater's friend recalls final phone call before teenager went missing in Tenerife Tuesday 16 July 2024 18:31 , Andy Gregory Church in Jay Slater hometown to open this evening to support community Tuesday 16 July 2024 19:01 , Andy Gregory West End Methodist Church in Oswaldtwistle is set to open this evening for people to light a candle, say prayers and write messages of support to the loved ones of Jay Slater, the Lancashire Telegraph reports. Reverend Matt Smith was quoted as saying: We are going to open the church from 7pm to 8pm for people to come and be together. It wont be a service, that will be on Sunday as normal at 10.30am, but its a place for people to come together, to support each other and say prayers and write messages of support for the family and be together. Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? Tuesday 16 July 2024 19:38 , Andy Gregory When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation. Tens of thousands of pounds were donated by the public to fund the search, with some even volunteering to fly over to the popular holiday island to assist. Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager. The search followed Mr Slaters last known steps through treacherous valleys and dangerous ravines until his body was found after four gruelling weeks. My colleague Alexander Butler has more details: Tenerife mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? Jay Slaters mother would have never given up looking for him, say former headteachers Tuesday 16 July 2024 20:15 , Andy Gregory The headteachers at Jay Slaters former primary and secondary schools have released new statements following the discovery of his body in Tenerife. Andrew Williams, of Rhyddings High School, and James McBride of West End Primary School, said all members of their communities sent their deepest sympathies to anyone who knew the 19-year-old. As a devoted mother, we know Debbie would have never given up looking for Jay, and she and the family are firmly in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time, their statement said. We hope that this tragic discovery will not only dispel any rumours, but allow the family to return with their son and afford them the dignity of their private grief and mourning. Full report: Jay Slaters devastated family say their worst fears have been realised Tuesday 16 July 2024 20:39 , Andy Gregory Jay Slater's devastated family have said their worst fears have been realised after a body found in the search for the missing British teenager has been confirmed as him. The CEO of the charity LBT Global, which has been supporting Mr Slaters family during the ordeal, said he was with the teenagers mother Debbie Duncan, 55, when the worst news broke. Speaking of Mr Slaters family, Matthew Searle told The Independent: Its just the worst news they could possibly expect. Theres always that slim hope until confirmation comes that theyve got it wrong and its someone else, but sadly they havent got it wrong and their worst fears have been realised. My colleague Tara Cobham has the full report on todays events: Jay Slaters mother says familys hearts are broken after teenagers body found What did Spanish authorities say today? Tuesday 16 July 2024 20:59 , Andy Gregory Spanish authorities have confirmed that the body found in Tenerife was that of Jay Slater and that the injuries he sustained were compatible with an accidental fall. We have a positive ID, a court spokesperson said. Fingerprinting confirms that the body belongs to Jay Slater and the death was due to multiple traumas compatible with a fall in the mountainous area. Mapped: Jay Slater's last known whereabouts Tuesday 16 July 2024 21:48 , Andy Gregory Emotional vigil held in Jay Slaters hometown Tuesday 16 July 2024 22:32 , Athena Stavrou Dozens of balloons have been released in Jay Slaters hometown as those who knew him held an emotional vigil in memory of the teenager. Tearful locals comforted each other in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, on the day authorities in Tenerife confirmed they had found his body in the Rural de Teno park. While Jays mother, Debbie Duncan, and father, Warren Slater, are still on the island as four weeks of gruelling searching come to a close, loved ones in the UK paid tribute. Jays football coach, Pam Kierons, laid flowers in memory of the apprentice bricklayer and told The Mirror: Im devastated for the family, devastated for Debbie. The outcome is not what anyone wanted, but at least they can bring his body home. Its disgusting that people have dug into past issues and come up with crazy conspiracy theories. Sadly the most likely thing to have happened has happened. Reverend Matt Smith told the paper: Our thoughts and our prayers are with them. Were here and supporting them for when they need us. Blue ribbons were tied to trees and lamp posts across the area as dozens of blue balloons were released. Jay Slaters mother devastated, family source says Tuesday 16 July 2024 22:34 , Andy Gregory A family source told The Sun that Jays mother Debbie Duncan was completely devastated, saying: Its the news theyve all been dreading. She has a lot of questions which she hopes will be answered in the coming days. It hasnt completely sunk in yet. The hardest thing for her is to hear he was found so close to the original search site. Its hard to take. It means its entirely possible they have walked past his body whilst searching for him. It seems incredible so many people walked that area and yet he was so close. As we have seen with mountainous terrain and ravines, it does happen no matter how hard that is to believe. Jay Slaters mother laments the worst news' Tuesday 16 July 2024 23:15 , Andy Gregory Matthew Searle MBE, head of the charity LBT Global, was talking to Jay Slaters mother Debbie Duncan at the time the news of the autopsy confirmation broke, and she and Jays family were devastated at the news, the charity said Ms Duncan said: I just cant believe it were here with the Embassy staff waiting for an update and now its come the worst news. TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slaters body five or six times Wednesday 17 July 2024 00:10 , Andy Gregory A TikToker who answered family pleas to join the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife is puzzled by the discovery of his body in an area he believed had been searched thoroughly. Londoner Callum Fahim scoured the rocky ravines of the Spanish island with a search party just days after the apprentice bricklayer vanished outside a remote Airbnb in Masca. Mr Fahim spoke to The Independent shortly after a Spanish court said autopsy fingerprinting confirmed the body belongs to the teenager, and said he feared he may have walked past the body five or six times. TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slaters body five or six times Coroner has no found no indication of criminal activity, charity says Wednesday 17 July 2024 01:18 , Tara Cobham Jay Slaters body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family. Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slaters family are working closely with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results. He said: As the coroner hasnt found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days. Watch: Britons using new safety measures in Tenerife after Jay Slater disappearance Wednesday 17 July 2024 02:31 , Andy Gregory Timeline: The search for missing teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife Wednesday 17 July 2024 03:41 , Andy Gregory Here is a timeline of the key events prior to Jay Slaters disappearance and leading up to the discovery of his body: Timeline: The search for missing teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife Body found in very inaccessible area Wednesday 17 July 2024 04:55 , Andy Gregory Jay Slaters phone was last located near a stretch of road by the Mirador La Cruz de Hilda, a cafe near the village of Masca with cacti and dense shrubbery on either side, which had made it slow work for helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs to comb through the area. The body discovered on Monday morning was found by Civil Guard mountain rescue specialists in a very inaccessible area, officials said. Civil Guard insist they continued search discreetly Wednesday 17 July 2024 05:59 , Andy Gregory Tenerifes civil guard insists it had continued its search discreetly, despite having publicly called off the search over two weeks ago. After 13 days of searching, the Spanish authorities called off the search on June 30, but said they were continuing their investigation. However upon recovering Jay Slaters body on Monday, they revealed they had indeed continued an incessant and discreet search in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers. Jay Slater's family 'take small comfort' from belief he died instantly Wednesday 17 July 2024 07:02 , Tara Cobham Jay Slater's family have taken "very small comfort" in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said. Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her son's injuries were consistent with an accidental fall. Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slater's family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-old's body. Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then its very unlikely he would have known much about it, said the charity CEO. That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. Its very small comfort, but it is some. Charity to enter talks with Home Secretary Wednesday 17 July 2024 09:19 , Alex Ross The spiralling of theories spouted out by people on Facebook groups hindered the search for Jay Salter, claims the boss of the charity which helped his family. The case attracted huge worldwide attention, after the 19-year-old went missing while on holiday in the island. But while people thought they might be helping the search teams efforts on the ground, Mattheew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said they were, in fact, hindering them. Hes also spoken of his concern over the vile comments spread about the teenager, which he said caused pain for the family. He now plans to talk to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on how to tackle the issue. Family pain suffered at the hands of trolls Wednesday 17 July 2024 10:22 , Alex Ross As reported, charity LBT Global has been helping the family of Jay Slater. It produced a statement on behalf of Jays mother after he was found, and now chief executive Matthew Searle has been speaking on the teenagers mother, Debbie Duncans, behalf. When interviewed by The Independent, Mr Searle said frenzies speculation and online trolling had made it incredibly difficult for the family. He said: Shes [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists its been really hard on her and the family. Mr Searle plans to speak to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on the issue People posting vile stuff online Wednesday 17 July 2024 11:23 , Alex Ross Sky News focused in on some of the theories that circulated during the disappearance of Jay Slater, asking charity LBT Global, which supported the family, how they had impacted the search. Matthew Searle, the charitys chief executive, said it took teams a huge amount of time to eliminate the ideas flown about that were untrue. Hundreds of emails were also sent to his charity from people who claimed they knew how Jay was - each one of them had to be followed up, Mr Searle said. Mr Searle said: Ultimately it hinders the search and its terrifyingly horrible for a family that are going through this. Bringing Jays body home Wednesday 17 July 2024 12:23 , Alex Ross LBT Global, which has been helping the family of Jay Slater, says it is looking at bringing Jay Slaters body back to Lancashire. Chief executive Matthew Searle said he was dealing with massive paperwork, translations and logistics in an interview with Sky News. Its more than four weeks since the 19-year-old left his home to go on holiday with friends on the Spanish island. Mr Slater disappeared while walking through rocky terrain last month (Family handout/LBT Global) (PA Media) Im sorry we never found you - Jay Slaters mother in floral tribute Wednesday 17 July 2024 14:20 , Alex Ross Floral tributes have been left by Jay Slaters family beside a large rock that overlooks the ravine in Tenerife where his body was found on Monday morning. As reported in the Daily Mail, the memorial includes a teddy bear wearing an England shirt and a red jar with a candle. One note on flowers signed mum, reads: To my beautiful boy. Im so sorry we never found you. I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Another moving message by father Warren Slater reads: To my Boy, Love Dad, Always, XXXX. Mothers personal message Wednesday 17 July 2024 16:10 , Alex Ross Weve been speaking to Matthew Searle, boss at charity LBT Global, who has been helping Jay Slaters mother as they look to bring the teenagers body back home. He has issued a personal message from mother Debbie Duncan, which reads: Thank you very much for the thousands of messages of love and support she [Debbie] has received. She is overwhelmed at the moment but will try to reply to them all in due course. He said the group was helping Debbie work through the documents and translations to ensure repatriation goes smoothly - although Jays body isnt expected to fly home for at least a week. Mr Searle said he hoped Debbie would be returning home to the UK on the same flight. Still questions over Jays death Wednesday 17 July 2024 17:30 , Alex Ross Matthew Searle, chief executive of charity LBT Global, which has been supporting the family, said that while the family had now confirmation over Jays death and how he died, there were still some unanswered questions. He told The Independent that they will still wonder why the 19-year-old was in the ravine, off the main road, when he died, and where he was heading to exactly. They are questions the family may never find out, but they will soon be able to fly his body home for a funeral. Time to grieve Wednesday 17 July 2024 18:30 , Alex Ross Now the family have the body of Jay Slater, the process of bringing the 19-year-olds body home has started. Matthew Searle, boss at charity LBT Global, said his group was helping with documents and translation as part of the repatriation process. He said, while the family is devastated, the discovery of Jays body will bring some closure. He said: They can begin to grieve. When you have the discovery, you have a body and you can it take it home and you can grieve and then start the process of trying to rebuild your lives. Debbie Duncan with son Jay Slater (Supplied) GoFundMe proceeds could be used for repatriation costs Wednesday 17 July 2024 19:30 , Alex Ross Almost 60,000 has been raised on the GoFundMe page for Jay Slaters search. Now his body has been found, the BBC says it understands some of it could be used for repatriation costs. The family is working through documents to return the teenagers body home with the help of charity LBT Global. Its hoped insurance money will cover the cost of returning Jays body home - but the fundraiser proceeds offer another option. Three unanswered questions Wednesday 17 July 2024 20:30 , Alex Ross Despite the discovery of Jay Slaters body, questions still remain. They include; Why was he in the national park? Why did he choose to walk instead of wait for a bus? Who were the men he was with? Here we take a look at the the three questions: Three unanswered questions about missing teen Jay Slaters disappearance in Tenerife So much to do' Wednesday 17 July 2024 22:30 , Alex Ross Work is taking place to repatriate Jay Slaters body with the family working through documents with help from charity LBT Global. The teenagers body was discovered on Monday, and now its hoped the family can bring it home to Lancashire for a funeral. Speaking to the BBC, Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said: There is so much to do, and obviously when youre in a foreign country, and you dont speak the language, and youve got no-one around you to help really, and youre in the position that Jays parents are in... its just not the kind of thing that you cope with, its just overwhelming. Its not thought the process will be complete for at least a week. Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? Wednesday 17 July 2024 23:30 , Alex Ross When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a little under a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation. Tens of thousands of pounds were donated by the public to fund the search, with some even volunteering to fly over to the popular holiday island to assist. Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager. The search followed Mr Slaters last known steps through treacherous valleys and dangerous ravines until a body, thought to be the remains of the 19-year-old, was found after four gruelling weeks. Tenerife mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? Jays body to be brought home Thursday 18 July 2024 01:00 , Athena Stavrou LBT Global, which has been helping the family of Jay Slater, says it is looking at bringing Jay Slaters body back to Lancashire. Chief executive Matthew Searle said he was dealing with massive paperwork, translations and logistics in an interview with Sky News. Its more than four weeks since the 19-year-old left his home to go on holiday with friends on the Spanish island. Coroner has no found no indication of criminal activity, charity says Thursday 18 July 2024 03:00 , Athena Stavrou Jay Slaters body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family. Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slaters family are working closely with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results. He said: As the coroner hasnt found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days. (PA) Civil Guard insist they continued search discreetly Thursday 18 July 2024 04:30 , Athena Stavrou Tenerifes civil guard insists it had continued its search discreetly, despite having publicly called off the search over two weeks ago. After 13 days of searching, the Spanish authorities called off the search on June 30, but said they were continuing their investigation. However upon recovering Jay Slaters body on Monday, they revealed they had indeed continued an incessant and discreet search in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers. Guardia Civil Handout footage from Guardia Civil of the officers who found human remains in the search for missing Briton Jay Slater (PA/Guardia Civil) Jay Slaters mother would have never given up looking for him, say former headteachers Thursday 18 July 2024 06:00 , Athena Stavrou The headteachers at Jay Slaters former primary and secondary schools have released new statements following the discovery of his body in Tenerife. Andrew Williams, of Rhyddings High School, and James McBride of West End Primary School, said all members of their communities sent their deepest sympathies to anyone who knew the 19-year-old. As a devoted mother, we know Debbie would have never given up looking for Jay, and she and the family are firmly in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time, their statement said. We hope that this tragic discovery will not only dispel any rumours, but allow the family to return with their son and afford them the dignity of their private grief and mourning. Jay Slaters family take small comfort from belief he died instantly Thursday 18 July 2024 22:51 , Athena Stavrou Jay Slaters family have taken very small comfort in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said. Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her sons injuries were consistent with an accidental fall. Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slaters family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-olds body. Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then its very unlikely he would have known much about it, said the charity CEO. That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. Its very small comfort, but it is some. (Supplied) Heartwrenching tributes left for Jay Slater by family close to where teens body was found Thursday 18 July 2024 08:36 , Barney Davis The family of Jay Slater have left floral tributes tied up close to the scene where his body was discovered. One was left next to a single rose and read: Love you little bro. Never in a million years did I think Id be doing this. Ill look after mum and dad. His mother Debbie Duncan wrote: To my beautiful boy. Im so sorry we never found you. I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much, Mum. Another was tied with a blue ribbon and signed with: To my boy. Love Dad, always. Tenerife search teams found Jay Slaters body on Monday. They said they had continued to carry out an incessant and discreet search in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers. (REUTERS) Jay Slater's family 'take small comfort' from belief he died instantly Thursday 18 July 2024 09:46 , Barney Davis Jay Slaters family have taken very small comfort in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said. Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her sons injuries were consistent with an accidental fall. Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slaters family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-olds body. Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then its very unlikely he would have known much about it, said the charity CEO. That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. Its very small comfort, but it is some. Three unanswered questions about Jay Slaters disappearance on Tenerife Thursday 18 July 2024 11:58 , Barney Davis A body has been found in the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater along with his clothing and possessions, nearly a month after he went missing in Tenerife. The 19-year-old was last heard from on Monday 17 June, when he phoned his friend Lucy Law at 8.15am to say that he was lost, dehydrated and had 1 per cent phone battery. Three unanswered questions about missing teen Jay Slaters disappearance in Tenerife Tenerife mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? Thursday 18 July 2024 13:01 , Barney Davis When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a little under a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation. Tens of thousands of pounds were donated by the public to fund the search, with some even volunteering to fly over to the popular holiday island to assist. Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager. Tenerife mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? Jay Slaters mother wants to give her boy the send-off he deserves in heartbreaking GoFundMe update Thursday 18 July 2024 13:56 , Barney Davis Debbie Duncan wrote on the Get Jay Slater Home fundraiser which is nearing 60,000 on Thursday afternoon. She said: Hello everyone, thank you for all of your kindness, support and condolences in light of the tragic news that Jays body has been found. We are overwhelmed with grief and are so grateful for your support. The wonderful team from The Netherlands, Signi Zoekhondon, have remained in Spain all week and have continued to support us since Jay was found. They are due to fly home in the coming days and we are so appreciative of their dedication and support. We would like to thank LBT Global for their support during this impossible time. We are working with agencies to arrange Jays repatriation to the UK and the remaining funds, along with any future donations will be used to help with this if needed and to pay for Jays funeral costs back home. We want to give our boy the send-off he deserves so please do continue to share and support our fundraiser however you can. Ben Ross: British mother flies to Majorca to look for missing trainee barrister son Thursday 18 July 2024 15:02 , Barney Davis After the tragedy of Jay Slaters body being discovered on Monday another British mother is going through hell trying to find her son in Majorca. Ben Ross, 26, had moved to the tourist hotspot of Palma to take a break from studying as a barrister in June 2024. But after being having his belongings stolen during a trip to the beach, his family said a series of events have led to him going missing. Ben Ross: British mother flies to Majorca to look for missing trainee barrister son Get Jay Home GoFundMe doubles 30,000 target Thursday 18 July 2024 16:42 , Barney Davis Jay could have been looking for way to beach - claim Thursday 18 July 2024 18:30 , Barney Davis After Jay Slaters body was discovered in the valley close to where his phone last pinged, questions have been asked on where he was heading. The 19-year-olds body was found in the Valley of Barranco de Juan Lopez, close to the village of Masca. The village is where the teenager left an Airbnb he went to with two men after a music event on 16 June. The Signi Zoekhonden charity said it was working in the valley to ensure nothing was left which could explain how the young man died. Search coordinator Esther van Neerbos told Sky News it was likely Jay was walking down the valley in a shortcut to get tothe sea. I think this was a shorter way to go back, to get to the beach, she said. By the beach is his house [holiday accommodation] so probably he wanted to do that. (PA Wire) Full story: Jay Slaters mum urges more donations to give him send-off he deserves Thursday 18 July 2024 20:00 , Athena Stavrou Jay Slaters mother has asked for more donations so that she can give the teenager the send-off he deserves as she tries to repatriate his body back to the UK. Debbie Duncan is still on the Spanish island of Tenerife after her 19-year-old sons remains were found on Monday near the village of Masca. In a statement released on Thursday on the Get Jay Slater Home GoFundMe page, she said: Hello everyone, thank you for all of your kindness, support and condolences in light of the tragic news that Jays body has been found.... Read the full story below: Jay Slaters mother encourages more donations to give him the send-off he deserves GoFundMe proceeds could be used for repatriation costs Thursday 18 July 2024 21:00 , Athena Stavrou Almost 60,000 has been raised on the GoFundMe page for Jay Slaters search. Now his body has been found, the BBC says it understands some of it could be used for repatriation costs. The family is working through documents to return the teenagers body home with the help of charity LBT Global. Its hoped insurance money will cover the cost of returning Jays body home - but the fundraiser proceeds offer another option. Trolls put additional stress and trauma on family Thursday 18 July 2024 22:30 , Athena Stavrou Trolls and online armchair detectives put additional stress and trauma on Jay Slaters family, a charity working close to them have said. Jays mother, Debbie Duncan, father, Warren Slater, brother and uncle all flew to the island to assist the search, which was sometimes derailed by amateur sleuths getting involved. Matthew Searle chief executive of Charity LBT Global Ltd told the Independent: Shes [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists its been really hard on her and the family. Heartwrenching tributes left for Jay Slater by family close to where teens body was found Friday 19 July 2024 00:01 , Athena Stavrou The family of Jay Slater have left floral tributes tied up close to the scene where his body was discovered. One was left next to a single rose and read: Love you little bro. Never in a million years did I think Id be doing this. Ill look after mum and dad. His mother Debbie Duncan wrote: To my beautiful boy. Im so sorry we never found you. I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much, Mum. Another was tied with a blue ribbon and signed with: To my boy. Love Dad, always. Tenerife search teams found Jay Slaters body on Monday. They said they had continued to carry out an incessant and discreet search in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers. Brad Hargreaves with Jay at a festival (Instagram) Three unanswered questions about Jay Slaters disappearance on Tenerife 02:00 , Athena Stavrou A body has been found in the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater along with his clothing and possessions, nearly a month after he went missing in Tenerife. The 19-year-old was last heard from on Monday 17 June, when he phoned his friend Lucy Law at 8.15am to say that he was lost, dehydrated and had 1 per cent phone battery. Three unanswered questions about missing teen Jay Slaters disappearance in Tenerife Ben Ross: British mother flies to Majorca to look for missing trainee barrister son 04:00 , Athena Stavrou A mother has spoken of her personal torture as she launches a search for her missing son on the Spanish island of Majorca. Ben Ross, 26, had moved to the tourist hotspot of Palma to take a break from studying as a barrister in June 2024. But after being having his belongings stolen during a trip to the beach, his family said a series of events have led to him going missing. He was left in the tourist hotspot with no money, phone and no way of contacting anyone. Now his mum Felix is planning to go out to Palma City to find her son. Ben Ross: British mother flies to Majorca to look for missing trainee barrister son Tenerife mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? 06:00 , Athena Stavrou When British teenager Jay Slater vanished in northern Tenerife a little under a month ago, the case captured the attention of the nation. Tens of thousands of pounds were donated by the public to fund the search, with some even volunteering to fly over to the popular holiday island to assist. Helicopters, sniffer dogs and, in the last days of the search, private experts were brought in, in the hope of finding the Lancashire teenager. Tenerife mapped: Where was Jay Slater last seen and where was his body found? This coming week you're going to want to experience an unforgettable evening featuring two Master Sommeliers, a sumptuous four-course meal paired with two wines for each course, and an exciting competition to determine the ultimate wine pairing. July is the perfect time to get to Hawaii's big island, and Kohanaiki has just the reason for you to drop your plans and enter the tropics. Koahaniki's Somm Slam event on Saturday, July 13th features Master Sommelier Chris Ramelb from Honolulu for an evening of culinary delight and playful rivalry. Known for his expertise and engaging personality, Ramelb will engage with Andy and Executive Chef James Watts, creating a lively and relaxed atmosphere. The event will offer attendees a chance to join a like-minded community, often seen as an extended family, while enjoying five expertly plated courses . This unique gathering promises not only fine dining but also a spirited camaraderie among guests. Courtesy of Kohanaiki Andy Myers is a vibrant figure who combines top-tier wine expertise with an approachable, laid-back style. Clad in his signature Hawaiian shirts, Andy adds a fun and relatable touch to the sophisticated world of wine. The 450-acre private residential community on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i offers innovative culinary and beverage experiences where fine dining meets personal expression. Andy and chef work in tandem to bring unforgettable culinary experiences to the property. Courtesy of Kohanaiki How is the bounty of ingredients in Hawaii different from D.C.? And how does that influence your wine program? I find its more about climate than ingredients here. As were a private club we tend to cater to members that still want certain touches of home in their meals. While we certainly work with more local fishes and tropical fruits than I did in DC the flavor profiles dont change that much. For me, its more a matter of encouraging folks to try more light, crisp whites as those are so much more complimentary to the warm weather on the Kona Coast. What are some examples of the wine experiences youre able to offer for private dining? I have a pretty blank check for private events and can cater to any idea a member might have or I can tailor to their needs. Ive done dinners that focused on menus from the 1910s, Big Cabernet dinners, Anything But Chardonnay dinners, etc. Were only limited by our imagination. How many guests have private wine lockers, and what about that curation process do you like the most? All homeowners receive their own locker. I help stock them with their private wines, but also offer a quarterly wine club where I get to offer wines that are off the list and sold exclusively to members for their collections. The Wine Club is definitely my favorite part of that side of life here. Visit kohanaiki.com to learn more about the property and how to attend events. Private wine lockers for residents Courtesy of Kohanaiki ST. CLOUD Although not yet open to the public, St. Cloud's new Great River Childrens Museum is getting its ducks and crayons in a row. The museum at 111 7th Ave. S. is expected to open in early 2025, but its path hasn't been without struggles. Board of Directors Chair Glen Palm, decided to build a childrens museum in St. Cloud after retiring from St. Cloud State University in 2014, where he was the child and family studies chair. This idea had been percolating in my mind while I was still working because we brought our kids to children's museums in different places in cities like Chicago and Boston, but we didn't have anything like that here, Palm said. It struck me at some point that St. Cloud is ready. We were a big enough place to really support a children's museum. As soon as the idea was in Palms head, he wouldnt let it go. He then toured museums in small cities, such as Eau Claire, and had conversations with museum personnel, trying to chart the right path. His first line of action was to collaborate with the Stearns County History Museum, sparking the childrens museum's first big momentum gain. At this point, their executive director was Jim Davis, and Jim was really excited about having the children's museum, so we met with them for six months to a year, really looking at doing that, Palm said. When they brought the exhibit here in 2016, roughly 6,000 people came out, which is a lot for the history museum. Glen Palm (left) and Jane Ellison (right) were key figures in bringing a children's museum to St. Cloud, which is expected to open early next year. The partnership between the two entities continued for a few years, and conversations still occur between them today, but they couldnt come together to create a long-term joint program. Because of this, Palm had to figure out how to establish the childrens museum as a standalone entity. One of the first steps was obtaining non-profit status. Then came pulling together a board in 2017, whose first meeting was at Palms dining room table. The kitchen table meeting was the first time we said, We need to come together and have some kind of a board, said Palms wife, Jane Ellison, who also helped build the museum. So once we got nonprofit status, there was that sense of needing to pull together a few people. So it was just a few of us, friends and colleagues who came together. Among those at the table were Palm, Ellison, Debbie Campbell, Greg Reigstad, Becky Coborn, John Wertz and Linda McNelly. Key among these was Coborn, who Ellison and Palm said helped bring a sense of officialness to the project by leading it to specific financial benchmarks they otherwise wouldnt have figured out, citing their lack of financial experience and her connections to St. Cloud's business community from being a Coborn. Becky (Coburn) being involved right from the start was a huge help, Ellison said. She has the connections and the capacity to help with just raising money. More: Stearns County tax spending Stearns County Jail policy costs taxpayers roughly $1.1 million annually Another key piece of advice from Coborn, who is also the museums capital campaign chair, was to identify a prospective location, which the couple said helped bring a sense of legitimacy to the project. That perception helped the museum gain more traction with more committed donor funds. St. Clouds childrens museum had its eyes set on Liberty Bank, which is where it plans to open early next year, but the initial $600,000 price tag was daunting, and at first the museum couldnt afford it. But eventually, the bank gave the museum its old building along with its first year's taxes. From there, with roughly $7 million in assistance from the state, the museum raised enough to open its $20 million project, Palm and Ellison told the St. Cloud Times. What is the museum? The Great River Childrens Museum will consist of eight core exhibits featuring activities like climbing, water and creativity alongside programming including field trips and camps. These exhibits will likely pay tribute to St. Clouds various local landmarks, such as the Mississippi River. There was real support for incorporating a green space, Palm said. We wanted to have nature and outdoors and those kinds of St. Cloud staples represented somehow. St. Cloud's Great River Children's Museum is expected to open in early 2025. The more than 31,000-square-foot venue will also host workshops, birthdays, corporate retreats and large group rentals. Despite local rumors, Ellison said the museum is not partnering with the incoming space shuttle project. However, Palm and Ellison told the St. Cloud Times, itll be notorious for fostering a different learning style not currently found in the city. They said kids need to learn through creativity and curiosity; something that cant always be taught in a traditional classroom. People are born to learn. They want to learn. They're excited to learn, Ellison said. These kids are like little scientists and we can provide them with opportunities to go and explore. So this children's museum will be an opportunity to learn through play. Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Great River Childrens Museum: St. Cloud's new family destination There are plenty of reasons to be jealous of the Swedes. Their society is famously egalitarian. So far do they seem to have solved the conundrum of how to strike a better work-life balance that they even have a word fika to describe the act of leaving your desk to have a coffee and a chat. And their capital city has an entire museum dedicated to Abba. Now theyve given us yet another reason to feel envy: theyve just improved their already world-leading parental leave policy, putting other countries to shame. At the start of this month, Sweden launched a new law allowing parents to transfer some of their paid parental leave allocation over to the grandparents during a childs first year. A couple will be able to re-allocate 45 days of their joint 480-day allowance (240 days each), while a single mum or dad can pass on 90 days. The move comes 50 years after the Scandinavian nation became the first ever country to introduce paid parental leave that could be split between both parents. The UK would do well to take note. Our childcare system is among the most expensive in the developed world; prices here are now double the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average. For some mothers, its barely worth returning to work when their childcare costs might outstrip their salary. Last year, a survey from the charity Pregnant Then Screwed found that 76 per cent of mums who pay for childcare believed that it no longer made sense for them to work. Its situations like this that help keep the gender pay gap alive and well. And if your career is a big part of your identity, having no choice but to put it aside must be incredibly frustrating and isolating. Against this backdrop, its hardly a surprise that many parents are leaning on their own parents to fill the gaps with free babysitting while theyre at the office, or during the notoriously tricky school summer holidays. The cost of living crisis will have only made this reliance more pronounced. According to a 2023 study from insurance providers SunLife, 53 per cent of grandparents are providing some form of childcare during the working week, collectively saving a staggering estimated 96bn in nursery and childminder fees. A set-up like this might well remove the barriers preventing parents (read: mums, in most cases) from going back to work. But its a sticking plaster on a bigger problem. And what about granny and grandpa? People are living longer and retiring later; grandparents may well still be working themselves, and feel compelled to step back earlier than theyd like over childcare guilt. Statistics from Age UK estimate that around one million grandparents over the age of 50 have stopped work or cut down their hours in order to provide regular support for the grandkids. Expecting your own parents to muck in for free just feels like pushing the same problem back for another generation to deal with; its also a personal solution to a collective problem. Giving older employees the chance to take, say, a few weeks or months of paid leave to help out with their grandchildren doesnt just take some of the pressure off the parents. It also means that grandparents dont have to make a choice between supporting their younger family members and continuing to work (or, at the very least, it means they can postpone that decision). Allowing parents to allocate some of their paid leave to grandparents would recognise that many of them are still in employment, and themselves juggling careers with helping to look after their grandchildren, agrees Justine Roberts, founder and CEO of Mumsnet and Gransnet. As the workforce gets older, it makes sense that businesses should start offering benefits to better reflect that (see also: better menopause policies) and to encourage their most experienced staff to stick around. Plans were once afoot for the UK to extend shared parental leave to grandparents (Getty Images) As the workforce gets older, it makes sense that businesses should start offering benefits to better reflect that The wheels were once in motion for a policy of this kind in the UK. In 2015, a few months after the introduction of shared parental leave, then chancellor George Osborne announced his intention to extend this provision to grandparents. Under this approach, eligible parents would have been able to split up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of statutory pay with their parents. The new plan was meant to be put in place by 2018, but it ended up being sidelined while the government tried to investigate the sluggish uptake for shared parental leave overall (in those first few years, only an estimated 2 per cent of eligible couples had opted in). Grandparental leave hasnt been picked up since, and it seems to have fallen off the political agenda completely despite the fact that childcare ended up being a major talking point in the general election, with the Liberal Democrats offering to expand paternity leave and Labour promising to create 100,000 new nursery places. But although theres no legal entitlement for grandparents to take time to care for their grandchildren, a handful of employers are starting to offer some form of leave for their older workers. One of the first companies to do so in the UK was, rather aptly, Saga, purveyors of insurance and holidays for the over-fifties crowd. In 2021, they announced that their employees would be able to take a week of paid leave to celebrate the birth of a grandchild. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to introducing wider grandpaternity plans over here, though, is the fact that the fundamentals of our current parental leave just arent that good. The eligibility criteria for shared parental leave is complex many co-parents will find they dont actually qualify for it and the statutory pay is low, capped at around 184 a week or at 90 per cent of average earnings, whichever figure happens to be lower. (In Sweden, by contrast, parents receive 80 per cent of their salary for 390 days.) Is it any wonder that enthusiasm for this policy is still pretty muted? An evaluation report from 2023 found that, eight years on from its introduction, only 1 per cent of mothers and 5 per cent of fathers had opted into a policy that was supposed to be a game-changer for gender equality. In Sweden, Roberts notes, dads take around 30 per cent of all parental leave days, and much more progress has been made on equalising the responsibilities of parenthood, so grandparental leave may be a logical next step. But introducing it without tackling this fundamental imbalance in our [UK] system would simply perpetuate a status quo that sees women shoulder the bulk of the childcare burden. Grandpaternity leave isnt a silver bullet for the UKs childcare nightmare. Not all grandparents will want to sign up; not all parents have the safety net of supportive, healthy parents of their own living close by. But providing it as an option would better reflect the reality of parenting in 2024. Hopefully, Sweden has given our new government some food for thought. Equinunk Historical Society in northern Wayne County has invited the public to once again step into yesteryear at the water-powered, Civil War-era Joel Hill Sawmill at two open house events the weekend of July 13 and 14. Their volunteers will conduct demonstration tours of the sawmill and the Thomas Cleveland Museum, which houses late 19th century vintage tools and industrial machinery. Witness how logs were sawed and lumber manufactured at these vintage sawmills that once were common along our streams and tributaries to the Upper Delaware. The events are scheduled Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday, July 14, at 1 p.m. The mill and museum are located off Pennsylvania Route 191 at 736 Duck Harbor Road, Equinunk. There is no admission charge. The historic Joel Hill Sawmill, at Lookout, northern Wayne County, Pennsylvania, is owned and operated by the Equinunk Historical Society. The society schedule open house events at certain times of the year for tours and demonstrations by volunteers. The Thomas Cleveland Machinery Museum, which was built as an addition a few years ago, complements the sawmill. The Joel Hill Sawmill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to the application that was filed for the National Register, the original sawmill was built in 1873 by William Holbert and John Branning. Other sources are vaguer, saying it was within a few years following the Civil War. It was one of several sawmills in the region of Lookout, Equinunk and Pine Mill in northern Wayne. Wayne County Wanderings: A visit to the Joel Hill Sawmill in Equinunk In 1898, Joel Gillette Hill (1845-1919) of Damascus Township purchased a tract from the Holbert heirs containing the sawmill, about 1,500 acres of hemlock timber and the 205-acre body of water that's come to be known as Duck Harbor. The Civil War veteran also had a grist mill and pursued dairy farming on the land he cleared. He served six terms as county commissioner, was elected as associate judge of Wayne County and as a Pennsylvania state senator. The sawmill stayed in operation until the early 1970s. In 1988, the Duck Harbor Company donated the mill to the Equinunk Historical Society. The restored Joel Hill Sawmill, owned by the Equinunk Historical Society, is the last remaining historic water-powered sawmill in northeastern Pennsylvania, once common in the woodlands of rural America. The Thomas Cleveland Machinery Museum was built in 2018 as an addition to complement the Joel Hill Sawmill. The 2024 calendar of events for Equinunk Historical Society also includes dates for Joel Hill Sawmill/Cleveland Museum tours and demonstrations on Aug. 10-11 and Oct. 5-6. The Society's main museum, the Calder House, is located in the village of Equinunk at 1972 Pine Mill Road, at the corner with Route 191. For more information visit equinunkhistory.com/events or call 570-798-2420. Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588. This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Equinunk Historical Society hosting tours, demos at Joel Hill Sawmill The tragedy of Rust seeks an ending. Actor Alec Baldwin, the producer and star of the independent Western film, will appear in a New Mexico court on Wednesday on charges of involuntary manslaughter for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021. Baldwins trial will be the end of a long process that seeks to provide justice almost three years after the incident on the movie set in Albuquerque, where a real bullet altered the lives of everyone involved in the production. If convicted, Baldwin could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison. The trial is set to begin on Tuesday with the selection of the 12 women and men who will hold Baldwins destiny in their hands. The 66-year-old actor has arrived in the capital of New Mexico under the protection of one of the most important law firms in New York. On Tuesday morning he looked earnest but calm. He was dressed in a gray suit and tie and wore thick black rimmed glasses. Leading his defense is Alex Spiro, a 41-year-old lawyer who has represented Elon Musk in the past and who is known for his aggressive style of questioning witnesses. Opening arguments will take place on Wednesday, officially the first day of the trial. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, the law firm representing Baldwin, tried until late June to have the only charge against him dismissed. The judge in charge of the case, Mary Marlowe Sommer, did not allow it. Baldwin will be the second person involved in the production to sit in the dock over the cinematographers death. The first was the movie weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, a young inexperienced woman who was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison in April. In a recorded call from prison, Gutierrez-Reed said she wants the jury to also send Baldwin to jail. Baldwins defense cited the armorer among those called to testify during the trial, which will last nine days and could end on Friday, July 19. The judge, however, has questioned Gutierrez-Reeds participation in this trial, saying that she has seemed reluctant to answer the parties questions. Baldwins lawyers want to place responsibility for the incident on Gutierrez-Reed, who was supposed to supervise the weapons and ammunition used in the production, and on David Halls, the assistant director and the last person who handled the gun before it reached Baldwins hands. Halls pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, and was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation as part of a plea deal. Prosecutors will try to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that Baldwin carelessly handled the weapon that killed Hutchins and wounded the films director, Joel Souza, in the shoulder. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey leads the prosecution team. Morrissey took the case when her predecessor was forced to resign due to a conflict of interest in early 2023. One of her first actions was to drop the charges against Baldwin, believing she did not have a strong enough case. In January of this year, in a twist of script, the prosecutor changed her mind after re-evaluating the evidence that authorities have gathered in more than a year of investigation. The prosecutors strategy will also focus on the Colt.45 revolver that Baldwin held during the rehearsal of the ill-fated scene. Several of the witnesses who will testify in court starting Wednesday were inside the small wooden movie set church where the incident occurred. One of these is Zac Sneesby, a sound engineer and boom operator who was a few feet away from Baldwin when the gun went off. In preliminary interviews with prosecutors, Sneeby said he saw the actor pull the trigger. Baldwin maintains that he never pulled the trigger, but the hammer. He has upheld this since he first stated it in December 2021, in his first interview after Hutchins death. This version has been questioned more than once, first by FBI forensic experts specializing in weapons, who asserted that the revolver had to be fired in order to expel the bullet. Also by Lucien Haag, one of the greatest weapons experts in the United States, who had the opportunity to review the Colt that killed the cinematographer. Haag is one of the prosecutors witnesses who will give his account in the coming days. First victory for the defense Judge Sommer has given Baldwin an early victory in the process, ruling that Baldwins role as producer of the ill-fated movie is irrelevant to the case. The judges decision forces prosecutors to modify their strategy. Morrissey and her team were planning to try to convince the jury that the accident was a consequence of a chaotic independent production marked by the lack of safety protocols. This is what some of the members of the production team said in the preliminary hearings. Ross Addiego, a technician who was part of Hutchins team, has sued the production, considering that the producers did not comply with the minimum requirements of the film industry. The defense has included among the witnesses on its behalf Ryan Winterstern, one of the 13 producers of Rust with several movies to his name, including American Pastoral (2016) and The Age of Adaline (2015). He claims that he is an eyewitness to the events that occurred inside the chapel on October 21, the longest day in Alec Baldwins life. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A historic landmark property in Cusco topped the list in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2024, while other winners hailed from elsewhere in Peru, Colombia, and more. Courtesy of Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco Looking at rankings for the best hotels in Central and South Americas urban hubs, its clear the once-capital of the Inca Empire is enjoying a well-deserved moment in the sun. Set amid the Peruvian Andes, Cusco is a springboard for exploring the Sacred Valley and readers voted three hotels there to the top 10 spots on this years list. Bogota ranked close behind with two winning properties. T+L readers also gave high scores to properties in Panama City, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Lima, and Cartagena. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved The No. 1 Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, a mansion in central Cusco and a newcomer to the Worlds Best Awards, outstripped the rest of the competition with a score of 98.18. Peru ranked strong overall, represented by Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco (No. 2) and Inkaterra La Casona (No. 6). But this years list included standouts in other countries, too such as the dazzling Rosewood Sao Paulo (No. 5), a property that opened in 2022 in what was once the Matarazzo Maternity hospital. The Four Seasons Hotel Bogota (No. 7) and the W Bogota (No. 10) brought readers attention to the Colombian capital, while readers fell hard for the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo (No. 3) in Panama City, which opened in 2023. Its an amazing hotel to experience a contrast between historic and modern touches, said one happy customer of the Softel Legend hotel. The service, location, quality of rooms, food, and dining all world-class, summarized another. Voters also praised The Singular Santiago (No. 4), which multiple respondents loved for its excellent location, elegant decor, and unmatched service. The Winner Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco: Cusco, Peru Courtesy of Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco Situated inside a 500-year-old mansion, this heritage-rich property makes a striking impression thanks to the buildings detailed tilework, original art pieces, and carefully maintained antiques. In addition to the beautiful design, T+L readers appreciated Palacio del Inkas connection to local culture one guest strongly recommended the on-site tour for a history lesson as well as the complimentary cocktail experience at the Rumi Bar to learn how to make a Pisco sour. Readers also fawned over the traditional Peruvian food at the Inti Raymi restaurant, and the breakfast buffet, which is accompanied by a live harp player. Another highlight? The spa features a hydrotherapy circuit including a dry sauna, Turkish bath, chromotherapy showers, and a heated whirlpool plus treatments like massages and facials. The Full List 1. Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco: Cusco, Peru Reader Score: 98.18 2. Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco: Cusco, Peru Reader Score: 97.47 3. Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo: Panama City, Panama Reader Score: 97.42 4. The Singular Santiago: Santiago, Chile Reader Score: 96.44 5. Rosewood Sao Paulo: Sao Paulo, Brazil Reader Score: 96.27 6. Inkaterra La Casona: Cusco, Peru Reader Score: 95.85 7. Four Seasons Hotel Bogota: Bogota, Colombia Reader Score: 95.33 8. Hotel B: Lima, Peru Reader Score: 95.29 9. Casa San Agustin: Cartagena, Colombia Reader Score: 94.83 10. W Bogota: Bogota, Colombia Reader Score: 94.62 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Chile led the list of South America resorts in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2024. In contrast to last year, when Uruguay and Peru duked it out for the No. 1 slot, this years list of the best resorts in South America heavily favored Chile the long, narrow coastal nation nabbed three of the five top spots. The other two winners were from Argentina and Peru. Notably, Travel + Leisure readers honored properties all across the continent, including those in harder-to-reach destinations like the Atacama Desert and Patagonia, demonstrating that travelers are willing to put in the extra effort to reach such outstanding resorts. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of Tierra Atacama What Readers Loved While Chile won big, the best resorts in South America, according to T+L readers, werent clustered in any specific geographic region. Instead, the list spotlights the industry-leading lodgings in a variety of different landscapes and destinations. Tierra Atacama in the Atacama Desert beat out the rest with a score of 98.93. Some 1,000 miles away, just outside Chiles capital, Santiago, Hotel Casa Real came in as a close second. The No. 3 Cavas Wine Lodge, a remarkable Relais & Chateaux property in the heart of Mendoza's wine country, earned praise for its knowledgeable staff, prime location, and impressive wine cellar. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, which captured fourth place, received some of the most glowing comments. Its location is unparalleled, with a window view of the mountains in every room, shared one fan. Amazing architecture and fabulous staff. This is a place that tugs the heartstrings and stays with you forever, said a repeat guest. Rounding out the top five, Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, embraces seaside luxury on Peru's west coast. Read on for the full list of the best resorts in South America, according to T+L readers. World's Best Awards 2024 The Winner Tierra Atacama: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile Courtesy of Tierra Atacama Tierra Atacama offers a distinct, memorable experience. Multiple readers remarked on the incredible location, surrounded by the otherworldly beauty of the Atacama Desert. One guest said that its wonderful to wake up to that view. Another loved the sophisticated aesthetic of the lodge and rooms. With a spate of activities, ranging from excursions to see flamingos at Chaxa Lagoon to stargazing, its very much a choose-your-own-adventure destination. Travelers seeking relaxation can try treatments that incorporate regional products such as clay, salt, and honey at the unbelievable spa. Guests also appreciate the attentive, personalized service. The Full List 1. Tierra Atacama: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile Reader Score: 98.93 2. Hotel Casa Real: Santiago, Chile Reader Score: 98.50 3. Cavas Wine Lodge: Mendoza, Argentina Reader Score: 97.49 4. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa: Torres del Paine National Park, Chile Reader Score: 97.14 5. Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paracas: Paracas, Peru Reader Score: 96.87 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Virginia woman working with family, friends to give back to community with food, essentials ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) Rubie Williams started the nonprofit, Believe, less than six months ago. She said they are trying to make a difference in the lives of as many people as they can. They set up a booth at the West End Farmers Market in Alexandria. We are delivering to people who are not mobile and dont have transportation, Williams said. We want to make sure we can help people, despite their circumstances. DC ice cream shop owner making life sweeter for his neighborhood She said she has a lot of support from her board of directors. We all want the same thing, Williams said. We want to make a difference in the lives of others. She also gets to work with her mother and daughter. My mother is the Boards Vice President and my daughter is in charge of daily operations, she said. Having a chance to work with them makes what we do even more special. Williams said her goal is to expand Believe in the near future. We want to have a store front, Williams said. We want to help people in people with mental health services and other issues people are struggling with. For more information on Believe visit their website and follow them on instagram. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Serial adventurer Frank Wolf has already knocked over two expeditions in 2024. In March, he paddled a sea kayak 500km around the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. In early June, he joined an all-Canadian team for a 325km sled trip to Baffin Islands Clyde River region. Today, Wolf embarks on a significantly longer journey. He is paddling 1,400km from Yellowknife in Canadas Northwest Territories to Kugluktuk in the Northwest Passage. The Yamozha Expedition route. Photo: Frank Wolf Filling in the wilderness Over the years, Ive slowly been filling in the wilderness, drawing lines on the map of northern Canada, Wolf told ExplorersWeb, a couple of days before flying to Yellowknife. This route is a fresh landscape for me. Its a rarely used routebut I realize that these routes have been traveled for thousands of years by the Dene people. Inspired by those journeys, Wolf has christened the paddle the Yamozha Expedition. Yamozha means traveler or wanderer in the indigenous Dene language. Wolf wont be wandering alone. He is teaming up with Arturo Simondetti. It will be the pairs first expedition together. At first glance, they seem an odd couple. Simondetti is just 23, while Wolf is in his mid-50s. But a chance meeting through their part-time work demolishing derelict boats was enough to convince Wolf that an expedition partnership would work. Grinding through these boats on 10-hour days showed me that hed have the mentality to do this kind of journey, Wolf explained. Hes also a talented filmmakersomething of an old soul. We clicked straight away. Frank Wolf (left) and Arturo Simondetti pack for their trip. Photo: Frank Wolf Paddling and portaging Wolf thinks their route, which includes the Yellowknife River, Winter River, Coppermine River, and Hood River systems and ends with 325km of ocean paddling in the Arctic Ocean, should take around 33 days. Theyll take 38 days of food, giving a slim buffer for windbound days. The plan requires a 40km per day average, but Wolf thinks their daily totals will vary considerably. Early on, itll be a physical challenge working upstream on the Yellowknife River. With all the food, well be carrying the most weight, and water levels are a bit lower this year. There will be some challenging portaging, dragging, grindingHere, we might only average 20km each day, he said. But once were on the Hood and the Coppermine, we should move pretty good. With roughly 10 hours on the move each day, Simondetti will shoot footage for a film as they go. Wolf believes thats for the best. Shoot when its hard or theres no point, he says. Theres no point doing a film if its just lunchtime in campsites. Youve got to get the good stuff in between. You can follow the Wolf and Simondettis progress via their Garmin InReach here. The post Wandering 1,400Km to the Northwest Passage appeared first on Explorersweb. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Automotive supplier Gestamp will expand its location in Mason, a move that will bring 100 new jobs to the area, the company announced Tuesday at the Select USA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C. This announcement was part of a larger series of projects to create jobs and housing around the state of Michigan. Todays projects, which create up to 580 new jobs and 130 residential units, reflect our commitment to showing the world that anyone and any business can Make It in Michigan, said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Lets continue to work together to revitalize and increase housing in our great cities while supporting the expansion of companies who helped build Michigan into the automotive powerhouse it is. The expansion of Gestamps Mason location will secure advanced machinery and equipment for the location, but officials have yet to publish a timeline on when the expansion will take place, or how long it will be until the new jobs are open for application. Gestamp had been working with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the City of Mason for over a year to bring this expansion to the area. The latest expansion by Gestamp of their Mason facility is very exciting. We appreciate their continued commitment to the Lansing region which will further enhance the local tax base while improving employment opportunities, said Mason Mayor Russell Whipple. Gestamp is the manufacturing anchor for the tax base and as such, a very important asset in the city. The City of Mason looks forward to continuing our collaborative relationship with Gestamp. This embedded content is not available in your region. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. 13 taken to hospital after bus crashed into pole in Silver Spring MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Fire officials in Montgomery County said several people were taken to the hospital after a Ride-on bus smashed into a pole on Monday evening. In a post on the X platform around 7 p.m., the Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department said crews responded to Piney Branch Road and Dale Drive. There, firefighters learned a Ride-on Bus crashed into a traffic pole. Ride-on Bus smashes into a pole during a crash in Montgomery County on July 8. (Photo Courtesy: x/HVFD12_24) Pete Piringer, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, shared that five units took 13 people to local hospitals for treatment. 2024 NATO Summit in DC: What to expect, road closures As of Tuesday morning, their conditions are not clear. As crews worked to clear the scene, Piringer said several lanes were blocked off. Since then, all lanes have reopened to traffic. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. The hikers were said to range in age from 16-20 and lost their way while in the fire zone and set up camp along the trail overnight, local authorities said Placer County Sheriff's Office/X 13 Hikers Disappeared Near California Wildfires Local authorities have located 13 hikers who disappeared near the site of a massive California wildfire that currently spans at least 54 acres. On Monday, July 8, the Placer County Sheriffs Office posted an update that the group of hikers at the Tahoe National Forest, who had been missing since the evening of July 7, were found via helicopter search following the Royal Fire that broke out in the Royal Gorge area. Our helicopter, Falcon 30, located a group of 13 hikers who were unaccounted for throughout the night, the post read. The post continued, Their vehicles were located by deputies and fire officials doing checks near the Royal fire on the evening it broke out (7/7/24). Deputies were able to get in touch with family members who confirmed the group planned to hike and camp along Palisades Creek trail, which is made up of steep and difficult terrain. The groupwas located approximately two miles away from the fire. Related: Thousands Told to Evacuate as Apple Wildfire Rages in SoCal with Over 25,000 Acres Burned The Placer County Sheriffs Office did not immediately return PEOPLEs request for comment. Placer County Sheriff's Office/X The hikers were said to range in age from 16-20 and lost their way while in the fire zone and set up camp along the trail overnight. The post said all of the hikers were "okay" but did not specify on their condition further. The Placer County Sheriffs Search and Rescue conducted both ground and air searches before the group was finally located at 7:20 a.m. local time, according to the post. 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. Related: Calif. Wildfire Near Yosemite Still Zero Percent Contained as Thousands Are Displaced by Evacuation Following the rescue of the hikers, the Placer County Sheriffs Office provided the latest details regarding the fire. The Royal Fire continues to burn in very remote terrain. Latest mapping shows acreage at 170 acres. There are 300 personnel assigned to the fire. The fire remains relatively far away from populated areas. An evacuation warning remains in effect for the Cedars, but the fire is still far from that area, the update read. The Placer County Sheriffs Office will give plenty of notification if additional evacuation warnings are needed or if there is a need to issue evacuation orders, the update continued, and advised that another update on the spread and current condition of the fire would be provided on Monday afternoon. Related: Air Pollution During Wildfire Season: Should You Wear a Mask? Here's What to Know Tahoe National Forest, which is northwest of Lake Tahoe, covers portions of multiple counties, including Sierra, Placer, Nevada and Yuba. Currently, local authorities do not have a cause for the Royal Fire and an investigation is still underway. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. After 14 years in space, NASA's prolific NEOWISE asteroid-hunter is about to shut down NEOWISE is depicted in an artists concept in front of an image of the infrared sky that the mission captured. The string of red dots moving across the sky near the center of the image is Holda, the first asteroid the space telescope detected shortly after being reactivated in 2013. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech A NASA asteroid-hunting mission is coming to a close, paving the way for the next generation of planetary defense efforts. The NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) mission will end on July 31. Building on the mission's 14-year success, NASA's NEO Surveyor (Near Earth Object Surveyor) the first purpose-built infrared space telescope specifically dedicated to hunting hazardous near-Earth objects will launch in late 2027, advancing the space agency's planetary defense strategy, according to a statement . "After developing new techniques to find and characterize near-Earth objects (NEOs) hidden in vast quantities of its infrared survey data, NEOWISE has become key in helping us develop and operate NASA s next-generation infrared space telescope," Amy Mainzer, principal investigator of NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in the statement. "It is a precursor mission." The approaching solar maximum , the highest rate of solar activity during the sun's approximately 11-year cycle, has triggered the end of the NEOWISE mission. Increased solar activity, including more frequent solar flares and coronal mass ejections , heats Earth's atmosphere and causes it to expand. This creates more drag on satellites orbiting Earth and, because NEOWISE is not equipped with a propulsion system, the spacecraft will not be able to keep itself in orbit. Related: NASA's Asteroid-Hunting NEOWISE Discovers Trove of 114 Objects (Video) Following its last survey on July 31, the spacecraft will be put in hibernation mode on Aug. 8 before starting to drop steadily closer to Earth . It will ultimately burn up in the planet's atmosphere in late 2024 or early 2025. This mission's successor, the NEO Surveyor, is currently in development with an expected launch date of September 2027. " NEO Surveyor will seek out the most difficult-to-find asteroids and comets that could cause significant damage to Earth if we dont find them first," Mainzer said in the statement. An artist's depiction of NASA's NEO Surveyor telescope looking for asteroids. Initially launched as the WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) mission in 2009, the spacecraft far exceeded its scientific objectives to scan the entire infrared sky. When the mission was first extended through 2011, the space telescope studied distant cosmic activity, as well as NEOs, including the first known Earth Trojan asteroid . The mission was then extended for a second time in 2013, when it became known as NEOWISE, and was tasked to search for, track and characterize NEOs that generate a strong infrared signal from being heated by the sun , according to the statement. Related Stories: Space weather will drag NASA's NEOWISE asteroid-hunting probe back to Earth in 2025 8 ways to stop an asteroid: Nuclear weapons, paint and Bruce Willis Planetary defense: Protecting Earth from space-based threats After observing the sky from low Earth orbit for more than 14 years, NEOWISE has made 1.45 million infrared measurements of over 44,000 objects in the solar system . It has also surveyed more than 3,000 NEOs, 215 of which the space telescope discovered itself. "The spacecraft has surpassed all expectations and provided vast amounts of data that the science community will use for decades to come," Joseph Hunt, NEOWISE project manager at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in the statement. "Scientists and engineers who worked on WISE and through NEOWISE also have built a knowledge base that will help inform future infrared survey missions." Teachers, Parents, And Christians Are Reacting To Oklahoma Requiring Public Schools To Teach From The Bible, And Some Of These Opinions Shocked Me Recently, Oklahoma's superintendent required that the Bible be incorporated into lessons in public schools seemingly contradicting the separation between church and state. Oklahoma kids will learn that the Bible and the Ten Commandments are foundational for western civilization. The left is upset, but one cannot rewrite history. pic.twitter.com/iZKhv9tKoc Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) June 27, 2024 @RyanWaltersSupt Superintendent Ryan Walters claimed that Donald Trump and his Supreme Court appointees inspired the new rule, and said there would be "repercussions" for teachers who did not adhere to it. As you can expect, the new requirement is garnering a lot of attention from both sides. So, I asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share their thoughts on Oklahoma's new rule. Whether you agree or not, here's what they said: 1."As a teacher, I find this horrific. I am Christian, but I know I am not qualified to teach about the Bible or the Ten Commandments. What about teachers who are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or atheist (and so on)? Isn't this against their religious freedoms and rights?" "Further, will this influence a teacher's evaluation? The fact that an administrator or evaluator could mark a teacher as insufficient because they don't know the Bible or interpret it differently puts teachers' jobs on the line when there is already a shortage. This just is beyond ridiculous." Anonymous Netflix 2."I went to school to study the Bible for 16 years. I have a degree in theology. Besides the fact that we should not be forcing one particular religion on people, the Bible is an extremely complex book. It's not like this will be as simple as reading out of a Greek mythology book from Barnes & Noble." "These teachers don't have a master's of divinity. They are ill-equipped to handle any questions children may have. And besides all that, whatever happened to the Bible literally saying, 'I do not permit a woman to preach?' Is the implication that we will no longer have any female teachers? There are so many ways this was not thought out that I HAVE to assume the man who made this law has spent hardly any time in the scriptures whatsoever." Anonymous 3."I'm an Oklahoman parent with a child in this mess. Superintendent Walters has been an utter disgrace to our state since the moment he was elected (thanks, straight-party voting!). This is just one of his offenses that will lend itself to countless legal suits. He's an embarrassment with zero thought for anyone but himself. This action is in total opposition to what Jesus taught. You know, because forcing religion on people has always gone well." Anonymous 4."It's about time that the schools had a basis for the education that they produced. Bless this superintendent; he's got more courage than anybody I know; keep up the good work." Anonymous Hulu 5."This requirement is outrageous. I'm a Christian who holds the Bible in high esteem as both a historical document and a religious text. However, by no means does this mean it has any place in a public school classroom. If we are to use it in our classrooms, it should be taught as a historical document alongside other religious texts representative of Islamic, Jewish, and other traditions." "First and foremost, a separation of church and state must be maintained. But even as a Christian, I have a concern the Bible would be misrepresented by misguided and unqualified teachers who do not know how to thoughtfully incorporate it into their curriculum." Anonymous 6."I'm so stunned that, given the educational struggles already going on in that state, they choose to focus on THIS." Anonymous 7."I'm not American, but this is terrifying to watch from across the pond for a few reasons. First, it's blatantly unconstitutional, which makes you wonder what else they could get away with. Second, while I agree that religion absolutely should be taught in schools, it should NOT be taught as fact. It should be taught as a belief because that's what it is." "It is really not too difficult to teach children about religion while explaining that some people believe x, and others believe y, and we can disagree, etc. Part of that teaching should be about how to disagree respectfully. So I think the worst bit is how it says 'teach from the Bible,' not 'teach about the Bible.'" Anonymous 8."What better foundation than the holy word for kids to build on? I agree with the superintendent in making this decision." Anonymous 9."I'm a conservative Catholic, and I do not agree with Oklahoma's decision. Trying to force our religion down the throats of others is precisely why we get such a bad rep all the time. Why not focus on improving the core subjects instead? It seems like that is what your school system really needs. Back to the Bible issue, I believe the separation of church and state is best." Anonymous 10."I have been a public school teacher for eight years. My classroom is full of highly diverse students with different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. It would be incredibly inappropriate for me to force any religious text on my students. Separation of church and state. This means the Ten Commandments and the Bible DO NOT belong in the public school classroom. Full stop." "I am so sad and angered for all the students and staff in those schools with these mandates who are not going to feel welcome because they are being made to feel small, fearful, and ostracized. This needs to be revoked immediately. This is irrevocably unconstitutional." Anonymous Key and Peele via YouTube / Via youtube.com 11."This type of sanctimonious BS almost seems designed to distract conservative parents from the truth that their children are attending school in the second-worst state to get an education. I feel sorry for the teachers and children who have to deal with this political play." Anonymous 12."Wow, what great news. No better book on Earth to read and live by." Anonymous 13."Oklahoma's decision to require public school teachers to teach the Bible in the classroom is a massive overreach of their rights and responsibilities to the children of their state. My father, and many others in my family, served in the military for the rights of this country's people. Those rights are outlined in our constitution, and it quite clearly states that there is a separation of church and state! The state of Oklahoma is spitting in the face of all service members for implementing this mandate." Anonymous 14."The problem with this is that this country was built on the principle that religion CANNOT be forced onto others. Requiring teachers (who are not qualified to teach about it and may not have read even a small part of it before) goes against all of that. Plainly put, this is ridiculous and doesn't improve children's reading or mathematic ability." Anonymous And finally... 15."If they're teaching religion in a public school that is funded by tax dollars, then their tax-exempt status needs to be revoked. RELIGION HAS NO PLACE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS." catnelsonl Now, I want to know what you think. In the comments below, share your thoughts on Oklahoma's new Bible requirement in public schools. Or, if you'd like to remain anonymous, use this Google form. Your response may be featured in an upcoming post. Responses have been edited for length/clarity. An unprecedented revolution is underway in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. In this field which medicine has struggled to address, lacking weapons to treat ailments that were detected too late, when the brain damage was already incurable science has taken a path that is beginning to turn the tables. The most progress is being made in Alzheimers disease, but other neurological conditions are not far behind. For the first time, a generation of innovative treatments are beginning to illuminate the way to slow the progression of this form of dementia, and researchers are discovering signs in the brain that can be used as biomarkers to detect Alzheimers and other degenerative diseases in increasingly early stages. The scientific leap in early diagnosis is so promising that the possibility of predicting the disease long before symptoms appear or of even screening the population is no longer a mirage: it is still a long way off, but it is not impossible. We are seeing a paradigm shift in Alzheimers. Several revolutions are happening at the same time: the digital revolution; the new treatments, which have modest but robust efficacy; the change the nihilism that has existed in this field; and the plasma markers of the disease. Just seven years ago, there were editorials that said that we were not going to be able to predict Alzheimers, and now it is just the opposite. All these things will change the field, says Juan Fortea, neurologist at the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona. Where science has made a giant leap is in the knowledge of biomarkers: molecular signs that help identify the presence of the disease. In conditions such as Alzheimers, which for decades were largely diagnosed on clinical criteria (such as the analysis of characteristic symptoms, memory loss, for example), there are now also tests that locate biological traces of the disease and refine detection. In the brains of people with Alzheimers, for example, there is a build-up of two proteins beta amyloid and tau which poison neurons until they kill them. In diagnostic contexts, these molecules serve as biochemical markers that neurologists can measure in the cerebrospinal fluid to identify the presence of the disease, explains Pascual Sanchez, secretary of the Behavior and Dementia Study Group of the Spanish Society of Neurology and director of the CIEN Foundation. In patients with Alzheimers, tau is elevated and amyloid is decreased because it is sequestered in the brain and there is less of it in the cerebrospinal fluid. The doctor also points out that nuclear medicine also has radioactive tracers substances or molecules that allow doctors to visualize physiological processes that mark these proteins and with a PET test, they are detected in the brain. For now, traces of tau and amyloid continue to be the best biological markers of Alzheimers and work is underway to detect them in blood, so that with a simple blood test, these biochemical signs of the disease can be identified. What we know is that proteins accumulate a long time before symptoms appear. If we do these tests, they begin to alter decades earlier. We know this because when we have analyzed patients with genetic Alzheimers [which accounts for less than 1% of all cases], in asymptomatic carriers of the mutation, these tests begin to be altered decades earlier, says the president of the CIEN Foundation. But does this mean that a person without any symptoms could take a test to predict whether they will develop Alzheimers in the future? Sanchez replies: With this we could screen for Alzheimers, but it doesnt make sense because we dont have a tool to change the course of the disease. And when you cant do something, its not recommended. As of today, it is not recommended for anyone who is asymptomatic. The only case in which it would be justified is when there is suspicion of a mutation in family members. Fortea explains that predicting the disease is a complex issue: Its one thing is to diagnose and another to predict. A test is done within the context of application and doing one on a healthy person is not the same as doing one on a person with symptoms. He explains by way of example: If a patient comes to me with a slight cognitive impairment, I do a memory test and I see that there are some deficiencies, I already know that that person has a 50% or 60% chance of have underlying Alzheimers. And if in that context, I apply a biomarker test and it is shown that they have [a buildup of these proteins], there is an association of these biomarkers with the disease. All this is a clinical-biological diagnosis. Now, he continues, if a 60-year-old person comes in, who does not show any symptoms in the memory test, and when doing the biomarker test, I see the biomarkers of Alzheimers, I dont know if they are going to develop it or not, nor when. The disease is very slow, it takes more than 20 years from when the protein accumulates until symptoms develop. This person can die with the biomarkers of Alzheimers, but without the disease developing. He adds another analogy: Not everyone with high cholesterol is going to suffer a myocardial infarction. Being able to predict Alzheimers in the long term will take time, says Fortea. The tests are not sensitive and specific enough in a preclinical context [without symptoms]. They work much worse. And no one is yet recommending doing population screening because we dont know what to tell them either: one in three people over 65 years of age has amyloid in the brain, but if I dont know what to tell them and I cant prevent it, why am I going to do those tests? Path to early detection However, the experts consulted point out that this is the way: moving towards increasingly earlier detection. Above all, after the appearance of the first generation of drugs that, although with limited results, manage to eliminate amyloid from the brain and slightly slow the course of the disease. When neurodegeneration accumulates, even if there are no clinical symptoms, we must intervene. Dementia is only the last phase of the disease. The same biomarkers can lead us to early detection: with a simple analysis, we can detect the disease early and develop preventive policies. The emergence of new treatments, combined with biomarkers that work, allow us to open a therapeutic window with drugs or changes in lifestyle, says Arcardi Navarro, director of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation and the Barcelonaeta Brain Research Center. The search for tools for prevention is already underway. There are studies that are testing lecanemab one of the new drugs against Alzheimers in asymptomatic people with high biomarkers, says Navarro: If it works, it could be a useful drug to stop or delay the afppearance of clinical symptoms. And maybe it makes sense to give it to a group of people at risk. A researcher manipulates sample tubes in the laboratories of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation. Gianluca Battista Sanchez adds, however, that this approach is not so simple either, since Alzheimers is a very complex disease and is usually accompanied by other pathologies that feed back into this neurodegenerative disease: If we had to do a screening and there was a treatment, the most robust thing to do is to go look for amyloid and tau. But it probably would not be enough because this disease is complex and although we can measure this protein, there are others that we cannot. In Alzheimers we need a lot of artillery and just [addressing] amyloid will not be enough. We have to delve deeper into the disease. We must advance on all fronts simultaneously, leaving none behind, Sanchez insists: We must develop new biomarkers for other proteins and diagnose accurately. We have to be ready for when we can completely change the course of the disease. Navarro agrees: We must improve early detection systems and determine things that are not known today. For example: refine types of biomarkers, ages and regularity, how often they would be measured. The presence of amyloid and tau are the strongest biological signals, but not the only ones. British research published in Nature Mental Health, for example, has delved into the study of new biomarkers in Alzheimers and, after analyzing the brains of a hundred people through an MRI, found alterations in the connectivity of an area of the brain related to memory. These signals helped predict, up to nine years in advance, which participants were going to develop dementia. This is proof of concept that we can detect things before they appear, says Fortea. But he clarifies that this is only a first step and caution is needed: It is difficult for me to think that we will diagnose with functional magnetic resonance imaging or proteomics. The value of this type of study is to push the field toward diagnostic capacity. We have to be prepared for when we can completely change the course of the disease Pascual Sanchez, spokesperson of the Spanish Society of Neurology. Sebastian Walsh, a public health researcher at the University of Cambridge, called the results of this study potentially exciting, but highlighted several caveats, such as the fact the sample was small and the average time between the brain scan and diagnosis was only 3.7 years, meaning it is not surprising that the new cases of dementia actually had cognitive impairment at the time of the scans. Before we can be truly confident that this technology can predict dementia onset (rather than just be an early indicator it is present), it will be really important to see these findings demonstrated in bigger samples with a much longer delay between scan and onset of cognitive symptoms, he said in statements to the scientific website Science Media Center. Early detection in Parkinson's Alzheimers is the disease where research in early diagnosis and prediction is most advanced, but other neurodegenerative diseases are following in its wake. A study published in Nature Communications has also opened the door to predicting, through a blood test, the onset of Parkinsons symptoms years in advance in people who show initial symptoms associated with the disease. After analyzing the plasma proteins of a hundred participants including people with Parkinsons, individuals with REM sleep behavior disorder, which is an early phase of the disease, and a healthy control group the researchers identified a handful of proteins that altered conditions associated with the neurodegenerative condition. Through a deep learning model, they predicted, with 79% accuracy and seven years in advance, the participants with premotor symptoms who would end up developing motor symptoms (slowness of movement, difficulty walking and muscle stiffness). Sanchez welcomes the investigation, but points out that, in this case, researchers are not starting from scratch. It is about diagnosing the disease in the premotor phase, but there is already a clinical diagnosis [REM sleep behavior disorder], he points out. The authors, for their part, defend their finding. We need objective biomarkers for early/pre-motor disease stages to be able to intervene and slow the underlying neurodegenerative process, the study states. This specific blood panel indicates molecular events in early stages and could help identify at-risk participants for clinical trials aimed at slowing/preventing motor Parkinsons disease. In Parkinsons, as in Lewy body dementia (LBD), there is a buildup of the same protein: alpha-synuclein. These are ailments that affect one another: in some patients, these abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein (Lewy bodies) cause the disease to appear with motor symptoms (Parkinsons) that, over time, can end in dementia. In other cases, the onset of the disease is a cognitive condition, with memory loss and hallucinations (Lewy body dementia), and then the patient also ends up developing slowness of movement and difficulties in walking. Sanchez points out that there are lines of research to try to detect Lewy bodies, but there is still no way to early identify these deposits in a general way. There is a tool under investigation, RT-QuIC, that is used to detect prion proteins [such as the devastating Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease], and it is now being tested to measure alpha-synuclein, but it is a very experimental technique. For these diseases, he points out, there is still no molecular diagnosis available. The investigation is advancing at various speeds. We are beginning to be able to detect the proteins that accumulate in the brain and cause the main neurodegenerative diseases, although in Alzheimers we have an advantage. But we are beginning to glimpse the possibility of detecting them years away, says Fortea. The Sant Pau neurologist has participated, precisely, in international research that has identified new biomarkers in blood (such as the TDP-43 protein, which accumulates in other neurodegenerative diseases) to detect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive supranuclear palsy and frontotemporal dementia: This is the first time we can diagnose TDP-43 in ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The study is complex, but it breaks the ice. We did this in Alzheimers at the end of the 1990s, he says. When Spanish politician Pasqual Maragall announced in 2007 that he had Alzheimers, he proclaimed: Nowhere is it written that this disease is invincible. There is a long way to go to achieve this ambitious goal, but this time, Navarro is more confident about the future: We are in a moment of cautious optimism. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are attacking targets in several areas in the Gaza Strip, it posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday. Sixteen Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured, WAFA Palestinian news agency reported. The report said the IDF announced that it was taking action against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) targets in Gaza City, where the army has been deployed for several days. "So far, the forces have eliminated dozens of terrorists," the army said in a statement. Six people were killed in an Israeli attack on a building in the city, WAFA reported. Rescue workers managed to recover a toddler alive. There were also further attacks on the city in the north of the coastal region, some of which were deadly, the report said. The IDF said it is also continuing its operations in the neighbourhood of Shejaiya in Gaza City and in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, and many terrorists were also killed there. The IDF forced doctors at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City to close the hospital, WAFA reported, citing medical sources. After the area around the hospital came under heavy fire, all patients and displaced people staying there were forced to leave the hospital. The IDF denied this and said civilians had been asked to leave the combat zones of Gaza City as a precautionary measure. However, the call did not apply to hospitals and medical facilities. Palestinians inspect a damaged mosque following an Israeli attack. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are attacking targets in several areas in the Gaza Strip, it posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday. Sixteen Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured, WAFA Palestinian news agency reported. The report said the IDF announced that it was taking action against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) targets in Gaza City, where the army has been deployed for several days. "So far, the forces have eliminated dozens of terrorists," the army said in a statement. Six people were killed in an Israeli attack on a building in the city, WAFA reported. Rescue workers managed to recover a toddler alive. There were also further attacks on the city in the north of the coastal region, some of which were deadly, the report said. The IDF said it is also continuing its operations in the neighbourhood of Shejaiya in Gaza City and in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, and many terrorists were also killed there. The IDF forced doctors at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City to close the hospital, WAFA reported, citing medical sources. After the area around the hospital came under heavy fire, all patients and displaced people staying there were forced to leave the hospital. The IDF denied this and said civilians had been asked to leave the combat zones of Gaza City as a precautionary measure. However, the call did not apply to hospitals and medical facilities. The army said it had informed representatives of the Palestinian health system that it was not necessary to evacuate hospitals in the area. Several people, including patients, left the al-Ahli hospital earlier in the day, according to Palestinian reports. None of the information could initially be independently verified. Palestinians inspect a damaged house following an Israeli attack. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa A Palestinian inspects a damaged mosque following an Israeli attack. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa $1B donation makes med school free for almost everyone at this university (NewsNation) Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $1 billion gift Monday to make medical school free for a majority of students at Johns Hopkins University, according to a news release. Beginning in the fall of 2024, Johns Hopkins will offer free tuition for medical students from families earning under $300,000 annually, which includes 95% of Americans. The university will also cover the living expenses of students from families who earn under $175,000, according to the university. Bloomberg Philanthropies said that currently almost two-thirds of all students seeking a doctor of medicine degree from Johns Hopkins qualify for financial aid, and 45% of the current class will also receive living expenses. The school estimates that graduates average total loans will decrease from $104,000 currently to $60,279 by 2029. Some federal student loan interest rates at record highs Eligible returning students will receive updated financial aid packages that reflect the impact of this donation. The gift will also increase financial aid at Johns Hopkins Schools of Nursing, School of Public Health and other graduate programs. The gift will go to John Hopkins endowment and every penny will go directly to students, said Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University. For most students, this will cover the cost of tuition and living expenses such as rent. Other expenses, such as textbooks and technology, have not been included in this gift. Bloomberg Philanthropies previously gifted $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins in 2018 to ensure that undergraduate students are accepted regardless of their familys income. Johns Hopkins will be the latest medical school to offer free tuition to most or all of their medical students. In February Ruth Gottesman, a former professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the widow of a Wall Street investor, announced that she was donating $1 billion to the school. The gift meant that four-year students immediately received free tuition and all other students will be offered free tuition in the fall. In 2018, Kenneth and Elaine Langone gave $100 million to the NYU Grossman School of Medicine to make tuition free for all current and future medical students through an endowment fund. The couple gave a second gift of $200 million in 2023 to the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine to guarantee free tuition for all medical students. Kenneth Langone is a co-founder of Home Depot. Other medical schools, like UCLAs David Geffen School of Medicine, offer merit-based scholarships thanks to some $146 million in donations from the recording industry mogul, David Geffen. The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine has also offered tuition-free education for medical students since 2008. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. 2 accused of stealing thousands in merchandise from Oak Brook stores, crashing into 4 cars during attempted escape OAK BROOK, Ill. Pre-trial release has been denied for two women accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from two stores in Oak Brook before striking four vehicles, including two police cruisers during their attempted escape. Martasia Barney, a 26-year-old Chicago resident, and Psyche Hayes, a 35-year-old Dubuque, Iowa resident, have each been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of aggravated assault, according to DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin. The charges were handed down following an investigation that began in late June after a womans wallet was stolen. Evanston police seek to identify peeping Tom who groped victim, peered into homes while nude According to prosecutors, following the alleged theft of the womans wallet on June 25, authorities identified two suspects and a Volvo that were believed to have been involved in the incident. Prosecutors said about two weeks later, on July 8, officers with the Oak Brook Police Department spotted the two suspects, who were later identified as Barney and Hayes, walking into Oakbrook Center from the True Food Kitchen on the northwest side of the mall. Authorities began surveillance on the duos Volvo after officers allegedly spotted the two women carrying empty Forever 21 shopping bags as they approached the shopping center, just before 6:30 p.m. Prosecutors said the Volvo, which had been backed into a parking spot, had been left running with its lights on. 26-year-old Martasia Barney (right) and 35-year-old Psyche Hayes (left) have each been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of aggravated assault in connection with an alleged retail theft in DuPage County. 35-year-old Psyche Hayes has been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of aggravated assault in connection with an alleged retail theft in DuPage County. 26-year-old Martasia Barney has been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of aggravated assault in connection with an alleged retail theft in DuPage County. As officers were watching the Volvo, prosecutors said they spotted the duo return and entered the car before exiting and returning to the shopping center with the same empty bags. According to prosecutors, as the two women were returning to the car a second time, an Oak Brook officer approached them in his squad car, but the two ran toward their vehicle and got inside. The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop the two women by parking his cruiser in front of their car, but Barney, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, drove the Volvo into the cruiser in an attempt to flee the scene. Naperville man accused of fatally stabbing ex-wife during argument When the officer exited his cruiser and approached the Volvo, Barney Allegedly backed up the vehicle, forcing the officer to jump out of the way. During the escape attempt, prosecutors said Barney allegedly struck two other nearby vehicles and another police cruiser that had active emergency lights and sirens. Officers were eventually able to break the windows of the Volvo and took the two women into custody. According to prosecutors, during her arrest, Hayes allegedly told officers that the incident was no big thing and that she would be out tomorrow. Prosecutors: Man disguises as woman to evade capture after Elmhurst armed robbery A subsequent investigation revealed that the duo had allegedly stolen around $2,714 worth of clothing from Aritzia and about $3,282 worth of clothing from Alo Yoga. The allegations that these two defendants stole nearly $6,000 worth of merchandise from two Oakbrook Center stores and then, in an effort to escape, crashed their vehicle into four other vehicles, two of which were police squad cars, nearly striking a police officer, are extremely alarming, Berlin said in a press release on Tuesday afternoon. The denial of pre-trial release for both Ms. Hayes and Ms. Barney sends the strong message that in DuPage County we will not tolerate the complete and utter disregard for public safety and the rule of law allegedly exhibited by Ms. Barney and Ms. Hayes. During a court appearance on Tuesday, the states motion to detain the two women pre-trial was granted. Both women are set to return to court on Monday, August 5, for arraignment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. 2 babies found dead outside were buried in unmarked graves. How they changed Indiana law INDIANAPOLIS For almost 24 years, two babies pivotal to Indiana's history were left in unmarked graves their names and stories mostly forgotten. Both of these boys died from being left outside in the elements. Unwanted by their parents and alone. Around them, 50 other babies buried at Washington Park East Cemetery had their time on Earth etched in marble. But for Ephraim Doe and Jacob David Doe, their names lay hidden in archival documents, only being remembered by those who attended their funerals in the early 2000s. The newly placed gravestones of Ephraim Doe and Jacob David Doe at the Washington Park East Cemetery, on July 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. Their deaths played foundational roles in establishing the state's future safe haven laws and shifted the state's opinions on parents who couldn't care for their babies. "It was so important for me to honor them and make sure their names were written in the dirt and that we give them the legacy due to them," said Linda Znachko, founder of the "He Knows Your Name" ministry, who has hosted similar events for other babies. The story of Baby Ephraim and Baby Jacob Baby Ephraim, on Jan. 26, 2000, was found dead outside a hospital emergency room door. Clearly, his parent wanted Ephraim to receive the care he needed, but something kept them from walking those few extra steps and handing their five-day-old son to a nurse. Instead of waking up to the lights of the hospital room, he died of hypothermia. Strangers found him outside early morning clutching onto a little gold angel necklace. That morning, Indianapolis had experienced three inches of snow, with temperatures dropping as low as 2 degrees that night. Police believed he had been outside for at least 26 hours based on their investigation. Police spent a year trying to build a case against the parents, but ultimately never discovered their identities. Epharim's death had an immediate and significant impact on the Indianapolis community. Over 70 strangers attended his funeral on a snowy morning, Feb. 2, 2000. Ron Norris, of Greenfield, hugs a mourner at the graveside service for baby Jacob David Doe Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, while Barb Milton, with Washington Park East, right, looks on. The woman, who would not talk to reporters, left a teddy bear at the grave site that she told Milton she had found at the dumpster where the baby was discovered. The fear of prosecution, many theorized, is what kept Empharim's parents from ensuring their son's safety. "We need to work more to help the moms that are in these situations, and we just don't," said Cynthia Clements, mother of a then-seven-month-old daughter, told journalists at Ephraim's funeral in 2000. She learned about his death while attending a breastfeeding support group for new mothers. Indiana had been mulling Safe Haven legislation like many states across the country, but Ephraim's death would solidify their decision and on March 24, 2000, then-governor Frank O'Bannon signed Indiana law. Although the law didn't exist to help Ephraim, it should have saved Baby Jacob. Just a year later, on Dec. 8, 2001, Jacob was found dead in a trashcan by workers outside a laundromat. He was wrapped in a sheet, several shopping bags and a trash bag. He still had his umbilical cord attached to his tiny body. File photo originally published on Dec. 14, 2001, Ronald J. Deremiah with Flanner & Buchanan carried the small casket of Jacob David Doe out of the Community Life Center at Washington Park East after a funeral service. Brian Buchanan with the mortuary follows behind at left while Rev. David Adams is on the right. Mike Fender/IndyStar At this point, Indiana's Safe Haven law had been enacted for 18 months, but few people in Indianapolis knew. Jacob's death would change that by prompting a widespread awareness campaign. Jacob was buried next to Ephraim on Dec. 14, 2001, in the presence of about 20 strangers. And for almost 24 years, these two boys lay together, being slowly forgotten by the world. That was until Znachko with the "He Knows Your Name" ministry noticed their unmarked graves in April and took a moment to learn about these two boys' short but impactful lives. The gravestone ceremony for Ephraim and Jacob Linda Znachko, founder of the "He Knows Your Name" ministry speaks to a small gathering of people in attendance of the gravestone ceremony of Ephraim Doe and Jacob David Doe at the Washington Park East Cemetery, on July 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. On July 1st in front of a small gathering of about 10 people, Ephraim and Jacob finally got the recognition they deserved, when Znachko placed headstones over their graves. A lack of funding kept that from happening during the boys' funerals, she said. Over the years, the "He Knows Your Name" ministry in partnership with Thomas Monuments has donated dozens of headstones to babies and families who did not have the financial means to provide one. "The headstone is the ultimate closure to our time on Earth," Znachko said. During the ceremony, Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven boxes said the boys' legacy continues to save lives. Their short lives and tragic deaths became an eye-opening catalyst, changing opinion and creating empathy for parents unable to care for their children. A man (who preferred not to be named) places white roses on the gravestones of babies inside the Washington Park East Cemetery after the gravestone ceremony for Ephraim Doe and Jacob David Doe, on July 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. That shift enabled Kelsey to launch the country's first haven boxes in the state. Since 2016, 28 babies have been placed inside those boxes in Indiana. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Two babies are remembered for their roles in Indiana's safe haven law TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Two people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting incident in Fort Lauderdale on Monday evening, according to police. Officials found five adults and a child with gunshot wounds near the 700 block of Northwest 10th Terrace around 7:55 p.m. in what police believe to be a drive-by shooting. Arrests made after Hillsborough deputy seriously injured during traffic stop, sheriffs office says NBC affiliate WTVJ reported that a woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and a man was pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital. The remaining three adults and the child are hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Fort Lauderdale police have not released the victims ages or identities and the incident remains under investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Tipline at 954-828-6677. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Railey Greeson and Brooklyn Shuler are charged with sexual contact by employee or agent in the first degree, authorities say Gordon County Sheriff's Office Brooklyn Shuler (left), and Railey Greeson Two school employees are accused of having sex with students in a Georgia school district in 2021 and 2022. Railey Greeson and Brooklyn Shuler were indicted in Gordon County, Ga., on Thursday, June 28, on the charge of sexual contact by employee or agent in the first degree, 11 Alive, WSB TV and FOX 5 Atlanta reported, citing the indictment. Greeson is accused of having sex with two male students while Shuler is accused of having sex with one male student between October 2021 and January 2022, per the indictment, the outlets reported. Gresson has been charged with two counts of the offense and Shuler has been indicted on one count of the offense, per the indictment. The indictment did not name the school district but WSB TV identified the district as the City of Calhoun School District. PEOPLE has reached out to the district for comment. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The ages of the students have not been revealed, the outlets reported, but the indictment said the women reasonably should have known" that the alleged victims were enrolled as students, per 11 Alive, FOX 5 Atlanta and WSB TV. It wasnt immediately clear if either of the suspects have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Police said they were investigating a shooting at Manassas Mall Tuesday that left two people hurt. The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said that at about 2:10 p.m., officers went to the mall, located at 8300 Sudley Rd., to investigate a shooting that was happening. When officers arrived, they searched the building as a precauston, but they said there was not an active scene. 1 dead, 2 injured after crash on I-95 North in Prince William County An investigation revealed that two groups of people met up at the mall near the food court. Thats when a physical fight broke out and the two groups took out their guns and went to the malls parking lot. Once they were outside the mall in the parking lot, the two groups started shooting at each other. PWCPD said no shots were fired inside the mall. People who were outside at the time of the incident ran into the mall and told other people what was happening. PWCPD said that created a panic. Police said as a result of the gunfire outside, two people got hurt. PWCPD said a 23-year-old man was taken to the hospital by his associates and police were notified. A 51-year-old man, who had nothing to do with the two groups or the fight, was also hit by gunfire. He was found at the scene of the shooting and taken to the hospital. He had been shot in the upper body, PWCPD said. Both people are expected to survive, according to PWCPD. Fairfax County crews battle townhouse fire in Falls Church Police and K-9 officers searched the area and found multiple guns. A short time later, police conducted a traffic stop and detained two men nearby. Charges were pending as of Tuesday night. Anyone who can help identify the suspects pictured are asked to contact police. (Photo courtesy of the Prince William County Police Department) Police do not think the shooting was random and is trying to identify the people who were involved. PWCPD said Manassas City police, Manassas Park police, the Prince William County Sheriffs Office, a Fairfax County police helicopter and crews from the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information that could help the investigation is asked to call (703) 792-6500. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway after two people were shot at a Nashboro Village apartment complex Monday night. The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) responded to a shooting call at a complex along Village Green Drive just before 7 p.m. on Monday, July 8. 3 killed, 2 injured in shootings over the weekend in Nashville Authorities reported they arrived on scene to find one adult and one juvenile injured, though both were alert and talking. Both were taken to area hospitals to be treated for non-life-threatening injures, police said. At the scene, both victims allegedly told officers that they were shot in what they claimed to be a drive-by shooting, which involved an older black Mercedes sedan. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee A family member reportedly witnessed the incident. No information about a suspect has been released. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Everything is ready for the takeoff of the Ariane 6, the largest and most powerful rocket developed by Europe. The European Space Agency (ESA), made up of 22 countries, trusts that this new device will allow it to access space independently to launch institutional and private robotic missions, without needing to depend on companies like SpaceX, led by tycoon Elon Musk. The rocket, as tall as an 18-story building and weighing more than 500 tons, is scheduled to take off at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, one hour after the initial plan. Standing next to the massive Ariane 6 is indescribable, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher posted Tuesday on the social network X, from the European Spaceport, in French Guiana. I feel a wide-range of emotions as we get ready to make an impact on European history, for Europes future, for generations of Europeans. Three French Air Force fighters have been deployed in the vicinity of the spaceport as part of Operation Titan, the military operation to ensure that the airspace is clear for Ariane 6 to take off. Ships and anti-aircraft weapons from the French Army are also involved in the operation. Its a level of security that is not common in other launches, and highlights the geostrategic importance of Tuesdays inaugural flight. French Guinea is an overseas department of the French country, which is also the largest contributor to Ariane, since its companies are responsible for 55.6% of the rocket. Thirteen countries were involved in the manufacturing of this new space device. The total budget of the Ariane 6 program has been almost 4 billion ($4.3 billion). The launch window lasts until midnight. If all goes well, the maiden flight of the Ariane 6 will last almost three hours. The rocket will first use its two solid fuel boosters to take off from the European spaceport in French Guiana. About two minutes later, these components will detach and the main stage first and then the upper stage will begin to operate, which will be responsible for taking Ariane 6 to a circular orbit at almost 372 miles altitude. The upper capsule of the rocket the cowl is carrying several experimental satellites, including one created by students from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, which will be placed into orbit. Afterward, several test ignitions and shutdowns of the new propellants of the rockets upper stage will be carried out, a technological novelty that will allow several instruments to be deployed in different orbits. The Ariane 6 is not reusable, but its upper stage for the first time has the ability to fire its thrusters multiple times. This will allow it to deploy satellite constellations in space and then re-enter the atmosphere and fall to Earth so as not to contribute to the growing mass of space junk orbiting the planet. Timeline of the Ariane 6 maiden flight. ESA ESA wants to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and to this end it is also developing a hydrogen electrolysis manufacturing plant at its Kourou spaceport that will fuel future rockets. In its current configuration, the Ariane 62 has two solid fuel boosters that are released about two minutes after takeoff. There is a more powerful future version, the Ariane 64, with four engines. Then there is a main and upper stage that consume liquid oxygen and hydrogen stored at 180 and 250 degrees below zero, respectively. It is this last part of the rocket that will undergo several test firings and shutdowns during Tuesdays flight, which has a total duration of almost three hours. If everything goes well, ESA hopes to launch another Ariane in December of this year and increase the number of launches to reach 10 per year. The main deficiency of this great European rocket is that it is only qualified to launch satellites and robotic space exploration missions. In theory, it could be adapted to take astronauts to the International Space Station, since it has enough power for this, although first it would have to pass all the qualification tests, something that may not be reasonable given that this orbital laboratory is close to exhausting its life and be buried in the ocean. Europes great shortcoming continues to be not being able to send astronauts to space, especially to the Moon and beyond, for which it continues to depend entirely on its allies. Until the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Europeans traveled to space in Russian Soyuz spacecraft, designed in the 1960s, and extremely reliable even today. After the sanctions and breaking of relations with Russia, the only current option is to travel with the Americans or with a private company: Elon Musks SpaceX. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Pinal County, one of the state's fastest-growing areas, is trying to tackle issues resulting from that growth. On the southern edge of Maricopa County, the area is in transition. Once bright blue, it flipped about a decade ago to a conservative stronghold. Two Republican candidates Douglas Wolf and December Storm Cox are running in the primary for the Pinal County assessor job that has a four-year term. The assessors primary function is to locate and appraise properties at market value, and those parcels are then taxed based on that value. Wolf has served as county assessor since 2012. He was previously a real estate broker in California and lives in San Tan Valley. Douglas Wolf, Pinal County assessor. Cox previously worked in the County Assessor's Office as an appraiser. He was born and raised in Pinal County. The Arizona Republic asked both candidates to answer three questions on county issues and their priorities as Pinals assessor. Here's what they had to say, in alphabetical order. Answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. Why do you want this job? Cox: I am running for Pinal County assessor because I have called this county my home for 50 years, and I am deeply invested in its future. Throughout my time here, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with our county's growth. I believe my extensive experience as a resident uniquely positions me to understand the needs of our community and advocate for fair property assessments. My commitment to transparency and efficiency in government stems from my years of involvement and dedication to improving our community. By leveraging my background, I aim to modernize our assessment processes and ensure that every property owner in Pinal County receives fair treatment. This position allows me to directly contribute to the community, ensuring that tax assessments are based on objective criteria and instilling confidence in our system. Wolf: I want to be reelected because I want to be a part of Pinal County as it continues to grow and provide opportunity for all its citizens. Get ready for Election 2024: Our Arizona voter guide helps make your voice heard What is the biggest challenge facing the Pinal County assessor? Cox: One of the biggest challenges facing the Assessor's Office today is adapting to the rapid growth and changing demographics of Pinal County. As our population expands, so does the complexity of property assessment. Ensuring that assessments keep pace with development while maintaining fairness and accuracy is crucial. Technological advancements present both opportunities and challenges. While new tools can enhance assessment accuracy and efficiency, they also require ongoing investment in training and infrastructure. Additionally, maintaining public trust in the assessment process is essential. Addressing these challenges requires proactive leadership, strategic planning and a commitment to continuous improvement in our assessment methodologies and customer service practices. Wolf: Maintaining and enhancing our office workforce. Competition is stiff for our talented employees and taxpayers deserve the best. What principles would guide the actions of the Assessor Office under your leadership? Cox: Under my leadership, the Assessor's Office would be guided by principles of fairness, transparency and professionalism. Every decision and action would be driven by the commitment to treat all property owners equally and with respect. Transparency would be a cornerstone, ensuring that the assessment process is clear and understandable for taxpayers. Accuracy would be another fundamental principle, with a focus on using the best available data and technology to make precise assessments. Additionally, efficiency would be key, streamlining processes to serve taxpayers effectively and reduce administrative burdens. Finally, collaboration with other county departments and stakeholders would be prioritized to foster a cohesive approach to assessment issues. Wolf: We are a "7 Habits" office, based on the book by Stephen Covey. Our actions are directed by the Constitution, state statutes and Department of Revenue guidelines. Reporter Sasha Hupka contributed to this report. Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pinal County assessor election 2024: The candidates 2 suspected drug dealers in Baldwin County face second manslaughter charge in a week BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) For the second time in a week, 32-year-old Roshell Benson and 22-year-old Madison Hayek are back before a judge facing another manslaughter charge. This time for the death of 31-year-old Taz Grayson back in June. UPDATE: Undocumented Honduras man charged with DUI after Summerdale crash injures 6-year-old Ultimately these individuals admitted their involvement in providing those deadly drugs to Mr. Grayson, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Doggett said. 32-year-old Roshell Benson (Photo courtesy of the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office) 22-year-old Madison Hayek (Photo courtesy of the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office) Investigators were already looking into his death when 25-year-old Skyelar Sanders died of a fentanyl overdose in Orange Beach just over a week ago. Benson, Hayek, Gerald Anderson and Malia Decautur were all charged with manslaughter in her death. From left to right: Gerald Lee Anderson III, Madison Lee Hayek, Malia Autumn Decautur and Roshell Michael Benson (Photo courtesy of the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office). Autopsy results in for Elberta teen found dead investigation ongoing: Officials Right now it is clear that Mr. Benson and Ms. Hayek are responsible for two deaths in this county, Doggett said. A new law that went into effect in April allows law enforcement to charge alleged drug dealers with manslaughter if the evidence is there to prove it. Doggett said the message to anyone dealing fentanyl in Baldwin County is clear. Anyone who decides to deal this deadly drug, you are being watched, he said. Gulf Breeze plastic surgeon pleads not guilty to homicide charge: Court documents Benson and Hayek have both been in jail since their last bond hearing. This time, the judge added another $100,000 to their bond total. If convicted, manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Would-be governors say the budget process should change to bring more transparency and better forecasting of revenue and expenses. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) The men who want to be New Jerseys next governor want a range of changes to the states budget approval process following another breakneck budgeting cycle that saw lawmakers approve the annual spending bill just days ahead of a deadline that would have forced a state government shutdown. They say New Jersey should forecast its revenue and expenses further into the future, denude the governors sole authority to certify the states revenue, and adopt mandatory waiting periods for the budget that would guarantee residents have a chance to review it in advance of a vote. Trenton politicians introduce a state budget packed with billions of dollars of last-minute spending barely 48 hours before passing it, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a Democrat, said in an interview. New Jerseys next gubernatorial race is not until November 2025, with the primaries that June, but already nine candidates have said they intend to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who is barred from seeking a third conservative term. Numerous would-be governors including Fulop and Union County Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick have backed proposals that would require legislators to take a cool-off period after introducing the spending bill to allow residents time to review how their tax dollars are to be used. They must be available in total for 10 days before a vote, Bramnick told the New Jersey Monitor. In a policy paper released last month, Fulop said there should be 14 days between the budgets introduction and a final vote on it, with a public hearing during that time. Lawmakers should be required to introduce a budget by June 1 and face penalties if they fail to do so, he added. In New Jersey, budgets are rarely introduced well in advance of a vote or the July 1 budget deadline, and its typical for budget committees in both chambers to approve the annual spending bill in party-line votes minutes after its receipt. This year, budget committee members and the press had a few hours to review budget details and language changes before the committees approved them. The budget was not available to the public at the time of those votes. Fulop told reporters recently that the state should follow the lead of local governments. Local government has a budget introduced, and then there is a timeline and a process with public review and ultimately implementation, he said. That process takes several months. At the bare minimum, you can have a month timeline (with) the state budget. Former Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Gloucester County Democrat seeking a return to Trenton, said New Jersey should adopt consensus and multi-year forecasting, two budget best practices meant to give the state a clearer picture of its economic outlook. Multi-year budgeting is simple: The state predicts what its revenue and expenses will be over multiple years instead of a single 12-month cycle. Multi-year forecasting more clearly shows outlying expenses and can reveal forecasted dips in revenue before they become pressing. You dont want to create a cliff the following year, and thats what happens a lot, Sweeney told the New Jersey Monitor. Its well worry about it next year. Thats always the attitude: Well deal with it next year. Well, no, if we do it right this year, next years budgets not going to have the crisis it always has. But while multi-year forecasting could provide insight into a states future finances, it can cause politics to constrain lawmakers. Information showing the state cannot afford a given tax cut or spending program could make the policy less palatable to the public, for example. Multi-year budgeting has support of most of the gubernatorial candidates whove announced so far, but some view it as a less pressing reform. Multi-year budgeting is a worthwhile policy change to pursue, but transparency is a far more pressing concern, Fulop said. Fulop added that multi-year budgeting would do little to improve public confidence in the states government if not coupled with changes like waiting periods. Sweeney said the state should also move toward consensus forecasting, which sees the Legislature and governor and sometimes others come together with a single forecast for the states revenue. The Treasury and the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services each draft revenue forecasts and share those with the Legislature. In recent years, those budget projections have largely resembled one another, but that hasnt always been the case. In 2013, forecasts from then-Gov. Chris Christies Treasury and the Office of Legislative Services diverged sharply, with members of the nonpartisan office warning the governors forecasts were too rosy and would lead to shortfalls of more than $900 million. The budget gap materialized, and Christie cut $2.4 billion in planned pension payments to bridge it, among other things. Murphy in 2019 froze $239 million in funding for budget line items over a mismatch between Treasury and Office of Legislative Services estimates, which were rosier than his administrations own at the time. Another gubernatorial hopeful, Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, backed both consensus forecasting and multi-year budgeting, adding his administration would hold budget hearings, currently the job of just the Legislature. My administration would start the budget far earlier. We would require a collaborative 3-year forecast with the administration, the Legislature, and a neutral third party, and we would hold our own series of public hearings to ensure we gave voice to the voiceless throughout the process, he said. Sweeneys proposal on consensus forecasting is unusual for a would-be governor. New Jerseys constitution affords the governor the sole authority to certify the states revenue, and sharing that power with the Legislature would be a limit of gubernatorial power in a state whose constitution arguably affords its executive more power than any other. This is something I tried to do as Senate president, but you know, governors dont often want to give up any kind of authority, not even an inch of it, Sweeney said. Sweeney said he would impose both multi-year budgeting and consensus forecasting first by using executive order and later by codifying the latter with a constitutional amendment. Bramnick, who supports multi-year budgeting, proposed other changes that are less likely to win legislative approval. He said spending that legislators can add to the budget through requests called budget resolutions should require a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers, and tax increases should have to pass the same bar. Legislators spending requests sometimes called budget pork or Christmas-tree items typically steer funds to the districts held by members of the majority. The budget usually grants only a handful of requests filed by members of the minority party. Bramnick added bipartisan meetings should be held before any decisions are made. Baraka last month floated a proposal that would impose a cumulative impact test on state budgeting, mirroring an environmental regulatory structure that requires projects in areas historically harmed by pollution work to defray their own impact or simply not be built. If a proposal helps 150 people but hurts 3 million, that proposal must include within it mitigating statutes that account for the people most affected. We do it for the environment, we can do it for human beings who are so often forgotten because they dont have the money it takes to have a seat at the table, he said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This $21.7 million ranch for sale in Montana once served as a hideout for a Soviet pilot who defected in a MiG-25. Take a look. This $21.7 million ranch for sale in Montana once served as a hideout for a Soviet pilot who defected in a MiG-25. Take a look. Rocking Chair Ranch in Montana was listed for sale at $21.7 million. The ranch once housed Viktor Belenko, a former Soviet Union fighter pilot who defected to the West. Belenko defected with a MiG-25 and revealed Soviet military secrets before living in Montana. A working Montana ranch that recently hit the market for $21.7 million has a unique history, once serving as a hiding place for a Soviet Union pilot who defected to the West. Rocking Chair Ranch, located in Philipsburg, Montana, in the western part of the state, spans more than 7,230 acres and includes a cattle operation, meadows, forest, rangelands, agricultural fields, and a semi-private trout fishery. The ranch has been in the same family for over seven decades. Hall and Hall The property, which has a historic five-bedroom home and other buildings, has been in the same family for over 70 years. The Vietor family even unknowingly housed Viktor Belenko, a former Soviet Union fighter pilot. In 1976, Belenko defected and flew to Hokkaido, Japan, in a MiG-25, a new, powerful Soviet aircraft that was feared by the West. Belenko had been serving in the Soviet Union's Air Defense Forces but "felt he was being treated like an expendable cog in a creaking war machine," The New York Times wrote after his death last year. There is an active cattle operation on the ranch. Hall and Hall "I have been longing for freedom in the United States," Belenko said, according to Japanese police. "Life in the Soviet Union has not changed from that existing in the days of Czarist Russia, where there had been no freedom." After months of planning, Belenko finally defected during a training exercise over the Sea of Japan and was quickly handed over to the US, along with the coveted MiG-25. US officials studied and deconstructed the aircraft before sending the components back to the Soviet Union. Buildings on the property include a five-bedroom home. Hall and Hall The MiG-25 turned out not to be as powerful as the West feared, though Belenko also shared important information about the morale among Soviet soldiers that resembles some of the reporting about Russia's armed forces today: poor living conditions, scarce food, and harsh punishments. Belenko was praised in the US and received asylum. He spent a couple years in Washington, DC, and eventually ended up at Rocking Chair Ranch, though with an undercover identity assigned by the CIA, Mansion Global reported. The CIA agent who escorted him from Japan to the US knew the Vietor family. Rocking Chair Ranch spans meadows, forests, and rangelands. Hall and Hall "As a gift, the CIA asked him where he wanted to live, and he said somewhere in the western part of the country on a ranch," Willy Vietor, patriarch of the Vietor family, told Mansion Global. "The CIA agent who knew my parents came up with us." Belenko went by Viktor Schmidt when he got to Montana, and was pretending to be a former trade representative from Russia. The property is located an hour and 15 minutes from Missoula. Hall and Hall Vietor told Mansion Global Belenko was put to work on the ranch and first lived in a guest bedroom of the main house. "After he had been with us about a year, we connected the dots and realized he was one of the most valuable defectors the US had ever had," Vietor said. The ranch has irrigated fields. Hall and Hall He also told the outlet that Belenko would occasionally take trips to the East Coast and when asked why he was going, the former pilot would reply, "spooky stuff." Vietor told Mansion Global Belenko left the ranch in 1983 but that he stayed in touch with their family. There is a semi-private trout fishery on the ranch. Hall and Hall Belenko received US citizenship in 1980 by an act of Congress and lived in several small towns throughout the midwest and worked as an aerospace consultant, according to the Times. He died in September 2023 at a senior living facility in Illinois at age 76. Rocking Chair Ranch, located an hour and 15 minutes from Missoula, is next door to The Ranch at Rock Creek, a luxury dude ranch that's considered one of the most expensive hotels in the US. Wildlife frequently pass through the ranch property. Hall and Hall Read the original article on Business Insider A 25-year-old man was last seen at a Georgia restaurant. Now, another man is charged with murder A Georgia sheriffs office is working to learn what led up to the death of a missing 25-year-old man. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, Taylor Coup, 25, was last seen at Shawn OBrians Roadhouse on Highway 36 East in Butts County. Tuesday morning, Butts County investigators recovered Coups body. Officials did not say where the victims body was found. TRENDING STORIES: John Jacob Martin, 24, was arrested and charged with murder in connection to Coups death. I want to publicly commend my deputies for being so relentless in their efforts in searching for Taylor and bringing justice in such a senseless crime, Sheriff Gary Long said. I am asking the community to keep Taylors family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they have a very difficult road to navigate. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Martin remains behind bars at the Butts County Jail. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information, big or small, can call Lt. Matt Munger at 770-775-8216. IN OTHER NEWS: CONCORD Archaeologists in Concord, Massachusetts found five musket balls they say were fired on April 19, 1775 at Minute Man National Historic Park during the event famously known as "The Shot Heard Round the World." The musket balls were discovered by archaeologists who were preparing the site for the park's Great American Outdoors Act project. A musket ball historians say was fired during the historic battle in Concord, Massachusetts. / Credit: National Park Service "Pulling one of those out of the ground, being able to hold it in your hand knowing the last person to touch this musket ball was ramming it down the barrel of their gun on the morning of April 19, 1775 is incredible," Minute Man Park Ranger and historic weapons specialist Jarrad Fuoss said. "The Shot Heard Round the World" The National Park Service said early analysis of the 18th-century musket balls shows they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the North Bridge fight. Historians say the battle marked the first time that provincial militia leaders ordered their members to fire upon soldiers from their own government. Ralph Waldo Emerson later coined it "The Shot Heard Round the World" because of the implications the event had in escalating the conflict between colonial rebels and British forces. Historic discovery at Minute Man National Historic Park The musket balls were discovered in an area of the park where British soldiers gathered to resist a river crossing by their opponents. According to analysis of the musket balls, they were fired from the opposite side of the river, not dropped while reloading. "It's incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago," Fuoss said. "These musket balls can be considered collectively as 'The Shot Heard Round the World,' and it is incredible that they have survived this long. It is also a poignant reminder that we are all stewards of this battlefield and are here to preserve and protect our shared history." The musket balls will be on display Saturday, July 13 during the park's Archeology Day. Sneak peek: Unmasking the Zombie Hunter Sneak peek: Murder by Clown Man regains his voice after first-known voice-box transplant on cancer patient in U.S. Initial wind speeds were around 7-8 miles per hour, but a sudden thermal gust of air escalated winds to 40-50 miles per hour, the hot air balloon pilot said Williams Police Department Hot Air Balloon Accident Arizona A runaway hot air balloon in Arizona resulted in multiple injuries and severe damage to local property and powerlines when an unexpected gust of wind caused the balloon to take flight. On Saturday, July 6 at 11:48 a.m. local time, a hot air balloon in northern Arizona crashed, leaving three people injured, including an 8-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, according to a press release from the Williams Police Department. The Williams Police Department responded to a hot air balloon crash at Ramada Inn Hotel. The incident occurred during the setup of the balloons operations. The Pilot, identified as Dwayne Osborne, reported that initial wind speeds were around 7-8 miles per hour, but a sudden thermal gust of air escalated winds to 40-50 miles per hour, leading to the balloon detaching from its anchor point and colliding with nearby structures and vehicles, the release said. Williams Police Department Hot Air Balloon Accident Arizona 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. Related: Hot Air Balloon Crash in Wyoming Leaves At Least 12 People Injured: 'It Was Crazy' The Williams Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Although there were no passengers inside the hot air balloon at the time it was carried away by the strong winds, the three people who were injured as it crashed were taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment, the Williams Police Department said. The injuries sustained include a broken thumb and rope burns for the 8-year-old female, and back and neck injuries for the 15-year-old male, while the adult female sustained abrasions, according to the release. Related: Hot Air Balloon Lands on Vermont Interstate After It 'Stalled in Flight' Pedestrians werent the only ones who were impacted by the speeding hot air balloon. It also caused severe damage to nearby vehicles and property damage to canopies and tables before knocking down a light pole at the Ramada Inn, authorities said. After securing the area and collecting evidence of the collision, the Williams Police Department said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was informed and the agency will be investigating the incident further. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A trio of GOP-run states filed an emergency petition on Monday with the Supreme Court to halt President Bidens Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven student loan repayment program. South Carolina, Texas and Alaska petitioned the court to halt the plan after the 10th Circuit allowed the administration to start a significant portion of it. The SAVE plan was set to slash monthly student loan payments from 10 percent of discretionary income to 5 percent this month. It would also begin offering student loan forgiveness to certain groups of borrowers. The 10th Circuit halted the loan forgiveness but said the lower monthly payments could proceed, leaving the states to appeal to the Supreme Court, which last year struck down Bidens previous attempt at universal debt relief. By default, Mondays motion was sent to Justice Neil Gorsuch, who handles emergency appeals arising from the 10th Circuit. But Gorsuch could refer the matter to his colleagues for a vote. And even though the Supreme Court is on its summer recess, the justices still act on emergency applications. The case has thrown student loan borrowers into another round of uncertainty as Republicans continue to fight against Bidens efforts at student loan forgiveness. The Biden administration has taken action to put borrowers in forbearance while the legal challenge plays out in court. While we are frustrated by the continued legal challenges brought to limit borrower relief, we are pleased to see the Department of Education take quick and decisive action by placing 3 million borrowers in an administrative forbearance, said Natalia Abrams, president of Student Debt Crisis 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 The Hill. The largest rocket ever developed in Europe, a colossus as tall as an 18-story building and weighing more than 500 tons, is ready to take off on Tuesday from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The Ariane 6 is relevant from a technological, scientific and even geostrategic viewpoint, since European countries are hoping to gain independent access to space without having to resort to other allied powers or private companies to launch their satellites. If everything goes according to plan, the space vehicle will take off on Tuesday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time. All the tests carried out so far tell us that our baby, Ariane 6, works perfectly, said the Spaniard Lucia Linares, head of space transportation strategy at the European Space Agency (ESA), at a news conference. The inaugural flight could be the culmination of a project that comes with years of delays and significant cost overruns in a total budget of almost 4 billion ($4.3 billion). In the minds of many of the hundreds of engineers who participated in the development of the Ariane 6 there is a terrifying image. On June 4, 1996, the first Ariane 5 took off on its maiden flight from the same spaceport in Kourou. Just 37 seconds after takeoff, the huge rocket suddenly veered and flew into the air, destroying a constellation of European satellites. Television images showed a dead silence in the control room, while on the beaches of Guyana dozens of people watched in astonishment as the fuselage fragments fell towards the jungle in all directions, leaving very long trails of smoke in the sky. They were the most expensive fireworks in the history of Europe, according to the headline in the French newspaper Liberation. And it was all due to a computer programming error. Workers analyzing the payload of the first Ariane 6 before inserting it into the rocket. ESA Despite the inaugural accident, the Ariane 5 survived to take off 117 times, the last in July 2023, with a nearly pristine service record. Europe now aims to replicate the success with some twists, including a reduction in production costs and greater sustainability over its predecessor. Although the idea is that Ariane 6 is a commercial rocket that private companies can hire, its raison detre is different, according to Linares. First of all, we have developed this rocket [...] to launch European institutional missions. The main reason is independent access to space for the missions of ESA, the European Union and its member states, she highlighted. Controversial approach This approach is not without controversy, as the project has received hundreds of millions of additional euros in subsidies to make it possible. One of the greatest critics is the business tycoon Elon Musk, owner of the company SpaceX, to which the ESA has had to resort in the past to launch missions because the Ariane 6 was not yet ready. Musk said that no rocket that is not reusable, like his own, will have any chance in the market. Regardless of what happens on Tuesday, the first 30 flights of the Ariane 6 and its heavier version, the Ariane 64, are already sold. Among the clients there are many public missions, but also 18 launches that Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has purchased to send into orbit his new space internet system, called Kuiper, according to Caroline Arnoux, vice president of Arianespace, the company that markets the flights of the new European rocket. The goal of the inaugural flight is to reach a circular orbit at 580 kilometers above the Earth. The ascent will be made with an inclination of 62 degrees, something unusual but necessary so that the vehicle remains visible at all times from the monitoring stations spread over four continents, according to Michel Bonnet, head of Ariane 6 at ESA. The device carries on board several satellites and capsules that will be released once the final orbit is reached. We have a first phase, what we call commercial flight, in which we will launch the cubesats [small satellites], Bonnet explained. Then we will continue with a demonstration part where we will verify the behavior of the upper stage. Two atmospheric re-entry capsules are also on board, which will fall into the Pacific Ocean and will not be recovered due to the cost, since they will fall near the pole of inaccessibility, or Nemo point, the furthest place from any coast. The Ariane 6 is not reusable, but its upper stage for the first time has the ability to fire its thrusters multiple times. This will allow it to deploy satellite constellations in space and then re-enter the atmosphere and fall to Earth so as not to contribute to the growing mass of space junk orbiting the planet. ESA wants to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and to this end it is also developing a hydrogen electrolysis manufacturing plant at its Kourou spaceport that will fuel future rockets. In its current configuration, the Ariane 62 has two solid fuel boosters that are released about two minutes after takeoff. There is a more powerful future version, the Ariane 64, with four engines. Then there is a main and upper stage that consume liquid oxygen and hydrogen stored at 180 and 250 degrees below zero, respectively. It is this last part of the rocket that will undergo several test firings and shutdowns during Tuesdays flight, which has a total duration of almost three hours. If everything goes well, ESA hopes to launch another Ariane in December of this year and increase the number of launches to reach 10 per year. Thirteen countries have participated in its construction, and France leads the contribution with 55.6% of the total. The main deficiency of this great European rocket is that it is only qualified to launch satellites and robotic space exploration missions. In theory it could be adapted to take astronauts to the International Space Station, since it has enough power for this, although first it would have to pass all the qualification tests, something that may not be reasonable given that this orbital laboratory is close to exhausting its life and be buried in the ocean. Europes great shortcoming continues to be not being able to send astronauts to space, especially to the Moon and beyond, for which it continues to depend entirely on its allies. Until the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Europeans traveled to space in Russian Soyuz spacecraft, designed in the 1960s, and extremely reliable even today. After the sanctions and breaking of relations with Russia, the only current option is to travel with the Americans or with a private company: Elon Musks Space X. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Four North Texas residents have been charged with human trafficking crimes after authorities said they found evidence connecting the suspects to shell companies that employed forced labor. On March 13, Princeton police officers responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Ginsburg Lane for a welfare check and suspicious circumstance, Princeton Police Department officials said in a news release Monday. What they found in the home of Santhosh Katkoori prompted further investigation and led to a search warrant being issued. Fifteen women were found in the house, according to the release. Investigators said they learned that the women were forced to work for several programming shell companies owned by Katkoori and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda. Officials also seized cell phones, multiple laptops, printers and fraudulent documents while executing the warrant at Katkooris house, the release said. Investigators determined several other locations in Princeton, Melissa and McKinney were employing men and women for forced labor. Additional cell phones, laptops and documents were seized from those locations, according to the release. Officials examined the electronic devices and confirmed the details of the forced labor operation, the release stated. Arrest warrants were issued for 31-year-old Katkoori, 31-year-old Gunda, 24-year-old Chandan Dasireddy and 37-year-old Anil Male. All four suspects have been charged with trafficking of persons, which is a second-degree felony. More top stories from our newsroom: Murder suspect put down baby, fired rifle killing 3: warrant More students got zeros on STAAR writing questions North Texas woman, husband survive 4th of July shark attack [Get our breaking news alerts.] The investigation is ongoing, police said, and further charges against several other individuals are pending. Anyone who has information about this case or is a victim of human/labor trafficking is asked to call 911 or the Princeton Police Department at 972-736-3901. Princeton is a city in Collin County and is located around 75 miles northeast of Fort Worth. It's a stalemate unlike any other in recent U.S. history and nobody is quite sure how it will end. In the days since President Bidens much-criticized debate performance late last month, a growing number of Democrats including big donors and elected officials have decided hes no longer sharp enough, at 81 years old, to either defeat former President Donald Trump or to serve another four years in the White House. Some have even called on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race and cede the partys nomination to a younger Democrat. President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in George Washingtons footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump, Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts said Thursday. In response, a defiant Biden has insisted that he had one bad night and that he still absolutely believe[s] that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024. President Biden speaks to reporters after a campaign stop in Madison, Wis., on July 5. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) I am not going anywhere, the president said during a brief phone interview Monday on MSNBC. Who else do you think could step in here and do this? Run against me. Announce for president. Challenge me at the convention. And Biden isnt standing alone; many prominent Democrats have stuck by him. The result is a stalemate unlike any other in recent U.S. history. At the moment, nobody is quite sure how it will end. But here are four factors that could break the impasse. Polls For Democrats, nothing is more important right now than beating Trump. Before the debate, Biden led his predecessor in a two-way race among registered voters by two points, 46% to 44%, according to the June Yahoo News/YouGov poll. Immediately after the debate, Biden had fallen to 43% and Trump had ticked up to 45%, giving him a narrow lead. In a multi-candidate race including independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump (44%) led Biden (40%) by four points post-debate. The Yahoo News/YouGov results are consistent with other post-debate polls showing a slight decline for Biden and a slight gain for Trump. Overall, Trump (42.1%) now appears to lead Biden (39.9%) by about two percentage points in 538s national polling average. The candidates were effectively tied right before the debate. Is a two-point national polling deficit insurmountable? Of course not, says the Biden camp. They also note that Biden trailed in the 2020 Democratic primary and came back to win it. Plus the president and his advisers have long argued that the 2024 polling systemically underestimates his support. But theres also another side to the argument. Surveys from key swing states where the contest will actually be decided show Trump ahead, on average, in enough places to win more than 270 electoral votes and secure another term in the Oval Office. And Democratic Senate candidates in the same states are outperforming Biden by wide margins, suggesting that the president is the problem, not the Democratic brand. State-level polls that reflect both Bidens debate performance and the subsequent Democratic freakout are still trickling in. If the presidents state and national numbers continue to fall, putting him even further behind Trump nationally and in key swing states, things could change fast. But if they stabilize at a level where the president can claim hes still within striking distance, its hard to see him stepping aside. Donors Big donors wield a disproportionate influence in U.S. politics. The reason is simple: Campaigns are expensive and a steady flow of money is necessary to win. Even before the debate, Trump had been erasing Bidens cash advantage, outraising the president and the Democratic National Committee by more than $65 million during the second quarter of 2024. But since then, major Democratic donors have started to actively pressure Biden to step aside. According to the New York Times, a group of them is working to raise as much as $100 million for a sort of escrow fund, called the Next Generation PAC, that would be used to support a replacement candidate. Others are jockeying for specific figures, like Vice President Kamala Harris, to succeed Biden; threatening to withhold contributions from Democrats more broadly unless the president bows out; and moving to steer money to candidates for lower offices instead. I intend to stop any contributions to the party unless and until they replace Biden at the top of the ticket, Abigail Disney, the outspoken Disney heiress and documentary filmmaker, told CNBC. This is realism, not disrespect. Biden is a good man and has served his country admirably, but the stakes are far too high. In public, Biden has pushed back as hard as he possibly can. I don't care what the millionaires think, he said Monday on MSNBC. Yet the same day, Biden also joined a call with hundreds of top Democratic donors and bundlers on his National Finance Committee to say that he appreciate[s] you hanging in there with me. I realize youre getting a lot of heat," Biden empathized, according to a recording obtained by Politico. The presidents careful, behind-the-scenes courtship of his wealthiest contributors reflects a harsh reality. When a donor defects, that gives others permission to follow and nothing signals doom for a campaign like its cash drying up. The president isnt there yet. But hes trying to stanch the bleeding before its too late. Elected Democrats Polls influence donors; polls and donors influence politicians. So perhaps the trickiest situation for Biden right now is his relationship with other elected Democrats many of whom have their own reelection races to worry about. The ranks of Democratic elected officials calling on Biden to drop out have grown in recent days. According to the New York Times, six U.S. representatives and a handful of other prominent party figures have publicly said Biden should end his candidacy as of Monday afternoon. And after a private call with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday, one senior House Democrat spoke to dozens of colleagues who said that Biden should be replaced, according to CNN. House Democrats will reconvene at party headquarters on Tuesday morning. No U.S. senators have publicly broken with Biden yet, but several have expressed serious concerns. President Biden has got to prove to the American people including me that hes up to the job for another four years, said Sen. Jon Tester of Montana. Biden needs to continue to demonstrate that his debate performance was just a bad night, and that he has a clear path to defeating Donald Trump, said Sen. Martin Heinreich of New Mexico. What I care most about is the preservation of our democracy. Im not a pundit, added Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people. Now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said Monday, as Politico reported that he is seeking to organize a discussion among Senate Democrats about Joe Bidens viability as the party nominee. So far, there are more elected Democrats who have expressed support for Biden than have called on him to exit the race. He received a shot in the arm Monday from high-profile progressives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Elizabeth Warren, both of whom publicly backed the president, and from the Congressional Black Caucus. Furthermore, some of the politicians at the top of the list to replace Biden have refused to entertain the possibility. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she doesnt like being named as a replacement, calling the issue a distraction. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has remained loyal, saying that Bidens had our back. Now its time to have his. Bidens best bet is to expand the ranks of leading Democrats rallying to his side. But the longer that influential figures such as Tester and Brown hold out, putting the onus on the president to prove hes up to the job, the more pressure will be on Biden to perform. Public appearances The president and his team are clearly feeling this pressure, which is why theyve recently scheduled campaign stops, television interviews and even a rare solo press conference for later this week. With less than six weeks to go until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the clock is ticking. The party must finalize its nomination before the convention ends. Bidens position, as he put it in a letter sent Monday to congressional Democrats, is that the voters of the Democratic Party have voted. They have chosen me to be the nominee of the party. Do we now just say this process didnt matter? That the voters dont have a say? Yet now, after the debate, it seems that Bidens own party is suddenly reevaluating his fitness not by voting, but by closely observing him on stage, on camera and on the stump in what little time they have left. More than anything else, the presidents own performances over the next few days will determine whether he can cling to his spot atop the ticket or whether some combination of polls, donors and other elected Democrats force him from the race. Then-President Trump after addressing delegates at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., in 2020. (David T. Foster III / Pool Photo ) The Republican National Convention's platform committee released its new platform Monday, cementing the party's alignment with Donald Trump ahead of next week's convention in Milwaukee. The document focuses on many themes, such as immigration, Trump hammers at his rallies. The platform even mirrors Trump's typical language and formatting in social media posts, with many capitalized letters, slogans such as "DRILL, BABY, DRILL" and broad promises. Party delegates will vote on the proposed platform at their convention, where they will also formally accept Trump as the Republican nominee for president. Here's what you need to know: No nationwide abortion ban The party is leaving abortion up to the states, to decide how to rule on the contentious issue. The platform also takes credit for overturning Roe vs. Wade, the long-standing Supreme Court case that allowed abortions nationwide. Trump frequently cites the 2022 Supreme Court decision which undid Roe while on the campaign trail. Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court who ruled in the case, Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which essentially gave states decision-making power on abortion. Still, many on the Republican Party's most conservative flank including many evangelical leaders have called for Trump and the party to go further, pushing for a federal ban on abortion. Knowing that stronger abortion restrictions could alienate key constituencies such as suburban women and young people, Trump has sought to carve out a narrow lane for himself taking credit for undoing nationwide abortion access but leaving it to the states to decide how far to go. The new party platform reflects that tightrope. "We proudly stand for families and Life," the platform reads. "We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People." The document mentions the word "abortion" only once, when articulating the party's opposition to "late term abortion." It also notes that the party supports access to birth control and in vitro fertilization treatments. 'America first' foreign policy In keeping with Trump's "America first" mantra on foreign policy, the Republican Party platform says a second Trump administration will invest heavily in the U.S. military by increasing pay to the troops and ramping up defense equipment production. The platform like Trump promises to build an Iron Dome missile defense system, like the one Israel has deployed against attacks by the militant group Hamas. The platform does not mention Ukraine directly but does say one goal is to "restore peace in Europe." Many Republicans have called for cutting off military aid to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia two years ago. Part of its America first policy includes promoting U.S. manufacturing and deregulating the energy industry. Immigration control is everywhere Immigration remains one of Republicans' top priorities in the 2024 election, and the party platform capitalizes on the topic. In nearly every section even on seemingly unrelated topics, such as supporting senior citizens the platform includes a nugget about stanching illegal immigration. It promises to restore Trump-era border policies, including the controversial "Remain in Mexico" policy for asylum seekers entering through the southern border. The party states a Trump administration would complete the U.S.-Mexico border wall, despite the fact that during Trump's four years as president, fewer than 500 miles of wall were built along the 1,954-mile border, most of it replacing outdated fencing. Also, despite Trump's repeated assertions that Mexico would pay for the wall, it never did. The proposed party platform describes deporting millions of immigrants in the country illegally, even deploying federal troops to the southern border. It also pledges to increase penalties for those overstaying visas and to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities. "Republicans will secure the Border, deport Illegal Aliens, and reverse the Democrats Open Borders Policies that have driven up the cost of Housing, Education, and Healthcare for American families," the platform reads. The Republican Party is Trump's party The new platform, dedicated "To the Forgotten Men and Women of America," shows how closely the party is adhering to Trump's campaign stump speech, with heavy emphasis on major issues, such as immigration, and few details for how policies would be designed or carried out. Jon Fleischman, a Republican political strategist and former executive director of the California GOP, said the proposed platform is a continuation of the party's move in the last eight years away from traditional Republicanism and toward Trump loyalism. Not only has the Trump campaign placed its people in charge of many state party organizations, Fleischman said, but it has also changed the rules for many state parties to ensure that delegates are handpicked Trump loyalists. That way, Trump supporters are the delegates attending the convention and voting on the party's rules and platforms. "It really illustrates that America lives in a weak party system," Fleischman said. "I mean the parties are not in charge, the candidates are in charge." The platform is a 16-page document, down 50 pages from its 2016 version. "One generation ago, it wouldve been heresy to say we want to replace the party platform, which is a very large document," Fleischman said. "Now it has become a campaign literature." Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. For Michigan politicos, the release of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers book, True Gretch out today is maybe the most anticipated memoir since Prince Harrys Spare. Here are some of the book's revelations. Gretchen Whitmer has a shark tattoo In True Gretch, Whitmer cops to having not one but two tattoos. The first, which she got with daughters Sydney and Sherry, is a smiley face. When the girls were young, Whitmer writes, shed draw smiley faces on their stomachs with marker before they left for sleepaway camp a small reminder that she was always thinking about them. As adults, the trio got matching smiley face tattoos. The second is a shark. Whitmer explains in "True Gretch" that shed heard comedian Naim Lynn, opening for Kevin Hart at a 2018 show in Detroit, use the phrase "It's Shark Week, m-----f-----," in a bit about how the language women use to discuss menstruation has changed. (When Whitmer was in high school, girls were vague, referring to a visit from Aunt Flo or other obfuscatory terms.) Whitmer writes that she loved the change in attitude that menstruation shouldnt be secretive or shameful and, it cracked her up. It became a pet phrase that she used to reference female empowerment, and to lessen anxiety in tense situations ... like a virtual speech during the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Waiting to go live at a UAW hall in Lansing, the mood was tense, Whitmer writes. Somebody say something funny, she said. A staffer replied, Its Shark Week! and Whitmer responded, Its not just Shark Week, its Shark Week m-----f-----, mouthing the expletive. Whitmer writes that she didnt expect video of her mouthing the word would get out. At first embarrassed, she was relieved that most people seemed to find the gaffe amusing. It made sense to run toward the fire, she wrote. Soon, Shark Week memes and merchandise started popping up. Whitmers sister made her a cake that said, Its Shark Cake, MF. Her husband Marc bought her a ceramic shark dish. And Whitmer got a shark tattoo. Cover image provided by Simon & Schuster, photo by CJ Benninger Whitmers front teeth arent real The teenaged Whitmer had just gotten her braces off before spending a few weeks at a church camp in West Virginia, where she took a header into a concrete slab after another child pushed her during a game of tag. She lost her two front teeth. Interview: We talked to Whitmer about her new book and asked about tattoos, Gen X and 2028 It was just the latest in a long line of klutzy tumbles, Whitmer writes. When she returned home, her father dubbed her Gravity Gretchen, a nickname the governor says made her laugh, and taught her not to take herself too seriously. During her first pregnancy, Whitmer writes, her body rejected the teeth her dentist had implanted years before, and she spent the rest of her pregnancy and the entire legislative season with a flipper, a retainer with false teeth attached. Her second husband is a dentist. More: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been consistent in addressing '24 presidential run Whitmer gets along great with her ex-husband Whitmer and her first husband, photographer Gary Shrewsberry, share two children, daughters Sydney and Sherry. The couple married in 2001. When they split up in 2008, Whitmer writes, they stayed friends, in part for our daughters, but also because it made all our lives simpler. Whitmer is aware that some still consider her sprawling modern family her first husband, their children, his wife, their children, her second husband, Marc Mallory, and his children unconventional. But she wouldnt have it any other way. She wants to talk to the men who plotted to kidnap and kill her In 2020, Whitmer became the subject of a kidnapping and assassination plot. A group of men angry at the governors pandemic restrictions planned to abduct the governor and take her to Wisconsin to try her for treason. According to FBI informants and wiretaps, the plotters discussed shooting her at her front door, or setting her adrift in a boat in Lake Michigan. More: 3 years after plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, here are the trial outcomes, verdicts Eight of the 14 men were sent to prison. In True Gretch, Whitmer writes that shed like to sit down with one of them. Sympathetic to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the hardship of the stay-home orders, she found the depths of the plotters fury hard to process. What was I missing? she writes. I genuinely wanted to understand how people had gotten angry enough to actually want to kill me. Because some of the plotters have ongoing appeals, Whitmers lawyers have advised her that the time isnt right, but she hopes to start that conversation some day. She really believes kindness can make the world a better place The chapter titles of True Gretch have names like Be a Happy Warrior and Youll Never Regret Being Kind. Whitmer writes that she wants to do right by people her daughters, her parents and the Michiganders she serves. Its a lot of positivity, and its natural to wonder if, well, maybe its a little put on. But if you make it through all 158 pages of True Gretch, its pretty clear that this is who Whitmer is. And if you dont like it, well, she wont hold a grudge. Nancy Kaffer is editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at nkaffer@freepress.com. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters and we may publish it online or in print. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gretchen Whitmer book True Gretch: 5 things to know 6-Year-Old Ohio Boy Is Mauled to Death by Family Dog: 'My Heart Is Shattered' Jaxson Dvorak, 6, was attacked on July 3, in his home in Lorain, Ohio GoFundMe Jaxson Dvorak A 6-year-old Ohio boy was mauled to death by his family dog in an attack that may have involved other dogs in the home, according to multiple news outlets. On July 3, around 4 p.m., officers responded to a home in Lorain, Ohio, on a report of a child who had been attacked by a family dog, Lorain police said, according to the Chronicle Telegram, News 5 Cleveland, Cleveland.com. The boy, identified by the Lorain County Coroners Office as Jaxson Dvorak, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Chronicle Telegram reports. Police told the outlet that no charges have been filed in the case and the investigation is ongoing. My heart is shattered, Jaxsons mother, Brittany Dvorak said on a GoFundMe page created to help offset funeral and other expenses. My world has collapsed. I feel like Im in a really bad nightmare, and Im just trying to wake myself up but its not working. Brittany also said her son was set to start 1st grade in the fall and that his two brothers were also grieving his loss, saying they no longer "have him to look up to or play with." Jaxson was such a beam of sunshine, just like all of his siblings, GoFundMe organizer Myk Werdebaugh wrote on the page. They are a very close and loving family, and this is hitting them hard." According to the fundraiser, Jaxson "passed away due to a household accident." Lorain police Lt. Jacob Morris told Cleveland.com that multiple mixed breed dogs may have been involved in the attack. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. According to the Chronicle Telegram, the Friendship Animal Protective League in Elyria said it took two adult dogs and six puppies from the home. Executive Director Greg Willey told the outlet that the adult dogs would be tested for rabies and euthanized, while the puppies, who were housed separately in the household, will stay with the animal shelter. The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $12,000 as of Tuesday, July 9. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. 627 children were in Okhmatdyt hospital during Russian attack, most have been discharged The majority of the hospital patients were discharged, while some were moved to other medical institutions. Photo: Oleksandr Husiev on Facebook Eight young patients were injured in the missile strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital. The majority of the children were temporarily discharged. According to Ukraines Ministry of Health, two adults were killed in the attack, in particular, Doctor Svitlana Lukianchuk. More than 50 people were injured. According to Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko, 94 of the hospitals 627 patients were evacuated to other medical institutions in the capital, and 68 are still receiving care in Okhmatdyts remaining facilities. Another 465 children were temporarily discharged, but the institutions medical team is still communicating with their parents, Liashko said. In addition to the toxicology building with the chronic and acute intoxications ward, which was the most severely damaged, the Russian strike also damaged the hospital's old surgical building and a newly constructed building. Quote: "Almost all of the windows in the old surgical building were blown out, causing substantial damage to two surgical and two somatic wards, an intensive care unit, and an operating room. In the new building, erected only recently, 12 wards were damaged, of which 8 were surgical, 5 were oncological, 2 were intensive care units, an operating room, and a department of radiology and radiation therapy," the Ministry of Health noted. Additionally, the only oncohematological laboratory in Ukraine was damaged. A missile strike on the hospital's grounds destroyed two electrical substations. Specialists connected the hospital to mobile transformers, but they also needed to inspect laboratory equipment that could have been destroyed by an explosion wave. Background: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia reported on the evacuation of children from the damaged Okhmatdyt wards and the heroic actions of toxicologist Vitalii Its, among others. Support UP or become our patron! Americans experiencing whiplash over Democratic leaders' desire to nudge President Biden out of his reelection campaign can be forgiven. Just as it seemed Biden had beaten back congressional pressure to withdraw this week, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco ushered in another wave of doubt Wednesday, warning Biden that "time is running short to reconsider a decision he has said repeatedly and defiantly that he has already made. The party has contorted itself over the last two weeks as it contends with competing forces: Bidens pride; the partys sinking poll numbers; fear of chaos; elected lawmakers personal ambitions and the overwhelming anxiety among Democrats of all stripes that former President Trump will win a second term. Democratic lawmakers have tried all manner of responses to their Biden dilemma some evasive, some creative. The Tuesday walkback from Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, who had called for a new candidate only two days earlier: "Whether I have concerns or not is beside the point." The Wednesday double-reverse by Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, who on Monday warned that the "drip-drip-drip" of public calls for Biden's withdrawal were wounding him: "An unsentimental analysis of the cold hard numbers which have no personal feelings or political loyalties should inform what we decide and whom we nominate." The restatement of fact from Rep. Ro Khanna of Fremont during a Washington Post video interview: "The reality is that the president has said that he is running." The optimistic quip from Rep. Lou Correa of Santa Ana: "80 is the new 60." A predicted tsunami of Capitol Hill Democrats calling for President Biden to withdraw from his reelection bid has instead given way to isolated flash floods of public dissent, held back by a thin seawall of support. Many lawmakers have dodged reporters, talked around the question or, when pressed, said what they needed to say in hopes of moving on from concerns about Biden's decline or whether he is capable of defeating Trump. They have largely left such calls to donors and other influential unelected leaders. George Clooney, who co-hosted a Hollywood mega-fundraiser for Biden last month, penned a brutal call for his withdrawal in a Wednesday op-ed in the New York Times. The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time, Clooney wrote. None of us can. Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe big F deal Biden of 2010. He wasnt even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate. Pelosi, one of the most influential voices in Bidens sphere outside of his family, seemed to sense that Biden's efforts to stall for time were nonetheless pushing the party toward acceptance of a candidacy that is looking increasingly doomed, as polls and political handicappers push the needle toward Trump. The respected Cook Political Report shifted six states toward Trump's column late Tuesday, including Arizona and Nevada, which it moved from the "toss-up" category to "Lean R," presaging the possibility that the election moves from squeaker to landslide. Pelosi said in her Wednesday appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Biden's favorite cable news show, that she preferred to keep the discussions behind closed doors for now. Read more: Kamala Harris faces political pressure and opportunity as Biden struggles "Tell somebody privately, but you dont have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week, she said. But by appearing on the same show where Biden declared angrily on Monday that he would remain in the race and then ignoring his declaration she sent a very pointed signal. Its up to the president to decide if he is going to run, she said. Were all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. Pelosi sandwiched her comments between praise for Biden and his record. But Pelosi is notably careful and calculating in her public comments. She is no longer in Democratic leadership but remains in the House after one of the most consequential tenures in history. At 84, she is three years older than Biden and served alongside him for most of his political career, working closely with him during the Obama presidency to pass the Affordable Care Act. She also had the experience of watching close friend Sen. Dianne Feinstein deteriorate before dying in office last year. Former President Obama, another influential voice, has been quiet since offering initial support. He believes he can be most valuable as a "sounding board and confidant" to Biden, according to a person who speaks with him regularly and requested anonymity to discuss the closed-door relationship. The reluctance of most lawmakers to step out on their own says as much about their political motivations and the imperative politicians place on self-preservation as it does about Biden. Polls show majorities of voters want Biden to step aside and he has fallen further behind Trump in many head-to-head polls, including an AARP poll released Tuesday that showed him five percentage points down in Wisconsin, a must-win state. It's driven by caution, political survival instincts. A lot of Democrats don't want to be out on a limb," said Tim Miller, who worked on communications strategy at the highest levels of Republican politics before becoming a vocal Trump critic and leaving the party. "There's a lot of loud voices that are going to yell at you on social media and the phones in your office," he added, arguing that those voices do not represent the consensus among voters. Behind the scenes, elected Democrats are deeply worried about Biden's declining stamina and his ability to defeat Trump, according to congressional aides and others who have spoken with them, along with public comments of some lawmakers. The mood at a meeting of House Democrats on Tuesday at the Democratic National Committee's headquarters was described as "sad and frustrated" by a person familiar with the closed-door meeting who would only describe it anonymously. Senate Democrats held a similar gathering later in the day. But for now, at least, Biden appears to have avoided the kind of mass public defections that would force his hand. He could face a new round of doubts if fresh polls show him sinking further or he stumbles during a public event like his planned news conference on Thursday. But the longer he buys time, the less likely it is he will leave the race. Read more: Newsom on his swing-state tour to help Biden: 'I pick up the fight' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democrat and leading progressive voice, appeared to be reckoning with that reality late Monday as she tried to close the book with yet another sort of semi-endorsement that evaded the question of whether he should remain in the race. "Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race," she told reporters. "He is in this race and I support him." Jim Manley, who spent decades in the Senate devising communication strategies for Democratic leaders, said the reactions have surprised him, especially the unwillingness of many House Democrats to speak out when they normally rush for the cameras. The president feels correctly that time is his friend. Many members are unwilling to confront this. They're just stalling for time, he said. But there's also a problem of collective action. Lawmakers such as Nadler and Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia stepped back from their calls for a new candidate after they failed to rally others. "The president has probably benefited from the lack of a really organized opposition," said John Lawrence, who spent 38 years as a Democratic aide, eight of them as Pelosi's chief of staff. But it's also not the nature of members of Congress, who tend to value their own reelection more than the presidency or even which party controls the House and Senate, said Lawrence, author of "Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi's Speakership, 2005-2010." Going against an incumbent president, stirring chaos at the top of the ticket or shaking up an institution all cut against those goals, he said. Relatively few revolutions are launched by people in power," he said. Republicans have been tested by Trump many more times than Democrats as their nominee has faced two impeachments, multiple indictments, a conviction, calls to suspend the Constitution and any number of startling statements that began before he became president in 2017. "I don't want to compare thoughts about a candidate's age to not wanting to speak out about a candidate's racism or bigotry or lies or conspiracy mongering," Miller said. "The motivations come from the same place, which is political survival and not wanting to rock the boat." Times staff writers Seema Mehta and Faith Pinho contributed to this report. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Air Force special operations aviators are now training on AT-802U aircraft ahead of the arrival of their first OA-1K Sky warden light attack planes while questions grow about the program's future. U.S. Air Force special operations aviators are now training on a pair of Air Tractor AT-802U aircraft ahead of the expected arrival of the first operational OA-1K Sky Warden light attack planes later this year. This also comes amid growing questions about the exact plans for the OA-1K, which is based on AT-802U, as the entire U.S. military shifts away from the counter-insurgency and other low-intensity operations the Sky Warden was designed for toward preparing for potential high-end conflicts. The two AT-802Us arrived at Hurlburt Field in Florida back in June, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) announced yesterday. In 2022, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) declared the Sky Warden, which L3Harris had put forward in partnership with Air Tractor, as the winner of its Armed Overwatch program competition. SOCOM currently expects to buy 62 OA-1Ks, down from the original planned fleet size of 75 aircraft, which AFSOC will operate. Ostensibly, the OA-1K is set to supplant AFSOCs U-28A Draco and Beechcraft King Air-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, at least in the near term. The two AT-802U trainers at Hurlburt Field in Florida, USAF These aircraft will be used to train test pilots and initial cadre in a representative tail wheel aircraft in preparation for the missionized Armed Overwatch (OA-1K) variant, according to an official release. The AT-802U, a multi-mission aircraft based on Air Tractors popular AT-802 crop duster, and the OA-1K variant are both two-seat, single-turboprop tail-draggers. AFSOCs current inventory does not include any other tail wheel aircraft, which have certain unique training requirements compared to types with tricycle landing gear. The OA-1K variant can carry up to 6,000 pounds of weapons, including precision-guided missiles and bombs, and other stores, such as sensor pods with electro-optical and infrared video cameras, under its wings. Air Tractor has said in the past that AT-802U can be fitted with up to eight underwing pylons, but the Sky Warden version has been typically shown with six. L3Harris has said in the past that the aircraft will be able to loiter over an area up to 200 nautical miles away for as much as six hours with a typical combat load. In addition, the planes have a robust suite of radios and datalinks providing multiple means for line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications, according to L3Harris. The OA-1K is a low-cost, reliable, multirole, small-to-medium size aircraft system to support geographically isolated special operations personnel, according to AFSOCs release yesterday about the AT-802U trainers touching down. The aircraft will perform close air support, precision strike, armed intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance in austere and permissive environments. The OA-1K Sky Warden. L3Harris SOCOMs Armed Overwatch program and the resulting OA-1K are a culmination of sorts of a slew of light attack aircraft projects and experiments conducted by various branches of the U.S. military, with and without focuses on special operations missions, dating back nearly two decades. A consistent area of interest throughout all of these efforts was finding a lower-cost alternative to using tactical combat jets, bombers, and other aircraft to provide close air support, armed overwatch, and ISR support, in the kinds of permissive airspace that dominated the Global War on Terror era. This, in turn, would free up the other aircraft for more demanding and/or higher-priority missions and just reduce costly wear and tear on those fleets from constant flying. In addition, light attack aircraft could be deployed with a minimum footprint to sites, even remote or austere ones, closer to designated operating areas, which they could then get to and from without the need for tanker support. This would also help reduce the need to use more expensive to operate fast jets and other aircraft to conduct short-endurance sorties. At the same time, questions have emerged in the past year or so about how the OA-1Ks might be employed in the future, as well as about their exact place in SOCOM and AFSOCs broader special operations aviation plans. The U.S. military is in the midst of a major pivot toward planning for high-end operations against near-peer competitors with a particular focus on preparing for a potential major fight in the Pacific against China. Studies completed in 2021 and 2022 did not justify SOCOMs planned fleet size of 75 [OA-1K] aircraft, nor did four other related studies conducted by external entities that were published from April 2021 through March 2023, according to a report the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog, published in December of last year. Furthermore, SOCOM has not reevaluated its needs despite changes to operational missions (such as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan) and force structure reductions under consideration. GAOs report also disclosed the existence of a 2022 report from the Department of Defenses Office of the Inspector General that concluded the proposed Armed Overwatch aircraft capabilities do not match the combined capabilities of existing SOF ISR aircraft (including the U-28 and MC-12 [King Airs] capabilities that SOCOM plans to divest), nor did the Armed Overwatch aircraft meet all SOF ISR requirements. A U-28A Draco. USAF SOCOM subsequently said the reduction in planned OA-1K purchases from 75 down to 62 was driven by a resource-constrained position and is not a response to the GAOs recommendations on the program, but also that the Armed Overwatch force structure requirements were under review, according to a story from Air & Space Forces Magazine in March. At the annual SOF Week conference in May, SOCOM officials also disputed the characterization of the OA-1K as a replacement for the U-28A and King Air ISR aircraft, despite prior statements to that effect, and said they were exploring requirements for direct successors to those aircraft. It is still true that AFSOC plans to use resources freed up from the divestment of the U-28As and King Airs to support the fielding of the Sky Warden in the immediate future. An MC-12W Liberty, an ISR-configured Beechcraft King Air variant, in front with a U-28A behind. Air National Guard Andrew LaMoreaux The OA-1K is not the only part of AFSOCs fleets to come under scrutiny amid the larger shift toward preparing for a high-end conflict in the Pacific region. The command is notably taking a hard look at current and future plans for its AC-130J Ghostrider gunships for many of the same reasons. A project to integrate a high-power laser-directed energy weapon onto a Ghostrider has already been axed and the aircraft could also lose their iconic 105mm howitzers in the future. It is worth noting that, while the U.S. militarys future outlook appears to increasingly view assets like the OA-1K as a low-priority, if not completely unnecessary, the desire to pivot to the Pacific is in many ways out of its hands. The ongoing crisis in and around the Red Sea is a prime example of the very real need to be prepared to respond to contingencies elsewhere. The prospect of new lower-intensity conflicts where the Sky Wardens could be very useful is also not going away and the time it has taken to move forward on acquiring these aircraft underscores the value of having them on hand now. The arrival of the AT-802U trainers at Hurlburt does show that the Armed Overwatch program is still moving ahead, but what AFSOCs light attack future will actually look like in the end seems increasingly uncertain. Contact the author: joe@twz.com 9/11 hero is honored by both an officer he saved and an officer he inspired 9/11 hero is honored by both an officer he saved and an officer he inspired MIDTOWN MANHATTAN (PIX11) A Port Authority Police Department officer who gave his life while saving the life of a fellow officer on 9/11 was memorialized in an unorthodox way on Monday. The officer whose life was saved was able to meet the best friend of the officer who saved him. That best friend, in turn, is also a police officer on the West Coast, who says that he was inspired to become a cop when his best friend, to whom he became close back when they both had worked in a New York City public school, lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001. More Local News The fallen officer was Dominick Pezzulo. He was based out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and on 9/11, he and a handful of other officers secured an MTA bus and drove down to ground zero to help save lives. One of those fellow officers on 9/11 was Will Jimeno. When the first tower fell on Sept. 11, he and a sergeant who was with him, John McLoughlin, got trapped under debris on the concourse under the towers. Two other officers who had been with them were killed. Pezzulo was relatively unhurt and was trying to free Jimeno and McLoughlin when the second tower fell. It ended up trapping Pezzulo as well and fatally injuring him. The two other Port Authority Police Department cops, Jimeno and McLoughlin, were able to survive thanks to Pezzulos efforts, and they were ultimately among the 11 people who rescuers were able to extract from the rubble. Remains of Long Island man who died on 9/11 identified On Monday, Jimeno was part of a most unique tribute to Pezzulo at the roll call of Pezzulos former command. His best friend, Joe Cirrito, had been invited to address the two dozen or so officers on the evening watch and to meet Jimeno. Cirrito is also a law enforcement officer in the Los Angeles Police Department. He serves there because of Pezzulos inspiration, he said. The selflessness, the sacrifice that he made, Cirrito said in an interview, Thats what he taught me. Thats what I teach the younger officers. He and Pezzulo became close when the two were both deans and teachers at Lehman High School in the Bronx in the late 1990s. Pezzulo ended up joining the Port Authority Police Department, and Cirrito moved to Los Angeles. When his best friend passed away on 9/11, Cirrito joined the police department in Southern California. Cirrito was familiar with Jimenos story of survival through a variety of sources, including how it was highlighted in the 2006 Oliver Stone film World Trade Center. On Monday, 23 years after Pezzulo, the man who so profoundly affected the lives of the two men, had passed away, Cirrito and Jimeno met at the roll call for Pezzulos former command. They said that the meeting was profound and that it was an important, new chapter in an ongoing quest to make the saying Never Forget remain true and real. The way we never forget anyone is by saying their name, Jimeno said in an interview, and were blessed that Joe and so many other people say Dominicks name. Cirrito has also become a long-distance runner for charitable causes, logging thousands of miles in his full service gear to raise money for nonprofits. He said that he feels Pezzulos presence every day, including in every run. On Monday, Cirrito gave a flag that he carried with him on one of his first runs to Pezzulos command. The officers applauded and saluted. Sandwiches were handed out, and they were back on duty, just like Pezzulo was, every day, until his end of watch on 9/11. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A new off-ramp on Interstate 90 in Ellensburg was blocked early Tuesday morning after a large truck took the exit too fast and slid across the road. The ramp was at exit 106, heading eastbound on I-90, and was just recently opened. According to the Washington State Patrol, the ramp had been blocked since around 6 a.m. after the truck had slid across the road and tipped onto its side. Crews worked to quickly remove the truck from blocking the ramp and reported that nobody was injured. The eastbound I-90 off ramp into Ellensburg was blocked since around 6am this morning. The ramp just recently opened. A Semi took the exit too fast, causing it to skid and trip onto its side blocking the off ramp. No one was injured. pic.twitter.com/B6oUAVuDzB District 6 PIO (@wspd6pio) July 9, 2024 The off-ramp reopened around 8:30 a.m., a little more than two hours since the truck had first crashed. The EB I-90 off-ramp at Exit 106 in Ellensburg is back open. https://t.co/y4B6d7yfel Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) July 9, 2024 If there is one issue that is considered global today, it is the impact of online disinformation, hate speech and artificial intelligence. The United Nations, which has expressed great concern about what it called an existential threat, recently released a framework for coordinated international action to confront these issues. Threats to information integrity are not new, but they are proliferating and expanding with unprecedented speed on digital platforms, supercharged by AI technologies, U.N. General Secretary Antonio Guterres said at the end of June. However, in Salvador de Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, a woman is leading that same fight but from the perspective of the countries in the Global South and points out the inequalities in this public debate. Nina Santos is the director of Alafia Lab and coordinator of Desinformante, a research laboratory on the impact of the digital world, online racism and disinformation. The platforms are treating us citizens of the Global South as second-class citizens. We cannot accept that, says Santos, whose job, she clarifies, is not fact-checking. We do not want to face each piece of disinformation one by one, we believe that it must be done en bloc, as a structural problem. Question. What are the causes of the inequality and second-class treatment you speak of? Answer. The first problem is that when we talk about social media, artificial intelligence, in general, they are technologies that are made in the United States, and now also in China. And these technologies are not neutral, they bring with them a vision of the world, a way of imagining social relations, the future and democracy. So, the rules of what is valid or not valid in public debate in countries like Brazil, or any other in Latin America and Africa, for example, are set not by the societies of these countries but by the platforms that dictate privately what can be done in online conversations, which are today completely central to all social processes. Q. Including political processes A. We talk about political processes, elections, decision-making, but the truth is that these platforms are central to our relationships with friends and family, they determine the way we sell and buy. [In the Global South] not only do we not have our own platforms, but we are also not disputing how to build the current ones. A second step, as a consequence of this, is that these companies are fighting very strongly against local regulations [such as the proposed regulations in Brazil]. The only region that has managed to do this in a more structural way so far is the European Union. Q. How does the advance of AI make this phenomenon more complex? A. AI must be seen as a phenomenon closely integrated into social media platforms. Much of the impact that AI can have on society is related to how this content will circulate on social networks or in messaging applications. We are living in a very complex time because AI technologies are very close to reality and widen the possibility of falsifying content. It is more than urgent to have national or transnational regulations for the use of these technologies, and I do not believe that they should be looked at only from the negative side. Q. How does the lack of regulation in countries in the Global South deepen inequality? A. Not having regulations is very bad, but it is even worse when Europe has regulation and Latin America does not, because the platforms decide to obey European legislation but do not promote the same rights in other parts of the world. An example is data access policies. Two years ago, we had much more access to data in Latin America than we do now. Q. Brazil tried to regulate these platforms, why did it fail? A. There was a strong effort, even with the support of the executive and part of the legislature, but the digital platform lobby was able to limit it. What happened in Brazil showed us that we need social support, we need to make the discussion visible. People are clear that we need regulations, but its another thing getting them to to mobilize to support this process. Q. The case of Brazil also shows the role of platforms in political processes. A. We often talk about how conversations on platforms bring disinformation, hate speech, and can provide more visibility for the political field of the extreme right, compared to the left. But in addition to the conversations on platforms, the fact of having and owning a platform also makes these people political actors. What we saw a few months ago when Elon Musk said that he would not respect a decision of the Brazilian Supreme Court is clear proof of this. Followers of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro sit in front of police after storming the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, on January 8, 2023. Eraldo Peres (AP) Q. And what can be done to limit the role that platforms play? A. The solution is not to return to what we had before, but to find another way to live in the digital society. That is the great transformation we have ahead of us. Today, the digital world is part of our life. We are always with a cell phone that has social media, that even has artificial intelligence, because often we think of AI as a content creation technology, as deepfakes, and it is all that, but it is also a technology for content recommendation and filtering processes. Today it is more complex because it is much more integrated into our daily lives; but, on the other hand, with all this integration, we also have a greater interest and knowledge about what happens online. Q. How should we use that interest? A. With all this greater knowledge, we can now think: what do we want from a democracy in the digital age? I think that is the big question that we have to answer and work to build because we remain locked in this discussion about what we have today. Yes, we have to discuss regulation, self-regulation, co-regulation, but we also have to think beyond that and see what we can propose as a democratic society in the digital age. Q. Can you think of any example that is considered a digital democracy? A. I dont see anything very structured. That is why there is a need to build an information agenda from the south, from our reality, precisely now that the idea of information integrity is a hot topic. This is a new term that was created, evidently from the United States and Europe, and which is being widely used by international organizations. The U.N. has just published the global principles for information integrity that will be discussed at the Summit of the Future, in September, in New York. Q. How are the countries of the Global South approaching the discussion about principles for information integrity? A. Again, the problem is that these principles and the idea of information integrity are conceived from a social reality that is not ours, they are not social realities of countries that were colonized, that had enslaved people, that have enormous social inequality, they are recent democracies, sometimes stable. Q. Who is leading that agenda outside the United States and Europe? A. Everything is very fragmented and there are different leaderships. However, Brazil now has the presidency of the G20 and is proposing the information integrity agenda to the rest of the countries. It then plays a role in putting these issues of information integrity, of combating disinformation, hate speech, and online conspiracy theories in different international discussion circles. But I also see that Mexico has many discussions about the relationships between the digital world and protecting vulnerable or historically vulnerable groups, such as women and indigenous groups. Argentina, for now, with the recent elections, is not at a moment of building alternatives, but rather of discussion. And if we talk about Africa, we see experiences like Kenya, where they are proceeding against technology companies for promoting harmful speeches during elections; which is also happening in India. There are examples, the problem is that we still do not have an integration that would give us the strength to face this discourse coming from the northern countries. Q. You study the digital environment of blogs. Do you think that misinformation and hate speech are worse today? A. Often, when we look at the situation, we are tempted to think that it was much better before, but in my view that is not true. In Brazil, for example, in the 1990s and early 2000s, there was a very strong fight for the democratization of the media, a process of denouncing that they were and still are highly concentrated in a few families, and not very diverse in terms of gender, race and political position. In other words, we also had a very complicated communication situation. We cannot think that, if Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok simply ended, we would be much better off today, because it is not true. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition With I-94 being widened, these Milwaukee businesses and family will be forced to move For more than a decade, Paul Schlagenhauf has faced the prospect of being forced to move his business to make way for Interstate 94's expansion on Milwaukee's west side. That's how long the freeway project has been planned including a period where the proposal seemingly died due to a lack of funding before being revived. Badger Ford Truck is one of a handful of Milwaukee businesses being forced to move for the Interstate 94 widening project. It's near the I-94 interchange with North 26th Street/North 27th Street and West St. Paul Avenue. Now, with funding and federal approval secured, the I-94 project is proceeding to an expected late 2025 construction start. That means Schlagenhauf's Badger Ford Truck Center and a handful of other business properties as well as one house will be acquired by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and demolished over the next year or so. "We dodged the bullet a number of years ago," said Schlagenhauf, president of Badger Truck, a commercial truck dealership and service center at 2326 W. St. Paul Ave. "It would have been great to dodge it again. But that wasn't in the cards." Badger Truck, with a 4-acre site and around 35 employees, is the largest business that needs to relocate. Schlagenhauf has yet to find a new home a search complicated by Ford Motor Co.'s franchise rules requiring dealerships to avoid being too close to one another. Meanwhile, relocation plans are proceeding for other businesses all now based near the I-94 interchange at North 26th St./North 27th Street and West St. Paul Avenue. This mom searches for a new home for her family Also, a family living on Milwaukee's far west side is looking for a new home because of the freeway project. "It does suck that I'm losing my place," said Valerie Wright, who lives with her four children in a house she rents in the 100 block of South 66th Street. Wright's family has lived for around five years in a ranch house just south of I-94. She enjoys the house and the neighborhood despite the continual sounds of cars speeding past. Still, Wright says WisDOT is giving her family enough time to move. That relocation comes with financial assistance standard practice for both residents and business operators who are displaced by freeway projects. "They've been wonderful about it," Wright said. The house's owners, Thomas and Jane Abshire, of New Berlin, didn't respond to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's request for comment. Central Bark doggy day care is looking for new site near I-94 Businesses that are relocating include Central Bark, a doggy day care center at 333 N. 25th St. Owner Esther Devine has been looking since 2023 for a new location. She's owned the business, which has four employees, since 2019. As with Badger Truck, her search is made more difficult by franchise rules that create defined territories for each Central Bark location. Devine wants to keep her business near I-94 for customers dropping off and picking up their dogs while driving to and from their workplaces. But she cannot be too close to other Central Bark centers in the Walker's Point neighborhood and Wauwatosa's east side. "It's really a pretty small pocket," said Devine, who's looked in such areas as West Milwaukee's Miller Park Way as well as Milwaukee's near west side and the Menomonee Valley. Another issue: a business with barking dogs is "not everybody's favorite tenant," she said. "Obviously, you don't want to put a masseuse next to a doggy day care," Devine said. "We're not very relaxing." Central Bark operator Esther Devine is looking for a new location for her business. The doggy day care center has been at 333 N. 25th St. for several years. The building that houses Devine's business also is used by the Milwaukee Dog Training Club as an indoor training facility. The club plans to buy a 12,000-square-foot building, at 2116 W. Cornell St., for $350,000, according to its July newsletter. Auto salvage yard, tannery storage site to be razed Other businesses being displaced include MKE Junk Junkies LLC, an auto salvage yard at 2640 W. Greves St.; D.R. Diedrich & Co.'s tannery storage building at 2612 W. Greves St. (although the tannery itself, at 2615 W. Greves St., is unaffected), and a storage building operated by Sylvan Holdings LLC at 2620 W. St. Paul Ave., according to WisDOT. The operators of those businesses didn't respond to requests for comment. Those six commercial relocations, and one residential move, are needed to widen I-94 from six lanes to eight lanes between 16th and 70th streets. The $1.74 billion reconstruction project is expected to run from late 2025 to 2032. The amount for property purchases and relocation assistance isn't yet known because most of the property sales haven't been completed, said Trevor Fannon, WisDOT southeast region communications manager. The department uses a third-party appraisal and negotiates in good faith on a purchase price, Fannon said. Property owners have the right to obtain their own appraisals, with those fees reimbursed by WisDOT, he said. Also, WisDOT reimburses property owners and renters for their relocation costs, Fannon said. WisDOT announced March 8 the project had received final approval from the Federal Highway Administration, with U.S. taxpayers providing most of the funding. The exact split between federal and state taxpayers hasn't yet been disclosed. Gov. Tony Evers' administration revived the project in 2020. A previous plan, under Gov. Scott Walker, won federal approval in 2016. But it didn't proceed because of a lack of state funding. That earlier plan called for 11 commercial displacements and the relocation of eight housing units before WisDOT revised the proposal. Badger Truck considered a site before Brewers bought it Badger Truck has been targeted for more than 10 years. Schlagenhauf's father, Edward, launched the business in 1965 with a high-profile, easily accessible location along I-94 opening just a few years after that stretch of the freeway was built. The location has been a good one for Badger Truck's customers and employees, Schlagenhauf said. The search to replace it has been frustrating. Schlagenhauf at one point looked at a site near American Family Field. But the Milwaukee Brewers in November bought the 1.8 acre site, at 600 S. 44th St., for $2.1 million. It includes a warehouse that the ballclub is using for storage. A consulting firm, hired by WisDOT, thought it found a good location in Milwaukee's Piggsville neighborhood. But it's too close to homes for a business that involves noise and heavy truck traffic, Schlagenhauf said. "We believed there was no way it would work," he said. That 4.8-acre site, at at 3901 W. Blue Mound Road, is being sold to Meta House Inc. That nonprofit organization in March received city approval to develop there a $30 million residential substance abuse center for women. That leaves Schlagenhauf considering other plans, which he declined to discuss. "We've just not been able to come up with viable alternative options," he said. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook. Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: I-94 widening will force these businesses, and one family, to move A federal appeals court ruled that three Honolulu police officers are not immune from a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 10-year-old girl who was handcuffed and arrested at school for allegedly drawing an offensive and violent picture of another student. In an unpublished opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that the officers were not entitled to qualified immunity, a judicial doctrine that shields government officials from civil suits in cases where the rights they allegedly violated were not clearly established by prior case law. The doctrine protects a wide variety of abusive officials from legal consequences and makes it harder for victims to hold them accountable. Citing previous rulings holding that handcuffing a complaint child surrounded by adults constituted excessive force, the 9th Circuit wrote, "no reasonable official could have believed that the level of force employed against ten-year-old N.B. as alleged in Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaintnamely, placing her in adult handcuffs to transport her to the police stationwas necessary." In 2020, school officials at Honowai Elementary called Tamara Taylor, the mother of the 10-year-old girl, who is identified as N.B. in the lawsuit, because another parent demanded that the school report her daughter to the police. N.B. had allegedly participated in drawing an offensive sketch of a student in response to that student bullying her. Reason reported in 2021: After she arrived at the elementary school, Taylor says police detained her in a room and did not allow her to leave. Meanwhile, officers interrogated her daughter in another room. The officers then allegedly decided that Taylor's daughter was not taking them seriously enough, handcuffed her, placed her in a squad car, and drove her to the police station, all without allowing her to see or speak to her mother. Taylor's daughter was not ultimately booked or charged with a crime, but she was held in custody for four hours. Taylor and her daughter have since moved out of Hawaii. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawaii and the law firm Caballero Law LLC filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Taylor and N.B. alleging false imprisonment, racial discrimination, and excessive force. Lawyers for the city and county of Honolulu said that the violent cartoon at issue depicted a figure holding a gun above a severed head along with a threatening and vulgar message. They argued the cartoon created probable cause for officers to handcuff and N.B., even though she was complaint, because the cartoon indicated she was a "terroristic" threat. "The [Honolulu Police Department] is committed to its even-handed, unbiased, and fair application of its policies and procedures in dealing with and responding to credible threats involving school violence," a spokesperson for the department told Reason in 2021. "In light of all of the events that have occurred on the mainland and here in Hawaii, and based on the facts, the HPD believes that its officers took action that they believed was reasonable and necessary under the circumstances given the nature of the threat." In addition to demanding $500,000 in damages, Taylor's suit seeks to have the HPD and the Hawaii Department of Education enact several reforms, such as requiring that a parent or legal guardian be present whenever a minor is interrogated by an officer, and only calling police when a student presents an imminent threat of significant harm to someone. Although the 9th Circuit denied the Honolulu police officers qualified immunity against Taylor's excessive force claims, it did dismiss her false arrest claim against the officers, ruling that Taylor failed to cite cases with identical circumstances, and that her general claim that one has the right to be free from arrest without probable cause was insufficient. This is far from the first time a child has ended up in handcuffs at school. An Orlando school resource officer made national headlines in 2019 when he arrested a 6-year-old girl. In another case, body camera footage showed officers in Key West, Florida, trying and failing to handcuff an 8-year-old boy, whose wrists were too small for the cuffs. In 2021 in Colorado, the ACLU sued the Douglas County School District and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for allegedly handcuffing an autistic 11-year-old boy and leaving him in the back of a police cruiser for two hours while he banged his head. In response to such incidents, lawmakers around the country have been introducing legislation to raise the minimum age at which children can be arrested. Many states have no minimum age for juvenile delinquency, while others set the bar low. North Carolina's, for instance, is at age six. The post 9th Circuit Rejects Qualified Immunity for Honolulu Cops Who Handcuffed 10-Year-Old Girl appeared first on Reason.com. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala Monday, July 8, 2024 in Salt Lake City. Listening to Gov. Cox, Deseret News Publisher Burke Olsen, Utah first lady Abby Cox and Deseret News Editor Sarah Jane Weaver. | Amber Manning, Deseret News There were two teachers in Chelsi Ostergaards childhood that impacted her psyche in profoundly different ways. While her sister battled cancer, my dad had just up and left our family, she said. At the same time, Chelsi was struggling in school because she has dyslexia. I just continued to fall further and further behind in school. I actually had a teacher tell me once that I was stupid and that I would never amount to anything, I had no confidence in myself and felt extremely worthless, she said. In the seventh grade, another teacher altered Ostergaards trajectory. She was my biggest champion and helped me gain confidence and helped improve my education. Because of her, I chose to become a teacher so that I could be the biggest champion to all of my students, that I could help each of them know their worth and reach their fullest potential, Ostergaard said in a video screened Monday night during the Honors in Education Gala held at The Grand America. Ostergaard, an educator at Ignite Entrepreneurship Academy, a public charter school in Lehi, was among 19 educators honored as Teachers of the Year during the second annual educator recognition event presented by the Deseret News. Six other people were honored for their respective businesses contributions to education in the Beehive State. The educators honored Monday teach in 11 school districts, one at a public charter school and one teaches at a private school. Some are rising teachers while one of the honorees, Payson High School educator Sherry Heaps, has taught for 48 years. One of the honorees, Viewmont High School teacher Carly Maloney, also is the Utah State Board of Educations 2024 Teacher of the Year. The full list of honorees will be published later this week. Showing up for teachers The gala, sponsored by the Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation, preceded the third annual Show up for Teachers conference on Tuesday at Mountain America Expo Center. The conference is an initiative of Utah first lady Abby Cox. Cox said it is impossible to understate how much teachers inspire their students and how that influence endures into adulthood. I promise you, you can name every one of your elementary school teachers and most of your middle school and high school teachers. They have an impact, she said. Parents love teachers because they love our children, Cox said. Teachers love their students even when their behavior is awful and it is admittedly harder to do, she said. I know you love them when theyre struggling. You love them when they succeed. It takes that love, it takes that ability to look past a students behavior, to look into their eyes ... and say, I see something in you that you dont see in yourself yet. You can inspire them to be something they didnt know they could be and each and every day you are doing that, Cox said. Katharine Garff, a business leader, philanthropist and community advocate, said her sixth grade teacher, who was leading a class of 45 students, took the time to meet with each of them individually. He asked Kathi about her goals and values, which she had never considered in a formal way. Utah first lady Abby Cox speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Listening at right is Deseret News Publisher Burke Olsen. | Amber Manning, Deseret News Deseret News Editor Sarah Jane Weaver speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. At right listening are Deseret News Publisher Burke Olsen and Utah first lady Abby Cox. | Amber Manning, Deseret News Kathi Garff speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Amber Manning, Deseret News Deseret News Publisher Burke Olsen speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Amber Manning, Deseret News Utah first lady Abby Cox speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Amber Manning, Deseret News Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the Honors in Education and Show Up for Teachers Gala, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Amber Manning, Deseret News She said she aspired to be honest, kind and forgiving, answers which she came up with on the fly because earlier that day, she and her brother had had a fight and her mothers admonishment had included a lesson on the importance of telling the truth, being kind and forgiveness. As for goals, Garff said two were of a personal nature and she opted not to share them with the gala attendees. The third was, I want to graduate from a university, said Garff. Her teacher told her what was perhaps the most important thing any educator had shared with her up until that stage in her life, which was, Kathi, I believe in you. Garff is an alumna of the University of Utah and went on to chair the Utah State Board of Education and serve on the Utah State Board of Regents, among other community and education-related service. Gov. Cox thanks teachers Utah Gov. Spencer Cox thanked the teachers for their life-changing efforts on behalf of students, which he experienced himself growing up in rural Utah. When Coxs parents divorced when he was 10, he thought that the world might be a better place without him. But he had teachers who saw something in him that he did not see in himself and that pulled me out of this, inspired me to do something different, that there was a greatness somewhere, that there was a mission out there, that there was something good in this world for me to accomplish. Im so grateful I stayed. I stayed because of people like you. So thank you for who you are. Thank you for what you represent and the way you represent us, the governor said. Cox noted that Utahns live in a very special place at a very difficult time in our nations history, referring to political polarization and culture wars. So, much of thats been placed in the laps of our educators, completely and unfairly. You, together with our administrators, have often borne the worst of that, he said. Cox said his brother is a teacher and school counselor at North Sanpete High School. He teaches a concurrent enrollment class in literature for Snow College and a parent objected to one of the books the class was reading. There were meetings and angry letters to the editor. People showed up to try to get him fired and lots of other really good people showed up to thank him and show support for him. Those types of things are happening across the state and across the country. They happened in our past, and weve come through those difficult times, and Im certain that we can again, he said. Cox lifted up this piece of good news: Utah ranked second to Massachusetts on Forbes Advisors top 10 states for education, which considers proficiency in certain subjects in fourth grade and eighth grade and ACT scores, among other metrics. I will tell you to most of the country, there is one state on that list that would surprise them, and its us, right? But its no surprise to the people in this room, and its not because of our system. Its not because of our governor or legislature. Sometimes we make it in spite of those things. Its because of you, said Cox. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Property Manager Augusta Realty is working hard to find housing solutions for those who lost their home in Spanish Arms Apartment fire. Throughout the day, many tenants at the Spanish Arms Apartments have been salvaging what remains of their possessions after a fire devastated their homes and leaving many wondering where to go. Property manager for the apartments, Augusta Realty, was out bright and early joining the Red Cross this morning to check on their tenants to make sure everyone was safe. Knowing that their tenants would need aid, Augusta stepped into action and spent the day offering them solutions for housing, and Augusta General Manager Courtney Jenkins gave the details on what they are offering. Were helping rehome them for the owner. Were getting them any apartment complex that we have available that that fits their needs, Jenkins says. Any tenant that we dont have something that fits what theyre looking for, we are giving them back their July prorated rent as well as their security deposit today so that they can have somewhere to sleep tonight. One of the residents of the apartment David Kilcrease has lived at the Spanish Arms for around 8 years and told us that he would likely be sleeping in his truck if not for the efforts of Augusta Realty. Kilcrease outlined how he is a diabetic and when the property management company arrived in the early hours, it was them who ensured that David was able to salvage his insulin from his apartment so that he could have access to his life saving medication. Kilcrease went on to describe the diligence of Augusta during this difficult time saying, theyre on top of everything, trying to get everybody into another place as soon as possible. I mean, theyve worked really hard with me trying to get me into a place really quickly, and theyve done that. Itll be okay, and I have to start over. Around 20 individuals were displaced due to the fire, and Augusta tells us that they are not going home until every one of them has a place to safely sleep tonight. They are appealing to the Abilene community for any aid they can spare for the victims of this fire. Saying that supplies like blankets, clothing, bottled water and nonperishable food items would be ideal and that you can donate them directly to their offices at 2481 South Danville Drive. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Abortion policy is the choice of voters, if only every voter knew it Hundreds of Hoosiers stand outside the Indiana House during a lengthy debate on a restrictive abortion ban. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) As a new adjunct professor six years ago, the class I was asked to teach was titled Public law and government relations. It was a class designed to teach how ideas become laws. The students were public affairs majors, just like I was, thirty years earlier. Explaining the how part is complicated. Im forced to make hard choices on how to prioritize my lessons. I have learned to focus on two primary ideas: One, that governing is choosing; and two, there is no bigger asset or burden in the public policy process more powerful than time. The best contemporary policy example to use for understanding American democratic processes is the debate on womens reproductive health freedom. Not just because of the Dobbs or Roe decisions, but because it is a policy that is truly a governing choice, unimpacted by infinite conditions beyond decision-makers control. Oh sure, we watch Schoolhouse Rock and discuss the school bus railroad crossing example dozens of times too. But if you recall from the video, the local congressman uses a typewriter to create the famous Im Just a Bill. As good as the video is, its old. Every politician claims a vote for them will lead to a better economy. Sometimes they even explain how. But the truth is that the economy has too many variables in it for that platform to be certain. Foreign affairs policies are almost as unpredictable. Its hilarious to hear Donald Trump and his lemmings explain how the world will absolutely kow tow to America when hes in charge, or even how it did before, as if none of us paid attention way back when. Ballot initiatives Eleven states are headed for referenda votes in November on constitutional proposals to create or protect abortion rights. Nine of them were initiated by voter petition. Four of those states already effectively have bans in place. Even Arkansas reached their threshold of signatures last week just before that states deadline. In states where voters can vote, they either already are, or soon will. And because of the Dobbs decision, a vote on reproductive freedom is no longer a hypothetical discussion. There is data to drive the thinking of those clinging to rational thought on the matter. To listen to a podcast version of this column, go here. Lets talk about Texas. That states early abortion ban, established in 2021, drove its infant mortality rate up 8% in 2022. The AP reported on the study last week, Among causes of deaths, birth defects showed a 23% increase, compared to a decrease of about 3% in the rest of the U.S. Think about that for a moment. Behind each one of these tragic deaths is a story that will live with those who mourn the tragedy forever. And each year thereafter, that group will only grow. Texas state elected officials chose this. Then theres Idaho, a state that is manic in its zeal to eradicate womens freedoms. Its bans have created a crisis of care, driving obstetricians from the state. In February, it was reported that 22 of the states 44 counties dont have access to any practicing obstetrician. More than 50 of them quit practicing there since the state passed its ban in August of 2022. It already ranked in the bottom five of all states for maternal mortality outcomes. Idaho chose that. Time to vote Often overlooked by my students, not to mention the American public, the catastrophic choices have only begun to be impacted by the all-powerful influence of time. The awful outcomes in the ban-states arent just awful now but will continue to be awful every year they exist. Indianas time has now begun too. Judicial delays now exhausted, the bad data is being gathered in a state already ranked 44th in infant mortality, and 47th in maternal mortality. Recent polling on the issue shows the most unsurprising results Ive ever seen, as reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Petition driven ballot initiatives arent available here, though 78% of voters here want it. 72% of voters are less likely to support incumbents who voted to block a referendum. Hoosiers can and should vote accordingly. The states embattled attorney general, Todd Rokita, has been aggressively seeking access to patient medical records of those who have received abortion care. 95% of voters oppose this access. Peace on earth wouldnt get 95%, and even if it did, Rokita would likely fight it. This election and every election after will be about abortion until womens rights are restored or our democracy collapses. Do we really want to become Idaho or Texas? A year from now, data will show that we have. Its an emergency right now, but thats not the worst news. The worst news is that time will show it always will be. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Accident blocks traffic on Interstate 540 in Fort Smith near Kelley Highway FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) UPDATE: ARDOT cameras show the accident has been cleared and traffic is moving on Interstate 540. FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) An accident on Interstate 540 blocks traffic in Fort Smith on July 8. According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the accident occurred on Exit 5 near Kelley Highway headed north. ARDOT says the accident affects all lanes, and that there are no injuries. More information on this accident and other traffic issues can be found on iDrive Arkansas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. ACLU files suit to compel feds to answer 2021 request for records on Fremont, Scribner rental laws (Getty Images) LINCOLN A civil liberties group has turned to the court system to get federal authorities to comply with a public records request filed in 2021 seeking information about immigrant-related housing ordinances still on the books in two Nebraska cities. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, in the federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a DHS agency, have violated federal law by failing to respond to its longstanding request. The nonprofit three years ago sought records of correspondence and federal database searches related to ordinances adopted by Fremont and Scribner in 2010 and 2018, respectively. The communities ban unauthorized immigrants from renting housing, requiring prospective renters to answer a question about immigration status and tasking local law enforcement officers with investigating. Recently, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg told the Nebraska Examiner that his citys ordinance was impossible to enforce and said the city of 27,000 needs to embrace the immigrant community. Yet the ordinance remains alive in both Fremont and Scribner, said ACLUs legal fellow Dylan Severino. And while the ACLU has no definite or recent evidence of impact, he said concern is fueled by recent remarks by former President Donald Trump about amping up deportation efforts. The presumptive 2024 GOP nominee for president has said that in a second term he would carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants by using local law enforcement, the National Guard and potentially the U.S. military. Severino, who assumed his position as the ACLU Nebraska legal fellow last year, said his team has not received any communication from USCIS on its public records request since December 2021. Thats when federal authorities acknowledged they had received clarification they had requested of the ACLU regarding the information request. Its been silence ever since, said spokesman Sam Petto. Federal law includes clear guidelines on processing public records requests and there is no excuse for years of inaction on any request let alone one that involves something as important as fair access to housing, said Severino. Moreover, he said, Nebraskans have a right to know if and how federal officials have been involved in any efforts to enforce anti-immigrant ordinances that invite discriminatory questions and racial profiling. DHS and USCIS did not immediately answer a reporters request for a response to the lawsuit. The housing ordinance controversy itself dates back some 15 years and led to a national spotlight on Nebraska. The ACLU and its Nebraska team sued Fremont in 2010, seeking to overturn the rental ban on the basis that it conflicts with the federal governments sole authority to regulate immigration and has a discriminatory effect. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a split decision, ruled against the challenge. Severino noted that the ACLU frequently relies on public records to advance its work on civil rights issues. The new lawsuit is similar to a case filed two years ago that, the ACLU said, ultimately led the DHS and Office of Inspector General to finally release dozens of pages of records on an immigration raid in and around ONeill, Nebraska. The ACLU had requested the ONeill information in 2020, and essentially was stonewalled until the 2022 lawsuit. Tuesdays lawsuit, which includes copies of the housing ordinances passed in Fremont and Scribner, seeks immediate release of records related to the ordinances. Here we go again, said Severino. Well see how this shakes out. The post ACLU files suit to compel feds to answer 2021 request for records on Fremont, Scribner rental laws appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. The director of national intelligence warned Tuesday that actors tied to Irans government have opportunistically co-opted some anti-Israel protests in the U.S., supporting and financing some work. Avril Haines said in the first of what she said will be consistent threat updates about Iran and other U.S. adversaries abroad that Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their foreign influence efforts. In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza, using a playbook weve seen other actors use over the years, she wrote. We have observed actors tied to Irans government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters. Haines made clear that the anti-Israel protest movement is not created by Iran-linked actors, and much of the speech is authentic from Americans. Protests against the Israeli government and the Biden administration response to the Israel-Hamas have become commonplace across the country in recent months. The movement has been most visible on college campuses, where thousands of students and activists took over campus areas to protest the war. I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza this intelligence does not indicate otherwise, Haines said. Moreover, the freedom to express diverse views, when done peacefully, is essential to our democracy, but it is also important to warn of foreign actors who seek to exploit our debate for their own purposes. Furthermore, Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government, she continued. We urge all Americans to remain vigilant as they engage online with accounts and actors they do not personally know. The protests have mostly demanded Biden back a permanent cease-fire in the conflict and cease sending military aid to Israel. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a Biden-backed cease-fire proposal have restarted in recent days, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown reluctance to embrace a long-term pause in fighting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Attorney General Ashley Moody presents drug-related death statistics at a news conference in Tampa on July 9, 2024, joined by Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass (left) and Longwood Deputy Mayor Matt Morgan (right). (Screenshot via Florida Attorney General YouTube channel) Attorney General Ashley Moody is cautiously optimistic following the release of a report showing fewer drug-related deaths in the first half of 2023. Alcohol was the drug most frequently found in those who died from intoxicants in the period, with 2,957 instances, a 5% drop from the year before, followed by fentanyl, with 2,822 instances, a 10% drop. This is good news, I am cautiously optimistic we are heading in the right direction, Moody said, thanking Floridians for listening to those offering help to stay away from, or recover from, drugs. But we are still dealing with an incredible amount of deaths here in Florida, and the only way we can get back to some sort of normalcy is if folks recognize the crisis and take proactive steps to help themselves and their family members, Moody said Tuesday during a news conference in Tampa announcing the 2023 interim Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons report. Of the nearly 3,000 fentanyl-related deaths in the first six months of 2023, in 2,553 instances the opioid was accompanied by another drug. People in the 35 to 50 age range were killed by fentanyl more than any other age range, followed by those older than 50. Across all drugs there was a 7% decrease in deaths in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022, according to the report. Mixing drugs Mark Glass, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, made a plea to parents to talk with their kids about how much fentanyl it takes to kill someone, which he said is equivalent to about 7 to 9 grains of table salt. He warned against the tendency for fentanyl to be found in other drugs. These folks will take and cut other types of drugs with [fentanyl]. Heroin, cocaine, all that stuff is done, multiple things, to include cannabis, Glass said. They will put that stuff in everything now because it does give you an enhanced high. It also makes it cheaper. Although deaths from fentanyl and alcohol dropped, the report shows rises in deaths involving other substances, including ketamine, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved anesthetic; xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer; and chlordiazepoxide, used for therapy for people with alcohol withdrawal. The number of deaths from these substances was significantly lower than from alcohol and fentanyl. Also joining Moody was Matt Morgan, deputy mayor of Longwood and a retired professional wrestler who is a recovering opioid addict. Feud with federal initiatives Moody reflected on the long-term trend, a rise in drug-related deaths since the 1980s and the beginning of the war on drugs. The United States saw just over 6,000 deaths from drug poisoning in 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2023, the agency reported more than 105,000 drug overdose deaths nationwide. Moody said the majority of fentanyl-related deaths involves trafficking from Mexico. I cannot say enough how important it is that we shut that flow down and stop that trade from the cartels coming into our nation, Moody said. She applauded Florida agencies for their efforts to prevent the flow of drugs, citing an effort to increase accessibility to Narcan and stopping people transporting drugs. She criticized federal enforcement of immigration laws. It is hard to discuss the death toll and the significance that is had on Florida without saying the tragedy that we are seeing in the lack of enforcement of the law at the border, Moody said. Moody has filed lawsuits against President Joe Biden, including a win against the president when she accused him of aiding and abetting criminal cartels. Tuesday, she pleaded for the federal government to just follow the law on the books. Action on the U.S.-Mexico border has been a point of contention, especially recently, among federal and state officials. Early this year, Biden agreed to a bipartisan border-control bill, but Republicans withdrew their support at the urging of Donald Trump. Im not gonna lie to be standing here and talking about all the incredible programs and steps and resources and money and manpower that were throwing into this problem without saying, so much of this could have been avoided if we just had law enforced at the border, Moody said. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) Just a few hours before Donald Trump was scheduled to return to the campaign trail before an audience at Trump National Doral Miami, the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign held a conference call on Tuesday afternoon at which they again denounced the former presidents record on reproductive rights and highlighted Project 2025. Thats the conservative manifesto written by the Heritage Foundation that calls for a massive overhaul of the federal government that Democrats have labeled as terrifying. We are going to be talking about this issue and every issue outlined in the terrifying Project 2025 every single day, said Texas Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, a co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign. The American public needs to understand what is at stake in this election, and this election is not about one debate night. This election is about everything that is going to be ripped away from the American people if Donald Trump and his cronies get in the White House. Among some of the plans included in Project 2025 are to downsize or dismantle federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Homeland Security. On education, the plan proposes a complete restructuring of governance at the federal level and the eventual elimination of Title I, which provides grants to schools with large populations of low-income students, according to Education Week. On abortion, the plan calls for the Food and Drug Administration to reverse its 24-year-old approval of mifepristone, also known as the abortion pill, according to CBS News. It recommends that the U.S. Justice Department enforce the 1873 Comstock Act against providers and distributors of abortion pills. That law prohibits drugs, medicines, or instruments used in abortions from being sent through the mail. Sarah Parshall Perry from the Heritage Foundation has said that states can use police power to restrict or prohibit abortion, including particular methods of abortion such as by a pill, said Escobar. Thats what we need to be talking about every single day, because that puts womens lives at risk, that puts our country at risk, that puts our future at risk thats my focus. Second American Revolution Kevin Roberts, president of Heritage, received blowback last week after he said that Americans were in the process of carrying out a Second American Revolution to take back power from elites and despotic bureaucrats, and warned that the Left may not allow a peaceful transfer of power. The comment led to Trump claiming that he knew nothing about Project 2025. The Republican National Committee on Monday released a draft of its party platform for the coming Republican National Convention that softens the GOPs stance on abortion, no longer calling for any federal limits on the procedure. The platform calls on states, rather than Congress, to deal with abortion. That prompted Jill Biden to say on the call that Trump is trying to pose as a moderate on reproductive rights. Does he think we forgot that his Supreme Court justices killed Roe v. Wade and that he brags about it? she said. Does he think we dont know that he wants to roll back access to contraception and he could jeopardize IVF treatments? Does he think that he can pivot away from a career of diminishing and denigrating women? Well, women havent forgotten, and we cant be fooled. The first lady went on to say that women put Joe Biden in the White House and women are going to keep him there. Marco Rubio Also participating on the call was Ana Navarro, a former GOP strategist based in Miami who has gone on to become a nationally known political commentator and is supporting Joe Biden for president. She was asked about the possibility that Trump could select Florida GOP U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio as his running mate. Navarro played down the notion, saying that Rubio could probably win an Olympic medal for sucking up and for turning into a completely different person, a reference to how Rubio challenged Trump for president in 2016 but, like many other Republicans who previously criticized him, is now strongly backing his candidacy in 2024. I dont think Donald Trump is going to appoint Marco, she said, adding that loyalty is important to Trump, and if you think Marco Rubio is capable of loyalty, just go ask Jeb Bush. Hell tell you about it. Rubio and former Gov. Bush, both from the Miami area, were considered allies before Rubio decided to run for president in 2015-2016 against Bush, engendering a sense of betrayal among Bush supporters, as reported by POLITICO. Both men ended up falling short to Trump that election cycle. Harassment at the Mexico-Texas border not only affects migrants seeking to cross into the United States, but also those who help them and offer them food, clothing and a place to sleep. Under Republican Governor Greg Abbott, Texas has intensified efforts to criminalize all support for migrants. And its controversial attorney general, Ken Paxton, has launched a crackdown on shelters, mostly Catholic, with the goal of closing them down. In a recent case, Paxton requested the closure of Annunciation House, a shelter run by a Catholic nonprofit that has been aiding migrants for decades on the border in El Paso, Texas. The shelter network has been key to reuniting families with children separated at the border and receiving sick or seriously injured asylum seekers, such as survivors of the fire at the Ciudad Juarez detention center where 40 men died in 2023. The attorney general has accused the nonprofit of operating a stash house for migrants and, in February, tried to force it to hand over all its records in less than 24 hours, including the names of the people it helped, dates of birth, medical history, medications, and the names of their relatives. But after back-and-forth hearings, on July 2, 205th District Judge Francisco X. Dominguez denied Paxtons request, saying it was politically motivated and just an excuse to justify harassment of nonprofit workers and people seeking shelter. The Reverend Mike Gallagher explains to migrants the conditions they need to meet to request asylum, in El Paso (Texas), in May 2023. Giovanna Dell'Orto (AP) Its not surprising that the court ruled in favor of us on all grounds, said Jerome Wesevich of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, who represents the shelter network. There is no legal basis to close a non-profit organization that provides social services to refugees. And thats it. Annunciation House opened its doors in 1978 at the initiative of a group of young Catholics in their twenties. Ruben Garcia, now 75, was one of them, and he is currently the general director of the organization. In almost 50 years, the institution has offered food, shelter, clothing and legal advice to approximately 500,000 migrants, according to its records. It houses people with short and medium-term needs, it can be a home for weeks or months for people who came to the United States in search of work, people who fled violence and extortion in their countries of origin, or undocumented families who already live in El Paso and are going through economic hardship. If the work Annunciation House does is illegal, so is the work of our local hospitals, schools and food banks, Garcia said in response to Paxtons accusation. The attorney generals illegal, immoral and anti-religious position to close Annunciation House is baseless. Garcia has alluded to the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which say a government agency may not substantially burden a persons free exercise of religion and that, if it does so, it must use the least restrictive means to ensure compliance. In fact, Judge Dominguez in his ruling argued that closing the shelter would violate this legislation. We find ourselves in an impossible position, cornered on all sides, said El Paso Diocese Bishop Mark J. Seitz. On the one hand, we face the challenge of serious federal negligence in providing a safe, orderly and humane response to migration at our southern border. On the other hand, we are witnessing a growing campaign of intimidation, fear and dehumanization in the State of Texas, characterized by barbed wire. The organization works with volunteers. One shelter is for long stays, for people who are going through permanent needs, such as political asylum cases, medical difficulties or immigration procedures, and for temporary stays for widows of U.S. citizens who must spend a certain amount of time in the United States to collect the Social Security benefits to which they are entitled. Another shelter houses mostly people released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers and who have permission to travel within the country. One more is for the offices, and another one in Ciudad Juarez is where some of their volunteers have their living quarters. We will not be intimidated in our work, said Bishop Seitz, known for his advocacy for migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border. A case that is not isolated Since February, Paxton has been sending letters to other nonprofit organizations that help refugees and migrants in Texas, according to the AP agency. Angeles Sin Fronteras in Mission, Team Brownsville and Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley are some of the organizations that have received requests for documents. Catholic Charities opened a shelter in Brownsville in 2017 and currently receives an average of about 1,000 people a week. According to court documents in APs possession, the organization, which is owned by the local diocese, said that it provided over 100 pages of documents to Paxtons office and a sworn statement from its executive director. In June, Paxton asked a court to allow the state to depose a member of the organization about intake procedures, communication with local and state law enforcement, and the organizations practices for facilitating alien crossings over the Texas-Mexico border. The nonprofit asked a judge to deny Paxtons request. The attorney generals office represents the state in legal matters and Paxton has been in office since 2015. He is an ally of former President Donald Trump and shares his anti-rights ideas. As an AG he has litigated against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, pregnancy termination, treatments for trans children, and the elimination of Title 42 at the border. The FBI is investigating him over accusations of public corruption. In late September 2023, the local news organization Texas Tribune revealed that Paxton had fled his home in McKinney, north of the city of Dallas, to avoid being served a subpoena for a hearing in federal court. Migrants going over barbed wire after crossing the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, Texas, on September 26, 2023. BRIAN SNYDER (REUTERS) Drastic measures against undocumented migrants by Governor Abbott have also been constant: the numerous transfers of migrants by bus to other states, the deployment of the Texas National Guard on the border, the cooperation with both U.S. and Mexican authorities to lay barbed wire and the use of other tactics to prevent crossings. And there is also the enactment of harsh laws like SB4, which allows Texas police to arrest people for illegally crossing the Mexico border but is currently on hold in an appeals court to review its constitutionality. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A buildup of smog is causing moderate air quality levels in the Willamette Valley Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued an air quality advisory for the region until 8 p.m. Although smoke from the 6,261-acre Shelly fire burning in Siskiyou County is forecast to pass overhead, KOIN 6 Meteorologist Kelley Bayern reports that the high-elevation smoke isnt expected to affect Portlands air quality Tuesday. You may notice hazy sunshine today, especially looking towards the south or east, Bayern said. Smoke models keep wildfire smoke away from the surface and there should be little to no impact to air quality due to wildfire smoke today in Portland. An air quality advisory has been issued for the Willamette Valley and the Vancouver area. (KOIN) Body found floating near Ross Island Bridge Tuesday morning Health officials recommend that sensitive groups, including older adults, children, and people with asthma or lung disease limit outdoor activity Tuesday. A red flag warning is also in effect for Central and Eastern Oregon until 11 p.m. due to critically dry conditions and the possibility for extreme fire growth, the NWS warns. A dry and unstable air mass with warm temperatures can contribute to active fire behavior, Portlands NWS office stated in response to the red flag warning. In western Washington, significant growth on existing fires takes place under such conditions. If a fire were to begin, air quality may diminish in the surrounding area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Budget airline HK Express has apologized after two blind passengers alleged its crew removed them from a flight citing safety concerns, in an ordeal that left them feeling insulted and embarrassed. Passengers Andy Chui, 34, and John Li, 27, were booked for an afternoon flight from Hong Kong where both reside to Tokyo on May 22, and said they had notified the airline about their disability, according to a statement from the Hong Kong Blind Union. The duo said they went through check-in without any issues and were escorted to the boarding gate as usual. On board, crew members briefed them about in-flight safety procedures but later removed them from the plane over safety concerns after learning they were traveling unaccompanied, according to Li and Chui. We felt insulted and embarrassed. They were treating us as if we were criminals, Chui said in a press conference on Sunday. Blind Union president Billy Wong, who is authorized to speak on behalf of the two men, said the handling of the situation left the passengers confounded because they had been able to travel alone without issues on other airlines. Wong also called on the airline to investigate its protocols and treatment of travelers with disabilities, saying guidelines from aviation authorities were toothless. Andy Chui (left) and John Li at a press conference held by the Hong Kong Blind Union on July 7, 2024. They said were removed from an HK Express flight on May 22, 2024. - Hong Kong Blind Union They need to ensure that companies comply with these guidelines and that there are punitive measures when companies discriminate against people with disabilities, Wong told CNN. HK Express said in a statement that due to differing judgments made by the ground staff and aircrew, the case was escalated to management for assessment and the additional time required to decide had led to the pair being unable to travel on the original flight. The Hong Kong-based carrier is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific , which was recently crowned the worlds fifth-best airline. HK Express said its staff had followed the airlines standard safety procedures, during the incident, without specifying whether the two passengers had failed to comply with its protocols. The airline added it was later confirmed that the two passengers could travel safely without a companion, and they were re-accommodated on a later flight of their choice on the same day to their destination. The decision made by the aircrew was entirely based on safety considerations, and the on-duty staff accompanied the two passengers as they left the cabin, HK Express commercial director KK Ong said in a separate statement. We sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience caused to the two passengers. Travelers with disabilities already face physical hurdles when navigating large, busy airports and catered, needs-based assistance is not always a guarantee. In 2013, Albert Rizzi, a blind man from Long Island, and his dog, Doxy, were escorted off a US Airways flight after a heated exchange between him and a flight attendant. All 35 passengers on the flight walked off in solidarity with Rizzi. Last year, Air Canada apologized and pledged to expedite accessibility improvements for passengers with disabilities after a man who uses a wheelchair made international headlines when he shared his experience of dragging himself off a flight. Rodney Hodgins said he had to drag himself along the aisle, helped by his wife, when airport mobility assistance staff didnt turn up to aid him when his flight landed in Las Vegas. Air Canada staff told him to disembark on foot despite the fact that he cant walk so they could turn the plane around, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Al Sharpton to deliver eulogy for Black man who died after being held down by Milwaukee hotel guards FILE - Al Sharpton waits for Vice President Kamala Harris to speak before walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge commemorating the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday voting rights march in 1965, March 3, 2024, in Selma, Ala. Sharpton, who serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, said in a news release Tuesday, July 9, that he'll speak Thursday, July 11, at the funeral of Dvontaye Mitchell, a Black man who died after a confrontation with hotel security guards last month. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File) MILWAUKEE (AP) The Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled deliver a eulogy for a Black man who died last month after being pinned to the ground by hotel security guards in Milwaukee, his office said Tuesday. The death of D'Vontaye Mitchell has drawn comparisons to the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed in 2020 after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck. Sharpton, a longtime activist and leader who serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, said in a news release that he'll speak at Mitchell's funeral Thursday. The Republican National Convention opens just days later, on July 15, and law enforcement agencies are bracing for political protests around the convention arena in Wisconsins biggest city. Sharpton said convention-goers need to know about Mitchells death. We cannot watch D'Vontaye Mitchells murder be washed out by the RNC coming to town, where they will solidify a nominee whose view of justice is pure brute force, Sharpton said, referring to former President Donald Trump. Mitchell, 43, died on June 30 at the Hyatt Regency after four security guards held him down on his stomach, media outlets have reported. Police have said Mitchell entered the hotel, caused a disturbance and fought with the guards as they were escorting him out. Mitchells family has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented Floyd's family. His death spurred worldwide protests against racial violence and police brutality. It's unclear why Mitchell was at the hotel or what happened before the guards pinned him down. The Milwaukee County medical examiner's initial report said Mitchell was homeless, but his family told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that's not correct. Sharpton said in a news release announcing his Milwaukee visit that Mitchell's mother said her son was suffering a "mental health episode." Police officials were still investigating Mitchell's death on Tuesday, the Journal Sentinel reported. The police department responded to an Associated Press request for an update by emailing a statement saying that an unidentified individual had fought with security guards at the hotel on June 30 and was unresponsive when officers arrived. The medical examiner's office has said the preliminary cause of death was homicide but the cause remains under investigation. No one had been charged criminally as of Tuesday. A spokesperson for Aimbridge Hospitality, which runs the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee, told the Washington Post that the company extends its condolences to Mitchell's family and supports the ongoing investigation. ___ This story corrects the spelling of the first name of a Black man who died after being pinned to the ground by hotel security guards. He is DVontaye Mitchell, not Dvontaye. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Rep. Kelvin Jamichael Lawrence (D-Lowndes County) was arrested on two felony charges on Tuesday. According to the Attorney Generals Office, 50-year-old Lawrence of Lowndes County was charged with second-degree forgery and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. The indictment against Lawrence alleges that he intended to defraud, falsely made, completed, or altered a builders license. Both crimes are considered Class C felonies and can carry a sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. Lawrence was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. He is currently the representative for House District 69. Lawrence represents the following counties: Autauga County Lowndes County Montgomery County Wilcox County The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A bag of midazolam, a sedative used in Alabama's method of lethal injection. (Getty) Alabama is set to carry out its third execution of the year next week. The state plans to execute Keith Edmund Gavin by lethal injection at some time between midnight on July 16 and 6 a.m. on July 17. Gavin was convicted of the 1998 murder of William Clayton Jr. Gov. Kay Ivey set Gavins execution date at the end of April. It would be the second death sentence the state will carry out this year by lethal injection. Alan Eugene Miller is scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas in September. An inmate In January, Alabama put to Kenneth Eugene Smith to death in the first-ever nitrogen gas execution. Jamie Ray Mills was executed by lethal injection at the end of May. Messages were left with attorneys representing Gavin seeking comment. A jury convicted Gavin in 1999 of Claytons murder. According to court documents, Gavin shot and killed Clayton while he was sitting in a delivery van outside the Regions Bank in downtown Centre, Alabama. Gavin was also convicted of one count of attempted murder after shooting at a law enforcement officer during the incident. According to court documents, Gavin was convicted in 1982 for a murder in Cook County, Illinois. He had been paroled after serving 17 years of a 34-year sentence prior to the incident in Centre. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Gavins conviction and sentence and both the state and U.S. Supreme Court declined to review his direct appeal. Gavin then petitioned for a Rule 32 hearing claiming ineffective assistance of counsel and that the jury had prematurely deliberated on his case. Gavin argued that an expert recruited to help with his case during the penalty phase would have trouble helping with the case, and that his attorneys did not do an adequate job of presenting witnesses who could help lessen the severity of his punishment. The trial court assigned to hear the Rule 32 appeal dismissed his appeal regarding the jury but allowed for a hearing to determine the merits of his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel during the penalty phase of the original trial. The Rule 32 court found that counsel was not deficient for failing to present additional mitigation evidence, concluding that it was Gavins and his familys fault for failing or refusing to cooperate with his trial attorneys and the mitigation specialists, according to court documents, and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the decision. A federal appeals court also upheld the decision. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2023 declined to hear the case. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, Alabama is one of five states that have conducted executions this year. The others are Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Alabama has executed at least one person every year since 2016. It executed six people in 2009 and in 2011. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. While many across the state spent this past weekend with their families for the Fourth of July weekend, one traveler spent hers looking for her car that was stolen in broad daylight. Traveling nurse April Dooley says around 4pm on Sunday she went into the Green Corner Store in the SoMa district. She said she stepped out of her car to grab a few items before getting on the highway, and as she got ready to walk back to her car she panicked, realizing it was gone. Car break-ins continue to impact Little Rock residents, visitors I was gone in less than five minutes, and it happened that quickly, Dooley said. She said she was traveling to Kansas City to sign her contract as a traveling nurse, before things took a turn. She said she initially thought the car door was locked until she heard these 4 words from her friend. Your car is gone. I, of course, freaked out, blanked out for a second and immediately called 911, Dooley said. North Little Rock neighborhood hit by string of car break-ins She says the suspect drove away with her puppy inside, and that the business across the street caught everything on camera and it has been given to the police. Dooley said its something thats caused her to be more mindful. Get a tracking device on your car, because that wouldve helped all of this because If I wouldve had it I wouldnt be in this predicament now, Dooley stated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola will be absent from House floor to prepare fish for winter storage Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) will not be in attendance for House votes this week, so she can prepare fish for her family. This week, Representative Peltola will be in the state putting up fish with family to fill freezers for the winter. Marys familyas well as her late husbands familyrelies in part on her for subsistence duties, her office said in a statement. Representative Peltola will submit publicly available statements to the Congressional record reflecting how she would have voted if present, the statement added. Her office noted that she has put up fish for her family during the summer every year to prepare for the winter. Peltola also posted photos of her fishing on the social media platform X, emphasizing how important fisheries are in Alaska. Theres nothing quite like being out on the water. Part of the reason Im so adamant about pro-fish policies is because I know how integral being able to count on Alaska fisheries has been and continues to be for all Alaskans, she wrote on X. Together, we will preserve our fisheries, not just for the communities that rely on them today, but for future generations to experience and make memories through, she added. Peltolas husband, Eugene Peltola Jr., died in a plane accident last September in Alaska. She has been serving in Congress since clinching an unexpected win in the deep-red state of Alaska in 2022. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Alec Baldwins Involuntary Manslaughter Rust Trial: What You Need Know, How To Watch & Who Will Testify Nearly three years after the customized Colt .45 in Alec Baldwins hand fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the indie Western Rust, the actors involuntary manslaughter trial has begun. With a jury seated July 9 in Santa Fe, Baldwins trial follows the successful prosecution earlier this year of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the 27-year-old daughter of legendary movie gunman Thell Reed. A relatively inexperienced armorer also working in the props department on the low-budget film, she was found guilty in March of involuntary manslaughter but not guilty of tampering with evidence and sentenced to 18 months in a New Mexico state prison on April 15. More from Deadline Having entered a not guilty plea shortly after he was recharged this past January, Baldwin will be in Judge Mary Marlowe Sommers courtroom every day of the trial beginning today with jury selection. Alec Baldwin in court on Monday Failing over and over to get the case against Baldwin dismissed through the years, the actors Quinn Emanuel attorneys and their client were handed a win Monday. Sommer, after listening to oral arguments in a July 8 pre-trial motions hearing, ruled that Baldwins role as a co-producer on Rust cannot be entered as evidence into the trial. RELATED: Alec Baldwin Didnt Do A Gun Safety Check, Prosecutor Tells Rust Jury In Barbed Start To Actors Involuntary Manslaughter Trial; Star Committed No Crime, Defense Says Thats a huge blow to special prosecutors Erlinda Johnson and Kari Morrisey. The duo had stated in court documents and previous hearings that Baldwins producer role in Rusts hierarchy allowed him to dominate Rust, and take over directing the movie. The special prosecutors maintained that as a working producer Baldwin knew of other issues on Rust, like gun discharge, and further matters of firearm safety. Johnson and Morrissey postulate that Baldwins status on the movie allowed him to neglect his own firearm safety training provided by the now-incarcerated Gutierrez-Reed. With that, heres a look at what the case against Baldwin, first brought in early 2023, dropped and recharged in early 2024, is about, and what the stakes are. What Happened? On October 21, 2021, a customized Colt .45 was handed to Baldwin inside the church set on Bonanza Creek Ranch just outside Santa Fe by Rust assistant director David Halls. Halls allegedly declared the weapon was a cold gun, aka checked to be safe. Halls later testified he had not checked it properly after taking it off Gutierrez-Reed, who was outside the location. The handing off of the gun was 12 days into filming on the low-budget film based on a story conceived by director Joel Souza and Baldwin, who was both the star and a co-producer on the movie. In a shootout-scene rehearsal, Baldwin was pointing the 1880s-era gun at the camera when it suddenly fired. A live round discharged from the gun, ripping through Hutchins and wounding Souza. The latter recovered in a fairly short time. The Ukrainian born Hutchins, was airlifted more than 60 miles to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, and pronounced dead several hours later. Her last words were reportedly That was no good, that was no good at all. What Are The Charges? Free without bail for more than two and a half years, Baldwin is charged with involuntary manslaughter (negligent use of a firearm), a lesser charge, and involuntary manslaughter (without due caution or circumspection). The above-named defendant did cause the death of Halyna Hutchins by an act committed with the total disregard or indifference to the safety of others, and the act was such that an ordinary person would anticipate that death might occur under the circumstances, the grand jury indictment reads of the latter charge, a felony. Although there are what seem like two counts against Baldwin, and the special prosecutors have two alternative standards, the New Mexico jury will only have to return one verdict on one count. Since being recharged earlier this year, Baldwin is not permitted to drink alcohol or possess a firearm by court order. Did Baldwin Pull The Trigger? Oddly, there is no known video footage of the accident from the more than a dozen people who were in the Rust church location at the time. To this day, some also dispute as to who said what to whom about the gun. A seasoned action movie veteran, Baldwin has always insisted that while he cocked the hammer, he did not pull the trigger and the gun somehow went off on its own. Although the firearm is in admittedly in less than stellar condition now, the FBI and independent forensic investigators say there is no way the gun could have fired without the trigger being pulled. Baldwins contention that he never pulled the trigger, and the states differing stance, is expected to be one of the major elements of the trial. Also, even with on-set gun safety rules, the defense is adamant that an actor like Baldwin is not responsible for checking a firearm during filming a stance SAG-AFTRA supports. How Did Live Bullets Get On The Rust Set? The short answer is nobody really knows. Special prosecutors laid the blame for the live round being on the Rust set on armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in her trial this spring. Yet no one has provided a comprehensive description of how the live round got on the set, where there had been a series of unintended weapons discharges before the fatal shooting of Hutchins, and instances of crew members leaving over money and safety. Painting a larger portrait of what went down, a 2022 report by the Occupational Health & Safety Bureaus New Mexico office determined that Gutierrez-Reed was not provided time to conduct her duties to the best of her diligence and required to focus on other tasks like working in the props department. Placing the responsibility for the shooting on Rust producers, OSHA handed out a civil penalty in April 2022 to Rust Productions for $136,793, one of the largest such penalties ever levied by the organization. That penalty was reduced to $100,000 early last year after a protest from the producers. In pre-trial motions in July, introduction of the OSHA findings were deemed to be limited in Baldwins trial. Could Alec Baldwin Go To Jail? He could indeed. Baldwin is up against a New Mexico prison sentence of a maximum of 18 months and around $5,000 in fines if found guilty. Of course, if convicted, expect Baldwin to appeal right away. How Can I Watch The Trial? Starting on July 10, Court TV cameras will be inside the Santa Fe County District Courthouse filming the trial live online and on TV. The cable networks said overage will run from the trials start to finish, once a jury is seated. As is often the case with high-profile trials like this, the feed will be offered to an array of other outlets and cabler newsers. Jury selection will not be filmed or livestreamed. In advance of the trials formal start, Court TV produced the 45-minute documentary The Case Against Alec Baldwin. The highly charged film features 9-1-1 calls on the day of the shooting and footage of Rust and the immediate horrific consequences that day in October 2021. How Long Will The Trial Last? The State v. Alexander Rae Baldwin trial is set to start at 8:30 a.m. MST on July 9 with jury selection. Nearly 80 people make up the pool of potential jurors that has to be whittled to 12, plus alternates. Unless there is an unanticipated delay, opening statements will begin July 10. Pledging to keep prosecutors and defense lawyers on a tight schedule, Sommer has the trial ending July 19. How long after that the jury deliberates is anyones guess. As a potential guide, the jury of seven women and five men in Gutierrez-Reeds trial were behind closed doors for only about 2 1/2 hours before coming back with a verdict: guilty on the armorers involuntary manslaughter charge and not guilty of tampering with evidence. Why Has This Taken So Long To Go To Trial? No matter how much Law & Order you may have seen, justice moves slowly in real life and in constantly backed up courts. Even more so when fame and money are involved because this is America. Spending valuable time trying to gain access to Baldwins smartphone and hitting other roadblocks, the Santa Fe Sheriffs Department took more than a year to conclude its probe on what happened on the Rust set. Then-District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies took three months to charge Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed in January 2023. The Baldwin case quickly fell apart due to incompetence, unconstitutional charges, a politically compromised special prosecutor, new special prosecutors being brought on board and the DA moved off the case. Morrisey and then-fellow special prosecutor Jason Lewis dropped the charges against Baldwin in the spring of 2023 but made it clear they would probably be recharging him. Amid a number of civil cases in California and New Mexico filed against Baldwin and Rust producers, a new grand jury was empaneled in New Mexico in late 2023, and a new indictment was handed down against the now 66-year-old Baldwin on January 19, 2024. In another twist, prosecutors offered Baldwin a pretty sweet plea deal this year, but that fell apart based on claims of witnesses being strong-armed by the defendant for a documentary project on the case. The wheels of justice also moved a bit slower through this year as various defense moves to dismiss the case were before the courts. Itself delayed, Gutierrez-Reeds trial was also held before Baldwins in front of the same judge as will be overseeing the 30 Rock stars case. Will Baldwin Testify? Its unclear if Baldwin will testify in his own defense. That decision could depend in no small part on how the trial is going when the defense begins to put on its case next week. The state has listed Souza on their witness list, as well as Rust crew members Ross Addiego and Zac Sneesby, who both were on the church set when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Souza. Assistant director Halls, who made a plea deal for immunity with prosecutors, did some probation and testified at Gutierrez-Reeds trial, is also on the prosecutions witness list. Gutierrez-Reed is also on the states witness list, for all the good it will do them. The ex-armorer invoked her Fifth Amendment rights repeatedly during a pre-trial interview for the Baldwin case, and her lawyer Jason Bowles has said his client doesnt want to be cooperative in this case. Late last month, Judge Sommer rejected the prosecutions motion to have Gutierrez-Reed be a witness with immunity in the trial. What Could Donald Trump Have To Do With This? Donald Trump may be in the midst of the Republican National Convention next week, but it wouldnt be that much of a surprise if he weighs in on Baldwins trial. Ever since Baldwin consistently skewered Trump by impersonating him on Saturday Night Live the past decade, the actor has been one of the ex-Celebrity Apprentice hosts targets. Trump, now a convicted felon, may not want to miss an opportunity to compare his status to Baldwins. Shortly after the Rust shooting, Trump made suppositions about what happened, telling a radio host in 2021 that Baldwin is a cuckoo-bird. Hes a nutjob. And usually, when theres somebody like that, you know, in my opinion, he had something to do with it. Trumps animosity toward Baldwin was so great that, even during his presidency, he would tweet about SNL and the actors appearances, clearly irked by the portrayal. But Baldwin has been unabashed in stating his political views, drawing fire from the right long before Trumps rise. Baldwin briefly hosted an MSNBC talk show and, in the 1990s, was a prominent member of the Creative Coalition. He also had floated running for political office, including a bid for mayor of New York. Why Hasnt The Finished Rust Movie Been Released? Resurrected in early 2023 with a new cinematographer and armorer and filming in Montana with Baldwin and Souza and most of the original cast, the finished Rust has been shopped around at film festivals. However, likely because of the controversy attached and Baldwins unresolved legal situation, the film hasnt found a distributor domestically or internationally. Ted Johnson contributed to this report Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By Andrew Hay SANTA FE, New Mexico (Reuters) -The inner workings of a Colt .45 "Peacemaker" revolver, a symbol of the American Wild West, have become the focus of Alec Baldwin's trial for the 2021 fatal shooting of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a New Mexico movie set. Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin were among those watching in a Santa Fe, New Mexico courtroom on Tuesday as 12 jurors and four alternates - 11 women and 5 men- were chosen. The trial will start on Wednesday, nearly three years after Baldwin pointed his gun at Hutchins as she set up a camera shot inside a movie-set church about 20 miles southwest of Santa Fe. Prosecutors questioned prospective jurors on their knowledge of the case and a defense lawyer asked them if they had seen Baldwin's performances and if that might influence their opinion of the actor. "There's a man who's sitting here who has his day in court now, finally, Alec Baldwin, and so he's obviously not just a person in the media, he's a real person," Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro told potential jurors. Hutchin's 2021 death was Hollywood's first on-set shooting fatality in three decades and momentarily sparked calls to end the widespread use of real firearms on movie sets. It is remarkable in that there is little or no precedent in U.S. history for an actor to face criminal prosecution for an on-set shooting death. The "30 Rock" actor could be imprisoned for up to 18 months if found guilty. In March, "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez, the set employee in charge of firearm safety, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a Santa Fe, New Mexico, jury for mistakenly loading a live round into Baldwin's gun. Gutierrez received the maximum 18-month sentence. Legal analysts and firearms specialists had long expected Baldwin's case to hinge on whether he should have inspected the gun after he was told it was "cold," an industry term meaning it was empty or contained inert, dummy rounds. But in a pivotal interview in December 2021, Baldwin told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos he did not pull the trigger. Baldwin, 66, said he cocked the reproduction 1873 Single Action Army pistol before it fired a live round that killed the rising-star cinematographer and wounded director Joel Souza. Santa Fe police set out to test Baldwin's claims. An FBI examination found the gun worked normally and would not fire at full cock without the trigger pulled. State prosecutors filed charges thereafter, alleging Baldwin was lying about the trigger. Baldwin's legal team last year countered with photographic evidence the Italian-made Pietta gun's full-cock notch had been filed down, making it easier to fire. That allowed a mechanical failure or "accidental discharge" without a trigger pull, they said. UPHILL BATTLE Whether the revolver was modified, legal experts see an uphill battle for the prosecution to prove Baldwin knew he could kill Hutchins but showed willful disregard to the risk - a level of criminal negligence required for an involuntary manslaughter conviction. "The gun is probably the best defense, because there is no way to definitively say what the condition of the firearm was," said gun historian Ashley Hlebinsky who is executive director of the University of Wyoming Firearms Research Center. Prosecutors last year dropped charges, convinced the gun was modified. Prosecutors went to a grand jury that reinstated charges in January after an independent firearms expert confirmed findings of the FBI examination. The FBI destroyed the gun during testing. The actor's lawyers said that left them with no way to prove it was modified. Baldwin's best defense may be doubts his lawyers can sow about the workings of the pistol, according to Hlebinsky. "I don't think anyone can say 100% what happened," said the firearms historian, who has acted as an expert in court cases on single action Colt. 45 type revolvers similar to Baldwin's. (Reporting By Andrew Hay; Editing by Donna Bryson, Aurora Ellis and Chizu Nomiyama) I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, where my dad worked as a city bus driver to give my sisters and me a chance at the American Dream, said Juan Ciscomani, the first Mexican immigrant elected to the House of Representatives for Arizonas sixth district, during the Republican response to President Joe Bidens State of the Union speech at the beginning of 2023. He showed his children the value of hard work and taught us to love our country, continued Ciscomani, in reference to his father. He also taught us that with determination and hard work, there are no limits in this great nation. It was a crowning moment for Ciscomani, who was born in Hermosillo, Mexico. It put the newcomer to Washington on the national stage, and was also an open declaration of intent. The politician began his speech in Spanish and took a stand against the Biden administration, sending a clear message to the Latino voters who, like him, disagrees with the Democrat. In the seven minutes and forty-six seconds that his speech lasted, Ciscomani took the opportunity to unleash a tirade against the Democratic Party. President Biden wants to tell you that everything is great, but why arent people feeling great? The American dream feels more unattainable, and sadly, President Biden fails to show leadership and present any viable solution, he said, referring to the management of the economy and the performance of the White House in controlling the southern border. Since his arrival at the Capitol in 2022, Ciscomani has become the representative of the most conservative Latino voice in the United States. On the issue of immigration one of the key concerns for the Latino community the Mexican-American has positioned himself firmly against irregular arrivals. In fact, he has previously advocated for the National Guard to be deployed in Arizona to stop the flow of migrants from Mexico and called for work on the wall on the southern border which began during Donald Trumps presidency to be finished. The congressman has strongly supported Trump ahead of the presidential elections in November. The president is going to come in with a different energy than the first time. He knows what hes getting into, he knows the systems, he knows the attacks he will face [...] All kinds of attacks are coming, but he will be prepared and will act immediately, he said about the former president in an interview with Telemundo. Its therefore perhaps no surprise that Ciscomani has been accused of associating with a far-right group. The revelation came ahead of the Arizona Republican primaries that will take place in July, in which Ciscomani is seeking re-election. All signs indicate that he will win the primary and likely compete against Democrat Kirsten Engel in the November 5 vote. It was the Engel campaign that revealed in a video that Ciscomani has links to the Patriot Academy, a far-right group also known as The Torch of Freedom, which opposes the separation of church and state, seeks to rewrite the Constitution to turn the U.S. into a Christian nation and denies climate change. I can wholeheartedly say that nothing in my life has given me a clearer direction for my life than Patriot Academy, the congressman wrote in an article on the Patriot Academys website. Engels campaign argues that not only did Ciscomani serve on the Patriot Academy board of directors from 2007 to January 2021, but that he also brought the group to Arizona and supported teaching young students that the United States is on the brink of Godless communism. The organization provides political training classes on the biblical values of the Constitution, offers mock legislative sessions and constitutional defense courses, and trains adults and children in the use of firearms for the defense of Christian nationalism. These include firearms tactics classes, rifle and shotgun courses and, in some cases, bow and arrow courses. Ciscomani has not yet responded to Engels allegations or the evidence that links him to the organization, but he has previously spoken at length about how his religious beliefs affect his opinions on issues such as abortion or same-sex marriage. My mom has been the pillar of faith in our family. Always praying and reminding us that with faith, anything is possible, he said during the Republican response to the State of the Union address. According to his re-election website, the congressman is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother. His state, Arizona, has one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the United States. This regulation prohibits abortion even in cases of rape or incest, does not take into account pregnancy complications, and only makes exceptions for when the mothers life is in danger or at risk of significant harm. A meteoric rise to Washington Ciscomani who is married, with six children and has a degree from the University of Arizona is a politician who is seen wearing suits with sneakers on social media, as part of an effort to distance himself from the old-fashioned image of Washington politicians. His beginnings as a public servant date back to 2015, when on the orders of former Arizona governor Doug Ducey, he was appointed director of the southern office of the state, with seven counties under his charge. Subsequently, he was a senior advisor in Duceys office and headed the Arizona-Sonora Commission, which promotes trade between Mexico and the United States. In 2022, at 41 years old, he won the Republican nomination in the primaries to compete for the seat in Arizonas sixth congressional district. He won the position in parliament in the November 8 elections by a difference of just over 5,000 votes. Kirsten Engel, his rival then and probably again this year, won 171,969 votes (49.2%), while he secured 177,201 (50.7%). During his first 100 days in office, Ciscomani participated in 59 approved bills, sent another five to the White House, of which three became law, according to the Univision network. He was also the first newcomer to be appointed to the House Committee on Appropriations, and to be a member of the bipartisan Citizens Advisory Council, made up of a Republican, a Democrat and an independent. No side is going to get everything it wants [...] Within the Republican Party itself, there are different opinions on how to reach certain points, he said during an interview with the conservative media Americano Media. Regarding key issues for the Latino community such as the economy and immigration, he is in favor of social security and Medicare coverage, but is very critical of the Biden administrations decision to end Title 42, calling it a terrible move. He also loudly opposed statements made by Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), Cuban-American Alejandro Mayorkas, who said that the United States has between 10 and 11 million job vacancies for people fleeing poverty. They send this type of message, saying come and do it in a dangerous and illegal way. Thats the problem [...] Are there vacancies? Of course there are. Our migrant community are very good workers at any level, from engineers to service employees. Of course there is a formula there, but there is a process to do that, he told Univision. Ciscomani also spoke to the media about the need to invest in infrastructure and technology to prevent drug trafficking and human trafficking at the border. He said that fentanyl overdose was the leading cause of death of young people in the sixth district of Arizona, surpassing car accidents. The Republican Party, however, opposed not once, but twice, the bipartisan border agreement in Congress that sought to reform U.S. immigration laws in the country and would have provided $20 billion in funding for border control. The party instead heeded Trumps calls to block the initiative. This discourse, centered on an anti-migrant, anti-abortion and anti-LGBT+ rights message, has been gaining strength among Latino voters. Our community is conservative, with family and work values, Ciscomani told the media. A new survey by CBS News and YouGov found that 53% of Latinos surveyed are in favor of a mass deportation of undocumented migrants. Ciscomani is just one among millions. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition On October 21, 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a live round discharged from a prop gun on the set of the indie Western film Rust. The man holding the gun: Alec Baldwin. For the last three years, the ins and outs of what went wrong on that day have consumed Hollywood. Few, though, imagined it might get this far, with Alec Baldwin set to stand trial in New Mexico on a charge of involuntary manslaughter that could land him in prison. More from IndieWire Jury selection began Tuesday, July 9, with Baldwin already in attendance in court following a pre-trial hearing on Monday that even handed Baldwins legal team an early victory (more on that later). Well be updating this space with some of the most notable updates from the trial, which will be streaming live starting tomorrow via CourtTV and Law & Crime Network on YouTube. But how did we get here, what is the prosecutions case, and whats at stake for Baldwin? Heres everything you need to know: Jury Sent Home In a surprise revelation on the second full day of the trial, Judge Mary Marlow Sommers has sent home the jury in Baldwins Rust case after Baldwins defense team has filed a new motion to dismiss the case. The dismissal comes after Baldwins attorney Alex Spiro in a cross examination of a witness said new ballistics evidence emerged after armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reeds trial ended, in which a so-called good Samaritan came forward claiming to have turned in ammunition that came from the same source as the bullet that killed Hutchins. Spiro said this evidence had not been shared with the defense prior to the trial. Spiro asked crime scene technician Marissa Poppell on the witness stand about a new theory, that He told you you had been duped by Seth Kenney, didnt he? Prosecutor Kari Morrissey objected before the witness could answer, and upon cross examination, tried to downplay the theory Spiro introduced. The good Samaritan was revealed to be Troy Teske, a former Arizona police officer who is also a friend of Thell Reed, Gutierrez-Reeds father. Spiros reference about Seth Kenney, the supplier for the films ammunition, is key to the cases question about how live ammunition got brought onto the Rust set. Prosecution has maintained that Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for bringing the live round, but the evidence calls this into question. The jury has been dismissed for the weekend as the judge mulls the new request, and court will resume on Monday. Opening Statements Prosecution in its opening remarks said Alec Baldwin played make-believe with a real life gun in a real life work place, and when that violates the cardinal rules of firearm safety, someone can be killed. Erlinda Johnson, one of the prosecutors for New Mexico, said this case is simple and straightforward, making the case that Baldwin did not do a safety check on the gun, that he pointed the gun, cocked the hammer, and put his hand on the trigger when he was not supposed to be or was not directed to, and he pointed the gun at Hutchins in reckless disregard for her life. Alex Spiro, Baldwins lawyer, however in the defenses own opening remarks countered that these cardinal rules of gun safety are not cardinal rules on movie sets. He said that real bullets are never supposed to be on movie sets, and the jury would hear no evidence that Baldwin had anything to do with bringing that live round on set. He clarified what a cold gun is, even giving some Hollywood history while name-checking movies like Apocalypse Now and Spartacus, and why its the prosecutions responsibility to prove that this accident was foreseeable. But because a live round was never supposed to be there, the armorer was never supposed to load one into the gun, and because the safety check had not been performed by the assistant director who was responsible, it was anything but foreseeable. The defense also played a clip of a scene from Rust in which you could see Baldwin safely rehearsing, they played a clip of the 911 call in which the script supervisor blamed the fucking AD Dave Halls, not Baldwin, for the accident, and they noted that it is not in SAG-AFTRA guidelines for actors to check the gun. Most crucially, they made the case that Baldwin did not intentionally pull the trigger, and they argued that the test law enforcement did to prove Baldwin must have pulled the trigger made no sense. What Is Alec Baldwin Charged With? Baldwin is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of Hutchins on the Rust set. If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison, per New Mexico law. The New Mexico District Attorney first brought involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin on January 19, 2023. At the time, he faced up to five years in prison, but due to a legal error by the DA and special prosecutors, the charges were forced to be downgraded and then dropped. Baldwin originally faced a charge that involved a firearm enhancement, but the law he was accused of breaking did not take effect until seven months after the Rust shooting took place, and it was determined he could not be charged retroactively. But exactly a year later to the date, a new involuntary manslaughter charge was brought against Baldwin again, with prosecutors saying they had uncovered new evidence around safety standards on set, as well as footage of Baldwin on set and firing prop guns containing blanks during other scenes. Despite months and multiple attempts by Baldwins attorneys to get the case thrown out, his day in court has finally arrived. The Rust set Getty Images What Went Wrong on the Rust Set? While rehearsing a scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico in which Baldwin would quickly draw his gun and was instructed by Hutchins to aim it at the camera, the gun discharged and struck Hutchins and Rust director Joel Souza. Baldwin was told by the films assistant director it was a cold gun, meaning it was safe, but it was later found that the gun was not checked properly and ultimately contained a live round that resulted in the death of Hutchins. So much of the Rust investigation hinged on how a live round wound up on a film set where live bullets are generally forbidden. Earlier in the film shoot, it was found that there had been other accidental firearm discharges, some crew members were doing target practice, and evidence was revealed in the trial against Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed that she brought with her a loose bag full of rounds from her previous job. The accident was the culmination of a series of missteps and cut corners on the Rust production. Crew members earlier in the day on October 21 walked off set in protest of what they felt were lax safety and working conditions. Gutierrez-Reed was pulling double duty as both the films armorer and prop master, and she later told prosecutors that she only checked dummy rounds most of the time. Since then, the exact incidents have led to numerous civil suits filed by former crew members and endless scrutiny from Hollywood. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed looks over at her mom Stacy Reed as she is taken into custody after the guilty verdict during her trial at district court on Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2024 Getty Images What Happened to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed? Gutierrez-Reed, the daughter of legendary armorer and gunman Thell Reed, was sentenced to the maximum of 18 months in prison back on April 15. Gutierrez-Reed in a trial in March was convicted on the same involuntary manslaughter charge Baldwin faces, with prosecutors labeling her work as sloppy and unprofessional, and with her failure to perform her job resulting in the accidental death of Hutchins. Rust was just the second production Gutierrez-Reed, 24, had ever worked on, and a series of texts and videos presented as evidence in which she failed to identify the round that killed Hutchins as a live round rather than a dummy proved damning in court. Prosecutors in Baldwins case have sought to have Gutierrez-Reed testify against Baldwin, but her own lawyers have already made clear that she wont take the stand. And a judge already denied the prosecutions request to grant Gutierrez-Reed use immunity that would protect her from further incriminating herself based on what she said on the witness stand. What Is the Prosecutions Case Against Baldwin? In an interview with ABC News after the Rust accident, Baldwin was adamant that he did not pull the trigger of the gun when it discharged. Whether or not he did will be key to the prosecutions case, and investigators were convinced to charge him again after forensics on the gun proved Baldwin must have pulled the trigger for it to have properly fired. If prosecutors can convince a jury that he did in fact pull the trigger, they hope to convince them that Baldwin was reckless in doing so and pointing a gun, even one he thought to be cold, at another person. Other evidence had emerged in which Baldwin was allegedly distracted on his cell phone during the required gun safety training. Gutierrez-Reeds lawyers pointed the finger at Baldwin to say that she had requested additional safety training time but was denied. Baldwin, being a co-producer on the film, has denied having responsibility for some of the lax safety or hiring decisions, including Gutierrez-Reed, but in civil suits he has faced the brunt of accusations as being culpable for why the Rust set was so chaotic. Jurors in this trial however wont hear such evidence. In a pre-trial hearing on Monday, Judge Mary Marlow Sommer declared that anything involving Baldwin as a producer could not be brought as evidence. Rust prosecutor and New Mexico District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies Getty Images Im having real difficulty with the states position that they want to show that as a producer he didnt follow guidelines and therefore as an actor Mr. Baldwin did all of these things wrong that resulted in the death of Ms. Hutchins because as a producer he allowed these things to happen, the judge said. Its a victory for Baldwin that could make a conviction that much more difficult. A former federal prosecutor already told IndieWire that Baldwin has an advantage given the earlier trial against Gutierrez-Reed. His legal team already has a preview of the evidence that will be used against him, and prosecution has already proven that someone else was responsible for Hutchins death. Its unclear if Baldwin will take the witness stand in his own defense, but the former federal prosecutor said it was likely. Will Rust Ever Be Released? Production on Rust resumed and was completed in spring 2023, this time shooting in Montana rather than New Mexico. The film needed to be completed for contractual reasons as part of a settlement with Hutchins widow in the hopes that proceeds from the film could go to a fund established for Hutchins son. But though Rust has been shopped at film festivals, a distributor has not emerged, likely fearing controversy around the film or the uncertainty of Baldwins own trial, and it has no release plans or release date. Baldwins trial is expected to last until July 19. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. UPDATE 4:00 p.m. PDT: Alec Baldwins Rust trial took its first steps on Tuesday afternoon as 12 jurors and four alternates were selected and sworn in. Overseen by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in her Santa Fe County courtroom, the New Mexico residents were comprised of 11 women and five men. Opening statements in the actors involuntary manslaughter trial for the killing of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were set to begin Wednesday. UPDATE 9:30 a.m. PDT: Jury selection got underway Tuesday morning in the manslaughter trial of Alec Baldwin, who faces up to 18 months in a New Mexico prison if convicted. Baldwin was in court, along with his brother Billy and wife Hilaria. Cameras were not permitted in the courtroom during jury selection, which was expected to take most of Tuesday. Opening arguments could begin as soon as Wednesday. EARLIER: When Alec Baldwins manslaughter trial begins Tuesday, hell be armed with top-gun defense lawyers, the power of his outsized celebrity and a possible scapegoat: Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the Rust armorer already serving time in a New Mexico prison for the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. But Baldwins path to avoiding a similar fate Gutierrez-Reed was hauled off by deputies just minutes after her March 6 guilty verdict was read before a shocked courtroom is precarious and narrow, legal experts have told TheWrap. Especially since Baldwin was the one holding the gun. The infamous October 2021 incident on the low-budget Western near Santa Fe netted Gutierrez-Reeds conviction, as well as a guilty plea on a misdemeanor negligence charge from assistant director David Halls. Baldwin, as the last crew member to face criminal justice for the Rust disaster, also has the advantage of having seen the lions share of the states evidence already. And on Monday, the judge overseeing the case gave Baldwin a small legal victory when she declared that prosecutors could not present evidence of his role as co-producer. The state had intended to argue that in that position, Baldwin failed as overseer of set safety, beyond just recklessly pointing guns as an actor. But thats where Baldwins advantages seem to run out. Never-before-seen set footage presented as evidence during the Gutierrez-Reed trial showed clip after clip of Baldwins cavalier handling of weapons, including barking orders at his crew to hastily reload, and another where he uses a gun as a pointing stick to move cast and crew around. And the jury can also see the outcomes for Halls and Gutierrez-Reed as a foundation for the idea that this was more than just a tragic accident, legal experts say. Since the incident well over two years ago, Baldwin has been free on bail and has not shied from the spotlight. He told ABC News George Stephanopoulos in a tearful interview just weeks later that he didnt pull the trigger, has maintained that position and his innocence ever since. And Baldwin and wife Hilaria, who share seven children, announced last month that they will debut a new reality series, The Baldwins, on TLC sometime in 2025. Jury selection was slated to begin Tuesday, with the trial expected to last two weeks or more. Baldwin, expected in the courtroom daily, faces up to 18 months in jail with possible fines; he also faces multiple civil cases in California and New Mexico. The post Alec Baldwin Rust Trial Locks New Mexico Jury, Sets Opening Statements for Wednesday appeared first on TheWrap. Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in actor Alec Baldwins manslaughter trial nearly three years after the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a Western movie set in New Mexico. The Departed actor arrived at the Santa Fe courthouse early Tuesday morning, dressed in a dark grey suit and thick-rimmed black glasses, carrying a yellow legal pad. Baldwin, 66, has pleaded not guilty and maintained that hes not criminally responsible for unwittingly discharging a live bullet in the prop revolver he was using on set in October 2021. Movie guns are typically loaded with secure blanks for filming, as live ammunition is prohibited on film sets. Baldwin, the lead actor in Rust and a co-producer of the film, was rehearsing a scene when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. He claims he pulled back the hammer not the trigger when the gun fired. He is charged with causing Hutchinss death while in the commission of negligent use of a firearm or by an act committed with the total disregard or indifference for the safety of others, and the act was such that an ordinary person would anticipate that death might occur under the circumstances. If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison. The trial is scheduled to last 10 days, with opening remarks coming after a jury is seated. It is expected to be a rare star-studded and media-grabbing scene for normally low-key Santa Fe, potentially putting jurors in an unusual spotlight. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the 27-year-old movie weapons armorer for the film, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in prison, after prosecutors argued she brought live ammunition onto the set despite rules against it and failed to follow gun safety protocols that could have prevented the shooting. Gutierrez-Reed is appealing the conviction. Baldwins role as a producer wont be a factor in the trial, a judge ruled earlier this week. Baldwin, 66, has been a household name for decades, with credits including the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October, 1996s Ghosts of Mississippi and the animated Boss Baby films. He notably lampooned former President Trump in comedy sketches on Saturday Night Live nearly four dozen times in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, into the Trump presidency and through the 2020 election. The former president wasnt a fan. Alec Baldwin, whose dying mediocre career was saved by his terrible impersonation of me on SNL, now says playing me was agony, Trump tweeted in 2018. Alec, it was agony for those who were forced to watch. After the Rust shooting, Trump revived the grudge when he baselessly claimed during a radio interview that Hutchins death may have been intentional. Baldwin released a statement the day after the shooting, expressing his shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident. Im fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with [Hutchens] husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna, Baldwin said at the time. Law enforcement released a video taken in the immediate aftermath of the shooting that showed a frantic Baldwin on the phone. You have no idea how unbelievable this is and how strange this is, Baldwin can be heard saying. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial is set to begin Wednesday after prosecutors and defense attorneys spent hours quizzing dozens of potential jurors before picking the panel that will ultimately decide the actor's fate. Tuesday evening, 12 jurors and four alternates were seated after a day of questioning at the Santa Fe County District Courthouse. Eleven women and five men make up the jury. Baldwin, who was indicted by a grand jury in January, has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge stemming from the Oct. 21, 2021, accidental shooting during the filming of the western movie "Rust." The film's 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died that day from the gunshot wound. On Tuesday, the 66-year-old actor-producer sat attentively at the defense table, frequently making notes on a paper pad. He was flanked by members of his legal team who, along with prosecutors, faced a large pool of potential jurors. Baldwin's wife, Hilaria, and his brother Stephen Baldwin sat in a back row of the courtroom. Read more: Full coverage: The fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set The eight-day trial will be broadcast live by Court TV. The stakes are high. If found guilty, Baldwin could spend up to 18 months in prison. The outcome could also weigh heavily on his career. Baldwin has said that he has lost acting roles since the tragedy. Baldwin did not realize the gun he was holding during a rehearsal contained live ammunition. Tuesday's session began with 70 potential jurors ushered into an assembly room. First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer opened the session by swearing in the panel. She described the involuntary manslaughter charge against the defendant as a "negligent use of a firearm." Jurors were asked if they were familiar with the case. All but three raised their hands. Read more: Key question at Alec Baldwin's criminal trial: Is he to blame for Halyna Hutchins' death? Special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey, who has spearheaded the case on behalf of the local district attorney, wanted to know whether jurors worked in the film industry, had "strong feelings about firearms" or possessed a concealed weapons permit. She asked for them to self-evaluate whether they could be fair and impartial. Baldwin's attorney, Alex Spiro, asked if it would be difficult for jurors to make decisions without sympathy for the case's tragic elements. He also wanted to know whether any potential juror "had an issue" with people who relied on experts. The actor has said he was not responsible for Hutchins' death. He maintains that he was relying on the on-set professionals who were in charge of safety, including the film's weapons expert Hannah Gutierrez and assistant director David Halls. Gutierrez, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March, loaded the gun the day Hutchins died. Halls accepted a plea deal, in which he pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon. He was sentence to a suspended six-month sentence of probation. Several prospective jurors pushed back on Spiro's thesis, saying that gun users needed to check their own weapons. One man strenuously rejected the concept of relying on experts. "It doesn't take a brain scientist to make sure a gun is real and loaded," he said. A few minutes later, another juror said he was always taught to "treat any gun, real or fake, as a loaded gun." Read more: Alec Baldwin is on trial for 'Rust' shooting: How did we get here? Experts predict the eight-day trial could be the most-publicized criminal prosecution in New Mexicos 112-year history. More than 40 journalists from television networks and news outlets across the country packed another courtroom on Tuesday to monitor the jury selection, via closed-circuit TV. On Monday, the judge ruled that prosecutors could not make an issue during the trial of Baldwin's dual role as a producer on the film. Prosecutors wanted to assert that he was partially responsible for maintaining a safe work environment and that he should have recognized the armorer was struggling with her duties overseeing the guns. Production of the movie finished in Montana last year, but Rust doesnt have a release date. Producers have said they hope to debut "Rust" at a major film festival but, for now, the criminal proceedings have clouded its prospects. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Canadian short story author Alice Munro died in May at age 92. Now her daughter is coming forward with a family secret. (Chad Hipolito / The Canadian Press) Canadian author Alice Munro established a celebrated and award-winning career with her short stories. However, more than a month after Munro's death, her estranged daughter says that the writer failed to acknowledge one key narrative: Her second husband was a child sex abuser. Andrea Robin Skinner, one of Munro's three daughters with ex-husband James Munro, revealed in an opinion column for the Toronto Star published Sunday that she was sexually abused by her stepfather, Gerald Fremlin. Skinner also alleged that her mother stayed quiet and remained married to Fremlin, despite knowing about the abuse. "She was adamant that whatever had happened was between me and my stepfather. It had nothing to do with her," Skinner wrote. Read more: Alice Munro, acclaimed short-story writer and Nobel Prize winner, dies at 92 In the column, Skinner said that Fremlin assaulted her when she was 9 years old in 1976, the same year Munro married the geographer. Skinner said the abuse occurred at the author's home in Clinton, Ontario, when her mother was out and she was left alone with Fremlin. When Skinner returned to her mother's Clinton home every summer as a child, Fremlin made "lewd jokes, exposed himself during car rides, told me about the little girls in the neighbourhood he liked and described my mother's sexual needs" when they were alone, she wrote. "At the time, I didn't know this was abuse." Fremlin allegedly also had exposed himself to a friend's 14-year-old daughter, but he denied those allegations. When she was 25, Skinner wrote a letter to her mother detailing the abuse she had experienced. Munro was not sympathetic, Skinner said. After briefly leaving Fremlin, Munro told Skinner of her husband's "friendships" with other children and said she "had been betrayed." Read more: Alice Munro, reviewed by L.A. Times: 'casually impeccable,' 'genius' "When I tried to tell her how her husband's abuse had hurt me, she was incredulous," Skinner wrote. After her revelation, Skinner said, Fremlin allegedly threatened her if she sought help from police, wrote letters to her family and blamed her for the abuse, describing her as a "homewrecker." Despite the threats, Munro reunited with Fremlin, Skinner said. Skinner said she finally brought her complaint to police when she was 38. Fremlin was charged in 2005 with "indecently assaulting" her in the summer of 1976. He pleaded guilty that same year and was sentenced to two years of probation, she said. He died in 2013. Skinner, who sought therapy so she could move forward from her abuse, said she went no-contact with her mother after the birth of her twins, and never reconciled with her. Read more: Alice Munro, Nobel winner and a writer's peerless teacher In 2013, Munro won the Nobel Prize in literature. The achievement followed decades of works, including "Lives of Girls and Women," "What Is Remembered" and "Dear Life," that garnered Munro praise from literary contemporaries including John Updike and Joyce Carol Oates. Skinner said she wanted her story of abuse to "become part of the stories people tell about my mother." "I never wanted to see another interview, biography or event that didn't wrestle with the reality of what had happened to me, and with the fact that my mother, confronted with the truth of what had happened, chose to stay with, and protect, my abuser," she wrote. "Unfortunately, that's not what happened. My mother's fame meant the silence continued." Skinner said she had informed several members of her family, including her siblings and her father, about the abuse. Now 57, Skinner said the "healing continues." She wrote about her work with an organization that supports survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Munro died May 13 at her home in Port Hope, Ontario. A cause of death was not revealed at the time. She was 92. Skinner wrote that she grieved the loss of her mother, and that "was an important part of my healing." Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Ilan Alhadeff, left, and Lori Alhadeff hold a picture of their daughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, and a copy of an Oklahoma law created in her name. Alyssa's Law requires all schools in the state to implement a mobile panic alert system. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the bill in a ceremony on Tuesday at the Oklahoma State Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY The memory of Alyssa Alhadeff will live on in Oklahoma law. The 14 year old, whom her parents described as a vivacious, energetic young lady, was killed in a 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Her parents, Ilan and Lori Alhadeff, say they hope a new state law created in Alyssas name will help prevent future tragedies. Gov. Kevin Stitt honored House Bill 4073, called Alyssas Law, in a ceremonial bill signing on Tuesday at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Alyssas Law requires all Oklahoma school districts to implement a mobile panic alert system to better transmit 911 calls and improve communication with first responders during an emergency. Ilan and Lori Alhadeff traveled from Florida to attend the ceremony. If the policy had been in place on the day of the Parkland shooting, Alyssa would be with us today, her father said. Carrying Alyssas law was critical for us because it really allows us to carry on her legacy, Ilan Alhadeff said. Her name should not go down in vain, and having Alyssas Law allows her name to be carried on and be spoken about time and time again. The alert system must provide floor plans, caller location and real-time updates to first responders during an emergency. It also must automatically alert designated school personnel of the emergency, either through a text message, phone call, smartphone application or another technology. Oklahoma is the seventh state to enact the law. New Jersey was the first in 2019. The Alhadeff family founded the nonprofit Make Our Schools Safe to bring Alyssas Law nationwide. Lori Alhadeff said it creates a standard level of school safety protection and ensures widespread notification of an emergency. Were hoping to continue across the country to pass this nationwide so that every parent can have the confidence to know that when they send their child to school that they will be safe and come home alive, she said. The Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killed 17 people, including 14 students, and wounded 17 others. The shooter has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. A review by the state of Florida found the law enforcement response to the shooting was unsatisfactory and was marred by flawed 911 and radio systems, along with poor notification within the school building that an active shooter emergency was taking place. Four Broward County Sheriffs Office deputies, including the school resource officer, were fired for failing to engage the shooter. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said he feels a very personal connection to the tragedy because he has family living in the Broward County school district. He said his niece and nephew were on the playground of their Parkland elementary school on the day of the shooting. Pugh was one of the lawmakers who brought Alyssas Law to Oklahoma, along with Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, and Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston. He said it creates a uniform rule for schools while granting them flexibility to choose which mobile alert system they prefer. It could be phone based, like an app, or a physical device installed in classrooms, he said. Some Oklahoma schools have started adopting similar alert systems, such as the Rave Panic Button. The ultimate goal is to prevent (these incidents), but in the case where these events do happen, we need to be able to respond appropriately so that we minimize, if not completely neutralize, any sort of casualties or negative effects that these events would have on human life, Pugh said after the bill signing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Ammo vending machines now installed at some US grocery stores Ammo vending machines now installed at some US grocery stores **Find out more about Ohios concealed carry law in the related video above** (WJW) One company is working to make it even easier for people to procure ammunition for their firearms. American Rounds is bringing 24/7 vending machines stocked with ammunition to grocery stores in the United States, ensuring you can buy ammunition on your own schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines, according to the companys website. A beacon of hope: Cleveland officer Jamieson Ritter remembered So far the vending machines which require a buyer to show an ID and be at least 21 years old have already been placed in multiple grocery stores across Alabama and Oklahoma and Texas. The company explained their kiosks use a facial recognition software that verifies a person is who they say. Grant Magers, chief executive officer of American Rounds, told KOCO in Oklahoma that based on state requirements, the company does keep data on customer transactions, although they do not share the information. The kiosks sell a variety of rounds and, there is reportedly no limit on the amount one can purchase at a time. Be SMART: Where to get free gun locks in Ohio The company is looking to expand its vending machines to other states. Ohio does not have any at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Amtrak's new route running between St. Paul and Chicago is right on track to meet ridership expectations, and in its early days turned a profit, a rarity for the company providing intercity passenger rail service. More than 18,500 passengers have hopped on the Borealis since its maiden voyage May 21, a monthly figure on par with the projected 232,000 riders expected to use the service in its first year. "The number of rides in the first month clearly demonstrates the need for this route," said Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. "We are optimistic numbers will remain strong and the Borealis service will continue to provide a safe, sustainable and accessible transportation option." Borealis trains depart Union Depot at 11:50 a.m. seven days a week and stop in Red Wing and Winona in Minnesota before making multiple stops in Wisconsin on its way to Chicago's Union Station. Trips take about 7 hours. Return trips depart the Windy City at 11:05 a.m. and arrive in St. Paul at 6:29 p.m. Westbound trips out of Chicago saw slightly higher ridership with an average of 330 riders while eastbound trips carried about 288 passengers, according to Amtrak. Officials say the Twin Cities-to-Milwaukee-to-Chicago route has high potential and could see even more passengers as the service matures. The line also serves several markets with colleges and universities, which could also attract students this fall, said Ray Lang, Amtrak's vice president of state-supported services. "The ridership numbers we have seen so far confirm our belief and we expect this trend to continue as the service matures and we head into the peak summer travel season," he said. Amtrak is enjoying a new wave of popularity after suffering a severe downturn during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The rail service experienced record ridership in May and is on pace to see record yearly ridership, which was 32.3 million in 2019, Amtrak's CEO Stephen Gardner told the U.S. House Transportation Committee last month. The Empire Builder, the other Amtrak route serving the Twin Cities, saw a 15% ridership growth from fiscal year 2022 to 2023. The train running from Chicago to the Twin Cities to Fargo-Moorhead and then to the Pacific Northwest cities of Portland and Seattle saw ridership rise from 303,500 to nearly 349,000 from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, Amtrak figures show. Borealis operates under a contract Amtrak has with the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In its first 11 days, more than 6,600 travelers rode the line, according to the railroad's Monthly Performance Report through the end of May. The document also showed Borealis took in $600,000 in revenue and spent $500,000 on operations. The $100,000 profit made Borealis one of only two state-sponsored lines to operate in the black, the report showed. Amtrak has 30 state-sponsored lines. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Residents in Dona Ana County can now report non-emergency incidents online at the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authoritys (MVRDA) website. The MVDRA announced the launch of the new online reporting system on Tuesday, July 9, to offer residents a user-friendly, convenient and efficient way to report non-emergencies and request law enforcement, animal control or code enforcement response, according to the MVDRA in a news release. Residents are encouraged to visit the website to access the reporting platform and learn more about the types of incidents they can report on, the MVDRA said. We are excited to offer this new service to our community, said MVRDA Executive Director Jennifer Gorham. The online reporting system is part of our ongoing commitment to improve accessibility and efficiency in our operations. It allows us to better serve the public by providing a convenient option for non-emergency reporting, which in turn helps us allocate our resources more effectively. Key features that the MVDRA highlights about the platform are the following: 24/7 Accessibility: report non-emergencies any time, anywhere. User-friendly interface: easy-to-navigate platform for quick and simple reporting. Immediate confirmation: receive instant confirmation number upon submission. The MVDRA says the following type of incidents can be reported through the website, but are not limited to: Lost property Vandalism Minor theft Animal complaints Illegal dumping Other non-emergencies not in progress For emergencies or incidents requiring immediate law enforcement, fire or medical response, residents should call 911. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Double-digit rate hikes, billing mistakes and shoddy customer service have ignited ratepayer movements across the state calling for the public takeover of gas and electric utilities. In Rochester, the City Council is backing a grassroots effort that would kickstart a public takeover of Rochester Gas & Electric. On Long Island, a state assemblyman wants the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to stop relying on third-party contractors to provide service and do the work itself. And in May, two state lawmakers Democrats Michelle Hinchey in the Senate and Sarahan Shreshta in the Assembly introduced legislation that would force a public takeover of Central Hudson Gas & Electric, replacing the Canadian-owned utility with the Hudson Valley Power Authority. Our utility companies are more focused on shareholder growth and shareholder output than they are about delivering quality affordable services to their ratepayers, Hinchey said. Workers with Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp finish up hooking up a residence to a newly installed upgraded gas main in Cornwall on Oct. 31, 2018. The new mains are made of polyethylene plastic and replaces cast iron lines. All houses connected to the old lines are required to be upgraded to match the new lines. Hinchey has cast the measure as a way to speed the transition to renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power by giving the job to public utilities unburdened by profit margins. Bills for residential customers would not exceed 6% of their household income. The movements reflect deepening ratepayer unhappiness with gas and electric utilities following costly billing system fiascoes that led to thousands of overcharges, coupled with requests for large increases in monthly bills at a time when customers are having trouble paying bills coming out of the pandemic. Have you experienced large or inaccurate bills from RG&E, NYSEG or Central Hudson in the past year? We want to hear from you. Fill out this online form and a USA Today Network reporter may reach out. The proposals are, even in the view of some their backers, longshot efforts that will need to overcome not only resistance from investor-owned utilities but the leadership of their unionized workforces who have influence in a Democrat-controlled state Legislature. The owners of private utilities dismiss the idea, saying it will increase ratepayer costs and shrink the workforce. The proposed government takeover of electric and gas utility operations in the Hudson Valley raises serious concerns, including significant hidden costs, loss of jobs, and loss of tax revenue for towns and schools, said Joe Jenkins, spokesman for Central Hudson. Bill: A $345 utility bill became $68,000 as NYSEG, RG&E confront billing fiasco. What happened? 'Energy affordability crisis' As of March, 1.3 million New Yorkers were behind two months or more on their energy bills, a total of $1.6 billion in debt, according to an analysis by the AARP and the Public Utility Law Project, or PULP. Some 650,000 households received a final termination notice for non-payment and 4,000 had service shut off. The advocacy groups criticized state officials for failing to include $200 million in the state budget to address what theyre calling the states energy affordability crisis. Tonie Porter of Rochester talks about the high bills she's been receiving from RG & E, including this month's which was approximately $1,200 despite being on a budget plan. She, like several others, complained about the autopay that took more out of her account that she allowed. She and approximately 33 others came to the public forum about complaints about RG&E and NYSEG held at Rochester City Hall. The forum was hosted by the New York State Department of Public Service who also had people there to assist customers in filing a complaint. In January of last year, the Public Service Commission approved the largest-ever debt forgiveness program for utility customers, a $672 million bailout for customers who got behind during the pandemic. The tab is being picked up by ratepayers through bill surcharges. Relief: Behind on NY utility bills? Relief is coming. But ratepayers will eat the cost The states Department of Public Service (DPS), which oversees the utilities, has been flooded with billing-related complaints in recent months. During the first five months of this year, the DPS directed utilities to refund $5.39 million to customers who were overbilled, approaching the $7 million refunded in all of 2023. Some 90% of that comes from gas and electric utilities, with ConEd the states largest private utility leading the way. Nearly 400 complaints were lodged between January and April, nearly half of those tallied in all of 2023. State officials say the increase is likely due to utilities restarting collection practices charging late fees or issuing termination notices paused during the pandemic, which has more customers facing shutoffs. PULP, a nonprofit that advocates for utility customers, raised the issue with state officials last month after Central Hudson, with more than 400,000 gas and electric customers, said it would resume sending out service terminations to customers who had unpaid balances of more than two months. Its another frustration point for a lot of the public, said Laurie Wheelock, the executive director of PULP. Why are they resuming service terminations when all these other things are happening at the same time? With thousands behind on bills, utilities want to hike rates In May, Central Hudson identified more than 63,000 residential customer accounts behind more than two months, a total of $133 million in bills unpaid. Nearly 1,250 customers received final termination notices. Another $30 million is owed by 10,284 non-residential customers behind more than two months. The company, whose territory covers seven Hudson Valley counties from Putnam north to Albany, says a quarter of its customers are behind on their bills more than two months. Meanwhile, Central Hudson is seeking hikes of 16% for electric and 19% for gas in a rate case that will be decided in the coming weeks. And the company is not alone. Last summer, the state approved rate increases of 12% for electric and 19% for gas for customers of ConEd, whose territory includes Westchester County and New York City. And in October, the state approved NYSEG rate increases of 22.1% for electric and 6.1% for gas and at its sister utility, RG&E, hikes of 16% for electric and 10.9% for gas over three years. Fallout of massive billing problems continues Beyond the financial pinch is growing distrust among customers after billing debacles at Central Hudson as well as NYSEG and RG&E. After the debut of a customer information and billing system in September 2022, customer complaints at NYSEG and RG&E surged 60% to more than 4,700, according to the DPS. The owner of an Ithaca hair salon who was used to monthly bills of around $200 received a bill for more than $68,000. Joyce Millington in her Ithaca hair salon, Shear Style. Millington mistakingly received a $68,000 bill from NYSEG, but was able to resolve the issue. February 2, 2023. And last month, in one of the largest settlements with a utility in state history, Central Hudson agreed to pay up to $65 million to resolve a three-year-old billing debacle that led to a state investigation after thousands of customer accounts were overcharged. Central Hudson shareholders will pick up the tab. Lawmakers from the mid-Hudson Valley cheered. These multi-billion dollar monopolies have more than enough power and profits today, we returned that power to Hudson Valley families, Rep. Pat Ryan, D-Gardiner said. But the fight isnt over yet. I promise Ill continue to hold their feet to the fire and stand up against Central Hudsons outrageous proposed rate hikes. Utilities cited by state. How did they respond? Last month, the state Public Service Commission cited all three utilities for failing to meet customer service goals, resulting in more than $22 million in negative revenue adjustments in their next rate case, which leads to customer credits in future bills. NYSEG and RG&E pointed to post-pandemic challenges, delays in smart meter approval and a higher PSC standard than other utilities in the state for their customer service issues. But their recent changes hiring more than 100 new staff members, installing smart meters and holding multiple in-person community events throughout the state "have resulted in significant progress through the end of 2023 and continued into the first half of 2024," says Shelby Cohen, senior manager of New York communications for RG&E and NYSEG. Investigation: Central Hudson agrees to pay nearly $65M over botched billing rollout How did push for public utility takeovers begin? Backing the public takeover of Central Hudson is the grassroots Communities for Local Power, first organized in 2012 in opposition to Central Hudsons sale to Fortis, a Canadian utility. The billing mistakes continue, and public perception has most likely reached a point of no return, said Jess Mullen, one of the groups founders. It would take so much more than what the state has done thus far to repair the economically abusive relationship Central Hudson has carried on with its ratepayers. This bill is our best option. At the state Public Service Commission hearing where the Central Hudson settlement was announced last month, Mullen held up a sign that read: PSC. Serve the public, not CHGE. Hold them accountable. Hinchey took up the issue three years ago after complaints began surfacing from advocates working in disadvantaged communities in Kingston in Ulster County. Her office has received more than 1,000 calls about Central Hudson. The more we investigated, the more we discovered theres a lot more to do, Hinchey said. NYS Sen. Michelle Hinchey talks during a press conference at the Ulster County Sheriff's Office in Kingston, NY on Monday, February 7, 2022. She sponsored a bill that passed in the Senate and Assembly this session requiring utilities to conduct meter readings when possible and limit estimated readings, a practice state investigators say led to overcharges. Central Hudson has stabilized its billing system issues by, among other things, instituting monthly meter readings, beginning with Kingston, Poughkeepsie and Newburgh, Jenkins says. A group of Monroe County residents rallied outside of RG&E headquarters Friday, April 5 to continue a push for public power. Across the street, RG&E was holding a community fair at Washington Square Park. In Rochester, grassroots push for public power Similar frustrations have played out in Rochester over the past two years as unhappy RG&E customers called for a public takeover of the utility, which is owned by AVANGRID and part of the Iberdrola Group based in Spain. Last June, the City Council voted to spend $500,000 for a study analyzing the feasibility of a public takeover. And on June 18 of this year, the council renewed the funding but expanded its possible uses to include any initiative that would lower energy bills for residents. Bob Billings of Rochester holds up his stack of RG &E bills asking how he can have a $1,500 bill for a church that's open once a week during a public forum about complaints about RG&E and NYSEG held at Rochester City Hall. Billings said his bills have fluctuated between having a credit on his account to a high bill. The forum was hosted by the New York State Department of Public Service who also had people there to assist customers in filing a complaint. The movement is spearheaded by grassroots organization Metro Justice, which has tried so far unsuccessfully to convince Monroe County legislators to kick in the remaining $1 million needed to complete the study. Organizers have since pivoted and are pinning their hopes on a study fully funded by the city. The study will provide a plan of service, including government and management; evaluate a fair price for the grid, create an affordable rate structure and provide a cost-effective plan for grid resiliency and a green transition. Now we need to continue building grassroots pressure to ensure that the City Council uses these funds to live up to the publics demand for a public utility study, Metro Justice organizer Mohini Sharma said after the council vote last month. If the study advances, a referendum passed by City Council and county legislature would go before voters. And if voters back a public takeover, RG&E would be forced to sell its infrastructure to the community and the cost of purchasing the utility will be paid off over time through the rates themselves, not through taxes, according to Metro Justice. Proponents of this issue have yet to acknowledge the strong opposition coming from local & state unions, & on behalf of our workers, individuals that would be directly impacted by a govt-controlled utility system, we believe it is critical for our collective voice to be heard. pic.twitter.com/sIJwCAx9eC Citizens For Responsible Power (@Ctzns4RespPwer) April 6, 2024 Utilities vehemently oppose grassroots utility effort. What they said Not everyone is sold on the idea. "A study would be a distraction from the hard work our more than 800 employees have to do in Rochester, and a waste of taxpayer money," says Shelby Cohen, senior manager of New York communications for RG&E and NYSEG. Certain questions like how RG&E's assets would be paid for, what would happen with the gas system the company currently owns and operates and how capacity constraints would be addressed have gone unanswered, Cohen said. Organizers are also lacking a plan to replace the economic development and philanthropic support RG&E provides the community, she says. And representatives from several Rochester-area labor unions, including some who are members of Citizens for Responsible Power a coalition focused "on educating New Yorkers on the facts, realities, and impacts of government-controlled and privately-owned power systems" say they don't feel their viewpoint has been heard. "Our organizations represent hundreds of thousands of active and retired employees, many of whom would be directly impacted by a transition of this kind," a statement posted to X in April reads. "If advanced, a proposal supporting government-controlled power in Monroe County would risk efficiency, create higher rates for residents, and seriously impact the union workers represented by our organizations." Do other public utilities exist in NY, U.S.? There are roughly 50 public utilities across the state, including the villages of Fairport, Spencerport and Churchville near Rochester, according to the American Public Power Association, a trade group that offers advice to communities looking to go public. It takes a long time, said Ursula Schryver, a vice president the with AAPA. Its not going to happen overnight. It requires that communities are committed to the effort. Its really important that they do a feasibility study, that they understand what the benefits will be to the community and they have the support from elected officials but also the community. Much of the recent interest has come from cities and communities concerned their utility does not share their renewable energy and sustainability goals, Schryver said. Nearly 90 public utilities have been created across the country over the past 50 years. The last investor-owned utility to go public in New York was LIPA in 1998. The town of Massena in St. Lawrence County went public in 1981 and the city of Sherrill in Oneida County in 1977. The New York Power Authority is the largest state-run public power utility in the nation. Long Island lawmaker wants LIPA to change On Long Island, Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a Sag Harbor Democrat, has introduced a measure to reorganize the Long Island Power Authority into a fully public power company. In 1998 LIPA began contracting with third-party private contractors. And in 2013, it signed a 12-year contract with PSEG Long Island. The bill cites LIPA and its contractors response to Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020, saying the current model has failed its customers. The whole communication system broke down (during Isaias), Thiele said. PSEG Long Island wasnt providing what they said they were going to provide. Thiele says without the costly management fees paid to PSEG, Long Island ratepayers could save tens of millions of dollars. LIPA has more than 1 million customers in Long Island, Queens and the Rockaways. "The public-private partnership between PSEG Long Island and LIPA has been a huge success," a PSEG representative said. "Over the last decade, we have become the No. 1 overhead electric provider in the State of New York in both reliability and customer satisfaction." The contract is up in 2025 when Thiele hopes momentum for his bill will pick up. We had good support in the Assembly, but it was mixed in the Senate, Thiele said. The best way I would describe it is a lack of consensus as to what the next step should be. What's your story? Have you experienced very large or inaccurate bills from RG&E, NYSEG or Central Hudson in recent months? How did you address the problem, and was it resolved by the utility company in question? We're interested in hearing about your experience. Fill out the form below and a USA Today Network reporter may be in touch with you. Thomas C. Zambito is a reporter on The USA Today Network's New York State Team. He can be reached at tzambito@lohud.com. Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at ebarnes@gannett.com or on Twitter @byemilybarnes. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY utilities public takeover pushed by angry ratepayers. Whats next? A group of angry creditors will face-off against Rudy Giuliani in bankruptcy court on Wednesday, where they have asked a judge to put his finances under the control of an independent trustee in order to lock down his assets and begin to collect what theyre owed. Since declaring bankruptcy late last year, Giuliani appears to have remained flush with cash, including being paid $75,000 by a documentary project. Hes also continued to spend thousands of dollars each month on dozens of Amazon, streaming media and other purchases, according to court records. Those transactions and a general lack of transparency around Giulianis finances have drawn the ire and frustration of creditors seeking to enforce millions of dollars in claims against the former New York mayor, including $148 million in damages won by two Atlanta election workers who successfully argued in court last year that Giuliani defamed them after the 2020 election. At Wednesdays hearing, the creditors will push the judge presiding over the case to take drastic steps to rein in Giulianis spending and potentially liquidate his assets, according to court filings theyve made this week. And Giuliani may have to answer detailed questions under oath about his financial situation that he has so far refused to reveal. The hearing comes about a week after Giuliani lost his law license over his efforts in backing Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani is also facing criminal charges in connection to those efforts in Georgia and Arizona. Giulianis decision to file for Chapter 11 reorganization should have brought transparency to his finances and moved him toward a plan to pay his debts, bankruptcy experts say. Instead, Giuliani has provided only snippets or inaccurate portraits of his financial records, some of which were provided late. He has even surprised his own lawyers with new sources of income, such as a recent deal he signed to promote coffee. He has also managed to keep control of two condominiums worth millions in New York and Palm Beach, Florida, though he has been trying to sell the New York three-bedroom property. Hes using [bankruptcy] as a delay tactic, not being forthcoming with the process, and just sort of ducking and weaving his way in and out, said Daniel Gielchinsky, a bankruptcy attorney based in Florida who is closely following the case. Its a real story from a fall from grace. Its somewhat shocking, but its also sad. Bankruptcy process as a joke Giulianis creditors including Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the two Georgia election workers whom he owes $148 million for defaming them after the 2020 election are furious with how the bankruptcy has failed to progress to begin to make them whole more than six months since he declared bankruptcy. Story continues Since day one, Giuliani has regarded this case and the bankruptcy process as a joke, hiding behind the facade of an elderly, doddering man who cannot even remember the address for his second multimillion dollar home and claims impending homelessness if he must sell that second multimillion dollar home, wrote lawyers from the law firm Akin Gump, which represents a committee of Giulianis creditors in the bankruptcy proceeding. In reality, Giuliani has treated this Court, the bankruptcy process and the Committee with utter disrespect and without accountability. Giuliani is playing the delay game. Lawyers watching the case say that if Giuliani were to be assigned a Chapter 11 trustee by the judge Wednesday, that attorney could immediately move to sell his homes, so his creditors can collect, and take control of his companies like Giuliani Communications LLC, which court records say has received thousands of dollars in nominally explained wire transfers in recent months Giulianis tactics In response, Giuliani has asked the bankruptcy judge to change the classification of his bankruptcy, from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7, which would limit the creditors ability to pursue his incoming cash. Giulianis close friend and colleague Maria Ryan last month sent a request to the bankruptcy judge to tell his creditors law firm to stop lying in their filings to the court. She wrote that she and others who work for Giuliani are trying to keep his businesses afloat and promised to be quicker to alert his bankruptcy lawyers of new business deals. Giulianis bankruptcy attorneys and his spokesman didnt provide additional comment to CNN for this story. Attorney John Eastman, left, speaks next to Rudy Giuliani, as Trump supporters gather ahead of the president's speech to contest the certification by the US Congress of the results of the 2020 presidential election on the Ellipse on January 6, 2021. - Jim Bourg/Reuters Freeman and Moss on their own are taking a slightly different tactic than the broader creditors committee, complaining to the court that Giulianis responses to requests for information about his finances in bankruptcy court are insufficient and being done in bad faith. They want the bankruptcy judge on Wednesday to throw him out of bankruptcy court. That would allow their team of lawyers to pursue his assets directly, which would lose their current protections. Congress designed the Bankruptcy Code to ensure that bad faith debtors like Mr. Giuliani cannot successfully hop between various chapters to stay one step ahead of creditors, Moss and Freemans lawyers wrote in a filing Monday night. Appeals of their defamation case against Giuliani currently are not allowed while his bankruptcy progresses, but he could have another shot to appeal the jury verdict if the judge grants his request for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Hes definitely in a difficult position and hes still maneuvering. And hes being very shrewd in his maneuvers, Gielchinsky said. Will it result in his assets being sold? Or will it result in a change in his lifestyle? Its hard to say, because hes very hard to nail down. Spending and new deals Giulianis sporadic disclosures over the past several months offer glimpses into his finances. For instance, in recent weeks, according to his financial records available in court, Giuliani made 40 purchases from Amazon totaling nearly $3,500. Hes also bought plane tickets for himself and two business associates to fly to Palm Beach and other places. He also has pocketed thousands of dollars from participating in a documentary film this spring, where money is being sent to his limited liability company, adding to the opaqueness around his finances. His lawyers told the creditors on May 22 that a years-old documentary project, called All the Presidents Men, was recently revived. Giuliani Communications received a $75,000 payment in mid-May for his ties to the project, according to a letter from his lawyers made public in court. Paperwork from the 2021 deal around the documentary list a Russian-American, Igor Lopatonok, as the producer, and Sean Stone, a former host on the Russian-funded network RT America, as the director. Right-wing figures Chanel Rion, the One America News Network personality, and Simona Papadopoulos, the wife of a now-pardoned former Trump aide, are also involved. And his creditors believe Giuliani may be making profit from his nascent Rudy-branded coffee bean. The arrangement is with a company called Burke Brands for Giuliani to promote and take an 80% cut of coffee bean sales with his face on the bags, according to his court records. Those earnings are to be paid through wire transfers to a limited liability company Giuliani has, documents of his arrangements say. The coffee deal is set to bring in to Giuliani between $4 and $12 a bag, the documents say. A business associate told the court that as of mid-June, he had not been paid. Unfortunately, in this case, good news always seems to be accompanied with bad, lawyers for his creditors wrote to the bankruptcy judge last month. The Debtor is structuring the business deal in a way that funnels funds that would otherwise belong to his creditors back into Giulianis pockets. When the creditors lawyer noticed Giuliani promoting the Rudy beans in videos on social media in mid-May, they asked his lawyers about the venture. We saw the same thing and have requested information, and a cup of coffee, Giulianis own bankruptcy lawyers told the creditors. CNNs Sabrina Shulman contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Senate Democrats returned to Washington on Monday voicing concerns about President Bidens future as the Democratic presidential nominee, setting up high-stakes talks in the coming days about a path forward for the party. While no Senate Democrat has gone as far as at least six of their House counterparts in calling for Biden to step aside following his disastrous debate performance, questions swirled among anxious lawmakers about whether Biden would cost them in November and they want an answer in short order. I have a lot of concerns, Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said. And Im not the only one. Ive been hearing a lot of concerns from folks back home in Minnesota. I mean, I think right now, our party is having a big robust discussion about what comes next and what we should do. And I actually think that thats healthy, said Smith, a vice chair of the Senate Democratic campaign arm. Theres no simple path here. Theres no simple path forward. Senators return to Capitol Hill coincided with a more concerted effort by Biden to assuage the fears of top Democrats, including him making clear to supporters, donors and reporters in interviews that he isnt going anywhere, and bristling at suggestions that he should. But whether hes able to soothe Senate Democrats jangled nerves remains unclear. Multiple Senate Democrats declined to fully throw their weight behind him Monday and called for a series of conversations aimed at answering whether he should be atop the ticket in November. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) had been planning a Monday meeting with members to discuss potentially replacing Biden on the ticket, but dropped that plan as the Senate Democratic Conference is set to talk at length about the subject during lunch Tuesday. In a statement, the Virginia senator said now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward for the party, and a number of his colleagues agreed. Theyre worried, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said when asked what hes heard from constituents back home since the debate. They want to know this wasnt a reflection of a serious condition, but just was a bad night. If the American people reach the conclusion that it was a bad night, were going to be fine, and the presidents going to be fine. If they reach the conclusion that its something else, thats going to be difficult. Bennet, a former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, also noted that the party has downballot candidates who are killing themselves in battleground states and in swing districts a top concern of many members, as the party can ill afford mistakes in their struggle to keep the majority. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), one of two red-state Democrats up for reelection this year, made his concern clear in a statement Monday, saying Biden has got to prove to the American people including me that hes up to the job for another four years. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the other endangered party member, added that Ohio voters have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign. But for now, party leaders have the presidents back. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters multiple times Im for Joe when entering the Capitol on Monday. Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, added that his confidence is high in Biden, but acknowledged that his conference is divided at this point. I understand the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face, said Durbin, who has been home recovering from hip replacement surgery. Ive been parked in front of a television for 12 or 14 days. Theres been one topic, one issue day after day and thats the situation after the debate. We cant ignore the reality, he said, pointing to the Tuesday meeting. We have to settle this issue. Other top Biden allies noted the importance of this week but said the president is attempting to quell concerns and answer questions voters have about his mental acuity and ability to serve four more years in the White House. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), one of his foremost supporters, noted that Biden will be hosting the NATO summit in downtown Washington this week and will hold a solo press conference. The move is a rarity for the president but comes amid Democratic calls for him to hold more events in impromptu settings and to demonstrate he is up to the job. Id say that he has and he will, Coons said. To colleagues whove had any concerns, I say: Talk to him. Hes happy to talk to them. Watch the last five interviews, events and speeches hes given. And give him the benefit of the doubt, for the love of God, he continued. Its Joe Biden. Alexander Bolton contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. AOC backs Biden after speaking with president: He is in this race, and I support him Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reaffirmed her commitment to President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee on Monday evening amid heightened tensions within the party over his mental fitness. Joe Biden is our nominee, he is not leaving this race, he is in this race and I support him, Ocasio-Cortez told a group of reporters outside of the Capitol. The New York reps assertion comes as Democratic lawmakers scramble to find consensus on whether or not to support Biden, 81, as the presidential nominee. At least six House Democrats have publicly called for the president to withdraw from the race following his disappointing and concerning debate performance at the end of June. The presidents failure to confidently debate his political opponent has led to concerns that he is not well enough to run a campaign or defeat Donald Trump. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) committed to supporting President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee (KevinFreyTV / X) But Biden has remained adamant he will remain in the race and Ocasio-Cortez says that is enough for her. I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed, she told reporters. The congresswoman pivoted the conversation toward Trump, pointing out that no Republican has asked him to step down despite being recently convicted of 34 felony charges in New York. Re-directing attention toward Trump is a tactic the White House and Biden campaign have implored while fighting doubts about Bidens ability to campaign based on his debate performance. Rep. @AOC says she spoke to Biden over the weekend. He is in this race and I support him, she says. What is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November he is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions. pic.twitter.com/8rORwrhPC0 Kevin Frey (@KevinFreyTV) July 8, 2024 Ocasio-Cortez assured the public she has communicated what she believes is a winning path forward to the president. That includes enacting policies that benefit working-class Americans such as expanding Medicare and Social Security, providing rent or mortgage alleviation and continuing working on student loan relief. What is critically important is what the president, I believe, that the president needs to do. And I have communicated this. What the president and White House should do in order to make sure we win in November, Ocasio-Cortez said. Other lawmakers supporting Bidens campaign, such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, have similarly highlighted Bidens policies and accomplishments in office. AOC gives a full-throated defense of Biden: 'He is not leaving this race' AOC gives a full-throated defense of Biden: 'He is not leaving this race' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doubled down on her support of President Joe Biden. The New York Democrat said "the matter is closed" and Biden is the party's nominee. Some House Democrats have called for Biden to step aside following his disastrous debate performance. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has declared she is firmly behind President Joe Biden, even as some of her fellow House Democrats continue to fret about the president's standing. "The matter is closed," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters on Monday after returning to Washington. "He had reiterated that this morning. He has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race, and I support him." Ocasio-Cortez said she had spoken to Biden over the weekend. Considering her enormous following and popularity among the party's base, Ocasio-Cortez's backing will boost Biden. While six House Democrats have called for Biden to step aside following his disastrous debate performance, the president has managed to contain a massive public outcry for now. On Monday, Biden made clear that it is time for the party to move on from its soul-searching after his debate performance raised questions about his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump. Biden has repeatedly made clear he's not going anywhere. "The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now," Biden wrote in a letter to House Democrats. "And it's time for it to end." Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Biden last summer, is no stranger to delivering support at critical times. Her decision to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in 2019 following Sanders' heart attack greatly boosted the senator's campaign during a difficult period. Ultimately, Sanders lost the primary to Biden, but Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement remains a major moment of the 2020 campaign. Read the original article on Business Insider AP PHOTOS: From the Caribbean to Texas, Hurricane Beryl leaves a trail of destruction A fisherman looks at vessels damaged by Hurricane Beryl at the Bridgetown Fisheries in Barbados, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) Hurricane Beryl has been barreling through the Atlantic for over a week, fueled by exceptionally warm waters to become the earliest Category 5 hurricane. It decimated Caribbean islands like Barbados and Jamaica, with a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines almost entirely destroyed. It slammed into Mexico's Yucatan peninsula on Friday and struck Texas by Monday, each time regaining its strength over water. Texas In Texas, where Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, the storm unleashed heavy wind and rain, toppling trees and power lines. Boarded-up windows lined suburbs. Cars were stranded on flooded highways. Residents stayed put inside homes and hotels with no power. After the worst of the storm passed, many residents worked to clear roads from tree branches and other debris. Mexico Before it reached Texas, Beryl caused havoc in Tulum, Mexico, where tens of thousands were without power as it swept through the region as a Category 2 hurricane. Wind and rain whipped the seaside city through Friday. Residents sheltered in schools and hotels, and officials patrolled beaches to evacuate residents and tourists alike. Those displaced were able to find some respite and food at shelters, with the army organizing soup kitchens. Others risked traveling through heavily flooded streets. Caribbean But Beryl's heaviest destruction was in the Caribbean, where entire towns and even whole islands were left decimated. The Category 5 storm ripped roofs off of homes and destroyed and tangled up boats on shorelines. Waves full of debris crashed onto the sand. In Jamaica's capital, Kingston, an arena was converted into a shelter with row upon row of thin beds and blankets. The destruction Beryl left behind will need months, and in some cases years, of rebuilding and recovery. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment The body of a boy was found during the nighttime rubble removal in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. Screenshot: video by State Emergency Service of Ukraine Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of three more women from the rubble of an apartment building in Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district, bringing the number of fatalities at this site to 12. In total, as of 12:15 (local time), 32 people were killed in the capital as a result of the Russian attack on 8 July. Source: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram; State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Facebook Quote from Klitschko: "Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of two more women from the rubble of an apartment building in the Shevchenkivskyi district. In total, ten residents of this building have been killed." Details: The mayor added that a search and rescue operation has been ongoing, and a few minutes later said that the body of another woman had been recovered, bringing the total number of people killed in the building to 11. Earlier it was reported that rescue workers found some parts of the body of another dead person during the rubble removal of an apartment building in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. The body of a boy was also found during the nighttime rubble removal in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the city. Later, Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, said that 31 people were killed and 117 injured in the Russian missile attack on Kyiv as of 12:15. Background: On 8 July, the Russians launched a missile attack on Ukraine. They hit the Okhmatdyt hospital, the private Adonis clinic and residential buildings in Kyiv. Two adults, one of them being a doctor, were killed in the attack on Okhmatdyt. An entire section of a building in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv was destroyed as a result of the strike. As of the afternoon of 8 July, seven people, including three children, were reported killed. Two more people were killed at an industrial facility in Shevchenkivskyi district. The Domino business centre was damaged in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, killing seven people. A four-storey building of the Adonis clinic was partially destroyed in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv, killing nine people. As of the evening of 8 July, it was reported that a total of 37 people were killed and 170 wounded as a result of the Russian strike on Ukraine on 8 July. Support UP or become our patron! (NEXSTAR) A K-9 named Archer died Friday after helping apprehend a suspect who led police on a foot chase on a hot, humid day in north central Florida last week. On Tuesday, officials with the Madison County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) confirmed to Nexstar that Archer died of heat stroke despite efforts by the UF Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville to save his life. Archer was a 6-year-old German shepherd that started working for the sheriffs office in 2018, according to the MCSO. Born in the Czech Republic, K-9 Archer was trained in substance/drug detection, criminal apprehension and tracking. K-9 Archer is shown in a photo from the Madison County Sheriffs Office. Sheriff David Harper, who had been posting written and video updates on social media, announced Archers death on Friday. It is with a heavy broken heart that I inform our community that K9 Archer has passed away at UF Small Animal Hospital In Gainesville, Harper wrote. K9 Archer was surrounded by his handler, fellow members of our canine unit and medical staff. K9 Archer honorably fulfilled his duty by protecting our citizens, our communities, and our deputies without fear or hesitation. Archers final pursuit happened July 4 on a humid day when temperatures reached the mid 90s. Sheriff Harper said Archer was instrumental in tracking down a driver who ran from a traffic stop into a wooded area. Hatch recall: Parents urged to immediately stop using baby sound machines K-9 Archer gave his all to ensure that there was no criminal roaming free in our community, Harper said. The suspect was arrested and charged with causing great harm/death to police animal/animal cruelty, along with reckless driving, fleeing to elude, no valid drivers license, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of synthetic cannabinoids. During the chase, however, Archer suffered a heat episode and was rushed to a local veterinary clinic before being transferred to UF Small Animal Hospital, where he ultimately died. News of the K-9s death on the sheriffs Facebook page prompted an outpouring of sympathy, but also critical posts accusing the handler and sheriffs office of not protecting the dog. Sheriff Harper responded to the negative comments, writing: The CRIMINAL that caused this entire incident was moving toward one of our citizens residence and was only a couple hundred yards from the home. There were two more residences within 1/8 of a mile. What would have happened had the CRIMINAL made it to one of those residences??? We will never know because multiple dedicated deputies led by one amazing and committed canine named Archer located and arrested the CRIMINAL before he was able to reach the manicured grass in the yard. Yes it is hot. No doubt about that. However heat does not deter CRIMINALS and CRIME and it doesnt slow me or my team. The sheriffs office told Nexstar that they have routine protocols for extreme weather, such as rotating deputies and K-9s as necessary, and that deputies are trained in medical care of themselves and their K-9 partners. K-9 officer dies after being left in hot car overnight in Misouri It was after Archers participation in this event that his handler used his training to evaluate Archer and recognize that Archer needed medical attention and immediately transported Archer to the Madison Veterinary Clinic in Madison Florida, the sheriffs office said in a news release. Officials also noted that the duties and assignments of a Deputy Sheriff come with certain risks and hazards to protect and serve our community, and that the suspect in this case fled toward several homes and presented significant importance for the residents safety and their property. MCSO Major Chief of Staff Epp Richardson told Nexstar that Archer was a great K-9 and a very dedicated, loyal, and valuable member of our Office. The sheriffs office will release information about memorial arrangements and services for Archer when they are finalized. Avoiding heat injury or death in dogs According to the National Police Dog Foundation, heat injury is one of the main causes of sudden death in working dogs, whether from being left in a hot vehicle or through over-exertion. The foundation warns that dogs can be especially vulnerable to sudden increases in temperature from one day to the next. Even if it doesnt feel warm to you if the average temperature has been 35-45 F and you suddenly have a nice 60 F day, thats as much as a 35 F increase in temperature and your dog may not be acclimated to handle that, the foundation advises. We humans can sweat to dissipate heat, but dogs rely mostly on panting to cool down, and unlike sweating, this requires a high degree of cardiovascular fitness and acclimation to hotter environments to be completely effective. The foundation warns not to wait until a dog is noticeably too hot, to take the following measures when the animal is in danger of overheating: use air conditioning, provide access to water and sponge the dog with cool water down to the skin. Signs of overheating among dogs include frantic panting, extreme salivation, bright-red membranes and labored breathing, according to the American Kennel Club. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Arkansas medical marijuana sales down $5.5 million since 2023, DFA says LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas in 2024 are down nearly 4% from last years sales, according to Scott Hardin with the Department of Finance and Administration. Hardin said between January 1 and June 30, medical marijuana sales were at $135.5 million. In 2023, sales were at $141 million in the same time frame, a decrease of $5.5 million year-to-year. Medical marijuana sales top $1 billion in Arkansas 5 years after states first dispensary opened 2023 was the largest year for medical marijuana sales at $283 million. The state collected a total of $7.9 million in tax revenue from sales between April and June and since the industry launched in 2019, $136 million in tax revenue has been collected. The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission is set to meet on July 11 to discuss ownership transfers for multiple dispensaries including the Good Day Farm, Enlightened Heber Springs, Good Day Farm Hensley and Dark Horse Medicinals. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. 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 law 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. The post Arkansas OB-GYN says proposed abortion-rights amendment could revive standard of care appeared first on Michigan Advance. CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ark. Arkansas State Police made a series of major busts in June. According to ASP officials, troopers conducted a traffic stop on a rented vehicle on eastbound Interstate 40 on June 18 in Crawford County, near Van Buren. Arkansas recovery community reacts to recent major drugs busts Troopers then said they discovered nine trash bags and one duffle bag filled with 325 pounds of illegal marijuana an estimated street value of $487,000. They also seized over $25,000 in cash from the two people in the vehicle. The two people arrested, according to officials, were the driver 50-year-old Christian Nichols of Kentucky, and the passenger, 21-year-old Giovanni Capozzi of California. Both men were taken to the Crawford County Detention Center. Both men were charged with felony Possession with Purpose to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Capozzi also had felony warrants out of California. On June 21, ASP stopped a pickup truck on Highway 49 near Barton. A search of the truck turned up a collection of guns. Troopers then arrested 30-year-old Dallas Young of Poplar Grove and transported him to the Phillips County Sheriffs Detention Center. Young is now facing charges including two counts of a felon in possession of prohibited weapons, resisting arrest, DWI, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges. Millions of dollars of psychedelic mushrooms seized in a Connecticut bust On June 23, a truck was stopped by troopers in Lonoke. A search turned up 23 cardboard boxes containing approximately 682 pounds of THC products and 99 pounds of Psilocybin Mushroom products. Troopers arrested the driver, 35-year-old Joshua Burgess, and his passenger, 26-year-old Cynthia Nickolaisen, both of North Carolina. The two were transported to the Lonoke County Detention Center with both facing felony charges of trafficking a controlled substance and felony possession of drug paraphernalia. Also on June 23, state police stopped a car going northbound on Highway 61 near Sandy Ridge in Mississippi County. A search of the vehicle turned up 17 firearms, multiple fully loaded magazines and a backpack full of ammunition. Troopers arrested 24-year-old Tyree Speed of Blytheville and transported him to the Mississippi County Detention Center where he is facing charges of DWI, possession with intent to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, among other charges. On July 3, troopers stopped a rented vehicle on eastbound Interstate 40 in Crawford County and arrested 45-year-old Wenchao Yasin and 53-year-old Muayad Yasin, both of California. Troopers found three duffle bags containing 92 pounds of illegal marijuana. Both men are facing felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Car break-ins continue to impact Little Rock residents, visitors The men told investigators they were traveling from California to Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. The Army wants its leaders to tout the use of generative artificial intelligence to the rank and file as a means to make work easier for soldiers, according to a new memo, even as other services have been hesitant to approve those tools for regular use. The service, not typically known for embracing the bleeding edge of new technology, appears to be the first military branch to encourage the use of commercial AI such as ChatGPT, though troops may already be leaning on it to write memos, award recommendations and, most notably, complete evaluations, among other time-consuming administrative tasks. But services such as the Space Force and Navy have urged caution or outright barred use of the tools, citing security concerns, as AI has swept through the internet and consumer technology in the U.S. and around the world, promising to automate many tasks that have so far been performed only by people. Read Next: NATO Chief Sidesteps Questions on Biden's Fitness to Lead Alliance Against Putin "Commanders and senior leaders should encourage the use of Gen AI tools for their appropriate use cases," Leonel Garciga, the Army's chief information officer, wrote in a memo to the force June 27. Garciga wrote that the tools offer "unique and exciting opportunities" for the service, but he also highlighted that commanders need to be cognizant of how their troops are using the tools and ensure that their use sticks to unclassified information. Artificial intelligence, once the realm of science fiction, became widely available to the public in 2021 as part of a program that could generate pictures from text prompts. The so-called generative AI has continued to advance, with new programs such as ChatGPT springing up, and is capable of producing not only pictures but also writings and video using commands or requests. The Defense Department is heavily invested in AI technologies that some believe may be critical in future conflicts. But the military has wrestled with the question of how much troops should use commercial AI tools such as Google Gemini, Dall-E and ChatGPT. "The Army seems ahead in adopting this technology," said Jacquelyn Schneider, a fellow at the Hoover Institution, whose research has focused on technology and national security. Generative AI can potentially be used for wargaming and planning complex missions. In Ukraine, AI is already being used on the battlefield, serving as a kind of Silicon Valley tech rush for autonomous weapons. There are some cybersecurity risks associated with AI when it comes to the military. The data troops input teaches those tools and becomes part of the AI's lexicon. But for the rank and file, its use would mostly be more mundane and practical -- writing emails, memos and evaluations. Much of the nonclassified information used for administrative purposes, particularly evaluations, likely wouldn't pose a security threat. "For something like performance evaluations, they probably don't have a lot of strategic use for an adversary; we may actually seem more capable than we are," Schneider added, referring to how the evaluations can bolster a service member's record with inflated metrics. However, the Space Force in September paused the use of AI tools, effectively saying that security risks still needed to be evaluated. Before that, Jane Rathbun, the Navy's chief information officer, said in a memo to the sea service that generative AI has "inherent security vulnerabilities," adding they "warrant a cautious approach." The Pentagon and the services now appear to be divided on the use of generative AI, with two ideas being true at once: Those tools come with cybersecurity risks, and the quick and widespread adoption among the public means they're here to stay. Last year, the Pentagon stood up Task Force Lima to employ generative AI in the services and assess its risks. "As we navigate the transformative power of generative AI, our focus remains steadfast on ensuring national security, minimizing risks, and responsibly integrating these technologies," Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said last year when announcing the establishment of the task force. The Army has yet to develop clear policy and guardrails for AI use, a process that could still be years away and follow the guidance of the Pentagon's AI task force. Developing guardrails can be further complicated as AI continues to evolve. "It would be interesting to see what the limits are," Schneider said. "What are the missions that it's still too risky to use generative AI? Where do they think the line is?" The service has already used AI to write press releases meant to communicate its operations to the public, typically through journalists -- which may lead to ethical concerns at news outlets on whether communications from AI are acceptable. "With governmental sources, the potential to dodge accountability also worries me," Sarah Scire, deputy editor for the Nieman Lab, which covers the journalism industry, told Military.com. "If the AI-produced press releases or posts contain lies or falsehoods -- also sometimes known as hallucinations -- who is responsible?" Related: VA's Veteran Suicide Prevention Algorithm Favors Men Officials arrested a military police officer for allegedly helping steal tens of thousands of dollars worth of military-grade equipment from New York military units that was later sold to the general public, New York State Police announced Monday. Gordon Reynolds, a military police officer assigned to the 272nd Military Police Detachment in Auburn, New York, was accused of participating in a scheme to pilfer and then profit off the gear, the state police said in a news release. Joriann Garcia-Hernandez, a unit supply specialist assigned to Company D, 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, and James Waleski, a civilian employed at the 174th Air National Guard Attack Wing, were also arrested for their alleged connection with the plot, the release said. New York State Police said they recovered thousands of dollars of equipment from Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and New York. An image shared in the statement depicts guns, radios and other equipment retrieved by law enforcement. In one instance [i]nvestigators recovered a ballistic vest that was being reshipped to Russia, the statement noted. Its not the first time soldiers, or others in the military community, have been accused of looting weaponry or other military equipment for their own financial gain. Earlier this summer, a scrapyard near Fort Drum, New York, settled for unlawfully selling brass casings that two soldiers and an Army civilian employee improperly sold it. Police call profit: Soldiers sold 29,000 pounds of brass to scrapyard State police were contacted in June by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. An investigation revealed the crew allegedly stole the military equipment, including some that were sensitive in nature, and then Waleski allegedly sold the items in person and online, including on Facebook Marketplace, the statement said. OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) An arrest was made in connection with a shooting that happened near Churchs Chicken on N Main Street in Opelousas. On June 23, around 10:55 a.m., the Opelousas Police Department went to the scene of the incident, which was located in the 100 block of E Prudhomme Street, and discovered Stephon Reed with gunshot wounds; the victim was transported to a local hospital. Todd Stelly has been charged with attempted second degree murder and possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies. Anyone with information regarding this crime or any other crime is urged to contact the Opelousas Police Department at 337-948-2500. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. KIPS BAY, Manhattan (PIX11) An arrest was made Monday after a woman was shot to death and left inside a bag on a Manhattan street, police said. Authorities found Yazmeen Williams, 31, with a gunshot wound to the head and wrapped in a plastic bag inside a sleeping bag at 207 East 27th St. near Third Avenue in Kips Bay around 5 p.m. Friday, according to the NYPD and sources. The decomposing body was on a dolly next to a mound of garbage bags, sources said. More Local News A man was seen on video dragging the bag on an electric wheelchair before cops found the body near a tailor shop, law enforcement sources said. Police have not released the identity of the suspect who was arrested. Community members spotted him at the nearby Straus Houses on Monday, restrained him, and called police, sources said. Police and medics had to shield the man from an angry crowd at the Straus Houses as he was taken away on a stretcher, video of the incident showed. Man killed in Brooklyn building found in pool of blood: sources They more or less surrounded him like a mob and started to attack him, said witness Ted Oehmke. Police recovered a gun at the location of the arrest, authorities said. The victims mother was among the crowd at the Straus Houses as the suspect was taken into custody. He took a young beautiful girl, snuffed her out, took her life away from her. Threw my daughter in a garbage bag. The whole community was upset because she didnt deserve that. Hes scum, said Nicole Williams, the victims mother. Yazmeen Williams was a resident of the Kips Bay neighborhood, according to police. The relationship between Williams and the suspect remains unclear, as well as a motive for the killing. We honestly dont know who would hurt her, Williams aunt, Nisha Ramirez, told PIX11 News. Shes sweet. Shes a nice person and she grew up here. We dont know why someone would have a motive to do something to her. Williams had a twin brother and an 8-year-old sister, according to her family. She was about to begin a new job at the New York City Housing Authority. A GoFundMe page titled Justice for Yazzy was created to raise money for Williams funeral. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said three people were arrested after a deputy was injured during a traffic stop last week. Deputy Kalin Hall was seriously injured after a BMW driver rammed him during a traffic stop on Friday, July 5. U.S. Attorneys Office announces federal charges for Tampa street gang members Hall was taken to Tampa General Hospital with a broken left leg and an injured right leg. He was released from the hospital over the weekend. Source: Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Sheriff Chad Chronister said Deputy Hall was working overtime, patrolling the roadways on the night of July 4, going into July 5. During the traffic stop, the driver fled but the deputy did not pursue the suspect. Last week, investigators said they found the suspects BMW abandoned about a mile from the traffic stop. When the deputy located the suspects vehicle, the driver hit the gas and intentionally struck and drove over him. 3 arrested for trying to sell puppies on Florida beach: police The driver, identified as William Todd Lewis Jr., 24, got on the phone with his girlfriend, Keilise Garrison, 23, and drove a mile away into a neighborhood, leaving the car. The girlfriend then called his mom, who picked him up and drove him home. Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Detectives arrived at the home and talked with the driver, who would not admit to anything regarding the incident. He showed zero remorse, only denial, the Sheriff said. The suspect was then picked up by a friend, identified as Zachary Carnegie, 24, in a rental car with their bags backed. As they drove into Pasco County, they pulled into a shopping center where deputies blocked them in and took them into custody. The only comment Lewis made was that the money his mom had given him was in the back of the rental car. Our detectives worked tirelessly and with relentless determination to ensure this dangerous and reckless suspect was apprehended, Sheriff Chronister said. We couldnt sit idly by knowing this suspect seriously injured our deputy and then fled without any care or regard for another humans life. This arrest serves as a testament to our teams commitment to justice and our communitys safety. According to the sheriffs office, Carnegie was out on bond and has a lengthy criminal history including charges of attempted murder. Lewis is facing several charges including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, reckless driving with serious bodily injury, aggravated fleeing to elude with serious bodily injury, fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, and possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis. He was out on bond for open carry of a firearm and for the possession of drugs. The girlfriend was also charged with tampering with evidence after deleting the messages with Carnegie, for aiding in their criminal endeavors. Instead of doing the right thing, Garrison made the conscious decision to conceal Lewis involvement. This choice to protect a criminal rather than uphold justice is not only deceitful but also deeply disappointing, said Sheriff Chronister. Her selfishly motivated actions undermined the integrity of our investigative efforts and put the community at further risk. For her role in this incident, she will face the full consequences of her actions. This isnt the final arrest of this case, Sheriff Chronister added. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A new study found measurable concentrations" of 16 metals in brands of tampons available in the United States and abroad Getty Stock image of tampons in a woman's hands Arsenic, lead, and more toxic metals have been found in multiple tampon brands, according to a new study. Researchers looked at 18 product lines from 14 brands and found concentrations of several toxic metals, according to a study published in Environment International. The study specifically looked for arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc and found measurable concentrations of all 16 metals assessed. Lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons while arsenic was higher in organic tampons, the study said, adding, No category had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals. Getty Stock image of tampons. The study's findings are particularly concerning due to the unique biology of the vagina, which includes more "permeable" skin than other parts of the body. The researchers also pointed out that vaginally absorbed chemicals do not undergo first-pass metabolism and detoxification via the liver and instead, directly enter systemic circulation. Related: Forever Chemicals Linked to Some Band-Aids and Adhesive Brands from Wal-Mart and CVS The brands used in the study were not named, however, they were available to purchase in the U.S., U.K. and Greece. And as the study notes, regulations in the US, EU, and UK protecting consumers from potential contaminants in tampons are nearly nonexistent, and none of these governments requires manufacturers to test their products for harmful chemicals, including metals. Related: Scientists Say They'll Cut Back on Bottled Water After Learning 1 Liter Contains a Quarter of a Million Pieces of Plastic We cannot yet say that people should not be using tampons. So far what we know is that metals are present in all the samples we tested. However, we do not know yet if metals leach out of the tampon and whether they are absorbed by the body. We therefore cannot yet assess to what extent [if any] metals in tampons contribute to any health problems," Jenni Shearston, lead author on the study and a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health, told CBS MoneyWatch. 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. "Our research emphasizes the need for more testing of toxic compounds in products we use daily and better labeling so users can make more informed decisions." The Food and Drug Administration told CBS MoneyWatch that it is reviewing the study's findings. "While the chemical method used indicates these metals are present in the tampons tested in the laboratory, the study does not assess whether any metals are released from tampons when used in the body. It also does not address whether any metal, if released, can be absorbed into the vaginal lining or, subsequently into the bloodstream," a spokesperson for the agency stated. "We plan to evaluate the study closely and take any action warranted to safeguard the health of consumers who use these products." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified the sex of the senior dog owned by veterinarian Katie Bennett. The dog is a male. The article has been corrected. - - - Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Around the country, veterinarians are prescribing a breakthrough new arthritis drug for dogs - Librela - which is helping aging pets get moving again by easing the aches and pains of osteoarthritis. Ana Maria Cepeda, a veterinarian at North River Animal Hospital in Parrish, Fla., said her first patient was her 14-year-old pit bull mix who in the past has relied on a concoction of pain medication and supplements to cope with severe arthritis and joint issues. It showed excellent promise on my own dog, she said. That gave me more confidence to start trying it in other dogs. But not everyone is convinced. Fears about a range of side effects have spread rapidly on social media. A Facebook group shares stories from pet owners alleging that after being given the drug, their dogs had trouble walking or suffered kidney failure. An online petition has been circulating pushing to recall the drug until more study is done. The Food and Drug Administration says its reviewing reports of adverse events. Veterinarians and the drugmaker say Librela has been shown to be safe and effective. A variety of factors may explain concerns about side effects, including the fact that the drugs are often used in older dogs, who may have a range of health issues. We spoke to experts about Librela. Heres what to know. - - - What is Librela and how does it work? Librela, made by Zoetis, is the brand name for a monthly injectable drug to treat canine osteoarthritis, a condition that affects an estimated 80 percent of all dogs 8 years or older and as many as 35 percent of dogs of all ages. The drug is an anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibody. The drugs active ingredient is called bedinvetmab, a monoclonal antibody designed to target nerve growth factor, or NGF, a naturally produced protein thats important for fetal and early development of the nervous system. In adulthood, NGF plays a role in pain transmission and the release of pro-inflammatory molecules. Its found in high levels in dogs with osteoarthritis. Librela works by neutralizing NGF in the joint, essentially shutting down the pain pathway and lowering the overall amount of NGF produced. It reduces how many signals are going to the brain saying, Hey, this hurts, said Katie Bennett, an anesthesia and pain management specialist at the Veterinary Specialty Center in Bannockburn, Ill. It also helps alleviate swelling, which causes discomfort. Its recommended that dogs receive a minimum of two doses 28 days apart to determine if it can help reduce their pain. - - - How long has Librela been available? Librela launched in the United States in October, but it has been used in Europe for the last three years. A sister drug, Solensia, also by Zoetis, has been used to treat osteoarthritis in cats since 2022. - - - What are the known side effects? According to Zoetis, side effects can include bacterial skin infections, dermatitis and renal and urinary disorders, including urinary tract infections. In Europe, elevated blood urea nitrogen, which may indicate a kidney issue, was a side effect. More than 12 million doses of Librela have been sold globally over the last three years, and a fraction of the dogs using Librela (less than 0.20 percent) have experienced an adverse event, said Robert Polzer, president of research and development at Zoetis. Polzer described Librela as a very safe product. The company takes adverse events very seriously, Polzer said, and continues to collect and analyze data. To date, we havent seen any signals emerge as far as causation between Librela and the negative outcomes being reported, he said. Every medication, whether a human or companion animal medication, has the potential for risk and adverse events, Polzer said. Certainly for any pet owner whos had that experience with their pets, we are quite empathetic. On social media, dog owners say their pups mobility appeared to decline after using the drug, citing hind leg paralysis in some cases and an inability to walk. Others say their dogs experienced anorexia, lost control of their bowels or experienced kidney issues after using the drug. Veterinarians said any adverse events should be reported. But they emphasize the drugs largely positive results. - - - How much research has been conducted on Librela? Two clinical trials in the United States and Europe recruited a total of 559 dogs and compared Librela with a placebo for three months each. Neither the dog owners nor the veterinary clinic personnel administering the doses knew if a pet was receiving the real treatment or a placebo. In the U.S. study, 47.4 percent of dogs receiving Librela showed improvement after the first shot based on owner assessments, compared with 36.6 percent in the placebo group. In the European study, 43.5 percent improved after the first shot, compared with 16.9 percent on placebo. In both studies, the improvements were statistically meaningful. Adverse events were similar in the treatment and placebo groups. After three months of treatment in the European study, 89 dogs in the Librela group (63 percent) had responded positively based on owner and veterinarian assessments, and continued the treatment in a six-month open label phase of the study. Anecdotally, veterinarians report success with the drug. Union Veterinary Clinic in Washington, D.C., has administered Librela to 49 dogs since October, and the majority are routinely receiving shots, according to Allison Gross, veterinarian and co-owner of the practice. Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston has administered approximately 350 shots, with largely positive results, said Susan OBell, veterinarian and internal medicine service director at Angell. - - - What animals should be given the drug? Patient selection is important, vets say. The drug should only be prescribed to healthy dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis and is not recommended for dogs with kidney or neurological issues. The drug is not recommended for dogs who have limping or lameness from another cause, such as a cruciate tear, bone tumors or back or disc injuries. Librela is not recommended for dogs under 12 months, who are pregnant or lactating. Most veterinarians recommend bloodwork, a urinalysis and possibly other diagnostic tests before prescribing. A lot is dependent too on the conversations with the client and what their ultimate goal is, Cepeda said. Some people, its a quality-of-life issue, some people have difficulty medicating, and some people have tried everything under the sun and are desperate for something else. Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease, and vets say controlling chronic pain requires time and patience. See how your dog responds to Librela, and discuss with your vet lowering the dosage of other medications. It is not a quick fix, not a magic bullet, Bennett said. Clients will have to work at it for a couple of months to learn a sweet spot. Weight management, water therapy, physiotherapy, laser treatments, acupuncture and a number of other therapeutics can collectively help manage not just joint pain but the diseases overall effect on the body. This is the long haul, OBell said. Librela is one more thing we have in our arsenal. - - - How do you know if the drug is working? Bennett asks owners to keep a daily journal of their dogs progress and provides owners with a worksheet to measure improvement. Veterinarians suggest taking pictures and videos documenting changes in your dogs body language, gait and demeanor. Vets recommend trying two injections over two months before discontinuing Librela, which may not work for every patient. Some patients at Angell in Boston stopped Librela because owners did not see any big improvements, OBell said. Bennett took her own senior dog off Librela after he developed a urinary tract infection. Not every dog will have a miraculous turn around, veterinarians caution. For some, the drugs efficacy eventually wears off. For dogs who regain their spark and spunk, experts advise easing them back into play. Some dogs have become so active they injure themselves, because they go from not moving much at all to running around, Gross said. - - - Alexandra E. Petri is a freelance writer based in New York who has worked for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. Petri is a two-time reporting fellow with the International Womens Media Foundation. Related Content Wes Moore, in working to prevent Bidens fall, is helping his own rise Supreme Courts Trump immunity ruling shows risk of Jack Smiths approach As his MLB career begins, those who helped lift James Wood cheer him on ASP seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana in Crawford County traffic stops LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Arkansas State Police arrested four people and seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana in two traffic stops in Crawford County. According to a press release from ASP, troopers stopped a rented 2023 white Suburban around 8 a.m. on June 18 on Interstate 40 headed east at the 1-mile mark in Crawford County near Van Buren for a traffic violation. The release says after searching the Suburban, troopers found nine trash bags and one duffle bag filled with 325 pounds of illegal marijuana with an estimated street value of more than $487,000. ASP says it also seized over $25,000 in cash from the two occupants of the Suburban. ASP arrested the driver, Christian Nichols, 50, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and the passenger, Giovanni Capozzi, 21, of Fresno, California. They were taken to the Crawford County Detention Center. Arkansas State Police seize 267 pounds of contraband in Crawford County traffic stop Both men were charged with felony possession with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Capozzi also had felony warrants out of California. On July 3, around 2:12 p.m., ASP stopped a rented 2023 gray Nissan Rogue at the 16-mile marker on Interstate 40 headed east in Crawford County for a traffic violation. Muayad Yasin, 53, Courtesy: Crawford County Sheriffs Office ASP said the driver Wenchao Zhen, 45, of Rowland Heights, California, and the passenger Muayad Yasin, 53, of Los Angeles told police they were traveling from California to Atlanta. The release says troopers searched the vehicle and found three duffle bags containing 92 pounds of illegal marijuana. ASP says it arrested Zhen and Yasin. They were charged with felony possession with intent to deliver and felony possession of drug paraphernalia. The two men were taken to the Crawford 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 KNWA FOX24. Police are looking for two people being connected to a southwest Atlanta homicide from earlier this year. Officers are asking for the public to help identify two people of interest in the April 6 homicide of Stanley Shivers which happened at an apartment complex on Myrtle Drive. The shooting happened shortly after 1 a.m.. Officers found Shivers dead on the scene upon arrival after he was shot multiple times. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The two suspects were seen wearing black t-shirts on the night of the homicide. Anyone with information on the case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tips can also be submitted directly to the Atlanta Police Departments Homicide Unit at (404) 546-4235. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: After attack on Okhmatdyt, doctors expect death toll to rise due to Russian attacks on medical facilities NYT The aftermath of the Russian attack on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital. Photo: Bohdan Kutiepov Influential American newspaper The New York Times has written that the Russian missile strike on 8 July on the Okhmatdyt Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv is indicative of the increasing number of deadly attacks on medical facilities, vehicles and workers in Ukraine this year. The New York Times has referred to World Health Organisation (WHO) forecasts, according to which more Ukrainians may die in 2024 as a result of Russian attacks on medical institutions. Source: The New York Times Details: The New York Times noted that before the attack on Okhmatdyt, WHO documented 18 deaths and 81 injuries caused by over 175 attacks on Ukrainian healthcare infrastructure in the first half of 2024. The organisation also recorded 44 attacks on medical transport vehicles within this period. The organisation counted 22 deaths and 117 injuries from 350 such attacks during 2023, with 45 of them specifically targeting medical transport vehicles like ambulances. Other organisations report even higher numbers of casualties. The New York Times notes that attacks on civilian hospitals are prohibited by Article 18 of the Geneva Convention, ratified by UN member states after World War II. Article 20 of the convention says all warring parties must protect medical personnel. However, experts say that Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian healthcare infrastructure as part of a campaign that some consider a war crime. The Russian Defence Ministry, in its statement on social media on Monday, denied deliberately targeting civilian facilities in Ukraine. However, a video recording of the attack, filmed by a Kyiv resident and confirmed by The New York Times, shows a missile moving downward at high speed before hitting the hospital. Christian De Vos, a lawyer and the director of research and investigations at New York's Physicians for Human Rights, stated that the world has never seen a prosecution in an international court where an attack on healthcare infrastructure was the main focus of the case. Experts noted that the Russian attack targeted the most vulnerable population groups and added strain to the Ukrainian healthcare system, which is already on the brink of exhaustion. "Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and health care facilities are protected precisely because civilians are seeking care. These are sites that are meant to ensure the protection of the civilian population and spare them from the horrors of war," De Vos said. WHO considers an attack on healthcare infrastructure as any act or threat of violence that hinders medical services availability, access or delivery. Its data includes both confirmed and likely attacks, which the organisation identifies as attacks with one eyewitness account or two secondary testimonies confirmed by a WHO partner. Experts say the number of attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers in conflicts worldwide is rising. It has come as no surprise to some emergency workers in Ukraine. "We are constantly having to review where we are working and pull back from areas that become impossible," emphasised Christopher Stokes, the emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Ukraine. The war there has been ongoing for more than two years. Stokes noted that earlier this year, the organisation tried to set up an emergency department in Kherson Oblast, but the hospital continued to be bombarded. He said that after the sixth attack, it was decided to abandon the attempt. Experts stressed that some hospitals were trying to take measures by covering windows with sandbags and moving patients and operating rooms to lower floors. Because of the strikes, higher floors are considered too risky. "These hospitals are not sanctuaries where you can feel safe, especially patients," Stokes said. Uliana Poltavets, emergency response coordinator at Physicians for Human Rights, has been documenting attacks on healthcare infrastructure and says she heard the strike in Kyiv on 8 July. She said it was part of a "pattern of violence" that has been repeated in Ukraine since the full-scale war broke out in February 2022. "The full-scale invasion began with an attack on a maternity home in Mariupol," she said. Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. One of the buildings was destroyed and rescue operations are ongoing. The Kyiv authorities reported that two adults had been killed and 16 injured, including seven children, as of 14:30 on 8 July. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has defined Russia's attack on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv as a war crime and initiated criminal proceedings into the matter. Early reports from SSU investigators indicate the Russians used a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile to attack the medical facility. Support UP or become our patron! MBTA transit ambassador at work pre-COVID. (CommonWealth Beacon file photo) BOSTON The MBTA knew as early as 2019 that some of its transit ambassadors were using agency-issued CharlieCards for personal use, but the transit authority has failed to address the problem, according to a new state audit. The ambassadors, who work for a private contractor that operates under the name Block By Block, help passengers buy tickets and navigate stations and also serve as the Ts eyes and ears monitoring safety hazards and maintenance needs inside the subway system. The MBTA should hold Block By Block accountable for inappropriate use of these cards, said the report from Auditor Diana DiZoglios office. The report also found that the T could not verify that ambassadors were fully trained before assuming their posts and that spot checks of station infrastructure (elevators, escalators, and other equipment) were not being conducted at agreed-upon twice-per-hour intervals. The audit covering the two-year period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022 was released on Sunday, which is unusual. A spokesman for the auditors office said the audit was released over the weekend to reduce overlap with another audit or audits scheduled to be released this week. According to the audit, the problem of ambassadors abusing T passes first surfaced in April 2019, when the MBTA decided to replace CharlieCards assigned to specific stations with passes assigned to individual transit ambassadors. In a communication at the time to transit ambassadors and Block By Block, the T said the change was needed because there had been a significant increase in what it called courtesy taps with the CharlieCards and not all taps were being reported. The communication also reiterated that the CharlieCards were to be used for work only and their use would be closely monitored. Three months later, the MBTA shifted gears and went back to the system of assigning cards to stations and not individuals, in part because high turnover of transit ambassadors made it difficult to track card usage. Nevertheless, the audit said, the three-month experiment revealed signs of misuse of the courtesy taps (e.g., BBB employees letting people in for free and cards being used at locations not covered by those employees). At the end of the two-year audit period on December 31, 2022, the problem had not gone away. The audit said the station-based cards were used for more than 2.5 million taps over the two years, but only 669,547, or 27 percent, were reported by transit ambassadors along with specific reasons for the taps. Failure to properly record courtesy taps, at a rate of $2.40 per transaction, increases the risk for significant lost revenue, the audit said. Our analysis also identified 83,990 instances where these fare access cards were used at different MBTA locations than the ones where the cards were assigned. In 445 of these instances, the fare access cards were used on an MBTA bus, indicating a high probability that the card was used for personal use. Transit ambassadors reported that they used their passes to let riders into the subway system in many instances because of problems with passenger gates, faulty fare passes, and mixups involving riders unfamiliar with the system. But the cards were also used to let in members of the military (48,038 taps), customers experiencing homelessness (75,532 taps), customers who didnt have enough money for the fare (92,492 taps), and for station checks (113,295). The audit included a response from the MBTA, which disputed the suggestion that ambassadors were tapping in customers and costing the T significant fare revenue.. The T said many of the taps not reported by ambassadors were related to infrastructure checks, mostly for elevator inspections. The agency also said the CharlieCards are secured in station booths and instances where passes are being used at an abnormally high rate are investigated by the Ts fraud department. The audit, however, said the Ts deputy director of fraud detection and analytics revealed that his team does not monitor courtesy taps. The audit also said on-site monitoring of ambassadors indicated the passes are not confined to a station booth but typically carried by the ambassadors themselves. The audit urged the T to set a specific threshold for courtesy taps that, if exceeded, would trigger an investigation. It is also important to investigate instances that exceed the established threshold or when station-assigned fare access cards are used at locations other than where they are assigned, the audit said. For example, as part of our data analysis, we noted that on December 31, 2022, one station-assigned fare access card was used 40 times at the Orient Heights station when it was assigned to the Wood Island station. The use of this pass 40 times in one day in a station where it was not assignedand certainly not secured in the station boothand the MBTAs response to this issue indicates a lack of monitoring and control and a lack of awareness by MBTA management about how its operations are being conducted. This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The post Audit faults MBTA for CharlieCard misuse by transit ambassadors appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Third-party personnel the MBTA hired to provide customer service rarely performed the desired amount of visual inspections in subway stations, and the T also could not prove that all of those workers completed required safety and operations training, the state auditors office said Sunday. A new report from Auditor Diana DiZoglios office flagged several issues with the MBTAs frontline customer service team, who are often found wearing red shirts in stations, provided by private vendor Block by Block (BBB). T officials pushed back on some of the findings, writing that one of the major takeaways relied on a flawed methodology. In an audit that covered the period from Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022, DiZoglios office found that BBB personnel completed the number of station checks the MBTA sought -- two per hour -- on only 6 percent of staffed, contracted days. A lack of regular station checks increases the risk that safety hazards and maintenance needs will not be identified in a timely manner, affecting the safety of the MBTAs riders, employees, and subway stations, the auditors office wrote. If the MBTA does not ensure that the controls (such as visual inspections by BBB employees) it designed to prevent safety incidents from occurring are in place and working as intended, then its ability to protect its riders and employees will continue to be impaired. MBTA officials, who have ramped up their attention on station conditions under General Manager Phil Eng, replied that although the agency encourages and requests two to four station checks per hour, that threshold is not a contractual requirement. The agency also said DiZoglios team deployed a methodology that negatively skews the data. For example, if a second station inspection was conducted one minute after the hour, the [auditors office] nonetheless considered that hour to be a failure, the T wrote in its response to the audit. BBB staffed approximately 646,000 base hours during the audit period at various stations. A total of 1,743,971 total station checks were conducted during that same period, averaging to approximately 2.4 station checks per hour staffed. The MBTA first contracted with Block by Block in 2017 to provide in-station customer service, which the T previously offered using its own employees. The parties have a five-year, $102 million contract in place through September 2027. DiZoglios office also raised concerns about training for the customer service agents. Among a sample of 60 workers, the T could not demonstrate that two completed MBTA safety training, and the T did not train 16 others about safety before assigning them to a subway station, according to the audit. The report said MBTA officials could not demonstrate that any of the 60 sample employees received operations training. T officials told DiZoglios office they did in fact provide documentation that all 60 employees in that sample were trained on operations and safety before being assigned to any independent shifts at subway stations. Some of the gaps, they said, appeared to be a result of incorrectly recorded deployment dates rather than insufficient training. But the auditors office said the evidence provided by the MBTA was not sufficient. In April 2024, the MBTA provided us with sign-in sheets documenting the date of safety training along with each BBB employees signature. We were able to trace all but two BBB employees to sign-in sheets, auditors wrote. The MBTA also provided us four Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, one of which was created in April 2024, as purported evidence of operations training that the MBTA indicated occurred in 2021 and 2022. The remaining three had been edited in April 2024. We were unable to substantiate whether these spreadsheets were altered prior to receiving them. This is unsatisfactory, as one of the documents was created two to three years after the training was reportedly conducted, while the others were edited prior to delivery to OSA and do not provide proof that the training occurred. Recommendations from DiZoglios office include implementing new monitoring steps to ensure Block by Block employees are fully trained on safety and operations before being deployed, retaining training records, and weaving an expectation of station checks into its contract with the company. In a statement alongside the audit report, DiZoglio referenced a state law that requires public agencies to prove services will remain as good or better at a lower cost before privatizing work, like the T did with its station customer service. This contract, however, was executed by the prior Administration during a loophole period in which the [Taxpayer Protection Act] did not apply. Our audit found a number of issues and, while the T indicated interest in moving towards active contract management, there is little evidence the T adequately improved contract management or performance in service to the public, she said. Riders, taxpayers and employees deserve better management of a contract worth tens of millions of their public dollars. The audit published Sunday is the first in a series of reports DiZoglios office prepared about its work examining safety and performance at the T, whose safety failures in recent years drew intense scrutiny from federal regulators and frustrated riders across the system. Additional audit topics include the Ts contract with commuter rail provider Keolis, a massive contract to overhaul fare collection, and additional topics focused on ensuring the safety of MBTA riders, employees, and the general public, DiZoglios office wrote. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW AUSTIN (KXAN) Several Central Texas crews headed to the Gulf of Mexico to help respond to Hurricane Beryl. Hundreds of people respond to help those affected by Beryl The Austin Humane Society was one of those teams. Over the weekend, it evacuated 96 dogs and cats in the path of the hurricane. The Austin Humane Society said its helped other shelters in the past when natural disasters and other crises happen. (Photo: KXAN) The Austin Humane Society said its helped other shelters in the past when natural disasters and other crises happen. (Photo: KXAN) AHS activated its emergency pet shelter, something theyve done before during natural disasters. We have partnerships with a lot of shelters throughout Texas, especially Central Texas, but also some of the coastal shelters as well. We helped with the Bastrop fires several years ago, said Charlotte OBanion, AHS shelter manager. Death toll at 3 as Beryl moves through Texas as tropical storm OBanion made the trip to the coast Friday evening. The Austin Humane Society went to the Texas coast on Friday evening to help evacuate nearly 100 dogs and cats. (Photo: The Austin Humane Society) The Austin Humane Society went to the Texas coast on Friday evening to help evacuate nearly 100 dogs and cats. (Photo: The Austin Humane Society) The Austin Humane Society went to the Texas coast on Friday evening to help evacuate nearly 100 dogs and cats. (Photo: The Austin Humane Society) The Austin Humane Society went to the Texas coast on Friday evening to help evacuate nearly 100 dogs and cats. (Photo: The Austin Humane Society) The Austin Humane Society went to the Texas coast on Friday evening to help evacuate nearly 100 dogs and cats. (Photo: The Austin Humane Society) Got all the animals loaded into the vans, got everyone ready, made long lists, got paperwork prepared, and then made the drive back up. Charlotte OBanion, Austin Humane Society shelter manager However, bringing nearly 100 animals wasnt easy for their small shelter. So, they turned to fosters to help. We dont have a huge amount of kennel space, OBanion said. So we luckily have a really great community and foster base that really stepped up and helped us get a lot of the animals out so that we can make room for everybody. PHOTOS: Damage after Beryl made landfall in Texas OBanion said taking the animals freed up the coastal shelter to deal with the aftermath of the hurricane. The Austin Humane Society said it still has dozens of animal evacuees that need to be adopted. (Photo: KXAN) The Austin Humane Society said it still has dozens of animal evacuees that need to be adopted. (Photo: KXAN) The Austin Humane Society said it still has dozens of animal evacuees that need to be adopted. (Photo: KXAN) The Austin Humane Society said it still has dozens of animal evacuees that need to be adopted. (Photo: KXAN) Theyve been helping with their community and strays and people who have lost their pets throughout the storm, OBanion said. While there have been a few adoptions already, AHS still has dozens of evacuees ready to find a home. It is running an adoption special this week. The adoption fee for animals over six months old is $25. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KYODO NEWS - Jul 10, 2024 - 00:01 | All, Japan Rina Gonoi, who was sexually assaulted while serving in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, said Tuesday she has reached a civil settlement with three of her convicted former colleagues. In the lawsuit filed at the Yokohama District Court in January 2023, Gonoi, 24, had sought damages from the state and five former GSDF members for mental distress over the sexual assault she endured while serving in a unit at Camp Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture. Gonoi left the GSDF in 2022. The settlement, initiated by the three former sergeants who were Gonoi's superiors, involves them apologizing and paying a sum of money, Gonoi said on her X account without disclosing the amount. "I will live each day feeling some happiness," Gonoi said. The Fukushima District Court last December delivered two-year prison sentences, suspended for four years, to each of the three former GSDF members who were found guilty of indecent assault against Gonoi. The ruling has been finalized. Gonoi had previously reached a settlement with another of the five former GSDF members. The case drew widespread attention as Gonoi made the rare move of coming forward to expose her ordeal, prompting the Defense Ministry to dishonorably discharge the three and two others and implement efforts to address harassment issues. Related coverage: Rina Gonoi attends White House ceremony for women of courage award Abused former GSDF member Gonoi gets women of courage award Protestors hold placards during a rally against antisemitism in Sydney, on Feb. 18, 2024. The Australian government named a special envoy Tuesday, July 9, 2024 to confront a rise in antisemitism across the country since the Israel-Hamas war began. A similar envoy will soon be appointed to challenge Islamophobia in Australia and both will promote social cohesion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters at the Sydney Jewish Museum. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP) MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The Australian government named a special envoy Tuesday to confront a rise in antisemitism across the country since the Israel-Hamas war began. A similar envoy will soon be appointed to challenge Islamophobia in Australia and both will promote social cohesion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Albaneses own Sydney office has been targeted with pro-Palestinian graffiti as rival activists clash over the Israeli-Hamas war in Australian cities and university campuses. Albanese appointed Jillian Segal, a Sydney lawyer and business executive, to be special envoy to combat antisemitism in Australia for three years. She will consult with community groups and report back to Albanese and Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles. Segal called statistics on antisemitism in Australia shocking." Reports of antisemitism spiked 700% immediately after Hamas militants sparked the war in Gaza by attacking Israel on Oct. 7, and are still running 400% to 500% higher than before the conflict, she said. The reports include Jewish-owned businesses being boycotted and vandalized as well as Jewish artists being excluded or subjected to social media shadow bans that restrict their visibility on platforms, Segal said. Unfortunately there is no single answer to the perennial problem of antisemitism, she said. But the creation of this role shows a determination by the government to confront this evil and to ensure that it does not erode the goodness that exists in our society, she added. Albanese said a graffiti attack that marked his inner-Sydney office as a Hamas target in December was being taken seriously and acted upon. He also condemned last month's vandalism with spray paint at the Australian National Korean War Memorial and the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in the national capital, Canberra. I have spoken with members of the Jewish community here, in Melbourne, right around Australia, who have not felt safe, members of the Jewish community whose children are worried about wearing their school uniform in our capital cities," Albanese said. "Thats not acceptable. Not acceptable, ever. And certainly not in Australia in 2024. What we need to do is to make sure that the conflict that is occurring in the Middle East that has caused a great deal of grief for the Jewish community, for members of the Islamic and Palestinian communities Australians overwhelmingly do not want conflict brought here, Albanese added. The Australian government is appointing the countrys first envoys to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia in an attempt to prevent further fraying of social cohesion over the war in Gaza. Announcing the positions on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East had caused a great deal of grief for Jewish and Islamic communities in Australia. Australians overwhelmingly do not want conflict brought here. What they want here is harmony and for people to be able to get on with each other, he said. The appointments come amid protests in Australia and dissent within the ranks of Albaneses ruling Labor Party over a war that has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 2 million people in Gaza. More than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, when Israel launched a devastating response to an attack by Hamas militants that killed more than 1,100 Israelis and saw hundreds of others kidnapped to Gaza. The two sides remain locked in conflict amid deeply polarized protests around the world over how Israel is fighting the conflict in Gaza where millions of Palestinians are facing famine and Hamas continues to hold hostages. Albanese said Tuesday that Jewish lawyer Jillian Segal had been appointed to consult Jewish Australians, experts and the wider community about ways to best address antisemitism. One of the things that I have found quite shocking is the lack of knowledge and experience about antisemitism and about where it leads, Albanese said from the Jewish Museum in Sydney where he made the announcement. I have spoken with members of the Jewish community here, in Melbourne, right around Australia, who have not felt safe, members of the Jewish community whose children are worried about wearing their school uniform in our capital cities. Thats not acceptable, he said. Newly appointed Australian envoy for antisemitism Jillian Segal speaks during a media conference in Sydney on October 9, 2023. - David Gray/AFP/Getty Images The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), which represents the Jewish community, recorded a spike in antisemitic incidents from October to November 2023. The group said Tuesday reports of antisemitic incidents in Australia are still running 400-500% higher than before the conflict. In some of the most high-profile incidents in Melbourne this year, windows were smashed on the office of a Jewish lawmaker and antisemitic slogans were written on a Jewish school. The Australian government supports a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East and has backed calls for a ceasefire, the safe passage of humanitarian aid, and the release of dozens of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Albanese said a special envoy for Islamophobia will be appointed shortly in a similar role to work with the Muslim community to promote social cohesion. Most countries recognize Palestinian statehood, and in May a United Nations resolution on Palestinian membership passed with the support of 143 nations, including Australia. Senator Fatima Payman attending a pro-Palestinian rally on October 28, 2023 in Perth, Australia. - Matt Jelonek/Getty Images In recent weeks the governments own cohesion has been tested by the resignation of a West Australian senator, who crossed the floor to vote with a rival party on the issue of Palestinian statehood. With a heavy heart but a clear conscience, I announce my resignation from the Australian Labor Party, Sen. Fatima Payman announced last Thursday. Payman, Labors first Muslim senator, voted with the Greens Party on a motion to recognize Palestinian statehood and threatened to do it again, breaking party rules. She was indefinitely suspended from Labors parliamentary caucus and later resigned to serve as an independent, accusing her former colleagues of attempting to intimidate her claims the party denied. Protests against Israels actions in Gaza are continuing in Australia with four people arrested for climbing onto the roof of Parliament House last week. University protests that saw hundreds of students pitch tents on campus grounds around Australia have since ended, with threats of expulsion for some students who took part. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The gunman who killed four law enforcement officers in April after a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tried to serve a warrant was shot 12 times and died from the gunshot wounds, according to a North Carolina medical examiners report. Terry Clark Hughes Jr., who ambushed task force members on April 29, was struck by bullets that entered the upper and lower parts of his body, his autopsy report shows. The autopsy also indicates he had THC the active ingredient in marijuana in his system at the time of his death. The tests didnt indicate that he had alcohol or other impairing substances in his body. He had 17 ng/mL of THC in his system, the toxicology test showed. In a number of states, someone with that amount of THC would be considered legally impaired. Hughes, 39, had been charged with several gun and drug offenses over the years. The shootout began around 1:30 p.m. when task force members approached a home on Galway Drive in east Charlotte, attempting to serve Hughes a warrant for a weapons charge and for a 120 mph escape from police in Lincoln County almost four months earlier. Armed with an AR-15, Hughes opened fire from a second-floor window. He killed four officers: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer, Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott with the state Department of Adult Correction, and U.S. Marshal deputy Thomas Weeks Jr. Four other officers were shot and wounded. Police say Hughes shot repeatedly at officers from multiple windows, firing at least 100 bullets. About a half hour after the firing began, Hughes jumped out of a second-floor window and was shot by officers. He died in the front yard, police said. Three officers fired fatal rounds, according to CMPDs attorney. Over a span of more than two decades, Hughes was charged with roughly 50 misdemeanors and felonies, including five that involved guns. He was convicted about a dozen times and served more than two years in state prison. But Hughes was rarely violent before April 29, records and interviews indicate. He had three children and worked as a traveling electrician, friends say. This is a developing story. Local districts have announced their back-to-school plans for the 2024-2025 school year. This is self-reported by the districts, and we are relying on them for any updates to the information you see below. This list is organized alphabetically by county and shows all of the districts for which we have information. If school officials have information on districts not listed here, or information that has changed since this list was created, they can contact our newsroom through their standard methods, or by e-mailing WHIO at newsdesk@cmgohio.com. AUGLAIZE COUNTY St. Marys City Schools: Start date: Aug. 20 for all grades. Lehman Catholic High School: Start Date: August 21 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY: Graham Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 22 for all grades. Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools: State Date: Aug. 19. (All Grades) West Liberty Salem Local Schools: Start date: Sept. 3. (All Grades) CLARK COUNTY Springfield City Schools: Start date: August 14 (Grades 1-9), August 15 (Grades 10-12), August 16 (Kindergarten) Tecumseh Local Schools: Start Date is Wednesday, Aug. 21. (All Grades) Kenton Ridge Local Schools : Start Date: August 22 (All Grades) Northeastern Local Schools: Start Date: Aug.22 (All Grades) Northwestern Local Schools: Start Date: Aug.20 (All Grades) Greenon Local Schools: Start Date: August 19 (Grades 1-12), August 22 (Kindergarten, Last name A-M), August 23 (Kindergarten, Last Name N-Z) Clark Shawnee Local Schools: Start Date: Aug.15 (All Grades) Southeastern Local Schools: Start Date: Aug.26 (All Grades) DARKE COUNTY Greenville City Schools: Start Date: August 26 (Grade 1-12, Kindergarten girls only), August 27 (Kindergarten boys only), August 28 (Kindergarten girls only), August 29 (Kindergarten boys only) Mississinawa Valley Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 28 (All Grades) Arcanum-Butler Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 27 (All Grades) Tri-village Local Schools : Start date: Aug. 27 (All Grades) Versailles Schools: Start date: Aug. 26 (All Grades) Franklin Monroe Local School: Start date: Aug. 27 (All Grades) St. Marys School - Start Date: Aug. 27 (All Grades) GREENE COUNTY Fairborn City Schools: Start Date: August 20 (Grade 1-12), August 23 (PreK & K) Beavercreek City Schools: Start dates: August 14 (Grade 6-12, Grade 1-5 last name A-L), August 15 (Grade 1-5 last name M-Z), August 16 (Kindergarten staggered start), August 19 (Kindergarten staggered start) Xenia Community Schools: Start date: August 2o (All Grades) Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Schools: Start date: August 14 (All Grades) Legacy Christian Academy: Start Date: August 14 LOGAN COUNTY Bellefontaine City Schools: Start date: September 4 (Grade 1-9, PreK & K last name A-K), September 5 (Grade 10-12, PreK & K last name L-Z) West Liberty Salem Local Schools: Start date: Sept. 3 (All Grades) Benjamin Logan Local Schools: Start date: September 3 (Grades 1-12) September 4 (Kindergarten girls), September 5 (Kindergarten boys) Indian Lake Local Schools: Start date: August 21 (All Grades) MERCER COUNTY Marion Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 21 (All Grades) Celina City Schools: Start date: August 21 (Grade 7-12), September 3 (Grade K-6) St. Henry Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 20 (All Grades) Coldwater Local Schools: Start Date: August 20 Immaculate Conception School: Start Date: August 21 MIAMI COUNTY Troy City Schools: Start date: Aug. 20 (All Grades) Milton-Union Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 21 (All Grades) Miami East Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 21 (All Grades) Piqua City Schools: Start date: Sept. 3 (All Grades) Newton Local Schools: Start date: Aug. 20 (All Grades) Tipp City Schools: Start date: August 19 (Grade 6-12), August 22 (Grade K-5) Troy Christian Schools : Start Date: August 22 Piqua Catholic School: Start Date: August 21 St. Patrick Catholic School (Troy): Start Date: August 21 MONTGOMERY COUNTY Northmont Local Schools: Start date: August 14 (Grades 7-12), August 16 (Pre-K to 6) Centerville City Schools: Start date: August 14 (Grades K-12), August 21 (Pre-K) Brookville City Schools: Start date: August 14 (all grades) Huber Heights City Schools: Start date: August 15 (Grades 1-7, 9) August 16 (Grades 8, 10-12), August 20 (Kindergarten) Kettering City Schools: Start date: August 15 (Grade 1-10), August 16 (Grade 11-12), August 19 (Kindergarten), August 21 (Pre-K) Oakwood City Schools: Start date: August 14 (Grade 7-12), August 16 (Grade 1-6) Miamisburg City Schools: Start date: August 13 (all grades) Trotwood City Schools: Start date: August 12 (all grades) Dayton Public Schools: Start date: August 15 (Grade 1-12), August 21 (Pre-K & K last name A-M), August 22 (Pre-K & K last name N-Z) Jefferson Twp. Public Schools: Start date: Aug 15 (All Grades) Mad River Local Schools: Start date: September 3 (Grade 1-10, Kindergarten last name A-L), September 4 (Kindergarten last name M-Z) New Lebanon Local Schools: Start date: August 21 (all grades) Vandalia Butler City Schools: Start date: September 3 (all grades) Alter High School: Start Date: Aug. 14 for Freshman and Aug. 15 for all Students Chaminade-Julienne Catholic High School: Start Date: August 15 Valley View Local Schools : Start Date: August 21 Dayton Christian Schools: August 13 Carroll High School: Start Date: August 15 Holy Angels (Dayton): Start Date: August 21 PREBLE COUNTY Eaton City Schools: Start Date: August 21 (Grade 1-12), August 28 (Kindergarten last name A-L), August 29 (Kindergarten last name M-Z) National Trail Local Schools: Start date: August 22 (all grades) Preble Shawnee Local Schools: Start Date: August 20 (Middle & High School), August 22 (Elementary School) Tri-County North Local Schools: Start Date: August 14 (all grades) Twin Valley South Local Schools: State Date: August 19 (all grades) SHELBY COUNTY Fairlawn Local Schools: Start Date: August 20 (Grade 1-12, Kindergarten last name A-L), August 21 (Kindergarten last name M-Z, Pre-K last name A-L), August 22 (Pre-K last name M-Z). Fort Loramie Local Schools: Start Date: August 15 (all grades) Anna Local Schools: Start Date: August 20 (Grade 1-12, Kindergarten last name A-J), August 21 (Kindergarten last name K-Z) Botkins Local Schools: Start Date: August 21 (all grades) Hardin-Houston Local Schools: August 21 (all grades) Jackson Center Local Schools: Start Date: August 20 (all grades) Russia Local Schools: Start date: August 20 (all grades) Sidney City Schools: August 26 (Pre-K Group 1), August 27 (Grade 5-12, Grade K-4 Group A, Pre-K Group 2), August 28 (Grade K-4 Group B), August 29 (Grade K-4 Group C) Holy Angels School (Sidney): Start Date: August 21 WARREN COUNTY Springboro City Schools: Start date: August 15 (Grade 1-2, Kindergarten last name A-M), August 16 (Kindergarten last name N-Z) WAYNE COUNTY Centerville-Abington Community Schools: Start date: August 7 (all grades) Richmond Community Schools: Start date: August 5 (Grade 9), August 6 (Grade K-8, 10-12) Nettle Creek Schools: Start date: August 6 (all grades) CHICAGO (CBS/CNN) Authorities in the Bahamas say that they've recovered an iPhone they believe belongs to a Chicago woman who went missing there about three weeks ago, though officials admitted Monday they have not as of yet been able to open it to access its contents. Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen in the Bahamas on June 19. Her family says Casey, who has been practicing yoga for 15 years, was attending a yoga retreat "to fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice." Police in the Bahamas were first alerted to Casey's disappearance by the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, which asked them to investigate after Casey failed to attend morning classes. Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said that, during a June 22 search, a dog picked up a scent from a tent and tracked it to the water, but the scent ended there. They subsequently located a phone under roughly 56 feet of water. Investigators in the Bahamas asked American authorities for help unlocking the phone, but they also had no luck, Fernander said Monday. Authorities also reviewed surveillance footage from around the island, but there is "no information to connect at this time," the police commissioner added. Officials added that underwater drones were used in the search for Casey on July 3, but they didn't come up with anything. Meanwhile, surveillance footage from the hotel has also yielded no results. Missing woman's mother seeks answers, increased urgency Casey's mother reported Casey missing, but she says when she first arrived in the Bahamas to speak to investigators, she says she did not see a single missing persons flyer for her daughter. "They were just really nonchalant and just not acting like it was their child missing," she said. "I had to return home without her. This is every mother's worst nightmare." The flyer that's now posted in the area does not provide details of the circumstances of her disappearance or say whether foul play is suspected. Casey's family asked the FBI to take over the search, saying they "are not satisfied with how this investigation has been handled thus far." In honor of her 42nd birthday, Casey's family will gather to again push for help in the search. "What we learned and observed during our time meeting with the authorities and Ashram leaders is disturbing and infuriating," Emily Williams, a friend of Casey who accompanied Seymore on the trip, said in a release. When a U.S. citizen is missing, the department works with local authorities and communicates with families openly, a State Department spokesperson said. When asked for comment, the FBI referred CNN to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Trump released from hospital after apparent assassination attempt at rally Officials share new details on Trump rally shooting, investigation of assassination attempt How the GOP was born VIRGINIA, MINN. Michael Allen Carbo Jr., incarcerated for the past four years, could be released with conditions while he waits to be tried again for the murder of Nancy Daugherty, a Chisholm woman who was found dead in her home on July 16, 1986. Carbo made his first appearance at the St. Louis County Courthouse since the Minnesota Supreme Court kicked the case back for a retrial. The high court ruled that it erred in not originally allowing Carbo an alternate perpetrator defense. Judge Robert C. Friday set Carbo's bail at $350,000 with conditions. His new trial is set to start Jan. 13, 2025, and could last up to three weeks. He will be back to court for a hearing Aug. 19. Carbo was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder in August 2022 and sentenced to life in prison, with a chance of parole after 17 years. His attorney wanted to introduce evidence that would point to Brian Evenson, Daugherty's friend, who had hung out with her the night before she died and was among the people who found her the next day. Carbo appeared in head-to-toe blue for the hearing, handcuffed and chained, between his attorneys JD Schmid and Bruce Williams. Judge Robert C. Friday set Carbo's bail using a mathematical formula based on Carbo's presumed earnings from his work at a Chisholm care facility before he was arrested. He will have electronic home monitoring and cannot use mood altering substances if he is released. His original bail, set at the time of his arrest, was $1 million. Daugherty, a mother of two who was beloved at the local nursing home where she worked, was strangled and raped in her bed. She was discovered hours later by friends and law enforcement conducting a welfare check. Investigators spent three decades, and tested dozens of DNA samples, looking for her killer. Carbo was the only suspect ever arrested for the murder. Aside from attending the same high school as Daugherty's children, he seemingly had no ties to the victim. Investigators used a genealogy website and DNA taken from Daugherty's fingernails and the lid of her toilet, which led them to Carbo. During the trial, Carbo claimed that he had consensual sex with Daugherty that night, but did not kill her. Carbo was charged with burglary in 1988 and 1990, but had lived quietly since then. More than 20 people wrote letters to the court in support of Carbo when he was first arrested. Schmid argued Monday afternoon that Carbo should not be judged by who he was more than 30 years ago. "The person I was would not be a reflection of how I am now," Schmid said in comparison. Friday repeated that first-degree murder is the most serious of crimes. "The result is a human life," he said. Carbo had two supporters in the courtroom, who were led away to a conference room by Schmid after the accused was led away. Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski, left, and tax appraiser Tessa Knudson run a ballot tabulator June 24, 2024, during a meeting of the Burleigh County Canvassing Board. A proposed ballot measure seeks to require hand-counting of ballots. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) Sponsors of a constitutional ballot initiative that would change how elections are conducted in North Dakota failed to submit signatures to the Secretary of States Office by Mondays deadline for inclusion on the November ballot. The petition was approved by the Secretary of States Office for circulation on Sept. 27, 2023, and the measures sponsoring committee has one year to gather 31,164 signatures. Sponsors are working to collect 20,000 more signatures between now and September for inclusion on the June 2026 ballot, Lydia Gessele, chair of the ballot measures sponsoring committee, told the North Dakota Monitor. She said petition circulators are gathering more signatures than required in case some are ruled invalid. Were going to have people out at different events and then just in their communities as well, Gessele said. The ballot measure would prohibit electronic voting machines and tabulators, which would cause all election results to be hand counted. Some of the other aspects of the measure would prohibit early voting or voting by mail, except for absentee ballots; drop-boxes for ballots; and ranked-choice voting. It would also require all polling locations to be open on Election Day and a two-thirds majority voting threshold in both chambers for legislative ballot measures before they are put to the voters. The measure also would empower any U.S. citizen with the ability to request an audit of the states election results. During the June primary, 36 North Dakota counties received approval from their county commissioners to conduct vote-by-mail during the election. (North Dakota voters) should be educating themselves about these machines, Gessele said. People need to start educating themselves instead of just sitting back and believing what they are being told about them. In previous North Dakota Monitor reporting, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe reiterated his support for using ballot-counting machines and emphasized that none of the machines are connected to the internet. He added hand counting ballots on election night would take longer and increase the likelihood of human error. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A trio of NATO defense ministers whose countries share a border with Russia urged their NATO counterparts to live up to their defense spending commitments. Countries in NATO are supposed to be committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense to fund the organization. But not all member nations are meeting the target, they said. This lack of burden sharing placed NATO on the ballot of the upcoming U.S. presidential election as former President Donald Trump has stated he may reduce the U.S. involvement in NATO if European countries dont step up their game. Lithuanias Minister of National Defense Laurynas Kasciunas, Latvias Minister of Defense Andris Spruds and Estonias Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur attended the roundtable discussion July 9, moderated by POLITICOs Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris and Welt TVs Editor-in-Chief Jan Philipp Burgard, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. Kasciunas said the upcoming U.S. presidential election is of importance to Europeans because to feel safe and secure in Europe, they need a U.S. presence. He said the country must be prepared to work with whoever is elected and whichever political party is in power. So its a dogma, I would say, for Baltic states, we know our geopolitical history, we know who played a key role in our independence, Kasciunas said. So, its a crucial one, and we hear debates. But I think we should be prepared to work with America. Spruds said he believes Trump was right in advocating for fair burden sharing among NATO countries and in raising the 2% of GDP defense requirement. Nineteen of 31 NATO countries failed to meet the requirement in 2023, including France at 1.9% and Canada at 1.38%. NATO now has 32 members with the addition of Sweden in 2024. NATO member Iceland has no armed forces and is omitted from the defense spending goal. NATO countries are aware they do not meet the requirement, but are striving to improve their spending. Compared to 2014, when only three countries met the 2% target, 18 countries are predicted to spend at least 2% in 2024. Some NATO countries are even breaking personal records. Germany spent 1.57% last year, but now are spending more than they ever have on defense since the 1990s, announcing in February they were able to meet the 2% mark. That is urgently needed, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in February after Trump remarked the U.S. would not protect countries who dont meet the spending requirement. Because as harsh as this reality is, we do not live in times of peace. Pevkur said NATO countries are aware that the 2% defense requirement is not enough because of shortages in defense capabilities, but production capabilities must rise alongside the increase in defense investment. Estonia is spending 3.4% this year of their GDP on defense, making the country the second-highest spender in NATO. We pay more by share of our economy, Pevkur said. We are paying more than U.S. is paying at the moment. The U.S. is paying 3.38% on defense, according to Pevkur, making the U.S. the third-largest contributor to NATO this year with respect to their GDP. Tensions have always been high between Russia and its neighboring Baltic states, where Russia often blames them for the severed relationship. The defense ministers said the Russian expansionist mindset is nothing new and may continue even when Vladimir Putin is no longer Russias president, as their countries have delt with Russian attacks for years against cyber or critical infrastructure. This is exactly what Russia wants to have, that all the European countries will deal with internal problems and not with Ukraine, Pevkur said. In reality, we see that hundreds of people are dying in Ukraine, and this should be our main focus. Kasciunas said countries should have credible defense and deterrence measures in place to discourage Russia from attacking them. KYODO NEWS - Jul 9, 2024 - 09:36 | All, Japan Prosecutors decided Monday not to indict Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and seven other senior Liberal Democratic Party members over a political funds scandal that has dogged Japan's ruling party since last year, citing a lack of evidence, sources close to the matter said. The lawmakers from three LDP factions, which had been accused of violating the political funds control law by failing to report fundraising revenue, also include Toshimitsu Motegi, the party's secretary general, and Toshihiro Nikai, who previously held the post. The prosecutors also reached similar conclusions regarding the other eight current and former LDP lawmakers, as well as accountants and clerical staff of their affiliated political groups. The scandal centers on funds raised by lawmakers from selling tickets for party faction events that exceeded their assigned quotas. These excess funds were allegedly not recorded in political funds reports and were transferred to the lawmakers. Hiroshi Kamiwaki, a constitutional professor at Kobe Gakuin University, among others, investigated the allegations and submitted criminal complaints over the case with prosecutors. In January, several individuals belonging to party factions, including a former accountant of the group formerly led by Kishida, were indicted over the scandal. Related coverage: FOCUS: Reeling Kishida to face LDP leadership fight as election looms Former PM Suga says calls for Kishida to quit growing louder in LDP Only 10% want PM Kishida to stay as support rate sags: Kyodo poll Dowses Beach in Osterville, Mass. (Courtesy of Save Greater Dowses Beach) The town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, is putting out the welcome mat for power from offshore wind farms off the coast, but amid growing opposition on Cape Cod its unclear whether that will continue. The still-under-construction Vineyard Wind 1, which is bringing its 800 megawatts of electricity ashore at Covell Beach, faced relatively little local opposition. That changed when the developer Avangrid proposed a second landing spot at Craigville Beach for a transmission line from another 800-megawatt wind farm. Still, Avangrid recently won final approval from a divided Barnstable Town Council after sweetening its host community agreement with the town. Avangrid is currently planning another 1,200-megawatt wind farm that would deliver its power to the Cape at Dowses Beach in the Barnstable village of Osterville. Many in town are asking why a residential beach community has become the onshore epicenter of the offshore wind business in Massachusetts. The town is outraged that this is happening, said Chuck Tuttle of the Barnstable village of Centerville, one of the founders of an opposition group called Barnstable Speaks. I wouldnt be surprised if the town gets sued. The reason Avangrid is targeting Barnstable is because of its proximity to the offshore wind farm area and its ability to deliver electricity relatively cheaply to the regional power grid. Vineyard Wind 1, a joint venture of Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, secured a host community agreement with Barnstable relatively easily. Avangrid signed a second host community agreement with Barnstable for another wind farm in May 2022, but the company terminated that project in 2023 when economic conditions shifted. That project, previously called Park City Wind and now dubbed New England Wind 1, is back on track. Because it has nearly all of its federal, state, and local permits, New England Wind 1 is the frontrunner to win a power purchase agreement in a state procurement scheduled to close in August. But the long delay since the original host community agreement was approved gave opponents time to mobilize. They elected people who shared their concerns to the Town Council in November and they raised concerns about the Craigville Beach project, as well as the plan for a future transmission line at Dowses Beach. At a Town Council meeting on June 27, Barnstable Town Attorney Karen Nober said attitudes had shifted on the original host community agreement for the transmission line coming ashore at Craigville Beach. In the last year or so, she said, Barnstable residents and businesses have raised a host of concerns about the Park City Wind project and its potential impact some of which was not integrated when the host community agreement was originally negotiated. Then she dropped a bombshell, revealing that the Town Council greenlighted the project after approving a sweetener to the original host community agreement during an executive session two weeks earlier. The vote was 7-5. The original deal called for Avangrid to pay $16 million to the town over 20 years, but the sweetener promised the $16 million up front at the start of construction. The new deal also provided new protections if any problems surfaced during construction of the power line and an electric substation. And it offered the town another $10 million for roadway improvements, sewer work, and the Barnstable schools. Opponents on the council lamented the new deal. This is not a win. This is a travesty, said John Crow. Betty Ludtke asked why Avangrid could back out of its deal with the state but the town couldnt back out of its earlier host community agreement with Avangrid. Were giving away our treasure, she said. A day later two high-ranking Healey administration officials sent a letter to local elected officials thanking them for their leadership and assuring them the project is safe. We urge the public to be wary of increasing disinformation about common electric infrastructure, which is extensively vetted by environmental and permitting experts as well as independent academics prior to installation, wrote Michael Judge, the states undersecretary of energy, and Robbie Goldstein, the commissioner of the Department of Public Health. Barnstable residents should not be dissuaded from enjoying the beach this summer, but rather proud of their important role in the fight against climate change, and confident that the electric transmission lines pose no known threat to public health or safety. Avangrid, meanwhile, is not backing away from its plan to bring another transmission line ashore at Dowses Beach. Thats still the place we want to go, said Ken Kimmell, vice president of offshore wind development at Avangrid. This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The post Barnstable, Mass., at the center of offshore wind debate appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Native Vote 2024. As Indigenous voters gear up for national and local elections, some citizens of sovereign nations face barriers to voting on the issues that most impact their communities. Two recent acts of voter suppression against Native communities have emerged in central Michigan and upstate New York, both involving local school board elections. In both Michigan and New York are acts of erroneous districting practices that suppressed a tribal nations ability to have a say in the quality of their childrens education. In Michigan, reservation residents were voting for the incorrect school district. In New York, the Onondaga Nation was excluded entirely from having a say in what happens to their very own nation school. Both cases bring to light the continued struggle of sovereign tribal nations exercising their voting rights. However, when it comes to civic engagement outside the tribal community, each nation has differing views and opinions on whether or not to vote in non-tribal elections. In Michigan, it is the general consensus among the Indigenous community that voting is a must. In the Onondaga Nation, the community believes that voting in non-tribal elections undermines their sovereignty. In October 2022 Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Melissa Isaac, a tribal citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan and the head of the Indigenous Education Initiative for the Michigan Department of Education, was asked to fill a vacant seat on the Mt. Pleasant Public School Board. Isaac was excited for the chance to be the Indigenous representation on the board, as most of the kids from the reservation attend Mt. Pleasant schools. Isaac resides on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Indian Reservation, near Mt. Pleasant. When she was initially asked to fill the position, she was unsure of her eligibility because her voting ballot like those of others who live on the reservation does not include Mt. Pleasant Public Schools. Instead, it includes a neighboring school district. Isaac provided her address to the current members of the school board at the time, and they assured her she was eligible to fill the position. My first reaction to being asked was, I don't think I'm eligible, Issac told Native News Online. When I vote (my) ballot is for the board of education members for Shepherd Public Schools. Isaac has served on the board ever since. This year, her seat is up for reelection and she has to garner enough signatures for her name to be on the November 2024 ballot. This is where she discovered the voting discrepancy. Isaac wanted to center her signature collection efforts in her own tribal community. Some people she approached were reluctant to sign her petition because they typically had voted for members of the Shepherd Public Schools Board of Education. She explained to them that, even though it seemed unusual, they were eligible to sign her nominating petition they just wouldnt be able to vote for her in November. I can run, but I can't vote for myself, Issac said. When I said that out loud, I was like, this doesn't sound right to me. Isaac then took it upon herself to get to the bottom of the issue. She reached out to the County Clerk's Office the day before Memorial Day, May 24, where they asked her where she pays property taxes. She explained that those who live on tribal land don't pay property taxes. The clerk's office then took her address and looked at where those around the tribal land pay their property taxes. The last thing Isaac heard before the call was briefly disconnected was they are?. After getting reconnected they informed her that they will fix this issue right away and make sure that those on tribal land who are within the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools district area will be voting for Mt. Pleasant Public Schools. Through Michigans online voter information site, Isaac checked her ballot in the following days to see if anything had changed. On May 28, her online ballot stated her voting school district was Mt. Pleasant Public Schools. Isaac has also asked others who live on the reservation to see if theirs have been updated. So far, all of those she's spoken to have seen the change. It dawned on me that it is 100 years of the Indian Citizenship Act and voting rights and how states, even in spite of that, still made it difficult for our people to vote. Now, up until 2024, I didn't have my full voting rights until Friday before Memorial Day. I have a problem with that, Isaac said. There's also a sovereignty issue here because why should it matter who the people around us pay their property taxes to, to distinguish where my right to vote is? School Board elections are local elections where voting eligibility is decided on whether or not your place of residence sits within the school district boundaries. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribes Isabella Reservation sits within the boundaries of the Mt. Pleasant School District. In Michigan, school board elections are on the same ballot as state and federal primary and general elections. However, the process in New York is different school board elections are held separately from all other elections. Cassandra Bean Minerd, a member of the Eel Clan from the Onondaga Nation, is a strategist for the Racial Justice Center at The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, tasked with defending the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and civil rights. Minerd explains that the Onondaga Nation School (ONS), located on the Onondaga Nation territory south of Syracuse, is run by the state. The school currently serves pre-K to eighth grade. The school is part of the Lafayette School District from which it is to receive funding and support; however, the building, Minerd said, is in disarray. Everything in that building is beautiful, but their infrastructure is not. It's very impaired. Its roof is caving in, doors are not security locked, students are sharing two subjects in one classroom. There are students with disabilities in the hallway, there's no addition for these kids that need them, explained Minerd. ONS has put in a request for general repairs to the entryway doors for more 15 years and is only now saying that it will fix the doors by this summer. ONS, and the other Indigenous schools in New York, do not receive funding in the same way as other public schools. These schools must make a direct request to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for their funding. This does not guarantee money for capital improvements. All other public schools receive some amount of annual capital improvement funding. In an attempt to remedy this issue, in 2022 New York Governor Kathy Hochul allocated funding to the three Indigenous schools across the state. Before this, ONS hadnt seen a dollar for capital improvements in seven years. Although funding is a major issue for the school, having representation on the Lafayette School District board is where the change begins. In 2020, Onondaga Nation leaders asked to have a voting presence on the board, referencing how in the 1970s, Verna Cook from Mohawk Nation petitioned New York State courts to vote in district elections and run for vacant board seats. The district received inquiries from Onondaga Nation community members during the fall of 2023 who were interested in serving as a voice on the board. Lafayette School District has always told the Onondaga Nation since we are a sovereign nation, and do not pay taxes, we are not qualified to vote, and have no say on the school board elections as well as the school board budgets for the schools including the Onondaga Nation School, Minerd said. Historically, a clan mother, Freida Jacques, served as an ex-officio, non-voting board member, from the early 2000s until 2014. Jacques would sit with the board and participate in board discussions but was not eligible to vote on matters since she was not an elected board member. The NYCLU contacted the district early this spring to request their policies. A few weeks later, after the board met in late April, the district changed its policies to make it clear that Onondaga Nation residents can vote in school board elections. This doesnt mean that everyone is now jumping at the chance to vote; the Onondaga Nation believes that voting in non-tribal elections may undermine their sovereignty. Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Director of the Racial Justice Center, learned this throughout her work with the Onondaga Nation. Because it's such a traditional nation, there is still a lot of hesitancy or unwillingness to participate in voting. They really stand strong and firm on their belief that they're a sovereign nation, and they don't participate in the political process, explained Owens-Chaplin. So we're trying to differentiate that this is not participation in general politics, this is participation in a school board. Then also setting out a memo to explain you're not going to lose your sovereignty by voting, you're going to maintain your sovereignty by voting. The NYCLU is also working on advocating for inclusive language on the voting form itself, such as U.S. Citizen or Citizen of a sovereign nation, when voters are prompted to assert their voting eligibility. A statement from Jeremy Belfield, Lafayette Public Schools Superintendent, cites the policy the district follows that affirms the Onondaga Nation citizens the right to vote and run for the school board. New York State Education Law Section 2102 is the code that the school district follows. In it, it states that to run you must be a resident of the school district, or a resident of the district or reservation, for at least one year." Superintendent Belfield also updated the FAQ section of the Board of Education website to help clarify how Onondaga Nation community members could run for or vote in the school district election. He has made it clear that he supports an Onondaga Nation citizen running for the board. One Onondaga Nation community member reached out to me when we announced that nomination petitions for the board of education were available. I encouraged the community member to stop by the district office and pick up a nominating petition. Unfortunately, the community member did not return a nominating petition or run for the board, Belfield said. About the Author: "Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies. " Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net This summer, the Better Business Bureau Serving North Alabama (BBB) wants to warn about a sweepstakes scam that impersonates Publishers Clearing House (PCH), which is a BBB Accredited Business. Karen Reeves, president and CEO of the BBB Serving North Alabama, said scammers are making phone calls, falsely informing people that theyve won a prize they actually havent, and then asking them to send money to receive the prizes. BBB Tip: Protect against home title fraud I think its become a scam because were inundated every day with offers for drawings or sweepstakes, so unfortunately Publishers Clearing House has become a victim, Reeves explained. She said the scams start with a phone call where the caller falsely claims to be with PCH. Theyll say youve won thousands or millions of dollars or maybe a really nice car. However, theres a catch. The scammer then informs you that to receive your winnings, you have to pay a fee for an IRS requirement or a brokers fee. They may tell you to buy a gift card and then give them the numbers on the back of the card. Its possible the scammer could tell you to send money to a specific bank account or mail it to an address in another state. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now BBB Consumer Alerts Some scammers ask for more personal information, like your bank name, bank account and routing numbers. First and foremost, if somebody calls and they tell you youve won but youve got to pay something, hang up. Cease communication. Reeves said the scammers can be consistent, but its important not to communicate with them anymore. The BBB said its important to never share gift card information or personal information with someone who has called you out of the blue. Publishers Clearing House will never call or private message a consumer on social media to let them know they have won and will never ask for payment, said Christopher L. Irving with PCH. BBB Tips: Booking a hotel room The BBB suggests these tips to avoid sweepstakes scams: Remember, you have to play to win. If youre being told you won a sweepstakes but dont remember entering one, thats a red flag for a scam. Never pay upfront fees to claim your prizes. No legitimate sweepstakes company will ask you to pay fees to receive your prizes. Dont get caught up in the excitement. Sweepstakes scammers will try their best to get you very excited about your winnings, but dont let that cloud your judgment. If youre being asked to pay with a gift card, its likely a scam. Paying with a gift card is one of the most common tactics scammers use to steal money from people. For more information on sweepstakes scams and for more tips on avoiding them, visit the BBBs website by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Beach safety: How to protect yourself from intense heat, rip currents and drowning HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) This year, 19 people have died in surf-zone fatalities in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. This comes as the CDC reports a spike in drowning deaths, and its all happening amid an ongoing string of heat advisories and swimming alerts, so precautions must be taken by the public. Beach & water safety: We want everybody to be prepared Hampton Roads is a major destination for tourists, and each year, thousands flock to places like Virginia Beach. However, a trip to hit the water could take a dark turn, and even be deadly, if safety isnt prioritized. So how can you maximize your summer fun without without putting your safety at risk? First things first, use a buddy system. Always swim with somebody thats capable of helping you out in case you get in trouble, said Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service Capt. Mark Levine. Stay close to the shore. Dont go so far out that its too late before somebody can help you. Limit the amount of alcohol. Definitely dont do any drugs while youre out swimming. Have fun, stay safe: message from Virginia Beach EMS ahead of July 4 celebration Beach-goers are also advised to be aware of life-threatening rip currents. This year, eight people have reportedly drowned in the currents along the Atlantic coast. So, the best advice probably is just not to fight that current, said Kassy McCoy, a lifeguard with the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service. Throw your arm up for help. Dont freak out. And the lifeguards are all here to help you. You can also pay attention to the different flag colors. Unlike most beaches which put out a variety of flag colors, Virginia Beach only uses red to alert the public. If you see one, you should speak with your nearest lifeguard. So normally the lifeguards will advise everyone, McCoy said. Were setting up red flags behind our stand. I will just identify that the water is dangerous that day, and feel free to ask the lifeguard why those conditions are like that. So, everything will be identified through that red flag that says the water is dangerous. That simply means dont get in the water. While on the beach, another major advisory that will continue pertains to the intense heat levels. You know, the beach on an average day, the sand will get above 130 degrees, Levine said. So you got to be careful walking out. You want to have some foot protection flip flops, shoes, sandals, whatever, and stay hydrated. The Lifesaving Service team recommends when getting in the water, to venture out no more than 100 feet from the shore, and to only swim within your capabilities. The Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service has around 50 lifeguards staffed until mid-October, which provides the beach with enough support to cover emergencies for the duration of the busy tourist season. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Becerra defends Biden as fit for office: He knows how to see around the corner President Joe Bidens secretary of health and human services defended him on Tuesday as fit for office amid an open revolt within the Democratic Party over his ability to proceed as their nominee this fall. In an interview with McClatchy at HHS headquarters, Secretary Xavier Becerra said the presidents decades of experience should be seen as an asset. Not only can he do the job, but hes been doing it, Becerra said. We are fortunate to have someone who can use all of his experience to take us further. Bidens halting debate performance in Atlanta last month prompted panic among Democrats over his ability to sustain a winning campaign against his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, who has consistently led him in battleground state polls. Several Democratic members of Congress, alongside prominent partisan pundits and editorial boards, have called on him to step aside. But Biden has refused to consider voluntarily withdrawing from the race, leaving the party with little choice but to support him. If you recall where we were four years ago, the depth of a pandemic Americans losing their jobs, Americans losing their health care today, more Americans employed than ever before. Today, more Americans with health coverage than ever before. Today, Americans free of the ills of COVID in the way they were four years ago, Becerra said in the interview. No president in the history of this country has ever placed 700 million vaccines in the arms of Americans to keep them alive, and keep them healthy. And the result is our economy is healthy. So is he fit? Hes proven it. He is, and he can do the job, Becerra continued. I think his experience has helped him be a great president. And we want people who know where to go, how to navigate those tough roads ahead. And he knows how to see around the corner, because hes seen so many of those corners over the course of his life. Becerra spoke with McClatchy for The Abortion Fight Goes Local, a special series on abortion to be published July 10. 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) Belarus is hosting Chinese troops for a joint military drill near its border with NATO member Poland, officials said Tuesday, the first such exercise reflecting growing defense ties between the two countries. The 11-day drill named Eagle Assault 2024 started on Monday at a shooting range in the Brest region close to Poland. It comes ahead of NATO's summit in Washington that opens on Tuesday and after Belarus last week joined a regional security organization led by China and Russia. Belarus authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country of 9.5 million with an iron hand for three decades, has relied on close ties with his main sponsor and ally Russia, and also sought to forge increasingly close relations with China. Lukashenko has become a pariah in the West after unleashing a brutal crackdown on the opposition in response to massive protests in 2020, triggered by his disputed reelection that the opposition and the West denounced as rigged. The West has responded by imposing sweeping sanctions on Belarus. He also allowed Russia to use his country as a staging ground for the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, Russia also moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Lukashenko and his officials have repeatedly accused NATO of hostile intentions. Our country takes all the necessary measures to avoid an escalation, but we will respond harshly to any attempt to violate our border, The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that as part of the joint drill, the Belarusian and Chinese troops will practice airborne assault, river crossing and residential area combat. The situation in the world is difficult, and so we are practicing new forms and methods of solving tactical tasks, said Vadzim Dzenisenka, the chief of the Belarusian militarys special operations command. A statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry said the forces will also practice hostage rescue and counter-terrorism operations. The joint training aims to enhance the coordination capabilities of the participating troops and deepen practical cooperation between the two armies, it said. Belarus last week joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001 by China and Russia to discuss security concerns in Central Asia and the wider region. (KRON) An elephant thats spent two decades at Oakland Zoo will soon be reunited with other African elephants. The zoo announced Monday that Osh, a 30-year-old male elephant, will leave the zoo in the fall for a new forever home at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Osh is the only remaining African elephant at the Oakland Zoo. Donna, the last female African elephant who resided at the zoo, moved to the same location last September. At the sanctuary, which is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Osh will be reunited with Donna and other African elephants. Family from Kansas City finds missing son in San Francisco The decision to move Osh to the sanctuary was made after an exhaustive nationwide search to find a compatible African elephant to join him at the zoo came up empty-handed. While zoo officials called the decision to relocate Osh difficult and heartbreaking, they also stated it was the best decision for his wellbeing. Although its difficult to say farewell to Osh, were filled with joy knowing hes found a new home at The Sanctuary, said Colleen Kinzley, VP of Animal Care, Conservation and Research at the Oakland Zoo. He will have the opportunity to socialize and develop relationships with many other elephants over his lifetime. Something that we could not offer him here. Those of us who know and loved him, including our Oakland Zoo community, will miss him terribly. Photos: Oakland Zoo Zoo officials said they choose the sanctuary for Osh and Donna because it would be able to provide the elephants with extensive social opportunities. Upon his arrival in Tennessee in the fall, he will immediately be able to communicate with and smell other elephants, the zoo said. A 3,000-square-foot bull barn is currently being built at the sanctuary for Osh and another similar barn for Artie, a 41-year-old male African elephant. Osh will have the opportunity to get to know Artie across fence lines, zoo officials said. After getting settled into his new digs at the sanctuary, Osh will also have the opportunity to meet female African elephants. We are hopeful that Osh and Donna will have the opportunity to reunite, zoo officials said. Standing 11 feet 2 inches tall, and weighing 15,000 pounds, moving Osh to the sanctuary will require significant time and preparation, zoo officials said. Osh will be transported in a specially designed, air-conditioned trailer that will provide him with enough space for the 40-hour trip to his new home. In the coming months, members of The Sanctuary staff will visit the zoo to establish a relationship with Osh. The zoo will also hold voluntary training sessions to help prepare Osh for the journey. Following Oshs departure, the zoo said it will explore different options for his current habitat, including bringing a new species in to take residence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Berkeley woman wants speed humps after car hit house. What are they, and do you want them? BERKELEY - In 2017, Sylvia Ormando received a call that her house had been hit by a car. According to the police report, a driver of a Ford was trying to drive around a Jeep on Davenport Road. As the Jeep was turning onto Freeport Boulevard, the Ford jumped the curb, crashed into the Jeep and drove into Ormandos house in the Holiday City South community where she had moved six years before. Ormando said the total cost of the damage was about $77,000. In addition to replacing the air conditioning unit that was directly hit, a pipe burst and the foundation had to be stabilized. Since the incident, Ormando has been afraid another accident would occur. And so she has emailed and sent out petitions that have garnered over 200 signatures asking the township to address speeding. Specifically, she wants speed humps to be installed near the intersection. What's coming to our roads? Check out the big road projects planned for Monmouth and Ocean counties through the 2020s What are speed humps and speed bumps? Speed humps and speed bumps are different tools to address speeding. While speed bumps can be used in places like parking lots, speed humps are often found on municipal roads. Speed humps are usually shorter but longer than speed bumps. While speed humps slow traffic and make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the devices can also delay emergency vehicles and cause more noise as vehicles cross over them. A sign warning drivers to stop for pedestrians along Davenport Road on Friday, July 5, 2024 in Berkeley, New Jersey. According to Traffic Sergeant Michael OConnor with the Berkeley police department, it is up to the township to decide if it wants to install speed humps, but some roads are not conducive to them. Theyre primarily placed on municipal streets where the speed limit is 30 mph or less with less than 3,000 cars per day, he said. According to a short-term hourly traffic volume report by the state Department of Transportation on Davenport Road, the average daily traffic was about 6,700 vehicles as of November 2018. The issue with Davenport Road is that the speed limit drops from 45 mph to 25 mph when it enters the residential neighborhood. The driveways of houses spill out onto the road. While there are multiple signs telling drivers that the speed limit is 25 mph and that state law requires they stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, Ormando said the majority of drivers still fly by as if they were driving a mile south. Once theyre coming from Dover Road, they are already going 45 mph. They are not slowing up, she said. Bridges in need of repairs: Which Monmouth and Ocean bridges need to be fixed? These 24 are on the list Berkeley Police Capt. Pete LaRocca said speeding data gets collected via pneumatic road tubes, which are placed across the pavement in areas the police department believes are hot spots. While OConnor said hotpots include Davenport Road, Bayview Avenue and Hickory Lane as well as the Holiday City neighborhood, he said most people are driving at speed limit along Davenport Road. Youre going to have the occasional person coming through there speeding, OConnor said. But primarily people are doing the speed limit or below in that area. Problems with speed humps LaRocca said the main concerns with speed humps revolve around emergency vehicle response time, the cost of instillation and the noise it generates. It increases response times drastically, especially for fire trucks, ambulances having to slow down and then having to speed back up to respond to the call, OConnor said. He added that buses, garbage trucks and fire trucks have loud exhausts that cause noise pollution when slowing and getting back to speed. After these things go in, people want them to be removed just as fast, he said. Toms River traffic: Where you find the most crashes, and the coming road improvements A sign warning drivers to stop for pedestrians along Davenport Road on Friday, July 5, 2024 in Berkeley, New Jersey. Ormando said she could live with the noise, but wants measures to prevent people from speeding to keep drivers and residents safe. Across the township, accidents have hovered between 600 and 800 crashes each year. The township experienced the lowest number of crashes in 2020 with 492 crashes, according to the state Department of Transportation. According to OConnor, there were 819 crashes in 2023, the highest number since 2001. Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Speed humps and speed bumps: Do you want them on your street? Jackie Jecmenek, right, talks with city worker Bobby Head as she stands in front of her neighbor's home after Beryl passed, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Bay City, Texas. Beryl surged along the Texas coast on Monday, bringing heavy winds and violent rain that left 2 million homes and businesses flooded without power. | Eric Gay Tropical Storm Beryl surged along the Texas coast on Monday, bringing heavy winds and violent rain that left 2 million homes and businesses flooded without power. NBC News reported that Beryl strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Sunday night before making landfall along the Texas coast. The anticipated hurricane left a deadly wake, forging a destructive path through parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. Once it brushed against the coast of Texas, it became far less powerful, dropping to Category 1 instead of Category 5. Houston, the nations 4th largest city, estimated that 2.2 million homes and businesses were without power after Beryl struck. The Associated Press reported, For many, it was an all-too-familiar experience: Powerful storms had just ripped through the area in May, killing eight people, leaving nearly 1 million without power and flooding numerous streets. Power crews are being sent to assess the damage and restore service as soon as possible, especially for homes left without air conditioning to brace the hot summer months, according to Harris County officials. A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway at I10 and Washington in Houston, on Monday, July 8, 2024, after Beryl came ashore in Texas as a hurricane and dumped heavy rains downtown. | Maria Lysaker The Associated Press said, Beryl, the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean islands earlier in the week. The aggressive winds peaked at 165 mph in the Atlantic and slowed down substantially before reaching Texas with 70 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center, per CNN. The winds and rain are still causing havoc, knocking down hundreds of trees and leaving cars abandoned on flooded roadways. Two individuals were pronounced dead after trees fell on their homes in Harris County, Texas, according to NBC News. The storm is expected to continue to lose strength as it gradually tracks up the north-northeast parts of the United States, according to BBC. As the once-hurricane, now a tropical storm, rolled past Houston, tornado warnings have been issued throughout multiple counties in Texas and a few in Louisiana. Take cover now! The National Weather Service warned in all caps in its weather update around 13:00 CDT (19:00 BST) for residents in Louisianas Northeastern Beauregard Parish. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows, per BBC. USA Today reported the storm will continue moving north at 12 mph. As much as 3-5 inches of rain is expected tonight into Tuesday for areas in southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri. A new worry Tuesday was a heat advisory that is now in effect through Wednesday in the Houston area, with temperatures expected in the 90s and high humidity. The temperatures combined with limited power in the area could impact those without air conditioning, according to the National Weather Service. As of Tuesday morning, Beryl has been blamed for at least seven death, including six in Texas and one in Louisiana, per the AP. For live updates and to watch Beryls projected path, click here. A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway at I10 and Washington in Houston, on Monday, July 8, 2024, after Beryl came ashore in Texas as a hurricane and dumped heavy rains downtown. | Maria Lysaker The good news is that 20 out of 31 NATO countries are going to increase their defense spending to at least the 2 percent of GDP agreed to in 2014, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced ahead of the annual NATO summit, which starts today in Washington. The bad news is that 20 NATO members are going to increase their defense spending to 2 percent of GDP. Why bad news? Because its time to recognize that policymakers have been chasing the wrong metric, one that has caused friction, frustration, and heartburn on both sides of the Atlantic. Instead of measuring members defense budgets, the better approach would be to examine how countries can contribute directly to building a defense arsenal for the 21st centuryincluding unmanned aerial and undersea vehicles (UAVs, UUVs) and hypersonic weaponsas well as contending with outer space as a contested domain. There is already a model for creating bilateral, even multilateral agreements, for co-developing and co-producing specific systems and technologies: the recent AUKUS agreement that enables the U.S. and the U.K. to help Australia build nuclear submarines and also enhances trilateral cooperation on advanced technologies from cyber and AI to hypersonics and quantum. Its an approach that would not only enable NATO and the U.S. to defend against current threats but deter those threats in the future. So while its laudable, for example, that Greece, Estonia, and Lithuania all contribute above the 2 percent NATO threshold, their actual ability to share NATOs defense burden is minimallet alone to develop the new innovative weapons systems we will all need. By contrast, several of those countries currently not meeting their defense spending obligations such as France (1.9 percent), Italy (1.5 percent), Canada (1.4 percent), and Germany (1.6 percent) have multiple programs and defense companies more than able to work with U.S. counterparts, from hypersonics and UAVs to space. Measuring a nations defense effectiveness by the size of its defense budget is misleading, especially among democracies. The decisions that shape the budget are as much tied to domestic fiscal policy and politics as knowing whats needed to win wars. A huge part of the Pentagons $880 billion budget goes for personnel compensation, health care, and other benefitsnot to mention operations and maintenanceas opposed to funding actual weapon systems (according to CRS, about one-third of the total). In this new era of global competition with China, Russia, and Iran, every defense budgetincluding oursis going to require a vital shift of focus more so than new spending. This is particularly true with so-called autonomous or unmanned systems, or drones. Today, when the skies over Kyiv are filled with Ukrainian and Iranian-made Russian UAVs, and European nations are pledging to provide Ukraine with 1 million drones, weve learned that platforms once seen as helpful for taking out the occasional terrorist are proving to be decisive instruments of war. British, German, as well as Australian, Japanese, and Indian companies could be useful partners for American makers like General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing in developing next-generation supersonic UAVs that also incorporate AI for swarm and mass air campaigns. Likewise in shipbuilding. Italian company Fincantieri has already contracted to get into the Constellation-class frigate building business for the U.S. Navy. Japan could be a similar co-production ally, while companies in Denmark and Finland have advanced ship production and design features that can confront Chinas surging naval efforts (including its launch of the first-ever drone aircraft carrier). At the same time, co-developing and producing advanced UUVs with NATO allies will be a powerful force multiplier for waging war under the waves. Three years ago, I wrote that the U.S. had fallen perilously behind both China and Russia in the development of hypersonic weaponry, i.e. missiles that travel at speeds of Mach 5 or a mile a second. Since then, the U.S. has been pushing hard to develop and deploy its hypersonic capabilities. However, by cooperating with allies working on similar lines like Japan, the U.K., Australia, and India, the Pentagon can develop a hypersonic arsenal, and AI-driven detection systems, that will take the initiative away from China and Russia. Finally, with space poised to become the next Great Commons and a contested domain among the major geopolitical powers, cooperation and co-development in space and space-based assets among the U.S., Japan, Canada, South Korea, France, and the U.K. can protect the future of the space domain from predatory powers like China and Russia. None of these efforts will require, or will be reflective of, more defense spending. Instead, all these capabilities are a function of our technological and economic strengththe arena where the U.S. and its allies decisively outscore our totalitarian adversaries. In fact, according to Global Finance magazines 2022 estimates, the United States and its fellow democracies occupy 18 of the top 20 slots of the worlds most advanced tech countries (the exceptions being the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally, and Hong Kong). China, meanwhile, ranks 32nd, while Russia and Iran dont even place. Our NATO allies and other democracies have far more to contribute to our collective defenseand shaping a safer, more stable worldthan simply checking the box of 2 percent of GDP defense spending. Its time for U.S. policy to focus on defeating our enemies instead of fighting with our friends. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. KYODO NEWS - Jul 9, 2024 - 21:44 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism A new Disney cruise ship is scheduled to start operating in Japan from fiscal 2028, Oriental Land Co. said Tuesday, as the operator of Tokyo Disney Resort looks to tap the cruise industry's potential amid a rise in inbound tourism. The vessel, which has about 1,250 guest rooms and the capacity to hold some 4,000 passengers, will add to a growing fleet of Disney cruise ships, first launched over two decades ago. It is expected to become one of the largest Japan-registered cruise vessels. Oriental Land said it signed a license agreement on Tuesday with Walt Disney Co. to enter into the cruise business in Japan, unveiling a plan to start building the 140,000 ton-ship in the next fiscal year starting April 2025. It will invest about 330 billion yen ($2 billion) in the project. Two-to-four-night tours departing from and returning to ports in the Tokyo metropolitan area will mainly be planned. The standard price will likely be between 100,000 yen and 300,000 yen per person, including accommodation and meals. A key attraction on board will be shows featuring Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse. The cruise ship will also offer a wide range of upscale and casual dining options and pools. "The ship will provide an experience as if you were in a theme park. The Disney world will never end, from morning until night," Yumiko Takano, CEO of Oriental Land, told a press conference in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, where Tokyo Disneyland is also located. In the cruise's first few years, Oriental Land aims to have about 400,000 guests annually and rake in some 100 billion yen in sales. The ship may also eventually stop by ports overseas. Disney cruises were first launched in 1998 in the United States, and its fleet currently consists of five ships. Building on its success, three more ships are expected, and services are also scheduled to start in Singapore, according to the Oriental Land's press release. Related coverage: "Mermaid academy" helps promote growing aquatic art form in Japan DisneySea opens Fantasy Springs themed after "Frozen," "Peter Pan" How Beverly Hills became an unlikely battleground for the future of abortion rights Four self-described "abortion yentas" in Beverly Hills are fighting back against what they say is city officials' collusion with antiabortion extremists to scuttle an abortion clinic. From left: Gay Abrams (back to), Andrea Grossman, Heather Fels and Amanda Smith. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Emma Craig was outside the Beverly Hills Medical Center on Wilshire Boulevard, spoiling for a fight. Armed with a bullhorn, sidewalk chalk and "giant photos of dead babies," the Bay Area art teacher and antiabortion activist had arrived with her confederates last summer to pray and protest against a clinic seeking to expand its services to California amid a flurry of national restrictions on reproductive care. Construction on the DuPont Clinic, a highly specialized abortion provider based in Washington, D.C., had halted weeks earlier. But members of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust who received confirmation of the development from Beverly Hills officials, emails show decided to keep protesting anyway. The Survivors, as they call themselves, were geared up for weeks of aggressive street outreach, in-your-face pickets and guerrilla freeway banner drops. Their Beverly Hills campaign would offer a playbook on future efforts to shut down a clinic even in the nation's cities and states that most support abortion rights. "We wanted to demonstrate to the building management and to the city, if this clinic goes in here, its not going to be good," Craig said. "Youre gonna have protesters in your beautiful town with these terrible giant photos." Almost as soon as they were approached, public records show that Beverly Hills officials moved swiftly to address the concerns of a group considered extremist even within California's antiabortion movement "the redheaded stepchild," as Craig put it. Reproductive-rights advocates allege Beverly Hills officials met with Craig's group and allied activists and aggressively pursued their concerns, while entreaties to meet with DuPont's leadership went unanswered for months. The Times reviewed emails obtained by the reproductive-rights groups the Lawyering Project and Beverly Hills for Choice that show one city leader responding to an inquiry about efforts to shut down the clinic within five minutes of receiving it. "I am looping our City Manager and City Attorney into this email," current Vice Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian wrote to antiabortion activist Tasha Barker. "I am not sure what jurisdiction we as a Council have on a private business entering the City of Beverly Hills but opened to learning more." Less than a month after Barker first met with city officials, landlord firm Douglas Emmett moved to terminate DuPont's lease, ordering management to halt construction on the clinic. The firm's attorney cc'd the mayor and the city manager of Beverly Hills on the message. It cited the Survivors' early activism as central to the decision, saying: "These graphic threats have already disturbed and caused interference with other tenants' use and enjoyment of their leased premises." The group's activities in Beverly Hills are the subject of ongoing litigation by the clinic against the landlord and the city's government. Attorneys for Douglas Emmett did not respond to requests for comment. For the Survivors, the outcome was a coup. For DuPont and abortion-access advocates, it was a dangerous new front in the war on reproductive rights. Andrea Grossman, one of the founders of Beverly Hills for Choice, said of the city's leaders: "They couldn't meet with these extremists fast enough." The women of Beverly Hills for Choice. From left: Andrea Grossman, Gay Abrams, Heather Fels and Amanda Smith. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) "All it took was about five antiabortion extremists to exert pressure on members of the city council and members of city staff, and before you know it, the lease was rescinded," she said. "It's a stain on the city that it meddled with something so urgent as this." Dr. Jennefer Russo, the DuPont Clinic's chief medical officer, said she requested to meet with Beverly Hills officials but was rebuffed. The mayor of West Hollywood and a Corona city councilwoman also reached out to their Beverly Hills counterparts on behalf of DuPont, email records show, but to no avail. "I reached out a number of times before things started escalating," Russo said. The city denied allegations it had helped scuttle the clinic. "The decision to rescind DuPont Clinics lease was not made by the City of Beverly Hills," public information manager Lauren Santillana wrote in a statement in response to DuPont's lawsuit against the city. But the widespread impression that officials thumbed the scale against DuPont in spite of the state's "abortion sanctuary" status, the county's $20-million "abortion safe haven" grant fund and the city's public position in support of reproductive freedom has emboldened extremists. "This is the first time that a supposedly supportive city has done this," Russo said. "Survivors is saying, 'We triumphed,' and now it's a win for them." The Survivors agreed. "We were encouraged that activism works," Craig said. "We loved working in Beverly Hills." A medical miracle and a legal gray area Politically speaking, Beverly Hills is a violet island in a sea of deep indigo. Although Republican candidates routinely raise millions there, they tend to garner just a few thousand votes. On reproductive rights, the city is slightly more progressive than the county as a whole. In 2022, Beverly Hills and its neighbors in the 36th Congressional District voted almost 80% in favor of Proposition 1, helping enshrine abortion access in California's Constitution. DuPont would not have been the only abortion provider in Beverly Hills. It would not even have been the only abortion provider at 8920 Wilshire Blvd., where the clinic was set to open last fall. But it would have been the only clinic in Southern California offering procedures after 24 weeks, which account for a small fraction of a percent of the 1 million abortions performed nationwide in 2023. Devastating fetal diagnoses, life-threatening maternal complications or pregnancy among very young patients or in the aftermath of abuse are the most common circumstances surrounding such late-term abortions, according to Dr. Kim Bader, associate professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology at USC Keck School of Medicine. "My experience with patients who needed late-term abortion were nightmares, absolute nightmares," said Bader, who spoke in support of the DuPont clinic at the Beverly Hills City Council meeting in November. "I get choked up just thinking about it." Care for such patients is extremely difficult to obtain, in part due to medical and legal restrictions, along with the social stigma. The cost can balloon to $10,000 or more, while waits can stretch close to a month. "As you get later, it can become a three-day procedure," Russo, the DuPont doctor, explained. "Its sort of like an induction of labor the third day. That can take several hours, and its a very intensive process." Abortion later in pregnancy is very different from first-trimester procedures, which account for 93% of the total and are now mostly induced at home with medication, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Later-stage abortions are also meaningfully different from the 6% that occur between 14 and 20 weeks, usually via "dilation and evacuation," a two-part procedure. Twenty weeks is the point at which most first-time mothers can sense fetal movements, or quickening. It is also the dividing line between miscarriage and stillbirth. Just 1% of abortions are performed after this point, nearly all of them between 21 and 24 weeks. Most happen in hospitals such as Cedars-Sinai, about a mile from the Beverly Hills Medical Center. Survival at or before 24 weeks gestation is a medical miracle, one frequently touted by hospital PR and picked up by local TV stations. Yet because at least half of infants born by 24 weeks can survive, that is popularly understood as the cutoff for "fetal viability" a legal standard established under Roe vs. Wade and refined under Planned Parenthood vs. Casey as the point where abortion could be banned by the states. Forty-three percent of Americans say abortion should be illegal at this point, according to a 2022 Pew Survey. But the medical picture is more complicated, many experts argue. "Theres no medical reason to ban abortion based on how far along someone is in pregnancy," said Brittany Fonteno, president of the National Abortion Federation. "This is something thats been created solely by antiabortion advocates and politicians to chip away at reproductive rights." Planned Parenthood for Arizona President Brittany Fonteno attends a roundtable focused on restoring reproductive freedom in Arizona on Oct. 27, 2022, in Phoenix. (Olivier Touron / Getty Images) Many abortion-protective states among them Massachusetts, New York and Nevada ban the procedure at or past 24 weeks. Nine others, plus the District of Columbia, have no gestational restrictions. California law falls somewhere in the middle, banning abortion after "viability" without specifying a gestational age. This ambiguity left DuPont vulnerable to claims it planned to violate the law as the Survivors have repeatedly alleged and the clinic has denied. "We were 100% going to be compliant but the law isnt clear," Russo said. For the Survivors, this laser focus on a tiny percentage of procedures roughly 1,000 a year in the U.S. is less about the law than about optics. "Its particularly barbaric, and we think this is an 'in' to get people to care about abortion," Craig said. "It's kind of strategic." 'We gotta do something about this' As fundamentalist Christians, the Survivors believe life begins at fertilization, and that a 24-hour-old zygote is as alive as a 24-week fetus. But the activists know few Californians share that view. In a city where fertility clinics outnumber churches, fewer still would be willing to legislate it. The Beverly Hills Medical Center "already has an abortion clinic in it, so we know theyre OK with abortion," Craig said. Emails show the activists received confirmation from Beverly Hills police, city government and the building manager that DuPont's lease was rescinded, yet continued to publicly claim it was expected to open for more than two weeks afterward. When local activists discovered what had happened, it was faith, as much as politics, that pushed them to fight back. Grossman, of Beverly Hills for Choice, had never heard of DuPont or the Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust when she spotted a story about the clinic in The Times last August. Though she'd long been a staunch supporter of reproductive rights, the issue had felt far away, a crisis for other women in other communities, not a liberal urban enclave known internationally as a destination for world-class medical care. She immediately called her friend Gay Abrams. Heather Fels, left, Gay Abrams, Andrea Grossman and Amanda Smith nicknamed themselves the "abortion yentas" of Beverly Hills, borrowing the Yiddish word for a busybody or gossip. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) "I said we gotta do something about this," said Abrams, who raised the alarm to her neighbor Heather Fels when they bumped into each other on the street a few days later. From there, the trio began contacting political organizations around Los Angeles, which led them to Amanda Smith. They nicknamed themselves the "abortion yentas," borrowing the Yiddish word for a busybody or gossip. For the yentas, the Survivors' name alone is offensive. And they found the antiabortion activists' decision to flood the City Council's public comment period on Yom HaShoah, the Jewish day of mourning for victims of the Nazi genocide, especially galling. But what troubled them most was that a small cadre of fundamentalist Christians had managed to impose their will on one of few municipalities in the United States where Christians are not the majority. About a quarter of Beverly Hills residents are estimated to be Jewish refugees from Iran and their descendants, while Jews like the yentas with roots in Eastern Europe make up a plurality of the remaining population. They made their initial foray into activism at the City Council meeting last September. But Smith said they were stonewalled until Thanksgiving. They teamed up with the Lawyering Project, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit focused on abortion access, and filed a request under the California Public Records Act that yielded 1,200 pages of city emails. Since then, the group has pushed aggressively for an independent investigation into the affair, concurrent with a DuPont lawsuit against the city alleging it "colluded and conspired" with the landlord to "induce breach of contract." The clinic has also filed a claim against Douglas Emmett. Both the city and the landlord have denied any wrongdoing in court filings, and the cases remain pending. "We want accountability," Grossman said. "Were not gonna go away and shut up, because how do four yentas shut up?" 'There have to be consequences' The yentas call their quest a form of tikkun olam, the Jewish spiritual practice of repairing the world. The Survivors call it a tantrum. "All these pro-choice women showed up to the City Council, and theyre really angry now but you snooze you lose," Craig said. Yet she too is keenly aware that the lawsuit could rewrite the rules of engagement just as they'd seemed to tilt in the activists' favor. "What's unfortunate about these pro-choice activists getting stirred up is, when this happens again in a different community, the citys gonna look at what happened with DuPont and say, 'We dont want to deal with lawsuits,'" Craig said. That's exactly what the clinic's medical director is hoping for. "It cant be a precedent there have to be consequences," Russo said. "If were not going to be able to provide care, we have to make it possible for others to provide it." If there's one thing both sides agree on, it's that the stakes are existential. "If you could push a clinic like this out of Beverly Hills," Bader said, "you could push it out of anywhere." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) One driver is facing DUI charges after striking a bicyclist on July 2. The bicyclist died three days after the crash, Las Vegas Metropolitan police said. The crash occurred near midnight on S. Nellis Boulevard, south of Desert Inn Road. According to police, the bicyclist, identified as 59-year-old David Brooks, was traveling against traffic in the southbound Nellis lanes, crossed the center median, and went into the path of a northbound Dodge Dakota which struck his bike and threw him into the southbound lanes where he was hit by another car. Brooks was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center with critical injuries and died on July 5, police said. The driver of the Dodge, Anthony Wayne Tate, 44, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked into Clark County Detention Center. The other driver remained at the scene and showed no signs of impairment. Court records show Tate is facing charges of possessing a controlled substance, DUI, and a drivers license violation. Tate was released from the detention center the day after the crash and ordered not to drive without a valid drivers license. Records show Tate had previous arrests on drug charges and driving without a valid license. The most recent arrest in 2019 was resolved on July 8 with a plea deal. He was given credit for time served. The state didnt seek additional jail time. This is the 85th traffic-related fatality in Metros jurisdiction for 2024. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The stakes for Democrats in their extraordinary public schism over whether President Joe Biden should withdraw from the 2024 presidential race extend far beyond the White House. A decisive loss at the top of the ticket could cost Democrats control of the US Senate for the remainder of this decade and cement Republican dominance of the Supreme Court for a generation. So far, Democratic anxiety about the presidential races impact on the Senate has been muted because public polling has almost invariably shown their candidates still leading in the key states where Biden has fallen behind former President Donald Trump. But recent history raises deep questions about whether Democratic Senate candidates can continue to levitate as far above the presidential ticket as polls now show. Throughout this century, but especially over roughly the past decade, it has grown increasingly difficult for Senate candidates in either party to win in states that usually vote for the other side in presidential contests. During the 2016 and 2020 election years, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the only candidate, out of 69 total Senate races, who won in a state that voted the other way at the presidential level. This year, Democrats are defending an unusually large concentration of Senate seats in states that now appear at risk for them in the presidential contest. If Democrats lose a substantial number of those seats this year, it could be very difficult for them to recapture a Senate majority before these same seats come up again in 2030. The reason is that very few of the other Senate seats Republicans now hold are in states where Democrats have a realistic chance of winning, absent a dramatic change in their political balance. In turn, extended GOP control of the Senate, coupled with a return of Trump to the White House, would give the party ample time to nominate and confirm much younger replacements for Samuel Alito (74) and Clarence Thomas (76), the two oldest and most conservative Supreme Court Justices, and possibly also Sonia Sotomayor (70), the oldest Democratic-appointed justice. Because of the big sorting out of the states Democrats have a narrower path to a Senate majority than Republicans do, which means this year is crucial, said former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana. The margin of error [for Democrats] is not high, and the consequences will be with us for another six years. If the presidential and Senate elections go badly for Democrats, Bayh added, Republicans could change the judicial branch of government for a generation. Vulnerable Democratic Senate seats this year fall into three broad buckets. The first includes three states that Trump carried in 2016 and 2020 and that he is virtually certain to win again likely by a substantial margin. In that group, both sides concede the GOP will win the West Virginia seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, whos now an independent but still caucuses with Democrats; veteran Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jon Tester of Montana, who have survived difficult reelections even as their states have moved right, are facing substantial challenges this year. If Republicans win just two of those three states, they would still seize control of the Senate (absent offsetting Democratic wins in any GOP-held seats, which are unlikely). But if Democrats only lost some combination of the three 2020 Trump states, they would remain close enough to the GOP in the chamber to retain realistic hopes of recapturing the Senate in 2026 or 2028. The real risk to Democrats is that their losses could extend beyond that inner circle of strongly red-leaning states particularly if the presidential race goes badly. Democrats are defending five more Senate seats this year in presidential swing states where most polls now show Biden trailing, or at best running even. That list includes Democratic Sens. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin and Jacky Rosen in Nevada, as well as Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Ruben Gallego, who are seeking open Senate seats now held by Democrats in Michigan and Arizona respectively. (Retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona still caucuses with Democrats after becoming an independent.) Bidens 2020 margin of victory was three points or less in all of those states. As Bidens position has weakened since last months CNN debate, strategists in both parties are just beginning to look at another circle of Democratic-held Senate seats in more strongly blue-leaning states where some polls have suggested an unexpectedly competitive presidential race. Topping that list are the contests in New Mexico, where Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich is facing Nella Domenici, the daughter of the late Pete Domenici, a long-time Republican senator from the state; and New Jersey, where Republicans chose a relatively centrist nominee, Curtis Bashaw, to oppose Democratic Rep. Andy Kim in a race complicated by the possible independent candidacy of indicted Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. Even if the Democrats vulnerability ultimately does not extend to that outer perimeter, significant losses for the party in the first two circles, as Ive written, could leave them with few paths back to a Senate majority for the remainder of this decade. This year, the only Republican senators Democrats are targeting are Rick Scott in Florida and Ted Cruz in Texas, and Bidens difficulties in both states leave Democrats facing huge headwinds in those races. The list of other Republican-held Senate seats that Democrats can realistically target in the years to come, based on the states current political leanings, is small. Republicans hold only two Senate seats in states that voted for Biden last time (Collins, who will face reelection in 2026, and Wisconsins Ron Johnson, who isnt up until 2028 after narrowly winning another term in 2022). North Carolina is the only other state with Republican senators where Biden finished within 3 points of Trump in 2020 and even there, Democrats have not won a presidential or Senate contest since 2008. Beyond these four seats Maine, Wisconsin and the two in North Carolina Democrats have no more tempting targets before 2030 among Republican-held Senate seats than Florida, Iowa and Ohio, all of which are long shots for them. Meanwhile, Democrats will have another round of their own swing state Senate seats to defend over those two elections. All of this means the seats Democrats could lose this year if the presidential ticket drags down their Senate nominees in states such as Michigan, Nevada and Arizona are virtually irreplaceable for them. A Democratic Senate majority coalition relies on having both Senators from a state such as Michigan, said Daniel Hopkins, a University of Pennsylvania political scientist. Absent a major external event, such as an economic crash while Republicans hold the White House, if the Democrats dont hold their own in the Senate this year, it is hard to see how they recover before 2030, he added. The prospect that Bidens eroding position could produce a lasting Senate deficit which, in turn, could allow Republicans to further reshape the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court hasnt produced panic among Democrats yet because of the public and private polls consistently showing their Senate candidates running well ahead of the president. Whats true before the debate is true after: for voters, Senate campaigns are candidate vs. candidate battles, said David Bergstein, communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Optimistic Democrats believe the personal vulnerabilities of the GOP challengers which include a disproportionate number of wealthy business people without much, or any, prior political experience will allow their candidates to survive even a substantial undertow in the presidential contest. Republicans have a roster of deeply flawed recruits, and well win because we have the better candidates, Bergstein said. But Republicans say the Democratic advantage in these races is only temporary. Our challengers are still building name ID, which is the reason they are lagging the Presidential ballot at this point, Mike Berg, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in an email. Expect the horse race numbers to tighten significantly as Republican candidates begin advertising more heavily. The more important number to look at right now is the ballot share the [Democratic] incumbents are receiving - which is consistently below 50 in our target states. Lee Drutman, a senior fellow in the political reform program at New America, a center-left think tank, likewise thinks it seems unlikely that you could have as big of a gap between Biden and Democratic Senate candidates as polls now show. While many of the GOP nominees are weak, Drutman said, Bidens struggles could depress Democratic turnout in a way that hurts the party up and down the ballot. If Democrats stick with Biden after all this, Drutman predicted, I would expect Democratic voter enthusiasm to plummet. Many Democratic pollsters and operatives are also nervous about the contrast between current polling and recent history. One leading Democratic pollster, who asked for anonymity while discussing campaign strategy, told me that in several of the swing states, post-debate polls show Democratic Senate candidates clinging to small leads while Biden has fallen substantially behind Trump. I just dont know if we can hold that kind of gap, the pollster said. You are setting up the classic dynamic where the Senate candidates have to win with people who are not voting for him [Biden]. Jason Kander has experience trying to navigate those treacherous waters. In 2016, as the Democratic Senate candidate in Missouri, Kander ran over 8 percentage points ahead of presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, one of the widest gaps anywhere in the country that year. But when Clinton lost the state by almost 525,000 votes, Kander still fell short against Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. Kander said that it is impossible for any Senate candidate to completely escape the gravitational pull of the presidential contest. The presidential race doesnt just dominate politics, it dominates popular culture during a presidential year, he told me. Nearly everything is a response to that. Not just in politics, but in everything. Kander said he believes it will be easier for incumbent senators, who have longer relationships with voters, to establish an identity separate from the presidential nominee than it was for him as a challenger. But, in either circumstance, he believes the key to outrunning the presidential ticket is to convey authenticity and independence. That doesnt require, he said, breaking from the presidential ticket on high-profile policy issues: I cant even think of an issue where it would be in the political interest of a candidate to break from Biden this year, with the exception of regional issues, he said. But it does demand, he believes, that candidates show themselves to be genuinely rooted in the values and experiences of their state. Given that necessity, Kander said that it would be a mistake for the White House to demand that Democrats unwaveringly dismiss voter concerns about Bidens age. If what happens in this election is President Biden asks down-ballot candidates to go to voters and say that they have zero concerns whatsoever and what they saw in the debate didnt bother them at all, there is a possibility that you are asking them to sacrifice some credibility in the exact same way that President Trump did in the mid-terms when he required a lot of candidates to go out and say that the election was rigged, Kander said. A lot of independent voters looked at that and said that makes me question your credibility on every other argument you are making. Bayh, who had stepped down from the Senate in 2010, also ran on that 2016 ballot with Clinton when he tried to regain an open Indiana Senate seat. Bayh ran about 5 points ahead of her, but fell to Republican Todd Young when Clinton lost Indiana by about 525,000 votes. Bayh told me that over the course of his political career, which included two elections as Indianas governor beginning in 1988, the number of voters willing to vote for presidential candidates of one party and lower-ballot candidates of the other markedly declined, especially in congressional and Senate races. In many ways, he said, that has been a rational response from voters to the transformation of the House and Senate into quasi-parliamentary institutions with much higher levels of party-line voting than through most of the 20th century. The public has kind of looked at that and figured it out that its become more parliamentary, he said. You see a dramatic decline in split ticket voting and much more people voting red team or blue team. That shift has accelerated in recent years. As recently as the 1980s, it was common for voters to split their tickets in Senate races. After Ronald Reagans landslide victory in 1984, for instance, Democrats still controlled about half the Senate seats in the states that voted for him both times many of them conservative Southern states still unwilling to vote for Republicans below the presidential level. By 2012, though, Democrats held over four-fifths of the Senate seats in the states that twice voted for Barack Obama while Republicans held more than three-fourths of them in the states that twice voted against him. Still, even that alignment left room for some Senate candidates to swim against this general tide. When Obama was first elected in 2008, six Democrats won in states that voted against him, and Collins won in Maine, which voted for him. In Obamas 2012 reelection, five other Democratic Senate candidates won in states that voted against him, while Republican Dean Heller won in Nevada, which supported Obama. Since 2012, though, voters have relentlessly pruned these mismatched Senate candidates. In the 2014 and 2018 midterm elections, Democrats lost nine of the 11 Senate seats they won in states that voted against Obama during his two presidential races. And while Collins was reelected in 2014, Heller the only other GOP senator elected in a state that voted Democratic during Obamas two races was defeated in 2018. In the presidential election years, the pull of the presidential outcome on Senate results has become even more profound. In 2016, for the first time since the direct election of senators, all 34 Senate races went the same way as the presidential result in that state; in 2020, when 35 Senate contests (including two special elections) were held, only Collins defied the presidential outcome. The 2020 results demonstrated the strength of this current most powerfully in the failed Democratic attempt to capture six GOP-held Senate seats in Republican leaning states. Democratic Senate challengers that year in Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, South Carolina, and Texas spent a combined $382 million on their campaigns, a remarkable sum. And yet when Biden lost those states, so did all six Democratic challengers. Despite the huge sums the six raised and spent, Montanas outgoing Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock was the only one among them who ran more than 2.1 percentage points ahead of Biden in their state. In those races, Republicans recognized they could win even if the Democratic candidates outspent them or maintained relatively favorable personal images, said Republican consultant Jesse Hunt, who served as the NRSCs communications director in 2020. As long as everything was kept close, we knew the sheer atmospherics of the presidential race would tip the result, he said. Money, personal popularity, image and name identification dont actually matter if the margin at the top of the ticket is overwhelming. Like other Republicans, Hunt believes that these historic trends in Senate races mean that the Democrats now clinging to their leads as Biden slips are all at risk. Several Democratic sources told me the party senators on the ballot this year are acutely aware that just one of the 69 Senate races in 2016 and 2020 favored the party that lost the presidential race in that state. This history, by itself, doesnt answer whether Democratic Senate candidates would have better prospects with or without Biden as their presidential nominee. But it does tell them that the consequences of the partys choice on whether to stick with Biden are certain to reverberate beyond the White House. Democrats certainly cannot rely on the idea that Senate races will be decoupled from the presidential race, said Hopkins, the political scientist, because they wont. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Tuesday praised the NATO alliance at its 75th anniversary celebration as he potentially became the last U.S. president to address the groups annual summit. Biden told the civilian and military leaders from 32 countries assembled in Washington that the alliance, founded after World War II to keep the peace in Europe and thwart Soviet expansionism, has a new mission in stopping Russian dictator Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Today NATO is more powerful than ever 32 nations strong, he said at evening ceremonies at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, where the founding treaty was signed in 1949, as he welcomed the two newest members, Sweden and Finland. Our commitment is broad and deep, he said. Our nations will continue to keep faith in what we pledged in years to come. How long the United States will honor that pledge, though, is unclear. Donald Trump, the coup-attempting former president who will become the Republican presidential nominee next week to challenge Bidens reelection, has long threatened to abandon NATO. According to his own defense secretary, Trump planned to pull out of the alliance in his second term a plan foiled by his loss to Biden in the 2020 election. John Bolton, his former national security adviser, said Trump had wanted to withdraw in his first term and almost did at the summit in 2018. Bolton said Trump never understood how NATO worked and did not care to learn. He spent four years as president, he didnt know anything about it when he entered the Oval Office, and he didnt know anything about it when he left, Bolton said in an interview earlier this year. Trump confirmed Boltons analysis on Tuesday with a post on his social media platform, once again mischaracterizing how the organization functions, describing it more like a mob protection racket than a military alliance. When I became President, I noticed that there were only 7 of the 28 Countries, that were then Members, who were paid up. Most Members were delinquent, some having paid very little, if anything. I found this unacceptable, and insisted that they pay if they wanted the protection of the U.S., Trump wrote. President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday at a NATO 75th anniversary event at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington. NATO leaders are in Washington this week for its annual summit. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images In fact, member countries have no meaningful dues. Rather, the nations militaries work together in a common defense, which has been invoked only a single time: when NATO joined the U.S. war against the Taliban in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. In 2014, after Russia invaded Crimea, the NATO allies agreed that every nation would increase its military budget to at least 2% of its gross domestic product by 2024. Trump, despite being corrected by his military advisers, repeatedly claimed that European nations were cheating the U.S. and were delinquent in their payments, even though there have never been such payments. Biden on Tuesday noted that when he took office, only nine nations were hitting their 2% commitment but that the number now stood at 23. He attributed that increase to the work of Jens Stoltenberg, the retiring secretary general, whom Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on stage. Today NATO is stronger, smarter and more energized than when you began, and a billion people across Europe and North America, indeed the whole world, will reap the rewards of your labor for years to come, Biden said. Although Biden told the audience that Americans appreciate the work of NATO, it is nevertheless unclear what anyone could to do to stop Trump from unilaterally withdrawing from the treaty if he is elected and chooses to do so, as presidents have sweeping power in international affairs. It is also unclear whether NATO could survive without the United States for the four years of a second Trump presidency or longer if he chooses not to leave office at the end of it. Trump two months ago was convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to a porn actor ahead of the 2016 election. He faces three other criminal prosecutions as well, which in all expose him to decades in prison if convicted. Despite this, he handily won the GOP presidential primary and is currently leading in polls to defeat Biden in November. Related... With the eyes of the world on him, President Joe Biden delivered a forceful speech to open the NATO summit in Washington, aiming to reverse doubts about his fitness for the job domestically while boasting that his leadership revitalized the storied alliance and saved Ukraine. The address, which kicked off three days of high-profile meetings in the steamy U.S. capital, served as both a political and geopolitical test for Biden. With every speech, he must prove that age is just a number and that his shambolic debate performance against former President Donald Trump was a one-off bad night. And with every appearance at the NATO Summit this week, Biden must demonstrate he can still rally allies to Ukraines cause for the long haul. Ukraine can and will stop Putin, he said at the ornate Mellon Auditorium in Washington. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. The president didnt fumble over words as he often does during remarks. He was clear and forceful, appearing energized by the transatlanticism that he has embraced throughout his political career. The speech was more than atmospherics. Biden used the occasion to announce the delivery of new air defenses for Ukraine, one of Kyivs top requests for this summit. The U.S. and four NATO allies the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Romania will this year send four Patriot air-defense systems and related components as well as one SAMP/T system. In the coming months, Washington and its partners will also deliver dozens more tactical air-defense systems to bolster Ukraines security and expect to make similar announcements later in the year. A critical part of the new assistance package will see some countries who have ordered air defense missiles from U.S. companies bumped down the list, as supplying those interceptors to Ukraine will take priority. Make no mistake: Russia is failing in this war, Biden declared before noting that 350,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded, with another 1 million people fleeing the country. When this senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today, its still a free country, and the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country. In a joint statement released shortly after Bidens remarks, the president and the leaders of the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Romania and Ukraine said: Our message to Moscow and the world is clear: Our support for Ukraine is strong and unwavering. The move ends months of a U.S.-led search for air-defense systems to send to Ukraine and negotiations over how to procure them. Some nations didnt want to part with the sophisticated defensive weapons, at least not before figuring out how to replace them. Last week, a senior Biden administration official told POLITICO we're shaking the hell out of the trees, and were going to get the highest number that we can. A boost in air-defenses was high on Ukraines list, as Russias superior arsenal allowed it to bombard cities and key military targets. On Monday, Russia overwhelmed Ukraines defenses in Kyiv, launching a deadly strike on a childrens hospital one of Europes largest leading surviving patients to receive cancer treatments on the street. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office, told POLITICO reporters before the announcement that he was pleased his country would get more support, but he lamented that the delivery was unnecessarily delayed and shouldve been completed much sooner. Now its necessary to close our cities, he said, claiming these and future air-defense system transfers will better protect against Russian missiles and deter future barrages. Biden will continue to be under a microscope this week as he manages a busy schedule, including a jam-packed Wednesday and a rare news conference on Thursday, when he will face questions about his age and mental acuity. Biden will use the days ahead to reassure NATO allies and skittish Democrats at home that hes up to the job of taking down Trump, as heads of state from Europe and North America prepare for the possibility of his predecessors return. The president has said the summit is a good venue for judging his abilities and has pointed to his leadership in rallying NATO support for Ukraine as evidence that hes equipped to serve four more years. With the potential of Trumps return to power looming, the president has repeatedly highlighted his commitment to NATO, while warning voters that his predecessor would abandon the alliance if he returns to the White House. Unlike in 2016, NATO allies are actively preparing to manage the return of a NATO-skeptic Trump administration. NATO officials are ramping up weapons production, consulting with Trumps advisers and holding meetings to prepare for the former presidents return, and with that, an America-first, restraint-focused approach and a deep skepticism toward Europe. Paul McLeary contributed to this report. President Joe Biden tries new approach: For his latest excuse regarding his cognitive decline and subsequent refusal to step down, President Joe Biden is attempting to portray himself as an embattled outsider who has earned the scorn of Democratic Party elites. "I'm getting so frustrated by the elites," the sitting president, who has been in politics for 52 years, said on MSNBC. He clarified that he wasn't referring to the hosts but "the elites in the party who, they know so much more," he added, emphasizing the last few words in a mocking tone. "I don't care what the millionaires think," he added. (He had a fundraising Zoom call with that precise demographic later in the day, of course.) "All the data shows that the average Democrat out there who votedfor me still want me to be the nominee," said Biden. Polling does not corroborate this. A post-debate CBS/YouGov poll found that 72 percent of registered voters believe that Biden has insufficient mental and cognitive health to serve as president. Another poll, conducted last week by The New York Times/Siena found that "74 percent of voters view Mr. Biden as too old for the job, an uptick since the debate." Biden is now "counting on the support of African-American Democrats and his union allies as his last line of defense," reports Politico. "It's a playbook Biden has turned to in the past, portraying his detractors as mostly elite white liberals who are out of step with the more diverse and working-class grassroots of the party." Meanwhile, some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are claiming on CNN that calls for the president, who is 81 and would be serving another term until the age of 85, to drop out are "more around ageism and ableism, and not what President Biden has done.This president is fit and prepared to continue to serve. He's civil and he's experienced." Are there no adults in the room within the Democratic Party who are prepared to help Biden face reality? Change of platform: The committee that decides on the platform of the Republican Party has voted 8418 in support of a major update that considerably softens the party's stance on abortion, bringing it more in line with former President Donald Trump's views. The older platform, most recently updated in 2016, supported a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks and contained lines such as "the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed." It mentioned abortion 35 times. The new platform does not mention any sort of federal abortion ban, saying instead that the party opposes late-term abortions and supports birth control and in vitro fertilization access. It says the word abortion once. The platform also supports tougher immigration policy, economic protectionism, and moderating on a whole slew of social issues, even signaling acceptance of gay marriage. It gives minimal attention to the issue of the national debt. On issues of Medicare and Social Securitywhich the old platform made clear Republicans rejected as the "'Third Rail' of American politics"the new platform simply adopts Trump's stance, affirming that he will not "cut one penny" from either program. Though the document has not yet been fully approved and adopted, it looks slated to become formalized, reflecting the degree to which the party has become synonymous with the man himself. In a sense, actually articulating beliefs is better than what the party did in 2020, which was simple abstention from releasing a platform. But these specific beliefs are a far cry from actual conservative values and priorities. Scenes from New York: We have the strangest mayor. New York learning about trash cans in 2024 is an insane flex. https://t.co/SBaxvoylAH Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) July 8, 2024 QUICK HITS Most sensationalist headline of the week award goes to Slate. Might Joe Biden have Parkinson's? The Free Press' Emily Yoffe makes the case for why the American people have the right to greater transparency about the president's health. "I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump," Joe Biden wrote in a letter released by his campaign, addressed to lawmakers. He spoke to donors, went on MSNBC, and attempted to spend much of Monday trying to put the issue of his cognitive fitness to rest. It remains to be seen whether the digging-the-heels-in approach will work. "Fuck em both 2024" sign lady, who represents how so many of us feel about the presidential election, won her free speech lawsuit. Russia obliterated Ukraine's largest children's hospital. The post Biden Blames the Elites appeared first on Reason.com. It was supposed to be a show of strength -- the leaders of NATO's member countries gathering in Washington, D.C., to display their remarkable unity in the face of some of the most serious threats to the alliance in its 75-year history. Instead, the spotlight will fall on the summit's host, President Joe Biden, and growing doubts about his capability to serve as president and represent the United States on the world stage for another four years. But as former President Donald Trump edges ahead in some polls, the looming U.S. election in November has also infused new urgency into some of NATO's key priorities. PHOTO: Signage is seen outside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which has been draped with signage ahead of the NATO Summit, July 8, 2024. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Among the anticipated events of the three-day summit are a commemoration event Tuesday at the Mellon Auditorium, the site where the NATO treaty was formally signed in 1949; a bilateral meeting with newly elected U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer; a meeting with the EU and NATO's Indo-Pacific partners; and an event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and nearly two dozen allies and partners who have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. On Thursday evening, Biden will hold a rare solo press conference, which he hasn't done since November. Here are the top storylines to watch: Biden's next big test After Biden's debate performance last month ignited panic among Democrats, his campaign has been urgently searching for opportunities to undo damage and prove the president can be an effective leader for the future. The president himself has set the stakes for the summit remarkably high. He mentioned the alliance six times during his 21-minute interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Friday, saying the event would be "a good way to judge me." Biden dismisses concerns about mental fitness, says he'd drop out if the 'Lord Almighty' told him to But the optics for Biden's campaign may not be ideal. The summit will mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance, and among its 32 members, Biden is the only head of government who was alive during its founding. The president, 81, will share stages with leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron, Denmark's Mette Frederiksen and plenty of other officials who are about half his age. In preparation for the summit, officials say Biden has spent hours huddling with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House -- including on the eve of the summit and over the Fourth of July holiday. PHOTO: Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille (not pictured) and Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy (not pictured) at the State Department., July 2, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters) Blinken is also expected to be by Biden's side through much of the programming in Washington, according to the officials. Despite reports claiming U.S. allies have privately questioned Biden's ability to lead, the White House rejected the notion they needed reassurance from the president. "We're not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all. Quite the contrary. The conversations that we're having with them in advance is they're excited about this summit," White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said on Monday. PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a barbeque for active-duty military families in honor of the Fourth of July on the South Lawn of the White House, July 4, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Biden countering RNC with battleground state travel Ukraines road to membership Hours before the start of the summit on Tuesday, a barrage of Russian missiles rained down on Ukraine, hitting multiple civilian targets -- including a children's hospital. The attack -- which left at least 37 people dead, according to Ukrainian officials -- underscored the gravity of the conflict that has indirectly pitted NATO powers against Moscow's aggression. Before Monday's strike on Ukraine, a senior Biden administration official said that the U.S. would announce new air defenses and military capabilities for the country, adding that the summit would send "a strong signal" to Russian President Vladimir Putin "that if he thinks he can outlast the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine, he's dead wrong." While Zelenskyy has been pushing for additional air defense systems, he has been critical of NATO's decision to avoid setting a timeline for Ukraine to join its ranks. PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his way during the Summit on peace in Ukraine, in Stansstad near Lucerne, Switzerland, June 16, 2024. (Michael Buholzer/Pool via Reuters) A major focus of the Washington summit is expected to be what members of the alliance have branded as Ukraine's "bridge to membership" -- a longer-term effort aimed at steadily moving the country on a path toward becoming a NATO member. In line with this aim, the alliance is expected to announce additional steps to boost tactical cooperation and force development in the coming days and financial pledges, as well as a host of security agreements between Ukraine and individual NATO members, according to Biden administration officials. Harris, Zelenskyy join world leaders to discuss peace plan in Ukraine A "Trump-proof" NATO? Long before the presidential debate in June, NATO observers have been buzzing about efforts to ensure the alliance can stay the course through political headwinds churned up by changes in leadership. While the alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, is scheduled to step down this fall, much of the attention has been fixed on the U.S. election and what pundits describe as a race to "Trump-proof" the alliance, which the former president has repeatedly threatened to leave. (Trump also said in February he wouldn't protect a NATO nation that didn't contribute enough defense funds and, instead, he'd "encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want.") PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a campaign event, in Chesapeake, Va., June 28, 2024. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters, FILE) "Arguably, despite Russia's continued revanchism, the greatest challenge to NATO today comes from within the alliance -- particularly rising populism and publics that continue to question the value of the alliances -- rather than from adversaries abroad," said Raphael S. Cohen, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. He argues that addressing that challenge relies on individual members meeting NATO's guidelines calling for each country to commit at least 2% of its GDP to defense spending -- a target 23 of its 32 members are currently meeting. "It could change not only many American perceptions of the value of NATO but also change European security -- if not global security -- for the better," Cohen said. But members of the administration who believe a second Trump term in office would do irrevocable harm to the alliance say there's only so much that NATO can do to minimize the impact. Multiple U.S. officials aligned with Biden told ABC News that although the summit isn't shaping up to be the celebration of the president's foreign policy accomplishments that they anticipated, they hope the summit will draw attention to how a Trump victory in November could damage America's standing internationally. ABC News' Justin Ryan Gomez contributed to this report. Biden braces for high-stakes NATO summit amid political crisis originally appeared on abcnews.go.com U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the July 8 Russian airstrikes on Ukraine and stressed the importance of international support for Ukraine. It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment, Biden expressed in an official White House statement. This statement came ahead of a NATO summit where additional support for Ukraine, including more Patriot missile batteries, is expected to be pledged. I will be welcoming President Zelensky and NATO leaders to Washington D.C., and I will be meeting with President Zelensky to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakeable. Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraines air defenses to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes, Biden said. The airstrikes, which included an attack on Ukraines largest childrens hospital, prompted the Ukrainian government to declare a day of mourning after at least 37 civilians were killed. Read also: Government searching for options to relocate Okhmatdyt childrens hospital, Shmyhal says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Biden didn't show up for an early evening meeting with the German chancellor because he had to go to bed: report Biden didn't show up for an early evening meeting with the German chancellor because he had to go to bed: report Biden canceled a meeting with Olaf Scholz, saying he had to go to bed, according to a report. The meeting was an informal gathering during the G7 summit to discuss Ukraine. The White House has faced scrutiny over Biden's mental acuity and ability to run for a second term. President Joe Biden canceled an early evening meeting with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the last minute because he had to go to bed, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reported that the event was an informal gathering in Germany amid the G7 summit in June 2022, and was meant to be a low-key meeting to discuss Ukraine. Two unnamed people who were there told the Journal that Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Biden would not make an appearance because he had to rest. According to the report, the chancellor and his aides were surprised by Biden's absence and Blinken's appearance. In a statement to the Journal, a spokesperson for the State Department denied the report, while another official stated that the White House had informed the participants early on that Biden would be unable to attend. Business Insider could not verify the details or the specific reason for needing to rest, and the White House did not reply to a request for comment. Axios, citing people close to the president, has previously said that Biden worked best between the 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. window and struggled to function outside that timeframe. The Journal report said that the White House has consistently reduced Biden's daily schedule and shielded him from impromptu meetings. Both CNN and The New York Times have reported that Biden told governors he needed to get more sleep and stop holding events after 8 p.m. The White House has not responded to these claims. It follows a disastrous debate against Donald Trump, which was marked by verbal gaffes and confusing statements. Biden dismissed queries about his competence as a presidential candidate in a taped interview with ABC's George Stephanopolous on Friday, saying he would step aside only if the "Lord Almighty" asked him to. High-profile Democratic Party donors have voiced their concerns about Biden's mental acuity. Abigail Disney, Walt Disney's grandniece and a longtime Democratic donor, announced she would halt donations to the party until he makes way for a replacement at the top of the ticket. Biden now faces intense scrutiny as he heads into NATO's summit this week, which was meant to draw a line under the strategy for the Ukraine crisis and discuss the shifting China-Russia dynamic. A summit of this stature would normally not be an issue for Biden, who formerly served as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Now, it will serve as a public test of his mental sharpness and ability to run against Trump in the elections. Alliance leaders will be hosted by Biden in Washington for three days of discussions and public activities, which will end with a solo press conference on the afternoon of July 11th. Read the original article on Business Insider KYODO NEWS - Jul 9, 2024 - 19:28 | Japan, All Japan's securities watchdog has conducted a probe at the headquarters of MUFG Bank, one of the country's megabanks, over an employee's alleged involvement in insider trading, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday. The employee allegedly gave a family member information about at least three clients' prospective tender offers before the bids became public. The relative netted several million yen from trading stock based on the information, according to the sources. "We have indeed been inspected, but we decline to comment further due to the ongoing investigation. We will fully cooperate with authorities on this matter," the main banking unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. said in a statement. The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission suspects the employee on multiple occasions divulged information about the prospective takeover bids by the bank's clients. The stock prices of companies involved rose after the takeover plans were announced, the sources said. The employee was quoted by the sources as telling the watchdog, "I did not disclose the information to benefit my relative." The SESC also probed Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., since he worked at the financial group's brokerage unit on a temporary assignment from the bank, the sources said. The latest investigation comes as Japan's Financial Services Agency ordered last month the bank, the brokerage, and another group securities firm to improve their operations after they were found to have shared undisclosed information about customer businesses among themselves without permission. Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Act prohibits insider trading in which people who work at listed firms or their related parties use or divulge to others undisclosed information obtained through business activities that can potentially benefit them or prevent them from incurring losses. The law also forbids such people from recommending stocks to others based on nonpublic information. Related coverage: MUFG bank, brokerages told to improve operations over info-sharing Watchdog accuses MUFG bank of sharing info with brokerage affiliates Higher mortgages, stronger yen on horizon as BOJ ends negative rate If Biden drops out, what happens to Kansas and Missouri ballots? What state laws say President Joe Biden leaves the stage during a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. As President Joe Biden faces calls to step aside, questions are surfacing about what would happen including in Kansas and Missouri. Bidens disastrous debate performance earlier this month, which triggered a wave of scrutiny surrounding his age and mental acuity, has led to pressure from some Democrats for the 81-year-old chief executive to drop out of the presidential race. Biden has so far signaled he plans to remain in the race. If Biden drops out, the decision could hold consequences for the November election in Kansas and Missouri, depending on when he makes his decision. Heres what we know about what would happen in both states if Biden drops out. Can Biden be replaced on the ballot in Kansas and Missouri? Biden hasnt actually been placed on any ballots yet, so theres no one to replace. Both Kansas and Missouri finalize the names that appear on the general election ballot after Republicans and Democrats hold their national conventions. The Republicans are meeting in Milwaukee on July 15-18 and the Democrats are meeting in Chicago on August 19-22. Who the Democrats nominate at their convention whether Biden or someone else determines whose name is on the ballot. What about other states? The same thing goes for other states. Neither Biden nor Trump are the nominees and therefore on general election ballots until theyre formally nominated at their party conventions. Ohio had a deadline of Aug. 7 for its ballots, well before the Democratic National Convention. But Ohio lawmakers passed legislation to fix the issue and the Democratic National Committee also scheduled a virtual roll call for early August to avoid any problem. Its unclear whether the DNC will move forward with the virtual vote. Some news outlets have reported Democrats are weighing moving up the formal nomination of Biden to a virtual meeting later in July. What happens at the conventions? Both parties at the conventions will formally nominate their candidates for president and vice president based on the votes of delegates unless a virtual vote is held first. Even though Biden won nearly all state and territorial caucuses and primaries this year meaning that delegates from those states are pledged to him he does not officially become the Democratic nominee until the convention votes to nominate him. Before the convention, Biden could choose to release his delegates from their pledge to vote for him. That would lead to an open convention, which hasnt taken place in the United States in half a century. At an open convention, candidates for president and vice president would try to win over a majority of delegates to secure the nomination. The convention would go through multiple rounds of voting until candidates win a majority. Some Democrats have said that if Biden steps aside, the party should quickly coalesce around Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee. That could happen, but isnt guaranteed. Who are the delegates? The delegates, several dozen in both Kansas and Missouri, are a mix of elected officials, party activists and insiders who were chosen at state party conventions. What happens after the convention? The Republicans and Democrats, after their conventions, will certify to election officials in Kansas and Missouri who is the presidential and vice presidential nominees. This determines whose names appear on the ballot. In Missouri, state law requires political parties to certify to the Missouri Secretary of States Office the nominees no later than the 12th Tuesday prior to the presidential election. Since Election Day is Nov. 5, the 12th Tuesday before the election is Aug. 13. But the Democratic National Convention doesnt take place until after that deadline. In that case, Missouri law says the party has seven working days to certify its nominees. If the DNC ends as scheduled on Aug. 22, the deadline will likely be Sept. 3, the Tuesday after Labor Day. It gets more complicated. Missouri law also requires the Secretary of State to send to local election officials a certified list of candidates no later than the 10th Tuesday before the election, in this case, Aug. 27. That day falls before the deadline for Democrats to certify their nominees, but the party would likely seek to provide their certification by the earlier deadline. In Kansas, theres no deadline for the political parties to certify their nominees, but the parties must certify their choices to the Kansas Secretary of States Office. Still, the parties typically certify their nominees soon after the conventions. In 2020, Democrats certified Biden as the nominee on Aug. 20 and then-President Donald Trump was certified as the Republican nominee on Sept. 2, according to the Kansas Secretary of States Office. What happens if Biden drops out after the convention? The Democratic National Committee would select a new presidential candidate if Biden withdraws after hes nominated at the convention. In Missouri, the Secretary of State must provide a certified list of candidates to local election officials by the 10th Tuesday before the election, or Aug. 27. Democrats would likely need a court order in order to swap out candidates after that date. In Kansas, state law says that if a candidate withdraws or dies before Sept. 1, the candidates name doesnt appear on the ballot and the party must provide a substitute candidate name. If the vacancy after Sept. 1, election officials will replace the candidate with a substitute on ballots if possible, according to the Kansas Secretary of States Office. But that depends on how far along election officials are in ballot preparations. While no hard deadline exists in Kansas, under federal law mail ballots sent to military service members overseas must be sent at least 45 days before the election, which is Sept. 21. The 45-day requirement applies to both Kansas and Missouri. But what about the Electoral College? The final wrinkle is the Electoral College, the 538 electors nationwide who actually, formally elect the president and vice president. Even though the names of presidential and vice presidential candidates appear on the ballot, voters are actually voting for electors from their state for those candidates. Each state gets the same number of electors as electoral votes, which is the number of Senate seats (two for each state) plus the number of congressional seats. Kansas gets six electoral votes and Missouri gets 10. The electors themselves are chosen by the state political parties and are often party insiders. The electors meet on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, which is Dec. 19 and cast their votes. (Bloomberg) -- New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives in Congress are standing by President Joe Biden even as voices across the party call on him to step aside following his disastrous debate against Donald Trump. Most Read from Bloomberg Ocasio-Cortez and Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar two members of the Squad of liberal lawmakers signaled Monday that Biden should stay at the top of the ticket. Their support for the 81-year-old president is notable considering the Squad publicly criticized him earlier in his presidency for negotiating with Republicans while abandoning some of his more lofty campaign promises like free community college. Bidens continued support for Israel, despite growing concerns about the way the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prosecuted the war in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas, has also roiled the partys left flank. The US and European Union have deemed Hamas a terrorist organization. But Omar said Monday that Biden has her support. Outside of a few outliers, I think everybodys supporting the president, she said. Ocasio-Cortez, who has emerged as one of Bidens most important surrogates on the campaign trail, told Bloomberg News on Monday that she had spoken extensively to Biden over the weekend. He has made abundantly clear that he is in this race. He has made abundantly clear that he is not leaving this race. He is the nominee, she said. I am making sure that I support him. Another Squad member, Representative Cori Bush of Missouri, didnt commit to backing Biden but blamed his political troubles on right-wing influences. At least nine House Democrats have said they believe Biden should no longer be their presidential nominee, including some senior party members who made their stance known on Sunday on a private virtual call organized by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Representative Adam Smith, the top-ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, became the most senior House member from his party to publicly call for Biden to be replaced. Washington Democrat Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Biden will speak with progressives this week. Jayapal acknowledged the presidents halting debate performance is concerning, but she urged Democrats to discuss the matter in private. I think the conversation is important to have right now because people do have concerns, Jayapal said. I just dont think it should be in public. --With assistance from Erik Wasson. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Biden hosts NATO members in Washington as he looks for reprieve from campaign pressures Biden hosts NATO members in Washington as he looks for reprieve from campaign pressures World leaders from NATO countries are set to descend on Washington, DC, this week for their annual meeting as President Joe Biden looks to quell fears and move past questions on his future. Heads of state and government from 32 NATO nations plus leaders of Ukraine, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea began arriving at Joint Base Andrews on Monday for the annual gathering. Biden is scheduled to open the confab with a speech marking the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic alliance. The president has touted the alliances expansion including formerly neutral nations Finland and Sweden in the wake of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine as one of his key foreign policy accomplishments. He has also bosted that now more than two thirds of the block are now meeting a decade-old goal of spending 2 percent of their respective gross domestic products on defense needs. It is expected that Biden will lean into those efforts, plus his work assembling a worldwide alliance to arm and support Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression, when he speaks to world leaders at the Mellon Auditorium late Tuesday evening. The speech will be his first major address since the June 27 debate with Donald Trump, where Biden performed so poorly that many members of his party have openly questioned whether he is fit to remain on the ballot in this years presidential election. NATO is set to meet in Washington, DC, this week as Joe Biden looks to move past questions about his political future (AP) But White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby denied that Bidens poor performance has rankled NATO allies. I think the question presupposes the notion that they need to be reassured of American leadership and President Bidens commitment, and I dont believe thats the case, he said moments after he was asked if Biden has a plan for reassuring allies that hes up to the job after multiple members of his own party have called for him to stand down from his re-election bid in favor of a younger candidate. Were not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all, Kirby continued, adding that allies are excited about the annual summit. Pressed further on whether there have been any conversations with allies to reassure them of Bidens capacity to lead the US, Kirby flatly denied that any had taken place. White House and Biden campaign sources are hoping that this weeks pomp and pageantry on the world stage can quell the clamor for Biden to stand down, at least long enough for the president to make the case for him to stay in the race during his press conference on Thursday. One White House official who spoke to The Independent on condition of anonymity said they dont expect Democrats in the House or Senate to make any moves against the president while hes hosting NATO members this week, giving him a brief reprieve just before the political world shifts focus to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. A different senior administration official who briefed reporters on the presidents plans for the NATO summit last week confirmed Bidens plans to tout the growth in the number of NATO nations and their military spending since the Ukraine invasion. The official also said Biden and the other 31 NATO leaders would roll out new steps to strengthen Ukraines air defenses and military capabilities to help Ukraine continue to defend themselves today and to deter Russian aggression into the future and celebrate the nearly two dozen nations that have signed bilateral security pacts with Kyiv. White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby has denied that Bidens poor debate performance has rankled NATO allies, even as members of Bidens own party have called for him to stand aside (AP) Kirby confirmed the Ukraine-centric nature of the summits schedule when he took to the White House briefing room on Monday, telling reporters that Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a bilateral meeting on the summits sidelines on Thursday before attending a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine council. Kirby said the resumption of American military aid to Kyiv has seen Ukrainian forces successfully hold territory against Russia or make small gains, which he called a significant impact on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces have successfully stopped Russias attack north of Kharkiv, denying Russia the ability to take that city, and limiting Russian gains to areas just across the border, he said, adding that Ukraine has also held the line in other places by hardening defenses against Russian attacks, as well as halted attacks in places such as Zaporizhzhia. The people of Ukraine have yet again demonstrated that when supplied and when supported by the international community in the United States, they can hold off the largest though certainly not, I think is clearly evident, the most capable army in Europe, Kirby said. He told reporters that the US and other allied nations would make several big announcements related to Ukraine at the summit, and the alliance itself would roll out what Kirby called significant new steps to strengthen its military and political partnership with Ukraine to help Ukraine continue to defend themselves today and to deter Russian aggression well into the future. These elements, taken together with bilateral support, are part of a bridge to Ukraines NATO membership together the Washington summit will send a strong signal to Mr Putin that if he thinks he can outlast a coalition of countries that are supporting Ukraine, hes dead wrong again, he said. As President Biden has said himself, Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness. Last months debate between current President Joe Biden and and former President Donald Trump promised to make abortion a key issue, but many people were left disappointed by how little focus was given to reproductive rights. The two speakers spent little time on the issue while Trump even gave voters misinformation about late-term abortions. Nonetheless, Biden once again concluded his remarks that if reelected, he would continue to work to restore federal abortion rights. Its not the first time Biden has said he would restore Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that enshrined the right to abortion. It was overturned in June 2022 and ever since has been a common claim on the campaign trail to fix it, one that Biden also touted during the 2024 State of the Union address and more recently released a campaign ad that targets Trump on abortion. But many are quick to criticize Biden over these future promises, given that hes president now so why can he do anything about this today? Salon asked legal experts if Bidens promise to restore Roe is misleading, and what his options would be in a potential next presidency to take such an action. I think that critique is very valid, that he is president right now and why is he not doing anything? Seema Mohapatra, a law professor at the SMU Dedman School of Law, told Salon, adding that this is the biggest issue in this years election in terms of mobilizing voters. Majority of the American people are in support of some sort of abortion rights, and hes lost a lot of chances to talk about any specifics, and he's not really giving specifics about what he would do differently today than what it would be in like six months. Mohapatra said from her legal perspective, the best path forward to restore Roe would be to expand the Supreme Court. Roe v. Wade ruled that the U.S. Constitution protected a persons right to have an abortion if they choose; the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Roes favor in January 1973, but history had other plans. On June 24, 2022, the SCOTUS ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization a case that challenged a Mississippi ban on abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy overturned Roe v. Wade, which effectively ended the federal constitutional right to have an abortion in the United States. Specifically, the opinion stated there's no federal constitutional right to an abortion. Without changing the composition of the Court, I don't see how that itself is going to change, Mohapatra said. There's nothing in the Dobbs opinion that bans a national abortion ban, but there's not also nothing that necessarily bans some level of protection. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. If the Supreme Court is going to overturn any kind of national abortion legislation, there would have to be some justification for that, Mohapatra added, especially if the court making the opinion already holds the opinion that the Constitution doesnt protect the right to choose an abortion. But Biden can't do that alone, she said. Indeed, unless Democrats hold a majority of the Senate, he wont be able to pass any kind of legislation to restore it or to pass a bill to expand the U.S. Supreme Court. David S. Cohen, a professor of law at Drexel Kline's School of Law, told Salon that when he hears Biden say he is going to restore Roe if hes elected to serve as president for a second term, he thinks hes hoping to get a Congress that supports him. Hence, why the focus is on what he can do in another term and not as the current president. Right now, the house is Republican controlled and the Senate is bare majority of Democrats, so I think he's hoping that in November, the house flips back to being controlled by Democrats and the Senate gets a few more Democrats who are bold enough to get rid of the filibuster, Cohen said, adding that its not as clear cut as Democrats winning a majority of both houses. There are certainly many Democrats who have expressed a lot of concern about getting rid of the filibuster, so even if there's majorities in both houses, there's a question of whether there's a majority of Democrats who support getting rid of the filibuster, either as a general matter or specific to abortion. Cohen said Bidens claim to restore Roe is a signal of what he wants to do. Its not literal as the reality is more complicated. However, he doesnt necessarily think its misleading. Its a statement of policy: its telling you what the president thinks on the issue, he said. Would it be better if he spells it out, or if it were fully understood by everyone that in order for him to do this, you would need to elect pro-choice Democrats up and down the ballot? Yes, it would be better, but this is not any different than any president saying what they want as a matter of policy. Azaleea Carlea, legal director at Legal Momentum told Salon in a phone interview, as someone who works in the reproductive rights space, she was very disappointed after the presidential debate last month. We certainly were not happy after the debate when former President Trump was talking about post-term, after-birth abortions. It was just so surreal to even think that he was saying this on national television with no fact-checking, Carlea said. But I was disappointed in how President Biden countered. He really had an opportunity to underscore how important this is to the American people. Carlea added that Roe v. Wade was the bare minimum. That shed like to see the next administration be one that goes further, instead of a focus on restoring Roe, offering an agenda and plan that would really protect people's access and to protect their health. Under the Roe framework, which centered around this nebulous concept of viability, you still had states that were criminalizing and surveilling post-viability, Carlea said. We need to get rid of all of that and ensure that every American can make medical decisions for themselves with the advice of their medical provider and their families to do what's right for them. The News President Biden hasnt made much progress convincing Democrats hes still equipped to take on Donald Trump since their debate. But hes made headway on another front: Making clear he will take the entire party down with him if they dont stop trying to replace him. In a letter to Congress on Monday, just as members were arriving for the first time since the debate to potentially share their grievances, Biden warned: The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And its time for it to end. In a phone interview on Morning Joe around the same time, he denounced the elites who he accused of trying to push him out his most combative language yet. If any of these guys think I shouldnt run, run against me go ahead, announce for president, he said. Challenge me at the convention. The message coming from the White House is clear: Biden isnt going anywhere, and if you come after him youll be the one who gets blamed for undermining the partys general election chances. Benjys view A presidential candidate rallying supporters to stop party elites from trying to oust him is a familiar scene if youve followed Donald Trumps career. We werent the only ones to notice the parallels. It very much reminded me of Trump, said one Democratic strategist after Bidens call-in to Morning Joe (once a favorite Trump venue, by the way). Tactically, Bidens phoner was stealing a page out of the Trump playbook, a Republican strategist said. Over the last decade, Trump repeatedly used threats against party leaders as leverage in case they ever tried to turn on him. He threatened to run with a third party in 2016 if he felt he wasnt treated fairly, and reportedly made a similar threat during his impeachment trial after January 6. When he announced his latest run this cycle, prominent Republicans openly worried he would deliberately destroy the partys nominee if it was anyone but him. And, of course, anyone who opposed him could expect a nasty primary challenge. Bidens threat is similar in effect, but functionally different. He doesnt command a rabid army of supporters to weaponize against opponents like Trump (though Democrats are watching for signs of pro-Biden backlash), and hes the definition of an institutionalist and insider, not an anti-establishment rebel who could leave his party behind if he wanted to. What Biden do is be stubborn in a way that sets up a scenario of mutually assured destruction for Democrats. So long as opponents of his nomination believe its impossible to force him to step aside, any escalation of their criticism risks damaging him even further in November. And the worse his standing gets, the more his party is likely to suffer up and down the ballot. Democrats dont sound entirely ready to believe him for now. After all, the entire reason his critics think their more gentle appeals to him might work is that hes the kind of politician who usually does care about the health of his party and his legacy within it. Many of the elites that he decried are the kinds of elected leaders, liberal commentators, and advocacy groups hes cultivated relationships with across five decades. A number of Senate Democrats still sounded unwilling to concede that hell be the nominee as of Monday night. But Bidens big advantage here is that it really is almost impossible to force him to step aside; he already won the support of the overwhelming majority of convention delegates, who are required to support him. Some Democrats have politely alluded to Biden having a big decision to make, or suggested he talk with his family, in the hopes of giving him space to potentially leave on his own. But if that doesnt work, the next move would be to organize members to demand he pass the torch perhaps privately to start, but then loudly if he refuses. Its not a very appetizing prospect. If Biden really is willing to fight a Democratic civil war, it would mean heading into convention season with key chunks of the party on the record with doubts about their nominee and pro-Biden factions accusing them of sabotage, all while Republicans quietly sit back and munch popcorn. Biden has been working hard to line up support from Black Democrats and labor Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford backed Biden Monday setting up a potentially uncomfortable race and class dynamic to the fight as well. New York Rep. Ritchie Torres summed up the situation on Monday with an unusual statement asking Democrats not to badmouth Biden on the basis of Cold War-style game theory. Regardless of where one stands on the question of President Bidens political future, the intra-party mixed messaging strikes me as deeply self-destructive, he said. Those publicly calling on President Biden to withdraw should ask themselves a simple question: what if the President becomes the Democratic nominee? The drip, drip, drip of public statements of no confidence only serve to weaken a President who has been weakened not only by the debate but also by the debate about the debate. Room for Disagreement While its never ideal for a party to be navigating a political hostage standoff involving their own nominee, its not necessarily fatal. Trump won the general election in 2016 after the Access Hollywood tape dropped, even though his hold on the partys leaders and institutions was far weaker than it is now. Notable How would replacing Biden even work? Semafors David Weigel breaks down the party rules around the nominating process. The New York Times Shane Goldmacher reports that some Democrats are questioning why Bidens new campaign to reassure the party he isnt going anywhere took so long. US President Joe Biden speaks at the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kay Nietfeld/dpa US President Joe Biden on Tuesday praised NATO countries' "remarkable progress" towards meeting the alliance's target of spending 2% of national gross domestic product on defence. "In the year 2020, the year I was elected president, only nine NATO allies were spending 2%" of their GDP on defence, he said at a ceremony in Washington to mark NATO's 75th anniversary. "This year, 23 will spend at least 2%," Biden said. "Some will spend more than that. And the remaining countries that have not yet reached that milestone will get there soon," he added. He also praised allies' support for Ukraine and announced a joint provision of air defence equipment. "Today, I'm announcing the historic donation of air defence equipment for Ukraine," Biden said. "The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy will provide Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defence systems." Eager to turn the page from questions about his mental fitness, President Joe Biden on Tuesday officially opened NATO's Washington Summit by announcing what he called a "historic donation" of critical new air defense capabilities to bolster Ukraine's fight against Russia. "Putin wants nothing less -- nothing less than Ukraine's total subjugation, to end Ukraine's democracy, to destroy Ukraine's culture and to wipe Ukraine off the map and we know Putin won't stop at Ukraine," Biden declared. "But make no mistake Ukraine can and will stop Putin." The commitments Biden outlined include four Patriot anti-missile batteries; the U.S., Germany and Romania will supply one each, and the fourth will be cobbled together from components provided by the Netherland and other NATO members, according to a statement from the countries. "The United States will make sure that when we export critical air defense interceptors, Ukraine goes to the front of the line. They will get this assistance before anyone else gets it," Biden declared. "All told, Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities against Russian missiles." PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks at a NATO event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the alliance, in Washington, D.C., July 9, 2024. (Yves Herman/Reuters) MORE: Biden braces for high-stakes NATO summit amid political crisis Biden's pledge of new help for Ukraine comes as performance on the world stage is being scrutinized amid questions about his political future. Italy has also committed to providing Ukraine with another of its SAMP-T air defense systems, the joint statement said. In his address, Biden said NATO allies would also share "dozens" of other tactical air defense system s with Ukraine in the coming months. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urging NATO allies to fortify the country's air defenses for months, and on Monday, an onslaught of Russian missiles underscored the dire need. According to Ukrainian officials, the strikes killed 33 people in Kyiv, making it the deadliest attack on the capital city since Russia's invasion began in early 2022. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine requires seven more Patriot systems, so Biden's announcement only partially fills that demand. MORE: Ukraine searches children's hospital wreckage as NATO countries condemn 'barbaric' Russian strike Germany and Romania had previously publicly indicated they would send Patriot batteries to Ukraine. U.S. officials had also confirmed that an American battery stationed in Poland would be transferred, but the move had not yet been formally announced. Alliance leaders have long anticipated that ensuring Ukraine could continue to weather Moscow's aggression would top the gathering's agenda, but following Biden's fumbling debate performance, the summit has also been cast as a pivotal test of his capability to serve as president for another four years. In the days leading up to the meeting, White House officials have sought to emphasize Biden's efforts to restore American leadership within the alliance and on the international stage more broadly--contrasting his position with Republican challenger Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to leave NATO. "An overwhelmingly bipartisan majority of Americans understand that NATO makes us all safer," Biden said. "Americans, they know we're stronger with our friends." Biden also acknowledged outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, thanking him for his pivotal leadership and honoring him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest American honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian. Biden launches NATO summit by pledging new air defense support for Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com KYODO NEWS - Jul 9, 2024 - 19:44 | All, Japan A Chinese national living in Japan was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly conspiring with two others to spray-paint the word "toilet" in English on a stone pillar at the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo earlier this year, police said. Jiang Zhuojun, 29, is suspected of purchasing the spray paint and playing other roles to vandalize the pillar engraved with the shrine's name near the entrance. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau issued arrest warrants for two other Chinese nationals, Dong Guangming, 36, and Xu Laiyu, 25, placing them on wanted lists. The three allegedly vandalized the pillar at approximately 9:55 p.m. on May 31. Dong and Xu left Japan for China on June 1, but a video was posted on Chinese social media showing a man appearing to urinate on the stone pillar before spray-painting the word "toilet" in red. According to the bureau, the damage is estimated at 4.2 million yen ($26,000), with Dong suspected of being the perpetrator and Xu alleged to have filmed the act. The police declined to disclose whether Jiang has admitted to the allegations. Yasukuni has been a source of diplomatic friction with China and other Asian countries as Japan's wartime leaders, convicted as war criminals in a post-World War II international tribunal, are among the more than 2.4 million war dead honored at the shrine. Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said at a press conference last month that the Japanese government had expressed its concerns about the actions to the Chinese government through diplomatic routes. Related coverage: Chinese man suspected of graffitiing word "toilet" at Yasukuni shrine The Biden administration should listen to what Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia told me about the latest resumption of U.S. talks with Venezuelas dictatorship ahead of the July 28 presidential elections. In essence, he said: Dont be duped by last-minute promises by Venezuelas regime. Gonzalez Urrutia, 74, a retired ambassador who is leading in most opinion polls, told me that he supported the July 3 remote meeting between top Venezuelan and U.S. officials about the upcoming elections. But he added that lifting U.S. oil sanctions on Venezuelas regime should not be part of pre-election talks. In an exclusive interview by Zoom that he gave me for CNN en Espanol and the Miami Herald, he said that Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has often offered negotiations with Washington as a way to project a more moderate image at home shortly before crucial elections, only to break his promises later. He has done that on several occasions, Gonzalez Urrutia told me. Its a move to buy time, and to present a less hostile (political) climate at a key time of the campaign. Asked to elaborate, he said Maduro is probably seeking to convey a feeling of normalcy and give the impression that tensions with the United States are easing. The two countries have not had ambassadors at each others capital for about 10 years, and that brings many problems, he added. In addition, Maduro may have accepted to restart talks with Washington because of economic pressures. He badly needs an economic relief from U.S. oil sanctions, Gonzalez Urrutia told me. Maduro has often demanded that the Biden administration lift oil sanctions on Venezuela. The Biden administration reinstated sanctions in April, six months after lifting them in exchange for Maduros promises that he would lifts bans on Maria Corina Machado and other opposition leaders from running for office. At the remote July 3 U.S.-Venezuela meeting, the two sides agreed to maintain constructive and respectful communication, Venezuelas chief negotiator, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, said. The Biden administration said it had asked the Venezuelan regime to ensure that the elections be competitive and inclusive, the Reuters news agency reported. Asked whether the Biden administration did the right thing in participating in the latest talks with the Maduro regime, Gonzalez Urrutia responded that its good to use any occasion to demand respect for the rules of democracy. But when I asked him whether Washington should once again offer to lift some economic sanctions in exchange for Venezuelas promises to remove obstacles for fair elections, Gonzalez Urrutia said, I wouldnt go that far. I think the two situations are separate. One thing does not depend on the other. He added, The international community does not have any other path than to denounce irregular situations, and demanding that the results be respected. Gonzalez Urrutia, who was picked by opposition leader Machado after she was barred from running another substitute candidate she appointed was also banned is under no illusion that this will be a free and fair election. About 4.5 million Venezuelan voters living abroad have not been allowed to register, he reminded me. In addition, the regime has arrested many opposition activists to intimidate others ahead of the vote. Credible foreign election monitoring missions such as that of the European Union have been banned, and there is no freedom of the press. It would be a big mistake for the Biden administration to give Maduro a new economic lifeline expecting him to make democratic concessions, or in the dubious belief that helping Venezuela increase its oil exports would bring down U.S. gasoline prices in the months remaining before the November U.S. elections. Washington and other democracies should prepare for coordinated new sanctions against Venezuela in case Maduro tries to once again steal the elections. Its too late for U.S. goodwill gestures, especially when the previous ones failed miserably. Dont miss the Oppenheimer Presenta TV show on Sundays at 9 pm E.T. on CNN en Espanol. Blog: andresoppenheimer.com President Joe Bidens new mandate to have nursing homes hire more workers ignores the well-documented national crisis that has befallen the long-term care profession for almost a decade: There are not enough skilled nursing staff in this country to hire, and not enough money to pay them, a guest columnist writes. Ronald Reagan once said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are Im from the government, and Im here to help. Almost 40 years later, the solutions proposed by the federal government can still send shivers down our spines. The most recent and frightening example of government sabotage disguised as technocratic problem-solving is President Joe Bidens sweeping new hiring mandates on nursing homes. On its face, Bidens proposal is simple. Many nursing homes are understaffed; facilities with greater numbers of registered nurses and nursing aides can theoretically provide better care; and thus, the president is here to tell you to hire more staff. According to the administrations estimates, 75 percent of all long-term care facilities will need to add staff, and all of them will be required to have at least one registered nurse onsite 24 hours a day. Bidens new mandate, however, ignores the well-documented national crisis that has befallen the long-term care profession for almost a decade: There are not enough skilled nursing staff in this country to hire, and not enough money to pay them. President Biden and his team are proposing to solve a labor shortage emergency in skilled nursing by mandating that facilities hire workers that do not exist with money they dont have. This is, quite frankly, a boneheaded federal demand, which is why over a dozen governors, including Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, have signed a joint letter in opposition to the rule. In Congress, Sen. James Lankford has followed suit, introducing a resolution opposing the mandate and Sen. Markwayne Mullin signed on as an original co-sponsor; Rep. Kevin Hern has co-authored a similar measure in the U.S. House. The Biden mandate is even more frustrating when one considers recent measures taken by the Oklahoma Legislature to inject some sense of financial stability into the skilled nursing care profession. In the 2024 session, lawmakers appropriated $30 million to close a roughly $44 per resident gap between the daily reimbursement rate for Medicaid residents and the projected cost of their care, as projected by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The federal mandate which begins to take effect in August obliterates those hard-fought gains, adding $76 million in additional annual costs. Beyond the eye-popping financial impact to Oklahomas nursing homes, the mandate attempts to will into existence workers that nursing home administrators have already tried and failed to recruit and hire. Since 2022, nursing homes in Medford, Sapulpa, Shawnee, Vinita, Ardmore and all across the state have been forced to close their doors because they could not find the skilled labor they needed to meet minimum staffing requirements. The presidents new mandate, completely divorced from that reality, will now lead to more closures if it is not reversed or blocked by lawmakers. Each one of those closures will mean massive disruptions in the lives of vulnerable seniors, as well as in many rural areas, the loss of the largest local employer. This threat to aging Oklahomans and rural economies is not only alarming, but also entirely preventable. We understand the problem: We do not have enough skilled workers in health care. The only solution is to produce more, and it cannot happen overnight. To their credit, Oklahoma lawmakers are taking positive steps in this direction. In 2022, the Legislature appropriated $4.5 million to support the launch of Care Careers Oklahoma, which connects long-term care facilities with potential employees and helps cover training costs for workers looking to become Certified Nursing Aides or Certified Medication Aides. That type of investment along with incremental increases in the states Medicaid reimbursement rate is the only way to address the workforce shortage. Wishful thinking combined with punitive fines from the federal government will not. Moving forward, state policymakers must find more creative ways to support workforce training programs that can increase the pool of skilled labor in health care. At the same time, we should all resist and reject harmful mandates from the Biden administration and whoever his successor is. Weve seen the kind of help the federal government has to offer, and we dont need it. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell Matt Pinnell serves as the 17th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma. He is president of the Senate and set his agenda on workforce development issues. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: More workforce training needed to boost skilled labor in health care President Biden will meet virtually Monday night with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) amid growing calls from Democrats for the partys presumptive nominee to step aside. On the call with CBC members, Biden will discuss the stakes of the 2024 election and their shared commitment to beating Donald Trump this November, the campaign said in a statement. Biden will deliver remarks on the call and answer questions from CBC members, the campaign added. The meeting comes as the Biden campaign seeks to quell growing discontent about keeping Biden at the top of the ticket and continues to deal with the fallout from Bidens disastrous debate performance. At least six House Democrats have publicly called on Biden to step aside, including Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), who earlier on Monday became the most senior House Democrat to do so. He is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Other House Democrats, according to reports, have expressed similar sentiments privately. Amid public skepticism, many CBC members have emerged as some of the presidents most loyal backers. CBC Chair Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) issued a statement Monday morning, saying Biden is the nominee and has been selected by millions of voters across this country, including voters here in Nevada. They know President Biden and Vice President Harris are fighting for them. Like me, they dont want to see Donald Trump back in the Whtie House and are ready to work and VOTE to ensure that doesnt happen, he continued. Were not going back, were moving forward. Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.) the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee and the former chair of the Jan. 6 select committee similarly reaffirmed his support for Biden. I want to make it clear: As a senior Democrat in the U.S. House, I fully support our President and Vice President, and we will defeat Trump again! #BackingBiden #BackingBidenHarris, Thompson wrote on the social platform X, later adding, Together we stand, Divided we fall!. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), a former CBC chair, also made it clear that she backs Biden, saying, The choice for American leadership and our democracy is clear. Its Joe Biden! @JoeBiden has done more for our country and our democracy than House Republicans and the convicted felon and insurrectionists they so warmly embrace. I put people over politics. I stand with TEAM BIDEN HARRIS, she continued. Biden and his campaign have maintained that he will not drop out of the race. Biden, in an interview Monday on MSNBCs Morning Joe, dared other Democrats to challenge him at the national convention this summer, emphasizing that he believes he is the best candidate to beat Trump. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden is leaning on the credibility of White House physician Kevin OConnors optimistic assessment of his health, but that physician is a family intimate and one-time business associate of the president's brother. When Bidens brother Jim was exploring a business venture aimed at securing Veterans Affairs contracts in 2017, OConnor introduced him to a military-focused medical team and accompanied him to a meeting with a hospital president. You and your team clearly share our vision, OConnor wrote to the hospital president following the business meeting. The family ties transcend business. In a 2018 deposition, the presidents sister-in-law, Sara Biden, described OConnor as a friend who frequently doled out medical advice to her family. When Joe Biden had left the vice presidency the previous year, OConnor his government-assigned military doctor emailed more than a dozen members of the Biden clan, saying, "You've all been a really important part of my life." On Monday, The New York Times reported that OConnor had met with a specialist in Parkinsons Disease who visited the White House eight times in eight months, fanning a new round of speculation about Bidens wellbeing. In response to a question about the visits, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates cited a White House statement that A wide variety of specialists from the Walter Reed system visit the White House complex to treat thousands of military personnel who work on the grounds. Bates also cited a February memo from OConnor to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that said a neurologic exam revealed no findings consistent with Parkinsons or a host of other neurological disorders. But experts in presidential health, and its long history of medical cover ups, said the close personal bonds between the Bidens and OConnor intensify the inherent conflicts in relying on the White House physician to accurately convey the state of his employers health to the public. That compounds the problem, said Matthew Algeo, historian and author of The President is a Sick Man about Grover Clevelands coverup of an 1893 cancer procedure. You're working for the guy youre examining, and hes your buddy. Its just a lose-lose situation. Bert Park, author of The Impact of Illness on World Leaders and an advocate for independent oversight of presidents health, called the Biden family bonds one of the many concerns about relying on OConnor to publicly disclose serious medical issues. We cannot depend on the presidential physician to come clean, Park, himself a doctor, said. Thats a fools game. OConnor, then an army colonel on the White House medical staff, first served as Joe Bidens government-provided physician when he was vice president. During that period, OConnor regularly dispensed medical advice to members of the Biden clan, according to a deposition given by Jim Bidens wife Sara Biden in a New York state medical malpractice case filed by the presidents niece, Caroline Biden, against a specialist she sought treatment from on the strength of a referral from OConnor. Colonel O'Connor was actually a friend and he we would frequently ask for his recommendations if any of us had a medical issue, Sara Biden said in the deposition for the case, by way of explaining OConnors 2013 referral of the specialist to her stepdaughter. The doctors ties to the family famously intensified as he assisted Beau Bidens battle with terminal brain cancer from 2013 to 2015. In October 2016, as the end of the Obama administration approached, OConnor emailed Hunter Biden, Jim Biden and a dozen other family members to invite them to his retirement ceremony ahead of a planned July 2017 departure from the military, according to one of Hunter Bidens leaked emails. You've all been a really important part of my life for the past eight years, OConnor wrote, and I hope that will continue. Indeed, OConnors relationship with Biden family members did continue after Joe Biden left the vice presidency. In mid-2017, Jim Biden began pursuing health care ventures with a troubled hospital chain, Americore. In order to fill Americores hospitals and ease the backlog of patients seeking care from the Veterans Affairs Department, Jim Biden later testified to impeachment inquiry investigators, he hoped to use Americore facilities to house veterans seeking treatment for alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder under one roof. As he explored the possibility of winning support from the VA, Jim Biden testified that OConnor introduced him to the leader of a group that screened for PTSD on military bases. In June of 2017, Jim Biden and OConnor also met with Beverly Annarumo, president of a hospital in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, that Americore would soon acquire, according to emails included in a cache of internal Americore documents obtained exclusively by POLITICO. It was a pleasure to meet with the two of you on Wednesday, wrote Annarumo to OConnor and Jim Biden. I am very excited about the possibility of bringing help to the Veterans in our area. Annarumo wrote that she had attached information about Ellwood City Hospitals facilities, adding, Please let me know if there is anything else that I can provide that would help ensure that your vision for our Veterans becomes a reality. I truly enjoyed our time together the other day, OConnor responded. You and your team clearly share our vision, and I look forward to seeing you again in coming months. The domain for OConnors email address, CelticMD.com, contains a reference to Joe Bidens Secret Service codename, Celtic. The White House did not immediately respond to a request to make OConnor available for an interview. Neither OConnor nor a representative for Jim Biden responded to requests for comment that included questions about the full extent of their business collaboration, and it is unclear what came of it. On Sunday, House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) sent O'Connor a letter seeking an interview that cited his involvement with Jim Biden. After Joe Biden assumed the presidency in 2021, OConnor took on the role of White House physician, reentering an executive branch that his patient now wields ultimate power over. Jacob Appel, a professor at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York who has studied the political dilemmas posed by presidents health, said that members of the public are fooling themselves if they believe that the presidents doctor is there to keep them fully informed. In addition to the conflicts posed by personal bonds and their status as executive branch employees, Appel said that HIPAA forbids physicians from disclosing medical information that a patient wants to keep secret, even when those patients are presidents. Presidents' doctors have deceived the public going back to the early 19th century, Appel said. There are plenty of ways of saying something that are factually accurate that don't convey the full sense of whats going on. Biden reacts to Russian missile strike on Ukraine: strengthening air defence and meeting with Zelenskyy President Joe Biden has announced that he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington this week and, together with allies, will announce "new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defence". Source: Biden's statement on the White House website Details: Biden said the Russian missile strikes on Monday, 8 July, which killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians and damaged Kyiv's largest children's hospital, are a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality. He emphasised the importance of the world continuing to support Ukraine at this critical moment and not ignoring Russian aggression. Quote: "This week, I will be welcoming President Zelenskyy and NATO leaders to Washington D.C., and I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakeable. Together with our allies, we will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraines air defences to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine." Background: On 8 July, a Russian missile strike on Kyiv struck the grounds of the National Children's Specialised Hospital Okhmatdyt. One of the buildings has been damaged, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. According to local officials, as of 14:30 on 8 July, two adults had been killed in the attack, along with 16 other people injured, including seven children. The Ukrainian Security Service asserted that Russia's attack on the national children's specialist hospital Okhmatdyt was a war crime and has begun criminal proceedings into it. They said the Russians used a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile to strike the medical facilities. Ukraine's Ministry of Health has launched a fundraising campaign for the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital, which was hit by a Russian missile on Monday 8 July. The strike killed two people. This link allows you to transfer funds to the Okhmatdyt Foundation. Support UP or become our patron! The NATO summit was long planned to celebrate the alliances 75th anniversary, to lock in longterm military support for Ukraine and even to future-proof the West against a possible second term for Donald Trump. But no one expected the meeting in Washington this week to turn into a public test of 81-year-old President Joe Bidens health and cognitive capacity with his reelection campaign facing an existential moment after his disastrous debate performance. Bidens leadership of NATO and lifeline to Ukraine following Russias invasion make him the most significant presidential trustee of the alliance since President George H.W. Bush. But his achievements, including Sweden and Finlands entry into the group, will be eclipsed at the summit by his battle to save his political future. Every step Biden takes, every gesture he makes, and every word he utters will be under intense scrutiny, especially in unscripted moments after the image of an aged and at times incoherent commander in chief was burned into the minds of 50 million viewers at the CNN debate in Atlanta late last month. A president who is older than the alliance itself will be under enormous pressure to show vigor and mental clarity at a solo news conference on Thursday. Any hint of confusion or weakness could spark a fresh round of panic among Democrats and derail Bidens aggressive effort to quell talk of him abandoning his campaign. The president can expect a volley of questions about his health, his medical records and whether he has been hiding the true details of his condition from journalists infuriated by the White Houses handling of the debate fallout. The press conference will also be a must-see event for Democrats who are demanding he do far more to prove he is fit to serve a second term that would end when he is 86. Sen. Patty Murray, for instance, warned Monday evening, We need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job. It was a strikingly strong statement by the Washington state Democrat that underscored the vulnerability of Bidens position. She added: At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Biden will also have an important audience overseas. The effects of the presidents advancing age are not just an issue for his political future; they are now the Wests problem given that he is the last defense against a stunning comeback by Trump, who spent his first term berating NATO allies and cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has suggested he would let Moscow do whatever the hell they want and would not honor NATOs sacred Article 5 mutual defense principle if he considered that a member state had not met the alliances defense spending guidelines. World leaders will be keen to make their own assessment of Biden Bidens debacle created a new complication for US allies already formulating plans for a possibility that many of them dread a Trump victory in November. The world leaders who will spend hours with Biden this week are therefore certain to make their own assessments of the president and his political hopes. Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO, said Bidens partners will arrive in Washington looking for both political and strategic assurances about Biden and the United States future role as the leader of NATO. Is it going to be President Biden? Is he capable of that? Is he going to run for reelection, is he going to get reelected? If so, what does that look like? Volker told CNNs Wolf Blitzer on Monday. Allies are also looking toward an uncertain future, Volker said. Then they worry if he doesnt do that and its former president Donald Trump coming back, what does that mean for US support for NATO, US support for Ukraine? Foreign diplomats and governments are loath to speak about Bidens plight on the record out of a desire to avoid being dragged into domestic US politics. But diplomats from Europe, Asia and the Middle East expressed disbelief at his debate showing, CNN reported last week. And looking forward to the summit, one European diplomat said leaders from the continent would stay polite and seek to avoid any accusations of interference or taking sides in US politics. But the person added: Beneath this cool surface, I believe (the) Biden debate is very crucial. I dont believe there are many Europeans who could see how Biden could still be a successful candidate. Another European diplomat said that every leader arriving in Washington in the coming days will ask questions about (Bidens position) and there will be lot of speculation, but the NATO echo chamber doesnt change the US domestic political calculus in any way. The furor over Bidens age is just the latest shock to rattle the certainty that NATO partners placed in the United States as the alliances senior member for more than 60 years through and after the Cold War until Trumps arrival in the White House. Americas political paroxysms have left many allies, especially in Europe, considering how to protect themselves in an age when Washington is just as likely to be an agent of volatility as stability. Some question whether the US will be there to defend them anymore. Its a reality that we have to be prepared for the unpredictability of the US ally, a European official said. US officials reject any suggestion of concern among Bidens partners about his capacity to lead the alliance, even as multiple polls show most Americans believe he is too old to serve a second term. Foreign leaders have seen Joe Biden up close and personal for the last three years. They know who they are dealing with and how effective hes been, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity. The administrations national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday denied that foreign leaders needed to be assured about Bidens capacities. Were not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all. Quite the contrary, he said. The critical national security substance of the summit is unlikely to be adversely affected by Bidens political crisis since diplomats and top military brass have been thrashing out deliverables for months. Theyve focused on institutionalizing aid to Ukraine and on the future relationship between the alliance and the Kyiv government and its desire to eventually join the alliance. After months of diplomatic haggling, a draft text of the final summit communique describes Ukraine as having an irreversible path to membership, three sources familiar with the deliberations told CNN. Bidens political storm shows no sign of abating These are surreal days in Washington, with a sitting president waging a battle to remain atop his partys ticket less than four months from Election Day. On Monday, the president insisted he wasnt going anywhere even as worried Democratic lawmakers discussed whether Biden would cost his party the House and the Senate as well as the presidency if he remains their presidential candidate. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, joined lawmakers calling for Biden to fold his reelection bid. Weve got a good message. The president has shown he is not capable of delivering that message in an effective way, the Washington state Democrat told CNNs Jake Tapper on Monday. After days of conflicting statements about the presidents medical situation, the White House, meanwhile, insisted that it was not warranted for the president to have a new cognitive test and didnt fully explain why a physician who specializes in Parkinsons disease had held a meeting with the presidents doctor earlier this year. Biden had earlier called into MSNBCs Morning Joe to underscore his refusal to cede his campaign in a manner that indicated that any subsequent request from Democratic leaders for him to leave the ticket would cause an ugly political spectacle. Biden also seized on the upcoming summit as proof of his leadership skills and success as president, while his campaign sought to use his turn on the global stage on US soil to reset the comparison between him and Trump the core theme of his campaign, which has been obliterated by his dismal night at the debate. The rest of the world is looking our allies are looking for US leadership. Who else who else do you think could step in here and do this? Biden said on MSNBC. In an interview with ABC News on Friday, the president also billed himself as essential to global security. Im the guy that put NATO together, the future. No one thought I could expand it. Im the guy that shut Putin down. No one thought could happen, Biden said. The president has not shut Putin down the brutal Russian daylight air attack on Kyiv that hit a childrens hospital on Monday is proof of that. But he has mustered the most effective arming of a Russian adversary since the US backed the Afghan mujahideen fighting the Soviet Union in the 1980s and has indeed reinvigorated NATO and presided over the two Nordic nations entering the alliance. On the eve of the summit, Bidens campaign distributed a memo lauding his leadership in keeping Kyiv standing more than two years after the Russian invasion. Donald Trump is a threat to NATO, a gift to Putin and a wrecking ball to global peace, democracy and human rights, the memo read. The campaign also pointed out the presumptive Republican nominees frequent genuflecting toward Putin. The eyes of the world will be on the NATO summit this week, where Joe Biden has strengthened, expanded and led the NATO Alliance against Putins violation of Ukraines sovereignty and unwarranted aggression. It will not be much comfort to Biden, but he is not the only NATO leader who is politically weakened. French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Washington after triggering a new era of political instability. His ordering of snap legislative elections to thwart the rise of the extreme right party of Marine Le Pen failed to produce a governing majority and empowered the far-left. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is weakened after his party and coalition took a beating in European Parliament elections. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing intense speculation about his future ahead of next years general election after his Liberal Party lost an election in a Toronto district it had held for decades. The thorny question of Bidens age will also be underscored in summit photos since many of the leaders are far younger than a president born during World War II whose foreign policy expertise is honed from a half century of political experience spanning the Cold War and the increasingly restive period ever since. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is 47, for example. And Macron is 46. Trudeau has been in power for nearly a decade but is still only 52. The summit will also mark the international debut of new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, 61, who was elected last Thursday. Biden has been a steadfast guide for NATO ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has made the survival of global democracy the cornerstone of his presidency. But he has a far more urgent priority at the summit this week saving himself. CNNs Alex Marquardt contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that deadly Russian missile strikes in Ukraine, including on the main children's hospital in Kyiv, were "a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Russia blasted the hospital in Kyiv with a missile in broad daylight on Monday and rained down missiles on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 36 civilians in the deadliest wave of air strikes for months. Washington has been the biggest supporter of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion that began in February 2022. The U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion in military aid since 2022. As world leaders prepare to head to a NATO summit that starts on Tuesday in Washington, Ukraine has called on Kyiv's partners to give a firm response to Monday's attack. KEY QUOTES "Russia's missile strikes that today killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians and caused damage and casualties at Kyiv's largest childrens hospital are a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. Biden added in his statement that Washington and its NATO allies will be announcing this week new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses. "It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression," Biden said. CONTEXT President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would retaliate and called on Kyiv's Western allies to give a firm response to the attack. Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, although its attacks have killed thousands of civilians since it launched its invasion. The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out strikes on defence industry targets and aviation bases in Ukraine. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Matthew Lewis) Biden says he won't step aside. But if he does, here's why Harris is the favorite to replace him WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden insists that only "the Lord Almighty can convince him to quit the presidential race. But should he change his mind, Vice President Kamala Harris is by far the best positioned to replace him. Harris would have a head start over several of the most discussed Democratic alternatives like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She's already been on a winning presidential ticket with Biden, has years of goodwill banked with core party constituencies and would likely control a huge campaign fund amassed by the Biden reelection. Here's a closer look at her prospects in a potential open primary: She'd be Biden's most natural endorsement The president easily locked up the Democratic nomination and party rules prevent him from simply transferring the delegates he amassed during next month's Democratic National Convention. But a number of delegates have already suggested they'd be loyal to Harris. Biden picking Harris could limit potential chaos and avoid floor fights that do lasting damage to whoever emerges to take on Republican Donald Trump. Harris makes the most sense to carry on the Biden legacy, said Andrew Feldman, a Democratic strategist who works closely with various state parties and stressed that the question was purely hypothetical since Biden insists he won't bow out. Feldman added that the Biden administration's agenda has been tremendously popular in terms of the issues that theyve championed and that the president and Harris have "been doing that in partnership." Antjuan Seawright, a South Carolina-based Democratic strategist, noted that voters four years ago put 78-year-old Biden in the Oval Office knowing Harris was next in line, and that Biden warded off primary challengers this year at age 81 with Democratic voters knowing Harris remained his second-in-command. Democrats have voted for Joe Biden with Kamala Harris, Seawright said. Challenging Harris as Bidens alternative is risky Harris is the first woman to serve as vice president as well as the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent. African Americans are Democrats' largest and most loyal bloc of supporters. Bypassing a historic No. 2 for anyone else even a popular alternative from a key swing state would already be difficult. Being seen as leading the charge against someone who broke gender and racial barriers could forever mark the challenger as disloyal in future Democratic primaries. Glynda Carr, who leads the Higher Heights political action committee which supports Black female candidates across the country, said that public suggestions that Harris could be bypassed for another top Democrat in Biden's absence shows "just how much Black women are oftentimes overlooked. You want Black women to organize our houses, our blocks, our churches, our sororities?" Carr asked. "Then weve got to stand by our leadership. Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas said it is impossible to understate what it means for Black women to see Harris hold national office. Democrats with national ambitions may not want a rushed campaign Since Bidens disastrous debate, Democrats have mentioned a parade of top alternatives who could run in the presidents place. In addition to Whitmer and Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker have been the subject of rumors. All of them have said theyll continue to back Biden. But, in dozens of interviews, Democratic operatives, pollsters and elected officials report that there has not been the kind of furious political jockeying for support for someone other than Harris at the convention that would be necessary if Biden were to step aside. Any such discussions have occurred quietly and preliminarily and would almost certainly be forced out in the open if Biden were to leave the race, making continuing them more difficult. Everyone would rather be a starter than a pinch hitter, Feldman said. For instance, Democratic fundraising bundler Barry Goodman, a Michigan attorney who was a finance co-chairman for both of Whitmers statewide campaigns, said he did not know of any coordinated effort on the governor's part to rally support. Harris will have money to start Further possibly helping to smooth a switch from Biden to Harris is campaign finances. The vice president, as his official running mate, can access the $91 million cash on hand the president's campaign has raised which grows to $240 million when including allied Democratic organizations in ways Democratic alternatives likely can't. For his part, Trump is already attempting to energize donors with the idea that Democrats could swap out Biden for Harris. The former president sent fundraising emails Monday titled Bidens dropping out and President Kamala Harris? Her legal background might resonate more than it once did At 59, the vice president is 22 years Bidens junior. A former prosecutor, she can deliver a withering attack in a debate as Biden himself once faced during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary when Harris tore into him over his onetime opposition to school busing as a means of desegregation. The vice president's legal background might also hew more closely to the ideals of todays Democratic Party, which has largely moved to the center on criminal justice and law-and-order messaging in recent years after nationwide protests against racial injustice in 2020 helped energize the defund the police movement. Biden has seen his approval rating fall sharply among Black Americans, a trend Harris would hope to reverse before November. Still, Biden has long struggled with low approval ratings among Americans more generally and the vice president doesn't fare much better. About 39% of U.S. adults have a very or somewhat favorable opinion of the vice president, which is in line with Biden's 40% favorability. But an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in June found that slightly fewer have an unfavorable view of Harris, 49% compared to Biden's 57%. Harris has a 62% favorability among Black Americans compared to 37% for Hispanic Americans and 35% for white Americans. Those are all similar to Biden's, though there could be more opportunity for her to shape opinions. Roughly 12% of U.S. adults said they arent familiar enough with Harris to give an opinion, whereas nearly everyone has an opinion of Biden. ___ Barrow reported from New Orleans. Associated Press Polling Editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report. Biden tells Congressional Black Caucus, 'I need you; Im not going to disappoint you' Biden tells Congressional Black Caucus, 'I need you; Im not going to disappoint you' During a virtual meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus Monday night, President Joe Biden thanked members and asked for their continued support, according to two people on the call who spoke to ABC News. "I need you; I'm not going to disappoint you, I promise you," the president told the members, one of the call participants said. ABC News can first report that three Black Democratic senators also joined the call. Two sources tell ABC News that Sens. Laphonza Butler, Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock also joined President Biden's call with the Congressional Black Caucus. This is notable as the president looks to shore up support among black voters, the bedrock of the Democratic party. MORE: White House doctor offers explanation for Parkinson's expert's visits The president told members that he was staying in the race. He thanked them for having "his back" and vowed to continue to have theirs. One person described the call as a "family conversation." While the president did take questions, two people on the call said no one expressed concerns about the president's campaign or spoke out against him. The call comes amid concerns over Biden staying in the race were raised privately and publicly by other House Democrats, including senior members of the party, following the debate. MORE: Biden sends defiant letter to Democrats says time to end questions, come together So far, no Black Congressional Democrat has called on the president to step aside. And there's an immense effort underway to make sure the CBC holds the line, according to two members of the CBC. Biden tells Congressional Black Caucus, 'I need you; Im not going to disappoint you' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com KYODO NEWS - Jul 9, 2024 - 14:48 | All, Japan Japan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday crew failing to keep a lookout was among the causes for two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters colliding in April over the Pacific in an incident that claimed the lives of all eight personnel aboard. The two SH-60K choppers may have mistaken the distance between them and taken no maneuvers to avoid contact until they collided during a night drill to detect submarines, according to the investigation results released by the ministry. Each of the helicopters was under the control of a ship-based officer giving instructions, and poor communication between the two officers in charge was also a factor in the collision, it said, noting they failed to take preventive steps such as ordering the choppers to fly at different altitudes. As measures to prevent such incidents occurring in the future, the ministry will consider installing proximity warning devices, ensuring crew maintain a proper lookout, and requiring officers in charge to communicate adequately and keep the choppers at separate altitudes when necessary, it said. "Taking the investigation results seriously, we will make every possible effort to take countermeasures, with a determination not to cause any single casualty," Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference. Drills involving multiple SH-60Ks are allowed from Tuesday. Since early May, operations had been restricted to flights by single helicopters. The two choppers, each carrying four MSDF members, collided on April 20 when conducting the exercise above waters around 270 kilometers east of Torishima Island, about 600 km south of Tokyo, in the Izu island chain, with the water's depth at about 5,500 meters. The two aircraft were moving to the same target spot to drop sonar devices into the water to detect a submarine. One of the eight crew members was confirmed dead the following day. Last month, the SDF declared the seven missing crewmen dead, while continuing its search efforts for their bodies and the fuselages of the crashed helicopters. Flight recorder data indicated no abnormalities in either of the choppers, according to the ministry. Related coverage: Japan, Philippines sign defense pact amid growing China concern Japan MSDF chief eyeing resignation over mishandling of info Japan Defense Ministry rolls out 1st policy to promote AI use Joe Biden is down 6 percentage points against Donald Trump in the key battleground state of Wisconsin, with older voters tilting toward the Republican, according to an AARP post-debate poll released Tuesday. As Democrats deal with infighting over the presidents age and fitness to serve after his disastrous debate performance less than two weeks ago, the poll shows Trump leading Biden in a full ballot test, 44 percent to 38 percent. Wisconsin voters aged 50 and older favor Trump over Biden, 48 percent to 41 percent, the poll shows, with the former presidents lead increasing to 15 percentage points among voters specifically within ages 50 to 64. Biden and Trump are tied among voters 65 years and older. Bidens numbers in the must-win state are further cause for concern after his debate performance raised worries over his age, with at least six congressional Democrats publicly calling for him to bow out of the race and dozens more expressing serious doubts about their nominee in private. The poll was conducted just before Biden held a defiant rally in the state capital of Madison, where he defended his candidacy and reiterated that his age is not a hindrance. He asked an energetic crowd of supporters whether he was too old to restore Roe v. Wade, ban assault weapons and protect social security and Medicare. A spokesperson for the Biden campaign pointed to its presence in Wisconsin, including the presidents recent rally, and other polls showing a close race between Biden and Trump in the state. Republicans are less than a week away from their partys national convention in Milwaukee. Despite Trump reportedly calling Milwaukee a horrible city in a closed-door meeting and disputing reports he planned to stay in Chicago throughout the convention, the former president has made it a focus to refine his image in the swing state. In a head-to-head test excluding independent and third-party candidates, Trump still beats out Biden, 50 percent to 45 percent. For the Senate contest, however, the GOPs advantage in Wisconsin diminishes in a sharp divergence from the presidential race. Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is ahead of Republican Eric Hovde 50 percent to 45 percent, although he narrowly leads by 3 percentage points among voters ages 50 and older. A Marquette University Law School poll before the debate showed Biden in dead heat with Trump in Wisconsin. The poll was conducted June 28-July 2, surveying 1,052 likely voters composed of a statewide representative sample of 600 likely voters and an oversample of 452 likely voters (to achieve a total sample of 800 likely voters) ages 50 and older. The margin of error for the statewide sample is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points and 3.5 percentage points for older voters. President Joe Biden kicked off NATOs 75th anniversary summit Tuesday by announcing an agreement with four other countries to provide additional air defense systems for Ukraine a priority for Kyiv as it struggles to thwart Russian missile attacks. Speaking at Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., the site where the original members of the alliance signed the North Atlantic Treaty, Biden framed it as a historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine. The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will provide Ukraine with equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems in the coming months, he said. The United States and our partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of additional tactical air defense systems. The United States, Germany and Romania will donate additional Patriot batteries while the Netherlands donates Patriot components. Additionally, Italy will donate a SAMP-T system. The five countries noted in a statement that they are working on a further announcement this year of additional strategic air defense systems for Ukraine. The U.S. and various allies also intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepard systems, according to the joint statement. Bidens announcement comes weeks after the U.S. moved Ukraine up to the front of the queue for Patriot and NASAM interceptors. Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities against Russian missiles and Ukrainian troops facing their attacks on the frontlines, he said. The White House has said that Ukraine will receive many of these interceptors by the end of the summer. Over the next 15 months, Kyiv will take precedence over several other countries seeking to buy U.S. air defense systems. The administration has not divulged which countries will face delays in acquiring interceptors as a result of the decision, except to note that the decision will not impact Taiwan or Israel. Bidens announcement comes one day after a Russian missile attack on Ukraines largest childrens hospital, killing at least 31 people. The barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities with 40 missiles, wounding more than 150 people, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is in Washington this week for the summit. Other NATO member countries are expected to announce additional security packages for Ukraine at the summit this week. Together weve built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine, said Biden. Together weve provided significant economic and humanitarian assistance. And together weve supplied Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend itself: tanks, armored vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles and millions of munitions. The United States and nearly two dozen allied partners have signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, he said. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) While President Joe Biden is fighting to unite his fractured party behind his 2024 campaign former president Donald Trump expects him to remain in the race. Both candidates called in to their favorite cable news shows on Monday to update supporters on the status of their campaigns. I am running, said Biden. President Biden continues to defend his re-election bid arguing hes still the best Democrat to defeat former president Donald Trump. I beat him last time. Ill beat him this time, said Biden. The president told MSNBC Monday his debate performance last month should not disqualify him from the campaign. It was a terrible night, and I really regret it happened, Biden said. On Fox News Monday Trump predicted President Biden will remain in the race. Hes got an ego, and he doesnt want to quit, said Trump. Trump said he may delay his running mate announcement while Democrats continue to debate the presidents candidacy. This isnt necessarily a very positive thing for our country, said Trump. A handful of House Democrats are publicly calling on President Biden to step aside but Senate Democrats are still united in their support. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal argues the president tells the truth while Trump lies. The contrast is absolutely crystal clear, said Blumenthal. Trump supporters in Congress, including Tennessee Congressman John Rose, accuse the White House of covering up President Bidens condition. This is a constitutional crisis, said Rose. Biden will address the NATO Summit Washington, D.C., Tuesday while Trump will hold a campaign rally in Florida. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US President Joe Biden departs Atlantic Aviation on Air Force One in Philadelphia. Photo Image Press/Photo Image Press via ZUMA Press/dpa Following US media reports about a Parkinson's specialist visiting the White House multiple times, US President Joe Biden's personal physician stated on Monday that the president "has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical." Biden's personal physician, Kevin O'Connor, said in a letter published on Monday that neurological specialist Dr. Cannard "examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals." "President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical," he added. He said Cannard has been visiting patients at the White House for a dozen years and was not chosen "because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist." The statement by Biden's personal physician comes after a heated debate had broken out at a press conference between journalists and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The New York Times, citing official visitor logs, reported that Cannard had visited the White House eight times since last summer. Jean-Pierre refused to respond to questions about why Cannard had been visiting the White House regularly over the past few months. According to O'Connor, the results of the neurological examination by Cannard were made public each time, most recently at the end of February. The published health report stated that there were no indications of possible strokes or Parkinson's disease, and that the president showed "no tremor, either at rest or with activity," the letter said. Biden, 81, has increasingly faced questions about his mental fitness since his TV debate with Republican challenger Donald Trump. A debate was sparked in the US over whether Biden is the right Democratic presidential candidate for the November election due to his age. Biden has rejected any doubts and refuses to take a cognitive health test to assess his mental abilities. The White House's recent action is uncommon and indicates the increasing pressure. The release of the letter likely aims to dispel any rumors suggesting the possibility of Parkinson's disease. Jean-Pierre told the press briefing that he is not being treated for the disease. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at the White House on Marine One on Sunday after returning from events in Pennsylvania. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) Leaders from 32 countries are gathering in Washington for NATO's 75th anniversary summit, but all eyes are on just one: President Biden. With questions circulating over his mental and physical fitness to run for reelection, Biden will now be tested on a world stage. At stake is not just Biden's presidency but, potentially, the future of the transatlantic alliance that has kept relative peace in a large part of the world for more than half a century. Formally opening the summit Tuesday evening on a stage festooned with the flags of 32 countries and heralded by military trumpeters, Biden seemed in relatively good form. "Our friends, we are stronger than ever," Biden said, announcing what he called a "historic donation" of air defense systems for Ukraine. "The fact that NATO remains the bulwark of global security did not happen by accident," he said. "Again and again we chose unity." Biden has long prided himself on his skills in dealing with world leaders. And he will surely use the summit to emphasize what some analysts consider his finest foreign policy achievement: the unity forged among NATO members to support and aid Ukraine in its devastating war with an invading Russia. Most leaders attending this annual meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are expected to praise Biden and his efforts. Publicly, they will not criticize him. But the "Biden question" looms over the crowded, heavily guarded venues where they are gathering. Privately, diplomats say, several foreign officials have expressed concerns about Biden's perceived frailties, citing occasional lapses in bilateral meetings or apparently confused statements. For some, the issue is practically existential: If Biden loses to Donald Trump, a convicted felon who has harshly criticized NATO, the central transatlantic mutual defense pact that has governed world order since World War II may be in danger. Trump has derisively dismissed the importance of NATO while showing deference toward and admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Administration officials dismiss any concerns among the mostly European leaders about Biden. "Look, foreign leaders have seen Joe Biden up close and personal for the last three years," a senior administration official said, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of the summit. "They know who theyre dealing with, and, you know, they know how effective hes been." The White House takes credit for the expansion of NATO, with the decision by Finland and long-neutral Sweden to join the alliance following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "That's not be accident," said John F. Kirby, White House national security spokesman. "Thats because of leadership. Thats because of a constant stewardship of the alliance and other partnerships around the world. The president's record speaks for itself." Still, it may not be easy for the presidents and prime ministers filing into the historic neoclassical Andrew Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue where the NATO treaty was signed 75 years ago to ignore the goings-on a mile and a half across town where Democrats were meeting to debate Biden's fate. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state is one of a handful of Democratic lawmakers who have publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. "He can no longer deliver the message" of strength through leadership, he said. Most Republicans seemed content to let the Democrats squirm. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) seized the moment to warn of "weakness" before NATO. "This week, President Biden has one job to do, and that's to deliver a clear and powerful message to our allies," he said. I hope President Biden can summon up the energy, and the forcefulness, and the ability to express this important message to our friends and allies around the world because our adversaries are watching, but so are our friends." And at the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spent a second day fending off questions about Biden's health. "Is he being treated for Parkinson's?" "Is he taking medication for Parkinson's?" No to both, she said. Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, which studies global risks, said Tuesday that his survey of world leaders in town for the summit revealed a near universal loss of confidence in Biden's ability to serve another four-year term. "It's not that they don't like him," he said on MSNBC. "They don't think he's up for the job." Biden's stamina will be tested Thursday when he has scheduled a rare, solo news conference for 5:30 p.m. Eastern time following a day of back-to-back meetings with a long list of NATO members. Speaking Monday to the "Morning Joe" show, Biden struck a defiant tone about his election prospects. "Who else who else do you think could step in? And do this?" he said. "I expanded NATO!" Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Biden's low-profile doctor has been thrust into the spotlight after the president's debate disaster FILE - President Joe Biden walks along the Colonnade at the White House with his physician Kevin O'Connor, Aug. 28, 2023. O'Connor, known to President Joe Biden and others around the White House simply as "doc", has been a part of the president's life for more than a decade and was a central figure to the family when Biden's son Beau was dying of cancer. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) WASHINGTON (AP) As the physician to President Joe Biden, Dr. Kevin O'Connor is well-known around the White House. The stocky former Army surgeon is always close by his number one patient, ready to provide care or a consult as needed though few outside the building would know who he is. But Biden's politically crippling debate performance changed all that. Ensuing and uncomfortable questions about the 81-year-old Democratic president's mental and physical capacity to serve a second four-year term have thrust O'Connor into the spotlight. In February, just four months before the disastrous debate, O'Connor had overseen Biden's most recent physical exam and wrote in a public memo that the president continues to be fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations. The White House said Tuesday that the doctor's assessment still stands. But some Republican lawmakers now want the man Biden simply calls doc to come to Capitol Hill to answer their questions about the president's health and medical care. There are also questions about why he hasn't pushed his patient the president to undergo cognitive testing. And on Monday, after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cited privacy for refusing to discuss why a neurologist who has conducted research into Parkinson's disease had visited the complex eight times between July 2023 and this past March, it was O'Connor who later stepped in to clear things up. He released a letter late Monday explaining that the doctor, Kevin Cannard, is a neurologist who evaluated Biden during each of the three physical exams he's had since taking office in 2021. O'Connor said Cannard also treats others at the White House, explaining his occasional presence there. O'Connor and Biden have a close relationship dating back over a decade. After more than two decades in the Army, O'Connor joined the White House Medical Unit at the invitation of then-President George W. Bush. He was expecting to finish his three-year tour by serving six months with the new vice president Biden after the Obama administration began in 2009. That didn't work out and, so, I ended up doing the whole eight years with him, O'Connor joked in an interview last year with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine about his role as the president's chief physician. He retired after Obama and Biden left office, but remained with Biden as his personal physician. Biden brought O'Connor back to the White House when he became president in 2021. I retired and had a plan, and here I am again, said O'Connor, who grew up in New Jersey. The doctor was a central figure and sounding board for the Biden family when the then-vice president's eldest son Beau was dying of brain cancer. According to Promise Me Dad, Bidens memoir of that period in his life, OConnor counseled Beau Biden on his best course of treatment and offered him a sober assessment of his prognosis. OConnor was also in the operating room to help calm Beau Biden as he underwent a craniotomy, Biden wrote. Beau Biden died in May 2015. Affable and stoutly built, OConnor, 58, married and a father of three daughters, is a jovial presence in Bidens inner circle, often mixing medical advice with jokes. He regularly travels with Biden, the standard for all presidents, and is often seen carrying heavy medical bags and riding in the spare limousine in the president's motorcade. Andrew Bates, a White House deputy press secretary, said O'Connor, who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, is someone whose unique expertise is sought across the medical community, in which he is respected for his candor, attention to detail and work ethic. Though he operates largely in the background, some House Republicans want to use the political back and forth over Biden's debate performance to shine a brighter light on the doctor. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to O'Connor requesting that he sit for a transcribed interview with the committee to discuss his medical assessment of the president. Americans question President Bidens ability to lead the country and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating circumstances surrounding your assessment in February of this year that President Biden is a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old-male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency..., Comer wrote. Comer also requested that OConner turn over documents related to his alleged ties to Biden family businesses. Comer alleges that OConnor previously worked closely with James Biden, the presidents brother, at a company that operated rural hospitals and says that connection has clouded his medical judgment of Bidens cognitive state. White House spokesperson Ian Sams wrote Tuesday on social media that Comer's request is absolutely ridiculous and insulting. Before joining the White House Medical Unit in the Bush administration, OConnor was the command surgeon for the Armys Delta Force, the secretive special operations unit that later killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. His tours of duty included stints with the 82nd Airborne and 75th Ranger Regiment, and he was among the first troops to enter Iraq and Afghanistan during U.S. military operations in both countries. Biden wrote in his memoir that O'Connor served in serious combat in counterterrorism operations after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. In a speech to the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, O'Connor credited his training in osteopathic manipulation with getting him the Delta Force job after he had treated some operators, and for moving to the White House, after a colleague recruited him to treat Bush. He teaches part time at George Washington University's medical school. ___ AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller and Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington and AP Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) The mood on Capitol Hill turned grimly uncertain Tuesday as Democrats wrestled over President Joe Bidens reelection and the extraordinary question before them whether to stand behind his candidacy or push the president to bow out amid concerns over his ability to lead them to victory. House and Senate Democrats met privately with tensions running high. The conversation was dour and sad in the House, lawmakers said, as they discussed their party leader who emphatically refuses to step aside and implored them in a sharply worded letter to refocus from him to the threat posed by Republican Donald Trump. In the Senate, where Biden spent a storied career, they said even less. Late in the day, a seventh House Democrat, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, publicly called on Biden not to run for reelection, saying with Trump seeking to return to the White House, the stakes are too high and the threat is too real to stay silent. What could become a time for Democrats to bolster their president, who remains the favorite for some despite his poor debate performance and public appearances, instead fell deeper into crisis over real fears they could lose the White House and Congress and watch the rise of a second term Trump. Earlier, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said members had an opportunity to express themselves in a candid and comprehensive fashion at a closed-door session and the discussions would continue. It's a remarkable moment for the president and his party with Democrats in Congress seriously questioning Biden's place at the top of the ticket, weeks before the Democratic National Convention to nominate him for a second term. Bidens supporters have been emerging as the most vocal, and at least one key House Democrat reversed course to publicly support the president. But no agreement was in sight and an undercurrent of dissent runs strong. As Senate Democrats stayed silent in public, Bidens political future was the remarkable matter in question. Asked if there was any consensus, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, one of Biden's closest supporters, said the consensus is that Donald Trump poses a threat and the focus should be on that. One Democrat, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, said publicly what he told his colleagues in private that he believes Trump is on track win this election and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the Senate and the House. Stopping short of calling for Biden to drop out, Bennet spoke forcefully on CNN about the danger of a second Trump presidency and said its up to the president to consider the options. He said he did not hear any other Senate Democrat call for Biden to leave the race. Its not a question about politics, he said. Its a moral question about the future of our country. In the private House meeting Tuesday, there was a growing concern that Biden remaining in the race means the election will center on his age issues instead of Trump, according to one of the people in the room. At least 20 Democratic lawmakers stood up to speak during the nearly two-hour session in what for many is an existential moment for their country considering a second Trump presidency. Most of those who spoke wanted Biden to end his candidacy, said another person granted anonymity to discuss the meeting. Among them was Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who leads a contingent of military veterans in the House and is among the Democrats who have publicly called for Biden to step aside. Still others dropped their private concerns in order to back Biden, for now. He said hes going to remain in, hes our candidate, and were going to support him, said Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, on CNN. Over the weekend was among those privately saying Biden should not run. Im staying with Papa," said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y.. He said his constituents understand what the country went through during the COVID-19 pandemic and how Biden led through the crisis. "He was fit then and hes fit now. Many Democrats worry that not only is the presidency in jeopardy but also their own down-ballot races for control of the House and Senate and the party's ability to stop Trump and the conservative Project 2025 agenda with its plans to weaken the federal government. He just has to step down because he cant win, said Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill. One Democratic lawmaker who declined to be named said afterward that people love Biden, but theres a real sense of helplessness over the situation and the threat of the consequences if Democrats lose the elections. The lawmaker said the situation was sad. After a closed-door Senate lunch meeting, most senators were reluctant to say either that they unequivocally support Biden or that they want to see him step aside. I think we should do our best job to defeat Trump and Im really excited about it, said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. While there's now more than a handful of House Democrats that have publicly called on Biden to end his candidacy, no Senate Democrat has publicly called for Biden to leave the race. The majority of Democratic senators who spoke during the lunch meeting expressed deep concerns about whether Biden can beat Trump in November, though they stopped short of saying he should step down from the race, according to a person familiar with the conversation and granted anonymity to discuss it. There were also a handful of senators who defended Biden. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York repeated, Ive said before, I'm with Joe. Some are turning more serious attention to Vice President Kamala Harris as an alternative. Rep. Jared Huffman of California who is leading the House Democrats task force fighting Project 2025, said Democrats need to get back to confronting Trump and can win the election with Biden at the top of the ticket. But he said if Bidens decision to stay on changes thats not the end of the world, in my view. I think weve got an excellent next up in the vice president. Shes good, and shes ready to go. Huffman said Democrats, unlike their House GOP counterparts, can have principled disagreements without fighting like ferrets in a phone booth. Republicans face their own history-making political situation, poised to nominate a former president who is the first ever to be convicted of a felony in a hush money case and who faces federal criminal indictments, including the effort to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden. After a slow initial response to Biden's dismal debate, the White House and campaign team are working more furiously now to end the drama in part by gathering the president's most loyal supporters to speak out. Biden spent part of his Tuesday evening speaking on a virtual call with more than 200 Democratic mayors, saying he will win reelection with basic block-and-tackling and boasting of the thousands of calls being made to voters, doors being knocked and signs being posted in support of his candidacy, according to a readout from his campaign. That came after the president met virtually late Monday with the Congressional Black Caucus, whose members are core to Biden's coalition, thanking them for having his back, and assuring them he would have theirs in a second term. He was also to meet with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, whose leadership along with that of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has said publicly they are sticking with the president. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, a freshman Democrat, said there is too much at stake to turn away from Biden at this point in the campaign, saying a second Trump presidency would be extremely harmful to Black Americans across the country. We are not willing to risk our freedoms for somebody feeling good because theres a different name on the ballot, she said. Having been on the campaign trail with Biden, Crockett added, That is why I can feel so confident, because I have seen more than the 90 minutes that everybody is so concerned about. And Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., who ended his long-shot 2024 Democratic presidential bid months ago, was asked by reporters if he felt vindicated by Democrats calling on Biden to step aside. If this is vindication, vindication has never been so unfulfilling, he said. __ Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Kevin Freking contributed to this report. Big Lie-Pilled Officials Are Now In Charge Of Election Admin In Counties Across The U.S. The board of supervisors in a deep red Northern California county that has been battling election denialism since the aftermath of the 2020 election, recently appointed a new registrar of voters with zero election experience and a track record of promoting election misinformation. Its a decision that has left current election officials in the county deeply concerned about the administration of the upcoming presidential election there, but its also reflective of a larger trend across the country, where county boards in red and blue states alike have spent the last four years absorbing and spreading lies about elections that are bound to be injected back into election processes in November. The concern now, in Shasta county, and in the dozens of other counties battling the same issue, is what happens if the candidates these board members are supporting in either federal, state or local races lose in a couple of months. If the candidates that are supported by those who are spreading these lies end up losing I think we could see an effort to try to subvert elections and our democracy entirely, David Becker, the executive director and founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research told TPM. Last week, the Shasta County Board officially appointed semi-retired former lawyer Tom Toller, who has zero election administration experience and who, influenced by various Big Lie conspiracy theories, has also advocated for moving to a hand counting tabulation system as the countys new Registrar of Voters. Toller was chosen over the current Assistant County Clerk Joanna Francescut, who brings with her both sixteen years of experience and public support. Toller has, as the Associated Press reported, said he would be supportive of a lawsuit attempting to overturn Californias ban on counties hand-counting ballots. I think its a system thats capable of being implemented and observed for transparency and fairness and accurate (sic), he said. Im trying to try and wrap my head around what has happened here in terms of why would you pick someone that had zero experience over someone that had 16 years experience,Mary Rickert, Shasta County board supervisor who voted in favor of Francescut, told TPM. It just doesnt compute. This phenomenon, of county boards and county level officials putting election deniers in leadership positions, and, in turn, injecting doubt into county-level election administration and certification processes, is not specific to Shasta County. In fact, since the 2020 election, as the Washington Point reported, county level Big Lie-pilled election officials in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania have all attempted to block the certification of votes in primaries and general elections. Each of these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, but the efforts are particularly concerning ahead of 2024 because they raise the threat of violence and create an even deeper distrust in the election system. It goes beyond vote certification and into the very vote tallying processes, too. Like Shasta County, county board members in Cochise County, Arizona, Nye County, Nevada, and Otero County, New Mexico, fueled by conspiracy theories and dangerous misinformation about voting machines, have all pushed to move to a hand counting system of ballot tabulation a system that is proven to be prone to errors and inefficient. Its happening all across the country, Becker said. There has been a real effort to create an economy around election lies. Although Shasta County isnt unique, the election denialism stronghold in that specific California County might just be the one that has gotten the most out of hand, Becker told TPM. Tollers appointment is indicative of the fact that the majority of the countys board is paying lip service to the continued lies about the 2020 election and others since, he said. This is particularly concerning for current Shasta County election officials as they prepare for November, but Francescut is committed to still fulfilling her responsibilities as the assistant county clerk and making sure the upcoming election is run as smoothly as possible. I know that I can provide him (Toller) the best support and the best transition possible. she said. I want to heal this community. Weve gone through too much. So me walking away right now is just not the right choice. Tanner Johnson, Shasta County Account Clerk, told TPM that Toller definitely falls into the election denier camp, but Johnson also sees the upcoming election as an opportunity to show him just how secure the countys elections really are, and that perhaps Toller could help relay that to anyone else who is distrustful of the election system. The way I look at it is were going to convert him and hes going to come on board, Johnson said. He is going to see how well the team functions, how close we are, how supportive we are, and how adamant we are about keeping democracy afloat. In Johnsons view, the election denial that is felt so heavily in his county stems from fear mongering and ignorance more than anything else. If theres no one out there educating them about the process, then theyre just going to continue to listen to people like Trump who can make easy claims and stir fear in people, he said. Getty Images Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers two in Michigan and one in Texas as well as in cattle in a dozen states. The farmworkers symptoms were mild, and researchers have not found that the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, can spread from person to person. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is little risk to the general public. However, flu viruses evolve, and H5N1 could mutate and gain the ability to infect people more easily. The reason public health authorities are and should be on high alert is because this is a potential high-consequence pathogen, said Meghan Davis, an epidemiologist and microbiologist at Johns Hopkins University. Thats why state officials are so focused on testing and surveillance of dairy workers. But they are encountering significant challenges. H5N1 is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. As a result, the poultry industry has responded vigorously to the threat, culling entire flocks when they detect even one infected bird. But H5N1 is milder in cows, and the response on dairy farms has been less aggressive. The CDC and USDA have advised dairy farms to monitor for the virus in cattle and humans, but testing remains voluntary, except for herds moving across state lines. In addition, dairy farms are often in remote rural areas, and workers have little access to transportation and no sick leave. As a result, its difficult for them to travel to health care providers for testing and treatment. Many dairy workers, who are mostly immigrants, speak Indigenous languages like Nahuatl or Kiche, according to the National Center for Farmworker Health, a nonprofit that offers support and training for centers that focus on the health of farmworkers. Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized that the current bird flu strain isnt a pandemic threat to humans. Thats why, he said, this is the perfect time to get the right testing and surveillance measures in place. If you cant get it right with something thats as forgiving as this virus has been, in terms of its inefficiency in infecting humans, it really doesnt bode well for when the stakes are higher, Adalja said. So far, cases of the virus have been documented among domestic livestock in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, according to the USDA. Last week, federal officials announced grants to farms to offset the cost of milk loss from sick cows. Four states Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas are launching voluntary pilot programs to test for the virus in dairy farms bulk milk tanks. In Michigan, where the virus has been detected in 25 herds, Tim Boring, director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said efforts are focused on trying to help farmers recoup losses and agree to testing. Last month, the agency announced it would use a combination of federal and state money to give as much as $28,000 to up to 20 affected farms. The state also launched a study to find out if there are antibodies in people exposed to sick cows, aiming to determine if there have been any asymptomatic infections. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigans chief medical executive, said the state is working with community health clinics and local health departments to reach farmworkers. They not only know the farms in their counties, but they also know many of the farmworker organizations, she said. Dairy farmworkers, who are often immigrants, cant afford to miss a day of work, and can be reluctant to reach out to request testing or say they feel sick, advocates say. This is a population of people that is just vastly underserviced when it comes to both outreach and trust established with state and federal agencies, said Elizabeth Strater, strategic campaigns director at United Farm Workers, a labor union. This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States. Immigrants make up 51% of daily labor at dairy farms, and farms that employ immigrants produce 79% of the nations milk supply, according to the National Milk Producers Federation. Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network, an education and outreach group of experts in migrant health, said testing should be administered on the farms rather than in clinics. Dairies are in rural areas, very isolated geographically. Youre not going to get all these workers in one place to be able to do any kind of surveying or testing. It is a matter of really trying to go to where the workers are, she said. But it hasnt been easy getting farm owners to agree to that. The Texas state health department told Stateline it has offered on-site testing to farmers, but as of mid-June, it had tested only about 20 symptomatic dairy workers who volunteered for testing. It also has given personal protective equipment to interested dairies and posted a notice online offering to deliver the equipment. Coordination among state or local agricultural and health departments is key to tracking viral spread. A lack of coordination and monitoring can be contributing to underreporting cases. I think it is definitely more widespread than is currently reported, said Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine. The barriers between the agencies are really hampering our efforts right now. The CDC has offered a $75 payment to any farmworker who agrees to be tested and provide blood and nasal swab samples to the agency. But Doris Garcia-Ruiz, who directs farmworker outreach at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, said that wont make up for days of lost income. If they take the time off to go to their doctors office, they dont have sick leave, so theyre not going to get paid, she said. The CDCs latest figures show that at least 53 people have been tested in the cattle outbreak, with a majority of those in Michigan. Strater says thats not enough. Thats abysmal, she said. Our method of testing is so passive. Theyre relying on workers reporting to medical clinics; these are workers that are not going to be taking themselves for medical treatment unless theyre experiencing something life-threatening. Getting workers to use personal protective equipment also is a challenge. The CDC recommends that workers wear respirators, waterproof aprons and coveralls, unvented safety goggles or a face shield, and rubber boots with sealed seams that can be sanitized. It also advises that workers follow a specific sequence of steps to remove the PPE at the end of a shift to avoid contamination. Dairy work is very wet, very hands-on, said Christine Sauve, who leads community engagement at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. While some industries are very familiar with PPE the full recommendation from CDC is new and different. And so that really needs the full promotion from the employer, and then also from the state agencies. Sauve worries that Michigan is prioritizing farmers losses, rather than farmworkers health, in its response. While the risk to the public is low, she and other experts say the population of farmworkers shouldnt be forgotten. Bethany Alcauter of the National Center for Farmworker Health described bird flu threat as kind of a ticking time bomb. Maybe it hasnt fully gone off yet. But if we dont manage it well, it could, Alcauter said. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. The post As bird flu spreads on dairy farms, an abysmal few workers are tested appeared first on Michigan Advance. The National Black Farmers Association is calling for the CEO of Tractor Supply to step down. The Black farmers organization and other groups criticize Tractor Supply for giving in to conservative critics by ending its diversity outreach and environmental efforts to combat climate change. Rolling back the clock with race relations The National Black Farmers Association called for Tractor Supply President and CEO Hal Lawton to resign from his positions on July 2 after Tractor Supply, a major supplier of farming and animal supplies with over 2,000 stores across the United States, announced the previous week it would end its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as getting rid of other progressive programs. The head of the Black Farmers organization, John Boyd Jr., recently said in an interview that he was appalled by the decision made by Tractor Supply to cancel its DEI programs. I see this as rolling back the clock with race relations, Boyd added. The move by the NBFA comes after previous efforts by the group to get Tractor Supply to respond to their concerns. Boyd said the company did not consult NBFA about its past diversity programs, nor did it respond to NBFAs concerns about these programs being canceled. Furthermore, while Tractor Supply invited NBFA to apply to be a part of its foundation, the company rejected NBFAs application just before announcing the end of its DEI efforts. Now, NBFA is calling for the head of Tractor Supply to step down and has indicated that it could also end up boycotting the company. Right-wing attacks against diversity The decision by Tractor Supply to get rid of its diversity programs was part of several changes announced by the company that rolled back more progressive efforts it had previously embraced. Tractor Supply has also announced it is ending its participation in Pride activities and will no longer give data to the Hunan Rights Campaign, a major pro-LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. Tractor Supply also announced it would end voter outreach efforts and abandon its goal of limiting the companys carbon admissions to fight against global climate change. These recent changes by the company came in response to conservatives criticizing the company for going woke. Right-wing activists have attacked diversity efforts in court and over social media. Conservatives successfully sued to end affirmative action in college admissions, with the Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that colleges could no longer consider race in admissions decisions. Anti-DEI activists have targeted high-ranking public and private officials ranging from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott to former Harvard University President Claudine Gay, who resigned over accusations of plagiarism that came from conservative activists. Meanwhile, diversity advocates and other progressives have begun mobilizing to defend diversity efforts against these attacks. The policy changes by Tractor Supply and the response from Black farmers represent a new area in which these battles are being fought. We will see how Tractor Supply responds to the potential loss of Black customers and the pressure from Black farmers to be accountable for its recent choices. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) The Norfolk Police Department (NPD) confirmed officer Sean Blackwell, 57, is at home recovering at after being shot multiple times on July 6. Norfolk officer, suspect shot multiple times after suspect opens fire on police; 2 charged Sound from a police scanner captured the chaos on Arcadia Street. I need medics right now. Blackwell was hit, could be heard by an officer who was at the scene. After reviewing the scanner audio on Tuesday, 10 On Your Side confirmed with the Norfolk Police Department spokesperson Officer Blackwell was taken to the hospital by officers. Hes doing well. Hes home. Norfolk officer home recovering after shootout with Navy sailor Police said around 3:22 p.m., officers were helping child protective services with a case in the 3800 block of Arcadia Street. While on scene, 23-year-old Cassandra J. Smith became combative outside. Around 3:43 p.m., an officer could be heard yelling about gunshots. Suspect went back inside the house, an officer said. He might grab some more guns. While police were engaged with Smith, 29-year-old Samuel Burton walked outside and started shooting at police. Officers then shot back and hit Burton multiple times, leaving Burton with life-threatening injuries. 3:44 p.m.: I need medics right now. Blackwell was hit. 3:45 p.m.: Suspect went inside the house I think. Im pushing up and Ill hold what I got. Do you have a description? Black male shirtless with a white female. 3:46 p.m.: We have Black male and one white female coming outside. They appear injured. 3:47 p.m.: Two are being taken into custody. We have a second victim here as well. 3:49 p.m.: Notify Norfolk General. We have an officer in route. Gunshot wound to his arm and two to his right leg. Tourniquet has been applied. Norfolk Police chief discusses weekend shootout that injured officer, suspect The officers were confronted with lethal force directed against them in a way that if they didnt do what they did, they would have lost their lives, said Mark Talbot, Norfolk Police Chief. So, its something that weighs heavily on me as police chief, and certainly the officers who were out there doing the job. Talbot also said officers have to live with the reality that policing can be life-threatening. Im confident that any police chief would say its the worst possible phone call for you to get, Talbot said. Its the worst phone call you can get. And you suspect that sooner or later youre going to get it and you are stuck with the same sick feeling. Burton, who is still in the hospital, was charged with aggravated assault and malicious wounding on an officer. Smith was also arrested and charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. She declined an interview with 10 On Your Side. Virginia State Police is investigating the shooting. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The actor faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison over his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riots Neilson Barnard/Getty Jay Johnston Jay Johnston, star of Bobs Burgers and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, has pleaded guilty to a felony charge over his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. On Monday, July 8, the actor, 55, pleaded guilty to civil disorder for obstructing the police as they attempted to protect the U.S. Capitol during the 2021 riots. He will be sentenced on Oct. 7 and faces a maximum of five years in prison, the District of Columbia attorney's office stated in a press release. Johnstons guilty plea comes after he was arrested and charged on June 7, 2023, for several other misdemeanors also relating to the riots, including unlawful trespassing and attempting to disrupt government business, according to a federal warrant previously obtained by PEOPLE. On Jan. 6, 2021, Johnston joined a mob of rioters on the Lower West Plaza of the U.S. Capitol building by an area known as the "Tunnel," according to court documents, per the attorneys office. Noel Vasquez/Getty Jay Johnston Related: 'Bob's Burgers' Star Jay Johnston Charged in U.S. Capitol Attack At around 2:40 p.m. local time, Johnston advanced towards the U.S. Capitol with the mob as the barricades were removed by rioters, and the police were forced to retreat and headed to the Lower West Terrace and onto the Inaugural Stage. According to the attorney's office, at approximately 3:03 p.m., Johnston made his way through the dense crowd reaching the entryway to the Tunnel. He then turned to face the crowd and made a series of hand gestures, including pounding his fists together and pointing before he pushed his way into the Tunnel toward the police line. Johnston was then handed a stolen U.S. Capitol police riot shield from a rioter and joined the mob in making a shield wall as they pushed against the police line. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Jay Johnston was among the mob of rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 By 3:10 p.m., Johnston was "pushed back toward the Tunnel entrance by other rioters who were leaving," though he did not leave. Instead, he "pushed against the police inside the Tunnel." This caused an officer "to be crushed between the crowd and a door, per the release. At 3:13 p.m., Johnston exited the Tunnel. Johnston is a longtime actor and two-time Emmy-nominated comedy writer. The Chicago native voiced the character of Jimmy Pesto Sr. in Bobs Burgers and has starred in many other shows, including Arrested Development, Better Call Saul, and Parks & Recreation. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. It was reported in late 2021 that Bobs Burgers staff had banned Johnston from returning to the show after his alleged role in the U.S. Capitol attack, in which five people died. The #FBI is still seeking information on people who took part in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you know this individual, visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. Refer to photo 247 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/CetMHzU190 FBI (@FBI) March 4, 2021 In March 2021, the FBI tweeted images of Johnston asking the public for help in identifying him and other alleged rioters. According to the federal warrant, the FBI discovered evidence of Johnston booking a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. during the week of the riot, arriving in the capitol on Jan. 4 and leaving on Jan. 7. Johnston was allegedly also seen in footage entering the U.S. Capitol buildings west tunnel assist[ing] at least three other rioters before he made his way further toward the police line and assisted other rioters in handing up U.S. Capitol Police shields. Over 1,000 people were charged with federal crimes for their alleged roles in the 2021 Capitol riots and many received sentences of imprisonment ranging from one week to 18 years, per the Associated Press. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Related video above: Jan. 6 pipe bombs still a mystery, 3 years later (The Hill) Television actor Jay Johnston, who had roles in Bobs Burgers and Arrested Development, pleaded guilty Monday to interfering with police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Johnston, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder while in court Monday, The Associated Press reported. He is slated to be sentenced Oct. 7 and could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, though sentencing guidelines recommended eight months to 14 months. More Local News Johnstons attorney declined to comment to The Hill. The attorney told his client to not speak to reporters as they left the courtroom, the AP reported. Johnston was arrested last year after authorities used public video, closed circuit television footage and police body camera footage to identify him and trace his movements on Jan. 6, according to the FBI affidavit filed in June 2023. This image from Washington Metropolitan Police Department body-worn video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the statement of facts supporting an arrest warrant for Jay James Johnston, shows Johnston, circled in yellow, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Justice Department via AP, File) Actor Jay Johnston attends The Sarah Silverman Program presented by The Paley Center for Media on May 2, 2008, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Court documents said Johnston allegedly confronted Capitol Police directly and helped other rioters by handing out stolen police shields that were used to create a shield wall against authorities. Johnston then participated in group assault on officers who were defending the lower west terrace tunnel before rejoining other rioters outside the tunnel in pushing repeatedly against the defending officers, the affidavit stated. Once the FBI posted photos online, Johnstons attorney contacted the bureau, which subsequently interviewed three current or former associates of Johnston. The bureau obtained a text message from one of associates, which confirmed Johnston was at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Court filings said Johnston also used his cellphone to record other rioters during the insurrection, some of whom broke through barricades and sent police officers retreating, per the AP. Johnston was a voice actor on Foxs Bobs Burgers but was reportedly fired after it was confirmed that he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6. His acting roles also include parts in Mr. Show with Bob and David, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Bicentennial Man. More than 1,420 people in nearly all 50 states have been charged for their alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 riot. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- US Senator Bob Menendez acted with entitlement as he took bribes of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes Benz while promising to help businessmen and the nation of Egypt, a prosecutor argued to jurors Tuesday at his corruption trial. Most Read from Bloomberg Assistant US Attorney Paul Monteleoni portrayed the New Jersey Democrat as a meticulous organizer of several schemes that enriched him and his wife Nadine, who served as a key go-between to two businessmen also on trial, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. Acting carefully to cover his tracks, Menendez subtly pursued bribes for years while promising to use his power to help those who paid him, the prosecutor said during closing arguments at the trial in Manhattan federal court, which began eight weeks ago. Menendez acted with the entitlement of someone whos entrusted by the public with unimaginable power, Monteleoni said. At the same time, Menendez was trying desperately to pass the buck to the people who are close to him, including his wife and staff, the prosecutor said. FBI agents seized 13 gold bars and more than $486,000 in cash from the Menendez house, as well as a Mercedes convertible. But Menendez attorney Adam Fee argued that prosecutors failed to prove the senator committed any crimes in a case where hes accused of bribery, extortion, fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. Prosecutors have not come close to meeting their burden that any of the gold or cash was given to Senator Menendez as a bribe, Fee said in his summation. He said prosecutors offered no credible evidence that Menendez took any official actions with corrupt intent. The simple truth is these actions were lawful, normal and good for his constituents and this country, Fee said. Fee also said prosecutors built a case on false testimony and unsupported inferences, arguing that an FBI agent reversed his testimony about the location of a Menendez blazer found in a June 2022 raid. While the defense lawyer acknowledged the unusual nature of the cash and gold stash, he stressed the innocent explanations the defense put forward at a trial where Menendez did not testify. Who has that much cash in their house? Fee said. I would not blame you for having the immediate reaction that something must be fishy. Still, Fee said Menendez had been taking $400 in cash out of the bank in regular intervals for 30 years, and his sister testified that their Cuban family had long held cash. This is not a story that Bob came up with when this case was charged, the defense lawyer said. He had been doing this for a very long time. Fee argued that Menendezs wife withheld information from him about her poor finances before they married in 2020, and that she often acted on her own, contrary to assertions by prosecutors. The prosecutors story is that Bob controlled Nadine, Fee said. That is nonsense, based on this evidence. Fee will continue his summation on Wednesday, followed by closing arguments by lawyers for Hana and Daibes, as well as rebuttals by prosecutors. After legal instructions from the judge, jury deliberations may begin on Thursday. Monteleoni, citing numerous texts, emails, calls and bank records, argued Menendez committed multiple crimes. The prosecutor said Menendez corruptly helped Egypt to secure US military aid and sensitive information; protected an Egyptian monopoly that Hana secured to inspect meat bound for Egypt; influenced a federal indictment in New Jersey of Daibes; and swayed New Jersey criminal probes of people close to another businessman, who admitted he bribed the senator with a Mercedes. Menendez was smart and he was careful, Monteleoni said. He used his power and influence in subtle ways to try to help the people who were bribing him while not getting caught. Menendez, a three-term senator, has lost his political support in New Jersey and Washington since his indictment last September, and he says hell run as an independent in November. His wife, Nadine, was charged with him but will undergo a separate trial. Multiple Schemes But during more than five hours of arguments over the past two days, the prosecutor hammered Menendez over the details of several alleged schemes, including his efforts to help Jose Uribe, a businessman who pleaded guilty and testified as a prosecution witness. Uribe said he bribed Menendez to pressure New Jersey prosecutors to drop criminal probes against two people close to him. The prosecutor reminded jurors of testimony about a dinner Menendez attended with Uribe, his wife and her daughter by a previous marriage. Uribe testified that the senator urged the women to go to the bathroom before telling Uribe: I saved youre a*s twice. Not once but twice. That exchange was devastating evidence of Menendezs culpability for the scheme, the prosecutor said. While defense lawyers attacked the credibility of Uribe, the prosecutor vouched for him and said reams of evidence support his account. He repeatedly said: You know he was telling the truth. FBI agents traced $82,500 found in Menendezs house to Daibes, primarily through fingerprint evidence. Monteleoni also said Daibes gave six one-kilogram gold bars to Menendez, and his wife sold four of them before an FBI raid in 2022. The prosecutor also dismissed arguments by Menendezs lawyers that the senator had no access to his wifes locked closet, where FBI agents found cash and gold bars. There is zero reason to believe that Menendez was locked out of the closet of his own bedroom, Monteleoni said. This suggestion is absurd. The current case is US v. Menendez, 23-cr-490, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). (Updates with timing of closing arguments) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The body of an American climber buried by an avalanche 22 years ago in Peru is found in the ice This photo distributed by the Peruvian National Police shows police carrying a body that they identify as U.S. mountain climber William Stampfl, on Huascaran mountain in Huaraz, Peru, July 5, 2024. Peruvian authorities announced on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, that they have found the mummified body of the American man who died 22 years ago, along with two other American climbers, after the three were trapped in an avalanche while trying to climb Peru's highest mountain. (Peruvian National Police via AP) LIMA, Peru (AP) Twenty two years ago, an avalanche buried American climber Bill Stampfl as he made his way up one of the highest peaks in the Andes mountains. His family knew there was little hope of finding him alive, or even of retrieving his corpse from the thick fields of snow and the freezing ice sheets that cover the 6,700-meter (22,000-foot) tall Huascaran peak. But in June, Stampfl's son got a call from a stranger, who said he had come across the climber's frozen, and mostly intact body, as he made his own ascent up Huascaran. It was so out of left field. We talk about my dad, we think about him all the time, Joseph Stampfl said. You just never think you are going to get that call. He then shared the news with his family. It's been a shock said Jennifer Stampfl, the climber's daughter. When you get that phone call that hes been found your heart just sinks. You dont know how exactly to feel at first. On Tuesday, police in Peru said they had recovered Stampfl's body from the mountain where he was buried by the avalanche in 2002, when the 58-year-old was climbing with two friends who were also killed. A group of policemen and mountain guides put Stampfl's body on a stretcher, covered it in an orange tarp, and slowly took it down the icy mountain. The body was found at an altitude of 5,200 meters (17,060 feet), about a nine-hour hike from one of the camps where climbers stop when they tackle Huascaran's steep summit. Jennifer Stampfl said the family plans to move the body to a funeral home in Peru's capital, Lima, where it can be cremated and his ashes repatriated. For 22 years, we just kind of put in our mind: This is the way it is. Dads part of the mountain, and hes never coming home,'" she said. Police said Stampfls body and clothing were preserved by the ice and freezing temperatures. His driver's license was found inside a hip pouch. It says he was a resident of Chino in Californias San Bernardino County. The effort to retrieve Stampfl's remains began last week, after an American climber came upon the frozen body while making his way to the Huascaran summit. The climber opened the pouch and read the name on the driver's license. He called Stampfl's relatives, who then got in touch with local mountain guides. Joseph Stampfl said they worked with a Peruvian mountain rescue association to retrieve his fathers body, which was about 915 to 1,200 meters (3,000 to 4,000 feet) below where he and his two friends were believed to have been killed. He was no longer encased in ice, the son said. He still has got his boots on. A team of 13 mountaineers participated in the recovery operation five officers from an elite police unit and eight mountain guides who work for Grupo Alpamayo, a local tour operator that takes climbers to Huascaran and other peaks in the Andes. Eric Raul Albino, director of Grupo Alpamayo, said he was hired by Stampfl's family to retrieve the body. Lenin Alvardo, one of the police officers who participated in the recovery operation, said Stampfls clothes were still mostly intact. The hip pouch with his driving license also contained a pair of sunglasses, a camera, a voice recorder and two decomposing $20 bills. A gold wedding ring was still on the left hand. I've never seen anything like that" Alvarado said. Huascaran is Peru's highest peak. Hundreds of climbers visit the mountain each year with local guides, and it typically takes them about a week to reach the summit. However, climate change has affected Huascaran and the surrounding peaks higher than 5,000 meters, known as the Cordillera Blanca. According to official figures, the Cordillera Blanca has lost 27% of its ice sheet over the past five decades. Stampfl was with friends Matthew Richardson and Steve Erskine in trying to climb Huascaran in 2002. They had travelled the world to climb challenging mountains and had reached the peaks of Kilimanjaro, Rainier, Shasta and Denali, according to a Los Angeles Times report at the time. Erskines body was found shortly after the avalanche, but Richardsons corpse is still missing. Jennifer Stampfl said a plaque in memory of the three friends was placed at the summit of Mount Baldy in Southern California, where the trio trained for their expeditions. She said they may return to the site with her father's remains. Janet Stampfl-Raymer, who was Stampfl's wife, said that when her husband wasnt working as a civil engineer, he loved to be a mountaineer. He was a kind man. He was humble. He loved God, and he loved the mountains, she said. We all just dearly loved my husband. He was one of a kind, she said. Were very grateful we can bring his body home to rest. Stampfl carefully planned his mountaineering expeditions, his daughter said. She also said he was very humble and did not like to draw attention to himself. The fact that he is in the news, it is so not my dad, she said. ___ Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California. Body-cam footage shows rescue of child, others from boat that crashed into Keys bridge A Monroe County deputys body camera footage detailed his heroic efforts, and those of firefighters, to save three severely injured people, including a child screaming in pain, from a sinking boat moments after it slammed into a Florida Keys bridge early Monday morning. The footage also shows a tow boat arrive moments later to remove the most seriously wounded before the Sea Hunter center console goes beneath the surface of the fast-moving currents of South Pine Channel around 2 a.m. I got my T-top under his T-top to stop the boat from rolling over. We got there just in time, Kevin Freestone, owner of TowBoat US Big Pine Key and Cudjoe, told the Miami Herald. The current was smoking through the channel and was pushing us against the bridge. A Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputy speaks to people on a sinking boat that crashed into a Florida Keys bridge Monday, July 8, 2024. But, in the minutes before Freestone arrived, Deputy Jesus Rojas-Burgos, other deputies and several Monroe County Fire Rescue paramedics were frantically trying to get the people off the boat and onto the bridge, which connects Little Torch Key to Big Pine Key. Rojas-Burgos and the firefighters first had to find a hole in a fence on the side of the road to access the bridge, which is actually the old South Pine Channel Bridge that runs parallel to the current span. From there, they had to figure out how to get personnel and equipment down to the injured. We have to be prepared in a moments notice to react to situations like this, Rojas-Burgos boss, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, told the Herald. Things happen in a half second, and you have to be cool, calm and collected, and obviously, as this video shows, he was. A badly damaged Sea Hunter center console floats next to the South Pine Channel Bridge in the Lower Florida Keys Monday, July 8, 2024. One of the injured was a 12-year-old boy with multiple leg fractures. There was a woman who was also seriously injured. And, the captain of the boat, whom police havent named, was lying on the bow half submerged while a firefighter tried to keep his leg from severing below the knee. In all, there were eight people on the boat who investigators have not named. The Herald is not showing the video because it is too graphic. When first responders arrived, their only choice to get the people off the boat was to lower a metal roof ladder from the bridge to the top of the unsteady vessel about 15 feet below. Rojas-Burgos and the firefighters were evaluating the injured as the boat was listing to its side. Monroe County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Rojas-Burgos holds on to the top of a center console boat as it lists to its side after hitting a Florida Keys bridge Monday, July 8, 2024. LT! This is going down. We need life jackets, one of the firefighters yelled to his lieutenant on the bridge. Read More: Three people, including a child, seriously injured in Florida Keys boat crash The boy, meanwhile, was screaming in agony throughout the video because of the extent of his injuries. Moving him by ladder was proving difficult and extremely painful to him. Firefighters tried using a rope harness, but, he was in too much pain. The medics were also trying to keep him calm while trying to save him. I know it hurts bro, but we have to be able to move you. Its going to hurt, bro. Im really sorry about that, but, we have to be able to move you, a firefighter told the boy. So, we need you to be calm as can be. Be tough for us! As it became clearer getting the injured up to the old concrete bridges deck was improbable, the firefighters on the vessel began yelling for a boat. Their colleagues on the bridge had already called Freestone. We got a boat coming in five minutes, the firefighters on the bridge said. The reply from those on the sinking vessel: We dont have five minutes! When Freestone arrived and pulled his 26-foot Sea Cat beside the sinking craft, a paramedic was treating the injured captain. He and his colleagues embarked on the difficult task of trying to get a backboard underneath him while keeping his leg intact. We need to get him up, the medic says. Im holding him to prevent him from going in the water right now. TowBoat US boat captain Kevin Freestone steadies his boat against a sinking Sea Hunter center console after it struck a Florida Keys bridge Monday, July 8, 2024. Firefighters eventually offloaded the boy, the woman and finally the captain onto Freestones vessel. He rushed them to the Dolphin Marina on Little Torch Key, where ambulances were waiting. From there, paramedics flew them aboard Monroe Countys helicopter ambulance to Miami-Dade hospitals. Their conditions as of Tuesday were not immediately available. Some of the other less seriously injured were taken to the Lower Keys Medical Center for treatment. Freestone, 57, has been operating TowBoat US out of the Lower Keys for 23 years. Although Monroe County is served by police officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as well as county deputies who conduct marine patrols, his services are often needed during water emergencies. Were pretty active. Were in between two Coast Guard stations. If were able to help out with emergencies, were more than willing to get out there, Freestone said. We have four boats that operate 24 hours, seven days a week. Sometimes, you end up in a situation like that. Monroe County Fire Rescue medics and sheriffs office deputies place a ladder from atop the South Pine Channel Bridge to a boat that crashed into the bridge Monday, July 8, 2024. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which has not immediately answered the Heralds queries about the investigation. This embedded content is not available in your region. Kristen Livengood, a Monroe County Fire Rescue spokeswoman, on Monday said the twin-engine boat hit the bridge at a high rate of speed. Authorities did not release the size of the boat. The boat that crashed runs charter fishing trips in the Keys. However, Ramsay said the U.S. Coast Guard and Fish and Wildlife investigators are still trying to determine if the people on board that day were customers, or if it was a private trip. The Herald on Tuesday called the charter company, Nauti Tails, and the woman who answered hung up the phone when the reporter identified himself. Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward told the Herald that investigators were unable to draw blood to test the Sea Hunters operator for alcohol because he needed immediate medical attention. However, Ward said police will collect a sample of his blood from the hospital. Its all part of the investigation, Ward said. A Boeing 757-200 aircraft lost a wheel as the United Airlines flight took off from Los Angeles. None of the 74 passengers and seven crew members on the flight, which was heading to Denver, reported injuries, the airline told HuffPost. United Flight 1001 landed safely in Denver after losing one wheel on takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event, the airline said. A Boeing spokesperson told HuffPost that the aircraft was delivered three decades ago, in 1994. The spokesperson added that Boeing stopped producing 757 aircraft in 2004. The event is comparable to an incident in March when a Boeing 777-200 carrying 235 passengers and 14 crew members lost a tire during a flight from San Francisco to Osaka, Japan. Though no one aboard was injured, the planes tire damaged a parked car. The aviation company also made headlines on Sunday night for taking a plea deal in a case involving a felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. The case involves two fatal 737 Max jetliner crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed a total of 346 people. Related... Rescue personnel successfully sealed a 226-meter breach in a dike at China's second-largest freshwater lake Monday night, according to local authorities. #GLOBALink (AP) Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two crashes of 737 Max jetliners that killed 346 people, the Justice Department said late Sunday, after the government determined the company violated an agreement that had protected it from prosecution for more than three years. Federal prosecutors gave Boeing the choice last week of entering a guilty plea and paying a fine as part of its sentence or facing a trial on the felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Prosecutors accused the American aerospace giant of deceiving regulators who approved the airplane and pilot-training requirements for it. Man stopped with machete and knives at Hopkins Airport: I-Team The plea deal, which still must receive the approval of a federal judge to take effect, calls for Boeing to pay an additional $243.6 million fine. That was the same amount it paid under the 2021 settlement that the Justice Department said the company breached. An independent monitor would be named to oversee Boeings safety and quality procedures for three years. The deal also requires Boeing to invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs. The plea deal covers only wrongdoing by Boeing before the crashes in Indonesia and in Ethiopia, which killed all 346 passengers and crew members aboard two new Max jets. It does not give Boeing immunity for other incidents, including a panel that blew off a Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon in January, a Justice Department official said. The deal also does not cover any current or former Boeing officials, only the corporation. In a statement, Boeing confirmed it had reached the deal with the Justice Department but had no further comment. In a filing Sunday night, the Justice Department said it expected to submit the written plea agreement with a U.S. District Court in Texas by July 19. Lawyers for some of the relatives of those who died in the two crashes have said they will ask the judge to reject the agreement. This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeings conspiracy, 346 people died. Through crafty lawyering between Boeing and DOJ, the deadly consequences of Boeings crime are being hidden, said Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the families. Federal prosecutors alleged Boeing committed conspiracy to defraud the government by misleading regulators about a flight-control system that was implicated in the crashes, which took place than less five months apart. As part of the January 2021 settlement, the Justice Department said it would not prosecute Boeing on the charge if the company complied with certain conditions for three years. Prosecutors last month alleged Boeing had breached the terms of that agreement. Woman says dog turned on stove, started house fire U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor, who has overseen the case from the beginning, has criticized what he called Boeings egregious criminal conduct. OConnor could accept the plea and the sentence that prosecutors offered with it or he could reject the agreement, likely leading to new negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing. The case goes back to the crashes in Indonesia and in Ethiopia. The Lion Air pilots in the first crash did not know about flight-control software that could push the nose of the plane down without their input. The pilots for Ethiopian Airlines knew about it but were unable to control the plane when the software activated based on information from a faulty sensor. The Justice Department charged Boeing in 2021 with deceiving FAA regulators about the software, which did not exist in older 737s, and about how much training pilots would need to fly the plane safely. The department agreed not to prosecute Boeing at the time, however, if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including the $243.6 million fine, and took steps to comply with anti-fraud laws for three years. Boeing, which blamed two low-level employees for misleading the regulators, tried to put the crashes behind it. After grounding Max jets for 20 months, regulators let them fly again after the company reduced the power of the flight software. Max jets logged thousands of safe flights and orders from airlines picked up, increasing to about 750 in 2021, about 700 more in 2022 and nearly 1,000 in 2023. That changed in January, when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew off a Max during the Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon. Pilots landed the 737 Max safely and no one was seriously injured, but the incident led to closer scrutiny of the company. The Justice Department opened a new investigation, the FBI told passengers on the Alaska plane that they might be victims of a crime and the FAA said it was stepping up oversight of Boeing. A criminal conviction could jeopardize Boeings status as a federal contractor, according to some legal experts. The plea announced Sunday does not address that question, leaving it to each government agency whether to bar Boeing. The Air Force cited compelling national interest in letting Boeing continue competing for contracts after the company paid a $615 million fine in 2006 to settle criminal and civil charges, including that it used information stolen from a rival to win a space-launch contract. The company based in Arlington, Virginia, has 170,000 employees and dozens of airline customers spanning the globe. The best customers for the 737 Max include Southwest, United, American, Alaska, Ryanair and flydubai. But 37% of its revenue last year came from U.S. government contracts. Most of it was defense work, including military sales that Washington arranged for other countries. Boeing also makes a capsule for NASA. Two astronauts will remain at the International Space Station longer than expected while Boeing and NASA engineers troubleshoot problems with the propulsion system used to maneuver the capsule. Even some Boeing critics have worried about crippling a key defense contractor. We want Boeing to succeed, Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said during a Senate hearing last month on what he termed the companys broken safety culture. Boeing needs to succeed for the sake of the jobs it provides, for the sake of local economies it supports, for the sake of the American traveling public, for the sake of our military. Relatives of the Max crash victims have pushed for a criminal trial that might illuminate what people inside Boeing knew about deceiving the FAA. They also want the Justice Department to prosecute top Boeing officials, not just the company. Boeing has paid fines many a time, and it doesnt seem to make any change, said Ike Riffel of Redding, California, whose sons Melvin and Bennett died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash. When people start going to prison, thats when you are going to see a change. At a recent Senate hearing, Boeing CEO David Calhoun defended the companys safety record after turning and apologizing to Max crash victims relatives seated in the rows behind him for the grief that we have caused. Hours before the hearing, the Senate investigations subcommittee released a 204-page report with new allegations from a whistleblower who said he worried that defective parts could be going into 737s. The whistleblower was the latest in a string of current and former Boeing employees who have raised safety concerns about the company and claimed they faced retaliation as a result. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. (KRON) The man who is suspected of planting a bomb behind a San Jose business was arrested, according to the San Jose Police Department. At 10:06 a.m. on Wednesday, a suspect contacted San Jose police to inform them that he planted an improvised explosive device or bomb behind a business in the 1300 Block of Ridder Park Drive. Responding officers located a suspicious device that appeared to be a bomb. According to SJPD, nearby businesses were evacuated as a precaution. The SJPD Special Operations Bomb Squad and Mobile Emergency Response Group and Equipment (MERGE) Unit determined the item to be an incomplete but viable bomb. Upon the Bomb Squads investigation, the device was declared safe. Officers could not find any additional devices. Dharmesh Patel released from jail without charges Felix Arnaz. Image courtesy of the San Jose Police Department The suspect was identified as 56-year-old San Jose resident Felix Arnaz. MERGE officers located Arnaz in his car near Ruby Avenue and Aborn Road. According to police, there were no additional devices found in his apprehension. Arnaz was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for multiple charges related to the possession of a destructive device. Anyone with information regarding this case or any similar cases is asked to contact Detective Madera at 408-277-4161 or email 4857@sanjoseca.gov. To remain anonymous, callers can contact the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program at (408) 947-STOP. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A student takes a break between classes in front of Bascom Hall at the University of Wisconsin Madison in this 2019 file photo. The University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor will earn more than $1 million by the end of this coming school year. The UW Board of Regents created a retention bonus system for its chancellors in a closed-door meeting Monday with no public discussion or vote. The board also approved pay boosts for eight of the 13 chancellors to bring their compensation closer to peer universities. UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin will see her base salary rise from $811,512 to $892,663, a 10% increase. She'll also receive a $150,000 retention bonus on June 30, 2025, pushing her total compensation to $1,042,663. Mnookin's retention bonus will rise to $200,000 in 2026, $250,000 in 2027, $300,000 in 2028 and $350,000 in 2029. Private donor dollars not taxpayer or tuition money will fund the bonuses. There is nothing written in the agreement Mnookin needs to do to earn the bonus. It's intended to reward her if she remains at UW-Madison. Mnookin has led the state flagship for about two years. Her overall compensation is about $280,000 less than the median level of peer institutions, UW System spokesperson Mark Pitsch said. The Chronicle of Higher Education's executive compensation salary database shows fairly wide variation among Big Ten schools, with Mnookin's $750,000 base salary in 2022 falling toward the bottom. Other UW chancellors to be rewarded for performance The other dozen UW chancellors may get their own bonuses by meeting an agreed-upon performance metric that may change year to year. Bonuses cannot exceed up to 15% of their base salaries. This year's metric is first-to-second year retention rates for undergraduate students. The targets will be set after the UW System tallies enrollment numbers this fall. "Heres what we know: losing talent is much more expensive than rewarding it, and that is how these chancellor compensation packages are structured," Pitsch said. It's unclear what funding source will be used to cover the bonuses at campuses other than UW-Madison. "This is an opportunity for chancellors to earn more for excellent work," Pitsch said. "We believe in pay based on merit. If student retention performance metrics are achieved, the merit awards will pay for themselves." UW employee pay raises to be requested in next state budget The UW System will seek pay increases for all UW employees in the next state budget, which typically would be signed into law sometime next summer. The raises for the majority of the chancellors come in addition to 6% raises all UW employees received over the past year as part of a broader legislative deal. Four percent of the raise was backdated to last July and the remaining 2% bump took effect June 30. The new base salaries for chancellors are: UW System President Jay Rothman: $583,440 UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin: $892,663 UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone: $489,169 UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt: $304,514 UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank: $304,514 UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt: $302,610 UW-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo: $301,921 UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander: $301,414 UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson: $301,414 UW-Superior Chancellor Renee Wachter: $298,658 UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich: $295,168 UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King: $295,168 UW-La Crosse Chancellor James Beeby: $281,112 UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey: $275,506 This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: University of Wisconsin chancellor pay to top $1 million in 2025 Both candidates are old. Only one has shattered presidential norms. Guests at the Old Town Pour House watch a debate between President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee former President Donald Trump on June 27, 2024 in Chicago. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) As everyone opined in the aftermath of the Biden-Trump debate, our grandchildren (ages 4 and 5) were arriving to spend the Fourth of July holiday week with us, so we were careful in how we discussed the debate within their earshot. And we were certainly not tuning into TV pundits who, I later learned, spent most of the last week poking fun at old age and excusing rampant lying. Are these the American values were teaching our kids these days? Joe Biden is 81. Donald Trump is 78. This is not new information. Had we not all, prior to the debate, posited that younger candidates should have been considered? Making this point moot? According to fact-checker Daniel Dale at CNN, Trump told at least 30 falsehoods during the debate, which, in a 90 minute program, constitutes a lie every three minutes. A blip, compared to Bidens advanced age, in the news cycle. In his July 4 speech, Trump said, in part, Those who seek to erase our heritage want Americans to forget our pride and our great dignity, so that we can no longer understand ourselves or Americas destiny, and My fellow Americans, it is time to speak up loudly and strongly and powerfully and defend the integrity of our country. Would you teach your kids and grandkids that telling a lie every three minutes is integrity? And what should we make of his line about our heritage? Weeks after Trumps very fine people on both sides dismissal of white men marching through Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 carrying tiki torches and chanting Jews will not replace us!, historian and MacArthur Fellowship recipient Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote in The Atlantic to remember that Trump is the first president to have served in no public capacity before ascending to his perch. Coates wrote, The mind seizes trying to imagine a black man extolling the virtues of sexual assault on tape (When youre a star, they let you do it), fending off multiple accusations of such assaults, immersed in multiple lawsuits for allegedly fraudulent business dealings, exhorting his followers to violence, and then strolling into the White House. But that is the point of white supremacy to ensure that that which all others achieve with maximal effort, white people (particularly white men) achieve with minimal qualification. Much has happened since, including Trumps conviction on dozens of criminal counts, liability for sexual assault, and then some. To say the bar has been lowered (and lowered and lowered and lowered again) since Trump first came down that escalator in 2015 and declared his candidacy is an understatement of mass proportions. He has still not conceded he lost the 2020 election, something we say so often the meaning disappears into the ether, even as he continues to insist the last presidential election was stolen (it wasnt), that our elections are rigged (theyre not), and that there was massive voter fraud in 2020 (there wasnt). Lies, lies and more lies. In his July 4 speech, Trump also stated what seems, like so much of his bluster, a throwaway lie. I am here as your president, he said. I am trying, as I write this, to imagine President Barack Obama claiming, years later, in a public speech, that he was still president. We would wonder if hed fallen and hit his head. So many of our historical norms have been shattered by one old white man, and his name is not Biden. Recall that the Trumps did not invite the Bidens, as is customary, to the White House during the transition period. Recall that Trump did not attend the 2021 inauguration. The NPR headline that day: For 1st Time In 150 Years, Outgoing President Doesnt Attend Inauguration. Recall that, due to substantiated threats, Washington D.C. had to be fenced off and locked down in 2021 in order to hold a public inauguration at all. Recall how, on Jan. 6, Trump sat in the White House for hours, watching his supporters on TV as they ransacked the Capitol and fought police officers, pouting and angry because Vice President Mike Pence had refused to help him illegally overthrow a federal election. What have we taught our kids in these Trump years? Biden is old. He is a lifelong public servant who often mumbles or misspeaks. Should we ask questions about his competency? Absolutely. But Trump is also old, and he has spoken in rambling gibberish for years. He posts his rage and pettiness almost daily on social media. His singular entree into politics was birtherism, the years he gleefully sowed racist lies about our first Black president. It is beyond irony that Trumps Republicans as they resoundingly demand the old white Democrat disappear has firmly defended their old white man even as he repeatedly insisted our first Black president was illegitimate (while that president was in office) while having the temerity to falsely declare on July 4, 2024,I am here as your president. Do you have to be a racist to support Trump? No. But you have to be comfortable with his felonies, his lies, his hatefulness, his racist dog whistles; you have to be comfortable with Charlottesville and Jan. 6 and the trashing of norms; you have to be comfortable with a leader whose political power began in, and survives today in, the roots of racism. Where is the competency test for that? If the Republican Party had an ounce of the pride, integrity and dignity that Trump spoke of on July 4, they would have demanded his removal as their leader long ago. So why havent they? Because that, my friends, would be something worth teaching to our kids. The post Both candidates are old. Only one has shattered presidential norms. appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Boy's body found under rubble in Kyiv, death toll of July 8 attack rises to 27 The body of a boy was found under the rubble of a building hit by a Russian strike in Kyiv's Schevchenkyvskyi district, bringing the death toll of the July 8 attack on the city to 27, the Interior Ministry said on July 9. Among the dead are four children, the Interior Ministry said. Another 117 people were injured in Kyiv and seven were rescued from buildings that had been damaged in the strike. Emergency services are still working at three sites, the ministry said. Schevchenkyvskyi district is the location of both a residential building hit in Russia's strike and the Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical center, which Russia directly targeted. The Russian military struck the children's hospital with a Kh-101 cruise missile, according to the preliminary data obtained by the State Security Service (SBU), killing at least two people and injuring at least 50. Russia launched another attack against Kyiv later during the day, with debris damaging a maternity hospital in another district, killing seven people. Read also: Quiet Kyiv neighborhood hit in a mass Russian attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Breakthrough in cold case leads to arrest years after SC man was killed, sheriff says An arrest was made two years after a South Carolina man was shot and killed in his Midlands home, according to the Sumter County Sheriffs Office. Elijah Keith Fleming a 20-year-old Hapeville, Georgia, resident is facing charges of murder and first-degree burglary in connection to the 2022 death of Stephen Collins, the sheriffs office said Monday in a news release. On July 8, 2022, Fleming and another unidentified person were armed with guns when they entered Collins Edgehill Road home in Sumter, according to the release. They were there with the intent to steal items from the 81-year-old business owners home, the sheriffs office said. Investigators believe Fleming and the other person with him shot Collins several times while he was sitting on his couch, according to the release. Stephen Edward Collins The sheriffs office said forensic evidence from Collins home and Flemings statement implicating himself led to the breakthrough in the cold case. Information about the specific evidence, and what Fleming said was not available. Our deputies work very hard to gather evidence and bring justice for every victim. I am thankful for their determination that has finally brought about these charges, Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in the release. The charges against Fleming will have to wait. Hes currently being held without bond at the Clayton County Jail in Georgia on unrelated charges, officials said. Fleming was arrested in the Atlanta area April 23, when he was charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a crime and two counts of aggravated assault, jail records show. Flemings extradition to Sumter County is pending the resolution of his charges in Georgia, the sheriffs office said. Despite the charges facing Fleming, the sheriffs office is continuing to investigate Collins death. July 2022 An employee was the person who found Collins body. The Sumter County Coroners Office previously said that Collins was supposed to meet with employees on the morning of July 8, 2022. When he didnt come out to greet them, an unresponsive Collins was discovered inside his home by an employee, who called 911, officials said. Collins owned Collins Tree Service and operated the business from his home, where he lived alone, the sheriffs office said. Although the coroner didnt immediately release Collins cause of death, he told The State that the 81-year-olds death was most definitely a homicide. Ongoing investigation There was no word if Fleming had any connection to Collins prior to the shooting, or if the home was a specific target. Information about the other person who the sheriffs office said was with Fleming during the shooting, or anyone else who might have been involved, was not available. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriffs office at 803-436-2000, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip. Dennis said he hoped that Flemings arrest would begin to bring some comfort and a sense of closure to Mr. Collins family and friends. In addition to the sheriffs office, several other law enforcement agencies have assisted in the investigation. That includes the Sumter Police Department, Lee County Sheriffs Office, Kershaw County Sheriffs Office, Lexington County Sheriffs Department, Jasper County Sheriffs Office, Beaufort County Sheriffs Office, Clayton County (Georgia) Sheriffs Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The victim Collins, a West Virginia native, served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years and retired as a Major, according to his obituary. He was an avid boater, collector, and woodworker, the obituary said. He loved music and played both the accordion and trumpet. Steve was a longtime member of Shaw Heights Baptist Church where he served for many years as a deacon. Both a funeral service, in Sumter, and burial, in West Virginia, were held in July 2022, according to the obituary. The United States is in the throes of a deadly opioid epidemic that could claim the lives of millions by 2029. A recent breakthrough in overdose treatments could offer a new strategy for the public health emergency. The study, led by researchers at Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis, introduces a novel drug, called compound 368, that seems to greatly enhance the life-saving effects of naloxone in mice. Naloxone (brand name Narcan) is one of the most common and effective opioid overdose treatments available today in the US without a prescription. It is also an opioid, but instead of activating receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system, it deactivates the receptors. While the medicine, which can be injected or administered through the nose, is quite successful at blocking these receptors, it only deactivates them for about 2 hours. Fentanyl can last in the bloodstream for up to 8 hours. Compound 368 could be the solution scientists have been searching for. In human cells in the lab, compound 368 enhanced naloxone's deactivation of opioid receptors by 7.6 fold. It also kept naloxone bound to these receptors 10 times longer. "Many people who overdose on opioids need more than one dose of naloxone before they are out of danger," says anesthesiologist Susruta Majumdar from Washington University in St. Louis. "This study is a proof of concept that we can make naloxone work better last longer and be more potent by giving it in combination with a molecule that influences the responses of the opioid receptor." Compound 368 was found in a library of 4.5 billion molecules, after researchers went looking for compounds that can bind to alternative sites on the body's opioid receptors when naloxone is already present. Using a special electron microscope, the team of scientists has shown that the compound binds to a receptor site next to naloxone to stabilize and inactivate the opioid receptor. The authors of the study, led by biochemist Evan O'Brien at Stanford, explain that compound 368 works in cooperation with low doses of naloxone to both reverse and block the deathly consequences of morphine and fentanyl, such as severely slowed breathing rates. When compound 368 was injected on its own into living mice who had been given a high dose of morphine, the novel drug did not have a significant impact. But when 368 was combined with a low dose of naloxone and delivered to mice, it modestly lowered morphine-induced respiratory depression. When it comes to fentanyl an opioid 100 times more potent than morphine the combination treatment appears to be even more powerful. "Regardless of the dose of naloxone, treatment with 368 resulted in a significant enhancement of the ability of naloxone to reverse fentanyl-induced" effects," the authors of the study conclude. Whether or not the same holds true for mixed opioids is unclear. Recently, scientists have found street drugs in the US containing combinations of fentanyl, heroine, and a non-opioid horse tranquilizer called xylazine. When xylazine and fentanyl are used together, they significantly raise the risk of overdose. Compound 368 still needs to be tested in humans, but neuropharmacologist Catherine Cahill from the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study, argues in a Nature review of the study that this is "a considerable advance opening up fresh avenues of investigation in the search for solutions to the opioid crisis." The study was published in Nature. Police in the Maldives have arrested State Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem. Police haven't said why she was arrested, but local media report she is accused of using black magic against President Mohamed Muizzu. Sorcery isn't illegal under the country's civil penal code. But it can be punished by up to six months in prison under Islamic law in the majority Muslim nation. The post Brickbat: Black Magic Woman appeared first on Reason.com. Motorists at Britains most expensive petrol station are paying almost 1,200 more each year to fill up their car than at the cheapest forecourt, analysis reveals. The average cost of a litre of petrol ranged from 1.35 to 1.77 a litre in June across Britains more than 8,000 petrol stations, according to comparison website PetrolPrices. The most expensive forecourt was Strensham services, a BP motorway station located between junction seven and eight of the M5 motorway, where motorists paid 97.46 to fill up a 55L car. But in Whitby, North Yorkshire, home to Britains cheapest petrol, the same tank cost 74.58 a difference of almost 23. If a driver was to fill up their car every week for a year assuming Junes prices, it would cost 1,189.76 more at the motorway services. While many drivers have become accustomed to motorway services charging a premium for fuel, the data also revealed large discrepancies between what different service stations charge. Four junctions before the nations most expensive petrol station on the M5 charged 1.52 a litre in June a saving of 712 a year, according to data compiled by PetrolPrices for The Telegraph. There were also huge price variations across Britain. Petrol was most expensive in London where the average cost of a litre last month was 1.46, according to the data. Meanwhile it was 2.5p cheaper on average in the North East of England. However, by far the cheapest region for petrol last month was in Northern Ireland where the average price of a litre was 1.41. The findings have angered campaigners who have demanded an end to the postcode lottery of prices. Luke Bosdet, of motoring body the AA, said there was absolutely no doubt this was down to the introduction of the Fuel Price Checker by the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. The competition watchdog first introduced the tracker in September 2020 to show drivers the average price of fuel and the cheapest price in every town in Northern Ireland. The site saw a 526pc increase in monthly hits between 2022 and 2021 following Russias invasion of Ukraine which sent global oil prices spiralling. That was the value the Northern Irish drivers put on being able to find out what was the average price in a town and what was the cheapest price, Mr Bosdet said. There are hopes a similar price tracker will be introduced in the rest of Britain by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) watchdog after a Bill to grant the watchdog more power was rushed through Parliament ahead of the election. The CMA is currently trialling a PumpWatch fuel price transparency scheme, with 14 of the biggest retailers providing prices on a daily basis, but public knowledge remains low and those that have signed up account for approximately only 35pc of service stations. Simon Williams, head of policy at breakdown provider the RAC, said: We continue to call on retailers to play fair with drivers as our analysis of data provided by the Competition and Markets Authority consistently shows that the individual retailers will charge wildly different prices entirely dependent on location. We badly need to bring an end to this postcode lottery in fuel retailing. If retailers in Northern Ireland can sell petrol for 4.5p cheaper than the UK average of 145p and diesel for 8p cheaper than the average of 150.4p, it can surely be done on this side of the Irish sea too. Mr Bosdet said the CMAs price tracker could lead to a sea change in the prices drivers pay for their fuel on motorways and main routes. He added: Its all going to change. Drivers will be able to zero in on the cheapest prices and be able to go there. That has the added benefit that not only are drivers saving but its putting pressure on the more expensive fuel stations to bring their prices down or else lose customers. There is going to be a sea change in what drivers are going to be paying for their fuel on motorways and main routes. There is going to be this big sucking sound as drivers are pulled away from the extravagant sites to the cheaper ones. BP was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. ARUSHA, Tanzania, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The East African Community (EAC) ministers of foreign affairs and EAC affairs have raised concern over the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In a communique issued on Monday by the EAC headquarters in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha at the end of a three-day meeting of the ministers in Tanzania's Zanzibar, the ministers appreciated the humanitarian truce currently underway in the DRC and recommended that the truce be extended indefinitely. According to the communique, the ministers deliberated on the current state of peace, security, interstate relations, and the EAC integration process. The communique said the ministers acknowledged that a political process was the viable path to sustainable peace and security in the eastern DRC. It said the ministers recommended convening a summit of the EAC heads of state to revitalize the political track of the EAC-led Nairobi process in reciprocal coordination with the Luanda process. The ministers reviewed the status of implementing the four integration pillars and emphasized the need to demonstrate political commitment and goodwill to ensure the realization of the goals for each pillar. The four pillars are the common market, customs union, monetary union and political federation. The EAC is an intergovernmental organization composed of eight member states, namely the DRC, Somalia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (PIX11) Some members of the Bensonhurst community are pushing back against New York Citys plan to open a homeless shelter for single men on 86th Street and 25th Avenue in Brooklyn. About 100 people demonstrated Monday outside the property at 2501-2511 86th St. City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang told PIX11 she suggested alternate locations. More Brooklyn News Its next to a school; theres five schools nearby, across the street, theres a senior center here, also a day care center here, this is not the proper location, Zhuang said. PIX11 News contacted the citys Department of Social Services. In an email, a spokesperson wrote: This community (BK CD11) has ZERO shelter resources, and this high-quality shelter will be the first in this community, offering dedicated services and supports to 150 men experiencing homelessness, including those experiencing mental health challenges. Department of Social Services spokseperson The shelter will be run by VIP Community Services, which started in the Bronx. On its website, it says: VIP has long recognized that for treatment to be successful long term, the drug lifestyle has to be replaced with positive elements education, health care, mental health care, job training, life skills and work opportunities. More Local News Working together with our not-for-profit provider-partner VIP, we will be providing robust wraparound support as dedicated staff work closely with shelter residents to help them stabilize their lives and move into permanent housing. As we have always done, we will continue to maintain open lines of communication with the community and remain committed to ongoing engagement as we work collaboratively to support our neighbors in need, the citys DSS said in an emailed statement. Illegal drugs and alcohol cannot be consumed on the property, according to city officials. There will be at least seven security staff members per shift and one supervisor overseeing security staff. Seventy-four cameras will also be installed both inside and outside the shelter. The shelter is slated to open in late 2024. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man was arrested Saturday in connection with an alleged sexual assault that occurred earlier that day, the Buffalo Police Department said. Police said 23-year-old Hassan Khokar allegedly had sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl after smoking marijuana with her. Central District officers responded to the call around 4 p.m. at the Mariner Towers, according to police. Khokar was charged with one count each of second-degree criminal sexual act, second-degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. GOP Chair Doug Brown was found guilty of assault on a female at a July 8 trial in Buncombe County District Court. ASHEVILLE - Buncombe County's Republican Party chair has been found guilty of assaulting a female GOP school board member, but he will likely face no punishment, with the judge characterizing the encounter as part of "a state of politics in this country." It was not clear the day of the July 8 guilty verdict if GOP Chair Doug Brown will be made to step down or face any other repercussions from the party. A Buncombe County district court judge found Brown found guilty of misdemeanor assault on a female nearly a year after what county school board member Amy Churchill said were two closely timed July 24, 2023 encounters at Asheville party headquarters. The Henderson County GOP chair was accused of the same misdemeanor also against a fellow county party official but prosecutors on June 12 declined to move forward with the charge brought by Kathy Maney against Brett Callaway. Churchill, who opposed a local party plan to impose Republican-friendly school board electoral districts, said Brown pushed her forcefully at the end of a monthly GOP meeting. That caused her to have to steady herself, something she said was difficult because she was recovering from a broken ankle. Churchill, who is 5 feet 5 inches, said Brown, who is over 6 feet tall, then slammed the door in her face. Shortly after that and still at party headquarters she confronted him with her phone recording the audio and told him not to touch her, according to testimony. Brown then placed his hands on her again, she said, in a "passive aggressive way." "This is about a man who puts his hands on a woman because he could not get her to leave," Churchill said under cross-examination. Brown, though, denied he pushed Churchill, saying he intervened in a conversation between her and North Carolina state Sen. Warren Daniel who put forward the district's legislation, which was then passed by the Republican-majority General Assembly in Raleigh. "Amy was upset about the decision of the school district voting," Brown said, adding, "I gave her a little 'matadorial' direction to the door and I could feel some resistance." He said he didn't slam the door, but closed it "so she knew her time with the senator was over." Later, when Churchill confronted him, Brown did not deny touching her, though said he did not mean it in an aggressive way. Two Republican meeting attendees were called as defense witnesses, testifying they saw the second encounter. "He was polite the whole time," said witness Hope Reagan. Judge Edwin Clontz said due to a lack of other people seeing the first encounter, its circumstances were "debatable." "But clearly in the second instance you were told not to touch her, witnesses said you were told not to touch her and you placed your hands on her," he said. "As for what the law is, I cannot find other than that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Clontz said that was a "hard thing to say" and that the conflict was indicative of a state of political acrimony in the country. "Can't get along within the parties. Can't get along outside the parties," he said, raising the specter of political violence in elected bodies. "I don't think this is anywhere near that level. I think this is some heated people in a political situation who did not handle themselves properly." Therefore, Clontz said he was entering a prayer for judgment, meaning there was no penalty if Brown paid court costs and did not violate the law again for a year. Assault on a female is a A1 misdemeanor, the most serious of misdemeanors under state law and can carry a punishment of up to 150 days in jail, depending on prior convictions. Amy Churchill, a Buncombe County School Board member, July 8, 2024. After the ruling Churchill reiterated her point, saying the verdict was about Brown assaulting a woman "because he could not get her to do what he wanted." "I am glad there is some accountability for behavior," she said. She said the judgment was not about politics, but did say she was considering leaving the Republican Party. "It is very clear this is not the party I joined when I was 18," said Churchill, who is 53. Brown, outside the courtroom and in an emailed statement, said the conflict should never have ended up in court. "Was there any maliciousness in me? No. I invited her to that meeting. I tried to include her," he said, adding in the statement that "I will not give up that we can treat each other civilly." Brown said the prayer for judgment did not amount to a conviction. According to the UNC School of Government's N.C. Prosecutor's Resource, a prayer for judgment is counted as a conviction in terms of "scoring a criminal history" but not in terms of an appeal. Asked whether Brown will be made to vacate his chair or face any other consequences, 11th District GOP Chair Michele Woodhouse said she would "need more information on the exact ruling." Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: County GOP chair guilty of assault on female, school board member Yet another Metro bus driver was assaulted late Monday night the latest in a series of violent attacks plaguing the Los Angeles public transit system. An L.A. Police Department spokesperson told KTLA that Monday nights incident occurred aboard a bus around 10 p.m. at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Avalon Boulevards. The original call to 911 came as a report of battery and physical contact between a passenger and the bus operator, the spokesperson said. Aggressive pug, calm pit bull rescued from 110 Freeway off-ramp in Gardena Upon arriving at the scene, the officers could not locate the suspect, who was described as a Black female in her 20s. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, she had not been found. A representative for Metro confirmed that LAPD responded to Avalon and MLK on reports of the driver being attacked and stated that the driver was treated at the scene by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries and released. No other injuries were reported. Law enforcement officials responded to the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Avalon boulevards in South Los Angeles on July 8, 2024 after a Metro bus driver was assaulted. (OnSceneTV) Law enforcement officials responded to the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Avalon boulevards in South Los Angeles on July 8, 2024 after a Metro bus driver was assaulted. (OnSceneTV) Law enforcement officials responded to the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Avalon boulevards in South Los Angeles on July 8, 2024 after a Metro bus driver was assaulted. (OnSceneTV) In a statement, the Metro spokesperson called bus operators critical frontline employees and said that passenger behavior that results in assault or impedes the operators safety is unacceptable. Anyone with information regarding Monday nights assault is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. In 2024 alone, there have been numerous attacks on Metro buses, trains and at stations across Los Angeles; on May 7, a Metro security guard was stabbed by a trespasser who he later fatally shot, and exactly three weeks later, a man was stabbed at a bus stop in Mid-City merely hours after a bus driver was attacked in downtown Los Angeles. Just eight days ago, two Metro buses were the focus of dangerous situations within six hours of each other; one where a bus was tagged with graffiti and damaged by fireworks during a street takeover in downtown L.A. and the other involving a passenger with a gun in Glendale. Many of the violent assaults do not end in deaths, but fatalities have occurred, such as one case where a woman was fatally stabbed by a transient with two knives on a B-line train. Alleged Kia Soul thieves arrested after pursuit in L.A. To combat the surge in violence which has gotten bad enough to the point that drivers staged a sick out over safety concerns and an official stated they are afraid to ride alone Metro announced they would drastically increase the number of law enforcement and public safety officers at stations citywide. In late June, Metro officials formally announced plans to establish their own police force. Nancy Fontan contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) With summer in full swing, many San Angelo residents will take to the towns dining scene to sate their hunger. The City of San Angelos monthly food establishment health inspections might help inform your opinion on where to eat. The scoring system According to the City of San Angelo, all food establishments inspected by the City are inspected in accordance with the Texas Food Establishment Rules. The food establishment inspection report checks food establishments to see if theyve violated any of 27 different violations, with each scoring the business from three to five. Below is the demerit system used by the City: 0-10 demerits = excellent 11-20 demerits = good 21-30 demerits = acceptable 31 or more = poor Its important to note that the City only checks for food safety items that are directly responsible for health problems rather than factors a person may traditionally associate with poor food safety, such as dirty floors and unclean walls. Inspection scores are focused on food safety items that directly cause problems. Many items that people may see, such as dirty dining area floors and walls, may appear bad, but they do not actually affect the safety of the food; demerits are not given for these types of items, the City said. Which businesses scored below 90 in May 2024 health inspections? Its also important to note that food establishments are graded based on the processes that are carried out there. For example, convenience stores selling pre-packaged food may have noticeably different scores than those of fully-fledged restaurants. Inspections also only showcase a snapshot in time, with any given food establishment possibly having more or fewer violations at the current moment than the score depicted in the inspection report or previous reports would indicate. The City Attorney disclaims that reviewing the entire inspection history is crucial in ascertaining a more accurate picture of an establishments food safety and sanitation programs. Finally, food establishments in San Angelo do not receive health inspections simultaneously and, as such, may have not been recently inspected at the time of the reports publication. Businesses that have earned the same score across multiple inspection reports may reflect an inspection conducted in a previous report rather than one that could have been conducted in the current time. With clarifications out of the way, here are all the retail food establishments that scored below a 90 in the June 2024 inspection report. What scored below a 90? DISCLAIMER: Some businesses in San Angelo did not receive health inspections during the previous months inspection cycle, meaning that their assigned scores may not reflect their current performance. To provide clarification, the date a food establishment received its score has been provided in each entry shown in the list below. 7 Brew Coffee (1480 Knickerbocker Road), Nov. 2, 2023 86 Alejandros Kitchen & Tequila (4288 Sherwood Way), June 18, 2024 77 Bonsai Steakhouse, Restaurant (1801 Knickerbocker Road), April 11, 2024 86 Camaron Loco (2821 N. Chadbourne St.), June 26, 2024 89 Catfish Corner (1313 W. Beauregard Ave.), May 9, 2024 83 Cielo, Restaurant (4132 Sunset Drive), Feb. 26, 2024 89 Cork & Pig Tavern, Restaurant (2201 Knickerbocker Road), Feb. 16, 2024 79 Corner Stop #1 (2021 Ben Ficklin Road), April 23, 2024 80 Corner Stop #2 (1302 N. Chadbourne St.), March 7, 2024 87 Dennys (427 W. Ave. I), June 27, 2024 87 Dragonlicious (2503 Sherwood Way), May 9, 2024 83 El Paisano #3 (2902 Sherwood Way), June 18, 2024 82 Elotes VAZ #1106 (4001 Sunset Drive), June 4, 2024 88 Emmanual Episcopal Church ( 3 S. Randolph St.), March 5, 2024 89 Golden Chick (3393 Knickerbocker Road), June 26, 2024 88 Golden Chick (2602 Sherwood Way), March 21, 2024 83 Hidalgos North (1315 N. Chadbourne St.), April 23, 2024 88 Jack & Jill Donuts (2901 Sherwood Way), March 26, 2024 89 Joes Italian, Restaurant (1601 S. Bryant Blvd.), June 27, 2024 89 Joes Taqueria, Mobile (1616 S. Chadbourne St.), March 21, 2024 86 King Buffet, Restaurant (3508 Knickerbocker Road), June 17, 2024 83 Kozy Kitchen (3346 Sherwood Way), May 13, 2024 87 Kung Fu Noodle (3363 Knickerbocker Road), June 26, 2024 87 La Esperanza (2218 W. Ave. M), June 20, 2024 86 La Historia (3020 N. Chadbourne St.), March 8, 2024 80 La Quinta Inn (2307 W. Loop 306), May 15, 2024 79 Long John Silvers (3121 Sherwood Way), June 21, 2024 89 Lotus Cafe (3524 Knickerbocker Road), June 14, 2024 85 Masa, Restaurant (4545 Sherwood Way), Feb. 27, 2024 82 Mesquite Bean Cafe (36 E. Twohig Ave.), March 15, 2024 86 Minnies Donuts & Kolaches (2219 W. Avenue N), March 7, 2024 87 Nakamura Sushi House, Restaurant (3222 Sherwood Way), April 25, 2024 80 Pho Saigon (2001 W. Harris Ave.), May 20, 2024 75 Rosas Cafe #4 (1602 Knickerbocker Road), May 1, 2024 86 Roxies Diner (4609 S. Jackson St.), June 27, 2024 79 Shogun Steakhouse, Sushi (4397 Sunset Drive), June 12, 2024 88 The Grill (5769 Sherwood Way), June 11, 2024 78 Tinseltown, Snack #1 (4425 Sherwood Way), Jan. 3, 2024 88 What Da Pho (3315 Sherwood Way), April 10, 2024 78 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 'It was so busy': Panama City Beach lifeguards rescue 21 beachgoers in one day PANAMA CITY BEACH For Daryl Paul, lifeguards have a "monumental" responsibility to help protect beachgoers. As beach safety director for Panama City Beach Fire Rescue, Paul said local beach lifeguards performed 21 rescues on Friday alone. They also performed 27 public assists and about 7,400 preventative actions that day. Rescues are when someone was pulled from the water who likely would have otherwise drowned. Public assists are when a lifeguard enters the water to prevent someone from needing to be rescued. Preventative actions are when a lifeguard prevents someone from needing assistance. On just Friday alone, Panama City Beach lifeguards rescued 21 beachgoers from the Gulf of Mexico. "It was so busy that our lifeguards couldn't even key up on the radio to let anyone know that they're entering the water for a rescue," Paul said. "Everyone was hemming at the channel." The day started with yellow flags flying. By that afternoon, they had been upgraded to double red. The rescues happened under yellow and single-red flags. Paul noted beach safety flags were upgraded to red at about noon, and they were upgraded again to double red about 3 p.m. "The issue over the weekend was it was fairly calm seas. It looked great, but our rip currents are very developed, and they are set," he said. "We fly to the conditions, and single-red flags still mean high hazard. What we've found is people simply don't heed the warning." Rip currents are fast-moving currents created by channels in sandbars. The channels run perpendicular to the shoreline and cause water to funnel faster out into deeper waters. Rip currents can vary in strength, depending on how developed the channels are. They can sometimes be identified from shore where there is a gap in the wave break areas where the white caps of the breaks are less noticeable. Officials have noted that local beach flags do not represent how large the waves are, but the strength of rip currents at that time. That's why red or double-red flags can fly even when surf conditions appear calm from the shore. Common flag colors used in beach flag warning systems include a green flag for low hazard conditions, a yellow flag for medium hazard conditions, one red flag for high hazard conditions and two red flags for very dangerous conditions. Panama City Beach and Bay County, however, never fly green flags because officials say beachgoers should always be cautious anytime they enter the Gulf. It also is illegal in Bay County to swim in double-red-flag conditions under penalty of a $500 fine. "A rip current can even be difficult at times for a trained professional to spot," Paul said. "That's why we train our lifeguards to find rips in different ways. That's also why we're strong advocates for swimming near a lifeguard. If there's not a lifeguard in your immediate area to point these things out to you, you're taking on a great risk." According to Paul, all of the Beach's rescues, assists and preventative actions from Friday were performed by only eight lifeguards. Beach deaths: A look at the 7 tourists who have drowned in Bay County so far this year By the end of the day, Panama City Beach so far in 2024 had logged 95 rescues, 254 public assists and more than 163,000 preventative actions. To sign up for daily text alerts on local beach flag conditions, text "PCBFLAGS" to 888777. "When you visit Panama City Beach, please visit responsibly," Paul said. "Please visit safely. Please swim near a lifeguard. Please heed the flag warnings. We want you to come visit Panama City Beach and make long-lasting memories with your family and love ones, but we also want you to return home safely. The lifeguards are simply trying to prevent the empty seat on the car ride home." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach lifeguards rescue 21 beachgoers in one day San Mateo authorities locate a Tesla that crashed down a cliff off Calfornia's Pacific Coast Highway on January 2, 2023. Dharmesh Patel, who was charged with three counts of attempted murder in the crash after his wife and two young children survived, was released from jail Monday and ordered into a two-year mental health diversion program. File Photo courtesy of San Mateo Sheriff's Office July 8 (UPI) -- A California doctor, accused of deliberately driving his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff with his wife and two children inside, was released from jail Monday and ordered to undergo two years of mental health treatment. Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 43, was ordered into a two-year diversion program, which if he completes successfully will allow the three counts of attempted murder he is charged with to be dropped. Prosecutors criticized San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski's decision, saying an attempted murder charge should not qualify for a diversion program. "We felt the crime was too serious, and the public danger too high," San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe argued. "He did everything he could to kill his family and himself." Jakubowski ordered Patel to live at his parents' home and wear a GPS monitor while he is in treatment. He will not be allowed to see his wife and children -- who survived the crash -- practice medicine, drink alcohol, smoke marijuana or drive. "He wants to continue psychiatric treatment," Jakubowski said last month. "The court believes he now realized the importance of being forthright." Patel is accused of driving his family off a cliff, called "Devil's Slide," along California's Pacific Coast Highway north of Half Moon Bay on Jan. 2, 2023. The radiologist, his wife and children survived the drop and had to be cut out of the demolished Tesla. Patel's wife told officers, "He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He drove off on purpose," according to court documents. Witnesses and surveillance footage show the Tesla driving off the road without braking. Patel pleaded "not guilty" to three counts of attempted murder, claiming the Tesla had been experiencing tire issues before the crash. According to court testimony, psychologists testified that Patel tried to kill his two children -- ages 4 and 7 at the time of the crash -- because they could be forced into sex trafficking by kidnappers associated with Jeffrey Epstein. "Mental health diversion is good for a bunch of defenses," Wagstaffe said, "but we didn't feel it was good for this." Before his release Monday, Patel had been held without bail since the crash. With Nancy Pelosi coy on Joe Bidens candidacy, where do California lawmakers stand? Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com. Most California congressional lawmakers have lined up solidly behind the presidents reelection campaign. But some doubts clearly remain within the highest levels of the Democratic party on whether Joe Biden will continue onto November against former President Donald Trump. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Wednesday that Biden needed to make a decision quickly on whether he was continuing to run even though the president has repeatedly insisted that he is not dropping out of the race. When asked about whether she wanted Biden to pursue the top of the ticket, Pelosi said, I want him to do whatever he decides to do. And thats, thats the way it is: Whatever he decides, we go with. Pelosi added that shes told lawmakers to refrain from opining on Bidens candidacy until the end of the NATO Summit, which is ongoing in Washington D.C. this week. Without definitively boosting Bidens candidacy, Pelosis influence is regarded as enormous both among congressional Democrats and probably at the White House. California Democratic challengers quiet on Biden In congressional districts too close to call, Democratic challengers are silent. Its clear that Biden has been a drag on Democrats in competitive districts like the Central Valleys 13th and 22nd for this whole cycle, said Erin Covey, an analyst at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report which tracks elections. I think maybe the debate brings to the surface something that has been an issue for a while, Covey said in an interview with The Bee on Tuesday. Californias 13th and 22nd Congressional Districts are toss-up districts crucial to Democrats retaking control of the House next year. Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats for a majority. Each of the two districts features an electoral rematch from 2022. Both are represented by GOP congressman but the districts have a higher proportion of registered Democratic voters compared to Republican voters. Voters in both districts, had current legislative maps been in place from 2021 redistricting, would have picked Biden over Trump in 2020 by more than 10 percentage points. Each is a Latino-majority voting district with a large voting bloc of young people. However these districts tend to see low turnout, which results in older, white, more conservative voters having a disproportionate say. In the 13th, freshman Rep. John Duarte, R-Modesto, again faces former Assemblyman Adam Gray, a Merced Democrat. In 2022, Duarte beat Gray in one of the nations closest races by fewer than 600 votes. In the 22nd, Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, is again challenged by former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, a Bakersfield Democrat. In 2022, Salas came within 3 percentage points of Valadao. Neither campaign spokespeople for Gray or Salas responded to requests for comment about Bidens campaign on Monday or Tuesday. Other Central Valley races are also viewed as competitive by nonpartisan forecasters, though less so than the 13th and 22nd. Covey said candidates in tough House races are in a precarious position not wanting to alienate parts of their base. One benefit she mentioned is that Biden most likely wont campaign in the 13th or 22nd, making him easy to avoid on the trail. Another could be Democratic donors redirecting funds toward competitive House races if they think the presidential contest isnt worth spending on. Its not worth these Democratic candidates speaking out, Covey said, especially if their voices carry little weight in whether Biden stays or goes like a senior party member: For a challenger candidate, theyre not going to have any real influence over that. In Californias 3rd Congressional District, which dips slightly into the Central Valley but mainly runs on the Sierra Nevada to the Nevada border, Democratic challenger Jessica Morse didnt mention Biden in a statement sent to The Bee on Tuesday. But she stressed the need to defeat Trump. Nonpartisan analysts say the 3rd, held by Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, is likely to pick a Republican in 2024, but not definitely. We need to stop Donald Trump at every level, Morse said. Regardless of what happens at the top of the ticket, Congress must be the firebreak against the existential threat of MAGA extremism, and what I can do is unseat Kevin Kiley, one of Trumps foot soldiers right here in Roseville. Senior California Democrats have backed Biden Senior California Democrats in Congress have affirmed their support for Biden since his poor debate performance on June 27. Biden has dug in, saying he wont drop out of the race as some Democrats have questioned his ability to effectively campaign. The leaders matter, not the rank and file, Darrell West, a political analyst at nonpartisan research organization Brookings Institution, told The Bee on Tuesday. The people who have called for him to leave are strong enough politically. Many people in the caucus, senior, influential people, are saying hes going to be the nominee, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, told The Bee on Tuesday. California Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, both Democrats, have defended Biden since the debate. The bottom line is: Joe Biden is the leader of our party, Padilla told MSNBC on Sunday. Were committed to ensuring that he has a second term, and equally important that Donald Trump does not win in November. The stakes are simply too high. Neither Trump nor Biden are technically locked in as their partys nominees. They must wait for the Republican and Democratic national conventions to officially be selected. The priority is keeping Trump out of the White House, Democrats said. Unless something changes, (Biden is) the nominee, said Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove. I dont think were helping defeat Trump by all the infighting. I think hes probably a better candidate when hes got the chip on his shoulder, Bera told The Bee on Tuesday, adding, Weve all got to unite as a party as well because this was always going to be really tough race. Doubts remain on Bidens ability to defeat Trump in November. Senate candidate and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris would be an extraordinary president and that Biden must win overwhelmingly or he has to pass the torch to someone who can. David Lightman of the McClatchy Washington Bureau contributed to this story. This story has been updated to include comments made after the original story published. California Democrats are hastily reworking their November election strategy for fighting a district attorney-led initiative to change Proposition 47 after Gov. Gavin Newsoms last-minute decision to pull a competing ballot measure. Legislative leaders and the governor are now banking on an embattled package of retail theft bills theyve been pushing as an alternative to the California District Attorneys Associations more punitive ballot measure. If the lawmakers can quickly push their bills through in August, after a month-long recess, it may convince some retailers to back away from financially supporting the district attorneys initiative. Its a bullet in the gun to try to kill the measure, said Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant. They can say, Well, the Legislatures already done this. Weve already done this. I dont know if its going to fly, but its a little ammunition. Large retail chains especially Walmart, Target and Home Depot spent millions bankrolling signature collection efforts for the district attorneys ballot measure. How they spend their money ahead of the November election could determine the fate of the district attorneys ballot measure. Rachel Michelin of the California Retailers Association said her focus is getting the bill package through the Legislature and onto the governors desk. After that, we will go back and we will reevaluate where were at on the initiative. If lawmakers can advance the bills to the governors desk before the end-of-session crunch time in late August, that may influence retailers thinking on the district attorneys measure. Were going to see what happens when they come back from from the break, she said. And see if they follow through on what they said they were going to do and see if the governor follows through on what he said hes going to do. Pushing retail theft bills The district attorneys initiative would allow the state to increase punishments for theft and drug crimes, requiring them to alter Proposition 47, the 2014 voter-approved initiative that made some lower-level crimes misdemeanors and set a $950 felony shoplifting threshold. It will be listed on the 2024 ballot as Proposition 36. Lawmakers failed multiple times to convince the district attorneys to drop Proposition 36, the district attorneys initiative that became eligible for the ballot in June. Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, have spent the past year saying they dont support changes to Proposition 47. Instead, theyve put forward an alternative slate of legislation that would also tighten penalties on retail theft-related crimes without seeking voter approval. Leaders tried to use that package as leverage to get the district attorneys to drop their ballot measure. And when that failed, they crafted their own last-minute initiative that also wouldve changed Proposition 47, but in a more limited way than the measure they oppose. Newsoms administration and lawmakers worked during the final weekend before the legislative recess to develop the alternative, only for the governor to drop it the night before the Assembly and Senate were to vote on it. After lawmakers return in August, Rivas and McGuire will focus on getting the alternative bills to the governors desk. The leaders biggest obstacle before the recess was a change they made to some of the measures voiding the legislation if voters approved the district attorneys initiative. But they have since stripped that change, which may make it easier to get the bills out of the Legislature. However, some Democrats running for re-election in purple districts may still find it challenging to oppose Proposition 36 at a time when voters are concerned about drugs and crime, said Wesley Hussey, professor of political science at Sacramento State. It puts them in situation where they have to say, Heres a real measure that will make changes to something that the publics not very happy with. And Im against that, or Im not in favor of that, Hussey said. And I dont think coming back and saying, Well, this package of legislation in the Legislature will will fix that thats not the same thing. What will retailers do? Newsoms focus is now signing lawmakers retail theft bill package. His statement announcing he would drop his alternative ballot measure included a cryptic line about working with the Legislature and our public safety and retail partners to go even further in the days ahead, without returning to the damaging policies of decades past. Nathan Click, Newsoms campaign spokesman, did not respond to a request for comment. The district attorneys remain as committed as ever to Proposition 36. 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, said Greg Totten, District Attorneys Association CEO, in a statement after Newsoms decision. The Retailers Association and the California Grocers Association both backed the governors ballot measure in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Now, the interest groups are figuring out their next moves. Daniel Conway of the Grocers Association said his group continues to support that initiative, and they wouldve backed both measures if they ended up on the ballot. Obviously, it was getting convoluted politically, Conway said. But I think just from a policy of principle perspective, it was like, Yes, whatever mechanisms and opportunities we have for voters to get to weigh in and to refine Prop. 47, we want to take advantage of those. The Bee Capitol Bureaus Nicole Nixon contributed to this story. UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for efforts to push for the cessation of fighting to end the violence among armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, delivered a statement at the Security Council briefing on the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, commonly known as MONUSCO, emphasizing the urgency to address the conflict in the country. "Last month, the new government of the DRC was inaugurated smoothly, unveiling a new chapter in the country's governance," he said. "China welcomes this. We look forward to all parties in the country uniting as one and accelerating nation-building with the government's National Action Plan as the blueprint to achieve peace and stability." Addressing the recent violence, Geng noted, "In the past three months alone, over 500 civilians were killed by armed groups, 7.3 million forcibly displaced." He condemned the attack on a Chinese company located in the DRC on July 3, which resulted in several deaths and disappearances of Chinese citizens. "China strongly condemns such an act, and we urge that the perpetrators be immediately arrested and held accountable by law." Geng urged all armed groups in the DRC to "lay down weapons and withdraw from occupied areas immediately." He commended the DRC government for concluding ceasefire agreements with multiple armed groups and engaging in bilateral security cooperation with Uganda and Burundi. "A pilot (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) DDR project in North Kivu was also completed. Such progress deserves full recognition," he said. Highlighting the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the DRC, Geng called on the international community to "assist constructively in its efforts to maintain security and stability and improve the humanitarian situation, so as to promote an early settlement of the eastern DRC issue." Geng also addressed the need for regional de-escalation. "There has been growing divergence and discord among regional countries on the issue of the eastern DRC," he noted, citing the UN secretary-general's concern over the risk of regionalization of the conflict. "China calls on the countries concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint and settle differences through dialogue rather than military means." Geng praised Angola for facilitating the meeting of foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda in March and encouraged regional countries and organizations to "play a bigger part in advancing the Luanda and Nairobi processes." Geng expressed hope that Bintou Keita, the UN secretary-general's special representative for the DRC, would maintain coordination with the UN secretary-general's special envoy for the Great Lakes region, Xia Huang, to continue to work for peace talks. Geng addressed the drawdown process of MONUSCO. "The mission has successfully withdrawn from South Kivu last month," he said, urging the UN system to "assist peacebuilding and consolidation efforts in South Kivu." He emphasized the need for MONUSCO to "stay engaged with the DRC Government to ensure a safe and orderly drawdown process." Regarding the recent attacks against MONUSCO, Geng called for "a greater sense of urgency and more effective measures by the relevant actors to ensure the safety of peacekeepers." He acknowledged the engagement of the Southern African Development Community in peacekeeping activities in the eastern DRC and supported "reasonable adjustment of MONUSCO's mandate to ensure its coordination and complementarity with regional forces." Geng concluded by expressing China's readiness to "participate constructively in the council's deliberations on supporting regional forces." A woman incarcerated at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla died Saturday amid the heat wave, raising concerns over extreme heat conditions in regional correctional facilities. Adrienne Boulwares family said that they were informed by prison staff that she had died from a heat stroke. In a statement, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation public information officer Mary Xjimenez said that the cause of death appears to be related to pre-existing health conditions, not the heat. The coroners office is still determining an official cause of death. Boulwares daughter Michela Nelson said her mother had complained of exhaustion and physical tolls from summertime extreme heat for years. The prison is not equipped with air conditioning or other cooling systems in residential areas needed to adequately preserve the health of its incarcerated residents, according to Nelson. Something could have been done to prevent it. And she was so close to coming home its like a slap in the face, Nelson said. People in prison are not just a number. Nelson said her mother was set to be released from the prison in February 2025. Allegations of an inadequate response to extreme heat are not limited to the CCWF. Travis Martin, who is incarcerated at the Pleasant Valley State Prison, said that administrators at that facility have failed to provide temperature sensors and supplementary cooling systems like fans and ice as incarcerated residents suffer from the heat. In a letter to Deputy Attorney General Sarah Brattin, he added that prison Warden Steve Smith failed to visit the facility on a weekly basis to evaluate conditions. Brattin did not respond to a request for comment. The open spaces and cells inside the Pleasant Valley facility are surrounded by walls made of concrete, a substance that absorbs high levels of heat and radiates the thermal energy out into the surrounding environment. Martin said that in the past week, temperatures have climbed to nearly 100 degrees inside the facility. The whole back walls of the cells are giant radiating concrete heat blocks, and the vent is just wisping in warm air, Martin said. This isnt just whining inmates complaining and whining about everything because theyre not happy about being in prison were locked inside of a cell thats greater than 90 degrees, and its dangerous. Xjimenez wrote that all housing units in California prisons provide cooling relief, often through evaporative coolers and fans. She added that facilities may also provide increased access to air conditioned areas, water stations, portable cooling units, ice, and fans during extreme heat situations. Advocates noted that many of the cooling measures Xjimenez outlined are not necessarily implemented at all the prisons. A 2024 study published in the journal Nature Sustainability found that from 2016 to 2020, California ranked third among states with the highest numbers of incarcerated people exposed to potentially hazardous heat days, behind Texas and Florida. A heat advisory pop-up currently appears on the CDCRs website, informing visitors that extreme heat is forecasted for much of the state this week and recommending that they stay cool and hydrated and check in on loved ones. Nelson said that she and her sisters called their mother frequently, often talking about the extreme heat conditions Boulware struggled with. Her cousin Fatima Williams received several letters from Boulware where she said that the high temperatures exacerbated her pre-existing medical conditions. Women incarcerated at CCWF said they frequently brought their heat struggles up to prison officials, who they said never took action to alleviate the situation. Trancita Ponce, who is currently incarcerated at the CCWF, called the advocacy organization California Coalition for Women Prisoners pleading for help amid the heat. She claimed that temperatures reached upwards of 97 degrees inside the facility. There is hot air blowing inside of our rooms, I have a huge migraine and I feel sick and other girls are throwing up. Not to mention somebody died two days ago from heat exhaustion, Ponce told the coalition staff. Please help us, theyre not doing anything for us. On June 20, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health approved a set of indoor heat regulations meant to keep workers across the state cool amid the record high temperatures. But the board notably exempted prison and jails from the workplace regulations, citing high financial burdens related to the installation of cooling systems. Beyond the impact to employees working in the California prisons and jails, the exemption allows facilities to continue keeping incarcerated people in extreme heat conditions. Carter White, the supervising attorney of the King Hall Civil Rights Clinic at the UC Davis law school, said that the extreme heat conditions facing incarcerated people may be interpreted as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. He cited a recent case in Texas in which a judge determined that one prisons heat conditions were cruel and unusual, ordering it to institute temporary air conditioning. White and Martin both noted that some incarcerated people are on medications that cause higher heat sensitivity, putting them at increased risk for developing health problems. Xjimenez stated that under CDCRs heat contingency plans, incarcerated people at high risk of developing heat-related health problems are closely monitored and moved to cooler areas during extreme conditions. Advocates say that unless state prisons take immediate action to drastically cool down facilities for all incarcerated residents, more people will develop serious health conditions or die from heat-related illness. Its only going to get worse, depending on the area, depending on the lack of help from staff during that time period of extreme heat, said California Coalition for Women Prisoners advocate Kelly Savage-Rodriguez, who said she struggled with extreme heat while previously incarcerated at the CCWF. Obviously providing ice is an easy way to assist, but something as easy as providing cooling rags for every incarcerated person can save lives. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), shown here in 2019, said Monday that he is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Congressman and longtime California politician John Garamendi said Monday that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. In a statement and a video posted on the social media platform X on Monday afternoon, Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), 79, said doctors found the cancer early. He recalled his doctor calling him to say: "When will you be back in California? You need to come in for a series of tests." Multiple myeloma weakens the immune system and makes some vaccines less effective. The cancer attacks plasma cells, limiting their ability to produce the antibodies that the human body needs to fight off infections. Garamendi said he plans to continue to working while receiving outpatient treatment at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento. He said he is receiving chemoimmunotherapy, a treatment that combines chemotherapy with immunotherapy, which boosts the body's immune system. Garamendi said his doctor cautioned him to reduce unnecessary exposure to viruses, including COVID-19 and the flu, while his immune system is weakened. His office said he plans to limit travel to Washington and public events. "My love and solidarity go out to all other families managing cancer and all other health conditions, and to the doctors and nurses and medical personnel who provide us with comfort and hope," Garamendi said. Garamendi was California's lieutenant governor under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2007 to 2009. He was the state's first elected insurance commissioner in the 1990s, and served in the state Legislature from 1974 to 1990, where he was a vocal advocate for universal healthcare. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 'Can't get it done.' Republican candidates blame Democrats for not replacing Cape bridges BOURNE Republican U.S. Senate hopeful John Deaton stood Monday along Cranberry Highway, with the Sagamore Bridge stretching behind him. Cars and trucks lumbered past the podium where he spoke about the urgent need to replace the aging Sagamore and Bourne bridges. With thick traffic behind him after the July 4 holiday weekend, the timing underscored the sheer number of travelers crossing the Cape Cod bridges daily. Residents, vacationers and commercial vehicles account for up to tens of millions who cross the bridges annually, Deaton said. The numbers during the summer amount to 120,000 vehicles per day, according to the Cape Cod Commission. Republican U.S. Senate hopeful John Deaton of Swansea stood Monday along Cranberry Highway in Bourne, with the Sagamore Bridge stretching behind him. Cars and trucks lumbered past the podium where he spoke about the urgent need to replace the aging Sagamore and Bourne bridges. Deaton, of Swansea, and Republican state legislature candidates Christopher Lauzon, Kari MacRae and Susanne Conley took the occasion also to draw attention to the need to replace the bridges. They criticized their Democratic opponents and incumbents for not doing enough to lobby the federal government for money to cover the costs, estimated at $4.5 billion to replace both bridges, Deaton said. In 2021, the US Army Corps of Engineers said the bridges were obsolete, Deaton said. Gov. Baker tried to get federal money. Where was Sen. Warren? We need someone who doesnt put party above country. Deaton is among three candidates vying for the Republican nomination at the Sept. 3 primary election, to run against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, on Nov. 5. Since taking office, Senator Warren has helped secure over $50 billion in federal support for Massachusetts, including over $722 million in funding to replace the Cape Cod Bridges," according to an email from a Warren spokesman. "In March, Senator Warren helped secure $350 million to replace the Cape Cod Bridges, building on the $372 million grant that she secured through the U.S. Department of Transportation in December 2023. Now, she is pushing for the final $1 billion grant from the federal Bridge Investment Program the recipients of that grant will be announced soon. Lauzon, who lives in Barnstable, will challenge state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Provincetown, at the Nov. 5 general election for the Cape and Islands Senate seat. MacRae, of Bourne, is running against state Rep. Mathew Muratore, R-Plymouth, for the state Senate seat for Plymouth and Barnstable in the primary election on Sept. 3. Conley, of Barnstable, will run against state Rep. Kip Diggs, D-Barnstable, at the Nov. 5 general election for the 2nd Barnstable District seat. Cyr, in a phone call, said Massachusetts lost out on earlier funding to other states in part because Bakers application was considered incomplete. The state did not commit state dollars to the project, he said. In June: Latest on Sagamore and Bourne Bridge funding What has been done so far? Gov. Maura Healeys office announced on Aug. 14 an application plan for securing $1.44 billion in federal discretionary grant money to replace both bridges. Within that amount, the Healey administration applied for $150 million from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program and $222 million from National Infrastructure Project Assistance. These two grants were closely followed by the Bridge Investment Program, which was the largest share at over $1.07 billion. And on Dec. 4, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced a joint application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeking $1.06 billion in federal funding for the phased replacement of the two Cape Cod Canal bridges. In total, $2.5 billion $1.44 billion and $1.06 billion has been applied for. In December it was announced that $372 million of funding from the Federal Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program, had been secured for the bridges. As Deaton spoke, cars beeped and trucks applied brakes just a few hundred feet from where he stood. The traffic behind him was traveling to the Bourne Bridge along Sandwich Road and the Cape Cod Canal. Traffic was backed up on Route 6 westbound as drivers made their way toward the Sagamore Bridge. Lauzon said the bridges have been inadequate to handle the traffic for decades, adding there were backups in the 1970s. The estimate to replace the bridges in 2010 was $1 billion, he said. Today its $4.5 billion, he added. Theres a one-party government in Massachusetts, a super majority legislature, Lauzon said. Its been that way for long time. A Democratic governor, president and senate still cant get it done. Waiting is costing taxpayers more. Lauzon: $372 million is inadequate Lauzon said the $372 million secured in Federal Multimodal grant program for the bridges by the Healey-Driscoll Administration is inadequate. Cyr countered that funding from state and federal sources is already in place, including the $372 million from the Federal Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program; $350 million in federal Fiscal 2024 funding through the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill; a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Massachusetts Department of Transportation that includes $600 million from the Army Corps of Engineers and $700 million from the commonwealth in capital funding. More: infrastructure aid by state Cyr: Sagamore Bridge is priority Cyr is optimistic that $1 billion in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be awarded and there will be enough money to replace the Sagamore Bridge. Unfortunately, this shows Republicans in the region are more interested in taking inaccurate potshots at Democrats than being a constructive part of the solution, Cyr said on Tuesday. Deaton said Healeys plan to begin construction in 2028 and taking eight years to complete is inadequate. He said Warren bears more responsibility than Healey for her lack of action on the bridge replacement. Ill be a critical vote no matter who becomes president, Deaton said when asked what he would do if elected. That vote will require that its good for Massachusetts and its good for the county. Among the serious players doing work to replace these bridges ... our biggest concern about receiving federal funding hinges on the outcome of the 2024 election, Cyr said. If we have second Trump administration, I think were almost guaranteed to receive not a penny for the largest infrastructure need in Massachusetts. 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: Republicans criticize Democrats for Cape Cod bridges. Who said what? Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer Key Takeaways A recent study found people with carpal tunnel syndrome tend to develop cardiac amyloidosis, also known as stiff heart syndrome, about 10 to 15 years later. Experts say the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome may be an early warning sign for cardiac amyloidosis, as amyloid deposits can affect both the wrists connective tissue and the heart. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, including those with additional risk factors, should talk with their healthcare providers about potential cardiac amyloidosis and screening methods. According to a recent study, carpal tunnel syndrome might be an early sign of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), a type of cardiac amyloidosis known as stiff heart syndrome. The research, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that patients with carpal tunnel syndrome had a higher prevalence of amyloid deposits in their tissue. The link was especially true for people having carpal tunnel release surgery. As a result, people with carpal tunnel have three times the risk of developing amyloidosis compared to those without carpal tunnel syndrome. They also have a 13% greater risk of heart failure. This link is crucial, as it suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome could serve as an early warning sign for cardiac amyloidosis, potentially allowing for earlier diagnosis and intervention to prevent severe cardiac complications, Pankaj Arora, MD, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told Verywell. Heres what experts want you to know about protecting your joints and heart if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Related: Carpal Tunnel vs. Arthritis: Differences, Symptoms, and Causes When Amyloidosis Presents in the Wrist Carpal tunnel syndrome is when the median nerve in the wrist gets compressed or squeezed, leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand, David Majure, MD, MPH, medical director of the Heart Transplant Service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, told Verywell. Amyloidosis is a diverse group of disorders where abnormal proteins are deposited in places where they shouldnt be, including the gut, skin, and spine. Another spot? The carpal tunnel. When it is deposited into heart muscle, it can lead to cardiac amyloidosis, said Majure. When this happens, abnormal proteins (amyloids) build up in the heart tissue, leading to dysfunction. Essentially, the heart gets stiff, and blood can no longer flow freely into its pumping chambers. As more and more amyloid proteins are deposited, the pressures within the heart become abnormally high, the lungs are unable to easily drain, and the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, said Majure. People may have symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention. In serious cases, it can lead to an early death. Related: Everything to Know About Amyloidosis Symptoms How Carpal Tunnel Acts as a Warning Carpal tunnel syndrome might be an early warning sign of cardiac amyloidosis because both conditions involve amyloid deposits, which are clumps of abnormal proteins that build up in organs and tissues throughout the body, Sandra Chaparro, MD, medical director of the Advanced Heart Failure program at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, told Verywell. The explanation for this link lies in the systemic nature of amyloidosis, where amyloid proteins can affect various organs including nerves in the hand and heart tissues, said Chaparro. Arora added that the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome could signal a persons risk of developing cardiac amyloidosis because amyloid deposits can affect both the wrists connective tissue and the heart. Amyloids can build up in the tissue around the wrist, which is a hallmark of carpal tunnel syndrome, according to Arora. These deposits can also affect the heart tissue, but carpal tunnel symptoms often show up due to the fairly confined space in the wrist. Its important to note that carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by many conditions. While amyloidosis is likely a less common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, the risk of amyloidosis causing carpal tunnel syndrome is not well established, Majure said. Related: Hereditary ATTR (hATTR) Amyloidosis Prognosis Who Gets Carpel Tunnel and Stiff Heart Syndrome? Although carpal tunnel syndrome is common in the general population, affecting up to 10 million people in the U.S., not everyone with carpal tunnel syndrome is also at risk for cardiac amyloidosis, Arora said. However, research suggests that people with the transthyretin (TTR) mutation are at an increased risk. The TTR mutation affects the gene that makes transthyretin (a protein thats responsible for transporting thyroid hormones and vitamin A), causing it to fold improperly and create amyloid deposits, according to Chaparro. The misfolding leads to the formation of amyloid deposits in various tissues, including the heart. Over time, the deposits can affect heart function, potentially leading to cardiac amyloidosis. Genetic testing can determine if someone has this mutation, which increases the risk of developing familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy (FAP) and cardiac amyloidosis, said Chaparro. Related: Coping with a Diagnosis of hATTR Should You Worry About Your Heart If You Have Carpel Tunnel? Having carpal tunnel syndrome alone doesnt necessarily mean you need to worry about your heart health, according to Arora. However, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it wont hurt to be aware of the potential link to cardiac amyloidosis, especially if you have other risk factors or a family history of amyloidosis. Chaparro added that people with carpal tunnel syndrome should monitor for signs and symptoms and bring up any concerns with a healthcare provider. Testing should be considered in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if there are additional risk factors or symptoms suggestive of systemic amyloidosis, said Chaparro. Providers may consider a proactive approach by discussing cardiac screening when appropriate. Patients who have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists (bilateral), are 50 years and older, and have a family history of heart disease or symptoms of heart failure would benefit from a more proactive approach. Arora said that the Mayo Clinic Proceedings [study] suggests screening these high-risk groups for ATTR cardiac amyloidosis to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. Related: How Long Can You Live With hATTR? Can You Be Tested for Stiff Heart Syndrome? If you have carpal tunnel syndrome and youre not sure about your risk for stiff heart syndrome, talking to your provider is the first step to figuring out if more testing would be helpful. Screening for underlying conditions like TTR-related amyloidosis may be considered in specific cases, said Chaparro. Both Chaparro and Arora also suggest taking preventative measures, like managing any underlying health conditions, scheduling regular follow-ups with your provider, keeping an eye out for any cardiac symptoms, and maintaining your overall health. Amyloidosis can lead to heart disease, but there are treatments available when its diagnosed early, said Majure. Since carpal tunnel syndrome is typically diagnosed before cardiac amyloidosis, Marjure added that its important to discuss with your doctor the possibility of amyloid as a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Your provider may ask you questions about your family history to determine if additional testing is needed. This might include an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or a special test called a pyrophosphate scan, which can detect amyloid deposits in the heart. Majure added that genetic testing may be considered in specific cases, but that step is typically done only after your provider has made the diagnosis or if you have a close family member who has already been diagnosed with a mutation. What This Means For You Researchers have found a possible link between carpal tunnel syndrome and cardiac amyloidosis, but many people with carpal tunnel syndrome will not develop heart problems related to amyloid deposits. Still, experts say that if you have carpal tunnel syndrome and other risk factors, you should talk to your provider about your heart health. Read Next: Why Early Treatment for hATTR Is So Important Read the original article on Verywell Health. West Virginia Watch reporters Lori Kersey (from left), Amelia Ferrell Knisely and Caity Coyne work in the West Virginia House of Delegate chambers during the regular session of the Legislature on Feb. 2, 2024, in Charleston, W.Va. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) This time last year, I was slightly panicking but trying to act like I wasnt at all. I had started working at States Newsroom in May, and I had to come up with our name and our logo, hire reporters and plan strategy. Amelia Ferrell Knisely joined me the next month and began reporting. Lori Kersey started on July 3 and Caity Coyne on July 5 the same day we announced to the world that West Virginia Watch would launch the following week on July 11. We had a goal of 12 stories for our first day, so now you may understand the reason for my panic. Would I have chosen to launch the week after a major holiday knowing what I know now? Absolutely not. Turns out, lots of people take vacations the week of July 4. Kinda makes it hard to write stories. And we needed lots of stories for our launch. We didnt have office space yet, so we met at our unofficial office, Mea Cuppa on Charlestons West Side for our launch announcement day. We watched our tweets go out announcing our website, our newsletter and telling people a little about each of us. It was so exciting to see people share our posts and show interest in West Virginia Watch. Meanwhile, Amelia, Caity and Lori worked on their articles. We had six days to finish everything and we had to keep reminding ourselves that we would have to work on more for the next day and the next day and the next day. Several of our stories from our first day covered topics were still following closely a year later the Mine Safety and Health Administrations silica dust rule, the West Virginia First Foundation, Medicaid and the states foster care system. The last year has been a lot of learning and feeling things out. Sometimes stories you think will have lots of engagement dont get much, and then a daily story from the Legislature gets tons of views like Loris Medicaid denture bill story. Obviously its an important story, but we were surprised to see that its our 15th most read story in the last year. The point is, its hard to determine sometimes what your audience wants to read. Weve tried to focus on topics we as West Virginians feel are important. Im extremely proud of the work my reporters have done in the last year. Lori is doing an incredible job of covering issues involving people who are homeless around the state. Shes covered some issues with the local soup kitchen in Charleston, and in March, she traveled to Wheeling to talk to members of the homeless encampment that has been moved multiple times by the city. Her articles about Wheelings encampment were even included in an amicus brief filing in the U.S. Supreme Court case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. Caity, who has years of experience covering addiction and recovery, especially in Southern West Virginia, has been aggressively covering the West Virginia First Foundation, the board tasked with distributing $1 billion in opioid settlement funds to communities across the state. Caity prodded the foundation when they didnt publicly announce its first meeting and called out the board for going into executive session to talk about transparency. She also keeps in mind people who are in recovery, most recently attending an annual softball tournament in Southern West Virginia and through it delving into what is working and what still needs to be done to help those who struggle with addiction. Amelia has been covering foster care for years. One of her first stories for West Virginia Watch focused on how West Virginias vouchers for foster parents barely cover costs associated with fostering children. Shes continued to report on how nearly 300 foster children ran away while in state care, the growing number of children in the system, the class action lawsuit against the former Department of Health and Human Resources related to foster care and DHHRs missing emails. And thats only stories from July to November of last year. Amelias also doing an incredible job of covering the issues with Child Protective Services in the state. During the 2024 regular legislative session, Amelia, Caity and Lori were there every single day there were meetings, writing multiple stories. They worked together on planning coverage and had amazing insight to know which bills to follow, and which wouldnt go anywhere. It was a strange session, but they did an outstanding job. Im so proud every day of the reporting were producing, and Im incredibly lucky to work with kind, supportive and talented people. We often talk about how fortunate we are to be a part of States Newsroom and to be supported by people who understand how journalism works. Were also so grateful to the other news outlets who have supported us by republishing our work and the support system of reporters weve formed while covering the statehouse. And we cant forget our readers who cheer us on, share our work and who generously donate so we can continue to do this important work. I thought wed have a good first year, but it really went beyond my expectations. I cant wait to see what our second year has in store for West Virginia Watch. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Champaign Police, IDOT, ISP to crack down on speeding enforcements this month CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The Champaign Police Department is collaborating with state institutions to crack down on speeding drivers across Illinois. Throughout the month, they will work in tandem with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police. The campaign is made possible by IDOT federal traffic safety funds. During the effort, patrols will double-down on speeding and other traffic enforcements. Champaign Police stress car seat safety for summer road trips Champaign Police will primarily monitor main roads, especially ones that impact neighborhoods. Speeding causes unnecessary danger on our roads, and puts drivers, passengers, and others sharing the roadway at increased risk, Police Chief Timothy T. Tyler said. Champaign Police remind drivers to obey the posted speeds and to ensure that everyone gets home safely. Citations and written warnings will be given to those who do not obey traffic signage and signals. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled new Pennsylvania license plates and Welcome to Pennsylvania highway signs today. According to the Governors Office, the new license plates and welcome signs show off the new Let Freedom Ring design meant to celebrate Pennsylvania as the birthplace of American Democracy and highlight the states leading role in the celebrations of the United States in 2026. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of our democracy, and as Governor, I have been focused on advancing real freedom across the Commonwealth, Governor Josh Shapiro said. With all eyes on Pennsylvania as we prepare to host our countrys 250th birthday in 2026, our new license plates and welcome signs will celebrate the best of what the Commonwealth has to offer and show the country why Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway and the birthplace of American freedom. The first eight new welcome signs have already been installed on U.S. 15 in Adams County; I-295 in Bucks County; I-90/the Ohio line in Erie County; I-70 in Fulton County; I-80 in Monroe County; Route 449 in Potter County; I-81 in Susquehanna County; and Route 1015 in Tioga County. According to the Governors Office, an additional 29 signs will be installed in the coming months. For Pennsylvanians looking to grab themselves the newly designed license plate, you can now sign up to receive an email update once they are ready to order in spring 2025. Once the new plates become available, an email will be sent out explaining how vehicle owners can request one from PennDOT. It is important to note that Military, special organization, special fund, and specialty plates without legislatively mandated designs will also be updated with the new design. PennDOT and its partners will use all existing standard-issue license plate inventory before transitioning to the new plate design. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday called on all people to plant trees in order to turn Cambodia into a green kingdom. The monarch made the appeal in a speech on the occasion of the 29th National Arbor Day held in Tram Kak district's Khnar village, with thousands of participants. "I dedicate this Arbor Day to the hearts of all Cambodians and make it a tradition of unity, planting all sorts of trees and preserving, protecting and developing forest and wildlife resources as a national heritage forever," he said. "Tree planting is extremely beneficial for the nation, as it creates a green blanket in nature and profits human beings, all nations and all animal species on our planet," he added. The king expressed his thanks to all friendly countries as well as national and international organizations that have contributed to the afforestation and conservation of forest and wildlife resources. At the event, some 3,000 luxurious tree seedlings were planted on the parcel of three hectares at a tree planting station. Forests cover approximately 8.5 million hectares, or 46.86 percent of Cambodia's land area, according to the Ministry of Environment. Of the total forest cover, some 7.3 million hectares, equivalent to 41 percent of Cambodia's land area, are in the Southeast Asian nation's 76 protected areas and biodiversity corridors, the ministry said. Cambodia aims to achieve the goals of 60 percent forest cover and carbon neutrality by 2050. WASHINGTON (AP) Internal drama. Leaks. Second-guessing. The pressure and chaos swirling since Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance is causing cracks in a White House that until now had been marked by discipline and loyalty. For three-plus years, the Biden administration has been mostly a restrained and staid operation, defined more by an insistence on showcasing policy and an avoidance of palace intrigue. Aides generally kept any criticism of their boss or their jobs out of the public eye. Not lately, though. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reflected Tuesday on the extraordinary moment for the president and his team, as questions about the 81-year-old's age and mental capacity threaten to torpedo his reelection dreams. It has been an unprecedented time, she said of scrutiny of the president. We are meeting a new moment that has never really existed before. Biden's shaky June 27 debate performance has led to an unusually public blame game, leaks of private phone calls between the president and Democrats and questions about his son Hunter Biden's presence at the White House. It has prompted current White House officials to anonymously vent their concerns about Biden's ability to do the job and even led to the departure of a radio journalist after details emerged that the Biden campaign had fed her and another reporter interview questions. Not to mention all the drama playing out on Capitol Hill, where a handful of House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to step aside and there is closed-door hand-wringing by others over whether to publicly come out against the president as party leaders try to bring members to heel. Biden has been adamant that he is not leaving the race, and the chorus of criticism may be dying down, but its not clear yet whether the White House drama has been a momentary lapse or will continue as the nation barrels toward the 2024 election. Andrew Bates, a senior deputy press secretary, said Biden had restored compassion, honesty, and competence to the Oval Office and built the most diverse administration in history. As President Biden has fought for and delivered the strongest record of any modern administration, there wasnt a single week that Washington didnt doubt him and his team," Bates said. "The staff are deeply proud of him and each other and know the key is to focus on the work and the American people, not the noise. The buttoned-up vibe at the White House under Biden has been intentional he wanted his administration to be viewed as a return to normal governing operations after the leaky Trump White House, when half-baked policies ended up on the front pages and details of private meetings appeared in public sometimes while they were still underway. It was also reflective of the deep loyalty of Biden's inner circle, where many top advisers have worked with the president for decades. Biden's debate performance prompted a surprising amount of public criticism from some of his biggest fans, including former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield, who was on a cable TV panel immediately after the faceoff. It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden. I dont think theres any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina and he didnt do that," she said on CNN. In private, aides and allies were quietly shaken over how Biden performed in the debate, and wondered whether the campaign was salvageable, particularly as the negative reviews kept pouring in. At Camp David the weekend after the debate, Biden's family in particular Hunter Biden and first lady Jill Biden encouraged the president to stay in the race, and questioned whether his staff had prepared him properly. (Biden, for his part, has said firmly the debate disaster was nobody's fault but mine.) Not long after, the presence of Hunter Biden awaiting sentencing on three felony convictions in a gun case at the White House was unsettling to some people, who worried about his influence with his father, according to two Democrats close to the White House who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. And there's been the second-guessing over the long-term strategy to limit Biden's public interactions, especially with journalists, under a mandate led by senior aides. Biden has granted fewer interviews than his modern predecessors, and he's held fewer news conferences than any president since Ronald Reagan. Bates said the strategy is and has been for the American people to hear directly from Joe Biden. He noted Biden gave an interview Monday to MSNBC's Morning Joe, has taken questions from reporters more than 580 times and travels the country speaking to people directly. White House officials recently vented their concerns about the president and his abilities in stories spread across national media. One official who raised alarms on The New York Times sounded a little like Anonymous, the Trump staffer who signaled discontent about the Trump presidency in a New York Times op-ed and later went public with his grievances. This is not like the last administration where we try to find out who is speaking or leaking, that's not something we do here, Jean-Pierre said when asked about the official's comments. Everybody has their opinion. She said she had not heard anyone voice criticisms like those appearing in publications. In an effort to boost staff morale, Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients urged White House aides last week during an all-staff meeting to tune out the noise and focus on the task of governing. There have also been public missteps. Jean-Pierre told reporters Biden had not been seen by his doctor since his physical, but the president later told campaign workers on a private call that he had been seen by his doctor after he felt sick returning from grueling back-to-back foreign trips. White House aides declined for days to explain a neurologists repeated visits to the White House that had sparked speculation that Biden was getting treatment, and Jean-Pierre misspoke when talking about the issue Tuesday. On Sunday, a radio host departed her job after news that she and another interviewer at a different station had asked questions of Biden that had been fed to them by the campaign. The interviews were meant to be part of an effort to restore faith in Bidens ability not just to govern over the next four years but to successfully campaign, but the revelation only added to criticism that he couldnt handle unscripted questioning. After word came out that the White House had offered draft questions to reporters, former White House communications official Michael LaRosa posted withering public criticism: Just when you thought the Presidents communications teams had lost all of their credibility .... they are racing to the bottom and determined to continue humiliating the President and First Family with misguided and BAD media relations practices that erode his standing day by day. ___ Associated Press Writers Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller contributed to this report. MARSHALL COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A Chapel Hill gun shop was broken into after a vehicle crashed into the building Tuesday morning. The vehicle crashed into Echo 3 Armory, which is located on North Horton Parkway, around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The Chapel Hill Police Department reported officers quickly responded and pursued the vehicle into Davidson County, an estimated distance of 45 miles. The vehicle that crashed into the business was stolen, according to officials. Chapel Hill Town Administrator, Danny Bingham, told News 2 no firearms were taken from the gun shop as all were secured but some inventory was stolen. Bingham said two men used the stolen vehicle to back into the front window of the shop to gain access. The stolen vehicle was located in Nolensville near the Williamson County line, according to Bingham. A Chapel Hill detective is reportedly working with the Metro Nashville Police Department to process the crime scene. It was not reported if anyone was arrested. According to its website, Echo 3 Armory is a full-service gun shop owned and operated by an experienced gunsmith. No additional information was immediately released. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Check your tickets! $150,000 Powerball ticket sold at Marietta store Check your tickets! A lucky person in Georgia woke up to some happy news on Tuesday. Georgia Lottery officials told Channel 2 Action News that someone bought a lottery ticket at a Marietta convenience store worth $150,000. The ticket was sold at the Canton Food Mart on Canton Road in Marietta, according to lottery officials. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Mondays winning numbers were 20, 22, 31, 33 and 45 with a Powerball 1. You can watch the next drawing LIVE this Wednesday on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Authorities charged three men after a child custody exchange led to gunfire Monday evening in the parking lot of the Ocean Springs Police Department. Police arrested the childs father, 27-year-old Anthony Hall Jr., on one count of aggravated assault. The childs stepfather, 27-year-old Devon Gray, faces two counts of aggravated assault, Deputy Chief Steven Dye said. Corrie Taylor, 23, who is a friend of Hall, faces one count of aggravated assault, Dye said. Gray and Taylor were hospitalized Monday evening and in stable condition Tuesday morning, Dye said. They will be arrested once released from Ocean Springs Hospital, and Dye said more charges are pending. The two-year-old girl was not injured, he said. The shooting occurred just after 6 p.m. during a custody exchange, Police Chief Ryan Lemaire said. Parents who share custody of a child often do drop-offs in the police department parking lot because it is considered neutral territory, Dye and Lemaire said. The child, her mother and stepfather arrived at the police department in one car and her father and his friend arrived in another vehicle, Dye said. Police said the father and stepfather had an ongoing conflict that grew into an argument and ended in a shootout Monday evening between Hall, Gray and Taylor. Dye called the case a horrible situation and said it was a miracle the car the child was in did not get hit with gunfire. A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital. -/Ukrinform/dpa The body of a missing boy has been retrieved from the rubble of an apartment block in Kiev that was destroyed in a Russian missile attack, the city's civil defence department said on Tuesday. At least 27 people died in devastating Russian airstrikes on Kiev on Monday, including four children, and 117 people were injured. There were further casualties in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the south. In all, Ukraine reported at least 37 deaths and 170 injuries in the latest attacks. Tuesday is set to be a day of mourning in Kiev, after a missile hit one of Ukraine's most important paediatric hospitals in the capital. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers were still searching for people trapped in the rubble. Children suffering from cancer who had been rescued were sitting on their mothers' laps in the street attached to drips. Two adults were killed in the hospital, including a doctor. Ukraine has said the attack was targeted as video footage shows a cruise missile approaching the building unhindered. However, the Russian military has said the impact was caused by mistaken use of a Ukrainian air defence missile, without providing evidence. Seven people were killed in a large residential building near the hospital, including three children. Two people died in an industrial plant. There were unofficial reports saying there had been attacks on an armaments company. Nine people were killed in another partially destroyed hospital and seven people were killed in a business centre. A response effort is underway at the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital attacked by Russias Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. -/Ukrinform/dpa A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital. -/Ukrinform/dpa Rescue workers work at the site of the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital attacked by Russias Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. -/Ukrinform/dpa The body of a missing boy has been retrieved from the rubble of an apartment block in Kiev that was destroyed in a Russian missile attack, the city's civil defence department said on Tuesday. At least 27 people died in devastating Russian airstrikes on Kiev on Monday, including four children, and 117 people were injured. There were further casualties in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the south. In all, Ukraine reported at least 37 deaths and 170 injuries in the latest attacks. Tuesday is set to be a day of mourning in Kiev, after a missile hit one of Ukraine's most important paediatric hospitals in the capital. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers were still searching for people trapped in the rubble. Children suffering from cancer who had been rescued were sitting on their mothers' laps in the street attached to drips. Two adults were killed in the hospital, including a doctor. Ukraine has said the attack was targeted as video footage shows a cruise missile approaching the building unhindered. However, the Russian military has said the impact was caused by mistaken use of a Ukrainian air defence missile, without providing evidence. Seven people were killed in a large residential building near the hospital, including three children. Two people died in an industrial plant. There were unofficial reports saying there had been attacks on an armaments company. Nine people were killed in another partially destroyed hospital and seven people were killed in a business centre. The United Nations Security Council in New York is to discuss the devastating attack. But as a permanent member of the UN's highest body, Russia has the right of veto, so Moscow is not expected to be condemned. Ukraine has been trying to repel a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022 and depends largely on Western support. Kiev repeatedly urges its allies to provide even more modern air defence systems. A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital. -/Ukrinform/dpa A response effort is underway at the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital attacked by Russias Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. -/Ukrinform/dpa A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital. -/Ukrinform/dpa The body of a missing boy was retrieved from the rubble of an apartment block in Kiev that was destroyed in a Russian missile attack, as many expressed outrage at the brutality of the strike. At least 27 people died in devastating Russian airstrikes on Kiev on Monday, including four children, and 117 people were injured, the city's civil defence department said on Tuesday. There were further casualties in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the south. In total, Ukraine has suffered at least 38 deaths and 190 injuries as a result of the recent attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the social media platform X. "We continue to work to protect our cities and communities from Russian terror," he wrote. Tuesday is set to be a day of mourning in Kiev, after a missile hit one of Ukraine's most important paediatric hospitals in the capital. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers were still searching for people trapped in the rubble. Children suffering from cancer who had been rescued were sitting on their mothers' laps in the street attached to drips. Two adults were killed in the hospital, including a doctor. Seven people were killed in a large residential building near the hospital, including three children. Two people died in an industrial plant. There were unofficial reports saying there had been attacks on an armaments company. Nine people were killed in another partially destroyed hospital and seven people were killed in a business centre. Moscow claims attack was caused by Ukraine Ukraine has said the children's hospital attack was targeted as video footage shows a cruise missile approaching the building unhindered. However, the Russian military has said the impact was caused by the mistaken use of a Ukrainian air-defence missile, without providing evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanded that the public stick to this version. "We do not carry out strikes against civilian targets. There are only strikes against objects of critical infrastructure or military targets," he said, according to the TASS news agency. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also claimed that the hospital had been hit by a NASAMS anti-aircraft missile from Ukraine. UN agency says cruise missile hit hospital Preliminary investigations by the UN Human Rights Office have found that the children's hospital destroyed in Kiev was hit directly by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, Danielle Bell, head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said on Tuesday. She said specialists had reached this conclusion after analysing video footage and directly examining damage on site. "[It is] one of most egregious attacks we have seen since the onset of the invasion," she said. Staff brought young patients to safety in the bunker shortly before the attack on Monday, she said. Otherwise, the number of victims would have been significantly higher. She said two people died in the attack. All 600 of the hospital's young patients had been transferred to other health facilities. The hospital, where many children with cancer and other serious illnesses were treated, was badly damaged and could no longer be used without extensive repairs, she said. The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Kiev showed the situation on the ground on X. The WHO has counted almost 1,900 attacks on hospitals, doctors' surgeries, ambulances and similar targets since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to universally applicable international humanitarian law, such health-care facilities may not be attacked, the International Committee of the Red Cross has often said on X. UN to discuss attack The United Nations Security Council in New York is to discuss the devastating attack. But as a permanent member of the UN's highest body, Russia has the right of veto, so Moscow is not expected to be condemned. Ukraine has been trying to repel a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022 and depends largely on Western support. Kiev repeatedly urges its allies to provide even more modern air defence systems. Ukraine sends drones to attack Russia Ukraine responded to the nationwide wave of attacks from Moscow with drone attacks on Russia on Tuesday. A depot of tanks belonging to the oil company Lukoil in the Volgograd region was set on fire as a result. Regional Governor Andrey Bocharov blamed this on debris from drones that had been shot down, which had fallen on the depot in the city of Kalach on the Don. The fire is being extinguished, he said. A transformer station had also been hit, he said. The Russian Ministry of Defence said 38 Ukrainian combat drones had been intercepted during the night over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Astrakhan regions. The information could not initially be independently verified - and the Volgograd region did not appear on the ministry's list. However, Russian authorities confirmed that aircraft were temporarily unable to take off or land at the airports in Volgograd and Astrakhan. According to the Moscow military, further drones were shot down over the Belgorod and Astrakhan regions in the course of the morning. As Kiev lacks heavy long-range weapons, it is trying to make up for this shortcoming with targeted drone attacks. The attacks on Russian refineries and petrol depots are intended to paralyse the supply of fuel for the army. However, the damage caused in Russia is nowhere close to the scale of the devastating consequences of Russian bombardments on Ukraine. A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack on the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital. -/Ukrinform/dpa Lin Jian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks to journalists at his agency's daily briefing. Johannes Neudecker/dpa Before the start of a NATO summit meeting in Washington, China has criticized the Western defence alliance for its actions in the Asia-Pacific region and called on it to rethink what it is doing. Beijing opposes NATO's slander and rejects the idea that it is using China as an excuse to advance into the Asia-Pacific region and cause tensions there, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing. The meeting in the US capital aims to discuss further dealings with China and increased NATO cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region. "NATO claims itself to be a regional defensive alliance on the one hand, but on the other hand keeps breaching its boundary, expanding its mandate, reaching beyond its defence zone, and stoking confrontation, which reveals its deeply embedded Cold War mentality and ideological bias," Lin said. "This is the real source of risks threatening global peace and stability." China, on the other hand, is a builder of world peace and contributes to global development, he said. Beijing calls on NATO to correct its false image of China and abandon its Cold War mindset, Lin said. In Washington, the leaders of the 32 NATO member states also plan to discuss the expansion of deterrence and defence as well as further support for Ukraine. China is neutral in the conflict but is backing Russia as its most important ally. Mi Armor Two astronauts ventured outside of China's Tiangong space station last week to armor its exterior against incoming space debris kicked up by an exploding Russian satellite. "The spacewalk primarily focused on installing protective devices on external cables and pipelines to mitigate risks posed by potential space debris collisions, enhancing the long-term safety and stability of the space station," China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation engineer Liu Ming told state-owned news network CCTV, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. The news comes after a retired Earth observation satellite dubbed Resurs-P1 broke up in orbit late last month, forcing astronauts on board the International Space Station to shelter inside their respective spacecraft. It broke into more than 100 pieces that are now being tracked by the US Space Command. Instead of sheltering in place, crew on board China's Tiangong space station were instructed to bulk up its physical defenses a mission that highlights the considerable risks small pieces of space debris can pose to astronauts orbiting the Earth. +1 Shield Astronaut Li Cong was moved into place with the help of a robotic arm, with fellow crew member Ye Guangfu handing him the necessary equipment. A third astronaut Li Guangu monitored the mission from the station's central Tianhe module. The spacewalk took 6.5 hours and went by largely without a hitch. According to the SCMP, the two spacewalkers even made jokes, competed to reach a designated spot, and struck poses for the camera. "Whenever the robotic arm sent me to high points, despite the glaring sunlight, I [could not] help but want to take a closer look," Li Cong told CCTV. "Its truly moving to witness the grandeur of this project." The three astronauts have been stationed at the orbital lab since April 26, and already installed several protective devices on the station's Mengtian lab module during a May 28 spacewalk. The latest mission involved adding other protective devices to the station's Wentian lab and Tianhe core module. The ISS features ballistic panels to protect it from micrometeoroids and orbital debris as well. As illustrated in the 2013 sci-fi blockbuster "Gravity," space junk can have disastrous consequences if they ever collide with a spacecraft in orbit, from tiny micrometer-sized impacts to mission-critical holes measuring larger than one centimeter, according to the European Space Agency. A collision with a ten-centimeter object would "likely entail a catastrophic disintegration of the target." And our planet's orbit is only becoming more cluttered as time goes on, meaning space agencies will have to get creative to ensure the survival of their crews. More on space debris: Astronauts Sheltered in Escape Vehicles as Debris Menaced Space Station [Source] Jingdezhen Ceramic University held a special solo ceremony on June 14 for a student who underwent a stem cell donation the day before his graduation. Xie Zhilong, a physical education student who enrolled in 2020, was informed by the Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital in May that they had found a match for his donation: a patient with a blood disease. In a letter thanking him, the recipient wrote, "Your kindness has filled me with warmth and hope. May your good actions be recognized and respected by more people, and may your life be filled with joy and happiness." Trending on NextShark: Filipino American track star Lauren Hoffman qualifies for 2024 Olympics Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! SAN FRANCISCO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday it has required inspections of 2,600 Boeing 737 airplanes because passenger oxygen masks could fail during an emergency. The FAA said it required the inspections of 737 MAX and NG airplanes after multiple reports of passenger service unit oxygen generators shifting out of position. The issue could result in failing to provide supplemental oxygen during depressurization. Boeing issued a bulletin to airlines calling for visual inspections on June 17, the FAA added. The FAA said its airworthiness directive was immediately effective and requires inspections and corrective actions if needed within 120 to 150 days based on the 737 model. Airlines must conduct a general visual inspection and if needed, replace oxygen generators with new or serviceable oxygen generators, strap thermal pads, and reposition impacted oxygen generators, the agency said. (FOX40.COM) A day at the lake for a Northern California teen turned into a life-and-death situation over the Fourth of July weekend, according to the California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Operations. While at New Bullards Bar in Nevada County on July 5, a 17-year-old was stung by a bee, went into anaphylactic shock and became unresponsive, according to the CHP. Mountain Biker rescued by CHP helicopter along American River CPR was performed on the teen by people in the area as CHPs H-24 was diverted from another call in the area to assist. After landing on the boat ramp, H-24 loaded the teen and transported them to Rideout Hospital in Marysville for further treatment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. MEMPHIS, Tenn An employee at Churchs Chicken was fatally shot outside the restaurant Monday night, Memphis Police say. At around 9 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at Churchs Chicken at 2963 Park Avenue in Orange Mound. Police say the female employee was working when a woman with purple hair came through the drive-thru and they began arguing. The woman, who was driving a teal-colored SUV, drove off the lot; the victim walked outside to get some air. A few moments later a gunshot was heard and the teal-colored SUV was seen on video speeding off the parking lot. According to MPD, the victim was found outside of the business. She was taken to Regional One, where she later died. Trio arrested after police allegedly find methamphetamine during traffic stop No arrest has been made. A spokesperson with Churchs Texas Chicken said the employee had been with the company for about a year. They sent this statement: We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our team members. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family during this difficult time. We are working closely with the Memphis Police Department on their ongoing investigation and we ask that if you have any information, please contact www.crimestopmem.org immediately. Our location at 2963 Park Avenue will be closed for the next few days as we address the needs of the victims family and our team members. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Church's Chicken employee killed after argument with drive-thru customer; no arrest made A fight between a fast food employee and a customer turned deadly in west Tennessee on Monday night when police say the guest shot a female worker after a reported argument. The fatal shooting took place just before 9:10 p.m. at a Church's Chicken in Memphis, officials said. According to police, at 9:10 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at the Park Avenue business, about six miles southeast from downtown Memphis. Arriving officers found a female victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound and transported her to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, officials posted in a news release. Memphis police are asking the public for help locating this person they say fatally shot a Church's Chicken employee on July 8, 2024. Church's Chicken shooting came after argument A preliminary investigation by police found the victim was working in the business when a woman in an SUV pulled into the drive-thru and argued with the employee. It was not immediately known what the pair argued about. "The teal-colored SUV drove off the lot and the victim walked outside of the business to get some air," police wrote in the release. "A few moments later a gunshot was heard and the teal-colored SUV was seen on video speeding off the parking lot." Shortly after, the shooting victim was located in the parking lot. As of Tuesday, police had not released the victim's name or age. USA TODAY has reached out to Memphis police and Church's Chicken. Police described the person captured on camera who argued with the employee as a female with purple hair driving a teal-colored compact SUV. Memphis police are asking the public for help locating this person in this four-door vehicle they say fatally shot a Church's Chicken employee on July 8, 2024. As of Tuesday an arrest had not been made in the case which police said remained under investigation. Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call CrimeStoppers. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Memphis Church's Chicken shooting leaves worker dead; no arrests made ASHEVILLE - The city reached a settlement agreement June 27 in Ashevilles federal court over park bans the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina says violated activists constitutional rights. More than a dozen activists now have unfettered access to city parks after they were banned for three years the longest possible park ban under the city's previous policy. The ordinance that allowed the lengthy bans has been rewritten, based on a settlement agreement in the N.C. ACLUs year-long lawsuit against the city in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The bans came after the plaintiffs were charged with felony littering following an art-based protest in December 2021 in Aston Park where they demanded shelter for the citys growing unhoused population. Littering must exceed 500 pounds to be considered a felony under N.C. law. A photo posted on the Asheville Police Twitter page January 14, 2022 with the caption: "APD Make Multiple Arrests in December Illegal Dumping Protests at Aston Park that Caused More than $2K in Cleanup." Several of the volunteers were with a mutual aid organization and relied on city parks to distribute food, supplies and provide aid something they were participating in biweekly in Aston Park before the protests, the Citizen Times has reported. Some were not made aware of their bans until a year later, undercutting their ability to appeal the decision within 14 days of the ban. Those who appealed the ban were not afforded a legitimate hearing, according to an order from Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger. All who were banned werent allowed to review evidence against them, he previously said. Reidinger who lifted the plaintiffs park bans on March 25 until a final ruling was made in the lawsuit wrote in his previous ruling that the activists were "likely to suffer irreparable harm to their First Amendment rights" if the restrictions werent lifted in the interim "because the Policy effectively undercuts their purpose for speaking, which is to visit city parks to advocate for and support homeless populations." Now, the defendants agreed to leave this previous ruling, called an injunctive relief, in place and to not reinstate the park access bans at any point in the future, according to the agreement obtained by the Citizen Times. Lawsuit leads to city policy change The settlement did more than ensure the 15 mutual aid workers right to visit city parks it also enacted policy change. The agreement requires the city adopt an amended version of the 2017 Restricted Access to City Parks policy, which it will publish on Ashevilles Parks and Recreation website. The revised policy will replace all previous city policies restricting park access and will be effective for at least five years. More: Federal judge orders Asheville activists' city park bans lifted until lawsuit decided With this settlement, weve won better protections for the right to access public space and made it harder for city officials to retaliate against people who disagree with their decisions, plaintiff Sarah Norris told the Citizen Times. Given that most of the folks who get banned from city parks are either homeless or in solidarity with those who are, we hope these policy changes will better protect all of us building the networks of survival, care and protest that are needed to live here with dignity. City Manager Debra Campbell and City Attorney Brad Branham during a February 23 meeting to review the upcoming Feb. 28 City Council agenda. The defendants must also pay $18,000 in attorneys fees to the plaintiffs counsel, the N.C. ACLU Legal Foundation. Defendants included the city, Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell, Police Chief Mike Lamb (substituted for former chief David Zack) and Parks and Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt in his official and individual capacity. "The City is pleased that the parties have been able to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to the lawsuit, City Attorney Brad Branham told the Citizen Times. The terms of the agreement, however, remain contingent upon the completion of some procedural rulings by the Court. One standard motion is still pending before Reidinger, which will give the U.S. District Court of WNC jurisdiction over any future issues that may arise with the settlement, ACLU attorney Muneeba Talukder said. But the amended policy is now effective and will be online soon, city spokesperson Kim Miller said. More: Judge denies dismissal of park ban suit, saying Asheville violated protesters' rights Whats different about the amended policy? A lot of whats built into this new policy came out of the experiences of plaintiffs in this case, how these park bans landed on them and what it really meant to be banned from a public space for that period of time, Talukder said. The city reached a settlement agreement June 27 in Ashevilles federal court over park bans the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina says violated activists constitutional rights. The 15 activists were banned for three years after being charged with a felony, which was the longest possible ban under the previous policy. Now, anyone charged with a criminal offense not considered a violent crime can be restricted from parks for 90 to 180 days. More: Asheville mutual aid volunteers face 'absurd' felony littering charges, lawyer says If someone commits a violent crime, or repeated criminal offenses, they can be banned for 12 to 18 months. The policy defines a violent crime as any assault, use of violence or force against a person, any threat or use of an explosive or incendiary device, or any threat or use of a weapon of mass destruction. A person who committed a violent crime can be restricted immediately, but still has the right to appeal. In other cases, a written warning must be given indicating that the person may be restricted if their behavior continues or another violation in the park occurs. If a warning was already given, the person must be given a hearing before any ban takes effect, Talukder said. The new policy lists several factors the Parks and Recreation director must consider when determining how long someone can be restricted from parks, including a compelling need to access parks and if the act was intentional. The updated policy also creates a stipulation: all criminal acts must be committed in a city park for a park restriction to be levied. The city reached a settlement agreement June 27 in Ashevilles federal court over park bans the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina says violated activists constitutional rights. Thats significant, Talukder said, noting that wasnt included in the previous park ban policy. Thats especially concerning because if (city) administration wanted to use this in a retaliatory way, it would be fairly easy for them to do that. Under the (previous) policy, technically, they are allowed to ban people based on a crime that occurred outside of a park. More: ACLU of NC challenges Asheville's park bans against felony littering defendants Ten people who were banned in February 2022 attempted an appeals process through Parks and Recreation that April, the Citizen Times previously reported. Those who appealed were not permitted to ask questions, review evidence against them, and were not provided any findings or reasoning in support of their appeals being denied, Reidinger said in his previous order. The new policy specifically states that those who appeal a park restriction would have the right to present evidence, call witnesses on their behalf, have their attorney present during the appeal, examine evidence and receive the names of witnesses the City is relying on to support the issuance of an access restriction 5 business days in advance of the appeal hearing. Those facing a potential ban will also now have 30 days to submit a written appeal, rather than 14 days. "This is a really big win for (the plaintiffs) and in large part the settlement is a testament to their own advocacy work, resources and effort they've put in to try to make Asheville a better place for everyone," Talukder said. Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville lift activists city park bans after ACLU lawsuit City says no to home for recovering addicts in Midtown neighborhood City says no to home for recovering addicts in Midtown neighborhood MEMPHIS, Tenn. The City of Memphis says a transitional home for recovering drug addicts cannot open in a Midtown neighborhood because it violates zoning ordinances. A Vision for You Recovery operates three sober living homes in middle Tennessee and had planned to set up one in the 1900 block of Nelson Avenue. Some neighbors had started an online petition to keep the facility off their street over safety and traffic concerns. A spokesperson for the city said rooming houses are only permitted with a conditional use permit, and transitional homes, considered social service institutions, are only allowed by special use permits in certain commercial and industrial districts. Im not against it, but not here, Cynthia Thomas said. Everybody needs to recover from something, but not here, not in our neighborhood. Its quiet, you know. Its real quiet. Tyler Bell, a recovering addict himself, co-founded A Vision for You Recovery nearly a year ago in Gallatin, Tennessee, to help other drug addicts stay sober after rehab. So we have a friend who was having trouble selling the home and knew that my business partner was moving to Memphis. It was just kind of an opportunity that weve been successful in our homes here in the middle Tennessee area, Bell said. What we wanted to do was take advantage of that opportunity and see what we could do to help in the Memphis area. Bell said they didnt have any problem setting up the other sober living homes but said he understood the stigma associated with drug addiction. Opponents in Memphis collected nearly 200 signatures on Change.org. Bell said they didnt plan to move into the house on Nelson until all the issues were resolved. Under the Federal Housing Law, it falls under a single home. So, its not its not like we were trying to go through any loophole or anything like that. We were essentially doing the same thing that weve done out here, trying to make a difference in the community, Bell said. The sober living home would have housed up to eleven people.The city said it issued a courtesy citation at the Nelson residence last week. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Before the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden amped up the discussion about mental fitness, voters were already asking how old is too old to be president of the United States and whether there should be age limits or at least testing for candidates. After what USA Today called a stumbling debate performance by Biden, the conversation has heated up, with a twist. Now there are calls for the president to take a cognitive test, which he has so far declined to do. Biden, at 81, the oldest U.S. president ever, sloughed off the suggestion he commit to cognitive testing in an interview on Friday. I have a cognitive test every day, he told ABCs George Stephanopoulos, referring to the challenges of his job as the countrys leader. Trump, who is three years younger, did take a standard test of cognition, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, when he was president, earning the standard 30 out of 30 score. Its not an intelligence test, but rather it screens for specific signs of cognitive decline in different parts of the brain, measuring ability like memorizing a five-word list, identifying pictures of animals, drawing the face of an analog clock and performing seemingly simple subtraction. The tests creator, Canadian neurologist Dr. Ziad Nasreddine, told MarketWatch it is supposed to be easy for someone who doesnt have impaired cognition. If someone struggles, it suggests a need for more thorough testing. Its a very, very low bar for somebody who carries the nuclear launch codes in their pocket to pass and certainly nothing to brag about, Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor of medicine and surgery at the George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, told The Washington Post in January. The test is not for flubs, which both candidates have made fairly often, such as Trump saying Nikki Haley was in charge of security during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol when he meant former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as the Post noted. Bidens lifelong stutter is not a cognitive issue or something thats part of the test, either. But during the debate, Biden fumbled and sometimes appeared to lose his train of thought. Since then, he has resisted increasing calls to take and then publish the results of a cognitive assessment. And Trumps published results are nearly six years old, though he said hes been tested more recently. Meanwhile, the two are already the oldest presidents in the nations history and whoever wins this election will hold that record. Who needs cognitive testing? As people age, some decline in cognition isnt unusual, Dr. Christine Cliatt Brown, a behavioral neurologist and an assistant professor of neurology in the Cognitive Neurology Division at the University of Utah, told Deseret News. Memory and processing speed decline in old age. Vocabulary gets better with age. But all of it varies a lot from person to person, she said, adding that while age is a risk factor for cognitive decline, its not the only factor. She added that people at much younger ages can also have cognitive decline, including dementia. Testing is a good idea when a person has noticed a change in their own memory or if family members believe they see changes that they think are more than one would expect with normal aging, said Cliatt Brown. She was not asked to weigh in on the presidential candidates cognition, but was instead asked about cognitive testing in general. The Alzheimers Association recommends that anyone showing signs of mental decline be assessed, but it also notes that a cognitive assessment should be part of the annual wellness visit for all Medicare beneficiaries. Whats called the Mini-Cog is a three-minute test of memory recall and a scored clock-drawing test can also show if the person needs further testing. The first stop is often the primary care doctor, Cliatt Brown said, where a short screening like the MoCA or a similar screening test could be used. Most who do well on that screening dont have to go further in testing unless the person or family is convinced theres a big change and no medical reason can be identified. She also told Deseret News that those simple screening tests might not be as sensitive to cognitive decline for people who are highly educated, such as physicians or lawyers, among others. The next step would be neuropsychological testing, which is much more extensive. Such testing takes three to four hours. It looks at memory, executive function and language, among other things, and compares a persons performance to what might be expected given their age and education attainment. Several experts have told the Deseret News numerous times that an early sign of cognitive impairment is difficulty drawing an analog clock face, which requires proper spacing and putting numbers in order and determining what the hands of the clock look like and their position. Drawing an accurate analog clock face is very difficult for someone whose executive function is diminishing. No rule that says he must Adding to the clamor, The New York Times reported this week that a Parkinsons disease expert visited the White House eight times in eight months from summer to this spring, based on visitor logs to the White House. The logs, however, dont show who was visited or indicate whether the doctor met with the president. The White House released a letter Monday from Dr. Kevin OConnor, the presidents physician, regarding those visits by Dr. Kevin Cannard, the Parkinsons specialist. He wrote Cannard had been the neurology consultant to the White House Medical Unit since 2012, noting he is the longest serving neurologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and in the Military Healthcare System, among other credentials. Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, he has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations. Many military personnel experience neurological issues related ot their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice, per the letter. Cannard also conducted each of Bidens neurological exams that were part of his annual physical, OConnor wrote, quoting findings of the most recent physical, released February 28: An extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy. This exam did again support a finding of peripheral neuropathy in both feet. No motor weakness was detected. He exhibits no tremor, either at rest or with activity. He demonstrates excellent fine motor dexterity. But a subtle difference in heat/cold sensation could be elicited as it was last year. This heat/cold sensation deficit was detected a couple of inches higher on his ankle/calf this year, which is not unexpected. There may; in fact, be day to day subjective variation of these findings, as during last years exam, this area of sensation deficit was actually found to be smaller than the year before. The Post reported that medical teams at the White House perform many functions, but notes there is no remedy should a president have cognitive issues. The White House medical unit performs frequent drills to prepare for any contingency when the president could be incapacitated, from being wounded in a shooting to suffering a heart attack or even caught in the vicinity of a nuclear explosion. But former staffers said there has been relatively little effort to prepare for what to do if they think an 81-year-old president is suffering from mental decline. While some high-risk professions, like commercial aviation, have a formalized process where pilots can be grounded until further testing if a physician suspects cognitive impairment, theres no similar trigger for a president. In a column for CNN, neurologist Dr. Sanjay Gupta noted that even presidents are entitled to keep their medical records private, whether they should or not. But Gupta has also joined the chorus asking the president to submit to testing and release the results. The questions are not unique to Biden, he writes. Trump does at times display some of these same signs as Biden, including nonsensical rants as well as confusing names and current events. He said hed undergone the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, known as MoCA, in the past. According to his medical team, he received a perfect score when he took the test in 2018. Trump said he took a second cognitive test for his last physical exam at the end of 2023 and aced it. In a note at the end of last year, Dr. Bruce Aronwald wrote that Trumps cognitive exams were exceptional. Trump has not released his actual medical records, and memos about his health that were previously released have at times used hyperbolic language, unusual for medical documentation, per Gupta. Testing limitations As The Wall Street Journal reported, one cognitive test would not be able to provide the last word on a presidents mental fitness to serve. The tests are a screening tool. Doctors would have to conduct further evaluation, including commissioning more tests like a PET scan should the test result be concerning. And a cognitive assessment might not even be the right test, per the Journal article. Dr. Lon Schneider, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and gerontology at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine, said a more apt assessment for both Biden and Trump would be a decisional-capacity evaluation. Schneider said these assessments, conducted through interviews, are similar to evaluations done in court cases to determine competency. Schneider added, This is not a matter of pass/fail, of Come in and take your screening test for presidential competency or not, and if you score above 28 youre competent and if you score below 28 youre incompetent. Its much more complicated for all of us. The number of folks calling for that first step, however, is growing. Clay County Sheriffs Office said Orange Park teen missing since last week found safe UPDATE: The sheriffs office has announced that Jordan Wrumble has been found and is safe. Deputies are searching for a teen whos been missing for over a week. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The Clay County Sheriffs Office said 16-year-old Jordan Wruble was last seen at her home at 7:09 p.m. on June 30 in Orange Park. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Family said she was supposed to be going to stay the night at a friends house and never arrived. Jordan was last seen wearing a white Harley Davidson jacket, green shirt, blue jeans and brown boots. She is described a 5-foot 4-inches tall, 98 pounds, has black hair, and brown eyes. Jordan does not have a phone and has not accessed any social media accounts since she left her home. If anyone has information of where Jordan might be you are asked to contact the Clay County Sheriffs Office at 904-264-6512. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The recall effort against Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz is headed for a courtroom, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. One of the issues set for review at the hearing is a request from James DePaola, the Winterville conservative firebrand spearheading the recall, to close a July 26 proceeding to the press and public so as to allow an unnamed witness to testify anonymously. In a notice regarding the two hearings, filed with the court on Sunday, Judge J. David Roper sets a high bar for DePaolas request to be honored. Roper, the retired senior judge from outside the local judicial circuit assigned to hear Girtzs petition challenging the recall, instructs that DePaola must demonstrate on the record by clear and convincing proof that closing the (July 26) hearing to the press and the public is the only means by which his right to a free and fair trial or other asserted right can be avoided. More: Athens government seeks to be dismissed from lawsuit challenging mayor's recall effort The notice further requires that DePaola must prove that the harm that may result to the witness from the witness appearance and testimony clearly outweighs the public interest. DePaola, who has been representing himself in the case, made the request that his witness be allowed to appear anonymously in a closed courtroom in a July 3 filing. In the filing, DePaola describes the witness only as a willing witness who is a retired Public Servant. Information from another filing in the case appears to identify the witness as an Athens-Clarke County resident but lists a fictitious address and telephone number. Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz spoke to the media along side Police Chief Jerry Saulters on community safety initiatives and ACCs status related to immigration on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Girtz also spoke about improvements that will be make to cameras around the community to help combat violent crime. The witness, DePaola notes., wants to testify in court but not get any media attention/coverage or their name in the news, newspaper, social media and etc. DePaola subsequently asks, Can the court provide anonymity for this person? Can the court provide back or side door entrances and exits to/fro the building to avoid media? Girtzs original petition challenging the recall named only the Athens-Clarke County government as a respondent, based largely on the mayors assertions that the local governments elections office failed to notify him that certain milestones in DePaolas recall effort had been reached. Among Girtzs contentions is that he did not get a timely notification of the issuance of a recall application to DePaola, that he was never notified the recall application had been filed with the elections office for verification of signatures, and that he did not receive notification of an elections board meeting where the recall application was discussed. DePaolas actions also were challenged in Girtzs petition, even though DePaola was not initially named as a respondent in the case. For instance, in an April 24 filing, Girtzs counsel asserts that DePaolas contention in recall documents that Girtz was knowingly operating Athens as a sanctuary city and that he had secretly entered into a contract with federal officials and or NGO (non-governmental organizations) to make Athen (sic) a refugee resettlement area included no specifics and thus lacked the required reasonable and sufficient particularity as grounds for a mayoral recall. Shortly after the April 24 filing by Girtzs counsel, Roper issued an order that added DePaola as a respondent in the mayors challenge to the recall effort. In that same May 5 order, Roper suspended all recall proceedings, not including any court action, while the courts review of the issue is moving forward. DePaolas recall effort, which also targets Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams and Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, began in the days after the Feb. 22 death of 22-year-old Athens nursing student Laken Riley. A 26-year-old undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, has been indicted on murder and other charges in Rileys death. The young woman was found dead on a jogging trail near the University of Georgias Lake Herrick on the afternoon of Feb. 22. According to the indictment, Ibarra struck Riley repeatedly on the head with a rock and asphyxiated her. DePaola was among a group of protestors at a press conference held by Girtz in the days after Rileys death, contending that Athens-Clarke County was being operated as a sanctuary city. At a subsequent meeting of Athens-Clarke Countys mayor and commission, DePaola loudly announced his intent to seek a recall. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Plaintiff seeks to use anonymous witness in Athens mayor recall effort A closer look at the SCOTUS ruling on the Rio Grande A stretch of the Rio Grande near the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, as seen from the upper level of the New Mexico Rail Runner. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) With the irrigation season still going strong, and recent rains temporarily swelling the Rio Grande, the river is running through most of New Mexico. In court, the case over the rivers water is in a lull, after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a deal to end a lawsuit over the water flowing at about just under 5 feet deep at the border between Texas and New Mexico. Mike Hamman, a central figure in the case, is stepping aside as his retirement from the State Engineers position went into effect after the decision came down. Hamman called the Supreme Courts decision a setback, in an interview with Source NM. Hes unsure how long it will take to resolve Rio Grande management between three states Colorado, New Mexico and Texas and now the federal government. The bottom line is that we do have a significant issue to address in the Lower Rio Grande, he said. It means now going back into another possible trial process, or working towards another stab at mediation. Hamman said that the Rio Grande is already under pressure from climate change, and that reducing groundwater pumping in the area is a priority, even as the case continues. Were going to work with our stakeholders in the basin to try to get ourselves back in balance, he said. This is a perpetual drought setting, and we have to prepare for even more austere times with climate change, changing the whole hydrologic cycle. Up the river Its been more than a decade since Texas filed its complaint in 2013 that New Mexico groundwater pumping below Elephant Butte was taking water owed to Texas, violating the 1938 Rio Grande Compact, an agreement to split the river. The case, called Original No. 141 has shifted significantly, as the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Texas developed a deal to end the litigation last year, pitting the parties against the federal government. The high court allowed the federal government to intervene in the case in 2018, when it raised concerns that New Mexico pumping threatened the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations ability to deliver water to Mexico and regional irrigation districts, and mirrored many of Texas claims. The three states put forward a proposed deal that they say resolved the interstate disputes, and would address further concerns between the federal government and New Mexico in lower federal district courtrooms. The deal formally called a consent decree would have added a new gage to measure water deliveries at the Texas-New Mexico state line, factored in new drought and groundwater pumping calculations and officially split the water below Elephant Butte Reservoir 57% to southern New Mexico and 43% to Texas. The federal government objected that the deal imposed conditions they didnt consent to. In late June, the court sided with federal objections to the deal, and said the case will continue before the U.S. Supreme Court. The majority opinion argued that the court previously allowed the federal government to intervene as a party in the case, to protect its distinct federal interests. Those include the maintenance and operation of a network of dams and canals that deliver water to Mexico and regional irrigation districts. Having acknowledged those interests, and having allowed the United States to intervene to assert them, we cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote for the majority opinion. Jackson continued, writing that the federal government is allowed to pursue the claim that New Mexicos groundwater pumping violates the compact. That Texass litigation strategy has since changed, such that it is now willing to accept a greater degree of groundwater pumping, does not erase the United States independent stake in pursuing claims against New Mexico, she wrote. In the dissent, Justice Neil Gorsuch joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Amy Coney Barrett said the ruling overturned water law precedents, allowing more leeway for the federal government to intervene. In that way, too, I fear the majoritys short-sighted decision will only make it harder to secure the kind of cooperation between federal and state authorities reclamation law envisions and many river systems require, Gorsuch wrote in the dissent. Gorsuch writes that the courts rejection leaves the states only with the promise of more litigation to follow, and no deal. Court watchers react The rulings makeup and breadth was a shock to observers, said Gage Zobell, a water attorney at Dorsey & Whitney based in Salt Lake City, Utah, who has consulted on some water cases in New Mexico. That was a step even beyond what I ever would have imagined they would have come out with, even had they decided to not approve the consent decree, Zobell said. Zobell described the ruling as allowing the federal governments position to hold the settlement hostage, and require more action from New Mexico on limiting groundwater pumping. The ruling is limiting the use of a 1938 precedent of deferring to upstream states to manage water governance, said Burke Griggs, a national water law expert and professor at Washburn University School of Law. Theres a real tension here between how the majority and the dissent understand how an interstate compact works in our federal system, Griggs said. Griggs said the decision could embolden the federal government to intervene in water compact disputes between states, even if its not a party to them. I think thats a valid concern but whether the United States actually will, is another question, he said. Whats next? Hammans replacement at the Office of the State Engineer will inherit the continued legal fight over the Rio Grande waters, as the state agency oversees New Mexicos streams, rivers and lakes but also the groundwater beneath our feet. Hamman said the challenges facing the state from determining tribal water rights, water-sharing plans, supply and management should be refocused at a regional level, since the challenges for each basin are unique. The state is working to revamp the rules on regional water planning after passing the 2023 Water Security Planning Act, and make the process less top-down than prior years. The state is hosting open houses starting July 17, to address the regional boundaries and more before the planning scheduled for later this year. Hamman said he believes that regional planning balances environmental concerns and the economy. Having the ability for those regional entities to advise their legislators on what their needs are, will help them make good-priority decisions every session, as opposed to just kind of catching kicked cans and putting Band-Aids on problems, Hamman said. The post A closer look at the SCOTUS ruling on the Rio Grande appeared first on Source New Mexico. DAMASCUS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Two powerful explosions were heard near the outskirts of Baniyas in the coastal region of Syria after midnight on Tuesday, in what appeared to be a new Israeli attack. The Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that around 00:20 a.m. local time on Tuesday (2120 GMT Monday), Israeli forces conducted an aerial attack from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Baniyas, targeting a site in the vicinity of the city. The assault resulted in some material losses. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported that two explosions occurred in Baniyas. While it is unclear if they were the result of an Israeli attack, the city of Baniyas is known to house an oil port. BRANCH COUNTY The Commission on Aging hit another milestone for its Meals-On-Wheels program at the end of June, signing up its 195th recipient for the five-day-a-week food service. COA food service manager Mike Searing said volunteers deliver hot food on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and frozen meals on Wednesdays and Fridays. Volunteers scramble to load coolers with hot meals and frozen meals on a rainy June Tuesday to deliver to 195 clients throughout Branch County. The program continues to look for volunteers for the 10 routes that cover the entire county. Searing said 17 volunteers share the routes, but he could always use more as the list of recipients grows. For the last six years, retiree Bob Mullally has filled in on routes during the summer in Branch County and drove for a similar program in Charleston, South Carolina during the winter. Bob Mullally volunteers both in Branch County during the summers and in Charleston, S.C. in the winter. On delivery days, Mullally picks up the hot pre-packaged meals at the Burnside Senior Center around 10 a.m. and makes his stops. "For some people, we're their one contact during the day," he said. Searing said the delivery becomes a wellness check for many. Mullally said, "The type of reaction you get from these people is gratitude, extreme gratitude. Sometimes it's embarrassing to tell you the truth." Mark Gray started volunteering a year ago with 21 clients on the 50-mile route he drives on Tuesdays. Other drivers cover Monday and Thursday. Gray said, "A lot of them are in walkers. A lot of them are on canes. They can't thank us enough for doing it for them." Mark Gray finds volunteering for Meals-On-Wheels delivery rewarding. Volunteer drivers travel 375 miles each delivery day and are reimbursed for mileage. Recipients are in every township, with 40% concentrated in the Coldwater area. How it started COA won a three-year federal/state grant to provide the program and congregate meals in the Burnside Center in October 2022 by pledging to use some of the center's operational millage to supplement the grant. When COA took over from the Community Action Agency, the program had an average of 75 clients and a long waiting list. Voters will be asked to renew the 0.4857 millage for four more years on the Aug. 6 ballot. The millage pays for the meals programs and funds the Burnside Center's operation. It would raise $868,017 in 2025 if approved. Related story COA seeks August millage renewal to fund senior services COA director Amy Duff said that in the last 12 months through June, COA spent approximately $252,000, about 30% of the millage revenues, on 42,000 home-delivered meals and 11,000 congregate meals at Burnside Center. These also include congregate meals at the Union City Senior Center since Jan. 16. "Without the millage this and all center operations would mostly end," Duff said. Meals-On-Wheels qualifications You have to be 60 years of age or older for grant funding. You have to reside in branch County. You must be homebound. Searing said this means, "Not being able to drive or not able to go to the store to get groceries unassisted or not being able to prepare nutritious meals for yourself is all under that umbrella." There are some couples. Caregivers can qualify. The meals Searing said Milestone Kitchen out of Battle Creek prepares thousands of meals a day for multiple counties. "We've had a great partnership with them for the last year and a half and look to continue." The nutritionally balanced meals are delivered to Coldwater by 10 a.m. and are packaged hot for Monday, Tuesday, and Friday delivery. Milestone provides frozen re-heatable meals for Wednesdays and Fridays. All are individually packaged and sorted by color-coded routes. Subscribe Follow this story, Subscribe to the Daily Reporter. COA supplies Milestone Kitchens with all of the coolers, freezer bags, and plugin hot bags to fill for the drivers to deliver to clients. Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: COA Meals-On-Wheels reaches new records for clients and volunteers (Bloomberg Markets) -- The village of Muhlrose in Germanys far east has stood since the 13th century through wars, fires, unscrupulous lords, the division of the country and its reunification. Now its 200 people are packing up and leaving because of an industry they thought was also being consigned to history. Muhlrose will be wiped off the map to make way for a coal mine. Most Read from Bloomberg Only a few signs of the villages once-fierce resistance remain. Rescue our beautiful Muhlrose, reads a flyer on a red brick home, its windows closed and shuttered. One of the towns last residents, Detlef Hottas, lives in a farmhouse with his wife, plus a few sheep and chickens. At 64, he rides along the deserted streets in an electric wheelchair before he, too, must relocate by yearend. I didnt want to resettle, because I was born here, he says. This is my home. Muhlrose lies in the region where the Czech Republic, Poland and former East Germany come together, the center of communist Europes coal mining. Rather than a symbol of a bygone era, though, its the latest example of how the continent is struggling to ditch the dirty fuel after Russias war in Ukraine upended energy supplies. Germany, whose governing coalition includes the environmentalist Green Party, wants to speed up plans to abandon coal altogether as more renewable energy sources are added to the mix. But Europes biggest economy has relied heavily on the fuel for electricity production after gas from Russia was halted and it stuck with a plan to switch off its nuclear reactors. The result is that a giant, opencast coal mine is closing in on Muhlrose as power generation company Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG, or LEAG, expands. It will excavate lignite, low-grade so-called brown coal. Demolition work was in full swing in late June. The digging has eliminated more than two-thirds of the buildings. Only a few houses remain amid no trespassing signs. The steam from the cooling towers of the power plant that the coal feeds rises on the horizon. For me, its simply unbelievable, says Jadwiga Mahling, a Protestant pastor whos lived in the parish for about a decade. Everyone speaks about the energy transition, but here we are purely deciding in the interest of business. Martin Klausch, the LEAG official in charge of the resettlement, says the company has done all it can to ease the transition for those in the town. We dont want anyone to be financially worse off as a result of the relocation, Klausch says. Countries do want to get rid of coal, especially the more polluting lignite variety. Even in Poland, the European Unions most coal-reliant economy, the government has agreed to a transition with powerful mining unions, albeit a slow move to a total phaseout by 2049. The issue is timing, especially when far-right parties are gaining ground by amplifying popular fear over the cost of the EUs package of green initiatives. The German government reached a deal with coal giant RWE AG to stop using the fuel by 2030, eight years ahead of schedule, which will save more villages from the excavator. But LEAG, part of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinskys empire, wants access to the coal under Muhlrose before it gets out of the industry. The company submitted its mining application in March, and the state regional authority says its assessing it. Germanys economy and climate action minister, Robert Habeck of the Green Party, told a press conference in Berlin in early June that lignite had secured the countrys wealth in the past but its time is coming to an end. Yet theres little he can do because of contracts signed by the previous government with mining companies that now hamper political efforts to get rid of coal. Instead, Habeck announced an aid package for LEAG in line with an earlier agreement: at least 1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) to cover the cost of job losses and the restoration of the land after mining ends, but by the original target year of 2038. Habeck is hoping market forces will spur an earlier exit, as falling power prices and rising costs for polluting the environment make it increasingly unprofitable to burn the fossil fuel in Germany. Josephine Semb, a researcher at Europe University Flensburg who co-authored a study on lignite mining published in late June, says mining under Muhlrose would be uneconomical. LEAG says otherwise. The company is calculating with different scenarios for its lignite business, according to Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Kramer. We assume that we will continue to generate income until 2038, he says. There have been few protests like those that flared up last year in other parts of Germany. RWE drew the wrath of activists when it decided to raze a final village in the Rhineland. A high-profile standoff ensued involving Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Muhlrose, which once housed 600, will be the last village to be swept away. It was a long time coming. After World War II, the communist government in the former East Germany decided to build almost its entire energy program on lignite. First, Muhlroses cemetery had to make way for mining in the 1960s, then more of the village succumbed to it. The last of the brown coal exited that pit in 1997. Residents thought the days of mining were over. But a decade later, Swedish utility Vattenfallthe owner of the mining operations at the timedecided otherwise and announced plans for an expansion. Five years ago, a majority of Muhlrose residents voted to move away, after almost three decades of struggle over lignite expansion, according to Robert Sprejz, the mayor. It was their wish to resettle, he says. They simply had enough of the noise and dust. At the height of operations, our windows had to be cleaned almost daily. About half of the inhabitants have moved to a resettlement site, called Muhlrose-neu, a short drive away, part of the village of Schleife. LEAG expects to take ownership of all the land by the end of this year and start digging in 2029. Should the mining authority approve the destruction plans, the forest owners will lodge a legal complaint, says Rene Schuster, an activist with the environmental group Green League. While there were court victories against lignite plans in the past, the rulings often came too late, Mahling, the pastor, says. Then we would know that what was done was illegal. But the village and forest are anyway gone. At the end of June, Mahling, in her flowing black clerical robe, held a makeshift outdoor church service in the last strip of trees near the lignite mine, next to the road that will bear mining trucks by yearend. Environmentalists joined to honor a few holdout forest owners seeking to challenge LEAG. A small table draped with a white cloth served as an altar on the grass. The churchgoers, some in shorts and T-shirts, sat on benches once used in a beer hall. The trees around them were already gone, with machines hacking through the stumps and roots. Villagers are now resigned to the loss of Muhlrose, a stronghold of the ethnic Sorb minority in Germany. Numbering only 60,000, Sorbs are descendants of Slavic tribes that lived in this region of Lusatia, sometimes called Sorbia. A Sorb herself and the daughter of a Protestant pastor, Mahling speaks Sorbic and offers bilingual services. She officiated at the funerals of the last Sorb women to wear traditional dresses, white lace adorned with bright-colored flowers. It reminded her of a local saying: God created Lusatia, but the devil made the coal underneath. --With assistance from Maciej Martewicz. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. German Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann and Minister of Finance Christian Lindner attend the weekly meeting of the Federal Cabinet in the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa Ministers from German junior coalition partner the Free Democrats (FDP) have criticized a new conscription model, including requiring young men to register for potential military service, put forward by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. In a letter to Pistorius on Tuesday, Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, both of the FDP, welcome the debate he has initiated on increasing military service. However, they do not consider general conscription or compulsory service to be realistic for financial, economic and legal reasons. Instead, the two politicians are in favour of increasing the attractiveness of the military profession and a stronger role for the reserves, they write in the letter made available to dpa. "We are united by the goal of making the Bundeswehr one of the most modern and effective armies," the letter states. "We can and will only achieve this goal with the corresponding social acceptance. In our opinion, this excludes the reintroduction of general conscription or compulsory service." Germany effectively abolished military conscription in 2011, although the country's law continues to allow for mandatory service in the event of war or other tensions. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought the German military's shortfalls into renewed focus and ignited a debate over reintroducing compulsory military service. Pistorius presented plans for a new military service model in June designed to help fill the army's depleted ranks. Coast Guard saves hiker hurt by drift logs in Olympic National Park A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew from Port Angeles rescued a man late Saturday night from Olympic National Park near the mouth of the Hoh River. The 44-year-old hiker sustained injuries from drift logs caused by the rising tide along the coast. Two members of the hikers party assisted him before the aircrew arrived. A rescue swimmer was lowered to hoist the injured man to a helicopter. The aircrew brought the hiker to the Coast Guard Air Station, where he was transferred to Olympic Medical Center. The patients current condition is unknown. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Huron County Sheriffs Department and the Coast Guard were tied up for hours from Saturday night to Sunday morning in a search and rescue effort for a man who was thrown from his boat miles away from shore in Lake Huron. Deputies responded to the 9000 block of Sand Point in Caseville Township shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday after receiving calls from residents about a small boat going around in circles 2 miles offshore with no occupants inside. Authorities began to suspect that whoever was inside had likely been thrown off. As the sun set, patrol boats from the sheriffs department and a Coast Guard boat arrived to search the lake for the missing boater, though they called off the search at around 2:30 a.m. due to poor visibility. Shortly before 6 a.m., the search resumed, and responders from the Caseville Fire Department pulled the boat ashore. The boat had an empty gas tank, and the motor was still in gear. Its registration was linked to an individual out of Macomb, Michigan, and dispatchers began looking for possible connections to Huron County, attempting to learn more about the missing boater. Approximately two hours later, authorities received information that the boats operator had swam to shore after being ejected from his boat. Authorities learned that the operator was a 45-year-old man from Lansing, and he told authorities he had been thrown from the boat after hitting a wave while on his way to Caseville, and the boat continued in circles. He also told authorities he was hit by the boat at least one time, and felt no necessity to report to 911 that he had abandoned his boat offshore. The Huron County Sheriffs Department says that alcohol had a large role in this incident and that enforcement action has been taken against the man for his carelessness. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) A brand new addition is making its way to Coastal Carolina University that has one goal in mind the safety of its students. With $10 million in hand to help finance the project, CCU president Michael Benson said hes excited to finally see the project become a reality after years of planning. If I were to walk out on campus right now and ask students, what project they are the most excited about, my guess is most would say, I cant wait until that pedway is done because I have to cross (Highway) 544 every day,' he said. More than 50,000 vehicles travel the roadway every day, making it one of the busiest in Horry County and putting them close to CCU students who walk to campus. With all the private housing that has been developed on the south side of campus, we have thousands of students that try and navigate that every single day, Benson said. So this will finally provide a safe passage for them, and were very excited about it. The new pedestrian walkway would allow students to cross from one side of 544 to the other, without having to use the busy street. Plans also call for elevators on each side to accommodate everyone who wants to cross safely. Back in 2012 and 2016, two CCU students were hit and killed by cars along Highway 544. News 13 reported in 2016 the death launched talks about the concept of a walkway. Its tragic to say that weve had accidents, weve had fatalities, and we do not want anything more to happen, Benson said. We want our students to be safe physically. Benson said there are still things that need to be finalized before they can begin the project. We will continue to work with SCDOT once the project is approved at the various levels, then well go out and put out the bid, he said. He also says while safety is their number one priority, the walkway will be beneficial in other ways. Consider the collateral impact of a structure like that, where cars going back and forth will see the name of the university, he said. Architecturally, its going to be a beautiful design. Benson said hes proud the project is coming to life to provide a safe way for students to come to campus. He also says they dont have an exact date for project completion, but they want to move this project forward quickly. * * * Gracie is a multimedia journalist at News 13 and is from Cleveland, Ohio. Gracie joined the team in June 2023 after graduating from the University of Alabama in May. Follow Gracie on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, & read more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. If cognitively compromised is the criteria, I know whos not getting my vote | Opinion Ive been reluctant to make this call for a while, and know I will upset plenty of my readers with the decision to do it now. I know it is highly disruptive for a major political party to change nominees this late in a presidential election cycle. But the stakes are too high for our democracy to not say anything. A man who referred to airports during the Revolutionary War simply shouldnt be in the Oval Office. A man who once suggested nuclear bombs should be used to curtail hurricanes shouldnt have access to the nuclear football. A man who suggested Americans should maybe inject disinfectant inside our bodies as a COVID cure should not be in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Issac Bailey A man who didnt seem to know the difference between former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is not capable of navigating tough political negotiations with a divided Congress to foster compromises that advance the interests of all Americans. A man who didnt know the difference between the prime minister of Hungary and Turkeys president should play no role in international affairs, particularly while the Middle East is on fire as the Gaza conflict drags on. A man who seemed to suggest you need photo ID to buy a loaf of bread is obviously too far gone to be a competent steward of the most powerful economy on the planet. A man who makes nonsense statements is the wrong choice for a country that believes it is great. Donald Trump is not fit to lead this country. Hes too cognitively compromised. At least thats what his repeated verbal stumbles tell us. He could clear that up by having a full-independent mental and physical examination and release the results to a worried public. That he refuses to take such an undemanding step strongly suggests he has something to hide. I think I was wrong about Trump. All those times I thought he was just a compulsive liar, like during his first debate against President Joe Biden, maybe he wasnt. Maybe he just didnt know right from wrong, fact from fiction, that he wasnt capable of knowing the difference. Maybe thats why he incited a violent insurrection on the Capitol, was found liable of fraud and rape, and convicted of 34 felonies. Maybe thats why he has said so many contradictory things about abortion after helping to appoint the three judges who helped overturn a half-century of precedent that has led to laws that risk the lives of a growing number of pregnant women. When he called Georgia officials looking to overturn an election he lost in 2020, maybe he just didnt know any better like a 5-year-old who asks for another scoop of ice cream before bedtime. Hes probably just a well-meaning elderly man who has been misunderstood, like so many other Americans in cognitive decline. Of course, the better explanation for the phone call to Georgia is that Trump cares only about himself and is willing to tear down our democracy to get his way. I wish it wasnt so. I wish Republican voters had been more careful in their choice during the recent GOP primaries. I wish the media had done a better job documenting these lapses and relentlessly called for Trump to step down long before his crowning as the GOP nominee. Here we are, though. We cant turn back the clock but its not too late. The GOP could turn to Haley. It could turn to the other S.C. presidential candidate, Tim Scott. Heck, it could dredge up the body of the politically-dead Ron DeSantis. But do something, the GOP must. A man so cognitively compromised should not be commander-in-chief. Issac Bailey is a McClatchy Opinion writer in North and South Carolina. Christina Vaskovsky (posing as Lisa Beck) was photographed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles three times in 2010. A woman who used the identity of a dead child for a decade and a half to obtain nearly $200,000 in government benefits was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months in prison. Prosecutors say Christina Vaskovsky, 56, initially used the childs identity to avoid an arrest warrant that was issued for her in 2008. Vaskovsky, of Colerain Township, also used the childs identity to file for bankruptcy and unsuccessfully apply for a pandemic relief loan. In 2019, when Vaskovsky was arrested along with her daughter for shoplifting in Kentucky, she used the fake identity. In imposing the prison sentence in federal court in Cincinnati, U.S. District Judge Jeffery Hopkins called Vaskovsky's conduct "egregious" and said she had engaged in illegal behavior for many years but "never faced consequences because of it." She pleaded guilty in March to five counts of Social Security number fraud. Vaskovskys criminal record dates back to the 1980s, when she was convicted of complicity to commit theft. In 1991, she was convicted of forgery and misuse of credit cards for using stolen credit cards to buy merchandise. In 2003, she was sentenced to probation after being convicted of stealing nearly $1,700 in state benefits. According to court documents, Vaskovskys began using the child's identity after she was charged in 2008 in Hamilton County with stealing more than $14,000 from her employer, a Lockland company that manufactures industrial thermometers. When she didnt show up for a trial scheduled for December 2008, a nationwide warrant was issued for her arrest. 'Lisa Beck' Five days after that trial date, Vaskovsky obtained a certified copy of a birth certificate in the name of a child who was born the same year as her but who died at age 10. Vaskovsky then obtained an Ohio drivers license and Social Security card under the deceased childs name, "Lisa Beck." Using the childs identity, according to court documents, Vaskovsky received more than $116,000 in Medicare benefits, $43,352 in Social Security benefits, $19,570 in food stamps and $11,663 in unemployment benefits. Vaskovsky also amassed $128,000 in debt under the childs identity and then fraudulently discharged it in bankruptcy, the documents say. Chillingly, a child who died decades ago at the age of 10, now has an arrest record because of this defendants conduct, prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. Self-surrender request Vaskovsky's attorney, Zenaida Lockard, asked Hopkins to allow her to self-surrender to prison at a later date. Vaskovsky has been held at the Butler County Jail awaiting resolution of her case, but if allowed to self-surrender, she would be monitored electronically at home until she reports to prison. Most local federal defendants are held in Butler County. The reason: Vaskovsky has multiple medical issues but had been treated under the fake identity and needs to go to between eight and 10 doctor's offices to obtain her medical records. Those records will assist with her treatment in prison, Lockard said. Hopkins said he will consider the request but asked both sides to file briefs. Vaskovsky will receive credit for the eight months she has been held at jail. The time there, she told Hopkins, has been "excruciatingly painful." She said she has "seen stuff you shouldn't have to see." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Woman sentenced for using dead child's identity to obtain $200K Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday in Beijing. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China and Bangladesh have respected and treated each other with equality, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries. China is ready to deepen practical cooperation with Bangladesh in various fields, and push the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new height, to better benefit the two peoples, Wang said. The CPPCC is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with the Bangladeshi side and make positive contributions to building a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future, Wang added. Hasina thanked China for its long-term valuable support to Bangladesh. She said Bangladesh will as always adhere to the one-China principle, and deepen all-round cooperation with China and exchanges of state governance experience, to work for more outcomes in bilateral ties. Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Colorado agencies say public risk of contracting bird flu is low after first human case Cattle crowd inside a feedlot in Wiley, Colorado, in 2012. (John Moore/Getty Images) State officials say the public risk of contracting avian influenza remains low after a farm worker in northeastern Colorado became the fourth diagnosed human case in the country last week. The case, the states first this year related to the spread of the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, from dairy cattle to humans, was reported after an adult man working on a farm in the northeast region of the state experienced pink eye. He has since recovered. In the last 30 days, Colorado cattle have accounted for just under 48% of confirmed cases in the country, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In total, 27 herds in Colorado have a confirmed case. Thats the second-most in the country. Twenty-three of those cases were reported in the last month. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Olga Robak, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, said the state has 105 licensed dairy herds and about 200,000 dairy cows. One farm has closed since the start of the outbreak, though the closure was not related to avian flu. CDA has been conducting active outreach to Colorados dairy industry to emphasize the importance of monitoring cattle for symptoms, reporting any potential clinical signs of HPAI, and stopping movement of cattle to prevent virus spread, Robak said in a statement. Our educational approach helps producers understand the importance of reporting symptoms, isolating sick animals, and continuing strong biosecurity practices. Sasha Geffen, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response, said people who are in regular contact with infected animals are at the highest risk of contracting the virus. Geffen said the general public should avoid contact with sick birds or other animals, and if one must interact they should wear personal protective equipment including gloves, eye protection and N95 respirators. People should drink pasteurized milk, as the process eliminates potentially harmful bacteria and viruses. It is also safe to consume properly handled and thoroughly cooked beef and poultry, Geffen added. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency Friday, particularly to support a commercial poultry facility in Weld County that experienced an outbreak. The declaration allows the Office of Emergency Management to take necessary measures to help with response, recovery and mitigation. The last time someone in Colorado was diagnosed with bird flu was in 2022, which came as a result of infected poultry. The other three human cases reported this year include two dairy farm workers in Michigan and one in Texas. Two of the cases resulted in pink eye, while one of the Michigan patients experienced mild respiratory symptoms. More than 97 million poultry throughout 48 states have tested positive for H5N1 since the outbreak began in January 2022, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone working with dairy cows who starts to feel sick or suspects they might have avian flu can call CDPHE at 303-692-2700 (or 303-370-9395 after normal business hours) to get a flu test and medicine if needed. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Colorado Home Where Chris Watts Murdered His Pregnant Wife and Their Kids Finds a Buyer After Price Cut Watts killed his wife Shanann and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, at the property in August 2018 and was later sentenced to life in prison Chris Watts at the Colorado home where he murdered his family After nearly three months on the market, the Colorado property where Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife and two young daughters appears to have found a buyer. According to property records, the Frederick, Colo. home has been pending sale since Wednesday, July 3. It was first put on the market in April for $775,000, PEOPLE previously reported, followed by a price cut down to $750,000 at the end of April. A second price cut in May had the home listed at $749,500 when it entered into pending sale status. The 4,177-square-foot property includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms, and the nearby Colorado Rocky Mountains can be seen from the home. Rovena Flores of Dream Real Estate currently holds the listing. Related: Colorado Home Where Chris Watts Murdered His Pregnant Wife and Their Daughters Lists for $775K Netflix Chris Watts in the Colorado home where he murdered his family The home played a large role in the September 2020 Netflix documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door, which dives deep into Watts motive behind the murders. It further explains how the property became a crime scene after Watts strangled his wife Shanann who was 15 weeks pregnant with their son at the time and smothered their two young daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. Shanann Watts/2020/Netflix The Watts family According to officials, Chris motive behind the unthinkable crimes was a result of him having an affair with his co-worker who believed he was already separated from Shanann before he committed the murders. He received a life sentence in prison after pleading guilty to the murders in November 2018 to avoid a possible death sentence. Related: Shanann Watts' Brother 'Highly Recommends' Netflix Doc: It 'Gives My Sister a Voice' RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Chris Watts at the Weld County Courthouse on November 19, 2018 The Watts family purchased the Colorado home in 2013 for $399,954. For nearly four years after the 2018 crimes, the home remained vacant until it was purchased in 2022 for $600,000, according to property records. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Chris later went into default on the mortgage following the murders and the lender foreclosed on the property. His debts increased when he agreed to pay $6 million to Shananns parents after they filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him. PEOPLE reached out to listing agent Flores for comment but did not yet receive a response. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Colorado public health officials have confirmed a human case of plague in a Pueblo County resident, according to the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment. Plague is very rare, with an average of seven human plague cases reported annually in the U.S., according to the CDC. While the disease killed millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages, nowadays, it is a rare cause of illness in rural areas of the southwestern U.S., particularly in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, the agency said. MORE: New Mexico man dies of plague: Health officials Certain regions of Africa and Asia have also reported cases over the past few years. A potentially life-threatening disease, plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is usually passed to humans through the bite of an infected rodent flea or by handling an infected animal, according to the Pueblo Department of Public Health. Symptoms can include sudden fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, nausea and vomiting, per the CDC. MORE: Yes, the plague still exists. Here's what it's like now in the US Plague can be cured with antibiotics, but they must be administered promptly to prevent serious illness or death. Health officials urged anyone who develops symptoms of plague to seek medical care immediately. In order to avoid infection, health officials suggest people take precautions, including avoiding contact with dead animals, regularly treating pets for fleas and eliminating places in and around the home where rodents can breed. Colorado public health officials confirm human plague case in the state originally appeared on abcnews.go.com DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado Senate Committee on Ethics ruled Monday that Sen. Faith Winter violated the Senates rules of ethics by appearing intoxicated at a constituent meeting in April. The five-person panel ruled in a 4-1 vote that Winter, a Democrat who represents portions of Adams, Broomfield and Weld Counties, did not uphold the publics trust by drinking alcohol before appearing at an April community meeting in Northglenn. Disaster declaration issued for Weld County avian flu outbreak The testy meeting was to discuss a mental health transitional living facility where sex offenders were poised to be living close to an elementary school. Winter arrived late and appeared disoriented when told she was a panel member and stumbled in her speech during responses to the community. She said after the meeting that she was seeking alcoholism treatment, and apologized for her conduct in a written statement to The Colorado Sun in April. I deeply regret my behavior last night, Winter said in a written statement. I made a mistake and Im truly sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am committed to making things right. I especially apologize to the city of Northglenn and the citizens that came out I deeply care about your thoughts and community. I am now under the care of medical professionals and receiving treatment for my substance abuse disorder. In Mondays ethics committee meeting, only Sen. James Coleman voted against the ethics violation. After finding that Winter had violated the ethics rules, the committee made several recommendations. The first recommendation was to issue a letter to Winter about her conduct at the Northglenn meeting and substance use. She will also be invited to speak before the full Senate when the legislative session reconvenes in January 2025, where she will be allowed to apologize. The group also recommended that should her actions become concerning again, she will face immediate action from the full Senate, and not from an ethics committee. Earlier this year, Winter voluntarily stepped down as chair of the Transportation and Energy committee to focus on my health. On May 1, she sent a letter to Northglenn City Council asking for empathy, but saying she understood that the way she appeared was inappropriate and hard for those in attendance. US political divisiveness at the forefront this July Fourth That night led me to seek treatment for substance abuse disorder, which was difficult, especially with the eyes of the world watching, but Im glad I did, Winter wrote to the Northglenn governance. If my pain and the stigma I faced publicly even helped one person seek treatment and find peace, then I can find peace myself. Winter assumed office on Jan. 9, 2023, and her current term lasts through Jan. 12, 2027. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a juvenile who has been missing since the Fourth of July. Police say Gavin Reed, 16, was last seen leaving Wendys at about 3 p.m. in the area of 1633 Bradley Park Drive. At that time, Reed was wearing a Wendys uniform gray shirt and black pants with black shoes. Reed has not been seen or heard from in 72 hours, according to police. His family is concerned for his safety. Reed is described as standing at 6-feet and weighing 133 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at (706) 225-3449, or lead investigation Detective Copeland at (706) 225-4343. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), left, and Donald Trump during a presidential debate in 2016. Rubio, a onetime Trump rival now hoping to become his running mate, recently expressed support for changing the Republican platform to reflect Trump's latest position on abortion. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Donald Trump isnt normally thought of as a consensus-builder, but in one sense thats exactly what he is. Many of Trumps most ardent fans and foes alike believe he is the leader of a political movement with a clear and defined set of principles and goals. They disagree only on whether that agenda is good or bad. The tendency to cast Trump as a tool of the ideological right serves the purposes of both sides. The right needs to believe Trump is a warrior for its causes to justify its support for him, and the left wants to believe the same to justify its opposition. Ill concede that this is not an outlandish view. Its certainly how he ran in 2016, when he promised in many respects to be an instrument of the Republican bases will. He even quite brilliantly agreed to a list of potential Supreme Court appointments compiled by the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society to reassure skeptical conservatives that he would be their servant. And since he left office, Trump has frequently told right-wing groups that he remains their loyal champion. So maybe you cant blame people for believing him. Read more: Goldberg: The latest sign that Republicans are abandoning even their most deeply held principles Or maybe you can. While the notion that Trump is an ideological conservative isnt outlandish, it is outdated. Its certainly true that if Trump is reelected, he will do things that please the GOP and conservatives. But lets not get the causality backward: His supporters will like what he does and his enemies will hate it because Trump did it. Theyll look up the arguments later. Right-wing apologists attempt to construct an intellectually consistent Trumpism is one of the oldest stories of the Trump era. And time and again, Trump has beclowned them for it. Consider the recent humiliation of Kevin Roberts, the Heritage Foundations president. Roberts has worked tirelessly to turn the storied think tank into the ideological avant-garde of Trumpism. Along with a whos-who of former Trump administration officials and conservative groups, he launched Project 2025 as both a playbook for another Trump term and a how-to manual for the true believers the group is screening to staff the administration. Appearing on MAGA goon Steve Bannons War Room podcast last week, Roberts told a guest host (Bannon being busy serving a stint in federal prison) that he is leading a second American revolution that will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be. This typically dopey radical posturing invited a wave of legitimate criticism, annoying Trump. Read more: Goldberg: How Democrats' defense of Biden reminds me of Republicans rallying around Trump I know nothing about Project 2025, the former president declared on Truth Social. I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them. Never mind that this is a demonstrably audacious lie : Project 2025 has enough ties to Trump that it might as well rent space at Mar-a-Lago. The point is that Trump rewarded Roberts for his efforts by publicly disavowing them. Or consider the Trump campaign's success in softening the GOP platform's position on abortion. For years, dedicated opponents of abortion rights rationalized their support for Trump with the conviction that he would champion their cause. Their gamble paid off with the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe vs. Wade. But now abortion is a political problem for Trump, so he has changed his position again. The onetime proponent of punishing women who obtain abortions and banning the procedure across the country says that the issue should be left entirely to the states and that the abortion pill mifepristone should remain legal nationwide. The leading contenders to serve as Trumps running mate responded by changing their positions too. I think our platform has to reflect our nominee, longtime antiabortion Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida explained over the weekend. Its a tactically defensible position, but it illuminates the absurdity of claiming the party supports Trump because he reflects the party. The only platform Trump cares about is whichever one he happens to be standing on. Trump has always wanted the party to be his pool of Narcissus, reflecting his personal glory and dominance. Thats why he supported candidates who hewed to his lie that the 2020 election was stolen, preferring that the party lose with loyalists than win with truth-tellers. Thats why he no longer cares about the Federalist Society, which produced judges who rejected his false election claims. Oh, and last month, the guy who infamously called for a ban on Muslim immigration said he wants to give every foreign-born graduate of a U.S. college a green card . The problem with the search for an intellectually serious Trumpism is that Trump has no use for ideas except as expedients of his ambition. The instrumentalism that paved the way for Trump sought to make him the rights tool. Instead, it made a lot of right-wingers look like tools. @JonahDispatch If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FTC Chair Lina Khan is trying to return her agency to its activist roots. (Saul Loeb / Associated Press) Noncompete clauses in employment contracts are sterling examples of the give-them-an-inch-and-they'll-take-a-mile principle in business behavior. Once applied chiefly to executives, engineers and others with access to a company's trade secrets, they have expanded to cover almost anybody low-wage security guards, rank-and-file factory workers and even fast-food counter workers. A recent academic survey estimated that nearly 1 in 5 American workers, or about 30 million people, are subject to noncompetes. Noncompetes have long faced significant legal hostility because of their often blunt prohibition on employee mobility. Starr, Prescott and Bishara (2020) Although the provisions are often described as noncompete "agreements," the survey found that the vast majority of workers haven't negotiated any such agreement with their employers, and about one-third are presented with the restriction after they've already accepted a job offer. A couple of other points: Noncompetes tend to suppress wages. They also undermine innovation. For these and other reasons, the Biden administration took aim at noncompete clauses in 2021, instructing the Federal Trade Commission to "curtail" those that "may unfairly limit worker mobility." After more than a year of study, the FTC followed through with a proposed rule, issued April 23 and scheduled to take effect Sept. 4, that banned new noncompetes and forbade the enforcement of existing clauses except for senior executives who were already subject to the restrictions. You probably know what happened next: Big Business, in the form of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sued to block the FTC's rule. The lawsuit was filed not in Washington, D.C., where the agency resides, but in Texas, where it was almost certain to come before a conservative judge appointed by a Republican. Sure enough, it came before federal Judge Ada Brown of Dallas, a Trump appointee, who on July 3 blocked the FTC from implementing or enforcing its rule until further notice. Read more: Column: Inside the effort by two Beverly Hills billionaires to kill a state law protecting farmworkers Brown says she will rule by Aug. 30, less than a week before the rule is set to take effect, on whether her decision will give relief only to the plaintiffs in the case a Dallas tax firm founded by a former tax advisor to then-President Trump, the Chamber of Commerce, and other business associations or apply nationwide. Here's the background. As the academic economists observed in their survey, published in 2020, "noncompetes have long faced significant legal hostility because of their often blunt prohibition on employee mobility." But they've been tolerated as long as they applied only to high-profile executives or professionals who might have access to proprietary information or clients. Only three states outlaw noncompete clauses: California (where they were rendered unenforceable by law in 1872), Oklahoma and North Dakota. The New York Legislature voted to outlaw them last year, but Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the bill, bowing to pressure from Wall Street and business lobbyists. The chamber's lawsuit is chock full of risible misrepresentations. "For hundreds of years," it says, "employers and workers have had the freedom to negotiate mutually beneficial non-compete agreements." Among their virtues, the chamber asserts, is that they "incentivize investment in research and development ... and facilitate the sorts of collaborative work environments needed for firms to innovate." The truth is just the opposite. Leaving aside the flagrant lie that noncompete clauses are the product of employer-employee "agreements," evidence for the drawbacks of noncompete clauses and for the value of eliminating them is indisputable. One need not look further than the explosion of innovation in Silicon Valley, which was built by talented scientists and engineers who had the freedom to move from firm to firm, or start their own without interference from their employers. Read more: Column: The FTC is pushing new rights for workers. Big business is pitching a fit, of course Among the 400 engineers attending a 1969 conference in Silicon Valley (which had not yet been christened with that name), all but a couple of dozen had worked at one time or another for a single firm, Fairchild Semiconductor which had been founded by eight former workers at Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, some of whom would go on to found Intel Corp. Nothing obstructed their movement or the extraordinary level of innovation that made the valley what it remains today, the world's leading center for technological research and development. The economists Evan Starr of the University of Maryland and J.J. Prescott and Norman Bishara of the University of Michigan found that noncompete clauses keep wages low by blocking competition for workers among competing businesses. Some employers, they wrote, impose noncompete rules even when they're legally unenforceable, in hopes that the mere threat of liability for breaching an employment contract will keep workers in place. Big Business doesnt have much of a case in favor of noncompete clauses. Theyre the antithesis of the principles supposedly honored by right to work antiunion laws so beloved by employers and conservative politicians. They do, however, have a well-marked capacity to suppress wages and lock workers in lousy jobs. There can be no question that the imposition of noncompete clauses has reached an absurd level. The fast-food chain Jimmy Johns, for example, prohibited its employees from working at any other business that sells submarine, hero-type, deli-style, pita, and/or wrapped or rolled sandwiches within up to three miles from any Jimmy Johns store and for two years after leaving the company, according to a lawsuit filed in 2016 by Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan. The franchisor agreed to drop the clause to settle Madigans lawsuit and a second lawsuit filed by New York state. Last year, the FTC sued two affiliated Michigan security firms, Prudential Security and Prudential Command, for requiring low-wage security guards to sign contracts prohibiting them from working for any competitor within 100 miles of their jobs for two years of leaving Prudential. The firms threatened the guards with $100,000 in penalties for violating the clause. Read more: Column: Facebook and Amazon launch a personal attack to unseat a tough regulator The agency also sued two glass container firms, O-I Glass of Ohio and Luxemburg-based Ardagh Group, over noncompete clauses imposed on a combined 1,700 furnace workers and other employees. Those clauses stifled innovation and competition in the glass industry, the FTC said, because it prevented rivals from finding skilled and experienced workers in an already highly concentrated industry. Prudential's owners and the glass companies all agreed to bans on imposing or enforcing their noncompete clauses on present or future employees. In its current lawsuit in Texas, the Chamber of Commerce asserts that the FTC's proposed ban on noncompete clauses exceeds the authority it was granted by Congress. Its point, which was accepted in full by Brown, is that the agency is authorized only to make rules dealing with "unfair or deceptive acts or practices," not "unfair methods of competition." (The FTC responds that the "clear language" of the 1914 FTC Act gives it full authority to "prevent unfair methods of competition through ... rulemaking.") There's more to the chamber's lawsuit, however. It's part of a concerted effort by the business community to undermine FTC Chair Lina Khan, who has worked hard to turn the agency into the vigorous protector of consumer rights that Congress envisioned in 1914, but which a succession of leaders allowed to fade into near-uselessness. Taking a cue from attacks by Elon Musk and Trader Joe's on the National Labor Relations Board, the chamber contends that the FTC itself is unconstitutional, because its commissioners can't be removed by the president at will they serve for seven years and can be removed only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Read more: Column: When a medical team quit, this hospital sued to force them to keep working (Franklin Roosevelt learned this the hard way, when the Supreme Court overturned his firing of a Republican FTC commissioner in 1935; FDR's irritation at that decision contributed to his decision to pursue a court-packing scheme, which failed.) The federal courts generally haven't looked kindly on these collateral attacks on federal agencies, however. In filing its lawsuit, the chamber followed Big Business' familiar and cynical practice of "forum-shopping," or hunting for a federal court predestined to see things its way and willing to issue nationwide injunctions blocking Biden initiatives. For this case, it settled on federal court in Dallas, where only one of the eight sitting judges was appointed by a Democrat (Bill Clinton). Of the remaining seven, three are Trump appointees, including Brown. Forum-shopping, especially among federal courts in Texas, has become such an embarrassment to the federal judiciary that the Judicial Conference of the United States, which sets policy for the federal courts, issued a statement in March calling on the district courts to find fairer ways to assign cases so they don't all go to GOP-appointed judges. David Godbey, the chief judge of the Northern District of Texas, where the chamber's case landed, has refused to do so. Godbey is an appointee of George W. Bush. In any event, the likelihood that random assignment of the chamber's lawsuit would be heard by a Republican appointee was obviously strong. Any appeal from Brown's ruling would come before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the dumbest and most reactionary appellate court in the land. It's likely that this issue will land before the Supreme Court. A second case challenging the FTC rule brought by a Philadelphia-area tree-trimming service backed by a right-wing legal foundation is being heard by a Biden-appointed judge, Kelley Brisbon Hodge, who says she will issue a preliminary ruling by July 23. If she backs the FTC and is upheld by the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court may have to take the case to resolve any conflict. That means the FTC rule is likely to remain in limbo well into next year, or even beyond. Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash on Monday, police said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. John Pogorek, 57, of Strafford, died when an SUV driven by an 81-year-old Rochester man struck Pogorek, who was stopped on the side of the roadway and outside his vehicle resecuring a load on his trailer, Rochester Police Chief Gary Boudreau said in a statement. No arrests have been made. A decorated military leader, pilot and combat veteran, Pogorek served the country in a myriad of roles for more than three decades. He was awarded numerous medals and awards during his career, including the Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal from the government of Kuwait. In his role as commander, Pogorek was responsible for the command, control and plan operations for more than 1,300 officers and airmen at Pease Air National Guard Base. Gov. Chris Sununu offered condolences to Pogoreks family in a social media post as news broke of the military generals sudden death. On behalf of the entire State of New Hampshire, I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Gen. Pogorek, Sununu said. Gen. Pogorek served his state, country, and community with honor. His commitment and contributions to the Granite State will never be forgotten. Brig. Gen. John Pogorek, New Hampshire National Guard Assistant Adjutant General for Air, poses for an official portrait June 21, 2022 at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. Pogorek took command during the 157th Air Refueling Wing change of command ceremony June 4, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Victoria Nelson) At 5:22 p.m. Monday, emergency crews responded to the area of 10 Crown Point Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian, Boudreau said. A preliminary investigation found that a red Toyota RAV4 traveling west on Crown Point Road struck Pogorek, who was outside his vehicle and resecuring a load on his 2014 Toyota Tundra, which was on the side of the roadway. The red 2012 Toyota RAV4 continued without stopping, Boudreau said. Pogorek was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later located the RAV4, and identified the driver as Paul Clement, 81, of Rochester. It was unclear Tuesday whether Clement would face any charges in the fatal crash. A juvenile passenger who was inside Pogoreks Toyota Tundra during the crash was not injured, police said. Pogorek received a bachelors degree in Human Factors Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and was commissioned in May 1989, according to biographical information on the New Hampshire National Guards website. He joined the New Hampshire Air National Guard in January 1999 and transitioned to the KC-135R, and then to the KC-46A Pegasus. During his career, he served as a KC-135R instructor and evaluator pilot, Squadron Director of Operations, 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron Commander, 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Commander, the 157th Maintenance Group Commander, and the 157th Operations Group Commander. Prior to his current position, Pogorek was the commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base. The Strafford County Regional Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team responded and assisted with the investigation. A portion of Crown Point Road from the intersection of Meadorboro Road and Estes Road to the intersection of Strafford Road was closed for several hours as crews were on scene. An investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing, the police chief said. Anyone who may have information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Detective Matthew Flathers at 603-330-7128 or matthew.flathers@rochesternh.gov. Measles confirmed in New Hampshire resident, public urged to monitor for symptoms This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW GAZA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air raid on a Palestinian gathering in the Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, said Palestinian sources on Tuesday. Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that the Israeli jets targeted, with one missile, a gathering of Palestinians in the refugee camp. Medical sources said that the raid led to the deaths of nine Palestinians, including children and women, and wounded dozens of others. In addition, Hamas-run health authorities said on Tuesday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 50 Palestinians and wounded 130 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll in Gaza to 38,243 and injuries to 88,033 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out in early October 2023. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage. These Common Medications May Cause More Side Effects When Its Hot Out Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer Key Takeaways Some medications can cause new side effects when you take them and are exposed to extreme heat. These side effects include dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, skin rash, and more. It's important to know whether any of your medications may work differently in extreme temperatures so you can monitor your outdoor time appropriately, experts said. Heat waves bring many health risks like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydrationbut your medications may also cause issues on extremely hot days. Many medications are impacted by heat, Michael Redlener, MD, medical director of Mount Sinai West emergency department in New York, told Verywell. Some medications affect your thermoregulationor the process by which your body maintains a steady temperatureand your fluid balance. For this reason, when temperatures rise and you start sweating more than usual, these medications can cause unpleasant side effects. Its essential to understand whether any medications you take can cause these side effects since they can worsen if you spend excess time outside. Increased exposure [to heat] brings increased risk, Nicholas Kman, MD, FACEP, an emergency medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Verywell. Medications That Can Cause Side Effects During Hot Weather Heat can affect various medications in different ways, experts said. In addition to affecting your thermoregulation and fluid levels, some medications can cause you to be more sensitive to sun exposure, Kman said. Its also worth noting that some medications are degraded by heatmeaning they may not work as they should if theyre left in very hot temperaturesRedlener said. Disrupt Thermoregulation and Fluid Balance Medications that affect your thermoregulation and fluid balance can amplify the risk of harm from hot weather, Kman said, explaining that they include the following drugs: Some antipsychotic medications Some antidepressants Some antihypertensive agents Antipsychotic medications are often recommended for people with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic features (such as delusions and hallucinations), acute mania, borderline personality disorder, and more. Examples of antipsychotic medications that can cause side effects in extreme heat include Haldol (haloperidol), Zyprexa (olanzapine), and Seroquel (quetiapine). Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) that can cause harmful side effects in the heat include amitriptyline and Anafranil (clomipramine). TCAs are used to treat major depressive disorder. Antihypertensive drugs are used to treat cardiovascular issues, and medications in this category include diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin (ARN) inhibitors. In very hot weather, these medications may cause symptoms such as electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and volume depletion (when you lose too much fluid), Kman said. They can also increase your risk of falls, and some of the above may dilate your blood vessels, worsening dizziness, he added. Consuming alcohol, caffeine, or sugary drinks can exacerbate these side effects since all of these substances can further dehydrate you, Redlener said. GLP-1 Medications Glucose-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can cause vomiting and diarrhea; therefore, taking the drugs in extreme heat may lead to dehydration. Increase Sun Sensitivity Medications that can increase sun sensitivity include the following, Kman said: Some antibiotics Some antifungal medications Antibiotics that can create uncomfortable side effects in the sun include Metrogel (metronidazole), which is used to treat infections of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, reproductive system, joints, skin, blood, lungs, and more. Tetracycline is an antibiotic medication used to treat pneumonia and some other respiratory tract infections, as well as infections caused by ticks, lice, and more. Antifungal medications that can cause side effects in the sun include Ancobon (flucytosine) and Grifulvin V (griseofulvin), which are used to treat athletes foot, ringworm, and other infections caused by candida and cryptococcus fungi. When you use these medications and spend time in the sun, you may develop a rash similar to sunburn. Become Less Effective Heat can damage the following medications, Redlener said: EpiPens Insulin Inhalers EpiPens can deliver less epinephrinethe agent that treats allergic emergenciesin hot temperatures. Insulin, a medication that helps people manage diabetes, is intended to be stored in a refrigerator and can become less effective in the heat. Inhalers, used to treat asthma, can burst when exposed to heat. The above arent the only medications that can increase the risk of side effects on hot days; high temperatures can affect a range of drugs, including some anti-seizure medications, antiretrovirals, analgesics, antihistamines, and more. If you think a medication youre taking is causing side effects in the heat, its important to speak with a healthcare provider like a doctor or pharmacist, experts said. What to Do If You Experience Heat-Related Side Effects of Medications Some people are more likely to experience these side effects. Older adults, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic disease are at highest risk, Kman said. That said, even young and healthy people can be affected if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Because risk increases with heat exposure, we get concerned about athletes, [people who are] homeless, and people who work in hot environments, Kman added. Health issues caused by heat contribute to many emergency department (ED) visits, and theres reason to believe this problem may be getting worse: From May to September last year, ED visits substantially increased across several U.S. regions compared with previous years, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its difficult to say how many of these visits are prompted by heat-related side effects of medications. Regardless, its important to know the heat-related warning signs that should signal you to get help from a medical professional. The following symptoms could indicate that youre experiencing heat stroke and should prompt an emergency room visit, Kman said: Confusion Dizziness Extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit when taken orally) Rapid pulse Red, hot skin (that may or may not be sweaty) Unconsciousness Any heat-related side effects of medications warrant a discussion with a healthcare provider, no matter the severity, experts said. A healthcare provider may be able to alter your medication regimen during warmer months or suggest ways to manage or treat the side effects. The key to preventing these side effects may be to monitor your time in hot environments. There is a lot of public health messaging about when to go outside, and there are heat indexes that a lot of public health agencies are promoting, Redlener said. Its important to keep up with the weather in your area and follow the guidance of local health authorities, he said. What This Means For You Some medications dont work as well when exposed to heat, while others can cause side effects when you take them and are exposed to extreme heat. These side effects range from uncomfortable to dangerous and are caused by some common medications, like beta-blockers and antidepressants. If you live in an area that experiences extreme heat, speak with a healthcare provider about whether any of your medications may be affected byor work differently inheat. Read the original article on Verywell Health. Tonight, community members got to meet, and get to know the new Duval County Schools superintendent. Jacksonvilles NAACP hosted a reception for the Dr. Christopher Bernier, who was sworn in last week. Dr. Bernier is focusing on solutions to several problems he inherited. Some of the challenges include the school consolidations and several sex abuse claims against teachers at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. On week two of his time as Duval County superintendent, he met with dozens of parents and students at a NACCP-hosted reception. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< My job here tonight is to open some doors to make sure we can pass freely between them so as we look towards solutions, we have everybodys voice included, Dr. Bernier said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Kayleigh Gutierrez is a Rising Senior at Riverside High School and said a lot of her friends are worried about the more than 30 schools that could get shut down. Having to completely relocate in the middle or the beginning of their high school year, Gutierrez said. Its very upsetting to me. But Dr. Bernier pointed out that nothing is finalized, and the district is having an outside consultant update it. The board members have kind of expected a November deadline for a final plan, but theyre also open to extending it to make sure we have the right plan to bring forward, Dr. Bernier said. RELATED: Duval County Public Schools new superintendent starts Monday Monday nights reception also comes about a week after the district reached three settlements with students over sex abuse claims -- totaling around $1.5 million. As a parent with kids that are in the public school system, accountability is top priority, Executive Director of Beaver Street Enterprise Center, Terrance Brisbane said. Many said theyre excited to brainstorm with Dr. Bernier to tackle some of the problems the district is facing. We want to make sure were at the table and that were communicating with each other, President of the NAACP Jacksonville Branch, Isaiah Rumlin said. Rising Senior Joanna Delphonse of Jean Ribault High School feels that hearing Dr. Bernier speak was good for the community. Its great to get to know the superintendent [and] actually say, Hey, Im glad that you are here, and Im prepared to work with you to make great changes within our school, so Im very excited, Delphonse said. Action News Jax also spoke with people about their thoughts on the superintendents links to a whistleblower complaint alleging racial bias from his previous school district in Lee County. Many said they are ready to look ahead. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Dozens of residents packed the Minneapolis City Council chambers Monday to discuss a new police contract that would grant officers historic wage increases, with some saying depleted police ranks have contributed to a perception of lawlessness and rising fear in their neighborhoods while others called the deal expensive and unearned. The proposed contract would guarantee a nearly 22% pay raise for veteran officers by next summer and boost starting salaries for rookies to more than $90,000 a year putting Minneapolis among the top three highest-paid departments in the state and surpassing comparable wage schedules of some of the nation's largest law enforcement agencies. The contract would also expand managerial oversight of the force, whose numbers stand at their lowest level in four decades. For weeks, as local officials weighed whether to approve the contract, Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O'Hara have cast the raises as critical to attracting quality recruits, retaining experienced officers and restoring public trust amid court-mandated reforms meant to overhaul the agency in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. A number of the residents who attended Monday's meeting, the second public hearing on the question, said it's past time for action. "I do not recognize this city any longer," said Elise Werger, a Seward neighborhood resident whose husband and daughter were both assaulted in recent months. "Council members, your constituents are terrified to go to work, to take a walk, to go to the store without looking over their shoulders." "I know the police aren't perfect; no one would dispute that reform is needed. But we need more police, because these criminals know they can get away with it." But others are calling on City Council members to reject the deal, denouncing the collective-bargaining agreement as an attempt to inflate wages without upholding longstanding promises to improve police accountability. Noah Schumacher, a lifelong Minneapolis resident, questioned whether salary bumps would result in a tangible improvement to public safety when the root issues that create the conditions for violence and crime continue to go unaddressed. "Many have shared personal experiences. I too have been robbed, mugged and shot at and that was pre-2020, when the police were fully staffed," Schumacher said, noting that he has also been victimized by police. He noted the MPD has cost the city more than $71 million in police brutality settlements since 2019. Minneapolis has also paid more than $24 million in workers' compensation settlements to more than 150 Minneapolis police officers since June 1, 2020, according to a Star Tribune analysis. Many left the department after filing PTSD claims, contributing to a nagging staffing shortage that has shrunk the agency by 40% since May 2020 and ballooned overtime costs. MPD has 516 sworn staff on active duty, compared to roughly 900 at its peak. Broader city authority Many of the city's elected leaders long pegged the contract as an obstacle to enacting much-needed reforms, and police watchdogs argued this vote presented a chance to fix it. In the recent years, though, some top leaders including Frey flip-flopped by saying they believe disciplinary changes are better made through internal policies that don't have to be negotiated with the union. The tentative labor contract, ratified by the union in June, considerably broadens the chief's managerial powers by providing more discretion in how and where he can move personnel, removes the 70/30 clause, which sets minimum staffing levels for certain positions, expands the number of civilian investigators in the department and raises field training officer (FTO) pay from $2,500 to $3,000 per year. It also sheds decades of side agreements between the city and the union that effectively tied the hands of city leaders when trying to make changes. Many had no expiration dates. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the city operations officer, and City Attorney Kristyn Anderson walked council members through the new contract, emphasizing changes that give the city broader disciplinary and staffing authority. "We want to attract, we want to retain and we want to hire the best and highest-caliber police officers that we can have in Minneapolis who are reform-minded," Kelliher told members of the council's Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee on Monday. Anderson emphasized that many reforms demanded by community members will be enforced by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights agreement and pending federal consent decree with the Department of Justice. Communities United Against Police Brutality, a grassroots police reform group, issued a rebuttal criticizing the labor contract as an unwarranted "budget-buster" that would raise property taxes and hand thousands in back pay to current and former officers, including those who cost the city millions in brutality settlements. "Historic raises need to be earned," said Michelle Gross, president of the advocacy group. She was also skeptical that increased base pay alone would be a fail-proof recruitment tool to rebuild MPD's dwindling ranks. "Culture change is far more important to new recruits than waving dollar bills around," she said, encouraging council members to vote down the contract. "It's more important to do this right than to do it fast. ...Your vote means nothing if you can't vote No." A showdown over the contract comes amid continued fallout from the recent line-of-duty death of Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell and the city's projected $21.6 million budget hole, which may result in steep property tax hikes for residents. Several speakers in favor of the contract noted that rank-and-file officers make far less than sitting council members, who don't face the same level of risk in their professional lives. "They do one of the most intense and high-stress jobs out there, with almost double the workload given the number of police we're down," said Tisa Ford, daughter of a former Minneapolis police officer. "They put their life on the line every single day when they step out." Minneapolis' current police labor agreement was adopted in March 2022 after state mediation and expired Dec. 31 of that year. The contract will cost an estimated $9.2 million in future spending above what had previously been planned for, as well as an estimated $5.5 million in back pay, which can be covered in the city's current budget. The 166-page agreement requires sign-off by the full City Council. The body doesn't have the ability to propose changes to the labor agreement, only to approve or reject it. If members refuse to endorse it, the city's labor negotiating team must return to mediation alongside the police union. In an interview last week, Council Member Linea Palmisano said she feared if the contract moved to binding arbitration, the city could risk losing some hard-fought provisions. "They're going to get most of this money, if not all of it, through arbitration, and we're not going to get anything back in terms of management rights," she said. "I think that people who are looking for full-on police transformation are not going to be satisfied with a labor contract, because it doesn't really have the tools for that." Frey, O'Hara and Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette penned a joint op-ed in the Star Tribune last month heralding hard-fought provisions to expand the chief's powers and shave off decades of side-agreements that, they say, amount to "significant reforms." "For decades, city officials have gradually given away managerial oversight to the police union in exchange for modest pay increases,' they wrote. "The results: limited authority for police chiefs to manage a culture they were charged with shifting and limited ability to recruit and retain officers with below-market pay. "Does this contract deliver on every change we sought? No, of course not," the letter continues, acknowledging that the city had to compromise in order to "deliver more than lip service to the police officers who go to work every day to help make Minneapolis safer." The council is expected to formally vote on the matter July 18. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Florida is spending big money on a program that promises to bring down property insurance premiums. Some saw the benefits, but others say they were stuck on a waiting list. The state allocated an additional $200 million for this years program, but theres still concern there wont be enough to meet the demand. The My Safe Florida Home program has been a huge success, helping thousands of Floridians harden their homes against hurricanes and storms while saving on insurance, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in a statement. This funding will benefit nearly 20,000 Floridians, prioritizing seniors and low-income homeowners to ensure those who need it most have access to these home hardening grants. Right now, homeowners who are seniors and considered low-income can apply for the My Safe Florida Home program. It offers free home inspections and up to $10,000 for home improvements and upgrades. However, several critics of the program are concerned that they could face another year of disappointment if there isnt enough funding to meet the demand. Joe Fabrizio says hes still left in limbo. The purpose of doing this was to help us secure our homes and make them a little safer, said Joe Fabrizio. There was no direction on whether that was just going to stay in a queue or if I had to reapply or what was going to happen. I didnt receive anything. There was no money left, according to what they told me, so I was not funded. His home in St. Petersburg was inspected through the program last year, but he was put on the waiting list when the funding was depleted. Its confusing and frustrating because you dont know where you stand, said Fabrizio. Its the second go around and Im still sort of in the same point I was after the first go around. In a statement, the Chief Financial Officers office wrote: All grant applications received were approved last fall. No one who applied for a grant was left unfunded. However, there were several thousand who had completed their initial home inspection but were unable to submit a grant application because the application portal was closed. Its important to note that an application for an inspection is not and application for a grant. These are two different applications per statute. Theres not going to be enough money for every Floridian, said Lisa Miller, an insurance consultant with Lisa Miller and Associates. $200 million will go quickly. Thats about 20,000 at $10,000 a maximum of $10,000. Apply early and try to get in the program. According to the My Safe Florida Home website, new funding for the program will be tied to new prioritization requirements as enacted by the Legislature. Applications will be accepted and prioritized in 15-day increments: Grant Group 1 Low-income homeowners age 60+ July 1 July 15 Grant Group 2 Low-income homeowners of any age July 16 30 Grant Group 3 Moderate-income homeowners age 60+ July 31 Aug. 14 Grant Group 4 Moderate-income homeowners of any age Aug. 15 30 Grant Group 5 All other eligible Florida homeowners Aug. 31 Once all funds are awarded, the portal will close and will not accept any additional applications until additional funding is provided. For more information, please visit MySafeFLHome.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Congressional Democrats divided over the presidents future huddled together on Capitol Hill to discuss the partys path forward. At least six Democratic members have called on the president to drop out of the race. Joe Biden all the way! declared Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.). Several House Democrats on Capitol Hill appear ready to come to the presidents rescue. Joe Biden is, will be, and should be our nominee, said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). Following a closed-door party meeting Tuesday morning House Democratic leadership acknowledged there are differences in opinions about the presidents viability but say the party remains united to defeat Donald Trump. Every single member of the House Democratic caucus is clear eyed about what the stakes of this election are, said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.). Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, the second highest ranking Democrat in the Senate, says President Biden must prove that debate was a one off and not a larger pattern. At this point, I would say to the president, the challenges to you. Show us in the way you campaign that you can effectively beat Donald Trump. Show us that youre a good candidate, said Durbin. The White House says the president is prepared to make his case to the public. We want to get to the other side of this. We want to continue doing the work and thats what the presidents going to do, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The president is continuing to do outreach and will hold a call with Democratic mayors Tuesday night. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Cory Booker said talking to reporters is not gonna necessarily help Democrats beat Donald Trump in November. (Photo by John Partipilo) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Cory Booker speaking to reporters The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 8: U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. Several Democratic members of Congress have urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race after his June 27 debate against presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump. Concerns about Biden's age and perceived slowing down have intensified, with critics fearing these issues could undermine his ability to effectively challenge Trump in the upcoming election. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Some Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure that the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden Monday to exit the race. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. OK, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. ULAN BATOR, July 9 (Xinhua) -- An event promoting culture and tourism in Zhangjiajie in China's Hunan province was held on Tuesday at the Chinese Cultural Center in Mongolia's capital of Ulan Bator. Titled "Nihao China!," the event was co-organized by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, among others. "Tourism is an important medium to enhance cultural affinity between China and Mongolia. Our two countries are geographically close. There are differences in tourism resources between many places in China and Mongolia, creating complementary advantages," Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan said at the event. "The protagonist of today's promotion event, Zhangjiajie, is renowned as a fairyland for its stunning mountains, pristine waters, and rich cultural heritage. As the filming location for the movie 'Avatar,' it holds a special allure for our Mongolian friends as a desired tourist destination," she added. The event featured a presentation on Zhangjiajie's key tourist attractions and a photo exhibition showcasing approximately 60 photographs capturing China's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical sites. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images. WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American people including me that hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdrawfrom the 2024 race. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Source New Mexico. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-llinois. (Screenshot from U.S. Senate webcast) Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden return to the White House on July 7, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress return to Washington this week as pressure for Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the presidency continues to mount. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Democratic U.S. Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, left, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio are seen as the chambers most vulnerable incumbent Democrats in 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. President Joe Biden, right, and the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American people including me that hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, citing security reasons, in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura | Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence, and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. COLOMBO, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Officers from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard arrested five people involved in smuggling bird and reptile species aboard a local multi-day fishing trawler, the navy said in a statement on Tuesday. The navy said the suspects were arrested during an operation in the country's southern waters on July 7. Naval intelligence has been monitoring the smuggling of birds and reptiles via sea routes for some time, the navy said. The officers found 13 pythons, one monitor lizard, one tortoise and three parrots on board the trawler, the navy said. The trawler was escorted to Galle Harbor on Monday night, where Department of Wildlife Conservation officers examined the animals and determined that they were non-native to Sri Lanka. The suspects have been identified as residents of Negombo and Kochchikade and are aged between 34 and 67. They were handed over to the Department of Wildlife Conservation Hikkaduwa for legal action. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 8: U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. Several Democratic members of Congress have urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race after his June 27 debate against presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump. Concerns about Biden's age and perceived slowing down have intensified, with critics fearing these issues could undermine his ability to effectively challenge Trump in the upcoming election. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Michigan Advance. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura | Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th [attack], he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. OK, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supports Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. A mesa overlooks prairie in Tamaya Kwii Kee Nee Puu. (Photo courtesy of Santa Ana Pueblo) Once Tamaya Kwii Kee Nee Puu is signed into trust with the federal government, people who are not members of the Santa Ana Pueblo and who trespass will be subject to tribal and federal law enforcement. In June, Santa Ana Pueblo officials were joined by the Southwest Regional Office of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to host a fee to trust signing ceremony at the Prairie Star Restaurant. But the final signatures arent expected until around the end of July, said Doug McKenna, director of the Santa Ana Pueblos Natural Resources Department. Mckenna said the land is almost entirely fenced off and signs are posted prohibiting trespassing. To do anything on the land, one would need permission from the Santa Ana Pueblo Governors Office, he said. Until the final signatures are made at the end of July, the land is considered private property and any trespassing would be prosecuted by either the Sandoval County Sheriffs Office, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, or the local district attorney, he said. With the lands being signed into trust, the tribal government will be able to enforce trespassing and other laws through civil actions in tribal court, McKenna said. Non-Native people cannot be tried in tribal court for criminal charges, but can for civil charges, he said. It enhances the authority for conservation officers to do their job to better protect the natural and cultural resources out there, he said. People who are hunting, fishing or gathering once the lands are in trust can be brought into federal criminal court, he said. People could also be prosecuted federally for tearing down signs or fences; or digging for pottery, burial sites or other cultural resources, McKenna said. Its for the betterment of the community, he said. I think people will think about things before they trespass, cut fences, or come across Indian land. The post Conservation enforcement on Santa Ana Pueblo lands expected at end of July appeared first on Source New Mexico. DENVER (KDVR) Colorado could hit triple-digit temperatures this week, and the forecast supports the possibility of multiple 100-degree days in a row. Because of the extreme heat, Xcel is offering customers tips on how to lower their bills and reduce strain on the states electrical grid, and the utility is notifying customers of a new program rolling out in the state. Denver just hit 100 degrees after a nearly 700-day streak According to the energy service provider, nearly half of most customers summertime electric bills are spent on home cooling. The company said that by practicing energy conservation and efficiency habits, customers can keep their bills lower than they may have otherwise. Iffie Jennings, with Xcel, says one option is to use a programmable thermostat to raise the temperature setting when the house is empty and to lower it when people are home. Savings will depend on the individual and their home and what they choose to do during that time in order to save, Jennings told FOX31s Kim Posey. You may have heard these tips before, but theyre still relevant. Actionable items include: Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air throughout the home Open interior doors to improve air circulation Use a whole-house or attic fan to draw in cool air from outside the home at night, then push hot air out during the day Change air conditioner filters and clean the coils to improve AC efficiency Close drapes/blinds during the day Of course, general efficiency habits still apply, too. Turning off lights and electronics that are not in use, replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs and running washing machines or dishwashers with only full loads after the days heat can help keep houses cooler and reduce the strain on the electric grid. Will Xcel turn my power off on Energy Action Days? Xcel deems Energy Action Days to be days with undue stress on the energy grid due to extreme weather events. The company will notify customers that it is encouraging residents to save on energy by shifting energy usage for a few hours. We hope to have very few Energy Action Days, but this relies largely on weather and temperature patterns, Xcel said on its website. The company noted that these days are typically the five to 10 hottest afternoons in the summer. Denver weather: Why you should consider canceling your outdoor plans this weekend Xcel said the goal with these action days is to ensure everyone in the community including hospitals, schools and businesses can access the power they need. The program has been used in other states Xcel operates in, but this is the first year its being used in Colorado. Participation is entirely optional, and theres no penalty for not participating. Customers will simply get an email notifying them of the potential strain on the grid and giving them tips on how to reduce overall energy use. When are Xcels peak energy hours? Xcel Energy customers have a few options when signing up for their billing rates. The first option is a seasonal, flat-rate structure and the second is a time of use pricing model. Theres also an opt-out pricing option, which is a flat rate to customers, regardless of how much energy they use or when they use it. In the summer, customers on the time-of-use model can lower their overall energy bills by pre-cooling their homes every night or during off-peak usage hours and allowing temperatures in the home to rise during peak electric usage hours. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team The service provider also noted that some appliances add heat to a household, including vacuums, dishwashers and washing machines. To help save money, Xcel recommends customers operate those appliances during off-peak hours. Xcel said that between June 1 and Sept. 30, those times are: Off-peak: 18 hours, from 7 a.m. -1 p.m. Rate: $0.12/kWh Mid-peak: 2 hours, from 1-3 p.m. Rate: $0.22/kWh On-peak: 4 hours, from 3-7 p.m. Rate: $0.32/kWh The opt-out rate for residential customers is $0.16/kWh, and weekends and holidays are billed at the off-peak rate, Xcel said. Customers can also enroll in programs like the Savers Switch and AC Rewards, which compensate customers for participation. However, it could mean that Xcel will lock your thermostat on extremely hot days. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. U.S. House Republicans are promoting a bill to curb voting by noncitizens. Though noncitizens can vote in some local elections, it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) Voting rights advocates say a GOP push for legislation prohibiting noncitizens from voting is not about creating laws thats already prohibited. Yet the U.S. House could vote this week on a Republican bill outlawing noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Critics of the measure say it would aggravate racial disparities and is meant to chill voter turnout among the immigrant community. The bill would require people to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections, according to the bill summary. Claiming a need for increased election integrity, the GOP has pushed in recent years to highlight the issue. Florida voters took action on the matter, passing an amendment barring voting by noncitizens in 2020. Florida law requires voters to present an ID or cast a provisional ballot to be compared against a voters signature on record. Cosponsorship of the bill awaiting a vote from Congress is partisan in both chambers. Both U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott representing Florida have signed on, as have 12 of 20 Florida GOP representatives. No Democrats, from Florida or otherwise, have signed on to the measure. Given that partisan breakdown, the bill is not expected to become law, but thats not the intent, according a panel of immigration advocates hosted by Americas Voice, an immigration reform organization, during a Zoom call on Tuesday. Its chilling voting. And its chilling voting specifically in communities of color, said Juan Espinoza, an adviser at UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights advocacy organization. The noncitizen nonsense is a broad and orchestrated attack on the legitimacy of Latino voters and other communities who are constantly villainized and weaponized in this country, Espinoza said. Harmful rhetoric He voiced concern that rhetoric about noncitizens taking to the ballot box could result in Latino citizens being wrongfully removed from voter rolls, over-represented in the signature-verification process, being less likely to volunteer at the polls, or being targeted for violence. People who are naturalized citizens may stray away from exercising their right to vote because they are afraid of making mistakes, he added. For noncitizens who might consider violating laws already in place to prevent them from voting, its often not worth it, said Sean Morales-Doyle, a director at the Brennan Center for Justice. There are severe penalties for those who violate these laws. They face prison time, they face deportation, he said. And so, I think it helps sometimes to take a step back and think about why those serious consequences mean that the reality is that we dont see this happening in significant numbers at all; noncitizens are not voting in our state and federal elections in any kind of significant numbers. Plan B Douglas Rivlin, director of communications for Americas Voice, sees a scheme to undermine fair elections. Zachary Mueller, research director for Americas Voice, agreed, saying talk like this constitutes a GOP Plan B against another Donald Trump loss. This is Plan B, if Republicans do not win in November, is to again create lies and fictions that immigrants are stealing our elections, Mueller said. In announcing the bill, supporters said it would save our democratic process, end the practice of noncitizens voting in our elections, and ensure that people who arent even citizens dont cancel out Louisianans and Americans voices at the ballot box. The allegations the bill is based on, Espinosa said, are not true. Morales-Doyle stressed that noncitizen voting is an infinitesimally rare phenomenon. A 2023 study first reported by the Washington Post found that, in Arizona, fewer than 0.5% of noncitizens were registered to vote. In many instances, the advocates said, are situations in which a noncitizen does not know they are breaking the law due to unclear registration information. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Columbus Council changed a city law to help a retired police officer who sued the city and won 14 years ago to finally be appointed to council despite controversy. Despite the Columbus Consolidated Governments pension board declining in June to recommend amending the CCG employee pension plan, the council voted to do exactly that Tuesday Byron Hickey refused to finish his swearing-in process without such a change. The CCG charter considers councilors to be part-time employees and they are paid like it, earning around $22,000 per year. But they have the option to participate in the citys health insurance plan, and about 8% of their pay automatically goes to the pension plan because it considers councilors to be full-time employees. If Hickey accepted the councils appointment to serve as the District 1 representative without this amendment, his pension would have been suspended. So this amendment allows Hickey or any other CCG retiree to still receive their pension payments while serving on the council. Bruce Huff of District 3 is the only councilor who expressed concern about the amendment during the June 18 council meeting or to the Ledger-Enquirer. He questioned the wisdom of the amendment making an exception for only city councilors instead of all elected offices. Huff reiterated that concern during Tuesdays meeting, but he voted for the amendment anyway. Columbus Councilor Bruce Huff speaks Tuesday. 07/09/2024 (Due to) time restrictions, District 1 needs a representative, and he will be sworn in this morning, and we will move forward, Huff said, but Ill be checking into that situation to see if we cant do something (to expand the exception) in the future. Why Byron Hickeys confirmation took so long Nobody mentioned this conflict in city law when the council appointed Hickey on May 28 to succeed the late Jerry Pops Barnes and fill the remaining two years of the four-year term. Barnes, who died April 14 at age 80 from an undisclosed illness, was the District 1 representative on the 10-member council for 17 years. A week after he was appointed, and the same day the citys probate court judge swore him into office, Hickey received an email from CCG human resources director Reather Hollowell informing him that his city pension would be suspended while he served on the council. Thats because the citys pension ordinance considers councilors as full-time employees, despite the charter treating councilors as part-time employees. Thats why Hickeys other half of the swearing-in process, the one that was supposed to be conducted by a superior court judge at the June 4 council meeting, was indefinitely postponed. But nobody would explain why at that point. At the June 11 council meeting, two of Barnes children criticized the six councilors who voted to appoint Hickey. They refuted the narrative that Barnes was mentoring Hickey to be his successor. Allen had nominated one of Barnes children, licensed professional counselor Simeone Simi Barnes, to fill her fathers seat, but the council didnt vote on that motion because a majority already had approved Hickey. In 2010, a federal jury awarded Hickey $306,000 in a lawsuit claiming the city officials discriminated against him because he spoke out against racial and gender bias. Hickey reacts to the Columbus vote After the councils unanimous vote Tuesday, Chattahoochee Circuit Superior Court Judge Arthur Smith conducted the oath of office for Hickey, and the audience gave him a standing ovation. First, I want to express my gratitude and give all praise and glory to God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for blessing me with this opportunity to serve on the Columbus Consolidated Government city council, Hickey said after he took his seat and joined the other councilors at the dais. To the Mayor, Mr. city manager, Mr. city attorney and madam clerk of council, I extend my sincere thanks to each council member for their support and vote on my appointment for the seat of District 1 and amending the pension ordinance. Im eager to work alongside all of you for the next two years. Byron Hickey was sworn in as a Columbus City Councilor Tuesday morning. 07/09/2024 Then he honored Barnes. He was a devout man of God who deeply cared for his constituents, our city and our country, Hickey said. His leadership, especially in advocating for the poor and less fortunate, was unparalleled. I recognize the significant legacy Councilor Barnes has left, and if its Gods will, and by His grace, I aspire to serve with the same dedication and success. Once again, I am humbled and thankful to God for this opportunity to serve and be a blessing to the community and the constituents of District 1. Thank you and God bless. SYDNEY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese market and investment will continue to provide growth momentum as Australia is determined to revitalize its industrial manufacturing amid the ongoing global energy transition, executives in the country's mining industry told Xinhua. In the past two decades, China's imports of and investment in Australia's mineral resources have further promoted the development and prosperity of the two countries, fully demonstrating the win-win situation of practical cooperation between the sides. Chinese investment has been incredibly important to Australia's resources industry, and China remains a really important market for both traditional and established minerals like iron ore and critical minerals, said Warren Pearce, chief executive officer of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies. "In the last 15 years, it's been China's investment that helped us turn on major new projects," Pearce said. "We've been a major beneficiary of that investment, and it has really helped Australia's prosperity." "It's important we actually continue that good trading relationship that's been mutually beneficial for both countries," he said. Rio Tinto's chief executive Jakob Stausholm said China has been a critical partner for Australia's mining industry for decades and there is a long history of mutually beneficial partnerships between both countries. "China is a driving force for the global economy, and the world's top metals' consumer," Stausholm said. "China's strong demand for high-quality minerals such as iron ore and copper has generated substantial opportunities for investment and trade, and has helped to power Australia's economy." "Today, China is our largest market and home to our biggest stakeholder. With China's strong determination to further open up, it will continue to be a pillar for Rio Tinto's long-term success," he said. Dino Otranto, chief executive officer of Fortescue Metals, praised China as an exceptional partner for Australia, and the state of Western Australia in particular. "Most of the mining industry here can thank China's support over many years, going back more than 50 years. In my home state here, Western Australia, China has been there from the start," Otranto said. "We really couldn't be here today without the support of China." "And moving forward, I think the relationships between Australia and China ... will continue to forge new pathways moving forward," Otranto said. Vandita Pant, chief financial officer (CFO) of BHP, said the demand for Australian minerals and investment in the sector have underpinned the development of mining projects, infrastructure, and technological advancements which have been a key driver of economic growth and prosperity for both countries. This has also driven growth, innovation, and job creation within the mining sector, she said. Looking ahead, China's continued focus on urbanization, industrialization and developing new quality productive forces will sustain demand for high-quality mineral resources from Australia, such as iron ore, met coal and copper, Pant said. "This ongoing demand will help support the growth of Australia's mining sector and contribute to the economic prosperity of both China and Australia," Pant said. Stausholm said China has been making breakthroughs in green technologies and products by building a leading industry supply chain. "That provides opportunities and potential for collaboration with global partners including Australian businesses to better address climate change," said the Rio Tinto's chief executive, adding that Chinese companies can bring expertise and investment to develop value-added facilities in Australia, benefiting local resources and Australian technological innovation. Otranto said Fortescue Metals had announced an ambitious plan to transform its energy system to completely green by 2030, and he believed China is uniquely placed to supply the wind and solar technology in large-scale manufacturing to enable the company to achieve the goal. Pant spoke highly of China's transformation toward net-zero, saying China's investment and progress in green manufacturing is at an "astounding" pace. "I believe that there will be opportunities for companies with the right experience and expertise and that this could lead to shared growth and mutually beneficial outcomes for Australia and China as the net-zero transition continues," said the BHP CFO. CONWAY, Ark. Roxy is a courthouse facility dog that has helped over 150 children in Arkansas share their story with prosecutors and in the witness box. When a victim comes in, particularly a child, so much trauma has already happened, and the judicial process can be re-traumatizing if youre not careful for that victim, and so a dog provides a comfort without asking anything in return, Roxys Certified Facility Dog Handler Fawn Borden said. PAWS for Justice is a program that aids by using facility dogs to participate in forensic interviews, police interviews, medical exams, prosecutor meetings, and trial proceedings. The dogs help ease and calm the victims and witnesses. Canine Companions provides service dogs to veterans battling post-traumatic stress Roxy is one of four courthouse facility dogs in Arkansas. During her year and a half of facilitation, she has helped pave the way for change and helped around 150 children. We found where sometimes prosecutors were a little apprehensive to try something new, but once they used the dog, they really saw the benefit of having the dog present for meetings, for trial prep and then in a trial, Borden said. Borden is also the assistant program manager for PAWS for Justice. PAWS stands for Patient Advocate Warm-hearted Support, precisely what these dogs are for anyone they work with. PAWS for Justice dogs come from Canine Companions; each dog is approximately $50,000 between breeding, training, and insurance policy. However, the dogs are provided to PAWS for Justice at a free cost. Canine Companions spread awareness about service dogs in central Arkansas When we get requested by a prosecutor, we go down, usually the beginning is for meetings so typically we work with children, but we cant be used for anyone going through the criminal justice process, Borden stated. Roxy will play games with the kids, such as tic-tac-toe and Uno, and show off her tricks to ease the kids minds. Kids can just lay on the floor and love on her, and then when the prosecutors come in to talk about why theyre there, they can kind of start a conversation with oh did Roxy show you this trick and kind of start that hard or difficult conversation, Borden said. If the case goes to trial, Roxy can sit at the feet of the victim or witness while they testify in the witness box to continue to provide comfort. Hero service dog gets sendoff party after comforting hospital staff during pandemic However, according to Borden, there is a lot of controversy around whether dogs should be allowed in the courtroom at all. I think defense attorneys are mostly worried about if the jury sees some very young victims come in with a very cute, cuddly dog and all of a sudden the idea that they must really be a victim if they have to have this dog, Borden said. In Arkansas, state law outlines the use of a facility dog for court case proceedings that PAWS for Justice follows closely; Roxy even met with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders herself to show off her skills. Ideally the jury never sees the dog, sometimes theyre not made aware of the presence of the dog until after the fact, Borden said. To avoid any prejudicial sympathies for a victim, we keep our dogs out of sight. Arkansas family of five saved from house fire by hero deaf dog However, Roxys puppy trainer and first mom never knew the impact she would make when Roxy came into her life in December 2020, especially when she came out barking, something she couldnt do while on the job. We got her around 6 to 7 weeks, potty training, sleepless nights, and all that comes with a baby, well, a baby puppy in our case, Roxys first mom, Michele Paden, said. Paden taught her basic commands and tried to socialize with her as much as possible during COVID-19. We turned Roxy in May 2022, and she started her journey in puppy college or professional training, and its there that they teach advanced commands for approximately 6 to 9 months and determine if Roxy has what it takes to be a facility dog, Paden said. Pope County deputies say goodbye to K-9 officer When Roxy graduated as a facility dog in May of 2022, Paden handed over the reins to Roxys handler, Borden. It is not normal that dogs are placed in the same state and are being able to serve in the area where theyre raised, and so we are so blessed to have that relationship and be able to see her several times a year, Paden said. Thanks to her placement in Arkansas, Paden still visits Roxy and gives her love and treats when she is not working. Paden is proud of her dog baby. Its amazing to know that she touches so many lives on a daily basis and can come back and serve the state where she was raised, Paden said. Therapy dog starts new job at NJ childrens hospital: Hes making friends everywhere Roxy impacts many lives in person and on social media. To learn more and follow Roxy, she is on Instagram: @courthouse_roxy @arpawsforjustice, Facebook: @RoxyRocks @PawsforJustice, and TikTok: @courthouse_roxy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. The aviation department at Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus has new leadership after the university announced Tysen Pina as head of the department. As head of the department at K-State Salina, the university said Pina will oversee the aviation program, focusing on expanding industry-relevant academic offerings, strengthening alumni and industry partnerships, enhancing safety management and strategically positioning the program for future success. Pina comes to K-State with more than 21 years of aviation experience having recently retired from the U.S. Air Force, during which time he flew more than 100 combat missions. Tysen Pina was announced as the new head of the aviation department at Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus. Pina comes to Salina with more than 21 years of aviation experience after retiring from the U.S. Air Force. K-State said Pina's career in the Air Force included such roles as commander for the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron with E-3G AWACS aircraft; director of operations for 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron with E-8C JSTARS aircraft, wing inspector general with the 116th Air Control Wing; regional engagement strategist for Air Force Central Command in Qatar; and assistant director of operations for the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base. According to K-State, Pina plans to leverage K-State Salina's rich aviation history of excellence and build upon the foundation that has already been laid over the past 33 years under the Kansas State University system and previously, with the campus leading in aviation training since the 1960s. "My heart is in all things aviation, building organizations and pouring into people and making them better every day," said Pina. "I knew that once my time in the Air Force was over, I knew I wanted to be in aviation. When I first met the K-State Salina faculty, their connection and excitement really shone through. This campus and the spirit that it has really motivated me." Pina drawn to 'infectious excitement' of K-State Salina Having moved more than 12 times during his career, Pina told The Salina Journal it will be nice to be in one place for an extended period of time. "It would be nice to watch a tree grow," Pina said. While he could have chosen other places to plant and watch that proverbial tree, Pina said the excitement of what is happening at K-State Salina and the Salina Regional Airport is what helped him make the choice to come here. "I flew in for my interview, landed at Salina (Regional) ... taxied up and was immediately met a bunch of students that work on the ramp," Pina said. "Then I go into the maintenance hangar and those guys are awesome and I go into the flight facility and everyone is just excited." He said this kind of excitement from everyone in Salina is infectious, with the goals of the campus and its aviation program aligned with what he hopes for the industry and for Kansas. "You talk to (K-State Salina CEO and dean Alysia Starkey) and she is all about creating a place for, not only Salina and Saline County, but the 105 counties of Kansas to come here and be excellent," Pina said. In addition to being excited about what is happening and what's ahead for K-State Salina, Pina said he is looking forward to being a part of the Salina community. He said he has already experienced quite a bit in the short time he's been here. "It's a cool scene, and everybody I've talked to has been just ridiculously nice," Pina said. New aviation leader expects flight teams to be active in community As part of his role at K-State Salina, Pina said he wants to make sure that people here know about and are proud that the campus and its aviation program are here. He's excited to get involved in the community. "My aviation department will have a physical presence within the community," Pina said. "Our flight teams are going to get out there and do volunteer work ... because I think that stuff is important." This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Tysen Pina to lead K-State Salina as new aviation department head A bill signed by Gov. Roy Cooper will provide a modest infusion of cash to aid struggling child care centers. (Photo: SDI Productions/ Getty Image) North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a dozen bills into law Monday evening, including two that fund child care centers and pay raises for public school teachers. Senate Bill 332 repeats the 3% pay bump approved by lawmakers last year for teachers, principals and other school personnel. And Senate Bill 357 sends $67.5 million in grant money to keep child care centers open, as centers struggle to make ends meet with the expiration of federal subsidies. Both bills passed the House and Senate with almost unanimous bipartisan support. Cooper said in statements that the pair of bills served a valuable purpose, but that lawmakers should go further in addressing their issues. He called on the General Assembly to make meaningful investments in public schools, as well as extending these (child care) grants through 2025, investing in our nationally recognized NC Pre-K and investing more in quality early childhood education. And Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 445, which made changes to small claims courts and property crime provisions. He said the bill created made eviction orders legally ambiguous and could make it more difficult for low-income North Carolinians to appeal as indigent in small claims court. The governor declined to sign one additional measure (a so-called regulatory reform bill), allowing it to become law. Senate Bill 607 makes a bevy of changes to state regulations that Cooper said were important and should become law. But he took issue with language that he says interferes with the charter and bylaws of the North Carolina Railroad. That language changes how the companys board of directors are appointed and creates a Rail Transportation Corridor Authority to oversee changes and improvements to rail services. Cooper called the bill an unconstitutional power grab by Republicans. Article VIII of the North Carolina Constitution protects private businesses from this type of legislative interference in their internal governance, he said in a statement. The post Cooper signs bills funding child care and teacher pay, vetoes small claims court measure appeared first on NC Newsline. The presumed drowning of a rising Dartmouth College junior is being investigated as the possible result of hazing after his body was pulled out of the Connecticut River over the weekend, according to New Hampshire police. Won Jang, 20, was recovered by offshore search and rescue teams on Sunday evening, a few hours after he was reported missing by witnesses who said theyd last seen him around 9:30 p.m. the previous night. Investigators said that he had been attending an informal social gathering at docks near the Dartmouth boathouse. A cause of death had not yet been confirmed by Tuesday, but foul play is not suspected, police said in a news release. There is some evidence of alcohol involved, certainly from witnesses and talking with things like that. Again, thats all part of our investigation, Hanover Police Chief Charles Dennis told local ABC affiliate WMUR. We did receive an anonymous email this morning through the college that there may be some hazing involved, so we certainly will look into that aspect, too. In a statement to the school community, Dartmouth dean Scott Brown offered his condolences. We understand that this is very difficult news for our community and encourage you to seek support, whether you need a listening ear or guidance in navigating this challenging time, he said. We have been in touch with Wons fraternity brothers and other friends. Jang, a biomedical engineering major, is listed as a member of Dartmouths Beta Alpha Omega fraternity on its website. The frat was subject to disciplinary action for an undisclosed incident in January, according to student newspaper The Dartmouth. An anonymous Beta member described what led to the incident as an accident, but declined to go into further detail. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. CORNING, N.Y. (WETM) The Corning Museum of Glasss free shuttle service returned after being discontinued for more than a month thanks to a donation from a Rochester woman. According to the Corning Museum of Glass (CMOG), the museums free, four-stop shuttle service that typically operates during peak tourism months was discontinued in May. It started operating again on July 7 after the museum received a gift from a private donor. Mary Spurrier, a retired trailblazer for women in the finance industry, donated enough money for the museum to continue running the shuttle for three years. Cornings Centerway Square named 5th best public square by USA Todays 10Best We are thrilled that this generous designated gift has allowed us to reinstate our courtesy shuttle for guests of both the Corning Museum of Glass and The Rockwell Museum during our busiest times, as well as community members who find the service beneficial, said CMOG President and Executive Director Karol Wight. The Museum is proud to be an integral part of the Corning community, and with the support Ms. Spurrier has provided, we can offer additional accommodations for our guests including those with mobility restrictions. The shuttle service will continue going between CMOGs welcome center, CMOGs main entrance, the Rockwell Museum, and Market Street continuously during the museums operating hours through Oct. 31 this year. The shuttle is expected to be in service from mid-May through mid-October in 2025 and 2026. CMOG is renaming the shuttle the Spurrier Community Shuttle in recognition of Spurriers gift. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The City of San Angelo soon will be at the Concho Valley Farmers Market alongside droves of produce stalls and home goods vendors as part of its efforts to gather feedback from citizens to inform a transportation safety plan. The pop-up event will take place on July 18 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. under the pavilion of the Concho Valley Farmers Market, located at 609 S. Oakes St. There, workers will collect input provided by market-goers regarding the towns transportation systems. The plan, called the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, is a strategic initiative designed to address various safety concerns through a holistic and collaborative approach, according to the City. It is designed to evaluate and improve upon the citys transportation and mobility systems and their networks while also prioritizing disadvantaged areas in an equitable manner. Which businesses scored below 90 in June 2024 health inspections? To build a plan for everyone, we need your help! the City said. Throughout 2024 we will be engaging the community to get feedback on how best to prioritize safety improvements for the city. Whether you walk, bike, drive, use a wheelchair, take transit or ride a scooter, we want to hear from you. A website is also being hosted for the CSAP, complete with an online survey that San Angelo residents may fill out. It also features an interactive map that can be used by locals to pinpoint areas of the town that present safety concerns. A timeline is also present on the website that details the projects expected schedule, with the plan currently sitting in the Information Gathering phase. This timeline is as follows: Community Engagement July 18, 2024 Analysis Aug. 15, 2024 Draft Plan Sept. 20, 2024 Adopt Final Plan Nov. 15, 2024 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Former U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred speaks at his Dec. 4, 2019, Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C. Kindred resigned effective Monday, after a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judicial council report found he committed misconduct. (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee video screenshot) U.S. District Judge Joshua Kindred violated the law governing the conduct for federal judges by maintaining a hostile workplace for law clerks, having a sexualized relationship with a clerk, and lying about it to a senior judge and investigators, a federal judicial council concluded. Kindred resigned effective Monday, after the judicial council for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals requested his resignation in a May 23 order. Kindred had been nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2019 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 2020. The order followed the work of a special committee, which found that Kindred created a hostile work environment for his law clerks by engaging in unwanted, offensive, and abusive conduct, and treating the law clerks in a demonstrably egregious and hostile manner. Kindred also engaged in misconduct by having an inappropriately sexualized relationship with one of his law clerks during her clerkship and shortly after clerkship while she practiced as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Alaska, according to the order. The order said Kindred lied to Chief Circuit Judge Mary H. Murguia, the special committee and the council after Murguia received a complaint about him in November 2022. Kindred maintained he never had any sexual contact with the clerk, but admitted to it when asked under oath in April 2024. Murguia noted in a news release that the judiciary is entrusted to govern itself. In all respects, this was a serious and sensitive matter, she said. I thank the witnesses who provided information, understanding fully how difficult that may have been. In my role as Chief, I will continue to ensure that our judges are held to the highest standards. The council held that Kindreds behavior might constitute grounds for impeachment under the U.S. Constitution and that he violated the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act rules for judges. It ordered that he be publicly reprimanded and it requested he resign. Kindred held one of only three U.S. District Court judgeships designated for Alaska; with one of the positions already vacant, his resignation leaves Judge Sharon Gleason as the only active judge, though four senior judges in Alaska can also take cases. The order recounts how Kindred used crude, sexual language with law clerks in both his chambers and in text messages. After telling a clerk that an assistant U.S. attorney sent him nude photographs, he later indicated that he felt insecure about sharing the information, writing, But you dont think I suck? Do I give off a desperate for attention vibe? He engaged in 278 pages of text messages with one clerk, with only a small fraction having any relationship to her legitimate job duties, according to the investigation. A former clerk said Kindred attempted to initiate a romantic encounter, which he denied, alleging she had initiated it. However, these denials were belied by documentary evidence and, as revealed later during Judge Kindreds testimony to the Judicial Council, by Judge Kindreds own admissions, according to the order. In a separate incident, the clerk said after Kindred grabbed her breast, I like grabbed his like forearm, and I remember thinking like he felt really strong and I tried to like pull his arm off of me. I just remember thinking like theres nothing I can do about this, like this is about to happen, before he performed oral sex on her. In his account of the same evening, Kindred said there were no physical or sexual interactions. But in a later text exchange, Kindred wrote that he didnt imagine your exit interview would involve that much oral. When asked by the committee about the text, Kindred repeated his denial and said he could not provide an explanation for the text. During a later hearing, he admitted that he had a sexual encounter with the clerk, despite previous denials. In its finding on whether this interaction was consensual, the judicial found that the record was inconclusive, but that engaging in sexual encounters with an assistant U.S. attorney and former clerk within weeks of her leaving the clerkship, while failing to disclose the relationship, was irresponsible and improper. In a nine-page response to the special committees report on his conduct, Kindred said that he had only a few weeks to observe other judges before the courthouse began shutting down due to the pandemic, and that for his first year as a judge, the clerk at the center of the allegations was often the only person I would interact with face to face. Kindred said the clerk had made false allegations against others in the past, implying he was a victim of that same circumstance, according to the order. The council found that Kindred did not hear cases the former clerk worked on while at the U.S. Attorneys office, and that he did not retaliate against individuals for reporting his behavior. In its findings of misconduct, the judicial council noted that Kindred repeatedly said he had no sinister intent in his relationships with law clerks, but added that federal rules for judicial conduct are not framed in terms of intent. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX To counter China, NATO and its Asian partners are moving closer under US leadership People walk inside of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which has been decorated with signage in preparation for the NATO Summit, Monday, July 8, 2024. New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Australia are sending leaders or their deputies to the NATO summit in Washington this week as the military alliance shows growing interest beyond Europe and the Western Hemisphere. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON (AP) In the third year of the war in Ukraine, NATO is set to deepen relations with its four Indo-Pacific partners, which, although not part of the military alliance, are gaining prominence as Russia and China forge closer ties to counter the United States and the two Koreas support opposing sides of the conflict in Europe. The leaders of New Zealand, Japan and South Korea for the third year in a row will attend the NATO summit, which starts Tuesday in Washington, D.C., while Australia will send its deputy prime minister. China will be following the summit closely, worried by the alliance's growing interest beyond Europe and the Western Hemisphere. "Increasingly, partners in Europe see challenges halfway around the world in Asia as being relevant to them, just as partners in Asia see challenges halfway around the world in Europe as being relevant to them," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week at the Brookings Institution. America's top diplomat said the U.S. has been working to break down barriers between European alliances, Asian coalitions and other partners worldwide. Thats part of the new landscape, the new geometry that weve put in place. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that NATO allies and the Indo-Pacific partners will launch four new joint projects, which will be on Ukraine, artificial intelligence, disinformation and cybersecurity. Each initiative is different, but the main goal is the same: harness the unique strengths of highly capable democracies to address shared challenges, Sullivan said at a defense industry forum. Countries with shared security concerns are strengthening ties as competition escalates between the United States and China. Washington is trying to curb Beijing's ambition to challenge the U.S.-led world order, which the Chinese government dismisses as a Cold War mentality aimed at containing China's inevitable rise. Beijing has responded angrily to the prospect of NATO and its four Indo-Pacific partners deepening their cooperation. Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, on Monday accused NATO of breaching its boundary, expanding its mandate, reaching beyond its defense zone and stoking confrontation. The war in Ukraine, which has pitted the West against Russia and its friends, has bolstered the argument for closer cooperation between the U.S., Europe and their Asian allies. Ukraine of today may be East Asia of tomorrow, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the U.S. Congress in April. The U.S. and South Korea accused Pyongyang of supplying Russia with ammunition, while Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea last month and signed a pact with leader Kim Jong Un that envisions mutual military assistance. South Korea and Japan, meanwhile, are sending military supplies and aid to Ukraine. The U.S. also says China is providing Russia with machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that allow it to make weapons to use against Ukraine. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will bring to Washington a strong message regarding the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and discuss ways to enhance cooperation among NATO allies and Indo-Pacific partners, his principal deputy national security adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, told reporters Friday. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said discussions would focus on our collective efforts to support the rules-based system. The partnership does not make NATO a direct player in the Indo-Pacific but allows it to coordinate with the four partners on issues of mutual concern, said Mirna Galic, senior policy analyst on China and East Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace. For example, she wrote in an analysis, they can share information and align on actions such as sanctions and aid delivery but do not intervene in military crises outside of their own regions. The NATO summit will allow the United States and its European and Indo-Pacific allies to push back against China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, according to Luis Simon, director of the Centre for Security Diplomacy and Strategy at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The fact that the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific alliances are structured around a clear anchor U.S. military power makes them more cohesive and gives them a strategic edge as compared to the sort of interlocking partnerships that bind China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea," Simon wrote in a commentary last week on War On the Rocks, a defense and foreign affairs website. Beijing is worried by NATO's pivot to the east, said Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University in eastern China. Beijing has insisted that NATO not interfere in security affairs in the Indo-Pacific and that it should change its view of China as a strategic adversary. NATO should consider China as a positive force for the regional peace and stability and for global security, Zhu said. We also hope the Ukraine war can end as soon as possible ... and we have rejected a return to the triangular relation with Russia and North Korea. In today's volatile and fragile world, Europe, the U.S. and China should strengthen global and regional cooperation, Zhu said. NATO and China had little conflict until tensions grew between Beijing and Washington in 2019, the same year the NATO summit in London raised China as a challenge that we need to address together as an alliance." Two years later, NATO upgraded China to a systemic challenge and said Beijing was cooperating militarily with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand attended a NATO summit for the first time, where statements noted the geopolitical challenges China poses. Beijing accused NATO of cooperating with the U.S. government for an all-around suppression of China." Now, Beijing is worried that Washington is forming a NATO-like alliance in the Indo-Pacific. Chinese Senior Col. Cao Yanzhong, a researcher at Chinas Institute of War Studies, asked U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last month whether the U.S. was trying to create an Asian version of NATO by emphasizing partnerships and alliances. They include a U.S. grouping with Britain and Australia; another with Australia, India and Japan; and one with Japan and South Korea. What implications do you think the strengthening of the U.S. alliance system in the Asia-Pacific will have on this regions security and stability? Cao asked at the Shangri-la Dialogue security summit in Singapore. Austin replied that the U.S. was simply working with like-minded countries with similar values and a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific." Beijing has its own conclusion. The real intent of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy is to integrate all small circles into a big circle as the Asian version of NATO in order to maintain the hegemony as led by the United States, Chinese Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng said at the forum. ___ AP researcher Chen Wanqing in Beijing and AP writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. SAO PAULO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and another five injured Monday when two buses crashed into each other in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, the local fire department reported. The accident occurred on Highway 191 in the municipality of Ipeuna, 206 km from Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. One of the buses was transporting patients to a medical center for clinical studies while the other vehicle was empty. Four of the victims were traveling on the bus carrying patients. The fifth casualty was the driver of the empty bus. As a result of the crash, the highway was closed in both directions to facilitate rescue efforts, said local authorities. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso County Commissioners Court will hold a special capital planning workshop on Tuesday, July 9. The meeting will be held starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, Room 303. There is just one item on Tuesdays agenda: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the development of the FY2024 Multiyear Capital Plan for El Paso County, including: project selections, performance objectives and outcomes, performance management, operational management, corresponding financial planning related to capital investments and operational needs, and general capital direction. The County says it has held 24 public meetings throughout El Paso County and held 20 pop-up presentations to civic groups and committees about its Multiyear Capital Plan. The Bond Advisory Committee, a citizen-led committee, has also had nine meetings. During Tuesdays meeting, County staff will present an update on capital projects being considered and what are being recommending at this time. The full agenda for the Commissioners Courts special session can be viewed online at https://epcounty.primegov.com/public/portal. In-person public comment is encouraged. For online, public comment visit https://www.epcounty.com/public-comment.htm. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Court documents provide more details on North Lubbock stabbing and SWAT standoff A Lubbock County grand jury on Tuesday indicted an 18-year-old man arrested in June after a standoff with police investigating a stabbing at a north Lubbock restaurant. Eddie Casias is charged with a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, which carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison. He is accused in the June 21 stabbing of a co-worker in the kitchen area of Blue Sky Texas near 4th Street and Indiana Avenue. Lubbock patrol officers responded to a 1:40 p.m. call at the restaurant in the 3200 block of Fourth Street. The restaurant's security cameras captured footage of the stabbing, according to a probable cause affidavit. Detectives who watched the video saw Casias walk up to a co-worker who was working in a cooking station, raise a knife in his right hand and stab him in the neck or shoulder area, the affidavit states. Casias could reportedly be seen making stabbing motions three times. Other co-workers, including the restaurant manager, told detectives they saw Casias walk up to the employee and stab him. The manager told investigators he didn't notice anything strange but wondered why Casias was in the kitchen. The probable cause affidavit did not indicate if the witnesses heard Casias say anything to his co-worker before allegedly attacking him nor was a motive disclosed. The co-worker could be seen stumbling back and falling to the floor. A witness told investigators he saw Casias exit the business, take off his shirt and walk out of sight. Police learned that Casias went to his apartment in the 200 block of Indiana Avenue, which is down the road from the business. A police news release stated officers responded to the apartment and made contact with Casias who refused to exit. Police negotiators responded to the scene and convinced Casias to leave the apartment a few hours later. Casias was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center where he remains. His bond is set at $75,000. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Records show new details on Lubbock restaurant stabbing, SWAT standoff HARVEST, Ala. (WHNT) The first freestanding emergency room in North Alabama is ready to begin accepting patients. Crestwood Medical Centers Freestanding Emergency Department Harvest (FSED) will officially open to patients tomorrow, July 9, at 7 a.m. Nonprofit helps people with disabilities find employment Located at 1337 Burwell Road, near the corner of Highway 53 and Burwell Road, this department is dedicated to providing emergency care in northwestern Madison County, northeastern Limestone County and southern Tennessee. To people in these more rural areas, FSED offers a closer option for those who require emergency care. According to hospital officials, the $24 million emergency room is set to offer: 10 private treatment rooms and a trauma bay ER trained physicians, nurses and care teams 24/7 care for emergencies Imaging services, including CT, ultrasound, and X-ray Laboratory services Access to Crestwood Medical Centers full spectrum of care Free prostate cancer screenings available for North Alabama residents Patients and community members of North Alabama have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the FSED for weeks now, said Matthew Banks, Chief Executive Officer at Crestwood Medical Center. The excitement in the community is palpable and Crestwood is honored to provide much needed emergency care right here in the Harvest community. (Photo: Crestwood Medical Center) (Photo: Crestwood Medical Center) (Photo: Crestwood Medical Center) (Photo: Crestwood Medical Center) (Photo: Crestwood Medical Center) If patients require more advanced care than the center can provide, Crestwood says it will work with EMS to transfer patients to the main Crestwood campus in Huntsville or the medical facility of their choice. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Crews respond to structure fire in Church Hill CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL) A fire destroyed a trucking company building in Church Hill. Multiple agencies responded to the fire Monday evening at E.W. Wylie on AFG Road. City of Kingsport hosts Main Street Rebuild meeting (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) (Photo: WJHL) The fire caused part of the structures roof to collapse. Church Hill Fire Chief Will Mullins said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Church Hill police are investigating the cause of the fire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. ROCKDALE, Ill. Authorities confirmed that the body pulled from the Des Plaines River on Tuesday afternoon was a Chicago pastor who went missing a week ago. Confirmation was initially made from the vehicles license plate. A body was also found in the vehicle and it was later confirmed by Will County Coroner Laurie Summers that it was Warren Beard. Its been a long day for all. We have positively identified the decedent as Warren Beard from Chicago, Illinois, Summers said during a press conference. A statement from the Rockdale Fire Protection District said the agency was contacted by the Brandon Road Lock Master shortly before noon after a review of security footage from a week earlier showed a vehicle going into the water in Rockdale at about 10:47 p.m. on July 2. Rockdale, a village in Will County, is a few miles to the southwest of Joliet. Beard went missing in Joliet a week ago after visiting with friends. His black 2023 Honda HR-V with Illinois tag DY20511 was captured by a roadway camera at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue shortly before the vehicle was seen on the security footage going into the water. Officials said the footage showed the vehicle was traveling on a closed road heading toward a bridge that was raised. The vehicle traveled through a narrow gap between the road and the bridge itself, falling about 70 feet into the water. Tuesdays massive response included divers and boats using scanning technology to search the Des Plaines riverbed. The vehicle was found about 250 feet from where it seemingly went into the water. Agencies at the scene include Minooka Fire, Troy Fire, Elwood Fire, Wilmington Fire, Morris Fire, Wilmington Fire, Braidwood Fire, Rockdale Fire, and Plainfield Fire. New Lenox and Manhattan Fire Protection Districts are providing area coverage as rescuers continue the search. Rockdale Police and Will County Sheriff are assisting with scene security and traffic control. Chicago police have taken the lead on the case as Beard was missing out of Chicago. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A pair of big wildfires first reported on Sunday have Nevada crews busy trying to contain them. The smaller of the two fires, the North Creek Fire, is at 1,100 acres about 50 miles northeast of Ely near the White Pine-Elko county line. Wind is driving the fire and its burning in steep and rugged terrain, according to information provided by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The fire is 10% contained with full containment anticipated on Sunday, July 14, according to an update early Monday night. The larger fire, now estimated at 16,830 acres, is burning in Humboldt County near the Nevada-Oregon border. It has been named the Wilder Fire. That fire is 40% contained, according to the BLM. Video from a helicopter flying over the North Creek Fire shows flames burning pinyon-pine, juniper, brush and grass in the area. Drivers are warned to avoid North Spring Valley Road for the next several days as crews continue to battle the fire. The fire was first reported at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, and its cause hasnt been determined. Record-breaking temperatures and low humidity have increased fire danger, and the conditions are expected to remain for the next five to seven days. Crews from BLMs Elko, Ely and Southern Nevada districts are working with personnel from Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the Ely Ranger District, the Nevada Division of Forestry and private contractors. Arc Dome firefighters become first federal-state team in Nevada The Wilder Fire is an eight-hour drive north of Las Vegas in an area below the Oregon border and east of Denio Highway 140. Its 13 miles southeast of Denio. Four air tankers, an air attack plane and a helicopter are involved in the fighting the wildfire, along with 14 engines, four water tenders and five dozers. Crews are trying to keep the fire from burning east through the Bilk Creek Mountain Range. The BLMs Winnemucca District is leading the firefighting effort. The fire was first reported Sunday at 11:23 a.m. and the cause is undetermined. A third fire Nye Countys Horse Fire was also first reported on Sunday. That fire, located near Horse Heaven Mountain in the Monitor Range near the Eureka County line, is now at 88 acres, with no available estimate for when it will be contained. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sung Kook (Bill) Hwang, the founder and head of the private investment firm Archegos, arrives for his trial at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in New York City Sung Kook (Bill) Hwang, the founder and head of the private investment firm Archegos, arrives for his trial at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in New York City By Jody Godoy NEW YORK (Reuters) - A jury in Manhattan federal court began deliberations on Tuesday in the criminal case against Archegos Capital Management founder Sung Kook "Bill" Hwang, accused by prosecutors of manipulating stock prices before the 2021 collapse of his $36 billion private investment firm. Prosecutors and defense lawyers delivered closing arguments on Monday in the trial of Hwang and Patrick Halligan, his Archegos deputy and co-defendant. Hwang's lawyer told jurors that the prosecution has criminalized aggressive but legal trading methods. A federal prosecutor painted a different picture, saying Hwang and Halligan unlawfully pumped up stock prices and lied about the holdings of Archegos to the banks with which they traded. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein instructed jurors on the law before deliberations began. Hwang, 60, pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and 10 counts of fraud and market manipulation. Halligan, 47, pleaded not guilty to fraud and racketeering conspiracy. If convicted, they face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison on each charge, though any sentence would likely be much lower and would be imposed by the judge based on a range of factors. The trial, which began in May, centers on the implosion of Archegos - a spectacular collapse that left global banks nursing billions in losses and, according to prosecutors, caused more than $100 billion in shareholder losses at companies in its portfolio. Prosecutors have accused Hwang of secretly amassing outsized stakes in multiple companies without actually holding their stock. They have said Hwang lied to banks about the size of Archegos' derivative positions to borrow billions of dollars that he and his deputies then used to inflate the underlying stocks. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which brought the case, Hwang's positions eclipsed those of the companies' largest investors, driving up stock prices. At its peak, prosecutors said Archegos had $36 billion in assets and $160 billion of exposure to equities. When stock prices fell in March 2021, the banks demanded additional deposits, which Archegos could not make. The banks then sold the stocks backing Hwang's swaps, wiping out $100 billion in value for shareholders and billions at the banks, including $5.5 billion for Credit Suisse, now part of UBS, and $2.9 billion for Nomura Holdings. (This story has been corrected to say 'billions' instead of '$40 billion' in paragraph 9) (Reporting by Jody Godoy; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Will Dunham) When elected officials and clusters of citizens crowded into Crisfields Somers Cove Marina last September for the Eastern Shore citys annual signature clam and crab event, they were met by a rising tide and flood waters. The convoy of Black SUVs carrying Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller drove through standing water to get into the gated marina. Stepping out of the vehicle, the states chief executive embraced the mayor of the waterfront locale, stating: Were going to fix this. Now, after a coordinated national-state-and-local government effort and the announcement this month of a $36 million federal grant, Crisfields mayor says such flooding in the marina could be history in a few years when the work on the project is complete. We would not expect to have another Tawes Clam Bake that look liked that one, after 2026, said Crisfield Mayor Darlene Taylor, in a July 8 phone interview, days after the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced its selections for grants paid for in part by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. The convoy carrying Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller makes its way toward the 46th annual J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield. Crisfields flooding, vacuumed up last year at the Clam Bake by a specialized Somerset County truck, has not been a one-time occurrence or even an unexpected event. Far from it. A report from the Maryland Department of the Environment in 2005 indicated that Crisfield and over half of Somerset County falls within a federally-designated flood zone. United States Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., who announced the grant Sunday on social media alongside a photograph of a partially submerged car after the 2012 hurricane, Sandy, reached Crisfield said through the grant, the city will receive the tools it needs to become a more climate resilient community. More: To help people rise: Mayor of Crisfield has slate full of projects for waterfront city 'Not something that we, as a small town, could have done on our own. In this file photo, Crisfield Mayor Darlene Taylor at the seafood workers mural Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Crisfield, Maryland. Taylor explains the grant-funded project primarily as one that uses the citys current infrastructure to build a barrier against flood water. Well be raising some roads, were going to be elevating some of the bulkheads, she said. In addition, reconstructed wetlands are set to be created to absorb some of the water, Taylor said. Drainage in the city is also set to be improved due to the $36.2 million federal grant, which addresses the city's southern portion that includes the marina. (Taylor said another grant application for the northern part of Crisfield is being worked on this year.) The grant announcement this month comes after about two years of work between city officials and a Federal Emergency Management Agency Direct Technical Assistance team that participated in bi-weekly meetings, said Taylor, who was elected and started as mayor in June 2022. Wind presence could grow: Land auction for offshore wind near Ocean City scheduled for later this year When will work commence on Crisfield flood mitigation project? The federally backed team of engineers and experts listened to the local needs, helping with the plan and application, one that eventually scored the highest in the nation, the second-year mayor said. Thats not something that we, as a small town, could have done on our own, said Taylor, a Crisfield native, who left for work as a contractor before returning two decades ago to her hometown, which now has about 2,500 residents. The flood mitigation project, with construction estimated to commence in 2026, had about 15 partners in total, said Taylor, including the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. State, local, county, everybody working together, said Taylor, of the flood prevention project that received the federal grant, to be able to do something of this magnitude. Dwight A. Weingarten is an investigative reporter, covering the Maryland State House and state issues. He can be reached at dweingarten@gannett.com or on Twitter at @DwightWeingart2. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Crisfield receives $36 million federal grant to mitigate flooding Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is pushing legislation that would strip former President Donald Trump of the Supreme Court-granted immunity that protects him from criminal prosecution for official acts. Accusing the Supreme Court of placing a crown on Donald Trumps head," Schumer said Monday that the proposed legislation will aim to classify Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election as unofficial acts not subject to immunity. Were doing this because we believe in America no president should be free to overturn an election against the will of the people, no matter what the conservative justices may believe, Schumer said on the Senate floor. The announcement came just a week after the Supreme Court's right-wing majority ruled 6-3 that the President is entitled to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for acts related to their official duties. The decision left lower courts to decide whether Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election, which resulted in a mob storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were an "official act." The ruling sparked outrage and disbelief amongst legal experts, media critics and watchdog groups across the country, many of which said the decision essentially places the president above the law. The specifics of Schumers proposed bill are still to be determined and it could be difficult to pass in the Senate, NBC News reported. Schumer added that he and his colleagues are working on other proposals to reassert Congresss Article I authority to rein in the abuse of our federal judiciary. Americans are tired, just tired of justices who think they are beyond accountability," Schumer said. "Now the Supreme Courts ruling on Trump v. The United States is just the finishing touch on one of the most destructive Supreme Court terms in modern history." Bitcoin is more than just a shiny new way to lose money. Its also fueling Texas energy struggles as the state prepares for another year of record-breaking heat. And Black communities are caught in the crosswires of climate change, those booming data centers, and the power plants needed to meet both demands. Last year, during Texas deadliest summer in history, Black people bore the brunt of the heat. Stories like the deaths of a 5-day-old Black child and a 66-year-old Black postal worker due to heat illnesses led to national outrage. The brutal summer only fueled the fire that the states electric grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, had spent years trying to put out. After a 2021 winter storm laid bare how unprepared the state was for severe weather, Texas had been on the prowl for ways to ensure that it was producing enough electricity during times of disaster. Their solution: new fossil fuel power plants. But while the state says these new power plants meet the demand caused by severe weather and population growth, a new ERCOT forecast says that as the states power demand doubles over the next six years, most of the demand will come from water and energy-guzzling data centers for artificial intelligence supercomputers and crypto processing. Essentially, it means the state is building polluting plants, which have historically decimated Black communities, in part for industries that experts say are increasing economic inequality and discrimination for Black Americans. Despite analyses showing that clean energy sources like wind and solar are largely more reliable and cheaper to produce there than energy from fossil fuels, in the aftermath of last summer, the state decided to subsidize $10 billion worth of new gas power plants. Across the country, low-income Black people are exposed to the most pollution from power plants and have the highest risk of death from such pollution. In Texas, more than 75% of the states gas power plants are in areas where the population has an above-average share of people of color, according to a Capital B analysis of EPA data. Early documents examined by Capital B show that the trend of placing these facilities in communities of color may continue. Of the companies that applied for the funding and stated where theyd build new plants, about half, or 45%, are in communities with above-average Black populations. Theyre trying to use these volatile climate events, the freeze and the heat, as justification for all these new gas plants, Brittney Stredic told Capital B last year. She has been part of a coalition of community members fighting a new gas plant and pipeline in her Houston neighborhood for several years. But we dont need it. Read More: A Gas Storage Plant and New Pipeline Disrupt Life for This Black Community While Texas recently cemented itself as the up-and-coming renewable energy capital of the U.S., these moves signal a setback for the state and the climate. Climate change and the intensifying nature of winter and summer are caused mainly by burning fossil fuels. And Texas answer is aligning with industries that have been proven to harm Black communities, experts say. There are so many downsides to crypto, but unfortunately, the industry has a lot of money, and have recently been using their money to get favorable policies in Washington, D.C., and places like Texas, said Algernon Austin, the director for Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Austin has spent years researching how the speculative get-rich-quick-scheme has targeted the countrys most vulnerable. Cryptocurrencies are a shiny new way to lose money. Analyses that have been done suggest that, if anything, its worked to increase inequality, he added. Its worrying that it is creating a problem environmentally on top of all of this. Artificial intelligence and crypto-mining are immensely energy and water-intensive due to the power required to process complex algorithms and transactions. As these supercomputers, which are often three times the size of the average U.S. home, chug away, they generate enormous amounts of heat that necessitate continuous cooling and demand for electricity. Texas already consumes more energy than any other state, and the pollution from that consumption is palpable. Despite making up 9% of the nations population, the state is responsible for 13% of all pollution from power plants and 15% of all the pollution related to natural gas plants. The get-rich-quick mentality Its not all Texas fault that the nations new infatuation with these energy-intensive internet uses is driving the energy need. The energy it takes to run a single AI search, for example, is between 10 and 30 times the power requirement to run a traditional Google search. However, its constant goal of luring in business over nearly every other consideration can be credited to the state. Texas residents and experts say that, in many ways, the states energy problems are driven by a get-rich-quick mentality that prioritizes enticing business over the resulting strain on the grid, water sources, and the quickly growing population. But the states predicament exemplifies the crossroads that the nation is at as it attempts to strengthen its electric grids: one that can either support the most vulnerable populations, like the Black communities living next to fossil fuel power plants, or align with industries that further exacerbate the problems. Entergy CEO and President Eliecer Viamontes cited this statewide desire as the motive behind his companys decision to build new fossil fuel power plants in Texas. His company is one of two that has filed intentions to open new gas power plants in a predominantly Black and Latino suburb of Houston, where some neighborhoods already face cancer risks from air pollution 46 times higher than federal limits. Weve got to think of how it aligns with what Texas state leadership is pushing for, which is weve got to be the number one state for business, number one state for economic growth, Viamontes said. Without the new plants, he said, Theres the risk of losing economic growth in the region. But economic growth for who, Austin wonders. The growth in crypto-finance in particular, a tool initially sold to lower economic inequality, shows that the mindset may work directly against improving life in Black communities. As the states residents were baked by triple-digit heat in August, the grid operator gave millions of dollars to Bitcoin mining and data center companies to stop using so much energy. Its a tactic Texas may have to utilize again for several of the following summers. (To keep air conditioners running, that summer, the state also obtained an emergency order from the U.S. Energy Department, allowing power plants to exceed pollution limits to produce more energy. It led to communities of color facing the dual-choking threat of heat and air pollution.) We have been incredibly misinformed because our local leaders have not made it a priority to speak with us about what is happening, said Kimberlee Walter, an activist in a Texas community home to a crypto-finance company that was paid $32 million last summer to use less energy. These companies are wasting precious resources, driving up our energy bills and destabilizing an already very unstable grid. All the while, over the past few years, surveys have found that Black people are more likely than white people to invest in cryptocurrencies and more likely to incorrectly believe that the industry is regulated and safe. Black crypto investors are also likelier than white crypto investors to say they have borrowed money to make their investments. Crypto has also increased costs for those not even invested in the currency. In Texas, it has already raised electricity costs for non-mining Texans by $1.8 billion per year, or 4.7%, according to conservative estimates from consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. A large share of these crypto-mines have opened just outside the Dallas metro area, which is among the fastest-growing places for Black people and where 1.2 million Black people already live. At least one of the new proposed fossil fuel power plants in an above-average Black community would be built solely to power a crypto-mining supercomputer. A natural gas power plant lights up the sky next to a 90% Black neighborhood in Beaumont, Texas. (Adam Mahoney/Capital B) With the increase of natural gas production nationwide, energy companies and government agencies arent adequately dealing with the history of the devastation that oil and gas has had in the Gulf South and on communities of color, said Robert Bullard, the father of environmental justice. Although clean energy is growing, Texas does have a problem getting it to households. The growth of renewables requires a costly build-out of transmission lines to move the power to urban consumers from the rural areas where wind and solar farms are situated. However, some residents believe it is worth the cost and infrastructure build-out. The truth is that gas has failed us when we needed it most, the states Sierra Club chapter wrote after the subsidies for new plants were announced. We need to reduce demand on the grid by making buildings more energy efficient, and we need to invest more in local and distributed energy systems like rooftop solar and battery storage. Our climate has changed, no matter how much fossil fuel-funded Texas politicians deny it. The post Crypto-Mining Creates New Environmental Injustices for Black Texans appeared first on Capital B News. SYDNEY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday reiterated the federal government's commitment to supporting a two-state solution in tackling the Palestine-Israel conflict. "We have supported a ceasefire in order to advance security and peace for people in the Middle East. We have consistently supported a two-state solution, one which is necessary for the security of both Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live in peace and security," Albanese told reporters in Sydney. He noted that the Australian government's stance on a two-state solution is a long-held one. "The Labor Party's position of support for the state of Israel and support for a two-state solution -- with Palestinians being able to realize the legitimate aspirations they have for their own state, side-by-side with Israel -- is something that has been there for a long period of time," he said. Albanese made the remarks while announcing the appointment of Jillian Segal as the special envoy to combat antisemitism in Australia at the Jewish Museum in Sydney. The federal government expressed concern in a statement over the deep impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on various communities across Australia, while regarding the appointment of the special envoy as a critical step to ensure all Australians feel safe and included. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky instructs his ministry to tell the Russian ambassador to Czechia that bombing childrens hospitals makes Russians the trash of humanity. Source: Lipavsky in a comment to Czech outlet Seznam Zpravy, as European Pravda reports Details: Lipavsky, who is on a visit to the United States, instructed his staff to summon Russian Ambassador Alexander Zmeevsky after the attack on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv. "Murderers who attack children in hospitals are the trash of humanity. [Zmeevsky] was instructed to convey this to Moscow," Lipavsky said. In a commentary to Seznam Zpravy, Zmeevsky, after being summoned to the Czech Foreign Ministry, repeated the Russian claim that "it was not a Russian missile, it was a Ukrainian missile" and said that the meeting at the ministry went "as usual". Seznam Zpravy reported that this was the third time since the beginning of the year that the Russian ambassador has been summoned to the Czech Foreign Ministry: the first time was in February, in connection with Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys death, and the second in early May, after a series of cyberattacks on Czech government institutions and critical infrastructure. Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Childrens Specialised Hospital in Kyiv, and a number of other targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, on 8 July. More than 40 civilians were killed in the Russian attacks. Debris at Okhmatdyt has been cleared on 9 July but work continues in Kyivs Syrets district, where two sections of a multi-storey apartment block collapsed after the Russian attack. As of 12:15 on 9 July, 31 people have been found dead in Kyiv and 117 are known to have been injured. The US and the EU have called for an investigation into the attack on Okhmatdyt, which could be classified as a war crime. Support UP or become our patron! GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) The lead attorney in the Jane Does federal lawsuit against Johnson City has written that she has no confidence First Judicial District Attorney General Steve Finney is committed to prosecuting Sean Williams for dozens of alleged sexual assaults an assertion Finney flatly denies. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE SEAN WILLIAMS CASE I remain fully committed to seeking justice for the women and children who were victimized by Sean Williams, Finney wrote in a July 3 response to questions from News Channel 11. In a story broken by News Channel 11 last August, since around June 2023, Finneys office has had alleged video and/or photos purportedly showing at least 52 people being sexually assaulted by Williams. Court documents show the DAs team has interviewed alleged victims, but the only indictments theyve brought against Williams so far are for three alleged incidents involving children. Finneys letter said there is a good reason for the delay. Plaintiffs attorney Vanessa Baehr-Jones, meanwhile, wrote just last month she doubted the cases would be indicted, as she laid out her argument that Finney should also release redacted past Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) case notes from some of her clients alleged rapes. The charge that Finney isnt committed to prosecuting is among several allegations leveled against him as Baehr-Jones team seeks to depose Finney and obtain his cell phone records. Other claims suggest Finney has colluded with Johnson City and its city manager, Cathy Ball and, by refusing to release past police investigative material into some of her clients cases, to stymie Baehr-Jones efforts to show potential police corruption related to Williams. Steve Finney Letter to Wjhl by Jeff Keeling on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. The Tennessee Attorney Generals (AG) office has filed motions on Finneys behalf to quash the cell phone subpoenas and the deposition. Why the DA is involved The Jane Does lawsuit, filed in June 2023 on behalf of multiple alleged Williams victims, has at its core a claim that JCPD officers failed to properly investigate and charge Williams as he engaged in serial drugging and raping of women. It claims the JCPDs conduct violated its constitutional right to equal protection. Williams was never charged with any sexual assaults by the JCPD. He became a fugitive on a federal separate charge after JCPD officers went to his apartment May 5, 2021 but were unsuccessful in efforts to serve him with a warrant. New lawsuit filing alleges JCPD payoffs to protect alleged rapist Sean Williams Williams was arrested in Cullowhee, N.C. April 30, 2023 on drug charges, but felony amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine werent all Williams allegedly had in his car when a university police officer encountered him in the middle of the night. A News Channel 11 story several months later revealed that Williams also allegedly possessed digital devices with folders of pictures and video purportedly showing him raping dozens of women in his apartment. Jane Doe plaintiffs are among those. Computer files show 52 Sean Williams alleged rapes Following the filing of the Jane Does suit, court records show, Finneys office informed the JCPD on June 27, 2023 it would handle any criminal investigations surrounding Williams, to avoid any conflict and/or any appearance of impropriety on any entitys part. Separate indictments filed Sept. 11 by a state grand jury in Finneys district and a federal grand jury charged Williams, who had been a federal detainee since May, with aggravated child rape and sexual assaults (state) and production of child pornography (federal). Those indictments related to three separate alleged incidents, two in 2020 and another sometime between 2008 and 2011. While his office has been investigating the alleged adult assaults, it hasnt produced any indictments. Finney has insisted some investigative and other files cant be released to the Jane Doe attorneys due to the investigation. Disputes over that are among several points of contention between Finney and those attorneys. Finney, who is not a defendant in the lawsuit, covered several issues in his letter while noting his ability to comment is limited due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. But his answers provide insight into a commonly asked question: When, if ever, will charges be brought against Williams for any of the 50-plus rapes for which video and photographic evidence was allegedly discovered in May 2023 in the wake of his arrest on other charges? In a June 1 email to another defense attorney in the civil case, Baehr-Jones expressed frustration over Finneys office withholding documents from her team. She went on to write at this point, I have no confidence that the DAs office plans to bring indictments in my clients cases, nor for that matter, in the cases of any of the 52+ Williams sexual assault victims. Email excerpt from Vanessa Baehr-Jones, attorney for alleged Sean Williams sexual assault victims, criticizing First Judicial District Attorney General Steve Finneys handling of criminal cases involving alleged Williams victims. (WJHL) Finney: Efforts will continue until justice is realized As outlined in a recent deposition of Ball, Finney met with Johnson City representatives June 1, 2023 and told them about the alleged video evidence against Williams, an update she called very disturbing. Ball said Finney indicated that he wanted as many of the victims (as possible) to come forward to the DAs office, and that they were going to start reaching out to folks to ask them to come in. Ball said Finney wanted to have victim advocates and a female assistant DA, Abby Wallace, involved, all as part of trying to get as many women as possible who were videoed to be able to come forward. In his July 3 letter to News Channel 11, Finney wrote that since June 2023, my office has worked in conjunction with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, devoting countless hours to the investigations associated with Mr. Williams. These efforts will continue until justice is realized, he continued. My commitment to this has been and will continue to be unwavering. Any statement or inference to the contrary is untrue. While Baehr-Jones referenced Wallace telling her during a July 26, 2023 phone call that she estimated indictments before the end of 2023, Finneys letter explains his reasoning for not having indicted Williams on any rapes of women yet. Wallaces estimate came before the Sept. 11 federal indictment on production of child pornography. They also came just before Williams North Carolina drug trafficking charges went federal through an Aug. 1, 2023 federal grand jury indictment. Because federal authorities have held Williams since May 2023, state prosecutions cannot proceed until all federal charges have been adjudicated, Finney wrote. Because the state cant take custody of Williams until any federal trials or plea agreements conclude, he added, there could be potential procedural complications should the state move forward with criminal charges against Mr. Williams at this point. He wrote that rather than potentially adding new complications in what is an already complex case, it is the best decision to simply wait. Please rest assured my commitment to seeking justice for the victims of Sean Williams is absolute. Plaintiffs suggest misuse of his position of public trust Documents reveal disputes between Baehr-Jones and Finneys office going back months, with the issues coming to a head now as the sides tussle over Finneys records and testimony. Baehr-Jones email came a day after Liz Evan of AG Jonathan Skrmettis office filed a motion asking federal judge Travis McDonough to quash the subpoena for Finneys phone records and prohibit his deposition. Baehr-Jones filed a response June 15 disputing Evans legal arguments, claiming Finney has abused his investigative privilege and committed a grave misuse of his position of public trust. Finney forcefully countered in his letter to News Channel 11. I can speak with absolute certainty, that once all matters involving Sean Williams have concluded, it will be undeniable that no aspect of the investigation by my office was conducted in any way which could have betrayed public trust or be shown to have acted in any manner which sought to deprive justice for any victim, Finney wrote. In addition to suggesting Finneys office wont prosecute the additional alleged crimes, plaintiffs attorneys also claim Finney has withheld information about their clients complaints against Williams by citing ongoing criminal investigations by his office. Section from Vanessa Baehr-Jones motion to compel production of DA Steve Finneys cell phone records and force him to undergo a deposition. (WJHL) They allege Finneys communications with Ball, and his refusal to recommend a state investigation into potential police corruption, are evidence of his potential involvement to impede this lawsuit and/or other public corruption investigations into JCPD (Johnson City Police Department). In her response to Finneys motion to quash, Baehr-Jones argued that his phone records will shed further light on the contours of the alleged obstruction of justice as well as potential additional allegations of wrongdoing concerning Finneys coordination with Ball and counsel for the City. She also opened the door for Finney to be added to the lawsuit itself: (S)hould these records (or other discovery) substantiate that Finney had a hand in obstructing justice or engaged in public corruption, Plaintiffs will promptly seek to amend their complaint to included those allegations. How we got here Finney took office Sept. 1, 2022, barely two months after an earlier federal lawsuit against the city by former special assistant U.S. attorney Kateri Dahl put serial rape claims against Williams into the public eye. Former federal attorneys lawsuit: JC police chief fired her in retaliation after she pressed for rape investigations Dahl had worked under the JCPD in 2020 and 2021. After a woman named Mikayla Evans survived a Sept. 19, 2020 fall from Williams fifth-floor window, police discovered ammunition in Williams safe and in early November called Dahl in to work on a federal felon in possession of ammunition case. Dahl quickly learned that several rape complaints had been filed against Williams, and also that the search of his apartment had yielded a list of more than 20 names with the word raped at the top, according to her lawsuit. The suit, filed about a year before North Carolina police stumbled on the alleged video and photo evidence of Williams rapes, alleges JCPD failed to renew her contract in retaliation for her whistleblowing and insistence that they more assertively investigate Williams. Finney took office about a week after Cathy Ball sent a letter to his predecessor, Ken Baldwin, about the lawsuit. She asked that if Dahl hadnt reported her claims to him, whether the DA or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether a more thorough investigation was warranted. It was Finney who responded. His short Sept. 1, 2022 letter said he didnt know of Dahl reporting anything to the First District, and encouraged the citys defense attorneys to file discovery motions to learn more specifics about allegations in paragraph 98 of Dahls suit. New DA on Voe case not enough info to request TBI investigation of Johnson City police That paragraph claims several witnesses and Jane Doe 8 (one alleged Williams victim) expressed their concern to Dahl that (Williams) was able to get away with his behavior by paying Johnson City Police Officers off. Jane Doe 8, the paragraph states, had seen evidence firsthand that made her fearful that (Williams) was bribing law enforcement at Johnson City. Finney wrote that he would gladly meet with Dahl and her attorneys about the allegations and copied them on the letter, but wrote there was no mechanism for a preliminary investigation and that he didnt have enough information at that point to request a TBI investigation. Baehr-Jones June 15 filing claims Finney was incorrect in saying there was no mechanism for a preliminary investigation. She refers to a later audit of JCPDs handling of sexual assault cases by policing consultant Eric Daigle, who noted that the department should have initiated an internal affairs investigation once Dahl filed her allegations. Baehr-Jones characterizes Finneys letter as approval after which Ball continued to do nothing in response to the corruption allegations against JCPD. The city did eventually open an internal affairs investigation into several officers, but in a recent deposition, Ball said they were waiting to conduct the actual work in abeyance until after the lawsuits conclude. Finney-plaintiff disputes arose quickly after Williams capture After Finneys office took over opening or reopening of any cases in June 2023, the DAs work and that of the Jane Doe attorneys were in the same sphere. Baehr-Jones notes a July 26, 2023 phone meeting she had with DA representatives, a Department of Justice (DOJ) trial attorney and an FBI agent. By that time, the DOJ and other authorities had been investigating potential federal sex trafficking violations related to Williams since around November 2022. Baehr-Jones filing says she told authorities her clients desired criminal accountability for Williams and were willing to cooperate in any criminal investigation which would lead to his prosecution for their assaults. She wrote that she asked for updates on evidence submitted by her clients, as well as redacted versions of her clients statements and police reports. The DAs office refused, citing the active criminal investigation, and thus began a relationship that by Baehr-Jones written account deteriorated and has not improved. Her June 15 filing claims that Finneys team insisted victims come in for interviews, that he has withheld evidence from her team improperly and that he refused to cooperate in securing victim compensation funds for her clients. Another attorney for the Jane Does, Heather Moore Collins, wrote to Finney in August 2023 and told Finney his conclusions about launching an investigation were incorrect. She wrote that the Daigle reports conclusion the JCPD should have launched an internal affairs investigation was a failure on the part of JCPD and the DAs office. Collins letter raises what she claimed was a significant potential conflict for Finneys office due to concerns that you and others within the DAs office may be implicated in obstructing an investigation into Dahls allegations. (Finney was a private criminal defense lawyer up to the point he won the election as DA and was not working for that office during Dahls tenure.) Collins continued that your office is implicated, albeit indirectly, in the lack of criminal accountability of Williams. She wrote the Daigle reports findings at a minimum warrant a serious conflict of interest review by your office and likely a request for a District Attorney General Pro Tem to handle this matter going forward. Finneys office has continued to oversee the cases, and in a November 2023 letter to Baehr-Jones, Finney wrote to reassure her that his office and the TBI had worked diligently over the past several months building a multi-faceted criminal case against Mr. Williams. He noted that Williams faced a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted in the child sex abuse cases in state court. And Finney wrote that as the DAs staff and TBI have interviewed adult victims who were willing to meet with them, theyve made every effort to ensure that the victims are treated in a compassionate and empathetic manner and that resources such as victim advocates and therapy are readily available at no financial cost to the victims. Finney added that investigators trying to speak with victims whom you represent in the federal civil class action lawsuit have had their efforts impeded by you. He wrote that for her clients criminal cases to go forward it is imperative that these victims speak with state investigators. He also claimed that Tennessee law would only allow victim compensation for people who fully cooperate with law enforcement and prosecution efforts. He offered victim witness coordinators from his office and the TBI to help with that process. Baehr-Jones June 15 filing argues that the motion to quash from the state AGs attorney is weak on substance and that theres no reason for Finney to be able to shield his phone records or avoid answering questions in a deposition. She argues the information sought is relevant and isnt privileged due to the investigation or its being work product. It claims the history of plaintiffs alleged difficulties with Finneys office, the Daigle report and other history of events related to this litigation merit the records disclosure as well as an interview. And it claims questioning Finney is critical to their case because he can testify about JCPD improperly closing cases of sexual violence, JCPDs failure to train and supervise, its policies and practices, and other topics that go to the heart of Plaintiffs Equal Protection claim. Whether Baehr-Jones and her colleagues will be permitted to depose Finney or access his cell phone records will be decided by a federal judge. The Jane Does federal lawsuit, which has been amended and seeks class-action status, isnt scheduled for trial until April 2025. Kat Dahls lawsuit is scheduled for trial beginning Oct. 22. Williams child pornography production trial is scheduled for Aug. 27, and he has a federal escape trial due to begin July 16. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dad and fiancee are found in Mexico with child who vanished a month ago, WA cops say A 21-year-old man was found in Mexico with his fiancee and his missing toddler over a month after the child was reported missing, police in Washington said. The three were stopped near Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, over the July Fourth weekend, the Pullman Police Department said in a July 8 Facebook post. Aaron Aung was initially suspected of taking his daughter camping to Montana because he was seen buying camping gear and a Montana map in Moscow, Idaho, police said. He and his daughter were last seen May 29, police said. Dad fails to return child to mother, police say Aung was supposed to return the child to her mother on June 3 in Pullman, Washington, but he never did, police said. His fiancee, 21-year-old Nadia Cole, was also reported missing after she was last seen leaving the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 29, police said. Shes a former Pullman resident. Authorities said they later learned Aung and Cole were likely traveling to Mexico with the child. After being missing for over a month, all three were detained in Mexico and given to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The 2-year-old was placed with the Arizona Department of Child Safety and later returned to her mother, according to police and Facebook posts from family. Cole was deported into the U.S., police said, and Aung is being held in the Santa Cruz County Detention Center in Nogales, Arizona, police said. He will be extradited to Whitman County, Washington, on an outstanding warrant for first-degree custodial interference, police said. Nadia Coles parents, Kirk and Beata Cole, released a statement about her return to the U.S. Since her return, Nadia has been fully cooperating with authorities to help locate and aid in the safe return of Aaron Aung and 2-year-old Seraya Aung Harmon. She is recovering from her ordeal at a secure private location, according to the statement. Details of the circumstances that led to her disappearance remain part of an ongoing investigation, and we trust that more information will be released as deemed appropriate by the investigating agencies, the statement said. Woman fakes kidnapping to speed up search for friends missing car, Texas cops say Missing teens body found by worker collecting trash by road in Tennessee, cops say Three children in extreme danger after family of 5 goes missing, Indiana police say ST. LOUIS As the former Hurricane Beryl continues its track toward the region, utilities are continuing their daily operations, and some are ramping up ahead of the potential for heavy rain. For Tuesdays rain, the biggest factor that determines the kind of stormwater problems and flooding we could see is how much rain falls and how quickly. If we get two to four inches over a whole day, we wouldnt expect a lot of widespread issues, Sean Stone, MSD Project Clear. If we get four to six inches inside of a couple hours, that could be a different story. MSD crews were out doing routine maintenance as they have almost 350,000 manholes and inlets in their service area, which includes the City of St. Louis and the majority of St. Louis County. Were out inspecting it, cleaning it, repairing small problems before they become big problems, Stone said. Clogged inlets cause most of the issues during storms and the culprit for those clogged inlets are typically leaves, lawn clippings, and litter. Bridge collapse leaves residents isolated, emergency access hindered Their system is designed to handle a 15-to-20-year rain event. Anything more than that just doesnt fit in the pipe. When that happens, it returns to its natural overland flow path. Your areas that are going to see the most issues are going to be your low-lying areas, your areas along creeks and streams, Stone said. The Missouri Department of Transportation had crews checking on sewers on the main highways and state roads. The Illinois Department of Transportation is also ready to go. All the yards have taken the necessary steps. What weve done is actually make sure all of our equipment is in. Refueled, we have our saws, chains, and other items that we would typically use in heavy rain or storms to clear the roads, IDOT engineer Joe Monroe said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. In a remarkable turn of events, the White House medical team has had to clarify that a neurologist who visited eight times in as many months was not there to treat President Joe Biden, following angry exchanges in a media briefing with Bidens press secretary. Meanwhile, Mr Biden himself took matters into his own hands and unexpectedly called into a morning news show to defend his own health and insist he would remain the Democrat nominee for the presidential election. Kamal and Camilla discuss the whole sorry mess, which comes in the light of Prime Minister Keir Starmers first visit to Washington for the Nato summit. Plus, our Crime Editor Martin Evans and Science Editor Sarah Knapston are in the studio to discuss their story about the questions surrounding the evidence used to convict former nurse Lucy Letby. Watch all episodes of the Daily T here or on YouTube. Or if you would prefer to listen to the audio only, then use the player above. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The Daily T newsletter for updates. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Dartmouth College Student Was Found Dead in River. Was He the Victim of Hazing? Won Jang, 20, was last seen by the docks on the Connecticut River in Hanover, N.H. on July 6 and his body was found 65 feet offshore the next day, police say Getty Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating the death of a Dartmouth College student whose body was found in a river after he went missing. Won Jang, 20, was last seen by witnesses on Boathouse Road by the docks on the Connecticut River in Hanover, N.H., around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, according to a press release from the Hanover Police Department. The next day, around 3:15 p.m., authorities responded to the scene to investigate and dive teams searched the river. At about 7:30 p.m., a body was recovered approximately 65 feet offshore, police said. The body was later identified as Jang, whose cause of death has yet to be determined by the local medical examiners office, according to the release. Police said in the release that the preliminary investigation has revealed that foul play is not suspected and that the investigation is ongoing. According to WMUR-TV, Dartmouth College said that Jang was last seen at a social gathering before disappearing. Hanover Police Chief Charles Dennis told the station, as well as local outlets WPTZ and WCAX-TV, that hazing may have been involved in Jangs death. There is some evidence of alcohol involved, certainly from witnesses and talking with things like that, the chief told WMUR-TV. Again, that's all part of our investigation. We did receive an anonymous email this morning through the college that there may be some hazing involved, so we certainly will look into that aspect, too. PEOPLE reached out to Chief Dennis for comment on Tuesday, July 9 but did not immediately hear back. According to his LinkedIn profile, Jang was pursuing a bachelors degree in bioengineering and biomedical engineering at Dartmouth College. The profile states he was expected to graduate in June 2026 and was a member of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity. Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school, issued a statement expressing condolences to Jang's loved ones and support for the campus community. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage, and details of intriguing unsolved cases. We understand that this is very difficult news for our community and encourage you to seek support whether you need a listening ear or guidance in navigating this challenging time, the statement reads in part, according to WCAX-TV. We have been in touch with Wons fraternity brothers and other friends. Dartmouth College did not immediately return PEOPLEs request for comment on Jangs death and the alleged hazing incident. Hanover police asked anyone with information regarding the case to call the department at 603-643-2222. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. HANOVER, N.H. Police are investigating the possibility that alcohol and hazing could have been involved in the death of a Dartmouth College student who was found dead over the weekend in the Connecticut River. Dartmouth has suspended two Greek organizations as the investigation continues. Hanover, New Hampshire police said 20-year-old Won Jang of Delaware was reported missing on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses told New Hampshire Fish and Game they last saw Jang around 9:30 p.m. the night before. Won Jang's death at Dartmouth College Investigators said Jang "was attending an informal social gathering at docks near the Dartmouth boathouse." According to Fish and Game, personal items found nearby suggested Jang never left the area of the river. Dive teams began searching near the docks. About four hours after he was reported missing, Jang's body was found 65 feet away from shore. Police are investigating Jang's death, but said foul play is not suspected. Hazing and alcohol possibly involved WCAX in Vermont reported that police received several tips about hazing possibly being involved in Jang's death. "So we have received some emails that were forwarded to us from the College that were sent anonymously listing some of those concerns that hazing or potentially alcohol may be involved so that will certainly be part of our investigation as we move forward through this process," Hanover Police Chief Charlie Dennis told the news station. Greek organizations suspended Dartmouth has suspended Beta Alpha Omega and Alpha Phi, the college said in a statement Tuesday. Dartmouth said it is working closely with the Hanover Police Department as the investigation continues. "The entire Dartmouth community is grieving over the tragic loss of Won Jang," a statement from the college said. "Our counseling team has been by the family's side since yesterday, and Dartmouth is providing every possible support it can to Won's parents, family and friends." Dartmouth College is an Ivy League school located in central New Hampshire near the border of Vermont. Anyone with information about Jang's death is asked to call the Hanover Police Department. Sneak peek: Murder by Clown Easy and delicious overnight oats recipes to try this summer Nevada voters discuss Vice President Kamala Harris The death of a Dartmouth College student and fraternity member has prompted a hazing investigation, police said. Won Jang, 20, was reported missing Sunday afternoon, having been last seen the prior night by the docks of the Connecticut River on the school's New Hampshire campus. Search and rescue teams found his body offshore Sunday evening. His cause of death has not yet been determined, but police said they do not suspect foul play. PHOTO: The Dartmouth College logo is seen on the Dartmouth College campus on February 8, 2024 in Hanover, New Hampshire. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Hanover Police Chief Charles Dennis said in an interview with New Hampshire ABC affiliate WMUR they are investigating whether hazing played a role in the student's death. "There is some evidence of alcohol involved, certainly from witnesses and talking with things like that. Again, that's all part of our investigation," Dennis said. "We did receive an anonymous email this morning through the college that there may be some hazing involved, so we certainly will look into that aspect, too." MORE: Riley Strain's fraternity brothers 'heartbroken' as search in Nashville continues, his mom says Friends of Jang said he had attended a social gathering by the river that night thrown by his fraternity and a sorority, and that alcohol had been present, according to student newspaper The Dartmouth. Jang, a biomedical engineering major from Middletown, Delaware, was a member of Beta Alpha Omega, according to the fraternity's website. In January, Beta Alpha Omega was subject to disciplinary action for an undisclosed incident, The Dartmouth reported. PHOTO: Won Jang, 20, a biomedical engineering major from Delaware, was a member of Beta Alpha Omega, according to the fraternity's website. (WMUR) Spokespeople for the college and the fraternity did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News. One of Jang's friends, Kledian Marinaj, told WMUR he was an "amazing guy" who always had "a smile on his face." "I had just been talking to him to make plans to grab a meal sometime," Marinaj said. "Of course, I was very upset when I first got the news, so I met up with friends around here, and we went on a walk, talking about all the great things about Won, about how he makes jokes and makes people laugh." Dartmouth fraternity member's death prompts hazing investigation originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A new data center is coming to Fayette County, but neighbors dont want the power poles it needs Several Fayette County homeowners say they want Georgia Power to stop construction regarding plans of installing multiple nearly 200-foot electrical poles in front of their properties. Homeowners say this would require them to sell a portion of their property. I cant live next to those power lines, homeowner Judy Drohn told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln. The City of Fayetteville approved the building of the Quality Technology Services data center, which is one of the largest in the nation, located along Highway 54. The 6.6 million square foot facility will host data for companies. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In order to power this facility, Georgia Power will have to expand power lines in the area. Were going to be affected by these high-powered voltage lines, homeowner Sue Aldana told Lincoln. Lincoln spoke with homeowners who voiced concerns about their property value, health impacts, and quality of life living near large power poles. It has been a nightmare since dealing with this, Hanna Schilsky said. Some homeowners say they were offered a few thousand dollars for several feet of their property. We got letters from Georgia Power with a $3,000 offer to accept our property, we had no input, into these powerlines, Aldana said. MORE FROM 2 INVESTIGATES: Georgia Power says theyre currently seeking easement rights from homeowners. The company says a team of experts spent months looking for the best route. They considered factors like safety, reliability, time to construct and minimizing community impact when determining this location. Georgia Power says those cases are rare. In this case, Georgia Power says they plan to continue speaking and negotiating with homeowners. Georgia Power told Channel 2 Action News their land agents work directly with each property owner to negotiate easement purchases on each project, answer questions and work to find mutually acceptable terms for all involved. The route chosen was deemed to have less community impact since another potential route would have required several other homeowners to be completely displaced from their homes. With an easement, Georgia Power says impacted property owners still own and have access to their property with only some restrictions, such as only planting lower-growing vegetation within the easement. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: New Mexicans bought fewer guns in 2023 than the previous year, according to an analysis by SafeHomes.org of the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS) database. The downward trend was slight - just 5%, according to the analysis - and gun purchases continued to be in the thousands the first quarter of 2024. Now New Mexicans are subject to newly enacted laws governing waiting periods for those seeking to purchase a firearm and ahead of a special session of the Legislature focused on public safety. In May a seven day waiting period went into effect for anyone purchasing from a gun dealer. The law was challenged in court by the National Rifle Association who sued New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Attorney General saying the waiting period requirement was unconstitutional. Lujan Grisham also enacted a ban on guns in public in January issuing an emergency order stating gun violence was a public crisis in the state after the shooting death of several children in the Albuquerque area, and authorized statewide gun buy back events to remove firearms from New Mexico communities. She also called lawmakers back for a special session to tackle "additional public safety protections that New Mexicans demand." The special session begins Thursday, July 18. Local: Las Cruces Magistrate Court launches competency diversion court pilot project New Mexico small decline in gun sales between 2022 and 2023 According to the analysis, an estimated 163,624 guns were sold in New Mexico in 2023 - a figure that declined by 5% from the prior year. An estimated 57,151 guns were sold between January and April of 2024 in the state, according to the analysis. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed the number of firearm related injuries and deaths in New Mexico was above the national average since 1999. The data, age adjusted, showed a rate of 27.3 per 100,000 population injuries and deaths in 2022; the U.S. rate was 14.2 per 100,000 population. According to the New Mexico Gun Violence Dashboard, there was a 62% increase in the rate of homicides linked to guns between 2018 and 2022. Chart showing rate of gun violence related injuries and deaths in New Mexico and the U.S. Data source CDC. Gun violence in New Mexico: Check out the Gun Violence Dashboard Americans still purchasing guns at record levels Pew Research data showed that about a third of Americans say they own personal firearms, though the sale of firearms was down slightly between 2022 and 2023. About 16.7 million firearms were sold in 2023 nationwide, a decline of about 4% from the prior year. The SafeHomes.org analysis found that nearly 5.5 million firearms were purchased in the U.S. by April 2024, with Texas, California and Florida leading the way in gun sales overall. In Texas, 1, 347,589 guns were sold in 2023; Florida saw the sale of 1,316,471 guns; California 1.043,421. A look at the statistics: Gun violence is a public health crisis, surgeon general says States where Americans purchased the most guns Adjusted for population, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and Oregon have the highest rates of gun purchases, according to the report. Western states like these "have strong hunting traditions fostered by rural lifestyles and less rigid gun control laws," Rob Gabriele, SafeHomes' managing editor, was quoted by USA TODAY. "The pro-gun cultures and the need for self-defense in such remote areas, which abound in predators that could harm livestock, may also contribute to higher gun ownership and sales." Montana: 1,586 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Wyoming: 1,523 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Alaska: 1,514 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Oregon: 1,372 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Alabama: 1,302 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ New Hampshire: 1,252 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Tennessee: 1,207 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ West Virginia: 1,205 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ North Dakota: 1,194 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Idaho: 1,149 sold per 10,000 residents aged 21+ Surgeon General declares public health crisis linked to gun violence U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared gun violence in the U.S. a public health crisis in June 2024, calling for a ban of sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines to the public. The Associated Press reported that Murthy's declaration followed a weekend of mass shootings in Alabama, Ohio and Arkansas. In New Mexico, Lujan Grisham lauded the Surgeon General's decision. "General Murthys declaration will help build even more support for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, children, and individuals with serious mental health issues. It also contains valuable recommendations for addressing the severe physical and psychological trauma inflicted on gun violence survivors, their family members and community members at-large," Lujan Grisham said in a news release. "The surgeon generals call to confront gun violence head-on resonates deeply in New Mexico, where I declared a state-level public health emergency stemming from gun violence in September 2023. Since that time, law enforcement authorities in Bernalillo County have made 10,000 arrests and seized 846 illegal firearms under my order." This story includes reporting from USA Today Data and Graphics reporter Sara Chernikoff and USA Today Digital Producer C. A. Bridges. Alan Torres of The Register-Guard contributed to this reporting. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Data shows gun sales were down in 2022 in New Mexico RAMALLAH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian child was killed Tuesday in Israeli army gunfire in the town of Deir Abu Mishal in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry identified the boy as 13-year-old Ghassan Zahran, without providing further details. Confrontations broke out between the Israeli army and young Palestinians in the town, where army forces fired bullets at the youths, local sources reported. It remains unclear what operations the Israeli military had been in the town for. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the reported killing. This child fatality has brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023, when the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict erupted, to more than 550 people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. WHO data suggest more Ukrainians could die in medical site attacks in 2024 A Russian missile strike on Ukraines largest childrens hospital on July 8 underscored the increasing number of deadly attacks on medical facilities, vehicles, and workers in the country this year. This incident adds to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), suggesting that more Ukrainians could be killed in such attacks this year compared to 2023. Before the strike on the Ohmatdyt Childrens Hospital in Kyiv, the WHO had documented 18 deaths and 81 injuries from over 175 attacks on healthcare infrastructure in Ukraine during the first half of 2024. Additionally, the organization recorded 44 attacks on medical vehicles within the same period. Throughout 2023, the organization recorded 22 deaths and 117 injuries from 350 such attacks, including 45 specifically targeting medical vehicles like ambulances. Other organizations report even higher death tolls. In the July 8 attack, at least one doctor and another adult were killed at the hospital, with at least 50 others, including seven children, injured according to local authorities. Attacks on civilian hospitals are prohibited under Article 18 of the Geneva Convention, ratified by United Nations member states after World War II. Additionally, Article 20 of the convention mandates that healthcare workers must be protected by all warring parties. Read also: I want Russians to feel it on their own skin: Shock, fury at the site of childrens hospital attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. DC police searching for puppy taken in Southeast robbery WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said they are looking for a puppy that was stolen in Southeast Monday night. MPD said that at around 9:30 p.m., the victim arranged to sell the dog to a buyer and met them in the 2800 block of Texas Avenue. French Bulldog reunited with owner after stolen at gunpoint in Southeast DC After negotiating a price, the buyer took out a handgun and fled the scene on foot with the dog, according to MPD. Stolen puppy. (Photo Courtesy: MPD) The dog is a 9-week-old female American Bully with black and white fur. She was not wearing a collar. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099 or text 50411. MPD is encouraging residents to use designated Safe Exchange Zones if meeting up with people from online platforms to complete transactions. Police said these areas serve as a safe place for people to exchange goods or money. MPD Safe Exchange Zones can be found at every district station and the Special Operations Divisions Harbor Patrol. Here is a list: First District Station: 101 M St SW Second District Station: 3320 Idaho Ave NW Third District Station: 1620 V St NW Fourth District Station: 6001 Georgia Ave NW Fifth District Station: 1805 Bladensburg Road NE Sixth District Station: 5002 Hayes St NE Seventh District Station: 2455 Alabama Ave SE Special Operations Divisions Harbor Patrol: 550 Water St SW Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At least 5 people have died from heat-related illnesses, including a motorcyclist who succumbed to heat exposure in Californias Death Valley. A dangerous heat wave has shattered temperature records in the Western United States this week, triggered heat warnings and advisories for millions of people, caused at least five deaths and left dozens of others hospitalized. Who has been affected? According to the National Weather Service, about 36 million people, or approximately 10% of the U.S. population, were under an excessive-heat warning on Monday. And more than 146 million people were under extreme-heat advisories, watches or warnings. In Oregon, blistering heat was suspected in at least four deaths between Friday and Monday in the Portland area. According to Multnomah County health officials, three of the victims, all men, were found dead outside. Another 33-year-old man who was transported to a Portland hospital died from a suspected heat-related illness. In Nevada, the high temperature in Las Vegas on Sunday hit a record 120 degrees. Nearly two dozen people were treated at a local burn center for pavement burns last month; others continue to be admitted on a daily basis, Dr. Syed Saquib, director of University Medical Centers Lions Burn Care Center, told KVVU-TV. The pavement can be up to 40 degrees warmer than the air and can cause second-degree burns in a matter of seconds, Saquib said. A man walks near the Las Vegas strip on Sunday, when the city set an all-time record high of 120 degrees. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) In Arizona, Phoenix set a new daily record for the warmest low temperature ever: It never got below 92 degrees. And heat-related deaths in the Phoenix area have been mounting. In Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix, there have been at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, according to the Associated Press. More than 160 additional deaths suspected of being related to heat are still under investigation. And in California, a motorcyclist died over the weekend from heat exposure in Death Valley National Park, where temperatures reached a record 127 degrees on Friday, 128 on Saturday and 129 on Sunday. Another was treated for severe heat illness. Tourists from around the world are still drawn to the park in the summer to experience the extreme heat, despite the risks. While this is a very exciting time to experience potential world-record-setting temperatures in Death Valley, Mike Reynolds, the parks superintendent, said in a statement, we encourage visitors to choose their activities carefully, avoiding prolonged periods of time outside of an air-conditioned vehicle or building when temperatures are this high." How long will this heat wave last? The current heat wave impacting millions of people in the West is persistent and shows no signs of dissipating. Excessive-heat warnings remain in effect through the rest of the week in most western states, with more record high temperatures expected. "No let-up expected to the string of record high temperatures being set across large portions of the West," the National Weather Service said. "The mid- to upper-level high that has been anchoring the record heat in the West is not expected to change much over the next several days, as it remains locked in place, stretching from Southern California/Desert Southwest, northward through the Great Basin and across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies." Excessive-heat warnings, watches and heat advisories are currently in effect for nearly all of Washington state, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada and western Arizona. A sign displays the temperature at 10 p.m. outside the Furnace Creek Visitors Center in Death Valley National Park, Calif., on Sunday. (Ty ONeil/AP) "Numerous record high temperatures are expected across these areas over the next few days, where high temperatures will be anywhere from 10 to as high as 30 degrees above average," the weather service added. "In addition to the record-high daily temperatures, the early-morning lows are also expected to set records across large portions of the West over the coming two mornings. The multi-day length and record warm overnight temperatures will continue to cause heat stress to anyone without adequate cooling and hydration." In the meantime, forecasters are urging people to drink plenty of fluids, take extra precautions when outside, take frequent air-conditioning breaks when possible, check up on relatives and neighbors, and not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes, the weather service said. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Hurricane Corso It took only two days for Hurricane Beryl to grow from a minor tropical storm into a deadly category-four event. Then it grew into a powerful category five hurricane, the strongest on the hurricane wind scale, blasting through the Caribbean with wind speeds reaching 165 mph and causing numerous deaths. Beryl has alarmed environmental scientists for how early in the year it appeared, with most major storms only forming closer to September. And as The Guardian reports, that's almost certainly due to climate change supercharging Atlantic ocean temperatures. "Beryl would be astounding to happen anyway, but for it to form in June is completely unprecedented," University of Miami climate scientist Brian McNoldy told the newspaper. "Its just remarkable to see sea temperatures this warm." "I dont think anyone would expect an outlier like this to happen, it exceeded expectations," he added. "With a climate-change-influenced ocean, we are making extreme storms like this more likely to happen." Hot Tub Clime Machine This year follows an already worrying trend, with 2023 also seeing off-the-charts and record-breaking ocean temperatures, and 2024 looking similar. In June alone, the North Atlantic has seen temperatures of two to five degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average. And that doesn't bode well for the rest of hurricane season. "In the Caribbean Sea it has actually been warmer than its usual peak since mid-May, which is absolutely crazy," McNoldy told The Guardian. "If the ocean already looks like its the peak of hurricane season, we are going to get peak hurricanes." "In terms of the science, its unfortunately kind of right in line with what we expect when were warming the planet and were warming our oceans, especially," Rowan University hurricane expert Andra Garner told NPR. While we still can't definitively conclude that climate change is directly responsible for a higher number of storms, scientists have found that the intensity of storms has been growing as a result, feeding on warmer ocean temperatures and releasing more rain from extra moisture in the air. "Although it is uncertain to what extent climate change contributed to the early formation of Hurricane Beryl, our climate models suggest that the mean intensity of hurricanes will increase in the future due to enhanced global warming," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research scientist Hiroyuki Murakami told the BBC. The situation is so dire that experts are now calling for a new "category six" to be added as wind speeds are reaching records much faster. In short, we're in uncharted territory and hurricane season has only just begun. "Hurricane Beryl sets a precedent for what we fear is going to be a very, very active, very dangerous hurricane season, which will impact the entire Atlantic basin," World Meteorological Organization deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett told the BBC. More on global weather: Nvidia Is Simulating a Copy of the Earth Death Of Man Seen On Ring Cameras 'Running For His Life' Ruled A Homicide The death of a missing man from Atlanta who disappeared on the Fourth of July while visiting his family in Alabama has been ruled a homicide, and authorities are nowtrying to locate his partner, Birmingham police announced Monday. Deundray Cottrell, 31, and his partner, Julian Taylor Morris, 31, arrived in Alabama on July 4 to visit Cottrells sister and celebrate the holiday with Cottrells family, according to reports by AL.com. Angelica Harris, Cottrells sister, told the outlet that she last saw her brother at around 10 that night, when he said he was going upstairs to check on his dog because of the fireworks. But, she said, Morris told the family that Cottrell ran off through the backyard. While searching for Cottrell, the family found one of his shoes and his cellphone and reported him missing to police. Deundray Cottrell's body was found on July 6 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was 31. Facebook Deundray Cottrell Harris told WSB-TV that Morris initial reaction to her brothers disappearance was out of the ordinary. While we looked, Julian didnt, Harris told the outlet. At one point while everybody was searching, we came back in the house and Julian had fixed a plate and was sitting there eating. And he looked at me and was like, Oh my gosh, the food is so good. Several Ring cameras from the neighborhood showed Cottrell running through peoples yards and jumping over a gate, according to AL.com. It looked like he was looking for refuge, Harris told the outlet. He was running for his life. Cottrell was found dead on Saturday, about two blocks from his last known location, according to the police press release. The Jefferson County medical examiners office has ruled Cottrells manner of death a homicide. The medical examiners office did not offer further details about Cottrells cause of death, but told HuffPost in an email that Cottrell was discovered unresponsive inside a detached shed in the backyard of an abandoned residence. Timothy Cottrell, the victims older brother, told ABC affiliate WBMA that the family had passed by the shed numerous times without thinking Deundray might be inside. Police say they are now looking for Morris and consider him a person of interest in the investigation of his partners death. Truman Fitzgerald, the Birmingham Police Departments public information officer, told WBMA that Morris may hold crucial information about the killing, and that its possible Morris could be a suspect or be in danger himself. Related... AUSTIN (KXAN) Acting Texas Gov. Dan Patrick said Tuesday a federal emergency disaster declaration was granted by President Biden in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The disaster declaration through FEMA will cover all costs for Category A (Debris) and Category B (Emergency Protective Measures), the release said. FEMAs assistance with these costs will expedite the recovery process and help ensure the safety of Texans impacted by Hurricane Beryl, the release said. Patrick will hold a press conference Tuesday at 1 p.m. for the latest on the states response to the hurricane. You can watch the press conference in this story and on KXANs Facebook page. Six people in the Houston area died as Hurricane Beryl pushed through Texas, officials said Monday. Authorities said two people died after trees fell on two, separate houses in Harris County. Acting Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite said on social media an HPD information security officer died after he was caught in rising floodwaters while he was on his way to work. Beryl made landfall Monday around 4 a.m. near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm around 10 a.m. Monday as it moved toward Houston. Tropical tracker: Timeline of storms in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is overseas, leading an economic development mission in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is serving as acting governor while Abbott is out of the country. The storm knocked out power for more than 2 million people around the Houston area. Beryl brought significant rain to southeast Texas causing flooding across Houstons roads and bayous. VIDEO: Houston man rescued from his truck in severe flood waters during Hurricane Beryl Patrick said the timeline for restoring power is unclear, adding that the storm knocked down 10 transmission towers. As of 1 p.m. Monday, Beryl was a tropical storm moving north to northwest of Houston with sustained winds around 60 mph. State leaders, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and TDEM Chief Nim Kidd, held a press conference Monday afternoon with an update on the states response to Hurricane Beryl. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) State leaders, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and TDEM Chief Nim Kidd, held a press conference Monday afternoon with an update on the states response to Hurricane Beryl. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) State leaders, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and TDEM Chief Nim Kidd, held a press conference Monday afternoon with an update on the states response to Hurricane Beryl. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) State leaders, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and TDEM Chief Nim Kidd, held a press conference Monday afternoon with an update on the states response to Hurricane Beryl. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) Hundreds of disaster workers flocked to the Texas coast to join several emergency response vehicles, thousands of relief supplies and shelf-stable meals provided by the Red Cross, according to a Monday release. Red Cross officials reported 125 people stayed in seven evacuation shelters. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Do cell phones have a place in classrooms? Its a question that continues to spark hot debate around the nation and in northeastern Pennsylvania. There is an effort underway in Harrisburg that would, if successful, result in a cell phone in classrooms. The debate over whether to ban cell phone use in classrooms has raged on for the last several years, but lawmakers say they hope to answer the question once and for all: Will a ban actually help students learn and help their overall well-being? Do classroom and cell phones mix? Thats the question lawmakers hope to answer with a pilot program being offered to school districts in the Commonwealth. Lets collect all the cell phones at the beginning of the day and lets give them back to the kids at the end of the day. If you want to do this the state will give you money to complete this study. Lets see if it indeed grades and test scores get better, said Senator Dave Argall. Abide Coffeehouse reopens after more water damage Senator Dave Argall says data suggests that cell phones do have an impact on students and the learning environment. Weve seen a lot of information that indicates that too much cell phone use in schools hurts academic performance it hurts test scores. It hurts grades it hurts a lot of things, Senator Argall added. The Hanover Area School District already bans cell phone use in classrooms, but students can access phones during lunch. The superintendent, Nathan Barrett, says they dont have any data on the impact on academics. Well, our physical violence, our fights are down our bullying online has dropped. Fighting has dropped nearly 70%, Barrett said. What do students think about the ban? I really dont think its a big deal I mean some people think so but I never use my phone in school I think its distracting, Student Amelia Gawronkiewicz said. So if you put them away and doing your work and actually come here to learn I dont think its a big problem, a student, Noah Dewey, weighed in. Gabriel Gonzalez from Wilkes-Barre has two kids in school. For him, its a safety issue. For protection of my son and daughter when Im not there, the best thing to do is give them the phone, Gonzalez said. Wilkes-Barre Area School District does not have a cell phone policy. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexicos largest school district has a new leader in Superintendent Dr. Gabriella Blakey. This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, Gabby and guest cohost, Jessica Garate talk with the new Superintendent about how her experience with APS is informing her decisions as a leader for the district. Dr. Blakey addresses school safety, guns on campuses, an extended school year, teacher and family challenges, and her goals for the school district. What will it take to improve New Mexico education? How safe are kids in public schools? My ask to listeners is that they encourage kids and that they speak positively around them, explained Dr. Blakey. So that the self-fulfilling prophecy that our kids see is that they can do it and that they are successful. According to APS, it serves roughly 70,000 students across 141 schools. Would students be better served on a smaller scale? These questions and more are addressed in the full discussion above. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Podcast every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Podbean among others. Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Podcast (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each respective service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post. If you have a question, comment, or suggestion as to who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella are warning New England residents of an unprecedented data breach linked to a cyberattack that interrupted operations at thousands of doctors offices, hospitals, and pharmacies across the region and country. Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth, the nations largest electronic data clearinghouse, experienced a significant cyberattack in February, according to Campbell and Formella. Change is used by tens of thousands of providers, pharmacies, and insurers to verify insurance, confirm pre-authorization of procedures or services, exchange insurance claim data, and perform other administrative tasks. The attack resulted in Americans sensitive health and personal data being leaked onto the dark web. Although the actual number and identity of affected patients are currently unknown, Change has publicly stated that the data breach could impact up to a third of all Americans. Consumers typically receive an individualized letter or email if their data was impacted in a cyberattack but because Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents have yet to be notified, Campbell and Formella said they wanted to share consumer protection reminders and raise awareness about the availability of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services following the breach. The significant impact of the situation, coupled with the fact that Change has not yet provided notice to impacted individuals, the safest course of action is for everyone to assume that their information has been involved, Campbell and Formella advised. This data breach is deeply concerning. Thousands of healthcare providers, pharmacies, and insurers rely on Change Healthcares services, making the exposure of sensitive health and personal data to cybercriminals a significant threat to public trust and security. Despite the magnitude of this breach, the delay in notifying affected individuals is unacceptable. Alongside my counterparts from across the country, I have called upon UnitedHealth Group to take swift and meaningful action to protect those impacted and prevent future breaches, Formella said in a statement. In the meantime, it is crucial that individuals remain vigilant and monitor any suspicious activity related to their medical or financial information. We will continue to advocate for consumer rights and hold accountable those responsible for this breach. Change is now offering all Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents who believe they may have been impacted free credit monitoring and identity theft protections for two years: For information visit Change Healthcare Consumer support page - UnitedHealth Group. To enroll in credit monitoring through IDX use the link at: Change Healthcare Consumer support page - UnitedHealth Group or call 1-888-846-4705. For additional support from Change Healthcare call 1-866-262-5342. Consumers should be aware of potential warning signs that someone is using their medical information. The signs include: A bill from their doctor for services they did not receive. Errors in their Explanation of Benefits statement like services they never received or prescription medications they do not take. A call from a debt collector about a medical debt they do not owe. Medical debt collection notices on their credit report that they do not recognize. A notice from their health insurance company indicating they have reached their benefit limit; or They are denied insurance coverage because their medical records show a pre-existing condition they do not have. If consumers are concerned that their data may have been impacted but prefer not to use the free resources provided by Change Healthcare, they can also consider freezing their credit. The incident remains under investigation. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Chinese radio astronomer Li Di (R), the chief scientist of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), is awarded the Marcel Grossmann Award in Pescara, Italy, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) PESCARA, ITALY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese radio astronomer Li Di was awarded the Marcel Grossmann Award on Tuesday for his research contributions in the field of fast radio burst (FRBs). Li, the chief scientist of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), is the first Chinese scientist to receive the prestigious physics prize for achievements accomplished in China. Li was awarded for his groundbreaking contributions to the scientific capabilities of the world's most sensitive radio telescope, including precise measurements of interstellar magnetic fields and advancing the study of FRBs to a high statistical significance, according to the committee of the 17th Marcel Grossmann Meeting, currently underway in Pescara, Italy, until Friday. "Humans share the same sky, and the international opening of astronomy is inevitable," Li told Xinhua in an interview. "Strengthening China-EU cooperation, especially through the open sharing of astronomical data between the two sides, can greatly advance cutting-edge exploration and effectively prevent decoupling." "Li's latest contributions, in the field of the mysterious FRBs in particular, have really moved our understanding forward," said Michael Kramer, director of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. Li's scientific leadership in the FAST telescope project and the discoveries enabled by this remarkable instrument make this award truly exceptional, Kramer added. The Marcel Grossmann Award, established in 1985 and presented every three years, is considered one of the most prestigious international awards in physics. Previous Chinese laureates include Nobel Prize winners Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao, as well as world-class mathematician Qiu Chengtong. The Marcel Grossmann Meeting, initiated in 1975, aims to promote research in gravity, relativity, and related areas, focusing on mathematical foundations, physical predictions, and experimental tests. Chinese radio astronomer Li Di, the chief scientist of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), makes a speech at the 17th Marcel Grossmann Meeting in Pescara, Italy, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Attendees listen to speeches at the 17th Marcel Grossmann Meeting in Pescara, Italy, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Chinese radio astronomer Li Di, the chief scientist of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), makes a speech at the 17th Marcel Grossmann Meeting in Pescara, Italy, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) (Reuters) - Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov urged his compatriots throughout Europe on Tuesday to sign up for a Ukrainian legion to be based in neighbouring Poland, describing it as a key step in improving battle readiness with Western help. The creation of the unit, part of a security agreement with Poland, appeared to be a means to boost the ranks of Ukraine's military against numerically superior Russian forces. It was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Warsaw on Monday. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Despite considerable help from its Western allies and the resumption of U.S. aid after a break of several months because of disputes in Congress, Ukraine is still taking on an enemy with greater numbers of personnel and weapons. CONTEXT Ukraine has devised several schemes to maintain and increase personnel levels in its Armed Forces, including passage of a mobilisation law in April lowering the draft age to 25 from 27 and closing loopholes against men avoiding the draft. Umerov said the plan would also provide Ukrainian servicemen with the most modern and sophisticated hardware available from Kyiv's western partners. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksander Kozhukhar; Editing by Richard Chang) Delaware flags to be flown at half-staff this weekend in honor of late state politician Delaware flags will be lowered to half-staff this weekend in honor of a former state senator. Dorinda Dori Connor was a Delaware state senator, representing District 12 for more than a decade after her husband, Bob, died in 1997 and left the seat open. She previously worked as his partner for 23 years. Combined, the Connors served Delaware for more than 40 years, with Dori advocating for legislation for nursing home reform, domestic violence issues, minimum wage, public safety, stopping human trafficking and much more. The American, Delaware and New Castle flags are featured on a window of the City of New Castle Mayor's Office in Historic (Old) New Castle, Thursday, February 8, 2024. Dori Connor died on June 30 after a 10-year battle with Parkinsons disease. In honor of Dori Connor, Gov. John Carney on July 8 ordered all Delaware flags to be lowered to half-staff at all state facilities on Saturday, July 13, the day of her interment. Politics: The veteran Delaware politician who wouldn't retire. It's not who you think Tracey and I were saddened to hear of the loss of Dori Connor. Dori and her husband Bob were quite a team working together to better greater New Castle for decades. They were respected educators and legislators. They worked to make government more transparent and responsive to the concerns of ordinary people, said Gov. Carney. As a Delaware State Senator, Dori was a champion of people with disabilities and victims of crimes. She represented all her constituents well. She always had a big smile and a pleasant word for everyone she worked with. Her spirit and goodwill will be missed. Our thoughts go out to Doris sons and friends during this difficult time. A viewing for Dori Connor will be held on Friday, July 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home at 635 Churchmans Road near Christiana. Interment will be held on Saturday, July 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 801 North Dupont Highway. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Sen. Dorinda Connor Delaware is a top road rage state based on driving data, says new report. Find out why For all the Delawareans who get angry on the road or feel like other in-state drivers are a bit too aggressive for their liking, you might be onto something. A new study named Delaware as one of the states with the most road rage in the United States. Delaware is a top road rage state Cars pass through the intersection with traffic lights out at Baynard Boulevard and West 18th Street in Wilmington as a wind and snow storm moves through the area in 2018. Courtroomprove.com, a personal injury lawyer, compiled a report about which states pose the biggest threat when it comes to road rage. The report analyzed six key factors, including firearm incidents, speeding violations and aggressive driving accidents to rank each U.S. state based on their road rage severity. Delaware ranks at No. 7 with a final road rage score of 69.6 on a scale of 40 to 100. The First State reported 6.7 fatal accidents per 100,000 residents, 2.2 firearm-related road rage incidents per 100,000 residents and 2.3 speeding violations per 100,000 residents, the fifth most in the nation. Aggressive or careless driving is said to be a factor in 47.6% of accidents in Delaware, according to the report. ZIPPER MERGE: Passing the 'lane closed ahead' sign and cutting in line later may be best merge strategy The state with the most road rage is Louisiana with a score of 90, reporting 11.6 fatal accidents per 100,000 residents and 2.9 speeding violations per 100,000 residents. New Mexico ranks No. 2 with a score of 89.4, and Montana ranks No. 3 with a score of 88.7. Is your state a top road rage state? The rest of the top 10 includes: Arkansas at No. 4 with a score of 85.6 Colorado at No. 5 with a score of 78.4 North Carolina at No. 6 with a score of 71.4 Florida at No. 8 with a score of 68.8 Wisconsin at No. 9 with a score of 67.7 Tennessee at No. 10 with a score of 67.1 While these numbers may sound shocking, the AA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that nearly 80% of drivers in the nation admit to experiencing significant anger, aggression or road rage at least once while driving in the past year. DRIVING IN DELAWARE: State crash data insights shed light on the cause of traffic fatalities States with the least road rage Delaware residents have the worst driver's test skills performance rate in the nation, with only 41% of people passing, according to a report. The 10 states with the least amount of road rage in the U.S. are: Rhode Island with a score of 40 California with a score of 42.6 Virginia with a score of 42.6 New Hampshire with a score of 42.9 New York with a score of 43.5 Massachusetts with a score of 43.8 Washington with a score of 44.6 Wyoming with a score of 45.2 South Dakota with a score of 46 Iowa with a score of 46.2 Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware ranked as a top road rage state in the United States Photo illustration by Susan J. Demas | Michigan Advance July 4th hits different when youre confronted by the unescapable reality that the American experiment is over in a fundamental way. And no, that isnt hyperbole if you read the U.S. Supreme court opinion released last week in Trump v. the United States by six right-wing justices, who function more like insular high clerics than thoughtful jurists. The case was brought by Donald Trump, who has the distinction of being the only former president to be found guilty of 34 felonies in a hush money case tied to the 2016 election and faces dozens more in three other criminal cases. But the majority on the high court half of whom were appointed by Trump handed him an astounding victory, ruling that presidents have almost limitless immunity, so long as something can be called an official act. In May, Justice Sonia Sotomayor confessed that there are days that Ive come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried. And in reading her scorching, 29-page dissent, I began weeping myself. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune, she writes. You might be tempted to believe those scenarios are fantastical, although I would argue you have to be hitting the normalcy bias tap pretty hard to convince yourself of that. But as Sotomayor delineates, the court has given a wholesale rewrite to the powers of the presidency which is tremendously significant in and of itself. Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done, she writes. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law. The fact that this decision dropped just three days before Independence Day quite honestly made it so much harder to comprehend. We literally fought a war to free ourselves from despots. We rejected the temptation of establishing a monarchy of our own to forge a democracy, a bold undertaking few thought would work. And we beat back an empire that sought to throttle our republic in its infancy. And yes, our history is marred by the original sin of slavery and the refusal to extend the rights of citizenship to anyone besides white men. But the ideals of our nation the separation of powers, right to assemble, freedom of the press and so much more have always been worth fighting for. Abolishing slavery, establishing the right to vote for women and African Americans and dismantling Jim Crow have all been part of our journey to make America a more perfect union. Thats why I love America. And no, I wasnt raised in a particularly patriotic household, although my parents did periodically remind me that I was a bicentennial baby. Ive never owned any flag-adorned clothing or cared much for the performative pomp and circumstance of July 4th (I didnt like joining in pep rallies in high school, either, and would usually try to sneak off to the library to read a book). I've certainly never been an optimist, but I have to be these days because I have kids. I want them to live in a better world than the one they were born into. I think that's worth fighting for. I believe America is worth fighting for. In college, I majored in European history, focusing on the French Revolution, and was known to pedantically opine that its dedication to Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite made it far superior to its American cousin (I was always fun at parties). But as Ive aged, Ive found that binary thinking is, more than not, overly shallow and not particularly constructive. I also find myself cringing when I hear those on the left flippantly bash America, as the underlying premise seems to be that our country is broken beyond repair and not worth saving. Now Ive certainly never been an optimist, but I have to be these days because I have kids. I want them to live in a better world than the one they were born into. I think thats worth fighting for. I believe America is worth fighting for. And I dont care if that sounds corny or MAGA-coded. The GOP has long pretended, particularly post-9/11, that they are the only true patriots. And under Trump, Republicans have become emboldened to declare that theyre fighting for a vision of America that existed before the 1960s or even the 1860s. Vowing to forcibly turn back the clock to darker times in our nations history when Black Americans and other people of color, women and LGBTQ+ people were denied basic rights and often subjected to state-sanctioned violence is an incredibly bleak and disturbing political agenda. But its all outlined, in chilling detail, in Project 2025, the brainchild of the ultraconservative Heritage Foundation thats an authoritarian blueprint for the next Trump administration. And now with the Supreme Court deciding that its fine and dandy for us to have our very own King George III in the White House, its clear that the judicial branch wont serve as a check on his abuses of power. Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law, Sotomayor writes in her dissent. Moving forward, however, all former Presidents will be cloaked in such immunity. If the occupant of that office misuses official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest of us must abide will not provide a backstop. With fear for our democracy, I dissent. Our democracy is no longer young at 248 years old, but it isnt withering away its under direct assault from those who reject pluralism and are determined to rule over us. We face a grave test in November. We cannot fail. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) wondered on Fox News why Democrats are the only ones having a public and painful conversation about their partys presidential nominee amid concerns about their candidates fitness for office. Fox News host John Roberts asked Auchincloss on Monday whether President Joe Biden can win the November election, following intensified scrutiny after the June presidential debate. The congressman pointed out Biden is the candidate millions of Democratic voters selected in the primaries. Unlike the Republican Party, we respect free and fair elections, and what unifies us as a party is knowing that Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy, he said. And my challenge to my Republican colleagues is: Why arent you having this same public and painful conversation about your nominee? He noted that Trump, too, behaved problematically at the debate, pointing to the former presidents incessant lies, his refusal to say he would accept the results of the 2024 election, the violence he incited on Jan. 6, 2021, and his stances on Social Security and Russias war on Ukraine. How much more do House Republicans need to hear before theyre willing to do the right thing? he asked. Roberts: Is that an election that Biden can win? Auchincloss: 14 million primary voters think he can win it and the Democratic Party should walk humbly before contravening the will of the voters. Unlike the Republican Party, we respect free and fair elections.. pic.twitter.com/IErw9gG5QA Acyn (@Acyn) July 8, 2024 Bidens feeble debate performance has ignited a firestorm within the Democratic Party as voters, political analysts and lawmakers deliberate whether hes fit to take on Trump and lead the country. Trump, a convicted felon who attempted a coup, cruised to victory in the Republican primaries and is slated to formally become the partys nominee during the Republican National Convention next week. Related... George Norcross speaks to reporters in Trenton on June 17, 2024, after hearing he has been indicted by the state Attorney General's Office. (Photo by Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor) South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross and four of his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to a range of charges that accuse them of leveraging their control of Camden County government to steer redevelopment work to their chosen investors and punish those who angered the kingmaker. The five defendants Philip Norcross (George Norcross brother), former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, attorney William Tambussi, and Michaels Organization CEO John ODonnell appeared in person in Judge Peter Warshaws courtroom in state Superior Court in Mercer County for their arraignment on the charges that stunned New Jerseys political world. My client emphatically states he is not guilty, Norcross attorney Michael Critchley said at the top of the hearing. The final co-defendant, Sidney Brown, CEO of the trucking firm NFI, did not appear in court Tuesday because of a scheduling conflict with his attorney, Larry Lustberg, who is representing a co-defendant of Sen. Bob Menendez in Menendezs corruption trial in Manhattan. Brown is due to be arraigned Aug. 7. The racketeering indictment alleges Norcross, a former Democratic national committeeman, and his allies improperly used the Camden Redevelopment Agency to seize development rights, tax incentives, and an easement from Carl Dranoff, a Philadelphia-based real estate developer. It charges the defendants obstructed nonprofit Coopers Ferrys redevelopment of a Camden site that Cooper University Health Care where Norcross is chairman of the board wanted for its own offices and eventually forced out Anthony Perno, then-CEO of Coopers Ferry, as they shuffled officials through patronage positions. Norcross on Tuesday declined to say whether he has faced pressure to step down from his position at Cooper. Last week he took a leave of absence from Connor Strong & Buckelew, the insurance firm where he is executive chairman. During a brief press conference following the arraignment, Critchley charged Attorney General Matt Platkin is waging jihad on his client, repeating a claim that the case was lodged to further Platkins political career. The indictment is a lot of words, a lot of pages, a lot of allegations, but one thing it does not have it does not have elements of a crime, Critchley said. Platkin was Gov. Phil Murphys chief counsel when the governor launched a task force to probe tax incentives awarded to firms controlled by Norcross and other defendants. The task force released reports charging those firms lied on tax incentive applications before receiving millions in tax breaks. The case will move slowly over the coming months as the parties enter the discovery phase. Prosecutors are set to release a trove of more than 2.5 million documents to the defense following Tuesdays hearing, but they said at least two other batches of discovery would come later. The first of those is due to be made at the end of the July, prosecutors said. Prosecutors provided no timeline for the release of a third batch, saying only that it requires the U.S. Department of Justice to approve its release. The state asked the Department of Justice to release those documents only last week, prosecutors said, a timeline Warshaw said was running a little late. My experience here in state court is the feds dont move on my calendar, he said. Warshaw granted the state a preliminary protective order that bars the parties from sharing discovery documents with those outside the case. The state sought the order to protect bank records and confidential information and shield witnesses from harassment. The judge indicated he is likely to narrow the order but signaled some documents would remain shielded. The parties are due back before the judge for a hearing on a more permanent protective order on Sept. 10, though the proceeding could be delayed by an unrelated trial, Warshaw said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Two senior Democratic senators Tuesday asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate possible wrongdoing by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas related to lavish gifts from right-wing megadonors. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon say Thomas and the wealthy donors may have violated federal tax or ethics laws in connection with the lucrative gifts over decades. The evidence assembled thus far plainly suggests that Justice Thomas has committed numerous willful violations of federal ethics and false-statement laws, the senators alleged in the letter. It also raises significant questions about whether he and his wealthy benefactors have complied with their federal tax obligations, Wyden and Whitehouse added. There was no immediate response from the Department of Justice or the Supreme Court. The two lawmakers pointed to recent bombshell news investigations that revealed Thomas failed to disclose several luxury trips and gifts worth millions of dollars from billionaire donors. Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid private school tuition for a nephew Thomas and his wife were raising as their son and even bought a home in Savannah, Georgia from Thomas and has allowed his elderly mother to stay there rent-free. Thomas later acknowledged some, but not all of the gifts, by filing amended versions of mandatory disclosure forms. Thomas has also faced questions about a 1999 loan from a friend to buy a $267,000 souped-up recreational vehicle. The loan was apparently totally forgiven, raising tax questions for both Thomas and his buddy, as well as disclosure issues. Its illegal for any federal official, including Supreme Court judges, to willfully file false disclosure forms. The court adopted a new formal ethics code last November, but its does not include an enforcement mechanism. The controversy over influence peddling is separate from the dispute over Thomas and right-wing colleague Justice Samuel Alito refusing to recuse themselves from cases related to former President Trumps effort to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. Thomas wife, Ginni, is a prominent right-wing activist who urged Trump administration officials to resist transferring power to President Biden. Her texts were only revealed after the court ruled 8-1, with only Thomas dissenting, that the congressional Jan. 6 hearing had a right to obtain them. Alitos wife hoisted a flag supporting the Stop the Steal movement at the couples home in suburban Virginia in the weeks following the attack and another flag closely tied to Christian white nationalists at their Jersey Shore beach house. When former President Donald Trump arrives in Doral, Florida, for a Tuesday evening rally, Democrats will have a surprise waiting for him: a new front in the partys messaging tying him to the controversial Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump term drafted by conservative allies and former administration officials. The Democratic National Committee has purchased space on several billboards in Doral explicitly tying Trump to Project 2025, The New Republic has learned. Project 2025, also known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, proposes firing thousands of government employees, eliminating the Department of Education, severely restricting abortion access, dismantling federal protections for LGBTQ individuals, granting the president greater control over the Justice Department, and limiting efforts to combat climate change. While Trump has attempted, with limited success, to distance himself from Project 2025, Democrats have increasingly seized on the 900-page laundry list of policy items as an ominous harbinger of what a second Trump term would look like. The Doral billboards constitute the DNCs first paid media campaign explicitly targeting Project 2025, though it is not clear how much the party spent. Image of DNC billboard tying Trump to Project 2025 The billboards paint the conservative wish list in ominous terms, calling it Trumps plan to be a dictator on Day 1. Another reads: Terrifying. Dystopian. Google it. A third calls Project 2025 Donald Trumps blueprint for revenge and retribution. A third digs into some of the specifics: Guts checks and balances, seeks revenge, bans abortion nationwide. Donald Trumps Project 2025 is the biggest threat to our American way of life weve faced in generations, said Abhi Rahman, a spokesperson for the DNC. Ahead of Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans meeting next week to push an extreme, anti-choice, and anti-democracy agenda, the DNC is taking the fight to Trumps doorstep with a new fleet of billboards showing the true danger of Trumps second term playbook: Project 2025. This is not the first time that the DNC has used billboards to needle Trump; the committee previously launched billboards in Atlanta referring to Trump as a convicted felon, ahead of the first debate between the two party nominees. Image of DNC billboard tying Donald Trump to Project 2025 But President Joe Bidens poor debate performance quickly overshadowed that effort. With Biden facing questions over whether he is fit to remain in the race, the DNC and the Biden campaign are increasingly focused on drawing attention to Trumps policy agenda. The Biden campaign has issued a flurry of press releases in recent days outlining the dangers of Project 2025, and allies and surrogates have become more vocal in explicitly denouncing it. Hes trying to hide his connections to his allies extreme Project 2025 agenda, Biden said about Trump in a campaign statement released over the weekend. The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American. Even though the architects of Project 2025 include former administration officials, and even though his super PAC has run ads highlighting its policy goals, Trump has insisted that he has no connection to the proposal. I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal, he wrote on Truth Social last week. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them. Image of DNC billboard tying Donald Trump to Project 2025 Democrats have also seized on recent comments by Kevin Roberts, who heads the Heritage Foundation, which coordinated Project 2025, who said that the United States is in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be. Regardless of Trumps comments about Project 2025, the Republican Party hewed ever closer to his agenda on Monday, adopting a platform that includes several classic Trump talking points. The partys platform committee approved the document, which will be finalized by vote at the Republican National Convention next week in Wisconsin. Although the document does not support federal limits for abortion, despite the hopes of some social conservatives, it is otherwise a very Trumpian to-do list, with agenda items including plans for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, reversing policies aimed at combating climate change, and targeting transgender individuals. While it is not as detailed as Project 2025, some of the basic goals of the platformsuch as emphasizing hard-line immigration policies and deportationare in line with that agenda. Considering the cross-pollination between former Trump officials and Project 2025 contributors, this is not wholly surprising. The DNC hopes that issues like Project 2025, abortiona reproductive rights ballot initiative will be on the ballot in Novemberand a Republican incumbent might make the once-purple Sunshine State competitive after it has leaned increasingly Republican in recent years. Floridians, along with all Americans, will have even less rights if [Trump] takes back the White House, Rahman said. Freedom and democracy are on the ballot, and Florida voters will reject Trumps agenda to rip away their rights and reelect President Biden in November. Democrats are in chaos over Biden. It shows they're not ready to lead America. The Democratic Party has been at DEFCON 1 since President Joe Biden revealed in last month's debate with former President Donald Trump that he is incoherent and incapable of leading the United States for the next four years. Although Democrats have spent years gaslighting voters about Biden's cognitive health, some party leaders are now calling for Biden to step down as their presidential nominee. It makes political sense for Biden to make way for a stronger nominee, but it also raises questions about the president's ability to remain in office for even a few more months. And it calls into question whether Americans can trust the Democratic Party to lead this country after November. It's clear to Americans: Biden should go President Joe Biden returns to the White House on July 7, 2024, after attending campaign events in Pennsylvania. It's clear to most Americans, but still not to Biden, that he should step down as the Democratic nominee. The 81-year-old president called in to MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Monday to tell hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski that voters have chosen him to lead the Democratic ticket. Im getting so frustrated by the elites in the party. ... They know so much more, Biden said. If any of these guys dont think I should run, run against me. Go ahead. Announce for president challenge me at the convention! That sounds like a bad joke, but it's not. Biden appears to really believe that he can withstand the challenge from his own party and beat Trump in November. What's worse than an incapable president? A delusional one. (As a Republican who can't stand Trump, I should know.) The Democratic Party is fractured Despite Biden's obstinance, an increasing number of leaders in Biden's own party want him to go. Senior House Democrats Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York, Adam Smith of Washington, Mark Takano of California and Joe Morelle of New York are among those who have said that Biden should exit the presidential race. It's not exactly brave to speak up at this juncture the entire world already saw Biden's awful debate performance but it does show that the party is beginning to fissure. Protesters gather outside Sherman Middle School before a campaign stop by President Joe Biden in Madison, Wis., on July 5, 2024. Even left-leaning news outlets realize that Biden can't remain the Democratic nominee. The lead paragraph in an opinion piece by a Vox senior correspondent is brutal but may well prove to be accurate: In his first interview since (the June 27) disastrous debate, President Joe Biden appeared too frail to defeat former President Donald Trump and too delusional to end his campaign. Frail and delusional. And up for reelection to lead the free world in less than four months. Is Biden fit to be president? Democrats gaslighted Americans about Biden's cognitive decline. The debate exposed the truth. The headline on a Slate column published last week is similarly devastating: "The Democratic Party's Double Standard: Trump is not the only person on earth who cannot be trusted with power." Yet, Vice President Kamala Harris also is unfit to lead this country. If she were ready to lead, Democrats would have ousted Biden long ago. They're hesitating now because they know she's a vapid suit who remains "unburdened by what has been" a favorite line of hers and has no real chops to make important decisions and rub shoulders with foreign dignitaries. She's another reason why Democrats are a mess. The No. 1 and No. 2 Democrats leading the country are arrogant but confused. What a combination. Opinion newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter on conservative values, family and religion from columnist Nicole Russell. Get it delievered to your inbox. The Democratic Party's inability to reach a consensus about Biden's ability to lead the nation for the next four years is as revealing as it is dangerous. "But we just found out that Biden was a wreck," Democrats might say. No, you didn't. Democrats can't lead the country forward Party leaders should have known (and perhaps did know) for months, if not years, that Biden was in serious decline. Last fall, large numbers of voters expressed concerns about the effects of Biden's age on his ability to lead the country. Democratic leaders downplayed those concerns, covered up evidence of Biden's decline and attacked anyone who didn't fall in line. Now they are panicking because their ruse has failed. When did Democrats know the truth? The left's cover-up of Biden's decline raises hard questions. Nearly two weeks after the world saw the real Joe Biden, Democrats still haven't been able to resolve a crisis that only gets worse by the day. The campaign remains in chaos, which is more proof that Democrats aren't the best party to lead the country forward. The Republican Party has plenty of its own problems, starting with presumptive nominee Donald Trump. I've focused recently on Republicans' problems, and for years, news outlets have run nonstop coverage of the former president's legal and personal problems. As it turns out, the Democratic Party has had its own dumpster fire smoldering for months. Now it's blazing. The man the party chose can't do the job, and yet he refuses to step down. He can't win, but he won't go. It's a nightmare for the Democrats and, if they don't fix it soon, it's a nightmare for America. Whatever happens with Biden in the coming days, the Democratic Party has proved it's incapable of leading this country for the next four years. Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Biden quit? Democrat chaos shows they can't lead America BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to embrace the world with open arms, inject new dynamism into the world through its development and create more energy and enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. China has recently become quite a popular destination for foreign tourists. Many have posted their experiences on social media. Figures show that "China Travel" has become a top trending search term on multiple global social media platforms. "Very glad to see the popularity of China as a tourist destination for foreign visitors," spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing in response to a related query. Government figures show that in the first half of this year, China received nearly 14.64 million foreign travelers, up 152.7 percent year on year. Of these, over 8.54 million entered China visa-free, up 190.1 percent year on year, Lin noted. As more and more countries benefit from the visa-free policy and as China adopts more measures to ease cross-border travel, "on-a-whim travel" to China is becoming a reality, he said. "We have seen recently a lot of videos posted by foreign travelers -- many are first-person view or snapshot videos -- which give people a glimpse of China's robust dynamism," Lin said. "Through their lens, we see the light-show on the Liangma River in Beijing, Shanghai street delicacies, food delivery by drone in Shenzhen, and the futuristic sky train and self-driving air taxi in Optics Valley, Wuhan," he said. Figures show that 86 percent of the foreign visitors who had been to China before find it much easier today to make payments in China. Scanning the payment codes with one's phone has become a stylish experience for foreign friends in China, Lin added. The competent government agency expects more foreigners to travel to China in the second half of this year, the spokesperson said. The "China travel" boom stems from China's unique charm, and more importantly, an open and inclusive Chinese society, and the warm and hospitable Chinese people, said Lin, adding that it's also the result of China's high-standard opening up. "There is so much to see and experience, and so many opportunities to share and turn into cooperation. We welcome more foreign friends to make China the destination of their next journey abroad," he added. Former President Trump is gaining ground in key swing states and could threaten to take states once considered to be safe for Democrats, as President Biden struggles to regain ground after a shaky debate performance, according to a new Cook Political Report analysis Tuesday. Bidens defiance against calls for him to leave the presidential campaign after last months debate have only worsened his chances in November, Cook Editor-in-Chief Amy Walter wrote. Biden was losing pre-debate. Now, hes losing by a bit more, she said, adding that the possibility Biden leaves the race at this point is remote. Citing postdebate polling, Cook announced it will move Minnesota, New Hampshire and Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District from Likely Democratic to Lean Democratic. The group also moved Nevada, Arizona and Georgia from Tossup to Lean Republican. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns viewed the first debate as a key turning point in the race. Bidens faltering performance raised worries among Democrats about his ability to both win the election and serve a second term. Seven House Democrats have publicly called on Biden to end his campaign, and a rising number have pressured him to quickly prove to the public that he can be a strong candidate. While polling has been limited since the debate, signs point to the debate shifting about 2 percentage points of support from Biden to Trump, Walter said. However, given our closely divided electorate, even a small two-point shift is significant, she wrote. Three states remain in the Tossup column in Cooks forecast: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Walter noted that Trump has polled strongly in Pennsylvania, taking a small lead over Biden, though she said that its too early to say whether either candidate is truly favored. She argued Bidens debate performance proved the dire stakes of the presidents key campaign problem: a lack of enthusiasm among voters. The Biden team has argued that though these voters may be disengaged now, once they are made aware of the high-stakes of this election, they will ultimately turnout for the president, Walter wrote. However, Bidens weak debate performance calls into question whether he can effectively deliver that message to these already disenfranchised and skeptical voters. Bidens challenge isnt simply to convince voters that he can win, or that his policies are superior to Trumps, she continued. He has to convince voters, including many in the anti-Trump coalition who supported him four years ago, that he is physically and mentally able to govern for another four years. Walter also cited other factors that could help Trumps campaign in the coming months, including a favorable media environment and a shifting focus away from his legal trouble. With media focused on criticism of Bidens age and with Trumps legal trials delayed to beyond the election, fewer critical eyes are on the former president, she argued. The candidates remain neck and neck in national polling. Trump currently leads Biden by 1.3 percentage points in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls. The Hill has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When former President Donald Trumps supporters drive to Tuesdays Doral rally, some of them will see billboards linking him to the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project, a nearly-900-page conservative policy and personnel guide to retaking the White House. Democrats and Joe Bidens reelection campaign have been working to connect Trump to the conservative manifesto especially hard in recent days, highlighting what they say are extreme positions. One example of how Project 2025 plans to approach governing is by declaring that abortions are not health care and tasking the Food and Drug Administration with reversing approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000 and used in most abortions nationwide. Efforts to tie Trump to Project 2025 escalated after Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said on July 2 that we are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be. Roberts made the comments on Steve Bannons War Room podcast by Real Americas Voice. Paul Dans, the director of Project 2025, served in the Trump Administration and staffed about 4,000 presidential appointees across the federal government. But Trumps campaign distanced him from the controversial conservative policy agenda in a statement on Tuesday. Agenda 47 and President Trumps RNC Platform are the only policies endorsed by President Trump for a second term. Team Biden and the DNC are LYING and fear-mongering because they have NOTHING else to offer the American people, Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the campaign, said in a statement. Remember this is the same group that lied to Americans [sic] and hid Joe Bidens cognitive decline all these years. Five digital billboards were erected by the Democratic National Committee Tuesday morning, according to the DNC, and should remain live for 24 hours. Ahead of Donald Trumps and MAGA Republicans convention next week to push an extreme, anti-choice and anti-democracy agenda, the DNC is taking the fight to Trumps doorstep with a new fleet of billboards showing the true danger of Trumps second-term playbook: Project 2025, said Democratic National Committee spokesperson Abhi Rahman in a statement. Rahman continued: Donald Trump is the reason why Floridians now have fewer rights after his handpicked Supreme Court justices overturned Roe v. Wade. Floridians, along with all Americans, will have even less rights if he takes back the White House. The billboards feature black and white closeups of Trumps face and describe Project 2025 as his blueprint for revenge and retribution and his plan to be a dictator on day 1. The billboards are displayed on the west side of Interstate 95 on Hollywood Boulevard and at the Westbound entrance of Palmetto Expressway, the exit many people will take to get to the rally. On Heritages website, it states about Project 2025: It is not enough for conservatives to win elections. If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left, we need both a governing agenda and the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on Day One of the next conservative Administration. This is the goal of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. The project will build on four pillars that will, collectively, pave the way for an effective conservative Administration: a policy agenda, personnel, training, and a 180-day playbook A Prosser area woman is being sued for allegedly allowing aggressive dogs and people on her property to menace the neighborhood for years. Donna Faye Ziegler, 71, owns the Old Inland Empire Highway property that has for the past five years been the subject of dozens of calls about aggressive dogs, property being dumped and threats by residents. In April 2022 neighbors Christin Gregerson and her son Hunter were viciously mauled in their own front yard by a pack of seven pit bulls that came from Zieglers property. The two were saved by a neighbor who used a shovel to fend off the dogs, but mother and son were left with lifelong injuries. The attack was so bad doctors initially thought they might have to amputate Christins arm. The dogs belonged to Zieglers daughter, Melanie Daniels, and her daughters boyfriend, Darrell Wynn. He was charged with two counts of dog attack resulting in serious injury, but he and Daniels died before the case made its way through court. Last December, Benton County approved a $1.6 million settlement with the Gregersons after they filed a claim alleging the county didnt do enough to keep neighbors safe. The dog attacks didnt end with the settlement or Wynns death though. Hunter Gregerson and a neighbor were chased and nearly attacked again just weeks after the attack. Incident reports show the dogs continued to maraud through the neighborhood and terrorize neighbors, even as the county was coming to a settlement with the Gregersons. Now Christin Gregerson and her husband, Kelly Gregerson, are suing Ziegler. The lawsuit was filed in Benton County Superior Court last month. A Prosser area neighborhood continues to deal with dangerous dogs and alleged threats from the owners. Just last week a resident illegally living in an rundown RV on the property was arrested after his dog rushed a neighbor in his field, then allegedly threatened to shoot the neighbor for firing a warning shot to scare the dog off. That neighbor had began carrying a gun in his fields for protection after frequent near attacks and his small dog being killed by the pack of pit bulls the same day the Gregersons were attacked. Wesley A. McCoy, 37, was arrested on suspicion of felony harassment and five counts of felon in possession of a firearm. It appears the harassment charge may be dropped to a misdemeanor count of displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate, according to jail records. He remains in the Benton County jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond. The dog was taken off the property before sheriffs deputies arrived. McCoy claimed in court that he was living on the property because he is Zieglers caretaker. Menace to the public In a court filing obtained by the Tri-City Herald, attorneys for the Gregersons wrote that Zieglers negligence has resulted in a failure to ensure dangerous dogs on her property could not escape and menace the general public and neighbors. The Gregersons suffered extensive injuries in the attack, which left them both in need of medical care and future plastic surgery for the scars. They both also suffer from symptoms consistent with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to the court filings. They want the court to hold Ziegler liable for the actions of the dogs and the people she has allowed to live on her property. They believe Ziegler has made a habit of ignoring orders from both law enforcement and county code enforcement, resulting in a danger to neighbors. Investigators said people were illegally living in rundown RVs on a property found to have an extensive amount of stolen property. Five people with warrants were arrested in Nov. 2022 after a call about a group of dogs trying to attack neighbors. The lawsuit accuses Ziegler of ordinary negligence, possibly, willful, wanton and/or gross negligence, a legal nuisance under the law, and liability for both the effects of the dog attacks and allowing dangerous dogs to remain on her property. The claim leaves it to the court to determine an appropriate dollar amount for damages. They are also asking the court to issue and enforce an injunction against Ziegler to ensure she never has more than four dogs on the property again and that they are kept secured at all times. While Washington law does not allow the courts to seize a home as part of a civil suit, a large enough judgment could force a sale. A broken down car and piles of tires are seen in this photo of a property at the center of dozens of 911 and code enforcement calls in the Prosser area of Benton County. Pit bulls from the property were seized for a vicious attack on a mother and 15-year-old son in April 2022. Five years of complaints Since 2019 neighbors have called the sheriffs office and code enforcement dozens of times about issues on the Ziegler property. The first calls came in 2019 when Ziegler was running what neighbors described as an alleged puppy mill. Eventually more than 50 dogs were removed from the property, but only after several follow ups and a local rescue getting involved. Ziegler was ticketed by code enforcement and made aware she could not legally have more than four dogs on the parcel. Not long after that, Wynn moved to the property, bringing with him seven aggressive pit bulls that had already nearly attacked a man near his previous Benton City home. Dogs getting out and trying to attack neighbors or livestock became a frequent occurrence. After several of these near attacks, neighbors told deputies that people on the property would coordinate to take the offending dogs away before law enforcement arrived. After one attack, deputies spotted suspected stolen property and got a search warrant. Half a dozen people living on the property were detained or arrested on warrants. Still neighbors were nearly attacked in their own yards, in their drive-ways and when trying to walk down the street. Even after the horrific events of April 8, 2022, Defendant still failed to take reasonable steps to keep the remaining now demonstrably dangerous pit bulls contained to her property ..., according to the lawsuit. Eventually, after several more attacks, most of the pit bulls involved in mauling the Gregersons were removed from the property by county officials. More than a year after a Prosser area mother and son were viciously attacked by a group of pit bulls, neighbors say there are still dangerous dogs on the property. The two pit bull mixes pictured were described in a court document by the owner as too mean and aggressive to ever be let out of their kennels. As of December, at least three dogs described as aggressive by Ziegler were still on the property. She told deputies they were kept kenneled because they were too mean. Its unclear how many are currently on the property, but the description of McCoys pit bull did not appear to match photos of the remaining dogs, which were two pit bull mixes and a German Shepherd. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Project 2025 is getting the attention of Republicans and Democrats. The conservative plan is a sweeping overhaul of the federal government proposed by a closely aligned group to former president Donald Trump. House Democrats say they are focused on defeating Project 2025. Its a collection of extreme MAGA ideas, said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). The conservative Heritage Foundation is behind the plan. The plan would restructure federal employees, policies and agencies, including eliminating the Department of Education. California Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu calls it concerning. I mean, this document is creepy. Its a takeover of the American form of government, said Lieu. Over the past week many Republicans have distanced themselves from Project 2025. Former president Donald Trump said he knows nothing about it. Potential Trump running mate Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance said the former president has his own plan. The media and the Democrats are trying to attach its most unpopular elements to the Trump administration. Its a 900-page document. I guarantee there are things that Trump likes and dislikes, Vance said. Florida Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost says hes heard from voters about the plan. Theyre scared to death of Project 2025 and the far-right wing, said Frost. Democrats hope Project 2025 will motivate voters to back President Biden. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. DENVER (KDVR) Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled a proposal Monday to raise $100 million a year for affordable housing projects by raising the sales tax in Denver by 0.5%. The proposed 0.5% tax will account for about 5 cents on a $10 purchase, according to a release sent by the mayors office. These Colorado cities are among the most educated in America: study There would be exceptions for many of the everyday essentials people buy including food, fuel, medical supplies and personal hygiene products, meaning the new tax would not apply to those purchases. Because it involves raising taxes, the proposal will need to be approved by the City Council and then by voters in November before being implemented. If approved and put on the ballot, the proposal would be the second sales tax measure that will be put to Denver residents in November. What would Denvers sales tax be if its approved? If voters only approve this measure, the current sales tax rate of 8.81% in the city would rise to 9.31%. The current 8.81% sales tax rate includes the 2.9% state sales tax rate, a 4.81% city and county of Denver sales tax and a 1% sales tax for the Regional Transportation District, which Denver is part of. A 0.1% sales tax for the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District is also included. Currently, Boulder has the highest sales tax rate among the major cities in Colorado at 9.045%. However, many smaller cities, mainly in the mountains, have higher sales tax rates than this. Winter Park, for example, has an 11.2% sales tax rate, the highest in the state. Aurora, the second-largest city in the Denver metro area, has a sales tax rate of 8.5%. The affordable housing tax increase is not the only one Denverites may have to consider, however. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather In June, the Denver City Council approved a proposal to put a 0.34% sales tax increase on the November ballot. This 0.34% increase would help Denver Health cover costs for patients with unpaid medical bills. If both sales tax increases are approved, Denver would have the eleventh-highest sales tax rate in the state at 9.65%. What would the new tax go to? According to the mayors office, with local and federal funding, the city is on track to create 19,000 affordable units by 2033, which is 25,000 short of the 44,000 needed for households earning less than 100% of the area median income. The new fund would give housing opportunities to people across the income spectrum, including extremely low-income, low-income and middle-income earners. This includes things like preserving existing income-restricted condos and rental units and the construction of new multifamily rental units, among other things. According to the mayors office, the estimated $100 million annual fund would complement existing funding projects such as the Affordable Housing Fund and the Homelessness Resolution Fund. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. FILE - Gypsy Rose Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, Nov. 15, 2018, in Springfield, Mo. Blanchard, the Missouri woman who admitted to convincing her online boyfriend to kill her abusive mother after being forced to pretend for years she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, is set to be paroled Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Nathan Papes/The Springfield News-Leader via AP, File) | Nathan Papes, Associated Press Gypsy Rose Blanchard spent most of her life being forced by her mother to pretend she was suffering from chronic illness. To escape the abuse, Gypsy persuaded her then-boyfriend, Nicolas Godejohn, to kill her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard in 2015. Dee Dee tricked doctors, family and friends into believing Gypsy was chronically ill suffering from leukemia, asthma, muscular dystrophy, vision and hearing impairments, seizure, and other chronic conditions, per ABC News. Despite being perfectly healthy, Gypsy was forced to use a wheelchair and a feeding tube and to keep her head shaved to mimic the effects of cancer treatment. She underwent several unnecessary surgeries such as having her salivary glands behind her neck removed. To this day, it has left me with the side effects of having to clear my throat all the time, Gypsy told People last week. To keep the deception going, Dee Dee fabricated Gypsys birth certificate so she would be seen as younger and went to at least 150 doctors over the years, per ABC News. When Gypsy asked questions about her health, Dee Dee allegedly responded with lies. I would voice concerns, being like, I really dont feel like I need this, and she would get really, really upset with me and start manipulating me, Gypsy told People last week. Obviously I knew that I could walk and didnt need a feeding tube, but everything else was a really big confusion for me, she says, citing her epilepsy diagnosis: Whenever Id question it my mother would say Id had a seizure the night before and didnt remember. There was always an excuse. For her role in Dee Dees murder, Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years in prison. After serving 85% of her sentence, Gypsy, now 32, was granted parole and released from prison on Dec. 28, per The Associated Press. She has hopes of being an advocate for those in abusive relationships. I want to make sure that people in abusive relationships do not resort to murder, Gypsy told People. It may seem like every avenue is closed off but there is always another way. Do anything, but dont take this course of action. Here is an in-depth timeline of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case. Gypsy Rose Blanchard is born healthy July 27, 1991: Gypsy Rose Blanchard is born in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, per People. Her parents, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard and Rod Blanchard, separate shortly before her birth. During the first few years of her life, Gypsy was growing like a normal child. But by the time she was a toddler, Dee Dee who worked as a nurses aide began claiming her daughter was sick. Dee Dee was saying that (Gypsy) was sick, had problems sleeping, epilepsy, and it just progressed from there, Rod Blanchard told ABC News in 2018. All the visits, Dee Dee had to be there the whole time. Something never felt right about it. Dee Dee was so controlling. By the time Gypsy was 8, her mother claimed Gypsy was suffering from leukemia, paralyzed, muscular dystrophy, Gypsy was also using a wheelchair and now had a feeding tube, Rod Blanchard told ABC News. August 2005: Hurricane Katrina rips through Slidell, Louisiana, destroying the Blanchard home. Gypsy and her mother eventually relocate to Springfield, Missouri, where Habitat for Humanity built them a small, wheelchair-accessible home, per CBS News. Dee Dee claims all of Gypsys medical records were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, including her birth certificate, per People. This makes way for Dee Dee to lie about Gypsys real age and medical history. By now, the media has shared Gypsys story making her into something of a local celebrity. The community rallies around the Blanchards, showering them with gifts, cash donations, concerts, celebrity meet-and-greets and a trip to Disney World from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, per ABC News. 2007 and 2009: In 2007, one of Gypsys former physicians, Dr. Bernardo Flasterstein, claims he saw red flags when he examined Gypsy for muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. There was nothing there to support either. That kind of made me very suspicious, Flasterstein told ABC News. Flasterstein says his concerns grew when he told Dee Dee that Gypsys former diagnoses were wrong. The mother was not happy with that, Flasterstein said. She left the office in a storm and told my nurses that I dont know what Im talking about and that shes not coming back. I believe that the mother suffers from Munchausen by proxy, Flasterstein wrote in a letter to Gypsys primary care physician, per ABC News. At the time, he did not believe he had enough evidence to alert Child Protective Services. According to a police report obtained by ABC News, a different doctor contacted authorities in 2009, saying he could not find any symptoms that support what Dee Dee alleges to be wrong with her daughter. February 2011: For the first and only time, Gypsy tries to escape her mothers home, per USA Today. After getting caught, Gypsy claims she was severely punished by her mother. She physically chained me to the bed and put bells on the doors and told anybody that I probably wouldve trusted that I was going through a phase and to tell her if I was doing anything behind her back, Gypsy told ABC News in 2018. October 2012: Without her mothers knowledge, Gypsy creates an online dating profile and begins messaging Nicholas Godejohn. For multiple years, Gypsy and Godejohn maintained a romantic relationship through video chats and online messaging all behind Dee Dees back. Their conversations on the Christian dating app ranged from PG-rated fairy tale declarations of love to X-rated messages, according to WFLA News. October 2014: Gypsy forms a friendship with her neighbor, Aleah Woodmansee, whom she would chat with online via a secret Facebook account. As Gypsys relationship with Godejohn escalates, she begins confiding in Woodmansee, per USA Today. She would show interest in like different boys and try to ask me advice on like, you know, How do you approach them? How do you like kiss a boy? Woodmansee told ABC News. Gypsy just wanted to be a regular teen. As Woodmansee recalled, Dee Dee did not approve of her conversations with Gypsy and took to destroying Gypsys phone and computer to prevent them from talking online. She was talking about this new guy that she was now in love with, and that they had met on a Christian dating site and that they were already planning on naming their children after him, Woodmansee recalled in an interview with ABC News. Honestly, what I was thinking whenever I saw these messages, is that these were just like fantasies and dreams and nothing like this would ever really take place. March 2015: Gypsy and Godejohn devise a plan to meet in person for the first time at a movie theater in Springfield, Missouri. The couple hope that if Dee Dee could meet Godejohn in person, she would give her approval, per Springfield News-Leader. Dee Dee and Gypsy make plans to see Disneys new Cinderella movie. The couple meet at the theater Gypsy dressed as Cinderella and Godejohn as Prince Charming. When Dee Dee is finally introduced to Godejohn, she does not approve of the relationship, per ABC News. She got jealous, because I was spending a little too much attention on him, and she had ordered me to stay away from him. And needless to say, that was a very long argument that lasted a couple weeks, Gypsy told ABC News. It was at this point Gypsy decided she wanted her mother dead. It was not because I hated her. It was because I wanted to escape her, she told ABC News. Dee Dee is found murdered June 9, 2015: On the day of the murder, Godejohn travels back to Missouri, where he checks into a local motel and waits for Gypsy to tell him Dee Dee is asleep, per ABC News. Godejohn then meets Gypsy at home. Gypsy provides Godejohn with a knife, duct tape and gloves, according to her 2018 testimony, per Springfield News-Leader. While Godejohn killed Dee Dee, Gypsy says she hid in the bathroom with her hands over her ears. I honestly thought he would end up not doing it, Gypsy told ABC News in 2018. Godejohn stabs Dee Dee 17 times, per USA Today. The couple then goes back to Godejohns motel room. I felt horrible about it. When me and her were in the hotel room ... she kept on telling me, Stop crying, stop crying. Theres no reason, reason to cry. It was my idea, it wasnt yours, Godejohn told ABC News in an exclusive interview from jail. (Gypsy) comforted me about it. I prayed once I got here. I tried to get her mothers soul to forgive me. June 14, 2015: Through her Dee Gyp Blancharde Facebook account, Gypsy posts: That (expletive) is dead! Concerned Facebook friends alert the police. Police find Dee Dee, 48, in her home that evening with fatal stab wounds, per NewsNation. Gypsy is missing, her three wheelchairs left in the home. Now (that) is about when I panicked. We had never, ever, ever seen Gypsy not in a wheelchair, Kim Blanchard a family friend told ABC News. June 15, 2015: Police track the previous Facebook posts to Godejohns home in Wisconsin, where Gypsy and Godejohn are arrested, per USA Today. Gypsy later revealed she wrote the post in hopes someone would find her mothers body. I couldnt stand the thought of her just there because what happens if it would have taken months to find her, so I wanted her found so she could have a proper burial, per ABC News. Gypsy pleads guilty to murder July 5, 2016: As part of a plea agreement with Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson, Gypsy pleads guilty to second-degree murder, per Springfield News-Leader. Gypsy is sentenced to 10 years in prison the minimum sentence for second-degree murder. She did not have to stand trial. When you look at this case, its a murder. And its a first-degree murder, Patterson said, per Springfield News-Leader. But its also one of the most extraordinary and unusual cases we have seen. The prison that I was living in before, with my mom, its, like, I couldnt walk. I couldnt eat. I couldnt have friends. I couldnt go outside, you know, and play with friends or anything, Gypsy told ABC News in 2018. Over here, I feel like Im freer in prison, than with living with my mom. Because now, Im allowed to just live like a normal woman. Nov. 15, 2018: Gypsy testifies during Godejohns murder trial. In the weeks prior to the murder, Gypsy testifies she started having doubts but then things were getting more and more physically abusive at home. The hitting was more. The starving was more, Gypsy says in court, per the New York Post. Gypsy says the murder was her idea and that she planned the majority of it, reports Springfield News-Leader. I talked him into it, she says of Godejohn. When asked why she didnt murder Dee Dee herself, Gypsy claims it was because she was too squeamish. I dont like blood. I dont like the sight of blood, Gypsy says from the stand, per Springfield News-Leader. Gypsy never considered going to the police due to fear of her mothers retaliation. I didnt think anyone would believe me, she tells the court, per the New York Post. I thought they would eventually tell my mom and make my home life even worse for me. I feared my mom more than I feared anyone else. Nov. 16, 2018: A jury finds Godejohn guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Dee Dee Blanchard, per Springfield News-Leader. Feb. 22, 2019: Godejohn is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, per Springfield News-Leader. I was blindly in love, Godejohn told the judge during the sentencing hearing, per Springfield News-Leader. March 20, 2019: Hulu releases The Act, a limited series starring Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee and Joey King as Gypsy. In a statement to Bustle, Gypsy said, I feel it is very unfair and unprofessional that producers and co-producer Michelle Dean has used my actual name and story without my consent, and the life rights to do so. April 2019: Family friend Fancy Marcelli reveals to People that Gypsy is engaged. Marcelli says the couple met as pen pals and dated for a year and a half before their engagement. They are very happy, Macelli told People. You can hear excitement in her voice. It is understood their engagement was eventually called off. June 2022: Gypsy and Ryan Scott Anderson get married, per Springfield News-Leader. The couple begins exchanging emails in May 2020 after Anderson reaches out to Gypsy. Due to the pandemic, the couple does not meet in person until July 2021, reports People. Our prison wedding was just something to where we can make our vows to each other. It was something that meant something to us, Gypsy told People of her 2022 wedding. Dec. 27, 2023: Ahead of her release from prison, Gypsy reveals she regrets her mothers murder in an interview with People. Nobody will ever hear me say Im glad shes dead or Im proud of what I did. I regret it every single day, Gypsy tells the magazine. If I had another chance to redo everything, I dont know if I would go back to when I was a child and tell my aunts and uncles that Im not sick and mommy makes me sick, Gypsy tells People. Gypsy is released from prison Dec. 28, 2023: After serving 85% of her prison sentence, Gypsy is released from Chillicothe Correctional Center on parole, per The Associated Press. Ahead of her release, Gypsy told People, Im ready for freedom. Im ready to expand and I think that goes for every facet of my life. Dec. 29, 2023: Gypsy posts her First selfie of freedom! on Instagram solidifying her newfound stardom. The post has garnered more than 6.4 million likes and attracted comments from nearly 240,000 users. Dec. 31, 2023: In a video posted to Instagram and TikTok, Gypsy addresses the public, thanking people for the massive amount of support she has received since her release. Its nice to be home. Im back home in Louisiana, enjoying a beautiful day outside and Ive got a lot of great things happening really soon, she says and mentions her Lifetime docuseries. Gypsy says she is looking forward to spending New Years Eve with her husband and family. Were looking to ring in the new year together. Its going to be really awesome to have some family time after so long, she says. Gypsy announces divorce March 29, 2024: Gypsy reveals her and husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, are getting divorced. People have been asking what is going on in my life. Unfortunately my husband and I are going through a separation, she wrote on her private Facebook account, per People. I have the support of my family and friends to help guide me through this. I am learning to listen to my heart. Right now I need time to let myself find who I am. April 2024: Gypsy and her ex-fiance get back together. After reconnecting earlier this month, we realized that our love for each other is simply undeniable, and life is too short to not take a chance, she told TMZ in April. We have a history that made for the perfect foundation for a new beginning. We are together and in a wonderful place in our relationship. Gypsy is pregnant with her first child July 9, 2024: In a YouTube video titled: Im Pregnant, My Journey So Far, Gypsy announced that she is expecting a child with her current boyfriend Ken Urker. The baby is due in January 2025. Im happy to announce that I am 11 weeks pregnant, Gypsy says in the video. This was not planned at all, it was completely unexpected, but were both very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood. She continues: I know that there are going to be people who feel like Im not ready to be a mother, and I dont know if anyones really ready to be a mother, adding that she hopes to be everything my mother wasnt. TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Authorities say one person was injured and another was arrested after a shooting near Kalamazoo Monday night. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Gooseberry Avenue and Tiger Lily Drive in Texas Township. The Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office said its believed that it started with an assault and destruction of property between two neighbors. A 28-year-old man ended up shooting a 19-year-old man, deputies said. The 19-year-old man was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to the sheriffs office. The suspect is in custody and was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail, the sheriffs office said. This embedded content is not available in your region. The shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office at 269.383.8748 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Deputies: Person dead after being pulled from water at Ludington State Park HAMLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Deputies say a person died Tuesday after citizens pulled him out of Lake Michigan. Crews responded around 1:50 p.m. to Ludington State Park, according to the Mason County Sheriffs Office. A person was reportedly struggling in the water. Deputies say multiple people went into the water and tried to help, but the person slipped under the surface. Citizens were then able to find him, pull him to a raft and bring him to shore, where CPR was started. What do the flags at Great Lakes beaches mean? The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital around 2:50 p.m., according to the sheriffs office. Deputies termed it a probable drowning. They did not release the victims name or age on Tuesday. This embedded content is not available in your region. The Mason County Sheriffs Office says Ludington police, Ludington and Hamlin firefighters, Ludington State Park rangers, Michigan State Police troopers and ambulance workers also responded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts read "If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff to students at all-day 4-year-old preschool at Greenwood Elementary on Jan. 24, 2024. The classroom was one of six the city of Des Moines has helped to supplement under a three-year ARPA funding agreement Just one year into a partnership with the city of Des Moines meant to help bring free all-day preschool to families with 4-year-olds, Des Moines Public Schools is set to add two more classes. The three-year partnership known formally as the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding agreement allots $3.3 million of the city's federal COVID relief funds to Des Moines schools to help cover the cost of all-day preschool classes in underserved neighborhoods. School officials spoke at a recent Des Moines City Council meeting about the progress students made in six ARPA-funded classrooms during the 2023-24 school year. The students showed major academic improvements from fall to spring, according to the results of the GOLD assessment, district director of early childhood Kristin Rourk told council members. Education advocates say students who attend preschool do better academically and are more likely to graduate high school. "The investment that the city is making really speaks to the importance of investing in our community because we know this investment just isn't for this year or next year, the success of this will impact our community for many years to come," Rourk told the Des Moines Register. Here is everything you need to know about the partnership: Is my child required to attend preschool? No, Iowa does not mandate preschool attendance. Des Moines Public Schools officials have made expanding funding for universal all-day preschool for 4-year-olds the district's legislative priority the last few years. How many preschool classes does Des Moines Public Schools offer? Including the six partnership classrooms, the district has 28 all-day preschool classes. That number will rise to 32 next school year with the addition of two more free classes and two additional all-day Montessori preschool classes. The Montessori classes are not free. The district also offers 72 half-day preschool classes throughout the district. "Our enrollment was a little over 1,000 for 4-year-olds in our DMPS classrooms," Rourk said. Why doesn't the district offer 4-year-old preschool for everyone? Funding plays a large part in why Des Moines Public Schools cannot offer universal all-day preschool for 4-year-olds. Iowa schools receive 50% of per pupil funding per preschool student about $3,900 to cover 10 hours of class each week, Rourk said. The district covers an additional five hours with its own funds. Families who want their 4-year-olds to attend all-day preschool can pay $125-a-week or apply for a scholarship, she said. The ARPA-supported classrooms give priority to families whose income is no more than 200% above the poverty level. Where are the ARPA-funded all-day preschools located? During the 2023-24 school year, Greenwood and Carver elementary schools each had two classrooms, and Capitol View and Jackson each had one. Some of the classrooms are expected to move buildings before school starts in August. The two new classes will be at Garton and Madison elementary schools. How can I sign my child up for free all-day preschool? Families should check with the district's Welcome Center at the Kurtz Opportunity Center, 1000 Porter Ave., Des Moines, to see if there is an opening at their school, Rourk said. How are the ARPA students scoring on assessments? In fall, students scored 43% for social emotional skills and 96% in the spring, Rourk told the council. In language (following directions and clarity of speech), students went from 47% to 98%; cognitive 48% to 98%; literacy scores went from 39% to 99%; math saw the biggest gains from 18% to 97%; and physical (fine and gross motor skills) went from 82% to 99%. The data bodes well for students as the city and district continue to invest in students, said Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts during the council meeting. When we look at our elementary school students in grades one through five who attended preschool in Des Moines Public Schools compared to those who did not, we see differences in academic achievement that is as high as 32 percentage points," Roberts said at the time. What happens when the ARPA funding runs out? The ARPA funding agreement between the city and Des Moines schools is for $1.3 million for the 2023-24 school year, $1 million for 2024-25 and $1 million for 2025-26. The hope is by the end for the third year, lawmakers will have passed all-day funding for universal 4-year-old preschool, said Rourk. How are Des Moines schools' officials spending the $3.3 million ? The funds are being used to cover the cost of staffing the rooms including benefits, and for classroom furniture and materials. Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines, DMPS partner to offer free all-day 4-year-old preschool (KRON) Three Bay Area residents are accused of running an organized retail theft organization, stealing more than a dozen perfumes at multiple Kohls stores. According to Livermore police, a silver Mercedes sedan was connected to a theft at a Kohls store in Petaluma on Sunday. The following day around 12:45 p.m., Livermore police responded to Kohls on Las Positas Road for an active theft. Responding officers were informed that three suspects drove off with the stolen merchandise in a silver Mercedes sedan. Texas man steals $6K worth of merchandise from Livermore outlets: police Image courtesy of the Livermore Police Department Image courtesy of the Livermore Police Department Officers found the Mercedes on the Fallon Road off-ramp and conducted a traffic stop. According to Livermore PD, officers found 13 stolen fragrance bottles. In pictures provided by Livermore PD, the bulk of the perfumes and colognes were Versace and Prada. According to police, the stolen merchandise was worth more than $1,300. The suspects were identified as: Jayvontay Williams-Brown, San Francisco resident, 19 Lenzie Ellis, Hayward resident, 23 Jeremiah McCardie, Oakland, 21 The trio was arrested for organized retail theft. Williams-Brown was also arrested for a felony warrant for violations involving evasion, weapons and stolen property out of Palo Alto. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 8, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan from July 6 to July 9 at the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) TASHKENT, July 9 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, China's top legislator Zhao Leji paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan on July 6-9. During the visit, Zhao, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and held talks with Narbayeva and Ismoilov respectively in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. When meeting with Mirziyoyev, Zhao conveyed cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Zhao said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Uzbekistan relations have achieved leapfrog development and are building a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future based on the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era. A few days ago, President Xi and President Mirziyoyev met in Astana and reached many new important consensuses, charting the course for the high-level development of China-Uzbekistan relations, Zhao said. He noted that China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, deepen strategic mutual trust, advance practical cooperation, build a stronger security barrier, strengthen international and regional coordination, increase legislative exchanges and cooperation, and push forward the building of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future. Mirziyoyev asked Zhao to convey his best wishes to President Xi and extended congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Uzbekistan fully supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, firmly abides by the one-China principle, and is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, local governments, education and energy resources, Mirziyoyev said. Uzbekistan is ready to learn from China's experience in development and poverty reduction, and work together to combat the "three forces" and further deepen the Uzbekistan-China all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era. In talks with Narbayeva and Ismoilov, Zhao pointed out that a high degree of political mutual trust is the cornerstone for the stable and long-term development of China-Uzbekistan relations. He called on the two countries to support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, help each other in advancing their respective development strategies, learn from each other in expanding reform and opening up, carry forward the friendship from generation to generation, and promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples. The NPC of China is ready to work with the Senate and Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan to focus on implementing the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, give full play to the functions and roles of the legislative bodies, strengthen exchanges at various levels and in various fields, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and provide legal guarantee for the synergizing of development strategies and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. He also called for strengthening coordination in multilateral organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union to safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries. Noting that the legislatures of the two countries bear important responsibilities in implementing the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, Narbayeva said that the Uzbek Senate is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the NPC, learn from each other's experience in legislation and supervision, and promote effective cooperation in economy, trade, culture, education, local governments, women and other areas. Ismoilov expressed congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NPC. The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with China and play a positive role in promoting bilateral cooperation in the fields of legislation, local governments, poverty reduction and tourism, he said. Zhao briefed the Uzbek side on the Global Civilization Initiative, China's scientific and technological innovations, and legislation in foreign-related fields. The Uzbek side said that both countries have a long history and a splendid civilization, and Uzbekistan is willing to deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and strengthen cooperation in science and technology, foreign-related legislation and other fields During a meeting with Governor of Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov, Zhao said that China is willing to promote cooperation between Uzbek and Chinese local governments and increase the social and public support for friendly relations between the two countries. He also attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the symposium on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Confucius Institute at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, and visited the Olympic City project whose construction China is participating. He also laid a wreath at the Monument of the Independence in Tashkent. Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, on July 8, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan from July 6 to July 9 at the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, July 8, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan from July 6 to July 9 at the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Governor of Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, July 6, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan from July 6 to July 9 at the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits the Olympic City project whose construction China is participating, July 7, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan from July 6 to July 9 at the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, attends and delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the symposium on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Confucius Institute at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 7, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Uzbekistan from July 6 to July 9 at the invitation of Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Russias bloody invasion of Ukraine continues to claim lives, as the Kremlins military leadership resorts to increasingly brutal tactics against civiliansincluding a ghastly attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv and other sites across Ukraine. In their comments on state television, prominent propagandists often reiterate that Moscows campaign of senseless brutality is designed to prompt Ukrainians to overthrow their government. Russian talking heads also resort to nuclear threats, which is always a sign that things on the battlefront are not going well. Indeed, Russian propagandists and military experts are tacitly acknowledging sinking morale and widespread lying in their military. Despite sunny reports by Russias Defense Ministry, grim realities prompted the newest Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov to stress, Making mistakes is acceptable; lying is not. Appearing on Tuesdays broadcast of Vladimir Solovyovs morning show, Full Contact, military expert Vladislav Shurygin revealed some examples of the dishonesty Russian authorities are having to contend with. Using the code 500s, he said that there are soldiers who have fled or refused to fight in Ukraine. Shurygin recounted, I was talking to a Commander of one regiment, who said that their neighboring division did not support them, did not go into battle. Why? Because according to their list, there are 1,400 soldiers, but in reality, there are half as many. Tons of people are running around elsewhere, some did not come back from their vacations, but there is no desire to report it honestly, because there will be repercussions. He continued, When were asking why we cant forcefully move forward, when you add up all of these issuesturns out, we have systematic problems. Panicked Russia Is Now Telling Reluctant Soldiers They Will Be Resurrected Solovyov, who demonstrates his loyalty to Putins regime by doggedly producing reports from the frontlines, relayed another glaring issue. He said Russian military commanders have been falsely claiming to have taken certain towns or villages. You brought up lying, he said. My close friend, IlyukhaI talk about him a lotthe head of combat training for the fifth brigade, created a system of red underpants. They would regularly get hit because of their lying neighboring units. They exclaimed that certain places were taken, but then it turned out that they actually werent. Solovyov described the process that had to be created because of these deceptive commanders: A surveillance drone is sent to the area that was supposedly taken by Russian troops, If youre really there, wave a red rag over your head. Then it becomes clear whether youre really there, or are just claiming to be there in your reports. This is called a system of red underpants, it works very well. You immediately see what is real and what is a fairy tale. Shurygin complained that this problem is not limited to low-level commanders and is prevalent on the highest levels, adding, We can recall how our Supreme Commander received reports that the village of Krynky was taken, and everything is tremendous. Then we spent six more months squeezing the enemy out of there. He was referring to a meeting of Russias former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with Putin in February of 2024, when he falsely assured the Russian president that the village of Krynky was taken. Recounting his meetings with unnamed high-ranking officials, Solovyov claimed they are aware of the widespread lying and know that every bit of information must be re-checked and verified. Shurygin noted, In reality, just like you, I have a feeling of anxious anticipation. I realize that summer is already in its second half and there hasnt been any significant breakthrough on the frontlines, for many different reasons. He bemoaned the division in Russian society, where one half is preoccupied with war, gathering funds for the frontlinesand the rest prefer to forget about the invasion and live as though it isnt happening. Tense and morose, Solovyov laced the rest of his program with heavy sighs and loud complaints. He attempted to reassure his viewers with promises of a desperately needed military coalition that will step in to join the ranks of Russias wavering troops. Imagining the likes of WHO? China and North Korea joining the fight, Solovyov said, NATO should understand they arent going to fight against 150 million [Russians], but 1.5 to 2 billion people are behind us! Until then, they will keep jointly attacking us. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Detroit block party mass shooting was the state's worst since at least 2013 The shooting of 21 people early Sunday morning at a block party on Detroit's east side, leaving two people dead and 19 others injured, ranks as Michigan's largest mass shooting in recent history. And the state's second-largest mass shooting took place just last year at a street party in Saginaw, where thirteen people were shot, two fatally, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive that goes back to 2013. "We have more guns on the street; more people carry guns," said Mark Bryant, executive director of the Gun Violence Archive. "And if there's a party, or a concert, or a bar, or a parking lot outside a bar when one gun comes out, ten guns come out; so one person doesn't get shot, a bunch of people get shot." There's no single consensus on the definition of a mass shooting. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a nonprofit formed to track gun violence in the U.S., defines a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people are injured or killed by gunfire, not including the suspect. Since 2013, there have been 166 mass shootings in Michigan, including 11 incidents in the first half of this year. Nearly half of the mass shootings, 80, took place in the state's most populous city, Detroit. Michigan recorded the most mass shootings 25 in 2021; the same year, a student killed four students and injured six students and a teacher at Oxford High School. In Chicago, three mass shootings took place from July 1- July 7; 27 people were killed and 100 were injured, according to GVA data. Across the U.S., during the same time period, 20 mass shootings occurred; 340 people were killed and 756 were injured. Kristi Tanner is a data reporter. Contact her at ktanner@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @midatalove. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit block party shooting was the state's worst since at least 2013 (KRON) A doctor who intentionally drove a Tesla over a cliff at Devils Slide with his terrified wife and two young children inside received a green light in court on Monday to be released from jail. Inmate records show Dharmesh Patel was out of custody by 4:30 p.m. Patel, 43, had been locked in a San Mateo County jail without bail ever since a January 2, 2023 crash. The doctor and his family were on a holiday trip to the Bay Area when Patel drove their Tesla over a 300-foot cliff. His family miraculously survived, and prosecutors filed attempted murder charges. Defense attorney Joshua Bentley said the father of two suffered a mental health crisis and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. (Image courtesy SMCSO) A judge granted Patels request for Mental Health Diversion following a hearing last month. Judge Susan Jakubowskis ruling indefinitely suspended all criminal charges. Prosecutors say Patel was experiencing paranoia and delusions in the weeks leading up to the triple attempted murder. He was hearing footsteps at night. He feared his children would be sold into sex slavery. He carried a knife around for three days. None of this was based on reality, a prosecutor said. His son and daughter were ages 4 and 7 at the time. Once Patel walks free out of jail, he will reside at his parents house in Belmont and begin receiving mental health treatment for major depressive disorder at a Bay Area hospital. The doctor appeared in court in Redwood City on Monday and he agreed to follow a long list of court-ordered conditions for his release. Judge Jakubowski told Patel that he must complete a two-year-long mental health program, wear a GPS monitor, and abstain from practicing medicine. Hes also forbidden from driving, leaving San Mateo County, using drugs, and drinking alcohol. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The arrangement of North Carolina's LME-MCOs as of late 2023. In Jan. 2024, Trillium absorbed Eastpointe Health Services and the Sandhills Center. Image: NC Dept. of Health and Human Services This report was first published by North Carolina Health News. Weeks before one of North Carolinas state-supported behavioral health management agencies merged with another one in eastern North Carolina, there was a flurry of questionable financial activity that led to more than $4 million in payments to two top executives and back pay to the law firm that counseled the organization, according to allegations made in an internal audit conducted by the state Department of Health and Human Services. Sarah Stroud, the former chief executive officer of Eastpointe Health Services, received $707,480 in payments in December, benefits and bonuses awarded outside the board approval process prescribed by state law, according to the 15-page audit dated June 27 obtained by North Carolina Health News. Catherine Dalton, who had been Eastpointes chief business officer, was given a job reclassification and severance package worth $383,110, the audit further states, days after Eastpointe found out it would be forced to consolidate with Trillium Health Services, a much larger behavioral health management organization that now covers 46 counties. The December payments to Stroud and Dalton were signed off by the Eastpointe board chair, Greene County commissioner Jerry Jones, but according to the audit, neither payment was approved by the full board which is required by state law. The internal audit recommends that Trillium seek to recoup the $1.09 million paid to Stroud and Dalton before the Jan. 1 consolidation date. The audit also highlights an agreement that the Eastpointe CEO reached with the Charleston Group, the organizations external counsel, that the audit says resulted in the law firm receiving $3 million in December 2023 for charges dating back to 2021. Not only does the audit state that Eastpointe signed several backdated contracts in December, it also stated that thousands of emails that constitute public record were deleted and not properly archived by Eastpointe. These factors limited the ability of (Office of the Internal Auditor) to obtain all sufficient, reliable, relevant, and useful information needed to understand Eastpointes activities during and leading up to its consolidation with Trillium, the audit document states in the introduction. The consolidation of Eastpointe and Trillium came about after the North Carolina General Assembly included a provision in the state budget in 2023 that gave the state secretary of health and human services more control over the organizations the state contracts with to manage care for people with intellectual, developmental and mental health disabilities or substance use issues. Sec. Kody Kinsley, head of DHHS since Jan. 1, 2022, used that new authority to restructure a system that had produced many complaints about barriers to care and difficulties navigating a system that is supposed to help provide for some of the states most vulnerable populations. Eastpointe was one of six local management entity-managed care organizations, or LME-MCOs, that manage North Carolinas mental health system. At the time of the merger, Eastpointe oversaw management of services for 45,106 people in the eastern part of the state in Duplin, Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties. Upon guidance from lawmakers, Kinsley reduced the number of LME-MCOs to four from the six that had been operating across the state. And that meant that Eastpointe would be absorbed into a larger system and its top executives would receive new high-ranking positions at the newly consolidated organization after Jan. 1. Busy December In November, Kinsley issued an order to merge Eastpointe with Trillium and dissolve the former Sandhills Center. In a timeline of events, the audit lays out a timeline of how in the busy weeks leading up to the merger, Stroud, Dalton and Jones drafted and executed multiple contracts that would prove lucrative to the two executives. At 3:48 p.m. on Dec. 5, Kinsley laid out terms for the consolidation agreement that included role changes for Stroud and Dalton in the new organization, the audit states. That evening at 9:47 p.m., the audit alleges that Stroud signed an amended employment agreement that included bonuses totaling $187,550, increased travel allowances and a new severance package equal to her annual salary plus benefits ($437,109) if her title was reclassified resulting from a merger. In total, the Eastpointe CEO received the following payments in December 2023: A) COLA stands for cost-of-living adjustment. The CEOs salary was $375,100 through November 2023. The COLA was first included in the CEOs regular December 2023 paycheck, increasing her annual salary to $390,105. B) The 20%-tiered bonus was calculated based on annual salary after the addition of the 4% COLA. Eastpointe paid this bonus as part of the CEOs regular December paycheck on 12/22/2023. C) The 25% bonuses were calculated based on annual salary prior to the COLA. Eastpointe paid these bonuses on 12/8/2023. Image: NC DHHS Twelve minutes later, the audit says that Stroud signed an agreement guaranteeing Dalton the $383,110 payment if her title was reclassified resulting from a merger. Both women, according to the audit, had been told earlier that day that such a merger was imminent. Ahead of the public announcement in December 2023 that the two LME-MCOs would consolidate, the audit reports that Stroud also authorized contract changes that were favorable to The Charleston Group, Eastpointes external general counsel. The law firm was then paid more than $3 million for work on charges backdated to January 2021, according to the document. Part of that amount included a total of $1.18 million in monthly retainer fees for nonlitigation matters from January 2021 to April 2023, a time period during which, the audit notes, Eastpointe had no contractual obligation to pay retainer fees. In a statement provided by La Toya Evans, a spokesperson for the Charleston Group, she noted that the law firm provided effective professional services consistent with the terms of legally appropriate and transparent agreements for Eastpointe for almost 18 years. The Charleston Group also did not bill Eastpointe for ongoing work for nearly three years as they, along with Eastpointe, anticipated amending the professional services agreement during the COVID-19 pandemic while the Eastpointe staff was immersed in preparations for Tailored Plan launch, she wrote in an emailed statement. During this time, the firms exemplary work on Eastpointes behalf resulted in the organization negotiating a $2.1 million settlement approved by the DHHS Secretary regarding a lawsuit alleging misconduct relating to a dispute with Trillium. On Dec. 7, fewer than 48 hours after the two severance agreements were signed, the audit reports that Stroud called Eastpointes Chief of Human Development, instructing her to pay Stroud her bonuses. The human resources chief reported to DHHS that the general counsel also texted her, allegedly telling her to execute the terms of the employee agreement approved by the board for the CEO. Except that the board had not signed off on this arrangement, the audit says. According to the audit, the Eastpointe board did not discuss Strouds employment agreement. One board member told auditors they recalled discussions in an unspecified executive committee closed session and consensus was reached but did not clarify what that meant. The board failed to take minutes during executive committee meetings on Nov. 28, Dec. 6 or Dec. 16, the audit found. The audit also notes that state law and Eastpointes bylaws stipulate that the full board, not just the executive committee, was to decide on CEO compensation. The following day, on Dec. 8, The Charleston Group received more than $3 million for the backdated invoices, the audit reports. A week later, on Dec. 15, the transition period began. According to the agreement Eastpointe signed with the state, no severance payments would be made to anyone transitioning to Trillium, the way Stroud and Dalton were supposed to. So, the audit notes that on Dec. 18, both Stroud and Dalton submitted resignations to the Eastpointe board. On Dec. 29, both women received their severance payments, each then submitted resignations to Kinsley and to Trillium CEO Joy Futrell, effective Dec. 31. As all of this was playing out, auditors found that Stroud and Dalton were deleting thousands of emails from their accounts, with Stroud deleting 2,000 emails on Dec. 31 and Dalton deleting about 11,000 emails between Dec. 20 and Dec. 30 ahead of her departure. According to state law, those emails are public records. Trillium had difficulty accessing certain email records of the Eastpointe CEO and CBO and was unable to determine if all email records were recovered due to unresolved problems with Eastpointes primary email archive, the audit notes. In addition, Jones, the chair of the Eastpointe governing board at the time of consolidation, did not make himself available for an interview to auditors. These factors limited the ability of [Office of the Internal Auditor] to obtain all sufficient, reliable, relevant, and useful information needed to understand Eastpointes activities during and leading up to its consolidation with Trillium, the audit states. NC Health News reached out to Jones, who hung up the phone when asked about the DHHS audit. History of troubled LME-MCO finances North Carolinas mental health local management organizations received state appropriations to cover the care for people without insurance who need mental health services. But the organizations are mostly funded by Medicaid dollars, which flow through the agencies to pay for care received by people with intellectual, developmental and mental health disabilities. In North Carolina, the state pays about 34 cents of each Medicaid dollar, with the rest being provided by the federal government. In the fiscal year stretching from July 1 2022 until June 30, 2023, Eastpointe had $324,586,361 in revenues from Medicaid. In the final six months of operation, from July 1, 2023 until Dec. 31, 2023, Eastpointes Medicaid revenue was $202,073,124. According to rules set out by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, managed care organizations that save Medicaid dollars are permitted to spend them in ways they see fit. Part of the rationale for the state-chartered LME-MCOs is that money saved would be plowed back into the mental health system. But that doesnt always happen. The most notable case was Mecklenburg County-based Cardinal Innovations, which used those saved Medicaid dollars to build corporate offices in Cabarrus County, which the organization left about a decade later for high-end offices in downtown Charlotte. Cardinal eventually folded after audits showed that executive leadership gave itself generous bonuses, threw lavish holiday parties and transported board members to meetings on a private jet. Former state auditor Beth Wood suggested that DHHS limit the amount of profits and costs for the LME-MCOs, but lawmakers and DHHS have, at times, struggled to control the organizations, where executives are well-reimbursed. Stroud received $433,274 in regular salary and benefits in 2022, according to a government salaries database. The business officer, Catherine Dalton, a CPA, had received $255,670 in salary in 2022, according to that database. In the 2023 budget, the legislature gave the state HHS secretary more control and oversight of the organizations. It was with that new control that Kinsley pushed for consolidation from six LME-MCOs down to four. Eastpointe has been caught up in financial issues before. In 2016, former Chief Financial Officer William Canupp was indicted by a grand jury in Wilmington on 47 counts of conspiracy, bribery, fraud and money laundering, according to local media reports at the time. Canupp, who was the CFO from 2010 to 2013, eventually pleaded guilty to several fraud-related counts. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 2017 and was forced to pay $731,180 in restitution, which included forfeiting a home and vehicles. He was succeeded in the CFO role by Stroud, who was named CEO of Eastpointe in 2016. Former Columbus County commissioner Prevatte James, who in his role as commissioner served on the Eastpointe board, told NC Health News that in 2016, he had increasing misgivings about financial management and oversight at the agency. He successfully pushed for Columbus County to switch to Trillium as the countys care manager. The DHHS audit concludes that the department should seek to recoup the payments made to Stroud and Dalton. The recommendations also include new, more stringent, procedures for executing contracts during future consolidation actions and mandatory annual training for all LME-MCO board members. Attempts to find viable contact information for Stroud and Dalton were unsuccessful. The head of the Charleston Group, Jonathan Charleston, did not respond to a request for an on-the-record statement about the audit. The former Eastpointe board chair, Jerry Jones, now serves on the new combined Trillium governing board, along with four other former Eastpointe board members. In a bill passed on the last day of the legislative session the same day the audit was released lawmakers gave Kinsley the power to reconstitute Trilliums board. The former Eastpointe website, accessed through the Internet Archive, lists Jones and other members of the Eastpointe board on a page that includes a section titled: Report Fraud and Abuse. This article first appeared on North Carolina Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. North Carolina Health News is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit, statewide news organization dedicated to covering all things health care in North Carolina. Visit NCHN at northcarolinahealthnews.org. The post DHHS audit finds millions in payments to executives, law firm ahead of mental health merger appeared first on NC Newsline. The governor is appointing a new chief of staff. Just nine months after Gov. Phil Murphy picked Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti to serve as his right hand, she is moving on and a deputy is moving up. The administration announced Tuesday afternoon that the former state transportation commissioner will transition to serving as a senior advisor and Tim Hillmann will take on the mantle of chief of staff later this summer. Murphy said in a statement that Gutierrez-Scaccetti has done an outstanding job and brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise to our team. Ive asked her to continue serving our administration as a senior advisor to help troubleshoot some of our most pressing and challenging operational challenges such as large-scale infrastructure projects and complex interdepartmental initiatives, Murphy said. Who is Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti? Diamne Gutierrez-Scaccetti, Gov. Phil Murphy's chief of staff for the last nine months, will move into an advisory role later this summer. Gutierrez-Scaccetti said that she believes public service is a noble calling and thanked Murphy for the opportunity to serve as both chief of staff and commissioner at the Department of Transportation. Before joining the administration, she spent 21 years at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, starting as a contract administrator and eventually rising to executive director. In 2011, she left the state to lead the Florida Turnpike Authority until 2017. While there, she stirred controversy after the authority awarded a contract to Florham Park-based Conduent, the company that administers the E-ZPass program, even though other contractors were more qualified and had lower bids. Conduent was also chosen for the tolling contract in New Jersey when it was awarded in 2015, even though another company came more highly recommended. As commissioner, Gutierrez-Scaccetti was among the point people on several bistate political issues, particularly getting the Gateway rail tunnel projects in motion by securing a local cost-sharing agreement with New York, as well as a controversial negotiation over billions in federal COVID aid for transit. Trenton: George Norcross pleads not guilty to corruption charges brought by NJ Attorney General Who is Tim Hillmann? Hillmann was promoted to principal deputy chief of staff at the same time Gutierrez-Scaccetti began as chief of staff. He had previously served as deputy chief of staff for government affairs. He also thanked Murphy for the opportunity and Gutierrez-Scaccetti for her leadership. Murphy said in a statement that Hillmann has been a key member of my team since 2019 and has successfully overseen our legislative affairs, intergovernmental affairs, appointments and constituent relations teams, among other departments. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti out as Phil Murphy chief of staff 'I did not do this': Closing arguments set to begin in Samantha Woll murder trial After two days of listening to the defendant profess 'I did not kill her,' the jury in the Samantha Woll murder trial will hear closing arguments Tuesday as both sides offer conflicting stories about how a beloved Detroit synagogue leader and political activist wound up dead outside her home in 2023. Prosecutors allege 29-year-old Michael Jackson-Bolanos fatally stabbed Woll during a home invasion, and left her for dead on the sidewalk outside her Lafayette Park home, just east of downtown Detroit. But Jackson-Bolanos, who took the rare step of testifying in his own defense, maintains police have the wrong man. And his lawyer has pointed to other potential suspects, like Woll's ex-boyfriend, who initially allegedly admitted to killing Woll during a panic attack, though prosecutors have said the admission was false and never charged him. Defendant Michael Jackson-Bolanos, of Detroit, testifies during his murder trial in the homicide of Samantha Woll at Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit on July 3, 2024. Jackson-Bolanos, meanwhile, says he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. 'I did not do this' Jackson-Bolanos is accused of fatally stabbing Woll eight times around her face and neck during an Oct. 21, 2023 home invasion in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood. While on the stand Monday, Jackson-Bolanos once again denied killing Woll, but admitted that he initially lied to police about not seeing or touching her body because he feared being blamed for her murder. He also admitted that he didn't call 911 after he found her on the ground and touched her neck to check for a pulse. Amid a lengthy cross-examination, prosecutors asked him at one point if he was surprised to learn they counted 40 lies during one day of speaking with police. "I'm not sure if it's surprising. I mean - you try being accused of going and killing somebody," Jackson-Bolanos said. During his testimony, Jackson-Bolanos told jurors that after he found Woll's body, touched her cold neck and realized she was dead, he left the area because - he explained - he was worried what it would look like for a Black man to be found near a dead white woman. It was the same thing he told jurors when he took the stand last week, saying: "Im a Black guy in the middle of the night, breaking into cars and I found myself standing in front of a dead white woman. It doesnt look good at all." But on the issue of whether Jackson-Bolanos killed Woll, his answers remained consistent: no. "I kept telling (the police) the truth: that I did not do this, I did not kill Ms. Woll," Jackson-Bolanos testified, stressing: "I'm here today, as sworn and affirmed, to tell the truth. I may have lied in the past, but today I'm telling the truth." Closing arguments are set to begin at 8:45 a.m. in Wayne County Circuit Court, where jurors spent four weeks listening to testimony in the high-profile case that devastated metro Detroit's Jewish community and the upscale Detroit neighborhood where Woll lived and was presumably murdered. Samantha Woll, 40, who led the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue, at the synagogue's August reopening. Woll was found stabbed dead outside her home in the city's Lafayette Park neighborhood, east of downtown on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Prosecution: Her blood was on his jacket Prosecutors, meanwhile, told a different story, one they are likely to stress during closing arguments Tuesday, when they get the last word before the jury begins deliberations. During trial, the prosecution portrayed Jackson-Bolanos as a liar who initially denied coming across Woll's body to both the police and his lawyer. It also presented the jury with DNA evidence - noting that blood that matched Woll's was found on the defendant's jacket - and cited surveillance video and cellphone tower data that placed Jackson-Bolanos at the scene of the crime. According to trial testimony, a neighbor found Woll dead outside of her home. Inside, police observed a bloody scene and signs of a struggle. The defense has argued that there wasn't enough time for Jackson-Bolanos to kill Woll based on the prosecution's time frame, and there's no evidence that links Jackson-Bolanos to the physical crime scene. The defense also has pointed to other potential suspects, like Woll's ex-boyfriend, who was taken into custody in November 2023 after allegedly admitting to the crime during a panic attack. He testified during trial. The prosecution said his admission was false. He was never charged and later released. Jackson-Bolanos is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, home invasion and lying to police. If convinced, he faces up to life in prison. Free Press reporter Andrea May Sahouri contributed. Tresa Baldas:tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Closing arguments set to begin in Samantha Woll murder trial Gurneys are seen outside the Okhmatdyt children's hospital after it was hit by Russian missiles on Monday, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Anton Shtuka) UNITED NATIONS (AP) U.N. Security Council members confronted Russia on Tuesday over a missile strike the previous day that destroyed part of Ukraine's largest children's hospital, pouring out condemnations at an emergency meeting chaired by Moscow's own ambassador. Russia denies responsibility for the strike at the hospital, where at least two staffers were killed. France and Ecuador asked for the session at the Security Council, but Russia led it as the current holder of the council's rotating presidency, putting Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia on the receiving end of the criticism. Mr. President, please stop this war. It has been going on for too long, Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Zbogar appealed. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told colleagues that they were there because Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, current rotational president of the Security Council, attacked a childrens hospital. Even uttering that phrase sends a chill down my spine, she added. Nebenzia characterized the slew of criticism as verbal gymnastics from countries trying to protect Ukraine's government. He reiterated Moscow's denials of responsibility for the hospital attack, insisting it was hit by a Ukrainian air defense rocket. If this had been a Russian strike, there would have been nothing left of the building," Nebenzia said, adding that "all the children and most of the adults would have been killed, and not wounded. The strike on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital was part of a massive daytime barrage in multiple cities, including the capital of Kyiv. Officials said at least 42 people were killed. The attack also damaged Ukraine's main specialist hospital for women and hit key energy infrastructure. At Okhmatdyt, the ground shook and the walls trembled. Both children and adults screamed and cried from fear, and the wounded from pain, cardiac surgeon and anesthesiologist Dr. Volodymyr Zhovnir told the Security Council by video from Kyiv. It was a real hell. Later, he heard people crying out for help from beneath the rubble. Most of the over 600 young patients had been moved to bomb shelters, except those in surgery, Zhovnir said. He said over 300 people were injured, including eight children, and two adults died, one of them a young doctor. Acting U.N. humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya stressed to the Security Council that intentionally attacking a hospital is a war crime. She called Mondays strikes part of a deeply concerning pattern of systematic attacks harming health care and other civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Since Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.N. World Health Organization has verified 1,878 attacks affecting health care facilities, personnel, transport, supplies and patients, she said. Even against that backdrop, several council members pronounced Monday's strike shocking. British Ambassador Barbara Woodward called it cowardly depravity. Ecuadorian envoy Jose De La Gasca described it as particularly intolerable. To Slovenia's Zbogar, it was "another low in this war of aggression. Woodward and some others reiterated longstanding calls for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. But some nations with closer ties to Moscow continued to send a more muted message. Chinese deputy Ambassador Geng Shuang, expressed concern about the loss of civilian lives and infrastructure but urged both sides to exercise rationality and restraint" and show political will, meet each other halfway and start peace talks. Russia insists that it doesnt attack civilian targets in Ukraine despite abundant evidence to the contrary, including in AP's reporting. Earlier Tuesday in Geneva, Danielle Bell, who heads a U.N. team monitoring human rights in Ukraine, said the hospital likely was struck by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. At the U.N. headquarters, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya showed the Security Council photos of what his country asserts were fragments showing the projectile's Russian origin, plus a map purportedly showing a missile's path from Russian territory and, via a sharp turn, to the children's hospital. Yesterday, Russia deliberately targeted perhaps the most vulnerable and defenseless group in any society: children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, Kyslytsya said. Kyslytsya, whose country isnt on the 15-member council, blasted Nebenzia for occupying the president's seat after the bloodshed. In accordance with the traditions of the council presidency, and purely as the president of the council," Nebenzia drily replied, I am compelled to thank Ukraine for their statement. ___ Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer and Jade Lozada at the United Nations contributed to this report. Tom Riley, director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, testifies about proposed Perkins County Canal in 2022. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The director of Nebraskas Department of Natural Resources will leave his position next month after a tenure that included the states focus on water resources and recreation. Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday that Director Tom Rileys last day is Aug. 2. Riley, first appointed by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts in November 2020, will transition back to the private sector. The departments responsibilities include surface water, groundwater, floodplain management, dam safety and the storage of natural resources. I appreciate Director Rileys public service to the state, and I wish him the best in all future endeavors, Pillen said in a statement. Information about interim leadership and the pending appointment of a new agency director will be announced in the future, a news release states. In the past four years, state leaders had turned their sights toward securing water rights from Colorado and building a huge, sandpit lake for recreation between Omaha and Lincoln. The latter project came as a result of ideas formed from a special legislative committee the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (STARWARS) Committee. The committee was formed to conduct a comprehensive study of certain geographical areas statewide and identify potential projects and opportunities that would be beneficial to the state, including economic development, tourism and recreation, flood control and water sustainability. Riley has helped promote and assist lawmakers in understanding the necessity of the so-called Perkins County Canal first outlined in a 1923 compact with Colorado. It is designed to secure water rights that Nebraska officials say the state is owed. Meanwhile, Colorado officials have said the effort is a canal to nowhere and a waste of money. The Legislature appropriated $574 million in 2023, pushing back on an effort to shrink the cost. Both projects remain in the early stages, such as the feasibility of the lake and possible legal challenges for the canal. Pillen said most recently this summer that if legal fees got too high, he would abandon the Perkins County Canal project. The post Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources leaving Aug. 2 appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. DENVER (KDVR) Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency on July 5 after an outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu was reported at a facility in Weld County. The declaration is for a commercial poultry facility and is intended to ensure the state government can provide resources and support for Colorados agriculture industry. The size of the facility, when the outbreak began and how the state will assist in this effort is unclear. FOX31 has reached out to state officials for more information. Colorados first human case of bird flu in 2024 identified Polis verbal declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan, directing the Office of Emergency Management to take all necessary and appropriate State actions to assist with response, recovery, and mitigation efforts. The state said that specifically, this will help provide Weld County avian producers the necessary resources to respond to and contain the outbreak of avian flu. The state has been focusing on avian flu in dairy cattle, asking livestock exhibitors to take extra steps to keep themselves and their animals safe during county fair season. Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first positively identified in Colorado dairy cattle on April 25, and has led to 10 facilities being placed on quarantine. The bird-borne virus can be transmitted to cattle and humans but has also been found in other mammals. According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of the virus are primarily respiratory, but the most recent human case involved conjunctivitis (pink eye). The Weld County disaster declaration also comes only five days after the state announced the first human case of bird flu for the year. That worker was employed at a dairy farm in northeast Colorado with direct exposure to dairy cattle infected with avian flu. Northeast Colorado is also where the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected on April 25. The Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment recommend that to prevent getting sick with H5N1, individuals should: Avoid exposure to sick or dead animals, including wild and domesticated birds or other animals Drink only pasteurized milk, never raw milk Avoid exposure to animal poop, bedding or litter, or materials touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed H5N1 virus. According to the CDC, around 40 birds were found to have H5N1 at a Morgan County facility on June 27. Another facility in Larimer County was found to have 10 affected birds on June 26. Before that, the most recent detection of H5N1 in flocks was found on Feb. 8 in Delta 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 FOX31 Denver. Now that the U.S. Navys air-launched variant of the multi-role, long-range surface-launched SM-6 missile, the AIM-174B, has been officially acknowledged, we are getting a clearer view of the services master plan for countering China in the air-to-air combat arena. The inclusion of the AIM-174B in the Navys inventory now points to a four-tier air-to-air missile portfolio that appears tailored to help pierce Beijings anti-access overlay that extends far from its shores. It offers the Navy a new way to degrade Chinas ability to cordon off Taiwan and provides a level of aerial protection to naval assets from long-range attacks the likes of which we have never seen before. . With inert AIM-174B missiles under each wing, an F/A-18E from Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192), the Golden Dragons, is seen at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on July 2, 2024. aeros808 Although we knew the Navy had been testing an air-launched SM-6 derivative for years, at least in some capacity, the fact that it is an operational weapon only came to light last week. TWZ was among the first to report that this new weapon had broken cover, appearing under the wings of fleet Super Hornets participating in the Navys massive RIMPAC exercises in Hawaii. You can read our complete analysis of this long-awaited revelation here. Since then our friends over at Naval News got confirmation from the Navy that the missile was now in operational service with its fleet squadrons. TWZ has since received the same statement, which reads: The SM-6 Air Launched Configuration (ALC) was developed as part of the SM-6 family of missiles and is operationally deployed in the Navy today. The #USNavy has confirmed that the AIM-174B air-launched variant of the SM-6 SAM is now operational, likely with F/A-18E/Fs of CVW-2 aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). The SM-6 has a range of 350 km, the air-launched variant will surpass this by several hundred kilometres pic.twitter.com/IYBeULunGe Air Power (@RealAirPower1) July 7, 2024 The designation of the AIM-174B is, at least taken at face value, significant. The AIM designation is for weapons with a primary air-to-air function. This does not mean this missile does not retain the SM-6s secondary capabilities acting as a quasi-ballistic missile capable of striking ships and land targets with a high chance of survivability and over great distances but it does highlight its primary mission set. With this in mind, the AIM-174B takes its place as by far the longest-range air-to-air missile ever fielded by the seagoing service. The SM-6 has a stated range of well over 200 miles when launched against aerial targets from the surface. This includes the use of a booster to send it on its way, which is not included in the air-launched version, and this general range figure is highly dependent on many factors, including the speed, direction, altitude, maneuverability of the target, and more. Its use to shoot down ballistic missiles in the terminal stages of their flight, as they are careening toward their targets through the atmosphere, is another flight profile altogether, as are its surface strike and land attack ones. Also, published figures are often severely degraded for security purposes, so the actual range of the SM-6 remains unknown, especially across its various use cases. Regardless, launched from altitude and speed by a fighter, its range would be extended quite dramatically, giving it the ability to hit some aerial targets over multiple hundreds of miles. A surface-launched SM-6 being fired from a US Navy warship. The rocket booster used in this configuration is visible at the tail end of the missile. USN A file photo showing the launch of an SM-6 missile from a US Navy warship. USN The AIM-174B will now take its place among its stablemate air-to-air missiles, both in service and about to be in service. In the near future, the Navy will have the following complementary weapons in its air-to-air combat arsenal: The AIM-9X Block II exists for close to intermediate-range engagements, with future enhancements extending its range even further. Then there is the AIM-120 AMRAAM which can engage targets from within visual range to medium ranges, and now outwards of 100 miles in its latest variant, the AIM-120D. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), which remains deeply classified, but is also far along in its development, will have a similar form factor as the AIM-120. This will allow it to be internally carried on the F-22 Raptor, for instance, but offering significantly greater ranges than the AMRAAM. The U.S. military has said explicitly in the past that concerns about increasingly longer-range Chinese air-to-air missiles have been a key driver behind work on the AIM-260. Even an extra 50 miles would give JATM a huge boost in capability over the AIM-120D. Better end-game energy state and multi-mode seeker would further boost its comparative abilities. As such, it would sit atop the AIM-120 as a long-range air-to-air weapon, with some significant overlap. Networking capabilities on all these weapons also give them the ability to leverage third-party targeting and all the guileful tactics that come with that feature set. Then we have the AIM-174B. A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet armed with a mix of AIM-9X Sidewinders and AIM-120 AMRAAMs on the deck of Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower somewhere in the Red Sea on April 20, 2024. USN This would truly be the big stick of the outer air battle, even extending far beyond that realm for certain target types. Its range, by default, outstrips the traditional organic sensor capabilities of its launching aircraft. This puts it in a different class than any of its companion weapons, although the AIM-260 could blend into the arena as well. Such a capability is relevant in many ways, but especially so in two distinct scenarios. Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) based DATM-174B, ground training variant of the AIM-174B, on a VFA-113 Stingers F/A-18 Super Hornet. Originally posed on NCD by Offsetski of all places. pic.twitter.com/N3ulRAi751 FirstDagger (@FirstDagger) July 7, 2024 Fleet Defense: China poses a major threat to carrier strike groups unlike any we have seen, ever. The height of the Soviet-era cruise missile threat was quite remarkable, but Beijings ability to layer in many types of anti-ship weapons, including anti-ship ballistic missiles of various types, especially those with very-long range, is a uniquely vexing problem. Hypersonic weapons will emerge as another anti-ship threat, as will swarms of drones. Having SM-6s pushed far farther out from the carrier strike group via air-launch allows for targets to be engaged at distances that current sea-launched anti-air weapons cannot come close to reaching. For instance, putting Super Hornets on station 250 miles from the carrier strike group with AIM-174Bs onboard will provide a massive increase for engagement ranges and the amount of physical sky that can be put at risk at any given time. While many have asked if the AIM-174B is a new AIM-54 Phoenix, and understandably so, the answer is no. This weapon is far, far more capable, versatile, and long-reaching than an AIM-54 ever was. Above all else, it is meant to make use of future kill webs that will extend over large portions of entire hemispheres of the earth, not just a localized battle zone. This, in particular, is maybe the biggest feature of the AIM-174B it is a weapon meant to leverage future kill web architectures that will see much more advanced data sharing over vastly greater distances and will be able to exploit that information far faster than ever before. An AIM-54 Phoenix, at right, as well as an AIM-9 Sidewinder, under the wing of a US Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter in 1997. USN If the AIM-174B retains the SM-6s anti-ballistic missile capability, which there is no reason to think it doesnt, it could also extend the coverage of this terminal defense farther than what a surface combatant can offer today and on short notice. You can rapidly deploy aircraft armed with these missiles where the area under ballistic missile threat is likely to be. As long as existing sensor networks can support targeting in that area, the missiles can be fired against incoming missiles remotely. This would allow for Super Hornets to protect islands, convoys, and other assets from ballistic missile strikes. Super Hornets carrying AIM-174s paired with an Aegis-equipped destroyer in the area could expand the ships terminal missile defense umbrella significantly, for instance. The missiles ability to be used to engage hypersonic weapons the SM-6 is the only known U.S. missile interceptor that can theoretically do this today will allow for screening of these weapons as needed wherever the kill web will support it. This would be highly important for countering air-breathing anti-ship hypersonic cruise missiles far from a carrier group or other high-value target area. A briefing slide showing how a surface-launched SM-6 could be employed using the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) network architecture. The air-launched AIM-174B will be able to take advantage of this and other kill webs, as well. USN When thinking of Chinas own kill chain limitations, the AIM-174B puts critical surveillance aircraft that would target American ships at risk of being taken out at the edges of their sensor capabilities. Without this initial targeting data and potentially without mid-course updates these platforms would provide, long-range anti-ship weapons, like ballistic missiles, will not be able to be employed or they would only do so in a highly degraded state. The same can be said for targeting enemy cruise missile carriers along the periphery of their maximum launch distance. This would be key to the fleet defense mission as shooting the archer is always the preferable solution to engaging their arrows individually as they scream toward their targets. Neutering Chinas H-6 cruise missile carriers, which can be armed with subsonic and high-speed cruise missiles (YJ-12), as well as air-launched anti-ship ballistic missiles, at great distances without the need for long-range tanker support is a massive and needed capability enhancement for the U.S. Navy. This would allow these dangerous aircraft to be neutralized well before entering launch range while also taking into account the F/A-18E/Fs range limitations. A Chinese H-6J cruise missile carrier aircraft with a pair of YJ-12s under its wings. Japanese Ministry of Defense So we are talking about a massive leap in fleet defense here, as well as other area air defense roles, and that is just when talking about the SM-6s air-launched derivatives air-to-air potential. High-Value Asset Attack: During a U.S. military response to a Chinese intervention against Taiwan and any similar expeditionary scenario, American fighters will be hard-pressed to get within the range of their current air-to-air missile options to successfully engage and destroy PLA aircraft, and especially those that will be critical to such an operation. The vulnerability of American tanker aircraft alone that would be needed to support such a fighter force operating near the strait is a huge Achilles heel we have been pointing out in great detail for many years. So just accessing that fight, piercing Chinas anti-access bubble so that tactical airpower can be brought to bear, is a massive hurdle, one that AIM-174B can help overcome. It isnt clear what the capability of the AIM-174 or the SM-6 in general is when it comes to engaging fighters over very long distances. But lumbering aircraft that enable those fighters are an entirely different story. The AIM-174B would likely best be used to leverage the emerging kill web that utilizes sensors in the air, at sea, on the ground, and in space, to target very high-value, low-density enabling support assets over long distances. Think airborne early warning and control, maritime patrol, electronic warfare, and surveillance aircraft, as well as tankers. A Chinese KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft. Taiwan Ministry of National Defense By using the AIM-174Bs extreme range to go after these large, low-maneuverability, critical assets, even well behind the front lines, Chinas anti-access capabilities will begin to degrade, allowing for tactical aircraft, as well as their own support assets, to venture closer to the fight. It will also put their dependent assets, like fighter aircraft and warships, at greater risk of attack. In other words, this stabs the aerial eyes and ears out of the enemys force, depleting its situational awareness and eroding its own kill chains while opening up avenues of exploitation for allied forces. The possibility of modifying the air-launched SM-6 with a dual mode anti-radiation seeker could also help them better target airborne early warning and control aircraft with greater autonomy. These aircraft would be the absolute top targeting priority and they represent a capability set China is investing very heavily in, which you can read all about here. However, such modifications may not be a necessity as future kill webs could provide tracking of these assets, including from space. As the fight progresses, Super Hornets carrying AIM-174Bs could support stealthy, deep penetrating F-35s by launching on targets they identify far forward in the air battle. This mix of 4th and 5th-generation fighters aided by long-range air-to-air missiles is something we have been discussing in detail for many years, but the fully networked, very long-range air-launched SM-6 would enable such tactics like never before. A US Navy F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. USN Once again, these are just two of the critical scenarios where the AIM-174B could play absolutely crucial new roles and fill large gaps in the Navys current roster of anti-air capabilities. And, once again, this does not even go into using the weapon in the anti-ship and land attack roles, which could literally be a game changer for breaking down Chinas anti-access overlay. Just the fact that a weapon that will sit atop the future AIM-260 in the services air-to-air missile arsenal is a key revelation and more long-range air-to-air weapons are likely to come. There are still many questions, of course, about what applications the Navy will focus on for the AIM-174B early on. Also, the limited number of these weapons and their very high cost, coming in at over $4M each for their surface-launched counterparts, are top of mind. With the U.S. Army also buying these missiles for use as ground-based surface-to-surface strike weapons on top of the Navy for surface launch and now air launch, and limitations in production that exist today, we are likely to see a major push to expand production even further. An SM-6 on the production line. Raytheon A view of a portion of the SM-6 production line. Raytheon There is also the question of the U.S. Air Force. This would be a perfect weapon for the F-15E and F-15EX, and even the B-52 and B-21, especially if adapted for the USAFs own kill web architecture. For all we know such an initiative could already be underway. Finally, it would be interesting to see if a simpler variant of this weapon can be produced without the active radar seeker. This variant could be optimized for striking sea and land targets alone, possibly with a less costly imaging infrared seeker or no seeker at all for use against basic static land targets. This could lower cost, speed up production, and leave active radar variants for use cases that make more sense. A version equipped with the AGM-88G AARGM-ERs dual mode seeker both active millimeter-wave radar and anti-radiation would be extremely deadly against ground-based air defenses, even those that are on the move. A weapon like this would serve a major role in breaking down an enemys ground-based anti-access capabilities so that other aerial assets from stealth fighters to cruise missiles to drones can penetrate to their target areas. Hopefully, with the weapon clearly being declassified ahead of the RIMPAC 2024 we could see it tested during this event or at least learn more about it and the Navys plans behind it. Well keep you informed as to any new developments. Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health on Tuesday renewed a call for people not to eat pufferfish after two persons had died. "One man in Oddar Meanchey province died on July 7 and another man in Kampong Chhnang province died on July 8 after they had consumed pufferfish," the ministry said in a statement. It added that last week, seven people in central Kampong Chhnang province were also hospitalized after eating pufferfish, but they were all saved on time. The ministry "would like to remind people to avoid eating pufferfish because it contains a poison that can cause severe illness or death," the statement said. The symptoms that occur 20 minutes to two hours after eating poisonous pufferfish include numbness, tingling around the mouth and in the limbs, headache, dizziness, salivation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the statement said. The symptoms may progress to paralysis, loss of consciousness, and respiratory failure that can lead to death, it added. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson speaks at The Lake Church in Bladen County. (Photo: Screengrab from Lake Church/ Facebook Page) North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is a proud and unapologetic provocateur. Robinson often couches statements that he knows will be viewed as controversial with a preemptive admission that hes aware hes about to cross a line not usually breached by high elected officials. Then, typically, he attributes the squeamishness about what hes about to say to his lily-livered critics and plunges ahead. This was the pattern Robinson used on June 30 at The Lake Church in Bladen County when, as NC Newsline reported on July 5, Robinson told Sunday worshipers that some folks need killing. In a diatribe that his campaign spokesperson said was meant only to be a history lesson about World War II, Robinson put it this way: We now find ourselves struggling with people who have evil intent. You know, there was a time in which we used to meet evil on the battlefield. Guess what we did to it: we killed it! We didnt quibble about it. We didnt argue about it. We didnt fight about it. We killed it! When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, whatd we do? We flew to Japan and we killed the Japanese army and navy. We didnt even quibble about it. I didnt start this fight. You did. You wanted to be left alone. you should have left me alone. We didnt argue and capitulate and talk about well, maybe we shouldnt fight the Nazis that hard. No, theyre bad. Kill them! Some liberal somewhere is gonna say that sounds awful. Too bad. Get mad at me if you want to. Some folks need killing! Its time for somebody to say it. Its not a matter of vengeance. Its not a matter of being mean or spiteful. Its a matter of necessity! Not surprisingly, Robinson was right. Sounds awful is a description that a lot of people of many different political persuasions did find apt for what he said. But of course, at the heart of the discussion regarding Robinsons killing remark was the question of who it is exactly that he thinks should be killed. If, as Robinsons spokesperson argued in an email to Newsline, the Lt. Governor was merely conducting a retrospective on World War II, then one has to concede that the comment was while surprisingly harsh and passionate for a politician describing a war fought 80 years ago to a Sunday church audience not inaccurate. After all, its undeniable that, ultimately, the Allied victory over Axis forces was, like all wars, about killing. A combined total of nearly 8 million members of the German and Japanese militaries died during the war a large proportion at the hands of American armed forces. Most estimates put the total military and civilian casualties from that terrible conflict at north of 50 million. The question that arises, however, is, if a history lesson was all he intended, why did Robinson couch the remark the way he did? Saying people had to be killed to win World War II has never been controversial. Theres no need for passionate preaching to convince anyone including the vast majority of American liberals of its obvious truth. The year 2024 is hardly, as Robinson put it, the time for someone to say it; millions of people have already said the same thing millions of times quite calmly over the last eight decades. But when you shout such a statement during a speech in which you are also passionately describing those who disagree with you as wicked and evil, and in which you make allusions to communism and socialism and call on present day military and law enforcement personnel (guys in green and boys in blue) to handle the worlds bad people, its foolish to think that your remarks wont invite other very different interpretations. One doesnt have to look very hard in the American political environment right now to find a disturbing number of individuals who are willing to talk in apocalyptic terms about using violence, and even war, to address their political grievances. Indeed, North Carolina is a state in which individuals who share Robinsons frequently voiced views about LGBTQ+ people have made multiple threats, issued bomb threats, and possibly carried out an act of domestic terrorism in response to events involving drag performers. And when high elected officials embrace such language and utter it passionately in a public place, its absurd to think it doesnt give aid, comfort and inspiration to those with such twisted views. In short, even if one takes the most charitable conceivable view toward what Robinson said, its undeniable that it was unnecessary and reckless. And if, as seems vastly more likely, the comment was made by a politician who knew exactly what he was doing and who has quite intentionally fashioned a political career based on these kinds of provocative and attention-grabbing remarks, then unnecessary and reckless is a vast understatement. The post Dissecting Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons killing comments appeared first on NC Newsline. (Bloomberg) -- Even as congressional Democrats argued Tuesday over whether to stand behind Joe Bidens candidacy, the White House and lawmakers grasped for a unified strategy: trying to change the subject from the presidents mental acuity to Donald Trumps policy goals. Most Read from Bloomberg Democrat, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, called on Biden to step aside Tuesday afternoon, underscoring persistent worries about Biden and questions about whether he should make way for Vice President Kamala Harris or another candidate. Others signaled the matter is unresolved. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday evening, Colorado US Senator Michael Bennet said that he told colleagues in a meeting earlier that he doesnt think Biden can defeat Trump. This race is on a trajectory that is very worrisome if you care about the future of this country, Bennet said. Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the Senate and the House. Representative Pete Aguilar, the House Democrats third-ranking leader, described the president as the partys candidate right now. Across the Capitol, many Democrats parried questions about Biden by invoking Project 2025 a suite of policy proposals drafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation for Trump to pursue if he is elected in November. Trump has tried to distance himself from the controversial initiative, but its staffed by some of the most prominent members of his former administration. Democrats say the proposals which range from gutting the federal civil service to banning pornography and blocking efforts to fight climate change are likely to alarm undecided voters and push them into the presidents camp, even as doubts persist in the wake of Bidens disastrous debate performance last month. There is a consensus to focus on Project 2025, said Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, leaving a closed-door meeting of House Democrats that participants described as a listening session to allow members to vent their concerns about Bidens ability to defeat Trump. I am not going to be distracted by a 90-minute debate, Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, a member of the left-leaning Squad of lawmakers, said. I am focused on guarding against 90 years of horror if Project 2025 becomes a reality. Elsewhere, Representative Maxine Waters of California invoked the project as she questioned Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during an appearance at the House Financial Services Committee. The attempt to change the channel came from the very top. Google Project 2025, Biden posted on X around midday, part of a refrain from the presidents reelection campaign as it tries to refocus voters on the stakes of the fall election and away from Bidens struggles. Staunching Defections The House Democrats meeting early Tuesday amounted to a forum on Bidens political future, after several members declared publicly that he should step aside. There was no sign yet of the kind of clear consensus that might force him to reconsider his candidacy. Its a pivotal week for the embattled president, who is hosting a NATO summit in Washington. He will hold a Thursday press conference, offering critics and supporters another moment to study every word for signs hes slipping. He shouldnt endanger his legacy and deliver us to a tyrant, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the first Democrat to call for Biden to step aside, said following the House Democrats meeting. Many lawmakers expressed support for Biden, albeit some more begrudging than others. And very few expressed confidence that Biden can win a second term. New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler, one of several senior Democrats who have privately said Biden should step aside, said the president has made very clear he is running and the party must get behind him. He is the person, Nadler said when asked if Biden can beat Donald Trump in November. The president has determined that he is the best candidate. The president, who spoke late Monday with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and plans to meet with progressives later this week, did not speak to House Democrats directly. After a two-hour closed-door meeting of Senate Democrats, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said nothing has changed about his concerns over Biden. I think we need to continue to have the conversation we had today, the senator added. Donor Discontent A growing number of donors are expressing worries about Bidens ability to beat Trump in November. Nearly 400 donors sent a letter late Monday calling for Biden to withdraw from being a candidate for reelection for the sake of our democracy and the future of our nation. Among those who signed the letter are Lisa Blau, the co-founder of venture firm _able Partners, Kevin Brennan of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, former Procter & Gamble Co. chief executive officer John E. Pepper, and two former Internal Revenue Service Commissioners Charles Rossotti and Fred Forman. To be clear, however this resolves, I will support him or whoever the Democratic nominee is, Trey Beck, a Democratic donor and former managing director of DE Shaw Investment Management, told Bloomberg Surveillance Tuesday. Were going to have to unify behind our candidate and if its Biden thats who Ill get behind him. Ill walk on glass for the guy. (Updates with US Senator Bennets comments in second, third paragraphs) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. DNC to launch billboards, bus signs in Milwaukee for RNC hitting Trump over Roe, democracy The Democratic National Committee (DNC) will launch eight billboards in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention next week, making the case that reproductive rights and democracy are on the ballot in November. On the billboards, first shared exclusively with The Hill, Milwaukee will see Democracy is on the ballot, folks and Restore Roe? Vote for Joe!! Joe Biden will: restore Roe, fight for freedoms, defend democracy, another billboard reads. The billboards will be in English and Spanish and aims to remind Milwaukee that Biden is the only candidate defending democracy and freedoms, according to the DNC. The DNC has also arranged for signs on 57 buses around Milwaukee to include seven slogans supporting Biden with similar messages about democracy and Roe, including, Restore Roe? Vote for Joe!!, the committee said. President Biden has made restoring the protections that Roe v. Wade provided a key pillar of his campaign after the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections. He also often warns on the campaign trail that former President Trump is a threat to democracy, citing his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The focus on democracy on the billboards comes after the Supreme Court gave Trump a win by determining core presidential powers are immune from criminal prosecution, returning his federal case on his efforts to overturn the 2020 election back to a lower court. Biden has harshly criticized the ruling, calling it a dangerous precedent and warning that the ruling means the American people must decide if they want to entrust the presidency to Trump knowing he can be even more emboldened. The DNC also recently launched 10 billboards in the Milwaukee area, ahead of the convention, spotlighting Trumps alleged remarks calling Milwaukee a horrible city. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Doctors and patients of ADONIS clinic were killed in attack on Kyiv: what is known about them photos Missile fragments struck an ADONIS private hospital: what is known about the casualties. Photo: The Kyiv City Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine A private clinic of the ADONIS network was struck as a result of the Russian missile attack on Kyiv on 8 July. Seven people were killed by missile wreckage two patients and five members of medical staff. Another employee is in hospital in critical conditions. In a comment for Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia, Iryna Salo, employee of the marketing department of the ADONIS network, revealed that one of the patients was a 29-years-old woman. Among the deceased employees of the clinic there are: senior cashier the woman is survived by two children; her son and husband are in the combat zone; senior nurse who moved from the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk to Kyiv together with her son in 2014; matron whose two grandchildren were born a few days before; ultrasound doctor. "He was the soul of the company, always optimistic, constantly made jokes and cheered the staff up," Iryna described the ultrasound doctor. The clinic staff also confirmed the death of obstetrician-gynaecologist Svitlana Poplavska. Earlier the information about it emerged online. Photo: Iryna Salo Svitlana is from the settlement of Mykulyntsi in Ternopil Oblast. In 2008 she graduated from the Kharkiv National Medical University and obtained the specialty of gynaecologist. She was also an ultrasound export and a consultant in sexology. She worked in the ADONIS clinic for about five years, and in a womans consultation in the city of Brovary before that. Svitlana worked as an obstetrician-gynaecologist in a clinic in the city of Kyiv. Photo: Svitlana Poplavska on Facebook Recently Svitlana returned from maternity leave her youngest daughter is not even two years old. The news about Svitlanas death shocked her patients and friends. They share their memories about her on social media. Svitlanas patients describe her as a good specialist and highly professional. "Svitlana has been my doctor since forever. She was kind, open-hearted, smart and sincere. I rarely meet doctors who make you anticipate their appointments, because these are not just check-ups but also a session of therapy and pleasant communication Yesterday Svitlana was killed by Russia. She is survived by three children, a loving family, hundreds of patients who she helped, thousands of unfinished errands and plans" Tetiana Pavliuk said in her post. At the moment Svitlanas family needs financial aid. Background: On 8 July Russia launched a large-scale attack on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and others. Specifically, the Russians struck Okhmatdyt, the biggest childrens hospital in Ukraine. At the moment of the attack over 600 patients were in the hospital. Svitlana Lukianchuk, a 30-year-old doctor from the city of Lviv, was killed in the attack. In total two people were killed on the territory of the hospital, and over 50 were injured. Support UP or become our patron! Surgeons have found a fascinating way to retrieve donor organs from patients who have already been declared dead. As NPR reports, the procedure is called normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), and involves pumping blood through the deceased donor's body. Unsurprisingly, the procedure has proven highly controversial despite greatly increasing the chances of obtaining functional donor organs, which is more important than ever given the ongoing donor organ crisis. "It's not hyperbolic to say it's a big deal," Tennessee Donor Services organ recovery surgeon Marty Sellers told NPR in an interview. "We're saving a lot of lives that otherwise wouldn't have a chance. And the data indicate that if NRP was used nationally to the extent that we're able to do it here in Tennessee, we could essentially eliminate liver waiting list deaths." When a patient's heartbeat and blood circulation stop, something that can be a choice in the case of a family choosing to withdraw life support of a loved one, doctors have the option of hooking up the patient's body to an external pump that restarts blood flow throughout the body. The practice stops organs from being damaged by keeping up the circulation of oxygen-rich blood. However, plenty of ethical questions arise. For one, bioethicists have debated whether some blood may be able to restore limited brain activity despite doctors clamping off blood flow to the brain before carrying out the procedure. "I think the bottom line is that NRP violates foundational ethical norms around the determination of death and should not be pursued," University of Colorado bioethicist Matthew DeCamp told NPR. But there may be ways to stop any blood from reaching the brain. A 2022 paper, for instance, found that certain surgical techniques could ensure that brain function isn't restarted during NRP. Some blood pathways to the brain could also be drained ahead of time. "Although theoretically sound, these surgical assurance techniques do not address all possible sources of brain blood flow and remain speculative in the absence of direct data confirming their effectiveness in preventing resumption of brain circulation and activity during NRP," the paper reads. An ethical principle called the "dead-donor rule" restricts organ transplant procedures from being performed before the donor has been declared dead. That's because surgeons want to make absolutely certain these interventions are not involved in any way with the death itself. While it's technically not a law, it's a widely accepted ethical norm. Proponents of NRP, however, say it's unquestionably a good thing. "It's irrefutable that we are not causing any increased deaths with NRP, and we're saving more lives with NRP," Sellers told NPR. "And if you can argue with that, I don't have much to say to you." "NRP respects an individual's decision to have their donated organs recovered in as good a condition as possible after a patient's death," a recent letter to the editor at the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia reads. "It also respects the decision reached with the individual or their family not to be resuscitated after death." According to Sellers, NRP can even honor somebody's life by extending their legacy to "save the lives of others." It's a powerful option that could give thousands a new lease on life. More than 100,000 people in the US are waiting for a donor organ and many of them have to wait years, an unfortunate delay that could result in death. More on donor organs: Organ Transplants Can Change Personality and Even Sexual Orientation, Scientists Find Does setting my AC to 78 degrees save money during California heat wave? What expert says Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com. As much of California copes with scorching temperatures, residents are switching on their air conditioners and fans to keep cool. The Golden States rising heat levels have made this age-old question resurface: Does setting my thermostat to 78 degrees actually save me money in the summer? The Sacramento Bee reached out to Deione Brown, owner of Sacramento heating-and-cooling company Capital City Comfort, Inc., to see if theres any truth to the popular claim. We also wanted to understand how utilities such as Sacramento Municipal Utility District and PG&E landed on what experts consider the ideal home temperature for summer. Heres what we found: Is it cost-effective to set thermostat to 78 degrees in summer? Setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during the hotter months is a good rule of thumb, Brown told The Bee during a phone interview on Monday. Keeping the temperature between 75 and 78 degrees will reduce the risk of overworking your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, he said, and keep your electrical costs down. Brown, whos served the greater Sacramento area since 2016, said his Pocket-area home is set to 78 degrees per SMUDs recommendation and it works. The community-owned electric utility advises customers to set their thermostats to at least 78 degrees during the summer and 68 degrees during the winter. Youll save around 5% to 10% on cooling costs for every two degrees you raise the temperature, SMUD wrote on its site. Pacific Gas and Electric has similar advice. How can I save money on electricity bill during heat wave? People can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling expenses by being strategic with their thermostats, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The federal energy agency advises folks to keep their homes warmer than normal when theyre away and set their thermostats as high as comfortable when home. A higher interior temperature will slow the flow of heat into your house, saving energy on air conditioning, the energy department said, adding that people spend less on electricity if the temperature inside their home is similar to the one outside. However, its more nuanced than that. How quickly your home reaches your optimal temperature is based on several factors including its windows, insulation and the size of your HVAC system, Brown said. These things should be checked by a professional before the warm weather settles in, he added. When it is 110 degrees outside, your unit is working very hard to achieve 78 degrees inside, especially when compared to a 90-degree day, PG&E wrote on its site, adding that air conditioners are typically the most used home appliance. How to save energy during the summer Heres a list of energy-saving tips, created by SMUD, to help you get the most out of your cooling system during the summertime: Clean your HVAC filters once a month during the coldest and warmest months. Do not block air vents. Replace old caulking and seal air leaks with weatherstripping around windows and doors. Change out air handler filters regularly. Replace damaged insulation and regularly check equipment. Use window curtains and blinds to block direct sun into your home. What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. A photo of the French Bulldog puppies which were left in the hot car in North Carolina (WNCN ) A North Carolina dog breeder was arrested this weekend after authorities say she left six-week-old puppies in a dangerously hot car. Whitney Johnson, 36, has been charged with seven counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after leaving seven French Bulldog puppies in the backseat of her car when she went to eat at a local restaurant, as temperatures soared to 100 degrees (Fahrenheit). One of the puppies was euthanized following the incident, according to the Apex Police Department in Wake County. We learned from witnesses that the puppies had been left inside of the vehicle for 30 to 45 minutes, police chief Jason Armstrong told WNCN. There were seven puppies inside, almost like a kiddy pool [and] a cover that had been put on top. Customers and the restaurants employees notified police after spotting the dogs. Responding officers discovered the car running, with no air conditioning, and the windows rolled up. Whitney Tierra Johnson, 36, has been arrested on seven misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty in North Carolina (Wake County) Three of the puppies appeared to be in distress and had some respiratory challenges, the chief said. They were put in an oxygen chamber to get treatment. One of the puppies did not respond to the treatment. That puppy was put down by the Wake County Animal Shelter. Johnson posted a $1,500 bond on Saturday, according to court documents. She told WNCN on Monday that she would never do anything to harm her puppies. The car was on, the windows were down, and puppies were in the backseat, she said, providing photos of the setup she had for the animals. They were laying out of their container onto their feet on a towel. There was a fan on the floor because I have an outlet in my car. A photo of the French Bulldog puppies left in the car (WNCN) Johnson said that some people had approached her outside of the restaurant and voiced concerns about the puppies after she took them out of the car to clean them after theyd gone to the bathroom in the vehicle. She said people called the police when she told them she didnt need help. I am not an animal abuser. I have no malicious intent to harm any animal. I have 12 dogs. I take very good care of my animals, she told the station. The puppies are at the Wake County Animal Shelter as the investigation continues. A dog is believed to have started a house fire in northeast Ohio by turning the stove on. The fire happened on Gerald Ave in Parma, Ohio on July 7, CBS affiliate WOIO reported. The owner of the home was burned trying to save her pets from the burning house, according to a Facebook post from the Parma Fire Department. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy fire and difficult conditions inside. The fire was extinguished in under an hour. Investigators believe a dog may have turned on a burner on the stove and started the fire. >> Fire that killed young girl, critically injured man accidentally started by children We do know that allegedly the owner kept dog treats over the stove so it may have had something to do with a dog going up on the counter trying to get those off the stove, said Robert Bures, Public Information Officer for Parma Fire. According to Bures, this sort of accident happens more often than you think. He said a dog started a fire in Medina back in April. The really sad thing is people usually arent home for those right they know that the owners are gone and thats usually when they get up there. They know they can misbehave, they know they can get up on the stove, Bures said. The Parma Fire Department reported that all pets, including at least three dogs died in the fire. The owner said there were four dogs in her home, three were hers and one she was watching for a friend. The dog she was watching sadly died in the fire. >> Capable of tremendous things; Organization working to uplift young men, curb gun violence She attempted to rescue them all, but she ended up with second-degree burns on her feet and arms. We also really want to push as far as pet safety never go back into a burning structure, Bures said. We did receive reports that the occupant had tried to go back into her house to rescue her dogs, especially in Parma right, weve got fire companies all over the city. According to PFD on Facebook, there were no smoke alarms in the home. We really think that was part of why the fire got as bad as it did as fast as it did, Bures said. With working smoke detectors people are gonna get alerted a lot sooner and theyre gonna be alert to get out of the house, gather their pets and get out. The fire department recommends having at least one smoke alarm per floor to help reduce fire injuries and severity. Your Parma Fire Department responded to a working house fire yesterday on Gerald Ave. Crews were met with heavy fire... Posted by Parma Fire Department on Monday, July 8, 2024 NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Two people with ties to the U.S. Navy are facing serious charges after a weekend shootout with police that resulted in a Norfolk officer being shot several times. Norfolk officer, suspect shot multiple times after suspect opens fire on police; 2 charged Samuel Burton, 29, is now the hospital facing a long list of charges, including attempted aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and gun charges. Navy officials confirm Burton is stationed at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (Fleet Maintenance Support) in Norfolk. He enlisted in the military in August 2013. Cassandra Smith, 23, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. Smith appeared in court Monday morning for an arraignment, in which a judge determined she will not be released or have a bond hearing given the nature of the charges. Smith is scheduled for another court appearance in September. Court documents show Smith is a disabled veteran of two years. She lived in the area with her spouse and child. She is now facing a long list of charges for her role in hurting Officers Thang and [Sean] Blackwell. Navy officials confirm Smith was previously stationed Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 2 in Norfolk until 2022. Norfolk Police Officer Sean Blackwell is recovering at home after he was shot twice in the arm and leg on Saturday. Blackwell is beloved in the Mermaid City, working as a school resource officer at several different schools. Alfreda Thomas, a Norfolk educator, shared his photo on social media after learning Blackwell was hurt. Thomas reflected on working with Blackwell at the Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority, William H. Ruffner Middle School and more recently at Booker T. Washington High School as a school resource officer. Just went into prayer because I believe in faith, Thomas said. Just the outpour for this city that we appreciate what he does. He added: I dont know if he knew it or not, but I hope he knows it now that we are giving him his flowers while he is here because some people are saying some wonderful things about this officer, some wonderful things about him. We just want him to know that we appreciate him. Pastor Joseph Casper told 10 On Your Sides Kiahnna Patterson that Blackwell is a military veteran and father of two sons. Sean was raised up in a Godly family, Casper said. He has not forgotten his roots. He has always been respectful and responsible. He came up in the ranks. He served in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan from there to Norfolk police force. Hes a good young man and Im proud that hes my nephew. Said Mary Casper: Hes always treated me with respect. He is just a lovely person. He is sweet and considerate and always willing to help whenever he can, especially around at the church. Anything he could do to help us he was there. The people at Bethel [Baptist Church] love him. The couple is turning to their faith during this time. When things happen, I go in prayer and talk to the Lord, Joseph Casper said. Just praying, hoping and trusting that things will come out well, which so far, it has. Hes doing well. Hes home. He is also praying for those charged in this case. I have prayed for the person responsible for that, Joseph Casper said. Thats the way I was raised. God has been good and has forgiven me and each of us. It is our duty and responsibility to be that same way towards anyone, regardless of what the circumstances. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has allocated 231 million yuan (about 32.39 million U.S. dollars) for the rescue and disaster relief work in nine provincial-level regions including Hunan and Anhui. The funds are from Party fees collected from CPC members and administered by the department on behalf of the CPC Central Committee. The department urged all localities to do the utmost in their rescue and disaster relief efforts and strengthen inspections of dikes to promptly identify and respond to disasters to ensure the safety of people's lives and property. The funds should be promptly allocated to the primary level to support those working on the frontline and those severely affected by the disasters, it said. Incessant heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding in various regions of China. In particular, floodwaters had caused a breach in a dike at Dongting Lake, the country's second-largest freshwater lake, in Hunan Province, which was successfully sealed on Monday. This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become. We proudly stand for families and life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process and that the states are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the states and to a vote of the people. We will oppose late term abortion while supporting mothers and policies that advance prenatal care, access to birth control, and IVF (fertility treatments). The draft of the GOPs 2024 policy platform on abortion There has been infighting among social conservatives about what exactly to say about abortion in the Republican party platform this year, the first presidential election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In 2016 and 2020, the platform called for a constitutional amendment to give fetuses legal rights and a federal ban after 20 weeks, but strategists admitted that the latter proposal was a remnant of a strategy to overturn Roe. This time around, anti-abortion activists wanted to call for a nationwide ban at 15 weeks of pregnancy or earlier. Donald Trumpconvicted felon, adjudicated sexual assailant, and current presidential front-runnerknows that abortion is an electoral liability and has been trying to get voters to believe that he opposes federal restrictions. He claims that he instead wants abortion to remain a state issue, and his team thinks that it can spin this as Trumps being some kind of moderate, despite his being responsible for the end of Roe. But the former presidents most prominent comments on this pointfirst, in a much-hyped video, then again on the debate stagehave tellingly included some variation of But you have to win elections, i.e., none of this matters if Republicans lose. Hes practically winking and nodding in hopes that voters will understand that he needs them just to put him in office, then all bets are off. As president, Trump could move to ban all or most abortions by enforcing the 19th-century Comstock Act or by directing the Food and Drug Administration to revoke approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. Or the Trump-stacked Supreme Court could establish fetal personhood. So its fitting that on Monday, the Republican National Committees platform drafting committee approved an abortion plank (on Page 15 of 16) that sounds as if its about states rights but actually leaves the door wide open for a national ban. The platform will be finalized by a full vote at the RNC next week. The platforms language embraces the idea that the 14th Amendment protects fetal personhoodan interpretation that would ban abortion nationwide. In fact, it infers that the Constitution already prohibits abortion and that such a ban would spring to life as soon as its recognized by the Supreme Court, as University of Texas law professor Liz Sepper noted on Twitter. And about that throwaway in vitro fertilization pledge: If the justices did uphold this view, it would mean the end of IVF as we know it. Prospective parents would have to retrieve a single egg at a time, fertilize it, and implant it. This platform also does nothing to rule out a national abortion ban under Comstock. Plus, it disingenuously suggests that the party supports access to birth control when GOP members of Congress have blocked such a bill twice in the past two years But because, for the first time in 40 years, the abortion platform doesnt explicitly call for a federal ban or constitutional amendment, the New York Times described it as softened, while the Washington Post deemed it scaled back. This kind of press coverage will help Trump spread the lie that he opposes federal restrictions. If people read past the headlines, however, and get to the comments from conservative advocates, theyll see that this platform is just as harsh as it has been in the past. Thats because anti-abortion hounds are plenty happy about it. While aspirational, it applies to both the states and the federal government, said Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition. The proposed ban on late-term abortion also implies federal as well as state action. Reed noted that it makes clear the unborn child has a right to life that is protected by the Constitution under the due process clause of the 14th amendment. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of political behemoth Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, also sounded pleased, saying in a statement: It is important that the G.O.P. reaffirmed its commitment to protect unborn life today through the 14th Amendment. Under this amendment, it is Congress that enacts and enforces its provisions. The Republican Party remains strongly pro-life at the national level. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, was even more clear on Twitter, saying, Support of 14th amendment protections for preborn children is an open door to passing strong pro-life federal legislation. If its enough for these people, that means the rest of us should be scared. And if their comments somehow arent enough, look to the words and actions of two people responsible for drafting the platform. Russell Vought is the RNCs platform policy director and also one of the authors of Project 2025, the conservative agenda written for Trump that calls on him to ban abortion by enforcing the Comstock Act. Vought was a senior official in the Trump administration credited with blocking federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood. Then theres deputy policy director Ed Martin, a former chair of the Missouri Republican Party, who said in April that he wants a federal abortion ban and has previously said he supports imprisoning women who get abortions. So while its true that the GOP abortion platform doesnt explicitly call for a national ban, people need to realize that it could be used to achieve that horrifying end, if you read between the linesand its simply part of a long con to get Trump elected again. How does one draw a line between Donald Trump and higher gas prices? The answer: through a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation and a former Nikki Haley donor. Donald Trumps third bid for the White House has been punctuated with a sense of desperation which never seemed to appear in his two previous runs for president. Beset by four criminal prosecutions and a number of civil trials, the former president is running for a second term under the shadow of serious legal consequences for his bid to overturn the 2020 election, his alleged hoarding of classified documents, and his hush money scheme to hide an affair with a porn star. With those various judicial proceedings comes a staggering financial cost, already surpassing $100 million. That drain on his finances which he has offset with donations to his Save America PAC is one motivating factor for pursuing the presidency. The second is the unique nature of the office, which, thanks to Justice Department guidelines on prosecuting a sitting president, would provide Trump with another layer of security as he fights off his prosecutions. Even with Joe Biden trailing in the polls and now suffering a self-dealt body blow after last Thursdays debate, Trump and his allies recognize a need to step up their fundraising game as the general election approaches. The Republican National Committee (RNC), now led by Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump, is seeking to win back the Senate while building on a tenuous lead in the House of Representatives, in addition to winning back the White House. The result of this pandering for votes and money: increasingly brazen efforts to win both big-money backers and non-Republican voters. The Independent has reported previously on how Trumps campaign has openly traded policy position stances for money, in some cases putting the former president in direct opposition to his old views. Donald Trump campaigns in Conway, South Carolina (Getty Images) Some of Trumps latest approval-seeking has gone less than well. He was nearly booed off stage at the Libertarian Partys national convention in May, despite reaching out to his audience with an olive branch: an offer to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road drug marketplace. But in one other case it seems to have netted Republicans a financial lifeline. The RNC in May received a gift of nearly a half million dollars from a perhaps unlikely source: Bryan Sheffield. An entrepreneur in the energy sector, Sheffields FEC reports indicate he donated $320,000 over the course of the 2024 primary to SFA Fund, a PAC supporting Nikki Haley. Haley, who exited the GOP primary after winning just one state after Super Tuesday, proclaimed that Trump would have to work to win back her voters before the election. Then, seemingly without any effort by Trump to do so, she announced her endorsement of the former president. Haleys endorsement occurred on May 22nd. Sheffields gift to the RNC was postmarked two days prior. But theres another reason why 46-year-old Sheffield could have a reason to back Donald Trump this year: the FTC. The Texas-based businessman is an oil man with blood in the industry dating back generations. The bulk of his self-earned wealth comes from a company he founded in 2008 called Parsley Energy, named after Sheffields grandfather (another oil man, responsible for drilling the wells his grandson would come to operate). By self-admission, Bryan Sheffield had no experience in the business, but he was still running things twelve years later, when the company was bought in 2020 by a company controlled by his father, Scott Sheffield. This circle of familial wealth has been a source of support for Republicans in Texas for years. Other recipients of the Sheffield familys political support have included local politicians Dade Phelan and George P. Bush two more Republicans, like Haley, reviled in Trumpworld making their heel-turn in favor of the RNC all the more relevant. On reports dated May 20, Bryan Sheffield donated a total of $419,600 to the RNC. It mightve been small compared to the staggering $141 million sum the party and various Trump campaign entities raised that month, but it was still an amount that made the Sheffield family one of the larger fishes in the pond. Nikki Haley endorsed Donald Trump this spring after previously saying that the ex-president would have to earn the votes of her supporters (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) And theres another reason the Sheffields had reason to warm to Trump. At a fundraiser attended by oil industry bigwigs on May 22, the same day as Haleys endorsement, Trump explicitly promised to push the FTC to fast-track merger approvals for energy companies. The Sheffields are no stranger to this issue: Scott Sheffield was denied a seat on ExxonMobils board in an FTC consent order after the agency accused him of attempt[ing] to collude with the representatives of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a major energy cartel, to keep oil and gasoline prices high. According to the agency, Scott Sheffield engaged in collusive activity that would potentially raise crude oil prices, leading American consumers and businesses to pay higher prices for gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil and jet fuel. The Independent reached out to Bryan and Scott Sheffield for comment on this reporting, including whether Trump or his team have discussed plans for the FTC with them personally. Scott, earlier this year, vigorously denied any collusion with OPEC in a statement: The FTC is wrong to imply that I ever engaged in, promoted or even suggested any form of anti-competitive behavior. [P]ublicly and unjustifiably vilifying me will have a chilling effect on the ability of business leaders in any sector of our economy to address shareholder demands and to exercise their constitutionally protected right to advocate for their industries, he added. Pioneer Natural Resources, the company for which Scott Sheffield serves as CEO and previously as chairman, also issued its own lengthy statement rebuking the FTC over its decision to deny Sheffield a board seat in the merger. Mr. Sheffield and Pioneer believe that the FTCs Complaint reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the US and global oil markets and misreads the nature and intent of Mr. Sheffields actions, said the company. During Mr. Sheffields career, it was neither the intent nor an effect of Mr. Sheffields communications to circumvent the laws and principles protecting market competition. Trumps campaign has made a significant amount of outreach to fossil fuel industry leaders, a sign that has alarmed environmentalists. At a separate meeting with oil CEOs in April, this time at Mar-a-Lago, Trump offered a challenge: Raise $1 billion for his re-election campaign, and he will reverse dozens of Bidens environmental directives on day one of his presidency. Ethics experts told The Independent that the request was indicative of how big money interests like the fossil fuel lobby have little fear of pushback from federal election law or its enforcers. It is deeply concerning and problematic to see a presidential candidate solicit millions of dollars from wealthy donors in exchange for promised policies or actions that cater to the donors wishes, said Saurav Ghosh of the non-partisan Campaign Legal Center. Environmental groups, meanwhile, see a potential second Trump term as an accelerated version of his first a no-holds-barred scramble in favor of fossil fuels with an administration ready to quickly walk back any progress made to halt climate change under Joe Bidens presidency. Donald Trump wants to be a dictator on day one so that he can shield his Big Oil donors from a range of consequences. Right now, there are allegations that they intentionally inflated gas prices for American consumers by colluding with OPECand open investigations into those charges, said Alex Glass, a spokesman for Climate Power. Trump isnt just pledging to let an ultra-wealthy oil donor escape scrutiny for allegedly profiting at the expense of Americans by working with a Saudi-led cartel; hes willing to let OPEC and the Saudis profit from the pain of Americans while he asks for $1 billion in campaign donations from fossil fuels. Thats just part of what makes him so dangerous. 'We don't need another': Fourth Wawa proposed in Fairfield, sparking anger from some FAIRFIELD Every seat was filled at Fairfield's city council meeting Monday and most people were there to talk about one thing: Wawa. Cincinnati-based STNL Development and Wawa asked the city council Monday to rezone the 4.6-acre corner portion of a roughly 24-acre wooded area near the intersection of Pleasant Avenue and John Gray Road to allow for a gas station. If council votes to rezone the site, STNL plans to purchase and develop the 4.6-acre corner into a 6,300-square-foot Wawa, which would mark the chain's fourth location in the city. Wawa, a Pennsylvania-based gas station and convenience store chain known for its made-to-order eats, announced an expansion in Ohio last year, which included over a dozen stores in Hamilton and neighboring counties. Five of those Wawa stores are planned for Butler County, and three of them will be in Fairfield. The full 24.1-acre property is owned by John and Paul McGilliard. If rezoned, STNL said they would donate the rest of the land not used for the Wawa 19.5 acres to the city. The proposed Wawa would be open 24 hours and have eight double-sided fueling stations, with plans for electric vehicle charging stations. The store would also have a pick-up window for customers to pick up online orders. Across from the property on John Gray Road is a Walgreens. Office space and some other businesses, such as a convenience store and Marco's Pizza, sit across the area on Pleasant Avenue. Single-family homes and condos surround the rest of the property. Several residents spoke out against the Wawa on Monday and said they were concerned about traffic, constant outdoor lights, flooding and possible impacts on crime and property values. "I am shocked at what Wawa is trying to do and take over our city," Bill Roth, a Fairfield resident of 50 years, said. "We don't need another gas station in this city." The developer's plan for the space includes a 116-foot buffer space between homes and the Wawa property line that will be filled with trees. Patrick Warnement, a Wawa real estate project engineer, said he'd also be open to installing a decorative fence between homes and the gas station. Traffic in the corridor, which serves as a southern gateway to the city, would increase during the morning rush-hour if a Wawa is built, a study completed by TEC Engineering Inc. and presented at Monday's meeting showed. The study also said road congestion is expected to worsen in that area in the next 20 years with or without the gas station. The area has been up for sale for a long time, Mayor Mitch Rhodus said during the meeting. Under the current zoning, the property could be developed into a number of businesses, such as a salon, gym or retail, but uneven ground, streams and other factors have made it difficult to develop. The Planning Commission will discuss STNL's zoning request during their regular meeting Wednesday. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fourth Wawa proposed in Fairfield Michael Cohen is a man on a mission. Donald Trumps former fixer and longtime lawyer was unceremoniously expelled from the ex-presidents inner circle, prosecuted by Trumps Department of Justice and sent to federal prison for his involvement in a hush-money case that recently led to 34 felony convictions for Trump. Cohens mission now is to make sure Trump experiences the criminal justice system as intimately as he once did. And in an exclusive interview with Salon, Cohen reveals that he intends to ask the Supreme Court to help him do just that. Cohen is unquestionably dedicated to making the world recognize that Donald Trump is a grifter unparalleled on the U.S. political stage. His latest book, Revenge, explains in great detail how Trump weaponized the Department of Justice during his first administration and used that weapon to put Cohen in prison. If he can do this to me, he can do it to anyone. And that should be of concern for everyone. Its Cohens mission that leads him to view the recent debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump and the resulting movement to dump Biden from the ticket as evidence we're living in an upside down, backward world. See, Joe Biden was concentrating on facts, on legitimacy. Right?" Cohen noted to me. "Donald had no interest in facts. He only cared about standing up there, looking healthy, looking alert. And even though he was alert about the lies, he was still alert. And for whatever the reason is, that is acceptable to the American people. Watch my Salon Talks with Cohen here on YouTube. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity: Michael Cohen: Here's breaking news for you only Brian, and your listeners. Brian Karem: God bless you, sir. Michael Cohen: On Wednesday, July 10 were taking our case to the Supreme Court of the United States. And its called a writ of certiorari. *** If you saw that first debate, as I did, everyone's saying that the president had a bad night. But Donald Trump did, too ... How dangerous is this in your eyes? Oh, dangerous isn't even the word for it. I'm trying to speak to the folks over in the White House to explain to them that the entire topic of the unconstitutional remand of me needs to be put front and center. Because when Donald Trump turns around and says that he's going to use SEAL Team Six as his own private force to incarcerate( to jail) his political opponents, and the comment that people make is, "You know Donald, he just talks stupid shit. He's not going to do anything," the point of the unconstitutional remand of me is don't discount what he's telling you. He's already foreshadowing what he intends to do. And when you say That's not possible. He won't do it. He can't do it. He's already done it to me. It was a practice run. He now knows, Brian, how to do it to you, how to do it ... To anyone. ... Liz Cheney. How to go after the president of MSNBC. How to go after his former vice president. Why people want to ignore, when the guy is telling you himself what he wants to do, I do not understand. It makes no sense. And this is what the White House needs to put forth to the American people: You cannot sit back and do nothing. And personally, I don't care about Biden's poor performance. It was a terrible performance. Anybody that wants to tell you it wasn't a bad performance, it wasn't as bad as Democrats and others are making it out to be, they need to go back and watch it again if you want to waste 90 more minutes. But you are not right and you are not wrong when it comes to Donald. I don't think it is as simple as you are making it out to be. Did Donald have a bad performance? No, he did not. Trump stood up there, indignant of anything that Biden said, completely disassociated to the question, completely disassociated to reality of the answer. Provided no fact, and in essence lied. And I say that with a capital L-I-E-D, lied about every single thing that came out of his mouth except his name. Now, why do I say that you're right and you're wrong? You're right that we should be circling the wagon and saying, "How do you have somebody running for one of the main seats in our two-party political system, as the head of the Republican Party, hoping to become again President of the United States, who has a fundamental problem with truth?" That should scare the living piss out of everybody. He had no intent, no intent on telling the truth. Which was why there was zero debate prep. As he told his people,I don't need it. I know what I need to say, I know what I'm going to say. I know the answers to everything. The answers don't have to be right. See, Joe Biden was concentrating on facts, on legitimacy. Right? Donald had no interest in facts. He only cared about standing up there, looking healthy, looking alert. And even though he was alert about the lies, he was still alert. And for whatever the reason is, that is acceptable to the American people. But somebody that looked tired, that was definitely off his game, but somehow was on his game enough to be factually accurate on nine out of 10 things that came out of his mouth, that's not okay. We're living in an upside down, backwards world. I don't disagree with you there. I'll say you're right. And you might be right. It was a performance, and Donald knew it was a performance ... Now, the Democrats with going through this, tearing themselves apart, don't they risk losing this presidency to the very man who would destroy the democracy? As 10-year-old kids would say, duh. I mean, it's why I attacked this morning, Jerry Nadler, who I call the Wadler. I mean, this as***le, literally, and I say, this as***le turns around, and is attacking Joe Biden, one: based on his age. Jerry's 78, he's only two years younger. Alright? On top of that, he's calling for Biden to step down. This is the guy who hasn't made a single comment regarding Israel. A guy who wanted to defund the police. A guy who turned around and helped to push the proposal for congestion pricing, which has now been put on hold by [New York] Governor [Kathy] Hochul, and on and on and on. A guy who doesn't even have an office in New York, in his own district. He doesn't even have one in his own district. I mean, I reached out to him 25 times regarding the FOIA documents that you and I have been working on now for four years. Not a return phone call. In four years, four years! But I do want to bring something up also. Because during the insanely great investigatory work that you did for me so I could write Revenge, you actually spoke and it's a big part of the book, it got a lot of play on Twitter you spoke to an FBI agent who made a comment about what was going to happen to me, a week in advance. Why don't you tell your own listeners what you ended up uncovering? Because it was spectacular. And again, the fact that the Biden administration is not jumping on this golden ticket, doesn't make sense to me. [...] And to your point, that's what Biden was saying when he sat down with George Stephanopoulos, the immunity ruling going forward means that the President of the United States has to exercise great deal of character over what they do until that can be overturned. Because in essence, if Donald Trump comes back in office, they've given him the gun to put to the head of democracy, to pull the trigger. You're not going to get a debate on that one. It is the worst decision that could possibly ever have come out at this time in history. Maybe somewhere down the road, that decision wouldn't have been as devastating as it is. But when you take a horrible, crappy decision, like a president has absolute immunity so long that there is a presidential act behind it there is no definition for a presidential act, it's an open ad hoc basis and you have someone like Donald Trump, who has this autocratic belief and an autocratic belief in himself, you couple those two together, right, this is a real problem. Yeah. Well, you were talking about not telling one single truth when he was up on stage. I mean, he's out today already with emails this morning saying the crooked Biden, nobody's more crooked than Joe Biden. Look, you worked with Donald Trump for years. You know what it's about. What do you think the average person is missing about the danger of Donald Trump? So the average person is not missing anything. Right now you have a pretty significant portion of this country that just doesn't trust Donald Trump. And that's the entire Democratic Party, the entire DNC. There are no Democrats that are walking away from this Biden administration in order to vote for Donald Trump. Alright? That's a fact. The question becomes, what happens between Republicans and independents? That's going to be, of course, the deciding factor. Now, we already have statistics on the Republican Party. There's approximately 30% of the GOP have said that they will not vote for Donald Trump under any circumstance. One, if he becomes convicted of his felonies, which he was 34 times, and two, as a result of E. Jean Carroll, and three, based upon the absurd things that come out of his mouth. So let's even say that that number is not 30%. Let's say it's 20%, okay? The question becomes, can Donald capture enough of the independent voters to offset that 20% loss and to defeat Biden? This is where we have, for example, Gen Z. You also have a significant number of women, Black women, Black men, and Hispanics. Now, I can't understand again why any woman would vote for Donald Trump, based upon the overturning of Roe. I can't understand why anyone would vote for Donald Trump. Well, true. But the fact that it's okay. You can't regulate bump stocks. You can't regulate AR-15s and AK-47s, and fully automatic machine guns. But you can regulate a woman's uterus. And the fact that there are any women out there who are willing to vote for a man who doesn't believe that you have enough in you to make your own reproductive decisions, that should be a problem. But not just to the women. It should also be to the men, or their spouses, or their partners, that have faith in their woman. I mean, I don't understand. [...] I could not in good conscience vote for somebody who thinks so little of my spouse. It just doesn't make sense to me. Then you have somebody who is not just inherently, but he's overtly racist. He's overtly racist in the things that he says, including, and it got lost for whatever reason, where he turns around and he says that he could have resolved the Civil War in 24 hours. There's not enough that was made out of that blatantly racist statement. The only way that you do that, is you let the North remain slave free, and the South can have slavery. And here's the dividing line. All blacks above that line are free, all blacks below remain chattel. This is what he's trying to say. It's because he doesn't care when he starts talking about how "woke" it is to remove the name of Robert. E. Lee from junior high, elementary and high schools. He's a traitor. Right. It's no different than as the son of a Holocaust survivor. I would not attend elementary, junior high, high school, the Adolf Hitler Elementary School. I just wouldn't do it. Or if I was going to medical school, I wouldn't go to the Himmler Medical School. I mean, I just wouldn't do it under any circumstance. So I understand the pain that that name invokes to the black community. And the fact that Trump can't see it, the fact that he makes fun of it, the fact that he does the things that he does, how could anybody of color vote for this man? [...] I want to ask you, Michael, we heard for, what, the last two or three years, that the weakest case against Donald Trump was the Manhattan case that you were a part of. And yet it's the only one that's gone to trial and convicted him 34 times. 34 felony counts, he's guilty of. You were a big part of that. What do you tell people who sit there and go, Hey, look, you may say it's a weak case, but we got him. If this is the weakest, what are the others going to do if they ever let them go to trial? That's another thing that's not discussed enough. First and foremost, I always had an issue and I talked to you about it. We used to laugh about it privately when I said, we treat sometimes Donald's four indictments like it's the Kentucky Derby. We're handicapping, win, place, show, and fourth place. Alright? Why? They are all criminal acts that carry with it a prison sentence. Now, I will acknowledge that campaign finance mixed in with bank fraud or business record fraud, is certainly less ugly of a crime than the theft of top secret nuclear documents, and showing it or selling it to our adversaries, or attempting to overturn a free and fair election or an attack upon our Capitol. I acknowledge that it is not as grotesque. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Nevertheless, I went to prison for it. It is a crime that is regularly brought by the Manhattan district attorney who brought it again and was successful. Nine hour deliberation. It's something also, again, there's so much info that's out there that just doesn't get the attention because Captain Chaos throws so much sh*t against the wall every day. Just imagine what the other cases will ultimately hold. But nine hours of deliberation when you had 22 witnesses, 20 for the prosecution, two for defense, alright? 22 witnesses, thousands of documents in evidence. That's a case that should have been deliberated for at least five days. Yeah. Four days. Nine hours in total, 34 convictions. So look, last question for you today. We've kind of danced around the head of the pin here, but what is the press doing wrong about covering all of this? What do we need to do better? What are we screwing up on? You have a better idea than most because you've been at the central part of a lot of this. So the press has just I don't even know what the right way to describe it they've just messed up on so many different aspects of this campaign. From Trump now all the way to Biden to witnesses like myself included. You listen to folks like Elie Honig, you listen to... They would bring on Bill Barr, they brought on Ty Cobb, they bring on a whole bunch of Trump-supporting sycophant idiots who sit there, Oh, Michael Cohen's going to be a horrible witness. He's going to be bombastic, he's going to be abusive. He's going to be X, Y, and Z. He can't be trusted. He lied. Here's the funny thing. They went with this as a mantra, and they all got it wrong, and they don't apologize, they don't correct the record. They just move on and they hope that you, the audience, forget what was said. They basically think that all Americans are stupid. That's a Donald ideology, that they have a 48-hour memory for anything. And what happens is they flood the news with so much nonsense, so much innuendo, so many lies, so many bombastic things, that you do ultimately forget. Unless somebody like myself and Brian start to reiterate it again and again and again. Because these are important topics that you cannot afford to forget. And if you do forget it and nobody brings it back to the forefront, the election is not going to go the way that America's future needs it to go. If the question is, do you vote for somebody who looks old, who looks tired, but is doing great things for the country, cares about the country, is completely empathetic, has love for this country, is not running to be President of the United States to save himself, whereas the other one is running solely to stay out of jail and to increase his personal wealth, how is this even a dog fight right now? And that's the whole problem. I mean, this is the problem that we're having. The media does this. The same with the bullshit polls that you've heard me say again and again and again, and I've been right about it, like with CNN, when I said, Says who? I was right about it. I understand the polls and how they work. All of this stuff is designed to keep you the listener, you the watcher, you the reader, connected to their website, to their television station. So that you are glued to your favorite, whether it's Fox, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC or CBS. Doesn't make a difference. Wherever you get your news from, the goal of media right now is not to tell the truth, it is not to be accurate. It is to keep you glued to their station, their paper, so that they could continue to sell advertising, and to keep the revenue flowing as much as possible, so that they can give dividend shares to their shareholders. That's all that this is about. They are complicit in this bul***it for their own self-aggrandizement and for their own financial benefit. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Downtown Chambersburg took home gold at the annual Townie Awards gala presented by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Downtown Chambersburg was awarded the Physical Improvements & Design and the Promotions & Marketing awards. The Townie Awards is a festive tradition that recognizes the Commonwealths core communities and individuals for creating and implementing projects, programs, and events that revitalize Pennsylvania communities. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The Townies are an opportunity for us to showcase our member communities and celebrate their incredible work in our commonwealths business districts and neighborhoods, said Pennsylvania Downtown Centers executive director Julie Fitzpatrick. Our Main Street and Elm Street community leaders work tirelessly to make our Pennsylvania communities places where we are proud to call home, start a business, build a family, or retire. Were thrilled to honor 20 incredible award winners. Three hundred individuals, including borough and municipal officials and community experts, attended this years conference in Downtown York. But few organizations brought home awards. Downtown Chambersburg is honored to receive two Townie awards at this years event! said Sam Thrush, the President of Downtown Chambersburg, Inc. These awards highlight the hard work by many at IceFest PA, an effort to highlight art, shake off the winter blues, and drive dollars to our downtown during the winter season and our Facade Grant Program. Our success being noted at the state level is a great accomplishment. IceFest PA is an annual event in Chambersburg in which three organizations join to host, organize, and create the largest multi-day ice festival in 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 ABC27. Dr. Ben Brown pleads not guilty to charge of negligent manslaughter in death of his wife The Gulf Breeze plastic surgeon charged with negligent manslaughter in the death of his wife has waived arraignment. Dr. Ben Brown of Restore Plastic Surgery in the Tiger Point area was scheduled to be arraigned in Santa Rosa County on Thursday. According to court records, Brown waived arraignment and entered a written plea of not guilty to a second-degree felony charge of negligent manslaughter. He is also demanding a jury trial. Santa Rosa Sheriffs investigators with the departments Major Crimes unit arrested the 41-year-old plastic surgeon on June 17, nearly seven months after the death of his 33-year-old wife, Hillary Brown. Hillary died last November after her husband performed several surgeries on her in his Gulf Breeze office. The Santa Rosa Clerk's Office also issued Brown a Notice to Appear for his next court date, on Sept. 3. If he doesn't appear the clerk said Brown would be arrested and his bond forfeited. Dr. Ben Brown appears before Santa Rosa County Judge Robert Hilliard via video on Monday, June 17, 2024, on charges stemming from the death of his wife. Brown was released on $50,000 bond after he was arrested. In May, the Florida Department of Health issued an emergency order restricting Brown's ability to practice medicine except in a state licensed facility and under the supervision of a state licensed doctor. The order came after a state investigation into Brown following the death of his wife. FDOH said patients told them that Brown performed unauthorized procedures on them like Brazilian Butt Lifts, as well as left them with permanent injuries and failed to maintain accurate medical records. The state said he also failed to follow basic standards of medical care for failing to immediately call 9-1-1 after his wife went into cardiac arrest, among other complaints. Brown has denied allegations of wrongdoing and has retained counsel to defend him from both the criminal charge and the health department's request to the Florida Board of Medicine that the doctor be penalized for his conduct with his wife and patients. Brown has so far declined to comment on the charges, but has instead had his crisis management/public relations firm Red Banyan submit written statements. Their latest said, "Ben continues to mourn the death of his loving wife Hillary, and this arrest, which is completely without merit, only deepens his pain and grief. All safety and medical protocols were strictly followed on the day of Hillarys passing. Ben is a conscientious, dedicated, and incredibly talented surgeon, and he is looking forward to presenting the actual facts in a court of law and clearing his name of this horrible accusation. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Plastic surgeon Ben Brown pleads not guilty to manslaughter The driest desert on the planet is in bloom The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the driest places on Earth, but swaths of its usually barren sand are currently carpeted with a colorful bloom of white and purple flowers. The Atacama Desert is known as the Disierto Florida (the flowering desert) because every few years its blanketed with flowers, when the right levels of rainfall and temperature coincide to awaken dormant desert seeds. This usually happens in the spring. But the current bloom is unusually early in the middle of the Southern Hemispheres winter thanks to rainfall fueled by El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon that influences global weather. The bloom usually coincides with El Nino, during which temperatures are warmer in the region, leading to more evaporation and, in turn, more rainfall. Over the past 40 years, around 15 blooming events have happened, according to a 2022 analysis from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. The desert blooms every couple of years when rainfall and temperatures are the right levels to awaken the dormant seeds. - Rodrigo Gutierrez/Reuters The desert blooms usually happen in the spring, but this year's heavier-than-usual rainfall has brought flowers out early. - Rodrigo Gutierrez/Reuters The blooms are not yet extensive enough to officially be considered part of the flowering desert, Cesar Pizarro, who heads biodiversity conservation for the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), an organization run by the Chilean government, told Reuters. But more rain is expected, meaning the flowers could spread over a larger area, he added. In 2022, the Chilean government announced the creation of a new national park in the Atacama desert, in an effort to protect these rare blooms along with the wildlife including insects, reptiles and birds they help support. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Driver Following 'Shortcut' Recommended by Google Ends Up Stranded on Mountain for 3 Hours A 23-year-old man got stranded on Strawberry Peak in Utah and claimed Google was to blame Wasatch County Search & Rescue/Facebook Driver stranded in Utah A driver got stranded on a Utah mountain late at night after a supposed "shortcut" ended up being anything but that. On Thursday, July 4, a 23-year-old man found himself stuck on Strawberry Peak in Wasatch County, Utah and it took several hours for him to get rescued, according to a Facebook post by Wasatch County Search and Rescue. After receiving a 911 call from the stranded motorist stuck in his Toyota Turcell, the man claimed his route was the shortcut that Google recommended, according to the post. It took the Wasatch County Search and Rescue team three hours to safely assist getting the driver back down the mountain, authorities said. Wasatch County Search & Rescue/Facebook Driver stranded in Utah The driver did not sustain any injuries during the ordeal. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A Google spokesperson tells PEOPLE in a statement that "safety is a top priority, and whenever possible we aim to route drivers on paved roads." "While our investigation has not yet identified roads in Maps that lead to this location, we'll make any necessary updates to accurately route local drivers," the spokesperson adds. Related: 6 Hikers Stranded on Mount Baldy Airlifted to Safety Watch As Theyre Rescued This isnt the first time a navigation tool has been blamed for a trip that didnt end with the driver reaching their intended destination. Last year, there were two separate instances where tourists drove their car into a Hawaii harbor just weeks apart. In both instances, the drivers drove down a boat ramp at Honokohau Harbor, later telling cops they were just taking the route GPS suggested. Related: Hawaii Tourists Following GPS Directions Rescued After Driving Car 'Straight into the Harbor' One driver reportedly thought the water was a puddle, Hawaii News Now reported at the time. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Driver at large after stolen car crashes into 3 vehicles, including Pittsburgh EMS truck, police say A woman is in custody after a stolen car crashed into three other vehicles, including an EMS unit, in Beltzhoover on Monday evening, Pittsburgh police say. Police tried pulling over a stolen white SUV near the intersection of West Warrington Avenue and Saw Mill Run Boulevard at 5:30 p.m. When officers turned on their lights, the man driving tried to leave and crashed into a white sedan, a black SUV and Pittsburgh EMS Medic No. 2. The driver and a woman passenger ran away. Officers were able to arrest the woman, but the driver remains at large. No one was hurt. Police said charges are pending against the woman. They have not identified the driver. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Target to stop taking personal checks Man dies after being shot by woman while trying to enter house in Carrick Saving money while electric bill rates reach 10-year high VIDEO: Residents concerned after they say they found dead dogs left in garbage in Allegheny County DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts An Amazon Web Services data center under construction in Stone Ridge, Virginia, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Amazon.com Inc. plans to spend almost $150 billion in the coming 15 years on data centers, giving the cloud-computing giant the firepower to handle an expected explosion in demand for artificial intelligence applications and other digital services. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images) An Amazon Web Services data center under construction in Stone Ridge, Virginia, on March 27, 2024. Amazon plans to spend almost $150 billion in the coming 15 years on data centers, giving the cloud-computing giant the capacity to handle an expected explosion in demand for artificial intelligence applications and other digital services. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images) LOUISVILLE The boom in artificial intelligence is fueling a proliferation of new data centers the computer clusters that power the internet in places that maybe we hadnt thought of before, an industry spokesman told utility regulators gathered in Louisville last month. Kentucky could be one of those places in the not-so-distant future. The states largest utility and the legislature have taken steps to attract the investments potentially billions of dollars that come when companies such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon develop data centers. The data center boom is also fueling surging demand for power at a time when climate change has upped the pressure to reduce heat-trapping emissions from burning fossil fuels. In an earnings call in May, the CEO of the parent company of Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities said it is actively working with several large data centers in Kentucky. PPL Corp. CEO Vince Sorgi said the prospective centers would each need 300 megawatts to 500 megawatts of electricity. For comparison, one prospective data center could consume the entire power generation of one of LG&E and KUs coal-fired units. E.W. Brown Generating Station, the utilitys coal-fired power plant in Mercer County, has a net power capacity of 457 megawatts. Kentucky lawmakers are among those who see economic potential in these large-scale computer hubs. The GOP-dominated state legislature earlier this year sweetened the enticements for data centers to locate specifically in Jefferson County through House Bill 8, a broad tax policy law passed over the veto of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. HB 8 gives sales tax breaks on data center equipment if a data center owner or operator makes a capital investment of at least $450 million or a project organizer invests at least $150 million. Those tax breaks would need approval from the states incentives board, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. The Kentucky Lantern requested an interview with Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, the chair of the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee and the leading sponsor of HB 8. In response, Petrie in a statement said the incentives in HB 8 were consistent with our ongoing efforts to make sure Kentucky remains competitive as we continue to explore potential economic investments. WDRB reported in April that Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he was excited about a transformative economic development project involving a data center that could locate in the southwestern part of the city but declined to discuss additional details about the project. The prospect of attracting data centers to Kentucky, however, also raises concerns among advocates for the environment who follow utility policy: Would Kentucky consumers be forced to shoulder the financial burden of building new transmission lines and power plants to supply data centers with power? Does the state have enough clean energy to attract data center companies that want access to it? Randy Strobo, a Louisville attorney focusing on environmental issues and litigation, said state and federal governments ultimately have the responsibility to analyze how new data centers would impact Kentuckys regional electric grid and local communities from all different perspectives. Theres going to be other impacts other than just energy, Strobo said, mentioning how some data centers use large amounts of water to cool computers. They really need to weigh all the different costs and benefits and try to balance it out in a way that helps more people than hurts them. What are data centers and what can they bring? In addition to the highly publicized boom in AI services, other factors are also driving the surge in new computer hubs, including the demand for cloud storage space and computation power along with a slew of data-driven enterprises across the globe. Josh Levi, the industry spokesperson and president of the Data Center Coalition who addressed the Louisville conference, put growing data usage in simpler terms: Sending emails. Using search engines. Streaming video. Credit card transactions. Sending high-definition medical records to help make diagnoses in health care. Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition, speaks at a conference in Louisville. Were doing it in more places: our home, our office, our home office, the plane, the train. Were doing it all hours in a day, Levi told the Louisville audience. It seems like were fairly ubiquitous in our command to generate data, and our companies are very much responding to that. The payoff, at least in terms of capital investment and potential tax revenue, can be significant for communities and states that have the power, internet connection and workforce. Communities in Northern Virginia a nucleus of data center development could reap tens of millions of dollars from local taxes on the operations. Critics, however, say that Virginias state tax breaks for data centers generally cancel out any new revenue brought in by local governments. States outside the data center hubs of Virginia and Atlanta have already benefited from the boom. In Mississippi, Amazon is spending about $10 billion to build two data center campuses. In Southern Indiana across the Ohio River from Louisville, Facebooks parent company Meta is investing $800 million in a data center. Levi in a statement to the Lantern also asserted data centers have a job multiplier effect beyond their direct employment, pointing to a Data Center Coalition-commissioned report by consulting group PricewaterhouseCoopers that found that nationally each data center job supports six jobs elsewhere in the broader economy. By prioritizing investments in local communities, data centers also boost supply chain and service ecosystems, creating jobs for thousands of construction professionals during the building phase and providing quality, high-wage jobs for ongoing operations, Levi said in his statement. Further, every data center comes with years of reliable support for local economies by promoting job creation at restaurants, hotels, rental car agencies, fiber and HVAC installers, steel fabricators, and many other businesses. What do data centers need and at what cost? Levi said data center developers are looking for fiber internet connections, a workforce to build and run the centers and places less at risk for natural disasters. They also need power, and lots of it. According to a January 2024 report from consulting firm McKinsey and Co., electricity demand by data centers in the United States is expected to go from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to 35 gigawatts in 2030. For comparison, Kentuckys net summer capacity the maximum amount of electricity produced in the state during peak summer electricity demand in 2022 was 17.6 gigawatts, according to federal data. Reliable power is incredibly important to the data center industry, Levi said at the conference. This is an industry who is relied upon to provide non-stop access to the data. But in weighing potential investments and jobs, some environmental advocates in Kentucky worry about who would pay for new transmission lines and power plants if theyre needed to run data centers. As these new data centers are coming online, how are we going to pay for them? said Strobo, the environmental attorney. He questions whether states should offer huge incentives to data centers given the possibility that the costs to accommodate them could fall on electricity ratepayers. Two utilities, including American Electric Power, the parent company of Kentucky Power, are protesting before a federal regulator an agreement between Amazon and an independent power producer to use electricity from a Pennsylvania nuclear plant because of concerns that up to $140 million in electricity transmission costs for the agreement could be shifted onto ratepayers. Talen Energy, the independent power producer, is pushing back against AEPs protest. Some environmental advocates also worry about heat-trapping carbon emissions connected to new data centers, particularly that demand from new data centers could be keeping older coal-fired power plants online when they could be retired. In Georgia, the states largest utility is building new natural gas-fired or oil-fired generators along with some solar battery facilities in part to meet the future power demands of data centers. Levi told the Lantern that access to clean energy is a consideration for where data centers locate. For example, Amazon is helping pay a local utility in Mississippi to build solar farms to pair with its new data center campuses but will also power the data centers with a new natural gas-fired turbine. Kentucky currently has very little in the way of renewable energy, notwithstanding hydroelectric power, with about 70% of electricity generated in the state coming from burning coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel in terms of heat-trapping carbon emissions, as of February 2024 according to federal data. Lane Boldman, the executive director for the environmental advocacy group Kentucky Conservation Committee, says Kentucky must build more renewable energy to compete for new industries, including data centers and an aluminum smelter, which prioritize climate-friendly technology. We just havent taken the time to build out the power. But we have the potential to build up the power. We certainly have the right mix of ingredients to do that. I mean, thats just simply a political problem to work through, Boldman said. The unique circumstances of data centers John Bevington, senior director of business and development at LG&E and KU, says manufacturing companies looking to locate in Kentucky usually ask about the availability of land and nearby railroads or highways. Not so with data centers. Theyre so energy intensive, they tend to start asking questions of utilities first, Bevington told the Lantern. They really need proximity to power lines and power lines that have capacity. Its unclear at this point whether LG&E and KU would seek to build more power generation, fossil fuel-fired or renewables, to meet the demands of prospective data centers coming into the state. Chris Whelan, a spokesperson for LG&E and KU, told the Lantern that the potential power demands of data centers will be analyzed in the utilitys future energy planning documents to be filed later this year with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the states utility regulator. Bevington with LG&E and KU said the higher energy demands of prospective data centers coincide with the overall higher energy demands of new economic development projects in Kentucky, including battery plants being built by Ford. For the time being, Bevington said, the number of existing data centers in LG&E and KUs territory is pretty minimal. Strobo, the environmental lawyer, says tech companies like Google appear to be a safer economic development bet than cryptocurrency mining operations that are similarly energy-intensive. The PSC last year in multiple cases denied or approved electricity cost discounts sought by utilities to serve Bitcoin mining operations across Kentucky. It seems like Google and Microsoft and all of them are being intentional about trying to do it in a way that tries to minimize impacts, although, of course, theres still going to be some pretty major ones from all of it, Strobo said. We all know theyre coming. Everybody wants them to come for the most part. Bloomberg News recently reported the parent company of Google, which has seen its heat-trapping carbon emissions rise due to its investment in AI, is no longer claiming its operations are carbon neutral, and the company plans to be carbon neutral by 2030. Google also recently announced an investment into solar power in Taiwan among other renewable energy endeavors. While data centers may not create a large number of jobs, Bevington of LG&E and KU said, the tax revenue brought in could be a boost to communities. Whether thats a data center or a new automotive supplier or an electric vehicle battery manufacturer or a new bourbon distillery, I think we really tend to look at all of it as, What can we do to enable growth in our communities? Bevington said. We sort of look at data centers as, you know, another very competitive project. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Driving surge in demand for power, data centers eye Kentucky appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. NIAMEY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of National Defense of Niger and the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Monday the end of the first phase of the withdrawal of U.S. forces and equipment from Nigerien territory. The announcement was made at the signing ceremony of documents transferring American rights to the Nigerien army at Air Base 101 in Niger's capital of Niamey in the presence of American ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon as well as other civil and military personalities of the two countries. According to Colonel Mamane Sani Kiaou, the chief of staff of the Niger Army, the agreement calls for the removal of all American military assets in Niger "including those in Niamey, Agadez, Ouallam and Diffa by Sept. 15." After removing forces and equipment from Air Base 101, the United States will focus on withdrawing from Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez. "Nigerien and U.S. officials will work to ensure a safe, orderly and responsible withdrawal," he added. American troops had announced their official departure from the African nation by Sept. 15. Drones attacked an energy substation in Russia's Rostov Oblast, as well as a substation and oil depot in Volgograd Oblast overnight on July 9, Russian authorities claimed. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense shot down three drones over Belgorod Oblast, two over Voronezh Oblast, five over Astrakhan Oblast, seven over Kursk Oblast, and 21 over Rostov Oblast. Restrictions have been imposed on the departure and arrival of planes at the Volgograd and Astrakhan airports following the attacks, the state-owned news agency TASS wrote. Vasiliy Golubev, the Rostov Oblast governor, claimed that two transformers at the substation in the southwest of the region caught fire and were extinguished in the morning. Debris also "fell" in Rostov-on-Don, he added. Drone wreckage caused fire at an oil depot in the town of Kalach-na-Donu and at a substation in the town of Frolovo in Volgograd Oblast, according to Governor Andrey Bocharov. The fire at the latter site has been put out, he claimed. 0:00 / 1 The scale of the damage and casualties has not been reported in either region. The Ukrainian military has not commented on the attacks. The Kyiv Independent could verify the claims. Ukrainian forces regularly conduct drone strikes and sabotage acts on Russian territory, targeting military assets, oil refineries, and industrial facilities. A law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) were behind the attack on Russian "Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt" in Krasnodar Krai on July 7. Read also: Ukrainian drones attack large ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast, source says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch Of the top three presidential contenders, the most mentally stable option is a guy whos spent years discouraging vaccination, who refuses to take sides on 9/11, and who says he was once diagnosed with a worm in his brain. Hes running a distant third. As others have noted, the point of political parties ostensibly is to elevate competent candidates who can win elections and then implement an ideological agenda. What our two major parties have given us instead this year is a choice between mental defectives. And remarkably, the establishment of each one seems okay with it. The institutional GOP has spent nine years being assimilated into Donald Trumps cult of personality, so its enthusiasm for him at this point might be genuine. But it wasnt that way in 2016. Voters spent that summer and fall watching one Washington Republican after another make the case for Trump through visibly gritted teeth. The leaders of a major political party undertook to elect a candidate whom they plainly believed was unfit for office. Never before in my lifetime had that happened in American politics. Now, in 2024, its happening again. Democrats in the House and Senate met today to discuss what to do about Joe Biden, but the plan was already clear beforehand: nothing. Notable figures inside and outside Congress have already begun to retreat from their demands that the president withdraw from the race. He wont do so and he cant be pushed out, so theres nothing to be gained by trying except to divide the left with Election Day bearing down. The Democratic hostage crisis will end the same way the Republican version didwith the total capitulation of tribal partisans. Institutionally, the Democratic Party plainly believes Biden is no longer fit for office. But rather than tell the truth, in the interest of victory Democrats are going to lie to voters faces about it like their Republican counterparts did eight years ago. Authoritarianism and Donald Trump arent the only threats our democracy faces, Jon Stewart warned his audience on Monday night. An arthritic status quo unable or unwilling to respond in any way to the concerns of voters who just received new and urgent information about their candidate also erodes confidence and faith in the system of government. A system that dispenses with any pretense of caring about whether its leaders are fit for office is a system that wont endure. It will drown in cynicism. In fact, a case can be made that the Democratic establishment is behaving more cynically today than Republicans did in 2016. Like the Republicans before them, Democrats have two momentous political problems. And like the Republicans before them, the essence of their cynicism is that theyve chosen to focus entirely on one to the exclusion of the other. Problem one: Can our candidate win this election? Problem two: Should our candidate win this election if we doubt his ability to govern responsibly? One problem is electoral, the other is ethical. If you care immensely about the first and not at all about the second, youre an accomplice to the sort of disaffection Stewart described. Which is ironic, because widespread disaffection about democratic outcomes is very helpful long-term to the forces arrayed against Democrats on the other side of the ballot this year. In 2016, establishment Republicans had a compelling excuse for rallying behind Trump. Their voters had chosen him in a primary, freely and fairly. For GOP leaders, that was enough. You can hate the primary system (and should!), but if a party resolves to outsource its nominating process to its members then its institutionally bound to support whom they choose. The most one can say to delegitimize Trumps primary victory in 2016 is that it came before the Access Hollywood tape emerged, but Trump had already made numerous offensive comments during that race that did him no harm. Republicans wanted a boorish alpha-male oaf oozing bravado as their champion and thats what they got. If anything, the tape affirmed that Trump was who they presumed him to be. Republicans were under no illusions about Trump when they chose him. But Democratic voters were under an illusion about Joe Biden when they chose him this past springand that illusion may well have been maintained with help from some of the people now arguing that the president should remain the nominee. On Monday the Wall Street Journal reported that senior advisers have been aggressively managing Bidens movements for more than a year to try to hide the extent of his decline. One source remembered the president struggling to recall the word veteran at a fundraiser in June 2023. As early as June 2022, during a summit overseas, German diplomats were aware that Biden grew fatigued in the evening and moved up a scheduled meeting by a few hours to accommodate him. He missed the meeting anyway; allegedly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended in his place and told the Germans that the president had to go to bed, a claim the State Department denies. If all of this has been going on for more than a year at least, why wasnt it disclosed to Democratic primary voters before they began casting ballots? And given that it wasnt, by what logic are Democratic leaders duty-bound to ratify the fraud thats been perpetrated in the name of respecting the will of the voters? How many of those leaders knew the truth about Bidens condition and conspired in the cover-up themselves, only to now demand that angry liberals get in line because its too late to replace him? The presidents physician revealed Monday that an expert on Parkinsons disease visited the White House eight times in eight months starting last summer. Its not what you think, he went on to imply, suggesting that the visits were part of regular neurology clinics for all White House employees rather than treatment sessions for Biden himself. But I dont believe him. At this point, why would I? We know that the truth about the presidents condition was suppressed for months or years. Theres no reason to assume that suppression ended after the debate, especially once Biden insisted on staying in the race. Theres also no reason to think that the voters of his party who renominated him still believe he can govern responsibly in a second term. A recent New York Times poll found 59 percent of Democrats now view him as too old for the job, up 8 points since before the debate. In several post-debate polls, the percentage of Democrats who say that Biden should still be the nominee, that he should not drop out, or that the party has a better chance with him than with an alternative nominee has fallen below 50 percent, Will Saletan noted in a piece today at The Bulwark. In 2016, establishment Republicans could honestly say that their partys primary voters had foisted Donald Trump on them. For Democrats in 2024, its the other way around: A conspiracy of silence around Joe Biden, orchestrated at the highest levels, deceived primary voters into believing that he was both fit to govern and remained their best hope for holding the presidency. The motives of everyone involved in this travesty are now under suspicion. The main conclusion Ive come to over the past two weeks is that Democrats are apparently not actually that scared of a second Trump term, Meghan McCain tweeted on Tuesday, marveling at the partys willingness to stick with a very likely electoral loser. Is she wrong? If Biden holds on because his fellow Democrats refuse to speak up, I am going to have serious doubts as to whether they simply miscalculated or whether they decided to save their own skins at the expense of their country, Jonathan Chait wrote at New York magazine, echoing McCains point. The more Biden digs in, after all, the riskier it becomes for congressional Democrats to oppose him: At some point, if the president wont budge, continuing to question his fitness will accomplish nothing except to sow doubt about him among swing voters. Forced to choose between demanding the strongest possible nominee in hopes of saving classical liberalism from Trump or quietly lining up behind Biden and all but certain defeat, many Democrats seem to prefer the second optionbecause at least then they wont be scapegoated by the base for undermining the presidents campaign. Theyd rather keep their own seats in the House and Senate than risk losing them for the sake of maximizing the odds of defeating authoritarianism. Saving democracy isnt their highest priority, it appears. The strange spectacle of far-left progressives rallying to Bidens defense has also raised suspicion about motives. The matter is closed, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told reporters on Monday. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race, and I support him. Fellow Squadster Ilhan Omarwho has described the Biden-backed Israeli effort in Gaza as a genocidealso lent the beleaguered president her support. Why? Are they really just loyal Democratic partisans after all, or do they see certain benefits to progressivism in a Biden defeat? If the president runs and loses, the left can argue that he would have prevailed with a more left-wing agenda. More importantly, their movement will profit from the radical polarization brought about by a second Trump administration. For someone whose goal is to convert normie liberals into socialists, theres nothing like having a right-wing authoritarian in power to help heighten the contradictions. Anywhere you look in this fracas, doubts about the cynical motives of the players involved bubble up. Why is it, for instance, that top-tier 2028 hopefuls like Gretchen Whitmer are scrambling to get out of the presidents way? Is it because theyre desperate to unify the party behind him against Trumpor is it because theyd rather have a nominee who cant run again in the next cycle, as President Kamala Harris could and would? Why is it that some of the presidents African American allies have stooped to such groan-inducing demagoguery in warning his critics to back off? Is it because they sincerely view him as the partys only hope against Trump, or because theyre keen to remind the wider party that black leaders are, and will remain, power brokers in the Democratic Party going forward? And what about the medias motives? Where do they go from here? If they continue to report evidence of Bidens infirmity between now and Election Day the American left will accuse them of trying to engineer a Trump restoration, knowing how good that will be for the news industrys bottom line. If they dont continue to report out evidence of Bidens infirmity the American right will accuse them of suppressing newsworthy information in hopes of dragging a Democratic candidate to victory. Both critiques will have some merit, frankly. Why should we assume that the media is operating in good faith when everyone elses motives in this orgy of cynicism are in doubt? Still, if were looking for an act of cynicism that assured Democrats would end up in this predicament, we need to go way back before even the cover-up of Bidens decline began. Kamala Harris is an unsympathetic figure and the author of most of her own political misfortune, as anyone whos watched her try to turn a phrase knows well. But this much is true: An administration led by the oldest president in American history, who might plausibly keel over at any moment, has done shockingly little to try to build public confidence in the person who would inherit the job if he does. Not only have they done next to nothing to build up Harris, in fact, theyve burdened her with tasks that seemed doomed from the jump to sink perceptions of her competence. Former Rep. Tim Ryan complained about it in a recent interview with The Atlantic, wondering why the White House saddled her with a portfolio as thankless as stabilizing the border. You send her to do immigration, but then arent willing to do anything on it, Ryan said of Biden. Why would the White House put her in that position? Until the debate I would have answered Because theyre incompetent. But now, drowning in cynicism, I wonder if that wasnt a deliberate strategic choice by Team Joe. The more hapless Harris was made to seem, the less pressure there would be on Biden from the party to stand aside in 2024 and make way for her as the nominee. Biden and his top cronies continue to undermine her to this day, despite the considerable chance that shell end up topping the ticket. Who else do you think can step in here and do this? the president asked the hosts of Morning Joe during an interview on Monday, obviously intending it to be a rhetorical question. When The Atlantic pressed his chief of staff, Jeff Zients, to name a moment when Biden had leaned on Harris for guidance, Zients mentioned making equity a priority of the administration and promised to get back in touch with additional examples. He never did. For the president to maintain his hold on the party and therefore on power, his vice president had to be seen as someone in whom no Democrat would reasonably place their confidence. That strategy appears to have worked splendidly for them. Enough so, perhaps, to render this election unwinnable no matter who the nominee ends up being. Which leaves us with the other momentous political problem Democrats face. Laying aside whether Joe Biden will be fit to govern next year, is he still their best bet to defeat Trump? Or would Harris, warts and all, stand a better chance at this point? I think its this simple: Theyre both weak and probably unelectable, partly thanks to the White Houses no confidence approach to the VP. But Harris at least has some hypothetical upside; Biden no longer has any. Some polls already show her marginally outperforming the president. An average of recent surveys conducted by CNN and Ipsos has her leading Trump by 5 points among independents while Biden trails the Republican by 4 among the same group. FiveThirtyEights model gives her ever so slightly better odds of winning than it does her boss, estimating that shed win more popular votes nationally than Biden yet suffer by comparison to him in key states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Shell probably lose. But if you squint, you can see how she ends up giving Trump a run for his money. Upon replacing Biden as nominee, shed benefit from an initial burst of goodwill among the anti-Trump coalition. The enormous, insuperable burden of his age and diminution would be off their shoulders; theyd have received a new lease on political life at a moment when a second Trump term seemed inevitable. Swing voters would be free again to focus on the other extremely old mental defective in the race. Itd be a shot in the arm. Harris would need to create a simulacrum of a thoughtful and impressive politician for all of four months. To broaden her appeal and assure centrists that she wont veer too far left, she might be paired with a southern governor like Andy Beshear or Roy Cooper on the ticket. Her gender might make her a more compelling messenger than Biden on the issue of abortion, goosing Democratic turnout. If she performed well for 120 days or so, she could plausibly turn the race into something approximating a coin flip by Election Day. Biden cant. Already some of his polling has turned dire in battlegrounds, where he continues to run far behind Democratic Senate candidates. Hes now 3.3 points behind Trump in the RealClearPolitics national average, his largest deficit since January. Theres no reason to think he can turn that around. Time is an arrow, The Atlantics Derek Thompson wrote of the presidents problem. All efforts to reduce the salience of Bidens age ironically do the opposite: Keeping him away from reporters raises questions, and putting him on camera creates moments. It wont get better. It will probably get worse, potentially catastrophically. But as I write this, it appears Democrats will insist on going forward anyway with a nominee whos strongly favored to lose a Whos less fit? contest to the most grotesquely unfit president in American history. It would be one thing if Biden had dazzled party leaders by showing them his mettle after his dismal debate performance, but the truth is actually the opposite. They called on him to prove he was up to the job; he did nothing. Then they rolled over anyway when he bullied them. Bidens focus has been on silencing concerns rather than answering concerns, Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett observed succinctly. Instead of punishing him for it, Democrats are rewarding him. Were all cynics now. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Body of teen swimmer recovered from Lake Wylie, police say The body of a 16-year-old swimmer was recovered Monday afternoon from Lake Wylie, Tega Cay police said. Swimmer dies after jumping off boat at popular Lake Norman sandbar Crews were called to Pitcairn Park on Triton Drive at about 4 p.m. to look for a swimmer who was in distress and missing. Charlotte Fire is assisting with a drowning recovery at the 4000 block of Triton Dr. Tega Cay PD is lead on dissemination of additional information. pic.twitter.com/eJerRXdQb9 Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) July 8, 2024 The York County Coroners Office is in charge of the investigation. They identified the victim as 16-year-old Logan Gurley from Fort Mill. The coroner said Gurley drowned while swimming with friends. No additional details have been made available. Tega Cay Mayor Chris Gray told Channel 9 he created a GoFundMe with Councilman Tom Hyslip to help Gurleys family with expenses. Gray said Gurley played basketball with his son at Fort Mill High School and was an outstanding athlete. He said the two were good friends. The mayor asked the community for their support and prayers for the family and for the Fort Mill High community. (WATCH BELOW: Search continues for missing swimmer near popular Lake Norman sandbar) Among a couples collection of wood-carved statues and art, one piece is missing. The Rock Island couple reported that their owl carving had been stolen last weekend. They bought the owl at a chainsaw carving competition one they have strong emotional ties to. A Rock Island couple seeks information on their missing owl statue. (Randy McWhorter) In this case it was actually a female artist who is from Wisconsin who we have since became more acquainted with, said Randy McWhorter. Weve bought subsequent other pieces from her as well and made a trip right to their own personal shop, in addition to attending the show. So you get to be on a first-name basis with these people, and they are one-of-a-kind artists that see things in their head that suddenly evolve from the end of a chainsaw. The competition produces many pieces from renowned artists- each one handcrafted and unique. Its a big loss to both of us, McWhorter said. We name our carvings, and it may be just a trigger word that is in association with where we got it from, or the people that we bought it from, some association that we have with them. And then it brings back that complete day that you spent with them when they were creating these things. The couple seeks any information that will help them find the missing carving, and asks anyone who can help to email rjmvlm544@gmail.com The couple is offering a reward for anyone who returns the owl. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2-ranking member of the Senate Democratic leadership, said Monday that President Bidens debate performance raised a lot of questions about his strength as a general election candidate, but he added he would withhold judgment until hearing from colleagues. Asked if he has concerns about Bidens physical or mental ability to run the country, Durbin said colleagues and voters need to be reassured. I watched the debate, and it raised a lot of questions. He is trying to answer those questions. In some respects, hes done it very effectively. In other respects, not as effectively, Durbin told reporters at the Capitol. Lawmakers are returning to Washington on Monday after a weeklong recess, with questions about Biden looming large. Durbin declined to say whether he thinks Biden should be the Democratic Partys nominee for president in November, and he noted his fellow Democratic senators are divided on the subject. Ive talked to a dozen of my colleagues, and they have differing views, he said. And Durbin said Biden appears to be taking the concerns of Democratic lawmakers seriously, despite complaints from some senators, such as Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), that Bidens campaign was dismissive about the anxieties voiced by many Democrats after the debate. I think he takes it seriously, as he should, Durbin said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also spoke to reporters at the Capitol and reiterated his support for Biden. As Ive said before, Im for Joe, Schumer said as he walked into the building and headed for an elevator. Schumer last week told reporters in Syracuse he had worked closely with Biden and delivered a lot for America and for Central New York. Durbin said the topic of Bidens fitness to lead the Democratic Partys ticket in November would receive thorough discussion this week. And he said he still thinks Biden can beat Trump. I think at the bottom line when the American people take a look at Donald Trump closely, they will not want to return to those four years and they certainly, I hope, understand that these Supreme Court rulings create a different presidency than we had when he was last in office. Its a dangerous situation for this countrys democracy, Durbin said, referring to the Supreme Courts recent ruling granting Trump immunity from criminal prosecution related to official acts. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Durham man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for fraudulently gaining over $2.9 million in mortgages and COVID-19 relief money, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.. Reynold Eugene Mullen, 48, of Durham and his girlfriend, Tiffany Dawn Russell, fabricated bank statements and washed credit reports to get four mortgages totaling over $1.3 million to buy properties in Rocky Mount, Nags Head and Miami between 2019 and 2021, according to a news release. Credit washing usually involves falsely claiming identity theft to improve ones credit rating. From March 2020 to July 2021, they also submitted fraudulent economic injury disaster loan and payment protection program applications to obtain over $1.6 million in small business pandemic relief money. The couple provided false monthly payrolls, fraudulent tax returns and wrong employee numbers to gain the money, according to the Eastern District of North Carolina U.S. Attorneys Office. With the $1.6 million, they bought six properties and paid for Mullens plastic surgery. Russell, a former attorney, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison and five years of supervised release in May 2022. She started defrauding banks in 2016, using the money she made with two other defendants to pay for plastic surgery and a luxury car. As of March, the Internal Revenue Service had investigated over 1,600 pandemic tax and money laundering cases related to COVID fraud potentially totaling $8.9 billion nationwide, according to an IRS news release. As of Feb. 29, 795 people had been indicted for alleged COVID-related crimes and 373 people had been sentenced to an average of nearly three years in federal prison, the agency reported. We live in a generous nation that lends a hand to those in need, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said in the Department of Justice news release. When defendants like Mullen take advantage of that generosity to buy beach houses and plastic surgery we will fight for every penny to be returned to the public purse. New Dutch PM after Russian strike on Okhmatdyt children's hospital: Russia should not win New Dutch PM Dick Schoof has said that Russia should not win the war after the Russian attack on the Okhmatdyt National Specialised Children's Hospital in Kyiv. Source: European Pravda with reference to Schoof on Twitter (X) Details: Schoof noted that the attack on the children's hospital in Kyiv showed the ruthless cruelty of the Putin regime. Quote from Schoof: "It clearly shows why we must continue to support Ukraine: for the security of the Ukrainian people, the security of Europe and the security of our own country. Russia must not win this war. This will be an important topic of discussion during the NATO summit in Washington this week." The Russian attack on a childrens hospital in Kyiv is typical of the ruthless cruelty of Putins regime. It clearly shows why we must continue to support Ukraine: for the security of the Ukrainian people, the security of Europe and the security of our own country. Russia must Dick Schoof (@MinPres) July 8, 2024 Background: Schoof and other government members were sworn in on 2 July. The new Dutch government was formed after the far-right Party for Freedom, led by Geert Wilders, won the election. However, as a result of coalition agreements, the posts of Foreign Minister and Defence Minister, important for Ukraine, were not given to representatives of the Party for Freedom. Dick Schoof, the former Dutch intelligence chief, does not belong to any political party. Ruben Brekelmans, the Defence Minister in the new Dutch government, said that he considers Ukraine's accession to NATO "inevitable". Support UP or become our patron! Editors Note: This article was originally published by The Art Newspaper, an editorial partner of CNN Style. The Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in Washington, DC, has acquired the earliest known photograph of a US first lady. The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, dates from around 1846. It joins a host of other early photographic portraits in the NPGs collection, including what is believed to be the earliest photograph of a US president, an 1843 daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams by Philip Haas, which was acquired by the museum in 2017. The Dolley Madison daguerreotype, made by artist and entrepreneur John Plumbe Jr., shows the trailblazing first lady when she was in her late seventies. Plumbe, an English immigrant who came to America in 1821, picked up photography professionally around 20 years after his arrival, establishing studios in more than a dozen cities before selling his business in 1847. In addition to his portrait of Madison, he created the earliest extant image of the US Capitol. The daguerreotype was sold in a display case, also made by Plumbe. - Courtesy Sotheby's The NPG bought the Madison photograph for $456,000 at a Sothebys auction of books, manuscripts and Americana on June 28, more than six times the lots high estimate of $70,000. The funds were provided in part by the Secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie G. Bunch III, and the Joseph L. and Emily K. Gidwitz Memorial Foundation Endowment, in addition to private support. Sothebys auction catalog described the piece as one of exceedingly few surviving photographs of the woman who has defined for two centuries what it means to be the first lady of the United States of America. This artifact will provide the Smithsonian another opportunity to tell a more robust American story and illuminate the vital role women like Madison have played in the nations progress, Bunch said in a statement. Dolley Payne Todd Madison, who was raised by a Quaker family in Philadelphia, is considered by many to have invented the role of first lady. Her extroversion, intelligence and prowess as a hostess helped her husband create strategic political friendships and position the White House at the center of Washington society. Her Wednesday night soirees became the stuff of legend during her tenure as first lady, and the US House of Representatives granted her an honorary seat whenever she wanted to attend sessions at the Capitol. At her funeral, President Zachary Taylor characterized Madison as the first lady of the land for half a century, marking the first ever use of the phrase first lady. The daguerreotype was the first widely available photographic process, invented by its namesake, Louis Daguerre, in 1839. The process involves polishing a sheet of silver-plated copper and treating it with light-sensitive fumes before exposing it to a camera, and then drawing the latent image forth with mercury vapor and chemical treatments. It was the most popular and accessible form of photographic image-making in the 1840s and 50s. Read more stories from The Art Newspaper here. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The line of people waiting to cast their vote at the Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den) in October 2020. Early voting begins Friday, July 12, in Anderson County for the Aug. 1 county general election and state primary election The early voting period is July 12-July 27. Times are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. Registered Anderson County voters can vote at either of the three early voting locations, regardless of where they live in the county. The early voting locations: Clinton Community Center, 101 Hicks St. Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den), 102 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge North Anderson County Government Office, 3324 Andersonville Highway, Andersonville Anderson County In the county general election, the only countywide races are unopposed. They are: CHANCELLOR - Daniel Forrester, who won in the county Republican Primary earlier this year. ASSESSOR OF PROPERTY - Incumbent John K. Alley Jr., who also won in the Republican Primary. The other county races are in specific districts and only registered voters of those districts can vote in these races. They are: ANDERSON COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 6 - Aaron Wells, the Republican nominee, and Ebony Capshaw, the Democratic nominee. District 6 is the Oak Ridge City Hall (Senior Center), Robertsville, and West Hills precincts - all in Oak Ridge. The winner will fill the unexpired term of Catherine Denenberg, who moved to Florida in April 2023. The county commission apponted Wells to the position in May 2023, having him serve until the next election. Capshaw was one of the people who applied for the position at that time. COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 3 - Incumbent Dail R. Cantrell, the Republican nominee, and Sharon Burlingame, an Independent candidate. District 3 is the Andersonville, Fairview, Glen Alpine and Norris precincts. COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 4 - Republican nominee Darren Carden and incumbent John S. Burrell, an Independent candidate. District 4 includes the Briceville, Clinton Middle, Lake City Middle and Rocky Top (community center) precincts. COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 5 - Sherri Jarnigan-Beaty, the Republican nominee, Democratic nominee Theresa Evans Venable, and incumbent Andy McKamey, an Independent candidate. District 5 is made up of the Clinton High School, Dutch Valley, Marlow and Norwood precincts. COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 8 - Incumbent Glenda J. Langenberg, the Republican nominee, and Democratic nominee David Miller. District 8 is Oak Ridge's Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek and Woodland precincts. CITY JUDGE - James T. "Jim" Normand Jr. Normand was appointed several months ago by Oak Ridge City Council to serve as city judge, following the retirement of longtime City Judge Robert "Bob" McNees. All Oak Ridge registered voters will vote in this race. He is unopposed. But you will see Normand on the Nov. 5 ballot, as well. Why? According to Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens, the Oak Ridge city charter calls for a special election to be called, "to fill the unexpired term, during the next regularly scheduled election (Aug. 1)." The regular election for city judge is Nov. 5. Anyone wishing to challenge Normand in the Nov. 5 election has until Aug. 15 to qualify, Stephens said. Tennessee primaries; some city races In the primary elections, voters have to chose whether they are voting in the Republican or Democratic primary. Once a primary is chosen, residents will vote for party nominees for U.S. House and Senate seats, and Tennessee House seats. In addition, there is a Republican primary for several school board positions. The winners of these party races will face other candidates for the final vote on Election Day Nov. 5. The races: U.S. SENATE - In the Republican Primary, incumbent Marsha Blackburn is running against Tres Wittum. In the Democratic Primary, the candidates are Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Denise Brown, Gloria Johnson and Civil Miller-Watkins. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 3 - Incumbent Chuck Fleischmann is running in the Republican Primary. Jack Allen is running in the Democratic Primary. TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 33 - In the Republican Primary the candidates are John D. Ragan of Oak Ridge, the incumbent, and Rick Scarbrough of Clinton. Anne Backus of Oak Ridge is running in the Democratic Primary. TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 41 - Incumbent Ed Butler is seeking the seat in the Republican Primary. The Democratic Primary candidate is Joel Derek Hawn. OAK RIDGE SCHOOL BOARD - Candidate Mary Crank is running. CLINTON SCHOOL BOARD - In Ward One, Debra L. Heaton and Joey Smith are running. Voters will get to vote for two in this race. In Ward Three, where people can vote for one candidate, no candidate qualified. Questions concerning voting or elections can be directed to the Anderson County Election Commission at the website: https://www.acelection.com/ or by calling 865-457-6238. The email address is acec@andersoncountytn.gov. The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed. Support The Oak Ridger by subscribing. Offers available at https://subscribe.oakridger.com/offers. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Early voting starts Friday for Anderson County election, TN primaries Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Edward Ernst, assigned to the Western Region of Office of the State Fire Marshal, has been named the recipient of the 2023 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year award. This is the third time Ernst has won the coveted award, a first in the agency's history. He previously won in 2009 and 2013. Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray presented the award during a ceremony at the Maryland State Firemen's Association annual convention in Ocean City on June 17. Pictured from left Master DSFM Ed Ersnt is presented his awards by Chief Deputy and Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray "Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Ernst exemplifies the overall desire and commitment our investigators embrace to ensure the safety of Maryland's citizens," said Mowbray during the award presentation. Ernst was nominated by his supervisor, Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Brandon Beall. Ernst was lauded for his many achievements in 2023, such as conducting 62 initial fire and explosive investigations and maintaining a 56% criminal case closure rate. Pictured from left Deputy Chief and Western Regional Commander Brandon Beall, who nominated M/DSFM Ed Ernst "Master Deputy Ernst is always ready to respond and assist his team. He shares his knowledge generously, serving as a field training officer for a new employee in 2023 and contributing to the development of his colleagues," said Beall. Beyond investigations, Ernst actively participates in public education events such as Shop with a Cop, Trunk or Treat and the Trooper 3 50th Anniversary, fostering positive interactions with the community and promoting the agency's mission. He also imparts his expertise by teaching arson and explosive blocks at the Washington County Police Academy. Ernst was a former explosives detection canine handler. He and K9 Blitz responded throughout Maryland for suspicious packages and VIP standbys at events. Ernst also is well known as being the lead investigator on a 2013 multi-county arson spree involving 42 fires set in vehicles, barns, homes, garages and trash containers. Along with multiple other investigators and agencies, their efforts resulted in the arrests of the eight individuals responsible for setting those fires. Ernst was presented with multiple citations, including a governor's citation, and for the first time, received a unique replica license plate not for official use to show the agency's appreciation for the work he did in 2023. Ernst was nominated with five other deputy state fire marshals from each agency's regional office as contenders for the James C. Robertson Award. All five deputies were applauded for their dedication to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. "Each of these individuals represents their peers with great devotion and distinction," Mowbray said. "Each has gone above and beyond the call of duty. They come to work daily, looking forward to making Maryland a safer place to live, work, play and raise a family." CSX crews work through night to restore train traffic on Potomac River bridge after fire This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Ed Ernst named Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Tuesday activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Jiangsu Province, east China. From Tuesday to Saturday, heavy rain to torrential rain are expected to hit the southern part of the Huang-Huai region, and areas between the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers, said the Ministry of Emergency Management, citing weather forecasts. The weather authorities on Tuesday issued a yellow alert, the third-most severe warning, for rainstorms in the region. The Level-IV response is the lowest in China's four-tier emergency response system. Editorial: This record-breaking heat is an emergency. It's time to treat it like one An orange glow fills the sky as the sun sets behind windmills on June 5, a triple digit temperature day, in Palm Springs. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Its alarming that only a few weeks into the summer weve already experienced a prolonged heat wave that has put about 36 million Americans under excessive heat warnings and shattered temperature records across the West. Palm Springs hit 124 degrees Friday, an all-time high. Redding reached a record 119 degrees Saturday. And on Sunday, Las Vegas got to 120 degrees, breaking its previous record by three degrees. Globally, June marked the 13th straight month of record-setting temperatures. But all the attention on the numbers can overshadow the larger, frightening context: We are living in a dangerous new era of more frequent, more destructive and deadlier disasters fueled by humanitys continued spewing of greenhouse gas pollution. Read more: Editorial: Climate change is making more California homes dangerously hot. It's time state laws caught up Chief among the threats is extreme heat, killing more Americans than wildfires, hurricanes, floods or tornadoes. Heat waves caused an estimated $7.7 billion in economic impacts over the last decade in California alone, including lost wages, agricultural disruptions, power outages and infrastructure and health damage. But even as Americans die from preventable heat-related illness, officials aren't using all the tools available to them to respond. We need an urgent change in trajectory, not only by ending the burning of fossil fuels but also by doing much more to keep people safe. While state and federal officials have made some strides with new efforts to warn people of the dangers from extreme heat and protect workers from heat illness and death, theyre still not doing everything they can to respond to this growing threat. Read more: Editorial: Big Oil lost ballot battle, but will still fight to drill near California homes Case in point: No U.S. president has ever issued an emergency or major disaster declaration for extreme heat. President Carter rejected a request from Missouri in 1980 after nearly 400 people died in a heat wave, and President Clinton rejected a declaration for the heat wave that killed more than 700 people in Chicago in 1995. In 2022, President Biden rejected a major disaster declaration request from Gov. Gavin Newsom for the 10-day heat dome that killed an estimated 395 Californians, caused more than $3 billion in economic damage and created weather and environmental conditions that significantly exacerbated the ignition and spread of wildfires across California, destroying 183 homes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied all such requests on the grounds that the conditions haven't been of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capacity of state and local government. That is the threshold set under the Stafford Act , the law that governs federal disaster relief. Read more: Editorial: Californians don't have to accept skyrocketing electric bills. Here's how to fight back The federal government must revise its outdated view of what constitutes a disaster now that the planet is about 2.5 degrees hotter than preindustrial times and the 10 hottest years ever recorded have been in the last decade. The Biden administration should seriously consider a petition filed last month by environmental, labor and health organizations that asks FEMA to recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters. They say that federal disaster relief funding could pay for life-saving infrastructure such as cooling centers with air filtration systems, and community solar and storage systems to help vulnerable communities stay cool and safe when the power grid is strained. It's appropriate to include wildfire smoke because this intertwined climate-fueled health threat is also causing widespread illness and early death, and growing worse as temperatures climb. The Extreme Heat Emergency Act, introduced last year, would amend the Stafford Act to spell out that extreme heat is a type of major disaster. But it shouldnt require legislation for FEMA to get with the times. The law already applies to any natural catastrophe, and environmental, labor and health advocates say that is broad enough to include heat and any other kinds of disasters even if they arent listed such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Even FEMA acknowledges there is nothing specific in that 1974 law that precludes a declaration for extreme heat or wildfire smoke. There are few areas where modernization of disaster response is more pressing than with heat waves. The old ways just arent cutting it anymore. Americans deserve a robust approach thats befitting of our new climate reality. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) Authorities say an arrest has been made after a body was found in a storage facility. Police confirm on July 5, officers responded to a call regarding a possible deceased person at the Mini Storage facility located at 2616 S. Coltrane Place in Edmond. Upon arrival, officers confirm they discovered the body of a deceased female, that has been identified as 30-year-old Elyse Marie Betz. Headlines Investigators discovered that Ms. Betz had been temporarily staying at a nearby hotel in Edmond with a male, 36-year-old Kyle Robert Fedus. Police say, after further disclosure into Fedus he was wanted out of North Carolina for Federal Probation Violation (Robbery with a Firearm). On July 6, 2024, Fedus was located at another hotel in Edmond and arrested for his outstanding warrant, according to police. During the subsequent interview, Fedus confessed to a pact with Ms. Betz, in which they agreed to overdose using a syringe of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl if law enforcement found them. Authorities revealed, Fedus detailed that on the night of July 4, 2024, they fled their hotel parking lot on foot, fearing the presence of law enforcement. They ran through the woods and ended up at the storage facility, where they decided to commit suicide by overdose. Fedus admitted to administering the fatal dose to Ms. Betz after injecting himself. An autopsy has been conducted, and Toxicology results are pending from the Medical Examiners Office. Fedus is currently charged with Murder in the First Degree, after evidence and his own confession. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Water is partnering with local agencies to remind the public to Turn around, dont drown with the dangers of flash flooding. El Paso Water is also encouraging residents that live in flood-prone areas to have sandbags ready. Residents in need of sandbags can get them at select El Paso Water facilities. Sandbags are limited to 10 per visit and residents will need to show a Texas ID or an El Paso Water bill. The following locations will be distribution centers for sandbags: Stormwater Operations Center 4801 Fred Wilson Ave., Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Artcraft Booster Station 7830 Paseo Del Norte Monday Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Blackie Chesher Park 9292 Escobar Drive Monday Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. According to EP Water, each sandbag weighs over 30 pounds. Persons who cannot lift heavy items should be accompanied by someone that can assist carrying the sandbags. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) An 80-year-old man has been indicted for tax evasion after an investigation conducted by the Tennessee Department of Revenue. According to the department, the Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation, which resulted in the arrest of 80-year-old Jackie Slone. U-Haul responds to white supremacist group using its equipment A Maury County Grand Jury indicted Slone on two counts of tax evasion on Friday, June 28. The indictments allege Slone provided false amounts on the registrations of two vehicles to the Maury County Clerks Office. The Department of Revenue has always been committed to making sure Tennessees tax laws and procedures are applied uniformly to ensure fairness, Revenue Commissioner David Gerragano said. We can never allow individuals engaged in fraudulent tax activity to have a competitive advantage over honest Tennesseans. If convicted, Slone faces a maximum sentence of two years in a state penitentiary and a $3,000 fine for tax evasion. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The cause is pursued by the Revenue Department and District Attorney Brent Coopers office. Slones bond was set at $10,000. Citizens can report suspected violations of Tennessees revenue laws through a toll-free hotline at 800-FRAUDTX (800-372-8389). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Lincoln County Auditor Sheri Lund (left) oversees election workers conducting the county's first-ever post-election audit on June 20, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Post-election audits across South Dakota matched primary election night results from tabulator machines in most counties, according to statewide data released Wednesday by the Secretary of States Office. Post-election audits are a routine practice in most states to verify whether equipment used to count votes worked properly and yielded the correct result, but the review was South Dakotas first. The Legislature passed a law during the 2023 legislative session requiring the audits. Of the states 66 counties, 52 reported no discrepancies between their post-election audit and tabulator results. Ten other counties did not have to conduct a post-election audit because they held a recount of a race. Three counties Mellette, Tripp and Lincoln reported one discrepancy each. Minnehaha County reported 52 discrepancies in the full election recount that Auditor Leah Anderson chose to conduct, but she said the list of discrepancies looks minimal. The states top elections official, Secretary of State Monae Johnson, pledged during her 2022 campaign to implement post-election audits. She described the first audits as a success. The transparency of this process, conducted by audit board members from multiple parties, and the accuracy of the audit results should reinforce every voters belief that their vote mattered and was counted accurately, Johnson said in a news release. County auditors are required to hand count ballots in 5% of their countys voting precincts, though most counties reviewed more than the required amount. Some counties conducted a full hand count of their results, such as McPherson and Minnehaha counties. Auditors across the state hope the primary post-election audit will prepare their election workers for the general election in November. Some auditing boards had to recount races several times, one county re-audited its election results, and paperwork slowed the process down in at least one county, auditors said. The Secretary of States Office report did not specify how long the post-election audits took for each county or how much the audits are costing the state or counties. The Secretary of States Office has not yet responded to requests for comment from South Dakota Searchlight. Minnehaha auditor says paperwork slowed process; commissioner pushes back Anderson told Minnehaha County commissioners ahead of the audit that she expected to hand count the countys full 13,189 ballots in five hours. It took 12 hours. It took about an hour for Moody County to count 104 ballots for its two audited races. Lincoln County took nearly three hours to review three races on 592 ballots. What slowed the process down, Anderson said, was over 1,593 pieces of paper that audit board members had to print and sign their names on after each race was counted in a precinct. I wish there was a way to condense some of the paperwork, Anderson said. The paperwork isnt doing much for an audit. Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson gives advice to post-election audit workers on June 25, 2024. The county recounted all ballots from the June primary, though state law calls for at least a 5% audit. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Minnehaha County Commissioner Joe Kippley said Andersons full recount wasnt necessary, but did return what youd expect if everything is running the way you want it to be. He added that the level of time and work to run a full recount could have been predicted. I dont know if you can make a volume of paperwork critique when you made the choice to do 20 times the work you were asked to do, Kippley said. When its your first year running this new process and state statute says do a 5% audit, there should be some self-checking. Maybe its 5% for a reason. Lincoln Countys 592 audited ballots represented about 10% of ballots cast in the primary. Auditor Sheri Lund said her auditing boards only had to sign 20 pieces of paperwork. I dont think our paperwork was overwhelming, Lund said. Post-election audit meant to reinforce confidence in elections, auditors say In McPherson County, the post-election auditing board reported that it was four ballots short in one precinct for the District 23 House race and had an extra ballot in another precinct compared to the ballots scanned by the tabulator on election night. The county conducted a full recount of its ballots. Auditor Lindley Howard and the McPherson County states attorney asked a judge to unseal the ballots for a re-audit of the results. In Howards re-audit, the ballots and votes matched the tabulated results. We saw way more human errors through the audit process than machine discrepancies. All our discrepancies were human errors, Howard said. I think we proved this time that the tabulators work and I dont want to do a 100% audit again. Some of Moody Countys audit workers are skeptical of the tabulators, which can be a good thing, Moody County Auditor Tawny Heinemann said. Being involved with the audit let them work with and understand the process better, she added. They see what marks could look like and why a ballot wasnt counted and if it wasnt counted correctly, Heinemann said. Being able to see that the numbers matched and what some of the checks and balances are helps a lot. Lincoln County residents and poll watchers observe the county's first-ever post-election audit on June 20, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Anderson doesnt believe a 5% audit is enough. She plans to audit about 25% of votes in November. She worries that the states post-election audit process isnt clear enough where she should stop, though, saying that she would continue to audit precincts if a race is off by one vote until she gets clean results. Kippley said he doesnt think a clean results audit is needed. The audit doesnt have any influence on the election results, unless an auditing board finds a discrepancy that changes an outcome in an election. Only minimal discrepancies were found in audits across the state. If a race was close enough, he said, it would go to a recount board anyway, which would have more authority to review ballots. According to the state post-election audit guide, counties are instructed to conduct a post-election audit and report their findings. They do not have to continue auditing until they get within a certain margin of error. Analyzing voter intent Andersons audit boards found a discrepancy in 52 of Minnehaha Countys 570 races most off by one vote. The Minnehaha audit also found that the tabulator machine counted a handful of ballots cast by handicapped voters that werent properly stamped by precinct workers. The largest discrepancy was three votes, which wasnt enough to change an outcome. Audit boards are only supposed to consider marks the tabulator would count for the audit, not voter intent, according to the post-election audit guide. Jessica Pollema, assisting the Minnehaha County Auditor's Office, leads a group of post-election audit workers on June 25, 2024. Pollema is president of South Dakota Canvassing Group, which advocates for hand counting efforts in the state. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Secretary of State Johnson said in a press release that the discrepancies reported by Minnehaha County and others appear to be due to auditing boards considering voter intent. Jessica Pollema, president of South Dakota Canvassing Group, which advocates for the replacement of machine tabulators with hand counting, said the states guidelines were made to have auditing boards think like a machine. That totally defies the purpose of a high end count post-election audit, said Pollema, who served as the superintendent of the Minnehaha County post-election audit board. Pollema spoke on the McPherson outcome at a recent Minnehaha County Commission meeting. Linda Montgomery, a Lincoln County resident who served on her countys post-election audit board, told Minnehaha County commissioners she was instructed to think like a machine as well. Montgomerys audit board in Lincoln County had a difference of one vote from the tabulator, Lund said. She suspects the difference was due to human error rather than the machine. Another post-election audit board in Lincoln County had to recount a race five times before agreeing on a number. Post-election audit worker Linda Montgomery (left) reseals a precinct's ballot box from the 2024 primary election in a joking manner on June 20, 2024. Lincoln County Auditor Sheri Lund (right) observes. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) An audit of the machines is meant to make sure theyre doing their job correctly, Lund said. By law, tabulators and resolution boards are not supposed to consider voter intent. Considering voter intent would cause an apples to oranges comparison. It could also open the door to bias, Lund added. We give you instructions for marking a ballot. In order for that vote to count, you need to mark it the way we tell you. If you mark it any other way, youre supposed to ask for a new ballot, like instructions say, Lund said. Were not going to take it and say, Hey, what did you mean by this? or I think they thought this way. At least one ballot in Minnehaha County was rejected as an overcount (when a voter marks a ballot in favor of too many candidates) on election day because the voter crossed out a vote for a candidate rather than asking for a new ballot. Anderson used the example to explain that the ballot should have been diverted to a resolution board to identify the ballot as mismarked rather than an overcount. Anderson said she plans to bring the findings to the state and to the election systems vendor for South Dakota, Election Systems & Software. Kippley said Andersons full recount proved his faith in tabulator machines. She did a 100% audit in the June primary and it proved my point, Kippley said. It came out with basically the exact same results. Minnehaha County post-election audit workers count votes during the county's first ever post-election audit on June 25, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Kathy Bernier, Paulina Gutierrez and Meagan Wolfe discuss Wisconsin's election security at a July 9 event in Milwaukee. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner) Election experts who have held positions at the local, county and state levels appeared at an event Tuesday in Milwaukee to defend Wisconsins election system as safe, explain how the system works and state that they believe Novembers election will be smoother than 2020. At the event, hosted jointly by the Milwaukee Press Club, Rotary Club of Milwaukee and Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust, Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe, Milwaukee Elections Commission Director Paulina Gutierrez and former Republican state Sen. Kathy Bernier discussed how election conspiracy theories have affected the state over the last three years, the impact of last weeks state Supreme Court decision to again allow the use of absentee ballot drop boxes and how election officials across the state are preparing for this years elections. Drop boxes Last Friday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a 2022 decision, by the then-conservative majority on the Court, banning the use of drop boxes. In the previous decision, the Court ruled that absentee ballots must be brought to a mailbox or directly to a voters municipal clerk. In a 4-3 decision, the Courts current liberal majority found that the previous ruling was unsound in principle. Prior to 2022, dropboxes had been used by municipal clerks across the state in urban and rural communities. The method became especially popular in 2020 when absentee voting surged in popularity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event on Tuesday, Gutierrez said the city of Milwaukee is working to get its 15 drop box locations back into working order and educating voters about their return. Bernier previously worked as the Chippewa County Clerk, chaired the Senate Elections Committee and has spent her retirement from the Legislature traveling the state to educate voters about how the voting system works and combat misinformation. She said she has problems with the Courts decision, saying its a slippery slope when legal interpretations can flip flop the way they have on drop boxes, but that under the new law, the WEC should pass an emergency rule to give clerks clarity on how the boxes should be used, secured and monitored. I think we should all be concerned that we are on a slippery slope in this state, in this nation, Bernier said. When the interpretation of the law is not an actual interpretation of the law the law said you return your ballot by mail or you return it to the clerk that is my interpretation. Thats been my interpretation for years. I dont necessarily agree with this current interpretation, however, the Supreme Court is the Supreme Court. So now I encourage the Wisconsin Election Commission to pass an administrative emergency rule to make sure that all of the processes and procedures are in place. Wolfe said the elections commission will be meeting Thursday morning to discuss how it should respond to the decision, adding that its not as simple as simply returning to the pre-2022 guidance the commission had provided to clerks on the issue. Election denial When Bernier was still in the Senate, she was one of a few elected Republicans in the state to push back against conspiracies about the election system. In her work with Keep Our Republic since retiring, shes gathered local officials to meet with skeptics in communities across the state to meticulously explain how the process works. In those meetings, she readily states she believes there were problems in 2020, but not enough to swing the election results. On Tuesday, she touted reports by the states Legislative Audit Bureau and Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty proving the election was won by Joe Biden and said that many of the problems in 2020 happened because the election was held at the height of the pandemic. Last week, in the Democratic primary in a special election for an empty seat in the 4th Senate District, some of the states most high profile election deniers showed up to polling places in the Milwaukee suburb of Glendale to observe the polls. Claiming that the observers were being obstructive by not following rules and objecting to every absentee ballot, local officials forced the observers to leave after calling the police. At the event on Tuesday, all three speakers downplayed the threat of incidents like that, saying most observers simply sit and watch the process. Bernier noted that having skeptics get trained to work the polls or come to the polls to observe often helps to assuage their fears when they find the system is carefully designed with multiple checks and the process is generally quite boring. Wolfe added that having people observe the voting process is a healthy part of Election Day. Many of the conspiracy theories about the 2020 election in Wisconsin have stemmed from the process of counting absentee ballots, especially in Milwaukee. Most communities in the state count absentee ballots at the polling location where each absent voter would have gone to vote in person. In Milwaukee and a handful of other communities, all the ballots are sent to one Central Count location where theyre all tallied together. Under state law, ballots cannot begin to be processed until polls open at 8 a.m. on Election Day. Conspiracy theories have abounded about the absentee process and Milwaukees central count, alleging that Democratic operatives worked to ballot harvest and force people to cast absentee votes for Biden or that large vote dumps from Milwaukee changed the results for Biden in the middle of the night. Bernier said that she doesnt think ballot harvesting really happens, questioning how it would even occur while Wolfe said these allegations are often dispelled with simple explanations to people with questions. Wolfe recounted an interaction she had at an event hosted by Berniers organization in which a man asked why it often takes Milwaukee longer to count its absentee ballots. Somebody asked me, Why does it take longer for Milwaukee to count their absentees than any other jurisdiction? Because they have more absentee ballots from their jurisdiction, she explained. If you had more apples than your neighbor, and we both had to count our apples, the person with more apples, its going to take longer to count them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Elite military to come to Russia from North Korea for first time Reuters An elite military training delegation headed by Kim Geum Chol, president of the Kim Il Sung Military University, has left North Korea for Russia. Source: Reuters Details: This is reportedly the first military exchange between the two countries since Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un agreed to closer military cooperation. During their last meeting, Putin and Kim signed the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" treaty, which includes a mutual defence agreement, which the North Korean leader says is tantamount to an alliance. This public development of military ties between the two countries is causing concern among officials in Seoul and Washington, who point to evidence of arms shipments from the DPRK to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine and believe that Pyongyang may be receiving assistance from Moscow. At the same time, both countries deny any military operations. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who will attend the NATO summit in Washington this week, warned Moscow of the negative consequences of friendship with Pyongyang for active economic relations between the two countries. Background: On 19 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which obliges each side to provide immediate military assistance to the other in the event of armed aggression against one of them. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the agreement between Russia and the DPRK demonstrated the growing coherence between authoritarian states and underlined the importance of democracies speaking with one voice. Kurt Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, believes that North Korea may request from Russia technologies for improvement of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons in exchange for the military aid it provides it with. South Korean TV network TV Chosun reported that North Korea will send military construction and engineering forces to participate in "reconstruction works" in occupied Donetsk Oblast as early as July 2024. Support UP or become our patron! Employees of an Armstrong County nursing home have authorized a strike. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania says employees at Armstrong Rehab and Nursing Center unanimously voted to send an Unfair Labor Practice strike notice to the facilitys owner, Elie Pollak. They allege hes bargained in bad faith and failed to provide bargaining information about wages, staffing and agency costs which reportedly have stalled negotiations to improve wages and health insurance. This is the absolute last resort. We need a contract that puts the care and safety of our residents first, but the company has not been bargaining in good faith, said Amber Graham, a certified nursing assistant at Armstrong Rehab and Nursing Center for over a year. The staffing situation is desperate. We need to know how much they spend on staffing to know what should be invested in full-time caregivers, supplies, equipment that works, and good care. But Pollak failed to provide this bargaining information. SEIU says workers want Pollak to invest the over $2.1 million he receives in annual state funding to retain and recruit caregivers. The workers are also reportedly concerned about citations and fines the nursing home has received since it was purchased by Pollak four years ago for violations such as unsafe staffing, accident hazards and lack of supervision. The three-day strike is set to start on July 19. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Sheetz now offering beer, wine delivery in Pennsylvania Cant understand why this happened: Woman dies after Homestead crash Police warning neighbors about rattlesnake sightings in Westmoreland County VIDEO: Police stepping up patrols in Pittsburghs Knoxville neighborhood after recent car vandalism, theft DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Blue and purple lockers line one side of the hallway, with orange and lockers on the other side, with a white and blue striped tile floor down the middle. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program funded around 1,458 positions in West Virginia Schools, but the program ends in the fall, leaving some counties scrambling to fund those positions. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch) Federal pandemic programs that poured more than $1.2 billion into West Virginia schools will sunset this fall, leaving some counties figuring out how to continue funding critical positions and programs. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER, which funded around 1,458 positions jobs like teachers, reading specialists, nurses and custodians in West Virginia public schools, according to data from the state education department. The federal funds will expire as many counties are grappling with declining enrollment, which results in less funds and sometimes less positions in public schools. In McDowell County, ESSER funds helped pay for after school programs and much-needed summer camps to help students combat learning loss during the break. More than half of students in the county arent proficient in math, West Virginia Department of Education data showed. It also gave students the opportunity to experience new things, McDowell County Schools Assistant Superintendent Amanda Peyton said. There were field trips to see marine life, she said. Those dollars have given them opportunities they wouldnt have had. She continued, Now, some of my schools are trying to scurry to plan for summer camps [those] who are not going to get federal dollars. Now, well have to stretch to fund those. ESSER funded 43 staff members in McDowell this last school year, including custodians, nurses and a few teachers. Peyton said the county had worked those positions back into their normal budget; she doesnt anticipate any job cuts. The funds will expire on Sept. 31. Federal data showed that West Virginia had spent around 80% of its funds as of April. Those dollars have given them opportunities they wouldn't have had. Amanda Peyton, McDowell County Schools assistant superintendent State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt said a lot of the remaining money is being used for school construction projects. Theyre pushing against a timeline to get those projects finished, she said. The state has until Jan. 28, 2025 to liquidate or pay all invoices on its obligations out of those funds. Nationwide, researchers estimate that around 338,000 full-time school jobs will be lost and high-poverty schools are at the greatest risk of loss. The number of school job cuts related to expiring funds is unknown as the WVDE doesnt collect that data. Raleigh County Schools proposed cutting 52 positions, in part, due to the loss of COVID-19 funding Ninety positions could be cut in Mercer County Schools due to declining population and the loss of about $6 million in pandemic funding. Marion County is expected to lose 40 positions in an effort to balance its budget as pandemic funding fades. Kanawha County Schools, the states largest school district, used ESSER to fund 104 positions this past school year, including nurses, cooks, counselors, special education staff and more. [ESSER] also allowed us to purchase very helpful support software like Lexia that helps with student diagnostics and supports teachers in meeting students where they are. That will continue, said Kanawha County Schools Communications Director Briana Warner. Pandemic funding wont pay for any positions this upcoming school year. An excess levy will help fund needed positions, including 15 counselors and 12 elementary art teachers. Any [ESSER] positions that were eliminated at the school level typically result in a certified teacher who applied for a support position going back into a teaching position based on certification, Warner said. Our general staffing season happened this January to April based on student enrollment and were down to about eight people that were still trying to match with positions. Karla Troppman, executive director of communications for Berkeley County Schools, said the county was able to retain most of the personnel that were fully or partially funded by ESSER. They have been filled in classroom teaching positions or have been absorbed in positions that are funded with other federal programs, she said. Pandemic spending didnt equal big academic gains The roughly $190 billion in federal relief dollars doled out to the nations public schools was meant to help districts hire additional staff to cope with pandemics upheaval to education. In West Virginia, some of those dollars were used to hire interventionists as students posted historically low math and reading scores. The money had few restrictions beyond a requirement that 20% addressed learning loss; and one analysis of federal data said the cash infusion had minimal impact on the states students outcomes in reading and math. In other states, including Mississippi and Tennessee, pandemic funds corresponded with a strong recovery in eighth grade math and fourth grade reading. Clawback threat, misspending and more The WVDE lacked adequate capacity to monitor how local school districts used the federal funds, a 2023 state audit found. The department has continued to monitor counties use of funds and posts those reports on its website. Dozens of school districts misspent millions of the first rounds of pandemic relief funds, and as of now, there is no plan for the legislature to audit how schools spent the rest of their money. The audit, which reviewed only a sample of purchases made since 2020, found that of the 54 school districts reviewed, 37 school districts were deemed noncompliant in their use of federal funds, including improper purchasing procedures or using funds for unallowable activities. In Upshur County, the school district spent $60,000 of federal funds on pool passes. Ann Ali, communications director for the House of Delegates, said the audit was the most recent information available on the topic. A new state law permits an agency review to be conducted at the request of Senate and House leadership or Joint Standing Committee at any time. We are unaware of any current plans for an additional audit on the same topic, Ali wrote in an email. West Virginias use of pandemic relief funds also caused a problem during the legislative session. State lawmakers, who were sorting out the fiscal year 2025 budget, in February learned that the federal government was threatening a $465 million clawback due to concerns that the state hadnt spent enough of the pandemic dollars on education. As a stipulation for receiving the money, the state needed to keep funding education at the same or a higher level than before the pandemic. The state spent $8,464 per pupil in 2024, compared with $7,510 during Gov. Jim Justices first year as governor in 2017. Lawmakers moved budget items around and essentially passed a skinny budget in order to qualify for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education. While the threat of the clawback was dismissed, lawmakers are still dealing with lingering budget issues and could meet in August. Funding the future Blatt said her department has asked school leaders to look at what ESSER-funded programs were most helpful and consider shifting funds towards those programs. I think those student support programs have been very beneficial, she said. Peyton explained that McDowell County Schools will figure out how to continue its critical summer camps and afterschool programs. When the funds run out, thats one of our fears Weve got to figure out how to sustain this, she said. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan (R), also general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), shakes hands with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan on July 9, 2024. Al-Burhan on Tuesday expressed his country's keenness to enhance relations with Ethiopia to serve the interests of both countries and their peoples.(Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council/Handout via Xinhua) KHARTOUM, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Tuesday expressed his country's keenness to enhance relations with Ethiopia to serve the interests of both countries and their peoples. Al-Burhan made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan, according to a statement by the sovereign council. In the statement, Al-Burhan, also general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), highlighted the strength of relations between the two countries and the importance of preserving them. The statement noted that the army chief also briefed Ahmed on the situation in Sudan in the wake of "the rebellion by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the state and its institutions." For his part, the Ethiopian prime minister said his visit to Sudan came in solidarity with the Sudanese people, stressing that "this war (in Sudan) will end and the relations between the two countries will remain firm and strong." He highlighted the importance of peace as a foundation for development, noting that the problems of countries must be resolved internally without external interference. Ahmed arrived in Port Sudan earlier on Tuesday for an official one-day visit. Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which had claimed at least 16,650 lives, according to a watchdog update cited by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in a report in late June. The UN International Organization for Migration estimated that over 7.7 million people in Sudan have been internally displaced amid the conflict, while about 2.2 million others have crossed borders into neighboring countries to seek refuge. Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom. Climate change is coming for Americans' homes and wallets. And in a pretty spectacular fashion: In Iowa, insurers lost $1.3 billion in 2023 alone due to an unprecedented series of storms that devastated the state. The Midwest, normally considered a safe haven from homeowner nightmares such as hurricanes and wildfires, is now getting wracked by increasingly destructive weather, as warmer temperatures are heightening the severity and frequency of storms. In June alone, record floods overwhelmed communities in southern Minnesota, leading to major infrastructure and property damage and costing millions in repairs. Hail is the most expensive weather event, even more than tornadoes. Damages from hail now total in the billions annually and are steadily increasing with warming temperatures. Unfortunately, this is a nationwide trend, and the insurance companies responsible for covering homes damaged by severe storms simply cannot keep up. In six out of the past seven years, in Minnesota alone, home insurance companies have lost money, and the losses are rapidly increasing. This is positioning Minnesota insurance companies to drop high-risk homeowners from insurance plans en masse, something already happening in high-risk states such as Iowa, Florida and California. The remaining insurance companies subject desperate homeowners to explosively expensive premiums, which, in Iowa, have increased by over 40% for some high-risk homeowners. This phenomenon continues to worsen in the storm-ravaged Midwestern states bordering Minnesota, as well as flooded Florida and fiery California, as they struggle to contend with their new realities. High-risk, government-run insurance providers such as FAIR and the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. have stepped up to insure the properties most insurance companies now refuse to cover, though the expense is unsustainable for homeowners. These government programs are meant to be a temporary fix, not a realistic long-term solution. However, they've become a critical lifeline for millions: In Florida, Citizens Property is now the largest insurer for property in the state. Bad news for Minnesotan snowbirds and Floridians alike. Part of the reason for this issue is construction quality of houses in the United States. Minnesota has taken small steps to encourage sturdier houses it now requires insurance companies to offer discounts to homeowners who reinforce their homes against natural disasters, promoting measures such as strengthening roofs against high wind and hail. It's not enough. The macro forces creating this problem are greater than Band-Aid-level measures can this counter. The insurance companies will be fine. They will narrow and adjust their markets and policies as needed to be profitable. Homeowners are the ones paying the price, literally. They have no choice but to pay. What can be done? Climate change isn't going to reverse itself overnight. Storms, fires and floods aren't going anywhere. American contractors aren't going to suddenly start embodying the brick-house style from the "Three Little Pigs." But there is a silver lining to this hardship, and a potential remedy within it. Many of the states devastated by these storms are predominantly red states, run by governments that historically have denied climate change and have pushed against sustainable developments. Perhaps lawmakers will pursue policies with the new hardships their constituents are battling in mind. A barrier tape with the words "European Astronaut Centre" is seen at the European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Centre in Cologne. Thomas Banneyer/dpa The European Space Agency (ESA) is optimistic ahead of the maiden launch of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana on Tuesday. "I feel a wide-range of emotions as we get ready to make an impact on European history, for Europe's future, for generations of Europeans," declared Josef Aschbacher on Tuesday, the ESA's director general, in a post on X. The new European launch vehicle had to wait 10 years for its first launch after a sometimes difficult development process. The maiden flight from the European space centre in Kourou in French Guiana is to be attempted on Tuesday at 1900 GMT, a delay of one hour from the original launch window initially targeted by ESA. The weather looked promising on launch day. There was a chance of rain, but that wouldn't affect the launch, according to ESA. The mobile scaffolding that had stood around Ariane 6 for a long time was pulled away to expose the rocket on Tuesday. The scaffolding building is 90 metres high and weighs 8,200 tons. It was rolled away on rails some 140 metres away. Speaking at the European spaceport in Kourou, ESA Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen said he was "96% confident and 4% deeply terrified." "We have done everything we needed to do. Now we have to launch," he added. Once it lifts off, the 56-metre high and 540-ton rocket has a flight of almost three hours ahead of it. It is carrying The Exploration Company's Nyx Bikini space capsule, OOV-Cube satellites from RapidCubes and Curium One from Planetary Transportation Systems into space on the flight. With the maiden flight, the ESA also aims to put behind the crisis currently affecting the launch vehicle sector in Europe, which presently has no means of sending satellites into space. The Ariane 6 is a European project. The upper stage of the rocket was built at the ArianeGroup's Bremen plant, and the main stage in the French town of Les Mureaux to the north-west of Paris. If the maiden flight goes well, Tolker-Nielsen said, the agency will have initiated a comeback. However, he added that it would then be necessary to ramp up production capacities and achieve a stable launch rhythm. Aschbacher added: "This is just the first step, we have lots of work to do yet, but we are laser-focused on changing the future of the European space transportation ecosystem." Tuesday's planned launch comes four years later than initially scheduled, and development of the rocket began a full decade ago. Ariane 6 is the successor to Ariane 5, which was in service from 1996 until the summer of 2023. The Ariane 6 rocket is intended to launch satellites into space for both commercial and public clients and is significantly cheaper than its predecessor. ESA has praised Ariane 6 as modular and flexible. Depending on the mission, it can be equipped with two or four boosters and accommodate different payloads in a smaller or longer upper section. Not everyone is convinced that the rocket is competitive with other recently developed launchcraft. Space expert Martin Tajmar from the Dresden University of Technology in Germany said that, despite the innovations compared to its predecessor, Ariane 6 is by no means up to date. Back in 2015, the US private space company SpaceX ushered in the age of reusable space travel with the company's Falcon 9 rocket. ESA's Tolker-Nielson said the next rocket to replace Ariane 6 will be reusable, although the agency is planning to use the new launcher until at least the mid-2030s. However, Tajmar also emphasises that the main aim is not to keep up commercially with the competition. He sees the central task of Ariane 6 first and foremost as giving Europe its own access to space again and securing its independence. The last Ariane 5 took off into space for the last time almost exactly one year ago. Since then, the 22 European countries that are members of ESA have had no means of their own to launch larger satellites into space. In some cases, ESA has switched to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets. There are also currently no European launchers for smaller satellites either. The first commercial launch of ESA's Vega C rocket failed in December 2022 and it has been grounded since. It is due to take off again for the first time in November. France and Germany are among the biggest financial backers of the Ariane 6 project, while additional funding was also provided by the other 20 countries that are members of the ESA. (English below) La elaboracion de aceite de coco es el sosten economico de los habitantes de una comunidad rural asentada en la remota Isla Espiritu Santo, a 123 kilometros de la capital de El Salvador, una actividad que ademas la ha convertido en el referente del pais en la produccion de este producto. Esta isla, tambien conocida como El Jobal y en la que habitan aproximadamente 2,000 personas, se ubica en la bahia de Jiquilisco, en el departamento de Usulutan (este), y solo se puede acceder por medio de transporte maritimo. El mayor atractivo de la isla es una extensa area de cultivo de palmeras de coco de 1,700 manzanas (1,190 hectareas) junto con una fabrica de procesamiento y elaboracion de aceite de coco para diversos usos, como el cosmetico o cocina. Una palmera alcanza una altura de 20 a 30 metros y las condiciones optimas para el cultivo del coco son las condiciones climaticas tropicales, como las de la Isla Espiritu Santo porque la palma es una planta extremadamente sensible a las heladas. La Cooperativa El Jobal es la encargada de la produccion industrial de aceite y harina de coco, cuyo uso es de panaderia y concentrado porcino. Salvador Panameno, trabajador y miembro de la cooperativa, explico a EFE que el proceso para la elaboracion del aceite es el cortado del coco, luego un grupo de mujeres se encarga de amontonar, seleccionar y extraer la comida del coco. Luego esta se coloca sobre una superficie al aire libre para que reciba en sol entre siete y ocho dias para que se seque y luego pasa a su procesamiento en una fabrica de mas de 50 anos, comento Panameno. La cooperativa tambien vende cocos a habitantes locales que se dedican a la elaboracion de conserva de coco, un dulce tipico de este pais centroamericano, y a comerciantes de mercados. De aceite, la cooperativa vende a empresas privadas entre tres y diez toneladas; ademas la fabrica da trabajo a un aproximado de 11 personas mas los 170 socios que integran la sociedad, detallo Panameno. Los habitantes de la Isla Espiritu Santo tambien realizan las actividades de pesca y extraccion de conchas para sostenerse economicamente. En la modesta comunidad no se observan coches y el medio de transporte interno son motocicletas adaptadas para llevar a pasajeros, el caballo y bicicletas. Espiritu Santo, the remote island of El Salvador, survives by manufacturing coconut oil The production of coconut oil is the economic support of the inhabitants of a rural community located on the remote Salvadoran island of Isla Espiritu Santo, 123 kilometers from the capital of El Salvador, an activity that has also made it the countrys benchmark in production of this product. An aerial photograph shows the Salvadoran island of Espiritu Santo, where residents rely on production of coconut oil. / La elaboracion de aceite de coco es el sosten economico de los habitantes de una comunidad rural asentada en la remota Isla Espiritu Santo. This island, also known as El Jobal and home to approximately 2,000 people, is located in Jiquilisco Bay, in the department of Usulutan (east), and can only be accessed by sea transportation. The islands biggest attraction is an extensive coconut palm cultivation area of 1,700 blocks (1,190 hectares) along with a factory for processing and producing coconut oil for various uses, such as cosmetics or cooking. A palm tree reaches a height of 20 to 30 meters and the optimal conditions for growing coconut are tropical climatic conditions, such as those of Espiritu Santo Island because the palm is a plant extremely sensitive to frost. The El Jobal Cooperative is in charge of the industrial production of coconut oil and flour, whose use is for baking and pork concentrate. Salvador Panamanian, worker and member of the cooperative, explained to EFE that the process for producing the oil is cutting the coconut, then a group of women is in charge of stacking, selecting and extracting the food from the coconut. Then it is placed on an open-air surface so that it receives sun for seven to eight days to dry and then goes on to be processed in a factory that is more than 50 years old, Panameno commented. The cooperative also sells coconuts to local inhabitants who make coconut preserves, a typical sweet from this Central American country, and to market traders. Of oil, the cooperative sells between three and ten tons to private companies; In addition, the factory employs approximately 11 people plus the 170 partners that make up the company, explained Panameno. The inhabitants of Espiritu Santo Island also carry out fishing and shell extraction activities to sustain themselves economically. In the modest community there are no cars and the means of internal transportation are motorcycles adapted to carry passengers, horses and bicycles. EU freezes $32 million in defense funds for Georgia, halts accession process amid low point in relations Brussels has frozen 30 million euros ($32 million) in defense sector funding for Georgia after halting its EU accession process in June, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski said on July 9. EU granted candidate status to Georgia at the end of 2023, but relations with Tbilisi deteriorated after Georgia's parliament passed a "foreign agents" law despite mass protests and a veto by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili. The law mirrors repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on Kremlin regime critics, leading Washington and Brussels to denounce the bill as incompatible with Western values. The European Council said on June 27 that the law represents a back-sliding on the steps set out for Georgia's candidate status, "de facto leading to a halt of the accession process." The EU has now frozen its support for Georgia from the European Peace Facility (EPF), "which amounts to 30 million euros ($32 million) for 2024," Herczynski announced. "Other measures are being considered if the situation further deteriorates." "It is sad to see EU-Georgia relations at such a low point, when they could have been at an all-time high," Herczynski said. The EPF assists in funding security and defense to EU partners, including Moldova, North Macedonia, and the African Union. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been supported with 6.1 billion euros ($6.6 billion) in EPF funding. The U.S. Defense Department said on July 5 that it has indefinitely postponed joint military exercises with Georgia amid a comprehensive evaluation of its bilateral relationship with Tbilisi. Read also: Russias shadow over Georgia and Kyrgyzstans foreign agent laws Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Remi Duflot, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Ukraine, has stated that the EU will help Ukraine rebuild the Okhmatdyt hospital which was struck with a Russian missile the day before. Source: Duflot in the comment for Ukrinform news agency, as reported by European Pravda Details: Duflot stated that the members of the EU Delegation supplied Ukrainians with water and food and removed the debris after Russias strike on the Okhmatdyt hospital. He added that the EU Delegation would also allocate financial aid to help Ukraine rebuild this symbol of Ukrainian healthcare, the symbol of how the Ukrainian state treats the most vulnerable strata of its population. Duflot stated that Russia must be held accountable for its actions. "The more such acts we see, the higher our decisiveness to support Ukraine is," Duflot said. Latest reports say that over 40 people lost their lives in the Russian attack on Ukraine on the morning of 8 July. Emergency services finished the removal of the debris on the premises of the Okhmatdyt; the work is still ongoing in the Syrets district where two sections of a residential building were destroyed. It was confirmed that 33 people were killed and 120 were injured in the city of Kyiv as a result of the attack. Earlier the US and the EU called for the investigation of the strike on Okhmatdyt, which has features of a war crime. Support UP or become our patron! Anyone who had hoped that Vladimir Putin would be turned into an international pariah by his invasion of Ukraine will be dismayed to see so many world leaders beating a path to his door. The latest was Narendra Modi, the newly re-elected Indian prime minister, who greeted the Russian president not with a perfunctory handshake but a warm embrace. Appallingly, Russia chose the moment of Mr Modis arrival to send a barrage of missiles against Ukraines cities, killing dozens, including patients in a childrens hospital. The Indian leader urged his friend to seek peace, but why should he when he can count on such support? Other recent visitors have included Viktor Orban, the premier of Hungary, in breach of an alleged EU block on diplomatic contacts. China remains on friendly terms, as do many countries known as the Brics, such as Brazil and South Africa. Iran and North Korea supply Russia with weaponry and Turkey retains reasonable links. It is the only Nato member not on Russias unfriendly countries list. The mistake the West has made is to imagine the rest of the world objects to the Ukraine invasion as much as it does. Joe Biden, on a visit to Kyiv, said the world was backing Ukraine in its stand against aggression. Sadly, that is not the case. The sanctions on Russian energy sales have been thwarted by countries, such as India, prepared to buy oil and gas at knockdown prices. But even within the Western bloc cracks are appearing just as Nato meets in Washington to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Germany, which for years underspent on its defence budget but announced a big increase two years ago after the invasion, has now recanted. The government in Berlin has just approved an increase that is a fifth of what its own defence minister said was necessary. Sir Keir Starmer is at the Nato summit urging help for Ukraine, and yet he has so far only pledged to move spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP as soon as resources allow, which could be never. The outgoing chief of the Army, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, said such dithering will leave the West at the mercy of the autocracies. All this is happening against the backdrop of a possible return to the White House of Donald Trump, who has criticised countries happy to shelter under Americas generous financial and defence carapace to avoid paying their own way. European Nato powers need to start taking greater responsibility for their own security now. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. The European Space Agencys member countries have endured a months-long space access predicament while waiting to add a functioning launch vehicle to their toolbox. But a new rocket, dubbed Ariane 6, just launched on its maiden mission after years of delays and hang-ups in the development process. The flight kicked off at Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, which lies along South Americas northern tip, at 3 p.m. ET. And it appeared to go through most of its milestones without a hitch, propelling itself through orbit. Cheers rang out in the control room as the Ariane 6 strolled through milestones, including deploying its first satellites. However, around 2 hours and 50 minutes into the flight, before the Ariane 6 upper rocket booster dove back toward Earth, intentionally plunging out of orbit, officials announced that an anomaly aerospace parlance for something gone awry occurred. The root cause of the issue was not immediately clear. An engines reignition stopped prematurely. That prevented the rocket from finishing its mission as expected. Though Tuesdays mission didnt go entirely as planned, the space agency hopes the Ariane 6 rocket system will go on to make the space agency more self-reliant and even challenge SpaceXs dominance in the global market for launching satellites. SpaceX transformed the commercial launch market France-based launch service provider Arianespace is the operator of Ariane 6. The aerospace firm was founded in 1980 and is billed as the the worlds first commercial space transportation company. Arianespace is part of ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that developed and built the powerful rocket. But the European launch industry has struggled in recent years. The Ariane 6s predecessor, Ariane 5, flew its final voyage in July 2023, ending the rockets 27-year run. Europes Vega-C rocket, designed for vaulting small satellites to orbit, has also been grounded since a December 2022 failure. Spectators watch the takeoff of the Ariane 6 rocket from its launchpad at the Guiana Space Center on Tuesday. - Jody Amiet/AFP/Getty Images The commercial launch market, for the record, is far different than it was even two decades ago mostly due to Elon Musks California-based company SpaceX and its relatively affordable Falcon rockets. Now, ESA is aiming to bounce back, and even if its unable to compete directly with SpaceX on price capture more of the European market. Already, however, there are setbacks. Josef Aschbacher, the ESAs director general, has openly criticized The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, or EUMETSAT, for choosing to launch a weather satellite on a SpaceX-built Falcon 9 rocket rather than on Ariane 6. Its difficult to understand, Aschbacher said in a social media post that appeared on X, formerly known as Twitter. The end of the launcher is within reach. Now is the time for Europe to support autonomous access to space, which is on the horizon. Still, Ariane 6 has already inked some high-profile contracts, including plans to launch some of Amazons new constellation of internet-beaming satellites. Officials from Arianespace, Ariane Group and ESA all celebrated Tuesdays launch, declaring that Europe was officially back in space. What to expect from Ariane 6 Similar to the Ariane 5 rocket, the latest iteration of this launch system hopes to offer the capability of hauling fairly large satellites to orbit at a reasonable price. However, its not yet clear how much the rocket will ultimately cost per launch. The vehicle cost about 4 billion euros ($432.5 billion USD) to develop, and officials have indicated they hope the per-launch cost will be well under $100 million. In comparison, SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket has a base price of $67 million and can carry slightly more tonnage into low-Earth orbit. The Ariane 6 rocket is seen prior to its maiden launch at the Guiana Space Center on Tuesday. - Jody Amiet/AFP/Getty Images On Tuesday, the rocket took off on its inaugural test flight hauling small satellites, experiments and technology demonstrations. The mission plan for the rocket was to reignite the engine that powers the upper part of the rocket twice, practicing its ability to make multiple stops in orbit. The engine relit just once before the anomaly, successfully deploying some of its payloads. The rockets upper stage was then expected to intentionally dive back toward Earth to and sink to a watery grave in the ocean near Point Nemo a spot in the Pacific Ocean farther from land than any place on Earth. At the same time, two experimental capsules were supposed be jettisoned and attempt to survive the trip home. The mission ended before those events occurred. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Commenting on the EUs position on Viktor Orbans so-called peace mission, European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer said that Ukraine did not ask the Hungarian PM to act as a mediator and that it was more likely to be his own initiative. Source: European Pravda with reference to Mamer Details: A journalist from a Chinese publication asked why the EU had such a harsh reaction to Orbans "peace mission" and why not give the Hungarian leader a chance to achieve some success. Quote: "Well, you speak of mediation. But as far as Im aware, when you mediate, its because both parties ask you to mediate. Thats the very notion of mediation. And as far as Im aware, neither of the two sides, but certainly not Ukrainians, asked him to mediate." "The second point is that there is a very simple way to end this conflict [war ed.] which was created by Russia and it is for Russia to stop the war." More details: Mamer also reiterated that the EU supported the peace formula process initiated by Ukraine, which aims to achieve a just and sustainable peace. Background: A number of European leaders criticised Orbans "peacekeeping" visit to Moscow. European Council President Charles Michel stressed that Orban had no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU. He also stressed that Orbans visit was taking place exclusively within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia. Orban himself noted that Hungary had no mandate to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia. Support UP or become our patron! This file photo shows French President Emmanuel Macron (1st R) greeting French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in Paris, France, March 20, 2024. Macron rejected Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation Monday after his party failed to secure a majority in the snap legislative elections, French news channel BFMTV reported. (Photo by Henri Szwarc/Xinhua) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) In this aerial drone photo, rescuers work on an embankment to stem the piping effect in Huarong County, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. An embankment seen as the second line of defense following a dike breach in central China's Hunan Province was under threat on Monday, local authorities said. More than 300 police officers and firefighters are working at the site to stem the piping effect that is eroding the embankment in Huarong County, said the province's water resources department. The 14.3-km embankment is located around 2 kilometers behind the dike that burst on Friday at Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, following a heavy rainstorm. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) An aerial drone photo taken on July 7, 2024 shows tourists walking on a bridge in Hongcun Village of Yixian County, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Du Yu) This photo shows a buoy to the north of the illegally grounded Philippine military vessel in the waters of China's Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippine military vessel that has been illegally grounded at the lagoon slope of Ren'ai Jiao since 1999 has gravely damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem in the area, said a report released Monday. A Survey Report on the Damage to Coral Reef Ecosystem by Illegally Grounded Military Vessel at Ren'ai Jiao is based on a scientific survey conducted on the coral reef ecosystem at Ren'ai Jiao and its adjacent sea areas in April this year by the South China Sea Ecological Center and the South China Sea Development Research Institute of China's Ministry of Natural Resources together with other institutes. (South China Sea Ecological Center and the South China Sea Development Research Institute of China's Ministry of Natural Resources/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows rescuers sealing the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. Rescue personnel successfully sealed a 226-meter breach in a dike at China's second-largest freshwater lake at 10:31 p.m. Monday, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Performers dressed as "Alice Through the Looking Glass" characters play on a giant chess board during the ChessFest at the Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, July 7, 2024. ChessFest, an annual open-air chess festival in Britain, took place in London on Sunday. (Xinhua/Li Ying) Torchbearers Rodolphe Delord (R), general director of Beauval Zoo and French navigator Maud Fontenoy pose for photos with twin giant pandas Huan Lili and Yuan Dudu behind them during the relay of the Olympic flame of Paris 2024 at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, central France, July 8, 2024. (Zoo Parc de Beauval/Handout via Xinhua) The Ariane 6 launch pad at the European spaceport in French Guiana is now home to a fully assembled example of ESA's new launcher for the first time. Europe has had to wait ten years for it. Now the new Ariane 6 launcher is finally set to fly into space. Manuel Pedoussaut/ESA/dpa The new joint European launch rocket Ariane 6 is set to fly into space for the first time on Tuesday, four years later than initially planned. The rocket is scheduled to lift off from the European spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana at 1800 GMT on Tuesday. With its maiden flight, Europe's space industry hopes to re-establish its own access to space for satellites and put a lengthy crisis in its launch vehicle sector behind it. Ariane 6 is the successor to Ariane 5, which was in service from 1996 until the summer of 2023. The Ariane 6 rocket is intended to launch satellites into space for both commercial and public clients and is significantly cheaper than its predecessor. France and Germany are among the biggest financial backers of the Ariane 6 project, while additional funding was also provided by the other 20 countries that are also members of the European Space Agency (ESA). The upper stage of the rocket will be assembled at space company ArianeGroup's factory in the northern German city of Bremen, while the rocket's main stage will be built in Les Mureaux, France. By Tim Hepher and Joey Roulette PARIS (Reuters) -Space bosses hailed Europe's return to space after the Ariane 6 rocket successfully carried out a series of trials in a debut flight on Tuesday, but the mission ended with the launcher coasting in orbit without releasing its final batch of payloads. Watched by a Rafale fighter jet, Europe's newest uncrewed rocket blasted off from French Guiana around 4 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), restoring the continent's independent access to space after delays, political setbacks and debates over funding. Although not a commercial mission, the flight deployed three sets of micro-satellites for research purposes, prompting European space officials to declare the maiden trip a success. "Europe is back in space," Philippe Baptiste, head of France's CNES space agency, said via video link to the Paris headquarters of the European Space Agency (ESA), where employees and politicians cheered the lift-off. In a keenly awaited milestone, the Vinci engine powering the rocket's upper stage was restarted in space for the first time. It is designed to restart repeatedly, allowing operator Arianespace to place payloads into several different orbits. However, a third firing had to be abandoned after a smaller power unit shut itself down for unspecified reasons, meaning the final batch of payloads - two small capsules designed to test the conditions for surviving re-entry - remained stuck onboard. "We had an anomaly...We are probably not going to finish this part of the mission as we were hoping to," said Tina Buchner da Costa, an Ariane 6 launch system architect. The affected auxiliary power unit is a system crucial for the rocket's ability to put payloads in their intended orbit. Its failure, although late in the mission, is expected to spur an engineering investigation. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said the agency was nonetheless on track to stage a second flight by year-end. Ariane 6 was developed at an estimated cost of 4 billion euros ($4.33 billion) by ArianeGroup, co-owned by Airbus and Safran. Its first launch, originally due in 2020, has been repeatedly delayed. Since the agency retired its workhorse Ariane 5 rocket more than a year ago, Europe has had no independent means of sending its satellites into space, while war in Ukraine has cut Western ties to Russian Soyuz rockets and Italy's Vega C is grounded. "Ariane 6 is fundamental for Europe's space ambition," Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA's acting director of space transportation, told Reuters from the control room at Europe's space port. "It is about sovereign access to space for institutional and governmental missions ... and this need has been even more emphasised in view of the geopolitical situation." SPACE COMPETITION Europe's temporary isolation in an increasingly global market was exposed last year when its agencies were forced to switch some payloads to U.S. rival SpaceX's Falcon 9. Ariane 6 owes its existence to a decision by ESA's 22 nations in 2014 to develop a family of rockets in the face of fierce competition from Elon Musk's private space venture. The United States and dozens of other countries have come to rely heavily on Falcon 9 for reaching orbit as everyday life on Earth becomes increasingly reliant on satellite links and data. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, part of President Emmanuel Macron's outgoing centrist and pro-European government that came third in Sunday's elections, highlighted the Ariane programme's role as a symbol of European unity. "There are sometimes worries and doubts about Europe's ability to play in the same league as China and the U.S. - with Ariane we are proving that through determination and collective will, we can operate at the same level," he told ESA staff. Even so, European officials said it will be some time before Ariane 6 pays its way economically after backer nations agreed a fresh round of financial support last year. "Ariane 6 is not quite there yet in terms of competitiveness, but they want to get there," said Ian Annett, former deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency. In the latest setback, Europe's weather satellite operator Eumetsat last month said it would launch its next satellite on a Falcon 9 instead of the initially planned Ariane 6. The surprise decision angered European officials and broke with calls to back the local space industry, laying bare tensions that have simmered over Europe's space ambitions. ESA has launched an initiative to boost small-launcher projects that could pave the way for a future private player. Ariane 6 has 29 missions to launch over the next several years and aims for up to 12 flights a year. That includes 18 launches for Amazon's Kuiper internet constellation. SpaceX launched Falcon rockets 96 times in 2023 and nearly 70 times so far in 2024, though most of those were to deploy its in-house Starlink satellites. Still, analysts say that has shattered norms and spawned fierce competition from China, which had 67 launches in 2023. ($1 = 0.9246 euros) (Reporting by Tim Hepher and Joey Roulette; Editing by Bernadette Baum and David Evans) Idaho legislative candidate Ben Fuhriman, left, poses for a photograph with Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. (Courtesy of Ben Fuhriman) After winning the closest Idaho legislative primary election in years, Ben Fuhriman wont let anyone tell him their vote doesnt matter. Following a free recount last month, Fuhriman was certified the winner of his primary election by four votes. Fuhriman is a Republican from the eastern Idaho town of Shelley. He defeated incumbent Rep. Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, in the Republican primary election for Idaho House Seat B in Legislative District 30. The underlying story is that here in Idaho we tend to think our votes dont matter because we are such a red state, and we get complacent with voting, especially at the national level, Fuhriman said in a phone interview. But we forget how important local elections are. Young could not be reached for comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho legislative primary election result was so close it qualified for a free recount Initial, unofficial election night results posted by the state late on the night of the May 21 primary election showed that Furhiman defeated Young by 10 votes. But when the county clerks conducted their normal review of election results, they discovered a discrepancy of eight votes in Butte County that dropped Fuhrimans victory down to two votes, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. The Idaho Secretary of States Office said there was a discrepancy of eight votes when the data was entered into the states reporting system. That two-vote margin was so close that it qualified for a free recount. In an email message to her supporters on May 22, Young announced she would request a paid recount of the results because of how close the outcome was. But when the margin of victory dropped from 10 votes down to two, it meant the recount was free and Young didnt have to pay. Under Idaho law, a losing candidate may request a free recount of the votes if the difference in votes between the candidates is within 0.1%, or five votes. Rep. Julianne Young (R, Blackfoot) Young issued a news release on June 5 announcing that she was formally requesting a recount. We observed significant variations in the vote count during the election, with my opponents lead fluctuating from 10 votes to a two-vote margin days after the election, Young wrote. Such variations raise concerns about the accuracy of the current vote count. The voters of Idaho deserve to have full confidence in the accuracy and security of their elections. By requesting this recount, we are putting to rest any questions regarding the outcome of this election. This due diligence in regard to elections is consistent with the Republican values we all cherish. Fuhriman said he and Young have not spoken since the recount, which ran June 20 and June 21. How did the primary election recount in Idaho work? Legislative District 30 includes Butte and Bingham counties. The recount took place June 20 in Butte County and June 21 in Bingham County, Fuhriman said. Both candidates and an assistant were allowed to be present and observe the recount in both counties. Representatives from the Idaho Attorney Generals Office and Idaho Secretary of States Office were also there, Fuhriman said. Before the recount began in Butte County, Fuhriman said the ballots were brought in in a locked box that had been in the custody of the county sheriff. You could feel confident that nobody had messed with the ballots, Fuhriman said. Butte County counts ballots by hand. For the recount, elections officials and witnesses went through the ballots and again counted by hand, Fuhriman said. During the recount, one election official read the name of the candidate who received a vote on each ballot, while another election official watched the count to make sure the correct candidates name was called, Fuhriman said. Meanwhile, two other elections officials each record the count. The candidates and their assistants were allowed to watch the counts and keep their own tallies too, Fuhriman said. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US During the recount, Young received one fewer vote and Fuhriman received one more vote, bringing the difference to four votes. In Bingham County, ballots are scanned and counted by machine. During the June 21 recount in Bingham County, officials conducted a small hand recount to test the machines and then scanned all of the ballots. The recount produced the exact same total as on the night of the primary election in Bingham County, Fuhriman and Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane told the Sun. As a result, final results from the recount showed Fuhriman won 3,764 to 3,760. Going through a razor-thin election and recount gave Fuhriman an unusually close view of election policies and procedures, he said. We have very secure elections; we have very good processes, Fuhriman said. With over 7,000 ballots in Bingham County, the recount produced the same results. That goes to show we are doing something right. People should feel comfortable and confident in Idaho elections. The process is fair, its secure and its safe. McGrane also said the recount demonstrates the safeguards built into Idaho elections. He said every step in the process worked as expected, from the routine county review of election results, to the recount. McGrane also said the election is an example of why the election results posted online on the night of the election are considered unofficial. Election results dont become official in Idaho until after the county review and the results are certified by the State Board of Canvassers, which occurred June 5. The recount really put an exclamation point on the processes we put in place, McGrane said. It should give people confidence as we head into the November election, knowing we have gone through these audits and recounts, and it is a testament to the county clerks clear across the state. Have there been other close races and recounts in Idaho? McGrane said in a July 2 interview that recounts are common in Idaho, even in legislative races. In smaller local municipal races, the outcomes are so close that there are recounts every year, McGrane added. Here are just some of the close legislative races in recent memory. In the 2018 general election, a recount found that former Sen. Fred Martin defeated Democratic challenger Jim Bratnober by 11 votes in the District 15 Idaho Senate race, the Associated Press reported. Initially, election results showed Martin beating Bratnober by six votes. In the 2010 general election, current Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth defeated current Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking by seven votes in the District 18 Idaho House Seat A race, according to online state election results. In the 2004 Republican primary election for District 33 Idaho House Seat B race, former Rep. Russ Mathews incumbent Rep. Lee Gagnier by six votes, according to online state election results. In the 1998 Republican primary election for District 14 Idaho House Seat A, current Speaker of the Idaho House Mike Moyle, R-Star, defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Dave Bivens by 14 votes in the year Moyle was first elected to the Idaho Legislature, online election records show. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Everyone agrees South Korea needs more doctors except the 9,000 doctors on strike Medical professors line up to submit their resignations at Korea University in Seoul on March 25, 2024. Senior doctors at hospitals in South Korea planned to do the same in support of medical interns and residents who have been on strike over the government's push to sharply increase medical school admissions. (Yoon Dong-jin / Associated Press) By many measures, South Koreas healthcare system is among the most successful in the world. Seeing a doctor is easy. The mortality rate from preventable illnesses is low. And though most hospitals and clinics are privately run, a nationalized single-payer health insurance program keeps costs affordable. An appendectomy costs $2,500 less than a fifth of the average price in the United States with 80% of that covered by government insurance. But a four-month-old strike by more than 9,000 medical residents and interns across the country is turning the public against the medical establishment. At issue is a government plan to add 1,497 slots to medical school admissions a 48% increase in order to meet the rising need for healthcare as South Koreas population ages . Read more: Korea's army of senior citizens ready for battle. 'I dont remember the rifles being so heavy' The government says it is simply trying to plug shortages in essential fields such as pediatrics or gynecology, which doctors are increasingly shunning for higher-paying specializations. But junior doctors, backed by their senior peers, say that a wave of new graduates will compromise the quality of medical education, lead to unnecessary medical appointments and drive down physician salaries. Of course we are conscious of the fact that these new graduates will end up joining the competition in the private practice market later, said Dr. Peter Han, a 30-year-old internal medicine resident who resigned from his job at a major teaching hospital in Seoul in February. Nothing good will come of that. Patients and their family members, holding signs that say "Medical Normalization," rally on July 4, 2024, for an end to a walkout by South Korean doctors that has disrupted public health services in Seoul. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press) At a rally in Seoul last month organized by the Korean Medical Assn., doctors held placards that read, The rushed increase of medical school admissions will collapse the medical system. Given South Koreas fertility rate the lowest in the world senior citizens are expected to make up 40% of the total population by 2050. With around 112,000 active physicians as of 2022, the government has estimated the country will need at least 10,000 more in the next decade. Read more: California plans to enlist AI to translate healthcare information Some fields are already facing shortages . A survey of 59 teaching hospitals by Medi C&C, a local medical data company, found that pediatric departments failed to fill 152 of their 205 residency openings this year. Dermatology and plastic surgery departments faced overflows. The protesting doctors have accused the government of failing to factor in artificial intelligence which they say will someday reduce healthcares reliance on human labor. They have also suggested that much of the problem could be solved by increasing efficiency in a system that has long been a marriage of a strong social safety net and the free market. South Koreans visit the doctor an average of 15.7 times a year far more than in any other country, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. And despite being classified as tertiary care institutions meant for the sickest patients, university hospitals are chronically overcrowded because costs are low and primary care physicians give out referrals for even minor ailments. Therein lies another factor motivating the strikers: Medical residents say they are the cheap labor propping it all up. At leading U.S. hospitals, residents make up around 14% of total physicians on staff. In South Korea, they account for around 40% of the physicians at the hospitals where they train. They earn nearly $2,900 a month while working an average of nearly 80 hours a week, often in 36-hour shifts. Read more: Single-payer healthcare meets its fate again in the face of California's massive budget deficit People will say, Thats why were trying to graduate more doctors, but hospitals wont necessarily hire more of us when its more profitable to run the ones they have into the ground, Han said. All of these frustrations are just finally boiling over. As the strike grinds on, the doctors are losing the battle for public opinion. More than 80% of South Koreans oppose the strike and support the governments plan, according to a recent poll by research company Southern Post. Amid reports of cancer patients experiencing disruptions in their treatment and patients being shuttled from one emergency room to the next in search of care, some patient advocacy groups have called on the government to permanently revoke the medical licenses of striking doctors and bring in replacements from abroad. The government has tried to force the absentees back to their posts with threats of legal punishment, a hard-line strategy that appears to have backfired. The government and doctors groups are behaving the same way, which is why dialogue isnt happening, said Yoon Tae-ho, a health management expert at Pusan National University. The people have simply become a tool and object in this fight. Among them is Suh Yi-seul, whose 12-year-old son Kai was born with a rare congenital disorder called Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome that has caused his right leg and foot to grow to twice as thick as his left and occasionally triggers skin infections that have kept him from school. Read more: Millions of Americans need drugs like Ozempic. Will it bankrupt the healthcare system? All he can do when that happens is lie still for 10 days while taking antibiotics, Suh said. And each time, after the swelling goes down, his leg has grown a little bit bigger. The departure of residents from his hospital in Seoul has put an indefinite hold on evaluating him for an experimental therapy that research has suggested could help prevent his condition from worsening. She said she empathized with the doctors but suggested they were behaving selfishly: Shouldnt they also think of the social good, and not just their group interests? As the head of a nationwide network for patients with her sons condition, Suh recently met with lawmakers from the National Assemblys Health and Welfare Committee. It went nowhere. It really just felt like they showed up just to let us vent, Suh said. They don't know what to do for us either. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Yukiko Toyoda, John Geddie TOKYO (Reuters) -Russia's deepening military cooperation with North Korea has underlined the need for Japan to forge closer ties with NATO as regional security threats become increasingly intertwined, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told Reuters. In written remarks ahead of his attendance at a NATO summit in Washington DC this week, Kishida also signalled concern over Beijing's alleged role in aiding Moscow's two-year-old war in Ukraine, although he did not name China. "The securities of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable, and Russias aggression against Ukraine and its deepened military cooperation with North Korea are strong reminders of that," Kishida said. "Japan is determined to strengthen its cooperation with NATO and its partners," he added. The world, the Japanese leader said, should not tolerate attempts by some countries to disrupt the established international order and reiterated a warning that Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow. He also urged cooperation to confront new security threats that transcend geographical boundaries, such as cyber-attacks and conflicts in space. South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, which along with Japan are known as the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4), are also attending the July 10-11 meeting with NATO leaders. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told Reuters this week that he planned to discuss the threat Pyongyang poses to Europe by deepening its Russia ties. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signed a mutual defence pledge with Russia last month during President Valdimir Putin's first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years, and expressed his "full support" for Russia's war in Ukraine. The U.S. and its allies have accused Pyongyang of providing ballistic missiles and artillery shells that Russia has used in its war in Ukraine and say they fear Moscow in return could provide support for North Korea's nuclear missile development. Washington has also said China is supplying drone and missile technology, satellite imagery and machine tools to Russia, items which fall short of lethal assistance but are helping Moscow build its military to sustain the Ukraine war. Beijing has said it has not provided any weaponry to any party. Without naming China, Kishida told Reuters "some countries" have allegedly transferred dual-use civilian-military goods to Russia which has served "as a lifeline" for its Ukraine war. "It is necessary to grapple with such situations in a multi-faceted and strategic manner, taking a panoramic view that considers the full range of international actors fuelling Russias attempt to change the status quo by force," he said. "The geographical boundary of 'Euro-Atlantic' or 'Indo-Pacific' is no longer relevant in safeguarding global peace and security. Japan and Indo-Pacific partners can play a great role for NATO allies from this perspective." Constrained by decades of pacifism, Tokyo has been reluctant to supply lethal aid to Ukraine. It has, however, provided financial aid to Kyiv, spearheaded efforts to prepare for its post-war reconstruction, and contributed to NATOs fund to provide Ukraine with non-lethal equipment such as anti-drone detection systems. Tokyo has also repeatedly warned about the risks of a similar conflict emerging in East Asia, where China has been taking an increasingly muscular stance towards its territorial claims including the democratic island of Taiwan. "This summit is a critical opportunity for Japan, the U.S., and the other NATO allies to confront the ongoing challenges against the international order and to reaffirm values and principles that have shaped global peace and prosperity," he said. There may be limits, however, over how far NATO members are prepared to go in forging closer ties in Asia. A plan that surfaced last year for NATO to open a liaison office in Japan, its first in Asia, was blocked by France and criticised by China. (Reporting by Yukiko Toyoda and John Geddie; Editing by Michael Perry) Installing solar panels over fish farms can help boost seafood harvests by 50% while generating huge amounts of pollution-free electricity, according to a new study out of China. As the World Resources Institute detailed, this is an exciting example of how solar energy can help us create a cleaner, healthier future that benefits both people and the planet. The study looked at an aquaculture site near the mouth of the Yellow River in China's Shandong Province. In 2021, solar panels were installed several meters above the water to generate clean energy. The results have been astonishing. The solar installation now generates 260 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity per year enough to power 113,000 homes. At the same time, the shade from the panels keeps the water 3.6 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit cooler, which has led to 50% higher yields of shrimp and sea cucumbers. The solar company also pays to lease the space, which has funded improvements to the farm's infrastructure. This solar-aquaculture integration, known as "agrivoltaics," demonstrates how solar panels can do more than just generate clean power. They can also help protect crops and animals from excessive heat and sunlight, reduce water evaporation, and even improve yields. Farmers get the added benefit of extra income from leasing their land or cheaper rent if the arrangement is reversed. According to the World Resources Institute, "In a world where global energy demand is soaring and the use of agricultural land for food production is increasingly displaced by renewable energy projects (such as for solar and wind farms, or growing crops such as corn and soy for biofuels), agrivoltaics has emerged as a win-win solution for sustainable energy and agriculture." Beyond the direct food-related benefits, agrivoltaics can enhance energy independence in rural communities and create new jobs. By optimizing land use for food production and clean energy, everyone can benefit. With smart policies and engaged local leadership, agrivoltaics could help accelerate the shift to cleaner energy while strengthening food security in China and beyond. As this study shows, that's something we can all get excited about. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China has allocated an additional 848 million yuan (about 118.9 million U.S. dollars) to support local flood rescue efforts, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Tuesday. The fund, allocated by the MOF and the Ministry of Water Resources, will mainly be used to assist local authorities' rescue work in the country's flood-hit central, eastern, southern, southwestern and northeastern regions, including Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei and Guangdong, according to the MOF. The MOF will prioritize water facility repair and hidden risk removal efforts. Early this year, the MOF allocated funds in batches to assist local authorities with disaster relief work. China's emergency response measures to repair a breach in a dike at Dongting Lake in Hunan Province, have paid off. The breach in the dike of the country's second-largest freshwater lake was successfully sealed late on Monday and work to drain flooded land and reduce risks are ongoing, according to authorities. The National Fire and Rescue Administration has dispatched 219 rescue workers and 72 fire-fighting trucks and flood drainage rescue vehicles to Hunan to assist local authorities with rescue operations. Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian looks on during a gathering with his supporters at the shrine of the late leader of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in south of Tehran Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian looks on during a gathering with his supporters at the shrine of the late leader of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in south of Tehran By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) - The election of relative moderate Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran's president has lifted the hopes of Iranians yearning for social freedoms and better relations with the West, but few expect big policy changes. Iran's ruling clerics' political fortunes' rely on tackling economic hardship, so Pezeshkian may have a comparatively strong hand to revive the economy, but his scope to permit social freedoms will be limited, insiders and analysts said. Under Iran's dual system of clerical and republican rule, the president cannot usher in any major policy shift on Iran's nuclear programme or foreign policy, since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters. However, the president can influence the tone of policy and he will be closely involved in selecting the successor to Khamenei, now 85. Hardliners, entrenched in institutions Khamenei controls such as the judiciary, armed forces and the media, have in the past blocked either the new opening to the West or domestic liberalisation. Khamenei has set out guidelines he would like to see in the new government by counselling Pezeshkian to continue the policies of hardline President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May. "Pezeshkian self-identifies as a 'principlist' - someone committed to the ideological principles of the revolution - and has been clear about his devotion to the Revolutionary Guards and Khamenei," said Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington. WILL IRAN CHANGE ITS STANCE IN THE NUCLEAR STANDOFF? Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old former heart surgeon, won Iran's run-off presidential vote last week and is yet to be sworn in. He has pledged to promote a pragmatic foreign policy and ease tensions with the six major powers that have been involved in now-stalled nuclear talks to revive a 2015 nuclear pact. Undoubtedly, analysts said, Pezeshkian's victory was a setback for hawks such as his rival, hardliner Saeed Jalili, who opposed any opening to the West and revival of the nuclear pact. Jalili's supporters have criticised a hardline watchdog body for allowing Pezeshkian to run, with insiders suggesting that this decision was made by Khamenei to secure a high turnout amid consistently low participation in elections since 2020. Pezeshkian hopes that revived talks with the West would lead to a lifting of tough U.S. sanctions, given growing popular discontent over economic hardships. However, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday the United States was not ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran under the new president. For Pezeshkian the stakes are high. The president could become politically vulnerable if he fails to revive the pact, which then-U.S. President Donald Trump ditched in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran. "He has a difficult path ahead ... Pezeshkian's inability to revive the pact will weaken the president and also lead to a backlash against the pro-reform camp who backed him," said a senior reformist former official. A restoration of ties with the United States, which Iran's rulers have called the "Great Satan" since taking power in a 1979 revolution, remains out of the question. WILL A NEW PRESIDENT BOOST THE ECONOMY? As the economy remains the Achilles heel for Khamenei, breaking free of the crippling U.S. sanctions, which have cost Iran billions of dollars in income from oil, will remain the top economic goal for Pezeshkian. Spiralling prices and constricted spending power have left millions of Iranians struggling against a combination of sanctions and mismanagement. Khamenei knows the economic struggle is a persistent challenge for the ruling clerics, who fear a revival of protests that have erupted since 2017 among lower- and middle-income people angry at enduring hardship. "Failure to improve the economy will lead to street protests, particularly now that people have high hopes because of Pezeshkian's campaign promises," said an insider who is close to Khamenei. Iran's economic outlook looks ever more uncertain, analysts say, with the possible return of Trump as U.S. president considered likely to lead to tougher enforcement of oil sanctions. WILL STRICT SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS CHANGE? Pezeshkian enjoys an insider status and close relationship with the theocratic Khamenei, and may be able to build bridges between factions to yield moderation, but this would not enable him to bring about the fundamental changes that many pro-reform Iranians demand. Pezeshkian, analysts said, is highly likely to end up in a similar position to his predecessors - reformist President Mohammad Khatami and pragmatist Hassan Rouhani - who whetted Iranians' appetite for change but ultimately were blocked by hardliners in the dominant elite of clerics and the powerful Revolutionary Guards. "Pezeshkian is neither a reformist nor a moderate ... As a foot soldier of Khamanei, Pezeshkian will be subjected to his wishes which clearly has been to rule by violence and repression," said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of New York-based advocacy group the Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). As a lawmaker in 2022, Pezeshkian criticised the establishment over the death in custody of young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, which triggered months of unrest in Iran. WILL IRAN CHANGE ITS REGIONAL POLICY? Unlikely. The top authority in regional policy is not the president, but the Guards, who answer only to Khamenei. Pezeshkian is taking office at a time of escalating Middle East tensions over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Signalling no change in Iran's regional policies, Pezeshkian reaffirmed on Monday Iran's anti-Israel stance and its support for resistance movements across the region "Supporting the resistance of the people in the region against the illegitimate Zionist regime (Israel) is rooted in the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic," Pezeshkian said in a message to the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Timothy Heritage) F-16s, multi-billion pledge, more Patriots, 'irreversible' membership what Ukraine will and won't get at the NATO Summit While 75th birthdays are usually a cause for joy and celebration, NATO's marking of this milestone at a three-day summit in Washington from 9-11 July is likely to be a rather more muted affair. Ukraine is understandably top of the agenda, with a Russian mass missile attack on July 8 that targeted hospitals, killed dozens and injured hundreds, adding to Kyiv's sense of urgency to secure what it needs to protect its people and fend off Russia's full-scale invasion. A communique to be announced on July 11, 9 p.m. Kyiv time following the NATO-Ukraine Council, will confirm what has been agreed. "I think the big outcome would be some kind of clarity on Ukraines pathway to NATO," General Mick Ryan, adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Kyiv Independent. "Other key outcomes would hopefully include confirmation of NATO's ongoing support for Ukraine, commitment on munitions supply assurance and commitment on training Ukrainian forces, probably still outside Ukraine." So what will Ukraine get? It's a mixed bag, a source in the Ukrainian government with knowledge of NATO negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Kyiv Independent. While there are a couple of bright spots, some of the big ticket items namely NATO membership remain a long way off. F-16s A statement on F-16 fighter jets will announce they will be on the battlefield "this summer," according to people familiar with the matter. Ukraine has long-been preparing to receive dozens of the aircraft, with a recent uptick of Russian attacks on airfields likely an attempt to disrupt their arrival and deployment. Although defense experts do not expect F-16s to become game-changers in the war, the jets may strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities, helping to prevent attacks like the devastating mass missile attack on July 8. They will also challenge Russia's "full dominance" of the skies over the Black Sea, Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa told Reuters in an interview published on July 5. NATO membership There's no avoiding the fact that Ukraine is still a long way from joining NATO. One year on from President Volodymyr Zelensky's concerted but failed effort to get an invitation to join at last year's summit, Kyiv has since radically adjusted its expectations this time around. "Of course we would like to get an invitation to join NATO," Oleksandr Merezhko, Ukrainian MP and chair of the parliament's foreign affairs policy, told the Kyiv Independent. "But we understand that it's hardly something realistic as of now." Instead, the final document will refer to Ukraine's "irreversible membership in NATO," the Ukrainian government source told the Kyiv Independent, a phrase noticeably lacking in any sort of timeline. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon on July 8, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia. NATO is holding its annual summit in Washington later this week to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) While some of the allies are in favor of Ukraine's accession, including France and the U.K., there are those who disagree, the source said. There are concerns that the reason is to keep Ukraine's membership as a bargaining chip in negotiation with Russia. The question that remains open is whether the "irreversible membership" clause would be tied to any commitments from the Ukrainian side, among them Kyiv's need to implement ongoing reforms. Nico Lange, Senior Fellow at Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine's non-membership of NATO is "exactly the gray zone Vladimir Putin tries to exploit." "I'm afraid this will be perceived very positively in Moscow, it will be perceived as a success from the Kremlin point of view," he added. But in Kyiv, with expectations lowered since last year, it's still being viewed on positive, if somewhat resigned, terms. "Nevertheless, we would like to see in the final document of the summit, an indication that the process of joining NATO is irreversible, that it's only a question of time that Ukraine is going to join NATO," Merezhko said. "That we're not discussing anymore whether or not Ukraine becomes a fully-fledged NATO member, but that we're only discussing when it will happen." Air defense As the Russian strikes on July 8 hammered home once again, Ukraine is still in desperate need of more air defense systems, in particular, the U.S.-made Patriot. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukraine is expected to get "more news" on air defense at the summit. The Ukrainian side is insisting on a declaration of the coalition on air defense and the announcement of 10 additional Patriot systems by the end of the year. The number is yet to be decided upon, with Ukraine previously saying that at least seven Patriot systems are desperately needed to protect the country's skies. With limited numbers of Patriot systems in existence, and a reluctance from some countries to part with theirs, Ukraine has struggled to obtain them in the numbers needed to adequately protect the largest country in Europe. Entrance at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center ahead of the NATO Summit in Washington D.C., United States of America on July 8th, 2024 (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) While the source of the additional Patriots has not been confirmed as yet, it's likely linked to an Israeli decision earlier this year to mothball up to eight in its possession in favor of its own domestic versions. One issue still under discussion but lacking a final decision, will be an integrated air defense system that would allow Romania and Poland to shoot down Russian missiles over western Ukraine. Diplomatic and funding boosts Allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military support to Ukraine each year," Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of NATO, said on May 31. "We must maintain at least this level of support each year, for as long as necessary," he added. The final communique will pledge $40 billion next year in NATO military aid, with annual contributions from member states, the Ukrainian government source told the Kyiv Independent. It will also announce two significant diplomatic developments firstly, there will be a meeting of all countries who have signed security agreements with Ukraine. It's not yet known whether a formal agreement will be signed, but the deepening of cooperation and coordination between the signatory countries is expected. Poland was the latest country to sign such an agreement with Ukraine based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) in July 2023. Other states, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, have signed similar bilateral treaties to help Kyiv repel Russia's aggression. Polish President Andrzej Duda is welcoming President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8. The Ukrainian president's visit to Warsaw is coming a day before a NATO summit in the US, where he is seeking more support and assistance in the war against Russia. (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images). Secondly, NATO will establish a new structure tasked with coordinating assistance and bringing the Ukrainian military closer to NATO standards. Retired U.S. General Stephen Twitty, fellow at CEPA, told the Kyiv Independent such a move is badly needed. It will provide the face-to-face contact thats so badly needed there, he added. According to a Washington Street Journal report on July 2, the mission is also part of the alliances effort to safeguard long-term aid for Ukraine should Donald Trump return to the White House after the U.S. presidential election later this year. Ex-President Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, has repeatedly criticized NATO and assistance for Kyiv. It's not currently known who will head the mission, though there will likely be a tussle divided by the Atlantic, with the U.S. pushing for an American and everyone else pushing for a European. Read also: Ukraines airfields under fire as Russia braces for F-16s Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. F-16s in Ukraine may 'create conditions for counterattack,' Polish general says The arrival of F-16 fighter jets may help Ukraine create conditions for a counterattack, Jaroslaw Kraszewski, a retired Polish brigadier general, said in an interview with Ukrinform published on July 9. Ukraine is expected to receive the first F-16 jets this summer, a year after Denmark and the Netherlands founded the "fighter jet coalition" with nine other countries at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023. Kraszewski believes that the arrival of F-16s will "dramatically change the situation" on the battlefield, although it is unlikely to be a turning point in Russia's full-scale war. "I think a lot of positive things will happen for Ukraine then; the planes will create conditions for a counterattack," he said in the interview. According to the Polish general, Western aircraft and missiles should help halt Russia's offensive in Kharkiv and Donetsk sectors, as well as "cyclically and effectively" destroy logistics deep inside Russia. Kraszewski stressed that the West must allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia to allow the liberation of Ukrainian territories, a step that Washington has so far refused to take. Under such conditions, Ukraine could launch a counteroffensive this fall, the general believes. Belgium, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands have so far pledged more than 70 jets to Ukraine to be delivered from 2024 onwards. The latter two allowed Kyiv to use delivered F-16s to strike Russian soil. "Ukrainian aviation should receive long-range missiles to destroy Russia's infrastructure, including airfields. When this happens, the logistics of the Russian army will be cut off from the main forces. If this is done, Ukraine's army command should form a strike group and strike back," Kraszewski said. Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa said that the upcoming delivery of F-16s to Ukraine will challenge Russia's "full dominance" of the skies over the Black Sea. Ukraine wants to expand its shipping corridor, which facilitates the only maritime traffic from the three main Odesa ports, to include the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson in the country's south, he added. Read also: Ukraines airfields under fire as Russia braces for F-16s Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has also updated its policies to explicitly ban anti-Semitic claims around 'Zionists' controlling the world's media - AP Photo/Susan Walsh Facebook will suppress attacks on Jewish people as Zionists, warning the term is used to mask anti-Semitism. The social network said it will take down more posts that substitute the words Jew or Israeli for Zionist, other than in cases where the word is explicitly used to discuss Zionism as a political movement. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, already bans abuse based on protected characteristics such as a persons race, sexuality or disability, although attacks on political positions and beliefs are allowed. While Zionism originated as a political movement to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, Meta said the word Zionist was being used as a slur against Jews more generally. Meta said it will target content that uses anti-Semitic stereotypes, or threatens other types of harm through intimidation or violence directed against Jews or Israelis under the guise of attacking Zionists. Meta had previously barred specific phrases using the word Zionist, such as those comparing Zionists to rats, an anti-Semitic trope. But the company said its current moderation rules did not sufficiently address the ways people are using the term Zionist online and offline. The World Jewish Congress said Metas decision marks a significant step in combating the veiled anti-Semitism that has proliferated under the guise of political discourse. From now on, Meta will explicitly ban posts that claim Zionists are in control of the world or the media. It will also block posts that use the term to make dehumanising comparisons or call for physical harm. The new policy could force a major change for how Meta handles complaints about anti-Semitic posts online. The term Zionist has been widely used in protests online and offline against Israels actions during the war in Gaza. An estimated 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gazan health ministry. Meanwhile, a search for the term Zionist among hashtags on Instagram still showed recommendations including #Zionistterror and #Zionistsarenazis. While the decision was welcomed by Jewish groups it has proved controversial among pro-Palestinian campaigners. More than a dozen activist groups had signed an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg opposing the classification, arguing Palestinians should be able to name the political ideology that impacts their survival without fearing reprisals. 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. Students, families, and education advocates join Children First and Education Voters of Pennsylvania to host a rally on the Capitol steps to ring the bells of justice, and call for equitable funding for Pennsylvania public schools. The rally, which took place Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, occurred on the first day of the landmark trial that could change how Pennsylvania funds its 500 school districts. (Capital-Star photo by Marley Parish) Students, families, and education advocates join Children First and Education Voters of Pennsylvania to host a rally on the Capitol steps, Nov. 12, 2021, the first day of the landmark trial that changed how Pennsylvania funds its 500 school districts (Capital-Star photo). Education equity advocates say a new fair funding formula for Pennsylvania schools that would use U.S. Census data to calculate poverty rates rather than state Department of Education numbers would fall short of goals by as much as half. The proposal by state Senate Republicans would alter legislation passed in the state House last month to satisfy a state court mandate to eliminate a massive funding gap between the states wealthiest and poorest school districts. The House legislation would provide $5.1 billion to 371 school districts where per pupil spending is below the average spent in the districts that achieve the states educational sufficiency goals. The Senate plan, discussed by Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) in a news conference last week, would trim that amount by between $700 million and $1.4 billion, according to advocates who say census data provides a less accurate picture of poverty than the states own data. If we are not using the accurate calculation for poverty, we are depriving children in low wealth schools of basic resources, said Maura McInerney, legal director of the Education Law Center. They still wont have enough teachers, they wont have a guidance counselor, they wont have up to date science labs, they wont have enough reading and math specialists, which we know are critically important for children living in poverty. McInerney was one of the lawyers representing parents and school officials who sued Pennsylvania in a nearly decade-long case alleging that the states heavy reliance on property taxes to pay for public education was unconstitutional. Commonwealth Court President Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer ruled in their favor last year and ordered Gov. Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly to eliminate disparities that deprived students in poorer communities of their constitutional right to a thorough and efficient education. Jubelirer left the details to lawmakers and a bipartisan commission of House, Senate and executive branch officials, after months of hearings, proposed methods to calculate funding shortfalls that took into account factors such as poverty and the number of English as a second language students. While the Department of Education derives school district poverty levels from public benefits enrollment data, the Senate Republicans propose using data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureaus annual demographic survey. In his July 3 news conference, Pittman characterized the disagreements over school funding as being less about how much the state will spend, and more about how that money will be distributed. One of the biggest areas of difference is not only spending on education, but how those dollars get driven to school districts, Pittman said. A spokesperson for Pittman did not respond to a list of questions about the proposed change but provided a statement about the general progress of budget negotiations. Good progress is taking place, but I continue to underscore nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. As we come closer to completion, the Senate looks forward to collaborating with the House on how best to advance all necessary components of the budget, Pittman said. Shapiro, in a statement on the budget Sunday, praised Republican and Democratic leaders for continuing to move the ball down the field and said that were deep in the red zone. He added each side is treating the other with respect and making compromises. Both the House and Senate have sessions scheduled Wednesday and Thursday but the Senate GOP faces pressure to conclude the process as the Republican National Convention begins next week. Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, said the proposal appears to be an effort by Republicans to show that they are serious about addressing the Commonwealth Court ruling while reducing the cost over the long term. The Republican proposal to use census data rather than the Education Departments poverty data would, Stier said, shortchange kids in poor school districts. He said he believes it will get a cold reception in the Democratic controlled House. We believe that theyve been rejecting this proposal, Stier said. My guess is its going to be a proposal that falls so far short of what we need, its going to be very hard to pass even if the leadership wants it. While heavily Democratic Philadelphia would see the largest reduction in new funding, some schools in Republican Senate districts would see larger reductions by percentage, he said. The funding gap for Wilkes-Barre Area School District, in Sen. David Argalls (R-Schuylkill) district, would be reduced by nearly $25.5 million, a loss of more than 30%. In Sen, Judy Wards (R-Blair) constituency, Altoona Area School Districts funding gap would be reduced by $12.3 million, or more than 22%, according to the Pennsylvania Policy Centers data. McInerney, of the Education Law Center, said the census data underrepresents school poverty levels because it is a sample of the community at large and includes families who choose to send their children to religious or other private schools. To determine the shortfall in funding, the state must look at the demographics of the children actually attending public schools. Who are the children being served in each school district? What is the poverty level of the students attending the school? McInerney said. The divided chambers of the General Assembly have also clashed over alternatives to public education in last years budget and in the lead up to this years budget deadline. In 2023, Senate Republicans, with Shapiros backing, passed legislation to expand the states private school tuition voucher program to provide an additional $100 million for students in the states lowest performing districts. House Democrats killed the bill and Shapiro used his line-item veto power to eliminate funding for the program to allow the budget to advance. Stier said he believes that an expansion of the voucher program is off the table for the 2024-25 budget. The Senate Finance Committee last week passed Senate Bill 1280, which would create an $8,000 tax credit for families to spend on education-related expenses such as tuition or tutoring. I think that was like a show vote to show to supporters that Senate Republicans still support it, Stier said, adding that he is doubtful the legislation will become part of the final budget. McInerney said the tax credit is equivalent to a voucher program. It has all of the problems that a voucher has, right, because youre diverting public dollars to private schools without accountability, and to private schools that are allowed to discriminate, McInerney said. Funding for the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities have also been a sticking point in recent budget negotiations. Appropriations for the institutions, known as the state-related universities because of the states limited oversight, require a two-thirds vote to pass. House Republicans have held up funding bills over concerns about tuition increases, transparency and social issues such as fetal tissue research. The House Education Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved Senate Bill 1154, sponsored by Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), which would establish a Performance-based Funding Council to develop a new system to distribute funding to the state-related universities. Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), the ranking Republican member of the Education Committee, said the legislation would take the politics out of state-related university funding decisions and replace it with data. Were trying to move this towards something that is data driven, provides accountability, and also shows the students and families that are choosing these institutions what thats doing for them in Pennsylvania, Topper said. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Families affected by attack on Okhmatdyt will receive payments Ukrainian government The government has allocated 100 million hryvnias (about US$2.4 million) for the reconstruction of the Okhmatdyt National Specialised Childrens Hospital, and affected families will be able to receive assistance in the amount of 10,800 hryvnias (US$264) per family member. Source: Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine Quote: "Today, we are allocating 100 million hryvnias from the state budget reserve fund for priority reconstruction work at Okhmatdyt." Details: In addition, the PM noted each family with children affected by the 8 July attack on Okhmatdyt will receive assistance from UNICEF in the amount of 10,800 hryvnias per family member. Background: On the morning of 8 July, Ukraines Air Force reported that Russian Tu-95 bombers had taken off from the Olenya airfield. Ukraines Air Force reported that the Russians had launched missiles and aerial bombs on Ukraine, and an air-raid warning was issued throughout the country. A Russian missile strike on 8 July in Kyiv hit the premises of the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital, causing casualties. UNITED24, a Ukrainian state fundraising platform, and monobank, one of the largest private banks in Ukraine, raised another 100 million hryvnias to support the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in three hours. Support UP or become our patron! SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Two worried parents flew all the way from Kansas City to San Francisco to search for their missing son on the streets of the Tenderloin neighborhood. Dorrell Kings mother and father hiked up and down city streets on Sunday. We came all this way to let him know we miss him and we want him to be safe, Kings mother, Crystal King, said. Dorrell King, 43, is homeless and struggles with addiction, his parents told Nexstars KRON. He was first reported missing in November of 2023. Police advised his parents that their son might be found between OFarrell and Turk streets, where people often hang out using drugs. Crystal and Dorzell King flew from Kansas City to San Francisco to find their missing son. (Photo: KRON). As a father, it hurts, and its a very painful thing to know he has sunken to this level, the father, Dorzell King, said. Baby falls out of window in SFs Mission District: authorities A local nonprofit, Urban Alchemy, helped search for Dorrell. Al Ibarra of Urban Alchemy said sometimes he works with unhoused people for months, and then suddenly, stops hearing from them. Sometimes it is bad news, sometimes it is good news but most of the time bad news. Its very unfortunate. All these people, they come from families, and something in their life happened that made them homeless, Ibarra said. Crystal and Dorzell King tape fliers with photos of their son around San Francisco on July 7, 2024. (Photo: KRON) Dorrells parents did not give up on finding their son in a city thats more than 1,500 miles away from home. JJ Smith, an anti-drug advocate who helps homeless people around the Tenderloin connect with services, watched KRONs news story. Early Monday morning, Smith spotted Dorrell in the Mission District and helped reunite him with his parents. Smith told KRON that the time between watching the news and seeing Dorrell happened so quick I couldnt believe it myself. At first, Dorrell hesitated to talk to Smith when Smith called out his name. I already had his parents on the phone, so when I walked up to him I just handed him the phone. (He was) very shocked his family was on the phone, Smith said. Dorrells parents said they will encourage their son to return home to Kansas and get clean. Smith said he believes in giving people who are struggling a chance to get their life back on track. He told KRON, There are a lot of people that are on the streets that are struggling and some of them are here because theyre afraid to go home. If your family is looking for you, then there is someone who cares for you, and they can help. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. FBI accuses 22-year-old of taking part in violent crime spree in Gallup, New Mexico NEW MEXICO (KRQE) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal prosecutors say 22-year-old Dewayne George played a role in a series of shootings and murder in Gallup, New Mexico. Law enforcement accuse George of being an accessory to a murder in April 2024. In a criminal complaint, they claim George helped in an attempt to hide the body of an unnamed murder victim. The U.S. Department of Justice says George faces up to 15 years in prison. New Mexico wants federal government to pay for PFAS cleanup at air force bases The FBI says George accompanied 30-year-old Rydell Happy and 28-year-old Brittania Navaho as they shot at a vehicle, attempted to evade police, and crashed. Prosecutors claim Happy committed second-degree murder with a gun purchased by Navaho. Both Happy and Navaho are also awaiting trial. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FDOT to hold public meeting for proposed improvements on State Road 20 and Reid Street in Palatka The Florida Department of Transportation is inviting the public to hear about proposed safety improvements on State Road 20 at Crill Avenue and Morris Street. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< In addition, work on Reid Street (US17/State Road 15) from the Memorial Bridge to Madison Street will also be discussed. The meeting will be held on Wed., July 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Palatka City Hall (201 N. Second St.). Public comment is welcomed after the presentation. If residents are unable to attend in person, the public meeting will be available online. Click here to learn more about the State Road 20 project and here for the Reid Street project. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Queqiao-2 relay satellite, with three scientific payloads installed, will conduct multiple scientific exploration missions in orbit, following its earlier contribution to the Chang'e-6 mission. Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge 2, was launched by a Long March-8 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on March 20 this year, with the task of providing Earth-moon communications services. Its three payloads consist of an extreme ultraviolet camera, a two-dimensional-coded energetic neutral atom-imager and an Earth-moon very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment system, according to the National Space Science Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A scientific payload manager is also installed, which acts as the central control hub for the instruments, and is responsible for their unified control and data reception management, the center said. As a crucial part of the future Chang'e-7 mission, these payloads will carry out multiple Earth observation and astrometry experiments, with an aim to advance research in space Earth science, space astronomy and deep space exploration technology, thereby creating more original scientific achievements. According to the center, the extreme ultraviolet camera can simultaneously observe in the 30.4 nm and 83.4 nm spectral bands, capturing a series of unique "photos" of space around Earth. Scientists can use these "photos" to study how solar activity affects Earth's space environment, understand how Earth's magnetic field protects humans from cosmic rays and the solar wind, and better predict solar activity events to avoid negative impacts on communication systems and spacecraft safety. The two-dimensional-coded energetic neutral atom-imager, independently developed by China, can image and observe Earth's magnetosphere, obtaining high temporal and spatial resolution data of Earth's magnetotail, the center said. It can provide observational data support for studying Earth's magnetic storm processes, substorm injection triggering mechanisms and magnetotail energy conversion mechanisms, thus enhancing the safety of the country's space station and near-Earth satellites during their operations. The Earth-moon VLBI experiment system uses the antenna of Queqiao-2 to extend the ground-based VLBI network into the Earth-moon space, achieving a baseline length ranging from 3,000 meters to 380,000 kilometers, according to the center. It will enable scientific exploration in astrophysics and astrometry of the Earth-moon baseline, as well as precise orbit measurements for deep space probes. Its unique perspective will unveil the physical properties and evolutionary processes of various celestial bodies and phenomena. An aerial view of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, which is spending millions on pollution controls as part of an effort that has helped to smooth relations with its neighbors. (Image courtesy of Chris Finley/BAE Systems) Brownfields, previously disturbed lands that present environmental concerns but could be turned into future economic development projects, may soon be cleaned up and repurposed in some Virginia communities, following a fresh infusion of federal funds. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $1 million each to the towns of Dublin and Dumfries through the Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Grant program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will help assess and clean up contamination, create jobs by returning idle properties to productive reuse, and continue our progress toward a healthy and safe environment for all Americans, stated EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. The multipurpose grants allow localities to apply for the funding for several efforts, including those Ortiz mentioned, for one or more brownfields within their jurisdiction. The grants are part of the EPAs brownfields program, which is similar to efforts to clean up Superfund sites that are deemed heavily polluted. The Southwest Virginia located town of Dublin will use their allocation for assessments, community engagements, planning and cleanup activities for sites within the 271-acre Dublin Industrial Park that include legacy pollutants from its former user, the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, which makes rocket propellants and munitions for the U.S. Military. Contaminants at the site include materials containing asbestos, lead paint and piping and Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Within the park, the funds will focus on a former wastewater treatment plant, mixed-use and warehouse areas, and spots in the park set aside for future use. Most importantly, the revitalization project aims to convert this large tract of environmentally contaminated land into a community asset through assessment, remediation, and community-based reuse planning, the application for the funding reads. Although the park has evolved to support the surrounding community over several decades, the application continues, in its current state, it is a source of blight and potential contaminant exposure to residents. In Northern Virginia-based Dumfries, funding will be similarly used for assessment, community engagement, plans to reuse and clean up the Colonial Port Corridor, which includes a 3.5 acre site at 3800 Graham Park Road and the former 147-acre Campbell Salvage Yard. Rather than targeting specific environmental issues with the funding, the town will use the money to assess what toxins may be in the corridor, beset by the growth of the tobacco industry that depleted their seafaring economy, according to the towns application. While neighbors like Vienna, Fairfax and Manassas rank as some of the wealthiest localities in the U.S. today, Dumfries has not held an economic stronghold in the region since their Colonial Port was flourishing in the late 18th century, the application reads. Camrett Logistics, a current tenant at the Dublin Industrial Park, committed $1.5 million to $2 million towards adding jobs through building improvements and 58 jobs for assessment and redevelopment in the parks warehouse area, stated EPA spokesperson Traci Benjamin. In Dumfries, where a recreation center is planned at the Graham Park Road location, new construction jobs are expected to emerge during redevelopment along with 100 long-term jobs. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Energy and Virginia Economic Development Partnership have brownfields programs, including a Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund, which received $2.5 million in the state budget for both this year and next year. This past legislative session, lawmakers passed and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill from Sen. Travis Hackworth, R-Tazewell, and Del. Paul Krizek, D-Alexandria, to allow state funds to be used to incentivize solar development on brownfields, which can include former coal mines. The federal courthouse in Sioux Falls. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) A federal judge is declining, for now, to stop a lawsuit in state court against South Dakotas abortion-rights ballot measure. Judge Karen Schreier signed her order Friday. She said a state court should rule on a key issue in the lawsuit before she considers intervening. But she added, If the state court ruling contradicts a federal court order, this court will consider the issue at that time. The anti-abortion Life Defense Fund filed its lawsuit in state court last month. The group wants to disqualify the abortion-rights measure from the Nov. 5 election. Dakotans for Health gathered the thousands of petition signatures necessary to place the measure on the ballot. The group is defending the measure in state court, but also asked a federal judge to intervene and stop the litigation from proceeding. One of the Life Defense Funds allegations is that Dakotans for Health failed to abide by the requirements of a 2018 state law. The Republican-dominated Legislature adopted the law to prevent out-of-state residents from circulating ballot petitions in South Dakota. Among other things, the law required petition circulators to file a sworn statement with various pieces of information proving their residency. The Legislature replaced that law with new restrictions in 2019 and 2020. Those laws sparked federal lawsuits from plaintiffs who successfully argued that the restrictions infringed on their First Amendment rights to political speech. The Life Defense Fund is now arguing that while the 2019 and 2020 laws were invalidated, the 2018 law was not invalidated and is still in force. The group is arguing that because Dakotans for Healths petition circulators did not submit the sworn statements required by the 2018 law, the abortions rights measure should not be placed on the ballot. Dakotans for Health is arguing that the lawsuits against the 2019 and 2020 laws invalidated the previous restrictions on petition circulators, and that the Life Defense Fund is trying to flout the federal court decisions. Judge Schreier wrote in her order that shes not issuing an injunction against the state-court lawsuit at this time, and that shell wait to see how the state court rules on the enforceability of the 2018 law before she decides whether to intervene. A motions hearing in the state-court lawsuit is scheduled for next week. Abortions are currently banned in South Dakota, except to preserve the life of the pregnant female. The ballot measure would legalize abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy but allow the state to impose limited regulations in the second trimester and a ban in the third trimester, with exceptions for the life and health of the mother. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Federal officials: We may be investigating KYs juvenile lockups for a year or more The U.S. Department of Justice likely will spend more than a year investigating possible civil rights violations of youths held by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice before it publishes a report on its findings and takes final action, attorneys for the federal government said Monday. A small team with the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., held an online briefing Monday evening for families of youths held in the states eight juvenile detention centers and others who have an interest in the troubled facilities. Several trial attorneys and an investigator have begun the process of requesting documents from the Department of Juvenile Justice and planning interviews and tours of the facilities, the federal officials said. There may be times where it feels as if were not moving quickly enough, given the harms that children might be experiencing. We will make every effort to conduct this investigation as quickly as we can, Suraj Kumar, a Department of Justice attorney, said during Mondays briefing. Thus far, the Kentucky DJJ has cooperated fully with our investigation, Kumar added. The Department of Justice announced May 15 that it will investigate Kentuckys juvenile detention centers, as well as a youth development center that is attached to the juvenile detention center in Adair County. Federal investigators will examine whether the facilities use excessive force and punitive isolation; if youths are adequately protected from violence and sexual abuse; and whether the commonwealth provides sufficient mental health care, education and services for children with disabilities. If the Department of Justice finds systemic civil rights violations in the juvenile detention system, it can negotiate a settlement with the state of Kentucky to enact reforms, federal officials said. If the state does not agree to negotiate, the Department of Justice can file a lawsuit to force the issue, the officials said. Kentucky has been here before. The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice was created in 1996 as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice after the previous hodgepodge of juvenile lockups, overseen by the state Cabinet for Human Resources, was discovered to be so bad that it violated youths civil rights. The Lexington Herald-Leader has reported extensively for the past three years on chronic abuse and neglect of youths held in facilities operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice. Its coverage has examined the assaults, riots, escapes and other longstanding problems at the troubled agency. Its reporting triggered an independent audit from state Auditor Allison Balls office that was ordered by Kentucky legislators in March 2023. Balls audit found that the Department of Juvenile Justice failed to comply with reforms called for in a 2017 inspection report, after a teen-aged girl died in one of its isolation cells. Careful reporting by news agencies along with advocates on behalf of organizations throughout Kentucky brought this matter to the attention of the Department of Justice, Kumar said Monday. A civil rights investigation focuses on whether systemic abuses have occurred, such as the repeated misuse of pepper spray or isolation cells in ways that violate youths constitutional rights, the federal officials said. The Herald-Leader has reported that in some cases, teenagers have been held in isolation for extended periods because of under-staffing, not because they posed a safety risk. In other cases, employees have used excessive force on youths, including pepper spraying them in their cells as a form of punishment. Locking children up for even short periods of time, especially under harsh conditions, causes real harm. And it doesnt have the promised rehabilitative impact, Sophie Vick, an investigator with the Department of Justice, said during Mondays briefing. Were here today because the problems that have been reported are traumatic and may violate the law, she said. If the Civil Rights Division learns of possible criminal violations by people inside the facilities, those can be referred to federal prosecutors in Louisville and Lexington for further action, federal officials said. The Department of Justice encourages anyone with information about civil rights violations inside Kentuckys juvenile detention centers to call (888) 392-8241 or email Kentucky.Kids@usdoj.gov. Years of failure: What led to a federal investigation of KYs juvenile justice agency Department of Justice investigating excessive force, isolation in KYs juvenile jails A CVS store. (Photo by Lynne Terry, Oregon Capital Chronicle, States Newsroom.) The federal trade watchdog on Tuesday released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Each of the largest three PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx is part of a much-larger corporation that also owns a top-10 health insurer. They also own pharmacies, doctors offices and other links in the health chain, prompting the FTC to say theyre vertically integrated. The corporations pharmacy benefit managers act as insurers representatives in pharmacy transactions. They decide which drugs are covered, they create pharmacy networks, and through an opaque system, they decide how much to reimburse pharmacies for the drugs they dispense. The three biggest PBMs together are handling nearly 80% of prescription-drug transactions on behalf of insured Americans, the FTC report said. The largest six PBMs manage nearly 95% of all such prescriptions in the United States, it said. Amidst increasing vertical integration and concentration, these powerful middlemen may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies, an executive summary of the report said. The summary adds that the big PBMs wield enormous power and influence over patients access to drugs and the prices they pay. This can have dire consequences for Americans, with nearly three in ten surveyed Americans reporting rationing or even skipping doses of their prescribed medicines due to high costs. For its part, and industry group representing PBMs said the businesses have a proven track record of reducing prescription drug costs and that they recognize the vital role pharmacies play in creating access to prescription drugs for patients. JC Scott, president of the industry group, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said the FTC had treated the PBM industry unfairly. Throughout this process, FTC leadership has shown that they have pre-determined conclusions that they want to advance irrespective of the facts or the data, and this report demonstrates an intention to follow through on their agenda regardless of the evidence, Scott said in a statement. But many independent and small-chain pharmacies dispute that PBMs have their interests at heart. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Georgia, is a pharmacist and has long called for the FTC to investigate the PBM industry. Im proud that the FTC launched a bipartisan investigation into these shadowy middlemen, and its preliminary findings prove yet again that its time to bust up the PBM monopoly, Carter said in a statement. We are losing more than one pharmacy per day in this country, causing pharmacy deserts and taking the most accessible health care professionals in America out of peoples communities. I am calling on the FTC to promptly complete its investigation and begin enforcement actions if and when it uncovers illegal and anti-competitive PBM practices. Because they control access to so many patients, most pharmacies especially small operations feel they have little choice about signing the contracts the big PBMs offer them. For years, theyve been complaining of declining reimbursements and seemingly arbitrary clawbacks from the huge PBMs. Many have been fleeing the business, saying theyre unable to cover their expenses. Late last month, for example, news broke that Rite Aid would close hundreds of stores in Ohio and Michigan, with many more likely to close in the other 14 states where the bankrupt chain operates. The company tends to operate in smaller communities and the FTC says pharmacy closures in such communities are particularly harmful to patients. PBMs also exert substantial influence over independent pharmacies, who struggle to navigate contractual terms imposed by PBMs that they find confusing, unfair, arbitrary, and harmful to their businesses, the agency said in a statement accompanying the interim report. Between 2013 and 2022, about ten percent of independent retail pharmacies in rural America closed. Closures of local pharmacies affect not only small business owners and their employees, but also their patients. In some rural and medically underserved areas, local community pharmacies are the main healthcare option for Americans, who depend on them to get a flu shot, an EpiPen, or other lifesaving medicine. CVS operates the largest retail chain, so when its PBM decides how much to reimburse pharmacies for drugs, its using what the FTC called an extraordinarily opaque system to pay its own pharmacies and its competitors for the drugs they dispense. Similarly, all three of the biggest PBMs operate mail-order pharmacies for expensive specialty drugs such as cancer medication. And they often encourage if not require patients to get their medicine from them. That has resulted in PBM-affiliated specialty pharmacies controlling 70% of sales in that class of drugs, the FTC report said. Using mail-order for complex, quickly changing cancer drug regimens has led to horror stories among patients forced to get their drugs that way. Meanwhile, the FTC report uncovered evidence that in at least some instances, PBMs are paying their own companies pharmacies more for drugs in those transactions than they do their competitors. Our analyses also highlight examples of affiliated pharmacies receiving significantly higher reimbursement rates than those paid to unaffiliated pharmacies for two case study drugs, it said. These practices have allowed pharmacies affiliated with the three largest PBMs to retain levels of dispensing revenue well above estimated drug acquisition costs, resulting in nearly $1.6 billion of additional revenue on just two cancer drugs in under three years. Such practices have already prompted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to sue Express Scripts under the states antitrust law, the Valentine Act. PCMA, the industry group, accused the FTC of using an unrepresentative sample in its analysis. Todays interim FTC report falls far short of being a definitive, fact-based assessment of PBMs or the prescription drug market, Scott, the groups president said. Members of the commission themselves disagree with the content of the report and the decision to release it. This report is based on anecdotes and comments from anonymous sources and self-interested parties, and supported only by two cherry-picked case studies that are implied to be representative of the entire market. The report completely overlooks the volumes of data that demonstrate the value that PBMs provide to Americas health care system by reducing prescription drug costs and increasing access to medications. The FTC report also slammed arrangements under which the big PBMs negotiate huge rebates and other discounts from drugmakers. Because PBMs control access to so many patients, they have great leverage when they negotiate rebates and other discounts from makers of patented or branded drugs. The middlemen control the formulary, or list of covered drugs, and manufacturers have to cough up big if they want their products to be on it. The system of granting huge, non-transparent discounts has already been shown to increase the list price of drugs. Thats the amount you would pay if you didnt have insurance and often the price on which your copayment or deductible is based. The FTC said it came across another way the rebate system appears to be costing patients by locking them out of cheaper generics that would work just as well. While this interim report principally focuses on the relationship between PBMs and pharmacies, we share evidence that PBMs and brand pharmaceutical manufacturers sometimes enter into agreements to exclude generic drugs and biosimilars from certain formularies in exchange for higher rebates from the manufacturer, the report said. These exclusionary rebates may cut off patient access to lower-cost medicines and warrant further scrutiny by the Commission, policymakers and industry stakeholders. FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan in March said that some of the PBMs werent cooperating with the investigation. Those problems apparently persist. The report notes that several of the PBMs that were issued orders have not been forthcoming and timely in their responses, and they still have not completed their required submissions, which has hindered the Commissions ability to perform its statutory mission, the agency said in a statement. FTC staff have demanded that the companies finalize their productions required by the 6(b) orders promptly. If, however, any of the companies fail to fully comply with the 6(b) orders or engage in further delay tactics, the FTC can take them to district court to compel compliance. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. There are around 70 pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S., and three of them CVS Caremark, Optum Rx, and Express Scripts control 80 percent of the prescription drug market. (Lynne Terry | Oregon Capital Chronicle) The federal trade watchdog this morning released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Each of the largest three PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx is part of a much larger corporation that also owns a top-10 health insurer. They also own pharmacies, doctors offices, and other links in the health chain, prompting the FTC to say theyre vertically integrated. The corporations pharmacy benefit managers act as insurers representatives in pharmacy transactions. They decide which drugs are covered, they create pharmacy networks, and through an opaque system, they decide how much to reimburse pharmacies for the drugs they dispense. The three biggest PBMs together are handling nearly 80 percent of prescription drug transactions on behalf of insured Americans, the FTC report said. The largest six PBMs manage nearly 95 percent of all such prescriptions in the United States, it said. Amidst increasing vertical integration and concentration, these powerful middlemen may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies, an executive summary of the report said. The summary adds that the big PBMs wield enormous power and influence over patients access to drugs and the prices they pay. This can have dire consequences for Americans, with nearly three in ten surveyed Americans reporting rationing or even skipping doses of their prescribed medicines due to high costs. For its part, and industry group representing PBMs said the businesses have a proven track record of reducing prescription drug costs and that they recognize the vital role pharmacies play in creating access to prescription drugs for patients. JC Scott, president of the industry group, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said the FTC had treated the PBM industry unfairly. Throughout this process, FTC leadership has shown that they have pre-determined conclusions that they want to advance irrespective of the facts or the data, and this report demonstrates an intention to follow through on their agenda regardless of the evidence, Scott said in a statement. But many independent and small-chain pharmacies dispute that PBMs have their interests at heart. Because they control access to so many patients, most pharmacies especially small operations feel they have little choice about signing the contracts the big PBMs offer them. For years, theyve been complaining of declining reimbursements and seemingly arbitrary clawbacks from the huge PBMs. Many have been fleeing the business, saying theyre unable to cover their expenses. Late last month, for example, news broke that Rite Aid would close hundreds of stores in Ohio and Michigan, with many more likely to close in the other 14 states where the bankrupt chain operates. The company tends to operate in smaller communities and the FTC says pharmacy closures in such communities are particularly harmful to patients. PBMs also exert substantial influence over independent pharmacies, who struggle to navigate contractual terms imposed by PBMs that they find confusing, unfair, arbitrary, and harmful to their businesses, the agency said in a statement accompanying the interim report. Between 2013 and 2022, about ten percent of independent retail pharmacies in rural America closed. Closures of local pharmacies affect not only small business owners and their employees, but also their patients. In some rural and medically underserved areas, local community pharmacies are the main healthcare option for Americans, who depend on them to get a flu shot, an EpiPen, or other lifesaving medicine. CVS operates the largest retail chain, so when its PBM decides how much to reimburse pharmacies for drugs, its using what the FTC called an extraordinarily opaque system to pay its own pharmacies and its competitors for the drugs they dispense. Similarly, all three of the biggest PBMs operate mail-order pharmacies for expensive specialty drugs such as cancer medication. And they often encourage if not require patients to get their medicine from them. That has resulted in PBM-affiliated specialty pharmacies controlling 70 percent of sales in that class of drugs, the FTC report said. Using mail-order for complex, quickly changing cancer drug regimens has led to horror stories among patients forced to get their drugs that way. Meanwhile, the FTC report uncovered evidence that in at least some instances, PBMs are paying their own companies pharmacies more for drugs in those transactions than they do their competitors. Our analyses also highlight examples of affiliated pharmacies receiving significantly higher reimbursement rates than those paid to unaffiliated pharmacies for two case study drugs, it said. These practices have allowed pharmacies affiliated with the three largest PBMs to retain levels of dispensing revenue well above estimated drug acquisition costs, resulting in nearly $1.6 billion of additional revenue on just two cancer drugs in under three years. Such practices have already prompted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to sue Express Scripts under the states antitrust law, the Valentine Act. PCMA, the industry group, accused the FTC of using an unrepresentative sample in its analysis. Todays interim FTC report falls far short of being a definitive, fact-based assessment of PBMs or the prescription drug market, Scott, the groups president said. Members of the commission themselves disagree with the content of the report and the decision to release it. This report is based on anecdotes and comments from anonymous sources and self-interested parties, and supported only by two cherry-picked case studies that are implied to be representative of the entire market. The report completely overlooks the volumes of data that demonstrate the value that PBMs provide to Americas health care system by reducing prescription drug costs and increasing access to medications. The FTC report also slammed arrangements under which the big PBMs negotiate huge rebates and other discounts from drugmakers. Because PBMs control access to so many patients, they have great leverage when they negotiate rebates and other discounts from makers of patented or branded drugs. The middlemen control the formulary, or list of covered drugs, and manufacturers have to cough up big if they want their products to be on it. The system of granting huge, non-transparent discounts has already been shown to increase the list price of drugs. Thats the amount you would pay if you didnt have insurance and often the price on which your copayment or deductible is based. The FTC said it came across another way the rebate system appears to be costing patients by locking them out of cheaper generics that would work just as well. While this interim report principally focuses on the relationship between PBMs and pharmacies, we share evidence that PBMs and brand pharmaceutical manufacturers sometimes enter into agreements to exclude generic drugs and biosimilars from certain formularies in exchange for higher rebates from the manufacturer, the report said. These exclusionary rebates may cut off patient access to lower-cost medicines and warrant further scrutiny by the Commission, policymakers and industry stakeholders. FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan in March said some of the PBMs werent cooperating with the investigation. Those problems apparently persist. The report notes that several of the PBMs that were issued orders have not been forthcoming and timely in their responses, and they still have not completed their required submissions, which has hindered the Commissions ability to perform its statutory mission, the agency said in a statement. FTC staff have demanded that the companies finalize their productions required by the 6(b) orders promptly. If, however, any of the companies fail to fully comply with the 6(b) orders or engage in further delay tactics, the FTC can take them to district court to compel compliance. This story was originally published by Ohio Capital Journal, 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. There are around 70 pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S., and three of them CVS Caremark, Optum Rx, and Express Scripts control 80% of the prescription drug market. (Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The federal trade watchdog on Tuesday released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Each of the largest three PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx is part of a much-larger corporation that also owns a top-10 health insurer. They also own pharmacies, doctors offices and other links in the health chain, prompting the trade commission to say theyre vertically integrated. The corporations pharmacy benefit managers act as insurers representatives in pharmacy transactions. They decide which drugs are covered, they create pharmacy networks, and through an opaque system, they decide how much to reimburse pharmacies for the drugs they dispense. The three biggest PBMs together are handling nearly 80% of prescription-drug transactions on behalf of insured Americans, the FTC report said. The largest six PBMs manage nearly 95% of all such prescriptions in the United States, it said. Amidst increasing vertical integration and concentration, these powerful middlemen may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies, an executive summary of the report said. The summary adds that the big PBMs wield enormous power and influence over patients access to drugs and the prices they pay. This can have dire consequences for Americans, with nearly three in ten surveyed Americans reporting rationing or even skipping doses of their prescribed medicines due to high costs. For its part, and industry group representing PBMs said the businesses have a proven track record of reducing prescription drug costs and that they recognize the vital role pharmacies play in creating access to prescription drugs for patients. JC Scott, president of the industry group, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said the FTC had treated the PBM industry unfairly. Throughout this process, FTC leadership has shown that they have pre-determined conclusions that they want to advance irrespective of the facts or the data, and this report demonstrates an intention to follow through on their agenda regardless of the evidence, Scott said in a statement. But many independent and small-chain pharmacies dispute that PBMs have their interests at heart. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Georgia, is a pharmacist and has long called for the FTC to investigate the PBM industry. Im proud that the FTC launched a bipartisan investigation into these shadowy middlemen, and its preliminary findings prove yet again that its time to bust up the PBM monopoly, Carter said in a statement. We are losing more than one pharmacy per day in this country, causing pharmacy deserts and taking the most accessible health care professionals in America out of peoples communities. I am calling on the FTC to promptly complete its investigation and begin enforcement actions if and when it uncovers illegal and anti-competitive PBM practices. Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, welcomed the report: Middlemen are right at the heart of Americans frustration with the health care system: high prices and red tape preventing them from getting the care they need, Wyden said. The FTCs comprehensive findings show how PBMs use their market power to drive up costs for families and restrict access to preferred pharmacies at the expense of independent pharmacies. The Finance Committee overwhelmingly passed legislation to hold PBMs accountable, and I am going to the mat to deliver that bill to the presidents desk this year. Because they control access to so many patients, most pharmacies especially small operations feel they have little choice about signing the contracts the big PBMs offer them. For years, theyve been complaining of declining reimbursements and seemingly arbitrary clawbacks from the huge PBMs. Many have been fleeing the business, saying theyre unable to cover their expenses. Late last month, for example, news broke that Rite Aid would close hundreds of stores in Ohio and Michigan, with many more likely to close in the other 14 states where the bankrupt chain operates. The company tends to operate in smaller communities and the FTC says pharmacy closures in such communities are particularly harmful to patients. PBMs also exert substantial influence over independent pharmacies, who struggle to navigate contractual terms imposed by PBMs that they find confusing, unfair, arbitrary, and harmful to their businesses, the agency said in a statement accompanying the interim report. Between 2013 and 2022, about ten percent of independent retail pharmacies in rural America closed. Closures of local pharmacies affect not only small business owners and their employees, but also their patients. In some rural and medically underserved areas, local community pharmacies are the main healthcare option for Americans, who depend on them to get a flu shot, an EpiPen, or other lifesaving medicine. CVS operates the largest retail chain, so when its PBM decides how much to reimburse pharmacies for drugs, its using what the FTC called an extraordinarily opaque system to pay its own pharmacies and its competitors for the drugs they dispense. Similarly, all three of the biggest PBMs operate mail-order pharmacies for expensive specialty drugs such as cancer medication. And they often encourage if not require patients to get their medicine from them. That has resulted in PBM-affiliated specialty pharmacies controlling 70% of sales in that class of drugs, the FTC report said. Using mail-order for complex, quickly changing cancer drug regimens has led to horror stories among patients forced to get their drugs that way. Meanwhile, the FTC report uncovered evidence that in at least some instances, PBMs are paying their own companies pharmacies more for drugs in those transactions than they do their competitors. Our analyses also highlight examples of affiliated pharmacies receiving significantly higher reimbursement rates than those paid to unaffiliated pharmacies for two case study drugs, it said. These practices have allowed pharmacies affiliated with the three largest PBMs to retain levels of dispensing revenue well above estimated drug acquisition costs, resulting in nearly $1.6 billion of additional revenue on just two cancer drugs in under three years. Such practices have already prompted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to sue Express Scripts under the states antitrust law, the Valentine Act. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association accused the FTC of using an unrepresentative sample in its analysis. Todays interim FTC report falls far short of being a definitive, fact-based assessment of PBMs or the prescription drug market, Scott, the groups president said. Members of the commission themselves disagree with the content of the report and the decision to release it. This report is based on anecdotes and comments from anonymous sources and self-interested parties, and supported only by two cherry-picked case studies that are implied to be representative of the entire market. The report completely overlooks the volumes of data that demonstrate the value that PBMs provide to Americas health care system by reducing prescription drug costs and increasing access to medications. The FTC report also slammed arrangements under which the big PBMs negotiate huge rebates and other discounts from drugmakers. Because PBMs control access to so many patients, they have great leverage when they negotiate rebates and other discounts from makers of patented or branded drugs. The middlemen control the formulary, or list of covered drugs, and manufacturers have to cough up big if they want their products to be on it. The system of granting huge, non-transparent discounts has already been shown to increase the list price of drugs. Thats the amount you would pay if you didnt have insurance and often the price on which your copayment or deductible is based. The FTC said it came across another way the rebate system appears to be costing patients by locking them out of cheaper generics that would work just as well. While this interim report principally focuses on the relationship between PBMs and pharmacies, we share evidence that PBMs and brand pharmaceutical manufacturers sometimes enter into agreements to exclude generic drugs and biosimilars from certain formularies in exchange for higher rebates from the manufacturer, the report said. These exclusionary rebates may cut off patient access to lower-cost medicines and warrant further scrutiny by the Commission, policymakers and industry stakeholders. FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan in March said that some of the PBMs werent cooperating with the investigation. Those problems apparently persist. The report notes that several of the PBMs that were issued orders have not been forthcoming and timely in their responses, and they still have not completed their required submissions, which has hindered the Commissions ability to perform its statutory mission, the agency said in a statement. FTC staff have demanded that the companies finalize their productions required by the 6(b) orders promptly. If, however, any of the companies fail to fully comply with the 6(b) orders or engage in further delay tactics, the FTC can take them to district court to compel compliance. irefighter working overnight looks at the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire burning in northern New Mexico A firefighter working overnight looks at the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire burning in northern New Mexico in 2022. (Courtesy of the Santa Fe National Forest) As the U.S. Forest Service plans to greatly increase prescribed burns to protect communities from devastating wildfires, a government report prompted by New Mexicos biggest-ever fire found gaps in some key areas in the federal agencys strategy. In June 2022, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat from Las Vegas, N.M., asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate and review the Forest Services prescribed burn protocols. U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-New Mexico She did so a few weeks after two escaped prescribed burns ignited on federal forest land combined to become the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, which burned more than 530 square miles and hundreds of homes near her hometown. The Government Accountability Office, or GAO, is the auditing and investigations arm of Congress. It provides policy recommendations and investigates allegations of waste and fraud. The 57-page report released by the GAO on Monday examined how the Forest Service implemented changes it promised it would make after the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, with an eye toward the future of prescribed burns in the United States. For the report, the Government Accountability Office: reviewed relevant Forest Service documents interviewed officials from agency headquarters, regional offices, and national forests interviewed stakeholders, including officials from Boise County and the Idaho Department of Lands, and Native American tribes conducted in-person site visits and interviews in Idaho and New Mexico Amid multi-year drought and increasing average temperatures across the West, the Forest Service has a goal of treating up to 20 million additional acres across the national forests under its control over the next 10 years to reduce wildfire risk. That means thinning dense and dying tree stands and also igniting prescribed burns. The Forest Service also hopes to treat an additional 30 million acres of other federal, state and private lands, in partnership with those governments or agencies. Government Accountability Office report studies escaped prescribed burns The GAO report also examined the causes and harms of 43 escaped prescribed burns, including three in Idaho, ignited by the Forest Service between 2012 and 2021, out of about 50,000 projects. It found those fires escaped due to a combination of incorrect weather forecast readings, inaccurate information on prescribed burn plans, improper implementation of those plans, and insufficient or inadequately trained staff on site. The three escaped burns studied in Idaho were from 2021s Deer Stew fire in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 2018s Lodgepole fire in the Boise National Forest and 2021s Four Mile fire in the Payette National Forest. Frequently, burn bosses felt pressure to ignite within limited burn windows, due to aggressive forest management goals or to avoid losing funding, according to the authors. Despite being the impetus for the GAO review, the reports authors did not include data or findings about the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire causes. Leger Fernandez said in a news release that that was because of pending litigation. However, many of the factors common to the 43 escaped burns, including inaccurate information on burn plans and insufficient staff, were among the causes found for the Hermits Peak Fire escape on April 6, 2022, in Las Dispensas, New Mexico. The 2022 Cerro Pelado Fire near Los Alamos was also determined last year to have been an escaped prescribed burn. That fire and the Calf Canyon Fire both started as pile burns ignited by forest crews that smoldered for weeks or months before roaring to life and becoming destructive fires. In total, prescribed burns that escaped burned roughly 385,000 acres in New Mexico in 2022. After the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fires started, the Forest Service initiated a 90-day pause on all prescribed burns nationwide and issued a detailed report on the causes of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. It also released a list of changes it would make to ensure escapes like those in New Mexico dont happen again. The changes included requiring better modeling, more mobile weather stations in the project and requiring more-frequent supervisor sign-offs before burns are ignited, an effort to better adapt to changing conditions on the ground. The GAO report determined the Forest Service implemented those reforms and it has taken steps to address other reforms. While these are positive steps toward improving the prescribed fire program, the Forest Service has not determined the extent to which it will implement the remaining actions, including how or when, the authors write. More firefighters needed to suppress wildfires on public lands One major challenge relates to how the Forest Service will ensure there are adequate staff available to conduct prescribed burns or arrive as backup should things go awry. The Forest Service is already struggling to hire enough wildland firefighters to suppress fires, due to low pay, long hours and safety risks. The Forest Service generally relies on the same teams of firefighters to ignite prescribed burns as it does to suppress wildfires, according to the authors, but prescribed burns operations pay less. Firefighters arent provided hazard pay for prescribed burns, and some employees dont get overtime, according to the report. Availability of sufficient and trained staff is among the greatest challenges to the Forest Services goal of expanding its prescribed fire program, the authors wrote. General fatigue and being overextended might also mean forest supervisors are less likely to send firefighters to support prescribed burns, according to the report. U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in the report the service generally agrees with the GAOs findings and that it would work to implement the recommendations. Forest Service officials stress that prescribed burn escapes are extremely rare, occurring less than 1% of the time. But Leger Fernandez said the stakes of an escape are high. When you play with fire, theres no margin for error, she said in a news release about the GAO report. The GAO report also notes that impacts from the few prescribed fires that escape may be significant. gao-24-106239 Idaho Capital Sun editor-in-chief Christina Lords contributed to this story. Source New Mexico, 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. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Shaun Griswold for questions: info@sourcenm.com. Follow Source New Mexico on Facebook and X. A firefighter working overnight looks at the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire burning in northern New Mexico in 2022. (Photo Courtesy Santa Fe National Forest) As the U.S. Forest Service plans to greatly increase prescribed burns to protect communities from devastating wildfires, a government report prompted by the states biggest-ever fire found gaps in some key areas in the federal agencys strategy. In June 2022, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat from Las Vegas, N.M., asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate and review the Forest Services prescribed burn protocols. She did so a few weeks after two escaped prescribed burns ignited on federal forest land combined to become the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, which burned more than 530 square miles and hundreds of homes near her hometown. The Government Accountability Office, or GAO, is the auditing and investigations arm of Congress. It provides policy recommendations and investigates allegations of waste and fraud. The 57-page report released by the GAO on Monday examined how the Forest Service implemented changes it promised it would make after the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, with an eye toward the future of prescribed burns in the United States. Amid multi-year drought and increasing average temperatures across the West, the Forest Service has a goal of treating up to 20 million additional acres across the national forests under its control during the next 10 years to reduce wildfire risk. That means thinning dense and dying tree stands and also igniting prescribed burns. The service also hopes to treat an additional 30 million acres of other federal, state and private lands, in partnership with those governments or agencies. The GAO report also examined the causes and harms of 43 escaped prescribed burns ignited by the Forest Service between 2012 and 2021, out of about 50,000 projects. It found those fires escaped due to a combination of incorrect weather forecast readings, inaccurate information on prescribed burn plans, improper implementation of those plans, and insufficient or inadequately trained staff on site. Frequently, burn bosses felt pressure to ignite within limited burn windows, due to aggressive forest management goals or to avoid losing funding, according to the authors. Despite being the impetus for the GAO review, the reports authors did not include data or findings about the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire causes. Leger Fernandez said in a news release that that was because of pending litigation. However, many of the factors common to the 43 escaped burns, including inaccurate information on burn plans and insufficient staff, were among the causes found for the Hermits Peak Fire escape on April 6, 2022 in Las Dispensas, New Mexico. The 2022 Cerro Pelado Fire near Los Alamos was also determined last year to have been an escaped prescribed burn. That fire and the Calf Canyon Fire both started as pile burns ignited by forest crews that smoldered for weeks or months before roaring to life and becoming destructive fires. In total, prescribed burns that escaped burned roughly 385,000 acres in New Mexico in 2022. After the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fires started, the Forest Service initiated a 90-day pause on all prescribed burns nationwide and issued a detailed report on the causes of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. It also released a list of changes it would make to ensure escapes like those in New Mexico dont happen again. The changes included requiring better modeling, more mobile weather stations in the project and requiring more-frequent supervisor sign-offs before burns are ignited, an effort to better adapt to changing conditions on the ground. The GAO report determined the Forest Service implemented those reforms and it has taken steps to address other reforms. While these are positive steps toward improving the prescribed fire program, the Forest Service has not determined the extent to which it will implement the remaining actions, including how or when, the authors write. One major challenge relates to how the service will ensure there are adequate staff available to conduct prescribed burns or arrive as backup should things go awry. The Forest Service is already struggling to hire enough wildland firefighters to suppress fires, due to low pay, long hours and safety risks. The Forest Service generally relies on the same teams of firefighters to ignite prescribed burns as it does to suppress wildfires, according to the authors, but prescribed burns operations pay less. Firefighters arent provided hazard pay for prescribed burns, and some employees dont get overtime, according to the report. Availability of sufficient and trained staff is among the greatest challenges to the Forest Services goal of expanding its prescribed fire program, the authors wrote. General fatigue and being overextended might also mean forest supervisors are less likely to send firefighters to support prescribed burns, according to the report. U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in the report the service generally agrees with the GAOs findings and that it would work to implement the recommendations. Forest Service officials stress that prescribed burn escapes are extremely rare, occurring less than 1% of the time. But Leger Fernandez said the stakes of an escape are high. When you play with fire, theres no margin for error, she said in a news release about the GAO report. The GAO report also notes that impacts from the few prescribed fires that escape may be significant. This story was originally published by Source New Mexico 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. In early 2022, a senior employee at the Russian state news agency RT pitched his superiors on an idea: could RT create an in-house social media bot farm to reach people outside of its traditional news broadcasts? Per federal court documents released on Tuesday, RT executives said yes. The result was a quixotic attempt involving the FSB, the successor agency to the KGB, to use AI to develop a mushrooming series of fake X accounts that parroted Russian propaganda. In a search warrant affidavit, the FBI said that it had identified 968 accounts after an unnamed U.S. government agency tipped it off to the inner workings of RT and its alleged cooperation with an FSB official in setting up the network. Per a statement, X moved to shut down the accounts while the DOJ seized two domain names related to the network. The affidavit in which an unnamed FBI agent recounted how federal investigators learned of the bot farm, assessed at least part of its scope, and moved to dismantle it reads partly like a spy novel, and partly like a skeptical take on the value of Russian disinformation efforts. The impression the affidavit leaves of what the FBI demolished is less that of a devious effort to pour gasoline on nuanced differences within the American public, and more of a scattershot approach: creating as many accounts as possible, and then using them to take the propaganda that Russia trains on its own citizens abroad. In this case, thats videos of Russian President Vladimir Putin giving long speeches about the history of Eastern Europe. The affidavit cites only two examples of social media posts generated by the network. For those who have followed Putins efforts to legitimate his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, theyre familiar: In one November 2023 instance, an account posted a speech Putin gave contesting the historicity of the current borders of Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania, calling them gifts from Russia. In another, from October 2023, a bot responded to an unnamed candidate for federal office with another Putin video, this time directly justifying the invasion. In the former case, the bot had 23 followers. The FBI didnt specify the reach of the latter account, or of the hundreds of others taken down in the sting. Enter the FSB That relatively small reach and focus on the kind of Eastern European historical issues on which President Putin has long obsessed over but which seem likely to elude most American audiences belies the lengths to which both Russian officials and U.S. law enforcement went to create and then demolish the network. Per the affidavit, an unnamed U.S. government agency sparked the probe by giving the FBI a tip: executives from RT, the Russian state-run news agency, had moved to create a social media bot farm which RT could then use to spread information on a broad scale. The tip focused on two RT employees. One, the chief of RTs Directorate of Digital Journalism, formulated the idea for the bot farm, while another RT employee implemented it, starting in April 2022. The next year, the tip said, the FSB took notice. An officer from the KGB successor recruited the two RT employees to work for an unnamed private intelligence organization that he had created. The groups purpose, the FBI said, was to advance Russian government goals, including by using fake social media accounts to broadcast Russian propaganda. Per the tip, the Kremlin approved the groups creation. From there, the affidavit says, the unnamed U.S. government agency determined that the intelligence organization began to provide investigative services to RT last year, effectively acting as a cover within the Russian state organization for what was really going on: the FSB was using RT to conduct influence operations against foreign adversaries in coordination with the Kremlin, including via the bot farm. Its an extremely convoluted way of demonstrating the mechanics of something thats long been known: RT frequently parrots and amplifies Russian propaganda. What makes this different are the many layers of deception. Per the affidavit, not only was the FSBs involvement concealed from RT, but RT then used subterfuge to create the network of fake social media accounts with which to spread FSB messaging. Per the affidavit, the FBI was able to unravel the scheme in large part by finding ways to corroborate the tip from the unnamed U.S government agency. The FBI did so by obtaining email addresses for suspect X accounts from the social media company. Many of the addresses were registered to unknown domains; after obtaining information for who bought the domains (they were sold by an Arizona provider), the FBI found that they were registered to a fake person with a VPN in Lithuania. A search of a Google account associated with the domains, the affidavit says, unearthed another clue: it was created from an IP address that traces back to Russia. Its then (pardon this inevitable reference) a Russian nesting doll of clues an email accounts: the first email account listed a recovery email address; that recovery email address listed another recovery email address. The third address, the FBI found, had been created in December 2015 years before the bot network was created. The FBI found that it listed an associated phone number. That traced back to the beginning: one of the two RT employees that worked on the bot farm. 'Felt like a funeral': House Democrats sound miserable after their meetings about Biden 'Felt like a funeral': House Democrats sound miserable after their meetings about Biden House Democrats didn't reach a consensus on what to do about Biden. Many described the meeting in somber terms, illustrating the inter-party divisions that remain. Despite the debate, it seems that more Democrats may be coalescing around the president. House Democrats repeatedly called their Tuesday morning meeting a "family conversation." By the sounds of it, the discussion was akin to a tense Thanksgiving, when the dreaded topic of politics comes up and chaos erupts over turkey. In a closed-door meeting, representatives deliberated what to do about Biden, but couldn't close the gaping hole between factions of the party. Many ignored reporters' questions as they emerged from the meeting, but those who did comment painted a picture of division and sadness. When asked whether Democrats were on the same page, Rep. Steve Cohen painted a dire picture: "We're not even in the same book." One person briefed on the meeting said that the general mood was "sad and frustrated," Politico reported. A representative who supports the president took the sadness a step further, saying that the event "felt like a funeral." Another representative, when told about the funeral comment, called the comparison "an insult to funerals," Semafor reported. "The morale of the caucus is at historic lows," they continued. For all its somberness, the so-called funeral seemed lively and loud. Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, one of six House Democrats to call on Biden to step aside, told The New York Times that there was "vigorous debate." Biden's supporters walked out of the room and affirmed their support for the president. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a crucial ally, repeated one refrain nine times as reporters peppered him with questions: "We are ridin' with Biden." Despite the deep divisions and doubt, it seems that more Democrats may be coalescing behind the president, however reluctantly. Just before the full-party conversation, swing-district House Democrats held a smaller meeting. The vibe? "Actual tears," Axios reported. One representative simply called the meeting "intense," while another predicted and regretted that Biden would stay in the race. In a late-night conversation Monday, a House Democrat who's concerned about Biden's reelection bid told Axios that their colleagues are "folding all over the place" and "becoming resigned to Biden holding all the cards here." Senate Democrats discussed Biden's fate over lunch on Tuesday. It seems all of Washington, DC, is waiting to see what will emerge from that family meal. Correction: July 9, 2024 An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the representative from Massachusetts. It's Seth Moulton, not South Moulton. Read the original article on Business Insider Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Rukia Nakadama, Uganda's third deputy prime minister, attending the 5th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation, July 9, 2024. Liu addressed the opening ceremony of the 5th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) GUANGZHOU, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to provide new opportunities for Africa concerning its development and to join hands in promoting modernization, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said on Tuesday in Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 5th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation. Liu said China and Africa have worked together to deepen and consolidate relations and the two sides have entered a new stage of jointly building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Noting that the world today is intertwined and chaotic, with changes unseen in a century accelerating, Liu said China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever. Liu said the local governments of China and Africa should treat each other as equals for mutual benefit and win-win results, and expand the dimensions of opening-up and cooperation. Stressing innovation, Liu called on both sides to speed up green transformation, while upholding inclusiveness and mutual learning to boost people-to-people exchanges. China is ready to promote alignment between the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, the African Union's 2063 Agenda and the development strategies of African countries, Liu added. About 350 political leaders from African countries and officials of local governments and relevant institutions from China and Africa attended the conference. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 5th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Madagascar's Prime Minister Christian Ntsay attending the 5th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation, July 9, 2024. Liu addressed the opening ceremony of the 5th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) TechCrunch Physics Wallah, an Indian edtech startup, has secured $210 million in fresh financing amid a tough funding environment for edtech companies in the country following the collapse of Byju's, once the biggest company in the space. Physics Wallah said on Friday the Series B round was led by the hedge fund Hornbill Capital, a venture between China's Orchid Asia and India's Hornbill, with Lightspeed Ventures Partners "significantly" participating, alongside existing backers WestBridge and GSV. The round values Physics Wallah at $2.8 billion, a substantial increase from the previous $1.1 billion valuation it scored in June 2022. CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL) Two firefighters were injured in a structure fire at a trucking company in Church Hill Monday evening. According to a news release from the Church Hill Fire Department, firefighters responded to a fully involved commercial structure fire at 201 Cardinal Way (E.W. Wylie) just after 8 p.m. Two firefighters were reportedly injured during the incident but were treated and released. One had minor injuries and the other a heat-related illness, the release stated. PREVIOUS: Crews respond to structure fire in Church Hill The business was closed at the time of the fire and the building was unoccupied, the fire department reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire department and the Tennessee Fire Marshals Office. Arson is not suspected. The Church Hill Fire Department thanked all the agencies that assisted during the fire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. One in custody after commercial fire in NW Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a building on fire Tuesday morning. According to OKCFD, crews responded to a business near NW 3rd St. and McKinley Ave. around 5 a.m. after previously responding to that same business around midnight regarding a trash fire. LOCAL NEWS: It could fall over: Grady County officials raise safety concerns following oil rig fire Upon arrival, flames could be seen coming from the roof. Officials say the building was very secure, but once firefighters entered, they quickly got the fire under control. They rapidly had to cut holes through the front door, said Battalion Chief Grant Roberts with OKCFD. Once we made our cut and got in there, it went out fairly quickly. It was just more getting access because the building was very well secured. Officials say the Oklahoma City Police Department has one person in custody they believe is responsible for the fire. No injures have been reported. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. In firefighter's death, some charges against driver dropped. What to know Citing issues with a blood draw, the Erie County District Attorney's Office is withdrawing DUI-related charges against the motorist charged with causing the accident that killed volunteer firefighter Shawn Giles as he was directing traffic at a crash scene in North East Township in August. The motorist still faces a number of other serious charges, including the third-degree felonies of homicide by vehicle and causing a fatal accident while not licensed. If the motorist is convicted of all the remaining charges, the potential maximum sentence would be 29 years, the prosecution said. He is at risk for a lengthy sentence because he is still accused of charges such as homicide by vehicle involving a death in an emergency response area. The withdrawal of the DUI-related charges, made Monday at a hearing in Erie County Common Pleas Court, removes the possibility that the motorist, Dawann M. Simmons, 42, would get a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years if he were convicted of the second-degree felony of homicide by vehicle while DUI. Blood draw at issue with DUI charges The prosecution's decision to drop the DUI-related charges was based on the timing of the blood draw from Simmons following the accident, the prosecution said. The state police used the draw to allege that Simmons was under the influence. The withdrawal of the charges was connected "to the collection of the blood draw in this case," Chief Deputy District Attorney Steven Liboski told Judge Daniel Brabender at Monday's hearing. The state police waited longer than the statutory limit of two hours to take blood samples from Simmons following the accident, which occurred shortly before 12:50 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the intersection of Route 20 and Brickyard Road in North East Township. Troopers arranged for the blood draw 4 hours and 18 minutes after Simmons was taken into custody, according to testimony at Simmons' preliminary hearing, in October. State law allows for exceptions to the two-hour rule, and Liboski at the preliminary hearing said the need for medical attention for Simmons was one reason for the delay. He also said state police were trying to figure out what happened during and after the fatal crash. Firefighters pay respects as the body of Fuller Hose Co. volunteer Shawn Giles, 53, is taken to a funeral home in North East on Aug. 21, the day after he was struck by a car while directing traffic at an accident scene in North East Township. Using the blood draw, investigators extrapolated that Simmons' blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.093% to 0.114%, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing. The legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania is 0.08%. Toxicology tests showed Simmons also had marijuana in his system, police said. Evidence of suspected marijuana use will not be presented at trial due the to withdrawal of the DUI-related charges, the District Attorney's Office said. Victim was wearing high-visibility outfit when struck Though the DUI-related charges are no longer part of the case, the prosecution can still highlight that Giles was killed in an emergency response area. A conviction for vehicular homicide in an emergency response area can add up to five years to the maximum sentence of seven years for vehicular homicide. Giles, 53, was killed as he was directing traffic as part of his fire police duties for the volunteer Fuller Hose Co. in North East, police said. He was wearing a fluorescent green shirt and holding a bright orange flag when he was struck, police said. He had been diverting traffic around the scene of a two-car accident. State police said Simmons was speeding in the 55-mph zone when his 2007 Lexus RX350 drove into Giles and threw him 15 to 20 feet in the air. State police said Simmons told investigators he was attempting to change lanes as he approached the accident scene when Giles jumped in front of his Lexus. "I am not a criminal," Simmons said at Monday's hearing. "I am trying to prove that this was an honest accident." The District Attorney's Office is contending that Simmons alone was to blame for the fatality. Dispute over representation delays motorist's trial Simmons was scheduled to go to trial on Monday, but Judge Brabender at the hearing ordered the trial postponed for a month. He ruled after reviewing a request from Simmons' court-appointed lawyer, Keith Clelland, that he be allowed to withdraw from the case due to lack of cooperation from a "quarrelsome" Simmons, who is out on bond. "It is just one thing after another," Clelland said. Brabender agreed to let Clelland withdraw from the case once Simmons hires his own lawyer, as Simmons said he plans to do. Brabender said he was concerned the case could come back on appeal if he let Simmons go to trial without representation or with Clelland as his lawyer. Liboski, the prosecutor, objected to the postponement of the trial. He spoke to Brabender as he referred to the Fuller Hose Co. firefighters who filled several rows in the gallery. Sitting with them was Giles' wife, Adele. The community of North East and the Giles family "have been through enough waiting for this trial," Liboski said. Adele Giles stood up in the gallery and held up a portrait of her husband. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: DUI charges dropped in death of North East firefighter The Ukrainian Air Force has, apparently for the first time, published a video showing in detail its U.S.-made HAWK surface-to-air missile system. As we have discussed in the past, the missile provides a useful boost to Ukraines middle-tier air and missile defense capacity and, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, has scored some notable kills. The Ukrainian Air Force has, apparently for the first time, published a video showing in detail its U.S.-made HAWK surface-to-air missile system. As we have discussed in the past, the missile provides a useful boost to Ukraines middle-tier air and missile defense capacity and, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, has scored some notable kills. Despite being an older system that was rushed to Ukraine when it became clear that additional ground-based air defenses were in dire need, the HAWK appears to have been a notable success. The video, running just over three and a half minutes long, was published on the Ukrainian Air Forces official YouTube channel. It shows elements of the HAWK system in Ukrainian service, inside and out, including missile launchers and radars, interspersed with interviews with several of the systems operating crew, as well as purported combat footage showing actual missile launches at night. In the original caption to the video, its stated that targets of the HAWK include cruise missiles and that Spanish instructors told Ukrainian anti-aircraft operators that its not really designed to fight drones. The Ukrainians were willing to adapt, however, and the video also shows a HAWK system with multiple Shahed one-way attack drone symbols applied, each denoting a claimed kill. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, even in the HAWKs first combat engagement in Ukraine, the system brought down six of the Iranian-designed Shaheds. Shahed symbols among the kill markings on one of the Ukrainian HAWK systems. Ukrainian Air Force/YouTube screencap One operator named only as Oleksandr explains that their HAWK battery is sometimes in action throughout the day, depending on the intensity of the Russian attacks, and that, although very nervous when they first had to engage a hostile target, they are now more than used to the associated adrenaline. Operators seated in front of a radar screen of a Ukrainian HAWK system. Ukrainian Air Force/YouTube screencap Oleksandr also says that the toughest target that he has encountered is the Kh-59 series of air-launched standoff missiles. Known to NATO as AS-18 Kazoo (for the most widely used Kh-59M version), this heavyweight tactical missile is designed to destroy small, hardened targets with fixed coordinates. It is powered by a small turbofan engine and uses inertial guidance with TV command guidance for the terminal phase. It has a range of 71 miles and a cruising speed of around 600 mph. The wreckage of a Russian Kh-59M missile in the Sumy region of northeast Ukraine in March 2024. Main Directorate of the National Police in the Sumy Region The most difficult engagement recalled by Oleksandr involved a combination of Kh-59s and the more modern Kh-69s. As you can read about here, the Kh-69, in its current form, was developed for internal carriage in the Su-57 Felon next-generation fighter. It has a range of at least 186 miles and other changes compared to the Kh-59M include its inertial navigation system being combined with GPS/GLONASS for mid-course updates and an electro-optical digital scene-matching area correlation (DSMAC) system for the run-in to the target. The revised shape of the weapon with a boxy, trapezoidal-section body is said to offer some degree of reduced radar signature. Oleksandr says the missiles constantly changed their height and were heading in the direction of the HAWK battery when they were engaged. Another operator explains that their HAWK battery has so far successfully intercepted 40 hostile targets, of which 14 were missiles: 13 Kh-59s and one sea-launched Kalibr cruise missile. Based on the multiple Shahed stencils seen on one of the systems, it seems likely most if not all of the remaining targets were drones. Members of the Ukrainian Air Force load HAWK missiles onto a launcher using a specialized reloading vehicle. Ukrainian Air Force/YouTube screencap As we have reported in the past, the HAWK an acronym for Homing All the Way Killer first entered U.S. Army service back in 1959 but has seen numerous improvements since then. In general, however, the system uses a combination of radars providing high and low-altitude target detection, as well as target tracking and illumination. After launch, the missiles use reflected radar energy to zero in on the illuminated threat. The first video of the HAWK published by the Ukrainian Air Force, in October 2023, showed a nighttime engagement but revealed no details of the system itself: HAWK in action pic.twitter.com/BD7l85NI3x Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) October 23, 2023 The Ukrainian Air Force video also confirms that Ukraine has received the HAWK in its Phase III version, one of the more advanced iterations of the system. Overall, the HAWK was modernized three times: Phases I, II, and III. Three Ukrainian HAWK missiles on their launcher. Ukrainian Air Force/YouTube screencap The Improved HAWK (I-HAWK) Phase III version was notable for bringing a Low-Altitude Simultaneous Hawk Engagement (LASHE) capability, allowing the system to target multiple low-altitude threats at once this would be especially useful for tackling drones and cruise missiles. The I-HAWK Phase III was the last version of the system in U.S. military service, remaining in use with the U.S. Marines into the 1990s. More advanced still is the HAWK XXI or HAWK 21, with upgraded radars and other systems, which was developed and is still in use with several countries. You can read more about the HAWK system and its various interceptors in this past War Zone piece. While its apparently now clear that the Phase III version has been provided to Kyiv, we dont know which of the earlier systems are used, although the Phase I (at least) would seem likely, since Spain announced it would be transferring some HAWK systems from its inventory, which, at that time, included I-HAWK Phase I and III systems, as well as some HAWK XXI/HAWK 21s. At least some of the HAWK systems seen in the video have U.S. Army markings, however, indicating they are likely among those that the United States pledged to send to Ukraine. The High Power Illuminator (HPI) radar used by a Ukrainian HAWK system. Ukrainian Air Force/YouTube screencap At least some of these were reportedly modernized prior to delivery, but the exact source of the systems remains unknown, with some suggestion that they might include some of Taiwans recently retired HAWKs, or at least components from them, as well as examples that remained in long-term storage in the United States. Regardless of the exact types of HAWK systems delivered and their provenance, the Ukrainian Air Force seems happy with these air defense systems, which provide a badly needed boost in the short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile segment, especially in defense of less-critical areas. This is especially important as Ukraine continues to burn through the missiles used by its Soviet-era Buk systems, while other examples of the same have been knocked out by Russian strikes. The limited stock of missiles for the Buk has been a major reason for the FrankenSAM program that has seen NATO-standard RIM-7 missiles integrated on Buk launchers. A Buk/Sea Sparrow FrankenSAM and one of its crew. Operational Command East Operational Command East Most impressive perhaps, is that the Ukrainians have apparently achieved notable success against large-volume Russian kamikaze drone and cruise missile strikes, at least according to the Ukrainian Air Force account. With the HAWK still in use in a number of countries, including in Europe, and with nations that have already delivered military equipment to Ukraine, the chances of more examples of the system making their way to Ukraine appear good. There are also significant stockpiles of system components and interceptors available for transfer from the United States and many countries that have retired them but still maintain stocks. Despite its age, therefore, it appears the Ukrainian Air Force is so far more than happy with the HAWK and the effect its had so far in helping shore up the countrys air and missile defenses. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com First Mt. Juliet Whataburger opens Monday. Second location in the works Spencer Pauley arrived at 6 a.m. Monday to be first in line at Mt. Juliet's long-awaited Whataburger restaurant located at the southeast corner of Lebanon and North Mt. Juliet roads. A "once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity)" and the chance for free gifts brought the 16-year-old Spencer from his home in Gallatin to get in line outside five hours before the restaurant's scheduled 11 a.m. opening as several other vehicles began to arrive. The lease to build the restaurant at 11190 Lebanon Road was reported in 2021. However, delays occurred that started with the Tennessee Department of Transportation's concerns about the initial planned entrance and exit on North Mount Juliet Road being too close to the intersection. Spencer Pauley, 16, started the line outside the new Whataburger restaurant opening on July 8, 2024 in Mt. Juliet. The current, revised plan extends the entrance and exit lane back behind a Camel Express Car Wash and Slim Chickens just south of the new Whataburger. There is also an entrance planned on Lebanon Road. The restaurant takes the space of a former gas station and convenience store, and zoning for the fast-casual Texas brand was already in place according to Mt. Juliet Mayor James Maness. More: Tavern Midtown reopens, Double Dogs closes and more Nashville June restaurant changes "I can say there were no traffic issues (Monday), on one of their busiest days they will have," Mt. Juliet Public Information Officer Justin Beasley said. "I'm a little worried, but I'm confident the city will be able to work out any challenges that might come up," Mt. Juliet City Commissioner Ray Justice said. Vehicles on northbound North Mt. Juliet Road turning left on Lebanon Road. Gifts for the first patrons were scheduled to be distributed at 10:45 a.m. Monday, Whataburger Field Marketing Coordinator Courtney Vick said. A Whataburger-for-a-Year gift box is given to the first person in each drive-thru lane and the first person in line at the front door, Vick said. Swag bags are also given to the first 100 customers, according to Vick. Mt. Juliet also recently approved a Whataburger location on the city's south side, on Rutland Drive near the new Costco store off Golden Bear Gateway. The burger chain announced that opening is scheduled for spring 2025. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Whataburger opens in Mt. Juliet after delays, plans expansion First responders team up to battle blood shortage First responders team up to battle blood shortage REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) First responders teamed up on Monday to host a blood drive in central Ohio. Its part of the Battle of the Badges taking place this July and departments in Reynoldsburg teamed up to make a difference. Residents gathered at the Reynoldsburg Community Church to donate during a crucial time of year for the American Red Cross the summer months, when increased travel and severe weather can cause appointment cancellations and blood shortages. Truro Township Fire Chief Jeff Sharps said first responders know how important this can be to save lives. Sometimes were on the other side where we actually are seeing the blood being hung and infused into, you know, those patients that need it, he said. So, its a really full circle, kind of wholesome event. The Reynoldsburg Division of Police also helped organize the drive. If you missed out, Sharps said there will be other chances to give this month. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Three of four defendants sentenced last week for federal felonies related to the 2021 blockade of a Mt. Juliet abortion clinic received no additional prison time. The sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger fell short of those requested by prosecutors. The four people sentenced on July 2 and 3 were part of a group of six people convicted in January of felony violations of a law prohibiting interference with another person's ability to access reproductive health services. The two other defendants convicted of felonies will be sentenced in September, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. After the one-week trial, the attorney's office said each defendant faced up to 10.5 years in prison and fines of up to $260,000. Trauger sentenced Calvin Zastrow of Michigan to six months in prison and three years of supervised release, short of request by prosecutors of 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The other defendants sentenced last week Coleman Boyd, Dennis Green and Paul Vaughn did not receive any additional prison time, while prosecutors asked for a 15-month prison term for both Boyd and Green and a year-and-a-day prison term for Vaughn. Boyd, of Bolton, Mississippi, was sentenced to five years of probation and a $10,000 fine. Green and Vaughn were sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release. Boyd, Green and Vaughn all said they were happy not to be going to prison. But Vaughn added that he felt the decision was "far from justice." "My only crime was to be ideologically in line with people that trespassed," Vaughn said in a phone conversation Monday. He said he plans to appeal his case to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Boyd shared a similar opinion. "Without a doubt, this is still injustice, but I'm very thankful that I'm not going to prison," Boyd said. "I'm very thankful for that ... because I love my wife, I love my children, but my heart's given to the Lord, and I'm ready to follow him wherever it that takes me." Green's attorney Ben Russ said in an email that "we respect the jury's verdict and we are pleased with the outcome of the sentencing which we thought was very fair." Zastrow could not be reached for comment. Zastrow's attorney did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee declined to comment until the other two defendants charged with felonies have been sentenced. The blockade of the Carafem Clinic in March 2021 Abortion provider carafem is located at Providence Pavilion in Mt. Juliet. On March 5, 2021, the group arrived at the clinic before it opened and stationed themselves throughout the office building it was located in. Prosecutors said that several of those involved recorded video of their actions, including one person who was apparently making a video to instruct others how to perform a "rescue," the term some anti-abortion activists use to describe protests of abortion clinics or efforts to dissuade individuals from seeking an abortion. The group came prepared with pre-printed flyers that stated they were [a]cting Biblically and rescuing the innocent" while also anticipating their arrests, stating, "what really happened today in Mount Juliet? Police arrested peaceful, obedient Christians!" An officer with Mt. Juliet police testified that roughly 20-25 protesters were there that day. Police responded to the scene after the protesters refused to leave when asked by property managers and disrupted other businesses in the building. Many of the protesters left after police warned that they would be arrested. An employee at Carafem explained in April that the Mt. Juliet clinic closed shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the U.S. Constitution does not confer the right to abortion when it overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The company still operates clinics in some other states. Eleven people were indicted in October 2022 on alleged violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits interference with a person's ability to access reproductive health services. Seven of the defendants were also charged with felony conspiracy charges, while the others were charged with misdemeanor FACE Act violations. Six of those charged with felonies were convicted in January, while one co-defendant, Caroline Davis, of Michigan, pleaded guilty in October 2023 and cooperated with the government's investigation. In April, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery S. Frensley convicted the four other defendants of misdemeanor violations of the FACE Act. They face up to a maximum of six months in prison, five years of supervised release and up to $10,000 in fines, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Round of defendants in Middle Tennessee abortion blockade sentenced Fishing report, July 9-16: Delta bass on a tear. Don Pedro kokanee are fat and sassy and the Shaver Lake kokanee bite is up and down. Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake. Photo gallery Show off your success! Share your fish photos and videos with Bee readers. Please share only jpeg images and Mp4 video files. Include Fishing Report in the subject line and a full caption and email to sports@fresnobee.com Best bets Best bets Delta bass on a tear, Dave King reported. Don Pedro kokanee are fat and sassy, Monte Smith reported. Shaver Lake kokanee bite is up and down, Dick Nichols said. Bass Lake trout are active, Mike Beighey reported . Wishon/ Courtright are kicking out trout limits Kelly Brewer said. Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Dont bother Westside waterways Striper 2 Catfish 2 In the California Aqueduct and Delta/Mendota Canals, early mornings or late evenings are the time to go with the triple-digit heat. Catfishing remains best with chicken liver or anchovies. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, tube baits or Flukes dragged on the bottom or sardines on a Carolina-rig after the check gates are best for stripers, and there is a topwater bite in low light conditions. Catfish with chicken liver or Triple S Dip Bait on a Carolina-rig, particularly at night. Aqueduct anglers are always advised to use caution as well as wearing a PFD as the water is swift, cold, and dangerous. A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link:topwater also took bass early in the day. Catfish are taken on cut baits on a Carolina-rig, dip bait, or chicken liver. A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines-Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf. Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Copes Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield (661) 679-6351; Bobs Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657. Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2 Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported a typical summertime bass bite at Eastman with lipless crankbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, 8-inch plastics on a shakey head, or dragging 10-inch plastics on the bottom. Isolated rockpiles, near the face of the dam, or flats with deep water access are holding bass. An algae bloom is starting to form. Hensley remains loaded with carp along with the occasional largemouth bass to three pounds. Catfish are another option. Eastman dropped 3 feet to 556.92 feet in elevation and 68% of capacity with Hensley dropping nearly two feet to 502.90 feet in elevation and 46% of capacity. Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151 Lake Don Pedro Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3 King salmon 2 Crappie 2 Kokanee Powers Team Kokanee Tournament is this coming Saturday, July 13, and pre-fishing will be heavy toward the end of the week. Monte Smith of Gold County Sport Fishing reported an excellent kokanee bite at depths from 45 to 90 feet with Pro-Troll Kokanee Killers or smaller profile hoochies. The kokanee are fat and healthy, and we landed 20 kokanee to 17 inches by noon. These are just butterballs, he said. The fish are in the open water along with along the shorelines. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been on Don Pedro all week long, and we are finding fish at 65 to 105 feet. For bass, Ryan Denner of Central Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported few anglers have been on the lake with the triple-digit heat, but there is a topwater bite with Choppos or walking-style baits in the early mornings or evenings before dropping to the bottom with jigs. The Blue Oaks launch ramp has reopened, and launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake is releasing water, and it dropped 2 feet to 817.79 feet in elevation and 92% of capacity. There are only two club tournaments on the schedule through August. Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417. McClure Reservoir Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Denner reported very quiet bass action at McClure due to the excessive valley heat, but there is a topwater or jerkbait bite in the early mornings or evenings before dropping into the shade lines with jigs. There are no bass tournaments scheduled through the month of August. The lake dropped 2.5 feet to 856.58 feet in elevation and 93% of capacity. The Merced River is steady at 2002 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain, and it remains high for this time of year. Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417. Lake McSwain Trout 2 The Splash and Dash is the main feature on the lake during the summer months. Information: https://mysplashndash.com/see-whats-new-in-2024/. Few fishermen are trying in the triple-digit heat, but the best chance for a holdover is up river arm for trollers in the deepest and coolest portion of the lake. The lake dropped to 85% of capacity. Call: Anglers Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534. Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2 Michael Crayne reported finding the bait balls is the key to success for spotted bass as the fish are schooling. There is a topwater bite in the early mornings or at night, but during the day, the fish have gone deep. Recreational boat traffic remains extremely heavy. The lake dropped five feet to 558.42 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity. Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are stable at 462 cfs. The Sierra and Fresno Bass Clubs are holding two-day tournaments the weekend of July 20-21. Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 3 The kokanee remains close to the bottom between 90 and 110 feet in depth, but Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service posted four limits of a mixed grade by 8:20 a.m. using micro-hoochies or Paulina Peaks Platinum Skinny Flutter Bugs. Big kokanee to 18 inches remain a possibility, but most of the fish are a smaller grade. Rainbow trout under lights at night is another possibility. For bass, Ryan Denner reported working island tops with topwater lures such as the Berkley Choppo or similar walking baits in the early mornings or at night. The bass have gone deeper for sure, Denner said. Recreational boating pressure is heavy on the weekends. The lake is releasing water, and it dropped a foot to 1,051.46 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity. Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Alex Niapas, Catching California Guide Service (209) 728-4225; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734. Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2 Michael Crayne reported a decent bass bite, but the smoke from the Basin Fire has been particularly intense at the lake. Trout fishing is best for trollers up the river arm. Recreational boating remains intense as parking has eased slightly since the lake is dropping steadily. In the lower Kings, a trout plant occurred two weeks ago, and flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer have dropped from 2,120 to a more manageable 1,489 cfs. The lake dropped 9.5 feet to 921.82 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity. The Kings River Bass Club has a tournament scheduled this Saturday followed by a Fresno Bass Club event on Aug. 18. Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626. San Luis Reservoir and ONeill Forebay Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2 Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported bait fishing with anchovies has been the best bet with anglers out early in the mornings or fishing in the late afternoons. He said, Few people are going to San Luis, and we didnt have jumbo minnows, pile worms, or blood worms in the shop this week. Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that he scouted on Saturday in sweltering weather with Sonny Johansen for over 20 schoolfish to 25 trolling Lucky Crafts - topped by a 33-inch, 14 pounder that Sonny released. The forebay has been limited to bass fishing with topwater lures or Senkos along the grass lines as it has been hard to fish with the growing weeds taking over the shorelines. Information on the wind stations - https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30713. The main lake has dropped to 49 with the forebay at 81% of capacity. To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir. Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954 High Sierra Bass Lake Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 0 Trout in the three to five- pound range are found from the Sheriffs Tower to in front of the Forks from the surface to 25 feet with orange or pink Dicks Trout Busters tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a Dicks Mountain Dodger, Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Guide Service said. The best bite is 6 to 8:30 a.m. The water temperature is 75 degrees. For bass, Crayne reported a decent bite with plastics on a Neko-rig or shakey head, chatterbaits, crankbaits, or topwater lure sin the early mornings along the shade lines or under docks before the boat traffic starts. Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133. Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool Kaiser Pass Road is fully open, and the Vermilion Valley Resort is hosting the first annual High Sierra Trout Rodeo at Lake Edison on Saturday, July 13. Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station, 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra. Fire danger is extreme in the high country. Edison has risen to 76% of capacity, Florence at 95% of capacity, and Mammoth Pool at 87% of capacity. Road conditions 297-0706. Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000. Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake Trout 2 Kokanee 2 Dick Nichols of Dicks Fishing Charters and Mountain Tackle said, There is still a better than decent trout bite, but the kokanee bite is like a roller coaster with scores down to an average of three kokanee per boat. I fished with Roger Glaspey, his son-in-law David Norman, and his 12-year-old grandson Hunter Norman of Fresno. Hunter was the only one manning the rods, and he landed 13 trout and three kokanee using pink or orange Dicks Mountain Tubes or Mountain Bomber Hoochies along with pink Mountain Hoochies tipped with pink scented corn behind a Captain J or Orange Scale Dodger at 33 feet in the 73-degree water. Guide Paul Brown of Fishing with Paul Guide Service had similar results for his guests collecting 21 mixed fish on pink or gold Sierra Gold or Dicks Mountain Bug in pink and white behind dodgers. The ratio of trout to kokanee is 5 to one on average. The lake is full, but the debris has diminished. The kokanee bite should improve within two weeks. At Huntington, the July Fourth weekend did not have the impact with recreational boaters that Shaver experience, and maller kokanee and catchable rainbows make up multiple limits for trollers with the best action at 30 feet. A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http://www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html. Shaver has risen to 84% of capacity with Huntington also rising to 98% of capacity. Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072. Wishon/Courtright Trout 3 The roads to Wishon and Courtright remain open despite the growing Basin Fire, and Kelly Brewer of the Wishon RV Park and Store reported great trout action at both lakes with limits being the rule. He said, I tested this out myself with a Wedding Ring tipped with a nightcrawler behind a flasher. Bank anglers are scoring at both lakes with pink Power Bait, salmon eggs, or nightcrawlers. Road conditions: Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706. Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361. Ocean Half Moon Bay Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 Rockfishing south of the harbor remains outstanding, and good weather conditions over the weekend allowed Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete to head out for 8 limits of rockfish and 2 lingcod on Sunday. There is optimism for the upcoming weekend weather for those wanting to head offshore in search of bluefin tuna. The few boats that tried over the weekend found little life offshore, but the ocean most likely needs to settle down after six weeks of heavy northwest wind. . Striped bass to 46 inches have been landed at night for those throwing big plugs in the surf from Half Moon Bay through Pacifica and up to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628. Monterey/Santa Cruz Rockfish 3 Halibut 3 Striper 3 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 2 Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill reported a continued outstanding striped bass bite from Marina south into Monterey. He said, Several big stripers in the 36- to 38-inch range have been landed, and our co-worker, Tom Niccum, caught and released his personal-best at 42 inches on a jerkbait. Topwater lures and jerkbaits such as Duo Realis 120, 140, or 160 in red head/white body or Mazumi Sardine have been working for the big fish. We almost ran out of a big order of Duos within a few days. The Santa Cruz beaches have been solid for perch along with stripers in the 22-inch range. Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, Were in the full swing of summer now, and most representative species are on the bite. Squid spawns have started back up again in spots, mostly near Monterey. Big anchovy schools can be found in the deeper, more central areas of the bay. Local Monterey angler Pat Kuhl reported the halibut bite is still going strong from Lovers Point and up to Sand City. Anglers are fooling the big flatfish by drifting live baits, or bounce-ball trolling bait or lures. Kohl added The good news is, squid are back. The big net boats are switching from anchovies to market squid this week, with giant blooms near the red can buoy off Pacific Grove. Rockfishing is steady for boats in the Monterey area. As usual, the bigger fish are located farther from the harbor. . Rockfish remains the staple for anglers in Santa Cruz as well. Private boaters and the charter operations are having no problem puling limits of fish from the reefs inside of the 120-foot boundary. Halibut are on the bite as well near Santa Cruz. Though weve received reports of halibut from the West Cliff area and the near the Mile Buoy, the best bite is further into the bay, from New Brighton down towards Manresa. Surfcasting is getting better and better. Call: Chris Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732. Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay Halibut 3 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 2 We talked about Epic fishing in the bay last week, and this week even surpassed last weeks action as the boats were able to make it outside the Gate to work the North and South Bars for big halibut. Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley had a banner day on Sunday with 17 limits of big halibut and 7 striped bass. His brother, Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 has been loading up with big halibut every day, and Monday was no exception with 20 limits of halibut to 27 pounds, two striped bass at 18 and 20 pounds released, six lingcod, 7 brown rockfish, and a 40-pound soupfin shark. His partner boat, the California Dawn 1 also found spectacular action with 11 limits of halibut to 30 pounds, 3 striped bass to 18 pounds, and three lingcod. The Coastal Conservation Association has an introductory bay potluck charter on the California Dawn I on August 24 Information and reservations - https://ccacalifornia.org/It doesnt get better than this, but many of the party boats remain tied to the docks with minimal business. . Inside the bay, early limits of halibut are the rule for the six-pack boats, and after finding great action on the interior beaches for striped bass. Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco found the lineside on the rockpiles on Monday. Limits of stripers in the 8- to 10-pound range are the rule inside the bay. Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hookd Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388. San Luis Obispo Rockfish 2 Surf perch 3 Rockfishing remains from just over a half to two-thirds limits of rockfish with three boats out of Morro Bay Landing returning on Sunday with 424 rockfish and seven lingcod for 67 passengers while the Fiesta out of Virgs Landing was on a recent half-day trip with 26 passengers for 120 rockfish and a lingcod. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, two boats carried 42 anglers on Sunday for a total of 276 rockfish and 4 lingcod. . Rockfishing below Point Lopez from July 1 through Sept. 30 are limited to 50 fathoms inshore while from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, the regulations are from 50 fathoms offshore. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/. Call: Virgs Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing. Others Delta/Stockton Bass 3 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3 Thursday July 11 is the last day for recreational harvest of white sturgeon. Several six-pack boats have returned to Pittsburg Marina for the final week of harvest. The California Fish and Game Commission approves white sturgeon as a candidate species for listing under the California Endangered Species Act, and fishing for white sturgeon will close on July 12 as a candidate species for listing under CESA are granted full protections while the candidate review process takes place. There is a possibility of a catch-and-release fishery as recreational fishing for white sturgeon may continue during the status review process under California Fish and Game Code Section 2084. This will be addressed during the Commissions meeting on Aug. 14-15, but after July 11, no fishing for white sturgeon is allowed until further notice. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hookd Up Sport Fishing will be out on Wednesday and Thursday with room on board to take advantage of the final days of harvest. Sturgeon action remains outstanding as Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service was out on Sunday, and they brought 7 sturgeon to the boat out of 9 bites using cured salmon roe near the Martinez Bridge and Buoy 2. Its frog season in the California Delta with the upcoming specialty tournaments of the Ultimate Frog Challenge on July 27-28, followed by the original frog tournament, the Snag Proof Open, on Aug. 3- 4. Both tournaments are held out of Russos Marina on Bethel Island. Fresno-native, Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors, and his partner, Chad Frie, came in second during the Thursday Night Shootout out of Tracy Oasis. Borges said, We went out to practice of the frog tournaments, and I threw a rod with a chartreuse spinnerbait in the boat. There was a lot of small bait in the south Delta, and since I couldnt get a reaction bite with chatterbaits or by punching, I broke out the spinnerbait and landed multiple bass to three pounds, losing another estimated at five to six pounds. . Frogs have been good for Dave King of Nor Cal Bass who found a great bite using Snag Proofs Phat Frog in the I smashed them on frogs and spinnerbaits in the east Delta north of Stockton in the 82-degree water. I have been throwing the Snag Proof Fat Frog in the Duckling pattern. One big bass busted through the hydrilla to smash the frog. Danny Berbena has been scoring with Snag Proofs Perfect Frog in Alabaster, King said. Nor Cal Bass is hosting a tournament out of Ladds Marina in Stockton Saturday, July 13. Johnny Wang, manager of Turners Outdoorsman in Stockton, reported limits of stripers to seven pounds in Mildred Island for those drifting bluegill. Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hookd Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045. Events July 10, 17, 24, 31 Delta/Ladds Marina Wednesday Night Shootout July 12, 19, 26 Tulloch Friday Night Shootout July 13-14 Delta/Russos Marina Best Bass Tournaments July 13 Delta/Ladds Marina Nor Cal Bass Don Pedro Kokanee Power Team Tournament Pine Flat Kings River Bass Club Edison High Sierra Trout Rodeo Success Central Valley Kayak Fishing Isabella Golden Empire Bass Club Santa Margarita 805 Bass Addicts July 20-21 Delta/Ladds Marina Kern County Bass Masters Delta/San Joaquin County Yak A Bass Amador Modesto Ambassadors Millerton Fresno Bass Club/Sierra Bass Club July 20 Salt Springs Reservoir Manteca Bassin Buddies Tulloch 17/90 Bass Club Isabella American Bass Association/Bakersfield Bass Club Nacimiento San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers July 27-28 Delta/Russos Marina Ultimate Frog Challenge July 27 Pardee Nor Cal Bass New Melones Food Allergy Kayak Bass July 28 Delta/Ladds Marina Valley Backlashers August 3-4 Delta/Russos Marina Snag Proof Open information - https://www.bestbasstournaments.com/ Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change) null For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing. An aerial drone photo taken on June 22, 2024 shows the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II" undergoing a sea trial. China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua) SHANGHAI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. The trial was conducted by "Pioneer II," an engineering prototype developed independently by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Shanghai municipal government said on Tuesday. "Pioneer II" completed five diving and seabed mining operations, including a record-breaking dive to 4,102.8 meters, marking the first time a Chinese deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle conducted trial operations at depths exceeding 4,000 meters. The mining vehicle has pioneered several innovations in the country, including high-mobility deep-sea navigation over complex seabed terrains and composite drilling and mining of multiple types of deep-sea minerals. Yang Jianmin, chair professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and chief scientist of "Pioneer II," said that during the sea trial, the mining vehicle completed one dive per day for five consecutive days from June 22 to 26 in the western Pacific Ocean, successfully obtaining over 200 kg of various deep-sea mineral samples. Yang noted that while deep-sea mineral resources are generally found at depths ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 meters, the trial indicated that "Pioneer II" can almost reach the depths required for seabed mining. Several prominent experts, including Lin Zhongqin and Li Jiabiao, both academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Li Maolin, director of a national key laboratory of deep-sea mineral resources, hailed the success of the sea trial as another solid step forward for China's deep sea exploration. According to the experts, it signifies that China will receive more technical and equipment support for deep-sea scientific research, resource exploration and environmental preservation. An aerial drone photo taken on June 22, 2024 shows the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II" undergoing a sea trial. China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on June 24, 2024 shows a deep-sea mineral sample collected by the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II." China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on June 26, 2024 shows a deep-sea mineral sample collected by the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II." China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on June 20, 2024 shows the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II" developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua) Team members operate the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II" at a control center on June 22, 2024. China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua) MARYSVALE, Utah (ABC4) The Fishlake National Forest has issued a full closure order as the devastating Silver King Fire spread across 11,290 acres. The fire, which started on July 5, has been rapidly spreading throughout the area thanks to hot, dry, and windy conditions that have been impacting the area. When first reported, the Silver King Fire was estimated to be about 680 acres in size. It rapidly grew to an estimated 10,000 acres by the end of the day on Sunday, July 7. Officials believe the fire was caused by a lightning strike in the area. The forested gem is a popular getaway spot in Utah with plenty of opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting. PREVIOUS: Silver King Fire doubles in size to nearly 11K acres, continues showing extreme fire behavior The Fishlake National Forest said the health and safety of both firefighters and the public are the highest priority and issued a closure order for a large area surrounding the fire. It includes several areas including Miners Park, Deer Trail Mountain, and Mill Canyon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the closure area starts at the junction of I-70 and Fish Creek, and proceeds east along the south side of I-70 to the south side of Castle Rock Campground. The Castle Rock Campground is outside of the closed area, according to the Department of Agriculture, and it remains open to the public. The closure order went into effect at the start of the day on Tuesday, July 9. Officials said it will remain in effect until Aug. 30, unless it is rescinded earlier. Violations of the order could result in a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and six-month jail time. Firefighters in the area are using three helicopters along with two planes and an unmanned aircraft system in their efforts to contain the blaze. On the north and northwest side of the fire, crews are working to establish an anchor point and construct a fire line to protect several historic mining structures that are being threatened in the area. Meanwhile, crews are working elsewhere on the fires perimeter to protect the Historic Miners Park and keep the fire in check along the eastern edge. Hot, windy, and dry conditions are expected to persist over the next several days, possibly bringing gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. Officials said this weather will make fire suppression efforts difficult. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Florida agrees to settlement in Piney Point pollution lawsuit. Heres what it says Florida regulators have agreed to a settlement in a federal lawsuit over pollution from Piney Point that will create tougher pollution standards and federally enforceable oversight for the industrial site in Manatee County. Several Florida-based environmental groups filed the lawsuit against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in June 2021. It was two months after state regulators approved an emergency discharge of 215 million gallons of contaminated water from the troubled site into Tampa Bay. Researchers found the release likely contributed to severe harmful algal blooms that year, including a major red tide that killed hundreds of tons of wildlife. The lawsuit accused the state of violating the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Terms of a proposed settlement agreement between the FDEP and the environmental groups were filed in the U.S. District Courts Tampa-based Middle District of Florida on Monday. In the filing, FDEP agreed to stricter pollution oversight and water quality testing until Piney Points ongoing closure is complete. The state also agreed to fund $75,000 in independent water quality testing near Piney Point to be overseen by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. In return, the environmental groups agreed to dismiss all of their lawsuits claims against FDEP. A federal judge acknowledged the settlement and dismissed the claims against the state on Monday. A strong, enforceable Clean Water Act permit for Tampa Bays most problematic polluter is long overdue, said Ragan Whitlock, attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. The Center filed the suit against the state along with Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, Manasota-88 and Our Childrens Earth Foundation. Site operators say they continue to make progress on cleanup and closure of Piney Point, including over 209 million gallons of water removed from the site and the largest pond being dredged before closure. Florida agrees to stricter pollution oversight In the settlement, FDEP agreed to draft language for a Clean Water Act permit that will require the agency to monitor and publicly report on potential sources of pollution at Piney Point. The permit establishes criteria for the amount of pollutants allowed in water that leaves the site. Now there are actual enforceable limits in place for how much nutrient can come out the Piney Point facility nitrogen, phosphorous and a host of others, Whitlock told the Herald. If they are exceeded, then the permit holder would be in violation and there can be enforcement action. Enforcement could include fines or citizen lawsuits that target permit violations. The agreement also requires FDEP to report any noncompliance which may endanger health or the environment. The former phosphate processing plant holds toxic byproducts from the mining industry stored in large mounds called gypsum stacks. The stacks have historically been topped with ponds containing millions of gallons of contaminated rainwater and process water a byproduct of industrial processes and manufacturing that contains nutrients that can harm water quality. Material from the dredging of Port Manatee is also stored there. One of the four ponds was closed in late 2023, and the remaining ponds are now in the middle of being drained and closed. To dispose of the process water, Manatee County commissioners opted for an underground injection well. Despite assurances that the water would be treated before being sent deep underground, some residents and environment advocates were concerned it could lead to contamination of the aquifer. The terms of the Clean Water Act permit in the settlement require the state to monitor and report on the quality of water transferred to the underground injection well. The settlement also requires monitoring and reporting of stormwater discharges from the site, groundwater quality and testing for toxins that are harmful to humans and wildlife. The settlement establishes a new standard of transparency for the water quality exiting the plant, a crucial step in safeguarding the well-being of our community, Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Abbey Tyrna said in a news release. Additionally, it imposes critical restrictions on key pollutants, ensuring a more sustainable and healthier future for our bay. On-site filtration cleans water from New Gypsum Stack South two years after an emergency water release became an environmental disaster for Tampa Bay. Conditions have greatly improved at Piney Point, according to site operators and site closure is underway. How far along is Piney Point closure? Herb Donica, the independent, court-appointed receiver who oversees daily closure operations at Piney Point, described the settlement as incredibly positive. Its recognition by the environmental groups and the state that this needs to happen, Donica said of Piney Points closure. Donica said the lawsuit settlement wont significantly change operations at Piney Point. He said the site is staffed 24/7 and constant water quality monitoring and testing are already taking place. Nothing there changes, Donica said. We will continue to do that. But he said the Clean Water Act permit will make the monitoring requirements legally binding and provide assurance to the public. It will be enforceable going forward, Donica said. Well have a federal court order that this is happening. Donica estimates the site is roughly halfway to full closure. As of July 5, over 209 million gallons of water have been removed, according to FDEP. Site operators are currently working to dredge the largest reservoir on the site, the New Gypsyum Stack South pond, so it can be closed. The closure of all four ponds is expected to be complete by 2025, Donica previously told the Herald. Lawsuit against property owner still active While the environmental groups case against the state has been dismissed following the settlement, they are still seeking a legal judgment against HRK Holdings, LLC, the company that owns the Piney Point property. HRK purchased the property from FDEP in 2006. In 2011, HRK filed for bankruptcy after a major spill at the site. The company was still operating the site under bankruptcy with a minimal staff when 2021s disaster occurred. In June, the environmental groups filed a request for a default judgment against HRK, which has no legal representation in its bankrupt state. The request asks a federal judge to rule that HRK violated the Clean Water Act and assess the maximum civil penalty of $846,900. The judge has not yet ruled on the request. Florida woman hid more than 6 pounds of cocaine in vehicles compartment: deputies Florida woman hid more than 6 pounds of cocaine in vehicles compartment: deputies TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A traffic stop conducted in South Carolina led to a Florida womans arrest after deputies discovered cocaine hidden in her vehicles compartment. On July 3, the Florence County Sheriffs Office initiated a traffic stop on the womans vehicle on northbound I-95. 3 arrests made after Hillsborough deputy seriously injured during traffic stop, sheriffs office says Carmen Denisse Garcia Roman, of Orlando, was stopped for speeding. But during the stop, deputies developed reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. During a search of Romans vehicle, they discovered an aftermarket compartment that held three kilos (approximately 6.6 pounds) of cocaine. Florence County Sheriffs Office Florence County Sheriffs Office Roman was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. She is being held at the Florence County Detention Center as she awaits a bond 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 WFLA. Desmond Curtis aged 22: after the war he became friends with the German captain of the U-boat he had sunk Flight Lieutenant Desmond Curtis, who has died aged 100, flew more than 70 sorties in Beaufighter and Mosquito strike aircraft and was awarded the DFC for attacks in the lead-up to D-Day. In March 1944, Curtis and his pilot Doug Turner were sent with a special flight of Mosquito aircraft to an airfield in Cornwall. Most of Germanys U-boats were based at French ports on the Bay of Biscay, in addition to a large surface fleet of destroyers and minesweepers. They posed a major threat to the impending operations for D-Day. Curtis and Turner discovered that they would be flying the Mosquito Mk XVIII, which was equipped with a 57mm anti-tank gun with a 6lb warhead mounted under the nose (known as the Tsetse gun), in addition to its standard fit with rockets and cannons. On March 25 1944, flying at 50ft, Turner spotted a surfaced U-boat, U-976, off La Pallice, the port of La Rochelle, and made four frontal attacks with his six-pounder Tsetse. Hits were observed before the submarine submerged, leaving an oil patch on the surface. Four crew were killed but the remaining 49 escaped the sinking submarine, including the captain, Raimund Tiesler. Two days later, Turner spotted another surfaced U-boat, and he and his wingman attacked from out of the sun; at least four six-pounder hits were observed. The U-960 was seriously damaged, one shell hitting the conning tower, demolishing the periscope and injuring 14 of the crew. The submarine limped into La Pallice. Curtis and Turner were awarded the DFC for exemplary gallantry. As D-Day approached, the pair, now with the Tsetse flight of 248 Squadron, were out every day as part of Operation Cork, Coastal Commands effective operation to stop any U-boats or surface ships entering the English Channel to pose a threat to the great seaborne armada. In addition to seeking out submarines, the aircraft were used to attack the German surface fleet endeavouring to break into the Channel. On June 7, Turner and Curtis spotted the wash of a surfacing U-boat. Despite the low cloud, they made two attacks, hitting the conning tower and the hull and forcing the submarine to crash-dive. A patch of oil was seen on the surface of the sea and U-212 headed back to La Pallice, taking no further part in the operations to interrupt the D-Day landings. In the days that followed, Curtis and Turner attacked German launches and minesweepers. In early July they used the Tsetse gun against Sperrbrecher flak ships and M-class minesweepers at the mouth of the Gironde. Coastal Commands operations before and during the landings proved devastatingly successful, with no U-boats penetrating the English Channel and the German surface fleet kept at bay. The de Havilland Mosquito Mark XVIII next to an anti-tank gun comparable in size to the 'Tsetse' gun - CROWN/MOD, courtesy of Air Historical Branch Desmond Curtis was born on July 16 1923 and educated at Holloway County Grammar School. He enlisted in the RAF in 1940 and trained as a navigator. After converting to the Beaufighter, he embarked on a two-year partnership with Doug Turner; they joined 235 Squadron together, flying from Leuchars in Fife at the end of 1942. The squadrons aircraft flew reconnaissance sorties over the North Sea seeking enemy warships. They also escorted torpedo bombers attacking shipping off the Norwegian coast. To counter these operations, the Luftwaffe reinforced its fighter squadrons based in Norway. On one occasion, when they were attacked by an enemy fighter, they descended to a very low level and began to take evasive action, preventing the pursuing aircraft from firing a shot. Curtis later described the action as an exhilarating 10 minutes or so. Curtis and Turner left 235 Squadron in March 1943 for the remote and bleak airfield at Skitten, north of Wick in Caithness, to join the new, top-secret 618 squadron, equipped with the Mosquito. After their first flight in the wooden aircraft, Curtis described it as like going from a Morris Minor to a Rolls-Royce. The aircraft was to carry a smaller version of the Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb being developed for 617 (Dam Buster) Squadron, which they used to attack the Ruhr Dams. With the smaller bomb, codenamed Highball, 618 Squadron was to mount a low-level attack against the German battleship Tirpitz moored in Altenfjord in the far north of Norway. The original plan to launch an attack against the German capital ship within days of the famous Dam Buster raid by 617 Squadron was thwarted by the slow delivery of specially modified Mosquitos and technical difficulties with the development of the bomb. The Tirpitz was moored at the extreme range of the Mosquito, which presented unique challenges for Curtis and his fellow navigators. Numerous long-range trial flights were flown, which also allowed fuel-consumption tests to be carried out. Plans were developed to use the Russian airfield at Vaenga. Detailed study of the position of Tirpitz, the surrounding terrain and the extreme range caused the aircrew to consider the attack as suicidal. Curtis thought of it as a a one-way mission. Curtis: thought the bombing raid on the Tirpitz would be a 'one-way mission' The constant delays, the inactivity and the lack of operations for the 16 Mosquitos (critically needed by other RAF units), and the knowledge that the planned attack would result in heavy losses, presented some unique tensions and strains for the squadron commander and his crews. In the event, senior RAF and RN commanders decided in July 1943 that an attack against Tirpitz should be mounted by midget submarines instead. The problem remained of what to do with 618 Squadron, and they began training for anti-submarine operations. Various other trials continued but it was not until May 1944 that it was decided to call off the squadrons mission against Tirpitz (which was eventually sunk by Lancasters). In the meantime, Curtis and Turner had arrived in Cornwall for operations in the Bay of Biscay as D-Day approached. Once the French U-boat ports had been recaptured, the squadron moved to join the Banff Strike Wing in Morayshire, where Curtis and Turner flew on many sorties attacking enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast; Mosquito formations claimed the destruction of many ships. Curtis left the squadron in January 1945. The main thing was we both survived, and, with only a few exceptions, we returned the aircraft in the same condition as we got into it, he recalled. After leaving the RAF in 1946 he qualified as an accountant and worked in the oil industry in Nigeria for nine years. Returning to Britain in 1962, he joined Mobil Oil and rose to become personnel director in 1973. Retiring from Mobil in 1979, he became managing director of a company formed to organise the 11th World Petroleum Conference in London, involving 80 countries. A former vice-president of the Institute of Petroleum, he became a Freeman of the City of London in 1980. In December 1989 Curtis established contact with Raimund Tiesler, the commander of U-976, and so began a close friendship between the two former adversaries. During the 50th anniversary of VE Day, Curtis and Tiesler, with three of his U-boat crew, sailed from St Nazaire with a French diving team and cast a wreath over the wreck of the submarine in memory of the four German seamen who had lost their lives. The two men and their families visited each other regularly. Once, at a large gathering, Tiesler said quietly, Des, why did I have to wait so long for a younger brother? Curtis later commented: That moment pointed to the futility of war, when two honourable people who had fought to kill each other realised how absurd the whole war was. In retirement, Curtis was a dedicated supporter and volunteer of numerous charities, including SSAFA, the Devon and Dorset Air Ambulance, and others in Wimborne. In 1995 he published A Most Secret Squadron, the history of 618 Squadron. For his part in the liberation of France, the French government appointed him to the Legion dhonneur. He married Squadron Officer Gwen Harrison, a radar operator, in 1946, and she died in 1962. He married, secondly, Margaret, who had also served in the WAAF, in 1965. She died in 2008. Their son and daughter survive him. Desmond Curtis, born July 16 1923, died April 29 2024 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. From his first meeting with Neil Chapman in fall 2022, Oklahoma City filmmaker Zachary Burns was admittedly captivated. "Getting to know Neil, it really struck something in me, just this fact that I'm a photographer myself, and he is this extremely masterful photographer. He's been doing it for decades; he literally met and knew Ansel Adams and some of the other great masters of photography. ... And he's just living in Edmond," Burns said. "It's a simple act, meeting someone, but sometimes it can really, really spark something." Pun intended from a member of SPARK! Creative Lab, an OKC nonprofit interdisciplinary company of local artists ranging from dancers and poets to musicians and photographers. From left, Kiona Millirons, Evelyn D. Farrar, James Metcalfe, Zachary Burns, Tony Tee, Neil Chapman, Paige Fischer, Natasha Abu-Fadel, Nathaniel Tylor, Chloe Henson, Brianna Clarke and Hui Cha Poos collaborate on SPARK! Creative Lab's new project "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening." In August 2023, the artist collective debuted "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening," an immersive "creative investigation" centered on Chapman and his service in the U.S. Air Force in Thailand. During the Vietnam War, he worked for three years as a Morse code interceptor, spending 12 hours a day listening nonstop to rapid-fire enemy messages and transcribing them on a manual typewriter. The mind-numbing "ditty-da-duh" sound of the Morse code messages earned Chapman and his cohorts the nickname "ditty boppers." Also during the Vietnam War, Chapman was exposed to the tactical herbicide Agent Orange, which led to him developing Parkinson's disease and getting stuck for years in a backlog of hundreds of thousands of Department of Veterans Affairs medical claims from veterans like him who were exposed to toxic substances during their military service. "We're trying to use the creative process to help bridge the military and civilian divide. ... The arts can speak to people in a way that opens us up a little bit, and in a fractured world, what has to matter are people," said SPARK! Executive Director Nicole Poole, an OKC visual and performing artist who founded the collective three years ago in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "That's what this entire project is about: How can we advocate for veterans? How can we become a community of care around the story of one guy? How can we learn to advocate and wrap our arms around people beyond, 'Thank you for your service?'" After a series of sold-out live performances last summer, the project is continuing with SPARK! receiving a national Creative Forces Community Engagement grant and Burns debuting his short film "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening" during Tulsa's annual Circle Cinema Film Festival July 11-15 at the nonprofit Circle Cinema movie theater. "Ditty Bops" will show at 3 p.m. July 13 as part of the documentary shorts block. From left, SPARK! Creative Lab artists James Metcalfe, Angel Little, Ian Cummings, Natasha Abu Fadel, Brianna Clarke and Nathaniel Tylor rehearse for their "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening," an immersive multi-arts project that is telling the story of Oklahoma photographer, retired professor and Vietnam War veteran Neil Chapman. What can people expect from the short documentary 'Ditty Bops?' With his documentary short "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening," Burns wanted to provide insight into the making of the multifaceted performance art piece of the same name, which included a visual art installation by Kiona Millirons; original musical composed by James Metcalfe inspired by Morse code; a rap by Tony Tee, aka DJ Nymasis; an interpretive dance featuring six dancers choreographed by Governor's Art Award winner Hui Cha Poos; and spoken word poetry by Angel Little, a SPARK! company artist who also is a disabled military veteran. "The response we got from people in the audience and other people we talked to was just so positive. People really resonated with what this story was, and they really saw the importance of it," Burns said. "I think that's helped encourage Nicole and all of us to try to do more with this 'Ditty Bops' project. It's a really important story. It's got a really important message. So, I think we're all really excited to be able to continue that." But the filmmaker said he also wanted viewers of his short film to get to know more about Chapman, whom he quickly grew to admire not only for his courage as a military veteran and as a person living with Parkinson's disease but also as an innovative photographer. A retired professor, Chapman is particularly renowned for his stunning 1979-1981 "Mannequin Series," a set of haunting black-and-white photos emblematic of the emotional toll of his wartime service. "My approach to it ... was 'This is the story of Neil and these cool local artists that got together to try to tell his story to the world,'" Burns said. "But the focus is Neil and his remarkable story." Oklahoma filmmaker Zachary Burns' short documentary "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening" will make its world premiere at the 2024 Circle Cinema Film Festival in Tulsa. Taking cues from the subtitle "The Art of Listening," Burns' short film includes several moments, including in the opening, when the screen is black, forcing viewers to focus only on what they can hear. "It's a full minute and a half before we really see anything or anyone onscreen, to force the audience to take that time and really pay attention to what they're hearing," Burns said. "Through the specificity of this story, you can still reach and tell the story of a bunch of people, because there's a lot of things people can relate to with it especially in terms of other veterans who may feel like their stories aren't getting heard." The film includes the sobering news that more 273,000 veterans like Chapman are still waiting for their claims to clear the VA backlog. "You hear a story like his and how he's stuck in this bureaucratic mess, and hopefully, that makes you want to do something about it. That was a big part of the show: It ended with a call to action, where we asked members of the audience to sign these letters that SPARK! then mailed to Congress and the White House, urging them to take action for veterans and to help clear out the backlog," Burns said. "It was well over 300,000 close to 400,000 at the beginning of this year but it's been on a downward trend ever since. ... At the same time, Neil is still waiting, and it's been five years." From left, SPARK! Creative Lab artist Angel Little, left, and Neil Chapman collaborate for the artist collective's new project "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening." How is SPARK! continuing its 'Ditty Bops' project to reach other military veterans? In partnership with the nonprofit Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts recently announced that SPARK! is one of 41 organizations nationwide selected to receive a Creative Forces Community Engagement grant. The grant program, now in its third year, aims to improve, through art experiences, the health and quality of life for military service members and veterans exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers. These Creative Forces projects provide important opportunities for military-connected individuals and communities to improve resilience and well-being through arts engagement," said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson in a statement. Arts and culture are essential to healing, creating connections, and developing healthy communities where all people can realize their full potential. From left, SPARK! Creative Lab artists Chloe Jenson, Paige Fischer, Natasha Abu-Fadel, Hui Cha Poos, Nathaniel Tylor and Ian Cummings prepare for their new project "Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening is Neil Chapman." Through the grant program, SPARK! is receiving matching funds of $10,000 to support the continued development and expansion of the Ditty Bops" project. Tinker Federal Credit Union Foundation is partnering with the fledgling OKC nonprofit. "I was really thrilled. It was incredibly validating, because we've been working to try to create a new kind of arts organization here. ... But more than that, it means, oh, heck, yeah, we can do more work for veterans, and that's become a huge focus of our work," Poole said. The OKC nonprofit is the only Oklahoma recipient of a 2024 Creative Forces Community Engagement grant. After spending nearly a decade laying essential groundwork through our Oklahoma Arts and the Military Initiative to boost our sectors capacity, we are delighted this NEA grant is bringing national recognition to Oklahoma. We hope this will be the first of many investments for organizations in our state that will empower the arts to serve military-connected Oklahomans," said Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said in an email. Along with showing on the film festival circut, Poole said the "Ditty Bops" documentary short will help SPARK! raise awareness of the project to other veterans who might want to share their experiences as well as to potential funders, including individual donors who connect with Chapman's story. "It's a matching grant. So, we're going to be out in the community looking for funding, for how we're going to match that. And I think having the weight and the gravitas of the NEA behind us will make that job easier," she said. "We're trying to use our art to let the people who serve know that they matter to those who have benefited from their service, and to empower those of us who are benefiting to support people in the military and their families and caregivers." TULSA'S CIRCLE CINEMA FILM FESTIVAL When : July 11-15. Where : Circle Cinema, 10 S Lewis Ave., Tulsa. Information: https://www.circlecinema.org. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC art project telling veteran's story grows with short film, NEA grant Authorities say four of six foreign nationals who allegedly took part in an elaborate multi-state credit card skimming conspiracy were charged in federal court on Tuesday. Armando Ion Codreanu, 23, of Placentia, California, a citizen of Ireland, is scheduled to make his initial appearance on charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Isabela Ignat Codreanu, 23, of Anaheim and Placentia, California, a citizen of Romania, Robby Vicson Codreanu, 20, Placentia, California, a citizen of Great Britain, and Mila Ciuciu, 20, of Placentia, California, a citizen of Romania, are all charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Charging documents say these suspects put skimming devices at retail store checkout terminals in Avon, Raynham, Seekonk, and Walpole, Massachusetts, in addition to retail stores in Johnston, Warwick, and Coventry, Rhode Island. Skimming devices were also allegedly placed at ATMs at banks in Bristol and Westerly, Rhode Island. The suspects allegedly withdrew more than $300,000 from unsuspecting victims. The conspiracy was first uncovered by the Bristol Police Department in October 2023. The skimming devices were recovered from a single major retailer at 22 separate locations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, according to charging documents. The scale, scope, and brazen nature of these defendants scheme to steal the financial account information of unsuspecting consumers and use it to help themselves to funds and property, as we have alleged in federal court, is staggering, said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. A fifth suspect, Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 21, of Placentia, California, a citizen of Romania and Ireland, is also charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is being transported to Rhode Island. Authorities have also issued an arrest warrant for a sixth suspect, Ionut Zamfir, 37, of Los Angeles, California, a citizen of Romania. Zamfir is facing charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The alleged conspiracy was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bristol Police Department, with the assistance of the Warwick Police Department, Coventry Police Department, Westerly Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Seekonk Police Department, United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations agents in Lafayette, LA, New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Overgrowth, leaves and brush could be seen covering headstones at the historic Oak Lawn Cemetery. With some headstones sunk in the ground due to erosion, the cemetery appears to be forgotten. Portsmouth resident Tara Wilson spoke with 10 On Your Side about the condition of the cemetery. As you can see, this cemetery is very unkept, Wilson said. Grass is not cut, and it does not make sense because when its like that, they have snakes and stuff out here as well. Before Wilson sent pictures to 10 On Your Side complaining about the conditions at Oak Lawn after visiting her brother, Christopher Wilson, on Fathers Day. My brother was murdered here in Suffolk in 2006, Tara said. So, I come back here to visit him every chance I get. He was a father. On Sept. 30, 2006, Christopher Wilson was shot and then taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he later died. My brother was a character, Tara Wilson said. He was loved by many. There wasnt anything he wouldnt do for you. He wasnt a saint. You know, everybody has their downfalls and everything. While walking back to Christopher Wilsons gravesite, Tara Wilson described how she felt about the conditions of the cemetery. I feel disgusted when I come back here because I have to maneuver my way through all of this [overgrown grass] just to see my loved one, and it shouldnt be like this, Tara Wilson said. While walking through Oak Lawn, small American flags to honor the fallen soldiers could be seen laying on the ground and piled up, unkempt and muddied by rain. I feel that they dont care whos back here, and it shouldnt even be like that, Tara Wilson said, because, if their loved one was back here, they would have kept it up. So, just because its not your loved one, why dont you respect everybody elses? Currently, there are more than 460 people buried at Oak Lawn, including 1st Lt. William H Walker, a Tuskegee Airman, and four other Civil War veterans from the U.S. Colored Calvary. Looking at the cemetery, you can see three tiers going down a ravine, with each tier having more graves hidden by trees and shrubs, and some sunken by erosion. 10 On Your Sides Andy Fox asked Tara Wilson what she would say to her brother about being at Oak Lawn. I would tell him that Im sorry hes here, Tara Wilson said. I want him moved from here and to be placed in a better place because he doesnt deserve to be laid to rest in something like this. No one should. Its like theyre all forgotten. Little did Tara Wilson know, 10 On Your Sides extensive reporting on cemeteries caught the eye of someone offering a solution. Suffolk City Councilman LeOtis Williams, who also owns LWS Lawn Service in Suffolk, brought out what he calls his A Team. Williams said he would commit to coming out to Oak Lawn once a month until November, cutting massive amounts of grass for free. 10 On Your Sides Andy Fox told Tara Wilson about Williams plan the day before the grass was to be cut. I thank you LeOtis, Tara said. I really do thank you. You know, it shouldnt have gotten this far, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. President of the Historic Oak Lawn Cemetery, Reginald Dirtion, was on site to watch the work performed by Williams A-Team. At this moment, I feel great because its been a long time coming, Dirtion said. I hear quite often, I see how the grass was growing up, and we have so many historic people here, it looks bad. We have to do what we can to preserve our history, our heritage. Williams then explained why he reached out to 10 On Your Side to tell this story. I wanted you guys to come out and see what we are doing, Williams said. 10 On Your Side has shown an interest, and their concerns about the historical cemeteries, and I think you guys were the best ones to contact. Families seek answers in search for grave markers at Chesapeake cemetery Headstones damaged at Portsmouth cemetery My pledge is to make sure this never happens again, Williams said. Williams left with just one message to other lawn services: If you see overgrown cemeteries, do something about it, Williams said. Please volunteer. After the grass was cut, Drone 10 flew over the Historic Oak Lawn Cemetery to see the groomed grounds, which replaced what was unsightly before. After Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. China has allocated an additional 848 million yuan (about 118.9 million U.S. dollars) to support local flood rescue efforts, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Tuesday. #XinhuaNews A former Hilton Head Island postal employee who nabbed thousands of dollars from customers mail will dodge jail time but was ordered to return to sender: Shell pay $12,896 in restitution to 111 victims she stole from, a U.S. district judge ruled last month. Hardeeville resident Thylenthia Tobet Young, 44, was convicted of one count of mail theft by a USPS employee and sentenced to five years of probation at her hearing June 20 in a Charleston federal courtroom. Beginning in mid-August, her interest-free restitution must be paid in minimum monthly installments of $250, meaning the amount should be paid in full by the end of 2028. An itemized list of the court-ordered restitution payments shows individual victims financial losses ranging from $10 to $1,000. The list likely overlaps with the dozens dozens of islanders complaints documented by The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette last summer, which date back to May 2022 and primarily involve missing cash, checks or gift cards. In addition to standard probationary conditions such as a ban from owning firearms and communicating with others engaged in criminal activity Young must honor her probation officers request for any of her financial information and cannot open new lines of credit without permission, according to details filed July 8 in South Carolinas District Court. Under U.S. Code, the felony charge of mail theft carries a maximum punishment of $250,000 in fines and five years in prison. Although Young will pay a $100 assessment as required for any federally convicted felon, any additional payments were waived by the court because she does not have the ability to pay a fine, the sentencing document says. Young worked as a rural carrier, meaning she sorted mail inside the office before departing on a delivery route across the island. Following years of complaints of missing mail on Hilton Head, she resigned from the north-island post office location in May 2023 and was indicted on three felony counts of mail theft in September. She and her lawyer maintained her innocence until prosecutors introduced a plea deal in March 2024, dismissing two of her three counts in exchange for a guilty plea. Indictment documents accused Young of thieving from three pieces of mail in April and May of 2023. Court records do not specify what was taken from residents deliveries, although emails obtained last summer from an official at the Office of Inspector General indicate the theft included the embezzlement of checks and at least one stolen gift card. Darrell Thomas Johnson Jr., a Hardeeville attorney representing Young, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Young could not be reached on Tuesday. Mail theft across Beaufort County Its been a tough year for mail in and around Beaufort County. Just before the holidays, residents and business owners in Ridgeland complained of massively delayed deliveries, which the Postal Service attributed to a staffing shortage. The reported problems are not contained to federal postal service theyve also affected the privately owned UPS. In October 2023, Sun City resident Marcus Stineman was arrested for reportedly tampering with and stealing from packages while on the job at a UPS processing facility on Hilton Head. In a disposition this February, Stineman was fined $50 after entering a plea of nolo contendere meaning he didnt contest the charges but refused to admit guilt. Reports of missing USPS deliveries in Beaufort County have continued well into 2024, suggesting the problem runs deeper than one abberant employee. An Office of Inspector General spokesperson said Tuesday that there were no other open investigations into local postal employees, adding that potential victims of mail theft can file a complaint at uspsoig.gov/hotline. A former Kansas City-area Proud Boy and ex-Blue Springs police officer accused of conspiring with others to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation followed by 24 months of supervised release. Louis Enrique Colon, 47, the last of four local Proud Boys to be sentenced in the case, also must pay $2,000 restitution for damage to the Capitol, which the government says totaled more than $2.9 million. Colon faced a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors asked for two years probation and $2,000 restitution, saying he provided substantial assistance to authorities in the case. Colons sentencing before Judge Timothy J. Kelly in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia came more than two years after he pleaded guilty to civil order, obstructing officers trying to secure the Capitol during the breach. The plea agreement required him to cooperate with authorities in the investigation. The governments sentencing memorandum filed July 2 described Colon as a first-degree Proud Boy who traveled to the capital region as part of a structured group that was prepared for violence. After being charged in the case, the government said, Colon has shown an unusual degree of acceptance of responsibility, as outlined in (the) governments sealed filing that accompanies this memorandum. Accordingly, he deserves a sentence substantially lower than what the Court has imposed on co-defendants. Colons decision to disassociate from the Proud Boys after the events of January 6 showed an intention to avoid similar situations in the future, and his subsequent conduct has corroborated his commitment to that path. Colon was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021 along with three other Kansas City-area Proud Boys William Chrestman and Christopher Kuehne, of Olathe, and Ryan Ashlock, of Gardner and Tucson, Arizona, siblings Cory and Felicia Konold. The six were charged with conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Chrestman also was charged with threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer and carrying a wooden ax handle while in the Capitol building and on the grounds. Colons sentencing document included details of his actions before and during the Capitol attack. He was part of a planning chat with other members of the Kansas City-area Proud Boys chapter, it said. The discussion related mostly to logistics and talk about radios, medical supplies and other tactical items, it said, but some members made it clear they anticipated serious violence. Colon, for his part, did not discourage such sentiments, but nor did he overtly embrace them, the filing said. Colon traveled to Virginia with others in the group, it said, and they stayed in a rental property on Jan. 5, 2021. Colon brought a handgun on the trip, but (like other members of his cohort who traveled with firearms) he left it in a vehicle and did not bring it into Washington, D.C., the sentencing document said. Once they arrived in the D.C. metro area, Colon went with co-defendants Ashlock and Kuehne to a hardware store, where Colon purchased a modified axe handle that he could use as a walking stick and weapon. On the morning of Jan. 6, it said, Colon and the other Kansas City Proud Boys made their way to the National Mall. Colon was wearing a backpack, pocket knife, tactical vest, tactical gloves, boots, and a helmet adorned with orange tape, and other members of the group were similarly equipped, the document said. The tape was being distributed by co-defendant Kuehne, who had purchased it at the hardware store the day before at Colons suggestion. While heading to The Mall, it said, they encountered several people whom they invited to join them, including Felicia and Cory Konold. Colons group then met up with a group of about 100 Proud Boys who marched together from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. At Peace Circle, the sentencing document said, they were part of the group that surged forward after some in the crowd forced their way past police lines and moved onto the Lower West Terrace. Colon remained on the west front of the Capitol for more than one hour, as members of the crowd fought with police and officers used crowd-control measures including projectiles and chemical irritants to try to repel the increasingly violent mob, it said. Eventually, the crowd reached the building and forced entry by breaking windows. Colon entered shortly after the initial breach. A group of rioters, including Colon and other Kansas City Proud Boys, chased officers out of the Crypt, the filing said. As police were fleeing, it said, a large metal door began lowering from the ceiling. The officers retreated behind the gate and tried to help it close, but rioters fought to keep it open. Those ahead of Colon threw a trash can at the officers and attempted to slide pieces of furniture into the doors path to keep it from closing, the document said. The officers soon yielded, and the crowd kept advancing. But members of the Kansas City Proud Boys group, with Colon gesturing in support, worked together to drag a movable podium into the path of the door, replacing a smaller chair that another rioter had placed there, it said. Soon after that, Colon put a chair in the path of another door in the area. Colon and other rioters then moved into the Capitol Visitor Center, following in the wake of the fleeing police, and remained there for a short time until they learned that a shooting had taken place near the House floor, after which they returned to the Senate Wing Door and left the building, the filing said. Colons attorney, J.R. Hobbs of Kansas City, filed a sentencing memorandum on behalf of Colon on July 2, saying his remorse is sincere and his conduct on Jan. 6 was an aberration in a life otherwise devoted to work and to his wife and family. Colon worked for the Blue Springs Police Department from late 2003 until he resigned in 2006, a department official told The Star after his arrest. He has a journeyman license and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1464 in good standing, his sentencing document said. Hobbs added that after the riot, Colon withdrew from his brief association with the Proud Boys. To be clear, Mr. Colon accepts responsibility for his conduct, Hobbs wrote. He did not harm anyone associated with the January 6th events or attempt to harm anyone. Regrettably, he did prop open a garage type door for others, but did not enter the building itself. Mr. Colon understands that he must be punished for his actions. However, his punishment should be proportional to the nature of the offense conduct, as well as Mr. Colons background and true acceptance of responsibility. Colon pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of civil disorder, a felony. A status report filed with the court last November requested that it continue to hold off setting a sentencing date because Colons potential cooperation in the case was not yet complete. Chrestman, who prosecutors said was a key player in the riot, pleaded guilty in October to obstruction of an official proceeding and threatening a federal officer, both felonies. He was sentenced in January to 55 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,000 restitution for damage to the Capitol. Kuehne, a Marine Corps combat veteran who court records show has since moved to Arizona, pleaded guilty to obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and was sentenced in February to 75 days in prison. He also received 24 months of supervised release, which included 60 days of home detention, and was ordered to pay $2,000 restitution. Ashlock was sentenced in November 2022 to 70 days in jail and 12 months of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor. The Konolds pleaded guilty in November 2023 to a felony charge of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and aiding and abetting. Felicia Konold was sentenced to 45 days incarceration and 24 months of supervised release. Cory Konold was sentenced to 30 days incarceration and 24 months of supervised release. Colons sentencing document included six character reference letters sent to the judge from friends and family members who described Colon as a hard-working, responsible man and devoted father with no history of violence. After the January 6 incident, Enrique was very repentant about his involvement, even trying to persuade some of the group with whom he went to Washington, D.C., to get out of the group that had organized the trip and participated in that event, wrote his father, Louis E. Colon, a pastor from Rochester, New York. Mindy Jamaleddin, who said shed known Colon for more than a decade, wrote that hed called her from D.C. after the riot and was extremely upset. He said hed made a mistake being there, Jamaleddin said. He told me that it wasnt what he thought it was. That the people he went with werent who he thought they were. He has had deep regret from that day and every day since for being there. Former Keshena man convicted of distributing drugs in tribal communities sentenced to prison (WFRV) A man who was caught selling drugs to an undercover agent in Keshena was sentenced to prison on July 8. According to the United States Attorneys Office, 42-year-old Charles Parham was sentenced to prison after he was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Parham was reportedly a former resident of Keshena and Wausau. The release says that Parham was sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison. The sentence was completed on July 8 by Senior United States District Judge William Griesbach. K9 Konner aids officers in finding locked box full of drugs in engine compartment of car Parham reportedly pled guilty on April 10. After his prison sentence, he will have eight years on supervised release. Court records reportedly show on September 29 an undercover agent bought under five grams of heroin from Parham at a location in Keshena. Officials say that Parham was under investigation for selling controlled substances in the Wausau area. The undercover officer and Parham later agreed to meet at a casino in Shawano County for another alleged drug deal. However, Parham was stopped by law enforcement and was arrested when he got to the casino. A plastic baggy with over 40 grams of fentanyl was reportedly recovered. Parhams booking information shows that he has other aliases including Red Parham. Greenville lawmaker seeks safety signal at dangerous intersection Multiple agencies assisted in the investigation. No additional information was provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Former Kmart site is now a Chili's island. Are there plans for development? In the 800 block of the bustling South College Road, one lone chain restaurant is situated on a largely vacant plot of land. The area that once also hosted a Kmart and a Burger King is now a distinct Chili's island, where a single Chili's Grill and Bar resides. The Kmart building sits stripped of its signage and empty, while the old Burger King building has since been torn down. Small green weeds sprout from the parking lot, while next door, another undeveloped site appears equally untouched. How has the nearly 13-acre property at 815 S. College Road remained vacant for so long, despite its location in a main retail center of Wilmington, and are any development plans currently in the works? When did the Kmart close? The Kmart formerly located on the property closed in 2017, according to previous StarNews reporting. The store closure was one of 78 Kmart stores to close nationwide within the first half of that year. Previous Coverage: What's happening at the former Kmart in Wilmington? Here's what we know The old Kmart building is still vacant along College Road in Wilmington, N.C. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS Who currently owns the property? The current owner of the property is Z. A. Sneeden's Sons Inc., according to the city's development tracker. The property, which includes both the 815 and 819 S. College Road addresses, was originally purchased in 1972 for $375,000 and now has a tax value of approximately $4.9 million. The Wilmington real estate developer also has ownership of 805 S. College Road, the location of a former Burger King. The building located on this property has since been demolished. The StarNews attempted to contact the owners of Z. A. Sneeden's Sons Inc. but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Why is such a large property in Wilmington still vacant? Filling large commercial spaces is far from a quick process. The leasing process for large commercial spaces can take five to six months, Brian Grabowski previously said to the StarNews. Grabowski is the senior vice president with Trademark Properties based out of Raleigh and was the listing agent for the former Dick's Sporting Goods at 816 S. College Road. Locations remaining vacant for 18 to 24 months is relatively normal, Tom Heitman, owner and CEO of Wilmington Commercial & Residential Real Estate, previously told the StarNews. Still, seven years is longer than an expected two-year vacancy. The delay could possibly be attributed to the owner's intentions rather than the property's leasing or selling potential. Heitman previously referred to the former Kmart site as a "special case," noting that the owners of the property don't seem to be in any hurry for redevelopment. The site hasn't lacked attempts at redevelopment. Plans for an apartment complex and additional retail space at the former Kmart site were pitched in October 2017, according to previous StarNews reporting. The complex could've housed approximately 900 residents in a variety of one-, two-, and four-bedroom apartments. New retail spaces, parking decks, and surface parking were also part of the proposed plans which ultimately fell through. Previous Coverage: The big empty: Lots of large available spaces in Wilmington, but 'market infill is coming' The area that was once the Honda dealership at 821 S. College still remains vacant along with other buildings in the surrounding area. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS Are there any future plans for development? Any future plans for redevelopment are not immediately evident. While 815 S. College Road, Wilmington, was previously listed for lease by a Charlotte-based listing broker and agent, the property currently shows as no longer available for lease. The former listing highlights multiple aspects of the property, including the area's high traffic volume, proximity to other retail spaces, and 12.75 acres. No new activity for the property's address appears on the New Hanover County development activity map. In addition, the city of Wilmington has not received any new applications for development of 815 S. College Road within the past year, Dylan Lee with the city's communications office said in an email. Wilmington's comprehensive plan identifies the site as an urban mixed-use center and an area of opportunity, according to previous StarNews reporting. Some have speculated that University of North Carolina Wilmington should redevelop the property due to its proximity to the university's campus. In July 2023, Andrea Weaver, chief marketing and communications officer with UNCW, said the university did not have plans to purchase, redevelop, or lease the site in an email to the StarNews. "The university's plans about the property ... have not changed," Weaver said in an email this July. Previous Coverage: Plans for former College Road car dealership could revitalize dormant Wilmington spot Are there any new developments nearby? A former Honda dealership bordering the lot of the former Kmart will be redeveloped into 298 apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail space, according to previous StarNews reporting. Though, the lot still remains vacant. The project is led by the Bella Vista Development Group. Originally, construction at the site was expected to begin at the end of 2023 and last for two years, according to previous StarNews reporting. The project faced delays in the technical review from the city. While the current status of the project is unknown, the proposed redevelopment, located at 821 S. College Road has been released for construction, Lee said in an email. The StarNews was unable to contact with Mariana Molina, president and founder of Bella Vista Development Group, before publication. No new applications for additional projects near the former Kmart site have been submitted to the city within the past year, Lee said. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Former Kmart site on College Road in Wilmington, NC, still vacant People sign a petition to put a measure on the ballot in 2024 that would reinstate abortion rights in South Dakota. (Courtesy: Dakotans for Health) People sign a petition to put a measure on the ballot in 2024 that would reinstate abortion rights in South Dakota. (Courtesy: Dakotans for Health) Casey Murschel, a Republican former legislator and former Sioux Falls city councilor, will lead a new group of Republicans supporting an abortion-rights ballot question, she said Tuesday. Murschel said the group, Republicans for Freedom Amendment G, does not have a roster of members yet and has some members who are not yet public. Abortions are currently banned in South Dakota, except to preserve the life of the pregnant female. The ballot measure would legalize abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy but allow the state to impose limited regulations in the second trimester and a ban in the third trimester, with exceptions for the life and health of the mother. Casey Murschel. (Courtesy of Dakotans for Health) Voters will consider the measure Nov. 5, pending litigation from an anti-abortion group seeking to disqualify the measure from the ballot. Murschel served three terms in the state House of Representatives in the early 2000s. She said the new group is a platform for Republicans who support reproductive rights to know theyre not alone. Murschel voted against the states 2005 abortion trigger ban as a legislator (the ban went into effect in 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned) and advocated against bans that voters rejected in 2006 and 2008. What happened in the Legislature was very strange, Murschel recalled of the 2005 session, because thered been pro-choice Republicans forever: nationally and locally. What was interesting was the pressure in the Legislature that Republicans got from Right to Life groups at the time. Over one-third of the South Dakota voters who signed the petition to put the abortion-rights measure on the ballot were registered Republicans, said Nancy Turbak Berry, chair of the Freedom Amendment Coalition. The coalition is affiliated with Dakotans for Health, which gathered the petition signatures. More abortion news A 2024 South Dakota News Watch and Chiesman Center for Democracy survey reported 53% of respondents support the abortion-rights constitutional amendment. Murschel is currently a registered Republican, though she left her party shortly after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and registered as an independent, according to an Associated Press news story from 2022. She told South Dakota Searchlight she retained traditional Republican values, including small government and individual liberty, and re-registered as a Republican this year so she could vote in the partys primary election. The hard-core, anti-abortion wing of our party has captured the state Legislature and decreed that the freedom to choose abortion for any reason at any stage of pregnancy must be taken away. But that is not Republicanism. That is zealotry, Murschel said in a statement. The South Dakota Republican Party unanimously opposed the abortion-rights amendment at its convention this summer and urged South Dakotans to oppose it, according to the Life Defense Fund, a ballot question committee opposed to the measure. The committees leaders, Leslee Unruh and state Rep. Jon Hansen, said in an emailed statement that Murschel might be registered Republican' but is as much of a far-left liberal as it gets. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Chefs from across the country are paying tribute to former Minneapolis chef Remy Pettus, 41, who died suddenly over the weekend from cardiac arrest, according to a family Facebook post. "His spirit reminds me to go big or go home and that everything I need I already have," chef Ramaj Ceciley, who worked with Pettus in Minneapolis, posted on social media. Pettus graduated from Southwest High School in Minneapolis and earned a culinary arts degree from the Culinary Institute of America. He honed his craft at several prestigious restaurants around the country, eventually returning to Minneapolis, where he worked at Cosmos before serving as the opening chef at Ryan Burnet's Eastside. His professional work culminated at Bardo, the E. Hennepin Avenue restaurant Pettus opened in 2018 to critical acclaim (now the home of All Saints). The restaurant was known for its passionate commitment to local ingredients, elevating even the humblest of side dishes in a way the Star Tribune praised as "adventurous and artful." Pettus, the review continued, "constantly demonstrates skills learned during his tenure in two highly influential kitchens: Chicago's former Moto, which might have ranked as the nation's most playful molecular gastronomy laboratory, and Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen in Napa Valley." Bardo closed in September 2020, a casualty of the pandemic. "It was my life's work and I am devastated," Pettus said at the time. But he again found a way to marry his passions for music and food as executive chef at the Dakota, Minneapolis' iconic restaurant and concert venue. In early 2023, Pettus announced he would be leaving the Dakota for a job he said restored him: writing. "There are only two universal languages between strangers that cannot be misunderstood. They are music and food." He then moved from Minneapolis to Raleigh, N.C., to be closer to his family. Funeral arrangements are pending. Sen. James Inhofe (C) is ceremoniously sworn-in by Vice President Mike Pence at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 3, 2021. File Photo Samuel Corum/UPI July 9 (UPI) -- Former Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma suffered a stroke on Independence Day and died Tuesday at age 89, his family announced. Inhofe was an Army veteran and licensed pilot who flew himself to and from Washington, D.C., during his years in Congress as a member of the House of Representatives and most recently a member of the Senate. Former Inhofe staffer and former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler confirmed Inhofe's passing on X. "Former Sen. Jim Inhofe passed away this morning," Wheeler said. "He was a devout Christian and family man. He was also devoted to his former staff who he considered his extended family." Inhofe was elected to Congress as a representative for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in 1986 and ascended to the Senate in 1994. He remained in the Senate until resigning in early 2023. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla., (L) chats with longtime friend and Ranking Member Jack Reed, D-R.I., on March 14, 2019. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI Inhofe said he tested positive for COVID-19 when he announced his pending resignation in February 2023. He said it was time to make way for the "next generation of Oklahomans to have the opportunity to serve the state in the U.S. Senate." Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., arrives before the fifth day of the impeachment trial of former President Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Feb. 13, 2021. File Photo by Greg Nash/UPI Inhofe was considered one of the most conservative members of the Senate but was noted for developing bipartisan support for infrastructure, environmental and military-related legislation. Inhofe formerly chaired the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and was a vocal critic of man-made climate change. President Donald Trump (R) listens to remarks by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., during a meeting with members of Congress at the White House on June 20, 2018. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI He once brought a snowball to the Senate floor during an out-of-season snowstorm and declared climate change was a "hoax." Inhofe also was the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee after chairing it from 2018 through 2020. Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. (2nd from R), comments as Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. (far L) listens as they meet to vote on sending the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as the next secretary of Defense to the floor of the Senate on Feb. 12, 2013. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI Despite being one of the Senate's most conservative members, he maintained generally friendly relationships with his counterparts in the Senate Democratic Caucus. "He's a gentleman, and he's someone who is sincere in all he does," Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said of Inhofe in 2019. Sen. Jim Inhofe (pictured 2021) was elected to Congress as a representative for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in 1986 and ascended to the Senate in 1994. He remained in the Senate until resigning in early 2023. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Reed currently chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. Securing federal funding to clean a shuttered mining area in northeastern Oklahoma that had been on the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund list for decades was among Inhofe's legislative achievements. The environmental cleanup project included buying homes located within a 40-square-mile area through which Tar Creek flowed. Several local children continually tested positive for high levels of lead in their blood due to the environmental contamination from the former mining operations there. "This is an example of a government program created for a specific purpose and then dissolves after the job is completed," Inhofe said as the cleanup project was nearing completion in 2010. "This is how government should work," he added. Inhofe also voted to confirm President Joe Biden's 2020 election win and twice voted against impeaching former President Donald Trump. PURCHASE Petra Gardella had worked as a professor of religion at Manhattanville College since 1983. But the professor was then named Peter. As first names changed, the professor asserts, so did treatment by the longtime employer. By the end of 2022, Gardella had resigned a tenured faculty position, under duress and citing restrictions that had hampered the professor's ability to function in the campus environment and effectively perform the duties of the job. Petra Gardella, who taught at Manhattanville University since the 1980s, is suing the college. Gardella, photographed July 2, 2024, says that after going public with a gender transition, the college created an atmosphere that made it impossible to effectively perform the duties of the job. The change in treatment by the employer, Gardella asserts, stems from the professor coming forward with a gender transition. "'Trans' and 'Gender fluid' are the best descriptive phrases for my identity," said Petra Gardella, who finds the use of pronouns in English generally unwelcome. As a professor and writer with a robust body of work, oftentimes Gardella has used Petra, with Peter in parentheses, or the other way around, on academic and personal writings. Gardella is suing Manhattanville in U.S. District Court, claiming the college violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and New York State Human Rights Law. The college, claims the notice filed April 9 in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, discriminated "on the basis of sex/gender and/or gender identity." Manhattanville: we're a 'leader in social responsibility' In a June 13 court filing, Manhattanville denied the allegations. A spokesperson for the institution, now known as Manhattanville University, said it could not comment on pending litigation. But, spokesperson Cara Cea added, Manhattanville University has longstanding policies and practices of non-discrimination and a national reputation for inclusivity. "Manhattanville University continues to be a leader in social responsibility and social mobility as it serves an increasingly diverse student population," Cea said. "Our long history of promoting inclusive excellence is well-documented and reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering a community where every individual feels valued and respected. Manhattanville University remains steadfast in its mission to provide a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and learning environment for all." Petra Gardella, who taught at Manhattanville University since the 1980s, is suing the college. Gardella, photographed July 2, 2024, says that after going public with a gender transition, the college created an atmosphere that made it impossible to effectively perform the duties of the job. Gardella's goal, as stated in the claim: "Plaintiff seeks damages to redress the injuries Plaintiff has suffered as a result of being discriminated against on the basis of Plaintiff's sex/gender and/or gender identity." Gardella, in email correspondence, put it this way: "I want public proof for the leaders and members of the Manhattanville community, including alums and trustees, that Manhattanville mistreated me very badly and ignored many opportunities (including its own internal procedures) to resolve this issue. Manhattanville should not be allowed to present itself as a tolerant or progressive force unless it recognizes its misbehavior." Nathaniel Charny of Charny & Wheeler P.C. of Rhinebeck represents Gardella. The case is before U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Karas. Anonymous report about Gardella coming out in class Gardella had taught religion, including a sexuality and religion course, for decades at Manhattanville and other college campuses. Gardella's reviews on Rate My Professor bundle at the top ratings of "awesome" and "great" and at the bottom "awful" rating. Lectures were described, by both fans and detractors, as extemporaneous at best. But most reviewers acknowledged a mastery of the subject matter. Assigned male at birth and named Peter, Gardella started taking hormone replacement therapy in August 2018, at age 67. Gardella recalled teaching about sexuality and religion for decades on various campuses "without a single student or faculty or administrative complaint." "But as soon as I revealed myself as trans in April of 2019, everything changed, and after I began to teach in person as Petra, in 2020, things changed even more." On April 24, 2019, Gardella came out as transgender while teaching a course called Sexuality and Religion, a course Gardella had taught at Manhattanville since 1984. The topic was relevant to the class, Gardella said. Plus, students had been asking about preferred pronouns. Gardella said about a week later, the college's human resources director emailed Gardella, seeking a meeting, citing an anonymous report that students were talking about the class. Gardella sent a copy of the course syllabus, which had long included a trigger warning explanation that the class curriculum would include explicit discussions of sex and sexuality. Gardella never met with HR. In May 2019, Gardella reported meeting with Manhattanville's then-President Michael Geisler. After explaining the transition, Gardella believed Geisler was "alright" with the situation, according to the court complaint. 'Targeting behavior' alleged in lawsuit Gardella's suit maintains that there was a pattern of isolating and targeting behavior toward the professor. "I knew that there was such a thing as male privilege," Gardella said in an email interview, "but I had no idea how powerful it is." Petra Gardella, who taught at Manhattanville University since the 1980s, is suing the college. Gardella, photographed July 2, 2024, says that after going public with a gender transition, the college created an atmosphere that made it impossible to effectively perform the duties of the job. Among the incidents cited in Gardella's legal action: In December 2019, Gardella reports being warned by a provost that students could file a Title IX complaint if the professor wore a dress while teaching. That created a chilling effect, Gardella's lawsuit asserts. Gardella was disciplined after emailing colleagues who had been in consecutive ZOOM meetings in October 2020. According to the complaint, Gardella had appeared during remote meetings wearing different wigs; the professor later asked colleagues which wig they preferred, eliciting pushback from the administration. Gardella challenged the reaction as discriminatory, maintaining that personal information, including pictures of kids and pets, were frequently shared among colleagues. In November 2020, the lawsuit recounts, a student affairs official floated a proposal to change the college's LGBTQ references to LGB, basically removing transgender and queer/questioning references. Gardella interpreted this as animus toward transgender people. The policy was not changed. Gardella said in the fall of 2020, a series of accusations of violating various policies were lodged against the professor. In January 2021, sanctions were imposed on Gardella, including suspension from using college listservs and attending faculty meetings; removal from all faculty committees; and a permanent ban on attending college community activities. A faculty review committee in June 2021 recommended the bans be lifted, citing a lack of due process, according to the federal suit. That was rejected and the bans stood. The New York State Division of Human Rights in October 2021 found probable cause to continue a discrimination investigation. The case was "dismissed for administrative convenience" on Nov. 28, 2023, because Gardella was pursuing federal legal action. Gardella's decision to leave Meanwhile, the college was offering buyouts, with a year's salary offered for those who retired as of the end of the fall 2022 semester. But those who took the deal had to sign a non-disparagement clause with the college. Gardella, instead, notified Manhattanville of a December 2022 retirement, but charged it was because of "constructive dismissal." In other words, as far as Gardella was concerned, the college had made it impossible to do the job. The college gave Gardella a "no contact" order that barred communication with key administration during the last three months of Gardella's work. It was a situation Gardella deemed "intolerable" in the federal complaint. Gardella, who repeatedly expressed a love for the school, said that Manhattanville ignored many opportunities, including its own internal procedures, to resolve the issue. Gardella also said that the public should understand the discrimination that people who identify as trans face. "Young trans academics should see an example that they can dress as they like and share their lives with their colleagues and students to the same degree as anyone else," Gardella said. "Trans professors should not have to face the choice of 'passing' or disappearing." Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy for lohud.com and the USA Today Network New York. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her on X (Twitter), Threads and Instagram at @nancyrockland. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Transgender professor sues Manhattanville University over rights By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe, a mainstay of the ideological right in the U.S. Congress and champion of American military strength who derided as a hoax the notion that human activities drove climate change, died on Tuesday at age 89. The former Oklahoma U.S. senator suffered a stroke over the July 4th holiday and passed away early on Tuesday morning, his family said in a statement. "He passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife Kay, and his three surviving children, Molly, Jimmy and Katy," the statement said. Inhofe was an avid pilot who in 1991 flew around the world tracing the route taken six decades earlier by aviation pioneer Wiley Post. A former mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma's second-largest city, he spent eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 1994. He became the longest-serving and oldest U.S. senator from Oklahoma, retiring in 2023 at age 88, saying he was experiencing long-term effects of COVID-19. Inhofe earned a reputation as one of the most conservative U.S. senators and was known for aiming caustic barbs at political and ideological adversaries. During his time as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, he was a foremost Republican on climate change matters. "You say something over and over and over and over again, and people will believe it and that's their strategy," he said of environmentalists, scientists and public officials who argued that manmade emissions had altered the planet's climate. That strategy, Inhofe (pronounced IN-hoff) told the Tulsa World in 2006, reminded him of "the Third Reich, the big lie." Inhofe called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a "Gestapo bureaucracy," fought Democratic efforts to cap greenhouse gas emissions, calling it "hysteria," and sought tax incentives for domestic oil and gas production. In 2015, Inhofe tossed a snowball on the Senate floor to demonstrate that the planet was not warming. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse then spoke on the Senate floor, referring to scientific evidence of global climate change obtained by the U.S. space agency and others. "You can believe NASA and you can believe what their satellites measure on the planet, or you can believe the senator with the snowball," Whitehouse said. In the 1990s, Inhofe battled the implementation of new clean air standards under Democratic President Bill Clinton. In a radio interview to promote his 2012 book, "The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future," Inhofe, a conservative Christian, explained his views on climate change in religious terms. "My point is, God's still up there," Inhofe said. "The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is, to me, outrageous." 'OUTRAGED AT THE OUTRAGE' Inhofe, who also served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was a vocal supporter of American military presence on the world stage and robust defense spending, even defying a president of his own party, Donald Trump, in passing the annual defense policy bill in 2020. During the Iraq war, the United States faced global condemnation after pictures surfaced in 2004 revealing the abuse of prisoners by American forces at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. The photos showed U.S. troops smiling, laughing and giving thumbs up as prisoners were forced into humiliating positions including a naked human pyramid and simulated sex. Inhofe made headlines when he said he was "more outraged at the outrage" than he was about the actual treatment of the prisoners. "I am also outraged that we have so many humanitarian do-gooders crawling over these prisons looking for human rights violations while our troops - our heroes - are fighting and dying," Inhofe told a Senate hearing. In 2006, the Senate passed legislation proposed by Inhofe to designate English as the national language of the United States. The measure, which did not become law, came amid rising immigration from Spanish-speaking Latin America. Inhofe said making English the national language was needed for "preserving our culture and heritage." Democrats described it as "a step backward" for America. Inhofe also was considered one of the most steadfast allies of Africa in Washington, visiting the continent dozens of times and helping mediate disputes in Ethiopia and Kenya. James Mountain Inhofe was born on Nov. 17, 1934, and was raised in Tulsa. He served briefly in the U.S. Army and then worked in the real estate and insurance businesses. He had four children with his wife, Kay. His political career spanned nearly six decades. Inhofe was elected at age 31 to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1966, then to the state Senate three years later. He mounted failed bids for governor and the U.S. House before serving as mayor of Tulsa from 1978 to 1984. (Reporting and writing by Will Dunham; additional reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Bill Trott and Leslie Adler) BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin has called for more activities to provide further care and services for children during the summer vacation. Shen, also president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), made the remarks Tuesday at an event in Beijing, where she declared the launch of a summer campaign for care and services for children. The campaign was jointly organized by the ACWF and 15 other departments. Shen urged local governments and relevant authorities to make sure children's development is prioritized while giving them love and help with all their hearts. She also talked with mothers present at the event and encouraged them to dedicate themselves to voluntary service, thus enabling the children to spend a happy, safe and fulfilling summer vacation. Former Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has died at the age of 89, his family announced Tuesday. Inhofe died shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday, surrounded by his wife, Kay, and three surviving children, Molly, Jimmy and Katy, the family said. Inhofes family said he contracted a sudden illness but did not provide details. The Associated Press reported he had a stroke over the July Fourth holiday. His death comes nearly two years after the former senator retired from the upper chamber in 2023, having served for more than 20 years in Congress. He was Oklahomas longest-serving U.S. senator. Prior to his time in the Senate, Inhofe served in the House for seven years. Before his time on Capitol Hill, Inhofe was the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma for six years and served stints in the state Legislature. Inhofe, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1934, grew up in Tulsa and received his bachelors degree from the University of Tulsa. He later served in the U.S. Army in 1955 and worked in aviation, real estate and insurance before entering the political world, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. During his time in the Senate, Inhofe served as chair of the Armed Services Committee and as chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. The senator was known in part for his denial that human activity contributes to climate change. He made headlines in 2015, when he threw a snowball on the Senate floor to push back against claims that the earths temperature was rising due to greenhouse gas emissions. Inhofe was a steadfast supporter of the military and his states five military installations, the AP noted. Often flying himself to and from Washington, D.C. as a licensed pilot, he worked to secure federal funding for local road and bridge projects and advocated for congressional earmarks. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) paid tribute to Inhofe in a statement Tuesday, calling him a dear friend and mentor, a titan in Oklahoma and a higher effective leader in D.C. He will always be remembered as a fighter, especially for our military service members, Hern wrote. Jims legacy of service, leadership, and faith reflect the Oklahoma Standard and the pride he held in his work. Along with the family, friends, and many Oklahomans who knew and loved him, I mourn the loss of a great man, he added. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was saddened to learn of Inhofes death. For nearly three decades, the Senator for Oklahoma lived up to his unique and distinguished middle name: Jim was a Mountain of a man, McConnell wrote in a statement. The people he served, a group much larger than the proud residents of the Sooner State, were better for it. Jims diligent stewardship of massive infrastructure projects transformed life across the Heartland. His relentless advocacy for American energy dominance unlocked new prosperity across the country, he added. And his laser focus on growing and modernizing the U.S. military strengthened the security of the entire free world. Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) described Inhofe as a good man and a champion for working Americans. The Oklahoma GOP paid condolences to Inhofes family and OKGOP Chair Nathan Dahm said the state lost a giant. He served the people of this State from the local level and rose to leadership at the national level where he represented us so well in Washington D.C. He was a staunch defender of our military, even before he served as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Dahm wrote. Inhofe is survived by his wife, three surviving children and more than a dozen grandchildren. His son Perry Inhofe died in 2013 in a plane crash near Tulsa. Like his father, Perry Inhofe was a licensed pilot and also a flight instructor. Al Weaver contributed to this report, which was updated at 12:14 p.m. EDT. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) Former Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) has died at the age of 89, his family announced Tuesday. Inhofe died shortly before 5 a.m. on Tuesday, surrounded by his wife, Kay, and three surviving children, Molly, Jimmy and Katy, the family said. Inhofes family said he contracted a sudden illness over the holiday, but did not provide details. His death comes nearly two years after the former senator retired from the upper chamber in 2023 after serving for more than 20 years in Congress. He was Oklahomas longest-serving U.S. senator. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, speaks during a hearing to review the Air Forces Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2023, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Prior to his time in the Senate, Inhofe served in the House for seven years. Before his time on Capitol Hill, Inhofe was the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma for six years and served stints in the state Legislature. Inhofe, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1934, grew up in Tulsa and received his bachelors degree from the University of Tulsa. He later served in the U.S. Army in 1955 and worked in aviation, real estate and insurance before entering the political world, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. During his time in the Senate, Inhofe served as chair of the Armed Services Committee and as chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. He made headlines in 2015, when he threw a snowball on the Senate floor to push back against claims that the earths temperature was rising due to greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) paid tribute to Inhofe in a statement Tuesday, calling the late senator a dear friend and mentor, a titan in Oklahoma and a higher effective leader in D.C. He will always be remembered as a fighter, especially for our military service members, Hern wrote in a statement. Jims legacy of service, leadership, and faith reflect the Oklahoma Standard and the pride he held in his work. Along with the family, friends, and many Oklahomans who knew and loved him, I mourn the loss of a great man, he added. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was saddened to learn of Inhofes death. For nearly three decades, the Senator for Oklahoma lived up to his unique and distinguished middle name: Jim was a Mountain of a man, McConnell wrote in a statement. The people he served, a group much larger than the proud residents of the Sooner State, were better for it. Jims diligent stewardship of massive infrastructure projects transformed life across the Heartland. His relentless advocacy for American energy dominance unlocked new prosperity across the country, he added. And his laser focus on growing and modernizing the U.S. military strengthened the security of the entire free world. Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) described Inhofe as a good man and a champion for working Americans. The Oklahoma GOP paid condolences to Inhofes family and OKGOP Chair Nathan Dahm said the state lost a giant. He served the people of this State from the local level and rose to leadership at the national level where he represented us so well in Washington D.C. He was a staunch defender of our military, even before he served as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Dahm wrote. Inhofe is survived by his wife, three surviving children and more than a dozen grandchildren. His son Perry Inhofe died in 2013 in a plane crash near Tulsa. Like his father, Perry Inhofe was a licensed pilot and also a flight instructor. Al Weaver contributed to this report, which was updated at 11:46 a.m. EDT. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. ExTrump lawyer Jenna Ellis is part of a chorus of conservative Christian Republicans who are not happy with the GOP, after it abandoned its push for a federal ban on abortion in favor of Donald Trumps pitch to toss the decision back to the states. The new platform, which will be voted on at the upcoming Republican National Convention next week, also takes a more moderate position on same-sex marriage. While the Trump campaigns senior advisers have insisted that the new policies are concise and digestible, theyre proving to be unpopular among some of the partys more religious members. ExTrump lawyer Jenna Ellis was among those who were left disappointed by the new policy, and Ellis took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her furious reaction across several tweets. The RNC is trading Lila Rose for Amber Rose. Pro-life for pro-abortion. Live Action for Slut Walk. Thats a reflection of Trumpworld over Gods truth, she wrote, referring to Amber Rose organizing a 2015 SlutWalk protest in Los Angeles to raise public awareness of gender inequality. Rose is reportedly scheduled to speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention. Christians and conservatives should not support this, Ellis added. Ellis, who pleaded guilty to charges that she attempted to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, was recently barred from practicing law in the state of Colorado for three years. Ellis struck a plea deal with Fulton County prosecutors in October and testified that while Trump knew he lost in 2020, he was adamant on staying in the White House. The exTrump lawyers name popped up in a new court filing last week, as another former Trump staffer shared text messages where Ellis allegedly claimed that Trumps 2016 campaign paid to bury complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination. While Ellis was already decidedly off the Trump train, her RNC complaints seem to be spreading across Trumps Christian conservative base. Chad Connelly, the former chair of the South Carolina GOP, expressed disappointment felt by his Christian constituents. It is fair to say that over 1,000 pastors have emailed, texted and called me about their disappointment over where they saw the platform going, he said, according to NBC, claiming that hed been kept out of the platform committee after being labeled too pro-life. Connelly is also the president and founder of Faith Wins, a supposedly nonpartisan group that mobilizes faith leaders to leverage their influence in government and politics. In the past, Connelly used his religious ties to round up voters for Trump, and now it seems hes beginning to defect. The words I am hearing are shocked, betrayed, trampled, depressed, deflated, Connelly said. Most pastors I know dont want Biden and will still probably vote for Trump, but this hurts the energy needed for those folks to do the things it takes to help elect a president. Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, also released a statement expressing his dissatisfaction with the voting committees voting procedure and a staunch rejection of the platforms more moderate abortion stance. The right to life transcends other political debates and the interests of any and all political parties and candidates, he wrote. The FRCA, which Perkins runs, is the legislative affiliate of the Family Research Council, a Southern Poverty Law Centerdesignated hate group that is included on the advisory board of Project 2025. Perkins said that members of the platform committee hadnt been given the opportunity to draft and amend the platform. Perkins and Connelly are staunch Trump allies and were among several signatories of a letter from religious advocacy groups criticizing the FBIs investigation into the former presidents alleged mishandling of classified documents. Perkinss statement was shared by Ellis, as well as Walker Wildmon, the vice president of the American Family Association, another rabidly anti-gay SPLC-designated hate group. Its worth noting that in 2020 the Republican Party did not release a new platform, amid rumors that Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner was hoping to change the platform drafting process and shorten the final product down to a single card that fits in peoples pockets. At the time, Trump requested a short form platform from the party, which ultimately opted to reuse its 2016 policy slate. Kushners plan also reportedly involved shirking incendiary language and policies that catered to far-right activists, pulling Republican policy closer to the center right, likely to widen the platforms appeal. Its not likely that Trump would altogether abandon the conservative Christian base that hes been courting for years, but it appears that he may have been making moves to knock them out of the partys decision-making process, starting as far back as 2020. In any case, they seem more than a little unnerved, and Trump may have to scramble to stay in their good graces. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) It was announced on Tuesday that former United States Senator Jim Inhofe has passed away at the age of 89. According to the Inhofe family, he passed away at 4:48 a.m. after a stroke over the holiday. Governor Kevin Stitt released a statement regarding his death. Sarah and I are saddened by the news of the passing of Senator Inhofe and our hearts go out to Kay, their children and grandchildren. Jim was a generational Oklahoman who relentlessly championed our veterans, never wavered in protecting our values, and a firm believer in the American Dream. Jim will be remembered as a true statesman and public servant and a fighter for Oklahoma. In honor of his memory and service, Im ordering all flags on state property to be flown at half-staff until tomorrow evening. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) Other state leaders have also released statements regarding Inhofes passing. Senator Jim Inhofe was a dear friend and mentor, a titan in Oklahoma, and a highly effective leader in DC, said Rep. Hern. Tammy and I are keeping Kay and the rest of the Inhofe family in our prayers. Jim spent his life in service to his country, both in uniform and in the halls of Congress. He will always be remembered as a fighter, especially for our military service members. Jims legacy of service, leadership, and faith reflect the Oklahoma Standard and the pride he held in his work. Along with the family, friends, and many Oklahomans who knew and loved him, I mourn the loss of a great man. U.S. Representative Kevin Hern, R, OK-01 Senator Inhofe was a resolute Republican who served his state and nation for nearly six decades in various roles, Pro Tem Treat said. Unwavering in his beliefs and conservative values, he championed many causes during his career, including his support for the military, national defense and infrastructure. His dedication and influence in shaping policies in both Oklahoma and on a national level have left a lasting impact. My wife Maressa and I send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family and many friends. Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City Today, Oklahoma and the entire country mourn the loss of Senator Jim Inhofe. The true embodiment of a public servant, Jim spent five decades faithfully serving the people of Oklahoma with the utmost integrity and purpose. His calling to do so began in the Oklahoma Legislature and later as the mayor of Tulsa, where he proved to be a selfless steward of his community. His long career in the United States House and Senate serves as a testament to his strong moral compass and innate desire to better his home state. From being a larger-than-life advocate for Oklahomas military installations to improving infrastructure across the state, Jim Inhofe has made an impact on Oklahomans that will be felt for generations. Watching and learning under his leadership has only strengthened my sense of duty, and I have always used his character as a guidepost in my endeavors. Lynda and I join Oklahomans everywhere in mourning this great loss and praying for his family. Congressman Frank Lucas, R, OK-03 I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and former colleague, Senator Jim Inhofe. Jim was a true patriot, as he spent decades serving our great nation and state of Oklahoma in the United States Army, Oklahoma state legislature, United States House of Representatives, United States Senate, and as the Mayor of Tulsa. Throughout his time as a public servant, he fought passionately for our military, infrastructure, and strong conservative values, Senator Inhofes passing is a devastating loss. For fifty years, he served as my friend, my leader, and my mentor. I will miss him dearly, as will all of Oklahoma and every man and woman who wears the uniform of the United States. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kay, their children, grandchildren, friends, colleagues, and all Oklahomans who admired Senator Inhofe. May he rest in peace,. Congressman Tom Cole R, OK-04 Its fitting that Senator Jim Inhofes middle name was Mountain because thats exactly what he was, not just for our state, but for the nation, Senator Inhofes tenacity and enduring love for Oklahoma made him a titan in the Senate. He was a tireless advocate, and a wonderful friend, father, husband, and grandfather. While I will never be able to fill his shoes, Jims spirit, passion, and love of country will continue to inspire me each and every day. Our prayers are with Kay, his former staff, and the entire Inhofe family. How do you fill the shoes of a gentlemen whose middle name is Mountain? How fitting of that, Senator James Mountain Inhofe. He was a mountain of a man, he blazed his own trail, he was full of grit and tenacity. U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, R-OK Inhofe was the longest serving U.S. Senator in Oklahoma history, he retired in 2022. Inhofe was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on November 17, 1934. His family says he passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Kay, and his three surviving children, Molly, Jimmy and Katy. His son Perry died in a plane accident several years ago in Tulsa. Theres probably no one in our recent history that has done more for Oklahoma than Jim Inhofe. He brought almost $1,000,000,000 in Oklahoma just for the highway system. Senator Roger Thompson, (R) Okemah Jim Inhofe was a man of honesty, he was a man of integrity and I guarantee you he wasnt a hypocrite. He told you exactly what he thought and he stuck with it. America can take a lesson from that. He fought hard, but he always did it in a cheerful way, a respectful way, a positive way, an optimistic way. Thats the greatness of Jim Inhofe. Mike Turpen, former Oklahoma Attorney General Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Update: As of 7 p.m. water service has been restored. Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and East Larimer County Water District customers are being asked to pause all nonessential water usage due to an emergency at its main water treatment plant. The main water treatment plant for Fort Collins-Loveland and ELCO water districts, Soldier Canyon Filter Plant, "has had an emergency," according to an alert sent to customers and posted to the districts' websites just before 1 p.m. Tuesday. Update: Here's what caused shutdown of Fort Collins water treatment plant Tuesday The plant also provides water for the North Weld County Water District, and those customers are also impacted. Because of the emergency, Fort Collins-Loveland and ELCO water district customers should anticipate a dramatic decrease in water pressure and availability of water for 8 to 12 hours, according to the alert. Customers are being asked to turn off all nonessential water use and outside irrigation until further notice. Fort Collins Utilities customers are not impacted by this emergency as of 3:30 p.m., though staff are monitoring the city's system closely, Utilities spokesperson Honora Thompson said in an email to the Coloradoan. To help the impacted water districts, Fort Collins Utilities began sending water to Fort Collins-Loveland Water about 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Fort Collins Area Water Districts Map It is unclear what the nature of the emergency is. There are no anticipated impacts to water quality, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District said in a comment on their Facebook post. Customers can check for updates on the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District Facebook page or the districts' websites. Fort Collins-Loveland Water District serves more than 60,000 customers, according to its website, and gets about 10% of its water from the Poudre River and 90% from the Colorado-Big Thompson River Project. The district serves approximately 60 square miles in south Fort Collins, north Loveland, and parts of Timanth, Windsor and unincorporated Larimer County. East Larimer County Water District serves north and east of Fort Collins, and it gets about 70% of its water from the Colorado-Big Thompson River Project and 30% from the Poudre River. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 'Emergency' at main Fort Collins-Loveland, ELCO water plan impacts customers FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Parrot Island Water Park might get some new twists and turns if Fort Smiths Board of Directors approves a more than $2 million budget proposal in tonights meeting. Five overhead slides are being offered by WhiteWater West by American Resort Management for a discounted price of $1.6 million, according to the agenda. The City of Fort Smiths Finance Department found it would cost $2.1 million to purchase, install, and any other work needed. However, the 2024 operating budget for the waterpark is $189,500. If passed the revised budget will increase to $2,289,500, a $2.1 million increase. Walmart sells tiny home kits The five slides were made for a water park in Florida but werent installed, the agenda papers state that they are now available at an aggressive discount. A head rush mat slide more than 540 feet long (White Water). A head rush mat slide more than 540 feet long (White Water). An Aquasphere 1 to 2 person inner tube water slide more than 580 feet long (WhiteWater). A tailspin 1 to 2 person inner-tube slide measuring more than 540 feet long (WhiteWater). A flatline loop body slide almost 400 feet long (WhiteWater). City Administrator Carl Geffken said that the slides will improve the activities at the park, further solidifying its position as a premier water park in the Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas region. The American Resort Management manages Parrot Island. The Fort Smith Board of Directors will also discuss drainage improvements, FEMA funds, a bid fro reconstruction on 2023 Street overlays and reconstruction. The Board of Directors includes seven positions and the mayor. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. The Star-Telegram is answering your questions about the nearly $1 billion expansion of the Fort Worth Stockyards, planned over the next few years. A reader asks us: Will Fort Worth residents have any discounts or benefits from the expansion for being a resident (i.e. discounted hotel, food, parking, etc.)? Of the 9 million visitors a year to the historic district, we know that most of them are out-of-towners and even from other countries. So will any of the new hotels, retailers, parking garages and other attractions planned by the Stockyards owners include any enticements for us locals to visit more often? Heres what we know, including some discounts available to you now that you may not know about. Want us to answer YOUR question about the Stockyards project? Use the form at the bottom of this story to send it our way. The project will include at least two underground parking garages with a total of at least 1,300 spaces, likely on open space behind Billy Bobs Texas and the Cowtown Coliseum. Once built, the developers will convey ownership of the garages to the city of Fort Worth, and the city will lease them back to the developers. The deal approved by the City Council (in order for the project to qualify for incentives) requires at least 50% of the parking spaces to be available for public use at a fair market hourly fee, and a minimum of 650 spaces will support Cowtown Coliseum. As of right now, it looks like Fort Worth residents would continue paying the same parking rates as out-of-town visitors. What about retailers and restaurants? We dont yet know what the 300,000-square-feet of new commercial space will entail, though owners including Majestic Realty Co. say they want to include experience attractions where visitors would spend more time. Of course, any private business operating in the Stockyards could offer their own discounts or offers to Fort Worth residents if they want to. And there are already some deals available now for frequent visitors. Youll need to download the new Stockyards app on your phone and sign up for free to join the Heritage Club. We found eight offers available in July for members, including free parking in three lots on certain days, free tickets for events at Tannahills Tavern & Music Hall, and coupons. If you go, youll notice that the Stockyards folks are pushing the new app pretty hard, so its likely youll continue to find deals there. As for hotels the luxury Hotel Drover in Mule Alley has an offer now for 20% off the best available rate if you live in Texas or any of our neighboring states (i.e. Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana or Oklahoma). Of course, itll still cost you a pretty penny to stay at the Drover, but thats a pretty decent discount. Well have to wait to see whether any of the other three new hotels planned with the expansion will offer any other discounts when they open down the road. The Star-Telegram will seek out answers to your questions about the Stockyards expansion. Use this form to tell us what you want to know, or contact business reporter Kate Marijolovic: kmarijolovic@star-telegram.com. FRAMINGHAM The city has settled a legal case against a former bus service provider that it accused of not providing enough drivers to transport students after Framingham Public Schools instituted a hybrid learning schedule in February 2021 in the wake of the pandemic. Under terms of the settlement, Durham School Services will reimburse the city $265,000 in bus transportation fees that Framingham Public Schools paid in 2021. During the 2020-21 school year, when students were learning remotely, Framingham Public Schools reached an agreement with Durham in which the district would pay 50% of its daily rate for school busing services buses that would not be used while students were learning remotely. Framingham High School students at dismissal on Feb. 24, 2021, the first day of hybrid classes after the pandemic. 'Broken promises': Framingham seeks $530K from former bus contractor As part of the agreement, Durham reportedly promised FPS that it would have the full busing fleet ready once students did return. However, the district reported that when hybrid learning was instituted in February 2021, Durham failed to provide an adequate number of drivers, supplying 54 of the required 77 per day in its contract. The district demanded $530,000 in reimbursements from Durham in September 2021, beginning a lengthy litigation period between the district and the Illinois-based transportation company. The district reported in a press release that after years of negotiations, the city filed suit in court against Durham last year. The legal battle included a Durham motion to dismiss the case, which was denied by a federal judge. Eventually, Durham reached an agreement with the district to reimburse the city $265,000, without acknowledging liability. 'Breach letter' served: Framingham, school bus company may be parting ways The agreement was formally announced by the district on July 3. "We are pleased with the settlement negotiated on behalf of the city and the Framingham Public Schools, Superintendent of Schools Robert Tremblay said, in a statement. By virtue of this settlement, the city has recovered the majority of the payments made to Durham for which Durham did not provide services, while at the same time avoiding the cost of further discovery, depositions, summary judgment and trial, which would have tied up school and city senior staff for a long time. By filing suit and obtaining this settlement, the city and schools have ensured that taxpayers receive the benefit for all contracted services." Durham representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Framingham school bus staffing remains a thorny issue Durham served as the district's bus provider from 2011-21. At that point, the district switched to North Reading Transportation (NRT) to provide its school busing. However, the same issues have impacted NRT's services in the city. On average, NRT has provided 57 buses to FPS daily, 20 short of the contracted amount, causing headaches for teachers, students, parents and school administrators who have had to adjust to a significant number of students being unable to reliably get to school on time. Last November, Framingham City Solicitor Kathryn Fallon issued a notice of default to NRT, writing that the city would exercise its right to secure completion of services from another vendor. The following month, NRT requested a termination of its existing contract with the city. More: Framingham School Committee seeks to modify its bus service contract. What it proposes In April, the Framingham School Committee voted to take busing in-house, which it had utilized before contracting with Durham in 2011. School Committee member Adam Freudberg, a vocal proponent of moving the busing system in-house, said the settlement with Durham is another sign that the vendor model for school busing has not worked out for the city. "This win through the legal process has now deemed that the vendor, Durham, was wrong, and now has to pay a sizable settlement to the city for their poor and mistaken decisions," Freudberg said. "This result is further validation that the complex vendor model for school bus transportation is not a match for the City of Framingham, and that the only way to actually fix longstanding detrimental gaps and help kids and our system of education is by implementing the in-house, education department-run school bus transportation model." This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham reaches $265,000 settlement with former school bus vendor (Bloomberg) -- Frances Socialist party extended an olive branch to some lawmakers of Emmanuel Macrons movement as political jockeying gained steam in the aftermath of a messy vote that left parliament divided. Most Read from Bloomberg We are clear-sighted but not sectarian, so those who want to meet us on these bases Im thinking, notably, about left-wing Macronists well be open, Johanna Rolland, the Socialists chief negotiator and mayor of Nantes, in western France, told France 2 on Tuesday. Listen and follow The Big Take on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts She cited the lack of doctors and local police as consensual topics a new majority could work on, suggesting parliament could agree on legislation on a case-by-case basis. The push shows that the left-wing alliance which includes the Socialists, the Greens and the far-left France Unbowed is seeking to take the initiative after their surprise win in Sundays parliamentary elections. The vote created a complex split in the National Assembly, which opens the door to unprecedented deal-making to form a ruling coalition. Rolland cautioned that talks among members of the New Popular Front to propose a candidate for prime minister which Macron isnt obligated to accept could last for a while. Her assertion indicates the complexity of the discussions, as others on the left have said the aim was to make a proposal this week or early next week. After pushing his country into political disarray with snap elections, the choice for prime minister is nearly intractable. Macron needs to find a candidate who can survive no-confidence votes in a divided lower house of parliament. His power base though has shrunk further, squeezed between Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally and the resurgent left. Despite its surprising comeback, the left is more than 100 seats short of a majority and needs to expand its reach to other parties if it wants to have a shot at ruling the country. But far-left lawmakers are unlikely to agree to work with Macron, who has called France Unbowed extreme and accused the pro-Palestine group of alleged antisemitism. On Tuesday, Rolland ruled out France Unboweds controversial leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon, for the prime minister post. No one at the New Popular Front can say, by decree, it will be this person or that person we need appeasement and discussion, she said, adding that there would be a vote for the alliances premiership candidate. While the Greens and Socialists gained seats compared with the previous elections in 2022, Melenchons France Unbowed was flat, raising questions over his momentum and his ability to appeal to moderates. Late Monday, the 72-year-old appeared to moderate his aggressive stance, saying that ratings agencies and Franco-German relations are important. We need stability, he told LCI television, papering over differences within the left alliance over his personality and even with the center over the New Popular Fronts program. Lawmakers could find compromises on some measures like the wealth tax, Melenchon said, while also reaffirming that the New Popular Front still stands. In its campaign, the alliance promised an increase in the minimum wage and higher taxes on businesses and wealthy people. Francois Bayrou, a Macrons ally and head of the MoDem centrist party, also said last night on LCI that the contours of a government should span the left without France Unbowed and the right excluding the National Rally. He reiterated his position that the France Unbowed program is dangerous. For his part, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said all sides should try to build a majority of projects that would continue to defend supply-side policies rather than spending to juice demand. Compromises could involve doing more to boost personal incomes by reducing the tax burden on wages, or strengthening mechanisms to share profits with workers. I invite all the Socialists and social democrats to come back to this supply side policy they defended for years, he said during a briefing with journalists on Tuesday. We are open and ready. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who will serve in the role until a successor is appointed, is meeting party members on Tuesday amid expectations that Macrons group will seek to forge a centrist coalition with elements of the New Popular Front and the center-right. His room to maneuver though may be limited. While Macrons group performed better than expected on Sunday coming second with 168 seats it owes a lot of seats to left-wing candidates dropping out in tactical moves to avoid splitting the vote and handing wins to Le Pens group, which came third. This could incentivize the so-called Republican front against the far right to work together despite divisions. I do remember that there are right-wing people who have voted for the left to prevent Le Pen from gaining power, Rolland said. We cant complain that Emmanuel Macron forgot that the left has voted for him every time in the runoff, and now, operating by dictate. A Toluna-Harris Interactive survey of voting intentions carried out after polling stations closed on Sunday shows Le Pen would finish in front in the first round of the next French presidential election in 2027 well ahead of potential rivals in the center and on the left. --With assistance from Tara Patel and William Horobin. (Adds comment from Finance Minister in 14th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Town council member Bridgette Frazier previously gave Bluffton until 5 p.m. Monday to write her a seven-figure check for a wrongful arrest claim. That deadline passed and now she and her attorney say they are willing to wait a little longer for the council to discuss it. The problem is, its not on the councils agenda for July. A letter submitted to the town of Bluffton on June 25 demanded $2 million as compensation for what Frazier is alleging was a false arrest and false imprisonment stemming from a March 9 traffic stop. Attorney Tiffany Spann-Wilder, who represents Frazier, told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette that they are extending the timeline on Fraziers demand because the council didnt have an opportunity to discuss the demand. (The town) communicated with us upon receipt of the letter that the council would not have had the opportunity prior to that, and so we are allowing them an opportunity to meet and get back to us, Spann-Wilder said. The next council meeting is Tuesday night, but no discussion of the matter is on the agenda. Bluffton Mayor Larry Toomer told the newspapers Tuesday morning that he wasnt aware of any amendment to the nights agenda. If the council doesnt discuss the demand on Tuesday night, the next opportunity will be August 13. Officials within the town continue to say that any further action on the demand letter or possible litigation is entirely in the hands of the South Carolina Insurance Reserve Fund. As a council member, Frazier will recuse herself from discussing the payment, even if they did not require it of her, her lawyer said. One of a kind claim The rarity of a council member suing the town they represent is unique. It is a precarious situation. However, in her role as a council person, she stepped forward to represent the interest of people there in the town, and if she is not able to be the voice of standing up for whats right in her own matters, that would be hypocritical, Spann-Wilder said. So if nothing else, she definitely has to move forward with making sure that theres justice. Because how do you support everyday citizens when things like this happen, when it happens to you if you just kind of walk away? Spann-Wilder said If the demand is not met, Frazier will look for a settlement option but is prepared, as a last resort, to sue the town. We hope that well be able to do that (settlement option) outside of any formal litigation, and maybe even pre-suit mediation. But were trying to get this done as expeditiously as possible, she said. Frazier was pulled over for speeding by the towns police department near the intersection of Bluffton Parkway and Persimmon Street. She was subsequently arrested for allegedly driving with a suspended license. The suspects driving record was extensive with an abundance of suspensions for the same violation along with others. These factors coupled with her current suspension aided in my determination to place the suspect under arrest, Officer Ramirez wrote in the report. The letter cites that the charges against Frazier were dropped. After winning re-election last year Frazier will hold her seat on the town council until 2028. Attempts to reach Frazier were unsuccessful. In addition to representing Frazier, Spann-Wilder serves as the District 109 representative in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Her district includes parts of Charleston and Dorchester Counties. She is a member of the Democratic caucus in the state house. BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Participants from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan at a forum on promoting the traditional culture of the 24 Chinese solar terms have agreed to work together in fostering and developing this cultural heritage further. The forum held on Tuesday was co-sponsored by the National Agricultural Exhibition Center (China Agricultural Museum) and a cross-Strait association for agricultural exchange. It was attended by nearly 100 people from the two sides of the Strait. During the forum, the Taiwan branch of an alliance for the protection and inheritance of Chinese solar terms was officially launched. Participants discussed topics like holding a cultural and art exhibition on the solar terms in Taiwan and building an exhibition hall dedicated to this culture in Fujian Province. This year marks the eighth anniversary of the inclusion of the 24 solar terms in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Following the inclusion, the alliance for the protection and inheritance of this culture was formed, resulting in a series of research and related cultural events. Since Hamas' attack on Israel last October and the war in Gaza that followed, college campuses across the nation have been embroiled in a series of pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests. In the spring, more than 100 of these protests turned into encampments. At several colleges, tent encampments devolved into spurts of violence and vandalism, and occasional clashes with police brought in to break them up. As the school year drew to a close, scenes of chaos at colleges such as Columbia and UCLA commanded national headlines. The situation became even more gripping when university administrators called in law enforcement to break up the encampments, and several schools canceled their main graduation ceremonies. In the aftermath of these protests, many sympathetic commentators insisted that the response by university presidents to pro-Palestinian encampments was straightforward censorship. Crackdowns on the encampments illustrate "the gulf between the ideals of the First Amendment and the actual practice of free speech in the United States," Megan Iorio, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, wrote in Tech Policy Press in May. "The freedom of individuals to assemble, associate, and express their opposition to the viewpoints of those in power is fundamental to the concept of free speech, yet the discourse has treated these rights as subservient to the rights of university administrators to enforce rules about the use of campus space." The situation is less straightforward than how Iorio frames it. While university administrators have violated the rights of students peacefully protestingfor example, at several Texas public collegesboth private and public universities are generally well within their rights to ban tent encampments. "While campus encampments are expressive conductno one doubts protesters are sending messages herethat's not the end of the story," writes Jessie Appleby of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. "Even in spaces where protest rights are at their maximumpublic sidewalks, public parks, and open outdoor areas of public campusesthe government, including public universities, can still enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on when, where, and how people protest." While public universities are beholden to the First Amendmentand private universities that promise wide-ranging speech freedoms are open to claims of contract violation if they punish students for their speechcolleges are almost never required to allow a tent encampment to continue. "Overnight encampments could create public safety risks and overtax campus security. They may prevent other groups on campus from using the space for a prolonged period," Appleby explains. "They could obstruct access to campus facilities or disrupt classes and other daily activities. All of these are legitimate reasons for universities to restrict encampments." It is vitally important, however, that such a policy be enforced neutrally. If a college allowed a tent encampment in protest of one issue to proceed but cracked down on a pro-Palestinian one, that could constitute illegitimate viewpoint discrimination. And just because universities have a legal right to ban tent encampments doesn't mean it's always a good idea to bring in the police. While some encampments, such as those at Columbia and UCLA, became disruptive (at UCLA, thanks mostly to counterprotesters), many universities facing pro-Palestinian encampments were in a genuine bind. If the tent encampments continued, administrators risked encouraging future disgruntled students to effectively take over patches of campus in protestand also risked having university presidents hauled before Congress. If they responded too harshly to peaceful civil disobedience, administrators risked looking cruel and pushing angry students to try even more disruptive forms of protest, such as occupying a building. What lesson should universities take from a school year of raucous civil disobedience? For starters, a formal policy of institutional neutrality, while far from perfect, could set a firm precedent that universities won't take sides on contemporary political debatesand therefore won't bow to pressure from students to do so. There's been some indication that universities are looking to move in this direction. For example, in May, Harvard announced it would take a formal stance of institutional neutrality. A Harvard Crimson survey found that more than 70 percent of faculty in the university's School of Arts and Sciences supported that policy. Many universities have released statements about hotly debated current events in recent years. This latest controversy may have given them the push they needed to stop unnecessarily taking sides. The post What Free Speech Rights Do Anti-Israel Activists Have on College Campuses? appeared first on Reason.com. The far-right House Freedom Caucus may be teetering on the brink of collapse. Politico reports that the group is divided after a vote to expel Representative Warren Davidson, who was removed from the caucus by a 1613 vote Monday night. The move was not taken well by the congressmans supporters, as it took place when some of them were not present and may have violated its bylaws. Some members, such as Representative Troy Nehls, said they would leave the group as a result. Im sure well have some, Representative Ralph Norman said about more members resigning from the group. Weve got a lot of issues to address. The move was pushed by allies of caucus chair Representative Bob Good after Davidson endorsed his opponent in the primaries, John McGuire. Goods move, coming after he lost the Virginia Republican primary to McGuire, seems to have exposed a fault line within the group. Usually, members of the Freedom Caucus are tight-lipped, but the Davidson decision has caused members to complain publicly and privately, according to Politico. According to caucus bylaws, members fall out of good standing only if they dont pay their dues or attend meetings. Davidson hadnt had any issues with either requirement, but Goods allies were upset about the endorsement and retaliated against him. With Good on the verge of losing his House seat barring a recount in his primary race, the caucus could soon have a leadership crisis, with some members angling to push him out early. The crises seem to be compounding for the caucus, which has been divided at least since some of its members took part in the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. The group was also conflicted over whether to support removing Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this year. Last year, the caucus kicked out Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the first time they had ever removed a member. In that case, the reason given was that Greenes feud with fellow caucus member Lauren Boebert had gone too far. Looking back, though, that event might have signaled bigger divisions on the horizon that may now seal its fate. LYON, France (AP) A French court ruled on Monday that the American man accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, So I raped you, can be extradited to the United States. Ian Cleary, 31, of Saratoga, California, was detained in April in the city of Metz in northeastern France after a three-year search. He has been held in custody pending extradition proceedings since his arrest. This wanted poster provided by the U.S. Marshals shows Ian Cleary, of Saratoga, Calif. (U.S. Marshals via AP, FILE) The Court of Appeal in Metz said that Cleary can be extradited. When asked if he wished to be extradited or not, in line with French law, Cleary refused, prosecutors said in a statement Monday. His refusal may delay the extradition process, but it wont stop it. The ruling is final. Clearys case is now the responsibility of the French Justice Ministry, which must prepare and submit the extradition order for the French prime minister. While he awaits the prime ministers signature, Cleary remains detained in France. Justice Ministry officials didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Cleary had been the subject of an international search since authorities in Pennsylvania issued a 2021 felony warrant in the case weeks after an Associated Press story detailed the reluctance of local prosecutors to pursue campus sex crimes. The arrest warrant accuses Cleary of stalking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student at a party, sneaking into her dorm and sexually assaulting her while she texted friends for help. He was a 20-year-old Gettysburg student at the time, but didnt return to campus. The Gettysburg accuser, Shannon Keeler, had a rape exam done the same day she was assaulted in 2013. She gathered witnesses and evidence and spent years urging officials to file charges. She went to authorities again in 2021 after discovering the Facebook messages that seemed to come from Clearys account. So I raped you, the sender had written in a string of messages. Ill never do it to anyone ever again. I need to hear your voice. Ill pray for you. The AP doesnt typically identify sexual assault victims without their permission, which Keeler has granted. The accusers lawyer in Pennsylvania, reached on Monday, declined to comment on the development. According to the June 2021 warrant, police verified that the Facebook account used to send the messages belonged to Ian Cleary. Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett, who filed it, declined to comment on developments when reached Monday. After leaving Gettysburg, Cleary earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Santa Clara University, near his family home in California, worked for Tesla, and then moved to France for several years, according to his website, which describes his self-published medieval fiction. Keeler, originally from Moorestown, New Jersey, stayed on to graduate from Gettysburg and help lead the womens lacrosse team to a national title. By 2023, two years after the warrant was filed, Keeler and her lawyers wondered how he was avoiding capture in the age of digital tracking. The U.S. Marshals Service thought he was likely overseas and on the move, even as he was the subject of an Interpol alert called a red notice. Across the U.S., very few campus rapes are prosecuted, both because victims fear going to police and prosecutors hesitate to bring cases that can be hard to win, the AP investigation found. Keeler, when the warrant was issued, said she was grateful, but knew it only happened because I went public with my story, which no survivor should have to do in order to obtain 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 Queen City News. French energy giant pulls out of race to build Britains first mini-nukes French state energy giant EDF has pulled out of the competition to build mini-nuclear reactors in Britain, as it takes its blueprints back to the drawing board. The company had been vying with five others to win government support for its small modular reactor (SMR) design, with two winners set to be chosen by the end of the year. But with submissions for the latest stage of the competition due at 4pm on Monday, it is understood that EDF put forward no design and has effectively now withdrawn from the running. The decision leaves five companies in the competition: Rolls-Royce, GE Hitachi, Westinghouse, Holtec Britain and Nuscale Power, all of which are understood to have met the deadline. Great British Nuclear (GBN), the government agency handling the competition, will now seek to whittle down the list to just four companies before picking two winners who will then be awarded contracts to build the first demonstrator SMRs in Britain. SMRs hold the promise of being far cheaper and quicker to build than large nuclear power stations, because of their modular, factory-made designs. Labour has publicly supported SMRs but has yet to spell out whether it will follow the same timescales set out by the previous Conservative government or whether it could aim to go faster. The party has vowed to make Britains power grid produce net zero carbon emissions by 2030, with nuclear power expected to play a crucial role. EDFs exit from the competition comes after it announced last week that it would halt internal work on new innovations for SMRs and switch to using existing technologies in designs. The decision followed feedback from potential European customers who were concerned about costs. EDF has said it will now evolve the design to offer better conditions for success by facilitating technical feasibility. A Whitehall source said EDFs decision to drop out of the UKs SMR competition was not the result of any feedback from GBN but rather a consequence of the French company having to rethink its technology. It comes after warnings from bidders, including Rolls-Royce, that there should be no further delays to the competition process, which was originally due to be wrapped up by this summer. Britain risks losing first mover advantage Under current timelines, GBN is expected to announce the winners before the end of this year and award contracts and sites at some point next year. Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, warned that Britain risked losing its first mover advantage if there were further delays in the wake of last weeks election and change of government. A spokesman for GBN declined to comment on Monday. An EDF spokesman said: EDF remains committed to supporting the development of nuclear in the UK. We are looking at the option for further lifetime extensions for our existing stations, building large-scale new nuclear stations at Hinkley and Sizewell and see great opportunity for a further large-scale station at Wylfa. Our sites at Heysham, Hartlepool and Bradwell offer land, grid and rail connections, a skilled workforce and supportive communities which make them compelling locations for small and advanced modular reactors. We will continue to work positively with the UK Government to deliver a new nuclear future. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Elizabeth Pineau and Dominique Vidalon PARIS (Reuters) -Leaders from the left-wing bloc that came first in France's legislative election and the runner-up centrists have engaged in a frenzied race to be first to cobble together a viable government, lawmakers and other sources told Reuters. The unexpected outcome of the July 7 snap election has plunged France into uncertainty just before the Paris Olympics, with no obvious path to a stable government capable of getting any legislation passed by a fragmented parliament. France, a pillar of the NATO military alliance and the euro zone's second largest economy, seems consigned to a period of protracted haggling that will be negative for the country's credit rating, Moody's has warned. The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), which has been holding a series of talks, said it intended to govern according to its tax-and-spend programme and that it merely needs a bit of time to organise itself. It has said it aims for a deal by the end of this week or early next week. "There are countries (unlike France) that have a culture of this (putting together a government with no majority) and take six months to form a government," Boris Vallaud, a Socialist lawmaker whose name is one of those mentioned as a possible prime minister, told Reuters. "We are working on finding ways and means to change the lives of French people ... Is it simple? No. Is it necessary? Yes," Vallaud said. But the centrists loyal to President Emmanuel Macron have laid claim to a role, as the left lacks a majority. Phones are ringing constantly, with some calls made by centrists trying to poach enough lawmakers from the mainstream left to create the basis for a government, political sources said. "We are getting in touch with people across the board," one centrist lawmaker said. One thing seemed clear - centrists do not want the hardline leftist La France Insoumise (LFI, or France Unbowed) party in any governing deal, but are open to allies from the more moderate left-wingers within the NFP. DEAL OR NO DEAL? After a meeting of the centrist group, Renaissance lawmaker Pierre Cazeneuve told Reuters: "We have reaffirmed our red lines: No deal with France Unbowed and no deal with the (far right) National Rally (RN)." The RN placed third in the runoff election, confounding opinion polls which had projected a far right victory. Within the NFP, a battle was raging between its factions to claim the largest number of MPs and thereby assert leadership of the bloc. For now, France Unbowed claims an edge of some 10 MPs but, unlike the LFI, the more moderate Socialists are more likely to convince independent leftists to join them. Lawmakers have until parliament's first post-election session on July 18 to decide which group they will belong to. Meanwhile, overtures from centrists have so far been rebuffed by NFP members who have rejected the idea of breaking up their loose alliance. Some on the left countered that the centrist bloc should be the one to break up with some of its members supporting the NFP. "To speak plainly, I'm thinking about left-leaning Macronists who might be open to joining us. We'd be open to that," Johanna Rolland, the Socialist mayor of Nantes, said on France 2 television. Macron, whose term ends in 2027, looks unlikely to be able to drive policy again, having been beaten by the far-right RN in last month's European election and by the left in the snap legislative election he called against the will of some of his own supporters including Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. Macron has asked Attal to stay on as prime minister for the time being to provide a modicum of stability. Within the NFP camp, there appeared to be no consensus on who should replace Attal. Jean-Luc Melenchon, the firebrand leader of France Unbowed, and other senior LFI members all said the next premier should be someone from their party, the biggest in the NFP. But NFP leaders from other parties have said Melenchon is too divisive and have not conceded that the head of government should be someone from France Unbowed. Several other names have been circulating frequently including Socialist leader Olivier Faure; Raphael Glucksmann, who led France's left-wing ticket in the European elections; and Green leader Marine Tondelier. Meanwhile, the Paris prosecutor's office said it had begun a preliminary inquiry into allegations of illegal financing of far right RN leader Marine Le Pen's campaign for the 2022 presidential race, which she lost to Macron. Le Pen and her party have previously denied wrongdoing in connection with campaign financing. (Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Tassilo Hummel; writing by Ingrid Melander and Estelle Shirbon; editing by Keith Weir and Mark Heinrich) From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch Happy Tuesday! Late last month, an Excalibur-like sword went missing from a rock wall in the village of Rocamadour, France, in which it had apparently been lodged for some 1,300 years. Might we suggest checking for it at the Naval Observatory? Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories Left-Wing Bloc Becomes Largest in French Parliament People celebrate on the statue of Marianne on the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, after an alliance of left-wing parties had a successful election on July 7, 2024. (Photo by Remon Haazen/Getty Images) There must be something in the waters of the English Channel that makes French and British leaders take insane electoral gambles at the drop of a hat. As we wrote to you yesterday, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks snap election dice roll didnt turn out well for his Conservatives. And despite the positive headlines, its possible French President Emmanuel Macron stumbled into the same trap. After the right-wing populist National Rally (NR) party cleaned up in European parliamentary elections at the beginning of June, Macron decided to call voters collective bluff. He dissolved parliamentshocking even some of his close alliesand set elections for the last day of the month, with the second round taking place this past Sunday. The centrist technocrat promised the elections would be a clarification for the country on the question of whether it really wanted Marine Le Pens right-wing party in charge. Though weeks of pollsand, indeed, the first round of voting on June 30seemed to suggest that the French peoples answer to that question was, yes, actually, a stunning result in the second round of elections on Sunday saw the NR stumble, ultimately falling behind the New Popular Front, a coalition of previously divided left-wing parties, and Macrons Together alliance. Macrons game of electoral roulette succeeded at keeping the far right out of powerbut his attempt at clarification may have only confused Frances contentious politics further. Though Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will lead a caretaker government for the foreseeable future, no party now has enough seats in the French National Assembly to form a new government. Moreover, theres no clear path forward for a cobbled-together coalition of strange bedfellows. NR was formerly the National Front, founded by Le Pens father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 1972. The younger Le Pen has done much to distance herself and her party from the National Fronts reputation for racism and antisemitism under her fatherincluding expelling him in 2015but it is still a nationalist and anti-immigration endeavor, even as the party adopts more left-wing economic populism and embraces an expanded social safety net. Though the European right generally underperformed in Junes European parliamentary election, in France, it was an NR sweepironic for a party that until recently wasnt even sure the EU should exist, never mind whether France should be a member. Macrons party, Renaissance, garnered only some 15 percent of the vote. NRled by up-and-comer Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pens protegedoubled that vote share and sent some 30 members to the European Parliament in Brussels, by far the largest delegation of any French party. It was an embarrassing loss for Macron, a staunch Europeanist whose disapproval rating has hovered around 70 percent for a year after he muscled through sweeping pension reforms. So, with his own party ruling in a precarious minority government thats hamstrung his legislative agenda, Macron spun the wheel and called an election on June 9. This is a serious and weighty decision, Macron said. Above all, it is an act of trust. Trust in you, my dear compatriots, in the capacity of the French people to make the just choice for themselves and for future generations. While he may have been hoping against hope that his own party could regain an absolute majority to get out of minority government purgatory, it seems more likely he wanted to call an election that would have to happen eventuallygiven his governments unpopularityon his own terms. Plus, a French national parliamentary election functions differently from the European equivalent. While seats in an EU parliamentary election are awarded based on the share of the popular vote, the bar for an individual candidates victory in French legislative elections is higher. If a single candidate doesnt clinch an absolute majority in the first round of legislative elections, theres a run-off, which could see both the top two vote-getters plus a small handful of candidates who get over a certain vote threshold face voters again. Macron may have suspected that the system would favor moderate parties and candidates as it has in the pastincluding with his own elections in 2017 and 2022, which saw many voters hold their noses and vote against Le Pen in the second rounds of those presidential elections. Indeed, theres a strong tradition of tactical voting in France, which has long maintained a so-called cordon sanitairea blockade against right-wing parties with links to Frances collaborationist history. The rise of nationalistsof demagoguesis a danger for our nation, but also for our Europe, for the place of France in Europe, and in the world, Macron said upon announcing elections. In gamesmanship perhaps not unsurprising for a president who once said his thoughts were too complex for journalists, Macron seemed to have rationalized even a far-right success, if the system didnt provide the expected fail-safe: If Le Pens party was swept into government, that victory might be a pyrrhic one if the public had time to become dissatisfied with their yet-untested policies before the 2027 presidential election. And that was not totally far-fetched, Dalibor Rohac, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute researching European politics, told TMD. I mean, it was in a way a very brave break with the cordon sanitaire. I think actually in a structured way you sort of let [the far right] in, you turn them into stakeholders in the system, and then it will make it more difficult for them to compete next time around in 2027. Indeed, after the first round of voting on June 30, NR seemed poised for a victory, claiming about 30 percent of the popular voteas in the European elections. At the outset of the campaign, the fractious French left formed a coalition anchored by far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed party, plus the Greens and the center-left Socialist party. The groupingthe New Popular Frontput up a respectable 28 percent in the first round. Macrons bloc of centrist parties, Together, was running in third with some 21 percent of the popular vote. More than 500 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly were set for a run-off, and in the week between the first and second rounds, Macrons centrist bloc and the left-wing grouping strategically withdrew more than 200 candidates who seemed likely to splinter the anti-right-wing vote. Even still, polling suggested NR would still come out on top on Sunday with the largest number of seats in parliament. Not so. In a stunning and unexpected result in Sundays second round, the New Popular Front will now form the largest bloc in the National Assembly with 188 seats, though still well short of a majority. Macrons centrist alliance came away with 161 seatsdown about 75 seats from the current parliament. And NR, which fell short of the decisive victory it seemed poised for, will have 142 seats in the national assemblya jump of about 50 compared to the last legislative election. The result sent shockwaves through the French political world, and straight through NRs planned victory party. Despite a second-round campaign thats been marked by unnatural political alliances, intended to prevent by all means the French people from choosing a different political way for themselves, the National Rally has today achieved the greatest breakthrough in its entire history, Bardella said at the NR watch party, taking aim at the left and centers strategic withdrawal from races. Melenchonthe controversial leader of the most radical party in the left-wing groupingadmitted his surprise at the victory, but quickly recovered himself to demand the president select his coalition to lead the government. The president has the power, the president has the duty to call on the New Popular Front to govern, he said Sunday. It is ready for it. By tradition, the president does give the biggest party a chance to form a government, though that may not happen yet. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, of Macrons party, offered the president his resignation on Monday, but Macron asked him to remain on in a caretaker capacity in the name of stability. Our country is facing an unprecedented political situation and is preparing to welcome the world in a few weeks, Attal said Sunday, referring to the Paris Olympics, set to kick off later this month, and under a pall of concerns over terrorism. Negotiations to form a new government will be complicated, especially considering modern France has never seen a hung parliament before. Melenchonwho would likely emerge as the far lefts pick for prime minister despite his reputation as a firebrandhas already declared himself unwilling to form any sort of coalition government with Macrons grouping so that the left-wing parties can implement their entire program, which would undo many of Macrons key reformsincluding the hard-fought revised retirement age. Many in the centrist grouping have also long considered France Unbowed and Melenchonwho is anti-Israel and has been accused of antisemitismtoo extreme to govern with.If [Macron] now tries to govern with the far left, theyll be sort of hanging from his neck like a giant albatross, Rohac told TMD. Despite all of the early jockeying, a coalition between some elements of the left and center blocs is almost unavoidable, even if its led by someone low-profile and inoffensiveor even a technocrat from outside government altogether. The confusion and instability underscore how the election which Macron likely hoped might shore up his mandate for three more years only further compromised iteven if his gambit did manage to best the far right for now. If there is still the commitment on the left and the center to just keep the far right away at all costs, Rohac said, then come 2027 the far right will be the only grouping in the country that will be able to point to this dysfunction and say, We are the only alternative. Vote for us. Worth Your Time Keir Starmer, the United Kingdoms new prime minister, has already made arguably the most significant decision of his young premiership: providing orders to the commanders of the countrys four nuclear-armed submarines. Starmer will be given a pen and four pieces of paper upon taking office, Brian Klaas wrote for The Atlantic. On each paper, he must handwrite identical top-secret orders thathopefullyno other human being will ever see. Each handwritten letter is placed inside a safe, which is housed inside another safe, on board the nuclear-armed submarine. If the submarine captain has reason to believe that London has been destroyed in a nuclear blast (one of the cues is said to be that the BBC has stopped broadcasting), then the captain is to make every attempt to verify that the British government no longer exists. Once satisfied that the worst has indeed taken place, only then may the captain open the two safes, unseal the letters, read their contents, and execute the order from the now-deceased prime minister. Should the United Kingdom release its nuclear arsenal and retaliateor not? In belated Independence Day reflections, Jesse Singal offers praise for the incredible place that is the United Statesin all its imperfections. So the United States is a lot of things: its a big, beautiful, free-as-hell place, it is beset by political dysfunction while being pretty stable, it seems to lift a lot of people out of poverty, and its formerly strict racial caste system is rapidly on its way to a welcome and overdue destruction, he wrote for his Singal-Minded Substack. It is a historically unusual example of people coming from everywhere in the world to join a diverse but unified whole. It is awesome and beautiful that someone can scrape and claw to get here, not speak the language, and then a few years later their kid is a bilingual American, full stop, who views this place as home, and who is, thanks to the wisdom of our Founders, just as American as any of his neighbors. Its important to acknowledge this to fend off certain naysayers and would-be revolutionaries who, if they got their way, would choose destruction over reform. Its also important not to get too starry-eyed, to slide into weird forms of hyper-nationalism or jingoism deaf to the many ways life here still is unfair, and to the ways we could do much better. Presented Without Comment White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, July 8, 2024: This week, President Biden will speak to national labor leaders of AFL-CIO, host the NATO summit to show the unprecedented strength of our alliance, hold a press conferencea Big Boy Press Conference, according to Justin Sink from Bloomberg. White House spokesman John Kirby, July 8, 2024: After that, the president will hold a press conferenceI guess a Big Boy Press Conference, is what were calling it? Also Presented Without Comment Mediaite: Kanye Wests Ex is Speaking at the RNC Next Week In the Zeitgeist The trailer for the latest Hollywood racecar movie dropped over the weekend. The film stars Brad Pitt in a role that sounds a little familiarbut were not mad about it: We cant replace Moneyball, but maybe we can recreate it in the aggregate. Toeing the Company Line In the newsletters: Kevin explained () the real problem with free trade, the Dispatch Politics team checked in on the ongoing meltdown in the Democratic Party, and Nick argued that Joe Biden has gone full MAGA. On the podcasts: Sarah and David are joined by Kannon Shanmugam and his summer associates on todays episode of Advisory Opinions to look back on this SCOTUS term and discuss text, history, and tradition, and Steve is joined by The Bulwarks Tim Miller for a special interview edition of The Dispatch Podcast to discuss the political fallout of Bidens disastrous debate performance and revisit an earlier conversation about The Dispatch and The Bulwarks differing approaches to the election. On the site today: Charlotte explores how world leaders view Biden as the NATO summit kicks off, Arthur Herman offers a better way to ensure all NATO members are contributing to the military alliance, and Kevin reports from the National Conservatism Conference on the former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director pitching himself for a comeback. Let Us Know Do you think Macrons maneuvers will weaken the French far right in the long term? Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. TechCrunch Palantir now owns 8.7% of struggling electric vehicle startup Faraday Future, according to a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The data-mining company was granted more than 800,000 shares in the EV startup on October 2 "as payment for certain outstanding receivables" the equivalent of roughly $2.4 million judging by Faraday Future's stock price on that day. Palantir doesn't explicitly say what receivables were outstanding. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Fruitport man has been convicted of threatening state court officials last year. A jury found Daniel Callahan, 60, guilty of false report or threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime. Both are felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The Michigan Attorney Generals Office said that Callahan repeatedly made threats during Michigan Court of Appeals proceedings for a case he had against the state. On Feb. 15 of last year, state prosecutors said, Callahan said on the record during oral arguments, What is it going to take, somebody to get shot before the State acts on it? The following week, he filed a document with the court saying that if the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court rule in his favor, they would earn a future Performance Award for MSU Stage Act 2, West Michigan 2023. It was an apparent reference to the deadly shooting at Michigan State University earlier that month. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said on Monday 90 percent of Gazans were displaced, some multiple times, as more evacuations ordered and poor or no security hampers aid and fuel deliveries. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the Israeli military instructed on Sunday and Monday tens of thousands of people living in 19 blocs of apartments in Gaza City to evacuate immediately. On Sunday, some residents were ordered to evacuate to western Gaza City, while the order on Monday included areas that people had fled to a day earlier and instructed them to evacuate to shelters in Deir al Balah. "The two directly affected areas encompass 13 health facilities that were recently functional, including two hospitals, two primary healthcare centers and nine medical points," OCHA said, adding that 13 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are only partially functional. The office said that with nine out of every 10 people estimated to be displaced in Gaza, new waves of displacement are mainly affecting people who have already been displaced multiple times, only to find themselves forced to flee again under shelling. They were forced to reset their lives repeatedly without any of their belongings or any prospect of finding safety or reliable access to essential services. "People, especially children, spend long hours queueing to collect water each day," OCHA said. "Access to emergency health care is also a challenge, particularly given limited communications coverage to contact emergency services, high transportation costs to reach hospitals (26 U.S. dollars roundtrip) and the long walking distance of at least 3 kilometers to reach the nearest medical point." In northern Gaza, the aid partners especially highlighted the lack of safe shelters for up to 80,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) who were forced to hastily flee from Shuja'iyeh and other parts of eastern Gaza City following evacuation orders in late June. Many were found sleeping amid solid waste and rubble, with no mattresses or enough clothing, and some had sought shelter in partially destroyed UN facilities and residential buildings. The Israeli military designated these same areas as evacuation zones, forcing many of the same families, including young children and the elderly, to go through successive waves of displacement over the past two weeks, the office said. OCHA said that insecurity, damaged roads, the breakdown of law and order, and access limitations continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route between Kerem Shalom crossing and Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. "This has resulted in critical shortages of fuel and aid commodities to sustain humanitarian operations, in addition to increasing the risk of spoilage and infestation of stranded supplies (especially food) due to extremely high temperatures," the office said. The humanitarians said the Food Security Sector (FSS) reports that the shortages forced partners to provide reduced food rations in central and southern Gaza in June and undermined their ability to keep bakeries and community kitchens running. According to OCHA, only seven out of the 18 bakeries supported by humanitarian partners remain operational in Gaza, all in Deir al Balah, and six bakeries already working at partial capacity have now been forced to completely cease operations due to the lack of fuel. The office said that in the absence of cooking gas and a stable flow of food supplies, community kitchens are also struggling to operate, resulting in a reduced number of cooked meals prepared throughout Gaza. As of the end of June, about 600,000 cooked meals prepared in 190 kitchens were distributed daily to families across the strip, compared to more than 700,000 in the first half of June. OCHA said it meant that displaced households rely on burning wood and plastic from furniture and waste to cook, exacerbating health risks and environmental hazards. As for cooking, humanitarian partners said they continue to distribute wheat flour and canned food that enter northern Gaza through the Erez West crossing. No commercial trucks have been entering the area for months. A joint assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Satellite Centre estimated that about 57 percent of Gaza's cropland and one-third of its greenhouses were damaged. The FSS reported a near-total lack of protein sources, such as meat and poultry, on the local market, and only a few types of locally produced vegetables are available at unaffordable prices. The sector reported that continued military operations in Rafah and recent displacement from eastern Khan Younis, where significant agricultural production was concentrated before the war, have resulted in additional damage to greenhouses. It forced more people to leave their farms unattended, further destabilizing food systems. OCHA said that on Friday, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported that its teams at Nasser Medical Complex were "running on emergency medical stocks" and all departments were overwhelmed by patients, far exceeding available bed capacity. MSF said the Nasser Medical Complex is the main site on which field hospitals rely to sterilize their equipment, and if the facility is left without electricity, several field hospitals will also cease functioning. It said the hospital has been unable to bring any medical supplies into Gaza since the end of April, including most recently on Wednesday when the Israeli authorities denied trucks carrying MSF medical aid entry into the Gaza Strip due to ongoing hostilities. As he exited Senate Democrats weekly lunch, at which members intensely debated President Bidens prospects, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon had a simple message for the embattled commander-in-chief: Get out there, Joe. I think its clear right now, that the kinds of discussions that I suggested a long time agounscripted town halls, people looking him in the eyethats what I think the countrys hungry for, Wyden said as he left the lunch, making his way through an unusually large throng of reporters. Like other Democrats, he was pressed for his views on whether Biden should stay in the race against Donald Trump. And in what has become a standard line, he provided no clear answer. But Wyden was visibly annoyed that his suggestion had been disregarded by Biden and his advisers, pointing out that he had offered the advice some time ago. People wanted to see the president unscripted, he said, not reverting to answers written by somebody elsean apparent reference to the recent revelation that the Biden campaign had fed questions to a Philadelphia reporter who interviewed the president following last months disastrous debate performance. What happens if Biden flops again? Ive sure stumbled plenty in these kinds of things, Wyden offered. Its no fun, but thats how people walk away and say, Real person. Weepy Democrats Wont Push Out Biden TodayOr Maybe Ever But at least one member of Congress on Tuesday wasnt willing to tolerate the prospect of any more presidential stumbles. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) called on Biden to end his campaign, saying in a statement, I am asking that he declare that he wont run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee. The Biden campaign rejected the notion that there was a dichotomy between scripted events like rallies and unscripted ones, like the town halls Wyden had in mind. Why does one have to come at cost of other? spokesman Kevin Munoz wondered in an email. Time is limited, however, and Democrats are desperate for reassurance. The White House pointed to statements by Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary. In recent days, she has been bluntly asked by reporters why, if the president is as mentally astute as those around him claim, he has so rarely engaged with reporters or supporters without the help of a teleprompter or note cards. In those two and a half days or so after the debate, he went to four states and engaged with supporters, engaged with American people, everyday people, heard directly from them, Jean-Pierre said on July 2, at the first post-debate White House briefing. While it is true that the president did continue to campaign after the debacle in Atlanta, those have not been the kinds of impromptu interactions that could dispelor deepenconcerns about whether the president is fit to campaign (a 22-minute interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News was the sole exception). Look, it is not unusual for a president to use a teleprompter, Jean-Pierre said the following day. It isnt. It is not unusual. That is something that presidents have done in the past. Once again, the answer failed to account for growing concerns that even many steadfast Democrats worry the White House has been too quick to dismiss. Biden has kept a notably low profile during his presidency. According to the American Presidency Project, Biden has only held an average of 10.5 press conferences per year, about half the number of press conferences conducted by his immediate predecessors, Donald Trump and Barack Obama. Biden is scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday, following NATO meetings in Washington. While the event will be a major test, only a stellar performance will quell rising doubts about his mental fitness. Known in an earlier age for the gift of gab, Biden seems to chafe at the constraints White House advisers have placed around him. According to Politico, he recently told Democratic governors that he wanted to do precisely the kind of events Wyden has been urging. So far, though, the president remains largely out of sight. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Federal Trade Commission has banned an anonymous messaging app from hosting kids under 18 on its platform to settle allegations it was unfairly marketed to minors and exposed them to cyberbullying and harassment, the agency said Tuesday. The FTCs settlement with NGL: ask me anything is the first time the agency has ordered messaging app to stop hosting teens and kids online. The move comes after years of mounting pressure for lawmakers and regulators to hold tech platforms accountable for their impact on youth mental health. In addition to the ban, NGL Labs, LLC and two of its co-founders, Raj Vir and Joao Figueiredo, will also pay $5 million as part of the settlement. NGL marketed its app to kids and teens despite knowing that it was exposing them to cyberbullying and harassment, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. We will keep cracking down on businesses that unlawfully exploit kids for profit, Khan added. A complaint unveiled Tuesday by the FTC and the Los Angeles district attorneys office alleges that NGL and its co-founders actively marketed their service to children and teens, and made false claims. The complaint alleged the app falsely claimed that its artificial intelligence (AI) content moderation program filtered out cyberbullying and other harmful messages. It also alleged that NGL sent fake messages that appeared to come from real people to trick users to sign up for a paid subscription along with false promises that doing so would reveal the identity of the senders of the messages. The consequences of these actions can be severe. The anonymity provided by the app can facilitate rampant cyberbullying among teens, causing untold harm to our young people, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. We cannot tolerate such behavior, nor can we allow companies to profit at the expense of our childrens safety and well-being. Todays charges send a clear message that deceptive practices and targeting vulnerable populations will not be tolerated, he added. The app launched in 2021 as an anonymous messaging service that allowed users to receive anonymous messages from friends and social media followers. After downloading, users would be able to share a link on social media accounts asking their followers to respond to prompts, such as If you could change anything about me, what would it be? Followers who clicked the link were taken to the NGL app and able to send an anonymous message to the user. The complaint alleges that in 2022, after the app failed to gain much interest, NGL began automatically sending users fake computer-generated messages that appear to be from real people. When users posted a prompt inviting messages, they would receive computer-generated fake messages back, such as are you straight? or I know what you did. When users responded to the reply prompt, both from real people and fake-generated messages, they would see an advertising that encouraged them to buy the NGL pro version of the app for as much as $9.99 a week. The complaint alleged that even those who paid, though, did not receive the name of the sender and instead received hints. The complaint alleged that NGLs founders laughed at users who complained about the issue. The companys product lead wrote Lol suckers in a text message with the co-founders named in the complaint. Figueiredo said in a statement the company views this resolution as an opportunity to make NGL better than ever for our users and we think the agreement is in our best interest. While we believe many of the allegations around the youth of our user base are factually incorrect, we anticipate that the agreed upon age-gating and other procedures will now provide direction for others in our space, and hopefully improve policies generally, he added. Childrens online safety advocacy group Fairplay and parent advocate Kristen Bride, who urged the FTC to probe NGL in October, applauded the agencys decision. Brides 16-year-old son Carson died by suicide in 2020 after facing cyberbullying on other anonymous messaging apps. We have known for over a decade that anonymous apps marketed to teens lead to cyberbullying and, in many cases, a suicide like what happened to my 16-year-old son Carson in 2020. This dangerous business model keeps kids engaged while struggling to identify their unknown harassers so that these companies can profit from more data collection, Bride said in a statement. It is unconscionable that NGL would not only charge vulnerable teens for useless hints as to who was messaging them but that the developers themselves were sending harassing messages to teens and joking about it as parents expressed cyberbullying concerns, she added. Updated at 11:43 a.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An ongoing Federal Trade Commission study finds pharmacy benefit managers may have inflated drug costs while squeezing independent pharmacies, enriching some of the largest companies in the U.S. at the expense of patients. The interim FTC report released Tuesday details the market influence of companies known as PBMs, which are hired and, in many cases, owned by health insurers to manage drug benefits within heath plans. Their roles can include negotiating prices, setting co-pays for medications and creating pharmacy networks where patients can fill prescriptions. Eagan-based Prime Therapeutics and OptumRx, a division of Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group, were two of six PBMs singled out in the report. "The FTC's interim report lays out how dominant pharmacy benefit managers can hike the cost of drugs including overcharging patients for cancer drugs," FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. "The report also details how PBMs can squeeze independent pharmacies that many Americans especially those in rural communities depend on for essential care." The trade group for PBMs cried foul Tuesday, saying the report "falls far short of being a definitive, fact-based assessment" and didn't live up to FTC's history of objectivity. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association noted in a statement that one member of the five-person commission disagreed with the majority's decision to release the report. It was based on anecdotes, anonymous comments and "cherry-picked case studies," according to the trade group. "Throughout this process, FTC leadership has shown that they have predetermined conclusions that they want to advance irrespective of the facts or the data, and this report demonstrates an intention to follow through on their agenda regardless of the evidence," the association said in a statement. "Nothing can change the fact that PBMs are operating in an extremely competitive market and have a proven track record of reducing prescription drug costs." Interim studies are unusual and do not represent a final report from FTC, commissioner Andrew Ferguson wrote Tuesday in a statement. The final version, Ferguson said, should include more definitive evidence of pharmacy-reimbursement practices and incentives, but concluded: "It is important for the commission to share what staff has learned to date, such as it is." In 2022, the FTC launched its review of PBMs, a subject that was highlighted by Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya during comments at a Minneapolis event on economic competition that year. Last month, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led a bipartisan group of 32 attorneys general asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case that could otherwise limit state regulation of PBMs. In 2023, the state Commerce Department imposed a $500,000 fine against Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark, alleging the PBM used strategies not allowed under Minnesota law to steer consumers to its own pharmacies. CVS Caremark, which denied the allegations and did not admit liability, was one of the six PBMs highlighted by the FTC's report. Express Scripts, which is owned by Connecticut-based insurer Cigna, rounds out the "Big 3 of PBMs, the FTC says, along with CVS Caremark and OptumRx. Collectively, they manage 79% of prescription drug claims for about 270 million people, according to the report. Add the next three largest PBMs, one of which is Prime Therapeutics, and the group manages 94% of prescription drug claims in the U.S. In 2004, the top three PBMs served a combined 190 million people, FTC says, and managed 52% of prescription drug claims. "In addition to this high degree of horizontal concentration, the Big 6 PBMs have become vertically integrated within massive conglomerates that provide a broad range of services across the pharmaceutical supply chain and other segments of the health care sector," the FTC report says. PBMs enter into rebate contracts with drug makers, the FTC says, an arrangement where manufacturers provide payment for favorable placement on health plan formularies, which can shape demand by specifying how much patients must pay out-of-pocket for any given medication. The FTC says it has evidence PBMs and drug manufacturers "sometimes enter rebate agreements expressly conditioned on excluding [lower cost] generic drugs from coverage," according to the report. In other cases, there's evidence that PBMs and manufacturers enter agreements so that prior authorization rules and step therapy requirements where patients must try certain drugs before others discourage the use of generic medicine alternatives, the commission found. The report also highlights potential problems with vertical integration, where large companies like UnitedHealth, CVS and Cigna own both PBMs and insurance companies as well as specialty pharmacies, which handle high-cost and complex medications. "Amidst increasing vertical integration and concentration, these powerful middlemen may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies," the report says. In a statement, OptumRx said the FTC had rushed to publish an analysis that was incomplete and reached flawed conclusions. Its findings, the company added, don't follow from the more than six years of data and millions of pages of information it has provided the commission. "PBMs, like OptumRx, are the key counterweight to pharmaceutical companies' monopoly power to set and raise drug prices," the company said in a statement. "The money we are saving the employers, unions, governments and payers who rely on us to negotiate savings is helping consumers through reduced premiums, point-of-sale discounts on medicines and greater investment in population health and wellness programs." Prime Therapeutics said in a statement it was disappointed the report didn't distinguish how its structure and business practices are different than other large PBMs. "Prime is not owned by or affiliated with any single national payer, private equity, nor publicly traded," the company said. "Prime is an independent company owned by a consortium of 19 separate, mission-driven, not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans located across the country, each with their own unique attributes, geographies and membership." OptumRx said it agreed with several parts of a dissent released Tuesday by one of the five FTC commissioners Melissa Holyoak who said the report shouldn't be released, arguing it fails to offer empirical evidence to support claims about the market power of PBMs, including suggestions that competition in the market has declined. "The commission has failed to advance the public's understanding of PBM practices," Holyoak wrote. "Our job is not to score cheap points for transient political favor it is to identify and protect against anti-competitive harm." Commissioners Khan, Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter issued a statement supporting the release, saying the interim report "lays out an initial economic analysis, including a discussion of how exclusionary rebates may be having negative spillover effects on competition in drug markets, impeding generic entry." [In the player above, watch a local memorial service for Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter.] CLEVELAND (WJW) Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter, killed in the line of duty on July 4, will be laid to rest on Saturday. The 27-year-old Ritter, who hailed from Webster, New York, was shot and killed while apprehending a felonious assault suspect on July 4. Weve lost another hero: Hundreds mourn Cleveland fallen officer Jamieson Ritter Officers from several New York law enforcement agencies on Tuesday afternoon were expected to provide an escort for Ritters remains, according to a news release from New York State Police. Ritters wake is set for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 12, at Falvo Funeral Home, 1295 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road in Webster, New York. His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, at Browncroft Community Church, 2530 Browncroft Blvd., Rochester, N.Y. Painful reminder: Flags in Ohio at half-staff Flags in Ohio are to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Ritters funeral, Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered. Family members and colleagues, in a local memorial service on Monday, paid their respects to Ritter, who was a four-year veteran of the Cleveland Division of Police. In his years of service, Jamieson demonstrated what it means to be truly dedicated to the safety and well-being of others, said Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Florida funeral directors are jumping through hoops to help families settle their loved ones affairs after an apparent cyber-attack on the Florida Department of Health shut down the system used to process birth and death certificates. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Cameron Naugle, Director of Naugle Funeral Home in San Marco, was first made aware of the issues at the Florida Department of Health on June 27th. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We got notification from the State of Florida that their servers would be going down temporarily for maintenance, said Naugle. But nearly two weeks later, the online systems used to process birth and death certificates are still down, due to what the department has called a possible cyber incident. Naugle, who also serves as the President of the Independent Funeral Directors of Florida, said it has forced funeral directors and hospitals to go back to paper processing. For funeral homes, that means longer wait times for families attempting to settle their loved ones affairs. RELATED: All hospitals running like normal following cyber security event at St. Vincents Financial stuff like close their accounts at banks, file for insurance policies they may have, transfer car titles. So many things are bound up by that death certificate, said Naugle. Additionally, Naugle worries if death records that were already on file were compromised in the apparent cyber-attack, sensitive personal information could now be in the hands of cybercriminals. When you get a credit card the things theyre going to ask are your mothers maiden name. So, both your parents names are on death certificates, your Social Security number, date of birth, said Naugle. Naugle just said its his hope the issues are solved sooner rather than later. RELATED: Thousands potentially compromised in Jacksonville Beach, Beaches Energy cyberattack The main concern for any director is to make your family feel comfortable and let them know how things are progressing and were kind of in limbo ourselves because this is uncharted territory and we just dont know, said Naugle. Naugle said hes been told the system could be back up within the next few days, but if the old system was too badly compromised, it could take weeks to rebuild a new one. Action News Jax reached out to the Department of Health and received the statement below. DOH Statement: The Florida Department of Health (Department) is working diligently to resolve the temporary outage impacting the online Vital Statistics system. To facilitate continued operations of death certificates, the Department has worked closely with funeral homes and healthcare facilities to implement offline procedures during this period. These instructions have been provided to all licensed funeral directors statewide. In addition, all county health departments have been provided the necessary resources to issue death certificates offline during this time. We also request the support from healthcare facilities and physicians to expedite hand-signed death certificates. This collaboration across all partners will assist families in navigating difficult times with minimal disruption. We are working around the clock to restore the online Vital Statistics system, said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. The majority of Department operations and services remain operational and unchanged. County health departments remain able to issue copies of birth certificates for individuals born before June 28, 2024. For births on or after this date, the Department is working with hospitals to continue manual processing of birth certificates. For families seeking assistance, all county health departments are prepared to provide guidance and support. Locate your local county health department at: FloridaHealth.gov. For questions and concerns regarding Vital Statistics services, please call 1-866-295-5902. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. An Amazon truck makes deliveries in Wheeling, Ill., earlier this year. Some states have passed or considered measures that would impose a fee on retail deliveries in order to provide funding for road maintenance. Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press For decades, states have relied on gas taxes to provide much of the money to maintain roads and bridges. But as cars become more fuel efficient, and some Americans switch to electric vehicles, state leaders say the gas tax wont pay the bills for much longer. At the same time, many cities have seen their streets crowded with delivery trucks from Amazon and other companies, as consumers increasingly opt to have products delivered to their homes. In a few states, lawmakers think fees on those deliveries could be part of their road-funding solution. If youre going to be creating wear and tear on our roads, you should help pay to maintain them, said Colorado state Rep. Cathy Kipp, a Democrat who chairs the Energy and Environment Committee. In July 2022, Colorado became the first state with a retail delivery fee, a charge on all vehicle deliveries to consumers within the state. The fee, which currently stands at 29 cents per delivery, provides funding for highways, bridges, tunnels, electric vehicle charging stations and projects to reduce air pollution and to electrify vehicle fleets and transit systems. It has brought in more than $160 million. If you're going to be creating wear and tear on our roads, you should help pay to maintain them. Colorado Democratic state Rep. Cathy Kipp Colorado leaders have had to simplify the law to help businesses comply with it, but they say its largely been a success story. Minnesota enacted its own retail delivery fee in 2023, and lawmakers in New York and Illinois have proposed similar measures. Meanwhile, legislators and transportation officials in several other states have commissioned studies to consider the concept. Some retailers and Republican lawmakers have argued that the fee hurts consumers, and many businesses in Colorado initially had trouble complying with the law. The 27-cent delivery fee is not trivial, its effects are not imperceptible, and it greatly affects our citizens especially those who are already struggling to pay the bills and provide for their families, Republican state Rep. Rose Pugliese, the House minority leader, wrote in a Colorado Springs Gazette guest column several months after the law was enacted. But backers of the fee say they see growing interest across the country, especially as delivery trucks become ubiquitous in many neighborhoods. Future-proofing transportation funding State law in Colorado limits the ways in which lawmakers can expand taxes. With gas tax revenues dwindling, legislators didnt have an obvious solution to pay for roads. They eventually settled on the retail delivery fee, which is not characterized as a tax. Initially, the program was a struggle for many businesses, due to a requirement that they detail the fee separately on each receipt. For our medium and small businesses, it was a real complicated thing and very burdensome for them to have to reprogram their software with a whole extra line item, Kipp said. Last year, Kipp joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to amend the program. They rescinded the requirement that businesses itemize the fee on each receipt and allowed companies to cover the fee themselves rather than breaking it out on each order. They also exempted retailers with less than $500,000 in sales. Since the fix was adopted, Kipp said she has stopped hearing complaints about the program. Chris Howes, president of the Colorado Retail Council, said he too has not heard any recent gripes. Weve got it straightened out by now, he said. People have accepted it and moved on. Amazon did not grant a Stateline interview request, and the National Retail Federation deferred questions to state chapters. Chamber of Progress, a tech industry advocacy group, did not arrange an interview by publication time. Last year, lawmakers in Minnesota enacted their own retail delivery fee, a 50-cent charge on purchases of more than $100. Lawmakers heard from local governments that they were struggling to maintain their roads and badly needed state aid to make up the gap. This is trying to future-proof our transportation funding, said Democratic state Rep. Erin Koegel, who sponsored the bill. We keep getting performance grades from civil engineers saying were at a C- or D for our infrastructure. We needed to think about ways to get more revenue in the system. Koegel said the measure was a compromise. Her initial draft, which did not have a $100 threshold for purchases, was intended to be a deterrent, much like cigarette taxes. She said delivery trucks are increasing congestion in many cities and damaging streets that werent built to support large vehicles. However, lawmakers ultimately decided to limit the fee to more expensive purchases in order to protect lower-income consumers. Minnesotas fee is projected to generate $59 million in its first fiscal year. The funding will be distributed to cities, counties and towns to help with their road-funding needs. Traffic throughout the day Cities and counties in Washington state also have asked for help, and some local leaders have asked state lawmakers to consider a retail delivery fee or to authorize cities to collect one. State lawmakers commissioned an analysis, published last month, looking at the potential for such a program. The report found that a fee could generate $45 million to $112 million in revenue in 2026, depending on which businesses and orders were covered. Were now seeing that theres traffic on our system throughout the day, and the growth of these delivery services is a part of that, said Democratic state Sen. Marko Liias, who chairs the Transportation Committee. Weve had a history in transportation of user-based fees. This feels like a mechanism that could help in that regard. Liias emphasized that some version of the fee is likely to be a big topic of discussion in the next legislative session. He said hes already heard strong arguments on both sides of the issue. In some areas, the rise in retail deliveries has put the greatest burden on the infrastructure surrounding shipping facilities. Illinois CenterPoint Intermodal Center, the nations largest inland port, connects interstate trucking, railway lines and Mississippi River barges. There really needs to be a shift in the tax structure, since many of these facilities are not generating the local sales tax youd get at a brick and mortar, said Democratic state Sen. Rachel Ventura, whose district includes the CenterPoint facility. We have a lot of traffic going in and out, and the environmental burden and road repairs and the tax burden fall locally. Ventura has drafted a bill that would allow communities to assess fees on intermodal facilities locations that transfer products from one type of transportation to another. Local governments that opted in would be able to spend the funds on roads within five miles of the facilities. The fee, which would be based on the weight of each shipment, is projected to generate $33 million to $68 million per year. The bill has not passed out of committee, and Ventura said lawmakers are still discussing the path forward amid opposition from the trucking industry. In New York, a Democratic bill to impose a 25-cent fee on deliveries within New York City has been introduced but remains in committee. Meanwhile, state agencies in Nevada and Ohio have commissioned studies examining the feasibility of retail delivery fees. Those reports have not yet led to legislative action. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! NEWSOM STANDS BY BIDEN IN MICHIGAN SPEECH California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week had some words for Democrats who might be wavering as President Joe Biden weathers a barrage of concerns about his age, following an abysmal performance in the first debate with Republican former President Donald Trump. Do more, worry less, the governor said, in a speech at a Democratic rally in South Haven, Michigan last week. Newsom is on the short list of Democrats who theoretically could replace Biden at the top of the ticket should the 46th president decide to step down, something Biden has thus far stiffly resisted. Even Newsom acknowledged that Bidens debate performance was less than ideal. Things did not go as well as the campaign had hoped, Newsom said. Newsom spoke of meeting Biden last week, and said that the president sought to reassure Democratic governors of his ability to campaign. I mean this with absolute conviction, that was the Joe Biden I remember from two weeks ago, that was the Joe Biden that I remember from two years ago, thats the Joe Biden that Im looking forward to reelecting as President of the United States, Newsom said in his speech. Californias governor said that Democrats need to focus more on the results that Biden has achieved and less on what the political polls are saying. Polls dont vote. You know who votes, you guys vote, Newsom said. The governor warned Democrats not to fall prey to cynicism or negativity. Its time to focus on whats right, time to focus on whats right about this campaign as well and our capacity to deliver and pull this thing off, he said. QUOTE OF THE DAY Donald Trump continues to brag about overturning Roe v. Wade. He calls cruel abortion bans a beautiful thing to watch. How dare he. - Vice President Kamala Harris, via X. Best of The Bee: Steve Garveys campaign says hes achieved fundraising parity with Adam Schiff. Is that true? Via David Lightman . Vice President Harris has a low favorability rating. Would Democrats back her if Biden doesnt run? Via David Lightman. Gazas chessboard of suffering: Tens of thousands on the move again as IDF issues new evacuation orders Yet again, tens of thousands of people in Gaza are on the move, as the Israeli military issues fresh evacuation orders for a number of areas in Gaza City. Over the past 10 days, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued instructions for hundreds of thousands of people in Khan Younis in the south, Shujaya in central Gaza and the several neighborhoods of Gaza City to leave. The effect has been to increase the total number of displaced people in Gaza, from 1.7 million in May to an estimated 1.9 million now, according to the UN. Approximately nine out of 10 people in Gaza are now estimated to be internally displaced, many of them multiple times. Mass displacement has been predominantly driven by evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military, extensive destruction of both private and public infrastructure, restricted access to essential services, and the persistent fear of ongoing hostilities, according to the most recent assessment by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Its unclear how many people in Gaza City have heeded the latest evacuation order. Many civilians are wary of leaving whatever shelter they have for an uncertain journey to an even more uncertain fate living on the streets or in the overcrowded, unsanitary tent villages that pop up with each evacuation order. The IDF has said that evacuation orders are necessary so that civilians dont get caught up in its renewed operations in areas where Hamas is seeking to re-establish a presence. The IDF insists it goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas has said the evacuations threaten to return negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage deal to point zero. Khader Al Zaanoun, a journalist with Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, told CNN that late on Sunday people in the Tuffah, Old City and Daraj neighborhoods had been instructed to move to known shelters in the west of Gaza City. But he said the large-scale evacuation came amid drone- and air-strikes. It was terrifying, people were running, some were in wheelchairs, everyone in panic not knowing where to go. The heavy bombardments were close, and the smoke was filling the skies, Al Zaanoun told CNN after reaching the port area. A journey full of danger The strikes continued all night, along with repeated gunfire in areas where people were sheltering. I decided to wait until the morning and not move due to the dangerous situation, Al Zaanoun said. But at dawn airstrikes targeted a high-rise building close to where he and his family and many other displaced people were taking shelter. At that moment, to protect the lives of my family, I decided to leave the place and evacuate to the port area in the west of the city in a journey full of danger. Al Zaanoun send photographs of his family walking through ruined streets as he dragged a pushchair with their remaining possessions. The IDF confirmed to CNN that the evacuation order for parts of Gaza City was the third in the past 10 days. OCHA estimates that about 80,000 people were living in the Shujaya area when the order to evacuate came on June 27. A further 250,000 people living in eastern Khan Younis and Rafah were placed under an evacuation order by the Israeli authorities on July 1. On that day, the IDF said that people in 71 residential blocs in eastern Khan Younis and Rafah must immediately evacuate westwards to what it defines as a humanitarian zone in Al Mawasi. OCHA said the area included medical points, primary health centers and 14 field kitchens, as well as a sewage treatment center. It said the internally displaced moved toward western Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, which are already overcrowded and lack basic services, critical infrastructure, shelter materials and spaces to accommodate the new influx of IDPs. Palestinians flee the eastern part of Gaza City after they were ordered by the Israeli army to evacuate their neighborhoods on July 7, 2024. - Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters No patients, no equipment, no longer functional OCHA and other agencies say the evacuation orders have had a major impact on the few operational hospitals in Gaza. On July 2, the Israeli authorities clarified that the European Hospital in Khan Younis was not included in the evacuation order. It was too late. Most medical staff and patients had left. A UN staffer Jonathan Whittall reported from the hospital: There are no patients, theres no equipment, and its no longer functional. The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said on X it was devastating to see the 650-bed-capacity hospital out of service at a time when access to health care is urgently needed. The International Red Cross team at the hospital which has carried out more than 3,000 surgeries there since the conflict began also left. Many of those who left the European hospital crowded into the nearby Nasser Medical Complex, which reached full capacity. The WHO and other agencies were able to move much of the equipment from the European Hospital to Nasser, including ventilators and anaesthesia machines. But medical staff were left wondering if and when they would have to move yet again. Now, one of the main hospitals in Gaza City the Al Ahli Baptist has also closed its doors. The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, which runs Al Ahli, said that after several drone strikes in the immediate area on Sunday, the hospital was included in the red zone for evacuation. As a result, the church said on Facebook on Monday, all vulnerable people sheltering in the grounds, the staff and all patients had to leave the safety of the grounds Our hospital is now out of operation at a time when its services are in very significant demand. Archbishop Hosam Naoum said the diocese protested the closure in the strongest possible terms and appealed to Israeli authorities to allow it to reopen. CNN has reached out to the IDF for an update on the hospitals status. OCHA said that At present, only 15 of Gazas 36 hospitals remain functional, albeit partially, and most are only partially accessible to patients. After the latest evacuation order, CNN filmed in the main route out of Gaza City al-Rasheed street toward what the IDF has described as safe areas. It was virtually empty. A CNN stringer in Gaza City, himself now displaced, said that many people had taken backstreets for fear of being targeted on the main road. Saleh was one young man who was trying to go in the opposite direction, into Gaza City, describing himself as fed up with this war, fed up with everything. But he and a few others with him encountered Israeli tanks and infantry. We ran away from them, but there was a sniper who started shooting at us. The soldiers dismounted from the tank, and we kept running while the tanks pursued us. Saleh received a gunshot wound to the stomach but escaped to the coast where he said he took cover until the tanks left the area. What are we going to eat today? Besides the obvious dangers in moving from one part of Gaza to another, the constant displacements make it harder for aid agencies to target the provision of food. The World Food Programme said Monday that almost half a million people in Gaza face catastrophic levels of hunger. Due to unreliable access and limited stocks, families often dont receive the full rations and frequency they need. OCHA said that the evacuation orders complicate the logistical challenge of distributing aid. It said that between July 1 and 4, only one of 13 planned humanitarian assistance missions coordinated with the Israeli authorities to northern Gaza was facilitated, with the others impeded or cancelled. The situation in the south was better, with 43 out of 55 missions facilitated by the Israeli authorities. The Norwegian Refugee Council says that as people fled Khan Younis last week many spent the first night sleeping in the open, next to their belongings. Others walked very long distances, carrying their children and anything they could bring with them, said Maysa Saleh, an NRC Education Officer in Deir al-Balah. Everything is tightening around them the first question every morning is the same: what are we going to eat today? Tents have also virtually run out, Saleh said. The other day, I saw a tent made out of empty fabric rice sacks sewn together. There are so many children scattered around the streets, you walk around and see children living there because thats their home now. The NRC echoes OCHAs estimate that some 250,000 people have fled Khan Younis mainly to overcrowded western areas and Deir al-Balah. It said evacuation orders lack assurances of safety, adequate accommodation, or return once hostilities end for those forced to relocate. UNRWAs senior communications officer Louise Wateridge described her journey through Khan Younis on Monday in a post on X. Makeshift shelters as far as you can see, families collecting water, children searching through trash for things to eat, sell or burn to cook on, she wrote. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com German Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes a statement at BER Airport before departing for the NATO summit in Washington. Britta Pedersen/dpa A speech given by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is to be displayed in a museum. Scholz handed the speech, in which he spoke of a "Zeitenwende" (Turning Point) in German defence policy, over to the Haus der Geschichte historical museum, the foundation announced in Bonn on Tuesday. The pages of text - in a dark cover with a golden German federal eagle - will not be on display in the planned new permanent exhibition until the end of 2025, according to a foundation spokeswoman. On February 27, 2022, Scholz gave his famous speech in parliament, in which he emphasized that "February 24, 2022, marks a turning point in the history of our continent." Russian President Vladimir Putin had "cold-bloodedly launched a war of aggression" on that day, the chancellor told lawmakers. The Society for the German Language had named "Zeitenwende" as the word of the year in 2022. In response to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Scholz also announced that Germany's defence spending should be massively increased. He said at the time that significantly more would have to be invested in security, which would mean a "major national effort." TBILISI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The process of Georgia's accession to the European Union (EU) has been suspended, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia Pawel Herczynski said on Tuesday. The decision was made by EU leaders during the last European Council meeting on June 27, Herczynski noted, adding that the EU has also frozen its 30-million-euro (32.46-million-U.S.-dollar) support for Georgia from the European Peace Facility for 2024. "The European Council calls on Georgia's authorities to clarify their intentions by reversing the current course of action which jeopardizes Georgia's EU path, de facto leading to a halt of the accession process," a document adopted at the last European Council meeting read. The decision was made following Georgia's recent development around the law on "Transparency on Foreign Influence," which Herczynski on Tuesday called "a step backwards." Under the legislation, media and non-governmental organizations that receive over 20 percent of their funding from abroad will have to register as "organizations acting in the interest of a foreign power." The Georgian parliament passed the law in the third reading on May 14, but was then vetoed by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili. On May 28, the Georgian parliament overrode the veto and adopted the law. Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in December 2023. German defence minister urges Finance Ministry to allocate another 4 billion for weapons for Ukraine Spiegel has learned that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has asked Finance Minister Christian Lindner to allocate an additional 4 billion for military support to Ukraine this year. Source: European Pravda with reference to Spiegel Details: The publication notes that about 7 billion allocated in the current federal budget to support Kyiv has already been largely used or is contractually tied up. Only just under 200,000 euros remain for new deliveries in the second half of 2024. Therefore, Pistorius asked Finance Minister Christian Lindner to allocate additional funds. Pistorius unofficially informed Lindner that the budget for arms aid to Ukraine should be increased by another 4 billion in the second half of 2024. The newspaper wrote that Pistorius wants to use the money to provide Ukraine with more ammunition, urgently needed spare parts and possibly more Leopard 1A tanks this year. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lindner urged the Federal Government to be frugal. Excessive spending, such as an additional 4 billion for Ukraine, is likely to be unpalatable to it. However, the Ministry of Defence believes that the supply of ammunition and spare parts is necessary to ensure that Ukraine can continue to defend itself against Russia. During his visit to the troops in Alaska, Pistorius did not want to go into details of internal negotiations with Lindner but only indirectly confirmed conversations with him about new support funds. "We are now working on mobilising additional funds so that we can continue our activities this year," the minister said. Without additional money, the supplies from Germany that have been started so far are likely to stop in late autumn at the latest, the newspaper writes. Background: Only a few days ago, the German government announced that the third Patriot air defence system from the German armed forces had arrived in Ukraine. A few weeks ago, the minister also announced that Berlin would provide Ukraine with additional artillery ammunition and 100 Patriot air defence interceptor missiles. Support UP or become our patron! Nancy Faeser, German Minister of the Interior, presents the "Federal Situation Report on Sexual Offenses against Children and Adolescents 2023" at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Boris Roessler/dpa Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has strongly condemned the Russian airstrike on Kiev in which a paediatric hospital was damaged. "The missile attack on a paediatric clinic is a terrible war crime that shows once again the inconceivable inhumanity with which Putin is waging his war against Ukraine," she said in a statement, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "When we see this cruelty of war it becomes clear how important it is that 1.18 million people from Ukraine have now found protection from Putin's missiles and tanks in Germany," she said. "This has saved many lives." Faeser said that Germany would continue to protect the more than 350,000 children and young people who have taken refuge in the country. She added that a total of 1,116 seriously wounded, injured and sick Ukrainians have now been evacuated to Germany during the war. "Many victims have lost limbs, they have gunshot wounds and blast injuries. They are receiving the best possible medical treatment in Germany," the minister said. "Further evacuations are imminent. Our hospitals, aid organizations and authorities - coordinated by our Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance - are doing a great job here," she added. BERLIN Germany will announce a new effort to facilitate joint procurement of its drones on behalf of Ukraine, along with other measures to aid Kyiv in its defense against Russias invasion, the German Defense Minister said. Speaking in Alaska at the onset of NATOs large-scale Arctic Defender drills, Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would propose a joint procurement scheme at the alliances summit this week in Washington, D.C. The summit, marking the alliances 75-year anniversary, is expected be dominated by talk about countering the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. The German defense minister said he expected the summit to result in the formal announcement of a command in the German city of Wiesbaden to coordinate the provision of military material and training to the Ukrainian armed forces. Germany will be represented at a high level in the leadership, he said Monday. The new command, the name of which is still being debated, will have a staff of 700 people, the U.S. State Department has announced . NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that these efforts do not make NATO party to the conflict. Russian state media and government officials have repeatedly said they consider the war in Ukraine a conflict between their country and NATO as a whole and the U.S. specifically due to their crucial support of Kyiv. Pistorius also announced that Germany will buy tens of thousands of rounds of armaments this year through the Czech munitions initiative. He pledged to continue the military support of Ukraine more broadly, noting that the third German-donated patriot system had recently arrived in the eastern European country and was already operationally deployed. In Washington, Germany will present a plan for NATO to buy drones from German industry on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces, Pistorius said. This proposal would serve as a foundation for our partners for the joint procurement of drones of all kinds, he said while speaking to the press in Fairbanks. According to the German government , the country has already provided 537 surveillance drones to Ukraine, mostly VECTOR and RQ-35 HEIDRUN models. The proposed initiative would encourage NATO to jointly procure these and other German-made drones on Kyivs behalf. As of the end of April, Germany had provided a total of 10.2 billion ($11.03 billion) in military goods to Ukraine since the onset of the invasion, putting it second only to the U.S. on the list of Kyivs most dedicated supporters. In 2024 alone, the government in Berlin has already authorized the export of 4.88 billion in armaments to Ukraine, contributing to record military export volumes . BERLIN Germany will announce a new effort to facilitate joint procurement of its drones on behalf of Ukraine, along with other measures to aid Kyiv in its defense against Russias invasion, the German Defense Minister said. Speaking in Alaska at the onset of NATOs large-scale Arctic Defender drills, Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would propose a joint procurement scheme at the alliances summit this week in Washington, D.C. The summit, marking the alliances 75-year anniversary, is expected be dominated by talk about countering the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. The German defense minister said he expected the summit to result in the formal announcement of a command in the German city of Wiesbaden to coordinate the provision of military material and training to the Ukrainian armed forces. Germany will be represented at a high level in the leadership, he said Monday. The new command, the name of which is still being debated, will have a staff of 700 people, the U.S. State Department has announced. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that these efforts do not make NATO party to the conflict. Russian state media and government officials have repeatedly said they consider the war in Ukraine a conflict between their country and NATO as a whole and the U.S. specifically due to their crucial support of Kyiv. Pistorius also announced that Germany will buy tens of thousands of rounds of armaments this year through the Czech munitions initiative. He pledged to continue the military support of Ukraine more broadly, noting that the third German-donated patriot system had recently arrived in the eastern European country and was already operationally deployed. In Washington, Germany will present a plan for NATO to buy drones from German industry on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces, Pistorius said. This proposal would serve as a foundation for our partners for the joint procurement of drones of all kinds, he said while speaking to the press in Fairbanks. According to the German government, the country has already provided 537 surveillance drones to Ukraine, mostly VECTOR and RQ-35 HEIDRUN models. The proposed initiative would encourage NATO to jointly procure these and other German-made drones on Kyivs behalf. As of the end of April, Germany had provided a total of 10.2 billion ($11.03 billion) in military goods to Ukraine since the onset of the invasion, putting it second only to the U.S. on the list of Kyivs most dedicated supporters. In 2024 alone, the government in Berlin has already authorized the export of 4.88 billion in armaments to Ukraine, contributing to record military export volumes. Demis Hassabis, software developer and co-founder of DeepMind Technologies: "If AI could (reach) this general kind of human-level AI we sometimes call artificial general intelligence, it would transform everything." Tobias Hase/dpa Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be one of the biggest inventions humanity will ever make, the British founder of Google DeepMind has said. Demis Hassabis said the creation of an artificial general intelligence AI with a general human-level intelligence would be unbelievably transformative as it could make intelligence itself an abundant tool. Speaking to former British prime minister Tony Blair at the Tony Blair Institutes Future of Britain conference in London, the Google DeepMind chief executive said that over the next decade AI would transform work and productivity through digital assistants, but the technology will also help accelerate scientific discovery with huge implications in drug discovery and disease understanding. On AI reaching human levels, Demis said: If we could replicate that and make intelligence an abundant tool, it would be unbelievably transformative thered be almost nothing that you couldnt use that for if you built that in a general way. So to me, its been obvious for many, many years that if AI could if it was possible and it seems that it is (reach) this general kind of human-level AI we sometimes call artificial general intelligence, it would transform everything. So it will be at least as big as the Industrial Revolution, possibly bigger, more like the advent of electricity or even fire. I think it has the potential to be one of the biggest inventions humanity will ever make. The two also discussed how AI could be used to improve public services and their harnessing of huge amounts of data, specifically health care services. Demis said AI systems could help clinical staff take better advantage of the vast amounts of data they have access to. He said AI could triage data consumption and allow the experts, whether theyre doctors or nurses, to focus on what they do best. Blair said: When you look at something like the [UK's] National Health Service, we should be able to take all the data that there is within the healthcare system and both use it in order to analyse whats happening in our healthcare system, so help policy, but secondly, to be able to create digital assistants where a doctor or a nurse is able to call on all the accumulated knowledge in our country and indeed elsewhere. Then thirdly, for the patient to have access to information, not just their own health information, but the potential for treatment. The former prime minister also urged governments including the UK's new Labour government to reserve a bit of space for thinking about this (AI) because it is a revolution and it will change everything. WASHINGTON Donald Trump left the White House with violent crime spiking, thousands of Americans dying each day from a disease he claimed was no worse than the common cold and having attempted a coup to remain in office despite having lost reelection. The former and would-be future president and the Republican National Committee on Monday released a schedule of convention themes that counts on Americans forgetting all that and instead waxing nostalgic for his years in office. President Trump will Make America Great Once Again! the RNCs synopsis of the convention theme proclaims. Each of the first three nights, though, promises a return to a Trump presidential past that did not really happen in the described way. Monday, July 15, called Make America Wealthy Once Again, will focus on the economy under Trump, which it falsely claims was the best ever, thanks in part to re-worked trade deals he managed. In fact, the economy during Trumps first three years before the COVID pandemic struck was similar to but slightly worse than during the final three years of his predecessor, Barack Obama. And Trump did not rework the North American Free Trade Agreement so much as simply rename it the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement. The few changes it did contain were mostly lifted from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Obama had negotiated but Trump then abandoned. The theme for July 16, Make America Safe Once Again, suggests that crime has been rampant under President Joe Biden. In reality, crime rates spiked to their highest levels in years under Trump in 2020 and have been decreasing each of the three years since Biden took office. And the final night before Trump is to be officially nominated labeled Make America Strong Once Again features Bidens chaotic August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan but fails to point out that it was Trump, not Biden, who cut a deal directly with the Taliban that excluded the Afghan government, even setting a deadline for the withdrawal. Trumps administration then did no planning for the pullout, leaving the new Biden administration just months to unwind two decades of military presence in that country. Former President Donald Trump speaks on June 28 at Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake, Virginia. The Republican Party is hoping voters won't remember much about his previous term in the White House. Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via Getty Images The Biden campaign said it was aware of its voter amnesia problem and has already begun an advertising and social media effort to remind Americans what Trumps four years in office, particularly his final one, were truly like. Crime surged and weddings and proms were canceled while Trump told Americans to inject bleach and threatened to terminate the Affordable Care Act during the pandemic he mismanaged, said Biden campaign senior spokesperson Sarafina Chitika. The only thing Donald Trump did to make Americans lives better four years ago was lose to Joe Biden and as voters tune in to the stakes of this election, they are ready to reject Trump, his failed record, and his dangerous Project 2025 agenda this November. Polling, though, suggests Biden and his team face a difficult challenge, with many American voters quite receptive to Trumps message. His campaigns response to HuffPost queries for this article, in fact, consisted of a link to a poll showing Trump winning in each of the key swing states. Seems like its working pretty well, veteran GOP consultant David Kochel said of Trumps approach. Grocery and gas prices were lower, mortgage rates were at an all-time low, Putin hadnt invaded Ukraine and there wasnt a war in the Middle East. That might have something to do with it. Voters have short memories and they have a recency bias, meaning that what is most recent is most impactful, said Neil Newhouse a longtime Republican pollster. Bidens record of failure, to many voters, pales in comparison to how they remember the Trump presidency. Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman from Illinois who unsuccessfully ran against Trump in the 2020 primaries, said some of the blame for voters erroneous beliefs about Trumps presidency can be directed at Biden for failing to make his case forcefully enough. Sadly, thats not how people remember those four years. And even more sadly, Biden is incapable of reminding people what those four years were really like, Walsh said. Related... Three Republican-led states on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to block a Biden administration effort to lower monthly payments for millions of student loan borrowers. At issue is a program created last year that lowers enrolled borrowers monthly payments and provides a faster route to debt forgiveness. The program was launched by the Biden administration following the Supreme Courts decision last year to strike down a broader student loan forgiveness program. The emergency appeal from South Carolina, Alaska and Texas comes days after a federal appeals court in Denver allowed the program to be implemented. It once again places the issue of student loan relief a key promise made by then-candidate Joe Biden in 2020 before the conservative Supreme Court. Due to the administrations intransigence, the court must unfortunately step in again, the states argued in their filing, which also asks the Supreme Court to review the legality of the program. The high court is expected to set a briefing schedule and could decide whether to block the program, known as Saving on a Valuable Education, within a few weeks. Nearly 8 million people are enrolled in SAVE, and roughly 3 million of them were expecting to see lower payments as of July 1 when the plan was fully phased in. After lower courts initially blocked the plan, the Department of Education said those 3 million borrowers would be put in a forbearance during which payments would not be required and interest would not accrue while the matter was litigated. But after the appeals court sided with the Biden administration Sunday, the Department of Education can move ahead and make those reductions. The Department of Education said last week that borrowers who were not already placed in a forbearance due to the litigation would see their payments cut by as much as half in July. Those put in a forbearance would see the reduction of their payment starting in August. The SAVE plan calculates monthly student loan payments based on a borrowers income and family size regardless of how much debt they owe. About 4 million borrowers enrolled in SAVE have a $0 monthly payment. The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the emergency appeal filed Tuesday. Two groups of Republican-led states filed lawsuits challenging the program earlier this year. In the case now before the Supreme Court, a district court temporarily blocked the plans implementation, but the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals paused that decision late last month. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com TOPEKA (KSNT) On Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly announced that a new face has joined her staff as communications director. Ana Nixon will be the new communications director for the Governors office. Nixon has experience working for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the City of Grandview, MO, and as a communications specialist at Fike Corporation. I am confident that Anas skills and leadership experience will make her an invaluable part of my team, Kelly said. I welcome her expertise and look forward to working with her in this role. Missouri governor considers plan to keep Chiefs, Royals in the state Nixon holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora in Brazil and a Master of Arts in Communications from the University of Kansas, according to the Office of the Governor. Im honored to be part of Governor Kellys team and lead communications efforts for her office, Nixon said. Im eager to help Kansans have greater insight of matters of their government. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed several bills into law on Tuesday, including legislation to criminalize celebratory gunfire and fleeing from police. The bills are more commonly known as Blairs Law and Valentines Law, two parts of a larger crime bill Parson has signed into law. The first was named after Blair Lane, a girl fatally struck by celebratory gunfire during the Fourth of July in 2011. The second was named after Antonio Valentine, a former St. Louis County detective killed in the line of duty after a suspect fled from an attempted traffic stop in December 2021. Affton Fire Captain James Cova found dead at station Blairs Law will criminalize anyone who unlawfully discharges a firearm with criminal negligence. According to the legislation, a person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if he or she recklessly discharges a firearm within or into the limits of a municipality. Violations would result in a misdemeanor after one offense and felony charges after any additional offenses. St. Louis police have warned against celebratory gunfire often around the New Years Day holiday. Blairs Law also comes after a violent holiday weekend in St. Louis, which led to seven people shot in downtown early Friday around an incident that also involved fireworks. .@GovParsonMO has officially signed off on a large crime bill which includes Blair's Law," criminalizing those who unlawfully discharge a firearm with criminal negligence. Its named after 11 y/o Blair Lane who was struck & killed on July 4, 2011 in KC. #moleg pic.twitter.com/r170ayUxJQ Emily Manley (@EmilyManleyTV) July 9, 2024 Valentines Law will criminalize anyone fleeing from police in connection with another crime. According to the legislation, it creates the offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle if the person knows that a law enforcement officer is attempting to detain the vehicle and the person flees at a high speed which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death or actually causes physical injury or death to another person. A violation could range from a Class A to Class D felony depending on if the situation led to a serious injury or death. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News The new law also states that a person is presumed to be fleeing a vehicle stop if he or she has seen or heard or reasonably should have seen or heard emergency lights or sounds and specifies it is not a defense for any officer acting unlawfully in making an arrest. Supporters believe the bill could help prevent incidents like the one that led to Valentines death. Valentine was working with other drug unit detectives conducting an investigation in the Bellefontaine Neighbors area when detectives tried to stop a Volkswagen Jetta. Instead authorities said that the driver of the Jetta sped away and crashed into an unmarked police minivan that Valentine was driving. Both Valentine and the driver of the Jetta, 33-year-old Alfred Mayes, were killed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomes drivers to 'Free State of Florida' on new state line signs The Florida Department of Transportation debuted new state line signs that say "Welcome to the Free State of Florida" in early July 2024. Drivers coming into Florida will now be welcomed to the "Free State of Florida." As of last week, the new state line signs say "Welcome to the Free State of Florida," Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said. "No better way to celebrate Independence Day Weekend," he wrote in an X post on Saturday. No better way to celebrate Independence Day Weekend than new state line signs welcoming Floridians and visitors to the Free State of Florida! pic.twitter.com/qgo2JyOVyv Jared W. Perdue, P.E. (@FDOT_Secretary) July 6, 2024 And drivers exiting Florida will see "Hurry Back to the Free State of Florida" as they leave. A press release on Tuesday said the change included "all welcome signs ... on major state roadways" to "highlight Florida's status as a top tourist destination," adding that the "hurry back" message "pays homage to the historic mid-century welcome centers." An archival photo of one of Florida's old state-line welcome centers. DeSantis referred to the "free state of Florida" in his second inaugural address in January 2023, after he shellacked Democratic challenger Charlie Crist by 19 points, and it became a favorite expression of his administration. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez shared a photo of herself next to one of the state signs on a post on X. "This," she wrote, with a bullseye emoji. A state transportation department spokesman said the signs cost $60,000 and were built by the department's sign makers in Lake City. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis welcomes drivers to 'Free State of Florida' on new road signs China's tropical island province of Hainan has become a magnet for global talents in recent years thanks to its pleasant environment, favorable policies, and rapid development. Among them is 50-year-old Italian chef Gabriele, who's found the perfect place to pursue his culinary passion Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomes drivers to 'Free State of Florida' on new state line signs The Florida Department of Transportation debuted new state line signs that say "Welcome to the Free State of Florida" in early July 2024. Drivers coming into Florida will now be welcomed to the "Free State of Florida." As of last week, the new state line signs say "Welcome to the Free State of Florida," Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said. "No better way to celebrate Independence Day Weekend," he wrote in an X post on Saturday. No better way to celebrate Independence Day Weekend than new state line signs welcoming Floridians and visitors to the Free State of Florida! pic.twitter.com/qgo2JyOVyv Jared W. Perdue, P.E. (@FDOT_Secretary) July 6, 2024 And drivers exiting Florida will see "Hurry Back to the Free State of Florida" as they leave. DeSantis referred to the "free state of Florida" in his second inaugural address in January 2023, after he shellacked Democratic challenger Charlie Crist by 19 points, and it became a favorite expression of his administration. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez shared a photo of herself next to one of the state signs on a post on X. "This," she wrote, with a bullseye emoji. A request is pending with the state transportation department for how many signs have been replaced and at what cost. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis welcomes drivers to 'Free State of Florida' on new road signs OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Tuesday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Alyssas Law into effect as a part of HB 4073 in addressing school safety. Alyssas Law, named for one of the seventeen victims of the 2018 Parkland, Florida shooting, garnered bipartisan support from both the Oklahoma House and Senate to mandate the implementation of emergency alert systems in public schools across the state. The legislation signed by Governor Stitt is part of a growing national movement to secure schools, with Oklahoma becoming the seventh state to pass a version of Alyssas Law ensuring school safety measures statewide. Alyssas Law, implements a mobile panic alert system in all school districts starting this fall. Headlines Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) Cell phone use in schools has been debated for years. Now, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is getting involved at the state level. On Tuesday, July 9, Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order (EO) 33, to establish a cell phone-free education in Virginias K-12 public schools. The order directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to initiate a robust public engagement effort with parents, students, teachers, local school leaders and other stakeholders to develop collaboratively policies and procedures that establish the age-appropriate restriction or elimination of cell phone use during instructional time, as well as to establish protocols allowing parents to contact their children in emergency and other important situations. The Governor called this a mental health and safety initiative and announced $500,000 would be going to the VDOE and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBDHS) to help implement the plan. Todays Executive Order both establishes the clear goal to protect the health and safety of our students by limiting the amount of time they are exposed to addictive cell phones and social media and eliminates clear distractions in the classroom. It also kicks off the robust conversations among parents, students, teachers, and school and community leaders necessary to design and implement these policies and procedures at the local level, Gov. Youngkin said. According to the EO, children spend nearly five hours a day on social media, on average. It cites recent studies that found spending more than three hours a day on social media platforms doubles the risk of poor mental health in children. U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2019-2021 found the suicide rate increased 167% since 2010 for girls and 91% since 2010 for boys. It also mentioned other studies that said students who use their phones during class often get lower grades. Read Executive Order 33 Meanwhile, at the federal level, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) alongside Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), introduced the bipartisan Focus on Learning Act last year. It would require the U.S. Department of Education complete a study on the effects of cellphone use in K-12 classrooms. Sen. Kaine issued this statement after Gov. Youngkin announced his Executive Order on Tuesday. Im committed to doing all that I can to help students overcome learning loss. Thats why I introduced a bipartisan bill to look into how cellphone use in schools is impacting students learning and mental health. Im glad to see more action on the state level in Virginia, too. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) The data is clear, and it is time for Virginians to come together to address the damage of social media and screens to healthy childhoods. Government cannot be the sole solution to this crisis; school communities especially parents and teachers must work together to discuss and develop common sense approaches to limit screen time, prioritize open channels of communication, and re-establish norms that reinforce healthy and vibrant learning communities, said Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera. WAVY recently spoke with Myles McNutt, Associate Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts at Old Dominion University, for reaction to the U.S. Surgeon General saying he would push for warning labels on social media platforms. Does social media need warning labels? When I talk about social media with my students and we engage with issues, one of the central challenges is our understanding as a society that these can be incredibly dangerous places for peoples mental health particularly for young people, McNutt told WAVY. His students, though, are older than the ones included in the Governors Order. The Executive Order directs VDOE to publish their draft guidance by August 15. VDOE is expected to issue its final guidance in September. Local school divisions will be expected to adopt the new cell phone-free education policies and procedures by January 1, 2025. Students in all school districts in the WAVY viewing area will be back in class by the Tuesday after Labor Day, so the implementation of these new policies will take place during the school year. Existing Cell Phone Policies Most, if not all, school divisions in Virginia already have cell phone policies, which were determined by the individual school districts. Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), for example, already strictly prohibits cell phone use during instruction. A spokesperson on Tuesday told WAVY that Youngkins order aligns with the current regulations, but this topic is on the agenda for the School Board retreat scheduled for Wednesday. This is the first statewide effort to eliminate or severely restrict cell phone use during instructional time. Heres a breakdown of existing policies for the following Hampton Roads school districts: Chesapeake Chesapeake Public Schools require phones to be both off and put away for all students. During the instructional day, any personal communications devices are expected to be turned off and put away. This means that these devices should not be kept on the person or in the clothing of students during the school day. This expectation applies to all instructional, administrative, medical, or health-related settings including, but not limited to: classrooms, hallways, libraries, auditoriums, gymnasiums, locker rooms, administrative offices, or clinics. Hampton Hampton City Schools divides the policy by grade levels. Elementary school students are not allowed to have a phone at all. The only exception is if it is deemed medically necessary by a treating physician or for a specific Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) activity. Middle schoolers are allowed to have their phones on the bus, but during the school day, they have to be off and in their locker. High schoolers can have their phones on them, but they have to be off during the school day. Students can only turn their phones on outside of the building, after hours, or if medically required. High school students may possess cellular telephones or other portable communication devices. Devices may not be visible and must not interfere with the instructional program or activity. Devices must remain turned off during the school day upon arrival to school and through dismissal or during school-related activities. The devices may only be used outside the school building or facility before regular school hours or school-related activities, unless authorized by a school staff member or it is deemed medically necessary by a treating physician. The devices may be used inside the school building or facility after regular school hours so long as the use does not interfere with any after-school academic tutoring, remediation, or testing. Middle school students may possess cellular devices coming to and returning home from school, but during the school day the devices must be turned off and stowed in the students assigned locker upon arrival to school and through dismissal, unless authorized by a school staff member or it is deemed medically necessary by a treating physician. Elementary school students are not permitted to bring cellular phones or other electronic devices to school with the exception of structured Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) instructional activities supervised by a classroom teacher or other school official or it is deemed medically necessary by a treating physician. Newport News Newport News also divides its guidelines by grade levels. Elementary school students can have them, but they must be off and out of sight while at school. Middle and High schoolers can have their phones on them but cannot use them during school hours. The policy does not specifically say middle and high schoolers have to have phones off during school hours. Elementary students with cell phones should keep them off, and out of sight, during regular school hours and during after-school activities. Middle and high school students are permitted to have and use cell phones or two-way communication devices after school dismissal on school board property. Under no circumstances may students use any device to photograph, video record, or audio record any student, employee, or member of the public on school grounds unless they have permission from both the person(s) being photographed or recorded and a school official. Norfolk Norfolk allows Middle and High Schoolers to have a phone and doesnt specify where it has to be, though it is required to be off while on campus. Elementary schoolers are not allowed to have a phone at all. Elementary School Elementary students are not permitted to possess cell phones, PCDs (iPads, Kindle Fire, Nook, etc.) or other EDs (MP3- players, iPods, laser lights, etc.) and are subject to disciplinary action for any violation of this prohibition. Note: Devices, which are incapable of a wireless connection, are strictly prohibited unless used for security purposes or reasons (i.e., Gizmo Gadget or similar type device). Middle and High School Middle and high school students may possess cell phones, PCDs, and/or EDs on school property subject to the following restrictions: (1) students must not display, use, activate or permit cell phones, PCDs or EDs to be activated during the instructional day; (2) students cell phones, PCDs, and/or EDs must be turned off and kept out of sight; cell phones, PCDs and/or EDs, may be stored in book bags, purses, lockers or on ones person. Cell phones, PCDs, and EDs may be activated, displayed, or used on a School Board owned school bus by students while they are being transported to and/or from school-sponsored events. Portsmouth Portsmouth allows elementary and middle school students to bring a phone to school but it has to be off and out of sight. Students can use it after dismissal. High school students in Portsmouth can use cell phones during the school day as long as it is for instructional purposes as defined and supervised by a classroom teacher or administrator or in the cafeteria during breakfast or lunch. If students break these rules, a parent or guardian has to be the one to retrieve the phone. Elementary/Middle Students: Student use of portable communication devices that are not a part of the instructional program is 20 prohibited. These devices include, but are not limited to: radios, headphones, ear buds (connected or disconnected), electronic gaming devices, devices designed for digital/audio taping, MP3 players, IPods, tablets and any device capable of receiving or transmitting messages, music, digital images, communications and any related paraphernalia. Students are allowed to bring cellular telephones onto school property. The device must remain off and out of sight at all times during the school day. Use is permitted after dismissal. Behaviors prohibited during the school day involving the cellular phone include, but are not limited to: making calls, displaying it to others, sending messages, text messaging, taking pictures, making any noises, playing games, video recording, logging onto and posting on social networking sites, Otherwise disrupting the learning environment for teachers, students, staff, administrators, or others on school property. High School Students: During the school day, high school students may use personal equipment or electronic devices for instructional purposes as defined and supervised by a classroom teacher or administrator. Students shall not display or activate personal equipment during class time unless specifically given permission by a teacher or school administrator. Personal equipment or a device includes, but is not limited to: a laptop computer, net book, tablet computer, cellar phone or Smartphone e-reader, or any personal computing device. Devices can be used only in the cafeteria during breakfast/lunch, and before/after school. Using the device to misrepresent an individual, harass or bully, or promote illicit activity will be unacceptable. Improper use shall result in confiscation of the item. Any student found in violation will have them confiscated and returned to a parent. All cell phones, electronic devices and other confiscated items must be picked up by a parent/guardian. When the parent/guardian picks up the confiscated item they will be required to sign the General Confiscation Form acknowledging that if the same or similar item is confiscated a second time it will be kept until a parent conference is held with an administrator, the third offense will result in the item being held until the student serves a minimum of one day of in-school suspension and a parent conference is held. The school must be contacted to schedule a pick up time. Suffolk The Suffolk Public Schools district-wide handbook does not specifically cite a universal cell phone usage policy, but 10 On Your Side found that some individual schools did issue a policy within their school handbooks. Virginia Beach In Virginia Beach phones are strictly prohibited for all students. Students are prohibited from using personal communication devices during instructional time or in instructional settings. Leaving the classroom during instructional time to use personal communication devices in another setting may constitute a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Personal communication devices should not be used in bathrooms. Learn more about ways to engage and provide input 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 WAVY.com. Gov. Bill Lee,npictured here with Republican legislative leaders.(Photo: John Partipilo) Gov. Bill Lee is defending the spending by his administrations top economic recruiters on a trip to Australia in which a commissioner turned in an invoice for transportation despite taking a travel per diem. Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and Deputy Commissioner Allen Borden spent more than $32,450 on a four-day trip to Sidney and Brisbane in early March, flying first class and staying in five-star hotels with views of some of the countrys most popular sites, The Tennessean reported. Stuart McWhorter, new commissioner of Tennessee Economic and Community Development. (Photo: Tn.gov) Lee did not answer questions directly about McWhorters expenses but pointed out Monday the state has recruited businesses that have invested $35 billion in Tennessee and created 200,000 jobs. You do it by going on recruiting trips, Lee said after speaking to the Nashville Rotary Club Monday. In addition, McWhorter, a venture capitalist whose father was a major shareholder in the Hospital Corporation of America, also turned in a $64 Uber bill to Nashville International Airport even though he turned in mileage for local airport transportation, according to The Tennessean report. The newspaper was unable to obtain details about the trip such as which companies or industries are under recruitment. State law allows the Economic and Community Development Department to keep information closed to the public until the state signs a contract with a company. Lee and other state officials took a similar trip in November 2023 to France and Italy that wound up costing $117,000, The Tennessean reported. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly) A Grand Forks lawmaker pleaded guilty to reckless driving last week after being cited for DUI in May, according to court filings. In an agreement with prosecutors, Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor, court records show. She agreed to pay a $901 fine and submit a chemical dependency evaluation to the court within 60 days. Cory received a suspended sentence of 12 days in jail, which she wont have to serve if she completes the requirements of the agreement and does not have another criminal conviction for a year. On May 7, Cory was driving near the intersection of Gateway Drive and Columbia Road in Grand Forks when a local police officer pulled her over, according to an arrest citation. A breath test showed Corys blood alcohol content was 0.168%, twice the legal limit for driving, the citation says. As part of the agreement with prosecutors, Cory signed a statement admitting to driving recklessly with disregard for the right or safety of others in a manner that would likely endanger a person. When contacted for comment Tuesday, Cory said in a text message she was unavailable due to meetings throughout the day. Messages left for her defense attorneys were not returned Tuesday. Cory won the Republican primary in June for the District 42 state Senate seat with 56% of the vote, defeating challenger Dustin McNally. The Senate seat was vacated by Sen. Curt Kreun, R-Grand Forks, who was one of 13 lawmakers who decided not to run for reelection. Cory will face Democratic-NPL Senate candidate Rodney John Gigstad in the November general election. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Grandview Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Police said the incident happened in the area of E. 140th Street and Dunoon Street, just east of Interstate 49. Kansas City Fire Department saves man stuck in sewer pipe The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Kevin McMillian, a Kansas City resident. Police did not say how McMillian was killed. Police said they are not releasing the exact date and time the incident happened at this time. Grandview police are asking for information from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area over the weekend. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) Thousands of pounds of food will be distributed throughout Colorado now after a recent grant to Food Bank of the Rockies. The food bank announced Monday that it was given a $77,000 grant from the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation to buy a 53-foot trailer. The Food Bank of the Rockies vehicle will provide food from Grand Junctions Western Slope Etkin Family Distribute Center to multiple hunger relief partners and mobile pantries in 13 counties in the state. The trailer is needed as Western Slope communities continue to need help with food insecurity, according to the food bank. The organization noted from last December to February there was a 190% increase in mobile pantry attendance compared to the same period the year before. The number nearly tripled in folks seeking food assistance. This new trailer allows us to increase our capacity and provide more fresh produce to our neighbors across the Western Slope, Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope Director Sue Ellen Rodwick said in a press release. Were grateful for the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation for supporting our mission, especially at a time when more individuals and families are turning to us and our network of hunger relief partners for help. The foundation has provided funding for the food bank since 2020. It has helped to buy and distribute more than a million pounds of fresh produce in the Aspen-Parachute Corridor and Denver County, according to the food bank. Food Bank of the Rockies, which dates back to 1978, is the biggest hunger relief organization in the Rocky Mountain region. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. Greeley police: Suspect in ICU after fleeing in stolen vehicle, causing serious crash DENVER (KDVR) A man is in the hospital after allegedly causing a crash while fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle. On Sunday, a Greeley resident reported that their red 1998 Dodge 1500 pickup truck was stolen in the area of 24th Avenue and 29th Street. Mother of 14-year-old killed in Aurora shooting speaks out While the suspect was stealing the vehicle, the vehicle owner attempted to stop the theft. The victim attempted to stop the suspect and was subsequently drug by the suspect with the victims own vehicle, the Greeley Police Department said in a release on Monday. The victim sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries and was treated by medics. Officers were on the lookout for the stolen truck. Later that day at about 9:50 p.m., the Greeley Police Department said one of its officers saw the truck being driven near 8th Avenue and 22nd Street. The police department said the officer immediately recognized the lone occupant and driver as Jose Sambrano, 23. The officer tried to pull the stolen vehicle over, but Sambrano immediately began fleeing from the officer, according to police. It was only a few seconds of fleeing before Sambrano failed to stop at a red light at 8th Avenue and 20th Street, and police said that is when he crashed at a high rate of speed with an uninvolved Cadillac SUV that was traveling on 20th Street. Report: Colorado auto thefts decreased by 21% in 2023 The 8th Avenue roadway was closed in the blocks surrounding the scene while an investigation and cleanup took place until about 2 a.m. Upon further investigation, officers found that just before the officer tried to pull him over, Sambrano had allegedly committed a burglary that hadnt been reported to police yet. That burglary happened in the 2200 block of 8th Avenue. The homeowner, who did not know Sambrano, was there when it happened but they were not harmed. Multiple ambulances responded to the scene of the crash. Two people in the SUV sustained moderate injuries, according to police, and one other occupant had minor injuries. While officers were helping victims in the SUV, additional officers took Sambrano into custody and rendered medical aid to him. He sustained serious injuries and is in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. Once he is released from the hospital, the Greeley Police Department said he will be arrested and booked into the Weld County jail on the following charges: First-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft Vehicular assault Reckless endangerment Driving under restraint as a habitual traffic offender Reckless driving Second-degree burglary Theft Criminal possession of an identification document The Greeley Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating. Police said more information will be made public when appropriate. Anyone who witnessed the crash and has not spoken with officers is asked to contact Officer Wegscheider at 970-350-9605. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In this aerial drone photo, rescuers work on an embankment to stem the piping effect in Huarong County, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. An embankment seen as the second line of defense following a dike breach in central China's Hunan Province was under threat on Monday, local authorities said. More than 300 police officers and firefighters are working at the site to stem the piping effect that is eroding the embankment in Huarong County, said the province's water resources department. The 14.3-km embankment is located around 2 kilometers behind the dike that burst on Friday at Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, following a heavy rainstorm. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) Group organizing convention to alter Constitution almost got SC funding. Legislators to try again. Sen. Rex Rice, R-Easley, is seen during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in Columbia, S.C. on March 15, 2022. He is the sponsor of a $50,000 budget earmark vetoed by Gov. Henry McMaster. (File/Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA South Carolina almost became the third state to send taxpayer dollars to a group seeking to amend the U.S. Constitution through a national convention. The option has never happened, but the ideas gained traction over the last decade, mostly in GOP-led states. The $50,000 earmark was among the spending items struck by Gov. Henry McMaster. The Republican governor vetoed $2.3 million total from the Legislatures $14.5 billion spending package. Its a sum so small, House and Senate leaders have no plans to call their chambers back to the Statehouse for a special session to vote on overriding him. That means the Phoenix Correspondence Commission, a quasi-government entity based outside of Sacramento, California, wont get $50,000 from South Carolina this year. But Rep. Bill Taylor, whos been calling for a state-led convention for over a decade, says hell try again in next years budget. Rep. Bill Taylor during a House Ways and Means Full Committee meeting in Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (File/Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) In his veto message, McMaster said he supports the groups mission of organizing a convention of states to rein in federal spending. But he faulted how the state budget funded it. If the $50,000 pays for the participation of South Carolinas three legislative delegates, then it should come from House and Senate budgets for travel and membership dues, not funneled through the state Department of Archives and History, the governor wrote. Taylor, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, said hell follow the advice. Next year, he told the SC Daily Gazette, hell try to get money for the Phoenix Commission in the budget category suggested by the governor in support of South Carolinas efforts to rein in the out-of-control federal government. The money would have matched contributions to the commission made by two other states: Utah and Arizona. Legislators from roughly three dozen states participate in the commission. South Carolina was on track to be just the third to contribute to its work. Several other states are considering providing financial support, according to its executive director, Bruce Lee. The nations Founding Fathers provided two ways to amend the U.S. Constitution through Congress or by the states. The former has happened 27 times. The latter has never happened since the 1787 convention in Philadelphia that produced the Constitution. But its Article V allows for a convention if two-thirds of states, or 34, pass a resolution seeking one. If that happens, any amendment proposed during it would then still need to be approved by 38 states. The Phoenix Correspondence Commission monitors the status of Article V resolutions nationwide and should they get to 34 intends to petition Congress to call for one and help organize it. It was born out of a gathering of legislators from 22 states held in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2017. The commission was up and running two years later to coordinate convention efforts, Lee said. In 2022, McMaster signed a law that made South Carolina the 19th state calling for a state-led constitutional convention with the stated purpose of forcing Congress to rein in spending, limit the federal governments power and cap how long federal politicians can remain in office. No other state has passed one like it since. Taylor acknowledged that convening a convention of states will be difficult and may never happen. Its a big lift, but long-term, its important, said the Aiken Republican, whos been the chief sponsor of Article V resolutions since 2013. The ballooning federal debt has been a uniting issue, said state Sen. Rex Rice, who sponsored the $50,000 allocation to the commission. Were talking about the fact that the federal government is spending money that they dont have. What were doing for our children and our grandchildren is of great concern to me, and should be the most South Carolinians, said the Easley Republican. Theres definitely a benefit to all taxpayers because right now, the federal government is out of control on its spending, and the (commission) is going to help us bring that back in hopefully. For years in South Carolina, opponents across the political spectrum warned of a runaway convention that could drastically alter America. They warned legislators theres no way to limit discussion on proposed changes. Such fears are what prompted the Legislature in 2004 to repeal a law passed 28 years earlier calling for a convention. In signing the legislation, McMaster said there are enough safeguards in the Constitution itself to prevent that. Lee said thats where the commission comes in. He said it would be the groups job to try to ensure states stay within the parameters of why a convention is called. He also recommends states pass statutes requiring any delegates sent to a convention to stick to specific issues. The commission has been operating on $100,000 total from Utah and Arizona, what Lee called seed money. Weve got a very tight budget, Rice told the SC Daily Gazette. We are working on a shoestring. According to its website, South Carolina is the only state with three delegates: Rice, Taylor, and state Rep. Jason Elliott, R-Greenville, who faces no opposition in November for a state Senate seat. The three were approved by House Speaker Murrell Smith and Senate President Thomas Alexander. Rice and Taylor compared the $50,000 request to other legislative membership dues paid by the state budget. This year, taxpayers paid the Legislatures dues for membership in three nonpartisan groups. The total, almost $516,500, covers the entire General Assembly, according to data from the Senate clerks office. Broken down, $230,740 paid for dues to the National Council of State Legislatures; $215,599 went to the Council of State Governments for membership in the Southern Legislative Conference; and $70,115 went to the Uniform Laws Commission, which is primarily for legislative staff. Lee said the Phoenix group has no membership dues and states are not required to contribute financially to participate. Its not pay to play, he said. But if more states contributed to the commission, Lee said, the group could afford to hold educational conferences and publish more materials, such as the handbook for state legislators that the commission is working to put together. Lee said the funding from states would also pay for the costs of administrating a convention of states if one is called. The benefit of being involved in the commission, Lee said, is first-hand information on what other states are considering resolutions and being part of the decision making process. At least 1,300 people died because of scorching heat during the Hajj pilgrimage in June 2024. Its not the first time that such a tragic incident hit the pilgrimage. More than a thousand were killed in a heat wave in 1985, and deaths due to stampedes and other crowd-related disasters have been reported in previous years. But despite the risks, millions of Muslims perform the pilgrimage; this year alone, some 1.8 million participated in it. I, too, performed Hajj this year by traveling from the United States to Saudi Arabia. This not only allowed me to fulfill my religious duty as a Muslim, but it also gave me the opportunity to observe the diversity of Muslim societies as a social scientist studying Islam and politics. While the tragic deaths came to be the focus of much of the media coverage, there were many other dimensions of Hajj 2024. Hajj is a personal spiritual journey that also involves meeting Muslims from diverse backgrounds. But, of late, the Saudi governments management of this gathering has been criticized, particularly regarding its destruction of Meccas historical landscape. Religious significance Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam together with declaration of faith, daily prayers, fasting and almsgiving. Muslims who have the financial and physical ability to undertake the pilgrimage are obligated to perform it at least once in their lives. During most of the Hajj rituals, men wear two pieces of unstitched white clothing, representing humility and equality, while women can wear any articles of modest dress. Together, men and women walk seven times around the Kaaba the cube-shaped structure believed to be the house of God in Mecca. Muslims all over the world turn toward the Kaaba when they pray five times a day. Hajj has many spiritual dimensions, such as contemplation and asking for forgiveness and supplication, but it also involves physical challenges. For example, an essential requirement of Hajj is traveling to Arafat, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Kaaba, for a daylong prayer. Physical challenges also include sleeping in tents in Mina, which is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the Kaaba, for three to four days. Pilgrims must also remain under the open sky in Muzdalifah, a place about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the Kaaba, for a night. Traveling to all these places, in addition to performing rituals in Mecca, entails a substantial amount of walking. I calculated walking about 80 miles (129 kilometers) during my pilgrimage. And this years extreme heat added to the challenge. Multiracial global Islam Muslim pilgrims offer prayers at the top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on June 15, 2024. AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool Hajj reflects the racial and socioeconomic diversity of about 2 billion Muslims across the world. Hajjs significance regarding racial relations was famously articulated by Malcolm X, a leading African American activist and intellectual. Malcolm Xs Hajj in 1964 played a major role in his transformation from being a Black nationalist to adopting the mainstream Islamic notion of embracing all races. In a letter to his followers, Malcolm X explained how his interactions with white pilgrims were very positive: There are Muslims here of all colors and from every part of this earth. I could look into their blue eyes and see that they regarded me as the same (Brothers), because their faith in One God (Allah) had actually removed white from their mind. This year, pilgrims came to Hajj from 180 countries, where diverse Islamic schools of theology and law have been practiced. It is difficult to differentiate between pilgrims following Sunni, Shiite or other interpretations of Islam, since there are no substantial differences between their Hajj rituals. I had conversations with pilgrims from the U.S., Norway, Finland, Albania, Turkey, Mali, India, Malaysia and Indonesia without knowing their religious schools. Nonetheless, one can still observe some differences. During the circling around Kaaba, for example, I saw a dozen Iranians reciting out loud Jawshan a prayer book of Shiites rarely embraced by Sunnis. Critical perspectives Islamic scholars generally encourage pilgrims to focus on personal devotion and the rituals. But this cannot prevent some pilgrims from criticizing the Saudi governments management of Hajj, including its attempts to commercialize this devotional gathering. In his 2014 book based on his multiple pilgrimages, British Muslim intellectual Ziauddin Sardar critiques how the Saudi government destroyed historical tombs, shrines and other buildings in Mecca, replacing them with towering hotels and malls, including the Clock Tower, the worlds fourth-tallest building. The Clock Tower is located right next to the Kaaba and dwarfs the sacred structure. The Saudis destruction of historical buildings in Mecca was based on their fear that these historical sites, rather than God, would become objects of worship. As a result, no historical buildings remain in Mecca except Kaaba. Interestingly, the House of Saud seems to have finally recognized the error of its ways. In both Mecca and Madina, I saw recently opened museums, signaling a new attitude toward historical preservation. However, many pilgrims disregard these problems and concentrate on the spiritual dimension of their journey. Hajj is a unique experience allowing one to meet and even live together with people from radically diverse backgrounds. It reflects the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the global Muslim community. And this year even the extraordinary heat couldnt prevent it. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University. Read more: Ahmet T. Kuru does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. (Bloomberg) -- Nikki Haley is releasing her delegates and encouraging them to support her onetime primary rival Donald Trump at next weeks Republican National Convention. Most Read from Bloomberg Haley, in a statement Tuesday, called the convention a time for Republican unity and cast her decision as important to denying President Joe Biden another term in the White House. Joe Biden is not competent to serve a second term and Kamala Harris would be a disaster for America, Haley said of the incumbent and his vice presidential running mate. We need a president who will hold our enemies to account, secure our border, cut our debt, and get our economy back on track. I encourage my delegates to support Donald Trump next week in Milwaukee. Haleys decision was first reported by Politico. The former South Carolina governor ended her own run for the Republican presidential nomination in March after a poor performance in the Super Tuesday contests, becoming the last major rival to Trump to exit the primary. Haley, who also served as ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, ran a campaign that touted her foreign policy experience and pledged to be a careful steward of the federal budget. She argued the country needed a younger generation of leaders to take the helm and called for presidential candidates older than 75 to undergo mental competency tests, an attack on Trump, 78, and Biden, who at 81 is the oldest US president in history. Questions about Bidens mental acuity have intensified following a debate performance that led some Democrats to call for him to allow another candidate to take on Trump. Haleys 97 delegates come from a variety of states, including four from swing-state Michigan. The small number of delegates she won would not have prevented Trump, who amassed 2,265 delegates, from receiving the nomination, but highlighted a layer of discontent within the Republican party that Haley was able to harness during her campaign. Haley won the contests in Vermont and the District of Columbia but also picked up delegates in other states, where her campaign appealed to women, independents and voters reluctant to coalesce behind Trump as the partys standard-bearer. Her campaign notably secured the backing of some deep-pocketed Wall Street donors reluctant to endorse Trump. The race between Haley and her onetime boss grew increasingly acrimonious, with the two hurling personal attacks and the former president threatening to ban her donors and supporters from his wing of the GOP if they did not fall in line. Haley in May said she would vote for Trump in the general election even though he had not been perfect on many issues, including foreign policy. Haley was not invited to the Republican convention, according to her spokesperson Chaney Denton. Shes fine with that. Trump deserves the convention he wants, Denton said in a statement. Shes made it clear shes voting for him and wishes him the best. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is releasing the delegates she earned through the GOP primary process and encouraging them to support former President Trump as the partys nominee at the Republican National Convention next week. Haley is freeing up the 97 delegates she earned from primaries and caucuses in a show of Republican unity, according to her former campaign. Her exit from the race earlier this year eased Trumps path toward the GOP nomination, and shes pledged to vote for her ex-rival over President Biden this fall. The nominating convention is a time for Republican unity. Joe Biden is not competent to serve a second term and Kamala Harris would be a disaster for America, Haley said in a statement. We need a president who will hold our enemies to account, secure our border, cut our debt, and get our economy back on track. I encourage my delegates to support Donald Trump next week in Milwaukee. Trump already has the numbers he needs to secure the nod, but Haleys move will give him a boost heading into next weeks convention. There, the former president is expected to announce his running mate pick after months of veepstakes suspense, but Haley wont be among the thousands flocking to Milwaukee. She was not invited, and shes fine with that. Trump deserves the convention he wants. Shes made it clear shes voting for him and wishes him the best, Haley spokesperson Chaney Denton said in a statement. Across the aisle, Bidens campaign has worked to court Haley voters, some of whom have continued to cast primary protest votes for the former U.N. ambassador even after she suspended her bid. There is a place in our coalition for Americans who care about the future of our democracy, standing strong with our allies against foreign adversaries, and working across the aisle to get things done for the American people who also reject the chaos, division and violence that Donald Trump embodies, Biden campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement after the news of Haleys delegate release. Only one candidate shares those values, and only one campaign is working hard every day to earn their support and thats President Bidens, Ehrenberg 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. Hanania Automotive Group, one of Floridas largest automotive dealer groups, proudly announces its selection as the presenting sponsor of the 2024 Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS JAX) Air Show, set to take place on October 19-20. This announcement follows the news that the Air Show will not be returning to Jacksonville Beach in future years. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< As the sole presenting sponsor, Hanania Automotive Group will receive top billing and significant representation throughout the event. This partnership underscores their commitment to supporting the military and the Jacksonville community. Jack Hanania, owner and CEO of Hanania Automotive Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the sponsorship. We are thrilled to be selected for this honor because of the events appreciation of the US Navy and its positive impact on our local economy and community, Hanania said. Supporting our military is an important cause to us. Nearly 35% of the Hanania Automotive workforce is retired military personnel, and were proud to do our part to support all of our armed forces because they protect us, and they protect democracy around the world. Now more than ever, it is crucial to express our gratitude to these men and women for their sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedom we have here in America. The NAS JAX Air Show, known for its free admission and parking, offers activities for all ages, including military and civilian aircraft displays and food and beverage booths. The Kids Zone will feature a STEM component, Blue Angel Obstacle Course, 36-foot Turbo Shuttle Slide, Extreme Air Power Jump, and face painting. The highlight of the event will be performances by the Blue Angels, the elite Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, which originated at NAS JAX in 1946. Organizers expect over 300,000 visitors, making it one of the largest air shows in the South. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Vice President Harris on Tuesday defended President Biden as a fighter and forcefully attacked former President Trump during a campaign rally in Nevada as some Democrats called for Biden to step aside as the partys nominee. Harris embarked on a multistate swing, finding herself in a complicated position. She has been a fierce defender of Biden as questions swirl around his future on the ticket, even as she is the most likely replacement should he step aside. In Las Vegas, Harris made a brief reference to the drama that has engulfed the party. We always knew this election would be tough, and the past few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy, Harris said. But the one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden, is that he is a fighter. He is a fighter. And he is the first to say, when you get knocked down, you get back up. Many of us know what that is, she continued. So we continue to fight. And we will continue to organize. And in November, we will win. Harris spoke shortly after Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) became the seventh House Democrat to publicly urge Biden to stand down as the nominee. Several Democrats in the House and Senate have said Biden must do more to show he can aggressively campaign and make the case for a second term. But the overwhelming majority of Democratic lawmakers have rallied behind Biden as the president has made clear he has no plans to step aside. The White House has touted its support from the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as well as lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), to argue it has broad support. Democrats emerged Tuesday from a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill in which the debate was lopsided in favor of keeping the president on the ticket. In the event Biden does step aside, Harris would emerge as the likeliest candidate to take his place. Voters backed her and Biden in primaries across the country, and any move to pass over the first woman and woman of color to serve as vice president would risk significant backlash. On Thursday, Harris was largely focused on the stakes of Novembers election, which she called the most existential, consequential and important election of our lifetime. She announced the endorsement of multiple Asian American and Pacific Islander groups as the Biden campaign launched an outreach initiative to win over those voters. She warned Trump would roll back basic rights and referenced Project 2025, a blueprint of policy ideas crafted by a conservative think tank for the next GOP administration that Trump has tried to distance himself from. Harris also highlighted last weeks Supreme Court ruling that granted Trump immunity for official acts, a move the vice president argued would make it easier for Trump to turn our democracy into a dictatorship. The vice president took a swipe at the gap in coverage between Bidens age and fitness for office and what Trump would do if reelected. There are some issues that require, I think, a lot more attention from the press, she said. And there are some issues that sadly have not been covered to the extent that they should, commensurate with the seriousness of the matter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn at a Democratic club breakfast in Silver Spring Monday. Photo by Josh Kurtz. Harry Dunn may not be joining Congress in January, as he had hoped. But the former U.S. Capitol Police officer who battled insurrectionists on Jan. 6, 2021, is still an integral part of Democrats campaign to defeat former President Donald Trump in November and defend democracy. Highly visible at 6-foot-9 and with a best-selling memoir under his belt, hes become a celebrity surrogate for the president and other Democrats. And hes involved in an array of political activities around the country and at home. Last week, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts, Dunn was part of a hastily assembled press call that President Joe Bidens reelection campaign put together to denounce the justices decision. I dont need nine Supreme Court justices to tell me that Donald Trump was responsible for Jan. 6 I was there, Dunn said on the call. Those people that attacked us, they attacked us in his name, on his orders. I was there when Donald Trump encouraged a mob of supporters to march on the Capitol to try to overturn the results of a free and fair election. I remember it clearly while they were beating officers with flags. While they were there, they said they were there to stop the steal. When we told them to leave they said, The president told us to come,' he said on that call. The Capitol insurrection inspired Dunn to shed his law enforcement career and launch a political campaign of his own. But since losing the Democratic congressional primary in Marylands 3rd District in May, Dunn has been crisscrossing the country on Bidens behalf. In fact, with Biden now struggling to convince party stalwarts that he should remain in the presidential race after stumbling badly in his recent debate with Trump, Dunn has become one of the presidents most prominent and vocal defenders. I dont believe that were in trouble, Dunn told a Democratic political club in Silver Spring Monday morning. Im not going to turn my back on him because of a 90-minute performance. Im looking at what hes done in his 3 1/2 years in office, in his 40-year, 50-year political career. I dont think we need to throw in the towel on him because of a 90-minute speech. Even more emphatically, Dunn said: I cant imagine President Biden not being in office at this moment in time. When he isnt being dispatched by the Biden campaign, Dunn has been stumping for Democratic congressional contenders. He recently set up a political action committee, Dunns Democracy Defenders, to help candidates running against pro-Trump Republicans. Dunn is also not abandoning Maryland after his first high-profile, if ultimately unsuccessful, foray into state politics. He attended last months Maryland Democratic Party gala in Greenbelt, his first. And he spoke at the District 18 Democratic Breakfast Club, one of the most active and opinionated party groups in the state, on Monday morning. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Dunn is reflecting candidly about some of the lessons he learned about the Maryland political scene and electoral politics more broadly since finishing second to state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) in the 22-candidate 3rd District Democratic primary. Dunn lives in Wheaton, which is within the 18th District a fact that did not go unnoticed at Mondays breakfast. He is not a resident of the 3rd Congressional District though by law, he didnt have to be which led to some grumbling during the primary that he was a carpetbagger. You want to get engaged in District 18 and in Montgomery County, where you belong, the president of the District 18 Democratic club, Susan Heltemes, told him Monday. Dunns new PAC is actually not a new entity. He recently converted his congressional campaign committee, Harry Dunn for Congress, into Dunns Democracy Defenders. Dunn raised more than $4.5 million for his congressional bid in five months an astonishing sum for a first-time candidate in such a short period. But he said in an interview Monday that he essentially spent all of the campaign cash on his primary election and wasnt sure how much he has raised since the May 14 primary. The PAC must report its financial activities through June 30 to the Federal Election Commission by July 15 a document that will also reflect the fundraising and spending of Dunns congressional campaign in the three weeks leading up to the primary. FEC spokesperson Myles G. Martin said that going forward, Dunns Democracy Defenders has the option of filing quarterly campaign finance reports or doing so every month. Dunn said the PAC would soon be formally endorsing eight candidates in U.S. House and Senate races around the country and would also publicly release its criteria for making endorsements. Taylor Doggett, a young political strategist who was the manager of Dunns congressional campaign, has helped him launch the PAC and remains an adviser. Dunn said U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Arizona against MAGA celebrity Kari Lake, is a natural to receive the PACs support. But he emphasized that Dunns Democracy Defenders isnt poised to drop huge sums of cash on its preferred candidates because it doesnt want to be seen as putting its thumb on the scale. I learned a lot about that during the congressional primary, he said. I think elections need to come down to the people in the district. Its clear I have a voice and a place now Thats a not-so-subtle reference to the influence AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel advocacy group, played in his congressional primary. The United Democracy Project, a PAC affiliated with AIPAC, dropped more than $4 million into the primary on Elfreths behalf. Much of that money came in at a crucial time during that fast-moving campaign, when Dunns fundraising take was dwarfing Elfreths. His criticism of the super PAC spending became part of his pro-democracy message, augmenting the reminders that he had literally defended the Capitol on Jan. 6. But Elfreth was a good candidate with a history of toiling in local politics several candidates in the primary ran good races, Dunn said Monday and in the end, she took 36% to Dunns 25%. Asked whether the AIPAC money was determinative in the primary, Dunn demurred, but did say, Any time youre able to amplify your message, it makes a difference. And, he pointed out, I thought I was going to win. But Dunn also expressed no regrets about entering the race or the kind of campaign he was able to run. We ran our race, he said. We ran it the way we wanted to. Coming in second with more than 20,000 votes I dont think thats an anomaly. And Dunn said he wasnt too troubled by losing. Honestly, the Supreme Court decision on [presidential immunity] was a bigger gut punch. Which is why hes expecting to take to the road throughout the fall campaign to boost Biden and other Democrats. Heltemes, the District 18 Democratic club leader, said she hopes he remains visible at home during this period. I hope that we see you again in Montgomery County and around the district, she said. We could use some firing up. Dunn is frequently asked about his political future and says hes not ruling anything out. But he also told Maryland Matters he cant see beyond Election Day 2024. I like to have a plan, he said. The only thing Im focused on is Joe Biden. My mom would hate for me not to have a plan. I want to be effective. I want to be helpful. Its clear I have a voice and a place now, but what that means down the line, I dont know. The post Harry Dunns new assignment appeared first on Maryland Matters. Prosecutors in the Harvey Weinstein case are investigating sexual assault claims from additional women who have come forward as they look to a possible new indictment against the former Hollywood mogul. In Manhattan criminal court Tuesday, Assistant ADA Nicole Blumberg said prosecutors have not yet summoned a grand jury but are continuing to investigate a violent matter committed within Manhattan that she said was believed to be within the statute of limitations. The plan is to proceed to trial in November. More from The Hollywood Reporter During a May 29 hearing for the case, Blumberg had said prosecutors may issue a new indictment against the former mogul, as there may be more women who come out against him and were weighing whether to speak out. However, Arthur Aidala, the attorney for Weinstein, pushed back against what he saw as a delaying tactic and said Weinstein is suffering tremendously under his current environment and that he has been in solitary confinement all day long, as he continues to encounter a number of health issues. Weinstein was in attendance at the hearing Tuesday and was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair, in a blue suit and clutching a book. Jessica Mann, who brought claims against Weinstein in the first trial, was also in attendance Tuesday, sitting in the gallery with prosecutors. Aidala, citing a letter from a doctor, said Weinstein is suffering from fluid in his heart and in his lungs, spinal stenosis, macular degeneration in his eyes and high blood sugars related to his diabetes and the high carbohydrate food being served at Rikers Island. He pushed for the court to move forward expeditiously, with an eye to a trial in September. Were very confident of the outcome of this trial, Aidala said, adding that he believes Weinstein will be acquitted in Manhattan, before appealing in California. There is a lot of light at the end of the tunnel for Mr. Weinstein. Blumberg pushed back against Aidalas argument and said it was not a delaying tactic but rather a matter of procedure. There were a number of women who came forward to indicate that they were raped by the defendent, Blumberg said again Tuesday. She added that those claims happened in Manhattan and the prosecutors were now working through the cases to determine what falls within the statute of limitations. Some of those women are now ready to proceed, Blumberg said. All parties, including Weinstein, are due back in court on July 19. A temporary protective order was issued that bars Weinsteins attorneys from sharing a select tranche of evidence with their client for the time being. In April, the New York State Court of Appeals overturned Weinsteins rape conviction from 2020. The court ruled the judge in the New York County trial prejudiced Weinstein with improper rulings and by allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case. In a press conference the day the conviction was overturned, Aidala said Weinstein continues to maintain his innocence and suggested he would take the stand in the new trial. At the original trial, in February 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of criminal sexual assault in the first degree, based on the testimony of Miriam Haley, a former Project Runway production assistant, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He was acquitted on three other charges, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Weinstein was also convicted by a Los Angeles jury in 2022 on three counts against Jane Doe No. 1, who has since come forward as former Russian model Evgeniya Chernyshova. Weinstein has also filed to appeal that 16-year prison sentence. Best of The Hollywood Reporter DAMASCUS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Two powerful explosions were heard after midnight Tuesday near the outskirts of the city of Baniyas, in the coastal region of Syria, according to a war monitor group. Harvey Weinstein raped additional women, prosecutor says, but yet to file new charges Harvey Weinstein appeared in Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday, where prosecutors accused him of raping more women than those included in the previous prosecution of the disgraced movie producer. Prosecutors told Judge Curtis Farber they are still evaluating allegations by women who came forward after Weinstein's conviction was overturned on appeal in April, but plan to present the allegations of at least one alleged victim to a grand jury. "We believe the defendant forcibly raped and sexually abused women in Manhattan that fall within the statute of limitations," Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said. "There were women in 2020 who were not ready to proceed with the legal process. They are now ready." MORE: Harvey Weinstein's NYC sex crimes retrial set for after Labor Day Blumberg declined to give Farber a timeline for a decision on new charges, but said she would be ready for a new trial this fall. Weinstein has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct, and his attorneys have expressed skepticism about any new accusers. PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Criminal Court for a status hearing to be retried, following his overturned sex crimes conviction, in New York City, July 9, 2024. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Defense attorney Arthur Aidala accused prosecutors of using delay tactics. "They have a defendant, and now they're out there looking for a crime," Aidala said. "They're out there with a hotline: 1-800-Get-Harvey." Prosecutors disputed this characterization by the defense. "There's certainly no delay tactic in the people's case," Blumberg said. "There were a number of women who came forward to indicate they were raped by the defendant." MORE: Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned in New York; DA will attempt to retry Weinstein, who wore a suit and tie with his head closely shaved, entered court in a wheelchair pushed by court officers. Aidala said Weinstein has fluid in his lungs and heart, as well as issues with his spine and vision. His diabetes is "going through the roof" while he remains incarcerated, he added. "He's a sick man," Aidala said. "He's got little kids and he wants to get out." Farber admonished the defense during a previous hearing for making statements outside of court that prosecutors said were meant to intimidate Miriam Haley, a former production assistant who Weinstein was found guilty of sexually assaulting. Her attorney, Gloria Allred, has said Haley has not decided whether to participate in a re-trial of Weinstein. Without her, and absent any new charges, Weinstein would likely face no more than time served if a jury finds him guilty again. PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Criminal Court for a status hearing to be retried, following his overturned sex crimes conviction, in New York City, July 9, 2024. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Looking on during Tuesday's hearing was Jessica Mann, who during Weinstein's trial gave detailed testimony saying he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of five years. "Harvey at the time had every advantage over me. Given the immense physical stature of Harvey's weight, height and ox-like strength -- he used that physicality to trap me and prevent me from leaving," Mann said at his sentencing in March 2020. "Harvey didn't need to use a physical weapon to make me live in fear of the invisible gun to my head ready to be pulled if he felt in the mood." Weinstein's conviction was thrown out in April after the New York Court of Appeals found the trial judge "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes." The court said that testimony "served no material non-propensity purpose" and "portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light." MORE: Weinstein Jane Doe breaks silence about her trauma, quest for justice The Manhattan district attorney's office said at the time it would retry Weinstein if the alleged victims were willing to come forward again. "We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault," a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. Weinstein is expected back in court on July 19. He is separately fighting a rape conviction in Los Angeles, where his defense attorneys argued he lacked a fair trial. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in that case. Harvey Weinstein raped additional women, prosecutor says, but yet to file new charges originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Criminal Court for a status hearing to be retried, following his overturned sex crimes conviction, in New York City, July 9, 2024. - Credit: JEFFERSON SIEGEL/POOL/AFP/Getty Images Prosecutors are aiming for a November date in the retrial of Harvey Weinstens rape case in New York. On Tuesday, the disgraced movie mogul appeared at a Manhattan criminal court for a hearing on discovery and compliance. There, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg noted that prosecutors are continuing to investigate an alleged violent matter with the possibility of presenting additional charges against him during the forthcoming trial, reports the Associated Press. Blumberg claimed that the investigation into new claims from additional women who have come forward with allegations of assault believed to be within the statute of limitations accounts for the delay in prosecutors summoning a grand jury. In May, Blumberg stated that some people who were not ready to speak out in 2020 now appear ready to do so. More from Rolling Stone However, the defense is pushing for the retrial to occur in September. Weinsteins attorney, Arthur Aidala, cited the diminishing health of Weinstein while advocating for a sooner date, saying the trial needs to move forward expeditiously. He stated that Weinstein who arrived in the courtroom in a wheelchair is suffering tremendously under his current environment and cited a letter from a doctor stating that he is suffering from fluid in his heart and lungs, spinal stenosis, and diabetes-related complications, among other conditions. Blumberg maintained that the timeline is reflective of the process required to properly access the claims being brought forward. There were a number of women who came forward to indicate that they were raped by the defendant, she stated, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Prosecutors are currently working through multiple cases to determine where they fall within the statute of limitations. Weinstein, prosecutors, and the defense are scheduled to appear in court on July 19. Weinstein was initially found guilty of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree at the original trial in February 2020. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison based on testimonies from Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann, who were present in the court gallery on Tuesday. Weinstein was also acquitted on three other charges. The conviction was overturned in April 2024 by the New York State Court of Appeals. In a 77-page decision, the majority of judges decided that the judge who oversaw Weinsteins trial, Justice James M. Burke, should not have allowed prosecutors to let accusers whose allegations were not part of the charges against him to testify in the trial. We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, a rep for the district attorney told the New York Times at the time of the overturning. Best of Rolling Stone Action News Jax investigator Ben Becker has learned a local Airbnb owner claims he was targeted by Jacksonvilles Office of General Counsel because the citys former top lawyer was a social acquaintance of a neighbor who made noise complaints. I hate them, said small business owner David Willis, who runs numerous Airbnbs in Jacksonville, including one in a residential section of the San Jose area. The general counsel came after me, they sued me, Willis said, referring to former general counsel Jason Teal, who is now assistant general counsel. In 2022, Willis was cited by the city for violating code, claiming he used the home as a motel because people were staying for less than seven days, which resulted in a $500 per day fine. INVESTIGATES: Broken promise in Jacksonville affordable housing as free property turned profits OGC sued in circuit court and offered Willis a $121,500 settlement and if he didnt take it, his fine would jump to $3,000 per day. A judge saw the citys lawsuit differently and dismissed it, ruling city lawyers did not make a good faith argument and that city code conflicts with state statute. The city was ordered to pay nearly $50,000 of the $120,000 in legal fees that Willis accrued. INVESTIGATES: Swimming pool rentals making a splash in Jacksonville, attorneys caution before diving in What does it suggest when a judge orders someone to pay attorneys fees? Becker asked Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson. That they were wrong in bringing the litigation to begin with, Carson said. Carson said code enforcement cases like this are rarely filed in circuit court unless theres an immediate threat to the public. READ: Sour Power: TikTok trend can provide relief from panic and anxiety attacks, experts even agree The city spent nearly $29,000 in taxpayer money to pursue this case over 18 months, with seven attorneys and two paralegals. So, what happened here? Emails obtained by Becker show a former neighbor of Willis who made the noise complaints was at least a social acquaintance of Teal. READ: St. Augustine Beach Ocean Pier no longer reaches ocean after beach renourishment In one email, the neighbor wrote a group of people, including Teal, about getting together for a game. Teal responded, Im in. Theres no indication what game they are referring to, but sources tell Becker it was poker. READ: Restaurant Report: Inspectors found more than peppers and onions at one cheese steak restaurant Becker obtained dozens of OGC emails, many of which showed Teal had direct knowledge of the case, including editing the complaint and directing his office to file motions, which sources tell Becker isnt a typical level of involvement for a general counsel in a code enforcement case. What are the optics here? Becker asked Carson. Theyre not good, Carson said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Becker also learned the OGC is plagued by high turnover. The city said out of an office of 80, there are currently eleven vacancies, including three attorneys under current General Counsel Michael Fackler, although it appears turnover issues started under Teal. Becker found out on Teals watch from August 2021 to June 2023, 11 of 46 attorneys left the office -- overall, 25 employees departed. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Office of General Counsel Statement: After review, we are confident that Mr. Teal did not have a conflict of interest, and we reject the assertion that Mr. Teal misused his position as General Counsel for an acquaintance. By way of background, the City has historically regulated short-term vacation rentals (those offering stays of less than seven days) as it regulates hotels/motels: short-term rentals on properties zoned for hotels/motels. See minutes from City Council Workshop on Short Term Rentals (November 15, 2018, comments from Folks Huxford). Mr. [redacted], a social acquaintance of Mr. Teal, complained to his district council person, at large council person and City code enforcement, and alleged a violation of the Zoning Code, consistent with the Citys regulation for short-term vacation rentals. The complaint was properly routed to the Citys Municipal Code Compliance Division (MCCD) as the City agency charged with enforcing the Zoning Code. Mr. [redacted] complaints were processed and addressed as a typical code complaint, and OGC followed a request from its client, MCCD, to move forward with a complaint to enforce the Citys interpretation of the zoning code. We have reviewed your request for a statement and the information therein regarding the turnover of employees at the Office of General Counsel. While it is always possible to find a particular snapshot with higher numbers, these departures are not concerning. The departing employees left for a variety of reasons, unique to the individual employees. Some left for other opportunities within the City or private practice, while others moved on for other mundane reasons like the relocation of a family member. We appreciate the work and dedication of our current and former employees, and we continue to wish the departed employees the best of luck and continued success in their future endeavors. Additionally, we constantly strive to provide the best working environment for all of our employees, including engaging an outside consultant to evaluate compatible law firm salaries and other workplace policies to remain a desirable workplace destination for the best and brightest legal minds in Jacksonville. As the City enters a new budget cycle, the Office is working with our elected officials to evaluate the salaries of all OGC employees to ensure OGC remains the dynamic place to work for outstanding attorneys. In conclusion, we would reject any assertion that OGC has anything other than a positive culture and motivated workforce. To suggest otherwise would be a disservice to the previous General Counsels and unfair to the current employees who work diligently for the good of the City. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Hawaiis current and former Democratic governors have had mixed reactions to President Joe Bidens candidacy for the 2024 election. Governor Josh Green supports Biden, but three former governors have called for him to withdraw from the race following his shaky CNN debate performance on June 27. During a recent conference call with Biden and other Democratic governors, Green expressed his confidence in the presidents abilities. I left the call with the impression that [he] was a different person from the one we saw in the debate, Green told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He described Biden as a healthy gentleman sharing ideas at the highest level. U.S. President Joe Biden listens as Hawaii Governor Josh Green speaks as they visit the fire-ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii on August 21, 2023. The Aloha States governor, who is also a physician, attributed Bidens poor debate performance to fatigue from recent international travel, which included trips to France and Italy. The president had difficulties with exhaustion, Green explained. He was sick and exhausted after traveling before last Thursdays debate against former President Donald Trump. The three former Democratic governors of Hawaii, John Waihee, Ben Cayetano, and Neil Abercrombie, who are in their late seventies and eighties, have publicly urged Biden to withdraw from the race. In a press release, they described Biden as frail and seemingly muddled during the debate and deemed him unfit to run a successful campaign. It is apparent to us that the debate was much more than a bad night, the retired politicians declared. The debate was not an episodic one-off but rather the result of an ongoing condition a condition of decline that will not be reversible. Speculation about Bidens future remains at a fevered pitch, and Green revealed that a decision on whether Biden will stay in the race will probably happen sooner vs. later. Well probably know in the next couple of days how the president feels about all this, Green told the Associated Press, Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Biden debate fallout: Hawaii govs divided on 2024 candidacy Won Jang, a 20-year-old Dartmouth student, died over the weekend following a Greek life event that involved alcohol. His body was pulled from the Connecticut River on Sunday (LinkedIn ) Authorities are investigating whether hazing played a role in the death of a Dartmouth student whose body was recovered from a river in New Hampshire this weekend. Won Jang, 20, was last seen by friends around 9.30pm on Saturday at a gathering on a dock close to the Dartmouth College boathouse on the Connecticut River, New Hampshire Fish and Game department reported. Police were notified that he was missing at 4pm on Sunday when he failed to show up to an engagement. Items discovered near the dock indicated that Jang never left the area and investigators began to search the water. At 7.25pm on Sunday, an underwater camera located the students body not far from the dock where he was last seen. The medical examiner responded to the scene but the students preliminary manner of death was undetermined. Two students, Carter Anderson and Gideon Gruel, told The Dartmouth, the universitys student newspaper, that Jang attended Saturdays dock gathering with Beta and Alpha Phi, two campus Greek organizations, and that alcohol was involved. Jang was a member of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity. Won Jang, a 20-year-old Dartmouth student, died this weekend. His body was pulled from the Connecticut River in New Hampshire on Sunday (LinkedIn) Hanover police chief Charles Dennis told WMUR-TV that officials had received an anonymous report that hazing played a role in the students death. He said the department would be looking into the claim but that they do not believe that foul play was involved. The Independent has contacted Hanover police department and Dartmouth College for comment. Jang, an undergraduate student from Middletown, Delaware, was due to graduate in 2026 with a degree in biomedical engineering. He worked as a project manager at the DALI Lab, a design program for students to build websites and apps, and as a research assistant at the Thayer School of Engineering. Won wholeheartedly embraced opportunities at Dartmouth to pursue his academic and personal passions, College Dean Scott Brown wrote in an email to students. He enthusiastically took part in the Dartmouth community. Jang is the second Dartmouth student to have been found dead in the Connecticut River this year. In May, authorities found Kexin Cai, 26, dead in the river five days after she went missing. Officials said that she was last seen in Lebanon, New Hampshire on May 15. Cai was a second-year doctoral student studying psychological and brain sciences. PARK CITY, Utah (ABC4) A head-on collision between a pick-up truck and a Summit County deputy shut down SR-40 through Summit County early Tuesday morning, July 9. The crash happened near milepost three just after 7 a.m., according to information from the Utah Department of Public Safety. Calls began coming earlier in the morning about a wrong-way driver traveling west in the eastbound lanes of SR-40 near milepost 13. Troopers with Utah Highway Patrol as well as Summit County Deputies and Park City officers responded to the area and quickly learned the pick-up truck driver had continued the wrong way for several miles. A Park City officer brought traffic on SR-40 to a halt as a Summit County Deputy went ahead to meet the wrong-way driver. As the wrong-way driver approached, the deputy took the wrong-way driver head-on at an angle, DPS said in a statement. Both vehicles became disabled. Utah State University dismisses executive associate athletics director Amy Crosbie The driver and passenger of the pick-up driver were reportedly uninjured in the crash. The Summit County Deputy suffered a minor injury and was taken to a Park City hospital for treatment. Based on a preliminary investigation, detectives ruled out impairment and believe the pick-up truck driver, who has not been publicly identified, was experiencing a diabetic episode with low blood sugar. The crash briefly shut down the eastbound lanes on SR-40 for about one hour. All lanes have since been reopened and traffic is flowing normally. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A fiery head-on crash last week on U.S. Highway 95 in Mineral County killed one person, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety. An investigation determined the crash on Tuesday, July 2, occurred when a southbound tractor-trailer rig tried to pass in a no-passing zone between the small towns of Luning and Mina. The green Freightliner truck collided with a northbound Saturn Ion sedan, striking the front of the Saturn in the northbound travel lane, according to a Tuesday, July 9, news release from the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol. The Saturn caught fire after the collision and became fully engulfed in flames, an NSP news release said. The driver died at the scene. The Saturn drivers identity is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification. The driver and a co-driver of the Freightliner were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (Photo: Nevada State Police) A third vehicle, a black Toyota Camry sedan, struck debris from the crash and became disabled. That driver and a passenger were not injured. The crash occurred near mile marker 22 in Mineral County, 3 miles south of the town of Luning and 28 miles south of Hawthorne. U.S. 95 is a single lane in each direction in that area, and traffic slows down as it goes through the small towns before increasing again to 70 mph. The investigation into the crash is continuing, led by the Nevada Highway Patrol Northern Command East Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (M.I.R.T.). If you have any information about the crash or you witnessed it, please contact the NHP Elko Office at (775) 753-1111 or e-mail ncemirt@dps.state.nv.us 2024 year to date: Nevada Highway Patrol, Northern Command East has investigated 19 fatal crashes resulting in 26 fatalities so far this year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Heat advisory in effect for Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson, precautions to stay cool According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, a Heat Advisory will be in effect from noon today, July 9, until 8 p.m. this evening. According to NWS, heat index values will reach 106 degrees for portions of northeast Georgia, the Piedmont of North Carolina, and the Upstate. Nikki Penta of Ready Go Dog Show tosses a plastic flying disc to one of her 15 dogs named Pepperchini, a cattle dog and border collie mix, during the Great Anderson County Fair at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Complex in Anderson, S.C. Thursday, May 2, 2024. Heat precautions Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in minutes. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay in an air-conditioned room. Stay out of the sun. Check up on relatives and neighbors. Looking for a public pool? With temperatures in the Upstate area hovering in the middle 90s during the week. Many turned to Glendale Shoals Preserve to beat the heat. It's summer in the Upstate, with many residents wondering where to purchase pool memberships for their families. There are many places where residents can apply for membership in Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg counties. After checking out places to swim, read about how you and your family can stay safe when swimming using tips from the American Red Cross. Drowning only takes seconds, and when it comes to getting help, every second counts. Click here to read the story. Glendale Shoals Preserve: See photos: Beating heat at Spartanburg's Glendale Shoals Preserve on July 5, heat advisory Two lakes to check out Lake Jocassee and Lake Murray were recently announced as USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards winners. In the "Best Lake for Swimming" category, Lake Jocassee took the crown at No. 1. Lake Murray took spot No. 2 in the category "Best Lakes for Water Sports." Click here to read the story. What setting should you put your AC? The mornings are getting sticky and humid in South Carolina. With temperatures rising, residents may be looking for ways to get relief from the heat. Many people follow the rule of thumb of setting their thermostat to 78 degrees during the summertime. But is this information still useful? Now would be the time to find out AccuWeather predicts this summer to reach record breaking temperatures. It will be the second year the weather service uses its Heatwave Counter and Severity Index to prepare residents for sizzling conditions. Wondering how to stay cool? Here's what to know when setting your AC in S.C. Click here to read the story. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Heat advisory in effect for Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson For the third consecutive day, South Florida remains under a heat advisory as high temperatures and swamping humidity make it feel like the mercury is in the triple digits. Already this week, a 136-year-old heat record was tied in West Palm Beach and the heat index, or feels like temperatures, have remained above 100 well after sunset. Through Tuesday, July 9, more than half of July has warranted heat advisories from the National Weather Service, which are triggered in Palm Beach County when the heat index is expected to reach 108 degrees or higher for at least two hours. How long will the heat advisory last in West Palm Beach area? The advisory Tuesday begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m. but with a healthy plume of Saharan air choking showers out of the upper atmosphere, its likely the triple-digit feels-like temps will stick around through late in the evening. In West Palm Beach on Monday, it still felt like 105 degrees outside at 10 p.m., according to observations at Palm Beach International Airport. The Saharan air layer will keep a pocket of drier air in the mid levels today, which will act as a deterrent as far as coverage is concerned for shower and thunderstorm development as the day progresses, NWS meteorologists in Miami wrote in their Tuesday morning forecast. A heat advisory is in effect through 6 p.m. for all of South Florida on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. If cooling rain does occur, it is likely to be focused over more interior areas of South Florida, including around Lake Okeechobee, where the Gulf Coast and Atlantic sea breezes collide. The high temperature Monday reached 94 degrees in West Palm Beach, which is 4 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, but just missed the 1963 record high of 96 degrees. More: What is Saharan dust? The overnight low of just 81 degrees did tie the 136-year-old record set in 1888. The normal overnight low for this time of year is 76 degrees. There is little change forecast through mid-week with highs Tuesday and Wednesday forecast to reach into the low 90s and overnight lows hovering near 80 degrees. By Thursday, rain chances increase to 60% and a more normal summertime pattern of cooling afternoon showers is forecast. The heat advisory thresholds have changed in South Florida The NWS announced last month that Broward County would join Miami-Dade County in an experimental program that starts advisories at a lower threshold level. In those two counties, an advisory is issued if heat index temperatures of 105 or higher are expected for at least two hours. An excessive heat warning is issued if the heat index is expected to reach 110 or higher for at least two hours. What is a heat advisory? A heat advisory means people sensitive to warm temperatures should take precautions to avoid heat illness, including staying hydrated and seeking breaks if working or playing outside. Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke include symptoms such as muscle cramps, excessive sweating, a throbbing headache, passing out, confusion and seizures. An excessive heat warning, the highest alert level on a four-tier scale, means everyone needs to take precautions to stay safe in the heat because "you may become seriously ill or even die," the NWS says. Tips to for staying safe during extreme hot weather Tips for keeping safe during excessively hot weather from the American Red Cross: If you suspect heat injury, call for help. Children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable. Try not to work outside in the hottest part of the day; if you must work in the heat, slow down. When outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade. Drink plenty of water. If you wait until you feel thirsty, you're already getting dehydrated. Don't drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol (sodas or beer). They interfere with the bodys temperature-regulating mechanisms. Sweating is the bodys mechanism for cooling. If you stop sweating, call for help. Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach weather: Heat advisory, record overnight temperatures DENVER (KDVR) Colorados recent heat is causing rapid growth of mold and mildew in older apartments and office buildings. Antoinette Martinez told FOX31 that the musty smell in her apartment grows more intense every day. Why last June had nearly 17 times as much rain in Denver as this year It is like old dirty water with a bunch of mildew, she said. Martinez said a maintenance crew inspected the unit, repaired a dishwasher leak and applied mold killer to affected areas in the kitchen and bathroom, but the mold continues to grow due to another leak. You can see the mold is growing and everything, and you can smell it, she said. Martinez showed FOX31 the damaged base of a wall, which stands between her kitchen and the outside walkway. All this stuff will be flooded if it rains, if it snows, she said. This is one just example of how heat and leaking water can create aggressive mold growth. The Problem Solvers asked tenant rights attorney Kayla Banzali of Robinson & Henry, P.C. about the rights renters have if they face similar conditions. They really have a responsibility to a tenant to even have responded and addressed the issue within 24 hours. That doesnt mean repairing it in 24 hours, but they should be addressing the issue, Banzali said. Martinez told FOX31 her biggest concern now is her health. She often struggles with difficulty breathing, especially if the air conditioning isnt running. Colorados recent heat is causing rapid growth of mold and mildew in older apartments and office buildings. (KDVR) Colorados recent heat is causing rapid growth of mold and mildew in older apartments and office buildings. (KDVR) Colorados recent heat is causing rapid growth of mold and mildew in older apartments and office buildings. (KDVR) We get really bad headaches at nighttime, she said. Denver just survived the second-warmest June on record Colorados Warranty of Habitability law requires landlords to address health and safety issues immediately. The most common causes of mold are leaking air conditioning condensation lines, broken pipes and window leaks. Signs of mold contamination include discoloration and odor. Residents should report maintenance issues immediately, take photos and video of damage, document health problems and keep a record of any attempt to contact property management. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VLADIVOSTOK, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said on Tuesday that there is strong momentum for the mutually-beneficial China-Russia "Northeast-Far East" cooperation under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while co-chairing the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission for Cooperation of Northeast China and the Far East Region of Russia here with Yury Trutnev, Russian deputy prime minister and presidential plenipotentiary envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Zhang said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have met to jointly map out new visions and new blueprints for the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. China is willing to work together with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously deepen strategic alignment, and further expand trade and investment cooperation, enhance connectivity, and foster closer people-to-people exchanges, thereby promoting more achievements in bilateral cooperation and contributing to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era between China and Russia, Zhang added. For his part, Trutnev said that deepening the mutually-beneficial cooperation between Russia and China is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries. The cooperation between Russia's Far East Region and China's Northeast Region is full of vitality and broad prospects, he added. Russia is willing to further strengthen practical cooperation with China in such areas as trade, investment, transport, tourism and culture, and make new contributions to the development of Russia-China relations, he said. NEW YORK - JUNE 9: A man tries to cool himself with a bottle of water during the first heat wave of the year June 9, 2008 in New York City. According to the National Weather Service temperatures will near 100 degrees today in the New York metro area with no relief in sight until Wednesday, June 11. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Four people had died from heat-related illnesses through the end of June, with all the deaths recorded in Prince Georges County, according to the latest data from the state. The month also saw a spike in hospital visits for heat-related illnesses statewide in the second half of the month, when the heat wave still gripping the state began. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for most of Maryland for Monday afternoon and again for Tuesday afternoon. State health officials have urged Marylanders to protect themselves during the summer months, issuing safety recommendations to help residents stay cool. We continue to strongly encourage everyone to practice safety while in the heat. Tuesday and Wednesday are poised to be bad as well, Chase Cook, communications director for the Maryland Department of Health, said in an emailed statement Monday. Number of weekly emergency room visits due to heat-related illnesses. Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health. The department reported on June 5 that the first heat-related death of 2024 was a 59-year-old Hispanic man who lived in Prince Georges County. Since then, three other deaths, all men, have been reported in the county. Two were over age 65 and one was between 45 and 64 years of age; two of the victims were Black and the third was listed as other. A Prince Georges County spokesperson declined to comment on the deaths, referring questions to the state health department. Cook said Monday that he was not immediately able to comment on the trend in deaths. The numbers are included in the state health departments weekly Heat-Related Illness Surveillance Report. The surveillance period runs from May through September each year. The most recent data available shows that as of June 29, there had been a total of 443 emergency room visits for people suffering from heat-related illnesses since the start of the surveillance period. About half of those came in the last two weeks of June, according to the weekly reports. The report shows that emergency room visits for heat-related illnesses were in the 30s in the first two weeks of June, then spiked to 161 during the week of June 16-22, before dropping to 116 in the week of June 23-29. Exposure to heat for long periods can lead to serious to fatal conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. During the week of June 16, Gov. Wes Moore (D) issued a state of preparedness ahead of a sweltering weekend that put parts of Maryland under an excessive heat watch by the National Weather Service. Surveillance reports in previous years suggest that heat-related deaths and illnesses tend to peak in July. The health department last year recorded a total of nine heat-related deaths during heat season in Maryland, up from five deaths in 2022, which was one of the lowest death tolls of the last decade. The post Heat-related death toll in June climbs to four, all in Prince Georges County appeared first on Maryland Matters. Summer isn't close to over yet, but heat-related deaths in Phoenix, Arizona have doubled from their rate over the same period last year, according to a new report by the Maricopa County medical examiner. As burning fossil fuels worsens climate change, the largest metropolises in the American Southwest are predicted to keep suffering from record-breaking heat waves. NASA imagery revealed that Phoenix streets reached temperatures as high as 160 F during the heat wave, with Sky Harbor Airport reaching 118 F by 3 PM. This breaks the record of 116 F that had been set in the Arizona city more than four decades ago in 1983. Some advocates believe fossil fuel companies should be held criminally accountable for these deaths that are linked to climate change. Following a July 2023 heat wave in Maricopa County that killed over 400 people, an extreme event attribution study determined that the occurrence of such heat in the American Southwest would have been "virtually impossible" but for human-caused climate change, with lead author Mariam Zachariah, a climate scientist at Imperial College of London, saying, "Had there been no climate change, such an event would almost never have occurred." In 2022, Salon spoke with Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto, a senior social scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, who explained that "without short-term adaptation measures to protect the most vulnerable, what will happen is that the gap between populations with social, economic, and technological resources to avoid the worst of extreme heat impacts, and those without those resources, will continue to widen." Declet-Barreto added that in a study he co-authored in 2013, he learned that "a large proportion of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County ocurred among persons experiencing homelessness for example, and another 2016 study found that population vulnerability to heat, and not weather conditions, were responsible for the spike in heat-related deaths that year," Declet-Barreto explained. How to Help Victims of Hurricane Beryl The deadly storm, which tore through Louisiana and Texas on Monday, July 8, has left a trail of destruction in its wake here's what you can do to help CARLOS RAMIREZ/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Texas is reeling after Hurricane Beryl made landfall. The deadly storm, which tore through parts of the Caribbean before making its way through Louisiana and Texas on Monday, July 8, has left a trail of destruction in its wake. As of Tuesday, July 9, the storm, which made landfall in the United States as a category 1 hurricane, has killed at least seven people, according to The Houston Chronicle, citing Harris County Officials. An additional death in Louisiana was reported by the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office. Currently, there are over 2 million people in Texas without power, according to PowerOutage.us and officials have warned that outages could last for days. Additionally, the storm, which has been downgraded to a tropical depression as it continues its path across the country, flooded highways, bayous, streets and homes throughout Houston. Now, residents are looking to pick up the pieces in the storm's aftermath as additional concerns regarding the lack of power amid the summer heat and a shortage of food plague the city. For ways you can help in relief efforts, here are a collection of organizations working to bring aid and recovery to the region. American Red Cross Donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-Cross (800-733-2767) or texting REDCROSS to 90999. Checks bearing Hurricane Beryl in the memo line (along with a completed donation form) can also be sent to Red Cross chapters. Salvation Army Visit helpsalvationarmy.org to fill out a donation form and check the option for Hurricane Beryl. One-hundred percent of the donation will go to relief efforts. You can also call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Houston Food Bank Food and monetary donations are accepted, and the organization is looking for volunteers. According to the Houston Chronicle, for each $1 donated, three meals will be provided due to the food banks alliance with 1,600 partners in the area. Memorial Assistance Ministries The organizations Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund helps families receive assistance for needs including gas, clothes and rent assistance. Donate here. AP Photo/Eric Gay Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center The area is in urgent need of blood donations. Click here to schedule an appointment. The United Nations World Food Program The organization is accepting donations here. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) Swimmers and boaters are asked to be cautious after a herd of manatees were spotted along the North Carolina coast, according to a nearby animal hospital. According to Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, a herd of manatees was found in the intracoastal waterways between Hampstead and Wrightsville Beach. The animal hospital, located in Wilmington, said the manatees were seen feeding by docks and banks where waterway traffic tends to be heavier. Swimmers and boaters are asked to be cautious because manatees are difficult to spot above water, according to the animal hospital. Officials with the animal hospital remind the public that manatees are a federally protected species, and that any type of interaction with them is illegal. They said you should not attempt to feed them, give them water or interact with them in any form. Please do not harass them by trying to swim with them, touch them or get close to them, the animal hospital said. Anyone who sees manatees in North Carolina is asked to report the sightings to the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Here's a look at the political billboards popping up around Milwaukee ahead of the RNC With under a week to go until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Democrats and Republicans seem to be waging a turf war in the city or rather, on the highways leading into the city. Political billboards have cropped up across Milwaukee in the past months, and its just not President Joe Bidens or former President Donald Trumps campaigns behind the signs. The sponsors range from national political action committees to local Milwaukee businesses. So far, the billboards appear to be largely anti-Trump and anti-GOP. Some billboards are close to downtown, by RNC venue Fiserv Forum, but most appear to be positioned so you see them driving into the city. Interstate 43, Interstate 94 and Interstate 794 are especially popular sites. Heres a rundown of political billboards across Milwaukee ahead of the RNC. Milwaukee 'is a horrible city' billboard The Democratic National Committee launched billboards seeking to draw attention to former President Donald Trump's comment that Milwaukee was a "horrible city." A Trump spokesperson said in a post on X that Trump was talking about crime and election issues. The billboard floodgates seemed to open last month, when the DNC capitalized on Trumps comments disparaging Milwaukee with a billboard blitz across the city. In a June meeting with House Republicans, Trump said, "Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city," according to a report by Punchbowl News. The comment quickly went viral, prompting explanations and denials from Republican lawmakers, the Trump campaign and the former president himself. Just a day after news broke of the comment, national Democrats launched 10 billboards in Milwaukee with Trump's face and words. The billboards are along I-94, I-41 and I-43. Find a list of specific locations here. The DNC will launch eight more billboards in Milwaukee next week focused on preserving democracy and abortion rights, The Hill reported Tuesday. These signs, which will appear in both English and Spanish, will read, Democracy is on the ballot, folks," Restore Roe? Vote for Joe!! and Joe Biden will: restore Roe, fight for freedoms, defend democracy," according to The Hill. 'I love Milwaukee' billboard Spotted: RNC billboard- blocks from the convention site in Milwaukee- featuring Trumps comments after he reportedly called the city horrible to House GOP. Trump said this month in WI he picked the city to host the RNC. He said he had concerns about crime and elections. pic.twitter.com/leC6w6bHIq Ali Main (@alisonkmain) June 30, 2024 The Trump campaign was quick to fire back with billboards of their own after their candidate's "horrible city" comment. The billboard, which appears off the highway near Fiserv Forum, quotes Trump saying, "I love Milwaukee, I have great friends in Milwaukee." The quote comes from a statement Trump gave to a Fox News reporter, explaining his "horrible city" comment. The billboard leaves out the second part of his statement, where he said, "But (Milwaukee is), as you know, the crime numbers are terrible. We have to be very careful. But I was referring to also the election, the [sic] the ballots, the, the way it went down. It was very bad in Milwaukee. Very, very bad." 'Happy July 4th, Milwaukee!' billboard The Democratic National Committee put up billboards around Milwaukee for Fourth of July, indirectly targeting former president Donald Trump's "horrible city" comment. The DNC didn't stop with its first round of "horrible city" billboards. In another riff on the incident, national Democrats put up eight Fourth of July billboards around the city last week. Along with wishing Milwaukee a happy July Fourth, the billboards read, "Unlike Donald Trump, Joe Biden loves your city." The signs are all positioned in high-traffic areas around Milwaukee, including I-43 and I-94. Find a complete list of locations here. 'Your nominee is a convicted felon' billboard Mad Dog PAC, an anti-Trump political advocacy organization, has funded a few billboards around the city ahead of the RNC. The organization's newest billboard features an upside-down elephant, the symbol of the Republican Party, and reads, "Your nominee is a convicted felon." In May, Trump became the first U.S. president convicted of a crime when he was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in a New York hush money trial. In a Facebook post announcing the new billboard, Mad Dog PAC said vendors are charging "expensive 'convention' rates" for billboards ahead of the RNC. The organization also put up its own round of billboards highlighting Trump's "horrible city" comment. We did it! Our Milwaukee billboard is going up at light speed. Tomorrow! Folks can join our friend Mark Hamill in supporting the billboards here https://maddogpac.com/products/quick-donate-1 Posted by Mad Dog PAC on Thursday, June 13, 2024 'Nope, not in Milwaukee!' billboard Minocqua Brewing Company a "progressive beer" company, according to its website put up a billboard reading, "Nope, not in Milwaukee!" on the Marquette Interchange. The billboard was crowd-funded with more than 700 people donating, the Northern Wisconsin company wrote in a Facebook post. The company plans to donate a portion of its profits from selling beer to progressive causes and campaigns working to defeat Trump in Wisconsin. Above is a mock-up of the sign, but you can see a picture of the actual billboard here. 'Remember January 6th' billboard Penzeys Spices, a spice company headquartered in Wauwatosa, launched a billboard last month that reads, "Remember, remember January 6th this November!" In 2021, Trump supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, as Trump attempted to overturn Biden's presidential election victory. The billboard is positioned to be "pretty much the first thing you see on the drive in from the airport to the convention site," the company wrote in a Facebook post. Penzeys founder Bill Penzey has been outspoken for years against Trump and the Republican Party. 'I won't vote for Trump' billboards Check out our NEW BILLBOARDS running in Milwaukee surrounding the Republican National Convention: pic.twitter.com/H45hyc14n5 Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) July 8, 2024 Republican Voters Against Trump, an organization by and for conservatives voting against Trump, has launched at least four billboards around Milwaukee this week. All feature former Trump voters in Wisconsin who say they won't vote for the former president again. The Wisconsinites on the billboard identify as conservatives, gun owners or veterans. 'The end of Roe v. Wade' billboard We launched a reminder of what the Republican Partys platform is really about. When you see the headlines and hear the stories of women denied the care they need, remember, MAGA Extremists did this. https://t.co/ixnG68kzlW Think Big America (@Think_Big_USA) July 8, 2024 Think Big America, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's abortion rights group, recently launched billboards on highways leading into Milwaukee reading, "The end of Roe v. Wade, brought to you by MAGA extremists." Though not a direct attack on Trump, the sign references the former president's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again." The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, revoking the constitutional right to abortion. This week, the Republican Party approved a new platform, which features a less socially conservative stance on abortion access. 'Two-Faced Teamsters?' billboard Center for Union Facts has put up billboards near Fiserv Forum criticizing the Teamsters Union. The Center for Union Facts, a right-leaning group critical of labor unions, has put up billboards near Fiserv Forum attacking the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union with 1.3 million members across various occupations. The billboard features Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, who is speaking at the RNC. Union Facts alleges in the sign that 99% of Teamsters members' dues spent on political advocacy go to left-leaning groups though Teamsters made headlines earlier this year by making its first large GOP donation in years with a $45,000 contribution to the RNC. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC billboards in Milwaukee: abortion, anti-Trump, 'horrible city' A shootout at Yellowstone National Park over the Fourth of July holiday weekend left one man dead and a park ranger injured. But some experts say the situation could have been much worse. Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, 28, of Florida, had been working as a contractor for food and hotel service provider Xanterra. Early in the morning on July 4, rangers responded to the park's Canyon Villagea huge collection of hotels, cabins, and employee housingafter reports of an armed person "making threats." A Be-On-the-Lookout alert from that morning claimed Fussner had reportedly "taken a female hostage, had threatened to shoot up public places, and had threatened to commit suicide by cop." When rangers contacted the individual there was an exchange of gunfire between the subject and law enforcement rangers, the park said in a press release. It left Fussner dead and a park ranger injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. According to witnesses, an estimated 100 shots were fired. As the Powell Tribune notes, Yellowstone National Park is a federal jurisdiction, where crimes are investigated by federal agencies. The FBI handled the investigation. [With reports of] dozens, if not hundreds, of shots being fired, the fact that nobody was killed except the shooter tells me the park rangers acted in a very heroic way, Rob Wallace, the former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Park Service, told Cowboy State Daily. It wasnt one of those Uvalde situations where law enforcement sat around for an hour trying to figure out what to do." An area around the Canyon Lodge complex was closed to visitors during the investigation. It has now been reopened. The list of reasons three Miami-Dade plastic surgeons were punished include illegal surgeries, unlicensed staff caring for patients after surgery, and hiding patient records from state inspectors. Whether or not these doctors committed these violations, theyre responsible as the designated physicians for office surgery centers in Coral Gables, Aventura and West Miami-Dade. An office surgery centers designated physician makes sure the center complies with regulations and laws. When Florida Department of Health inspections turn up violations at the surgery center, separate administrative complaints are filed against the surgery center and the designated physician. READ MORE: Dr. John Nees let an unqualified anesthesiologist work on his patient. The patient died In alphabetical order: Keith Berman, Dolls Plastic Surgery, Aventura Dr. Keith Berman is still the designated physician at Aventuras Dolls Plastic Surgery, 18205 Biscayne Blvd., as he was when Florida Department of Health inspectors dropped by on Feb. 22, 2023. The administrative complaint said inspectors found: At least once, Dolls hadnt used complete pre-operative evaluation forms that showed the surgeon had done all the pre-op evaluation steps. At least once, there was a liposuction where more than 4,000 cubic centimeters of supernantant fat were removed. At least once, Dolls had done a major liposuction using more than 1,000 cubic centimeters of supernantant fat in a remote location from another procedure. Berman was fined $5,000, ordered to pay $2,180 in Department of Health case costs and take two five-hour continuing medical education classes in risk management and laws, rules and ethics. Dolls corporate registration say its run by managers Leonardo Campo and Heriberto Martinez. Gamaliel Mattos, Xiluet Plastic Surgery, West Miami-Dade State inspectors and local medical malpractice lawyers know Xiluet Plastic Surgery, 8396 SW Eighth St., and Xiluets smaller offshoot that was across the parking lot before its January suspension. READ MORE: New disciplinary actions on office surgery centers from Miami to Palm Beach When Department of Health inspectors visited the Surgery Center of Westchester aka Xiluet Plastic Surgery on June 27, 2021, the inspection was unannounced, but patient records were withheld from the inspectors and were unavailable for inspection, preventing the annual review of patient records. Also, the facility had no compliance with Level II or Level III required anesthesia and emergency training. The Florida Department of Health says during a Level II office surgery, the patient can tolerate unpleasant procedures, but remains conscious enough to respond to touch or verbal requests. Level III office surgeries involve general anesthesia and pre-surgery sedation. Inspectors also found no policy and procedure manual, which must be maintained in the office and updated annually. There was no required risk management program, including quarterly review of such information by the surgeon. Dr. Gamaliel Mattos, the designated physician, was responsible for keeping the transfer agreements and hospital staff privileges for surgeons at Xiluet. Mattos was also responsible for keeping the paperwork that showed Xiluet patients were told about their surgeons transfer agreements and staff privileges. Mattos was fined $10,000, charged $2,096 in Department of Health case costs and required to take a five-hour continuing medical education class in risk management and another five-hour class in laws, rules and ethics. Xiluet is run by President Monica Vazquez. Xiluet Plastic Surgery, 8396 SW Eighth St., got hit with two administrative complaints from the Florida Department of Health on Dec. 10, 2021. John Sampson, Seduction Cosmetic Center, Coral Gables Dr. John Sampson is no longer listed on Seductions website or among Seductions practitioners on the Florida Department of Health website. But theyre still linked as defendants in the lawsuit by the estate of Erica Russell, who died on June 16, 2021, as the sixth or seventh Seduction surgery of the day by Sampson, who wasnt supposed to be doing surgeries at all. Seduction Cosmetic Center, 4950 SW Eighth St., is where the state says Dr. John Sampson did unauthorized plastic surgeries, including a Brazilian butt lift that resulted in a death. Seduction and Sampson had told the state he would be just the designated physician. As the designated physician, Sampson was fined $5,000 plus $1,262 case costs for Seductions violations. Also, a reprimand was issued against Sampsons license. These violations stem from a Department of Health inspection two days after Russells death. Inspectors found: A doctor performing surgery who wasnt registered with the Department of Health to perform office surgeries. Doctors listed on the registration who didnt work at Seduction anymore. At least one post-operative follow up ... was completed by an unlicensed staff member who signed as a nurse practitioner or physician. Multiple surgical logs without required information, such as operating room arrival time, level of surgery, type of anesthesia, duration of recovery, recovery staff, total supernatant fat removed and adverse events. Seduction, which has been run by President Gretel Jardon since 2008, couldnt show they made a backup power safety check. This embedded content is not available in your region. (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong outlined long-anticipated but vague plans to regulate ride-hailing services, creating uncertainty over Uber Technologies Inc. operations in a city infamous for the poor quality of local taxi services. Most Read from Bloomberg Authorities intend to license platforms such as Uber and adopt tougher penalties for rule breaking, the Transport and Logistics Bureau said in a paper published on Monday. Taxi services would be improved through the introduction of so-called premium fleets, it said. At the heart of the issue is the number of hire-car permits available for ride-hailing services. Currently there are only 1,500. Uber, which launched in Hong Kong a decade ago and has been unregulated since, has more than 10,000 drivers in the city. The proposal lacks clarity, said Oliver Chan, assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. If authorities dont increase the quotas for hire-car permits, many Uber drivers would still be operating illegally, he said. Officials said they have no plans to increase the quota, the South China Morning Post reported. Its still very uncertain, Chan said. What we know right now is that they wanted to improve the taxi service quality first, and then to also see how the regulation which is uncertain at this point of the ride-hailing platform could also contribute. Uber said it welcomed the governments plan to regulate ride-hailing platforms, adding it is critical for the government to also come up with a workable licensing regime. Any move to cap the number of ridesharing licenses in the city would deal a blow to the many drivers who rely on the platform for flexible earnings opportunities, a company spokesman said. Losing Money Uber has long drawn the ire of Hong Kongs taxi license owners, who have seen the value of their licenses go down. A taxi license is now worth HK$2.8 million ($358,000), down from about HK$7.3 million back in 2015. Authorities have barely sold any new licenses for 30 years, despite the population rising by about 1.5 million people, or 25%. There are some 18,000 taxis in circulation. Earlier this year, some disgruntled taxi drivers posed as Uber passengers in order to report them to the police. That prompted the citys leader John Lee to warn people against conducting undercover operations. Complaints about rude service, overcharging and dangerous driving have long dogged Hong Kongs taxi trade, further putting pressure on the government to regulate ride-hailing while also introducing reforms to improve taxis. Complaints against taxis lodged with the government last year rose 75% compared with 2022, while the number of traffic accidents involving taxis increased by 26%. While the proposal is unclear, it leaves the door open for ride-hailing platforms to continue to co-exist with taxis in somewhat of a gray area, said lawmaker Gary Zhang, an engineer who formerly worked as an operations manager at subway operator MTR Corp. Compared with some of the rumors or previous signals about what the government was preparing to do, this reflects quite a big adjustment, he said. Study Plan The Transport Department will conduct a study on commuter needs to help shape the new planned regulatory regime, according to Mondays paper. The study should be completed within 12 months, it said. Lawmakers will discuss the regulatory framework on Friday in a panel meeting. Uber has in years past clashed with regulators around the world, as its phenomenal growth applies pressure on traditional taxi and transport businesses. While Hong Kong is a fairly small market for the San Francisco ride-hailing leader, the outcome of the dispute may help shape a framework for regulating the company elsewhere. The company has already shielded itself against potentially tough regulation of ride-hailing services through its 2021 acquisition of local taxi-hire app HKTaxi. Users of the Uber app also have the option to book metered taxis, which the company said in October includes more than 10,000 taxi drivers. Uber shuttered its Uber Eats service in Hong Kong in 2021. Yet, to Zhang, its not possible for the city to put the Uber genie back in the bottle. Taxis in Hong Kong are truly not able to meet the capacity and needs of the public, he said. If overnight, Uber was wiped out from Hong Kong, that would have such a huge impact on the city. --With assistance from Edwin Chan. (Updates to add quotes from fourth paragraph, add details about Uber Taxi in the third last paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Hoosier native and Biden advisor Ron Klain led debate prep. What does he think now? As President Joe Biden fields questions about his candidacy, Indy native Ron Klains name comes up again and again, particularly regarding his role in debate preparations. The former chief of staff left the White House in 2023 after working for Biden on and off for 38 years, but the two reportedly still talk nearly every day and have a friendship spanning decades. [I know] what just an incredibly down-to-earth, approachable, accessible person he is, Klain told an IndyStar reporter about Biden in 2008. Whenever you're with him particularly in Delaware or on the train from Washington to Delaware and back everyone calls him Joe; everyone feels like this is someone they know as a neighbor, as a friend. Now, as one of Biden's trusted advisors, Klain faces media attention over a new debate: should Biden stay the course of Democratic candidacy or bow out of the race? Then-vice president Joseph Biden (R), joined by then-Ebola response coordinator Ron Klain (L), speaks during a meeting regarding Ebola at the Eisenhower Executive office building November 13, 2014 in Washington, D.C. So far, Klain has supported the president's decision to stay in the race. Biden is "like a father" to Klain, according to longtime Democratic National Committee member Elaine Kamarck. They've worked together nearly since Klain started in politics. Klain was born in Indianapolis in 1961, graduating from North Central High School in 1979. In between attending Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, he interned for Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh. While Klain's Indiana ties run deep, he boasts decades of work with the president. He was the youngest ever chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he worked with Biden, and he also worked on Bidens failed 1988 presidential campaign. More on local Dems: Indiana Democrats will choose who takes on Todd Rokita and Micah Beckwith. What to know Klains first chief of staff job was for vice president Al Gore, on whose presidential campaign he later worked (and whose fight over the Florida recount led to the movie "Recount," with Kevin Spacey playing Klain.) In 2008, Klain served as then-vice president Bidens chief of staff, and when Biden was elected president in 2020, he again chose Klain to serve in the job. Klain left the White House Feb. 7, 2023, likely due to a combination of family illness and criticism directed his way. The administration couldn't accomplish several top Democratic priorities, such as fighting climate change and lowering health care costs, and Biden's withdrawl from Afghanistan hurt the president's polling. Klains role as an informal advisor to the president isnt a secret. But he took the role a step further this spring when he took a month off from his job as chief legal officer at Airbnb to help Biden prepare for the debate. In preparations, Klain focused on making sure the presidents responses were quick, redirecting him and focusing on errors in a bluntly critical way few take with Biden, the New York Times reported. Now, with Bidens poor debate performance behind him, national media is starting to charge Klain with a new role: advising the president on whether or not to leave the race. You belong to this small select group that Biden turns to in a moment of crisis. You should use the trust youve earned wisely, Jeet Heer wrote for The Nation in a column he titled "Dear Ron Klain." So far, Klain has supported Bidens decision to stay in the race. He told the New York Times that Biden has proven his age gives him wisdom and experience, and that because hes beaten former president Donald Trump once, he can beat him again. Look, if I thought he wasnt the right candidate to beat Donald Trump, I wouldnt be for him running, Klein told the New York Times two days after the debate. But I think he is the right candidate. Contact IndyStar politics Pulliam fellow Nadia Scharf at nscharf@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @nadiaascharf. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy native Ron Klain led Biden's debate prep. Who is he and what now? HARARE, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The decades-long relationship between Zimbabwe and China will continue to evolve alongside the southern African country's economic development trajectory, a senior official has said. China has committed to Zimbabwe's development as the latter seeks to attain upper-middle-income economy status by 2030, said Monica Mutsvangwa, minister of women's affairs, community, small and medium enterprises development, on the sidelines of the first Harare Forum for Africa and Academic Week, which concluded in the Zimbabewan capital Monday. "We can see from that time it has continued to grow, with a lot more initiatives, whether in agriculture. We have seen China coming on board, assisting Zimbabwe with vaccinations for COVID-19. Zimbabwe managed to contain COVID-19 because of the vaccinations we received from China," Mutsvangwa said. She commended Chinese investors for playing a major role in Zimbabwe's industrialization, noting that Chinese private capital has facilitated significant projects across the country. Among these is a 1.5-billion-U.S. dollar integrated steel plant established by China's Tsingshan Holding Group in the Midlands Province. The Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), a subsidiary of Tsingshan Holding Group in east China's Zhejiang Province, has begun producing pig iron, marking a milestone in the revival of Zimbabwe's iron and steel industry. According to the Zimbabwean government, DISCO is expected to produce 600,000 metric tons of carbon steel in the first phase, with production rising to 1.2 million, then 3.2 million, and ultimately 5 million metric tons per year in the final phase. "Those investments are private funds, which shows the confidence they have in Zimbabwe. They see a stable country with leadership focused on empowering our people," Mutsvangwa noted. In 2023, bilateral trade between China and Zimbabwe reached 3.122 billion U.S. dollars, a 29.9 percent increase year-on-year. Imports amounted to 1.715 billion dollars, showing a 32 percent growth compared to the previous year. Mutsvangwa also praised China for funding the upgrading of Zimbabwe's energy infrastructure, particularly the expansion of Kariba South Power Station, completed in 2018, and the upgrade of units seven and eight of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, completed in 2023. Furthermore, Mutsvangwa said cooperation with China has been promoting the livelihoods of Zimbabweans, especially those in vulnerable communities. "We have been affected by this El Nino-induced drought, and China has reaffirmed its assistance with food aid. We have seen China drilling boreholes; the importance of water cannot be over-emphasized," she said. Reflecting on China's economic growth over the past decades, Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe seeks to tap into China's experience as the country strives to accelerate rural development. China offers valuable lessons to Zimbabwe, particularly in the revitalization and industrialization of rural areas, ensuring that everyone participates in the local economy, she said. New hope for IVF patients? How cutting-edge tech may make it easier to get pregnant Researchers say they have developed a 3D imaging model of early-stage embryos that may make it easier for women to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Researchers say they have developed a 3D imaging model of early-stage embryos that may make it easier for women to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF). About 2.5% of US births nearly 92,000 were from IVF in 2022. When IVF patients create several embryos, it can be difficult to determine which ones have the best chance of resulting in birth. Now, scientists in China say their 3D model of blastocysts embryos that are around 5 or 6 days old can provide previously unknown details about cell features that have been associated with successful pregnancies. This study shows that the 3D shape of the blastocysts inner cell mass, its position, and how the surrounding cells are arranged can be important indicators of success, which we didnt know before, said lead study author Dr. Bo Huang, an embryologist at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Tongji Hospital in China. Researchers say they have developed a 3D imaging model of early-stage embryos that may make it easier for women to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Seventyfour stock.adobe.com In IVF, eggs are collected from a woman and combined with sperm in a lab to create embryos, which are placed into the uterus. About 2.5% of US births nearly 92,000 were from IVF in 2022. Getty Images/iStockphoto Patients can get their embryos tested for genetic abnormalities before transfer. The success rate is 60% to 65% for genetically healthy embryos. These odds diminish when the woman is older or has uterus conditions that make it difficult for an embryo to implant. This new study included women younger than 40 with a thick uterine lining and no more than one failed embryo transfer. Using EmbryoScope+, technology that can monitor the development of embryos, researchers took detailed images of 2,141 blastocysts. They compared their model with fluorescence imaging of the blastocysts and found it was 90% accurate. Traditionally, the quality of blastocysts is assessed using 2D methods that lack depth and comprehensive indicators, Huang explained. Although some 3D methods exist, they arent practical or safe for clinical use. This study bridges that gap by introducing a clinically applicable 3D evaluation method and reveals previously unrecognized features of blastocysts. Huangs research, published in the journal Human Reproduction, was presented Monday in Amsterdam at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). He said the ultimate goal is to make this technology a standard in IVF, bringing new hope to patients. Scientists in China say their 3D model of blastocysts embryos that are around 5 or 6 days old can yield previously unknown details about cell features that have been associated with successful pregnancies. Andriy Bezuglov stock.adobe.com Dr. Anis Feki, chair-elect of ESHRE, said Huangs model shows great promise, but further research is needed. This method could potentially enhance IVF outcomes, but its clinical application should be approached with careful consideration, Feki added. After a consequential day of meetings, congressional Democrats appear to be absorbing the sober reality of President Joe Biden's nomination amid debate about his viability and the party's path forward. House Democrats huddled privately at the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday morning to vent for more than two-hours as caucus leaders worked to reassure rank-and-file members in the wake of Biden's poor debate performance. In a sign of the sensitivity of the conversation, lawmakers' cellphones were collected at the door, presumably to prevent real-time leaks about the private discussion. Some later described the meeting as "rough" and sobering, according to multiple participants. One Democrat in the room said that the meeting felt like a "funeral" for those lawmakers worried about Biden, and that there was "frustration" and "sadness" as the party continues "moving through the stages of grief." MORE: Biden sends defiant letter to Democrats says time to end questions, come together Many Democrats privately believe Biden should step aside, and that the party could be facing electoral disaster if he stays in the race and is unable to change perceptions about his health. But they feel powerless to impact the situation given Biden's stubborn resistance to dropping out. "There's a sense that we don't have any power here," one member told ABC News. "It may be too late already." PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the media following the Supreme Court's ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election, at the White House July 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Rep. Mark Takano, a senior lawmaker who has privately voiced concerns about Biden's bid, told colleagues he's seen private polling with Biden losing his deep-blue district after the debate. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not share his views on Biden's candidacy in the closed-door gathering, participants told ABC News, despite saying on Monday that he supported Biden and that his position remained unchanged. Jeffries later told reporters the conversation about Biden with rank-and-file Democrats will continue throughout the balance of the week. "We had a caucus meeting today that gave members an opportunity to express themselves in a candid and comprehensive fashion and those discussions will continue throughout the balance of the week," Jeffries said on Tuesday afternoon as he entered the House chamber. PHOTO: U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks to reporters as he leaves a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 08, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Although seven members have publicly called for Biden to step aside, the vast majority of House Democrats who spoke to reporters upon leaving the DNC reaffirmed their support for Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who privately said on a call Sunday he wanted Biden to step aside, appeared to have changed his mind as he told reporters Biden "made it very clear he is running. I am fully supportive of him. I plan to campaign for him." "We're riding with Biden," Rep. Jim Clyburn, whose support was critical for Biden to win the 2020 election, said several times as he departed the meeting. Several other lawmakers who have not yet taken a public stance, however, refused to reveal details about the family conversation or explicitly defend the president. PHOTO: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., departs Democratic National Committee Headquarters after meeting to discuss the 2024 election and President Joe Biden's candidacy, July 9, 2024, in Washington. (John Mcdonnell/AP) Many also sought to shift the conversation to Donald Trump, as they denounced Project 2025 -- a sweeping plan to overhaul the federal government proposed by a conservative group closely aligned with the former president. Some members vented that White House and President Biden have focused the spotlight on Biden's health, at the expense of news around Trump and the Supreme Court. A member who is still publicly supporting Biden said people in the caucus are worried that "the age issue will continue to be a huge distraction." MORE: Trump is trying to distance himself from Project 2025 -- but its architects helped shape his RNC party platform Another fear among lawmakers has also emerged: that Biden's health takes a turn for the worse between now and November -- or in the event that he wins, between November and Jan. 20 when he would be sworn in for a second term. In a separate meeting of vulnerable lawmakers, several Democrats became emotional as they grappled with the internal party dynamics and paralysis at play. Democrats could find themselves in a "Weekend at Bernie's" situation of their own making, one lawmaker joked darkly to ABC News. That same Democrat also suggested that Democratic lawmakers' relationship with Biden now mirrored their Republican counterparts with Trump: Both groups have misgivings about their leaders but now view them as "tools" for their agendas. Senate Democrats also huddled on Tuesday for a conference meeting -- their first gathering since the Biden-Trump debate in late June. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, during his weekly press conference, declined to engage with reporters who questioned him about Biden's ability to lead the party. ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott asked Schumer, "Are you confident that President Biden has what it takes to win in November and serve the next four years?" "As I said before, I'm with Joe," Schumer said. ABC News' Will Steakin, Mary Bruce, John Parkinson, Arthur Jones and Mariam Khan contributed to this report. Democrats describe 'rough' and somber private meeting on Bidens candidacy originally appeared on abcnews.go.com House Democrats emerged Tuesday from their caucus meeting publicly cautious about distancing themselves from President Joe Bidenno new Democrats defected from him, and some critics seemed to backtrackeven as many continued to voice mounting reservations in private. The meeting, which took place in Democrats campaign headquarters just south of the Capitol so they could discuss campaign business, amounted to an airing of grievances, with multiple members raising worries about whether Biden is fit to run for reelection after his poor debate performance at the end of June. But no new Democrats broke with the president publicly after the meeting: With tones ranging from confidence to resignation, most said that he would remain the party nominee and that they would support him. Biden has solidified his support from key constituencies, including the Congressional Black Caucuswith whom the president held a Zoom call on Monday eveningand the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, whose members reasserted their support for him in a statement that same night. Were riding with Biden, said Representative Jim Clyburn, a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus and one of Bidens key House supporters, repeating the phrase to reporters multiple times after the caucus meeting on Tuesday morning. Clyburns 2020 endorsement helped Biden clinch victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary that year, resurrecting what had seemed to be a moribund campaign and putting him on a glide path to the nomination. Black Democrats have been key supporters of the president in and outside of Congress. Progressives are also largely lining up behind Biden, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said on Monday that he has made abundantly clear that he is not leaving the race. She added: He is the nominee. I am making sure that I support him and making sure that we win in November. Even some who had previously criticized Biden appeared resigned to his remaining at the top of the ticket on Tuesday. Representative Jerry Nadler, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee who had reportedly called for Biden to step aside in a conference call on Sunday evening, told reporters on Tuesday that we have to support [Biden]. Whether or not I have concerns is besides the point, Nadler said. He is going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him. Behind closed doors Tuesdayand members were told to bring neither smartphones nor smartwatches so the confab could not be recordedBiden came in for more open criticism. Representative Lloyd Doggett, the first Democratic lawmaker to call on Biden not to run for reelection last week, said that he made the case to his colleagues that the president should step aside, as did Representatives Seth Moulton and Mike Quigley. The latter told reporters that Biden cant win and that his colleagues need to accept that he should step down. Still, Representative Brittany Pettersen said that while some spoke out about their concerns regarding Biden, the conversation in the meeting remained respectful. Nobody booed or cheered. It was a serious conversation, she said. She added, however, that there also wasnt clarity after the meeting: There wasnt one concise message. Representative Steve Cohen was more blunt, telling reporters that not only are Democrats not on the same page, we are not even in the same book. Moulton told reporters that private anxiety is only mounting. A lot of colleagues have approached me and thanked me for my comments, he said, adding that his concern was rooted in his belief that Biden has not proved he is up to the task of campaigning. I havent seen any evidence or plan to make this better, he continued. Meanwhile, Representative Dan Kildee, a Democrat who is retiring from his Michigan swing district, characterized Democrats mood as anxious. Theres definitely a lot more being felt than whats being said, thats for sure, said Kildee. Still, other Democrats pointed out that it would be difficult to replace Biden at the top of the ticket this late in the campaign. Representative Juan Vargas called the anti-Biden push a circular firing squad, adding: Its the stupidest thing Ive ever seen, where instead of taking it to the criminal, were taking it to the good guy. Moreover, Biden is adamant that he will not step aside, which, as Nadler observed, could make House Democrats frettingprivate or publica moot point. I think at this point, it is a foregone conclusion that the president is going to run and were going to support him, Representative Stephen Lynch said after the caucus meeting on Tuesday. And I dont think theres a process available for anybody to change that. He says hes firm in his commitment that he will be the candidate, and he will be the nominee. There is one point of consensus, Representative Pete Aguilar, the minority whip, said at a press conference Tuesday: Every single member of the House Democratic Caucus is clear-eyed about what the stakes of this election are. He added: We are unified that Donald Trump cannot win. Whether House Democrats truly believe Biden is the best candidate to defeat Trump is less certain. House GOP Rep. wants White House doctor to testify on Bidens health WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) As Democrats in Congress huddle over the future of President Joe Bidens candidacy, Republicans are watching. You would say, from a political standpoint, that we would be enjoying this. But were not. Im not enjoying this, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said. Speaker Johnson says his party is concerned about the presidents ability to serve in the Oval Office. It is not a good circumstance for us to have a commander-in-chief who is not on his A-game, Johnson said. Johnson says he opposes legislative efforts calling for the removal of the President using the 25th Amendment. He says that would need to come from the Vice President and Cabinet. GOP lawmakers are, however, trying to interview the White House doctor who says the president is fit to serve. We have a lot of questions for the doctor, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said. Kentucky Congressman James Comer has asked Dr. Kevin OConnor to testify. OConnor wrote in a February assessment, and repeated in a memo Monday, that his exam of the president did not find any neurological disorders. Because I dont think what you read in that letter is what the American people see, a president in tip top physical and mental shape, Comer said. George Washington University Legislative Affairs Program Assistant Professor Casey Burgat says it serves Republicans to keep the concerns top of mind. Theres a famous saying in politics that if your opponent is drowning, you dont throw him a lifeline, Burgat said. He says its ultimately up to President Biden to convince voters hes up for another term, and every appearance matters. Its going to be a really tough hill to climb, Burgat said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Hassan Nofal, 53, who was displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, holds the keys to his home that he was forced to leave with his family at a makeshift tent camp in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 4, 2024. Over nine months of war between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian families in Gaza have been uprooted repeatedly, driven back and forth across the territory to escape the fighting. Each time has meant a wrenching move to a new location and a series of crowded, temporary shelters. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) MUWASI, Gaza Strip (AP) On his key chain, Hassan Nofal keeps the keys to two homes. One is to the house of his grandparents in what is now southern Israel, which his family was driven out of by Israeli forces in 1948 and to which theyve never been able to return. The other is to Nofals house in northern Gaza that he had to flee last year after Israel launched its campaign of bombardment and offensives in the territory. Over the nearly nine months since, Nofal and his family have been uprooted four times, driven back and forth across the Gaza Strip to escape the onslaught. Nofal said he is determined to make sure his key doesnt become a keepsake like his grandparents. If my house key becomes just a memory with me moving forward, then I dont want to live anymore, he said. I must return to my house I want to stay in Gaza and settle in Gaza with my children in our house. Israel has said Palestinians will eventually be allowed to go back to their homes in Gaza, but it is not clear when. Many homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Israels assault in Gaza, triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, has driven some 1.9 million of the territorys prewar population of 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes. Most of them have been uprooted repeatedly since then, fleeing over and over across the length of the strip to escape a series of ground offensives. Each time has meant a wrenching move to a new location and a series of crowded, temporary shelters whether at the homes of extended family, U.N. schools, or tent camps. Along the way, families have struggled to stay together and keep a few possessions. In each new site, they must find new sources of food, water and medical treatment. In the latest exodus, people have been escaping eastern districts of the southern city of Khan Younis and parts of Gaza City in the north after Israel ordered evacuations there. Almost all of Gazas population is now crammed into an Israeli-declared humanitarian safe zone covering about 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) on the Mediterranean coast, centered on a barren rural area called Muwasi. Despite its name, Israel has carried out deadly airstrikes in the safe zone. Conditions are squalid in sprawling camps of ramshackle tents set up by the displaced mostly plastic sheeting and blankets propped up on sticks. With no sanitation systems, families live next to open ponds of sewage and have little access to drinkable water or humanitarian aid. Nofal, a 53-year-old employee of the Palestinian Authority, said he, his wife and six children fled their home in the northern refugee camp of Jabaliya in October. First they went to the central town of Deir al-Balah, then to Gazas southernmost city Rafah. They had to flee again when Israel launched an offensive there in May and moved to Khan Younis. Last week, they fled Khan Younis to a tent in Muwasi. Being displaced to a new place, its hard to deal with bugs and living on sandy ground, he said. We get sick because it gets hot during the day and slightly cold in the night. But the first move, leaving his home in Jabaliya, was the hardest, he said. He held up his key chain with the keys to his home and to his grandparents home in what was once the Palestinian village of Hulayqat, just outside what is now Gaza. Nothing remains of Huylaqat -- the precursor to the Israeli military seized the village and nearby ones in early 1948, forcing out inhabitants. Such old keys are prized possessions for the descendants of Palestinians who were expelled or fled during the conflict that surrounded Israels creation. Many in Gaza fear that, as in that past war, they will not be allowed back to their homes after this one. Ola Nassar also holds onto the keys to her home in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. For her, they symbolize safety, stability, freedom. Its like my identity. Her family had just moved into the house with a newly renovated kitchen when the Gaza war began. Now it has been heavily burned, along with clothes and decorations she had to leave behind when they fled in October. She misses a treasured set of plates that was a gift from her brother and shattered during an airstrike. She, her husband and their three children have been displaced seven times during the war, fleeing from town to town. From Rafah, they came to their current shelter a tent in Muwasi. Every displacement we experienced was hard because it takes time to cope. And by the time we cope wed have to move again, she said. Finding food was often difficult because of skyrocketing prices. There were days wed eat only one meal, she said. As they rushed out of their homes, many left behind almost everything, grabbing only some essentials. Nour Mahdi said she took only her house keys, the deed to her apartment to prove ownership and a photo album of her seven children. The album later got ruined in the rain, so she said she used it as kindling for a fire to cook with. This was very hard because it was very important for me as it contained memories involving my children, she said. Omar Fayad kept a picture of his daughter and one of himself when he was 10 years old. But after multiple moves each place worse than the other" he wishes he'd never left his home. It wouldve been better for me if I stayed in my house there and died, the 57-year-old said, longing for his home in Beit Hanoun in north Gaza. The Hamas militants that attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage. Israels response has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. Muhammed al-Ashqar, also from Beit Lahiya, said he has been displaced six times with his four daughters, four sons and his grandchildren. Along the way, the family got separated. Al-Ashqars brother stayed in the north because his wife was pregnant and not healthy enough to move. Soon after, shrapnel from an airstrike hit her in the head and killed her, but the baby was saved. One of al-Ashqars sons went to the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza to stay in his wifes family home. The son was in the kitchen cooking one day when an airstrike hit the home, killing his wife and four of his children in the living room. The sons leg was amputated, and two of his surviving children now live with al-Ashqar. Another son was killed in a separate strike in Nuseirat. After all that, it is not possessions that the 63-year-old misses. There is nothing to cry over after leaving everything behind and seeing all these dead people and all this suffering. Khaled reported from Cairo. Associated Press correspondent Wafaa Shurafa in Muwasi, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's Gaza coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war A demonstration against city sweeps of homeless encampments outside Portland City Hall on Sept. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Samuel Crankshaw/ACLU of Maine) Housing is considered a top priority for improving the health of Mainers over the next couple years. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its updated draft Statewide Health Improvement Plan late last month to guide state and local agencies to enhance the health of Mainers. The plan outlines four priority areas including mental health, substance use, access to care and healthy and stable housing. Maine has an affordable housing crisis, which was made clear in a study released last October that said the state needs 84,000 new housing units in the next decade to meet demand. The Legislature tried to make a dent in the problem during the last session by funding the development of new units, approving a rent relief pilot program and infusing cash into low-barrier shelters. Likewise, the draft Statewide Health Improvement Plan wants to increase the supply of affordable housing in the state and decrease the number of people experiencing homelessness. Nearly 2,700 people are unhoused in Maine, according to the states most recent count. People who are unhoused face increased risk for disease and other health conditions such as mental illness, substance use disorder and diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People experiencing homelessness also face higher barriers to accessing healthcare and treatment, said Brittney La Shier, director of the Recuperative Care Program with Portland-based Preble Street. The pandemic really illuminated the important role that shelter and housing play in Maines public health infrastructure and keeping everyone in our community safe and healthy, La Shier said. More access to housing opportunities paired with health care services including medical respite, substance use treatment, or mental health care will help people experiencing homelessness find stability and an extended life, as well as a happier and healthier quality of life. The draft plan also specifies that it wants the state to have housing that equitably meets the diverse needs of all. For example, the plan suggests improving the safety and ADA accessibility of existing housing units in the state. The draft plan is open for public feedback until 5 p.m. Friday, so it is subject to change depending on the input received. The Maine CDC told Maine Morning Star a final version of the plan is expected in September. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized his Indian counterparts visit to Moscow as a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts, on the same day that a Russian missile smashed into a childrens hospital in Kyiv. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow on Monday, while less than 600 miles away Russian missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities in a morning rush hour assault that killed at least 39 people. Modis two-day trip marks his first visit to Russia since Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly two and a half years ago, with images and video Monday showing the two leaders hugging, chatting over tea, riding in an electric vehicle and watching a horse show. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day, Zelensky said in a post on X on Monday, referring to the deadly Russian attacks. Modi did not address the strikes directly during a meeting with Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday though he did say solutions to conflict are unlikely to come through war, but rather peace and dialogue. Whether its conflict war or terror, any person who believes in humanity is troubled when there are deaths, especially when innocent children die, Modi told reporters while seated alongside the Russian president, appearing to deliver his most critical comments to date against Russias war in Ukraine. As a friend, I have always said that peace is necessary for the prosperity of future generations, but I also know that on the battlefield, solutions arent easy to come by between guns, bombs and bullets. We have to adopt a path to peace through dialogue, Modi said. The Indian prime minister said the world is watching this current visit and interpreting it in various ways. He added: India is ready to support you in every possible way to achieve peace. I assure you and the world that we are in favor of peace and, after talking to my friend Putin yesterday, I have hope. Modi said the two leaders had discussed Ukraine when he made a five-hour visit to Putins Novo-Ogaryovo residence late Monday. Putin also confirmed to reporters Tuesday that the pair had discussed Ukraine, thanking Modi for his attempts to find a solution to the conflict. Earlier Tuesday, Modi praised relations between the two countries while addressing the Indian diaspora in Moscow. He also announced the opening of two new consulates in the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Kazan to facilitate travel and business. No matter if the temperatures in Russia are in minus, Russia-India friendship has always been in plus, he said. This is a relationship built on a foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect. The large-scale daylight bombardment struck the capital Kyiv, and cities including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk some of which are heavily populated areas far from the front lines. In Kyiv, 29 people were killed, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko on Tuesday. Two people were killed and at least 16 others were injured in the strike on Kyivs Okhmatdyt hospital. The facility is Ukraines largest childrens medical center and has been vital in the care of some of the sickest children from across the country. Videos from the scene showed volunteers working with police and security services to dig through the rubble as smoke billowed from the hospital. Search and rescue operations for people potentially trapped beneath the debris continued on Tuesday. Hospital staff said they tried to rush children to safety in the wake of the attack. Two children had been in the operating theaters at the time of the blast, and both were relocated to the basement shelter once their procedures were completed, a senior nurse told CNN. Another senior nurse said an operation on a 2-year-old was underway when the strike happened. The lights went out, everything went out. We pulled out the instruments, shining flashlights. Everything was sewn up quickly, Iryna Filimonova said. The baby was brought down (to the shelter). I immediately ran to help clear the rubble. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said the blast forced medical workers to treat sick children outside the facility. Patients were receiving treatment for cancer in hospital beds set up in parks and on streets, where medical workers had quickly established triage areas, amongst chaos, dust and debris, he said in a statement. Russias defense ministry on Monday claimed that its forces struck military industrial facilities of Ukraine and air bases of the Ukrainian armed forces, with long-range, high-precision weapons. Without providing evidence, the Russian ministry also claimed that photos and videos from the hospital blast confirmed the damage was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile. Modis Russia visit Meanwhile, in the Russian capital on Tuesday, Putin and Modi held official talks at the Kremlin. Earlier in the day, they visited an exhibition center hosting a pavilion on the nuclear industry, according to Russian state news agency TASS. Putin had welcomed the Indian leader to his Novo-Ogaryovo residence late Monday, where the Russian president greeted him as a dear friend and said he was very happy to see him, TASS reported. Modi thanked Putin for hosting him at his suburban property, saying in a post on X: Looking forward to our talks tomorrow as well, which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. The trip is a sign that New Delhi and Moscow remain close despite Russias deepening dependence on China and is widely seen as the latest dent in efforts by Western leaders to cast Putin aside. India has longstanding ties to Moscow and remains heavily reliant on the Kremlin for its military equipment. It has ramped up purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, giving Putins nation a major financial lifeline as it faces isolation from the West. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi take a walk during an informal meeting near Moscow, on July 8, 2024. - Gavrill Grigorov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Ahead of the visit, a statement from Modis office said the Indian leader would review all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. The United States has raised concerns with India about its relationship with Russia, a US State Department spokesperson told reporters in a media briefing Monday. I will look to Prime Minister Modis public remarks to see what he talked about, but as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia, spokesperson Matthew Miller said. We would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN Charter, should respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. While India has called for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and restoration of peace, it has also abstained from all resolutions on Ukraine at the United Nations and stopped short of condemning Russias invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit a stable during an informal meeting outside Moscow, on July 8, 2024. - Gavrill Grigorov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Trade between the two countries was worth nearly $65 billion in 2023-24, primarily due to strong energy cooperation, but most of that total flowed toward Russia, according to Indias foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Reducing the trade imbalance would be a matter of priority in Modis discussions with Putin, he said, ahead of the trip. The visit is also Modis first bilateral trip since winning a rare third term in Indias mammoth elections last month. Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said the Kremlin attaches primary importance to Modis visit, Russian state-run news agency TASS reported. The Russian attacks in Ukraine came a day before US President Joe Biden hosts a crucial NATO summit in Washington, where new announcements over the alliances military, political and financial support for Kyiv are expected. Biden called Russian missile strikes in Kyiv including on the childrens hospital a horrific reminder of Russias brutality, in a statement Monday evening. It is critical that the world continues to stand with Ukraine at this important moment and that we not ignore Russian aggression, Biden said. This story has been updated with additional reporting. CNNs Rhea Mogul, Svitlana Vlasova, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Maria Kostenko, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Alex Stambaugh, Anna Chernova, Esha Mitra and Sergey Gudkov contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Humanisation of pets leaves owners paying over the odds to keep them alive Pet owners humanisation of their animals means they are paying over the odds for treatments to keep them alive, the competition regulator has said. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said some pet owners are paying for expensive treatment that would previously have been addressed through euthanasia as they seek to keep their animals alive for as long as possible. It said: Some vets have told us that it may also be driven in some cases by pressure from consumers to do as much as possible to assist their pet, particularly when they have seen successful case studies on TV programmes. The comments are part of the CMAs investigation into competition in the vet sector amid concerns that pet owners are being overcharged for services. Publishing its initial theories into the sector on Tuesday, the CMA said: Advances in animal medicines mean that increasingly sophisticated and complex treatments are available for pets and conditions which would have been only addressed through euthanasia in the past can now sometimes be treated. We note that the increased provision of more expensive, sophisticated treatments if indeed that is occurring is to some extent due to the increased availability of these treatments for animals and humanisation of pets. We recognise that, in some cases, more sophisticated treatments may be appropriate and that this level of veterinary care (at the associated cost) is what the consumer would prefer if informed of all the options. Vet practices lack transparent pricing The watchdogs investigation will explore whether dominance of the veterinary market by six large companies is leaving pet owners worse off. It warned it would investigate self-preferencing where large firms tell customers their pets need expensive tests and diagnostics, only to refer them to another arm of their own group without disclosing it. The CMA also highlighted that vet practices lack transparent pricing, with 80pc failing to share a price list on their website. Customers are often only informed of the price after committing to a procedure, it added. Such concerns extend to the end of a pets life, with the regulator warning that owners might be overpaying for cremations as a result of being unaware of different options, at a time when consumers may be particularly vulnerable. Pet owners are often unaware of alternative options to paying for cremations through their vet, which include buying the service directly through a provider. This may result in consumers paying higher prices for cremation services or purchasing services which are not best suited to their needs, it said. The regulator said it would investigate cremation mark-ups and whether this could be lower amid greater competition. Lack of competition The CMA has concerns that in as many as one in eight postcodes families one veterinarian group dominates the local market, in some cases with no competition at all. It will also seek to establish why some animal medicines cost considerably more than chemically identical human equivalents. The regulator said it would consider forcing veterinarians to be more transparent and give customers better information about costs and options. It could also put a ceiling on cremation mark-ups or maximum prescription fees. The final report is expected to be published by November 2025. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) More than 500 people entered the Freedom Pavilion at the National WWII Museum to honor the life of former city council member and state representative Jackie Clarkson, who died last month at the age of 88. Clarkson may be best known for her work on the council before and after Hurricane Katrina. Every faction of this city and every aspect of this city was of equal importance of her, said Jackie Clarksons daughter, Patricia Clarkson. New Orleans civil rights pioneer Tessie Prevost dies at 69 Admirers talked about Clarksons passion as she fought for the Algiers ferry, safety in the French Quarter, the expansion of New Orleans Recreation Development and much more. A lot of people dont know all of the things that she did, whether it be in the business realm or whether it be just helping people get through processes involving city government. Im just so pleased I had the opportunity to know her both as a realtor and as an elected official, said New Orleans City Councilman Eugene Green. She was also known for her support of the local military. She was our councilwoman for years and thats where the headquarters is located and then when she was president of the city council again, went out of her way made sure that we felt appreciated, and again it wasnt just the Marines, it was really all the services, said U.S. Marine Corps Forces South Executive Director Gregg Habel. Jefferson Parish neighbors raise concerns over Ochsner hospital construction All of this was accomplished while being a mother of five daughters, a grandmother of 10 and a great-grandmother of 16. Her family says that the hole she leaves behind is something that is nearly impossible to fill. She leaves behind a stunning legacy and one that will not be, will never deflate. Will never be deflated. She leaves behind an incomparable life and Im so lucky to be called her daughter, said Patricia Clarkson. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. THE HAGUE, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Christophe Fouquet, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dutch semiconductor giant ASML, and his predecessor Peter Wennink, have voiced their opposition to U.S. restrictions on ASML's exports of chip-making equipment to China. In an interview with the German-language business newspaper Handelsblatt on Monday, Fouquet argued against further export restriction, emphasizing that critical chips for the automotive industry are predominantly produced in China. He stressed that limiting these exports would harm Western interests and urged governments to consider alternative approaches rather than relying solely on export restrictions. He highlighted the auto industry's urgent need for a large number of chips made using "simpler, long-known technologies," which are largely supplied by China. Pointing out the insufficient investment in chip factories in the West, he said, "Europe cannot even cover half of its own needs," and "it makes no sense to stop someone from producing something that you need." Speaking with the Dutch BNR News Radio last week, Wennink criticized the restrictions as driven by ideological stances rather than factual assessments. "Discussions are conducted not based on content, facts, data, and numbers, but based on ideology," he said. He underscored ASML's longstanding relationships with Chinese partners, customers, employees, and stakeholders, and their significant contributions to the company's business over three decades. Wennink expressed concerns about prolonged geopolitical tensions affecting the semiconductor industry, warning that it could take decades before the ideological motivations play out. "This won't happen overnight, this will take time," he said, pessimistic about the so-called "chip war." Wennink, who led ASML since 2013 until stepping down in April 2024, has been succeeded by Fouquet. Hundreds of Spencer countians pushing back after being told they live in Shelby County Spencer County Judge-Executive Scott Travis is trying to figure out the tangle of a new border discrepancy between Spencer and Shelby counties. June 11, 2024 TAYLORSVILLE, Ky. For 200 years, life has been pretty quiet in Spencer County. Formed from parts of Nelson, Shelby and Bullitt counties, the rural community once thrived on dairy and tobacco farming. Churches and banks popped up on nearly every corner. As time passed and farms were sold in sections, developers built small subdivisions. Spencer County became a bedroom community, where residents escaped the big city of Louisville. It's where they voted. It's where they sent their kids to school. It's where they paid their taxes. But at the end of April, more than 200 residents received a letter from the Shelby County clerk telling them they weren't residents of Spencer County, after all. The letter said they're actually Shelby countians. They were told their voting registration had been removed from the county's books and moved to Shelby County. They thought it was a joke. Maybe a ploy to steal their votes, maybe a money grab. Then came a letter from Shelby County's property valuations administrator, to let them know taxes were higher in their new county. Now the residents of Spencer, um, Shelby, er ... Now, these Spencer-Shelby County residents are confused and a bit angry. They want to know if the state doesn't see you as a Spencer County resident, and you don't see yourself as a Shelby County resident, where do you call home? How does land that has never changed, besides the things built upon it, suddenly become land by a different name? But really, they want to know: How in the heck does this happen? And what can they do about it? Their first step will be to create a petition to reverse the change. Ultimately, though, where they call home will be decided by their new neighbors the people of Shelby County. "For 27 years, Ive been a member of this county," said Roger Royalty, whose Spencer (now Shelby) County house is caught up in the boundary change. "And I refuse to leave it." 'All of a sudden, I live in Shelby County?' Tony Sweazy looked at the glossy mailer in early May. "Vote for me," it said. He can't remember if it was for the sheriff or the school board. He just remembers it was for some political office in Shelby County. "I looked at it and said, 'Well, I don't live in Shelby County,'" and threw the mailer in the trash. Tony Sweazy has lived in Spencer County for many years, but now he's being told that he actually lives in Shelby County. It's a change he doesnt want to happen. June 11, 2024 Unlike his neighbors, Bud and Betty Ridgeway, who live directly across the street, or Royalty and his wife Linda, who live just across a pond, Sweazy hadn't received a letter dated April 23 from Tony Harover, the Shelby County clerk, informing him the State Board of Elections had found an "error" in the Spencer-Shelby County boundary when using updated mapping technology. "Regardless of how or when the voter registered, this must be corrected upon discovery," Harover's letter stated. That error was that more than 100 properties, including 240 registered voters and about 40 children, were technically inside the county boundary of Shelby County, not Spencer. The State Board of Elections found the discrepancy during legislative redistricting, when advanced mapping technology uncovered residential areas in the "physical territories of Shelby County, not in Spencer County where the voters residing in the area were registered." Had the voter registration not been updated to reflect the correct county, the clerks of those counties could have been charged with a felony, per a letter to the clerks from the board. It doesn't matter that 25 years ago when Sweazy found a piece of land in the country and built his home on a one-acre plot, everything he did from the building inspection to the electrical permits went through Spencer County. His car registration? Spencer County. The deed to his land? Spencer County. "For 25 years, I've been paying Spencer County taxes, and now, all of a sudden, I live in Shelby County?" he wondered. On May 22, the affected residents got the letter from Shelby County's PVA about their now-higher tax a 15% increase. State Rep. James Tipton represents Spencer County in the legislature, but he's also been a farmer and Spencer County resident all his life. "It started a snowball effect," Tipton said of the Board of Elections' findings. For instance, the affected residents on the northwest edge of the county boundary are no longer his constituents. Linda Royalty's home is affected by the border discrepancy between Spencer and Shelby counties. June 11, 2024 With each passing day, Spencer County Judge-Executive Scott Travis watches this snowball turn into a snow boulder, uncovering county problems big and small. "If you call me about a stray dog, which animal control is going to come?" Travis asked. "Whos going to pick up my trash?" Shelby County Judge-Executive Dan Ison told the affected residents in a meeting in June it would be "very costly" to put additional first responders in their area since there are no direct-access roads to their properties in Shelby County. "You have to drive 6 or 7 miles through Spencer County to get to these Shelby County properties," Travis said. In a meeting between Spencer and Shelby emergency management officials to find out how much time it would take for Shelby to service those properties in an emergency, Travis was told "probably 30-plus minutes, not counting traffic." For now, there is an interlocal agreement. Spencer emergency services will continue to serve those properties. Ison understands the residents' concerns and their outrage. "I want those people to remain where they are," Ison told The Courier Journal in July. "I know if I had bought a home in what I thought was Spencer County and had raised my family there ... I would hate to think that, no, I really didn't live in Spencer County. That I was always a Shelby countian." The affected residents plan to prepare a petition that would place the issue on the November ballot in Shelby County, asking voters to agree that they should remain Spencer residents. "I would totally support Spencer County's effort ...," Ison said of the petition effort. "Im going to encourage (Shelby voters) to vote for the petition that would allow the citizens, over 100 homes, to remain as Spencer County residents." Ison believes the current situation stems from decisions made decades ago. "To me, it's a mishandled situation from previous administrations that allowed a subdivision to be built in Shelby County that led the people to believe and the filings with the PVA to be shown as Spencer County," he said. Neither Tipton nor the judge executives in either county are clear on which office in Frankfort found the mapping discrepancy. "Who says this line is by-golly absolute?" Travis asked. "Who says its this way or the highway?" 40 Spencer County students now live in Shelby County Mina Schelling has lived in Spencer County for a few years, but now she's being told she actually lives in Shelby County. June 11, 2024 Mina Schelling flipped through aerial photos of her subdivision at her kitchen table. "So, right here is Spencer," she said pointing to Hochstrasser Road. "Our (school) bus stop is right here." She pointed to the front edge of her property. "Technically, it's in Shelby County," she said. "But all the kids walk up to my house to get on the bus to go to Spencer County." "I know theyve said you vote where you lay your head down at night," Schelling said. "If I have to go and pitch a tent in the backyard thats in Spencer County, I will do it." She and her husband moved to the house five years ago for the school system. Based on the new maps, Spencer County schools superintendent Willie Foster said about 40 of the district's students are technically Shelby County residents. "There are two things you can mess with that are pretty personal: your home and your child," Foster said. "Our job is to do whatever we can to help and support these families getting information and processing that one step at a time." In a June 3 letter, Foster told parents that transportation to impacted areas will not change, and bus routes will remain active but may be adjusted due to capacity. Spencer County schools will allow any of the affected students to continue in the district for the upcoming school year. If a non-resident wanted to attend school in Shelby County, the tuition would be $3,200. Schelling is worried that if nothing is resolved and they do become permanent Shelby County residents, the Spencer County school board could vote to charge a similar tuition. "I cannot afford that," Schelling said. "Had I wanted to do that, I would have put them in St. Michaels down the street, like some of our neighbors have. For us, Spencer County Schools was the biggest sense of community." She was looking to run for the school's PTA. Now she isn't sure what to do. Shelby voters may get the final say State Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, is trying to figure out how to keep current Spencer County residents from becoming Shelby countians. June 11, 2024 Rep. Tipton walked down Main Street in Taylorsville, a folder stuffed with property drawings and deeds tucked under his arm. When not working on his farm in the last month, he's been in the deed room in Spencer County, getting the exact legal language of each plot of land. While the deeds show that the land is in Spencer County, Tipton says if you look at the county map in either PVA office, the land has always been in Shelby County another complicating factor for the residents. The residents will need that legal language to create the petition that says they want to stay in Spencer County. The petition will have to be signed by 51% of the affected residents and placed on Ison's desk the first week of August. From there, Ison can place the issue on the November ballot. But even if it's successful, the Kentucky Association of Counties told the county judge execs the legislature will likely have to take action since county boundaries are part of state law. This means the Spencer County decision will be left to Shelby County citizens and lawmakers in Frankfort. "The people who are voting on this are the people who aren't going to care about this," Sweazy said. "Why in the world if I live somewhere in the middle of Shelby County would I care about a couple of houses down here?" According to language added to the Kentucky Constitution in 1891: "There shall be no territory stricken from any county unless a majority of the voters living in such territory shall petition for such division." In 1963, a portion of Russell County, known as the Jabez Precinct, petitioned to leave Russell and join Pulaski County. The state Court of Appeals ordered the county judge to place it on the ballot in 1964, but today, Jabez remains part of Russell County, separated by Lake Cumberland from the rest of the county and immediate emergency services. Betty and Bud Ridgeway have lived in Spencer County for many years and don't want to be forced into Shelby County's borders. June 11, 2024 Sitting at the kitchen table inside Bud and Betty Ridgeway's home, the neighbors recently discussed the sticks and stones they have called home when Bud proposed a solution. "You could always take (your) pontoon, put a house on it and call it Spencer County," he said to Tony Sweazy. "Can I back it in the pond in your backyard?" Sweazy asked, laughing. "Well, no wait, your yard is in Shelby County." An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the results of the 1960s effort to change the Russell/Pulaski county border. Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative reporter. She can be reached at skuzydym@courier-journal.com. Follow her for updates at @stephkuzy. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Spencer-Shelby County Kentucky border issue affects hundreds Hungarian PM hesitates to condemn Russian strike on Okhmatdyt hospital, calls for "ceasefire" instead Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, made his first comment on the Russian strike on the Okhmadyt childrens hospital in the city of Kyiv more than a day after it occurred. Source: European Pravda with reference to Orbans comment on X (Twitter) Details: Orban did not express his condolences to those killed and injured in Russias missile strike in his tweet, nor did he mention that Russia was behind this strike. The Hungarian PM only mentioned "tragic and heinous attack in Kyiv" which proves that "the brutality of the Russia-Ukraine war has reached a new level", he posted. "This is precisely why we embarked on a peace mission 9 days ago. The growing intensity of the war is a call for global powers to abandon their war policy and instead create a peace policy to guide Russia and Ukraine into a ceasefire and peace talks," Orban added. The rest of European leaders clearly condemned the Russian attack on Okhmatdyt and expressed their condolences to the victims. Orbans rival Peter Magyar announced the collection of humanitarian aid for Ukrainian children and prepared to go to Kyiv with a batch of medical equipment. Gergely Karacsony, mayor of Budapest, condemned Russian large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities, mainly on the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv, and criticised Orban for his visit to Moscow. Support UP or become our patron! Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting in Moscow. Hungary's Orban justifies Moscow visit in leaked letter to EU leaders. -/Kremlin/dpa Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban justified his unannounced trip to Russia by citing the economic impact of the Ukraine war on the European Union, in a letter obtained by dpa on Tuesday. "The negative economic effects of the war place a great burden on the everyday lives of our citizens and on the competitiveness of the EU," Orban said in the report, dated July 5, and addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and EU leaders. Orban visited Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately after his first visit to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Hungary is viewed in the EU as close to Russia and Orban's short report adopted wholesale Putin's view of the Ukraine war and shared unrealistically high Russian estimates of Ukrainian casualties. Putin believes time is on Russia's side in the conflict, Orban said, and reported the Russian president's surprise that Ukraine had not accepted recent offers of a ceasefire and peace negotiations. Orban repeated Putin's expectation of a rapid collapse of Ukraine in the coming months. This is despite a major Russian offensive on Kharkiv grinding to a halt and wider Ukrainian victories in Crimea. The Russian president has consistently linked conditions he has determined for an end to the war with the idea it would be better to accept them before the situation in Ukraine deteriorates further. In his letter, the Hungarian premier told fellow EU leaders that based on his talks with Putin, "there is now a greater chance" for a ceasefire and a path towards peace talks." He urged the bloc to take the initiative in pushing for a ceasefire, as Washington is increasingly focused on the upcoming presidential elections. "Political leadership provided by the United States is limited, due to the ongoing election campaign," Orban noted. Hurricane Beryl brought heavy rain, widespread flooding and powerful winds across southeast Texas, knocking out power for roughly 2.7 million customers in the state and killing at least seven people as of Tuesday morning, Harris County officials confirmed. The deadly Category 1 hurricane weakened into a tropical storm and was then downgraded to a tropical depression on Tuesday, but the impacts on the state and its logistics operations have lingered. More from Sourcing Journal Port Houston, the largest port in Texas and the fifth largest by annual container traffic in the U.S., remains closed. According to a notice, the port has continued to assess and repair damage and will send an update by 4 p.m. Central Time Tuesday if there are any further disruptions to operations for Wednesday. In a Sunday analysis, supply chain visibility platform Project44 said it expected to see impacts in the vessel volume, dwell times and berthing times of ports throughout Texas due to the closures, particularly at the Port of Houston, potentially affecting various industries and exacerbating challenges during the peak shipping season for holiday goods. Project44 said that more than 250 vessels were close to the path of Beryl. Jon Davis, chief meteorologist at Everstream Analytics, told Sourcing Journal on Monday that the hurricane-related delayed reopenings would likely be a two-to-three-day situation, saying that he expected ports throughout the state should resume operations [Tuesday], or at the latest, on Wednesday. Galveston Harbor and port operations will also remain closed as the port and federal agencies assess the impact of Beryl, the port said in a post on X. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to begin surveying federal portions of the waterways on Tuesday. The Port of Corpus Christi reported no significant impact and reopened for normal operations on Tuesday. The ports channel reopened after the U.S. Coast Guard rescinded the port condition Zulu for the waterway. While Zulu was in place, no vessels could enter or transit through the port without the permission of the Coast Guard. The Corpus Christi opening appears to bring good news for the remaining ports as they determine whether they should reopen. On the land-based logistics front, Maersk reported that a number of its Houston-based facilities and teams have been impacted by power loss. In addition, some local trucking operations facilities are without power as well, but expect to resume operations once Port Houstons terminal gates open. Less-than-truckload (LTL) services provider Estes Express Lines said its terminals in Houston and West Houston remain closed as of Tuesday, while its Corpus Christi and Temple facilities were operating under limited service. Rival trucking firm Old Dominion says it is operating at 60 percent in South Houston, with moderate service delays, and at 30 percent in Houston and North Houston. After shuttering its Pearland Intermodal Facility in Houston on Sunday, BNSF Railway reiterated late Monday that the terminal will be closed until it is safe to resume operations. A Union Pacific representative told Sourcing Journal that the railroad is now operating again in the previously suspended 340-mile stretch between Brownsville and Angleton, Texas. Our team is working to finish clearing the remaining tree debris from the tracks, said the UP rep. With electricity still out in many locations, were deploying generators in the field in order to restore signals so that operations can resume. As of 7 p.m. Monday, both Houston airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, had restored full operations. Hundreds of flights were cancelled Monday morning as Beryl made landfall on the shoreline. Davis said he started advising clients to adjust their logistics operations nearly two weeks ago, when Beryl was crossing the Atlantic toward the Caribbean, since Everstream works with companies located in, or have exposure in, the region. The rapid intensification of Beryl both in the Atlantic and in the Caribbean due to the extremely warm ocean temperatures was record breaking and an item of concern; this storm has consistently had a history, Davis said. Since this storm consistently overperformed computer guidance, this was one of the messagesimpacts will likely be more significant than the computer guidance forecast. That was the case in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and parts of Texas today. Davis noted Monday that no infrastructure damage had initially been expected from the storm, but the hurricane did end up having a wider impact than expected due to storm surge flooding and flash flooding, according to CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint Energy, which serves as the primary electricity provider of the Houston metropolitan area, noted in a press release that the hurricane veered off the originally expected course and more heavily impacted the companys customers, systems and infrastructure than previously anticipated. As of Tuesday morning, CenterPoint said 1.78 million people were still without power. OTTAWA COUNTY Remnants of Hurricane Beryl are barreling toward Michigan and Ottawa County is expected to get heavy rain and possibly flooding. The storm swept through Texas on Monday, causing four deaths and leaving more than 2.7 million without power. The storm first hit Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Granadines last week and at least 11 people were killed in Mexico and the Caribbean before the storm reached Texas, according to USA Today. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage Heavy rains starting Tuesday night and continuing through Wednesday are expected to cause flash flooding in several southern Michigan counties, including Ottawa, according to the National Weather Service. NWS said residents should monitor the forecast and those living in flood-prone areas should be prepared to take action. Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hurricane Beryl remnants threaten lakeshore with heavy rain, flooding The West Virginia Public Service Commission has filed new fire hydrant rules that are out for pubic comment following a statewide review of all hydrants. (Leann Ray | West Virginia Watch) The West Virginia Public Service Commission last week filed newly proposed rules for the regulation and maintenance of the states fire hydrants following a state-wide audit and investigation into their operations. The new rules would require water systems in the state that operate hydrants to conduct annual inspections for all fire hydrants and hold flow testing at least every five years to ensure water pressure and flow is enough to help in extinguishing a fire. They also increase reporting requirements for water utilities and could implement fines for those that fail to include information in their mandated annual reports. The rules which came from a task force that launched last June in response to several reports that active fire hydrants in the state did not have enough flow capacity for firefighters to use them are out for public comment until the end of July. They will then be reviewed by the Public Service Commission for passage. Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, participated in the Fire Hydrant Maintenance and Testing Task Force meetings and has been a proponent for updates to maintenance requirements through his work at the Legislature. He said the resulting proposed rules were a good work product and touched on several areas he was concerned about. Im pleased with what weve put forward and how those discussions have gone over the past few months, Linville said. Ultimately, were trying to get to the root of the problem here. We want to have working hydrants all across the state where you see them and you know, if you need, they are capable of being used to put out a fire. The proposed update to maintenance and reporting requirements, which included public marking of hydrants that are not up to standards, will help alleviate community concerns by increasing oversight, Linville said. But concerns remain about how potential increases in inspections and maintenance will be paid for. The only thing Id like to see a little bit more discussion on is the billing, Linville said. Thats the one thing that wasnt really discussed in this taskforce much, and there is a larger body of law and rules surrounding [rate increases] at the PSC. Id like to see that developed a bit more. West Virginia is home to more than 250 water systems, most of which are public. A majority of those are considered small or medium districts, serving a couple thousand residents across small regions. Customers paying their bills provide the only source of income for many of these water districts, meaning when improvements or changes are needed, the increase in prices are often passed off to ratepayers. Through the PSC, districts must apply to increase rates, providing an explanation for what the increased income would go to and how that would improve service to their customers. Most rate cases are approved by the PSC, though usually at a lower rate than initially applied for. While some grants and many loans are available through the state at the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council and the Water Development Authority, among other sources to help offset costs of water system maintenance and improvements, the interest on those loans can be massive for small systems and, again, become the responsibility of the ratepayers due to a lack of other income. During the 2024 regular legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill sponsored by Linville requiring the PSC to create and implement the rules that are now proposed. They did not, however, include in that legislation funding to help with the testing or potential replacement of hydrants that are not up to standards. This was despite a request from PSC officials before the start of the session for money to be allocated for those purposes, citing a report stating that $70 million would be needed over the next 10 years to make all hydrants operational. While utilities have been told that they can use some money theyve put away in special funds only to be accessed with PSC approval for some parts of the maintenance efforts, its unlikely that most small districts where infrastructure problems tend to be more widespread will have enough stored up to cover all the costs. In a fire hydrant task force meeting in April, members of the group confirmed that the cost of improving maintenance and oversight for fire hydrants will likely be on the backs of customers because of the lack of legislative funding. The [PSC] requested the Legislature to consider funding [to bring all hydrants up to date], but we didnt get the funding. So thats the end of that, said Jonathan Fowler, an engineer with the PSC, at that meeting. The cost to apply these rules will be billed into rates moving forward. West Virginians, on average, already pay some of the highest water utility rates in the country. As of 2019, residents paid the highest average water bill than any other state, at about $91 per a month, according to data from the National Association of Water Companies. Those rates with or without the added costs for hydrant upgrades will likely increase in coming years as the states water infrastructure continues to age and a majority of funding for upgrades comes through burdensome, often high-interest loans instead of grants. Dilapidated and aging water infrastructure is also a hindrance to economic development in the state in addition to presenting challenges with public safety and health. Fewer working hydrants means higher fire risk, leading to increases in insurance rates and potentially a decrease in property values. They can also and often do cost residents their lives. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, West Virginias rate of casualties from all fires is annually more than double the national average. In 2022, according to the agency, about 7.8% of emergency calls in West Virginia were for fires, compared to just 3.7% of emergency calls made nationwide. Linville said efforts are underway to increase access to grants for both water projects and other necessary infrastructure upgrades throughout the state. The more preventative work that can be done to maintain water systems and their hydrants would potentially make the overall cost less, but its still costly. We are working more now through grants and trying to be a little more forward thinking about how to avert having to only handle these situations when they hit crisis level, Linville said. Even with grants, well, somebody paid for that. Were trying to walk and chew gum at the same time. Were trying to solve the problems and avoid them happening again in the future, and that is difficult to do when the costs are so high. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker stands by the president: Joe Biden is going to be our nominee Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday stood solidly behind President Joe Biden in the governors first public comments since he and other Democratic governors met with the president last week amid calls from leaders within the party for Biden to step aside. The president did a great job of answering questions throughout that meeting. Listen, Joe Biden is our nominee. I am for Joe Biden. Ive been campaigning for Joe Biden. I think youve seen Ive got dates scheduled to go to Indiana, to Ohio, for Joe Biden, so Joe Biden is going to be our nominee, Pritzker said following an event on the West Side. But as at least one other high-profile Democratic governor has vowed not to run for president should Biden have a change of heart and drop out, Pritzker declined to take such a pledge. Im not engaging in any hypotheticals. You can see that Im all in for Joe Biden. Joe Biden is going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party. Im going to go out there and wholeheartedly campaign for him, Pritzker said. Pritzkers comments were his first since a White House meeting last week between Biden and Democratic governors from across the nation following Bidens dismal performance at a June 27 debate against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. After that meeting, Pritzkers campaign released only a short statement saying only the roughly 90-minute meeting was candid and (Pritzker) appreciated hearing directly from the president. In addition to being governor of the sixth-largest state in the nation, the billionaire Illinois governor has been in the national spotlight both as a possible future presidential candidate and as the governor hosting the Democratic National Convention, which will take place in Chicago next month. Pritzker has been discussed nationally as a possible replacement for Biden should the president step aside. So too has Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, another high-profile Democrat who recently shut down the idea that she might become a presidential candidate this year if Biden were to step down. Pritzker on Tuesday also discounted the notion of what would be an historic brokered convention. "I dont expect that to happen, Pritzker said. Were going to have an orderly convention. Pritzker acknowledged that he wants Biden to go out there and answer all the questions people have given his poor debate performance, which led to concerns about the viability of the 81-year-old presidents candidacy against Trump, 78. But Biden, while admitting he admitted he did poorly in the debate, has insisted hell remain in the race. Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley is among small group of national Democrats to publicly call for Biden to step aside. Others, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, have continued to throw support behind Biden, Pritzker noted. Its not unreasonable for people to have differing opinions about all of this, Pritzker said in response to Quigleys comments. But I know Mike Quigley. I know he does not want Donald Trump to become president of the United States. The governors comments Tuesday also came shortly after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons office confirmed the mayor will join a call with Biden and other Democratic mayors Tuesday evening. Pritzker is among those who make up a broad bench of Democrats whose names have been floated as a possible replacement for Biden or as a future Democratic nominee. Hes raised his national profile significantly in recent years, serving as a Biden surrogate and backing abortion rights initiatives through his national organization, Think Big America. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sought last weeks meeting between Biden and Democratic governors after Bidens stumbling debate performance June 27. Unlike Michigans Whitmer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who also has been mentioned as a potential Biden replacement, Pritzker did not offer a strong statement in support of the president immediately after the meeting. On Tuesday, Pritzker said supportive comments from Walz, whos the head of the Democratic Governors Association, and two other governors following the meeting represented the entire group. Some werent able to be at the White House and some of us had to go catch a plane, Pritzker said, alluding to his absence at that press conference. The truth is that it was, I think, a robust discussion, and I just wanted to be accurate about how I recorded what happened in that meeting, Pritzker said Tuesday. _____ Illinois to switch from SAT to ACT for assessments Illinois to switch from SAT to ACT for assessments Illinois high school students will no longer have to take the SAT. The Illinois State Board of Education announced it is switching from the SAT to the ACT for the yearly high school assessment required by and paid for by the state. Illinois uses the exams to determine how students and districts are doing and if theyre meeting academic standards. One of the reasons for the switch is that the ACT has a science component, and the SAT does not. For more information, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Immigration visas can take decades. Just ask this Sacramento mother waiting for her son Rasia Sharaz Wells happily paid the $355 to file an immigration petition for her son 14 years ago. Wells was hopeful her son, whom she had left behind in Kyrgyzstan their home country in Central Asia would arrive within a few years. Today, Wells, 68, is still waiting while her sons file inches through a backlog. Authorities have only recently started issuing green cards to people in his immigration category, but that offers no clear indication for when he might receive legal status. The legal way is not working, Wells said, speaking from her home in Natomas. I dont know what to do. Wells more than decade-long wait is not uncommon. As politicians continue to debate immigration policies, Americans seeking green cards for their relatives languish in backlogs of a broken system. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had 391,000 family petitions cases backlogged as of September 2023. For some people, it will take more than two decades to receive their green card. In Wells case, she is particularly frustrated with what she calls an unfair immigration system. She references the thousands of migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border over the last decade without legal status. Wells has even heard of families from Kyrgyzstan flying to Mexico and spending tens of thousands of dollars to get assistance to cross the border. All the while, her son Nurbek Jumataev, 45, must wait because she has wanted to do it the honest way. I am a human being, Wells said. I can be jealous. Why not? Jumataev, who only speaks Russian, responded to translated questions over WhatsApp. Fourteen years is a long time, and its not easy, he said. We didnt know that it would last this long. Nurbek Jumataev, 45, has been waiting for his green card. His mother Rasia Wells filed an immigration petition in. October 2010. Immigration system is so broken Wells arrived in California in 2000 via an immigration visa. She left Kyrgyzstan to provide a better life for her three children. The mountainous country, formerly part of the Soviet Union, borders China on the east and south. It began a sharp economic decline in the mid-1990s, which led to a wave of Kyrgyzstan migrants moving to the U.S. I was so happy to work and send money to my kids to go to school, Wells recalled. She spent years living away from her family and working multiple jobs cleaning houses and hotels, child care and at gas stations. In between, she enrolled in community college classes to learn English. This must be the way all immigrants come up, Wells said, reminiscing of her days working long hours. Like many immigrants, Wells aspired to reunite with her children. Her first attempt to bring a child over was in 2004, when Wells youngest daughter gained a visa to enter the country. The then-16-year-old was given priority because of her underage status. But Wells son, who was in his mid-20s at the time, remained in Kyrgyzstan. Rasia Wells, 68, and her husband Ron, 79, describe in May their 14-year effort to help Rasias son legally immigrate United States. Rasia said she is jealous of families who enter the country illegally. Wells continued to wait until she met her husband in 2008. When the couple married, Wells gained U.S. citizenship. Using this new legal status, Wells filed a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, in October 2010. The form is used by U.S. citizens trying to obtain a green card for a family relative including husbands, wives, children, parents, brothers and sisters. The lawyer helping with the application assured her it would take seven or eight years to obtain the visa, Wells said. What she didnt know was that this family-based immigration avenue had been backlogged for decades because of federal limitations and high demand. Lack of immigration reform has worsened the issue. The average wait time to apply for a green card doubled from 1991 to 2018, according to the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. In that time, the U.S. has not updated its green card cap, the maximum number that can be issued annually. This (wait) is very normal, said local immigration attorney Kishwer Vikaas. I hate to say it, but our immigration system is so broken. For certain immigrants, like Jumataev, the average wait time for a green card rose by nearly 12 years. Jumataevs wait is particularly long because of his age and marital status. Family-sponsored visas are divided into preference classes, with certain categories having priority. As a married man older than 21, Jumataev is in the third preference class. Only siblings of U.S. citizens have lower priority. Visas for married children of U.S. citizens are capped at 23,400 per year across all countries. There is a recent sliver of hope for Wells, per a U.S. State Department bulletin that advises applicants when they can expect their visas. As of this month, authorities are issuing visas to people in Jumataevs category who applied in October 2010. In an email statement, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said visa records are confidential under law and details of individual cases could not be discussed. But Jumataev is luckier than other applicants from countries with higher visa demands. Authorities begun issuing visas this month to Mexicans in Jamataevs preference category. Those applications were filed in April 2001. Immigration should work Over the years, Wells has tried to temper her frustration with the immigration system despite her son missing many family milestones weddings, birthdays and graduations. But recently, Wells said she cant help her feelings of jealousy when hearing reports about migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Negative sentiments toward the border and migrants have risen recently among all Americans, including within communities of color. Experts and advocates note these feelings are often misguided and stem from growing economic inequality. She seems to know more people that didnt follow the rules who got to come here than people who do follow the rules, said her husband, Ronald Wells. The family even explored the possibility of doing the same after hearing stories of Kyrgyzstan families paying thousands of dollars to reach the United States via Mexico. These families will often start their journeys in Russia and pay for flights to Mexico, Wells said. Potential costs quickly ended that idea. Wells said she has heard families are being charged between $10,000 to $15,000 per person. She already sends back money to help her son, who works as a trucker and makes about $400 a month. Plus, Wells is determined to follow the rules. But even now, with the most recent U.S. State Department bulletin, Wells remains cautious. Im afraid to get excited, until we get the visa, Wells said. Then, I will be happy. Theres no trust. The 68-year-old dreads the possibility of her death, which until recently would have automatically ended her sons I-130 petition. An option now exists, which would require applicants to submit a humanitarian reinstatement to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Requests are determined by the USCIS office and, in most cases, applicants cant appeal the decision. Timing for these decisions vary. Immigration should work, she said. They just cant forget the citizens here. On April 19, villagers of the Solomon Islands helped Chinese company unloaded materials for building the National Broadband Network Project from a ship. (Photo by China Harbor Engineering Company handout via Xinhua) China's assistance to the Solomon Islands' National Broadband Network Project, jointly implemented by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., is a landmark project for cooperation between the two countries. by Zhang Jianhua, Zhang Na HONIARA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Near a scattering of once-isolated villages just 30 km from Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, metal pylons are being erected to weave a modern network for the South Pacific country. The communication base stations are spotted through palm groves and sparsely populated grass huts, next to ancient rainforest. China's assistance to the Solomon Islands' National Broadband Network Project, jointly implemented by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., is a landmark project for cooperation between the two countries. The project plans to construct 161 3G/4G wireless communication base stations on 35 major islands in the Solomon Islands' nine provinces. The construction, to last for three years, started on Aug. 28, 2023, with the first telecommunication tower launched on March 22 in Sali village. In a country of more than 900 islands, widespread poverty makes it difficult for people to meet and engage with the outside world. Huawei's project leader Zhao Xin recalled that when he went to the Russell Islands where a base station is being built, a teacher in the village said she really looked forward to the completion of the base station earlier. The teacher bought a smartphone to facilitate her teaching, but only to find there was almost no signal on the island, and she had to walk for half an hour on the mountain road with her cellphone, and then took a boat ride for more than an hour before she could find a place with a weak signal. Wang Xingya, general manager of China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (Solomon Islands), said the farthest island where base stations are being built is about 1,100 km away from the capital by aerial distance. But if by boat, when things go well, it would be a round trip of two weeks. Half of the 161 base stations are more than 600 km away from the capital, which means around three days of boat trip, Wang said, citing difficulties such as remoteness, high temperature and rains, mosquito infestation and lack of resources, among others. Many islands did not have decent wharves, so components had to be transported by hand, he said. In addition to connecting more islands to broadband network, Wang said the project has trained telecommunications engineering professionals and created more than 3,000 long and short-term jobs. Philsworth Avui, a 26-year-old from a remote village called Longgu, has grown from a college graduate into an experienced project manager. "I'm grateful for China's support for the project, and for the communication channels built for local people and economy," Avui said. Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Cai Weiming said the national broadband network project in the Solomon Islands will facilitate the flow of information and friendship and provide a more balanced distribution of development opportunities, demonstrating the appealing prospects of Belt and Road cooperation. Ben Dabughau, 34, a worker in a palm plantation near Sali village, said in the past he had to walk up 2 or 3 km in the direction of the capital to get a signal. "No one is happy about this. My eldest son is now a security guard at the base station and has a regular monthly income. I hope my children, or their children, will go out to see the world outside this wilderness and palm groves," Dabughau told Xinhua. The immortal Gods alone have neither age nor death: Wisdom from Greek tragedies for Joe Biden President Joe Bidens current fraught situation, showcasing both his weakness and his determination, is dramatic because it touches upon more than the political moment and more than one mans character. After his disastrous debate performance sparked calls for him to step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate, Bidens position is not only inextricably entangled with issues of temperament and family dynamics. Theres also the challenge of making a crucial decision swiftly, at a moment when no decision is easy or clearly right. And thats not all. Biden has come to symbolize both the biological challenges and the existential poignancy of aging of aging in power, certainly, but also just the unrelenting wear and tear of growing old. The pressure of all these factors makes Biden a tragic figure. Others reluctant to step down To see this clamorous moment in the light of the past doesnt make living in the present easier, but it does widen the perspective. Biden is far from the first person in a position of power who has been reluctant to step down even when common sense or sheer weariness might dictate otherwise. In recent history, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is often cited as an unfortunate example, and there are many other figures historians can cite. Literature has always been concerned not only with people in power but also with the life cycle and the complexities of family relationships. Myths stay fresh and timeless; as we age, our understanding of a myth may change. As the poet Eavan Boland writes in The Pomegranate: And the best thing about the legend is I can enter it anywhere. And have. The immense cohort of aging baby boomers, of whom I am one, is likely to sympathize with Biden because he has come to symbolize the vulnerability of aging vulnerability to humiliation and, more subtly, to isolation. Tonya Morris reacts at Tillies Lounge in Cincinnati during the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, on June 27, 2024. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster Age is not protection against suffering Greek poets like Homer and Sophocles present old age realistically. In Homers Iliad, the elderly Nestor endlessly reminisces. Although listened to respectfully, he is a figure from an earlier generation whose role in war has dwindled to that of counselor. Priam, the old king of Troy, heartbroken after the death of his son Hector, still finds the energy to berate his surviving sons as they clumsily hitch the mules that will draw the cart loaded with ransom so Priam can redeem his dead sons body from the warrior who killed him, Achilles. The subsequent moment of recognition between Priam and Achilles is one of the most poignant in literature, not least because the sight of old Priam reminds Achilles of his own aged father. Achilles might be expected to be enraged, but seeing Priam turns his anger to grief. Achilles knows he wont see his father, Peleus, again. Being old is no protection against suffering; the aged Priam, mourning his son Hector, is assailed by the same desolate grief as Achilles. In Shakespeares Henry IV, the once jovial and resilient Falstaff, publicly rejected and insulted by Prince Hal, is old, vulnerable and alone. Macbeth, widowed and isolated, seems to have aged decades in the course of the play; he thinks forlornly of the comforts old age might be expected to provide: honor, love, obedience, troops of friends. King Lear opens the tragedy named for him by ostensibly retiring. He announces his intent/To shake all cares and business from our age,/Committing them to younger strengths, while we/Unburdened crawl toward death. But Lear refuses to cede control. Finally, as he sinks into confusion, he discovers humility and compassion too late. Lear is reunited in prison with his loyal daughter Cordelia, who hasnt been afraid to speak truth to power but who also has never ceased to love him but she is summarily executed, and Lear, heartbroken, dies. Decision requires rare detachment Political commentator Bill Maher has called ageism the last respectable prejudice. Its as if age and its accompanying disabilities create a force field keeping others at a distance. Or perhaps age bestows a universally recognized vulnerability on people who seemed powerful. Either way, old people can seem somehow separated from the rest of us. Its hard even to imagine President Biden alone; on the contrary, he is apparently surrounded by loyal family and advisers. But the vulnerability of old age was on full display in the first presidential debate. News reports convey how hard it has become for anyone outside Bidens tight circle to really see or know him. One of the countless contrasts between Biden and Donald Trump is Bidens almost sphinxlike unknowability, especially now. With Trump, as has frequently been noted, what you see is what you get. For better or for worse, his qualities are consistently on full display. Age has been traditionally associated with wisdom, yet the wisdom old age can bestow seems out of reach for a figure still in the thick of politics. Lears all-licensed Fool rebukes the king: Thou shouldst not have been old till thou had been wise. Only withdrawing from the fray might bestow some tranquility. But the vision to make the difficult decision to withdraw requires a kind of detachment that seems to be very rare in history, and not common in literature either. The aged and blind Oedipus at Colonus, in an 1800 drawing by Bertel Thorvaldsen, says, The immortal Gods alone have neither age nor death! All other things almighty Time disquiets. Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Almighty time disquiets Greek tragedy does offer an eloquent example of just such wisdom. Sophocless Oedipus at Colonus is a play about an old man written by an old man Sophocles was in his 90s when the drama was presented. The aged, self-blinded and self-exiled former king Oedipus, guided by his loyal daughter, finds himself in Colonus, a holy district outside Athens. When Theseus, the ruler of Athens, arrives on the scene, Oedipuss words to him transcend both the immediate situation and Oedipuss dire backstory. The immortal Gods alone have neither age nor death! All other things almighty Time disquiets. Earth wastes away; the body wastes away; Faith dies, distrust is born. And imperceptibly the spirit changes Between a man and his friend, or between two cities . but time goes on, Unmeasured Time, fathering numberless Nights, unnumbered days . By touching upon the shared human condition of mortality, as well as another universal, the inevitability of change, this speech bestows a stark tranquility on the situation. Oedipus knows that he has come to Colonus to die, and his words convey a vision that seems to issue from beyond the grave. His detachment has an authority that now seems almost out of the reach of any of us, let alone a politician. But its good to remember that such qualities exist. Of course this is a different moment. The looming juggernaut that Trump represents makes it hard for Bidens supporters, or any Democrats, to be calm. Nevertheless, its useful to think about the potential strengths, as well as the vulnerabilities, of age. The widespread anxiety now rampant among Bidens supporters is sometimes mocked as unjustified panic. Time, as Oedipus might remind us, will tell. I personally find this anxiety touching and heartening for its humanity; theres widespread compassion for Bidens vulnerability. In the ugly spectacle of American politics, its hard to keep humanity in sight. Literature can remind us of what we already know about growing old, about change, and about mortality. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Rachel Hadas, Rutgers University - Newark. Read more: Rachel Hadas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. ZANESVILLE Laura Tompkins is a Blue Devil through and through. Shes taught in almost every building in the Zanesville City School District and was most recently its high school principal from 2016 to 2020. Starting this next school year, shell be the superintendent, bringing her journey full circle. Laura Tompkins We have great students and teachers, said Tompkins, who has already endured the first major task of her job settling contract negotiations with the Zanesville Education Association using a federal mediator June 25. Our community as a whole is wonderful. Despite the love, Tompkins said the very first thing she feels compelled to address is communication, or rather the lack of it across the district. Thats one of my priorities, said Tompkins. I dont think we share enough with our community, inside or outside the buildings. One way she plans to start combating the lack of communication is by being physically present in the buildings. I plan to be in the schools. I plan to be at student events. I plan to be present and have an open-door policy going forward, which I think is very important, said Tompkins. I plan to be collaborative. And I expect us to be more collaborative within our district. Collaboration and communication are going to be key as we move forward. Building relationships She said it all boils down to relationships. Im a believer in building relationships, said Tompkins. If you dont have a relationship with students as a teacher theres not going to be buy in. Relationships are more important now than ever. If students dont feel that you care about them, you have lost them. She said caring about students is one thing Zanesville has in spades. Our educators not only support them academically, but they support our students socially and emotionally, said Tompkins. They create great relationships with kids. Students here feel that school is safe space. Feeling safe is a necessary aspect of school these days, said Tompkins. She laments that Zanesville works with multiple mental health providers locally to ensure kids get the help they need when they need it most. Some of our kids have had a lot of trauma and they need all that extra support at school, said Tompkins. We are trying to bring all those wrap-around services to these students social, emotional, and physical needs. She said Zanesvilles food program is one of the best to ensure students arent going hungry during the school day. We obtain a (food program) grant every year so our children have breakfast and lunch, said Tompkins. Knowing that you dont have to come up with lunch money every single day is a bonus. She said Zanesvilles socioeconomic and cultural diversity is what makes it strong. At Zanesville, we pride ourselves on being committed to our diversity, said Tompkins. Our community and staff represent a wide array of cultures, communities, and perspectives. Beyond demographics, our commitment to diversity is reflected in our courses and student body. We make sure everybody has an opportunity to explore the things theyre interested in without impediment. That is, so long as they have a robust student body. Decreasing population Like many school districts across northern Appalachia, populations are aging and either growing at a much slower pace than the national average or declining overall. The Appalachian Region Commission notes that while southern Appalachia in areas like Georgia showed growth rates much higher than the national average of 7.3 percent at 10.3 percent between 2010-2021, northern Appalachia, including Ohio, lost population at a -2.4 to -2.6 percent. In Muskingum County, the population growth was only .2 percent. Guernsey County saw a decline by -4.6 percent; Coshocton County saw a -.9 percent decline; Perry County declined by -1.6 percent; Morgan County declined by -9 percent; and Noble County declined by -3.3 percent. In addition, Appalachia aged up to an average of 41.3 years. Just last month, East Muskingum School District, also in Muskingum County, closed Pike Elementary and consolidated the districts K-2 elementary buildings due to population decline, according to Superintendent Dave Adams. We have been closely monitoring a decline in our native enrollment, which is incoming residential people within East Muskingum boundaries, Adams previously said. Two years ago, there were eight classrooms (K-2). Due to our enrollment numbers, now weve reduced to seven. In 1999, East Muskingum had 2,340 native students, said Adams. In 2024, 1,840 students are native to the district, while 300 are open enrollment students, a total of only 2,140 students. Tompkins said shes seeing similar issues in Zanesville. Being more competitive With Zanesville being landlocked, we cant grow, she said. Unfortunately, when families build a new house, they do it outside of our boundary lines. Tompkins said shes working with city leaders including Dana Matz at the Chamber of Commerce, who just commissioned a housing study. I believe (Mayor Don Mason) understands we need some housing, said Tompkins. Theyve taken and improved some properties and theyre building apartments. I dont think its just us that realizes theres a housing shortage; the city understands we have a problem. Tompkins, like many Appalachian leaders across the state, is hoping the Licking County Intel plant causes an influx of families that boosts the economy and district numbers. We will get some of those residents, said Tompkins. For now, were aware of the issue and were being proactive when and how we can. While Tompkins may not have control over the housing issue, she does have control over the school programming that could make Zanesville a competitive district for more families to move there for. We are in a very exciting phase, she said. We are remaking our library space into a space that is going to help us with different pathways for our students. She said shes working with 5Bs to build an apprenticeship program, as well as with the city of Zanesville where 23 students last year gained valuable work experience. Were really digging into the question of How can we get our students ready for college or a competitive job in the workforce when they graduate? said Tompkins, adding theyre working on pathways for video, photography, biomedical services, education, and robotics. We are right on the edge of doing amazing things so that we can make our students more competitive in the workforce. She said right now Zanesville lacks a multitude of business partnerships that help create these types of workforce programs but shes working on it. We are really going to start talking to juniors and seniors and asking them what they want in a pathway that prepares them for college or the workforce, said Tompkins. Our students have such a passion, and we want to encourage and develop those passions. Supporting students and educators And so much of that support starts at home and comes to the school. The job of an educator has changed tremendously. Students dont just show up in class and learn what you teach, said Tompkins. They have to be fed, they have to be mentally okay. Home dynamics have changed. And the drug problem in our area has had an impact on our students. We have to support our families in a better, more meaningful way. She said Zanesville schools have to become a bigger part of the community. We have to be the central hub, said Tompkins. I dont think parents and grandparents know how to support mental health issues or some of these other, bigger issues. And we have to ask the question: How can the school provide a venue for a bigger platform, for a bigger conversation about that? She said that big thinking also requires her as a superintendent to look inside the walls of her buildings and ask the question: How can I support my educators? I think our teachers get tired. And they get overwhelmed with everything theyre charged with accomplishing, said Tompkins, adding that the state and federal education departments need to find a more equal way to disperse funding that takes schools like Zanesville and the unique problems they face in Appalachia, into consideration. Until they understand that its not equal across the board, its going to be harder and harder in southeastern Ohio to support our students and teachers the way they need supported, said Tompkins. Its hard to look the same (as richer school districts in Columbus) when youre dependent on a tax-based revenue system. It makes it difficult and challenging. Tompkins said her role is to know and understand those issues and find a way to support her staff. We need to support (our educators) and make sure they have what they need to be successful in the classroom, she said. No matter the challenges and opportunities, Tompkins is ready to start her reign this school year. Im from Zanesville. Ive worked in Zanesville my entire life, and Im ready to lead the district, said Tompkins. Were on the cusp of greatness. And I cant wait to get started. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: New superintendent: Zanesville City Schools on cusp of greatness Indian Prime Minister urges Putin to end war in Ukraine saying that solution cannot be found on battlefield At a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged him to end the war in Ukraine. He told Putin that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. Source: NDTV Details: During an informal meeting with Putin, Modi reportedly made a direct appeal to him to end the war in Ukraine. The PM told Putin that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. "India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward," Prime Minister Modi reportedly told Putin during the dinner. Modi is on a two-day official visit to Russia. This is his first visit since the country launched its full-scale war against Ukraine. India has shied away from openly condemning Russia and abstained from voting on United Nations resolutions condemning Moscow. Support UP or become our patron! A lawsuit filed by the Indiana Attorney General against the City of East Chicago seeks to repeal a local "welcoming city" ordinance. (Photo courtesy City of East Chicago) Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is suing the City of East Chicago for what he claims are violations of the states ban on sanctuary cities. The complaint, filed in Lake County Superior Court, alleges that an East Chicago ordinance adopted in 2017 violates Indiana law by restrict[ing] taking certain actions regarding information of citizenship or immigration status and limit[ing] or restrict[ing] the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law. The lawsuit quotes the citys code, which specifically bars law enforcement from: requesting information about or otherwise investigating or assisting in the investigation of a persons citizenship or immigration status detaining a person based upon an immigration detainer, administrative warrant, or [a]ny other basis that is based solely on the belief that the person is not present legally in the United States, or that the person has committed a civil immigration violation working with federal agencies to support or assist in any capacity with immigration enforcement operations, or cooperating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless presented with a criminal warrant This week, my office filed a lawsuit against East Chicago because its leaders continue to operate their city as a sanctuary city, giving safe harbor to illegal aliens, against federal and state law, Rokita said in a statement Tuesday. We have a new statute that supports the rule of law thanks to the leadership of the General Assembly and I intend to enforce it because illegal immigration is unfair to the good people of this state and those who worked hard to enter our country legally. As we continue to evaluate other local governments, this may not be the last lawsuit we file on this issue. Stay tuned. Story continues below. Complaint to Compel A 2011 Indiana law bans local governments from restricting cooperation with federal officials over citizenship or immigration information. The Indiana Supreme Court blocked a group of citizens from suing over a Gary ordinance in 2022, saying they didnt have legal standing. The states highest court dismissed the lawsuit which claimed Garys policy of prioritizing local public safety needs and protecting the rights of immigrants unlawfully violated Indianas sanctuary cities law. But state lawmakers followed up earlier this year by authorizing the attorney general to enforce the law. Senate Enrolled Act 181, which took effect July 1, permits the attorney general to file a lawsuit against any Indiana college, university or unit of local government that is not enforcing state laws banning sanctuary cities. According to the complaint, Rokita sent a letter to members of the East Chicago Common Council on May 14, asking whether the ordinance in question was still in effect. His office also demanded its repeal if it was still in effect and warned of legal consequences if the unlawful ordinance is not repealed. The Common Council has not responded to the letter or repealed the ordinance, Rokita said in the lawsuit. In 2017, a number of cities across the U.S. passed welcoming city ordinances in opposition to then-President Donald Trumps immigration policies. Such ordinances direct government officials not to provide information about a persons immigration status to federal immigration authorities. In May, Rokita also threatened legal action against the cities of Gary, West Lafayette and Monroe County, telling them to repeal similar policies violating Indiana law. No lawsuits have been filed by Rokitas office against those other cities, however. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MOORESVILLE, Ind. (WXIN) A child from Mooresville, Indiana, who was reported missing in 2022, has been found safe. According to the Mooresville Police Department, authorities found Steven Bryan at a home in Bloomington, roughly 35 miles away, on Tuesday. Bryan, then 3 years old, and Caleb Blevins, then 30 years old, were reported missing in August 2022. According to court documents, Steven Bryans father reported his son missing in July 2022. Indiana State Police said at the time that they were believed to be with Bryans mother, Deborah Bryan, who was reportedly in a relationship with Blevins. Court documents claimed Deborah Bryan had left the area with Blevins and her son. Deborah Bryans bank account had been closed and the cell phones for both Deborah Bryan and Blevins had reportedly been deactivated. PREVIOUSLY: Silver Alert issued for Mooresville boy, man believed to be with woman Eventually, officials with the Mooresville Police Department issued a warrant for Deborah Bryans arrest, charging her with interference with custody. On Tuesday, police said while using surveillance, the department was contacted about three individuals later identified as Steven, Blevins, and Bryan who were spotted at a Bloomington home. After a search warrant was conducted, officials were able to find all three at the home. Deborah Bryan was taken into custody on her outstanding warrant of interference with custody. Mooresville Police said they believe Blevins was going to be taken into custody for assisting her. This comes after Mooresville Police said in May that their investigation into the disappearance of Steven Bryan was active and that they were turning any new information into the Indiana State Police. PREVIOUSLY: Mooresville police turn over new leads in boys 2022 disappearance A cold case is when you have nothing else to go on and you are done, and nobody is working on it. Were working on it, Mooresville Police Chief Kerry Buckner said in May. We dont have a bunch of cases sitting around, waiting to be working. [We are] actively working on this case. It is not cold. It is still being worked on. In an interview with Nexstars WXIN on Tuesday, Buckner said that the department is glad to have this case off of their slate, stressing it has been a big load on their department and on law enforcement. Its awesome. You just never know how these are going to turn out, he said. It is really nice to have an ending to this that doesnt involve someone being dead or injured. Buckner said detectives will continue their investigation to see who helped the family stay missing, stressing there will be scorched earth for anyone who was involved. Officials said they do not know if additional charges will be filed against Deborah Bryan. I will tell you this, this has been a big load on law enforcement, Buckner said. These people used a lot of resources and a lot of time. We gave (them) every opportunity just to come forward, or do a zoom call, just to show us We were worried about Caleb Blevins, along with the child, but they refused to cooperate and from here on out, anybody that had a hand on assisting them, we plan on filing charges on them. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Indiana Democrats will choose who takes on Todd Rokita and Micah Beckwith. What to know Indiana Democrats' several candidates for lieutenant governor and two candidates for attorney general will face off this weekend for the chance to take on Republicans' nominees in this falls general election. The Indiana Democratic Partys convention will take place Saturday in Indianapolis, with nearly 2,000 delegates expected to attend. The party insiders will choose between Destiny Wells and Beth White to challenge incumbent Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita. Destiny Wells and Beth White both filed to run for the Democratic nomination for attorney general at the party's state convention in July. For lieutenant governor, candidates to match up against Republican Micah Beckwith include former state Rep. Terry Goodin, Bob Kern, Clif Marsiglio and Tamie Dixon-Tatum. With the backing of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick, Goodin is expected to come away victorious from the lieutenant governor match. However, surprises do happen, as evidenced by Beckwiths recent state GOP convention upset over gubernatorial candidate Mike Brauns chosen lieutenant governor pick, Julie McGuire. The competition between Wells and White for the attorney general nomination could be more interesting, though. While Wells has more money and potentially higher name identification due to her 2022 bid for secretary of state, White has the support of some influential insiders. Attorney general race: Dems want to beat Todd Rokita in November. Are they hurting their chances? Democrats state convention will also feature party leaders like state party Chair Mike Schmuhl and U.S. Senate candidate Valerie McCray as they try to energize Democrats ahead of the general election season. The convention will take place all day Saturday at the Indiana Convention Center. Delegates will vote on their lieutenant governor and attorney general candidates by early evening. Democrats will also set their party platform and choose dozens of delegates to represent the state at the Democratic National Convention later this summer in Chicago. Whomever the Democrats choose to take on Republicans, it will be an uphill battle in this solidly Republican state. Rokita already has nearly $1.2 million in cash on hand for his reelection bid. In the governor's race, McCormick has just a fraction of Braun's war chest. McCormick last reported having less than $250,000 in her bank account, according to state campaign finance data, compared with nearly $950,000 for Braun, who's leaving the U.S. Senate to run for governor. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Democrats to decide who challenges Todd Rokita, Micah Beckwith The Indiana Department of Health is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by South Bend-based Voices for Life. The group wants to regain access to Terminated Pregnancy Reports (TPRs) that are no longer being released by the state health department. (Getty Images) The Indiana Department of Health is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit against the agency that was filed by an anti-abortion group over related records. The lawsuit in question was filed in May by Voices for Life, which seeks to regain access to Terminated Pregnancy Reports (TPRs) that are no longer being released by the state health department. Legal counsel for IDOH filed a motion to dismiss on June 21, maintaining that Voices for Life fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The anti-abortion group has until July 23 to file its response. Story continues below. Memo in Support of MTD Ryan Shouse, an attorney with Indianapolis-based Lewis and Wilkins LLP, emphasized in the motion that, as a matter of law TPRs are confidential under Indianas Access to Public Records Act, also known as APRA. APRA grants any person the right to inspect and copy IDOH s public records, Shouse wrote, noting, however, that APRA contains exemptions. He pointed to the law, which states that, (p)atient medical records and charts created by a provider are excepted from [the general rule of disclosure] and may not be disclosed by a public agency, unless access to the records is specifically required by a state or federal statute or is ordered by a court under the rules of discovery . IDOH pushes for dismissal Shouse additionally argues that TPRs maintained by IDOH meet the statutory definition of medical records therefore making them exempt from APRA. Per Indiana Code, medical records contain three elements: written or printed information; are in the possession of a provider; and concern a patients diagnosis, treatment or prognosis. Shouse said TPRs meet all three requirements. His motion points out that Indiana Code specifically requires: the diagnosis code for fetus and mother for abortions performed prior to 20 weeks the medical reason for an abortion gestational age and the information used to determine gestational age results of pathological testing, if it is performed any disability diagnosis of the fetus pre-existing medical conditions of the mother, and the mothers obstetrical history In addition, the statute requires specifics about the procedure itself, such as the precise medications used for nonsurgical abortions. This is patient-specific medical information that is used for the diagnosis and treatment of the individual patient, Shouse said. In short, TPRs squarely meet Indianas definition of a medical record because they are written records created and maintained by a provider that contain individualized patient diagnosis and treatment information. Applying this straightforward definition, IDOH properly withheld TPRs pursuant to the medical record exception in APRA. Background on the lawsuit IDOH and Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the state health commissioner, are currently represented by Indianapolis-based Lewis and Wilkins LLP, rather than in-house attorneys from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokitas office. The South Bend-based Voices for Life group is suing the IDOH after it stopped releasing individual TPRs, while still compiling statewide public data quarterly. The change in procedure went into effect in December. Before then, the reports while redacted were regularly released under Indianas Access to Public Records Act. The lawsuit, filed in Marion County Superior Court, came just weeks after Rokita called out IDOH and Indianas Public Access Counselor for collusion and issued a non-binding advisory opinion saying TPRs are public records. In the past, anti-abortion groups have used the reports to file medical licensing complaints against specific doctors for procedural issues, such as filing a TPR late. The state health department changed its policy after Indianas new, near-total abortion ban went into effect, which meant providers performed far fewer abortions. State health officials were worried that information on the report could indirectly identify the women getting the procedure and sought a ruling from Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt. Britt agreed that the report could be reverse engineered to identify patients especially in smaller communities. He found the required quarterly reports of aggregate data should suffice in terms of satisfying any disclosure and transparency considerations. Britt additionally said the records, created by doctors, fall under the provider-patient relationship as medical records. Britts ruling isnt binding, either. So far, no court dates have been set in the TPR case. After Voices for Life files its response, it will be up to the judge to decide on the motion to dismiss. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A federal judge in Detroit sentenced an Indiana man to 14 months in prison Tuesday for threatening the life of former Rochester Hills Clerk Tina Barton, soon after the 2020 election. Andrew Nickels, 38, of Carmel, Indiana, pleaded guilty in February to transmitting threats in interstate commerce. On Nov. 10, 2020, Nickels called the Rochester Hills clerk's office and left a profanity-laced voicemail in which he alleged election fraud, demanded an audit and repeatedly threatened the life of Barton. According to evidence in the case, Nickels was unhappy with the outcome of the election, in which Democratic President Joe Biden defeated Republican Donald Trump, and Rochester Hills had been in the news because of a computer glitch that was quickly rectified. The Rochester Hills Clerks Office, located at 1000 Rochester Hills Dr. Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Laurie Michelson for a sentence of at least 24 months, and said a terrorism enhancement was warranted to exceed the sentencing range of 10 to 16 months calculated by the probation department. "Threats such as those that Nickels made represent a growing problem of national concern," prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. "As is true in this case, threats leave public officials who administer elections fearful for their lives and for the safety of their families." Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was among those who filed a victim impact statement in the case, noting the impact such threats have on all election workers. Barton also made a victim impact statement, saying in part: "No one should have to live in fear for their life or endure the trauma that has been inflicted upon me especially those dedicated to ensuring our elections are administered fairly and accurately." Steven Scharg, the Detroit attorney representing Nickels, said his client had no prior criminal history and at the time of the offense was not taking his medications for mental health conditions diagnosed in 2008. Scharg said a prison sentence was not warranted. Barton is now vice chair of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, a national group. That group's chair, former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, issued a statement that said Tuesday's sentencing is a "signal to election officials across the country that threats against them will be taken seriously and those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable." Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Man sentenced to 14 months for threats against Rochester Hills clerk Indicted former state budget officer Konstantinos Diamantis has withdrawn a request to take an extended vacation to his familys ancestral Greek village after federal prosecutors expressed concern that he might use it as an opportunity to assert dual citizenship and abscond. The defendant, Konstantinos Diamantis, withdraws his Motion for Permission to Travel to Greece, Diamantis lawyer Norm Pattis wrote in a one-sentence federal court filing early Tuesday. Diamantis and his lawyer offered no explanation for his change of heart about the pre-paid, nonrefundable, month-long family vacation booked months before his indictment in May on extortion, bribery and false statement charges. He is accused of taking payment from contractors for whom he arranged work on state-financed school building projects. Ex-CT official indicted: The money woes, unfettered power, school districts targeted Just a day earlier, in another filing in U.S. District Court, Diamantis sounded prepared to fight for his vacation. At the time of his presentment, he apparently did not inform the magistrate that he had a pre-planned trip to Greece planned with his family, Pattis wrote. One could forgive him for that lapse if one took the time to consider that foremost on his mind that day was securing his liberty. Pattis wrote. But charitable instincts are apparently in short supply in the United States Attorneys Office, at least as regards this defendant. The Government contends it cannot monitor Mr. Diamantis whereabouts while he travels with his children, grandchildren and elderly relatives, as though this caravan were expected to be on the run from Interpol. The U.S. Attorneys office, in its opposition to the travel called Greece a troubling destination country for Diamantiss pre-trial travel. Diamantis is reportedly the son of Greek citizens, giving him the constitutional right in Greece to claim citizenship, the prosecutors said. During his proposed month in Greece, Diamantis would have ample opportunity to claim Greek citizenship and seek to avoid or at least delay extradition back to the United States. Pattis scoffed at the suggestion his client would attempt to flee prosecution. Mr. Diamantis has known for years that the Government was investigating him and has had ample opportunity to flee if that was his intention, Pattis said in a court filing. He is eager to defend the case on the merits. Diamantis, four of his daughters, three of his grandchildren, his son-in-laws widowed mother, and some other relatives bought tickets for the July-August trip in January. It will be a homecoming of sorts for the extended group as the trip is focused on the village from which Mr. Diamantis ancestors were born and raised, Pattis said in the filing. Mr. Diamantis is expected to serve largely as a guide on the trip and the trip will likely be canceled for all involved if he is unable to participate. Diamantis is free on a $500,000 that requires him, among other things, to surrender his passport and seek pre-approval for travel outside Connecticut. Prosecutors said Diamants failed to turn in his passport and, when confronted early last month, said he could not find it. Over the period in which he is accused of shaking down contractors, Diamantis a former state representative from Bristol known as Kosta was director of the state Office of School Construction Grants and Review. On June 27, 2024, counsel for Diamantis requested the Governments position on Diamantiss plan to travel to Greece for four weeks, from July 28 to August 24, 2024, the U.S. Attorneys office said it its court filing. The Government pointed out that Diamantis had previously claimed to have lost his passport, and thus international travel seemed impossible. Within hours, counsel informed the Government that Diamantis had located his passport. In addition to being deputy budget director, Diamantis was in charge of the program in which the state substantially subsidized municipal school building projects. After two years of investigation, federal authorities accused him and three others of a conspiracy through which the others paid him for getting them contracts on school projects. A federal judge was to have decided on the travel. BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China is working to safeguard emergency telecommunications services in areas affected by a dike breach at the Dongting Lake, the country's second-largest freshwater lake, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said Tuesday. The dike breach at the lake occurred on July 5, due to persistent heavy rain across Hunan Province. Since the dike breach, the ministry has deployed workers, trucks and generators for emergency repairs, and has maintained normal telecommunications operations except in waterlogged areas, according to the ministry. Local authorities announced on late Monday that the breach, which led to the evacuation of over 7,000 residents, had been successfully sealed. 'When innocent children killed, the heart bleeds,' Modi comments on Russian July 8 attack after meeting with Putin The pain from Russia's July 8 attack is "very terrifying," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Reuters reported on July 9. Modi arrived in Moscow on July 8 in what was his first trip to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia launched a missile attack against Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and other cities on the morning of July 8, killing at least 38 and injuring over 170. One missile struck a building of the Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical center. As Western officials condemned the Russian attack, Modi posted a photo of himself shaking hands and hugging Putin, voicing hope for "cementing the bonds of friendship" between the two nations. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Indian official's visit to Russia, calling it "a devastating blow to peace efforts." "Whether it is war, conflict or a terrorist attack, any person who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives," Modi said on July 9, wrapping his visit to Russia. "But even in that, when innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds, and that pain is very terrifying," he added. New Delhi has been calling for a diplomatic solution Russia's war against Ukraine, while at the same time fostering close economic ties with Moscow. India became one of the chief buyers of Russian oil following Western sanctions, although pressure from U.S. sanctions increasingly threatens this trade. By the end of Modi's visit, the parties have defined nine key areas for closer cooperation, ranging from nuclear energy to medicine. They are also aiming to boost bilateral trade by more than half to hit $100 billion by 2030, according to Reuters. Putin said that the countries enjoyed a "particularly privileged strategic partnership." Speaking after the Russian president, Modi stressed that the path to peace must be found. "Solutions are not possible on the battleground. Amidst guns, bullets, and bombs, peace talks cannot be successful. We have to find the path to peace only through talks," Modi told Putin. While India participated in Ukraine's global peace summit in June, Modi did not attend personally, and India's representative did not ultimately sign the joint communique. Read also: Opinion: Why Indias Modi wont play the peace negotiator Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US military bases across Europe were placed on a heightened state of alert last week for the first time in a decade after the US received intelligence that Russian-backed actors were considering carrying out sabotage attacks against US military personnel and facilities, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN. The intelligence the US received suggested that Russia had included US bases and military personnel as options to attack via proxies, the sources said similar to plots that have been carried out or disrupted across Europe in recent months. In April, two German-Russian nationals were arrested for allegedly plotting bomb and arson attacks on targets including US military facilities on behalf of Russia. The intelligence, which the US received within the last two weeks and has not been previously reported, was deemed alarming enough to implement additional safety protocols, the sources said. Several US military bases in Europe raised their alert level to Force Protection Condition Charlie, which applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating some form of terrorist action or targeting against personnel or facilities is likely, according to the US Army. A senior NATO official said on Tuesday that the alliance had significantly increased its intelligence sharing around Russias campaign of covert sabotage activities in Europe, which have become increasingly brazen and aggressive in recent months amid elections across the West a prime opportunity for Russia to try to undermine public support for Ukraine, the official said US European Command declined to comment directly on what caused the force protection change last week. But a spokesperson, Cmdr. Dan Day, said that our increase in vigilance is not related to any one single threat, but due to a combination of factors potentially impacting the safety and security of US forces in the European theater. The threat of Russia-backed sabotage efforts has become particularly acute in recent months, amid a series of arson attacks and bombing plots across Europeincluding fires and explosions in Riga, Latvia; London; Warsaw, Poland; Prague, the Czech Republic; and Paris that European security officials have linked to Russia. In London in March, several men were charged with working with Russian intelligence services to set fire to a Ukrainian-linked warehouse. Poland is investigating whether an arson attack that destroyed Warsaws largest mall in May was connected to Russia and has arrested nine people in connection with Russia-linked acts of sabotage, the prime minister said in May. And French authorities last month detained a Russian-Ukrainian man who was allegedly building bombs as part of a sabotage campaign orchestrated by Moscow. By outsourcing the attacks to local actors, Russia likely believes it can wage a hybrid war that falls below the threshold of armed, state-on-state conflict, officials say. But a senior NATO official said the sabotage campaign is getting increasingly brazen and aggressive. What were seeing now is a more concerted, more aggressive effort, than what weve seen certainly since the Cold War, the official said on Tuesday. Were seeing sabotage, assassination plots, arson real things that have cost human lives. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Katie Bo Lillis contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Editor's Note: Union organizer Juniper Hollis recently married and now goes by Juniper Hollow. This story has been edited to reflect this change. Employees at an Iowa City Bruegger's location voted against unionization on Tuesday, 9-2, ending an effort that would have established the first worker's union at the nationwide bagel franchise. The vote was held at the 708 S. Riverside Drive Bruegger's location during the morning and afternoon on Tuesday. All employees who were on the payroll as of June 18 were eligible to vote in the election. Vote totals were not immediately available. Bruegger's Workers United shared a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, about 45 minutes after voting concluded. "I'm saddened to say that the hard workers of Bruegger's Bagels on Riverside in Iowa City voted against a union," the group wrote. "This is not the end of BWU. Bruegger's has made a mockery of justice with their relentless union-busting tactics, and we will not rest til they are held accountable." Union organizer Juniper Hollow shared the following statement with the Press-Citizen: "While it is true that the numbers were not there this time around, it's important to remember that in the beginning, we had a majority of the workers who signed a petition stating that they wanted a union," Hollow said. "It is because of the extreme union-busting tactics, such as closing down the Coralville Bruegger's location and handing out anti-union propaganda, that we lost this election. We have filed (unfair labor practice) charges based around these illegal union-busting activities, and we will not rest until Bruegger's Bagels is held accountable for their actions." The vote against unionization comes less than three weeks after the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of workers and cleared the way for a vote. The board ruled that Bruegger's employees had "clearly" met the qualifications to attempt to become a "labor organization." NLRB Regional Director Jennifer Hadsall, who delivered the ruling, shrugged off the bagel brand's arguments against establishing the labor organization, writing that employees seem to have multiple fronts on which they want to engage Bruegger's leadership, including "wages, workplace respect and paid time off." The downtown Iowa City Bruegger's location was not part of these bargaining efforts. From June: Iowa City Bruegger's Bagels employees get clearance to hold chain's first union vote Just the beginning of 'dance' with company, union organizer says Hollow said she was "bummed" by the result but had "optimism" for the future, emphasizing that the group's push for improved wages and working conditions is not over. She hopes this effort has had a positive effect on workers at the Iowa City location and at locations across the fast food industry nationwide. "I think that the union still has a place, if not at that Bruegger's then at other Bruegger's," Hollow said. "It's not a fight against the company. It's more like a dance with the company. And right now, we're trying to lead that dance." Hollow said she hopes the unionization push also helped others realize that they can "stand up and say they want change." As for the future of Bruegger's Workers United, she said she will continue to work on helping organize labor efforts within the industry and within the bagel corporation. "I think it's really just going to come down to who can do it a little bit faster and a little bit more organized," Hollow said. "And you know, right now it's Bruegger's, but in the future, it's going to be us." Picketing, labor board ruling preceded vote A small group of employees gathered outside of the 708 S. Riverside Drive location on June 15, demanding recognition of "Bruegger's Workers United," the unionization effort with a similar moniker to the successful downtown Iowa City Starbucks unionization effort conducted last spring. Hollow is a former Bruegger's employee at the recently closed Coralville location. Employees claimed that the closure, which came shortly after employees first publicly announced their intention to unionize, was in response to union action. Bruegger's previously declined the Press-Citizen's request for comment. From June: Workers at Iowa City, Coralville Bruegger's Bagels sites picket over unionization attempt The closure and other actions prompted the workers to petition the NLRB for unfair labor practices. Hadsall wrote in the board's June 21 ruling that the labor organization is in its beginning stages. There is no official union constitution, according to the board's ruling, dues have not yet been collected, and there is no official meeting space. Hollow hosted the two meetings ahead of the board ruling at her apartment. "While the petitioner is not yet fully fledged, the record establishes sufficient evidence to establish labor organization status under the Boards liberal standards," Hadsall wrote. Hollow said bagel corp made her 'villain' in build-up to vote Hollow accused Bruegger's of engaging in "largely anti-union behaviors," distributing anti-union flyers and holding one-on-one meetings with employees to "discuss anti-union" sentiment in the 17 days between the NLRB ruling and the union vote "The list is pretty extensive in terms of what they've done that was completely and utterly illegal," Hollow said. The flyers allegedly asked workers what their union could promise. Hollow said she could not promise a $15-an-hour wage since she has not had the opportunity to talk and negotiate with the company. "They do that stuff to make it look like our union is less legitimate than it actually is," Hollow said. During the lead-up to the vote, Hollow said it was difficult to connect with employees and employees began to view her as "a villain." She attributes that to the alleged anti-union behaviors of managerial and corporate staff at the Iowa City Bruegger's location. "It's kind of simple stuff that you wouldn't really expect a company to do, but they do it because they can, and they get away with it often enough," Hollow said. "But that's not going to happen this time." Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Bruegger's Iowa City employees vote against chain's first union Insights from The Guardian, Hyphen, Le Monde, EUObserver, and Foreign Policy The News The fraught politics of Israels war in Gaza is influencing the outcome of some Western elections. In the UK, Labour won last weeks election in a landslide, but lost four supposedly safe seats to explicitly pro-Palestinian independent candidates, and faced stiff competition in other strongholds on the issue. In Junes European Parliament elections, left-leaning candidates criticized centrist EU lawmakers of hypocrisy in condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine while remaining quiet on Israel. And in France, the leftist New Popular Front, which managed to hold off Le Pens National Rally in a surprise turn, made recognizing a Palestinian state key to their campaign. The influence can be felt in the US, too, where some Democrats unease over Bidens handling of the war risks scuppering his chances of re-election in November, especially in key battleground states. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. UK parties may underestimate how strongly voters feel about Gaza Sources: BBC, The Guardian, Hyphen Labour has historically been able to count on British Muslims for support, but in the July 4 election, the partys vote share fell by an average of 23 points in seats where 20% or more of the population identify as Muslim. Some have suggested these failures are evidence of sectarian sentiment among Muslims toward Israel, but this ignores the fact that the Israel-Gaza war resonates with diverse groups in the UK, a columnist argued in The Guardian, and instead treats British Muslims as an angry monolith. Ultimately, any analysis of the Muslim vote must acknowledge that although Gaza has united British Muslims in their condemnation, they rarely speak with one tongue, a columnist noted in Hyphen. Gaza highlights a deep polarization in French politics Sources: Le Monde, EUObserver, Reuters Israel-Gaza emerged as a key dividing line between Frances leftist New Popular Front and far-right National Rally in both the European and domestic elections. The NRs unconditional support for Israel reflects a coziness between Europes far right and the ultra-nationalist Israeli government, a Le Monde columnist noted. Meanwhile, far-left leader Jean-Luc Melanchon has been positioning himself as a defender of Palestinian rights, a stance that galvanized French Muslim and progressive support, a columnist argued in EUObserver. However, his refusal to condemn the Oct. 7 attacks has left some left-leaning French Jews feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place, Reuters reported. The Israel-Hamas war is weighing on voters minds ahead of US election Sources: The New York Times, ABC News, Foreign Policy, Arab Center D.C. The US remains Israels closest ally, and Bidens continued backing for Netanyahu may be hemorrhaging his support among younger voters, American Muslims, and people of color ahead of Novembers election, The New York Times reported in May. Biden won the 2020 ticket by uniting diverse groups under the Democratic banner, but his coalition now risks fracturing, the head of Muslim advocacy organization Engage previously told ABC News. And while foreign policy tends to be a second-tier priority for voters, Bidens stance could lose him support in key swing states like Michigan, which has a large Arab and Muslim population, Foreign Policy noted. These voters are unlikely to switch to Trump, but the danger for Biden is that they may not vote at all, a columnist wrote for the Arab Center D.C. The Israeli military has advanced further into the southern and western regions of Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday. In the early hours of Monday, the military began what it called counterterrorism operations in the area in northern Gaza and called on civilians to leave before the operation began, the IDF said. IDF troops reached the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City, it said. Army radio reported clashes with armed members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. According to Palestinian hospital reports, at least 15 people were killed. The number of victims could still rise because rescue workers are unable to reach many residential areas due to the fighting. Dpa is unable to independently verify the reports. The Israeli military has previously advanced into the northern section of the besieged coastal area during war. Residents of the affected neighbourhoods described to dpa the overnight advance as a "night of terror." The catalyst for Israel's war in Gaza was the unprecedented massacre carried out by Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7 last year in southern Israel. The militants killed 1,200 people and abducted another 250 as hostages into the Gaza Strip. Israel estimates around 120 kidnapping victims are still in the coastal area, though many of them are likely no longer alive. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authority, more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far. This figure includes both fighters and civilians. Israeli army says it has targeted militants inside Gaza school Late on Monday, the Israeli army said it has launched airstrikes targeting several militants from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) who were hiding inside a school in central Gaza. The army used precision ammunition in order to avoid civilian casualties while targeting the group of fighters hiding in the building in the Nuseirat area, the IDF said, without giving further details. The army again accused both militant groups, Hamas and the PIJ, of "systematically violating humanitarian law" by using "civilian facilities and the population as human shields." It comes after the IDF recently said it had targeted Hamas fighters on the grounds of a former school run by UNRWA in Nuseirat. According to Hamas, 16 people were killed in the airstrikes on the school compound. According to the army, militants had used the school as their operational basis for attacks on the Israeli military, stressing that steps had been taken ahead of the strikes to reduce the risks for civilians. It was not possible to independently verify the claims from either side. Israelis in Cairo for indirect talks An Israeli delegation has departed for Cairo for indirect talks with Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire deal, Israel's Kan radio reported on Monday. The Israeli delegation is led by Ronen Bar, the head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, it said. The discussions, which have been ongoing for months with mediation from Egypt, Qatar, and the US, aim for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Mediators are currently working on formulations to bridge the existing gaps on contentious points. Hamas is reportedly showing flexibility and has deviated from its core demand that Israel must commit to ending the war. However, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fundamentally insists on Israel's right to continue the fighting even after the implementation of a future deal. On Sunday evening, Netanyahu's office released a document stating that any ceasefire agreement must allow Israel to resume the fighting until all war objectives are met. Israel has declared the total dismantling of Hamas as a military formation and as a governmental power in the Gaza Strip as one of its war aims. Critics interpreted the condition Netanyahu described as "non-negotiable" as an attempt to derail the resumed talks in Cairo and Qatar. People walk between sewage and the rubble of destroyed buildings following the Israeli army's withdrawal from Khan Yunis. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meet in Washington FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meet in Washington JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved a plan on Tuesday to start drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, a move likely to further strain relations within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fractious right-wing coalition. His government relies on two ultra-Orthodox parties that regard conscription exemptions as key to keeping their constituents in religious seminaries and out of a melting-pot army that might test their traditional customs. Their political leaders are fiercely opposed to conscription at a time when Israel's army is seeking to bolster its ranks amid the nine-month-old war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. After discussions with top military officials, Gallant approved their recommendations for a so-called first call-up of ultra-Orthodox men into the military over the coming month, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The order is for an initial screening and evaluation to determine potential recruits, it said. Initial call-ups are sent to Israelis when they are over 16 years old and they usually begin military service at the age of 18. Israelis are bound by law to serve in the military for 24-32 months. Members of Israel's 21 percent Arab minority are mostly exempt, though some do serve, and ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students have also been largely exempt for decades. But Israel's Supreme Court last month ruled that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military. The long-time military waiver for the ultra-Orthodox has sparked protests in recent months by Israelis angry that the risk of fighting in Gaza is not being equally shared. For their part, ultra-Orthodox protesters have blocked roads under the banner "death before conscription". (Reporting by Steven Scheer and Maayan Lubell; editing by Mark Heinrich) JACKSONVILLE, Ark. Police say a Jacksonville couple accused of child abuse and neglect now face an additional murder charge after authorities said their toddler died. Officials with the Little Rock Police Department said the 2-year-old child died Monday. Prosecutors have now charged the childs parents, Deja and Justin Rollins, with capital murder in connection to the childs death. Little Rock man faces capital murder charge tied to child abuse case The couple already faced a number of charges, according to officials with the Jacksonville Police Department, who said officers responded to a local hospital after receiving reports that another of the couples children, a 3-year-old, was taken there Sunday for urgent treatment. During their investigation, Jacksonville police said they learned that the couple had four other children, ages 2-10, adding that the couple did not cooperate in telling authorities where the children were located. The officers said the children were later found left in a car in the hospitals parking lot. Police say child who died in hot car in Fort Smith was just 3 years old Authorities added that a malnourished dog was found in the couples home and was seized by Jacksonville Animal Services. Justin Rollins booking photo Image courtesy Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility Deja Rollins booking photo Image courtesy Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility In addition to the capital murder charges, Deja & Justin Rollins are each facing five counts of first-degree domestic battery, five counts of neglect of a vulnerable person, five counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, one count of animal cruelty and one count of obstructing government operations. Pine Bluff police arrest man suspected of domestic battery, credit witness tips in finding him The couple pleaded not guilty to the murder charges during a hearing Tuesday, entering the same pleas Monday on the earlier charges. They are currently being held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility without bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A celebrated steakhouse in Northeast Portlands Eliot neighborhood is preparing to welcome diners once again after closing due to a fire in March. On Monday, the Argentina-inspired Ox Restaurant revealed its plans to continue service later this week. Portland planners recommend approval of new concert venue in Central Eastside After months of repairs and delays, we are finally ready to open our doors this Wednesday, July 10th! Ox wrote on Instagram. We cannot wait to light up that grill and feed you all! Just before 7 p.m. during dinner service on Wednesday, March 20, a fire broke out near the steakhouses grill on the first floor and spread to the roof. When Portland firefighters arrived on the scene, they cut into the roof and extinguished the flames. But the damage had already resulted in nearly four months of repairs. Thankfully, everyone is safe and the building will be fine, and we will reopen as soon as possible, Ox said shortly after the incident. We are so grateful for the prompt and effective response from Portland Fire and Rescue! VIDEO: Oregon temperatures too hot for baby camel Oxs resurgence is good news for many, after the restaurant rose to national prominence in 2017 with Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quinonez Dentons James Beard Award for best chefs in the Pacific Northwest. The duo secured several nominations from the culinary organization in the four years prior. After reopening this Wednesday, the restaurant will offer service from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly for indoor and outdoor seating. Its menu includes empanadas, grilled steak and roasted half duck. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Temperate exoplanet LHS 1140 b may be a world completely covered in ice (left) similar to Jupiters moon Europa or be an ice world with a liquid substellar ocean and a cloudy atmosphere (centre). LHS 1140 b is 1.7 times the size of our planet Earth (right) and is the most promising habitable zone exoplanet yet in our search for liquid water beyond the Solar System. | Credit: B. Gougeon/Universite de Montreal The search for habitability elsewhere in the universe can arguably be reduced to the search for water. We haven't yet found lifeforms that detach this substance from our conception of "life" itself, so we have no choice but to accept the cosmic water trail as our north star in the quest to find worlds that mirror our own. It is for this reason that scientists jump for joy a little when they find an exoplanet likely to hold any water at all but particularly liquid water, rather than ice or water vapor. And I'd hope at least one astronomer gleefully hopped somewhere recently, as a team of researchers just announced that a tantalizing planet outside the solar system may have a temperate water ocean about half the size of the Atlantic. Better yet, the find is thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope . "Of all currently known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1140 b could well be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm liquid water on the surface of an alien world beyond our solar system," Charles Cadieux, lead author of a paper on the discovery and a doctoral student at the Universite de Montreal, said in a statement . "This would be a major milestone in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets." Dubbed LHS 1140 b, the exoplanet orbits a red dwarf star about a fifth the size of the sun and sits 48 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cetus which, as luck would have it, translates to "the whale." But most important about LHS 1140 b is the fact that it lives in its star's habitable zone, otherwise known as its "Goldilocks zone." As that nickname would suggest, this is the area around a star where it's neither too hot nor too cold for a world to host liquid water, but rather fits the standard by which the fairy tale character Goldilocks lives. There's also a second major win for the world. Related: Nearby exoplanet may be rich in life-giving water, study finds "This is the first time we have ever seen a hint of an atmosphere on a habitable zone rocky or ice-rich exoplanet," Ryan MacDonald, a NASA Sagan Fellow in the University of Michigan's Department of Astronomy, who aided the analysis of LHS 1140 b's atmosphere, said in the statement. Per Macdonald, the team might have even found evidence of "air" on it. To the former bit of that statement, however, you may notice MacDonald suggests the exoplanet could be either rocky or icy. This brings us to some backstory. LHS 1140 b lore Though it has been making headlines now due to the new study involving JWST data, LHS 1140 b has actually been on planetary hunters' radars for some time. In fact, experts had already theorized that this could be a water world in the past, and even shared similar sentiments about how it could offer humanity the first-ever direct evidence of exoplanetary liquid water . None of that is new. Cadieux himself has touted the world's promise previously, and an army of telescopes has investigated it in solid detail, including the now-retired Spitzer telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). However, there was something missing until now: the James Webb Space Telescope's keen eye. It was necessary because, for a long time, there was something like a gap in the literature about LHS 1140 b. Basically, the trouble was that scientists couldn't quite confirm whether the exoplanet is a mini-Neptune a planet less massive than our original Neptune , but one that still has Neptunian characteristics or a super Earth. A super Earth is a world that's larger than Earth, but still either rocky or water-rich. The latter typically sounds the "potential habitability" alarm, and the JWST, scientists had imagined, could be the one to set it off. This appears to have been an accurate inference. As the team's statement on the study suggests, their work not only "strongly excluded" the mini-Neptune scenario, but also confirmed the world may have a nitrogen-laced atmosphere like Earth does. "While it is still only a tentative result, the presence of a nitrogen-rich atmosphere would suggest the planet has retained a substantial atmosphere, creating conditions that might support liquid water," it says. It is certainly worth noting that LHS 1140 b isn't exactly fully alone in its exhilarating characteristics; there are also a variety of other habitable-zone exoplanets scientists are drawn to. The most obvious are probably the seven worlds of the TRAPPIST-1 system, a planetary lineup that looks almost disturbingly similar to our solar system's structure. The septet of orbs resembles our octet (bye, Pluto ) and some of them are in the habitable zone like Earth is. However, a very interesting JWST study actually complicated the search for habitability in TRAPPIST-1 quite recently. It revealed that the system's anchor star is incredibly active in such a way that it could skew our observations, making us believe a world in the system is habitable when it really isn't. Even the JWST has its limitations. So, to that end, LHS 1140 b does have a few special embellishments. "The star LHS 1140 appears to be calmer and less active," Macdonald assured, "making it significantly less challenging to disentangle LHS 1140 b's atmosphere from stellar signals caused by starspots." Brace yourself for even more specs The excitement about LHS 1140 b is pretty contagious. There's so much to say about it. For example, the JWST data further suggests the exoplanet's mass might be made of between 10 percent and 20 percent liquid water and, it paints a fantastical picture of what the planet might look like in simple terms. It could look like a snowball, essentially, that orbits its star while rotating in such a way that one side always faces that star. It's kind of like the moon's orbit around Earth; we can't ever see the far side of the moon because the moon rotates at the same rate it revolves around Earth. One side never faces us, and the other always does. Similarly, this would mean that, if the JWST's illustration of the LHS 1140 b scene is correct, the side of the planet always facing its sun would be exposed to lots of heat. This would be the part of the snowball that's "melted" into a liquid ocean. Related Stories: The 10 most Earth-like exoplanets 12 out-of-this-world exoplanet discoveries in 2023 2 'super-Earth' exoplanets spotted in habitable zone of nearby star Voila. "Current models indicate that if LHS 1140 b has an Earth-like atmosphere, it would be a snowball planet with a bull's-eye ocean about 4,000 kilometers [2,485 miles] in diameter," the statement says, adding that the surface temperature of the ocean may very well even be a "comfortable" 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Alas, though the team assures that far more work must be done, especially with the JWST, in observing the nuances of LHS 1140 b it is always nice to have a lead to follow when searching for needles in a vast haystack. And, as MacDonald puts it: "this is a very promising start." A pre-print version of the study can be viewed on arXiv. *** Rising Global Tensions *** Sending heavy weapons to Israel Boosting military aid to Ukraine Pushing for AUKUS expansion Setting up an "Asia-Pacific NATO" to contain China When NATO leaders meet in Washington, is the Cold-War legacy meant for peace or a new Cold War? Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) didnt hold back on Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) after he suggested Vice President Kamala Harris was a diversity, equity and inclusion hire. The Republican lawmaker called Harris a DEI vice president on Fox Business while criticizing her as a possible replacement candidate for President Joe Biden. If you just listen to what they say, it will tell you everything that you need to know, Crockett said of the comment on MSNBCs ReidOut on Monday. Number one, you can obviously see that hes ignorant as all get-out. Number two, you can see that he wishes he had half the competency of Vice President Kamala Harris. She continued, Dont talk to me about what a DEI hire looks like, because we know that you have never, ever engaged in diversity, equity or inclusion when it came to your office. So we know that you dont know anything about hiring diversity. She slammed the GOP governors of Texas and Florida for their efforts to dismantle DEI measures in their respective states, calling on Republicans to come up with actual policies, instead of going after people because of how they look or how they were born. Instead, they need to focus on taking care of the American people, which means that youre going to take care of people other than just white folk, she added. Jasmine Crockett responds to Chip Roy referring to Kamala Harris as a DEI Vice President: Number one, you can see hes ignorant.. Number two, you can see that he wishes he had half the competency of Vice President Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/2ucwCqGgRa Acyn (@Acyn) July 8, 2024 Roy has a history of spouting inflammatory rhetoric. In 2021, he invoked a quote that glorified lynching during a hearing intended to address a surge in anti-Asian violence. His office has called efforts to teach schoolchildren about systemic racism woke, racist indoctrination. Earlier this year, he complained that Democrats are trying to remake America and end Western civilization with their immigration policies. In response to backlash over his Harris comment, Roy doubled down on The Dana Show Tuesday, arguing that DEI is destroying our country and that nobody looks at Kamala Harris and says, Oh man, thats the best we can do. Since tanking at the June 27 presidential debate, Biden has been fielding a whirlwind of questions over his health and his ability to win against Donald Trump in Novembers election. Should he acquiesce to the growing chorus of calls that he stand aside, Harris is considered the most likely option to take over as the Democratic nominee. Related... The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenbergaddresses the US Chamber of Commerce on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of the NATO. -/NATO/dpa The outgoing NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, was handed the US Presidential Medal of Freedom personally by President Joe Biden on Tuesday, at the opening ceremony for a summit of the defence alliance in Washington. "Secretary, you've guided this alliance through one of the most consequential periods in its history," Biden said. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is United States' highest civilian honour. "When the Russia war in Ukraine began, you didn't hesitate. Today, NATO is stronger, smarter, and more energized than when you began," Biden told Stoltenberg. "And a billion people across Europe and North America - indeed, the whole world - will reap the rewards of your labour for years to come in the form of security, opportunity, and greater freedom." Biden praised Stoltenberg's "calm temperament" and described him as a "man of integrity and intellectual rigour" and a "consummate diplomat." Stoltenberg has led the alliance since 2014, and will be succeeded in the role in October by former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. New Jersey Senate candidate Andy Kim says he has concerns about Biden Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who is running for Senate, said he has concerns about President Bidens ability to be the Democratic Partys nominee in this presidential election. I do have concerns, Kim told the New Jersey Globe. If [Bidens team] want to rebut some of what people are concerned about, thats on them. But dismissing it would not be right. People have concerns I mean, this is the presidency of the United States, he continued. So I think its very important to be upfront and honest about where things are. Kims comments follow a Tuesday morning meeting among Democrats where Bidens political future was discussed. Nearly two weeks after his poor debate performance, questions remain about both Bidens ability to beat former President Trump in the election and his ability to serve another four years if reelected. In a statement to The Hill, Kim said he refuses to accept that his children will grow up in another Trump presidency. As a Democrat that won a district that Trump won twice, I truly believe we can stop this from happening, he said. Kim told the Globe that he was still thinking this through and did not make any definitive statement about whether Biden should step aside. I dont think its a problem for us to think through this and be absolutely thorough in terms of what this last stretch of the campaign could look like Theres enough time that if there needs to be a switch, I think that could be done, he said. Democrats emerged from the meeting Tuesday with opinions that pointed toward keeping Biden on top of the ticket. Still, some of the loudest voices in favor of the president stepping aside say theyre worried he will not only lose the presidency but also cost elections for other Democrats on the ballot. Kim expressed a similar sentiment to The Hill. While I continue to listen to the concerns of my constituents and colleagues about how best to win the White House, I know we must do everything in our power to restore trust in government to keep NJs Senate seat blue, and win back the House to stop the Republicans extreme agenda, he said. Kims Republican challenger in the Senate race, Curtis Bashaw, said he thinks the sitting congressman should take a more definitive stance on Bidens candidacy. Its a simple question, Bashaw posted online, tagging Kim. New Jerseyans deserve an answer. According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, Kim has a 96 percent chance of winning the Senate race this fall. Four of Kims Democratic New Jersey colleagues have publicly backed Biden, including Reps. Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Bill Pascrell and Donald Norcross, the outlet reported. The Senate candidate acknowledged that the decision to step aside ultimately comes down to Biden, who has insisted he is not dropping out. I recognize no one here fully controls what happens next, but I hope that me and my colleagues can really think this through and figure out how it is that were going to win, Kim told the Globe. Yash Roy contributed. Updated at 5:51 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. First lady Jill Biden speaks to supporters in Columbus on Monday as part of a three-stop swing in battleground states to launch Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder COLUMBUS First lady Jill Biden rallied Democrats in a west Georgia community thats home to one of the countrys largest military bases Monday as the Biden-Harris campaign works to tamp down concerns after President Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance in Atlanta more than a week ago. The first lady, who is one of the presidents fiercest surrogates, hit the campaign trail with a three-stop swing through battleground states as the president ramped up his efforts to firmly reject calls for him to bow out of the race. The trio of events was part of the campaigns launch of Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris. Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning, is near Columbus. And while the rally was focused on Bidens record supporting the military, such as the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or the PACT Act, which expanded health care eligibility, there was no avoiding the ongoing fallout from the CNN debate. That 90 minutes means nothing. You dont define a president in 90 minutes, Gloria Tyson, U.S. Army veteran and owner of Kidz.com Child Development Center, said to the crowd as she introduced the first lady in Columbus. Monday brought a string of more developments just weeks ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago where the party is set to officially nominate Biden. The day started with the president telling congressional Democrats he would not step aside despite mounting concerns, and he also called into MSNBCs Morning Joe and vowed to stay in the race. I am not going anywhere, Biden said. But by the afternoon, Bidens press secretary was caught in a testy exchange with reporters over the presidents health. For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that hes all in, Jill Biden said to the crowd, which began to chant four more years. Thats the decision that hes made, and just as he has always supported my career, Im all in too, she said inside the Bibb Mill Event Center, which is a century-old mill-turned-event venue that sits alongside the Chattahoochee River. I know you are too, or you wouldnt be here today. The Bidens have also leaned into their personal story as a military family. Bidens son Beau Biden, a veteran, suffered from a rare form of brain cancer and died in May 2015, years after being deployed to Iraq. In Georgia, Democrats have largely stuck with Biden. State Sen. Ed Harbison, who is a Columbus Democrat who joined the first lady on stage Monday night, said Democrats who are questioning whether Biden should be the nominee are losing sight of the goal. To those people who have concerns about it, I would just like to reassure them to get over it, get focused and get going, Harbison said before Mondays rally. Its too late to do anything that would be a drastic change like that. Thats just impractical. Lets go ahead, get it done and get moving. Get over it. One debate does not a campaign make, he said. Former Georgia Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux is an example of the rare Georgia Democrat who has said Biden should step aside. But others have voiced unease with the trajectory of the 2024 presidential election with Biden at the top of the ticket. Stacy Richardson, who lives in Pine Mountain, made the short trek Monday to Columbus in search of reassurance after she said Bidens debate performance left her nervous and wondering whether that kind of episode could happen at any time. Richardson said she admires Biden and the accomplishments of his presidency and long career in public service, but as she waited for the first lady to take the stage, Richardson said she was not convinced Biden was the best candidate to face former President Donald Trump in November. I dont want to write him off, Richardson said. Id like to see a little more, maybe a couple more interviews that are unscripted, a couple more appearances without a teleprompter and things that are a little more challenging. She said she would also like to see the campaign address the presidents health head on. I feel bad because I totally appreciate what his presidency did, and I believe in all that. He accomplished so much. Im just really worried about the alternative, she said. Biden narrowly won Georgia in 2020 by about 12,000 votes, becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win here in three decades and cementing the states battleground status. Polling has so far given Trump a slight edge in Georgia. For me, I feel like its so important to have someone in that office who is honest, and I think hes honest, state Rep. Debbie Buckner, a Junction City Democrat, said of Biden. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SALEM, Va. (WFXR) The Diuguids Bridge near Green Hill Park has been renamed the James P. Buriak Bridge in honor of the Salem local who died in military service in 2021. James Buriak, Jimmy for short, loved his country and admired the servicemen and women who came before him. So, after graduating from Salem High School and Roanoke College, Jimmy joined the Navy and became a rescue swimmer. Photo Credit: Zoe Mowery Jimmy died on August 31st, 2021 when his helicopter crashed off the coast of San Diego, California. Moyer Sports Complex makes a bigger and better return to Salem He was the most kind, caring, compassionate, and enthusiastic person about life I have ever gotten to know, to meet and to share my life with, said Megan Buriak, Jimmys wife, Were grateful to be able to have had him for as long as we did, but we miss him every day. Jimmys family visited Green Hill Park many times when he was a child. Diuguid means a well-meaning person in Gaelic, and his family says it couldnt be a better fit to honor his legacy. Photo Credit: Zoe Mowery God doesnt always show up in Gods person, but God shows up in your person, said Reverand Paul Henrickson who is also a family friend, He sends people like Jimmy to be that well-meaning person. Jimmys best friend, Patrick Pollifrone, called their relationship more like a brotherhood, and like so many others, he was proud of everything Jimmy had done in his life. New changes, same family fun set to kick off at Salem Fair When his son was born, Jimmy wasnt that silly little kid I grew up with anymore, he was a man, he was a dad, and he was the best dad a child could ask for, said Patrick Pollifrone. Photo Credit: Zoe Mowery His family also created the AWS1 James Buriak Foundation, which supports families whose loved ones have died in the line of duty. His family hopes that every time someone crosses the bridge, they think of Jimmy and the sacrifices he made. I always encourage people to be Jimmy-minded every day they live their life, and just know life is so short, said Megan Buriak. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Joe Biden commits to staying in the race like Nixon, his biggest threat comes from within his own party President Joe Biden is strongly reaffirming his commitment to stay in the presidential race despite a growing number of calls from politicians and voters for him to step down, following a highly criticized debate performance in June 2024. After Biden said in an ABC news interview that only the Lord Almighty could convince him to drop out, he wrote a letter on July 8 to congressional Democrats declaring that I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. This comes as additional prominent Democratic politicians are reportedly and mostly privately calling for Biden to exit the race. Biden has been consistent in saying hes staying in the race, but that doesnt necessarily tell the whole story. The Conversation U.S. Politics and Society Editor Amy Lieberman spoke with Philip Klinkner, a scholar of American politics and the presidency at Hamilton College, to better understand what factors might influence what Biden says and his ultimate decision to stay in the race or not. President Joe Biden speaks with ABC news anchor George Stephanopoulos on July 5, 2024, in Madison, Wis. ABC via Getty Images Can we take Bidens words about staying in the race at face value? Do they reflect whats happening behind the scenes? Biden obviously knows that his support among Democrats mostly elected Democrats in Congress, governors and others is slipping. He knows that if he shows signs of indecision, that could lead to less support from Democrat politicians, which would cause even more waffling. He is trying to present a brave front as a way to kind of stem any defections, doubts and bleeding. So far, that hasnt really had the intended effect. Each day we see a trickle of Democrats in Congress who have called for Biden to step aside. Bidens approach may have kept this trickle from becoming a deluge, but it could become a deluge at any time. What factors are these politicians considering as they decide whether to back Biden or not? There is a range of considerations. One argument is that Biden is obviously flawed, but is there anyone out there who would be a better nominee against Trump? Another factor is that Biden has been a Washington, D.C. fixture for decades. Many of these people are friends with him and have worked with him. They dont necessarily want to be the friend who turns on him in the end. The other factor is that if Biden is not going anywhere, these politicians dont want to be the one who calls for him to leave. Then, Biden and the folks who work around him could later say, You abandoned me when I needed you most. Have we seen politicians previously who emphatically committed to staying in a race before they abruptly changed their minds? Politicians are always fully committed to some course of action until they are not, and they often express this in the most absolute terms. In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern selected Thomas Eagleton as his vice president running mate. News then came out that Eagleton had been treated for depression and had electroconvulsive therapy. At the time, attitudes toward mental illness were not as accepting as they are today, and McGovern and Eagleton faced a lot of criticism. McGovern first said he was behind Eagleton 1,000%, and then a few days later he cut him loose and dropped him from the ticket. Until a day or two before Richard Nixon resigned as president in August 1974, he said he would never do it. For more than a year, people were calling on Nixon to resign following the Watergate scandal, in which Nixon operatives were caught trying to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters. These calls amplified after the Saturday Night Massacre in October 1973, when he fired a special prosecutor and accepted the resignations of the two top officials in the Department of Justice the attorney general and deputy attorney general who were involved with investigating Watergate. Richard Nixon gives a farewell speech to his staff and cabinet at the White House on Aug. 9, 1974, after he resigned as president. Bettmann/Contributor What was the critical moment in these two cases? In Nixons case and as Biden could be be facing now the support of his own party collapsed. Top congressional Republicans went to the White House and said, Look, you will be impeached if you dont step down. Nixon famously asked Senator Barry Goldwater about what his support in the Senate looked like. Goldwater said, Theres not more than 15 senators for you. With Eagleton and McGovern, the lack of support from within their party was also a key factor that led to the switch in vice presidential candidate. In Bidens case, I think that having senior Democrats like Congressman Jerry Nadler saying, even in private calls, that he should step down will lead to him quitting the race. Biden can only handle so much of that because the more that goes on, the more it gives room and safety for other Democrats to come out. Is there more going on behind the scenes thats convinced Biden and his allies that he should stay in the race? There has been some exaggeration in how bad Bidens poll numbers actually are. Yes, Biden has dipped in the polls, but it has not been a free fall and it is still a very close race. Historically, what we tend to see is that if a politician takes a hit in the polls because of a particular incident, it tends to be pretty short-lived. What the Biden people are likely thinking is, 'Yes, we took a hit in the polls after the debate, but if you give it two weeks, the race will return to where it was before the debate. When Trump got convicted on 34 felony counts in May 2024, that just barely moved the poll numbers. People may not be happy with the choice of Trump versus Biden, but most people know who they are going to pick in that circumstance. Most people running for office are pretty immune to attacks from the other party. What hurts the most is when people in your own party start to criticize you. That is what is happening here with Biden. The Biden people are saying that if everyone just got on board, we would not see any dip in the polls. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Philip Klinkner, Hamilton College. Read more: Philip Klinkner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. URUMQI, China, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Tashbay Ganibek, a 23-year-old resident of Subash Village in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, proudly recalls his achievement last year of reaching the summit of Muztagh Ata, a 7,546-meter peak known as the "Father of Ice Mountains." Muztagh Ata is a renowned destination for mountaineers worldwide due to its relatively gentle slopes and lower climbing difficulty, making it an ideal stepping stone for many climbers. Some enthusiasts also consider it a resort for ski mountaineering. Tashbay lives with his family at the base of the mountain. As mountaineering gains popularity in China, he and his peers have turned their attention to the towering snow-capped peaks behind them. Living at high altitudes has given local herders exceptional physical fitness and endurance. Last summer, Tashbay and several young companions began working with mountaineering teams, assisting in setting up camps, supporting climbers, managing logistics, and providing transportation. Their support is crucial to each climber's success on Muztagh Ata. The work is arduous, involving braving the harsh high-altitude environment while carrying supplies weighing up to 30 kilograms through towering mountain paths. "Though living on the plateau, I've never carried such heavy loads and climbed so high," Tashbay said. "But I enjoyed the process, especially the sense of accomplishment when reaching the summit. It taught me how to face challenges." The mountaineering season has become the highest earning period of the year for these young herders, changing their lives. Yin Hang, the first secretary of Subash Village, said the mountaineering boom on Muztagh Ata over the past two years has driven significant local economic growth, with nearly 60 villagers working in mountaineering-related jobs. The construction of a mountaineering town, with an estimated investment of 1.1 billion yuan (about 151.3 million U.S. dollars), is set to provide more job opportunities for the villagers. Last season, Tashbay earned over 20,000 yuan, giving him the confidence to marry his girlfriend last October. "I used to think the mountain was just there. I never imagined mountaineering could bring me so much income," he said. People from all over the country have also connected through their shared love of the mountain. "Many climbers from low-altitude areas suffer from altitude sickness when they arrive and just want to lie in their tents," Tashbay said. "I feel responsible for taking good care of them." His reliability has earned him many new friends from elsewhere. During their downtime, the young people gather to share stories and learn about each other's cultures and customs. While his friends are amazed by his physical stamina, Tashbay is captivated by stories of life in big cities. "Last year, a friend from Chongqing told me all about the city's hills, and he invited me to visit," Tashbay said. "It's a scene I've never seen, and I want to take my wife there someday." Proud of his homeland's stunning scenery and its attraction to many visitors, Tashbay is determined to pursue a future in mountaineering. Like many young people, he often watches videos on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Most of his content is related to mountaineering, and his fascination with snow-capped peaks continues to grow. He cherishes every training opportunity, diligently learning mountaineering skills and knowledge, and has already obtained a basic mountaineering guide certificate. When the mountaineering season ended, the mountain returned to silence. "I always hope the next mountaineering season comes quickly to make here lively again," he said. Joe Biden seeks to quell domestic fears over his fitness for office with NATO address to global leaders Joe Biden sought to quell domestic concerns over his fitness for office on the world stage on Tuesday as he touted the strength of the NATO alliance and announced new steps to bolster Ukraine against Russian attacks, continuing his signature foreign policy achievement at a moment of crisis for his administration and re-election campaign. 75 years after 12 countries came together in Washington to sign a historic mutual defense pact in the wake of the Second World War, the president touted the alliances progress before leaders representing the 32 treaty signatories at the annual NATO leaders summit. Speaking before an audience of NATO leaders, including newly-minted British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Biden said the North Atlantic Treaty, that the alliance birthed 75 years ago, is stronger and more vital than ever and promised it would continue to support Ukraines defense needs. We know Putin wont stop at Ukraine, but make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin, he said. The US and partner nations intend to provide Ukraine with five strategic air defense systems in the coming months and dozens of tactical air defense systems, Biden added. The Mellon Auditorium is the place where the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in 1949 (AP) Biden spoke from the historic Mellon Auditorium, where representatives of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK and US signed on to the Washington Treaty. He said the now-32 member alliance is more powerful than ever with the recent additions of Sweden and Finland and touted its work in strengthening Ukraine against Russias invading forces. Sweden and Finland both longtime practitioners of neutrality had joined not just because their leaders sought it, because their citizens called for it in overwhelming numbers, he said. He also said NATOs current incarnation is better resourced than it has ever been because 23 allies will meet the 2 per cent defense spending goal this year, with the remainder of the NATO members set to get there soon. Biden said it was good that NATO is stronger than ever in the face of Russias nearly three-year-old war against Ukraine. The president recalled how pundits and analysts had predicted Kyivs fall within days of the start of the war and he credited one man, outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, with helping the alliance to remain the bulwark of global security. President Joe Biden, center, poses with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb before delivering remarks on the 75th anniversary of NATO at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on July 9 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) That did not happen by accident and was not inevitable, Biden continued. Again and again, at critical moments, we chose unity over disunion, progress over retreat, freedom over tyranny, hope over fear. Again and again, we stood behind our shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous transatlantic community. Here at this summit, we gather to proclaim NATO is ready and able to secure that vision today and well into the future, Biden said. The president praised Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian Prime Minister who has helmed the alliance for a decade, for staying on for an additional two years at his request, and offered a mock apology to the secretarys wife. Today, NATO is stronger, smarter and more energized than when you began, and a billion people across Europe and North America. Indeed, the whole world will reap the rewards of your labor for years to come in the form of security, opportunity and greater freedom, he said. Biden closed his remarks by awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Stoltenberg, the highest American civilian honor. Bidens NATO speech comes as questions continue over his fitness to serve in the Oval Office on account of his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month. A number of Democratic House members have called on the 81-year-old president to withdraw from the 2024 race in favor of a younger candidate, while several members of the Senate are understood to have told colleagues they do not believe Biden can defeat Trump a second time. Joe Bidens staying in the race no matter what. We may be in trouble, people | Opinion Despite a near-revolt by some top Democrats and campaign donors who believe Joe Biden should withdraw from the race, the president is having none of it. He has made it clear, again and again, that he has no intention of giving up. If any of these guys dont think I should run, run against me. Go ahead, announce for president. Challenge me at the convention, Biden said during a surprise interview Monday on MSNBCs Morning Joe. Opinion As if that would happen. Two of the likeliest contenders Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are not about to go rogue. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she would not run even if Biden withdrew. Who does that leave? Andrew Yang, maybe? Biden, 81, is convinced that he, and he alone, can beat Donald Trump. I dont think anybodys more qualified to be president or win this race than me, he told ABCs George Stephanopoulos during a July 5 interview a statement that sounded almost Trumpian. Adam Schiff: Biden should be mopping the floor with Trump Following Bidens off-the-rails debate performance, the Stephanopoulos interview was supposed to be the presidents time to shine. The White House hoped that by nailing the interview, Biden would convince voters that he is fit to serve four more years in arguably the most demanding, stressful, consequential job on the planet. It did not. Instead, a handful of House Democrats have called for Biden to drop out of the race and other leading Democrats have expressed misgivings. Californias likely next senator, Democrat Adam Schiff, was among those who took their concerns public. Given Joe Bidens incredible record and given Donald Trumps terrible record, he should be mopping the floor with Trump, Schiff said on Sundays Meet the Press. Joe Biden is running against a criminal. It should not be even close and theres only one reason it is close, and thats the presidents age. Schiff went on to advise the president to seek the opinions of experts outside his circle. He should take a moment to make the best-informed judgment, he advised. And if the judgment is run, (then) run hard and beat that SOB. The presidents plan? Hell get more sleep Biden doesnt appear to be listening and has trailed Trump in many polls. However, Biden narrowed the gap in a Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll published Saturday. It showed Biden leading Trump in Michigan and Wisconsin, two key swing states. In Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina, the incumbent is now within the margin of error, per the survey, wrote The Hill. Thats a ray of hope for Democrats, though Biden cannot afford another debate debacle. So far, his comeback tour has been uneven at best. In interviews, hes cited several excuses for his poor debate performance on June 27: a cold, jet lag, lack of sleep, and distractions created by Donald Trump. In a meeting with Democratic governors, Biden said he would stop taking meetings after 8 p.m. in order to get more sleep. Thats his answer? More sleep? No meetings after 8 p.m.? That only emphasizes Bidens frailty. On top of that, its become increasingly clear that Bidens handlers are keeping him on a short leash feeding radio interviewers a list of questions and requesting a correction of the transcript of the Stephanopoulos interview. (In the original transcript, Biden was quoted as saying goodest which is what some listeners heard but following discussions, that was changed to good as, which still didnt make much sense.) It must be hell to be Joe Biden right now. His every word, every step, every facial expression is scrutinized for signs of infirmity while Donald Trump whos had plenty of mental lapses of his own gets a pass. I have a cognitive test every single day Biden could reassure voters that he is fit to serve if he consented to a complete cognitive assessment something Stephanopoulos suggested. Biden demurred. No one said I had to, he said. No one said. They said Im good. Stephanopoulos pressed: Would you be willing...? he asked. Look, Biden responded, I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test. Everything I do. Trump couldnt have said it better. Certainly, there are doubts about Trumps cognitive abilities as well. But given the threat Trump poses, it is incumbent on Biden to do everything in his power to beat the SOB, to borrow a phrase from Schiff. If that means a full physical exam including a cognitive workup thats what he should do. And he should make the results public. But dont hold your breath. Biden is living in denial, refusing to acknowledge the legitimate concerns of those of us who believe he should pass the torch. Certainly, many will vote for him no matter what. It could be close; Biden could even pull off a victory. But the presidents stubbornness just may put Donald Trump back in the White House. And if that happens? Ill feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job (sic) as I know I can do, thats what this is all about, he told Stephanopoulos. Wrong answer, Mr. President. Beating Donald Trump is what this race is all about. Should Joe Biden step down? NC Democrats in Congress split on what to say publicly After 24 hours back on Capitol Hill, North Carolinas Democrats in Congress are split on whether to publicly express support for Joe Bidens decision to stay in the presidential race. Whether Biden should continue his campaign has dominated the news cycles since June 27, when the president debated former President Donald Trump in Atlanta on CNN with garbled answers and thoughts that trailed off. Bidens performance immediately sent Democrats into a tailspin and led some members of his party and political pundits to call for him to end his race. Biden has dug in his heels, saying hes not going anywhere. And he attempted to use a post-debate rally in Raleigh to revive support for his campaign. Now, after spending two weeks away from the U.S. Capitol on a routine holiday break, Democrats in Congress find themselves facing a barrage of questions about whether President Joe Biden should end his campaign. Democrats returning to the Capitol also received a letter from Biden that included a proclamation he would continue his re-election bid. Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat from Cary, told McClatchy Biden is the Democratic nominee and that the party needs to ensure Biden defeats Trump. There is only one candidate that is not a convicted felon, Nickel said Tuesday, before pivoting back to Biden. Theres only one candidate that will bring our country together and has worked in a bipartisan way and will continue to do that. On Monday, many Democrats were reluctant to give answers to reporters waiting to hear from them. Some wouldnt comment. Others who typically walk through hallways alone were surrounded by staff members. Another group found atypical routes to get to and from the chamber. Their reactions come as new polling from Emerson College released Tuesday found Trump leading Biden 46% to 43%. While the margin remains close, Biden dropped two-points since the debate, with independent voters changing this views. Trumps remains unchanged. NC Congressional Black Caucus members Biden held a call with the Congressional Black Caucus Monday night. Democrats Reps. Alma Adams, of Charlotte; Valerie Foushee, of Hillsborough; and Don Davis, of Snow Hill are all members. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden walked away from that call with the full support of the caucus. Prior to the meeting, however, Foushee was ready to support Bidens decision, providing a statement to McClatchy, Monday, saying as much. Over the last three years, President Biden has consistently delivered results through unprecedented job growth, historic investments to fix our nations infrastructure, and lowering costs for hardworking families, Foushee said. I am appreciative of the President and his administrations continued efforts to prioritize the needs of the American people and for investing in our local communities here in North Carolina and across the country. I believe he is fit to run and am supportive of his reelection campaign. Adams said through a spokesperson before the meeting she didnt have enough information to comment. After the meeting, she also offered her support. President Biden has been an extraordinary president, Adams said. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated that he genuinely cares about our country and its people, and he has an historic record to show for it. I will continue to stand with the president and the people who elected him to be our nominee. He is the best candidate to be in this race. Davis, meanwhile, called Bidens delivery at the debate a disaster, in a written statement to McClatchy Tuesday afternoon, echoing what he had first told Spectrum News on July 2. Americans want a leader who is committed to telling the truth, but are also seeking a fighter, Davis said. The stakes of this election are incredibly high. Its no longer just about a single debate performance but about the future of our nation. President Biden needs to show that he is fit to lead the free world and demonstrate his fighting spirit. If hes going to stay in, he needs to step up. My commitment is fighting for eastern North Carolina and certifying the election. Davis is the only House member in North Carolina seeking reelection in a competitive race. Greensboro, Raleigh Democrats Both Reps. Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Raleigh, and Kathy Manning, a Democrat from Greensboro, remained vague on where they stand, other than throwing their support behind their party. Ross complimented the president, but didnt offer him support. Joe Biden has led our country with wisdom, grace, and integrity, Ross told McClatchy in a written statement. While leaders in our party continue to discuss the best path forward, I remain laser-focused on flipping the House, turning out the vote in Wake County, and ensuring that Democrats in North Carolina up and down the ballot are victorious in November. Last week, Ross told WRAL that Biden should remain in the race. Manning also zeroed in on what Biden has done for the country, but not direct support. I am committed to working to elect Democrats from the White House to the U.S. House to the NC Governors House, Manning said, in a written statement. This is critical to maintain the gains we have achieved under President Biden and to stop the attacks on womens reproductive rights, voting rights, protect investments in education, continue to rebuild our manufacturing base, build clean energy solutions, and build safer communities. Both called Trump a threat. Putting him in a position to appoint more Supreme Court Justices, to destroy the strong alliances we have built with NATO countries and other allies, and to increase costs with his irresponsible tariff plan would set this country back for decades, Manning said. Ross called on Democrats to come together and defeat Trump to preserve our democracy. Right now, hes the nominee Nickel, who agreed to speak directly with McClatchy, hesitated when characterizing Democrats conversations at the Capitol this week. But he said the party is united in ensuring Trump never reclaims the Oval Office. And, at this point, weve got make sure that we do everything we can to make sure Joe Biden beats Donald Trump, Nickel said. When asked what it would mean if ensuring Democrats beat Trump meant not having Biden as the nominee, Nickel said, Right now, hes the nominee and until that changes, my focus is making sure we talk about all the good things that the Joe Biden administration has done for North Carolina. But Nickel saw the debate, and isnt mincing words about Bidens performance. It was a very bad debate, and Ive talked to a lot of people in Congress who are concerned. Theres only one person who can put that issue to rest and its Joe Biden. I know hes up for the job. Until Tuesday night, Democrat Rep. Jeff Jackson from Charlotte a congressman known for his transparency declined to offer his opinion on Bidens candidacy. Jackson walked through the Capitol doors Monday evening making his way toward the House chamber for their first votes of the evening. When asked if he had any thoughts on Biden, he answered firmly, I do. When asked if he wanted to provide them, he said, I dont, laughing and walking into the chamber and away from the sea of reporters. Jackson, while not seeking reelection, is also in a competitive campaign. Hes seeking the role of the states attorney general, against Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican from Charlotte. Tuesday night, he released a statement about what Biden must do if he continues his campaign. The President has made clear that he intends to say in the race, Jackson said. If thats the case, he must fully address voters real concerns following his debate performance and engage with the public and journalists in open settings. That isnt just a fair expectation its the only path to victory. Republican reaction One member of North Carolinas delegation was not worried about reporters questions when he came back from recess this week. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican from Lincoln County, who found himself in the center of a media frenzy after being named interim House speaker last October reveled in the press not seeking his attention. McHenry walked through a door of the Capitol often used by Democrats. He was joined by Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican from Eastern North Carolina. Do you want our opinions? McHenry asked with a laugh. They matter not at all. Now that Joe Biden has stepped down, who might replace him as the Democratic presidential nominee? As President Joe Biden announced Sunday his stunning decision to step aside for re-election in Novembers race, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the favorite to run. But polling showed Gavin Newsom and a host of others may have a shot. While more Democratic voters have told pollsters they wold prefer Harris, her support isnt overwhelming. The surveys suggest California Gov. Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and others could become viable challengers. Theres no slam dunk candidate, said Chris Jackson, senior vice president of Ipsos, which polled voters on alternatives last week. Shortly after Biden dropped out of the race Sunday, he announced his support for Harris: My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And its been the best decision Ive made, he said in a statement on X. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Since his disastrous showing in the June 27 debate against Donald Trump, Biden has slipped somewhat in most polls. Trump is ahead by as many as 8 points in some post-debate polls, though he and Biden are tied among registered voters in an Ipsos survey taken at the beginning of the month. While the most-mentioned alternatives continue to vow support for Biden, others are calling for him to leave. The alternative candidates would run close races, polls suggest. Harris, 59, the former California attorney general and senator, trailed Trump by one percentage point in an Ipsos July 1-2 survey of registered voters, similar to her standing in the June 28-30 CNN/SRSS survey Newsom, 56, had the next best showing of any Democrat in the Ipsos poll with 39% to Trumps 42%. In another post-debate survey, about two in three Democrats saw Harris as qualified to be president, according to an Economist/YouGov poll. YouGov found 31% of registered Democratic voters said theyd prefer Harris over Newsom, who was cited by 17%. Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom Newsom and Harris face a different challenge that the other potential alternative candidates. Theyre better known, meaning more people have formed opinions of them both good and bad. Republicans have been demonizing both for years. Whitmer and the other potential candidates, on the other hand, still have room to be defined in the public eye. In the Ipsos poll, about half of registered voters said they never heard of Whitmer. Seventy-one percent never heard of Beshear and 75% were unfamiliar with Pritzker. Newsom, who has tried for the last year to promote himself as a national figure, was unknown to 29%. But nearly everyone knew Harris. Name recognition is a significant factor for all potential Democratic candidates at this stage, effective advertising could change that quickly, said Spencer Kimball, polling director at Emerson College, which conducts state and national surveys. The Democratic hopefuls Here are some of the potential players and their prospects: Pritzker. The Illinois governor, 59, now in his second term, will be in the spotlight next month when Democrats hold their convention in Chicago. Still, its the swing states in play where Democrats are likely to turn their attention if the nomination process opens up, and Pritzkers state is regarded as fairly safe Democratic territory. A Republican presidential candidate last won Illinois in 1988, and Biden won the state by 17 points in 2020. Josh Shapiro. The Pennsylvania governor, 51, got accolades for pushing to get Interstate 95 reopened two weeks after the road collapsed last year. The highway is a major north-south East Coast highway connecting Baltimore, Philadelphia and other big cities. Shapiro, though, has only been in that office for a year and a half. He had been state attorney general from 2017 to 2023.. Pete Buttigieg. The Secretary of Transportation, 42, sought the nomination four years ago and would start with both a network of supporters and know-how. But Buttagieg would also have to answer for air traffic, highway and other controversies during his tenure. An Economist/YouGov post-debate poll had Buttagieg viewed favorably by 32% of registered voters, while 37% saw him unfavorably.. Whitmer. The Michigan governor, 52, has jumped onto pundit radars because shes won twice in a blue-collar swing state that is seen as crucial to anyone seeking the White House. Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2016, but lost it in 2020. Whitmer became popular in Michigan for her insistence on fixing the states roads, and has been a rising national star. Whitmer gave the 2020 response to Trumps State of the Union address from her daughters high school. She focused on infrastructure, education and health care. Biden seriously considered her as his vice presidential running mate in 2020. Whitmer also has a reputation for her toughnessshe was the target of a foiled plot to kidnap her and overthrow the state government in 2020 by a paramilitary group. Beshear. The Kentucky governor, 46, has long tempted national Democrats. Hes won the governorship twice in a Republican-leaning state, a state whose GOP is led by national powerbroker Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader. Beshear won his first term by narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Matt Bevin. Four years later, he topped Republican Daniel Cameron by 5 percentage points. Kentucky last gave its electoral votes to a Democrat in 1996. Being able to carry a swing state and have appeal in blue collar voters Southern states that for years have tilted Republican would make Beshear, Whitmer and maybe others more attractive. Democrats dominate California, where the partys statewide candidates have not lost an election since 2006. New Hampshire is another state in play, and Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, thought any small advantage could be crucial this year. Remember, he said, Were talking about an election to be decided by a couple percentage points in key states. In the years of Donald Trumps dangerous presidency and in the years since this editorial board had a frequent but simple request for Republicans in Washington: Tell the truth about the president. Say out loud what youre saying privately. Choose your country over your party. Choose the rest of us over your political future. Some Republicans did. Some including North Carolinas Thom Tillis got brave on occasion and criticized the president, only to backtrack and retreat to politically safer territory. It was wrong then. Its wrong now. This week, Democrats are facing a similar choice with President Joe Biden. His debate performance late last month prompted uncomfortable questions about his cognitive ability, and it has cast doubt on whether he can defeat Trump again in 2024, let alone capably lead our country for four years in the event that he were to win this November. Biden, however, is digging in. Hes daring Democrats not to support him. Hes attacking media and other elites for reporting reality and asking legitimate questions about him. If that sounds uncomfortably familiar, well, yes. The stakes, as Democrats and so many others know, are significant. Donald Trump who tried to overturn a fair election, who regularly exhibits disdain for the law, and who now has been given the highest courts permission to break it should not be president again. For very different reasons, we also question whether Joe Biden should be. This is not about one bad debate night, but about a clear decline that should trouble any American. At 81 years old, Biden is showing signs of aging and cognitive decline, including slurred speech, disorientation and lapses in memory, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and others. Worse yet, Biden and his team have been dodgy about his condition to voters and others. We can understand why the Biden administration perhaps didnt want hostile leaders to believe they were dealing with an even slightly diminished president. But instead of acknowledging his limitations and leaving after one term, Biden and his team have clung to power and, toward that end, not told the full truth to primary voters about his health. Now we know more. Democrats in Congress know more. They know that Biden faces a steeper climb this November. Voters already had questions about Bidens mental acuity. The answers they are getting and make no mistake, reporting on Bidens decline will continue make his reelection a longer shot than ever. Lets be clear: Should Biden win the Democratic nomination, he remains the far better choice in November. He navigated the country out of COVID and onto more solid economic footing. Hes been a stalwart advocate for the vulnerable, for womens reproductive rights. Americans are, without question, better off under his administration than they were four years ago under Donald Trump. And, despite the troubling nature of Bidens situation, he certainly does not pose a grave danger like Trump does. Biden or not, this election poses an existential question about our democracy, especially as Trump himself has recently called for his political opponents to be jailed and prosecuted in televised military tribunals. But Trump vs. Biden isnt the choice our country is facing at least not yet. Joe Biden has been a strong president, and he may be a fundamentally decent man, but is reluctant to cede power like so many before him. Its up to others in his party to give voice to the questions voters are asking. Is Biden the best candidate to keep Trump from the White House? Is he the best Democrat to lead our country now and four years from now? What Democrats must do now is demand the answers the White House is refusing to provide. They should call for Biden to submit to a full medical evaluation and publicly share the results. They should demand that he hold an honest press conference, answering tough questions from the media that are not coordinated in advance. And if he does not comply, they should encourage delegates to vote their conscience at the Democratic National Convention. To be sure, there are some Democrats who have already expressed hesitation about the viability of Bidens campaign. But media reports indicate that far more are expressing such doubts in private even suggesting Biden should withdraw from the race but have not yet voiced them publicly. So today, we implore Democrats in North Carolina and elsewhere: Tell the truth about the president. Say out loud what youre saying privately. Dont hesitate because of the backlash youd face from the president and his supporters. Dont lose this election because it might help you with another down the road. Republicans, too, must still tell the truth about their own nominee, his half-truths, dangerous rhetoric and alleged crimes. We already know what happens when you make the wrong choice. Joel Osteens megachurch mocked during Hurricane Beryl - years after it was closed during a previous storm The Houston megachurch of televangelist Joel Osteen was mocked by social media users for not offering enough aid as Hurricane Beryl pummeled the city. The megachurch leader was criticized by a barrage of X users who have not forgotten his churchs slow response in offering shelter to victims of Hurricane Harvey, which rampaged the area in 2017. Osteens Lakewood Church used to be the arena for the Houston Rockets and can hold nearly 17,000 people, meaning it could serve as an air-conditioned safe haven for many impacted by the storm. We are praying for everyone on the Gulf Coast. Lakewood is working with the Office of Emergency Management, and are standing by to help those impacted by the storm. Please stay safe! the Texas church tweeted at 11.30pm Sunday. The Category 1 hurricane made landfall hours later, early on Monday. The Houston megachurch of televangelist Joel Osteen was mocked by social media users for not offering enough aid during Hurricane Beryl (AP) Social media users posted memes suggesting the megachurch leader was scrambling to shut and lock up doors - making reference to the churchs 2017 response when discussing the most recent storm. There were also altered photos of Osteen, whose net worth is believed to soar into the tens of millions, next to his sprawling property saying he had no room to shelter anyone. Joel Osteen when he hears another hurricane is about to hit Houston, one post read, with a set of large double doors secured by two dozen locks. Another user posted a cartoon of Piglet hastily nailing wood planks on windows, writing: Joel Osteen once Hurricane Beryl hits Houston. In 2017, Osteen initially offered prayers as Houston was devastated by extreme flooding. He defended himself against detractors, explaining that the church had been inaccessible due to flooding. We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need, he said at the time. Joel Osteen when he hears another hurricane is about to hit Houston pic.twitter.com/tci6nelM8c Chris Jackson (@ChrisCJackson) July 8, 2024 No one: Joel Osteen getting ready for people seeking shelter from Beryl: pic.twitter.com/Wa2H3Kc2As Leftist Cholo Lone Star DeferrKy (@LAtowncritic) July 7, 2024 Hurricane Beryl about to pound Texas with rain. Sorry, Houston. Joel Osteen has no room to help. pic.twitter.com/iwqSpccNmh John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) July 7, 2024 After Beryl moved beyond Houston Monday afternoon, the church posted: Local authorities are asking people to stay off the roads today. Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday 8:00am, Lakewood will serve as a cooling and water distribution center, and safe haven for anyone in need. The cool shelter will likely be welcomed by the more than 2 million Houston residents who have lost power and air conditioning as temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s, but feel even hotter. While Texans clean up in Beryls wake, the storm has since been downgraded to a tropical depression and is heading north on Tuesday. The Independent has reached out to the megachurch for comment. John Fetterman Gives Trump Brutal Reminder About Who 'Kicked His Ass' Once Already Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said hes firmly in President Joe Bidens corner despite calls from some in the party that he step down after a poor performance in last months debate raised new questions about his age, stamina and cognitive health. Thats going to be our guy. Thats my guy, he told MSNBCs Jen Psaki on Monday, adding that Biden is the only candidate to beat former President Donald Trump in an election. And my money is gonna be on the guy that kicked his ass in 2020 and hes going to win again, he said. .@JohnFetterman on his colleagues' criticism of Biden: "If no one has run for president and they're giving advice... it's like, I'm gonna tell Tom Brady, 'Oh you really need to hold harder in the pocket or something.'" pic.twitter.com/etent1LxEE Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) July 9, 2024 Fetterman called out the people urging Biden to quit. It cracks me up, he said. Its like Im going to tell Tom Brady, yknow, you really need to hold harder in the pocket or something. I mean, its strange. Fetterman said he spent time with Biden during his campaign stops in Pennsylvania on Sunday. He had a perfect day with me, Fetterman said, adding that Biden did multiple unscripted and interactive events: .@JohnFetterman on his recent campaign stops with President Biden: "He had a perfect day with me. I spent the entire day with Joe Biden with me. He had multiple events all day. He was unscripted." pic.twitter.com/mQX7xBgvUL Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) July 9, 2024 The Pennsylvania senator also mocked the GOP over their support for Trump despite his criminal conviction in New York and multiple cases still underway. Its strange why Republicans seem to embrace that a felon is at the top of their ticket and theyre proud of that, and they dress like him, he said. Fetterman who faced his own health questions when he suffered a stroke in 2022 while running for Senate has spoken out in favor of Biden since the debate, and tweeted a message of support on Sunday: One of us beat Trumps ass in 2020. pic.twitter.com/ThLDt2zzge John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) July 7, 2024 The medical school at Baltimores Johns Hopkins University will soon be free to nearly all students after a $1bn donation from the alumnus, philanthropist and politician Michael Bloomberg. Beginning in the fall term of 2024, the former New York City mayors foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, will cover 100% of tuition for medical students whose families earn less than $300,000, the organization announced on Monday. And for those who earn less than $175,000, all living expenses and fees will also be covered. Bloomberg obtained his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins in 1964. Related: Columbia removes three deans over text messages with alleged antisemitic tropes In a statement, Bloomberg said: As the US struggles to recover from a disturbing decline in life expectancy, our country faces a serious shortage of doctors, nurses and public health professionals and yet, the high cost of medical, nursing and graduate school too often bars students from enrolling. By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers theyre passionate about and enable them to serve more of the families and communities who need them the most. The co-founder of the Bloomberg media company previously donated $1.8bn to the university in 2018 for undergraduate financial aid, a gift which Johns Hopkins president Ron Daniels called historic. Extraordinary talent exists in every community across America, a fact borne out by the transformative impact of Mike Bloombergs historic gift for financial aid to Hopkins undergraduates six years ago that dramatically expanded the breadth of experience and accomplishment of our student body, Daniels said. Removing financial barriers to individual opportunity fuels excellence, innovation and discoveries that redound to the benefit of society. Other medical schools have also seen generous donations in recent years. The Albert Einstein College of medicine in the Bronx announced in March that all medical students would receive free tuition in perpetuity after a $1bn donation from the longtime professor Ruth Gottesman. Last year, New York Universitys Long Island School of Medicine received a $200m donation in 2023 from Kenneth and Elaine Langone to support the schools full-tuition scholarships for the three-year accelerated medical doctorate program. Bloombergs most recent gift will also increase financial aid for students at the Johns Hopkins school of nursing as well as the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The sum will ensure free tuition for medical students who are from families earning less than $300,000 AP Photo/Patrick Semansky The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland Many medical students attending Johns Hopkins will be able to receive free tuition thanks to the university receiving a $1 billion financial gift from Bloomberg. On Monday, July 8, Johns Hopkins University announced that Bloomberg Philanthropies had gifted them a hefty donation of $1 billion, something they called a "transformative" investment. The university's news release came after the announcement was officially made in a letter from Bloomberg founder and Johns Hopkins 1964 alum, Michael Bloomberg. The sum will ensure free tuition for medical students who are from families earning less than $300,000. In addition to free tuition, students from families earning less than $175,000 will also have their living expenses covered. Alamy Johns Hopkins Hospital Related: Johns Hopkins University Reveals Founder, Once Thought to Be an Abolitionist, Enslaved People Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a new $1 billion gift to make medical school free at Johns Hopkins University for a majority of students, while also increasing financial aid for students at its schools of nursing, public health, and other graduate schools, the statement from Bloomberg Philanthropies read. The high cost of medical and nursing school has kept many talented lower-income students from enrolling, graduating, or working in the fields and communities most in need. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Michael Bloomberg at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Camp on June 27, 2024 in London, England Related: Why Michael Bloomberg's Former Deputy Mayor is Raising $250 Million for ALS Research (Exclusive) Bloomberg Philanthropies revealed that almost two-thirds of all students seeking an M.D. from Johns Hopkins qualify for financial aid, adding that people graduate from the university with an average student loan debt of around $104,000. Financial aid will come into practice for students this fall and is expected to bring Johns Hopkins medical students average student loan debt to $60,279 by 2029, while students from most American families wont pay anything at all, per the press release from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. As the U.S. struggles to recover from a disturbing decline in life expectancy, our country faces a serious shortage of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals and yet, the high cost of medical, nursing, and graduate school too often bars students from enrolling, Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers theyre passionate about and enable them to serve more of the families and communities who need them the most. This isn't the first time Bloomberg Philanthropies has donated to the university. In 2018, the organization donated $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins to provide financial aid to undergraduate students at 82-year-old Bloombergs alma mater, per a press release from the university. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Metro Council member Courtney Johnston has won the endorsement of five Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police lodges in Tennessees 5th Congressional district, the campaign announced Tuesday, a significant step in the heated Republican primary days ahead of the start of early voting. Johnston is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, in the Aug. 1 GOP primary. The district spans from parts of Wilson County, covering southern Davidson County, and includes parts of Williamson, Maury, Lewis and Marshall counties. It is critical that the voters send a proven leader to Washington D.C. that will work hard to solve the various issues we are facing today and promote policies that will keep American communities safe, the FOP said in a statement. Courtney has a proven track record as a legislator of responding to the needs of her community and providing real solutions to the challenges they face. She has been a strong advocate for the law enforcement professionals in Nashville and has advanced countless pieces of legislation that work to keep us all safer. Courtney Johnston The following lodges endorsed Johnston: Andrew Jackson Lodge #5, Nashville James K. Polk Lodge #26, Maury County Morris Heithcock Lodge #41, Williamson County Cedar City Lodge #83, Lebanon Sam Houston Lodge #71, Wilson County I always have and always will support law enforcement and their mission to keep us safe, Johnston said. I am honored to have support from the Fraternal Order of Polices Middle Tennessee Lodges and Im so thankful theyre supporting me. Ogles, who is in his first term, has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration, and sponsored more than 100 bills and amendments including the "Antisemitism Community Service Act," which would punish "anti-Israel" student protesters by requiring six months of community service in Gaza. None of Ogles bills have become law so far. Only four have moved to committee, according to a congressional legislation tracker. Ogles recently made headlines after admitting that he falsely reported a personal loan of $320,000 to the Federal Election Commission across nearly two years of filings, instead calling the money he had disclosedas a self-loan on 11 different federal forms a "pledge" to self fund if needed, and the need never arose. More: U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles campaign effort again relies on support from Americans for Prosperity super PAC Ogles has spent $30,000 in receipt-free taxpayer-funded reimbursements for travel and lodging expenses in 2023 more than 94% of his House colleagues. He has also spent $335,000 far more than his Republican colleagues in taxpayer-funded communications to tout his first-term record, sending glossy mailers to residents saying he'd broken legislative records. Ogles has told The Tennessean the communications were important for constituent services. But critically in a GOP primary, Ogles has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and has received his endorsement in the race., During her campaign, Johnston has attacked Ogles as a do nothing politician, who has sought media attention instead of meeting constituents needs. This week, Johnston announced a $700,000 fundraising haul during her first quarter, with nearly all coming from inside the state. She has $500,000 cash on hand remaining, according to a news release. Federal financial disclosures are due next week. This strong financial backing is a clear indication that the people of Middle Tennessee are ready for new representation that truly reflects their values and priorities," she said. Johnston, a realtor who set aside her career to focus on representing her Metro Council district, has served on the Metro Council since 2019, opposing a significant property tax increase in 2020, and working to authorize a countywide license plate reader program to support police efforts. Johnston is running as a principled candidate who can get real results. She touts her successes working within a progressive majority on the Metro Council, pointing to her work on license plate readers, and shutting down a homeless encampment in her metro council district, connecting people there with social services they needed. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X at @vivian_e_jones. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Johnston lands endorsements from Fraternal Order of Police BEIRUT, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member was killed and two civilians wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardment in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said Israel's drones and warplanes carried out five airstrikes on four Lebanese border towns and villages, while its artillery bombed eight other towns and villages as well as five locations in the Jezzine region, deep in southern Lebanon. They added that one of the raids targeted a house in the village of Maroun al-Ras and led to the killing of a Hezbollah member named Ali Hussein Wizani. Meanwhile, Israel's artillery shelling wounded two civilians in Al-Wazzani village. Israeli forces also launched raids on a goat farm in Jabal Toura, a mountain in the Jezzine district, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of goats and severe damage to the farm, according to a statement by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry denounced the raids as an "aggressive act," which "constitutes a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and international law and causes great harm to Lebanese farmers." It called on the international community and international human rights organizations to intervene immediately to "condemn this aggression and hold those responsible accountable." The ministry also appealed for "support and assistance for farmers affected by repeated Israeli attacks." 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 violent confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli army have intensified recently, as the latter announced "its approval of operational plans for an attack on Lebanon." Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned that no place in Israel "will be safe" from his party's missiles in the event of an outbreak of war. Jon Stewart is afraid Biden doesn't realize what's at stake and that 'there are no participation trophies in endgame democracy' Jon Stewart is afraid Biden doesn't realize what's at stake and that 'there are no participation trophies in endgame democracy' Jon Stewart thinks Joe Biden may be underestimating the consequences of losing to Donald Trump. Biden said that he could accept defeat "as long as I gave it my all." "There are no participation trophies in endgame democracy," Stewart said. President Joe Biden says he would be OK with losing to former President Donald Trump in their electoral rematch this November, and Jon Stewart thinks that's a huge problem. In an interview with ABC News's George Stephanopoulos that aired Friday, Biden said he could accept defeat if he tried his best. "I'll feel as long as I gave it my all, and I did as good a job as I know I can do, that's what this is about," Biden said. "That's not what this is about!" Stewart said of Biden's remarks in the latest episode of "The Daily Show" that aired Monday. "There are no participation trophies in endgame democracy." Stewart's remarks were part of a wider segment where he criticized Biden's disastrous performance during his June 27 presidential debate with Trump. During the segment, Stewart highlighted what he thought were "obvious weaknesses" with Biden's campaign particularly, the president's multiple verbal snafus and emphasized that the November race has become an "existential fight for freedom and democracy" in the US. Biden's gaffe-ridden responses last month have fueled calls for him to step aside as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Is it too late for Dems to change course? Jon Stewart reacts to Joe Biden's defiance over calls to step aside pic.twitter.com/qRHgeeyp7B The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 9, 2024 Stewart, for his part, clarified that he isn't advocating for Biden to drop out just yet. But the comedian said the current uncertainty over Biden's candidacy could yield an unprecedented opportunity for America. "I am in no way saying Biden's got to drop out, but can't we stress-test this candidacy?" Stewart said on Monday. "Do you have any idea how thirsty Americans are for any hint of inspiration or leadership and a release from this choice of a megalomaniac and a suffocating gerontocracy?" Stewart suggested that the Democratic Party could instead host an open convention so that candidates could challenge Biden for the party's nomination. "I'm just workshopping here," Stewart said. To be sure, Biden hasn't given up on seeking reelection just yet. The presumptive Democratic nominee has repeatedly brushed aside concerns over his age and mental acuity. Biden also issued a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday, where he reiterated his intentions to stay in the race. "We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election," Biden wrote. "It's time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump." That said, Biden does seem to welcome having an open convention if his latest interview with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" is anything to go by. Challenge me at the convention. MSNBC Exclusive: President Biden says he is frustrated by the elites in the party who claim he should step aside. Run against me. Go ahead. pic.twitter.com/VGnsfxEY4Q MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 8, 2024 "If any of these guys don't think I should run, run against me. Announce for president. Challenge me at the convention," Biden said when he called into the program on Monday. Representatives for Biden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Jon Stewart on Calls for Biden to Drop Out: I Am in No Way Saying He Should, but Cant We Open Up the Conversation? Jon Stewart doesnt necessarily think Joe Biden should drop out of the presidential race, but said its important to open up the conversation. In a new episode of The Daily Show on Monday night, Stewart ruminated on the calls from some influential Democrats for Biden to step down after a disastrous debate against Donald Trump, while others argue that its too late in the election cycle for a new candidate. The host said blind support for Biden may not be the way to go, as get on board or shut the fuck up is not a particularly compelling pro-democracy bumper sticker. More from Variety I am in no way saying Bidens gotta drop out, but cant we stress test this candidacy? Stewart asked. Cant we open up the conversation? Do you understand the opportunity here? Do you have any idea how thirsty Americans are for any hint of inspiration or leadership and a release from this choice of a megalomaniac and a suffocating gerontocracy? It is crushing our fucking spirits. Do you have any idea what could be ahead of you? All we want is for someone to keep it 100. The percentage, not the age. Stewart said that, despite the election approaching in November, Democrats have nothing but time to recalibrate should Biden drop out. Four months is fucking forever. Britain just held an election in two months. France had two in one month, defeated fascism and still had time to have an affair with Denmark, Stewart said. Are you telling me, you sons of bitches, are you coming to my house and saying to my face that the United States of Bruce Springsteens America cant hold an election better than the fucking French? Is that what youre telling me? There are contestants on The Bachelor who havent even met yet who will get married and divorced between now and the election. The chorus of Democrats calling for Biden to step down has grown larger in the past few days, with Rob Reiner and Stephen King joining in. Its time to stop fucking around, Reiner wrote. If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served US with honor, decency, and dignity. Its time for Joe Biden to step down. Added King, Joe Biden has been a fine president, but its time for him in the interests of the America he so clearly loves to announce he will not run for re-election. Watch the full clip from The Daily Show below. Is it too late for Dems to change course? Jon Stewart reacts to Joe Biden's defiance over calls to step aside pic.twitter.com/qRHgeeyp7B The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 9, 2024 Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (BCN) A judge again delayed the arraignment of a man charged with murder for allegedly fatally shoving a woman into an oncoming BART train in San Francisco last week, as a mental health team evaluates the defendant in a medical facility. Prosecutors said they charged Trevor Belmont, 49, also known as Hoak Taing, for the July 1 killing. They accuse the defendant of fatally shoving 74-year-old Corazon Dandan into the path of a Millbrae-bound train at the Powell Street BART station. Dandan died at a hospital, according to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Bomb planted behind San Jose business, suspect arrested Belmont was taken into custody at the station, according to police. Belmonts arraignment has been delayed three times on Friday, Monday and Tuesday because of his hospitalization. Before pushing the arraignment to Wednesday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Brian Stretch explained the delay to Dandans family, who appeared via video. To tell you the truth, I dont want to think about him, safety advocate Marlene Tran said Monday about the defendant, dabbing her eyes. My heart is with the victim. Tran, a 77-year-old retired ESL teacher, is a board member of Stop Crime SF, an advocacy group that monitors court proceedings among other anti-crime activism. She carries business cards with the phone number of the police tip line in English and Chinese. She said she has tried since the 1980s to bring awareness to the linguistic and cultural reasons why senior Asian-American Pacific Islanders can be especially vulnerable to crime. They were just in, you might say, in some ways perfect crime victims, Tran said in the courtroom hallway. Tran explained that many elder AAPI Bay Area residents rely on public transit to remain self-reliant after they no longer drive and may work odd hours, carry cash because of barriers to banking or have cultural reticence to report crimes. Were going to band together and support cases like this and make a big awareness, said Tran, who speaks Cantonese, Vietnamese and Mandarin as well as English. She called for security-related signage in more languages as well as more cameras and cautionary floor stripes on public transit. Tran came Monday with two other members of Stop Crime SF. The thought that somebody could come up behind you and push you into a train is terrifying, fellow Stop Crime SF board member Susan Fisch said Monday. Almost 80 years old, Fisch said that treating this crime as an isolated incident could be a missed opportunity to examine greater street crime risk factors in the Bay Area, like mental health care. BART police ask anyone with information about the case to call their tip line at (510) 464-7000 or text them at (510) 200-0992. Tipsters may remain anonymous. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been blocked from accessing the unredacted medical records of transgender children. Bailey requested the records in March, 2023 as part of a state investigation into facilities across the state that provide minors with gender-affirming care. The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital was one of four institutions that filed a lawsuit in response to his demands, while providing his office with the redacted information. Bailey claimed that the redacted records were not sufficient and pushed for the unredacted copies. Judge Joseph Whyte of the St. Louis Circuit Court ruled against him Friday, determining that Bailey's office has no right to the private information. Whyte cited the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prevents healthcare providers from disclosing a patient's medical history without their consent. Whyte wrote in the ruling via The Missouri Independent that Bailey's requests "are not specific and limited in scope to the extent reasonably practicable in light of the purpose for which the information is sought, and respondent has not shown that de-identified information could not be reasonably used for the purpose for which it is sought." One of Bailey's requests demanded that Washington University identify all clients to whom you have provided your services. For each client, describe your services, the dates you provided your services, the amounts clients, their insurance or other third-party payors paid for these services and any contracts related to these services." Because Bailey's investigation was through the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, the state's consumer protection law, Whyte determined that the medical information was not relevant to the case. Furthermore, the MMPA has a section that specifically exempts privileged material, which Whyte wrote protects against blind obedience to the attorney generals civil investigative demands." Whyte is the presiding judge in a similar case between Bailey and Planned Parenthood of St. Louis, in which the organization has so far refused to turn over any records. Bailey stated that he intends to appeal Whyte's decision. Mackinac Bridge on May 28, 2024 (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) Enbridges case against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will advance following a Friday order from District Judge Robert Jonker rejecting the governors request to dismiss the case on the grounds of sovereign immunity. In 2020, Whitmer ordered the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to terminate the Canadian companys easement to operate its Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac, citing concerns about the pipelines safety and the catastrophic impact a spill would have on the Great Lakes. In response, Enbridge filed a complaint against Whitmer and Daniel Eichinger, who at the time served as the director of the DNR, arguing the state had no authority over pipeline safety. Line 5 which runs from northern Wisconsin into Michigans Upper Peninsula, through the Straits of Mackinac, under the straits of Mackinac through Michigans lower peninsula into Sarnia, Ontario transports about 23 millions gallons of crude oil and liquid natural gas daily. Tribal nations and environmental advocates across the region have long advocated for Line 5s shutdown out of concerns that the pipeline will rupture, concerns that were exacerbated when an anchor strike damaged the dual pipelines in 2018. While the company was ordered to cease operations by May 12, 2021, an Enbridge executive sent a letter to Whitmer and the DNR saying the company would continue to operate the pipeline as it works to construct its controversial tunnel project, which seeks to alleviate concerns around an oil spill by relocating the dual pipelines into a concrete-lined tunnel, embedded beneath the bedrock in the Straits of Mackinac. The state ultimately dropped its case to enforce the shutdown order against Enbridge after the company successfully requested the matter be heard in federal court. Whitmers office said the state was shifting its legal strategy to focus on Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels 2019 lawsuit seeking to decommission the pipeline. While Enbridge similarly requested Nessels case be heard in federal court, Nessel successfully argued the matter should be heard in the state, and the case was remanded to Michigans 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County where it is expected to resume before Judge James S. Jamo. In a previous email to the Advance, Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said the company was disappointed in the decision to return Nessels case to state court, but remained confident that the Line 5 dispute could be resolved through summary judgment in its own case against Whitmer, which was reassigned to Jonker on May 22. Enbridge seeks a determination by the federal court that the State of Michigan cannot seek to shutdown Line 5 based on safety concerns associated with Line 5s routing through the Great Lakes. Jonker denied the motion to dismiss the case, finding that Enbridges complaint fell under one of the exceptions to sovereign immunity, which provides governments immunity from lawsuits. However, Whitmer and now-Director of the DNR Scott Bowen retain the right to an immediate appeal of the denial, which must be decided before Enbridges request for summary judgment, Assistant Attorney General Daniel Bock wrote in a letter to the court. Kimberly Bush, a spokesperson for Nessel, said the department is reviewing Jonkers order, but cannot further publicly discuss litigation strategy on behalf of the governor or DNR director. The Western District Court of Michigan is scheduled to hear Enbridges motion for summary judgment on July 31, with the company arguing that federal law bars state officials from enforcing a shutdown on Line 5. The post Judge denies request to dismiss Enbridges case against Whitmer over Line 5 easement appeared first on Michigan Advance. Photo by Peter Dazeley | Getty Images The fate of a GOP-backed ballot measure that would allow local police officers to arrest migrants is now in the hands of a Maricopa Superior Court judge who heard arguments Monday about whether the proposal is constitutional and can be presented to voters in November. A quartet of Latino and immigrant advocacy organizations are heading a lawsuit aimed at preventing the legislative referral, titled the Secure the Border Act, from ever making it onto the ballot. The groups allege that the referral violates a mandate in the Arizona Constitution known as the Single Subject Rule that requires ballot measures to stick to one topic. The act includes multiple provisions that make it a state crime to cross the border illegally, punish undocumented Arizonans who submit false documentation to apply for jobs or public benefits and create an entirely new class of felony offense, with harsh prison sentences, for people who knowingly sell fentanyl that ends in someone elses death. Supporters of the act claim it satisfies the single-subject rule because it responds to the harms caused by the unsecured southern border. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On Monday, attorneys for the immigrant advocacy groups and GOP legislative leaders, who have taken up a defense of the act after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes declined to, made their cases in court. Judge Scott Minder said he would aim to issue a ruling on the matter by the end of the week, mindful of the need to allow time for an appeal before ballots are set to begin printing in the states most populous county on Aug. 22. Critics: Too many subjects renders act unfit for voters Democratic attorney Andy Gaona, representing the Phoenix Legal Action Network, Poder in Action and the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Network, lambasted the act as a patchwork of provisions pulled from several other bills that each failed to win a legislative majority on their own. Republican lawmakers ensconced revised versions of five bills into the act that were either vetoed by Hobbs or failed to earn the support of the entire legislature. Gaona criticized that as precisely the type of logrolling the Arizona Constitutions single subject requirement seeks to prevent. Logrolling is a political strategy in which multiple different proposals are wrapped in one to recruit votes and ensure its ultimate passage. And while a multi-pronged proposal doesnt, by itself, run afoul of the state constitution, opponents say the problem with the act is that it spans very different subjects. The provisions penalizing the unlawful entry and behavior of undocumented Arizonans, Gaona said, have nothing to do with the provision criminalizing the lethal sale of fentanyl. Separate and apart from these new state law criminal offenses that turn on an individuals unlawful entry to and presence in the United States, and how those individuals can and cannot seek employment and public benefits, HCR2060 also creates a new drug crime that has absolutely nothing to do with an individuals immigration status, he said, referencing the acts underlying legislation. Minder pressed Gaona on why he should view the act through the lens of addressing unlawful immigration, as critics have proposed, instead of accepting the argument from GOP leaders that all of the acts provisions fall under a general theme of addressing the harms caused by the unsecured southern border. Gaona responded that the court should consider the acts practical effects, and not how Republican lawmakers frame it. If you look at the substance, all of the provisionssave for the lethal fentanyl provision, relate to someones immigration status. And so, in our view, that is the actual subject of the measure, he said. Gaona added that the legislature has sought to get away with an overly broad theme in the past and failed. In 2021, the Arizona Supreme Court struck down an attempt by the GOP majority legislature to embed dozens of unrelated bills, including mask mandates and critical race theory bans, into the state budget. Republicans at the time assured the court that the issues were relevant because they were all funded by the budget. But Minder was skeptical of Gaonas argument, pointing out that, while the court decided that the provisions in that case were unrelated to the K-12 budget, it never ruled that simply using the budget as a subject was too broad to pass constitutional muster. Minder noted that Republican lawmakers included a legislative findings clause in their ballot referral to tie its many provisions together, and said that reasoning alone might set the act apart from the 2021 violation. Were not talking about things crammed in if you take what the legislature has had to say as being true, he said. It seems to me that the legislature, at least as theyre offering, has identified some of the key issues and key concerns that are raised with what they deem to be the unsecured border. Gaona, however, warned Minder that greenlighting the act based on how lawmakers justify their own proposals would open the door to political mischief. What the court cant, and shouldnt, do is simply defer to the legislative findings, because if that were the rule, then the legislature could just make findings about anything in any piece of legislation, he said. Attorney Jim Barton, representing Living United for Change, an immigrant rights advocacy organization that was a vocal opponent of the referral while it made its way through the legislature, said that, even without the highly-contested fentanyl provision, the act would still be unconstitutional. And, he added, the court is not authorized to simply remove that provision to help it comply with the single-subject rule. Previous case law demands that the entire ballot measure be thrown out if its proven to be unconstitutional because the courts have no way of truly determining what the actual subject of a proposal was intended to be. Barton said that, while the fentanyl provision is the most egregious provision, even the parts governing how to punish undocumented Arizonans and unlawful border crossings are too different to fall under the same subject. Talking about a persons ability to have public benefits and talking about a persons ability to enter into a contract those are different ideas than a person crossing the border, he said. Arizona voters and the state legislature, Barton said, have a right to determine how to regulate public benefits and address the fentanyl crisis. But lawmakers are prohibited from putting voters in unfair quandaries by sending them a referral that forces them to consider issues that are best split up into separate proposals, he said. You cant make them choose, you cant say if you want to regulate fentanyl this way, youve got to regulate library cards this way, Barton said. GOP leaders: the single subject is smuggling across the border Kory Langhofer, an attorney representing Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma, who both made the act a legislative priority, said that opponents are interpreting the single-subject rule too narrowly in order to disqualify the act from the ballot. The state Constitution, he said, doesnt require the provisions in a ballot measure to be related to each other. To satisfy the rule, its enough that the content of the proposal aligns with an overarching topic. Langhofer said the act is best interpreted as addressing unlawful smuggling across the states southern border. The way I think about it is smuggling at the border, he said. Smuggling includes humans, and it includes drugs. Minder, however, noted that such an explanation isnt included in the act, which defends its provisions as addressing the harms caused by the southern border. He questioned Langhofer on the concern voiced by critics that approving the act would effectively empower lawmakers to use broad themes to bypass the single subject rule. Langhofer replied that he felt the principle of the argument was valid, but said that while future lawmakers may choose to use that strategy, the act is not a product of such an attempt. It conforms to a specific topic, he said, and concerns a limited amount of issues. You could define something in such a nebulous way that nothing would not relate to it, he said. I dont think we have that here. The problem of the southern border is a broad topic. Theres a lot that flows from that, but it is not limitless.The legislature is allowed to pass broad reform packages, but not limitless. Minder grilled Langhofer on the fentanyl provision, which includes a caveat that allows those charged under its penalties to mount a legal defense based on the claim that the drug and its precursor chemicals were legally imported into the U.S. The caveat has been widely criticized as useless, as its virtually impossible to determine where individual fentanyl pills were sourced from. Barton argued that it was instead added as a last-minute amendment so that the fentanyl provision could looped in with the rest of the act under the umbrella of issues at the southern border. Langhofer rebutted that argument, saying that, even without the affirmative defense amendment, the fentanyl provision is still sufficiently related to concerns over the unsecured border. The legislature and the voters are entitled to say, Look, were aware of whats happening in our community. This is a really pernicious problem of people dying because of unlawfully smuggled fentanyl, he said. We know that relates to the border you dont have to be a DEA agent to appreciate that. And it doesnt matter, Langhofer said, that the affirmative defense will likely rarely, if ever, be used in court. The people who are prosecuted for this probably will not have that defense available to them factually, he said. But doctrinally it does not matter whether it would be used often or not. Because it is there and it does tie us to the general topic of illegal smuggling. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST A sign brought into Canton Municipal Court on Tuesday asks for justice for Raychel Sheridan. Her boyfriend Sean Goe, accused of killing her, appeared in court. CANTON Sean J. Goe was arraigned in court Tuesday morning on a murder charge filed against him in connection with the death of his girlfriend Raychel Sheridan. Canton Municipal Judge Richard J. Kubilus set a $1 million bond for Goe, who also faces counts of domestic violence, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse. Public defender Tammi R. Johnson asserted his state and federal constitutional rights, including the right to not be questioned without an attorney present. Accused: Plain Township man faces murder charge in death of his girlfriend Raychel Sheridan Kubilus scheduled a status hearing for Thursday morning. Goe, 26, appeared in court briefly. Family and friends of Sheridan, 24, watched the proceedings from the courtroom. One woman brought a sign that asked for justice for her, with a hash tag that said love shouldn't hurt. The criminal complaint filed by the Stark County Sheriff's Office alleges Goe struck Sheridan in the head and body around June 30, causing her death. It does not specify if any weapon was used. Judge Richard J. Kubilus set a $1 million bond for Sean J. Goe in Canton Municipal Court on Tuesday. Goe is charged with murder, accused of killing his girlfriend Raychel Sheridan. Sheriff's deputies went to Sheridan's apartment on July 2 after her mother alerted authorities that the Plain Township woman had not been seen or heard from since Saturday, and that she did not show up for work July 1. Welfare check requested: Stark County woman is missing, her boyfriend ran away from investigators Stark County Sheriff George T. Maier has said deputies found the door to her Orchard Dale Drive NW apartment open and no one inside. Sheridan shared the apartment with Goe. Deputies, he said, felt something was amiss and got a search warrant. While at the apartment, deputies spotted Goe driving Sheridan's Jeep Liberty and stopped the vehicle. Goe fled the vehicle on foot and ran into a densely wooded area, according to investigators. He was arrested on the morning of July 3 by Canton police at a Canton homeless shelter after people at the shelter recognized him from the media reports and contacted police, Maier said. According to a call made by Canton City Parks Department employee to a Canton Police Department non-emergency line, a worker found Sheridan's body while emptying trash cans in Mother Goose Land Park. In court records, Goe has recently been listed at the Orchard Dale Avenue NW address but his address is listed as Norman Avenue NW in Canton with the criminal charges filed Monday. Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Sean Goe in court on charges in connection with girlfriend's death A junior sailor tried to get hold of President Joe Bidens restricted medical records three times in a single day in February out of curiosity, the Navy revealed Tuesday. The name of the sailor has not been shared, but he was assigned to the Navys hospital corps and stationed at the major medical center that is Fort Belvoir in Virginia, a US official told CBS News. He was administratively disciplined following an investigation that ended in April, according to CBS News. The sailor went into a database for the military medical system, known as the Genesis Medical Health System, three times on February 23, but he didnt manage to pull up the right Joe Biden, the official added. Navy Commander Tim Hawkins told CBS that The MHS Genesis system is a secure health system and at no time was the Presidents personal information compromised. An investigation by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service began three days later, after a co-worker reported the incident. The sailor said during the investigation that he had searched the presidents name in the database out of curiosity. U.S. President Joe Biden returns to the White House with first lady Jill Biden on July 7, 2024, in Washington, DC. A junior navy sailor tried to get ahold of his medical records three times in February. (Getty Images) The investigation concluded on April 24, finding that the sailor never reached the presidents medical record. Bidens record is restricted and couldnt have been found by searching the system, the official said. The White House told the network that Biden was made aware of the attempts to find his medical records within hours, as staffers were alerted to the incident by the Department of Defense. The sailor was active in the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command at Fort Belvoir, but the presidents annual physicals as well as any emergency medical care take place at the Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C. Biden had his annual physical at the Bethesda center on February 28, just two days after the investigation began. The physical was previously planned and was not impacted by this incident, the White House told CBS. The physician to the president, Kevin OConnor, wrote in a memo released that same day that The president feels well and this years physical identified no new concerns. He added: He continues to be fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations. Biden is facing increasing concerns about his cognitive ability after the first presidential debate late last month, when he appeared confused, losing his train of thought on several occasions and making a number of gaffes. Reacting in part to his frail and raspy voice, staffers put out a message to reporters in the middle of the debate that the president was suffering from a cold. Biden has subsequently cited his extensive travel schedule as being partially responsible, but he has also acknowledged that he had a bad night and that he screwed up. Despite the pressure ramping up for Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee, the president has been defiant in his refusal to end his campaign. DAMASCUS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli airstrike hit a car on the Damascus-Beirut highway outside the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday, burning the vehicle and killing the persons inside, Syria's pro-government Sham FM radio reported. There has been no official Syrian report on the incident. Meanwhile, Lebanese local media LBCI Lebanon News reported that a former bodyguard of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was among the two slain individuals. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrike hit a car while it was passing a military checkpoint on the Beirut-Damascus road in the village of Jdeidat Yabous near Damascus. The observatory claimed that two persons inside, both believed to be from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, were killed and the driver, a Syrian national, was seriously injured. It noted that the vehicle was set ablaze in the strike and the victims were too charred to identify. Iranian-affiliated press agency Unews identified the former bodyguard of Hezbollah chief as Haj Abu al-Fadl Qarnabsh. The jury has been selected in Alec Baldwin's manslaughter trial in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of a crew member on the set of "Rust" in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The actor was practicing a cross-draw in a church on the set of the Western film when the Colt .45 revolver fired a live round, fatally striking 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. MORE: 'Rust' timeline: Key events in the Alec Baldwin on-set shooting Baldwin, 66, who was also a producer on the film, was indicted by a grand jury on involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death earlier this year after prosecutors previously dropped the charge. He pleaded not guilty. PHOTO: Alec Baldwin participates in a pretrial hearing in Santa Fe, N.M., July 8, 2024. (Ross D. Franklin/via Reuters) Jury selection was delayed Tuesday by several hours due to technical issues with audio equipment. Sixteen jurors -- including four alternates -- were selected by Tuesday afternoon. The jury is made up of 11 women and five men. Out of the pool of 70 potential jurors, three said they had not heard anything about the case prior to Tuesday. Questions posed to the prospective jurors included whether anything in the press coverage made them already form an opinion, whether they own a gun, whether they have strong feelings about guns and whether they work in the film industry or know anyone who does. The defense also asked potential jurors if anyone had opinions about Baldwin that would color their judgment, which none did. Opening statements are set to begin Wednesday in the trial, which is currently scheduled to go through July 19. PHOTO: From left to right, lawyer Alex Spiro, Alec Baldwin, lawyer Luke Nikas and lawyer Heather LeBlanc participate in a pretrial hearing in Santa Fe, N.M., July 8, 2024. (Ross D. Franklin/via Reuters) Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the firearm, though the FBI's forensic report determined the gun could not have been fired without pulling the trigger. Prosecutors were seeking to argue during the trial that Baldwin bore responsibility as a producer for unsafe conditions on the set. However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled against prosecutors during an evidence hearing on Monday. In arguments prior to her ruling, defense attorney Luke Nikas said that claiming Baldwin was liable for the on-set shooting death because he was reckless in his role as a producer was "far more prejudicial than it is probative" and should be excluded. Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, meanwhile, said it was relevant to demonstrate to the jury that as a producer Baldwin was "aware of his safety obligations" and "has the power to control safety on set." In denying the evidence, Marlowe Sommer said the probative value was "not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice and certainly confusion of issues to the jury." Among other evidentiary rulings, the judge said footage from the "Rust" set showing Baldwin's handling of the firearm can be admitted into evidence in the trial, but that videos of him yelling or cussing at the crew to hurry up were not relevant in the case. MORE: Alec Baldwin 'Rust' case: What the armorer's conviction, sentencing could mean for the actor Baldwin's defense team filed several motions seeking to dismiss his indictment, which were all denied in the weeks leading up to the trial. Marlowe Sommer additionally denied a request last month from the state to use immunity to compel testimony from the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, during Baldwin's trial. PHOTO: Signage indicating the location of the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set, near where a crew member was fatally shot during production of the western film 'Rust', is seen in Santa Fe, NM, Oct. 28, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Gutierrez, 27, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting and sentenced in April to 18 months in prison, the maximum possible. She appealed her conviction in May. Prosecutors sought immunity so that her testimony could not be used against her in her appeal. At a pretrial interview in May, Gutierrez asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, prosecutors said. In issuing her ruling, Marlowe Sommer noted the armorer indicated she wouldn't testify and that she hasn't heard "anything that [Gutierrez] might testify to that someone else could not testify to." Her attorney told ABC News on Tuesday that they have been informed that she will be called to testify on Friday and plans to invoke the Fifth Amendment. Marlowe Sommer also allowed last month the testimony at Baldwin's trial of a "Rust" crew member who prosecutors said witnessed the on-set shooting and said he saw Baldwin pull the trigger. PHOTO: Locals and members of the local film community mourn the loss of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins at a vigil in Albuquerque, NM, Oct. 23, 2021. (Mostafa Bassim Adly/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE) Those on the state's and defense's witness lists who could also be called to testify include David Halls, the film's safety coordinator who was sentenced to six months unsupervised probation in connection with the shooting, and "Rust" director Joel Souza, who was also struck by the live bullet. Both testified during Gutierrez's trial. During Gutierrez's trial, footage of Baldwin from the filming of "Rust" was shown, including a take of the actor firing a gun after "cut" was called. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey addressed Baldwin's role in the shooting during her closing argument, telling jurors, "Alec Baldwin's conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something that he's going to have to answer for. Not with you and not today." Jury selected as Alec Baldwin goes on trial over deadly 'Rust' shooting originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Justice Department says it disrupted Russian bot farm used to spread propaganda in US The US Justice Department said Tuesday that it seized two internet domains and searched nearly 1,000 social media accounts that Russian operatives allegedly used to pose as US residents to spread disinformation in the US and abroad. The so-called bot farm used artificial intelligence to create fake social media profiles purporting to be people in the US and used those phony accounts to post support for Russias war in Ukraine, according to the Justice Department. The elaborate scheme was organized by an employee of RT, the Russian state-owned media outlet, financed by the Kremlin, and aided an officer of Russias FSB intelligence, the Justice Department alleged. The news comes as US intelligence officials are on heightened alert for efforts by Russia or other foreign powers to meddle in the 2024 election. US officials are watching closely to see whether the United States support for Ukraine will lead the Russian government to take more risks in potentially interfering in the 2024 presidential election, FBI officials previously said. European countries have also been on high alert for a flood of Russian influence operations as the Kremlin tries to splinter support for Ukraines defense. Russian propagandists have ramped up efforts to denigrate the Paris Olympics this month, including through a fake documentary that uses AI to impersonate the actor Tom Cruise, according to Microsoft. Asked for comment, an RT spokesperson did not respond to the substance of the Justice Department allegations, and instead emailed: Farming is a beloved pastime for millions of Russians. We often hear accusations like these against Russia. And they are made with no arguments every time. We reject these accusations, the Kremlin press office said in an emailed statement from spokesman Dmitry Peskov: CNN has requested comment on the Justice Department announcement from the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC, and the FSB. X voluntarily suspended the bot accounts identified in court documents, the Justice Department said. CNN has requested comment from X. It wasnt just the FBI that helped expose the alleged bot farm. US Cyber Command, the militarys offensive and defensive cyber unit, was involved, as were Dutch and Canadian security agencies. The bot farm also targeted Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ukraine and Israel, according to an advisory released Tuesday by US, Dutch and Canadian authorities. Long a mouthpiece for the Russian government, RT has seen some of its influence in the US wane in recent years as social media platforms have taken steps to block access to its output. But the outlet has looked for new ways to reach audiences, including, the Justice Department alleges, through an army of fake X accounts. According to an affidavit from an FBI agent, RT leadership signed off on a proposal from an employee to use software to create a bot farm that in theory would create multiple social media accounts through which RT could distribute information on a wide-scale basis. The scheme kicked into gear when Russian operatives bought one of two domain names in 2022 from an Arizona-based company, Namecheap, that were used to set up the bot farm, according to court documents. The RT employee, an FSB officer and others had access to the bot farm, which included X accounts that purported to be interested in cryptocurrency, according to the Justice Department. In one case, a fake account purporting to be based in Minneapolis posted a video of Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming that parts of Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania were a gift from Russian forces that freed them from Nazi control during World War II, the Justice Department said. In another case, a fake account replied to an unnamed US politician running for federal office with a video of Putin trying to justify Russias war in Ukraine, the department said. The Justice Department will not tolerate Russian government actors and their agents deploying AI to sow disinformation and fuel division among Americans, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Two deputy U.S. Marshals thought to be guarding Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayors home in Washington, D.C. shot a suspected carjacker who pulled out a gun last week, officials said. The U.S. Marshals office said that suspect Kentrell Flowers, 18, allegedly walked up to one of the deputies cars at around 1:15 a.m. on July 5 and pointed a gun at the bodyguard. The Marshal fired four shots, hitting Flowers in the mouth. Flowers was taken to hospital for treatment and arrested. The Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in the shooting incident were part of the unit protecting the residences of U.S. Supreme Court justices. As a general practice, the U.S. Marshals dont discuss specifics of protective details, Abigail Meyer, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service, said in a statement to The Hill. Authorities have not suggested Flowers was intentionally targeting Sotomayor or the security detail. In June 2023, 26-year-old California resident Nicholas John Roske was arrested near Brett Kavanaughs home and charged with attempted murder after he told officials he wanted to kill the conservative Supreme Court justice following the leaked draft majority opinion on Roe v. Wade. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Kamala Harris is working to prove Biden's capability amid growing doubts. Biden's weak debate performance raised questions about his ability to win and serve another term. One expert argues that if Biden isn't fit for office, Harris has a constitutional duty to remove him. Vice President Kamala Harris is in a difficult position. As Joe Biden's number two in command, she must show her unconditional support of the president during a time when elected Democrats and voters alike are questioning his ability to both win and finish a second term. At the same time, Harris must also prove that she is capable of taking Biden's place if it comes down to it a possibility she has not acknowledged even though many see her as Biden's most natural successor. Biden's disastrous debate performance last month sparked mass speculation, both nationally and globally, about his ability to serve a second term. And ever since, Harris has been working overdrive to prove that Biden is still a strong candidate capable of leading the country, and more importantly to the Democratic party, of beating Donald Trump. "The worst thing a vice president can do at this point is to be anxious to get the president out," Elaine Kamarck, a former aide to Al Gore and electoral politics expert at the Brookings Institution, told The New York Times. "It just totally backfires. My guess is some fairly unsophisticated people are calling up Kamala Harris saying: 'Can I do this? Can I do that?' And if she's smart, she will shut that down tight." Following Biden's debate against Trump, Harris acknowledged that Biden's performance was not his best. But, she argued to supporters at a Las Vegas rally the next day, "This race will not be decided by one night in June," the Washington Post reported. "I see Joe Biden when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off; in the Oval Office, negotiating bipartisan deals," Harris said at the rally, according to The New York Times. "I see him in the Situation Room, keeping our country safe; on the world stage, meeting with foreign leaders who often ask for his advice." In the days since the debate, Harris has only ratcheted up her efforts to bolster Biden's image. She's on the Biden campaign trail all of this week, meeting with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voters in Las Vegas on Tuesday before heading to Dallas on Wednesday and North Carolina on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. At every possible opportunity, Harris has reiterated her support of Biden and her belief that he can run the country for another four years. If she were to publicly, or even privately, acknowledge that she's ready to take on the presidency in his place, it could be seen as an admission that Biden isn't fit to lead. "She's in an awkward position," civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton told The New York Times of Harris' dual roles of supporting Biden while also proving her own ability to lead. "But the job of vice president is awkward." But, there's also a deeper tension underlying Harris's current position, a political science expert told Business Insider. Lonna Atkeson, a political science professor at Florida State University and director of nonpartisan think tank LeRoy Collins Institute, says that Harris's role supporting Biden's reelection at all costs may conflict with her 25th Amendment duty to determine if he is unfit to hold the position. Atkeson argued that, under of the 25th Amendment, Harris "has a constitutional duty to be independent of" Biden, and to "help decide whether or not he's capable of completing his term." "But that is complicated by the fact that she is the vice president and is also running for elective office as the vice president," Atkeson added. "So how does she fill both her constitutional role and her role as supporter of the president during an election campaign?" Atkeson then explained that Harris' decision to support Biden despite growing doubts about his physical and mental capacity puts her in a compromising position. That's because, Atkeson said, if it were to come out that Biden is not actually fit for office, and that Harris knew all along, then she could be seen as "not fulfilling her constitutional mission." But while some Republicans like Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and House Speaker Mike Johnson believe that Biden should be removed under the 25th Amendment, Democrats and least of all, Harris don't appear to be considering that option. Read the original article on Business Insider KANSAS (KSNW) The Kansas Highway Patrol has released its Independence Day Holiday Activity Report. The KHP reports that they assisted 901 motorists over the holiday from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. During that time period, they also worked no fatal crashes. Sedgwick County Election Office in need of more election workers The KHPs Independence Day Holiday Activity Report details this years data to the past two years. The reporting period for 2022 was from 6 p.m. Friday, July 1, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 4, while the reporting period for 2023 was from 6 p.m. Friday, June 30, to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. Data includes enforcement data, which includes warnings and citations, as well as crash data. Enforcement Data 2022 2023 2024 DUI Arrests 18 31 16 Speed Citations 1082 1142 1085 Speed Warnings 745 872 909 Safety Belt Adult Citations 111 172 142 Safety Belt Adult Warnings 10 17 8 Safety Belt Teen Citations 6 8 7 Safety Belt Teen Warnings 0 2 0 Child Restraint Citations 24 23 28 Motorist Assists 888 1085 901 Crash Data 2022 2023 2024 Fatal DUI Related Crashes 0 0 0 DUI Related Fatalities 0 0 0 Non-DUI Related Fatal Crashes 1 2 0 Non-DUI Related Fatalities 1 2 0 Data from 2021 can be found in State troopers assist more than 1,000 motorists this Fourth of July weekend. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly supported release of $35.7 million in university operating grants held up by an anti-DEA law and $21.8 million equally divided between public and private higher education institutions. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature's YouTube channel) Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly supported release of $35.7 million in university operating grants held up by an anti-DEA law and $21.8 million equally divided between public and private higher education institutions. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature's YouTube channel) TOPEKA Gov. Laura Kelly and top legislative leaders voted Tuesday to allocate $35.7 million to public higher education after the Kansas Board of Regents certified campus administrators complied with a state law forbidding employment and admissions decisions to be based on diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The 2024 Legislature made distribution of the university operating grants contingent on affirming DEI no longer dictated faculty or staff hiring nor influenced whether a student was admitted. Compliance with the state law by public institutions meant recalibration of personnel procedures and the publishing of information about training or orientation programs to public websites. DEI refers to policies established to support people from diverse backgrounds. A DEI framework would take into account gender, race, sexual orientation and other factors relative to people with a history of being marginalized in higher education. So, has each of the presidents of the universities certified that they have performed the duties that are required? said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican. Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the state Board of Regents, said mandates were met by University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University and Emporia State University. He said neither Pittsburg State University nor Fort Hays State University previously ordered DEI training, but both universities planned to eventually include links to relevant material on their websites when appropriate. The DEI law wouldnt stop public universities or colleges from abiding by anti-discrimination statutes or undermine academic freedom of faculty or students engaged in DEI research or instruction. Campuses that violated the law by maintaining DEI pledges or oaths could face a $10,000 fine for every instance of noncompliance. The provisions werent applied in state law to private or parochial colleges or universities in Kansas. The bipartisan State Finance Council likewise voted to support release of $21.8 million for need-based financial aid to public and private college and university students in Kansas. In the past, controversy emerged when the state Board of Regents earmarked a higher percentage of money in the comprehensive grant program to students at public universities. The Legislature ordered the money divided equally between public and private institutions in the state. A hold was placed on the cash until the state Board of Regents affirmed it would follow prescribed methods of distributing the cash to students. Adam Proffitt, the states budget director and secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration, also received permission from the State Finance Council to use state general fund dollars to pay $5.5 million in bond debt that otherwise wouldnt be eliminated for seven years. He said it would require deployment of $4.7 million to deal promptly with the debt. Effectively, we are investing 87 cents of SGF to retire a $1 of SGF, Proffitt said. It doesnt sound like much, but when you do that five million times over, you get to a pretty significant savings. Read's attorneys have now filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge against her AP Photo/Steven Senne Karen Read Defense attorneys representing Karen Read filed a motion to dismiss two charges against her, claiming that jurors unanimously voted to acquit her of murder and leaving the scene of a death, adding that they were only deadlocked on a remaining manslaughter charge in connection with the death of her boyfriend John OKeefe. The motion, which was published in full by WHDH and reviewed by PEOPLE, claims that a juror came forward to Reads attorney Alan Jackson and said the jury had voted 12 to zero to acquit Read, 44, on two of the three charges she faced in her recent trial. Reads months-long trial which attracted considerable attention ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors, who have since vowed to retry the case, charged Read with one count of murder, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of a personal injury or death in the death of OKeefe, a Boston police officer. Related: Mistrial Declared in Karen Read Case After Jury Can't Reach a Verdict in Murder Trial Authorities accused Read of backing over OKeefe after dropping him off at the home of fellow cop Brian Albert following a night out at different bars in January 2022, Boston magazine reported. OKeefe was found the next morning outside Alberts home with several injuries and blood around his nose and mouth and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. In the latest filing, Reads attorney moved to dismiss the murder charge as well as the leaving the scene charges, saying a retrial on those charges would violate double jeopardy protections in the Constitution. AP Photo/Charles Krupa Karen Read The motion claims that the juror who came forward told Jackson that the murder charge was considered off the table by the jury. According to the filing, another of Reads attorneys, David Yannetti, claimed he was contacted by two intermediaries who received information from two separate jurors who also said the jury was unanimous for acquitting Read on the murder charge. The Associated Press reported that the Norfolk District Attorneys Office said in a statement that it was examining the motion and looking forward to picking a new trial date on July 22. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Read was drunk when she allegedly struck OKeefe, and that after finding OKeefe the next morning, she said, "I hit him. I hit him. Oh my God. I hit him. The defense, on the other hand, argued that Read was the victim of a law enforcement conspiracy to frame her, and that OKeefe was actually beaten up inside Alberts home and attacked by a dog before being thrown in the snow and left for dead. Judge Beverly Cannone has not yet ruled on the motion to dismiss, but she did order that the jurors names remain confidential, according to court records. Currently, the next scheduled event in the proceedings is on July 22 where a new trial date will be chosen. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Republican strategist Karl Rove suggested former President Trump and his team are celebrating as President Biden doubles down on his intent to remain in the race. Theres cheering in Mar-a-Lago for that sentiment, he said Monday on Fox Newss The Story when asked about Biden reiterating that he is not dropping out. Look, the polls are indicating that this race is widening for Trump. And it is because that debate, confirmed the feelings that a vast majority of the American people have had for over a year and a half that Joe Biden is too old to be an effective president, particularly when he would be 82 If he were to be reelected, and serve until 86, he said. Rove said he believes voters will be more inclined to vote for Trump after the debate last month. That debate was not an incident. That debate was not an off moment. It was not a bad night. It was a reflection of the reality of who Joe Biden is at the age of 81, he said. And hes entitled to be stubborn, but the people that hes making happy by being stubborn are the high command of the Trump team because they know what theyve got. Theyve got a guy that the American people believe, lacks the physical stamina, the mental acuity and the judgment to be an effective president. And despite whatever doubts they and people may have about Trump, theyre gonna go for the strong leader rather than the weak guy, he added. Rove previously predicted that Biden will end his campaign following a rocky debate performance last month. Biden has maintained that he will not be dropping out, emphasizing Monday on MSNBCs Morning Joe that he is the best candidate to beat Trump. The bottom line here is were not going anywhere. Im not going anywhere, Biden said Monday. Im not letting up, Joe. Im not letting up even a little bit. A handful of Democrats, including sitting lawmakers, have called on Biden to step aside and allow someone else to take the reins. Bidens campaign and the White House have attempted to quell concerns about Bidens ability to do the job and win a second term in recent weeks, but the calls continue to grow as Congress returns from its holiday recess. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A Kaysville man was killed in an ATV crash near Spanish Fork in Utah County on Saturday, according to the Utah County Sheriffs Office. On July 6, at around 3:30 p.m., authorities responded to Skyline Drive on reports of an ATV crash. While details are limited at this time, CPR was underway on the victim Clifford Ralph Hokanson, 53, of Kaysville, who was seriously injured in the crash. Utah CEO, daughter identified as victims of fatal Ogden crash Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office Hokanson was then flown via helicopter to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The Utah County Sheriffs Office, Utah County Search and Rescue, and Spanish Fork Police, Fire & EMS responded to this incident. No further information is available at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- In 1986, the Xiamen Daily newspaper in east China's Fujian Province launched an essay contest, inviting readers to express their expectations about what the coastal city of Xiamen would be like in 2000. The contest served as a platform to solicit public opinions for formulating the city's economic and social development plan from 1985 to 2000, a far-reaching undertaking led by Xi Jinping, then vice mayor of Xiamen. Later, ideas from more than 10 essays participating in the contest were adopted. "At that time, Xiamen urgently needed a development plan as a decision-making guide to achieve faster and better development," said Li Xiuji, then deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xiamen Municipal Committee. It took one and a half years to complete a document of over 200,000 words, which turned out to be the first 15-year economic and social development strategy adopted by a local government in the country. "Other places only drew up five-year plans at that time, but Xi did a 15-year plan and invited well-known experts to participate in the drafting. His foresightedness impressed us a lot," said Peng Yiwan, a member of the drafting group. Many ideas and measures in the plan were pioneering and forward-looking in retrospect. For instance, it stressed preventing pollution and maintaining ecological balance while developing the economy, unusual at that time as the country's economy was just beginning to take off. The plan has injected strong impetus into the sustainable development of Xiamen. From 1985 to 2023, the city's gross domestic product achieved an average annual growth rate of 14.1 percent, surpassing the growth rates at the national and provincial levels. Meanwhile, ecological environment remarkably improved, as the city led the country in water and air quality. Xi's forethought continued to make a difference as he worked as governor of Fujian Province in the early 2000s. He led the formulation of an overall plan for building Fujian into an eco-friendly province by 2020. To ensure the plan is well-crafted, he demanded local authorities spend a whole year on conducting extensive research. "In my experience, no governor would work in the same province for as long as 20 years. Xi's planning was for the future of the province and its people, rather than any short-term achievements to make himself look good during his tenure," said Li Zaiming, then chief of Fujian's environmental protection authority. Whether working at the local or central levels, Xi has always given great weight to planning in advancing the reform and opening up, which he deems as an arduous and complex task that demands thinking in the long run and prudent decision making. "History has taught us that the development of a place, without long-term planning, often leads to serious mistakes and even permanent regrets," Xi once said. Xi, now Chinese president, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, carried on the long-term perspectives after becoming the country's top leader. From national development plans and key reforms to international cooperation initiatives, he has stressed thorough research and meticulous planning in various undertakings, as well as relentless efforts in fulfilling the plans. In 2020, Xi led the drafting group for proposals for formulating the 14th five-year (2021-2025) plan for national economic and social development and long-range objectives through 2035. He presided over seven symposiums within three months to seek suggestions from representatives from all walks of life. He made field trips to enterprises and rural households to get firsthand information, sat down with rural migrant workers and couriers to heed their suggestions, and instructed authorities to solicit public opinions online. Aspiring to lead China toward a more prosperous future, Xi has always kept the blueprint of reform and development in mind. The key to making a blueprint come true, as he points out, lies in successful implementation. "As long as the blueprint is scientific, practical and in line with the aspirations of the people, we will continue to work on it until turning it into reality," Xi once said. Emphasizing planning and playing the long game is one of China's institutional advantages. This stands in stark contrast to the Western system, often characterized by frequent changes of governing political parties, difficulties in continuing policies, and challenges in implementing long-term plans, according to Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute of Fudan University. The construction of the Xiong'an New Area is another telling example of Xi's emphasis on planning and steady implementation in advancing reforms. The area aims to relieve Beijing of non-essential functions related to its status as the nation's capital while promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Xi exhorted authorities to work out a high-level and scrupulous development plan before the construction began. "Construction should begin only after careful planning has been made for every inch of land," Xi said. Noting that the worth of any plan lies in its implementation, Xi stressed that laws and regulations must be in place to ensure that the new city's development plan is implemented thoroughly. Now Xiong'an has transitioned from concept to concrete reality, emerging as a cradle of new industries and innovation. Ahead of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which will be held in Beijing from July 15 to 18 to primarily study issues concerning further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization, Xi again highlighted the significance of planning and implementation for reforms. "Reform hinges not only on planning but also on implementation of measures," Xi said at a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia in Jinan, Shandong Province, in May. Andrew Kenner donates blood at the Kentucky Blood Center on May 22, 2024, in Lexington. His son, Adam, donated blood at the same time and his wife donated later in the day. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes) FRANKFORT A Taylor Swift ticket giveaway worth thousands of dollars and aimed at incentivizing more people to donate blood worked, Kentucky Blood Center donor numbers show. From May 28 through June 29, anyone who donated at any Kentucky Blood Center location was entered to win two Eras Tour tickets for Nov. 3 in Indianapolis. The winner, who has not yet been announced, will also get a $500 gift card to help with travel. Seat Geek shows tickets for that day range from $1,988 to $6,486 apiece. Blood donors also received Swift-themed t-shirts and friendship bracelets, which are often exchanged by people in the Swift fandom at concerts. During the month of the giveaway, 1,592 first-timers donated with the Kentucky Blood Center. Thats up from 929 during the same time period in 2023 and 799 during the same time period in 2022. During the giveaway time period, the center saw 9,233 total registrations, up from 8,479 in 2023 and 7,537 in 2022. The number of young donors dipped dramatically during the pandemic, in part because mobile drives couldnt go into schools. In recent years, schools have allowed mobile blood drives to resume. Still, donations havent reached pre-pandemic levels yet, which staff say is possibly because of lingering discomfort due to COVID-19. A big goal of the Swift giveaway was to incentivize younger donors, KBC spokesman Eric Lindsey told the Lantern. While age data isnt yet available, the increase of first-time donors leads us to believe that we met our goal in terms of bringing in, bringing in a new crowd, Lindsey said Monday. The fact of the matter is, we brought in people who have never donated blood before, he said. Donor data from the month of the giveaway shows that about 17% of all donors were first time donors. Thats more than 6% higher than the past two years. With any increase in new donors, the rate of deferrals is expected to increase. A deferral is when someone is turned away for issues like low iron or failure to meet other eligibility criteria. The deferral rate did increase to 15% during the month of the giveaway, up from around 13% the past two years during the same time. Despite this, Lindsey said, the rate of deferral was honestly not as high as we thought it would be. Thanks to the increase in donations, the center was able to keep a steady supply of blood despite the expected decrease in donations over the July 4 holiday, when donation centers were closed. We did so well in terms of total blood collected, Lindsey said, that we just went through that (holiday) period, and yet we still have a really healthy supply. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Kentuckians give blood for chance to see Taylor Swift. Ticket giveaway credited with donor surge. appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball sent a "demand letter" to the Beshear administration Tuesday. In this photo, she congratulates her campaign team after speaking at an election night celebration, Nov 7, 2023, in Louisville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Matthew Mueller) FRANKFORT The legislature last year moved responsibility for a watchdog office and child support enforcement from the Beshear administration to Republican officeholders. Barely out of the gate, one of the transitions is stumbling over a disagreement about access to a child abuse database. Republican Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball on Tuesday sent what she labeled a demand letter to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander. In it she says the cabinets refusal to allow access to some electronic records is endangering vulnerable children and federal funding. She demands access to the iTWIST database as clearly mandated by state and federal law. The letter also is signed by Jonathan Grate, the new ombudsman. In 2023, the legislature created the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman, an independent office attached to the auditors office, effective July 1 of this year. It replaced the Office of the Ombudsman and Administrative Review, previously part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). The ombudsman is responsible for investigating complaints about the cabinet and evaluating its performance and compliance with federal and state laws. The cabinet oversees a wide range of health, welfare and child protection programs. A spokesperson for the cabinet told the Lantern that an older state law precludes the new ombudsman from receiving access to the records in dispute. That law specifies exceptions to confidentiality requirements for reports of child abuse and neglect; the new ombudsman is not one of the exceptions listed in the law. The cabinet supports the auditors office desire to have full access to the system, but the current statutes passed by the General Assembly prohibit it. The cabinet supports changing the applicable laws in the next session to provide full access. In the meantime, we have been working with the auditors office to provide them with the maximum access allowed under the current law, but they have refused, said Stephanie French, a CHFS spokesperson. Joy Pidgorodetska Markland, communications director in the auditors office, responded that the cabinets proposal is unacceptable because it would allow the cabinet to dictate what the ombudsman is allowed and not allowed to see and reveal identities of internal whistleblowers. In no world is the subject of an investigation allowed to dictate what the investigator can and cannot see, Markland said in an email. What is the Cabinet hiding? In her letter, Ball says the cabinet did not raise objections to the new ombudsmans access to the records until after the 2024 legislative session ended. The shifts in responsibilities from CHFS to the auditor and attorney general were enacted in 2023 in Senate Bill 48 which became law with bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled legislature but without Beshears signature. The transfer of child support enforcement and services to the attorney generals office does not take effect until this time next year but the AG this month assumed responsibility for administrative hearings previously conducted by CHFS. In a July 1 release, Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman says: With over $1 billion in arrears, spearheading the Commonwealths child support services is a daunting task. Even though the transition is one year away, we are working with our partners around the clock to make sure we get this right. Its a no-fail mission where vulnerable children and families are counting on us. The sponsor of the bill that made the changes, Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, issued a statement of support for Ball on Tuesday. He said SB 48 grew out of a 2022 task force that examined ways to improve CHFS operations, including by creating an independent ombudsman. In his statement Meredith said, This common-sense reform ends the practice of the cabinet investigating itself. The language of this bill is clear and undeniable. Its worth noting that CHFS did not testify in opposition to the bill. The Governor chose not to veto the legislation. Additionally, CHFS did not contact me to discuss any concerns about transferring this database to this new office during the 2024 Legislative Session. The post Kentucky auditor, cabinet clash over access to child abuse database as new law takes effect appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. In our In the Spotlight stories, Herald-Leader journalists bring you continuing coverage of news and events important to our Central Kentucky community. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com. Starting in January, Kentucky residents can begin applying for medical cannabis cards, but the process for licensing medical professionals to issue patient certifications for the drug has already begun. Doctors and advanced practice registered nurses can now apply to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure or the Kentucky Board of Nursing, respectively, to become medical cannabis practitioners. Under Kentuckys medical cannabis program, set to launch Jan. 1, 2025, doctors and nurse practitioners cannot issue medical cannabis certifications to patients without first applying to and being authorized by the state to do so. The licensing is part of a wider effort by the state to prepare for legal medical marijuana, and officials are also in the process of permitting retailers. Heres at look at the licensing process, including the requirements and how to apply, plus what potential patients should know. Refresher: Who can use medical marijuana in Kentucky next year? Kentucky residents are eligible to apply for a medical cannabis card if they have at least one of the following conditions: Any type or form of cancer, regardless of stage Chronic, severe, intractable or debilitating pain Epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome resistant to other conventional treatment methods Post-traumatic stress disorder Under Kentucky law, doctors and advanced practice registered nurses are allowed to issue written certifications verifying the patient has a qualifying condition for medical cannabis treatment. Its worth emphasizing these certifications are not prescriptions. This is because the medical professional issuing them is not recommending a course of treatment, simply verifying the patient has a condition that makes them eligible to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. How to qualify as a medical cannabis practitioner in Kentucky In Kentucky, the state Board of Medical Licensure and the Board of Nursing have been tasked with developing the regulations that govern how physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can become medical cannabis practitioners. Those regulations are Kentucky Administrative Regulation 9:067 and KAR 20:067, which establish requirements for physicians and nurses, respectively. To be an authorized medical cannabis practitioner, physicians must: Hold a license issued by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to practice medicine or osteopathy in the state in good standing Hold a valid DEA permit (this grants doctors prescribing authority) Be registered to use any prescription drug monitoring program currently in use in Kentucky Hold no ownership, investment interest in or a compensation agreement with a cannabis business licensed to do business in Kentucky Submit an initial or renewal application and receive confirmation of its process Doctors also have a continuing education requirement they must meet within 12 months prior to submitting an application. This includes six hours of education in diagnosing qualifying conditions, treating conditions with medicinal cannabis and the characteristics of medicinal cannabis, including possible drug interactions and signs of cannabis use disorder. For renewal applications, the continuing education requirement is similar, except doctors only have to complete three hours within 12 months. For advanced practice registered nurses, the requirements are as follows: Hold an active, unrestricted Kentucky license to practice as an APRN that is in good standing Have a valid DEA registration and a current registration certificate is on file with the Kentucky Board of Nursing Have an active account with the prescription drug monitoring program with a current PDMP registration certificate on file with the board Have not been denied a license to prescribe, possess, dispense, administer, supply or sell a controlled substance by the DEA or issuing body in any state or jurisdiction Have not had their DEA license restricted Have not been disciplined by any licensing entity based in whole or in part on inappropriate prescribing, personally furnishing, dispensing, diverting, administering, supplying or selling a controlled substance or dangerous drug Have no ownership, investment interest or compensation agreement with a cannabis business licensed to do business in Kentucky Nurses applying to become medical cannabis practitioners also have a continuing education requirement they must fulfill within 12 months before applying. This includes six contact hours in diagnosing qualifying medical conditions, treating those conditions with medicinal cannabis and the pharmacological characteristics of medicinal cannabis and possible drug interactions, along with signs of cannabis use disorder. From that point forward, and for nurses renewing their authorization, the requirement is three continuing education hours. How to apply to become a practitioner Physicians can apply online to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. The application and instructions are available on the boards website. To apply, the physician submits an application with proof of the required six hours of continuing education and pays a nonrefundable $100 application fee. APRNs can apply with the Kentucky Board of Nursing online through its Nurse Portal, and do so by submitting an application with the following supporting documents: Copy of the ARPNs registration certificate with the DEA Copy of the APRNs prescription drug monitoring program master account registration certificate Proof of the completed continuing education requirement There is also a nonrefundable fee of $100 for APRNs. Do you have a question about medical marijuana in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Send us an email at ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form. Discussions about artificial intelligence during the legislative interim are likely to guide action in Kentucky's next legislative session starting in January. (Getty Images) Kentucky lawmakers on the General Assemblys Artificial Intelligence Task Force learned Tuesday about how states are using artificial intelligence and possible legal frameworks for the technology. During the task forces first meeting, lawmakers heard presentations from technology and government experts about the history of artificial intelligence (AI), ways state governments use it and legislation in other states. Discussions held in the interim sessions about AI are likely to impact legislation in Kentuckys next legislative session starting in January. Ryan Harkins, senior director of public policy for Microsoft, told lawmakers about the history of developing artificial intelligence and legislation surrounding it. Harkins said generative AI, which creates texts, images or other content, can be used to summarize texts, go beyond traditional keyword searches, create coding and more. Harkins said that while tech companies like Microsoft have adopted ethical principles to guide its AI use, some bad actors may exploit AI. Thats where laws come in. We need law and regulation to play its appropriate role, to ensure that everyone in the marketplace that everyone in the ecosystem is abiding by certain basic safety and security standards to ensure that we are mitigating any potential risks of harm, Harkins said. That ongoing robust conversation about what the rules should be includes those in the technology industry, policymakers, elected officials, academics and other members of civil society, Harkins added. Doug Robinson, the executive director of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), spoke about the various ways that states currently use AI in their operations, such as translating government websites into multiple languages. In some cases, using AI saves time to complete these once laborious tasks. Robinson said legislation about AI was introduced in 40 states this year. During Kentuckys legislative session, two Lexington lawmakers Republican Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe and Democratic Caucus Chair Sen. Reggie Thomas sponsored a bill aimed at limiting the use of deep fakes or deceptive AI to influence elections in Kentucky. The legislation died in a House committee. The bill would have allowed political candidates appearing in manipulated digital media to bring legal action against the sponsor of the media. Bledsoe is a co-chair of the AI Task Force and Thomas is a member of it. The issue of AI interference in elections has also come up at the federal level. In May, the U.S. Senate Rules Committee advanced three bills that would address the use of AI in elections. States surveyed by NASCIO reported concerns about the use of AI for disinformation, biased outputs from AI, inadequate data privacy and security. Without that understanding, without a policy framework, without a set of enterprise directives coming out of the office of the CIO (chief information officer), which weve seen from many states, then you have to be concerned about how these tools are being used, and what the impact might be on the citizens and the actual trust in government, Robinson said. The lawmakers on the committee had several questions about the advancement of AI and how it can be regulated at the state level. Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Veron, who is also a co-chair of the task force, asked if AI could be used to improve state government functions in cases like addressing the unemployment services backlog built up during the coronavirus pandemic. He also raised concerns about fraud increasing under an AI system. Robinson said he viewed that as a double-edged sword, as AI is being used in some cases to detect fraud, but adversaries could use generative AI in cybersecurity attacks. I think states in the future will be deploying these capabilities to reduce fraud, he added. The task forces next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13. Bledose said lawmakers on the task force have a lot to discuss during the interim session. This is not a small topic, as you can tell, and it has widespread implications in the private and public sectors, and I think were going to do our best to be mindful of both, she said. The post Kentucky lawmakers hear how other states are regulating, using artificial intelligence appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) recently listed the challenges the country faces in its semiconductor industry, and lithography is notably not among the listed issues. However, according to DigiTimes Asia, the exclusion of lithography is more likely a political consideration to downplay the impact of American sanctions on China's indigenous chip manufacturing rather than a local innovation that allows the Chinese to build their own lithography tools. This isn't the first time the country has disregarded lithography, as Xi Jinping told the Dutch Prime Minister that China doesn't need ASML, the leading lithography tool manufacturer, to advance its technologies. There currently is one China-based lithography tool maker Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group (SMEE) with another company, Naura Technology, aiming to develop its lithography tools for the first time in April 2024. However, China's domestic production rate for chip-making tools for the entire semiconductor manufacturing process is only around 20%, with domestic lithography tools comprising less than 1% (compared to ASML's 93% global market share). EUV lithography tools are crucial for building the next generation of chips, and even though a company may have acquired them before America's sanctions, they still need consistent maintenance and servicing for continuous use. However, as U.S. bans now include servicing these tools, even lithography tools already in use will eventually stop working. Unless China has made a significant breakthrough in its lithography tools industry, this would likely be the biggest hurdle Chinese tech firms must go through to produce their high-end chips. This has even reached the point that some industry leaders are asking their semiconductor companies to focus on legacy chips and 3D packaging instead of trying to remain on the cutting edge of process nodes. Nevertheless, many companies still spend time and effort creating innovations that will help sidestep Washington's sanctions. For example, Huawei is building a significant R&D center on lithography and fab equipment, while other Chinese firms are experimenting with open-standard technologies like RISC-V. Even if organizations leave one technology or another out of their list of challenges, words cannot change the reality of the challenges that the Chinese semiconductor industry is facing. It would take years, if not decades, of research and development for the country to catch up with mainstream lithography makers. So, unless they could magically create a lithography machine that matches ASML's latest High-NA EUV tools, excluding lithography tools in the list of challenges the Chinese semiconductor industry faces is likely a political accommodation. NEW YORK (PIX11) Kids battling cancer got the VIP treatment and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit New York City. On Monday, they were at One Police Plaza in Manhattan. It was a wonderful way for them to get their minds off their treatment and create wholesome memories. More Local News It was all smiles as 28 kids battling cancer from all over the country visited the nations largest police force. The visit was part of a partnership developed between the NYPD and Sunshine Kids, a national non-profit organization. Getting the opportunity to see their smiles today has been really incredible, said Jennifer Wisler, executive director of Sunshine Kids. The kids are treated in hospitals across the states, and they are all battling various types of childhood cancer. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban gave the kids an exclusive tour of his office and the headquarters, showing them how the NYPD monitors public spaces like Times Square. Its really cool, and I never thought it was all this. Im really glad we have them, and they keep us safe, Abigail Martin, a cancer patient, said. Det. Chad Moritt has been organizing the annual visit from Sunshine Kids for the past nine years. More Manhattan News Rob Dolan, 13, appreciates the visits. Hes been battling cancer since 2021. He goes to the oncology clinic once a week to get chemotherapy and blood tests. He said this trip is also a great way to connect with other kids fighting the same battle. Being able to have people that understand what you are going through and that you can also help them understand, its just awesome that we have helped each other in ways that we wouldve never thought, Dolan said. Sunshine Kids is a national non-profit organization that has at least 12 participating hospitals in the tri-state area. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. What kinds of sharks live in Massachusetts waters? Here's what to know. When you think of swimming in the ocean in Massachusetts, what do you think of? Sharks? That wouldn't be a bad answer. While shark attacks remain infrequent in Massachusetts waters, there are several different species of sharks living off the coast of Massachusetts, especially in the waters of Cape Cod. And with Shark Week underway as of July 7, (lasting through July 13), it's worth taking a look at the different species of sharks living in the coastal waters of The Commonwealth. How many sharks species are in Massachusetts waters? Ryan Knotek, an associate research scientist with the New England Aquarium told the Cape Cod Times last year there are at least 17 species that call New England waters home or that pass through. "It's a lot more than people think," he said. "They think white sharks, maybe a couple of other ones." The list is growing, according to scientists, as the oceans heat up, allowing some species that prefer warm water to migrate further north in the summer. Spinner sharks, for example, are one of the warm water species starting to show up in southern New England water, including off of Nantucket and Cape. What kinds of sharks live in the ocean in Massachusetts? Here's a look at some of the species that frequent Massachusetts' waters. White sharks White shark pictured here. Contributed by Atlantic White Shark Conservancy The one you hear about the most often, white sharks also known as Great white sharks are named for their white underbellies, even though their topsides come in grays and browns, according to National Geographic,. They can "rocket through the water at speeds approaching 35 miles an hour and (have) a bite force of up to 1.8 metric tons." They can live more than 70 years and can grow to up to 21 feet long. They can weigh up to 4,500 pounds. A study by Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries estimated that 800 white sharks visited the waters off of Cape Cod between 2015 and 2018. The shark in 'Jaws' is 25 feet long. Are there really sharks that big off the Cape? Shortfin Mako sharks A Juvenile shortfin mako shark swimming in the waters off California. These sharks are "aggressive predators" that eat other fish, such as bluefish, swordfish, tuna, marine mammals, and other sharks, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They can grow to up to 13-feet-long, and can live to be more than 30 years old. Shortfin Mako sharks: Transmitter from mako found in Falmouth Sand tiger sharks Sand tiger sharks swim around in their gallery at the Georgia Aquarium. These sharks, also known as gray nurse sharks, "are a docile, non-aggressive species, known to attack humans only when bothered first," according to National Geographic. They are "brownish-gray with rust-colored spots on top and white underneath." They can grow anywhere from 6.5 to 10.5 feet long and can weigh between 200-350 pounds. The species was in a sharp decline due to overfishing, but protections put in place such as prohibiting the harvest of any sand tiger sharks have helped the species to recover, according to the New England Aquarium. More: Rare shark washed up on Little Compton beach. Researchers left asking, 'what happened' Sandbar sharks A group of divers swim with a sandbar shark off Jupiter, Florida on February 24, 2024. These are also known as brown sharks, according to NOAA, which states that it is "one of the largest shark species found in coastal waters," growing up to 8-feet-long. NOAA states it can weigh between 100-200 pounds and can live more than 20 years, and added that they "have brownish-gray bodies and white bellies. They have a tall dorsal fin on their back and large pectoral fins on either side of their body. Their snouts are rounded and shorter than the average shark." These sharks tend to spend time in shallow water. Thresher sharks Greg Vespe of Tiverton brings a thresher shark to the boat, caught with a bluefish fillet. The easiest feature of these sharks to identify is their tail. "Their tail fin is sickle-shaped, and the upper part is extremely long, about half the length of their body," NOAA said. These sharks take on a brown, gray, blue-gray, or blackish appearance on the back and on the underside of their snout. They can live up to 20 years and can grow up to 20-feet-long. More: Fourth thresher shark found frozen off Wellfleet Dusky sharks One of the larger sharks found in New England waters, Dusky sharks aren't too common as we are the northern tip of their range. "Dusky sharks are big ocean predators that can reach up to 400 pounds, " The Ocean Conservancy said. "Although dusky sharks rarely interact with humans, their size and proximity to shore could potentially be dangerous. Porbeagle sharks The female porbeagle shark, 8 feet, 8 inches long and weighing several hundred pounds, was discovered on East Beach in Watch Hill on Wednesday. The Shark Research Institute explains that these are "heavy bodied shark(s) with a short, conical snout, and long gill slits...(they are) dark grey or blackish on top, with the underside being white with dusky blotches." They can grow anywhere between 4.9 to 9.8 feet and can weigh up to 280 pounds. They are considered to be "critically endangered," according to the Shark Research Institute. Porbeagle sharks can tolerate cooler water and are the only so-called "resident" sharks that are present year-round off of Massachusetts. Blue sharks A blue shark was among the species in a study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, San Diego State University, and NOAA Fisheries that found warming oceans could cause the loss of up to 70% of suitable habitat for some predators including sharks, tuna, and billfish by 2100. Blue sharks are found throughout the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Mass.gov states that these "can get up to 13 feet in length but generally are closer to 10 feet long. They have a deep blue color dorsally, which fades to light blue on the sides and white on the belly. They have slender bodies with large eyes and a cone shaped snout." T he website also notes that white sharks and shortfin Mako sharks often prey on adult blue sharks. They can weigh about 250 pounds. Basking sharks According to a description from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, "the basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark. It is a migratory species, found in all the world's temperate oceans. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder." National Geographic states that these sharks are the world's second largest fish. They have six rows of teeth in its upper jaw, and nine rows in its lower jaw, "for a total of about 1,500 tiny, hooked teeth." They are considered to be totally harmless. They can grow up to 33 feet long and can weigh up to 4.5 tons. They can live to be about 50 years old. Everything to know about basking sharks: A Cape Cod shark we can all love: Bask in the glow of a giant, mellow fish Tiger sharks A tiger shark on the shores on Nantucket. These sharks are named for their "dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear... (they) have a duly earned reputation as man-eaters. They are second only to great whites in attacking people," according to National Geographic. They can grow between 10-14 feet and can weigh 850 to 1,400 pounds. More: What marine animals swim in the deep water canyons southeast of Cape Cod? New England Aquarium knows Whale sharks Oliver the whale shark is 40-feet long. Whale sharks are known as the largest fishes in the sea, according to National Geographic, with basking sharks pulling up a close second. They are considered to be docile and can measure between 18 to 32.8 feet and can weigh up to 20.6 tons. They can live to be 70 years old. Whale sharks can be found every year in offshore canyons in the Gulf Stream along the edge of the Continental Shelf, but they rarely come closer to shore. More: VIDEO: Encounter with a whale shark off Cape Cod Hammerhead sharks Hammerhead sharks. National Geographic states that "their wide-set eyes give them a better visual range than most other sharks." Their heads literally resemble the appearance of a hammer. These sharks can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They can live from 20-30 years old. Cape Cod Sharks: More hammerhead shark sightings reported in area Where have sharks been spotted lately in Massachusetts? Some of the beaches sharks have been spotted at recently, according to local reports and Sharktivity app, include: Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro Cahoon Hollow Beach in Wellfleet Off of Eastham Off of Chatham Off of Orleans Sagamore Beach, Plymouth Massachusetts sharks: Here's where you can see sharks in real life in New England While these beaches specifically saw sharks recently, sharks have been seen at plenty of other beaches and swimmers should always practice care. Sharks should be observed from shore or a boat, not in the water. This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Massachusetts sharks: Your guide to what sharks are off the MA coast What to Know About Death of Dvontaye Mitchell At Hyatt Hotel A flag is reflected in the window of a Milwaukee Police Department vehicle Aug. 18, 2020, in Milwaukee. Credit - Morry GashThe Associated Press The death of a Black man who was held down by four security guards outside a hotel in Milwaukee last week has sparked outrage in the city with some calling the altercation reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd. Dvontaye Mitchell, 43, went to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Milwaukee on June 30. According to local authorities, after a tense altercation with security guards allegedly got physical, Mitchell was forcibly escorted out and restrained until police arrived. But upon their arrival, Mitchell was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. Shocking witness cellphone footage of Mitchell pinned down by security guards has circulated on social media and has been highlighted by prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has been hired by Mitchells family. Heres what to know about the incident. What police are saying In an email statement to TIME, the Milwaukee Police Department said that they were investigating a death that occurred at a business on the 300 block of W. Kilbourne Avenue, refusing to confirm the identity of the deceased individual and the business. The police shared in the statement that the individual allegedly went into the business, caused a disturbance and fought with security guards as they were escorting the individual out. Security detained the individual until police arrived at the scene, according to the statement. When the officers arrived, they found that the individual was unresponsive, and after performing lifesaving measures, he was pronounced dead, police said. Police declined to clarify what the nature of the disturbance leading up to the incident was. While the incident is still under investigation, police did share that it is not currently a criminal investigation. The incident is also being reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office, and theres no timeline for a charging decision at this time, the office said in a statement. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office said in an email that Mitchells preliminary manner of death is homicide, but the final cause of death is still under investigation. What the video shows A video taken by a witness shows Mitchell being pinned down to the ground by four security guards. In the video, at least one of the guards can be seen kneeling on Mitchells back, while another can be seen holding his legs. One guard can be seen forcibly restraining Mitchell. Mitchell can be heard screaming and saying please and help several times in the video, and a guard can be heard yelling at him to stay down. At one point in the video, one of the guards says in the direction of the person filming, This is what happens when you go into the ladies room! Read More: Everything We Know About the Police Killing of Double-Amputee Anthony Lowe Mitchells family call for charges against security guards Crumps law firm said in a press release on Wednesday that Mitchells mother believes that her son was suffering from a mental health episode. Crump said in the press release that the circumstances surrounding Mitchells death are disturbing and as described by a witness, reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd. It is deeply troubling that we have lost another Black man in an encounter with security personnel, raising serious concerns about the use of force, lack of accountability, and absence of mental health considerations, Crump said in the statement. NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump has been retained by the family of 43-year-old Dvontaye Mitchell, a Black man who was killed by security guards outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sunday, June 30. pic.twitter.com/dIVRQEJhaI Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) July 3, 2024 Crump held a press conference outside the Milwaukee hotel Monday, saying that the excessive force the security guards used led to unarmed Mitchells death and calling for charges to be filed against the security guards involved in the incident. Dozens of people stood outside the hotel with Crump, some holding signs that said Justice for Dvontaye. Everybody in America after George Floyd should have trained their employees, especially their security personnel, to not put knees on peoples backs and peoples necks, Crump said during the press conference. And when people are having problems breathing, dont keep them in a prone position. Security guards suspended while investigation underway A Hyatt spokesperson said in an emailed statement that Aimbridge Hospitality operates the Milwaukee hotel, and is responsible for the management of hotel employees. The spokesperson said Hyatt understands that Aimbridge Hospitality is still completing its investigation, and to date, has suspended its employees involved in the incident. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dvontaye Mitchells family, all those who knew and loved him, and the Milwaukee community in light of this tragedy, the spokesperson said. As the investigation continues, Hyatt is fully committed to supporting efforts to help ensure accountability for the circumstances that led to the death of Dvontaye Mitchell. A spokesperson for Aimbridge Hospitality said in an emailed statement that they also offered their condolences to Mitchells family and loved ones. We continue to do everything we can to support law enforcements ongoing investigation into this incident and have no further comment at this time, the spokesperson said. We remain committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all hotel guests and associates. Get alerts on the biggest breaking news stories here Contact us at letters@time.com. What to know about Gibson County Sheriff: Allegations profiting from inmate labor Sheriff Paul Thomas watches on as the court decides on a later date during the Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas court hearing in Trenton, Tenn., on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Ahead of his next scheduled court date, here's what to know about Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas's following charges in two counties that he allegedly profited from inmate labor at two rehabilitation facilities where he was an investor. Thomas was indicted in May on 22 charges across two counties and is set to appear in Gibson County Circuit Court on July 10. He is charged with 18 counts of official misconduct in Gibson County. Counts 1-6 are class E felonies and detail that Thomas allegedly used the labor or employment of six different inmates for his gain and benefit, profiting either directly or indirectly. Counts 7-12 name the six inmates and the use of their labor to benefit Alliance Staffing Group in Milan, a hiring program catered to incarcerated individuals established by Thomas and others. Counts 13-18 list that the same six inmates under the care of Thomas were improperly guarded to prevent escape. More: Gibson Co. Sheriff indicted on 18 counts of misconduct, inmate labor for personal gain More: Gibson Co. Sheriff indicted on 18 counts of misconduct, inmate labor for personal gain The Gibson County offense timeline ranges from May 1, 2022 through October 31, 2022. During this period, Thomas won his third re-election for sheriff in August 2022. He is still serving as sheriff. Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas talks to Gibson County business leaders about the Re-entry Advance Manufacturing Program (R.A.M.P), Tuesday, July 10, 2018. 2nd arraignment in Davidson Co., July 24 He will also be arraigned on July 24 for the four counts he's facing in Davidson County as it relates to TDOC inmates; one count of theft of property over $60,000, two counts of computer crimes over $60,000, and one count of forgery over $60,000. Thomas turned himself into the Gibson County Jail on June 11 and was released on a bond of $25,000 shortly after. As of July 8, he maintains his role as sheriff. Comptroller report: Sheriff is investor of Alliance Group, Orchard House The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury released a report on June 12 detailing information gathered in its investigation from July 2019 through October 2022. Among the locations under search by the FBI in 2022 were Alliance Staffing Group and its sister company Orchard House. Thomas and four other local investors formed Alliance Group, LLC in 2020. Under this umbrella were Alliance Staffing, Alliance Housing, and Alliance Transportation. Report shows over $2 million mishandled Between the three branches, the comptroller's report revealed that Thomas had funneled $1,417,204 in deductions and inmate wage fees to directly benefit the Alliance Group. The Orchard House in Milan was a transitional home for inmates that was established in June 2020 and operated under Alliance Housing, LLC. Aimed at reducing recidivism, it provided a 12-18 month opportunity to participate in a rehabilitation-focused reentry program for a $40 daily housing fee. Alliance Transportation charged individuals $18 for each day the transport services were used to get to work. Alliance Staffing managed a full-service staffing team whose revenue was made through markups from employee wages. The investigation revealed that, after wage deductions, several inmates collected a net pay of zero dollars. From May 2020 to October 2022, Thomas obtained $507,273 from a room and board subsidy provided to the county through a Tennessee Department of Corrections reimbursement. The subsidy stems from inmates, referred to as the "backup population," who are housed in local facilities due to overcrowding in state prisons. The state reimbursement from 74 inmates was transferred to the Orchard House. The comptroller's report also revealed that from February 2020 to October 2022, Thomas directly profited from inmate labor, totaling $181,644. 'Inappropriately' gave sentence credits to inmates in exchange for work In his role as "Prisoner Liaison" for Alliance Staffing, Thomas only selected inmates in his custody to work for the company. With no work release commission present in Gibson County, Alliance Staffing was the sole employer of Gibson County Jail inmates under the custody of Thomas. The investigation found that during the building of the Orchard House, he inappropriately awarded sentence credits to 26 inmates who contributed to its construction through an unauthorized work release program for eight months. Sentence credits were issued in lieu of wages. Final compliance deficiencies identified in the Comptroller report include the following: Absence of disclosure to the Tennessee Ethics Commission by Thomas regarding his personal investment in Alliance Group Absence of a contract for Orchard House between the Gibson County Sheriff's Department and county officials Failure by the Gibson County Sheriff's Department to accurately update the Tennessee Offender Management Information System (TOMIS) Failure by Orchard House to adhere to TDOC guidelines Failure to uphold duties by Thomas to properly guard inmates per state statute Improper issuance of sentence credits rather than wages by Thomas Failure by the Gibson County Sheriff's Department to accurately report work release program records Failure by Thomas to uphold workhouse program policies Violation by Thomas pertaining to trust accounts holding inmates wages Failure by TDOC officials to comply with work release policies as it relates to the backup population. This is a developing story. Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: What to know about Gibson County Sheriff ahead of arraignment July 10 Soldiers from Chinese military and Laos military exercise together at the Kommadam Academy of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) in Laos, July 8, 2024. Based on the annual plan and the agreement of both sides, the armed forces of China and Laos held the Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise in Laos this July. The exercise, which is the second of its kind, seeks to strengthen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two militaries, with the aim of promoting regional peace and stability. (Photo by Yi Ding/Xinhua) Soldiers from Chinese military and Laos military exercise together at the Kommadam Academy of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) in Laos, July 8, 2024. Based on the annual plan and the agreement of both sides, the armed forces of China and Laos held the Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise in Laos this July. The exercise, which is the second of its kind, seeks to strengthen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two militaries, with the aim of promoting regional peace and stability. (Photo by Yi Ding/Xinhua) Soldiers from Chinese military and Laos military exercise together at the Kommadam Academy of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) in Laos, July 8, 2024. Based on the annual plan and the agreement of both sides, the armed forces of China and Laos held the Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise in Laos this July. The exercise, which is the second of its kind, seeks to strengthen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two militaries, with the aim of promoting regional peace and stability. (Photo by Yi Ding/Xinhua) Soldiers from Chinese military and Laos military exercise together at the Kommadam Academy of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) in Laos, July 8, 2024. Based on the annual plan and the agreement of both sides, the armed forces of China and Laos held the Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise in Laos this July. The exercise, which is the second of its kind, seeks to strengthen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two militaries, with the aim of promoting regional peace and stability. (Photo by Yi Ding/Xinhua) What we know about Parkinsons experts visits to Biden White House The White House on Monday faced a round of intense questions about a neurologist who specializes in Parkinsons disease who visited the campus several times in recent months. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was adamant during the daily press briefing about not naming the specialist, Dr. Kevin Cannard, citing privacy and security questions, even though his name was on a public log of visitors to the White House. But questions about the presidents mental sharpness and whether hes up to handling the job for another four years have become commonplace following his poor performance at a June 27 debate, when Biden spoke haltingly and often struggled to complete his train of thought. Heres what we know about the visits to the White House by Cannard. Who is Dr. Kevin Cannard? Cannard is a neurologist and movement disorders specialist who is based at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Presidents, including Biden, typically go to Walter Reed for their annual checkups and any medical exam. He was listed as a Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit and the Physician to the President from 2012 to 2022, according to his Doximity profile. Cannard is not Bidens main physician that is Dr. Kevin OConnor. How often has Cannard visited the White House? Cannard visited the White House eight times over an eight-month span from the summer of 2023 through the spring of 2024, according to visitor logs that were first highlighted by the New York Post. Logs show Cannard met in January with OConnor, Bidens White House physician, and cardiologist Dr. John Atwood in the White House residence clinic. Biden underwent his annual physical exam at Walter Reed on Feb. 28. The New York Times reported Cannard made more than two dozen visits to the White House during the Obama administration from 2012 to 2016. It is unknown whether he visited the Trump White House because then-President Trump stopped the disclosure of visitor logs. What did the White House say about his visits? The White House offered scant details about Cannards visits to the premises. Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, would not refer to him by name, despite his visits being listed in visitor logs, nor would she disclose whom the doctor was there to see or why he was meeting with Bidens personal physician. Dr. OConnor leads the medical unit, she said, referring to Bidens personal doctor. We will not confirm or speak to names that youre providing to me. It is out of security reasons, it is out of protecting someones privacy. Were just not going to do that. She noted there are more than 1,000 military members who get care from the White House medical unit. I am not going to confirm a particular neurologist, anybody, it doesnt matter if theyre a dermatologist or a neurologist, Im just not going to do that, she said. What has the White House said about Bidens health? Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday that Biden has not been and is not being treated for Parkinsons, and he is not taking medication to treat the disease. She said the president had consulted with a neurologist three times during his presidency, once during each of his three physicals since taking office. The White House over the last week while questions over the presidents health and fitness for office have lingered since his debate performance has frequently leaned on Bidens February physical that found he was fit for office. In that physical, which was made public, his doctor wrote that a neurological exam found no evidence of Parkinsons, stroke or another condition. More broadly, reporters have taken issue with Jean-Pierres evolving explanation around whether Biden met with a doctor before and after his debate on June 27, when the president had a raspy voice that aides at the time blamed on a cold. Biden has since said he was feeling terrible on the day of the debate, blaming it in part for his poor performance. During a Monday morning phone interview with MSNBCs Morning Joe, Biden dismissed a question about whether hed been tested for any age-related illness like Parkinsons following his halting performance on the debate stage. Look, I had a bad night. But the fact of the matter is, look at what Im doing, he said. I mean let me put it this way, if there was something that was wrong that night, its not like it comes and thats one night and it goes away. Thats why Ive been out. Ive been testing myself. Been testing everywhere I go. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAWRENCE (KSNT) A group of engineering students at the University of Kansas have successfully put a satellite into space, a first for any institution from the Sunflower State. The university announced the results of the successful launch of KUbeSat-1 in a publication on Monday, July 7. The satellite reached orbit on July 3 when it was launched with the help of NASAs Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket which contained eight satellites in total. This launch brings a dream to reality for the 70 students directly involved, the alumni who have generously supported the mission and all peer classmates, said Rick Hale, professor and chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering. A successful orbital mission will open the door to sustained design-build-test-operate activities in orbital remote sensing that mimic our sustained success in suborbital remote sensing. KUs satellite is described as a nanosatellite, measuring only about the size of a loaf of bread and weighing about three pounds. Its launch into space is part of the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative program which offers educational institutions and nonprofits a chance to share room on NASA rockets, according to the publication. Workers pick up 430 tons of trash from Kansas River homeless camps in Topeka The universitys satellite will measure the energy and type of primary cosmic rays hitting Earth over the course of its one to two-year mission. Another part of the satellite will measure very high frequency signals created by cosmic interactions within Earths atmosphere. Information collected through the satellite will be used for academic research and development. The primary goal of KUbeSat-1 has been to allow students at KU to work on an engineering project that has the same stakes as projects in the aerospace industry, said Brody Gatza, graduate research assistant and project manager. The project has encompassed all facets of engineering and has given our team experience working with NASA, leading aerospace companies and regulating agencies. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Ky. Mom Arrested After Her Baby's Body Is Allegedly Found Decomposing in Plastic Bag Inside Trunk Daira Meijia Aguilar, 22, has been charged with abuse of a corpse Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Daira Meijia Aguilar A Kentucky mother was arrested after authorities allege her newborn baby was found dead in a trash bag inside the trunk of her car. On Saturday, July 6, officers responded to a Louisville, Ky., home on a report of a baby who was in a bag with possible blood on it and hidden in a closet, according to an arrest report filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court and reviewed by PEOPLE. At the scene, officers spoke with 22-year-old Daira Meijia Aguilar, who claimed she gave birth to the baby on or about July 2, the arrest report states. She allegedly told investigators that she then wrapped the newborn in a blanket and placed the baby in a trash bag before putting it in the closet, per the report. The next day, officers allegedly found the baby in the trunk of a car Aguilar claimed was hers, according to the report. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage, and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The child appeared to be a full-term newborn in early stages of decomposition, Louisville police said in the report. Details regarding the babys cause of death were not provided in the arrest report. According to the report, Aguilar was arrested on a charge of abuse of a corpse. Its unclear if she has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Los Angeles Police have arrested a man who was allegedly seen on video dropping a seven-month-old puppy down a stairwell in the citys Koreatown neighborhood. Joeboury Coleman, 27, faces a charge of animal cruelty and was being held without bond on Tuesday. Officers from LAPDs Rampart Division responded to an apartment complex in the 4000 block of Oakwood Avenue on Sunday after concerned citizens saw video of the abuse on social media, police said. At least two cameras captured footage of a shirtless man carrying the whimpering puppy by its neck up to a railing and then dropping it down the stairway of the multi-story building. The video shows the dog survived and ran back up the stairs. Officers observed and detained the male individual depicted in the social media posts in the alley behind the location, police said in a statement announcing Colemans arrest. They conducted a follow-up to the individuals apartment and located the dog shown in the social media video, kicked and thrown from the stairway. Police said the dog was transported to a local animal shelter for treatment of a broken hind leg consistent with a fall. The dog was also malnourished, police said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Insights from Politico, UK in a Changing Europe, and South China Morning Post The News Just days after securing a landslide victory in the general election, Britains new prime minister, Keir Starmer, will make his first appearance on the world stage Tuesday night at a NATO summit in Washington, D.C. Soon after, he will host around 50 European leaders for a European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace an event where UK foreign secretary David Lammy, who has called for a reset with Europe said the new spirit of cooperation will be on show. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Starmer will continue UKs support for Ukraine, but country could lag on defense spending Sources: Politico, The Times of London The UKs new defense secretary vowed to honor the countrys multi-year military aid settlement with Ukraine, and Starmer will likely reassure his NATO counterparts on the UKs broader commitment to the country, a senior EU official told Politico. But Labours self-imposed fiscal rules mean it is yet to set a date for increasing the UKs spending on NATO defense from 2% to 2.5% as a percentage of GDP, the outlet noted, which has become more of a sticking point following Russias deadliest airstrikes on Ukraine in months. A former UK army chief told the Times of London that the figure needed to be closer to 3 per cent. Britain has something to offer the EU, too Sources: UK in a Changing Europe, Centre for European Reform The European Political Community, which Starmer is set to host, is a forum that lends itself more to symbolism and tone-setting than concrete deliverables, two experts argued for think tank UK in a Changing Europe. But Labour shouldnt be deterred by often frosty EU officials on improving Britains trading relationship with the bloc, Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform argued. While some in the EU will inevitably accuse Starmer of cherry picking access to the single market, which he has ruled out rejoining, the reality is that the EU wants to pick a few cherries of its own in the form of UK fisheries and mobility schemes for British youth, Grant added. Labours approach to China should avoid stabilization, expert argues Sources: Foreign Policy, South China Morning Post, Chatham House Starmer has vowed to launch an audit of Britains China policy within 100 days, but it would be unrealistic to frame his approach to Beijing in terms of stabilizing relations, a Foreign Policy columnist argued. Middle powers like the UK cannot resolve major geopolitical issues like Taiwan or Chinas support of Russia alone, he wrote, but the UK and China could find other areas of cooperation, especially in AI governance, climate, and the digital economy, one expert told the South China Morning Post. The UK government must acknowledge that Beijings diplomacy is based on a confluence of interests, not shared values like those of the UK and US, an Asia expert argued for Chatham House. LAKE VIEW, S.C. (WBTW) In the predawn hours on Friday, James J.J. Smith was asleep his wife next to him and their five children nearby. A stranger pounded on the familys door. It was about 1 a.m. This guy comes in my house screaming. [I] didnt know who he was. I got up. He told me my truck and my garage was on fire, said Smith, the assistant police chief in Lake View. [I] went outside. [My] truck was engulfed in flames. I immediately started to fight the fire with a water hose, waiting on the fire department to get there. Lake View assistant police chief James J.J. Smith / News13 The incident left confusion, terror and anger simmering inside Smith. Absolutely terrifying, he said. Its the worst part when youre screaming to get your kids out of the house while youre fighting a fire, and your kids are actually watching all of this going on. The garage is situated about two feet from the familys home, and Smith is convinced they all would have perished were it not for that stranger who burst inside. I thank them from the bottom of my heart, Smith said. They didnt have to stop. Had he not stopped and passed by, that truck going up, my patrol vehicle, the barn and probably the house while me and my kids slept were next, so he saved our lives. Hours after the fire, Smith and his family left for a preplanned weekend getaway to North Carolina, their amiable but energetic Dalmatian safe in a large, outdoor kennel. When the Smiths got home on Sunday, the dog was dead, and a new wave of fear washed over all of them. Another one of the familys dogs was unharmed. Smith did not say how the dog died. It really seems like its personal, Smith said. I dont know who would have a personal vendetta against me. To me, everybodys human. Everybody makes mistakes. Nobodys different from me, so Ive always treated everybody that way. Smith told News13 on Tuesday that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating alongside Dillon County detectives. Sheriff Jamie Hamilton referred inquiries about the incident to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Kudos to Dillon County, Smith said. They have tried every avenue, I and I know they havent stopped. They have a great sheriff. They have a great team of detectives. Theyre working side-by-side with SLED. This thing is still open, and its not going to close no time soon. News13 has reached out to SLED but so far has not received a response. Meanwhile, Smith is personally offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest. I want to see these people go to jail, he said. My family should not have to live in terror. My wife and kids should not be scared to go home, and they are literally scared to go home. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. LANCASTER CITY, Pa. (WHTM) The Lancaster City Police Departments new K9 is eager to start training, almost too eager for his own good. Lancaster City Police welcomed Mizo, a 14-month-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic, to the force last April. Mizo is partnered with Officer J. Hatfield and will serve as a dual-purpose K-9, cross-trained in patrol and narcotics. While Mizo was picked up a few months back, Officer Hatfield says there is still some puppy left in him, and he is still learning basic skills. Its funny because when hes actually working, its actually like hes thinking like an adult and not like a puppy, Hatfield said. But as soon as hes not working and he has that downtime that its like, the puppy kicks back in and hes doing this silly puppy stuff. Despite his room to grow, Officer Hatfield said Mizo had proved his abilities when he helped make an arrest on his second shift. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Treasury Department on Monday announced it was moving to expand its review authority related to foreign purchases near U.S. military bases across the country. A proposed Treasury rule allows the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews real estate transactions near military installations or sensitive U.S. government property, to add more than 50 installations across 30 states to its authority. The proposed rule would significantly expand the jurisdiction of CFIUS, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, at a time when lawmakers and U.S. officials are expressing deep concerns about Chinese purchases near U.S. bases. President Biden and I remain committed to using our strong investment screening tool to defend Americas national security, including actions that protect military installations from external threats, Yellen said in a statement. The proposed rule, in response to a recent comprehensive assessment of military bases and sites by the Defense Department, is in a public comment period before it will be finalized. The rule expands CFIUS jurisdiction by including transactions within a 1-mile radius of 40 U.S. bases; purchases within a 100-mile radius of 19 sensitive sites; and any land buys within 1 mile and 100 miles of eight national security areas already registered for review. Concerns have mounted in recent years that Chinese purchases of land near U.S. bases or other sensitive sites present a grave risk to national security. Earlier this year, the White House ordered CFIUS to enforce the sale of land near a major U.S. Air Force base in Wyoming that houses nuclear missiles. The land was purchased by MineOne Partners Limited, a majority Chinese-owned firm. Lawmakers on the federal and state level have increasingly pushed to restrict Chinese real estate transactions. Some have called for a complete ban of foreign nationals associated with the Chinese government from purchasing public or private agricultural land. China, however, only makes up about 1 percent of foreign-held land as of 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW/KIEV, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia strongly rejects claims of the country's alleged attack on a children's hospital in Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday. Peskov said Russian strikes are carried out against critical infrastructure and military targets related to Ukraine's military potential. He denied any attacks on civilian targets and said that the hospital was struck by a falling Ukrainian anti-missile. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that "many eyewitnesses and other sources" have confirmed the hospital had been hit by a Western-made surface-to-air missile from the Ukrainian air defense system that went off course. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday on Telegram that the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kiev was hit by a Russian missile on Monday, adding that the strikes had killed 38 people and injured 190, according to preliminary information. The National Police of Ukraine said Tuesday that the death toll in Monday's Russian missile attacks on Ukraine had risen to 42, including four children. At least 323 buildings, including the hospital, were damaged, it said in a statement. Lansing City Council votes to save Eastern High School from demolition, but will that be enough? LANSING It's tough to consider saying goodbye to Eastern High School after years of efforts to preserve the historic icon for people like Cori Barkman, a 1992 graduate. Barkman, now a circuit court judge in Clinton and Gratiot counties, was a member of the alumni board when the Lansing School District began discussing selling the building more than decade ago. She said she believed at the time that the building would be preserved, in part, but likely not completely. Keeping at least parts of the exterior along with the entryway - a grand foyer experience with dark wood paneling, a trophy case and a real sense of grandeur - would be a great way to keep the history while allowing for a modern psychiatric hospital, Barkman said. "It would be nice at least if they could keep the outside at least the way it was," Barkman said. "There were good people who attended there, the teachers were world class, I thought, and especially the English department. They taught you how to look at the world in a broader way." Local officials are now pressuring the University of Michigan Health System to keep at least part of Eastern's history. Lansing City Council members voted Monday, 5-0, to urge U-M Health to preserve the school building while at the same time supporting plans to convert the Pennsylvania Avenue building into a psychiatric facility. The health system, formerly Sparrow Health System, wants to use the Eastern site to build a $97.2 million, 120-bed psychiatric hospital on the site, near its existing hospital facilities, citing a state and local need for more capacity. The new beds would include 10 inpatient adult beds, 24 child or adolescent beds and 37 adult special pool beds, which can include geriatric, medical psychiatric and other needs beyond typical beds, according to applications sent to state regulators. U-M Health-Sparrow purchased 18 acres including the high school from the Lansing School District in 2016, following a decade-long effort at preservation that petered out with a unanimous school board vote and a purchase price of $2.5 million. The school district determined in 2014 through an outside consultant that the building needed significant renovation and repair, noting that more than half of exterior brick work needed mortar repair, 1970s replacement windows were deteriorating and there was a potential structural issue on northeast corner of building. A report put the cost of renovating the 237,069-square-foot-school at more than $45 million. The former Lansing Eastern High School, pictured Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Ryan Kost, a council member who is helping to lead the preservation push, said the health system has other property including parking lots near its emergency room and training hospital, and those could be used instead of the school building. He said many preservationists aren't fighting to preserve the full building. The more recent additions of the east-west wing could be torn down, he said, in order to keep the original 1927 north-south portions. Kost said getting a mental health facility is vital, but with a lack of beds in Lansing he expects U-M Health to build and open a local facility even if it isn't in line with the health system's current site or plans. The area is in need of more mental health beds, said Margaret Keeler, an advocate for better mental health care and a long-time member of NAMI Lansing, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Health. "The problem of available beds is significant, and it will stay without more beds," Keeler said. "The need for beds outweighs the need to preserve the building." She said preservation efforts would be welcome, if done alongside quick and effective expansion of services. Sarah Hubbard, a regent and the former chair of U-M's Board of Regents, lives in Okemos and has been following the conversations around the buildings fate closely. I understand why people are concerned, but theres a need for psychiatric care, especially in Lansing, she said. People cant find where to go for help. Hubbard could not speak on what the boards consensus was and if the Lansing City Council's resolution would impact their eventual vote, which she said may happen this fall. No construction or demolition will happen until the board gives their approval. I have been hearing and seeing a lot of people talking about this I encourage people to come to public comment at our next board meeting on July 18, she said. The former Lansing Eastern High School, pictured Tuesday, July 9, 2024, The building in its current state is not compatible with psychiatric care, Hubbard said, and she didnt see a way for it to be preserved and provide quality care without more money going to the project. The former Eastern High School has been closed for years, and any decision about the psychiatric facility is ultimately up to the health system and the U-M Board of Regents and would also require state grant approval. The citys role would be limited to approving or denying construction or demolition permits, which would be based on safety and submitted plans rather than other considerations, said Scott Bean, a spokesperson for the city. The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce supports the health system's plan, in a statement sent to council members Monday, its president and CEO, Tim Daman, said the property was sold by the school district in 2016 and city voters later approved a bond for construction including at the building that is the current Eastern High School. The letter urges council members to "reject any measures that would hinder this vital project." For Monday's vote, three city council members were absent: Jeffrey Brown, Adam Hussain and Peter Spadafore, who was the school board president when the district was considering renovating the building and ultimately decided to sell it. Four of the five council members present did not respond to phone calls seeking comment Tuesday. The former Lansing Eastern High School, pictured Tuesday, July 9, 2024, The resolution describes the former Eastern High School building as "one of only a few buildings left standing in the City of Lansing that has been well preserved." John Foren, a spokesperson for the health system, said in a statement there are no other viable options in the Lansing region for a psychiatric hospital. "Several things are required: Proximity to the Sparrow Emergency Department, enough acreage for a calming outdoor clinical environment and an internal layout that meets regulatory requirements for clinical services and supports the safety of patients and care teams, as well as the needs of patients," Foren said in the statement. "The building itself cannot be renovated to meet requirements for safe and effective clinical care," Foren said. "Converting the existing former EHS building to a state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital is not possible." The statement says the health system will work with alumni and others to "meaningfully honor the history and value of the school." Jim Lynch, president of the Eastern High School Alumni Association, said a committee of Eastern alumni and local historic preservationists are hoping to meet with representatives from U-M Sparrow to discuss how the school can be preserved while providing needed mental health services. The former Lansing Eastern High School, pictured Tuesday, July 9, 2024, "We're not trying to be demanding... but we'd like the opportunity," he said. Eastern High School alum Greg Sinicropi now co-owns Arts Pub, formerly known as Arts Bar & Grill. Its a little bit of a bummer, said Sinicropi about future plans for Eastern. Im as nostalgic as everyone else, but I see why theyre doing this. Its not easy remodeling these old, historical buildings, he said. Arts Pub has a long legacy that we wanted to keep intact for the regulars, and there were these cool murals we wanted to keep. But they were painted right on the drywall so we couldnt, but we took high-resolution pictures to hang on the wall. Hed like to see something similar happen with the former high school. I think some of the plaques could remain on the walls or the exterior and vestibules could somewhat be preserved or rebuilt My vote would be to save as much as possible, but I know I dont have the millions needed to do that, he said. Contact Mike Ellis at 517-267-0415 or mellis@lsj.com and Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com or on X @sarahmatwood This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing City Council votes to save Eastern High School from demolition but will that be enough? LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) In a unanimous vote, the Lansing City Council passed a resolution to urge the University of Michigan Board of Regents to add a psychiatric facility as planned while also or separately preserving the former Eastern High School building and auditorium. The resolution comes in the wake of the University of Michigan Health Sparrow announcement that they would convert the site into a 120-bed behavioral health facility. In a statement to 6 News, a spokesperson says the site is the only location in Lansing that is appropriate for the behavioral health facility. Eastern Quaker alumni say they do not want to see the building go. Its just a lot of history of what we have, says Jim Lynch, president of the Eastern Alumni Association. People like himself want to see the building preserved while taking the need for quality mental health care into account. Eastern High School (WLNS) Mental health, we are for that 100%. It has nothing to do with that. Were just talking about the historic portion and the history in that building that we would like to see saved, says Lynch, an alumnus of the class of 1981. The building has been in the portfolio of the healthcare provider since 2016. The nearly $2.5 million sales agreement with the Edward W. Sparrow Hospital Association also allows for the group to preserve the historical value of the property with reasonable and collaborative discretion. However, a University of Michigan Health Sparrow spokesperson says the nearly 100-year-old building can not be saved. The former EHS building was built to serve students and teachers nearly 100 years ago not to meet the modern behavioral health needs of our community. Converting the existing former EHS building to a state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital is not possible, the spokesperson said in an email statement. Lansing City Council members showed their support of concerned alumni by passing the resolution that will now be sent to the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Council member Ryan Kost drafted the resolution and says mental health care and historic preservation can go hand in hand. Were just trying to make sure that the things that make us a community and have made us a community are still here a century later, says Kost. He says conversations have been ongoing with university officials. When asked if he would look into using the councils power to turn the property into a historic district, Kost simply says Stay tuned. A spokesperson for the health care provider says the project is pending approval from the state of Michigan and the University of Michigan regents. They will work closely with Eastern alumni to meaningfully honor the history and value of the school. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) is inviting prospective educators, administrators, and education support professionals to come to the largest recruitment fair of the summer on Saturday, July 13. The event on Saturday will be at the Galileo Middle School located at 1600 North Union Boulevard from 8 a.m. to noon. D11 said it offers a competitive starting salary of $50,500 for teachers, along with a potential performance bonus of up to $10,000 for administrators. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment where every employee can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our students success, said Jennifer Harris, Senior Executive Director of Talent Management at The Colorado Springs School District 11. Our recruitment fair is an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about education to explore rewarding career opportunities and join our dynamic team. Those who attend the job fair will have the opportunity for on-the-spot interviews for various positions across the district. Interested parties are encouraged to register and apply online before the event on D11s website, and come to the event on Saturday prepared with a resume. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The son of the man accused of killing his ex-daughter-in-law and her husband during a child custody hearing in a Las Vegas law office is not a suspect in those murders, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. On April 8, Joe Houston II, 77, shot and killed Dennis Prince, 57, and his wife, Ashley Prince, 30, during the hearing in Dennis Princes Summerlin law office before shooting and killing himself. Joe Houston, also an attorney, was at the hearing representing his son, Dylan Houston, in his custody dispute with his ex-wife Ashley Prince. Tuesday, Metro police confirmed the homicide sections investigation into the deadly shootings is nearing its conclusion and that Dylan Houston is not a suspect in the homicide investigation. That information came in an email from Metros public information office to the 8 News Now Investigators Monday afternoon and cited a lieutenant in the homicide section. As of the publishing of this article, a request to answer additional questions about the murder investigation and Dylan Houstons involvement, if any went unanswered by LVMPD. In April, days after the shooting, Dylan Houston and his attorneys argued over custody of Houston and Ashley Princes minor children in family court with family members of Ashley Prince. That custody battle during which bad blood between the Houstons and Princes festered is ongoing. But in that April hearing attorneys arguing against Dylan Houston having custody told a family court judge that police were investigating Dylan Houston. That assertion prompted the 8 News Now Investigators, present at the vitriolic hearing, to ask Metro whether Dylan Houston is the subject of any police investigation with regard to the shooting at Dennis Prince Law Firm Monday 4-8? Metros public information office responded within minutes, neither confirming nor denying Dylan Houstons status, if any, in the investigation. LVMPD is continuing to do a thorough investigation into the homicides of Dennis and Ashley Prince, that email to the 8 News Now Investigators said. Documents obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators showed that Joe Houston fired 12 rounds, including several toward his victims backs. Las Vegas law office shooting: Gunman fired several times at victims backs On the afternoon of the deadly shooting, a judge ordered that Ashley Princes sister should be temporarily awarded custody of the two children rather than Dylan Houston. Dennis Princes children said their stepsister, born to their father and Ashley Prince in December, was also in the care of a legal guardian. At the April custody hearing, a family court judge granted shared custody between the two sides, ordering Dylan Houston to undergo alcohol monitoring before and during the custodial visits. Another family member of Dylan Houstons was ordered to supervise those visits. Ashley Princes sister was also to have partial 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 KLAS. Its the last night at Logan Airport for migrant families. Since January, many newly arriving migrants have called Bostons major airport home until shelter space opens but Governor Maura Healey says that ends tomorrow. Its better for them to be in one place thats safe and not at the airport, said Jeff Thielman who is the President and CEO of the International Institute of New England. Growing number of migrants sleeping at Logan Airport terminal Over a week ago Boston 25 saw several families sleeping on floors at Logan. Many are now going to the new safety net site at a former Norfolk jail. As long as there is a place for them to go I think its a good decision. I think it is unhealthy for both migrant families and for passengers to have people at Logan Airport, said Thielman. Thielmans organization helps they help new migrants find housing and work but that is a difficult process in a state with limited housing. Its a tough process. Ill be totally honest with you. We are working every day to find apartments, he said. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu credits the governors decision and says the feds need to step up and help. This is a federal challenge that has been pushed down to the cities and states that are considered more welcoming than others so it has been a real struggle, said Mayor Wu. And Thielman adds that most of these migrants want to work and deserve a chance. There needs to be a better process to welcome them. And that includes giving resources to organizations like ours to teach them English, to help them to find jobs, to help them get employer authorization documents, said Thielman. This move at Logan comes after Massachusetts sent a delegation to the U.S. border to spread the word to border officials and NGOs that the states shelters are full. However, local aid workers tell us that migrants are still arriving daily. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Latest | US-built aid pier in Gaza will reopen for a few days, then be removed permanently FILE - A ship is seen off the coast of Gaza near a U.S.-built floating pier that will be used to facilitate aid deliveries, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 16, 2024. The pier built by the U.S. military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled Wednesday, July 10, 2024, to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently, several U.S. officials said. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File) The pier built by the U.S. military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will get reinstalled Wednesday to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently, several U.S. officials said. It would deal the final blow to a project long plagued by bad weather, security uncertainties and difficulties getting food into the hands of starving Palestinians. Heavy Israeli bombardments pounded Gaza City on Tuesday, driving thousands of Palestinians to flee and forcing medical facilities to shut down because of the latest offensive in the territorys north. And in southern Gaza, an apparent Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, Palestinian health officials said. Hamas has warned that Israels expanding military operations in Gaza City and the displacement of thousands of residents could have disastrous repercussions for talks aimed at a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages. 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 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has caused massive devastation across the besieged territory and displaced most of its 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of law and order have curtailed humanitarian aid efforts, causing widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine. The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to take steps to protect the Palestinians as it examines genocide allegations against Israeli leaders. Israel strongly denies the charge. Currently: Keys become a link to home for Palestinian families in Gaza displaced repeatedly by Israel. Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City forces medical facilities to close as thousands flee. A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden. Australia appoints special envoy to confront a rise in antisemitism across the country. Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza City as Hamas warns that escalation threatens cease-fire talks. Rafah is a dusty, rubble-strewn ghost town two months after Israel invaded to root out Hamas. Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war. Heres the latest: UN describes chaos of civilians fleeing Israeli offensive in northern Gaza UNITED NATIONS The U.N. humanitarian office reports that thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City have been fleeing in many directions, not knowing which way is safe from Israel's expanding military offensive. Many have been displaced under fire and bombardment, with very few being able to take their possessions, said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday, citing reports by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. OCHA described this latest displacement of people following recent Israeli evacuation orders as dangerously chaotic, with people fleeing having to go into or through neighborhoods where fighting is taking place or to areas where separate Israeli evacuation orders were later issued, Dujarric said. Civilians in Gaza must be protected and have their basic needs met, whether they move or stay, the U.N. spokesman said. Those who leave must have enough time to do so, as well as a safe route and a safe place to go. Dujarric said OCHA warned that hostilities in these areas of Gaza City are preventing aid organizations from accessing warehouses, so they cant restock, resupply or assess the latest needs. The largest bakery supported by the U.N. in Gaza was among those forced to shut down following the latest evacuation orders with significant amounts of flour, sugar and yeast now expected to be lost, Dujarric said. But humanitarian workers on Monday delivered enough fuel for generators to increase the number of operating bakeries in Gaza to 10 out of 18, the U.N. spokesman said. The seven bakeries in Deir al-Balah and three in northern Gaza, however, only have enough fuel to operate for another day or two. Dujarric said humanitarian staff brought just over 500,000 liters (132,000 gallons) of fuel into Gaza during the first week in July and over two million liters during the month of June. In both cases, this was less than a fifth of the estimated 400,000 liters required every day to sustain humanitarian, medical and related operations, he said. US-built pier will be put back in Gaza for several days to move aid, then permanently removed WASHINGTON Several U.S. officials say the pier built by the American military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled on the beach to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently. This would deal the final blow to a project long plagued by bad weather, security uncertainties and difficulties getting food into the hands of starving Palestinians. The officials said Tuesday that the goal is to clear whatever aid has piled up and get it to the secure area on the beach. Once that has been done, the Army will dismantle the pier and depart. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because final details are still being worked out. The Pentagon said all along that the pier was only a temporary project, designed to prod Israel into opening and allowing aid to flow better through land routes which are far more productive than the U.S.-led sea route. U.S. troops removed the pier on June 28 because of bad weather and moved it to the port of Ashdod in Israel. Israeli airstrike on a school kills at least 25 people, Palestinian health officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An apparent Israeli airstrike at the entrance of a school where displaced people were sheltering killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more, according to an Associated Press reporter who counted the bodies at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Hospital spokesperson Weam Fares said the dead included at least seven women and children and that the toll was likely to rise. The Israeli army said the airstrike near the school and reports of civilian casualties were under review, and claimed the strike targeted a Hamas militant who took part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Earlier airstrikes in central Gaza killed at least 14 people, including a woman and four children, according to two hospitals that received the bodies. Israel has repeatedly struck what it says are militant targets across Gaza since the start of the war nine months ago. Israeli forces kill a 13-year-old boy in the West Bank and launch a new raid into a refugee camp RAMALLAH, West Bank Palestinian officials say Israeli forces shot and killed a 13-year-old boy in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli army said it opened fire at a group of Palestinians throwing stones at Israeli vehicles. Separately, Israeli forces launched another raid into the Nur Shams refugee camp near the city of Tulkarem in the West Bank, demolishing several buildings and making a number of arrests. Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, with over 570 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the occupied territory. Thats according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which confirmed the killing of the 13-year-old Ghassan Gharib Zahran in the village of Deir Abu Mashal, northwest of Ramallah. Nur Shams, a built-up refugee camp dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation, has emerged as a militant bastion in recent months, with frequent Israeli raids triggering deadly gunbattles. During the raid Monday, residents say army bulldozers demolished a shop and some residential homes. The army said the buildings were being used by militants. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for a future state. An Israeli strike in Syria kills a former bodyguard of Lebanons Hezbollah leader BEIRUT An Israeli strike in Syria on Tuesday killed a former personal bodyguard of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, an official with the Lebanese militant group said. The news came hours after an Israeli drone strike on a car in Syria near the Syria-Lebanon border was reported by a war monitor and by pro-government radio Sham FM. The Hezbollah official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Later Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that in retaliation for the killing, it fired tens of Katyusha rockets targeting a military base in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Britain-based pro-opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two members of Hezbollah in the car were killed in the strike, while a Syrian driver was critically wounded. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or from the Israeli military. Hezbollah later identified the militant as Yasser Nemr Qranbish, although they did not disclose the details of his death. Thats standard practice for Hezbollah combatants who arent in leadership roles. Hezbollah supporters on social media mourned his death, calling him the shield of the Sayyed, in reference to his tenure as a bodyguard for Nasrallah. For years, Israel has frequently launched strikes on targets in Syria linked to Iran, its powerful regional backer, but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past five months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City forces medical facilities to close as thousands flee DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli forces were advancing deeper into the Gaza Strips largest city on Tuesday in pursuit of militants who have regrouped there. Israeli troops are again battling militants in areas that the army said had been largely cleared months ago in northern Gaza. The military ordered evacuations ahead of the raids, but Palestinians say nowhere feels safe. The fighting has been intense, said Hakeem Abdel-Bar, who fled Gaza Citys Tuffah district to the homes of relatives in another part of the city. He said Israeli warplanes and drones were striking anything moving and that tanks had moved into central districts. There was no immediate word on casualties. Families whose relatives were wounded or trapped were calling for ambulances, but first responders could not reach most of the affected districts because of the Israeli operations, said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. After Israel on Monday called for an evacuation from eastern and central parts of Gaza City, staff at two hospitals Al-Ahli and the Patients Friends Association Hospital rushed to move out patients and shut down, the United Nations said. Farsakh said all three medical points run by the Red Crescent in Gaza City had closed. The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had told hospitals and other medical facilities in Gaza City that they did not need to evacuate. But hospitals in Gaza have often shut down and moved patients at any sign of possible Israeli military action, fearing raids. Only 13 of Gazas 36 hospitals are functioning, and those only partially, according to the U.N.s humanitarian office. Much of Gaza City and urban areas around it have been flattened or left a shattered landscape after nine months of fighting. Much of the population fled earlier in the war, but several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the north. Hamas has warned that the latest raids and displacement in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of long-running negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release. Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nearby refugee camps on Tuesday killed at least 14 people, including four children and a woman, according to officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs and al-Awda hospitals, where casualties were taken. One of the strikes hit a police station in an outdoor market in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four people and wounding two dozen, half of them women and children. At a hospital, a little boy cried, coughed and wiped his eyes as medics treated him on the crowded floor. Pope begs for new peace efforts after latest attacks in Ukraine and Gaza VATICAN CITY Pope Francis is appealing for concrete new measures to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The appeal came after attacks targeted a childrens hospital in Kyiv and a school in Gaza. The Vatican press office issued a statement Tuesday expressing Francis pain over the new attacks and his profound upset at the spiraling of violence. Francis has frequently asked for prayers for the martyred people of Ukraine but tends to keep his appeals generic. He has also tended to take a balanced line toward the war in Gaza, frequently mentioning Israel and the hostages still held by Hamas alongside the suffering of Palestinians. A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targets a ship in the Gulf of Aden DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels has targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center says the captain of the ship reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel off the coast of Nishtun, Yemen, close to the countrys border with Oman. The ship and crew are safe. The center did not elaborate on what caused the explosion. The Houthis have been known to use drones and missiles as well as bomb-carrying drone boats. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels and killed four sailors in their attacks. Theyve also seized one vessel and sunk two since November. An Israel strike hits Syria overnight DAMASCUS, Syria An Israeli strike overnight hit near the Syrian town of Baniyas, state media reported Tuesday. The strike shortly after midnight caused material losses, Syrian state news agency SANA said, citing an unidentified military official. It did not say if there were any casualties, nor give further details. There was no immediate statement from Israeli officials. Israel frequently launches strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past nine months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. UN details the effects of the new Israeli offensive into Gaza City UNITED NATIONS The United Nations said Monday that Israels latest evacuation orders for parts of Gaza City affect more than 60 schools sheltering displaced Palestinians, as well as two partially functional hospitals, six medical points and two primary health care centers. The evacuation orders came as Israeli deepens its offensives in pursuit of militants who had regrouped in the heavily damaged city. Thousands of Palestinians have fled in recent days. Humanitarian officials report that staff and patients have left hospitals in and around the evacuation areas, and people who were already displaced are being forced to flee again, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The U.N. humanitarian office also reports that active hostilities, damaged roads, access limitations and the lack of public order and safety continue to hamper movement along the main humanitarian cargo route from the Kerem Shalom crossing to Khan Younis, and then to Deir al-Balah, Dujarric said. He said this has resulted in critical food shortages, reduced food rations in central and southern Gaza last month, and the increasing risk of stranded supplies, especially food, spoiling in the heat. Maysa Saleh, the Norwegian Refugee Councils education officer in Deir al-Balah, said in a statement that almost no aid has arrived over the last week or so, and food remains the number one worry. The State Bureau of Investigation suspects Ukrainian billionaire Hennadii Boholiubov, who formerly owned Ukrainian bank PrivatBank alongside oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, of illegally crossing the border and passport fraud, the bureau said on July 9. The announcement came days after reports that Boholiubov had recently left Ukraine under forged documents. According to the statement, the oligarch and his close relative left on June 24 by train from Kyiv to the Polish city of Chelm. The Ukrainian databases did not confirm that he had crossed the border. Boholiubov fled the country using an invalid passport of a Ukrainian citizen, who is currently in the country, the bureau said. The border guard who helped him leave Ukraine was detained. According to the investigators, he handed over the passengers' documents to his subordinate, saying that he had already checked the compartment where Boholiubov and his relative were. When crossing the border, the oligarch showed Polish border guards his Ukrainian passport, the bureau said. Boholiubov is currently residing in Austria, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing anonymous sources at the Prosecutor General's Office. If detained, Boholiubov may face up to seven years in prison. The court ordered that the border guard be held in pre-trial custody with an alternative of bail in the amount of Hr 25 million ($613,000). The financial and industrial group Privat, of which Boholiubov and Kolomoisky are the co-owners, operated the PrivatBank from its founding in 1992 until 2016. In 2016, the bank was nationalized when it was found to have an over $5.5 billion hole in its ledger, allegedly moved out by its former owners Kolomoisky and Boholiubov via fraudulent schemes. The former owners appealed to the Supreme Court against the government's decision but lost their case in July 2022. Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine's most infamous business tycoons, was arrested on Sept. 2, 2023, for alleged fraud and money laundering related to his oil and gas holdings. His bail was initially set at Hr 509 million (now $13.2 million). Read also: Court orders Kolomoisky to remain in custody until July 22 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Photo by Jim Small | Arizona Mirror Arizona lawmakers approved of the descriptions that will be printed on November ballots for a multitude of questions that will be posed to voters this fall after a long and sometimes contentious debate on Monday. Lawmakers are required to authorize the language drafted by their in-house attorneys that describes the legislative referrals and citizen-led ballot initiatives that will be on the ballot. Republican lawmakers have sent 11 legislative referrals to the ballot this cycle as a way to get around Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs veto pen. A number of the issues in the referrals were previously sent to the governor as standard legislative bills and were vetoed by the governor. Election officials are anticipating this years ballot in November to be two-pages long due to the number of initiatives sent by lawmakers and citizens on-top of the local municipal bond overrides and other measures that will be on voters ballots. During a four-hour joint legislative committee meeting Monday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers clashed over the proposed descriptions of the ballot measures with Democratic members offering a number of amendments that all failed. It feels again like one more uphill battle to try to clarify some stuff, House Democratic Leader Lupe Contreras said during the discussions. We are not going to relitigate or re-debate the bill, Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, said in response. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Prop 133 While some other ballot propositions saw plenty of debate, lawmakers approved of the draft language for Prop 133 without any discussion. The measure amends the Arizona Constitution to cement the current primary election system of nominating a candidate from each political party by enshrining it into the state constitution. It is designed to prevent any changes and pre-empt measures that would allow ranked choice voting. Prop 134 Proposition 134 would amend the states constitution around citizen-led ballot initiatives. The measure, if passed, would require that in order to get an initiative on the ballot, citizens would need to gather a number of signatures equivalent to 10% of votes cast in the most recent race for governor in each legislative district for changes to state statute and 15% from each legislative district for constitutional amendments. Currently law stipulates that the 10% and 15% can be gathered from voters across the state. Last year, Republican lawmakers voted along party lines to send the measure to voters. Republicans in favor of the measure say that it gives voters outside of Maricopa, the states largest county, a voice while Democratic opponents say that it would allow one partisan district to block popular measures. The draft language that voters will see on their ballot was also approved along party lines. Prop 135 During the COVID pandemic, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey used emergency powers that many Republican state lawmakers were adamantly opposed to. Prop 135 amends the states constitution to restrict the governors ability to declare such emergencies and gives state lawmakers power over those declarations. Currently, lawmakers need a two-thirds majority vote to request a special session, however, under the change only a one-third majority would be required to request the governor enact a special session. The proposition also would limit the governors emergency powers to 30 days unless extended by the legislature. Democratic lawmakers contended that the draft language voters will receive should have noted the change from the normal two-thirds rule, with Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, saying the measure undermines democratic processes. It is giving decisive power to less than a majority of people in a body and that is a very big difference, Epstein said, with Republican lawmakers as well as legislative council noting that the one-third change would only apply to creating a special session to address gubernatorial powers. To not take on the point that this changes from majority rule to minority rule is a big difference and it is appalling to me that we wouldnt want to clarify that for voters, Epstein said when explaining her vote on the draft language after a failed attempt to amend it. Prop 136 Proposition 136 would amend the Arizona Constitution to allow a person to bring a lawsuit to contest the constitutionality of a ballot initiative as long as it is at least one hundred days before the date of the election in which it will be placed on the ballot. If the initiative is found to be in violation of either the Arizona or United States constitutions, then it will not be printed on the ballot. Democratic members contended that the language needed to be clear in describing that it will only impact citizen-led initiatives. An amendment to add the word citizen before initiative failed along party lines. The draft language was passed along party lines as well. Prop 137 Proposition 137 would amend the Arizona Constitution to get rid of term limits for all Arizona judges and instead create specific conditions under which they would be put up for a retention vote. The measure is retroactive, meaning that if passed, any judges up for retention this cycle who fail their retention vote would be retained. Critics of the measure say that it was put forward to protect two Arizona Supreme Court Justices who are up for a retention vote this year who voted in favor of upholding an 1864 territorial near-total ban on abortion. Republican Sen. Shawnna Bolick, the wife of one of those justices, Clint Bolick, sat on the committee Monday and previously voted in favor of the measure. Lawmakers did amend the draft language Monday as Toma said he felt that the previous draft made it sound like the chief justice would be in charge of retention votes, if passed. Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, offered a number of amendments including one to explicitly state that the measure was retroactive, however, his Republican counterparts felt the language was descriptive enough. The draft language, with Tomas amendment, passed along a party line vote. Prop 138 Proposition 138 would amend the Arizona state constitution to allow employers who have workers who receive tips to be paid 25% less than the current minimum wage. Under current Arizona law, businesses can pay tipped workers $3 less than minimum wage. If the proposed constitutional amendment were in place today, businesses could pay workers $3.58 less than the current minimum wage of $14.35. The Arizona Restaurant Association-backed measure dubbed the Tipped Workers Protection Act, has seen an astroturfed campaign led by conservative groups similar to whats happened in other states that were attempting to increase the minimum wage. Epstein proposed amendments that would have stated the measure would make for a reduction in pay for tipped workers, a point that Toma disagreed with. This proposal is going to cut the wages of tipped workers. There is no other way around it, Epstein said when explaining her no vote on the draft language. This is not a well-thought-out proposal. The draft language passed along party lines. Prop 311 Proposition 311 would create a new state death benefit of $250,000 to the surviving spouse or children of a first responder killed, as the result of another persons actions, in the line of duty. It would also create a new $20 fee for every criminal conviction to help fund the program and would be repealed on Jan. 1, 2033. The measure also allows the legislature to reappropriate the money if it exceeds $2 million to police officer training, equipment or other benefits for first responder families. Lastly it would increase the criminal punishment for committing aggravated assault against a peace officer or first responder. Rep. Nancy Guiterrez, D-Tucson, suggested adding language that clarifies that the new felony classifications come with changes in prison sentences, arguing along with her colleagues that including that information would be helpful to voters. I feel that I have more faith in our Arizona voters to be able to do the diligence and research, Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, said in response. I feel adding more words to an already lengthy ballot is just going to turn off voters. The proposed Democratic amendments failed and the draft language passed along party lines. Prop 312 Proposition 312 would require municipalities to give tax breaks to property owners who spend money to mitigate problems caused by encampments of unhoused people near their property. Epstein said that she wanted to add language to let voters know that cities could lose revenue if the measure passed. Cities have argued previously that it would put them in an impossible legal situation. The draft language passed out of committee along party lines. Prop 313 Proposition 313 would require an adult who is convicted of a class 2 felony for child sex trafficking be sentenced to natural life imprisonment without the possibility for any form of release. Democratic members voiced their continued concern that the measure could unjustly target victims of sex trafficking who are often used to lure more victims by their captors. The group that has been pushing the measure, named Arizonas Children Are Not for Sale, was inspired by the film Sound of Freedom, released July 4, 2023. The film, which has ties to QAnon, allegedly portrays the life of Tim Ballard, who ran an organization called Operation Underground Railroad which claims it has saved children from child sex trafficking in sting operations in various countries. Ballard has since left the organization after women who participated in its operations accused him of sexual misconduct. During promotions for the film, Jim Caviezel, the actor who portrayed Ballard, spread QAnon conspiracy theories. Both Caviezel and Ballard have denied connections between the conspiratorial belief and the film. Amendments proposed by Democratic lawmakers to add language in about victims did not pass and the draft language passed along party lines. Prop 314 Prop 314 makes it illegal for a person who is an unlawful immigrant to enter Arizona from any location other than an official port of entry. Opponents of the measure have dubbed it SB1070 2.0 in reference to a controversial immigration law passed by Republicans in 2010 that was the most restrictive anti-illegal immigration law in the United States at the time. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union have said that it harms those seeking asylum and fleeing from violence. Currently the referral is facing a challenge to its constitutionality from a Latino advocacy group which aims to block it from appearing on the ballot. Democratic members put forward nine amendments to the bill that all failed that included changing language such as alien to non-citizen as well as adding in information from a fiscal note that showed the measure has a high price tag. The draft language passed along party lines. Prop 315 Proposition 315 prohibits any new statewide rule proposed by state agencies from becoming effective if the estimated cost associated with it is anticipated to be more than $500,000 within five years. It would give the legislature the final authority to approve any rule that meets that criteria. The draft language for the measure passed along party lines. One Fair Wage The One Fair Wage ballot initiative is still awaiting final approval of the voter signatures gathered to put it on the ballot. But if the initiative makes it to voters, they would get to decide if they want to increase the minimum wage from $14.35 to $18 an hour. The political committee Raise the Wage AZ has been gathering signatures for the measure since November 2022. It would also incrementally lower the amount of a workers tips restaurants could use to reconcile their wages with the state minimum, until eventually employers would have to pay all workers the state minimum wage, regardless of whether they receive tips. Opponents of the measure have said that the Tipped Workers Protection Act, also known as Prop 138, is a direct response to this citizen-led ballot initiative. The draft language for the measure was passed by lawmakers unanimously. Arizona Abortion Access Act The Arizona Abortion Access Act is a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to abortion and other reproductive health issues in the states constitution. The measure turned in a record-breaking number of signatures last week and is anticipated to make it onto the ballot in November. A 15-week ban, with no exceptions for rape or incest, is the current Arizona law. Doctors who perform an abortion beyond that for any reason, except to prevent a patients death or the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, face a class 6 felony, which carries with it a potential prison sentence of up to 2 years. Austin Yost, who is the legal counsel for the initiative, asked lawmakers Monday to remove the term unborn human being and replace it with the medically accurate term fetus which is used elsewhere in the draft language. Republican lawmakers took offense to this request. Were using both words and using both phrases which goes to my point which is that this is fair and balanced, Toma said during debate. Im not a doctor, I dont care what the medically accurate term is. Lake Havasu Republican Sonny Borelli claimed that the word fetus could also include an unborn horse or other mammals and so the wording of unborn human being was necessary. Were talking about a human being, that in statute is defined as a human being, he said. An amendment to change the word to fetus failed. A fetus is the correct medical term, Guiterez said when explaining her no vote on the draft language. I just want to be very clear that is the language scientific language is the most appropriate to use. The draft language passed along party lines. Make Elections Fair Arizona Act The Make Elections Fair Arizona Act would eliminate partisan primaries by amending the Arizona Constitution to allow everyone to participate in primary elections, creating an open primary. Proponents argue that only hyper-partisan individuals vote in primary elections currently, leading to more extreme candidates on either side who are not representative of the electorate as a whole. By opening up the primary it would allow for a more diverse set of voters to weigh the choices, including independent voters who at present must request a partisan ballot to participate in primaries. The draft language for the ballot initiative passed unanimously. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Forward Biolabs in Madison, a nonprofit that helps launch startup biotech companies companies, is a member of the the state consortium of biohealth companies that is part of Wisconsin's new biohealth tech hub. The Wisconsin tech hub has been awarded $49 million in federal support, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday. (Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. photo) The state budget committee on Tuesday approved the release of $27 million for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to cover grants aimed at creating a regional tech hub and to help communities affected by UW shutdowns. The committee also approved money for the Department of Corrections to cover the costs of youth who are serving adult sentences. One of the requests approved Tuesday by the committee was for a $7.5 million grant for a Wisconsin biohealth nonprofit organization taking the next step in establishing a regional tech hub in the state. Wisconsin was designated a regional tech hub by the U.S. Commerce Department in October 2023 after a consortium of public agencies, private companies and nonprofit organizations applied for a federal grant. The state will receive $49 million in federal funds to advance technology to improve disease diagnosis and treatment and for centers on personalized health care an approach that tailors tests, treatments and therapies to a patients unique genetic code, medical record and environment. The members of the consortium include WEDC, the University of Wisconsin System Administration, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, GE HealthCare, Rockwell Automation, Exact Sciences Corporation, Employ Milwaukee, Accuray, Plexus, WRTP Big Step, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, the Madison Regional Economic Partnership, Milwaukee 7 and BioForward. In addition to the federal funds, state funds approved by lawmakers on Tuesday will go to BioForward, the trade association for Wisconsin biohealth companies that is serving as the lead consortium member. The state was required to match the federal grant in order to be designated a regional technology and innovation hub. Under Act 96, the money can be used to establish a work flow and supply chain support center for image-guided therapies and theranostics, construction of expanded shared labs and lab-related programming and development of a program to provide support for manufacturing and supply chain companies to develop apprenticeship programs and incentives for employers to engage apprentices. The money was allocated by the Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers under Wisconsin Act 96, which was signed into law in February. The funds could only be released after the state was awarded federal funding to develop a tech hub for biohealth, which was announced last week. The states designation as a Tech Hub is an exciting and pivotal moment for our state, putting our state center stage as we work to build an economy and workforce in Wisconsin that are ready to meet the demands of the 21st century, Evers said in a statement ahead of the JFC meeting. I look forward to these funds being released by JFC without delay so we can get this work underway expeditiously to grow our workforce and economy and put Wisconsin at the forefront in the nations personalized medicine and bio health technology sector. Lawmakers on the committee celebrated the approval of the funding. I just wanted to take a moment here to express my gratitude to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for continuing to make these critical investments in Wisconsin, Rep. Tip McGuire said. The federal grant program that Wisconsin is participating in was established under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. State Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) called the tech hub a good opportunity. Im really glad for all those who supported it and those who brought this forward. We can debate whether the federal government has any money as we approach $35 trillion in national debt, but thats a separate topic, Zimmerman said, taking a jab at the Biden administration (the federal debt expanded during the administrations of both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden). During the budget process, we heard a lot about the changing identity of the state of Wisconsin This is an example where we can now enhance an emerging identity in the area of bio health. The committee also approved the release of $20 million for WEDC that will go towards grants for communities affected by the closures of University of Wisconsin branch campuses. The recent closures of UW branch campuses, including UW-Plattevilles Richland campus, UW-Milwaukees Washington County campus and UW-Oshkoshs Fond du Lac campus, have left local communities facing potential economic crises. Under a law signed by Evers in March, communities will be eligible for a $2 million grant through a program that will be established by the WEDC that is meant to help blunt some of the impact. The committee also approved a request from the Department of Corrections to transfer $2.5 million to help cover the cost of youth serving adult sentences at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the department was facing an anticipated budgetary shortfall due to a higher than predicted population of youth with adult sentences. In the state budget, about $18.3 million was included to cover contract costs of housing inmates, including $4.5 million for youth with adult sentences at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. However, that was based on an average daily population of 10 youth with adult sentences at Lincoln Hills. Since that estimate, the population has doubled and has remained elevated, leading to the department estimating in March that it will incur costs of over $20 million. The money, which is meant to cover the shortfall, will be transferred from the DOCs appropriation for reimbursing counties for probation, extended supervision and parole holds as well as its appropriation for services for drunken driving offenders. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX WASHINGTON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race in early March, said on Tuesday that she is releasing her delegates to the Republican National Convention (RNC), urging them to support former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. Haley, a former South Carolina governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement that the upcoming nominating convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a time for Republican "unity." Haley, who had fiercely criticized the former president, explicitly stated in a May speech that she would vote for Trump, despite the contentious issues that arose between them during the Republican presidential primaries. Haley is not invited to the 2024 RNC, but she has made it clear she's voting for him, spokeswoman Chaney Denton was quoted by CNN as saying. According to The Associated Press' estimate, Haley earned 97 delegates during the primary process. Trump has garnered 2,265 delegates so far, far exceeding the 1,215 benchmark needed for the party's nomination. Haley's call for "unity" within the Republican Party comes at a time when U.S. President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is facing mounting pressure to withdraw from the race due to concerns about his physical and mental fitness. Trump leads Biden by 3.3 percentage points according to the latest average polling data from Real Clear Politics. Lawmakers in fight to pass legislation that could thwart 2040 energy goals: 'Very clearly a nightmare' Michigan lawmakers are on the brink of passing legislation that environmentalists say would thwart the state's climate goals, the Guardian reported. What's happening? The publication explained that Michigan has climate legislation in place that would require the state to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2040. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are poised to pass legislation that would offer tax incentives to attract big tech data centers major water and electricity consumers to the state. The climate bills, passed in November 2023, have a built-in safety net that keeps oil and coal plants running if renewables cannot support the grid's load, according to the Guardian. Because the data centers use massive amounts of energy, environmentalists say that they would trigger this exception, thereby foiling the state's renewables goal. Why are these bills important? Opponents fear that if the bills pass as written, residents' utility rates could increase as they could be forced to subsidize the tech companies' electricity use and infrastructure buildout. Plus, these data centers would draw millions of gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan, which supplies 95% of the nation's freshwater. Environmentalists are also concerned that they could completely derail Michigan's climate goals. Similar centers have already had that effect in Virginia, according to the Guardian. The publication added that data centers suck up 50% more energy than typical office buildings, making them a major threat when it comes to planet-warming pollution. As our world continues to overheat, we will experience devastating consequences like increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which threaten communities and food security. "These (bills) are very clearly a nightmare, because they use so much energy and water that without mandatory protections for ratepayers and guardrails that require renewable energy buildout, we are not going to be able to cut emissions like we want to," Christy McGillivray, legislative director for the Sierra Club of Michigan, told the Guardian. What's being done about dirty energy? The bills' opponents say a few small changes would assuage their concerns, and negotiations are currently underway. These include requiring tech companies to utilize renewable energy sources, protections for ratepayers, and stipulations against evaporative cooling, which requires massive amounts of water. Either way, it's important to continue to move away from dirty energy sources like coal, oil, and gas. Luckily, communities across the world are catching on. For example, towns in rural Virginia are adding over 1 million new jobs by focusing on clean energy instead of coal. Tokyo is requiring most new buildings to have solar panels, and Wales is banning most new roadway projects to cut down on carbon pollution. You can cut your carbon output by making changes at home. Unplugging energy vampires and switching to LED lightbulbs are simple ways to save energy and cut monthly bills. You can also take advantage of community solar programs, which don't require you to invest in your own panels. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell fiercely criticized the White House press corps on Monday after reporters peppered press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre with questions about a neurologists visits to the White House. We just got this letter, and if you saw any of the White House press briefing today, it was the White House press corps, many of them at their absolute worst, ODonnell said on The Last Word. He said that, after reading the White Houses explanation, much of the press corps out-of-control behavior was as bad a circus as it looked like. The New York Times reported Monday that an expert on Parkinsons disease from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center had been to the White House eight times in as many months leading up to this spring, according to visitor logs. Jean-Pierre subsequently fielded questions about Bidens health in a testy briefing. She told reporters Biden was not being treated for the neurodegenerative disease. However, she declined to state the purpose of Dr. Kevin Cannards visits or even confirm whether he had visited, prompting irritation from some present. Lawrence: If you saw any of The White House Press Briefing today, it was The White House Press Corps and many of them at their absolute worst.. pic.twitter.com/U5DflrETuA Acyn (@Acyn) July 9, 2024 The White House later released a letter from Bidens physician, Dr. Kevin OConnor, explaining that Cannard had been serving as a neurology consultant to the White House Medical Unit for over a decade and has for years held neurology clinics at the White House Medical Clinic to support the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations. OConnor said this information would not typically be disclosed, in order to protect patient privacy, but an exception had been made in this instance with Cannards permission, in the interests of accuracy. Biden was examined by Cannard in each of his annual physicals, as already disclosed in his medical reports, OConnor said, adding that Biden had not seen a neurologist outside that setting. ODonnell slammed The New York Times for reporting that Jean-Pierre dodged and refused to answer questions in the briefing. He argued she was trying to be responsive to medical questions where there were limitations on what she could say. How many times did a neurologist visit the Trump White House? ODonnell asked. The White House press corps has no idea and will never know, because the Trump White House never, ever released the White House visitor logs. The only reason The New York Times knows that this doctor was in the White House logs is because ... the Biden White House, unlike the Trump White House, makes that information public, he added. Biden has faced furious scrutiny about his health and ability to win the 2024 election following his shaky performance at the June 27 presidential debate. Related... FILE - Andrew Tate walks inside the Court of Appeals building in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, May 30, 2024. A court in Romania's capital on Friday, July 5, 2024 ruled that the online influencer Andrew Tate can leave Romanian territory providing he remains within the European Union, as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File) LONDON (AP) Social media influencer Andrew Tate's taunts over refusing to pay British taxes on millions of pounds in revenue may come back to haunt him and his brother Tristan. An online video of Tate bragging of never paying taxes when he lived in England was used as evidence against him in a civil court case that was adjourned on Tuesday for two months. Police are seeking 2.8 million pounds ($3.6 million) in unpaid income and value added tax from the brothers' online businesses. Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate are serial tax and VAT evaders," attorney Sarah Clarke said. They, in particular Andrew Tate, are brazen about it. Andrew Tate, 37, a former professional kickboxer and dual British-U.S. citizen, and Tristan, 35, were not at the hearing in Westminster Magistrates Court in London. They have been barred from leaving the European Union while facing trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. Last week, a court in Romania ruled that the Tates can leave Romania but must remain within the EU as they await trial. Clarke, who represents police in Devon and Cornwall in the southwest corner of England, said the brothers and a woman referred to in court as J did not pay taxes in any country on 21 million pounds ($26.8 million) in revenue earned between 2014 and 2022. When I lived in England I refused to pay tax, Tate said in a video he posted online that was quoted by Clarke. Ignore, ignore, ignore because in the end they go away. Clarke accused the brothers of laundering money they earned through online businesses that included Only Fans, known for pornography, Hustlers University and Cobra Tate. She said they washed the money between a maze of bank accounts. A lawyer for the Tates countered that bank transfers by the brothers were entirely orthodox and that they had bought exotic cars but nothing illegal with their earnings. Attorney Martin Evans said if the brothers were trying to hide something they did a singularly bad job because they put money into accounts in their own names. A judge adjourned the case and is expected to issue a judgment on Sept. 9. Lawyers for Donald Trumps former faith advisor Robert Morris accused a 12-year-old girl of initiating inappropriate sexual conduct with the ex-Dallas megachurch pastor, new documents have revealed. Morris resigned in June after admitting to the incident. His accuser Cindy Clemishire previously claimed that the pastor had begun abusing her on Christmas Day in 1982. Clemishire, now 52, said that Morris and his wife had been staying at her family home at the time when he asked her to come into his room, whereafter he told her to lay on his bed and then began touching her inappropriately. She said the abuse had continued until 1987 when she told her parents. However, 25 years after the incident, a lawyer for Morris J Shelby Sharpe claimed that it was the child who was actually to blame. Morris resigned in June after admitting to the incident which allegedly occurred on Christmas Day 1982 (AP) It was your client, wrote Sharpe, in a letter obtained by NBC, who initiated inappropriate behavior by coming into my clients bedroom and getting in bed with him, which my client should not have allowed to happen. The letter, sent in February 2007, was one in a series of exchanges that year between Sharpe and Gentner Drummond, a lawyer who represented Clemishire at the time. Clemishire recently revealed she had been seeking $50,000 in restitution from Morris to cover the cost of counseling. Morris had allegedly offered to pay $25,000, but the talks fell apart because she was not willing to sign a nondisclosure agreement, Clemishire said. Sharpe told NBC News that he had no recollection of a $25,000 settlement offer or NDA demand and that he no longer represents Morris. He also denied to the outlet any knowledge that Clemishire had been a child at the time of the alleged incident. In a statement put out before his resignation, Morris admitted the inappropriate sexual behavior but insisted that he had not had intercourse with the young girl. When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying. It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong, he said. The board previously said that they did not have all of the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the length of the abuse. The Gateway megachurch, based in the Dallas suburb of Southlake, was founded by Morris in 2000 (WFAA / YouTube) On June 18, Gateway Churchs board of elders announced theyd accepted the resignation from Morris, and that it had hired a law firm to conduct an independent review to make sure they have a complete understanding of the events from 1982 to 1987. The board said they previously did not have all of the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the length of the abuse. The Gateway megachurch, based in the Dallas suburb of Southlake, was founded by Morris in 2000 and has multiple locations in the area and says over 100,000 people attend each weekend. Morris, the founding pastor, has been politically active. He was among those on former President Donald Trumps evangelical advisory board. The Gateway Church hosted Trump on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy. Morris son, James Morris, is set to take over his senior pastor duties in 2025, according to the churchs website. The elder Morris will remain a primary speaker on weekends. Joe Bidens position among congressional Democrats eroded further on Monday when an influential House committee member lent his voice to calls for him to end his presidential campaign following last months spectacular debate failure. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the armed services committee in the House of Representatives, issued the plea just hours after the president emphatically rejected calls for him to step aside in a letter to the partys congressional contingent. Biden had also expressed determination to continue in an unscheduled phone interview with the MSNBC politics show Morning Joe. But in a clear sign such messaging may be falling on deaf ears, Smith suggested that sentiments of voters that he was too old to be an effective candidate and then president for the next four years was clear from opinion polls. Related: The Democrats who have called on Joe Biden to step down The presidents performance in the debate was alarming to watch and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as president, Smith, a congressman from Washington state, said in a statement. Since the debate, the president has not seriously addressed these concerns. He said the president should stand aside as soon as possible, though he qualified it by saying he would support him unreservedly if he insisted on remaining as the nominee. But his statements effect was driven home in a later interview with CNNs Jake Tapper, one of the two moderators in the 27 June debate with Donald Trump in which Bidens hoarse-voiced and frequently confused performance and demeanour plunged his re-election campaign into existential crisis. Personally, I think Kamala Harris [the vice-president] would be a much better, stronger candidate, Smith told Tapper, adding that Biden was not the best person to carry the Democratic message. He implicitly criticised Democratic colleagues and Biden campaign staff who were calling for the party to put the debate behind them as one bad night. A lot of Democrats are saying: Well lets move on, lets stop talking about it, said Smith. We are not the ones who are bringing it up. The country is bringing it up. And the campaign strategy of be quiet and fall in line and lets ignore it simply isnt working. Smith joins the ranks of five Democratic members of Congress who publicly demanded Bidens withdrawal last week. He was among at least four others who spoke in favour of it privately in a virtual meeting on Sunday with Hakeem Jeffries, the partys leader in the House. Having the ranking member of the armed services committee join the siren voices urging his withdrawal may be particularly damaging to Bidens cause in a week when he is to host a summit of Nato leaders in Washington. The alliances heads of government and state will gather in the US capital on Tuesday for an event that is likely to increase the international spotlight on Biden, who is due to give a rare press conference on its final day on Thursday, an occasion likely to be scrutinised for further misstatements and evidence of declining cognitive faculties. Unscripted appearances have been rare in Bidens three-and-a-half-year tenure. In an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos last Friday, Biden stressed his role in expanding Natos membership and leading its military aid programme to help Ukraine fend off Russias invasion as a key element of his qualification to continue as his partys nominee and be re-elected as president. In the surprise interview with Morning Joe on Monday, Biden put the blame for his current predicament on Democratic elites, an undefined designation which he may now expand to include Smith. At Least 8 Dead and More Than 2 Million Without Electricity After Hurricane Beryl Makes Landfall in U.S. The White House communications team shared on X that President Joe Biden called Houston Mayor Whitmire and expressed his condolences for the loss of life" Brandon Bell/Getty Images The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Texas At least eight people are dead and over two million people are still without electricity after Hurricane Beryl made its way through Louisiana and Texas on Monday, July 8. Houston Mayor John Whitmire confirmed that at least three people have died as a result of the storm in a press conference, and several other county police departments in Texas have also confirmed deaths in their areas. Whitmire noted during his press conference that a man died due to a tree falling down on him, which took his life, and another person was killed in a fire in southeast Houston, which they believe may have been caused by lightning that was storm-related. He also noted that a civilian employee of Houstons Police Department had been killed while going to work after he got stuck in flood conditions on Houston Avenue and floodwaters submerged his car. The Houston Police Department identified the deceased employee as information security officer Russell Richardson, 54, and asked people to keep his family and friends in their prayers. Eddie Seal/Bloomberg via Getty Images The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Texas Related: Hurricane Beryl Makes Landfall in Texas as 'Life-Threatening' Category 1 Storm: 'Urban Flooding Expected' A constable in Harris County also confirmed on social media that a 74-year-old woman had died after a tree fell through the roof of her home. Meanwhile, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana confirmed on social media that a person was killed after a tree fell on her house in northeast Benton. Montgomery County Emergency Management also confirmed to CNN that three people had died, including one man in his 40s who was struck by a fallen tree while he was in his tractor in the eastern part of the county and two others who were discovered in a tent in a wooded area in Magnolia. Montgomery County Emergency Management did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post via Getty Images The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Texas Related: What We Know About the Victims of Hurricane Beryl, Which Has Killed At Least 14 People White House Deputy Communications Director Jennifer Molina shared on X (formerly Twitter) that President Joe Biden called Whitmire and expressed his condolences for the loss of life as a result of Hurricane Beryl. They also noted that Biden assured Whitmire that Texans would have the resources they need to get through the storm now and to recover going forward. Officials in the areas impacted by the storm also warn people to keep off roadways and stay away from downed power lines on Tuesday morning as dangerous driving conditions still exist. According to poweroutage.us, which tracks power outages across the country, more than 2.3 million people were without power in Texas as of 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, July 9. 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. Other states also reported power outages due to the storm, including Louisiana, with 23,000 outages, and Arkansas, with over 18,000 outages. Beryl made landfall in the U.S. as a Category 1 hurricane before being downgraded to a tropical depression. However, a flood watch was issued for states from Arkansas to Michigan on July 9, with a possibility of up to 5 inches of rain, according to NBC News. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. After Beryl made its third and final landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday morning near Matagorda, Texas, the remnant moisture associated with the once powerful storm will make its way north of the border this week. Beryl began to quickly weaken as it moved inland on Monday while still bringing significant rainfall and flooding to Texas, resulting in at least two deaths. Red Cross Appeal: Hurricane Beryl On Tuesday, only a low-pressure system will remain of the historic storm. By the time the low reaches the Mississippi Valley, an upper-level trough in the atmosphere over the central states will capture and fling the moisture towards southern Ontario and Quebec. Check out The Weather Networks hurricane hub for all the latest on storms near Canada and around the world Southern Ontario and Quebec feels Beryl's remnants on Wednesday and Thursday The earliest we can expect this moisture-packed low to reach the provinces is on Tuesday overnight, then ramping up Wednesday morning. Eastern Ontario and Quebec can expect to see rainfall by early Wednesday afternoon. It will file in from the south, through the Ohio Valley, over Lake Erie, and move northward in waves through Thursday. Beryl remnant moisture heading into Ontario and Quebec RELATED: Tropical Storm Beryl kills two, knocks out power as it churns across Texas While driven by an upper-level trough, at the surface, the system will send a warm front through southern Ontario and Quebec. Around this front is where we expect to see the heaviest rain fall, as well as the risk of thunderstorms. At this time, it's too soon to give precise rainfall totals for the provinces, but localized forecasts are expected to exceed 50 mm through Thursday. There is also a degree of uncertainty as to where the most rainfall will be. NWSSPC Excessive Rainfall Outlook Great Lakes and U.S. Northeast July 8 Currently, computer models are suggesting the 401 corridor may be the subject to the highest totals, but this could change leading up to the event. DON'T MISS: Canadian Red Cross launches appeal to help people impacted by Hurricane Beryl It can be easy to think that southern Ontario and Quebec is going to be struck by a hurricane-force storm when we say that the remnants of Beryl will reach the provinces. We can assure you, though, that is not the case. Hurricanes need warm oceanic water to sustain themselves and will deteriorate rapidly when starved of that fuel. Ontario and Quebec rainfall through Thursday By the time this system reaches southern Ontario and Quebec, it won't even be a tropical depression by then. What we will see is a tropical moisture-laden low-pressure system. The main risks presently with this system in Ontario and Quebec will be heavy downpours, the risk of thunderstorms, and localized flooding. The localized flooding from heavy downpours could also cause a significant amount of storm water runoff to make its way into Lake Ontario, raising the lake's pollution levels. Ontario and Quebec thunderstorm risk map Tuesday Not the first time This isn't the first time Ontario and Quebec has felt the lingering impacts of a tropical system. The hurricane database has 50 cases of remnant storms or tropical depressions moving across southern Ontario since 1876, with only seven of them landfalling in Texas. Beryl remnant moisture forecast track map Yes, the best track proxy for this setup is Hurricane Ike back in September 2008, a Texas landfalling storm. Of course, Sandy is a prime example of how strong a storm can become once its fully extratropical, occurring in October of 2012. As well, Hurricane Fran's impacts were felt in southern Ontario in September of 1996 when the then-tropical depression dumped 66.4 mm of rain at Toronto Pearson International Airport. SEE ALSO: Beware! These dangerous plants are found in Canada More recently, remnants of Hurricane Isabel dumped more than 30 mm at Pearson airport in September of 2003. Alberto in May 2018 was also an incredible rarity as the National Hurricane Center kept the storm a tropical depression as it crossed Manitoulin Island on May 31, 2018. In 2020, Tropical Storm Cristobal made an incredibly rare feat, with tropical remnants crossing Lake Superior on June 10, 2020. The system held onto tropical characteristics into southern Wisconsin. Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across Ontario and Quebec. WATCH: Destructive scenes as Hurricane Beryl sets record in the Atlantic Click here to view the video Is it legal to use your phone at a red light in Washington State? Heres what the law says Distracted driving can be anything from eating while driving to sending a text message. Washington state is no stranger to distracted drivers. Between 2020 and 2023, Washington State has seen over 71,000 crashes caused by distracted drivers, over 3,370 of which were caused by drivers using their cellphones while driving, according to the Washington State Department of Transportations Crash Data Portal. In 2024 so far, there have been 3,610 crashes caused by distracted drivers, according to the WSDOT. 156 of those crashes were caused by drivers using their cellphones, two of which were fatal and six were suspected of being serious injury crashes. It is clear that driving while distracted is unsafe, but is using your phone using your cell phone while youre stopped at a red light safer and is it considered distracted driving? Heres what the law in Washington state says about using your cell phone while operating a running vehicle. Washington law on texting at a red light Washingtons laws on texting and driving are outlined in Title 46, Chapter 61 of the Revised Codes of Washington. The chapter states that aside from law enforcement officers and first responders reacting to an emergency, no one is allowed to use a mobile device at any time while driving or stopped in traffic unless contacting emergency services for help. This does not apply to the manufacturer-installed systems in the vehicle, such as global positioning systems and touch-screen radios. A driver can use a mobile phone or electronic device for texting, calling or navigation only if these three conditions are satisfied: The telephone or device is hands-free, such as mounted on a vehicles windshield like a GPS. The driver deactivates or activates a feature or function on their device by voice command or with minimal hand interaction. The device is used by an employee of a commercial motor vehicle driver, such as a semi-trailer, and the device assists with their job. Does this apply to a driver stopped at a red light? Even if the car is at a complete standstill at a red light or stop sign, the answer is still yes. Though the car may not be moving when at a red light or stop sign, the vehicle is still being operated, according to the Revised Codes of Washington. Washington code states that a car is defined as not being operated only when the car is safely and legally parked and remains stationary. The law states that a cell phone or electronic device can be used only if not in the drivers hand while the car is in motion. Penalties for texting while driving If you are pulled over for using your cell phone while driving, the Washington State Patrol website states that the following will happen: A first time offense will result in a $145 fine Each subsequent violation within a five-year period will result in a fine of $243 Cell phone violations are reported to insurance companies Water flows from the bypass tubes of Glen Canyon Dam at a rate of approximately 32,000 cubic feet per second Nov. 21, 2004 in Page, Arizona. Photo by Jeff Topping | Getty Images A bipartisan coalition of Arizonas congressional delegation introduced legislation to address one of the longest-running water issues facing three Arizona tribes. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement (NAIWRSA) Act of 2024 would ratify and fund the largest Indian water rights settlement in the country, which will secure water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. This legislation and the settlement it ratifies represent a historic step forward in resolving a decades-long water rights dispute, providing certainty and stability for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said in a written statement. Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, introduced the act in the U.S. Senate on July 8. Identical legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it is cosponsored by Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Tucson), Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson), Greg Stanton (D-Phoenix) and David Schweikert (R-Scottsdale). Our historic bipartisan legislation delivers real, lasting results for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by strengthening water security, creating economic opportunities, and providing certainty and stability so their communities can continue to thrive, Sinema said in a press release. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement will settle the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes claims to the main stem of the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River, and relevant groundwater sources in Arizona. Securing water rights for these tribes upholds their sovereignty and lays the path for their growth and prosperity through increased investment in water infrastructure, Kelly said. Ratifying this settlement honors our commitment to the tribes and helps secure our states water future, and well work together as Republicans and Democrats to get it done. The bill states that the legislation aims to achieve a fair, equitable and final settlement of all claims to rights to water in Arizona for the three tribal nations. In addition to settling the tribes ongoing water claims in the Colorado River Basin, it includes billions in funding for essential water development and delivery projects for the tribes. Ciscomani said in a written statement that the settlement and legislation will provide a long-lasting partnership between Arizona and the tribes. This not only gives much-needed certainty to the Tribes but allows Arizona to better plan for a secure water future while providing for improved water infrastructure throughout the region, he said. As part of the settlement, the three tribes would gain access to reliable and safe water for their community through various outlets, including the upper and lower basins of the Colorado River, aquifers, shared washes and water infrastructure development. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement is a monumental achievement and the product of negotiations spanning almost 30 years, said Leslie A. Meyers, the associate general manager of water resources for the Salt River Project. Salt River Project has participated in the negotiations from their inception. Meyers said SRP enthusiastically supports the bills because the settlement provides the three tribes with the desperately needed water supplies and infrastructure to secure their futures. The water settlement authorizes $5 billion to acquire, build, and maintain essential water development and delivery projects, including a $1.75 billion distribution pipeline. The three tribes would be guaranteed access to over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water and specific groundwater rights and protections. Grijalva said that the legislation deserves the full support of Congress because the settlement was the historic culmination of a decades-long effort to bring water to the three tribes. As the climate crisis continues to exacerbate an already devastating multigenerational drought, the federal governments obligation to deliver clean, safe water and water infrastructure to the tribes could not be more pressing, he said. I urge my colleagues to move this legislation to the presidents desk quickly. Tribal leaders commend legislation introduction Leaders from the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe commended the work of everyone involved in writing the settlement and introducing legislation to Congress. Tribal councils from all three tribes initially passed bills supporting the water settlement in May. However, Congress must approve the settlement before it can go into law. For decades, our Navajo people have lived without piped water in their homes, with many of our elders hauling water over 30 miles roundtrip, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said during a press conference on Tuesday. More than 30% of the homes on the Navajo Nation lack running water. This is unacceptable. Nygren said that the Navajo people are American people, and no one in America should be denied access to water because of where they live. This settlement ensures that the Navajo people will have rightful access to water, providing certainty for our homelands future and an equal opportunity for health and prosperity, he added. If the act passes Congress, the Navajo Nation water infrastructure it would fund will bring substantial clean, safe and reliable drinking water to Navajo communities in Arizona, according to Nygrens office. The infrastructure will allow tens of thousands of Navajo people in Arizona to have piped water in their homes for the first time. It is a great opportunity here to claim what is ours as Navajo people, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley said Tuesday. Water is essential to every living thing that we possess in the Navajo way. She said this is the first time a tribe is bringing this large of a water settlement to Congress, and she said it is unfortunate that the Navajo Nation is one of the last tribes in Arizona to bring its water settlement to a federal level. Curley said its as if the Navajo Nation is going up to Congress with an empty cup and begging for both what is rightfully theirs and what they deserve. Without this settlement, our communities will remain disproportionately vulnerable to diseases, and development on the Reservation will continue to be restricted by the lack of water infrastructure, she said in a press release. Curley noted how the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Navajo Nation particularly hard due to the tribes lack of access to clean water and plumbing. Through the water settlement, the Navajo Nation would gain access to 44,700 acre-feet per year of the Upper Basin Colorado River Water and 3,600 acre-feet per year of the Lower Basin Colorado River Water. The Navajo Nation will also lease, exchange, and accrue long-term storage credits for its Arizona water as part of the settlement. The tribe could store Arizona water in two reservoirs in New Mexico and aquifers on the Navajo Navajo for later recovery. The Navajo Nation would also be able to engage in inter-basin transfer of Colorado River water in Arizona and divert its water from New Mexico and Utah for use in Arizona. The San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, which spans Arizona and Utah, will not only receive water rights from the settlement but also ratify the treaty and create their reservation boundaries. We are so thankful to Senator Kelly and Senator Sinema for introducing legislation that will not only provide our Tribe with water but will also ratify a treaty negotiated and entered into by the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Navajo Nation decades ago, Robbin Preston Jr., president of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, said in a press release. The Tribe has waited far too long to have an exclusive reservation of its own, Preston added. The opportunities made available through this legislation will change the lives of our Tribal Members and the trajectory of our Tribe. As part of the settlement, the tribe will gain 5,400 acres of land within the Navajo Nation, which will be proclaimed the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation. The land will be held in trust by the United States. Preston said the settlement would provide the San Juan Southern Paiute people with reliable electricity, water, and housing. Our people will have opportunities that have never been available to us before, he added. This legislation is more than a settlement of water rights; it is the establishment of an exclusive reservation for a Tribe that will no longer be forced to live like strangers in our own land. For the Hopi Tribe, the settlement guarantees access to 2,300 acre-feet per year of the Upper Basin Colorado River Water and a little over 5,900 acre-feet per year of the Lower Basin Colorado River Water. Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma expressed his gratitude to the state, tribes and neighboring communities for working to make the settlement a reality. Our collective action means a more secure water future for the Hopi Tribe and all of our neighbors in Northern Arizona, Nuvangyaoma said. As part of the settlement, the Hopi Tribe can lease, exchange, and accrue long-term storage credits for its water, store it in aquifers on Hopi land for later recovery and engage in inter-basin transfer of the Colorado River within Arizona. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks and co-chairs the second meeting of the Consultation Mechanism between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of China and Thailand with his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa, in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa in Beijing, and co-chaired the second meeting of the Consultation Mechanism between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of China and Thailand. Noting that the construction of the China-Thailand community with a shared future has been solidly advanced with fruitful results, Wang said China regards Thailand as a trustworthy partner and a force for peace and stability in the region. Wang said that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Thailand, calling on both sides to deepen all-round strategic cooperation. He said that China and Thailand should address bottlenecks in the China-Laos-Thailand Railway, improve the level of interconnection, strengthen law-enforcement security cooperation and jointly crack down on cross-border crimes, such as online gambling and electronic fraud. Wang also called on both sides to make good use of the convenience of mutual visa exemption, expand cultural exchanges, strengthen youth friendship exchanges, and promote China-Thailand friendship from generation to generation. Sangiampongsa said the Thai government attaches great importance to its relations with China and will continue to unswervingly pursue the one-China policy. Thailand is willing to work with China to make good plans for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Thailand and China, intensify high-level exchanges, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen practical cooperation in digital economy, electric vehicles, renewable energy, tourism and other fields to benefit the two peoples, Sangiampongsa said. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional cooperation in East Asia, Lancang-Mekong cooperation and the Myanmar issue. It is necessary to uphold the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture in East Asia and oppose the establishment of a closed and exclusive clique, still less allow non-regional forces to interfere or start something new, Wang stressed. Wang said it is necessary to resist the negative impact of the Indo-Pacific strategy and guard against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization reaching out to the Asia-Pacific. China is ready to work closely with ASEAN countries to maintain the high level of China-ASEAN cooperation, stick to the right direction of Asia-Pacific cooperation and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Wang said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks and co-chairs the second meeting of the Consultation Mechanism between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of China and Thailand with his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa, in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A legislative interim study with national experts has been announced to examine the impact of students having cellphones in schools, according to Sen. Adam Push (R-Edmond). Our goal is to gather comprehensive data and insights from a variety of perspectives to make informed decisions that best support our students education and well-being, said Sen. Pugh. The interim study is set to feature presentations from leading experts in education technology, child psychology and school administration. Topics will include the potential for cellphones to enhance learning through educational apps and resources, as well as concerns about distractions, cyberbullying and data privacy. We are inviting top experts from across the country to ensure a robust and balanced discussion. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we explore this complex issue. Sen. Adam Push (R-Edmond) The study once scheduled at the Oklahoma State Capitol will release findings and recommendations that will inform potential legislation in the upcoming session. Once scheduled, a link to the study time, location and more information will be available by clicking here. Headlines Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The White House late Monday released a letter from President Bidens physician seeking to clear up why a neurologist with an expertise in Parkinsons disease had visited the White House several times. The letter came after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had several heated exchanges with reporters earlier in the day about whether the administration has been transparent about Bidens health. Dr. Kevin OConnor, the physician to the president, wrote that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the specialist who performed Bidens neurological exam during each of his three annual physicals, including the one that took place in February. He added that Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. The results of this years exam were detailed in my February 28th letter, OConnor said, citing the letter following the exam that said an extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy. OConnor, in the letter, stressed that Cannards overall medical and military background, not his expertise in movement disorders, is why he saw Biden. Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr. Cannard has been doing for a dozen years, OConnor said. Dr. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems. The letter was released hours after Jean-Pierre was bombarded with questions about why visitor logs showed Cannard had been at the White House eight times over an eight-month span from last summer into this spring. Jean-Pierre repeatedly refused to go into detail about the visits or whether Cannard was there to see the president, citing security and privacy concerns because more than 1,000 military members receive treatment from the White House medical unit. Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday that Biden has not been and is not being treated for Parkinsons, and he is not taking medication to treat the disease. She said the president had consulted with a neurologist three times during his presidency, once during each of his three physicals since taking office. The letter from OConnor reiterates what Jean-Pierre told reporters, which is that normally the White House doesnt disclose names of specialists they work with. He said that they obtained permission from Cannard to do so for the release of the letter on Monday evening. OConnor went into detail about Cannards background, saying his qualities make him a valued and versatile consultant to assess and treat a wide variety of conditions. Questions about the presidents mental sharpness and whether hes up to handling the job for another four years have become commonplace following his poor performance at a June 27 debate, when Biden spoke haltingly and often struggled to complete his train of thought. Bidens debate performance has sparked days of hand-wringing among Democrats over whether the president should step aside for another nominee as some lawmakers have questioned whether he can campaign vigorously enough to defeat former President Trump in November. Biden has vowed he will not drop out of the race, dismissing calls for him to do so as the desires of party elites and not those of average voters. Logs show Cannard met in January with OConnor, Bidens White House physician, and cardiologist Dr. John Atwood in the White House residence clinic. Biden underwent his annual physical exam at Walter Reed on Feb. 28. The New York Times reported Cannard made more than two dozen visits to the White House during the Obama administration from 2012-2016. It is unknown whether he visited the Trump White House because then-President Trump stopped the disclosure of visitor logs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIR We are already seeing Labour adopt an irrational, urban-centric approach to improving housing numbers (Letters, July 9). The simple allocation of targets obliges rural councils to build in locations where there are insufficient schools, roads, hospitals and jobs. The pressure generated by these requirements overwhelms many smaller communities. The policy needs to be less arbitrary and more focused on providing sustainable communities in new towns, along the lines of Harlow, Crawley and Stevenage, which were developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Nigel Carter Devizes, Wiltshire SIR The building of a large new estate on fields just outside Chester, without the requisite associated infrastructure, has resulted in a huge increase of traffic on the already busy roads into the city, existing medical centres being overrun, and the loss of green space enjoyed for decades by residents in long-established nearby homes. Angela Mohan Chester SIR Green belts (Letters, July 9) provide health and welfare benefits, prevent flooding and sequester carbon. They offer clean air, biodiversity, local fresh food and space for recreation, in addition to preventing urban sprawl and encouraging urban regeneration. Yet they are under greater threat than ever before. There is still no clear definition of what constitutes grey belt, and no action to stop developers deliberately destroying the green belt in order to make it grey. Moreover, focusing on green belt land will relieve the pressure to develop brownfield sites, which can be released more quickly to provide affordable homes. Given the current shortage of construction workers, releasing green belt land for development will lead to further land-banking by large developers, when there are already more than a million homes with planning permission that have been left unbuilt since 2015. Richard Knox-Johnston Chairman, London Green Belt Council Ashtead, Kent SIR For six years I lived in the American Midwest. Most domestic housing was timber-framed, yet still able to withstand the hostile elements. Compared with the traditional bricks-and-mortar construction of the UK, the speed with which these houses could be built was remarkable. They have never caught on here, but, given our countrys urgent needs, they should surely be considered. There are now plenty of examples of best practice in America and Europe, and there is the added advantage that this construction technique uses renewable resources. John Bath Clevedon, Somerset Bidens choice SIR Joe Biden has said that he will only step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells him to (report, July 7). President Biden needs to be reassured by all those who support him that his presidency has been a success so far, and that historians will recognise his value not just over the past three years, but for the decades that he has served his country. As a devout Catholic, he might wish to recall Pope Benedict XVI, who chose to relinquish the papacy in 2013 the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years citing age and failing health. The popes decision was man-made and was universally applauded. President Biden has a precedent. Dr S K Goolamali Northwood, Middlesex SIR After a disastrous debate performance, Joe Biden apparently fought back by visiting diners at a place called The Waffle House. Either his media advisers are bereft of a sense of irony or else they were delivering a thinly veiled message. Tim Youngman Tonbridge, Kent Recruitment deterrent SIR Labours plan to significantly reduce the initial period in which a new employee may be dismissed (Comment, July 7) poses a serious threat to all businesses particularly the smaller ones that cannot afford expensive HR departments. Currently, there is a probationary period when a new employee may be found to be unsuitable for the role by reason of poor attitude, ability or work ethic. Were employees able to claim unfair dismissal from day one, they could challenge this and the employer would have to defend it, wasting time and money. The policy would act as a deterrent to taking on new staff. The new Government should reflect very carefully before rushing into damaging legislation. David S Baber Amersham, Buckinghamshire SIR South Cambridgeshire council claims that its four-day week saves money, improves services and should be extended (report, July 9). I cant help thinking that, if staff completed all tasks in four days rather than the normal five, then targets were either too low to start with, or the council had 20 per cent more staff than required. K Mungham Potto, North Yorkshire A blow for veterans SIR It is very disappointing that Sir Keir Starmer is not filling the post of minister for veterans (report, July 8). Johnny Mercer, the last incumbent, shone a light on the specific needs of veterans, who are largely forgotten by the Ministry of Defence once they have left the Armed Forces. I fear this move will dilute the role of government in supporting veterans, particularly those suffering with mental health issues. The responsibility for helping veterans overcome difficulties should not lie solely with charities. Lt Col Jeremy Prescott (retd) Southsea, Hampshire Wimbledon gap SIR The toe-curling post-match interviews at Wimbledon (Letters, July 9) are made even more ridiculous by the excessive distance between the presenter and player. Is this post-Covid virtue-signalling by the BBC? Kirsty Blunt Sedgeford, Norfolk The next Tory leader SIR If the Conservative parliamentary party did not want the membership to select Liz Truss as prime minister (Letters, July 9), then it should not have put her forward as a candidate. Her selection by members is a poor excuse to now deny them the final role in the next leadership election. The party would do better to offer members more than one candidate whom MPs could fully get behind. Victoria Hawkins Ludlow, Shropshire Cancer bell boost SIR I was so pleased to read Noel Radcliffes letter (July 8) regarding the cancer bell ceremony at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Ive been undergoing radiotherapy at Rosemere Cancer Centre in Preston, which also has a bell to ring following completion of treatment. I was happy to ring it. A gentleman undergoing a similar procedure was wary of doing the same. He was shy and retiring in nature. I spoke to him about how good it might make him feel. With the support of my wife and a radiographer, we persuaded him to have a go. It was a loud and lusty ding-a-ling, and he said: That did me a world of good. If you have a chance to clang the bell, I can recommend it. Ian Duckworth Billington, Lancashire A dog at Number 10 SIR You report (July 6) that Sir Keir Starmer is thinking of getting a German Shepherd for his children. He needs to remember that Downing Street has a resident cat and put him first. Or consider breeds suitable for cats. Christine Wilson Whiteabbey, Co Antrim SIR I wish the Starmer children luck in persuading their parents to get a dog. Having lived with cats and German Shepherds most of my life, I can assure them Larry will remain top dogs. Size doesnt matter, as Larrys dominance over the local foxes demonstrates. Michael Staples Seaford, East Sussex SIR In the UK, there are about 100,000 dogs waiting for homes. To garner public affection, Sir Keir Starmer should forget about buying pedigree pups and seek out a rescue dog instead. Please, Sir Keir adopt, dont buy. Catherine Orr Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk One good reason to learn to play the bagpipes Pipes are calling: The Young Bagpipe Player, by Ferdinand Willaert (1861-1938) - Painters/Alamy/Alamy SIR Alasdair Ogilvy (Letters, July 4) recalls the piper who came to play at his wedding and reception in Sussex in 1989. My grandson, aged 13, is learning to play the bagpipes in Perthshire, and he knows how thrilled I am. He informed his father that his reason for learning them is that he wants to play at my funeral which will be in Sussex. What a send-off I will have. Sheila Mortimer Cuckfield, West Sussex Wartime gratitude preserved in the larder SIR I was born during the Second World War, when dozens of U-boats were sinking Allied ships at a rate quicker than they could be replaced, and a food shortage threatened. My mother kept a tin of pasteurised powdered whole milk from those days, still unopened, in her larder, out of heart-felt appreciation for the country from which it came and the sailors who risked their lives to bring it to us. It would have been produced in Madison, Wisconsin, when the United States was still neutral, as the instructions on the tin are in English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Hebrew. It remains on our larder shelf (Letters, July 9). Andrew Murray Hereford SIR One of the tins of chocolate issued during the Second Boer War (Letters, July 9) was recently found in the National Library of Australia among the papers of the Australian poet Andrew Barton Banjo Paterson. Best known for writing Waltzing Matilda, he likely got it from a soldier while in South Africa as a war correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald. One Canadian soldier wrote home: I have been offered 5 for mine; at the Cape as much as 10 is paid such were they valued. Peter Saunders Salisbury, Wiltshire SIR The blocks of chocolate sent to South Africa were, I believe, actually intended to be drunk, rather than eaten. In my youth I tried a piece, after scraping off the green coating. It was quite powdery and I couldnt recommend the flavour. Martin Bastone East Grinstead, West Sussex Letters to the Editor We accept letters by email and post. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers. ADDRESS: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT EMAIL: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk FOLLOW: Telegraph Letters @LettersDesk NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive Letters to the Editor here 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. Lexington pastor convicted in COVID-19 loan fraud case sentenced to three years in prison A Lexington minister convicted of fraud in connection with more than $350,000 in COVID-19 relief loans has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison. A jury in federal court convicted Neal Harris, 57, and his wife, Kelly Harris, 64, on eight charges each of wire fraud earlier this year. The couple applied for loans through a federal program designed to help businesses hurt by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic that started in the U.S. in early 2020. They ultimately received a total of $357,300 through applications submitted for four businesses, according to a sentencing memorandum by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith. Those included Grace Christian Fellowship Church, which Neal Harris established and leads, and the Ruby E. Bailey Family Service Center in Lexington, which offered programs that included after-school activities for low-income young people, according to the court record and tax returns. Federal authorities said the couple put false information in the loan applications, including misrepresenting when the businesses started, the number of employees and gross revenue. Neal Harris attorney, Pamela D. Perlman, said in a sentencing memorandum that he tried unsuccessfully to get help on the loan applications to do them correctly, but no one could answer his questions. Harris worked at the Toyota plant in Georgetown for many years and operated a barbecue business on the side to raise money for his church, according to the memo. Harris left Toyota after hurting his back and turned the barbecue sideline into a full time business, the memo said. Perlman sought a sentence for Harris that did not include prison time, saying that a prison sentence would be far greater punishment than is called for in this case. Federal authorities, however, said that in addition to putting false information in the loan applications, Harris and his wife later submitted more false documentation and lied during their testimony at the trial. The couple used money from the loans to pay homeowners association fees and other personal debts and to buy restaurant equipment and a vehicle, according to a government motion. Central Bank in Lexington raised concerns that accounts the couple had were fraudulent and turned over information to federal authorities, according to the court record. The bank also returned some of the money to the federal government. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier sentenced Neal Harris on Monday. The judge sentenced Kelly Harris last week to three years and 10 months in prison and ordered her to repay $110,785. Prosecutors said Neal Harris owes restitution of $170,796. Librarians in Wales may be trained to challenge the paradigm of whiteness as part of Welsh Labour anti-racism plans. The devolved government has provided funding that aims to eradicate systemic racism in libraries by training staff in anti-racist principles. Anti-racist and inclusive libraries can be achieved by challenging the dominant paradigm of whiteness, according to a preliminary report. The report, which will inform future training, highlights the crucial role that critical whiteness studies can play in transforming public libraries. It forms part of a project backed by 130,000 of government funding, which will address colonial attitudes and seek to create new historic narratives. In the report, it states: By critically examining and challenging the dominant paradigm of whiteness, LIS (library information science) professionals can work towards creating more just and inclusive institutions that serve all members of their communities. It adds that Critical race theory (CRT), critical heritage studies, and critical whiteness studies play a crucial role in understanding and addressing issues of institutional racism in library and information science. The report is part of an effort across the cultural sector in Wales to comply with the Labour governments 2022 Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which sought to set the right historical narrative. The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) in Wales secured government funding for a project titled Anti-racist Library Collections, which will seek to transform libraries by rolling out new training for staff. Inside The Big Pit Mining Museum at Blaenavon, Wales - Chris Howes/Wild Places Photography/Alamy A report commissioned to set out what this training should entail includes a review of anti-racist texts, intended to explain some effective strategies and best practices. This sets out the value in challenging whiteness, and also explains that decolonising libraries is essential, and suggests prioritising the acquisition of materials authored by ethnic minority people. The report warns that efforts to train librarians may meet with resistance because of their possible white fragility and blindness to white privilege. The report is the first phase of a project to make libraries anti-racist, and will inform future training, which organisations can apply to provide through a public tender process, claiming a contract worth more than 20,000. Understanding of institutional racism It is hoped the training commissioned by CILIP, with the help of government funding, will be developed and rolled out this year. In CILIPs call for a training provider, it states that library staff will be encouraged to see their diverse collections as powerful community tools which can be used for co-producing new historic narratives. Any training should foster a deep understanding of institutional racism and make library staff agents of change. The plans come as part of a Welsh government ambition to make all institutions agents change in an effort to make Wales anti-racist by 2030. Local councils are expected to tackle statues of contested historical figures as part of this plan, possibly by removing or hiding them. Museums and galleries are also expected to set the right historical narrative and address colonialism, no matter how tenuous their links to empire. A former miner shows school pupils around The Big Pit National Coal Museum - Jeff Morgan 07/Alamy The Big Pit National Coal Museum was founded to tell the story of one of Waless historic industries, but is among the institutions which must offer a decolonised view of the past that recognises historical injustices. The Welsh government and CILIP have been contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. As Texans worked to clean up after Beryl on Thursday, they were dealing with intense heat and a fifth day without power. As residents try to stay cool with generators, carbon monoxide poisoning has killed at least two people in Harris County, according to CNN, which reported that fire departments have received more than 200 carbon monoxide poisoning calls in 24 hours. CenterPoint Energy said the storm impacted the company's customers, systems and infrastructure more than it anticipated, resulting in outages to more than 2.26 million customers at its peak. The utility maintains the systems that deliver power to most residents in Harris and Fort Bend counties, along with several other areas of Greater Houston. According to the company, about 2.8 million Houston-area customers rely on CenterPoint. The destructive winds caused significant damage to parts of the electric grid, including hard-hit areas like Galveston, where 250 poles on a single circuit are down and Brazoria County, where hundreds of trees are uprooted and on power lines. CenterPoint said it has restored power to more than 1.2 million customers impacted by Hurricane Beryl. The number of power outages dipped below 1 million by midday Friday, according to PowerOutage.US. Around 850,000 of the outages are CenterPoint customers. In a statement on Thursday night, Centerpoint said it expects 80% of customers impacted by outages to have power restored by Sunday night. However, this means hundreds of thousands may still be left in the dark on Monday-one week after Beryl made landfall. Utility crews work to restore electricity in Houston, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Officials say about 500,000 customers still won't have electricity into next week as wide outages from Hurricane Beryl persist. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi) With AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures hitting triple digits this week in cities like Houston, Galveston, Bay City, and Port Lavaca, Texas, time is of the essence. "For those without power, the conditions can make daily routines to storm cleanup extremely difficult, if not dangerous. People are strongly urged to take breaks from the heat when and where they can and to stay hydrated if they must be outdoors." AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "We understand how difficult it is for our customers to be without power, particularly in this summer heat," said Lynnae Wilson, Senior Vice President, Electric Business. "Having substantially completed our damage assessment and restoration of customers impacted by circuit-related outages, our crews are now focusing on repairing more localized damage, including in the hardest-hit areas. According to CNN, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, whose home was also without power Monday, said CenterPoint and the city are "fully aware" of how pressing electricity restoration is. "We're going to take care of every community. No community is favored over another community. Every Houstonian is important to us. We'll get your power on as quickly as possible," he said. It's not just health that is a concern. With outages that could last for days, food in refrigerators or freezers will spoil. "We are struggling to have food, and losing that food would be difficult," Eva Costancio told The Associated Press. People are flocking to areas with power to fill up gas cans and fuel their generators and get food. "Fortunately, here it looks like things are moving pretty good about getting the power back online," Storm Chaster Aaron Jayjack said on Tuesday morning while at a gas station in Palacios, Texas. "My guess is they are trying to prioritize these locations, gas stations, supermarkets, the essential places, get that power up first." To help customers who remain without power plan around their outages, CenterPoint Energy is providing estimated restoration times on its restoration status tracker. HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) Christian education service LifeWise Academy filed a copyright infringement claim against Zachary Parrish, an Indiana man and administrator of Parents Against LifeWise. The Hilliard-based company provides religious education to public school students during the school day in accordance with federal law. Its claim, filed last week, accuses Parrish of using unauthorized means to access and distribute LifeWises curriculum, which he uploaded in its entirety to the Parents Against LifeWise website and Facebook group. Columbus man awarded over $454,000 by city in wrongful arrest case He improperly obtained our entire copyright protected curriculum, and he posted to his website without our permission, LifeWise representatives wrote in a statement to NBC4. We asked him to remove the curriculum voluntarily, but he has refused to do so. Parrish said he stands by his actions, attributing them to part of a larger effort he began when LifeWise was introduced to his daughters school several years ago. The whole point of the website and the Facebook group is simply to provide the resources and the support for parents, he said. I didnt have that. In 2021, when I started looking around for information about this group, there was none to be found. A copyright certificate filed in 2019 protects the LifeWise curriculum. The complaint said only paid employees of LifeWise who have been issued login credentials can access the password-protected curriculum. Boyfriend of woman missing for 23 years remains primary suspect In both the complaint and an April 8 police report filed by LifeWise COO Steven Clifton, Parrish is accused of posing as a volunteer to gain access to these documents. Clifton also accused Parrish of hacking into training programs, according to the police report. Parrish said he received documents that allowed him to access the curriculum after submitting an application with LifeWise. The police report confirms he used his own information to sign up and said it was unclear if a crime occurred. The universal password is provided by LifeWise themselves in the training documents and videos, Parrish said. I took my regular Gmail account and their universal password and logged in and had full access. Before filing the complaint, LifeWise sent Parrish a cease and desist letter on April 9 demanding he stop distributing LifeWise copyrighted materials. The one piece missing before Ohio recreational marijuana sales can begin The complaint alleged Parrish responded to LifeWises cease and desist letter with a meme that read, its called fair use b-. Parrish clarified it was a GIF. A fair use claim would likely look at the intent behind using copyrighted material, how much of the material was used, and the effect on the potential value of the work, according to federal law. Posting the entire curriculum is not fair use, and we are confident that the judge will agree, LifeWise representatives said. We are hoping to settle this dispute swiftly. Clifton also reached out via direct message in June asking Parrish to remove the materials. According to LifeWise representatives, the curriculum is licensed through an unconnected third party. The nonprofit Lifeway Christian Resources created the materials LifeWises curriculum is based on. Higher education bill stalls at Ohio Statehouse The complaint said LifeWise entered a white label copyright with Lifeway. White labeling refers to a licensing agreement that allows a company to adapt another companys trademarked materials with permission and even file its own copyright. In return, LifeWise pays Lifeway an annual licensing fee based on total student enrollment. LifeWise has also agreed to limited distribution, including exclusive use in the U.S. and in a classroom setting. LifeWise representatives said anyone can purchase the materials LifeWises curriculum is based on through Lifeways website. The complaint also accuses Parrish of avoiding these licensing fees. Third ex-Columbus Zoo executive pleads guilty to grand theft, fraud We are not legally able to provide it to anyone other than the children we are serving, Clifton said in the messages. Messages sent from LifeWise COO Steven Clifton to Parents Against LifeWise administrator Zachary Parrish (Courtesy Photo/Zachary Parrish) Ohio law states parents and guardians can examine materials taught to their children in public schools upon request. Although LifeWise serves public school children during school hours, the classes occur off school property and LifeWise is a private organization, not a school, according to tax documents. I believe it should be able to be reviewed by the parents who are thinking about signing their kids up, Parrish said. I think its very shady that theyre not willing to provide this themselves to the school boards or parents. LifeWise said it provides a 27-page sample curriculum on its website, which includes select lesson plans. These lessons are similar to those included in the full curriculum but do not include the full list of activity suggestions included in the full curriculum, according to curriculum documents. Ohio State Fair Fire Ball accident survivor awarded $20 million The links for each lesson plan are still up on Parents Against LifeWises website as of Monday, but the material has been removed for legal purposes. A folder containing the curriculum uploaded to the Facebook group was also removed. Both were taken down by third-party hosts, not by Parrish, according to posts in the Facebook group. LifeWise is requesting Parrish remove and destroy all copies of LifeWise materials and pay for damages and legal fees. An email to Parrish from LifeWises lawyer indicated they would be willing to settle out of court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. (WHTM) Fort Indiantown Gap and Pennsylvania National Guard senior leaders hosted Lithuanias Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasciunas on July 8. Kasciunass visit comes as the result of the ongoing State Partnership Program. The Pennsylvania National Guard and the country of Lithuanias partnership started in 1993. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest According to the State Partnership Program, the two nations have participated in U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe, and NATO exercises since the programs inception. During his visit, Kusciunas met with Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler and other state National Guard senior leaders at a Joint Force Headquarters. Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, right, greets Lithuanian Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasciunas at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 8, 2024. During his visit, Kasciunas met with Schindler and other Pennsylvania National Guard senior leaders and toured the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Sites Aviation Maintenance Instructional Building. The Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania have been partners through the National Guards State Partnership Program since 1993. (Pennsylvania National Guard photo by Brad Rhen) Lithuanian Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasciunas visited Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 8, 2024. While here he met with Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler and other Pennsylvania National Guard senior leaders and toured the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Sites Aviation Maintenance Instructional Building. The Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania have been partners through the National Guards State Partnership Program since 1993. (Pennsylvania National Guard photo by Brad Rhen) Deputy State Public Affairs Officer Brad Rhen said the group also toured the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site. According to the partnership site, the Pennsylvania State Partnership Program supports U.S. European Command objectives and Department of State initiatives. One of the main goals of this partnership is to deter potential threats, furthering the defense of Lithuanias sovereign borders, Euro-Atlantic security, and the United States of America. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect the cancellation of the car meet vigil planned for Tuesday evening at Crestview Hills Town Center. The organizers of that event ask that those who planned to attend go to the Community Night of Prayer at Crossroads Florence instead. Before anyone wrote their names on makeshift memorials, held candles for them at vigils or set up GoFundMe pages in their honor, everyone knew them for how they lived. Hayden Rybicki, 20, made videos on a camcorder, went skateboarding with friends and had a knack for saying just the right thing to get a laugh. Flowers and other items make a memorial Monday, July 8, 2024, after four people were shot and killed during a 21st birthday party at a home on Ridgecrest Drive in Florence early Saturday morning. Shane Miller, 20, loved fishing and being a big brother to his three younger siblings. Delaney Eary, 19, volunteered in a student ministry program and enjoyed nights out singing and dancing with friends. Melissa Parrett, 44, worked, raised a family and, on Friday night, welcomed friends to her home in Florence to celebrate her sons 21st birthday party. All four died early Saturday morning, police say, when Chase Garvey walked into that birthday party with a gun and opened fire. Yellow police tape now encircles the house. A memorial of candles, flowers and stuffed animals sits alongside the driveway. Stuffed animals and other items make a memorial Monday, July 8, 2024, after four people were shot and killed during a 21st birthday party at a home on Ridgecrest Drive in Florence early Saturday morning. More: Man who killed 4 at party in Florence home was free, armed despite felony conviction Friends and relatives stopped by throughout the day Monday, talking quietly or saying nothing at all, still stunned that this home had become a crime scene. Some left small items a heart-shaped balloon, a fishing lure from a recent trip that connected them to the lives theyve lost. I just cant even think of words to describe this, said Shawn Smeltzer, who described Rybicki as his best friend. Terrible news spreads fast among friends, classmates Loved ones remember Hayden Rybicki, 20, for his kindness and passions in skateboarding, snowboarding, videography and fixing up cars. A week ago, he said, they were kayaking on the Little Miami River together. They fished together, went to school together, grew up together. They were supposed to be at the birthday party together, too, but Smeltzer said he decided to stay home that night. Rybicki spent summer days skateboarding at the Florence Skate Park and winter days snowboarding at Perfect North, but friends say he wasnt just creative at the park or on the slopes. He tricked out his Honda Civic, turning it into a low rider, and shot video of fellow skateboarders on his retro Sony Vx2000 camcorder. Every day was an adventure, said Porter Eggleston, another friend. At the skate park Monday, Eggleston and others struggled to imagine life without Rybicki. Eggleston described him as the king of making people smile. Arianna Manners said shell remember how he encouraged her to pursue her passion for art, even allowing her to paint designs on his prized camcorder. Everyone loved him, she said. None more than his family. Rybicki's mom, Cherri McGuire, described him in his obituary as "an unexpected gift from God." "I would do anything in the world if I could see you face-to-face and tell you how I feel and how I've always felt about you," she wrote. More: Surviving victims in Florence mass shooting in stable condition, police say Florence isnt a big town, so it didnt take long Saturday for word to get out about what had happened. Text messages, calls and social media posts shared the terrible news quickly among friends and former classmates. Paige Robinson went to Randall K. Cooper High School with Eary and was involved with the Northern Kentucky Navigators Student Ministry. She came to the memorial Monday with a bundle of white, pink and purple flowers. She struggled to talk in the past tense about her friend. She is such a joy, Robinson said. She is such a light in everybodys lives. She said Eary worked in the bakery at Costco and she often saw her out and about in Florence. Smeltzer said Eary went to the birthday party with Rybicki, with whom shed recently struck up a friendship. Friends said shed previously dated Garvey, though police havent said whether that relationship had anything to do with the shooting. For the friends of those who died, nothing could explain what happened early Saturday morning. It hurt, Robinson said. It hurt everybody. What we know 4 killed, 3 injured at Northern Kentucky house party 'It's happening everywhere now' Shane Miller was killed in a mass shooting in Florence on Saturday, July 6, 2024. He is remembered for his kindness and sense of adventure. Millers sister, Paris Miller, said her big brother went to the party to celebrate and to catch up with friends, including Eary. Like her and some of the other partygoers, hed attended Cooper High. Paris Miller described her brother as an old soul who was quiet, caring and laid back. Though only 20, she said, he was a steady, joyful presence in her life and in the lives of her brother Brayden, 15, and sister Audrey, 6. He loved everybody close to him, she said. She said Shane enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing. Family and friends shared photos of him smiling while kayaking and standing on brilliant green hillsides. He was a shy, quiet, beautiful soul, his sister said. Melissa Parrett, known to some as Missy, hosted the birthday party for her son, Brendon. She worked for the past eight years at Toyota Boshoku America in Erlanger, where she was a human resources specialist. While there, she set up a bowling team at the company to raise money for a one-on-one mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. "Missy's commitment, hard work, and positive attitude have left a lasting impact on all of us," said Naomi Umemura Diedrichs, a spokeswoman for the company. Bonnie Hoepker, who lives across the street, described the Parrett family as good neighbors. She said the only trouble she'd seen at their house came Saturday morning, after 2 a.m., when she was awoken by gunfire. People were running around, screaming and crying, Hoepker, 71, said. For the rest of the morning, she said, traumatized partygoers sat in her driveway and lawn, talking to police about what happened. She said she gave them water and let one of them inside to use the bathroom. The shooting is one of at least 277 mass shootings in the United States so far this year. Last year, there were 656, the second-highest total in the past decade. Still, Hoepker said, it was shocking for it to happen in her own neighborhood, to see the police tape go up, and to watch mourners build a memorial on the lawn right across the street. I know it happens all over the country, Hoepker said. Its happening everywhere now. A community prayer night is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at Crossroads Florence. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'It hurt everybody.' The lives ended in the Florence shooting TEHRAN, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The forces of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have dismantled a "terrorist team" at the country's northwestern borders, the official news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday. Members of the "counter-revolutionary terrorist team" sought to enter Iran through the northwestern borders, but were ambushed and smashed early Tuesday by the forces of the IRGC Ground Force's Hamzeh Seyyed Al-Shohada Base in the West Azarbaijan province, the IRNA quoted a statement by the base as saying. A number of the "terrorists" were killed and wounded in the armed clash with the IRGC forces and their equipment was confiscated, the statement said, without specifying the terrorists' affiliation or identity and location of the operation. The IRGC base also warned that any action against Iran's security and territorial integrity would receive a decisive and firm response. Iran's West Azarbaijan province has borders with Iraq and Turkiye. MEMPHIS, Tenn. It was a dream sailing trip turned into a nightmare when two Memphis residents got stuck on a Caribbean island as Category 5 Hurricane Beryl slammed the Grenadines. Scott Fisher and Jim Garts say they sheltered with a goat farmer for three days as they weathered the unprecedented storm on the island of Carriacou. You know it just got worse and worse and worse until about 11 oclock on Monday when suddenly it became very calm, Fisher said. So I knew that was the eye of this hurricane and we had about 30 minutes of calm. Then, got hit two or three times as hard. Tropical Storm Beryl topples trees, floods highways and leaves more than 2M without power in Texas Garts described what happened next. The second round, after the 30 minutes of lull of nothing, hit like a ton of bricks, he said. It was really stout and it came on all at once, and it actually made that big cement residence building shake, which concerned us because if it would collapse we were inside it. Aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The eye of a hurricane is famously calm. But the strongest winds are in the area immediately surrounding the eye, called the eye wall. The men said the hurricane destroyed everything, flattening a restaurant on the beach. The area looked like it had been put into a blender, they said. Arkansas bracing for Tropical Storm Beryl Fisher and Garts are back in Memphis, but the remnants of Beryl may bring some severe weather to the Mid-South on Tuesday morning. Arkansas is already bracing for impact from the storm, which has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm. Check the latest forecasts from WREG Weather Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. We are looking for clues Oklahoma officials continue search of missing woman ARKOMA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) UPDATE: When the missing alert for Harmoni Jacks went out, OSBI was requested to assist with the investigation. Because we have not made contact with her since Sunday, that is what is deemed suspicious at this time, said Hunter McKee with OSBI. Nobody knows where she went. Nobody has talked to her. She has been missing for three days. Her family says she was on her way to Greenwood, Ark. Our No. 1 priority is finding her, McKee said. ARKOMA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) Multiple Oklahoma officials are investigating the home of a missing 24-year-old woman in Arkoma. Harmoni Gail Jacks was reported missing by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Monday, July 8. She was last seen on July 7 and was said to have gone missing under suspicious circumstances. Our team has confirmed that a crime scene unit from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and a medical examiner are at the residence. OSBI said they are investigating the home for clues. Kasey Alert issued for 24-year-old woman last seen in LeFlore County OSBI said she was last seen driving southbound toward Greenwood. She was in a red 2012 Nissan Altima with the full front bumper of the car gone and windows tinted, according to Nexstars KFOR. OSBI said there are no suspects at this time. The investigation is ongoing. If anyone sees the car or her give a call to 911 or OSBI at 1-800-522-8017. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest 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 KNWA FOX24. A general view of the destruction after a lorry driver rammed a van into a Pentecostal church. Tobias Steinmaurer/APA/dpa A lorry driver has rammed a van into a Pentecostal church near Vienna several times, police said on Monday evening. No one was injured but the church in the town of Brunn am Gebirge was severely damaged, police said. The 32-year-old driver has been arrested, police said. When questioned on his motive, he said that the church had destroyed his life, according to a police spokeswoman, who didn't give further details. The man, who has been based in Austria since 2020, is said to have aroused suspicion a few weeks ago when ripping up a Bible. A regional counter-terrorism unit of the intelligence service has launched an investigation into the incident. A general view of the destruction after a lorry driver rammed a van into a Pentecostal church. Tobias Steinmaurer/APA/dpa A general view of the destruction after a lorry driver rammed a van into a Pentecostal church. Tobias Steinmaurer/APA/dpa When news broke last month that Ed, the Los Angeles school districts new, $6 million artificial intelligence chatbot, was in jeopardy the startup that created it on the verge of collapse many insiders in the ed tech world wondered the same thing: What took so long? The AI bot, created by Boston-based AllHere Education, was launched March 20. But just three months later, AllHere posted on its website that a majority of its 50 or so employees had been furloughed due to its current financial position. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles district said company founder and CEO Joanna Smith-Griffin was no longer on the job. AllHere was up for sale, the district said, with several businesses interested in acquiring it. The news was shocking and certainly bleak for the ed tech industry, but several observers say the partnership bit off more than it could chew, tech-wise and that the ensuing blowup could hurt future AI investments. Ed was touted as a powerful, easy-to-use online tool for students and parents to supplement classroom instruction, find assistance with kids academic struggles and help families navigate attendance, grades, transportation and other key issues, all in 100 languages and on their mobile phones. But Amanda Bickerstaff, founder and CEO of AI for Education, a consulting and training firm, said that was an overreach. What they were trying to do is really not possible with where the technology is today, she said. Its a very broad application [with] multiple users teachers, students, leaders and family members and it pulled in data from multiple systems. What they were trying to do is really not possible with where the technology is today. Amanda Bickerstaff, AI for Education She noted that even a mega-corporation like McDonalds had to trim its AI sails. The fast-food giant recently admitted that a small experiment using a chatbot to power drive-thru windows had resulted in a few fraught customer interactions, such as one in which a woman angrily tried to persuade the bot that she wanted a caramel ice cream as it added multiple stacks of butter to her order. If McDonalds, worth an estimated $178.6 billion, cant get 100 drive-thrus to take lunch orders with generative AI, she said, the tech isnt where we need it to be. If anything, L.A. and AllHere did not seem worried about the projects scale, even if industry insiders now say it was bound to under-deliver: Last spring, at a series of high-profile ed tech conferences, Smith-Griffin and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho showed off Ed widely, with Carvalho saying it would revolutionize students and parents relationships to school, utilizing the data-rich environment that we have for every kid. Alberto Carvalho speaks at the ASU+GSV Summit in April (YouTube screenshot) In an interview with The 74 at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego in April, Carvalho said many students are not connected to school, therefore theyre lost. Ed, he promised, would change that, with a significantly different approach to communication from the district. We are shifting from a system of 540,000 students into 540,000 schools of one, with personalization and individualization for each student, he said, and meaningful connections with parents. Better communication with parents, he said, would help improve not just attendance but reading and math proficiency, graduation rates and other outcomes. The question that needs to be asked is: Why have those resources not meaningfully connected with students and parents, and why have they not resulted in this explosive experience in terms of educational opportunity? Related Whistleblower: L.A. Schools Chatbot Misused Student Data as Tech Co. Crumbled Carvalho noted Eds ability to understand and communicate in about 100 different languages. And, he crowed, it never goes to sleep so it can answer questions 24/7. He called it an entity that learns and relearns all the time and does nothing more, nothing less than adapt itself to you. I think thats a game changer. But one experienced ed tech insider recalled hearing Carvalho speak about Ed at the conference in April and say it was already solving all the problems that big districts face. The insider, who asked not to be identified in order to speak freely about sensitive matters, found the remarks troubling. The messaging was so wrong that at that point I basically started a stopwatch on how long it would take for the effort to fail. And Im kind of amazed its been this long before it all fell apart. I feel badly about it, I really do, but its not a surprise. A high-risk proposition In addition to the deals dissolution, The 74 reported last week that a former senior director of software engineering at AllHere told district officials, L.A.s independent inspector generals office and state education officials that Ed processed student records in ways that likely ran afoul of the districts own data privacy rules and put sensitive information at risk of being hacked warnings that he said the agencies ignored. AI for Educations Bickerstaff said developers have to take caution when building these systems for schools, especially those like Ed that bring together such large sets of data under one application. These tools, we dont know how they work directly, she said. We know they have bias. And we know theyre not reliable. We know they can be leaky. And so we have to be really careful, especially with kids that have protected data. Alex Spurrier, an associate partner with the education consulting firm Bellwether Education Partners, said what often happens is that district leaders try to go really big and move really fast to adopt a new technology, not fully appreciating that its a really high risk proposition. While ed tech is rife with disaster stories of overpromising and disappointing results, Spurrier said, other districts dare to take a different approach, starting small, iterating and scaling up. In those cases, he said, disaster rarely follows. Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), put it more bluntly: Whenever a district says, Our strategy around AI is to buy a tool, thats a problem. When the district says, For us, AI is a variety of tools and skills that we are working on together, thats when I feel comfortable that were moving in the right direction. Whenever a district says, 'Our strategy around AI is to buy a tool,' that's a problem. Richard Culatta, International Society for Technology in Education Culatta suggested that since generative AI is developing and changing so rapidly, districts should use the next few months as a moment of exploration its a moment to bring in teachers and parents and students to give feedback, he said. It is not the moment for ribbon cutting. Its about exploring Smith-Griffin founded AllHere in 2016 at Harvard Universitys Innovation Labs. In an April interview with The 74, she said she originally envisioned it as a way to help school systems reduce chronic absenteeism through better communication with parents. Many interventions that schools rely on, such as phone calls, postcards and home visits, tend to be heavily reliant on the sheer power of educators to solve system-wide issues, she said. A former middle-school math teacher, Smith-Griffin recalled, I was one of those teachers who was doing phone calls, leaving voicemails, visiting my parents homes. Related A Cautionary AI Tale: Why IBMs Dazzling Watson Supercomputer Made a Lousy Tutor AllHere pioneered text messaging nudges, electronic versions of postcard reminders to families that, in one key study, improved attendance modestly. The companys successful proposal for L.A., Smith-Griffin said, envisioned extending the attendance strategies while applying them to student learning in the most disciplined way possible. You nudge a parent around absences and they will tell you things ranging from, My kid needs tutoring, my kid is struggling with math [to] I struggle with reading, she said. AllHere went one step further, she said, bringing together the full body of resources that a school system can offer parents. The district had high hopes for the chatbot, requiring it to focus on eliminating opportunity gaps, promoting whole-child well-being, building stronger relationships with students and families, and providing accessible information, according to the proposal. In April, it was still in early implementation at 100 of the districts lowest performing priority schools, serving about 55,000 students. LAUSD planned to roll out Ed for all families this fall. The district unplugged the chatbot on June 14, the Los Angeles Times reported last week, but a district spokesperson said L.A. will continue making Ed available as a tool to its students and families and is closely monitoring the potential acquisition of AllHere. The company did not immediately responded to queries about the chatbot or its future. As for the apparent collapse of AllHere, speculation in the ed tech world is rampant. In the podcast he co-hosts, education entrepreneur Ben Kornell said late last month, My spidey sense basically goes to Somethings not adding up here and theres more to the story. He theorized a critical failure point thats yet to emerge because you dont see things like this fall apart this quickly, this immediately for such a small company, especially in the middle of a $6 million contract. My spidey sense basically goes to 'Something's not adding up here and there's more to the story.' Ben Kornell, education entrepreneur Kornell said the possibilities fall into just a few categories: an accounting or financial misstep, a breakdown among AllHeres staff, board and funders or major customer payment issues. The district also may have withheld payment for undelivered products, but he said the sudden collapse of the company seemed unusual. If you are headed towards a cash crisis, the normal thing to do would be: Go to your board, go to your funders, and get a bridge to get you through that period and land the plane. Related Turmoil Surrounds Los Angeles New AI Student Chatbot; Tech Firm Furloughs Staff Bellwethers Spurrier said L.A. deserves a measure of credit for being willing to lean into AI technology and think about ways that it could work. But he wonders whether the best use of generative AI at this moment will be found not in revolutionizing instruction, as L.A. has pursued, but elsewhere. There's plenty of opportunities to think about how AI might help on the administrative side of things, or help folks that are kind of outside the classroom walls. Alex Spurrier, Bellwether Education Partners Theres plenty of opportunities to think about how AI might help on the administrative side of things, or help folks that are kind of outside the classroom walls, rather than focusing on changing how schools deliver instruction. I think thats the wrong place to start. ISTEs Culatta noted that just down the road from Los Angeles, in Santa Ana, California, district officials there responded to the dawn of tools like ChatGPT and Googles Gemini by creating evening classes for adults. The parents come in and they talk about what AI is, how they should be thinking about it, he said. Its about exploring. Its about helping people build their skills. How are your financials? The fate of AllHeres attendance work in districts nationwide isnt clear at the moment. In one large district, the Prince Georges County, Maryland, Public Schools, near Washington, D.C., teachers piloted AllHere with 32 schools as far back as January 2020, spokeswoman Meghan Thornton said. The district added two more schools to the pilot in 2022, but AllHere notified the district on June 18 that, effective immediately, it wouldnt be able to continue its services due to unforeseen financial circumstances. District officials are now looking for another messaging system to replace AllHere should it no longer be available, Thornton said. Related Homeschoolers Embrace AI, Even As Many Educators Keep It at Arms Length Bickerstaff said the field more broadly suffers from a major, major overestimation of the capabilities of the technology to date. L.A., she noted, is the nations second-largest school district, so even the pilot stage likely saw very high usage, raising its costs. She predicted a fast acquisition of AllHere, noting that theyd been looking for outside investment for several months. As founder of the startup Magic School AI, which offers teachers tools to streamline their workload, Adeel Khan is no stranger to hustling for funding and to competitors running out of money. But he said the news about AllHere and Ed was bad for the industry more broadly, leaving districts with questions about whether to partner with newer, untested companies. I see it as something that is certainly not great for the startup ecosystem, he said. I see (AllHeres failure) as something that is certainly not great for the startup ecosystem. Adeel Khan, Magic School AI Even before the news about AllHere broke last month, Khan attended ISTEs big national conference in Denver last month, where he talked to school district officials about prospective partnerships. More than one time I was asked directly, How are your financials? he recalled. Usually technology directors ask about features and what a product can do for students, he said. But theyre beginning to realize that a failed product doesnt just waste time and money. It damages reputations as well. That is on the mind of buyers, he said. When school districts invest in new tech, he said, theyre not just committing to funding it for months or even years, but also to training teachers and others, so they want responsible growth. Theres a lot of disruption to K-12 when a product goes out of business, Khan said. So people remember this. They remember, Hey, we committed to this product. We discovered it at ISTE two years ago and we loved it. It was great and its not here anymore. And we dont want to go through that again. COLUMBIA, Mo. A swift water rescue in Columbia, Missouri, turned deadly when the rescue boat capsized. Assistant Chief Matthew Tobben, Boone County Fire Protection District, had recently relocated to Boone County after serving in Union, Missouri, for a number of years. There were multiple water rescues going on at the same time. Hence why the Boone County Fire Department was called in to assist the Columbia Fire Department because they had crews on other water rescues already, Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp, Boone County Fire Protection District, said. Blomenkamp said a Columbia firefighter and Tobben jumped in a boat around 4:30 a.m. Monday for a rescue near Rangeline and Bear Creek. They were in the process of taking them to dry ground, obviously, when the boat lost power. They called for mayday. The boat capsized, Blomenkamp said. He said four people were thrown from the boat; three of them were rescued. Tobben never resurfaced. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Chief Tobben got entangled and we found him about 40 or 50 feet from the boat where he had drowned, Blomenkamp said. Blomenkamp said Tobben is known across the state with a long list of credentials, having served as the Assistant Fire Chief in Union for a number of years before taking a new role in May with Boone County, teaching rescue boat operations. We lost a good one today, but the state of Missouri and the country lost another good one as well, because hes been on many deployments and helped many people across this country, Blomenkamp said. Tobben had been part of Missouri Task Force 1 for 12 years, participating in countless water rescues, including one last Wednesday. There are a lot of people across this country and across the state that probably owe their lives to this man, Blomenkamp said. Tobben leaves behind a wife and their two young children. Blomenkamp said the department is asking for prayers for Tobbens 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 FOX 2. The Louisiana Board of Ethics will face challenges conducting its business in the next five months under a new state law that gives Gov. Jeff Landry more control over the body. Senate Bill 497, sponsored by Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, expands the number of ethics board members from 11 to 15 members but doesnt add those extra four members until January.Starting in August, however, the board will have to operate under a higher quorum threshold to issue opinions and launch ethics investigations. The Louisiana Board of Ethics Board may face difficulties operating over the next few months under a new law. Next month, the number of members required to hold a meeting will jump from six to eight of the current 11 members. Ten of 11 board members, instead of eight, will need to be present in order for the board to move forward with investigations of a potential ethics violation, said Kathleen Allen, the boards administrator. The state ethics board already struggles at times to maintain a quorum under its current threshold. At its July meeting last week, nine members were present, which would not be enough to move forward with ethics investigations under the incoming law next month. Board chairwoman La Koshia Roberts said the board also had to adjourn early at one of its meetings earlier this year when they couldnt find six members to constitute a quorum. Its imperative that we attend as consistently as possible, Roberts of Lake Charles told her fellow board members Wednesday. Now it is going to be even more difficult to conduct the states business. The ethics board oversees elected officials, political candidates and public employees for potential violations of state ethics rules, including conflicts of interest and campaign finance reporting failures. People confidentially report concerns about government officials to the board, and then the board decides whether the matter merits further investigation. Under existing law, the governor and lawmakers had to pick ethics board members from a list of people recommended by the leaders of Louisianas private colleges and universities. Landry and legislators removed that barrier. Starting in January, Landry will get to pick nine of the 15 board members directly. Legislators will pick the other six. All of the appointments will be subject to Louisiana Senate confirmation. There are some remaining restrictions as to who can serve as a board member. The members are still not allowed to hold state contracts and they cant give political donations or volunteer on political campaigns, according to Allen. At least one board member must also come from each congressional district, she said. The governor and legislators also will be encouraged to create a board with five retired judges, five elected officials and five people who have never held elected office to the extent practicable, under the new law. Board member Alfred Speer doubts Landry and legislators will be able to find five retired judges who would want to take the ethics job. If judges sit on the ethics board, then they have to give up any part-time work they have presiding in court.We would never have 15 members because he cant have five judges come down here for the pay we get when they could sit as an ad hoc judge, Speer, who served as the Louisiana House clerk for four decades, said at last weeks meeting. The board also will need to reconfigure the dais where the members sit and conduct hearings every month in downtown Baton Rouge. The structure doesnt have enough room for 15 members currently. Government transparency advocates widely panned the decision to give the governor more control over the ethics board, saying it could lead to cronyism and corruption. Landry has also been in a dispute with the board over one of his own violations for the past year. The board charged Landry with failing to disclose trips taken on a campaign donors private plane to and from Hawaii. At the time, Landry was going to and from a work conference as Louisianas attorney general. Landry and the board members are still in negotiations about what an appropriate punishment for his violation should be. The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized. This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Louisiana Board of Ethics faces higher quorum hurdle under new law The Louisiana Board of Ethics Board may face difficulties operating over the next few months under a new law. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator). The Louisiana Board of Ethics will face challenges conducting its business over the next five months under a new state law that gives Gov. Jeff Landry more control over the body. Senate Bill 497, sponsored by Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, expands the number of ethics board members from 11 to 15 members but doesnt add those extra four members until January. Starting in August, however, the board will have to operate under a higher quorum threshold to issue opinions and launch ethics investigations. Next month, the number of members required to hold a meeting will jump from six to eight of the current 11 members. Ten of 11 board members, instead of eight, will need to be present in order for the board to move forward with investigations of a potential ethics violation, said Kathleen Allen, the boards administrator. The state ethics board already struggles at times to maintain a quorum under its current threshold. At its July meeting last week, nine members were present, which would not be enough to move forward with ethics investigations under the incoming law next month. Board chairwoman La Koshia Roberts said the board also had to adjourn early at one of its meetings earlier this year when they couldnt find six members to constitute a quorum. Its imperative that we attend as consistently as possible, Roberts of Lake Charles told her fellow board members Wednesday. Now it is going to be even more difficult to conduct the states business. The ethics board oversees elected officials, political candidates and public employees for potential violations of state ethics rules, including conflicts of interest and campaign finance reporting failures. People confidentially report concerns about government officials to the board, and then the board decides whether the matter merits further investigation. Under existing law, the governor and lawmakers had to pick ethics board members from a list of people recommended by the leaders of Louisianas private colleges and universities. Landry and legislators removed that barrier. Starting in January, Landry will get to pick nine of the 15 board members directly. Legislators will pick the other six. All of the appointments will be subject to Louisiana Senate confirmation. There are some remaining restrictions as to who can serve as a board member. The members are still not allowed to hold state contracts and they cant give political donations or volunteer on political campaigns, according to Allen. At least one board member must also come from each congressional district, she said. The governor and legislators will also be encouraged to create a board with five retired judges, five elected officials and five people who have never held elected office to the extent practicable, under the new law. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Board member Alfred Speer doubts Landry and legislators will be able to find five retired judges who would want to take the ethics job. If judges sit on the ethics board, then they have to give up any part-time work they have presiding in court. We would never have 15 members because he cant have five judges come down here for the pay we get when they could sit as an ad hoc judge, Speer, who served as the Louisiana House clerk for four decades, said at last weeks meeting. The board will also need to reconfigure the dais where the members sit and conduct hearings every month in downtown Baton Rouge. The structure doesnt have enough room for 15 members currently. Government transparency advocates widely panned the decision to give the governor more control over the ethics board, saying it could lead to cronyism and corruption. Landry has also been in a dispute with the board over one of his own violations for the past year. The board charged Landry with failing to disclose trips taken on a campaign donors private plane to and from Hawaiil. At the time, Landry was going to and from a work conference as Louisianas attorney general. Landry and the board members are still in negotiations about what an appropriate punishment for his violation should be. The post Louisiana ethics board faces higher quorum hurdle under new law appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Louisiana GOP megadonor Lane Grigsby circulated a draft of constitutional changes to lawmakers Tuesday. (Photo credit: Wesley Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) Louisiana lawmakers will not attempt to override vetoes Gov. Jeff Landry has issued this year. An overwhelming majority of legislators in the House and the Senate returned forms indicating they did not want to hold a veto session. The deadline to turn in that paperwork was Monday night. The lawmakers decision was expected. Gov. Jeff Landry, a conservative Republican, and the GOP-dominated Legislature are politically aligned, and veto overrides are unusual in Louisiana. Lawmakers have held just three veto override sessions, all from the past three years when a politically divided government was in place. From 2021 to 2023, the Republican-controlled Legislature had more incentive to publicly challenge the vetoes of then-Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, than they do with Landry. But even if they didnt attempt to undo Landrys decisions, conservative legislators have complained about the governors vetoes. Landry rejected 27 bills in total and a handful of individual items out of three state budget bills. Some of the vetoed measures that have angered legislative leaders did not pass with enough votes to carry out a successful override, however. The bills only needed a majority in each chamber to get to the governors desk but would need more votes, two-thirds, for a veto overturn. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE For example, House Bill 423, by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, would have further capped damages that an auto accident victim can seek from the insurance company of the driver at fault. While popular with conservative legislators, it didnt receive a two-thirds vote in either chamber, making a veto override unlikely. Other vetoed bills that have gained attention include House Bill 391, by Rep. Delisha Boyd, D-New Orleans, that would have made it easier for people to receive pardons for minor marijuana offenses. This legislation did not receive two-thirds of the House members support, which would have made the veto difficult to override. Landry also removed language from the state courts budget that required judges to participate in a workload study in exchange for receiving a pay stipend this year. That bill passed unanimously, though its unclear how strongly legislators would feel about the one rejected provision, which was among dozens of other funding items in the document. Eighty-eight out of 105 House members and 33 of 39 senators elected not to return for a veto override session. To see a list of House members who returned a ballot declaring they didnt want a veto session, click here. To see a list of Senate members who returned a ballot, go here. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Louisiana legislators decide not to override Jeff Landry vetoes, as expected appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. As promised, the Louisiana parents challenging the legality of required Ten Commandments displays in K-12 and college classrooms formally asked a judge Monday to stop the new state law from going into effect. Schools have until Jan. 1, 2025, to meet the requirements of the law that calls for posters at least 11 by 14 inches large to be prominently displayed in every classroom, but the commandments could go up as soon as next month when students return to school. Nine families have sued the state, arguing the new law amounts to the state endorsing a religion and conflicts with the First Amendment. The plaintiffs filed a motion Monday for a preliminary injunction, which would stop schools from posting displays while the court case plays out. A 42-year-old Ten Commandments sculpture is on display in front of city hall June 27, 2001 in Grand Junction, Colo. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles of Louisianas Middle District in Baton Rouge, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, is presiding over the case. If he grants the injunction, it would prevent any school from placing Ten Commandments displays once the school year begins. As argued in the brief, these displays will violate long-standing Supreme Court precedent, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, one of the groups representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said in a statement. More than 40 years ago, in Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court overturned a similar (Kentucky) state law, holding that the separation of church and state bars public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Plaintiffs attorneys also note in the brief that the new law calls for a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments, which differs from those recognized by the Catholic and Jewish faiths. Defendants in the case include Louisiana Education Superintendent Cade Brumley, members of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the school boards of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Orleans, St. Tammany and Vernon parishes. Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 71, which required the Ten Commandments displays at any school that accepts state money, which would include public universities. The governor said he welcomed a lawsuit challenging the statutes constitutionality. The plaintiffs also filed a motion for an expedited hearing for the preliminary injunction, which seeks a decision from deGravelles to block Ten Commandments displays before the school year begins. The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized. This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Parents seek injunction to block Ten Commandments displays in lawsuit TEHRAN, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday reaffirmed Tehran's support for Syria during a phone call with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. During the call, the two sides discussed the future development of the bilateral ties, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency. Pezeshkian highlighted the necessity to strengthen the bilateral ties and implement the previously signed agreements between the two countries in line with their peoples' interests, the report said. Assad, for his part, said that the importance of the Syria-Iran ties, based on "mutual faithfulness and certain principles," lies in the resistance against the colonial hegemony in a "tumultuous" region. Pezeshkian was announced as Iran's next president on Saturday following his victory in a runoff against Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator. Greenberg says Louisville, Biden agendas align following call with the president Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg welcomed everyone to the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Blieden Family Playground. The new accessible playground at the Trager Family JCC, provides specifically designed elements for children of all capabilities to play together and is open to the entire Louisville community. May 13, 2024 Following a virtual meeting with Joe Biden and a group of Democratic mayors, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he supports the sitting president and plans to vote for his reelection. The Tuesday night conversation focused on Biden's "accomplishments during his first term" and "bold agenda" for a second one, focused specifically on what it would look like for cities, said Greenberg. "Their agenda is the same as our agenda here in Louisville," he said. Greenberg emphasized "community policing," improving gun safety, creating jobs, increasing affordable housing, expanding childhood learning with federal support and "protecting women's reproductive freedoms" as examples of where Louisville and Biden's agendas align. Biden has recently worked to rally support from Democratic party leaders following the June 27 presidential debate against Donald Trump, which left Democratic donors and activists unsure about his reelection and some calling for Biden to drop out of the race. During the Tuesday call, Greenberg said Biden acknowledged the debate was a "bad night" for him. "There's no question about that," Greenberg said. "President Biden does not contest that, but he is committed to moving forward." When asked if he believes Biden should drop out, Greenberg reiterated: "I support President Biden." He added there would be a "clear difference" between the administrations of Biden and Trump. The president also met with 24 Democratic governors last week at the White House, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who some have floated as a possible vice presidential or presidential nominee. Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville mayor voices support for Biden after call with the president Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) is leaning into Democratic concerns about President Bidens age and ability as she aims to convince House Democrats to support her move to fine Attorney General Merrick Garland over his refusal to turn over audio tapes from Bidens interview with special counsel Robert Hur. In a letter to Democratic colleagues being sent Tuesday and first shared with The Hill, Luna said the Democratic anxiety over Biden in wake of his poor debate performance against President Trump last month should also fuel their desire to support her resolution. What America saw at the first presidential debate leaves no question that Congress needs to hear Special Counsel Robert Hurs tapes from his interview with President Joe Biden. President Bidens performance was so concerning to all of us who watched that even before the debate had ended, people were questioning his ability to continue as president, Luna said in the letter. Even many of you had to make the difficult decision to call for President Biden to drop out of the race. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, and we must act swiftly. Luna plans to move this week to call up her resolution to hold Garland in inherent contempt of Congress and fine him $10,000 each day that he declines to turn over the tapes. Forcing a vote on the matter, however, can be a risky move in the slim House GOP majority, as some members of her own party remain skeptical of her tactic. It is now evident that Congress must hear these tapes. After repeated attempts by the House to gain access to the Hur tapes, the White House has made it clear that the only way for us to listen to them is to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress and compel him to release the tapes, Luna continued. This action is not a matter of partisanship but of national security. Our duty as Members of Congress, regardless of who is in the White House, is to demand accountability and transparency for the American people. That is why I am asking that we unite in this cause for the greater good of the nation. In a report detailing why he would not seek to charge Biden over his handing of classified documents, the special counsel said any jury would likely see Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory, citing portions of the October interview in which Biden had trouble remembering dates or arguments about Afghanistan policy. Bidens counsel retorted that the gratuitous language by Hur is not supported by the facts, nor is it appropriately used by a federal prosecutor in this context. The Department of Justice (DOJ) provided the House a written transcript of the conversation, and Biden has claimed executive privilege over the tapes. But Republicans argue that because the DOJ provided the transcript, it cannot withhold the audio, which it says it needs to ensure the transcript is accurate. In her letter, Luna outlined the precedent for using inherent contempt and argued that its use demonstrates the seriousness with which Congress views non-compliance and the potential consequences for those who refuse to cooperate. House Republicans last month voted to hold Garland in regular contempt of Congress over keeping the tapes, and last week the House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit to force Garland to turn over the tapes. But Luna has countered that a lawsuit could take years. Lunas latest inherent contempt resolution is toned down from an original version on which she had planned to force a vote last month. That version would have directed the House sergeant-at-arms to arrest and detain Garland after the House held him in inherent contempt. That idea faced public opposition from two House Republicans, though. And after several discussions with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on the House floor, Luna did not call up her resolution. She had also said attendance issues on the GOP side in the slim House majority were a factor in not forcing a vote on the matter. Getting support from Democrats would help offset any GOP opposition to her new resolution, though it is highly unlikely. All Democrats opposed the Republican contempt resolution last month. The current situation requires us to act, and we cannot remain complicit by shielding a president who has tried to hide his cognitive condition from us, Luna wrote in the letter to Democratic colleagues. We must know whether the president can do his job, and Special Counsel Hurs tapes will provide us with the best evidence of whether the president is mentally fit. When the future of the legislative branch and our nations national security is at stake, Congress must respond with the appropriate measure. Another letter that Luna sent to Republican colleagues about her resolution Monday similarly outlined the inherent contempt process, and stressed congressional authority. The executive branch will continue to withhold information from Congress if there are no consequences for their actions. It is imperative that Congress uses its inherent contempt powers and fine the Attorney General until he complies with the subpoena, Luna said in the letter to Republican colleagues. In that letter, she said Congress cannot rely on the courts to enforce its subpoenas. This takes too much time and, just as with the executive, requires Congress to rely on another branch. We must remain vigilant and assert our authority to ensure the balance of power in our republic, Luna 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. Former acting ICE director Thomas Homan apparently knowsor at least thinks he knowswho will be the next ICE director if Donald Trump wins the November election: former acting ICE director Thomas Homan. If Trump gets back in in January, Ill be on his heels coming back. And I will run the biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen. So Homan thundered at NatCon 4, the fourth annual conference of the so-called national conservatives, a right-wing faction aligned with Donald Trump. Homan, who was never confirmed as Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, was acting director from January 2017 through June 2018. Hes closely associated with the family-separation policy. This Washington, D.C., conference is basically a big Trump campaign rally, and Homan is a perfect distillation of the Trump-guy style: He uses a lot of mild profanity, in the familiar TV-cop mode, speaks about himself in the third person a great deal (referring to himself that way about a dozen times in a relatively short presentation), and relies on that weird combination of triumphalist bluster and poor-me-the-Washington-Post-is-so-mean-to-us conservative-victimhood stuff that is the hallmark of the genre. He couldnt be any Trumpier if he were selling third-rate pillows. This isnt the first time hes made that promise about mass deportation. In 2023, he told Fox News: People say, How are you going to remove millions? The answer is: One at a time. No ones off the table. If youre in the country illegally in violation of immigration law, you are a target. The mood of the audience at the immigration panel was borderline hysteria, but the mood of the panel itself was relatively placid. Thats part of the weirdness of NatCon: These people talk about themselves as if they were this radical new movement thinking big thoughts nobody has ever thought before, but on the immigration paneland immigration is the issue for a lot of these peopleyouve got Mark Krikorian saying the same things in the same way hes been saying them for decades. Thats no slight to Krikorian: Agree with his immigration views or detest them, he is a smart activist with a long record on the issue, and a serious man. Too serious, in fact: During Q-and-A, one member of the audience insisted that the recent rush at the border is all about importing voters before the presidential election, and, when Krikorian demurred and suggested that there might be more to it, she screamed at him that he didnt really understand the issue. Krikorian has been director of the Center for Immigration Studies for a quarter-century, but the lady who saw something on Facebook last week is sure that hes just a patsy who doesnt get it. But NatCon 4 isnt Krikorians first rodeo, and that wasnt his first clown. It isnt just Krikorian, of course. Wandering around this gathering of the new new new thing on the right, I see endless people I know from the old old old version of conservative activism, including several veterans of National Review cruises. And theres my friend and former National Review editor John OSullivan, who runs a think tank in Budapest these days, and former National Review publisher Jack Fowler, and sundry old-line personifications of the dead consensus. Panelists heap praise on Ronald Reagan and quote William F. Buckley Jr. Unlike a lot of the people you meet in these quarters, Krikorian has a pretty well spelled-out policy agenda. The problem with the asylum system, he argues, isnt that the system is abused, but that the system itself creates bad incentives and essentially robs democratic governments of the ability to make political decisions about who enters and on what terms. So, what to do? Fixing the problem with asylum must start with withdrawing from the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Protocol [Relating to the Status of Refugees]. Just that? And the Convention against Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. All of those create rights forhis wordinfiltrators. That illegal immigrants are infiltrators in a more formal sensepart of a program undertaken by Beijingis very much on Homans mind. Something is coming, he says. You dont have 57,000 Chinese military-aged males enter the country without cooperation from China. And it isnt just China: Its 32,000 Russians. Its coming from Turkey, Uzbekistan. God help us. Without discounting the possibility that the ladies and gentlemen in Washington are grossly underestimating the Uzbek menace, it is possible that some of these threats are being exaggerated. Theo Wold, another panelist, speaks with a shaking voice of the ever-increasing number of young women raped and murdered by illegal aliens present in this country, although such crime is not, in fact, ever-increasing. Wold is a Claremont Institute guy and a former solicitor general of Idaho, and he rages that liberal immigration rules combined with corporate diversity programs disadvantaging native-born whites amount to the colonization of America. Kevin Lynn of Progressives for Immigration Reform closes out the session by arguing that the problem is immigration per se, not illegal immigration or the anarchy at the border. He describes the attitudes of Silicon Valley executives as: Please replace us, just do it legally. Weirdly, he attributes that sentiment to Elon Musk of Pretoria, who was a foreign student in Canada before he was an immigrant to the United States. Astounding as the fact may be, the guy who made his fortune in America after relocating from South Africa via a third country has a view of immigration that is not identical to that of the former solicitor general of Idaho. If the so-called national conservatives have different ideas about immigration than the old immigration restrictionists did, they havent thought them through any better or become any better at explaining them. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Landlord Jarek Darecki plans to sell his portfolio of properties because new regulations make it harder to turn a profit - John Nguyen/JNVisuals Landlords are selling up over fears Labours ban on no-fault evictions will leave them tens of thousands of pounds worse off and unable to evict law-breaking tenants. Labour has pledged to outlaw Section 21 evictions from day one a move that has sparked panic among investors who fear that a ban without a review of the courts could leave them locked out of their homes. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has also said she is in favour of rent caps. The move would allow councils to prevent landlords from raising their rents above a threshold every year. The crackdown has raised fears that the Renters Reform bill designed to empower tenants will instead drive up rents which are already at a record high. A similar move in Scotland, introduced by Nicola Sturgeon, backfired and led to higher rents and a reduction in housing supply, making the country a no-go zone for investors. Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said in June that the swift introduction of the controls had made investors really nervous. Landlords across the UK are similarly nervous about what the new Labour Government could introduce in its first weeks in power. Several told The Telegraph that they would sell up if the Government put more pressure on investors and banned no-fault evictions. One landlord, Jarek Darecki, 50, said that increased regulation has made it harder financially to be a landlord. He said: If Labour abolishes Section 21 completely and if they are going to put in place rent caps, then I will be putting properties on the market. Mr Darecki said he had suffered losses as a result of unpaid rent. In one instance a tenant was able to stay in a 3,000-a-month London property without paying rent for two years before he was able to reclaim it. There is no support for landlords, while there are organisations to tell tenants how to avoid paying rent, said Mr Darecki, who lost 72,000 from the property in total. Half of Mr Dareckis portfolio of 50 properties are holiday lets and the other half are long-term rentals spread across north-east London, Nottingham, Wales and Wakefield. If Labours changes go ahead, he said he would also consider converting his business model to operating holiday lets only, leaving the long-term private rental sector. There are also fears that Labour could go further than Section 21. In opposition the party pushed to ban landlords from selling their properties in the first two years of a new tenancy, extending the current limit by 18 months. Labour also used the debate on the Renters Reform Bill to apply a hardship test allowing courts to refuse a possession order of a rented property if it would cause greater hardship to the tenant than the landlord. Story continues Any changes would come on top of those introduced under the last Conservative government, which landlords say have made it harder to operate. In 2020, the party ended tax relief on mortgage interest payments, increasing costs for landlords just as the cost of borrowing has shot up. Im selling up when my tenants leave Margaret Melrose has already started selling off her rentals portfolio - John Nguyen/JNVisuals Margaret Melrose, 70, has four rental properties, three of which are in London. Shes already started selling off her portfolio as her tenants leave. It was the growing weight of regulation on landlords that pushed her over the edge, she said. But I will not go to those who are good tenants and say Im selling up, you need to move. You cant do that to people, its their home. Ms Melrose first became a landlord by accident, opting to keep a property she once lived in and rent it out, rather than sell up, but decided to add to her portfolio to boost her pension. Now shes waiting to see what Labour will introduce, but is going to keep selling. It will depend on what Labour does, but I am not going to change my business plan at the moment, she said. Legislation against landlords will drive up rents Michael Mortimer, a 34-year-old landlord and estate agent from the North East, said: I hope that Labour arent as direct with the attack as the Tories have been. He said that he had been contacted by landlords of up to 30 years standing to sell their portfolios ahead of further reform. He warned his clients were worried about the abolition of Section 21 and the introduction of rent controls. Landlords have been coming to me and telling me theyre planning to sell, he said. There is still the problem of the gap between supply and demand in housing. I know that Labour are going to legislate against landlords, which I think has the opposite effect of what they want. The young investor said that increased legislation could push up rents, as landlords look to get out of the market, leaving fewer homes available for rent. Even the talk of the Renters Reform Bill has driven up rents, he said. Weve been making sure that rents are at the right level now, in case any rent controls brought in. Weve been making sure that the tenants we take into our properties are really properly vetted and referenced, and with guarantors, to minimise the risk. Because obviously if the Renters Reform Bill comes in, then [there will be] no no-fault evictions. Mr Mortimer warned that tenants might also face much more stringent referencing checks as a result of further legislative changes. The more laws, the better my rents will go up Richard Aylward, a buy-to-let investor, intends to purchase properties cheaply from the landlords selling up - Jay Williams But Richard Aylward, 64, a buy-to-let investor whose main goal is income generation, said he wasnt worried about the crackdown on landlords. Mr Aylward, who said he wasnt aware of the result of the election until The Telegraph called him, said: Its not going to make any difference to me. The landlord said that his plan was to buy cheap from those fleeing the market, and that he bought a new property a couple of weeks ago. From my point of view, the more laws they bring in, the better, because it means more people will leave the landlord sector, there will be fewer properties available and my rents will go up, he said. The landlord explained: I have no issues with any changes to the law because they still need the private rental sector, and the more they push them into the ground, the more will leave, and the remaining ones will just have higher value properties. It doesnt make sense to do that. Mr Aylward said he has already stopped using Section 21 eviction notices, preferring to use a debt collection agency instead. With Section 21 accelerated possession orders, you have to give up your right to all past rents so you lose thousands of pounds. I just use a debt collection company, and send in the details and forget about it, and later I get my money back. 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. Updated at 20:10: The German news agency DPA published Macron's statement on opponents of Ukraine joining NATO, then deleted it, stating that Macron did not say the quotes ascribed to him. Ukrainska Pravda and European Pravda apologises to readers for the incident that occurred. The following is an early version of the article. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the US and Germany are the main opponents of Ukraines accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. Source: DPA, as reported by European Pravda Details: Ahead of the NATO summit in Washington, DC, Macron said that there was strong opposition to inviting Ukraine to join NATO from the US and Germany. "In the end, it will be a decision by the allies to invite Ukraine to join NATO," he said. Macron recalled last years NATO summit in Vilnius, which Kyiv was not invited to attend, despite public criticism from Ukraine. "Ukrainians were quite annoyed when they concluded that the door [to NATO] was open, but not that much. And I think the scenario for the Washington summit is the same," Macron said. Background: Several media previously reported the US and Germanys opposition to Ukraines accession to NATO. At the same time, Ukraines path to NATO is described as "irreversible" in the draft communique of the NATO summit in Washington. Support UP or become our patron! MAGA candidate Royce White, who is running to unseat Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota, shared a fake Taylor Swift endorsement of President Joe Biden on his X account on Monday. The endorsement came in the form of an image of Swift alongside the Biden-Harris 2024 logo, and the quote under their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs. In his post, White added, Are people really that gullible? Wow! The healing process of sex transitions? #Godspeed, White wrote in his post on X. Are people really that gullible? Wow! The healing process of sex transitions? #Godspeed pic.twitter.com/x1VI5HSzpB Royce White (@Highway_30) July 8, 2024 While the quote is realSwift said it during an interview with V Magazine in 2020she has not endorsed Biden this election cycle. First Coast News, a Jacksonville, Florida-based NBC affiliate station, originally created the image in October 2020 after Swifts interview with V Magazine, however the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign banner was edited onto the image. Hidden in a sea of reposted clips from Alex Jones, Steve Bannon, and other right-wing pundits, the fake Taylor Swift endorsement is nothing new for White. Alex Jones Was Right written on the head of Royce White. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images White has previously shared an image of water fountains in Minneapolis that he wrongly claimed was a map of out-of-control crimes in the city. He also wrote Alex Jones Was Right in Sharpie on his head and believes Jewish elites control the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, as The Daily Beast first reported, White is on the hook for $100,000 in child support payments and his previous campaign has been accused of blowing campaign money, including $5,500 in bills, at the Gold Rush Cabaret strip club in Miami and on luxury car rentals. The Daily Beast reached out to the Royce White campaign for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publishing. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) assured the National Conservatism conference on Monday that he is a Christian Nationalist. Hawley has previously written that America as we know it cannot survive without biblical Christianity, reiterated his Christian nationalist bona fides for the conservative conference. Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. And so I am, Hawley told the crowd. And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do. "Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian Nation. So I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian Nationalism. And so I do." -Senator @HawleyMO at NatCon 4 pic.twitter.com/yyJsA0BIkf National Conservatism (@NatConTalk) July 9, 2024 Christian nationalism founded American democracy. The Christian political tradition is our political tradition. the Missouri senator added. Hawley also railed against the GOP platform, which recently dropped a national abortion ban from its agenda, telling the crowd that Republicans are threatening to drop from the platform the partys commitment to life and marriage. Hawley and his wife, Erin, who recently argued in front of the Supreme Court to ban the abortion pill, mifepristone, are among some of the most outspoken anti-abortion voices. Hawley suggested that we should take down the trans flag from all the federal buildings from which its flying, and instead, inscribe on every federal building our national motto: In God We Trust? The Missouri senator has previously echoed the Heritage Foundations President and Project 2025 creator Kevin Roberts call for a revolution against the godless liberal elites. Should the authorities break the terms of Gods delegation of governance and assault the peoples freedoms, then the people had a right to defend themselves, even to rebel. Hawley wrote in his piece for the Christian publication, First Things. Editors Note: This article previously referred to Josh Hawley as a Catholic. He is a member of a non-denominational church. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. ULAN BATOR, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian parliament, also known as the State Great Khural, approved a law outlining the structure and composition of the new coalition government early Wednesday. According to the law, the new government comprises a prime minister, 22 ministers, and 16 ministries. On Monday, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), the Democratic Party (DP), and the Hun Party, meaning "Person" in Mongolian, signed a memorandum of understanding to form a coalition government. The coalition aims to swiftly address Mongolia's development challenges, consider critical international relations and geopolitical situations, and emphasize national unity, according to the parties. The MPP secured a narrow victory in the parliamentary elections on June 28, winning 68 of the 126 seats. The DP obtained 42 seats, the Hun Party secured eight seats, and the Civil Will-Green Party and the National Coalition each secured four seats. Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, chairman of the MPP, was re-elected last week for a second four-year term as Mongolia's prime minister, and he is expected to appoint his cabinet ministers soon. (Photo: Getty Images) As record-breaking heat waves cripple the West, air conditioning units and swamp coolers have malfunctioned or stopped working in at least three Nevada state corrections facilities. We havent had air conditioning for at least 45 days, Leslie Meier, who is incarcerated at Jean Conservation Camp, located about 20 miles outside Las Vegas, told the Current. Im a cook, and on the line, its at least 150 degrees. Whenever those incarcerated submit a grievance, a formal process seeking to resolve an issue, Meier said officials tell them the parts on the way, or the part is just purchased, and nobody has come out to fix it. Teri Vance, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Corrections, confirmed in an email that High Desert State Prison, located about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas, along with Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City and Jean Conservation Camp all had issues with cooling units. Two swamp coolers at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center stopped working Sunday, Vance said. She didnt specify when High Desert or Jean Conservation Camp first began experiencing problems with their units. The Current asked if any people have experienced heat-related illnesses in any of the facilities. NDOC didnt answer. Prison advocacy groups warned corrections officials at the June 28 Board of Prison Commissioner meeting that they were receiving frantic calls from people incarcerated at High Desert. NDOC Director James Dzurenda told the board, which includes Gov. Joe Lombardo, Attorney General Aaron Ford and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, there werent any health or safety concerns at that time. He said air conditioning units take a strain during summer months and officials were implementing measures to keep prison units under 85 degrees, the current state standard. At the time of the June meeting, Southern Nevada had record-breaking temperatures throughout the month with temperatures more than 10 degrees higher than is normally in June, according to the National Weather Service. Extreme heat persisted in July with Las Vegas reaching 120 degrees, breaking its previous record of 117 degrees. The Reno-Sparks area also experienced a heat wave with temperatures climbing to 105 degrees. Vance said there were various factors contributing to why the swamp coolers in two units at High Desert State Prison were no longer working hard water becoming corrosive, temperatures reaching so high the coolers are insufficient to combat the heat, and humidity reducing the effectiveness of the coolers. She said commercial-sized swamp coolers and industrial fans are scheduled to arrive at the prison this week. These measures should mitigate the issues at High Desert State Prison until long-term solutions are found, Vance said. She added the temperatures were being monitored daily to ensure they dont exceed 85 degrees. If temperatures approach 85 degrees or become too uncomfortable, offenders will be transferred to open cells throughout the state, she added. Cold drinking water and ice will also be provided in units with non-functioning swamp coolers until repairs are completed. At Jean Conservation Camp, where the air condition unit in the kitchen stopped working, Vance said replacement parts have been difficult to source due to the age of the unit. The facility is using styrofoam trays during meal service in order to reduce clean up and limit the time workers are in the kitchen. Dinner service is being fed in the housing units, which do have air conditioning, Vance said. Breakfast will remain in the dining room, as the temperatures are not as hot in the morning as they are in the afternoon and evening. One of the swamp coolers that broke Sunday at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center has since been repaired. Vance said the facility is using evaporative coolers along with water and ice in the unit where the other swamp cooler is malfunctioning. She didnt say when it is expected to be repaired. Reporter Dana Gentry contributed to this report. A 55-year-old man was stabbed to death during a Tuesday clash between tenants inside a Times Square supportive housing residence, police said. The victim was knifed in the torso during a fight inside the site, called Breaking Ground, on W. 43rd St. near Eighth Ave. around 12:50 a.m., cops said. Medics rushed the victim, who lived at the residence, to Mount Sinai West, where he later died. His name was not immediately released. Suspect Kevin Yong, 38, who also lives in the residence, was arrested at the scene and charged with manslaughter. His arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending Tuesday. The building was a Times Square hotel that fell into disrepair before Breaking Ground took it over in 1991. The massive building now provides affordable housing and onsite supportive services for low-income and formerly homeless adults, people with serious mental illness and people living with HIV and AIDS. Pedro Reyes, 61, has been living in a studio apartment in the building since a fire destroyed his Bronx apartment earlier this year. When I woke up in the morning I saw the cops at the end of the hall and someone told me, You know what? They killed somebody, Reyes said. It really freaked me out, because I live here with my wife. Residents told the Daily News they believe most people living in the building suffer with drug addiction or mental illness. Their big problem is mental illness, said Eduardo Rodriguez, 75. They take them to a place, they give them medication and say, Take this medication everyday. How these guys gonna take their medication when theyre crazy? Still, the killing came as a shock to Reyes, he said. You see everything here, he remarked. Suicides, crimes, people smoking crack someone freaking out in the hallway. Breaking Ground said the organization was profoundly saddened by the tragic incident. Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the victims family and friends, it said in a statement. We are committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our tenants and are actively providing support services to the community at the Times Square. The slaying comes as cops try to get a handle on an uptick in murders and assaults in and around Times Square. By the end of June, cops had investigated three murders in the Times Square area this year, one more than by this time last year. There had also been a 10% jump in assaults, from 238 to 264. There were also four shootings, two more than last year, cops said. The assaults included a bloody brawl on Broadway near W. 46th St. that left one man stabbed on June 27 and an incident where a man was stabbed with a machete during a Times Square turf war among CD vendors at W. 45th St. and Broadway on May 30. Man accused of attacking bike rider in Boulder: Can you identify him? Man accused of attacking bike rider in Boulder: Can you identify him? DENVER (KDVR) Boulder police are hoping to identify a man accused of assaulting a bicyclist on Sunday. A community member reported to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office that while riding his bike eastbound on Walnut Street near Ninth Street, he encountered a man walking westbound. The area is only two blocks from Boulders Pearl Street Mall. Its unclear when the incident occurred on Sunday. Man visiting Boulder injured in hit-and-run crash According to police, the walking man allegedly put his arm out parallel to the ground, almost as if he was going to clothesline the victim. The man on his bike could not stop in time, and the suspect then made an uppercut motion, striking the victim in the face. This embedded content is not available in your region. Lets hold this person accountable, Boulder, the agency posted. People should be able to freely walk around this beautiful city without being attacked. Boulder police shared video footage of a man who had allegedly attacked a bike rider on Sunday, July 7. Boulder police shared video footage of a man who had allegedly attacked a bike rider on Sunday, July 7. The agency shared footage captured by the victim after the attack of the suspect continuing to walk on Walnut Street, and also stopping cars and yelling at the drivers, although no audio was shared with the video. Anyone with information about the attack or the suspects identity is asked to contact the Boulder Police Departments dispatch at 303-441-3333, case number 24-6630. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man accused of child rape arrested after spending over a decade on the run, WA cops say A man who spent more than a decade on the run after being accused of raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl has been arrested, Washington deputies say. The United States Marshals Service arrested Robert Jennings Vandivier on July 2, after he spent nearly a dozen years evading authorities, the Stevens County Sheriffs Office said in a July 8 Facebook post. Deputies said they first began an investigation into Vandivier in June 2009, when he was accused of impregnating a Colville girl. The 14-year-old gave birth to a child in December 2009, and detectives had to wait for DNA lab results to confirm Vandivier was the father, according to deputies. Three years later, in November 2012, a warrant for his arrest was issued, deputies said. But it was too late, deputies said. Vandivier had vanished. Multiple agencies, including members of the sheriffs office and U.S. Marshals Service, set out to locate Vandivier in June. On July 2, federal agents found and arrested Vandivier in Arizona on his outstanding warrant, third-degree rape of a child, deputies said. I look forward to the opportunity to finally seek justice for these crimes, Prosecuting Attorney Ericka George said in the release. Colville is about a 72-mile drive north from Spokane. 72-year-old serial rapist on the run for 24 years caught in Missouri, feds say Pastor accused of raping child over 600 times, getting her pregnant, Texas officials say Florist didnt know 15-year partner was fugitive dubbed Bad Breath Rapist, cops say Authorities arrested James Wilson, 44, on Monday for allegedly stealing a vehicle at a Jackson gas station. The vehicle had been occupied with a 7-month-old child. Public Information Officer Tommie Brown said Wilson has been charged with auto theft and kidnapping. Brown said Wilson was arrested by Capitol Police at the Olive Tree Hotel in Jackson. On Saturday, July 6, Jackson police began searching for a 7-month-old girl who was kidnapped while she was in a vehicle that was stolen from the 500 block of Beasley Road. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said the child was left in the vehicle that was running outside of a Shell gas station on Beasley Road near I-55 north. According to police, the vehicle was then taken by Wilson from the specified location. According to Wade, Wilson abandoned the vehicle at Brent's Drugs in the Fondren neighborhood. A Jackson police car is shown in this file photo. Police chief provides updates on: 7-month-old kidnapped, two murder victims fatally shot in 72 hours Wade said the child was located in the abandoned vehicle and unharmed. She was transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure. Wade said the police department is in communication with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services and the U.S. District Attorney's office to determine if any charges such as child neglect will be pursued against the child's mother. "Please do not leave your children and vehicles unattended," Wade said. "Please don't leave your vehicle running unattended, with small children in the vehicle or anyone in the vehicle. You can replace that car, but you cannot replace that baby." This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Man arrested for kidnapping 7-month-old Jackson MS The royal residence is the primary home of King Harald and Queen Sonja TERJE PEDERSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway in November 2022. A suspect has been arrested after reportedly throwing Molotov cocktails at King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's primary home in Oslo, according to reports. On July 8, a man in his 50s was arrested after throwing two firebombs at the Royal Palace of Norway in Oslo, according to NRK, per a translation. An unnamed member of the royal family inside the palace during the time of the attack, royal communications spokesperson Guri Varpe told the outlet. Footage shared on X by Nordic News showed a flame exploding in a stone doorway of the Royal Palace. The attack happened around 1 p.m., local time, and police were tipped off by a passerby who contacted the authorities after the suspect said that they had a bomb. The man allegedly moved with the two weapons towards a door at the back of the palace, and police on the scene were able to arrest him immediately after he threw the second firebomb, operations leader Anders Rnning told NRK. Hans Lippert/imageBROKER/Shutterstock An exterior shot of the Royal Palace of Norway in Oslo. Related: Meet Norway's Royal Family: All About the 1,000-Year-Old Monarchy The fire was quickly extinguished, and the outlet said that the extent of the damage to the royal residence remains unknown. Rnning said that the man had several bottles of liquid with him at the time of the arrest, which will now be investigated by a bomb squad. VG reported that the man is from Belarus, uses a wheelchair and was wanted in the Netherlands. His motives remain unknown. The Norwegian royal family's website describes the Royal Palace in Oslo as "the most important of the Kings residences" and the hub for most official functions. King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 87, are based at the palace, as are most members of the Royal Court. The stately residence has been affiliated with the monarchy since King Oscar I in 1849. Related: Princess Martha Louise of Norway Debuts Monogram with Shaman Durek Ahead of Wedding Why It's 'Not Official' Like Buckingham Palace in London, the Royal Palace in Oslo is open to the public during the summer months. Visitors can purchase tickets for guided tours through the Bird Room, Ballroom and Banqueting Hall, and the 50-acre Palace Park surrounding the royal residence is open to the public all year long. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, second in line to the throne Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus most recently appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace for Norway's National Day on May 17. The event commemorates the signing of the country's constitution in 1814. Per Ole Hagen/Getty (From left) Crown Princess Mette Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Prince Haakon, Queen Sonja and King Harald greet the children's parade at the Royal Palace during the Norwegian National Day on May 17, 2024 in Oslo. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Man arrested for west Columbus Petland break-in had gerbils hidden in pants COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man is in custody after reportedly breaking into several businesses in the far west side of Columbus, including a Petland where multiple animals were set loose early Tuesday morning. According to Columbus police, officers arrived at the Petland store in Hilliard Station at 3:45 a.m. and found an open door. Many animals were roaming free, including birds, dogs, rabbits, gerbils and ferrets. Hilliard businesses hold blood drive competition This embedded content is not available in your region. Officers at the scene were able to recover most of the animals save for a few gerbils, ferrets and rabbits. Columbus police recovered several animals set free at a Petland in Hilliard Station, July 9, 2024. (Courtesy/Sgt. Joe Albert) Columbus police recovered several animals set free at a Petland in Hilliard Station, July 9, 2024. (Courtesy/Sgt. Joe Albert) Columbus police recovered several animals set free at a Petland in Hilliard Station, July 9, 2024. (Courtesy/Sgt. Joe Albert) Police said they were looking for a homeless man, who also allegedly broke into a Roosters and a Famous Footwear along Hilliard Rome Road. At the Famous Footwear crime scene blood was also found on some of the merchandise. The man was located about an hour later in the parking area of a Big Lots on Roberts Road. Police said several gerbils were found unharmed inside the mans pants. The man was treated for injuries sustained while breaking into the businesses. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man caught on camera throwing brick through car window to steal laptop, tools Atlanta police are searching for a man who was caught on camera breaking into a car by throwing a brick at it. Police say they were called to a home on Piedmont Avenue in midtown early on the Fourth of July where a man found his car had been broken into. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] He said several things had been stolen from it, including a laptop and mechanics tools. Surveillance video shows a man walking down the street with what appears to be a bottle of alcohol in his hand. TRENDING STORIES: The man can be seen picking up a brick, rearing back and hurling it at the car. He then use the bottle to knock away the remaining glass and grabs out a backpack and other items before leaving. Anyone who knows who this man should contact Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A Fort Worth man is charged with murder after police said he purposely ran over a man in his car after an argument on July 5. Fort Worth police arrested Kurtis King, 34, in the death of Ellis Latavion Laron Smith, 35. Officers were called to the 2400 block of Meacham Blvd. the night of July 5 to find Smith critically injured. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office has ruled his death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma, according to the medical examiners website. Police said Smith and King got into an argument over a previous business transaction and each pulled out knives to threaten each other. King then got into his car, drove toward Smith and hit him with the vehicle, according to authorities. King then fled the scene, according to police. Ellis Smith moved to Texas with his wife, Shakavian Smith, from Georgia, according to a GoFundMe set up by Shakavian Smith. The fundraiser was set up to help raise money for funeral and other expenses. The couple hadnt had time to make friends and their families are back in Georgia, Shakavian Smith wrote in the description of the GoFundMe. They moved to Texas for a fresh start. We have been struggling financially due to my enrollment in nursing school, which we paid for out-of-pocket, in addition to our regular bills, Shakavian Smith wrote. They canceled their life insurance policies to help save costs, thinking we had more time, she said. Now, Shakavian Smith wants to raise enough money to take her husbands body back home. Shakavian Smith said she got the call that her husband had been hit by a car and went to the hospital, where she spent four hours thinking he was in stable condition. She said authorities told her they couldnt share any information about what happened because of an ongoing investigation and that she still hasnt seen her husbands body. Ellis Smith was a father to nine children, four of them his own and five that were Shakavian Smiths, according to the GoFundMe. Police said they cannot yet release any other details due to an ongoing investigation. Defense team for man convicted of killing Chicago officer Ella French file motion for new trial CHICAGO The sentencing for a man convicted of murdering a Chicago police officer has been postponed after his defense asked for a new trial. Emonte Morgan, 23, is convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the death of Officer Ella French. In a criminal courtroom Tuesday, Morgans defense attorneys filed a motion for a new trial. The hearing is set for Sept. 11 and if the judge declines the request, he will be sentenced that same day. Morgan faces life in prison. Morgan and his brother, Eric, were pulled over in West Englewood by French and her partner, Carlos Yanez, in August 2021. After a struggle, Morgan fired shots at both officers. Yanez suffered four bullet wounds to his face and head and one to the shoulder, resulting in the loss of an eye. Officer Yanezs crucial testimony, along with graphic video evidence, helped convict Morgan. During the trial, prosecutors said at no time did either officer draw a weapon during the traffic stop. Morgans defense centered on the gun accidentally going off. The murder weapon, which Cook County prosecutors said was a fully-loaded .22-caliber handgun, was later recovered, along with an extra magazine of bullets. Eric Morgan, was sentenced to seven years in prison in October for his role in the shooting. Eric pleaded guilty to several felonies in exchange for a seven-year sentence and his cooperation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SANAA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Tuesday said they have attacked three ships owned by the United States and Israel in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. The targeted ships were "Maersk Sentosa, Marthopolis, and MSC Patnaree," said Yahya Sarea, the Houthi spokesman, in a televised statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. The first operation "targeted the U.S. ship, Maersk Sentosa, in the Arabian Sea with several ballistic and winged missiles," Sarea said. The second operation "targeted the ship, Marthopolis, in the Arabian Sea with drones" due to the company owning it had entered a port of Israel, he said. The third operation targeted "the Israeli ship, MSC Patnaree, in the Gulf of Aden with several drones," he said, adding that "the three operations achieved their goals successfully and the hits were direct and accurate." "Our operations will not stop until the Israeli aggression and siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip stop," he said. This is the latest in a series of Houthi attacks against ships transiting off Yemen since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict broke out last year. The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, began in November last year to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group, but this only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. Man on ecstasy dressed in lacrosse gear taunts dogs, attacks person in Layton, police say LAYTON, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested in Layton on Sunday after dressing in lacrosse gear, taunting dogs, and assaulting a person in Layton, all while under the influence of ecstasy, according to Layton Police. Justin Ray Stillings, 22, was arrested in Davis County on aggravated assault (third-degree felony), criminal trespassing (class-B misdemeanor), and intoxication (class-C misdemeanor). On July 7, Layton police officers received a report of a man, later identified as Stillings, walking on a public road, appearing to be under the influence, and acting strange, according to a probable cause affidavit. READ NEXT: Utah CEO, daughter identified as victims of fatal Ogden crash Stillings was described as wearing lacrosse gear, and was reportedly seen antagonizing dogs through a fence of a residence. Officers then received reports that Stillings was attacking people. Officers located Stillings shortly after and took him into custody while pointing a taser at him. Upon first contact, Stillings was holding a lacrosse stick and gesturing it in a threatening manner toward an officer, the affidavit states. Upon further investigation, police learned that Stillings was walking through a neighborhood when he allegedly entered someones property after he was given verbal notice not to enter. Stillings then entered the property through a gate where he was met with force of a guest at the home, the affidavit states. At this point, Stillings reportedly swung his lacrosse stick at the guest, striking them on the left side of their face and causing minor injury. The victim later stated that [Stillings] was acting very aggressively and was commanded to leave numerous times before entering on property that was not his, the affidavit states. The victim stated [Stillings] behavior was erratic and wanted to keep the rest of the occupants of the home safe. The victim reportedly responded to the assault by punching Stillings in the face, causing injury. Stillings was booked into Davis County Jail on the charges previously stated. 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. Man found dead in Lake Washington off Renton Beach in apparent drowning A 26-year-old man was found dead in Lake Washington after friends summoned police and divers to a Renton park early Tuesday. Renton Police were called to Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park where a group of people with flashlights were searching the water off the pier. They told officers they believed they had found their friend, according to police. Firefighters in dive gear found the man in the lake and brought him to shore, but he could not be revived despite life-saving efforts. The King County Medical Examiners Office confirmed that his cause of death was asphyxia and drowning. Man who killed 4 at party in Florence home was free, armed despite felony conviction Chase Garvey faced a felony charge two years ago that could have put him behind bars for years and barred him from carrying a gun. But early Saturday morning, police say, Garvey was free and armed when he walked into a home in Florence and opened fire on a crowd of people gathered for a birthday party, killing four. Garvey, 21, was on probation after pleading guilty to the felony charge in 2022 that accused him of having sex with a 13-year-old in the parking lot of a Fort Mitchell apartment complex. The plea was to a lesser charge than the rape charge Garvey initially faced, but it carried a possible sentence of up to five years in prison. Though he was sentenced to probation instead, he still could not legally possess a gun because he was a felon. It's not known how Garvey obtained the gun police say he used Saturday to kill four of the partygoers and wounded three others, before turning the gun on himself. Paris Miller the sister of victim Shane Miller has said one of the victims, Delaney Eary, was Garvey's ex-girlfriend. Stuffed animals and other items make a memorial Monday, July 8, 2024, after four people were shot and killed during a 21st birthday party at a home on Ridgecrest Drive in Florence early Saturday morning. Court documents from the earlier case reveal Garvey spent less than two months behind bars, most of which was because of a probation violation after he was caught with another 13-year-old in his vehicle. Here's what happened: In June 2021, Garvey was 18 and met up with a 13-year-old he had been speaking with on Snapchat, according to court records. Police said the girl told Garvey she was 13 and didn't want to do anything sexual. When she told him to stop, police said, he raped her in the backseat of his vehicle. According to the records, Garvey admitted to police that he had sex with the girl. Garvey was arrested on Aug. 12, 2021, and charged with rape and sodomy. On Aug. 17, he was released to home incarceration. A bond of $25,000 had been posted for him. But those initial charges were reduced in March 2022 to unlawful transaction with a minor. The charge is still a felony, but a lesser one with a sentence of one to five years in prison. Chase Garvey, 21, of Florence. Police say Garvey shot and killed four people and injured three others at a birthday party in a Florence home early Saturday morning. Under Kentucky and federal law, felony convictions bar people from possessing firearms. A plea deal offer from prosecutors said that in exchange for a guilty plea on the new charge, prosecutors would recommend a sentence of five years probation. The plea deal form has a space to explain the "reasons for amended charges." Prosecutors wrote: "The facts of the case and the best interest of the victim." Prosecutors from the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney's office, who handled the case, could not be reached Monday to discuss Garvey's plea agreement or sentence. But it is common in sex offense cases for prosecutors to make efforts to protect juvenile victims from having to testify, which can re-traumatize them. Judge Kathy Lape gave Garvey a five-year suspended sentence, ordered him to stay away from the victim and ordered him to participate in psychological counseling. Garvey remained on probation until his death on Saturday. The records show he spent 30 days in jail on a probation violation last year. Police said he was caught doing doughnuts in the parking lot of a Dave & Busters with a 13-year-old boy in the passenger seat. The probation officer noted serious concerns about Garvey's behavior because "his current case that he is on supervision for also involved a minor in a vehicle in a parking lot." Florence police said Monday that Garvey acted alone to perpetrate Saturday's shooting and was found shortly after with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital where he died. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Florence shooting suspect was free and armed despite felony conviction Man pleads guilty to setting neighbors apartment on fire in east Charlotte A man who police think intentionally set his neighbors apartment on fire pleaded guilty at the end of June. Warrants show 38-year-old Lovett Henderson was accused of starting an apartment fire on Jan. 26 along Magnolia Hill Drive. It caused about $127,000 worth of damage, Charlotte Fire said. PREVIOUS: Warrant alleges suspect intentionally set neighbors apartment on fire while she was inside According to the district attorney, Henderson pleaded guilty to second-degree arson. Judge Letts sentenced Henderson to about two years to three years in prison, but the sentence was suspended pending Hendersons completion of 2 years of supervised probation. Henderson is required to enroll in Recovery Court as a condition of his probation. Hes also required to serve a 150-day active split sentence and have no contact with the victim. (WATCH BELOW: Lightning strike sparks fire at north Charlotte home, investigators say) Man sent to trauma center after rollover crash in Natomas (FOX40.COM) One person has been taken to an area hospital after a rollover crash into a tree in a Natomas neighborhood, according to the Sacramento Fire Department. A video from the fire department shows the vehicle came to rest against a tree near a home and a large mailbox in the 2800 block of Myotis Drive. CHP helicopter flies teen to hospital after bee sting at Northern California lake The man driving the vehicle was trapped inside and extrication was required. He was then taken to a local trauma facility in serious condition. The cause of the crash is unknown 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 FOX40. Man shot, killed by 15-year-old in Glenwood after being lured on social media GLENWOOD, Ill. A Chicago man was shot and killed in Glenwood Friday after being lured to the area by a teen, according to police. Officers responded to the 400 block of Longwood Drive after 3 p.m. on the report of a car accident and shooting. Following an investigation, police believe Przemek Bogdanowicz, 46, of Chicago, was lured to the area under false pretenses. SEE ALSO: Gun-toting crook is robbing people he meets on dating website, police say Police said a 15-year-old boy told Bogdanowicz he was an adult and they were communicating via messaging applications prior to the incident. The teen entered Bogdanowiczs vehicle at the meeting spot and was shot and killed by the teen within moments, according to police. The 15-year-old was taken into custody on Monday and charged with first-degree murder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Man stabbed to death in shelter near Times Square; suspect in custody: NYPD MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) A man was fatally stabbed in a homeless shelter near Times Square early Tuesday morning, according to the NYPD. The victim was stabbed in the chest with a knife in the shelter on West 43rd Street around 1 a.m., police said. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai West in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, per police. More Local News Kevin Young, 38, was arrested in connection to the stabbing around 6 a.m., according to authorities. Young and the victim live in the shelter, per police. Young was charged with manslaughter. 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). Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) Two people were rescued early Sunday morning after getting lost in a cave system approximately 2,000 to 2,500 feet underground, the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) said. According to KCFD, a 30-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman called the fire department for a confined space rescue just after 4 a.m. Sunday. Reports said the man and woman entered the caves off Coal Mine Road at about 11 p.m. Saturday and later became disoriented, unable to find their way out. VIDEO: Teen stops runaway boat after operator falls overboard in New Hampshire They continued through the caves and found a spot with enough signal to call 911, allowing crews to find them. The rescue division then used ropes and descended approximately 2,000 to 2,500 feet into the cave system where they found the two victims. KCFD said the man and woman were unharmed and refused medical treatment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Manhattan DA aims to present new indictment, charges against Weinstein to grand jury by fall, prosecutor says The Manhattan District Attorneys Office aims to present a new indictment with new charges against Harvey Weinstein to a grand jury by the fall, a prosecutor said in court Tuesday. Alvin Braggs office is working with alleged victims whose claims of forcible rape and sexual abuse against the 72-year-old disgraced former Hollywood producer still fall within the statute of limitations, prosecutor Nicole Blumberg told the court. Blumberg said prosecutors could realistically go to trial in November against Weinstein, whose downfall over similar claims became a symbol of the #MeToo movement. Some of the alleged victims had been not willing to participate in the legal process at the time of Weinsteins first trial, the prosecutor said. As we said in 2020, some women were not ready. These women are now ready, Blumberg said The New York Court of Appeals ruled this year that the testimony of prior bad acts witnesses should not have been allowed in the trial that led to Weinsteins 2020 conviction of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape because it was unnecessary to establish defendants intent and served only to establish defendants propensity to commit the crimes charged. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison and has maintained his innocence and denied any nonconsensual sexual activity. Prosecutors in New York had in May indicated their plans to seek a new indictment but said Tuesday they have yet to do so. Weinsteins lawyers must be notified when that happens because the defense team plans to present a case to the grand jury that might include testimony from Weinstein himself. Defense attorney Arthur Aidala accused the DAs office of delaying tactics at the hearing, telling state Judge Curtis Farber, They have a defendant and theyre out there looking for a crime. Aidala said Weinstein is begging his attorneys to get this matter done quickly and wants to go to trial in September as initially discussed at the first hearing after Weinsteins 2020 conviction was vacated by New Yorks highest court. He has remained behind bars because he was sentenced last year in Los Angeles to 16 years in prison on charges of rape and sexual assault a trial that similarly used prior bad acts witnesses and has also been appealed. The defense attorney said Tuesday that Weinstein is suffering in solitary confinement at Rikers Island after being removed from a hospital setting. According to his lawyer, Weinstein is not getting any treatment for his health issues, including fluid in his heart and his lungs, Spinal Stenosis, macular degeneration in his eyes and diabetes. CNN has reached out to Rikers and the Bureau of Prisons on his claims. Weinsteins attorneys have consented to Weinstein remaining in custody in New York pending the retrial despite his vacated conviction because he could alternatively be transferred to California to serve a prison sentence for his rape conviction there. Another hearing is scheduled for July 19. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Rescue workers at the site of a rocket strike on the 'Okhmadyt' children's hospital in Kyiv (EPA) At least 43 people have been killed and around 190 injured as Russia fired more than 40 missiles across Ukraine in what is one of the deadliest attacks In the capital of Kyiv, a childrens hospital where many patients were being treated for cancer, as well as a maternity ward nearby, were both hit by missiles. It was Russia's heaviest bombardment of the city in almost four months, hitting seven of the city's 10 districts. At least 29 people were killed in the capital, including two staff members at Okhmatdyt childrens hospital. Footage showed hundreds of emergency workers gathered at the hospital as they desperately tried to recover those buried under the rubble. This is what Russian terrorism looks like, said Olena Shuliak, the head of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys political party Servant of the people. Beings without honor and conscience attacked the hospital and other civilian objects in broad daylight. We are dealing with concentrated evil that will never be forgiven. The world must unite to stop the country of killers once and for all. Further south, missiles struck Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more. The head of the military administration in the area, Yevhen Sytnychenko, said search and rescue operations in the area were being hampered by air raid alerts and reports of more missiles being fired at the city throughout the day. And 90 miles eastward, also in the Dnipropetrovsk region, another person was killed and six more injured in a second attack. Further eastward still, another three people were killed in Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, according to local governor Vadym Filashkin, while there were further attacks in the nearby cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Since early in the war that is well into its third year, Russian officials have regularly claimed that Moscow's forces never attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, despite abundant evidence to the contrary. More than 1,600 medical facilities have been damaged since the start of the war and 214 have been ruined completely, according to Ukrainian Health Ministry statistics published last month. Colonel Yurii Ignat of the Ukrainian air force said Russia has been improving the effectiveness of its airstrikes, equipping its missiles with enhancements, including so-called heat traps that evade air-defense systems. In Monday's attack, the cruise missiles flew as low as 50 meters (160 feet) off the ground, making them harder to hit, he said in comments sent to AP. UNITED NATIONS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians describe as "dangerously chaotic" confusing Israeli evacuation orders to Gazans, which is causing the displacement of tens of thousands of people, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday. "Our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) describe the displacement of thousands of people in Gaza City as dangerously chaotic," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "This follows recent Israeli evacuation orders instructing people to leave into or through neighborhoods where (active) fighting is taking place -- or areas where separate evacuation orders were later issued." Dujarric said Gazans fled in multiple directions, not knowing which way may be the safest. Under fire and bombardment, many people were displaced, with very few of them able to take their possessions. "Civilians in Gaza must be protected and have their basic needs met, whether they move or stay," he said. "Those who leave must have enough time to do so, as well as a safe route and a safe place to go." OCHA warned that active hostilities in the areas are preventing aid organizations from accessing warehouses. They have also been unable to restock, resupply or assess people's needs. The humanitarians said the largest bakery supported by the United Nations in Gaza was among those forced to shut down following the latest evacuation orders, and significant amounts of flour, sugar and yeast are now expected to be lost. Bread is an integral part of life for Gazans since it is relatively inexpensive and filling, staving off famine. "Humanitarian colleagues managed to provide fuel to multiple bakeries to run backup generators in the absence of electricity across the Gaza Strip," the spokesman said. "As a result, the number of operational bakeries increased to 10, including seven in Deir al Balah and three in northern Gaza. This is out of 18 bakeries that are supported by the UN in Gaza. However, this fuel is only enough to keep these bakeries operating for another day or two." He said humanitarian colleagues could bring just over 500,000 liters of fuel into Gaza during the first week of July and over 2 million liters were brought for June. In both cases, it was less than one-fifth of the estimated 400,000 liters required daily to sustain humanitarian, medical and related operations. "Efforts to bring fuel and critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza continue to be impeded by active hostilities, damaged roads, access limitations, and the lack of public order and safety," Dujarric said. "These factors hamper movements along the main humanitarian cargo route from the Kerem Shalom crossing to Khan Younis and Deir al Balah." He added during his regular briefing that the UN coordinator for humanitarian affairs in Palestine, Muhannad Hadi, visited Deir al Balah in Gaza, meeting with United Nations and non-governmental colleagues, including representatives of women-led organizations, who spoke about the dire conditions for women in the Gaza Strip. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore met on Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss business opportunities between his state and Canada. I jumped at the chance, Moore said in an interview after the meeting at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. Whether its agriculture, whether its high tech and cyber, whether its construction work, Canada is a very important partner to the state of Maryland. Trudeau was in Washington for a meeting of NATO nations, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday this week. Trade discussions will be a large part of the summit, which is being held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the alliance. The summit comes at a tumultuous time for President Joe Biden, who had a disastrous debate performance last month and, since then, has faced some calls from those within his party to step aside in the race against former President Donald Trump. Canada is Marylands largest export partner. Maryland exported $2.4 billion in goods to Canada in 2023, which represented 13% of the states total exports, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Were just really looking forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between Canada and Maryland, Moore said. _____ This article was originally published in Maryland Matters. 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. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter 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. Related World-Renowned Artist Jeff Koons Visits NYC Classroom to Share New Literacy Game 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. Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org. Follow Maryland Matters on Facebook and X. Mayor Brandon Johnson was tight-lipped Monday on the fate of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race after a lackluster audience showing and criticism from some over the diversion of hundreds of police officers to Grant Park during the historically violent holiday weekend. Speaking at a news conference at Chicago police headquarters, the mayor condemned the grim tally of more than 100 people shot in the city over the Fourth of July weekend. But Johnson and Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling were noncommittal on moving the downtown NASCAR event to a different weekend, with Johnson instead punting the blame for its timing to his predecessor, Lori Lightfoot. Obviously, those were dates that we inherited. We will continue to assess how this particular weekend for NASCAR best benefits the people of Chicago, Johnson told reporters. But no decision has been made on which weekend in particular is best suited because Ill just say it like this: Whether its a holiday weekend or a weekend as someone whos celebrating their wedding anniversary, the point of our work is to ensure that every single weekend in the city of Chicago is as safe as possible. The three-year contract for an annual NASCAR street race in Chicago was secured by Lightfoot, but she lost her reelection bid before the first event took place on July Fourth last year. However, the Johnson administration opted to keep the same schedule this summer, instead of moving the race for its second year. The mayors growing embrace of the race complete with pulling up to it in a car-racing outfit signals his recent attempts to balance downtown business interests with his promise to help disenfranchised communities. Backing such a high-profile event that brought Chicago positive publicity last year, when picturesque shots of the skyline drew widespread admiration, could be a useful step in that direction. Hes in a tricky spot, however. The race idea was widely panned upon its announcement by progressive Lightfoot critics who make up an important part of Johnsons base. And a report on last years NASCAR race showed the economic benefit fell far below expectations. At the Monday news conference, Snelling also chimed in on NASCAR and argued there were far fewer cops diverted from the neighborhoods to the event in and around Grant Park this July than last time. We had significantly less officers at that event this year, the top cop said. We recognize that we had a level of security around that event where we didnt need as many officers. So we were able to scale that down this year, and well continue to do that. Asked to provide estimates or totals backing up that claim, Chicago police spokesman Thomas Ahern responded, We do not divulge the number of officers deployed for any events or operations. When the Tribune showed him a recap of a discussion between former CPD Superintendent David Brown and Ald. Brendan Reilly in which Brown did provide the number of officers he anticipated deploying for NASCAR in 2023, Ahern responded that he would follow up later. In that 2022 exchange from a budget hearing for the Police Department, Reilly, 42nd, asked Brown how many cops were diverted to the Lollapalooza music festival that summer, to which Brown responded, A little over 800, and then said it was quite possible the same amount of cops would be assigned to the NASCAR race. Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, said he felt his Southwest Side ward was shortchanged by the blockbuster event downtown. Major events are great but they come and go, Lopez, a frequent Johnson critic, told the Tribune in a statement. Chicagoans remain. It would do this administration well to remember that. Ald. Lamont Robinson, whose 4th Ward includes parts of Grant Park, noted police resources are already stretched thin over the Fourth of July, so the city should reconsider NASCARs timing. I do think we should go back to the drawing board about the weekend, he said. Theres a strain on CPD for that holiday. One unanswered question is if and when NASCAR will reimburse the city $2 million to cover costs for roadwork setup and public safety overtime. That promised payment was secured by the Johnson administration in what appears to have been a handshake deal, as the administration said it has no records of a written agreement. Last year, the city spent $3.5 million to host the race and got $620,000 in return, the Tribune has reported. Johnson, asked whether he is confident NASCAR will pay the city what its owed, responded: So thats my comptrollers responsibility. I dont just walk around the city collecting checks from people. Our comptroller does a really good job at that. You know, as far as the overall economic benefit, again, well be assessing, analyze, and well make a decision accordingly. Besides the flat $2 million payment to the city, NASCAR is also required to deposit $550,000 to the Chicago Park District which must be paid 90 days before the event plus compensate the agency with $2 per ticket sold and 20% of net food, beverage and merchandise sales. The contract signed by the Lightfoot administration expires in 2025, and the NASCAR race is currently again scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend. The base fee for the Park District will go up to $605,000, while the cut of concessions sales will grow to 25%. However, the Park District can terminate the agreement for convenience at least 180 days before the event, as can NASCAR with 90 days notice. NASCAR can also request to extend the contract for two more years, until 2027, within 90 days after the end of next years race. For the 2023 race, NASCAR paid $620,000 to the Chicago Park District, which included a base $500,000 fee to transform the streets around Grant Park into a 2.2-mile racetrack and $120,000 for the districts cut of ticket, food, beverage and merchandise sales. On top of it, NASCAR said it paid $1.8 million in amusement taxes to the city and county for tickets sold. Most of the weekend envisioned by NASCAR more as a festival than just a race, with concerts and showcases included went off without a hitch. Sunny, warm weather was an auspicious presence leading into Sunday, and the specter of last years downpours that delayed the race were scarcely a concern. Then, the rains struck again. Most seats were empty by the time Alex Bowmans purple Chevrolet crossed the finish line. Huge crowds shuffled out of Grant Park as intermittent rain sparked a nearly two-hour pause in racing, taking much of the events energy with them. Ultimately, organizers had to shorten the race as daylight waned. Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, said she too decided to leave early. But she praised the event as much better organized this year. Road closures were cut, the city got more money for police overtime and minority businesses were well included, she said. Dowell, whose Near South Side ward includes parts of Grant Park, said she received few complaints from residents decrying the race this year. Last year, a survey she conducted after the first race showed her constituents liked the event, but wanted it to occur on another weekend, a change shes considering pushing for. Dowell said she has not yet decided whether she thinks the race should return for a third year. She wants to wait to see economic reports to make a decision, she said. But she saw smiling faces and thought the event promoted a good feeling about Chicago. It looked like people were having a good time and spending money, she said. I just want to see how the city fared. Chicago Tribunes A.D. Quig contributed reporting. CHICAGO On Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced questions over his response to the deadly weekend violence. Last Friday, Mayor Johnson landed back in the city after a trip to New Orleans. From the airport, he traveled straight to Greater Grand Crossing, the scene of a mass shooting where neighbors and the wider Chicago community demanded answers. Today, I stand here today heartbroken, Johnson said. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland More than any official, the Chicago mayor must wear the stain of the citys staggering gun violence. Johnson, a West Side resident, insists that he gets it and that he is up to the challenge. Theres no secret where I live, thats why this is personal for me. Ive shared this weve had gunshots come through our home, Johnson said. Im so sick and tired of losing Black boys to violence in this city. It grieves me, fiercely. After 19 people were killed, and dozens more were wounded during the extended Fourth of July weekend, Johnson and his long-term solutions approach, face increasing scrutiny. During a Monday morning press event at police headquarters, Johnson was grilled. The mayor was forced to explain why he was not in Chicago on the Fourth. Well, heres what I can say emphatically, that my work never ends, it doesnt. You know, I accept the responsibility of 24/7 on call every day of the week, Mayor Johnson said when asked whether he felt it was a wise idea to leave town during what is known to be a very violent time in the City of Chicago. Last Friday, Johnson met people impacted by the violence, including, a family that lost three loved ones, including an 8-year-old boy. But critics want more. Johnson foe, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward), took to X to highlight ShotSpotter alerts across the city. This is what the criminal enablers dont want you to see. Over a three-day period, nearly 500 shooting incidents across the districts with gunshot detection technology, Lopez wrote. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Despite the mayors decision to cancel the citys agreement with the company behind the tech, a group of city leaders want to reverse Johnson. Once again on Monday, the mayor said he is not changing his mind. Instead, he will keep pushing his comprehensive approach to public safety. My ultimate goal is to transform this city so we cut off the pipeline of boys between the ages of 10-19 being either victims or the perpetrators, Johnson said. The Mayor also stressed that everyone must take responsibility for helping end violence, and on Tuesday, along with the city health leaders, the Johnson administration will explain how residents can do just that. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Measles confirmed in New Hampshire resident, public urged to monitor for symptoms A cluster of measles cases linked to an international traveler in New England has grown as a New Hampshire resident now has the infection, state health officials said Tuesday. And that New Hampshire resident, who was not vaccinated, visited several public places when they were infectious and could have transmitted measles to others, officials said. The infection is likely the result of exposure to an international traveler with measles who visited Hanover in late June, state health officials said. It follows another confirmed infection in Vermont that is also linked to the international traveler. The total number of individuals associated with this measles cluster is three, officials said Tuesday morning. According to state health officials, anyone who was at the following locations on these dates and times may have been exposed: July 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Peppermint Pattys, 25 Road Round the Lake, Grantham July 1, 5:30-11:30 p.m.: Sierra Trading Post, 200 South Main St., West Lebanon July 3, 9:00-11:30 a.m.: Dartmouth Co-op, 21 South Main St., Hanover July 5, 9:00am-12:30 p.m.: Dartmouth Co-op, 21 South Main Street, Hanover July 5, 11:45am-6:00 p.m.: ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room, 410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon July 6, 8:00-10:30 a.m.: ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room, 410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon July 6, 9:30am-July 7, 1 a.m.: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Emergency Department, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon State health officials are urging anyone who visited the above locations to review their measles vaccination or immunity status. Anyone who is not protected against measles from vaccination or previous infection or is unsure about their immunity status should contact the state Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-4496 immediately. Depending on the date of potential exposure, individuals who are not protected and susceptible to measles may benefit from preventative treatment (vaccination or measles antibody injection) to lower their risk of developing measles, state health officials said in their statement. People who are severely immunocompromised, even if previously vaccinated against measles, may benefit from preventative antibody treatment because vaccination may not be as effective in these individuals. The public is urged to contact your healthcare provider to determine if treatment is recommended. Measles is a highly contagious but preventable disease, State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in a statement. The 2-dose measles vaccine provides lifelong protection in most people, and it is the best protection against measles and complications of infection. Anybody who is not vaccinated is strongly encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider about completing the vaccine series. Measles is passed from person to person through the air when someone with the infection sneezes, coughs, or talks. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old. Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes several days before developing a body rash. To prevent the possibility of spreading the virus, anyone who develops these symptoms should call their healthcare provider before going directly to a healthcare facility, officials said. Anyone with questions or concerns about this confirmed infection can contact the state Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-4496. For more information about measles, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Commander of New Hampshire Air National Guard killed in hit-and-run crash This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A top Missouri lawmaker expects Jackson County residents to vote again on a stadium tax for the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals after meeting on Monday with management of both teams. House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, a Lees Summit Republican, told The Star that while he expects another vote to occur, its unclear whether it will include both teams or when the vote will happen. I do think before all this is said and done, Jackson County is going to have another vote, said Patterson, the presumptive next House speaker. The interview came after a string of meetings between legislative leaders and representatives from the Chiefs and Royals as Missouri officials weigh how best to respond to Kansas, which recently passed a plan to lure the teams across state lines. Under the Kansas plan, state officials would issue potentially billions in bonds to largely finance new stadiums for one or both teams Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday also met with local leaders, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr., regarding the future of the teams. Speaking with reporters, Parson expressed confidence that Missouri could develop an attractive package for the teams over the next few months. While Patterson appeared confident about an upcoming Jackson County vote, any proposal would need approval from the Jackson County Legislature. Patterson and Senate Majority Leader Cindy OLaughlin, a Shelbina Republican, first met with John Sherman, the majority owner of the Royals, and Brooks Sherman, the Royals president of business operations. They then met with Mark Donovan, the Chiefs president. In addition to the potential Jackson County vote, Patterson said he also expects some form of legislative action from Missouri lawmakers to try to keep the teams. Negotiations over any legislative proposal would likely come after the August primaries, he said. One of the things that was very clear is that both teams really do want to stay in Missouri, he said. And the other thing that we talked about was that before anything can happenwe have to get the political events taken care of first, meaning the primaries. And then I think what youll see is the state being much more involved in this whole process. Pattersons focus on the August primaries comes as many legislative seats are going to be on the ballot this year. It also comes as the state Senate has been gripped by infighting among Republicans that could torpedo any plan to use state funds to keep the teams. Theres so much uncertainty with all of the statewide offices and the state Senate, he said. So once we know whos in those positions, I think well have a much clearer picture of what we can accomplish. OLaughlin reiterated in a text message to The Star that both teams want to stay in Missouri and we want them to also. We agreed to continue meeting and talking and look for that path, she said. Kansas push to attract the teams comes after Jackson County voters in April rejected a stadium tax in April that would have effectively guaranteed the teams would stay in Missouri after their 25-year leases expire in January 2031. Patterson said on Monday that hes confident a future vote would be different. I think now with the Kansas option staring us, staring us right in the face, I think that changed the dynamic, and it would be a different vote next time around, he said. Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca, who has filed proposals to put another stadium tax to a vote, said in an interview that it would be great if Patterson came out in support of a new ballot measure. However, Abarca said there are several hurdles to getting any proposal through the Jackson County Legislature. He added that hes only filed measures related to a Chiefs stadium tax and that the Royals havent given him any indication theyd be open to a similar proposal. Patterson said there werent any specific plans proposed during his meetings with the two teams and neither team laid out their requests to the state. However, he offered some insight as to what he thinks both teams would like for their stadiums. I believe that the Chiefs would like to renovate the stadium and then I think the Royals would like a different site, whether thats in Kansas City or another location, he said. But I think it will ultimately be both in Missouri. Parson meets with leaders The meetings with the teams came the same day that Parson met with local officials to discuss plans to keep the teams in Missouri. Parson told reporters in Kansas City that theres a real opportunity for Missouri officials to put a plan in place. He signaled that part of that plan includes considering the teams are two separate entities. I think youve got to split the Chiefs and the Royals. Theyre two different entities and two different business adventures here, he said. So No. 1, I think you got to start with that. And I think were gonna go back to the drawing board a little bit. The next few months will be crucial for Parson, who terms out of office in January. Any plan that requires legislative approval would likely also need the support of the next governor during next years legislative session. Parson, however, appeared to suggest that Missouri could try to incentivize the teams to stay in the state without legislative action. He didnt offer any specifics. Well, I dont know, Parson said when asked what credibility he had to negotiate with the teams before leaving office. Theres different things we can use now if we wanted to use them if we knew what the plan was. Those comments appear to contradict what Parson told reporters last month when he said that any plan to keep the teams would require legislative action and have to go through a budgetary process. Shortly after he met with Parson, White, the Jackson County executive, said in a statement that they had a productive conversation centered on the pride these teams bring to our community and the importance of developing a fair and sustainable plan for the future. I made it clear to Governor Parson, as I have to the public before, during, and after the recent stadium sales tax campaign, that before I can support any new proposal, it must offer clear and significant benefits to the taxpayers of Jackson County, he said. Additionally, the financial burden of supporting these teams must be equitably shared among all parties. White added that maintaining the current financial arrangement is not in the best interest of Jackson County and its residents as it hampers our ability to provide essential health and public safety services. Governor Parson understands these challenges and commends our commitment to fiscal responsibility. Patterson, the House majority leader, said on Monday that it was important for lawmakers to meet with the teams as Parson nears the end of his term. He said that while some of the candidates for governor may differ in the degree to which they support the teams, he expects every candidate to support keeping them in the state. Whoever is the next governor, theyre going to have a choice to make, he said. I think it would be very difficult for a new governor to be the one that lost the Kansas City Chiefs. Meetings between Ukraine and EU started as part of legislation screening process The first EU-Ukraine bilateral meeting to assess the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to EU law began in Brussels on Monday, 8 July, the next important step on the path to EU membership. Source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda Details: The two-day meeting between the European Commission and Ukraine as part of the official screening of the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law is dedicated to negotiating Chapter 5, Public Procurement. This section is part of Cluster 1, Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process. This cluster is the first to be opened and the last to be closed during the negotiations. The Ukrainian delegation will present the state of alignment of Ukrainian legislation to EU law in public procurement, the sector's institutional capacity, anti-corruption measures, and a plan for full alignment of legislation to EU law. Nadiia Bihun, Deputy Minister of Economy, heads the Ukrainian delegation; Oleksandr Ilkov, Director General of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, was appointed deputy head. The delegation included Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine; Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine; Mykola Tkachenko, CEO of Prozorro, a Ukrainian public electronic procurement system; and Alla Basalaieva, Head of the State Audit Service of Ukraine. Background: Earlier, the Ukrainian government expected that meetings with the European Commission to analyse Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU law would begin in July. The EU and Ukraine officially launched accession talks on 25 June. Support UP or become our patron! NEW YORK Sen. Bob Menendezs defense team argued Tuesday that a jury is all that stands between the New Jersey Democrat and a lifetime of shame. In the defenses closing arguments, Menendez attorney Adam Fee said federal prosecutors had used every manner of lawyer stuff to fill in gaps in their case. Prosecutors, who wrapped up their first set of closing arguments earlier on Tuesday, allege the senator is part of numerous schemes to disrupt criminal cases against New Jersey business people and aid the government of Egypt in exchange for bribes. Fee said prosecutors had used every version of misdirection and told a one-sided story by riffing, fudging, misleading and using shifty inferences. Throughout his two-hour argument, Fee tried to cast doubt on prosecutors case with descriptions of it being filled with half-truths, fantasy, conjecture, speculation and games. Youre being asked to imagine, in the gaps of evidence, the criminal stuff, Fee told jurors, who are expected to begin deliberations in coming days. While there are reams of text messages, phone records and other documents that prosecutors hope give jurors a timeline and evidence of bribes and illegal acts along with a cooperating witness Fee poked at what he called gaps in the governments theory about where cash and gold found in Menendezs home came from. When the FBI agents searched Menendezs home, they found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and 13 gold bars. Fee was candid that he could not explain every piece of evidence, including some of the Google searches Menendez made for the price of gold at times prosecutors say he and his wife and co-defendant Nadine were being bribed with gold. (Nadine Menendez is standing trial separately). But Fee suggested the government could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the gold was a bribe to Menendez, which is one of the prosecutors theories in the case. He also continued to hammer Menendez's argument that at least a portion of the cash found there was money the senator hoarded because of his familys experience fleeing Cuba. Several of the gold bars were traced by prosecutors back to New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes, one of the senators two co-defendants on trial. Daibes attorney has said that Daibes provided Menendez and his wife with cash and gold as gifts, but not as bribes. The senator is alleged to have helped Daibes cement a real estate deal with Qatar and tried to help pick a federal prosecutor in New Jersey who would deal favorably with Daibes, who is facing bank fraud charges there. Fee also said in an argument he is expected to continue on Wednesday morning that acts the senator is accused of taking in exchange for bribes were proper. His actions were lawful, normal and good for his constituents and country, Fee said. Fee highlighted two items he said undercut the prosecution's goal to prove blame beyond a reasonable doubt: The placement of a blazer in Menendez's home and how many American embassy officials were in Egypt. At the start of a trial, an FBI agent called by the prosecution said a blazer owned by the senator was found inside a locked closet in his bedroom, where gold bars and envelopes of cash were also found. However, the agent later said that the blazer was found outside of the closet. The discrepancy is key to an argument put forth by Menendezs attorneys: that the senator was unaware of everything Nadine Menendez was doing. Fee also questioned another central allegation in the prosecutions case: that Bob Menendez passed along sensitive information that ended up with Egyptian officials and acted as an unofficial agent of the country. Prosecutors said in their indictment that Menendez passed along highly sensitive information on how many staffers were at the American embassy in Cairo which was sent to Nadine and eventually to Egyptian officials. But while prosecutors described the staff details as sensitive, non-public embassy information in the indictment, Fee pointed to online government reports that mentioned similar numbers, saying it was 100 percent public information. The discrepancy on whether the staffing information was public, Fee said, showed the prosecution was shifting their story and could not be trusted. They are fudging, Fee said. They are misleading you. Mental evaluation to decide if homeless man charged in brutal Houston Co. murder can stand trial HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN) A mental evaluation and youthful offender status hearing has been ordered for a homeless man accused of beating an elderly Houston County man to death in his front yard late last year. Justin Ryan Ammons is charged with one count of capital murder-robbery in the death of 70-year-old Durwood Ard. Ammons attorneys requested their client undergo a mental evaluation and IQ test early Tuesday morning. Judge Todd Derrick granted the request nearly an hour later. The assessment will be performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist contracted or employed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. This test will determine if Ammons is competent and fit to stand trial. Ard was found beaten to death outside his home in the 11000 block of Highway 84 on Tuesday, December 12. According to Sheriff Donald Valenza, Ard suffered extreme skull fractures and structural damage to the skull. Ammons grand jury indictment, filed in early June, claims Ammons beat Ard to death with a metal pipe while trying to rob him. At the time of Ammons arrest, Sheriff Valenza told WDHN that Ards death was one of the most brutal murders he had ever seen. Along with undergoing a mental evaluation, Ammons will stand before Judge Derrick in early August for a youthful offender hearing to determine whether he should stay charged as an adult or be moved to juvenile court, which would seal his case from the public. Ammons was 20 at the time of the murder. Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman says that anyone under 21 can apply for youthful offender status, but his office plans to fight to motion. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. MOSCOW, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia and India have vowed to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a joint statement released on Tuesday. Russia-India ties remain stable in the current complex and uncertain geopolitical situation, the statement read, adding that the leaders of both countries noted the continued strengthening and expansion of their "special and privileged strategic partnership." The countries will continue their dialogue in trade liberalization, including the possibility of a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and India, the statement said. The two nations agreed to accelerate the growth of bilateral trade, setting a target to drive up trade turnover to 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. The leaders also agreed to prepare a program for the development of strategic areas of economic cooperation between the countries by 2030. The countries reaffirmed the importance of security dialogue and agreed to strengthen regional security architecture, the statement said. Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Russia and India stressed the need for a peaceful resolution through diplomacy and the involvement of both sides of the conflict. Putin and Modi also called for the implementation of the UN resolution on a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, advocating for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. For energy, Russia and India agreed to consider new long-term contracts and further cooperation in the coal sector. During his visit, Modi was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, Russia's highest state honor, by Putin. The Russian leader also invited Modi to the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in the Russian city of Kazan in autumn. Modi paid an official state visit to Russia from July 8 to 9. This was Modi's first visit to Russia in the last five years. OAK HILL, WV (WVNS) A man from Bluefield, West Virginia was sentenced for a felony drug crime in Fayette County. 34-year-old Cory L. Callen, of Bluefield, West Virginia, was sentenced on July 8, 2024 to ten years in prison for the felony crime of conspiracy to possess fentanyl, oxymorphone, cocaine, and tramadol with the intent to deliver. He will need to serve at least two years and six months in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Mercer County man pleads guilty to drug crimes in Fayette County On April 9, 2024, Callen pleaded guilty to the felony drug crime, and his co-conspirator Deron A. Yarrell was found guilty and will be sentenced on July 23, 2024. Callen also faces additional felony charges in Mercer County, one of which includes a murder charge. A traffic stop was held by a member of the Oak Hill Police Department on a Jeep driven by Callen on February 26, 2023. The Jeep, traveling north on U.S. Route 19, was speeding. The passenger of the Jeep could not give the officer any identification, and gave a date of birth with the name Allen Jackson. Callen was not honest about the destination and told the officer that the passengers name was Allen Jackson. Mount Olive Correctional Center inmate sentenced for Second-Degree Murder of another inmate After investigating, the officer found there was not a person named Allen Jackson with the given birthdate. A portable fingerprint scanner was used to discover that the passengers identity was Deron A. Yarrell, who had outstanding arrest warrants from Tazewell, Virginia. Both Callen and Yarrell were arrested, and the Jeep was impounded and searched once a search warrant was acquired. During the search of the Jeep, more than 400 pills, digital scales, and amounts of suspected controlled substances were discovered. Lab testing discovered that 400 pills in the Jeep contained a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol, and 20 pills were pharmaceutical oxymorphone. In addition to the pills, both Callen and Yarrell were also in possession of one ounce of powder fentanyl and one ounce of powder cocaine. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. City leaders on Mercer Island are trying to work with residents to prevent a water shortage during the heat wave baking Western Washington this week. Typically, the city is able to refill its two reservoir tanks overnight. On Monday morning, however, the city found the tanks were not able to refill completely. When full, the water level reached 29.6 feet in the tanks. On Monday, the city reports it was down to 26.5 feet. If water levels drop to 19 feet, known as the fire band, water pressure could be affected and impact any firefighting efforts. If the water drops any lower, water quality could be impacted, Mercer Island City Manager Jessi Bon said during a virtual meeting Monday evening. The water usage on Mercer Island has significantly spiked and is unfortunately significantly outpacing our water supplies, Bon said. The city estimates that if water use had continued at Mondays pace, water levels would drop below the fire band in 24 to 48 hours. About 3.5 million gallons of water were used during the day Sunday. In the best case scenario, Mercer Island can bring in 3.1 million gallons of water in a given day. The issue dates back to April, when the citys main water line was found to be leaking. In order to repair it, it had to be shut down and a pipe eight inches smaller in diameter has been delivering water to the Island. People are going to be upset by (the restrictions), said Martha Phelps, who lives on the Island. People like their water. People I saw on Nextdoor were actually upset about not being able to have fireworks because of the water restrictions. The city says the problem is urgent and if water use is not scaled back, mandatory restrictions would be implemented to keep water at a safe level. The last resort would be emergency water restrictions. They hope people can take shorter showers, do less laundry and dishes, and suspect irrigation, or watering the lawn, is the biggest culprit in the spike in demand. Sandy Bloch says she doesnt water her lawn, questioning how she could cut back or how the city would enforce mandatory restrictions. I used paper plates last night, which isnt really a good solution, because then youre wasting paper, but I didnt have many dishes to get done. Other than that, I dont know where to cut back. Bon says the city has installed a liner in its main water line and hopes, after testing and sanitation, the main line will be repaired and ready to use again by the end of July. Weve had similar things before when the reservoir gets low and its been OK, which is good, Phelps said. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The Albuquerque Police Department, the district attorney, and the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico are teaming up to make sure kids have the supplies they need for the upcoming school year. Officials are hosting a Fill the Bus donation drive through July 19. You can drop off notebooks, pens and pencils, backpacks, clothes, and other items at APDs headquarters on Roma. Taos spot snags Yelp top New Mexico breakfast taco honor Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The nonprofit Locker 505 will distribute the supplies at Hyder Park on July 27. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Michael Moore said on a recent episode of his Rumble podcast that Joe Bidens disastrous first debate against Donald Trump was the cruelest form of elder abuse Ive ever been forced to watch. The Oscar-winning documentarian is joining the likes of Rob Reiner, Stephen King and other Hollywood Democrats in urging Biden to step down as the partys 2024 nominee for president. If I have to be the only one to stand up for Joe Biden here, to protect him from the cruelest form of elder abuse Ive ever been forced to watch, well then thats what Ill do, Moore said. He was in epic distress that Thursday night. Every cognitive default in his mind seemed to be shutting down. If this had been someone that you truly cared about, loved, embraced what would you have done? Would you have seriously even let him go out on that stage? Who would send an 81-year-old onto any stage to debate a living monster at 9 at night for a brawl that would not end until 10:42 p.m.? More from Variety I dont think we should be waiting until September or October to deal with this, Moore continued. We have to deal with this right now. This is not about whether hes fit to serve another four years. After what we saw on debate night, this is about whether he should serve another four days in the toughest job in the world. Thats the question we should be asking. Leave Mr. Biden alone! Let him rest. Let him go home. He has done his job. Let him have his dignity. Please. Do him this favor. Calls for Biden to step down erupted after his first 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump. Filmmaker, screenwriter and actor Rob Reiner recently posted a statement on X to his 2.3 million followers in which he said Bidens exit is imperative considering democracy itself is at stake in this election. Its time to stop fucking around, Reiner wrote. If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served US with honor, decency, and dignity. Its time for Joe Biden to step down. Stephen King also used social media to write: Joe Biden has been a fine president, but its time for him in the interests of the America he so clearly loves to announce he will not run for re-election. During his interview with ABC News following the debate, Biden pushed back against his critics and stressed he currently has no intention of dropping out of the presidential race. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Documentarian Michael Moore has a bone to pick with the people close to Joe Biden, going so far as to accuse those encouraging him to remain in the race for another term as president of elder abuse on the latest episode of his Rumble podcast. Moore pulled no punches as he made the assertion during the episode: If I have to be the only one to stand up for Joe Biden here to protect him from the cruelest form of elder abuse I've ever been forced to watch, well then that's what Ill do, he said. He was in epic distress [during the debate]. Every cognitive default in his mind seemed to be shutting down. If this had been somebody that you truly cared about, loved, embraced, what would you have done? Would you have seriously even let him go out on that stage? The Oscar-winning filmmaker has been vocally critical of Biden in the pastespecially in regards to the Israel-Hamas War, though concerns about the Presidents age have taken precedence in his latest comments. I've told you over a number of months since last October of my utter disappointment, seeing President Biden embracing Benjamin Netanyahu: funding him, arming him, and not ordering him to stop using our weapons and our money [to] stop the slaughter, stop the ethnic cleansing. He went on to describe Bidens broken promises in regards to the war, which he said include saying that he'd secure a ceasefire or that he would ensure that Gazans received humanitarian aid. Ive just had my spirits deflated by this person I voted for, he added before shifting focus to Bidens age: And then the debate happened. Stating that he was recording the episode just after Bidens sit down with George Stephanopoulos, Moore said, In spite of my criticisms of Biden and everything, I am very grateful for so many of the things that he's done in these last three and a half yearsand yet tonight its like he still didnt really have a clue as to what was going on. Moore doesnt just blame Biden for that, however. He pointed the finger at Bidens team of advisors, or anyone who has encouraged him to stay in the race despite what critics have seen as significant mental decline due to age. Its all about making sure he stays in the race and nothing about the risk to his own life he is facing as they push him, push him, push him to soldier onward, Moore said. So I will say this, to protect him from an out of control party machine that is in a panic over what to dofor any of us to be silent now is exactly what the term elder abuse is meant to describe. Leave Mr. Biden alone. Moore said those encouraging Biden should: Let him rest. Let him go home. He has done his job. Let him have his dignity. After that, Moore said the next steps are obvious: VP Kamala Harris should take over as president and face Donald Trump in the upcoming election. She and only she inherits all the campaign funds in the Biden-Harris War Chest. Biden will urge all his Biden-Harris convention delegates to support her. She will now immediately become the incumbent president who will run on the incredible accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration, he said. He issued a call to action of sorts by the end, implicating anyone still supporting Bidens run in November. We become our own terrorists when we don't take the stands that we need to take, especially when it's uncomfortable, especially when maybe it's somebody we're grateful to or that we like. No matter how we feel about a whole bunch of issues, he added, we must stop Donald Trump. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) When a Michigan county forecloses on a home due to unpaid taxes, the homeowner is supposed to get the extra profits, not the government. But is that happening? In 1999, the Michigan Legislature changed the way counties can go after nonpayment of taxes. Before, counties would typically place a tax lien on the property. Now, counties can foreclose on a property and sell it to get their money. Counties would keep all the profits from the sale prior to 2020, no matter how small the tax debt or how big the surplus sales. But the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that was unconstitutional and that the former property owner has a right to the surplus proceeds. But attorneys say thats not happening. 43 Michigan counties agree to pay back surplus profits from foreclosure sales Don Visser, a senior attorney at metro Grand Rapids-based Visser and Associates, compared it to paying a $10 traffic ticket with a $100 bill and then the government refusing to give you back your change. Youve paid off your $10, you expect to get the $90 back, he said. But thats not the gig thats going on right now. Its a practice Christina Martin, senior attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation out of California, first heard about in 2014. It was just outrageous to me that this could even happen in the United States, she said. I never imagined that the government would be trying to take more than what was owed and to take a windfall at peoples expense people who are struggling to pay their taxes. But as her organization started looking into it, it found it was common practice in more than half a dozen states. We decided to take a strategic approach to bringing a lot of these cases and trying to get the issue up to the United States Supreme Court so that we could end this legalized home equity theft once and for all, she said. FORECLOSURE RATES IN MICHIGAN Martins organization refers to it as home equity theft, a characterization Mason County Treasurer Andrew Kmetz and Eaton County Treasurer Bob Robinson disagree with. You have to consider the perspectives. As county treasurers, we were following the foreclosure law, Robinson, the former president of the Michigan Association of County Treasurers, said. Weve been accused of a lot of bad things by folks who are, well, frankly, making a lot of money with lawsuits in the process. I guess from a certain perspective, you might look at it that way. But as a county treasurer who facilitates tax foreclosure then uses the funds to improve those properties, we see the process from a different perspective. Robinson said treasurers are fighting to keep families in their homes and to not foreclose on them in the first place. Sign up for the News 8 weekly recap newsletter In 2023, only 5% of forfeitures from the following year became foreclosures statewide, according to data from the Michigan Department of Treasury provided to News 8 by Kmetz, the current president of the treasurers association. That follows a 5% statewide average from 2018 to 2023. In West Michigan, Mecosta County has the highest foreclosure rate, with a 12% average from 2018 to 2023. However, Mecosta County is an opt-out county, meaning the state of Michigan handles its foreclosures, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury data. Kent County has the lowest rate, with a 2% average between 2018 and 2023. Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Mason, Montcalm, Oceana and Ottawa were all close behind, with a 3% average. West Michigan Foreclosure Rates Infogram Thats how hard we work as county treasurers to keep people in their homes. After all, thats the most economic, sensible thing to do, Robinson said. Its better for the local community. Its better for the schools, its better for the local business community. Its better for families when we can keep them in their home. Kmetz said foreclosures are ultimately a last resort by mechanism of law. Nobody sees it more than we do the tragedy of the tax foreclosure, Robinson said. We know the importance of helping these people get a hold of that revenue, thats at the time they probably need it most. A $24,000 MISTAKE AND A RULING FROM THE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT In 2020, Martin and her team at the Pacific Legal Foundation argued Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County before the Michigan Supreme Court. The attorneys say Uri Rafaeli accidentally underpaid the taxes on his business property in Southfield in 2011 a mistake that would cost him at least $24,500 in equity. He tried paying off the debt when he learned about it in 2013, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation, but did not factor in the growing interest, ultimately underpaying by $8.41. That $8 grew to $285.81 after interest and other costs. Oakland County ultimately foreclosed on the property and sold it at public auction. After the sale, the county kept the $24,500 in sale proceeds. Inside WOODTV.com: Housing crisis in West Michigan Similarly, Andre Ohanessian, who was also involved in the case, owed the county $6,000 in unpaid taxes, interest and other costs. Oakland County foreclosed on his property and kept the full $82,000 in the sale proceeds. In July 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court determined it was unconstitutional for governments to keep surplus funds from the sale of foreclosed homes. (Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County) found that the government violates the Michigan Constitution when it takes an entire house and all of its equity as payment for a smaller debt, Martin explained. The opinion held that basically by keeping a windfall when property is taken to pay a tax debt, the government is taking private property without just compensation. U.S. SUPREME COURT WEIGHS IN In 2015, Hennepin County in Minnesota foreclosed on the condo of Geraldine Tyler, an elderly woman whose tax debt of $2,300 had grown into $15,000 after interest and other costs. The Minnesota county sold the condo for $40,000, keeping the full sale surplus. Martin and her team took the case all the way to the Supreme Court. It was an honor to get to go there and have the Supreme Court justices asking questions about an issue that I care about deeply it was really neat, she said. On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in her clients favor. To have them come out with a unanimous opinion striking down this practice of the government taking more than whats owed it, it was amazing, Martin said. The ruling means that once all obligations are paid off, the government has to return the surplus profits to the property owner. NEW SYSTEM ENACTED Despite those two decisions, attorneys Visser and Martin say some Michigan residents who have had their properties foreclosed on are still not getting the money that is owed to them. The supreme courts, both in the state and in the country, said it belongs to the people, Visser said. But the people cant get it. After the Rafaeli decision, Robinson said it was the county treasurers who took the bull by the horns, working with the Michigan Legislature to put together a new process to claim the surplus proceeds. Immediately, we went down to the state Legislature and said, We need to craft new law that gives these people access to their surplus funds,' he said. We not only worked with state legislators to craft a better way to do it, but then we got to work informing people about the ability to file a claim for those surplus revenues. New dashboard shows realities of Kent County housing crisis On Dec. 22, 2020, the state enacted Public Act 256, which puts in place the process for homeowners to claim surplus proceeds. When a homeowner is facing tax delinquency, their first call should be to their county treasurer, Kmetz and Robinson said. County treasurers all across the state take extensive action to keep people in their homes, Robinson said. Its really a primary concern of county treasurers. We see our job as helping people keep their homes, not tax foreclosing. It takes years before a county would foreclose on a property due to unpaid taxes. Throughout the process, Kmetz said treasurers can work with homeowners and get them connected with resources like nonprofits, assistance programs and other agencies. A graphic illustrates the foreclosure process in the state of Michigan. (Courtesy Michigan Association of County Treasurers) A graphic illustrates the foreclosure process in the state of Michigan. (Courtesy Michigan Association of County Treasurers) If taxes remain unpaid for a second year, the property enters the delinquent stage. The treasurer will work with the homeowner to help them get the taxes paid off and keep them out of foreclosure. In the third year, the property will enter into the forfeiture year process, Robinson and Kmetz explained. There will be two hearings, one with the treasurer and one with a circuit court judge. During that time, the homeowner can ask for an extension and enter into a formal payment plan. Many counties have lots of these that are successful each year. The biggest thing is being able to approach us. Were going to do whatever we can to keep you in your home, Kmetz said. In 2024, Mason County only had eight foreclosures, he said. The county has more than 20 payment plans in place. Anybody that I can connect with will end up with a payment plan as long as theyre willing to work with us, he said. If the property owner cannot work out a payment plan, they should talk to an attorney before March 31, attorney Visser said, as the propertys title will typically transfer to the county on April 1. Even if you have a lien on your home, Visser said an attorney may be able to find a solution. Dont be afraid to seek out and ask (for) help, even if it goes to your local legal aid groups, he said. If March 31 of that third year does pass and a foreclosure is set, Visser said you should still contact an attorney. He said you can get the surplus proceeds, as long as we act quickly. If a property enters into foreclosure, the property owner (or any lien holders) will have three months, until July 1, to file a notice that they intend to claim the excess proceeds. The notice must be notarized, the law says, and must include information including a sworn statement or affirmation by the claimant that the information included in the notice is accurate. It must be sent to the county by personal service acknowledged by the foreclosing governmental unit, or by certified mail with a return receipt requested. Kent Countys housing crisis: How did we get here? The county can then either purchase the property and pay fair market value if a claim has been filed or put it up for auction. If it goes up for auction, it would be sold between the third Tuesday of July and the first Tuesday in November, Kmetz explained. While procedures vary by county, Kmetz said Mason County would not evict the homeowner. This would allow the property owner to remain in the property if they would like to attempt to purchase back at the auction or simply gives them a little extra time to figure out their next steps, he wrote in an email to News 8. It would be up to the purchaser to pursue evictions. SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE OR DESIGNED TO FAIL? Robinson said treasurers have been pleased with how many people have filed for the funds. Were real pleased to see the high claims ratio that were getting in, he said. Were working every day to improve that process and make it easier for those in tax foreclosure to have access to those funds. He said the process is simple. At this point, its a simple matter of completing one form, filing it with the court, the treasurer gets a copy of it and the process, from there, really takes care of itself, Robinson said. Thats something that were making as simple as possible in a process thats really difficult and can be tragic, right? Because people lose their homes. So were in there and doing what we can to make sure that they have access to those funds. Martin disagrees. Unfortunately, it created a very complicated procedure for people who lose their property to tax foreclosure, Martin said. They can now claim surplus proceeds from an auction, but they have to claim those proceeds before the auction has even happened, and then they have to file a motion in court to actually get paid. This is an unusual, and from what Ive seen, the most difficult procedure to navigate in the United States. The text of the law is complicated and confusing, Martin argued, adding that her team of legal experts didnt understand it on the first read. While she said its better than the pre-Rafaeli process, she still believes its designed to fail. I dont know if the Legislature intended to create this complicated of a procedure, but the counties are certainly profiting from it, she said. For the most part, (they) keep doing what they were doing before the constitutional rule was entered. Theyre taking the windfall at the expense of Michigans struggling property owners. The Legislature could fix that, and I know theres a number of lawsuits that have been filed that could also ultimately end up fixing that problem. The Sweet House: An inside look at a piece of Grand Rapids history Visser said there may not even be a for sale sign up in front of the house by the July 1 deadline. Then the countys response is, Its too late,' he said. Kmetz said when a for sale sign gets placed would vary by county, but it would typically be before the auction and could be before July 1. Visser said as he and his team work through several court cases, counties keep bringing up technicalities to justify why they should be able to keep the money. From our standpoint, its pretty pure and simple: Its not your money. It belongs to these other individuals, he said. Its a little difficult to see why local governments are trying to come up with excuses, not just to do whats right. The law also sets the statute of limitations for claiming surplus proceeds at two years, but most working to get their money back are way past two years, he said. Thats just the nature of the beast, he added. SO ARE PEOPLE GETTING THE SURPLUS PROCEEDS? Martin estimated that around 10% of people whose homes have been foreclosed on get the surplus proceeds under the current process. According to data provided to News 8 by the Pacific Legal Foundation that looked at Oakland County in 2022, of 98 properties that were sold at auction and had at least $2,500 in surplus equity, fewer than 10 homeowners successfully made claims. More than $3 million in surplus equity from the rest of those properties went either to the government or a tax lien investor, the foundation said. Grand Rapids overbilled him for a decade. It only refunded him for four years Kmetz said in Mason County, which from 2018 to 2023 had between five to 19 foreclosures each year, property owners have filed seven claims for the surplus proceeds. If the funds are not claimed, they remain with the county. Prior to the Rafaeli decision, the county could do anything with those dollars and they would typically go into its general fund. Now, they must be directed to a foreclosure fund, Robinson said. As you can imagine, a lot of the properties we get in tax foreclosure arent the best. Most of them have not been maintained very well and, in fact, the condition of those properties is often the reason why theyre tax foreclosing, he explained. So those funds are used to keep them safe and secure, to protect the public, to keep the properties maintained and mowed so that the surrounding residents arent impacted negatively by that property. So that was a change in the law that I think improves the system greatly. THOSE MOST AFFECTED ARE NOT POWERFUL PEOPLE Martin said those who get their equity back are often corporations or people who were able to hire an attorney. For the most part, people who lose their home because they cant pay their property taxes, they cant afford publicists, they cant afford attorneys, she said. Theyre not powerful people, but they should be able to rely on the Constitution to protect them from this kind of abuse. Pacific Legal Foundation is set up to protect constitutional rights and property rights is one of the most important issues that we litigate aggressively. Visser estimated that around a third of the property owners whose homes were foreclosed on were dead or dying, which explains why they didnt respond when the county reached out. When a death is involved, Kmetz said if a probate case is established, the county can pause the foreclosure process until the estate is able to handle it. In Mason County, he would check the probate court for active cases. If there isnt a case established, Kmetz and his team would search for family members through obituaries and social media so that they can open a probate case. 60 years later, the Auburn Hills neighborhood still stands as a symbol of equality Visser said a lot of times, the people whose homes are foreclosed on are functionally illiterate. We dont like to think about that, but these are people that can make it through the world on a day-to-day basis, but a curveball gets thrown their way and they dont know how to figure their way out of it, he said. So we have somebody living in a house that theyre barely able to keep up with, (then) the curveball comes their way (and) they cant make it anymore. And of course, they lose their house. He added that telling someone they should have read the notices the county sent is good advice for a lawyer, its good advice for someone with a bachelors degree, but if you read at a fourth-grade level, that might not be such great advice. The rules enacted by the Legislature in 2020 require the county to send someone to the property and verbally inform them it will be foreclosed. If the owner doesnt seem to be able to understand, the county must either contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or give the resident contact information of agencies that could help. If the county doesnt meet with the owner in person it must leave written notice. During that visit or in the notice, the county must also inform them about the equity claims process, Kmetz said. Still, Visser said some dont realize whats happening until a for sale sign is in front of their house, and by then its too late. He said he had one client whose husband died by suicide. The husband had handled all the finances, and by the time the client tried to tackle the issue, it was too late to get her property back and she and her kids ended up on the street. Another client who lost his home is now living in a tent, Visser said. Another was living out of his truck for a year and a half. After Vissers team secured his surplus money, he was able to get into an apartment. These are people that need the money more than anybody else, and instead were making it harder for them to get, maybe impossible to get, and perpetrating a real injustice on them, Visser said. If you look at it on an individual level, its really insane that we would do this to people and simply not look real hard at how to do whats right. Its a travesty. Kmetz said while there are certain situations where a taxpayer could be unaware, the county or other foreclosing governmental unit sends several notices to try to prevent that from happening. At least 12 notices are mailed to the taxpayer, he said, including a certified notice. The county must also publish a list in a newspaper and make a personal visit to the property. In Mason County, I will personally visit properties (an) additional time in the week leading up to foreclosure in an attempt to make contact with taxpayers and stop the foreclosure. While this isnt required under law, it is a step that I and other treasurers take as another tool to prevent a foreclosure, he wrote in an email to News 8. It is important to highlight that this is a three-year process and there are many points of contact over those three years to attempt to notify the property owner and occupant. Proof of notice is required for treasurers to proceed with the civil process of foreclosure. Inside WOODTV.com: A Post-Pandemic Workforce The treasurers said their goal is always to keep people in their homes, and theyre working to make sure people know to file a notice to receive the surplus funds. Our office doors are always open. Were human as well we dont ever want to take anybodys home, Kmetz told News 8. Ive never turned somebody away from any kind of help when theyve approached us. We have various tools available to help prevent foreclosure. We have assistance programs that we can connect people with, so thats our ultimate goal is to not even make it to meeting the excess proceeds side of things. He said if treasurers can prevent a foreclosure, they will. We would like to let individuals facing this circumstance know to reach out to us. Were always going to help, he said. If we cant (prevent a foreclosure), then well work with you on this process to make it the easiest it can be for you. Our goal is to keep people in their home, keep properties in productive status and connect people that have faced foreclosure with their excess funds so they can they can move forward. CASES WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURTS Several related court cases are working their way through the system right now, ranging from individuals or groups of people trying to get their money back to efforts to change the laws. We actually have a case pending in the Michigan Supreme Court that weve asked the Michigan Supreme Court to review this claim process because its designed to fail, Martin said. It is failing at large percentages and we hope the Michigan Supreme Court will correct it. But we shouldnt have to wait for the courts to do that. The state legislature could fix this anytime. One case before the Michigan Supreme Court, Schafer v. Kent County, will determine if the Rafaeli decision is retroactive, Visser explained. In one class-action lawsuit, several claimants in 43 counties could get around 80% of their surplus proceeds. That lawsuit was spurred by a case out of Van Buren County in which Wayside Church owed $16,750 in taxes and other costs on a piece of property. The county sold it for $206,000, close to $190,000 in surplus proceeds, after foreclosing on it in 2014. The church didnt get any of that. A motion for final approval is pending, according to a February update from the Kroll Settlement Administration, which is handling the class-action case. It noted that more delays are possible if an objector appeals the decision. Kmetz said that case involves around $53 million in surplus funds and there has been a 73.6% claim rate. Some who could have been involved in that case have opted out to pursue the funds separately. In Newaygo County, Visser and a team of other attorneys are trying to get back the sale proceeds of more than a dozen properties, most of which were homes. One man in that case had his Newaygo home foreclosed on March 21, 2018. The country kept $21,700 in surplus proceeds, according to the court filing. The others range from $4,400 in surplus proceeds to $20,900. In Montcalm County, Vissers team is working on getting the sale proceeds from seven properties, with surplus proceeds ranging from $14,500 to $34,858. A BATTLE THAT NONE OF THESE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD Visser and Martin would like to see a different system to claim surplus proceeds. They argue the money should automatically revert to the property owners, with no option for the county to keep it. Im hoping five years from now, all the states will be honoring property rights and not exploiting struggling property owners to take a windfall at their expense, Martin said. Come a long way: A look at Americas fight for fair housing Visser said there are lots of potential resolutions to managing the surplus money, like getting it turned over to the court or to the states unclaimed property department. For now, he said working on these cases feels like a noble calling. I dont think Ive ever felt a higher calling, though, than working for people that cannot afford to pay me, because they dont have anything and its been governmental action that has put them in the place where they are. I know that some of my brother and sister attorneys will say, Well, its their own fault because they didnt pay their taxes. Well, by the time we get by my involvement, they have paid their taxes, he said. Its a battle that none of these people can afford to do unless they have somebody thats willing to step in for them and to pursue it. If attorneys cant step up to insist that the Constitution is followed, then our republic is in really bad shape, he added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Getty Images A new Senate bill would establish a board responsible for reviewing coverage requirements that the Legislature thinks about placing on health insurance companies. The commission would be responsible for looking at upcoming state coverage mandates outside of federal rules and deciding if they were necessary. Additional coverage requirements might drive up the cost of insurance and make health care more expensive generally, according to bill sponsor Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills). Health insurance providers face continuous pressure to reduce health care premiums, Webber said in a release. More consideration of the impacts of current and future proposed coverage mandates is necessary to ensure health insurance remains affordable for Michiganders. Last year, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation codifying the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into state law. Under these new laws, insurance providers are prohibited from denying someone coverage based on their gender identity or sexual orientation, denying coverage based on preexisting conditions and from rescinding someones coverage. The Democratic-led Legislature is also considering bills that would establish a state-run health exchange. SB 921 would give the Legislature non-binding guidance on health care policy issues. The board will examine financial impacts of legislation, the medical efficacy of a bill and the necessity of the coverage to be required under state law. The commission would include Michigan lawmakers, representatives from the health care and insurance industries and the director of the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill was referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee. Webber is the minority vice chair of the board. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Michigan lawmaker proposes health insurance policy review board appeared first on Michigan Advance. A candidate running as a Democrat in Michigan's 10th Congressional District is running campaign ads in which she talks about an abortion she had as a young woman. Emily Busch, who lives outside the 10th District in Oxford, says in the spots, which will run online and be part of a direct mail campaign, that when she was a freshman in college, more than three decades ago, she learned she was pregnant. Emily Busch, whose son was a survivor of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, is running for Congress in 2024. "I didn't know a lot at that age but I knew I wasn't ready," she says in the ads. "So I decided to have an abortion." She goes on to say that "at the end of the day, I had a choice... But across this country, too many women don't have that choice. We are somehow going backwards. Nineteen-year-old girls have less rights than I did 33 years ago." Busch then attacks U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, who currently holds the congressional seat and former Macomb County Judge Carl Marlinga, who is considered the Democratic frontrunner given he was the nominee two years ago, as insufficiently supportive of abortion rights. Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a right to abortion nationally, turning the issue back to the states to decide. Michigan in that same year voted to guarantee abortion through a ballot initiative which was overwhelmingly supported; some states, however, have further curtailed abortion access. Busch is running in her first race for Congress, hoping to take on James in what is considered a tossup seat. When she announced she was running, she hit James for his anti-abortion stance and support of gun rights. Busch's son, Andrew, was among the students locked down during a deadly shooting rampage at Oxford High School in November 2021. In the ad, Busch calls James "100% against a woman's right to choose" and says he has voted "repeatedly to ban abortion without exceptions for rape or incest." In the past, he has been against those exceptions. But James, in the last year, has indicated that while he still supports abortion restrictions, he believes there should be exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest or circumstances where the mother's life is in danger. Many Republicans, like James, have softened earlier views on abortion restrictions in the wake of the Supreme Court decision and successful campaigns by Democrats to use it against Republicans in the 2022 elections. Democrats are ramping up attacks on Republicans again this year, arguing they would try to enact a national ban if they could. Busch also hit Marlinga, a Catholic, for his earlier opposition to abortion, though he has made it clear he supports abortion rights and believes the decision is a private one. She references Marlinga's initial delay, when he was Macomb County prosector, in allowing a family to travel to Kansas in 1998 to get a late-term abortion for their 12-year-old daughter who had been impregnated by her 17-year-old brother. Marlinga told the Free Press two years ago he only did so at the time because he wanted to make sure first that someone outside the family a psychologist considered what was best for the girl before she had the abortion. Busch also noted that Marlinga has, in the past, said in a survey that he shares a judicial temperament like that of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative who signed on to the decision overturning Roe. Marlinga has told the Detroit Metro Times that he, like Thomas, considers himself a "strict constitutionalist" but as an abortion rights supporter he would have upheld Roe v. Wade. Marlinga, Busch, Warren financial planner Diane Young and state Board of Education member Tiffany Tilley are running for the Democratic nomination in the 10th District to face James in the fall. Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan US House candidate Emily Busch talks about her abortion in ad Migrant arrivals in NYC have drastically slowed but shelter population remains steady at around 65K The influx of migrants coming to the Big Apple has drastically slowed since the beginning of the year but the number of those in city shelters has remained the same, even with the mayors time limits on stays. Between 1,100-1,500 migrants have been arriving in the city each week since March, according to figures from the Adams administration. It followed peaks of about 4,000 weekly migrant arrivals in January when the shelter population hit a high of about 69,500. The population of asylum seekers in NYCs care has held steady since March. Helayne Seidman As of last Tuesday, there were about 65,300 migrants housed in the taxpayer-funder shelters a tally that plateaued in March, when the range of weekly arrivals was 1,100-1,200, down from 1,300-1,500 in February, according to the figures. About 1,100 migrants came to the city in the week ending June 16, the most recent number City Hall would provide. Mayor Eric Adams has touted his administrations limit on stays 60 days for families and 30 days for single people as a way to help alleviate the burden on the citys shelter system and help migrants to move on. The policy went into effect last fall. And as of mid-May, single migrants whove hit the 30-day limit and want to re-apply for housing must prove they have extenuating circumstances to warrant another shelter stay. But some experts and pols question the effectiveness of the controversial policy, which has faced blowback from lawmakers on both sides and from asylum seeker advocates. Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, said Adams limits on migrant stays are well-intentioned, but can only have a limited impact by design. Mayor Eric Adams has touted his administrations limit on stays as a way to help alleviate the burden on the citys shelter system and help migrants to move on. J.C. Rice They allow people to re-up, Camarota said, noting that its hard to measure the policys effects as some migrants choose to move on regardless, and its unclear what the average length of stay was prior to the limits. Camarota said the policy is also undermined by New Yorks laws, including its Right to Shelter and pro-sanctuary policies, which encourage migrants to keep coming. New York has no one to blame but themselves, Camarota said. The citys Right to Shelter policy undermines the mayors stated goal to get migrants to move out. Queens Councilman Bob Holden skewered the policy as toothless, echoing Camarota. The crowds outside the asylum seeker welcome center have also decreased. Helayne Seidman The best way to lower the migrant population is to stop the freebies, get rid of the Right to Shelter, and end sanctuary city status, the Democrat said. He added: The population isnt declining despite far fewer arrivals, proving once again that the pie-in-the-sky, detached idealism by the left when the limits were placed was unfounded. On Monday, just a few dozen people stood outside the migrant arrival center at Midtowns Roosevelt Hotel a stark contrast from earlier this year when the line wrapped around the block. Local workers said that the full-size charter buses which used to bring migrants to the city have been replaced by smaller vehicles that drop off the new arrivals at the welcome center a few times a week. City Hall, when pressed by The Post, said it expects to see the shelter population dip before the school year starts up in the fall. The administration hopes the summer months will prove to be more successful. Helayne Seidman The summertime is a great time to resettle children and families, said Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom during a press conference in City Hall on June 17. Were going to be working really closely with the state in order to do that, she continued. Im very excited about this opportunity now that kids will be getting out of school soon to really see where are the places that other people want to resettle. Williams-Isom added that the administration was watching numbers really closely but had no plans, at the moment, to impose stricter policies. Migrant families are now banned from sleeping in Bostons airport Migrant families that have been sleeping overnight in Bostons airport may soon find themselves in an unexpected place: a former state prison. A new Massachusetts policy goes into effect today, banning overnight stays at Logan International Airport. Some eligible families on a waiting list will be taken to new shelters, officials said, including a former prison in Norfolk, Massachusetts, that was recently converted into an emergency shelter. The move comes as state officials say theyve run out of shelter space. Weve never thought that Logan was an appropriate place for people to be staying overnight, Gov. Maura Healey told CNN affiliate WBZ after announcing the policy. Officials converted a former prison into a shelter. Its controversial For months, officials in Massachusetts have warned they were overwhelmed by the number of migrants arriving. Healey said last year that the states emergency shelter system for families had reached capacity with 7,500 families. At one point last year, the states lieutenant governor called on residents to consider housing migrants in their homes due to the lack of shelter space. And recently a delegation from the state traveled to the US Southern border to spread the word about how Massachusetts is out of shelter space, officials said. In May officials announced that the Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk, which shut down in 2015, was being converted into an emergency shelter that could house 140 families. The controversial announcement sparked protests outside the facility some 25 miles southwest of Boston, WBZ reported. Footage from the CNN affiliate showed protesters waving signs that said, No kids in prisons and Norfolk Prison-Shelter Not Safe for Anyone! And at a heated community meeting last month, tensions flared as Norfolk residents expressed concerns about possible impacts on schools, medical services and public safety, according to WBZ. Police and social workers escorted families out Migrants have been sleeping in a corner of the Boston airports international arrivals terminal for months. Footage from CNN affiliates showed people lining up sleeping bags, blankets and pillows in rows along the walls of the terminal. This file photo from January shows migrants families using Terminal E at Boston Logan International Airport as a shelter. - Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images At one point, hundreds of migrant families were staying there, CNN affiliate WCVB reported. On June 25, officials said 288 people had slept there overnight. By Tuesday morning, only a few families remained. After sunrise, WBZ reported that state police, social workers and airport staff led those migrants to taxis, which took migrants to welcome centers in Allston and Quincy. This is in the best interest of families and travelers and staff at Logan, as the airport is not an appropriate place for people to seek shelter, state Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice said in a press release last month. We are going to continue to spread the word that Massachusetts is out of shelter space and that, if families are travelling to Massachusetts, they need to be prepared with a plan for housing that does not include Logan Airport or our Emergency Assistance shelters. CNNs Braden Walker contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com VALLETTA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese and Maltese officials have agreed to deepen cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and to push forward the China-Malta and China-European Union (EU) relations. The two sides expressed their willingness when Lu Kang, deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met respectively with Malta's Foreign Minister Ian Borg, Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech, Labour Party President Ramona Attard, and representatives from think tanks, local authorities and friendly locals. Lu, who led a CPC delegation to pay a visit to Malta from Sunday to Tuesday at the invitation of the Labour Party of Malta, also briefed the Maltese side on the opportunities brought to the world by China's further comprehensive deepening of reforms and the advancement of Chinese modernization. Both sides highlighted the strong development momentum in China-Malta relations, vowing to continue their traditional friendship and strengthen inter-party exchanges. The first original GOP party platform since 2016 establishes closing the U.S.-Mexico border to migrants and conducting mass deportations as Republicans top two priorities. The document, released Monday, mirrors former President Trumps rhetoric and style, from the nature of its proposals to its grammatical quirks. Following a preamble that stylistically mimics Trumps social media persona, the platform lists 20 broad-strokes policy proposals, beginning with two immigration-related points. SEAL THE BORDER, AND STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION, reads the platforms No. 1 policy position, which formalizes the concept of a migrant invasion as an official policy of the Republican Party. Describing migrant arrivals as an invasion is relatively new in mainstream politics, and it has caused divisions even among immigration restrictionists. But for advocates, the use of violent terms to describe migration is a new element of an unfolding nightmare scenario. We see a four-alarm fire for our country when the GOPs official platform formalizes xenophobia and recklessly spreads misinformation and fear, said Kica Matos, president of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund. The second GOP policy proposal hits at the heart of the immigrant advocacy movement: mass deportations. CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY, reads point No. 2 in the document. Trump often references the Eisenhower administrations infamous Operation Wetback, though not by name, as a model for his deportation force. The 1950s operation, in large part a continuation of Truman-era immigration policies, involved military-style roundups in Latino communities in the Southwest, often deporting U.S. citizens of Mexican descent along with foreign nationals. Mass deportations, the centerpiece of the platforms immigration policy, will irreversibly destabilize American communities, separate families and decimate the economy. There are no solutions here, only hate, said Matos. And the platforms 10th proposal intermingles immigration policy, global drug trafficking and criminal justice. It pledges to stop the migrant crime epidemic, a position also consistent with Trumps stump speech. Despite a broad corpus of studies suggesting immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born residents, supposed links between migration and crime have taken hold among most Republicans and a number of Democrats, particularly at the state and local level. The GOP platforms 20-point priority list is followed by a more detailed vision of policy proposals. Those proposals double down on an invasion, migrant crime and a vision of greatly expanded border and immigration enforcement. Republicans will restore every Border Policy of the Trump administration and halt all releases of Illegal Aliens into the interior. We will complete the Border Wall, shift massive portions of Federal Law Enforcement to Immigration Enforcement, and use advanced technology to monitor and secure the Border, the document reads. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The FBI is probing allegations of rape and sexual assault by three siblings who are part of one of the most famous families in luxury real estate, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. FBI task force agents on child exploitation and sex trafficking have met in recent weeks with women who say they experienced or witnessed a sexual assault by the three brothers, Oren, Alon, and Tal Alexander, according to the report. The task force, alongside government lawyers, is asking about allegations of sexual assault that go as far back as the brothers high school years, with reports spanning two decades. The Alexander brothers have been accused of sexual assault in civil lawsuits filed this year by multiple women and have denied the claims. A pair of lawsuits filed by two women in March alleged sexual assault by Oren Alexander and his twin, Alon, as far back as 2010 and 2012. Last month, Tal and Alon Alexander were accused in a separate lawsuit of participating in a coordinated sexual assault in 2012 while Oren Alexander watched. Additionally, five separate women told the Journal last month that they were sexually assaulted or raped by Oren Alexander. Millionaire Realtor Brothers Hit by New Group Rape Claims The attorney for the two women in the March lawsuits, Evan Torgan of Torgan Cooper + Aaron, told the Journal that more than two dozen women had contacted him in the aftermath of the filings, many of whom were young models who had socialized with the brothers. Some of the women, according to Torgan, did not report their alleged assaults to police earlier because they had attended parties and gone on dates with the brothers. The three men are the sons of a prominent home developer in Miami and as real estate agents, Tal and Oren Alexander have brokered the sale of some of the countrys most expensive real estate, including a 2019 sale of roughly $240 million New York apartment to hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, which holds the record as the most expensive home ever sold in the U.S. Tal and Oren Alexander had a reputation as ambitious real estate agents who werent afraid to throw elbows to secure a deal or land a big client and were adept at using social media to gain notoriety, the Journal reported. Alon Alexander works at the familys private security firm, Kent Security, as an executive. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. These Milwaukee area communities are not allowing later bar times during the RNC Editor's note, 7/11/2024: This story has been updated to reflect that the City of Franklin is among the municipalities that chose to opt out of the 4 a.m. bar time. A new law allows bars in 14 Wisconsin counties to remain open until 4 a.m. during the Republican National Convention. A new law allows bars in 14 Wisconsin counties to stay open until 4 a.m. during the Republican National Convention from July 15 to 18. Some municipalities in the Milwaukee area opted out of the law, but many did not. At least four Milwaukee area municipalities have opted out of the law, but many will be allowing the later bar times. Here's more about the law and which communities are in and which are out. Note that it's not an exhaustive list. When was the new law enacted and what does it say? On Dec. 6, 2023, Gov. Tony Evers signed an act to allow bars in certain municipalities to be open until 4 a.m. during the Republican National Convention. Normally, bars must be closed from 2 to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 2:30 to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. When and where is the 2024 Republican National Convention? The convention is being held in Milwaukee from July 15 to 18. The main venue for the RNC will be at Fiserv Forum, where the Milwaukee Bucks play. Thousands of delegates are expected to gather there to hear big speeches. Which Milwaukee area communities decided to opt out? If a municipality did not want its bars to be open until 4 a.m., the common council, village or town board needed to vote on an ordinance to opt out of this new law. Among the communities that have decided to opt out are the City of Franklin, Village of Germantown, the City of Oconomowoc, the Town of Oconomowoc, the City of New Berlin and the Village of Shorewood. Which communities will allow bars to be open until 4 a.m. during the RNC? By not enacting an ordinance to opt out, these suburban municipalities are among those who will allow bars to be open until 4 a.m. during the RNC: The villages of Sussex, Grafton, Delafield and Hartland, and the cities of Waukesha, Brookfield, Port Washington, West Allis, West Bend, Mequon, Oak Creek, Delafield and Wauwatosa. "I am all for it because it is good for small business owners and sales," Wauwatosa Alderman Sean Lowe said. "It shows we support the convention and people's first time to Milwaukee. It shows we are a welcoming city." The Village of Menomonee Falls discussed opting out, but Village Administrator Mark Fitzgerald told the Journal Sentinel that the village did not end up passing the ordinance. What are the 14 counties that have the option to extend their bar time during the convention? The 14 Wisconsin counties that have the option to extend their bar time are: Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Dane, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac. Wisconsin Restaurant Association urged municipalities to follow the new law According to the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, many people participating in the RNC may not be able to leave Milwaukee until after 11 p.m. The WRA urged all municipalities to not pass an ordinance to opt out, saying, "These guests look to have a nice meal, enjoy a classic Wisconsin cocktail and wind down from their day." They also said that most participants will be transported to bars by bus or group travel. Therefore, the transportation is safer. In the open letter to municipalities, the WRA also said people participating in the RNC may have private parties in their hotels and purchase food and drinks to carry into the facility. "This would harm the hotel and nearby restaurants and bars from capitalizing on this economic opportunity that is literally in their facility or near it." The Wisconsin Restaurant Association also said in the letter that once visitors see the "fantastic quality of life" in the area, "business convention travel can increase." Some bars won't stay open later because of staffing concerns Shorewood is one of the municipalities that opted out of the law after concerns were expressed about staffing the extra hours. Executive Director of the Shorewood Business Improvement District Janet Henning wrote an email to Shorewood village officials indicating that most of the bars and restaurants would not take advantage of the extension "due to staffing and/or other reasons." She said that a few of them would extend their hours, but "close if business was not consistent between the midnight and 4 a.m. hours." Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy. More: 'Red, White and Brew' welcome party to greet RNC delegates at Summerfest grounds More: Republican National Convention organizers are in the final, 100-day sprint to the Milwaukee event This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Find out which communities will allow later bar times during the RNC How Milwaukee police will handle protests at the RNC and what some say is missing from their plan Four years ago, Milwaukee considered banning the use of tear gas and pepper spray on crowds after a summer of protests and civil unrest. That moment was brief. Now, those options remain on the table as the city prepares to host the Republican National Convention next week. When and how police can use those options are among the details in a "rules of engagement" policy obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The five-page document provides the most explanation to date on how Milwaukee plans to police the convention and mass demonstrations. The department's rules and policies will apply to the thousands of outside officers assisting with RNC security, according to an agreement letter reviewed by the Journal Sentinel. The Journal Sentinel showed the rules of engagement to four experts and reviewed recommendations from national policing organizations and the federal government. Although the experts praised portions of the policy, some raised concerns with the departments definition of a peaceful demonstration, the potential use of so-called stinger balls and a high-frequency audio device to cause ear pain, and language about mass arrests. Its like it hasnt learned the lessons from whats gone wrong in the past, said Edward Maguire, a criminology professor at Arizona State University, who has extensively studied policing crowds. Other experts said the policy properly outlined a use-of-force continuum that can adapt to changing circumstances, like a dynamic crowd. Much of it relies on the judgment of top police commanders who will be taking in reams of information during the convention. At previous news conferences, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman has said officers will show "patience" but will not tolerate violence or property destruction. One of his top commanders told the Journal Sentinel that chemicals and less-lethal rounds like rubber bullets are tools of last resort. Milwaukee has hosted major events before but nothing on the scale of a full in-person national political convention. What happens here and how police respond will reverberate long after convention attendees go home. If theres a lesson that should have been learned in 2020, said Walter Katz, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Council for Criminal Justice, it is that police departments need to be very intentional, deliberate and conservative in how they deploy their officers and their weapons against people who are mainly peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights. The Republican National Convention will take place at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee from July 15 to July 18, 2024. How police responses can de-escalate, or escalate, a crowd The most important tool for policing mass protests? Effective communication. That includes talking to activists, protest leaders and community partners months before an event. The Milwaukee Police Department has participated in more than 50 meetings with various community partners in the run-up to the RNC, Milwaukee Police Inspector David Feldmeier said. Omar Flores, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, criticized the handful of meetings specifically for protesters, saying limited information was provided and neither the chief, nor other high-ranking sworn members, showed up to answer questions, despite requests from the coalition to do so. "In terms of how they engage with protesters, it could have been a lot better," he said. Omar Flores, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC, criticizes proposed RNC protest zones during a news conference on June 21. During the RNC, city and police officials plan to communicate directly with community leaders to try to de-escalate any tension. Frontline incident commanders are expected to give loud, clear directions to crowds if needed, Feldmeier said. We always try and give people options, he added. A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Justice and National Policing Institute recommends police use a tiered protest response, starting with softer appearance and tactics, and adjust as needed. Milwaukees rules of engagement outline such an approach. At the start, officers should be in regular uniforms with their name or ID number displayed. The first few phases call for police to give repeated verbal directions through a loudspeaker. If police order a crowd to disperse, officers should repeatedly tell people how to leave the area and give them time to follow the order. But then things get murky. If people in the crowd refuse to leave and start grabbing projectiles but not throwing them then police can start to ramp up their response with smoke, which crowds often wrongly assume is tear gas. Officers also have the option of moving a launcher for tear gas or other munitions into public view, but not using it, in an attempt to motivate people to leave the area. Maguire said research shows such attempts to intimidate a crowd often backfire, with people feeling attacked and more resolved to confront the police. The policy does not define "projectiles." In 2020, the Police Department, which was led by then-Chief Alfonso Morales, was heavily criticized for using smoke and tear gas at North 6th Street and West McKinley Avenue after protesters threw water bottles and other objects. A bicyclist arrested there later sued the city over officers use of force and received a $270,000 settlement. In an interview, Feldmeier did not provide a specific definition but said the departments response to any projectiles would be based on the totality of the circumstances. Katz, the police oversight expert, said officers need to be careful to distinguish between "what is and what could be," when it comes to projectiles. Somebody throwing a half-filled water bottle suddenly morphs into 'that could have been a Molotov cocktail,' he said. The police say, 'We didnt know, so we had to respond.' That kind of escalating hypothetical often then leads to escalating responses. What is a peaceful demonstration and when does it become unlawful? Some parts of the policy appear black-and-white. One example: Officers are banned from using pepper spray on peaceful demonstrations. But what is a peaceful demonstration? A gathering of people expressing a position in a cooperative manner without violation of the law, according to the policy. Experts said the definition does not grapple with the main challenge of policing a large demonstration: how to effectively handle the few who are disruptive and violent amid a crowd of otherwise peaceful people without further escalating the situation. Maguire, the Arizona professor, described that definition as "overly permissive." Theoretically, if one person was acting violently in a crowd of 5,000, then officers could use pepper spray because the demonstration would no longer be considered peaceful, he said. Its important not to treat everyone as representative of those few, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. Feldmeier, the Milwaukee police inspector, told the Journal Sentinel that officers will always try to get voluntary compliance before taking any action with pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets or other less-lethal tools. That means talking with protesters directly or through community partners. Milwaukee Police Inspector David Feldmeier speaks to a reporter outside of District 5 in June 2020. At that time, he was serving as commander of the district during a period of civil unrest. Prior to the use of any of those types of tools, theres a warning given, he said. We give several warnings and we give routes that people can take to remove themselves from that situation, and we let people know what the expectation is. Any use of pepper spray, tear gas or less-lethal munition like rubber bullets must be authorized by Norman, the police chief, or an assistant chief. Overall, the entire policy appears to align with best practices, said Thaddeus Johnson, an assistant professor at George State University, senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice and a former Memphis police officer. Its proportional use of force, he said. I liked that they laid out a use-of-force continuum. When can police use rubber bullets and other less-lethal munitions? Although called less lethal, these tools can produce ear-splitting pain, cause swelling and watering of eyes and send shards of plastic into flesh. At least seven people in the U.S. lost an eye and more than 100 others suffered serious head injuries after being hit by less lethal munitions during large-scale racial justice protests in 2020, according to USA TODAY and Kaiser Health News reporting. Such tools should be considered only if other tactics have failed and demonstrators are actively threatening public safety with violence, a 2022 report from the Police Executive Research Forum recommended. The report also noted that pepper spray and tear gas should not be used in response to minor acts of civil disobedience like occupying a park without a permit or blocking a road that is not needed for emergency vehicles. In other words, the bar is high and for good reason. Police legitimacy is harmed when bystanders experience indiscriminate use of force, said Tamara D. Herold of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the PERF report. The rules of engagement for the RNC indicate police can consider the use of stinger balls, tear gas and "direct impact munitions" such as rubber bullets if the crowd is throwing projectiles and is visibly escalating its behavior. Stinger balls contain rubber pellets and either are thrown by hand or through a launcher. When the balls hit the ground, they explode and send pellets in all directions. Such weapons are dangerous and prone to abuse because they cannot be aimed at a single person or target, Maguire said. Milwaukee will use Long Range Acoustic Devices, or LRADs, to amplify commands and directions to the crowd. But that equipment, sometimes called a "sound cannon," also can be used as a weapon by emitting a painful high-pitched sound. Under the rules of engagement, police can consider using it at a lower threshold than tear gas, such as when people appear like they might throw something and the crowd shows other signs of escalation. If we believe thats the tool thats going to allow us to get people to disperse and mitigate the risk and danger to the individuals out there, then thats a tool that could be in consideration, Feldmeier said. Protesters and photographers sued the New York Police Department after officers used a sound cannon during a 2014 demonstration, saying it caused severe migraines and other health problems. A court found it was an excessive use of force, and the city agreed to pay damages and severely limit when police could use that feature. In an interview, Feldmeier said any tools that can cause serious injury are only to be used as a last resort. It has to reach a threshold where we've lost control and there's imminent risk of bodily harm, death, major property destruction, where it's just unsafe for anybody to be out there, he said. Mass arrests to be avoided as the spotlight descends on Milwaukee Police agencies across the country have gotten into legal trouble after making mass arrests during protests, with some cities paying out hefty settlements. In Chicago, the police department has faced criticism over its mass arrest policy in advance of the city hosting the Democratic National Convention next month. Feldmeier, the Milwaukee police inspector, said mass arrests, like those less-lethal tools, are considered a last option. The departments standard operating procedure says they shall be avoided while the RNC rules say mass arrests may be made in the interest of safety and security. The RNC guidelines do not explicitly reference kettling, a controversial practice when police force a large group of people into a confined area, such as a park or a bridge, in order to arrest them. Feldmeier said kettling is not a trained tactic and is to be avoided. Its not something that we do intentionally, he said. The Milwaukee Police Department made Feldmeier available for an interview after the Journal Sentinel obtained the rules of engagement and requested to speak with a department expert on the topic. The outside experts who reviewed the document told the Journal Sentinel said it provided an important window into the department's decision-making process without compromising officers' safety. A big part of policing is deterrence, said Johnson, the Georgia-based expert and former Memphis officer. For deterrence to happen, people have to have knowledge of things going on or the consequences of things that take place. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman answers reporters' questions during a news conference about security at the RNC on June 21. At a news conference last month, Norman, the police chief, said he wanted the spotlight on Milwaukee and the RNC, not the department, describing a goal of being "invisible." "We understand there's going to be challenges, but look at us and how we handle it," he said. "The expectation is we're a last resort." This is not going to be where were going to look for trouble or instigate, but we are ready to respond, Norman added. As long as we do it within the legal measures, the lawful measures, the rules of engagement, that is success. Flores, the co-chair of the coalition planning a march, said Milwaukee police have been "hands off" for rallies and protests hosted locally over the past four years. At a march outside the mostly virtual Democratic National Convention in 2020, protesters from Chicago were surprised at the lack of visible police presence compared to experiences in their home city, he said. "We're crossing our fingers that MPD is going to treat our protest as they usually do," Flores said, "and that's by not engaging at all." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police explain policy for crowds, protests ahead of RNC Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images. A new Niagara Bottling plant in the Twin Cities metro is receiving millions of dollars in state and local subsidies to bottle and sell Minnesota water. A deal reached between the company, the state Department of Employment and Economic Development and the city of Elko New Market will give Niagara Bottling more than $4.3 million in waived fees, forgivable loans and tax rebates. The plant will require an estimated 13 million gallons of water per month more than the entire city of Elko New Market uses leading some opponents to question why state and local government are giving incentives to extract a valuable resource, given the uncertainties of climate change and the future of water quality and quantity. The plant is under construction at an industrial park in Elko New Market, about 35 miles south of Minneapolis. The first phase of the plants operation is expected to create 59 jobs, with pay ranging from $17.24 per hour to salaried positions earning upwards of $200,000 per year, according to data from the city of Elko New Market. Niagara Bottling is a private California-based company that packages water for brands like Walmart and Sams Club. Over the last decade, the company has received more than $12 million in subsidies from various states, according to data from Good Jobs First, which tracks corporate tax breaks. The company didnt respond to written questions. Elko New Market City Administrator Thomas Terry said the Niagara Bottling plant checks many of the boxes the city looks for when handing out economic development deals: It will create jobs; attract more development to the previously vacant industrial park; and diversify the citys tax base, which he said is overly reliant on residential property taxes. The state offered Niagara Bottling a $405,000 Minnesota Investment Fund loan that can be forgiven if the project meets capital investment and job creation targets. The plant also qualifies for a combined $800,000 in grants and tax rebates through the Job Creation Fund. Niagara Bottling will also save more than $3 million in local water and sewer connection fees. A water user of Niagaras size would typically pay around $3.3 million in water connection fees, but the city instead decided to charge the company fees similar to what a non-water intensive plant, like a warehouse, would pay: around $315,000. The company is also paying a discounted water usage rate, though it isnt receiving a discount on the base rate, which is calculated based on the plants size and expected usage. Niagara Bottling will pay an estimated monthly base rate of $54,000 per month equivalent to that of 1,551 single-family homes plus a usage fee of $1.52 per thousand gallons of water An Elko New Market household typically pays the base rate of $35.02 plus a usage fee of $2.95 per thousand gallons, Terry said. Some residents arent sure why a company that sells water should be able to purchase it from the city at a discounted rate especially because the increased water extraction could disturb the wells of nearby residents, forcing the city to pay for treatment. As part of the permitting process, the Department of Natural Resources and local officials stress-tested the citys water system, pumping water from the wells at maximum capacity to study the potential effects of increased usage on the system. During the tests, some residents reported cloudy water and increased manganese levels. (At high levels, manganese can cause problems with memory, attention and motor skills among children and adults; infants can develop behavioral and learning problems, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.) Carrie Jennings, director of Minnesota water conservation nonprofit Freshwater, said she knew of 22 households impacted by the well tests. Niagara Bottling will bottle and sell water from the Prairie du Chien-Jordan Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to parts of the Twin Cities metro. The minute I heard that they were taking water out of our aquifer, it was just sort of a cringe moment for me, said Janelle Kunzia, an Elko New Market resident who has organized opponents of the new plant. To accommodate the plants water demands, the city of Elko New Market requested a new water allocation permit from the DNR, more than doubling the citys water pumping capacity, from 135 million gallons to 365 million gallons per year. The Twin Cities metro area has become increasingly reliant on groundwater since it surpassed surface water namely the Mississippi River as the primary source of water in the region in the 1970s. Today, some areas are facing dropping aquifer levels and pollution from chemicals like PFAS, manufactured by 3M in the east metro. The conflict over the Niagara Bottling plant reminds some observers of a 2019 proposal to ship Minnesota groundwater from the Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer to the southwestern United States, which is facing a water shortage. DNR officials quickly shot down the proposal, citing state restrictions on the use of water from the Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer. If you bottle (water) and take it out of the region, then its gone. Its extracted and gone, Jennings said. Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South Saint Paul, said climate change and growing political power in water-needy states means Minnesota will need to continue protecting its groundwater. These issues of water transfer, whether its by a train or by millions of plastic bottles, are going to continue to grow in concern, Hansen said. The added water usage means the city of Elko New Market needs to pay for a new water tower and well. A growing population means the city would need to add the water infrastructure regardless, Terry said, but the plants construction has sped up the timeline. High water bills have long been a complaint of Elko New Market residents, and Terry said the revenue from the Niagara Bottling plant could help moderate residents water bills. That kind of revenue on the system helps reduce the financial risk to the fund, and thereby the risk to our ratepayers, Terry said. The water bottling industry, long criticized by environmentalists for fueling the growth of plastics pollution, grew by 73% over the past decade, according to a 2023 report from the United Nations University. The U.S. is the largest buyer of bottled water, followed by China. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 17-year-old who was reported missing earlier this year was arrested and charged with human trafficking after three migrants were found in the trunk of the vehicle he was driving last month near Las Cruces, according to New Mexico State Police (NMSP). State Police say Leland Antonio Munoz Dominguez, 17, was charged with three counts of human trafficking and one charge of endangerment of a child due to one of the migrants being underage. Leland Munoz Dominguez, 17. Photo: New Mexico State Police. On Wednesday, June 26, an NMSP officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-25 near Mile Marker 27, which is located just past the border patrol checkpoint. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Dominguez, who had been reported missing earlier this year. The officer was planning to release Dominguez to his grandmother when the officer heard knocking coming from the vehicles trunk, State Police say. The officer found three migrants inside, one being 16 years old, and Dominguez was detained. Three migrants were found in the trunk of a vehicle on Wednesday, June 26, near Las Cruces. Photo: New Mexico State Police. Border Patrol eventually took custody of the three migrants and the Juvenile Probation Office was contacted along with the District Attorneys Office which authorized the charges against Dominguez. Dominguez was arrested and booked into the Dona Ana County Juvenile 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 KTSM 9 News. ST. LOUIS A judge has ruled that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey cannot access private health records sought as his office investigates Washington Universitys transgender center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. According to Missouri court records, the ruling came on July 3 and stated non-consenting patients health records are not required for the Attorney General to carry out its duties under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. Bailey initially launched an investigation into the Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital last year. A whistleblower accuses the center of using experimental drugs on children, distributing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and giving children life-altering drugs without parental consent. Affton Fire Captain James Cova found dead at station Bailey filed a lawsuit in efforts to obtain hospital records on any prescriptions for hormone blockers as well as surgeries for transgender patients. The aforementioned ruling, from St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Joseph Whyte, denies Bailey from the records. The ruling indicates such records are legally protected and cannot be disclosed. Washington University has previously contended that the transgender center has followed appropriate policies and procedures amid the investigation and claims there is no evidence of misconduct. Note: This video clip is from December 2023. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAIRVIEW, Mo. The Missouri State Auditor says the City of Fairview has not implemented all recommendations handed down from a Poor rated audit in 2022. Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick says Fairview city leaders have worked to address two of the most significant findings from the audit. However, of the 19 remaining recommendations, theyve only partially implemented four of them, have two others in progress, but have failed to implement the other 13. The 2022 audit uncovered that the former Fairview City Clerk received more than $3,300 in overpayments from January 2020 through March 2021. The board of alderman is working with the Newton County Sheriffs Office on possible charges in the incident. That audit also found the city improperly spent $120,000 from the city trust that was meant only for operating and maintaining the community center. Additional findings determined the city paid more than $17,000 to a company owned by the former mayor allowing him to sign several of the checks paid to his business. Fitzpatrick says the city is now requiring two signatures on all checks. He also says the city is not taking appropriate measures when it comes to payroll controls and procedures. The follow-up report also determined city leaders were not properly documenting credit card purchases, did not have adequate procedures to prepare or monitor the budget and were not making sure the public had proper access to meetings. It also determined the city violated the sunshine law on November 14 of last year by closing a meeting without specifying the reason. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Republican Missouri candidate tries to out-MAGA his rival by blowing up Trump evidence in new campaign ad Clad in a fleece sweater vest, Will Scharf, an attorney for Donald Trump who wants to be Missouris next attorney general, fires a grenade launcher at a stack of evidence boxes and indictments in his latest campaign ad. Joe Biden and his corrupt allies are wrecking our legal system, doing everything they can to stop President Trump and the MAGA agenda, he says in the ad. Its time for a Missouri attorney general who will return fire. He then cocks his firearm, and the stack of boxes explodes. Scharf, who played a key role in Trumps immunity defense from criminal prosecution and has vowed to fight his felony convictions in New York, is running in a Republican primary against the states current attorney general, Andrew Bailey, who is also competing for Trumps attention with a series of lawsuits and complaints on his behalf. The state of Missouri is not involved in litigation or criminal prosecutions involving the former president whatsoever. The primary race between both men has spiraled into a competition for the former presidents approval with attempts to out-MAGA one another by highlighting their Trump-approved bona fides. NEW CAMPAIGN AD Are you sick and tired of Joe Bidens attacks on President Trump, our Constitution, and the MAGA agenda? Its time for a Missouri Attorney General who will return fire. pic.twitter.com/xTk7uNde9y Will Scharf (@willscharf) July 9, 2024 Within the last few months, Bailey has sued the state of New York over a court-imposed gag order against Trump, testified to Congress about what he called the politically motivated, legally specious, and corrupt prosecution of the former president, and demanded that the Department of Justice turn over documents about Trumps prosecutions. Both men have repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that President Joe Biden is weaponizing the federal government against his Republican rival and directing the cases against him. Last month, Scharf sparred with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos about his spurious claims, arguing that Biden and his allies are up to their necks in this prosecution. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on June 13. He faces Trump attorney Will Scharf in a Republican primary on August 6. (AP) This is a tragic day in the history of the American Republic, Scharf wrote after a jury in New York convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money trial. President Trumps conviction proves one thing and one thing only: that Joe Biden and his allies have weaponized our legal system to persecute their principal political opponent, he added. We will speedily appeal, and we will win on appeal because this case is meritless, baseless, and should have never seen the inside of an American courtroom. Scharfs campaign also was recently awarded $2 million by a Leonard Leo-backed organization with aims to reshape the nations judicial system in Trumps image. The states Republican primary election is August 6. AMMAN, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday slammed Israel's accusation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), describing it as "an attempt to assassinate the agency politically." Israel's accusations against UNRWA, including suspected ties with Hamas, are attempts to "liquidate the Palestinian cause," Safadi said while speaking at a press conference in Amman with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. Safadi said the minimum aid that entered the enclave was far from enough to meet the basic demand of Gaza residents amid the "ongoing aggression." The statement noted that UN institutions' ability to deliver aid has drastically declined due to Israel's failure to fulfill their international obligations and provide protection for UN employees in Gaza, in addition to the aid system's collapse as a result of the continued conflict. He added that Jordan, with all its capabilities, stands with the agency and continues to do everything it can to support the agency's work and standing. Lazzarini, for his part, thanked the kingdom for its support, and stressed that more than half of the agency's facilities, including schools and health centers in Gaza, have been destroyed. Lazzarini said since the current conflict broke out in Gaza, the agency has become and remains a target of the war. The accusations against the agency were "a blatant and raging aggression against its role ... and in violation of international humanitarian law." "There is also a political aim to eliminate UNRWA to strip Palestinians of their right to establish their state and kill the aspirations of Palestinians in general," he added. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday signed into law legislation to block local governments from issuing eviction moratoriums, part of a years-long effort targeting housing laws in Kansas City and St. Louis. The legislation, which takes effect on Aug. 28, bans county and local governments from imposing or enforcing a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless approved by state law, giving state lawmakers and the governor the exclusive power to halt evictions. After a bill signing ceremony in the state Capitol, Parson, a Republican, argued that the legislation would allow for a more uniformed approach to how the state responds to a health crisis. It gives people that authority to make sure whatever were going to do, it fits the circumstances and it fits the state of Missouri, he told reporters. So we dont have different people doing different things. The legislation was one of two bills that Parson signed on Tuesday that ban eviction moratoriums. While the legislation has drawn sharp criticism from tenant advocacy groups, it sailed through both chambers of the General Assembly this year without much opposition. The bill also included several other provisions, including a measure allowing individuals to petition courts to remove unlawful occupants from property. Obviously this comes on the heels of COVID, Rep. Chris Brown, a Kansas City Republican who sponsored the legislation, said on Tuesday. He pointed to money that property owners and landlords lost due to eviction moratoriums during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now in the state of Missourithe state legislature and the governor, with his emergency powers, are the only entities within this state that can enact a halt on evictions. Brown later told The Star that the legislation was about the constitutional protections of property and the legitimacy of contract law. He stressed that it was not an orchestrated attack on tenants. But Rep. Ingrid Burnett, a Kansas City Democrat who opposed the legislation, said in an interview that she was pretty disgusted by the bill. She said it prevented local governments from being able to respond to future emergencies. It just makes no sense that you would tie the hands of thepublic officials who are there at ground zero, Burnett said. Why would you tie their hands with restrictions on how they can respond? The legislation was backed by landlord and realty groups, such as the Missouri Association of Realtors. It has been a priority for Missouri Republicans roughly four years after the Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily halted evictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar bills in Missouri have faced staunch opposition from tenant advocacy groups that argue the legislation places landlord profits over renters lives. Health Forward Foundation, a Kansas City-based health care advocacy group, testified against the bill earlier this year, saying that it would halt local governments from meeting the needs of their communities during public health crises. Jennifer Tidwell, a principal impact strategist for the foundation, said in an email on Tuesday that the foundation was disappointed by the legislation. The places we live have a direct impact on our health, wealth, and life expectancy, Tidwell said. A safe, stable, and stress-free home sets the stage for success in school, work, and beyond. More than 127,000 eviction filings have been made in Missouri since mid-March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. During that same period, there have been more than 28,000 in Kansas City. The legislation that Parson signed came in response to local agencies such as the circuit courts in Jackson County and St. Louis that temporarily halted evictions in the early days of the pandemic. In March 2020, Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily suspended the issuance of writs for two months to protect the health of the public and court employees. In landlord-tenant cases, writs are delivered by process servers to tenants requiring the tenant to be evicted from the property, according to previous reporting. St. Louis Circuit Court suspended eviction proceedings from mid-March 2020 through July 2020. The St. Louis City Council later passed a 15-day eviction moratorium in December 2021. Missouri never implemented a statewide eviction moratorium. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Missouri Governor Mike Parson was in Kansas City Monday for a number of events. One of his goals was to talk about ways to try and keep the Chiefs and Royals in the Show-Me State after Kansas legislators approved Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond legislation to try and make their state more attractive to them. I think we still have a lot of options on the table. Weve got six months. In this arena, six months is a lot of time, Parson said in an interview with reporters on Monday. Thats why were here today, kind of meeting, some of the meetings were going to today. In at least two separate meetings Monday, Parson met with leaders from Clay County, and leaders from Jackson County along with Mayor Quinton Lucas. Pizza chain operating in Missouri exploring options amid bankruptcy rumors Friday, FOX4 found out where Clay County leaders were meeting with Parson. They actually met with him south of the river at the Burns & McDonnell campus near Bannister and Wornall. One of the questions FOX4 asked the governor is whether he wanted the Royals to move north of the river. . Well, I dont think theres any question you look at all the options on the table, and thats what were here today, he said. I mean, Clay County was a great meeting. I think those people are very serious about trying to be part of that solution, but again, the teams have got to be involved, and a lot of things have to happen. Parson said the Chiefs and Royals were not a part of the meeting at Burns & McDonell. Ill be speaking to them at a time, and weve been speaking to them all along, so we just need to get a plan in place, he continued. I think the big thing is, I think we all realize theres going to be a separation between the Chiefs and the Royals, and we just have got to move forward with that and see what the best plan is for each venue to be able to go. Parson said he was going to meet with Mayor Lucas next. FOX4s Jacob Sloan said Parson met with Jackson County leaders at the Courthouse before 5 p.m. and after his public bill signing in the southern part of the city. Two of the people who met Parson at Burns & McDonnell earlier in the day were Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte and North Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Bryant DeLong. I would never put words in his mouth. He was just here to find a plan to keep both teams in Missouri, DeLong said when asked if he thought the governor was on his side in trying to get the Royals to move north of the river. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri It was great to hear from the governor because the thing is, this requires a team effort, Nolte said. Thats one of the things that I think weve had going for us for a long time, and that is the partnership between Clay County, between North Kansas City and between the Governors Office and the state. A stadium site north of the river in Clay County and North Kansas City was one of the Royals final two locations for where they wanted to build their new stadium until February, when the team decided they did not want to build in the East Village of Jackson County or the site near 18th and Fayette in Clay County, they wanted to build in the East Crossroads of Kansas City and Jackson County instead. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Construction on Interstate 70 begins Monday in Columbia. The $2.8 billion project is expected to be finished by 2030 (Sarah Voyles/Missourian). Construction crews began work Monday night on an ambitious $2.8 billion project that will expand Interstate 70 to three lanes across Missouri. Crews are first tackling a stretch from Route J at Millersburg to Route M at Hatton, 7 miles of a 20-mile section that will ultimately add a third lane in each direction from Columbia to Kingdom City. The overnight schedule is designed to minimize traffic disruptions as the highway work progresses from the center of the state to other portions at the east and west ends of the highway. The projects first 20-mile section is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Subsequent phases include improving stretches of highway from Warrenton to Wentzville and from Blue Springs to Odessa. The entire project is expected to be finished by 2030. Road crews will first close the westbound lane from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly to lay new asphalt that will strengthen the highway shoulders, said the states Improve I-70 central project director, Jeff Gander. When that portion is done, the eastbound lane will be closed to traffic. Estimated completion is this summer. After they get that shoulder-strengthening done, theyre going to re-stripe the highway to push traffic more toward the outsides, and then theyll be setting barrier wall all along the inside to barrier off the median so we can perform our work in there, Gander said. In addition to adding a third lane each way to the 20 miles between the U.S. 63 and U.S. 54 exits, crews will improve the intersections of U.S. 63 and I-70 in Columbia and between U.S. 54 and I-70 in Kingdom City. Missouri Department of Transportation plans to begin working on the U.S. 63-Interstate-70 connector this summer, while construction on U.S. 54 will likely not start until 2025, Gander said. A St. Charles-based contractor, Millstone Weber, was selected to do the first section, which has a $405 million price tag. The contractor intends to avoid impacting local traffic by keeping two lanes open during construction at all times, with the exception of some temporary closures at night. What we have committed to for this project is to keep two lanes of I-70 flowing at all peak times, which means during the day, he said. Theres a good possibility that they will have a lane closed at night, both eastbound and westbound at the same time. MoDOT did preliminary work ahead of Mondays construction, including pavement coring, as well as subsurface boring where some of the structures will go to prepare for the design. Since the initiative is a design-build project, highway improvement happens incrementally, Gander said. In this kind of project, the full design plans are completed while the project is underway. When we actually award this contract, we dont have full design plans we have plans that are probably at, say, 30 percent complete, Gander said. Right now, they are hot-and-heavy working on fully designing the rest of the project. The project has been on MoDOTs unfunded agenda for almost 20 years and is the largest interstate construction program since the early 1960s. The expanded highway portion will run from Blue Springs in Jackson County to Wentzville in St. Charles County. More than 40,000 vehicles travel between Kansas City and St. Louis each day. A third lane will allow for emergency vehicles to access crashes faster and with less traffic back-up, keeping drivers safer and less frustrated, according to MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna in an earlier Missourian report. Due to the significant highway construction happening around Columbia during the next few years, Gander said it is important for people to pay attention while driving. Distracted driving is the main issue that highway construction workers must deal with, he said. When this project gets really rolling, and we have all the different areas that were working on, we could have upwards of around 300 people out there working on a day-to-day basis, including our prime contractor and our subcontractors, he said. Our goal is for everybody to go home safe, so we really need the publics help for that. This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online. MEMPHIS, Tenn. xAI could use up to 150 megawatts of power at peak times at its new Memphis supercomputer facility, but the leader of Memphis Light, Gas & Water says they are working to make sure it doesnt impact the local utility. Elon Musks xAI to build worlds largest supercomputer in Memphis To accommodate xAIs electricity needs, MLGW will increase the capacity of a nearby electric substation to 50 megawatts by Aug. 1, at a cost of $760,000, MLGW CEO Doug McGowen told city council members Tuesday. We did all of our work to protect the rest of the customers, to make sure that everybody has the power they need, and clean water, McGowen said. The artificial intelligence company plans to build another electric substation with 150 megawatts of capacity by 2025. xAI will be reimbursed for construction with a monthly margin allowance worth about $24 million total, McGowen said. The new substation will require approval by the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority. xAI is going in this former Electrolux building in southwest Memphis xAI will consume about 1 million gallons a day of water for two water systems: a closed-loop chilled water system to cool the computers, and an evaporative cooling tower to chill the recirculating cold water. The all-time record demand for MLGW was 342 million gallons a day. The company paid for its own tap and will pay commercial water rates, McGowen said. They are exploring other options for cooling water, specifically by using treated wastewater, called graywater, McGowen said. MLGW hopes to build a graywater plant that could serve many industries in the city. xAI supercomputer may need 1M gallons of water, plenty of power MLGWs normal peak electrical demands are 2,000 MW in winter and 3,000 MW in summer. The all-time record demand was 3,533 MW in 2007. xAIs project will add about 150 MW to the local grids capacity, McGowen said. City Council members said they were excited about the projects potential but were cautious to make sure the deal was in the best interest of local ratepayers and constituents. This needs to be a good deal for Memphis so we are not looking back and being regretful, Pearl Eva Walker said. McGowen said xAI is not applying for tax incentives, meaning the project will result in a significant impact on local property tax revenue. The Greater Memphis Chamber announced to the public on June 5 that xAI, founded by Elon Musk, planned to build the worlds largest supercomputer in Memphis, following days of rumor and speculation. xAI is building out the former Electrolux plant in far southwest Memphis. The building, which closed in 2020, was built in 2010 with a $97 million grant from the state of Tennessee, a $3.1 million state training grant, and 15-year local property tax abatement of 75%, with no clawback provision. Gwen Fisher, chief economic development officer with the Greater Memphis Chamber, said the Electrolux building was officially decommissioned in late 2023 and had been in high demand before xAI moved in. It was one of the most sought-after buildings in the country, 750,000 square feet of really, really great manufacturing space, and wed been showing it to a lot of companies, she said, adding that xAI has a very, very aggressive timeline. These guys really wanted to be up and running by June 1. This was March 3. No city in America had been able to do it, she said. Memphis is unique. When we want to hustle, we can hustle. MLGWs ability to provide the electricity sealed the deal, Fisher said. xAIs career page currently lists seven open jobs in Memphis, along with others in London and Palo Alto. The Memphis jobs range from Superintendent, with a salary range of $165-240 per hour, to Protective Intelligence Lead at $90,000-120,000 annually. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mobile County Health Department will use chickens to monitor for mosquito viruses MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) The Mobile County Health Department is renewing a practice of using chickens to monitor for diseases. Autopsy results in for Elberta teen found dead investigation ongoing: Officials According to a news release, MCHD is preparing to renew the nearly 40-year-old practice of placing sentinel or monitored, chickens around the county to check for the presence of viruses carried by mosquitoes. The release noted that the first of 13 coops will be deposited this week in various predetermined locations. (Mobile County Health Department) (Mobile County Health Department) (Mobile County Health Department) Officials explained the process of the practice that dates back to 1985: In April, 95 newly hatched chicks were taken to Vector Services until they matured enough for the monitoring program. Chickens received initial blood draws to ensure their health. They were also vaccinated for fowl pox and outfitted with a numbered band to identify them. The chickens will be deposited in different locations and inspectors will draw blood samples from the wings to send to the Florida Department of Health Laboratory in Tampa. Samples will be tested for various mosquito-carried diseases that spread to humans: West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and St. Louis Encephalitis. UPDATE: Undocumented Honduras man charged with DUI after Summerdale crash injures 6-year-old Officials noted that this monitoring is happening as other measures including spraying and mosquito traps are placed. For more information or to request assistance on how to deal with mosquitos or rodents, visit the Mobile County Health Department 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 WKRG News 5. Mom Exposed Her Son to 'Horrifying' Abuse. She Stopped for Cigarettes on Way to Hospital Samantha McCormack and her ex-boyfriend Robert Keith Elmore Jr. have been convicted of killing 18-month-old Enzo McCormack Gofundme Enzo McCormack An Alabama woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for her role in the murder of her 18-month-old son, who died as a result of her then-boyfriend's abuse. Samantha McCormack, 29, has pleaded guilty to felony murder during the course of child abuse in the 2019 killing of her son Enzo McCormack, according to court documents cited by AL.com, WVTM 13 and WBRC. Her plea, entered on Monday, July 8, comes less than a year after her ex-boyfriend Robert Keith Elmore Jr., 32, was convicted of capital murder for killing Enzo, per AL.com and WBRC. Elmore was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole following his conviction, per the outlets. Blount County Sheriff's Office (2) Samantha McCormack, Robert Elmore Jr. On Sep. 6, 2019, Blount County Sheriffs personnel responded to a hardware store in Locust Fork, Ala., regarding an unresponsive child, AL.com, WVTM 13 and WBRC reported, citing authorities. When police arrived at the scene, the child was in respiratory distress and his body was cold, District Attorney Pamela Casey said, per WBRC. Samantha told police that she had found her son choking on cereal earlier in the day and was on her way to take him to the hospital when she stopped to buy cigarettes and gasoline, AL.com and WBRC reported, citing court testimony and authorities. She met Elmores sister inside the store. The sister found the child unresponsive and helped Samantha call 911, according to the sister's testimony during Elmore's trial, AL.com reported. When police spoke with Elmore during the investigation, he said he dropped Enzo after the child pulled his chest hair, per investigators, WVTM 13 and AL.com reported. Enzo died as a result of Elmore's abuse, including the blunt force trauma and shaking, WBRC reported, citing court testimony. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Casey claimed that Samantha left her child with Elmore despite knowing he abused the boy, according to WBRC. A doctor who had examined Enzo told the court in 2023 that the child had been subject to severe trauma and had been violently shaken, per AL.com, WVTM 13 and WBRC. This story is horrifying," Casey said in a statement, according to AL.com, WVTM 13 and WBRC. "I cannot imagine the pain and suffering this child endured before succumbing to his injuries. I cannot understand someone doing what Elmore did. But, as a mother, I cannot understand how a mother could leave their child in the care of someone the mother knows to have been abusive to the child." If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Posters for Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, the group behind CI-128 in 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, the group behind the petition to get an amendment enshrining abortion access in the state constitution, accused the state Secretary of States Office on Tuesday of inappropriately discarding signatures from registered, but inactive, voters and is threatening legal action. But the Montana Secretary of States Office said the group is misreading the law and that a legal challenge would be misguided and slow down the validation process for county election administrators, who have just 10 days to finish doing so for Constitutional Initiative 128. At issue is whether inactive, but registered, voters in Montana are considered to be qualified electors who are allowed to sign ballot petitions and when the Secretary of States guidance about inactive voters changed between administrations. In Montana, a voter can be moved to being inactive by an election administrator if they failed to vote in the previous federal general election and failed to return a notice sent to them confirming their current address. The Secretary of States Office said it is following the law and had to clarify to election administrators that previous guidance about counting inactive voters toward ballot petitions was incorrect. The Secretary of States Office said that state law says an inactive voter cannot be a qualified elector until they become an active voter again beforehand by, for example, showing up to a polling place and becoming active again in order to vote. To become active again, an inactive voter must either show up to a polling place to vote, submit an absentee voter application, vote in a mail ballot election, notify the election administrator of their current residence, or complete a reactivation form with their current address, according to state law. A voters registration can be canceled altogether if they are inactive and then either dont vote in two consecutive federal general elections or fail to meet standard voter qualifications. It was imperative that the incorrect guidance provided by previous administrations be corrected to accurately reflect Montana law, a spokesperson for the Secretary of States Office said in an email late Tuesday morning. Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights has gone to the Montana Supreme Court several times during the past seven months in fights with Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Attorney General Austin Knudsen, both Republicans, over CI-128s language and to get it certified so the group could start gathering signatures in the first place. Now, 10 days before the window closes for county election administrators to finish tallying valid signatures, the group claims the Secretary of States Offices stance on inactive voters could cost them thousands of signatures. The group submitted 117,000 and needs a little more than 60,000 to make the ballot in November. Since last November, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights has fought to ensure a fair, transparent, and lawful ballot initiative process. Unfortunately, at every turn, extremists have attempted to block this initiative, mislead voters by rewriting the language, disrupt the signature collection through intimidation, and interfere with the right of registered Montanans to sign the petition, the group said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. MSRR claims Sec. of State changed guidance on inactive voters Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights attorney Raph Graybill, also the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate in November, obtained through a public records request last week emails that show the Glacier County election administrator asking Jacobsens office on June 27 if it came to a decision on whether administrators should be counting signatures only from active registered voters or from inactive registered voters as well. On June 28, Clay Leland, an attorney for the Secretary of States Office, wrote back that he had told administrators on June 25 the office did not believe an inactive, but still registered, voter could have their signature count toward a petition. The signature of an inactive elector that is in inactive status does not appear to fit within the category of a qualified elector, and thus, would not meet the requirements of Section 13-27-102(1), MCA. (A petition may be signed only by a qualified elector of the state of Montana.) (emphasis added), Leland wrote. He further cited an Oregon Supreme Court decision from 2021 that found that inactive voters in Oregon were not qualified voters and said that case law would also apply in Montana. The Glacier County election administrator then shared that guidance with other administrators, the emails show. I emailed to confirm with SOS that we can accept signatures of inactive voters who sign a petition, at first, I was given the OK to accept those signatures of an inactive voter. I than (sic) got a second response from Clay, who quoted MCAs stating that we cannot accept signatures of inactive voters. Later that day, Stuart called to advise me to stop entering petitions as they were discussing this matte(r) at state level, the administrator wrote. Hope this isnt a bomb shell, and that I was the only confused. I just wanted to share this in case some other counties are accepting those signatures of inactive voters. On July 2, the state elections website underwent maintenance to update software to automatically reject signatures from inactive voters, according to an email provided by Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights. Graybill last Friday sent Jacobsens chief legal counsel, Austin James, a letter telling the office to reverse the change by 10 a.m. Tuesday and restore any signatures that were tossed out from inactive voters or face legal action. The letter said that for years, the written guidance from the office to election administrators has been to accept inactive voter signatures since they are legally registered and meet the definition of a qualified elector. Graybill said inactive voters can vote if they show up to a polling place and cast a ballot in-person. Qualified electors have a constitutional right to participate in the initiative process in Montana by having their signatures counted; the new guidance unlawfully denies Montanans this right, Graybill wrote in his letter to James. He further said that issuing the new guidance in the middle of the four-week window in which administrators must verify the submitted signatures introduced constitutional problems because petition sheets verified before the guidance was issued could result in different counts than on days after the guidance was issued. This is unacceptable; constitutional rights may not be defeated on such arbitrary characteristics, Graybill wrote. Graybill also told James that the group would seek a temporary restraining order if Jacobsen did not restore the signatures from inactive voters. Sec. of States Office says groups legal interpretation incorrect In response, however, James told Graybill in a letter Tuesday the Secretary of State issued no guidance to election administrators, but directly answered an email inquiry with the answer that corresponds with Montana law. James says that Montana Code Annotated 13-19-313 is the statute that says that inactive voters are not qualified electors and says the letter of the law should lead to obvious logic that becoming an active voter makes a person a qualified elector. That statute says that if a voter is placed on the inactive list, they will remain so until the elector becomes a qualified elector. James also said that Graybills understanding of how inactive voters can vote was incorrect; rather, he said, those voters must first activate their registration at a polling place before they cast a ballot. James did acknowledge that an archived PowerPoint from the office suggested counties count inactive voter signatures and said it was not the burden of the SOS or election administrators to prevent non-registered electors from signing a petition. I think we both agree that county and state election officials have a duty to ensure only qualified elector signers are certified, even if we (at least at this point) disagree as to whether an inactivated registrant is a qualified elector, James wrote. He said the documents Graybill cited were previously heavily criticized by the Montana Supreme Court due to deviating from the plain language of the law. The letter said Graybills threat to seek a temporary restraining order doesnt add up under the facts because the Secretary of State has certified every petition in the same manner during this election cycle. And it said the groups decision to hand in 117,000 signatures on the final day of signature gathering has caused numerous challenges for election officials. James also warned litigation would only further hamper signature verification. Unnecessary litigation will brew confusion in the process and slow down the processing of petitions during the final days of statutory period given to counties to certify petitions to the state, James wrote. I heed warning that litigation on this topic is premised on incorrect facts, wrong on the law, and will likely frustrate the pace of processing your clients petitions within the statutory period allotted to counties to do so. The Secretary of States Office did not respond to further questions asking for clarification on when the incorrect guidance provided by previous administrations had been corrected. Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights said Tuesday afternoon litigation is still on the table. The Secretary of States response to our concerns does nothing to correct their unlawful actions and attempts to silence Montana voters by discounting citizens qualified petition signatures, the group said in a written statement. Every registered Montana voter who added their name to a petition should have their signature count. The Great Seal of the State of Montana in the Supreme Court (Photo by Eric Seidle/ For the Daily Montanan). Judges need to stay independent and guard against partisan power-mongering and they need to protect individual rights in the Montana Constitution, especially privacy. Those were several themes raised by two candidates for the Montana Supreme Court discussed Monday in Missoula at City Club with more than 100 people in the audience. Jerry Lynch, former federal magistrate, and Judge Katherine Bidegaray both participated. Lynch, running for chief justice, said the judiciary is under extreme attack. He said he is committed to fighting for the 1972 Montana Constitution for his children, grandchildren and future generations. They want to take over the court, not just in Montana but elsewhere, because its the last bastion against complete power, said Lynch, of Butte. Lynch touts 28 years of public service as a federal magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court of Montana, from 2006 to 2019. He described those who want to take over as the fringe element on the far conservative side, but not the people in the middle. However, he also said one of the principal parties in the state doesnt want a co-equal branch in the judiciary, as evidenced by a terminology change in their platform last week: That will destroy our system as we know it. Lee Enterprises reported that the GOP removed the word equal to describe the judicial branch on a strong voice vote updating party platform principles. The Montana Republican Party could not be reached via voicemail for comment on Monday afternoon. Lynch joked that after he told his wife he planned to run for chief justice, he asked her how shed slept, and she told him not worth a darn because I had a dream you were running for the Supreme Court. Judge Bidegaray, running for an associate justice position, said Montana needs an experienced and nonpartisan judiciary. She said she would remain free from political pressure and stay impartial to give all Montanans equal treatment under the law. Were living in times of unprecedented attacks on the judiciary, individual rights, particularly womens rights, and the rule of law, each of which is key to a healthy democracy, said Bidegaray, of Sidney. Bidegaray said she was inspired to fight for injustice after her father died and the federal government took the position that his death meant her family would default on a loan for their land even though theyd never missed a payment. She helped her mom argue the government was possibly discriminating against the family it wouldnt have taken the same position had her mom died instead of her dad, she said. The government backed off, and they own the land today, Bidegaray said. Bidegarays district covers Dawson, McCone, Prairie, Wibaux and Richland counties. Shes been elected four times as judge for district court and served since 2003, according to her campaign biography. The Montana Supreme Court seats are open because Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice Dirk Sandefur are retiring. Neither Cory Swanson, running for chief justice, nor Judge Dan Wilson, running for justice, attended the forum. However, in phone calls after the forum, both said they had previous engagements and pledged they also would remain independent. Swanson said he couldnt attend the forum because he was at a county attorneys convention; hes currently the Broadwater County Attorney. However, he said his goal is to usher in a new era for court operations. He said he would advocate for resources to modernize the court and for more judges to meet caseloads, for instance. Ive said no one buys an outcome from me, Swanson said. Wilson, of Flathead County, said he doesnt rule based on political considerations or influences, and he also doesnt feel the need to fight back against alleged intrusions by other branches. Rather, he said, he decides cases based on the facts and the law regardless of whether other branches try to exert control. Thats what I think is the winning recipe for maintaining judicial independence, said Wilson, who noted he had previously scheduled his court calendar for the day. Applause Monday came after Lynch emphasized womens reproductive freedom as a privacy right protected by the Montana Constitution. However, Lynch said privacy extends far beyond womens health care. People who dont have ovaries, for instance, have to understand the right to privacy is much broader, Lynch said. In Montana, the right to an abortion is protected through the right to privacy in the 1999 court case, Armstrong vs. State of Montana. The Republican-led Montana Legislature has passed numerous bills to curtail abortion rights, but they have been blocked in court. At the event, however, the City Club moderator asked both candidates about a different topic of state and national interest; he asked them to discuss the U.S. Supreme Courts recent decision that overturned Chevron vs. Natural Resources Defense Council. The 1984 ruling said courts must defer to federal agency expertise when considering legal challenges, and experts worry the reversal means agencies wont get to rely on scientific experts when it comes to regulations. Bidegaray said it doesnt matter whether she agrees with the decision once the U.S. Supreme Court speaks, she must honor her oath of office and follow the decision. She said some people fear the decision means an agencys power to protect consumers against the very entities theyre supposed to regulate will be almost eliminated. However, Bidegaray also said cases can be evaluated through many different lenses, and creative litigants will find ways to argue the Chevron outcome isnt applicable to their specific case. I will have to listen with an open mind, Bidegaray said. Lynch said as a citizen, he doesnt believe the Supreme Court made a good decision, and as a federal judge, he reviewed many cases that came out of the administrative process with expertise from biologists, scientists, chemists and others. That decision is going to impact all of us in more ways than we understand, Lynch said. He said it places a burden on federal courts, which are already understaffed, underfunded and overworked, and he said state courts are in even worse shape. He said the decision pulls out helpful scientific distillation in a case, and it speaks to a larger and massive problem. The destruction of the administrative state in the federal government is of grave concern, Lynch said. In his remarks, Lynch also took aim at the Montana Group, hired by his opponent Swanson. Lynch said the Montana Group is the largest lobbying group in the state of Montana, and he believes having a chief justice aligned with Big Pharma and extraction industries degrades the integrity of the judicial system. Let me just put it frankly: Its not a good look, Lynch said. In a phone call, Swanson said hes been friends with the Montana Groups Chuck Denowh since college, theyve ridden horses together, and Denowh was a groomsman at his wedding: Hes the first person that I thought would make sense to help me out. At the same time, Swanson said, hes insisted its a nonpartisan race. Bidegaray said her parents grew up during World War II in occupied France, and they developed an appreciation for democracy and for the U.S. She said shes running for the Supreme Court because she believes in democracy as well. She said her opponent has accused her of having a political agenda, and she said she does have an agenda. However, Bidegaray said it is not political. My agenda remains clear: To protect the rights of all Montanans, to uphold the unique nature of our 1972 Montana Constitution, and to maintain a fair and impartial judiciary, she said. After the event, she said she would fight just as hard against efforts to influence the judiciary from the left as from the right. Lynch, too, stressed through the forum that the independence of the judiciary is paramount, and he said its the top issue he hears about on the campaign trail. The others are protecting the Montana Constitution and individual rights, he said, and Bidegaray agreed. But Lynch said the effort to diminish the judiciary is part of a national playbook, and its unfolding in Montana. He pointed to efforts to do away with Marbury vs. Madison, which set up judicial review of disputes between citizens and states, as an example, and he said its one that would yield dangerous consequences. If we lose the independence of the judiciary, democracy will follow, he said. DAKAR, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Senegal's population grew to 18,126,390 in 2023, according to figures released by the National Agency for Statistics and Demography on Tuesday. About 50.6 percent of the population are men and 49.4 percent are women, the figures showed. Of the population, some 75 percent are under 35 years old, about half are under 19 years old, and 39 percent are under 15 years old. Between 2013 and 2023, the country's population increased by 2.9 percent per year, and at this rate, the number of the population would double in 25 years, the figures showed. Senegal's population is increasingly urban (54.7 percent) and is concentrated in the regions of Dakar, Thies and Diourbel, which are home to 47 percent of the population, said the National Agency for Statistics and Demography in a press release summarizing its 5th General Population and Housing Census. Of the population residing in the country, 98.9 percent are of Senegalese nationality, according to the agency. The News House Democrats gathered Tuesday morning for a consequential meeting, kicking off a day of closed-door discussions where the focus centered on whether President Joe Biden is still the right candidate to face Donald Trump in November. Inside the meeting, some Democrats aired concerns and grievances about Bidens viability, others called for unity behind his nomination, and the caucus left without a clear plan for how to proceed beyond continuing the conversation among themselves as news develops, according to a Democratic member. Biden has made progress in recent days by securing support from the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and left-wing Squad. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stood by him as well. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, declared he is our nominee right now, until hes not our nominee and suggested attacking him was counterproductive. Joe Biden is, will be and should be our nominee, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz told reporters after the meeting, echoing similar comments from other members. The presidents continued support from key leaders raised hopes among his supporters that Democrats might give up on discussions about alternative nominees as soon as today. But his public appearances and interviews since his disastrous debate have also done little to restore confidence among members, some of whom described the caucus as depressed and divided. The morale of the caucus is at historic lows one member said. Told that others had compared the mood to a funeral, they replied: That is an insult to funerals. Lawmakers cellphones were collected as they entered the Democratic National Committee headquarters, a sign of how sensitive the conversation was expected to be. Heading into the meeting, there were signs that Bidens absolute insistence that he will not drop out leaving Democrats with the ugly prospect of weakening their nominee if they kept up their criticisms may have saved him for now. New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, a longtime and influential member who had privately said Biden should step aside, told reporters he is going to be our nominee, rendering further concerns besides the point. Hopes for a buoyant rally around the flag moment out of Tuesdays caucus discussions did not materialize, though. Im concerned about him dragging the ticket down, Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley said as he exited the meeting. I dont think he should stay in the race. He also suggested that others shared his view, but wouldnt say it out loud and that he was sworn to secrecy as to who. They were already off the Christmas card list, he said. Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan, a member of the Democratic leadership, struck a sour note after the gathering as well. While President Biden has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past twelve days suggests that voters see things the same way, she said in a statement, according to Politico. The View From The Senate Democratic senators many of whom are publicly uneasy with Bidens position after his debate performance held a similar discussion at their weekly lunch meeting on whether he should step aside as the partys nominee. Whatever happened inside, they were not excited to discuss it afterwards. Lawmakers who often talk to the press after meetings offered no comment, sped away, or brushed aside questions with a noncommittal answer as to Bidens status. What was clearer by the end of the day: Democratic senators are still too divided to move on from the debate. As Ive said before, Im with Joe, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a press conference afterwards, after being asked about fellow leadership member Patty Murrays Monday statement expressing deep concerns about Biden. He repeated a similar phrase in response to other questions about the presidents path forward. Senator Dick Durbin, the no. 2 ranking Democrat in leadership, told a PBS News reporter that it remains to be seen whether Biden should remain on the ticket and that he had more work to do. Sen. Gary Peters, who chairs the partys campaign arm, was asked by Semafor whether Senators were rallying behind Biden, as the president had asked them to do. We understand its imperative Donald Trump loses, he answered. CNN reported that Sens. Tester, Brown, and Bennet said Biden will lose to Trump in November. A senior Democratic Senate aide told Semafor that Tester made his views known at the lunch that Biden has not been doing a good job reassuring him and voters that hes up to serve another four-year term. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia described the lunch as entertaining and a good discussion of senators perspectives from their own states. But it was also, he said, a tough atmosphere. One of Bidens more reliable allies, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, told reporters that the presidents rhetorical skills were perhaps unfairly being scrutinized too much after the debate. We need to remember President Biden for 30 years has been someone who does stutter, and who occasionally misspeaks in small ways and not judge him by too high a standard, he said. Hes been the most consequential president in my lifetime. Know More The last week and a half has been tumultuous for Biden, whose lackluster debate performance alarmed top Democrats, voters, and donors alike. Recent polls show Bidens numbers slipping post-debate, though not by much. The polls, particularly those showing Vice President Kamala Harris running more successfully against Trump than Biden does, set off a wave of speculation over whether Biden might be replaced on the ticket. Over the past several days, potentially damning stories have surfaced about how Bidens inner circle sought to shield him from the public and hide how much he has appeared to age in office. But in a defiant letter to Congress on Monday, the president warned his party to stop theorizing about a new nominee. The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And its time for it to end, he said. In a phone interview on around the same time, he denounced the elites trying to push him out of the race, daring them to challenge him at the convention. Notable In The Washington Post, Mariana Alfaro and Marianna Sotomayor detail Democrats attempt to forge a path forward on Biden. For CNN, MJ Lee and Kayla Tausche unpack why Dems see Tuesday as make-or-break day for Bidens political future. More details released in autopsy for gunman who shot and killed four officers in Charlotte FILE - A Charlotte neighborhood where an officer-involved shooting took place in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were carrying out an investigation Monday afternoon in a suburban neighborhood when they came under gunfire. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) More details on the death of the Charlotte gunman who carried out the deadliest attack on law enforcement officers since 2016 were released in state autopsy and toxicology reports. Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, opened fire with an assault rifle on officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant on April 29, killing four officers and injuring another four. He eventually was shot 12 times after a lengthy standoff and died from his injuries, according to a North Carolina medical examiner's report obtained by local media outlets. The report showed Hughes was shot both on his upper and lower body. THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, was also found in his system, but other substances such as alcohol were not, according to a toxicology report. The shooting in the residential neighborhood in east Charlotte eventually ended when Hughes jumped from a second-floor window into the front yard and was killed, according to police. At least 12 officers shot their guns during the standoff, police said. There was initial confusion on whether Hughes acted alone in shooting at officers from the homes second floor, as police floated the idea that there may have been a second shooter. That possibility was dispelled in a May 31 news conference when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Tonya Arrington said Hughes was the sole gunman in the attack. There were two females inside the home during the shooting, but police said they were not involved in the gunfire. Hughes also had a lengthy criminal record dating back more than a decade, with state records showing charges such as breaking and entering, eluding arrest and illegal possession of a firearm by someone convicted of a felony. The four officers killed by Hughes were Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks. In the shooting's aftermath, the officers were commemorated in memorials around the state. President Joe Biden also visited North Carolina to privately meet with the officers' families. Moscow agreed to release all Indians serving in its Armed Forces and facilitate their return after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian news publication NDTV reported on July 9, citing unnamed sources. Russia's war against Ukraine resulted in heavy casualties for the Russian military. Seeking to limit unpopular conscription among the domestic population, Moscow has been recruiting foreigners from such countries as Nepal, Somalia, India, Cuba, and others to fight in Ukraine. Multiple cases of Indian men coming to Russia for work or tourism before being coerced to join the war against Ukraine and, in some cases, dying in battle have been reported. India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in March it had identified 35 cases of Indian men being lured to fight for Moscow in Ukraine. At least two have been confirmed as killed in combat. Modi raised the issue during a private dinner with Putin on July 8 during his first trip to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to NDTV's sources. No further details of the agreement were reported. Moscow and New Delhi are yet to comment on these claims. Modi's trip to Russia amid Moscow's missile strike on Ukraine on July 8, which targeted the country's largest children's hospital in Kyiv, has drawn criticism from President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Western officials condemned the Russian attack, the Indian prime minister posted a photo of himself shaking hands and hugging Putin, voicing hope for "cementing the bonds of friendship" between the two nations. New Delhi has been calling for a diplomatic solution to Russia's war against Ukraine but has been simultaneously fostering close economic ties with Moscow. India became one of the chief buyers of Russian oil following Western sanctions, although pressure from U.S. sanctions increasingly threatens this trade. While India participated in Ukraine's global peace summit in June, Modi did not attend personally, and India's representative did not ultimately sign the joint communique. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A court in Moscow ordered on July 9 the arrest in absentia of Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, on charges of "participating in an extremist organization." The court said that it had "approved the request of the investigators and decided a preventive measure in the form of detention for two months." Navalnaya currently lives outside of Russia, but would face jail time if she returns. Following the death of her husband in a Russian prison colony behind the Arctic Circle in February, Navalnaya entered more into the public spotlight. She has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering her husband and vowed to continue Navalny's work. Prior to his death, a Moscow court had sentenced Navalny to another 19 years in prison in August 2023 after being convicted of "creating an extremist community," namely the Anti-Corruption Foundation. The EU, the U.S., and the U.K. criticized the court's sentence, saying it was politically motivated, and demanded the immediate release of Navalny. Read also: Time names Yermak, Navalnaya among 100 most influential people of 2024 Sign up for our newsletter WTF is wrong with Russia? Sign up Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Charlie Taylor says nobody should be detained in an immigration removal centre unless they are going to be deported - Andrew Crowley Most failed asylum seekers held for deportation are released, an inspection report into one of the UKs main detention centres has found. Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, said he was shocked by the level of chaos at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre next to Heathrow airport where failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals are held before deportation. He said the accommodation was decrepit, violence had substantially increased and drug use was so widespread that he saw detainees openly smoking cannabis. Nobody should be detained in an immigration removal centre unless they are going to be removed quickly from the country, yet around 60 per cent of detainees were released from the centre, with only a third deported, said Mr Taylor. He added that it begged the question of why so much taxpayer money was being spent keeping them locked up in the first place. Detained migrants are released on bail if they are considered at low risk of absconding or criminality, or are waiting for removal but there is no realistic prospect of their removal. Labour is planning to announce tougher sanctions on people suspected of smuggling migrants in to the UK - SAMEER AL-DOUMY Last year David Neal, the then chief inspector of borders and immigration, issued a highly critical report saying the Home Office had lost its grip on the handling of foreign criminals due for deportation. Even criminals who had volunteered to be deported were not being removed quickly, the report found. This is largely down to delays in caseworking which add to the significant challenge and costs of detaining foreign national offenders. The findings explain why the number of foreign criminals eligible for deportation who are living in the country hit a record high of 11,769 in March this year. Of those, 3,708 were released from prison more than five years ago, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics last month. Mr Taylor branded conditions at Harmondsworth the worst he had seen and was so concerned by what he found that he raised his concerns with the then home secretary James Cleverly, who never replied. There had also been several serious suicide attempts at the decrepit building which can hold close to 700 men, according to findings published on Tuesday. The number of assaults had doubled since the last inspection and drug-taking, which is typically rare in immigration removal centres, was widespread. Inspectors could smell cannabis and saw detainees openly smoking in communal areas without being challenged by staff who largely kept to offices with do not enter taped across their doors, the watchdog warned. Mr Taylor said: The level of chaos that we found at Harmondsworth was truly shocking and we left deeply concerned that some of those held there were at imminent risk of harm. Mr Taylor wrote to former home secretary James Cleverly on March 12 after the inspection between February 12-29 setting out the many failures at the centre but has received no response, according to the watchdog. Yvette Cooper is the new Home Secretary - Jeff Moore While the new director had a good understanding of many of the challenges faced by the centre and was beginning to make good progress in improving conditions, she will need strong and consistent support at every level to succeed, Mr Taylor added. The watchdog told how cells had been doubled up to hold more men but if detainees refused to share, they were held in a separation unit until they agreed. Mitie Care and Custody, which runs the centre, faced numerous challenges including staff shortages and a shambolic retendering process led by the Home Office meant that leaders had no idea whether they would still be running the centre in the next few months, according to the findings. The contractual uncertainties had been a problem since last year which made it all but impossible to recruit permanent senior staff, who might only be in post for a matter of weeks, the watchdog said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A rendering provides a small glimpse into what the 2,000-unit development would look like. Residents stood before city council in Pembroke Monday night to express concern over a massive development that they feel could end small town living once and for all. GSL Cattle Company, LLC has proposed a large-scale project that would see the addition of 2,000 residential units in a mix of homes, townhomes and apartments among retail and other commercial opportunities. Im old enough to know what Pooler looked like before growth, said Jason Quill, an area resident during the public comment section of the meeting. [Alex Long] said it would have a Bluffton feel. If I wanted to live in Bluffton, I would live there. Most residents do not what this. Monday nights meeting was the first reading of the ordinance. No action was taken by council. Here is what to know. The developer has ties to the mayor Alex Long is photographed. Lawrence Alexander Long, who previously told the Savannah Morning News he is a custom home builder, is listed as the name of the organizer for GSL Cattle Company on multiple documents on the Georgia Corporations Division website. Long ran for County Chairman in Effingham County in May, losing in the General Primary and Non-Partisan General Election to Damon Rahn. Long's affiliation with the development has raised some concerns among residents, because Longs cousin, Sarah McCoy, is the sister-in-law of Pembroke Mayor Tiffany Zeigler and is listed as working in sales on Alex Long's business website. Pembroke Mayor Tiffany Zeigler is photographed. I have spoken with our city attorney to verify that there is no conflict of interest in this case, said Zeigler in a statement she provided the Savannah Morning News in June. As far as GSL Cattle Company is concerned, I do not know anything about the company other than it is on the PUD document and that is how it was submitted to the city. [Long] has met with both Chris and myself regarding the development as we meet with all developers in the planning process. I have always pledged to live a life with the highest level of integrity and ethics. I will take it a step further and will ensure that I recuse myself from any vote on this matter should there be a tie, so as to prevent any appearance that there is something unethical about the situation. During the meeting, Long addressed council to provide his take on how the project would positively impact the community. I think weve put a lot of thought into the plan before you tonight, said Long. Weve met with engineers for countless hours. We have a little bit of everything. This PUD allows for this to happen. We have mixed use and commercial retail. The planned unit development document offers more insight into the planning commission and councils thoughts regarding the project. It reads in part, The Warnell Tract development offers an opportunity to act on this goal by providing more houses, brand-new high-quality construction, and a variety of lot sizes within a reasonable driving distance of the downtown area and the Hyundai facility and the related supplier facilities. The development will be built by an experienced home builder utilizing a professional team with a track record of addressing the regulatory challenges that come with housing development in Georgia. "No adverse impacts on the immediate area" The PUD document provides a small glimpse as to what the development on Highway 67 and Sims Road would look like at full build out. The project would make up 547 acres. Of those, 115 acres are wetlands. Maximum density is proposed for 3.7 dwellings per acre and would be sold at multiple price points. More: Does Bryan County need an airport? Study to determine needs, size and location. In all, it is estimated at $500-million-project. A commercial corridor would be developed along Highway 67 and residential pods would be created throughout transitioning between various density types. The PUD states that the development would have minimal effect to the immediate area. It reads in part, The most significant effect of the proposed development will be the addition of much needed high quality homes for families to settle in, adding to the supply of housing in the area...after the initial construction traffic is complete, there will be little to no adverse impacts on the immediate area since the use is compatible with the surrounding uses. Despite these promises, area residents filled the meeting chamber Monday night to near capacity after expressing their concerns in the most recent planning and zoning meeting's public comments that this development would upend their quality of life and forever change the nature of the community they call home. Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Pembroke getting one step closer to massive housing development Motorcyclist was harnessing his inner Evil Knievel after clocked going 114 MPH on GA 400 Looking to perform your inner Evel Knievel? The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said, think again! [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Forsyth County deputies said they were monitoring drivers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend along Georgia 400. According to officials, deputies clocked a motorcyclist traveling at 114 mph. TRENDING STORIES: The sheriffs office said any driver wanting to harness their inner Evel Knievel to do it on a track and not on GA 400. The drivers age and identity were not released. He was arrested for reckless driving. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Mountain lion returns to wild after being hit by car RAMONA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A mountain lion that was hit by a car last year the night before Thanksgiving Day is back in the wild. On Nov. 23, the five-month-old cub was found on the side of a road in Simi Valley in Ventura County, the San Diego Humane Society said in a news release Monday. The mountain lion suffered a fractured hind leg, dehydration and malnourishment. He underwent surgery that required using a metal plate and 10 screws to realign the bones. A second surgery revised the placement of the screws, the animal shelter said. San Diego City Council approves expansion of Mission Trails Regional Park This patient was a very special case, because his surgeries involved a unique collaboration between Project Wildlife veterinarians and shelter veterinarians, said Jon Enyart, DVM, Senior Director of Project Wildlife at San Diego Humane Society. Being a teaching institution, we seize opportunities to share our skills across our wildlife and companion animal sides, ensuring every patient gets the highest quality medical care. For seven months, the mountain lion rehabbed at San Diego Humane Societys Ramona Wildlife Center, where they care for native apex predators, birds of prey and in special cases, mountain lions. On Wednesday, June 26, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife released the mountain lion into the wild with a satellite GPS collar to track his future health and wellbeing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 BIG STORY: 13 people injured, no deaths after crash on Dolly Parton bridge UPDATE (5:35 p.m.): First responders say it was a chaotic scene Tuesday morning as a crash involving 10 vehicles happened on Interstate 65 Northbound on the Dolly Parton Bridge. As we were responding we were getting multiple reports of entrapment as well as multiple patients in multiple vehicles, said Chief Mike Minchew with the Bay Minette Fire Department. According to authorities, 13 people were injured and transported from the scene. That includes one woman who had to be extricated from her vehicle and a man who jumped off the bridge to get out of the way of an 18-wheeler. We set up a rope rescue to be able to get a crew down to the patient that was over the side of the bridge and start treating him and waited for a boat from Crossroads Fire Department to show up. Although the woman trapped in her vehicle and the man who jumped off the bridge were reported to have suffered critical injuries, officials say there have been no reported deaths in connection with the crash. Minchew told News 5 that state troopers are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. UPDATE (12:53 p.m.): WKRG News 5 has more information on the wreck that happened on the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge, also known as the Dolly Parton Bridge, this morning. Watch The Big Story recap, in the video above, as authorities share an update on the wreck and News 5 speaks to witnesses of the crash. According to officials, the wreck, which involved 10 vehicles six cars, three 18-wheelers, and a box truck had no deaths, but the Alabama Department of Transporation said there were multiple injuries, including one man who was rescued from the scene after jumping off the bridge when he saw an 18-wheeler. (News 5 photo) News 5s Asher Redd reported that the airbags had been deployed and spoke to a driver who said there were no tire marks as the road conditions were wet at the time of the crash. Although all I-65 northbound lanes have since reopened, many people were stuck in traffic for hours. News 5s Devon Walsh spoke with Eric Chitty right when traffic began moving. Chitty said he was about a mile over the top of the bridge on I-65 North, Heading to Atmore for a meeting, got stuck in traffic at 6:45 to a dead stop, and have been here ever since. Lanes have been open since just before 11 a.m. and News 5s Caroline Carithers said they are back to normal speeds as of noon. UPDATE (11:26 a.m.): According to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency officials, a man jumped off the bridge during the crash on I-65 northbound and landed in a grassy area. He was rescued and taken to a local hospital for treatment, News 5 has learned. Our team is on the scene of the crash here are photos from the incident. Were working to learn more from witnesses. UPDATE (10:54 a.m.): Despite traffic officials previous forecast estimating several hours before all lanes on the Delta bridge would reopen, the Alabama Department of Transportation has released a new update that says, All lanes are now open to traffic! UPDATE (10:43 a.m.): News 5 has learned more about the traffic crash on the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge, known to locals as the Dolly Patron Bridge. The crash, located near mile marker 27, involved three 18-wheelers, six cars, and one truck with a box trailer, according to the Alabama Department of Transporation. Multiple injuries, no fatalities, an ALDOT Facebook post said, adding there was no hazardous material involved and no damage to the bridge. The bridge isnt expected to fully reopen for several hours. UPDATE (10:30 a.m.): The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says, The right northbound lane of Interstate 65 near the 28 mile marker, in Baldwin County, is now open. However, the press release said, The left lane remains closed at this time. ORIGINAL STORY: BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) A multiple-vehicle crash along I-65 in Baldwin County has caused part of the northbound lanes to be closed. According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, the crash involves three 18-wheelers, six cars, and one truck. Its just the right time: Baldwin Co. Sheriff Hoss Mack leaving office in good hands An Alabama Law Enforcement Agency news release said the crash happened near the 28-mile marker at the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge, known to locals as the Dolly Patron Bridge. Video that News 5 received showed some of the vehicles involved in the crash with damage. A blue truck can be seen with the hood smashed up and in front of the truck on the street are pieces seemingly from the vehicle. News 5 called officials with the Mobile River Delta and Campgound, on Dead Lake Marina Road, who said traffic is backed up on the bridge. Its unknown how long the lanes will be closed as ALEAs Highway Patrol Division continues to investigate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. MOSCOW, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations and the Ukraine crisis with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during talks in Moscow. Putin said that relations between the two countries can be characterized as a special and privileged strategic partnership, adding that the development of bilateral ties, including those in the trade and economic sectors, benefits both nations, according to a Kremlin press release. Modi said that over the past five years, amid global challenges such as the food, energy, and fertilizer crises, the friendship and cooperation between India and Russia have been instrumental in helping India overcome the difficulties. The leaders agreed to increase trade turnover between the two countries to the 100-billion-U.S.-dollar mark by 2030, according to a joint statement. Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Russia and India stressed the need for a peaceful resolution around Ukraine through diplomacy and the involvement of both sides of the conflict, according to the statement. During the meeting, Putin also invited Modi to the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in the Russian city of Kazan in autumn. Modi paid an official state visit to Russia from July 8 to 9. This was Modi's first visit to Russia in the last five years. (WSPA) Multiple 911 agencies announced Tuesday morning they are currently experiencing phone line issues. Pickens County Sheriffs Office said all seven-digit lines are currently inoperable. The sheriffs office is working to correct the statewide problem. Cherokee County E911 said they are experiencing phone trouble, along with most of the state. Anyone having an issue getting through to Cherokee County E911, please call (864) 487-2747. Laurens County 911 said they are working on the issue with our phone lines. 911 lines are coming back up but are still experiencing issues. The county mentioned they have admin lines back up at this time. If you cant get through on 911, call (864) 984-2523 & advise you have an emergency. The City of Clemson Police Departments non-emergency lines are down. Call (864) 444-3319 or (864) 533-6718 for non-emergency situations until the lines are back up. The city said the outage does not affect emergency 911 calls. The emergency lines are functioning correctly. Greenwood County Sheriffs Office announced they are experiencing problems with the 911 phone system. If you are having an emergency, you can call the non-emergency line at (864) 942-8632. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Multiple suspects sought for laundromat robberies in New York City: NYPD NEW YORK (PIX11) Police are searching for multiple suspects in connection to laundromat robberies across New York City between March and July. Police say the suspects have stolen coin machines, merchandise, property, and cash from registers, and fled in vehicles with stolen plates. More Local News The most recent robbery happened at the Susan Laundromat at 85-12 Grand Avenue in Queens on June 24, according to the NYPD. Three suspects broke into the business, stole $1,800 in cash and a payment machine. The robberies occur overnight or in the early hours and involve three or four masked individuals, police said. There have been 41 robberies in total, according to the NYPD. The robberies occurred in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. 2 robbed man sitting on Central Park bench: NYPD Police have released a surveillance image of one of the suspects captured during the robbery on June 24. Credit: 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). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The mummified remains of an American climber have been found 22 years after he went missing while scaling a snowy peak in Peru. William Stampfl, then 59, went missing in June 2002 after an avalanche on the 22,000ft-high Huascaran mountain in the Yungay Province buried his climbing party. Stampfls body, clothes, climbing gear and passport were all found preserved by the cold. The mummified documents allowed police to identify his body. Peruvian police told the AFP that the body emerged after ice on the Cordillera Blanca range of the Andes melted. Peru has lost more than half of its glacier surface in the last six decades and 175 glaciers have disappeared entirely due to the climate crisis between 2016 and 2020, scientists from a state agency studying glaciers found. The World Meteorological Organisation said last year that the previous decade was the hottest on record, leading to polar and mountain ice melting and sea levels rising faster than in the 20th century. Glaciers have thinned by an unprecedented one metre a year while the Antarctic continental ice sheet lost nearly 75 per cent more ice between 2011 and 2020 than it did between 2001 and 2010, it said. The increase in average global temperatures has accelerated the retreat of glaciers, especially in the tropics, Jesus Gomez, director of glacier research at Inaigem, told the Associated Press. Stampfls is the second mummified body to be found in the Andes. The remains of a woman mountaineer who disappeared in the mighty mountain range 41 years ago was found last year. Marta Emilia Altamirano, better known as Patty, died during an expedition in March 1981. The 20-year-old slipped on ice at an altitude of about 5,000m and fell hundreds of metres to her death, according to her sister who accompanied her. Her body was found attached to a glacier and authorities had to break the ice to extract it. Mummified Remains of Missing American Mountaineer Found 22 Years After He Vanished in Peru Police confirmed William Stampfl's clothes were still in good condition more than two decades after he went missing HANDOUT/Peruvian National Police/AFP via Getty William Stampfl's remains being carried in Peru. An American climber's mummified remains have been found 22 years after he vanished in Peru. On Monday, July 8, the Peruvian National Police released a handout picture showing officers evacuating 59-year-old William Stampfl's body from a mountain in the Ancash region, around 270 miles north of the capital Lima. Police confirmed the climber's clothes were in good condition. Per the AFP, police said the hiker's "remains were finally exposed by ice melt on the Cordillera Blanca range of the Andes" more than two decades after he was reported missing in June 2002. The news agency stated that Stampfl vanished after an avalanche hit his group on Mount Huascaran, which stands at over 22,000 feet high and is the highest peak in Peru. According to CBS News, the climber's body, including his harness, and boots, were all well-preserved when he was discovered. Peruvian police identified Stampfl by his passport, which was found at the scene, per AFP. Patrick ESCUDERO/Gamma-Rapho via Gett Mount Huascaran is the highest peak in Peru Related: Mummified Remains Found at Remote Colorado Campsite Identified as Two Sisters and Teen Boy 'Living Off Grid' The Peruvian authorities didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE. In November 2023, Peruvian scientists told the Associated Press that the country had lost over half its glacier surface in the past 60 years as average temperatures around the world increased. In 58 years, 56.22% of the glacial coverage recorded in 1962 has been lost, glaciology expert Mayra Mejia, who is an official with Perus National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems (Inaigem), said, per the outlet. Mejia told the news agency that glaciers had almost disappeared within some of the country's mountain ranges. mundosemfim/Getty Images Hiking trail in the Huascaran National Park Related: Fairly Mummified Remains of 3 Hikers Discovered in Remote Colorado Campsite The discovery of Stampfl's remains comes after a climber named Marta Emilia Altamirano's body was found attached to a glacier in February 2023, nearly 42 years after she suffered an accident while on an expedition in the Andes. 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. Per The Independent, Altamirano, also known as Patty, died at age 20 in March 1981 after she slipped at around 16,000 feet high before she fell to her death. The outlet stated her sister Corina, who was also on the climb, confirmed the news at the time, but authorities struggled to find Altamirano's remains over the years. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. On a warm afternoon in Venice Beach, a man plays tennis against a wall. As the summer settles in, keep in mind how heat can affect your health. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) If youre suffering through another sweltering day this July, the effects of extreme heat may seem painfully obvious. But the fallout from soaring temperatures goes far beyond sweatiness, dehydration or heat stroke. "There are a lot of other effects that science is starting to reveal that are problematic," said Dr. Matthew Strehlow, a Stanford professor of emergency medicine. Such effects have only gained more attention as heat waves have popped up more often and endured for longer, with 2023 officially marking the hottest year on record for the globe. As scientists keep studying the ways in which extreme heat can shape our lives, here's what some of their research reveals. Violence In California, researchers who combed through death certificates found that a temperature increase of 5 degrees Celsius was associated with increased odds of homicide mortality. One analysis of gun violence across 100 cities found that nearly 7% of shootings were attributable to higher-than-typical temperatures in different cities a percentage that amounted to nearly 8,000 shootings and that "even moderately hot temperatures were associated with higher risk of shootings." Scientists have also linked heat waves to domestic violence. And in big cities in the U.S., higher temperatures were associated with an increase in sexual offenses including rape in the days that followed, researchers at Australian universities found. Suicide Suicide has also been tied to higher temperatures: In California, the same team of researchers who reviewed death certificates and found higher odds of homicide at higher temperatures also concluded that suicide increased with heat. Scientists in the U.S. and Canada who examined deaths in Toronto and Jackson, Miss., found that "warmer-than-normal temperatures are associated with increasing suicide totals during much of the year" so much so that ultimately scholars might be able to predict weeks of higher risk for "more focused prevention efforts," they concluded. In Louisiana prisons, researchers found that extreme heat was associated with a 30% increase in the rate of "suicide watch" incidents: people being put under observation because a prison staffer believes they are at risk of suicide. That wasn't surprising to one of the researchers spending time in those prisons. "If you're in an environment where you really have no refuge" from extreme heat "and you simply can't escape that, then I think it could very plausibly lead people to a breaking point," said David Cloud, now director of research for Amend, a University of California San Francisco public health program focused on prisons. Birth Heat waves have been linked to a higher risk of babies being born premature, as well as stillbirth. In California, researchers found that babies were more likely to be born before reaching full term if their mothers weathered an "extreme heat episode" in their last week of gestation. "Heat acts like a trigger for preterm births," said Tarik Benmarhnia, an environmental epidemiologist at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Benmarhnia said scientists have suggested several possible mechanisms behind that result, including the effects of extreme heat on blood flow in the placenta, inflammatory response and dehydration. Extreme heat has also been linked to a higher risk of pregnant patients suffering conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, researchers have found. And after a baby is born, Strehlow said, "it's not clear if extreme heat decreases actual breast milk production or if just dehydration" is causing that result, he said, but it's clear that when women face extreme heat and struggle to access cooling measures, they report that "breastfeeding suffers." A florist on Forest Lawn Drive takes a break in a sliver of shade. (Zoe Cranfill / Los Angeles Times) Other health problems "Heat strains every chronic illness we study," said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the CDC. "So if you have heart disease or diabetes or even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heat can play a role in making symptoms of those diseases worse." University of Pennsylvania researchers, for instance, concluded that from 2008 to 2019, more than 1,600 deaths from cardiovascular disease annually were associated with extreme heat. Strehlow said studies have found a range of health threats are more common amid extreme heat, including cardiac arrest, heart attacks and ischemic strokes those caused by a blockage of blood supply to the brain. He added that researchers have also found that during episodes of extreme heat, "children have more health emergencies and require more hospitalizations." In general, he said, the longer these heat outbreaks go on, the worse their effects, with each day of excessive heat causing more problems than the last. Read more: How much worse will extreme heat get by 2050? New report outlines worrisome future School performance Higher temperatures have been found to affect how students fare on tests. One analysis of New York City high school exit exams found that taking the test on a hotter day 90 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 72 degrees led to a 2.5% lower chance of graduating on time from high school. Researchers examining how students do on tests have found that "even if it's hotter immediately before those tests, it can affect their performance," Bernstein of the National Center for Environmental Health said. "And if those tests get tied to getting into college or graduating from high school ... that can have lifelong effects." Another analysis of PSAT scores for millions of U.S. high schoolers, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, concluded that without the aid of air conditioning, "each 1 F increase in school year temperature reduces the amount learned that year by one percent." Read more: The toll of extreme heat rises in California as OSHA advances worker protections This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The dying pleas of 22-year-old shooting victim Doricky Ricky Harris were played in a Fayette County courtroom Monday as a murder trial for his alleged killer began. Dont let me die, Harris said. The posthumous testimony came from body camera footage captured by Lexington Police Department officers who responded to the shooting at a Coolavin Apartment on West Sixth Street in September 2022. Bobby Hubbard, 24, of Mississippi, is charged with murder for allegedly shooting Harris. Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Nikolas Fegenbush presented opening statements Monday, claiming Hubbard entered the apartment and shot Harris once before he fled. When police found Harris, told them the person who shot him was a stranger. I am dying, Harris can be heard saying in the body camera footage played in court. I dont know why I just opened the door and he shot me. Fegenbush said the fatal events began earlier that day, when police were called to the apartments two separate times for reports of shots fired and a suspicious subject. Police located two shell casings outside of the apartments, but did not find anyone involved in the incident to speak with officers. Harris girlfriend, Jada Richardson, testified she called Hubbard and told him Harris had assaulted her and fired shots earlier that day. Richardson allegedly asked Hubbard to come pick her and her child up and take her to her sisters house in Georgetown, fearing for her safety. Richardson said she did not know where Harris had gone after their altercation. When he arrived, Fegenbush told jurors Hubbard snuck around the back of the apartment complex and went up the stairs before he entered into the apartment, shot at Harris and ran away to his car to take Richardson and her child to Georgetown. The two never called police, and Fegenbush said once Hubbard was questioned by police, he told tales and stories, and was only concerned with how he would get out of his alleged involvement in Harris death. He is still not telling the truth, he still just wants to know how do I get out of this, Fegenbush said. Attorneys for defendant claim self defense One of Hubbards defense attorneys, Kathryn Daczka, said Hubbards decision was one made quickly, in the dark, and out of fear for his life. Daczka claimed there was much more to the shooting than just opening the door and shooting him. They allege Harris was waiting for someone to enter the apartment. According to defense attorneys, Hubbard came to help Richardson after she told him that Harris had shot at her earlier in the day, and she was in fear for her safety. Hubbard arrived at the Coolavin apartment to grab formula for Richardsons baby, and the childs car seat. Daczka said Hubbard went toward the apartment to try and get the supplies. He was legally armed with a gun when he knocked on the door several times and received no response. When Hubbard opened the door, he was allegedly confronted by Harris, who jumped out and scared Hubbard. Thats when Hubbard allegedly fired his gun and fled the scene, Daczka said. Bobby did leave, he fled, Daczka confessed. You are going to hear from him and hear those whys and about that moment of terrifying fear of whether it would be him or Doricky. The trial and opening statements began Monday and is expected to last until Thursday. Starbucks is no stranger to facing lawsuits, and now the global coffee chain has been hit with another serious accusation. A Muslim family is suing the chain over an alleged incident of discrimination involving handicapped seating at a Starbucks store in Midvale, Utah. According to a press release from Pace Johnson Law Group, the firm representing the plaintiffs, the family claims they were forcibly ejected by police from the store, and that they were unjustly targeted because of their Middle Eastern ethnicity and Muslim faith. The family, which includes Mr. Hossein Kaveh, his wife Faranak Sedarat, and her mother Banou Afsar Sedarat, claims they were using a handicapped table while displaying a valid handicapped placard for the disabled mother. They then say that another customer in a wheelchair claimed they had no right to be using the handicapped table. Mr. Hossein Kaveh claims they attempted to resolve the situation amicably, but it escalated and Starbucks management called law enforcement, while allegedly misrepresenting the behavior of the family. This led to their removal, and an indefinite ban. Mr. Kaveh, who is an Iranian immigrant, says that "In my 45 years in this country, I've never had any issue with the law or police," adding "What happened to us, I hope nobody has to go through." The family is seeking $6 million or more in damages, a public apology from Starbucks, the right to return to the store, and a promise to fight discrimination on a larger scale. Read more: 31 Popular Coffee Brands, Ranked This Is Not The First Time Starbucks Has Been Accused Of Discrimination Starbucks Coffee exterior and customers - happycreator/Shutterstock Starbucks has dealt with several lawsuits around racial discrimination in recent years. The company was ordered to pay $25 million to a former manager last year who claimed they were illegally fired over a racist incident that occurred at their store. However, Starbucks did manage to score a win when a judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming its DEI program was a form of racial discrimination against white employees. Tasting Table reached out to Starbucks for comment. In response, the company stated: "As stated in our Third Place policy, "a safe and welcoming public space is a shared community responsibility." Consistent with Our Mission and Values, we expect everyone in our stores to treat others with respect and dignity, free of bias and discrimination. Our expectation is that all of our partners and our customers also uphold these values. We firmly believe these claims to be without merit. We take pride in creating a warm and welcoming Third Place environment it's core to who we are as a company." Read the original article on Tasting Table. Myrtle Beach leaders could restrict full-size vehicle use by lifeguard providers starting next summer MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Myrtle Beach leaders are preparing to renegotiate their agreements with private lifeguard providers, and the June death of a woman who was hit and killed by an Horry County police vehicle could lead to a big change in their contracts. The citys existing seven-year deals with Johns Beach Service and Lacks Beach Service end on Sept. 30. Councilmembers said Tuesday that before new ones are signed, language needs to be added to restrict full-sized vehicles. I think that would be something important to add to any agreement, is minimizing any type of major vehicle on the beach, council member Debbie Conner said, referring to the deadly June 13 incident that left 66-year-old Sandra Sandy Schultz-Peters dead. News13 on patrol: A look at Grand Strand beach safety after Myrtle Beach womans death Conner also referenced a June 30 crash in Daytona Beach, Florida, in which a Volusia County Beach Patrol sergeant ran over two young women. Following Schultz-Peters death, city officials said they plan to add exterior cameras and object-detection sensors to the front of trucks, complimenting devices already installed on their back ends. Within city limits, officials said that the beaches will continue to have UTVs, four-wheelers and compacted pick-up trucks (Ford Rangers, Chevrolet Silverados and Nissan Frontiers during the daytime and congested hours. Councilman Bill McClure said he agreed with Conners suggestion. Its not just the franchisees, he said. We also have city personnel that patrol as well, so wheres the balance between emergency needs and franchisee vehicles. Its also unlikely that the city will return to its decades-old practice of dual-role lifeguarding, which had rescuers splitting their time between watching the water and handling rentals. Officials amended contracts in late 2022 to split the functions after Lacks Beach Service was ordered to pay more than $20 million to a Maryland family in a wrongful death lawsuit. We want to provide people safety and have people feel good about coming here, Councilman Mike Chestnut said on Tuesday. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. CURIE will investigate where solar radio waves originate in coronal mass ejections, like this one seen in 304- and 171-angstrom wavelengths by NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory. (Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) SPACE (KXAN) Radio signals are coming from somewhere within our sun and NASA wants to find out from where. On July 9, the space administration will launch the first mission designed to locate these signals: CURIE. The CubeSat Radio Interferometry Experiment (CURIE) will use two small cube satellites to locate the source of these radio signals, emitted during solar storms, solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME). Understanding more about these forms of space weather is extremely important. Storms on the sun can impact technology on Earth, including our communication networks. According to NASA, scientists first detected these radio signals decades ago. While they know that they occur during solar storms, they dont know where from. Solar storms and flares could soon be detected in advance of communication blackouts According to the European Space Agency, these radio waves must be observed from space. The Earths ionosphere absorbs them before they reach the ground. The ionosphere extends 30 to 600 miles above the Earths surface and is filled with charged gasses. How will NASA track mystery radio signals? CURIE, once in orbit, will separate into two. The two cube satellites will then move two miles apart. CURIE team members work on integrating the satellites into the CubeSat deployer. (Credit: ExoLaunch) When the sun emits a radio wave, the two satellites will capture the signal and then triangulate where it came from. CURIE will fly into orbit onboard the Ariane 6 rocket. This rocket is operated by the European Space Agency. It will be its first flight. CURIE is sponsored by NASAs Heliophysics Flight Opportunities for Research and Technology (H-FORT) Program. NASA later plans to launch the SunRISE mission, which will track radio signals with six satellites. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. China seals dike breach at its second-largest freshwater lake Xinhua) 08:13, July 09, 2024 HUARONG, Hunan Province, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Rescue personnel successfully sealed a 226-meter breach in a dike at China's second-largest freshwater lake on Monday, according to local authorities. At 10:31 p.m., the final truckload of rocks was dumped into the breach in a dike at Dongting Lake, amidst the cheers of the rescue personnel. According to the Yueyang flood control and drought relief headquarters, the sealing will expedite drainage and post-disaster reconstruction. The breach at Dongting Lake in the city of Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, was caused by floodwaters from torrential rain, with more than 7,000 residents evacuated since the dike burst on Friday afternoon. At approximately 4 p.m. on Friday, a serious piping, an erosion-related incident, occurred at the dike. Despite emergency efforts to seal the leak, the dike failed and a breach formed. An aerial drone photo shows rescuers sealing the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Prior to the breach, Hunan Province experienced 17 consecutive days of heavy rainfall, the longest period of regional heavy rain since 1961. "The intense rainfall led to high water levels in Dongting Lake, the highest in the past four years," said Liu Guhua, an expert with the Yueyang water resources bureau. Upon receiving reports of the breach, rescue teams from various sectors quickly assembled. On Friday night, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration organized the shipment of 5,000 family emergency kits to Hunan to support the relocation and resettlement of residents affected by the flooding. As of 2 p.m. Sunday, a total of 4,739 professional rescue personnel, 469 vehicles, 318 items of equipment, 144 large equipment sets and 170 boats had been deployed to the breach site. Rescuers seal the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Meanwhile, reinforcement efforts began on an embankment located approximately 2 kilometers behind the breached dike, serving as the second line of defense. Stretching about 14.3 kilometers between two other embankments, it protects over 100,000 mu (about 6666.67 hectares) of fertile land and the homes of many residents. Tang Min, a firefighter team leader with the Yueyang fire brigade, was among the first to arrive at the second line of defense. In the past few days, the team has been stationed on the embankment, conducting thorough inspections around the clock. "Since the breach, many team members have only had a few hours of sleep. Despite several team members suffering from heatstroke due to the high temperatures, they persisted and completed their tasks," Tang said. At 1 p.m. Saturday, efforts to seal the breach commenced. A strategy was devised to first stabilize the edges of the breach to prevent further expansion. The plan also included widening the unloading platform to ensure smooth material delivery and implementing measures such as alternating shifts and continuous machine operation to maintain high-intensity sealing efforts. "We were progressing at a speed of 60 to 80 meters per day," said Zhang Xuanzhuang with the China Anneng Group First Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. An aerial drone photo shows rescuers sealing the dike breach in the Dongting Lake in Yueyang, central China's Hunan Province, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) At the moment the breach was sealed, cheers erupted at a vocational school relocation site in Huarong County. Among those celebrating was 42-year-old Lu Lin from affected Tuanbei Village, who had been glued to her phone since arriving at the relocation site early on Saturday, even checking the progress of the dike closure during meals. Huarong County has established four relocation sites in the county seat, each equipped with ample daily necessities and medical support services, as well as air-conditioners and fans to combat the summer heat. As of Saturday, a total of 7,680 people who needed to be relocated had been safely evacuated, with no casualties reported, and all have been properly resettled. "My parents were among the builders of the damaged dike, with each shovelful of soil and stone carried on their shoulders. Now the dike has been sealed, we can rebuild our homes again. As long as it remains, our roots are here," Lu said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BEIRUT, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Army Command announced on Tuesday that it arrested six people spreading the Islamic State (IS) ideology on social media, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. The Lebanese Army Command said the arrested people followed up on publications related to the group, held meetings centered around its ideas, worked to recruit people, and encouraged hostility towards the Lebanese army and security services. An investigation was underway as the detainees have been under the supervision of judicial authorities, said the report. N.Y. Woman Was Allegedly Tortured for Months Before She Was Strangled and Prosecutors Say There Are More Victims Kenya Tilford, 41, is accused of murdering 27-year-old Concetta Morton Curry & Giordano Funeral Home Concetta Morton in an undated photo A New York woman is accused of torturing and then murdering her partner, according to authorities in Westchester County. According to a statement from Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah, Kenya Tilford, 41, was arraigned on July 2 and faces 18 charges including murder, strangulation, concealment of a human corpse, tampering with physical evidence, intimidating a victim or a witness, assault and unlawful imprisonment, among others. She also faces charges on accusations she tortured four other women, say prosecutors. Tilford allegedly tortured her romantic partner, 27-year-old Concetta Morton, for three months, murdered her via asphyxiation and hid Morton's body in a storage bin at her New Rochelle apartment, prosecutors allege. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Per court documents obtained by CBS News, Tilford claimed she was in Virginia when the crime is believed to have taken place. But video surveillance obtained by police allegedly said otherwise, according to prosecutors. "During this period, the defendant was captured on surveillance video purchasing a hooded coverall, bleach, tarps, paper towels, rubber gloves, a chainsaw and the storage bin in which the victims body was found," the statement from prosecutors said. Tilford was arrested in September 2023 in Elmsford, N.Y., following police tips about Morton's body. "In a first for this Office, we are charging the defendant for not only murder, but also for allegedly acting in an especially cruel manner and inflicting torture upon Ms. Morton before her death," Rocah said in the statement. Tilford is currently in Westchester County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on July 16, per New Rochelle Patch. It's not immediately clear if she has entered a plea or retained an attorney. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A Nampa man was killed in an accidental shooting at the George Nourse Gun Range, the Canyon County Sheriffs Office said. Evan Michael Chase, 26, of Nampa, was shot in the abdomen Friday by a rifle that discharged when another adult male attempted to unload it, the Sheriffs Office said Tuesday in a news release. Deputies arrived at about 5 p.m., and life-saving measures were performed, but Chase died at the scene, the release said. This was a tragic incident that sadly took the life of a young man over this past Fourth of July weekend, Sheriff Kieran Donahue said in the release. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Unfortunately, it also serves as a grim reminder of how deadly firearms can be and why they should always be handled with the utmost care. Since the incident was deemed an accident, no arrests were made, the sheriffs office told the Idaho Statesman. No more information will be released, the sheriffs office said. NAPERVILLE, Ill. A Naperville man accused of stabbing his ex-wife to death during an argument over the weekend is now facing felony charges. Naperville police said 55-year-old Zokir Kudratov has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder stemming from the deadly stabbing. Prosecutors: Man disguises as woman to evade capture after Elmhurst armed robbery Authorities say the charges were handed down after officers were called to Kudratovs home in the 2500 block of Saddlebrook Drive on Saturday, following a report that a person was not breathing at the home. When officers arrived on scene they found several people inside the home, including a woman who had suffered several apparent stab wounds. The woman was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland A preliminary investigation later revealed that Kudratov got into an argument with his ex-wife, who lived on a different floor of the same home, on Saturday morning. During the argument, Kudratov allegedly pulled out a knife that he had on him and stabbed the woman several times. Following the investigation, Kudratov was taken into custody. He was later transported to the Will County Jail after charges were handed down. Elderly woman targeted in attempted sexual assault in Humboldt Park: CPD First and foremost, the entire Naperville Police Department sends our sincere condolences to the victims family, Naperville Police Chief Arres said in a press release on Monday afternoon. To say these incidents are some of the most challenging and heartbreaking in policing is an understatement. I commend our officers and investigators for their professionalism and diligence throughout this tragic situation. Thank you as well to the Will County States Attorneys Office for their assistance and guidance during this incident. Authorities have not yet identified the victim killed. Kudratov is set to appear in court for a detention hearing on Wednesday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Naples Airport Authority officials have been talking about the creation of a regional authority to manage the three other public airports in Collier County in addition to Naples Airport. At the same time, Collier County issued a public request to submit a bid for leasing and developing 500 acres of industrial land at Immokalee Regional Airport. No thanks, Naples Airport Authority commissioners say, but they would like to talk about taking over management of Immokalee and the county's two other airports Marco Island Executive Airport and Everglades Airpark. Immokalee Regional Airport, located near Immokalee Road and Florida State Road 29, is one of three airports owned and operated by Collier County. Collier is looking at INTs (intent to negotiate) for developing 500 acres at the airport. "Im not sure what we would do with just developing," said Vice Chair Rita Cuddihy at the commission's June 20 meeting. "I do think it makes a tremendous amount of sense to talk about managing that airport and the other airports." Her colleagues agreed, though Commissioner Bob Burns said he would have been interested in talking about developing the 500 acres just to open the door for talks on managing the airports. Chairman Rick Ruppert said he believed talks can take place without proposing to manage the commercial acreage. Collier County issued what is called an INT invitation to negotiate after receiving an unsolicited proposal to develop the industrial property at the airport, located at Immokalee Road and State Road 29. The initial deadline was June 18, but the Naples Airport Authority asked for added time to discuss it with commissioners. Collier County extended the deadline to July 2. Meanwhile, a Dallas-based airline plans to bring scheduled flights to Naples Airport that would run similar to a commercial airline. A plane is parked near a sign at the Immokalee Regional Airport in Immokalee on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. What does Collier County want? Immokalee Regional Airport, situated on 1,333 acres of land located approximately 35 miles northeast of Naples, has two asphalt paved runways, designated 9-27 (5,000 feet by 100 feet) and 18-36 (4,550 feet by 150 feet). The 500 acres Collier County wants to lease for development include aeronautical and non-aeronautical land, according to the INT. During a May strategic plan focus group airport commissioners discussed creating a regional airport authority. Commissioner Terrence Cavanaugh said the board should "be aggressive & proactive to talk about a regional airport authority including Immokalee and Marco Island." Everglades Airpark in Everglades City is one of three airports owned and operated by Collier County. The commission instructed Airport Authority staff to respond to the county's INT and to inform the Naples City Council, which leases the Naples Airport property to the authority. In a July 2 letter to Collier County Manager Amy Patterson, the Airport Authority wrote: "The Naples Airport might benefit from a regional approach to management of all public airports within the County to incentivize certain activities, such as flight training, at Collier Countys airports rather than at the Naples Airport. Conversely, the NAA may be able to make capital investments at Collier Countys airports that could help increase the economic impact of those facilities and create additional employment opportunities." Naples Airport Authority pointed out it is a dependent special district of the State of Florida, and as such, its "enabling legislation already contemplates operating any airport in Collier County." Marco Island Executive Airport is located about 12 miles south of downtown Naples off Mainsail Drive just north of Marco Island's Jolley Bridge and Isles of Capri. It is operated by Collier County. Airport tenant rates to go up in October An appraisal of properties and rents at Naples Airport shows prices should go up, and they will with the new fiscal year in October, Authority staff say. Everglades Airpark in Everglades City is one of three airports owned and operated by Collier County. The appraisal, by Miami-based Slack, Johnston & Magenheimer Inc., "The properties are in above average condition based on their age and the storms you have had," Andy Magenheimer told the commissioners. Fair market rent is higher than existing rent at the Naples Airport, he said. "The rates have increased extensively over the last two years," because of higher demand. He recommends that rates be increased throughout the airport. A sign for the general aviation facility is shown at the Immokalee Regional Airport in Immokalee on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The Authority is planning a phased increase, as it did in 2019 when rates hadn't been increased for a decade. "The plan is to create a reasonable plan that is not shocking to our customers," said Heather LeDuc, the Authority's senior business manager. Rates will increase for annual leases and for month-to-month leases, she said.Rates will increase an average of 9%, according to the proposed FY25 Operating and Capital Budget. JSX "hop-on" jet service may soon be flying out of Naples Dallas-based airline JSX soon will be flying out of Naples Airport, with scheduled flights similar to a commercial airline but operating as a public charter. The 2016 startup flies 30-seat Embraer regional jets. Calling itself a "hop-on" jet service, JSX lets people buy a ticket on a luxury plane at business class prices and be treated like private jet passengers with short check-in times and no long Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines. Airport Authority commissioners gave Authority officials the OK to negotiate a user agreement with JSX.As a public airport, the Authority does not have the ability to deny JSX access to the airport, but an agreement would "ensure we can negotiate," said Justin Lobb, deputy director of aviation. A plane is parked at Hangar A at the Immokalee Regional Airport in Immokalee on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. "We certainly feel that this is a fit. Naples is certainly worth our attention and our time," Vice President of Airport Affairs and Aviation Security Ken Edmondson said at the commission meeting. JSX approached staff with its intent to commence operations in Naples in the fall of 2024. All flights would operate in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the airports Rules and Regulations and would be scheduled in compliance with the airports voluntary curfew of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., the company wrote in a presentation to the commission.JSX Chief Commercial Officer David Drabinsky and Edmondson made the presentation in person and iterated the company would strictly follow the voluntary curfew. The also answered questions about the company, its planes, its pilots, plans for hybrid-electric planes and security.While TSA employees will not be part of the commercial charter's check-in process, JSX does use TSA-approved equipment and the Department of Homeland Security identification vetting process before anyone boards a plane, Edmondson said. Customer baggage is separated from them and goes through an explosive detection system before being loaded onto the plane, he said. In December 2023, JSX announced its plans to acquire up to 332 hybrid-electric aircraft from manufacturers Electra, Aura Aero, and Heart Aerospace. JSX plans to start receiving the aircraft in 2028 and fly them to more than 2,000 airports in the U.S. A faded sign hangs at Hangar C at the Immokalee Regional Airport in Immokalee on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The FAA said recently it will consider tightening the rules on some air charter operators to bring them in line with regulation of passenger airlines. In June, the FAA issued a press release saying it intends to amend definitions of the scheduled, on demand, and supplemental operations. "If finalized, the effect of this proposed rule change would be that public charters will be subject to operating rules based on the same safety parameters as other non-public charter operations."Drabinsky and Edmondson said they welcome the changes because JSX follows the highest safety standards. "We want all of our charter operators in fact, to rise to the same level safety and security. And we understand the importance of that," Edmondson said. More: Want to move an airport? Make changes? Better talk to the feds. Local control is limited More: 3 To Know: FAA to consider tighter rules for air charters, more This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Airport Authority to talk with county about managing airports Nationwide Arena and its nearby partner, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, need more than $170 million in repairs, according to their owner. With a few exceptions, such as a new scoreboard and concession upgrades to the arena, the needs aren't sexy but rather involve basic infrastructure, including new roofs and HVAC equipment. "Those facilities require attention, both to meet ongoing maintenance and structural issues and to make sure we continue to be competitive," said Ken Paul, executive director of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, which owns the arena, the convention center and the Hilton Columbus Downtown. The Greater Columbus Convention Center, most of which opened in 1993, is in need of major upgrades, according to the county agency that owns it. (Dispatch file photo) Related article: Columbus unveils new tourism campaign amidst major urban developments "Our investment in the Hilton is paying off, and the convention business is rebounding from before COVID. We're getting back in stride," said Paul, who replaced Don Brown as the authority's executive director early this year. "It necessitates that we revisit the center and the arena." Paul's comments echo Brown's warnings from a few years ago that the arena is due for an upgrade. Paul and others in the Columbus tourism and events world say the convention center and arena remain excellent venues with a long life ahead of them but suffer from deferred maintenance caused by a lack of revenue during COVID and by the expansion of the Hilton two years ago. "The cost of building a hotel really went through the roof, so it was the perfect storm from that and COVID," said Brian Ross, president and CEO of Experience Columbus, the city's tourism and convention bureau. "It really did defer a lot of the capital improvements and got them behind schedule." Columbus convention center needs $112 million The costliest needs are in the convention center. The oldest part of the facility, on the south end, called the Ohio Center, opened in 1980, followed by the rest of the center in 1993 and, in 2017, a $125 million expansion and upgrade on the north end. According to a document prepared by the authority in April, the convention center needs $112 million in improvements. The most expensive is a new roof, at an estimated cost of $30 million. Other costly upgrades include restrooms and janitors' closets ($10.4 million); electrical distribution equipment ($12.5 million); escalators ($6 million); flooring ($3.7 million); lighting systems ($3 million); and chillers ($3.5 million). "Some mechanics on the south end are coming to the end of their life," Paul said. "The center easily has as much as $100 million in needs over the next five to seven years. That has to be prioritized." Nationwide Arena needs scoreboard, roof A year away from its 25th anniversary, Nationwide Arena is in need of major upgrades, says the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, which owns the building. The arena, which opened 24 years ago for $175 million, also needs a new roof and cooling towers, along with other mechanical and cosmetic upgrades totaling $60.2 million, according to an estimate from the authority. The costliest upgrades would be improvements to the roof ($9 million); cooling towers ($7.5 million); a new scoreboard ($8.5 million); fire alarm replacement ($2.5 million); suite renovations ($1 million); club level renovations ($1.7 million); overhauling concession stands ($1.5 million); and improvements to the party tower LED displays ($675,000). While few of the expenses are exciting, they are nonetheless necessary, said Joe Savarise, the Convention Facilities Authority board chairman. "Its true a lot of these things won't transform the guest experience," he said. "But it's important to visitors for things like the elevator to work, the air conditioner to work. They expect that." Leaders of the convention facilities authority, which acquired the arena in 2012, have warned for years that the arena is due for major and costly upgrades. A 2020 study estimated the cost of upgrades at nearly $100 million. The authority agreed two years ago to spend $13 million to improve locker rooms, the ice plant and lighting while deferring other expenses. Some improvements underway The authority has already authorized improvements, and it seeks to prioritize the rest and develop a funding plan. Work is expected to begin in July on upgrades to the convention center's HVAC system, while new production equipment and a new fire alarm system are underway at the arena. In its recent capital budget, the Ohio Legislature proposed spending $2 million to help arena improvements, well short of the $9 million the authority sought. Otherwise, the authority is looking at funding options, Paul said. Traditionally, the authority has paid for capital improvements from the agency's revenue sources, including the county's tax on hotel beds, casino tax revenue and a tax on tickets to Nationwide Arena events, in addition to state, local and federal dollars. The laundry list of upgrades to the two buildings comes as the city's convention and tourism industry has recovered from its COVID slump. And visitors continue to give the city's convention buildings good marks, said Ross. "The overall comments are good," he said. "However, were working on borrowed time to keep them good, and if we do not do the upgrades and get back on the schedule for capital improvement, it will get out in front of us, and well start getting those comments." jweiker@dispatch.com @JimWeiker This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two Downtown public buildings in need of major upgrades, says owner A nationwide sandwich shop is ready to open its 19th Jacksonville-area restaurant in neighboring Clay County. Jersey Mike's Subs will open Wednesday at 1560 Business Center Drive at the Shops at Eagle Harbor on Fleming Island. As part of the grand opening, franchise owner Thomas Tyrrell is conducting a fundraiser benefitting Wolfson Children's Hospital through July 14. "We have partnered with Wolfson Children's Hospital to raise funds that will go towards assisting it in continuing to provide outstanding care to the children of Fleming Island and surrounding communities," Tyrrell said in a news release announcing the new restaurant. Customers who receive a special fundraising coupon distributed through a grassroots effort before Wednesday's opening can make a minimum $3 contribution to Wolfson Childrens Hospital in exchange for a regular sub. Customers must have a coupon to be eligible, according to the fundraiser. The fundraiser is only at the Fleming Island store. The sub shop chain currently has 10 Jacksonville sandwich shops open. Also open in Northeast Florida are two Jersey Mike's in St. Augustine and one each in Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Yulee, Orange Park, Saint Johns, and Ponte Vedra Beach, state Department of Business and Professional Regulation records show. Founded in 1956, the sandwich shop chain is known for its fresh sliced, freshly sliced made-to-order, handcrafted sub sandwiches that range in size from mini to regular or giant. The subs can be served "Mike's Way" with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, red wine vinegar, olive oil blend, oregano and salt or guests can customize the toppings. The sandwiches also can be ordered as wraps or bowls. Comming soon: 25 new restaurants are in the works for the Jacksonville area in 2024. Here's a list Headquartered in Manasquan, N.J, .Jersey Mike's website lists a total of 2,734 restaurants open nationwide with about 300 more coming soon. There are about 225 in Florida, the website shows. The restaurants hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jersey Mike's brings 19th Jacksonville-area restaurant to Clay County Native American man used by Noem as alleged proof of cartel presence takes plea deal in drug case Charles Merrival. (Courtesy of Charles Merrival family) Nearly two months after Gov. Kristi Noem used a photo of him as alleged proof that cartels have overrun tribal communities, a Rapid City man accepted a plea deal this week to a drug conspiracy charge. Charles Cain Merrival, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, has been jailed in Rapid City for two and a half years and has only been free from jail for a few months since 2020, court records show. Noem flashed a photo of Merrival during a May 17 press conference in Pierre, at which she repeated claims that cartel members are selling drugs and trafficking people on Native American reservations in the state. The photo showed Merrival in a jacket emblazoned with references to motorcycle gangs. When contacted by South Dakota Searchlight about Noems use of his photo, Merrival denied having any connection to drug cartels. He said he hadnt been to Pine Ridge for years, that the photo Noem used was taken at a mall in Rapid City, and that the governors actions destroyed my ability to get a fair trial in a federal drug trafficking case. His mother, Darla Merrival, told South Dakota Searchlight she believes the governor chose to make an example of her son because hes a tribal member. Noems office did not respond to questions from South Dakota Searchlight about her use of Merrivals photo prior to the publication of a June 12 story on his case. Spokesman Ian Fury did not reply to messages Tuesday seeking comment for this story. On Monday, Charles Merrival took a deal and pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and saw his remaining charges, for distribution of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm, dismissed. A factual basis statement filed Monday and signed by Merrival says he voluntarily joined a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Rapid City area, and that hed flashed a firearm in January of 2022 in furtherance of the drug distribution conspiracy. The conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system. Merrivals plea deal stipulates an eight year sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 4 in Rapid City. In a text sent to South Dakota Searchlight through a jailhouse service provider, Merrival said prosecutors had filed what he described as a gag order that would have prevented his attorney from asking jurors about the media coverage surrounding Noems cartel claims. There was no way I was going to win, Merrival wrote. Especially with them tying my hands about being able to ask jurors if theyd seen the press. The U.S. Attorneys Office, which is prosecuting the case, filed a motion in limine and a document supporting the motion on July 2. A motion in limine is meant to prevent or limit the use of certain arguments or evidence in a trial. The documents that would explain what prosecutors had hoped to limit at trial were sealed by a judge at the governments request. Examining Noems cartel claims SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Activists hold a poster with the slogan "No Nato, yes peace" in front of the summit grounds at the start of the Nato summit. The NATO summit begins in the capital with celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the defense alliance. Kay Nietfeld/dpa The United States and Germany are the main opponents of Ukraine joining NATO too soon, diplomatic sources within the alliance said on Monday, ahead of a 75th anniversary summit of the alliance. A source referred to the US and Germany's "strong opposition" towards inviting Ukraine to join the alliance without fulfilling the necessary preconditions. "In the end, it will be a decision by the allies to invite Ukraine to join NATO," the source said. The comments deal a further blow to Ukraine's hopes of progress, following their anger at a lack of invitation at the last NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. "The Ukrainians were quite annoyed when they concluded that the door was open, but not that much. And I think the scenario for the Washington summit is the same," the source said. Participants walk through the press center during the 2024 Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kay Nietfeld/dpa Passers-by walk past the Eisenhower Building with the US and NATO flags in the early morning. The NATO summit begins in the capital with celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the defence alliance. Kay Nietfeld/dpa Boris Pistorius (R), Germany's Defence Minister, and Antti Hakkinen (L), the Finnish Defence Minister, sign a naval mine cooperation agreement drawn up by six members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from the Baltic Sea region, on the sidelines of the 2024 NATO Summit. Carsten Hoffmann/dpa Germany and five other NATO allies in the Baltic sea region plan to buy more sea mines together as a deterrent to Russia. Sea mines are a "very effective way to deter an aggressor at sea and they are an extremely important capability in the face of Russian aggression," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said. Pistorius signed a declaration ahead of a NATO summit in Washington. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland and Sweden are also part of the agreement to jointly procure and maintain sea mines in the region. The Baltic Sea is assessed by NATO analysts as a potential conflict flashpoint with Russia and the alliance has stepped up its presence in the east after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Boris Pistorius (3rd L), Germany's Defence Minister, and Antti Hakkinen (2nd L), the Finnish Defence Minister, sign a naval mine cooperation agreement drawn up by six members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from the Baltic Sea region, on the sidelines of the 2024 NATO Summit. Carsten Hoffmann/dpa Boris Pistorius (L), Germany's Defence Minister, and Antti Hakkinen, Finnish Defence Minister, attend a meeting to sign a naval mine cooperation agreement drawn up by six members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from the Baltic Sea region, on the sidelines of the 2024 NATO Summit. Carsten Hoffmann/dpa NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shares a joke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken after Stoltenberg threw out the opening pitch ahead of Monday night's Washington Nationals-Saint Louis Cardinals game at Nationals Park in Washington. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE July 9 (UPI) -- Leaders from 38 countries will meet in Washington beginning Tuesday for a three-day NATO summit marking the military alliance's 75th anniversary with support for Ukraine set to be at the forefront of discussion. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Washington on Monday where he met with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and said that U.S. commitment and leadership on Ukraine has "really made a difference and enabled us all to provide unprecedented support to Ukraine." "Allies continue to carry their fair share of the burden," Stoltenberg said. Stoltenberg added the summit would broadly address the deterrence and defense capabilities of NATO to show that the 32-member alliance has "the forces, the readiness and the capabilities we need to continue to deter any aggressor." White House national security adviser John Kirby said the NATO Ukraine Council will meet on the final day of the summit Thursday after which President Joe Biden will host an event alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other allies and partners that have reached security agreements with Ukraine. Kirby said that the people of Ukraine have demonstrated that "when supplied and when supported by the international community and the United States" they can hold off Russia's advances. "Throughout these last three months, the Russians have attacked relentlessly across all ... fronts, and the price that they have paid for the few meters that they have gained here and there has been extensive: heavy casualties, destroyed equipment, disrupted supply lines, degraded morale," Kirby said. Thursday is also expected to see the release of a joint communique that will say that Ukraine's path to membership of the security alliance is "irreversible," according to a draft of the document, three sources told CNN. Differences within the 32 member-country organization over Ukraine's future membership and how fast to proceed mean the communique could change but the wording is expected to make it into the final document issued at the close of the summit Thursday, the sources told CNN. A joint declaration that Ukraine's accession to NATO is not a matter of if but when would send a strong message to both Kyiv and Moscow that the West's commitment to defending Ukraine is for the long haul. The White House backs the language of the proposed communique on condition it also stated that Ukraine must carry on with its work on democratic reforms, a U.S. official, who stressed that the stipulation was expected to be in the final text, told CNN. Some European capitals have been pushing for an unequivocal stance on the issue but Washington and Berlin back the narrative of a "bridge" to Ukraine's membership in NATO while Hungary is at the other end of the spectrum, only reversing a threat to veto plans for NATO to provide security assistance and training on condition of an opt-out. Amid calls Monday by Ukraine Parliament chair Ruslan Stefanchuk for "decisions that will bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance," membership of which he said was "Kyiv's only goal," there is growing convergence on the need for more concrete steps backing Ukraine's struggle against Russia. These include "significant new announcements about how we're increasing NATO's military, political and financial support for Ukraine" as part of Kyiv's "bridge to NATO," a senior U.S. administration official said Friday. NATO sources told euronews the bridge would be would be backed by a pledge of a $43 billion contribution for next year and a joint mission to cluster training and weapons and equipment deliveries under a centralized operation in order to ready Ukraine for NATO membership when the time comes. The U.S. administration official said the package NATO would be launching at the summit was a "quite subtantial" one that went far beyond a general roadmap, confirming that a dedicated command would be set up at the U.S. Army Garrison at Wiesbaden in southern Germany to deliver training, coordination, equipping, logistics and force development. The so-called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission will have a staff of more than 700 and be led by three-star general. "This is a very serious effort to get Ukraine in a position where it will be ready to assume its roles and responsibilities within the alliance on day one," said the U.S. official. UNITED NATIONS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, on Tuesday reiterated China's call on the parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise rationality and restraint, effectively comply with international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Geng said that since the full escalation of the crisis in Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has led to a large number of casualties among innocent civilians and the damage and destruction of infrastructure, triggering a dire humanitarian crisis with huge spillover effects. "Recently, instead of stopping, the fighting has intensified and vicious attacks occurred from time to time, which resulted in serious casualties," he said, adding that "China is deeply concerned about it. We reiterate our call on the parties to the conflict to exercise rationality and restraint, effectively comply with international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure." Noting that there are no winners in conflict and confrontation, and military means will not bring lasting peace, Geng, quoting remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a recent meeting with a foreign leader visiting China, stressed that an early ceasefire and a political settlement are in the interests of all parties, and the priority is to cool down the situation by observing the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no fanning by any party over the flames. Geng noted that on the Ukraine issue, China has always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be adhered to, the legitimate security concerns of all states should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported. "We call on the parties to the conflict to show political will, meet each other halfway, and start peace talks at an early date," said Geng, urging the international community, based on an objective and impartial position, to create conditions conducive to putting an early end to the fighting and play an active role in this regard. China will continue to actively promote peace talks in its own way and make unremitting efforts and play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukraine issue, he said. The News A growing number of NATO countries are looking to increase the alliances flagship target for all members to spend 2% of their GDP on defense in the face of the growing Russian threat on the alliances Eastern flank. However, they concede that such a commitment which comes as many member states are coming to the conclusion that they will need to ramp up their defense spending looks out of reach at this weeks summit in Washington. We are starting to see a move towards a new pledge at the Hague summit, the Estonian Undersecretary for Defense Policy Tuuli Duneton told Semafor, referring to the alliances planned 2025 meeting. We would like to see 2.5 or 3%. While US and European officials have been saying for months that bumping the defense pledge is not on the agenda for this weeks Washington summit, more and more defense ministers are saying that 2% is not enough, Duneton said. Estonia is the alliances second-largest spender on defense by share of GDP, and the Baltic nation has long pushed the alliance to do more. But a growing number of European countries that have hit the 2% minimum also appear eager to restart one of the most contentious debates in the alliance. Polands President Andrej Duda has called for raising the target to 3%; British and Latvian officials have spoken publicly to their desire for a more ambitious figure, and senior EU officials have said similar conversations are going on behind closed doors. We are pushing everyday to go beyond the 2% at the minimum, a European official told Semafor, adding that the current target was not enough given the security environment. While 23 out of 32 members are expected to hit the target this year, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has insisted that we must go further. One senior NATO official told a briefing Tuesday that he was hard pressed to think of an ally that would not need to spend more in the coming years with the possible exception of Poland, which is expected to spend over 4% of its GDP on defense this year. We need more mass, we need more stuff, we need more modernization, he said. Privately, everybody would agree that everybodys going to have to go above 2%. Know More The spending question has taken on higher stakes after the USs presumptive Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to any NATO member that was not paying its fair share, a threat he reiterated in the presidential debate in June. Several former Trump administration officials have put forth a plan for a two-tiered NATO, whereby countries not hitting the 2% target would not be protected by the US. One European official told Semafor that informal discussions on increasing the alliances defense spending have already begun. I definitely see it on the agenda, the official said, adding that this conversation could ramp up after the US election. Even so, increasing the target would be politically contentious when almost a third of the NATO members are yet to hit the existing 2% target, which the alliance had committed to hit by this year. Some officials and experts have questioned the value of ramping up the figure, arguing that the metric fails to capture key parts of the alliances burden sharing. Its a bit arbitrary, Norways Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Semafor, noting that benchmarking defense targets to a countrys GDP had sometimes led to drastic fluctuations depending on economic performance. As well as ensuring members spend enough, he said, there is also a need to make sure that money is well spent. Everyone in the alliance sees the increases of the past couple of years as a huge accomplishment, almost everyone recognizes that reliable deterrence will require a bit more, and virtually no one wants to spoil the unity of the summit with a politically divisive debate on a firm new target, Stephen Sestanovich, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told Semafor. Notable NATOs spending targets dont paint the full picture , Semafor wrote in April. Canada, long one of the alliances biggest laggards, will soon share a credible plan to meet the alliances targets. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivers a speech after receiving the US Department of Defence's Medal for distinguished Public Service. -/NATO/dpa US President Joe Biden meets his fellow NATO leaders on Tuesday for a landmark 75th anniversary summit aimed at projecting strength and shoring up support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. However, questions surrounding Biden's mental fitness for office loom over the summit, as the US presidential race heats up between the president and his predecessor, long-time NATO critic Donald Trump. Biden has resisted calls to withdraw from the presidential race and may use the summit to dispel doubts over his health, while NATO tries to entrench its support for Ukraine in the event Trump returns to the White House. Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the alliance is set to provide Ukraine with military aid worth 40 billion ($43 billion) in 2025. However, the 40-billion pledge has been watered down from the multi-year financial commitment to support Ukraine that Stoltenberg wanted allies to agree. The alliance will review the military aid again next year, weakening the package further. Another part of the secretary general's plan to shield Ukraine from political change in the United States is a new support project for Ukraine called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), approved by NATO defence ministers in June. The secretary general also said he expects NATO allies to announce the supply of new air defence systems for Ukraine. NATO commitments of future support for Ukraine are also meant to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he could not succeed in his invasion of Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (R) receives the US Department of Defence's Medal for distinguished Public Service from US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. -/NATO/dpa US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) receives NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of their meeting. -/NATO/dpa NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (C) leaves after receiving the US Department of Defence's Medal for distinguished Public Service from US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L). -/NATO/dpa US President Joe Biden meets his fellow NATO leaders on Tuesday for a landmark 75th anniversary summit aimed at projecting strength and shoring up support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. However, questions surrounding Biden's mental fitness for office loom over the summit, as the US presidential race heats up between the president and his predecessor, longtime NATO critic Donald Trump. Founded in Washington in 1949 by the United States and 11 other countries at the onset of the Cold War to deter the expansion of the communist Soviet Union, NATO has grown to 32 members with Sweden and Finland's recent entry. The alliance is a collective security pact in which, according to Article 5 of the NATO founding treaty, an attack on one member "shall be considered an attack against them all." Article 5 has been only invoked once, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, killed nearly 3,000 people in the US. Despite the importance of NATO to US foreign relations, Trump has openly cast doubt on US collective defence commitments during his term of office and threatened to withdraw over defence spending rows. Trump has railed against European allies that do not meet NATO's defence spending target of 2% of national gross domestic product (GDP). Several NATO allies have increased their defence budgets since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Last month, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on a visit to Washington that 23 NATO allies will spend 2% of GDP on defence, up from 18 members. Biden has resisted calls to withdraw from the presidential race and may use the summit to dispel doubts over his health, while NATO tries to entrench its support for Ukraine in the event Trump returns to the White House. Stoltenberg announced the alliance is set to provide Ukraine with military aid worth 40 billion ($43 billion) in 2025 in a press conference ahead of the summit. But the 40-billion pledge has been watered down from the multi-year financial commitment for Ukraine that Stoltenberg wanted allies to agree. The alliance will review the military aid again next year, weakening the package further. Stoltenberg also said he expects new commitments at the Washington summit to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems to protect against Russia's bombing attacks. NATO commitments of future support for Ukraine are also meant to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he could not succeed in his invasion of Ukraine. Another part of the secretary general's plan to shield Ukraine from political change in the United States is a new support project for Ukraine called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), approved by NATO defence ministers in June. The project in Wiesbaden, Germany is to be staffed by 700 officials. Previously, NATO countries have been coordinating support to Ukraine through an informal, US-led group called the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. The contact group's reliance on US coordination has European allies worried that it could falter if November's presidential election returns Trump to the White House, as they doubt his willingness to support Ukraine's war effort. Allies are also expected to commit to working closer together to expand production in their defence industries as well as develop more joint procurement projects together. Another leader watched closely in Washington will be Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who met Putin on a surprise trip to Moscow after visiting Kiev for the first time since Russia invaded. Stoltenberg said he expects allies to discuss Orban's meeting with Putin and "address the discussions he had in Moscow." The Hungarian prime minister also took an unannounced visit to China, holding talks with President Xi Jinping on what he described as a "peace mission" before the NATO summit. NATO allies view Beijing as an important backer of Russia and are set to discuss Chinese support for the Russian economy especially the country's defence industry with supplies of critical technology. As well as deciding on a new permanent NATO special envoy to Ukraine, the alliance is also expected to announce further support for Ukraine's eventual membership of NATO. However, the US and Germany are against inviting Ukraine while the country is under attack from Russia. All allies must agree before Ukraine can be invited to join. There will be no invitation at the Washington summit, though talks indicate the alliance may emphasize Ukraine's "irreversible" path to membership, according to a NATO diplomat. In an interview with dpa ahead of the summit, Stoltenberg said he hopes Ukraine can join NATO within the next 10 years, aligning himself with allies who are counting on prompt progress to admit Ukraine, which was actually agreed in principle in 2008. A series of commememorative events are scheduled in Washington on Tuesday with the alliance's formal talks planned to start on Wednesday. The summit is Stoltenberg's last as secretary general. Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is set to take over in October. The summit will also be British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's first trip abroad since the Labour leader won a landslide victory in last week's general election. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) receives NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of their meeting. -/NATO/dpa US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (2nd L) meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (2nd R). -/NATO/dpa Participants walk through the press center during the 2024 Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kay Nietfeld/dpa US President Joe Biden will meet his fellow NATO leaders on Tuesday for a landmark 75th-anniversary summit aimed at projecting strength and shoring up support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. Questions surrounding Biden's mental fitness for office, however, loom over the summit, as the US presidential race heats up between the president and his predecessor, long-time NATO critic Donald Trump. Outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that leaders will also discuss his proposed plan to provide Ukraine with military aid worth 40 billion ($43 billion) in 2025. According to Stoltenberg, the point is to convince Russia that it cannot win its war against Ukraine by waiting for Western support to wither. But the 40-billion pledge has been watered down from the multi-year financial commitment for Ukraine that Stoltenberg initially wanted allies to adopt. The alliance will review the military aid again next year, weakening the package further. Stoltenberg also said he expects new commitments at the Washington summit to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems to protect against Russia's bombing attacks. The summit is Stoltenberg's last as secretary general. Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is set to take over in October. On Tuesday before the start of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky laid a wreath at a monument in Washington to the victims of the 1930s Ukrainian famine. Zelensky travelled with his wife Olena, according to Freedom, a Ukrainian state-owned television station for Ukrainians abroad. He also met members of the Ukrainian diaspora. The Ukrainian president hopes that the meeting of national leaders from the 32 NATO countries - including Biden and the United Kingdom's new prime minister, Keir Starmer - will clarify Ukraine's prospects for membership and strengthen military support for Ukraine's defensive war. Since 2019, Ukraine has had its NATO membership ambitions enshrined in its national constitution. But all current NATO countries must agree unanimously before that can happen. The United States and Germany are the main opponents of Ukraine joining NATO too soon, diplomatic sources within the alliance said on Monday. A source referred to the US and Germany's "strong opposition" towards inviting Ukraine to join the alliance without fulfilling the necessary preconditions. "In the end, it will be a decision by the allies to invite Ukraine to join NATO," the source said. In an interview with dpa ahead of the summit, Stoltenberg said he hopes Ukraine can join NATO within the next 10 years, aligning himself with allies who are counting on prompt progress to admit Ukraine, which was actually agreed in principle in 2008. Another part of the secretary general's plan to make long-term NATO commitments to Ukraine is a new support project for Ukraine called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), approved by NATO defence ministers in June. The project, based in the German city of Wiesbaden, is to be staffed by 700 officials. Previously, NATO countries have been coordinating support to Ukraine through an informal, US-led group called the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Allies are also expected to commit to working more closely together to expand production in their defence industries as well as develop more joint procurement projects together. Also attending the summit is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin on a surprise trip to Moscow after visiting Kiev for the first time since Russia invaded. Stoltenberg said he expects allies to discuss Orban's meeting with Putin and "address the discussions he had in Moscow." The Hungarian prime minister also took an unannounced visit to China, holding talks with President Xi Jinping on what he described as a "peace mission" before the NATO summit. NATO allies view Beijing as an important backer of Russia and are set to discuss Chinese support for the Russian economy, especially Chinese trade with Russia that includes technology critical to the Russian defence industry. Before the summit, China accused NATO of stoking tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, where the alliance has been cultivating partnerships with friendly countries. A series of commemorative anniversary events are scheduled in Washington on Tuesday, with the alliance's formal talks planned to start on Wednesday. Passers-by walk past the Eisenhower Building with the US and NATO flags in the early morning. The NATO summit begins in the capital with celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the defence alliance. Kay Nietfeld/dpa NATOs next leader knows how to handle Trump but would he be able to rein him in? As the NATO alliance prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary at this weeks summit in Washington, it is also gearing up to welcome its first new leader in a decade: a man experienced at dealing with former President Donald Trump that many hope can keep the alliance unified in the face of a swirl of challenges including a potential second Trump presidency. Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was formally selected as the next NATO secretary general in late June and will begin the job on October 1. He takes up the role from longtime NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who has led the alliance since 2014. Diplomats and officials who spoke with CNN said Rutte is seen as a staunch trans-Atlanticist and a consensus builder. He is really a seasoned political official, and this is essential to keep the cohesion of the alliance, a European official said. Rutte is also seen as someone who can work with whoever is elected US president, officials told CNN, and some hope that Ruttes past relationship with Trump, from when they led their respective countries, could deter the former president from undermining the alliance if he is reelected. The former president publicly railed against the alliance during his first term in office and did so again recently on the campaign trail, even going as far as suggesting Russia do whatever the hell they want to members who dont meet defense spending targets. Trumps stance on the campaign trail that his adherence to the alliance would be conditional has stirred concerns in the international community. Trump likes people that will push back, especially if they do it in a very respectful way, said Pete Hoekstra, Trumps ambassador to the Netherlands. In a meeting where Trump was talking about the trade deficit, Hoekstra recalled, Rutte pushed back, with a smile on his face, that they did indeed need to address the trade deficit between the US and the Netherlands. It was just a very polite, slightly humorous way of dealing Trump, and Trump appreciated it, Hoekstra recalled to CNN. There was no, You S.O.B. or anything like that. It was just, Touche, Rutte, you got me. Still, just because the former president and Rutte have a good working relationship because they genuinely like each other, it does not mean that Trump will be deterred from his agenda, Hoekstra said. The former ambassador argued that Trump was never against NATO, but rather was against a NATO that the Europeans didnt support, referencing the fact that many European countries at the time did not contribute 2% of their GDP to defense. Not a superhero A European diplomat told CNN that Rutte is certainly not a superhero, noting that one may try to please Trump but not fool him, so ultimately what matters with NATO is real action and most importantly real money. A senior NATO official said that a lot of allies are concerned about the prospect of a Trump reelection, but the story is positive. Twenty-four out of 32 allies are meeting the 2% spending target; six are spending above 3%. We are not there yet, but it is better than when Trump left, the official told CNN. Rutte was not only cheered for the NATO secretary general job because of his experience with Trump. He was seen as someone who could get the support of all 32 members of the alliance, striking a balance between the more hawkish eastern Europe and more frugal western Europe, in part because of his more middle ground position on the war in Ukraine. NATO member states will look to him to maintain the unity of alliance as the war drags on with little sign of a quick diplomatic or military victory for Kyiv as well on issues like countering the threat from China, ramping up weapons production, and innovation on cyber. Diplomats and officials who spoke with CNN pointed to Ruttes tenure as the longest-serving prime minister of the Netherlands a job he left in early July after 14 years. He has had to manage various coalition governments in parliamentary democracy in his country, which is certainly no easy task, a US official said. A former senior US diplomat described him as a very good politician (who) understands building coalitions and consensus, which is what this is going to all be about. Rutte was broadly considered as the front-runner to succeed Stoltenberg this year, and he was quickly supported by the US. According to the US official, President Joe Biden even encouraged Rutte to run for secretary general about a year and half ago, when Stoltenberg was ready to step down, but Rutte signaled that he was not interested at that time. Biden likes Rutte personally, they get along well, and the US president sees them as sharing the same values, the official told CNN. The two view the challenge from China in a similar way, and Biden was very impressed with his commitment to supporting Ukraine from early on and his immediate grasp of the stakes of the war in Ukraine. Rutte has been very realistic among European leaders for a long time about who exactly Putin is, the official said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Nato to send dozens of air defences to Ukraine, says Biden Nato will send dozens of air defence systems to Ukraine, Joe Biden has said, including four Patriot systems that Kyiv has been seeking to fight off the Russian advance. The US President declared that Ukraine can and will stop Vladimir Putin, but did not commit to sending additional F-16 fighter jets something Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, signalled he had hoped to secure on Tuesday. The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will provide Ukraine with five additional strategic air defence systems, Mr Biden said. It marked a gaffe-free performance for the 81-year-old following his disastrous debate with Donald Trump last month. He continued: In the coming months, the United States and our partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of additional tactical air defence systems. The United States will make sure that when we export critical air defence interceptors, Ukraine goes to the front of the line. The US, along with Germany and Romania, will send the Patriot batteries over to Ukraine, while the Netherlands and other Nato member states will send components to make up another battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defence system. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg urged countries across the alliance to maintain their backing for Kyiv, warning that if Russia wins it will be the greatest risk for Nato. The outcome of this war will shape global security for decades to come, Mr Stoltenberg said. The time to stand for freedom and democracy is now. The place is Ukraine. Joe Biden embraces Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of Nato - Abaca Mr Biden paid tribute to Nato as the greatest military alliance in history, saying it was supported by the overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans. The American people know that all the progress weve made in the past 75 years has happened behind the shield of Nato, he said. He did not mention Donald Trump, a longstanding critic of the alliance. However, he stole his Republican rivals talking points when he claimed that member states had started spending more on defence during his time in office. Some 23 allies will spend meet their two per cent spending obligations this year, the US President said up from nine when he came to office in 2021. Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Stoltenberg - Bloomberg Mr Biden awarded the presidential medal of freedom, the highest civilian award in the US, to Mr Stoltenberg. A billion people across Europe and North America, indeed the whole world, will reap the rewards of your labour for years to come in the form of security, opportunity and greater freedom, he said. 11:40 PM BST Thats all for now Thanks for following our coverage of Joe Bidens speech to the Nato 75th anniversary summit. This live blog is now closed. 11:00 PM BST Stoltenberg awarded presidential medal of freedom Joe Biden bestows the presidential medal of freedom of Jens Stoltenberg, the outgoing secretary general of Nato. A billion people across Europe and North America, indeed the whole world, will reap the rewards of your labour for years to come in the form of security, opportunity and greater freedom, he says. 10:58 PM BST Biden: Americans know that Nato keeps us safe Let me say this, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans understand that Nato makes us all safer, Joe Biden says. Joe Biden speaks at a NATO event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the alliance, in Washington, DC - REUTERS/Yves Herman The American people know that all the progress weve made in the past 75 years has happened behind the shield of Nato. Mr Biden quotes Ronald Reagan: If our fellow democracies are not secure, we cannot be secure. 10:56 PM BST Defence systems being sent to Ukraine, says Biden The US, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will send five strategic defence systems to Ukraine, Joe Biden announced. Make no mistake Russia is failing in this war, Joe Biden says, saying 350,000 troops have been wounded while nearly one million Russians have fled the country to avoid conscription. He adds: Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. 10:53 PM BST Biden: Ukraine will stop Putin Make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin, Joe Biden says. 10:52 PM BST Nato allies are spending more under me, says Biden Joe Biden is speaking about the growth of Nato. Finland and Sweden joined the alliance not just because their leaders thought it, but because their citizens called for it, in overwhelming number, he says, calling the bloc Better resourced than it ever has been. Only nine Nato allies were meeting defence spending obligations when he came to office, Mr Biden says. This year 23 will spend at least two percent - and some will spend more than that, he claims. 10:49 PM BST Biden: Nato is greatest alliance in history Joe Biden, who is speaking clearly and has so far avoided any verbal mishaps, calls Nato the single greatest, most effective defensive alliance in the history of the world. He calls the support from Nato allies following the September 11 attacks a breathtaking display of friendship. They have a stake in our success, and we have a stake in theirs, he says. 10:47 PM BST Biden onstage now Joe Biden is beginning his speech at the Nato summit, speaking about the foundation of the alliance under former president Harry Truman. 10:45 PM BST Stoltenberg: Nato needs politicians to show courage Nato allies need to take difficult decisions with political courage and moral clarity, Jens Stoltenberg says. He concludes: We are stronger and safer together in Nato. It is good to have friends. 10:41 PM BST We cannot let Russia win in Ukraine Russias war against Ukraine is the biggest security crisis in generations, Jens Stoltenberg says. He continues: Ukraine has shown remarkable courage. And Nato allies have provided unprecedented support. But lets be honest. Not even our support for Ukraine has been a given. It is not straightforward. Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a NATO event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the alliance - REUTERS/Yves Herman Because our support comes with costs and risks. The reality is there are no cost-free options with an aggressive Russia as a neighbour. The greatest cost and the greatest risk will be if Russia wins in Ukraine. We cannot let that happen, Mr Stoltenberg says, adding that it would embolden autocrats in North Korea, Iran and China. 10:37 PM BST Stoltenberg: Nato is longest-lasting military alliance ever Nato is most successful, strongest and longest-lasting alliance in history, Jens Stoltenberg, the blocs secretary general, says. He pays tribute to courageous leaders on both sides of the Atlantic who faced down critics to create Nato in the 1940s. 10:33 PM BST Pictures: World leaders gather onstage before Biden speech President Joe Biden takes his place alongside world leaders at the Nato summit - AP Photo/Evan Vucci Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, US President Joe Biden, President of Finland Alexander Stubb and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gather onstage for a group photo - JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images 10:18 PM BST First Lady takes her seat ahead of Biden speech Jill Biden, the First Lady, is taking her seat in the front row at the Nato summit in Washington, DC. Joe Bidens speech should be imminent. Jill Biden arrives for the NATO 75th Anniversary Celebratory Event at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington - SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Image 10:08 PM BST Why Trump-proofing Nato is a priority The purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), its first secretary-general once remarked, is to keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down. Lord Ismays aphorism has always been a useful way to describe the alliance. But as Nato leaders gather in Washington to mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance this week, it feels more relevant than ever. The Russians are banging on Europes door in a way they have not for years. The Germans, no longer in need of keeping down, are now under pressure from allies to raise themselves to the occasion. But it is keeping the Americans in that will be the unspoken priority. Read the full analysis from Roland Oliphant here. 09:55 PM BST Pictures: European leaders gather in Washington for summit Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni arrives for the NATO 75th Anniversary summit in Washington, DC - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for the NATO 75th Anniversary summit - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, arrives with his wife at the Nato 75th Anniversary summit - JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 09:52 PM BST Pictured: PM to make first international appearance at Nato summit The Prime Minister will soon be making his debut on the world stage as he heads for the Nato summit in Washington, DC. Sir Keir Starmer has previously said he looks forward to sitting down with Joe Biden, the US President, at the gathering. He is also expected to meet Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer talks to journalists as he travels onboard a plane to Washington DC to attend a Nato summit - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire 09:46 PM BST Zelensky: We need F-16s and air defences Now in Washington. Today marks the beginning of the NATO Summit. We are fighting for more air defense systems for Ukraine, and I'm confident we will succeed. We are also striving to secure more aircraft, including F-16s. Additionally, we are pushing for enhanced security pic.twitter.com/ydkHQjK6RL Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2024 09:45 PM BST Nato is bigger and better than before, says Blinken Nato is ready to take on the challenges facing the military alliance, Antony Blinken has said, as he welcomed Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg to Washington, DC. We have an alliance that is stronger, that is larger, and that is more fit for purpose than its been, and ready to take on the challenges of this moment, the US Secretary of State said. Its a product of leadership, and Ive seen it every single day these past three and a half years with the Secretary General. Ive also seen it with President Biden and everything hes done to lead our alliance to the place that it is today and that well be putting a real spotlight on over the next three days. 09:38 PM BST Pictured: Spectre of Trump looms over Nato summit A mock magazine cover of Joe Biden at Donald Trump's golf resort in Doral, Florida - REUTERS/Marco Bello 09:32 PM BST Blinken: Ukraine will get very strong support package Ukraine will come out of this weeks Nato summit with a very strong support package, Antony Blinken has said. The US Secretary of State, appearing alongside his Ukrainian counterpart, said the gathering of Nato allies would further strengthen Ukraines ties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its path to membership. Weve done a lot of work in recent weeks and recent months on that, and I think youll see a very strong package emerge from the summit for Ukraine, he added. He added: Weve been working closely together to make sure that as things move forward, Ukraine has what it needs to stand strongly on its own feet militarily, economically, democratically. Mr Blinken went on to say that Nato was committed to seeing Ukraine succeeded as a strong country... that will be manifested in very concrete ways over the next couple of days. 09:16 PM BST Welcome Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Nato 75th anniversary summit. Benedict Smith here. Well be bringing you the latest updates for Joe Bidens speech, which is due to begin at 10pm BST (5pm ET). Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the 75th anniversary of NATO at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) NATO countries are moving to shore up their weapons production capabilities as a hedge against the November presidential vote, signing a nearly $700 million contract for more Stinger missiles and making pledges to boost their own defense production. Ukraine, a partner that relies on military aid from the NATO members, is opening a small office in Washington to strengthen its ties to the U.S. defense industry. Regardless of whether President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump wins the U.S. election, the alliance and Ukraine want to be in a better position to provide more of their own defense needs. The announcements came Tuesday at the start of the NATO summit in Washington, where leaders were focused on the need both to support Ukraine and to make sure the alliance is prepared for any future threats. Before Russia's 2022 invasion, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, worked on his farm. I was a happy Ukrainian dealing with agriculture and knowing nothing about military things, Kamyshin said. Ukraine in 2021 produced no ammunition and started the conflict with the stocks it had on the shelves, he said. That is quickly changing as Ukraine is developing a sophisticated drone industry, producing more weapons domestically and working to more deeply embed itself with defense companies in the U.S. and Europe. We are re-profiling ourselves from agricultural country to the arsenal of a different world, Kamyshin said. Biden on Tuesday announced another major air defense package for Ukraine, and outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance had signed the Stinger contract. There is no way to provide strong defense without a strong defense industry," Stoltenberg said while announcing the contract. The Stinger is a portable surface-to-air defense system that can be carried and fired by troops or mounted onto a vehicle and used as short-range defense against aircraft. The Raytheon-produced system was one of the first weapons the U.S. shipped to Ukraine following Russias invasion. It is now among hundreds of types of systems, and tens of millions of rounds of ammunition, artillery and missiles, that countries have pulled from their stockpiles to help Ukraine. But the rapid push over the past two years exposed that defense firms both in the U.S. and in Europe were not set to produce at the levels needed in a major conventional war. The NATO summit is occurring against a backdrop of uncertainty. U.S. political divisions delayed weapons for Ukraine for months and the upcoming presidential election is raising concern that U.S. backing with weapons and troops in case of threats against member countries may not always be guaranteed. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has boasted during campaign speeches that he'd encourage Russia to do as it wished with NATO members that do not meet their commitment to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. Kamyshin, who spoke at a nighttime event Tuesday on the EU defense industry, said growing Ukraine's defense industry should put it in a stronger position regardless of who wins the U.S. election. Defense industry should be strong regardless of the elections of the parties, Kamyshin said. But I heard that the Republicans stand for defense industry as well. It's not just Ukraine. In both the U.S. and throughout Europe, some defense production lines were stagnant at the time of the 2022 invasion and are only now getting production numbers up. The buildup has been dependent on getting new, longer-term contracts signed to support more capital investment in the needed infrastructure. This is not about shifts or a bottleneck. Its building new factories, said Morten Brandtzaeg, the chief executive officer of Nammo, a Norway-based ammunition firm. The war also spurred NATO members to increase the amount they spend on defense. Out of 32 NATO members, 23 are expected to meet the 2% commitment this year, up from just six before Russia's invasion. That's seen as still not enough, as Russia has leveraged the sheer size of its workforce to rapidly replace weapons lost in the war. If you want to fight a war for a long time, you need to have an industry behind you that has the capacity for a long time, Brandtzaeg said. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said Russia is now spending an estimated 7% to 9% of its GDP on defense. Estonia is spending more than 3% of its GDP on defense, but needs to do more to refill its stockpiles, Pevkur said. Polish Defense Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as a deputy prime minister, said his country will commit at least 4% of its GDP to defense this year. The war in Ukraine exposed major weaknesses of Poland, of region and of the world at large, Kosiniak-Kamysz said. Since the invasion, the U.S. has provided more than $53.6 billion in weapons and security assistance to Ukraine. This support, at a time when the U.S. also is sending weapons to Israel and Taiwan, has strained the U.S. stockpile. The rest of the NATO members and other international partners have provided about $50 billion altogether in weapons and security assistance, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, an independent research organization based in Germany. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that for the first time ever, the NATO countries will each pledge to make plans to strengthen their own industrial defense capacity. He said this would help the alliance prioritize production of the most vital defense equipment we would need in the event of a conflict." The 32 members have widely varying defense industry sizes and capabilities, so each country's plan could vary widely, from partnering with industry to partnering with other countries. ___ Cook reported from Brussels. Ukraine's path to joining NATO will be defined as "irreversible" in a draft text of the alliance's joint communique at the summit in Washington, CNN reported on July 8, citing three undisclosed sources. Kyiv did not receive the much-desired invitation nor a firm deadline to join the alliance during the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, even though NATO took steps to tighten cooperation. Ukraine has voiced hope that NATO's summit scheduled on July 911 will bring a more definite signal about its future membership in the alliance. American officials made it clear that the country is unlikely to receive an invitation during the conference. Partners assured Kyiv that the event would define a specific position for Ukraine's membership in the alliance, namely its irreversibility and the roadmap toward it, Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, said in late May. CNN reported that the question of how strong guarantees Ukraine should receive has become a key source of debate inside the alliance. The final version of the document may contain changes, CNN wrote, but the presence of the "irreversible" Ukraine's accession to NATO would be "a significant signal to Kyiv and Moscow." The White House supports this wording, as long as the document also confirms that Ukraine should continue to work on democratic reforms, an unnamed U.S. official told the news channel. U.S. and German officials suggested that the communique should describe a "bridge" to NATO membership for Ukraine, while many European NATO members stressed the need for strong language regarding Kyiv's prospects, according to CNN. An unnamed U.S. senior administration official said that the alliance would make "significant new announcements about how we're increasing NATO's military, political, and financial support for Ukraine." This should include "positive news" on Ukraine's request for seven additional Patriot air defense systems, said Julianna Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO. In mid-June, Kyiv and Washington signed a 10-year bilateral security deal at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, recognized as a "bridge to Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO." President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly called on partners to issue a membership invitation to Kyiv, said that Ukraine will join NATO only after Russia's full-scale war ends, echoing the words of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Read also: Opinion: NATO at 75 is whistling past the graveyard Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. RIYADH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the discovery of development signs of a more sophisticated society during the Neolithic period in its northwestern region, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The discovery is the findings of a study conducted by a team of archaeologists under the supervision of the Saudi Royal Commission for AlUla, an ancient Arabic oasis city, according to the SPA report. In the first comprehensive description of human settlements in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, the team found evidence indicating that the region's inhabitants in the 6th and 5th millennium BC were more stable and developed than previously thought. The inhabitants of this area were herding cattle, practicing the jewelry industry, and doing the business of trade, as their location helped them to engage in their trade with the various neighboring areas such as East Jordan and areas overlooking the Red Sea, the study found. The research tests hypotheses about how the first inhabitants of northwestern Saudi Arabia lived, Jane McMahon, an archaeologist, was quoted as saying. She noted that these inhabitants were not just shepherds living simple lives, but had distinctive architecture, dwellings, domesticated animals, ornaments, decorations and various tools. Based on the number and size of stone circles, their numbers were likely enormous and much more than previously thought. Several experts, including a scientific team from King Saud University, and the citizens of AlUla participated in the study. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit is coming to D.C. on Tuesday and theres much to brace for in terms of increased security. The 75th anniversary of the NATO meeting primarily held at the Washington Convention Center and other locations including the White House, will bring significant traffic impacts including street and pedestrian closures. Who started NATO? How many countries are in NATO? That has some people who live and work around the convention center pondering how their lives and businesses will be affected as the summit will bring more of a police presence, endless fencing and barricades and a security perimeter that goes on for blocks. Its a bloody nightmare, to be honest, Debbie Goldman, who lives relatively close to the convention center, said. Its a nuisance. Im not quite sure why they chose the convention center. Goldman said she cancelled her fitness class in a studio across from the convention center for Wednesday because of the summit. Its kinda scary, she added. I cant image how the businesses feel. Its obviously a detriment to them. But Jonathan Bethony, who owns Seylou Bakery and Mill just a few blocks from the convention center, said he isnt freaking out about the security shutdowns. Im just patient, he said. Were going to do our best to prepare and take care of our community and let all our staff know and stock up on supplies. NATO reaffirms Ukraine support after latest attack by Russia Alexia Ramos, the owner of Anas Market, has a clear view of the security fences going up. Ramos said she remembered the previous events at the convention center that caused disruptions but shes optimistic that her juice and smoothie business may thrive this week. At the end of the day, though, the conference attendees they have to eat, she said. She said other business are expecting to shut down this week but she is staying the course. We decided to keep it open, Ramos said. As long as people are able to walk on this block, we should be good to go. Some fencing was even placed in front of nearby homes. Im able to get around very easily, Paul Anderson, who lives in one of the neighborhoods near the convention center, said. Ive just noticed that it seems like more barriers than necessary but maybe not. Questions swirl around Biden as he prepares for NATO summit But Lisa Gregory, who also lives in the area near the convention center, said that shes happy D.C. is shining internationally this week with the NATO summit. Its good for the city and its not too much of an inconvenience, she said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. On Monday, Arizonas two U.S. senators and four members of the U.S. Congress introduced legislation to authorize the countrys largest Indian water rights settlement, which resolves water claims by the Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute nations. The legislation comes on the heels of the Navajo Nation Councils approval of the water rights settlement on May 23, 2024.Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed it the following day. For too long our Navajo people have lived without piped water in their homes, and to this day many of our elders are still hauling water over 30 miles roundtrip, said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. More than 30 percent of the homes on the Navajo Nation lack running water. This is unacceptable. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Todays legislation was introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) ,Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, a historic bill that will make desperately needed drinking water available to thousands of Navajo people for the first time. This legislation and the settlement it ratifies represent a historic step forward in resolving a decades-long water rights dispute, providing certainty and stability for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. Securing water rights for these tribes upholds their sovereignty and lays the path for their growth and prosperity through increased investment in water infrastructure, Sen. Kelly said. Ratifying this settlement honors our commitment to the tribes and helps secure our states water future, and well work together as Republicans and Democrats to get it done. The settlement will resolve the most significant outstanding water claims within Arizona. After decades of negotiations, Navajo Nation leaders applaud this milestone and are expressing appreciation and thanks to congressional leaders for introducing the legislation. Nygren says no one in America should be denied access to water because of where they live. The Navajo people deserve to have their right to the water that flows along their border and below their land fulfilled on parity with everyone else in this country, President Nygren said. He called the settlement a pathway to ensure an equal opportunity for health and prosperity for the three Indigenous nations that are parties to the settlement. The bill authorizes $5 billion in federal funding for water infrastructure on the sovereign territories of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. If authorized by Congress, infrastructure constructed on the Navajo Nation funded by the legislation will bring substantial clean, safe and reliable drinking water to Navajo communities in Arizona. This will make possible the connection of tens of thousands of Navajo people in Arizona to piped water in their homes for the first time ever. 25th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley said the Navajo Nation appreciates that the costs of the settlement are significant. But so are the water development and infrastructure needs on our Nation, she said. Water is life, and as Dine, we dont place a price tag on life. As we saw in recent years, our people are disproportionately impacted by health disparities because of the limited access to water in our homes and communities. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act quantifies the Navajo Nations water rights in the Upper Colorado River Basin, the Lower Colorado River Basin and the Little Colorado River Basin. It provides certainty to all water users in those basins. Under the terms of the settlement, the Navajo Nation will have the right to substantial amounts of Colorado River water from the State of Arizonas Upper Colorado River Basin allocation and some from its Lower Colorado River Basin allocation. That will provide the water necessary for the Nations future. The settlement provides that the Nation shall be entitled to all groundwater underlying the Navajo Nation and all Little Colorado River and wash water that reaches the Navajo Nation (with the shared tribal resources subject to an intertribal agreement with the Hopi Tribe). Once approved, she said, the settlement establishes a direction for stronger cooperation and coordination for stable futures for all communities in the basin both tribal and non-tribal. On May 23, 2024, the 25th Navajo Nation Council unanimously approved the settlement. The settlement represents a historic achievement for the largest tribe in the country with a land base larger than 10 states and roughly equivalent to the size of West Virginia. The settlement was unanimously approved by the Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribal councils in May. The next step in the legislative process is for the bills to be considered at legislative hearings held by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. Projects in the settlement include the iina ba paa tuwaqatsi pipeline formerly known as the Western Navajo Pipeline, the Four Corners Project, the Southwest Regional Groundwater Project, the Ganado Regional Groundwater Project, the Black Mesa Regional Groundwater Project, the Lupton Area Project, the Kayenta Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project and the Code Talker Lateral Extension. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) The U.S. House Democratic Caucus is expected to meet Tuesday morning behind closed doors to discuss President Joe Bidens campaign and his future at the top of the ticket amid questions about his mental acuity. On Monday, CBS 17 reached out to the Democratic congressional representatives from Central North Carolina to comment on President Bidens future as their nominee. Rep. Deborah Ross of North Carolinas 2nd District, covering Wake County: Joe Biden has led our country with wisdom, grace, and integrity. While leaders in our party continue to discuss the best path forward, I remain laser-focused on flipping the House, turning out the vote in Wake County, and ensuring that Democrats in North Carolina up and down the ballot are victorious in November. Donald Trump poses a dire threat to everything we hold dear and we need to come together as Democrats and as patriotic Americans to defeat him and preserve our democracy. Rep. Valerie Foushee of North Carolinas 4th Congressional District: Over the last three years, President Biden has consistently delivered results through unprecedented job growth, historic investments to fix our nations infrastructure, and lowering costs for hardworking families. I am appreciative of the President and his administrations continued efforts to prioritize the needs of the American people and for investing in our local communities here in North Carolina and across the country. I believe he is fit to run and am supportive of his reelection campaign. Last week, U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel (D) of North Carolinas 13th District said he expects more House Democrats to call for President Biden to get out of the race even as Biden says hes staying in. Also last week, Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina said President Bidens debate performance was a disaster and added he needs to step up if he remains in the race. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. a window sign reads "Board of Elections Operations Center" The North Carolina state Board of Elections on Tuesday once again delayed ruling on certifying political parties affiliated with Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, but did approve the Constitution Party. (Photo: Clayton Henkel) Despite pressure from Republicans in Washington, the state Board of Elections again put off a decision that would allow well-known third-party presidential candidates on North Carolinas ballot while it investigates petitions asking to form their political parties. The state Board on Tuesday delayed certifying Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s We the People Party and Cornel Wests Justice for All Party. Last month, the board voted 3-2 along party lines to defer a final vote to certify those parties, which would allow Kennedy and West to appear on the November ballot. The Board certified the Constitution Party Tuesday after the delay from its June meeting. In addition to a presidential candidate, state Board lawyer Paul Cox said the Constitution Party will have candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and three other candidates who dont yet want their names disclosed. The state Democratic Party and a Democratic-aligned super PAC Clear Choice Action have objected to the Board recognizing We the People and Justice for All. Polls have shown that third party candidates weaken support for President Joe Biden. Republican Congressmen Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Bryan Steil, chairman of the House Committee on Administration, sent a letter to Elections Board Chairman Alan Hirsch and Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell last week saying it appeared the board is bowing to pressure from Democrats to deny the parties recognition, Raleighs News & Observer reported. The congressmen requested documents and information connected to the decision. Questions about We the People have centered on what those who signed the petition were told about its purpose and whether We the People is a real political party or simply a vehicle to drive Kennedys name onto the ballot without his having to gather more than 83,000 signatures as required of independent presidential candidates. Its easier to become a political party in North Carolina. Signatures of only 13,865 registered voters are required for party recognition. Elections board staff has subpoenaed nine parties involved in petition signature gathering. Theyre attempting to contact people who have said they want their names removed from petitions to find out what they were told about their purposes. The state board staff has not been able to talk to most of the petition signers they wanted to reach and has not heard from all the subpoenaed parties. Republicans on the board pressed for a vote to certify We the People and Justice for All. Im just completely at a loss as to whats going on here, said Kevin Lewis, one of the Republican members. Im disappointed in how the board is dragging its feet on this issue. Hirsch said the Board needed more information and would make a decision in plenty of time for candidates to get on the ballot. Were going to take the evidence where it leads us, but were going to do it promptly, he said. The post NC Elections Board again defers recognition of RFK Jr.s and Cornel Wests political parties appeared first on NC Newsline. Despite a flurry of activity during the last week state lawmakers were in town last month, several major bills Republicans wanted to pass did not make it across the finish line. When lawmakers convened for this years short session in April, there were many bills on the GOPs agenda, in addition to the main item of legislative business thats usually on the cards during even-year short sessions: a budget. Some of those bills passed, but others, like a high-priority bill to require sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, did not. House and Senate Republicans approved a two-year budget in October, but couldnt reach an agreement this year on how much to spend in a budget adjustment bill. That budget stalemate ultimately went unresolved, and both chambers agreed to adjourn at the end of June and reconvene for a few days every month or so until the end of the year, starting Wednesday. From immigration and medical marijuana to private school vouchers and constitutional amendments, here are the bills that didnt clear the legislature this session but could still come up. ICE cooperation with sheriffs One of the top legislative priorities for Republicans this year was to pass legislation requiring all 100 sheriffs in the state to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Republicans twice passed bills that would do this, in 2019 and 2022, but both bills were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. At the time, GOP lawmakers didnt have the supermajorities needed to override Coopers vetoes on their own, but that changed in April 2023, with the party switch of Rep. Tricia Cotham, who left the Democrats to join the Republicans, securing the GOP the final seat they needed to break vetoes. After going five years without being able to override Coopers vetoes, Republicans enacted 19 bills over his objections last year. And ahead of this years session, top Republicans said they planned to take up the bill again, and were prepared to override a veto if it came down. Soon after lawmakers returned to Raleigh in April, the Senate took up the House-passed bill to require cooperation with ICE, passing it quickly, but not before amending it. That amendment became a sticking point between House and Senate Republicans. It included an enforcement provision that would allow anyone, including law enforcement authorities, to file a complaint with the attorney general if they believed sheriffs or jail administrators werent complying with the bills provisions. The attorney general could then seek a court order compelling the sheriff to cooperate. Top GOP lawmakers have been appointed to try and reach an agreement on final language for the bill, but an agreement hasnt been announced yet. Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters on the last day of session that he was hopeful Republicans will be able to work out a bill both chambers can agree on and send to Cooper. Medical marijuana In the final days of session, the Senate made a last-minute effort to resurrect a bill legalizing medical marijuana in the state. While taking up a House bill dealing with hemp regulations and proposed restrictions on other drugs, senators amended it to include the Compassionate Care Act, the bipartisan medical marijuana legalization bill that the Senate has advanced in recent years, but hasnt been taken up by the House. House Speaker Tim Moore has said that he personally supports the bill, but it doesnt have enough support from a majority of House Republicans, which is the threshold the caucus looks for before moving forward with legislation. The bill would allow the use of marijuana for people who have cancer, ALS, and other ailments. It would also create an 11-member board tasked with approving, suspending and revoking licenses for suppliers of marijuana. This board would supervise revenue generation and approve 10 licenses from a list of recommendations. Senate Democrats joined a number of Republicans in voting for the bill, but expressed concern about some of the bills provisions, particularly one addition to the bill that states that if marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, marijuana shall not be rescheduled or deleted under this Article unless the General Assembly enacts legislation. The Justice Department under President Joe Biden is moving to place marijuana in a less dangerous category of drugs rescheduling it from Schedule I to Schedule III, NBC News reported. Before a vote on the Senate floor, Sen. Bill Rabon, a powerful Republican who has been spearheading the bill, spoke to a committee about his experience battling stage-three colon cancer and using marijuana illegally. I was close to death a long time ago, and I would have died had I not broken the law, and I had not taken the advice of my health care provider and gotten a cannabis product, Rabon said. I was ready to give up. Rabon said he would stay in this legislature until it passes. Funding for private school vouchers One priority that Republicans in both chambers agreed on, and wanted to act on this session, was funding to clear a wait list of 55,000 students whose families want private school vouchers. GOP lawmakers lifted income eligibility limits on the Opportunity Scholarship program this year, which led to a record 71,956 new applications for the program. The N.C. State Education Assistance Authority has said it only has enough money to issue 15,805 scholarships, and priority was given to applicants whose families had the lowest incomes. The high demand led GOP leaders to publicly pledge to increase funding to eliminate the backlog, but they couldnt reach an agreement on how to move forward. In May, the Senate passed a standalone bill to provide $463.5 million in additional voucher funding over the next two years. That bill wasnt taken up by the House. In June, as budget talks broke down, the House and Senate passed their own budget bills that included the $463.5 million. On the last day of session, Berger said that he was disappointed the House hadnt taken up the standalone funding bill. Moore, meanwhile, said that the amount of additional funding was so large that House Republicans wanted to include it in the budget, along with bigger raises for public school teachers. The lack of additional funding has left thousands of parents uncertain where their children will go to school in the fall, and some parents told The News & Observer they felt frustrated and betrayed by the inability of lawmakers to clear the wait list. Squatters The House also passed a bill dealing with the removal of squatters from private property, but the Senate did not take it up, and the future of that and similar bills is unclear. Keep in mind these are not tenants, tenants are handled under Chapter 42 tenant landlord law, said Rep. John Bradford, a Republican from Mecklenburg County, told other lawmakers. These are trespassers. These are people who are in property that are trying to take it as their own. House Bill 984 would allow property owners dealing with squatters to contact law enforcement and file an expedited removal complaint form. HB 984 requires that, if the complaint is verified, the law enforcement agency shall remove the person or persons within 48 hours and arrest them if necessary. Two other bills addressing squatters and aiding property owners were passed by a judiciary committee, but were not addressed on the House floor. House Bill 966, which would establish an expedited proceeding to remove people who unlawfully enter another persons home and ignore demands to leave, The N&O reported. House Bill 1070, which seeks to increase punishment for squatters or those fraudulently renting, leasing or advertising rental properties HB 966 was authored by Republican Rep. Steve Tyson of Craven County, who said at a meeting that his bill would remove trespassers who have watched videos and understand the weakness of [the] system. The bill seeks to provide more protections for property owners and authorized agents, such as Realtors. Higher education In higher education, the lack of a new budget agreement for the 2024-25 fiscal year means that several of the UNC Systems requests will likely go unfunded this year, unless legislators act on the requests at a later date. The systems requests included $17 million for campus safety infrastructure improvements at six schools and $21.5 million for critical utility infrastructure needs at the systems five historically Black universities, among others. Legislators also did not reach an agreement on a House budget proposal to establish a School of Applied Science and Technology at UNC-Chapel Hill. As proposed, the school would offer degree programs in engineering, computer science, biomedical sciences, natural resources, physical sciences and other areas, building on the universitys existing programs in applied science and engineering. House Speaker Tim Moore said the school could play a major role in meeting growing demands for technology jobs in North Carolina, but Senate leader Phil Berger said the school needed to have a lot more conversation and a lot more buy-in before it had a chance to come to fruition. The North Carolina Community College System this session was seeking approval to change how the states 58 community colleges are funded by the state. The proposal, which is called Propel NC, would alter the funding model to focus on sectors of the workforce and labor market outcomes, such as salary, EducationNC reported. The state Board of Community Colleges approved the new model in February, but legislators have not approved it. Election changes Senate Republicans proposed a variety of changes to election law that didnt make it over the finish line this session. Senate Bill 88, sponsored by Elections Committee Chair Warren Daniel, would have: Required political ads to include a disclosure if they used generative artificial intelligence in certain circumstances. Required the use of signature verification technology to check mail-in ballots beginning in 2025. Required county boards of election to check death records and felony conviction records prior to certifying an election to determine if ballots need to be removed. Stated that once a local governments election methods have been changed by the General Assembly, the local government cannot alter those changes until the next federal census. Democrats generally supported the provision dealing with AI, but voiced concerns about some of the other proposals, especially the one dealing with local governments. Some Democrats described it as a power grab that would allow Republicans to draw more favorable districts for their party in local elections. North Carolina lawmakers already have the power to change the election methods for local governments. But the new law would prevent local governments that had already faced alterations from the state from making any changes to their elections until a new census is completed, which only happens once every 10 years. SB 88 passed the Senate along party lines, but was not taken up by the House. Constitutional amendments The General Assembly approved one constitutional amendment to send to voters in November, but several others did not pass both chambers. In order to approve an amendment to the constitution, it must first be approved by a supermajority of the House and Senate. Then, the proposal is decided on by voters in the next election. House and Senate members each proposed an amendment to specify that voter ID is required for all types of voting, not just in-person. This is already the law in North Carolina, but Republicans said the change was necessary to clear up ambiguity in the state constitution. Some Democrats charged that the proposal was a way for Republicans to drive conservatives to the polls in November, giving them another chance to vote on voter ID even though its already in effect. Senate Republicans also proposed an amendment that would have lowered the states maximum income tax from 7% to 5%. The current individual income tax rate, however, is already below that, at 4.5%. In the House, Republicans proposed an amendment that would have limited the governors appointment powers when filling vacancies on the Council of State. The amendment would have required the governor to fill these vacancies only from a list of three approved candidates submitted by the political party of the former office holder. Under the constitutions current language, if a Republican member of the Council of State vacated their position, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper could hypothetically replace them with a member of his own party. This amendment never made it to a floor vote. Lastly, House Republicans approved a constitutional amendment that would have repealed the states Jim Crow-era literacy test requirement for voting. The requirement has been inoperable since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, but has remained in the constitution as a relic of the states racist history. The House passed the amendment unanimously, but the Senate did not take it up. Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, T. Keung Hui, Kyle Ingram and Vivienne Serret contributed to this report. VASSAR (KSNT) Heavy rain from the last couple of weeks has caused a spike in lake water levels. Many attractions and facilities are closed at many lakes across northeast Kansas. This includes the sand beach at Pomona Lake, which is currently closed. Children help neighbor clean up storm debris One thing that is nice about Pomona is that their facilities and camp sites are close to the water, but in a flood event they are also the first to go under water. said Scott Rice, Operations Manager for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Melvern and Pomona Lakes. Pomona is just one of many lakes in northeast Kansas facing high water-level issues. At Perry Lake boat ramps, swim beaches and campsites are all closed due to flooding. The lake currently sits 12 feet over normal levels. Well, there are less people who come obviously because they know the waters high. And they get out here and say, well no place to launch. So, they have to turn around or find a place or go home, whichever. said Mike Stanley the Store Manager at Perry Lake Marina. There are plans in place to start emptying both Melvern and Pomona Lakes. KU students launch satellite into space with help from NASA Both of those lakes both empty into the Marais des Cygnes River. That goes down stream and ultimately goes into Truman Reservoir down in Missouri. Rice said. Perry Lake may take longer to lower. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told KSNT 27 News that they cannot release any water due to risk of flooding the Missouri River. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. TEXAS (KXAN) Nearly 400 trained disaster workers deployed to Texas to aid in the aftermath of now-Tropical Storm Beryl. Beryl landed as a Category 1 hurricane along the Texas coast early Monday, washing over the coastal and Houston areas and leaving millions without power. Hundreds of disaster workers flocking to the Texas coast join several emergency response vehicles, thousands of relief supplies and shelf-stable meals provided by the Red Cross, per a Monday release. Red Cross officials reported 125 people stayed in seven evacuation shelters as they braved the storms onset. Officials added the organization has been collaborating with area emergency personnel and community organizations to aid in shelter and relief work. The Red Cross has been anticipating and preparing for Beryl for nearly a week, and were honored to stand alongside our government and community partners to support Texans now, said Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Operations and Logistics for the American Red Cross, in the release. Collaboration among disaster responders is more critical than ever as the continuous pace of extreme weather continues to worsen and shortens the time we have to prepare for major storms. Those in need of assistance can use the Red Cross app, seek shelter information online or call 1-800-733-2767. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attends an official meeting at Al-Ittihadiya Palace. Michael Kappeler/dpa Pool/dpa Negotiations to reach a ceasefire in Gaza are continuing in Cairo, a state-linked media reported on Tuesday, as Egypt's president met US foreign intelligence agency CIA chief William Burns. Negotiations are continuing as the Egyptian security delegation works intensively to bring the views of all parties closer together, al-Qahera News TV, citing a high-level source, reported. Burns held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Tuesday where they discussed joint efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. Al-Sissi reiterated Egypt's position rejecting the continuation of military operations in the coastal strip. Sources at Cairo airport said Burns left towards Qatar, while White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk left Egypt heading to Israel. Israeli media have reported that a meeting is scheduled in Doha between the intelligence chiefs of the United States, Israel and Egypt and the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman. So far, there has been no official confirmation of the meeting. Qatar, the United States and Egypt have been mediating for months to achieve a ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The indirect talks have been at a standstill for weeks. A man injured in an Israeli bombing is seen at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 Palestinians were killed and some others wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting a school in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said Tuesday. Security sources told Xinhua that Israeli aircraft targeted the gate of the Al-Awda School, which houses hundreds of displaced people in the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, using at least one missile. The videos shared by Palestinian activists on the social media platform Facebook showed dozens of bodies lying on the ground, covered in blood. Medical sources said the Israeli airstrike killed at least 25 people, including women and children, and wounded dozens in varying degrees. The sources told Xinhua that the number of victims is expected to rise due to the overcrowding of displaced people in the area. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about the incident. People transfer victims after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People transfer an injured man after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A man holds a victim after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People prepare to transfer a victim after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People transfer an injured man after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A man carries an injured girl after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People transfer a victim after an Israeli bombing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Former French President Francois Hollande looks up as he poses with newly elected parliament members of the Socialist party, at the National Assembly, Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Paris. French voters have given a broad leftist coalition the most parliamentary seats in a pivotal legislative election that has kept the far right from power but has put France in the unprecedented position of having no dominant political bloc in parliament. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PARIS (AP) The leftist coalition that won the most seats in Frances National Assembly in surprise results demanded on Tuesday the immediate right to form a government, even though no grouping won a majority of seats. It is unprecedented in France's modern history to have a fractured parliament. Sundays vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Unions second-largest economy. The legislature is split between the New Popular Front leftist coalition, President Emmanuel Macrons centrist allies and the far-right National Rally. Macron on Monday asked his prime minister, Gabriel Attal, to continue handling day-to-day affairs, despite Attal's offer of resignation, less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics. Macron leaves Wednesday for a NATO summit in Washington. The leftist coalition's three main parties the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialists and the Greens began negotiations to find a candidate for prime minister. The coalition in a statement called on Macron to immediately turn to the New Popular Front" and allow it to form a government. It said the prolonged retention of Attal could be seen as an attempt to erase the election results. We solemnly warn the president of the republic against any attempts to hijack the institutions, the statement said, adding: If the president continues to ignore the results it will amount to betrayal of our constitution and a coup against democracy, which we will strongly oppose. The leftist coalition includes Frances former Socialist President Francois Hollande, who has made an unexpected comeback on the political stage as one of the most prominent candidates in the elections, winning a seat in his hometown. Hes seen as a key player but didn't speak to journalists as he joined fellow members of the Socialist party. The New Popular Front is the leading Republican force in this country and it is therefore its responsibility to form a government ... to implement the public policies expected by the French people, Green lawmaker Cyrielle Chatelain said. Talks within the leftist coalition are complicated by internal divisions now that the goal for its hurried formation in recent days keeping the far right from power in France has been achieved. Some are pushing for a hard-left figure for prime minister, while others closer to the center-left prefer a more consensual personality. Frances prime minister is accountable to parliament and can be ousted through a no-confidence vote. France Unbowed lawmakers are going into the National Assembly not as an opposition force ... but as a force that intends to govern the country," hard-left lawmaker Mathilde Panot said. The top negotiator for the Socialist party, Johanna Rolland, said the future prime minister wont be Jean-Luc Melenchon, the divisive hard-left founder of France Unbowed who has angered many moderates. Melenchon, who did not run in the legislative elections, joined the talks at the National Assembly. Speaking on France 2 television, Rolland suggested the leftist coalition could work with center-left members of Macrons alliance. Some were accepting the need to make deals and get along. In my view, the French people sent us a clear message. They did not want to give an absolute majority to any specific political bloc so theyre ordering us to listen to one another, work together and thats what we need to do," said Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of Macrons centrist alliance and former president of the National Assembly. According to official results, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of Frances two legislative chambers. The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front, more than 160 for Macrons centrist alliance and more than 140 for the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen. Macron has three years remaining in his presidential term. ___ Associated Press writer Barbara Surk in Nice, France, and Jeffrey Schaeffer in Paris contributed. ___ Follow APs global election coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/ California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), one of President Bidens ardent defenders, has emerged as a key public voice attempting to soothe Democratic fears over the incumbent. Newsom was at last months debate and was quick to defend Biden after he delivered a widely panned performance against former President Trump. Since then, Newsom has visited the White House with other Democratic governors amid concerns over the presidents health and crisscrossed key battleground states in a bid to shore up support for him. His effort comes as some in the party call for Biden to step aside to make room for a replacement with Newsom himself often floated as one of the top contenders. I think the conventional wisdom here is that he or his team was preparing for this moment for quite some time so that he would be available to step up if it was the will of Democratic national delegates in the event that Mr. Biden ended his presidency prematurely, said former California Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D). But while there have been some increased calls from Democratic members of Congress for Biden to step down, the president has been adamant that he is not going anywhere. Newsom echoed this sentiment on a campaign call with Bidens campaign staff, noting what he had seen on the ground over the past week. Every single event we had, every single stop we had, we exceeded expectations in terms of the number of people that showed up, Newsom told the staff Monday. Theyre not giving into the cynicism. Theyre not giving into the fear. Theyre not giving into the anxiety. Theyre showing up because they care. They care about the work youre doing. They care about this president. Newsom acted as a prominent surrogate for Biden prior to the debate as well. In September, the governor was present in the GOP primary debate spin room outside of Los Angeles, defending the president and his agenda. An aide to Newsom called the effort part of a two-year-long push to make the case for Biden, visiting red states including Arkansas, Montana, Utah and Idaho. Newsoms Campaign for Democracy PAC has raised more than $10 million for Bidens campaign and down-ballot Democrats across the country this cycle. New Hampshire was Newsoms latest stop on his tour of the eastern portion of the country. The California governor was in the electoral battlegrounds of Michigan and Pennsylvania last week. Whenever a politician visits New Hampshire, in particular, presidential primary speculation tends to follow, but Newsoms visit comes as polling shows that Democrats could be playing defense in the traditionally blue state. A Saint Anselm College survey released last week showed Trump leading Biden 44 percent support to 42 percent in the Granite State. And the concern among Democrats being felt in New Hampshire reaches into other blue-leaning states as well. Republicans say they are feeling increasingly optimistic about their chances in Virginia and Minnesota, while the Democratic governors of Maine and New Mexico voiced concerns to Biden over his ability to carry those states in November. In a period where many in our party are hand-wringing, Gavin Newsom is suited up and on the field, said Joe Caiazzo, a New England-based Democratic strategist who met with Newsom in Boston this week as he was campaigning for Biden. Caiazzo referred to the California governor as the cheerleader in chief. One of the best features of Gavin Newsom is his ability to remind us of three things: our shared values and what we hope to accomplish, the enormous success of the Biden administration and the stakes of this election, he said. But Newsom has also faced criticism from other Democrats and Republicans, who are quick to point out what they say are his obvious presidential aspirations. I think he wakes up every morning, looks in the mirror and says, How can I be president? said Steven Maviglio, a California-based Democratic strategist. Hes been running a shadow campaign for the better part of two years and now hes portraying himself as a good soldier for Biden, at the same time exposing himself to key blocs of the Democratic electorate. It would take a lot for Newsom to lead the presidential ticket this cycle, given that Biden has said he is staying in, and Vice President Harris would be the heir apparent if he were to drop out. And if Harris did assume the top of the ticket, the chances of her choosing another Californian as a running mate would be low. Biden allies are quick to point out that Newsom is not the only rising Democratic star supporting the president. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) was one of the public faces of Bidens meeting with governors last week, while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) was with Biden during his Pennsylvania campaign stop last week. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who also has her own PAC committed to electing federal Democrats, has been one of Bidens most vocal swing-state defenders. Many of these governors are also seen as gearing up for 2028. Theyre all playing a game of musical chairs, said John Morgan, a Florida-based Democratic donor. Theyre all walking around, Harris, [Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear], Whitmer, Newsom, [Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker]. Theyre walking around, and when the music stops, theyll have to find a seat, and one by one theyll be eliminated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER Brig. Gen. John Pogo Pogorek, commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, was killed at age 57 on Monday in what is being called a hit and run accident. The accident occurred about 5:22 p.m. in the area of 10 Crown Point Road. Rochester police said Pogorek, a Strafford resident, was driving a 2014 Toyota Tundra pulling a trailer. Pogorek stopped on the side of the road and got out of his vehicle to resecure a load on the trailer, when a red 2012 Toyota RAV4 driving west on Crown Point Road struck him, according to police. The RAV4 continued without stopping, police said. Police said they located the RAV4 and determined the driver was Paul Clement, 81, of Rochester. Police did not immediately announce charges. Rochester police Capt. Jeremy Aucoin said the RAV4 has been impounded. A juvenile passenger in Pogorek's vehicle was not injured, police said. Pogorek was pronounced dead at the scene. Brig. Gen. John Pogorek Crown Point Road from the intersection of Meadorboro Road and Estes Road to the intersection of Strafford Road was closed during the investigation and reopened several hours later. Pogorek remembered as 'exemplary' leader at Pease Air National Guard Base The New Hampshire Air National Guard issued a notice on his death, stating it is mourning the loss. Gen. Pogorek was an exemplary wingman, mentor and friend to many, New Hampshire Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities said in a prepared statement. He served his state and nation with the utmost professionalism and dedication. He will be deeply missed. On behalf of the entire State of New Hampshire, I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Gen. Pogorek, said Gov. Chris Sununu. Gen. Pogorek served his state, country, and community with honor. His commitment and contributions to the Granite State will never be forgotten. As the assistant adjutant general for the NHANG, Gen. Pogorek was responsible for the command, operations, and combat readiness of more than 1,300 officers, airmen, and civilians at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, according to the Guard. Gen. Pogorek was a pilot, accruing more than 6,675 flying hours over 31 years with the U.S. Air Force and NHANG, the Guard stated. He oversaw the fielding and operations of the Air National Guards first fleet of KC-46A refuelers. He is survived by his wife, Whitney Pogorek, and their five children. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time, Mikolaities said. In recent years, Pogorek worked to respond to calls for a health study at Pease after families raised concerns about cancer cases among those who served at the base. Investigation in fatal accident is ongoing in Rochester Police ask anyone who has information to contact Rochester police detective Matthew Flathers at (603) 330-7128 or matthew.flathers@rochesternh.gov. Rochester's Fire Department and Frisbie EMS also responded. The Strafford County Regional Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team aided with the investigation, police said. This story may be updated. This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: NH Air National Guard commander killed in Rochester hit and run A car theft suspect was arrested after a high-speed police chase that began in Portsmouth and ended when the alleged perpetrator struck a New Hampshire State Police cruiser early Tuesday morning in York, Maine, authorities allege. Steven Hebert, 42, of Worcester, Massachusetts, faces multiple charges in New Hampshire and Maine, according to New Hampshire State Police. Late Monday, around 11:45 p.m., New Hampshire State Police Troop A Trooper Cameron Vetter witnessed a car traveling northbound on I-95 in Portsmouth driving in excess of 100 mph, police said. Vetter observed the car having lane control issues, police said, then attempted to stop the vehicle, which sped up and evaded him, setting off the chase, police said. New Hampshire State Police are investigating a suspect who allegedly crashed into a trooper's cruiser. The gray 2012 Toyota Camry was reported stolen out of Wilmington, Massachusetts, according to state police. The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed, driving into Kittery, Maine, and exiting the highway as authorities from both New Hampshire and Maine responded. Police say the car then drove into York, Maine, where it turned down a dead-end road. The suspect then turned around and struck the cruiser of New Hampshire State Police Trooper Matthew Dushame, a state police arrest announcement states. The collision brought the pursuit to a conclusion." Steven Hebert of Worcester, Massachusetts, is charged with allegedly striking a New Hampshire State Police cruiser in York, Maine, following a chase. No injuries were sustained in the crash, nor in the pursuit, state police said. Hebert was arrested and transported to the Kittery police station. Kittery Police Chief Robert Richter said Hebert was booked at the Kittery police station around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday before being transported to York County Jail. Hebert was charged by Kittery police with single counts of eluding an officer, theft by receiving stolen property and being a fugitive from justice. According to Richter, New Hampshire State Police will obtain warrants for Heberts arrest to charge him separately. During his alleged getaway attempt, Hebert drove right past Kittery police officer Molly Bossi near the Premium Outlets on U.S. Route 1. Bossi took over the pursuit as Hebert allegedly sped into York, Richter said. It all worked out. There were no injuries. Everybody was safe. Nice job by all, Richter said. More local news: NH Air National Guard commander killed in Rochester hit and run Maine State Police, the Kittery and York police departments and local EMS providers additionally assisted in the incident, which remains under investigation. Members of the public with information about the incident are asked by police to contact Vetter at (603) 223-4381 or via email at Cameron.S.Vetter@dos.nh.gov. A spokesperson for New Hampshire State Police did not immediately respond on Tuesday afternoon to an inquiry about Heberts arrest. It was not immediately known if Hebert has an attorney. This story may be updated. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH police: Car theft suspect hits 100 mph, strikes cruiser in Maine What happened: On this day, my student called me a monkey and the N-word, the teacher wrote in the on-screen caption, adding that she is tired of life abroad . The TikTok users post, which has a hashtag calling for Fix Africa, has been viewed over 58,000 times. Standing up to racism: Thousands of activists marched in Tokyo at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to fight against racism towards the Black community in Japan. Racism is there and sometimes it can be subtle. It can be confusing whether what you are facing is racism or it's just people being ignorant, Bongekile Motsa, a Swati student at a Japanese college, said in a panel at the Kokujin Experiences in Tokyo in February 2021. Nikki Haley was not invited to the 2024 RNC Convention and shes fine with that, her spokesperson told Politico. The former South Carolina governor has released all of the 97 delegates she won in the Republican primaries and urged them to vote for Donald Trump, the outlet reported. Her spokesman, Chaney Denton, also dropped the bombshell that Haley was left off the invite list but that she was unbothered. Trump deserves the convention he wants. Shes made it clear shes voting for him and wishes him the best, he said. Haley was the last major Republican rival standing against Trump when she ended her campaign following Trumps Super Tuesday romp. She called her rival unhinged and diminished during her campaign, while he mocked her with the nickname birdbrain. The Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee from Monday July 15-18. Trump has teased announcing his running mate at the convention, with the top three candidates said to be Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH). Trumps Narrowed His Veepstakes Down to Two Names: Report However, while Trump has previously said that Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot some believe she would be the best candidate to broaden his appeal with voters. Last month, data scientist Scott Tranter told News Nation that she would be a smart choice for Trump to pick as his running mate. Rationally speaking, Nikki Haley checks a lot of boxes and ensures that he is competitive or continues to be competitive in demographics that he has to wins, specifically suburban females, he said. She is also a great fundraiser and is great on the trail. Nikki Haley and Donald Trump after she announced her plan to resign as U.N. ambassador. The Washington Post Democrat strategist Kurt Bardella agreed, saying that she would be an epic surprise but one that could secure Trump the White House. So many disaffected Republicans, Nikki Haley voters, said they would not vote for Trump under any scenario, getting those people back into the fold I think is essential when getting your side to turn out is going to be the difference between winning or losing, he said. Everyone knows who Joe Biden and Donald Trump are. There is not a lot of new ground here, not a lot of independence... Nikki Haley coming into the fold is going to be the biggest opportunity Trump has to make sure everyone in the Republican Party shows up and votes for him. Haley was given the plum U.N. ambassador posting in the first Trump administration before resigning in Oct. 2019. It is unclear if she has aspirations to serve in a second Trump administration. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday released the 97 delegates she secured during the primaries and is urging them to support former President Donald Trump at the GOP national convention that starts Monday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI July 9 (UPI) -- South Carolina's former Gov. Nikki Haley on Tuesday announced she has released delegates that she secured during her Republican primary campaign and is urging them to support former President Donald Trump. "The nominating convention is a time for Republican unity," Haley said in a statement. "Joe Biden is not competent to serve a second term and Kamala Harris would be a disaster for America." Haley said the nation needs a "president who would hold our enemies to account, secure our border, cut our debt and get our economy back on track" while urging her delegates to support Trump at the nominating convention next week. The four-day Republican National Convention is scheduled to start Monday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Haley secured 97 delegates while campaigning for the GOP nomination for president but ended her campaign a day after losing all states except Vermont during the Super Tuesday primaries held on March 5. Former President Donald Trump speaks after defeating former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary on Feb. 24. File Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE Haley said she won't attend the GOP convention. Her spokesperson, Chaney Denton, said Haley wasn't invited to the convention and is "fine with that. Trump deserves the convention he wants." Denton said Haley has "made it clear she's voting for him and wishes him the best." Trump, the first U.S. president to be a convicted felon, needs a simple majority of the 2,429 delegates estimated to attend the GOP convention to vote in favor of his candidacy to formally be nominated as the Republican candidate for the presidency. The Democratic Party National Convention is scheduled Aug. 19 through 22 at the United Center in Chicago. Nine Mile development boom continues with new business near Kohl's A new business could be coming soon to Ferry Pass following a proposal filed with Escambia Countys Development Review Committee (DRC) last month. The project proposes developing a new commercial building on a corner lot of Baldridge Drive that will be near Kohls and Target off of East Nine Mile Road. The building will be a "personal service establishment," according to the projects narrative form filed with the county, though exactly what business will inhabit the space is not yet publicly available. The projects applicant, local civil-engineering group Hammond Engineering, was unable to provide comment on the proposal and their plans for the tenant at this time. Heres what to know about the commercial building proposal intended for Ferry Pass. 7 Brew plans North Davis Hwy location: National coffee chain still trying to lay Pensacola roots. What to know about their plans. Where is the project planned? Developers proposed building this project at 9294 Baldridge Drive in Ferry Pass and also developing a new access road for its 0.61-acre site. The commercial building itself is planned to be 3,200 square feet and have 11 parking spaces total. The site of the potential project neighbors a family physicians office, however only trees stand on the land currently. This is the second time that this project has been filed with the county, which was initially proposed last August, following DRC review last year. A project to build a new commercial building, which is planned to host a personal service establishment, was proposed to Escambia County's Development Review Committee last month and is intended for Ferry Pass. Whats near the Baldridge Drive proposal? If approved by the county, the Baldridge Drive Commercial project will be developed near Kohls in Ferry Pass and connected to a frontage road leading from the department store. This is planned to be the only access road to the building. It will also be a short walk away from University Town Center as well, which has added more businesses like Wild Honey Frozen Yogurt, Freedoms Found Coffee and most recently StayAPT Suites to their existing lineup of businesses. A project to develop Pensacolas first Cook Out, a popular southern fast-food chain, is also in the works down the road from the Baldridge Drive Commercial project. The chain is still underway with their project, which was issued a Development Order from the DRC in 2022. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Nine Mile Road development near Kohl's Pensacola in Ferry Pass George Norcross, the massively influential New Jersey Democratic political boss, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a 13-count indictment accusing him of leading a criminal enterprise that took advantage of a state tax incentive program he and his close allies helped design. My client emphatically states he is not guilty, Norcross attorney Michael Critchley told Judge Peter Warshaw in a Trenton courtroom as Norcross looked on. Four of Norcross co-defendants also pleaded not guilty: His brother Phil, a lawyer and lobbyist who helped draft the 2013 tax incentive law at the center of the indictment; attorney Bill Tambussi; Dana Redd, the former mayor of Camden and current leader of a Norcross-linked nonprofit; and John ODonnell, a leader of the residential development company The Michaels Organization. Another co-defendant, Sidney Brown the CEO of trucking company NFI had his arraignment until Aug. 7 because his attorney, Larry Lustberg, is representing a co-defendant of Sen. Bob Menendez during his ongoing corruption trial in New York City. The indictment of Norcross last month came as a shock, and the political implications of the case are huge given his decadeslong reign as one of the state's most powerful unelected Democrats. Norcross, in part through his ability to raise millions of dollars, effectively controls South Jerseys Democratic delegation in the state Senate and Assembly, and is childhood friends with former senate president and Democratic 2025 gubernatorial candidate Steve Sweeney. He also has powerful allies peppered around the state. Norcross has long been a player in national politics as well, counting Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi among his friends, and his brother Donald is a Democratic House member representing New Jersey's 1st Congressional District. Donald Norcross is not accused of wrongdoing. The Norcross enterprise according to Attorney General Matt Platkin, involved extortion and threats to anyone who stood in the power brokers way as he helped develop the Camden waterfront while his insurance brokerage and other companies with ties to him benefited from the tax incentives. The arraignment, held in Trenton, is the second public appearance for Norcross related to the charges. He appeared uninvited at Platkins June 17 press conference announcing the indictment, sitting in the front row and staring him down. Platkin was chief counsel to Gov. Phil Murphy in 2019, when his administration locked in a bitter feud with Norcross launched a wide-ranging investigation that uncovered much of what would later make up the charges against the power broker. Norcross was never elected to public office, but since the early 1990s hes built a political machine that has run much of New Jersey south of Interstate 195, peaking during the administration of former Republican Gov. Chris Christie a close governing partner of Norcross who signed the 2013 tax break legislation. Until he took a leave of absence this summer, Norcross led the insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew, which together with its subsidiary PERMA holds contracts in local governments throughout the state. Norcross who has accused Platkin of pursuing him out of political ambition and using years-old evidence other prosecutors passed over has credited the tax incentive program with development in Camden, long New Jerseys most beleaguered city. Critchley, his attorney, said in a statement Tuesday morning that everything he and his co-defendants did was for the benefit of the city of Camden and Cooper University Health Care, where Norcross chairs the board of trustees. Anyone reviewing the indictment will see these are charges in search of a crime, Critchley said. There will be much more to say in the future, but for now, suffice to say that the facts of what actually occurred and why these charges were brought will come out. When they do, we expect a full exoneration. Redd attorneys Henry Klingeman and Ernesto Cerimele in a statement said that the former mayor, who now leads the nonprofit Camden Community Partnership, looks forward to fighting these false allegations in the courtroom before a judge and jury, so she can reclaim her good name that has now been tarnished by the Attorney Generals unjust and unjustified action. Among the charges in the indictment is that Norcross and his allies threatened developer Carl Dranoff, who held Camden waterfront property rights needed by Conner Strong & Buckelew to construct its new headquarters in Camden with the help of state tax incentives. Norcross allegedly told Dranoff he would "fuck you up like you've never been fucked up before," and threatened that he would ensure the developer never did business in Camden again. Norcross and others then allegedly used the levers of government in Camden to stymie Dranoff, condemning his property rights, speaking ill about him publicly, cutting off communication with him and damaging an unrelated Dranoff project. After three decades of influence, Norcross political influence has taken a hit in recent years. He began feuding with Murphy shortly after he took office in 2018, and in 2021 Sweeney shockingly lost his Senate seat to the virtually-unknown truck driver Ed Durr. While South Jersey Democrats clawed back most of their losses in 2023, Norcross relations with some other powerful Democrats in the northern half of the state including Senate President Nick Scutari has been strained. Norcross, who grew up outside Camden, now officially resides in Florida. The sprawling corruption case is unlikely to go to trial any time soon. Following the not guilty pleas, attorneys parried over protective orders for a terabyte of data and millions of documents that prosecutors were preparing to turn over to the defense for discovery. Prosecutors sought protective orders over all of the files to keep sensitive information out of public view. Defense attorneys said it was overly broad. By the end of the hearing, the two sides reached a compromise in which they would agree to a 60-day protective order for all of the documents while negotiating which ones will and will not be disclosed. But defense attorneys expressed frustration that state prosecutors had only a week ago sought permission from the Department of Justice to use 2016 federal wiretaps of Norcross' phone. "We need all the applications, because were going to challenge the underlying legality of those intercepts," Critchley said. Judge Warshaw set the next hearing in the case for Sept. 10. "My goal is to get discovery into the defendants hands so they can do the work they need to do. This is a massive undertaking," Warshaw said. ISTANBUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Seven irregular migrants were killed, and 19 others were rescued on Tuesday when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea off Turkiye's western province of Izmir, the Turkish Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard said in a statement that 19 irregular migrants stranded on Karaada Island have been rescued while seven others were confirmed dead. It added that a rescue team consisting of frogmen, backed by a helicopter, is still working to search for one missing. The destination of the migrants was not immediately clear. The Aegean Sea has been an important route for migrants trying to reach Europe via Turkiye. Official statistics released on Tuesday showed that the total number of migrants intercepted off Turkish coasts has reached 24,303 so far this year. Additionally, 137 smugglers have been detained during the same period. Vincent "Chief" Dransfield, lifelong New Jersey resident and one of the oldest men in the United States, died recently at the age of 110. Not only was Dransfield one of the oldest men in the U.S., part of the small group of supercentenarians, he was also the oldest man in New Jersey and the oldest living and active fireman in the country, still showing up to the firehouse for calls as recently as 2019, according to his obituary. Dransfield was born on March 28, 1914, in a house on Preakness Avenue in Paterson. He moved to Little Falls in 1945 and lived there the rest of his life, peacefully dying in his home on June 26. At 21 years old, he joined the Singac Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 in Little Falls. He went on to serve at the fire department for over 80 years, acting as chief for eight years. Former Little Falls chief chief Edmund Pomponio, left, hugs Little Falls Firefighter and former chief Vincent Dransfield during his 100th birthday celebration on March 29, 2014. "We are sad to announce that our friend, mentor and family member, Ex-Department Chief Vincent Dransfield has passed away at 110 years old," posted the Singac Volunteer Fire Company #3 on Facebook. "His knowledge, guidance and friendship are something that will be missed forever." Per his obituary, he attributes his longevity to his job and pastime at the fire department where he spent a lot of time, especially after losing his wife of 54 years back in 1992. Each day he would go to the firehouse and hang out with his buddies between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., known as the "3 to 5 club." "In his later years at Singac Fire Company, his seniority and experience made him essential to the fire company," says his obituary. "He served as 3rd command at active fires, working the pumps on the fire truck well into his 80's to allow the volunteer fireman to fight the fires." Multiple public officials have recognized Dransfield's service including the governor, who posted on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday morning. "Recognized for being the oldest active firefighter in the United States, Vincent Dransfield of Little Falls recently passed away at 110 years old," posted Gov. Phil Murphy. "May his extraordinary service to Passaic County be remembered and may he rest in peace." Recognized for being the oldest active firefighter in the United States, Vincent Dransfield of Little Falls recently passed away at 110 years old. May his extraordinary service to Passaic County be remembered and may he rest in peace. https://t.co/l3qafXqtIB Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) July 9, 2024 Another aspect of his life that Dransfield partially credits for his longevity is drinking milk, specifically milk supplemented with Ovaltine, he told TODAY earlier this year. When Dransfield was 15, per his obituary, he dropped out of school to work on a dairy farm to help support his family. He started drinking milk supplemented with Ovaltine, a chocolate malt drink mix and nutrition supplement. He drank Ovaltine up until his passing, telling TODAY that he thinks Ovaltine gave him a "good start in life" for his bones. In May, Dransfield was gifted a two-year supply of Ovaltine from Nestle USA. The company posted the interaction on TikTok. "We've been so eager to get in touch with you after seeing your inspirational story. Congratulations, what an achievement. You encompass exactly what our brand strives for, strong immune health for our customers to live their best lives," said Jessica Holcombe, brand manager at Nestle USA. "We actually have a team in New Jersey, I think pulling up to your door as we speak, with two years worth of Ovaltine product just for you Vincent." "Where are they backing the truck up?" asked Dransfield. "Where I worked, I needed some energy, drinking Ovaltine every morning down at the shop, I felt like working every day, I felt more energetic. I got into a habit." During World War II, Dransfield worked as a manager at the Schmid company which supplied the U.S. troops overseas with condoms, telling his family that he was not drafted into military service because his job was "classified as a civil defense position." Following his time at Schmid, he worked as a manager at Crane Motors in Little Falls for 25 years. Up until his passing he was "smart as a whip," driving his car to the local stores and routinely cracking jokes. "His family and friends are better people for knowing him, he made everyone happier and smarter for having spoken with him," says his obituary. "Vince will be missed sorely by all that were graced to be in his presence." He is survived by his daughter, son-in-law, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Services were held on July 1 and 2 at the Gaita Memorial Home in Little Falls. His family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Little Falls Signac Company #3. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Vincent Dransfield of Little Falls NJ dies at 110 years old NJ rolling out new temporary registration tags: What to know NEW JERSEY (PIX11) New Jersey has begun rolling out new temporary registration tags featuring enhanced security features as part of an effort to combat the use of fake plates, according to the Motor Vehicle Commission. Temporary registration tags are also commonly referred to as temporary registration certificates, temporary license plates or temp tags. More Local News New Jerseys new temporary registration tags have a new format and are being printed on a different form of paper. Both changes are meant to help combat the use of fake temporary license plates. Used car dealers in New Jersey were found to be illegally selling large numbers of the fake temporary plates to drivers, Streetsblog reported. The new temporary registration tags will be phased in throughout the summer. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission anticipates the old temporary license plates will be completely phased out by the early fall. Law enforcement cracks down on ghost plates, toll evaders across NYC The new initiative is being rolled out following a New Jersey law passed in January. The law created new security measures and procedures for temp tags and established new penalties for car dealers and people who knowingly issue, possess or use fake temporary license plates. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks during her 2023 State of the State before the joint chambers of the New Mexico Legislature in Santa Fe. A large plaque that is the symbol for the state of New Mexico is behind her. Several people are also seated behind the governor. A bouquet of flowers sits to her left. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivers the 2023 State of the State before lawmakers in Santa Fe on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM) A coalition of 41 different organizations, mental health providers and other individuals from across New Mexico signed a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Tuesday urging her to halt the legislative special session she called for July 18. With only weeks before the sessions scheduled start, the groups wrote that there is an obvious lack of consensus between lawmakers on the governors plans, adding that there is simply no way to achieve the solutions New Mexicans deserve. But on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the governor said she is moving forward with the special session, and characterized the groups letter as calling for doing nothing. The groups want to find solutions to problems in the state, they write, even committing to work with Lujan Grishams office and lawmakers so that she, may return with a comprehensive plan for the 60-day session. Michael Coleman, the governors communications director, emphasized the urgency his boss has taken to push through her special session call since she brought it up at the end of the 30-day legislative session in January. Every day that the root causes of crime and other public safety challenges go unaddressed is another day that New Mexicans are placed at risk, Coleman said in response to the letter. The letter is signed by groups that are stakeholders in public safety issues across various sectors in New Mexico. Some in the group support and have benefited from the Lujan Grisham administration. Yet, they are still not convinced that state lawmakers need to meet up and pass the governors goals not achieved at the Roundhouse in January. In the letter, the coalition criticizes three of the five draft bills which the governor has presented to lawmakers this summer by arguing they wouldnt address the underlying causes of the problems shes trying to solve, and would actually lead to more harm to unhoused people and people with psychiatric diagnoses. Coleman said Lujan Grishams plans would provide accountability and treatment for those who become entangled in the criminal justice system because of underlying mental health challenges, while improving the safety of New Mexicos communities. For years, experts have said New Mexicos entire health care system, including mental health treatment, is plagued by provider shortages. Lujan Grisham originally hinted in January she would pursue forced treatment as part of her public safety agenda, and over the summer rewrote her pitch to lawmakers. The coalition wrote that Lujan Grishams draft bill related to civil commitment does nothing to tackle the underlying issue of critical shortages in voluntary mental health care while threatening peoples constitutional rights. The letter states that her draft bill related to competency undermines the careful consideration of peoples unique situations, potentially leading to unjust outcomes and causing further harm. They wrote that her draft bill related to median safety would saddle unhoused people with unpayable fines and jail time, which would do nothing to meaningfully address pedestrian safety while making it harder for people to qualify for housing. Coleman said the median safety bill is not an attack on the homeless, its a common-sense strategy to reduce New Mexicos first-in-the-nation status for pedestrian fatalities. We strongly believe the legislative proposals put forth will have a detrimental impact on New Mexicans, rather than achieving the aims you seek, the letter states. Your office has rightly recognized that system-wide solutions are too complex for a short special session. But with that acknowledgement, you have elected to instead pursue approaches that, while well-intentioned, threaten to exacerbate the very issues they aim to fix. The coalition wrote they share the governors urgent desire to bring forward solutions to get New Mexicans mental health care, addiction treatment, and affordable housing. Her call for a special session ignited a much-needed conversation about mental health and public safety that has generated rich and creative ideas for addressing the complex conditions underlying the crises our communities now face, they wrote. Moreover, a special session that will conclude in a matter of days with little to no opportunities for community feedback is not conducive to passing true and lasting safety solutions, the letter states. Coleman said the governor and her staff have been engaged in meetings with lawmakers and other stakeholders on these issues for months. Enough is enough and this cant wait, he said. LISTEN: Advocacy organizations ask NM governor to stop special legislative session By Jeanette DeDios, KUNM News https://sourcenm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/070924SPECIALLEGIS-ON-AIR.mp3 Read the full letter below. coalitionlettertogovmichellelujangrisham The post NM governor rejects call from mental health care providers, advocates to cancel special session appeared first on Source New Mexico. As of Tuesday, there were still no arrests in the Corryville shooting that left three people dead, including a father and son, and another person wounded. Cincinnati police said the mass shooting is still under investigation. Cincinnati police investigate a mass shooting in Corryville on July 1. Shawn McDaniel Sr., 44, and his son, Shawn McDaniel Jr., 22, were killed along with Laurenz Nixon, 21, in the early hours of July 1. Just before 3 a.m., officers were patrolling in the area of Highland and East University avenues when they heard multiple gunshots nearby, according to Cincinnati Police Capt. Mark Burns. Ronald Caulton, 75, who lives nearby on Donahue Avenue, told The Enquirer that he heard "four strong blasts," followed by the sound of another 10 shots. Burns said an officer saw someone running into a home with a firearm. That person eventually came outside voluntarily and was placed in police custody. No charges have been filed against that individual. They dont know if he was the shooter or if he was hiding a weapon we have no idea, Burns said. Police have not released any details about possible suspects or said if any of the victims fired shots during the incidents. The crime scene spanned three intersections and was littered with evidence markers numbering up to at least 97. This was the second mass shooting in less than three weeks in the region following a June 15 shooting in Madisonville that left five people wounded. A mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are shot. A third mass shooting occurred Saturday in Florence, Kentucky leaving four dead and three wounded. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police: No arrests, no suspect details week after Corryville shooting No New Indictment Announced Against Harvey Weinstein During Court Appearance, but Still a Possibility: Prosecutor Prosecutors previously announced that they plan to retry Weinstein after a New York appeals court reversed his 2020 sex crimes conviction STEVEN HIRSCH/POOL/AFP via Getty Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein, 72, was back in Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday, July 9, where prosecutors said that the disgraced former movie producer could still possibly face new accusations during his upcoming retrial. Wearing a suit and sitting in a wheelchair beside his attorney, the co-founder of The Weinstein Company and Miramax appeared in the courtroom, but did not speak on his behalf. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said during the hearing that the state is still investigating additional claims of sexual assault and is not ready to send an indictment to the grand jury at this time. "We spoke to several individuals who claimed Weinstein raped them in Manhattan," Blumberg said during the hearing, adding that the claims would also fall within the statute of limitations. They have a defendant and are looking for crimes," Weinstein's attorney Arthur Aidala said at the hearing in regards to the alleged investigation. "That's not how its supposed to be. Weinstein was found guilty in February 2020 in New York City of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape during a the landmark #MeToo case, the New York Times reported at the time. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, on April 25, 2024, the New York Court of Appeals overturned that conviction in a stunning 4-to-3 decision. The high court found that trial judge James Burke erroneously allowed three women whose allegations were not a part of the criminal case against Weinstein to testify about Weinstein's prior bad acts. Related: Harvey Weinsteins 2020 Rape and Sexual Assault Convictions in New York Overturned On May 1, Weinstein appeared in court for the first time since the bombshell reversal for a preliminary hearing where prosecutors vowed to try Weinstein again. "We believe in this case and we will be retrying this case," Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said in court on May 1, CBS, Reuters and CNN reported. Prosecutors said they are planning for a fall retrial against Weinstein. At a press conference following that hearing, Aidala said he would continue to fight for his high-profile client. "Harvey Weinstein is now presumed innocent," he said, CNN reported. Related: N.Y. Prosecutors Will Retry Harvey Weinstein in the Fall: 'We Believe in This Case' At Weinsteins next court appearance on May 29, Blumberg said a new indictment against Weinstein was possible, this time involving new accusers. "People who couldn't speak out in 2020 are now willing to speak out in 2024, she said, PEOPLE previously reported. Related: Movie Mogul Harvey Weinstein Surrenders to Authorities on Rape Charges Despite the recent reversal, Weinstein has remained in prison after being convicted in a separate trial of one count each of forcible rape, forced oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object in Los Angeles, per the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison at the time, the Los Angeles Times previously reported. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Protesters confronting riot-clad officers who are blocking the freeway in 2020. (Photo | Isiah Holmes) As the Republican National Convention (RNC) is set to begin next week, officials in Milwaukee remain at odds with groups hoping to hold a protest within sight and sound of the convention. Talks between the Coalition to March on the RNC, an umbrella group that includes dozens of organizations, and the city never resulted in the approval of a permit. The conflict played out in federal court, with the coalition arguing that restricting where and how a protest can be held infringes on protesters freedom of speech an argument that was rejected by a federal judge. RNC leaders have called on the U.S. Secret Service and Milwaukee officials to ensure that no protest is held within the RNCs security footprint, which has expanded, pushing any proposed march route even farther away from the main event. Coalition members have repeatedly said they plan to march with or without the citys approval. The coalition plans to hold a non-violent, family friendly protest. At the same time, they express concerns about the potential for law enforcement to use crowd control methods, such as tear gas or rubber bullets, to discourage, disperse or quell unsanctioned demonstrations. The march on the DNC in Milwaukee, August 20th, 2020. (Photo by Isiah Holmes) Omar Flores, spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the RNC, said Republican officials comments that Milwaukee is a violent city and that protesters need to be contained are stoking irrational fears. Were not getting into the Republican agenda that its going to be like pure chaos, and everythings just going to go out the window. Were going to show up in force, were going to show up in numbers, and were going to fully exercise our First Amendment rights. Still, there is a persistent lack of trust between Coalition activists and city officials. That distrust stems in part from events in 2020, with the police department having since admitted to making misleading statements about protester violence. According to records recently obtained by the Examiner, city officials also discussed disguising the purchase of pepper spray ahead of the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC). Pulling strings for pepper spray Although MPD has left non-violent street protests and demonstrations alone in recent years, when protesters took to the streets in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, there were clashes in Milwaukee between protesters and law enforcement. On the first night of protest, officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets on a crowd gathered outside MPDs District 5 station. Several businesses were looted and burned in the hours after midnight, following the largely non-violent marches which occurred during the day. Gov. Tony Evers called in the National Guard, and a curfew was declared in the city. During one of the daytime marches, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd. MPD said the crowd threw objects at the officers, which were possibly Molotov cocktails. Skepticism of the claims quickly spread from people who were in the protest crowd that day, to members of the citys common council. While investigations into the incident commenced, the Fire and Police Commission directed MPD to cease using tear gas and pepper spray. Several common council members also raised concerns about MPDs crowd control measures, with the elected body opting to cancel a planned purchase of more tear gas and pepper spray for MPD in June 2020. The move set loose a domino effect of police departments reneging on their agreements to assist in policing the DNC. City Councils decision to limit/eliminate some necessary tools and protective equipment for those working the convention concerns us for the safety of our officers, wrote Wausau Police Department Lt. John Phillips in an email obtained by Wisconsin Examiner through records requests. The sentiment was echoed in other emails from other law enforcement officials. The march on the DNC in Milwaukee, August 20th, 2020. (Photo | Isiah Holmes) As agencies pulled out, members of the FPC claimed that the tear gas and pepper spray restrictions were being distorted and exploited. By July 6 2020, the MPD tallied 93 agencies collectively providing 1,845 personnel that had pulled out of the DNC. But due to COVID, over 50 of those agencies had already pulled out before George Floyds death, and before protests began in Milwaukee. Nick DeSiato, now Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnsons chief of staff, was chief of staff for the Milwaukee Police Department at the time. As agencies pulled out in July 2020, DeSiato sent out an email with the subject line Rename for Bid. DeSiato wrote in the email, per our DNC team: Anthropogenic dispenser. City Purchasing Director Rhonda Kelsey replied to DeSiato, are you serious? Unsure what DeSiato was talking about, Kelsey did some research then asked the chief of staff, is this essentially pepper spray? An email sent later in the chain confirmed, yes it is. The emails, obtained through an open records request, suggests that city officials changed terminology to avoid controversy in a bid for a law enforcement tool that was causing tension within the city government, and leading to a crisis of agencies retracting their commitments to help police the DNC. RE_ Rename for Bid2 MPD told the Examiner it had no information on the bid renaming. Jeff Fleming, spokesperson for Mayor Johnson, told Wisconsin Examiner, People directly involved including Nick DeSiato do not have recollection of this email exchange. Fleming also relayed comments from Kelsey who said that the first bid for pepper spray was released in June 2020, then pulled. The description that we used at that time was aerosol projector irritant, Kelsey said. I recall that ultimately legislation was created by the Common Council directing MPD to notify the council of such purchases before they were made not prohibited. We did ultimately issue a bid for OC or pepper spray in July of 2020 and it was publicly noticed with the wording Pepper Spray in the bid solicitation. Kelsey added, Expenditures were not made against the contract and that this is likely due to the fact that the DNC was scaled back to a virtual event for the most part. MPD has not submitted requests to the purchasing department for pepper spray ahead of the RNC, Kelsey said in a statement, relayed through Fleming. Flores said the email only reinforces the lack of trust between local activists and city officials. Looking at that now, it almost looks like hes trying to speak in code, Flores told Wisconsin Examiner. He added, I think this is very typical of what weve seen with the city. Honestly, I mean, what were looking at is entirely a lack of transparency. The march on the DNC in Milwaukee, August 20th, 2020. (Photo by Isiah Holmes) During the DNC, police pushed for more surveillance gear in anticipation of protests, while also arguing that some contracts could be jettisoned due to the DNCs downsizing. In late 2020, after the DNC ended, the MPD also admitted publicly that Molotov cocktails had not been thrown at officers during the daytime protests which were tear-gassed. In 2021, the MPD also issued an apology letter after city auditors found that misleading information about the Molotovs, reductions to the police force and an increase in homicides had been put out on the departments official Twitter page under the direction of then-Chief Alfonso Morales. I do not condone either communication, wrote Jeffrey Norman, who served as acting police chief at the time and remains chief today. I agree that they are misleading, irresponsible and poorly reflect on not only the Milwaukee Police Department but also the entire City of Milwaukee. Norman added, put simply, those tweets are unacceptable. AuditofSocialMediaGovernance10.6.2021 Today, activists and some city officials remain concerned about the possibility that police will use less-lethal munitions like pepper spray during the RNC. During the convention, MPDs policies around timely release of video depicting uses of force will be suspended. Tim Muth, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin said, Pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets, and other nonlethal weapons are not just insignificant uses of force. Beyond the serious injuries they can cause, recent experience in Milwaukee, Kenosha and around the country shows that the use of these weapons only escalates rather than de-escalates conflict, Muth said. We worry that the more available these weapons are in the hands of police, the more likely they are to be used against peaceful demonstrators. The march on the DNC in Milwaukee, August 20th, 2020. (Photo by Isiah Holmes) Flores hopes that MPD takes the same hands-off approach to protests during the RNC that it did during the DNC. Weve heard the feedback from other cities, and they were kind of shocked, said Flores. I remember specifically somebody from Chicago was like, I mean, its kind of eerie that were just out here and the police arent trying to agitate. And it was good, right? We went through it without incident, we were able to march on the route that we wanted. You know, it wasnt a big deal. By contrast, Flores has also experienced protests where police were more aggressive such as in Kenosha, where the police almost made a point to antagonize people who were protesting. In his experience, police taking an aggressive approach with protests only causes more conflict. Looking ahead to the RNC, Flores said, Were marching on the route that we want to. Regardless of whether or not we have a permit. The permit is just simply about how the city decides to react, you know? Its not about how we react, were reacting the same way no matter what. So a permit would hopefully make an interaction with the police less likely. Were not doing anything terrible. Thats never been our history as organizers. The post No trust between RNC march organizers and Milwaukee officials ahead of convention appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. How will new nonprofit use $500 million from NC? Lawmakers quiz NCInnovation leader For more than two hours Tuesday, NCInnovation CEO Bennet Waters answered questions from state lawmakers about his nonprofit, which last year received $250 million in public funding and is slated to receive another $250 million this year. We have constituents who would love to know why we put a commitment of $500 million in this budget without knowing all that much about it, said committee co-chair Rep. Harry Warren, a Rowan County Republican NCInnovation aims to bridge the valley of death university researchers can face when transferring promising concepts into revenue-generating businesses. The organization has established an endowment to fund UNC System projects with an emphasis on backing the work being done outside the Triangle area. The nonprofit has set up four regional hubs at Western Carolina University, UNC-Charlotte, North Carolina A&T and East Carolina University. State law stipulates grant recipients must operate in North Carolina for at least five years. An innovation arms race has broken out across the United States, Waters said. This underpins some of the basic need for what NCInnovation can be. In May, the organization awarded a combined $5.2 million in eight pilot grants across seven UNC System schools. These projects included efforts to increase honeybee hive production, improve lithium refining and create cancer treatments. Waters said the pilot funding came from the interest NCInnovation has earned on its endowment, which has so far grown at a 5.25% annual rate. From the pilot program, Waters said his organization will adjust how it manages data and categorizes the grant applications. He said experts in each respective subject field reviewed the grants. Later this year, we anticipate expanding on this pilot and its lessons as we move a statewide request for proposals that would be open to any and all applied researchers at a UNC System institution, he said. At one point, Warren asked why the preexisting efforts of the UNC System, which includes 16 public universities and 58 community colleges, werent enough to ensure researchers could monetize strong ideas. What we have looked at in other states is that government entities and university systems and private sector entities individually cannot do this well, Waters said. But the notion of a public-private partnership seems to be the Goldilocks solution, if you will. We didnt have this vetting process NCInnovation doesnt take equity in startups, and Waters argued making public money available to researchers will lessen the need some may feel to sell too much of their companies to private investors. In addition to public funding, NCInnovation was required by law to raise at least $25 million from private donors, a threshold the organization announced it surpassed in April. Many of the more pointed questions at Tuesdays hearing of the North Carolina House Oversight and Reform Committee revolved around how these two funding streams would be separated as well as what obligations NCInnovation had to disclose information to the public. Several House members said they didnt get to learn about the organization and ask its leader questions last year. One of the reasons back when this appropriation showed up in the budget that I did not vote for the budget was because we didnt have this vetting process, said Guilford County Rep. Amos Quick, the Democratic House whip. Funding NCInnovation has been controversial, splitting leaders both across and within party lines. Last year, the GOP-controlled state Senate proposed giving NCInnovation $1.425 billion while the Republican-led House and Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper each suggested allocating $50 million. Earlier this year, conservative businessman and political donor Art Pope, who serves on NCInnovations board, requested the state audit the nonprofits financials. Asked why Pope may have done this, Waters told the committee, I think thats a question better posed to that director. As a public-private partnership, NCInnovation has 13 board positions eight filled by the legislature. The five other positions are held by those who had previously served on the organizations board, with former Truist Financial CEO Kelly King as chair. Under last years budget, NCInnovation must submit annual reports before Sept. 15 to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, which is co-chaired by Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore. These reports should include information on awarded grants, the nonprofits fiscal budgets, performance metrics, details on how NCInnovation determines staff salaries, and any job creation data the organization collects. By the end of the hearing, many committee members had commended Waters for the amount of information he had shared. But that didnt mean all believed it will achieve its mission. Im skeptical about the program, said Warren, who contended there were better ways for the state to have spent $500 million. Enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly newsletter, and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) An incident that all began as a call to help child protective services quickly escalated Saturday. Any police chief would say its the worst possible phone call for you to get, said Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot. NPD officer, suspect struck in exchange of gunfire According to Talbot, when officers responded to a home on Arcadia Street, officers were met by a combative 23 year old Cassandra Smith before then being confronted by gunfire from 29-year-old Samuel M. Burton, which led to the suspect and Norfolk Police Officer Sean Blackwell being shot. Police confirm that Blackwell is 57-years-old. Hes been with NPD for 19 years. Hes doing well. Hes home. Norfolk officer home recovering after shootout with Navy sailor Its often a reality for the men and women who are out doing the job every day, Talbot said. Its not potentially life-threatening. For many of them it is life-threatening. Blackwell is now back at home recovering. What still concerns nearby neighbors and Talbot is the sad reality that these shootings keep happening. Strange thing to even talk about people who are choosing unprovoked to shoot at police officers, Talbot said. That makes them some of the most dangerous people in society. None of us can tolerate it. If that is what police officers face, nobody else in the neighborhood has much of a chance. Hes grateful for the officers who choose to protect and serve, a role he says shouldnt be taken lightly. While others get to convalesce and take time to grieve and recover, thats not how it works in this business, Talbot said, so we will continue to do everything that we need to do to keep this city safe. Burton has been charged with attempted aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing to investigate the actions of the officers involved in this shooting. Anyone who may have information about the shooting is asked to contact the Norfolk Crime Line or Virginia State Police. All involved officers will be placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of this investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. (WGHP) More than 100 people are waiting for execution in North Carolina, some of whom have been waiting for decades. North Carolina has a total of 136 people on death row. All but two are men. True Crime North Carolina | Seduced by Satan: The Satanic murders of Pazuzu Algarad According to a demographic summary from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, 75 are Black, 51 are white, six are American Indian or Alaskan Native and four are Asian or Asian American. Forsyth County has the most death row inmates at 12, followed by Wake County with 10 and Buncombe County with 7. There are 44 counties with no death row inmates. Wayne Alan Laws, now 62, has been waiting on death row longer than anyone else on the list. He reportedly killed two men with a claw hammer in Davidson County back in 1985, according to legal database Justia. Laws was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 35-year-old Ronnie Waddell and 57-year-old James Kepley after the two were found bludgeoned to death. Several pieces of clothing belonging to Laws were found covered in blood and pieces of human remains in a dumpster at the apartment complex where he lived. Wayne Laws (NCDPS) The two women Blanche Moore and Carlette Parker have been on the list since the 1990s. Moore, now 91 years old, was convicted of first-degree murder in Forsyth County in 1990. The Oxygen network's true-crime show "Snapped" explored her case in a 2020 episode, and actress Elizabeth Montgomery played Moore in a made-for-TV movie called The Black Widow Murders. Blanche Moore Moore's sentence was for poisoning her longtime boyfriend Raymond Reid with arsenic in 1986, but, as the News & Record reports, she was "the presumed perpetrator of a string of arsenic poisonings some fatal that investigators, prosecutors and family members believed began in 1966." Among the list of her alleged victims are her father, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and her first husband. Her second husband, Rev. Dwight Moore, survived and testified against her. North Carolina woman sentenced to life without parole in infanticide case Carlette Parker Parker, now 59, was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and murder in 1999. Prosecutors said Parker drowned 86-year-old Alice Covington after Covington discovered that Parker was stealing money from her, according to WRAL. Covington's body was found in her car, which was parked in a wooded area in Morrisville. Out of the 136 inmates sitting on death row, about 90% were convicted before 2010. While some have died on death row before ever reaching their executions, the overall number of death sentences has dropped dramatically since the 1990s. True Crime North Carolina | Who Killed Jennifer Short?: Unsolved Since 2002 Two men were sentenced to death in 2023. James McKamey was sentenced in Columbus County on Jan. 26, 2023, for killing Carol Greer in 2016. According to The News Reporter, McKamey stabbed Greer in a shed behind her home before taking her car and driving to Brunswick County, where he was caught. He also stabbed and tried to kill Greer's neighbor. James McKamey (Courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction) Wisezah Buckman was sentenced in Dare County on Nov. 2, 2023, in connection with four murders. He was one of four accused in a failed prison break in 2017 that left maintenance mechanic Geoffrey Howe and correctional officers Veronica Darden, Wendy Shannon and Justin Smith dead, according to The Coastland Times. About a dozen other employees and inmates were hurt. He received a life sentence for Darden's murder and death sentences for Howe, Shannon and Smith's murders. Buckman's co-defendant Mikel Edward Brady II was sentenced to death in 2019, and Jonathan Monk and Seth Frazier are awaiting trial. Samuel R. Flippen, of Forsyth County, was the convict most recently executed in North Carolina. His execution took place on Aug. 18, 2006. Since Flippens execution, legal challenges to North Carolinas death penalty have forced a pause in executions. Below you'll find a full list of North Carolina's death row inmates as of July 6. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) The North Carolina Department of Transportation will host two highway safety meetings in Robeson County this month, the department said on Tuesday. The community meetings are set for July 16 and 30, according to the department. The July 16 meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Red Springs Community Center. The July 30 meeting will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Robeson County African American Cultural Center. The public is invited to help NCDOT officials shape a plan for improving roadway safety. Each meeting will have a short presentation and offer incentive opportunities for people to share their transportation concerns and ideas for the departments safety plan. The meetings are spearheaded by the NCDOTs Traffic Safety Unit and the Robeson County Vision Zero task force, a grassroots group seeking to reduce highway deaths and promote safer driving habits, the department said. The highway safety plan is expected to be completed by next summer. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. PARIS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Europe's latest rocket Ariane 6 successfully lifted off Tuesday on its maiden flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The 56-meter-tall rocket is carrying four deployers that will release nine satellites away from the Ariane 6 upper stage at 600 km above Earth, the European Space Agency (ESA) said. According to the ESA, Ariane 6 is available in two versions depending on the performance required: a version with two boosters, called Ariane 62, and Ariane 64 with four boosters. Ariane 62 can launch payloads of approximately 4.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit or 10.3 tonnes into low Earth orbit, while Ariane 64 can launch payloads of approximately 11.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit and 21.6 tonnes into low Earth orbit, the ESA said. Ariane 6 rocket has the ability to restart its upper stage up to four times. This innovation allows Ariane 6 to deorbit its upper stage after the mission has ended, minimizing space debris, the agency added. The decision to start developing Ariane 6 was made in 2014 to ensure Europe's independent access to space. Europe's Ariane 5 rocket completed successfully its final flight in July 2023. These North Jersey colleges give you the best bang for your buck, survey says Six North Jersey colleges were ranked among the top 10 best value schools in the state, including two tech-focused institutions and a college that is among the top schools of most students enrolled. Princeton University in Mercer County nabbed the top spot in a study by SmartAsset, a consumer-oriented online financial advisory system, but students that attend the following higher-education colleges at the top of the Garden State are also getting the best bang for their buck: Rutgers University, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Ramapo College, Seton Hall University and Drew University all made the top 10 in the Garden State. SmartAsset audited the state's 31 four-year colleges and universities and compiled the list of Best Value Colleges based off a variety of factors and data sets. The company rated each college on a scale of 100, calling it an education value score, and gave 25% weight to starting salary of graduates, tuition, using in-state tuition fees if applicable, and living costs, such as room and board, books, supplies and transportation. An additional 12.5% weight was given to scholarships and grants as well as retention rate (the number of students who re-enrolled at the college the next year). Earning a college degree increases skill sets, job prospects and net worth, but choosing the college where the degree will be valuable for years to come is key. Here's the North Jersey colleges that SmartAsset determined are among the top 10 best value: No. 2: Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, Hudson County) New construction is seen along Frank Sinatra Drive on the Hudson River at the Stevens Institute of Technology campus in Hoboken, NJ on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Stevens is not quite in New York City, but just over the Hudson River in Hoboken and boasts strong programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. A private research university founded in 1870 as one of the oldest technological universities in the nation, Stevens received a 76.31 college education value score in the survey. An audit of the premier school found it had the second highest tuition on the top list, which was $61,598, second to only Princeton, but did offer an average of $28,755 in scholarship and grants monies to students, the second highest on the list. Undergrads returned the next year on average 93% of the time and student living costs were just over $20,000. But is the tuition worth it in the long run? Graduates on average raked in a salary of $80,400 a number that surpasses the $76,128 average annual income of New Jersey residents, according to data from 2023 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. No. 4: New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, Essex County) Teik Lim, president of NJIT. NJIT, located in the University Heights district of downtown Newark and roughly a 20-minute train ride to New York City, is a public research university that offers over 125 degree programs, ranging from STEM disciplines to architecture and humanities. SmartAsset gave the college an education value score of 63.85, with a tuition of $20,459, nearly a fourth the cost of Stevens. NJIT did have the second largest living costs among the schools in the top 10 (Princeton was top here as well) with students having to fork over $24,072. The school had a retention rate of 88% and offered $13,836 in scholarships and grants on average. The median starting salary of an NJIT graduate was $69,200. When do AP scores come out? What to know about your College Board results No. 6: Rutgers University - Newark (Essex County) NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 10/31/02 COLLEGES WITHIN RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: A sign for some of the various Rutgers Colleges at Rutgers University. -Thomas E. Franklin / The Record The Newark location of the State University of New Jersey, one of three regional campuses, offers a diverse population in a large city not far from New York City with 40 undergraduate majors and 50 graduate and professional degree programs. It also is home to Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and Rutgers Law School, one of two the college offers in the state. With an annual tuition of $17,003 and an average salary of $62,200 post-graduation, SmartAsset gave the college an education value score of 61.13. The college boats an 86% retention rate, has an average student living cost of $21,593 and scholarships and grants averaged around $13,039. No. 7: Ramapo College of New Jersey (Mahwah, Bergen County) Ramapo College on Route 202 in Mahwah on February 16, 2021 where a pipe exploded this morning in the school's library where an addition was being constructed. A public liberal arts college in Mahwah, the school offers more than 40 academic programs among five schools on its 300-acre campus, located adjacent to the Ramapo Valley Reservation. The school outshines others in the top 10 by offering students the lowest tuition of $16,961, but its education value score of 52.27 is due in part to the college's average salary of $54,700 and average scholarships and grants of $10,213. It's retention rate was 87% with a student living cost of $20,294. No. 8: Seton Hall University (South Orange, Essex County) Seton Hall University Seton Hall's 58-acre campus is located in South Orange, an area most know for its rich architecture, demographic diversity and its quick commute into Manhattan, according to The New York Times. The private, Roman Catholic school scored an education value of 51.86 by SmartAsset, likely due to an annual tuition of $49,761, which is higher than the five preceding schools on the list. The college does offer $28,235 in scholarships and grants on average to students the third highest in the top 10 a median starting salary of $61,700 and a cost of student living of $20,650, but may lose some points for its 83% retention rate, the second lowest on the list. No. 10: Drew University (Madison, Morris County) A building on the campus of Drew University can be seen from Madison Ave. in Madison. Monday, October 5, 2020 Rounding out the list is Drew, a private university located on 186 acres that offers suburban living roughly an hour car trip from New York City. With over 60 courses of study, the college has a retention rate of 88%, higher than the four schools preceding it on the list and on average offers $26,175 in scholarships and grants. The school scored an education value of 49.19. While a cost of living of $20,567 is around average for the colleges on this list, the school's tuition nears $47,000, the fourth highest among the top 10 value colleges on the list. Graduates on average receive a salary of $57,800. NJ college with best value and full top 10 Princeton University in Central Jersey, a private, Ivy league school, boasts an impressive 96% student retention rate, an an average offering of $50,583 in scholarships and grants to students. The college received an education value score of 87.90. Blair Hall on the campus of Princeton University offers a formidable facade. For those among the 6% accepted each year, students will have to cough up $59,401 for tuition and an additional $24,261 for living costs. In hindsight, though, graduates may find it worth the hefty price tag when considering the median salary of graduates is $81,800 nearly $6,000 over the state average. Here are the remaining schools that cracked the top 10 list: No. 3 : Rutgers University - New Brunswick (Middlesex County) No. 5 : The College of New Jersey - (Ewing, Mercer County) No. 9: Rutgers University - Camden (Camden County) Email: lcomstock@njherald.com; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: New Jersey colleges with best value, according to survey A delegation of North Korean military trainers led by the head of a prestigious military academy in Pyongyang has begun a trip to Russia, North Korean state media reported on July 9. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang on June 18-19, where he signed a partnership agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two leaders led hours-long talks before signing the treaty, which pledged to provide aid to one another if either will be attacked. According to Reuters, the visit of North Korean military trainers marks the first military exchange between Moscow and Pyongyang since the agreement was signed. Pyongyang has long been supplying Moscow with weapons for use against Ukraine. The delegation of North Korean military trainers is led by the president of the Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Geum Chol, North Korean state media said, without providing any further information about the visit. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol said on June 8 that growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a "distinct threat and a grave challenge to the peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in Europe." News emerged at the end of May that France could soon send its military trainers to Ukraine, after Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that he had already signed documents "that will allow the first French instructors to visit training centers soon." French President Emmanuel Macron said on June 7 that France wants to finalize a coalition of countries to send military instructors to Ukraine, though U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly against Macron's proposal. Read also: Russia to send children to North Korean summer camp Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. After two tragedies, CMPD aims to help their officers with mental health services Charlottes mass shooting followed by the apparent suicide of an officer two months later highlight the need for mental health services to be available to officers, according to police and an expert on policing. CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer was one of four law enforcement officers killed in an east Charlotte shootout in late April. And last week, another officer, Brent Simpson, apparently died by suicide at a cemetery near Charlotte Douglas International Airport. These sort of incidents shine a light on the struggles that law enforcement is up against specific to mental health, said Thomas Coghlan, an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice who also provides psychotherapy for first responders. Hes a retired New York Police Department detective. The big question for police after something traumatizing, he said: How do we outreach to the most affected officers? What does CMPD offer? The department offers services for its officers to help cope with trauma. CMPDs Office of Wellness offers a wide range of services including in-person mental health and wellness counseling to provide a safe space to talk through trauma and emotional impacts and provide other referrals as needed, CMPD spokesman Mike Allinger said in an email. CMPD has a Clinical Care Access Program that provides financial reimbursement to employees for qualified therapy services. A grant from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation is paying for that program, according to CMPDs website. It reduces financial barriers to mental health care for sworn and non-sworn full-time CMPD employees, the website says. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department honored the lives and service of officers who have died on duty at the annual Mecklenburg County Peace Officers Memorial Service in uptown Charlotte, on Friday, May 17, 2024. Two days after the mass shooting in east Charlotte, CMPD sent out an email to staff listing some other resources, like a toll-free, round the clock line to call for clinical help and places to meet with volunteer chaplains or peers. For Mecklenburg Countys law enforcement, theres a peer support team that employees can contact if they need to talk to someone, Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Bradley Smith said. And there are on-site counseling services, he said. CMPD sent a team to Dallas, Texas, to talk to some of their officers about how they are coping after a 2016 ambush in which a man killed five police officers and injured nine more, along with two civilians. Asked what CMPD discussed with Dallas police and if their advice was helpful, Allinger declined to comment. Stigma against therapy is pervasive Theres already a stigma around mental health and counseling for much of the public, Coghlan said, and then theres an added layer of distrust from police. Officers worry about losing chances at promotions, and many see therapists as anti-police, he said. It starts when they go in for a psychological screening before theyre hired, he said. A therapist becomes an adversary then, he said. But over the years, hes heard from officers who by their own accounts rolled their eyes at his work before they noticed that he described them and their trauma to a tee, he said. And once they go in for help, they become better officers and better people, he said. Observer reporter Gavin Off contributed to this story. "He is not leaving this race": AOC professes support for Joe Biden Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., stated her unwavering support for Biden's presidential candidacy on Monday amid calls from some of her colleagues for the Democratic nominee to step aside. The matter is closed. He had reiterated that this morning. He has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race and I support him, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters on Capitol Hill after speaking with the president. The progressive lawmaker stressed the importance of focusing on what it takes to win in Novembers presidential election and tackling issues that will help Biden beat Trump, such as Medicare, Social Security and rent relief. And if we can do that and our work on student loans, secure a cease-fire, and bring those dollars back into investing in public policy, then that's how we win in November, she said. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is also part of the progressive "Squad," likewise shared her support for Biden, Bloomberg reported. Outside of a few outliers, I think everybodys supporting the president, she claimed. The comes after several House Democrats publicly called on the president to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election. Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first Democrat to publicly state that Biden should step down on July 1, triggering other Democrats to express doubts about his his viability on a House Leadership call Sunday. On Monday, Biden told congressional Democrats in letter that it is too late to replace him as a candidate and he is firmly committed to beating Donald Trump in November. The situation on the contact line remains difficult but under control. The Ukrainian defence forces are continuously engaged in combat operations aimed at disrupting the Russians offensive plans, destroying their personnel and equipment. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 22:00 on 9 July Details: The Russians launched three missile strikes (using six missiles), 56 air strikes (including 78 guided aerial missiles) and 419 strikes by kamikaze drones, fired 2932 times at the positions of our troops and settlements with artillery and other types of weapons. On the Kharkiv front, the Russians attempted to assault the defensive lines near Vovchansk, Starytsia and Lyptsi six times. The situation is under the control of Ukrainian troops who, as of today, have killed 44 personnel and destroyed three artillery systems, an armoured combat vehicle, ten vehicles and 20 UAVs on this front. The Russians also suffered 78 injured personnel, and one of its air defence systems, two artillery systems, and four special vehicles were damaged. The Russians attacked Ukrainian positions on the Kupiansk front ten times. Five assaults near the cities of Berestove and Pishchane were successfully repelled. Four combat clashes are continuing near Synkivka. Another attack continues near Berestove. On the Lyman front, Russian troops made 16 attempts to attack and break through Ukrainian defences near Hrekivka, Nevske, Makiivka and Terny. Three attacks are ongoing in the vicinity of Makiivka. The situation is under control. The Russians conducted five assault attacks on the Siversk front. The locations of these combat clashes are in the areas of Bilohorivka, Verkhniokamianske, Vyimka and Rozdolivka. All Russian attempts to break through were unsuccessful. On the Kramatorsk front, the Ukrainian troops stopped five attacks by the Russians near Chasiv Yar, Hryhorivka and Andriivka. Two attacks are still ongoing. On the Toretsk front, the Russians tried 14 times to break into our defensive lines near the settlements of Pivnichne, Pivdenne and New-York. The Ukrainian defence forces repelled 11 attacks but three are still ongoing. According to preliminary estimates, the losses of the Russian side amount to more than 60 personnel and two artillery systems. The Russians conduct the most intense attacks on the Pokrovsk front. There have been 40 Russian assault operations here over the past day. Seven attacks near Novooleksandrivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Novoselivka Persha and Yevhenivka are being repelled. Russians are paying a heavy price for their attempts to advance on this front. The Russian losses in personnel since the beginning of the day are as follows: 99 personnel have been killed and 175 injured in action. Two artillery pieces, a mortar and eight vehicles have been destroyed. Among the damaged equipment are two 2A65 Msta-B howitzers, two 120-mm mortars, an armoured combat vehicle and two vehicles. On the Kurakhove front, the Russians tried to advance 11 times in the areas of Netailove, Kostiantynivka, Krasnohorivka and Paraskoviivka, but failed. Two combat clashes are continuing near Neitalove. On the Vremivska front, nine attacks took place in the areas of Vodiane and Urozhaine. Five assaults are still ongoing. Ukrainian defence forces are keeping the situation under control. Ukrainian troops repelled four Russian attacks on the Huliaipole front. Three of them have ended, and one is still ongoing. On the Orikhove front, three of the Russian attempts to advance near Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka failed. The defence forces are confidently holding back the onslaught of the Russian forces. Special attention should be paid to the soldiers of the 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Prince Mstyslav the Brave, who are bravely holding their positions and successfully repelling Russian attacks. Support UP or become our patron! NY Times Maureen Dowd says Biden campaign aide pressed her to scrub goodest gaffe New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd said a campaign aide working to help re-elect President Joe Biden asked her to scrub a verbal gaffe from one of his recent media appearances. In her column in the op-ed section of Sundays Times, Dowd wrote that TJ Ducklo, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, emailed her after she published a commentary on Saturday that included reference to the word goodest. Biden appeared to utter the non-word during his interview on Friday with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, but the network later revised the transcript to reflect that the president actually said good as. New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd said a Biden campaign officials pressured her to alter the wording of a recent piece she wrote. AP TJ Ducklo, a Biden campaign spokesperson, reportedly emailed Dowd on Saturday. Disney-owned ABC News altered the initial transcript at the behest of the White House, according to The New York Times. The Gray Lady also revised the Biden quote to conform with the updated ABC transcript. Dowds Saturday column was updated with an addendum that also reflected the change made by ABC News. In her Sunday column, however, Dowd included the goodest quote which came in response to a question from Stephanopoulos about how Biden would feel if he stayed in the presidential race and ended up losing to former President Donald Trump. Ill feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I can do, thats what this is about, Biden told Stephanopoulos, according to Dowds second column over the weekend. In an interview last week with ABC News, President Biden appeared to utter the word goodest though the White House disputes this. ABC Dowd noted in her Sunday column that goodest isnt a word and that she had her ears up against the computer, 10 times, and thats what it sounded like. We also checked the ABC News transcript and thats the word they used, Dowd wrote. Ducklo had emailed Dowd on Saturday to flag a revision that ABC made to its transcript, according to her column. Ill feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, thats what this is about, Biden is quoted as saying in the revised ABC News transcript. Ducklo is a former White House deputy press secretary who resigned in 2021. According to Dowd, Ducklo asked her to tweak the column and change the word goodest to make my piece consistent with the corrected transcript, even though the revised version was also gobbledygook. Dowd wrote that she responded to Ducklo by letting him know we would tell our editor what he thought to which Ducklo is said to have replied: Yeah again, its not what I think. Its what ABC News, who conducted the interview, thinks. I think it would be quite unusual if the Times asserted the president said something that the news organization who conducted the interview says he didnt say, Ducklo is reported to have written to Dowd in the email exchange. When Dowd inquired as to whether the Biden campaign pressured ABC News to change the transcript, Ducklo is said to have replied: ABC News, like any news organization, makes their own independent editorial decisions. Surely you are not suggesting otherwise. He sent text messages threatening to destroy reporter Tara Palmeri. WireImage According to Dowd, Ducklo sent a subsequent email which read: Had another convo on this. ABC News received the tape and confirmed the error to us. Then made the correction. Despite the controversy over what the president said, Dowd was scathing, writing: Whatever the president meant, his answer to that question went over like a lead balloon. No one cares if he feels good about himself in a losing cause. She added that maybe the White House should think about closed captioning. The Post has sought comment from the Times, ABC News, Ducklo and the White House. In February 2021, Ducklo made headlines after he resigned as White House deputy press secretary in the wake of threatening text messages he sent to a reporter who was working on a story about his relationship with another journalist. Palmeri was working on a story about Ducklos relationship with Alexi McCammond. Ducklo vowed to destroy the career of Tara Palmeri, a former New York Post journalist who was working at the time for Politico. He accused Palmeri of being jealous of his relationship with Alexi McCammond. At the time, McCammond was a reporter for Axios who covered Bidens presidential campaign. After news of the relationship surfaced in early 2021, McCammond was taken off the White House beat and reassigned to cover Congress. McCammond is a former Axios reporter. She and Ducklo have since split up. Later that year, she was hired to take over as editor-in-chief for Teen Vogue, but she ended up returning to Axios after staffers at the magazine protested decade-old tweets which were deemed by some to be racist. McCammond and Ducklo split up, though it is unclear when the relationship ended. Last week, McCammond slammed her ex on TikTok, calling him toxic. Good morning! McCammond, who currently works as an opinion editor for The Washington Post, wrote on TikTok on June 30. Id just say morning but [Im] not my toxic ex who works for the Biden campaign and has to play cleanup after that disastrous debate, she added in the post. McCammond also included a caption describing Ducklo as the smallest man alive, referring to the Taylor Swift song. The New York Timess editorial board renewed its call for President Biden to withdraw from the Democratic presidential ticket, writing in a scathing editorial that the president was embarrassing himself. The editorial, published Monday, said Biden remaining in the race would make it more likely that former President Trump would retake the White House, and that Democrats who want to defeat Mr. Trump in November should speak plainly to the president. They need to tell him that his defiance threatens to hand victory to Mr. Trump, the board wrote. They need to tell him that he is embarrassing himself and endangering his legacy. He needs to hear, plain and clear, that he is no longer an effective spokesman for his own priorities. The editorial came as Biden forcefully pushed back at critics and insisted he isnt leaving the ticket. Biden argues hes the best Democrat to defeat Trump and has already amassed the delegates necessary during this years primaries to be his partys standard-bearer. The Times argued Biden has failed to restore confidence in his ability to campaign and defeat Trump. Biden held an interview Friday with ABCs George Stephanopoulos, and Monday issued a letter to Democratic lawmakers and also called into MSNBCs Morning Joe to argue forcefully for his candidacy. For voters who held out hope that President Bidens failure to communicate during last months debate was an aberration, the intervening days have offered little comfort, the board wrote in its piece. Donald Trumps candidacy for a second term poses a grave threat to American democracy. Mr. Biden, instead of campaigning vigorously to disprove doubts and demonstrate that he can beat Mr. Trump, has maintained a scripted and controlled schedule of public appearances, the board wrote. He has largely avoided taking questions from voters or journalists the kinds of interactions that reveal his limitations and caused him so much trouble on the debate stage. And when he has cast aside his teleprompter, most notably during a 22-minute interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos on Friday, he has continued to appear as a man in decline. The Timess editorial board also reiterated its earlier call for the president to step out of the race Tuesday, writing that Biden does not seem to understand that he is now the problem and that the best hope for Democrats to retain the White House is for him to step aside. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NYC experiencing its second heat wave of the year NYC experiencing its second heat wave of the year CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (PIX11) As temperatures soar in New York City, Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn has become a popular destination for locals and tourists seeking relief from the heat. New York City is currently experiencing its second heat wave of the year, with a heat advisory in effect until Tuesday warning of heat index values between 95-104 degrees Fahrenheit. More Local News Despite the scorching conditions, beachgoers are finding ways to stay cool and enjoy themselves. Eight-year-old Floris Muriq expressed his enthusiasm, saying, I like the beach and I like the rides. I feel happy when its hot. Norwegian tourist Fenn Githfelv, visiting with his family, shared simple strategies for beating the heat: By going into the water, pretty simple and by eating ice cream. Other visitors echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of staying hydrated and using sunscreen. Cooling centers open amid high heat in NYC: Where to find AC For families with young children, the splash pad at Coney Island offers a safer alternative to the ocean. One parent noted, My kids are a little scared of the actual ocean, highlighting the pads appeal for water play without the intimidation of waves and currents. However, the enjoyment comes with a reminder of water safety. Just days ago, two teenage sisters tragically drowned while swimming at Coney Island Beach after lifeguard hours. Its crucial to note that New York City beaches have lifeguards on duty only until 6 p.m. daily, and swimming is prohibited after hours, though enforcement can be challenging. As the heat wave continues, city officials are taking measures to help residents cope. Olympic and intermediate-sized pools in New York City have extended their hours to provide additional relief from the extreme temperatures. While Coney Island Beach remains a popular destination for cooling off, visitors are urged to prioritize safety, stay hydrated and adhere to beach regulations to ensure a fun and secure experience during this intense summer heat. For more information on cooling centers, call 311 or visit this 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 PIX11. A Chinese dancer performs Dunhuang dance at a concert themed on the Silk Road held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Huo Jing) RABAT, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A concert themed the Silk Road was held in the Moroccan capital Rabat on Monday, drawing nearly 400 spectators entranced by performances from Chinese artists. At the concert, the Silk Road Band from Hainan Sanya Silk Road Show Company performed traditional Chinese folk music "Xiyangyang" and "Bubugao," Sheng solo "Yimeng Mountain Song," Erhu solo "Horse Racing" and Dunhuang dance. The artists also played Moroccan folk songs, eliciting continuous applause from the audience. Chinese artists perform with Chinese musical instruments at a concert themed on the Silk Road held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Huo Jing) Li Changlin, Chinese ambassador to Morocco, said in his speech that both China and Morocco are committed to promoting cultural diversity and dialogue among civilizations, and the interaction of the two countries' long history and unique culture will spark inspiration. Rachid M'Stfa, director of the Cooperation Department of the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, said he hopes more Chinese art groups will come to Morocco to further deepen the cultural cooperation between the two countries. Chinese artists perform with Chinese musical instruments at a concert themed on the Silk Road held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Huo Jing) Lina, a Moroccan college student who is about to study in China this fall, said that she is very interested in traditional Chinese dances and is excited to see the wonderful performances of Chinese dancers with her own eyes. This concert was hosted by the Chinese Culture Center in Rabat, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Morocco as well as the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication. NYC food truck cook fatally stabbed by ruffians who demanded he pay their tab, laughed at him, girlfriend says A food truck cook celebrating a birthday in Washington Heights was fatally knifed by hooligans who demanded he pay for their meals, his grieving girlfriend told The Post. The argument last week sparked a clash that left Mateo Solis, 20, dead and his family grasping for answers as NYPD cops released surveillance photos of two men who they said were behind the attack. Maria Moyotl Capulin, 24, Solis girlfriend and mother of his two children, told The Post that she recognized the attackers who she said laughed right before the deadly scuffle as the men in the photos. The pair had harassed Solis early July 2 during a belated birthday celebration for Capulin at Taco Inn, a Mexican eatery along Saint Nicholas Avenue near West 185th Street, she said. They tried to intimidate Mateo to make him pay for their food, Capulin said through a translator Mateos brother Javier Solis, 39. Maria Moyotl Capulin hasnt told her children that their father, Mateo Solis, is dead. G.N.Miller/NYPost Why the haranguing hooligans thought Solis should pay for their food and drink remained unclear Tuesday. Police told The Post that the stabbing stemmed from a dispute. Solis and Capulin, who both recently arrived in the US from Mexico, worked together in the Solis family-owned and run taco truck Tacos Moy, which mostly operates at the Dyckman Street station on the 1 line. They held an overdue birthday party last week at Taco Inn with Solis younger brother Roman, 15, where Capulin contended two men stood over Solis and demanded he pay for their meal. Solis allegedly refused. The men later demanded Solis pay for their drinks at the restaurant bar, which he again refused, Capulin said. After both parties left the restaurant about 2.15 a.m, the men called out to Solis and laughingly asked to talk, getting very close to him, Capulin said. I dont know what they said to Mateo but I saw Mateo push the guy in the black shirt, who fell down, she said. She believes the man in the black shirt stabbed Solis at some point in the scrum. I dont know if he had already stabbed Mateo. They were very close, she said. Capulin believed a man in a black shirt, seen in a photo released by the NYPD, had stabbed Solis. DCPI The two men had regularly dined at Taco Inn, a restaurant worker said. DCPI The men ran away, with Solis who was stabbed in the back briefly chasing after them before he collapsed, Capulin said. Medics rushed Solis in stable condition to Harlem Hospital Center, but his condition worsened and doctors pronounced him dead at 9 a.m. that day, police said. Javier Solis, who lived in the same Fort George building and worked side-by-side with Mateo in the taco truck, told The Post through tears he wants his brothers killer caught. We need whoever killed Mateo caught, he said. Guillermo Hernandez, manager of Taco Inn, said the men in the CrimeStoppers pictures visited the restaurant every month or so. Capulin hasnt told their children a boy, 2, and girl, 4 that their dad, Solis, is dead. The children live with their grandmother in Puebla, Mexico, where they are currently looking for a child psychologist to help break the news. I wanted to marry Mateo one day, she said. I will continue with the plan. The plan is to finish building a house for my kids in Mexico so I can stay together with my kids. Additional reporting by Larry Celona and Amanda Woods NYC man dead after being stabbed multiple times in the groin, killer on the loose: cops A man died after he was repeatedly stabbed in the groin inside a Brooklyn apartment building early Monday, cops said. Maurice Freeman, 30, was found with multiple stab wounds to his private area inside the vestibule of a building on Shore Parkway near 20th Avenue in Bath Beach, authorities and sources said. Freeman, listed as a resident of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, was rushed from the six-story building that borders the Belt Parkway and Gravesend Bay steps from Bensonhurst Park to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where he was later pronounced dead. Police at the scene where a man was stabbed to death in a Brooklyn apartment building. Robert Mecea The man was found with multiple stab wounds to the groin in the apartments vestibule. Robert Mecea Blood seen on the ground at the apartment buliding. Robert Mecea The man was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn where he was pronounced dead. Robert Mecea No arrests have been made in connection to the early morning murder. The motive for the slaying remains under investigation. QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) An off-duty New York City employee was arrested Monday afternoon in Queens, according to the NYPD. Douglas Lopez, 44, an NYPD police officer, was taken into custody at around 12:15 p.m. More Local News Lopez was arrested on the charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing injury, police said. The accident took place at around 1:10 a.m. on Sunday in Queens, according to the 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). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) An off-duty New York City employee was arrested in the Bronx on Monday, according to the NYPD. Jaleesa Brooks, an NYPD school crossing guard, was taken into custody around 10 p.m. More Local News The 35-year-old was charged with assault and harassment. 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). Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. On July 5, a black kitten stranded on the side of a highway in Oakland, California, was rescued by a kind California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer. The feline is safe and sound thanks to the officers prompt response to a call reporting the same. California Highway Patrol officer rescues stranded kitten in Oakland On Friday, a passerby spotted a kitten on the side of the Interstate 80 in Oakland, California. The Good Samaritan reported the same to CHP, and Officer Bretz responded to the call. In a post on X formerly known as Twitter the agency posted photos of the adorable kitty alongside the kind officer who helped save them. Officer Bretz saves kitten stranded on the highway yesterday around 8pm. After the CHP received a call of a kitten stranded on the I-80 westbound to I-580 eastbound transition, officer Bretz quickly responded and rescued this adorable fur-ball. ???? pic.twitter.com/cU6aiUUPUP CHP Oakland (@CHPoakland) July 6, 2024 According to CBS News, the kitten was found shaking and visibly scared when rescued from the side of the highway in California. Fortunately, the feline was rescued in time, as a vehicle could have run over them. Officer Bretz calmly saved the black kitten so as not to spook them. CHP also thanked the kind passerby for timely reporting, as there was a high risk of the kitty getting hit by a passing vehicle if they rushed onto the road. In a similar case, another kitten was rescued off a freeway in San Ramona, California. The incident happened on June 28. A driver was kind enough to park her car on the side of the road and save her. However, this kitty had other plans. She got stuck under the dashboard while the Good Samaritan drove to a nearby shelter. It took firefighters, a vet, and a mechanic to rescue the feline safely from her predicament. Fortunately, in this case, the rescuer plans to adopt the kitten after she is done with her medical exams. The vet has temporarily named her Gaz Pedal in honor of how she was found when they rescued her. The post Officer Rescues Kitten off Highway in California appeared first on CatTime. Officials astounded after birth of critically endangered rhino once on the brink of extinction: 'The program to protect them has really grown' Wildlife researchers in Kenya have discovered a baby rhino in the wild an event that would surely be exciting for almost anyone but is especially important considering how endangered the eastern black rhino is, ABC News reported. The 6-month-old rhino calf was discovered in the Chyulu Hills and is being hailed as a big win for conservationists and the species. There are only around eight eastern black rhinos that are known in that region, and fewer than 1,000 are still in the wild. The total number of rhinos of all types in the wild is around 27,000. As well as the threats of habitat loss and pollution that have plagued so many species across the globe, rhinos have been especially harmed by poachers who kill them for their valuable keratin horns. Conservationists in the region have led antipoaching efforts, including increased monitoring that has allowed at least some rhinos to survive. However, the threat of poaching is nearly impossible to eliminate completely. "There's always going to be a risk of poaching, just given how valuable rhino [horn] is on a black market," Amy Baird, deputy director of Big Life Foundation USA, a conservation nonprofit, told ABC News. But "the program to protect them has really grown," she added. Although rhinos and many other species have suffered greatly from human-caused problems, recent news has shown that humans also have the power to greatly help these animals rebound. Conservationists in Portugal recently reintroduced bison to the area for the first time in thousands of years. The bison are expected to help prevent spreading wildfires by grazing flammable vegetation. Similarly, conservationists also recently reintroduced wolves in Colorado, butterflies in Wales, and more. While these species and locations are all pretty disparate, the goals are the same: They help restore the natural balance of these ecosystems and undo some of the damage that human activity has done over the years. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. San Francisco residents are eagerly awaiting the reopening of a lake that was dried up for the best part of the past four decades, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Middle Lake in Golden Gate Park was once the central part of a chain of three lakes that were dug out in the late 19th century, but issues like algal blooms, drought, and invasive species led to a loss of water that has persisted for between 30 and 40 years. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, it has been restored thanks to a $7.1 million project that makes use of an 18-inch clay bottom to ensure the water remains. Now it's just a question of when it will officially open, with project manager Alex Schiknecht telling the Chronicle in June that the surrounding fence will be removed sometime in the middle of summer. The 18-month construction project has restored 14 acres of land, and it is the largest landscape and renovation initiative in the park for almost a decade. Despite not yet being open to the public, wildlife has already been returning to Middle Lake. A family of geese has settled on one of the lake's islands, and project leaders believe the area will eventually welcome around 350 species. "It's already a place that is drawing wildlife," general manager of the Recreation and Parks Department Phil Ginsburg told the Chronicle. "It's going to draw people as well bird-watchers, walkers, picnickers and families who want to explore nature together." Indeed, it's not just the water that has been restored. The surrounding plant life has also been given a boost, with eucalyptus plants making way for oaks, and the lakeside has had 10,000 plants added. The Chronicle reports bees and birds which are crucial for pollination have already been encouraged by the blooming poppies and lupines. Above all, it gives locals a green space to enjoy. Research has found that interacting with nature can help improve mood and increase happiness, and in a large city space like San Francisco, these areas can be tricky to find. "It's going to be a great use of an underutilized area," local resident Mike Gustenson told the Chronicle. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. A dog died on July 4 after swimming at Lake Travis near Point Venture, Texas Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance/Getty Stock photo of a dog swimming in a lake Officials are advising pet owners to avoid bringing their animals to Lake Travis near Point Venture, Texas, after a dog died following a July 4 swim in the lake. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) reported the dog's death on Facebook on July 5 and issued a warning to pet parents regarding Lake Travis, highlighting the potential dangers lake algae poses to animals. "LCRA has received a report that a dog died after swimming in Lake Travis near Point Venture. Test results from samples taken in the area won't be available for several days. We continue to encourage people to keep pets out of the lake near Point Venture and to avoid contact with all algae, which can produce dangerous cyanotoxins at any time," the agency wrote on social media. According to the Austin-American Statesman, officials also advised dog owners to avoid all of the Texas Highlands Lakes, a series of interconnected freshwater reservoirs, which includes Lake Travis. Getty Lake Travis in Texas Related: Three Dogs Die of Toxic Algae Poisoning Hours After Playing By North Carolina Pond The outlet added that most lake algae plants pose no threats to pets or people, but some algae plants that populate lakes, like cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, can lead to death if ingested. According to the Canine Health Center at Cornell, blue-green algae can significantly affect a dog's liver and nervous system. Dogs risk getting sick from algae by ingesting it. Dogs often ingest algae by licking themselves after spending time in the water or carrying something with algae in their mouths. According to the LCRA, symptoms of dangerous algae exposure in dogs include "drooling, rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, loss of energy and appetite, stumbling and falling, foaming at the mouth, seizures, and even death." 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. Humans "experience eye irritation or rashes" after contact with dangerous types of algae, like cyanobacteria, and can have more severe reactions if the algae is accidentally ingested, per CBS Austin. Getty A stock photo of freshwater with algae plants Related: Animal Experts Share 14 Must-Know Tips For a Safe, Pet-Friendly Summer The LCRA encouraged pet owners to avoid areas with algae, rinse their pets off after contact with water that may contain algae, provide pets with clean, fresh drinking water, and go to the vet immediately if their dogs become sick following a lake swim. Additionally, humans can reduce the growth of dangerous algae in lakes by picking up after their pets and using less lawn fertilizer to "help reduce man-made sources of nutrients" algae plants need to thrive. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is going after three vape shops that sold illegal, flavored vapes to undercover investigators. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is going after three vape shops that sold illegal, flavored vapes to undercover investigators. In May, an undercover investigator purchased two disposable vapes, one peach-flavored and the other strawberry banana-flavored, from Elev8 Smoke Shop near Norwood High School near Cincinnati for $35. Even though the products were labeled as available in the United States, neither are approved for purchase here by the Food and Drug Administration. Special report: Vaping crisis takes toll on children's health, families, schools Investigators made similar purchases at Central Tobacco in Delaware (strawmelon-flavored and blueberry raspberry gami-flavored vapes for $32.40) and Orrville Tobacco and Vape Shop in Orrville (orange mango watermelon-flavored and strawberry kiwi-flavored vapes for $42.58). To date, the FDA has authorized 27 e-cigarette products, all tobacco or menthol-flavored. Any vape products not authorized by the FDA are illegal even though fruit- and candy-flavored vapes are widely available. Earlier this year, the Ohio Attorney General's Office warned businesses that selling illegal vapes could violate consumer protection laws. Now, Yost's office has filed lawsuits in Hamilton, Delaware and Wayne counties, asking judges to stop the vape shops from selling illegal products and possibly impose fines of up to $25,000 for each violation. "Vapes are a threat to Ohio children," according to the complaints. In 2023, 2.1 million students nationwide reported currently using vapes, including 9% of Ohio middle-school students and 20% of high-school students. More: Enquirer special report: Vaping crisis takes toll on children's health, families, schools "You don't have any idea what is in those vape cartridges," Yost said in a news release. "This is a consumer protection issue, particularly when it comes to our youngsters that are still developing." Gov. Mike DeWine supports banning flavored tobacco products, including menthol. GOP lawmakers banned cities from imposing their own flavored tobacco bans a measure DeWine tried unsuccessfully to block. Columbus and Cincinnati sued, and a Franklin County judge ruled that Ohio lawmakers' attempt to block the cities' tobacco restrictions was unconstitutional. Jessie Balmert is a political reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio AG cracks down on 3 shops for selling flavored, illegal vapes TEHRAN, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Tuesday exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation. In a phone call, the Iraqi prime minister congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory in Iran's 14th presidential election, reported Iran's official news agency IRNA. Al-Sudani also expressed optimism that bilateral, regional and international cooperation between Iraq and Iran would continue to expand during Pezeshkian's term. He said the approach of promoting relations with neighbors as Pezeshkian announced would be in the interests of the Iranian people and those of other regional states, including Iraq. Pezeshkian, for his part, expressed gratitude to the Iraqi government and people for their felicitations on his election win, stressing that Iran and Iraq had helped each other in many areas and would continue to do so in the future. He highlighted Iraq's importance in Iran's foreign policy, hailing the Iraqi government's positions on the war in Gaza, and its contribution to the treatment of the injured Palestinians. Pezeshkian was announced as Iran's next president on Saturday following his victory in a runoff against Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator. He already held a phone call on Monday with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, during which the two sides vowed to continue expanding bilateral relations and cooperation, according to the IRNA. States Newsroom photo. In the Ohios Best Journalism Contest from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Ohio Capital Journal won seven awards last week, including three first place finishes and four in second place. The contest covered stories and editorial from 2023. The latest awards come after the Ohio Capital Journal won seven SPJ awards last year, and five the year before. Overall, the Ohio Capital Journal has won 19 Ohio Society of Professional Journalists awards in the last three years. In digital media categories, Capital Journal Senior Reporter Marty Schladen won first place for best government/political reporting; reporter Megan Henry won first place for best education reporting; and Editor/Columnist David DeWitt and Columnist Marilou Johanek won first place for best overall commentary/opinion blog section. Reporter Susan Tebben won second place for best education reporting; OCJ/WEWS reporter Morgan Trau won second place for best government/political reporting; reporter Susan Tebben won second place for best medical/science/health care reporting, and the Ohio Capital Journal won second place for best general news site. We are incredibly honored and grateful for this recognition from our fellow journalists. We are also humbled by and grateful for all of the support we receive from our readers and Ohioans across the state. Below we are sharing the award-winning entries. Best Government/Political Reporting First Place Marty Schladen Ohio utility regulator front and center in massive bailout scandal Analysis: Bribery scandal shows how Ohio politics is polluted with dark money Money paid, favors done. Messages detail relationship between Ohio regulator and energy executives Best Education Issues Reporting First Place Megan Henry A look inside classes at an Ohio prison Reading is a basic right. Ohio parents of dyslexic students see benefits of science of reading 22 Ohio school districts have staff members authorized to carry weapons on school grounds Best Overall Commentary/Opinion blog section First Place David DeWitt and Marilou Johanek The shame of Ohio: Corrupt, gerrymandered Statehouse Republicans assault voters, again Gerrymandered Ohio GOP lawmakers launch tyrannical assault on 170 years of majority voter authority Ohio Issue 1 isnt about any one issue Its about every issue and the power Ohio voters have Best Government/Political Reporting Second Place Morgan Trau Ohio Sec. of State LaRose admits making constitution harder to amend is 100% about abortion Six transgender girls play sports in Ohio, but GOP wants them out How Ohios Issue 1 could affect the rest of the country Former Ohio House Speaker Householder sentenced to 20 years for states largest bribery scheme Statehouse coup Ohio GOP bitterly divided by deal with Democrats to elect House Speaker Best Education Issues Reporting Second Place Susan Tebben Ohio homeschooling group head: Nazi curriculum a sick parenting issue Schools districts plead for universal lunch amid budget talks Student hunger is pervasive in Ohio Best Medical/Science/Health Care Reporting Second Place Susan Tebben Ohio Issue 1s reproductive rights amendment and protection of access to contraception Access to expensive fertility treatment in Ohio varies but the Issue 1 amendment seeks to protect it Ohio IVF patients feel attacked by abortion ban law, fear more pain coming for their families Best General News Site Second Place Ohio Capital Journal If youd like to support our work, please follow us on Facebook and X, share our free newsletter subscription with family and friends, and consider making a tax-deductible donation. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Ohio Capital Journal wins seven more Society of Professional Journalists awards appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer with Rover, kneels down to pet an Australian Labradoodle. Photo courtesy of Adrienne Grant. Ohio lawmakers want to enact a protocol for scanning dead dogs and cats found on public roads for microchips and alerting owners to their pet's death. State Rep. Brian Lorenz, R-Powell, sponsored House Bill 379 along with Rep. Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton, "I have three dogs. I know a number of people that have lost animals," said Lorenz. "That's always a tragic thing. Unfortunately, you know, when they get out sometimes they get hit." Lorenz said that putting any procedure out there to ease the hurt of losing a pet will make the process less painful. The bill would give the opportunity to comfort pet owners with definitive knowledge of where their lost pet is. "I just see all over Powell and Dublin and Westerville missing animal signs," said Lorenz. "And it would just be helpful if the road crew, since they're out, most of them removing them anyway could take a quick second and scan them for a chip. And then at least try and give that family some closure." The cost of removal of the animal is negligible and scanners are inexpensive. Some sell for less than $30. Lorenz expects support for the bill, but there could be some changes in the specific logistics around claiming deceased animals. "We may have an amendment here or two, but generally speaking, it's been very well received," said Lorenz. How to keep from losing your pet For owners looking to avoid losing their pets, Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer with Rover, the world's largest pet sitter and dog walker network, has tips. Nicole Ellis high-fives a dog at sunset on a beach. "There are things we can do trainingwise or preventionwise," Ellis said. "So whether that's a fence around your yard for those beagles that love to sniff and making sure that they're not going to get away from us, keeping them on a leash, so obviously then they really can't escape (or) practicing door training at your door to prevent those quick escapes." House Bill 379 is in the Transportation Committee and had its last hearing in April. Nfishman@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio lawmakers want protocol to scan microchips in dead dogs, cats COLUMBUS For a second time, the Ohio Supreme Court has declined to hear former Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen's appeal of his theft in office conviction. In a decision filed Tuesday, Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy denied a motion filed by Homrighausen's attorney asking the court to reconsider an appeal. No reason for the decision was given. Former Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen returns to his office in December 2022 after a firing spree that targeted top city officials. On April 30, Kennedy and four of the justices declined to hear the appeal. Justices Patrick F. Fischer and Jennifer Brunner dissented, signaling that they would accept the appeal. On May 9, the former mayor's attorney, Mark R. DeVan, filed a motion for reconsideration. In his filing, DeVan argued that the issues in the case have widespread application throughout Ohio. "This court should accept jurisdiction to ensure that public officials are not convicted of theft in office for allegedly stealing government money that never belonged to the government in the first place and to require the state to prove that a purported victim of a theft has some possessory interest or legal claim to the property at issue," he argued. Wedding license fees Homrighausen was convicted in November 2022 in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court of theft in office, dereliction of duty and four counts of soliciting improper compensation related to fees he collected for officiating at weddings while mayor. At his sentencing, Common Pleas Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos ordered Homrighausen to pay a total of $9,295 in fees he collected for performing 231 wedding ceremonies, a figure derived from a state audit. He was also ordered to pay the cost of the audit ($2,665), a fine of $2,500 for theft in office, a fine of $500 for each count of soliciting improper compensation and a $750 fine for dereliction of duty. Homrighausen is also permanently barred from public office because of the theft in office conviction. He appealed his conviction to the Fifth District Court of Appeals in February 2023. In January the Court of Appeals upheld his theft in office conviction. Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com. Mayor Richard Homrighausen in December 2021. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Ohio Supreme Court again denies request to hear Homrighausen's appeal Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv most likely hit by Russian missile UN Danielle Bell, the head of mission for the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, has said that UN analysis suggests that the strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July was caused by a direct hit from a Russian missile. Source: Reuters, citing Danielle Belle during a press briefing in Geneva, which she joined via video link from Kyiv Quote from Bell: "Analysis of the video footage and an assessment made at the incident site indicates a high likelihood that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damage due to an intercepted weapon system." Details: Bell said that her team visited the site on Monday, 8 July, and could not make a final determination, even though the missile appeared to have been launched by Russia. Bell also said that around 670 children and 1,000 hospital staff were in the hospital at the time of the attack. "Staff had moved the children to a bunker yesterday morning when the air raid sirens first went off, otherwise the casualties would have been much higher," she added. Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. One of the buildings was destroyed and rescue operations continued through the morning of 9 June. The Kyiv authorities reported that 2 people had been killed and 32 injured as a result of the Russian attack on 8 July as of 12:15 on 9 July. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) defined Russia's attack on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv as a war crime and initiated criminal proceedings into the matter. Early reports from SSU investigators indicate the Russians used a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile to attack the medical facility. Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraines Air Force said that Ukrainian air defence missiles could not have struck the Okhmatdyt hospital. Support UP or become our patron! Rescue workers removed all the concrete slabs and reached the basement of the destroyed building of the Okhmatdyt National Childrens Specialised Hospital on the morning of 9 July. Fortunately, they did not find anyone there. Source: press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda Details: The press service clarified that about five or six tonnes of building materials remain to be sifted and removed. Previously: Earlier, law enforcement officers speculated that children and hospital staff could have been hiding in the basement of the destroyed building. Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. One of the buildings was destroyed and rescue operations are ongoing. The Kyiv authorities reported that two adults had been killed and 16 injured, including 7 children, as of 14:30 on 8 July. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has defined Russia's attack on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv as a war crime and initiated criminal proceedings into the matter. Early reports from SSU investigators indicate the Russians used a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile to attack the medical facility. Support UP or become our patron! TULSA, Okla. Criminal Defense attorney Winston Connors six-year legal battle ended Monday after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed its final appeal. After five-plus years of grueling litigation, including four appeals, this nightmare is finally over for Mr. Connor, said Clark Brewster, Connors attorney. RICO and other charges dropped against lawyer A prepared statement was released Monday by Clark Brewster of Brewster & DeAngelis and Paul DeMuro of Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers, PLLC. His reputation is, and should be, fully restored. Clark Brewster, Connors attorney Connor was indicted in 2018 on several charges including racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon, pandering, witness intimidation, distribution of controlled substances and illegal communication with an inmate. The charges stem from Connors alleged involvement with a Tulsa massage parlor and convicted murderer, Slint Tate. Tate is serving a life sentence for the July 1999 shooting death of Vernie Milford Roberts, a Delaware County reserve deputy. Racketeering, pandering, and drug-related charges were dismissed in 2022 and the murder solicitation charge was dismissed in 2021, court records show. Tulsa District Associate Judge Clifford Smith dismissed a solicitation and two other charges assault and witness tampering and a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized communication with an inmate in 2023. Smiths dismissal was based on a lack of venue. In simplest terms, the alleged crimes didnt occur in Tulsa County and the authorities did not have the proper authority to prosecute Connor. Mondays decision by the Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Smiths dismissal. Brewster said Connors public arrest, when he was returning from a family vacation, was to inflict maximum pain on him. The State made a public spectacle of its indictment against Mr. Connor, making sure that every news outlet in Oklahoma covered his indictment and arrest, Brewster said. Today, the States case ends with a whimper. Clark Brewster, Connors attorney Brewster took issue with the initial charges, saying This case was so baseless, none of the 10 charges even made it to trial. This case was about payback against a high-profile criminal defense attorney who had successfully beaten the State in numerous cases, Brewster said. A search of Connors law office and home computers and electronic devices showed no evidence of wrongdoing, he said. I believe in our justice system, Connor said. I believe it is based on zealousness and advocacy and works for each side. I have always believed that our justice system is the greatest in the world. Connor said at the time of his arrest he was truly stunned at the vindictiveness and jealousy that has orchestrated this investigation that culminated in these outrageous charges. Connor has been in private practice for 28 years. He is also a recipient of the coveted Clarence Darrow Award, an award only given to one lawyer in the entire state as recognition for outstanding trial court skill and accomplishment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma City Fire Department said it needs to hire more paramedics to tackle the growing number of emergency calls. In order to meet the numbers needed, the OKCFD is hosting several one-stop-shop hiring events. I my mom saw the news article about today and how they were trying the applicants and stuff today, said McKenzie Fennel, after walking into the OKCFDs hiring event Monday morning. LOCAL NEWS: OKCFD EMS Transport Program is looking to hire Paramedics The Oklahoma City Fire Department said theyre looking to hire eight more paramedics, thats half of their projected staff. Lieutenant Tommy Brown said the citys population has gone up impacting the amount of emergency calls. Just last year, the OKCFD said it received 95,000 first responder calls. We bought four new ambulances to go out and actually help supplement some of the call volume for EMSA, said Lt. Tommy Brown, with OKCFD. Thats why Fennel was there. After an interview and an HR Training test, it was time to show the department her skills. Each of the individual processes and stuff are pretty typical for what we do, said Fennel. Those processes included how to maneuver the stretcher over obstacles, around tight corners and tight spaces. Fennel also had to show staff she knew how to perform chest compressions. At the right depth, the right rate, and then you get a two minute break, and then you do it a second time, the trainer said to Fennel. Fennel had to show her strength by carrying training dummies and lifting weights. It wasnt too bad. It was a smooth process for sure, said Fennel. LOCAL NEWS: July 28 clothing giveaway for Sulphur storm victims They can come in. They can do all of the steps in the hiring process and we can try to get them a conditional job offer by the end of the week, said Lt. Tommy Brown. If you missed Mondays event, OKCFD will also host events on Thursday and Saturday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Oklahoma social studies education to be reformed with help of conservative influencers (The Hill) Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced Tuesday a committee with conservative activists tasked with rewriting the social studies standards in his state. The new approach to social studies standards will ensure the social studies standards are chronologically sound, reinforced, and reiterated through a students primary and secondary education, will empower schools to teach from primary sources, and will inspire in students a love of country and a proper understanding of the American founding. It will also eliminate DEI, indoctrination, and return teaching back to the basics in Oklahoma, Walters said in the letter. The decision comes after Walters said parts of the Bible must be taught in schools, emphasizing in the memo it will be used as an instructional resource. The committee includes conservative activists, such as Kevin Roberts, head of the Heritage Foundation, which led Project 2025, a conservative roadmap for a potential second Trump term. It also includes Dennis Prager, who founded PragerU, an education group focused on teaching conservative principles. The conservative platform has made its way into multiple states, with videos such as Was the Civil War About Slavery? and The Inconvenient Truth About the Democratic Party. I am very excited to have enlisted some of the brightest minds available to serve on our Executive Review Committee. Their unparalleled expertise will help craft new academic standards that will serve as a model for the nation and help Oklahoma students for years to come, Walters said. More than 75 Oklahomans, the vast majority of whom are public school teachers, are engaged in updating our academic standards. The members of the committee were blasted by Oklahoma House Democrats as extremists. His Executive Review Committee is made up of extremists Republicans who are seeking to strip Oklahomans of their right to freedom of religion and a well-rounded, public education, said House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KINSHASA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A proactive diplomacy will be employed to bring back peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, the new state minister for foreign affairs, while unveiling her plan late Monday. "MORE DIPLOMACY FOR MORE PEACE" The foreign ministry's task is "to use diplomacy for more peace in the DRC, but also more diplomacy in general," the top diplomat told her first press briefing since taking office in June. In the DRC, a country "with much to offer" and abundant opportunities in various fields, notably energy and sustainable development, her ministry will strive to address not only peace issues, especially in the eastern part of the country, but also growth, cooperation, and partnerships, Wagner said. Diplomatic efforts take a bit longer and are more subtle than frontline battles, she said, promising to achieve outcomes so that the voice of the DRC could be heard on the international stage. Wagner, who had worked in the eastern North Kivu province, the epicenter of violence, as a humanitarian worker for over two years before joining the United Nations system, said she would try to modernize the ministry, making it more "robust, connected, and digitized" to enhance the impact of diplomatic efforts. The DRC could draw from the diplomatic arsenal of tools, including good offices, which could lead to a conducive environment for a sustainable resolution of the conflict, she said. "Regarding diplomacy, my keyword is 'more.' More diplomacy for more peace." DIPLOMACY FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION The press conference came after an agreement between the government and March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, which have taken big chunks of land in eastern DRC, to silence their weapons as part of a two-week humanitarian truce. Wagner said the government is committed to continuing diplomatic efforts during and after the truce with the M23, which resurged in late 2021 after its defeat in 2013. The July 5-19 truce represents "a path toward peace" in the eastern part of the country, plagued by violence for decades, she said, stressing that protecting the country's population remains "the first priority" of her mandate. "A truce does not mean that we are not vigilant," Wagner said, stressing that diplomatic efforts aim to find a "lasting solution." "We remain firm in our position that any discussions will take place within the framework of the Luanda peace process," she said, referring to efforts initiated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, in response to a question regarding dialogue between the DRC and neighboring Rwanda. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting M23 rebels, an accusation rejected by Rwanda. "We want a political and sustainable solution," Wagner said. "We want honest and sincere discussions." In the first four months of this year, more than 900,000 people fled their homes, bringing the total number of the displaced to about 7.3 million in the DRC, including more than 5.6 million in the three eastern provinces, namely North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In New York, Bintou Keita, the representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, told the UN Security Council Monday that the DRC is experiencing "one of the most serious, most complex and most neglected humanitarian crises of this era." WITHDRAWAL OF UN PEACEKEEPERS The new foreign minister called for a "responsible, sustainable, and orderly withdrawal" of UN peacekeepers from the DRC after 25 years of presence. The pullout should not be seen as a void in the eastern part of the country, Wagner said. At the end of June, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) closed its central office in South Kivu, marking the end of the first phase of its disengagement process from the country. According to the timetable established by the DRC and the UN, MONUSCO's disengagement unfolds in three phases, starting with a complete withdrawal of military and police components from the mission in South Kivu by April 30 and civilian components by June 30. The second and third phases involve a withdrawal from North Kivu and Ituri provinces so that MONUSCO will "definitively leave the DRC no later than the end of 2024," according to a statement jointly issued by the Congolese government and MONUSCO last January. "The departure of MONUSCO cannot be seen as a source of concern," Wagner explained, referring to the recent completion of the withdrawal process in South Kivu. "It's a process that was rich in experience and learning," she said. "What is very important is that we do not want to hasten a situation where the vulnerability and volatility of the security context could be further exploited." Wagner denied rumors circulating on social media that Chad will dispatch troops to the DRC. "Since Chad is not a member of SADC (Southern African Development Community), a military deployment in the context of SADC's SAMIDRC is not an option," she said. SAMIDRC stands for the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Composed of military elements from Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi, and with support from Burundi and the African Union, SAMIDRC has an offensive mandate to halt the advance of M23 rebels. Olivia Nuzzi is best known for her work with the written word, but shes going to try her hand at on-screen chatter. Nuzzi, the Washington correspondent for New York magazine, will lead Working Capital, a six-episode interview series that focuses on candid exchanges with political and business leaders. The series debuts Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m. eastern and will subsequently stream Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Bloomberg Originals platforms and air on Bloomberg Television Wednesdays at 6 p.m. More from Variety I am interested in how political power works and what it feels like to wield it, said Nuzzi, in a prepared statement. Through these interviews, I hoped to go deeper than the political media usually has the time or ability to in order to truly understand the people who make decisions that impact our world. The new series will feature interviews with New York City Mayor Eric Adams; New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu; U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield; entrepreneur Mark Cuban; Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Nuzzi travels across the U.S. for the interviews, journeying from the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C. to a Midwest diner to New Yorks City Hall to Mount Major in New Hampshire. Nuzzi first gained traction with aggressive political reporting at The Daily Beast. She joined New York in 2017. Bloomberg Originals programming streams on Bloomberg.com and the Bloomberg app on connected-TV platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, and Android TV and is also available via Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Amazons news app on Fire TV, Tubi, Sling, Xfinity and VIZIO WatchFree+. The programming also broadcasts during select primetime and weekend time slots on Bloomberg TV and BTV+. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Kentuckys most experienced utility regulator is no longer in office, resigning on the belief that Gov. Andy Beshear would not reappoint him to another term. Why did Kent Chandler, former chairman of the states Public Service Commission, have that impression after a lack of communication from Beshears team? The governors office has not said. The Governor appreciates Mr. Chandlers service. He resigned from the PSC, effective at the end of his term, Crystal Staley, a spokesperson for the governor, wrote. The governor will appoint a new member soon. Regardless of the reason, attorneys who appear before the commission as well as consumer and environmental advocates have expressed disappointment at Chandlers June 30 departure. The commission is among the most important bodies whose members are appointed by the governor, as it regulates Kentuckys water and utility providers both massive and small. Its also charged with protecting Kentucky utility customers and vetting power generation plans, utility sales and rate hikes among other things. Every state has regulatory utility commission similar to Kentuckys, though the commonwealths is relatively less political. In Mississippi, one commissioner launched an impressive underdog campaign for governor touting his utility background; in Illinois, the commission is the subject of political television advertisements. Kentuckys commission keeps a lower profile. However, it is often involved in hugely important decisions like the sale of Kentucky Power in the Eastern part of the state (that was approved by the PSC but eventually blocked by federal regulators) and the transfer of power territory for the massive Ford electric vehicle battery plant coming online near Elizabethtown. Chandler told the Herald-Leader that he believes his more than four years at the PSC at the start of the Beshear administration he was named executive director before joining the commission as chair were positive. In 2020, the number of employees at the regulatory body was in the mid-60s; now, its in the mid-80s. I think its directionally better situated today than it was when I got there four years ago, Chandler said. Were in a much better position on personnel, on our experience level, and education level and training than we were when we got there. I think I played a tiny part in that. Chandler did not say why he believed he wouldnt be reappointed. He did add that he was excited to find another opportunity in the sector, potentially working in the federal wholesale electricity market space. Tom Fitzgerald, a longtime environmental advocate, said via email he was very disappointed that Beshear did not indicate he would reappoint Chandler. Fitzgerald said that now a time of great transition in how energy is generated and used was not a good time to lose a commissioner as experienced as Chandler. Energy has been Chandlers bailiwick since graduating law school in 2015. He began working on those issues in 2016, when he specialized in utility issues in Behsears attorney general office, later serving as an advisor to the PSC and then its executive director. No one can credibly state that he was not among the most diligent, thoughtful, involved, and fair Commissioners that we have had at the PSC, Fitzgerald wrote. (Ratepayers) are poorly served by the Governors decision not to reappoint him. Those of us who represent ratepayers with low- and fixed-incomes who are among the most vulnerable to high utility costs, are especially appreciative of his service and the sacrifice of his family in allowing him to put in long hours at short pay in service to the ratepayers of the Commonwealth. Chandlers move leaves two commissioners on the three-person body: Mary Pat Regan, a former executive at AT&T, and Angie Hatton, a former Eastern Kentucky Democratic state representative. As previous vice chair, Hatton now serves as acting chair. While the remaining Commissioners are able and thoughtful people, neither have the breadth of experience that Kent had as a former assistant attorney general in the rate intervention office, and then as Chair of the Commission, Fitzgerald wrote. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, is the top legislator in the state Senate, where PSC appointees are either confirmed or passed over. Hes played an outsize role in advocating for legislation related to energy over the last two legislative sessions, including two bills that increase roadblocks for utilities seeking to retire power plants that use fossil fuels. Stivers declined to comment on Chandlers departure. Jim Gardner, an attorney with Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney who also served on the PSC from 2008 to 2016, said Chandler ran the commission fairly and diligently. He said it was a surprise to him when he heard the news. Although I didnt agree with all of his decisions, I dont see how anyone could question his integrity, his work ethic and his willingness to go down into the weeds on a very complicated subject matter. His departure is a loss for Kentucky, Gardner said. Audrey Ernstberger, an associate attorney fellow at Kentucky Resources Council, one of the states most prominent environmental advocacy nonprofits, said that Chandlers tenure was marked by incredible thoughtfulness and objectivity. It resulted in mixed decisions where folks on either side of issues would walk away having won one issue and then lost on another one, Ernstberger said. I think that can frustrate some parties, but thats the mark of a good, thoughtful and objective regulator someone who knows the rules and the industry so well that the main focus is, is adhering to the regulatory authority and implementing it in a very fair way. Michael Kurtz, an attorney whos practiced before the commission for 38 years, told the Kentucky Lantern that Chandler was by far the hardest working and smartest commissioner that has been on the bench in my memory. Beyond his service to the PSC, Chandler was president of two major regional regulatory bodies, serving alongside state regulators up and down the Eastern seaboard on the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners and the Organization of PJM States. Do any of Chandlers many admirers in the industry have an idea of why he resigned on the belief that he wouldnt be reappointed? Not exactly. Fitzgerald said he had no clue, but mentioned that some of Chandlers positions had previously upset a gas utility, the states powerful electric co-operatives and, once, the governors budget office. My concern is that theyll appoint someone without a clue at a time when we need a third commissioner who understands the process and the issues, Fitzgerald said. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify who must register and show that you can request advanced ballots as late as July 30. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Sedgwick County residents who want to vote in the 2024 primary on Aug. 6 have under one week to meet an important deadline. Tuesday, Jul. 16, is the last day to register to vote or update your registration if you have moved or changed your name. In the primary, only registered Republicans and Democrats can cast a ballot for a candidate in their declared party. June 3 was the deadline for voters to switch political parties, but unaffiliated voters can declare a party on primary Election Day. To register to vote, a person must be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years old. Online voter registration applications are available by clicking here. Sedgwick County Election Office in need of more election workers Citizens can also register by mail or in person at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main, Suite 101, in Wichita. To verify identity, residents must provide the number to their valid Kansas drivers license or non-drivers ID card, or they can use the last four digits of their social security number. Voters can check their registration status here. Advance mail ballot applications are available through the Sedgwick County Election Office. They can be requested up until Tuesday, July 30. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. What is an open convention? The nuclear option Democrats could take to replace Biden President Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance in Atlanta last month has opened the door in many Democratic minds that the best option might be to find a new nominee during an open convention. After resolutely committing to staying in the race for several weeks after the debate, the president is reportedly beginning to open up to the notion that his time may have passed and that he has to step aside. Democratic leaders told Axios that he may drop out as soon as this weekend. Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama is reported to believe that Biden needs to seriously reconsider his decision to stay in the race. Obama has been getting calls from concerned Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has privately warned Biden of his diminishing chances to win re-election. But the Biden campaign is still saying that the president isnt going anywhere. A growing number of Democratic members of Congress have publicly called on Biden to step aside, so how would a new nominee actually be chosen? How would an open convention work? Candidates win delegates during the primary season based on how they fare in primaries and caucuses on the state level. The delegates will then vote at the convention until a candidate wins the nomination, with the votes of 1,976 delegates needed to win the nomination. Biden has earned nearly 4,000 delegates as he faced little opposition. The logo for the Democratic National Convention is displayed on the scoreboard at the United Center during a media walkthrough on January 18, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Democrats havent had an open convention since 1968 (Getty Images) The last time the Democrats had an open convention was during the 1968 election amid heated arguments surrounding the Vietnam War. While conventions more recently have been closer to coronations for the primary winner, they used to be the moment that a nominee was chosen. An open convention would mean that the primary process is now moot, and it becomes a contest to bring the most delegates to a candidates side. The rules say that delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. If Biden were to leave the race, he would surrender the delegates he won during the primary, leaving them free to back someone else. Delegates are chosen to attend the convention at the state and county level. Its at this level that candidates focus their efforts to get their supporters elected for the remaining delegate seats. But in an open convention, new candidates would have to try to convince delegates who were previously pledged to Biden to back them for the nomination. Its likely to create a chaotic process with scrambling on the convention floor as the campaigns try to get now-free delegates to join their corner. But since an open convention hasnt taken place in more than half a century, it remains largely unclear what would happen if Biden were to leave the race. Democrats may not go for an open convention and simply endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and put her forward as an uncontested nominee. The party could also host debates between the top candidates ahead of the convention. Convention expert Elaine Kamarck told The New York Times earlier this year that if Biden were to drop out after all the delegates had been elected, the new candidates would have to convince the delegates at the convention. You will have what you had in the old days, she told the outlet. Delegations will meet in their hotels, and the candidates will go from hotel to hotel, or their surrogates, talking to the delegations and trying to get support. You would have the wives or the husbands being surrogates. Youd have other surrogates going to the smaller state delegations. She added that in the meantime, there would be a wild campaign on social media, in addition to new polling being conducted. You might need another day for the convention because thered be so much work to do, she said, noting that its likely that the vote would take more than one ballot. Odds are youd need a first ballot just to figure out where everybody was, and then youd probably take a break before you had your second ballot, she added. It would be an old-fashioned convention, Kamarack noted. Alice Munro, the Canadian writer who won the Nobel Prize for her short stories, packed into their slender boundaries all the heft of a novel. She was a writer who inspired enormous loyalty in her readers, but that devotion will be tested by the revelation made this weekend by Munros daughter, Andrea Robin Skinner, that she was sexually abused by her stepfather, Gerard Fremlin, Munros second husband, and that Munro, when told, did nothing about it. As Andrea wrote in a coruscating op-ed in the Toronto Star this weekend, her mother chose to stay with and protect my abuser. Munros stories have been revered for their quiet wisdom and epiphanic grace. Her calm and smiling face in photographs reinforce the idea of a secular saint. Munro. who died in May aged 92, had even written a short story in which a young woman commits suicide because she has been sexually abused by her stepfather. And yet, when her youngest daughter told her what Fremlin had done to her, the Nobel Prize winners reaction was not to grieve for her child, but to complain of Fremlins infidelity to her. Margaret Atwood Is Shocked at Alice Munro Daughters Abuse Bombshell Fremlin reacted to the accusations by insisting that the 9-year-old Andrea had been the sexual predator who had forced herself on him. He even called the little girl a homewrecker. The situation is creepily reminiscent of Vladimir Nabokovs novel Lolita, where the pedophile Humbert Humbert marries Charlotte Haze so that he can be closer to her 12-year-old daughter Dolores, aka Lolita. In the novel, when Charlotte finds out Humberts real intentions after reading his diary, she runs out into the road in her anguish and is run over by a passing car. Humbert then abducts his stepdaughter and writes in chilling detail about how she subsequently seduced him. Presumably Munro must have read Lolita, but when confronted with evidence that her husband was not only a pedophile but a man who could not acknowledge his own guilt, she decided, after a brief separation, to forgive him. Andrea Skinner says that her mother justified herself by saying that she had been told too late, that she loved him too much, and that our misogynistic culture was to blame if I expected her to deny her own needs, sacrifice for her children and make up for the failings of men. She was adamant that whatever had happened was between me and my stepfather. It had nothing to do with her. Graham Greene once said that every great writer has a sliver of ice in their heart but in Munros case it is not so much a sliver as an iceberg. There is a cognitive dissonance about a woman who is admired for her compassionate feminism, choosing to compound the terrible wrong that had been done to her child. Whats more, its hard not to conclude that despite her denial , Munro must have sensed at some level what was going on and used the situation in the short story about the girl who committed suicide. In the story, she writes about the girls misery with great empathy, but in real life she washed her hands of her daughters trauma. Nabokov has been pretty much cancelled now for writing Lolitatodays readers finding it hard to believe that what he was writing was fiction. It will be interesting to see whether Munros reputation will survive this revelation. Will her Nobel Prize be rescinded posthumously? Should we condemn a writers work because of their horrible shortcomings as human beings? Munro once wrote: Fiction is serious business. You really have to think these characters through. You have to think about how people really live their lives and the compromises they make. Munro could empathize on the page but not in real life. I hope that by telling her story, her daughter will find some relief. She has been epically betrayed, and I salute her for exposing how her mother lived her life, and the hideous compromise she made. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Opinion: Dems Should at Least TRY Gaslighting Their Way Out of Bidens Age Crisis Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher. Theres nobody better at turning wins into losses than the contemporary Democratic Party, according to The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. With their current presidential candidate facing a crisis of confidence over his advanced age and perceived cognitive abilities, Democratic politicians and liberal media figures alike have been casting about blindly for an alternativeany alternative. Its a fools errand, Moodie and Levy agree. I would love for Democrats to show just half of the, I dont know, the commitment to their candidate, the way that Republicans are committed to a felon and an alleged rapist, Moodie said. I don't understand why we cant gaslight our way out of this the way that the Republican party does all the time. Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast. Then, The New Abnormal catches up with decorated CNN correspondent Elle Reeve, who shares some of the findings from her new book: Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics. What has been most disturbing to me after a decade of reporting on [the far-right movement] is the little ways in which their ideas trickle into mainstream culture, Reeve said. Whether its a little bit of sexism, a little bit of eugenics We are seeing a lot of guys in Silicon Valley echoing some of the fascism, some of the stuff I read in posts by teenagers on 4chan 10 years ago. Why the MAGA Cult Votes for Trump and Against Its Own Interest Plus! A conversation with Samhita Mukhopadhyay about her recent book, The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning. Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. White Houses, for decades, have denied presidential illnesses: FDRs polio; JFKs Addisons; Reagans Alzheimers, and now, perhaps, Bidens decline. The power of the American presidency is incompatible with human frailty; its something I have seen close up, twice. Some 30 years ago I was dispatched by The Guardian to write a piece about Ronald Reagan. He was in London to deliver a speech and even though he had been out of office for five years it still felt like a plum assignment for a young reporter. He was an American president after all and his swarm of security and their long black limos dwarfed the narrow Bloomsbury streets. The room was in thrall as he strode towards the podium. What followed I have never forgotten. It was 20 minutes of that world-famous baritone speaking words, lots of words, words that individually made sense and that I recognized, but words he had strung together that made absolutely no sense at all. Reagan, seen in London in 1992 with Nancy, had been the subject of denials about his mental state when he was in the White House. But after, his decline was visible in public, and when I reported from a speech he gave in London, it was painfully obvious. Dave M. Benett/Getty Images At first I assumed it was me. This must be such an important speech that I was somehow not smart enough to grasp it. I looked around for other audience reaction but no one caught my eye. I began to panic. What was I going to write? Why couldnt I understand him? And then I listened and watched and realized it wasnt me. Incredibly, for all the posse he had around him, for all the black cars blocking the street below, it was him. The American president wasnt making sense! I got back to the office with a written copy of the speech that one of his aides had handed out and which I duly wrote up. I also described the bewildering disconnect of what I heard and what he had been supposed to say. The editor slapped on a headline: Has the Gipper Gone Gaga? (Gaga is British slang for not making sense any more.) It was the days before social media. Nobody had a camera, much less a video of Reagans speech. Shortly after, Reagan announced he was retiring from public duties: I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. Three months ago I had the honor of being invited to the White House. It was an afternoon tea for creators and Joe Biden arrived to speak to us. Theres no mistaking the electricity that surrounds an American president and his entourage, but once again, there was something off. This time I could see it. He walked with a stiff, hesitant gait, each step deliberate and labored. David Axelrod: Joe Biden has Two Weeks to Build a Blue Wall As he tried to turn around, his movements were slow and specific, almost as if he were caught in a frame-by-frame sequence. Each shift of his feet seemed to require immense effort, and his torso followed with a measured, painstaking precision. Despite the struggle, he managed to talk to everyone in the room, maintaining eye contact as he turned, ensuring no one felt left out of the conversation. The change since I had last seen him in person was dramatic. I had met the Bidens on several occasions during his vice presidency. Once, at a lunch, hearing after I had become an American citizen only the week before, he interrupted the larger conversation to thank me for coming over to our side. Another time, at the vice presidents residence, the Old Naval Observatory, he wrestled my younger son into a headlock. In the photos we are all laughing. Another time he gave my older son a full 15 minutes on how to stand for class president. Its hard to imagine a more natural politician. Its hard to see one more changed. Its not hard, however, to look online and match the Biden I saw to possible conditions, particularly the complex known as Parkinsonisman umbrella term which includes Parkinsons Disease and other neurological conditions. Biden was at a White House reception for creators, among them impressionist Matt Friend, when I saw him. The sense of physical deterioration was unmistakable. Joanna Coles/Daily Beast MichaelJFox.org, the actors foundation which raises awareness and money to treat Parkinsons Disease, points out that doctors can often initially diagnose a Parkinsons patient simply by the way they move. According to the foundation, the main symptoms are stiffness (rigidity); slowness (bradykinesia): decrease in spontaneous and voluntary movement; may include slower walking, less arm swinging while walking, or decreased blinking or facial expression; and speech problems: speaking in a soft and monotone voice and sometimes slurring words or mumbling. Sometimes speech sounds breathy or hoarse. People with Parkinson's might slur words, mumble or trail off at the end of a sentence. Now The New York Times reports that a specialist in Parkinsons disease from the Walter Reed Medical Center visited the White House eight times in eight months from last summer to this spring, consulting with the presidents doctor at least once. The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, strongly denied Monday that the president has Parkinsons. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No. Hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No, she said. The Biden I saw was stiff, his movements precise. His decline from when I last had seen him was obvious. He was speaking at a White House reception for creators and Jeffrey Katzenberg, his top Hollywood fundraiser was right behind him. Joanna Coles/Daily Beast Up close it was impossible not to notice the changes in our 81-year-old president. We can all see Biden is markedly older and has suffered a heartbreaking deterioration. His strange leaning, as if for support, on King Charles during his U.K. state visit; his middle-distance stare and frozen stance in the Juneteenth video when everyone else was dancing; his catastrophic performance during the 9 p.m. CNN debate. Reagan, with his ever-youthful appearance thanks to dyed hair and horse-riding, managed to keep his illness hidden from public view until after his presidency, even in London at the speech I reported on. In contrast, certain diseases reveal their presence through unmistakable symptoms that are difficult to conceal, making the struggle evident to all who watch. I am not a doctor. Even those of us who have seen him close up dont know the presidents true medical diagnosis. But unlike Reagans, dont let this be the decline that dare not speak its name. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Europe is in the midst of the largest war on the continent since NATO was founded in 1949. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attacking Ukraine with conventional forces and engaging in hybrid attacks against NATO itself. The allies know that if Russia is not defeated in Ukraine, it is highly likely that Europe will soon face a larger war involving their countries. It is, therefore, beyond doubt that defeating Putins regime is a vital interest for Europe and the United States. And yet despite the billions of dollars of military and financial aid provided to Ukraine, the West still has no plan to achieve Ukrainian victory. One might think, therefore, that at the July 9-11 gathering of NATO heads of state and government a meeting marking 75 years of the worlds most successful military alliance the number one issue would be the plan for victory and the restoration of peace in Europe. One would be wrong. There will be no talk of doing whatever it takes to win the war, of defeating Putinism, and of inviting Ukraine to join NATO as quickly as possible. Instead, the summit has already been pre-planned to take only modest, incremental steps to support Ukraine, while deliberately avoiding the most fundamental questions. Read also: The Counteroffensive: What UK Labours landslide election means for Ukraine This low bar was set and rigorously enforced by the United States and Germany, despite pleas for a more robust posture by several NATO allies. Washington and Berlin have made it clear that the key goal is not to provoke Putin and to avoid escalation. His defeat is still not the objective. As a result, when the dust settles after all the motorcades leave Washington, there will be the same uncertainty in Ukraine as before the summit: brutal fighting on the front line, daily Russian bomb and drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure (especially energy), a Putin who believes he can still win, a Ukraine that heroically fights on without an immediate pathway to victory, and a West that is helping, but not enough. Fundamental questions about the future of war and peace in Europe will remain unanswered. Compounding uncertainty about the war is uncertainty about the future of U.S. leadership. Each of the 31 NATO heads of state and government arriving in Washington this week wants to know the following about its 32nd and leading member: Is President Joe Biden fit to run for re-election as president, and will he? Can he even perform as president right now and for the rest of his term while war rages in Europe? Will the Democratic Party replace him? If so, when, and with whom? Even if he or another Democrat is elected, will the United States only grow weaker? And given such weakness on the Democratic side, can anything now stand in the way of former President Donald Trump returning to the White House? And finally, if Trump wins, what will this mean for Ukraine and for NATO? As awkward as these questions are for the Biden administration, they are existential for European allies. How they are answered will determine the fate of war and peace on the continent. The United States is the alliances most powerful member. It is indispensable. There is now deep uncertainty over the future of American leadership, its future interest in Ukrainian victory and even in the alliance itself. The entrance to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center ahead of NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington, D.C., United States on July 8, 2024. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) In a public corporation facing a leadership crisis, the board would convene an emergency discussion about its future. One might think, therefore, that at a gathering of NATO leaders, they would do the same. Sadly, that will not be the case. Alliance leaders will talk quietly about the big issues on the margins, and hold their tongues in public. NATO urgently needs a strategic discussion about the future of peace and security in Europe, and what can be expected of America in maintaining that peace. It is urgent because, despite the veneer of unity, allies have very different perspectives, depending on their geography and politics. Strong U.S. leadership is needed to forge a consensus. Most West European leaders have a deep disdain for Trump and are alarmed at his possible return to power. They worry he would undermine NATOs Article 5 collective defense commitment, cut off aid to Ukraine, embolden Putin, and launch a global tariff war. Front-line states such as Poland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine (which, while not an ally, is defending the frontier of freedom in Europe) share these concerns to some degree but are even more concerned about weak American leadership. They see an America that gives Ukraine enough to survive but fears a Russian defeat; an America that counsels Ukraine not to attack inside Russia, even as Russia inflicts brutal attacks on Ukraine every day. Just as they worry that Trump presidency might reduce Americas support for NATO and Ukraine, they fret that a second-term Biden administration would still lack the resolve to defeat Putin, allowing Putin to regroup and expand his imperial and genocidal conquests in Europe. Read also: Opinion: The realities faced by Russias national minorities are history repeating itself The remedy to all these fears would be for the NATO summit to send a clear and unambiguous message to Putin that, despite the uncertainties in American leadership, NATO has the strength, resolve, and resources organized behind a clear plan to ensure Ukrainian victory, Russian defeat, and the restoration of peace in Europe. Ideally, NATO would make clear it will give Ukraine everything required to expel the Russian invader, with no restrictions on the types of weapons provided or their use, other than conforming to international law. Allies should establish a massive fund for expanding defense industrial production and procuring supplies for Ukraine, based on established NATO cost-share formulae. Allies should provide direct assistance in extending air defenses over western and southwestern Ukraine. Allies should assist with demining and guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. And NATO should begin the process of admitting Ukraine as a member, just as the European Union has done by opening accession talks with Ukraine. As it is, there will be no such messages from the NATO summit. Allies will leave town as they came, deeply concerned about Russias war in Ukraine, deeply concerned about the future of American leadership, and with no plan as to what to do next. They wont even have discussed it, leaving a gaping hole for our enemies to exploit. Editors Note: This article has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with the permission of the author. The original version can be accessed on the CEPA website. The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The history of medical diagnosis is a march through painstaking observation. Ancient Egyptian physicians first diagnosed urinary tract infections by observing patterns in patients urine. To diagnose diseases of the heart and lungs, medieval doctors added core elements of the physical examination: pulse, palpation and percussion. The 20th century saw the addition of laboratory studies, and the 21st century of sophisticated imaging and genetics. Despite advances, however, diagnosis has largely remained a human endeavor, with doctors relying on so-called illness scripts clusters of signs, symptoms and diagnostic findings that are hallmarks of a disease. Medical students spend years memorizing such scripts, training themselves to, for example, identify the sub-millimeter variations in electrocardiogram wave measurements that might alert them to a heart attack. Read more: Op-comic: What one doctor learned as a guinea pig for AI But human beings, of course, err. Sometimes, misdiagnosis occurs because a doctor overlooks something when the patterns of illness fit the script, but the script is misread. This happens in an estimated 15% to 20% of medical encounters. Other times, misdiagnosis occurs because the illness has features that do not match known patterns they do not fit the script, such as when a heart attack occurs without telltale symptoms or EKG findings. Artificial intelligence can help solve these two fundamental problems if its given enough financial support and deployed correctly. First, AI is less susceptible to common factors that lead doctors to make diagnostic errors: fatigue , lack of time and cognitive bandwidth when treating many patients , gaps of knowledge and reliance on mental shortcuts . Even when illnesses conform to scripts, computers will sometimes be better than humans at identifying details buried within voluminous healthcare data. Using AI to improve the accuracy and timeliness with which doctors recognize illness can mean the difference between life and death. Ischemic stroke, for example, is a life-threatening emergency where a blocked artery impedes blood flow to the brain. Brain imaging clinches the diagnosis, but that imaging must be performed and interpreted by a radiologist quickly and accurately. Studies show that AI, through superhuman pattern matching abilities, can identify strokes seconds after imaging is performed tens of minutes sooner than by often-busy radiologists. Similar capabilities have been demonstrated in diagnosing sepsis , pneumonia , blood clot in the lungs ( pulmonary embolism) , acute kidney injury and other conditions. Read more: Opinion: Wait times go down. Patient satisfaction goes up. What's the matter with letting apps and AI run the ER? Second, computers can be useful for illnesses for which we havent developed the right scripts. AI can, in fact, diagnose disease using new patterns too subtle for humans to identify. Consider, for example, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic condition in which the hearts muscle has grown more than it should, leading to eventual heart failure and sometimes death. Experts estimate that only 20% of those affected are diagnosed , a process that requires consultation with a cardiologist, a heart ultrasound and often genetic testing. What, then, of the remaining 80%? Researchers across the country, including at the Mayo Clinic and UC San Francisco, have demonstrated that AI can detect complex, previously unrecognized patterns to identify patients likely to have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, meaning AI-driven algorithms will be able to screen for the condition in routine EKGs. AI was able to recognize these patterns after examining the EKGs of many people with and without the disease. The rapid growth in healthcare data including detailed electronic health records, imaging, genomic data, biometrics and behavioral data combined with advancements in artificial intelligence technology has created a major opportunity. Because of its unique ability to identify patterns from the data, AI has helped radiologists to find hidden cancers , pathologists to characterize liver fibrosis and ophthalmologists to detect retinal disease . One challenge is that AI is expensive, requiring large-scale data to train computer algorithms and the technology to do so. As these resources become more ubiquitous, that can make the associated intellectual property difficult to protect, discouraging private investment in these products. More generally, diagnostics have long been considered unattractive investments. Unlike their therapeutic counterparts, which see around $300 billion in research and development investment a year, diagnostics receive a modest $10 billion in private funding. Then theres the question of who pays for the use of AI-based tools in medicine specifically. Some applications, such as detecting strokes, save insurers money (by preventing costly ICU stays and subsequent rehabilitation). These technologies tend to get reimbursed more quickly. But other AI solutions, such as detecting hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, may lead to increased spending on costly downstream therapies to treat newly identified chronic illness. Although the use of AI may improve quality of care and long-term outcomes in such cases, without financial incentives for insurers, reimbursement and thus adoption may be slow. Life sciences companies have on rare occasion agreed to subsidize development or reimbursement of AI-based diagnostics. This will help bridge the gap, but the federal government may need to play a greater role. Federal support for COVID diagnostics during the pandemic drove rapid development of critical tests, and the cancer moonshot project has helped drive R&D in screening and new treatments. It is usually tough to marshal funding at the scale needed for new medical frontiers. But the National Academies of Medicine has estimated that tens of billions of dollars and countless lives could be saved from improving diagnosis in medicine. Artificial intelligence offers a path toward that. It should complement, rather than replace, the human expertise that already saves so many lives. The future of medical diagnosis doesnt mean handing over the keys to AI but, rather, making use of what it can do that we cant. This could be a special moment for diagnosis, if we invest enough and do it right. Gaurav Singal is a computer scientist and physician at Harvard Medical School and was previously the chief data officer of Foundation Medicine, a cancer diagnostics company. Anupam B. Jena is an economist, physician and professor at Harvard Medical School and co-author of Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health and the Random Acts of Medicine Substack . If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NAIROBI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday announced that a national multisectoral forum will be held on July 15 to address issues raised by the country's youth that sparked three weeks of protests across the country. Ruto said the proposed six-day forum will deliberate on issues including employment, tax policies, national debt, representation and accountability, and anti-corruption measures. "We have had consultations and agreed that, to bring the priority, we will move ahead with the multisectoral forum," he said in Nairobi, the country's capital, during a meeting that gathered opposition leaders including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The president's remarks followed a recent three-week anti-government protests across the country, sparked by the contentious Finance Bill 2024 which was later withdrawn from the parliament. The protests, which were led by mostly young demonstrators, have so far left at least 41 people dead and more than 360 others injured, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The protesters had expressed outrage over provisions of the bill that would raise taxes on goods and services that many people depend on, such as bread, and mobile money transfers, to meet the government's revenue targets. Ruto said the forum will include 150 members, 50 of whom will be youth, while 100 people will be drawn from religious institutions, civil society, professional organizations and political parties, among other stakeholders. He also welcomed political parties and all other stakeholders to work with the government to forge a new path for the country. "As a way of charting the future from the current situation, I welcome all leaders and other stakeholders to work together to address the current economic situation through a broad-based political arrangement and to rally the country forward," he added. Odinga, who is also the leader of the opposition, said leaders have agreed that dialogue is the way forward out of the current situation the country is in. "We have agreed to give the people an opportunity to be heard and to articulate the grievances that are ailing our country so that a lasting solution can be found." Editors Note: Daniel R. DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a syndicated foreign affairs columnist at the Chicago Tribune. His work can be seen in The New York Times, Politico, The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian, among other publications. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more at CNN Opinion. A year ago, NATO heads of state gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, for their annual summit. A gathering designed to send Russian President Vladimir Putin a message about NATOs resolve and commitment became clouded instead, however, by the question of Ukraines eventual membership in the alliance. Daniel R. DePetris - Courtesy Daniel R. DePetris The communique released after the multi-day event reaffirmed a commitment given by the alliance during the 2008 summit in Bucharest: Ukraine will become a NATO member, even if the timing is yet to be determined. For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the reaffirmation was far short of his expectations. He called NATOs unwillingness to establish a concrete timeframe for Ukraines membership unprecedented and absurd, causing consternation in the Biden administration and nearly derailing the summit. Washington and Kyiv were able to patch up the acrimony. But with NATO leaders in Washington this week to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the alliance, the Ukraine membership question continues to hover over the proceedings like humidity in the dog days of August. The United States and its allies will no doubt continue to insist ad nauseam that its only a matter of time before Ukraine is given the privilege of joining NATO. Indeed, according to the draft communique for this weeks summit, NATO is preparing to emphasize that Ukraines path to joining the allliance is irreversible, a declaration first made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in April. In reality, however, Ukraine is nowhere near membership. NATO doesnt look prepared to bring Ukraine into the alliance, and theres a good case to be made that bestowing membership status on Kyiv would be bad policy. Its long past time for the Biden administration to stop pretending otherwise. The White House should give Zelensky the honesty he deserves. First, the US should be clear up front about how difficult it is for an aspiring country to become a member of NATO. Its charter makes clear that member nations agree to defend any other member of the alliance that comes under attack: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. On paper, Poland is as obligated to come to the defense of the US as the US is obligated to come to the defense of Poland. Several key NATO members, however, havent been especially eager to come to the defense of Ukraine. In 2008, when then-President George W. Bush wanted to offer Ukraine (and Georgia, another former Soviet state) a plan to get the accession process started, allies like France and Germany were opposed to it. After the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014 put the issue on the agenda once again, it was the US that had qualms. Then-President Barack Obama instead said that Washington would call a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, a body to nurture the bilateral relationship. Biden stated as recently as last month that he is not prepared to support the NATO-ization of Ukraine. Because NATO makes decisions through consensus, any single member can block Ukraines accession. The notion that Kyiv will enter NATO as long as the war in Ukraine is churning is of course fanciful for the simple reason that the members of the alliance would then be compelled to fight Russia directly, which raises the question of whether bringing Ukraine into NATO, even if feasible, is actually wise. Zelensky, who has spent a great deal of time since Russias invasion trying to press the subject of membership, himself understands this necessary delay quite well. Some foreign policy scholars, like former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, have recommended extending a NATO invitation to Ukraine to pave the way for when the war is over. This would presumably deter Putin over the long-term and prevent Moscow from using any ceasefire to rebuild its military for another invasion of Ukraine months or years down the line. But this scenario is also problematic. Why would Putin consider a ceasefire or diplomatic settlement with Kyiv if he knew that NATO membership for Ukraine was just around the corner? Far from promoting a settlement, this idea could make the wars termination virtually impossible for Putin, who explicitly called on Ukraine to drop its aspirations to join NATO as a core condition of any peace negotiation. As dozens of foreign policy experts wrote in an open letter last week (which I signed), 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 and killing Ukrainians so as to forestall Ukraines integration into NATO. All that aside, its not altogether clear that extending a NATO security guarantee to Ukraine would be fully honored which could undermine the alliance itself. NATO countries have repeatedly demonstrated that they wont get into a direct shooting war on Ukraines behalf. The Wests justifiable reticence to get involved militarily in Ukraine suggests that when push comes to shove, NATO is not going to plunge itself into a war with the worlds largest nuclear power. A NATO security guarantee without credibility is merely a paper promise, one which Russia might choose to test. NATO would then be presented with two unpalatable options: stand idly by and erode the power of its collective defense clause or wage an unwanted war against a country with more than 5,500 nuclear warheads. In short, insisting Ukraine will become a member of the NATO family, even if the practical roadblocks are easy to foresee, does a disservice to the United States and NATO, as well as Ukraine. The US exposes itself as a superpower giving a prospective client state false hope. NATO reveals itself to be divided on the Ukraine accession question. And Ukraine is forced to endure the humiliation of being strung along, like a proverbial hamster on a wheel that cant reach the hunk of cheese in front of it. The best Ukraine is likely to get from NATO is more air defense batteries and missiles, a stronger training program for its troops and a commitment to help Kyiv hold the line. Biden should tell Zelensky point-blank that NATO membership is a fools errand and while hes at it, he ought to apologize to all Ukrainians, for waiting so long to state the obvious. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As world leaders gathered in the U.S. capital for the NATO summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was Modi's first visit to Russia not just since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but also since 2019. The visit follows the recent failure of Ukraines peace summit in Switzerland, where Indias participation was limited to an administrative level. The peace summit came just days after Modi returned to power in India with a reduced mandate, dependent on fickle allies for a parliamentary majority. His government argued that, for any peace initiative to succeed, both Ukraine and Russia should be involved and refrained from associating with the joint communique issued by 80 nations at the end of the conclave. A few days earlier, Modi had a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy. However, as with previous phone requests from Zelensky to Modi, the face-to-face meeting failed to change Indias stance. Since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi has walked a diplomatic tightrope, often abstaining from various resolutions on the subject at multilateral bodies, including the United Nations Security Council. Read also: Opinion: The childrens hospital attack highlights the failure of American empathy Indias reluctance to criticize Russia stems from their longstanding friendly ties, dating back to the Cold War era. Moscow remains Indias largest supplier of weapons and defense equipment, including technologies and military platforms like nuclear submarines. Nearly two-thirds of Indias military equipment is of Russian origin, and this dependency will continue for at least another two decades, even if New Delhi were to stop buying weapons from Moscow now. Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia was a minor supplier of crude oil to India. However, after Western countries imposed stringent sanctions, India and China emerged as the biggest buyers of Russian crude, often at a significant discount. Moscow is now Indias largest supplier of crude oil, with many payments not made in U.S. dollars. India benefits from this arrangement, which has been accepted by Western countries and Ukraine, giving Modi little incentive to disturb the status quo. India has also faced massive trouble with China over their disputed border in the past four years, pushing relations between the two Asian neighbors down a slippery slope. Beijing has emerged as New Delhis main strategic challenge, and the Modi government is keen to avoid a situation where Russia is locked in on Chinas side. India values its strategic sovereignty and wants to promote a multilateral global order, in which Russia is one such power and a major player in Asia. New Delhis strong ties with Moscow serve Indias strategic interests and have prevented Modi from condemning Putin. However, Modi did make one feeble attempt to chastise Putin in 2022, publicly telling him that this is not an era of war (the phrase made it to the G20 communique after that years summit in Bali). Despite condemning the killings of civilians in Ukraines Bucha and calling for an independent probe, India has not joined the West in accusing Russia of the massacre. India, like China, has also expressed concerns about the rhetoric of nuclear weapon use by some Russian leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) hug during Modi's visit to Moscow, Russia, on July 9, 2024. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images) Under Modi, New Delhi sees itself as an emerging great power, competing with Beijing to lead the so-called Global South and being taken seriously in most global capitals. India is regularly invited to outreach sessions of G7 summits, is a member of the Quad alongside the U.S., Japan, and Australia, is simultaneously a member of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with Russia and China, and has friendly ties with both Moscow and Washington, making it better positioned than any other country to mediate Russias war against Ukraine. In February, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that India was open (to the idea of being a mediator) when we are approached and highlighted New Delhis help when Turkey negotiated the Black Sea corridor for foodgrain transport and support for inspections of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Despite numerous requests to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv, Modi has refused, unwilling to risk failure. He will enter the process only if success is guaranteed, allowing him to either bolster his domestic image or win the Nobel Peace Prize. Brokering peace requires patient negotiations, a quality Modi has not displayed. His approach of bold and sudden announcements is unlikely to work in the Ukraine issue, as New Delhi will need to build a consensus in the so-called Global South, with China likely being a major roadblock. Read also: Opinion: NATO at 75 is whistling past the graveyard While Modi may be issuing homilies to peace, his party argues that India needs to wrest back Kashmir by force if necessary. Modi ordered airstrikes inside Pakistan in 2019 after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary troopers in Kashmir. Strongly committing to peace and opposing the use of military force to capture territories controlled by another country might limit his options regarding Pakistani Kashmir. With neither side vanquished or exhausted, the conditions for a peace formula are not ripe. Putin has little incentive to negotiate while he holds the upper hand on the battlefield and with the possibility of Donald Trump becoming U.S. president, potentially squeezing Ukraine further. Unless Ukraine makes substantial concessions, Modi will find it difficult to convince Putin to negotiate. Given India's dependence on Russia for military supplies, crude oil, and diplomatic support, Modi lacks real leverage over Putin. This makes peace brokering a risky endeavor, with little guarantee of success, leaving the front lines of Ukraine and Russia unchanged. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Every year, tens of thousands of North Carolinians die from drug overdoses. Right now, counties across the state are in the very beginning stages of using settlement money to prevent opioid addictions from spreading. Over the next 18 years, North Carolina is set to receive $1.5 billion as part of a nationwide settlement reached in 2021 with multiple pharmaceutical distributors. Its one of many settlements reached in recent years. The funding is being distributed to all 100 counties and 17 municipalities across the state. Some of the money is going towards support services and programs like Charlottes Queen City Harm Reduction. I think what is really important to remember is that this money goes to communities and people, Director of Queen City Harm Reduction Lauren Kestner said. American Airlines ticket counters relocating, some moving outside amid construction at CLT airport As part of the settlement, Mecklenburg County is set to receive around $73 million over 18 years. The county says that money will go towards job training, addiction treatment, early intervention, and housing and recovery support. Gaston County is set to receive around $40 million over 18 years. So far, county staff say about $8.7 has been received and $4.3 has been allocated. They were already doing great work with limited resources and limited hours. So, one of the first strategies that we initiated and what the commissioners approved was expanding, Community Support Services Program Administrator Melanie Lowrance said. While some programs in Gaston County are expanding, others are being created. So far this year, Gaston County Emergency Medical Services has responded to 404 overdoses. The county says 38 of those calls were for children between the ages of 10 months and 17 years. The rise of youth overdoses has put a spotlight on the need to begin prevention earlier. So, we will be funding behaviorists who are embedded in beginning with three schools as a pilot program to work with youth who have identified substance use concerns. So, that is a new program and very much is being launched in response to a need, another gap that was identified in our community system of care, Lowrance said. Tequila leading the buzz as Mecklenburg ABC Board posts record profit In Mecklenburg County, Queen City Harm Reductions is set to receive about $118 in settlement money. The non-profit says the funding will be towards naloxone treatments and the launch of a housing pilot. We really hope to see the support continue because, without the settlements and without stakeholders, just seeing how much that we can do, it makes some very nervous for how the future looks for some of these locations throughout the counties that you are covering, Kestner 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. The Hungarian opposition party Tisza and its leader Peter Magyar have condemned the Russian missile attack on Ukraine on 8 July, while the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his government have not responded. Source: Magyar on Facebook; European Pravda Details: Magyar noted that the Russians had carried out one of the worst attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the two years of full-scale war. "While Viktor Orban claimed that three days ago he was in Moscow on a peaceful mission, today the Russian army fired missiles on one of the most important children's hospitals in Kyiv... On behalf of the Tisza party, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on civilians, including medical facilities and children," he wrote. Magyar noted that he expected a similar condemnation from the Hungarian government. "We wish the wounded a speedy recovery. We express our condolences to the families of those who were killed," Magyar said. Viktor Orban, who has visited Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing in recent days on a self-proclaimed "peace mission" regarding Ukraine, has not yet commented on Russia's large-scale missile attacks on Ukraine, including the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv. Orban made his visits after Hungary took over the presidency of the EU Council, which caused concern and assurances from the EU that the Hungarian PM did not represent the EU's position. Gergely Karacsony, the mayor of the Hungarian capital Budapest, condemned Russia's large-scale missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the Okhmatdyt National Specialised Childrens Hospital in Kyiv, and also criticised Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his visit to Moscow. Background: On Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained why Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could not mediate between Ukraine and Russia. Support UP or become our patron! Orange County commissioners agreed Tuesday to continue working with Maitland over how much the city will pay in coming years for operation and maintenance of the downtown SunRail station. Maitland council members unanimously agreed last month to opt out of a contract with the county after learning it would have to chip in up to $281,400 in January followed by 3% increases annually. Thats when the Florida Department of Transportation turns over operations and maintenance of the commuter train to the seven local governments along its 61-mile route. City leaders made the decision at their June 24 meeting after county officials said Maitlands bill could soar to $675,000 annually under an updated agreement. Thats because costs to operate and maintain the station have risen since the current agreement was approved in 2011. City and county officials who last met in early June to discuss SunRail now have until year-end to approve a new contract. Orange County Administrator Byron Brooks told commissioners hes heard from residents concerned about the future of the Maitland station. This is simply allowing a little more time for the city of Maitland and Orange County officials to have discussions about their funding commitment toward the Central Florida commuter rail, Brooks said. Even so, its unclear what happens to the station off U.S. Highway 17-92 if an agreement isnt reached. The county could pick up the cost to keep the station open or the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission an advisory board with representatives from each local government along the rail route could shut it down. The commission takes over operations and maintenance from the state at year-end. A Maitland spokesman did not return a request for comment on the countys decision at the meeting. When SunRail began running in May 2014, it was agreed the state would pay the bills to operate and maintain the rail system along the 16-stop route for the first several years. But local governments Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Orlando, Winter Park and Maitland would pick up the tab starting in January 2025. Florida: Censoring climate change. Tax breaks for tourists. | Commentary Using a formula based on ridership and length of track in each jurisdiction, the estimated costs for each government next year are $5.4 million for Volusia, $12.1 million for Seminole, $12.2 million for Osceola, $15.3 million for Orange and $20.2 million for the city of Orlando. Winter Park and Maitland joined interlocal agreements in 2011 with Orange to help the county with its share of the bill. Maitland lobbied in 2007 for a station to draw visitors to a burgeoning downtown district during SunRails planning stages. According to the agreement, the city would pay 70% of the cost of operating the station and the county the remainder. County and city officials assumed at the time a funding source for SunRail such as a transportation tax would be in place by the time the state switched costs to local governments. Those hopes were derailed in April when Orange commissioners abandoned a plan to ask voters in November to approve a penny sales tax that could raise up to $759 million annually for transportation projects. Those revenues would have almost entirely paid the SunRail bills for Maitland and Winter Park. Maitland now faces a budget crunch as the only Central Florida government forecast to see a drop by as much as 3% in total taxable value of properties this year compared to 2023, according to the Orange County Property Appraisers Office. The financial load of the train station would be too much, city leaders said last month. They pointed out that the station which saw just 30,000 riders in the past year ranks as the second-lowest of all SunRail stops in passenger counts. This is just a little too hard of a dollar amount to ask our citizens for, Maitland council member Vance Guthrie said at the June 24 meeting about SunRail costs. Maybe someone comes up with another great idea with how to fund this. A lot can be done [by the end of the year]. Dozens of people in Orange Park walked the sidewalks near the Town Hall on Tuesday, but it wasnt so much about getting steps in as taking steps toward the towns future. The town took neighbors around the block to show some of the spots it might be building a town square as part of a larger redevelopment plan. COVERING CLAY COUNTY: The Town of Orange Park just finished a walk with neighbors around the sites its considering creating a central town square. Developers tell me its an effort to make the town more walkable and attractive to tourists.@ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/i7aVsol2nI Finn Carlin (@finn_carlin) July 9, 2024 For some like Carin Ashman and Barbara Lichtenwalter, whove been living in Orange Park for years, the thought of it makes their small town feel a bit bigger. Its just our time, its time to do this, Lichtenwalter said. The town square is part of Orange Parks Vision 2040 project, a movement first created in 2020 to plan a list of ways to give the town a makeover. Orange Parks longtime locals ready to see more changes to their town say they think itll help the area be more of a destination than a stop on the way to somewhere else. Read: St. Augustine Beach Ocean Pier no longer reaches ocean after beach renourishment It always seems like people just come through, Ashman said, We dont see many people stay because there isnt much to stay for. Orange Park is considering putting a town square somewhere within a few blocks of the Town Hall, which is at the intersection of Kingsley and Park avenues. There arent any detailed renderings showing what it could look like, but the towns presentations of the project include drawings of what the town square might include, such as a shopping center, a bike path along the river, and a welcome sign for drivers coming into town. CLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY BELOW TO SEE: Drawings show what an Orange Park town square could look like. Drawings show what an Orange Park town square could look like. Drawings show what an Orange Park town square could look like. But some neighbors say having a town square, to them, will be more about staying safe than pretty pictures. During Tuesdays walkaround of the Town Hall and the surrounding streets, a number of them brought up feeling on edge while walking by the busy streets. We have major roads going right through town and it seems to all be centered on car traffic, Ashman said. Its very hard to be a pedestrian. Even leaders of the developer working with Orange Park to create the town square, a Jacksonville-based company called Haskell, were on edge while walking on the sidewalks of Park Avenue. Read: I hate them: Airbnb owner claims he was targeted by Jacksonvilles Office of General Counsel One of our big ideas with this project is addressing that safety concern, said Fred Jones, director of Haskells planning and design collaborative. If were always battling safety and people dont feel comfortable walking or biking, its really hard to make a successful town center. The Florida Department of Transportation says the roads by the town square site see tens of thousands of cars every day: Park Avenue: at least 58,500 cars per day Kingsley Avenue: at least 26,500 cars per day [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Last year, FDOT reported 435 crashes in Orange Park, 37 more than the year before. For homeowners living nearby, they hope a town square will bring the safety of their neighborhoods to the streets. If we could extend that feeling of safety and serenity I love about my space, we couldnt beat this place, Ashman said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Orange Park doesnt have a set timeframe for when a town square could be built. The towns having two more meetings this week to get feedback from neighbors and business owners: July 10: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Town Hall (for local business owners) July 11: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Town Hall (for neighbors) Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. I ordered the same meal at The Capital Grille and LongHorn Steakhouse. The bigger chain definitely offered the better value. I ordered the same meal at The Capital Grille and LongHorn to see which chain offered the best food. The Capital Grille offered a top-notch dining experience with amazing French onion soup. LongHorn's French onion soup wasn't my favorite, but my steak was delicious and affordable. Many popular chains are owned and operated by the same parent company, but that doesn't mean they're all created equally. Darden Restaurants owns and operates over 1,900 restaurants, including popular chains like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, and more. I decided to try two of Darden's popular steak-house chains LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille to see which one offered the best value. To keep things fair, I ordered the same meal from both restaurants French onion soup, a medium-well filet, and cheesecake. Here's how my experiences at both restaurants compared. I started at LongHorn, a casual-dining chain restaurant. LongHorn (location I visited not pictured) has over 500 locations in the US, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador. Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock LongHorn is a casual chain restaurant that began serving steak in Atlanta in 1981. In 2007, the chain joined Darden Restaurants and now has over 500 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador. The restaurant had cool decor and felt clean and cozy. LongHorn featured country-inspired decor. Amena Ahmed With country-inspired wall hangings and chandeliers made of deer antlers, I felt immersed in an environment that created a well-curated dining experience. Upon being seated, I was given complimentary whole-wheat bread and butter. I ordered French onion soup as an appetizer. The cheese on top of LongHorn's French onion soup was crusted perfectly. Amena Ahmed I ordered a cup of French onion soup as an appetizer, and my server was nice enough to lower the price from $3 to $2 by inputting it as a side with my steak. The cheese on top of the soup was crusted perfectly, but the broth's creamy texture threw me off. The flavor wasn't bad, but it was a little strong for my liking. I ordered a 9-ounce filet cooked medium-well with a side of mac and cheese. I ordered the mac and cheese as a side, which came with a small upcharge. Amena Ahmed For $31, I ordered a 9-ounce filet cooked medium-well. Each steak at LongHorn comes with a choice of certain side dishes, but I decided to order the mac and cheese, which came with a small upcharge of $3. LongHorn's mac and cheese had a layer of bacon and a creamy four-cheese blend. It was topped with Parmesan and breadcrumbs, which paired well with the smoky bacon. The steak was buttery and melted in my mouth. The steak was a little overcooked, but I still enjoyed it. Amena Ahmed I was surprised at how delicious my filet was. Although it was cooked a bit more than medium-well, I still enjoyed it. There were no fatty bits, and my knife slid through it easily. Overall, I had no complaints, which was nice, given how affordable the meal was. I made sure to leave room for dessert and ordered cheesecake. LongHorn's cheesecake was topped with a caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and pecans. Amena Ahmed I ordered LongHorn's cheesecake, which is topped with a caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and pecans. I'm not usually a huge fan of caramel, but I thoroughly enjoyed the drizzle on this dessert. The consistency was extremely soft and creamy, and it didn't taste overly sugary, which I loved. For $10, this was the biggest piece of cheesecake I've ever had. For $46, my meal at LongHorn was nearly perfect. In total, I spent $46 at LongHorn before tax and tip. Amena Ahmed From the speed of the service to the quality of each dish, I'd definitely return to LongHorn. I thought $46 for a hefty steak, side, appetizer, and dessert was an amazing deal. The only change I'd make next time is ordering a different soup. Next up was The Capital Grille, an upscale chain restaurant. The Capital Grille has 72 locations in the US, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The Image Party/Shutterstock The Capital Grille is an upscale chain restaurant known for its steak that's dry-aged in-house for 18 to 24 days. Founded in 1990 in Providence, Rhode Island, The Capital Grille was also acquired by Darden Restaurants in 2007. However, this chain is smaller than LongHorn, with only 72 locations in the US, Costa Rica, and Mexico. I made sure to book a reservation in advance, which was recommended on its website. The interior was dark, sleek, and chic. The Capital Grille was dimly lit with mosaic-like chandeliers Amena Ahmed The Capital Grille felt extremely upscale it was dimly lit with mosaic-like chandeliers, and every employee was dressed in matching uniforms, which differed based on their roles. There was also a dress code for guests. Like LongHorn, I received a complimentary serving of bread, but this chain offered more variety, including pumpernickel with raisins (my favorite). For a fair comparison, I ordered the same meal, starting with a French onion soup. I was impressed by how big the soup was at The Capital Grille. Amena Ahmed For an appetizer, I ordered the $13 French onion soup. I was impressed with how massive the serving of soup was and how well-balanced the flavor was. The cheesy layer took up about half of the bowl, which I loved. I ordered a 10-ounce filet mignon, which didn't come with a side. The 10-ounce filet mignon didn't come with a side. Amena Ahmed As a main dish, I opted for the 10-ounce filet mignon cooked medium well for $56. Unlike the meal at LongHorn, this steak didn't come with a side. Instead, sides are encouraged as a shareable option between two to three people. My meal came out quickly, but I thought the exterior was a bit overcooked. The butter had a nice umami flavor. Amena Ahmed Every steak at The Capital Grille is cooked with the chain's signature in-house butter. This was great for me since I don't like steak sauce. The butter had an umami flavor and complemented the meat very well. The char was just OK, as the exterior was more cooked than I'd have liked. Other than that, the center was cooked amazingly and was very soft. Although I was super full, I ordered the cheesecake with berries. In total, my meal at The Capital Grille cost $82 before tax and tip. Amena Ahmed Between the entree and dessert, I was offered a warm towel to freshen up, which was a sweet touch. The $13 cheesecake, prepared brulee style, came with delicious berries and a compote-like sauce. This was definitely my favorite part of the meal, as the sweetness was great and not overbearing. I just wish it was a bit bigger, as it was a lot smaller than LongHorn's version. In total, my meal cost $82 before tax and tip. Overall, I felt like I got a better value at LongHorn. I had a great experience at both chains. Amena Ahmed I had a great experience at both chains, and the steaks and desserts were comparable. Although my French onion soup was way better at The Capital Grille, I got more bang for my buck at LongHorn. I enjoyed my meal more at the cheaper chain because of its more relaxed atmosphere, lower price point, and bigger portions. In the future, I'd only return to The Capital Grille for a special occasion. Read the original article on Business Insider Oregon man dies more than a week after motorcycle crash on US Highway 50 LAS VEGAS (KLAS) An 80-year-old Oregon man died of injuries about a week after a motorcycle crash in central Nevadas Lander County, according to Nevada State Police. Jerrell Moore of Roseburg, Oregon, crashed on June 19 on U.S. Highway 50 in Lander County, about eight miles east of the town of Austin. An investigation determined Moore was westbound when the motorcycle left the highway and went onto the dirt shoulder, where it overturned. Moore was flown to an area hospital, where he remained until he died on June 27, according to a news release on Tuesday, July 9. The investigation by the Nevada Highway Patrol Northern Command East Multi-Disciplinary Investigation and Reconstruction Team (M.I.R.T.) is ongoing. If you were a witness to this crash or have information, contact the NHP Elko Office at (775) 753-1111 or e-mail ncemirt@dps.state.nv.us So far this year, Nevada Highway Patrols Northern Command East has investigated 20 fatal crashes resulting in 27 fatalities. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Heres the latest on Oregon wildfires and evacuations across the state. Fast-moving Larch Creek Fire spurs evacuations near Dufur A fast-moving wildfire brought evacuations near Dufur after burning 7,000 acres of grass and timber in Central Oregon. The Larch Creek Fire was 5 miles southwest of Dufur, closest to Friend, burning west of Highway 97. The fire brought level 3 go now evacuations in the Tygh Valley area west of White River Falls State Park. A level 1 "get ready" was set Wednesday morning from Elliott Road east to Kingsley Road and north to Friend Road. An evacuation map can be found here. A shelter at Maupin High School was opened to anyone evacuating. Oregon Department of Forestry said firefighters were under initial attack and would continue operations into the night. The fire is currently burning with moderate-to-high spread, ODF said late Tuesday night. No structures had burned yet, officials said. With high temperatures, low humidity, and difficult terrain, suppression efforts are requiring diverse methods of attack, prioritizing safety while protecting life and structures, ODF said. Increased winds are playing a significant factor in fire behavior. Emergency Conflagration Act invoked by Governor Kotek over Larch Fire In response to Larch Creek Fire, Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration act Tuesday evening, a news release said. Necessary resources to protect life and property were deemed beyond local capabilities. Wasco County commissioners requested assistance with safety and structural fire protection. Oregonians across the state have been battling unusually high temperatures over the past week, which increased the threat of wildfire, Kotek said. I authorized an emergency conflagration to allow additional resources to fight the Larch Creek Fire. Salt Creek Fire grows to 3,815 acres in Southern Oregon Salt Creek fire grows to 3,300 acres. The Salt Creek Fire in Southern Oregon grew to 3,815 acres. Containment of the fire increased to 7%. On Tuesday, an infrared flight mapped the blaze and gave firefighters significant growing areas to focus on. As of Wednesday morning, 80% of the fire had a line built around it. The fire was located 10 miles east of Eagle Point and was first reported Sunday afternoon. Due to vegetation and topography, the fire was expected to drive along steep terrain and draws. Dehydration due to the Oregon heat wave and hazardous trees were the main threats to firefighter safety. No injuries had been reported. Crews made great progress working to construct and improve line," IMT 1 Incident Commander Joe Hessel said. "Local initial attack crews gave the team an amazing head start. Now, our goal is to finish the job as safely as possible. A level 1 "be prepared" evacuation warning had been issued Sunday for the area around Lakecreek, an unincorporated community about 20 miles east of Medford. Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road remained closed at Highway 140, and Double Day Road was closed off of Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remained open. McCaffery Fire 100% contained in Central Oregon at 458 acres A local Type 4 incident commander took command Tuesday evening. Some resources remained on scene to ensure the fire stays put within its footprint. The Deschutes and Crook County sheriff's offices continued to have a Level 1 "Be ready" evacuation in place for areas near the fire. Willamette National Forest decreases fire danger level to 'moderate' As high temperatures from the heat wave begin to finally drop, yet still around 15 degrees hotter than average in Willamette Valley, the Willamette National Forest decreased the fire danger level from "high" to "moderate." There were no public-use restrictions. Campfires should be contained in a preexisting fire ring with a shovel and water nearby, officials said. There were campfire bans in other parts of the state, including southwest and Central Oregon. Officials said to check local rules before heading out. Forest officials warned everyone to stay vigilant while recreating, especially with a campfire. Small Sulphur Fire is controlled in Southern Oregon The 2-acre Sulphur Fire that started Monday night in Southern Oregon southwest of Medford was controlled by fire crews. Final gridding performed Tuesdaty showed no smoke, according to Virginia Gibbons with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Official said patrolling and grids would continue throughout the week. A U.S. Forest Service fire engine identified Monday night the fire on a ridge south of Beaver Sulphur Campground, according to a news release. Ground firefighters responded immediately, and air tankers were pulled from the Applegate fire to drop water on the new burn. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Shelly Fire may affect Willamette Valley air quality The Shelly Fire, located about 250 miles south of Eugene in northern California, had spread to 8,285 acres since it started July 3. With continuous hot dry weather and access difficulties, the fire continued to grow. With proper conditions, the smoke from the large fire could affect the air quality of the southern Willamette Valley. Elliott Deins is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at edeins@salem.gannett.com This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon wildfire updates: Salt Creek Fire at 7% containment Oregonians are generally wary of artificial intelligence but torn on how best to regulate it, according to survey data. (Getty Images) Oregonians are apprehensive about artificial intelligence, a recent survey from the nonpartisan Oregon Values and Beliefs Center found. The Portland-based nonprofit regularly surveys Oregonians about their opinions on matters of public interest. Its latest research on artificial intelligence comes as the state grapples with how to handle the emerging technology. Earlier this year, the Oregon Legislature passed a law to crack down on artificial intelligence used by political campaigns to mislead voters, and Gov. Tina Kotek formed a new advisory council. The online survey of about 1,800 Oregonians found a general wariness of AI, though most have used some form of artificial intelligence in their day-to-day lives. Navigation tools like Google Maps, virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, autofill and spam filters were most commonly used. While some Oregonians note potential benefits of AI, many of us feel like were not quite up to speed on how to really tap into its potential, said Amaury Vogel, the centers associate executive director. Respondents were generally optimistic about AI being used for advancements in medicine, science and research, but they were most worried about its impact on jobs. Oregonians are hopeful about AIs potential to advance research and medicine, but theyre worried about negative impacts on education, jobs, politics, and art, Vogel said. Theyre concerned enough about the impact on jobs, they want to make sure people who lose their jobs due to advances in AI receive unemployment benefits. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said the government should regulate the corporations developing artificial intelligence, though about the same number of respondents said they didnt trust that the state government has the necessary expertise to regulate the complex industry. Respondents were evenly split on whether decisions about how to regulate AI should be left to the people and, by extension, their elected representatives, or whether it should be handled by independent experts. More respondents trusted the scientific community, ethics experts or leading universities to make decisions about AI than trusted the government or technology companies. When it came to government regulation, more than half of respondents favored passing laws that require AI research and development be done in the public interest, while about one-third supported a wait and see approach of monitoring AI without supporting or slowing its development. About a quarter of respondents wanted the state to recruit AI companies to Oregon, while a fifth wanted the state to ban the use of AI models by all state government officials. Pollsters also asked Oregonians about their support for various responses to AI development, finding strong support for unemployment benefits for people whose jobs become obsolete because of AI and incentives for companies to find technology-driven solutions for more affordable necessities. A slight majority of respondents supported the concepts of a universal basic income, or guarantee that everyone would receive a wage regardless of employment, and for guaranteed jobs for all citizens. The survey of 1,807 Oregonians was conducted online between Dec. 19 and Jan. 7 and responses were weighted based on region, gender, age, race or ethnicity and education to ensure a representative sample. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LUSAKA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Tuesday that it is in talks with mining firms to introduce diesel-generated electricity as an alternative energy source to address the current power deficit. Minister of Energy Peter Kapala said the government is aware of the continued reduction in water levels at key power plants and is putting in place measures to conserve the little water so that the country is not plunged into a power crisis. "We are aware of the low level of usable water at Kariba Power Station and other power stations, and the need to conserve this water until the end of the year when we are expecting rains," he told the parliament in response to questions from lawmakers. He said the government is aware that diesel-generated power will be expensive and is talking with mining firms about how the power could be generated and bought at an optimal tariff. The minister also said the government has accelerated President Hakainde Hichilema's directive for all public institutions to start installing solar energy as another solution to the problem. Zambia is experiencing a power deficit of 750 megawatts caused by low generation at its hydropower plants due to poor rains experienced during the 2023/2024 season. The state power utility has introduced a 12-hour daily blackout program. Orlando Magic founder Pat Williams in ICU battling serious medical condition Orlando Magic founder Pat Williams is in the midst of a major medical battle. He is currently in the ICU at AdventHealth Orlando. His family has been posting about this situation on social media and according to a family friend, the outlook for Williams is grim. People close to the family have confirmed with Channel 9 that Williams recently got sick and has been battling an aggressive, viral Pneumonia. Hes currently in the ICU surrounded by family. Those family members have been asking Central Florida to pray for Pat. Read: Preventing crime before it happens: How OPD is keeping your family safe Williams has 19 children and one of the four biological children, Karyn, posted on her Instagram asking for prayers for her dad. We talked with the Orlando Magic front office and they are aware, but wouldnt comment other than to confirm their concern. Read: Teen bitten by shark in Ponce Inlet marks the 5th confirmed shark bite in Volusia County this year The family is gathering to support him during this difficult health scare. Williams did beat cancer, and wrote a book called The Mission is Remission. Its one of over 100 books hes penned. The concern is real for Williams at this hour and we are respecting their privacy, but wanted our viewers to know that the family feels the prayers of Central Florida. Read: Walmart faces potential class action over alleged deceptive pricing Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Ousted Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren is prodding a federal appeals court to move on a ruling from earlier this year that could get him reinstated. Every day that passes in this posture is one in which the results of a free and fair election are denied, Warrens attorneys wrote in a motion to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals this week. Removed from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, Warren, a Democrat, is running against Suzy Lopez, the Republican longtime prosecutor the governor appointed to replace him. Hes also waging a court battle to get reinstated to complete his second term in office. DeSantis accused Warren of refusing to prosecute certain low-level cases and pointed to public pledges Warren signed with other prosecutors not to pursue cases involving abortion or transgender health care. Warren calls his ouster an illegal politically-motivated stunt. Last year, U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle ruled that DeSantis violated the Florida Constitution and First Amendment in suspending Warren. But the judge also concluded he lacked the power to put him back in office. Warrens appeal brought him better news in January: A three judge panel gave a legal analysis of Hinkles ruling and ordered it sent back to him. Included was a critical footnote: They disagreed that Hinkle lacked authority to reinstate him. But instead of being referred back to Hinkle, the case stalled for months after DeSantis attorneys asked for a rehearing by a full panel of judges. Not much appears to have happened since. Warrens motion argues that before, the case had been rightly expedited at every stage. He contends the deadline has passed for the full panel of judges to be polled to see if they want to review the case and says a single unnamed judge held up the process, at least initially. There is no legitimate reason to continue withholding the mandate, much less one that could possibly outweigh the enormous public interest in resolving the legality of the governors attempt to invalidate an election, the motion says. The governors office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday. Ryan Smith, senior strategist for the Lopez campaign, said Warren lost his job because he wasnt doing his job and that his desperation is on full display. Attorney Elizabeth Martinez Strauss, who faces Warren in the primary, has said without a definitive ruling from the courts, Warren could be suspended again if he won. She said Tuesday that without legal resolution by the August primary, she hopes he steps aside. Warren has made clear he has no intention of doing so. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in brand medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy, could raise the risk of a relatively rare eye disease that is a leading cause of vision loss, according to a retrospective study. The research was led by scientists at Harvard University, and it was driven by anecdotal reports from doctors in Boston, who had three patients in their practice taking semaglutide suffer vision loss in just one week. The follow-up analysis is based on the health data of 16,827 patients, 710 of whom were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 979 of whom were overweight or had obesity. The authors of the study argue their findings should be viewed as "significant but tentative". When participants were matched based on their age and sex, researchers found those treated with semaglutide in the past six years had a "substantially increased risk" of developing a disorder called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION describes a condition that impacts roughly 10 in 10,000 people, and in simple terms, it is marked by decreased blood flow to the front of the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Over time, this can lead to swelling and sometimes cause damage such as sudden and permanent vision loss. In the current analysis, 11 percent of patients treated with semaglutide for diabetes in the past six years went on to develop NAION, compared to just 3 percent of their counterparts treated with other diabetic medications. What's more, 7 percent of patients using semaglutide for weight loss went on to develop NAION, compared to 1 percent of matched peers using other 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," says neuro-ophthalmologist Joseph Rizzo from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital at Harvard University. "It is important to appreciate, however, that the increased risk relates to a disorder that is relatively uncommon." According to the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society, the loss of vision from NAION is typically painless and incomplete. It tends to start with a motionless gray or dark spot in the top or bottom half of one eye's vision. Visual field test of a NAION patient. (North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Association) In extreme situations, losses to vision can occur within hours of onset, and while this effect can worsen in the following weeks, once the optic nerve's swelling goes down after a month or two, there can be some visual improvement. Repeat attacks are rare. Those who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes are known to be at a greater risk of NAION in general, but the current analysis found a key difference in this risk factor when patients were treated with semaglutide. Like any medicine, semaglutide comes with risks and benefits, but this novel drug, which was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat diabetes in 2017, is still very new to science. Now that semaglutide is also approved for weight loss at a higher dose, prescriptions have exploded into the millions, and researchers are learning about possible side effects in real time. Patient anecdotes online or in the clinic are often the driving force for further research. Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, agree that "even more expansive use of these drugs seems likely given their medical benefits and widespread popularity." "If true," they add, "our data anticipate increasing numbers of NAION cases related to this class of drugs." Further research is needed to confirm why semaglutide might increase the risk of developing NAION. The optic nerve is known to host receptors that semaglutide can attach to, but the current research did not adequately address all the confounding factors that could be playing a role in the association. "Future studies are needed to examine these questions in a much larger and more diverse population," says Rizzo. "This is information we did not have before and it should be included in discussions between patients and their doctors, especially if patients have other known optic nerve problems like glaucoma or if there is pre-existing significant visual loss from other causes." The study was published in JAMA. (Getty Images) The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus on Tuesday called for any potential cannabis legalization bill to include equity elements. It is time that we invest in the restoration of communities that have been impacted, we return incarcerated persons to their families, and we provide entrepreneurs with a pathway to lead in this emerging marketplace, Rep. Napoleon Nelson (D-Montgomery), chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said during a press conference in the Capitol rotunda. The group of Black legislators called for any legalization bill to include expungement for prior cannabis-related arrests and reimbursement for anyone who has had assets forfeited in cannabis-related arrests. The group is also pushing for legalization legislation to include social equity elements to encourage Black Pennsylvanians and others from marginalized communities to enter the emergent cannabis industry. Were in a commonwealth that has a number of dispensaries, none of which I believe are owned by Black folk zero unacceptable, said Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia). The origins of the racist war on drugs and cannabis prohibition have been directly and insidiously connected to Black folk and to any number of people who have been marginalized over generations, Similar policies attempted in other states have been discussed by a House subcommittee on cannabis legalization. In many of those states, results have been mixed, and the legal cannabis industry remains predominantly white. Potential policies include giving priority status to applicants for licenses to open legal cannabis businesses to minority applicants or businesses that have mentoring programs. It could also mean prioritizing applicants who have been arrested for cannabis-related charges, or have family who were. Advocates from the groups Free My Weedman, Black Cannabis Week and PA Prison Society were in attendance to support lawmakers. FILE PHOTO: Interceptions of rockets launched from Lebanon to Israel over the border, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, close the Israeli border with Lebanon, on its Israel side FILE PHOTO: Interceptions of rockets launched from Lebanon to Israel over the border, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, close the Israeli border with Lebanon, on its Israel side By Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam BEIRUT (Reuters) - Coded messages. Landline phones. Pagers. Following the killing of senior commanders in targeted Israeli airstrikes, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, has been using some low-tech strategies to try to evade its foe's sophisticated surveillance technology, informed sources told Reuters. It has also been using its own tech drones to study and attack Israel's intelligence gathering capabilities in what Hezbollah's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has described as a strategy of "blinding" Israel. The sides have been trading fire since Hezbollah's Palestinian ally in the Gaza Strip, Hamas, went to war with Israel in October. While the fighting on Lebanon's southern border has remained relatively contained, stepped-up attacks in recent weeks have intensified concern it could spiral into a full-scale war. Tens of thousands of people have fled both sides of the border. Israeli strikes have killed more than 330 Hezbollah fighters and around 90 civilians in Lebanon, according to Reuters tallies. Israel says attacks from Lebanon have killed 21 soldiers and 10 civilians. Many of Hezbollah's casualties were killed while participating in the near-daily hostilities, including launching rockets and explosive drones into northern Israel. Hezbollah has also confirmed the deaths of more than 20 operatives - including three top commanders, members of its elite Radwan special forces unit and intelligence operatives - in targeted strikes away from the frontlines. Israel's military said it was responding to an unprovoked attack from Hezbollah, which began firing at Israeli targets the day after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement to Reuters that they were striking military targets and taking "feasible precautions in order to mitigate harm to civilians." "The success of these efforts hinges on the IDF's ability to gather thorough and precise intelligence on Hezbollah's forces, its leaders, the organization's terrorist infrastructure, their whereabouts and operations," the statement said. The IDF did not answer questions about its intelligence gathering and Hezbollah's countermeasures, citing "reasons of intelligence security". As domestic pressure builds in Israel over Hezbollah's barrages, the IDF has highlighted its ability to hit the group's operatives across the border. On a tour of Israels Northern Command, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant pointed to pictures of what he said were slain Hezbollah commanders and said 320 terrorists had been killed as of May 29, including senior operatives. Electronic surveillance technology plays a vital role in these strikes. The IDF has said it has security cameras and remote sensing systems trained on areas where Hezbollah operates, and it regularly sends surveillance drones over the border to spy on its adversary. Israel's electronic eavesdropping - including hacking into cell phones and computers - is also widely regarded as among the world's most sophisticated. Hezbollah has learned from its losses and adapted its tactics in response, six sources familiar with the groups operations told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters. Cell phones, which can be used to track a user's location, have been banned from the battlefield in favour of more old-fashioned communication means, including pagers and couriers who deliver verbal messages in person, two of the sources said. Hezbollah has also been using a private, fixed-line telecommunications network dating back to the early 2000s, three sources said. In case conversations are overheard, code words are used for weapons and meeting sites, according to another source familiar with the group's logistics. These are updated nearly daily and delivered to units via couriers, the source said. "We're facing a battle in which information and technology are essential parts," said Qassem Kassir, a Lebanese analyst close to Hezbollah. "But when you face certain technological advances, you need to go back to the old methods - the phones, the in-person communications whatever method allows you to circumvent the technology." Hezbollah's media office said it had no comment on the sources' assertions. LOW-TECH COUNTERMEASURES Security experts say some low-tech countermeasures can be quite effective against high-tech spying. One of the ways that al Qaeda's late leader, Osama bin Laden, evaded capture for nearly a decade was by disconnecting from the internet and phone services, and using couriers instead. "The simple act of using a VPN (virtual private network), or better yet, not using a cell phone at all, can make it much harder to find and fix a target," said Emily Harding, a former CIA analyst now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. "But these countermeasures also make Hezbollah's leadership far less effective at communicating rapidly with their troops." Hezbollah and Lebanese security officials believe Israel has also been tapping local informants as it zeroes in on targets. Lebanon's economic crisis and rivalries between political factions have created opportunities for Israeli recruiters, but not all informants realize who they are speaking with, three sources said. On Nov. 22, a woman from south Lebanon received a call on her cell phone from a person claiming to be a local official, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the incident. Speaking in flawless Arabic, the caller asked whether the family was home, the sources said. No, the woman replied, explaining they had travelled to eastern Lebanon. Minutes later, a missile slammed into the woman's home in the village of Beit Yahoun, killing five Hezbollah fighters including Abbas Raad, the son of a senior Hezbollah lawmaker and a Radwan member, the sources said. Hezbollah believes Israel had tracked the fighters to the location and placed the call to confirm whether there were civilians present before launching the strike, they told Reuters without disclosing further details. Israel's military said at the time that it struck a number of Hezbollah targets that day, including a "terrorist cell". Within weeks, Hezbollah was publicly warning supporters via the affiliated Al-Nour radio station not to trust cold callers claiming to be local officials or aid workers, saying Israelis were impersonating them to identify houses being used by Hezbollah. It was the first of a series of strikes targetting key Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. Others killed include Wissam al-Tawil, Taleb Abdallah and Mohammed Nasser, commanders who played leading roles directing Hezbollah's operations in the south. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas, was also killed while attending a meeting in the capital, Beirut. Hezbollah began suspecting that Israel was targeting its fighters by tracking their cell phones and monitoring video feeds from security cameras installed on buildings in border communities, two sources familiar with the group's thinking and a Lebanese intelligence official told Reuters. On Dec. 28, Hezbollah urged southern residents in a statement distributed via its Telegram channel to disconnect any security cameras they own from the internet. By early February, another directive had been issued to Hezbollah's fighters: no mobile phones anywhere near the battlefield. "Today, if anyone is found with their phone on the front, he is kicked out of Hezbollah," said a senior Lebanese source familiar with the groups operations. Three other sources confirmed the order. Fighters began leaving their phones behind when they carried out operations, one told Reuters. Another, the Lebanese intelligence official, said Hezbollah would sometimes perform surprise checks on field units to see if members had phones on them. Even in Beirut, senior Hezbollah politicians avoid bringing phones with them to meetings, two other sources said. In a televised speech on Feb. 13, Nasrallah warned supporters that their phones were more dangerous than Israeli spies, saying they should break, bury or lock them in an iron box. Hezbollah has also taken steps to secure its private telephone network following a suspected breach by Israel, according to a former Lebanese security official and two other sources familiar with Hezbollah's operations. The vast network, allegedly financed by Iran, was set up around two decades ago with fibre optic cables extending from Hezbollah's strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs to towns in south Lebanon and east into the Bekaa Valley, according to government officials at the time. The sources declined to say when or how it had been penetrated. But they said Hezbollah telecommunications specialists were breaking it into smaller networks to limit the damage if it is breached again. "We often change our landline networks and switch them up, so that we can outrun the hacking and infiltration," the senior source told Reuters. DRONE SURVEILLANCE The group has also been touting its ability to collect its own intelligence on enemy targets and attack Israel's surveillance installations using its arsenal of small, homemade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). On June 18, Hezbollah published a nine-minute excerpt of what it said was video gathered by its surveillance aircraft over the Israeli city of Haifa, including military installations and port facilities. The Israeli Air Force said air defense systems had detected the drone, but a decision was made not to intercept it because it had no offensive capabilities, and doing so could endanger residents. Another video released by Hezbollah included aerial pictures it said it had collected of a massive Israeli observation balloon known as Sky Dew on the day before it was hit in a May 15 drone attack. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the images. But IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said at the time that the airship, used to detect incoming rockets, was hit while on the ground at a military base in northern Israel. He said there were no casualties and no impact on the militarys "aerial situational awareness capability" in the area. Hezbollah says it has also shot down or taken control of half a dozen Israeli surveillance drones, including Hermes 450, Hermes 900 and SkyLark UAVs. Hezbollah operatives disassemble the drones to study their components, according to two of the sources. Israel has confirmed that five air force drones were downed by surface-to-air missiles while operating over Lebanon. However, the IDF said Hezbollah's declarations "should be noted with reservation," saying the group aims to instil fear in Israelis. Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based security consultant who has written a history of Hezbollah, said the group's "awareness and wariness" of security breaches was at an all-time high. "Hezbollah has had to tighten up its security far more than it needed to do in earlier conflicts," he told Reuters. Israel retains a technological advantage, however, Blanford said. On the afternoon of July 3, a car driving through a Lebanese coastal village more than 20 km (12 miles) north of the Israeli border burst into flames, witnesses said. The Israeli military said it had eliminated Nasser, who it said commanded a unit that is attacking Israel from southwestern Lebanon. His death came less than a month after the strike that killed Abdallah, who commanded operations in the central region of the southern border strip. Hezbollah acknowledging both killings and in response launched some of its biggest barrages to date into northern Israel. (Writing by Maya Gebeily; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Alexandra Zavis) PARIS (Reuters) -The Paris prosecutor's office said on Tuesday it had launched a preliminary probe into allegations of illegal financing of far right National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen's campaign for the 2022 presidential race, which she lost to Emmanuel Macron. The investigation, which was opened on July 2, follows a 2023 report by the National Commission on Campaign Accounts and Political Financing (CNCCFP), which scrutinizes candidates' election expenses and funding, the prosecutor's office said. It will look into allegations of embezzlement, forgery, fraud, and that a candidate on an electoral campaign accepted a loan. Le Pen and her party have previously denied wrongdoing in connection with campaign financing. The National Rally could not be immediately reached for comment. Separately Le Pen is to stand trial later this year alongside 27 others over alleged misuse of European Union funds, charges that Le Pen's party has said it contested. That investigation, opened in 2016, aimed to ascertain whether the then National Front had used money destined for EU parliamentary assistants to pay staff who were working for the party. At the head of RN until 2021, Marine Le Pen ran against Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, and could again run in 2027. (Reporting by Tassilo Hummmel, Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) In order to save the music in Music City, artists claim the city needs to save them a spot to park. According to the initial findings of the Greater Nashville Music Census, 4,265 people who work in the music industry said their top concern for the community at large is the state of parking costs and policies. NDOT leaders believe new automated parking program will curb congestion in downtown Nashville Parking is HORRENDOUS. 2-hour time limits, HIGH pay-to-park lots, no parking Huge disincentive to ever want to play downtown, or even go to listen to friends downtown, wrote one of the survey respondents. However, the survey found that parking isnt just an inconvenience, but a safety concern. Musicians are having to walk blocks with gear on a cart and can be in a very compromised position at the end of the night with a pocket full of cash and a bunch of gear, said musician and Nashville Musician Association President Dave Pomeroy. Pomeroy said sometimes parking fees could cancel out any money a musician made at a gig. If you got to pay $80 to park somewhere and you are only making $120 on the gigyour pay is a third of what it should be, Pomeroy said. There are many ways you can end up paying more for parking than make at the show. It affects all of us: Nashville musician among 250+ artists asking for live-event ticketing reform One survey respondent wrote, Parking laws keep me from wanting to play in certain parts of Nashville. However, Pomeroy said it wasnt always this taxing and complicated to park in downtown Nashville. He remembers when meters werent 24/7 and parking was free downtown on nights and weekends. He said he also misses how he could park on the street for more than a couple of hours without being forced to move their car to a garage. You are playing the gig and you are wondering if your car is going to get towed because your meter is expired. That doesnt make for a good performance, he said. Music City musicians receive parking discount downtown Pomeroy added if Nashvillians arent worried about the musicians, they should be concerned about music and Nashvilles economy. I think its hurting every aspect of the industry, he said. While there have been efforts at the state and local levels to support small music venues and musicians, Pomeroy said parking and traffic concerns can be one reason shows have empty seats. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County They just make the choice to not show up, he said. Its the uncertainty of it all that I think is having an effect.that is hard to measure, but is definitely real. The full census results will be made public in September. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police are looking for two suspects they say were involved in a smash-and-grab at Boost Mobile over the weekend. On Sunday at 5:50 a.m., a 2017 or 2018 light blue Infiniti Qx50 with a paper tag pulled up in front of Boost Mobile at 4273 American Way. The driver got out and broke out the window with a prybar. The front passenger got out and entered the building, allegedly stealing various items. Off-duty EMT helps Zaxbys manager shot in Cordova carjacking attempt The suspects left the business and returned a few minutes later and allegedly burglarized the business a second time. The Memphis Police have released the following description of the suspects: Suspect #1: A 57-59 male with a thin build wearing a dark-colored hoodie, white shorts that said TRAP in large black letters across the front and OPEN across the back in large black letters and black and white shoes. Suspect #2: A 56-58 male with a thin build wearing light blue or gray shorts and light blue or gray shoes. Police say the suspect vehicle was a light blue 2017 or 2018 Infiniti Q50 with tinted windows and a drive-out tag. It was last seen traveling westbound on Ridgeway on Monday at approximately 1 p.m. If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. ADDIS ABABA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The impact of recent global shocks on Africa's financing landscape has significantly affected the momentum toward gender equality and women's empowerment in Africa, a senior official of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has said. The statement was made by Oliver Chinganya, director of the African Center for Statistics at the UNECA, on Monday while addressing the opening session of the Africa Gender Statistics Forum, which is held on July 8-12 virtually and in-person in Gaborone, Botswana, under the theme "Pooling Together for Gender Statistics: Financing the Numbers that Make Women and Girls Count." "Africa's financing landscape has been worsened by recent global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and climate threats; and the financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa is estimated at 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars per year," he said. Chinganya said recent estimates by the African Center for Statistics show that at the current pace, gender equality will only be achieved in 2094 in Africa. He said that the lack of harmonized collection and use of gender statistics in Africa is hindering continental and national efforts toward women empowerment and gender equality. The forum, among other things, aims at linking gender statistics financing for accelerated progress toward gender equality and women's empowerment, according to the UNECA. The UNECA called on African countries to make better use of limited resources through sharing best practices and developing common strategies to rationalize, harmonize and improve the measurement and use of gender statistics, as a critical enabler to make informed decisions in ensuring gender equality. According to Chinganya, harmonized and quality statistics provide a basis for good decision-making and help African governments identify the best course of action in addressing development problems, as well as gender-specific development initiatives. He underscored the need to harness new technologies, including geospatial information systems, to improve data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination and archiving capabilities, and facilitate access to national, sub-regional and regional databases. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The Springfield Police Department announced that a man was arrested last week after a compliance check found him in possession of guns and drugs. Compliance checks are joint operations between the Illinois Department of Corrections and local authorities to ensure parolees are following the conditions of their release from prison. Officials with the Springfield Police Department said that last Tuesday, they and IDOC parole agents performed a check in the area of 3rd Street and Apple Orchard Road that resulted in an arrest. Illinois to screen for juvenile justice specialists in Lincoln The person arrested was 32-year-old Cortez M. Gardner, whom officials said was on parole for felony domestic battery. When officers and agents performed the check, they found two semiautomatic pistols, magazines and ammunition in Gardners possession. They also found 511 grams of cocaine and almost 20 grams of hydrocodone in his possession. Photo courtesy of the Springfield Police Department. Coroner identifies Springfield woman killed in deputy-involved shooting Cortez was charged with new counts of manufacturing and delivering cocaine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms with no FOID card. Anyone with further information on this incident is asked to call the Springfield Police Department at 217-788-8311. They can also anonymously call Sangamon/Menard County Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Pennsylvania has a new license plate celebrating the countrys 250th birthday. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of our democracy, and as Governor, I have been focused on advancing real freedom across the Commonwealth, said Gov. Josh Shapiro. With all eyes on Pennsylvania as we prepare to host our countrys 250th birthday in 2026, our new license plates and welcome signs will celebrate the best of what the Commonwealth has to offer and show the country why Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway and the birthplace of American freedom. The Let Freedom Ring design, which includes the Liberty Bell, is also found on new welcome signs that are being installed at state-border entry points. The first eight signs were installed in Adams, Bucks, Erie, Fulton, Monroe, Potter, Susquehanna and Tioga counties. Another 29 signs will be installed in the coming months. To sign up for updates on Pennsylvanias new license plate, click here. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Police warning neighbors about rattlesnake sightings in Westmoreland County Pittsburgh city employee robbed at gunpoint Downtown, prompting leaders to take action Westmoreland County man accused of hitting boyfriend with hatchet after argument VIDEO: Battle of Bushy Run reenactment organizers weigh in on decision to cancel event DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts FAYETTEVILLE, WV (WVNS) A Pennsylvania man was sentenced for a felony drug crime in Fayette County. 62-year-old Celester Vaughn, II, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 8, 2024 to one to ten years in prison for the felony offense of transportation of a controlled substance into the state. Mercer County man sentenced for felony drug crime in Fayette County Vaughn pleaded guilty on May 6, 2024, and will need to spend at least one year in prison before he is eligible for parole. Members of the Fayetteville Police Department held a traffic stop of a Jeep for following other cars too closely on U.S. Route 19 on July 10, 2021. Vaughn was driving the jeep, and when dealing with Vaughn the officer smelled marijuana from inside the car. Mount Olive Correctional Center inmate sentenced for Second-Degree Murder of another inmate Vaughn acknowledged that he had marijuana in his possession, and another officer saw what looked like controlled substances and other drug paraphernalia in plain view in the jeep. A search of the jeep revealed more than 1,000 pills packaged in different containers. Testing at the West Virginia State Police Laboratory revealed that the pills contained methamphetamine, which is a schedule II controlled substance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. A person in Pueblo County, Colorado, about 100 miles south of Denver, has been infected with bubonic plague, local health officials said Monday. Last week, state and local officials identified the case based on preliminary test results. Trysten Garcia, a spokesperson for the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, said in an email Tuesday morning it was bubonic plague. Earlier announcements had been more general, stating it was "plague." The infection was initially reported on Friday. The department said the person was hospitalized for bubonic plague but their condition improved. Because plague is endemic locally, it's hard to pinpoint the source of infection, Garcia said. Bubonic plague, which wreaked havoc during historic pandemics across Europe and Asia, is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium. It is transmitted by fleas often carried by rodents in the wild, including rats and prairie dogs. Plague occurs when infected fleas bite people, or when humans touch or skin an infected animal. Most human cases in the U.S. have occurred in the Southwest in northern New Mexico, northern Arizona and southern Colorado and the West in California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada. The U.S. has an average of seven human plague cases per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In March, a New Mexico man died from plague, state health officials announced. Oregon officials identified a human case of plague in February. The Oregon case likely stemmed from an infected pet cat. Avian influenza: Fourth bird flu case in US in 2024 appears in Colorado, CDC says General view of a plague warning sign on a prairie dog mound outside of the main gates of Dick's Sporting Goods Park before the match between the San Jose Earthquakes against the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, Colorado, on Aug 10, 2019. What are the symptoms of bubonic plague? Symptoms can develop after an incubation period lasting between a day and a week, according to the World Health Organization. Plague typically causes sudden fever and chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting. A common symptom is swollen, painful lymph nodes, called buboes which give the most common form of the disease its name, bubonic plague. These manifest in the body as swelling in the armpits, groin and neck, the Mayo Clinic said. Buboes vary in size from less than half an inch to about 4 inches. Bubonic plague doesnt spread from person to person, the CDC said. Other forms of plague include pneumonic, which happens when the bacteria infects the lungs; and septicemic, when the bacteria infects the blood. Pneumonic plague can spread when someone breathes air droplets from an infected person. These droplets can remain in the air an hour after an infected person coughs. Pneumonic plague can also occur when the bacteria from untreated bubonic or septicemic plague spreads to the lungs. Septicemic plague doesnt spread from person to person. The WHO estimates that 30% to 60% of people die of bubonic plague. Pneumonic plague is fatal when left untreated. There is no vaccine for plague in the U.S., the CDC said. People who develop symptoms of plague should immediately see a health provider. Antibiotics can treat plague, but a person must be seen immediately to avoid serious illness or death, said Alicia Solis, a communicable disease and emergency preparedness program manager in the Pueblo County public health department, in a statement. How can you avoid it? Wild rodents in the American West commonly carry plague. With that in mind, Pueblo County health officials warned people to clear areas where rodents can hide and breed near homes, garages, sheds or recreational areas. People should not let pets hunt or roam in rodent areas, including prairie dog colonies, and they should treat dogs and cats for fleas regularly. Officials warned that flea collars have not been proven effective against plague-infested fleas. Officials also warned people to avoid letting their pets sleep with them. People should also avoid contact with dead animals. If you must handle sick or dead animals, use insect repellant with 20 to 30% DEET to protect against fleas, officials said. Use a long-handled shovel to pick up an animal and place it in an outdoor garbage bag. Health news: Ozempic v. Mounjaro? There's a clear winner for weight loss, study finds. 'Black Death' Plague has been found in all continents except Oceania, but the most endemic countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Peru. Historically, the disease decimated global populations. In the 14th century, bubonic plague infamously brought the Black Death pandemic, which caused an estimated 50 million deaths, WHO said. More than a quarter of Europes population died, although some estimates are higher. Outbreaks later occurred in China and India. Morphological characteristic of a flea depicted in the digitally-colorized scanning electron microscopic image in 2017. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Past U.S. outbreaks, misperceptions The U.S. has not seen the same level of deaths from plague as other regions, although outbreaks have occurred over the decades. In 1900, plague was introduced on rat-infested ships that sailed from affected areas, causing epidemics in port cities such as San Francisco, where racist public health policies wrongly blamed the Chinese community for bringing disease and being uniquely susceptible to it, as the journalist David K. Randall wrote in Black Death at the Golden Gate. In the mid-1920s, Los Angeles had the nations largest urban epidemic with more than 30 deaths. In Southern California at the time, public health officials blamed the Mexican district just east of downtown. But plague-infested fleas on urban rat species were to blame, and theyd go on to infect rural rodent species in the West with plague to create a reservoir of infestation that continues to this day. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bubonic plague infection in Colorado person. What are the symptoms? Man shot after allegedly firing at officers in Newton, police say Newton police shot a man who allegedly fired at officers late Monday night. Police said they received a 911 hang-up call from the Catawba Pines apartments on East First Street just after 11:30 p.m. ALSO READ: Habitual felon sentenced for shooting at CMPD officers during foot chase Arriving officers found a group of people in the parking lot of the complex. While they were trying to figure out who called 911, police found a man waving a gun. Police said the man, who they later identified as 24-year-old Keon Jemez Leach, then fired several shots at them after they asked him to drop the gun. A brief standoff ensued before officers returned fire and hit him. Channel 9s Dave Faherty spoke with neighbors who said they witnessed the encounter. I was outside, and the man told him, put the gun down ... put the gun down and he was like, I was ready to die. I was ready to die. Youre going to have to come and take me. And he was walking up with the gun, and they backed up, and he started shooting at them, Daishaun Harris said. Leach was taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center in critical condition before being airlifted to Atrium Health Medical Center in Charlotte. He is in stable condition, according to police. Several rounds from the shootout hit cars parked at the complex. Rhylle Bruces front door is feet from where police first encountered the suspect. ALSO READ: Police investigating deadly shooting in Newton It was like fireworks, a hail of gunfire, she said. And cops tried to keep everyone as safe as they could. Harris shared cellphone video with Faherty that showed police taking cover behind a dumpster in the parking lot when one shot was fired. Kasia Howell said she tried to keep her 3-year-old daughter safe in her apartment. I seen people running so I hurried up and grabbed the kids, my daughter and my brothers, and made them to all go hiding in the hallway, she said. The Newton Police Department said the officers and deputies involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave. The investigation into the officer-involved shooting will be handled by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations. Leach, of Newton, will be charged with four felony accounts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and four felony accounts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm. The SBI was there collecting evidence for more than six hours. Faherty learned part of it included body camera video from both Newton police and the sheriffs office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Newton Police Department at 828-465-7430. VIDEO: Habitual felon sentenced for shooting at CMPD officers during foot chase A copy of the Ten Commandments is posted along with other historical documents in a hallway at the Georgia State Capitol Building Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Atlanta. Louisiana has become the first state in the country to require the Ten Commandments are are displayed in all public schools. | John Bazemore In recent weeks, a confluence of events has reignited the long-simmering debate about the role of religion in American public life. Louisiana passed a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, a move that was cheered by some conservative Christians as an affirmation of the nations religious heritage but decried by others as a troubling erosion of the separation of church and state. Meanwhile, the Southern Baptist Convention, Americas largest Protestant denomination and a longtime force in GOP politics, voted to oppose in vitro fertilization, signaling a growing willingness to translate theological beliefs into policy stances beyond the realm of abortion, where the denomination has long focused its political energies. Then theres the leaked recording of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito suggesting America needs to return to a place of godliness, which provoked conversation about the influence of religious conservatism on the nations highest court, even as the justices defenders argued that the comments were misconstrued. But even as these events capture headlines, a more profound shift in the religious landscape is unfolding. New research shows that a significant minority of self-described evangelicals dont subscribe to core Christian beliefs such as the divinity of Jesus. For them, evangelical identity seems to be less about theological conviction than cultural and political affiliation. This trend is underscored by the surprising finding that small but growing numbers of Muslims, Hindus and Jews now identify as evangelical a term once inextricable from its Christian origins. For these Americans, the word evangelical appears to be evolving into a catchall designation for a certain strain of GOP politics, one that emphasizes culture war issues and loyalty to former President Donald Trump. This untethering of evangelical identity from doctrinal belief tracks with a broader realignment in which partisan allegiance is eclipsing religious affiliation as the primary driver of social and political attitudes. In some ways, this mirrors the advent of cultural Catholicism, a phenomenon in which many Americans identify as Catholic or partially Catholic even though they do not primarily define their religious identity as Catholic. Similarly, todays cultural evangelicals may see their religious identity more as a marker of family history, cultural heritage or political inclination than as a matter of deep theological commitment. This has significant implications for how we understand the role and influence of evangelical Christianity in American public life. At the same time, its important to recognize that neither evangelicalism nor secularism is a monolithic bloc. Within each camp, there is a wide range of beliefs, practices and political persuasions. Some evangelicals are deeply conservative, while others lean moderate or progressive. Some are single-issue voters fixated on abortion, while others prioritize issues like poverty, immigration or the environment. Likewise, the secular spectrum encompasses everyone from strident atheists to spiritual but not religious seekers to indifferent agnostics. Acknowledging this diversity within and between religious and secular communities is crucial for avoiding the kind of sweeping generalizations that fuel polarization and hinder understanding. When we paint either side as a uniform, implacable force, we lose sight of the complex reality of American religious life. What might these tectonic changes in the religious terrain portend for Americas future? In the short term, they likely forecast escalating conflicts around the role of religion in the public square, as the devout and the disaffected wrestle over the boundaries of acceptable God talk in policy debates. The Louisiana classroom law and the Southern Baptist Conventions newest foray into reproductive politics are unlikely to be the last such flare-ups. But in the longer view, the blurring of lines between religious and political identities could also create unexpected opportunities for new coalitions and fresh thinking. The growing phenomenon of Americans of diverse faith backgrounds finding common cause under the evangelical label hints at the possibility of novel political alignments organized around shared cultural affinities rather than formal creeds. For example, we might see the emergence of a multi-faith religious right that brings together conservative Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians who prioritize traditional values and religious liberty concerns over theological differences. Such a coalition could wield significant influence in a political landscape where the faith vote is no longer monopolized by a single religious tradition. Such realignments would not erase the deep differences that exist within and between Americas diverse faith communities. But they could scramble the religious-political map in ways that create more room for nuance, pragmatism and issue-specific cooperation across traditional divides. On the progressive end of the religious spectrum, there are also intriguing possibilities for new alliances. Just as conservative faith groups are finding common cause around shared cultural concerns, progressive religious activists are coming together to advocate for social justice issues like racial equity, LGBTQ rights and economic fairness. Interfaith coalitions like the Poor Peoples Campaign and Faith in Public Life are mobilizing diverse faith communities to challenge systemic inequities and promote a more inclusive vision of the common good. These efforts point to the potential for a religious left that could serve as a counterweight to the religious right in the public square. Navigating this new landscape will require a more sophisticated understanding of the complex ways that religious identity intersects with race, ethnicity, generation and geography. And it will demand a more inclusive public discourse that makes space for a wider range of voices and experiences. None of this will be easy in a time of intense polarization and deep distrust. The current political climate is characterized by a sense of winner-take-all tribalism, where compromise is seen as betrayal and the stakes of every disagreement feel existential. But if the alternative is a zero-sum struggle for religious and cultural dominance, then the hard work of forging a more pluralistic public square may be the only way forward. Asma T. Uddin is an attorney, a Deseret contributing writer and the author of When Islam Is Not a Religion: Inside Americas Fight for Religious Freedom and The Politics of Vulnerability: How to Heal Muslim-Christian Relations in a Post-Christian America. CONAKRY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Guinean health authorities and the 30th Chinese medical mission have inaugurated a vascular surgery unit at the Sino-Guinean Friendship Hospital in Conakry, the Guinean capital. During the launch ceremony held Monday, Huang Wei, Chinese ambassador to Guinea, highly raised the contribution made by the Chinese medical team, and said that China is willing to deepen cooperation and add new impetus to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Guinea. The new surgery unit will help better manage cardiovascular diseases in Guinea, where patients often seek treatment outside the country, said Mohamed Diane, director general of the Sino-Guinean Friendship Hospital. On the occasion of the opening ceremony, the 30th Chinese medical mission donated medicine and medical supplies for neurosurgery, cardiology, vascular surgery and other specialty services at the hospital. Acting school superintendent Yolonda Brown, left, and Petersburg School Board chair Kenneth Pritchett sign copies of the contract bringing Brown to Petersburg City Public Schools Monday, July 8, 2024, during a meeting at Petersburg High School. PETERSBURG Proclaiming a new day for Petersburg City Public Schools, the School Board officially named veteran Georgia educator Yolonda Brown acting superintendent Monday night, giving her a contract of roughly 100 days to get a division back on track that has been plagued by questionable management and dissention between administration and the local educators union. Brown, who spent her entire 30-year career in the Atlanta school system, signed a contract that goes into effect Tuesday and runs until Oct. 31. Her salary for that period will be $70,000, of which $20,000 comes from the General Assembly-approved Petersburg Executive Leadership Recruitment Initiatives Fund. After being sworn in and receiving gifts from various school constituencies, Brown posed for photographs and spoke with confidence about what she offers Petersburg while at the helm. I bring a keen eye for structure. I bring a keen eye for leadership, Brown said, because I have a vast array of skills acquired over the past 30 years. She spent the final four of her 30 years in Atlanta schools as the systems chief academic officer. Brown also has been a middle-school teacher, a principal and associate superintendent. Related: Top education official in Atlanta chosen as Petersburg's interim school superintendent With Petersburg School Board chair Kenneth Pritchett holding the Bible, acting school superintendent Yolonda Brown is sworn in Monday, July 8, 2024, by Circuit Court Clerk My Parham. A revolving door of school chiefs Brown steps into a role in Petersburg that has seen its share of turnover at the top. Since 2019, there have been five superintendents, with the longest tenured one Dr. Marcus Newsome serving three years. Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin, who followed Newsome, stayed for a year before moving on to a state job in North Carolina. Her successor, Dr. Tamara Sterling, was on the job 15 months before resigning last April amid controversy over allegations of a lack of controls in spending and extravagance in business travel. Related: Petersburg School Board: Sterling resigns as superintendent Then-Chief of Staff Dr. John Farrelly was named acting superintendent upon Sterlings departure, but he left last month for the finance directors job in the Caroline County Public School system. Brown was recommended for the position by the Virginia Board of Education when Farrelly announced his departure. Related: Petersburg's interim school superintendent is stepping down for Caroline County school position Brown said after Mondays meeting that she was familiar with the systems previous inability to sustain tenure in the superintendency, but she looked forward to the challenge. She said she accepted the short-term contract to prove she was serious about showing the city she is not like previous leaders. Im a different person, so what I bring to this position is passion and commitment, she said. And this is a new day. Its a new beginning. Speaking about the shortness of the contract, Brown said it gives you an opportunity to show improvement. She said she understood that she cannot fit 30 years of experience into a 100-day contract, but she added she has a clear plan which was not shared that starts with building relationships. Then moving into the second phase, which is understanding whats in place and not in place, what challenges have we had and how we make things better, Brown explained. Then recommitting to teaching and learning because that is one of the places where I know Petersburg schools needs at this moment, strong instructional practices that work. Acting school superintendent Yolonda Brown, left, chats with Petersburg School Board member Hal Miles after being sworn in Monday, July 8, 2024. Asked if she sees the contract as an audition for the job permanently, Brown did not officially submit her candidacy but said she knows every time you have a contract that is not a full years contract, its an audition But my focus is not about auditioning. My focus is about doing the work. And if I think I will do the work, then everything else will come. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg swears in acting school superintendent (Getty Images) The state Senate Health and Human Services committee advanced a bill on Monday to increase oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. Pharmacy benefit managers are pharmaceutical industry middlemen. Theyre largely responsible for overseeing the prescription drug side of health insurance plans. In that role, they negotiate the cost of drugs on behalf of insurance companies, often receiving discounts on expensive drugs in exchange for placing those medicines on a given plans formulary. They are also responsible for reimbursing pharmacies for the cost of drugs when patients pay only a copay upfront. The nations largest pharmacy benefit managers have lately come under heavy scrutiny from state lawmakers, like in Pennsylvania, and federal regulators. The FTC is currently engaged in an antitrust investigation into some of the largest pharmacy benefit managers. The three largest pharmacy benefit managers operate under parent companies that also have their own massive health insurance companies and pharmacy chains. The nations three largest pharmacy benefit managers are estimated to be responsible for overseeing prescription benefits for 70% of Americans health care plans. Take, for example, CVS Health, one of the most profitable healthcare companies in the country, and one of the most profitable companies more generally. In the latest Fortune 500 list, CVS Health ranked as the countrys 6th largest company by revenue, with over $357 billion earned in 2023 alone. Aside from owning the nations largest pharmacy chain, CVS Health also owns one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers, Caremark, and one of the largest health insurance providers, Aetna. The Pennsylvania legislation would allow the states Insurance Department to regulate certain aspects of pharmacy benefit managers business that have been called anti-competitive. It would outlaw a practice called patient steering, in which a pharmacy benefit manager directs patients away from independently owned pharmacies and towards preferred pharmacies, often owned by the same parent company. The current version of the bill would also ban a practice called spread pricing, which is when pharmacy benefit managers charge an insurance plan one price for a drug, reimburse pharmacies that dispense it for less, and profit off the difference. It would also require pharmacy benefit managers to report more details about their revenues and profits to the states insurance department. That would include how or whether they use the money they receive from deals with drug manufacturers to lower costs for patients. The states insurance department would be responsible for enforcing the legislation, and would also have to establish a process to settle disputes between pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers. However, as it currently stands, the bill is missing a key provision requested by pharmacists. Many independent pharmacists have accused pharmacy benefit managers of under-reimbursing them; this means the pharmacies receive less for some of the drugs they dispense than it costs to stock and distribute them. That effectively forces pharmacies to operate with low profits or, worse, a loss. Though Pennsylvania pharmacist trade groups lobbied to include language that would have stopped that practice, it did not make it into the current bill. However, there is a notable exception. The bill would require any pharmacy benefit manager hired to oversee the prescription side of a state employee health plan to reimburse pharmacies at a rate that would ensure they arent losing money when filling prescriptions. However, that would only account for a small amount of total prescriptions filled at most pharmacies. The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association and the Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists (PARD) both blame low reimbursement rates for forcing the closure of dozens of pharmacies across the state over the last year. These are warm and fuzzy and nice things, Rob Frankil, PARDs executive director, said about the components of the bill that have remained intact. But what pharmacies really need is a reimbursement fix, and this is not in there. Two versions of the bill, originating in the House and Senate, respectively, have been moving through the statehouse for months. They were pushed forward with bipartisan support from lawmakers and the backing of Gov. Josh Shapiro. The states pharmacy trade groups have also been pressuring lawmakers to rein in pharmacy benefit managers. Ultimately, it appears the House version of the bill, sponsored by Reps. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) and Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) will be the one to pass, if either does. Over the last several weeks, negotiations have been ongoing between House Democrats, Senate Republicans, Shapiros office, Pennsylvania pharmacy trade groups, and another trade group representing some of the largest pharmacy benefit managers, about what the final bill will look like. Sen Judy Ward (R-Blair), the prime sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, said it will likely be amended again before it passes the full Senate. The House, which already passed an earlier version of the bill, will have to concur with any changes the Senate makes. The post Pharmacy benefit manager reform bill inches closer to passage in Pa. Senate appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. A CVS store. (Photo by Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The federal trade watchdog on Tuesday released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs. Each of the largest three PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx is part of a much-larger corporation that also owns a top-10 health insurer. They also own pharmacies, doctors offices and other links in the health chain, prompting the FTC to say theyre vertically integrated. The corporations pharmacy benefit managers act as insurers representatives in pharmacy transactions. They decide which drugs are covered, they create pharmacy networks, and through an opaque system, they decide how much to reimburse pharmacies for the drugs they dispense. The three biggest PBMs together are handling nearly 80% of prescription-drug transactions on behalf of insured Americans, the FTC report said. The largest six PBMs manage nearly 95% of all such prescriptions in the United States, it said. Amidst increasing vertical integration and concentration, these powerful middlemen may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies, an executive summary of the report said. The summary adds that the big PBMs wield enormous power and influence over patients access to drugs and the prices they pay. This can have dire consequences for Americans, with nearly three in ten surveyed Americans reporting rationing or even skipping doses of their prescribed medicines due to high costs. For its part, and industry group representing PBMs said the businesses have a proven track record of reducing prescription drug costs and that they recognize the vital role pharmacies play in creating access to prescription drugs for patients. JC Scott, president of the industry group, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said the FTC had treated the PBM industry unfairly. Throughout this process, FTC leadership has shown that they have pre-determined conclusions that they want to advance irrespective of the facts or the data, and this report demonstrates an intention to follow through on their agenda regardless of the evidence, Scott said in a statement. But many independent and small-chain pharmacies dispute that PBMs have their interests at heart. Because they control access to so many patients, most pharmacies especially small operations feel they have little choice about signing the contracts the big PBMs offer them. For years, theyve been complaining of declining reimbursements and seemingly arbitrary clawbacks from the huge PBMs. Many have been fleeing the business, saying theyre unable to cover their expenses. Late last month, for example, news broke that Rite Aid would close hundreds of stores in Ohio and Michigan, with many more likely to close in the other 14 states where the bankrupt chain operates. The company tends to operate in smaller communities and the FTC says pharmacy closures in such communities are particularly harmful to patients. PBMs also exert substantial influence over independent pharmacies, who struggle to navigate contractual terms imposed by PBMs that they find confusing, unfair, arbitrary, and harmful to their businesses, the agency said in a statement accompanying the interim report. Between 2013 and 2022, about ten percent of independent retail pharmacies in rural America closed. Closures of local pharmacies affect not only small business owners and their employees, but also their patients. In some rural and medically underserved areas, local community pharmacies are the main healthcare option for Americans, who depend on them to get a flu shot, an EpiPen, or other lifesaving medicine. CVS operates the largest retail chain, so when its PBM decides how much to reimburse pharmacies for drugs, its using what the FTC called an extraordinarily opaque system to pay its own pharmacies and its competitors for the drugs they dispense. Similarly, all three of the biggest PBMs operate mail-order pharmacies for expensive specialty drugs such as cancer medication. And they often encourage if not require patients to get their medicine from them. That has resulted in PBM-affiliated specialty pharmacies controlling 70% of sales in that class of drugs, the FTC report said. Using mail-order for complex, quickly changing cancer drug regimens has led to horror stories among patients forced to get their drugs that way. Meanwhile, the FTC report uncovered evidence that in at least some instances, PBMs are paying their own companies pharmacies more for drugs in those transactions than they do their competitors. Our analyses also highlight examples of affiliated pharmacies receiving significantly higher reimbursement rates than those paid to unaffiliated pharmacies for two case study drugs, it said. These practices have allowed pharmacies affiliated with the three largest PBMs to retain levels of dispensing revenue well above estimated drug acquisition costs, resulting in nearly $1.6 billion of additional revenue on just two cancer drugs in under three years. Such practices have already prompted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to sue Express Scripts under the states antitrust law, the Valentine Act. PCMA, the industry group, accused the FTC of using an unrepresentative sample in its analysis. Todays interim FTC report falls far short of being a definitive, fact-based assessment of PBMs or the prescription drug market, Scott, the groups president said. Members of the commission themselves disagree with the content of the report and the decision to release it. This report is based on anecdotes and comments from anonymous sources and self-interested parties, and supported only by two cherry-picked case studies that are implied to be representative of the entire market. The report completely overlooks the volumes of data that demonstrate the value that PBMs provide to Americas health care system by reducing prescription drug costs and increasing access to medications. The FTC report also slammed arrangements under which the big PBMs negotiate huge rebates and other discounts from drugmakers. Because PBMs control access to so many patients, they have great leverage when they negotiate rebates and other discounts from makers of patented or branded drugs. The middlemen control the formulary, or list of covered drugs, and manufacturers have to cough up big if they want their products to be on it. The system of granting huge, non-transparent discounts has already been shown to increase the list price of drugs. Thats the amount you would pay if you didnt have insurance and often the price on which your copayment or deductible is based. The FTC said it came across another way the rebate system appears to be costing patients by locking them out of cheaper generics that would work just as well. While this interim report principally focuses on the relationship between PBMs and pharmacies, we share evidence that PBMs and brand pharmaceutical manufacturers sometimes enter into agreements to exclude generic drugs and biosimilars from certain formularies in exchange for higher rebates from the manufacturer, the report said. These exclusionary rebates may cut off patient access to lower-cost medicines and warrant further scrutiny by the Commission, policymakers and industry stakeholders. FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan in March said that some of the PBMs werent cooperating with the investigation. Those problems apparently persist. The report notes that several of the PBMs that were issued orders have not been forthcoming and timely in their responses, and they still have not completed their required submissions, which has hindered the Commissions ability to perform its statutory mission, the agency said in a statement. FTC staff have demanded that the companies finalize their productions required by the 6(b) orders promptly. If, however, any of the companies fail to fully comply with the 6(b) orders or engage in further delay tactics, the FTC can take them to district court to compel compliance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines rejected on Tuesday China's accusation that its grounded warship on the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China had damaged the coral reef ecosystem in the area, laying the blame for damaging the marine environment on Beijing. The Philippine task force on the South China Sea in a statement called for an independent, third party marine scientific assessment of the causes of coral reef damage in the South China Sea. "It is China who has been found to have caused irreparable damage to corals. It is China that has caused untold damage to the maritime environment, and jeopardised the natural habitat and the livelihood of thousands of Filipino fisherfolk," the task force said. On Monday, China's Ministry of Natural Resources said in a report that Philippine warships have been "illegally beached" around Second Thomas Shoal near what it calls Nansha Islands for a long time, "and it has seriously damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the reef ecosystem". The Philippines and Beijing have been embroiled in confrontations at the Second Thomas Shoal where Manila maintains a rusting warship, BRP Sierra Madre, that it beached in 1999 to reinforce maritime claims. A small crew is stationed on it. China has in turn dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands in the South China Sea, which it says is normal construction activity on its territory, but which other nations say is aimed at enforcing its claim to the waterway. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies last year found China's construction activity buried more than 4,600 acres (1,861 acres) of reef. China claims almost all of the vital waterway, where $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. But The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in 2016 found China's expansive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis. Beijing does not accept the ruling. The Philippine task-force, which warned of attempts by "Chinese experts" to sow disinformation and conduct malign influence, said it has evidence that China has been responsible for "severe damage to corals" in several areas in the South China Sea, including in Scarborough Shoal and Sabina Shoal. Last year, the Philippines said it was exploring legal options against China, accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing as an attempt to "create political drama". (Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry) Two airship models were created by artist Peter Excho using Charles Pages patented drawings. One is in the airports exhibit and the other at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This was the first time his grandson Joseph Page had seen a model made of the airship using his grandfather's drawings. Passengers traveling through Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans can learn more about Pinevilles airship inventor Charles Frederick Page in the Pioneer Skies: Freedom to Flight exhibit unveiled by the Louisiana State Museum and the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Advisory Board last Wednesday. Pages family including his grandson Joseph Page of Pineville were on hand for the ribbon cutting and dedication. The exhibit also also has a timeline that includes notable aviation pioneers and events such as Leo Ortego of Alexandria who built the first working helicopter. In April of 1906, Charles Page got a patent for his airship, one month before the Wright Brothers got theirs, making him the first man in the United States to get one, said local historian Michael Wynne in an article from the Feb. 27, 2024 edition of The Town Talk. Wynne has researched and written articles about Charles Page. I have known about my grandfathers invention my entire life, said Page. And to have him recognized now, beyond Rapides Parish and beyond Pineville, is really heartwarming. Wynne didnt attend the unveiling but said he was delighted that after so many years of trying to get the word out about Charles Page, that he is finally getting both state and international recognition. Joseph Page said that it was Wynne's research that breathed new life into the story about his grandfather. Charles Frederick Page was a hero to so many people and an inspiration to everybody, said Wynne. Two airship models were created by artist Peter Excho using Charles Pages patented drawings. One is in the airports exhibit and the other at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. "NASA actually paid for a model of the construction of the airship that is on display in New Orleans along with all the information about my grandfathers invention, said Page. Its a mobile display and its going to be in the New Orleans airport until September. This was the first time Page had seen an actual model of the airship using the information on the patent application. He was blown away when he saw the model because he didnt expect to see one. I had never seen a model of it before, he said, though he had pictures of it accompanying the patent. The display will travel to other airports around the state. He contacted Alexandria International Airport and informed them about the exhibit and ceremony in New Orleans. Theyre supposed to contact those folks and see whether or not they can get display up here, he said. Born a slave who taught himself how to read and write, Charles Page is considered one of the top 10 Black inventors of the world and the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington, D.C., Wynne says in the article. Charles Page built a full model airship in the 1890s at his two-story wooden frame home, at the corner of Edgewood and 28, behind what is now the Walgreens and had it shipped by train to be on display at the Louisiana World Exposition in St. Louis, Mo., which marked the 100th year anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. He may have planned to enter an aeronautics competition that had a $500,000 prize. The airship was stolen and destroyed before it ever got to St. Louis. It tremendously discouraged him," Wynne said. "In fact, he basically gave up on it. But Charles Page had already filed a U.S. patent application for his airship, and it was still being processed. Joseph Page was unaware his grandfather would be part of the exhibit until he received a call Tuesday afternoon. He was told prior efforts were made to contact him beforehand but calls were going to a wrong number. Even though he had such short notice, he decided to go and hes glad he did because he thought it was a great program. "Louisiana has a storied aviation history we are proud to showcase. This exhibit not only honors our past but will also inspire future generations to reach for the skies, said Susan Maclay, Interim Director of the Louisiana State Museum in a press release. "Visitors will be captivated by the handcrafted scale model display that brings this chapter of aviation history to life. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: New Orleans airport exhibit recognizes Pineville airship inventor ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Tuesday will be the hottest day of the week in Southwest and Central Virginia. It will be a warm and muggy start to the day with morning temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s. A mix of sun and clouds will be overhead with temperatures rising into the lower and middle 90s by the afternoon. A Heat Advisory will go into effect from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday for areas east of the Blue Ridge. The heat and high humidity will result in heat index values between 105 to 108. When dealing with hot weather, here are some safety tips to keep in mind: If you plan on working or exercising outside, try to do so during the morning or evening when temperatures arent as hot Take frequent breaks when working outside Drink plenty of water Stay in the shade when you can Consider wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothes Remnants of Beryl will merge with an approaching storm system before moving into the Ohio Valley for the middle of the week. For Wednesday, morning temperatures will start in the warm 70s before reaching the 80s and lower 90s by the afternoon. Scattered showers and storms are possible, especially in the afternoon and evening. Areas of heavy rainfall may occur. Isolated showers and storms are possible on Thursday afternoon, but the rain will be very hit or miss. It will be slightly cooler with afternoon highs in the 80s and lower 90s. Friday will be even cooler with highs in the 80s. However, scattered showers and storms are possible during the day. Hotter conditions return for the weekend. Expect a mix of sun and clouds for Saturday and Sunday with high temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s. Although rain chances are low, a few showers and storms may pop up during the heat of the 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 WFXRtv. A Ten Commandments sculpture is on display in front of city hall June 27, 2001 in Grand Junction, Colorado. A Ten Commandments sculpture is on display in front of city hall June 27, 2001 in Grand Junction, Colorado.(Michael Smith/Getty Images) As promised, the Louisiana parents challenging the legality of required Ten Commandments displays in K-12 and college classrooms formally asked a judge Monday to stop the new state law from going into effect. Schools have until Jan. 1, 2025, to meet the requirements of the law that calls for posters at least 11 by 14 inches large to be prominently displayed in every classroom, but the commandments could go up as soon as next month when students return to school. Nine families have sued the state, arguing the new law amounts to the state endorsing a religion and conflicts with the First Amendment..The plaintiffs filed a motion Monday for a preliminary injunction, which would stop schools from posting displays while the court case plays out. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles of Louisianas Middle District in Baton Rouge, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, is presiding over the case. If he grants the injunction, it would prevent any school from placing Ten Commandments displays once the school year begins. As argued in the brief, these displays will violate long-standing Supreme Court precedent, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, one of the groups representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said in a statement. More than 40 years ago, in Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court overturned a similar (Kentucky) state law, holding that the separation of church and state bars public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Plaintiffs attorneys also note in the brief that the new law calls for a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments, which differs from those recognized by the Catholic and Jewish faiths. Defendants in the case include Louisiana Education Superintendent Cade Brumley, members of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the school boards of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Orleans, St. Tammany and Vernon parishes. Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 71, which required the Ten Commandments displays at any school that accepts state money, which would include public universities. The governor said he welcomed a lawsuit challenging the statutes constitutionality. The plaintiffs also filed a motion for an expedited hearing for the preliminary injunction, which seeks a decision from deGravelles to block Ten Commandments displays before the school year begins. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Parents seek injunction to block Ten Commandments displays during lawsuit appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Platte County jail tax on ballot could bring in $400 million. Will voters OK 20-year hike? Voters in Platte County will decide next month if they want to pay a half-cent sales tax for the next 20 years to expand the jail, more than doubling its current capacity. The jail expansion project in Platte City is expected to cost $85 million, which the county wants to issue in general obligation bonds and then pay back through the new proposed sales tax hike. Voters will need to approve each measure separately one question on the ballot asks about taking out the $85 million in bonds and the other asks about adding the sales tax. Beyond the cost of the expansion, the sales tax is expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars, $400 million total, which would fund additional staff positions and services at the jail. A 2019 measure to expand the facility failed. Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen, who is not running for reelection, said the jail is over capacity. On Monday, 202 people were detained at the facility, which was built in 1998. The jails capacity is 180. It has reached up to 240, Owen said. According to online records, people were detained on a range of charges, from traffic offenses like speeding and driving with a revoked license, to more serious offenses like murder. The vast majority were being held pre-trial, meaning they havent been convicted or sentenced yet, but either a judge ordered them to remain behind bars for community safety or they are unable to afford bond. Some cells originally designed for one person housed three. During a tour of the jail on Monday, several cells with bunk beds had a mattress on the ground to accommodate a third person. Some of those detained were heard complaining about the overcrowding. A cell in the Platte County jail has two bunk beds and a mattress on the floor for a third person. Owen, who supports the sales tax, said older parts of the current jail, like vents, were rusting. Those materials can be pried off and made into weapons. Sometimes, the sheriffs office has to send people to jails in Cass and Buchanan counties when they are over capacity, which requires additional costs for staff time and transportation. How big should the jail be? If the ballot questions pass, the jail would expand to 470 beds, a 161% increase in capacity. The funding would renovate the current facility, add a new building and pay for operations costs. Construction would begin in 2025. HMN Architects, an Overland Park firm that has designed several jails in the region, won a design contract for the project at the end of 2023. Plans include the ability to better separate those charged with violent or non-violent crimes, creating more cells for people with medical or mental health needs and a repurposed booking area. The sheriff said he expects the number of people in jail to increase in the coming years. The county hired a national jail consultant to calculate the number of beds based on the countys growth and trends. Jail populations fluctuate not only because of crime rates but because of policy decisions that determine who should be incarcerated and for how long. Nationally over the past decade, the number of jail beds in the country has increased, while the occupancy rate of local jails has decreased, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Activists with groups including Decarcerate KC are opposed to the ongoing expansion of jails in the metro. Jackson County is embarking on a more than $300 million jail project which will feature 1,000 beds. Kansas City is also pursuing a new detention facility. Our local governments continue to ask taxpayers to pay for jails rather than investing in systems of care, said Chris Lopez, with Decarcerate KC. At what point do we refocus ourselves and really think about the root causes? Dylan Pyles said the organization supports programs, reforms and strategies that prevent contact with the criminal justice system in the first place. That includes investing in services like health care and education. I think thinking about where your tax dollars are best spent is obviously really important, Pyles said. Inside the Platte County jail the county is seeking to more than double in capacity. A 20-year tax? If the proposal passes, people in Platte County will pay an additional tax on purchases, including online sales, for the next 20 years. For example, consumers will pay an additional $0.05 on $10 and $0.50 on $100. Over its lifespan, the tax would generate hundreds of millions of dollars more than the expansion itself would cost. The measures language says the county could use the funds for the jails operations and maintenance. With the sheriffs anticipated increase of people in the jail, he said they will also need additional staffing. The sales tax is projected to raise about $400 million, according to Platte County. That would pay for 26 additional positions as well as more services, including mental health care and educational programming, Owen said. The plan is expected to meet the countys needs through 2048. Platte County Treasurer Rob Willard said he supports an expanded jail, but has voiced criticism of the proposed tax hike and specifically, the length of the tax. I support the principle but not the plan, Willard, a former assistant prosecutor, said in a news release. Twenty years is too long for a tax like this. If approved, a whole generation of Platte County voters will be denied the right to act as a check on government. A vote every ten years allows the people to judge whether the government has been a good steward of the money. Wording on the ballot The primary vote will take place on Aug. 6. Voters will cast ballots on the following: Question 1 asks: Shall Platte County, Missouri issue its general obligation bonds in the amount not to exceed $85,000,000 for the purpose of designing, acquiring, constructing, installing, improving, furnishing, and equipping an expanded and improved inmate detention center in the County, including without limitation more areas to segregate violent and sexual offenders and to provide expanded mental health care and education of inmates? Question 2 asks: Shall Platte County, Missouri be authorized to impose a countywide sales tax for the purpose of designing, acquiring, constructing, installing, improving, furnishing, equipping, operating, and maintaining an expanded and improved inmate detention center in the County, including without limitation the payment of debt service on general obligation bonds issued for such purpose, at a rate of one-half of one percent for a period of twenty years from the date on which the tax is first imposed? Question 1 requires a 4/7 majority and question 2 requires a simple majority, according to the county. Both must pass to move forward with the expansion. (FOX40.COM) Firefighters worked quickly to keep a playground fire at a Sacramento area park from spreading to other structures on Tuesday morning, according to the Sacramento Fire Department. Firefighters arrived at Mark Hopkins Park in the Meadowview area and found a well-involved fire along the southeast corner of the park. Man sent to trauma center after rollover crash in Natomas While crews were able to keep the fire from spreading into the bark below the play structure, the structure and sailcloth covering were severely damaged. No injuries were reported from the fire and the cause is unknown. In the same area of Mark Hopkins Park are Success Academy and Rosa Parks Middle School. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. This week, NATO leaders will gather in Washington, D.C., for the defensive alliances 75th annual summit. The high-profile gathering comes at a moment of political turmoil in the United States, as President Joe Biden struggles to demonstrate his fitness to lead following a poor debate performance late last month. The 81-year-old Biden, by his own admission, had a very bad night as he faced off against former President Donald Trump on the debate stage. But the perception of an enfeebled U.S. president could have consequences that go beyond the ballot box. Amid a period of global unrest, American allies fear bad actors may view the weakened Biden on display at the debate as an opening to push their own agendas. America was the real loser in the presidential debate, a headline for the Iranian state-controlled Tehran Times declared following the June 27 faceoff. The Russian-run news site RT, which covers the presidents public stumbles with a laser-sharp focus, mocked Bidens debate disaster. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua, meanwhile, described the debate as an American-style reality show indicative of the broader failure of U.S. democracy. Yet Biden has struck a defiant tone despite the jeers, insisting hes up for a taxing presidential campaign and, more importantly, another four years in the worlds most powerful office. In a prime-time interview with ABC News on Friday, the president said that only the Lord Almighty could get him to bow out of the race. Biden also used the opportunity to tout his foreign policy record: a brewing peace plan in the Middle East, alliance-building in the Indo-Pacific, and a strengthened NATO. But going into this weeks summit, which will span from Tuesday to Thursday, its unclear if U.S. allies remain confident in the leadership on display in Washington. Several European diplomats privately voiced concerns about Bidens debate performance, and one senior European official told the New York Times they were shocked by Bidens seeming physical decline at the June G7 summit. Others are worried about the potential ramifications for European security should voters concerns about Bidens age ease Trumps path to another term. If they can change the horse, they should, a European diplomat told CNN, referring to the possibility of Democrats replacing Biden on the November ballot. Many U.S. allies, particularly in Western Europe, have viewed Bidens reelection as vastly preferable to the prospect of Trumps return to the Oval Office. The former president spent much of his first term lambasting NATO for several of its member states failure to commit the required 2 percent of their GDP on defense. European military spending rose expeditiously following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Trumps criticisms of the defensive alliance have persisted. At the debate last month, the former president once again accused Washingtons European partners of not paying their fair share on national defense. Asked by the moderators if he would pull the U.S. from NATO if elected, Trump simply shrugged. The former president also has generated anxiety among European leaders about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine should he win in November. Some European officials fear Trump, a self-proclaimed dealmaker, is likely to push Ukraine toward accepting a truce with Russia that doesnt uphold its territorial integrity. Reuters reported last month that two of Trumps advisers had recently presented him with a plan to condition U.S. military aid to Ukraine on its willingness to engage in peace talks with Russia, raising the possibility of American support for a deal that would result in lost territory for Ukraine. Amid this uncertainty, Biden needs to be up to the task of reassuring the alliance and its enemies of Americas continued commitment to European security. Biden needs to send signals to the Europeans that Were not leaving NATO, we are here, we are engaged, and were going to stay engaged notwithstanding the election in November. Hes got to get that message to the Europeans, and hes got to get the message to the Russians as well, Jim Townsend, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO, told The Dispatch. This kind of thing is a playground for Putin. He likes the turmoilhe will point to that and say, See, this is how democracies work. In the Middle East, too, U.S. partners are bracing for the fallout of a messy presidential race and possible Trump victory. During his Friday interview with ABC, Biden touted a peace plan for the Middle East that may be coming to fruition in apparent reference to behind-the-scenes U.S. efforts to broker normalized diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. With the longevity of the Biden administration in doubt, however, the political will in Riyadh and Jerusalem to deliver an outgoing president his crowning foreign policy achievement could wither. How countriesincluding friendly ones like Israel and Saudi Arabiarespond to politically difficult or risky requests made by a president who is widely viewed as weak, embattled, and headed toward near-certain electoral defeat could be quite different from how they respond to a president fully in command and on track to winning a second term, John Hannah, a senior fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, told The Dispatch. Americas adversaries in the region, Iran foremost among them, might likewise behave differently with the U.S. presidents political future hanging by a thread. Bidens willingness to take a hard line on Iranian aggression, tenuous even at the beginning of his term, is now more in doubt than ever as Israel fights Tehrans proxies on two fronts: Hamas in Gaza, and Lebanese Hezbollah on its northern border. And looming over the dual crises is Irans development of its nuclear program, which continues largely unchecked. As Iran contemplates how much further Hezbollah should escalate against Israel on the northern front, or at what point it should make its dash to develop a nuclear arsenal, one key question its always asking is How is Washington likely to respond? said Hannah, who previously worked in senior foreign policy positions in both Republican and Democratic administrations, including as national security adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney. Its not hard to imagine how a belief in the diminished capacities of an American president that reduces the chances of a timely, coherent, and forceful U.S. response could lead to a dangerous series of decisions or miscalculations, he added. An outwardly weak president is a recipe for overreach, escalation, and a wider war in the Middle East. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. JOHANNESBURG, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A South African soldier was killed Monday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) when a hand grenade exploded near their sleeping quarters in their base in Beni, a city in northeastern DRC, said the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) Tuesday. "It is not clear what caused the hand grenade to explode, however, a SANDF board of inquiry including the United Nations officials will be convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident," said the SANDF in a statement. The SANDF said they are in the process of bringing the remains of the soldier to South Africa. South African Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga sent condolence messages to the bereaved family. South African soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community contingent which was deployed in the DRC to maintain peace and security in the country. MONDAY, JULY 8, 2024, 6:45 p.m. FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) A 21-year-old Fond du Lac man accused of crashing into a Verizon store that left multiple people injured appeared in court on Monday. Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that Benjamin Ayer, 21, had his plea/sentencing hearing pushed back to mid-October. UPDATE: Former youth tennis coach accused of child enticement has bond modified Ayer will return to the Fond du Lac County Courthouse on October 11 at 1:30 p.m. No additional details were provided. Driver in Fond du Lac Verizon store crash identified, facing 10+ charges TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023, 11:58 a.m. FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) A 20-year-old man in connection with the crash of a Verizon store in Fond du Lac that left multiple people injured has been officially charged. 20-year-old Benjamin Ayer was formally charged in court. Ayer is from Oakfield and was scheduled to be in court at 11 a.m. on May 2. Originally, police said that the vehicle that crashed into the Verizon store was driven by a 20-year-old man from Oakfield. Ayer is accused to have been huffing before crashing into the store. Officials say a canister as well as a marijuana pipe, grinder and a small amount of marijuana were found inside the vehicle. Two people injured after stolen car crashes into Wisconsin school bus, suspect(s) unknown According to court records, Ayer is facing 12 charges in relation to the incident where a vehicle crashed into a Verizon store in Fond du Lac. He is charged with the following: Injury by Intoxicated Use/Vehicle Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony 1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety Felony Possess Drug Paraphernalia Misdemeanor Possession of THC Misdemeanor Cause Injury/Operate While under Influence Misdemeanor The public has an expectation to be safe from other drivers operating motor vehicles, whether on our roadways, shopping, or in our homes. Anyone that shatters that sense of security for those in our community through criminal actions will be held accountable in our judicial system. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney Ayer reportedly faces over 60 years of initial prison confinement. His cash bond was set at $300,000 with additional non-monetary conditions ordered. He is scheduled to be back in court for his preliminary hearing on May 12 at 2 p.m. No additional information was provided at this time. Local 5 will continue to update this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. WARSAW, Poland With the war in Ukraine expected to dominate the agenda of the NATO summit that begins in Washington today, the Kyiv government signed a security cooperation agreement with Poland, one of its staunchest allies. The deal, signed in Warsaw on July 8 by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, foresees Polish support for integrating the Ukrainian defense industry with Western partners, and it calls for air-defense cooperation between the two nations in the event of an attack. In a statement released by his office, Tusk said his country will push allies during the summit to accelerate the process of admitting Ukraine to NATO and make the alliances aid to Kyiv even more efficient. Also in Washington, Poland has been very active in promoting Ukraines accession to NATO, Zelenskyy said at a press conference here following the ceremonial signing of the security pact. The bilateral accord foresees Poland supporting the integration of Ukraines defense industry into NATO and EU defense and security frameworks, according to the agreement text. The partners also declared that they will foster more industrial cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian industry players. The participants will collaborate to create an environment conducive to Polish defense companies locating production also in Ukraine, according to the agreement. Additionally, they intend to include Ukrainian-based enterprises in the production chains of military equipment. Another key part of the document refers to the need for air-defense cooperation between Poland and Ukraine amid Russias ongoing invasion. In March 2024, a Russian missile briefly violated Polands airspace during an intense missile attack on Ukraine. The incident pushed the Polish Air Force to scramble its F-16 fighter jets. The participants agree on the need to continue their bilateral dialogue and dialogues with other partners, aimed at examining rationale and feasibility of possible intercepting in Ukraines airspace missiles and UAVs fired in the direction of territory of Poland, according to the agreement, using shorthand for unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police said four people were shot Monday night in Southeast. Pursuit beginning in Suitland turns into barricade in Waldorf, police say The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said two females and two males were shot in the 1200 block of Potomac Ave. All four victims were still conscious and breathing and were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to MPD. MPD said to look out for a male in a white shirt, dark pants, white shoes, and a blue SUV. In an update on Tuesday morning, police released pictures of the SUV, captured on surveillance cameras in the area. Blue SUV wanted in connection to the shooting on July 8 on Potomac Avenue, Southeast. (Photo Courtesy: MPD) Anyone with information about the shooting or this SUV was asked to call 911 with the event number: I20240348667. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Akia Winters, a police recruit with the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police Department, practices a hand-to-hand technique on Ashaun Roach-Valandra, a recruit from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police, during a basic law enforcement certification course. The 13-week course was taking place at the George S. Mickelson Law Enforcement Center in Pierre. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE, S.D. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley hopes a new basic law enforcement training course that prioritizes tribal recruits will prove the state could host regional training for Native American officers from the Upper Midwest. Jackley and U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell spoke Monday at the George S. Mickelson Law Enforcement Center in Pierre, in advance of a media tour of the facility and presentations on the ongoing course. The states police academy has long been open to recruits from tribal law enforcement agencies. In practice, though, most attend the 13-week training through the Bureau of Indian Affairs at a facility in Artesia, New Mexico. After the basic course is complete, the tribal recruits will be offered an add-on course in tribal policing, which also typically takes place in Artesia and focuses on tribal policing. The BIA has offered its support to that portion of the training in South Dakota. The overall goal would be to not just have South Dakota tribal or South Dakota BIA officers here, but because we do such a good job, to expand it regionally, Jackley said. Born of controversy, history of recruitment trouble Gov. Kristi Noem threw her support behind the idea of an additional basic law enforcement course that would prioritize tribal recruits this spring amid a flurry of controversy over statements shed made on public safety on the states tribal lands. Noem delivered a speech on border security during the winter legislative session that linked migration at the U.S.-Mexico border to cartel-related drug abuse and violence on reservations. Noem has claimed without evidence that some tribal leaders are personally benefiting from a cartel presence on the states reservations. Tribes have pushed back on those claims. Leaders in all nine of South Dakotas tribes have voted to ban her from their lands, citing the claims about cartels, as well as what theyve described as disparaging comments Noem made about Native American children and parents. Even so, tribal leaders have long decried a dearth of funding for public safety on reservations, which is a treaty obligation for the U.S. government. The typical expectation that tribal recruits spend weeks away from their families in New Mexico has been a barrier to recruitment noted by tribal leaders, as well as Noem and members of South Dakotas congressional delegation. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, has called for the establishment of a Midwestern training center for the BIA, pointing to the states Mickelson Center as a prime partnership candidate for such an endeavor. On Monday, Jackley praised Noem for throwing her support behind the current course, now in its sixth of 13 weeks. I had been asking for additional classes ever since Ive been attorney general, and I want to give this governor credit, Jackley said. The new course is no different from any other basic law enforcement course offered in Pierre, aside from its goal of prioritizing the acceptance of tribal recruits. U.S. attorney: consistent training, relationships aid prosecutions The course, provided at no cost to local agencies, drew 11 tribal recruits from three tribes: the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Another 13 recruits joined them from agencies across the state to make a class of 24. Ramsdell, whose office prosecutes all felony-level crimes that occur on reservations in South Dakota, also praised the decision to hold a tribal-priority training course. She said the basic training is valuable because it brings together officers from across the state to build the kinds of relationships necessary to work across jurisdictions. There were more than 500 prosecutions led by Ramdells office last year, she said, with 220 originating in tribal areas. The office also prosecuted 140 people for drug trafficking. Our state really leads the nation on these stats, Ramsdell said. Were often second or third after Arizona and Oklahoma in prosecuting violent crime in Indian Country. Ramsdell said shed looked through the list of agencies represented by the recruits before coming to Pierre, and over the last year and a half, weve worked with each one of them on really meaningful prosecutions. In a state as small as South Dakota, she said, cooperation and relationships are critical to public safety. I think its exemplary of the fact that everything we do starts locally, and without our local partners, we wouldnt have the success we do at the U.S. Attorneys Office, she said. Thats one of the reasons Jackley said he hopes to see the course pave a path for more tribal law enforcement training in the future. A training ground near a recruits home allows them to get home to their families on weekends, ensures consistency for all officers working in South Dakotas borders and builds connections between those officers. I think all those things make good sense as to why this should happen here, Jackley said. I think its why we have local officers teaching this class, why we have tribal officers and tribes willing to attend it, and why I think this is going to be a success. 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. CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM) Police are clear of the scene of an incident which prompted a shelter-in-place for a Carlisle neighborhood. Carlisle Police said an active police incident is ongoing in the area of Pitt and Ridge Streets. They said there was no active threat to the public, but residents were asked to stay away from the area to allow officers to operate. Residents were also asked to stay inside and keep doors locked. Jarrek Anderson, wanted for several felony warrants, they said, was in the area and wanted. Anyone in the area who sees something suspicious, or anyone with information, is asked to call Carlisle Police at 717-243-5252. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Police lieutenant accused of pointing gun at over a dozen people, including kids, at July 4th party A member of the Miami Township Police Department is on leave for the second time this year after allegedly threatening his neighbors over the weekend. Lieutenant Jason Etter was placed on paid administrative by the department on Monday, a spokesperson confirmed to News Center 7s John Bedell. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Miami Twp. assistant police chief placed on administrative leave A day after being placed on leave, Etter was charged in Montgomery County Municipal Court - Western Division with 17 misdemeanor counts, including one count of weapons while intoxicated and 16 counts of aggravated menacing. The charges stem from an exchange Etter allegedly had with his neighbors, who were having a Fourth of July party on Saturday. In a 911 call obtained by News Center 7, a caller told dispatchers that their neighbor came over to their party raising hell with a gun. And he got an AR and he laid down in the road and pointed the gun at us, the caller said. >> RELATED: Miami Twp. Board of Trustees cast votes on assistant police chief accused of misconduct As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, Perry Township officers wrote in court documents that Etter was drunk when he walked to his neighbors home with a rifle slung over his back around 10:30 p.m. He allegedly yelled for the fireworks to stop and said because it triggers his PTSD. He says hes ex-military and hearing fireworks brings back memories, the 911 caller said. Thats when police said Etter walked back toward his home. Then another firework went off and Etter turned around, dropped to a knee, and pointed the rifle at the crowd, which included nine children, according to court documents. We all took off running because he pulled the AR off of his shoulder and pointed it at us, the 911 caller said. So we all scattered. >> Back-to-school season approaching quickly; What you can do to save money Etter was placed on administrative leave in February after being accused of misconduct and failure to uphold the law while serving as the departments assistant police chief. Weeks later, the Miami Township Board of Trustees demoted Etter from his position of assistant police chief to lieutenant. A spokesperson for Miami Township Police said the department will conduct an independent internal investigation of the incident while waiting on the outcome of his criminal case. News Center 7s John Bedell also spoke to Etters lawyer, Michael Brush with Miller Walker and Brush, LLP, on Tuesday. He wanted to stress that these are just allegations, but beyond that, its too early to comment. Police: Man wanted on rape charge in JCC turns self in JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) A man charged with rape and forcible sodomy in James City County turned himself in at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail Monday, police said. Damecus White (Courtesy of James City County Police Department) Damecus Demory White, 33, was wanted by James City County Police following a months-long investigation into multiple alleged sex crimes, police said, and authorities obtained warrants for him June 26. White was believed to be living in the greater Williamsburg region on a transient basis. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Four people have been charged in connection with a brawl last month near Santa Monica Pier, which authorities now say started when a vendor began sexually battering several women. The Santa Monica Police Department announced over the weekend that prosecutors had filed assault charges against four men, and sexual battery charges against one of them. Authorities are still seeking more information on the incident. On the afternoon of June 29, police responded to a 911 call about several men fighting near the pier. It was also reported that one person had been stabbed, according to police. Before officers arrived at the scene, a Santa Monica police drone confirmed there was an ongoing fight. Initially, police told The Times it was a mutual combat situation on the sand near Lifeguard Tower 14. But police have since said that the brawl began when a vendor whom authorities identified as 30-year-old Efigenio Tacuba allegedly approached a group of beachgoers and sexually battered several females. After other people in the group confronted him, Tacuba appealed to other vendors for help. The other vendors then armed themselves with umbrella poles, belts and at least one knife. In the course of the skirmish that followed, one person was stabbed and another broke an ankle. Both were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. At the time, police said in a social media post that five people were arrested. On Saturday, the department said four people had been charged. Three Jorge Cruz Murcia, Samuel Manzanarez Hernandez and Oscar Samuel Hernandez are facing two counts each of assault with a deadly weapon. The fourth, Tacuba, is facing those charges as well as three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery. Under California law, the type of sexual battery charge Tacuba is facing is defined as touching "an intimate part of another person" against their will for the purpose of sexual arousal. In their latest release, authorities said additional arrests were likely to follow. Anyone with information or video relating to the incident is encouraged to contact Det. Jacob Holloway by email, or call the on-duty watch commander at (310) 458-8427. The incident came several weeks after two German tourists were stabbed and a third person injured in apparently unprovoked attacks near the Santa Monica Pier. In that case, in late May, a suspect was apprehended. Three days before the multi-person melee, a Santa Monica man allegedly attacked three women at the beach, attempting to strangle a 17-year-old before assaulting and biting a woman who tried to come to her aid. He also allegedly dragged a 72-year-old woman into the ocean and pushed her underwater. That man, Jawann Dwayne Garnett , 32, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and an array of other felonies. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Authorities with the Los Angeles Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver, who left a pedestrian with severe injuries earlier this month in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Valley Glen. Surveillance footage near Sherman Way and Coldwater Canyon Avenue captured the man walking down the sidewalk just after 4:30 p.m. on July 3. The pedestrian attempted to dash across the street when they were struck by a motorist, who police said made no attempt to stop, identify themselves or render aid to the victim. Valley Glen hit-and-run Medical personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and rushed the victim to the hospital, where authorities say he was being treated for severe injuries. He is expected to survive. DUI suspect in custody after plowing into family of 5 in Orange County The motorists vehicle was described as a white four-door Infinity sedan. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact detectives at the Los Angeles Police Departments Valley Traffic Division at 818-644-8000. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Police searching for man they say posed as officer, stole nearly $500 from employees wallets Police are searching for a man who they say posed as a police investigator and made off with hundreds of dollars from a local business. The suspect targeted a massage studio on Senoia Road in Tyrone, located in Fayette County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Tom Regan was in Tyrone Tuesday, where he learned that the man appeared to show a badge when he entered the business last month and claimed he was there to check on the establishment. Tyrone police are now investigating the incident. TRENDING STORIES: Detective Andrea Johnson of the Tyrone Police said the suspect looked the part, wearing tactical gear and obscuring his face with a mask. He identified himself as an officer and he said he was an investigator and he was called to the scene. He didnt really give a reason, Johnson said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The man asked the women employees to provide identification and a business license before wandering around the premises, police said. He searched basically the whole business and then he took approximately $460 out of one of the employees wallets, Johnson said. The suspect stayed at the business for about fifteen minutes before leaving in a red truck. Police are currently working to identify the truck owner and the suspect. Johnson said shes not sure why the man targeted the massage parlor. Regan tried to get a comment from the business, but no one responded. HARARE, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe is seeking to elevate cooperation with China in the creative arts to boost the sector and promote cultural ties between the two sides, said Napoleon Nyanhi, the director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ). "A lot of these exchanges have happened in the areas of live performance, including music, dance, and instrumentation. We would like to see more of the collaboration go into other spheres of the arts, which are areas of fashion design, areas of filmmaking, and television productions," said Nyanhi in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the first Harare Forum for Africa and Academic Week, which concluded in the Zimbabewan capital Monday. He noted that the Chinese-funded Dreamstar competition, Zimbabwe's largest talent search competition for young people, has been pivotal in uplifting Zimbabwean artists in various genres. "We are very excited about the cooperation that has happened between Zimbabwe and China especially when it comes to arts and culture development," Nyanhi said. "I mention specifically the Dreamstar program which has been running for over 10 years now and we have seen almost 300 artists go from Zimbabwe to China to learn and also bring some of the Chinese work ethic, and some of the Chinese performance culture back to Zimbabwe." The Dreamstar competition is organized by the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center, an organization dedicated to promoting ties between China and Zimbabwe, with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, Chinese businesses and communities in Zimbabwe, and the NACZ. Having noted the importance of the arts sector to the economy, Zimbabwean government is investing in the film industry to help filmmakers develop their skills, said Nyanhi. "But we would also like to encourage and invite the Chinese filmmakers to come to Zimbabwe and take part in this development," he said. "We would like Chinese producers to come and film their shows here, use some of the Zimbabwean crew, some Chinese crew so that we have got culture and skills exchange." Nyanhi said Chinese productions such as the TV series "Journey to the West" have been influential in Zimbabwe, a positive development for China-Zimbabwe cultural engagement. "We would love for more of our Zimbabwean productions to be able to do the same thing, whether animations, children's programs, TV series or movies, whatever it is, so we can create more of an affinity, more of love between Zimbabweans and Chinese by selling our culture and intermingling our cultures and arts," he said. "That way we can be able to do more work, more business, more friendship activities between China and Zimbabwe when we know and understand each other's culture better." More Chinese cultural products and arts have managed to penetrate Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe aims to export its art and crafts to China as well, he said. "Now we need to build and send more of our culture and our arts outside of Zimbabwe to China so that they can see what it is that we do here. We have got a very rich culture as a nation," he said, adding arts are a significant contributor to strengthening cultural exchanges, bringing the two sides closer. Police seek driver of pickup that struck, killed woman in East Hollywood The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the publics help in tracking down the driver of a pickup truck who struck and killed a pedestrian in East Hollywood last month. The truck hit a 26-year-old woman from Los Angeles who was in a crosswalk headed west across Western Avenue at the intersection with Rosewood Avenue at 3:21 a.m. on June 22, police said in a news release. The vehicle, believed to be a white 2015-18 model Chevrolet Silverado with visible damage to its drivers side headlight, was headed south on Western Avenue and did not stop after the woman was hit. The woman was declared dead at a local hospital. Anyone with information about the truck or the driver is asked to call Detective D. Holmes at 213-473-0238. During non-business hours or on weekends, call 877-LAPD-247 (5273). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New polls spell more concerning news for President Joe Bidens campaign in the wake of his politically disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. A national poll from the firm Bendixen & Amandi, shared with Politico on Tuesday, show a close race between Biden and Trump, with Biden trailing the former president by 42% to 43%. It also found other prominent Democrats have a better chance at beating Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom party insiders are increasingly floating as a Biden replacement, polls at 42% to 41% against Trump in this new survey. And even though shes not being discussed as a serious contender, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton polled even better than Harris and Biden, with 43% support compared with 41% for Trump, whom she lost to in 2016 in the Electoral College count. Clintons chances are even better with Harris staying on as vice president. The poll found that the duo beats out by Trump by 43% to 40%. Clinton, however, has publicly vowed not to seek the White House again. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, two other Democrats being discussed as Biden replacements, didnt fare as well in the poll, which found Newsom trailing Trump, 37% to 40%, and Whitmer lagging at 36% to 40%. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at an Independence Day celebration at the White House. The Washington Post via Getty Images Bidens cognitive fitness for the presidency has become a major concern, the poll found. Among the 86% of likely voters who watched the debate, 61% said he does not have the mental capacity and physical stamina to serve a second term. An AARP poll conducted by Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, released Tuesday, showed that Biden is trailing Trump in a key demographic in Wisconsin, one of the presidential contests big battleground states. Of the states voters who are 50 or older, 52% say they would support Trump over Biden, who has 43% of their support. Among all Wisconsin voters, the poll found Biden trails Trump 38% to 44%. The presidents poor polling there is stark in comparison with Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, whom the poll found was outpacing her Republican challenger, Eric Hovde, 50% to 45% among all likely voters. Polls are expected to get worse for Biden. Nate Silver, founder of the polling news outlet FiveThirtyEight, posted on social media that new state polls show even wider margins between Biden and Trump. Tuesdays polls are only the latest to show Biden trailing Trump in the wake of the June 27 debate. One from The New York Times/Siena last week had Trump beating Biden by 49% to 43%. Another from The Wall Street Journal showed Trump leading Biden, 48% to 42%, in a two-person matchup. Related... This popular Italian city is turning away tourists this summer because its running out of water La not so dolce vita. One popular tourist destination in Italy is discouraging visitors this summer for one unfortunate reason theyre running out of water. Agrigento, a hill town in Sicily, has been forced to reject tourists as the combination of extreme weather and an ancient, dysfunctional water supply system has left the city nearly bone dry. Agrigento, set on a hill on the Italian island of Sicily, has been forced to reject tourists. Alamy Stock Photo The city, which was named the Italian Capital of Culture for 2025, is now unable to guarantee running water for its guests and must make a dedicated effort to find outside sources. News of the limited supply has spread, deterring those hoping to clap eyes on Agrigentos UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its preserved Greek temples. Rightly, people ask us for reassurances before coming, but we dont know what to say, Giovanni Lopez, owner of the Le Cinque Novelle bed and breakfast, told CNN. The situation is quickly impacting the entire tourist accommodation sector, which risks serious economic consequences, given that tourism is a sector almost everyone in this part of Sicily relies on. Locals have claimed that it can take over half an hour to fill a bucket at times and that hotels have had to buy their water to have enough to meet requirements for hosting guests. Sicily first implemented water restrictions in February, when the region officially declared a state of emergency. Cities throughout Italy have been experiencing severe droughts, but Sicilys situation is one of the worst, having been listed as extreme, the highest level, according to the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), CNN reported. Sicily first implemented water restrictions in February when the region officially declared a state of emergency. Alamy Stock Photo More than 1 million people across 93 communities on the largest of the Mediterranean islands are now seeing their water access restricted with some having to reduce consumption by up to nearly 50%. The Sicilian regional government has reportedly asked Rome the countrys capital for help importing water from the mainland. There has also been discussion about rebuilding the ancient aqueduct system. But a decade after those talks began, no plans have been confirmed. Rightly, people ask us for reassurances before coming, but we dont know what to say, Giovanni Lopez, who owns the Le Cinque Novelle bed and breakfast, told CNN. Alamy Stock Photo The summer season is upon us and we are worried. No one has given us alternative solutions to the water tankers that we are paying for ourselves, Marco Maccarrone, owner of the Caico Trattoria e Cantina restaurant in Agrigento told CNN. This risks destroying the only resource we have tourism. This years dip in tourism comes a year after visitors were turned away from the area after wildfires ravaged the island. This years dip in tourism comes a year after visitors were turned away from the area after wildfires ravaged the island. Alamy Stock Photo Others on the island rely on farming and agriculture, but these industries are also dwindling because of the drought. Some farm animals are reportedly left to drink muddy sludge, while farmers are watching their harvests dry up including famous Sicilian oranges. Renato Schifani, Sicilys regional president, claimed that the islands losses of crops, empty reservoirs and dying livestock, have already surpassed $1 billion and thats without accounting for the loss of tourism. Portland Police held a press conference on July 9 to talk about increased gun violence among youth in the city. (AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star) In the past two weeks, Portland Police have recovered three ghost guns or firearms without serial numbers that are purchased online and can be assembled at home by an individual. Major Robert Martin said this is just one example of the increased gun violence and drug activity the city is seeing, especially among youth. While he couldnt give an exact number, he said a very high percentage of the gun-related incidents in the city this past year have involved people under the age of 25. Its a trend we dont like seeing, Martin said. The city overall has seen an increase in shootings since 2021. While there were 17 shootings that year, there were 56 shootings in 2022 and 43 in 2023, according to data Martin provided at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. So far this year, there have been 23 shootings in Portland, he said. More than 100 handguns and rifles have been taken off the streets in the past couple years, Martin estimated at the press conference. On Monday evening, police recovered several handguns and what appeared to be a fully automatic rifle from the home of a 25-year-old after obtaining a search warrant. Martin said the rifle is being tested to confirm if it is fully automatic. The increase in youth involvement in these incidents has followed a similar timeline, Martin explained. He also said the incidents are often related to the illicit drug market. For example, just after midnight on Monday, police arrested a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old who were in possession of cocaine and a loaded handgun. Martin said he doesnt know exactly whats causing the increase in gun violence among youth, but its troubling that many of the incidents are happening in residential areas where others could potentially end up in the line of fire. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Potentially deadly dengue virus on the rise. How many cases are in NC, Mecklenburg County? Cases of a potentially deadly virus spread by mosquitoes are on the rise in Mecklenburg County this year, and health officials are warning of a record-breaking number of cases worldwide. Six cases of dengue have been reported in Mecklenburg County one in January, three in April and two in May according to Mecklenburg County Public Health. Thats up from no cases in 2023 and a three-year average of one case annually, health department data show. None of the six cases were infected by local mosquitoes. North Carolina is also on pace to have more cases year-over-year in 2024. Dengue, sometimes referred to as dengue fever, is a virus thats spread to people when theyre bit by infected Aedes mosquitoes. Although some dengue infections are mild, public health officials warn severe infection requires immediate medical attention and can be deadly. The uptick in cases in the Charlotte-area is in line with national and international trends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory in late June warning of an increased risk of dengue in the U.S. This year has been the highest on record for cases worldwide, the advisory said, with twice as many cases already reported in the Americas so far in 2024 compared to all of 2023. Is dengue in North Carolina? The CDC reports 16 reported cases of dengue in North Carolina so far in 2024. A total of 28 cases were confirmed statewide in all of 2023. All of Mecklenburg Countys 2024 cases were traced to travel, health department spokeswoman Suzette Nedrich said. North Carolinas 16 cases were travel-related too, according to CDC data. Dengue is most common in Central and South America, the Caribbean, southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, according to the CDC. How to prevent the spread of dengue The CDC recommends travelers pack high-quality insect repellent and acetaminophen if going to high-risk areas for dengue and stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to protect against mosquito bites. One should sleep with a bed net if those amenities arent available or if sleeping outdoors. Mecklenburg County also urges people to protect against mosquitoes at home or while traveling by: Using insect repellent Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants Taking steps to control mosquitoes around your home. Dengue symptoms Travelers who visit areas with high risk for dengue should be especially careful about not getting bit by mosquitoes for three weeks after returning home in order to avoid infecting local mosquitoes, the CDC advises. About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick, and symptoms usually hit within two weeks of infection, according to the agency. Common symptoms include: A fever Eye pain Muscle, bone and/or joint pain Headache Nausea and/or vomiting A rash. Those symptoms typically last two to seven days, the CDC says. About 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop a severe case, the agency adds, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and death. Severe dengue symptoms include: Belly pain or tenderness Vomiting at least three times in 24 hours Bleeding from the nose or gums Vomiting blood, or blood in stool Feeling extremely tired or restless Warning signs of severe disease usually begin in the 24 to 48 hours after fever has gone away, according to the CDC, and anyone developing severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Dengue fever treatment There is no specific treatment or medication for dengue, the CDC says. Those with mild symptoms should still see a doctor and are typically advised to get lots of rest, stay hydrated and take acetaminophen to control fever and manage pain, according to the agency. The CDC says people with dengue should not take aspirin or ibuprofen. Is there a dengue vaccine? There is a dengue vaccine, but it is not widely available. The vaccine is only approved for use in children ages 9 to 16 whove had a previous laboratory-confirmed dengue virus infection and live in areas where dengue occurs frequently or continuously, the CDC says. U.S. travelers visiting an area where dengue is common arent eligible for the vaccine, the agency adds. John Nicholas go-to karaoke song is When You Were Young by The Killers. He remembers hearing it come on as his surgery began, and singing along to it while on the operating table. Thats because Nicholas, 28, was awake during his kidney transplant at Northwestern Medicine, a first for the hospital. Nicholas, who was administered regional anesthesia, could hear what the transplant team was saying around him, but for the most part, it felt like a lot of noise and motion and lights, he said. A Chicago resident originally from a north suburb of Indianapolis, Nicholas was diagnosed almost two decades ago with Crohns disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that irritates the lining of the digestive tract. Nicholas started treatment and ultimately got the disease under control, but he battled flare-ups for years. In 2013, bloodwork indicated that his kidney function was lacking. A biopsy showed that his kidneys were inflamed, and he started taking anti-inflammatory medication, which got the situation under control. A few years later, when Nicholas was a sophomore in college, he had another episode of heavy inflammation in his kidneys, damaging them further. At that point, it was clear that he would need a kidney transplant. About two years ago, Nicholas got in touch with the transplant team at Northwestern. He was put on the waiting list, but was also given a questionnaire to send out to any potential living donors who wanted to be evaluated to donate. Nicholas mom went through the paperwork and was cleared to be his donor, but she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in December 2023, just before the transplant was to take place. Although her cancer treatment was successful, she was no longer an option as a kidney donor. The news came around the time I was home in Indianapolis for the holidays, and I was around my family but also my friend group, Nicholas said. He ended up talking to one of his childhood friends, Patrick Wise, 29, about becoming the donor. He had strongly considered it before when I was first sending out the questionnaire, before we were proceeding with my mom being the donor, Nicholas said. It fortunately did not take very long after my mom was ruled ineligible for Patrick to get cleared to donate, and he was very motivated to do that for me. By March, the transplant was scheduled for May 24. Nicholas was preparing for the surgery with the transplant team along with Wise, who now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and who was flying back and forth for pre-operation appointments. Dr. Satish Nadig, chief of transplant surgery and director of the Comprehensive Transplant Center at Northwestern, and Dr. Vinayak Rohan, a transplant surgeon and the surgical director for kidney transplant at Northwestern, were both part of Nicholas transplant team. Nadig said the team approached Nicholas before the operation to discuss his options. As Nicholas was a strong candidate for an awake procedure, given his age and overall good health, Nadig said the team told him about the benefits of the procedure and also let him know the risks were minimal. When we first met John, we found him to be somebody who was very inquisitive, very curious, Nadig said. In fact, during the operation, he wanted to see the kidney as we were putting it in, and we were able to show it to him. While the general anesthesia used in many surgeries is very safe, Rohan said there is a subset of patients for whom general anesthesia carries higher risk, because of respiratory issues, age, or other issues. Instead, some patients can have successful surgeries with regional anesthesia, where only the region of the body thats being operated on gets anesthesia, and the patient remains awake. In Nicholas case, he got a spinal anesthesia shot, a form of regional anesthesia that is also less invasive and can lead to a quicker recovery time. If you think about it this way, the less invasive one can be for any procedure, the better off the patient is, Rohan said. Nadig likened a patient being under spinal anesthesia to having a C-section. Kidney transplants are working and have been working for decades, but we want to constantly work to make them better and even better than that, Nadig said. Its amazing to think you can get a life-saving organ, and have a procedure and go home and next day. Rohan said the national average hospital stay after a kidney transplant is five to seven days and typically two to three days at Northwestern, but because of the use of regional anesthesia, Nicholas was out within 24 hours of a major surgery. Nadig said Nicholas kidney failure was cured immediately with a new, fully functioning kidney. Other than managing some mild discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers, Nadig said Nicholas didnt use any opioid narcotic pain medication post-surgery, another benefit to less anesthesia. After the successful surgery, the team hopes to perform more awake procedures and help more people. I think this is an exciting new chapter, and I think its going to open up doors for a lot of new people to get kidney transplant and its also going to make our whole kidney transplantation process and the patient experience better, Rohan said. It seemed like a no-brainer, Nicholas said about participating in Northwesterns first awake kidney transplant. He said his recovery has gone extremely well and is satisfied with his decision. He added that his experience overall was very interesting, mostly because he was awake but also because after years and years of buildup and dealing with his kidneys giving out, his problem is totally gone. That was definitely a powerful, profound experience, he said. It didnt actually hit me until I was in post-operative recovery how insane it is to think I have a third kidney, and I actually saw it. PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had exported a total of 338,654 tons of milled rice in the first half of 2024, earning a total of 247.6 million U.S. dollars, the Cambodia Rice Federation said in a news release on Tuesday. Some 51 companies had shipped milled rice to 63 countries and regions during the January-June period this year, the news release said, adding that China remained one of the main buyers of the commodity. The kingdom exported 75,398 tons of milled rice to China during the period, making a gross revenue of 47 million dollars, it said. Rice varieties the Southeast Asian country exported include fragrant rice, white rice, parboiled rice, and organic rice, among others, according to the news release. Im Rachna, an undersecretary of state and spokeswoman for Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said China is one of the key markets for Cambodian potential agricultural products. "The purchase of our agricultural products by China and other friendly countries have importantly contributed to the development of Cambodia's agricultural sector and brought a lot of benefits to Cambodian people, particularly farmers," she told Xinhua. Tiny particles from air pollution in cities where pregnant women live may be leading to cerebral palsy in their children, new research shows. Mascha Brichta/dpa Smog, smoke and fumes could be leaving babies in the womb vulnerable to developing cerebral palsy, according to a team of North America-based doctors and scientists. Writing in medical journal JAMA Network Open, the Harvard University-led researchers said inhaling certain fine particles was associated with an "increased risk" of the condition, which is the commonest cause of infant disability and which is found in between 1 and 4 live births per 1,000, depending on the location. The particles were described as "PM2.5", where PM refers to 'particulate matter' and the number to the size of particle. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes PM2.5 as meaning "fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller." The team said it came to its conclusion after carrying out a "large cohort study of singleton full term births in Canada" - work that took in information about over 1.5 million newborns. The team said they wanted to follow up on earlier research showing links between prenatal air pollution and "decelerated neurological development early in life" to see if there was a further link to cerebral palsy. Previous research had shown that "air pollutants in maternal circulation can cross the placenta and directly affect the fetus," they said, warning that "brain development starts as early as the third week of gestation and continues until birth." Research published in March by the American Medical Association showed pre-birth exposure to air pollution could leave babies vulnerable to developing asthma. Around two-thirds of the worlds annual air pollution-related deaths have been in Asia in recent years, while levels of air pollution in Europe and North America remain above what most scientists view as healthy, according to University of Chicago research published in 2023. Prince Georges County Board of Elections meet July 8 in Largo. Photo by William J. Ford. A special election to fill a vacant at-large Prince Georges County Council seat could cost an estimated $1.3 million, the county Board of Elections was told Monday. Election Administrator Wendy Honesty-Bey said that is just the cost of running the election it does not include expenses such as printing ballots and training about 400 election judges who will be needed. She said after the meeting that those costs will be split with the state. We were able to utilize a lot of internal staff so that we can cut down on costs for this special election, she said of the operational costs. Officials have little time to spare to get ready for the election to fill the at-large County Council seat vacated by Jamel Mel Franklin last month: Primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 6, with the winner of those races squaring off in the Nov. 5 general election. Honesty-Bey said about 600,000 ballots will be mailed to registered voters countywide starting July 23. Voters will be able to cast early ballots at nine voting centers located at public schools, or put their ballots in one of 39 drop-off boxes throughout the county between July 31 and Aug. 5. Nine Democrats and four Republicans have filed to run in the primary. According to the county board, the Democratic candidates are County Council Chair Jolene Ivey, state Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr., former Del. Angela M. Angel, Bowie Mayor Tim Adams, Tamara Davis Brown, Gabriel Njinimbot, Keisha D. Lewis, Judy Mickens-Murray and Leo Bachi Eyombo. The Republican candidates are Kamita Gray, Michael Riker, Isaac Toyos and Jonathan White. Two other people expressed interest in the seat, but decided to withdraw from the race. Current County Council member Wala Beglay (D) wrote in a letter last week that she will support Adams, while Prince Georges Circuit Court Clerk Mahasin El Amin, who already had at least one campaign sign posted last week, near Ritchie Station Marketplace in Capitol Heights, reversed course Friday. After much reflection, I have chosen to postpone my campaign until the next opportunity, El Amin wrote in a letter posted on her Instagram page. In the wake of the challenging and intense US Senate primary race that divided our County, this is a crucial time for healing and unity. Staying in the race now could deepen those divisions. I believe that postponing my campaign is whats best for our beloved Prince Georges County. Franklin, a council member for the past 14 years, resigned abruptly June 14. Less than a week later, he was charged with multiple counts in what authorities said was a theft scheme that involved more than $133,000 from his campaign account. The winner of this falls special election would serve the remaining two years of Franklins term. The winner of next months Democratic primary will be the heavy favorite to win Franklins seat in November in the overwhelmingly Democratic county. The county council has been an all-Democratic body for at least two decades. Meanwhile, the Prince Georges County NAACP branch will hold a candidates forum at Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale at 11 a.m. Aug. 3. Our biggest goal is to let people know they can get the right candidate for your community, said Linda Thornton Thomas, president of the NAACP. You should be aware of whats going on to make an educated vote. In addition to sending ballots by mail which Democatic elections board member Faye Martin Howell noted has been really slow Honesty-Bey said the office will continue to spread the word about the special election via social media and its website. Polls are scheduled to be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 31-Aug. 3 and again on Aug. 5; noon-6 p.m. Aug. 4; and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 6. A list of the voting centers will be posted on the county Board of Elections website this week. The post Prince Georges County special election cost estimated at $1.3 million, and counting appeared first on Maryland Matters. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday affirmed his support for President Bidens reelection bid, joining a chorus of Democratic elected officials backing the president as a handful of House members have publicly called for him to drop out of the 2024 race. The president did a great job of answering questions throughout that meeting. Listen, Joe Biden is our nominee. I am for Joe Biden. Ive been campaigning for Joe Biden, Pritzker told reporters Tuesday in Chicago. I think youve seen Ive got dates scheduled to go to Indiana, to Ohio, for Joe Biden, so Joe Biden is going to be our nominee. The comments followed Bidens closed-door meeting last week with a number of Democratic governors, including Pritzker, who attended in person at the White House. The comments marked a shift for the Illinois governor, who said last week he wanted to hear more from Biden following his disastrous debate performance. When you come off a bad debate, you need to remind people why youre the right guy to elect, Pritzker told CNN last week, ahead of the meeting on July 3. Id like to see more. Theres no doubt about it. Following the meeting, a small group of Democratic governors Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore affirmed support for Biden, stating they have his back. Pritzkers campaign released a shorter statement after the meeting, describing it as candid, and it said the governor appreciated hearing directly from the president. Biden has maintained he intends to stay in the race and on Monday rejected calls to drop out in a letter to congressional Democrats, urging them to unite behind his candidacy. Biden has already won the primaries, taking a majority of delegates, and thus he cannot be overthrown at the Democratic National Convention in August. The decision is ultimately up to him. When asked about the prospect of a brokered convention should Biden step down, Pritzker brushed off the notion, the Chicago Tribune reported. I dont expect that to happen, he reportedly said. Were going to have an orderly convention. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Project 2025s prominence as a master plan for a Trump administration continues to gain prominenceand weaponized ridicule. Google Project 2025, President Joe Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday morning. The Democratic National Committee on Tuesday also put up several billboards fusing Donald Trump to Project 2025 in Doral, Florida, where Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in the evening. I know nothing about Project 2025, Trump claimed on Friday. I have no idea who is behind it. Yet, the Republican Partys platformadopted from a proposed platform crafted by Trumps campaignhas clear ties to Project 2025. Russ Vought, the RNC platform committees policy chair, and Ed Martin, RNC deputy policy director, were installed in their RNC roles in coordination with the Trump campaign. Vought, a former Trump appointee, wrote a chapter of Project 2025, and both men are on Project 2025s advisory board, according to ABC News. Trumps attempts to distance himself from the project has provoked ire from far-right pundits such as Alex Jones and white supremacist Nick Fuentes, who both insinuated Trump is being controlled by the establishment of the Republican Party. Donald Trump is lying again now, Biden said in a statement released on Saturday in response to Trump denying affiliation to Project 2025. Hes trying to hide his connections to his allies extreme Project 2025 agenda. The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American. Project 2025, or the Presidential Transition Project, is a massive 900-page planning document offering pathways to dramatically overhaul the federal government in line with Trumps aspirations and to pursue extreme policies Trump has floated. Its the work of former Trump staffers and led by right-wing hate groups and top conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, whose president Kevin Roberts stated last week, We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodlessif the left allows it to be. As the BBC notes, Project 2025 echoes Trumps own policy agenda, dubbed Agenda 47 on the basis of Trump becoming the forty-seventh president if he wins in November. While Trumps campaign has denied Project 2025 as a policy platform endorsed by Trump, the document in actuality functions as a high-speed pathway to institute the policies he desires. When Trump stated he wants to deport 20 million people, for example, Project 2025 released a portion of the document that details exactly how he could do that. As Trump faced multiple federal investigations, Project 2025 crafted and released a plan for how he could turn the Department of Justice and FBI into his personal attack dogs. Some aspects of Project 2025, such as a nationwide abortion ban, stray significantly from Trumps stated positions. But as Rolling Stone notes, Trumps softened position on abortion adopted by the RNC is nothing more than a gambit to dupe voters. Similarities between much of the Project 2025 plan and Trumps own campaign ambitions continue to spoil Trumps efforts to distance himself from the extreme agenda. According to The Free Press, sources close to the Trump campaign have tried signaling to Project 2025 to stop pitching itself, saying, The message we are sending to Heritage and others is the same as it was in December: Youre not helping. An ex-adviser to Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence this week decried Trumps efforts to distance himself from Project 2025 as ludicrous. Project 2025 offers conservatives an attack plan for California. Will Trump take it? The conservative architects of a plan called Project 2025 to radically re-shape the federal government aim specifically at California, promising to shake up the Golden State on issues ranging from students genders and pronouns to vehicle emission standards to abortion. Project 2025 is an agenda created by a coalition of conservative organizations spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, with several former President Donald Trump staffers involved in its inception and planned execution. Trump has attempted to disavow any affiliation with the project, saying in a social media post that he knows nothing of it and disagrees with parts of it. Despite that denial, some of the people involved in drafting the 922-page Project 2025 manifesto also had a hand in crafting the Republican Partys 2024 campaign platform, according to ABC News. Heres a look at how Project 2025 could impact California, should Trump win the election in November. Gender identity in schools The Project 2025 document, called Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, name checks California as a state where educators are barred from informing parents about their childs gender identity without the childs consent. The issue has been the subject of fierce debate in the Golden State, with one California lawmaker attempting to overturn that policy with legislation (that died without a hearing) and another lawmaker introducing a bill to ban school districts from enacting parental notification policies that would out transgender students without their consent. That bill now sits on Gov. Gavin Newsoms desk. In California, New Jersey, certain areas of Kansas and elsewhere, educators are prohibited from informing parents about childrens confusion over their sex if the children do not want their parents to know. Such policies allow schools to drive a wedge between parents and children, the Project 2025 manifesto reads in part. The document calls on the next presidential administration to work with Congress to enact federal legislation banning school employees from addressing a student by their requested name or pronouns without express parental permission. It also wants to prohibit schools from requiring staff to use requested pronouns if it is contrary to the teachers religious or moral beliefs. State lawmakers should use this model and adopt similar provisions for public schools within their borders. Federal lawmakers should not allow public school employees to keep secrets about a child from that childs parents, the document reads. The GOPs 2024 platform, as reported by NPR, calls for cutting federal funding for any school that promotes radical gender ideology, and vows to restore parental rights in education. We will defund schools that engage in inappropriate political indoctrination of our children using federal taxpayer dollars, the platform reads. Environmental standards Project 2025 calls for the next president to revoke the waiver granted to California, under the federal Clean Air Act, to set its own emission standards for vehicles. Historically, California has set standards for vehicles that often end up implemented by states nationwide. The Project 2025 manifesto specifically calls out the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for adopting a policy prohibiting the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035. The federal government should therefore exercise its preemptive authority over CARB and take all steps necessary to invalidate any inconsistent fuel economy requirements imposed by CARB, including its ban on sales of internal combustion engines, the document reads. The GOP platform doesnt specifically mention California, but it does vow to save the American auto industry by reversing harmful regulations and canceling the electric vehicle mandate. Abortion Abortion, a topic which Trump has sought to downplay or avoid, features prominently in the Project 2025 manifesto. California, which in 2022 enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution, would be a prime target of the Project 2025 authors, especially as the state has become a destination for people across the country seeking legal abortions that they are unable to get in their home jurisdictions. The states law could cost California big under the Project 2025 plan. Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, (the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method, the document reads in part. In addition, the plan calls for Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to withdraw appropriated funding, including up to 10% of Medicaid funding, from states, like California, that require insurers to cover abortion services. Such a plan, though, would probably require the approval of Congress and almost certainly subject to a court challenge. The GOP platform takes a somewhat softer stance on abortion, part of Trumps attempt to appeal to moderate voters. We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process, and that the states are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights, the platform reads in part. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the states and to a vote of the people. We will oppose late term abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance prenatal care, access to birth control, and IVF (fertility treatments). Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. A pro-Trump mob later stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Five people died as a result. Photo by Brent Stirton | Getty Images Some prominent Arizona Republicans are preparing for an uphill battle in their attempt to restore voter confidence in the states elections. Its going to be tough, former Gov. Jan Brewer told the Arizona Mirror. Brewer is a board member for the newly minted Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan group of current and former politicians with the goal of bolstering faith in the election system. Designed to serve as a counterweight to attempts to undermine and sow distrust in election integrity, the Democracy Defense Projects board members will speak up when these instances arise and publicly defend those who have sworn to uphold the rule of law regardless of party or outcome, the project said in a news release announcing its launch. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The launch, on June 25, came at a time when election systems in Arizona and especially in Maricopa County are under intense scrutiny and subject to rampant conspiracy theories after a temporary election worker allegedly stole a ballot tabulator key from the county on June 20. The theft was quickly discovered, and the man suspected of taking the key was arrested the following day, after the key was reportedly found inside his home. But that hasnt stopped many of the same people who claimed without evidence that the 2020 and 2022 elections were stolen from spreading wild speculation and conspiracy theories about the theft. Former U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon, another Democracy Defense Project board member who will be heading the organizations operations in the Grand Canyon State, told the Arizona Mirror that he decided to join the effort after bearing witness to the ruination of the Republican Party in the state. Salmon, who was a congressman for 10 years, a state senator for four years and a precinct committeeman for more than 30 years, said he just couldnt handle running for office again this year. It makes me really sad, because Ive always believed so strongly in the principles that the Republican Party has upheld, he said. And theyre more interested now in chasing rabbits down holes than they are in actually doing the job. Many Arizona Republicans have bought into the claim that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump and that the 2022 election was similarly stolen from several Trump-backed GOP candidates for statewide office. U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake has been continually challenging the results of the 2022 governors race that she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs. Also filing repeated unsuccessful court challenges to their losses in that election were Abe Hamadeh, who ran for attorney general, and Mark Finchem, who ran for secretary of state. Salmon said he doesnt believe that those lawsuits are serious. I lost interest after the 45th lawsuit, he said. I think its really a waste of time and money. I think its become more of a way to keep yourself, if youre in the position of filing all these lawsuits, to keep your face out there in the media, keep yourself so-called relevant and raise money. Salmon added that he doesnt think the suits are doing anything to benefit Arizonans or the Republican Party. I think its really a waste of time and money. I think its become more of a way to keep yourself, if youre in the position of filing all these lawsuits, to keep your face out there in the media, keep yourself so-called relevant and raise money. Former GOP Congressman Matt Salmon While both Salmon and Brewer agree that restoring confidence in elections is imperative for the future of the United States, they dont necessarily see eye-to-eye on why some of their colleagues claim that the system is rigged or rampant with fraud. They, of course, believe what they say, or they wouldnt be saying it, I assume, Brewer told the Mirror. But I dont think they have the facts. She added that she believes its the responsibility of former officials like herself, who voters trust, to better inform them about how elections in Arizona work and about all the safeguards that are in place to ensure the accuracy of the results. But Salmon doesnt buy that all of the people making claims about election fraud actually believe what theyre saying. A lot of those people are just saying that because thats what they know that the rank-and-file want to hear, he said. Salmon and Brewer both pointed out that Democrats like Hillary Clinton had also questioned the validity of elections that they lost. Clinton called Donald Trump an illegitimate president following his victory in 2016 because she won the popular vote but Trump won the Electoral College vote. She did not claim that Trump didnt win in closely contested battleground states, and did not seek to overturn those election results. And her complaints about her defeat did not gain the kind of steam, or result in the same kinds of action from voters and other politicians, that Trumps claims have elicited. Salmon added that it makes him sad that some of those people will admit in private that they dont believe their own claims, but keep parroting them in public. As examples, Salmon pointed to a text obtained by the media in which Hamadeh called election deniers crazies and right-wing media personality Tucker Carlson, wherein he admitted that he does not like Trump and thought he had discredited his own claims that the 2020 election was stolen. While Salmon said that theres no way to completely stamp out fraud or illegal voting in a free society, the rate at which it happens is very low and does not affect the outcome of our elections. Brewer and Salmon both said they hope that their work to combat inaccurate election information whether its shared by Republicans or Democrats leads to a peaceful transition of power, regardless of who wins in November. We dont want another repeat of Jan. 6, Brewer said. That was just so, so disappointing to see what happened that day. Salmon pointed out that, in 2002, he lost the race for governor to Democrat Janet Napolitano by only 11,000 votes, fewer than the more than 17,000 that separated Lake and Hobbs in 2022. While he said some people urged him to contest the results, he felt it was better for Arizona to accept the results and move forward. We all have to agree that, no matter who wins, we have to trust that the election processes that we have in place, that theyre secure and every vote has been counted, Brewer said. But she knows that convincing people of that will be a struggle. Its hard to convince people once they go down that path, to get them back to reality and to listen to the facts, she said. Thats the hard part. Thats why it takes a lot of people involved to speak out people that they know. And I hope that theyll listen. Both Salmon and Brewer agreed that the swift arrest of the man who allegedly stole a tabulator key from Maricopa County was a testament to the strict protocols and security measures that are already in place in Arizona. Salmon, who was a founding member of the congressional House Freedom Caucus but has since left it, said he blames much of the doubt in the nations elections systems on election denialism spread by ultra MAGA politicians. Todays Republican Party, to me, is far more interested in purity tests and Salem witch trials for people they dont think are Republican enough instead of helping candidates get elected and winning in the general and that to me is very sad, he said. Salmon said he didnt want to share whether he planned to vote for Trump in November, but Brewer told the Arizona Republic that she would vote for him because hes the Republican nominee. Just this month, a video from March surfaced in which Maricopa County Republican Committee First Vice Chair Shelby Busch said that she supports the campaigns of Christian candidates and that, if Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer walked into the room, she would lynch him. Richer, who has been a boogeyman for those who say Maricopa Countys elections are corrupt, is Jewish. Brewer said that she believes its up to the party to decide whether Busch should keep her position. She needs to be careful about how she behaves and how she acts, Brewer said. Unfortunately, that was a very bad comment that she made and she needs to apologize, overwhelmingly, to the people that she offended. In addition to Arizona, the Defend Democracy Project team is working to restore confidence in elections in Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Local board members, in addition to Brewer and Salmon, are Republican Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines and former Democratic state Rep. Daniel Hernandez. ***CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Democracy Defense Project launched on June 25 and that the tabulator key theft happened June 20. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Prosecutor: Man was high on meth when he killed pedestrian David Pope asked a judge to reduce his bond. Instead, the judge more than doubled it. A driver accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian while high on methamphetamine wanted his bond reduced so that he could get out of jail, but instead, a judge substantially raised his bond. David Allen Pope, 41, is accused of hitting 65-year-old James Mitchell, who was walking beside South New Hope Road Jan. 28 when he was killed. Pope's attorney, Ronald Haynes Jr., told Senior Resident Superior Court Judge David Phillips last week that Pope was arrested Feb. 6 and initially charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, but after his blood tested positive for methamphetamine, he was indicted on a felony charge. He said that Pope cooperated with law enforcement and consented to the blood test, adding that Pope is not a danger to the community. He asked that Pope's bond be lowered from $150,000 to $75,000. Assistant District Attorney Chad Smith disagreed. He said that Pope failed to appear in court 10 times for traffic charges in Gaston County, that he did not have a license at the time Mitchell was killed, and that Pope had a warrant for his arrest in Tennessee at the time he was arrested. "This defendant has a history of not showing up for court in two different states," Smith said. "Frankly, this is the lowest bond that's ever been set in a case of this sort that I've been involved with." "I don't know how you can be more dangerous to the community than running over pedestrians who are walking back from Bojangles," Smith added. He asked Phillips to raise Pope's bond to whatever Phillips deemed appropriate. Phillips raised Pope's bond to $500,000. Mitchell's longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Glenn, said she is glad Pope's bond is higher. "Awesome, yeah, that's really awesome," she said. "Because now I know there's no chance of him getting out." "I'm surprised that he hadn't been already locked up," she added. "He shouldn't have been out on the streets driving, period." She said that she misses Mitchell, who was called "Fish" by friends and family. "I've had some good days and some bad days. I think about him all the time," she said. "I miss him dearly." James "Fish" Mitchell was hit and killed Jan. 28 by a pickup truck while walking home. This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Prosecutor: Man was high on meth when he killed pedestrian This summer, millions of Americans have sweat through record-breaking heat waves. Tragically, not all of them have survived the ordeal. Dozens of communities have already recorded deaths from these latest rounds of extreme heat; hundreds more people could lose their lives before summer ends. If someone were to push a killer heat button, law enforcement would make stopping them a top priority. We have not treated lethal, climate-induced heat as that sort of public safety threat because we see heat waves as natural disasters. But many of the extreme heat waves weve seen in recent years are not naturalthey are environmental disasters that in some cases would have been virtually impossible but for human-caused climate change. These catastrophes are happening in large part because of the actions of a small number of oil and gas companies. Those companies have generated a substantial portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that have caused the planet to heat up, while simultaneously deceiving the public about the dangers of those emissions. From this perspective, deaths from climate-related extreme heat start to look less like tragic accidents and more like crimes. But could there really be enough evidence to credibly charge Big Oil with homicide for causing lethal heat waves? To answer that question, we carefully assessed the available evidence and concluded that a formal investigation, built on top of already-public evidence, could give prosecutors what they need to convict the corporate perpetrators and bring justice to the victims of extreme, unnatural heat. Any real prosecution would turn on hard facts, so we focused our analysis on a specific real-world scenario: the lethal heat wave that struck the American Southwest in July 2023. That event caused a massive loss of life, including hundreds of deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona. Arizonas reckless manslaughter and second-degree murder laws punish causing death through conduct that is reckless or that manifests extreme indifference to human life. Voluminous evidence already shows that oil companies were aware that producing and selling fossil fuels would contribute to, in their own words, globally catastrophic climate harms that would submerge New York, do great irreversible harm to our planet, have serious consequences for mans comfort and survival, and cause suffering and death due to thermal extremes. Fossil fuel companies even raised the height of offshore drilling platforms to account for expected sea-level rise. Demonstrating criminal recklessness based on that knowledgeplus the additional evidence a formal investigation would likely turn upseems eminently feasible. Causationi.e., showing that Big Oils actions in fact caused victims deathsis admittedly complex. Still, its important to remember that in Arizona and elsewhere, a defendant cannot avoid liability for [a] causative act by claiming that the conduct of some other person was also a contributing cause. Federal prosecutors regularly grapple with a similar, perhaps even harder to prove causation standard when charging drug dealers with having sold the drugs that later caused a users death. With Arizonas standard in mind, we believe that it would be possible to prove each link in the causal chain between Big Oil and a given climate-related death. Link 1: The Maricopa County Department of Public Health recorded hundreds of deaths in July 2023 as heat caused, meaning that environmental heat was the direct cause of death, not just a contributing factor. Link 2: Climate-attribution studies found that the occurrence of such heat in Phoenix would have been virtually impossible but for human-caused climate change. Link 3: A small number of fossil fuel companies are responsible for a large portion of all the human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. These companies also actively spread climate disinformation, which for years enabled them to continue to emit the carbon at the core of their businesses. Putting the links together, we feel that a prosecutor could build a case that would reasonably convince a grand jury and ultimately a trial jury that Big Oil recklessly caused many of the deaths during last Julys heat wave. And the evidence of their emissions and climate deceptions would only grow stronger with a formal investigation. Of course, the fossil fuel industry would respond to a prosecution with all the legal firepower at its disposal, so we also assessed a range of likely defense arguments. For example, companies might try to break the causal chain by blaming regular peoples consumptiontheir driving habits, air-conditioning use, etc. But to shield an actor from liability, an intervening cause must have been unforeseeable. Big Oil not only clearly foresaw that its products would be used precisely as intended; it also extended our carbon-burning habits by forestalling safer energy alternatives through deceptive disinformation campaigns. Big Oil might also assert a necessity defense, arguing that shifting away from fossil fuels would have imperiled the greater good. But a necessity defense requires an imminent threat and an absence of legal alternatives. Although an overnight shutdown of all fossil fuel production would be very damaging, this was never an imminent threat. The only threats that fossil fuel companies sought to avoid were lower profits and a gradual transition to clean energy sources. The oil companies lawyers might also argue that it would be unfair to prosecute them because producing and selling fossil fuels is legal. But the act behind reckless manslaughter or second-degree murder is often otherwise legal: Driving, for example, is authorized, subsidized, and regulated. And yet driving in a manner that recklessly causes death is still a crime. Similarly, recklessly generating planet-heating emissions at a scale that causes death should be a crime. Fossil fuel companies will probably frame any prosecution as a conspiracy to use the criminal justice system to further political goals. But pursuing justice for victims and their bereaved families is the fundamental function of a prosecutor. In a courtroom, facts beat spin, and the facts look clear: Victims are dead; they were killed in a heat wave that was made possible by climate change; and fossil fuel companies knowingly caused climate change. These climate disasters didnt come out of nowhere. Arizonas heat wavelike other climate catastrophes, including the extreme heat baking millions of Americans this summerwas caused by particular actors that chose to maximize profits even if doing so meant inflicting suffering and death. Although recent Supreme Court decisions may hinder any effective regulatory solution to this ongoing climate threat, using criminal law as an alternative means for holding these actors accountable could vindicate past wrongs and encourage better future behavior. Regular people are paying the ultimate price for those decisions. These victims deserve justice no less than do victims of street-level homicide. Piecing together a criminal case will take immense work, but our analysis shows that prosecutors may have a path to secure that justice if they choose to pursue it. SYDNEY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Australian police announced on Tuesday that a male offender has been charged after a domestic violence-related stabbing killed a woman in Sydney's west. The incident unfolded at approximately 1:40 p.m. local time on Monday when emergency services were called to a home on the Great Western Highway in Kingswood, a suburb situated 50 km west of Sydney's central business district. Officers found a 21-year-old woman sustaining two stab wounds to her chest. Paramedics treated the victim at the scene before she was later declared deceased. Five hours later after the incident occurred, a 21-year-old male was arrested at Derby Street in Penrith without incident, said the New South Wales Police Force. Police also noted that as the man and the woman involved were in a domestic relationship, the offender was charged with domestic violence-related murder. According to police, the 21-year-old was refused bail and would appear at a local court on Tuesday. Also on Monday, Sydney saw another serious stabbing take place in the city's north-western area. Police attended a home on Boundary Street in Roseville at around 7:00 p.m. local time. Upon arrival, officers were told that an older man and woman had been confronted by a 23-year-old man, who was waiting in the property. The younger man stabbed the older man in the back and fled the scene, before the offender was arrested and charged with wounding a person with an intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Meanwhile, the injured 34-year-old man presented himself to a hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. Police confirmed that he remains in hospital in a stable condition. LIBERTY, Mo. An Excelsior Springs man who is already in jail for kidnapping and rape charges is now facing first-degree murder involving a different victim. Clay County prosecutors announced a first-degree murder charge against 41-year-old Timothy Haslett in relation to the killing of 36-year-old Jaynie Crosdale. Stolen horse statue in Clinton County found early Tuesday morning Todays indictment represents the next step in our pursuit of justice for the victims, the families in our community, Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said during a Tuesday news conference. While Haslett was under investigation for the alleged kidnapping and rape, investigators initially said they were looking for Crosdale as a key witness. Her family maintained throughout the process that she was a victim, and now Haslett is accused of killing her.. Her body was found in a barrel in Saline County last summer. Haslett was first arrested in the kidnapping and rape case in October of 2022 after a woman escaped from an Excelsior Springs home. Haslett was charged with counts related to rape, kidnapping, sodomy and assault. During the news conference, Thompson described how they connected Haslett to Crosdale. Ms. Crosdale appears on a still image taken from Mr. Hasletts electronic device showing her inside his basement. An SD card depicting individuals connected to Ms. Crosdale was found inside his house. He made statements to the surviving victim that he had taken somebody elses life, Thompson said. The physical psychological and sexual torture described by the defendants surviving victim is brutal and barbaric, Thompson added. Deputy shoots, kills dog at Belton home on Fourth of July The case against Haslett remains an open investigation. Hes now being held on a $5 million bond. FOX4 will have continuing coverage on this case throughout Tuesday evening newscasts. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pueblo City Council could not agree on whether to dismiss or launch an investigation into two ethics complaints filed against Councilor Regina Maestri. Complaints against Maestri were filed by Chris Nicoll, a former councilman and candidate to fill a recent council vacancy. Nicoll alleged that Maestri violated the city's code of ethics by hosting an illegal executive session meeting on May 20 and by "attempting to influence" other members of council to allow her to move from her Pueblo City Council District 1 seat to a vacant at-large seat the seat that Nicoll would later pursue. Motions to launch an investigation and to dismiss each failed to receive the necessary four votes to pass at a July 8 meeting. Only five of the seven council members participated in the July 8 votes as Maestri had recused herself due to the conflict of interest and Councilor Sarah Martinez was on maternity leave. Enough council members did agree, however, to waive attorney-client privilege and allow council newcomer Brett Boston to hear perspectives on what was discussed at the May 20 executive session. Council also agreed to postpone voting on the ethics complaints until Aug. 12. Pueblo City Councilor Regina Maestri listens to a pressentation during a council meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023. Pueblo City Council divided on whether to investigate complaint Boston, Mark Aliff, Dennis Flores, Roger Gomez and Joe Latino were the five council members participating in the July 8 discussion on the ethics complaints filed against Maestri. Prior to their discussion, City Attorney Carla Sikes gave a staff report in which she said that the May 20 executive session was called to order legally by the city attorney's office, that Maestri's request for a seat change was done publicly, and that there was no conflict of interest in Maestri's subsequent participation in filling the at-large vacancy because Maestri ultimately opted not to apply for the vacancy. "Mr. Nicoll has alleged that Councilor Maestri had used that session to lobby this council to place her into the vacant council seat," Sikes told members of council. "I don't know where Mr. Nicoll is getting his information. Quite frankly, I'm a little bit more concerned that someone was discussing the executive session with him which would be a clear violation of council ethics." Sikes later clarified that she was not aware of any specific discussions between council members and Nicoll outside of executive session but "certain statements" were made by Nicoll about Maestri trying to "lobby" other council members during the executive session. Flores and Boston were the two councilmen who voted against launching an investigation into the ethics complaints against Maestri. Flores said that council should listen to Sikes' assessment and that there was "no substance" to the complaints. Chris Nicoll speaks about two ethics complaints he filed on steps outside City Hall on June 21, 2024. Boston, who was appointed to fill the at-large vacancy after Nicoll dropped out of the race, was not on council during the May 20 session and said that he could not make an informed decision unless council voted to waive attorney-client privilege. Aliff, Gomez and Latino were the three councilmen to vote in favor of launching an investigation. That trio of councilors also consistently voted to appoint Nicoll to the at-large council vacancy on June 13, while Flores, Maestri and Martinez consistently voted against him. "There's a fine line here because this happened in executive session," Aliff said. "I think that an investigation is probably in line because we need to figure out how we are going to move forward on that specific issue, to say the least." Aliff later referenced a section of Colorado Revised Statutes prohibiting discussion of "appointments for members of the governing body" in executive session to support his argument that an investigation should be launched. Plague in Pueblo: How to keep yourself safe from plague after case identified in Pueblo County Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo council postpones vote on investigating Maestri ethics complaints Putin decides to dismiss all Indians serving in Russian army after meeting with PM of India Indian publications, citing sources, report that Russia decided to dismiss all Indians recruited by Russia for the war in Ukraine after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Source: NDTV Details: It is reported that the decision regarding the service of Indians in the Russian army was adopted at a dinner between Modi and Putin after Prime Minister Modi raised this issue. Sources note that the Russian Federation has agreed to release all Indians recruited into the Russian army and facilitate their return. At the dinner, Putin also congratulated Modi on being re-elected for a third term and spoke about the growth of the Indian economy. At least two Indians were killed in Russia's war against Ukraine, and dozens of those stranded in the war zone claim that they were tricked into participating in the fighting. It is believed that about two dozen Indians were forced to participate in the war against Ukraine after they were tricked into entering the country under the pretext of getting a high-paying job. A viral video earlier this year showed a group of men from Punjab and Haryana dressed in army uniforms who claimed they were tricked into fighting in Ukraine and asked for help. In March, the Indian government said it was "resolutely" negotiating their early release with the Russian authorities. Indian intelligence agencies also conducted raids and exposed a network that was engaged in transporting Indians to Russia. During the raids, it was revealed that these firms sent at least 35 Indians to Russia, although one official said it was unclear if all of them were forced to fight in the war. Indian Prime Minister Modi landed in Moscow on 8 July. This is his first visit to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Atom pavilion at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia launched deadly missile attacks in Ukraine that hit a children's hospital. Our relationship is one of a particularly privileged strategic partnership, Putin told Modi, who made his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces in 2022. Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Modi did not attend last weeks summit in Kazakhstan of a security organization founded by Moscow and Beijing. Modi arrived Monday, shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest childrens hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide, including some children, officials said. After their leaders met, India said its nationals who were misled into joining the Russian army will be discharged. New Delhi had raised this issue in March, when its federal investigation agency said it had broken up a network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs, with at least 35 Indians being sent. It said the men were trained in combat roles and deployed to Ukraine against their wishes, with some of them grievously injured. On Monday, Putin greeted Modi at his residence near Moscow, and the two leaders shook hands and embraced Noting the warm welcome after the attack in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X: It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day. Modi on Tuesday alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Putin, which included over four hours of talks. Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained," the Indian prime minister said. "When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible. Modi said the two leaders shared our opinions on Ukraine with an open heart and in detail. We respectfully listened to each other. Modi added that a solution is not possible on the battlefield. Between bombs, guns and bullets, a solution and peace talks cannot be successful. And we have to adopt the path of peace only through talks. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted the Modi visit at a briefing in Washington, saying, "We made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. And so we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the U.N. Charter, should respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. In televised comments, Putin said all issues were discussed with Modi. Modis trip received extensive coverage at home, including his laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin wall. Regarding the issue of Indian recruits into the Russian military, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that Modi had strongly raised the issue with Putin. But coverage of Russias deadly attack Monday in Ukraine was muted. At the NATO summit in Washington, Western leaders marked the military alliances 75th anniversary and sought to reassure Ukraine of their support. While Western countries have hit Russia with sanctions, Putin pointed out that trade between Russia and India increased by 66% last year, adding that its a key focus of Modis trip. Energy purchases by India account for part of the increase in trade and Modi said that because of Russias support, we were able to save Indian citizens from difficulties related to requirements of petrol and diesel. He added that the nations agreements on energy helped provide market stability to the world indirectly. After the meeting, the Indian foreign secretary said that Modi and Putin set a goal to reach $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 up from nearly $65 billion last year. A significant proportion of that is in the energy and defense industries. Analysts suggest that 60% of Indias military equipment and systems are of Russian origin. But with Russias factories now predominantly pumping out arms for its war in Ukraine, India has faced delays in the supply of spare parts, prompting it to buy more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy. Modi raised the delay with Putin and both sides agreed to address it, Kwatra said. Russian state media reported that the two leaders would also discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries already are collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Russia had strong ties with India during the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trading partner with Moscow has grown since the war in Ukraine. China and India are key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. They also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered the already touchy relationship between Beijing and New Delhi as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Meanwhile, India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Kwatra said Friday. Russian imports touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. Indias financial year runs from April to March. - Burrows reported from London and Pathi from New Delhi. Today, we bring you news from Ukraine, discuss the visit to Moscow of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and we catch up with a listeners efforts to fundraise for a bus for Ukrainian children. Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraphs top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated. With over 70 million listens, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began. Ukraine: The Latests regular contributors are: David Knowles David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for over three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. Dominic Nicholls Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. Francis Dearnley Francis is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Ministers Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments. They are also regularly joined by Telegraph reporters and correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent), James Kilner, (Foreign Correspondent and Editor of the Central Asia & the South Caucasus Bulletin), Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent), Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor), and Tony Diver (US Editor). 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. Putin and Modi pledge close cooperation in official talks in Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have praised the close and decades-old bilateral relations between their two countries during official talks in Moscow. India and Russia are linked by a "privileged strategic partnership," Putin said at the meeting in the Kremlin. Trade between the two nations had increased by 60% in the past year. According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce, it reached the equivalent of $65 billion, with Indian imports of oil and fertilizer from Russia accounting for the largest share. "Every Indian feels in his heart that Russia is a friend of India in good and bad times," Modi emphasized at a meeting with representatives of the Indian community in Moscow. "This relationship is based on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect." The 73-year-old Modi also praised the leadership qualities of Putin. India has historically maintained good relations with Russia, although the country also has close ties with Western countries, who want to work closely with India in the face of an increasingly aggressive China. Russia's close relationship with China, on the other hand, is a thorn in India's side. "India is seen as a strong pillar of the new, emerging, multipolar world order," Modi said on Tuesday. "When India talks about peace, dialogue and diplomacy, the whole world listens. Whenever the world faces a crisis, India is the first country to arrive." Modi's government has sought to take a pragmatic stance on Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Because Russian oil is cheap due to Western sanctions, India has become one of the largest buyers. At the same time, Indian leaders have repeatedly called on all sides to engage in dialogue. President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) receives Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi ahead of their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Putin and Modi pledge close cooperation in official talks in Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) receives Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi ahead of their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have praised the close and decades-old bilateral relations between their two countries during official talks in Moscow. India and Russia are linked by a "privileged strategic partnership," Putin said at the meeting in the Kremlin. Trade between the two nations had increased by 60% in the past year. According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce, it reached the equivalent of $65 billion, with Indian imports of oil and fertilizer from Russia accounting for the largest share. "Every Indian feels in his heart that Russia is a friend of India in good and bad times," Modi emphasized at a meeting with representatives of the Indian community in Moscow. "This relationship is based on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect." The 73-year-old Modi also praised the leadership qualities of Putin. India has historically maintained good relations with Russia, although the country also has close ties with Western countries, who want to work closely with India in the face of an increasingly aggressive China. Russia's close relationship with China, on the other hand, is a thorn in India's side. "India is seen as a strong pillar of the new, emerging, multipolar world order," Modi said on Tuesday. "When India talks about peace, dialogue and diplomacy, the whole world listens. Whenever the world faces a crisis, India is the first country to arrive." Modi's government has sought to take a pragmatic stance on Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Because Russian oil is cheap due to Western sanctions, India has become one of the largest buyers. At the same time, Indian leaders have repeatedly called on all sides to engage in dialogue. During Modi's visit to Moscow, Putin thanked the Indian leader for devoting his attention to finding a solution to the Ukraine conflict. Putin, 71, is restricted in his international contacts due to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The programme for Modi's visit to Russia has been elaborately staged since Monday. Putin received his guest at his residence on the outskirts of Moscow. According to the Kremlin, the two not only spoke for three hours, they also travelled together in an electric cart and watched a horse show. However, Modi's warm embrace of Putin in Moscow coincided with images of a children's hospital in Kiev that was destroyed by a Russian missile. Modi's visit has drawn sharp criticism from many leaders in the West, as well as from the leadership in Ukraine. "It is a great disappointment and a low blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hugging the world's bloodiest criminal on such a day in Moscow," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on X. President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi meets with President of Russia Vladimir Putin (Not Pictured) at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the close and decades-old bilateral relations between their two countries during talks in Moscow on Tuesday. India and Russia are linked by a "privileged strategic partnership," Putin said at the meeting in the Kremlin. Trade between the two nations had increased by 60% in the past year. According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce, it reached the equivalent of $65 billion, with Indian imports of oil and fertilizer from Russia accounting for the largest share. "Every Indian feels in his heart that Russia is a friend of India in good and bad times," Modi said at a meeting with representatives of the Indian community in Moscow. "This relationship is based on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect." In a joint statement after the talks, the two countries said they planned to continue to cooperate in military technologies, including promoting the joint production of spare parts for Russian weapons and defence equipment in India. Although the majority of Indian military equipment comes from Russia, the share of Russian arms imports has recently declined. Instead, India has increasingly relied on purchases from the US, Israel, and France. According to the statement, Russia and India also plan to expand their bilateral trade - ideally to a volume of $100 billion by 2030. India has historically maintained good relations with Russia, although the country also has close ties with Western countries, who want to work closely with India in the face of an increasingly aggressive China. Russia's close relationship with China, on the other hand, is a thorn in India's side. "India is seen as a strong pillar of the new, emerging, multipolar world order," Modi said on Tuesday. "When India talks about peace, dialogue and diplomacy, the whole world listens. Whenever the world faces a crisis, India is the first country to arrive." Modi's government has sought to take a pragmatic stance on Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Because Russian oil is cheap due to Western sanctions, India has become one of the largest buyers. At the same time, Indian leaders have repeatedly called on all sides to engage in dialogue. During Modi's visit to Moscow, Putin thanked the Indian leader for his efforts in finding a solution to the Ukraine conflict. Putin, 71, is restricted in his international contacts due to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Putin received his guest at his residence on the outskirts of Moscow. According to the Kremlin, the two spoke for three hours. They also apparently travelled together in an electric cart and watched a horse show. However, Modi's visit has drawn sharp criticism from many leaders in the West as well as from the leadership in Ukraine in the light of recent civilian deaths, including the bombing of a paediatric hospital in Ukraine. "It is a great disappointment and a low blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hugging the world's bloodiest criminal on such a day in Moscow," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on X. President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) receives Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi ahead of their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Sir Keir Starmers choice of a leading advocate of HS2 as rail minister has stoked industry hopes that scrapped parts of the project may be revived. While the primary task facing Lord Hendy, whose appointment was announced on Monday, will be to oversee Labours renationalisation of train operators, hes also likely to prove a strong advocate for expanding the network. Lord Hendy, who previously worked closely with Boris Johnson and sat as a crossbench peer, last year criticised Rishi Sunaks decision to halt HS2 at Birmingham, choosing to speak out despite his position as chairman of the state-owned track operator Network Rail. His appointment as rail minister may represent the best chance of saving elements of the scheme, including a link from the Midlands to Crewe that would allow full formations of HS2 trains to travel at top speed through to Manchester, leading figures in the sector said. Henri Murison, chief executive at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said that Lord Hendy, who formerly sat on the Transport for the North board, will be able to set out the economic case for completing more of the original HS2 network to colleagues rather than having to draw on expertise from elsewhere. He said: Rishi Sunak committed to running HS2 trains into Manchester when he scrapped phase two of HS2. But that cant happen for full length, full speed trains without building more of the line. Peter Hendy will be able to explain why that is the case, and the costs and benefits of putting this right. Mr Sunak withdrew backing for phase two of HS2 after costs for the first phase alone surged to more than 50bn. Mr Murison said that the railway industry isnt asking for more cash and that the extension of the high-speed line further north could be privately funded. He said that, having led Network Rail, Lord Hendy is also well placed to oversee the creation of Great British Railways, which will take over train operators as existing contracts expire and merge them with the track firm. Lord Hendys other main challenge will be to simplify the railways ticketing system, something he did in London while serving as transport commissioner under mayors Ken Livingstone and later Johnson. Richard Bowker, the former chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority and ex-CEO of National Express and Virgin Trains, said London Hendy is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and able people in the railway sector. He said: People right across the industry are going to be delighted by this appointment, and having someone in government who truly understands how the railway works. The appointment of Lord Hendy extends Sir Keirs policy of recruiting specialists to ministerial roles in a so-called government of all the talents. While known for his railway expertise, Lord Hendy began his career managing bus networks as a graduate trainee with London Transport, and is known for owning two Routemaster doubledeckers which he regularly drives. 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. In this photo provided by the Mayo Clinic, Marty Kedian poses for a photo in Mayo Clinics Head and Neck Regenerative Medicine Laboratory in Scottsdale, Ariz., on June 12, 2024. Kedian regained his voice after surgeons removed his cancerous larynx and, in a pioneering move, immediately replaced it with a donated one. (Mayo Clinic via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) A Massachusetts man has regained his voice after surgeons removed his cancerous larynx and, in a pioneering move, replaced it with a donated one. Transplants of the so-called voice box are extremely rare, and normally aren't an option for people with active cancer. Marty Kedian is only the third person in the U.S. ever to undergo a total larynx transplant the others, years ago, because of injuries and one of a handful reported worldwide. Surgeons at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona offered Kedian the transplant as part of a new clinical trial aimed at opening the potentially lifechanging operation to more patients, including some with cancer, the most common way to lose a larynx. People need to keep their voice, Kedian, 59, told The Associated Press four months after his transplant still hoarse but able to keep up an hourlong conversation. I want people to know this can be done. He became emotional recalling the first time he phoned his 82-year-old mother after the surgery and she could hear me. That was important to me, to talk to my mother. The study is small just nine more people will be enrolled. But it may teach scientists best practices for these complex transplants so that one day they could be offered to more people who can't breathe, swallow or speak on their own because of a damaged or surgically removed larynx. Patients become very reclusive, and very kind of walled off from the rest of the world, said Dr. David Lott, Mayos chair of head and neck surgery in Phoenix. He started the study because my patients tell me, Yeah I may be alive but Im not really living. Lotts team reported early results of the surgery Tuesday in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The larynx may be best known as the voice box but its also vital for breathing and swallowing. Muscular tissue flaps called vocal cords open to let air into the lungs, close to prevent food or drink from going the wrong way and vibrate when air pushes past them to produce speech. The first two U.S. larynx transplant recipients at the Cleveland Clinic in 1998 and the University of California, Davis, in 2010 had lost their voices to injuries, one from a motorcycle accident and the other damaged by a hospital ventilator. But cancer is the biggest reason. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 12,600 people will be diagnosed with some form of laryngeal cancer this year. While today many undergo voice-preserving treatment, thousands of people have had their larynx completely removed, breathing through whats called a tracheostomy tube in their neck and struggling to communicate. Although the earlier U.S. recipients achieved near normal speech, doctors havent embraced these transplants. Partly thats because people can survive without a larynx while antirejection drugs that suppress the immune system could spark new or recurring tumors. We want to be able to push those boundaries but do it as safely and ethically as we can, Lott said. Head-and-neck specialists say the Mayo trial is key to helping larynx transplants become a viable option. It isnt a one-off, but an opportunity to finally learn from one patient before operating on the next, said Dr. Marshall Strome, who led the 1998 transplant in Cleveland. This first attempt in a cancer patient is the next important step, he said. Other options are being studied, noted Dr. Peter Belafsky of UC Davis, who helped perform the 2010 transplant. His patients at high risk of larynx loss record their voice in anticipation of next-generation speech devices that sound like them. But Belafsky said there's still a shot for larynx transplants to become more common while cautioning it likely will take years more research. One hurdle has been achieving enough nerve regrowth to breathe without a trach tube. Kedian was diagnosed with a rare laryngeal cartilage cancer about a decade ago. The Haverhill, Massachusetts, man underwent more than a dozen surgeries, eventually needing a trach tube to help him breathe and swallow and struggled even to muster a raspy whisper through it. He had to retire on disability. Still the once gregarious Kedian, known for long conversations with strangers, wouldn't let doctors remove his entire larynx to cure the cancer. He desperately wanted to read bedtime stories to his granddaughter, with his own voice rather than what he called robotic-sounding speech devices. Then Kedians wife Gina tracked down the Mayo study. Lott decided he was a good candidate because his cancer wasnt fast-growing and -- especially important -- Kedian already was taking antirejection drugs for an earlier kidney transplant. It took 10 months to find a deceased donor with a healthy enough larynx just the right size. Then on Feb. 29, six surgeons operated for 21 hours. After removing Kedians cancerous larynx, they transplanted the donated one plus necessary adjoining tissues thyroid and parathyroid glands, the pharynx and upper part of the trachea and tiny blood vessels to supply them. Finally, using new microsurgical techniques, they connected nerves critical for Kedian to feel when he needs to swallow and to move the vocal cords. About three weeks later, Kedian said hello. Soon hed relearned to swallow, working up from applesauce to macaroni and cheese and hamburgers. He got to say hi to granddaughter Charlotte via video, part of his homework to just keep talking. Every day its getting better, said Kedian, who moves back to Massachusetts soon. His tracheostomy remains in place at least a few more months but Im pushing myself to make it go faster because I want these tubes out of me, to go back to a normal life. And just as Lott had assured him, Kedian retained his beloved Boston accent. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. CANBERRA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has committed funding to almost double the number of safe spaces across the country for women and children escaping domestic violence. Amanda Rishworth, minister for social services, on Tuesday announced the government will fund 19 new projects that will provide 720 new emergency accommodation places for victims of domestic violence within three years. It will take the total number of emergency accommodation places delivered under the government's safe spaces program to approximately 1,500. Rishworth said in a statement that the new projects would have a focus on improving access to emergency accommodation for indigenous women and children, women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women and children with disabilities. "Family and domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness and housing uncertainty for women and children across Australia, and we know there is an increased demand for emergency accommodation," Rishworth said in a statement. The program is part of the government's 10-year plan to end violence against women and children. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 23 percent of Australian women aged 15 and over have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner. Protests were held around Australia in April demanding an end to gender-based violence following a wave of high-profile incidents. In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed 925 million Australian dollars (623.5 million U.S. dollars) in funding over five years for a new leaving violence program, under which women escaping violent relationships are eligible to access up to 5,000 AUD (3,370.5 U.S. dollars) in financial support. I rarely agree with Josh Hawley, but he told the honest truth about Boeings CEO | Opinion Questioned by a Senate subcommittee June 18, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun stated, Im proud of our safety record and I am proud of every action we have taken. The remark was stunning given recent history. According to USA Today, Boeing has been under scrutiny for years, and the pressure seems only to be increasing, after a series of high-profile safety incidents beginning with two crashes of 737 Max jets that left 346 people dead. Those wrecks were ultimately attributed to poorly designed, undisclosed flight control software. After sitting through Calhouns dubious testimony, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley did something bold: He told the truth. Hawley asked the Boeing CEO, Why havent you resigned? At this point, I need to state that I am a registered Democrat who disagrees with Hawleys positions more often than not. But I am also a student of history. When air traffic controllers struck in 1981, doing so in a manner that adversely affected many Americans, President Ronald Reagan fired them. The air traffic controllers had a right to complain about their long hours and other working conditions, but they took things too far and had to live with the consequences. Tough love and rational thought used to define the Republican Party. While stereotypical Democrats were sensitive artists, stereotypical Republicans were sensible businesspeople. GOP Sen. Mitt Romey famously said during his presidential campaign in 2012: I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone doesnt give me a good service that I need, I want to say, Im going to go get someone else to provide that service to me. Romney was criticized by Democrats for being tone-deaf, but few people ever said he was wrong. So heres the big question: If air traffic controllers and service providers can be fired for messing up, why cant CEOs? With greater power comes greater responsibility, the old saying goes. Lets add greater accountability too. Nor is the Boeing CEOs pay level incumbent upon his company being free of legal judgments. An Associated Press article by David Koenig and Alanna Durkin Richer published Monday stated: Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two crashes of 737 Max jetliners that killed 346 people, the Justice Department said late Sunday, after the government determined the company violated an agreement that had protected it from prosecution for more than three years. Boeings failures raise a key question for Americas business and political leaders: What, exactly, would it take for a powerful man to be fired? Jordan Barkin is a columnist published by USA Today, Hearst and Gannett. He is a former associate editor at Hearst Magazines. He lives in Naples, Florida SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The Runnels County Sheriffs Office has issued a warning to the public on July 9 about a scammer pretending to be one of its own. According to RCSO, it has received multiple reports of an unknown individual calling residents while masquerading as a Runnels County deputy. Once on the line, the scammer requests payment of a fine before a warrant is issued for your arrest. San Angelo makes moves to help Texas coast amid Tropical Storm Beryl what you can do The office also stated that the phone number being used to call targets is shown as the RCSO phone number. RCSO wishes to remind the public that deputies will not call to collect money. At no time will the Runnels County Sheriffs Office call to ask for payments of fines, RCSO said. The scam is one of several fake deputy phone scams reported within the Concho Valley in recent months. On June 3, the Menard County Sheriffs Office issued a public service announcement about one such scam affecting the people of Menard County, and the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office did likewise for the residents of its county regarding a separate scam on June 7. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. The ongoing scorching heat in the West caused a road to buckle in Washington this week while at least a dozen California cities broke all-time high-temperature records. A heat wave enveloping much of the nation has been especially sweltering on the West Coast, where some areas have experienced multiple days of triple-digit weather that has turned deadly. More than 70 million people are under heat alerts in the West as a scorching heat wave continues. PHOTO: All-Time Heat Records Broken (ABC News) In Oregon, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office reported Monday that it is investigating at least four suspected heat-related deaths since the state of emergency was declared on July 5 amid dangerously hot temperatures. Those who perished in the soaring heat included an 87-year-old man, a 75-year-old man and a 64-year-old man, all living in the Portland area, the medical examiner's office said. A 33-year-old man was taken to a Portland hospital from outside Multnomah County, and also died from a suspected heat-related illness. PHOTO: Tracy Werthman and Nikoma Echt, both of West Seattle, and their kids cool off at Alki Beach as an excessive heat warning remains in effect a day after record-breaking temperatures hit the region in Seattle, WA, June 29, 2021. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) The temperature hit 101 degrees in Portland on Monday and 104 degrees in Eugene and Salem, Oregon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). All three cities set new daily high-temperature records, the weather service said. Portland is forecast to see its fourth straight day of triple-digit weather on Tuesday, where thermometers are expected to climb to 105 degrees, according to the NWS. Road buckles in Washington In Washington, extreme temperatures caused State Route 111 in Skagit County to buckle on Monday, creating potentially dangerous conditions for drivers, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. "Our crews were dispatched and found that the concrete panels under the asphalt had buckled due to the heat," Madison Sehlke, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation, told ABC affiliate station KOMO in Seattle. PHOTO: Soaring temperatures in Washington are being blamed for causing State Route 11 in Skagit County to buckle on July 8, 2024, according to officials. (Washington State Department of Transportation) Washington saw temperatures on Monday climb to the high 90s in some areas. In Olympia, the temperature hit 99 degrees on Monday, breaking a daily record set in 2010, according to the National Weather Service. Seattle also broke a daily temperature record on Monday when the temperature reached 91 degrees, according to the NWS. PHOTO: Soaring temperatures in Washington are being blamed for causing State Route 11 in Skagit County to buckle on July 8, 2024, according to officials. (Washington State Department of Transportation) Excessive heat warnings in most of California The entire state of California was either under an excessive heat warning or a heat advisory on Tuesday. Palm Springs, which set an all-time heat record on Sunday when the temperature peaked at 124 degrees, was forecast to reach 121 degrees on Tuesday, according to the NWS. PHOTO: Tourists walk under cooling misters as the temperature reaches 118 degrees in Palm Springs, CA, July 8, 2024. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) A long-duration heat wave is expected to continue through this week in California's Central San Joaquin Valley. Fresno is forecast on Tuesday to see its seventh straight day of temperatures hitting 105 degrees or higher, Andy Bollenbacher of the NWS office in Hanford, California, told ABC News. MORE: Video Extreme heat blamed for a bridge being stuck open across Harlem River Bollenbacher said the record for consecutive days of 105 degrees or higher in Fresno is 14. He said the extended forecast shows a temperature in Fresno of 105 degrees or higher lasting through at least Sunday. The temperature on Tuesday in Fresno is forecast to hit 109 degrees, Bollenbacher said. Death Valley, California, remains the hottest spot in the nation. At 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the temperature in Death Valley was 112 degrees and forecast to reach 128, according to the NWS. PHOTO: Historic heat wave map (ABC News) The highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 degrees set in 1913, which is also the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth, according to the NWS. At least 12 cities in California have seen all-time heat records broken since Saturday, including Redding in Northern California which hit 119 degrees on Monday and Dagget in Southern California which reached 118 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Dangerous heat to drag on in Arizona Oppressive heat is forecast to continue through the remainder of the week in Arizona, where an excessive heat warning was extended for the Phoenix metro area. In Phoenix, the temperature is expected to peak at 117 degrees on Tuesday and remain above 109 degrees through at least Monday, according to the NWS. Lake Havasu City is forecast to hit 120 degrees on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before cooling down to 117 on Friday and 110 on Sunday, according to the NWS. A 50-year-old man hiking in the Grand Canyon died after being found unresponsive over the weekend, marking the third death in the national park within the last three weeks. PHOTO: historic heat wave (ABC News) A man was unresponsive when he was found on the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon about 100 feet from the trailhead on Sunday, according to the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center. NPS said temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120 degrees in the shade. Las Vegas expected to break consecutive hot-day record Just days after recording its hottest day ever, Las Vegas is aiming to break another record: consecutive days of 110 degrees or higher. The NWS is forecasting high temperatures of 114 to 118 degrees for the rest of this week, putting Las Vegas in a position to break the current record of five straight days of 110 degrees or higher. Las Vegas has a 90% chance of breaking its all-time record for consecutive days of 110 degrees or above, meteorologist Matt Woods of the NWS office in Las Vegas told ABC News. MORE: Rescue underway for 13 hikers trapped in fire zone Tuesday's temperature in Las Vegas is forecast to reach 117, making it the seventh straight day it surpassed the 110-degree mark, Woods said. Las Vegas' record of 10 consecutive days of 110-degree weather was set in 1961 and tied in July 2023. "Tomorrow through Saturday we have a 90% chance of reaching a 110," Woods said. "So it's very likely we're going to shatter the record." On Sunday, Las Vegas reached 120 degrees, breaking the record for the city's hottest day ever. Hot weather in other parts of the nation By this weekend, the record heat will move into the Rockies, where cities like Denver, Colorado, and Rapid City, South Dakota, could see record highs. Numerous cities along the East Coast are forecast to hit the century mark or get close. In Washington, D.C., the temperature hit 98 degrees on Tuesday afternoon and is forecast to reach 96 degrees on Wednesday. Philadelphia hit 94 degrees on Tuesday afternoon. Further south, the temperature Tuesday afternoon in Richmond, Virginia, climbed to 95 degrees and it was 94 in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the NWS. No end in sight as record-breaking heat wave continues originally appeared on abcnews.go.com New recovery home for women with children opens in Manitowoc. An open house will be July 30. Lighthouse Recovery Community Center logo MANITOWOC Lighthouse Recovery Community Center will host an open house and ribbon-cutting to celebrate its new recovery residence for women with children July 30. The non-profit, which serves folks in Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties, provides resources, education and support to anyone who has been impacted by addiction. The new Women with Children in Recovery Residence, at 721 Park St., offers a place to live to pregnant women and women with children, providing a safe and sober house for mothers, allowing them to remain with their children while they continue to attend treatment and recovery programming. Sign up for local business news with our new Manitowoc Streetwise newsletter Lighthouse Recovery will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. July 30 with a ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m. Local public officials, including state Attorney General Josh Kaul, as well as a representative from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, have been invited. The event is free and open to the public. Lighthouse Recovery moved into its new community center at 818 State St. in mid-May. Administrators and the board of directors of the growing nonprofit purchased the site after it became available about a year-and-a-half ago. Work then began at its old location at 712 Park St., now the women and childrens residence. The nonprofit honors all pathways to recovery and provides support to anyone who has been affected by addiction. Ground broken on new hotel: Manitowoc's first new hotel in more than 20 years will be a Hampton Inn by Hilton near I-43. Ground was broken on the project in June. Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@gannett.com or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling and on Instagram @PGPatti. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Lighthouse Recovery Community Center in Manitowoc opens new facility REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The teen from Reedley who was battling testicular cancer has passed away, his family announced in a GoFundMe update on Monday. According to a GoFundMe, Malachi Rios, a senior at Reedley High School, has been battling testicular cancer since November 2022. In an update posted on Monday, his mom announces Rios has passed away. Reedley teen who is facing stage 4 cancer receives treatment in Mexico My beautiful boy, you no longer know pain and suffering. The angels have escorted you into eternity. Thank you for all the beautiful memories and love that you poured into our lives. We already miss you, his mom wrote. In April, a GoFundMe was created by the teens family and friends to get him to a treatment center in Mexico, which he received. However, in an update on Monday, his mom said the teen had been home on hospice care for a couple of weeks and that the cancer had spread over 400% and tumors started to fill his lungs at a rate that doubled every 24 hours. During the process and despite the circumstances, his family says Rios remained as positive as one can be. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Officials announced the Region 9 superintendent and school board of the year on Monday. Burkburnett ISD superintendent honored Dr. Brad Owen, Burkburnett ISD superintendent, was named Region 9 2024 Superintendent of the Year, according to a media release form the Region 9 Education Service Center. Owen was nominated for the award by the BISD School Board. Owen As the head of our educational community in Burkburnett, Dr. Owen exemplifies a superintendent who not only has the vision for a great school community but also possesses the navigational skills to steer our educational vessel," BISD School Board President Keith Myers said in the nomination. The nomination also noted Owens implementation of a community-based accountability system to ensure students are learning in all facets of their educational journey. It also highlighted his creation of unique ways for teachers to inspire their students and his efforts to encourage students to come back home to help better the Burkburnett community. The Texas Association of School Boards, a nonprofit association, sponsors the superintendent of the year program, which has honored outstanding administrators for achievement and excellence in public school administration since 1984. A local school board may submit its superintendent to the regional selection committee, whose members choose one nominee to send to a state selection committee. The TASB State Selection Committee will interview all regional winners in August and choose five finalists. The finalists will undergo another round of interviews before the winner of the award is announced at txEDCON, the Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Convention, Sept. 27-29 in San Antonio. Burkburnett ISD School Board recognized The BISD School Board has been selected as the Region 9 nomination for the 2024 Outstanding School Board of the Year, according to the media release. Owen submitted his nomination of the board to the Texas Association of School Administrators by providing examples of how its members meet the requirements of 10 criteria, including its function as a policy-making body, support for educational improvement projects and school transformation initiatives, and commitment to a code of ethics. The BISD School board is progressive and courageous in their view and belief of true student learning," Owen said in support of the nomination. "The board challenges the district to find customizable ways to educate ALL students and to assess that learning through various avenues that reflect a true measure of student knowledge and abilities. Owen also noted examples of recognition received for educational performance, including Department of Defense Education Activity hosting their southwest regional conference in the district due to its performance and results with DoDEA grants. In addition, all six campuses have been designated as Purple Star campuses for the last two years because of the work done with military-connected students. The nomination will now be reviewed by TASAs School Board Awards Committee, whose members will select five boards from the 14 statewide nominations to be recognized as honor boards. Those finalists will be interviewed in San Antonio at txEDCON on Sept. 27, and the 2024 Outstanding School Board will be announced during the general session later that day. The TASA School Board Awards Program was established in 1971 to recognize the dedication and service of school boards that make a positive impact on the schoolchildren of Texas. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Region 9 educator, school board honored Fifth Third will pay $20 million in penalties and reimburse 35,000 customers after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau charged the bank with pushing junk auto insurance and opening fake accounts in the names of thousands of customers. The regulators said the illegal activity took place between July 2011 and December 2020 and resulted in roughly 1,000 customers getting their cars repossessed. A bank teller assists a customer at Fifth Third's branch on Fountain Square. On Tuesday, the agency said the bank will pay $5 million of its penalties for forcing vehicle insurance on borrowers who already had coverage or got it elsewhere. Fifth Third customers paid more than $12.7 million in illegal, worthless fees for insurance that provided no value, the regulator said. The regulator also said the bank would pay $15 million in connection with the fake accounts activity and is proposing a court order that would ban the sales quota that it said incentivized the fraud. The CFPB has caught Fifth Third Bank illegally loading up auto loan bills with excessive charges with almost 1,000 families losing their cars to repossession, Rohit Chopra, the agencys director, said in a statement. We are ordering the senior executives and board of directors at Fifth Third to clean up these broken business practices or else face further consequences. Fifth Third officials said Tuesday the fines were part of a settlement with regulators to conclude ongoing consumer probes. Bank officials said they have already taken action and discontinued practices that led to the disputes. Todays settlement concludes both the sales practices litigation with the CFPB, and its separate investigation into certain auto finance servicing activities related to a collateral protection insurance program that the Bank shut down in 2019 before the CFPB began its investigation, Susan Zaunbrecher, the bank's chief legal officer, in a statement. We have already taken significant action to address these legacy matters, including identifying issues and taking the initiative to set things right. Based in downtown Cincinnati, Fifth Third is a regional bank with nearly 1,100 branches in in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. With nearly $214 billion in assets and almost 19,000 workers, it is ranked as the nations 17th-largest bank, according to regulator the Federal Reserve. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: CFPB: Fifth Third to pay $20M for auto insurance abuses, fake accounts A movement to throw out traditional A-F grades in favor of tracking high school students as they gain mastery of academic and life skills is gaining momentum, with five states and powerful players joining forces to advance it. The hope of the Skills for the Future collaboration is to make it easy for schools to treat so-called durable skills such as critical thinking, teamwork and perseverance the same as traditional subjects like math and English. That includes giving students new tests and a new report card that shows how well they have mastered those other skills as they apply to colleges or jobs. The collaboration between the Educational Testing Service and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching started last year and added five states this spring Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. The Mastery Transcript Consortium which has already built a mastery-based report card became part of ETS, the company that runs the SAT and GRE college admissions tests, in May. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The partnership comes as some businesses edge toward skills-based hiring, rather than hiring for having a college degree. The partners also want to increase mastery or competency learning, where students progress at their own speed, rather than in lockstep with a class. This whole idea that education could be focused on durable and transferable skills is super exciting to me, said Scott Looney, founder of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, which just added its innovative report card to the partnership this month. Itll make school more engaging, interesting for kids, but also make it more meaningful. I think this is going to give us the ability to take this to millions of kids, he said. Carnegie President Tim Knowles said this new effort is a full reversal of what his foundation once promoted. In the early 1900s, the foundation popularized the credit hour or Carnegie Unit concept of measuring learning by hours spent on a subject. Related Carnegie, ETS Team Up to Develop Competency-Based Assessments But Knowles said it is clear now that students learn at different speeds and the measure that shares his foundations name doesnt work anymore. ETS, Carnegie and others in the mastery movement want students to be rated on progress toward each skill, at whatever speed works for them, regardless of when a grading period ends. Knowles said he hopes to replace the credit hours model where bells ring between classes, where its time, not competency, that is the rule of the day. Our aim is to build a new architecture that would actually enable competency-based learning to move from the edges of the profession where its lived for 100 years to the mainstream, he said. The end result, said Laura Slover, managing director of the effort, will hopefully be a way to show students character traits that many believe are just as important to success in school, jobs and life as academic knowledge. We are convinced that theres a lack of social and economic mobility in the U.S., and that weve moved from a knowledge economy to a skills economy, said Slover. We want a portable transcripts or wallet, if you will, that shows where students are in their development, skills and abilities that they can use with employers, they can use to open the doors to college, and that are fair and reliable and meaningful for kids. That shift, though, relies on schools to determine which skills to focus on and how to measure them. While there are many tests on subjects like English and math, there are no standard ways of measuring skills like communication, collaboration or digital literacy that carry across teachers, subjects, schools or states. This spring, the five states that are dipping their toes into mastery joined Skills for The Future to help develop ways of measuring student progress on these durable skills. ETS said first steps included looking at the Portrait of a Graduate or Portrait of a Learner statements that states have passed see Nevadas here or North Carolinas here that list the attributes and values they want students to have. The most common traits that will be the first priority, said Knowles, are communication, collaboration, persistence, and digital literacy, with critical thinking and creative thinking close behind. ETS, Carnegie and the states met in California in April to brainstorm approaches, with each state now meeting with teachers, students, colleges and businesses to develop ideas to pilot as early as January, 2025. A few early possibilities include interactive testing that adjusts questions making them harder or easier or zeroing in on certain topics based on student answers, as some online tests do now. Some tests could be game-based, instead of just having students answer questions. Related Drawing on Video Games, Educators Land on Unlikely Idea: Playful Assessment The partners are discussing how to use artificial intelligence and portfolios of student work such as papers, artwork, and projects created for multiple classes, as well as extracurricular or out of school activities to show character and interdisciplinary skills. Portfolios can post a challenge for schools and for one of the long-range goals of the project that skills can be reliably measured and believable to business or college admissions departments. Mastery schools use portfolios now, but those are dependent on subjective decisions by schools and teachers and are not verifiable to outsiders. But Nevada state superintendent Jhone Ebert said Skills For The Future could develop guidelines that could be used in schools everywhere to create more consistency. Or some rating decisions may be left to teachers, but a third party may be able to offer a seal to be added to the new transcripts to offer some verification. Ebert said she wanted Nevada schools, some of which have tested mastery concepts after a 2017 state law change, to have a role in creating new assessments. What has not gone well in the past is that someone just makes it a determination that this is the magic wand and how were going to measure everything, she said. Then it comes down and classroom teachers havent been involved, state leaders havent been involved. It is just this tool that has been made available and we are all going to adopt. This process is much different, she said. We are all working together to co-design what it will look like and provide that feedback and input up front. The Mastery Transcript Consortium started in 2017 with private schools who wanted to show student progress from developing skills to mastering them. It built a transcript model that typically shows about 60 skills, as each school determines, instead of just the half dozen courses a student might take each semester. Some schools have used versions of it in college applications since 2019. It now has 370 private and public schools or districts as members and says 500 colleges agree to accept students using the transcript. It also has already built an intermediate report on student progress on durable skills that schools can use as a supplement to traditional academic report cards, if theyre not ready to make a full leap yet. Though it keeps adding members, director Mike Flanagan said it is still a small group without the clout to take its work to a massive scale. For us to reach millions of students across the entire country on our own would have taken an infinite amount of time, he said. Its virtually impossible. But ETS is one of the few organizations in the sector that has the scale and capacity to credibly help us reach millions of learners. Flanagan added that having ETS, Carnegie and five states joining the work lends enormous credibility to our effort. Whether this effort is enough to make mastery and measurement of soft skills take hold nationally remains to be seen. Attempts to use mastery in states like Maine and New Hampshire never fully caught on and are often viewed as failures. Among the pitfalls, he noted, are federal testing requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act that dont allow flexibility when students must learn some academic skills. And schools and parents could balk at a shift, he said, though Skills For the Future might succeed in doing enough advance work that it would be easier for schools and teachers to adopt. Its a real challenge to do it well, but its good that somebody with the horsepower that ETS and Carnegie (have) are giving it a shot, said Scott Marion, executive director of the nonprofit National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment. Lets not kid ourselves. If it wasnt so hard, somebody would have done it. The DoorDash app is shown on a smartphone on Feb. 27, 2020, in New York. DoorDash partnered with nonprofits, including many religious groups, for Project DASH, which supplied meals to people in need in cities around the country. | Associated Press DoorDash recently partnered with nonprofits, including many religious groups, to supply meals to people in need in cities around the country, per Religion News Service. In June, the initiative reached 100 million meals delivered to hungry families, seniors, college students and more groups, the article said. What is Project DASH? Project DASH, which stands for DoorDash Acts for Sustainability and Hunger, per the San Diego Union-Tribune, is DoorDashs big charity initiative. It began in 2018. It involves DoorDash drivers dropping off free food to needy individuals in cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and San Diego, according to Religion News Service. A 2023 report from the Urban Institute explains that DoorDash makes no profits from its charitable deliveries. Neither do the organizations that partner with the company, including Jewish soup kitchens, Christian churches and large, faith-based nonprofits If it wasnt for DoorDash really partnering with us, a lot of things that we desire to do for the community probably wouldnt come to pass because were limited on resources, said the Rev. Cornelius Parks, pastor of Good Hope Freewill Baptist Church, to Religion News Service. DoorDash has not limited drivers to delivering food. Gift cards and grants are included in the gifts. The Rev. David Wright, who coordinates his Boston ministry with DoorDash, said that hundreds of families have benefitted from the tens of thousands of dollars DoorDash has gifted the community. A lot of our churches are aging, said the Rev. Wright to Religion News Service. We have older people on fixed incomes, and across the board I cant say, especially in Black churches, but across the board churches havent been good at attracting and retaining young people, and so the tithes and offerings just arent allowing churches to be as generous with the community as they have been in the past. How can you get involved with helping the hungry in your city? Donate to charity : Financial contributions can significantly support organizations that provide meals to people in need. Consider local organizations like your neighborhood soup kitchen or city food bank, where you may know and trust the people involved in the organization. Drop off food for neighbors : Directly help by sharing surplus food with neighbors in need. You can do so anonymously, with a sweet note reminding them that their community is here for them. Volunteer at a local food bank or soup kitchen : Your time and effort can help these organizations serve more people. Hold a virtual food drive : Traditionally, food drives collect food donations in person. But today, many organizations prefer monetary donations, according to Self.com. Raise money online through friends, family and your community and donate it to a local food charity. Volunteer with Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels is always seeking volunteers, according to Self.com. By getting involved, you can help deliver meals to homebound individuals. Rep. Burgess Owens is co-sponsoring a bill that could put federal regulations on the chopping block Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, answers interview questions at his office in West Jordan, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Owens is co-sponsoring a bill that could put federal regulations on the chopping block. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Regulations made by federal agencies and not by Congress could be on the chopping block if a new bill co-sponsored by Utah Rep. Burgess Owens becomes law. Following a landmark Supreme Court decision curtailed the power of federal agencies, lawmakers have proposed a bill to roll back rules put into place by these agencies unless Congress takes action to uphold them. The legislation is called the Sunset Chevron Act and Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, is a co-sponsor on the bill. What is Chevron deference? The Supreme Court recently overturned the so-called Chevron doctrine. This legal doctrine said if there was an ambiguous law and an agency put forward a reasonable interpretation of it, then the power to interpret the law remained with the agency. By walking back the Chevron doctrine, courts will have the power of interpretation and Congress will have to write more specific laws. Owens, who has voiced his support for the Supreme Courts decision, said the Sunset Chevron Act restores the balance of powers back to the way the Founding Fathers would have envisioned it. For too long, executive agencies have wielded unchecked authority, resulting in regulations that impact Americans lives without proper legislative oversight. This bill ensures that any rule with the force of law receives the scrutiny and approval of Congress, where the power to make laws rightfully belongs, said Owens. By sunsetting these agency actions unless they are affirmed by congressional action, we can correct past overreach and ensure power remains with We the People not unelected bureaucrats. Many Republican lawmakers, including the members of Utahs congressional delegation, have celebrated the Supreme Court decision because it reduces the power of the administrative state. These lawmakers have often made a constitutional argument that Congress is tasked with making laws and oftentimes when agencies make rules, it crosses into what should be Congress territory. The bill Owens is co-sponsoring will look at times agencies may have gone past what Congress intended and give lawmakers a swing at reigning in agency power. What the Chevron Sunset Act says This bill would require the compiling of a list every time a federal court upheld an agencys rule based on Chevron and it was not overturned, it would be put into the list. This list would then be organized in reverse chronological order by the date when the agency made the rule. Then, whats called a sunset date would be calculated for each rule: a sunset date in this case would be the last day the rule would have impact. Before the sunset date hits, Congress could decide to pass a law targeting what the rule also tried to get at or they could decide not to do so. Its important to note the Chevron ruling did not change whether or not Congress can choose to delegate authority to agencies. Congress still can put in laws that agencies have discretion in certain instances. What it does mean is that Congress will likely have to spell out the law when its not delegating that authority or discretion. Chevron doctrine has been precedent for decades, so some of the regulations the bill would impact are old. The bill carves out a path to examine those decadeslong regulations. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., introduced the bill, which has received endorsement from the National Taxpayer Union. In a press release, Green pointed toward a 2017 article published by Michigan Law Review, describing it as an empirical study about how federal courts of appeals applied Chevron in their cases. Per the report, the courts upheld agencies interpretations 71% of the time, and applied Chevron deference 77% of the time. Green said this allowed courts to skew favor towards bureaucrats rather than giving everyday Americans a fair chance at relief. Calling Chevron a blight on our constitutional system, Green said congressional intent should be at the forefront of interpreting laws. Allowing the executive branch to twist or add to laws is unconstitutional, said Green. Both Congress and the courts need to take back their respective authority instead of letting the executive branch run rogue. ISLAMABAD, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian to extend felicitations on his victory in the recent presidential elections, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement here. During the conversation on Monday, Sharif wished Pezeshkian successful tenure in office, and expressed the desire to work closely with him to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran relations, the statement added. Sharif added that he looks forward to enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade, energy, and regional security with Iran. Pezeshkian thanked the prime minister for his felicitations, and expressed the desire to further deepen the bilateral ties between the two nations, the statement said. The two leaders also discussed regional issues and agreed to continue close coordination and consultation, the official statement added. Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville, enters the Alabama House of Representatives on Feb. 8, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Attorney Generals Office said Tuesday that Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville, had been arrested on felony charges. The office said in a statement that Lawrence was charged with second-degree forgery and with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. The indictment alleges that Lawrence, with the intent to defraud, falsely made, completed, or altered a builders license, the statement said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A copy of the indictment was not immediately available Tuesday morning. Messages seeking comment were left with Lawrence on Tuesday and with the attorney generals office. Both charges are Class C felonies, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The statement said the case is being prosecuted by the Attorney Generals office of Special Prosecutions Division. Lawrence was first elected to the House in 2014, and is currently serving his third term representing House District 69, which includes portions of Autauga, Lowndes, Montgomery and Wilcox counties. Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said in a statement that he expects representatives to hold themselves to the highest standard of integrity in both their personal and professional lives. Rep. Kelvin Lawrences indictment presents an unfortunate situation for his constituents and colleagues alike. I have full confidence in our justice systems ability to assess the facts of this case and determine an appropriate course of action, Ledbetter said in a statement. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST In a development that highlights the mounting tensions within the Democratic Party , Rep. Mark Takano, an out gay member of Congress, has joined the call for President Joe Biden to step aside in the 2024 presidential race. During a pivotal Zoom meeting on Sunday with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other senior Democrats, Takano, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, articulated his concerns about Bidens electability. According to CBS News, Takano said that it is evident Biden is not the best person to carry the Democratic message. Takanos decision to speak out aligns him with a growing contingent of Democratic lawmakers who have publicly called for Biden to withdraw. This group includes Reps. Lloyd Doggett of Texas , Raul Grijalva of Arizona , Seth Moulton of Massachusetts , Mike Quigley of Illinois , Angie Craig of Minnesota , and Adam Smith of Washington . Craig, a lesbian, was the first LGBTQ+ lawmaker to call for Biden to move out of the way. These lawmakers have presented arguments centered on the need for fresh leadership and the risks associated with a potential Trump return. Doggett was the first to break ranks, urging Biden on July 2 to consider withdrawing for the greater good of the party. Grijalva echoed this sentiment, stressing that Biden should take responsibility for ensuring the Democratic seat remains secure by stepping down. Moulton suggested Biden should follow George Washingtons example by not seeking another term, while Quigley and Craig emphasized the high stakes of the upcoming election. Smith pointed out Bidens decreasing effectiveness in conveying the Democratic message. In a Saturday morning statement posted on X (formerly Twitter ), Craig acknowledged Bidens decades of service and legislative achievements but pointed to his recent debate performance as a critical factor in her decision. Given what I saw and heard from the President during last weeks debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump, she wrote. Despite these growing calls for withdrawal, Biden has steadfastly committed to his campaign. In a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday, Biden reaffirmed his resolve to stay in the race, highlighting that the Democratic voters have chosen him as their presumptive nominee. He warned that any attempt to remove him would undermine the democratic process. Biden has increased his outreach to congressional members and engaged in a series of high-profile appearances to solidify his position. On Monday morning, he called MSNBCs Morning Joe and addressed concerns about his age. On Monday afternoon, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia added a perspective that underscores the situations urgency. Warner suggested that Biden must more aggressively communicate his case to the American people and engage with a broader range of voices to prevent Trumps return to power. Warner had planned a Monday meeting with Senate Democrats to discuss Bidens candidacy but ultimately canceled it, according to a source familiar with his thinking. Utah Rep. Phil Lyman speaks during Utahs gubernatorial GOP primary debate held at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Using his official legislative letterhead, Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, requested the complete Utah primary voter rolls from the Lieutenant Governors Office. The letter is dated June 28. In it, Lyman said the voter rolls would be used to cross-check certain candidates signature gathering packets. I am entitled to these records as a legislator, wrote Lyman in the letter. They are not for campaign purposes and will be used purely for the statistical analysis of the 2024 primary election. Lyman, who recently lost his primary bid for governor, filed a lawsuit with his running mate Natalie Clawson to obtain the unredacted signature gathering packets of the campaigns of Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, Brad Wilson and Derek Brown. The suit named officials in the Lieutenant Governors Office as defendants and was filed in Utahs 3rd District Court on July 3. This stands as official notice that these records are vital to assessing the integrity of the election system and the verifiability of the results, wrote Lyman. His request included the voter rolls prior to the election as well as where they stood on June 28. When contacted by the Deseret News about his plans for using the voter rolls, Lyman did not respond by time of publication. Clawson made a government records request in June. The Lieutenant Governors Office denied Clawsons request due to state law that allows Utah voters to withhold their information from candidates for public law office and a different law that says signatures are protected information. These signature gathering packets include the names, addresses and signatures of registered Republicans in Utah who signed the packets in order to help candidates get onto the primary ballot. North Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has joined the small but growing number of Democratic leaders calling for President Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign after his widely panned debate performance last month. I know that President Biden and his team have been true public servants and have put the country and the best interests of democracy first and foremost in their considerations," Sherrill wrote in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. "And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he wont run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee. Sherrill, D-Montclair, who flipped her suburban district from red to blue in 2018, became the seventh congressional Democrat to call on Biden to drop out of the presidential race. She's the first elected Democrat from New Jersey to do so. Stile: NJ Democrats are itchy about Joe Biden's future as their nominee. Here's why The 11th District Congresswoman, a rumored candidate for governor next year, has been a strong supporter of the president. As recently as Monday, she issued a statement sidestepping the issue of Biden's future and instead said her focus was on "beating Donald Trump and taking back the House, which is more urgent than ever considering recent Supreme Court decisions." But after House Democratic Caucus members met Tuesday on Capitol Hill, the third-term congresswoman said she'd decided it was best for another candidate to take on Trump. Her district covers most of Morris County as well as parts of Essex and Passaic. Sherrill: Stakes are 'too high' to stay silent I have heard from people in my district who are united in their concern for our country and our future," she wrote. "They want a leader who can continue to build on our successes but is also able to turn the nations attention to the urgent threat that Trump presents to our democracy, to our freedoms, and to our country. May 28, 2024; East Orange, N.J.; Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill speaks during a press conference to announce Federal Transit Administration support for rail systems including funding to modernize public transportation in New Jersey on Tuesday morning. "When I think of my four children and all of the rights that another Trump presidency endangers, and in light of the recent Supreme Court decision that gave inordinate power to the president of the United States, the stakes are too high and the threat is too real to stay silent." While praising Biden's accomplishments, she added: "I realize this is hard, but we have done hard things in pursuit of democracy since the founding of this nation. It is time to do so again." Biden said Monday that he has no plans to leave the race and picked up support from the Congressional Black Caucus and key progressive Democrats in recent days. Joe Biden spoke at a campaign rally at Montclair State for Mikie Sherrill in 2018. Sherrill praised Biden on Tuesday but said he should step aside for another Democrat to enter the presidential race. Andy Kim, Malinowski weigh in on on Biden While Sherrill is so far the only Democratic member of New Jersey's congressional delegation to explicitly call for Biden to step aside, others have expressed misgivings. U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, the party's nominee for U.S. Senate this fall, said in an interview with the New Jersey Globe on Tuesday that he had "concerns" about Biden's ability to remain at the top of the ticket. Kim, a Democrat from Burlington County, said he is "still thinking this through" but signaled that he was open to discussions on replacing Biden. Former New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski made it clear Sunday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he felt it was time for Biden to leave the race. "I'm still proud to have been the first NJ member of Congress to endorse Joe Biden in 2020," he wrote. "He's been a uniquely successful president. Today, he can go down in history as the man who saved America from Trump twice - first by running four years ago, then by passing the torch." Staff Writer Charles Stile contributed to this article. William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter/X: @wwesthoven This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Mikie Sherrill of NJ calls on Joe Biden to end presidential bid A view of the death chamber from the witness room at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility shows an electric chair and gurney. (Photo by Mike Simons/Getty Images.) Ohios capital punishment system has been in a kind of limbo since 2018. The state cant lay its hands on the drugs necessary for lethal injection, so executions have stopped, and death row inmates are facing an indefinite delay. Even adding those complications to an already lengthy and expensive appeals process, capital punishment retains a rhetorical appeal among some Republican officials. Earlier this year two lawmakers floated a workaround to restart executions. State reps. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, introduced a bill allowing execution by nitrogen hypoxia in addition to the existing lethal injection protocol. Attorney General Dave Yost, whos already laying the groundwork for a 2026 gubernatorial bid, embraced the idea and testified in support of it last May. This bill will put an end to the stalemate and restore Ohios sovereign power to act, Yost insisted. The timing of that push, as voters prepare for a consequential election, might not be a coincidence. A new report from the Death Penalty Information Center highlights how capital punishment intersects with electoral politics, and how the demands of political campaigns have pushed some officials toward a more aggressive posture. Robin Maher helped write the report and heads up the non-profit which tracks how the death penalty is applied but doesnt take a position for or against it. We are very unique in the way that we elect critical decision makers in our death penalty system and we wanted to point out that the electoral process inserts elements of unpredictability and unfairness into an already flawed death penalty system. State supreme courts Despite efforts to ensure capital punishment is applied consistently, the structure of the U.S. judicial system makes it difficult to insulate those decisions from political considerations. Unlike every other country in the world, voters in most U.S. jurisdictions elect their prosecutors. Similarly, most judges in the U.S. are either elected to the bench or must go to the ballot to retain their position. In a system where voters have few clear measures of job performance besides the number of convictions and sentences, the report states, many prosecutors naturally do what they believe will help them keep their jobs an imperative that can lead to arbitrary results and injustice. When it comes to prosecutors, they note, studies diverge on the influence of elections on sentencing, but neither conclusion is great. On the one hand, at least one study found sentence lengths grow in election years. On the other, studies found sentences decrease because prosecutors bring more cases to trial in an effort to improve their conviction rates. In any other year, those cases would likely be settled with a plea bargain. The study focused on capital cases in Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia, noting all three states share a similar population, political bent, and electoral process for the state supreme court. The authors added the three states have sentenced and executed a similar number of defendants since capital punishment was reauthorized. The analysis found state supreme courts were very likely to side with prosecutors when considering whether to affirm or reverse a death sentence. But even after controlling for the number of cases that come up, they found a statistically significant correlation between court decisions and election years. In non-election years, the court affirmed death sentences 70.8% of the time. That rate jumped to 81% during an election year. But Maher explained, the big finding that jumped out at us was that we found that supreme courts affirmed two times the number of death sentences in election years as opposed to non-election years. Thats to say, in 34 of 51 cases, courts affirmed a death sentence as at least one of the sitting justices was preparing to go before voters. Zeroing in on Ohio, the study highlighted a 2014 case in which the state supreme court upheld the death sentence for Ashford Thompson only six days before Ohios general election. Two sitting justices were up for reelection, including former Justice Judith French who wrote the majority opinion. The studys authors note campaign ads that year emphasized Frenchs toughness and her vote to uphold a death penalty conviction in a prior case. But the study also noted an example of the court seeming to use the election calendar to insulate itself from the political impact of capital cases. The so-called lame duck session, in the two months right after a general election, saw a disproportionate number of cases. That time period makes up about 8% of what the authors surveyed but the court released 19% of its capital case decisions in that time frame. Governors and clemency Outside of courts and prosecutors, the governor plays a significant role in the application of the death penalty. In most cases, the governors clemency powers are the very last off-ramp before an execution. But here again researchers found electoral politics played a significant role. To review clemency decisions, the center looked all the way back to 1977, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume. The authors did not include the blanket clemency former-Illinois Gov. George Ryan issued to 167 people on his way out of office. They found the majority of clemency grants (56.2%) whether for individuals or small groups of inmates came when a governor wasnt running for reelection. That percentage climbed further (63.4%) when the governors decision wasnt dependent on an outside authority like a parole board. Narrowing their focus to individual grants of clemency only, the authors found governors with the sole authority to act nearly always did so (84.6%) when they would not have to answer to voters. They note the highest share of clemency decisions come in December and January the two months directly following an election and just before the end of a term in office. Public opinion Despite the apparent influence that capital punishment and electoral politics have on one another, the center noted public opinion seems to be shifting away from the death penalty. The study notes Gallup polling from last year saw support for the death penalty drop to its lowest point in more than 50 years. Elected officials are paying attention to how the public are changing with respect to its support of the death penalty, the report said. The report highlighted Matthew Ahns unsuccessful challenge of Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael OMalley earlier this year. Ahn was motivated to run in part by the countys track record pursuing capital cases. Between 2018 and 2021, he noted on his campaign website, the county shared the lead for most capital convictions in the country. During the primary, he committed not to seek the death penalty if elected. In the end, Ahn was defeated, but Maher noted 10 or 20 years ago, elected officials couldnt dream of saying they opposed the death penalty or planned to reduce its use or restrict its use or (were) even critical of its use. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post New report explores the connection between the death penalty and electoral politics appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. New report raises concern about surge in country's dirty energy usage: 'We hope that this report will help governments, world leaders, and analysts move forward' Global dirty energy consumption was at its highest in 2023, and one country showed a concerning increase, hitting an all-time high, as reported by Reuters. What's happening? The Energy Institute, in collaboration with consulting firms KPMG and Kearney, released the 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy report on June 20, with full-year data from 2023. The report showed that the global use of fossil fuels dirty energy sources such as oil, coal, petroleum, and natural gas was at a record high. Reuters reported that usage "exceeded 40 gigatonnes [44 gigatons] of CO2 for the first time." China, "the world's largest consumer of coal and second largest consumer of oil," as described by the Energy Institute, saw its use of dirty energy rise 6% to a new high, according to Reuters. This could be surprising in large part because China also accounts for over half of the world's new affordable energy sources, such as wind and solar. "China adding more renewables than the rest of the world put together is remarkable," said Simon Virley of KPMG. Why is this increase important? The report highlighted that the relationship between dirty energy and renewable energy is not entirely reciprocal, where an increase in one does not equate to a decrease in another. This is most noteworthy in China. At the end of 2022, China announced a rollback of COVID-19 guidelines, leading to a return to regular transportation and employment. Despite accounting for 55% of all renewable energy generated, per Reuters, with nearly 63% of all wind and solar energy capacity increase, China still produced a shocking increase in dirty energy usage. The country owned the largest refining capacity of oil and was one of the leading countries in coal usage, along with India. "In a year where we have seen the contribution of renewables reaching a new record high, ever-increasing global energy demand means the share coming from fossil fuels has remained virtually unchanged," Virley said. The demand for dirty energy was a driving force in seeing global temperatures rise by 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) for a 12-month period, per Reuters. This level of temperature increase is the threshold by which countries aim to abide by the Paris Agreement to lessen the impact of extreme weather disasters, including drought and flooding. What's being done about the increase in dirty energy consumption? The report itself is an in-depth look into the types of energy being used globally and where governments can adapt to renewable energy. "We hope that this report will help governments, world leaders, and analysts move forward, clear-eyed about the challenge that lies ahead," Romain Debarre of Kearney said. In China, "intense policy focus and technological innovation" is helping the country increase its focus on renewable energy, according to Remi Eriksen, group president and CEO of Det Norske Veritas. In addition to its large share of the increase in solar and wind energy, China also paves the way for innovation in other technology running on affordable energy, including high-speed rails and electric vehicles, such as one unveiled by tech giant Xiaomi. However, Reuters reported the complete phasing out of dirty energy appears to be "unrealistic" for China. The DNV said that, by 2050, China will still rely on it for 40% of its energy. "The progress of the transition is slow, but the big picture masks diverse energy stories playing out across different geographies," said Dr. Nick Wayth, chief executive of the Energy Institute. "This year we provide additional visualizations to bring these contrasts to life from advanced economies where we see signs of demand for fossil fuels peaking, to economies in the Global South for whom economic development and improvements in quality of life continue to drive fossil growth." Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. FILE - In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sen. Inhofe has died Tuesday, July 9, 2024. He was 89. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Former Sen. Jim Inhofe, a conservative known for his strong support of defense spending and his denial that human activity is responsible for the bulk of climate change, has died. He was 89. Inhofe, a powerful fixture in Oklahoma politics for over six decades, died Tuesday morning after suffering a stroke during the July Fourth holiday, his family said in a statement. Inhofe, a Republican who underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2013 before being elected to a fourth term, was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020, before stepping down in early 2023. Inhofe frequently criticized the mainstream science that human activity contributed to changes in the Earths climate, once calling it the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. In February 2015, with temperatures in the nations capital below freezing, Inhofe brought a snowball on to the Senate floor. He tossed it before claiming that environmentalists focus attention on global warming as it kept getting cold. As Oklahoma's senior U.S. senator, Inhofe was a staunch supporter of the states five military installations and a vocal fan of congressional earmarks. The Army veteran and licensed pilot, who would fly himself to and from Washington, secured federal money to fund local road and bridge projects, and criticized House Republicans who wanted a one-year moratorium on such pet projects in 2010. "Defeating an earmark doesn't save a nickel," Inhofe told the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce that August. It merely means that within the budget process, it goes right back to the bureaucracy. He was a strong backer of President Donald Trump, who praised him for his incredible support of our #MAGA agenda while endorsing the senators 2020 reelection bid. During the Trump administration, Inhofe served as chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee following the death of Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called Inhofe a good friend whose work benefited all the nation. Jims diligent stewardship of massive infrastructure projects transformed life across the Heartland, McConnell said in a statement. His relentless advocacy for American energy dominance unlocked new prosperity across the country and his laser focus on growing and modernizing the U.S. military strengthened the security of the entire free world. Republican Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford called Inhofe a true patriot and an institution. His passion for our military, aviation, energy, infrastructure, Africa, and our personal freedom was vital for our state and our nation, Lankford said in a statement. In Oklahoma, Inhofe helped secure millions of dollars to clean up a former mining hub that spent decades on the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund list. In a massive buyout program, the federal government purchased homes and businesses within the 40-square-mile (104-square-kilometer) region of Tar Creek, where children consistently tested for dangerous levels of lead in their blood. Inhofe championed veterans and firmly believed in the American Dream, said Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, who ordered flags on state property to fly at half staff through Wednesday. In 2021, Inhofe defied some in his party by voting to certify Democrat Joe Bidens victory in the presidential election, saying that to do otherwise would violate his oath of office to support and defend the Constitution. He voted against convicting Trump at both of his impeachment trials. Born James Mountain Inhofe on Nov. 17, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, Inhofe grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Tulsa in 1959. He served in the Army between 1956 and 1958, and was a businessman for three decades. He won legislative seats in the 60s and unsuccessfully ran for governor and Congress in the 70s. In 1978, he became Tulsas mayor, and held the job for three terms. Inhofe went on to win two terms in the U.S. House in the 1980s before winning a bitter U.S. Senate race in 1994. He would be reelected five times. Former longtime Democratic Sen. David Boren said he and Inhofe worked together in a bipartisan manner when both were in the state Legislature. He later defeated Inhofe in a race for governor. While we ran against each other for governor, we were opponents but never enemies and remained friends, Boren said in a statement. I hope we can rebuild that spirit in American politics. Inhofe lived up to his reputation as a tough campaigner in his 2008 reelection bid against Democrat Andrew Rice, a 35-year-old state senator and former missionary. Inhofe claimed Rice was too liberal for Oklahoma and ran television ads that critics said contained anti-gay overtones, including one that showed a wedding cake topped by two plastic grooms. Inhofes bullish personality also was apparent outside politics. He was a commercial-rated pilot and flight instructor with more than 50 years of flying experience. He made an emergency landing in Claremore in 1999, after his plane lost a propeller, an incident later blamed on an installation error. In 2006, his plane spun out of control upon landing in Tulsa; he and an aide escaped injury, though the plane was severely damaged. In 2010, Inhofe landed his small plane on a closed runway at a rural South Texas airport while flying himself and others to South Padre Island. Runway workers scrambled, and Inhofe agreed to complete a remedial training program rather than face possible legal action. "I'm 75 years old, but I still fly airplanes upside down," Inhofe said in August 2010. He later sponsored legislation that expanded the rights of pilots when dealing with Federal Aviation Administration disciplinary proceedings. In 2016 Inhofe, then 81, walked away from a forced landing during severe weather in northeastern Oklahoma. Inhofe is survived by his wife, Kay, three children and several grandchildren. A son, Dr. Perry Dyson Inhofe II, died in November 2013, when the twin-engine aircraft he was flying crashed near Tulsa International Airport. ___ Retired Associated Press journalist Tim Talley was the principal writer of this obituary. Ali Muldrow, a mother of three girls and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told speaks to a crowd outside the U.S. Supreme Court Ali Muldrow, a mother of three girls and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told a crowd outside the U.S. Supreme Court that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women and spoke of her own difficult pregnancies. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) The Republican Party on Monday adopted a Make America Great Again! policy platform ahead of its national convention that does not call for a federal ban on abortion, but supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitutions 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. If established by legislation, fetal personhood would have the practical effect of prohibiting abortion at all stages of pregnancy. Its impact could become national if courts affirm state-level laws that extend the application of the 14th Amendment to fetuses. This report was originally published by The 19th. The Illuminator is a founding member of The 19th News Network. The platform, released ahead of next weeks Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, adopts a states-centered approach to protecting or restricting reproductive rights, including abortion. It states: We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those rights. The 16-page document, approved by the Republican convention platform committee and circulated by Trumps campaign, goes on to say that Republicans will oppose Late Term Abortion a political term not used by doctors to refer to abortions in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF. The platform does not call for a national legislative abortion ban or for Congress to set a gestational limit or other restrictions on the medical procedure. In extending 14th Amendment rights to fetuses, though, it follows a path the anti-abortion movement favors to achieve fetal personhood. Fetal personhood is widely seen as being in conflict with in vitro fertilization (IVF), which creates embryos outside of the uterus that are later implanted. Fetal personhood bestows the same rights currently reserved for people to embryos from the moment of fertilization. The GOP platform said the party supports mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments). It does not explain how they plan to support IVF while also supporting fetal personhood policies that would render it illegal. Students for Life Actions Kristan Hawkins called the inclusion of the 14th Amendment language the most significant contribution the platform makes to ending abortion. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, also touted the platforms mention of the 14th Amendment, noting its role as a potential basis for national abortion restrictions. Under this amendment, it is Congress that enacts and enforces its provisions, Dannenfelser wrote in a statement. The Republican Party remains strongly pro-life at the national level. The document does not mention the Comstock Act, another lever abortion opponents have argued could be used to restrict abortion nationally. The 1873 anti-obscenity law, which was never repealed but has not been enforced in decades, bans the mailing of every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion. More than 60 percent of U.S. abortions are now done with medication restricting access to the drugs has become a top priority of the anti-abortion movement since the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the federal right to an abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed a case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration brought by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine over the abortion pill mifepristone. Abortion opponents said the FDA should not have approved the drug, and argued that the anti-obscenity law should be used to bar the mailing of medication abortion. The case was dismissed on standing a technical ruling in which the court held that the plaintiffs had not shown they had the right to sue but the issue could return to the high court in the future. The RNC document comes after a public, protracted GOP battle over how to handle abortion. Most Americans oppose the overturning of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs, and those who support abortion rights are more likely to say it will shape how they vote. Donald Trump, the partys presumptive nominee, has been hesitant to publicly support a national abortion ban, even while taking credit for Roes fall. Trump has not said how he would address the Comstock Act specifically, though the law is frequently cited in Project 2025, a public policy blueprint crafted by former Trump advisers through the conservative Heritage Foundation. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Republicans approve platform that would give rights to fetuses, endangering abortion, IVF appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. HANOI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- An 18-year-old female student has died from diphtheria in Vietnam's central province of Nghe An, local media reported Tuesday. Among seven students who shared the dormitory rooms with the deceased, two reportedly traveled to Bac Giang province. One of them then tested positive for diphtheria. According to the provincial disease control center, 119 people have been in contact with the deceased since she developed the illness symptoms. They have been in quarantine for health supervision. The dead patient reportedly showed signs of fever, coughing, and sore throat on June 26 and bought medicine at a local pharmacy for self-treatment, Vietnam News Agency reported. She visited a district-level healthcare center for a check-up on July 1 and was transferred to the Nghe An province's general hospital on July 4. Being diagnosed with septic shock/diphtheria, complications of myocarditis, multiple organ failure, coagulation disorders and thrombocytopenia, she died on July 5 afternoon. Complaints against US airlines rose by nearly 29 percent in 2023, but not all carriers came in for the same level of passenger discontent. The three airlines with the highest ratio of complaints to passengers were jetBlue, Spirit, and the most-complained-about airline, Frontier, according to a US Public Interest Research Group analysis of US Department of Transportation data. Frontier had 33 complaints for every 100,000 passengers, while Spirit had 15 and jetBlue received 13. Frontier Airlines was the most-complained-about US airline in 2023, based on the ratio of complaints to customers in US Department of Transportation data. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) At the other end of the spectrum, Alaska received the fewest complaints, with just two per 100,000 passengers. "We have been disappointed in our historical complaints but are pleased to have seen a recent drop in complaints due to better operational reliability, the reopening of our call center, and the recent launch of the New Frontier which offers clear, upfront low-cost pricing, and no change fees," Frontier told CBS News. The Independent has contacted jetBlue and Spirit Airlines for comment. Complaints about airlines, according to the PIRG analysis, are increasing faster than the level of passengers. They rose nearly three times faster than the 11 percent increase in passengers between 2022 and 2023, on the way to setting an overall record of 61,233 complaints last year. The discontent comes as a record number of passengers, just over 3 million, passed through US airports over the Fourth of July weekend. The DOT data captures other complaints as well, such 2.8 million grievances about pieces of luggage being mishandled, lost, or damaged, and 11,527 checked wheelchairs or scooters suffering a similar fate. Overall, the data shows that over time, complaints held relatively steady since 2004, until an explosion of grievances beginning during the pandemic, especially in 2020. The Biden administration has sought to require US airlines to be more transparent about what it calls hidden junk fees, prompting major US air carriers to sue the DOT in May, accusing the agency of going beyond its authority. Police are asking for the publics help in locating the men responsible for murdering a man inside a DeKalb County bar over three months ago. On March 24th, Xavia McClary went out to celebrate one of his friends birthdays. He would never return home. That day will never go away. The worst day of my life. The worst day of any parents life, Schontal McClary, Xavias mom, said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to an incident report, two men in suits approached one of McClarys close friends. The report states they tried talking to the woman before becoming hostile. McClary then stepped in to defend his friends when one of the men fired several shots into his chest killing him. The two men walked out of the bar before police arrived. And you get shot down in the middle of a club with all these people, and no one will say a word. No one will say anything, she said. The men responsible for the murder have yet to be arrested. The family says they are unaware of any leads as DeKalb police say they are still investigating the incident. It makes me very angry that we live in a society where you can murder someone, and no one will come forward and say anything. It makes me angry that we live in a society where someones conscience is not heavy enough to do the right thing. It makes me angry that my son is no longer alive, and the person or people who saw what happened will not come forward for fear of what? McClary said. Last month, Channel 2 Action News went to the site of the bar to ask questions. However, the location appears to be abandoned. A nearby business owner told Channel 2s Michael Doudna that the owners of the bar removed their belongings shortly after the fatal shooting. TRENDING STORIES: The family says police told them the cameras in the bar were not working that night. I told them from day one that I did not want this to be a cold case. I fear that we are heading down that road, George Brewer, Xavias father said. The family is calling for anyone with information to come forward to help them achieve closure and justice. Anyone with information on this case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404) 577-TIPS (8477), online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). You can also contact Dekalb Police at 404-294-2911 Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Gov. Dan McKee deferred questions about holding parties accountable for the poor condition of the Washington Bridge to the state's independent legal team during a press conference Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Department of Administration. At right is Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) The request for proposals to replace the western Washington Bridge struck out. Next up at bat: a request for information. Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Peter Alviti, Jr. said Tuesday the state set the bar too high in its accelerated push to solicit bids to replace the badly deteriorated bridge connecting East Providence and Providence via I-195. The westbound portion of the bridge was closed abruptly last December. The state had set a completion date of August 2026 in its request for proposals with $10 million in incentives based on per-day rates ranging between $5,000 to $7,000 to get the job done as quickly as possible. Potential contractors faced daily penalties of $30,000 for exceeding the completion date. Instead, the state will issue a new solicitation seeking feedback from companies about the initial request for proposals to replace the bridge that drew zero responses by the July 3 deadline. The new request would be issued go out as soon as possible, Alviti told reporters at a press conference at the Department of Administration. The states new solicitation may push back the initial 2026 timeframe for a new bridge, which is estimated to cost around $368.3 million. Were going to know what the timeline is when we get the timeline, said Gov. Dan McKee. Building a bridge obviously takes a while I cant answer what I dont know. Under the states original timeline, the design process would have started some time next month. No changes will be made to the states timeline to demolish the westbound bridge, which Alviti said is slated to begin July 17. The contract to tear down the westbound section of I-195 was awarded to Warwick-based Aetna Bridge Co. The need to reissue bids to replace the bridge should not impact the states attempt to get additional federal funding on the project, said Rhode Island Director of the Office of Budget and Management Brian Daniels. In May, RIDOT applied for a $221 million U.S. Department of Transportation National Infrastructure Project Assistance discretionary grant, also known as a Mega Grant, which was created under the federal 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Daniels said the application only focused on the project scope not the timeline. There may be some changes to that, but the general fundamentals are saying we do need to replace the bridge, Daniels said. Why werent there bids? Over 2,100 vendors were notified of the bid to construct a new bridge when it first went online in April, Rhode Island Department of Administration spokesperson Cassius Shuman said in an email ahead of the governors press conference. Only 67 viewed the solicitation and McKee acknowledged that only one asked questions on the online bid portal. That was an indication to us that we may not get the level of response on the RFP we had originally hoped for, McKee told reporters. The unnamed vendor requested RIDOT lower the timeframe to review designs, along with asking the state to confirm whether the design-build team would be allowed a non-compensable time extension in the event of a concurrent delay. The company asked for one-on-one meetings with state transportation officials, only to be denied. Alviti said at Tuesdays press conference having individual meetings would have been improper. It would provide an unfair advantage, he said. Now that were going into a procedure that is a request for information, we can open that up to not only to that company, but other companies who took a look at the bid and decided for various reasons one or the other or collectively why they wouldnt participate. Several factors were believed to have played into the lack of responses, Alviti said. Chief among them, he said, was the states aggressive timeline along with asking bidders to assume more risk than normal. He also cited the high-level of scrutiny and attention the project brings. We pushed the envelope beyond apparently what the construction industry is willing to bear, Alviti said. We accept that, but were not going to be discouraged. Were moving forward with plans, to readjust and move forward to continue to help commuters get the new bridge that they need and to get them back to life as normal. McKee also hired an independent legal team to review the work on the western Washington Bridge that happened prior to the emergency closure of the bridge on Dec. 11, 2023, when engineers discovered that it was at risk of collapse. The governor on Tuesday declined to say if potential litigation dissuaded any potential bidders. McKee deferred to the legal team, Wistow, Sheehan & Lovely along with Savage Law Partners to comment on any steps the state plans to take to hold any firm or individual accountable for its poor condition. McKee said he asked representatives from the firm to make themselves available to the news media. A press conference was scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Savage Law Partners downtown Providence office. Were going to build a bridge thats going to outlast our lifetime, McKee said. Let the chips fall where they may. Tuesdays press conference was originally scheduled to take place at the State House but was moved to state offices across the street because of uncomfortable conditions during a period of very hot, humid weather. The post RIDOT to collect feedback from bridge construction firms as it retools Washington Bridge bid specs appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Lauranne Oliveau, 69, of Lovettsville, Virginia, said she took the train to Washington, D.C. to protest outside of the U.S.Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as justices heard oral arguments over access to mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortion. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom) Originally published by The 19th The Republican Party on Monday adopted a Make America Great Again! policy platform ahead of its national convention that does not call for a federal ban on abortion, but supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitutions 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. If established by legislation, fetal personhood would have the practical effect of prohibiting abortion at all stages of pregnancy. Its impact could become national if courts affirm state-level laws that extend the application of the 14th Amendment to fetuses. The platform, released ahead of next weeks Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, adopts a states-centered approach to protecting or restricting reproductive rights, including abortion. It states: We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those rights. The 16-page document, approved by the Republican convention platform committee and circulated by Trumps campaign, goes on to say that Republicans will oppose Late Term Abortion a political term not used by doctors to refer to abortions in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF. The platform does not call for a national legislative abortion ban or for Congress to set a gestational limit or other restrictions on the medical procedure. In extending 14th Amendment rights to fetuses, though, it follows a path the anti-abortion movement favors to achieve fetal personhood. Fetal personhood is widely seen as being in conflict with in vitro fertilization (IVF), which creates embryos outside of the uterus that are later implanted. Fetal personhood bestows the same rights currently reserved for people to embryos from the moment of fertilization. The GOP platform said the party supports mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments). It does not explain how they plan to support IVF while also supporting fetal personhood policies that would render it illegal. Students for Life Actions Kristan Hawkins called the inclusion of the 14th Amendment language the most significant contribution the platform makes to ending abortion. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, also touted the platforms mention of the 14th Amendment, noting its role as a potential basis for national abortion restrictions. Under this amendment, it is Congress that enacts and enforces its provisions, Dannenfelser wrote in a statement. The Republican Party remains strongly pro-life at the national level. The document does not mention the Comstock Act, another lever abortion opponents have argued could be used to restrict abortion nationally. The 1873 anti-obscenity law, which was never repealed but has not been enforced in decades, bans the mailing of every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion. More than 60 percent of U.S. abortions are now done with medication restricting access to the drugs has become a top priority of the anti-abortion movement since the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the federal right to an abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed a case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration brought by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine over the abortion pill mifepristone. Abortion opponents said the FDA should not have approved the drug, and argued that the anti-obscenity law should be used to bar the mailing of medication abortion. The case was dismissed on standing a technical ruling in which the court held that the plaintiffs had not shown they had the right to sue but the issue could return to the high court in the future. The RNC document comes after a public, protracted GOP battle over how to handle abortion. Most Americans oppose the overturning of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs, and those who support abortion rights are more likely to say it will shape how they vote. Donald Trump, the partys presumptive nominee, has been hesitant to publicly support a national abortion ban, even while taking credit for Roes fall. Trump has not said how he would address the Comstock Act specifically, though the law is frequently cited in Project 2025, a public policy blueprint crafted by former Trump advisers through the conservative Heritage Foundation. The post RNC approves platform that would give rights to fetuses, endangering abortion, IVF appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Iowans who oppose abortion rights rally July 11, 2023 in the Iowa Capitol rotunda. (Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch) This story was originally published by The 19th. The Republican Party on Monday adopted a Make America Great Again! policy platform ahead of its national convention that does not call for a federal ban on abortion, but supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitutions 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. If established by legislation, fetal personhood would have the practical effect of prohibiting abortion at all stages of pregnancy. Its impact could become national if courts affirm state-level laws that extend the application of the 14th Amendment to fetuses. The platform, released ahead of next weeks Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, adopts a states-centered approach to protecting or restricting reproductive rights, including abortion. It states: We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those rights. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The 16-page document, approved by the Republican convention platform committee and circulated by Trumps campaign, goes on to say that Republicans will oppose Late Term Abortion a political term not used by doctors to refer to abortions in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF. The platform does not call for a national legislative abortion ban or for Congress to set a gestational limit or other restrictions on the medical procedure. In extending 14th Amendment rights to fetuses, though, it follows a path the anti-abortion movement favors to achieve fetal personhood. Fetal personhood is widely seen as being in conflict with in vitro fertilization (IVF), which creates embryos outside of the uterus that are later implanted. Fetal personhood bestows the same rights currently reserved for people to embryos from the moment of fertilization. The GOP platform said the party supports mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments). It does not explain how they plan to support IVF while also supporting fetal personhood policies that would render it illegal. Students for Life Actions Kristan Hawkins called the inclusion of the 14th Amendment language the most significant contribution the platform makes to ending abortion. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, also touted the platforms mention of the 14th Amendment, noting its role as a potential basis for national abortion restrictions. Under this amendment, it is Congress that enacts and enforces its provisions, Dannenfelser wrote in a statement. The Republican Party remains strongly pro-life at the national level. The document does not mention the Comstock Act, another lever abortion opponents have argued could be used to restrict abortion nationally. The 1873 anti-obscenity law, which was never repealed but has not been enforced in decades, bans the mailing of every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion. More than 60 percent of U.S. abortions are now done with medication restricting access to the drugs has become a top priority of the anti-abortion movement since the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the federal right to an abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed a case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration brought by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine over the abortion pill mifepristone. Abortion opponents said the FDA should not have approved the drug, and argued that the anti-obscenity law should be used to bar the mailing of medication abortion. The case was dismissed on standing a technical ruling in which the court held that the plaintiffs had not shown they had the right to sue but the issue could return to the high court in the future. The RNC document comes after a public, protracted GOP battle over how to handle abortion. Most Americans oppose the overturning of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs, and those who support abortion rights are more likely to say it will shape how they vote. Donald Trump, the partys presumptive nominee, has been hesitant to publicly support a national abortion ban, even while taking credit for Roes fall. Trump has not said how he would address the Comstock Act specifically, though the law is frequently cited in Project 2025, a public policy blueprint crafted by former Trump advisers through the conservative Heritage Foundation. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The city of Rochester will pay $521,000 to Jerrod Jones, the former firefighter who sued over being taken to a racist East Avenue party while on duty in 2022, a spokeswoman confirmed Monday. That includes $75,000 now and $75,000 upon his retirement four years from now. In the interim he will remain on leave while earning $92,000 a year plus benefits. The agreement will settle his federal lawsuit against the city. The settlement and its terms were first reported by WXXI News. Jones, a Rochester firefighter since 2007, made national headlines when he came forward with his story in August 2022. Jerrod Jones, a Rochester firefighter who alleged discrimination by a supervisor on August 11, 2022. What was the racist Juneteenth party? His supervisor, Capt. Jeffrey Krywy, took him and two other junior firefighters to a mock Juneteenth party at a 9,800 square foot East Avenue mansion belonging to Nicholas Nicosia and Mary Znidarsic. Jones said guests at the party were eating fried chicken and drinking cognac, both racial tropes, and a burlesque dancer performed suggestively as Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, a common target of conservative attacks. The immediate aftermath focused on Nicosia and Znidarsic, who both lost community leadership positions with various organizations. At a calamitous press conference, Znidarsic confirmed that she operated a highly racist anonymous Twitter account but said it was "under the veil of a persona." Krywy retired under duress. In a joint statement Monday, Jones and the city said it was wrong for him to have taken his crew to the party, which had "wholly inappropriate political and racial overtones." In other news: 3 NY beaches not recommended for swimming. See which have E. coli, algae or enterococci Racial discrimination in Rochester Jones filed a lawsuit against the city in 2023, saying the party had been one of a series of instances of racial discrimination within the Rochester Fire Department. He alleged, for example, that it "was a practice to put a ventilation hole in a roof in less than dangerous situations in Black neighborhood to 'prepare' for more dangerous situation later in White neighborhoods." Nicosia, meanwhile, filed a defamation suit against Jones' attorney, Nate McMurray, as well as Barnhart, saying their false accusations had severely damaged his dental business. That lawsuit remains active. Justin Murphy is a veteran reporter at the Democrat and Chronicle and author of "Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger: School Segregation in Rochester, New York." Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CitizenMurphy or contact him at jmurphy7@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester settles Jerrod Jones' lawsuit over racist East Avenue party Rockford to split cost of demolishing building with the library Rockford City Council on Monday agreed to split the cost with the Rockford Public Library of demolishing a dilapidated office building next door to its new $40 million library downtown. Rockford Library Board Secretary-Treasurer Jamie Getchius said the building is blighted and a danger to the community. He said demolition should proceed by this fall and the land is expected to left as open green space along the riverfront. At one point, it was hoped the building would be demolished and redeveloped as a high-rise apartment building but those plans evaporated as inflation soared and supply chains were snarled after the global pandemic. Rockford Public Library officials are asking the city of Rockford to split the cost of demolishing a dilapidated building at 227 N. Wyman St. adjacent to the new, $40 million library. Rockford will spend up to $375,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to defray the cost of demolishing the structure. The cost of the project is expensive because of its proximity to the Jefferson Street Bridge, officials said. Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Building near new Rockford Public Library to get demolished Rubble cleared at Okhmatdyt, a total of 31 people killed in Russian 8 July attacks on Kyiv photos Rescue workers at Okhmatdyt in Kyiv on 8 July. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Search and rescue operations at the Okhmatdyt National Specialised Childrens Hospital in Kyiv have been completed: two people were killed and 32 injured as a result of the Russian attack on 8 July. In total, 31 people were killed in Kyiv at several different strike sites. Source: Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on Telegram Quote from Klymenko: "As of now, 29 people, including four children, have been killed in Kyiv as a result of the Russian strikes on 8 July, and 117 people were injured, including 10 children." Rescue workers at Okhmatdyt in Kyiv on 8 July. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Details: Klymenko said that eight children from Okhmatdyt had been taken to hospital with their injuries. Rescue workers at Okhmatdyt in Kyiv on 8 July. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Update: Later, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that a body of another woman had been recovered from under the rubble of a house in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv, bringing the total number of people killed in this building to 11, and the total number killed in Kyiv in the Russian attack on 8 July to 30. Later, Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, reported that as of 12:15, 31 people were killed and 117 were injured in Kyiv in the Russian attack. Vitalii Klitschko said that 94 children from the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital were transferred to other medical institutions. Eight of these children are injured. Moreover, as of the morning of 9 July, 57 adults are in the inpatient units of municipal medical institutions. Five of them are in serious condition. Background: On 8 July, the Russians launched a missile attack on Ukraine. They hit the Okhmatdyt hospital, the ADONIS private clinic and residential buildings in Kyiv. Two adults, one of them a doctor, were killed in the attack on Okhmatdyt. An entire section of a building in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv was destroyed as a result of the strike. As of the afternoon of 8 July, seven people, including three children, were reported killed. Two more people were killed at an industrial facility in Shevchenkivskyi district. The Domino business centre was damaged in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, killing seven people. A four-storey building belonging to the ADONIS clinic was partially destroyed in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv, killing nine people. As of the evening of 8 July, it was reported that a total of 37 people had been killed and 170 wounded as a result of the Russian strike on Ukraine on 8 July. Support UP or become our patron! Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush discusses her decision to seek another term leading the court. (Mia Hilkowitz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush said Tuesday she will seek retention to the bench this fall, and also reappointment as chief justice. She has been on states highest court since 2012 after being appointed by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels. She was last retained by voters in 2014, but she has another vote coming Nov. 5. This is an interesting time institutional stability is important, Rush told the Capital Chronicle on Tuesday. Public trust and confidence is our main currency. I just really looked at it and thought, you know, I can do it. Ill give it my best. The Judicial Nominating Commission named Rush Indianas first female chief justice in August 2014, and she was reappointed in 2019. As chief justice, she is responsible for supervising Indianas judicial branch. This supervision includes working with the state legislature to secure funding and allocate resources, as well as overseeing a multi-agency central administrative office that handles everything from caseload measures and technology updates to the admission and discipline of lawyers. The commission of Hoosiers will ultimately decide Aug. 21 whether Rush remains chief justice. A news release said the four other members of the court support her nomination. rush Prior to her appointment, Rush spent 15 years at a Lafayette law firm and was elected three times to serve as Tippecanoe Superior Court 3 judge. She earned her undergraduate degree from Purdue University and her law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, both with honors. She is married to Jim Rush with four children and five grandchildren. Rush sent a note to court staff Tuesday morning saying weve worked together to launch pretrial and problem-solving court initiatives, implement and finalize our statewide electronic filing and unified case management systems, sustain our court system through a global pandemic, overhaul our administrative agency structure, advance causes to improve access to justice for all, reshape the approach to addressing behavioral health and substance use disorders for court participants, and so much more. She said in the statement there is more work to be done, including addressing the states attorney shortage, remaining vigilant in confronting the drug crisis and ensuring court officers and staff are protected against increasingly common threats of violence. People say oh, we dont need attorneys, you know, lots of attorney jokes, until you need an attorney, Rush said, noting criminal cases, guardianships, property rights disputes and more come to the courts. She also said she hopes to leverage the use of artificial intelligence in the future for legal research, interpreters and more. Above all, we must always endeavor to promote our most sacred resource: trust and confidence in our courts. Your work is critical not only to maintaining that trust and confidence but also to defending the rule of law and the way of life we enjoy as free people, Rush said. I continue to be inspired by your efforts and humbled by your service. Whatever comes next, I look forward to continuing our work together. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX VILNIUS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania has bought RBS70 NG, a mobile short-range air defense system, from a Swedish company for 147 million euros (about 159 million U.S. dollars), Lithuania's Ministry of National Defense said Monday. The ministry's Defence Material Agency has signed final agreements with Sweden's Saab Dynamics AB, and the delivery is scheduled for 2025-2027, the ministry said in a press release. "The advantage of this system is its mobility, which makes it a much-needed system that will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces," Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said. "We are currently using the older generation RBS70 air defense system and Bolide missiles," he noted. Earlier, Kasciunas had told the Baltic News Service that Lithuania was also considering acquiring Piorun air defense systems from Poland, as well as additional medium-range air defense systems. Photo: the village of Kizomys on Google maps Russian troops have once again attacked the village of Kizomys in Kherson Oblast. As a result, a 34-year-old man has sustained injuries to his legs. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration Details: The administration reported that the Russians had dropped explosives from a drone into the garden of a residential building where the man was staying on Tuesday evening. The man suffered a traumatic amputation of his foot. He was taken to hospital for medical assistance. Background: Earlier, the Russians shelled the village of Kizomys with artillery, killing an elderly man. He was on the street at the time of the attack. Support UP or become our patron! Russia's ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks during an emergency Security Council meeting at the United Nations Headquarters. Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Severe Russian airstrikes across Ukraine, including the bombing that damaged a paediatric hospital in Kiev, prompted international condemnation at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday. A UN official condemned the attack as a war crime at the meeting, while Ukraine's supporters again denounced Russian aggression in the country. France's representative, Nicolas de Riviere, called it a "further entry and a list of war crimes" for which Russia must be held accountable. China, an ally of Russia, also expressed concern in remarks that could be read as a signal to Moscow. Fighting in Ukraine has unfortunately "intensified and there have been brutal attacks from time to time that have claimed many victims. China is deeply concerned about this," said China's deputy ambassador to the UN, Geng Shuang. However, Beijing expressed its usual caution and did not directly denounce its close partner in Moscow. Joyce Msuya, the acting head of the UN Emergency Relief and Works Agency (OCHA), said that the deadly Russian strike on Monday that damaged the children's hospital was part of "a deeply concerning pattern of systemic attacks, harming healthcare and other civilian infrastructure across Ukraine." "Intentionally directing attacks against a protected hospital is a war crime and perpetrators must be held to account," she said. Because Russia has veto power in the UN Security Council, action over Russian aggression in Ukraine is out of the question. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope for greater international support in the wake of the attack, and thanked foreign leaders who had taken new steps to help bolster Ukraine's defences. Zelensky travelled to Washington on Tuesday to join a three-day NATO summit being hosted in the US capital. Aid for Ukraine is expected to be a major topic at the meetings. Devastating airstrikes on Kiev The body of a missing boy was retrieved from the rubble of an apartment block in Kiev that was destroyed in a Russian missile attack, as many expressed outrage at the brutality of the strike. At least 31 people died in devastating Russian airstrikes on Kiev on Monday, including four children, and at least 117 people were injured, the city's civil defence department said on Tuesday. Across the country, Ukraine has suffered a total of at least 42 deaths and 190 injuries as a result of the recent attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the social media platform X. "We continue to work to protect our cities and communities from Russian terror," he wrote. Tuesday is set to be a day of mourning in Kiev. Rescue work at the large Ochmatdyt children's hospital was halted after more than 24 hours. Hundreds of rescuers, medics and volunteers had searched for victims in the rubble until they were exhausted. The building's facade was completely destroyed by the blast. Two adults were killed in the hospital, including a doctor. Seven people were killed in a large residential building near the hospital, including three children. Two people died in an industrial plant. There were unofficial reports saying there had been attacks on an armaments company. Nine people were killed in another partially destroyed hospital and seven people were killed in a business centre. Evidence points to deliberate Russia attack Ukraine has said the children's hospital attack was targeted, as video footage shows what Ukrainian sources have identified as a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile approaching the building unhindered. Preliminary investigations by the UN Human Rights Office have found that the children's hospital destroyed in Kiev was hit directly by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, Danielle Bell, head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said on Tuesday. She said specialists had reached this conclusion after analysing video footage and directly examining damage on site. "[It is] one of most egregious attacks we have seen since the onset of the invasion," she said. Russia denies responsibility Russian UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzia repeated the Kremlin's claims that the Russian attack was aimed at a factory near the hospital. He again asserted, without offering evidence, that a stray Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile had subsequently hit the hospital. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanded that the public stick to this version. "We do not carry out strikes against civilian targets. There are only strikes against objects of critical infrastructure or military targets," he said, according to the TASS news agency. Child patients transferred The UN's Bell said that hospital staff brought young patients to safety in the bunker shortly before the attack on Monday, she said. Otherwise, the number of victims would have been significantly higher. All 600 of the hospital's young patients have now been transferred to other health facilities. The hospital, where many children with cancer and other serious illnesses were treated, was badly damaged and could no longer be used without extensive repairs, she said. Ukraine sends drones to attack Russia Ukraine responded to the nationwide wave of attacks from Moscow with drone attacks on Russia on Tuesday. A depot of tanks belonging to the oil company Lukoil in the Volgograd region was set on fire as a result. Regional Governor Andrey Bocharov blamed this on debris from drones that had been shot down, which had fallen on the depot in the city of Kalach on the Don. The Russian Ministry of Defence said 38 Ukrainian combat drones had been intercepted during the night over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Astrakhan regions. The information could not initially be independently verified - and the Volgograd region did not appear on the ministry's list. However, Russian authorities confirmed that aircraft were temporarily unable to take off or land at the airports in Volgograd and Astrakhan. According to the Moscow military, further drones were shot down over the Belgorod and Astrakhan regions in the course of the morning. Ukraine's ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya speaks while holding a photo of remnants of the missile X-1 which hit children's hospital in Kyiv during an emergency Security Council meeting at the United Nations Headquarters. Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Volodymyr Zhovnir, Cardiac surgeon, anesthesiologist and activist and Director of Ohmatdyt hospital which was bombed speaks virtually during an emergency Security Council meeting at the United Nations Headquarters. Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Ukraine's ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya speaks while holding a photo of remnants of the missile X-1 which hit children's hospital in Kyiv during an emergency Security Council meeting at the United Nations Headquarters. Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Russia on Tuesday announced an arrest warrant for Yulia Navalnaya, the exiled widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. The country accused Navalnaya of participating in an "extremist organization." A court said it had "approved the request of the investigators and decided a preventive measure in the form of detention for two months." Little information about the charges was shared. Navalnaya derided the decision on social media, calling Putin a killer and a war criminal and saying he belongs in prison. Yulia Navalnaya outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, March 17, 2024. / Credit: Annegret Hilse/REUTERS Navalnaya "was arrested (in absentia!) for 'being a member of an extremist community' by the infamous Basmanny court of Moscow," wrote Leonid Volkov, Navalny's former chief of staff, on social media. "Quite a recognition of Yulia's determination to continue Alexei's fight!" he added, using a different spelling of Navalny's name. Navalnaya, an economist, stood by her husband as he galvanized mass protests in Russia, flying him out of the country when he was poisoned before defiantly returning to Moscow with him in 2021, knowing he would be jailed. Following his death, she vowed to take up her late husband's work and has lobbied against Russian leader Vladimir Putin's government from abroad. Navalny was a fierce critic of Putin and ran against him for the nation's presidency in 2017. In 2020, he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok while flying from Moscow to Siberia. He was transferred to a hospital in Germany for treatment. Navalny later told 60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl that he believed Putin was responsible for the assassination attempt. Navalny and Navalnaya lived in Germany briefly after his poisoning, and returned to Russia in January 2021. Navalny was immediately arrested and charged with violating the terms of a previous suspended sentence for failing to check in with prison officials while in Germany. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. His sentence was later extended by 19 years. In late 2023, Navalny was moved to an Arctic penal colony. He died there in February 2024, sparking global outrage and new sanctions against Russia. His posthumous memoir will be published in October. Since Navalny's death, Navalnaya has returned to Germany. On July 1, she was named the new chairperson of the Human Rights Foundation. Sneak peek: Murder by Clown Easy and delicious overnight oats recipes to try this summer Biden speaks at NATO's 75th anniversary summit Russia looks to have changed tactics in the missile strikes that wrecked a children's hospital, leaving Ukraine's air defenders with almost no time to respond, analysts say Russia looks to have changed tactics in the missile strikes that wrecked a children's hospital, leaving Ukraine's air defenders with almost no time to respond, analysts say Russia appears to have changed its tactics in its Monday missile barrage, making it tougher on Ukrainian defenders. War analysts say Russia may be innovating its tactics, and possibly its technology as well. ISW said the intent is to "maximize damage." Russia seems to have changed tactics in a Monday missile strike that struck targets across Ukraine, including a children's hospital, to "maximize damage," war analysts said. "Unfortunately, the enemy is constantly improving not only reconnaissance and strike UAVs, but also other means of air attack cruise and ballistic missiles," former Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Col. Yuriy Ihnat said on Facebook regarding Russia's latest barrage of cruise and ballistic missiles. Ihnat said that some of Russia's missiles flew at incredibly low altitudes, with some flying as low as 50 meters, making them more difficult to shoot down. Rescuers are working at Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital that is strongly damaged during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 08, 2024. Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto/Getty Images "People on the ground sometimes squeeze the impossible out of available weapons and equipment to shoot down as many Russian missiles and drones as possible," he said. He said that out of the 44 Russian missiles launched, Ukraine was able to shoot down 33. The weapons that broke through, like the Kh-101 cruise missile that struck the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, may have been able to do so because the Russians "may have innovated their tactics and/or technology," war experts said, noting Ukraine has been pretty good at shooting down Russian cruise missiles. Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War suggest that Russian changes are likely intended to "inflict maximum damage on Ukrainian infrastructure by giving Ukrainian air defense practically no time to respond until the missile is already within close range of the ground." Rescuers are continuing to work at the Okhmatdyt children's hospital. Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto/Getty Images In addition to launching missiles at extremely low altitudes, Ihnat said Russia has also improved the capabilities of its missiles with approaches like heat trap technology designed to fool air defenses. Other innovations may make weapons harder to detect. "Russia has consistently adapted the strike packages it uses against Ukraine to take advantage of Ukraine's air defense shortages," ISW said, "and the July 8 strikes represent a new and adapted strike package that Ukraine will need to learn to respond to with requisite levels of Western-provided air defense systems." Russia's missiles struck targets in several cities, including the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, on Monday, killing at least 39 people, per the latest figures. The Russian Ministry of Defense denied claims that it intentionally targeted Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and argued that the weapon that struck the hospital was actually a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile. Although Russia has attacked civilian centers on many occasions, the Kremlin has often claimed that it does not target civilian infrastructure. In the aftermath of Monday's strike, weapons and war experts, citing visual evidence of the strike, argued that Russia is "gaslighting" because the weapon that struck the hospital was definitely a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. Read the original article on Business Insider Russia unleashed one of its deadliest attacks against Kyiv on July 8, killing 33 people and injuring 121 others. Residential buildings and medical facilities suffered damage, with one Russian missile hitting Ohkmatdyt, the country's largest children's medical center. Rather than evidence of some technological edge on Russia's side, experts linked the destruction wrought by the attack to Moscow's consistent probing for weaknesses in Ukrainian air defenses. Attempts like this are almost certain to repeat, meaning that the West must help Ukraine shore up air defenses and allow Kyiv to destroy Russian airbases and planes with long-range weapons, defense analysts say. Russia's attack on Ukraine on July 8 With the death toll of 33 as of the evening of July 9, the attack is on par with Russia's deadliest attack on Kyiv in December 2023. In the wake of the attack, videos of a missile racing in the direction of the Okhmatdyt hospital were shared online. According to experts, the projectile in question was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. Fragments of the Kh-101 missile were also uncovered by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on the site, and a law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent that the projectile hit its target in accordance with a programmed route. All this evidence points to the conclusion that the attack was deliberate and that even Kyiv's powerful air defense, which includes a Patriot system, did not intercept the missile. In fact, eight of the 38 missiles launched against Ukraine on the late morning of July 8 have not been downed by Ukrainian air defense. Read also: Quiet Kyiv neighborhood hit in a mass Russian attack Searching for weaknesses in defenses While Kyiv is a common target of Russian missiles, it also boasts one of the strongest sky shields in the country, protecting the lives and property of the capital's residents. Ukraine faced a critical ammunition shortage in spring over delays in American aid, but the U.S. Congress's approval of additional assistance in April unblocked the flow of military hardware, including air defense missiles. Former Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat presented a possible explanation to why Russia was able to penetrate Ukraine's defenses, saying that Russian ballistic and cruise missiles have become "more difficult to detect and destroy" as Russia continues to upgrade them with "heat traps and radars." The projectiles also traveled at extremely low altitudes, with some of them shot down 50 meters above the ground, which could lead to "terrible consequences on the ground," Ihnat said. Here is a summary of the details that I posted yesterday conclusively proving the missile in question is a Kh-101, not an AIM-120 or any other type of missile. From the rear section to the front part: 1) If you zoom in and look closely, you'll see atmospheric distortions pic.twitter.com/xkVypbcXbW Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) July 9, 2024 Other experts believe, however, that it was the tactics rather than specific hardware that allowed the missile to evade interception. Ukrainian officials warned in June that Russia is testing new methods to attack the capital. The suspected Kh-101 missile caught on video was traveling from a high altitude as it "dived" toward its target, Fabian Hoffmann, defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent. "That is quite different from typical low-altitude approaches and may have something to do with penetrating into Ukraine's weapons engagement zone (WEZ)." Hoffmann suggested that the "Russians found a way that was not or not sufficiently covered by Ukrainian radars, allowing the cruise missiles to slip through." The expert disputed Ihnat's comments about heat traps, noting that modern infrared homing missiles that Ukraine operates, like IRIS-T projectiles or AIM-120s, "are more than capable of differentiating the missile body from flares." Better radar terminal guidancewhich the Kh-101 do not possesswould improve the missile's ability to engage specific target, but not help it evadce air defenses, Hoffmann added. Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at Royal United Service Institute (RUSI), told the Kyiv Independent that even if systems with infrared homing systems like IRIS-T were fooled by the heat traps, such deception would not be very effective against Patriot's Ka-band radar seeker. Ukraineand, therefore, likely the capital's air defensesoperates a wide array of Western anti-air weaponry, with Patriots representing the most effective and valuable component. Other systems, such as Gepards, HAWKS, NASAMS, or IRIS-T, may be used to intercept less difficult targets, leaving the most dangerous projectiles to Patriots or SAMP/T. As Hoffmann notes, a Patriot would likely not be used to intercept a Kh-101 missile unless there were no other available means, and it would probably be able to down it in such a case. As a testimony to the U.S. air defense system's prowess, the Air Force said that all the 20 Kinzhal missiles, one of the most advanced weapons in Russia's arsenal, that aimed at Kyiv had been downed since Ukraine received its first Patriot in May 2023. Indeed, the Kinzhal missile launched on July 8 was reportedly intercepted. On the other hand, a hypersonic Zirkon missile appears to have evaded Ukrainian air defenses, even though the Air Force said previously that Patriots and SAMP/Ts should be able to intercept Russia's newest missiles. Read also: What we know about hypersonic Zircon missiles Russias latest threat It was the tactic of overwhelming Kyiv's air defenses with simultaneous strikes from different vectors that allowed some missiles to slip through, experts say. "Russia conducted a combined attack, using various weapons that entered Kyiv from different directions, including from the west," defense expert Andrii Kharuk told the Kyiv Independent, adding that Russia sought to wear out Ukrainian defenses with Shahed drones a day earlier. "The major challenges that Russian air attacks pose is the combination of multiple threats, including both cheap UAVs and expensive cruise and ballistic missiles," Kaushal said. This is not anything new, and continued use of this method over time strains air defenses and allows some projectiles to evade interception "even if an air defense network is performing efficiently in any single engagement," he added. Simultaneous attacks targeting multiple areas and pathfinding drones designed to find gaps in Ukrainian radar coverage and to unmask air defenses all play a key role, Kaushal concluded. Shoring up Ukraine's sky shield The attacks against Ukrainian cities are unlikely to relent, as Russia will try to further wear out the country's defenses, infrastructure, and population ahead of the winter. This means that the country needs to continue shoring up its defenses and brace itself for further waves of Russian drones and missiles. "Air defenses must be reinforced with modern equipment, but even this will never guarantee a 100% missile interception," Kharuk said. "Therefore, the destruction of launching sites and missile carriers on Russian territory is extremely important," the expert said, stressing the need for long-range weapons. Ukraine's capability of striking deep inside Russia is impeded by the U.S. ban on using long-range weaponry, such as ATACMS missiles, for this very purpose. While the U.K. and France said they do not apply such restrictions on their supplies, there has not yet been a confirmed case of Ukraine using Storm Shadow or SCALP missiles to strike deep behind the Russian border. Washington made it clear after the July 8 attack that it made no change to this policy, stressing that American weaponry can be used only to strike targets within Ukraine or just across the border. On the other hand, there appears to be a growing momentum in reinforcing the Ukrainian air defense shield. Germany recently delivered a new Patriot to Ukraine, adding to at least three already in operation in the country. More batteries are expected from Romania and the Netherlands, as well as a second SAMP/T from Italy. The White House also decided to prioritize Ukraine in air defense missile supplies. Another useful boon can be the two ASC-890 Global Eye airborne surveillance and control aircraft pledged by Sweden, as they will improve Ukraine's "ability to track and classify low flying targets, since airborne systems are not limited by the earth's horizon," Kaushal said. "More novel technical solutions such as mounting radar on aerostats" could also be considered, and low-cost air defenses, equipped with anti-air guns and radars, should be utilized to strike low value targets, the expert added. "The technical challenge of pairing sensors with AAA fire is largely resolved, so the key will be gathering information that allows operators to classify targets early. "This is partially about identifying patterns in Russian missile salvos and routes but also an area where the layering of additional sensors such as electro-optical/acoustic and thermal sensors can allow early target discrimination." Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian propaganda media outlets have reported that airports in the Russian cities of Volgograd and Astrakhan have restricted arrivals and departures due to a drone attack. Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet; Igor Babushkin, the governor of Russias Astrakhan Oblast; Russian Ministry of Defence on Telegram Details: Babushkin claimed that the drones had tried to attack facilities in the north of Russias Astrakhan Oblast, but the attack was supposedly "successfully repelled" and there were no casualties. At the same time, RIA Novosti reported restrictions at the airports of Astrakhan and Volgograd. The Russian Ministry of Defence said that "38 Ukrainian drones" were supposedly destroyed or intercepted that night: 3 over Belgorod Oblast, 7 over Kursk Oblast, 2 over Voronezh Oblast, 21 over Rostov Oblast, and 5 over Astrakhan Oblast. The Russian Ministry of Defence has, as usual, not reported any damage or casualties. However, Russian Telegram channels reported fires at an oil depot and power substations. Support UP or become our patron! Russia seeks to shift blame for attack on Okhmatdyt children's hospital ISW Russian officials and propagandists have been trying to absolve themselves of responsibility for the 8 July attack on Okhmatdyt children's hospital. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: Russian officials and information channels are trying to deflect blame for the attack on children's hospital Okhmatdyt by promoting false narratives about the missiles used and the condition of the hospital, which contradicts the evidence. The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation highlighted on 9 July that Russian propaganda is spreading misleading claims to divert responsibility from Russia. These include claims that Ukraine was using the hospital for treating injured soldiers, storing missiles there or that a Ukrainian air defence missile, rather than a Russian one, was responsible for the strike. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 8 July: A Russian Kh-101 cruise missile hit the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in central Kyiv during a wider series of missile strikes targeting critical Ukrainian infrastructure throughout the day on 8 July. Russian officials and information space actors are attempting to deflect responsibility for the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital strike by making false claims about the missiles involved and the state of the hospital all contrary to available evidence. The 8 July Russian missile strikes likely employed a new and noteworthy tactic to maximise the damage from such strike series. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and People's Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping continued to posture themselves as potential mediators to an end to the war in Ukraine during a 8 July meeting in Beijing, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's rejection of serious negotiations or any third-party mediation. Russian Vice Admiral Sergei Lipilin replaced Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov as Russian Baltic Fleet Commander. Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions in Chasiv Yar, and Russian forces recently advanced near Donetsk City and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called on 8 July for Russia to increase its domestic production of drones fivefold by 2030. Support UP or become our patron! Stock photo: Getty Images Russian coal exporters have started supplying fuel to China via North Korea. Source: The Moscow Times Details: The report says that Russian coal exports shipped 132,000 tonnes of coal through the North Korean port of Rajin from April to May. Coal is delivered to the North Korean port via the Hassan-Rajin border crossing. Before this, the latest public data on coal supplies to the DPRK appeared in 2021. At the time, Russia delivered 15,000 tonnes of fuel worth US$836,700 to North Korea by rail. It is noted that many Russian business owners in 2019 avoided using the Hassan-Rajin project because they were afraid of being sanctioned by the US. Russian coal companies use the North Korean route to avoid restrictions on rail traffic to Far Eastern ports. This allows Russia to increase land exports to China. In January-May, about 7.6 million tonnes were delivered through border crossings, which is 2.7 million tonnes more than a year earlier. It is reported that trade through North Korea is an additional 2-3 million tonnes per year shipped to China. Background: At least a dozen Russian businessmen received more than RUB 1 trillion (about US$11.3 billion) in dividends in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. After Putin's visit to Kim, North Korea replaced a Chinese satellite for broadcasting national television with a Russian one. Support UP or become our patron! Russian attacks against Ukraine kill at least 42, injure more than 200 over past day Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day killed at least 42 people and injured at least 206, with children reported among the casualties, regional authorities said on July 9. The vast majority of the figures include civilians killed or injured during a mass missile attack on the morning of July 8. Twenty-seven people were killed in Kyiv alone, including four children, the city authorities said. Some 117 residents were reported as injured in the capital, and at least two others were injured elsewhere in Kyiv Oblast. The two largest cities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih were also hit by missiles, leaving 11 people killed and 68 injured, Governor Serhii Lysak said. The injured victims include three 14-year-old teenagers from Kryvyi Rih, he added. Two people a 79-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man were injured during attacks against the Nikopol district on July 8 and 9, Lysak reported. In Donetsk Oblast, a Russian attack against Pokrovsk killed three people and injured three others, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. One person was killed in Toretsk, while three were injured in Novoekonomichne, two in Chasiv Yar, one in Shcherbynivka, and one in Novohrodivka, he said. In Kharkiv Oblast, one person was injured during a Russian attack against the border village of Lyptsi, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. In Mykolaiv Oblast, a Russian missile attack against the Voznesensk district started a fire near a farm and residential buildings, injuring a 45-year-old woman and a 5-year-old child, Governor Vitalii Kim reported. One resident of the Vorozhba community in Sumy Oblast was injured in a Russian attack on July 8, the regional military administration said. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, three men were injured during Russian strikes against the Zaporizhzhia and Vasylivka districts, said Ivan Fedorov, the regional governor. Chernihiv, Kherson, and Luhansk oblasts also came under attack, but no casualties were reported. Read also: Quiet Kyiv neighborhood hit in a mass Russian attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian authorities recommend residents of Belgorod take children out of region because of attacks photos The scene of the strike in Belgorod. Photo: social media Several explosions occurred in the Russian city of Belgorod on the night of 8-9 July. Source: Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, on Telegram; RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet; Astra, a Russian Telegram channel Details: The Russian authorities claimed that several houses had been damaged in Belgorod. Ambulances are parked all over the city. , Ambulance car in Belgorod. Photo: Astra There were also reports of Russian air defence systems supposedly repelling an air attack over Shebekino in Belgorod Oblast. , Astra The scene of the strike in Belgorod. Photo: Astra Gladkov, who arrived at the scene of the strike in Belgorod, said during a conversation with local residents that the situation with attacks was not improving and called for children to be sent to summer camps. Support UP or become our patron! KIGALI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda said Monday it had taken note of the intention of the British government to terminate a treaty that it signed with the former government to enable London to send asylum seekers to the east African country. The previous UK Conservative government and Rwanda signed the agreement in December in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to facilitate the sending of some migrants who arrive in the UK across the English Channel to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed. In his first press conference, the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not continue with the previous government's policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, describing it as "gimmicks that don't act as a deterrent." In a statement, Rwanda said it fully upheld its side of the deal. "Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country," said the statement issued by the office of the Rwandan government spokesperson. Britain had offered an upfront investment of 120 million pounds (about 149.5 million U.S. dollars) to facilitate the implementation of the five-year deal, the Rwanda-UK Migration and Economic Development Partnership initiative, which had faced legal challenges in Britain, well before the victory of the Labour Party in the July 4 elections. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, speaks at the Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award ceremony in Humboldt Carre. Christoph Soeder/dpa A Russian court issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for opposition politician Yulia Navalnaya, who lives in exile abroad, on allegations of being involved in an "extremist organization." Yulia Navalnaya is the widow of Russian opposition leader and frequent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in February in a prison camp north of the Arctic Circle in unexplained circumstances. A court spokesman in Moscow announced that the court had granted the public prosecutor's request for pre-trial detention, according to Russia's Interfax news agency. The pre-trial detention is initially set for two months and will come into effect after Navalny's extradition to Russia, the spokesman said. The politician has been declared a wanted person. Navalnaya has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for her husband's death and announced her intention to continue Navalny's fight for democracy in Russia. Navalny had been sentenced to many years in prison by Russian courts for extremism, among other things. Navalnaya herself lives abroad because of the danger she faces in Russia. She has so far given no indication of when she intends to return to Russia. However, people who the Kremlin views as hostile opponents are not always safe abroad either. There have been repeated incidents of Russian opposition members living in exile becoming victims of attacks. A Russian court ordered the arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, a prominent activist and widow to Alexei Navalny, the late leader of the Russian opposition who died in prison in February. A key figure in the opposition movement against Vladimir Putin and lead on the advisory board of her late husbands Anti-Corruption Foundation, Navalnaya left Russia in 2021 and has repeatedly accused the president of killing her husband. In a tweet acknowledging the arrest order on Tuesday, Navalnaya wrote, When you write about this, please do not forget to write the main thing: Vladimir Putin is a murderer and a war criminal. She also mocked the charges of extremism, comparing them to the typical progression of such Russian court procedure: Wont be the usual procedure? A foreign agent, then the opening of a criminal case, then an arrest?! She added that Putins place is in prison, and not somewhere in The Hague, in a cozy cell with a TV, but in Russia in the same colony and the same 2-by-3-meter cell in which he killed Alexei. Accusing Navalnaya of participating in an extremist community, the arrest order from the Basmanny District Courts Investigative Committee did not explicitly state the reasoning behind Navalnayas charges, though it noted the Anti-Corruption Foundations official categorization as an extremist entity and the April arrests of three prominent journalists for allegedly working with the org. Navalnaya has been placed on an international wanted list and will be subject to arrest if she returns to Russia, according to a court statement. Navalny died in February in a Russian penal colony while serving 19 years for trumped-up offenses many deemed politically motivated. He was moved to the Arctic penal colony in 2021. On the day of his death, the prison service said Navalny felt unwell after a walk before he almost immediately lost consciousness. The emergency doctors declared the prisoner dead. Cause of death is being established. His arrest and lifes work was the subject of the 2023 documentary Navalny, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. In the wake of her husbands death, Navalnaya vowed to carry on his opposition work. The New York Times first reported the news. The post Russian Court Orders Arrest of Alexei Navalnys Widow for Extremist Acts appeared first on TheWrap. The News A Moscow court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, state media reported. The warrant alleges that exiled opposition figure Navalnaya, who has accused President Vladimir Putin of murdering her husband, participated in an extremist society. Navalny died five months ago under mysterious circumstances at a Russian penal colony, and his wife has vowed to continue his opposition work. Navalnaya left Russia in 2021 and can now be arrested if she returns. When you write about this, please do not forget to write the main thing: Vladimir Putin is a murderer and a war criminal, she wrote on X after the announcement. His place is in prison, and not somewhere in The Hague, in a cozy cell with a TV, but in Russia in the same colony and the same two-by-three-meter cell in which he killed Aleksei. Russian Embassy in Prague doused with a red liquid imitating blood. Photo from Twitter (X) After the large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukraine on 8 July, the Russian Embassy in Prague has been doused with a red liquid imitating blood. Source: European Pravda with reference to videos and photos on X (Twitter) Details: The video shows two people, a man and a woman, pouring two buckets of red liquid onto a stand and a table at the entrance to the Russian embassy. It is noted in the description on social media that the buckets contained ketchup. After the man and woman emptied the buckets, law enforcement officers approached them. Dalsich 10 kg kecupu padlo na konzulat teroristu. pic.twitter.com/JBO8DJgrSN Perak (@prazskyperak) July 8, 2024 Background: The Czech Foreign Minister, following the attack on Okhmatdyt, chided "useful idiots" who dream of peace with Russia. Czech President Petr Pavel said that Putin's Russia would stop at nothing. Support UP or become our patron! Russian missile strike on Kyiv: number of casualties rises to 117, body of child retrieved from rubble photos The number of casualties from the Russian missile strike on Kyiv has increased to 117, including four children killed, as of the morning of 9 July. The previous report indicated that 82 people had been injured. Source: Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA); State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) Quote from KCMAs Head Serhii Popko: "As of this morning, the missile strike on Kyiv has killed 27 people and injured 117. There are four children among those killed." A search and rescue operation in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) The State Emergency Service clarified that the body of a boy had been found during nighttime rubble removal operations in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. Tired rescue worker Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) Quote from SES: "As a result of yesterday's enemy attack on Kyiv, 27 people have been killed, including four children, 117 have been injured and seven have been rescued. The response to the aftermath continues at three locations. A total of 377 rescue workers and 76 SES appliances are involved at the scenes." Rubble removal operations after Russian attack on 8 July Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) Background: On 8 July, the Russians launched a missile attack on Ukraine. They targeted the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital, the ADONIS private clinic and residential buildings in Kyiv. Two adults were killed at Okhmatdyt, including one doctor. An entire section of one building in the Shevchenkivskyi district was destroyed in the attack, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including three children. In addition, two people were killed at an industrial facility in the Shevchenkivskyi district. The Domino business centre was damaged in the Solomianskyi district. Seven people were killed there. Nine people have been killed as a result of damage caused by missile wreckage hitting the ADONIS medical centre in the Dniprovskyi district of the city of Kyiv. In total, 37 people have been killed and 170 injured as a result of Russia's strike on Ukrainian territory on 8 July. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces launched a ballistic missile on Odesa Oblast from temporarily occupied Crimea on 9 July. Source: defence forces of Ukraine's south Quote: "The Russian occupation forces attacked Odesa Oblast this afternoon with a ballistic missile, probably an Iskander-M, from the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea." Details: A coastal recreational area came under Russian attack again. A fire which broke out in dry grass has been extinguished by firefighters. Support UP or become our patron! As a result of the Russian attack on 8 July, two substations were destroyed on the territory of Okhmatdyt childrens hospital; power engineers have connected the hospital to mobile transformers. Source: Dmytro Sakharuk, Executive Director of DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy firm, on the air of Hromadske Radio Quote: "If were talking about Okhmatdyt, there were two substations on the hospitals grounds that were entirely destroyed. They powered the hospitals entire infrastructure, so we immediately assisted in the installation of mobile transformer substations, in order to temporarily power the hospital rooms that needed it they worked yesterday on generators, certain rooms were powered," he said. According to Sakharuk, both substations and a large amount of equipment will need to be restored because they were part of the hospitals infrastructure. They will determine the stages of recovery together with local authorities. Background: On the morning of 8 July, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian Tu-95 bombers had taken off from the Olenya airfield. Later, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that the Russians had launched missiles and guided aerial bombs on Ukraine, causing an air-raid warning to be issued across the country. The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. People were injured and killed in the attack. In addition, three transformer substations belonging to DTEK were destroyed or damaged as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv. Support UP or become our patron! The Russian military attacked the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi on 9 July, killing two people and injuring four others. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office Quote: "The investigation shows that on 9 July, between 16:10 and 16:40, Russian armed forces carried out airstrikes on the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi. Two people were killed, a 73-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman. A 40-year-old man, an 88-year-old woman and an 18-year-old girl were injured. A 73-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction." Details: Residential buildings and outbuildings in the village were damaged, and fires broke out. Support UP or become our patron! ROME, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen people have been arrested and dozens more are under investigation in a major police operation against two mafia groups on Tuesday, Italian authorities announced. Following a six-year investigation, the top figures of organized crime in the capital were among those targeted in a joint operation by the Anti-Mafia District Directorate (DDA) and the Rome Prosecution Office. All of those arrested were allegedly members of two mob-style groups based in Rome and were charged with various crimes, including mafia association, extortion, usury, fictitious registration of assets, money laundering, and other offenses, all aggravated by mafia methods. Another 39 people were officially put under investigation for those crimes, while three companies and approximately 131 million euros (141.8 million U.S. dollars) in assets were seized. The operation involved over 500 police officers across the entire national territory. Launched in 2018, the inquiry uncovered a large business network linking the two Rome-based groups to clans belonging to Italy's powerful traditional mafia, the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA) said in a statement. The investigation allowed prosecutors to gather "serious circumstantial evidence of the existence of a money laundering headquarters operating in Rome, with interests throughout the country," the DIA stated. Investigators explained that this association allegedly managed its illegal business through "the power of intimidation and subjugation stemming from both their close links with traditional mafia organizations and their immediate access to war and common firearms." On 9 July, Russian forces struck an industrial site in Poltava Oblast. Source: Filip Pronin, the Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Today, the Russians attacked Poltava Oblast. According to early reports, there was a hit at an industrial site. There were no casualties. Don't ignore air-raid warnings! Believe in our defence forces!" Background: On 9 July, an air-raid warning was issued for the entire central, partly northern, and eastern regions of Ukraine. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned that a group of cruise missiles heading from Kharkiv Oblast entered Poltava Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Rutherford GOP state lawmakers will be absent from League of Women Voters candidate forum None of the six incumbents representing Rutherford County as Republican state lawmakers will participate in Thursday's candidate forum, organizers announced. The event will take place the night before early voting scheduled for July 12-27 starts Friday for the Aug. 1 election for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County offices, and primaries for legislative seats in the Tennessee General Assembly and Congress. The primary winners will advance to the Nov. 5 election. Republican and Democratic candidates seeking to unseat incumbent state legislators will participate in the forum from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rutherford County Courthouse in the center of the Public Square in downtown Murfreesboro, according to a press release from the League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County. State Sen. Shane Reeves, a Murfreesboro Republican who represents District 14, and state Rep. Robert Stevens, a Smyrna Republican who serves District 13, declined to participate in the forum because they had previous commitments, including a fundraiser by Stevens planned for the same night, said Barbara "Bobbie" Ibarra, co-president of the local League of Women Voters. "The others chose not to respond to an email or a phone call made to them personally," Ibarra said. "It's disappointing the other candidates are not participating because all voters have a right to hear from everyone seeking their vote." Barbara "Bobbie" Ibarra The local League of Women Voters had canceled past attempts to hold forums in previous election years when the incumbent state lawmakers would not commit to participating. The organization decided to hold a forum this year even though the incumbents won't be present, Ibarra said. "We felt we should go forward now because we are fulfilling our mission to educate our voters," Ibarra said. Elections 2024: 5 Murfreesboro council candidates wrangle with growth topics at forum ahead of election 8 TN lawmaker candidates commit to participating in forum Tennessee State Capitol The following candidates listed alphabetically for each election have agreed to participate in the forum: House District 13: Jami Averwater, Repubilcan; Jonathan Yancey, Democrat; House District 34: Tucker Marcum, Republican: Amelia Pant, Democrat House District 37: Cheri Brown, Democrat House District 48: Matt Ferry, Democrat House District 49: Luis Mata, Democrat Senate District 14: E.R. Smith, Democrat The Aug. 1 primaries includes competitive Republican primaries for two out of the six legislative seats representing Rutherford County. Marcum is competing in the GOP primary against state Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro. "Youve got to give folks the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from the local officials and candidates for public office, especially nowadays when it seems like you need a search warrant and a SWAT team to hear from our elected officials," Marcum said. Averwater is competing for the Republican primary against Stevens. "The League of Women Voters is very kind to host this forum and allow voters the opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on important issues," said Averwater, who previously won election in 2022 to serve on the Murfreesboro City Council. "I would never choose fundraising for my campaign over quality time with members of this community." Election goes negative: District 13 House Republican candidates spar over immigration in attack campaign mailer Forum rules prohibit campaign materials at event Those wanting to attend the forum as audience members must be seated within 10 minutes of the 6 p.m. Thursday start of the event because there will be no admittance once the forum is underway, the press release said. "There will be no audience participation during the forum," the press release said. "The audience will hear directly from the candidates and their positions on various policy issues facing our communities and state." Organizers also will prohibit campaign materials, such as T-shirts, buttons and signs, to ensure an impartial and welcoming environment for all candidates. The local League of Women Voters considered community input in crafting the same forum questions for each candidate with two other event organizers: Middle Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women and the Rutherford County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. The three groups holding the forum are nonpartisan organizations that study and take positions on issues without endorsing or opposing any candidate, party or political appointee, according to the press release. The public can also watch the event live on Rutheford County TV (RCTV) located on Comcast Xfinity channel 19, AT&T U-Verse channel 99, DTC channel 194, and at rutherfordcountytn.gov/rctv. RCTV will also stream the forums live on YouTube at youtube.com/user/RutherfordGovernment/live. 'Haves and the have nots': 'Haves and the have nots': Williamson gets more growth taxes than Maury, Rutherford Incumbents respond about their absence for forum The Daily News Journal sent an email prior to 10 a.m. Monday (July 8) to the incumbent lawmakers. State Rep. Bryan Terry, a Murfreesboro Republican serving District 48, replied at 11:41 a.m. Monday. "I do not have a primary opponent and am unable to participate," Terry said. "I am currently talking with voters personally at their door and look forward to participating in the WGNS radio forum this fall." State Rep. Mike Sparks, a Smyrna Republican serving District 49, replied at 1:16 p.m. Monday. "Unfortunately, I'm unavailable on the 11th, but I look forward to the upcoming WGNS radio forum," Sparks said. Rep. Stevens replied at 2:07 p.m. Monday. He mentioned that he did participate in a June 27 candidate forum on WGNS and will be present for a Republican Party forum Monday night. 'Its an honor to be elected': Robert Stevens claims win as newest TN lawmaker for Rutherford County Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. Election schedule 2024 for Rutherford County Election Day for Rutherford County and Murfreesboro offices, as well as primaries for state and federal legislative offices: Aug. 1 Last day to register to vote in Aug. 1 election: July 2 Absentee by mail voting period for Aug. 1 election: May 3-July 25 Early voting period for Aug. 1 election: July 12-27 Election Day for president and offices for federal, state, Eagleville, La Vergne and Smyrna: Nov. 5 Last day to register to vote in Nov. 5 election: Oct. 7 Absentee by mail voting period for Nov. 5 election: Aug. 7-Oct. 29 Early voting period for Nov. 5 election: Oct. 16-31 Source: Rutherford County Election Commission website This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford GOP state lawmakers will be absent from candidate forum Rwanda hints it wont reimburse $300 million UK paid for deportation deal after new British PM says hell ditch agreement The Rwandan government has hinted that it wont reimburse more than $300 million it has received from the United Kingdom since 2022 for a deal to deport asylum seekers deemed to have arrived illegally in the UK to the East African nation. A Rwandan government spokesperson said on Tuesday that its migrant deal with the UK did not include any clause regarding reimbursement after the newly-elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he would scrap the controversial agreement. Within the agreement there was no clause regarding reimbursement it never stated that the money would be refunded, spokesperson Alain Mukuralinda said in a video posted by state-owned Rwanda Broadcasting Agency. We had an agreement. Both parties signed, it became an international agreement, we start implementing it, then after that you want out best of luck, Mukuralinda said. CNN has reached out to the UK Home Office for comment. The UK has given Rwanda 240 million (around $307 million) so far as part of the deal, according to a fact sheet published by the British government in April this year. Speaking at his first press conference as prime minister on Saturday, Starmer said he was not prepared to continue with the controversial deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, calling the scheme a gimmick and denying that the bill acted as a deterrent. The controversial plan was first announced in April 2022 by the Conservative government at the time under Prime Minister Boris Johnson but faced a series of political and legal challenges as lawmakers and activists sought to scupper the legislation on human rights grounds. After the bill was passed in April this year, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed the plan was introduced to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit them. The bill was condemned at the time by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who said the arrangement sought to shift responsibility for refugee protection, undermining international cooperation and setting a worrying global precedent. Amnesty International UK also called the plan a stain on this countrys moral reputation that takes a hatchet to international legal protections for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Luke McGee and Rob Picheta in London contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters announced Tuesday what he called a complete overhaul of Oklahomas social studies standards for students. In a news release, Walters, a Republican, said he wanted to empower schools to teach from primary sources, including the Bible, and that his new standards would inspire in students a love of country and a proper understanding of the American founding. The new standards, Walters said, would be developed by a new "Executive Review Committee" to ensure that social studies reflect accuracy and not political slanted viewpoints.He said members of that committee would include the co-founder of the conservative nonprofit PragerU, a representative from the conservative American Enterprise Institute and the president of another conservative group, the Heritage Foundation. No Oklahoma public-school teacher or administrator was listed as being on the committee. Democrats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives immediately pounced on Walters' proposal. More: Why Oklahoma teachers, school districts not interested in PragerU's cartoon version of history The latest atrocity from OSDE is an affront to the Oklahoma educators who have always developed and refined our social studies standards, said Rep. John Waldron, of Tulsa, who serves on the House Education Committee. This carpetbagger curriculum would be made up from whole cloth by a panel of out-of-state so-called experts, and would represent a dangerous politicization of our academic process. Simply put, this is un-American and un-Oklahoman. Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, of Norman, a former educator, said Walters' ideas would not address the needs of Oklahoma children and parents. We already know that the state superintendent doesnt care about the children and parents of Oklahoma; he only cares for himself and his next appearance on far-right news media, Rosecrants said. His enlisting of out-of-state extremists behind Project 2025 to revamp our own Oklahoma state standards in social studies only further proves this. The state superintendent says Oklahomans want to erase the line between church and state, but that is simply not true. Oklahomans are disgusted by his blatant disregard of the Constitution. Ryan Walters sparked backlash earlier over ordering school districts to teach the Bible Walters had announced his intention to make teaching the Bible in Oklahoma a requirement during a State Board of Education meeting on June 27. That day, he also sent a letter to state school districts ordering them to incorporate the Bible as an instructional support into the curriculum" for fifth through 12th grades, citing its importance as a historical document.Adherence to this mandate is compulsory, Walters letter read. Further instructions for monitoring and reporting on this implementation for the 2024/25 school year will be forthcoming. Immediate and strict compliance is expected.In ordering instruction on the Bible, Walters cited broad authority under Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which governs state education. The law reads, in part, School districts shall exclusively determine the instruction, curriculum, reading lists and instructional materials and textbooks, subject to any applicable provisions or requirements as set forth in law, to be used in meeting the subject matter standards. School districts may, at their discretion, adopt supplementary student assessments which are in addition to the statewide student assessments. Opinion: Letters: Do Oklahomans want schools teaching the Bible in classrooms? Walters said his directive is in alignment with state educational standards approved in May 2019. Thats when the Oklahoma State Department of Education updated its social studies standards under then-state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. Those are the standards Walters now wants to update. According to the attorney general, Oklahoma law already allows for individual school districts to use the Bible in classrooms. However, the Center for Education Law, the legal group that successfully challenged Walters' assertion that he could choose books for local school libraries, has said the decision whether or not to use the Bible, lies with local school boards, not the state Education Department. The legislature requires school districts to develop and implement curriculum, courses and instruction," the Center said in a memorandum sent Monday to Oklahoma district school superintendents. "Further, nothing in the School Code calls for, or allows, the State Board of Education to require specific textbooks.The legal firm also noted it believes Walters did not follow the states Administrative Procedures Act in issuing his directive concerning Bible teaching in classrooms. The APA governs actions of state agencies and requires administrative rules to be authorized by a law and passed by the agencys governing board. The Center for Education Law maintains the Oklahoma Supreme Court, in its decision in Edmonds lawsuit, held unanimously that (the state Board of Education) may not exercise power unless the legislature has specifically delegated it that authority.In Walters Tuesday announcement, he said the new standards he was proposing would be more in line with a classical learning model. According to the Classical Academic Press, classical education is a long tradition of education that has emphasized the seeking after of truth, goodness, and beauty and the study of the liberal arts and the great books. It defines the liberal arts as grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. Oklahomans citizens, parents, and business leaders alike are disgusted with the lack of civic knowledge, love for our country, and historical education among our young people, Walters said in a statement. It is crystal clear that we need to return to more rigorous social studies standards that emphasize the unique and exceptional nature of the American republic, promote a proper understanding of the nations founding, and instill pride in our civic traditions and Oklahoma heritage. Who will be on Ryan Walters' review committee? Walters choices for the Executive Review Committee announced Tuesday included Dennis Prager, who co-founded "PragerU," a conservative nonprofit that produces videos for schoolchildren meant to counter what it calls the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education. Walters announced a partnership with PragerU last September. Other members will include Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute; Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation; former Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Everett Piper; and David Goodwin, the president of the Association of Classical Christian Schools. Jena Nelson, a former state teacher of the year who lost to Walters in the 2022 election for the state superintendent's post, said on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Walters' ideas for rewriting the state's social studies standards won't work. "This will be disastrous," Nelson wrote. "Our standards have been written by Oklahoma educators, not the unions as Walters says. In fact he was on the last standards committee. This is nothing more than an attempt to whitewash our history books with Christian Nationalism and propaganda." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters includes Bible in Oklahoma's social studies overhaul In the Spotlight is a Sacramento Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email metro@sacbee.com. The Sacramento City Attorneys Office warned a chain retail store that it could face a public nuisance charge due to a large number of phone calls placed to police when thieves repeatedly stole from its Land Park location. A person with knowledge of the warning, but not authorized to speak publicly due to the fear of retaliation, told The Sacramento Bee that city officials threatened the Target at 2505 Riverside Blvd. in the past year with an administrative fine. A Sacramento police spokesman confirmed the location a site that prompted heavy ire from Land Park residents due to repeated crimes when asked about the apparent warning. The alleged warning issued by Sacramento city officials and similar actions by other cities across the state prompted lawmakers to add an amendment to a retail theft bill that would outlaw such threats made by authorities. Pursuing legal actions against businesses for reporting crime brought heavy criticism from law enforcement. I ... (was) also surprised that anyone would ever attempt to make a nuisance case out of somebody calling to report a legitimate crime, said Alexander Gammelgard, president of the California Police Chiefs Association while testifying in December at the Assemblys first retail theft committee meeting. I dont think there is a place for that. The City Attorneys Office and the Sacramento Police Department were not aware of any threats of litigation, Tim Swanson, a spokesman for the city of Sacramento, wrote in an email. Its unclear why City Attorney Susana Alcala Woods office would allegedly resort to issuing such a warning to any business seeking help from police. Swanson did not grant multiple interview requests to the City Attorneys Office over a period of about a week. Clark Kelso, a professor of law at the University of the Pacifics McGeorge School of Law, said there is no question that city attorneys have every right to pursue a public nuisance charge against businesses in which owners know the property is dangerous. However, experts said its unclear if the law allows a public nuisance charge when people steal from the store. The retailer is a victim, and could be seeking serious help when confronted with shoplifters, he said. The alleged warnings by city officials statewide may affect what crime data is reported as businesses contend with the potential of facing legal action for reporting retail theft, a topic spurring heavy debate in California. Lawmakers have said the unreliable data has caused some skepticism about what, if any, legislation should be passed. Blake Randol, a criminal justice professor at California State University, Stanislaus, found the situation disconcerting because the purpose behind pursuing the action is to stop a person or entity from creating disorder. The responsibility of a city is to help residents and a public nuisance change could deter a business from reporting, he said, while also noting that city officials could issue warnings because they would like to see a decrease in crime statistics. Whats problematic is that what Target is complaining about is a legitimate crime concern, Randol said. The city does have a responsibility to be more responsive to the public and be responsive to crime control demands from the public. Concerns with Target The crime hitting the Target at Riverside and Broadway has drawn criticism from the neighborhood association. Land Park Community Association members said the frequent criminal activity at the Target has prompted residents to record instances of crime, according one report by Ch. 13, the Sacramento CBS affiliate. Kristina Rogers, president of the association, also complained in the report about how the crime hitting the business bleeds into the neighborhood. The offenses aired on local TV stations prompted a plan by City Councilman Rick Jennings II, the City Attorneys Office and Sacramento Police Department to meet with Target and create a specific safety plan to mitigate incidents, according to internal communications provided via a Public Records Act request by The Bee. It would be great to be at the store and show what we have actually (been) working on to address the concern raised most recently in all the news this week, Alex Garcia, a former director of Targets governmental affairs, wrote in the email referring to past news coverage. The note was sent to Dennis Rodgers, Jennings chief-of-staff. Both sides collaborated to create a plan called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design to address the issues raised in the reports. It included placement of security measures such as alarms, cameras, and security personnel and also implementing light fixtures, landscaping, wayfinding and space activation measures, according to the internal communications from the City Attorneys Office to Target. But the meeting also allowed city officials to discuss their concerns with Target and that it has acknowledged its problems during a discussion, Jennings said in a statement. The statement notes Jennings office has noticed observed improvements to address community concerns regarding unlawful activity. Its not entirely clear what concerns city officials raised to Target during the meeting. Jasleen Escobar, the director of constituent affairs and engagement, did not respond to multiple requests seeking clarification. Target also did not respond to requests for comment about the apparent threat and why city officials raised concerns with their practices. Rogers declined to comment further than to say she was glad the city and Target were working together to problem-solve the theft and crime inside the store and in the parking lot. The number of calls for service related to theft, robbery and shoplifting at the three Target locations in the city of Sacramento increased sharply in 2023, according to The Bees analysis of police data. At the same time, most calls did not result in police taking a crime report, issuing a citation or making an arrest. But police did take those actions much more often in 2023 than in prior years, according to data. Target locations within the city of Sacramento had a total of 375 calls for service related to theft, robbery and shoplifting in 2023, up from about 175 in 2022 and 87 in 2021. The uptick between last years data and the same period two years prior was 331%. Police took about 80 crime reports related to theft, robbery and shoplifting in 2023, up from about 35 in 2022, a 128% increase. Police took an average of 27 crime reports each year from 2018 through 2022. Police made about 55 arrests related to theft, robbery and shoplifting in 2023, more than double the number of arrests in 2022 (26) and a five-fold jump from the eight arrests made in 2021. Officers issued 18 citations in 2023, up from 6 in 2022 and two in 2021. Warnings prompt legislation Doubt also hounds the severity of retailers concerns because the crime data doesnt support a clear picture. Business owners dont tally shoplifting incidents. And property crimes are underreported as police, facing dire staffing shortages statewide, do not arrive or must prioritize violent crime responses. The threats of charges coming as lawmakers were poised to pass bills they believed would stem retail theft while a district attorney-led effort for harsher penalties is planned for the November ballot affect the ability to fully understand the picture of crime data. The district attorneys have long blamed what they see as a rise in retail theft and drug crimes on Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that made some lower-level crimes misdemeanors and set a $950 felony threshold for shoplifting. Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Los Angeles, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, co-authored Assembly Bill 2943, which allows prosecutors to aggregate property crimes. The bill was amended to dissuade cities from threatening retailers seeking help and was slated for a third reading and vote in the Assembly this week. The bill would clarify that local law enforcement or a local jurisdiction is prohibited from bringing a nuisance action against a business solely for the act of reporting retail crime, unless the report is knowingly false, the bills amendment reads. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rivas and Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, have been pushing a 14-bill package tightening penalties on retail theft offenses as their answer to the ballot measure. Theyve said their legislation will do a good job of dealing with these crimes, and its not necessary to change Proposition 47. Newsom and Democratic leaders had planned on a drug and theft ballot measure to compete with the D.A.s effort, now known as Proposition 36. But, last week, Newsom abruptly pulled the initiative from consideration after the governor insisted the effort lacked lawmakers votes. Wheres the public harm? Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, said the amendment was included to allow businesses freedom to call law enforcement without repercussions. She declined to discuss the City Attorneys Offices apparent warnings to Target. A city attorney would typically issue a letter or attempt to speak with a business about the potential for a public nuisance charge. The source with knowledge of actions said the City Attorneys Office warned Target it could send a letter about issuing a public nuisance charge. Ultimately a letter was never sent. Wood, in her capacity as city attorney, could make an argument describing the large call volume and how it detracts from high-priority calls and clogs up a burdened dispatch system, said Kelso, the McGeorge law professor. A city attorney could bring legal action if the victims were shoppers robbed in the parking lot, Kelso said. The store has a duty to protect the public on its land, he said, and the city would like to ensure residents safety. But, Kelso said, the main legal question that was uncertain was whether the city could pursue public nuisance charges if people were shoplifting from Target. If theres no threats to any members of the public, if nobody is threatened by it well, wheres the public harm? Kelso said. The Bees Phillip Reese contributed to this story. Sacramento County sheriffs officials were searching for suspects involved in an attempted armed robbery during summer school classes, which prompted a precautionary lockdown Tuesday afternoon at two campuses in Fair Oaks. Authorities on Tuesday received a report of a possible attempted robbery at gunpoint at Del Campo High School at 4924 Dewey Drive, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. He said no injuries have been reported. Authorities had detained two suspects, Gandhi said about 2 p.m. Tuesday, and investigators believe there might two other suspects involved in the attempted robbery who remained at large. School officials told students and staff at both Del Campo High and Will Rogers Middle School, which are across the street from each other, to shelter in place, according to a message posted at 1:20 p.m. on the schools web sites. The message instructed parents and others not to go to the campuses as law enforcement responded to an incident. At 2:15 p.m., Gandhi announced that both campus lockdowns had been lifted. He also authorities had searched both schools and had been cleared. School activities are continuing as normal, school officials announced in a 2:20 p.m. message posted online. Families may see law enforcement presence on campus as they continue to investigate the incident. There were no further details immediately available Tuesday afternoon. Homicide detectives were investigating the death of a woman found with a gunshot wound Monday in a residential area in Sacramentos Northgate neighborhood. The investigation began about 10 a.m., when officers were called to the 3100 block of Northstead Drive for a medical aid call, the Sacramento Police Department announced Monday evening in a news release. Officers arrived at the scene and found the woman with at least one gunshot wound, police said. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene. The Sacramento County Coroners Office will release her name after her family has been notified. Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the fatal shooing investigation. Police said the investigators will collect any evidence found at the scene and interview any witnesses found in the area. Police said the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting remained under investigation, no arrests had been made and there was no suspect information to release at the time. Investigators encouraged any witnesses with information about this fatal shooting to call the Police Department at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The San Diego Police Department is looking to deploy more than a dozen smart streetlights throughout the Hillcrest business district in anticipation of the annual Pride Parade later this month. Authorities announced the installation of unused smart streetlights, which are paired with automated license plate recognition technology, in the neighborhood Monday as a means of deterring crime notably hate-based crime in the area. According to SDPD, they are also looking at installing unused cameras in a number of other places, although those have yet to be determined. It comes in the wake of a string of pellet gun attacks at Hillcrest bars serving predominately LGBTQ+ patrons earlier this year, a startling incident that left several people injured. San Diego police are still investigating the assault as a possible hate crime. Tragedy and triumphs: The nonprofit safeguarding San Diegos LGBTQ+ history San Diego saw a 73% increase in hate crimes in just the last year alone, SDPD Chief Scott Wahl said during a Monday press conference at Richs nightclub, one of the bars targeted in the pellet attack. This neighborhood that we are standing in today has seen, over the last four years, the most incidents of hate throughout our entire city. Today, were saying enough is enough. San Diego officials approved the use of smart streetlights last year following months of debate about privacy and the technologys benefit in crime prevention. By late December, police began to deploy the technology at about 500 predetermined locations across the city. According to SDPD, however, unexpected infrastructural issues were found at a number of those sites, making the equipments installation and use unfeasible. Now, with the support of several business owners in the neighborhood and local LGBTQ+ leaders, police are shifting to use those cameras at 14 locations throughout Hillcrests business district. Imagine the pain and trauma that comes with waking up every day to go to work and have to wonder if today is the day that hate is going to walk in, Eddie Reynoso, publisher of LGBTQ San Diego County News and founder of Equality Business Alliance, said during the conference. During the conference, Reynoso described at least two hate-based crimes where he was directly victimized. The first happened inside a gay bar in Reno, Nevada back in 2006 where he was slashed and beaten with a broken beer bottle. The second incident happened this year, when he was again injured in the drive-by pellet gun attack as he was working at Richs. So far, [the perpetrator of the pellet gun attack] got what they wanted. It was too dark and it happened too fast and unexpected for any one of us or the dozens of people that they drove past to even catch the license plate number, Reynoso said. We have the power to change this, he continued. Smart streetlights provide more than just illumination they offer a sense of security that is desperately needed. San Diego officials hope to begin installing the cameras this week through an accelerated approval process built into the city ordinance allowing for police to use smart streetlights. The process is reserved for exigent circumstances and allows police to bypass the typical 90-day review period for proposed camera sites. According to Wahl, the police department has notified both San Diegos Privacy Advisory Board, who oversees the use of the technology, and the San Diego City Council. The proposal will be presented on Wednesday during the city councils Public Safety Committee meeting, although it will not be heard by the full council until after the San Diego Pride Parade and Festival, which is scheduled to take place from Saturday, July 20 to Sunday, July 21. During Mondays conference, however, Wahl said he was resolute to get these cameras up and running before the Parade, a step he said follows the spirit of the exigency clause. The Pride Parade is coming in just a matter of weeks, Wahl said. It is absolutely critical if we are going to provide the highest levels of safety and protect our community that we mobilize the resources necessary to put the unused cameras to good, productive use. The move has already drawn pushback from the community: A small contingent of protestors picketed the press conference, holding up signs like There is no pride in mass surveillance, and Pride is about protection from cops not protection by cops. In a statement Monday afternoon, the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology San Diego Coalition, which advocates against the use of smart streetlights, called the move an overreach by SDPD, arguing the Pride Parade cannot be considered an exigent circumstance given that it happens predictably each year. The only conclusion we can draw from this legal move by SDPD is that gay life in Hillcrest is itself an ongoing exigent circumstance a form of life that requires surveillance without end, the statement read. Protestors stand outside Rich's nightclub to push back against the deployment of smart streetlights in Hillcrest on July 8, 2024. (FOX 5/KUSI) If the city council agrees with these community members and opposes their placement during the full council meeting after Pride, Wahl said he would instruct SDPD to take them back down. I realize I am making one of those tough decisions that others might feel is incorrect, but I would rather err on the side of enhanced public safety, the chief said. City leaders honor 50 years of LGBTQ+ Pride in San Diego, kick off celebrations Im certainly not trying to do anything that circumvents their authority to approve this technology, he continued. Theyve already approved the use of the cameras, were really just talking about moving these cameras to areas where we feel theres some vulnerabilities. Smart streetlights have been deployed in at least three cities in the county, including San Diego, El Cajon and La Mesa. Law enforcement has argued the technology is able to and has been useful in thwarting crime in real time. A map of all places where the smart streetlights have been installed thus far in the city of San Diego can be found on the police departments website. According to SDPD, investigators have used the technology to aid in solving more than 129 crimes against people or property citywide since it went online earlier this year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. (KRON) A San Francisco woman was shot and killed Friday night in Oakland, the Oakland Police Department said. The shooting happened a few blocks away from the citys First Fridays street festival. The killing happened just after 10:45 p.m. on the 1900 block of Telegraph Avenue. First Fridays also happens on Telegraph Avenue, between 22nd Street and 27th Street on the evening of the first Friday of every month. Water main break in San Pablo floods neighborhood streets OPD arrived at the scene to find the victim with a gunshot wound. She died at a hospital. OPD is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police have not reported an arrest. The shooting is the second to happen at one of the citys premier events this summer. Fourteen people were shot after a fight broke out near Lake Merritt at Oaklands Juneteenth celebration. Anyone with information about the shooting on Friday is asked to call (510) 238-3821. Anyone with videos or photos is asked to send them to cidvideos@oaklandca.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 KRON4. A tomato grows the vegetable garden in the patio of Pietro's restaurant in Lodi on Jul. 27, 2011. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency on Tuesday due to a virus that threatens to decimate tomato crops. A small insect known as the beet leafhopper spreads the beet curly top virus, which causes plants to turn yellow and stop growing. Pest control advisers who walked through tomato fields in San Joaquin County found tomatoes that had been infected with the virus on Fabian Tract, Roberts Island, and Union Island, prompting the county's director of emergency services to proclaim an emergency last Wednesday. The board of supervisors ratified the proclamation, a decision which will enable farmers to use neonicotinoid pesticides to combat beet curly top virus during the growing season. Why declare a local emergency? New regulations in California that went into effect on Jan. 1 restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on various fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, in order to protect honeybees and other pollinators. However, there is an exception which allows neonicotinoid pesticides to be used when counties declare local emergencies. "There are no alternative materials that are highly efficacious towards (beet curly top virus). Without neonicotinoids, growers would be required to apply alternative active ingredients that are not systemic and will provide temporary relief only if applied multiple times at the early stages of the crops growth, greatly increasing the treatment cost on affected acres," Agricultural Commissioner Kamaljit Bagri wrote in a letter to the board. "The efficacy of this alternative treatment will fade throughout the growing season and no other efficacious means of control post early stages of the crops growth are available to the tomato growers at this time," Bagri said. What is a beet leafhopper? The small insects, which are about 3 millimeters long, can accumulate the beet curly top virus while feeding on annual and perennial weeds. Once the beet leafhoppers accumulate the virus, they spread it as they feed on agricultural commodities in search of new host plants, potentially causing severe damage and crop losses. Beet leafhoppers can infect 300 plant species, including crops and weeds, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. What's at stake? While the virus is known to affect peppers, squash, and pumpkins, it has caused "significant economic damage to tomatoes," according to county officials. San Joaquin County has a total of 21,673 acres used for tomato production at an annual cost of $5,248 per acre, resulting in a harvest valued at approximately $114 million in 2023. The beet curly top virus is not new to the region. The virus has been a known cause of serious crop damage in the San Joaquin Valley since the early 1900s. The California Department of Food and Agriculture established a program in 1943 to manage its economic impact. This year, a reported increase in populations of the beet leafhopper raised concerns about the beet curly top virus in the Central Valley. Local emergencies have also been declared in Fresno, Kern, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus counties. In 60 days, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will determine if they need to continue the local emergency or terminate it. Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County declares emergency to battle beet curly top virus MAM | Media And Advertising Ashwani Gandhi appointed CEO of Niraamaya Life Niraamaya Life has appointed Ashwani Gandhi as the new chief executive officer. With over 18 years of experience, he brings a strong background in the digital space, having worked with globally renowned brands such as Pfizer. Read More... MAM | Media And Advertising VML India's Durex campaign foster safe spaces for gender identity conversations Marketing transformation company, VML, has conceptualized a unique campaign, 'Rainbow Classrooms', for Durex. VML's approach aims to create a safe space for students in India to express their feelings. Read More... MAM | Marketing FMCG brands tap into speed and creativity to win the race for attention FMCG brands are in a competitive race for media visibility, aiming to capture consumer attention amidst a flood of advertisements. Coca-Cola set a precedent with its innovative content and wide-reaching campaigns. Read More... MAM | Marketing TAM AdEx: Top 10 advertisers contributed to 14 per cent share of ad volumes on radio TAM AdEx India has released a radio advertising quarterly report for Jan-Mar'24. TAM AdEx monitors more than 110 radio stations (In association with RCS India). Read More... WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCIA) The Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) is getting nearly $18 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help make their bus fleet more environmentally-friendly. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, as well as Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), announced the grant award on Tuesday. SMTD will receive $17,807,630. Increasing the number of zero-emission and low-emission busses protects the health of our communities and our state, Duckworth said. Im proud to see this funding help support a cleaner, safer future for Illinoisans and the next generation throughout Springfield. I will continue working alongside Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Budzinski to ensure our communities receive the much-needed federal resources they deserve. Sangamon Co. Recorder warns of recent property fraud attempts The funding comes from the DOTs Low and No Emission Grant Program. SMTD submitted a grant application with the goal of replacing older buses with diesel-hybrid and compressed natural gas buses. Todays grant supports a more environmentally conscious future for Illinois infrastructure, Durbin said. This funding will enable Sangamon County to invest in diesel-hybrid and natural gas vehicles, making transportation more sustainable and dependable for our communities. Earlier this year, Budzinski submitted a letter to the Department of Transportation, voicing support for the Springfield Mass Transit Districts mission. Sangamon Co. Sheriff investigating Springfield burglary string Our public transportation system connects thousands of working men and women throughout Central Illinois every day, Budzinski said. Im thrilled that Springfield has been awarded more than $17.8 million in federal funding to purchase state-of-the-art, American-made low and zero-emission buses. The grant program gets its money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This grant will help the Sangamon Mass Transit District modernize its bus fleet and lower fuel costs, as well as reduce harmful air pollution and help build a healthier future for our community. Im glad to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continuing to deliver for Central and Southern Illinois with yet another transformational investment, Budzinski said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. (The Hill) Florida Satanists are volunteering to fill school counselor roles after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a law allowing religious chaplains into public schools amid staffing shortages. Nothing in the text of the bill serves to exclude us, and no credible interpretation of the First Amendment could. Should a school district now choose to have chaplains, they should expect Satanists to participate as well, Lucien Greaves, cofounder and spokesperson for The Satanic Temple, said in a statement to The Hill on Monday. Anxious Senate Democrats warn time running short for answers on Bidens future Back when DeSantis signed the bill in April, he described Satanism as not a religion and said its members would not be allowed to participate in this program. But Greaves said the governor openly lied to the public regarding the situation. Either entirely ignorant of the most basic fundamentals of constitutional law, or too incompetent to care, DeSantis falls to recognize that it is not the place of the government to confer unique rights to one religious identity while denying them to another, he said. The Hill has reached out to DeSantiss office for comment. The Florida move allowing chaplains to serve as public school counselors comes as more states are aiming to inject Christianity into public school environments, including by mandating that the Bible or Ten Commandments be taught in classrooms. The Satanic Temple has increasingly leaned into the fight over freedom of religion in public schools, including through the establishment of After School Satan Clubs. The temple, founded in 2014, says its mission is to encourage benevolence and empathy, [and] reject tyrannical authority. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Saudi officials reportedly made "veiled threats" to Group of Seven (G7) nations hinting that the kingdom would sell some European debt holdings if Western allies seized about $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, Bloomberg reported on July 9, citing its sources. According to sources familiar with the matter, officials from Saudi Arabia's finance ministry pushed their opposition to Western allies seizing frozen Russian assets, implying that the sale of European debt holdings would commence. Debt issued by France's treasury was specifically named, Bloomberg reported. The vague threats came ahead of G7 deliberations in May and June, as allies in Europe disagreed on what measures to take with frozen assets held in their countries - with some European nations worried that collecting the profits could destabilize and weaken the euro. Last month, G7 leaders eventually came to an agreement on a plan to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan by the end of the year, backed by the incurred interest from the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets. In a statement to Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia's finance ministry denied putting pressure on G7 countries, adding that "no such threats were made." "Our relation with the G7 and others is of mutual respect and we continue to discuss all issues that promote global growth and enhance the resilience of the international financial system," the statement read. Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that it was unclear whether Riyadh allegedly acted in solidarity with Moscow, or whether it feared that seizing assets would set precedent for more countries to do so in the future. Sources tell Bloomberg that although Saudi Arabia's selling of European and French bonds would not likely cause massive rifts in the world economy, European officials were concerned other countries would follow Saudi Arabia's lead. Saudi Arabia has not taken a concrete stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine having skipped last month's global peace summit in Switzerland, and refusing to sign the peace summit's joint communique condemning Russia. Saudi Arabia previously hosted an international summit on Ukraine's peace formula in August 2023. The country has also played an important role in negotiating prisoner exchanges with Russia, allowing Ukraine to achieve a major exchange involving nearly 300 people in September 2022. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has maintained close economic ties with Russia, which have strengthened following the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Russia's subsequent economic isolation from the West. Read also: F-16s, multi-billion pledge, more Patriots, irreversible membership what Ukraine will and wont get at the NATO Summit Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. STAUNTON When a home goes on the market in in the valley, within six days it is already sold. That is among the tightest markets in the country, said Mel Jones with the Virginia Center for Housing Research. Jones was one of several speakers at the SAW Housing Summit held at the Blackburn Inn on June 27. The event was packed, with over 100 people filling the reception hall representing Waynesboro City Council, Staunton City Council, government staff in Augusta County, bank representatives, and organizations working to find homes and shelter for those in need. Mel Jones presents data on the local housing market. How did we become among the tightest markets in the country? In a competitive housing market, sellers have the advantage. Many of the sellers would rather take cash offers than first-time homebuyers getting help from Virginia Housing of FHA. When they know they have a line out the door of people with contingencies to increase the sale price well beyond what they're asking, they can just take cash, right?" Jones said. "So it excludes first time home buyers, it excludes people with low and moderate incomes from the market, and eventually, if it gets bad enough, like it is in this region, it starts to make a problem for everybody. Now locked out of buying a home, low to moderate income families turn to renting. The rental market then gets tight, no one wanting to move out for fear of not being able to secure another rental. When we have those lines of waiting lists out the door for a unit, landlords don't have to worry about the condition of their property. They dont have to worry about how well theyre maintaining their property in order to lease it up. Instead, they can kind of let it go and if you don't like it, that's fine. We'll let the next person take it. Other barriers to entry form, such as requiring multiple months of rent down in prepayments, applicant fees to apartments low to moderate income residents could be turned away from, and high security deposits. They know you cant meet that burden, so the people with low to moderate income are the last to choose in a market. In a market like yours, theres nothing left. The last thing to choose is wholly substandard housing, like living in your car or living in a shed. While there are local organizations looking to combat homelessness, Jones argued affordable housing is central to fixing the problem at its root. Over 100 attendees came to the SAW Housing Summit on June 27. An upcoming report to show how to improve the market Jonathan Knopf, a researcher with HousingForward Virginia, has been studying the SAW housing market. A report on the local housing market, the SAW Regional Housing Study, will be available online here once it is published. Even with the upcoming study, Knopf recommended getting more data. Of the localities, only Waynesboro keeps data on housing conditions. All three localities are working on updates to their comprehensive plans, and Knopf recommended the process be used to nail down what the scope and the scale of the problem is. What are the specific quality issues in these homes? he asked. How many are actually vacant? What are the tax delinquency status of these? This information would then allow governments to address the issues using powers they already have. Another recommendation was increasing the kinds of housing available. Knopf and Jones both recommended adding more multi-unit homes development opportunities to all three comprehensive plans. How do you take those needs and translate that into actions that actually create those missing housing types that don't exist? said Knopf. [Those types] have been difficult to build or impossible to build because land regulations, limited financing opportunities, just unfamiliarity among developers. Jonathan Knopf of HousingForward Virginia (right) and Mel Jones of the Virginia Center for Housing Research (left). How to get involved After the conference, Anna Leavitt with Community Action Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro (CAPSAW) sent a link giving a way for anyone and everyone willing to get involved to do so. A video of the conference will also be available online here once it is published. Another Lunch and Learn event is scheduled at noon on Thursday, July 11 at The Russell Museum in Waynesboro. More information is available at https://sawhousing.com. Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? Its welcome through email to lbordelon@gannett.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com. More: New, permanent home coming soon for Charlotte's Kitchenette in Staunton More: Lawsuit: Woman seeks $700,000 following crash with Augusta County deputy This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: SAW Housing Summit highlights trouble in the local housing market BURLINGTON (KSNT) A northeast Kansas police department is issuing a warning Tuesday to area residents after a phone scam resulted in a more than thousand-dollar loss for an unfortunate local. The Burlington Police Department (BPD) took to social media on July 9 to warn locals of a recent situation that ended up costing a Burlington resident at least $1,600. The resident was the reported victim of a phone scam that took place over the course of two days. The BPD said the victim was called by someone posing as an employee with Credit One. This scammer claimed the victims credit card was the subject of fraudulent attempts being made by someone trying to use their card. 16 DUI arrests made in Kansas over Independence Day holiday: KHP The calls continued off and on for 4 hours July 3 and then again for 2 hours on July 4. The scammer had the victim verify their account number and personal information, including their name, date of birth and social security number. BPD social media statement excerpt The victim called it quits when the scammer tried to get the victim to send money to Pakistan. However, the victim found their debit card account drained down to only $6. The BPD said people can follow several tips to avoid falling prey to a similar scam like this. Some handy tips include the following: Dont trust caller ID. Call to verify. Be cautious of things that dont add up. Dont let a caller pressure you to act immediately. Never give anyone your online banking credentials. The Kansas Office of the Attorney General also offers more tips and assistance to scam victims online. You can learn more about these resources by visiting the In Your Corner Kansas section on the attorney generals website. Were very blessed: Dandy Deals bounces back after fire damages store in Topeka For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once more assured Ukraine of his long-term support against Russia's war of aggression. Speaking before his departure for the NATO summit in Washington, Scholz said he was glad of the opportunity to restate the very clear message that "we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes." He referred to arms deliveries and the joint initiative recently agreed by the G7. At its summit in Italy, the group of major industrialized democracies agreed to finance a loan package totalling around $50 billion with the help of interest from frozen Russian state assets. Scholz said that this was a clear sign of solidarity, but also a message to Moscow. He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not rely on "sitting out this war, so to speak, and waiting until support for Ukraine wanes." Petition circulators with Support Our Schools talk to patrons at the Omaha Public Library near 90th Street and West Dodge Road on Monday, July 8, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA The last petition circulators eyeing Nebraskas November ballot are still chasing voters, days after last weeks deadline for other groups to submit signatures to the Secretary of States Office. Support Our Schools has two additional weeks to turn in signatures because of when the Legislature changed the school choice law that the groups previous petition had sought to repeal. The group has until July 17 to collect 61,000 valid signatures from about 5% of registered voters statewide to force a fall vote on repealing the latest iteration of school choice law. Tim Royers of Support Our Schools says the group is confident it will collect enough signatures, as well as the legally required baseline from 5% from voters in at least 38 of Nebraskas 93 counties. Royers said one of the groups challenges is explaining to voters that the petition on the same issue that they signed last year doesnt count for this one, that they need to sign again. That honestly has been one of our largest obstacles this time, Royers said. Obviously we know who signed last time. Weve reached out to them, and weve gotten pushback (that theyve already signed). Revised law spurred new petition effort Sponsoring State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha has acknowledged that she revised the Opportunity Scholarships Act that lawmakers passed in 2023 partly to sidestep a petition drive against it. She and other supporters of the 2023 law, including State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, touted the importance of giving parents more options for where to send kids who have struggled in their public schools. People arent putting themselves in a position of parents who have a child who is not succeeding that is miserable and they have an option here that might work, Linehan said. Linehan said the new law addressed many concerns some education advocates raised about Legislative Bill 1402s predecessor, LB 753. Lawmakers also added new funding for K-12 schools, including $1 billion put toward baseline state aid and special education. LB 1402 will repeal its predecessor, LB 753, in late October and its $25 million-a-year tax credit for people funding scholarships for needy students attending private K-12 schools. LB 1402 instead sets aside $10 million a year in state money to create and fund the states first voucher program for students attending private K-12 schools. Supporters hope to increase the amount appropriated over time and to increase the number of students eligible. No Decline to Sign campaign Unlike last time, school choice advocates have not organized a Decline to Sign campaign. Some pointed to more than $700,000 that Support Our Schools has spent on this petition effort, after having spent $1.4 million on the 2023 push to oppose LB 753. Much of that funding came from state and national teachers unions, many of which have participated in similar campaigns in other states in previous years. Linehan has said it is tough to compete financially with teachers unions and Omaha philanthropist Susie Buffett, who oppose LB 1402. The choice laws have had the backing of U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Support Our Schools has said most Nebraskans do not want public dollars spent on private K-12 education. It argues that such programs impact education funding in other states that have created and grown voucher programs. Voucher program fears Public school advocates argue that voucher programs in other states started by offering help to kids with limited means and then expanded to cover mainly kids already attending private schools. Some have described the programs as a way to weaken support for public schools. Others say they are a boon to religious education at a time of declining church attendance. Karen Kilgarin of the Nebraska State Education Association, which is helping Support Our Schools, said Nebraskans just want an opportunity to let the Legislature know where they stand. It shouldnt be so hard to let people vote, especially when theyve already made it clear they want to vote on this issue, she said. Public interest in program Linehan said some parents dont have time to wait for public school systems to improve. They need help now for their kids, she said, and they lack the financial flexibility to send their children to private schools More than 2,100 students families have signed up for the initial program through the states largest scholarship-granting organization for the 2024-25 school year. Lauren Gage of Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska said her group has received more than $2.15 million in pledges for scholarship funds and calls from parents seeking more information. Contributions have been picking up this summer, Gage said. And we expect many more taxpayers taking advantage of the tax credit as LB 753 sunsets. The post School vouchers fight is Nebraskas last petition drive of 2024 appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Monday that he and other Senate Democrats will work to advance legislation to strip former President Trump of the immunity he was granted under a recent Supreme Court ruling protecting a presidents official acts from criminal prosecution. Schumer, invoking Congresss powers to regulate the courts, said Democrats are working on legislation to classify Trumps efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election as unofficial acts so they do not merit immunity from criminal prosecution under the high courts recent 6-3 decision. They incorrectly declared that former President Trump enjoys broad immunity from criminal prosecution for actions he took while in office. They incorrectly declared that all future presidents are entitled to a breathtaking level of immunity so long as their conduct is ostensibly carried out in their official capacity as president, Schumer said on the Senate floor. Schumer said the courts conservative justices had effectively placed a crown on Donald Trumps head, putting him above the law and making him in many ways untouchable. I will work with my colleagues on legislation classifying Trumps election subversion acts as unofficial acts not subject to immunity, he announced. Were doing this because we believe that in America no president should be free to overturn an election against the will of the people, no matter what the conservative justices may believe. Schumer said senators will keep on working on other proposals to rein in the abuse of our federal judiciary. Some Democrats, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), have expressed support for adding language to the Supreme Courts annual funding bill that would require it to adopt an enforceable code of ethics. Government watchdog groups, Democratic lawmakers and media pundits have criticized conservative justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in free travel and other gifts from wealthy benefactors. The Supreme Court granted Trump substantial immunity when it ruled on July 1 that Trump and future presidents could not be prosecuted for crimes related to official acts but left it to lower courts to determine whether Trumps actions to overturn the results of the 2020 election fell under the category of official acts. Some legal analysts, however, think the ruling may protect Trump entirely from being prosecuted for the attempts to overturn the election results, which resulted in a mob storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, because it would bar prosecutors from presenting actions related to official conduct to a jury as evidence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 U.S. Supreme Court | Al Drago/Getty Images I have never met anyone who I believed to be intelligent who was also humorless. When comedian Nate Bargatze took the stage last week at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis he spent a few moments making sure the crowd knew he was not an educated man. Bargatze is intelligent though. And hes as funny they come. In contrast, the Supreme Court of the United States was once regarded as the sage, learned body, epitomizing intelligence, credibility and thoughtfulness. This once esteemed tribunal personified its supremacy for rational, unhumorous reasons. However, as of Monday, July 1, 2024, its self-desecration is complete. It has now become a laughingstock. The conservative majority of the court has twisted itself into knots to help Donald Trump with the absurdity that he should have some immunity from prosecution for his criminal acts. The mantra of no man is above the law ended this week in America. The 6-3 Trump v. United States ruling produced dissenting language in a tone unheard of in the courts storied history. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote on behalf of the minority, With fear for our democracy, I dissent. The cloud of this debacle will feel like a diversion soon though, because theres so much more. Chevron and more Lets discuss nitrous oxide. Youve likely heard of it. Its what dentists give patients to relax them before needles and drills are used to bludgeon their mouths. Its laughing gas. Its fun. And it should never be confused with nitrogen oxides, which is what the Environmental Protection Agency regulates to control pollution. Justice Neil Gorsuch famously mistook one for the other, five times, in his Ohio v. EPA ruling on Thursday. Then on Friday, SCOTUS ruled that courts are better positioned to do what regulatory experts have broadly done since 1984. In Loper Bright v. Raimondo, the supremes ruled that courts are more suited to decide anything and everything, scientific and complicated, than actual experts. Experts like those who know the difference between pollutants and laughing gas. The 1984 decision, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, established what has become known as the Chevron deference. The late Justice Antonin Scalia was a notorious supporter of the deference, because it provided a dependable background rule of law against which Congress can legislate. He believed Congress wanted agencies, or subject matter experts, to exercise discretion on the implementation of their laws. Ive been a regulator and a legislative consultant, and I know this to be historically true. Scalia has been revered by the right ad nauseam, as the smartest, most supreme of all supremes. Todays right wing, however, apparently thinks it knows better, while simultaneously proving it doesnt. Fun fact, Scalia also had a grand reputation for his sense of humor. Go figure. Experience matters When I was a regulator, my agency had a staff of economists, engineers and accountants who knew things politicians didnt. They made sense of what was fact, what was real, and most importantly, what was reasonable before the political appointees decided anything. Rulings were then made in the public interest. That term drives the regulatory world. Decisions arent simply made in favor of the best lawyering, or legal wrangling on behalf of one interest or the other. They are also made with an eye toward how the decision would impact society. Courts regularly reviewed those decisions, most often to decide whether an agency had been reasonable. The system worked. There wasnt any reason to change it. There are two important things that ended with the killing of the Chevron deference. First, serving the public interest will no longer be the driving reason for every regulatory decision. Second, what serves as reasonable can be unabashedly partisan, biased or corrupt. The robe-wearers will rule however theyd like, often showing their plan before they even take the bench. The best example of our future is the recent case involving the abortion medication, mifepristone. Anti-abortion U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the drug should be banned last year, overruling the Food and Drug Administrations approval of it two decades earlier. SCOTUS overturned his decision a few weeks ago stating that the original complainants had no standing to bring the case. With the Chevron deference eliminated, the next time SCOTUS hears a case banning mifepristone, it will almost certainly be upheld. Write that one down in ink. As Bargatze prepared to take the stage Wednesday night, the crowd was treated to a small clip of his role as General George Washington in a Saturday Night Live skit. In it, Washington is inspiring troops during the American Revolution with the hilarious and ridiculous things we will do with our freedom. SCOTUS is performing that skit in real life today. But its not funny. Not one bit. Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X. The post A SCOTUS ruling on laughing gas abandons precedent for the absurd and the partisan appeared first on Michigan Advance. To grow North Carolinas manufacturing sector, state leaders say they must continue to offer employers something that has become rarer in recent years: available and attractive sites. A post-COVID surge in U.S. industrial projects has meant fewer quality sites on the market nationwide. In North Carolina, Toyota, VinFast and Wolfspeed have claimed three megasites defined as being at least 1,000 contiguous acres while a half-dozen tracts of similar scope remain open. To win manufacturers that desire less than 1,000 acres, the North Carolina General Assembly directed $10 million in last years budget to create the Selectsite Readiness Program, which legislators tasked with identifying and supporting 15 smaller selectsites. Despite offering less space, these sites could still be large enough to accommodate multiple industrial projects or one big tenant. State law assigned the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina to lead the program, and its first step was to pinpoint the top 15 sites. EDPNC chose a consulting firm called Site Selection Group to coordinate the search. From a pool of 64 applicant selectsites, the firm winnowed down candidates over the first half of 2024. Some had immediate disqualifying flaws like utility system issues or incorrect acreage. Each site was also given a technical suitability score, with factors including size and utility infrastructure, as well as a workforce score based on nearby labor and a score for operational cost. Lastly, the consultants visited the final 23 sites and eliminated eight more candidates. On July 3, EDPNC released the report. The chosen 15 locations will, under state law, benefit from preferred development and marketing. Resources include funding site preparations and bolstering surrounding infrastructure, expediting the permitting process, and helping local governments acquire the land. The sites named in last weeks report are a mix of privately owned, publicly owned, or both. They range in size from 74 acres in Union County to 672 acres in Richmond County. While each is contiguous, some resemble geometric shapes while a few look like gerrymandered congressional districts. In Wake County, the 345-acre Camp Helix site in Holly Springs was selected. Formed in 2022, the private site is ideal for attracting additional advanced manufacturing to a community that has already landed projects from Amgen and Fujifilm, said Irena Krstanovic, the towns economic development director. Being named one of the 15 will definitely bring added visibility to Holly Springs and the site, she told The News & Observer. Story continues Another selected tract is Triangle Innovation Point West, which sits between the VinFast site in southeastern Chatham County and U.S. 1. The search report noted on-site rail access as a benefit of the 323-acre private site. Our team could build another 1.5 to 2 million square feet there, said Al Williams, a managing director at the real estate firm JLL working with Triangle Innovation Point. Weve got the mindset that the balance of TIP West will be absorbed by a handful of companies, but if a single user wants to take it all, wed certainly be open to that too. The 15 top North Carolina sites under 1,000 acres Claremont International Rail Park (private) Catawba County Triangle Innovation Point West (private) Chatham County Triangle North Granville Industrial Park (public) Granville County Reedy Fork Industrial Site (private) Guilford County Crown Industrial Site (private) Guilford County U.S. 301 Industrial Site (Public) Halifax County Ferncliff Park (public) Henderson County North Carolina Global TransPark North Site (public) Lenoir County Holly Shelter Business Park (public/private) New Hanover County Farmville Corporate Park (public) Pitt County Energy Way Industrial Park (private) Richmond County Expressway Commerce Park @ Monroe South (public) Union County Camp Helix (private) Wake County ParkEast-Ivey South (private) Wayne County Carolinian Innovation Park (private) - Wilson County Enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly newsletter, and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. Sean Goe charged with murder in death of Raychel Sheridan CANTON, Ohio (WJW) A man suspected in the death of his girlfriend, 24-year-old Raychel Sheridan, has now been formally charged with murder. Sean J. Goe, 26, of Plain Township, faces felony counts of murder, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, as well as a misdemeanor count of domestic violence according to a news release from the Stark County Sheriffs Office. Active duty service members local home destroyed by delinquent tenant Raychel Sheridan, missing Sheridan was reported missing on Tuesday, after sheriffs deputies went to her Orchard Dale Drive Northwest apartment for a welfare check. Inside they found evidence of foul play, authorities previously said. This embedded content is not available in your region. Deputies found Sheridans live-in boyfriend, Goe, driving her SUV on Guilford Avenue Northwest and pulled him over, according to the release. Goe then fled on foot. State and local authorities launched extensive search efforts by ground and air and finally arrested Goe in the early hours of Wednesday, July 3, at a homeless shelter, according to the release. After police executed a search warrant at Sheridans home and interviewed Goe, they determined he murdered her inside the apartment. City sanitation workers found her body in a park on the citys southwest side later that morning. Man stopped with machete and knives at Hopkins Airport: I-Team Goe is now jailed on a $1 million bond, and is due for arraignment on Tuesday, July 9, according to court records. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to call deputies at 330-430-3800, or use the sheriffs offices mobile app, found on any smartphones app store by searching Stark Sheriff Ohio. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) Hes accused of serial rapes, but former downtown Johnson City resident Sean Williamss first federal trial set for July 16 is for a dramatic escape last October and an alleged attempted escape in July 2023. Williams, 52, will face a jury for the first time, with veteran federal judge Ronnie Greer presiding. The maximum prison sentence for the alleged escape is five years, and the alleged attempt also brings a potential five-year sentence. Complete Coverage of the Sean Williams Case While the potential 10-year total sentence pales in comparison to prison time Williams could get for numerous other sexual assault and drug-related charges hes facing, the trial is likely to draw wide attention. Despite being shackled, Williams disappeared from a prison transport van on Oct. 18, 2023 as he was being taken from a jail in Laurel County, Ky. to a federal court hearing in Greeneville. The escape and subsequent manhunt drew national media attention up to the point Williams was captured in Florida on Nov. 21. Much of that coverage revealed the explosive sexual assault allegations against him, but the criminal complaints arent the only thing that have continued to attract national and even international coverage. Williams is at the center of three federal civil lawsuits against Johnson City and some police officers, related to allegations he drugged and raped women at his fifth-floor Johnson City apartment over a period of years and that police failed to properly investigate complaints against him in exchange for payoffs. Williams fled Johnson City in May 2021 after police tried to arrest him on an unrelated charge, but was arrested in Cullowhee, N.C. April 30, 2023. Authorities allegedly found large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine on Williams, then, presumably while looking for evidence of drug transactions on flash drives he had with him, came across digital files purporting to show Williams raping more than 50 women. The trial process Barring the unlikely event of a plea bargain, the deadline for which was Monday, Williams trial will begin at 11 a.m. July 16. Preceding that will be a 10:30 a.m. so-called Lafler-Frye hearing, a procedural hearing that ensures a defendant understands a plea offer they are declining to accept and protects the defense counsel against later claims of ineffective assistance during plea negotiations. After that, defense attorney Ilya Berenshteyn, who is Williams fourth appointed attorney, will have a chance to question prospective jurors, as will U.S. Attorney Meghan Gomez, whos leading the prosecution. Both lawyers have already filed motions to release the jury list so they can properly prepare for their questioning of prospective jurors. Once jurors are seated, theyll be given a short written list of instructions designed to explain the elements of the offenses Williams is charged with and to define those. Gomez submitted a proposed set of instructions. Those explain that Williams was being held as a federal detainee at the Washington County jail in July 2023 when, on July 23, he allegedly knowingly attempted escape. For a guilty verdict, jurors will have to find that Williams was indeed in the custody of the government and housed at that jail, that he was there because of a felony indictment, that he intended to commit the crime of escape and that he did some overt act that was a substantial step towards committing the crime of escape. That substantial step would have to go beyond mere preparation and must strongly confirm that he intended to escape, the proposed instructions say. In the case of Octobers incident, the same facts about custody and Williams being held under indictment will have to be clear, with custody including any detention, confinement or restriction of movement, not limited to a prison cell. Prosecutors would also have to prove Williams escaped the custody of the Attorney General or other authorized representative without permission or authorization and that he knew that he did not have permission or authorization to leave. Williams next trial date is Aug. 27, when hell stand trial on three counts of production of child pornography. Each of those counts carries a mandatory 15-year minimum sentence, with a maximum of 30 years. Along with other federal drug and state sexual assault counts, Williams faces up to life in prison, with various charges individual sentences adding up to hundreds of years. The first civil trial related to his alleged crimes is currently scheduled to begin Oct. 22. Former federal prosecutor Kat Dahl sued the city and then-police chief Karl Turner in June 2022. Dahl, who worked with the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), claims the JCPD refused to renew her contract in retaliation after she pressed them in 2020 and 2021 to broaden an investigation into Williams beyond a federal ammunition case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 45-year-old man who was reported missing over the holiday weekend was found dead in a rugged desert wilderness area in northwest Arizona. The body of Adam Robert Reigh was found by search teams from the Mohave County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) on Tuesday morning. He was last seen around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, when he left a friends house alone. His vehicle was found at about 2 p.m. Friday. Reigh went missing from White Hills, Arizona, a small community just east of U.S. 93 between Las Vegas and Kingman. Its about 70 miles from Las Vegas. Police said there were no signs of foul play and it appears heat was a factor in his death. (Image: Mohave County Sheriffs Office) (Photo: Mohave County Sheriffs Office) (Photo: Mohave County Sheriffs Office) (Photo: Mohave County Sheriffs Office) (Photo: Mohave County Sheriffs Office) Sheriffs deputies responded when Reighs vehicle was found, and search teams worked over the weekend. While Detectives processed the vehicle, tracking teams began searching for his outbound track. His track was located west of the vehicle and tracking teams continued following the track throughout the night. Personal items located during the search confirmed the track followed was his track, according to information provided by the sheriffs office. The body was transported to the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office. Tracking teams, K9 teams and drone teams took part in the search during excessive heat conditions. The Arizona Department of Public Safetys Western Air Rescue helicopter from Kingman and the Northern Air Rescue helicopter from Flagstaff provided air support. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Second mother swallowed whole by python in a month Second mother swallowed whole by python in a month **Related Video Above: Family finds a huge python on their property INDONESIA (WJW) A wife and mother of a sick child never came home last week, causing her family to worry. Following a search in the Siteba village in central Indonesia, the 36-year-old woman named Siriati was reportedly found dead Tuesday in the belly of a reticulated python. WATCH: Snake mating ball spotted on Lake Erie shore Her husband became suspicious when he found her shoes and pants not far from their home, but not his wife, a village leader told police, according to Agence France Presse (AFP). A snake, still very much alive, was then spotted nearby the path with an overly-extended midsection. Thats when the villagers decided to cut the snake open, and found the woman, who had left home in search of medicine for her child, AFP reported. If this sounds eerily familiar, its because a similar thing happened to another woman in the province at the start of June. While pythons going after humans is considered extremely rare, this is the sixth fatal incident in Indonesia since 2017, CBS News reported. Normally, pythons prefer animals like pigs and monkeys and other mammals found in Southern Asia, which they eat by squeezing to death before swallowing whole. How often you really should shower: experts The reticulated python is the longest snake in the world, according to the National History Museum in Britain, and can run more than 20 feet long. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Security Service of Ukraine finds new evidence confirming that Russia hit Okhmatdyt with Kh-101 missile photos An engine fragment of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile has been found at the site of the Russian attack on the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv. Source: Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Details: In addition, SSU investigators found: a fragment of a Kh-101 wing deployment mechanism; a fragment of a jamming unit of a Kh-101 missile; the middle part of the body of a Kh-101 cruise missile (pictured under the rubble); tail section fairing and a fragment of a Kh-101 cruise missile's hydraulic part; fragments of the engine cowling of the Kh-101 cruise missile with the inventory (inside) and serial numbers (outside), photos of which were officially published the day before. Fragments of a Kh-101 cruise missile engine. Photo: Security Service of Ukraine Part of a Kh-101 cruise missile engine. Photo: Security Service of Ukraine Wreckage of a part of the body of a Kh-101 cruise missile. Photo: Security Service of Ukraine Expert conclusions are unequivocal it was a targeted attack by the Russians, the special service emphasises. This is evidenced not only by the missile fragments found at the site of the strike but also by the analysis of flight path data, the nature of the damage caused, and a large number of video and photo materials. Fragments of a Kh-101 missile engine with the inventory number. Photo: Security Service of Ukraine These confirm a targeted missile strike by the Russian Federation: the nature of the destruction (a two-storey hospital building was completely destroyed, and the surrounding buildings were heavily damaged), which is typical of a Kh-101 warhead (400 kg). The destruction could in no way have been caused by a NASAMS system, whose warheads are about 20 times less powerful; the proportions, shape and size of the missile that have been captured in publicly available videos fully correspond to that of a Kh-101 missile, and, conversely, are not typical of SAMs, including NASAMS. Attempts by Russian propagandists to compare the missile which hit the hospital several hundred metres away in the video, with the size of the building in the foreground is a cynical and meaningless manipulation. the missile's flight path is fully consistent with the characteristics of the Kh-101 (increasing height, or "slide", before attacking the target, and the approximately 60-degree angle of attack); the strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital by an Kh-101 air-launched missile was recorded by objective radar monitoring. Background: The Air Force also clearly denied the possibility that a Ukrainian air defence missile could have hit Okhmatdyt. The evidence is a video screenshot and a photo of a Kh-101 missile, as well as a photo of an AIM-120 missile fired from a NASAMS system. Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. One of the buildings was destroyed and rescue operations are ongoing. The Kyiv authorities reported that two adults had been killed and 16 injured, including 7 children, as of 14:30 on 8 July. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has defined Russia's attack on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv as a war crime and initiated criminal proceedings into the matter. Early reports from SSU investigators indicate the Russians used a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile to attack the medical facility. Support UP or become our patron! See it: Apparent close call for planes caught on video in upstate NY SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Video obtained by NewsChannel 9 shows two planes getting scarily close to one another as each took off from Syracuse Hancock International Airport on Monday morning, July 8. The video, captured by a North Syracuse Police Department dashcam, shows the paths of the flights eventually crossing one another. More Local News To the eye, it appeared as the two were about to collide, but didnt. Flight Radar 24 tracking lists the planes as a Delta flight destined for Washington D.C., leaving the airport at 11:43am and an American Airlines (Eagle) taking off at 11:40 a.m. headed for New York City. Both aircrafts were Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR. In a statement, a spokesperson for Syracuse Hancock International Airport deferred airspace-related questions to the Federal Aviation Administration, but said there were no disruptions to airport operations today. Monday afternoon, an FAA spokesperson told NewsChannel 9 that the agency was checking. Three hours later, the FAA told NewsChannel 9, An air traffic controller instructed Blue Streak Flight 5511 to go around at Syracuse Hancock International Airport to keep it safely separated from an aircraft that was departing on the same runway. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 The idea that mounds of cash and gold bars found in Sen. Bob Menendezs house were bribe money was nothing but cherry-picked nonsense, his lawyer said in closing arguments during his corruption trial. Waving his arms and pacing back and forth energetically, defense lawyer Adam Fee slammed the prosecutions arguments, saying they were fudging. Prosecutors have charged the New Jersey Democrat and his wife, Nadine Menendez, in a bribery scheme with businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes in which the couple accepted gold bars, cash and car and mortgage payments for intervening in criminal cases, pressuring officials to give one of the businessmen an exclusive monopoly on halal exports to Egypt, and backing military sales for the country. This is a big case but it all boils down to a classic case of corruption on a massive scale, Manhattan Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni said as he wrapped up his closing argument on Tuesday. Defense lawyer Fee argued that the prosecutors had not met their burden of proof to show the gold and cash were bribes, saying that the prosecution latched on to the stashes of cash because they were provocative. His actions were lawful, normal and good for his constituents and his country, Fee said. He explained that the cash stashed was a result of his fathers experience fleeing Cuba and said that it was expected for his wife, who loves jewelry, to have gold around the house. The prosecutions story also changed throughout the trial, Fee argued for example, testimony from an FBI agent who admitted that Menendezs blazer was hanging on the back of a bedroom door, not, as he previously said, hanging in his wifes closet. Theyre workshopping the story during the trial, Fee said of the prosecution. I would submit theyre workshopping the story during the summation. Fee warned the jury: Dont fall into the trap of buying a story a forceful, well-told, long story. Menendez has pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of bribery and obstruction. His wife was also charged but her trial has been postponed to give her time to recover from breast cancer. The prosecution wrapped up their summation earlier in the day. This is a case that all boils down to a classic case of corruption on a massive scale, Monteleoni said as he wrapped up his closing statement on Tuesday. He called Menendez a person who believes the power hes entrusted with belongs to him, not to the public, and that hes entitled entitled to use it to make a payday for himself. Its time to hold him responsible, Monteleoni said. Its time to hold them all responsible. Its time to return that only fair and just verdict the only verdict supported by evidence. That Robert Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes are held guilty. The defenses closing statements will resume on Wednesday and are expected to be followed by summations from both Hana and Daibes lawyers, after which the government will offer a rebuttal. _____ NEW YORK New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez put his power up for sale by accepting bribes in exchange for using his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit Egypt and Qatar and to sway criminal investigations, prosecutors said in closing arguments in his trial on Monday. You heard all the evidence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni said as he summarized the prosecutions case at the end of the two-month-long trial. You heard how a sitting U.S. Senator took hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes from two businessmen to protect from anyone and everyone who would stand in their way. The case is vast and complicated, spanning a tangle of shady business deals, Formula 1 bribes and a halal monopoly. Monteleoni asked the jury to hone in on the clear pattern of corruption of the senator and his two co-defendants, walking them through the highlights of the case with a slide presentation. It wasnt enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington, Monteleoni said. Federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York allege Menendez, along with N.J. businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Danies and his wife, Nadine Menendez, accepted gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz and sham paychecks in exchange for intervening in criminal cases, pressuring a USDA executive to give a co-defendants company an exclusive monopoly on halal exports from the U.S. to Egypt and backing military sales and financing for the country. Nadines trial was postponed to give her time to recover from breast cancer. During a 2022 raid, federal agents found more than $480,000 in cash stuffed in closets, jacket pockets and old boots, and more than $100,000 worth of gold bars, according to court documents. The embattled senators lawyers have pinned most of the blame on Nadine Menendez, who married him in 2020 arguing that she misled him about her financial difficulties and the help she asked for from the businessmen. They also argued that the wads of cash stashed around his residence were because of his Cuban heritage. Monteleoni pushed back on the idea that Menendez, 70, was duped by his wife throughout his closing statement, reaffirming the senators involvement in each alleged crime. You dont get to be chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by being clueless, the attorney said, highlighting an example of a time his wife did withhold information from him, but he pestered and complained to her about not telling him what was going on. The attorney also referenced the cryptic language Menendez and others would use to give the perfect amount of deniability to their scheming. After a meeting with Danies, one of the co-defendants in the case, Monteleoni said that Menendez repeatedly googled the price of gold bars. Its not a coincidence, the prosecutor said. Its a bribe. Jurors watched closely and took notes as Monteleoni spoke intently. Menendez also looked on, taking notes. His daughter, MSNBC anchor Alicia Menendez, was present in court. In March, Menendez was hit with new obstruction charges alleging he lied to the feds by claiming through his lawyers he believed thousands of dollars in bribes given to his wife Nadine were loans. He faces a total of 18 bribery and obstruction charges. The prosecution is expected to continue their summations on Wednesday, which are expected to wrap up after around two and a half more hours, followed by lawyers for Menendez and two co-defendants. _____ Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni told jurors that Sen. Bob Menendez trampled the publics trust to please his wife and enrich himself, pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes over a five-year period. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Prosecutors told the federal judge overseeing Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption trial in Manhattan that New Jerseys senior senator has done so much wrong it would take at least five hours to sum it all up. Monday, prosecutor Paul Monteleoni got started, telling jurors during closing arguments that Menendez trampled the publics trust to please his wife and enrich himself, pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes over a five-year period in exchange for disrupting both state and federal criminal prosecutions of friends and helping them land lucrative business deals. Monteleoni argued that Menendez, a Democrat, abused his powerful position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and put American security at risk by acting in the interest of Egypt and Qatar so that those countries would invest in the business ventures of Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, his codefendants and friends. Menendez put his power up for sale, Monteleoni said, echoing Prosecutor Lara Pomerantzs opening arguments. It wasnt enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington, Monteleoni added. It wasnt enough for him to be entrusted by the public with the power to approve billions of dollars of U.S. military aid to foreign countries. It wasnt enough for him to have the ability to recommend who the president nominates to be the chief federal law enforcement officer for New Jersey. No. Robert Menendez wanted all that power, but he also wanted to use it to pile up riches for himself and his wife. So Menendez sold the power of his office. Menendez, 70, has denied the accusations against him, refused to step down, and filed to run for reelection in November for the seat he has held since 2006. Defense attorneys have offered multiple explanations for the gold bars, $67,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible, $486,000 in cash, and other valuables that FBI agents found in the senators Englewood Cliffs home during a June 2022 search, as well as the swanky dinners, Formula 1 race tickets, mortgage payments, a sham job for the senators wife, Nadine, and more that prosecutors tied to Daibes, Hana, and codefendant Jose Uribe. Menendezs attorneys have blamed Nadine Menendez for some of the riches, saying she made deals and took valuables without the senators knowledge. They insisted other riches were family heirlooms, gifts from generous friends, and cash stashed by a senator distrustful of banks. But Monteleoni urged jurors to reject those explanations, saying Nadine Menendez acted as a go-between to accept the bribes and broker the deals but that the senator was well aware of the schemes. You dont get to be the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by being clueless, Monteleoni said. Monteleoni made it through two hours of arguments before Judge Sidney H. Stein dismissed jurors for the night. The prosecutor laid out what he called a clear pattern of corruption by marching methodically through the 18-count indictment to tell the jury why they should convict the defendants of each. He used the couples own words to prove his points, again showing jurors texts between the senator and his wife communicating about U.S. military aid and arms sales to Egypt and meetings with foreign officials soon after the couple began dating in 2018. Why is he texting this to his girlfriend? Why is Nadine getting involved in anything about $99 million of tank ammunition? Monteleoni said of one text exchange. She was keeping him in the loop every step of the way, he added. He reminded jurors that investigators had connected much of the gold and cash to Daibes and Hana through fingerprints, DNA, and serial numbers and that Menendez multiple times searched online for the price of gold within minutes or hours of meeting Daibes. All this stuff about Nadine having family gold is a distraction, Monteleoni said. You dont get to be the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by being clueless. Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni Bribery law requires prosecutors to prove a public official took something of value, had a corrupt intent, and promised an official act in exchange, he said. You only need one thing of value, but you have one after another after another, he said. Menendez didnt have to follow through on his promises for the valuable to be a bribe, Monteleoni added. The promise is enough, he said. He also listed example after example of secrecy and lies he said proves the couples corrupt intent, such as Menendez exhorting his wife not to put things in writing and amending his annual Senate disclosure forms to include the gold bars as the couple shopped for multimillion-dollar mansions last year. When Menendez hears Nadine will get paid, he swings into action again and again, he said. Monteleoni reminded jurors that even the senators own staff thought his actions were weird. But, the prosecutor said, Menendez wasnt acting weirdly. He was acting corruptly. He was acting like a bribed man. Because thats what he was. Monteleoni is expected to wrap up his closing argument Tuesday morning, and attorney Adam Fee, who is part of Menendezs defense team, is set to deliver his summation Tuesday as well. Jurors could begin deliberations as soon as Wednesday afternoon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown sidestepped questions Monday about President Joe Biden's fitness for office as Democrats debate whether Biden should drop out of the presidential race. "I'm not going to judge people in my party, what they're saying or what Republicans are saying," Brown told reporters in Youngstown, according to his campaign. "I'm not a pundit. I've talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and I'll keep listening to people." Brown's comments came nearly two weeks after the first debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump, where the president fumbled over words and lost his train of thought. The event spurred a conversation among Democrats about whether Biden, 81, can continue running for reelection, defeat Trump in November and serve another four-year term. Biden said he intends to stay in the race. The issue underscores Brown's reluctance to wade into presidential politics as he runs his own campaign against Republican businessman Bernie Moreno. Brown is one of two Democratic senators seeking reelection in a state won by Trump in 2020, making him one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country. "Sherrod Brown votes with Joe Biden nearly 100% of the time, so it is unsurprising that he is standing by Biden as his obvious cognitive decline and inability to lead our nation is on full display to the American people," Moreno said in a statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown arrives for a vote at the U.S. Capitol on July 8. Several Democratic members of Congress have urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race after his June 27 debate against presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump. Brown sidestepped questions Monday about Biden's fitness for office. What are Ohio Democrats saying about Joe Biden? The response to Biden's debate performance has been mixed among other Ohio Democrats. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, said Monday that "time is running out" for Biden to make his case to voters, although he didn't directly call on the president to step aside. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, defended Biden after he talked with the Congressional Black Caucus on Monday. "We saw the old Joe Biden," Beatty told MSNBC. "He addressed the issue and said as he has said openly that the 90-minute debate, it was a mistake. He didn't do a good job. He was sick. He was tired. He hadn't rested enough. Since then, we've seen him make a comeback." Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, declined to comment through a spokesman. A spokesperson for Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, did not respond to a request for comment. Like Brown, Kaptur and Sykes face tough reelection bids this year in two of the country's most competitive House districts. Former Congressman Tim Ryan, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, called on Biden to drop out and pave the way for Vice President Kamala Harris. House and Senate Democrats met behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss the presidential campaign. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sherrod Brown mum on Biden as Democrats debate presidential race Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) have a lot in common. Besides serving up caffeinated drinks to a thirsty world, both companies also have shareholder-friendly dividend policies and their stocks have underperformed the stock market over the last year. Coca-Cola's total return over that period is just 8.7%, while Starbucks saw a 20.5% value drop instead, and the S&P 500 gained 28.6%. In other words, these household names come with strong dividend yields and the promise of continued payout boosts for years to come. And in my eyes, the rumors of Starbucks' and Coke's demise have been greatly exaggerated. The top-shelf quality stocks are on fire sale right now. If you're looking for a great dividend stock to buy today, you should consider doubling down on Coca-Cola and Starbucks. Here's why. A shared history of dividend increases As you can see in the chart above, Starbucks and Coca-Cola are in the habit of increasing their dividend payouts every year. Coca-Cola's dividend growth history is significantly longer, spanning several decades. This long-term growth provides investors with a sense of security and predictability, which is particularly appealing for those seeking stable income. If Coke has raised its payouts through thick and thin for 63 years (which it did), the company seems likely to continue boosting those quarterly dividend checks regardless of downturns and business challenges in the future. In contrast, the green Starbucks line may be shorter but also comes with a much steeper growth trajectory. After starting its dividend payments in the spring of 2010, Starbucks has rapidly increased its payouts. This vibrant policy trend reflects the company's dynamic growth and strong financial health. Coca-Cola offers a more consistent and historically reliable dividend, which might be preferable for conservative investors who look for long-term stability above all else. On the other hand, Starbucks' higher dividend growth rate can appeal to investors who are willing to take on a bit more risk for the potential of higher returns. Robust free cash flows supporting the payouts The chart above shows you the robust free cash flows behind those inviting dividend payouts. It's great to see dividends financed by strong cash flows, and these great companies deliver that quality with gusto. Coca-Cola spent 79% of its free cash flows on dividend payments over the last year, and Starbucks' cash-based payout ratio stopped at 63%. Now, both Starbucks and Coca-Cola are facing significant business challenges. Shifting consumer preferences are always a concern, along with a never-ending influx of new rivals. Story continues However, these companies address their challenges in very different ways. Starbucks is doubling down on its premium image, expanding its high-end Reserve stores and personalized digital experiences. As part of the digital strategy, the company is using its loyalty program to increase customer engagement and retention. Coca-Cola, on the other hand, is diversifying its product portfolio, moving beyond sugary sodas into a broad range of healthier options like bottled water, teas, and plant-based drinks. It's also investing heavily in sustainable packaging solutions to address growing environmental concerns. Both companies are actively adapting to the changing landscape, but their strategies reflect their unique strengths and ultra-familiar brand identities. Fizzy dividends for the long haul With their hefty cash flows and smart strategies, both Coca-Cola and Starbucks are set to keep those dividend payments flowing for years to come. These companies have robust free cash flows that not only cover their dividends but also leave plenty of room for growth and innovation. With its decades-long history of stable dividends, Coca-Cola is like a reliable friend who's always there when you need them. You can count on it to keep delivering those quarterly checks, come rain or shine. Starbucks is an energetic relative newcomer with a rapid growth trend. It's on a roll, quickly boosting its payouts and showing no signs of slowing down. These companies are masters of dealing with business challenges and playing to their strengths. For dividend investors, the future with Coca-Cola and Starbucks looks bright and secure and their stocks should soon recover from this year's price dip. It's high time to take action and buy some shares of these discounted industry titans today. Should you invest $1,000 in Starbucks right now? Before you buy stock in Starbucks, 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 Starbucks 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 $785,556!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of July 8, 2024 Anders Bylund has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Starbucks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Dividend Stocks to Double Up on Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool The News Senate Democrats didnt turn on President Biden when they returned to the Capitol on Monday, but they made clear theyre not done talking about it either. Brushing off a written demand from Biden to move on from conversations about his status, Democrat after Democrat implied that his nomination was still in question while asking for more time to deliberate on the issue. At minimum, several said Biden had more work to do to restore confidence in his political viability after a disastrous debate against Donald Trump late last month that threw Democrats in a panic. Its a moral question, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado told Semafor. And we should satisfy ourselves as Democrats that in an era of Donald Trump that we are putting our best foot forward. Bennet argued Democrats were on course to win control of Congress and the White House before Biden went on the CNN debate stage. He said he wasnt sure that was the case anymore and Democratic senators needed to assess the fallout. Bennet also expressed confidence in the partys ability to find a replacement for Biden, while adding its no ones first choice. Several senators, including Bennet and Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, said Monday they had heard from voters concerned about Bidens age affecting his ability to serve out another four-year term. President Biden has got to prove to the American people including me that hes up to the job for another four years, Sen. Jon Tester, who faces a tough reelection back in Montana, told a local TV station. Perhaps the toughest statement came from the Senates longest-serving Democrat, Patty Murray of Washington, who seemed to walk close to the line of asking Biden to drop out. More than a week since the debate, and after talking with my constituents, I believe President Biden must do more to demonstrate he can campaign strong enough to beat Donald Trump, Murray said in a statement. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, a member of Senate Democratic leadership who reportedly has been feeling out interest in an effort to push Biden aside, issued a statement urging conversations about the strongest path forward. He added Biden should aggressively make his case to the American people while widening the voices he listens to, given the presidents penchant to prize counsel from a small, insular group of longtime advisors. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranked Senate Democrat, said upon arriving in the Capitol on Monday afternoon the debate raised a lot of questions that Biden has responded to with mixed results. Asked later by Semafor whether Democrats and Biden were on a collision course, Durbin responded: I want our party unified behind one person as soon as possible. Should that person be Biden? Well see, Durbin told Semafor. Know More The Senate Democratic caucus gathers on Tuesdays for lunch, and the discussion could veer in a different direction once Biden skeptics see how much willingness there is to challenge a president who has made clear hes not going anywhere without a fight. Not every Senator has been so circumspect about Bidens status. Several Democrats offered supportive statements for Biden. As Ive said before, Im with Joe, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters. Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada who faced a competitive Senate race in 2022 urged Democrats to support Biden. Hes always had Nevadans backs, whether its on the picket lines, protecting our personal freedoms, or lowering costs now its time for us to have his, she said in a statement. Josephs view Like the famous scene in Wolf of Wall Street where a beleaguered Jordan Belfort insists hes not going anywhere, Biden is making clear he isnt stepping aside as the Democratic nominee for president a post hes fought for since the late 1980s. Notably, he invited critics to directly challenge him at the Democratic National Convention in August if they want to defenestrate him. The Democratic Partys reckoning over Bidens candidacy, though, runs a real risk of unleashing protracted infighting. Theres a palpable unease among Democratic senators, few of whom have issued full-throated endorsements of the partys standard bearer. One Democrat close to the White House said that Biden may well lose more confidence among Hill Democrats if he insists on dispelling widespread concerns around his age as the function of out-of-touch Democratic elites. We can all see whats happening, the Democrat source said. We know that his age is having an impact on him. The View From THE HOUSE While the default in the Senate was a cryptic wait-and-see statement on Monday, Biden seemed to make more progress in the House. Left-wing Squad members Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Ilhan Omar both publicly backed Biden on Tuesday. Joe Biden is our nominee, Ocasio Cortez said. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race and I support him. The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford, also announced his support for Biden a potentially critical bellwether. Biden called into a virtual meeting with the CBC on Monday to thank them for their continued support. There are still some questions about how deep that support runs behind the scenes, especially among younger members, but Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson dismissed the idea of a generational split. We respect our elders, and our elders mean a lot to us and Joe Biden is an elder and he has exemplified what it is to be a great public servant, he told reporters. Not everyone in the party was as supportive. You have to go to voters, Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., told reporters. I mean, are Americans convinced that youre in the kind of shape to both stand for the campaign, but more importantly, can you continue to serve as president? I think thats the challenge. I dont think hes met that challenge yet. He needs to continue to work at it. Morelle reportedly expressed similar concerns on a leadership call over the weekend and privately told colleagues Biden should step down. Room for Disagreement Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a top Biden ally, said that Biden remains the most effective Democrat to defeat Trump. I think it would be a huge mistake for the Democratic Party based on one evening in one debate to turn aside from supporting a very seasoned and capable President, he told reporters. Notable Semafors Benjy Sarlin writes that Biden is using the threat of mutually assured destruction to quell a potential rebellion against his nomination. Senate Democrats Are Trying So Hard To Look United Behind Joe Biden WASHINGTON Senate Democrats met Tuesday for the first time since President Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance last month, and they emerged with a clear consensus: there is no consensus on whether they think Biden is still their best shot at defeating Donald Trump. One after another, Democrats trickled out of their private hour-and-a-half lunch and either dashed away from reporters or stopped briefly to emphasize how strongly they agree on the need to beat Trump in November. But things got shaky anytime they were asked about their faith in the other guy, their guy, Biden. You know, consensus is a moveable feast, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. There was certainly consensus on this critical point that we need to defeat Donald Trump. Most Democrats were tight-lipped about their internal disagreements about Biden being the best nominee to take on Trump, if they said anything at all. But a handful lifted the curtain a bit more. We got a ways to go, Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said. But you know, were not going to negotiate in public. Asked to clarify what he meant by a ways to go, the Vermont Democrat only said, I dont have my thoughts put in an orderly process that meets your editorial standards. While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reiterated his support for Biden, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters it remains to be seen if Biden is still his partys best presidential nominee. Senate Democrats, unlike some Democrats in the House, have not yet broken ranks to call on the 81-year-old president to drop out of the race. But several senators expressed concerns on Monday about whether Biden is the best candidate to lead their ticket in November. Vulnerable Democrats facing reelection this year also want Biden to more aggressively make the case to the American people that he can do the job, including holding more unscripted public appearances. It was constructive, said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), one of the Democrats who is facing reelection in a state Trump won, of the lunch, declining to go into more detail. Biden is scheduled to hold a rare solo press conference on Thursday after the NATO summit in Washington, setting up another test of his performance as questions linger about his physical fitness. Democrats dont have long to decide whether to nominate Biden. The Democratic National Committee decided weeks ago to hold a virtual roll call in mid-July to begin the nomination process due to uncertainty about whether Democrats would meet the deadline for Ohios general election ballot. Details about Tuesdays closed-door conversation were scant. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) was defiant with reporters who pressed her on whether any of her colleagues had called on Biden to drop out. Im not going to, Im not going to, she said, calling the discussion between many of the countrys top Democrats a private family matter. When Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a vocal Biden defender, was asked a similar question, he flatly ruled it out. Fuck no. No, thats wild, he said. One guy kicked Trumps ass in the election. One guy banged a porn star ... I dont understand [why] the outrage is not more focusing on Donald Trump, Fetterman added, summing up Democrats frustrations with media coverage of Biden following the debate. Meanwhile, Republican senators, who are used to being hounded by reporters about Trumps regular outbursts, could hardly contain their glee about the disarray on the other side of the aisle. When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) approached a throng of reporters at the GOPs weekly press conference, he deadpanned, Im sure youre all here for us. Im loving it, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) commented as a group of reporters chased a Democratic senator down a hallway. Biden has sought to rally influential members of Congress to his side this week, dialing into a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus, a key source of support, on Monday. Hes expected to do the same for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus later this week as well. The president also won the backing of a key progressive voice over the weekend: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). But lawmakers voicing private doubts about Biden or publicly urging him to withdraw from the race for a younger alternative arent helping put the problem to bed. On Tuesday, moderate Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) became the seventh Democrat to publicly call for Biden not to seek another term. [B]ecause I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he wont run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee, Sherrill said in a statement. Related... Victim of deadly head-on crash in Wareham identified by authorities Authorities continue to investigate a deadly head-on crash in Wareham on Monday. The Plymouth County District Attorneys Office says just after 1 p.m., a gray Toyota Highlander traveling east on Minot Avenue collided with a black GMC Sierra traveling west. The driver of the Toyota, identified as 38-year-old Matthew Goodchild of Wareham, was rushed to Tobey Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The 47-year-old female driver of the Sierra was transported to Saint Lukes Hospital in New Bedford. Her injuries are not considered to be life-threatening. The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and State Troopers assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorneys office came to assist with the crash investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MEMPHIS, Tenn. Several arrests were made by the Blytheville Police Department earlier this month involving drugs and guns. 10 people were arrested, and eight guns were confiscated over the course of seven days. On June 27, officers with the Violent Crimes Reduction Unit conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of East Davis. After smelling a strong odor coming from the car, officers conducted a search which resulted in the confiscation of an AK-47-style pistol. Timothy Bohannon, 21, was charged with possession of a controlled substance schedule VI. On July 2, officers responded to the 500 block of East Cherry for an arrest warrant for 28-year-old Keveon Lewis. Reports say while officers were attempting to detain those inside the home, they smelled a strong odor, leading them to obtain a search warrant for the home. During the search, officers located several items of drug paraphernalia, an AR-15-style rifle and approximately 14.8 ounces of suspected marijuana. Keveon Lewis, Damontae Thomas, 22, Kealdrea Carter, 23, and homeowner Tendka Thomas, 46, were charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a controlled substance schedule VI with the purpose to deliver 4oz<10lbs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Illegal drugs, weapons found in Hickory Hill drug bust Police say Lewis was also out on felony bond at the time of his arrest. Court records state that he was charged with first-degree murder. Also on July 2, reports say officers were patrolling the area of the 1100 block of Hearn when they saw a man with a backpack talking with two other men. The men noticed the patrol car, ditched the backpack, and fled the scene. Officers made contact with two juveniles, who were caught with suspected marijuana and paraphernalia. They were cited and brought to their parents. The backpack was found in the driveway containing a .22 caliber rifle. Officers say they were unable to locate the third man, but have since identified him. Now, they are seeking warrants for him. On the same day, officers stopped and searched a vehicle in the 2100 block of Edwards. Officers located a firearm, approximately 20 grams of Adderall pills, around 85 grams of suspected marijuana, and approximately 20 grams of Oxycodone pills. The driver, Stephon Aldridge, 27, was taken into custody and charged with possession of a firearm by certain persons, resisting arrest, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a controlled substance schedule VI with a purpose to deliver, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance schedule I,II with a purpose to deliver. MPD: Man caught with guns, illegal drugs inside his home Reports say on July 4, officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Edwards. After smelling a strong odor coming from the car, officers searched the vehicle. Police say a firearm and a Percocet pill were located on 22-year-old Jermel Woods, who was a passenger in the vehicle. Woods also had three active failure-to-appear cash warrants through the City of Blytheville. He was charged with the three warrants totaling $1,200, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, and possession of a controlled substance schedule VI. Also on July 4, officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of the 700 block of Parkway, where they did a search on the vehicle and found three firearms, multiple magazines, and suspected marijuana inside. Makai Handy, 19, and Kiree Carter, 18, were taken into custody and charged with possession of a controlled substance schedule VI. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Lastly, on July 4, reports say officers were in the area of Howard and Peabody helping with another call when they heard several shots coming from down the road. They say they saw a man get into a vehicle and they conducted a traffic stop on the car. Darrius Brown, 26, and all of the occupants inside the vehicle were detained. Officers located 10 spent shell casings on the scene and found a firearm inside the vehicle. Brown was charged with discharging a firearm in city limits and the firearm was confiscated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sexually violent predator could be placed in Poway; hearing scheduled POWAY, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) The California Department of State Hospitals has recommended a sexually violent predator be placed in Poway, and a public hearing on the proposal is slated for next month. Department officials recommended Merle Wakefield, who was convicted of sexual assaults in the 1980s and 1990s, be placed at 15720 Sycamore Canyon Road, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department announced Monday. Wakefields conditional release was ordered by San Diego Superior Court. While placement has been proposed, it has not been finalized. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9 at San Diego Central Courthouse. Extreme heat brings record temperatures to these San Diego County areas The Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force is accepting public comments about the proposed placement by email, phone and mail until July 22. The task force and the San Diego County District Attorneys Office will then submit comments to the court. Information about how to submit a comment can be found on the sheriff departments website. In May of 2021, a judge rejected placing Wakefield at a home in the Mount Helix neighborhood near El Cajon. Two months later, state hospital officials proposed Wakefield be placed in Borrego Springs. But that hearing was canceled after a judge granted a request by Liberty Healthcare, which operates the conditional release program, for Wakefield to complete additional treatment. San Diegos H Barracks could include shelter, goes before Coastal Commission this week Neither the sheriffs office, the San Diego County District Attorneys Office or the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force is responsible for the selection of the proposed site, the sheriff departments press release stated. That selection process is the responsibility of DSH and the San Diego Superior Court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in finding a 17-year-old boy who was reported missing from Horizon early Tuesday morning, July 9. The Sheriffs Office says Gabriel De Jesus Rivera, 17, was reported missing just before 2 a.m. from the 148 block of Horizon City. Rivera was last seen wearing black sweatpants, white shoes, and an unknown shirt. Hes believed to need medical assistance. Anyone with information regarding Riveras whereabouts is asked to contact the El Paso County Sheriffs Office at 915-851-3287 or dial 911. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) brushed off a question over the viability of President Bidens campaign during a Monday event for Browns reelection. Brown, who is running in what is expected to be one of the closest Senate races in the country, said he wont wade into discussions about whether Biden should end his campaign. Im not going to judge people in my party, what theyre saying or what Republicans are saying. Im not a pundit, Brown said at a Youngstown event when asked about the president, according to his campaign. Ive talked to people across Ohio, he continued. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people. A rising number of Democrats have asked Biden to step down amid concerns over his age and electoral prospects following a poor debate performance last month. Five Democrats in the House have publicly called on Biden to leave the campaign, and four more senior members said he should step aside Sunday on a leadership call. No Senate Democrats have explicitly called on Biden to end his campaign, though Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have been critical of the president in recent days. The president has rejected the calls, committing to staying in the race and proving his ability to voters. In a MSNBC Morning Joe appearance Monday, Biden was defiant against the critics within his party. Im getting frustrated by the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more, Biden said. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention. Im not going to explain any more about what I should or I shouldnt do. I am running, he later added. The presidential race remains neck-and-neck. Trump has a 1.2 percentage point lead over the president in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of national polls. In Ohio, Trump has an 8.4 percentage point lead on average, while Brown leads GOP rival Bernie Moreno by 6.3 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. The Indian market has shown robust growth, rising 2.4% in the past week and an impressive 46% over the last year, with earnings projected to grow by 16% annually. In this dynamic environment, dividend stocks that offer yields up to 4% can be particularly appealing for investors seeking both stability and income. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In India Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Balmer Lawrie Investments (BSE:532485) 3.98% Gulf Oil Lubricants India (NSEI:GULFOILLUB) 3.15% D. B (NSEI:DBCORP) 3.57% Indian Oil (NSEI:IOC) 8.23% Bharat Petroleum (NSEI:BPCL) 7.01% ITC (NSEI:ITC) 3.10% HCL Technologies (NSEI:HCLTECH) 3.38% VST Industries (BSE:509966) 3.70% Oil and Natural Gas (NSEI:ONGC) 4.09% PTC India (NSEI:PTC) 3.54% Click here to see the full list of 15 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener. We'll examine a selection from our screener results. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: D. B. Corp Limited operates in newspaper printing, publishing, radio broadcasting, and digital news platforms, with a market capitalization of approximately 64.96 billion. Operations: D. B. Corp Limited generates revenue primarily through its printing and publishing business, which contributed approximately 22.43 billion, and its radio segment, which added about 1.59 billion. Dividend Yield: 3.6% DBCORP has shown a mixed performance in dividend reliability, with payments being volatile over the past decade. Despite this, recent trends are positive with an increase in dividends announced on May 22, 2024. The company's Price-To-Earnings ratio at 15.3x is below the Indian market average, suggesting valuation attractiveness. Dividends are well-supported by earnings and cash flows with payout ratios of 54.4% and 43.6% respectively, indicating sustainability from a financial perspective amidst a backdrop of significant earnings growth reported for FY2023-24. NSEI:DBCORP Dividend History as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is engaged in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas both domestically in India and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately 3.76 trillion. Operations: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited generates revenue primarily through refining and marketing, which contributes 56.75 billion, followed by offshore exploration and production at 9.43 billion, and onshore exploration and production at 4.39 billion within India. Story continues Dividend Yield: 4.1% ONGC offers a dividend yield of 4.09%, ranking in the top 25% in India, supported by a cash payout ratio of 32.5% and an earnings payout ratio of 31.3%. Despite its attractive P/E ratio at 7.6x, significantly below the Indian market average, dividend reliability is compromised by a history of volatility and inconsistency over the past decade. Recent executive changes with Shri Vivek Chandrakant Tongaonkar's appointment as CFO might influence future financial strategies but have yet to impact dividends directly. NSEI:ONGC Dividend History as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: PTC India Limited operates in the trading of power across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, with a market capitalization of approximately 65.18 billion. Operations: PTC India Limited generates revenue primarily through its power trading segment, which brought in 16.01 billion, and its financing business, contributing 7.67 billion. Dividend Yield: 3.5% PTC India reported a decrease in quarterly net income to INR 862.6 million from INR 1,165.9 million year-over-year, with full-year earnings rising slightly to INR 4,768.8 million. Despite this fluctuation, the company maintains a robust dividend coverage with an earnings payout ratio of 54% and cash payout ratio of 9.4%, indicating strong cash flow support for its dividends. Recent executive changes raise governance concerns but have yet to impact financial operations or dividend policies directly; however, investors should monitor these developments closely due to potential future implications on management effectiveness and strategic direction. NSEI:PTC Dividend History as at Jul 2024 Summing It All Up Embark on your investment journey to our 15 Top Dividend Stocks selection here. 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. Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world. Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:DBCORP NSEI:ONGC and NSEI:PTC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Keir Starmer will appoint Tulip Siddiq as the UKs City Minister, a role within the Treasury that puts her at the heart of regulating and advocating for the key financial services industry. Most Read from Bloomberg Siddiq, who has been an MP since 2015, is expected to be appointed to the post of Economic Secretary to the Treasury, a person familiar with the matter said. Its the equivalent role that she held in Starmers shadow cabinet. The premiers office later confirmed Siddiqs appointment in a statement. James Murray was also appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. Siddiqs position is known as the City Minister, referring to the UKs City of London and the wider financial services industry. The responsibilities also include regulation of financial technology, crypto assets and debt management policy. Along with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, Siddiq is expected to help shape the new governments efforts to boost Londons status as a global financial center after Brexit. Listen and follow The Big Take on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts (Updates with Downing Street confirms appointment in third paragraph. An earlier version of this story was corrected to the City Minister is responsible for regulation of crypto assets.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Its been close to three years since Lucy Buchanan disappeared from her Nashville apartment, and still, no one knows exactly what happened to her. As the years have passed, investigators have continued searching for Buchanan, who remains the subject of a Silver Alert. On Monday, July 8, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) renewed its calls for information on the 85-year-olds disappearance. PREVIOUS: Metro police issue Silver Alert for missing woman The case remains one of the oldest active Silver Alerts in the state. The TBI issued the alert just a few days after the 85-year-old was last seen leaving her Buena Vista Pike apartment on Nov. 24, 2021. Surveillance footage released by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) showed Buchanan getting into an elevator around 10 a.m. that morning. Later that day, cameras at Walgreens captured Buchanan walking south on Clarksville Pike. (Source: Metro Nashville Police Department) Police said she was known to walk around the Buena Vista and Clarksville Pike areas. In the videos, detectives said she was wearing khaki pants, a gray toboggan hat, gray scarf and a white, puffy winter coat. She last spoke to her family on the phone on the morning of Nov. 29. By that afternoon, her phone was either dead or turned off. According to the TBI, a family member went by her apartment to drop off groceries and Buchanan wasnt there. UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries Residents at her apartment complex said she may have gotten into a gray van with a female driver on the day she was last seen. Its thought that Buchanan may have been in the early stages of dementia at the time of her disappearance. Initially, police said they thought Buchanan might have been with a friend and unaware that her family was searching for her. Buchanan weighs around 122 pounds, is about 5 feet tall and has gray hair and brown eyes. She would now be 87 years old. Anyone who has seen Buchanan or who has any information on her disappearance is asked to call the MNPD at 615-742-7463 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Sioux Falls School Districts Board of Education voted Monday night to make the Dakota Scout its official newspaper to print its legal notices, a designation the Argus Leader previously held with the district throughout multiple decades. The boards vote followed news earlier Monday that the Argus Leader and its parent company Gannett were suing the City of Sioux Falls, after the city also made the Dakota Scout its official newspaper in June to print legal notices, despite the Dakota Scout filing its newspaper ownership and circulation statements past the deadline to do so. South Dakota law mandates newspapers seeking legal status submit a sworn statement of ownership and circulation, which disclose investors as well as print and online circulation numbers, to the Secretary of States office before Jan. 1 each year. More: Argus Leader, Gannett sues City of Sioux Falls over legal notices But the Dakota Scout filed that documentation June 26, meaning the earliest the weekly free newspaper could obtain legal newspaper status is in 2025. Meanwhile, the Argus Leader filed its documentation in October 2023, well in advance of the citys vote to designate the official newspaper. The emblem inside the board meeting at Sioux Falls School District 49-5 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Monday, August 14, 2023. Despite these facts, Dakota Scout co-founder Jonathan Ellis told Dakota News Now on Monday that his newspaper complies with state law on legal newspaper requirements. After the school board meeting on Monday, school district community relations coordinator DeeAnn Konrad told the Argus Leader that publishing legal notices with the Argus Leader usually costs the district between $30,000 to $40,000 annually, and that switching to the Dakota Scout would save the district between $5,000 to $7,000 annually. More: Sioux Falls Council opts for Dakota Scout to publish legal notices Konrad said another important component for the districts decision to change its newspaper of record was local, being able to have a direct contact with billing services. When theres a question, that we can make a phone call and talk to someone about the cost, Konrad said. Weve had difficulty in the time recently getting questions answered with the Argus Leader on the business side, not from reporters, she explained. Konrad also said the district wouldnt have anything to say about the Argus Leaders lawsuit. We had (the official newspaper designation) on our consent agenda tonight. Obviously we knew that (the lawsuit) had happened, or that it was an action taken today, Konrad said. We discussed and thought it was best for us to move forward in this matter. The boards vote received little attention or fanfare in the meeting, as it was part of the consent agenda l, which the board OK'ed in one fell swoop. The quiet vote juxtaposed the multiple days of public comment city councilors heard regarding the vote on their official newspaper designation. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls school board opts for Dakota Scout to publish legal notices ARKOMA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) The sisters of the 24-year-old Arkoma woman who went missing on July 8 say her family didnt think much of it until no one heard from her. Harmoni Jacks was said to have taken off in the middle of the night. She was expected to be at her friends house around 3:30-4 a.m. in Greenwood on Sunday, July 7. But she never showed up. Kasey Alert for Harmoni Gail Jacks, 24, 501 160 pounds (OHP). Her sisters, Rhyanna and Felicia Jacks, said their sister likes to spend time out in nature at places like Cedarville, Natural Dam and Devils Den State Park. They thought maybe the 24-year-old mom needed a break, but time kept passing and no one had heard anything. For the first few days, we didnt think much of it, Rhyanna said. Then her sisters said they found out she left her phone at home in Arkoma. This type of behavior is abnormal for Harmoni, her sisters said. We are looking for clues Oklahoma officials continue search of missing woman She doesnt disappear without communicating or letting us know within a couple of hours, Felicia said. She doesnt go anywhere without her phone. She has our phone numbers memorized, so if she has access to a phone, I think she wouldve called by now. So thats concerning. Harmonis parents filed a missing persons report on July 8. The family went to the last location, where her phone was pinged on Highway 112. Her family searched for any sign of where their sister was. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and other officials were seen on July 9 searching the home of Harmoni for clues. Harmoni was last seen driving southbound toward Greenwood. She is in a two-door red 2012 Nissan Altima with the full front bumper of the car gone and windows tinted. Her sisters had one final thing to say to their sister. Come home we love and we miss you. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Eleven K9 officers with the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office will now be protected with ballistic vests thanks to a donation by a non-profit that has helped other K9 officers across Florida. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Like a human deputy, the K9 officer is outfitted with protective gear when patrolling. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] But this gear is the new Patrol SWAT vest donated by K9 United. Eleven K9 officers from St. Johns County Sherriffs Office now have their custom-fitted vests. New K9 protective vests The founder of K9 United, Debbie Johnson said K9 officers need stealth protective vests to help decrease the yearly K9 death rate. Last year, there were 26 dogs that died in the line of duty. Thats across the United States. We had eleven so far this year who died in the line of duty. Five of those were due to gunfire, Johnson said. RELATED: St. Johns County Sheriffs Office gets new K9 So far, two K9 officers died in the state of Florida. We have had one of our K9s drowned by a suspect. We also had K9s that have been hit or battered by a suspect, Special Operations Lt. Nicole Burrell said. If a K9 is killed in the line of duty in Florida, the suspect could be charged with a second-degree felony instead of a third-degree felony. This change was made after the Fang Memorial Bill was passed in 2019. Johnson said she played a role in making sure that bill passed. I proposed legislation, drafted the bill, and now its a second-degree felony, according to Johnson. RELATED: Duval County Public Schools swears in new police chief & drug detection K9 St. Johns K9 officer Baron was killed in the line of duty in 2014. Johnson said thats what started her organization and its mission in 2019. His death struck me. These officers and handlers are putting their lives on the line for us every day while Im home safe on the couch. A K9 deputy handler told me this vest would help with the K9s body temperature, stealth, and performance. Lighter, weighs just over one pound. Its breathable, so she wont overheat as fast, K9 Deputy Melanie Merritt said. A deputy told Action News the K9 would risk its life to save its partner. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. SLO County dirtbike rider thought a mountain lion attacked him. Heres what it actually was Update: The Tribune spoke with the victim of the attack who recalled the terrifying experience and maintained his belief that it was a mountain lion. A reported mountain lion attack in Arroyo Grande turned out to be not quite so dramatic when wildlife officers determined a feline that jumped from a tree onto a dirtbike rider was not in fact a cougar. It was a domestic house cat. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old dirtbike rider reported being attacked by what he thought was a mountain lion that leapt out of a tree as he rode by on James Way. In an email, the father of the victim told The Tribune his son suffered a minor concussion from the impact of flying off his dirtbike, and that his helmet visor was torn off. Patrick Foy, a captain with Fish and Wildlifes law enforcement division, said the department received a report of a suspected mountain lion that launched itself from the tree and scratched a persons leg. In a timeline report of the event, Foy said that the victim declined any medical treatment. Wildlife officers investigated the incident and sent DNA samples of the victims clothing and helmet to the departments Wildlife Forensic Laboratory in Sacramento for genetic testing, according to the report. Foy said lab technicians started analysis on Sunday. By the next morning, lab results came back not with evidence of a cougar, but domestic cat DNA instead. Mountain lion DNA was not detected on any of the samples, Foy said. A young male mountain lion plunged from a tree after it was tranquilized April 18 in Pocatello, Idaho, officials said. Mountain lion attacks are rare The ultimate outcome makes sense given that a person is 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion, according to the Fish and Wildlife website. Only 24 mountain lion attacks on humans have been reported since 1984. The majority of incidents were nonfatal, although in four cases in El Dorado, San Diego and Orange counties, victims died. No cases have been reported in San Luis Obispo County, however an attack in Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara occurred in 1992. Other recent wild animal attacks on humans that have made recent U.S. headlines include: Fish and Wildlife recommends people always stay aware of their surroundings and travel in the wilderness with a companion. If you encounter a cougar, try to appear larger and more aggressive and never bend or crouch down. To report encounters or attacks, call the Fish and Wildlife 24-hour dispatch center at 916-445-0045. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives in Bratislava for the 42nd meeting of the Slovakian government. Almost two months after an assassination attempt on his life, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has resumed work. Pavel Neubauer/TASR/dpa Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has resumed work almost two months after a failed attempt on his life. The left-wing populist Fico took part in a Cabinet meeting in Bratislava on Tuesday. According to a statement, the 59-year-old said that he was slowly returning to his working pace, and hoped that he would soon be able to fully fulfil his role again. Fico had already visited a farm on Monday to inspect the harvest. He supported himself with a crutch during the visit. On his Facebook page, Fico sarcastically addressed the "progressive and liberal media" and the opposition, posting: "Sorry I survived, but I'm back." The TASR agency reported that Fico also spoke on the phone with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He reportedly offered to accept and treat paediatric cancer patients from Ukraine in Slovakia, following the recent Russian attack on a paediatric hospital in Kiev. Another topic was the holding of a joint government meeting between the two neighbouring states, which is due to take place at the beginning of autumn. Fico was critically wounded on May 15 when he was shot several times as he greeted waiting supporters after a Cabinet meeting in the small town of Handlova. The attacker, who was arrested immediately after the attack, is in custody. The 71-year-old justified his offence with hatred of Fico and his left-wing nationalist coalition. The government's controversial decisions recently included the dissolution of the public radio and television broadcaster RTVS and its re-establishment as STVR. New smishing attack may target your iPhone, Apple ID: What to know (NEXSTAR) It seems that as long as technology has been a part of our daily lives, there have been scams targeting our devices and accounts. That includes everything from romance scams to scammers texting you photos of wine bottles. The latest attack appears to be targeting Apple users, according to multiple reports. More specifically, hackers behind the smishing attempt the term often used for phishing attacks sent via text messages seem to be trying to get your Apple ID login, Macworld and 9to5Mac have reported. According to both outlets, Apple users have been receiving messages purportedly from service representatives that contain a website link. Clicking on that link takes users to what appears to be a login site for iCloud that even contains a CAPTCHA, which could give the user a sense of legitimacy, Macworld explains. Target will stop accepting personal checks next week. Are the days of the payment method numbered? In a protection bulletin issued last week, Symantec, a security software suite, shared an example of a malicious text message sent as part of the smishing attempt: Apple important request iCloud: Visit signin[.]authen-connexion[.]info/icloud to continue using your services. The company noted that some Apple users are receiving the message by email as well. Its unclear how many Apple users may have gotten the message. Regardless of whether it comes as a text or email, there are multiple give-aways that this message is sent by a bad actor. Most notably, if you arent working with Apple support, the message is likely a scam, as the company does not usually send iCloud messages over text. Also, notice the link: as 9to5Mac notes, authen-connexion is a random domain, and iCloud already has its own official website. Apple also does not use CAPTCHA for logging in. Instead, you likely receive a code via text or use Face or Touch ID to log in. Typically [scammers] will send you to a fake website that looks like a real Apple sign-in page and insist that you verify your identity, Apple explains. Apple will never ask you to log in to any website, or to tap Accept in the two-factor authentication dialog, or to provide your password, device passcode, or two-factor authentication code or to enter it into any website. Further still, Apple says it will never ask for your Apple ID in order to provide support. USPS stamp prices are about to go up (again) in 2024: Heres when, how much Never share personal data or security information like passwords or security codes, and never agree to enter them into a webpage that someone directs you to, the company adds. If you receive an email claiming to be Apple that seems suspicious, Apple asks that you forward it to reportphishing@apple.com. If you receive a text instead, Apple recommends sending a screenshot of it to the same email. If youre suspicious about an unexpected message, call, or request for personal information, such as your email address, phone number, password, security code, or money, its safer to presume that its a scam contact that company directly if you need to, Apple says. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 41-year-old man is facing an aggravated assault charge after he allegedly stabbed another man multiple times over the weekend, Socorro Police said. Jesus Angel Huerta, 41, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and has been booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a bond of $500,000, Socorro Police said. Officers responded to a call regarding an aggravated assault at 12:08 a.m. on Sunday, July 7 at the 200 block of Flor Amarilla, according to Socorro Police. When officers arrived at the house, they found a male victim outside on the porch bleeding with multiple stab wounds, Socorro Police said. Police did not say how old the victim was or what led up to the stabbing. The victim was taken to a local hospital and is currently receiving treatment for his injuries, Socorro Police said. According to Socorro Police, Huerta was found inside the home and taken into custody without incident. Detectives with the Socorro Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division arrived at the home to conduct an investigation and obtained a warrant for Huertas arrest, Socorro Police said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Sour Power: TikTok trend can provide relief from panic and anxiety attacks, experts even agree Boston 25 News is taking a closer look at a TikTok trend that claims popping a sour candy in your mouth will help bring sweet relief to anxiety and panic attacks. Videos on the platform have tens of millions of views and posters swear by the sour technique. In one video, a TikTok user said, My therapist told me to eat a Warhead whenever Im feeling a panic attack coming on, and when I say Ive never had anything rip me out of the throws I mean it. Its not only Warheads but also candy like Airheads and Sour Patch Kids. Certified Psychologist Dr. Justin DArienzo calls it distraction with a punch. He said the science behind sour candy includes acidic ingredients that release a rush of dopamine, a chemical linked with pleasure and reward. It is thought-stopping. Its a grounding technique, says DArienzo. And it also triggers the brains natural reward system when you eat it. So, think about spicy foods. It really does the same thing. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 19.1% of people ages 18 and older in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders - making anxiety the most common mental illness in the country. The CDC, Department of Health and Human Services, and Cleveland Clinic all link anxiety and panic attacks to depression. Some experts call it an unhappiness epidemic, blamed on people having more choices than ever, including food, shopping, or information on their smartphones. DArienzo says sour power does have weaknesses. So, to be clear its a tool for acute symptoms. Its not going to cure your anxiety or depression. So, it doesnt replace psychotherapy and medication if thats needed, says DArienzo. What exactly is a panic attack? According to the Mayo Clinic, it includes: A feeling of being out of control A fear of death or impending doom A pounding/racing heart DArienzo says if you are buying sour candy, make sure its a well-known brand from the store and not something online. Thats because theres no telling what those ingredients might be. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A lot of school districts have instituted smartphone bans for students during the school day but a British boarding school has taken it one step further. Wait, scratch that. Theyve taken it one step back. Eton College, the historic and elite British boarding school with famous alumni such as Prince William and Harry, Ian Fleming and Tom Hiddleston, has instituted a new mobile phone policy for its first-year students starting in September. Those students will have to leave their smartphones at home but bring their SIM card to school and put it in an old school, offline Nokia cell phone with a simple number pad that can only make phone calls and send text messages, according to CBS News. The British boarding schools policy is based on guidelines from the UK government that allows principals to enact smartphone bans on students during the school day. Lets hope nobody tells school officials about Snake or those poor kids may have to actually pay attention and learn something. Smartphone bans and guidelines are starting to seep into American school districts as well. According to data from Govspend, 41 states have at least one school district that instituted a rule requiring students to place their smartphones in magnetically sealed Yondr pouches when they go to school. The Los Angeles Unified School District passed a district-wide school phone ban for students in June that prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom to call for a similar law on the state level. Meanwhile in New York City, the citys chancellor of public schools David Banks said he plans to institute a phone ban in the coming weeks. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is working with the states legislature to pass two new bills that would only allow students to carry phones that dont have access internet access Even Florida (yes, that Florida, the one thats home to 10 million Florida Mans) has a statewide smartphone in schools ban that also requires schools to block students from accessing social media on its Wifi networks. New offshore wind plant to bring massive 660-foot tower, 300 jobs to Chesapeake CHESAPEAKE In a win for the nascent Hampton Roads offshore wind industry, a South Korean company plans to build a $681 million manufacturing facility with a massive 660-foot-tall tower for undersea cables in Chesapeake. LS Greenlink USA, a subsidiary of South Korean-based LS Cable & System, plans to construct a 750,000-square-foot manufacturing plant on 100 acres of Chesapeake brownfield, a move that is expected to create more than 330 full-time jobs. Fifteen states were in the mix, and Virginia won, said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick at a Tuesday event in Chesapeake. When constructed, the facility will be the tallest building in Virginia, said LS Greenlink USA Managing Director Patrick Shim. The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center, at 508 feet, is currently the tallest building in Virginia. The announcement is a win for proponents of the regions offshore wind industry, who have long hoped a Dominion Energy wind farm would lure other companies in the offshore wind supply chain to Hampton Roads. To attract the project, Youngkin approved a $13.2 million grant from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund to assist the Chesapeake with this project. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com Ceremony to mark the 74th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in Daegu By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday vetoed a bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegations that military officials and the presidential office interfered in an internal investigation into the death of a marine last year. Yoon, who was visiting the United States to attend a NATO summit, endorsed a motion returning the bill to the National Assembly for it to be reconsidered, his office said. Opposition parties control the assembly after an election win in April but they need at least eight members of Yoon's People Power Party to defect to have the two-thirds majority required to override the veto. Yoon's office criticised the bill as politically motivated. "There should be no more political abuse of the unfortunate death of a Marine who was called by the country and died in the line of duty," a statement from the presidential spokespersons office read. The bill was voted on by the parliament earlier this month but boycotted by members of Yoon's People Power Party. In May, Yoon vetoed a similar opposition-led bill to mandate a special counsel investigation into the marine's death. Yoon has exercised his veto power 15 times since taking office two years ago, one of the highest numbers in the country's democratic history, deepening the confrontation with the parliamentary opposition. The parliamentary stalemate comes as Yoon's latest approval ratings have hovered around the 25% mark since April, and has hamstrung his bid to implement a conservative agenda including tax cuts and deregulation. Over 1.3 million people have so far signed the petition calling for Yoon to be impeached on the National Assembly's website since it went live on June 20. Police on Monday announced its decision not to charge a Marine division commander accused of bearing responsibility for the young soldier who died during a search operation for flood victims while referring six officers to the prosecution. The announcement was met with criticism from the main opposition Democratic Party who accused the police of failing to establish all the facts. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Michael Perry) As the remnants of Beryl make their way Tuesday toward part of Michigan, the Great Lakes Water Authority is warning that heavy rainfall could unleash a deluge in metro Detroit, leading to potential flooding. One to three inches of rain is forecast across southeast Michigan, with as much as 4 inches in some areas. "Beryl is bringing us some heavy rainfall," Sara Schultz, a National Weather Service meteorologist in White Lake Township, told the Free Press. "Showers will start working in this afternoon, and then the heaviest rain will be overnight into Wednesday." A vehicle is left abandoned in floodwater on a highway after Beryl swept through the area in Houston. The good news, however, is that its mostly just rain, she said. Beryl, which at one point was a Category 5 hurricane, has been blamed for at least seven deaths, including six in Texas and one in Louisiana. A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale is the most intense, with wind speeds of 158 mph or more. A view shows a car and fallen trees, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, in El Campo, Texas, July 8, 2024. As for when the storm finally reaches Michigan, there may be rumbles of thunder with flashes of lightning, forecasters said; but not the high winds that have knocked out power to more than 2 million homes and businesses in Texas and other places as the churning storm makes its way north. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely along and to the northeast of the path of Beryl over the next two days, with rainfall totals of 2-5 inches expected from central Arkansas all the way up to parts of Vermont and New Hampshire. Rain showers, forecasters said, started hitting parts of Indiana and Ohio, but the worst of it likely wont hit Michigan until midnight, which means, depending on what kind of flooding it causes, morning commutes for some could be treacherous. Rainfall is expected to continue through Wednesday, but should stop sometime Thursday, giving way to a dry but hot Friday and weekend with highs edging toward 90 degrees or more, which could help get rid of water that hasnt drained away. The water authority which provides wastewater and drinking water treatment in several counties including Wayne, Oakland and Macomb said its system is working, but still warned the excessive rainfall could overwhelm it. More: Remnants of Hurricane Beryl expected to bring rain, possible flooding to Michigan The water authority is urging residents in flood-prone areas to remove items of value from their basements as a precaution, and encouraging everyone to postpone running washing machines and dishwashers during the heavy rainfall to keep water out of the system. Unrelated to the storms, Sylvan issued a do not drink alert Monday, after a man broke reportedly broke into the Washtenaw County townships water treatment facility and tampered with controls, according to Michigan State Police. The suspect, a 33-year-old Belleville resident, was arrested and taken to the Washtenaw County Jail. As for the expected storm, the Great Lakes Water Authority added it is "prepared to operate the system as designed in the face of the anticipated severe storm," but asked residents in "low-lying areas that are prone to flooding during heavy rainfall" to be vigilant. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Beryl approaches southeast Michigan, bringing rain, flood warnings SpaceX continued the Space Coasts record rocket launch pace with a Monday evening liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. A Falcon 9 rocket on the Turksat-6A mission carrying a Turkish communications satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. This was the 15th flight of the first-stage booster, which made a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic. It was the 50th launch of the year from either Canaveral or neighboring Kennedy Space Center, with SpaceX responsible for 47 of them. The other three have been from United Launch Alliance during a year that could see more than 100 missions fly for the first time, besting 2023s record of 72 launches. Both SpaceX and ULA have more launch plans for later this month, including SpaceXs next Starlink launch, slated for July 12. ULA is targeting no earlier than July 30 for an Atlas V mission on the USSF-51 mission for the Space Force, while SpaceX is prepping for the return of billionaire Jared Isaacman to space on the Polaris Dawn mission no earlier than July 31. Isaacman flew on the Inspiration4 mission with three other passengers in 2021 on an orbital mission aboard the Crew Dragon Resilience, which is set to be his ride again. This time hes flying with pilot friend Scott Poteet and two SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. The mission highlight is a planned tethered spacewalk for Isaacman and Gillis, which would be the first commercial spacewalk in history. The flight would mark the fourth crewed mission of what is planned to be six for the year from the Space Coast. _____ People take part in the traditional 'encierro' (bull run) of the San Fermin Festival. The bull-running fiesta is held annually from 06 to 14 July to commemorate the city's patron saint. Ruben Albarran/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa At least two runners were injured during the third bull run at Pamplona's traditional Festival of San Fermin in northern Spain on Tuesday. That meant fewer people were hurt than in previous races, when five to six of the participants ended up in hospital, according to commentators on the state TV station RTVE. They expressed relief after some dangerous scenes during the event. Hundreds of people chase six massive bulls, some weighing over 600 kilograms, and several oxen into an arena in races held until Sunday as part of the annual festival, which dates back to the 16th century. The bulls are corralled into Pamplona's bullring, where they are then killed by matadors during bullfights. While the festival dedicated to the Catholic Saint Fermin also includes numerous concerts and processions, the bull runs and bullfights are the highlight of the festivities. Dozens of runners, most of them young men, are injured every year as they race along the 875-metre course. There have been 16 fatalities since 1924, the last in 2009. Animal rights activists call the bull runs "medieval cruelty," and say it must be halted immediately. The bull run is nothing more than panicked animals trying to escape through crowds of people screaming, they say. Despite this, the festival continues to attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. People take part in the traditional 'encierro' (bull run) of the San Fermin Festival. The bull-running fiesta is held annually from 06 to 14 July to commemorate the city's patron saint. Ruben Albarran/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa SPENCERPORT, N.Y. (WETM) A Spencerport man has been arrested after an incident that led to the injury of a sergeant in Bath at the end of June. According to the Village of Bath Police Department, David C. Cervantes, 38, was arrested on Saturday, June 29, on the charge of assault in the second degree, a class D felony. Bradford man arrested on multiple charges after domestic dispute Cervantess charge stems from an incident that occurred on that same day on Howell Street, where police say a sergeant and an officer were called to assist Bath Ambulance with a medical call around 11:37 a.m. Upon arrival, police say that Cervantes became non-compliant and attempted to strike the sergeant by swinging his elbow at them. Police then say that after a brief altercation, Cervantes kicked the sergeant in the head, causing injury. Inmate charged with assault against Chemung Co. COs Cervantes was then arrested and taken by ambulance to Ira Davenport Hospital, where police say he was found to be under the influence of meth. He was later released and then transported to Bath Police Department for arrest processing before he was transported to the Steuben County Jail to be arraigned at CAP court. Cervantes was then released from CAP court and is set to appear again in court in the future. The injured sergeant was evaluated by medical professionals and suffered trauma to the head as a result of 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. reported a 21% gain in personal computer shipments in the second quarter, the biggest jump among global PC makers as part of a budding industry recovery that produced a second consecutive period of growth. Most Read from Bloomberg Worldwide shipments of desktops and laptops increased 3% from a year earlier in the period ended in June, according to a report Tuesday from IDC, an industry research firm. Apple and Acer Inc., which posted a jump of about 14%, saw the largest growth in shipments among major manufacturers. Two consecutive quarters of growth, combined with plenty of market hype around AI PCs and a less sexy but arguably more important commercial refresh cycle, seems to be what the PC market needed, wrote Ryan Reith, an IDC group vice president. The PC industry experienced historic declines in recent years after consumers, businesses and schools bought new machines during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, then held off on replacements. The results show that a cycle of new purchases is underway, wrote Amit Daryanani, an analyst at Evercore ISI. Computer makers have touted AI PCs, a new type of device designed specifically to run artificial intelligence tasks, as helping fuel a new wave of upgrades. IDC has said only about 3% of PCs shipped this year will be AI-optimized. Dell Technologies Inc.s shipments decreased 2.4% in the quarter, making it the only major company to see a decline, while Lenovo Group Ltd. commanded the highest market share at almost 23%. HP Inc. saw an increase of 1.8% from a year earlier and was the second-biggest PC maker with 21% of the market. Weak demand in China held the overall results back excluding that country, worldwide shipments grew more than 5%, IDC said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. When you can spot the space station above Charlotte Several times a month, Mission Control at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston determines sighting opportunities for the international space station for over 6,700 locations worldwide, including the Carolinas. ALSO READ: Strange debris found in WNC was part of SpaceX spacecraft, NASA says There are several opportunities to see the space station fly over Charlotte and the Carolina skies coming up. How to spot it The station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. It also moves considerably faster than a typical airplane airplanes generally fly at about 600 mph, and the space station flies at 17,500 mph. ALSO READ: Out-of-this-world immersive exhibit coming to Charlotte Here are upcoming dates and times for possible sightings in the Charlotte area: July 8 at 9:34 p.m., visible for 6 minutes, traveling SSW to ENE July 8 at 11:11 p.m., visible for 5 minutes, traveling W to NNE July 9 at 4:06 a.m., visible for 4 minutes, traveling N to ENE July 9 at 10:23 p.m., visible for 6 minutes, traveling WSW to NNE July 10 at 4:54 a.m., visible for 7 minutes, traveling NW to ESE July 10 at 9:34 p.m., visible for 7 minutes, traveling SW to NE July 10 at 11:14 p.m., visible for 2 minutes, traveling NW to N July 11 at 4:06 a.m., visible for 6 minutes, traveling NNW to ESE July 11 at 5:43 a.m., visible for 5 minutes, traveling W to S July 11 at 10:25 p.m., visible for 4 minutes, traveling WNW to NNE July 12 at 3:18 a.m., visible for 5 minutes, traveling NNW to E July 12 at 4:55 a.m., visible for 6 minutes, traveling WNW to SSE July 12 at 9:36 p.m., visible for 6 minutes, traveling W to NNE July 14 at 9:38 p.m., visible for 2 minutes, traveling NW to N For more information click here. If youre not in Charlotte, you can search for dates and times for your city here. (WATCH: The most iconic moments in NASA history) BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Residents of Stallion Springs are being urged to conserve water after a leak in the communitys main water line. The Stallion Springs Public Works Department said the leak is in the main water line that supplies Stallion Springs with drinkable water. The leak prevented the community from supplying enough water to sustain the community, according to Chief of Police Gary Crowell. Dangerous temperatures continue in Kern County As a precautionary measure, the Stallion Springs General Manager and Public Works supervisor sent out a mass notification alert requiring residents to conserve water until further notice. The leak did not contaminate water supply. Residents had normal levels of water pressure during the incident. Crowell confirmed the water is safe to drink Monday afternoon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. My teenage son, who cast the first vote of his life last week (for Labour), surprised me yesterday by revealing that hed actually been paying attention to political developments in the last few days. I think Starmer is doing a pretty good job, he told me, making me immediately nervous lest he decides to copy his old mans mistakes and pursue a political career. But I agreed with him. Because its true. Our new prime minister has settled into his new job remarkably well. Who knows what anxieties are expressed behind that famous black door in the privacy of the Downing Street flat? But from an observers perspective, Starmer looks comfortable, confident and seems to be bringing a sure touch to the job of the nations helmsman. That is as good a start as anyone could have hoped to make after the ructions of Thursday evening and the chaos in government over the last decade or so. Starmer looks and behaves like a grown up, and having a grown up in charge of the government feels like a wholly novel experience. In the first days of any new government it is appointments rather than policy initiatives that catch the eye, that tell you what direction the new administration is headed. And at least a few of Starmers new ministers, especially those from outside his own MPs, tells us that this is someone who is in as much of a hurry to change the country as he was, as opposition leader, to change his party. James Timpsons appointment as prisons minister and (Lord) Peter Hendys new role as railways minister strongly suggest that Starmer wants people to lead policy in areas where they actually have some expertise. Okay, it will never catch on but its encouraging nonetheless. But already there have been mistakes. That so many observers (including Labour supporters) refused to believe the Prime Minister would follow through on making David Lammy foreign secretary spoke much of the confidence those critics had in Starmers common sense and political judgment. But the Prime Minister has disappointed them and the rest of the country by elevating the Tottenham MP to one of the four great offices of state anyway. Perhaps Starmer believed that, having refused to appoint Emily Thornberry to the cabinet (another wise move, incidentally) he couldnt afford to be seen to snub another London MP. Whatever the reason, we now have a foreign secretary whose opposite numbers in Moscow, Beijing and Washington know changes his mind on subjects as fundamental as the nuclear deterrent according to which way the political wind is blowing and who assumes whatever position unilateralist or hawk will best advance his personal career prospects. Before the general election and during the campaign, Starmer sounded as if he was edging towards a more positive position on womens rights, visibly moving on from the days in which he criticised one of his own MPs for suggesting that only women have cervixes and even agreeing with Tony Blair (though not his female colleague who said the same thing) that men have penises and women have vaginas. If there were cynics who thought this was no more than a public relations tactic, an attempt to try to straddle two opposing positions that transwomen are women (as the Stonewall catechism tells us) and women have the right to female-only spaces they look to have been proven right by Starmers decision to appoint Anneliese Dodds as women and equalities minister. Dodds is famously unable to define what a woman actually is, telling the BBCs Womens Hour last year that there are different definitions legally around what a woman actually is. When asked again, she said: I think it does depend what the context is. If the minister responsible for safeguarding womens rights cannot say what a woman actually is, prepare for Starmer to appoint a transport minister unable to tell the difference between a Boeing 747 and the number 12 bus to Clapham. But there has also been a major misstep in policy too, and given that it has happened in the vexed area of immigration, it may be taken as a foreshadow of troubles further down the line. Having cancelled the Rwanda scheme dismissed by Starmer as not being a deterrent at all, despite the fact that it hadnt yet begun to operate by the time the election was called the government has announced that 90,000 illegal immigrants earmarked for a one-way trip to sunnier climes will now be allowed to claim asylum in the UK. And as sure as eggs is eggs, the vast majority of them will be accepted as bona fide refugees desperate to escape the nicer weather, beautiful food and high culture that epitomises the hellhole that is northern France. This has already been condemned by the new shadow home secretary, James Cleverly, as an effective amnesty, and if, as is likely, it is seen as such on the beaches of Calais, we can expect a boom season for Channel crossings this summer. If the government does have a plan to stop the boats, it is already running out of time to implement it. Starmer has made a good start. But he cannot afford to make any more ham-fisted or party-mandated appointments to important government roles. And he certainly cant afford to allow the public to suspect his government is going to adopt a come one, come all approach to illegal immigration. In the early months of a new administration, they are prepared to forgive much. But its the point where the honeymoon ends that he must worry about. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer said he would publish a roadmap showing how the UK would spend 2.5% of its gross domestic product on defence, as the prime minister faced calls from the British military and allies abroad to clarify his policy ahead of this weeks NATO summit in Washington. Most Read from Bloomberg There is no more important duty for me as prime minister than keeping the people of our country safe, Starmer said in remarks emailed by his office as he traveled to the US late Tuesday. The government will launch a strategic review next week to determine the future defence posture of the UK and the capabilities it needs, his office said. It didnt put a timeline on when the review would be completed or when the spending goal would be reached. Questions about the new administrations defense spending plans provide the subtext to Starmers first meetings with world leaders since his Labour Party won a UK election landslide last week, ousting Rishi Sunaks Conservatives. The new premier arrives in Washington for his first international summit with arguably the strongest domestic backdrop in the room, in contrast to US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and other progressive leaders struggling to counter a populist surge in America and Europe. But diplomats have quietly let it be known that the lack of clarity over Labours plans for defense spending have caused uncertainty. The new prime ministers team was made aware in transition talks with government officials that he is likely to face questions from allies on his plans. Starmer has previously committed to achieving the 2.5% spending goal as soon as the public finances allow, without giving any more specifics on timings or how the pledge would be funded. Former premier Sunak this year set a deadline of 2030 though the commitment also came with doubts about funding. Starmer doesnt plan to change his position any time soon, people familiar with his thinking said, although he will still try to portray himself as hawkish on the issue and look to prioritize military spending. The UK is one of NATOs biggest spenders and has been a key supplier of arms to Ukraine since Russias invasion, though the British military has still suffered from years of underfunding, with former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace saying the army was hollowed out by successive administrations. Patrick Sanders, the former head of the army, told the Times newspaper that the UK military was in such a poor state that it would be only able to fight a small war for no more than a month. The governments strategic defense review will assess the military readiness, how to deepen defense ties with NATO allies, develop a new industrial strategy and propose procurement reform, the premiers office said. My message is very, very clear that this NATO summit is an opportunity for allies to stand together to strengthen their resolve, Starmer told reporters. We will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The State College borough council will hold a public hearing on a proposed intermunicipal liquor license next month that, if approved, would bring Buffalo Wild Wings to downtown State College. While council didnt get into the details of the application during Mondays work session, the borough manager gave an overview of the transfer request and how the process typically works. Council will hold a public hearing on Aug. 5 and the applicant, State College Wing Company (doing business as Buffalo Wild Wings) will have the opportunity to present testimony, as will other interested parties, Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said. There will be an opportunity at the work session following that to have further discussion after the public hearing, and then the decision will be scheduled for the Aug. 19 council meeting on the application, he said. The councils action after the public hearing will be to determine if the proposed transfer would adversely impact the welfare, health, peace and morals of the borough or its residents, Fountaine said. Other factors, including information in the application, comments from the public hearing, a report and recommendation from the manager and police chief, can be considered by the council. The intermunicipal transfer is needed in this situation because the state allows one liquor license per 3,000 people. The ability to get a new license is therefore based on transferring from one municipality to another. And that is why this is here before council. When the state law changed to allow that approval at a local level, the ordinance was adopted to allow for this to occur, Fountaine said. When such transfers were approved in the past, the borough has added conditions to the license. The council has recently gone through this process. At least two other restaurants had liquor license transfers approved by borough council since last year. Brothers Bar & Grill and Figo Italian each had their requests approved with conditions. For example, Figo Italian was required to abide by a 60%/40% food-alcohol beverage ratio, alcohol sales are not permitted when food sales are not available and alcoholic beverages must be sold in containers less than 22 fluid ounces. The license that Buffalo Wild Wings is seeking to transfer belongs to Don Patron Mexican Grill, which operated in Patton Township until it closed in March 2017. The deadline for a decision is Aug. 19. The chain is hoping to open at The Maxxen, 131 Hiester St., if the transfer is approved. It would be Buffalo Wild Wings first in Centre County. Its nearest restaurant is in Lycoming County, about an hour and 15 minutes away. It has more than 1,300 locations nationwide, including 30 in Pennsylvania. Power outages in late 2023 and early 2024 affected 911 service in a number of Nebraska counties. (Getty Images) LINCOLN The 911 outages that slammed eastern Nebraska in late 2023 and early 2024 led the Nebraska Public Service Commission this month to file a formal complaint against Windstream, the telecommunications company whose systems failed. The commissions monthslong investigation, which included testimony from 911 center directors, Windstream representatives and state emergency responders, found that the company might have violated state regulations, Chairman Dan Watermeier said. The complaint provides the commission the ability to hold the carrier accountable through punitive actions, Watermeier said in a statement issued Tuesday about three major disruptions of 911 service over the past year. Outages fueled response Those disruptions, which occurred on Sept. 2-3, Nov. 28 and Jan. 13, spurred calls from the PSC and state lawmakers for possible changes, including proposed legislation aimed at speeding up the states public hearings on 911 outages. The PSC is Nebraskas catch-all regulator. Its duties include regulating emergency communications, including 911 service, and helping first responders communicate across radio systems. Windstreams troubles in providing stable 911 service in Nebraska trace to Aug. 28, when a contractor working for a third party accidentally struck a City of Lincoln sprinkler line buried along Centennial Mall, the commissions documents show. A resulting leak into a transformer room at Windstreams Lincoln facility at 1440 M St. sparked a fire and small explosion that shorted out a grounding wire. This killed the power and forced systems used by the 911 centers onto a backup generator. What happened after leak is key But much of the commissions complaint focused on what happened 13 hours later, when the companys backup generator failed and ate through six hours of battery backup. That stranded 911 callers in roughly 17 of 20 911 centers in southeast Nebraska. Brad Hedrick Then in November and January, separate problems with internet network instability isolated Windstreams Lincoln office and required a restart that left Lincolns 911 center down for nearly an hour and several others out for up to two hours. At one point during testimony, David Sankey, director of the PSC division that handles emergency communications, said the outages left 911 calls disrupted across much of southeast Nebraska. He called it a critical failure. Sankey also said Windstream failed to notify the state of the November outage within 14 days, as regulations require. The PSC found that Windstream had not done enough work to prepare, including proper testing of backup systems for power, network switching, redundancy and more, according to the complaint that identified possible regulatory violations. Company responds Windstreams representative who testified before the PSC, Brad Hedrick, oversees operations in a five-state area that includes Nebraska. He said Windstream has since contracted out for backup services, including generators and power and network switches. The company said it has also redesigned its network to reduce the chances of single points of failure, boost the systems redundancies and improve its reliability. Its also worked to boost the number of selective routers handling 911 traffic, Hedrick said. Scott Morris, a spokesman for Windstream, shared a statement Tuesday with the Examiner saying, Windstream is committed to being a reliable communications provider to Nebraskans, and we will continue to work with the commission on this matter. The PSC complaint has been served to Windstream. A public hearing will follow, and Windstream can respond. The PSC will issue a decision after. The post State files complaint against Windstream after investigating Nebraska 911 outages appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Agape Unlimited in Bremerton, is one of the behavioral health providers that will receive state funding. (Conor Wilson/Kitsap Sun) Two critical behavioral health providers in Kitsap County say they will be able to remain open after receiving an injection of state funds last week. The Washington Department of Commerce announced Tuesday that an outpatient facility in Bremerton run by Agape Unlimited and the Kitsap Recovery Center in Port Orchard were both being awarded grants to address urgent capital improvements and stave off the possibility of closure within the next few years. In total, five facilities across Kitsap, Yakima and King counties will benefit from a combined $7.3 million investment from the states Closure Prevention grant program. Award recipients had to demonstrate that without a state investment they were likely to close within the next two years. Many of our community behavioral health providers are operating on a razor-thin margin, Commerce Director Mike Fong said in a press release. Without this critical funding, they would likely be closing their doors in the near future. Commerce estimates the funds will sustain 236 behavioral health beds as well as outpatient treatment services. It is part of a statewide effort to end civil patient placement at the states largest hospitals in favor of placing patients at smaller, community-based facilities. The Kitsap Recovery Center was awarded over $86,400 to repair and replace its fire dampers. That will be required to pass future safety inspections and meet the conditions necessary to operate. The center has 27 inpatient treatment beds and 9 sub-acute detox beds. It serves over 700 patients a year as the only medical detox facility in Kitsap County, said its Clinical Manager Keith Winfield. Receiving the Commerce grant means we can continue to offer low-barrier, impactful service to members of the community, he said in a statement. We are the only detox in our region, and not having that service would be devastating to our community members. Agape Unlimited, a Bremerton-based nonprofit that serves people who suffer from substance abuse, mental health disorders or homelessness, was awarded over $1.38 million. Funds will replace a crumbling retaining wall and parking lot at its outpatient facility off Auto Center Way. Sara Marez-Fields, Executive Director of Agape, said funds would allow them to continue serving the communitys most vulnerable members for years to come. Without this funding our community would have suffered a great hardship by losing a critical behavioral health facility that continues to build programs to support our community, she said in a statement. This article was first published by the Kitsap Sun through the Murrow News Fellow program, managed by Washington State University. By Lewis Jackson and Renju Jose BRISBANE (Reuters) -Australia on Tuesday pledged to boost investment in Pacific Island countries to support their financial systems, as banks cut ties to the region citing risk at a time when China is looking to increase its influence there. Some Western banks have ended long-term relationships with their counterparts in small nations in the Pacific, while others have looked to close operations, limiting access to U.S. dollar-denominated bank accounts. "We know the Pacific has seen the fastest withdrawal of correspondent banking services of any region in the world," Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a speech at the Pacific Banking Forum in Brisbane. "At stake here is the ability of the Pacific to engage with the world," he said, adding that large parts of the region risked being cut off from the global financial system. Between 2011 and 2022, the Pacific region lost around 80% of its correspondent banking relationships in services denominated in U.S. dollars, Australia's Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones told the forum, co-hosted by Australia and the United States. Australia will provide A$6.3 million ($4.3 million) more for the Pacific to develop secure digital identity infrastructure and enhance compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, Chalmers said. Western banks are de-risking to meet financial regulations, which has made it harder to do business in Pacific Island nations that are sometimes behind in compliance standards, in turn undermining financial resilience in these countries, according to experts. Australian bank ANZ is in talks with the government about ways to make its business in the Pacific Islands more profitable, as the exodus of Western financial services fuels concern about rising Chinese influence, its CEO said on Tuesday. ANZ is the biggest lender in the Pacific, with operations in nine countries, though some of those businesses are not financially viable, Shayne Elliott said in an interview. "If we were there purely commercially we would have just shut it down," he said on the sidelines of the forum. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday that Washington's focus was on supporting the Pacific's economic resilience, including through strengthening access to correspondent banks. Western nations that traditionally have held sway in the Pacific have become increasingly concerned about China's plans to increase influence there after Beijing signed key defence, trade and financial deals in the region. Story continues Bank of China signed an agreement with Nauru to explore opportunities there this year after Australia's Bendigo Bank said it would pull out of the country. Chalmers said Australia was working with Nauru to ensure ongoing banking services in the country. In recent years, ANZ exited retail operations in Papua New Guinea, while Westpac considered the sale of its operations in Fiji and Papua New Guinea but decided to keep them. ($1 = 1.4826 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Brisbane and Renju Jose in Sydney; Additional reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Editing by Jamie Freed and Miral Fahmy) After a Massachusetts State Police Board recommended on Monday to suspend disgraced Trooper Michael Proctor without pay, the president of the union expressed concern with the decision. The decision to suspend him without pay pending the outcome of the investigation is disappointing because it shifts Trooper Proctors punishment to his young family, said President of the State Police Association of Massachusetts Brian Williams. His children will lose access to benefits such as health insurance. To mitigate the impact on them, a more reasonable action would have been a suspension that did not affect their medical coverage. Proctor was the lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case and came under fire for a series of unprofessional texts sent in a private group message about Read that was sent to friends, family, and supervisors. Those texts were read aloud in court during the trial. In a duty status hearing on Monday that garnered attention from Read supporters, Interim Massachusetts State Police Col. John Mawn elected to suspend Proctor immediately. Williams says although he does not condone Proctors actions regarding the text messages he is adamant there is no cover-up in the murder case. Regarding the outcome of yesterdays duty status hearing for Trooper Proctor: The State Police Association of Massachusetts will never condone the unacceptable language used in personal text messages presented as evidence during the trial, he said. To date, we have received no information to indicate that his suspension was the result of anything other than these text message exchanges. We would like to reiterate that unless the Departments ongoing investigation proves otherwise, yesterdays actions have no relationship to salacious allegations of cover-ups, collusion or conspiracies offered by the defense. Read is accused of killing her Boston Police Officer boyfriend John OKeefe by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022. Prosecutors said Read and OKeefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away. The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside Alberts home and then dragged outside and left for dead. Every member of the Massachusetts State Police hopes that the OKeefe Family finds peace, comfort, and closure as they continue to mourn the loss of their loved one, Williams said. As these matters continue to evolve, we thank our members who serve dutifully and with distinction. We are proud of the meaningful work they do each day. We also take the duty to fairly and equally represent them very seriously. Because of our obligations to the membership and due to the Departments ongoing investigation, we will be making no additional comment regarding yesterdays hearing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A storm by any other name: why hurricanes can be named Beryl A storm by any other name: why hurricanes can be named Beryl FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The North Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1, bringing three stormsStorm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Storm Christhat impacted Mexico, Texas, and the Caribbean this last month. But how does a tropical storm get named? Making a list, checking it twice The National Hurricane Center (NHC) manages the naming of Atlantic storms and hurricanes through six sets of alphabetical lists. Each list is cycled every six years, meaning that names used in 2024 wont repeat until 2030. Hurricane Beryl made history last night, now what? The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are excluded from these lists due to the challenge of finding appropriate names starting with these letters. During the Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, storms are named sequentially from A to W, skipping the excluded letters. The Atlantic Ocean Primary List for 2024. The next storm in the 2024 season will be named Debby, and the list will continue alphabetically until reaching William. If a storm forms during the off-season, it will take the next name in the list based on the current calendar date. For example, if a tropical cyclone formed on December 28th, it would take the name from the previous seasons list of names. If a storm formed in February, it would be named from the following seasons list of names. A full list of Tropical Cyclone names in 2024 can be found on the National Hurricane Centers website. Van Buren porn actor accused of human trafficking arrested again for assault The history of naming storms The naming of tropical storms traces its origins to the early 20th century when Australian meteorologist Clement Wragge began assigning names to cyclones in the South Pacific. At first, Wragge used names from mythology, politics and even the Greek alphabet, according to the National Hurricane Center. An early example of naming storms after women occurred in George R. Stewarts novel Storm, published in 1941. In his book Hurricanes, Ivan Ray Tannehill describes significant storms, such as Hurricane Santa Ana in 1825 and San Felipe in 1876 and 1928, named after saints. Tannehill also mentions Wragge, who started giving womens names to storms before the end of the 20th century. In 1953, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) adopted female names for storms in the North Atlantic, shifting from a phonetic alphabet system. By 1979, male and female names were included in storm lists for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico in order to promote gender inclusivity, according to the NHC. Today, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) oversees all naming of tropical cyclones worldwide, using an alphabetical list that alternates between male and female names. Considerations the WMO makes when choosing names includes: Character length Ease of pronunciation Cultural significance Uniqueness Weather Blog: No More Greek Alphabet Names For Tropical Storm & Hurricanes! When could a name get retired? When a tropical storm causes significant damage or loss of life, its name is removed from future use on the storm name list. This practice was established in the 1950s following the widespread devastation caused by hurricanes Carol, Edna and Hazel, according to the NHC. A more recent example of a name being retired due to severe impact is Katrina. However, names are not always retired solely based on the extent of damage. Prior to 1979, when the first permanent six-year storm name list was implemented, some names were simply discontinued. For example, in 1966, Fern replaced Frieda without a specified reason. During an annual committee meeting, where various issues are discussed, any offending name is stricken from the list and replaced with a new one. A list of retired names can be found here. Weather 101: Tropical Investigation (INVEST) Why does a tropical storm need a name? Using simple and distinct names in both written and spoken communications is quicker and more reliable than older latitude-longitude methods, according to the National Hurricane Center. This is especially important when the NHC communicates with many scattered stations, coastal bases and ships at sea. Memorable names also help prevent confusion during simultaneous storms, such as distinguishing a slow-moving hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico from a fast-moving one along the Atlantic coast. Misunderstandings and false alarms have occurred in years past when storm advisories broadcast on radio were mistaken for warnings about a different storm hundreds of miles away. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Hudson Valley audiences have heard Jonathan Kruk recite Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," but this week the costumed storyteller will channel Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, with that arch villain, King George III. At 3 p.m. on July 11, at the South Field of Immaculate Conception & Assumption of Our Lady Church in Tuckahoe, Westchester's storyteller extraordinaire will recite the declaration, repeating the feat achieved 248 years ago, when the week-old document was read in New York. (Enter across from 244 White Plains Road, Tuckahoe, NY 10707.) Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk reads the Declaration of Independence during the city of White Plains centennial celebration in 2016. Kruk will reprise his reading at a fundraiser for Tuckahoe's Ward House at 3 p.m. July 11, 2024. The occasion is all about history, kicking off a $1 million fundraising campaign to "preserve, protect and renovate" Tuckahoe's historic Ward House, which sits at the corner of White Plains Road and Winter Hill Road. Kruk the storyteller won't be alone. A fife and drum corps will set the mood, and actor Michael Grillo will portray Westchester patriot Samuel Crawford, who heard the declaration read on July 11, 1776, from the steps of the White Plains Court House and seconded the resolution to make New York a state. According to an historical marker placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution on the traffic triangle across from the Ward House, "Capt. Crawford was killed in a skirmish with British troops on Nov. 18, 1777" on the Ward House property. (Details at www.wardhousefriends.org.) Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk reads the Declaration of Independence during the city of White Plains centennial celebration in 2016. Kruk will reprise his reading at a fundraiser for Tuckahoe's Ward House at 3 p.m. July 11, 2024. Reach Peter D. Kramer at pkramer@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Declaration of Independence reading in Tuckahoe NY by Jonathan Kruk Stranded drivers hold for help outside Las Vegas during busiest week for roadside assistance LAS VEGAS (KLAS) One mile outside Primm the Dong family immediately noticed an issue with their RV when they saw their left rear tire rolling beside thema sign that their Yellowstone trip would face a detour. Darren Dong, a California resident, said he is thankful the wild tire from his 2014 Coachman Leprechaun didnt hit anyone Sunday evening as it flew 300 yards down the shoulder of Interstate 15. My wife got it, its in the [RV] right now, he said. Ive been trying to call for a tow to get us to a repair shop. A spokesperson for AAA Insurance told 8 News Now the Dong familys call for a tow truck comes during the busiest week for emergency roadside assistance following the Fourth of July weekend. One mile outside Primm the Dong family immediately noticed an issue with their RV when they saw their left rear tire rolling beside thema sign that their Yosemite trip would face a detour. (KLAS) One mile outside Primm the Dong family immediately noticed an issue with their RV when they saw their left rear tire rolling beside thema sign that their Yosemite trip would face a detour. (KLAS) One mile outside Primm the Dong family immediately noticed an issue with their RV when they saw their left rear tire rolling beside thema sign that their Yosemite trip would face a detour. (KLAS) Three of the most common calls to AAA are for tires, batteries, and overheated engines, John Treanor, a AAA Insurance spokesperson, wrote in an email to 8 News Now. AAA recommends having a service plan so you can arrange a tow quickly. Dong told 8 News Now he reached out to AAA after being directed to make an account and file a claim but was told it would take 48 hours for service for his RV due to its size and damage. Im on hold with TA Travel Center and I tried several different towing, large haul shops, Dong said. None of them have a rig available for a rear axle incident. Its been a huge ordeal according to Dong who said he is taking away a lesson from waiting for a tow in the Mojave Desert following the busy holiday weekend. Dong told 8 News Now he reached out to AAA after being directed to make an account and file a claim but was told it would take 48 hours for service for his RV due to its size and damage. (KLAS) Ive never had an issue like this to deal with so Im learning all the ins and outs of having to get a tow, he said. Its been very stressful, it may look like Im calm, but Im trying to process everything. Dong said their RV only had around 30,000 miles on it and he is seeking to file a claim with a repair shop that recently serviced his vehicle. Money is not the issue right now, he said. Its just getting home safe. AAA recommends drivers check several items on their vehicle before departing such as: checking tire pressure to avoid underinflated tires, checking battery life which drains quicker during high temperatures, checking vehicle fluids to avoid leaks, and updating smartphone software. If you are an iPhone user with the latest IOS software and a newer iPhone you can get help in areas without cell service, Treanor wrote. Apple and AAA partners use satellites to connect drivers with emergency services. Dong spoke with 8 News Now Monday night over the phone and said he found a flatbed tow truck service that retrieved him and the RV from outside Primm. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Stock.adobe.com photo by Monkey Business. A grassroots organization that advocates for education equity in Maryland could soon be in a jurisdiction near you to talk about the Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform plan. The staff with Strong Schools Maryland has already visited four counties this summer Dorchester, Anne Arundel, Garrett and Prince Georges to talk about the Blueprint plan with residents at local events. The 2024 Tour for Marylands Futures next stops are in Caroline County on Wednesday, Wicomico County on Thursday and Carroll County on Saturday. At least three more are scheduled for later this month: in Baltimore County on July 17, Kent County on July 18 and Baltimore City on July 23. Riya Gupta, policy researcher with Strong Schools Maryland, said the goal is to visit the remaining 14 counties in the state this summer. One aspect learned so far: Some people still dont know much about the Blueprint. Were meeting them where they are, Gupta said. We are partnering with local organizations that are already hosting events in their counties to create presence there, share resources, tell people about what we do. The organization was a leading advocate in passage of the Blueprint when it became law three years ago. One requirement in the Blueprint plan that Strong Schools supports deals with community schools, which receive a concentration of poverty grants and partner with local organizations to help educators, parents and a childs family. Some of the services include before- or after-school tutoring, English-language learner courses and food pantries. A state law that took effect this month outlines the responsibilities of a community school coordinator. That person must determine what type of wraparound services certain students may need, develop an implementation plan and coordinate programs that address out-of-school learning barriers for students and families. Gupta said her organization has heard complaints that some community school coordinators are asked to help with teaching and other administrative duties. They are doing the jobs of teachers and staff when they have a full job of making sure the community school is running, she said. After Strong Schools Maryland completes its summer tour, the plan is to put together a report and submit it to state lawmakers, the Maryland State Board of Education, the Blueprint for Marylands Future Accountability and Implementation Board, and other stakeholders. The organization has a message for those who believe the 10-year plan that is slated to invest billions of dollars annually into education is too expensive. Our students are worth it, Gupta said. We know we have underinvested in our students, specifically our Black and brown students, our students with disabilities, our multi-lingual learners. Theyre our future generations that are going to lead our state and our country. The only way to make them more well-equipped is to invest in them. The post Strong Schools Maryland touring state to talk about Blueprint education reform plan appeared first on Maryland Matters. Some student-loan borrowers might get debt cancellation now that a major forgiveness program is back Some student-loan borrowers might get debt cancellation now that a major forgiveness program is back The Education Department has resumed processing Public Service Loan Forgiveness applications. Processing has been paused since May as borrowers were transitioned away from the servicer MOHELA. The department says it's prioritizing debt relief for borrowers who met PSLF requirements during the pause. A major student-loan forgiveness program is once again up and running. As of July 1, the Education Department resumed processing applications for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments. Application processing had been paused since May to allow the department time to transition borrowers away from the student-loan company MOHELA, which had previously been the sole servicer of PSLF. Now, the task of managing PSLF is being split among several federal servicers, and the Education Department is overseeing the program through studentaid.gov. According to Federal Student Aid, the department is now working to update PSLF payment counts to ensure any payments borrowers made while application processing was paused are accounted for. With the Education Department overseeing PSLF, borrowers are set to see a range of updates, including the ability to monitor the status of their application and track PSLF progress on their student-aid dashboard. Federal Student Aid's guidance also says it's prioritizing loan forgiveness for borrowers who met PSLF requirements during the processing pause. "You will first receive a notice from ED that you have been approved for forgiveness followed by a separate notice from your servicer once the discharge is complete," the guidance says. Borrowers who believe they've reached the number of payments required for relief but don't see that reflected in their accounts can contact their servicer to request a forbearance. If their application is denied, however, the forbearance period won't count toward their relief, and they'll be responsible for payments and any interest accrued during that period. These changes to PSLF result from the Education Department's efforts to overhaul the student-loan industry and make repayment and forgiveness programs easier for borrowers to navigate. The department is also working toward completing its one-time account adjustments, in which it evaluates payments borrowers have made on PSLF and income-driven repayment plans to ensure they're up to date, potentially bringing them to the debt-relief requirements. Other debt-relief efforts are in the works, as well. The Education Department is finalizing its broader debt-relief plan intended to benefit more than 30 million borrowers with the goal of implementation this fall. But the presidential election and likely legal challenges could jeopardize that relief, leaving the fate of broad loan forgiveness uncertain. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) Students attended the Washington County, Tennessee Sheriffs Offices (WCSO) CHAMP Camp on Tuesday. School resource officers (SRO) hosted the second annual camp which features K9s, SWAT, criminal investigations, defensive driving and gun safety. Kids are very inquisitive, WCSO SRO Supervisor and camp organizer Lt. Kevin Sanders said. Theyre always asking questions about an officers job, what they do on a daily basis. So weve devised a camp where we have the different aspects of our job. Brights Zoo holding fundraiser for giraffe conservation Forty middle school students from Johnson City and Washington County, Tennessee attended the camp at the Appalachian Fairgrounds. Sanders said the camp gives students the chance to be around officers and see what they do firsthand. Theyve got hundreds of questions, but this is a chance for them to actually put hands on things and be around, you know, real officers, Sanders said. And they can explain what they do on a daily basis and they can see it firsthand. The camp featured a new addition for its second year: marksmanship. One of the additions we added this year was the marksmanship, Sanders said. So obviously were not going to have them shooting a lot of ammo out here, but our department does have airsoft weapons that we use and training scenarios, things like that. Its a safe means of teaching gun safety and [letting] them get their hands on it and seeing what its like. Accuracy-wise, you know, shoot little targets and so its good for them. The WCSOs CHAMP Camp stands for commitment, honesty, accountable, mentor and positive. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. [Source] Mental health challenges affect Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) communities disproportionately, yet they are less likely to seek help, a recent University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research study found. The research, which analyzed mental health experiences of these communities in California, found that half of respondents reported daily discrimination, and a fifth of Asian Americans experienced hate crimes. Stigma and discrimination : Despite the disproportionate rates of discrimination and instances of mental illness, 16% of Asian American and 24% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults desired mental health assistance, similar to the state average. Fear of gun violence was also significantly higher in AAPI communities. Culture of silence: Experts point to stigma, lack of awareness and limited resources within AAPI communities as contributing factors why they are less likely to seek help. National data shows AAPI patients receive less inpatient care during mental health crises. The researchers suggest culturally competent providers could improve access and comfort levels. Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Study makes groundbreaking observation on children's health after living in low-emission zone: 'We compare children born before and after the introduction of the driving ban' There is now more evidence that reducing emissions is critical for our health and that its reduction is felt as early as the womb. A Berlin-based climate research institute has determined that spending time in a low-emission zone from being in the womb and through the first year of life results in a 13% reduction in asthma medication prescriptions by the fifth birthday. According to Medical Xpress, more than 200 European cities have set up low-emission zones by banning cars with exhaust emissions above a particular level. Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change's research looked at Germany specifically and relied on official air quality measurements and anonymized patient data from the largest health insurance provider, which encapsulates about a third of the population. The focal point of the research was on medical prescriptions for half a million newborns residing in urban environments between 2006 two years prior to the start of Germany's first low-emission zone and 2017. "We compare children born before and after the introduction of the driving ban with a control group of children from cities that introduced a low-emission zone at a later date, but are similar in terms of weather conditions and socioeconomic composition," said lead author Hannah Klauber, per Medical Xpress. According to MedicalXpress, the evaluation of medical prescriptions determined that low-emission zones result in significant cost reductions in the health system over five years. Of these costs, 92% come from asthma medications; the number of asthma prescriptions was reduced by 13% and that saved up to 21% because of their largely high-value preparations. Big picture: low-emission zones reduced medication costs for children by about 30 million euros until 2017. In similar news, research has determined that long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia and the number of heart disease-related deaths as well as worsening mental health. Study co-author Nicolas Koch said their particular research makes room for examining the benefits of certain policies. "This is generally relevant for the evaluation of environmental and climate policies and not least with regard to wider driving bans," said Koch, per MedicalXpress. "There will likely be heated debates on this kind of interventions, and thus a need to quantify health effects properly." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. By Scott Murdoch and Rajasik Mukherjee SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian auto parts retailer Bapcor rejected on Tuesday the A$1.83 billion ($1.23 billion) buyout offer from private equity firm Bain Capital, saying it did not fully reflect the company's value. The company's stock fell by as much as 4.3% in early trade on Tuesday. The Australian benchmark S&P/ASX200 was up 0.65%. Bain Capital had offered to buy Bapcor for A$5.4 per share in cash, representing a 23.9% premium to the stock's June 7 close of A$4.36. But, in a statement on Tuesday, Bapcor - which operates the Midas and Autobarn stores across Australia - said the offer was not in its investors' best interests. Bain Capital declined to comment. Bapcor had a market value of A$1.72 billion as of Monday's close, according to LSEG data. In a separate announcement, Bapcor named Angus McKay as its executive chairman and chief executive officer. The automotive retailer also said its statutory net profit after tax for the second half of the year that ended on June 30 would be hit by impairment charges in the retail business. It said the "quantum of these charges will be confirmed as part of the year-end process". Bapcor had forecast its proforma net profit for the year that ended on June 30 would be between A$93 million and A$97 million compared to $A125.3 million in 2023. It will report its full year results on Aug. 21. ($1 = 1.4846 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi, Subhranshu Sahu and Muralikumar Anantharaman) EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Pasos Sun Metro bus system will be getting more than $30 million in federal funding to replace aging buses and fight air pollution in the El Paso region, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced on Tuesday, July 9. The City of El Pasos Mass Transit Department will receive $30,597,000 in funding. Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportations FTA announced funding for about $1.5 billion to support 117 projects to improve public transportation in 47 states. Sun Metro will receive funding to buy new compressed natural gas buses to replace older buses that have exceeded their useful life and to construct new bus canopies. This project will allow Sun Metro to offer a more reliable service and reduce harmful emissions while improving environmental justice for underserved communities in the City of El Paso, according to the news release and list of projects released by the FTA on Tuesday. The FTA has awarded nearly $5 billion in the past three years to replace and modernize transit buses on Americas roadways, building new technology with American workers. U.S. factories will produce more than 4,600 of these new buses, according to the announcement. The New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive $9.8 million in funding, and the South Central Regional Transit District, which serves Dona Ana County and has routes tying into El Paso, will get part of that. According to the announcement, SCRTD will use its portion of the funding to buy a new hybrid-electric bus and will build a new transit facility in Las Cruces to support the expansion of its service. Today, another 117 communities across 47 states are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a news release. The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies replace old buses running on dirtier, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go. The funding continues the Biden-Harris Administrations historic federal investments in the nations bus systems and the transit workforce, according to the announcement. About 80 percent of the buses being funded will run on zero or low emission technology, reducing air pollution and helping meet the presidents goal of zero emissions by 2050. These programs also advance President Bidens Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate, clean energy, clean transportation, and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution, according to the news release. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, said: Emissions from older diesel busses contribute to the transportation sectors disproportionate role in climate change and increase the risk of respiratory illnesses among passengers. Through the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal government is investing $30 million in our community, a critical addition to the millions already allocated to El Paso since it passed in 2021. I was proud to champion legislation that touches the lives of so many El Pasoans to provide cleaner, more reliable, and more economically sound public transportation. This funding is in addition to the $750,000 secured by Escobar for Sun Metro in FY24, according to the congresswomans office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Elena Malone has been living in a three-bedroom home in Sun Valley for three years, having fallen in love with the home as soon as she saw it. Grow your own tomatoes, couple fruit trees, and it just seemed like a great place to raise kids, Malone said. She said at first it was a place where her kids played and felt safe, but over time, she said their next-door neighbor took all that away with what she described as a six-acre junkyard. It just kind of multiplied and became things that were pretty worrisome, you know, burnt car batteries, bags of trash, debris, moldy clothes, cigarette boxes, Malone said. Her biggest concern? Fire danger in the area. Back in 2017, the La Tuna Fire tore through more than 7,000 acres, the largest in the city of Los Angeles in 50 years. If there is a fire and we cant get out our front gate we are trapped here, Malone said. Video over the property from the air shows dozens of vehicles, a shipping container, an ambulance and large appliances like refrigerators, often bleeding down towards Elenas front gate. A family in Sun Valley is feeling trapped by a neighbors sprawling and constantly growing junk collection as seen on July 8, 2024. (KTLA) A family in Sun Valley is feeling trapped by a neighbors sprawling and constantly growing junk collection as seen on July 8, 2024. (KTLA) A family in Sun Valley is feeling trapped by a neighbors sprawling and constantly growing junk collection as seen on July 8, 2024. (KTLA) The property owner didnt respond to KTLA but told the L.A. Times that her son lives on the property and the scavenging became much worse after flames destroyed the home in 2017. Fires, then mudslides and now a growing collection of junk have taken over the area, but she hasnt forced him out, telling the Times, I love my son. But for Elena, enough was enough after her husband, Josh, was diagnosed with cancer. My husband just finished treatment for cancer, she said. I was stuck behind this gate when he was undergoing chemotherapy, vomiting, and I couldnt get out to go pick him up because there was a car here. Thats when she turned to city officials for help. Unfortunately, she hasnt gotten very far. Instead, shes been stuck in the middle of a back-and-forth between local police and the federal government. LAPD says we wont go on the property because its hazardous waste. EPA says were only concerned with whats under the property, but we cant go on it because theres too many vehicles. So until LA city clears it, we wont go on the property,' she recalled. This left her feeling that something terrible has to happen before anyone will help her. All of those agencies have failed our family and the whole community. I mean, it feels like at this point theyre just waiting for the next fire, Malone said. Undeterred, Elena said she is going to keep fighting until her family is safe. KTLA reached out to L.A. City Council Member Monica Rodriguezs office and the mother of the man living at the property, but so far, have not heard back. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. What Were Tracking Sunny, warm through the week Limited rain chances Getting hot late week & weekend Temperatures this morning are yet again below average in the lower to middle 60s. The sky is partly cloudy. Most of the thicker cloud cover stays off and towards the east as the remnants of Beryl push into Missouri. Expect more near-average July weather for the next few days this week. Highs Tuesday climb into the middle to upper 80s with a light north breeze. Dry air is still in place so it will feel nice and comfortable. Our next several days look to be mostly dry as mostly sunny weather dominates the Central Plains. We gradually warm back up through out the week, eventually getting hot again by the weekend. KSNT Storm Track Meteorologist Ely Millard Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. New Hampshire cities and towns will be required to provide accessible voting machines for all elections after January 2025, according to a bill signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu this month. House Bill 1264, signed by Sununu July 3, states that every municipality must ensure that each polling place has at least one accessible voting system during every election. And it creates a pilot program requiring the Secretary of States Office to share those machines with towns and cities in spring 2025. A steady flow of Exeter voters go to the polls to cast their local election choices March 12, 2024. Now those of us with vision and print disabilities will be able to vote independently and keep our votes private like everyone else, said Jean Shriner, an activist, in a statement reacting to the signing Friday. For me, as a blind person, its empowering and exciting. Currently, the Secretary of States Office provides accessible voting machines to cities and towns only during federal elections as required by federal law. That includes the September state primaries, the November general elections, and the presidential primaries. But the state does not provide the machines to cities and towns for other elections, such as town meetings. And only two New Hampshire municipalities Concord and Exeter currently own such machines for those elections. Both municipalities purchased the machines only after residents threatened to bring legal action against them using the Americans with Disabilities Act. The machines are tablets connected to keyboards and headphones that allow those with sight, hearing, or other disabilities to cast ballots without needing to tell a local official their vote. Voters can use the headphones to have an automated voice read the candidate names and allow them to select their choices, and they can use the tablets to accurately select the right candidates. The machines then print out a ballot with the bubbles of the selected candidates filled in; that ballot can be added to a voting tabulator with all others. Advocates for the bills, who include people with disabilities, said that when it came to the availability of machines, the lack of consistency between federal and non-federal elections was unfair. Even though the state owns the machines used in federal elections, Secretary of State Dave Scanlan has argued that programming them and lending them out for each town election would not be feasible. The issue recently caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice; in 2018, the federal agency began investigating the city of Concord for its failure to provide the machines, prompting the city to buy the machine in a settlement. Supporters of HB 1264 said it was only a matter of time before more lawsuits forced other towns and cities to do the same. The bill creates a pilot program by which the Secretary of States Office must share the machines it has with cities and towns for the first six months of 2025 town meeting season. That will allow municipalities to use the states machines during a year in which there are no other statewide elections, eliminating Scanlans concerns about reprogramming the machines in time, supporters say. Lawmakers are then hoping to secure state money in the next two-year budget in 2025 in order to help towns purchase the machines themselves. The secret ballot is a fundamental part of ensuring a strong democracy, said Rep. Mark Paige, an Exeter Democrat and the bills prime sponsor, in a statement reacting to the bill signing. This bill sends the message that discriminating against voters with disabilities in local elections will no longer be tolerated. This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sununu signs bill requiring accessible voting machines in all NH towns FILE - Abortion rights activists and Women's March leaders protest as part of a national day of strike actions outside the Supreme Court, June 24, 2024, in Washington. A new poll finds that a solid majority of Americans oppose a federal abortion ban and that a rising number support access to abortions for any reason. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) WASHINGTON (AP) A solid majority of Americans oppose a federal abortion ban as a rising number support access to abortions for any reason, a new poll finds, highlighting a politically perilous situation for candidates who oppose abortion rights as the November election draws closer. Around 6 in 10 Americans think their state should generally allow a person to obtain a legal abortion if they don't want to be pregnant for any reason, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Thats an increase from June 2021, a year before the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure, when about half of Americans thought legal abortion should be possible under these circumstances. Americans are largely opposed to the strict bans that have taken effect in Republican-controlled states since the high courts ruling two years ago. Full bans, with limited exceptions, have gone into effect in 14 GOP-led states, while three other states prohibit abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, before women often realize theyre pregnant. They are also overwhelmingly against national abortion bans and restrictions. And views toward abortion which have long been relatively stable may be getting more permissive. Vincent Wheeler, a 47-year-old Republican from Los Angeles, said abortion should be available for any reason until viability, the point at which health care providers say it's possible for a fetus to survive outside the uterus. Theres so many reasons as to why someone may want or need an abortion that it has to be up to that person of what they have to do in that specific circumstance, Wheeler said, acknowledging that some fellow Republicans might disagree. Likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has declined to endorse a nationwide abortion ban, saying the issue should be left up to the states. But even that stance is likely to be unsatisfying to most Americans, who continue to oppose many bans on abortion within their own state, and think Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to abortions nationwide, according to the poll. Seven in 10 Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, a slight increase from last year, while about 3 in 10 think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. Robert Hood, a 69-year-old from Universal City, Texas, who identifies as an independent liberal, has believed that abortions should be allowed for any reason since he was an 18-year-old high school senior, because life is full of gray situations. He recalls reading stories as a teenager about women who died trying to get an abortion before the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision provided a constitutional right to the procedure. Pregnancy is complicated, he said. Women should make the choice with the advice of their doctor and family, but at the end of the day its her choice and her body and her life. He said he would support national protections for abortion rights. Views on abortion have long been nuanced and sometimes contradictory. The new AP-NORC survey shows that even though the country is largely antagonistic to restrictions on abortion, a substantial number of people hold opinions and values that are not internally consistent. About half of those who say a woman should be able to get an abortion for any reason also say their state should not allow abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy and about one-quarter say their state should not allow abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the vast majority of Americans more than 8 in 10 continue to say abortion should be legal in extreme circumstances, such as when a patient's life would be endangered by continuing the pregnancy. About 8 in 10 say the same about a pregnancy caused by rape or incest or when a fetal anomaly would prevent the child from surviving outside the womb. National bans on abortion are broadly unpopular: Around 8 in 10 Americans say Congress should not pass a federal law banning abortion. About three-quarters say there should not be a federal law banning abortion at six weeks, and 6 in 10 oppose a federal law banning abortion at 15 weeks. Most Republicans about two-thirds, according to the survey say a nationwide abortion ban should not happen. On the campaign trail, Trump has courted anti-abortion voters by highlighting his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe. But his strategy on abortion policy has been to defer to the states, an attempt to find a more cautious stance on an issue that has become a major vulnerability for Republicans since the 2022 Dobbs decision. Despite Trump's statements, Penny Johnson, 73, from Sherman Oaks, California, said she is still afraid Republicans might pursue a national abortion ban if they win the White House and Congress in November. ___ The poll of 1,088 adults was conducted June 20-24, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. ___ Fernando reported from Chicago. Associated Press polling writer Linley Sanders contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. 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. 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. 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. The post Supreme Court gives Trump a special exception that will delay his prosecution appeared first on Source New Mexico. This is a special edition of Keeping Up With the Trump Trials. The Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump (and all future presidents) enjoys absolute immunity for official acts committed while in office. The decision will affect every one of the criminal indictments Trump is currently facingeven the hush money case, in which a jury already found the former president guilty of 34 feloniesand in order to make sense of what could happen next, were going through Trumps legal cases one by one to understand how his immunity affects each prosecution. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump is in fact immune from criminal prosecution for official acts he undertook while in office, and now the judges assigned in all four of his criminal indictments must go back to the drawing board to figure out what comes next. These judges must comb through every page of prosecutors lengthy indictments to delineate which of Trumps actions should be considered an official actwhich prosecutors can no longer touch, as a charge or evidenceor an unofficial act, which carries no immunity protection. The court didnt offer many guidelines here, declaring only that official acts are core presidential powers. Though Chief Justice John Roberts did write that Trumps discussions with his Department of Justice, during which he pushed to have the 2020 election results overturned, are an official act. So are Trumps actions to push his vice president, Mike Pence, to reject swing states electoral votes on Jan. 6. In order to suss out what could happen next, we spoke to Adam Pollock, a former assistant attorney general of New York, and went through each of Trumps indictments to get a sense of where the cases stood before the SCOTUS immunity decision and how they stand to change. This was the case about Trumps affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels and how the former president orchestrated a hush money scheme to keep Daniels quiet ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Its the only criminal case against Trump that has gone to trial, and a jury found the former president guilty of 34 felony counts. Before SCOTUS decision: New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan had scheduled Trumps sentencing for Thursday. Whats next: Immediately after the ruling, Merchan announced that sentencing would be delayed until Sept. 18 while he considered both sides arguments on how presidential immunity affects the conviction. He will spend the next three months deciding which, if any, portions of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs criminal indictment contain official acts that Trump should be immune from. The bulk of this case rests on Trumps personal activity, before he entered the White House, which would be considered unofficial acts that are not protected by presidential immunity. Trumps attorneys havent disputed that fact and instead are arguing that the evidence prosecutors used in this caseTrumps social media posts and phone recordsshould be considered official-acts evidence. Pollock feels that this argument doesnt hold water, since talking while president doesnt alone transform something into an official act. What may get dicey is that multiple Trump White House officials, including his former Communications Director Hope Hicks, testified during the hush money trial; Hicks testimony affirmed that Trump knew about the Daniels payment and cared about how news of the payment was playing with the publics perception of him. Merchan could find that Hicks was an official adviser to the president. That would make her testimony off-limits for prosecutors because, according to SCOTUSs immunity decision, testimony or private records of the President or his advisers cant be used as evidence. However, Pollock believes, even if Merchan finds that Hicks conversation with Trump was an official act, it may not undo the former presidents guilty verdict. He would still likely find it to be a harmless error that didnt affect the jurys consideration, said Pollock. Merely talking while president should not convert the conversation to an official act. My impression is that the test should be about what they are talking about and not who theyre talking to. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump and 18 others under Georgias RICO law for participating in an illegal plot to overturn the states 2020 election resultsaka the fake-electors scheme. Since the beginning of this year, this case has been plagued with drama after misconduct allegations surfaced about Willis. Before SCOTUS decision: This case has been on pause since June, when Georgias Court of Appeals ordered that all pretrial proceedings be halted until it could resolve an appeal from Trumps attorney that seeks to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the former president. Whats next: Once the appeals court rules issues its ruling, the case will go back to Judge Scott McAfee, who will have to consider a big question: Was Trumps attempt to influence fake electors in the aftermath of the 2020 election an official act? Pollock thinks the answer is a pretty straightforward no: The only reason you would be attempting to influence electors is with your candidate hat on and not your president hat on. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barretts concurring opinion seems to hint at this, with a footnote that acknowledges, Sorting private from official conduct sometimes will be difficultbut not always. She proceeds to write that the Presidents alleged attempt to organize alternative slates of electors, in her view, is conduct thats private and not entitled to immunity protection. Willis indictment also includes conversations Trump had with his Justice Department, which would be off-limits for her. Whats not clear is whether Willis can still use Trumps infamous phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he demanded that 11,780 votes be found to overturn Bidens victory in the state. SCOTUSs decision did not explicitly rule on how to interpret Trumps conversations with a wide variety of state officials and private persons, leaving that to McAfee to parse. Special counsel Jack Smiths election-interference indictment charges Trump with four felony counts in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S., citing his actions on Jan. 6 and in the fake-electors scheme, which targeted seven states Trump lost to President Joe Biden. Trumps attorneys have been insisting that the case be thrown out because the former president holds absolute immunity, an argument that U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, the first to rule on the question, initially rejected. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals later rejected it too. Trumps defense team refused to let up and continued to appeal Chutkans decision until the case was taken up by the Supreme Court, and finally the former president hit the jackpot. Before SCOTUS decision: Chutkan had placed this case on pause six months ago, until SCOTUS could rule on Trumps presidential immunity appeal. Whats next: Although Chutkan is tasked with going through Smiths lengthy indictment and deciding which of Trumps actions are official and unofficial, this is the one case for which the Supreme Court offered some swim lanes. Conversations Trump had with his DOJ are off the table for Smith to use to charge Trump or to submit as evidence, as are Trumps actions to pressure Pence to reject states electoral votes. However, theres still the larger fake-electors scheme, in which Trump and his attorneys worked across seven swing states to assemble fake electors to send in phony certificates to Congress that falsely certified Trump, not Biden, as the winner of the 2020 election. The courts majority opinion failed to rule on how to interpret these actions, simply delegating lower courts to figure it out. Its hard to view that as anything more than stall and delay or catch and kill, said Pollockshould Chutkan make a decision that goes against Trump, his defense team will almost certainly appeal. And the case could very well end up in front of SCOTUS again, this time in a much more narrow way. Other experts predict that Trumps defense team will argue that his actions around the fake-electors scheme were necessary election oversight and his discussions with state officials simply a way of ensuring that the election had been run appropriately. Also spearheaded by Smith, this indictment charges Trump with 37 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents, obstructing justice, and making false statements. Trumps personal aide Walt Nauta also faces charges in this indictment. Before SCOTUS decision: Judge Aileen Cannon wiped the trial date for this case back in May, and since then, she has been slowly issuing orders and holding hearings to resolve a mountain of pretrial motions filed by Trumps legal team. Whats next: Trumps lawyers have already filed a request with Cannon to review the classified documents case for official conduct that would be immune from prosecution. Smith has said that the Supreme Courts immunity decision has no bearing on the classified documents indictment since the case deals with Trumps actions after the presidency. Pollock agrees with the special counsel here. Theres really no way that this should turn on official acts, he noted. However, Cannon has been extraordinarily sympathetic to Trumps defense, he said, so its hard to tell exactly how shell apply SCOTUSs immunity decision. Trumps lawyers also filed a fresh motion arguing that Smiths appointment as special counsel was illegal, a position that has gained steam from Justice Clarence Thomas concurring opinion stating that Smiths appointment was invalid because there is no law establishing the office that the Special Counsel occupies. Cannon recently held four-hour hearing on this very topic but has yet to issue a decision. Pollock asserts that, regardless of how Cannon rules, Trumps defense team will file an interlocutory appealan appeal of a judges decision before a case goes to trialto try to ultimately get Smiths entire indictment dismissed. I dont doubt that the creative legal minds in the Trump team could come up with some idea of how to get this decision before the Supreme Court, said Pollock. They have a sympathetic judge, a relatively sympathetic appellate court, and a relatively sympathetic Supreme Court. Getty Images. A landmark Supreme Court decision that reins in federal agencies authority is expected to hold dramatic consequences for the nations health care system, calling into question government rules on anything from consumer protections for patients to drug safety to nursing home care. The June 28 decision overturns a 1984 precedent that said courts should give deference to federal agencies in legal challenges over their regulatory or scientific decisions. Instead of giving priority to agencies, courts will now exercise their own independent judgment about what Congress intended when drafting a particular law. The ruling will likely have seismic ramifications for health policy. A flood of litigation with plaintiffs like small businesses, drugmakers, and hospitals challenging regulations they say arent specified in the law could leave the country with a patchwork of disparate health regulations varying by location. Agencies such as the FDA are likely to be far more cautious in drafting regulations, Congress is expected to take more time fleshing out legislation to avoid legal challenges, and judges will be more apt to overrule current and future regulations. Health policy leaders say patients, providers, and health systems should brace for more uncertainty and less stability in the health care system. Even routine government functions such as deciding the rate to pay doctors for treating Medicare beneficiaries could become embroiled in long legal battles that disrupt patient care or strain providers to adapt. Groups that oppose a regulation could search for and secure partisan judges to roll back agency decision-making, said Andrew Twinamatsiko, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at Georgetown Universitys ONeill Institute. One example could be challenges to the FDAs approval of a medication used in abortions, which survived a Supreme Court challenge this term on a technicality. Judges will be more emboldened to second-guess agencies, he said. Its going to open agencies up to attacks. Regulations are effectively the technical instructions for laws written by Congress. Federal agency staffers with knowledge related to a law say, in drugs that treat rare diseases or health care for seniors decide how to translate Congress words into action with input from industry, advocates, and the public. Up until now, when agencies issued a regulation, a single rule typically applied nationwide. Following the high court ruling, however, lawsuits filed in more than one jurisdiction could result in contradictory rulings and regulatory requirements meaning health care policies for patients, providers, or insurers could differ greatly from one area to another. One circuit may uphold a regulation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for example, while other circuits may take different views. You could have eight or nine of 11 different views of the courts, said William Buzbee, a professor at Georgetown Law. A court in one circuit could issue a nationwide injunction to enforce its interpretation while another circuit disagrees, said Maura Monaghan, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton. Few cases are taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, which could leave clashing directives in place for many years. In the immediate future, health policy leaders say agencies should brace for more litigation over controversial initiatives. A requirement that most Affordable Care Act health plans cover preventive services, for example, is already being litigated. Multiple challenges to the mandate could mean different coverage requirements for preventive care depending on where a consumer lives. Drugmakers have sued to try to stop the Biden administration from implementing a federal law that forces makers of the most expensive drugs to negotiate prices with Medicare a key cog in President Joe Bidens effort to lower drug prices and control health care costs. Parts of the health care industry may take on reimbursement rates for doctors that are set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services because those specific rates arent written into law. The agency issues rules updating payment rates in Medicare, a health insurance program for people 65 or older and younger people with disabilities. Groups representing doctors and hospitals regularly flock to Washington, D.C., to lobby against trims to their payment rates. And providers, including those backed by deep-pocketed investors, have sued to block federal surprise-billing legislation. The No Surprises Act, which passed in 2020 and took effect for most people in 2022, aims to protect patients from unexpected, out-of-network medical bills, especially in emergencies. The high courts ruling is expected to spur more litigation over its implementation. This really is going to create a tectonic change in the administrative regulatory landscape, Twinamatsiko said. The approach since 1984 has created stability. When the FDA or CDC adopt regulations, they know those regulations will be respected. That has been taken back. Industry groups, including the American Hospital Association and AHIP, an insurers trade group, declined to comment. Agencies such as the FDA that take advantage of their regulatory authority to make specific decisions, such as the granting of exclusive marketing rights upon approval of a drug, will be vulnerable. The reason: Many of their decisions require discretion as opposed to being explicitly defined by federal law, said Joseph Ross, a professor of medicine and public health at Yale School of Medicine. The legislation that guides much of the work in the health space, such as FDA and CMS, is not prescriptive, he said. In fact, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in an episode of the Healthcare Unfiltered podcast last year that he was very worried about the disruption from judges overruling his agencys scientific decisions. The high courts ruling will be especially significant for the nations federal health agencies because their regulations are often complex, creating the opportunity for more pitched legal battles. Challenges that may not have succeeded in courts because of the deference to agencies could now find more favorable outcomes. A whole host of existing regulations could be vulnerable, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF. Other consequences are possible. Congress may attempt to flesh out more details when drafting legislation to avoid challenges an approach that may increase partisan standoffs and slow down an already glacial pace in passing legislation, Levitt said. Agencies are expected to be far more cautious in writing regulations to be sure they dont go beyond the contours of the law. The Supreme Courts 6-3 decision overturned Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which held that courts should generally back a federal agencys statutory interpretation as long as it was reasonable. Republicans have largely praised the new ruling as necessary for ensuring agencies dont overstep their authority, while Democrats said in the aftermath of the decision that it amounts to a judicial power grab. This story was originally published by KFF Health News, 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. Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post The Supreme Court just limited federal power. Health care is feeling the shockwaves. appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. HARTLAND TWP. Staff dissatisfaction with Hartland's Board of Education has increased by 30% in two years, according to an internal survey obtained by The Daily. When asked whether they "value and support the operation of the district under the current board of education, 41% of teachers and staff at Hartland Consolidated Schools chose disagree to strongly disagree." More responded that way, 60%, in 2023. But the number has risen starkly from just 10% in 2022. And some employees who chose "agree to strongly agree" in 2024 later clarified they only feel supported by some board members. In their responses, many were concerned with three conservative representatives: Michelle Blondeel, Glenn Gogoleski and Greg Keller. The three campaigned together as "Clean Slate" candidates under the slogan "Education Not Indoctrination." They've also championed policies criticized by some as being anti-LGBTQ+. Staff dissatisfaction with Hartland's Board of Education has increased by 30% in two years, according to an internal survey obtained by The Daily. In a separate question, when asked whether staff felt their opinions "are valued by the board in decisions that affect your job, 58% of survey respondents answered some or none of the time. That was up from 49% in 2023 and 42% in 2022. A total of 229 of 500 employees responded to the survey. The results have prompted the board's personnel committee to discuss how to improve morale and bridge political divisions between members. The board agreed to gather in small groups, discuss agenda items and attempt to better understand each other's politics. Recently retired teacher Carol Hall isn't surprised staff expressed displeasure with the board. She told The Daily she has been appalled by the actions of the "Clean Slate" board members. Hall, who worked with special education students for many of her 25 years with the district, said comments from those board members have degraded special education and LGBTQ+ students. Last year, the board narrowly passed a policy change introduced by Gogoleski that effectively banned "safe space" stickers featuring a rainbow which are meant to signal the classroom is a safe space for LGBTQ+ students and other Pride displays. The policy passed 4-3 with support from all three "Clean Slate" members and current board president Meghan Glabach. On June 17, the board tabled a discussion of whether to require students to use a bathroom matching their birth certificate or else change their birth certificate, or attend a "wrap-around" meeting with parents, administrators, and school staff to review whether their claim is "genuine." The possible change prompted the ACLU of Michigan to send a letter in opposition, dated Friday, June 14. "We have serious concerns with this proposed policy, in that it singles out transgender students for discriminatory treatment regarding access to bathrooms and puts those students who are not 'out' to their parents at risk for harm," ACLU officials wrote. It has been totally disheartening," Hall said of the board's actions. "The names that (some) board members have called these students is awful. I dont distrust the entire school board, as the majority, I feel, are good people who have the best interests of students in mind. I just feel angry. She decided to retire this year. I just cant work under them, she said. These (board members) are just mean, and I wish more people would stand up to them. I can understand, though, why they dont. I encountered many teachers who feel the same way I do. Gogoleski responded after several negative public comments on June 17. "What I find really interesting is that you can have so many people supposedly upset with three individuals and talk about that repeatedly, one, not citing one incident," he said. "Two, never mentioning any one particular person but naming the three. It kind of reeks of being laid out and having an agenda. And to hear some people come up to the microphone and accuse people of having a political agenda while they wear their social cause de jure shirts, well, I'll tell you it loses a lot of punch when you come up here and complain." In the survey, one staff member wrote the three board members "seem to treat (their) position as a pulpit for their political and religious views." "Their continued harassment and questioning of the district makes it hard to do the work that district employees are here to do educate kids," they wrote. The Daily reached out for comment to all seven school board members by email. Four board members Kristin Coleman, Chris Costa, Glabach and Cindy Shaw responded. Blondeel, Gogoleski and Keller did not. The four who responded generally agreed that teachers don't feel supported or heard. "They do not feel empowered or trusted to do the job they've been hired to do, and have successfully done for years," Coleman wrote. "And unfortunately, with all the noise going on at the board level, they feel unheard or lost in the mix." Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage "The common theme," Shaw wrote, "is that teachers want a board of education that supports and respects them and their profession and allows them to do their job and meet students where they are." "They want board meetings to be about students, and no one's particular agenda," Glabach wrote. "In addition, they want to know that the board trusts in them and believes that they are educated to do their jobs appropriately and with the utmost integrity." "It is clear that a portion of the board of education is having an impact on the HCS staff and students, and not in a positive way," Costa wrote. "As I read the comments about the board, it was evident that the teachers are frustrated." Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Survey: Hartland teachers are fed up with their school board's politics Survey: Rent spike in Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port is No. 2 in the nation A survey from a private company that offers online consumer news and customer reviews found that rent in the North Port, Sarasota, Bradenton metro area rose by 54.8% over the past four years the second largest spike of any major U.S. cities between 2019 and 2023. Only Knoxville, Tennessee, had a larger increase. The report by ConsumerAffairs, a private company that aimed at helping people make purchasing decisions, comes on the heels of a report from Lawn Love, a nationwide lawn service network that ranked the Sarasota-Bradenton area as the 17th-most expensive metro area for renters and sixth-highest in Florida. Lofts on Lemon is located at 750 Cohen Way, in Sarasota. A companion development, Lofts on Lemon II is also in the works on the same property. ConsumerAffairs considered data for the entire MSA, or metropolitan statistical area, which is identified as North Port, since its the largest municipality in the two-county region. The survey included the 70 largest MSAs in the country, but because of data discrepancies left out five New England metropolitan regions: Boston and Worcester Massachusetts; Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island. RENTS: How much do apartments cost in the Sarasota-Bradenton area? We crunched the numbers What did the survey say about rent increases? Overall, the ConsumerAffairs survey revealed that almost two-thirds of renters spent more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. In Sarasota-Manatee, rents increased from a median cost of $1,559 to $2,413, which was larger than the 54.4% increase for the same period in Miami and a 51.3% increase in Tampa. The report incorporates data from Zillow, which currently logs the median rent in the area at $2,871 for all property types, with an area median income of $64,000 annually. Other survey findings from around the country include: 38% of renters said they cant comfortably afford their rent without facing financial strain. Of the renters who spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent, 16% devote 75% or more of their paychecks to rent. 48% of renters say theyve taken on debt, including credit cards, personal loans, or borrowing from family to pay their rent. According to ConsumerAffairs, The median rent in the U.S., $1,958 per month, vs. a median wage of $48,069. During the 2019-23 study period, wages increased 20.7% but rents increased 30.5%. The complete data can be found at https://www.consumeraffairs.com/moving/state-of-rent-prices-in-america.html. What is being done about high rent in Sarasota-Manatee? None of these findings are news to local government officials and those involved in improving the number of affordable apartments. A 2023 update of a report on Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed families in the region that was released by the United Way of the Suncoast showed that through 2021, the number of total households living paycheck to paycheck grew to 615,627 in the five-county region. The area includes Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. On Monday, the Sarasota Housing Authority hosted a grand opening of Cypress Square, an 84-unit complex that includes 18 one-bedroom, 36 two-bedroom, 24 three-bedroom, and six four-bedroom apartments available to those earning 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income. The Sarasota County Commission has also dedicated $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to affordable housing with nonprofit developers, a decision that is intended to spur the creation of more than 700 homes. On Wednesday, the commission will award $40 million of the $201.5 million post-Hurricane Ian federal block grant program known as Resilient SRQ for affordable multifamily housing complexes. A variety of other state and local programs are also being harnessed or considered to increase affordable rental housing stock including the Live Local Act and a proposal by Drayton Saunders, a member of Sarasota County's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, or AHAC to use a percentage of the property tax from new development as a recurring revenue stream to fund a local affordable housing trust fund. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota-Manatee ranks No. 2 on US list of rent increase from 2019-23 Suspect who killed 4 law enforcement officers in Charlotte was shot 10 times, had THC in system: Report CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The Shannon Park shooting suspect who fatally shot four law enforcement officers before being killed himself was shot ten times and had THC in his system at the time of his death, according to autopsy and toxicology documents obtained by Queen City News on Tuesday. Hughes, 39, killed four law enforcement members when a shootout ensued outside a home in east Charlotte after a U.S. Marshals Task Force attempted to serve a warrant on April 29. According to the autopsy report, Hughes suffered ten gunshot wounds to the arms, thighs, buttocks, back and shoulder. Nine bullets were collected by the medical examiner. The exam took place on May 1 and was finalized on July 5. MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS Shannon Park Shooting According to the toxicology report, Delta-9 was detected in Hughess system. Tadalafil, which according to the Mayo Clinic is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and high blood pressure, was also detected. CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, and two members of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, Sam Poloche and William Elliott, were tragically killed in the April shootout. In the wake of the tragedy, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings called it one of the darkest days in the city and the departments history. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Suspect leads officers on chase in 2 Georgia counties along I-75 A suspect is facing charges after officials said he led police in two counties on a chase Tuesday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A little after 9 a.m., Cobb County police were notified that Emerson police were pursuing a vehicle on Interstate 75 southbound coming into Cobb County. Emerson police said Cartersville police started the chase but lost contact. The driver, identified as Malcolm Perdue, 27, of Riverdale, was wanted for aggravated assault and had driven away from Emerson officers. Just south of the I-75 and I-575 split, one of Cobb County officers executed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle to stop the chase. TRENDING STORIES: The vehicle came to a stop after the vehicle rolled over. Perdue was arrested and turned over to the Emerson Police Department. Cobb County police and Emerson police have charged the suspect with fleeing, attempting to elude and driving on a suspended license. Authorities said Perdue sustained minor injuries. No officers were injured. Traffic was affected for a short time due to lane closures. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Suspected Carjacker Shot By U.S. Marshal Near D.C. Home of Sonia Sotomayor The attempted carjacking suspect suffered non-life-threatening injuries J. Scott Applewhite/AP Sonia Sotomayor A U.S. Marshal assigned to a detail protecting U.S. Supreme Court justices shot a suspected carjacker in Washington, D.C., near the home of Sonia Sotomayor. The citys Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that just after 1 a.m. on Friday, July 5, a man approached a parked car containing a U.S. Marshal working a protective detail. Police allege the man pointed a gun at the deputy marshal, who in turn fired multiple shots with his service weapon. Another deputy in a separate vehicle also fired his gun, according to police. The suspect, identified as Kentrell Flowers, 18, was shot in the mouth, according to a statement of facts filed by the Marshals Service. Flowers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. He is charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, police say. It is not immediately clear if he has retained an attorney or entered a plea. According to the statement of facts, a van that the suspect exited before the alleged attempted carjacking fled the scene. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage, and details of intriguing unsolved cases. NBC News reported that the Marshals Service confirmed in a statement that the deputies who fired the shots were both assigned to a Supreme Court justices protective detail, but did not confirm which justice. NBC, ABC News and The Hill reported that the shooting occurred in the area of Justice Sonia Sotomayors residence. The Metropolitan Police Departments Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the officer-involved shooting. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden (second from left) breaks ground with officials during the Gevo presentation in Lake Preston on Thursday. A company aiming to produce aviation fuel from ethanol in South Dakota has contributed $167,000 to defend a new carbon dioxide pipeline law that voters could be asked to reject in November. The company, Gevo, made the contribution to a ballot question committee called Protect South Dakotas Ag Future. The contribution was not affected by any limits, because there are no limits on contributions to ballot question committees in South Dakota. Voters didnt know about the contribution prior to the June 4 primary election, even though the pipeline law was a major issue in some legislative primary races. Some opponents of the new pipeline law, including Ed Fischbach, of rural Aberdeen, allege that the reporting of the contribution was timed to avoid publicity before the primary. It looked like they were trying to hide it, Fischbach said. The chairman of Protect South Dakotas Ag Future is Walt Bones, who formerly served as South Dakotas secretary of agriculture. He did not specifically address the allegation but did describe the sequence of events affecting the timing of the contributions disclosure. Bones said Gevo authorized the contribution on May 13, but the money had not reached the committee by the time of its required May 20 pre-primary campaign finance report. So that report showed no contributions. After the contribution arrived on June 3, the committee disclosed it in a supplemental campaign finance report filed on June 4, the day of the primary election. Bones said the money is being used to inform voters about the importance of a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline and the benefits of the new pipeline law. Public records on file with the Federal Communications Commission show the effort has included television advertising. This committee is about more than just the pipeline. Thats just part of it, he said. We see this whole debate as a threat to all value-added agriculture going forward. Kent Hartwig is the treasurer of Protect South Dakotas Ag Future and director of state government affairs for Colorado-based Gevo, which wants to build its Net-Zero 1 sustainable aviation fuel plant at Lake Preston. The plant would contribute carbon dioxide to a pipeline proposed by another company, Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions. Hartwig said Gevo wants to educate South Dakotans about the pipelines importance to the future of the farm economy. In addition to our work bringing people together, Gevo has invested dollars in trying to get the message out to ensure South Dakotas agriculture industry remains competitive and open to opportunities, he said in a statement to South Dakota Searchlight. The Legislature and Gov. Kristi Noem adopted the new pipeline law last winter. It includes protections for landowners and local governments. It also preserves a path toward regulatory approval for Summit and its proposed $8.5 billion pipeline. The pipeline would capture carbon dioxide from the aviation fuel plant and dozens of existing Midwestern ethanol plants, and transport the carbon to an underground storage site in North Dakota. Federal tax credits available for the project are intended to incentivize the removal of heat-trapping carbon from the atmosphere. Critics have pointed out that the sequestration site is near oilfields, and carbon dioxide can be injected into aging oil wells to make them more productive. Some opponents of the pipeline, including some landowners along the route, view the new state law as a concession to Summit. The law does not prevent the company from using eminent domain, which is a legal process to gain access from unwilling landowners. Everything in that bill is stuff landowners and counties already could have or did negotiate with Summit, Fischbach said. Summit got everything they wanted in that bill. There was no compromise. Opponents of the law formed a ballot question committee called SD Property Rights and Local Control Alliance. They collected about 28,000 petition signatures over 10,000 more than the number required to refer the law to the Nov. 5 election and submitted the signatures last month to the Secretary of States Office. The office is reviewing the validity of the petition and signatures. The committee raised about $11,000 from 21 individual contributions, according to its most recent campaign finance report. Another controversial aspect of the new pipeline law is its language regarding the Public Utilities Commissions authority to override local setbacks laws mandating minimum distances between pipelines and existing features such as homes and businesses. State law formerly said the commission could choose to override local setbacks while considering a permit for a carbon pipeline. The new law says a permit from the commission automatically overrides local setbacks unless the commission says otherwise. The law includes several other provisions, such as requiring carbon pipeline companies to submit an agricultural impact mitigation plan and authorizing a pipeline surcharge to benefit affected landowners and counties. It mandates that pipeline companies, not landowners, are liable for any damages resulting from the projects. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sustainable jet fuel company contributes $167K in defense of carbon pipeline law From left, Steve Westra of the Governors Office of Economic Development, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber, Lake Preston Mayor Andy Wienk and first gentleman Bryon Noem participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for Gevos Net-Zero 1 project near Lake Preston on Sept. 15, 2022. (Courtesy of Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden/Twitter) A company aiming to produce aviation fuel from ethanol in South Dakota has contributed $167,000 to defend a new carbon dioxide pipeline law that voters could be asked to reject in November. The company, Gevo, made the contribution to a ballot question committee called Protect South Dakotas Ag Future. The contribution was not affected by any limits, because there are no limits on contributions to ballot question committees in South Dakota. Voters didnt know about the contribution prior to the June 4 primary election, even though the pipeline law was a major issue in some legislative primary races. Some opponents of the new pipeline law, including Ed Fischbach, of rural Aberdeen, allege that the reporting of the contribution was timed to avoid publicity before the primary. It looked like they were trying to hide it, Fischbach said. The chairman of Protect South Dakotas Ag Future is Walt Bones, who formerly served as South Dakotas secretary of agriculture. He did not specifically address the allegation but did describe the sequence of events affecting the timing of the contributions disclosure. Supplemental report filed Bones said Gevo authorized the contribution on May 13, but the money had not reached the committee by the time of its required May 20 pre-primary campaign finance report. So that report showed no contributions. After the contribution arrived on June 3, the committee disclosed it in a supplemental campaign finance report filed on June 4, the day of the primary election. Bones said the money is being used to inform voters about the importance of a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline and the benefits of the new pipeline law. Public records on file with the Federal Communications Commission show the effort has included television advertising. This committee is about more than just the pipeline. Thats just part of it, he said. We see this whole debate as a threat to all value-added agriculture going forward. Kent Hartwig is the treasurer of Protect South Dakotas Ag Future and director of state government affairs for Colorado-based Gevo, which wants to build its Net-Zero 1 sustainable aviation fuel plant at Lake Preston. The plant would contribute carbon dioxide to a pipeline proposed by another company, Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions. Hartwig said Gevo wants to educate South Dakotans about the pipelines importance to the future of the farm economy. In addition to our work bringing people together, Gevo has invested dollars in trying to get the message out to ensure South Dakotas agriculture industry remains competitive and open to opportunities, he said in a statement to South Dakota Searchlight. The Legislature and Gov. Kristi Noem adopted the new pipeline law last winter. It includes protections for landowners and local governments. It also preserves a path toward regulatory approval for Summit and its proposed $8.5 billion pipeline. The pipeline would capture carbon dioxide from the aviation fuel plant and dozens of existing Midwestern ethanol plants, and transport the carbon to an underground storage site in North Dakota. Federal tax credits available for the project are intended to incentivize the removal of heat-trapping carbon from the atmosphere. Critics have pointed out that the sequestration site is near oilfields, and carbon dioxide can be injected into aging oil wells to make them more productive. Some opponents of the pipeline, including some landowners along the route, view the new state law as a concession to Summit. The law does not prevent the company from using eminent domain, which is a legal process to gain access from unwilling landowners. Everything in that bill is stuff landowners and counties already could have or did negotiate with Summit, Fischbach said. Summit got everything they wanted in that bill. There was no compromise. Opponents circulated petition Opponents of the law formed a ballot question committee called SD Property Rights and Local Control Alliance. They collected about 28,000 petition signatures over 10,000 more than the number required to refer the law to the Nov. 5 election and submitted the signatures last month to the Secretary of States Office. The office is reviewing the validity of the petition and signatures. The committee raised about $11,000 from 21 individual contributions, according to its most recent campaign finance report. Another controversial aspect of the new pipeline law is its language regarding the Public Utilities Commissions authority to override local setbacks laws mandating minimum distances between pipelines and existing features such as homes and businesses. State law formerly said the commission could choose to override local setbacks while considering a permit for a carbon pipeline. The new law says a permit from the commission automatically overrides local setbacks unless the commission says otherwise. The law includes several other provisions, such as requiring carbon pipeline companies to submit an agricultural impact mitigation plan and authorizing a pipeline surcharge to benefit affected landowners and counties. It mandates that pipeline companies, not landowners, are liable for any damages resulting from the projects. This article first appeared in the South Dakota Searchlight, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network. The post Sustainable jet fuel company contributes $167K in defense of SD carbon pipeline law appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Switzerland announced new sanctions against Russia on July 8, bringing the country further in line with the EU's 14th round of sanctions adopted in response to the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The latest EU sanctions package aims to tackle the circumvention of existing measures and to further restrict profits from Russia's energy industry, adding 116 individuals and entities to the sanctions list. The new Swiss sanctions target 69 individuals and 86 entities. Among the individuals are mainly businesspersons, propagandists, military personnel, members of the judiciary, those responsible for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, and members of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Swiss Economy Ministry said. The Swiss Economy Ministry has also banned advertising on four Russian media outlets, namely Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, and Izvestiya, due to "Russia's continuous propaganda and disinformation campaigns." The EU banned the four outlets at the end of June. The Swiss Federal Council "believes that it is more effective to counter false and harmful statements with facts rather than to prohibit them," and therefore, the media will not be subject to a ban in Switzerland. The latest EU sanctions package added several additional measures, including prohibiting any EU facilities from being involved in the transshipment of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to any third-party countries. The Swiss Federal Council "is currently examining these additional measures with a view to possibly adopting them," the Swiss Federal Economic Affairs Department said. Switzerland has sanctioned more than 2,000 individuals and entities, in line with EU sanctions. The changes will take effect at 6 p.m. local time on July 9. Read also: Bloomberg names 12 oligarchs who earn billions in payouts from Russias war economy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) expanded its lists of sanctions against Russia on 8 July. Source: the official website of the Swiss government, as reported by European Pravda Details: Switzerland thus joined the additional sanctions lists adopted by the EU. On 24 June, the EU adopted new measures against Russia as part of the 14th package of sanctions in response to Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine. The EAER will then impose sanctions on another 69 individuals and 86 legal entities within its jurisdiction. The new sanctions are mainly aimed at business owners, propagandists, members of Russian defence forces and judiciary, persons responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children, and employees of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). The newly sanctioned entities include, in particular, companies operating in the Russian defence sector, as well as companies in the financial and trade sectors that are actively involved in sanctions circumvention. The 14th package of sanctions adopted by the EU on 24 June includes several additional measures, particularly in the energy, finance, and trade sectors. The Swiss Federal Council is currently studying these additional measures with the goal of their possible adoption. The EAER has also banned advertising on four Russian media outlets: Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta. However, unlike the EU, Switzerland decided not to ban these propaganda outlets. Quote: "Although these channels are used for the targeted dissemination of Russian propaganda and disinformation, the Federal Council still believes that it is more effective to counter false and harmful statements with facts rather than to prohibit them." Support UP or become our patron! Anyone accused of a crime in the U.S. has the right to an attorney and will be given one if they cannot afford one. But that is not the case for civil legal problems, like child custody or disputes with landlords. That leaves many people on their own if they cannot afford a private attorney. This justice gap and the impact on Americans was the topic of a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday. The reality is that we really have two justice systems in this country. One for those who have the resources to hire counsel, and one for those who dont, said Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). Lawmakers heard testimony from Veronica Gonzalez, a domestic violence survivor. She said she was finally able to escape an abusive relationship in 2016 thanks to the help of workers at a doctors office. The clinic staff helped me and my son escape through the back door, said Gonzalez. We hid in the trunk of an employees car and rode for five miles until we were safe. After fleeing, Gonzalez needed to file a protection order and settle custody of her then 3-year-old son. But her former alleged abuser controlled the finances. I had no money to hire an attorney, said Gonzalez. Thankfully, Gonzalez said she was able to get the help she needed through Legal Aid Chicago. Its one of more than 100 independent legal service centers that give free legal help to low-income people facing civil legal issues. But funding for those services is limited. Legal Services Corporation says a study shows low-income Americans didnt get any legal help or didnt get enough legal help for 92% of their legal needs in 2022. LSC said the study also shows nearly three-quarters of low-income people experienced at least one civil legal issue in a year. In eviction cases, generally 90% of those who are unrepresented suffer an unfavorable result and the flipside is 90% of tenants who are represented achieve a favorable outcome. So, it makes a difference, said Ronald Flagg, President of Legal Services Corporation. The justice inequities are getting the attention of members of both parties. The poor and people of limited means cannot afford lawyers and so they are denied justice, pure and simple, said Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Supreme Court of Texas. Gonzalez is now on the Board of Directors for Legal Aid Chicago to help others. Shes urging lawmakers to invest in legal resources to help people. Its so important that other women seek help, and a lot of them cannot afford private attorneys, said Gonzalez. During the discussion, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) cautioned that policy solutions must make sure legal help is provided for people across the ideological spectrum and that they are fair to all. How do we strike a balance? How do we make sure that we protect landlords who are legitimately following the law and are being abused by lawsuits? said Tillis. I think we need to have some balance in this policy if we dont want it to be a political lightning rod from Congress to Congress. Tattooed suspect accused in savage, caught-on-camera killing laughs in court, setting off victims family: fking bch The tattooed suspect accused of stabbing a woman to death in a savage, caught-on-camera brawl outside Manhattans Port Authority Bus Terminal last month laughed as she faced a judge Monday setting off one of the victims grieving relatives, who had to be dragged out of court. Samaria Lopez flashed a sinister grin and chuckled as she pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the vicious attack that left 22-year-old Jordin Walston dead. Graphic surveillance footage captured the moment Lopez, 22, lunged at Walston during a sidewalk tussle around 10:15 p.m. near the intersection of West 40th Street and Eighth Avenue on June 11. Lopez allegedly knifed Walston twice in the chest, puncturing her aorta and even taunted her afterward as she struggled for her life, prosecutors said at her Supreme Court arraignment. Samaria Lopez laughs at her arraignment for the murder of Jordin Walston. Gregory P. Mango A surveillance camera captured the deadly interaction near Port Authority in Midtown that left a young woman dead. The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, cops said. Lopez fled and was arrested by police three days later after she tried covering her tracks by changing her phone numbers and addresses, prosecutors said. Ahead of Mondays arraignment, the families of Lopez and Walston had to be separated and forced to sit on opposite sides of the courtroom after the victims family complained that the alleged killers side refused to move to a different area to give them space. Jordin Walston was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital due to stab wounds to her torso. Instagram / Jordin Sky Walston The dispute caused a shouting match between the families, with the tension only escalating when Lopez entered flashing a wide, evil smile. The grinning suspect, who has a prominent neck tattoo, set off one of Walstons relatives, who had to be physically removed from the courtroom. That nasty fking bch, the unidentified family member said after seeing Lopez smile. The woman continued to mumble slurs and sarcastically called Lopezs smirk cute as she was dragged out of the room by several court officers. That was funny that sloppy, nasty bch, the woman yelled. Samaria Lopez pleaded not guilty to murder in the second degree at her Supreme Court arraignment Monday. Gregory P. Mango Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Curtis Farber told the court he would not tolerate bad behavior before arraigning Lopez, who faces life in prison if convicted of the murder charge. However, that didnt stop another family member of the victim from getting in one more jab when she was heard saying in the direction of Lopezs family that her baby is gonna die by the same fate as Walston. The families were eventually escorted out of the courtroom separately by court officials. Lopezs next court appearance is scheduled for October 22. Teen swimmer drowns on SC side of Lake Wylie near Tega Cay, officials say A 16-year-old swimmer from Fort Mill drowned Monday afternoon on the South Carolina side of Lake Wylie off Tega Cay, officials said. The teen was identified Tuesday as Logan Gurley by York County Coroner Sabrina Gast, who said Gurley had been swimming with friends. Gurleys body was found in the water off Tega Cays Pitcairn Park about 45 minutes after a call came in after 4 p.m. about a swimmer in distress, said Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriffs Office. Lake Wylie sits between York County and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Charlotte Fire is assisting with a drowning recovery at the 4000 block of Triton Dr. Tega Cay PD is lead on dissemination of additional information. pic.twitter.com/eJerRXdQb9 Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) July 8, 2024 Tega Cay police and fire, the Charlotte Fire Department boat team and the York County Sheriffs Office lake patrol and dive team, responded. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim and those involved, Tega Cay Police Chief Joey Crosby said in a written statement Monday night. Please hug your loved ones closer tonight, as a family in our community will go to sleep without a member of theirs. Gurley was a Fort Mill High School student who played on the basketball team, said Joe Burke, spokesman for the Fort Mill school district. Gurley was set to enter the 10th grade, Burke said. Although the school year has not yet started, the district has counselors available for students and staff, Burke said. Officials have not released details about what caused Gurley to go into distress while swimming. Gretchen Kalar, a spokesman for Tega Cay, said Tuesday the coroners office is leading the death investigation. The drowning comes days after a boater died in Lake Norman north of Charlotte. Check back for updates on this story. Teen's Body Washes Up Days After He Vanished While Fishing with Brother: 'We're Going to Miss Him' Mainor Perez, 14, was found dead on July 7 after getting swept underwater in a North Carolina river inlet Go Fund Me Mainor Perez. The body of a 14-year-old boy, who was swept away while fishing off a North Carolina beach on the Fourth of July, has been found dead. The teen who has been identified as Mainor Perez, according to NBC affiliate WRAL and the Goldsboro Daily News and his brother Yunior were fishing in the New River Inlet on Thursday, July 4, around 11 a.m. local time when Mainor was swept away, WRAL reported. After he vanished, the North Topsail Beach Fire Rescue and Coast Guard worked to find Perez and deployed a drone to help search and recovery efforts, per the reports. Perez's body had washed ashore on base at Camp Lejeune on Sunday, July 7, according to WRAL. The North Topsail Police Department contacted Mainor's family to let them know they had found a body. PEOPLE has reached out to the North Topsail Beach Police Department for comment. Related: 'Dedicated' Father of 4 Falls Off Jet Ski, Drowns During Family's First Lake Tahoe Trip Yunior told WRAL that Mainor went into the inlet with another brother when the water swept the teen away. "The water wasnt too deep, but someone explained to me later there are holes like 30 feet deep, and I think thats what happened, [Mainor] slipped in and he couldnt get out," he told the Goldsboro Daily News. "The current was going in and not going out." A nearby boat was able to save the brother, but Mainor went underwater, per WRAL. Related: Missing 14-Year-Old Girl Found Dead, 7-Year-Old Rescued After Being Caught in a Rip Current Off Texas Island "He couldn't do anything because I saw him in the boat, and he tried to swim back by himself," Yunior told the outlet, which noted that the New River Inlet is known for its strong currents and has signage marking the dangers of the water. 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. We ride by there pretty often and warn people fishing, and warn parents that theres a drop off," North Topsail Beach Police Chief William Younginer told the Goldsboro Daily News. "Its close to the same area where a 17-year-old who was using a cast net went missing last summer. He floated up on the third day. Yunior told the Goldsboro Daily News about what his brother planned for the future. "I started a construction company about six months ago, and he was helping me with that," he added. "He was already planning on attending Wayne Community College and then transferring to UNC Chapel Hill. Related: Body of Missing Boat Racer Found 4 Days After He Fell Overboard "We're going to miss him so much. I'm not sure how we're going to go through this," Yunior told the station. "It's hard." As of July 9, over $7,000 has been raised via GoFundMe on behalf of the teen's family. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Women line up to vote for the presidential election in a polling station at the shrine of Saint Saleh in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, July 5, 2024. Iran held a runoff presidential election on Friday that pitted a hard-line former nuclear negotiator against a reformist lawmaker. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Police in Iran shut down the Turkish Airlines office in the capital of Tehran, Iranian media reported Tuesday, after female employees there apparently refused to wear the mandatory headscarf, or hijab, in an act of defiance of the countrys law. The semi-official Tasnim news agency said police officers went to the Turkish Airlines office in Tehran on Monday to issue what is called a first warning over the non-observance of hijab by the company's employees. However, the employees who are Iranian nationals reportedly made trouble for the police officers, prompting the closure. The Tasnim report said police subsequently sealed the office over the employees behavior. According to Tasnim, the Turkish Airlines office will be allowed to reopen on Wednesday and resume business as usual, something that the police did not confirm. The report further said that police would not seal any business due to the non-observance of hijab but issue first warnings. There was no immediate comment from the Turkish Airlines over the incident in Tehran. An open defiance of the headscarf law erupted into mass protests across Iran following the September 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the countrys morality police. While those demonstrations appear largely to have cooled, the choice by some Iranian women to remain uncovered in the street poses a new challenge to the countrys theocracy. Iranian authorities have over the past years shuttered hundreds of businesses across the country from shops, restaurants to pharmacies and offices for quietly allowing their female employees to forgo wearing the hijab. That reinforcement was intensified in the months running up to Irans presidential election in June to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash a month earlier. The fracas at the Tehran office of the Turkish Airlines took place on the same day as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian to congratulate him on his win in Iran's presidential runoff last week. Pezeshkian bested hard-liner Saeed Jalili in the election by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the countrys mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic. The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi as saying that no legal proceedings or ruling had been issued regarding the sealing the Turkish Airlines office in Tehran. Iran and Turkey have maintained good relations and in 2023, the volume of bilateral trade between the two stood at $5.4 billion. Turkey is also a popular tourist destination for Iranians, with some 2.5 million visiting last year. Turkish Airlines is a favored carrier among Iranians because of the shorter travel time to the United States and Canada, compared to other long-haul flights from Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. Miguel de Abreu Freitas says he has 'given up hope' after moving into a tent village - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph Hospitality workers in Tenerife are being forced to live in tents as the islands tourism boom has pushed up property prices, making them unaffordable for many locals. Low-paid service workers who are vital to the tourism industry are being squeezed out of the market because of the boom in holiday rentals. Jose, a 65-year-old kitchen assistant who works in a hotel, told The Telegraph that he was forced out of the apartment he used to rent for 400 (340) a month last year when its owners turned it into a short-term rental for holidaymakers. Now anything with one or two bedrooms costs at least 900. I earn minimum wage, 1,100. If I have to pay that kind of rent, then we wont be able to eat. Here we eat by cooking on gas, said Colombia native Jose, who has lived in Tenerife for 30 years. Thousands of people protested in cities across the Canary Islands in April against tourism - Anadolu/Getty Images Contributor His tent sits among several others next to the shell of an empty apartment building in the Arona municipality. Metal sheeting to protect against the heat and strong winds covers some of the tents. Jose, who lives with his wife and two grandchildren in their care, moved into the abandoned building where 120 families were squatting. There was no electricity or running water but he was charged 1,000 for the privilege. I thought he was the owner, but now we know he was just a swindler. In March, the police evicted the residents of the so-called Chasna building. The most vulnerable and those with young children were rehoused, but around 15 people remain in the tented village. There is plenty of building going on in this area, but it is always for the tourism market, said Jose. Tourism is boss here; money talks, said Jesus Antonio, also from Colombia and who works on the building sites for luxury apartments and now finds himself sharing a tent with his partner, Nora, who cannot work because she does not have legal papers. There is no social housing. So who is tourism for if it is not doing anything for the people who make it work? Miguel de Abreu Freitas, a 63-year-old Portuguese waiter who travelled the world working in hospitality until settling in Tenerife 18 years ago, said that he has given up all hope after moving into the tent village. Miguel de Abreu Freitas now lives in a tent after being evicted from the Chasna building - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph Mr de Abreu Freitas said he had lived in the Chasna building for four years and tiled the floor with material he found on a dump. Now I cant go back to work. You need to wear a clean, ironed shirt and where can I get myself clean? I have hit rock bottom; I get food from the bins outside the supermarket. I have given up hope. In April, 57,000 people took part in protests in cities across the Canary Islands against tourism and its distortion of local economies, particularly sky-high property prices. The Canary Islands government has announced new regulations under which holiday rentals can only be licenced if the building is at least 100 years old and the apartment measures at least 39 square metres. According to the regional government, only 200 public housing units were completed in 2023. 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. There's one contested Tennessee Senate primary in our area. It's in the 6th District. Incumbent Republican state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey has a challenger from the right, Monica Irvine. Voters in that district will choose between them on Aug, 1 and the winner will face Democrat Domonica Bryan in November. We spoke to the candidates and their answers to major question are below. State Senate District 6 Republicans Monica Irvine, 55, small business owner Monica Irvine Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Irvine said she decided to run for office after her Republican opponent, state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, co-sponsored legislation that would decriminalize abortions performed on victims of rape and incest. She said that before Roe v. Wade was overturned, it was easy for Republicans to say theyre pro-life knowing they were legally protected. Now, Republicans are showing they arent as pro-life as others thought, and Irvine wanted her senators values to reflect her own. Outside of social and cultural issues, what is the legislatures role in supporting communities like Knox County that are experiencing explosive growth and a housing crunch? (from in-person interview) Irvine said the best way to support communities going through housing shortages is passing legislation prohibiting localities from raising property taxes by more than 2% without voter permission. Though property taxes are low in Knox County, she said Memphis and Nashvilles increases are cause for pause. Lawmakers attempted to cap taxes last session, but Irvine said people are scared to admit they dont trust local governments to handle their own tax dollars and budgets. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaires) My district has listed two issues as most important to them. "An open border" contributing to more undocumented and illegals using state resources, increased drug and human trafficking and increased risks of criminal element in our state. The second issue is: exposing children to the "woke agenda" in public schools. As a legislator, I believe it is important that we do not pass legislation that rewards lawlessness, such as giving state benefits to illegal immigrants. We must send a strong message to Washington that the Tennessee State Legislature will not contribute to lawlessness. On the second issue, I believe it is important that we stand strong against exposing Tennessee children to pornographic content on school shelves and on school devices. We have to make sure we outline clear penalties for any school, school staff or curriculum provider that violates the law to remove this content from our schools. I also believe in universal school choice. We must make it a priority to do all that we can to equip parents with the choices to choose the best academic environment for each of their children, depending on their child's individual needs. The greatest asset we have in Tennessee is our children. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters' wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaires) I don't trust that poll. An entity that puts out poll results when they themselves have continually moved in the direction of supporting legislation that is in opposition to what has passed and who stands to profit from abortions, transgender care and transgender surgeries for minors is not someone I want delivering a message of what Tennesseans want. That is NOT what I have found at all as I have knocked on thousands of doors in Tennessee over the last 10 months. It is imperative that legislators listen to their constituents. That is why we are there. To listen, to really listen and to listen some more. One thing to realize however, is that if a candidate has been authentic and transparent as to who they are and where they stand on these issues, and they get elected, then the "people" have spoken. If legislators are out of touch with their constituents, then obviously, then can be voted out of office. That is why it matters so much that we cast our votes. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaires) Our state legislature must uphold the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution. Any constitutional issue, meaning ... anything that has to do with individual rights and freedoms protected by our constitutions, must be governed and upheld by our state government. When it is not a constitutional issue, for instance using plastic bags (this is a privilege, not a right), then local government, in my opinion, can govern. Becky Massey, incumbent, 59, former director of the Sertoma Center Becky Massey What are you proud of from your time serving in the Senate? Why should voters elect you for another term? (from in-person interview) Massey said shes running for reelection because she wants to keep the momentum going on bills shes sponsored to protect vulnerable people ... its worth the effort to continue doing it, she said. Shes also uniquely positioned to help Knox County as the chair of the Senates transportation and safety committee, she said. She also has connections with those in the states executive branch who can help move projects along, such as a long-term mental health institution. Shes confident shell be able to secure funding for a hospital but knows shell have to use her connections to rally other legislators around the project. How do you walk the line of managing relationships even when you disagree with issues that come up? (from in-person interview) Massey said she always treats her colleagues and constituents with respect. Shes candid that people may disagree because they have different life experiences, but if everyone has the same goal of working for Tennesseans, they can work together. She said legislators need to look at each bill on its own merits. For example, she said, a bill banning ideological flags, such as the pride flag, in schools was unconstitutional because of statements made on the house floor. Regardless of whether she agrees with the bill, they shouldnt pass unconstitutional legislation. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaires) Illegal immigration is top of mind for Tennesseans. Its a problem with the increased drugs and human trafficking and crime. I have worked to pass laws that prevent illegal immigrants from voting in our elections. Ive supported legislation enabling Tennessee Highway Patrol to use license plate readers to detect the drug and human traffickers that illegally crossed our southern border. Ive also supported funding and deploying our Tennessee National Guard to help secure our weakened southern border. Health is another major challenge for our state. We have not been able to get above 39th in Americas Health Rankings since Ive been in the legislature. The problems due to lifestyle choices: physical inactivity, smoking and obesity. I continue to work with stakeholders on improving preventative measures. Ive worked to pass legislation helping with mental health services and also worked to secure funding for mental health treatment for our area including the new EMPATH Center. I got the Department of Mental Health to do a study on the need for a mental health hospital which came back as expected. Ive got the governors office discussing the need. Now I will work to coalesce the regional legislators to advocate for and secure funding. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaires) Popularity fluctuates, but principles have power and thats why Tennessee remains a state with a strong conservative majority. Simply saying "abortion" or "gun safety" is political doublespeak that doesnt account for the depth of issues and what they mean for Tennesseans. Weve passed critical protections for pre-born children, supported mothers, and also accounted for how we can better support children in every phase of life. We made Tennessee the first state to cover the cost of diapers for children enrolled in TennCare from birth to age two. When it comes to gun safety, weve balanced the rights of law-abiding citizens and incentivized safe storage practices. Weve addressed where school safety and gun safety overlap by increasing funding and providing greater security/law enforcement presence at K-12 schools. I sponsored and passed bills offering gun safety courses free and clarified the duty warn bill. These are real-life outcomes without political talk. About 90% of bills are passed either unanimously or with major bipartisan support. I passed all of my bills but one this year unanimously. The focus is on the few things where there is disagreement as opposed to the things we all agree on. Ill continue to focus on the positive. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaires) Intervention is appropriate when an issue either has statewide applicability or when local governments act like big government and impede the rights of Tennesseans. Democrat Domonica Bryan, 39, Department of Children's Services investigator Domonica Bryan Whats the most important issue in your district and how would you move the needle on it as a member of a super minority? (from in-person interview) Bryan said she believes childrens futures are at risk because public schools are losing funding, children dont have safe spaces and womens rights are being infringed upon. In her professional life she serves in a mediator role and she said this would help her as a legislator as well. She knows shell have to make some compromises to accomplish her goals, which shes comfortable with knowing she wont waver on her non-negotiables. She said she isnt looking for popularity but to make a difference for the people sending her to Nashville. How will you motivate voters to show up for a Democrat when the district has had Republican representation for years? (from in-person interview) Bryan isnt blind to the challenges shell face no matter who wins the Republican primary. Shell convince votes shes the best option by talking to them and being transparent. Many legislators have been office for several terms in a row and they often defer to process instead of giving straight answers to constituents questions. If Bryan doesnt know the answer to a question, she said shell admit that to constituents because thats what she would want in a legislator as a constituent. (Constituents) dont need (elected officials) to just tell me these crazy answers because (they) dont know the answer, she said. She referenced polling that says Tennesseans are unhappy with the legislature and current representation contributes to that. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) As Knoxville continues to thrive, it is imperative that we address the most pressing issues facing our community, namely the threat to our children's future. One of the most critical concerns is the implementation of common sense gun safety legislation to prevent the senseless loss of young lives to gun violence. Additionally, it is essential that we prioritize funding for our public schools, ensuring that our children receive the quality education they deserve to succeed in an increasingly complex world. Furthermore, it is crucial that we restore a woman's right to choose, allowing her to make her own decisions about her body and reproductive health without government interference. By addressing these pressing issues on a legislative level we can help secure a bright future for our children. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) As a state senator, I plan to govern from an evidence-based approach, I believe it is essential to reconcile the disconnect between the legislature's actions and the will of the people. The Vanderbilt poll highlights a critical issue, and I agree that gun reform and abortion care are indeed top priorities. To bridge this gap, I would propose a multifaceted approach. Firstly, lawmakers should engage in more robust public outreach and consultation to better understand the concerns and values of Tennesseans. This could involve town hall meetings, surveys, and other forms of community engagement to gather feedback and insights. Secondly, policymakers should prioritize data-driven decision-making, incorporating scientific research and expert opinions to inform their legislative decisions. This would help ensure that laws are grounded in fact and not driven by ideology or special interests. Finally, I would advocate for greater transparency and accountability, encouraging lawmakers to be more forthcoming about their decision-making processes and the reasoning behind their votes. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) As a Democrat running for state Senate, I believe that local governments should have the autonomy to make decisions that best serve their communities, while also ensuring that these decisions align with state and national priorities. When determining whether to curtail local autonomy, I believe that state lawmakers should consider the following factors: first, whether the issue at hand has a direct impact on the state as a whole, such as public health or safety concerns; second, whether the issue is already addressed at the state or federal level, thereby avoiding duplication of effort and potential conflicts; and third, whether the local government's decision is discriminatory or inconsistent with state or federal laws. Additionally, I believe that state lawmakers should engage in a transparent and inclusive process, soliciting input from local governments, community stakeholders, and the public to ensure that any restrictions on local autonomy are necessary, reasonable, and in the best interest of all citizens. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee Senate District 6 primary: Meet the candidates Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is running for a second term, and Democrats will have a primary on Aug. 1 to determine who faces her in November. In East Tennessee congressional races, there are no primaries but the candidates are set and we interviewed them in preparation for the general election. Below are the responses from the candidates who met with Knox News reporters and editors for an interview. U.S. Senate Republicans Marsha Blackburn, incumbent, 72, Republican, politician Could not be reached. Tres Wittum, 37, policy analyst Tres Wittum is running for the United States Senate Aug. 1 2024. Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Wittum is running because he's versed in what Tennesseans want, having served as a policy analyst in the General Assembly, and wants to be more than a talking head. He said the incumbent candidate sticks to her talking points, but doesn't provide solutions to problems Tennesseans are facing. He said he hopes to usher in a new generation of legislators. What are the most important issues facing the country? (from in-person interview) Wittum said his "big 3" are election integrity, illegal immigration and "life and women's rights." He cited Blackburn's lack of sustenance when Tennesseans need answers about people coming into the state illegally. When it comes to women's rights, he said the government needs to listen to women who understand the issues first hand. He's against abortion as birth control, but he understands there are circumstances that can't be locked into legislation. Democrats Marquita Bradshaw, 50, Democrat, community organizer Marquita Bradshaw is running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate on Aug. 2, 2024. Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Bradshaw is running against Blackburn to build on the momentum she created during her first Senate run in 2020. She told Knox News her ability to connect with and listen to voters makes her uniquely situated to represent the entire state. Her platform is comprised of things voters told her matter to them, she said, so they already feel listened to. What's the most important issue facing the country? (from in-person interview) Bradshaw said lawmakers need to look at issues holistically through an environmental justice lens. That means acknowledging that one law can impact several areas of life. Policies should be inclusive and think about society as a whole. She also cautioned against legislation that doesn't consider the impacts of changing technology. As artificial intelligence comes on the scene, it's important that lawmakers are protecting citizens by keeping up. Gloria Johnson, 61, Democrat, retired educator Gloria Johnson Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Johnson is running for both the U.S. Senate and to retain her seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Shes eyeing Washington because she feels Tennessees current federal delegation isnt serving working families, she told Knox News theyre not bringing legislation that makes life better for Tennesseans. How would you approach representing the entire state? (from in-person interview) Johnson said while she represents only parts of Knoxville, her votes matter across the whole state. She said she has experience working statewide because she often talks with Democrats in counties that dont have Democratic representatives. As a candidate, she emphasized the importance of traveling to all counties in the state because different areas have different needs. Civil Miller-Watkins, 58, Democrat, educator Civil Miller-Watkins Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Miller-Watkins is running because she wants to be a voice for Tennessees rural communities. She said there isnt a Tennessee senator speaking out for rural communities, which is important because agriculture is a big part of Tennessees identity. She said her experience on the Fayette County school board and working with federal funds there has introduced her to the federal government. Shes best suited to fight for families because shes surrounded by family members in various stages of life. Youre in a crowded Democratic primary. How do you edge out your opponents? (from in-person interview) Miller-Watkins said her lived experiences will set her apart from her opponents. Shes lived all over the state so shes familiar with the different needs of Tennessees unique regions. As a teacher, she said, shes seen gun safety issues play out every day. Her experience as a mother have opened her eyes to imbalances in maternal healthcare for people of color. She said shes appealing to people by letting them know one of her opponents is running two races and the other has run before and lost. U.S. House of Representatives District 2 Tim Burchett, incumbent, 59, Republican, politician Declined to participate. Jane George, 61, Democrat, business owner Jane George What is the most important issue voters are talking to you about? (from in-person interview) George said shes running her campaign through the lens of womens rights because issues across the spectrum affect women disproportionally. Because women in Tennessee are fed up with their representatives not supporting their rights. The distinction of pro-abortion and anti-abortion is a personal choice, she said, but shell always fight for women to make that decision on their own. She also hopes to raise womens platform in the workforce and to establish a living, sustainable and equal wage for women in Tennessee. Youre running in the general election against an incumbent who has enjoyed electoral success for decades. How will you sway voters who are so used to voting for him? (from in-person interview) George said people, including Republicans, are unhappy with their current representation. She said there isnt enough being done to help women in East Tennessee get the health care they need, and shes the best option to fight for that care. She hopes to emphasize that improving women's rights will help the nations economy. More women are being admitted into universities than men, more women are graduating than men and more are admitted to graduate school than men, she said. She wants to stop giving tax breaks to big corporations and help lower-income families. District 3 Jack Allen, 73, Democrat, retired bank president Jack Allen Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Allen said he got in the race because he wants voters to have an option besides the incumbent. He said hes been surrounded by strong women his entire life and wants to be a voice for women in health care and workplace conversations. Instead of current legislators bringing people together, he sees people being pulled apart. He also has accounting experience and knows the legislators are not being financially responsible. How do you plan on representing constituents who you believe deserve stronger representation? (from in-person interview) Allen touted his ability to surround himself with people who are experts in their fields. He knows he wont be able to fix everything, but he wants to listen to people who know their craft to tackle one issue at a time. When it comes to aiding what he called a medical care desert in his district, Allen wants to bring medical professionals to the table and consider changing the countrys health care system. He knows people in congress are focused on getting reelected, which prevents them from having tough conversations that make a difference. He said hes different because he doesnt need a career in government, he just wants to change the status quo. Chuck Fleischmann, incumbent, 61, Republican, attorney Chuck Fleischmann What are you proud of from your time serving in the House? Why should voters elect you for another term? (from in-person interview) Fleischmann has used his seven terms in office to move through leadership ranks. Hes the chair of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development on the House Committee on Appropriations and serves on the defense subcommittee. Fleischmanns district is home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex, and he told Knox News the committee positions hes worked for allow him to secure even more funding and attention for those assets. He also touted his ability to use earmarks to direct funding towards projects that help his district and his ability to assist the other Tennessee representatives and Gov. Bill Lee. How do you address the growing dissatisfaction that so many voters have with the political system? (from in-person interview) Fleischmann referenced his time witnessing fights between Republicans and Democrats over the U.S.-Mexico border. He said divisiveness is present in both bodies of Congress and the electorate has gotten more polarized, to the point where people cant even have conversations. I used to blame Congress for that, but its reflective of the bitter polarization we see with our constituents, he said. He said polarization comes from low voter turnout and combatting that starts in the schools and with strong election integrity. He said he doesnt care for the weighted voting system states like Maine and Alaska use. Jean Howard-Hill, independent Could not be reached. Stephen "Scooter" King, independent Could not be reached. Miller-Watkins said her lived experiences will set her apart from her opponents. Shes lived all over the state so shes familiar with the different needs of Tennessees unique regions. As a teacher, she said, shes seen gun safety issues play out every day. Her experience as a mother have opened her eyes to imbalances in maternal healthcare for people of color. She said shes appealing to people by letting them know one of her opponents is running two races and the other has run before and lost. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee U.S. Senate Democratic 2024 primary and congress candidates VIRGINIA BEACH A contentious court hearing between two Virginia Beach Catholic school families whose relationship fell apart over child sex abuse allegations ended Monday with some misdemeanor charges filed against one family being dismissed and others upheld. Mondays hearing in Virginia Beach General District Court was held after Marin Jakawich filed criminal complaints against former friends Tim and Meredith Hatchell. The two families met several years ago through their children, all of whom attended St. John the Apostle Catholic School in Virginia Beach. Even the nature of the two families relationship was at odds on Monday. While the Hatchells told Judge Sandra Menago theyd been so close that theyd routinely seen each other four to five days a week over the past four years, and presented photos of them on multiple vacations together, Jakawich referred to the Hatchells as acquaintances. Both sides, however, agreed that any bond theyd had came to an abrupt halt in early May. Thats when the Hatchells daughter told them shed been molested by Jakawichs husband, Vincent, a few years before. The Hatchells immediately contacted police, and also reached out to Marin Jakawich. Less than 24 hours later, Vincent Jakawich, a Navy pilot, was found dead in his car in Currituck County, North Carolina. Vincent Jakawichs death was determined to be a suicide, according to a department spokesman. The next morning, Meredith Hatchell stood outside St. Johns school and handed out flyers to parents as they dropped their kids off. The flyer claimed that Vincent Jakawich was a pedophile whod molested at least two female students, and urged parents with daughters whod spent time at the Jakawich home to question them. The flyer also provided a link to a previous court case involving Vincent Jakawich in which hed been charged in 2021 with felony aggravated sexual battery of a child less than 13, but later took a plea deal to a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault and battery. A similar document was provided to the Jakawichs neighbors, and several days later the Hatchells gave interviews to two local television stations about the allegations, as well as their frustrations with school officials for not doing more to protect students. Virginia Beach Catholic school rocked by parent abuse allegations, priest reassignment Marin Jakawich filed her criminal complaint against the Hatchells hours after the flyers were dispersed. She also alleged that Meredith Hatchell had trespassed at her house and become disruptive. She later accused the couple of violating provisions of a protective order shed obtained by posting on social media about her family and the allegations. As a result, Meredith Hatchell was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, and both Meredith and Tim Hatchell were charged with harassment by computer and violating a protective order. Both of them put my daughters and myself in danger, Jakawich told the judge Monday as she grew emotional. I had to leave my home. We have been living out of suitcases. People shed never met before posted vile things on social media, she said, including one who suggested that she and her daughters should join her husband in death. My daughters and I want peace. Thats all weve ever wanted, she said. My daughters and I had nothing to do with this. This had to do with my husband. The Hatchells testified they put the flyers together to alert other families about what had happened, and to help any that might have been impacted. Meredith Hatchell said she didnt know about the prior allegations involving Vincent Jakawich until after her daughter came forward. Because I did believe there might be other victims, I wanted to raise awareness, she said. There have been other (alleged) victims that have come forward since then. Marin Jakawich told the judge the allegations against her husband in the first case were determined to be unfounded by Child Protective Services. He also passed a polygraph test and was cleared by the Navy, she said. Tim Hatchell testified that he and his wife began sending their daughter to a therapist a couple of years ago because she was complaining of migraines and missing a lot of school. She first told her therapist about the allegations on May 8, then informed her parents later that same day, adding that she hadnt come forward before because she was afraid no one would believe her, he said. Tim Hatchell told Marin Jakawich he and his wife were angry with her for not letting them know about the prior case, and putting their daughter and others at risk. Marin Jakawich said, however, that she had no obligation to tell them, and had followed all court orders placed on her husband, including not being allowed to be around children under 18 who were not related to them while his prior case was pending. On Monday, Menago dismissed the trespassing and disorderly conduct counts against Meredith Hatchell, saying she didnt believe the evidence met the requirements of the law. But she did find her guilty of the computer charge. Menago found Tim Hatchell guilty of the computer charge and violating the protective order. Because neither has a criminal record, the judge agreed to defense attorney James Broccolettis request to hold the convictions under advisement until Dec. 30. If no other violations are recorded during that time, the convictions will be dismissed, she said. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com Texas governor jets off to Asia as state is hammered by deadly Hurricane Beryl Texas Governor Greg Abbott has faced criticism for jetting off to Asia while his state is hammered by a deadly hurricane. Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast as a category 1 Hurricane early on Monday morning, bringing with it life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and widespread flooding. The powerful storm, which was weaker than when it swept through the Caribbean causing mass devastation as a category 5 hurricane last week, damaged homes, cutting off power to more than two million properties and resulted in several deaths. According to local and county officials, seven people have so far been killed as a result of the storm in Texas four in Harris County and three in Montogomery County while an eighth victim died in Louisiana. While emergency responders have banded together to try to keep Texans safe, one rather prominent figure was missing. On July 5 while Hurricane Beryl was moving towards the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and was forecast to land in southern Texas by the weekends close Abbott announced that he was heading to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan to lead an economic development mission. Organized by the Governors Economic Development & Tourism Office and the Texas Economic Development Corporation, the governor left the state that day and is set to return on July 13. A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway in Houston, on Monday, July 8, 2024 after Hurricane Beryl ripped through the area (AP) During the nine-day trip, the governor said he would be meeting with world-class businesses and government leaders to focus on the future of the global economy. He was joined by Texas economic officials, five Texas legislators, and 23 Texas business and community leaders. His announcement came a day after he said he was preparing statewide emergency response resources ahead of Beryl making landfall in the Lone Star State. Since heading overseas, Abbott has announced a State of Texas Taiwan Office in Taipei, met with Taiwans president, and attended events meant to strengthen Texas economic partnership with South Korea. While I am in Taiwan, South Korea & Japan working on business deals worth billions, I remain in daily contact with Texas Division of Emergency Management & local officials to ensure preparation for Hurricane Beryl, Abbott wrote on X on Sunday. Your safety is our top concern. An upended tree rests on Bethel Church after Hurricane Beryl moved through the area, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Van Vleck, Texas (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) His two X accounts over the past few days were filled with equal parts his trip to the three Asian countries, meeting with CEOs, politicians and businesses, and the impact Beryl was having back on his state over around 6,000 miles away. On Tuesday, with just over three days remaining on his trip overseas, Abbott then posted: Now its time for recovery and rebuild. The Texas Division of Emergency Management has teams deployed to every area affected by Beryl, he wrote. Theyre working with local & federal authorities to restore your community ASAP. Several social media users called out the governor for leaving his state in the middle of a state of emergency. Why is Greg Abbott in South Korea while a hurricane ravages his state and residents are without power? one person wrote. Why are Texas Republicans like Greg Abbott & Ted Cruz always in the habit of abandoning their constituents in times of crisis? another person wrote. Day 2 of our economic development mission took us to Seoul, South Korea: Met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul Visited with the Korea International Trade Association Reception at @USEmbassySeoul More here: https://t.co/2YpEYzoMWP pic.twitter.com/2VKTadkSUm Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) July 8, 2024 Abbotts absence drew parallels to the scandal back in February 2021 when Texas Senator Ted Cruz infamously jetted off to Cancun for a family vacation during a deadly storm that killed dozens of Texans. Some social media users brought up the incident in response to Cruzs own comments about Beryl. When natural disasters strike, Texans come together to help each other out. Its people like Mack who make Texas, Texas, Cruz wrote on X about furniture businessman Mattress Mack, who was helping Houstonians in need of food and shelter from Beryl. Interesting quote from a guy who famously fled to Cancun during the worst storm in Texas history, Lose Cruz PAC responded on X. While Hurricane Beryl closed in on Texas, Greg Abbott was visiting South Korea, and Ted Cruz was whale watching in Southern California. Texans deserve better, the PAC also wrote on X, referring to a trip Cruz posted on July 4 on his X account. A federal appeals court will soon decide whether Texas' floating barriers in the Rio Grande meant to stop illegal immigration violate federal environmental law. Environmentalists warn that the barriers, as well as the razor wire and new fencing erected at Governor Greg Abbott's direction, are harming the ecosystem. Supporters of those barriers have pushed back, arguing that something has to be done to combat the unprecedented border crisis. Migrants rest in the Ro Grande near the buoy barrier installed at Eagle Pass. (Credit: Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times) They're both right. And fortunately, there's an easier, less costly way to reduce illegal crossings without harming Texas' flora and fauna. The damage wrought by the Rio Grande barriers is real. As a recent Guardian expose notes, nearly 40% of the border has been fenced off and those barriers are eroding the riverbank and cutting off the movement of migratory wildlife. Doing nothing isn't an environmentally friendly option either, though. Aside from the direct damage done by illegal border crossers, the unprecedented surge of illegal immigration into Texas has contributed to the rapid growth of the U.S. population. That, in turn, among other things, helps drive habitat-and-farmland-devouring urban sprawl. Texas accounted for 30% of the nation's population increase between July 2022 and July 2023. Many of those newcomers were illegal immigrants, adding to the 1.6 million who already resided in Texas illegally as of 2021. This population explosion, which has been ongoing for decades, has taken its toll on the state's environment. From 2002 to 2017, Texas lost over 2,600 square miles of open space to development and 73% of that sprawl was due to population growth. Given this land and habitat loss more than any other state in the nation it's hardly surprising that Texas ranks ahead of nearly every other state in the number of endangered species. At least 74 are endangered, and another 150 are threatened, leading one publication to conclude that the state "has been facing significant biodiversity loss, largely due to human activity and urban development, causing many species to lose their habitats." This is why, more than physical barriers, we should seek policy barriers that curb illegal immigration. A state-level mandate requiring all businesses to use E-Verify, the free federal program that determines whether newly hired employees are in the country illegally, would deter border crossings without the need for expensive and ecologically harmful physical barriers. Currently, 21 states require at least some employers to use E-Verify, and several require it for virtually all employers. But right now, Texas only requires it for state agencies and their contractors. A landmark 2017 study by the Dallas Federal Reserve found that "states with universal E-Verify policies typically experienced large reductions in the number of likely unauthorized immigrants." In Arizona, the Dallas Fed reported that, eight years after the policy was implemented in 2008, the unauthorized worker population was 33% lower than projected, even after accounting for variables such as the economic turmoil caused by the financial crisis. The results were even greater in Mississippi, where the number of illegal workers dropped 83%, relative to expectations. E-Verify is enormously popular with voters across party lines. In the March primaries, 90% of Republicans supported a non-binding ballot proposition in favor of a statewide E-Verify mandate. And according to an April poll, 50% of Texas Democrats support such a mandate while just 23% oppose it. Federal courts will soon rule on the legality of the barriers. But Texas policymakers don't need to wait for judges to act. They could deter illegal crossings while protecting the environment by requiring all businesses to use E-Verify. Kolankiewicz is the scientific director at NumbersUSA, which advocates immigration reform. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas can secure the border while also protecting the environment Both Biden And Trump Say They'll Protect Social Security And Medicare. Musk Answers, 'AI & Robotics Will Save Us (Probably)' A recent tweet from commentator John Stossel has sparked a lively debate about the future of Social Security and Medicare. Stossel quoted former President Donald Trump and President Biden, who reassured the public that these programs are untouchable. True, although AI & robotics will save us (probably) https://t.co/CbCWMlNBbu Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 2, 2024 Don't Miss: Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune How much is that worth today? Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? How does it compare to the average? However, Stossel warned that both leaders are "dangerously wrong" because these vital programs are hurtling toward financial trouble. Elon Musk chimed in on the discussion with a different perspective. He replied to Stossel's tweet, "True, although AI & robotics will save us (probably)." The issues facing Social Security and Medicare stem from outdated assumptions about life expectancy and workforce demographics. When these programs were established, people didn't live as long as they do now, and there were more workers to support each retiree. Today, many people live well into their 70s and beyond, drawing benefits for much longer than originally anticipated. And because fewer workers are paying into the system, the funds are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. Addressing these issues is challenging from a political standpoint, to say the least. Proposals such as raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, or increasing taxes are unpopular. Politicians avoid these tough choices, pushing the programs closer to financial collapse. Trending: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the US. Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible. The Potential Role Of Technology Although Musk has repeatedly warned people against AI, he recently jumped on the AI bandwagon wholeheartedly by creating his own AI company called xAI and developing a generative artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. He also says that Tesla should be viewed as an AI and robotics company first and foremost, as its trying to mass-produce robots. By saying that "AI and robotics will save us," hes probably implying that they will increase productivity and boost economic growth by taking over many repetitive and labor-intensive jobs, making businesses more efficient. This increased efficiency and productivity could help the economy grow, generating more tax revenue to support social programs like Social Security and Medicare. Story continues Who will pay taxes if and when AI and robots take over most human jobs is anyones guess. Some people suggest an AI tax on companies deploying AI and robotics. Others, including the leaders of almost all AI companies, recommend implementing universal basic income to solve job loss due to automation. See Also: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. Relying solely on technological advancements is not a surefire solution. Integrating AI and robotics into the economy is complex and may take time to show significant benefits, if any. If we have learned anything from the past, the benefits of AI and robotics wont be equally distributed, possibly increasing the economic divide between different groups. The future of Social Security and Medicare is a big issue that requires quick action and fresh ideas. Politicians often make reassuring promises, but the truth is that without major changes, these programs are in financial trouble. Solving these problems will probably require tough political choices and new technologies to ensure the viability of these important programs for future generations. Read Next: Are you rich? Heres what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Many are surprised by Mark Cubans advice for lotto winners: Cash or annuity? "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Both Biden And Trump Say They'll Protect Social Security And Medicare. Musk Answers, 'AI & Robotics Will Save Us (Probably)' originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Threat of Russian sabotage led to heightened security at US military bases in Europe, CNN reports U.S. military bases throughout Europe were put on the highest security alert level in a decade after the U.S. obtained intelligence on possible Russian-linked sabotage plots, CNN reported on July 9, citing unnamed sources. Western intelligence officials have reportedly warned about increasing Russian sabotage operations across Europe. The heightened security alert was first reported earlier in July as being connected to a possible terrorist threat directed at several U.S. military installations across Europe, including the facility in Germany where the U.S. European Command is based. The new information obtained by CNN indicated that the threat stemmed from Russian-backed proxies who were reportedly planning to stage sabotage attacks on U.S. military bases, following a pattern of other sabotage incidents across Europe that have been linked to Russia. Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office announced in April that two German-Russian nationals had been arrested after being suspected of plotting to carry out explosive and arson attacks in the country, including at U.S. military bases. Over the past six months, Polish authorities have arrested 18 people on suspicions of pursuing hostile activities or sabotage in collaboration with Russia or Belarus, according to the Polish Interior Ministry. Several other suspects have been arrested in over the past year in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, and other countries, for allegedly spying for Russia or other forms of collaboration with Russian intelligence. Read also: Estonian PM Kallas: Russia is conducting shadow war on West Sign up for our newsletter WTF is wrong with Russia? Sign up Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Three men in their 30s shot and killed near the 105 Freeway Downey police responded to a call of shots fired on the west side of the Rio San Gabriel riverbed and the 105 Freeway on Saturday. (OnScene.TV) Downey police are investigating a triple homicide of three apparently unhoused men who were shot near the Rio San Gabriel riverbed. On Saturday at 8:50 p.m., the Downey Police Department responded to a call of shots fired on the west side of the Rio San Gabriel Riverbed near the 105 Freeway. When officers arrived, they discovered three men suffering from gunshot wounds, according to a news release. All three men were pronounced dead by the Downey Fire Department. The men were between 34 and 37 years old. Read more: Three surfers on a dream trip to Mexico were brutally killed. Here's what we know Officials said the victims "are believed to be unhoused and were staying in the area at the time of the homicide." The victims' identities will not be made public until the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office has notified their next of kin. An initial news release stated that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident. In a follow-up release, officials said that the incident "does not appear to be a random shooting, and there does not appear to be any threat to the surrounding neighborhoods." Detectives are actively investigating, and no additional details were available as of late Monday afternoon. Downey police urged anyone with additional information t to contact Det. Ethan Roberts by calling (562) 904-2386 or emailing eroberts@downeyca.org. Those who wish to provide information anonymously can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or visiting the website lacrimestoppers.org. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Remnants of Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane that made landfall early Monday morning near Matagorda Beach on the Gulf Coast of Texas, will cause unstable weather to move through the Tristate area starting Tuesday. According to USA Today, Beryl has weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression as its center tracks inland over East Texas. The storm will likely merge with a front, bringing heavy rain and the chance for tornadoes to the Ohio Valley region. The National Weather Service in Wilmington reports that scattered showers and embedded thunderstorms are expected to increase coverage on Tuesday. Isolated, weak tornadoes could also form in the afternoon and evening, per a hazardous weather outlook. Locally heavy rainfall cannot be ruled at night. Temperatures will be in the lower 80s northwest to the lower 90s in the southeast. Tropical Storm Beryl's path as of 10 a.m. Monday, July 8, 2024 Widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms will move northeast of the area on Wednesday, but a threat of precipitation will persist. Wind gusts up to 35 to 40 mph will be possible. Temperatures on Wednesday will be cooler, ranging from the mid- to upper 70s northwest to the lower 80s southeast. Beryl remnants will move northeast of the area Wednesday night. Rain chances will reduce overnight. Cooler, drier air will move into the Ohio Valley region by Thursday. High temperatures and humidity will return by Friday. How likely is Beryl's arrival in Cincinnati? As of Tuesday morning, Cincinnati was just south of the USA TODAY storm tracker's cone. However, remnants of the storm, including a few storms, gusty winds, and brief isolated tornadoes, are still forecast to impact the area Tuesday. The remnants of Beryl will move into the Ohio Valley later today. A few storms are possible this afternoon ahead of a bigger line of storms later this evening. Gusty winds, brief isolated tornadoes, and locally heavy rain are the main threats. pic.twitter.com/Ds9Z8NjASC NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) July 9, 2024 How much rain could Cincinnati get on Tuesday? Cincinnati could receive rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch on Tuesday. Higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms. There is a 60% chance of precipitation during the day and an 80% of precipitation overnight Tuesday. Thunderstorms are possible throughout the day. As the remnants of Beryl begin to approach the region there will be the potential for severe weather on Tuesday. The highest chance for severe weather will be from around 3pm-midnight. Isolated weak tornadoes will be the main threat. Gusty winds then possible on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/YDLZNiiGBi NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) July 8, 2024 Detailed 7-day weather forecast for Cincinnati Tuesday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind will become east at 5 to 7 mph in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3 a.m. Low around 69. East wind 5 to 7 mph, becoming south after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Wednesday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. It will be partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind 5 to 9 mph, becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday: It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 86. The wind will be calm, becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Source: National Weather Service at Wilmington. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tropical Depression Beryl: Storms, tornado threat to hit Ohio, KY This undated photo provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female lone star tick, which, despite its Texas-sounding name, is found mainly in the Southeast. Public health officials say the threat from an aggressive tick is growing as it spreads in the U.S., carrying the potential for serious disease, as well as meat and dairy allergies. | James Gathany Public health officials say the threat from an aggressive tick is growing as it spreads in the U.S., carrying the potential for serious disease, as well as meat and dairy allergies. The most distinctive feature of the lone star ticks may be the starlike white splotch on the backs of adult females that gives them their name, according to a Consumer Reports article in The Washington Post. But its the baby (larval) lone star ticks that may make a bigger impression. Thats because they tend to hunt in packs, colloquially and horrifyingly referred to as tick bombs. That means an encounter with one is likely an encounter with many. Unlike the blacklegged ticks, which carry Lyme disease, the lone star tick is most apt to transmit viruses and bacteria, also potentially triggering an enigmatic allergy to red meat, the article reports. The ticks have been spreading from the southeastern U.S. north and they are also multiplying quickly. Of the biting ticks, theyre considered the most aggressive, Andrea Egizi, a scientist who studies them and runs the tick-borne disease lab for the Monmouth County Division of Mosquito Control in New Brunswick, New Jersey, told Consumer Reports. People near them are apt to be bitten. So far, the tick is not common in the West, but it has been spreading rapidly across the country. What lone star ticks spread The formal name of the tick, now found in roughly 30 states, is Amblyomma americanum. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that it can cause a rash similar to that of Lyme disease, including exhaustion, fever, headache and muscle and joint pain. The rash is an expanding lesion around the site of the bite and shows up within a week. It can grow to three inches or more. The CDC adds that no diagnostic test has been developed and its not known if antibiotics help when someone has rash-related illness. More serious is Alpha-gal syndrome, which can occur from a lone star tick bite. Per the CDC, thats a potentially life-threatening allergy to red meat that shows up after someone is exposed to alpha-gal a carbohydrate in a protein thats found in some mammals but not natively in humans. The Arkansas Department of Health explains it this way: Galactose-alpha-1, 3-galactose, or Alpha-gal for short, is a delayed allergy to mammal meat affecting a growing number of the population. This allergy is initially caused by a tick bite. Since the reaction to eating mammal meat is delayed by several hours, the proper diagnosis is often missed or misdiagnosed. People can also become allergic to dairy products. The syndrome is typically managed by an allergist or other doctor, the agency reports. Most health care providers recommend patients with AGS stop eating meat from mammals, such as beef, pork, lamb, venison or rabbit. However, not all patients with AGS have reactions to every ingredient containing alpha-gal. Between 2010 and 2022, there were more than 110,000 suspected cases, but because the syndrome is not one that must be reported to the CDC, the public health agency said the true number isnt known. Most of the reported cases were in adults. Avoiding lone star and other tick bites Ticks are problematic because they can carry various illnesses. Some, like Lyme disease or Alpha-gal, may be life-altering. Among advice to prevent tick bites, per the CDC: Stay away from grassy, brushy and wooded areas that may harbor ticks. Keep to the center of trails. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin. Use EPA-designated insect repellent. When you go inside, check clothing, gear and pets for ticks. Then shower and check yourself carefully. Remove any ticks right away. Will there be a second presidential debate? If so, when? If all goes as planned, President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump will have their second presidential debate in just over nine weeks. ABC News will host the presidential candidates as they face off for a final time on Sept. 10, moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, but a location has yet to be confirmed. (L to R) ABC News anchors David Muir, Linsey Davis and George Stephanopoulos speak to the audience before the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 7, 2020. Qualifications for the second debate are similar to the first, including candidates receiving at least 15% in four separate national polls, appearing on enough state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold, and agreeing to accept the debate's rules and format, which have yet to be announced. What time does the debate start? The debate will be held on Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. EDT, but who will be on stage remains a question. Despite some Democrats' worries about Biden's future in the campaign following his first debate performance on CNN, he does not plan to drop out of the race. A Biden campaign adviser told USA TODAY on June 28 that the president is committed to participating in a second debate against Trump. As of now, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not be in attendance. Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide Will there be a vice-presidential debate? Vice President Kamala Harris announced in May that she would be willing to debate the Trump administration's vice presidential pick. CBS will host the debate this summer without a live audience. As previously reported by USA TODAY, Trump has yet to name his vice presidential running mate and isn't expected to until closer to the Republican National Convention, set for July 15 to July 18. The Trump campaign has not confirmed whether it has also agreed to CBS' invitation. Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Will there be a second presidential debate? If so, when? Its time to hold him responsible, prosecutors say in closing statements against Menendez NEW YORK Sen. Bob Menendezs defense the last two months has been to blame everyone but himself during his corruption trial, but prosecutors urged jurors to make him accountable for a yearslong series of alleged schemes to sell his office. Its time to hold him responsible, federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni told jurors during closing statements on Tuesday. Monteleoni spent much of his five-hour closing argument undercutting the key argument made by the senators defense team: That his wife Nadine Menendez went behind his back to collect bribes. At times, he tried to disarm the defenses case with humor. During the trial, for example, Menendezs attorneys spent a lot of time suggesting the senator may not have had access to a bedroom closet in his house where some cash and gold bars were found. Was the man locked out of his own bedroom? Monteleoni said dramatically. Of course not. The closing argument was prosecutors' last chance to put Menendez at the heart of several overlapping conspiracies to disrupt criminal cases against New Jersey business people and aid the government of Egypt in exchange for bribes. But Monteleoni said its a simple one at its core. This is a big case, he said, but it all boils down to a classic case of corruption on a massive scale. Menendezs team is expected to spend three or more hours Tuesday afternoon on closing arguments. At times through the prosecution's closing argument, Menendez could be seen shaking his head at the defense table, especially when Monteleoni was going over the governments charges that the senator had sold his office to benefit the Egyptian government and attempted to illegally obstruct the New Jersey investigation. In a prebuttal to the expected defense that the senator was distanced from the alleged schemes, Monteleoni also pointed to a September 2019 meeting described by the governments star witness, Jose Uribe. He testified that Menendez summoned his wife with a bell during a meeting in the couple's backyard. The bell, the prosecutor said, was proof that the senator is the one charge. Hes not a puppet having his strings pulled by someone he summons with a bell, Monteleoni said. At another point, Monteleoni chastised another element of Menendezs defense as desperation, which was that thousands of dollars in cash was found in his home inside a shopping bag from Forever 21, a store that his daughter-in-law Sabine had been to. What are they even saying? Monteleoni said. Are they saying its Sabines money? Monteleoni showed jurors photos of the tens of thousands of dollars in cash found at the Menendezs home with the fingerprints of co-defendant and businessperson Fred Daibes. That included $10,000 found in a jacket that prosecutors said was owned by Menendez. Altogether, the money was proof the senator was in on the complex bribery scheme, Monteleoni said. Daibes and fellow co-defendant Wael "Will" Hana have argued that cash or gold found at the Menendez home were not bribes, but gifts between friends. Monteleoni told jurors that the one-kilogram gold bars and envelopes of cash were more sinister than just tokens of friendship. Friends do not give friends envelopes stuffed with $10,000 in cash just out of friendship," Monteleoni said The government also put up a chart aimed to debunk a key part of Menendezs defense: That some of the cash found at his home from withdrawals he made over the years stemmed from a distrust of banks because of his parents' experience fleeing Cuba. The chart showed that more cash was found at Menendezs home than was actually withdrawn. Menendezs team has argued that much of that cash was found in a locked closet used by Nadine, but Monteleoni urged the jury to dismiss the idea (at least some of the envelopes of cash found in the locked closet also had the senators fingerprints, Monteleoni said). Does Nadine make him clear out of the room when she uses the closet, Monteleoni said. The idea is preposterous. You should reject it. While the government is trying to undercut the claims that Menenedez was unaware of the cash and gold found in his home and how it ended up there, they described Nadine as a go-between for the payments. He doesnt negotiate the bribe payment himself, Monteleoni said. He has Nadine do that for him. Monteleoni also described Menendez as acting as a political consultant and agent of the Egyptian government. He pointed to instances where Menendez allegedly pressured a United States Department of Agriculture official to stop questioning a halal meat certification granted to Hana from the government of Egypt which prosecutors say paid Nadine bribes and the senator allegedly ghost-writing letters for Egypt. Time Ticks Faster on The Moon. Now We Know Precisely How Much. Since astronauts departed the lunar surface for the last time 52 years ago, time has ticked on by. Relative to us Earthlings, the Moon has pined for our return just a little longer by roughly 1.1 seconds. It doesn't sound like much, and neither does the 57 millionths (0.0000575) of a second that the Moon's time stretches ahead compared to that of our home planet each day. But that crucial result of a new study from NASA scientists could be the difference between navigation systems syncing up as the US space agency launches its long-awaited crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. We've known about gravity's ability to slow time since Albert Einstein postulated his general theory of relativity. But the practicalities of measuring any temporal distortions that come with differences in gravity such as the contrast between Earth's pull and the Moon's have lagged far behind. Only in the last decade or so have we had atomic clocks sensitive enough to detect small differences in time between two objects moving relative to each other, or under different gravitational pulls. And with the half-century-long pause between crewed Moon landings, scientists didn't have a pressing reason to work out how those teensy time differences played out between Earth and our lunar companion. The Moon has one-sixth of Earth's gravity, but astronauts only stopped by briefly so it wasn't much of an issue. Now scientists have a deadline: NASA is looking to return astronauts to the Moon by 2026, as part of its Artemis missions, where they will start exploring possible sites for lunar bases that one day may serve as a stepping stone to Mars. "We're looking at a sustained presence on the Moon," NASA's Cheryl Gramling, a navigation systems engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, told New Scientist's Jonathan O'Callaghan. "Infrastructure on Earth such as GPS provides time down to the nanosecond level," Gramling continued. "If you're trying to navigate or land on the Moon, and avoid dangerous areas, then that precision matters." Earlier this year, in April, NASA and other US agencies were tasked with working out a unified time reference system for the Moon that other space agencies could agree on. This new finding helps in that regard, and has been in the works for some time. Slava Turyshev, a physicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who led the study, told O'Callaghan: "Somebody needed to sit down and work out the maths." From Earth, it appears as if the Moon has gained 57 millionths of a second per Earth day. Turyshev and colleagues came to this number by calculating the sliding scale of time for Earth and the Moon relative to the barycentre of the Solar System. This is the Solar System's common center of mass, around which the Sun, planets and satellites orbit in a delicate balance. Turyshev and colleagues' calculations come close to the 56.02 microseconds a different team of researchers from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology landed on in February. But tiny fractions of a second matter over such big distances, so there's still some work to do. Neither result has been peer-reviewed, and the final definition of lunar time will need to be corroborated by a number of agencies and international bodies, such as the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and the International Astronomical Union, who plan to meet in August. We'll also need to keep an eye on how our own planet Earth's rotation is strangely slowing down, making our days slightly longer and how extractive human activities have altered its spin. The research has been posted to the arXiv preprint server ahead of peer review. Children participate in a March For Our Lives protest in 2018 following the school massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) If anyone doubted the downward spiral of our country, one look at the U.S. Supreme Court would disabuse them of the notion. For the past two, three years, The Leonard Leo Six as MSNBC political commentator and The Reidout host Joy Reid describes them have taken a flame thrower to the rights and freedoms of women, African Americans, and other constituencies, shattered the countrys judicial infrastructure, and tossed out decades-long precedent and settled law. During the recently concluded term, in a fusillade of decisions, the conservative supermajority eviscerated the regulatory powers of the federal government; continued its barely concealed hostility towards African Americans and voting rights; undermined reproductive justice and abortion care; and made it more difficult to charge Jan. 6 rioters with attempted obstruction of the electoral vote count. In a June 14 ruling, the high court struck down a 2018 ban on bump stocks despite public outrage and the devastating implications for Americans. The arch-conservative Republican bloc gave its blessing to anyone with access to an AR-15-style rifle to use bump stocks if they so choose to enable the weapon to fire 400 to 800 rounds a minute. The justices are indifferent about sanctioning more shedding of the blood of innocents by heavily armed, evil, or mentally unstable individuals. This is America. America is a vast, beautiful, diverse country of 336 million people held at gunpoint by a tiny minority of irresponsible Republicans and their allies. Those in Congress and state legislatures have stubbornly refused to seriously consider commonsense gun safety legislation that could stem the slaughter. Somewhere along the way, America as in politicians, policymakers, the political class, and our supposed leaders lost the script. Packing heat Case in point. Gov. Ron DeSantis. In response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision, U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Dr. Vivek H. Murthy declared that gun violence constitutes a public health crisis. In his 39-page report, Murthy said that gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents since 2020, surpassing motor vehicle crashes, cancer, drug overdoses, and poisoning. In 2022, 48,204 people in the United States died from firearm-related injuries, including suicides, homicides, and unintentional deaths. Thats 8,000 more lost lives than in 2019 and more than 16,000 lost since 2010, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among Murthys policy prescriptions are universal background checks, expanding purchaser-licensing laws, banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines for civilian use, and creating safer conditions in public places related to firearm use and carry. DeSantis doesnt care and pushed back almost immediately: We will not comply. Florida will always reject the Biden Administrations unconstitutional power-grabs, he said on Twitter/X recently. During COVID, unelected bureaucrats used public health as a pretext to deprive citizens of their rights and I signed legislation to protect Floridians from government overreach. Now, Bidens Surgeon General is attempting to violate the Second Amendment through the public health bureaucracy. Novelist Stephen King lamented in a 2023 New York Times opinion piece that he had no hope of anything changing because Americans love guns and appear willing to pay the price in blood. King, reacting to a mass shooting that killed 18 people, added that [t]here is no solution to the gun problem and little more to write, because Americans are addicted to firearms. Americans love their guns and no suffering, no slaughter, can loosen their grip. To Kings point, America endured 656 mass shootings last year. The statistics That was up from 647 mass shootings in 2022 but down from a record 689 in 2021, Axios has reported. The story cited data from the Gun Violence Archive showing that 2023 saw an 8% to 10% overall decrease in deaths and injuries from gun violence. There were 42,987 deaths by gun last year. Thats down from 47,430 the previous year. The data also tallied a figure often overlooked survivors indicating that 36,366 people were injured by guns in 2023, down from 38,578 injuries in 2022. The overall increase in U.S. gun deaths since the beginning of the pandemic includes an especially stark rise in such fatalities among children and teens under age 18, from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021. Its easy to assume that an Ivy League-trained chief executive could connect the dots and understand the devastating consequences of unfettered access to guns. Instead, DeSantis has chosen to sign into law a bill that allows Floridians to carry guns without a permit or and without a modicum of training. Of course, the policy has won praise from rightwing activists who view any firearm-related regulation as a violation of their second amendment right to bear arms. In the past, Florida law required anyone seeking to carry a concealed gun to complete safety training and undergo a detailed background check, but Republicans moved to do away with those requirements. The governor signed the bill under cover of darkness, probably because he knows its deeply unpopular. According to The Guardian, surveys indicate that Florida residents broadly oppose permitless carry. A poll conducted by the University of North Floridas Public Opinion Research Lab showed 77% of Florida voters, including 62% of Republicans, do not support the law. The war is lost Brynn Tannehill, a former naval officer, a defense research scientist, and a blogger on LGBTQ issues, despairs that the war on guns is lost. She writes in The New Republic that we have more unregistered guns in this country more than 400 million than those in the possession of the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and police departments combined. And Republicans want more. Tannehill likens the gun violence crisis as Sisyphus with a boulder that rolls downhill and crushes him over and over for eternity. Tannehill adds: Thats something that people who support gun control measures need to understand: The war is lost. With the courts stacked and gerrymandering giving Republicans safe seats, little will change, Tannehill notes. In reality, mass shootings will only become more and more common over the next few years as Republicans have decided that the only solution to gun violence is adding as many guns as possible to the mix, she adds. Short of a national divorce, there is nothing that can be done at this point, Tannehill concludes. A way out? Yet there are others, like Vanderbilt University professor Jonathan Metzl, who offer a way out. A gun-policy scholar, sociologist, and physician, he argues its not enough to pursue traditional legislative approaches like Murtha prescribes Americas policymakers and public must address white gun owners fears of losing their racial majority status as well as their distrust in government and belief that having an arsenal means autonomy and security, Metzl argues in Time magazine. The ideologies driving expansive gun rights aspire, not just to sell specific products, but to gain power and wield influence in increasingly undemocratic ways. And a health framework that emphasizes threats to human bodies offers little counter to threats to the American body politic as a result, he wrote. Metzl argues for undermining coded appeals to white racial resentments and fear of crime by investing in civic infrastructure Fixing streetlights, creating parks and green space, jobs programs, and rebuilding civic infrastructure, public safety, and community resiliency can reduce gun crime at rates that supersede those produced by gun laws alone. Will it work? Well only know if we apply what weve learned and commit to making this new approach work. If not, we will be trapped in the dystopian world described by Stephen King and Brynn Tannehill, which really is no living at all. BP, Exxon both say weak refining margins likely to hit earnings Peter Dazeley / Contributor / Getty Images Key Takeaways BP ADRs slid in premarket trading Tuesday after the energy giant said its second-quarter earnings will likely be impacted by lower refining margins. The company also expects to take an impairment charge of between $1 billion and $2 billion related to a review of one of its German refineries. Exxon also said refining margins would negatively impact its second-quarter earnings on Monday. BP (BP) American depositary receipts (ADRs) fell in premarket trading Tuesday after the energy giant said that it expects lower refining margins and an impairment charge of up to $2 billion will impact its second-quarter results. The British oil and gas company said Tuesday that "significantly lower realized refining margins" are projected to have a negative impact between $500 million to $700 million when it reports second-quarter earnings at the end of the month. BP Joins Exxon in Warning About Refining Margins BP, which expects to take an impairment charge between $1 billion and $2 billion related to a review of one of its German refineries, is not the only one in the industry warning about potential hits to second-quarter results. Exxon Mobil (XOM) on Monday said that lower refining margins would cause its second-quarter profits to be between $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion lower. The company also expects lower natural gas prices to cause a hit of about $300 million to $700 million when it reports earnings later this month. BP ADRs, as well as its shares traded on the London Stock Exchange, were each down around 4% as of 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday. Read the original article on Investopedia. Tire Falls Off United Airlines Flight After Takeoff for Second Time in 4 Months "The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event," the airline said in a statement to PEOPLE AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images A stock photo of a United Airlines plane A second United Airlines flight lost a tire shortly after takeoff this week. On Monday, July 8, Flight 1001 "landed safely in Denver after losing one wheel on takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport," a United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event," they added. The plane was a Boeing 757-200 and there were 174 passengers on board, plus seven crew members. The airline also confirmed that there were "no reported injuries on the aircraft or on the ground" during the incident. Robert Alexander/Getty Images A stock photo of a United Airlines plane Related: Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Portland After Part of Plane Blows out Mid-Air The Federal Aviation Administration told PEOPLE it was investigating, and that the plane had "landed safely" at Denver International Airport around 10:10 a.m. local time. Passenger Allen Stubblefield told Good Morning America that the plane "landed with a thump." "The plane was going straight down the runway," he continued, admitting, "It felt normal." Monday's incident comes after a wheel fell off United Airlines Flight 35 which was headed to Osaka, Japan on March 7. The plane was diverted to L.A. shortly after taking off from San Francisco International Airport when the wheel fell off the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, an United Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE at the time. Related: I Survived a Bird Smashing Through My Plane's Windshield and Slamming into My Head Mid-Flight Gary Hershorn/Getty Images A stock photo of a United Airlines plane There were 235 customers, 10 flight attendants and four pilots on board. As previously reported by PEOPLE, the wheel landed on two vehicles in the airport's employee parking lot, causing quite a bit of damage. "Were grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation," the airline said in a statement at the time, adding that the plane was "designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires," and had 12 tires on both of its main landing gear struts. 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. "Were also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival. We will work with customers as well as with the owners of the damaged vehicles in SFO to ensure their needs are addressed," the airline continued. The latest wheel incident came hours before PEOPLE reported Boeing would plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States as part of an agreement with the Justice Department. The charge relates to two fatal 737 MAX 8 jet crashes that killed a combined 346 people, stemming from the 2018 crash of a Lion Air flight and the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The fire, which happened on Friday, July 5, is currently being reviewed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation GoFundMe The Montague Family A Tennessee car fire has left a toddler dead and his brothers and father injured, according to local authorities. According to a Facebook update from the Rocky Top Police Department, authorities responded to a vehicle fire on Norris Freeway at Mason Street on Friday, July 5, in which one fatality was confirmed. As a result of the fire, authorities shut down Norris Freeway for hours. Authorities did not immediately identify those involved in the incident and directed inquiries to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. PEOPLE reached out to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for further comment, but they did not immediately respond. GoFundMe The Montague Brothers The family members involved in the incident were identified as dad Chip Montague, Maximus Montague, 3, Hendrix Montague, 2, and 1-year-old Oakley Montague, who died in the fire, according to ABC affiliate WATE and a GoFundMe organized by a cousin. Rocky Top Police Chief John Thomas told local outlet, the OakRidger, that the call about a vehicle fire was received at 12:41 p.m. local time. It happened right in front of the gas station and the tenant from the gas station ran over with a fire extinguisher, Roth explained to WATE. Chip was able to get Hendrix out first, and then Maximus and he couldnt get to Oakley. 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. Related: Bystanders Rescue Man Trapped in Burning Car After Minnesota Highway Crash: 'Glad He Got Out in Time' NBC affiliate WBIR corroborated Roth's recollection, with one witness noting to the outlet that two explosions occurred as a result of the fire. The same witness also stated that they grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran to the car to help the occupants escape. According to the GoFundMe, "Chip; the boys father, has 3rd degree burns on both his hands and arms as well as to the side of his face. Maximus is now in ICU and on breathing tubes with burns from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. Hendrix has severe 3rd degree burns on one half of his body and will be in a burn unit." The campaign's organizer, Kayla Hann, also noted, "As we rally together as a family to try to figure out life after this tragedy, bills and funeral expenses should be the last of my aunt and her husbands worries. Any amount will help and prayers are always welcomed." The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told WBIR that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Far be it for me to intrude on private grief and all that. But, cordially, I will make an exception for the Tory party. In the spirit not of gloating, obviously, but of giving. They need all the help they can get right now, the poor shell-shocked souls who once seemed invincible but who turned out to be all too dispensable, human even. Except, of course, the seemingly unrepentant and robotic Liz Truss. The loss of her seat on election night was no exercise of graciousness in defeat. Instead, it was a petty display. But its her lack of contrition that really damns her. Though she of course was not the only rogue in the gallery: that vanquished popinjay George Galloway did not even turn up for his count. Privately, they must go through all the various stages of grief, because politics is a brutal game. In no particular order, grief counsellors talk of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We have glimpsed some of this already. Publicly, they have to find a new leader and, indeed, something much more difficult a meaning in opposition. Who really are the Conservatives now? I grew up in a working-class Tory-voting household and once understood what they stood for, even if I didnt agree with them. Lately, beyond anti-immigration policies, I really have little idea of what they represent. So, if they want to get back on track, here are 10, I imagine unwelcome, suggestions to the party. 1. Just calm down about Reform. In 2015, Ukip got 3.8 million votes and now, a decade later, Reform gets four million. They have no structure, no real policies and, apart from Farage, no real recognition. They care about immigration above all else and are not interested in the difficult, nuts and bolts of day-to-day politics. This is why in 2017 Ukip lost all 145 of its local council seats. Blaming immigration for every social ill does not get the bins collected or dentists taking on more patients. As a party of Parliament, Reform will now have to up their game. Just how often will Nigel Farage actually go to Clacton or Richard Tice to Skegness? Will they make a lot of noise though? Sure. My advice: ignore it. 2. Remember you lost many votes to the Lib Dems too! Suella Bravermans rhetoric does not play well in the shires. Rwanda was a colossal waste of money. Immigration will remain an issue for this Labour government, and you can sit back and watch that play out instead of becoming ever more rabid. As Labour has shown, elections are won from the centre ground. 3. You were ejected because you were seen to be corrupt and incompetent. A well-run leadership contest could at least reassert some basic Tory values. I do not hold out much hope of this, and the well-trodden path of ex-ministers gliding into well-paid directorships hardly speaks of the public service ethos that Sir Keir Starmer is effectively peddling at the moment. 4. Stop pining for Boris Johnson. He did you over. He did everyone over. Its bad enough watching Nadine Dorries do it. Everyone else, get a grip. 5. Ditto Thatcher. Ditto Cameron. Move on. 6. Unless you are actually to die out as a party, you have to acknowledge that young people exist. You seem to offer nothing for the young. As this election taught us ignore them at your peril. 7. Stop disparaging the country you live in. If everything is dark and dangerous and falling apart after 14 years of Tory rule, what of the future? Tory visions of the future are all re-runs of an imaginary past. 8. Work cross-party and with the Lords. This has already been done in areas such as womens rights. This will be a different kind of parliament and rather than noxious tribalism, you could make yourselves look at least a little more grown up. 9. I would ban the word woke but I would keep an eye on how Labour does on gender ideology, an issue that is not going to go away. 10. Say sorry for the errors made while in power and show that, the rules do apply to you too, from Partygate to Covid contracts. Personally, I would like to see Kemi Badenoch lead the revival, but restoring integrity to your party will require much more than simply a change at the top. For critics, the whiff of excess, of decadence, of entitlement will continue to linger unless addressed head-on Fake piety wont do it. Listening might. Hope can only come after grief has been processed, and part of that is having a sense of both the present and the future. That is a collective enterprise for a party that prides itself on individualism, but the country has moved on and it has left you trailing behind. Begin to carve out a vision in opposition, really tell us what modern conservatism actually means. Alternatively, you could just sulk and bicker until the next election. 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. Hollywood donors grew shriller and more visceral in their demands that Pres. Joe Biden end his reelection bid Monday, taking pointed stabs at the president, his son and the First Lady. They personally attacked the presidents son, Hunter Biden, and first lady Jill Biden, both of whom have insisted Biden stay in the race. And they suggested Biden is putting his ego above the country. Hes running against a felon and now hes suddenly taking advice from his son who is a convicted felon? Hollywood heavyweight Peter Benedek, co-founder of United Talent Agency, asked rhetorically in an email to the Daily Beast. (Benedek is agent to Joanna Coles, the Beasts Chief Creative Officer.) Its time to go. Hes sullying his profound legacy. Benedek weighed in alongside Hollywood mega agent Ari Emanuel, whose clients include Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey. The president, they both argued, is now damaging his own reputation and legacy. Their tough love comes mere weeks after Hollywoods star-studded fundraiser that raked in $30 million for the Biden campaign for president. Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor and TKO Group Holdingswhose brother, Rahm Emanuel, is currently serving as U.S. ambassador to Japan in the Biden administrationargued on Monday that Biden has morphed into a version of his political nemesis. David Axelrod: Joe Biden has Two Weeks to Build a Blue Wall The idea that Mr. Biden alone can fix it is a self-aggrandising delusion on a Trumpian scale. No wonder the audience at the president's post-debate rally sounded just like a MAGA crowd from 2016, Emanuel wrote in a piece published in The Economist, noting that some in the audience who chanted "Lock him up! Mr. Biden's advisers are just as deluded if they think they can tell Americans they didn't see what they saw on that debate stage, Emanual said. One bad night or the effects of a cold is spin that would make even Mr. Trump's flacks blush. Emanuel, who once represented Trump, noted that the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, denied that the president had seen a physician after the debate, only to have the president himself admit later during a meeting with Democratic governors that he did, in fact, see a doctor. Just as Mr. Trump's White House frequently lied about his medical treatments, from routine colonoscopies to when he nearly died from covid, the Hollywood super agent wrote. Filmmaker and Democratic donor Rob Reiner also joined the Hollywood blowback. Its time to stop fucking around. If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served US with honor, decency, and dignity. Its time for Joe Biden to step down, Reiner tweeted Sunday. However, on Monday, Reiner appeared to waffle a bit. If we see the Joe Biden that appeared on Morning Joe today every day until Nov.5, hell be able to shut up people like me who think he should step aside, Reiner posted on X. Biden in New Crisis Over Parkinsons Docs Eight White House Visits Emanuel is not waffling but waging a no-holds-barred aim at the Biden family, comparing them to the Trumps. In The Economist, the Endeavor CEO chided Jill Biden for praising her husbands dismal debate performance as if he were a school child. When Jill Biden told her husband after the debate, Joe, you did such a great job! You answered every question! You knew all the facts!, and the next day defiantly wore a dress plastered with the word VOTE, I couldn't help but think of Melania Trump wearing a coat that said I REALLY DONT' CARE, DO U? after touring a detention center for child migrants, he wrote. Benedek, Reiner and Emanuel are not considered mega donors: Reiner, for example, has contributed at least $55,800 to Democrats over the past decade while Benedek has given nearly $40,000 on top of tens of thousands of dollars funneled through his United Talent Agency PAC. But all three are key members of an elite network of Hollywood fundraisers and bundlers that carries considerable clout. The Hollywood mogul followed the lead of his brother Ezekiel Emanuel, the physician, who wrote in a piece for The Atlantic last week that Biden, who he said showed a striking deficit of fluid intelligence during his televised debate against Trump, should withdraw from the 2024 race. Ari Emanuel cited several presidential gaffes and stumbles for his reasoning, including Biden referring to himself during a July 4 radio show as the "first Black woman to serve with a Black president. And while he said the Joe Biden we saw on the debate stage is simply not up to the job of defeating Mr. Trump, let alone governing for four more years, Emanuel said putting Vice President Kamala Harris atop the ticket also carries significant risks. Instead, he envisions a winning ticket of Democratic swing-state governors like Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, which he said would electrify the country and put Democrats well on their way to securing a strong majority in the electoral college. And if that fails? Then perhaps Whitmer and Wes Moore, the young, dynamic governor of Maryland, should jointly declare their candidacies, he floated. We're not MAGA Republicans. The Democratic Party is not a mindless cult of personality, Emanuel urged. We are patriots who put the country first. Lets show it. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. WAUKESHA A week before the Republican National Convention begins in downtown Milwaukee, top state and national party leaders told attendees at a rally Monday that turning out voters and "election integrity" were leading priorities ahead of the November presidential election. "We're recruiting 100,000 volunteers all across the country," said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. "We want 5,000 of them here in Wisconsin, and we want to make sure that we are in the room whenever a vote is being cast and a vote is being counted." His comments echoed an announcement this spring from the Republican National Committee and campaign of former President Donald Trump regarding plans to deploy tens of thousands of volunteers and attorneys to monitor and challenge voting processes in battleground states, including Wisconsin. Trump, who is expected to formally accept the party's nomination at the RNC in downtown Milwaukee next week, has for the last four years made false claims regarding his 2020 election loss in Wisconsin. Trump lost the state to President Joe Biden by about 21,000 votes that year, an outcome confirmed by recounts Trump paid for, court rulings, a nonpartisan state audit and a study by a prominent conservative group. Lara Trump, from left, Michael Whatley and Brian Schimming speak to the press after a rally on voting integrity in Waukesha on Monday. On Monday, more than 130 people gathered for the rally at the Wisconsin Young Republicans headquarters in Waukesha, where the party afterward planned to hold an "election integrity" training for those in attendance. Speakers raised the specter of voter fraud despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud and urged supporters to become poll watchers and election observers and to turn out other voters for Trump. "We will never allow an election like 2020 to happen ever again," said Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and daughter-in-law of Donald Trump. A spokesperson for Biden's campaign in response called Trump "the single biggest threat to our democracy." "(Biden) is standing up to Donald Trump and the MAGA extremists who are obsessed with undermining our elections and threatening our democracy," said Kristi Johnston, Wisconsin Democratic coordinated campaign rapid response director. "We can stop Donald Trumps self-obsessed quest for power once and for all at the ballot box by reelecting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this November." Earlier in the day, the RNC Platform Committee met at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee and passed a list of priorities that cement the former presidents views at the heart of the party. The platform includes support for voting restrictions and measures to ramp up same-day voting. However, at the Monday rally, speakers encouraged the use of early voting and absentee ballots. This is the law of the land right now, and so what we want to make sure that we're doing is taking advantage of the law in every single state that we have, Whatley told reporters afterward. And obviously every single state is different, but what we want to do is make sure if there's early voting, we want to participate, we want to engage. If there's mail-in voting, we want to participate, we want to engage. Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming also supported early voting, saying he was a proponent of the measure and encouraged it to increase the chances of people voting in the upcoming election. While they supported mail-in voting, Schimming and Whatley criticized the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that reinstated drop boxes in the state. Schimming said the drop boxes offer "another opportunity for potential mischief," but the speakers did not specify how mail-in voting was more secure than the drop boxes. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Tristan Hernandez can be reached at thernandez@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Top Republicans hold 'protect the vote' rally ahead of RNC TOPEKA (KSNT) The man police arrested for a gang-related killing in an affluent Topeka neighborhood is no longer in custody. Prosecutors said they have not yet charged Dasanee Curry and the case is under investigation. Curry was arrested for the June 21 murder of Brian Wright, 23, in an affluent Westboro neighborhood northeast of 17th and Gage. He was also accused of trying to kill a 23-year-old woman who lives feet from the shooting location. Police have said the crimes are gang-related. Curry was booked into Shawnee County jail on June 27 and released on July 2 without bond, pending a decision by the district attorney on filing charges, a jail spokesman said. When 27 News asked police about the investigation and the suspects release, they provided no details. Scammer drains Kansas victims debit card down to $6 The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time, said Rosie Nichols, police spokeswoman. A barrage of more than two dozen gunshots was heard and a black car riddled with bullet holes was removed from the scene in the 3100 block of Westover. The gunfire hit a home with a family of four inside. Police said they are unknown to the shooting victims and suspects. For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Hurricane Beryl rewrote the record books from its formation in the Atlantic to its landfall in the United States, but the records didn't stop there. Beginning at midnight July 7 and ending at 11 p.m. July 10, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued 201 tornado warnings as Beryl moved inland, with 97 warnings issued on July 8. Severe tornado damage to the Mead Johnson Nutrition building in Mt. Vernon, Indiana after a twister on July 9, 2024. Severe tornado damage to the Mead Johnson Nutrition building in Mt. Vernon, Indiana after a twister on July 9, 2024. On Tuesday, July 9, social media and storm chaser videos showed a strong tornado twisting through the skies in Mount Vernon, Indiana, as well as severe damage in Poseyville, 17 miles northeast of Mount Vernon. The tornado also severely damaged the Mead Johnson Nutrition building in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. This tornado was rated an EF3. How many tornadoes touched down from Beryl? NWS offices are still completing damage surveys, which can take several days. As of Friday morning, the NWS has confirmed 43 tornadoes. The number of tornado warnings from Beryl in one day set a new record previously held by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 when around 90 tornado warnings were issued. Beryl also set a record for the most tornado warnings issued in a day, or even in a month, by the NWS office in Shreveport, where 67 advisories hit the wires Monday. It was also the most tornado warnings ever issued on a July day, which is typically before hurricane season ramps up. Hurricane Ivan continues to hold the record for tornado warnings issued, with 213 warnings from Sept. 14-19, 2004. Data for NWS warnings goes back to around 1985. Hurricane Ivan spawned at least 118 tornadoes in 2004, as many as 127, depending on the tally source. Some tornadoes were embedded within the outer bands of the storm and occurred even before Hurricane Beryl's landfall. One home in Jamaica Beach, Texas, 20 miles southwest of Galveston, was almost completely destroyed by an EF1 tornado, with radar confirming that rotational winds moved over the area in the middle of the night at 3 a.m. CDT on July 8. BOTTOM: A home, 3909 1st Street in Galveston, Texas, that neighbors believe was hit by a tornado from Hurricane Beryl sits exposed in Bay Harbor following the Category 1 hurricane on Monday, July 8, 2024. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) / TOP: Same address in Google Maps' Street View (Google) BOTTOM: A home, 3909 1st Street in Galveston, Texas, that neighbors believe was hit by a tornado from Hurricane Beryl sits exposed in Bay Harbor following the Category 1 hurricane on Monday, July 8, 2024. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) / TOP: Same address in Google Maps' Street View (Google) In addition to an active spring tornado season, the United States is now in the second spot for the number of days with over 100 tornado warnings issued. Six days meet that criteria so far this year, while nine days occurred in 2011, the year of the Super Tornado Outbreak. Tornado watch issued for parts of Cincinnati. How Beryl could impact the area 3:32 p.m. from National Weather Service: A tornado watch is in effect from 3:05 p.m. July 9 until midnight. Remnants of Tropical Depression Beryl is now forecast to push northeastward and to Ohio, causing unstable weather to move through Cincinnati on Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a tornado watch Tuesday afternoon for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties from 3:05 p.m. through midnight. The watch includes isolated hail up to a half-inch in size and isolated winds up to 70 mph. [3:13 PM] A Tornado Watch has been issued that impacts our Tri-State until midnight. pic.twitter.com/4tero6cAuc NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) July 9, 2024 According to USA TODAY, Beryl has weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression as its center tracks inland over East Texas. The storm will likely merge with a front, bringing heavy rain and the chance for tornadoes to the Ohio Valley region. The weather service also reports that scattered showers and possible thunderstorms are expected throughout the Cincinnati area into Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Isolated, weak tornadoes could also form in the afternoon and evening, per a hazardous weather outlook. Heavy rainfall cannot be ruled out at night. There's an 80% chance of precipitation Tuesday afternoon into the evening, with showers and thunderstorms likely between 1-2 a.m. Wednesday morning. Temperatures will reach a low around 70 degrees Tuesday night. Tropical Storm Beryl's path as of 10 a.m. Monday, July 8, 2024 Showers and thunderstorms are possible Wednesday. Wind gusts could get up to 32 mph. Temperatures on Wednesday will be cooler, as the high will be near 75. Beryl remnants will move northeast of the area Wednesday night. Rain chances will reduce overnight. Cooler, drier air will move into the Ohio Valley region by Thursday. High temperatures and humidity will return by Friday. How much rain could Cincinnati get on Tuesday? Cincinnati could receive rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch Tuesday, increasing to between a half and three quarters of an inch possible Tuesday night. Higher amounts are a possibility in thunderstorms. As the remnants of Beryl begin to approach the region there will be the potential for severe weather on Tuesday. The highest chance for severe weather will be from around 3pm-midnight. Isolated weak tornadoes will be the main threat. Gusty winds then possible on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/YDLZNiiGBi NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) July 8, 2024 Beryl circling toward East Coast. How could it affect Ohio? Heavy rain and potential flooding are the biggest concerns as the storm circles toward the East Coast. "Widespread heavy rains and thunderstorms are likely along and to the northeast of the path of Beryl over the next two days," the NWS told USA TODAY. "The storm's tentacles will even reach Canada by late in the week," AccuWeather meteorologist Bill Degar told USA TODAY. Tropical Depression Beryl path tracker: Will hurricane remnants affect Ohio? This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Tropical Depression Beryl spaghetti models: Where will Hurricane Beryl remnants go next? Is Ohio in the path? 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. See Beryl grow from tropical depression to Category 5 storm Hurricane Beryl timeline: From tropical depression to Category 5 storm June 28, 5 p.m.: Tropical Depression 2 forms in Central Atlantic, about 1,225 miles east-southeast of Barbados. Winds at 35 mph. June 28, 11 p.m.: Tropical Storm Beryl forms about 1,110 miles east-southeast of Barbados. Winds at 40 mph. June 29, 5 p.m.: Beryl becomes first hurricane of 2024 season 720 miles east-southeast of Barbados. Winds at 75 mph. June 30, 8 a.m.: Beryl becomes Category 3 hurricane 420 miles east-southeast of Barbados. Winds at 115 mph. June 30, 11:35 a.m.: Beryl now a Category 4 hurricane 350 miles east-southeast of Barbados. Winds at 130 mph. July 1, 11:10 a.m.: Landfall No. 1. Beryl makes landfall as Category 4 hurricane at Carriacou Island, Grenada. Winds at 150 mph. July 1, 11 p.m.: Beryl becomes Category 5 hurricane in eastern Caribbean. Winds at 160 mph. July 2, 2 a.m.: Beryl strengthens even more in eastern Caribbean. Winds hit 165 mph. July 2, 2 p.m .: Beryl weakens slightly as the eye passes south of the Dominican Republic. Winds at 155 mph. July 3, 5 p.m.: Eyewall of Beryl brushes south coast of Jamaica. Winds at 140 mph. July 4, 8 a.m.: Center of Beryl passes southwest of Grand Cayman Island. Winds at 120 mph. July 4, 9:30 p.m.: Beryl strengthens back to Category 3 storm as it approaches Yucatan Peninsula. Winds at 115 mph. July 5, 6:05 a.m.: Landfall No. 2: Beryl makes landfall on Yucatan Peninsula northeast of Tulum, Mexico as a Category 2 storm. Winds at 110 mph. July 5, 1 p.m. CDT: Beryl weakens into tropical storm as it moves over Mexico. Winds at 70 mph. July 5, 10 p.m. CDT: Beryl enters Gulf of Mexico as tropical storm. Winds at 60 mph. July 7, 11 p.m. CDT: Beryl become a hurricane again 65 miles south-southeast of Matagorda, Texas. Winds at 75 mph. July 8, 4 a.m.: CDT: Landfall No. 3. Beryl makes landfall near Matagorda, Texas, as Category 1 storm. Winds at 80 mph. Contributing: Gabe Huari, Doyle Rice, Thao Nguyen, Cheryl McCloud, Christopher Cann, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Jorge L. Ortiz and Michael Loria, USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tropical Depression Beryl: Will storm bring tornadoes to Cincinnati? LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The remnants of Hurricane Beryl will continue to move into the Ohio River Valley placing the southern part of the state to see the heaviest rainfall from this system. The remnants will bring the potential for heavy rainfall and the threat of flooding into the area late tonight into Wednesday morning. Beryl made landfall along the Texas coastline early Monday morning as a category one hurricane, as of today the remnants are bringing heavy rain to Missouri and portions of southern Illinois. Clouds have increased this afternoon and are the outer clouds of this tropical depression that is heading our way! Clouds will increase and temperatures will get into the low 80s areawide however, we will feel very humid as the tropical air continues to move in. We will start to see rain spread from south to north late this afternoon into this evening bringing widespread showers and a few thunderstorms ahead of the tropical remnants. StormTracker 6 forecast and interactive radar It isnt until late this evening and into early Wednesday morning we see the heaviest rain moves in. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) when systems transition into extratropical systems like Beryl is that is when the conditions are favorable for heavy rain and flooding. Source: www.weather.gov/grr/weatherstory This is why there is a Flood Watch issued for the majority of mid-Michigan (excluding Lenawee and Hillsdale counties) from tonight through Wednesday night. Widespread heavy rain will move in late tonight into Wednesday morning, with pockets of heavier rainfall expected. When all is said and done we could see 2 to 4 inches of rain with locally higher amounts of 4 to 6+ inches! Rain, heavy at times, continues through the day on Wednesday and into Wednesday evening. This heavy rainfall will impact area roads that have poor drainage and low-lying areas. We could see some creek and stream flooding but our rivers should be able to handle the heavy rainfall, always remember to turn around and not drown when driving in flooded areas. Most area rivers should be able to handle the rainfall, but some of our creeks and streams may see minor flooding from the heavy rain. Once the system pushes east we see summer-like conditions return full force with sunshine, humidity, and the chance for pop-up showers and storms. Temperatures at the weeks end remain in the mid to upper 80s. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) stands against the other FTSE dividend stocks. The first half of 2024 has been notable for the UK equity market, as the FTSE 100, the benchmark index for UK company shares, hit a record high. However, stocks tumbled in the first week of June as financial shares mirrored broader losses in European markets. That was mainly due to the political uncertainty that unsettled investors and a slump in industrial mining stocks further dragged down the market. That said, with some time remaining in the general elections, there is still some potential for additional developments and surprises within the UK market. The index is up by nearly 6% this year so far, compared with a 14.3% return of the broader US market The Bank of England (BoE) was one of the first central banks to begin increasing interest rates after the peak of the COVID pandemic. From December 2021 to August 2023, it raised the bank rate by 515 basis points to a 16-year high of 5.25% in order to address rising inflationary pressures in the economy. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the BoE is expected to begin cutting interest rates in August. Most economists also anticipate at least one more rate reduction this year, despite ongoing high inflation in wages and services. Yael Selfin, chief UK economist at KPMG, made the following comment on the situation: "While we are seeing some tentative signs of cooling in the labor market, service sector inflation remains persistently high and it is likely the MPC would want to wait until the next set of forecasts and a few more data points before it embarks on its first rate cut." Overall, UK inflation is expected to remain slightly above the BoEs target of 2.0% in every quarter until at least the end of 2025, according to the poll. Median forecasts indicated that inflation would average 2.5% this year and 2.2% next year. After reaching new highs in 2024, the FTSE 100 may attract more investors, particularly those focused on income accumulation. The projected dividend yield of 3.8% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025 is appealing, especially since these yields surpass the current inflation rate. Analysts predict that the ten largest dividend-paying companies in the UK will return 43.9 billion to shareholders, accounting for 55% of the total dividends from the FTSE 100. The top 20 companies are expected to contribute 57.4 billion, making up 72% of the total dividends. In 2023, UK dividend growth of 5.4% aligned with the global average, according to a report by Janus Henderson. This increase was driven by substantial dividend increases from banks and oil producers, although it was tempered by lower payouts from mining companies. The report further mentioned that annual dividends in the UK grew to $86 billion in 2023 from over $63 billion in 2020. While investors gravitate toward American dividend stocks, some of the best FTSE dividend stocks also offer similar investment opportunities. Our Methodology: For this article, we scanned through the list of FTSE stocks and picked dividend stocks from the list. From the resultant dataset, we picked the 10 best FTSE dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors tracked by Insider Monkey 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). 5 Largest Tobacco Companies in the World by Market Cap A close-up of an array of tobacco products, emphasizing the selection and consumer choice. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19 British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) is a British multinational manufacturing company that specializes in tobacco, cigarettes, and other nicotine products. Investing in tobacco stocks has always benefitted income investors as these companies typically enjoy substantial profit margins, possess resilient business models, and demand minimal capital expenditures. In addition, these companies don't have to bear excess research and development expenses, which allows them to distribute a significant portion of their earnings to investors. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) is mainly recognized for its iconic cigarette brands, which were acquired during its merger with RJ Reynolds in 2017. Recently, the company recorded a $31 billion write-down on the worth of its US cigarette business, indicating a probable overvaluation of the acquisition. This reflects its focus on shifting towards smoke-free products. Introducing 'reduced risk products' could be a winning ticket for the company given declining smoking rates in the country and strict regulations. In FY23, the company reported a 1.3% year-over-year decline in revenue at 27.28 billion ($34.49 billion). British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)'s dividend is solid, mainly driven by its stable cash generation. In 2023, the company's operating cash flow came in at 10.7 billion ($13.53 billion) and its free cash flow before dividend payments was over 8.3 billion ($10.49 billion). It also returned over 5 billion ($6.32 billion) to shareholders through dividends. In addition, the company's dividend outlook appears promising as it expects to generate over 40 billion ($50.57 billion) in free cash flow before dividends over the next five years. It currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.7431 per share, which gives its stock a yield of around 12%. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has a forward P/E of 7.07, while its competitor Philip Morris International has a significantly higher forward P/E of 16.72. In addition to being more attractively valued, BTI also has a dividend yield twice as high as Philip Moris', which makes it a good dividend option for income investors. According to Insider Monkey's database, there are 19 hedge funds bullish on British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) as of the end of March, down from 22 in the preceding quarter. The collective value of these stakes is over $588 million. With over 12.6 million shares, Orbis Investment Management was the company's leading stakeholder in the first quarter. Overall BTI ranks 7th on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now to see the other FTSE dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of BTI 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 BTI 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. Have a traffic or parking fine in Olathe? Donate school supplies to pay it off this month If you have time to go pick up some school supplies, you may be able to save some money paying back fines in Olathe. Drivers with traffic infractions or parking tickets in the city can donate school supplies to pay off their fines later this month. From July 15 through 26, the City of Olathe Municipal Court is accepting school supply donations for credit toward traffic or parking fines. A purchase of $15 worth of new school supplies can be used for a $50 credit toward fines, according to a city press release. The initiative stems from a partnership with the Olathe Public Schools Foundation, which aims to provide more than 2,200 backpacks for the citys most vulnerable students for the start of classes this fall. The foundation is asking for donations of 17 to 18 inch backpacks, sticky notes, markers, No. 2 pencils, three-ring binders, scissors, spiral notebooks, colored pencils, dry erase markers, glue sticks and glue bottles. A receipt is required along with the donation in order to receive the credit toward traffic fines. Were proud to partner with the Olathe Public Schools Foundation and provide an additional resource for students, Olathe Municipal Court Judge Katie McElhinney said in the release. Students should feel excited to return to school in the fall. A full list of school supplies needed for Olathe students this year can be found at olatheschools.org/Page/2479. Several prominent LGBTQ+ advocates and a dozen transgender lawmakers have criticized the Biden administration for its recent statement that gender-affirming surgeries should only be allowed for transgender adults. These are deeply personal decisions and we believe these surgeries should be limited to adults, a White House spokesperson said in an email to The 19th last week. 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 came days after The New York Times and Fox News reported on the administrations opposition to surgery for minors a stark departure from the White Houses strong support for gender-affirming care and efforts to protect LGBTQ+ rights more broadly. The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment. Three years ago, during his first joint address to Congress, President Joe Biden sent a clear message to the trans community: To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people I want you to know that your president has your back. Most recently, the Biden administration has sided with transgender youth and their families in a legal challenge to Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for youth, which is heading to the Supreme Court this fall. The court agreed to take up the case, which will determine whether bans on transition care violate the Constitution and could have ripple effects on similar bans nationwide. 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 kids. These are our neighbors. Its cruel and its callous, the White House spokesperson said to The 19th, repeating remarks Biden gave last summer when he announced a series of initiatives to protect the LGBTQ+ community. In a letter addressed to Biden last week, 12 transgender lawmakers wrote that the administrations opposition to surgeries for minors is a repudiation of that promise and its statement about care for trans youth is a betrayal. By stating that some forms of healthcare for transgender people should be limited solely to adults, the administration is surrendering the health care of young transgender people as something to be negotiated in the political domain, rather than something that needs to be carefully considered and decided by the medical community, by the parents of transgender youth, and by the youth themselves, the letter reads. Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr who was censured from speaking on the House floor in her state last year after telling colleagues they would have blood on their hands if they supported a ban on gender-affirming care for youth was among the state legislators who signed the letter. She was joined by lawmakers from Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Colorado. Several LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, Advocates for Transgender Equality and GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, also released statements condemning the administrations statement. The Biden administration is flat wrong on this. Its wrong on the science and wrong on the substance. Its also inconsistent with other steps the administration has taken to support transgender youth, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson wrote in a statement. On Monday night, Neera Tanden, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, wrote to Robinson regarding the administrations previous statement. We will continue to vigorously flight categorical bans on gender affirming care including [in] the Supreme Court, and we will fight back hard against partisan laws being pushed by extreme Republican elected officials that target Americans just for who they are, Tanden wrote. Gender-affirming surgeries are typically reserved for adults, and we believe they should be. Above all, families should have the freedom to make the medical decisions that they and their doctors determine are best for them which is why we oppose attempts to limit healthcare for transgender individuals in the courts or through legislation, she added. The administration is surrendering the health care of young transgender people as something to be negotiated in the political domain.Letter from transgender lawmakers to President Joe Biden Trans youth typically start by receiving puberty blockers before the onset of puberty, which causes bodily changes that may become sources of gender dysphoria in the future. Later in adolescence, patients may consider beginning hormone replacement therapy. Gender-affirming surgery for minors is rare. The most common procedure is top surgery, or a masculinizing chest surgery that patients would only undergo after years of receiving medical care. Patients who have gotten top surgery have reported very low rates of regret. Opposing something as rare and necessary as surgery for trans youth is like banning care only for rare but severe allergies targeting a seldom-needed but crucial intervention and stigmatizing those who need it the most, Alex Sheldon, the executive director of GLMA, said in a statement. This move by the Biden Administration is perilous, as it continues on the dangerous trend of inserting the government into private medical decisions that should remain between young individuals, their caregivers, and their providers. As Republican politicians have rallied to curtail access to gender-affirming care and have spread hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people over the last few years, many conservative news outlets and pundits have spread misinformation about the types of care being provided to transgender youth. Social media accounts like LibsOfTikTok and conservative media figures like Matt Walsh and Christopher Rufo have made posts mischaracterizing gender-affirming care for minors as castration and mutilation. This kind of misinformation has fueled Republican attorneys general and state legislators to investigate childrens hospitals in Tennessee, Texas and Missouri, and to use their authority to obtain sensitive patient medical records. The first reports of the White Houses opposition to surgery for trans youth came after the Times and Fox News published articles describing conversations between the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and staff for Dr. Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Times reported in late June that Levine pressed WPATH to remove its proposed age limits for adolescent surgeries in its guidelines, which it releases periodically, because she was concerned about political backlash in the U.S. WPATH, which is a global organization, had proposed lowering recommendations for top surgeries to 15 years old and to 17 years old for genital surgeries. The final standards of care, however, did not include specific age recommendations for surgeries for trans youth. The organization said it removed age recommendations to reflect the fact that one-size-fits-all health care models, especially transgender care, are not accurate or appropriate for every individual person. Email correspondence between Levine and WPATH first became public through a deposition from James Cantor, a Canadian psychologist who was testifying in support of Alabamas ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Cantor, who was removed from Floridas roster of medical experts in 2022 after linking being gay to pedophilia, said in his deposition that he has not directly been involved in the prescription or assessment of puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youth. The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment. The agency told The 19th last week that in response to WPATHs request for feedback on its 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. One-third of transgender youth now live in a state where they are not allowed to access gender-affirming care due to a state ban despite numerous medical associations noting that such care is medically necessary and grounded in science. Over the last few months, the Biden administration has strengthened protections for LGBTQ+ people in health care and education. In April, the Department of Education issued new guidance for Title IX, a federal law that protects against sex-based discrimination, to include discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. Similarly, the administration issued a final rule on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act to ensure that transgender people can be protected from discrimination in health care. Both sets of rules have been challenged by Republican attorneys general, with over 20 GOP-led states suing the Biden administration for expanding discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students. Last week, a Republican federal district court judge issued a nationwide injunction on Bidens Section 1557 rule banning sex discrimination in health care. The condition of Georgias infrastructure received a decidedly mediocre grade of C+ Monday in a report released by the Georgia section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is a wakeup call, Tim Echols, vice chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), said during a news conference at the state Capitol. We need to get better. Georgia ports achieved the highest score - B+ - among 14 categories the report examined. The conditions of the states bridges, freight rail system, energy infrastructure, and schools came in next with B grades. In fact, Georgia scored above the national report card in 12 of the 14 categories the report examined. But the state of transit in the Peach State rated lowest, receiving a grade of D. As many urban policymakers in Georgia have complained for years, the state has historically underinvested in transit, according to the report. State Rep. Vance Smith, a former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation and former chairman of the House Transportation Committee, praised the C+ grade the report gave the condition of aviation in Georgia as an improvement. The General Assembly has stepped up funding of the states general aviation airports in recent years, many located in predominantly rural areas. Smith said improvements at those airports are helping attract businesses to Georgia that arent interested in having to cope with Atlantas traffic congestion. Thats economic development for these (small) communities, he said. It spreads the economy across our whole state. Echols said Georgias relatively strong showing in energy infrastructure stems from last springs PSC vote approving Georgia Powers request for 6,600 megawatts in additional electrical generating capacity as well as the completion of the nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle in May. Georgia has extra energy here, he said. The condition of drinking water in Georgia received a grade of C+ on the report, a mediocre showing that was dramatically demonstrated when major water main breaks in the city of Atlanta in late May forced an emergency declaration and disrupted service for five days. While there is a lot to be proud of, there is still room for progress, especially for water systems that serve Georgias growing population, said Julie Sechrist, who chaired the committee of engineers that prepared the report. As more people and businesses move here, these life-sustaining systems need increased funding to grow, improve, and become more resilient to new and ongoing threats. In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com. Several schools across the Treasure Valley will shut down or be repurposed because of declining enrollment and budget shortfalls and more could follow. But for the most part, those buildings wont sit empty or be demolished or sold. Instead, districts plan to transition the buildings to provide more space for other programs, or to move students out of even older buildings in need of more repairs. Districts are still looking at what it will cost to make the necessary renovations or changes to buildings as they transition, and how much money the closures will save, but they said they hope some of the changes will create a better learning environment for students and staff. Nampa School District spokesperson Matthew Sizemore said none of the buildings the school board decided to close are unsafe, so with updates, they could better serve the district. They all just need work, he told the Idaho Statesman. In a lot of cases, he added, they werent being used to their potential given the declining enrollment in the district. Now theyre going to be able to bring in a lot more students, a lot more teachers, a lot more staff, and fill these. Its basically just about maximizing space. Nampa school to become police station, transit hub The Nampa school board voted earlier this year to close down four schools, a decision that came, in part, because the districts enrollment has dropped over the past decade. Since the 2019-2020 school year, the district has lost 884 students, according to previous Statesman reporting. When enrollment goes down, funding follows. But even though the students at those four schools will be directed to other buildings next year, Nampa plans to continue using most of the schools it shut down in other ways. Centennial Elementary School, which served about 370 students last school year, will be split in two. Half of the building will be used by the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa, while the other half will become a Nampa Police Department substation, Sizemore said. He said the buildings structure is still good and it likely wont need major updates. The district has a memorandum of understanding with the Boys & Girls Club to fund program operations, including utilities and cleaning, for the first six months. The program is expected to serve 250 to 300 students before and after school and on Fridays, when students wont have classes because Nampa is moving to a four-day school week next school year. After those six months, the district will reassess whether to renew the memorandum, look at leasing options or initiate a formal bidding process. The district will also consider the communitys need for the fifth-day services, Sizemore said. The goal is for them to become self-sufficient by attracting enough kids, at which point we can discuss potential leasing options, Sizemore said in an email. Greenhurst Elementary, which housed about 250 students the most recent school year, will continue to serve as the child care center for children of staff members and the districts Early Childhood Learning Center. It will also be the home of the Nampa Online Virtual Academy. Students can receive in-person tutoring or mentoring at the online school on some days, and the building will serve as a hub for the administration at that school, Sizemore said. The third elementary school the board voted to close, Snake River, will house the districts Gateways program, a K-12 alternative school that has been housed at the former Lincoln Elementary, a 70-year-old building in need of significant updates. The other half of the building will be used by the districts federal programs staff. The Gateways building will be left vacant. The school board will have to decide what happens to that facility, but that likely wont be brought to trustees for several months, when the district finishes moving Gateways into the Snake River building, Sizemore said. The goal is to have that move completed in December, he said. West Middle School will be converted to West Learning Campus, and the students and teachers at Union School will move into that building. The students at Nampa Academy, another alternative school previously held in a wing at Columbia High, will also occupy the West building. The building wont be completely full with those two programs, but Sizemore said it will be financially feasible because both alternative schools receive other funding from the state. Union will be converted to a transportation center, which the district did not have before, with lounge spaces for bus drivers and a parking lot for buses. Sizemore said the district will monitor the changes and look at how much money its saving with the new structure. Theres been so many changes, he said. They had an idea of how much they were going to be saving before they kind of realized or planned what was going to happen. Boise considers shuttering elementary school In the Caldwell School District, Lincoln Elementary, which served about 300 students over the past year, will also be repurposed. The district decided to close the school after a failed levy and budget cuts. The top floor of the school will be used by district office personnel, while the bottom floor will house the Boys & Girls Club and preschool, spokesperson Jessica Watts said. The district office will then be used by students at Canyon Springs High School, the districts alternative school. Watts said the timeline on this move hasnt been finalized. During a board meeting last month, Caldwell Superintendent N. Shalene French said it would cost a significant amount of money to repair Canyon Springs, and the district office is in better shape. Watts said the moves will allow the district to maximize the facility space in its buildings. The Boise School District is also considering shutting down Owyhee Elementary School, a facility on the Bench that has seen declining enrollment. The district proposed using the school as another early childhood learning center that can accommodate more pre-K students in that area. The district said housing the program all in one location will mean it can retrofit the building specifically for young learners. The Boise school board is expected to vote next month on whether the school will close after public outcry from parents who said the district wasnt being transparent with its decision. Trooper Proctor could be fired or facing charges before 2nd Karen Read trial starts, expert says Disgraced Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case, was suspended Monday without pay amid an ongoing internal affairs investigation into his unprofessional behavior. Interim Massachusetts State Police Col. John Mawn accepted a three-person boards recommendation following a duty status hearing in Framingham, making Proctors suspension effective immediately. Proctor was tasked with investigating the death of John OKeefe, Reads Boston police officer boyfriend, but he came under fire during witness testimony during trial for a series of disparaging texts about Read that he sent to friends, family, and supervisors, which he read aloud in court during her trial. Reads two-month-long trial ended in a mistrial last week, but the Norfolk District Attorneys Office intends to set a date for a new trial later this month. Boston 25 legal expert Peter Elikann said Proctor could be fired or charged criminally by the time a retrial of Read comes around. Theres no dancing around the fact that by the time this retrial happens, he could very well be completely fired or facing certain kinds of charges against him for his behavior in the investigation so its certainly agreed by all that hes going to look bad if he has to testify again, Elikann explained. Mawn relieved Proctor of his duty after Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. Proctor was then transferred out of the Norfolk District Attorneys State Police Detective Unit. He was administratively assigned to Troop H in field services, but he remains ineligible to work. Proctor admitted on the stand that the texts were unprofessional and he apologized multiple times, telling the jury his texts did not impact his investigation into the death of John OKeefe, Reads Boston police officer boyfriend. In those texts, Proctor commented on Reads physical appearance, used vulgar language, suggested he had made up his mind based on evidence as to Reads guilt, and said he wished Read would kill herself. Read is accused of killing OKeefe by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022. Prosecutors said Read and OKeefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away. The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside Alberts home and then dragged outside and left for dead. Lawyers for Read have since filed a motion to dismiss two of the three criminal charges that she faces in connection with the death of OKeefe. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Tropical Storm Beryl: How to get help and help Texans The Morales family works to unclog storm drains across the street from their house in the Robindell neighborhood during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune Texans in Houston and coastal counties were hit by heavy rain, strong winds and power outages after Hurricane Beryl began sweeping through the area early Monday. Downed trees have killed at least two people and more than 2 million customers were left without power Monday morning. Beryl, which arrived in Matagorda as a Category 1 hurricane, weakened to a tropical storm as it moved northeast through the state. Still, officials have warned Houston and coastal residents of continued risks from flooding, downed trees, damaged power lines and carbon monoxide poisoning. The National Weather Service of Houston said Monday afternoon that flooding rains, strong winds and isolated tornadoes will continue to be possible as the tropical storm system tracks further inland. It also issued a heat advisory for Tuesday, noting that no air conditioning and lingering humidity could make for dangerous conditions as temperatures warm again. The National Weather Service in Shreveport confirmed two tornadoes in East Texas. Here are some safety and recovery tips for Texans bearing the brunt of Beryls landfall and information on how others may be able to help. How to stay safe amid flooding and power outages Officials have highlighted flash flooding and river flooding as some of the biggest dangers from Beryl, which was forecasted to bring up to 10-15 inches of rainfall in some areas. Heres what to do in case of flooding: Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just six inches of water can make a person fall, while one foot of water is enough to sweep up a vehicle during a flood. If flood waters rise around your vehicle, leave it and move to higher ground. If you are stuck in a flooded area, look for a higher space away from flood waters. Stay off bridges that go over fast-moving water. You can check for flooded or closed roads through the states drivetexas.org website. Be careful in areas where flood waters have receded and watch out for debris or electrically charged standing water. Stay away from all bodies of water and electric lines near you. Shut off your homes main circuit breakers to prevent appliance short circuits and the threat of electrocution. Carbon monoxide poisoning kills hundreds of people in the U.S. every year and can be especially dangerous during power outages, when people use alternative sources of fuel or electricity such as generators. Early symptoms can include flu-like symptoms like headaches, dizziness and nausea. At higher levels of exposure, it can produce vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain and confusion. Without immediate treatment, people can lose consciousness and die. If you lose power, here are tips to stay safe: Avoid using generators, grills, camp stoves and other fuel-burning devices in a home, basement, garage or camper. Dont use an oven or gas range to heat your home. Dont leave your car idling inside a garage. Generators should be kept away from a homes windows, doors and vent openings. Avoid connecting a generator to a home's main wiring because the feedback along the powerline could electrocute the linemen coming to fix the electricity. Leave your home immediately and call 911 if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off. Call the National Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 if you have questions about carbon monoxide safety. If you lose power and have perishable food items: Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to maintain the cold temperature. If they remain unopened, a refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours, while a full freezer will maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours. If perishable food has been held at room temperature for two hours or more, discard it. When the power comes back on, check the refrigerator's or the food's temperature and discard any refrigerated perishable food that has been at temperatures above 40F for more than four hours to prevent any foodborne illnesses. The lingering humidity is expected to raise the heat index what temperatures will feel like to up to 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Here are some tips to stay safe, even without power: Drink water throughout the day even before you get thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol. Also avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps. If your home does not have air conditioning and its safe for you to travel, go to a shopping mall or public library with power. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Follow city officials and local media to see if any heat-relief shelters are open. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Take a cold shower or bath to cool off. Cover windows that let in lots of sun with curtains or shades. Read more about heat safety tips here. The City of Houston will be distributing water and ice (two cases and two bags per car) Wednesday from 1-5 pm at the following locations: Acres Homes Multi-Service Center at 6719 West Montgomery Rd. Northeast Multi-Service Center at 9720 Spaulding St. Sunnyside Multi-Service Center at 4410 Reed Rd. Southwest Multi-Service Center at 6400 High Star Dr. Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center at 6402 Market St. If you have downed trees or tree limbs on your property, you can take these steps to stay safe and see if your insurance can cover the damage: Dont attempt to remove trees or tree limbs on or near power lines. This dangerous task should be left to trained professionals. In fact, state law only allows professionals authorized by wire companies to prune or remove trees closer than 6 feet of a high voltage power line. Call the power company to report it. If you need help assessing tree damage, you can find a certified arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture here. If you decide to remove a tree (not close to a power line), it is recommended to use fully insured contractors. Here are more tips from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Document tree damage by taking photos of the trees and your property for insurance purposes. If you need to do immediate repairs to prevent further damage, save your receipts for possible reimbursements and contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. Here are more tips from the Texas Department of Insurance. If a downed tree is growing from public property, like a road, right-of-way or park, you may report it to your city for help removing it. Call 311 for more information or check out this guidance from the City of Houston. How to get recovery assistance Families file through a cafeteria line to receive a hot plate of BBQ at Gallery Furniture, which opened as a shelter on Monday after Hurricane Beryl hit Houston. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune The following places have said they are acting as shelters or may be available to help: Text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 to find shelters with help from FEMA. (This may refer you to check with local officials or online.) Gallery Furniture, located at 6006 North Interstate 45, is open as a shelter until 8 p.m., according to founder Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale. The shelter will allowing people to charge devices and stay in the shelter for 30 minutes. No pets are allowed. The Conroe Salvation Army Center of Hope at 304 Avenue E in Conroe will be open from 8 a.m. - 8p.m. Meals will be served at the back door with lunch from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and dinner from 5-6 p.m. The Houston Chronicle has compiled an updated list here of food and water centers open Thursday in the Greater Houston area. The Tyler Public Library will be open Thursday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. at 201 S College Ave, Tyler. The Salvation Army of Tyler will offer a cooling center all day Thursday at 633 N Broadway Ave, Tyler. The Salvation Army of Beaumont will be open Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 pm - 4:00 p.m. at 2350 IH 10 East, Beaumont. Commerce Center will be open Thursday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at 1017 US-59 Loop N, Livingston. Only service animals are allowed. Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department Station 51 will be open Thursday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at 181 Old Groveton Rd, Onalaska. The Coldspring Area Public Library will be open Thursday from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at 14221 Hwy 150 W, Coldspring. Only service animals are allowed. The Mamie George Community Center at 111 Collins Road in Richmond will be open Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The South Regional Library will be open Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 2101 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands. The Conroe Central Library will be open Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 104 I-45 N, Conroe. The West Branch Library will be open Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 202 Bessie Price Owen Dr, Montgomery. The R. B. Tullis Branch Library will be open Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 21569 US-59, New Caney. The La Marque Community Room will be open at 1109 Bayou Rd, La Marque, TX, 77568. The Crystal Beach Community Church will be open from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. at 1825 Highway 87, Port Bolivar, TX, 77650. The Kemah Community Center will be open from 2 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. at 800 Harris Ave, Kemah, TX, 77565. The West End Annex will be open from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. at 13805 Stewart Rd, Galveston, TX, 77554. The Dickinson High School campus will be open 24/7 at 3800 Baker Dr, Dickinson, TX, 77539. The Friendswood Activity Building will be open from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at 416 Morningside Dr, Friendswood, TX, 77546. The Dickinson Public Library will be open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. at 4411 State Hwy 3, Dickinson, TX, 77539. The Friendswood Library will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 416 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX, 77546. The McGuire Dent Recreation Center will be open from 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 2222 28th St, Galveston, TX, 77550. The Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church will be open from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 1725 State Hwy 3, Dickinson, TX, 77539. The Jamaica Beach City Hall will be open 24/7 at 16628 San Luis Pass, Jamaica Beach, TX, 77554. The Thelma Webber Community Center will be open from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 14304 Beriton Street, Santa Fe, TX, 77510. Government and community resources may be available to help with recovery. Organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and local volunteer organizations can help you find food, shelter and supplies, as well as assist you with clean-up efforts. Here are some common disaster resources and how to contact them: Call or text 800-985-5990 for crisis counseling from SAMHSAs Disaster Distress Helpline. Call 800-733-2767 to get help from the American Red Cross, including housing and shelter, financial assistance, health services and mental health assistance. Call 211 or 877-541-7905 for information on Texas disaster and social services, including local mental health care resources. Call 311 for debris pickup, transportation, and other city services. Call 800-252-3439 for help with insurance-related questions from the Texas Department of Insurance, and see more recovery tips from them here. Call 800-504-7030 if you are low-income and need legal assistance related to natural disasters and documents to get help from the State Bar of Texas. Call the Crisis Cleanup hotline at 979-217-3791 to receive free help to clean up your home. The hotline will be open through July 19 and will connect people to volunteers from relief organizations and community groups. While service restoration efforts are continuous across east Texas, Optimum, a local provider of Wi-Fi, has set up a 24/7 Wi-Fi hotspot in Conroe and is offering free Wi-Fi and charging access at local retail stores in Conroe, Montgomery, and New Caney, for customers in need. Below are the locations and times they are open. Optimum WiFi trailer at the Owen Theatre and Founders Plaza at 225 Metcalf St., Conroe WiFi hotspot at the New Caney Optimum Store from Monday Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. 5 p.m. at 20304 US-59 Ste A, New Caney WiFi hotspot at the Conroe Optimum Store from Monday Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 903 N Loop 336 W, Conroe WiFi hotspot at the in-store Charging at Montgomery Optimum Store from Monday Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 15264 TX-105 Suite 200, Montgomery Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be distributing food to those in need Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Mamie George Community Center at 111 Collins Road in Richmond and the Beacon of Hope Center at 4700 Broadway in Galveston. The organization said it will provide limited financial assistance starting next week and will share more details on its social media and website. Compassion United will host a mobile food distribution on Saturday, July 14, at 9 a.m., in partnership with the Montgomery County Food Bank, at Lewis Park 501 Park Pl, Conroe, TX 7730 The religious group Texans on Mission is providing assistance removing fallen trees or limbs. Fill out the request form on their website and someone will contact you. Disaster declarations issued by the governor and president have opened the door to federal funds, and Texans in approved counties can now apply for recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents in the following counties may be eligible for this assistance: Brazoria Chambers Galveston Harris Jackson Jasper Jefferson Liberty Matagorda Montgomery Orange Polk San Jacinto Walker Wharton Individuals and families in these approved counties may be eligible for the following assistance: Serious Needs Assistance: a one-time $750 payment per household for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breast feeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. Displacement Assistance: money to help people stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while they look for a more permanent housing solution if they cannot return to their home because of the disaster. Money for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to Hurricane Beryl. People cannot receive disaster and insurance assistance for the same damages, so insured Texans should file claims through their existing policies before applying for FEMA assistance. Take photos and document any damage to your property to submit it to the state, your insurance or FEMA. If you have access to WiFi and power, using the website DisasterAssistance.gov. is the fastest and easiest way to apply, according to FEMA. You can also use the FEMA App for mobile devices to apply or to look for a Disaster Recovery Center where people can help you. Or you can call FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but wait times may be longer than usual. If you have accessibility needs, FEMA recommends watching this accessible video on how to apply. Heres more on what type of assistance FEMA typically provides and how to navigate the application process. Additional counties may be added to the list if requested by the state and proven necessary through damage assessments, FEMA said. To help the state continue to assess damages, Texans can report damages through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/08/hurricane-tropical-storm-beryl-safety-how-to-help/?edit&draft# How to get mental health support It is normal for people to experience shock in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Those with existing mental health conditions may see increased stress, while others focusing on recovery at the moment may feel stress and trauma later. Symptoms include aches, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, loss of motivation, increased frustration and feelings of overwhelm, sadness, numbness, loneliness and exhaustion. Most stress responses are temporary but seek help if they persist for over two weeks. Signs of greater emotional distress include hopelessness, guilt, difficulty readjusting, excessive smoking, drinking, drug use or thoughts of self-harm, according to SAMHSA. SAMHSA runs the Disaster Distress Helpline to provide support to people experiencing emotional distress related to disasters, including hurricanes. The helpline operates year-round, 24 hours a day and is free and confidential. You can call or text 800-985-5990 to be connected with a trained crisis counselor who can provide counseling, healthy coping tips and more information on signs of emotional distress. Crisis counselors can also refer you to local resources for additional support. Trained crisis counselors are also available through the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Read more tips about how to take care of your mental health during natural disasters here. How to help Texans affected by Beryl The Houston Food Bank has a disaster relief fund accepting monetary donations for food, water and other necessary supplies. Once disaster needs are met, any remaining funds will help provide food for people facing hunger across southeast Texas. The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast has asked for volunteers to assist in Beryl aid operations. You can find more information and sign up to volunteer with the Red Cross here. For the latest from the Gulf Coast chapter, you can also follow their Facebook page. The Salvation Army said it plans to mobilize trained staff and volunteers to the region to assist in recovery efforts focused on feeding people and emotional and spiritual care. You can visit their Texas division website to get involved or donate. They also plan to offer meals to those who require assistance utilizing 10 mobile kitchens across the Houston area, which are anticipated to begin in affected communities on Tuesday. GoFundMe has collected verified fundraisers by people affected by Beryl and has tips on how to help here. The nonprofit World Central Kitchen said it is providing and rescue teams, meals and water for Texans in the coastal city of Sargent. You can donate to them here. Compassion United is seeking volunteers for disaster relief and disaster relief distribution. You can try websites like Charity Navigator and GuideStar to vet nonprofits youre not familiar with. If you know of any other resources we should include, feel free to let us know at community@texastribune.org. Mae Lackey, Perla Trevizo, Julia Guilbeau and Nina Banks contributed to this reporting. Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today! Tropical Storm Beryl is making a slow, ruinous passage out of Houston, where it is flooding highways and knocking out power lines. As of 3 p.m. local time Monday, as the eye of the storm moved over the western Houston suburbs, more than 2.7 million Texans were without power, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us. Much of the already flood-prone city has experienced 5 to 8 inches of rain, with some particularly unlucky neighborhoods experiencing more than 10, according to Harris Countys Flood Warning System. Homes in Houstons lower-income northeast have flooded, one nonprofit told The Hill, as have many of the citys major freeways. One man was rescued from the cab of his truck as the water rose along Highway 288. Winds ripped trees from the ground, roots and all. While the storm has weakened, its current path is set to bring it over more than a dozen flood-prone communities across the Ohio Valley and Upper Midwest before the weeks end. Beryl has stood out for its early-season ferocity, fueled by a hot ocean and a warming world, as well as its passage over the nations petrochemical heartland. Acting Texas Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who has assumed the role while Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is abroad, described Beryl as a determined storm and warned of heavy rain and some localized flooding from the coast to inland East Texas cities like College Station, Texarkana and Tyler. Do not ignore this storm, Patrick added. Heres what you should know about Beryl as it makes its way across Texas and toward the Midwest. High winds, heavy rain in the storms path Beryl rumbled ashore as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday morning in Matagorda County, Texas, southeast of Houston. By noon, the center of the storm had passed above Houstons western suburbs, and the National Weather Service (NWS) downgraded Beryl to tropical storm status. The coastal community of Freeport saw wind speeds of 97 miles per hour, according to Space City Weather; when the storm hit Houston, a sensor at the citys Hobby Airport recorded a maximum wind speed of 84 miles per hour just before it stopped transmitting. As of 11 a.m., wind gusts were down to a maximum of 70 miles an hour. But the agency noted that the risk is still considerable. Flooding rains, strong tropical storm force winds and isolated tornadoes will continue to be possible as this system tracks further inland, the NWSs Houston office wrote on the social platform X. The disruptions at the storms fringes have put 4.5 million people at risk from likely tornadoes in a north-south band along the Texas-Louisiana border, the office added. Outages and heat risk Amid the harsh weather conditions, the Houston area was a mess of power outages as of 12 p.m. Monday. More than half of Harris County, home to most of Houston proper, as well as virtually all of neighboring Wharton and Brazoria counties had lost power. Thats more than the May derecho, which knocked out power for nearly 1 million customers, and roughly 50 to 60 percent of the region, Space City Weather meteorologists wrote. It will take time to restore it. We have no idea how long. We know many of you are frustrated, and were just hoping for the best like you are. Lack of power also means a looming loss of cell service, as wires to cell towers have been knocked out and their backup batteries slowly lose power. One small silver lining for Houstonians amid the destruction and outages: The storm has cooled off temperatures, leaving the metropolis with minimal heat risk throughout the week. But by Friday, temperatures will be creeping back up, with most of the region under a level 2 heat risk, threatening individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling, according to the NWS. Heat sensitivity increases for those who are under 18 or over 65 (38 percent of Harris County residents) or obese (31 percent). If power is not returned soon, many residents will also face another threat: running out of food as perishables rot in the absence of functional refrigerators or freezers. Flood danger for Texas communities With much of Houston receiving between 5 and 10 inches of rain, flooding stands out as the dominant threat to the region. Bayous across the eastern half of Harris County escaped their concrete channels on Monday, and county data suggested flooding along Buffalo Bayou, Brays Bayou, Green Bayou and the San Jacinto River. Many cities and neighborhoods in and around Houston are at stark risk of flooding, according to proprietary data shared exclusively with The Hill by First Street Foundation, a nonprofit climate technology company. That data shows that 54 percent of the properties in Matagorda County, where the hurricane came ashore, are at perennial risk of flooding. In Bolivar and Galveston, barrier island cities at the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel, the danger is even more pervasive, encompassing 93 and 97 percent of properties, respectively. While Houston as a whole is somewhat less exposed just under a third of properties in the city face significant risk of flood, according to the data certain neighborhoods are particularly flood-prone. About 83 percent of properties in the wealthy southwestern enclave of Bellaire where nearly 10 inches of rain fell on Monday are at perennial risk of flood, for instance. Beryl is pummeling many outlying areas of Houston that had already been hit by Mays severe thunderstorms, which led to flooding bad enough that 400 people had to be rescued. On X, Columbia University climate scientist Mona Hemmati posted videos of 6-inch-deep water at major Houston intersections flooding with rain on Saturday afternoon, more than a day before Beryl made landfall. The problems, Hemmati argued, are chronic. Urban development has added impervious surfaces, intensifying runoff with any excessive rainfall, she wrote. As the climate warms, more intense rainfall is expected, worsening existing flooding issues. Ohio Valley next in storms sights After passing over Houston, the storm is forecast to move at the speed of a running person up through Arkansas, heading for the tributaries of the Mississippi River in particular the Ohio Valley and, ultimately, the Great Lakes. In Little Rock, Ark., where the storm is expected to arrive Tuesday morning, the NWS office warned that its remants could bring quarter-sized hail. The Memphis office warned of severe thunderstorms, as well as flash flooding across Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel. From there, the storm will gradually lose strength, but will still dump enough rain to be threatening. Indianapolis can expect up to 2.5 inches of rain along the Wabash River by Tuesday evening. So too, by Wednesday, could communities as far afield as Metro Detroit, where the NWS office predicts 1 to 3 inches of rain, and an elevated risk of flooding. And by Wednesday night, the storms weakest remnants will bring rain showers as far afield as northern New Jersey and Boston. Stark flood risk beyond Texas By the time it reaches New Jersey, Beryl wont be a topical storm or hurricane it will just be showers, NWS meteorologist Allison Lancia told NorthJersey.com. But in many communities in the storms path over the coming days, showers may be enough to cause significant upheaval. A Hill analysis of First Street data found several Midwestern communities within or just outside Beryls probable path that face significant flood risk, defined as more than 30 percent of their properties being at risk of flood. For example, on its path north the storm will likely graze the Louisville, Ky., suburb of West Point, where 40 percent of properties face such risk, and then the Cincinnati, Ohio, suburb of Elwood Place (46 percent) and the exurb New Miami (64 percent) on its way over northern Ohio. There, it could bring heavy rainfall to the towns of Defiance and Fostoria and the Cleveland neighborhood of Valley View, where a quarter to half of properties in each community are at risk of flood. From there, if the storm banks east along Lake Erie, it will head through or just beside a long line of flood-prone municipalities in upstate New York: the Lackawanna neighborhood of Buffalo, N.Y. (31 percent); the Rochester Institute of Technology (64 percent); the Syracuse suburb of Camillus (30 percent) and Ithaca (47 percent). If Beryl swings wider west, meanwhile, it will pass over the Indiana towns of Logansport (40 percent) and Peru (56 percent), before heading toward Metro Detroit, where neighborhoods like Belleville (84 percent) and River Rouge (65 percent) stand out as particularly vulnerable to flooding. As in Houston, the heightened risk of flood in Detroit and many other cities on this list stems from aging infrastructure unable to handle the throughput of a significant storm. About 46 percent of Detroit homeowners surveyed in one study dealt with flooding between 2012 and 2020, after federal investment in the region cratered from 60 percent in the 1970s to 10 percent in 2014. Getting the regions infrastructure ready for climate change is predicted to cost an estimated $5 billion per year in Southeast Michigan alone, according to the regional planning body. Now we are seeing the cost of not fixing it, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) told reporters in 2021, after a flood that year closed Interstate 94. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 lawyer working for a megachurch pastor, whom Donald Trump once lauded as a spiritual adviser, has accused a 12-year-old girl of initiating inappropriate sexual conduct with his client. Last month, Robert Morris, who until recently led the Gateway Church in Dallas, was publicly accused of sexual assault by Cindy Clemishire. Clemishire claimed that the pastor began abusing her when she was only 12, starting in 1982 and continuing for five years. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist and a friend of her familys. Twenty-five years later, Clemishire realized that what had happened to her was a crime and hired attorney Gentner Drummond to sue Morris for $50,000, according to NBC. In January 2007, Drummond wrote a letter to Morriss attorney, J. Shelby Sharpe, that contained a draft lawsuit, explaining that the pastor had convinced Clemishire that they were having a special relationship that had to remain secret and that she was responsible for what he did to her. In a response letter from February 2007, obtained by NBC Tuesday, Sharpe defended the pastor by repeating Morriss claim that Clemishire was responsible for what had happened. It was your client who initiated inappropriate behavior by coming into my clients bedroom and getting in bed with him, which my client should not have allowed to happen, Sharpe wrote. Sharpe also claimed Clemishire acted inappropriately with two other men who stayed at her home during the same time period. Clemishire has denied that accusation and said that she was also sexually assaulted by those two men. In one instance, Morris had allegedly instructed her to go into the bedroom of one of the men. Morris offered Clemishire $25,000 if she would sign a nondisclosure agreement. When she refused, the talks fell apart, and she walked away with nothing. When contacted by NBC, Sharpe denied knowing that Clemishire was a child, although her age was clearly stated in the letter from Drummond, who is now Oklahomas attorney general. When the reporter offered to send Sharpe a copy of the email from Drummond, he said he didnt have time to read it and declined to provide his email address. Drummond confirmed Clemishires description of the 2007 negotiations but did not give a comment. Since the allegations were made public, Morris has resigned from leading the megachurch, which Trump visited in 2020. The former president had also named the pastor to his spiritual advisory board. As global markets navigate through a landscape marked by fluctuating interest rates and mixed economic indicators, investors continue to seek stable yet promising opportunities. In this context, growth companies with high insider ownership can be particularly appealing, as significant insider stakes often signal confidence in the company's future prospects from those who know it best. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Gaming Innovation Group (OB:GIG) 26.7% 36.9% Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV) 13.6% 26.7% Global Tax Free (KOSDAQ:A204620) 18.1% 72.4% KebNi (OM:KEBNI B) 37.8% 90.4% Seojin SystemLtd (KOSDAQ:A178320) 27.9% 54% Credo Technology Group Holding (NasdaqGS:CRDO) 14.7% 60.9% Calliditas Therapeutics (OM:CALTX) 11.7% 52.9% Vow (OB:VOW) 31.8% 97.6% Adocia (ENXTPA:ADOC) 11.9% 59.8% HANA Micron (KOSDAQ:A067310) 20% 96.3% Click here to see the full list of 1447 stocks from our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. We'll examine a selection from our screener results. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Cambricon Technologies Corporation Limited specializes in researching, developing, designing, and selling core chips for cloud servers, edge computing, and terminal equipment in China, with a market capitalization of approximately CN80.15 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue by selling core chips, primarily for cloud servers, edge computing devices, and various terminal equipment in China. Insider Ownership: 28.7% Cambricon Technologies is navigating a challenging financial landscape with its recent quarterly earnings showing a reduction in losses: CNY 226.68 million down from CNY 255.03 million year-over-year, and revenue at CNY 25.67 million, significantly lower than the previous year's CNY 75.29 million. Despite this downturn, the company is forecasted to achieve profitability within three years, with expected revenue growth at an impressive rate of 56.6% per yearoutpacing the Chinese market average of 13.6%. This growth trajectory underscores its potential as a growth company despite current volatility and lack of insider trading activity in recent months. SHSE:688256 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Shenzhen Capchem Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in researching, developing, producing, selling, and servicing electronic chemical products and functional materials in China, with a market capitalization of approximately CN20.72 billion. Story continues Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from the production and sale of electronic chemical products and functional materials. Insider Ownership: 39.3% Shenzhen Capchem Technology, amid a backdrop of significant share repurchases totaling CNY 49.34 million, exhibits robust growth forecasts with earnings and revenue expected to expand by 27.5% and 20.6% per year respectively, surpassing the Chinese market averages. Despite a low forecasted Return on Equity at 17.3% and an unstable dividend record, the company's strategic buybacks and favorable valuation (P/E ratio of 24.4x) reflect a proactive stance in enhancing shareholder value while navigating market challenges effectively. SZSE:300037 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Gudeng Precision Industrial Co., Ltd. operates globally, offering technology services with a market capitalization of approximately NT$48.47 billion. Operations: The company's revenue is primarily derived from semiconductor manufacturing and semiconductor equipment manufacturing, generating NT$3.64 billion and NT$1.28 billion respectively. Insider Ownership: 29.3% Gudeng Precision Industrial Co., Ltd. is poised for substantial growth, with earnings and revenue projected to increase by 37.2% and 25% per year respectively, outpacing the TW market averages significantly. Despite recent shareholder dilution, the company maintains a strong forecast Return on Equity of 21.1%. Recent executive reshuffles aim to bolster its governance as it continues to navigate challenges effectively, including the successful resolution of a patent infringement lawsuit without financial repercussions. TPEX:3680 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024 Make It Happen Take a closer look at our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership list of 1447 companies by clicking here. Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up. Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world. Contemplating Other Strategies? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.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 SHSE:688256 SZSE:300037 and TPEX:3680. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Donald Trump knows a thing or two about self-esteem. Speaking this week about whether or not his rival Joe Biden can survive as a presidential candidate in 2024, he cut to the point: Hes got an ego and he doesnt want to quit. If anything, that was a rare example of Trumpian understatement. The truth is Joe Biden has always had an extremely high opinion of himself. And today, as his faculties decline and a growing number of his fellow Democrats beg him to stand down, his ego remains the one aspect of himself to which he can cling. In fact, the only occasions now when Biden recovers some of his verbal fluency come when he starts bragging about how great he is. Introduced, correctly, as the presumptive Democratic nominee, he began an interview on Monday by insisting: Im more than presumptive. Im gonna be the Democratic nominee. At the weekend, in his first interview since the now infamous debate, he waxed lyrical about his achievements. Im the guy who put Nato together, he said, whispering the hyperbole somewhat manically. Im the guy who shut Putin down I dont think there is anyone who is more qualified to be president than me. Biden may not have much in common with Trump, yet the two men share an unshakeable faith that God put them on earth to be in the White House. Biden now says hell only pull out if the Lord Almighty comes down in order to tell him he cant defeat Trump. Democrats hope that they can convince him to pull out of the election by placating his vanity and comparing him to no less a man than George Washington, Americas first president, who was willing to step aside for the greater good. But Biden seems utterly convinced that his special destiny is to be the man who defeats Donald Trump again in order to, as he puts it, save democracy. Its hard to reason with such thinking. Presidents tend to be vain, of course: you dont run to be leader of the free world because of an excess of humility. But Bidens egotism has long had a particularly prickly quality. Bullied as a child for his stammer, he often perceives disagreements as slights and is quick to anger as a result. When Barack Obama tapped him up to be his vice-president in 2008, he hesitated at first: he thought the role might be beneath him. Im not going to grovel to this guy. My manhood is non-negotiable, he once reportedly said during discussions of what his role as Obamas veep might entail. Many of the people who have worked with Biden are fiercely loyal and will defend him until his last breath. But not everyone feels the same way. Jeff Connaughton, a former Biden senate staffer, once described him as an egomaniacal autocrat who was determined to manage his staff through fear. Today, the rumours in Washington suggest he has become increasingly impossible to deal with. His inner circle is becoming increasingly small. It now consists of his wife Jill, his close family, and a small team of long-term advisers. His closest aides, Anthony Bernal and Mike Donilon, are said to shield the President from unwanted news for fear of triggering his temper. Throughout his long career in politics, Biden has been successful at hiding his more unpleasant streak from the outside world. But he is a big show off, and his exaggerations often betray a certain arrogance. As a presidential candidate, he repeatedly claimed to have been at the heart of the civil-rights movement in the 1960s and 70s; and only backtracked under media scrutiny. Again similar to Trump, Biden likes to boast about his willingness to stand up to foreign leaders. One of his favourite anecdotes is how, as vice president, he squared up to Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin and said: Mr Prime Minister, Im looking into your eyes and I dont think you have a soul. Does anybody believe that happened? Bidens intense faith in his own abilities still drives him today, even as Democratic bigwigs suggest it might be time finally for him to fall on his sword. In a letter to his fellow Democrats, released on Monday, he struck a typically defiant note as he called for all the speculation about his future to end. I wouldnt be running if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump, he wrote. His great problem, however, is that almost nobody now shares that confidence. 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. Project 2025 is a radical blueprint for a potential second Donald Trump administration, spearheaded by the right-wing Heritage Foundation. The plan calls for withdrawing approval for the abortion pill, banning pornography, slashing corporate taxes, abolishing the Department of Education, replacing thousands of experienced federal workers with political appointees, imposing a biblically based definition of marriage and families and placing the Justice Department and other independent agencies under the direct control of the president. These and other provisions of Project 2025 are quite unpopular. As Project 2025 has gained notoriety thanks to actor Taraji P. Henson and others Trump has sought to distance himself from the effort. On July 5, Trump posted on Truth Social that he knows nothing about Project 2025, has no idea who is behind it, and has nothing to do with them. This is false. The co-editors of Project 2025, Paul Dans and Steven Groves, both held high-ranking positions in the Trump administration. Under Trump, Dans served as chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management, the agency responsible for staffing the federal government, and was a senior adviser at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Groves served Trump in the White House as deputy press secretary and assistant special counsel. Project 2025s two associate directors, Spencer Chretien and Troup Hemenway, are also tightly connected with Trump. Chretien was special assistant to President Donald J. Trump and associate director of presidential personnel, helping to identify, recruit, and place hundreds of political appointees at all levels of government. Previously, Trump appointed Chretien to a position at HUD. Hemenway also served as an associate director of presidential personnel and previously worked on Trumps 2016 campaign and Trumps 2016 transition team. Project 2025s 922-page policy agenda has 30 chapters and 34 authors. Twenty-five of Project 2025s authors served as members of the Trump administration. Another Project 2025 author, Stephen Moore, was nominated by Trump to the Federal Reserve but forced to withdraw over his past inflammatory writings about women. Further, William Walton, the co-author of the chapter on the Department of the Treasury, was a key member of Trumps transition team. All told, of the 38 people responsible for writing and editing Project 2025, 31 were appointed or nominated to positions in the Trump administration and transition. In other words, while Trump claims he has nothing to do with the people who created Project 2025, over 81% had formal roles in his first administration. Self-described Christian nationalists playbook The chapter on the Executive Office of the President of the United States, for example, is written by Russ Vought. As president, Trump appointed Vought to his Cabinet as director of the Office of Management and Budget. In that role, Vought authorized the rerouting of billions from the Pentagon to fund Trumps border wall. In his Project 2025 chapter, Vought a self-described Christian nationalist calls for abolishing of the Gender Policy Council, an entity focused on economic security, health, gender-based violence and education with a focus on gender equity and equality, and particular attention to the barriers faced by women and girls. Vought is also drafting Project 2025s playbook for the first 180 days of a Trump administration, which will not be shared publicly. Trump appeared at a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser for Voughts nonprofit group, Center for Renewing America, in August 2022, and declared that Vought would do a great job in continuing our quest to make America great again. In addition to his key role in Project 2025, Vought is the policy director Republican National Committees platform writing committee and a top candidate for White House chief of staff if Trump wins in November. Gene Hamilton, a top aide to Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions, wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the Department of Justice. During the Trump administration, Hamilton drafted Trumps infamous child separation policy. Hamilton currently serves as vice president and general counsel of America First Legal Foundation, an organization run by top Trump advisor Stephen Miller. In Hamiltons Project 2025 chapter, he advocates for the deployment of active-duty military to the southern border. Hamilton also calls for an elimination of the Department of Justices independence from the White House, saying a new Trump administration should end immediately any policies, investigations, or cases that run contrary to law or Administration policies. (This would presumably include any cases against Trump himself.) He also proposes using the Office of Civil Rights exclusively to prosecute state and local governments, institutions of higher education, corporations, and any other private employers who have diversity initiatives. The Project 2025 chapter on the Agency for International Development was written by Max Primorac, the acting chief operating officer for the same agency under the Trump administration. During a 2019 State Department conference on religious freedom, Primorac generated controversy by promoting Trumps reelection. After Trump lost to President Joe Biden in November 2020, Primorac told agency staff not to cooperate with the transition. In his Project 2025 chapter, Primorac argues against providing international aid to combat hunger and starvation. Primorac says the key to ending poverty is encouraging more oil and gas production. He advocates renaming the USAID Office of Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment as the USAID Office of Women, Children, and Families and putting an unapologetically pro-life politically appointed Senior Coordinator in charge of the office. Here is the complete list of the 31 authors and editors of Project 2025 who have formal connections to the Trump administration: Trump lavished praise on Heritage Foundation In addition to a detailed policy agenda, Project 2025 also involves the training and recruitment of political appointees for a potential second Trump administration. One key component of this effort is the Presidential Administration Academy, which Heritage bills as a one-of-a-kind educational and skill-building program designed to prepare and equip future political appointees now to be ready on Day One of the next conservative Administration. Among the program instructors is Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for the 2024 Trump campaign and an assistant press secretary during the Trump administration. Leavitt co-teaches a video course on The Art of Professionalism. She also appears in a promotional video for the academy. Also appearing in the video is top Trump adviser Stephen Miller. Despite his role in the academy, Miller claims he has never been involved with Project 2025. Millers organization, America First Legal, is a member of the Project 2025 advisory board. Trumps claim that he has nothing to do with the people behind Project 2025 is clearly false. But is it possible that Trump will simply ignore Project 2025s recommendations? History tells us that is unlikely. Prior to the 2016 election, the Heritage Foundation created a similar project called Mandate for Leadership. The Mandate for Leadership contained 334 unique policy recommendations. One year into Trumps term, the Heritage Foundation announced that 64% of the policy prescriptions were included in Trumps budget, implemented through regulatory guidance, or under consideration for action in accordance with The Heritage Foundations original proposals. Seventy Heritage Foundation employees had already joined the administration, and other Heritage officials briefed administration officials on the recommendations, provided additional insight and information, and advocated for reform. In October 2017, Trump was the keynote speaker at a Heritage Foundation event, where he praised the organization as titans in the fight to defend, promote and preserve our great American heritage. He credited the organization with helping him confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and ending the war on beautiful coal. Trump said that he needed the help of the Heritage Foundation to advance other priorities, including large tax cuts. He concluded by expressing his gratitude to the dedicated scholars and staff at the Heritage Foundation. Now, in an effort to win the White House a second time, Trump is playing dumb. Judd Legum is editor of the independent public accountability newsletter Popular Information, where this commentary originally appeared. Subscribe at popular.info Trumps criminal conviction wont stop him from getting security clearance as president but Biden can still control his access for now Former President Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. He is also now a convicted felon, a New York state judgment that concerns a hush money conspiracy before he became president. Normally, a major party nominee gets access to highly classified information, including a version of the Presidents Daily Brief on intelligence. A president-elect gets even more. And the sitting president has more access and authority over the nations secrets than anyone else. A criminal conviction, however, normally disqualifies someone from a security clearance a license to read documents marked SECRET or TOP SECRET. So what to do about a nominee who is also a felon who may get elected? As a law professor who teaches and writes about secrecy and who earlier in my career handled classified information while working for the U.S. intelligence community and a U.S. Senate committee, I would never have expected this dilemma. The good news is that the law has several clear answers. Presidents get access to classified information because of the office they hold, not because they meet criteria in executive orders and administrative rules. The president technically does not even have a clearance. Practically and legally speaking, the president also sits at the apex of the executive branchs massive secrecy apparatus. So if Trump is reelected, he would have expansive access to classified information and control over it. And control over secrets and clearances available to others. Joseph R. Biden is the current president, and therefore legally he decides whether his opponent gets the usual access to classified information. Ultimately, whether Trumps 34 felony convictions and other questionable conduct disqualify him from classified information access is identical to the question before voters: Should Trump again be president? The US secrecy system Most U.S. government employees and contractors do not have a security clearance. If their record suggests trustworthiness, those with a need to know can receive this license to access the several levels of classified information, called Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Federal investigators carefully screen applicants for national security positions and security clearances. To assess a candidates trustworthiness, investigators interview the candidate, review their filings and search databases. Some investigations involve a polygraph of the candidate and interviews of people they know. Once a clearance is granted, investigators continue to monitor clearance holders. Key factors the investigators consider include loyalty to the United States, respect for rules and the rule of law, psychological stability, good judgment and good character in terms of trustworthiness and integrity. Substance abuse, marital infidelity or financial problems can suggest poor judgment and vulnerability to blackmail or other kinds of coercion. The presidents broad power The president oversees the countrys entire national security secrecy system. The president has the authority to read all classified documents, to classify and declassify almost any piece of information and to oversee the security clearance system. There is no other government official who decides whether the president should have access to the nations secrets. The Supreme Court has held that authority over classification and clearances flows in part from the power the Constitution gives the president. In a dangerous international security environment, the president needs to be able to know secret information about foreign threats, communicate confidentially with foreign colleagues and subordinates and act with what Alexander Hamilton called in the Federalist Papers secrecy, and dispatch. Like the president, members of Congress get access to classified information by virtue of election, not by going through the regular security clearance process. Stacks of boxes containing government documents sit in the ballroom of Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. U.S. Department of Justice via Getty Images Normally, Trump wouldnt get clearance The dilemma is obvious: Trump is running to lead a national security enterprise that surely would have denied him a security clearance if he had to follow the rules that apply to his former and potential future subordinates. If someone has a criminal conviction or a civil judgment involving fraud, they generally cannot get clearance. Such court rulings suggest problems following rules, which are integral to protecting classified information, plus disrespect for the law and dishonesty. I cannot imagine any reasonable background investigator would see past the staggering evidence against Trump in this regard. Under the SMICE rubric, for example, Trump is all red flags. SMICE stands for sex, money, ideology, crime and contraband, and ego. First, there is extensive evidence that Trump committed sexual misconduct. Trumps 34 felony counts were connected to his hush money payments to a porn star with whom Trump had sex in 2008 while his current wife was pregnant. Even marital infidelity on its own can endanger a clearance, because it suggests disloyalty and deception. It creates a dirty secret, creating risk of blackmail. Trumps infidelity to all three of his wives is well documented. In 2005, Trump bragged on tape about his sexual assaults, saying that he will just start kissing women without consent, knowing that when you are famous they let you do anything. Last year, the writer E. Jean Carroll won a civil judgment against Trump for raping her in the 1980s. Second, one of the most common reasons for clearance denial or suspension is credit card debt or other financial problems. They create a motive for taking bribes or doing business deals in exchange for leaking secrets or other disloyalty. Trumps businesses have recorded six bankruptcies. The fraud judgment immediately put Trumps finances again in jeopardy. There is considerable evidence that his business finances are linked with foreign governments, particularly Russia. Third, Trump also has extreme ideological views. Trump has told violent militias to stand back and stand by. The U.S. House Jan. 6 committee found in 2022 that Trump was part of a multi-part conspiracy to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election, an effort that included the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump also allegedly retained thousands of pages of classified documents after the end of his term in office at which point his authority to have them expired. He also opposed lawful government efforts to retrieve them. A White House staffer holds a folder with secret documents for then-President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009. Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images Trumps record still matters If he were treated like everyone else, Trump would never get a clearance. But the voters could restore his classified information authorities by returning him to the White House. The ocean of red flags in Trumps record could still matter in two ways. One is that, on that basis, Biden could break with tradition and not allow Trump as a major-party nominee to get intelligence briefings during the campaign or as president-elect. And Trumps criminal conviction, plus other evidence of his lack of trustworthiness and commitment to the rule of law, could inform voters when they head to the polls. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Dakota Rudesill, The Ohio State University. Read more: Dakota Rudesill is registered to vote in the primaries as a Democrat. During his life, he has voted for -- and at various points has also made campaign contributions to and/or worked for -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Also, while in government service Prof. Rudesill held a high-level security clearance. Republicans are pushing a new policy platform to better align with Donald Trump, but not all party members are happy about aspects of it. The Republican Party approved a new platform Monday, ahead of next weeks national convention, where it will be officially voted in, and notably missing from the list is a federal ban on abortion. The absence represents a policy shift for the party as it cowers behind its champion, Trump, who stopped advocating for a federal ban shortly after the midterms, when he realized it was an insanely unpopular policy with voters. But not everyone is on board with the change, or how it happened. WISN12 Newss political director Matt Smith spoke with Gayle Ruzicka, a disgruntled member of the Republican National Committee platform committee from Utah. Ruzicka is also the president of the Utah Eagle Forum, the conservative lobbying group founded by Phyllis Schafly, who opposed the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment. Its never happened before. I mean, I guess Ive done this several times. There was no committees. We always had subcommittees, where we can go in and rework a section of the platform; we can propose amendments, debate them, add them. It always happens, said Ruzicka. They didnt allow any amendments. They didnt allow any discussion. They rolled us. Thats what they did. You know, we spent thousands of dollars to be here, and everything they told us they were going to do isnt what happened. None of it happened. Ive never seen this happen before. I dont understand why they did it. And Im extremely disappointed that we do not have any pro-life language, she said. Buried on page 15, the new policy platform gives a new spin for Republicans tireless efforts to ban abortion across the nation. It reads, After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments). That wasnt good enough for Ruzicka. The platform simply says that we oppose late-term abortion. Well, what about before that? she said. So why did she vote for it? She also said she was bamboozled by the voting process. Ive never been treated so badly, to have them force this vote on us, before we even have a chance to read the platform, Ruzicka said, explaining that it was passed out shortly before a meeting that required the members attention. We glanced through it, but we didnt have the time to study it and read it. And then all of a sudden somebody made a motion to vote on the platform. And that was it. And then they sent us home. It seems that the Republican Party was anxious to pass Trumps slightly unorthodox platform through, even if the policies dont represent the opinions of its committee members, let alone the position the GOP has had for the past 50 years. Uniformly adopting Trumps policy platform goes to show how far the Trump takeover of the GOP has come: Hes in the partys bloodstream now, changing its very DNA. In 2020, the Republican Party didnt even deign to write a platform, amid rumors that Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner planned to shorten it significantly and streamline (upend) the drafting process, according to Vox. Perhaps some of Kushners plans are latent within the party, intent on making decisions that align with the candidate, rather than the people. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley released all of her delegates on Tuesday and encouraged them to support Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president at next weeks Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The nominating convention is a time for Republican unity, Haley said in a statement. Joe Biden is not competent to serve a second term and Kamala Harris would be a disaster for America. We need a president who will hold our enemies to account, secure our border, cut our debt, and get our economy back on track. I encourage my delegates to support Donald Trump next week in Milwaukee. However, Haley, the only woman to seek the Republican presidential nomination, was not invited to attend the convention. According to her spokesperson Chaney Denton, Haley was not invited, and shes fine with that. Trump deserves the convention he wants. Shes made it clear shes voting for him and wishes him the best. Haley, the last viable alternative to Trump, secured 97 delegates from 12 states during the 2024 Republican primaries. Haleys decision to release all of her delegates was the final detente between the GOP runner-up and Trump. After Haley dropped out of the race in March, she called on Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond who did not support him. But Trump did not make any public effort to reach out to Haley or her voters. Voters, however, continued to support her in state primaries after she ended her 2024 bid. In the weeks after she dropped out, 22 percent of voters in Indianas open GOP primary picked Haley. In April, she received 20 to 25 percent support in suburban counties around Philadelphia. Similar patterns played out elsewhere. Trumps campaign declined to comment, but pointed to the former presidents comments about Haley after a rally in New York. "I think she's going to be on our team because we have a lot of the same ideas, the same thoughts," Trump told News 12 New York. "I appreciated what she said. You know, we had a nasty campaign, it was pretty nasty. But she's a very capable person, and I'm sure she's going to be on our team in some form, absolutely." During a speech at the Hudson Institute, Haley, who is currently serving as the conservative think tanks Walter P. Stern chair, said she would support a president who backed Americas allies, secured the border, supported capitalism and freedom and would lower the national debt. And while Trump has not been perfect, Haley said, she would vote for him in the general election. Trump has not been perfect on these policies. Ive made that clear many, many times, Haley said. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump. Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech, Haley said. In June, Haley told the Wall Street Journal that she reached out to Trump after she announced she would be voting for him and had what she described as a good conversation, but said there was no discussion of any role on the campaign or at the upcoming convention. Haley served as Trumps first United Nations ambassador. Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a campaign event in Chesapeake Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a campaign event in Chesapeake By Rodrigo Campos NEW YORK (Reuters) - The possibility of former President Donald Trump winning back the White House in November has investors preparing for various scenarios, with "America's backyard" high on the list of markets to look out for. The Trump administration had terse relations with much of Latin America, including during the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and when the U.S. government withheld key financial aid in exchange for stricter migration policies in Central America. Below are flash points identified by investors anticipating how a possible second Trump administration could impact the region: A GOOD NEIGHBOR Mexico has long been an emerging markets weather vane for U.S. policy and its impact on wider emerging markets, but this time domestic factors would make the situation more complex. Trump's 2016 election win sent the peso down nearly 8% in a week. But this time around, the peso is already down 6% this year after slumping in June when the ruling party in the country's election closed in on a super-majority, with markets fearing constitutional changes and diminished checks and balances. On U.S.-Mexico relations, trade is expected to top the agenda, according to analysts. Trump spearheaded the revamp of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal and a scheduled review is two years away. The next U.S. president gets a chance to confirm whether his country will stay in it. "Trump is very unlikely to exit USMCA, but he might threaten to do so in order to extract higher tariffs and more inward investment in U.S. manufacturing," said Hasnain Malik, head of equity research at Tellimer in Dubai. "For Mexico, more broadly, the relationship will be less comfortable, with Trump's focus on border controls potentially hurting longer-term growth of remittances." The peso is expected to be volatile ahead of the U.S. election as traders use it to hedge or to double down on the probability of Biden being reelected. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Two of Latin America's most flamboyant right-wing populists - El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Argentina's President Javier Milei - featured with Trump in February's Conservative Political Action Conference, which is the largest meeting of U.S. conservative activists and politicians. Both countries are looking for financial support from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF). Back in 2018, Trump outspokenly supported Argentina's then-president Mauricio Macri in his push for IMF money, which developed into a massive $44 billion program. Milei, a public Trump-backer, is widely expected to ask for fresh cash once the current program ends in December - if not before. El Salvador's Bukele is also expected to reengage with the IMF after the U.S. election with the aim of getting a new program. An El Salvador offer in April of a bond that would bump up returns if the country failed to get either a new IMF program or a significant credit rating lift in the next 18 months was seen by analysts as a Bukele bet on Trump winning the White House and putting in a good word for him at the IMF. "(Bukele) is pretty tight with the Republicans," said Thys Louw, portfolio manager with Ninety One, adding El Salvador is also trying to find new financing elsewhere. "The hope is that once you get a Trump administration, they'll lean on the IMF, and the IMF will be much more lenient towards them." VENEZUELA SANCTIONS PROSPECTS The way Venezuela's July 28 presidential election will unfold could likely determine whether it has any prospect of rejoining the international community. In his previous term, Trump ratcheted up sanctions against the South American oil producer; Biden has tried to reestablish ties with a view of guaranteeing fair elections. The next U.S. president will likely determine whether a massive debt restructuring - Venezuela owes at least $60 billion on sovereign bonds alone - will come to pass, as it requires new bond issuance, currently barred by U.S. sanctions. "Venezuela is one of those countries that is likely to be subject to change under a Trump administration," said Bradley Wickens, CEO of Broad Reach Investment Management, adding Venezuelan bonds trading at deeply distressed prices could be enticing to investors against the backdrop of a detente between Washington and Caracas. "Not sure that continues under Trump." Relationships with Cuba and Nicaragua, both led by authoritarian governments, are also expected to strain further under a Trump administration. CHINA TRADE WAR ESCALATION Hurdles and added costs to trade with China imposed during the Trump administration were kept in place by Biden, who has further ratcheted up the heat on Beijing. Some analysts expect if the trade war with China intensifies, Beijing might opt to devalue its currency to make exports more competitive. Such a move could be felt by commodity exporters in Latin America, with Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile among Beijing's largest regional trade partners. (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos, additional reporting by Libby George; Editing by Jamie Freed) By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several high-ranking European officials have met with a top foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump during the ongoing NATO summit in Washington this week, as America's allies gird for the possible reelection of the former president. Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who served as the chief of staff to Trump's National Security Council, told Reuters he has met several European officials in recent days, including foreign ministers. He did not disclose the identities of those foreign officials nor what was discussed during those talks. Kellogg, who is in regular contact with Trump, has emphasized that he does not speak for the former president nor his campaign. Still, European officials are hungry for any information they can glean about Trump's foreign policy in the event he beats Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election. In recent months, foreign diplomats have regularly met with officials from Trump's 2017-2021 administration. Among the main concerns in European capitals is how Trump will handle the war in Ukraine and America's relationship with NATO. The former president and his allies have expressed skepticism about sending more aid to Ukraine, and Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO countries for spending too little on defense. A disastrous debate performance last month by Biden appears to have boosted Trump's odds. The former president is leading Biden by 2.1 percentage points nationally, according to a polling average maintained by website FiveThirtyEight, while Biden had a slight lead ahead of the debate. While Kellogg did not disclose whom he met with, he posted an image on X on Monday of what he described as an "informal discussion" with Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk. In June, Reuters reported that Kellogg and another Trump adviser had presented the former president with a plan to end the Ukraine war in part by conditioning any future aid to Kyiv on Ukraine's leaders agreeing to sit down for peace talks with Moscow. Three other former Trump foreign policy officials told Reuters they had been approached by European delegations about meeting during the NATO summit, though those meetings did not take place, mainly for logistical reasons. Those officials requested anonymity to discuss private discussions. Separately, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski met with Richard Grenell, a former acting director of National Intelligence under Trump, according to a picture Mickoski posted on Facebook on Monday. (Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Ross Colvin and Cynthia Osterman) Trump Isn't Being Quiet. But For Once, Nobody's Paying Attention To Him. Amid ongoing debate about President Joe Bidens cognition and what that means for his candidacy, it may seem like Donald Trump has embraced the decidedly non-Trump strategy of being quiet and avoiding attention. He has not. But for the first time in a long time, the media has eased up on scrutinizing the antics of the twice-impeached, coup-attempting, felonious former president. New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman told CNN on Monday that the lack of attention is surely getting under Trumps skin. He doesnt like being out of the news cycle, Haberman told CNNs Kaitlan Collins. I think that he just wants the narrative to be back on him, she added. And I think that hes feeling better about the idea that the race is going to be him versus Biden. On Truth Social, Trumps social media site, Trumps been plenty active, having posted or reshared 37 times in the last 24 hours alone. Among his posts are: Numerous links to opinion pieces in far-right outlets arguing hes immune to prosecution and should be exonerated from the 34-count felony conviction handed down in his New York hush-money trial. A post from New Gingrich humbly thanking God for Trump, whom the former GOP House Speaker suggests has been guided by the hand of God to preserve the union, like presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. A boast about a Trump boat parade having more boats than a (hypothetical) Biden boat parade. Amusingly, a link to a Breitbart article complaining about how far-right French politician Marine Le Pens party won the most votes in Sundays election, but was awarded the third-most seats. (Recall that Trump won the presidency in 2016 despite losing the popular vote). Trump also appears to have heavily influenced the RNCs 2024 platform, adopted Monday, suggesting hes playing an active role behind the scenes as well. Among other things, the platform pledges to CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY, END THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE, and KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMENS SPORTS. Trump also shared on Monday his pretaped phone interview with Sean Hannity, in which his opening observation about the debate involved Bidens complexion. He looked extremely pale, to put it nicely, Trump told Hannity. Maybe it was a good makeup job or maybe it wasnt, but he was a very pale-looking man. Trump expressed his hope that Biden would remain in the race, hinting that his campaign may be delaying the announcement of his vice presidential pick pending the presidents ultimate decision on whether to keep running. Related... With less than a week before the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin, a Trump-appointed judge on Monday ruled that protesters cannot march through areas visible to the RNC. The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, an umbrella coalition of several activist groups that led protests against the RNC in 2008, 2012, and 2016. The lawsuit was filed in June after the city of Milwaukee released plans for a hard perimeter around the RNC, with limitations on what items protesters can bring into a security footprint designated protest area. The plan was approved by the city and mayor in March. Coalition co-chair Omar Flores argued in June when the ACLUs lawsuit was filed that the designated protest areas and parade route were overly restrictive, impeding their First Amendment rights by keeping protest spaces too far from the venue for the gathering to actually be a protest against the RNC. This march route is within sight and sound of the RNC, Flores said in June of the route the coalition crafted for their march in contrast to the citys offerings. Were not going to be led back to their protest pens where, essentially, were just going to be chanting and screaming to no one. I mean, thats really not a protest, Flores added. The ruling, delivered by Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig, stated the city of Milwaukee and the Secret Service satisfied security needs and peoples desire to protest, finding much of their plan a valid restriction on free speech, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Coalition members have the right to march in protest of the RNC. Their right to do so lies at the heart of the First Amendment. But the First Amendment does not allow them to protest or parade in any way they choose, Ludwig wrote in his decision. Ludwig did rule in favor of the ACLU in part, determining that the city of Milwaukee cant approve sound and protest permits based on an applicants criminal history. Former President Trump is leading Vice President Harris in a hypothetical head-to-head, new polling shows, as talk swirls of potentially replacing President Biden on the Democratic ticket. The latest Emerson College Polling survey found Trump with 49 percent and Harris with 43 percent among registered voters in a potential match-up, a 6-point lead for the former president. Another 8 percent were undecided. Harris notched the same share of support as Biden, who also scored 43 percent against Trump but Biden trailed the presumptive Republican nominee by 3 points, with 43 percent to Trumps 46 percent, and 11 percent undecided. Biden faces calls from within his own party to withdraw from the 2024 race and be replaced on the Democratic ticket after a dismal performance at the first presidential debate last month. Postdebate polls have largely been bad news for the incumbent, and could even be opening the door for Trump to take blue states like Virginia and Minnesota in the fall. Trump was also up in hypothetical head-to-heads against eight other prominent Democratic and independent names floated as potential Biden replacements. He led by 6 points over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 7 points over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and 8 points over California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Al Gore, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer all came in behind Trump in additional tests. But a new poll from the Democratic pollster Bendixen & Amandi Inc. found more promising results for Harris putting the vice president ahead of Trump by 1 point. Harris scored 42 percent to Trumps 41 percent, while 5 percent of voters picked a third-party candidate and 12 percent were undecided. A recent CNN poll also found her running closer than Biden to Trump, just 2 points behind the former president while Biden was 6 points behind. Biden has been beating back calls to step away from the ticket as the Democrats August national convention nears. The Democratic Party has spoken. The Democratic nominee is me. And Im going to be the nominee of the party, Biden told donors in a recent call. We cant waste any more time being distracted. The Emerson College Polling national survey was conducted July 7-8 among 1,370 registered voters and has a credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error, of plus or minus 2.6 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. JPMorgan Chase could soon start charging some 86 million people for holding their own money for them. That's according to Marianne Lake, CEO of consumer and community banking at JPMorgan Chase, who told the Wall Street Journal the bank may institute checking account fees in order to recoup any revenue lost if regulators go forward with a plan to cap overdraft fees. Currently, Chase charges up to $35 for checking accounts if certain requirements, like a monthly direct deposit, aren't met. And it charges a $34 overdraft fee per transaction that overdraws an account by more than $50 (up to three per day). That enabled the bank to rack in over $1 billion in overdraft fees in 2023, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the most of any bank in the U.S. The proposed regulations from the CFPB would cap those fees between $3 to $14, which the agency estimates will save consumers at least $3.5 billion each year. Of course, savings for consumers mean lost revenue for Chase, which it will look to make up elsewhere. "It is not practical for many of the services to be free if we wont be able to draw from those profit pools," Lake told the Journal. Lake did not say how much the checking account fees would be or what accounts they would apply to, but the Journal's story notes that other currently free products and services, like credit score trackers and financial planning tools, could also soon come at a cost. Chase's proposed fee comes at a time when the average monthly fee for a non-interest checking account is $5.31, and $15.33 for an interest-bearing account, according to Bankrate. Lake spoke to investors about the changing regulatory environment in May, saying that the average consumer was the most likely to be impacted. "I think it is reasonable to expect the industry will make sweeping changes to how products and services are offered and priced," she said, noting that credit will become "much more expensive and free checking may only be attainable for the most affluent Americans." An overdraft fee is applied when customers try to spend more than they have in their checking account. They became a major source of revenue for banks in 2010s, although other institutionsincluding Citi and Capital Onehave eliminated or reined them in significantly in light of the possible new rules. That said, Chase is earning significantly less revenue from overdraft fees than it once did: In 2019, the bank brought in over $2 billion, double last year's figure. Story continues What can consumers do? How that plays out for consumers depends on how high the fees are, says Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center. Overdraft fees tend to hit low-income consumers the hardestthose who can least afford to pay them. "In general, a modest monthly fee is better than a huge, backend overdraft fee," says Saunders. "I don't think they will be able to sustain high fees, and people should take their business elsewhere if they do." It's also important to note that depending on the outcome of the presidential election in November, the federal regulations might not be put in place at all. Still, the best thing consumers can do is shop around for the best deal, says Saunders. Plenty of banks, including online-only institutions like Ally, offer fee-free accounts, as well as much smaller overdraft fees (if they charge the fees at all). Indeed, 45% of non-interest checking accounts are completely free and 87% can be free if requirements, like direct deposit or a minimum balance, are met, per Bankrate. "Chase is more reliant on overdraft fees than other banks and so theyre looking to squeeze consumers in another way," says Saunders. "Hopefully other banks who have made more significant changes to their overdraft practices can see a sustainable way to have bank accounts without big monthly fees." There are also non-bank financial institutions which often offer free services, though consumers should also approach these with caution, Saunders says, pointing to the recent collapse of Synapse, a financial technology company that acts as a middleman between fintechs and banks. Its abrupt bankruptcy left tens of thousands of business and consumers with frozen accounts they could not access. That said, other banks may soon follow Chase's lead. Smaller community banks and credit unions are less likely to do so, says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. And they may find other avenuessay, via higher ATM feesto make up revenue. "Banking is a copycat industry and I would expect large rivals to follow suit if a major player such as Chase raised fees," says Rossman. "It's also important to note that fees can be like whack-a-mole: One goes down, another pops up." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The Scene On Monday afternoon, a few blocks from the White House, conservative legal scholars discussed how to strike back against Donald Trumps enemies. These subversives, they said, had waged lawfare against the Republican nominee, thrown out 2020 election challenges, and blocked scrutiny of a Biden administration that might be gone in six months. What could conservatives do about that, if they won back power? Weve got to start impeaching these judges for acting in such an unbelievably partisan way from the bench, said John Eastman, a California attorney who was disbarred last year over working with Trump to challenge the 2020 election. People who have used this tool against people like John or President Trump have to be prosecuted by Republican or conservative DAs in exactly the same way, for exactly the same kinds of things, until they stop, said Berkeley Law professor John Yoo. I dont say that we should be the mafia, said Will Chamberlain, a senior counsel at the Article III Project whod formerly worked for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But as a political party, if we arent willing to dish anything out, then we can just expect to keep taking it. The debate in Atlanta had thrown Democrats into a party-wide panic and made Republicans more confident than ever of a Trump restoration. And that mood permeated the National Conservatism conference, organized by movement thinkers whose populist politics were brought from the fringe to the White House in 2016. The MAGA thinkers, policy entrepreneurs, and conservative activists who gathered on Monday were over the moon about Trumps odds of victory and completely unbothered by Trumps recent efforts to distance himself from their agenda. They expected to return to power soon, assume influential positions in the administration, and use the federal government to punish their political enemies as harshly as their interpretation of the law would allow. Know More As NatCon kicked off, Trump and his campaign were moving to separate the candidate from the conservatives whose rhetoric might worry swing voters. On Saturday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he knew nothing about Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations plan to staff and craft executive actions for a second Trump administration led by policymakers who worked for Trump and saw him stymied by bureaucrats. On Monday, the Republican National Committee rammed through a revised platform that dropped specific language about abortion and entitlement reform that Trump disagreed with, and that the campaign saw as politically risky. None of that worried the crowds at the Capital Hilton. Trump administration veterans mingled with conservative writers and think tankers who had conquered the old Bush-Romney Republican Party. When Joe Biden was mentioned at all, he was a punchline. When Trump was mentioned, he was a conquering hero whod have a confident, well-trained movement behind him next year. Trump comes back in January, Ill be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen, said former ICE director Tom Homan at a panel on immigration policy. They aint seen shit yet. Wait until 2025. Stephen Miller, a Trump policy advisor whod spent the Biden years suing to stop race-conscious programs in the public and private sector, indicted the Democratic Party in a conspiracy to hide the fact that Joe Biden is a mental vegetative state. Biden had let the country be run by secret unnamed Democrat Party interests and staffers for three and a half years, as we inched closer to World War III. But that party was about to lose the election. This is the first conservative conference in memory where we can look around at our country and the world and say: Were winning, said Rachel Bovard, a vice president at the Conservative Partnership Institute, founded in the first year of the Trump administration to train the growing MAGA movement. National conservatives are and must be constitutionalists. But for the constitution to matter again ever, at all the right must be prepared to fight on the lefts absolute terms. Project 2025 itself was rarely mentioned; a booth set up by the Heritage Foundation, stacked with literature about training for prospective presidential appointees at all levels, went unstaffed on Monday and Tuesday. But Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts repeatedly praised Trump in his remarks to the conference, saying the media had worked to discredit and destroy him, alongside leftists who imagined themselves the founding fathers and mothers, with varying pronouns. In 2024, Trump was in a position to save America, with a conservative movement that hed revived since he came down that escalator in 2015. Libertarians may not like populism, but the lefts new America will erase individual freedom altogether, said Roberts. Neo-cons may not like the new rights prudent foreign policy, but the only alternative are those Death to America chants at pro-Hamas rallies. There were disagreements at the conference; Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley used a Monday night speech to defend Christian nationalism, while warning that some advocates for the idea had gone too far by pining for a protestant Franco and blood and soil totalitarianism. The country could be saved without that, and Trumps criticism of Project 2025 wasnt a real impediment to the mission. Im not too worried about it, said Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. It was Trump asserting that hes the one in charge of his own operation. Davids view Democrats are trying to shove the medias klieg lights off of Biden and onto Trumps conservative movement. Their bet: Voters are deeply worried about the presidents age, but not ready to hand America over to the sort of right-wing populism thats advanced in Europe and dominated the Biden-era GOP. But Republicans havent been in such a strong position, this close to the election, in a very long time. At this point in Trumps two prior campaigns, he trailed Hillary Clinton and Biden in public polls. Not since 2000, when Al Gore was facing a reinvigorated GOP and losing votes on his left to Ralph Nader, has a GOP nominee led in polls after the Fourth of July holiday. Conservatives see a generational chance at victory here, and Trumps public squeamishness about some of their ideas doesnt bother them. Even some anti-abortion groups that wanted the party to keep their language in the platform shrugged when it was removed; as written, the platform subtly encourages states to grant constitutional rights to the unborn. Notable The Daily Signal published Hawleys entire speech to the conference, though the prepared remarks didnt include his opening joke about the Biden family. Hunter Biden alone has such incredible expertise. He could be the drug czar. He is an expert on human trafficking, and prostitution, and also on a foreign relations, in the biblical sense. In The New York Times, Ruth Graham looked at how The Claremont Institute, a force on the right and at the conference, is preparing for power. Their ambitions paint a picture of the country they want should Mr. Trump return to the White House one driven by their version of Christian values, with larger families and fewer immigrants. BERLINThe NATO summit begins in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday amid the turmoil of President Joe Bidens campaign for the presidency and what the future holds for Ukraine. One of the worst missile attacks of the war in Ukraine occurred Monday, where 41 people were killed and at least 190 were injured, and the countrys largest childrens hospital, Okhmatdyt in Kyiv, was bombarded, leaving medical staff and sick children trapped under the rubble. There were images of emergency workers rushing to provide life-saving medical treatment to small children and bodies scattered throughout the site of the attack. On the 75th anniversary of NATO, this summit comes at a time when the organization must prove its worth in standing up to the Russian threat. And Russian President Vladimir Putin is busy reminding NATO members exactly why the union needs to be strengthened with the deadly bombardment of Kyiv and a whistle-stop tour in recent weeks of some of the worlds least democratic leaders. This is a fully deliberate action, specifically designed and approved by Putin. On the eve of the @Nato summit. As a slap in the face to the alliance, wrote Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on X. The situation in Ukraine is dire, as the Kremlin continues to attack the country, and Russias counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region is underway. A crucial topic for Ukraine at the summit will be the details of an aid package that includes vital air defense systems meant to protect Ukrainian cities. However, it is unclear how well the new air defense will help. Eastern cities like Kharkiv are so close to the Russian border that air raid sirens and air defense systems often do not have enough time to start because it takes just seconds for the Kremlins missiles to make an impact on the city. In small villages near the front, there is essentially no warning before attacks begin. Kyivs air defense system has managed to protect the capital city from many attacks, but a resident named Anastasiia Orlova told The Daily Beast, Last year, our air defense in Kyiv was stronger; not many missiles made it to Kyiv. Now, we are lacking air defense. While in the European Union and U.S. there are hundreds of Patriot air defense systems just gathering dust in warehouses or standing on military bases unused. The place that really needs them now [is] Ukraine, [and it] gets just a minimum amount. For each system, we really need to beg at places like NATO summits or during official visits of our president. Whats the point of all these constant meetings and summits when kids fighting cancer are the targets of Russian missiles? she added, referencing the attack at Okhmatdyt. Although NATO is not arming Ukraine directly, members are expected to pledge to provide at least four additional Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine at the end of the summit. The new military aid package to Ukraine is also expected to include $43 billion in 2025 in aid to the country. It is believed that NATO will also establish a new military command in the German city of Wiesbaden, which plans to coordinate military aid and training in Ukraine. Although new aid is expected, a Ukrainian soldier serving on the Donbas front, who asked to be referred to as Eddie, said that he does not know if the proposed aid will truly help Ukraine. The new air defense aid is said to be future proof for Ukraine, but Eddie told The Daily Beast: We hope those are not empty words. I hope it [defense systems] will help to avoid things like yesterday [attack] [and help] with few clinics and hospitals, including [the] childrens hospital yesterday. We need shells and jets to fight off Russian bombers, he added. For the entirety of the war, Ukraine has stressed the importance of the country being allowed to join NATO, something that members have repeatedly denied. This time around, Ukraine will still not get its wish, but inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the summit shows NATOs support for Kyiv nonetheless. Russia is watching on intently from the sidelineson Tuesday, Dmitry Peskov, Putins spokesman, told journalists that Moscow would follow the summit: With the greatest attention... the rhetoric at the talks and the decisions that will be taken and put on paper, according to the Moscow Times. The summit comes at a time when Russias supporters are on the rise. Recently, the Prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, visited Putin on what he claimed was a peace mission. Orban is said to be Europes most pro-Russian leader and had just come from a visit to Kyivhe plans to be a peace broker between the two countries. Putin also recently strengthened its ties with North Koreas dictator, Kim Jong-un, and the pair agreed to sign a deal that included a mutual defense package that made one message clearany attack from Ukraine on Russia would be an attack on North Korea. In China, Putin met with the countrys leader, Xi Jinping, and the two hailed their partnership. In televised remarks, Putin said the relationship between Moscow and Beijing has a Comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation are experiencing their best period in history. On Monday, Putin welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow. India is believed to be an important relationship for the U.S., but Modis visit showed that his friendship with Putin is strong as well. Russias deep ties with Asian countries have proved that Moscow is not alone in its war against Ukraine, and the Kremlin hopes its biggest potential ally might be coming soonDonald Trump. In Kyiv, Orlova said, I am very worried about what will happen with Trump. He wants to sign a peace treaty with a war criminal, like signing a peace treaty with Hitler. Ukraine already signed the Minsk Agreement, the treaty aimed to end the initial phase of Russias invasion during its 2014 war in Donbas. Should we give more land now where our people are living under occupation? Where they are tortured and afraid to speak? I wish he would come to Ukraine, and maybe some humanity in his soul would wake up, she added. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. "We need to give them retribution," attorney Mike Davis recently said on a right-wing YouTube show, calling payback "a big part of justice" Justin Sullivan/Getty; Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto/Shutterstock One of Donald Trumps rumored attorney general candidates is warning of a criminal probe into the former president's prosecutors if Republicans take back the White House in November. Attorney Mike Davis, the founder of an organization advocating for conservative judicial nominees, said in an interview on Benny Johnsons YouTube channel that if Trump is elected to a second term, there will be severe consequences for those involved in the criminal charges against the former president, including Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. "Look, I would say to Jack Smith that right now you guys are the hunters and on January 20th you're going to become the hunted," Davis said. "We need to give them retribution. And people are like, 'You can't do retribution.' Yes, retribution is a big part of justice." Related: Every Crime Donald Trump Has Been Charged With, Explained In a separate clip shared by Johnson, Davis claimed without evidence that the indictments against Trump are part of "a criminal conspiracy by these Democrat prosecutors, these Democrat judges, these Democrat witnesses, these Democrat operatives." "And guess what guys? There are going to be severe legal, political and financial consequences. We are not going to turn the other cheek, they can go to hell," he added. Related: The Cases Against Trump: What to Know About the Various Investigations Surrounding the 45th U.S. President CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Donald Trump departs Trump Tower in Manhattan en route to the first day of his criminal trial on April 15, 2024 Davis, who is a former high-ranking staffer for Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, previously told Johnson about his plans if he were to be appointed attorney general by Trump. "During my three week reign of terror as Trump acting attorney general before I get chased out of town with my Trump pardon, I will rain hell on Washington, D.C," Davis said on The Benny Show in September. "I have five lists ready to go and they're growing." 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. First, he said, he would fire "a lot of people in the executive branch," which he called the "deep state." Then, "We're gonna indict Joe Biden and Hunter Biden and James Biden and every other scumball, sleazeball Biden," he continued. "We're gonna deport a lot of people, 10 million people and growing anchor babies, their parents, their grandparents. We're gonna put kids in cages. It's gonna be glorious," he said of his third objective. Fourth: "We're gonna detain a lot of people in the D.C. gulag and Gitmo." "And list number five: I'm gonna recommend a lot of pardons," Davis concluded. "Every January 6th defendant is gonna get a pardon, especially my hero horn man." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Trump Team Tries Harder And Harder To Hide What They Will Actually Do During Trump 2.0 Amid the chaos of the will-they, wont-they storyline that has seized the Democratic Party in the wake of President Bidens abysmal debate performance, team Trump has slipped into the quieter moments of the media maelstrom, trying to paint their agenda as much more moderate than it actually is. Take, for instance, Donald Trumps recent Truth Social post, posturing ignorance around Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations detailed plan, penned by Trump loyalists, for a second Trump administration that involves dismantling the federal government and rebuilding it on a new, far-right foundation, including a professed embrace of Christian nationalism. Even the very extremists in his past administration who have had a direct hand in writing some of the Project 2025 platform, like Stephen Miller, are trying to distance themselves from the agenda that the Heritage Foundation has described as a volley in a modern-day Revolutionary War. Hiding all of that might, in theory, be harder to do once the Republican National Convention is in full swing next week which is part of why, it appears, the Trump campaign is working overtime to paper over those extremist plans with a thick layer of moderate-sounding sentences. Last week there were reports that the Trump campaign had booted two anti-abortion activists from the GOPs platform committee, which is meeting this week to vote on policy planks ahead of next weeks convention. It was an early sign that Trump and his team were going to continue to try to hide the ball and appear as though the party was moderating on abortion despite the fact that national abortion bans and emblazoning fetal personhood ideology in the Constitution have been pillars of the Republican platform for decades. The Washington Post reported today that the 2024 Republican convention platform committee quickly adopted a plank of what will be the partys overall agenda that on first glance appeared to drop the partys longtime push to enshrine constitutional rights for embryos and fetuses in the Constitution. We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights, the document reads. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments). But, as friend of TPM Sarah Posner pointed out today, the language used in the abortion plank is pretty ambiguous Christian activists would be well within their rights to read it as actually calling for states to protect the due process of fetuses in a perhaps intentionally subtle nod at the fetal personhood ideology that the Republican Party has long supported, that has led many states to ban abortion, and that even, in one case, required hospitals to stop offering IVF treatments. The attempts to hoodwink the undecided voter will likely continue ahead of and throughout the RNC next week. The Best Of TPM Today What An Utterly Surreal Week In American Politics David Kurtz Yesterdays Most Read Story Wow, Now France Josh Marshall What We Are Reading What happens to the Georgia election interference case if Trump wins the White House? AJC Official Kristi Noem social media accounts appear to have been deleted The Guardian Some folks need killing!: Its time to take MAGA threats of violence literally and seriously Salon Trump is trying to distance himself from Project 2025 -- but its architects helped shape his RNC party platform Last week, former President Donald Trump attempted to distance himself from "Project 2025," a sweeping plan to overhaul the federal government proposed by a closely aligned conservative group. "I know nothing about Project 2025," Trump claimed on social media, referring to the 922-page plan put forward by a group of conservative organizations led by the Heritage Foundation. "I have no idea who is behind it." Trump's comments made it seem like he had no connection to the controversial plan or those involved in it. MORE: RNC committee adopts GOP's 2024 policy platform -- including on abortion But when Republicans meet in Milwaukee next week and vote to officially confirm the first new Republican Party platform since 2016 -- which Trump and Republicans across the country will run on -- that platform will have been crafted and influenced by individuals with deep ties to Project 2025. In May, the Trump campaign and the RNC announced their Platform Committee leadership team, the senior officials tasked with drafting the Republican platform, and named Russ Vought as the platform committee's policy director and Ed Martin as deputy policy director. Both have ties to Project 2025. Vought, who previously served Trump as the director of the Office of Management and Budget, authored a chapter on "Executive Office of the President" for Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise," which Project 2025 describes as "a comprehensive policy guide for the next conservative U.S. president." Vought's Center For Renewing America is also listed as a member of Project 2025's advisory board, according to the plan's website. PHOTO: Former President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks during a campaign rally at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 22, 2024. (Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) Martin, who the Trump campaign and RNC named as the party's deputy platform policy director, is the president of the Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund; Eagle Forum is also listed as a part of Project 2025's advisory board. Other members on the RNC platform committee with ties to Project 2025 include Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who has been vocal in his efforts to ensure the Republican platform does not soften its language on abortion. Perkins has said he is involved in the crafting of the 2024 platform, and Family Research Council is also an advisory board member to Project 2025. The new platform was adopted by an 84-14 committee vote on Monday, a source told ABC News. The full Republican National Committee membership vote to officially confirm the platform from the convention floor will happen next week, according to an RNC spokesperson. Democratic National Committee press secretary Emilia Rowland, commenting on the RNC platform, said in a statement, "The reality is that Trump literally put architects of Project 2025 in charge of the Republican platform, and the result is not only the most extreme platform in GOP history but one containing lie after lie after lie." "Agenda 47 and President Trump's RNC Platform are the only policies endorsed by President Trump for a second term," said Republican National Committee spokesperson Danielle Alvarez. "Team Biden and the DNC are LYING and fear-mongering because they have NOTHING else to offer the American people. Remember this is the same group that lied to Americans and hid Joe Biden's cognitive decline all these years." The Biden-Harris campaign, meanwhile, is starting to place ads tying Project 2025 and Trump together. MORE: Trump stays relatively quiet, unseen as Biden struggles to save political future As recently as April, Project 2025's senior adviser John McEntee -- who was previously a Trump White House adviser -- said he was working to integrate Project 2025 with the Trump campaign while also attempting to create a distinction between the two entities. "Obviously, there will need to be coordination and the president and his team will announce an official transition this summer, and we're going to integrate a lot of our work with them. But I think keeping the two separate is actually the most beneficial way to go about it," McEntee said on the Daily Wire's Morning Wire. By the end of Trump's first term, McEntee was tasked with scouring federal agencies for people who were not fully behind Trump's agenda. In October 2020, he drafted a memo arguing that Trump should fire then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper three weeks before Esper was terminated, as first reported by ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl in his book "Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show." A major part of Project 2025's agenda is to expand presidential power and drastically cut federal agencies like the Education Department -- moves that Trump, on the campaign trail, has supported. The proposal also calls for a reversal of the Food and Drug Administration's approval of abortion pill mifepristone. Trump earlier this month said he does not support blocking access to mifepristone. Despite Trump's attempts to distance himself from Project 2025, the two worlds remain deeply intertwined. Several key former members of the Trump administration are involved with the project, including Stephen Miller, who recently helped Trump with debate prep and acted as a surrogate in the spin room following the CNN presidential debate in Atlanta -- and who appears in Project 2025's educational "presidential administration academy" video and whose organization, America First Legal, is listed as among its advisory members. MORE: Donald Trump will define 2024 RNC platform, committee members say Members of Trump's PAC-funded groups also sit on the project's advisory board, including Conservative Partnership Institute, an organization led by Trump's former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, which received a $1 million donation from Trump's Save America PAC in 2021. The Trump campaign's now-national press secretary Karoline Leavitt is also prominently featured in Project 2025's "presidential administration academy" video, which the group says is designed to train the next generation of conservative politicians. The video was produced in September 2023, when Leavitt was serving as a spokesperson for pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again Inc., which is a separate entity from the Trump campaign. Leavitt joined the Trump campaign in January of 2024. Other policy groups and think tanks with ties to Trump and his former administration have also proposed policy outlines for a potential second term, including the America First Policy Institute, which houses hundreds of former Trump administration officials. Save America PAC also donated $1 million to America First Policy Institute. The Trump campaign's senior advisers have long maintained distance from all outside policy groups, including Project 2025, saying they're "merely suggestions" and stressing "none of these groups or individuals speak for President Trump or his campaign." Trump is trying to distance himself from Project 2025 -- but its architects helped shape his RNC party platform originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former President Trumps search for a running mate is entering the homestretch, with an announcement expected in the coming days. Sources said the former president is still focused on Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) as his top potential running mates, though Rubio and Vance have reportedly been at the center of discussions. If I were President Trump, I would make sure I pick somebody that could add value in 2024. Expand the map, take prosecute the case against the liberals, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a Trump ally, said Sunday on Face the Nation. Trump is expected to make his choice public ahead of the Republican National Convention, which kicks off next Monday. One source close to the campaign said the former president could make the announcement at a Florida campaign rally on Tuesday, a Pennsylvania rally scheduled for Saturday, or, perhaps most likely, in a post on Truth Social. It could happen anytime this week. Could happen literally right up until the first day of the convention, senior Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller said Monday on Fox News. However, news of Trumps running mate announcement could potentially interrupt arguably one of the most negative news cycles of President Bidens administration. Outside of Election Day 2016, this has been the best two-week stretch of Donald Trumps political career, said Ford OConnell, a Republican strategist. Hes leading in national polls, hes leading in state polls, hes leading in cash on hand, and Democrats are talking about ejecting his opponent from the ticket. No way is he going to enter the fray. Both Vance and Rubio said Sunday they had not heard one way or the other about whether they were the pick to join Trump on the ticket. All three men Vance, Rubio and Burgum have their backers and detractors lobbying for or against them. The Wall Street Journal pegged Burgum as the best man for the job, citing his ability to govern and his business background, while critics have questioned whether the red-state governor would do much to expand Trumps appeal. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and some other lawmakers have advocated for Vance, praising him as the face of the America First movement in Congress and a capable messenger for the ticket. But skeptics have questioned if Vance, who is a first-term senator, has the experience needed to serve as vice president alongside Trump, who is 78 and limited to one more term. Rubios allies have argued the senator could help expand Trumps appeal to minority voters, which could chip away at President Bidens coalition and potentially flip swing states in Trumps favor. Rubio and Trump were bitter rivals in the 2016 presidential race, though, and the senator would need to move outside of Florida in order to join the ticket. Theres been no indication when it will be or who it will be. President Trump and his team have done an epic job building suspense, said one Republican strategist familiar with the process. The Trump campaign has for weeks been tight-lipped about any developments in the search for a running mate, saying only the former president knows whom he will ultimately pick. As President Trump has said himself, the top criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who could make a great President, senior campaign adviser Brian Hughes said in a statement. But anyone telling you they know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying unless that person is named Donald J. Trump. The Trump campaign last month sent vetting materials to several candidates. In addition to the finalists, the campaign was in touch with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson. While Trump zeroes in on his choice, some Republicans have pushed for the former president to consider a running mate with broad appeal to more moderate voters who could bolster his standing in swing states. Some Republicans have suggested that Trump should consider choosing Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) as his running mate, citing Youngkins appeal outside of Trump circles. The chatter around the governor comes as Republicans feel increasingly optimistic about Virginia, a state that hasnt gone for the party since 2004. Somebodys not being talked about, that should be in my view, is Youngkin from Virginia. If we win Virginia, we win. It is over, Graham said in the same interview on Face the Nation. Trump said last month at his postdebate rally in Virginia that he is considering Youngkin as an option. Youngkin, in turn, has responded to the speculation, saying he is humbled but focused on his current job. When asked about the running mate speculation surrounding Youngkin, Trump donor Dan Eberhart said maybe, but he isnt MAGA. I wish Trump would help himself, Eberhart added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. How Trump's top VP hopefuls have criticized him in the past With former President Donald Trump getting closer to announcing his vice presidential pick, many of the top contenders for the job have a long history of attacking him personally and politically. As Trump gears up to take on President Joe Biden in what's expected to be a very close race in November, some of his former detractors have transformed themselves -- from some of his strongest critics into fervent allies. Over the past few years, many have done a complete 180 and have embraced the former president after lambasting him in the past. MORE: Trump stays relatively quiet, unseen as Biden struggles to save political future Trump is expected to soon share who he has selected as his running mate. His senior adviser Jason Miller said Monday that Trump could announce his choice "any time this week" as the Republican National Convention approaches on July 15. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance -- who rose to prominence through his book "Hillbilly Elegy" -- has been the most critical of Trump in the past. Now Vance is among those being considered as Trump's running mate. When Vance first came into the spotlight through his book, he expressed his dislike of the former president's rhetoric and style during his first presidential run. In August 2016, he told ABC News that he didn't see Trump "offering many solutions." PHOTO: Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. JD Vance. (Getty/Getty/Reuters) In a separate interview with Charlie Rose that same year, Vance said he was a "never Trump guy" and never liked him. In 2021, CNN reported on now-deleted tweets and comments from Vance in 2016 attacking the former president and calling him "reprehensible." In a 2016 interview with NPR, Vance even suggested that he might vote for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton if he believed that Trump had a chance of winning the election. "My current plan is to vote either third party or, as I joked to my wife, I might write in my dog because that's about as good as it seems," Vance told NPR in August 2016. "But, you know, I think there's a chance, if I feel like Trump has a really good chance of winning, that I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton. But at the end of the day, I just feel like she is so culturally disconnected from the people that I grew up around that it would be very, very hard for me to cast my ballot for her." However, in 2021, following the launch of his Senate campaign, Vance apologized for his past criticisms of Trump. "I've been very open about the fact that I did say those critical things, and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy," Vance said on Fox News in 2021. Fox News anchor Bret Baier confronted Vance last month about his anti-Trump comments. "Look, I was wrong about Donald Trump. I didn't think he was going to be a good president, Bret," Vance said. "He was a great president, and it's one of the reasons why I'm working so hard to make sure he gets a second term." "... When you are wrong about something -- you should change your mind and be honest with people about that fact," Vance continued. MORE: What Trump's VP pick could mean for 2028 Things between the two have mended, though, with Vance scoring Trump's endorsement in the Ohio Senate GOP primary and now possibly being a top contender to serve as Trump's running mate. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, another person among Trump's possible running mates, has been a vocal critic of Trump in the past. Rubio attacked the former president fiercely during the latter part of 2016, the GOP primary, when the two were competitors against each other. Things turned vulgar at one point. PHOTO: Sen. Marco Rubio speaks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, GA, June 27, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Trump called Rubio "little Marco," and Rubio called Trump a "con artist" and said that he has "small hands." "He's always calling me little Marco he's taller than me, he's like 6'2", which is why I don't understand why his hands are the size of someone who is 5'2" and you know what they say about men with small hands," Rubio said during a campaign event in 2016. MORE: Would Marco Rubio need to move out Florida if Trump picks him for vice president? However, Rubio would later drop out of the GOP primary after Trump beat him in his home state of Florida. In his concession speech, Rubio made a veiled swipe at Trump. "After tonight, it is clear that while we are on the right side, this year, we will not be on the winning side." But the relationship between the two would eventually get better as Trump relied on the Florida senator during his presidency, turning to him on policies relating to Latin America. Asked about his 2016 remarks about Trump during an appearance on ABC News' "This Week" in March, Rubio explained: "It was a campaign." North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, another one of Trump's potential vice presidential picks, has also criticized the former president, but not nearly to the same degree as Rubio or Vance. One of his harshest critiques about the former president came during an interview with NBC News in July 2023, where Burgum, a retired businessman, was asked if he would do business with the former president. He said he would not. "I don't think so," Burgum responded. Asked why, he said, "I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep." But following the suspension of his presidential campaign, Burgum endorsed Trump in the 2024 GOP primary and has become one of his biggest campaign surrogates. How Trump's top VP hopefuls have criticized him in the past originally appeared on abcnews.go.com TSA screened more than half a million people at LAX during Fourth of July week A large number of travelers make their way through Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, with a record amount of passengers passing through the airport on July 7, 2024, wrapping up a busy July 4th holiday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) If you thought Los Angeles International Airport was even more crowded than usual last week, you weren't imagining things. Nearly 670,000 people flew out of LAX from July 2 to July 7, with Sunday being the busiest day of the extended holiday weekend, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Sunday was a red-letter day for airports across the country, the TSA reported, with a record 3 million people filling the security lines a smidgen higher than the previous record of 2.99 million, which was set on June 23. No records were set at LAX, however. Sunday's tally of 122,254 screenings fell below the single-day high of 139,000 people, set in June 2018. Orange County's John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport also experienced their busiest day of the week Sunday with 19,357 and 6,449 travelers, respectively, passing through security, according to data provided by TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers. Read more: Swanky airport lounges are arriving at LAX, like this Chase one. But who can get in? The lightest day of the week for LAX, John Wayne and Long Beach was July 4, as expected. LAX recorded 102,562 departing travelers, while John Wayne and Long Beach recorded 13,020 and 4,348, respectively. By contrast, the national holiday was Hollywood Burbanks busiest day of the week. There, 11,549 travelers passed through security, or 44% more than were screened on Sunday. Other airports on the West Coast including San Diego International Airport and SeattleTacoma International Airport also dealt with a flood of travelers last week. A record 47,964 people passed through security at San Diego International Airport on Sunday, up 4% from the previous record set on June 9. SeattleTacoma International Airport recorded its second busiest day ever with nearly 73,000 people passing through security on Sunday. The American Automobile Assn. projected that 70.9 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home from June 29 to July 7, a 5% increase from the previous year. About 5.74 million of those travelers were expected to fly to their destinations, up 7% from 2023. Domestic airfare over the Fourth of July week was 2% less expensive than last year, according to AAA booking data. The majority of Americans, however, opt to drive to their Fourth of July destinations. The AAA predicted that more than 85% of holiday travelers would go by vehicle this year. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is unveiling new security technology for Harrisburg International Airport on Thursday. TSA will be demonstrating a new technology in the security checkpoints that authenticates travelers photo identification and flight details in real-time. The showcase will take place at the Harrisburg International Airport at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania These new units match the face of the person at the checkpoint with the face on their ID. With the new technology, travelers will not be required to present a boarding pass to the TSA officer during the travel document-checking process. TSA says that the new units have been installed and are now in use, just in time for the summer travel season. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. President Joe Biden stands at the lectern at the CS Wind tower manufacturing plant in Pueblo. Biden used the plant as a backdrop Nov. 29, 2023, to tout his legislative victories that he says are mobilizing investments in clean energy manufacturing. (Mike Sweeney for Colorado Newsline) Two delegates who will represent Colorado Democrats at next months Democratic National Convention in Chicago have publicly expressed doubt about President Joe Bidens candidacy in the 2024 presidential race, but theres little sign of a wider revolt among other party leaders and Bidens pledged delegates. Joe Salazar, a former state representative currently serving a four-year term as a Democratic National Committee member from Colorado, first said last week that Biden should step aside, but told Newsline on Monday that there has been little concern expressed even privately among the 87 Colorado delegates set to formalize Bidens nomination at the DNC, scheduled to begin Aug. 19. There have only been a few a handful of us who have actually spoken out, who have actually wanted to have these conversations, Salazar said. Everybody else is staying quiet. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jeri Shepherd, another Colorado DNC member, also expressed openness to a new nominee in an interview Friday. I saw the debate and it was not very good, to say the least, Shepherd said. We need some straight-up information about how our president is doing in terms of his physical and mental health. Salazar and Shepherd are among the 15 automatic delegates representing Colorado at the Democratic convention, alongside other DNC members and elected officials. Party rules allow automatic delegates to support any candidate they wish at the convention. Another 72 delegates, were selected at party assemblies earlier this year, are pledged delegates bound to support Biden, who won all delegates up for grabs in Colorados March 5 Democratic presidential primary with 82.5% of the vote. By and large, there hasnt been a discussion amongst the (87 delegates), said Salazar. Requests for comment sent by Newsline to multiple pledged delegates this week werent returned. Bidens performance at a June 27 presidential debate, during which the presidents answers were raspy and at times confused, reignited widespread concerns among Democrats about his age and his fitness for a bruising reelection battle against former President Donald Trump. A half dozen Democratic members of Congress have publicly called for Biden to withdraw, while others, including Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, have voiced support for what Bennet on Monday called an open discussion about the best path forward. CNN reported Tuesday that Bennet was one of three lawmakers during a meeting of Senate Democrats to say that they do not think Biden can win the election. A spokesperson for Bennet didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Everybody from people down in southwestern Colorado, to people in the Denver metro area, up in Greeley people who have been calling me up and saying, Joe, Im really concerned about this. Former state Rep. Joe Salazar, a DNC member from Colorado But a growing chorus of party leaders has reaffirmed their support for Biden upon Congress return from its July 4 recess. After U.S. House Democrats gathered for a closed-door campaign meeting in Washington on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver issued a lengthy statement backing Biden, saying the president had recovered from his poor debate showing with a series of interviews and campaign rallies in which he demonstrated a grasp of the issues and received strong support. After everything he has accomplished as President, he deserves the chance to show the American people he is still up to doing the job for a second term, said DeGette. In the coming days and weeks, President Biden needs to campaign aggressively as I believe he will to demonstrate he can continue to lead the nation as effectively as he has during his first term. DeGettes statement blasted any continued debate over Bidens place atop the ticket as a waste of time and potentially dangerous. The urgent need right now is for Democrats to stick together and focus on the danger of Trump and his extremist agenda, DeGette said. If we do that, we will win. National polling averages show that Biden has slipped from a statistical tie with Trump prior to the debate and now trails the presumptive Republican nominee by 2.3% percentage points. Polls in key swing states, where in many cases Biden already trailed Trump, also show the president losing ground post-debate. Salazar dismissed claims made by Biden in a defiant MSNBC appearance Monday that elites are behind the calls for him to step aside. In the 12 days since the presidential debate, Salazar said, hes heard from so many Democrats from across Colorado, and only one urged him to stick behind Biden. Except for one, everybody has expressed their concerns about him moving forward, he said. Everybody from people down in southwestern Colorado, to people in the Denver metro area, up in Greeley people who have been calling me up and saying, Joe, Im really concerned about this. I was elected by statewide Democrats to represent them and to have a voice for them and to provide them information, and thats exactly what Im doing, Salazar added. Im speaking what people are thinking. Thats thats all Im doing. Newslines Quentin Young contributed to this report. Editors note: This story was updated at 4:49 p.m., July 9, 2024, to include details of Sen. Michael Bennets reported comments in a meeting of Senate Democrats on Tuesday. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST KANSAS CITY, Mo. Two children were hurt after being stabbed and cut as a result of domestic violence in Kansas City early Tuesday morning. According to Kansas City Police, officers were sent to a home on Indiana Avenue between 38th and 39th streets for a domestic violence assault around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Man found dead in street after homicide in Kansas City, Kansas When officers arrived, they heard a disturbance coming from inside the home and found the two children injured when they entered the residence. KCPD said a 9-year-old boy is suffering from a laceration wound and a 14-year-old girl is suffering from a stab wound. Both children were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The girl is in critical condition and the boy is in stable condition, per KCPD. Deputy shoots, kills dog at Belton home on Fourth of July An adult man was taken into custody at the scene. Police said he will be on a 24-hour investigative hold for further questioning. KCPD officer Alayna Gonzalez said the children know the suspect who was taken into custody and believes he was in a relationship with the childrens mom. Their mom called 911 when the suspect threatened her children. It is an underreported incident, but because of how quickly this mother reported what was going on with the domestic violence situation, unfortunately, it didnt stop the juveniles from being injured, but we were able to get somebody in custody immediately, get a violent person out of these childrens home, out of their life, Gonzalez said. Then we were able to get this case file work so that we can submit it to the prosecutors office for charges. This mother was very brave, and she did the right thing. Detectives are expected to submit the case to the prosecutors office on Tuesday. Gonzalez said this case is different from some of the other recent violent crime cases that have injured or killed children in the Kansas City metro. I know that theres been a lot of conversation around the number of juvenile children that were seeing that are victims of violent crime, whether that be a shooting, a homicide, or some other kind of violent incident. This is different in the sense that this was not a drive-by shooting. This was not a stray bullet. This was not an accidental, Gonzalez explained. This was domestic violence. This is a family. These are people that were all familiar with one another, and they knew one another. This was an intentional injury. We do have a family suffering, and we do have juvenile suffering, but it wasnt at the hands of gun violence. It was a domestic violence situation, and were now coming back and trying to provide resources to make sure that the family has what they need because we werent able to get all of those checks and balances in place beforehand to prevent this from happening. Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact KCPD so officers can help connect them to the correct resources to help them move into a safe environment. Click here to find KCPDs resources for those impacted by domestic violence Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Were here to help, and we will walk them through that process with our social workers, Gonzalez said. We just need them to make the call or come to the police station if they can. Even if you need to have a family member or friend come in, do that. Whatever we can do to get the police involved as quickly and safely as possible. We can assist you with getting an order of protection to remove whoever the violent offender is from the home as quickly as possible. Then we can get those social workers that we have within the department in contact with you so that we can start providing whatever resources we have as a police agency or partnerships we have with key entities to get you in a situation where youre safe, Gonzalez said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Two killed and over 50 injured in attack on children's hospital - Kyiv City Administration As of the evening of 8 July, two people are known to have been killed and over 50 injured in Russias attack on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv. Source: Kyiv City Military Administration Details: The Administration reported that the dead are a doctor and a family member of a patient at the hospital. Seven children were injured, four of whom have been taken to another hospital. Information is still being established, as the search and rescue operation is ongoing. Quote: "There were more than 600 patients and at least that number of hospital staff in the Okhmatdyt hospital at the time of the missile attack. The evacuation of patients continues. The toxicology building, containing the chronic and acute intoxication unit (where children undergo dialysis) of the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, has been completely destroyed. Almost all the windows in the old surgery building were shattered, with two surgical and two somatic departments, an intensive care unit and an operating unit sustaining significant damage. In the new, recently built building, 13 units have been damaged, including eight surgical units, five oncology units, two intensive care units, an operating unit, and the radiology and radiotherapy departments. Part of the country's only oncohaematology lab was also damaged." Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July. One of the buildings was destroyed and rescue operations are ongoing. The Kyiv authorities reported that two adults had been killed and 16 injured, including 7 children, as of 14:30. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has defined Russia's attack on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv as a war crime and initiated criminal proceedings into the matter. Early reports from SSU investigators indicate the Russians used a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile to attack the medical facility. Ukraine's Ministry of Health has launched a fundraising campaign for the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital, which was hit by a Russian missile on Monday 8 July, leaving two dead. You can donate to the Okhmatdyt fundraiser by following this link. Support UP or become our patron! NORTH COURTLAND, Ala. (WHNT) Court documents show two men shot at each other in an apartment complex in North Courtland last week. According to criminal complaints filed on July 3, Texas Shelby first shot at Brandon Webb, who had pulled up in a vehicle at Shelbys apartment complex, and hit Webbs drivers side window. Documents state Shelby later admitted to shooting first and reported he saw a gun in Webbs hand. POLICE: Madison 18-year-old arrested, charged with murder after shooting on Miller Boulevard The complaints say Webb fired at Shelby at the apartment due to an ongoing dispute between the two. Webb also admitted to shooting his weapon only after he was shot at first, court documents show. North Courtland Police reported in the complaints that another man who lives at the apartment complex was on his way to the dumpster when the shootings took place, and he was shot at by Webb. Court documents do not indicate if any person involved in this incident was hit by a gunshot or injured. 1 injured, 18-year-old killed in crash on Bankhead Parkway in Huntsville Shelby is charged with one count of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Jail records show he is being held in the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond. Webb is charged with two counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling, and is being held in the Lawrence County Jail with his bond set at $225,000. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Two years apart at the same location, two of Columbus cold cases remain a mystery The 1970s were a time of bell bottom jeans, lava lamps, VW vans, and rock music that has lived on the cultural forefront until this day. However, in Columbus, it wasnt always the most peaceful of times where people wanted to buy the world a Coke. In some areas of Columbus shots would ring out and blood would run into the streets and a life would be lost, but justice would never be found. Columbus currently has 136 unsolved homicides that are more than three years old, including nine cases from the 70s, according to list on columbusga.gov. Columbus police provided this statement to the Ledger-Enquirer regarding unsolved homicides in the area: The Columbus Police Department is dedicated to bringing unsolved homicides to the forefront and pursuing justice for the victims and their families. Anyone with information on either is urged to contact our Violent Crimes Unit at 706-225-3161. Callers can remain anonymous. Another recent development in cold cases is the passage of the Coleman-Baker Act which went into effect a little over a year ago. The law allows certain immediate family members of victims to apply to have the case reinvestigated that occurred on or after January 1, 1970. With no fresh information, the Ledger-Enquirer relied on previous reporting from its predecessors, the Columbus Ledger and the Columbus Daily Enquirer. The homicides were identified, in part, because of the proximity of the crimes: two homicides years apart but in the same location. Just before midnight on Aug. 22, 1975, a trans individual named Robert Walker, 32, who went by the alias Miss Dee would be gunned down at 100 Sixth St. in Columbus, according to Columbus Ledger reporting at the time. A witness told police he was near the area when he heard multiple shots and saw a man running from the area immediately after the shots were fired, according to Ledger reporting. Police reported at the time that acquaintances of the victim said Walker was a heroin addict and investigating officers said illegal drugs were a possible motive for Walkers death. The Ledger reported Walker was a resident of a residence in the 600 block of Fourth Avenue and the Columbus Daily Enquirer reported pairs of prostitutes, including trans individuals, flagging down motorists on Fourth Avenue in 1975. Two years earlier Walker would be found lying only a few yards away from a phone booth where a prior homicide took place. Billy Hicks was shot dead in May 1973, according to Enquirer reporting at the time. Hicks was the owner of an Alabama fence company and was shot to death while using a pay telephone at the corner at Sixth Street and Third Avenue on May 3, 1973, according to Enquirer reporting. Enquirer reporting stated Hicks had been on the phone with his secretary at the time when he was shot at close range with a .22 round. The secretary heard the shot and then the receiver of the pay booth telephone banging against the wall, according to Enquirer reporting. Enquirer reporting said Hicks had $2,000 left intact by his killer and his body would be dragged from the phone booth and rolled under his small pickup to conceal it. Both of these cases remain on the Columbus Police Departments unsolved homicide list. Tyler Perry on 2024 Election: What Is Important to Me Is That America Remains a Democracy Tyler Perry weighed in on where his loyalties are in the 2024 presidential election on Monday evening. Let me tell you whats important to me, and I want you to hear me clearly when I say this, Perry told The Hollywood Reporter, when asked whether he was supporting Bidens re-election bid, at the New York premiere of Divorce in the Black on Monday evening. What is important to me is that America remains a democracy that is free from anyone that is trying to change that or is trying to have the power of a dictator or a king. So Im supporting anyone who stands against that. More from The Hollywood Reporter Perry supported Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris in the 2020 election. Now, his less specific comments come as some in Hollywood have pushed back against the presidents bid for a second term. Influential entertainment industry figures such as Reed Hastings, Abigail Disney, Rob Reiner and more have called on Biden to drop out of the race (though Reiner seemed to walk back those comments in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday). Many of those calling for Biden to drop out have cited the presidents shaky performance at last months debate as cause for concern, arguing Biden is too old to seek re-election. Nevertheless, Perrys remarks echo the Democratic talking points that Trump said hed be a dictator on day one and that democracy is at stake in this election. His remarks also come after last weeks Supreme Court opinion that gave former presidents immunity from prosecution for official acts, a decision that Biden and other Democrats have blasted as empowering the commander-in-chief to break the law. Also at the premiere, held at the Regal Times Square movie theater, Perry spoke about his takeaways from making a film that goes behind the statistics about divorce. I dont know if I learned as much as I wanted to teach, the writer-director-producer said. Letting things go and not trying to hold onto loving someone into a place that they are not able to go to is so important. Divorce in the Black, starring Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict, follows Goods Ava, a young bank professional whose husband (Hardrict) abandons a marriage she is determined to fight for, revealing his bad behavior that destroyed their relationship and her ability to love. It starts streaming on Amazons Prime Video on Thursday. Good, accompanied by boyfriend Jonathan Majors, and Hardrict were also in attendance at the premiere along with co-stars Taylor Polidore, Richard Lawson, Debbi Morgan, Shannon Wallace and Joseph Lee Anderson. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said on Tuesday that the Iranian government has both provoked and provided funding for protests in the U.S. over the war in Gaza, suggesting that connections between U.S.-based demonstrators and the Iranian regime and its affiliates go deeper than previously believed. In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza, using a playbook weve seen other actors use over the years, Haines said in a public statement. We have observed actors tied to Irans government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters. The statement doesnt specifically say which protests have been influenced by Iranian actors, how much funding has been provided and for what purpose, when the influence operations began or what the viewpoints of the protesters in question have been. Other foreign adversaries, like Russia, have played both sides of U.S.-based protests in the interest of inciting domestic division and conflict. Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government, Haines continued. We urge all Americans to remain vigilant as they engage online with accounts and actors they do not personally know. In the statement, Haines broadly offered support for the right to protest and rejected the notion that all of the views being expressed in such protests are inauthentic. I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza this intelligence does not indicate otherwise, she said. Moreover, the freedom to express diverse views, when done peacefully, is essential to our democracy, but it is also important to warn of foreign actors who seek to exploit our debate for their own purposes. Haines said that the statement is the first in what will be a series of public updates on foreign influence operations, particularly relating to the 2024 election. In 2020, the Iranian government allegedly posed as members of the far-right Proud Boys, sending threatening emails to swing-state Democrats. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), whose home and office were targeted by anti-Israel demonstrations in the past week, told Jewish Insider that there have long been questions about how and why protest targets have been chosen and where funding for materials like sirens and professional banners used outside his house has come from. Reports that Iran is influencing some of these protests should give us all concern, Schneider continued. He said that publicizing the influence operation was a positive step, and said that the administration also needs to be following the money, and making sure that we are thwarting the efforts by Iran and others to try to influence this and holding to account those who are literally collaborating with our enemies. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that it would not surprise me in the least if the protests were influenced by Iran and said he would investigate the matter further. McCaul added that attention must also be paid to TikTok and other social media platforms role in spreading anti-Israel narratives. Im glad [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahus coming to tell Israels side of the story though, he added, referring to the speech the Israeli leader is set to give before a joint session of Congress on July 24. The younger generations just getting brainwashed. View comments NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) During a demonstration in downtown Nashville by a group called Patriot Front, some of the marchers were seen using U-Haul vehicles for transportation. When asked about Saturdays incident, Jeff Lockridge, a spokesperson for U-Haul International, told News 2 the company is inclusive company that serves customers from all walks of life across the U.S. and Canada. PREVIOUS | State and local leaders react to Patriot Front march in downtown Nashville We dont ask customers about their personal views, political affiliations, religious beliefs, voting history, income level, educational background, race, gender, sexual preferences, or any other private information that is none of our business, Lockridge said. Our business is meeting the basic need of helping people achieve affordable, accessible residential mobility. In a photo captured by user headspacehouse on X, several Patriot Front members are shown packed inside a U-Haul trailer. Courtesy: @headspacehouse on X The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) told News 2 they were aware of the presence of the group in the area on Saturday and no criminal activity took place. According to the Terms and Conditions for Equipment Rental section of the U-Haul rental contract, a customer shall require passengers to ride only in the cab of the truck, pickup truck, and van or vehicle towing any trailer. Number of hate, anti-government groups increased in Tennessee in 2023, report finds We do not rent to groups, organizations, etc., so we do not have affiliations or history with groups, organizations, etc., Lockridge responded. We rent to individual customers. Those are the names on our rental contracts. If a customer is shown to be in breach of the rental agreement, we reserve the right to deny rental privileges to that individual going forward. Lockridge said from the pictures and videos his team had seen so far, they havent been able to identify any license plate numbers or equipment IDs from their vehicles. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com If you have further images or intel to help us identify the equipment, we would appreciate you sharing that with us, Lockridge said. When a customer violates the U-Haul rental agreement through the misuse of equipment by committing an illegal act, we monitor and investigate the situation and offer support to law enforcement as requested so it is addressed in a prompt and serious manner. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Geneva United Nations rights experts on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a "targeted starvation campaign" that has resulted in the deaths of children in Gaza. "We declare that Israel's intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza," 10 independent United Nations experts said in a statement. The U.N. has not officially declared a famine in the Gaza Strip, but the experts, including U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri, insisted there was no denying there were famine conditions in the Palestinian territory. "Thirty-four Palestinians have died from malnutrition since 7 October, the majority being children," said the experts, who were appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, but who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations. Palestinian children collect wood, paper and cardboard to use as fuel from among the rubble of destroyed buildings as a hunger and fuel crisis intensifies in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, July 8, 2024. / Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu/Getty Their statement was immediately slammed by Israel's mission to the U.N. in Geneva, which charged that "Mr. Fakhri, and many so-called 'experts' who joined his statement, are as much accustomed to spreading misinformation, as they are to supporting Hamas propaganda and shielding the terrorist organization from scrutiny." Israel's leaders and military commanders have consistently blamed all the human suffering in Gaza on the enclave's long-time Hamas rulers, who sparked the ongoing war with their unprecedented Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. That attack saw the militants kill about 1,200 people and take some 240 others hostage. Hamas denies dropping key demand in possible cease-fire deal Roughly 80 of those hostages are still believed to be alive, held captive in Gaza, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the goals of his country's war with Hamas are to destroy the group and rescue the hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health says the war has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians in the densely populated coastal territory. The U.N. experts listed three children who had recently died "from malnutrition" after a number of others were said to have starved to death in northern Gaza earlier this year. "Fayez Ataya, who was barely six months old, died on 30 May 2024, and 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi died on June 1, 2024 at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah," they said. Nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida died just two days later "in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis," they said. "With the death of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, there is no doubt that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza," they said. The experts decried that the world had not done more to avert the disaster. "When a two-month-old baby and 10-year-old Yazan Al Kafarneh died of hunger on 24 February and 4 March respectively, this confirmed that famine had struck northern Gaza," they said. "The whole world should have intervened earlier to stop Israel's genocidal starvation campaign and prevented these deaths Inaction is complicity." Gaza has faced a deep humanitarian crisis since the war erupted and the U.N. has been warning for months of a looming famine, especially in the north, but one has not been officially declared. A famine declaration does not carry any legal implications, but it can help to galvanize international support for an affected population. The Israeli mission highlighted Tuesday that the latest assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership determined that famine had not materialized after aid access improved somewhat in Gaza. "Israel has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip," it said, claiming Hamas "intentionally steal and hide aid from civilians." The U.S. government has pressed Israel for months to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, and the Biden administration tasked the military with building a floating pier on the territory's Mediterranean coast in a bid to get more food and other vital supplies in. The $230 million pier project has been dogged by logistical challenges and never managed to facilitate a significant amount of aid entering Gaza. It was always described by U.S. officials as an additive measure, with the acknowledgement that Gaza's land borders, controlled by Israel, are the only way to get sufficient aid into the enclave. Aid agencies have accused Israel of limiting the flow of aid into Gaza and creating bureaucratic hurdles to movement around the war-torn territory. Israel dismisses those allegations and says Hamas is the impediment to humanitarian work in Gaza. Havana Syndrome evidence suggests who may be responsible for mysterious brain injuries 3D printing a 100-home community in Texas, and someday on the moon | 60 Minutes Sneak peek: Murder by Clown U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett doubles down on push for Biden to step aside U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett speaks at the Turn Up the Vote event in Austin, Texas Oct. 23, 2022. Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune WASHINGTON Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, dug in his heels during a meeting of House Democrats on Tuesday morning, urging the party to rally around an alternative candidate to President Joe Biden. Doggett, who was the first House Democrat to publicly call for Biden to step aside, told reporters as he walked out of the closed-door meeting that he made his case once again to his colleagues that Biden is too weak to defeat Donald Trump. The debate cannot be unseen, Doggett said of the June 27 debate, where Biden was raspy and at times incoherent. The president has been running behind. We needed a surge, we got a setback. Biden is scheduled to visit Doggetts district on Monday, speaking at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin. Doggett said Tuesday that he would support Biden in November if he stayed in the race. But Doggett said he had received a tremendous outpouring of support in his district after he initially called for Biden to step aside, and pledged to continue voicing his concerns. I share admiration for his work in office, but the dangers of a Trump presidency are so significant that we have to put forward our strongest candidate, Doggett said, though he did not name a preferred alternative candidate. Caucus leaders sought to prevent leaks of the discussion and did not allow representatives to have cellphones inside the room. Most representatives declined to comment as they exited the meeting. The caucus meeting and Doggetts latest comments come just one day after Biden sent a two-page letter to Democratic lawmakers insisting that he is staying in the race and that its time to move on. The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And its time for it to end. We have one job, Biden said. Four Texas Democrats have yet to say publicly whether they still support Biden as the party nominee: Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth, and Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, who is running for Senate in November. Veasey did break ranks with the Congressional Black Caucus, which has largely rallied around Biden, when he urged battleground Democrats to break with Joe Biden if it would help them win reelection. What I said this morning and expressed to my colleagues, particularly from members on the front line, is that I think they need to do whatever it is they need to do in order to come back and be reelected and so if they need to, you know, distance themselves, then thats what they need to do, Veasey told CNN on Tuesday. Veasey, who holds a safe Democratic district, said he did make a case at the caucus meeting but did not say which position he took. He had warned fellow Democrats last week to be cautious and chill a little bit. Everyone had an opportunity to have their voices heard, Veasey told reporters after the meeting on Tuesday. I think that youre going to continue to hear from a variety of people on how they feel about this. Castro stayed mum on Tuesday morning, though a campaign spokesperson said last week that Bidens speech in North Carolina the day after the debate was a much stronger reflection of the leader Americans have seen over the last three and a half years. Most other Democrats, meanwhile, have held the line for Biden. Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso, who is a Biden campaign co-chair, conceded last week that the debate wasnt what she had hoped for but emphasized the partys focus on defeating Trump. Houston-area Reps. Sheila Jackson, Sylvia Garcia, Al Green and Lizzie Fletcher have all made public comments supporting the president, as did Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas, who said on MSNBC that so long as the president says that he can do this job, then that is our ticket. Rep. Greg Casar of Austin said on KVUE that he would support the president, or if the president decides for someone else to be the nominee, I'll support them until victory in November. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, also expressing support for Biden, said on Tuesday that he believed the president could still win in November. Asked if he thought Biden would stay in the race, Gonzalez said, Time will tell. The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form. Big news: director and screenwriter Richard Linklater; NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher; U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California; and Luci Baines Johnson will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today! Chinas largest electric vehicle (EV)manufacturer BYD has signed a $1bn deal to build a manufacturing plant in Turkey, as the company continues to expand globally amid pressure from EU and US regulators. The new plant will produce up to 150,000 vehicles a year and will start production by the end of 2026, the BBC reported. The news comes as EV manufacturers in China face increased pressure from US and EU regulators. On Friday (5 July), the EU enforced new tariffs on individual manufacturers which range from 17.4% to 37.6%. This was placed on top of an already 10% import duty for all EVs imported from the country. The new tariffs were another setback for the country which has been locked in a trade war with the US which escalated in 2022. Turkey is part of the EU's Customs Union which means vehicles made by BYD in the country and exported elsewhere will not be subject to the tariff. The US also increased tariffs on China's EV in May, which included a 100% border tax. This was to protect US jobs and combat unfair prices, according to US President Joe Biden. BYD, the world's second larger maker of EVs after Tesla, has been trying to expand out of China. In December, the company announced it was building a passenger car plant in Hungary which it said would create thousands of new jobs. The facility is due to start operation in three years and marked the first Chinese car manufacturing plant in the EU. China continues to dominate in EV market share China has remained the dominant country in EV production. The country sells and produces the most EVs globally and has access to the majority of raw materials needed for the batteries. The country's ascent in the industry has been fueled by government incentives that pushed buyers towards electrified options, as well as the fact that China's urban areas are relatively smaller than those in the West. In 2016, China accounted for 49.7% of all EVs built by volume, far ahead of the next largest production locations with Europe producing 19.6% of the volume, followed by North America with 21.8%, according to research and analysis company GlobalData's EV Thematic Intelligence 2023 report. In 2020, China's share of the market fell to 46.2% following the rapid growth in North American capacity, pushed on by the success of Tesla. However, in 2021, China's share rocketed up to 60.5% of all EVs produced. This was partly fuelled by Chinese companies increasing installed production capacity by more than five times to over five million units. The increase was also down to better insulation of China's battery supply and semiconductors, while western companies struggled with disruption from the pandemic, according to GlobalData. Story continues EV production in China is expected to continue to grow greatly, with millions of extra units expected every year. However, its dominance could slowly diminish as other regions establish stronger capacity. Europe is now the second largest EV producer and will retain that position through to 2036, when it will hold 33.5% of the market share, GlobalData forecasts. "Chinas BYD signs $1bn deal to build Turkey EV plant amid EU and US pressure" 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. The head of Ukraines strategic industries declared 2024 the year of land systems as his country rushes more drones to the battlefield. You will see more of them on the frontline, said Oleksandr Kamyshin, speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. Thats one of the game changers we expect in the nearest 12 months. Uncrewed weapons have been key to Ukraines self defense to this point in the war. Naval drones have afflicted Russias fleet in the Black Sea which has needed to move farther east after having around 20 ships sunk or damaged. And aerial drones have become crucial for targeting and attacks on the front lines, where some 10,000 are lost every month. Air Force, Space Force on track for Bring-Your-Own-Device enrollment Dressed in his usual black polo and fatigue-style pants, Kamyshin spoke at an event to promote Ukraines state-owned defense industry: Ukroboronprom. His comments followed a presentation on what Kyiv could produce on its own and where it needs help from foreign governments, defense companies and venture capitalists. The increase in ground robotics Kamyshin predicted will come from manufacturers inside Ukraine, a sprawling network of volunteer, commercial and state-backed efforts. It also includes American companies partnering with Ukrainian firms to help improve their own kit. Adam Bry, head of the drone maker Skydio, told Defense News in an interview last month that Ukrainian drone builders are the most advanced in the world. The land-based drones will perform a variety of missions, Kamyshin said, including demining, medical evacuation and combat itself. This photo, circulated on Russian Telegram channels in May, purports to show a Ukraine unmanned ground vehicle captured by Russian forces. (Telegram) Their main use, though, will be lightening some of the burden on Ukrainian soldiers fighting near the 600-mile front line. Ukraine lowered its eligible draft age from 27 to 25 earlier this year to help with some of its personnel shortages while fighting a much larger neighbor. The main point [is that] we try to get our people back from the front line, Kamyshin said. In addition, he said Ukraines aerial drones were already using artificial intelligence to target Russian positions and that the use of such software would expand in the coming year. The Pentagon itself is pushing to use more autonomous as it faces a size disadvantage of its own: against China in the Indo-Pacific. In the last several years, the U.S. government has reviewed its policies on artificial intelligence and warfare, one part of the Replicator initiative an effort to rush more drones to military leaders in the Pacific. We do our best to keep in mind all those ethical things, but at this point we have to work out a solution that will get more Russians out of my country, Kamyshin said. Thats the ethical dilemma we have now. Drones are one of Ukraines many equipment needs. The country is still trying to source more artillery shells after a yearslong ramp up in the west. To do so, Kamyshin said, it will need two things: explosive components like TNT and money. The U.S. State Department, along with other countries, announced $2 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Ukraines defense industry earlier this year. The money will help mature Ukraines domestic production in the long-term, but Kamyshin said it wasnt enough. We are looking for another $10 [billion] to $15 billion, he said. NATO members are likely to declare that Ukraines path to membership in the alliance is irreversible, a Ukrainian official and a person familiar with the situation said, confirming that Kyiv will see the term it desperately wanted in writing at this weeks Washington summit. The term is already in a draft version of the joint declaration in an already agreed-to section written by the United States and is set to appear in the final version to be signed by all 32 members. The message offers Ukraine the alliances word that, as long as Kyiv undergoes democratic reforms, it will inevitably become a full-fledged member of the bloc. The final text is expected to be locked on Tuesday night and formally released Wednesday, the person said, adding that the word irreversible is likely to be in the final version. The United States and the vast majority of allies are supportive of the terms inclusion, continued the person, granted anonymity to preview a high-profile announcement. However, it falls short of Ukraine's goal of receiving an invitation to join the alliance. The expected decision is still a stunning development for Ukraine, which has fought Russias all-out invasion for two years with NATOs support, and for many allies who spent weeks of negotiations pushing for the irreversible language. It would also prove a massive defeat for Russia, which started the war in part to keep Ukraine from tilting toward the West. That alone might see the Washington summit rank among the most historic in NATOs 75-year existence. The fight now is over how to use this word in the right context, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. We've had sort of an agreement with the United States, so it will be really clear that the path to membership is irreversible. But other allies are really pushing for a stronger wording, she added. Great Britain, France, our Baltic friends all want to make sure that the wording in the declaration is stronger than what the U.S. has pushed, and leaves no room for doubt. NATO is slow, but it is moving, Stefanishyna said. While the draft is still being written, it will be very clear that it's the unity of the alliance which backs up the irreversibility of Ukraines membership to NATO. The Biden administration was initially skeptical about giving Ukraine the guarantee, especially without surrounding language on the multiple, yearslong steps Kyiv must take before becoming a member state. There was also concern among some allies, namely Germany, about overcommitting to Ukraine as Russias invasion rages and ahead of any serious reform effort. Other countries were open about the need for stronger language that would solidify Ukraine in NATOs future. A European official, granted anonymity to brief reporters on sensitive alliance discussions, said last week that allies had not reached consensus about extending an official invitation to Ukraine to join NATO. But, the official continued, we are discussing language to at least showcase that Ukraines membership is irreversible, that there is no way back and wed like to strengthen that language as much as possible. Then on Sunday, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Washington that we are now negotiating the language, and the language matters. So we are working on the exact language on how to express that Ukraine is going to become a NATO ally. But after weeks of hard-fought negotiations, the U.S. now backs the irreversible term in the final text, as the document would outline the need for Ukraine to undergo substantial democratic reforms such as addressing Kyivs corruption issues before it can accede to the alliance. The move will come the same week that Russia launched a brutal attack on Kyiv, in which cruise missiles slammed into a childrens hospital, killing around 40 people, including children. The summit will include announcements for more air defense systems for Kyiv, including Patriot and other systems from the U.S., Romania, The Netherlands, Spain and Germany, as well as a major announcement in which over 20 countries that have existing bilateral security agreements with Ukraine will issue a joint statement combining them into a single, NATO-endorsed document. Asked during an Atlantic Council event Monday about the chances of an irreversible designation, Michael Carpenter, the National Security Councils top Europe official, said to take a look at the communique. The language, I think, will be very strong, communicating precisely to this point, that Ukraine has a future in NATO and we want to accelerate the process, he continued. Speaking to POLITICO last week, Ukraines ambassador to NATO, Natalia Galibarenko, said she expected NATO allies to eventually agree on including an irreversible section in an official document. We would like also to see that the alliance will recognize that we achieved a substantial progress in implementing reforms, she added. USA Today was first to report that irreversible was making its way into the draft Washington declaration. Stuart Lau contributed to this report. First responders spent the night in Kyiv digging through the rubble at the children's hospital and other sites struck by Russian missiles on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "The rescue operation after yesterday's Russian missile attack continues," he said on social media on Tuesday. "As of now, 38 people have been reported dead, including four children. My condolences to all the families and friends affected by this tragedy." At least 94 children, including eight who were injured, were transferred to other hospitals following the missile strike on the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the messaging app Telegram. The wide-ranging aerial assault on Monday came on the eve of a NATO summit in Washington, D.C. As rescue work in Kyiv continued, officials with NATO countries and other Ukrainian allies issued scathing remarks criticizing Russia for its "horrendous" and "barbaric" strikes. PHOTO: A person stands at a window in a heavily damaged building of Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital following a missile strike in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on July 8, 2024. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: 'Massive' barrage of Russian missiles target Ukraine, striking children's hospital Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's action, describing the strikes as "horrendous missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, killing innocent civilians including children." NATO members will make decisions during the Washington summit about how to strengthen the alliance's support for Ukraine, according to a press release from Stoltenberg's office. President Joe Biden said on Monday that the fatal missile strikes in Ukraine were "a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." He added that the world must continue to stand with Ukraine ahead of this week's NATO summit, where the ongoing war will be a main topic of discussion. MORE: Biden braces for high-stakes NATO summit in DC Biden said that he will make clear to Zelenskyy that "support for Ukraine is unshakeable." NATO leaders would also be announcing "new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses," he said. PHOTO: Men install wooden boards in a damaged surgery ward following a Russian missile strike on the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 9, 2024. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) "My thoughts are with all the victims and their loved ones," David Lammy, the U.K. foreign secretary, said in a statement. "The U.K.'s support to Ukraine is iron-clad. We must hold those responsible for Putin's illegal war to account." Stephane Sejourne, the French foreign minister, condemned Russia's missile strikes, calling them "barbaric" and "war crimes." He called for Ukrainian allies to strengthen their support for the under-seige nation. "Russia must not win this war," Sejourne said in French on social media. The Security Service of Ukraine said it had opened a criminal investigation into the attack, which it also called a "war crime." The service said a Russian Kh-101 missile struck the site, according to its preliminary findings. Martin Jaeger, the German ambassador to Ukraine, said his team visited the hospital site and saw young cancer and dialysis patients "sitting on the sidewalk with their mothers." "This is a war against the civilian population," he wrote in German on social media. "This is what Russia's readiness for negotiations and its desire for peace looks like." PHOTO: Emergency and rescue personnel operate and clear the rubble of the destroyed building of Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital following a missile strike in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on July 8, 2024. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images) The German prime minister added in a statement that his country "stands unwaveringly by the side of the Ukrainian people. Especially in these difficult times." More than 400 people were busy overnight on rescue operations at the Kyiv children's hospital and elsewhere, Zelenskyy said on Tuesday. He said four of the 38 people killed had been children. At least 190 people were being treated for injuries across the country, he said. "We continue our work to increase the protection of our cities and communities from Russian terror," Zelenskyy said. "There will be decisions. The world has the necessary strength for this." ABC News' Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report. Ukraine searches children's hospital wreckage as NATO countries condemn 'barbaric' Russian strike originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Editors Note: This is issue 139 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from July 1-6, 2024. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Energy sector Russia strikes at Ukrgasvydobuvannyas facility in Poltava oblast, the companys press office reported on July 4. Ukrgasvydobuvannyas acting CEO Serhiy Lahno confirmed the death of one employee and multiple other injuries. From March 22 to June 19, Ukraine faced eight massive missile and drone strikes on energy facilities. See our Issues 124, 125, 127, 129, 131, 134, 136, and 137 for more detail. See our Issues 125, 127, and 129 on previous attacks on underground gas storage facilities. After every Russian mass missile attack on Ukraines vital infrastructure, emergency outages take place, lasting for days due to the ongoing repair works. During such outages, people in Ukraine are often left without electricity, heating, water supply, or access to mobile phone networks. Read also: Monthly chart: Consumer confidence in Ukraine falls due to power outages, mobilization Ukrnafta aims to build more than 1,000 MW of gas-fired power generation for $1 billion, the companys CEO Sergii Koretskyi told Forbes Ukraine. The company plans to build the power plants within three years. Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants and the acute shortage of electricity accelerated the implementation of the plans that the company had been making since 2023, Koretskyi explained. In the first stage of the project, Ukrnafta plans to build gas piston units with a capacity of at least 100 megawatts (MW). The company is using its own funds and has open credit lines with state-owned Ukrgasbank, Sense Bank, and Oschadbank, Koretskyi added. According to Ukrnaftas CEO, the payback period for cogeneration units is up to four years, and for electricity generation alone, just over five years. The projected operational period is 20 years. At this stage, we do not plan to spin off this business into a separate company. When we would launch a certain amount of generation, attract Western banks, and establish relations with producers, we would be able to talk about it, he said. Infrastructure Ukrzaliznytsia to invest 215 million euros in gas-fired power plants with a total capacity of up to 250 MW, the companys press office told Forbes Ukraine. This estimate does not include the cost of construction. The payback period is about five years. Ukrzaliznytsia is looking for money for the project through grants and international financial assistance. The first 10 MW should be commissioned by the beginning of the winter. According to Ukrzaliznytsias CEO Yevhen Liashchenko, stations would be connected to the Ukrzaliznytsias networks, which supply railway transport, social facilities, and critical infrastructure. As we wrote in Issue 135, Ukrzaliznytsia reduced electricity consumption by revising the schedule of suburban electric trains. Read also: Poland grants Ukrzaliznytsia license for freight transport As we reported in Issue 138, on June 28, Ukrzaliznytsia announced the establishment of a separate legal entity, UZ Energo LLC, as the company plans to build distributed power generation in the near future. Ukrzaliznytsias CEO interviewed. Ukrzaliznytsias CEO Yevhen Liashchenko was interviewed this week by Forbes Ukraine. We selected the key points: On freight tariffs: The last time Ukrzaliznytsia indexed freight tariffs was in July 2022 by 70%. For this year, we are not planning to increase freight tariffs, but to harmonisz them. This involves a complete change in the model of their calculation. Today, it consists of three different classes of cargo, a group of out-of-class cargo, and 15 coefficients. For example, there should be a single tariff for empty wagon return, and not as it is now several tariffs apply. We also propose that transportation classes should depend on the transportation technology, not on the specifics of the product or business that orders our wagons. This is a decision at the level of the Infrastructure Ministry rather than the Cabinet. We have submitted a proposal and are waiting for the next steps. How much money would Ukrzaliznytsia receive from tariff harmonization? Depending on when the decision is made, about Hr 3-4 billion ($73-98 million) by the end of the year. For businesses, the total costs may increase by about 7%. On the Polish subsidiary: At year-end, Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland made a profit, but this is not the main achievement. The company got an opportunity to fully enter the European railway transport market and would be able to provide comprehensive cross-border transport services from the new year. New international routes are currently being developed and agreed upon. The main task for this year is to increase the network to 18 container routes and become a one-stop shop for our customers without the need to conclude a number of contracts with different carriers. Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland plans to operate both 1,435 mm and 1,520 mm gauge rolling stock in the future, which would allow it to operate at all border crossings with Poland. Ukrzaliznytsia established Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland in June 2023 (see our Issue 97) and appointed Mykhailo Plastun as its CEO in August 2023 (see Issue 100). As we wrote in Issue 138, on June 27, Ukrzaliznytsia reported that its Polish subsidiary, Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland, obtained a railway carrier license. It can now enter the European market. Ukrposhta loses Hr 190 million ($4.6 million) in January-March 2024 (unaudited). On July 3, the company reported its interim results for Q1 2024, reducing its net loss 2.1 times, or by Hr 213.5 million, to Hr 190.3 million ($4.6 million). Net income from sales of products (goods and services) in Q1 was Hr 3.05 billion ($74 million). This is Hr 340.2 million ($8.3 million), or 10.0%, less than the company had planned for Q1 2024. However, this is still an improvement from last year, being Hr 280.4 million (6.8 million), or 10.1%, higher than Ukrposhtas net income in Q1 2023. Read also: Bulgaria sues Russian Gazprom, seeking compensation of more than $430 million The company was unable to provide full services in areas with active combat or under Russian occupation. However, Ukrposhta has partly made up for this with increased sales of its core services. As we reported in Issue 85, Ukrposhta ended 2022 with a loss of Hr 1.258 billion. That year, the company had a net revenue of Hr 10.3 billion from sales of goods and services, 7.7% down from 2021. As we wrote in Issue 130, Ukrposhta lost Hr 800 million in 2023 (audited). Banks New law may introduce financial inclusion operators in Ukraine, Ukrposhta seems a likely candidate. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is working on introducing the concept of a limited banking license into national banking law. The legislation is being developed, NBU Chairman Andriy Pyshnyi said in a comment to Forbes Ukraine. Financial inclusion is viewed as a public policy goal addressing market failures where no financial service provider has a commercial interest in serving certain customer groups or regions. According to the interview, the new legislation is not designed to benefit any specific company; both private and state-owned entities such as retailers or postal service operators can obtain a limited banking license to become financial inclusion operators. This suggests that achieving this public policy goal will be conducted on a competitive basis. Ukrposhta is likely to be one of these financial inclusion operators. Note that in their 2017 paper, What should the state do with its banks?, SOE Weekly team members Andriy Boystun and Dmytro Yablonovskyi suggested that Ukrposhtas role should include ensuring financial inclusion due to the companys excellent geographical outreach across Ukraine. If Ukrposhta gets a new license as a financial inclusion provider, this should be reflected in its state ownership policy. As we said in Issue 138, according to the updated IMF Memorandum, published on June 28, Ukraine must formulate a state ownership policy, dividend policy, and privatization strategy for SOEs by the end of October 2024. Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly. The SOE Weekly is produced and financed by Andriy Boytsun. Communications support is provided and financed by CFC Big Ideas. The SOE Weekly is not financed or influenced by any external party. Editorial team: Andriy Boytsun, Oleksiy Pavlysh, Dmytro Yablonovskyi, and Oleksandr Lysenko. Read also: Law enforcement suspects Kolomoiskys associate Boholiubov of illegal border crossing Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian intelligence agencies carried out an attack against a Russian military airfield, an energy substation, and an oil depot in three different regions overnight on July 9, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent. The strike, carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), targeted the Akhtubinsk military airfield in Astrakhan Oblast, a 500 kV substation in Rostov Oblast, and an oil depot in Kalach-na-Donu in Volgograd Oblast, the source said. The source did not elaborate on the possible consequences of the attack but strikes against the Akhtubinsk airfield last month reportedly damaged two advanced Su-57 fighter jets. The airbase lies around 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, some 30 kilometers (less than 20 miles) west of Russia's border with Kazakhstan. According to the Kyiv Independent's source, Russian Telegram channels reported on a live fire by a Pantsir air defense system and powerful explosions at the Akhtubinsk airfield, later deleting the message. This indicates a successful attack, as Russia usually "clears the information space" when its military facilities are hit, the source added. Russian authorities said earlier the same day that Ukrainian drone attacks started fires at two substations and one oil depot in Rostov and Volgograd oblasts. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense shot down three drones over Belgorod Oblast, two over Voronezh Oblast, five over Astrakhan Oblast, seven over Kursk Oblast, and 21 over Rostov Oblast. Ukrainian forces regularly conduct drone strikes and sabotage acts on Russian territory, targeting military assets, oil refineries, and industrial facilities. Read also: Ukrainian drones attack large ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast, source says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine war latest: Rescue operations end at Kyiv children's hospital, at least 33 killed in capital overall Key updates on July 9: Rescue operations end at Kyiv children's hospital, at least 33 killed in capital overall Ukraine struck airbase, oil depot, and energy facility in Russia overnight, source says Ukrainian partisans say they sabotaged railway in Russia's Rostov Oblast North Korean military trainers travel to Russia weeks after signing of partnership agreement F-16s in Ukraine may 'create conditions for counterattack,' Polish general says Search and rescue operations at the site of a Russian missile attack on Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv concluded on July 9, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The attack against the medical facility killed two people, including a doctor, and wounded 32 others. Eight children were hospitalized, according to Klymenko. In total, at least 33 people, including four children, were killed in Kyiv as a result of the July 8 attack, officials said the following day. Another 10 children are among the 117 injured. The Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical center, was hit during a Russian missile attack on July 8. The strike destroyed one building and damaged four others in the hospital, Health Minister Viktor Liashko said. Evidence from the scene of the hospital indicated "a high likelihood" of a direct hit by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMUN) said. According to the HRMMUN, more than 1,000 staff members and 670 children were at the hospital at the time of the attack. "Analysis of the video footage and assessment made at the incident site indicates a high likelihood that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damages due to an intercepted weapons system," said Danielle Bell, the head of the HRMMUN. Bell said that video footage shows the technical specification of the type of weapon used and "shows the weapon directly impacting the hospital rather than being intercepted in the air." The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) corroborated, according to preliminary data, that the Russian military had struck Okhmatdyt with a Kh-101 cruise missile. A law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent that it was launched in accordance with a programmed route. Other districts in Kyiv also came under Russian attacks. The bodies of three more women and of one boy were retrieved from the rubble of a residential building in the capital's Shevchenkivskyi district during the day on July 9, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Read also: I want Russians to feel it on their own skin: Shock, fury at the site of childrens hospital attack Ukraine struck airbase, oil depot, and energy facility in Russia overnight, source says Ukrainian intelligence agencies carried out an attack against a Russian military airfield, an energy substation, and an oil depot in three different regions overnight on July 9, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent. The strike, carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), targeted the Akhtubinsk military airfield in Astrakhan Oblast, a 500 kV substation in Rostov Oblast, and an oil depot in Kalach-na-Donu in Volgograd Oblast, the source said. The source did not elaborate on the possible consequences of the attack but strikes against the Akhtubinsk airfield last month reportedly damaged two advanced Su-57 fighter jets. The airbase lies around 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border and some 30 kilometers (less than 20 miles) west of Russia's border with Kazakhstan. According to the Kyiv Independent's source, Russian Telegram channels reported on a live fire by a Pantsir air defense system and powerful explosions at the Akhtubinsk airfield, later deleting the message. This indicates a successful attack, as Russia usually "clears the information space" when its military facilities are hit, the source added. Russian authorities said earlier the same day that Ukrainian drone attacks started fires at two substations and one oil depot in Rostov and Volgograd oblasts. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense shot down three drones over Belgorod Oblast, two over Voronezh Oblast, five over Astrakhan Oblast, seven over Kursk Oblast, and 21 over Rostov Oblast. Read also: Ukrainian drones attack large ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast, source says Ukrainian partisans say they sabotaged railway in Russia's Rostov Oblast The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a key railway connection between Russia's Rostov-on-Don and the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol used by the Russian military, the group claimed on July 9. An Atesh operative burned a relay cabinet near the Russian city of Shakhty, the partisans said, publishing purported footage of the sabotage without specifying the date. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Russia began constructing new railway connections to link Russia with Crimea and other occupied territories in southeast Ukraine. This is designed to reduce the Russian military's dependence on the Kerch Bridge and ferry crossinglinking eastern Crimea to Russia's Krasnodar Kraiwhich have proved vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks. Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the exiled mayor of Mariupol, said in mid-June that the railway line between Rostov-on-Don and the occupied Ukrainian city was almost finished. "This is one of the main railways in the region, connecting Russia to Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast. It is actively used to transport military equipment and personnel to the front," Atesh said on Telegram. "We continue to fight the occupiers with all our might, and the number of our sabotages will increase every day." The Atesh movement claims to be active in both occupied areas of Ukraine and inside Russia itself. Over the weekend, Atesh partisans claimed that they had successfully sabotaged a railway line near the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, halting trains being used to transport North Korean ammunition. Read also: Inside occupied Ukraines most effective resistance movements North Korean military trainers travel to Russia weeks after signing of partnership agreement A delegation of North Korean military trainers led by the head of a prestigious military academy in Pyongyang has begun a trip to Russia, North Korean state media reported on July 9. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang on June 18-19, where he signed a partnership agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two leaders led hours-long talks before signing the treaty, which pledged to provide aid to one another if either will be attacked. According to Reuters, the visit of North Korean military trainers marks the first military exchange between Moscow and Pyongyang since the agreement was signed. Pyongyang has long been supplying Moscow with weapons for use against Ukraine. The delegation of North Korean military trainers is led by the president of the Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Geum Chol, North Korean state media said, without providing any further information about the visit. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol said on June 8 that growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a "distinct threat and a grave challenge to the peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in Europe." Read also: Russia to send children to North Korean summer camp F-16s in Ukraine may 'create conditions for counterattack,' Polish general says The arrival of F-16 fighter jets may help Ukraine create conditions for a counterattack, Jaroslaw Kraszewski, a retired Polish brigadier general, said in an interview with Ukrinform published on July 9. Ukraine is expected to receive the first F-16 jets this summer, a year after Denmark and the Netherlands founded the "fighter jet coalition" with nine other countries at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023. Kraszewski believes that the arrival of F-16s will "dramatically change the situation" on the battlefield, although it is unlikely to be a turning point in Russia's full-scale war. "I think a lot of positive things will happen for Ukraine then; the planes will create conditions for a counterattack," he said in the interview. According to the Polish general, Western aircraft and missiles should help halt Russia's offensive in Kharkiv and Donetsk sectors, as well as "cyclically and effectively" destroy logistics deep inside Russia. Kraszewski stressed that the West must allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia to allow the liberation of Ukrainian territories, a step that Washington has so far refused to take. Under such conditions, Ukraine could launch a counteroffensive this fall, the general believes. Belgium, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands have so far pledged more than 70 jets to Ukraine to be delivered from 2024 onwards. The latter two allowed Kyiv to use delivered F-16s to strike Russian soil. "Ukrainian aviation should receive long-range missiles to destroy Russia's infrastructure, including airfields. When this happens, the logistics of the Russian army will be cut off from the main forces. If this is done, Ukraine's army command should form a strike group and strike back," Kraszewski said. Read also: Ukraines airfields under fire as Russia braces for F-16s Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, believes that a big all for all prisoners of war exchange with the Russian Federation is unlikely in the near future because Russia does not seem to be ready for it. Source: Lubinets at a press conference, quoted by Ukrinform Quote: "Do I believe that a large exchange will occur in the near future? No. I will explain why. The discrepancy in numbers. Yes, it is there. There are many more Ukrainian citizens detained on Russian Federation territory. Are we discussing it? Yes. Do we talk about it with our partners? Yes. Do I see any partners backing our position? Yes. Do I see the Russian Federation's readiness to do this? No." Details: According to the human rights commissioner, the Russians "are ready to conduct exchange processes, are ready to talk about all categories of citizens of Ukraine, but they do not demonstrate readiness to conduct quick large exchanges". Lubinets also highlighted that during the most recent civilian exchange, five Ukrainians were successfully returned to Ukraine from Belarusian territory for the first time. The official stated that there was "at least some channel of communication" with Belarus. Quote: "For the first time, we were able to bring back five Ukrainian citizens from Belarusian territory. Three of our heroines and two men, including one suspected of blowing up an A-50 plane in Belarus. And we were able to get him back. I cannot go into details, but I can tell that at least a communication line has opened with the Belarusian side." Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's Security Service and Defence Intelligence attack military facilities in three Russian oblasts video A joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on the night of 9 July resulted in fires at the Akhtubinsk military airbase in Astrakhan Oblast of the Russian Federation, a 500kV power substation in Rostov Oblast, and an oil depot in Kalach-na-Donu in Volgograd Oblast. Source: sources of Ukrainska Pravda in SSU and DIU Details: During the drone attack on the Akhtubinsk military airbase, Russian Telegram channels reported the operation of the Pantsir missile system and a series of strong explosions. This information has been deleted. The source said this indicates a successful attack, as the Russian authorities usually clean up the information space when important military targets are hit. The source reports that the Ukrainian defence forces will continue to hit Russian military facilities helping Russias war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he could not predict what Donald Trump would do if he regains the U.S. presidency in November, but the whole world, including Russian leader Vladimir Putin, was awaiting the outcome of the ballot. Zelenskiy, speaking in Washington as world leaders gather for a NATO summit, said he hoped Trump would not quit the 75-year-old NATO alliance and that the United States would keep supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion. "I don't know (him) very well," Zelenskiy said of Trump. He said he had "good meetings" with him during Trump's first presidency but said that was before the Russian invasion in 2022. "I can't tell you what he will do, if he will be the president of the United States. I don't know." Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the U.S. presidential election in November, has frequently criticized the size of U.S. military support for Ukraine - some $60 billion since the invasion - and called Zelenskiy "the greatest salesman ever." Two of his national security advisers have presented Trump with a plan to end U.S. military aid to Ukraine unless it opened talks with Russia to end the conflict. Trump's dealings with Zelenskiy became the subject of his first impeachment as president by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019. He was accused of pressing Zelenskiy to help smear Joe Biden in return for aid, but was acquitted by the Senate in 2020. On policy toward NATO, Trump has said he would "encourage" Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any alliance member that did not spend enough on defense and he would not defend them. The NATO charter obliges members to come to the defense of those who are attacked. Speaking in the wake of a Russia missile strike on the main children's hospital in Kyiv on Monday, Zelenskiy said those kind of attacks made "you want to kill Putin". "It's so difficult to lose children. And of course you see these people, you see parents, and when their children are dying or dead, you want to kill Putin at this moment," Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy urged U.S. political leaders on Tuesday not to wait for the outcome of the U.S. election in November to move forcefully to aid his country and he called for fewer restrictions on the use of U.S. weaponry. "Everyone is waiting for November. Americans are waiting for November, in Europe, Middle East, in the Pacific, the whole world is looking towards November and, truly speaking, Putin awaits November too," Zelenskiy said. "It is time...to act and not to wait for November or any other month." Earlier on Tuesday, President Joe Biden pledged to forcefully defend Ukraine at the NATO summit. But Biden, 81, is reeling from 12 days of questions about his fitness for office as some of his fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill and campaign donors fear that he will lose the election after a halting debate performance on June 27. Trump is leading Biden by 2.1 percentage points nationally, according to a polling average maintained by website FiveThirtyEight. Asked about Putin's views of Biden and Trump, Zelenskiy said cautiously: "Biden and Trump are very different. But they are supportive (of) democracy. And that's why I think Putin will hate both of them." Zelenskiy's choice of venue, the Ronald Reagan Institute, could be another sign of Ukraine's effort to reach out to Republicans. Andrew Weiss at the Carnegie Endowment think tank said Kyiv has been trying to build "as many bridges to the Republican mainstream establishment as possible." "There's a process underway in Kyiv of trying to think through the implications of a possible Trump return to the White House," Weiss said. Zelenskiy was introduced by top U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, who lauded the Ukrainian leader and strongly supported greater assistance to Kyiv. "They need the tools to defend themselves to impose costs on their aggressors and to negotiate from positions of strength," McConnell said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Michael Perry) The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has announced that it has signed a memorandum with Finnish company ICEYE, one of the world's leading satellite technology companies, to deepen cooperation in space intelligence. Source: Ministry of Defence on Telegram Quote from Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defence: "Cooperation with ICEYE and the signing of the memorandum will significantly improve our intelligence activities. We are grateful to the company for its commitment to democratic values, support for the Ukrainian people, and position on restricting space imagery over Ukraine's territory. We must defend our country on land, in the air, at sea, in cyberspace and in space." Details: The Ministry of Defence pointed out that the company manufactures microsatellites and owns one of the world's largest constellations of radar satellites. The agreement with ICEYE aims to strengthen cooperation in remote sensing. The Ministry of Defence stressed that this is important for Ukraine's national security and defence. Support UP or become our patron! Protest in Berlin following the Russian attack on a childrens hospital in Kyiv. Photo: Patrick Heinemann on X The German police have banned protesters who gathered in front of the Russian Embassy in Berlin following the Russian attack on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv from making speeches in Ukrainian. Source: Vitsche Berlin, a Ukrainian group that organised the protest, on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda Details: Ukrainian activists in Berlin have organised a protest on the evening of Monday, 8 July the day that Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities, which killed dozens and injured over a hundred people, including children who were being treated at the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv. 1/5 Gestern, am 8. Juli, versammelten wir uns vor der russischen Botschaft in Berlin, um unsere Wut und Trauer uber einen weiteren schrecklichen Terroranschlag der russen zum Ausdruck zu bringen. #taurusjetzt #LetUkraineStrikeBack : @m_dorn_ pic.twitter.com/XO5qcMvfUZ vitsche_berlin (@VitscheBerlin) July 9, 2024 The activists later said that the police have banned them from using the microphone to make speeches in Ukrainian. "We are here to draw attention to Russias terrorist attack on the childrens hospital in Kyiv, to demonstrate and grieve together. But the Berlin police have banned us from speaking Ukrainian, and were very angry about it," they said. Serhii Sumlennyi, an analyst who monitored the events in Berlin, said that some of the speakers still used Ukrainian, and the protest organisers were fined. Vitsche Berlin later said that they were not fined and were awaiting a written response from the police. "But its difficult for us to understand why our language is banned when Russia is waging a war against our identity and our language," they posted. The Berlin police explained that law enforcement had to be able to prevent unlawful calls to action during the protest, and they could not find a Ukrainian interpreter in time. "The team leader and the head of the organising committee had agreed in advance that speeches would be made in German and English because unfortunately we could not find a Ukrainian interpreter with such short notice. In order to ensure a peaceful protest, we have of course allowed several speeches to be made in Ukrainian," the press service for the police said in response to the public outcry. Um den Schutz der Versammlungsfreiheit aber auch die Einhaltung der damit verbundenen Regeln zu gewahrleisten, mussen die Einsatzkrafte Redebeitrage & Zwischenrufe verstehen konnen. In dem ublichen Kooperationsgesprach vereinbarten Einsatzleitung und Versammlungsleiterin vorab https://t.co/UowkPXl6AE Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) July 9, 2024 Those in the German public who were outraged by the situation said they doubted the ban was justified. Sumlennyi said it was "questionable why they dont have at least one translator ready" and there was "no reason to expect any illegal calls at a Ukrainian demonstration", adding that the "ban on Ukrainian language stinks". No such legal ban in general, but police may introduce extra bans. The problem: 1) questionable why they dont have at least one translator ready; 2) no reason to expect any anti-constitutional calls or similar at a Ukrainian demonstration; 3) ban on Ukrainian language stinks. Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) July 8, 2024 Patrick Heinemann, a legal expert, believes that the polices decision is not in line with the law because freedom of assembly includes freedom to decide which language to speak during the protest. "The burden to prove that Ukrainian language is used to broadcast something unlawful is for the police to bear," he wrote on X. Auf anwaltlichen Hinweis, dass keinerlei Anhaltspunkte fur eine Gefahr fur die offentliche Sicherheit und Ordnung vorliegen (auch mit Blick auf bisheriges Verhalten von @VitscheBerlin), die eine solche Verfugung rechtfertigen, verweist die Polizeifuhrerin auf den Rechtsweg. 2/3 Patrick Heinemann (@P_O_Heinemann) July 8, 2024 Background: The Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv, and a number of other targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, on 8 July. More than 40 civilians were killed in the Russian attacks. The US and the EU have called for an investigation into the attack on Okhmatdyt, which could be classified as a war crime. On 9 July, several embassies in Kyiv flew their flags at half-mast to honour the victims of the Russian attacks. Support UP or become our patron! The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a key railway connection between Russia's Rostov-on-Don and the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol used by the Russian military, the group claimed on July 9. An Atesh operative burned a relay cabinet near the Russian city of Shakhty, the partisans said, publishing purported footage of the sabotage without specifying the date. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Russia began constructing new railway connections to link Russia with Crimea and other occupied territories in southeast Ukraine. This is designed to reduce the Russian military's dependence on the Kerch Bridge and ferry crossing linking eastern Crimea to Russia's Krasnodar Krai which have proved vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks. Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the exiled mayor of Mariupol, said in mid-June that the railway line between Rostov-on-Don and the occupied Ukrainian city was almost finished. 0:00 / 1 "This is one of the main railways in the region, connecting Russia to Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast. It is actively used to transport military equipment and personnel to the front," Atesh said on Telegram. "We continue to fight the occupiers with all our might, and the number of our sabotages will increase every day." The Atesh movement claims to be active in both occupied areas of Ukraine and inside Russia itself. Over the weekend, Atesh partisans claimed that they had successfully sabotaged a railway line near the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, halting trains being used to transport North Korean ammunition. The group also claimed to have successfully infiltrated a Russian air base in Voronezh in June. Read also: Inside occupied Ukraines most effective resistance movements Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands for a moment of silence during a wreath ceremony at the Memorial Stele to the fallen Navy servicemen during an event honoring Navy Day at the Port of Odesa. Ukraine Presidency/Ukrainian Pre/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday laid a wreath at a monument in Washington to the victims of the 1930s Ukrainian famine, ahead of a NATO leaders' meeting in the city. Zelensky travelled with his wife Olena, according to Freedom, a Ukrainian state-owned television station for Ukrainians abroad. He also met members of the Ukrainian diaspora. The Ukrainian president hopes that the meeting of national leaders from the 32 NATO countries - including United States President Joe Biden and Britain's new prime minister, Keir Starmer - will clarify his country's membership prospects and strengthen military support for Ukraine's defensive war against the Russian invasion. Since 2019, Ukraine has had its NATO membership ambitions enshrined in its national constitution. But all current NATO member states have to agree unanimously before that can happen. In this photo released by Pakistan's Prime Minister Office, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, left, shakes hand with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after their meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The head of the U.N. refugee agency met with Sharif in the capital, Islamabad to discuss problems faced by the Afghan refugees, who have been living in the country in a state of uncertainty since last year when Islamabad started expelling foreigners, officials said. (Prime Minister Office via AP) ISLAMABAD (AP) The head of the U.N. refugee agency and Pakistan's prime minister held talks Tuesday about Afghan refugees living in uncertainty in Pakistan following the government's anti-migrant crackdown that started last year as militants stepped up attacks on security forces. That crackdown on undocumented Afghans in Pakistan was apparently recently put on hold, without authorities offering any explanation for this. Pakistan has long hosted an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country. More than half a million others escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021, with thousands waiting in Pakistan for resettlement in the United States and elsewhere. Since Pakistan's widely criticized clampdown started last November, an estimated 600,000 Afghans have returned home. The undocumented Afghans are separate from refugees who have registered with the authorities and the UNHCR, though the crackdown has raised concerns among the refugee population as well. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi arrived in Pakistan on Sunday and met with Afghan refugees on the first two days of his visit. I spent time with Afghan refugees whose resourcefulness is testimony to their strength and to Pakistans long hospitality, Grandi wrote on the social media platform X, adding that his visit aimed to discuss how we can best support both amidst growing challenges. Pakistans Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif told the U.N. refugee agency chief that Afghan refugees are treated with exemplary respect and dignity despite facing multiple challenges, according to a statement released by his office Tuesday. Sharif also urged the international community to "recognize the burden being shouldered by Pakistan while hosting such a large refugee population and demonstrate collective responsibility. He also asked for help from UNHCR to repatriate the refugees in a safe and dignified manner. After the meeting, the UNHCR said Grandi expressed his appreciation that the repatriation of undocumented persons has been suspended and sought assurances that it would remain on hold. There was no immediate confirmation from the authorities that the repatriation was in fact halted. Grandi also urged Pakistani officials to extend the validity of the registration cards critical identity documents held by over 1.3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Also on Tuesday, Grandi met with Asif Durrani, the countrys special representative for Afghanistan. Durrani wrote on X that the two men "expressed readiness to find a durable solution to the Afghan refugee problem, including their repatriation. Pakistan had previously said the crackdown targeted those without valid documents regardless of nationality. U.N. agencies have decried the forced expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan, saying it could lead to severe human rights violations including the separation of families and deportation of minors. Although Pakistan had been routinely deporting Afghans who came here without valid documents in recent years, the ongoing crackdown is unprecedented in scale. Since the crackdown, the neighboring Taliban-led government in Kabul said it set up a commission to deal with repatriated nationals and has criticized Islamabads actions. Pakistan has also faced a surge in militant attacks on security forces and civilians, mostly blamed on the Pakistani Taliban a separate militant group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban straining the ties between the two countries. On Tuesday, four soldiers, including an army captain, were killed in a pair of attacks in former militant strongholds of North and South Waziristan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, the military said. Two militants were killed in the North Waziristan attack, where a search operation was still underway to find the attackers. Sharif denounced the attacks, and paid glowing tributes to the slain soldiers, a statement from his office said. North and South Waziristan served as a base for the Pakistani Taliban until a crackdown by the Pakistani military killed or arrested most in recent years. Others fled to Afghanistan, where they have been living openly. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - The recent deaths of several more children from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip indicate that famine has spread throughout the enclave, a group of independent human rights experts mandated by the United Nations said on Tuesday. Gaza health authorities say at least 33 children have died of malnutrition, mostly in northern areas which had until recently faced the brunt of the Israeli military campaign launched after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel. Since early May, the war has spread to southern Gaza, hitting aid flows into the enclave amid restrictions by Israel, which has accused U.N. agencies of failing to distribute supplies efficiently. In Tuesday's statement, the group of 11 rights experts cited the deaths of three children aged 13, 9-years-old and six months from malnutrition in the southern area of Khan Younis and the central area of Deir Al-Balah since the end of May. "With the death of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, there is no doubt that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza," the experts said. Their statement, signed by experts including the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, condemned "Israel's intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people". Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva said the statement amounted to "misinformation". "Israel has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip, recently connecting its power line to the Gaza water desalination plant," it added. In a Khan Younis hospital on Monday, Palestinian woman Ghaneyma Joma told Reuters she feared her son would die of starvation. "It's distressing to see my child ... lying there dying from malnutrition because I cannot provide him with anything due to the war, the closing of crossings and the contaminated water," she said, seated on the floor next to her motionless son, who had an intravenous drip attached to his wrist. Formally, whether or not a famine exists is determined by a U.N.-backed global monitor called the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which makes an assessment based on a set of technical criteria. Last month the IPC said Gaza remained at high risk of famine as the war continues and aid access is restricted. More than 495,000 people across Gaza - more than one fifth of the population - are facing the most severe, or "catastrophic", level of food insecurity, it said, down from a forecast of 1.1 million in the previous update. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Nidal-al Mughrabi and Mohammad Salem in Gaza) A top United Nations human rights official attacked the Biden administrations supposed lack of a broad strategy for dealing with Iran and its various actions across the Middle East during a congressional briefing on Tuesday. The organizations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Javaid Rehman, was on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning for a briefing with staff members from two bipartisan House caucuses. He spoke to The Independent afterwards, and denied that the Biden administration had laid out a coherent strategy to deal with Iranian support of militant groups such as the Houthis and Hezbollah. No, I don't think so, said Rehman when asked directly if such a coherent vision had been presented to the USs international partners. I think if they had [a strategy],I don't know what the State Department is saying. But from what I've been seeing, it hasn't. Thats why the Iranian regime has been taking advantage. I think you need to be consistent as to what are you going to do to address a regime which is persistently violating the rights of its own people, but is also a threat to the region and to the world. I mean, we had this issue with [Irans] support for the Russians in Ukraine, providing drones. So how can you trust the Iranians and deal with them? he continued. He also condemned the administrations prisoner swap deal, which allowed for the release of five Americans detained in Iran in exchange for freeing up $6 billion of Iranian-held money in the US financial system as well as the freeing of an unknown number of Iranians held in US custody. The US, under President Joe Biden, approved a $6bn prisoner swap deal with Iran in 2023 (Getty Images) Human rights values should take priority. The problem with successive US regimes is that they are willing to do deals with Iranians when it suits them, said Rehman. Last year, we saw that the US government agreed to give $6 billion in exchange for these hostages. I think that we should not be dealing with a rogue state. Matthew Miller, principal spokesman for the State Department, strongly rejected those characterizations when asked about them by The Independent at his press briefing on Tuesday. First of all, Ill say, everyone is entitled to their opinion, Miller remarked. But that is very much one that we would not agree with. If you look at the totality of our policy, we have made clear that we are committed to ensuring that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. We have worked with our allies and partners around the world to ensure that objective. You have seen us impose over 600 export controls and sanctions on Iran and Iran-related entities to counter Irans malign influence. You have seen us work with partners in the region through diplomatic measures to try to counter Irans influence and take on Irans support for terror. So no, its not something I would agree with at all, Miller continued. Rehman spoke for roughly an hour about his upcoming report, due out July 17th, describing the Iranian governments continued oppression of protesters and political or religious minorities, which his report will link back to the massacres committed against the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) and other dissidents in the 1980s. Under Rehmans view, the massacres of the 1980s occurred under the same culture of oppression responsible for the death of a young woman in the custody of the countrys religious police in 2022, as well as the subsequent crackdowns against demonstrations condemning her murder. Irans government and society is currently undergoing turbulent times once again as elections were called to replace the countrys president, Ebrahim Raisi, after he was killed in a helicopter crash. A candidate characterized by many as a reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, won the election. At Rehmans briefing on Tuesday, he warned that Pezeshkians reforms would be limited by the realities of the system which controls Iranian politics and culture. The systematic issue that we have, the systematic repression of women and girls, the policy of enforcing hijab, the oppression of minorities, the large-scale executions of political dissidents that is my main concern and I'm not sure if the change of the new person, the president the extent to which that can be changed, he told The Independent afterwards. I'm not very optimistic. A response effort is underway at the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital attacked by Russias Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. -/Ukrinform/dpa The United Nations has described the Russian airstrike on Kiev that damaged a paediatric hospital as a war crime. "Let me remind this council that hospitals have special protection under international humanitarian law," said Joyce Msuya, the acting head of the UN Emergency Relief and Works Agency (OCHA) at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. "Intentionally directing attacks against a protected hospital is a war crime and perpetrators must be held to account," she said. The attacks were part of "a deeply concerning pattern of systemic attacks, harming healthcare and other civilian infrastructure across Ukraine", Msuya continued. The missile strikes in Ukraine, which left dozens dead, caused horror on Monday. Kiev held Moscow responsible. France and Ecuador then convened an emergency meeting of the most powerful UN body. Because Russia has veto power in the UN Security Council, action over Russian aggression in Ukraine is out of the question. At the same time, a NATO anniversary summit in Washington is to discuss how Ukraine can be better helped. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated promises of further long-term support for Ukraine before leaving Berlin for the NATO gathering: "It is good that we have reinforced this once again in the last few days with a very clear message. We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes." Devastating airstrikes on Kiev The body of a missing boy was retrieved from the rubble of an apartment block in Kiev that was destroyed in a Russian missile attack, as many expressed outrage at the brutality of the strike. At least 31 people died in devastating Russian airstrikes on Kiev on Monday, including four children, and 117 people were injured, the city's civil defence department said on Tuesday. There were further casualties in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the south. Across the country, Ukraine has suffered a total of at least 42 deaths and 190 injuries as a result of the recent attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the social media platform X. "We continue to work to protect our cities and communities from Russian terror," he wrote. Tuesday is set to be a day of mourning in Kiev, after a missile hit one of Ukraine's most important paediatric hospitals in the capital. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers were still searching for people trapped in the rubble. Children suffering from cancer who had been rescued were sitting on their mothers' laps in the street attached to drips. Two adults were killed in the hospital, including a doctor. Seven people were killed in a large residential building near the hospital, including three children. Two people died in an industrial plant. There were unofficial reports saying there had been attacks on an armaments company. Nine people were killed in another partially destroyed hospital and seven people were killed in a business centre. Evidence points to deliberate Russia attack Ukraine has said the children's hospital attack was targeted as video footage shows what Ukrainian sources have identified as a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile approaching the building unhindered. Preliminary investigations by the UN Human Rights Office have found that the children's hospital destroyed in Kiev was hit directly by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, Danielle Bell, head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said on Tuesday. She said specialists had reached this conclusion after analysing video footage and directly examining damage on site. "[It is] one of most egregious attacks we have seen since the onset of the invasion," she said. Russia denies responsibility However, the Russian military has said the impact was caused by the mistaken use of a Ukrainian air-defence missile, without providing evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanded that the public stick to this version. "We do not carry out strikes against civilian targets. There are only strikes against objects of critical infrastructure or military targets," he said, according to the TASS news agency. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also claimed that the hospital had been hit by a NASAMS anti-aircraft missile from Ukraine. Child patients transferred The UN's Bell said that hospital staff brought young patients to safety in the bunker shortly before the attack on Monday, she said. Otherwise, the number of victims would have been significantly higher. She said two people died in the attack. All 600 of the hospital's young patients had been transferred to other health facilities. The hospital, where many children with cancer and other serious illnesses were treated, was badly damaged and could no longer be used without extensive repairs, she said. The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Kiev showed the situation on the ground on X. The WHO has counted almost 1,900 attacks on hospitals, doctors' surgeries, ambulances and similar targets since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who was among a number of foreign leaders to describe the airstrike as a war crime, said that Germany will take in some of the sick Ukrainian children for further treatment. Ukraine sends drones to attack Russia Ukraine responded to the nationwide wave of attacks from Moscow with drone attacks on Russia on Tuesday. A depot of tanks belonging to the oil company Lukoil in the Volgograd region was set on fire as a result. Regional Governor Andrey Bocharov blamed this on debris from drones that had been shot down, which had fallen on the depot in the city of Kalach on the Don. The fire is being extinguished, he said. A transformer station had also been hit, he said. The Russian Ministry of Defence said 38 Ukrainian combat drones had been intercepted during the night over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Astrakhan regions. The information could not initially be independently verified - and the Volgograd region did not appear on the ministry's list. However, Russian authorities confirmed that aircraft were temporarily unable to take off or land at the airports in Volgograd and Astrakhan. According to the Moscow military, further drones were shot down over the Belgorod and Astrakhan regions in the course of the morning. As Kiev lacks heavy long-range weapons, it is trying to make up for this shortcoming with targeted drone attacks. The attacks on Russian refineries and petrol depots are intended to paralyse the supply of fuel for the army. However, the damage caused in Russia is nowhere close to the scale of the devastating consequences of Russian bombardments on Ukraine. Rescue workers work at the site of the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital attacked by Russias Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. -/Ukrinform/dpa People remove the rubble at the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Childrens Hospital attacked by Russias Kh-101 strategic cruise missile. -/Ukrinform/dpa Delegates at a conference to mark the 30th anniversary of China's connection to the internet put on a brave face amid US technology restrictions, highlighting the country's determination to become self-sufficient in artificial intelligence (AI) and future internet technologies. The China Internet Conference, a three-day event that kicked off on Tuesday, features exhibits dominated by the mainland's state-owned enterprises, and speakers highlighting the country's achievements and advantages in internet development. While China's internet in the past three decades was built on funding and technologies from the US, the country is pinning its hopes on local breakthroughs amid a bifurcation of the global technology sphere, according to speeches and displays at the show. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Wu Hequan, a former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a pioneer in developing China's communications network, said restrictions on the country's access to advanced chips were "having a certain impact", but the country can eventually overcome the obstacles by pooling its computing resources. The 81-year-old engineer, who did not name the US, said the lack of access to "advanced foreign chips" could slow down the expansion of China's computing power - a key element in training generative AI models - but he added that China has already developed sufficient computing infrastructure to empower its AI ambitions. Wu noted that China was the world's No 2 computing power, only behind the US. Four former industry ministers took part in the opening ceremony of the China Internet Conference in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Ben Jiang alt=Four former industry ministers took part in the opening ceremony of the China Internet Conference in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Ben Jiang> Under Washington's export restrictions, US tech firms such as Nvidia are not allowed to sell their advanced products to customers in China, creating a hardware bottleneck for China's AI ambitions. Shang Bing, the president of the China Internet Society, which organised the event, said the country could allocate more resources to research on AI chips to develop a "controllable" AI model ecosystem. Shang noted in his speech that the country had previously built up a network of over 3.8 million 5G stations across the country, covering more than 90 per cent of its population. Story continues The country's major telecommunications network operators - China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom - set up spacious display booths at the event to showcase their offerings tailored for AI development. China Mobile, for instance, promoted its New Intelligent Computing Centre, which began development in 2022 to serve China's digitalisation efforts. Zhang Dong, a deputy general manager at the telco, said the AI-powered internet will help promote China's "new productive forces", a phrase used by President Xi Jinping to describe economic development based on labour, technology and infrastructure. At a forum dedicated to large language model development, Wang Zheng, an official with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said the ministry will propel the integration of AI with the real economy. Delegates from China's internet-based businesses also attended the show. Zhu Zheng, vice-president at Pinduoduo, the popular shopping app owned by PDD Holdings, said its overseas e-commerce push has helped Chinese factories reach overseas consumers. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Russia's large-scale missile attack on Ukrainian cities, including the strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv. Source: statement by Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-Generals Spokesperson; Ukrinform Details: Dujarric said the UN Secretary-General strongly condemns the Russian missile strikes on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, including in the cities of Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and Pokrovsk. Reports indicate that the strikes took the lives of dozens of civilians, including children, and injured over 150 more. The UN emphasised that the missile strikes on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv, the largest paediatric facility in Ukraine, and another medical facility in the capital are "particularly shocking". Quote: "Directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and any such attacks are unacceptable and must end immediately. The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of all the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured." Background: A total of 37 people were killed and 170 injured in the Russian attack on Ukraine on 8 July. On 8 July, a Russian missile strike on Kyiv struck the grounds of the National Children's Specialised Hospital Okhmatdyt. One of the buildings has been damaged, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. According to local officials, as of 14:30 on 8 July, two adults had been killed in the attack, along with 16 other people injured, including seven children. Ukraine's Ministry of Health has launched a fundraising campaign for the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital, which was hit by a Russian missile on Monday 8 July. The strike killed two people. This link allows you to transfer funds to the Okhmatdyt Foundation. Support UP or become our patron! The Washington state Capitol building. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) The stage is set for the first-ever contract negotiations between Washington state lawmakers and some of their most trusted employees. Democratic staff in the state House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to unionize Monday, joining their Republican peers in both chambers who elected to form bargaining units last month. Now workers in each of the four partisan caucuses will sit down with administrative leaders of the House and Senate to negotiate separate agreements covering wages, benefits and working conditions. Its a historic moment, said Josie Ellison, a communications specialist with the House Democratic Caucus. Its been a lot of years in the making. It means a lot to the folks who are here. It also means a lot to folks who arent here because they couldnt afford to stay. Conversations about collective bargaining for legislative employees date back more than a decade. But it wasnt until a 2022 law that Washington joined Oregon and Maine in offering legislative staff the opportunity to unionize. This past session, lawmakers filled in critical details such as which workers are eligible to unionize and what topics can and cannot be collectively bargained. When finished, they said Washington had the most expansive law of any state in the nation. This is new territory, said Alice Palosaari, a policy analyst for House Democrats. Were really excited to be there and see what we can do with it. The scene In a bit of a surprise, legislative assistants for Republicans in the House and Senate went first, filing for representation by the Legislative Professionals Association on May 1. Democratic workers in each chamber filed their petitions May 17 with the Public Employment Relations Commission, which conducted the elections and will resolve disputes that may arise in the course of negotiating agreements. The commission is the independent state agency that carries out Washingtons collective bargaining laws. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US One petition covers 82 legislative assistants, policy analysts and communications staff of the House Democratic Caucus. The other is for 32 legislative assistants in the Senate Democratic Caucus. Both seek to be represented by the Washington Public Employees Association. Under Washingtons law, employees of the Democratic and Republican caucuses in each chamber must be in separate units unless a majority of each caucus votes to be in the same unit. However, units can negotiate collectively on economic issues, like wages and benefits, with the employers, which are the chief clerk of the House and secretary of the Senate. When bargaining begins, several subjects are off-limits, such as the length of the work day during a legislative session, as well as in the 60 calendar days before a session and the 20 days afterward. And the law specifically bars legislative employees from striking, participating in work stoppages, or refusing to perform job duties. Any completed deals must be ratified by Oct. 1. They would take effect on July 1, 2025, presuming they are funded in the budget lawmakers will pass and the next governor will sign in the spring. Heading to the table Mondays elections were a landslide. House Democratic staff voted 58-1 for representation and their Senate counterparts backed the union by a 23-0 margin. PERC will certify the results and resolve questions of eligibility of some of the voting members. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The results didnt surprise the Democratic workers. We knew this was something people really wanted and they had been asking for this for a long time, Palosaari said. Im just excited we get to go to the table and start fighting for them. The mood among Republican legislative staff was a bit different. They arent necessarily pro-union. Rather they want to be sure their interests are protected. In the House, legislative assistants voted 18-3 for representation. The vote was 21-1 among their Senate colleagues. Most of the Republican Legislative Assistants didnt support unionization when polled, but if they make us have a union workplace, we want a union reflecting our values. The vote for our own local-only union was overwhelming, said Jami Lund, spokesperson for the Legislative Professionals Association and a Senate legislative assistant. Talks are planned this week in the House and in two weeks with the Senate, Lund said. Initial conversations revealed an early wrinkle: Republicans want to conduct negotiations more openly than either the House or Senate administrations desire. Weve proposed ground rules that include rules on public communication, but we have not yet reached an agreement, Sarah Bannister, secretary of the Senate, said in an email. Lund characterized it with slightly stronger terms, saying the employers seek near-total secrecy about proceedings. In our conversation with the [staff bargaining] teams we preferred more transparency, especially about our ability to make proposals available to members and others who are interested, he said. How this will be resolved is still uncertain. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST A United Airlines flight landed safely on Monday in Denver, its planned destination, after losing a wheel on takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport, the airline said Monday. United Flight 1001 reported no injuries on the aircraft or the ground. There were 174 passengers and seven crewmembers aboard. United Airlines is investigating the cause of the incident, the spokesperson said. The wheel was recovered in Los Angeles. The aircraft was a Boeing 757-200. A Boeing spokesperson said the company delivered the plane about 30 years ago, in 1994, and ended production of the 757 in 2004. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 United Airlines plane taxis at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on November 5, 2014. A United Airlines flight lost a wheel at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI July 9 (UPI) -- United Airlines said it is investigating how the wheel of a Boeing 757-200 fell off on takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport on Monday before standing safely in Denver. United Flight 1001, carrying 174 passengers and seven crewmembers, landed at Denver International Airport without incident after an emergency landing. Crews recovered the wheel that dislodged from the back portion of the plane in Los Angeles. Other pilots contacted air traffic control alerting that the wheel of the plane was rolling down the runway after the United flight had taken off. It marked the second time this year a United Airlines flight dealt with a loose tire. In March, a tire came off a United Boeing 777 on takeoff from San Francisco International Airport to LAX. While the plane landed safely in Los Angeles, the tire damaged numerous vehicles in a parking lot in San Francisco. "Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety," United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said after the March incident, according to USA Today. "While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus." Kirby addressed other recent incidents at United, which included an engine fire mid-flight, a damaged wing, stuck rudder pedals and a "security issue" that forced an emergency landing. A United Airlines plane lost a wheel while taking off Monday from Los Angeles International Airport, officials said, marking the latest issue this year for the airline, which was already the focus of a safety review by federal aviation officials. The Boeing 757-200 that lost its wheel completed its planned flight to Denver, where it safely landed, United said. No injuries were reported on the ground. Pilots of an Allegiant flight bound for Tulsa, Oklahoma, were the first to be heard on LiveATC.net reporting the wayward wheel as it bounced across runways and taxiways at LAX and radioed in their report to air traffic control. A tire came off that 75 that took off, we saw it rolling down past bravo seven, bravo eight, said the crew of Allegiant 2388. Other pilots chimed into air traffic control in real-time, with the crew of another flight saying the tire crossed a parallel runway. Another pilot radioed the wheel had finally stopped near the airports southwest corner, about three-quarters of a mile from where it was first seen rolling away. There were 174 customers and seven crewmembers on board, the airline said. The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event, the airline said in a statement. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating. The incident comes months after another United Airlines flight lost a wheel while taking off from San Francisco International Airport, damaging several cars in a parking lot. That plane, which was headed for Osaka, Japan, landed safely in Los Angeles, officials said at the time. No injuries were reported. The incident was one of at least a dozen involving United Airlines flights in March, according to a CNN analysis, prompting CEO Scott Kirby to send a safety message to customers. At the time, he said the incidents were unrelated, but have our attention and have sharpened our focus. That same month, the FAA began a safety review of the airline, according to a memo from United. Over the next several weeks, we will begin to see more of an FAA presence in our operation as they begin to review some of our work processes, manuals and facilities, United said in a memo to employees obtained by CNN. The review means an even closer look at multiple areas of our operation to ensure we are doing all we can to promote and drive safety compliance. In a statement at the time, the FAA said its safety assurance system routinely monitors all aspects of an airlines operation. It focuses on an airlines compliance with applicable regulations; ability to identify hazards, assess and mitigate risk; and effectively manage safety. CNNs Gregory Wallace, Samantha Delouya, Taylor Romine and Sara Smart contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In secretive hearings, the University of Florida set aside recommendations to lightly punish some of the college students arrested after pro-Palestinian protests on campus and instead kicked them all out of school for three to four years. The decisions by the new dean of students, Chris Summerlin, overruled what were effectively sentencing recommendations by the juries, known as hearing bodies, who heard testimony and watched police video of the protests and arrests during the disciplinary cases. The students were among nine people who university police and Florida state troopers arrested April 29 during a demonstration on the Plaza of the Americas on the east side of the University of Florida campus. They were among the first college arrests in Florida, and all remain banned from university property. In at least two cases, the hearing bodies recommended probation for Keely Nicole Gliwa, 23, of Gainesville a masters student who expected to graduate May 2 and a deferred suspension for Parker Stanely Hovis, 26, of Naples. The university withheld Gliwas diploma and suspended both Gliwa and Hovis for three years. In other cases, the hearing body recommended a one-year suspension for Tess Jaden Segal, 20, of Weston, and Allan Hektor Frasheri, 21, of Largo, but UF suspended Segal for three years and Frasheri for four years. Allan Hektor Frasheri, 21, of Largo, is detained by police on April 29 during a protest on the University of Florida campus. Frasheri has been suspended by the university for four years. More: DeSantis' University of Florida press conference met with chanting pro-Palestinian protesters The university suspended Roseanna Yashoda Bisram, 20, of Ocala for three years, the same duration as the hearing body recommended. Augustino Matthias Pulliam, 20, a freshman theater major from Jacksonville, also was suspended three years. A student at nearby Santa Fe College, Charly Pringle, 21, of Jacksonville, was suspended for three years in her schools separate disciplinary process. The seven students said they have submitted appeals to overturn their punishments, which they said were pending. The suspensions mean that each would need to reapply for admission to UF. The only worse punishment would have been to expel them, which would have prevented them ever from returning. Meanwhile, all nine people arrested at UF said they have turned down deferred prosecution agreements offered to them by the Alachua County State Attorneys Office under plea bargains. Under such deals, a defendant would plead no contest or guilty and the charges would effectively be dropped from their records if they committed no further crimes during a period of time, usually 12 months. None of the nine had any prior criminal convictions. We did not resist arrest, and we are prepared to fight our charges, Hovis said in a statement. "We're standing in solidarity with each other, and collectively demanding that the state drop the charges against us. Their court cases were expected to unfold over the summer. The state attorney, Brian Kramer, is a Republican facing re-election in November. Of the nine, Ember Boerboom, 24, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was a former UF student, Pringle was a Santa Fe student and Jinx Rooney, 23 of Valrico, Florida, had no apparent affiliation with the university. All faced misdemeanor criminal charges of resisting arrest without violence except Frasheri, who prosecutors charged with felony battery on a police officer. Hovis also faces another misdemeanor, a trespass count. Police said at the protest Hovis declined to say whether he would leave, so they arrested him. Under university disciplinary rules, Summerlin was permitted to reject the recommendations of the hearing bodies, which are typically composed of faculty members. Summerlin, who started his job at UF in April, the same month as the arrests, declined Tuesday through a spokesperson to say why he handed out tougher-than-recommended sanctions in nearly every case. The outcomes of the disciplinary hearings which happened during May and June were described in a news release Tuesday distributed by the students. The privacy of the schools disciplinary process is protected under federal law, and only the students involved can lawfully disclose what happened behind closed doors. Two of the UF students, including Segal, are Jewish, they said. I stand in solidarity with Palestinians not in spite of my Judaism, but because of it, she said in a statement. Meanwhile, newly released law enforcement video appears to capture the moment that one of them was accused of spitting on a police officer in the most serious case. Prosecutors have accused Frasheri of spitting on the right arm of university police Officer Kristy Sasser as she was helping a state trooper walk away with another protester under arrest. Sasser, who also testified in at least one university disciplinary hearing, said in court papers that Frasheri walked up to us and spit on me. His spittle landed on my right arm. I disengaged from the escort and arrested Frasheri for battery. Protesters are chained together as they are loaded into an Alachua County Sheriff's Office van on Monday, April 29, 2024, on the University of Florida campus. In video of the arrests obtained from the Florida Highway Patrol under Floridas public records law, Frasheri is seen fidgeting with a water bottle with a medical-style mask down to his chin, joining the crowd in screaming shame at the officers arresting their peers. As Sasser walked by, the top part of Frasheris body appeared to lunge sharply toward her as he held a water bottle. Sasser turned and appeared seconds later behind Frasheri to arrest him. Frasheri is expected at an upcoming court hearing July 24 for an update in his case. UF President Ben Sasse, during a May press conference, praised police: What you have done in the face of being spit on, being shouted at with profanities has been amazing, Sasse said. The university has declined so far to release other police video showing the arrests, despite a reporters request for copies April 30 70 days ago under state law. The school also hasnt turned over requested copies of communications among its general counsel, Sasse and police departments. This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at vivienneserret@ufl.edu. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: University of Florida suspends arrested pro-Palestinian protesters First in a series of stories on Worcester County residents recently honored by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. LEOMINSTER Driving around Leominster to eyeball the different community projects the city is working on is one of the best parts of Wendy Wiiks municipal job. I love to see whats been accomplished, Wiiks said. After all, it's teamwork and her writing skills that made the work possible. The grant writer for Leominster, Wendy Wiiks, was named a 2024 Commonwealth Heroine after her nomination by Sen. John Cronin, D-Fitchburg. She was one of 125 women to be nominated. Wiiks is the grant administrator for Leominster and while in her position managed the citys response to the COVID-19 pandemic and administered the American Rescue Plan Act funds the city was awarded through the federal bailout plan. She seeks out funding opportunities offered by state and federal entities, then researches whether any of Leominsters projects fit the criteria and writes grant proposals in an effort to secure the funds. I was an English major, so I can write, Wiiks said. She also has an eye for detail, takes the time to "dot her is and cross her ts" and can follow directions. The state and federal governments like to see clearly thought out projects, with cost estimates and proposed timelines. It helped that the city has always had a hard-core planning department with a priority list of projects to be completed. There was always the next park to refurbish, the next land grant or the next industrial project, Wiiks said. Wiiks has been working for Leominster for 15 years after working as the economic development coordinator for Sen. Robert Antonioni until his retirement in 2008. Who doesnt want to work for their hometown for a dynamic mayor who never sleeps? Wiiks joked. More: Worcester County women honored at State House as heroines of the commonwealth Wiiks was one of 125 women from around Massachusetts nominated by local legislators as a Heroine of the Commonwealth Class of 2024; a recognition bestowed by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. In tapping Wiiks, Sen. John Cronin, D-Fitchburg, said she, does remarkable work whenever called upon, whether the problem is large or small. Sept. 11, 2023, was a rainy day across Massachusetts, but in Leominster, the rain was catastrophic. Nearly 10 inches fell in several hours, stranding evening commuters on flooded-out roads, forcing residents to evacuate from their homes and destroying roads and critical infrastructure, Cronin said. Wendy worked tirelessly to field residents damage claims and navigate a complex FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) submittal process. Gov. Maura Healey, center, met with officials in Leominster including Rep. Natalie M. Higgins, Sen. John J. Cronin, and Leominster Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella Sept. 12, 2023 All her experience came into play this past year as Wiiks and her team mustered the information needed to seek out a federal disaster declaration for Leominster following the September flash floods. The 11 inches of rain that fell over the course of four hours caused $30 million in damage to the municipalitys infrastructure and millions more to individual homeowners and businesses in Leominster. I would say that this FEMA process is one of the most intense and confusing processes I have seen in my life, Wiiks said, adding she was pleased that homeowners and business are getting assistance. Dealing with the flood was a team effort, Wiiks said. They gathered information, damage reports and estimates of repair costs, and submitted it to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And then they did it again when the federal government denied the disaster designation request and the municipality gathered more information to appeal the decision. Im still shocked we were denied, Wiiks said. However, President Joe Biden reversed the agencys decision for private landowners and businesses without addressing the damage sustained by the municipal infrastructure. While the community sustained considerable damage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared, damage to the municipal infrastructure is not of such severity or magnitude as to warrant public assistance. The state allocated some funding from an emergency fund to Leominster and Cronin filed an amendment to the Senate budget for fiscal 2025 that starts at the end of July to be administered by the United Way of Central Massachusetts. That $500,000 stipend, if approved by the House, would cover lost personal property and would augment state and federal aid. Cronin praised Wiiks, quiet confident approach with resident, community partners and elected officials and her unwavering persistence is a demonstration of her character. Wendy displays the qualities of a true unsung heroine through her unselfish giving and caring for others. He said he is proud to call her a constituent. One of Wiiks favorite community improvement projects was, thankfully, untouched by the flash floods: the remodeling of the common at the city's center. We redid the center of town, planted new trees, installed new seating and organized the common, Wiiks said. The revitalized area has a bigger, greener open space, is entirely accessible and is user friendly. The municipality added new lighting, wired the space for public WiFi and put in new tables that included checkerboards. Its a place where people can sit, grab food, use their laptops, have lunch, Wiiks said. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mass. Commission on Status of Women honors Leominster's grant writer The upcoming state primary will winnow down the field in the pivotal race for Maricopa County recorder. The seat holds power over voter registration and early voting, and the race has drawn national attention. Maricopa County is the most populous county in the state and one of the largest voting jurisdictions in the country. Recently, it has also become a breeding ground for voting conspiracies. Three Republicans are running for a shot at the key position: Incumbent Stephen Richer, information technology professional Don Hiatt and state Rep. Justin Heap. Whoever wins will face military veteran and attorney Timothy Stringham, a Democrat, in the November election. Richer, first elected in 2020, is looking for a second term in office. During his time in office, he touts his efforts to clean voter rolls and improve chain of custody documentation. Along the way, he's established himself as a staunch defender of the county's elections and has pushed back on voting conspiracies and misinformation. Arizona election: Read our full coverage of county races Heap and Hiatt both have voiced issues with county elections. Heap, who has previously supported legislation to remove Arizona from a multistate voter registration list maintenance effort, has pledged to clean voter rolls. He also has promised faster election results. Hiatt also commits to cleaning voter rolls and says he would publicly release election-related data, including detailed logs from machines that tally votes. The Arizona Republic asked each candidate questions about their bid for office and how they would handle key issues if elected. Here's what they had to say. Answers may have been slightly edited for clarity and brevity. Growth: How will you ensure election processes can withstand population increases? If elected, you will be tasked with overseeing voter registration and early voting in a rapidly growing county. What steps will you take to ensure voter rolls are properly maintained? What changes or improvements would you make to early ballot processing and signature verification? Republican county recorder candidate and incumbent Stephen Richer gives his opening statement during a Citizens Clean Elections debate at BitFire Studios in Phoenix on Monday, June 24, 2024. Stephen Richer: When I took office in January 2021, Maricopa County had 2.6 million active registered voters. We now have 2.4 million active registered voters. That's a decrease of 200,000 voters despite being the fastest-growing county in the United States. I don't have to talk about what I would do to improve our voter rolls. I've done it. And I've done it in a lawful manner. Many people talk about what they would do for example, that they would use data provided by a real estate brokerage in a way that shows their ignorance of the law. And my office always follows the law. As for how we did it, I prioritized voter list maintenance by allocating personnel to the department and recruiting an incredibly knowledgeable and talented director of voter registration. We rebuilt the voter registration database, we used new list maintenance tools and we conducted the largest-ever public information campaign. We now use every single lawful list maintenance tool at our disposal, including Arizona Department of Vital Statistics reports, Social Security Administration data, U.S. Postal Service national change of address reports, Electronic Registration Information Center interstate mover reports, Arizona obituaries, juror reports and more. Don Hiatt: My lifetime of working with data integrity gives me the skills necessary to apply accepted industry methodologies to maintain the voter list of data. I would work with the Board of Supervisors to push for ending "voting month." When a person comes to a precinct location to vote, they would present their valid government identification, thus reducing the need for the signature verification step that currently requires days and days to complete. The county will save money, increase security and have results published the next day. What is so hard to understand about simple precinct voting with friendly hand counts in the evening? Justin Heap: Effective voter roll management is central to ensuring voters can have trust in the process of Maricopa Countys elections. Under the current recorder, voter roll maintenance has been laughable at best, resulting in historically low voter confidence and voter disenfranchisement. My promise to voters is to do everything within the confines of our election laws to clean our voter rolls in real time and to restore transparency, lawfulness and honesty back to our elections. In the Arizona Legislature, I am fighting for this, and I will make it happen as recorder. Timothy Stringham: Arizona already has a robust process to protect our voter rolls while making our elections accessible for voters. What I promise to do is to listen intently to our poll workers and our career election officials, and work to bring them resources and advocate for policies to make their jobs easier. In Maricopa County, we have over 2.4 million voters and we record over a million documents a year. The job of the recorder is to make sure our employees have the tools to get a job of that size done. Leadership should always listen to their workers before deciding that they know better. That's what I've done as an officer in the United States military and it's how I'll lead as the county recorder. Threats: How will you protect your workers from harassment? County election officials have seen threats and harassment in recent years. What steps would you take to protect your staff, ensure your office can retain employees and ensure you can attract new workers when needed? Republican county recorder candidate Don Hiatt gives his opening statement during a Citizens Clean Elections debate at BitFire Studios in Phoenix on Monday, June 24, 2024. Richer: I'm proud of my ability to recruit and retain the best staff. People stay because they know I have their backs. I don't mince words in responding to crazy accusations. I stand up to threats. And I work alongside them. I am in the office 60 hours per week. I work even the most menial tasks, because I care about them and I care about the mission. We have also done more concrete things such as constructing a new exterior fence, increasing the number of security cameras, arranging for security personnel during election times, conducting safety training, fortifying certain windows, installing metal detectors, enhancing cyber security and more. We also work very closely with our law enforcement partners, all of whom have been absolutely wonderful, especially the Sheriff's Office. I'd led operations and businesses before taking office. My primary opponents have not. It's a laughable thought that somebody who has never made a hiring decision, a firing decision or managed a significantly-sized team should come in and run this office of 150 full-time employees. Hiatt: Once we return to precinct voting, the public will gain confidence in the election process, and harassment will end. Violent protestors should always be arrested. Heap: I condemn any and all violence or threats against all election officials. That is simply not who we are as Americans. I categorically reject it. I also condemn the Democrats weaponization of our government and justice system to target and destroy their political opponents. Both of these are a perverse corruption of our American institutions. If anyone makes a credible threat against a public official, I believe they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Stringham: The county recorder needs to work closely with all of our law enforcement agencies in the Valley as well as federal agencies to analyze every aspect of our security, whether that means Election Day security, election integrity or office safety. I've worked in national security for more than 15 years, including time working for the Department of Justice, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. I also have a master's degree in national security law from Georgetown University, so safety for our employees and our voters isn't just a top priority for me, it's an area of expertise. Electoral trust: How confident are you in election results? How confident are you in the certified results of the 2020 and 2022 elections? Richer: Very, very confident. See all the post-election assessments. See the court cases. If you're running for recorder and can't give a plain answer to this question, then you either haven't done your homework or you're a coward. Either is disqualifying. Hiatt: The 2020 election was stolen through a myriad of steps. Poll workers used to be able to observe if someone "stuffed" extra ballots in the ballot box. Today, the ballot box is being stuffed with green, no excuse mail-in ballots. If we want to save our state and the nation, we must end our love affair with the green, no-excuse mail-in ballot and return to precinct voting with paper ballots, valid photo identification and a friendly hand count during the evening, giving results by midnight. Did you know France, Mexico, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Russia, Japan and no Middle Eastern or Latin countries allow mail-in voting, primarily to avoid fraud? Maybe the U.S. should wake up and smell the coffee and ban no excuse mail-in ballots. Heap: Whats abundantly clear to any honest observer is that voters are disenfranchised and have lost trust in our elections. Restoring voter confidence and the integrity of our elections has become the civil rights issue of our time. We need more transparency, lawfulness and honesty in the election process so every voter is confident in the outcomes of Maricopa County elections. Stringham: I'm extremely confident in the results of those elections, however, I also don't want anyone to feel like their concerns are being dismissed nor do I think we need to be complacent about future elections. It is fantastic that people are interested in election security and integrity. We just want to make sure that we are having informed, honest discussions, instead of what we got with the Cyber Ninjas investigation, which was a grossly irresponsible waste of taxpayer money. Property documents: How would you improve recording functions? The recorder does more than just election-related duties. If elected, you will also be responsible for recording a variety of documents, including deeds, plats and other property records. How would you improve the current recording system and searchable database? Richer: None of my opponents have any experience in election administration, voter registration administration or recording public documents. That's a problem. One has never even recorded a property document, because he lives in his parent's house. That's something we record thousands of times per day. My team and I are very nearly done with the completion of a redesign of the recording website. The new website will allow users to more easily find specific recorded documents, digitally record documents and browse our index of over 55 million recorded documents. This is very important because over 90% of our customers now digitally record. In addition to the new website, in the last year, we built Maricopa Title Alert to prevent deed fraud. We already have over 65,000 individual subscribers. Also in the past year, we launched remote recording kiosks, and we've indexed over two million historic documents that were previously unavailable for searches by name. In 2025, I hope to use technology to automatically read recorded documents such that users can search recorded documents by additional fields. I will continue working to prevent deed fraud. I suspect that is why I have been endorsed by the major real estate associations. Hiatt: I want to improve the security around property deeds and notify individuals when changes occur to their records. I will also analyze the processes currently in use and make appropriate improvements that will increase security. Heap: I will make sure the system is accessible and transparent for everyone. We need to be constantly vigilant in protecting Maricopa County property owners against deed and title fraud by enhancing the notification systems for property owners whenever a change in status occurs. Stringham: Deed fraud is increasingly becoming a problem and we need to work closely with our real estate professionals and title companies to create secure processes to record documents, as well as efficient processes to identify and investigate suspected fraud that do not slow down business in a fast-growing county. This issue might not affect a lot of people, but when it does, the results are catastrophic. We also need to continue to work to improve our county websites so that if you do need information, it is readily accessible. On a personal note: Who do you admire? What person in public life, past or present, do you most admire, and why? Richer: My ideological north star growing up was Milton Friedman, and he's part of the reason why I chose to go to the University of Chicago for law school and graduate school. My favorite president is George Washington. Walking away from power was so unique in the course of human history. We easily could have become just another monarchy. I moved to Arizona during Doug Ducey's governorship, and I immediately took pride in his leadership hardworking, professional, moral, principled and prudent. I admire anyone in public life who says hard truths. Most recently, this made me admire former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Linda Milhaven, who stood up in front of a sizable audience and defended the dignity of a public employee, even though she knew it would not be well-received by the audience. Similarly, former Gov. Jan Brewer recently wrote in The Arizona Republic about a hard truth. My appreciation and respect for her continues to grow. If more public actors had the courage these two recently exhibited, we'd be in a better position as a society. And I continue to admire my friend, supporter and mentor Helen Purcell, who held this office for 28 years. Hiatt: President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the first president I remember in my young life because I know the exact spot I was standing when I heard he had been assassinated. He left a lasting impression on my life. As he said: "Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country." He also inspired me with the goal of placing a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Justin Heap: President Abraham Lincoln. Not only is he the father of the Republican Party, but he successfully fought the signature civil rights battle in our nations history. His steadfastness, faith and wisdom held America together during its darkest time. Election integrity has become the civil rights issue of my lifetime. I am running for Maricopa County recorder to make sure that every voter, regardless of political party, can have trust that our elections are run honestly, securely and accessibly. Timothy Stringham: My fellow U.S. Navy veteran, John McCain, who reminded us that there was no greater life than one spent in service. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County recorder election 2024: The candidates Unsure who to vote for in Pinal County District 3 supervisor race? Hear from a candidate The upcoming state primary will likely determine who represents Casa Grande on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. All of the county's top seats are up for grabs in 2024. Once rural, it is now one of the state's fastest-growing counties and is increasingly facing questions about its future. Its leaders must navigate rapid population growth and economic development needs, among other issues. District 3 covers Casa Grande and the surrounding communities of Stanfield, Randolph and Eloy, as well as other areas in the central and southwestern portions of the county. There, only two Republicans are running for the job: Incumbent Stephen Miller and small business owner Luke Myers. Miller is looking to win a fourth term on the board. He previously served on the Casa Grande City Council. Myers is a political newcomer. He runs a family rental and property management company with homes in Arizona and Indiana. Which district do you live in? Check with county maps. No candidates of another recognized political party are in the race, so whoever wins will essentially take the seat outright. The Arizona Republic asked each candidate questions about their bid for office and how they would handle key issues if elected. Miller did not respond to requests for comment. Here's what Myers had to say. Answers may have been slightly edited for clarity and brevity. Budgeting: Where would you increase or decrease county spending? One of the primary responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors is to control the countys checkbook. What areas of county government would you prioritize in your ideal county budget? Would you decrease spending in any areas? Please be as specific as possible within the word limit. Pinal County Supervisor - District 3 Stephen Q. Miller at the Pinal County meeting in Florence on May 15, 2024. Luke Myers: My influence would be limited, but I would decrease spending in all except essential government services while encouraging the development of solutions from market-competitive, non-governmental providers. Arizona election: Read our full coverage of county supervisor races. Growth: How would you address continued population increases? In recent years, Pinal County has experienced rapid growth. That has tested the regions roads and left many areas of county government understaffed, among other issues. How would you position and prepare the county to navigate the ongoing influx of new residents? Myers: A civil government best supports quality of life for current and new residents by doing, with excellence, its essential functions only. This is how I would seek to position the country to be a good place for newcomers to prosper. Economic development: How do you plan to bring jobs to Pinal County? Most of Pinal Countys working residents are employed in neighboring Maricopa or Pima counties. If elected, what steps would you take to promote economic development in your district and countywide? Myers: To promote economic development, I will support less government and lower taxes. Government relations: How will you work with state lawmakers and others to address issues facing the county? Counties are arms of the state and have only specific powers prescribed in Arizona law. If elected, how would you lobby state lawmakers and other officials to address issues facing the county? Would you advocate for increased powers at the county level and if so, what ones? Myers: I would use personal acquaintance, public testimony and perhaps most importantly, thoughtful and thorough written reporting of county needs and estimated returns on investment to get our needs before state policymakers. Elections: How confident are you in election results? Pinal County supervisors are responsible for certifying election results. The county also recently saw a rough 2022 election cycle. How confident are you in the certified results of the 2020 and 2022 elections? Regardless of your answer, how would you work to improve election administration in the county? Myers: Integrity is never easy or natural, even less so in matters as politicized as elections. Fraud and other irregularities are a perennial threat to election credibility. The 2022 election is hardly an exception. To improve election administration, I will support transparency and accountability. On a personal note: Who do you admire? What person in public life, past or present, do you most admire, and why? Myers: Christ, who gave up more than anyone else. Solomon prioritized his people above himself. And President Calvin Coolidge "Silent Cal" didn't try to fix the world through schizophrenic executive activity. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pinal County District 3 supervisor election: candidate views, goals Chinas BYD, which vies with Tesla for the title of the worlds top maker of battery electric vehicles, has agreed to build a $1 billion car factory in Turkey, the Turkish government has announced. BYDs CEO Wang Chuanfu and Turkeys Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kaci signed the agreement in Istanbul, according to a statement from the Turkish ministry Monday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the signing ceremony, it said. We aim to meet the growing demand for new-energy vehicles in the region and reach consumers in Europe, the statement cited BYD representatives as saying. The announcement came just days after provisional additional duties on imports of Chinese-made EVs into the European Union came into effect. The tariffs, ranging from 17.4% to 37.6%, are aimed at stopping a flood of cheap Chinese cars built with what the EU deems unfair support from the government. Turkey is in a customs union with the EU. That means vehicles can be exported from the country to the trading bloc tariff-free. According to the agreement with Turkey, BYD will invest about $1 billion in the factory, which will be able to produce 150,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually, and set up a research and development center for sustainable mobility technologies at the plant. The factory is expected to start production at the end of 2026 and provide as many as 5,000 jobs in the country. CNN has reached out to BYD for comment but hasnt received a response. The EUs decision earlier this year imposed an extra 17.4% tariff on the vehicles BYD ships from China to the bloc, which also has a standard 10% duty on all car imports. Talks between the EU and China are expected to continue but, if no agreement is reached, the additional tariffs will become definitive in November. BYD already announced in December that it would build an EV factory in EU member Hungary, becoming the first major Chinese automaker to build passenger cars in Europe. Scott McLean in Istanbul, Fred He in Hong Kong and Tanem Zaman in Dubai contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a commission that oversees accusations of police misconduct, said theyre deeply disappointed after learning that a Boston Police Deputy Superintendent appointed to their post had been demoted. The POSTs Executive Director, Enrique Zuniga, says POST Commissioner Eddy Chrispin was demoted from Deputy Superintendent on Boston Polices command staff to Sergeant Detective last week. Zuniga cites Chrispins position on the POST as the main reason for the personnel move. We see no legitimate reason why Commissioner Chrispins appointment to the POST Commission should result in his demotion, Zuniga said. We understand BPD demoted Commissioner Chrispin claiming to have concerns about conflicts of interest due to his position on the command staff. Like any other state agency, the POST Commission has procedures to deal with conflicts of interest that may arise. Commissioners routinely disclose or recuse themselves from a particular matter that presents a conflict of interest. Additionally, current and past commissioners have held positions on an agencys command staff, such as the position of police chief, while also serving as commissioners. Chrispin was appointed to the commissioner position in June, a role officials say plays an important role in overseeing improvements for law enforcement in the state. His appointment fulfills the states requirement that an active law enforcement officer be chosen by the Attorney General from nominations by the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers (MAMLEO). Despite decades-long litigation and public outcry, the Boston Police Department has deflected the issue of organizational inclusivity, a MAMLEO spokesperson said. We, at MAMLEO call for the immediate reinstatement of Eddy Chrispin to his command staff rank, for the promotion of officers of color off of the existing civil service exam list, and for a expeditious stop to the bewildering retaliation practices that have sadly become the hallmark of the present day Commissioners Office, department, and the city. Executive Director Zuniga also called for Chrispins reinstatement to his previous position. This unwarranted decision by the BPD sets an unfortunate precedent and undermines the decisions of the appointing and nominating authorities while also undermining POSTs work toward police reform, Zuniga said. We support Commissioner Chrispin and are confident that his 25-year career in law enforcement, perspective as an active officer and history working with diverse communities will contribute to the mission of POST. Boston 25 News has reached out to Boston Police for comment. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Updated: Rescue operations end at Kyiv children's hospital, at least 33 killed in capital overall Search and rescue operations at the site of a Russian missile attack on Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv concluded on July 9, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The attack against the medical facility killed two people, including a doctor, and wounded 32 others. Eight children were hospitalized, according to Klymenko. In total, at least 33 people, including four children, were killed in Kyiv as a result of the July 8 attack, officials said the following day. Another 10 children are among the 117 injured. The Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical center, was hit during a Russian missile attack on July 8. The strike destroyed one building and damaged four others in the hospital, Health Minister Viktor Liashko said. Over 600 patients and at least as many staff members were at the Okhmatdyt and the Ukrainian Center for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, located near the hospital, at the moment of the attack. The Russian military struck Okhmatdyt with a Kh-101 cruise missile, according to the preliminary data obtained by the State Security Service (SBU). A law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent that it was launched in accordance with a programmed route. Other districts in Kyiv also came under Russian attacks. The bodies of three more women and of one boy were retrieved from the rubble of a residential building in the capital's Shevchenkivskyi district during the day on July 9, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Read also: I want Russians to feel it on their own skin: Shock, fury at the site of childrens hospital attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the alliance at a NATO event, in Washington Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the alliance at a NATO event, in Washington By Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies will deliver to Ukraine five additional air defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries and Patriot components, the leaders of those countries said in a joint statement during the NATO summit. They added that in the coming months, they intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of tactical air defense systems. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Washington, Ukraine's biggest supporter, has provided more than $50 billion in military aid since 2022. But U.S. military aid was delayed in Congress for months over the winter, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a shortage of weapons was giving Russia the upper hand. After battle lines remained largely frozen since early in the conflict, Moscow made some advances in eastern Ukraine in recent months. Zelenskiy has urged Western governments to increase and speed up military aid to Kyiv's forces. U.S. legislation was approved in April that provided $61 billion in funding to Ukraine. Zelenskiy said last week he wanted to double Ukraine's air defense capacity over the summer. KEY QUOTE President Joe Biden made the announcement in remarks at the NATO summit. A joint statement was later issued by the leaders of the U.S., the Netherlands, Romania, Italy, Germany and Ukraine. "We are providing Ukraine with additional strategic air defense systems, including additional Patriot batteries donated by the United States, Germany, and Romania; Patriot components donated by the Netherlands and other partners to enable the operation of an additional Patriot battery; and an additional SAMP-T system donated by Italy," the joint statement said. CONTEXT Ukraine has repeatedly called on partners to provide more help with air defense as it faces attacks from Russia on cities and energy infrastructure. Ukraine said Russia blasted the main children's hospital in Kyiv with a missile on Monday and rained missiles down on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 41 civilians in the deadliest wave of air strikes for months. Moscow has denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, although its attacks have killed thousands of civilians since it launched its invasion. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) A group of eight countries, including the United States and Australia, are raising concerns over Chinese hacking groups and the threat they pose. The advisory, reported first by The Wall Street Journal, marks an unusual move for Western governments, who joined together to target Chinas cyber activity, which they claim is led by the countrys intelligence services. Australia led the warning and marks the first time the country has taken such action after being slow to criticize the activity from its largest trading partner, the Journal noted. The U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan all joined in on the advisory. In our current strategic circumstances, these attributions are increasingly important tools in deterring malicious cyber activity, said Richard Marles, Australias deputy prime minister, per the Journal. The warning targeted a group known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40, or APT40. It works with Chinas Ministry of State Security to conduct cybersecurity operations. Rachael Falk, the chief executive officer of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre in Australia, told the outlet this kind of action from all eight countries is significant. You dont see collective attribution from so many agencies about one malicious cyber threat actor very often, she said. The group is accused of posing as a normal user and subsequently working to steal valuable data. ATP40 finds loopholes in widely used software and compromises peoples personal devices, Falk said. In its advisory, Australia said the group prefers exploiting vulnerable, public-facing infrastructure over techniques that require user interaction such as phishing campaigns. The warning did not list why it was being released now, but the timing suggests that the group is still active, the Journal noted. The concerns about Chinas hacking and cybersecurity plans have increased in recent years. It plays a major role in the tensions between the China and the U.S., even as leaders meet to try to repair relationships. In March, the Biden administration sanctioned two Chinese nationals and a company that allegedly targeted critical infrastructure sectors as part of an ongoing hacking effort. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. Army soldiers stand next to trucks arriving loaded with humanitarian aid at the U.S.-built floating pier Trident before reaching the beach on the coast of the Gaza Strip, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) WASHINGTON (AP) The pier built by the U.S. military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled Wednesday to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently, several U.S. officials said. It would deal the final blow to a project long plagued by bad weather, security uncertainties and difficulties getting food into the hands of starving Palestinians. The officials said the goal is to clear whatever aid has piled up in Cyprus and on the floating dock offshore and get it to the secure area on the beach in Gaza. Once that has been done, the Army will dismantle the pier and depart. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because final details are still being worked out. Officials had hoped the pier would provide a critical flow of aid to starving residents in Gaza as the nine-month-long war drags on. But while more than 19.4 million pounds (8.6 million kilograms) of food has gotten into Gaza via the pier, the project has been hampered by persistent heavy seas and stalled deliveries due to ongoing security threats as Israeli troops continue their offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The decision comes as Israeli troops make another push deeper into Gaza City, which Hamas says could threaten long-running negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release, after the two sides had appeared to have narrowed the gaps in recent days. U.S. troops removed the pier on June 28 because of bad weather and moved it to the port of Ashdod in Israel. But distribution of the aid had already stopped due to the security concerns. The United Nations suspended deliveries from the pier on June 9, a day after the Israeli military used the area around it for airlifts after a hostage rescue that killed more than 270 Palestinians. U.S. and Israeli officials said no part of the pier itself was used in the raid, but U.N. officials said any perception in Gaza that the project was used may endanger their aid work. As a result, aid brought through the pier into the secure area on the beach piled up for days while talks continued between the U.N. and Israel. More recently, the World Food Program hired a contractor to move the aid from the beach to prevent the food and other supplies from spoiling. The Pentagon said all along that the pier was only a temporary project, designed to prod Israel into opening and allowing aid to flow better through land routes which are far more productive than the U.S.-led sea route. And the weather now is projected only to get worse. The pier was damaged by high winds and heavy seas on May 25, just a bit more than a week after it began operating, and was removed for repairs. It was reconnected on June 7, but removed again due to bad weather on June 14. It was put back days later, but heavy seas again forced its removal on June 28. The U.S. will not permit Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russian territory following the deadly July 8 attack, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing. "There's been no change in our policy. You saw the president several weeks ago gave guidance to Ukraine that they can use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets just over the border. That's still the case," Kirby told reporters on July 8. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS News in June that Ukraine was allowed to strike "anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side to try to take additional Ukrainian territory." Read also: Exclusive: Congresswoman says Biden should ease restrictions on Ukraines use of US weaponry on Russian soil The Russian military struck the Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical center, with a Kh-101 cruise missile, according to the preliminary data obtained by the State Security Service (SBU). At least two people were killed and 50 injured, including seven children, according to local authorities. Kirby added that it is part of the course for "Putin to hit civilian infrastructure" and he "doesn't care if people are in hospitals or residential buildings." Across the country, over 170 people were injured, while at least 37 were confirmed killed due to the July 8 Russian attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. As the NATO summit officially begins on July 9 at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Kirby said there will be "a very strong set of signals and messages to Mr. Putin that he cannot wait out NATO, he cannot wait out the United States. We are going to continue to support Ukraine." Read also: Ukraine war latest: Mass Russian missile strike kills, injures over 200 civilians Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Iran is attempting to covertly stoke protests in the United States related to the conflict in Gaza, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said in a statement on Tuesday, posing as activists online and, in some cases, providing financial support to protesters. I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza this intelligence does not indicate otherwise, Haines said. Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government, she said. We urge all Americans to remain vigilant as they engage online with accounts and actors they do not personally know. US officials believe that Iran, despite its past support to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, has sought to calibrate its response to the Israeli assault on Gaza to avoid a prolonged direct conflict between the two countries. But it has continued to seek to extract costs from the US and Israel. The conflict in Gaza has sparked protests across the United States, in particular on college campuses, where some Americans have expressed horror at the scale of civilian casualties caused by Israel as it attempts to stamp out Hamas, which carried out the October 7 attack on southern Israel. Those protests have been hugely divisive domestically, making them a ripe target for foreign actors like Iran interested in amplifying discord within the US. US officials, including Haines, have warned publicly that Iran has become increasingly aggressive in their foreign influence efforts. In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza, Haines said on Tuesday. A US intelligence assessment released in December reported that Iran also tried to meddle in the 2022 midterm elections. Tehran, it said, sought to exploit perceived social divisions and undermine confidence in US democratic institutions but that its efforts were limited by competing priorities, including the need to manage internal unrest. Operatives working for the Iranian government also prepared fake, AI-generated content as part of a campaign to influence US voters in the closing weeks of the 2020 election campaign, CNN has previously reported. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US State Department comments on Ukraine and Poland's proposal to shoot down Russian missiles The US Department of State has suggested that the NATO summit in Washington could discuss the potential shooting down of Russian missiles flying towards Poland in Ukrainian skies. Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller Details: The day before, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland would engage NATO allies in discussing the possible downing of Russian missiles and drones over the territory of Ukraine. Miller was asked about the US position on this idea. "I dont have any changes when it comes to either U.S. policy or NATO policy to announce today, but obviously any time the a NATO member wants to raise a policy, they have the ability to do so and discuss it with other heads of state. Theyll have a summit this week and Im sure that is something that could be discussed if the if he (Donald Tusk ed.) would like to do so," Miller said. Background: On 8 July, Ukraine and Poland signed a bilateral security cooperation agreement. Zelenskyy said that the agreement includes a provision to develop a mechanism to shoot down Russian missiles and drones launched in the direction of Poland within Ukrainian airspace. Support UP or become our patron! Jeremy Moeller / Getty Images Key Takeaways Chipotle Mexican Grill shares continued to fall Monday after setting a record high when shareholders approved a 50-to-1 stock split in June. The Mexican fast-food chain has been accused by some customers of reducing the size of its burrito bowls, which CEO Brian Niccol denies. Shares of Chipotle have lost about 13% since reaching an all-time high last month, but still have added almost a third of their value this year. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) was one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 on Monday, falling more than 5%, as investor excitement over the Mexican fast-food chains 50-for-1 stock split continued to fade. Shares of the burrito company hit a record closing high on June 18 when shareholders approved the split, which took effect on June 26. Since then, though, theyve slowly declined, losing about 13% of their value through today's close. Chipotle and other companies have lately been accused of shrinkflation, the idea of getting less for the same price. Some Chipotle customers have claimed their burrito bowls have become smaller, and theyve taken videos of employees making them, posting the clips on TikTok. Chipotle Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Niccol in May told CNBC that the company has never done that, adding the whole thing is kind of crazy to me. Mondays selloff sent shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill to their lowest level since April. However, even with that drop, they have added about a third of their value in 2024. The company's next round of quarterly results are due July 24. Read the original article on Investopedia. The United States sent Metal Shark high-speed boats to Ukraine for its Maritime Guard, the State Border Guard Service reported on July 9 on Facebook. The watercraft were transferred in cooperation with the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) and Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program, the statement read. The State Border Guard Service did not specify how many boats were delivered from the U.S. The boats are equipped with modern navigation and control systems, automatic fire extinguishing, as well as a video surveillance system, making them maneuverable, fast, and ergonomic, the State Border Guard Service said. Ukraine's Maritime Guard is already using the watercraft on the sea and rivers near the state border. The boats also ensure the security of the maritime corridor in the Black Sea, according to the statement. Kyiv was forced to set up a new export route in the Black Sea last year after Russia unilaterally pulled out the Black Sea grain deal. Initially envisioned as a humanitarian corridor to allow the departure of ships stranded there since the start of the full-scale war, it has since grown into a full-blown trade route. As of the end of June, Ukraine had exported 37.4 million tons of agricultural products through the new route, the Infrastructure Ministry said. Read also: Ukraine working on new maritime strategy, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US troops withdraw from first base in Niger U.S. troops formally withdrew from a major air base in Niger on Monday, the first of two bases to be evacuated by American forces after Niamey fell to a military coup in 2023 and Nigerien officials ordered Washington to leave. American forces left Air Base 101, near the capital of Niamey, after a ceremony formalizing the departure of the troops, according to U.S. Africa Command (Africom). The last aircraft to leave, an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transportation plane, departed Monday. The U.S. will leave Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez in September. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, Africoms director of strategy, engagement and programs, said he was grateful for the orderly and safe withdrawal of American troops. Today we reflect positively on the past 15 years of security cooperation and shared sacrifice by U.S. forces and Nigerien forces, Ekman said in a statement. A military junta took control of Niger in July 2023, part of a series of Sahel countries falling to coups in recent years. Niamey has since grown closer to Russia. The transition process to leave Air Base 101 began on May 19 when the U.S. and Niger signed a document stipulating the terms of withdrawal. The U.S. withdrawal from Niger has sparked fears of a resurgence in extremist terrorist activity, including from groups affiliated with ISIS. American forces are in Africa and the Middle East to combat the Islamic State group and conduct counterterrorism operations. Ekman said the U.S. will have to adjust its presence and activities in West Africa to pursue mutual security objectives. United States Africa Command will maintain our focus on building partner capacity and strengthening relationships and trust, he said. We are committed to listening to West African militaries to best support their partner-led, U.S. enabled operations to counter violent extremism and improve security and stability. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) The University of South Carolina Aiken will offer a new, online masters degree program in education leadership this fall. From the universitys School of Education, the entirely web-based program will allow students to pursue principal certification and support the growth of leadership roles for local teachers. According to the university, the new program has been approved by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and is awaiting approval from the Department of Education. ALSO ON WJBF: Burke County to celebrate inaugural graduates of Rural Communities Diploma Program Judy Beck, dean of the School of Education, said the at-a-distance masters program will offer convenience while supporting educators. This program provides a way for area educators to move into administration within a school district, said Beck. Because we work with the school districts in the area for our undergraduate teacher preparation programs, we are more in tune with the needs of the school districts and the challenges they face. We are also right here in the event they want to meet with faculty face-to-face or utilize in-person services on the USCAs campus. King Lawrence, retired superintendent of Aiken County Public Schools, said the masters program will help to increase the districts pool of qualified candidates in education, especially in South Carolina. Having teacher leaders ready is critical to our success in the future, Lawrence said. The availability of a quality educational leadership program at USCA will bolster the applicant pool and provide our community with the next generation of school leaders. Degree candidates of the masters program will complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits hours focused on educational leadership, which include six internship credit hours. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. Utah CEO and Daughter Killed After Bulldozer Falls onto Their Vehicle: 'We Are Heartbroken,' Says Governor The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, July 6, at Ogden Canyon in Utah Richard David Hendrickson/Instagram Richard David Hendrickson and daughter Sally in 2020 A Utah CEO and his teenage daughter have been identified as the victims of a fatal car crash after a bulldozer fell on top of their vehicle. Richard David Hendrickson, CEO and president of outdoor furniture company Lifetime Products, and his 16-year-old daughter Sally died in the collision at Ogden Canyon in Utah on Saturday, July 6, Utah Highway Patrol announced in a news release. The tragic incident occurred at around 12:49 p.m. local time as a tow truck carrying a mini bulldozer traveling eastbound in the opposite direction of Hendrickson, 57, and his family negotiated a right-hand curve while passing them, ejecting the bulldozer onto their GMC pickup that had been towing a boat, per the release. Hendrickson and Sally were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other adult passengers left with non-life-threatening injuries, the release states. dps.utah.gov Scene of crash Related: Michigan Dad Dead, Wife and Three Sons Injured, After Car Crash: 'Heartbreaking Tragedy' It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic and sudden passing of our CEO and President, Richard David Hendrickson, in a car accident today in Ogden Canyon, Lifetime Products said in a statement. This heartbreaking incident also claimed the life of one of his daughters, Sally," the statement added. Hendrickson was described by the Lifetime Products statement as more than a company leader. He was ... a visionary and a friend to many within our business and the wider community, it said, in part. His ability to connect with people bound all of his other talents together in a very special way." Related: Utah Couple Dies in Car Crash on Drive to Announce News of Pregnancy to Family Added Barry Mower, Founder of Lifetime Products, He was one of my most trusted and cherished friends and will be sorely missed. Lifetime will not be the same without him. My love and heartfelt sympathy go out to his dear family. According to the Utah-based company, the passengers traveling with Hendrickson and his daughter were his wife and two of their other children, who "sustained non-life-threatening injuries." Another daughter was not in the vehicle, as she was away overseas. 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. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shared his condolences to the Hendrickson family on X (formerly Twitter), writing, Richard was a friend and incredible leader." "We are heartbroken by his tragic passing with his daughter Sally," Cox added. "We mourn with the surviving members of his family and pray they will find comfort and healing." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Silver King Fire burns near homes in Piute County on Sunday, July 7, 2024. The fire has burned more than 10,800 acres. (Photo courtesy of Utah Fire Info) As thousands of acres burn in south-central and southern Utah, the Salt Lake City office of the National Weather Service released warnings for dangerous heat levels and critical fire weather. On Tuesday afternoon the office expects winds gusting to 30 miles per hour and very dry conditions, the National Weather Service wrote in a post on X, prompting red flag warnings for the Central Utah mountains and Color Country mountains. Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread quickly under these conditions, the post reads. Simultaneously, the weather forecast office issued a moderate dangerous heat warning, peaking late this week. In the far southern Utah valleys, including lower Washington County, Zion National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Areas, temperatures may reach 110-115 degrees through Friday. All other Utah valleys, including the Wasatch Front, are expected to have hot temperatures through Saturday with 100-106 degree peaks. A long duration heat wave is underway, with dangerous heat already being observed in the valleys of far S UT. As high pressure builds, the extreme heat will spread northward, with dangerous heat possible for most valleys across UT for the middle to latter part of the week. #utwx pic.twitter.com/pWAwvcxmzC NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 7, 2024 This is a long duration, dangerous heat wave. Warm overnight temperatures can cause heat stress to build for those without adequate cooling access and/or adequate hydration, the weather service said on its website, advising Utahns to hydrate, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, take frequent breaks in air conditioning or shade, and avoid outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Deer Springs Fire that was discovered at 1 p.m. Sunday near Bryce Canyon expanded to more than 15,000 acres as of Monday afternoon, according to calculations from the Utah Wildfire Information office. No evacuations have been called. Though the cause is still unknown, the fire appears to be human caused. The Silver King fire, a few miles outside of Marysvale in south-central Utah, was first reported on Friday, when it was between 30 and 50 acres. That wildfire is now affecting more than 10,000 acres and exhibiting extreme fire behavior, according to the state. Both fires were 0% contained as of Monday. The National Weather Service said that smoke plumes from both fires are not forecasted to leave the area anytime soon. Smoke plumes from #SilverKing and #DeerSprings are not forecast to leave the area anytime soon. Heres a look at the forecast at where the plumes will go through tomorrow. #UTwx #UTfire pic.twitter.com/VhN58WVkAy NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 8, 2024 The post Utah faces dangerous heat and critical fire weather this week appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A Utah man has been charged with 46 counts of felony theft after allegedly creating multiple bank accounts and depositing and transferring nearly $4 million from fraudulent checks and wire transfers. According to court documents, Jason Vaughn Harvey, 45, had been opening several bank accounts at multiple different institutions since January 2023. The accounts were used solely for what police call fraudulent transactions. Through their investigation, Taylorsville PD detectives said they learned several of these had been shut down due to fraudulent and suspicious activity. Police say Harvey would deposit fraudulent checks and receive wire transfers after gaining a victims email and contacting their banks. Detectives allege Harvey deposited over a dozen checks totaling about $1,208,000 and completed 33 illegal wire transfers in the amount of about $2,789,452. Once the money was in his account, police allege Harvey would then transfer the money into cryptocurrency where it is then wired to several other wallets. Petition launched in response to deadly crash involving Utah CEO, daughter in Ogden Canyon Harvey was reportedly approached by Taylorsville detectives in February 2024, who thought he may have been a victim of a scam. Harvey allegedly told investigators he was warned by the different banks of the fraudulent nature of the transactions but he continued to do them because he believed his girlfriend wouldnt lie to him. [His] alleged girlfriend is in the military and the amount of money that was sent to him far exceeds that of someone in the military, A Taylorsville PD officer wrote in his probable cause statement. During the interview, I advised [Harvey] to stop all contact with his alleged girlfriend and advised him it was all fraud. According to court documents, even after speaking with Taylorsville detectives, Harvey continued to conduct the fraudulent transactions for several months. One transaction was reportedly completed an hour after speaking to police. Utah State University dismisses executive associate athletics director Amy Crosbie Police allege Harveys name is the only one associated with the bank accounts and crypto account. In addition to the felony theft charges, Harvey also faces a felony charge for a pattern of unlawful activity and 11 counts of felony possession of forgery writing. Court documents show he was ordered to be held on a $5,000 bail, pending several conditions and a pretrial hearing. 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. RICHFIELD, Utah (ABC4) A man allegedly fled a southern Utah Walmart after his gun situated in the waistband of his pants went off in the self-checkout area, Richfield City Police said Monday. Zachery Hampton, 26, was allegedly adjusting his handgun when it fired. After that, police said he immediately fled the scene. Police responded to reports of the gunshot and identified the man as Hampton. READ NEXT: Utah CEO, daughter identified as victims of fatal Ogden crash They traced him to a residence in Richfield and took him to the Sevier Valley Hospital to evaluate his injuries. Police did not release the extent of his injuries or his current condition. Officials said no one else was injured by the gunshot. Police said Hampton was taken into custody, however, they did not disclose what charges he faces, if any. Hampton pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault, which was commuted from a third-degree felony to a class A misdemeanor. The following month, he was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, according to court documents. 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. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) The Utah Supreme Court has denied death row inmate Taberon Honies request for extraordinary relief, according to a document released on Monday. Four days after a district judge signed the death warrant in June, Taberon Honie filed a petition for extraordinary relief raising concerns about the district court and constitutional arguments against the death penalty. LEARN MORE: Death penalty in Utah: A brief history as state plans next execution On Monday, the Utah Supreme Court denied the request stating Honie had not demonstrated that the district court abused its discretion. The court stated there were no issues with the warrant application process and that the district court correctly interpreted the law and did not abuse its discretion when it issued the death warrant. The Utah Supreme Court also said it does not permit a defendant to employ a challenge to the issuance of a death warrant to raise constitutional arguments concerning a death penalty, according to the document. While the petition was denied, Honie still awaits a hearing later this month with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole that will determine if his sentence will be knocked down to life in prison. The hearing is scheduled to take place on July 22 and last two to three days. If the execution moves forward after the hearing, Honie will be the first person executed in Utah since Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad in 2010. The execution is scheduled to take place by lethal injection on Aug. 8. Honie was convicted of aggravated murder in 1999 after sexually assaulting and killing his ex-girlfriends mother, Claudia Benn, in the presence of three of her grandchildren. In addition to aggravated murder, Honie was also convicted of object rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual assault, burglary, and aggravated burglary. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The Department of Veterans Affairs has ended a seven-year-old policy that required claims processors to work mandatory overtime, a move enabled by increased hiring and efficiency, according to the VA's top benefits executive. Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs announced Tuesday that most staff will no longer be required to work up to four hours extra each week, although they still may volunteer to work up to 20 hours of overtime each week. Those not affected by the new policy, which Jacobs said is effective immediately, include claims processors who handle claims for radiation exposure; sexual assault; contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; pension claims; and any claims not related to disability ratings. Read Next: Army Advocates Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by Soldiers as Other Services Are Hesitant Claims processors at the Veterans Benefits Administration have been required to participate in mandatory overtime since 2017 to handle the influx of claims. VA officials have for years tried to end the practice to prevent burnout and improve employees' work-life balance but have been unable to do so given the sheer number of claims filed each year. Jacobs said during a press conference Tuesday, however, that the VBA workforce of 34,000 has "gone above and beyond to deliver these earned benefits," allowing the administration to change the policy. "I have never thought that mandatory overtime is a sustainable operating practice. ... As I've traveled across the country meeting with our employees, I have often been asked, 'When are we able to make some changes?' And as we've looked at our production levels, as we looked at the workforce levels, I felt it was prudent for us to make this change," Jacobs said. VA processed and completed nearly 2 million claims in fiscal 2023, roughly 16% more than it handled the previous year. It also has received a record number of claims with the passage of the PACT Act, the landmark legislation that expanded health care and benefits for millions of veterans exposed to environmental pollutants while supporting combat operations overseas. Since the legislation was signed in 2022, the VA has received 1.65 million PACT Act-related claims. As of July 6, the VA had more than 970,000 pending claims and 274,000 claims older than four months, up from roughly 165,000 a year ago. But it is processing the claims at a faster pace than previously. According to VA officials, before 2022, the department had just three days in which it processed more than 8,000 claims per day. In the past two years, however, VA claims processors adjudicated 8,000 claims on 182 days. Jacobs said that the department has increased staffing by 33% in the past two years and has provided increased training, including refresher courses for longtime employees. On June 6, the administration also held a department-wide stand-down to "enhance the employee work experience," Jacobs said. "Investing in our employees matters and can ultimately yield significant returns for our veterans and survivors," he said. Jacobs could not say how many claims processors still will be subject to mandatory overtime, given the number of exceptions to the policy. He said the exceptions were made for certain types of claims because they require "more timely decisions." "We will assess as we watch our work in those areas progress if and when we can make changes ... and transition them to voluntary overtime," Jacobs said. He added that the new policy was driven by feedback from employees and a desire to end an onerous requirement, not by limits placed on the department by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, a 2023 law that capped agency budgets. Related: VA Plans to Cut 10,000 Jobs This Year on Medical Side of the House By Seher Dareen (Reuters) -Devon Energy said on Monday it had entered into a deal to acquire certain assets of Bakken-focused energy producer Grayson Mill Energy, which is owned by private equity firm EnCap, in a cash-and-stock deal worth $5 billion. The deal value includes $3.25 billion in cash and $1.75 billion in stock, and will enhance Devon's "multi-basin business", the company's executives said on a conference call. Shares of the company were down 2.5% in a lower crude price environment. [O/R] A consolidation in the U.S. energy sector that triggered $250 billion worth of deals in 2023 has bled into this year, with companies seeking opportunities to deploy their capital and expand reserves. This has created a favorable environment for firms like EnCap to cash out on assets. In June, the private equity firm sold some shale assets of XCL Resources for about $2 billion. Reuters reported in January that the firm planned to sell Grayson Mill, a major Bakken-focused energy producer in North Dakota, Montana, and the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. Monday's deal, expected to close by the end of the third quarter, will add up to 10 years of inventory life with 500 additional wells, primarily in the Bakken, contributing 307,000 net acres to Devon's Williston Basin position. Devon expects its output to grow to 765,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) from 664,000 boepd. "A more conservative outlook on deals may have prevented Devon from coming out on top in the various scrambles for core Permian opportunities," said Andrew Dittmar, principal analyst at Enverus. "The Eagle Ford and MidContinent now stand out as some of the least consolidated plays with the most remaining private opportunities." Devon's board of directors also expects to expand its share repurchase by 67% to $5 billion through mid-year 2026, while the acquisition is expected to add to the companys dividend payout starting 2025. (Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Tasim Zahid and Maju Samuel) VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Van Buren man accused of human trafficking has been arrested again and is facing new charges, according to court documents. Michael Hall, 32 (Courtesy: Crawford County Jail) Michael Wayne Hall, 32, was arrested on July 1 for aggravated assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and third-degree domestic battery. He is also accused of violating a no-contact order. A criminal information sheet filed on July 5 said he allegedly committed these crimes on or about June 26 and 28. The criminal information sheet said Hall violated his no-contact order. A motion to withdraw as counsel was filed by Halls attorney on July 3. It said Hall and the attorney have reached an impasse as Defendant has irreconcilable expectations with regard to [the attorneys] representation of him in this matter. Van Buren porn actor arrested on human trafficking charges The judge granted the motion on the same day. A hearing in Halls case has been set for July 10. No bond has been set, according to court documents. Hall was previously arrested on June 4 on terroristic threatening, trafficking of persons, harassing communications, domestic battery, and aggravated assault of a family or household member charges. He pleaded not guilty to these charges on June 11 and was free on a $100,000 bond. Court documents say in his first arrest, Hall reportedly assaulted two women, allegedly headbutting one of them twice. Hall told one of the women that in 2023 the two would start making porn on OnlyFans and the money made would be controlled by him, according to an affidavit. The money allegedly went into Halls account that only belonged to him. Another woman told Van Buren police that OnlyFans was Halls full-time job, and he forced her to participate. She said Hall would reportedly get upset and start to yell and throw things if she refused. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. The Vatican has excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who is known for anti-LGBTQ+ and other ultraconservative stances and has called Pope Francis a servant of Satan. The Vaticans disciplinary body, the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, put Vigano on trial last month for denying the popes authority and for the crime of schism, The Washington Post reports. The dicastery announced Friday that he was excommunicated. His public statements manifesting his refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the Church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council are well known, said a statement from the dicastery. At the conclusion of the penal process, the Most Reverend Carlo Maria Vigano was found guilty of the reserved delict of schism. The Second Vatican Council, convened in the 1960s, led to the use of local languages instead of Latin in the Roman Catholic Mass, an increased role for laypeople, and promotion of better relations between Catholicism and other religions. The excommunication means that Vigano cannot officially accept Catholic sacraments including Communion, ordain priests or officiate Mass, the Post reports. Vigano was the Vaticans ambassador to the U.S. from 2011 to 2016. In that capacity in 2015, he invited Kim Davis to an audience with the pope. As clerk of Rowan County, Ky., Davis had shut down all marriage license operations to avoid issuing licenses to same-sex couples after the Supreme Courts 2015 decision for nationwide marriage equality. Davis and her supporters characterized the meeting as a private audience, something the Vatican denied. Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean survivor of sexual abuse who met with Pope Francis later, said the pope told him Vigano sneaked Davis into the audience, leading to Viganos firing from the ambassadorial position in 2016. Vigano claimed the pope was lying. More recently, Vigano criticized Franciss decision to let same-sex couples be blessed in church, as long as the ceremonies do not resemble weddings and are not part of regular services. Bergoglio authorizes the blessing of same-sex couples and imposes on the faithful the acceptance of homosexualism, while covering up the scandals of his proteges and promoting them to the highest positions of responsibility, Vigano wrote in a document submitted to the dicastery trial, according to the Post. Vigano did not attend the trial in person. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is Pope Franciss original name. The churchs handling of sexual abuse cases has drawn criticism from both liberals and conservatives. But it must be pointed out that pedophilia and homosexuality are not related and that many gay youth have been victims of abuse. Vigano has also accused Francis of being an abuser, without offering evidence, the Post notes. Vigano wrote an admiring letter to Donald Trump in 2020, saying, For the first time, the United States has in you a President who courageously defends the right to life, who is not ashamed to denounce the persecution of Christians throughout the world, who speaks of Jesus Christ and the right of citizens to freedom of worship. In the letter, he condemned the protests over George Floyds murder by police and the closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vigano went on to claim that in addition to the deep state Trump has often referred to in describing government agencies the former president contended were conspiring against him, there is a deep church that betrays its duties and forswears its proper commitments before God. Vigano also recently retweeted a message from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican and Trump ally, asserting that the COVID-19 vaccines are killing people for which there is no evidence. Pope Francis has usually tolerated dissent within the church, but he has taken action against a few critics. In November, he removed Bishop Joseph Strickland as head of the diocese of Tyler, Texas. Strickland had accused Francis of undermining the faith through his tentatively liberal moves, including his welcoming attitude toward LGBTQ+ people. The same month, the pope revoked retired Cardinal Raymond Burkes salary and his right to a subsidized apartment in the Vatican. The staunchly anti-LGBTQ+ Burke had been one of the most vocal critics of the popes outreach to the queer community and other liberal actions. "Among the popes critics, though, Vigano was in a league of his own," the Post reports. Officials: One airlifted, others injured after multi-vehicle crash on I-81 in Glade Spring Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect new information. GLADE SPRING, Va. (WJHL) One person was airlifted and others were taken to a hospital after a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 near Glade Spring on Tuesday, fire officials report. The Glade Spring Fire Department and Richardson Ambulance Service responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-81 near Glade Spring just after 4:30 p.m., the department reported. Upon arrival, crews found multiple vehicle crashes over a quarter-mile distance. Virginia State Police (VSP) told News Channel 11 that seven chain reaction crashes happened after a tractor-trailer jackknifed and corrected. Sparks from tractor-trailers blown tire caused median fires along I-81 near Marion, fire officials say One person involved in a crash was taken by helicopter for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, VSP reported. Another person was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Courtesy of the Glade Spring Fire Department Courtesy of the Glade Spring Fire Department Courtesy of the Glade Spring Fire Department Courtesy of the Glade Spring Fire Department The Glade Spring Fire Department thanked the following agencies that responded to the scene: Virginia State Police Richardson Ambulance Service Washington County, Virginia Lifesaving Crew Chilhowie Fire and EMS Smyth County EMS Med Flight II Chilhowie Police Department VDOT Incident Management Ridgeview Contractors Traffic Management R&M Motors Hagys Towing Several first responders traveling through the area that stopped to assist Please remember, if traffic stops, keep the right shoulder emergency lane clear for responding emergency vehicles, the fire department said in a social media post. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) temporarily closed both northbound lanes of I-81 in the area due to the crash. VSP stated it was raining heavily at the time of the crashes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Mariela Nava MARACAIBO, Venezuela (Reuters) - Carolina Leal used to support socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and, before that, his predecessor Hugo Chavez. But now Leal, founder of the 'Feeding a Dream' charity, spends her days feeding hungry and sometimes malnourished children in Maracaibo, in Venezuela's oil-rich state of Zulia. And now she is not so sure. "I used to defend the revolution," Leal said. "(But) I got tired of seeing people die of hunger." Venezuela votes for its next president on July 28 - and the dire straits in which many live will be top of people's minds. Despite a recent economic recovery that has been much touted by the Maduro government, many families are going hungry and depending on aid to feed themselves. "We've saved lives, we've seen the eyes of many children shine, which is what is most fulfilling," said Leal, 47, while holding Juan Camilo, a baby of three months, who is fed by the foundation. Over the last 10 years, gross domestic product in Venezuela has declined by some 73%. Although Maduro relaxed currency controls and other regulations to boost the economy in 2019, Venezuela suffers the second-highest level of hunger in South America, after Bolivia, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Some 5.1 million people out of close to 30 million are not getting enough to eat, the UN says. Venezuela's ministry of information did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The government blames U.S sanctions for the country's economic difficulties. Each week, from Monday to Friday, Leal serves 200 lunches from her garage to children in Maracaibo's western Altos de Milagro Norte neighborhood, doling out soup, chicken and rice, cereals, and more. Each week, the charity, which is funded by donations from advocacy groups, sees at least two cases of malnourished children, she said. Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, hopes to win a third term in July, running against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, a former diplomat. But as the election campaign gears up, Leal says she is staying focused on one thing: the children. "We've come bearing life, just by giving them hope, a meal that they enjoy and makes them feel valuable," Leal said. (Reporting by Mariela Nava; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Veronica Agius (later Smith) as a young nurse: her sister found her a place at a Catholic Crusade of Rescue hostel, effectively a corrective institution for unmarried pregnant girls - Courtesy of family Veronica Smith, who has died aged 83, endured decades of sadness and trauma after being forced to give up her daughter for adoption in 1965; in 2010 she co-founded Movement for an Adoption Apology to campaign for a formal apology from the British government to the many unmarried mothers railroaded into giving up their children in the postwar years. One of six children, she was born Veronica Anne Agius into a Roman Catholic family on December 28 1940 and brought up in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Her father was a lieutenant colonel. After education at the Ursuline Convent in Surbiton, she trained as a nurse and was working at Butlins holiday camp in Bognor Regis when, aged 24, she became pregnant during a short relationship with a Red Coat. I went to a GP and he said all he could offer me to try to end the pregnancy was a douche, then he told me to have a hot bath and drink gin. It didnt work, she told the Daily Mail. I wrote to my elder sister. A letter came back, saying: Dont worry. Its sorted. And I remember the train journey to Victoria. I was crying, scared. I had no idea what would happen. Her sister had booked her into a Catholic Crusade of Rescue hostel in South London, in effect a corrective institution for unmarried pregnant girls, where she scrubbed floors as a penance for her sins. There, like the others at the hostel, she was expected to knit bootees, a hat, leggings and a matinee jacket for the baby she would have to give away. My elder sister and mother told me: Daddy must never know about this. The disgrace would kill him, she recalled. I honestly felt if Id murdered someone it might have been more acceptable. Id committed a mortal sin and in the eyes of the Catholic Church Id never go to heaven. Her mother told her husband that his daughter was working abroad. She used to meet me every fortnight or so at Wimbledon Station, and shed bring airmail paper so we could concoct a letter for my father about my job overseas. Veronica gave birth to a baby girl at a private maternity hospital in Guildford on March 2 1965 and called her Angela because she looked like an angel in a painting. After a week the baby was taken away and Veronica was given a drug to stop her breast milk. The child was fostered, then adopted, and Veronica was told to forget about her. I shut it out completely, she recalled. My life was stolen, really. I didnt have any proper relationships and put all my energies into work as a nurse. She rose to the level of nursing officer at the Royal Free Hospital in London, second to matron. Her father died without knowing her secret, while her mothers connivance in the loss of her child caused a rift that was never healed. Then in 1990 Veronicas menopause began and she had a breakdown: Perhaps it was because it was the end of my fertility, but something seemed to unlock in my head and all my grief came tumbling out. Veronica reunited later in life with her daughter Rachel, who had been raised in Canada by academics - Courtesy of family As she slowly recovered, Veronica set about tracing her child and discovered her in Canada. Christened Rachel, she had been adopted by an academic couple who had emigrated there, and with whom she had had a happy upbringing. While Veronica was relieved to know that her child was loved by her adoptive parents, her attempts to establish some sort of relationship proved difficult at first. Meanwhile, she had moved from London to Seaford, East Sussex, where in 1993 she met Roger Smith, a divorce with grown-up children. They married and Roger supported her efforts to build a relationship with Rachel. The moment she had been waiting for came in 2008 when an email arrived from Rachel, telling Veronica that she had had a baby. Within a year Veronica had met both Rachel and her new granddaughter, and she treasured the memory of the day when Rachel walked in with her toddler and all her baby stuff as if she was at home and gave me a big hug. It was wonderful. In Seaford Veronica set up a group for women whose children had also been given up for adoption, and soon discovered that between 1949 and 1976 an estimated 185,000 mostly unmarried women in England and Wales had been cajoled, like her, into giving up their babies. Many of the adoptions had been arranged by agencies run by the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and the Salvation Army. Veronica Smith with her husband Roger In 2010 after the then Australian prime minister Julia Gillard issued a public apology to Australian women in a similar situation, Veronica co-founded Movement for an Adoption Apology (MAA) in the United Kingdom to press for the British government to issue an apology. In July 2022 a report by the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights called on the government to issue a formal apology, saying that it bore the ultimate responsibility for the pain and suffering of women and children caused by public institutions and state employees that railroaded mothers into unwanted adoptions. The Scottish government was the first to issue a formal apology, in March 2023. The Welsh government followed suit a month later. The British government, however, responded that, while it was sorry on behalf of society for what happened, a formal apology was not appropriate as the state did not actively support these practices. Veronica Smith is survived by her husband, her daughter and granddaughter, and by two stepdaughters and a stepson. Veronica Smith, born December 28 1940, died June 29 2024 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A 'very bad look for Massillon.' City facing brutality lawsuit over man's arrest, death The city of Massillon and members of the Massillon Police Department are facing a civil lawsuit stemming from a March 2023 arrest in a domestic dispute. MASSILLON The city is facing a federal lawsuit alleging police brutality, wrongful death and other claims stemming from a resident's arrest during a March 2023 domestic dispute. The arrest of Lowell "Bo" Gower Jr. by multiple Massillon police officers at his residence in the 1000 block of 10th Street NE resulted in severe cervical spine injuries and ultimately his death, according to the complaint. Angela Gower, the widow of Bo Gowler, filed a complaint Monday on behalf of the familys estate in U.S. District Court in Akron. Actions by police led to months of suffering by Bo Gower from injuries via his arrest, the suit claims, including the inability to move his limbs. He died June 2, 2023, at the age of 58 in a Canton hospital. Deal reached: Massillon settles federal lawsuit, takes ownership of 4 downtown properties Bo suffered pain, anguish, mental and emotional harm and death as well as a loss of his dignity and his rights under the U.S. Constitution, according to the lawsuit. In addition to police brutality, the lawsuit seeks damages for excessive force, wrongful death and withholding public records. The Gower family is seeking at least $75,000 in compensatory as well as unspecified punitive damages. Bo Gowers mother and three children are also listed as plaintiffs. Bo Gower's family attorney speaks about arrest by Massillon police Akron attorney John Pfleiderer of the Mendenhall Law Group said the $75,000 sum is the minimum required for a federal court filing. We will be seeking in the millions altogether, said Pfleiderer, adding that the case is a very bad look for Massillon. Theres no excuse for throwing a 58-year-old, handcuffed man to the ground during an arrest, Pfleiderer said. We will take this to trial if need be. Part of the 13-page suit alleges the city of Massillon and Police Chief Jason Saintenoy were negligent in hiring, training, retaining and supervising the involved officers, who are not named in the court filing. The chief and the officers are listed as defendants. As a direct and proximate cause of defendants actions, Bo suffered physical injuries, pain and suffering, and ultimately death, the complaint states. Massillon police said the officers involved in Gower's arrest remain employed with the department. Massillon has time to respond to Gower family complaint Massillon Law Director Justin Richard said via text message Tuesday that the city will be given at least 30 days to respond to the federal complaint. This was a tragic incident for all involved, Richard said. The city of Massillon would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Gower family. The city is preparing to defend itself against the lawsuit, Richard added. The evidence speaks for itself, and the city will speak through its filings in defense, he said. Saintenoy said Tuesday that he is familiar with the incident between officers and Bo Gower, but had yet to finish reading through the entire lawsuit. Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X: @sgrazierINDE This article originally appeared on The Independent: Bo Gower family sues Massillon, alleges police brutality for death (NewsNation) A veteran armorer who turned down a job on Alec Baldwins Rust movie said there were red flags about the production that caused him to back out even as he was packing to go to the set. Neal W. Zoromski is a veteran on movie sets with three decades of experience. In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, he said he was initially intrigued by the project. I just wanted to do something really artistic and beautiful, resonant, memorable that would stay with people for a long time. And this was that project, but for all the wrong reasons, he said. An opportunity to work on the Rust movie When his phone rang in 2021 about an opportunity to work as a prop master on the Western Rust, starring Alec Baldwin, Zoromski listened as the project was described. A very taut, suspense-filled story with the backdrop of New Mexico sun sunsets. And I thought to myself, I could already see the movie forming in my mind, he said. Karen Reads defense say jurors had 12-0 not guilty agreement But after days of meetings with the production team, those feelings started to change. Were talking in late September, definitely the second week of September, and they were talking about an October 6th start, Zoromski said. So there was virtually no time. FILE This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M, Oct. 23, 2021, used for the film Rust. A New Mexico judge is scheduled to consider at a Friday, June 21, 2024, hearing, whether to compel a movie set armorer to testify at actor Alec Baldwins involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during rehearsal for the Western movie Rust. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) FILE This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Oct. 23, 2021, used for the film Rust. A New Mexico judge Monday, April 15, 2024, sentenced Rust movie armorer to 18 months in prison for fatal on-set shooting by Alec Baldwin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Rust movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed stands by her defense team during her involuntary manslaughter trial, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M. A jury convicted Gutierrez-Reed of involuntary manslaughter Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal on the set of the Western movie Rust. (Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool, File) FILE Alec Baldwin emcees the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala at New York Hilton Midtown on Dec. 9, 2021, in New York. A jury convicted movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed of involuntary manslaughter Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal on the set of the Western movie Rust. Baldwin has been indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty ahead of a July trial date. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) In this screen grab from lapel camera video provided by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office, movie set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, right, speaks with a sheriffs deputy as other colleagues stand with her on the set of the western move Rust, shortly after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal, Oct. 21, 2021, in New Mexico. A judge will consider allegations of due process violations in the prosecution of Gutierrez-Reed, who is accused of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the death of Hutchins, at an online court hearing scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Charges against Baldwin in connection with the shooting were dismissed in April. (Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office via AP) Alec Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office in Santa Fe, N.M., after he was questioned about a shooting on the set of the film Rust on the outskirts of Santa Fe, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza, officials said. The schedule would have given him 10 days to prepare for a Western full of shooting scenes, a job Zoromski said usually requires a minimum of five weeks of preparation. So I felt that they were being extremely loose and rather cavalier with cementing this position on the crew, he said. Zoromski voices his concerns on the Rust set, warns crew Zoromski said he voiced those concerns and requested a staff of five trained gunsmiths and armorers. He said the production team agreed, but right before he left for the airport, he got an email. They had made the decision to reduce my staff to three, and they let me know that, you know, please be aware that this is a low-budget, ambitious production, he said. At that point, I felt that our entire negotiation fell apart due to bad faith. The clothes were in the suitcase. This is how close I came. Indiana family of five missing since Fourth of July Zoromski decided to decline the job, and in his response, he warned the team about the risk they were taking. And the only thing I would do in closing is just suggest that you not deter from what I have delineated here on how to do this job safely, how to do it right, and how to staff it properly, he recounted. I didnt want them to have a calamity. I didnt want loss of life. I didnt want someone to die. Weeks later, while working on a different set, Zoromski heard the news. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in an accident on the Rust set, and Baldwin was holding the gun. And I literally, I couldnt believe it. I really couldnt believe it. And I had to go throw up in the honey wagon. And I stayed in there for a little while, and I was really heartbroken, Zoromski said. He told NewsNation he knew of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was hired after he left the film. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed trial Gutierrez-Reed is now serving prison time after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March. She was over her head from the moment she took the job, Zoromski said. Prosecutors called Gutierrez-Reeds conduct on set unprofessional and sloppy, alleging she didnt completely check the gun that was given to Baldwin to make sure it didnt contain live rounds. Footage and photos shared during her trial showed cast members walking around haphazardly with firearms and Gutierrez-Reeds ammo cart in disarray. Zoromski said he would never have tolerated the cart. OceanGate co-founder plans dive to Bahamas portal to hell Yes, if the cart looked like the cart that I saw in these photographs and images from the set, there would be a release of duty for the technicians who were managing that, he said. It screams inexperience. It screams, I dont care. It screams, Im not very good at this job. It screams accident waiting to happen. So I would never in a million years have a young person who was unseasoned, unskilled and [had] bare minimum credentials wrangle weapons on a major film for with a major star. Zoromoski on Alec Baldwins trial Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, is about to have his own day in court. He is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge that could result in prison time. He has maintained his innocence, saying publicly that he did not pull the trigger. Zoromski said he finds that hard to believe. I believe that he did. He did pull the trigger because its a revolver. And in order for that bullet to come down and be struck by the firing pin, you have to pull the trigger, he said. He also said it was a red flag that Baldwin was handed the gun by the films assistant director and not Gutierrez-Reed herself. If Mr. Baldwin is a seasoned actor, he should have refused that from anyone other than the armorer, Zoromski said. As the actor and producer on the film, Zoromski said he believes Baldwin knew corners were being cut. He also thinks the actor would have known about his reasons for turning down the job. He is a producer. Hes an executive producer. Hes the star of the movie. So regardless of whether he was a laissez-faire or a hands-off producer, he would have been advised of all of those personnel changes. And he was more than likely notified that I did not take the job as well. Zoromoski said an experienced armorer on the set could have prevented the tragedy. You know, many people have said, well, Neal, had you been there, you would have been thrown into the culture on the set, and theres no knowing whether it still would have happened with you there,' he said. I can unequivocally say it would have never happened had I been on that set. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The veteran Delaware politician who wouldn't retire. It's not who you think Despite concerns that he was too old and his health was questionable, the veteran politician from Delaware was very clear: He was not bowing out of the race. This titan was running and he was going to win. Just like always. U.S. Sen. William Roth Jr., left, and Sen. Joe Biden, right, listen to President Bill Clinton during a NATO meeting on July 7, 1997. Three years later, Roth would lose his Senate seat to Delaware's then-Gov. Tom Carper. "The race is really about effectiveness and experience," said a supporter backing the incumbent, adding that the longtime politician "had never been more effective than he is today." It sounds like President Joe Biden's current playbook, right? But the candidate in question isn't Biden; it was one of his contemporaries, Delaware's legendary Sen. William V. "Bill" Roth Jr. The political career of Bill Roth did not end on a high note. In 2000, the five-time incumbent lost the U.S. Senate seat that he had held since 1971 to his opponent, then Gov. Tom Carper, 53. This whiff of Delaware history could serve as a cautionary tale for 81-year-old President Joe Biden, who has vowed to seek a second term even as concerns about his age and fitness swirl and some Democrats are urging him to drop out of the race. Biden said Monday he is confident voters want to keep him in office. The 79-year-old Roth thought the same way, but that didn't happen in 2000 when Delaware voters ushered him out. Age and health were cited as the main issues for his loss, especially after Roth, the third-oldest member of the Senate at that time, collapsed twice in public. Roth remains the last Republican to serve as and be elected a senator from Delaware. When Carper joined Biden in the Senate, it was the first time since 1943 that both seats were occupied by Democrats. The admirable legacy of Roth, the dean of Delaware's public officials, will hardly be forgotten. The World War II veteran occupied one of Delaware's two Senate seats for 30 years and had previously held Delaware's lone U.S. congressional seat. His name is attached to a popular tax-sheltered retirement account, a 1981 tax cut, and a Delaware bridge that spans the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal near St. Georges. U.S. Sen. William V. Roth Jr., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, speaks as committee member Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan watches during the opening of hearings to review the Internal Revenue Service on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 23, 1997. Roth, who received a master's and law degree from Harvard University, helped expose wasteful government defense spending, and his 1999 book, "The Power to Destroy," took a hard look at the Internal Revenue Service. Biden, who served in the Senate with Roth for 28 years, had nothing but respect for Roth. ''There is not anyone in politics either party that I trusted more than Bill Roth," Biden told The News Journal after Roth died suddenly in 2003 at age 82 in Washington, D.C. What happened to Bill Roth In 1999, several U.S. senators announced their retirement including New York's Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Questions swirled about Republican Sen. Bill Roth, whose term would be up in 2000. White House Press Secretary James Brady joins U.S. Sen. Bill Roth at Delaware Stadium during a Blue Hens football game on Oct. 23, 1982. Brady was a spokesman for Roth from 1977 to 1979. FRED COMEGYS/THE NEWS JOURNAL Roth was one of the longest-tenured politicians in Delaware's history and had been the state's longest-serving U.S. senator. (Biden now holds the title.) U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, who had been Delaware's governor before Carper, wanted the Senate seat, but he would not challenge Roth, his fellow Republican, in a primary. Roth, a native of Montana, had been a Delaware resident since about 1955. He was an attorney for Hercules Corp. before entering political life. When Roth decided to run for a sixth term as Delaware's senior senator, questions arose almost immediately when Carper announced his plan to run against him. Carper was 53 at the time. Roth would be 85 at the end of his sixth term. Wasn't that too old? "I've never felt better, and I look forward to serving six more years," Roth told The News Journal in October 2000. "My seniority enables me to give the people of Delaware the kind of service they want. Some people are old at 40; others are young at 80. I feel very young." Roth also was the chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, a role he hoped to retain through 2002. He said that gave him the kind of clout that a rookie and Democrat like Carper could not dream of having. The front page of the Nov. 8, 2000 News Journal features a story about Tom Carper defeating Bill Roth for a U.S. Senate seat. But, the age issue with Roth had been raised earlier in 1994 when he ran for his fifth term against aggressive challenger Attorney General Charles M. Oberly III. Roth was stumbling over names during speeches and misplaced dates. Oberly whose campaign was run by Delaware native David Plouffe, who would later manage Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, attacked Roth's longevity and Roth's refusal to participate in live televised debates. Roth proved his resilience when he defeated Oberly. Six years later, Roth was ready to run again and the tide seemed to shift. Voters, according to those interviewed by The News Journal at the time, were split on whether his age would be a hindrance. Former Delaware Gov. Russell W. Peterson, then 84, was not in Roth's camp. The former Republican who became a Democrat told The News Journal in 2000 that people in their 70s and beyond should not run for office. "Many companies require people to retire at about 65," said Peterson, who backed Carper. "Why do they do that? Because they know that people begin to run out of their competencies." The Roth campaign faced a hurdle on Sept. 30, 2000, more than a month before voters went to the polls. Roth felt dizzy during an appearance at Dover's Sheraton Hotel and had to sit on the floor. The 79-year-old did not require hospitalization or treatment, his aides said. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Roth, R-Del., gives the thumb up after casting his vote at the H.B. du Pont Middle School near Yorklyn on Nov. 7, 2000. Roth lost the race to his Democratic opponent, then-Delaware Gov. Thomas Carper. More than two weeks later, on Oct. 19, 2000, while campaigning at Wilmington's Hotel du Pont, it happened again, this time in front of a TV camera. Roth, who had just given a speech to the Wilmington Rotary Club, walked outside of the hotel to give an interview to a local news channel. He waited for the first question and then appeared disoriented, according to a 2000 News Journal article. His knees buckled, and he hit his head on the wall. As aides helped Roth to his feet, a reporter said he appeared incoherent. The senator was not hospitalized, recovered within minutes and then gave the interview. The reporter said Roth seemed "sharp," and the veteran senator explained that he had an inner ear problem. "I lost my sense of balance, and that's what happened. I fell. I'm fine as you can tell. I'm fine, in great shape," Roth said. His campaign blamed both falls on an inner ear problem that caused vertigo and said they were not concerned about the senator's health. "Oh, no, not at all," his campaign manager said. The image in voters' minds was not erased, and they sent Roth to his retirement on Nov. 7, 2000. It was Roth's lone loss since a run for lieutenant governor in 1960 and the biggest political upset since 1972 when a young New Castle Councilman Joe Biden stunned incumbent Sen. J. Caleb Boggs. Some political pundits, as well as his fellow Republicans, noted Roth's age and health issues had indeed become a liability. He had lost voters' confidence. "I think falling down in front of the television [cameras] registered with a lot of people," former Gov. Pete du Pont, who directed Roth's fundraising efforts, told The News Journal on election night as Roth staffers around him at the Hotel du Pont were in tears. Even though Biden, 81, had a poor performance during the June 27 debate, he has pushed aside any doubts about his competency for the job. 'What do you think, Val?': President Biden meets sister Val in Delaware. Has he asked for advice after debate? Election 2024: Who's running for office in Delaware? GOP chair drops out of governor race According to USA TODAY, the oldest president in U.S. history said he is not dropping out of the race despite concerns about his age, mental fitness and capacity through the 2024 campaign and a possible second term. The bottom line here is that we are not going anywhere. I am not going anywhere. I would not be running if I didn't believe I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024," Biden said Monday during a call on MSNBCs "Morning Joe." Patricia Talorico has been covering Delaware for more than 30 years. You can find her on Instagram, X and Facebook. Email ptalorico@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: They said this Delaware politician was too old to run. Maybe he was SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A good Samaritan rescued two people after their boat went up in flames on the San Francisco Bay on Monday, the San Francisco Fire Department said. SFFD and San Mateo County authorities responded to the boat fire off the shore of Redwood City. Heavy black smoke was emanating from the boat, which is about 45 feet long, and fire was visible. At the time of the response, crews did not know if the boat was occupied. SFFD tweeted at 2:26 p.m. that a boat from SFFDs SFO Airport division was on scene extinguishing the fire. The two occupants had jumped out after the fire started and were rescued by another boat. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MERCER COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A Virginia man was charged with multiple offenses including kidnapping and assault in Mercer County. Ansted man faces felony charges in Fayette County 21-year-old Jalen Hale, of Falls Mills, Virginia, turned himself in on July 9, 2024 at the Mercer County Sheriffs Office and was charged with Kidnapping, Sexual Assault in the First Degree, and Use or Presentation of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony. Hale was wanted for warrants connected to the abduction and assault of a woman in the Bluewell area of Mercer County on June 26, 2024. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia reportedly attempted to arrange a meeting with Democratic senators to discuss President Joe Bidens status as the presumptive nominee for the November election. On Monday, following the leak of the planned gathering and Congress back in session, Warner appeared to soften his stance. The meeting was canceled in favor of a discussion during the Senate Democratic Caucus regular lunch on Tuesday, and Warner issued a softer but still skeptical statement about Biden on his X, formerly Twitter account. In that post, Warner argued that another term under former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, would be perilous for rule of law and for our democracy. Mar 11, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Sen. Mark Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, speaks during a hearing on worldwide threats.. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY Warner wrote, President Biden has made America stronger, guiding the nation through some of our most difficult days. More: Biden faces big day as Democrats meet over calls for president to quit race; live updates I believe it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House, he said in the post. Another Trump term would be perilous for rule of law and for our democracy. President Biden has made America stronger, guiding the nation through some of our most difficult days. I am proud of my work on his agenda. With so much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 8, 2024 Other Virginia Democrats on Biden The commonwealths junior Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who is up for reelection this year, reiterated his support for Biden at an event in Richmond on Monday, calling the president a patriotic American who will do what is best for the country. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, speaks with supporters Monday, July 1, 2024, at Market Street Coffee in Petersburg, Virginia. Kaine kicked off a 'Salute to Service' campaign swing through the state with a stop in traditionally blue Petersburg. Democratic Congressman Don Beyer, who represents Arlington and other Washington D.C. suburbs in Virginia, supported the president on social media after it was reported that Beyer had called into question Bidens ability to s out a second term in a private phone call on Saturday. Beyer and his aides disputed the characterization of Beyers words on the private call. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, who represents a district that spans from the North Carolina state line to just slightly north of Richmond, issued her own statement of support for Biden on Monday. McClellans statement did not address any concerns about age or mental stability. Instead, she said she backed a Biden-Harris ticket because of how much is at stake in the election. On July 5, Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represents Fairfax and other parts of Northern Virginia, told CNN that he and other members of Congress needed to be reassured that Biden is capable of doing the job. It really behooves the White House to make more aggressive outreach with respect to members of Congress and other stakeholders, he said. That family dialogue is a lot better than circling the wagons and circulating campaign talking points. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Warner backs off secret meeting, still skeptical of Biden CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM) The Chemung County Legislature will vote on approving $127,000 to build a new electronic sign for the County Fairgrounds on Monday night. The sign will display messages about the fair and other County events. The Legislature says the $127,000 price tag was the lowest bid received by the County from Elmira Structures. Public records show the next highest bidder was Edger Enterprises at $138,000. You can view the resolution and all documents submitted for the sign here. If approved by the full legislature, the sign will paid for with federal tax dollars from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan. Plans show it will be visible in both directions on Grand Central Avenue. It will stand on a base 9 feet off the ground. The sign itself will be nine feet wide and six feet tall. In a Legislative Committee meeting held on June 24th, County Legislator Michael Smith raised some concerns about authorizing the funds for the sign. Im very concerned about spending $127,000 on the fairgrounds, Smith said. I think we were all given the tour there a couple of years ago by the members of the group thats running the fair, and I think they universally heard from us that we wanted to see a business plan. I think its appropriate that thered be a business plan and financials, Smith continued. Then we have some notion of their projections and what theyre doing with the money that is being given them, because theyve received money from the root tax I believe, the Agricultural Society. Last year, I believe they got the money to pay for their band at the fair. We seem to keep throwing money at this thing, but I think we have yet to see anything. We have to have a business plan and I think its time that we did before we spend $127,000. Im saying Id like to know whats cooking up there. Ive never seen any financials from the fair, how theyre doing, Smith added. They continually ask for money and it seems that any other organization that comes in here looking, for years weve asked to see financials, and Im quite sure that the County Executives office has asked for those kinds of things when people have come in looking for money. So, I dont think its out of the ordinary that we should ask for this. Id like to suggest that we table that until we see some kind of information related to how they are progressing there with a marketing plan and financial information, Smith concluded. County Executive Chris Moss was in the legislative committee meeting and replied to Smiths concerns. I think its also important to note to remember the Agricultural Society has control of the fairgrounds for 14 days a year, Moss said. I agree wholeheartedly that they have mismanaged funds. That I can assure you that my budgeting officer is working on it. Kevin Adams is working on it. Theyre trying to turn the ship around. The issue was they have a Chemung County Horse Society, which was really running rampant and they had no tax ID number. They didnt have any of the paperwork. They were running everything through the books of the Agricultural Society. So, they are trying to turn it around. Theyre doing a good job. Its gonna take some time, but I agree. When you look at their books, I wouldnt want to be audited, but theyre working at it slowly, but surely, Moss added. This sign has nothing to do with the Agricultural Society. Remember, its a County complex we have to take care of. Although they do have free reign of it 14 days a year. The concert last year and so forth, they do they do get some organizational funding to help with Ag Society programs. Moss continued. But I mean, theyre good folks. Unfortunately, sometimes they dont have folks on the board know the numbers and so forth. They promised us to get QuickBooks four years ago. Never got it, never worked out. I mean, were still working on the agreement to pay back some of the funding and thats 120 they owe us. We figured that on the low end. So, theres been some financial mismanagement for whatever reason, and Id like to think were on top of it. But I mean, its the Ag Society. Its not really our responsibility, you know, to audit their books. We got enough of our own stuff to do, but I agree before we give them any money there are a ton of questions to ask just like you indicated. The legislative Buildings & Grounds committee then advanced the resolution to a full vote on Monday night. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Should voters be required to show proof of citizenship? Heres what congressional lawmakers are saying A VOTE HERE sign is displayed outside the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The House will vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a law that would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. While the White House and House Democrats are strongly opposed to this bill, Republicans including Sen. Mike Lee, who has introduced similar legislation in the Senate arent backing down. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, would amend the National Voter Registration Act to require American voters to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Republicans insist the more than 10 million migrants who have crossed the border under the Biden administration will impact federal elections, and they say this bill prevents that from happening, while further strengthening the voting system. The White House in a statement issued Monday said federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting, a crime punishable by prison time and hefty fines. The evidence is clear that the current laws to prevent noncitizen voting are working as intended it is extraordinarily rare for noncitizens to break the law by voting in federal elections, the statement said. It stated President Joe Biden endorsed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023, aimed at restoring and modernizing the original Voting Rights Act, and the Freedom to Act, focused on improving access to ballots. Sen. Mike Lee argues federal law doesnt curb noncitizens from voting, gets support from Elon Musk In response to the executive branch, Lee, R- Utah, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, The SAVE Act would prevent non-Americans from illegally voting, protecting the votes of American citizens. The only reason to oppose it is because you want non-Americans illegally voting. In another post, Lee argued that just because voting is illegal for foreigners doesnt mean it stops them from participating in the elections. By that logic, we dont need to worry about border security because illegal immigration is already unlawful, the GOP senator said. The same reasoning would likewise suggest that background checks are unnecessary because the law already prohibits felons from possessing firearms. His X posts in support of the SAVE Act drew support from the platforms owner Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who said, Those who oppose (the bill) are traitors, adding, What is the penalty for traitors again? The bill has plenty of support among GOP representatives, with 104 co-sponsoring the legislation, including Utah Rep. Burgess Owens. Republican lawmakers have been raising concerns over foreign nationals voting in U.S. elections for some time, but the overwhelming number of migrant crossings at the southern border in recent years has renewed calls for stricter voting laws. In April, former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said they plan to prevent widespread fraud. Johnson suggested Democrats want to leave the border open because they want to turn these people into voters. House GOP report reveals cases of noncitizens voting in U.S. elections Last week, Johnsons office put out a 22-page report that made the case for passing the SAVE Act. The report offered a picture of noncitizens voting in the U.S. In the irrefutable evidence, the report said officials in Massachusetts found 70 foreign nationals cast ballots earlier this year, and in Ohio, they found 137 such registrations, according to the report. In 2023, Virginia officials removed 1,481 voter registrations from the voter rolls over noncitizen status. The report also included a 2014 study that estimated 6.4% of noncitizens voted in the 2008 general election, likely enough to change the outcome of the presidential election in North Carolina that year and sway it toward President Barack Obama. In contrast, another study from the Brennan Center for Justice revealed that about 0.0001% out of more than 23.5 million votes were suspected to be cast by noncitizens, as The Guardian reported. Democrats say SAVE Act would be an extreme burden for American voters House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., in rounding up the weeks votes, urged Democrats to vote no on the SAVE Act. As weve seen a number of times this Congress, House Republicans continue to irresponsibly call into question the credibility of our elections. Despite numerous recounts, challenges in court, and deep-dives by conservative think-tanks, there has been zero evidence of the widespread fraud that this bill purports to target. It is already illegal under current law for noncitizens to register to vote or to vote in federal elections, said Clark, according to the document obtained by Axios. Clark argued this would bar citizens from casting their ballots with only their drivers license, REAL or military ID, and a passport or birth certificate would be the only acceptable form of proof. This would be an extreme burden for countless Americans, including military voters, Native voters, people who have changed their names (including tens of millions of American women), the elderly, the young, the poor, and naturalized citizens, said the House minority whip. The SAVE Act would allow election officials to be sued for wrongly registering a voter who didnt provide the required proof of citizenship, and for the lawbreaking noncitizen to be removed from the country. It would also mandate that the Social Security Administration share any necessary information with election officials that could prove a voters citizenship. Norfolk Fire-Rescue uses new equipment to rescue swimmer in distress near Broad Creek Bridge NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) responded to a water rescue near Broad Creek Bridge in Norfolk Tuesday morning. According to officials, crews were dispatched to Broad Creek Bridge on I-264 just after 6:30 a.m. They arrived to the scene and found that a male subject had jumped off of the bridge and swam towards a channel marker. Broad Creek Bridge water rescue (Courtesy: NFR) Broad Creek Bridge water rescue (Courtesy: NFR) Broad Creek Bridge water rescue (Courtesy: NFR) A Zodiac rescue boat was launched from a remote location to rescue the victim, according to NFR. The subject was transferred to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Virginia State Police said this was an attempted suicide. The east right center lane, right lane and right shoulder were closed on I-264 near Broad Creek Bridge during the rescue. All lanes have since reopened. (Courtesy: VDOT) Photo courtesy of VDOT shows police redirecting traffic in the area. NFR said new equipment and lots of training paid off in Tuesday mornings rescue call. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who had tried to convene a meeting of Democratic senators Monday to discuss President Bidens viability as the partys nominee for president, urged his fellow Democrats to have conversations about the strongest path forward heading into the November election. With so much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward, he said Monday. Warner said he wants Biden to more aggressively make his case to the American people for why he should be reelected. But he said he also wants Biden to hear from a broader group of voices about how to prevent Trump from returning to the White House, signaling a desire for a broader conversation about how to beat Trump in November. As these conversations continue, I believe it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House, he said in his statement. Warner attracted a huge amount of attention Friday after it was revealed that he was trying to convene a group of Senate Democrats to talk about Bidens future. Two sources familiar with the effort said the ultimate purpose of that discussion was to develop resolve to ask Biden to drop his presidential bid. But Warner and some of his associates later framed his outreach to fellow Democrats as an attempt to simply promote a discussion about the best path forward. Warner told reporters on Capitol Hill on Monday that he is looking forward to talk face-to-face with my colleagues about the election. Ive had tough campaigns in my time and sometimes asking questions, at least [in] my case, made me a better campaigner, and I think a lot of folks are raising some questions, he said. At the end of the day, weve got to beat Donald Trump. Updated at 9:56 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, gestures while speaking Thursday, May 16, 2024, from his office in Washington. Warner said he has not given up hope that a presidential debate could still happen at Virginia State University, but if not, President Joe Biden must visit the campus before the November election. Sen. Mark Warner, whose alleged attempt to incorporate some of his Democratic colleagues to encourage President Joe Biden to step aside from re-election added to the party turmoil of the last few weeks, made his first public statement on the issue late Monday afternoon. And while it was laced with platitudes for the chief executive, it was not a really full-throated endorsement of Biden. Instead, it began and ended with calls to prevent Donald Trumps lawlessness from getting into the White House, and encouraged Biden to hear from a broader group of voices on the best way to stop Trump. In the six-sentence statement, Warner called a Trump presidency perilous for rule of law and for our democracy. Biden, Warner said, has made America stronger during his time of guiding the nation through some of our most difficult days. I am proud of my work on his agenda, the senator said. On a day where key Virginia Democrats heaped praise on Biden, the tone of Warners statement was more tepid than most. It was Warners first public statement since multiple media reports surfaced that Virginias senior senator was attempting a coalition of Democratic senators to urge Biden to withdraw from the race in lieu of a stronger Democratic candidate. Since his poor showing in the June 27 debate against Trump, Biden has been the subject of rumors that his age and mental acumen may not be able to withstand a second term. Talk of fissures among key Democratic leadership on whether he should continue began surfacing and by the end of last week had gathered a fair amount of steam. Monday, key Virginia leaders, including Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Jennifer McClellan and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus reinforced their support for Biden. Even the president himself joined in, penning a letter to congressional Democrats that he has no plans to withdraw. Warner used his statement to encourage the president to passionately persuade American voters to give him a new term. With so much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward, Warner said. As these conversations continue, I believe it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trumps lawlessness from returning to the White House. Biden has been criticized for relying too much on advice from an inner circle of Democrats such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia's Warner urges Biden to 'aggressively make his case' ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The Albuquerque Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for a woman tied to a suspect in a police shooting earlier this year. Police say in April, Joey Whtie pointed a gun at officers during a foot chase near Central and Louisiana and an officer shot at him. 19-year-old charged with fleeing after ABQ police target underage crimes They say White threw that gun away and claimed it was a BB gun. The next day, police found a fully loaded nine millimeter in a nearby yard. According to the warrant, investigators say Anna Herandez-Gonzalez claimed to be Whites wife and tried to get his property from the yard. They say White also called Herandnez-Gonzales from jail the night of the shooting and told her that police had not yet found the gun and to look in the yard. Shes now facing charges for attempted evidence tampering. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Over the past year, the Australian stock market has shown a robust increase of 11%, despite remaining flat in the last seven days. Given this steady growth and projections for earnings to rise by 13% annually, investors might find potential in stocks that are currently trading below their intrinsic value. 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$3.98 48.8% Ansell (ASX:ANN) A$25.71 A$49.33 47.9% Strike Energy (ASX:STX) A$0.225 A$0.45 49.8% Australian Clinical Labs (ASX:ACL) A$2.40 A$4.73 49.2% IPH (ASX:IPH) A$6.15 A$11.93 48.5% hipages Group Holdings (ASX:HPG) A$1.06 A$2.05 48.4% ReadyTech Holdings (ASX:RDY) A$3.27 A$6.22 47.5% Millennium Services Group (ASX:MIL) A$1.145 A$2.24 48.9% Airtasker (ASX:ART) A$0.295 A$0.57 48.3% SiteMinder (ASX:SDR) A$5.16 A$9.96 48.2% Click here to see the full list of 52 stocks from our Undervalued ASX Stocks Based On Cash Flows screener. Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener Overview: Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited is a company that operates retail food outlets, with a market capitalization of approximately A$3.17 billion. Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from restaurant operations, amounting to A$2.48 billion. Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 37.3% Domino's Pizza Enterprises, priced at A$36.38, is considered undervalued against a fair value estimate of A$58.03, reflecting its potential despite some financial hiccups. Although its profit margins have decreased from 6.7% to 2.2%, the company's earnings are expected to grow by 24.37% annually over the next three years, outpacing the Australian market forecast of 13%. Additionally, while DMP carries a high level of debt and has experienced shareholder dilution, it still trades at a significant discount based on discounted cash flow analysis and is projected to achieve a robust return on equity of 29.9% in three years. ASX:DMP Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024 Overview: Infomedia Ltd is a technology company that provides electronic parts catalogues, service quoting software, and e-commerce solutions to the automotive industry globally, with a market capitalization of A$573.97 million. Operations: The company generates A$136.58 million from its publishing and periodicals segment. Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 43.1% Story continues Infomedia Ltd, currently priced at A$1.57, is trading below its calculated fair value of A$2.75, indicating a significant undervaluation based on discounted cash flow analysis. This pricing suggests a potential upside as analysts forecast the stock to increase by 24.9%. Expected to outperform with an annual earnings growth of 27.83%, Infomedia's projected revenue growth at 7.9% annually also surpasses the Australian market average (5.3%). Additionally, a robust future return on equity of 21.3% further underscores its financial health and growth prospects. ASX:IFM Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024 Overview: Red 5 Limited is a company focused on the exploration, production, and mining of gold deposits and mineral properties in the Philippines and Australia, with a market capitalization of approximately A$2.69 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from production, development, and exploration assets totaling A$546.40 million. Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 36% Red 5 Limited, with a current price of A$0.4, is significantly undervalued based on a discounted cash flow valuation of A$0.63, reflecting a 36% discount to its fair value. The company's earnings are expected to grow by 47.2% annually over the next three years, outpacing the Australian market forecast of 13%. Revenue growth is also projected to exceed market averages significantly at 34.6% annually compared to the market's 5.3%. However, Red has experienced substantial shareholder dilution in the past year and its Return on Equity is predicted to be low at 17.6%. Recent management changes following a merger with Silver Lake Resources could impact future performance and governance stability. ASX:RED Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024 Turning Ideas Into Actions Get an in-depth perspective on all 52 Undervalued ASX Stocks Based On Cash Flows by using our screener 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. Maximize your investment potential with Simply Wall St, the comprehensive app that offers global market insights for free. Contemplating Other Strategies? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include ASX:DMPASX:IFM and ASX:RED. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Three years after the fatal shooting on the Rust film set, Alec Baldwins manslaughter trial has begun. Baldwin, who was starring in and co-producing the independent movie, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. The charges are a result of his alleged role in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The actor was handling the prop gun when it went off and shot her. Baldwin has claimed that while he was holding the gun, he never pulled back the trigger. He pleaded not guilty after he was recharged this past January. In order for Baldwin to walk away unscathed, his legal team must convince the jury that the loaded gun was not his responsibility as the actor. On Monday it was ruled that his role as co-producer is not relevant in this case. This could have a significant effect on the final verdict. If convicted, the actor could face 18 months in prison. The trial began with the jury selection on Tuesday in a Santa Fe courthouse and the following proceedings are being televised. Heres how to watch. When is the Alec Baldwin trial? The State v. Alexander Rae Baldwin trial kicked off on July 9 and will begin each weekday at 8:30 a.m MST. It is projected to last up to two weeks or more. Is Alec Baldwins Rust trial streaming? Yes. Court TV will be streaming the trial every day on their YouTube channel, as will Law&Crime Network on their YouTube channel. You can watch Court TVs livestream of Day 1 in the embed above. Is the trial on TV? Yes. Starting on July 10, Court TV will be bringing cameras into the Santa Fe County District Courthouse. Court TV will be providing the coverage to other major networks. Due to the large interest in this trial, keep an eye out for more coverage on other major news channels. Court TV has also released a 45-minute documentary prior to the trial called The Case Against Alec Baldwin. It is available to watch on YouTube. What happened on the Rust set? The shooting took place back in 2021 at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico during a rehearsal. Hutchins, who was 42, was shot in the chest and killed with a Colt .45 revolver. Baldwin was practicing using the prop weapon when it went off. The films director Joel Souza was also injured in the shooting. Assistant director David Halls handed the gun to Baldwin and informed the set that it was cold gun (meaning there was no live ammunition). He was unaware that the gun was loaded with real bullets. Since the incident, there have been several lawsuits involving other members of the Rust team. On March 6, 2024, the films armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence, which is the same sentence Baldwin could face in the current trial. Baldwin was initially charged in January of 2023 alongside Gutierrez, but his charges were dropped. He was then indicted with involuntary manslaughter again the following January. The post How to Watch Alec Baldwins Rust Trial Live Online appeared first on TheWrap. July 9 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Colorado shared security camera footage from a home where a curious canine investigating some boxes on its owner's stove started a fire. The Colorado Springs Fire Department said on social media that crews responded to a home on Rushmore Drive on a report of a possible structure fire. Firefighters arrived at 4:47 a.m. on June 26 and spoke with the homeowners, who confirmed there had been a fire on their stove that was extinguished before crews arrived. Security camera footage revealed the cause of the blaze was the family dog getting up on its hind legs to investigate some boxes on the stove and accidentally switching on the oven, causing the boxes to catch fire. The man who put out the kitchen fire was treated for smoke inhalation, and there were no other injuries reported to human or animal residents. "This is a good reminder to always have working smoke alarms inside and outside every sleeping area and on every floor of the home, ensure all combustibles are away from your stovetop/oven, and know two ways out of every room in your home in the event of a fire," fire officials wrote. A recent TikTok video of an older Tennessee man threatening two young fishermen and breaking one of their fishing rods has the internet in an uproar. The footage has spawned several follow-up videos along with a doxing attempt. Its the latest (but certainly not the first) example of the borderline violent encounters that sometimes occur between public anglers and private landowners. TikTok user and fishing content creator @fishn_shi posted the original video on July 3, along with the following caption: Drunk karen breaks my $200 St. Croix rod. The user did not respond to a request for comment, so many of the details behind the incident remain unclear. Fishn_shi recorded the video on his phone, and he can be heard in the background as the older man confronts him and his friend on the shore of a lake in Knoxville. The name of the lake and its ownership are unknown, but fishn_shi wrote in a comment that its located in the Admirals Landing neighborhood. Several large suburban homes are visible in the background, and at least two other homeowners were involved in the confrontation. The older man is already ticked off at the start of the roughly one-minute-long clip. He appears to be intoxicated (and at one point he admits to having a drink earlier). While the two boys film on their phones, he approaches fishn_shis buddy, grabs a fishing rod from the boys hand, and breaks the rod over his own leg. The man continues to hurl insults as he repeatedly claims the boys are trespassing on the privately-owned neighborhood lake. Read Next: Watch: Landowner Tells Kayaker Theres No Fishing Allowed on His Side of the River The video is heavily edited, however, and its unclear what exactly led to the rod breaking. Because of the original videos popularity its gotten nearly 19 million views in less than a week fishn_shi shared additional clips on July 6 and 7. Titled Part 2 and Part 3, the videos show more of the confrontation that ensued. In Part 2, two other homeowners accuse the boys of trespassing and lying about their names while the older man keeps trying to run them off. At one point, the elderly woman refers to the rod-breaker as the president, presumably of the local homeowners association. She says he has lived here for years and knows everyone that lives in here. The boys appear to remain calm during the confrontation. But a short segment from Part 3 shows that they werent afraid to egg the older man on. Youre right, I had a drink. Is that against the law, dumb shit? the old man says in Part 3 after one of the boys claims he can smell alcohol on his breath. The boy then says theyll wait for the police to arrive, and the man says he will, too. He also threatens to snap one of their fishing poles in half if they make one more cast into the lake. No, youre not. Because the police are gonna press charges on you Were showing the police this video and youre gonna get arrested, one of the boys says. I cant wait to see you walk away in handcuffs. The young fisherman then makes a cast, and the old man follows through on his threat. He grabs the fishing rod from the boys hand and snaps it over his thigh like a twig. At several points in the videos, the man threatens to call the police and press charges against the young anglers. The videos dont show how (or if) the situation was resolved, and its unclear if anyone was charged with a crime. However, two self-appointed internet investigators have tried to get to the bottom of the controversy. Read Next: In a Tale as Old as the West, Wealthy Californians Moved to Montana and Blocked Historic River Access On July 6, TikTok user @TizzyEnt shared a video post analyzing fishn_shis videos. He defends the two young fishermen and calls the older man a drunk, entitled, impetulant [sic] child. Along with some other social media users who have shared their opinions on various posts, he contends that the boys were not trespassing on the private neighborhood lake either because they had permission to fish or had family members who lived there. I talked to the young man, says TizzyEnt, who claims that he sent fishn_shi a Bass Pro Shops gift card worth $250 to replace the broken rod. His parents came and declined to press charges against [the older man]. They could have pressed charges against him because hes the one who damaged their property and assaulted them. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } In addition to providing commentary, TizzyEnt identifies the older man in the video by calling attention to another follow-up video shared by Danesh, a content creator and YouTuber who identifies people online (also known as doxing). Danesh claims that the older man is a Knoxville resident named Matt Webster who works at United Community Bank and serves as the chairperson of a local Haiti outreach program. He also claims that Webster has since deleted his social media profiles. These claims are unconfirmed. Regardless, the doxing attempt has fueled a stream of social media-driven vitriol directed at Webster and those surrounding him. Its also led to cases of mistaken identity as there are at least two men named Matt Webster who live in Knoxville. Earlier today, the national nonprofit organization known as Haiti Outreach wrote in a Facebook post that it has received many hateful messages even though it has no connection with the older man in the video. Meanwhile, a man named Matt Webster who works for United Community Bank in Knoxville has updated his LinkedIn profile to clarify that he is NOT THE FISHING GUY FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO. President Biden delivered an address Tuesday for the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the organizations summit in Washington. NATO has several urgent items on its current agenda, although viewers at home and abroad will also evaluate Bidens demeanor and apparent mental sharpness. The president received support from House Democrats earlier in the day, but the incumbents fitness to stand for reelection in the fall remains a pressing question both within his party and among the public as a whole. NATO summit becomes high-stakes test of Bidens fitness The status of NATO, formed initially as a transatlantic counterweight to the Soviet Union, had been somewhat in doubt following the end of the Cold War. But as several former Soviet satellites, Warsaw Pact nations, including Czechia (Czech Republic), Slovakia, and Hungary, and former Baltic republics of the U.S.S.R. itself signed onto the alliance, Russia came to see the alliance as a renewed threat. The U.S.-backed war in Ukraine is the most critical flashpoint in the current tensions between Russia and the West. The bid by Ukraine itself to join NATO is still pending, although current member states are in agreement that the war-ravaged country will in time follow several of its neighbors in signing on. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. July 9 (UPI) -- A reveler enjoying Fourth of July celebrations in Rhode Island ended up jumping into the Providence River to rescue a struggling rabbit. Emily Swift, who was visiting Providence from New York, attended the Fourth of July WaterFire celebration and ended up catching the unusual rescue on camera. Swift's video, which she posted to TikTok, shows a woman swimming in the Providence River to rescue a not-so-buoyant bunny that was struggling in the water. The woman, who has not been identified, was rescued by a WaterFire boat captained by Christine Maino, a 26-year volunteer of the annual celebration. "We threw the life ring out, we have a ladder, we put that on the side of the boat so we could get her up ... and she would not let go of the rabbit, she was bound and determined the rabbit was coming with her," Maino told WJAR-TV. The mystery rescuer was praised by witnesses. "I think we are all animal lovers at the end of the day, and we have certain levels we'll go to, and hers was a little higher than ours," witness Newell Roberts said. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) The Williamson County Sheriffs Office is investigating after a 46-year-old man died of a suspected overdose in Georgetown, the agency said in a news release Tuesday. On Monday, the WCSO Organized Crime Unit (OCU) responded to the call for a suspected overdose death on Winding Way in Georgetown, the release said. When deputies arrived, they found the man dead. Officials are not identifying him at this time, as they are notifying the next of kin, according to WCSO. This was the third time the OCU responded to this same address for overdose incidents, the release said. The growing number of overdose incidents at this location is deeply concerning. We are committed to combating the illegal drug trade and tackling the opioid crisis. As a result, diligent efforts will be made through the Attorney Generals Office, the County Attorneys Office, and the District Attorneys Office to abate or seize these properties, WCSO Sheriff Mike Gleason said in the release. During the investigation, deputies seized suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine from the residence, according to WCSO. Additionally, one person was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, the release said. This case remains under investigation by WCSO, the release said. If anyone has any information regarding this case, they can call the tip line at 512-943-1170 or by email at drug-humantraffickinginfo@wilco.org. Its been a little scary Neighbors in the area said the home has brought a lot of problems. Its been a little scary and uneasy at times. There are families around. There are children around and this is not a safe thing. Cendy Antley, Neighbor Antley said time and time again theyve seen law enforcement outside the home. The lawn wasnt kept up, trash outside, Antley said. Dogs not on leashes attacking an older resident and his dog. He had to go to the ER and get rabies vaccinations. Those are claims other neighbors supported to us off camera as well. Antley said some people even moved away because of the issues. It affects everybody. We worry about the children, Antley said. We worry about walking our leashed dogs across the street, you know, down down the sidewalk. KXAN briefly spoke with someone who came out of the home. They declined to comment. Ultimately, neighbors felt uneasy about everything thats happened and where things go from here. We as a community are very saddened by what has happened, Antley said. Theres nothing good about doing drugs. You are not going to win in this situation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. JOPLIN, Mo. Whataburger on South Range Line may have opened back on May 13, but its official ribbon cutting is leaving its mark on the community. Joplin High Schools JROTC raised the flag and Joplin 8th grader Abby Mann sang the National Anthem at the ceremony Tuesday morning. Whataburger also made a $1,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri. Whataburger opens in Webb City A special piece of unity was also unveiled in front of the restaurant: A new butterfly sculpture, which is a decision Whataburger made itself to join the community. Mayor Keenan Cortez calls it a great day for the City of Joplin. We had the tragedy in 2011 with the tornado, but look at us now. Weve come back, were even more resilient than we were before, and the butterfly is just a symbol of how great of a community this is to be a part of, said Mayor Cortez. More on Joplins butterflies Oh, Im so excited. We have been working with the company that made it for several months now, and I had not seen it until I got here this morning, and its absolutely beautiful. I love the theme behind it. We love to be part of the rebirth of this part of Joplin, said Kim Kannarr, Whataburger Field Marketing Manager. A special event featuring games and prizes will happen later Tuesday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Whatever you call the encroaching political darkness in Kansas and America, its not democracy Storm clouds have gathered across the political landscape, and they should be taken seriously, writes David Norlin. (AJ Dome for Kansas Reflector) Not taking a threat seriously can have serious consequences. Filmmaker and documentarian Ken Burns, in his recent commencement address to Brandeis University graduates, provided brilliant insight into threats facing our current Divided States of America. The Atlantic and Pacific have kept us safe, in a sense. This helped develop our work ethic and our restlessness, our innovation and our improvisation, our communities and our institutions of higher learning, our suspicion of power. But the isolation of those two oceans has also helped incubate habits and patterns less beneficial to us: our devotion to money and guns and conspiracies, our certainty about everything, our stubborn insistence on our own exceptionalism blinding us to that which needs repair, especially with regard to race and ethnicity. Burns cited President Abraham Lincoln, shortly before his 29th birthday, asking: Will some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time or die by suicide. Suicide? Lincolns stark, dark assertion puts our November choice in clear focus. The unthinkable must be thought about and confronted. There is no precedent. A presidential candidate promises to destroy or eliminate his competition. Whatever its name dictatorship, fascism, autocracy, theocracy this is not democracy. A Trump victory plan is found in more than 900 pages of Heritage Foundations Project 2025. It calls for sacking thousands of civil servants, expanding the power of the president, dismantling the Department of Education and other federal agencies and gutting the government through sweeping tax cuts. Checks and balances? Fuhgeddaboudit. Apartheid thinking has been an undercurrent, but now has oozed or more accurately, stormed into halls of power. Talk show host and best-selling author Thom Hartmann offers insight about how this came to be. He spotlights the little-known mudsill theory of labor affecting living conditions, particularly in Republican-controlled states. The past seven years have seen a near-fivefold increase in documented child labor violations, attacks on books and curricula in public education, and kneecapping of schools, reallocating our dollars to families already affording private academies, religious schools, and homeschooling. And its not just schooling. Inequality and social immobility are nearly guaranteed in Republican-controlled states turning the screws on unionizing efforts, ensuring the right to work for less. Moving on up? Nah. Mudsill theory originated in 1858 from slave plantation owner and South Carolina Sen. James Henry Hammond. He asserted that for a society to function smoothly, it must have a foundational class of people who, (as) a mudsill stabilizes the house that rests atop it, bear the difficult manual labor from which almost all wealth is derived. The class constituting societys mudsill must have a low order of intellect and little skill (whose) requisites are vigor, docility, fidelity. Such a class, he asserted, must exist to support that other class which leads (to) progress, civilization, and refinement. And who was his mudsill class? His slaves, of course. Lincoln disagreed. Capital is the fruit of labor, he said, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. In Lincolns spirit, the anti-Vietnam, pro-Black civil rights, pro-Latino agriculture workers, and feminist movements of the 1960s and 70s threatened Hammonds mudsill view. Something had to be done. And so, Ronald Reagan was elected. He ended free college, gutted public schools, destroyed the union movement and weakened enforcement of child labor laws. Todays Republicans from Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas to Mike Johnson, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Donald Trump are finally close to fulfilling Hammonds and Reagans vision of mudsill labor, Hartmann writes. In Kansas, the MAGA crowd crows about freedom while shutting it down. Witness Salinas version of House Speaker Dan Hawkins vaudevillian, feel-good, anti-Medicaid show. His invitation was from the local Granny Brigade at the Knights of Columbus. Republican establishment faithful dominated, with a few interlopers. The folks who loudly complain at nearly every local gummint meeting about not being heard herded any dissension out the door. They permitted written questions only, read and culled by the MAGA faithful. Hawkins hawked his goods, opening with complaints hed been misrepresented (particularly by the Kansas Reflector, by name). Here, he said, was the truth, unspoiled by alternative views. The public meeting was neither debate nor democracy. Threats to Democracy are clearly visible. Keep your eyes open. And vote. The Arizona Republic sent a brief questionnaire to the candidates in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, which stretches across much of the northeastern portion of the state. Incumbent Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., is seeking his second term in office. Jack Smith, a former Yavapai County supervisor, is challenging him for the Republican nomination. Jonathan Nez, a former Navajo Nation President, is running as a Democrat. The district includes Apache, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties as well as parts of Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties. Which district do you live in? Find your elected officials in Congress and other Arizona offices Responses are below. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party. Candidates Eli Crane and Jack Smith did not return Q&A responses. Democratic candidate Jonathan Nez Occupation: Former president of the Navajo Nation, currently public policy consulting, Nez Consulting LLC Relevant experience: Jonathan Nez has 18 years of public service, beginning as the Shonto Chapter House vice president and serving as a Navajo County supervisor and president of the Navajo Nation. Age: 48 Party: Democrat Name two big problems facing the district youre running to represent and how you would address them if elected. Cost of living. From housing to basic utilities, the cost of getting by for the hardworking families of Arizonas Second Congressional District continues to outpace increases in wages or the Social Security that our elders rely on. In Congress I will work across the aisle to hold corporations accountable for price-gouging, and to address our shortage of affordable housing. I will also protect Social Security and Medicare from the cuts and retirement-age hikes that were recently proposed by the Republican Study Committee. Infrastructure is the other problem facing our district. Tribal communities still lack basic telecommunications, running water, and running electrical infrastructure. Communities across the district also require more infrastructure to prepare wildfire and flood responses. Communities across Arizonas Second Congressional District, and for that matter all of rural Arizona, deserve adequate infrastructure development to help our communities catch up with metro areas. While I personally understand the resilience that comes from having to adapt to life without adequate infrastructure I have lived without running water or power I also understand that these lacks directly inhibit rural communities from growing economically. This means that young adults leave our communities for jobs and families split across generations. When elected, I will work to help communities across the district secure funding and advance infrastructure development, from fixing potholes to expanding reliable telecommunications coverage. Which recent political figure do you most admire, and why? I admire US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who made history as the first Native American to represent the state of New Mexico in Congress and later became the first Native American appointed to the cabinet. She has continued to lead a charge to not only bring a unique voice and perspective, first to Congress and then the Department of Interior, but has allowed for marginalized people and groups to know that they can achieve their dreams with hard work. What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to make life more affordable for ordinary Arizonans? We must look at ways to address the housing shortage across the district and the state, from homeownership to renting. The number one largest expense for our hardworking families in Arizona is housing, and while we have become an ever more popular state to move to over recent years, the building of new houses has lagged behind, but that is only one of the major complications. The market continues to produce housing that is out of the price range of the people moving here. We must work to stop corporate landlords from manipulating prices. I will also work on finding creative ways to address the need for affordable housing, and not just low-income housing, but also middle class housing, by making first-time home buyer programs more accessible and easier to navigate. What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to reform federal immigration policy? Congress should increase funding for staffing at the border and make a far greater effort at fentanyl interdiction. We must invest in higher-quality infrastructure, increase border patrol staffing, and expand court staffing so we can effectively process asylum claims. We must address the issue intelligently and humanely, for the good of our economy and our reputation. I believe we should pass the DREAM Act and update our broken immigration system. This requires an honest discussion of immigration, its benefits to our country, as well as the costs of allowing continued growth. What do you believe is the biggest threat to national security, and how should we handle it? The rise of political extremism, both domestically and globally, is the biggest threat to our national security. From the persistent conflict between Ukraine and Russia to the heightening tensions between China and Taiwan, our national security is at constant threat from rising tensions and conflicts impacting international economic stability. Industries including oil, agriculture, microchips and tourism are under threat of conflict, which jeopardizes critical supply chains that directly impact both our domestic economic order and our national security. Both areas of concern show how the rising extremism in Congress intensifies these threats by hamstringing our ability to support causes abroad that advance our security interests. What would you change about the US response to climate change, if anything? I believe we need a more comprehensive approach to mitigating climate change. Congress should focus on three broad areas of public policy in this regard: reducing the amount of carbon we put into our atmosphere, mitigating the damage to communities who are suffering from extreme climate events, and recalibrating our economy so the American people can benefit from new technologies. As the former President of the Navajo Nation, I have experience in dealing with the transition from coal-fired energy generation to solar energy production. I have been a vocal advocate for a just-transition approach to workforce retraining. Throughout my years of public service I have worked on the issues surrounding the waste left behind by uranium mining and how it has impacted both air and water quality for surrounding communities. In Congress I will bring unique perspectives and lived experiences to help better shape the countrys response to climate change. Do you feel confident that the 2024 election will be held securely and fairly? If not, what are your concerns? Yes, I do. As a Native American, I know that we need to work toward combating voter disenfranchisement and invest in processes that help rebuild the public trust in the integrity of our election processes. Arizona election 2024: Here's everything to know about registering and voting Republican candidates Republican candidates in this district have not yet responded to the questions. Their answers will be added if received. Eli Crane U.S. Reps. Eli Crane (R-AZ) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ) leave the Capitol after a series of votes, in Washington on Nov. 15, 2023. U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., did not return Q&A responses. Crane was first elected to Congress in 2022. Jack Smith Republican candidate Jack Smith gives his opening statement during a Citizens Clean Elections primary debate for Congressional District 2 in Phoenix on Monday, June 24, 2024. Incumbent Eli Crane declined to participate. Jack Smith, a former Yavapai County supervisor, did not return Q&A responses. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona 2nd Congressional District election: Here are the candidates By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Fifth Third Bancorp will pay $20 million in civil fines and offer redress to 35,000 harmed consumers to settle U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau charges it opened unauthorized accounts and illegally repossessed their cars. The Cincinnati-based lender, which has about $215 billion of assets and 1,070 branches mainly in Midwestern and Southeastern U.S. states, did not admit or deny wrongdoing in agreeing to the two settlements announced by the CFPB on Tuesday. Fifth Third will pay a $15 million fine and refund fees and costs to customers with fake accounts between 2010 and 2016. It was also banned from setting sales quotas that give employees incentives to open the accounts, through a "cross-selling" strategy that also led to sanctions for other banks including Wells Fargo. Fifth Third will separately pay a $5 million fine and offer compensation to borrowers it forced to obtain car insurance that duplicated coverage they already had, or had their vehicles repossessed if they failed to comply. The regulator said that between 2011 and 2019, Fifth Third "force-placed" or required unnecessary insurance more than 37,000 times, collected more than $12.7 million of "worthless" fees, and improperly repossessed nearly 1,000 vehicles. One victim was an insurance agent who said Fifth Third assured him in 2016 that "everything is correct and that I actually do not owe anything," shortly before he woke up one morning to find his car missing. The fake accounts settlement requires a judge's approval, and would resolve a CFPB lawsuit filed in March 2020. "We are ordering the senior executives and board of directors at Fifth Third to clean up these broken business practices or else face further consequences," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement. Susan Zaunbrecher, Fifth Third's chief legal officer, said in a statement: "We have already taken significant action to address these legacy matters, including identifying issues and taking the initiative to set things right." (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Nick Zieminski) Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) speaks during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Ending the U.S. Military Mission in Afghanistan in the Rayburn House Office Building at the U.S. Capitol on September 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rod Lamkey-Pool/Getty Images) Editors note: This post was updated on July 11 to include new comments from U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. One senior Democrat from Washington says President Joe Biden should end his reelection bid. Another says he should not. And the congressional delegations most progressive lawmaker is trying to shift the discussion to focus on defeating Donald Trump. Some Democrats began calling for Biden to end his campaign after his disastrous debate performance in late June raised doubts about his age and mental sharpness and whether he can win in November. As of July 11, the number of Democrats in Congress who had publicly called for Biden to step aside totalled at least 14 in the House and one in the Senate, according to the The New York Times. Biden on Monday, July 8 sent a letter to Congressional Democrats saying he has no intention of dropping out. In Washington, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith was the first congressional Democrat who has openly called for Biden to step aside. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, did not specifically call for Biden to suspend his campaign, but she urged him to seriously consider the best way forward. And Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has expressed doubts about Bidens fitness to hold office and has said she thinks hell lose in November. Below is a look at what they and other members of the states delegation have said on the topic. The Standard has reached out to other lawmakers for comment and will update this post with any additional responses. Rep. Adam Smith President Biden should end his candidacy for a second term as President and release his delegates to the Democratic National Convention to enable the party to nominate a new candidate for President. This must happen as soon as possible to give the new ticket the maximum amount of time to make its case to the American people, Smith said in a statement. Any candidate for the highest office in our nation has a strong burden to bear. That candidate must be able to clearly, articulately, and strongly make his or her case to the American people. It is clear that President Biden is no longer able to meet this burden. If President Biden runs, I will back him one hundred percent and without reservation. Elections are, after all, a choice. The President would still be, by a wide margin, the best candidate in the current field. Sen. Patty Murray Murray stopped short of calling for Biden to step aside. I believe President Biden must do more to demonstrate he can campaign strong enough to beat Donald Trump, she said in a statement on Monday. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray added. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Rep. Pramila Jayapal Any reporter or pundit who is asking about or talking about the aftermath of President Bidens debate performance and his health should also be spending at least the same amount of time and energy talking to Republicans about why they are still supporting a convicted felon who incited an insurrection and wants to be Dictator on Day 1. Republicans should be calling for Donald Trump to step down as a candidate for President. It is true that Democrats are having many conversations among our members and our constituents as we consider the best path forward to protect our democracy, Jayapal said in a statement. As (Congressional Progressive Caucus) Chair, I am listening carefully to the thoughts of our members from all over the countryin swing and safe states and districtsas we work to ensure we defeat Donald Trump and win the House and Senate. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez In a statement Thursday, Gluesenkamp Perez raised concerns about Bidens health, suggesting he is unfit to do his job. Like most people I represent in Southwest Washington, I doubt the Presidents judgement about his health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than unelected advisors, she said. Americans deserve to feel their president is fit enough to do the job. The crisis of confidence in the Presidents leadership needs to come to an end. The President should do what he knows is right for the country and put the national interest first. Last week, she said in an interview with KATU News that she believed Biden would lose the election. Given the primary results, she said, he is the nominee. We all saw what we saw, you cant undo that, and the truth I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump, she said. I know thats difficult, but I think the damage has been done by that debate. Rep. Rick Larsen I certainly do not want to be lumped in with the few members calling for the Prez to step down, Larsen said on social media in response to a Politico story that claimed he had voiced concerns about Biden. Im on Team Biden. I know people confuse Adam Smith and me, but try to be accurate about what our positions are. Rep. Suzan DelBene When asked about DelBenes stance on Bidens campaign, a spokesperson pointed to a text exchange between the congresswoman and the publication Semafor. The stakes are incredibly high this election, for all of us. That hasnt changed after last week, DelBene wrote. The choice this November is crystal clear: Democrats who want to govern responsibly versus extremist Republicans obsessed with tax breaks for billionaires, rolling back reproductive freedom, and defending Trumps attacks on our democracy. Speculation is in overdrive after the White House revealed in a letter yesterday that a specialist on Parkinson's disease has visited Biden repeatedly since he became president. White House representatives said the visits were routine and part of the president's annual physical, but the letter did little to quell the rampant speculation, rumors, and many calls for Biden to drop out as concerns have raged over his physical frailty during public appearances as the election heats up. In the first presidential debate, for instance, Biden looked and sounded old while he stammered and stumbled over key talking points, scaring off many Democratic Party loyalists and voters while heartening supporters of his rival Donald Trump. "Biden is toast calling it now," New Hampshire Democratic Party apparatchik Jay Surdukowski told Politico. Long plagued by rumors that Biden has some form of dementia, the chatter has heated up in recent days with the revelation that neurologist Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson's disease specialist, had seen Biden three times, according to The Washington Post. But the letter from the White House pushes back against the notion that Biden has been diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition. Parkinson's is characterized by tremors, poor posture and balance, slowed movements and stiff muscles, among other symptoms. There is no known cure, but there are drugs and various medical strategies such as physical therapy that can alleviate some symptoms. Causes that can spark Parkinson's include genetic changes and triggers in the environment. Men over 60 are at higher risk, and Biden is currently 81. On social, some rebutted the focus on circumstantial evidence. "As someone with a parent with Parkinson's, let me offer a full-hearted FUCK YOU to anyone trying to use the disease to belittle Joe Biden," wrote one user. "I've seen symptoms of the disease and Joe Biden exhibits none of them. Get the fuck outta here with your ableist, misdiagnosed bullshit." Even if he has no sign of Parkinson's, there's no debate that Biden has been appearing greatly diminished a reality that isn't making his supporters or strategists happy as he approaches a tough election cycle. More on Parkinson's disease: Biotech Company Says It's Implanted Dopamine-making Cells in Patients' Brains After intense pressure from leading LGBTQ + advocacy groups, the White House has issued a clarification about its position on gender-affirming care for transgender people in America. The clarification comes after the White House received harsh criticism days after the end of Pride Month when a spokesperson told The 19th that the administration opposes gender-confirming surgery for transgender youth a medical treatment that is rarely available to very few older trans teenagers . Right-wing extremists have pushed false assertions of easy access to surgical care for trans kids, which is not true. In response, Neera Tanden, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, wrote to Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson on Monday night, assuring that the administrations policy remains unchanged. In an email obtained by The Advocate, Tanden said, We continue to fight state and national bans on gender-affirming care, which represents a continuum of care, and respect the role of parents, families, and doctors not politicians in these decisions. Gender-affirming surgeries are typically reserved for adults, and we believe they should be. She added, Above all, families should have the freedom to make the medical decisions that they and their doctors determine are best for them which is why we oppose attempts to limit healthcare for transgender individuals in the courts or through legislation. Tanden also wrote, We will continue to vigorously fight categorical bans on gender-affirming care in the courts, including the Supreme Court, and we will fight back hard against partisan laws being pushed by extreme Republican elected officials that target Americans just for who they are. Related: White House statement on transgender minors health care sparks outrage by LGBTQ+ rights groups The need for clarification arose after reports indicated a possible shift in the administrations support for transgender healthcare, leading to widespread concern within the LGBTQ+ community. Over the weekend, HRC led a coalition letter, co-signed by a number of LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, demanding a clear reaffirmation of support for gender-affirming care for minors. The July 5 letter addressed to President Joe Biden said, No parent should ever be put in the position where they and their doctor agree on one course of action for their children, supported by the overwhelming majority of medical experts, but the government forbids it. The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Advocates for Trans Equality, The Trevor Project, PFLAG, the Whitman-Walker Institute, and the American Civil Liberties Union were among the signatories. The letter also highlighted that while the administration has been praised for enacting policies based on research and science, this recent statement appears to contradict decades of medical knowledge on the care of transgender individuals, including youth. Every leading professional medical organization in the U.S. endorses gender-affirming care as medically necessary, safe, and evidence-informed. The letter stressed that access to such care is associated with positive mental health and quality of life outcomes for transgender people, especially amid the public health crisis of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among young people. It emphasized empowering doctors, patients, and families to make healthcare decisions without political interference. In response, Tanden reiterated Bidens condemnation of anti-trans legislation. 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, Biden said previously. While emphasizing that gender-affirming surgeries are typically reserved for adults, Tanden underscored the importance of allowing families and their doctors to make healthcare decisions without political interference. Robinson valued the administrations clarification in a statement to The Advocate. We appreciate that the administration has clarified that its position on healthcare for the transgender community has not changedthat it opposes any and all bans on access to care and will continue to fight these bans both in the courts and at the legislative level, Robinson said. The administration also reiterated what we know to be true: these types of personal healthcare decisions are best left to the families, the patient, and their medical providerand no one else. This confirmation from the White House follows a period of intense advocacy and pressure from HRC and other groups. Transgender legislators like Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr and other progressive voices have also been vocal in demanding clarity from the administration. The Biden administration has consistently championed the rights of transgender individuals, positioning itself as a pro-equality administration. The commitment to combating state-level bans and ensuring access to gender-affirming care reflects a broader, deeply contentious national debate about the rights of transgender people and the role of government in personal medical decisions. According to the HRC, as of May 2024, 39 percent of transgender youth in the United States live in states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care. These states include Florida , Ohio , and Montana , where bans are currently on hold or blocked from enforcement through court orders. HRC reports that almost 300,000 high school-aged transgender youth need gender-affirming care. In June, a federal judge struck down a 2023 Florida law that blocked gender-affirming care for transgender minors and severely restricted such treatment for adults. Senior Judge Robert Hinkle declared the law unconstitutional, saying that transgender people are entitled to the legitimate treatment they need. He compared opponents of transgender rights to those who historically opposed equality for minorities and women. In a letter released late Monday night by the president's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, he confirmed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, the Parkinson's expert who visited the White House eight times in an eight-month span, "was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals." Cannards visits to the White House dont represent examinations of the president, according to OConnors letter. Cannard is involved in a range of care for others beyond the president at the White House, OConnor said in his note. Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, [Cannard] has held regular Neurology clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations, his letter reads. Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology Practice. On the subject of Bidens physical, O'Connor noted that "President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical." MORE: Parkinson's expert visited White House 8 times in 8 months, met with Biden's doctor OConnor also stressed that Biden's last physical found no signs of Parkinson's, which he detailed in a Feb. 28 letter. While the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to confirm these details earlier Monday, citing privacy concerns, O'Connor said he "obtained permission from the President and Dr. Cannard to confirm the details I am sharing." O'Connor offered in his letter a full-throated endorsement of Dr. Cannard and his work as the neurology consultant to the White House since 2012. "Dr. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems," he wrote. As ABC News reported earlier on Monday, an expert in Parkinson's disease visited the White House eight times over an eight-month span between last July and March of this year, including one visit with the president's personal physician, according to White House visitor logs. Asked repeatedly at Monday's press briefing about Cannard, Jean-Pierre refused to say if the neurologist ever treated the president or consulted on his care, citing privacy concerns, but did say Biden was not being treated for Parkinson's disease. MORE: Vice President Harris takes the stage at Essence Festival, only mentions Biden once "You're refusing to say if he was here to evaluate the president or if he was consulting on the president's health. So, what then was that meeting about?" ABC News asked. Jean-Pierre said she would not elaborate on the meeting "because we will not confirm or speak to names that you're providing to me. It is out of security." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on July 08, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) As part of his annual physical exam, the president was evaluated by a neurologist who found no signs of Parkinson's, according to a summary O'Connor released in February. "An extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy," his report states. Overall, the February report stated Biden, 81, continued to be "fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations." Letter7.8.24 by Tom Dunlavey on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. White House doctor offers explanation for Parkinson's expert's visits originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Joe Bidens doctor released a letter late Monday clarifying the reasons for a Parkinsons disease specialists numerous visits to the White House, just hours after reporters seeking an explanation clashed with the presidents press secretary in the briefing room. Kevin OConnor, the presidents doctor, said Kevin Cannard who visited the White House several times over the last year has been a neurology consultant to the White House medical office since 2012. Cannard, a Parkinsons expert, holds neurology clinics at the White House for active-duty military members, the letter said. He was also the neurological specialist who examined Biden for his three annual physicals since taking office. The president has not seen a neurologist outside of his physical, OConnor said. He reiterated that Bidens February physical found no findings consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy. Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr. Cannard has been doing for a dozen years. Dr. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems, the letter said. The letter came just hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clashed with reporters over questions about whether or not Cannard was at the White House to consult on the presidents health. In recent days, several news outlets have reported on Cannards visits to the White House, including a meeting with the presidents doctor. Mondays tense back-and-forth drew headlines about Jean-Pierres unwillingness to answer the numerous questions about the doctors visits. The president is still trying to clean up last months rough debate and to convince members of his own party that hes up to the task of running for reelection. Jean-Pierre on Monday repeatedly said she would not confirm the name of the specialist to protect the privacy of the people treated in the White House Medical Unit. In his letter, OConnor said he received permission from both the president and Cannard since they typically do not disclose the names of specialists they work with in order to protect the privacy for thousands of patients of the White House Medical Unit. The White House clarified on Monday that Joe Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals, following a heated exchange between the presidents press secretary and journalists seeking an explanation for why a Parkinsons disease specialist visited the White House eight times in as many months. In an evening letter the White House physician, Kevin OConnor, said the specialist, Kevin Cannard, has been a neurology consultant to the White House medical unit since 2012. He said Cannard had visited multiple times a year since then, and that the neurologist was chosen for his breadth of experience and expertise. Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr Cannard has been doing for a dozen years, OConnor wrote. Dr Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems. Related: The Democrats who have called on Joe Biden to step down He added that Cannard was the neurologist who had examined Biden for his three annual physicals since becoming president. Bidens last medical examination in February had not shown any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy, OConnor wrote. The letter, which OConnor said he was releasing with the permission of both Biden and Cannard, followed intense speculation about the presidents cognitive powers following last months stumbling performance in a debate with Donald Trump in Atlanta, in which he repeatedly appeared confused and lost his train of thought. It was released after Karine Jean-Pierre, the presidents press secretary, sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room in an exchange during which she asked them for respect and declined to confirm Cannards name, even though it had already been reported in multiple media outlets. There are thousands of military personnel that come to the White House and they are under the care of the medical unit, she said. The president has seen a neurologist three times, she added, and continued that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons or ascending lateral sclerosis. She said Biden was not being treated or taking medication for Parkinsons disease. OConnors letter may not be enough to quell the suspicions over Bidens health and fitness to serve, amid revelations that he is a former business associate and longtime friend of the presidents family. Politico reported that he introduced Bidens brother, Jim Biden, to a military-focused medical team in 2017, at a time when he was pursuing a business venture aimed at securing veterans affairs contracts, and the presidents sister-in-law, Sara Biden, has also described OConnor as a friend who has dispensed medical advice to the family. Jacob Appel, a professor at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, told Politico that presidential doctors could not necessarily be relied on to disclose the truth about their distinguished patients. Presidents doctors have deceived the public going back to the early 19th century, said Appel, who has studied the medical dilemmas of multiple doctors acting for US presidents. There are plenty of ways of saying something that are factually accurate that dont convey the full sense of whats going on. Speculation about matters relating to Biden that might not previously have been scrutinized before his poor debate showing has grown, such as the recent disclosure that his staff prepares memos, complete with large print and photos, mapping out his path to the podium for public engagements, though the campaign emphasised that such materials are prepared for all presidents. The White House on Monday tangled with reporters during heated exchanges over whether the administration had been forthcoming about President Bidens health in the wake of a disastrous debate performance that has sparked calls from some Democrats for Biden to end his reelection bid. Reporters grilled press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a press briefing over reports that indicated visitor logs showed a neurologist specializing in Parkinsons disease was at the White House eight times over an eight month period, including for a meeting with presidential physician Dr. Kevin OConnor. They also took issue with Jean-Pierres evolving explanation around whether Biden met with a doctor before and after his debate on June 27, when the president frequently struggled to complete his thoughts and looked on with his mouth agape as former President Trump spoke. Aides at the time blamed Bidens raspy voice on a cold. Mondays briefing was dominated by questions sparked by the report on the Parkinsons doctors visit and whether it involved consultations with or about the president. In response, Jean-Pierre was adamant about not naming the specialist, Dr. Kevin Cannard, even though his name was on a public log of visitors to the White House, citing privacy and security questions. While answering one of the questions, Jean-Pierre was met with a chorus of reporters who pushed back on her response. Were miffed around here about how information has been shared with the press corps around here, CBS News correspondent Ed OKeefe said, pressing Jean-Pierre about whether Biden was seen by the expert in Parkinsons disease. It doesnt matter how hard you push me, it doesnt matter how angry you get with me, Im not going to confirm a name, Jean-Pierre said. It doesnt matter if its even in the log. Im not going to do that from here. What I can share with you is the president has seen a neurologist for his physical three times. She told reporters Biden is not being treated for Parkinsons and is not taking medication for the disease. She also cited his February physical, during which his personal physician found Biden was fit for duty and wrote that a neurological exam found no evidence of Parkinsons, stroke, or other condition. Reporters also expressed frustration over the lack of clarity in the days after the June 27 debate as to whether Biden had seen a doctor for the cold he had during his halting performance either before or after the debate. Last Wednesday, Jean-Pierre responded no when asked if Biden had any kind of medical exam. She also said no when asked if the president had any medical exams since his last annual physical in February. But last Friday, Jean-Pierre told reporters Biden had a verbal check-in when asked about reports that surfaced indicating Biden told a group of governors he had a checkup. During an ABC News interview later that evening, Biden alluded to having taken a COVID test and being checked for an infection, which were both negative. He did not specify during the interview when those exams took place but said doctors told him he merely had a bad cold. Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller opened Mondays briefing by asking Jean-Pierre about the credibility of this White House in talking about the presidents health. Jean-Pierre said she did not mean to steer anybody wrong and suggested she was not incorrect in saying Biden did not have a medical exam. She also took issue with the tone of the briefing at times, saying she took offense to those who suggested she was being intentionally misleading. I appreciate the back-and-forth that we all have. I try to respect you, and I hope you try to respect me. And we literally do everything that we can to make sure that we get the answers to you, she said. NBC News correspondent Kelly ODonnell, who also serves as president of the White House Correspondents Association, told Jean-Pierre the press corps was seeking clarity amid broader questions about the presidents health as he seeks reelection. Part of the reason we are pressing here is that we are not clear on what has happened, and therefore the American people to whom we report dont have a sense of it, she said. Questions about Bidens health have dominated coverage of his campaign amid the fallout stemming from Bidens debate with Trump. Several elected Democrats have urged Biden to step aside as the nominee, citing concerns about his electability and whether he can campaign vigorously enough to defeat Trump in November. Biden and his top aides have been defiant, saying he has no intention of dropping out of the race. In a Morning Joe interview on MSNBC earlier Monday, Biden dared those in the party who wanted him out of the race to challenge him at next months convention. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday accused Tehran of trying to take advantage of Gaza-related protests in the U.S. and described such behavior as unacceptable, following a warning by the top U.S. intelligence official that Iran was trying to stoke discord in American society. The warning, issued earlier on Tuesday by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, said actors tied to Iran's government had posed as activists online, sought to encourage protests regarding Gaza and even provided demonstrators with financial support. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said freedom of expression was vital to American democracy, but the government also had a duty to warn citizens about foreign influence operations. "Americans across the political spectrum, acting in good faith, have sought to express their own independent views on the conflict in Gaza. The freedom to express diverse views when done peacefully is essential to our democracy," she said. "At the same time, the U.S. government has a duty to warn Americans about foreign malign influences. ... We will continue to expose attempts to undermine our democracy in our society just as we are today." Tehran had no immediate comment. An official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said the warning on Iran showed how countries tried to take advantage of controversial issues in the run-up to elections, both to embarrass the U.S. and "inflame social division." The official, who asked not to be named, said Iran had a longstanding interest in exploiting U.S. political and social tensions, including through social media. "In particular, we are monitoring Iranian actors who are seeking to exacerbate tensions on the Israel-Gaza conflict," the official said. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Tyler Clifford, Andrea Shalal and Jonathan Landay; editing by Rami Ayyub and Richard Chang) We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) stands against the other FTSE dividend stocks. The first half of 2024 has been notable for the UK equity market, as the FTSE 100, the benchmark index for UK company shares, hit a record high. However, stocks tumbled in the first week of June as financial shares mirrored broader losses in European markets. That was mainly due to the political uncertainty that unsettled investors and a slump in industrial mining stocks further dragged down the market. That said, with some time remaining in the general elections, there is still some potential for additional developments and surprises within the UK market. The index is up by nearly 6% this year so far, compared with a 14.3% return of the broader US market The Bank of England (BoE) was one of the first central banks to begin increasing interest rates after the peak of the COVID pandemic. From December 2021 to August 2023, it raised the bank rate by 515 basis points to a 16-year high of 5.25% in order to address rising inflationary pressures in the economy. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the BoE is expected to begin cutting interest rates in August. Most economists also anticipate at least one more rate reduction this year, despite ongoing high inflation in wages and services. Yael Selfin, chief UK economist at KPMG, made the following comment on the situation: "While we are seeing some tentative signs of cooling in the labor market, service sector inflation remains persistently high and it is likely the MPC would want to wait until the next set of forecasts and a few more data points before it embarks on its first rate cut." Overall, UK inflation is expected to remain slightly above the BoEs target of 2.0% in every quarter until at least the end of 2025, according to the poll. Median forecasts indicated that inflation would average 2.5% this year and 2.2% next year. After reaching new highs in 2024, the FTSE 100 may attract more investors, particularly those focused on income accumulation. The projected dividend yield of 3.8% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025 is appealing, especially since these yields surpass the current inflation rate. Analysts predict that the ten largest dividend-paying companies in the UK will return 43.9 billion to shareholders, accounting for 55% of the total dividends from the FTSE 100. The top 20 companies are expected to contribute 57.4 billion, making up 72% of the total dividends. In 2023, UK dividend growth of 5.4% aligned with the global average, according to a report by Janus Henderson. This increase was driven by substantial dividend increases from banks and oil producers, although it was tempered by lower payouts from mining companies. The report further mentioned that annual dividends in the UK grew to $86 billion in 2023 from over $63 billion in 2020. While investors gravitate toward American dividend stocks, some of the best FTSE dividend stocks also offer similar investment opportunities. Our Methodology: For this article, we scanned through the list of FTSE stocks and picked dividend stocks from the list. From the resultant dataset, we picked the 10 best FTSE dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors tracked by Insider Monkey 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 doctor and a patient discussing a therapy plan that includes pharmaceutical products. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41 GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) is a leading global healthcare company that operates across various therapeutic areas, including vaccines, respiratory, and oncology. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.376 per share for a dividend yield of 3.67%. This stock is up by nearly 10% year-to-date, although it experienced volatility in the first week of June when shares dropped by over 9%. This decline occurred after a Delaware judge permitted over 70,000 lawsuits claiming that its discontinued heartburn medication Zantac led to cancer, posing a setback for the British pharmaceutical company. This ongoing uncertainty adds to a challenging decade for GSK, as the company continues to struggle with the need to replenish its pharmaceutical pipeline. However, with nearly 90 products currently in its R&D pipeline, it appears that the company is making significant progress. From a dividend perspective, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) can be a solid investment. Though the company's dividend has encountered some challenges in the past, its cash position indicates that the company has enough resources on its balance sheet to sustain its payouts. In Q1 2024, the company generated over 1 billion ($1.26 billion) in operating cash flow and its free cash flow came in at 300 million ($379.47 million). During the quarter, it returned 568 million ($718.46 million) to shareholders through dividends, which places it on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) has a forward P/E of 10.21, lower than AstraZeneca's forward P/E ratio of 18.94. Considering analysts' estimates of an 8% revenue growth this year, GSK seems to be trading at a good value for a high-quality company. The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) grew to 41 from 40 during the first three months of 2024. These funds held in aggregate $2 billion worth of GSK shares at the end of March. Overall GSK ranks 3rd on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now to see the other FTSE dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of GSK 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 GSK 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. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address to members of the Michigan Legislature in Lansing on Jan. 24, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth) Updated, 1:35 p.m., 7/9/24 Shortly after the timely release of the Michigan governors new book, True Gretch, which happened to coincide with a pivotal moment in Democratic politics that has included rampant speculation about Whitmers role in the future of her party, the newly minted author is set to hit the road next week on a book tour. Whitmer will hold four events in Michigan as part of the tour, including a conversation with Jeff Daniels at the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea on July 22, a conversation with former Gov. Jim Blanchard at Michigan State University on July 23 and an event in Traverse City with Bob Sutherland on July 31. A graphic promoting the book tour also promises a surprise Detroit event will be announced at a later date. Whitmer kicks off the tour Sunday in Seattle before also making stops in Santa Monica, San Francisco, Marthas Vineyard and the nations capital. Whitmer will be joined by comedian Samantha Bee on July 30 for the event at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The books release is certain to add fuel to the speculation about whether Whitmer could be a potential replacement if President Joe Biden were to step aside amid questions about his age calls she has repeatedly disavowed or might become a candidate for the countrys highest office in 2028. But the book tour notably does not include stops in any key swing states, instead favoring areas with high densities of Democratic donors. Whitmer spent the day Monday visiting local bookstores throughout Michigan to sign their copies of the book, which became available to purchase Tuesday. Signed copies can be found at Schuler Books in Meridian Township, Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, The Book Beat in Oak Park and Source Booksellers in Detroit while supplies last. Whitmer signed the books using a hot-pink Sharpie, complimenting an employee at Schuler Books on his pin that read Wear pink, get sh-t done. The post Whitmer launches book tour for True Gretch appeared first on Michigan Advance. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Michigan has a new state holiday set to honor mothers of the men and women who serve our country. On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill that designates Feb. 1 as Blue Star Mothers Day. Senate Bill 235 was first introduced by State Sen. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, in March 2023 and sent to the State House with a unanimous vote the following June. The bill sat in a House committee for nearly a year before emerging last month and eventually being put up for a vote. Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter The care and dedication that Blue Star Mothers of America provide is well worth this annual recognition and something I think people should be reminded of every year, Outman said in a statement. Outman, who has introduced similar bills for years, called the honor a long time coming. The resolutions always received bipartisan support, and I was happy to see my colleagues from both sides of the aisle get behind this legislation, Outman stated. The goal is to bring more attention to the selfless dedication of Blue Star Mothers and, in turn, begin a domino effect that draws more people to the organization and increases resources available for service members or families of service members in need. The first informal meeting of the Blue Star Mothers of America was held on Feb. 1, 1942, in Flint. The organization now has more than 200 chapters and 6,000 members across the country. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) may be one of the most self-conscious politicians around today. Even for preening politicians, even in an era where we all walk around with a transmitter that allows us to express our thoughts to the world, theres something about Hawley that makes every action seem calculated, made both to meet the expectations of the room hes in and play on its resentments. Take this statement, made Monday evening at the NatCon (National Conservatism) conference in D.C. "Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian Nation. So I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian Nationalism. And so I do." -Senator @HawleyMO at NatCon 4 pic.twitter.com/yyJsA0BIkf National Conservatism (@NatConTalk) July 9, 2024 Brave. Okay. But what makes Hawleys pretense here so cloying? Its partly the context. NatCon conferences began in 2019, devoted to exploring, spreading, and filling out ideas that it describes as national conservatism: an attempt to use the state to implement policies based in strict interpretations of Christianity, and one which openly rejects the libertarian strain on the right. A coterie of organizations and people on the political right, some well-known and others obscure, back the conferences. They include The Claremont Institute, the Heritage Foundation (of Project 2025 fame), and others. The list of speakers at the conference reads like a Whos-Who catalogue of this segment of the right. It includes John Eastman, the conservative attorney-turned-2020 coup plotter; Doug Wilson, an Idaho pastor who has advocated for blasphemy laws is here; Trump adviser Stephen Miller is slated to appear; as is Reza Pahlavi, crown prince of Iran. The conferences also unite some of the transatlantic trends in conservative thought that have emerged in recent years. Various people associated with Hungarian illiberalism came to the event, ostensibly to exchange tips and ideas. But just before Hawley spoke, a representative of the European rights other success Poland gave an address. It was Ryszard Legutko, a member of the European Parliament and author of The Demon in Democracy, who came to receive NatCons first-ever Beaconsfield Prize. Legutko made his name in part for his opposition to gay marriage, but also for his insistence that liberal Democracy bears striking similarities to Communist totalitarianism. His ideas have become influential among the national conservative right. Take right-wing writer, shampoo mogul, and SACR member Charles Haywoods January 19, 2017 review of Legutkos book. He synthesizes the books relevance in the following manner: Its not that Donald Trump has, or British voters have, absorbed and endorsed philosophies that oppose liberal-democracy, Haywood wrote. Rather, they have seen that the Emperor has no clothesthat liberal-democracy is a bad deal for them and for society. In a sense, were all in agreement: this movement is about opposing liberal Democracy. Theres no debate its about eroding it and, potentially, replacing it. Thats the context in which to hear Hawley. His audience isnt people tut-tutting in the rafters; rather, its those who want exactly what hes selling. The Best Of TPM Today Lies, Lewd Texts, Sexualized Relationship At Center Of Trump-Appointed Fed Judges Abrupt Resignation Big Lie-Pilled Officials Are Now In Charge Of Election Admin In Counties Across The U.S. Trump Team Tries Harder And Harder To Hide What They Will Actually Do During Trump 2.0 Yesterdays Most Read Story What An Utterly Surreal Week In American Politics David Kurtz What We Are Reading Navy sailor tried to access Bidens medical records multiple times CBS The Double Standard in Trump-Biden Coverage The Atlantic J.D. Vance Has a Problem on His Face The Bulwark Hours before Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Moscow on July 8, Russia fired missiles on Ukraine that killed at least 41 people, including four children at a children's hospital in Kyiv. The attack sparked widespread global condemnation, yet Modi was smiling as he posed for photos with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During Modis two-day visit to the Kremlinhis first trip to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the two leaders hugged each other outside Putins suburban residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, before holding informal talks over tea and taking a tour of the grounds. Putin told Modi he was very happy to see his dear friend, according to Russias TASS state news agency, while Modi called the visit a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties between the two countries in a post on the social media platform X. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Modis visit a huge disappointment on X, saying it was a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow. It became clear, however, that Modi did not plan on challenging Putin over his actions in Ukraine during the visit, and instead used the trip to affirm longstanding strategic and economic ties between the two countries. The Indian leaders engagement appears to be in part an attempt to stem the Kremlins dependence on regional rival China while he continues to walk a tightrope between the East and the West. As the first state visit of his third term, Modis visit to Russia seeks to reassure Putin of the importance of the bilateral relationship at a time when India is deepening relations with the West, says Chietigj Bajpaee, a senior research fellow for South Asia at Chatham House. Read More: Indian Prime Minister Modis Visit to Washington Is His Most Important So Far. Heres What to Know Last June, Modi met with U.S. President Joe Biden during a state visit to Washington, where the two leaders struck a defense, trade, and technology partnership and deepened relations over shared concerns about Chinas influence in the region. Still, India has refused to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine and abstained from all resolutions on Ukraine at the United Nations, despite facing pressure to distance itself from Moscow. Instead, Modi has opted for a softer approach to the conflict, telling Putin that todays era is not an era of war during the sidelines of a regional summit in Uzbekistan in 2022. Putin did not attend the G-20 summit hosted by New Delhi last year, where world leaders criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Experts say Modis visit, which occurred at the same time as NATO meetings in Washington, is focused primarily on defense cooperation. It comes after Putins return from Kazakhstan last week, where the Russian President claimed during a regional summit that Moscow-Beijing relations were experiencing the best period in their history. This relationship has raised concerns for India as tensions with neighboring China have heated up in recent years over a disputed Himalayan border, which has resulted in India becoming increasingly estranged in forums where Russia and China play a prominent role. As such, Russias stance on India-China hostilities in the future will be critical, says Bajpaee, especially given Indias heavy reliance on Russia for military equipment that dates back to the height of the Cold War. Historically, Moscow has taken a relatively neutral position, but if this were to change, it would prompt New Delhi to rethink its relations with Russia, he says. India has also continued to purchase large quantities of Russian crude oil at steep discounts despite Russia facing sanctions and isolation from the West. India is a major financial lifeline for Russia, with trade between the two countries amounting to nearly $65 billion in the last year. Most of that money has flowed toward Russia, however, a trade imbalance that Modi hoped to address during his talks with Putin, according to Indias foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who spoke to reporters ahead of the trip. On Tuesday, the two leaders continued talks over Russian imports vital for Indian power plants. Energy cooperation is an important issue, arising not only from Indias dependence on Russian crude oil, but also civil nuclear cooperation, says Bajpaee. Still, Delhi-Moscow relations were not without contention, as Modi sought to secure the early discharge of dozens of Indian nationals who were lured to join the Russian Army in recent years to fight Ukraine, with at least four dying on the battlefield so far. But as India seeks to promote a worldview that is non-western, but not explicitly anti-western, according to Bajpee, its likely the friendship between India and Russia will endure. For India, Modis meeting with Putin in Russia is just a continuation of longstanding strategic ties dating back to the Cold War, but for the U.S. and West, it reminds everyone how difficult it is to enlist New Delhi in a coalition to counter Russias invasion of Ukraine, says Derek Grossman, a senior analyst at the RAND Corporation. In short, it wont happen. Correction, July 9 The original version of this story misstated the year that Russia invaded Ukraine. It was 2022, not 2019. Write to Astha Rajvanshi at astha.rajvanshi@time.com. Why is Rochesters proposed good cause eviction protection weaker than in other cities? A proposed law that would protect some tenants from arbitrary eviction and unreasonable rent increases has reached Rochester City Council. The city will decide whether to opt into the states good cause eviction law in the coming months, but Rochesters version of the legislation wouldnt protect tenants as broadly as other cities local laws do. "Good cause laws that passed in Albany, Kingston and Poughkeepsie, as well as the one proposed in Ithaca, are all stronger for tenants than Rochesters. Under good cause, landlords cant evict tenants without proving rent non-payment not stemming from an unreasonable rent increase or a violation of the lease. They also cant raise rents more than 5% plus the Consumer Price Index, or 10% altogether, whichever is lower. The state law, enacted immediately in New York City with the option for other cities to opt-in, passed after New York exceeded 187,000 residential evictions in 2023. Monroe County counted 5,599 evictions last year, the eighth-highest in the state. The legislation includes exemptions based on how many units their landlord owns, the type of building, when it was built, and whether the unit is already regulated by local, state or federal law, among other stipulations. Cities can alter a few of these exemptions, namely the ones on portfolio size and high-rent units. The state law exempts small landlords who own 10 units or less, but cities can choose between one and 10 units for that classification. New Yorks good cause also has a carve-out for units with rent 245% above the fair market value, but cities can raise that percentage to include more tenants. The bill introduced in Rochester June 4 would cover roughly 40,420 rental units while excluding about 17,587. If city councilmembers choose to amend and model it after Albany, Ithaca and Kingston, the law could potentially cover up to 58,007 rentals. The City-Wide Tenant Union of Rochester made a public demonstration and art installation to call for statewide Good Cause Eviction Protections. The public art protest was held at the "I Love ROC sign at Parcel 5." One NY city decides: 'We owe this to our neighbors' Albany became the first city to opt into the state law, passing its own local version of good cause in early June. The state capital had previously adopted a good cause measure in 2021, but it was struck down under the argument that any such law would have to come first from the state. Four other cities Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Beacon and Kingston briefly had versions of good cause a few years ago before they were invalidated. Albanys current good cause law includes some changes from the state version to protect more tenants. The legislation exempts landlords who own one unit instead of the state laws one to 10 units, as well as units with rent higher than 345% of the fair market value. The citys original 2021 law only had one exemption, which was for owner-occupied buildings with one to four units. Albany Common Council Member Alfredo Balarin, who introduced the opt-in resolution in April, said the city was in a unique situation as its tenants had already had a taste of good cause rights before they were taken away. I felt like we had made promises to our residents in 2021, and we had seen how those rules protected our neighbors, Balarin said. There was a sense of, We owe this to our neighbors. We owe this to our residents to get it back on the books as quickly as possible. And I'm glad the state acted on it this year. The Common Council wanted to ensure a broad group of tenants would be covered under Albanys local law, Balarin said, just as it was intended in 2021. Hes hopeful that this form of tenant protection will improve rental housing conditions in Albany. Im optimistic that its gonna raise the bar for everybody, Balarin said. Landlords have to be more responsible for their properties, as well as tenants have to be more responsible for their behavior and following their leases. More: What are your rights as a renter? Here's how you can report property issues Eviction moratoria has been a topic of hot debate among New York lawmakers since the pandemic started. Strong protection going for a vote in Ithaca A good cause law that opts for the strongest possible version of the state law passed out of committee in Ithaca. It now awaits a vote scheduled for July 11. The Finger Lakes city set the small landlord portfolio size at one unit and the high-rent exemption for units where rent is 345% above fair market value. Ithaca mayor Robert Cantelmo said that, in 2021, the city got close to passing its own good cause law locally referred to as right to renew. It was put on the back burner after similar legislation was overturned in other cities across New York. When the state introduced the option for cities to opt into good cause, Cantelmo said there was no question as to whether a local resolution was worth pursuing for the 75% of Ithacans who rent. The law would help cut back on retaliatory evictions and lease non-renewals, he said, the threat of which keeps tenants from asking their landlords to fix maintenance issues in their homes. A lot of times, people will not report these things to their landlords because they don't want to be perceived as a burden or squeaky wheel because they can just be non-renewed, Cantelmo said. This type of protection will really help ensure that those non-renewals, those situations of unwarranted displacement, are not occurring. It was important for Cantelmo that the law be enforceable and that tenants could know whether it applied to them or not. Keeping the small landlord exemption to one unit was a no-brainer, Cantelmo said, to achieve that. It shouldn't be incumbent upon a tenant to know how many properties their landlord may own, especially when some of those are held in [Limited Liability Companies], Cantelmo said. If you don't know how to advocate for yourself, or you're not sure what regulatory protections you have, they may as well not exist. YOUR VOICE: Want to give input on Rochesters good cause bill? The city will hold two public comment sessions in July. Dates and times havent been set yet. High-rent exemption of 300% above market? The installation was compiled by Rochester tenants who assembled discarded furniture in a massive assemblage symbolizing a family's belongings thrown to the curb after an eviction. A good cause law with a one-unit small landlord portfolio size and high-rent exemption of 300% above fair market value passed July 2 in the Hudson Valley city of Kingston. Kingston, like Albany, passed its own good cause law before the state took action to pass its own earlier this year. The city rescinded its 2022 law after good cause legislation was struck down in other cities, but the opt-in vote brought it back this summer. Kingston councilmember Michael Tierney said the city hit the ground running once the state budget passed in April, leading him and councilmember Michele Hirsch to introduce good cause to the Common Council in May. In a city with rent stabilization in effect under the Rent Stabilization and Emergency Tenant Protection Act, Tierney said protecting as many tenants not covered by ETPA as possible was a priority. To that end, Kingston moved to take full advantage of the protections written into the state law by setting the portfolio size exemption at one unit, he said. To leave [renters] out in the cold, I think, is just a real disservice to any of our constituents, Tierney said. I'd say that to the next town over every municipality should be protecting their tenants. 'Good cause eviction law can prevent retaliatory evictions In the coming months, Rochester City Council will decide whether the city should opt-in to the states good cause eviction law, which requires landlords to show a good cause reason for evicting a tenant. The law also includes an annual rent increase limit of 5% plus the Consumer Price Index. After passing in the New York State Legislature in April, City Council moved to introduce it June 4. Housing advocates in Rochester and across New York state have pushed for its adoption for the past five years, saying the legislation would instate much-needed protections for tenants amid rising evictions and housing unaffordability. It's about fairness, said Ritti Singh, a communications organizer at Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition representing tenants and unhoused New Yorkers. Singh worked as a tenant organizer in Rochester before moving to Brooklyn and shifting her focus to state policy. Good cause eviction says if youre paying your rent, if youre following the terms of your lease, if you're not breaking the law, you get to stay in your home and you don't have to worry about a massive rent increase forcing you out. To evict under good cause, a landlord would have to prove the tenant failed to pay rent, violated a lease obligation, was a nuisance, or engaged in illegal activity, among other reasons. Ryan Acuff, a tenant organizer and member of the City-Wide Rochester Tenant Union, said he believes good cause to be the basis of every other tenant protection with the potential to increase the quality of housing in Rochester and prevent retaliatory evictions. Tenants are sometimes reluctant to push [maintenance] issues because they're like, Well, I don't want to be under a bridge, I dont want to be in a shelter, Acuff said. Joyce Nelson faced eviction in 2019 from a property she later learned was in violation of multiple city codes, including a missing Certificate of Occupancy. Would Rochester even enforce an eviction protection for renters? Rochester City Council voted down an earlier version of the good cause eviction law, called the Eviction Reduction Act, in March 2022 two years before the state passed it. Some councilmembers who voted against good cause argued it would have no hope of being enforced as a local law. The new state law is a pared-down form of the "good cause eviction" legislation some advocates had hoped for, which would cover nearly every tenant in the state. Instead, the state went for a system in which cities can opt-in to the law and carved out a number of exemptions. Unless cities decide to strengthen their own "good cause eviction" bills, the law exempts landlords who own 10 or less units, owner-occupied buildings with 10 or less units, and units already regulated by local, state or federal law. Unlike legislation in Ithaca, Albany and Kingston, the "good cause" bill on the table in Rochester does not expand on protections laid out in the state law. While the other three cities have elected to cut down the small landlord exemption to include only landlords who own one unit, Rochesters version keeps the 10 or less units provision from the state law. The proposed legislation would cover up to 40,420 units in Rochester while excluding about 17,587, according to publicly available property data on the city-run BuildingBlocks site. Expanding the number of tenants covered by Rochesters proposed good cause bill is a priority for housing advocates, who hope the city will look to Albany which opted into a stronger good cause June 3 as an example. We want to pass the strongest version possible because it's like building codes you don't waive building codes based on how many units the landlord owns, Acuff said. By nature, good cause works for tenants if they know whether it applies to them. Setting the small landlord exemption at one unit can make it easier to tell how many units their landlord owns, Singh said, and can help prevent property owners from creating numerous Limited Liability Companies that each manage the maximum number of units to be exempt. One of my biggest fears about this portfolio size exemption is that it's really an LLC loophole, Singh said. What's to stop some of these slumlords in the community from just creating, you know, five different LLCs that nobody can track back to them, that they then use to not be covered by this law, and then they're able to raise the rents as much as they want. Direct rental assistance might be later step for evolving Rochester laws While Rachel Barnhart, Monroe County legislator, believes good cause is a step in the right direction for renters, she said it doesnt solve the countys income problem that bars tenants from housing stability. Providing direct rental assistance would be the relief renters need, Banrhart said. Even if we have tenant protections in place, that does not help people pay rent, Barnhart said, adding that even an annual rent increase of 8.5% may be significant for many renters. Many landlords have pushed back against good cause, saying itll increase administrative costs and make it harder to evict nuisance tenants. In anticipation of the bills passing, some Rochester property owners, like Kayla Thorp, are moving to raise rents and tighten tenant screenings. We're raising everybody to market rent right now, Thorp said. Assuming that Rochester adopts good cause eviction if we get behind, we're not going to ever have the opportunity to catch up. Thorp, who manages 175 units through Rochester Property Solutions and owns about 65 with her husband, now requires prospective tenants income to be at least four times the rent, up from three times. Theyre also checking both current and prior landlord references, she said, to protect the good tenants that follow their leases and pay rent from bad, nuisance tenants. We're just making everything a little bit tighter so that going forward, we don't end up putting another one of our residents in a bad situation because the screening wasn't completely tight. Update: This story was updated at 9:58 a.m. on July 10 to reflect that Poughkeepsie's Common Council passed a local "good cause eviction" law after the story's publication. Christina Chkarboul is a summer intern at the Democrat and Chronicle and a student journalist at USC, where she focuses on Earth science, global studies and journalism. Contact her at cchkarboul@gannett.com with story tips related to code enforcement, housing and renters. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochesters proposed good cause eviction law is weaker than peers' Donald Trump Jr. doesnt want Senator Marco Rubio to be his fathers running mate, fearing that it would tempt establishment Republicans into impeaching the elder Trump. The younger Trump expressed his fear on his video podcast Triggered Monday evening, in response to a submitted question during a live Q&A, where the questioner claimed that Rubio guarantees another impeachment, to which the host agreed. If Rubio was the vice president on the ticket, by the time my fathers hand moves off in the swearing in process 12 p.m. January 20, the second it goes off, impeachment! Trump Jr. said. Thats how fast it would be. Junior says hes concerned that if Trump picks Rubio as his running mate that RINOs in the Senate would vote with Democrats to impeach his dad so they can get President Rubio instead. pic.twitter.com/CUVFEKoJNP Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 9, 2024 There is something about having someone from outside the establishment to sort of further protect you from that establishment, Trump Jr. added. While speculation abounds, there still is no indication as to who Trump will pick as his vice president. Some reports say the shortlist has three people: Rubio, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Other names have been mentioned in the past few months, including Senator Tim Scott, Representative Elise Stefanik, and Representative Byron Donalds. In Rubios case, though, his presence on the ticket would seem odd considering how much Trump mocked the Florida senator on the 2016 presidential campaign trail, calling him little Marco. Rubio eventually fell in line like the rest of the GOP and backed Trump, but his political career never quite got over Trumps bullying and his unsuccessful attempts to shoot back. Lately, Rubio has been defending the former president and convicted felon from attacks related to the Heritage Foundations extreme playbook Project 2025, downplaying the manifesto and Trumps connection to it. Will Trump overlook Rubios establishment ties to get a staunch defender like him as his vice president? According to one Trump adviser, the decision should be known to everyone by next Monday. Drawing of female reproductive system with judge's gavel | Laura Rosina iStock / Getty Images Plus Wisconsin anti-abortion groups are calling for tougher restrictions on abortion in the national Republican party platform, after the Republican National Committees platform committee decided Monday to drop federal abortion limits from its policy platform for the first time in over 40 years at the request of former President Donald Trump. Draft platform language now says that states should be allowed to make the decision to adopt policies limiting abortion. Next week, the Republican National Convention will meet in Milwaukee and finalize the adoption of its national party platform. Pro-Life Wisconsin Legislative Director Matt Sande told the Wisconsin Examiner that the decision to leave out the language on federal abortion restrictions is wrong. He said the country is in the second stage of the fight after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and that the patchwork of abortion laws across the country cannot be the end. The pre-born baby should not lose their rights moving from state to state, so we do need a national goal. It should be upheld as a goal, Sande said. It should be in the platform. For them to just say, No, were not going to deal with this at the federal level anymore. Were deflecting this to the states. Its a huge mistake. Sande said that the national party shouldnt be watering down its position on abortion for political expediency. If thats what the Republicans are doing with this, shame on them, Sande said. The Republican party has been struggling with the issue of abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade because Americans broadly support abortion access. According to a recent Pew poll, 63% of people say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases. Trump, specifically, has said he no longer supports a national ban, despite previously saying he would support a 16-week nationwide ban. Sande said that he thinks the party is taking abortion opponents for granted. They need every vote that they can get, and they think they can water down positions, weaken positions, call for exceptions, say that its only up to the state and then they think that the pro lifers are going to be enthused and turn out with with zest and zeal. They might not when they see this, Sande said. Ultimately, if theyre just going to keep watering this down, the pro-lifers are going to find another party. Gracie Skogman with Wisconsin Right To Life said in a statement that the organizations efforts to change hearts and minds to favor life arent dependent on a political party, but that members do need people in office who are willing to let children be born. Skogman criticized the Biden administration and Democrats for their stance on abortion, and said the Republican party reaffirms the value of preborn life and the vital importance of providing compassionate care to women and their preborn children. We call on them to reaffirm this commitment and present the American people with a contrast between pro-abortion extremism and love and support for both women and their preborn children, Skogman stated. The post WI anti-abortion groups critical of RNC committee for dropping federal abortion ban from platform appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A local bus driver has been crowned the best small school bus driver. Dorthy Dorman, who drives for First Student, which serves Wichita Public Schools, competed in the National School Transportation Associations School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, which took place in Austin, Texas, on June 29 and 30. She competed against six other drivers in the small bus category. Each year, the best school bus drivers from across the U.S. and Canada gather at the competition, where they are tested on their knowledge and driving skills. 53 drivers competed in 3 different bus categories: Type A buses, Type C buses, and Type D buses. Downtown Wichita naloxone vending machine has dispensed over 2,000 kits We are incredibly proud of Dorthy for earning this impressive recognition from the National School Transportation Association, says First Student Wichita Senior Location Manager Kary Dixon. Being designated as a top school bus driver in North America is an extraordinary accomplishment, requiring hard work and dedication. Dorthy truly exemplifies our commitment to setting the highest standards and going the extra mile to provide the safest ride to school for students and families in Wichita. Dorman has been driving for First Student in Wichita since 2008 and is the first driver for First Student in Wichita to finish first at the safety competition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Wildfire destroys 13 homes in Northern California as heat wave is parked over the West A firefighter keeps watch on advancing flames from the Lake fire in Los Olivos on Saturday. (Eric Thayer / Associated Press) A wildfire that broke out near Oroville last week amid California's record-breaking heat wave destroyed 13 homes and more than a dozen other buildings, state fire officials said. The Thompson fire arrived Friday in lockstep with a heat wave that parked itself over the West, setting the stage for the fire to sustain itself on brush and vegetation in extreme heat and dry winds in Butte County. Over the weekend, it grew to 3,789 acres before it was declared 100% contained Monday by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "The word that our fire chief has been using to describe the fire is 'stubborn,'" Cal Fire spokesperson Rick Carhart said. "The fire broke out on a day that was extremely hot, quite windy and the humidity was almost nothing." Read more: California's heat wave breaks records, fuels wildfires The fire was fanned by 20 mph north winds and burned through steep terrain, putting a strain on firefighters. Thirteen single-family homes were destroyed, five homes were damaged, and 13 other buildings were also destroyed, according to Cal Fire. Two firefighters have been injured, Carhart said. There have been no reports of civilian injuries. Though the Thompson fire is contained, the lingering heat wave sets the stage for more dry conditions with extreme heat that could drive more fast-moving wildfires and stretch firefighting resources thin. Temperatures on Tuesday continued to linger 10 to 15 degrees above average across huge swaths of the state and showed no signs of letting up until the weekend. "That prolonged heat really makes a big difference that stresses the vegetation and especially the firefighters," said Alex Tardy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. Read more: California wildfires map Among the other fires in the state, the Vista fire is burning in the San Bernardino National Forest near Mt. Baldy and Wrightwood, the U.S. Forest Service said. The fire nearly doubled in size overnight and has burned 1,295 acres since it started Sunday afternoon in steep, remote terrain. Details on the fire's containment were not immediately available. The area is flush with vegetation now in the heat after a strong rainy season. "That area near Lytle Creek is the wettest part of the mountain, with a lot of vegetation," Tardy said. "That means a lot of fuels are already in place." The severity and persistence of this heat wave is unprecedented, according to meteorologists, setting numerous records for high temperatures across the Golden State and the Western United States. Lancaster and Palmdale continued to stretch their all-time record of consecutive days at or above 110 degrees, reaching five days on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The prior record for both Antelope Valley cities was three days. Las Vegas is expected to break its all-time record for consecutive days at 110 degrees or above, hitting five days in a row Monday. The current record is 10 days in a row, but forecasts show temperatures will remain that high through next week, easily toppling the previous record. Several other areas, including Madera and Needles, also hit daily record highs on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Palmdale reached 112 degrees on Monday, recording above normal temperature for the fourth day in a row. Madera hit 110 degrees, beating a record by three degrees; Merced hit 109 degrees, inching past its daily record from 1921; Las Vegas hit 115 degrees, one degree above its prior July 8 record set in 2021; and Needles, in the Mojave Desert, hit 123 degrees, breaking its July 8 record from 2017 by three degrees. In Santa Barbara County, a wildfire forced residents near Figueroa Mountain to leave their homes as authorities issued evacuation orders Monday. The Lake fire continues to burn on the western edge of the Los Padres National Forest amid record low levels of moisture, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire, first reported Friday afternoon northeast of the city of Los Olivos, has burned 26,176 acres to become the biggest fire in California so far this year, officials said. The fire is burning near Zaca Lake and several residential properties including the Sycamore Valley Ranch, formerly Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Firefighters reported 16% containment as of Tuesday evening. An evacuation is in effect for parts of Figueroa Mountain, south of Tunnel House at Sisquoc River, east of Figueroa Creek, north of the southern end of Cachuma Mountain, and west of Los Padres National Forest areas, officials announced on Monday. Though most of the fire's growth overnight occurred in isolated pockets of forest, it pushed evacuation warnings Tuesday to the edge of communities in Los Olivos and Santa Ynez and triggered expanded evacuation orders to Goat Rock, east of Figueroa Creek, north of the U.S. Forest Service entrance at Happy Canyon Road and south of Cachuma Mountain. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the area Tuesday afternoon because of high winds and extreme heat. "It's hot, dry and stronger winds are in effect today," said fire behavior analyst trainee Dan Michael with the Interagency Incident Management team responding to the fire. Even at night when fire activity usually dies down, the Lake fire has remained active because it's burning on top of mountain ridges where it can be 30 degrees or more warmer than lower elevations, Michael said. "The marine layer comes in and it's not able to reach where the fire is burning," Michael said. "The conditions are much worse at night." Los Angeles Times staff reporters Keri Blakinger and Grace Toohey contributed to this story. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (BLOOM) The family of celebrated expressionist painter William Pachner has donated what they call his magnum opus, Landscape of the River Sola, to the Florida Holocaust Museum. Landscape of the River Sola The painting, created between 1960 and 1967, depicts the river adjacent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi extermination camp where nearly a million Jews were murdered during World War II. Pachner, who lived from 1915 to 2017, immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1939, just before the war began. His parents and brother were killed by the Nazis. After the war, Pachner shifted from commercial work to develop a dark expressionist style reflecting his feelings about the war and the Holocaust. His works have been exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Roosevelt Library, among other institutions. We are overjoyed to welcome Landscape of the River Sola to the Florida Holocaust Museums permanent collection, said Interim CEO and Chair Emeritus Mike Igel. The painting immortalizes Pachners treatment of the Holocausts most notorious location, and we are proud to preserve the artists legacy for current and future generations. The Florida Holocaust Museum, which houses the worlds largest collection of Pachners art, previously exhibited Landscape of the River Sola in 2005. Pachner had a strong connection with both the Florida Holocaust Museum and the Tampa Bay area, having taught at local art institutions including the Tampa Art Institute. William devoted his life to creating work that honored the memories of the millions who lost their lives in the Holocaust, balancing the light and the darkness of the human soul. He lived by a personal credo that is reflected in his paintings and etched on his gravestone: Praise Life, said Pachners daughter-in-law, Beverly. The Pachner family deeply appreciates the Florida Holocaust Museums mission and its commitment to Williams legacy. We are grateful for the museums dedication to his archive, which is an enduring resource for those interested in his work and those seeking to understand the Holocaust. About The Florida Holocaust Museum The Florida Holocaust Museum is one of the largest Holocaust museums in the country and one of three nationally accredited Holocaust museums. It honors the memory of millions who suffered or died in the Holocaust and is dedicated to teaching the inherent worth and dignity of human life to prevent future genocides. For additional information, please visit www.TheFHM.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 WFLA. With AI threatening to steal corporate jobs and recent graduates finding themselves unemployable, trade jobs are becoming increasingly attractiveand lucrative, for that matter. Despite significant stigma surrounding vocational careers and assumptions that grad jobs are the only path to success, a new report highlights that tradies in the U.S. can earn six-figure salaries without the added debt of a college degree. In fact, elevator and escalator installers are taking home just over $100,000 a year on averageand you just need a high school diploma to get started in the industry. According to Pro Tools analysis of May 2023 wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it's the highest-paid trade job in the country. But heres the catch: Candidates must be willing to endure working in both cramped areas and high spaces. They must also be fine with getting on their knees to crawl on some jobs and being on call 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, all of the top-paying trade jobs are physically demanding. According to the report, electrical power-line installers make over $85,000 a year, and aircraft mechanics technicians have an average annual salary of $76,260. But the former often requires working at great heights or in adverse weather conditions, and the latter can expect working odd hours to keep up with flight schedules and enduring constant plane-associated noises. Want security over salary? Look at maintenance and repair jobs Although elevator and escalator installers are the highest-paid tradies, theyre not the most common or in-demand workerswith just 2,100 job openings each year and limited employment growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, those wanting to hedge their bets and increase their chances of landing a blue-colored job may wish to look at general maintenance and repair jobs. Although maintenance and repair workers earn significantly less than elevator and escalator installers ($46,700 per annum on average), theyre the most common and in-demand trade jobs in America right now. Those looking for job security over big paychecks have over 55,579 total job opportunities to choose fromand demand isnt waning any time soon, with the employment of maintenance and repair workers projected to grow by 4% in the coming years. Whats more, you dont need any specific work experience or qualifications to join the industry, with most people learning on the job. Recent grads: Time for a career pivot? After spending time and money (lots of it) on a college degree, its understandable to want to carve out a career in the field you studied. Story continues However, grads might have better luck pivoting into trade jobs and making peace with being overqualified and in debt than pining for the dream corporate job. Research highlights that highly educated students are finding themselves unemployable as employers launch a wait and watch strategy in the midst of AI advancements and economic uncertainty. But be warned: Youll need to compete against a wave of young people who have skipped college, picked up the tools, and already racked up experience in the likes of welding, plumbing, and carpentry while you were studying. People are starting to smell a rat, Mike Rowe, the CEO of MikeRoweWorks Foundation, commented on the shift, adding that blue-collar jobs are a straight path to a six-figure job without the burden of debt. Take Chase Gallagher, for example. The 23-year-old started his lawn mowing side hustle as a teenager, and its now generating more than $1 million in revenue. I just didnt see the ROI in going to university, the Gen Zer told Fortune. You can still be a 1% income earner here in America and be a trades business owner. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com WILLIAMSVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) One small step for a Central Illinois high school junior will be one big leap for her career. Bella Rose Noreuil of Williamsville has had an interest in Aeronautical Engineering since she was in 6th grade. [Im] really excited to really dive deep into micro-gravities and Z-cube and other theories about space, designing rockets and instruments specifically to send up into space, she said. After countless hours of studying, Rose has secured her spot as one of just 50 interns to be a part of the NASA Student Enhancement in Earth and Space program, where she will work with NASA engineers and other scientists. More than 1000 students applied for the internship. NASA, U of I working to improve agriculture She might not be interested in going into space, but she believes being on the ground and helping with every little detail counts. I want to help design rockets and instruments to send up to space, and its just really neat to see all the different things to design up there and send people up, Rose said. Its just such a vast and really unexplored area that Im really interested in. The program is a collaboration between the University of Texas and NASA. Shell be headed to Texas at the end of July through August, studying from the engineers who make it all possible. We get to have a bunch of speakers while Im down in Texas, talk about various things, the Williamsville student said. We get an actual NASA astronaut down there. Even though shes from a small community, she believes no matter how out of this world your dreams may seem, you can always reach them. Shes now worked on actual space modules with the other SEES interns to get prepared for the program. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Backpacks fill cubbies at Mayo Demonstration School in Tulsa on April 8. Oklahoma academic standards for K-12 social studies will be under review in 2025. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY National conservative media personalities and right-wing policy advocates will develop Oklahomas academic standards for social studies, the states top education official announced on Tuesday. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said his goal is to overhaul the existing social studies standards and emphasize American exceptionalism. He said the new standards also will eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion, though he gave no explanation of what specifically would be removed. Oklahomans citizens, parents, and business leaders alike are disgusted with the lack of civic knowledge, love for our country, and historical education among our young people, Walters said in the announcement. It is crystal clear that we need to return to more rigorous social studies standards that emphasize the unique and exceptional nature of the American republic, promote a proper understanding of the nations founding, and instill pride in our civic traditions and Oklahoma heritage. Academic standards are a lengthy list of topics and concepts Oklahoma schools are required to teach. They are developed on a six-year cycle, and social studies is up for review in 2025. The Oklahoma State Department of Education gathers subject-matter experts and educators in review committees to update the standards for each subject. The Oklahoma State Board of Education and the state Legislature must approve the final version. Walters chose nationally recognizable names for the review committee, like radio host and PragerU founder Dennis Prager, conservative talk show host Steve Deace and Kevin Roberts, the president of The Heritage Foundation, a national Republican think tank. Only a few of the committee members Walters identified have lived in Oklahoma author and journalist John Dwyer and former Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Everett Piper, who is now a Fox News contributor. Another committee member, Texas resident David Barton, attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Barton is the founder of Wallbuilders, an organization and media outlet focused on Christian education. More than 75 Oklahomans, most of whom are public school teachers, are involved in updating the academic standards, Walters said. He did not name any of the local educators. I am very excited to have enlisted some of the brightest minds available to serve on our Executive Review Committee, Walters said. Their unparalleled expertise will help craft new academic standards that will serve as a model for the nation and help Oklahoma students for years to come. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, called the group of out-of-state advisers extremist Republicans who are seeking to strip Oklahomans of their right to freedom of religion and a well-rounded, public education. Munson said the changes Walters promised could drive even more educators out of the classroom in a state already suffering from a teacher shortage. It is a continued attack on Oklahomans and another attempt at erasing the valuable programs that are actively benefiting Oklahomas students and the future of our state, she said. Tulsa Democrat Rep. John Waldron, a former social studies teacher, said Walters announcement represents a dangerous politicization of our academic process. Its not the first time the state superintendent enlisted a far-right-wing voice from out of state to advise him. Walters named Chaya Raichik, who runs the social media account Libs of TikTok, to a Library Media Review Committee. The state Education Department has refused to identify any other members of the Library Media Review Committee, despite the panels attempt to have bestsellers The Glass Castle and The Kite Runner removed from an Oklahoma high school. Tuesdays announcement is yet another conservative push from Walters administration, following his recent order that all public schools in Oklahoma incorporate the Bible in their history teaching. Last year, he encouraged public schools to use pro-America kids content from PragerU. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX FILE - Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos speaks during an interview at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Organizers of the effort to recall Vos have appealed the rejection of their recall petitions in court. Recall organizers filed their appeal in Dane County Circuit Court on Friday, July 5, 2024, a week after the Wisconsin Elections Commission on a bipartisan vote rejected the effort. (AP Photo/Harm Venhuizen, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) A judge on Tuesday rejected an attempt to revive the recall effort targeting the longest-serving Wisconsin Assembly speaker in state history, saying signatures were wrongly collected under legislative boundary lines now barred from use in any election. Supporters of former President Donald Trump had targeted Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos for recall after he refused calls to decertify President Joe Bidens narrow win in the state. Bidens win of about 21,000 votes has withstood two partial recounts, lawsuits, an independent audit and a review by a conservative law firm. Vos further angered Trump supporters when he did not back a plan to impeach Meagan Wolfe, the states top elections official. Vos recall organizers failed to submit enough signatures to trigger an election in their first attempt in May. The Wisconsin Elections Commission last month rejected a second recall attempt on a bipartisan vote, also finding that it fell short of the needed number of signatures. Recall organizers appealed the decision to Dane County Circuit Court on Friday. On Tuesday, Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled that the organizers' attempt to force a vote under old legislative maps violates the state Supreme Court's order barring the use of those boundaries. Recall organizers had collected signatures for the recall effort from voters in the 63rd Assembly District, which is the one Vos was elected to represent in 2022. But in December, the Wisconsin Supreme Court barred the use of those boundary lines going forward. The Legislature approved new maps that put Vos in a new 33rd Assembly District. The elections commission had asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to clarify which district boundaries would apply for the recall, but the court declined to weigh in. Recall organizers had argued that the elections commission should have accepted signatures that were collected after a 60-day petition circulation deadline had passed, but before the deadline to submit the petitions. But Ehlke didn't even address that issue because he ruled that the signatures were collected in the old district. Simply put, this court will not command WEC to do what the Wisconsin Supreme Court forbids, Ehlke wrote referring to the elections commission. Recall organizers issued a statement calling Ehlke's decision wrong and saying the Supreme Court couldn't have intended to deny Wisconsin citizens the right to recall an incumbent. They said they look forward to pursuing the case in higher courts, signaling they plan to appeal. Wisconsin motorcyclist driving without a license to face charges after crash with deer kills passenger SPRINGVILLE, Wis. (WFRV) A Wisconsin man is expected to face charges after willingly driving a motorcycle without a license and crashing into a deer, which killed his passenger. According to a release, deputies with the Adams County Sheriffs Office received multiple calls shortly after 6:45 p.m. on July 6 for a report of a motorcycle that had hit a deer on State Highway 82 near Springville. Manitowoc man arrested for alleged stabbing on July 4 in Two Rivers Deputies say that it was reported that the driver and passenger from the motorcycle were both on the ground, and one person was unresponsive. Upon arrival, law enforcement found both subjects on the ground with severe head trauma along with other injuries. It was noted that the two were not wearing protective headgear. A preliminary investigation revealed that the motorcycle was traveling east on State Highway 82 when a deer entered the roadway from the south ditch. The operator of the motorcycle, later identified as 51-year-old Tyler M. Konrad of Burlington, appeared to have attempted to brake based on the evidence at the scene. However, the deer and motorcycle collided, causing Konrad and his passenger, 45-year-old Heather L. Grenus of Burlington, to be ejected. Authorities arriving on the scene immediately rendered aid to both Konrad and Grenus. Medical helicopters responded for both individuals, and they were both airlifted to nearby trauma centers. On Sunday, July 7, shortly after 6:45 a.m., the Dane County Medical Examiners Office told the Adams County Sheriffs Office that Grenus died as a result of her injuries. As for Konrad, he remains hospitalized with serious injuries. Sheriff: Man flees from police in Wisconsin, dies after crashing into an SUV in Illinois Alcohol and speed are not believed to be a factor in the accident. However, Konrad did not possess a Class M motorcycle license, and a charge of knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license causing death could be forthcoming. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. APEX, N.C. (WNCN) Police in North Carolina found seven puppies in a hot car Saturday, leading to one of them being euthanized. The dogs owner, 36-year-old Whitney Johnson of New Jersey, is charged with seven counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. According to the Apex Police Department in Wake County, the seven six-week-old French bulldogs were left in the backseat of Johnsons car in near 100-degree temperatures while she went to eat at First Watch restaurant and Starbucks. We learned from witnesses that the puppies had been left inside of the vehicle for 30 to 45 minutes, Police Chief Jason Armstrong said. There were seven puppies inside almost like a kiddy pool [and] a cover that had been put on top. (Courtesy of Whitney Johnson) Those at the restaurant, including First Watch employees, called the police. The officers who responded found the car not running, with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning. Three of the puppies appeared to be in distress and had some respiratory challenges, Armstrong said. [They] were put in an oxygen chamber to get treatment. One of the puppies did not respond to the treatment. Puppies rescued after being left outside for days in Raleigh amid 90 degree heat without water, food Officials said the unresponsive puppy was put down by the Wake County Animal Shelter. On Monday, Johnson spoke with Nexstars WNCN by phone. She said shes a breeder and would never do anything to harm her puppies. Johnson also provided photos of the setup she had for the dogs in her car. (Courtesy of Whitney Johnson) The car was on, the windows were down, and puppies were in the backseat, Johnson said. They were laying out of their container onto their feet on a towel. There was a fan on the floor because I have an outlet in my car. There was a fan circulating the cold and the hot in the air because I cant leave them in the car with the air on, she continued. They have to be a certain temperature because they are still young puppies. Johnson told WNCN that people approached them outside the restaurant voicing some concerns about the puppies as she took them out of the car to clean them up after they relieved themselves inside the vehicle. She said when she told them she didnt need help, they called the police. I am not an animal abuser, she said. I have no malicious intent to harm any animal. I have 12 dogs. I take very good care of my animals. (Courtesy of Whitney Johnson) In response to Johnsons account, Armstrong said, I have heard that claim and the actions that multiple witnesses saw paint a different picture for us. Their actions at that time gave the impression that the dogs were in distress. Johnson told WNCN that she keeps trying to get status updates about the rest of the litter and wants to bring them home. The dogs are currently at the Wake County Animal Shelter pending the investigation. Officials are reminding everyone that in extreme temperatures, pets and children should not be left inside cars. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) World leaders are in Washington, D.C., for a NATO summit honoring the alliances 75th anniversary. The high security gathering comes as Russia intensifies its war in Ukraine and NATO allies brace themselves for a possible return of Donald Trump. Much of central Washington is shut down as part of a major security operation. Leaders from all NATO member states are expected to attend. For 75 years, NATO has served a vital role in protecting the American people and making the world a less dangerous place, said National Security spokesperson John Kirby. President Joe Biden is expected to address the gathering slated to produce new commitments to support Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putins attacks show no sign of letting up. If he thinks he can outlast the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine, hes dead wrong, said Kirby. World leaders are also preparing NATO for a possible return of Donald Trump to the presidency. Mr. Trump has repeatedly threatened to pull the U.S. out of the alliance if member countries dont meet their financial obligations, an idea echoed by some Republicans. Republicans, of course, celebrate the peace and prosperity that NATO has secured, and well continue to stand by our partners as we prevent needless wars. But we also believe that NATO needs to be doing more, said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). The White House says the summit will put on full display the importance of the alliance for global security. The United States and several of our allies will have several big announcements at this weeks summit, said Kirby. President Biden is also expected to hold a press conference on Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. In the 35 years since the Berlin Wall fell, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has swerved from one existential crisis to another. Here we go again. Whats an old Cold War-era defensive military alliance for anyway when the old Cold War is over? Like a shark, NATO has kept moving to avoid death. It intervened in the Balkan wars of the 1990s. It took in a dozen new members from the dead Soviet bloc. It went further out of area post-9/11 in Iraq and Afghanistan. It pivoted to cyber and other new-age threats. The current crisis is different. Gathering this week in Washington for a big 75th birthday celebration, NATO has never had more clarity and urgency about its mission. There should be no existential doubts: The collective of 32 countries is there to defend the Western flank of democracies against an aggressive Russia, mobilized for a long war, and its most important ally and leader of the new axis of resistance in Beijing. Yet Washington pharmacies might want to stock up on Xanax. NATOs mission may be clear and urgent, but the political realities are harsh. The ascendant former President Donald Trump and his advisers are drawing up plans that would upend the alliance, as Michael Hirsh detailed in these pages. In Europe, politicians friendly to Russia and skeptical-veering-hostile on NATO are doing well, and the alliance and governments are making plans for different management in Washington. Those are, at heart, details. NATOs bigger challenges go beyond who holds power in the White House or any other capital. Looking ahead, the U.S. under any administration is likely at the limit of what it can do for Ukraine and will want Europe to step up and make better use of its fatter defense budgets. Americas attention is back on the Middle East and China, and NATO will have to fit into those plans somehow or lose relevance in Washington. Throughout this week, youll hear that NATO is the worlds most successful military alliance in history. Thats not wrong. Now, how do you keep it? NATOs outgoing secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has had this question top of mind for a decade. Meeting with him the other day, I asked what he considers his biggest achievement. He answers immediately: That I have been able to keep this alliance together. Stoltenberg, a Norwegian, hails from a nation prone to existential musings but not hysteria or hyperbole. A former prime minister who was interested in finance and climate change, he was picked by Germanys Angela Merkel in early 2014 to improve NATOs worsening relations with Vladimir Putin. How bitterly funny in retrospect. His father, a former foreign minister, warned him that Brussels and the NATO job were boring. That too. By the time he took over later that year, Russia had annexed Crimea and started a proxy war in eastern Ukraine. In those early days, Stoltenberg looked out of depth and people who know him say he was struggling in the role. Putins full-on invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced the allies to mobilize for a land war in Europe. That unified NATO. Stoltenbergs political education at NATO came earlier, courtesy of Donald Trump. The Europeans take advantage of the U.S., spending too little on defense thats a Trumpian constant. At the 2018 summit, a frustrated Trump threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO if the allies didnt pony up. It was dramatic, says Stoltenberg, deadpan. Looking back, he offers a lesson for his successor, the former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who takes over in October, and other new leaders on how to deal with possibly the next U.S. president: Engage with him, sit down with him, spend time with him, he says. The Stoltenberg playbook had him also embrace the Trump critique about European spending (an absolutely valid point, he tells me) that happens to be what every American president going back a quarter-century has said. On his last visit to Washington in June, Stoltenberg announced that 23 NATO allies met or exceeded the defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP; a decade ago, only four members did. The alliance set that bar in 2014 under Barack Obama. Stoltenberg convinced Trump the steady improvement had been his doing. His colleagues at NATO used to jokingly refer to him as the Trump whisperer. Unlike most West Europeans, he doesnt freak out about Trump, says Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO who was Trumps Ukraine envoy. You dont know what the Trump policy will be. Neither does he. In another era, the political threats to NATO came primarily from Europe. From the French above all, because they saw the alliance as too American. Now Americans have turned skeptical of NATO. Though he is on his way out, Stoltenberg offers a template for how to make the case for NATO. NATO makes the U.S. safer, the U.S. stronger and actually NATO creates a market for U.S. equipment, he says. Stoltenberg has spent enough time on Capitol Hill to know what arguments resonate. His background in finance gives him a feel for numbers. In the last two years, he points out, the U.S. has signed $140 billion in defense contracts with European countries due to the increased spending. The alliance has stood up half a million combat-ready men and deployed eight new multinational battle groups into the frontline Baltic and Black Sea states both controversial goals that seemed hard to attain when adopted by NATO under his watch. Though the U.S. continues to account for nearly 70 percent of NATO military spending compared to half its combined economy, non-U.S. defense expenditures grew by $64 billion in 2024, the equivalent of adding France and Norways combined defense budgets to the alliance. Quite serious money, as another senior NATO official in Brussels says. Ukraine is the litmus test. Parts of the American and European right and the left too in France and Germany, but theyre not as relevant want to cut a deal with Putin and certainly cut support for Kyiv. As Hirsh reported, Trump's aides have drawn up an offer: Promise Russia that Ukraine will never join the alliance and give Moscow Ukrainian territory in return for an end to the fighting. On a self-assigned peace mission, Hungarys Prime Minister and Trump buddy Viktor Orban shook the indicted Russian war criminals hand at the Kremlin just a few days ago before continuing on to China. This is awful mood music for Ukraine. Whats the counter to this emerging view on the political extremes in the alliance? Stoltenberg offers China. Ukraine isnt a distraction, he argues, but part of the struggle with Beijing. North Korea, Iran and China are fighting in Ukraine with Russia by backing Putin with arms and other support. They want the U.S. and NATO to fail in Ukraine, he says. If Putin wins in Ukraine, thats a big win for [Chinese President] Xi. We should not allow them to win. Theres the idea that we have to distinguish between Asia-Pacific and Europe, Stoltenberg continues. Our security is not regional, its global. It matters what happens in Europe for the Asia-Pacific, and it matters for the Asia-Pacific what happens in Europe. And therefore, it matters for the United States. The idea of a global NATO was batted around after 9/11. Some at the time wanted Israel in the alliance. The AUKUS group that brings the U.S. together with Britain and Australia in the Pacific to respond to Chinas rise is a more recent example of extending the Western alliance into the Pacific. Rutte could put his predecessors Security is not regional, its global slogan above the entrance to NATOs headquarters. In reality, the alliances future will be decided a lot closer to home. The military transformation that took place in Stoltenbergs decade almost certainly the most consequential tenure of any secretary general was real, even as he admits, of course, we could have done some of these things faster. Thats Norwegian understatement. The Ukraine war has exposed huge shortcomings. European and American stockpiles and industrial capacity are woefully inadequate. The Europeans lack sufficient air defenses and long-range strike power. Most European militaries lack the mass of men and brigades needed to fight a land war and the logistics and technology to work well together. Spending was too low, but priorities were elsewhere, too on counterinsurgency and global deployment, not territorial defense. This is a different military task than they had in the last 30 years, says the senior NATO official. Europes military complex is at last coming to life. Polands defense budget is above 4 percent of its GDP, the highest in NATO. Denmark doubled its spend in 12 months, to 2.3 percent of GDP. NATOs newest members, Finland and Sweden, brought in two of the most capable and advanced militaries on the continent. Contracts for new and more weapons are coming through, but that will take years to get going. Should the U.S. cut back on Ukraine military aid next year and European stockpiles remain too thin, I heard one EU minister float the good idea of using European funds to buy American armaments for delivery to Kyiv. All the while, Russia is massively expanding production. Europe and even the U.S. both have a ways to go to truly get on a war footing. In the Cold War, budgets were in the 3-5 percent range. With the world as hot as it is now, the 2 percent target should be the floor, not the aspirational goal. Europe had been getting its security and NATOs Article 5 mutual defense protections on the cheap for most of this century. NATO is stronger than ever militarily, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Danish prime minister who was NATOs secretary general from 2009 to 2014, tells me. But what I think it lacks is courage and strategic vision. Rasmussen saw through Putin a decade ago and prompted Merkel to look for a dovish NATO boss. Now in the private sector, he thinks that the alliance has to provide more robust military support for Ukraine and offer Kyiv a clear path to membership. Putin has caused trouble in places in Europe that are gray zones. As long as Ukraine, or Georgia, are denied their free choice to join the EU or NATO, theyll be vulnerable. European history shows us how gray zones invite trouble and conflict. Thats the appeal to political courage and vision. At the same time, Rasmussen, who spends a lot of time in Washington and speaks to people from both parties, worries about the dangers of weakness: Trump undermined NATO politically by publicly raising doubts about Article 5. He tempts Putin to test our resolve. The alliance should be prepared to deal with the politics as they come. Unpredictability is the new normal everywhere. Trump has no monopoly on that. The key to NATOs future will be its ability to stay serious and follow through in the next years on the pledges to wake up to the new security realities in Europe and globally. American critics of NATO tend to confuse the alliance with the United Nations. NATO was built to follow Americas lead, in Americas image down to the bad food at its cafeteria and its penny-pinching. It has served Americas interests for generations. The case that it can continue to do so in this new era isnt hard to make. It would have to be made in Europe, as well in the U.S., with words, budget spreadsheets and actions on the ground. (Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her boss President Joe Biden has been extremely effective in lengthy meetings, defending him in response to questions Tuesday about his mental acuity. Most Read from Bloomberg The president is extremely effective in the meetings that Ive been in with him, Yellen said at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee in Washington. That includes many international meetings that are multi-hour, including sessions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders, she said. Bidens last in-person meeting with Xi was in California in November, which lasted about four hours. They spoke again by phone in April, days before Yellens own visit to Beijing. Yellen was responding to a question from Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, who asked whether she had noticed any signs of mental or cognitive decline in the president. The Treasury chief said she wouldnt comment on her meetings with Biden because those are private, and said in response to a follow-up question that there have been no discussion among Cabinet members about invoking the 25th amendment of the US Constitution, which allows for the removal of the president due to disability. Bidens health has been front and center of US politics since his faltering performance in a debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump late last month, which triggered calls from some elected Democrats and donors for the president to pull out of the race. Biden said this week he wont step aside. Lawlers question triggered a brief argument during the hearing, which was scheduled to focus primarily on global economic issues. One lawmaker interjected that the Treasury chief is not a doctor and sought to get the comments struck from the record. Republican member Blaine Luetkemeyer, the chairman of the committees panel on national security, then warned such questions werent appropriate. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, tried to pivot to criticism of Trump, criticizing his bromance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which drew another reprimand from Luetkemeyer. (Updates with context on Biden-Xi meetings in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called President Biden extremely effective amid growing calls for him to step aside after a poor showing in his first presidential debate against former President Trump. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) asked Yellen during a House committee hearing if she had noticed any mental or cognitive decline in any of her meetings with Biden. The president is extremely effective in the meetings Ive been in with him. That includes many international meetings that are multi-hour like his meetings with President Xi [Jinping of China], Yellen said Tuesday during an annual hearing with the House Financial Services Committee on the international financial system. The Treasury secretary declined to answer Lawlers question about the last time she met with the president. Im not going to comment on my meetings with the president. Those are private, Yellen said. Yellen also offered a single no when Lawler asked if there had been any discussion among Bidens cabinet about invoking the 25th Amendment, which would allow a majority of the Cabinet to transfer powers from the president to the vice president if they believe they are unable to perform their duty. The line of questioning prompted a gentle rebuke from Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), who chairs the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance and International Financial Institutions. Just a reminder to the committee that getting into the personal business effects of the president as well as Mr. Trump is inappropriate for this committee, Luetkemeyer said. Biden sparked alarm among Democratic lawmakers, allies and donors when he fumbled his words and struggled to string together responses at points during the debate. While Democratic leaders have stood by the president, several House Democrats have called on the president to step aside as Trump has widened his lead over the president in the days since the debate. The White House and campaign have pushed back on calls for Biden to drop out, saying the past three and a half years of his presidency should squash any concerns that stem from a 90-minute debate. Trump currently has a 58 percent chance of winning the presidency, according to a forecast by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. The incumbent has also been struggling to buck negative perceptions of his handling of the economy and win over voters who are upset about how he has handled the humanitarian crisis from the war between Israel and Hamas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) The York County Coalition on Homelessness (YCCH) received a grant to support youth experiencing homelessness. The York County Coalition on Homelessness, alongside the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness and the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition, was awarded $990,057 of $51.1 million in Youth Homelessness Systems Improvement Grants to 38 communities across 26 states. According to the YCCH, Berks County will act as the administrator for the award. At the same time, the office of the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition will oversee the Youth initiatives and collaboration, including hiring a Youth Program Coordinator for the three-county region. York County will provide support to the systems mapping and youth board processes of the grant. The Youth Homelessness Systems Improvement (YHSI) grant is a critical investment for Berks County. Our current youth homelessness response system is limited, and we know there are many young people in need who arent being served, Elise McCauley, the Assistant Director of the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness said. This grant will allow us to finally understand the true scope of the problem by gathering much-needed data. With that information, we can develop actionable plans to bridge the gaps and create a truly effective response system for our most vulnerable youth. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Representatives believe the funding will strengthen each countys coalition with a young perspective and voice and strengthen the youth homelessness response across the counties. The grant program focuses on making systemic changes to improve response systems for youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Still, it does not fund housing or direct services for homeless youth. This grant is vital because it involves youth in the development of programs and services tailored to their unique needs and compensates them for their valuable contributions. Their insights will shape solutions that bring about positive change for our vulnerable community members, said Marjorie Shaffer, the Homeless Housing Coordinator, who serves as the Youth Homelessness Liaison with the Lancaster County Office for the Homelessness Coalition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong outlined long-anticipated but vague plans to regulate ride-hailing services, creating uncertainty over Uber Technologies Inc. operations in a city infamous for the poor quality of local taxi services. Most Read from Bloomberg Authorities intend to license platforms such as Uber and adopt tougher penalties for rule breaking, the Transport and Logistics Bureau said in a paper published on Monday. Taxi services would be improved through the introduction of so-called premium fleets, it said. At the heart of the issue is the number of hire-car permits available for ride-hailing services. Currently there are only 1,500. Uber, which launched in Hong Kong a decade ago and has been unregulated since, has more than 10,000 drivers in the city. The proposal lacks clarity, said Oliver Chan, assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. If authorities dont increase the quotas for hire-car permits, many Uber drivers would still be operating illegally, he said. Officials said they have no plans to increase the quota, the South China Morning Post reported. Its still very uncertain, Chan said. What we know right now is that they wanted to improve the taxi service quality first, and then to also see how the regulation which is uncertain at this point of the ride-hailing platform could also contribute. Uber said it welcomed the governments plan to regulate ride-hailing platforms, adding it is critical for the government to also come up with a workable licensing regime. Any move to cap the number of ridesharing licenses in the city would deal a blow to the many drivers who rely on the platform for flexible earnings opportunities, a company spokesman said. Losing Money Uber has long drawn the ire of Hong Kongs taxi license owners, who have seen the value of their licenses go down. A taxi license is now worth HK$2.8 million ($358,000), down from about HK$7.3 million back in 2015. Authorities have barely sold any new licenses for 30 years, despite the population rising by about 1.5 million people, or 25%. There are some 18,000 taxis in circulation. Earlier this year, some disgruntled taxi drivers posed as Uber passengers in order to report them to the police. That prompted the citys leader John Lee to warn people against conducting undercover operations. Story continues Complaints about rude service, overcharging and dangerous driving have long dogged Hong Kongs taxi trade, further putting pressure on the government to regulate ride-hailing while also introducing reforms to improve taxis. Complaints against taxis lodged with the government last year rose 75% compared with 2022, while the number of traffic accidents involving taxis increased by 26%. While the proposal is unclear, it leaves the door open for ride-hailing platforms to continue to co-exist with taxis in somewhat of a gray area, said lawmaker Gary Zhang, an engineer who formerly worked as an operations manager at subway operator MTR Corp. Compared with some of the rumors or previous signals about what the government was preparing to do, this reflects quite a big adjustment, he said. Study Plan The Transport Department will conduct a study on commuter needs to help shape the new planned regulatory regime, according to Mondays paper. The study should be completed within 12 months, it said. Lawmakers will discuss the regulatory framework on Friday in a panel meeting. Uber has in years past clashed with regulators around the world, as its phenomenal growth applies pressure on traditional taxi and transport businesses. While Hong Kong is a fairly small market for the San Francisco ride-hailing leader, the outcome of the dispute may help shape a framework for regulating the company elsewhere. The company has already shielded itself against potentially tough regulation of ride-hailing services through its 2021 acquisition of local taxi-hire app HKTaxi. Users of the Uber app also have the option to book metered taxis, which the company said in October includes more than 10,000 taxi drivers. Uber shuttered its Uber Eats service in Hong Kong in 2021. Yet, to Zhang, its not possible for the city to put the Uber genie back in the bottle. Taxis in Hong Kong are truly not able to meet the capacity and needs of the public, he said. If overnight, Uber was wiped out from Hong Kong, that would have such a huge impact on the city. --With assistance from Edwin Chan. (Updates to add quotes from fourth paragraph, add details about Uber Taxi in the third last paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. New York Times editorial board says Biden has 'put the country at risk' by remaining in the presidential race New York Times editorial board says Biden has 'put the country at risk' by remaining in the presidential race The New York Times' editorial board is once again calling on Biden to forgo his reelection bid. The board first made the plea after Biden's widely panned debate performance last month. In a new piece, the board said Biden "is no longer an effective spokesman for his own priorities." President Joe Biden has emphatically said in recent days that he's not abandoning his reelection bid, a decision that continues to divide Democrats eager to stave off former President Donald Trump. Biden's poor debate performance against Trump has set off major alarm bells with many Democratic voters, lawmakers, and donors a scenario that they didn't envision in the lead-up to the party's August convention in Chicago. For more than a year, The New York Times has extensively covered issues tied to voter concerns about Biden's age, often pointing to polling which showed that a majority of the 81-year-old president's 2020 supporters felt as though he was too old to seek reelection. After last month's debate, The Times' editorial board, which operates separately from the newsroom, called on Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee. And this week, the board once again urged Biden to leave the race, arguing that the president was seeking to "defy reality" by remaining the Democratic Party's standard-bearer. "For more than a year, voters have made it unquestionably clear in surveys and interviews that they harbor significant doubts about Mr. Biden's physical and mental fitness for office," the board wrote. "Mr. Biden has disregarded the concerns of those voters his fellow citizens and put the country at significant risk by continuing to insist that he is the best Democrat to defeat Mr. Trump." The board criticized Biden's dismissal of poll numbers showing him trailing Trump in most national surveys and holding no major advantage in critical swing states, writing that the president has "adopted a favorite theme of the floundering politician" by doing so. And the board also pleaded with Democrats from grassroots organizers and top leaders within the party to have heart-to-heart conversations with Biden about his candidacy. "They need to tell him that he is embarrassing himself and endangering his legacy," the board wrote. "He needs to hear, plain and clear, that he is no longer an effective spokesman for his own priorities." When Biden won in 2020, many Democrats assumed that he would only serve for one term and would be a "bridge" to younger leaders within the party. But as Biden defended his reelection bid, he leaned into his age as an important part of his life experience. The president in recent days has sought to squelch any idea that he'll forgo his reelection bid. However, several House Democrats have asked him to step aside, and if there's a noticeable slide in his swing-state numbers in the coming days, there will likely be more vocal pressure on the White House as lawmakers eye their political futures. Business Insider has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider President Joe Bidens accusation that elite Democratic critics are out of step with his party appears to have provoked the New York Times editorial board, which is doubling down on its post-debate call for Biden to get out of the race. In a piece published Tuesday that rebutted the presidents defense of his candidacy in recent days, the editorial board explicitly urged Democratic leadership to publicly call for Biden to step aside and coalesce around a new nominee in order to defeat former President Donald Trump. The board described the current whisper campaign in the party as an inadequate attempt to convince Biden to withdraw, calling him not only defiant and floundering, but a man in decline trying to circumvent the reality that he is a damaged candidate. [Democrats] need to tell [Biden] that he is embarrassing himself and endangering his legacy, the editorial board wrote. He needs to hear, plain and clear, that he is no longer an effective spokesman for his own priorities. In response to a request for comment, Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond: The last time Joe Biden lost the New York Times editorial board's endorsement it turned out pretty well for him. The Times endorsed Biden for president in the 2020 general election but not in the Democratic primary. The boards reenergized version of its initial call for Biden to withdraw suggests that the columnists, donors and elected officials who have led the push against the president are not yet backing down even after dozens of Democrats fell in line with Biden this week as he has taken on a more vigorous response to criticism and calls to end his reelection campaign. In a sign of strength, Biden on Monday reaffirmed the support of his most loyal base on the Hill, the Congressional Black Caucus. But Hill Democrats are still divided over Bidens electability and the success of his attempts so far to turn his campaign around. The board took aim at nearly every argument used by Biden and his allies in the past two weeks: Three years as president are more important than a 90-minute debate? Past performance is no guarantee of future results. A rejection of Biden would ignore millions of primary voters? Democratic leaders should instead listen to the much larger group that has indicated concerns in polls. The drama over Biden is a distraction from defeating Trump? The necessity of victory is exactly why Americans are worried about Bidens decline, the board wrote. Most of all, Biden has not proven that his halting tone and hoarse voice during the debate were an aberration, the board added. The presidents scripted and controlled appearances, like his recent radio interviews, and his unscripted moments, like his ABC News sit-down, offered little comfort, it said. The piece did not endorse a specific candidate to replace Biden. The board left little doubt that it was speaking directly to Democratic leadership, name dropping Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi while citing Rep. Don Beyers reported remarks to colleagues that the president really has trouble putting two sentences together. [Biden] is engaging in a staring contest with Democratic leaders, and he appears to be winning, the board, which consists of 14 opinion writers, warned. The board also expanded on several of its arguments from its original op-ed after the debate, which was one of the first to ask Biden to step aside. In its latest piece, it denounced Trump as a threat to democracy who has exhibited cognitive deficiencies and incessant lying but said those concerns were being drowned out by Bidens refusal to accept the obvious limitations of his age. He does not seem to understand that he is now the problem and that the best hope for Democrats to retain the White House is for him to step aside, the board wrote. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misattributed the Biden campaign statement. Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond shared the statement with POLITICO. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Tuesday ordered schools in his state to go cellphone-free, as similar bans on technology take hold in schools across the country. Youngkin issued the executive order directing the Virginia Department of Education to draft guidance for public schools to adopt cellphone-free policies. The department will also work with teachers, parents, students and other leaders to create procedures that establish the age-appropriate restriction or elimination of cell phone use during instructional time. The goal of the order is to limit the amount of time students are exposed to addictive cell phones and social media and to reduce distractions in the classroom, Youngkin said in a statement. This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn. Creating cell phone and social media-free educational environments in Virginias K-12 education system will benefit students, parents, and educators, Youngkin said. It also kicks off the robust conversations among parents, students, teachers, and school and community leaders necessary to design and implement these policies and procedures at the local level, he added. The Virginia Department of Education has until Aug. 15 to publish their draft guidance and will issue its final guidance in September. School districts will need to adopt the cellphone-free policies by Jan. 1, 2025. Youngkins order comes weeks after Surgeon General Vivek Murthy sounded the alarm again on the risks social media can pose to adolescents. Murthy warned in a separate advisory last year that social media is contributing to the youth mental health crisis. Virginia is just the latest to implement a cellphone ban in schools. New York City is looking to ban cellphones in schools, while the Los Angeles school district approved a cellphone measure last month. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) also said last month that he supported restricting cellphone use in schools. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RICHMOND, Va. (WJHL) Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is recommending 13 projects for funding by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). According to a release from the governors office, the governor is seeking $7.4 million in grants for the following projects: Big Stone Gap Big Cherry Accessibility Improvements Project $700,000 Bristol Bristol 2024: Pre-Engineering Feasibility Study for Mendota Trail Downtown Bristol Connector $70,000 Buchanan County Big Rock/Conaway Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement $1 million Dickenson County Public Service Authority Backbone Ridge Ph. 4/Gilbert Drive Water Line Replacement Project $700,000 Friends of Southwest Virginia Southwest Virginia Creative Economy Assessment and Development Initiative $300,000 Galax The Rex Theater Revitalization $50,000 Giles County PemTels Rte. 100/Rte. 42 Corridor Broadband Project $700,000 Lee County Stickleyville Waterline Extension Middle Wallens Creek, Phase 1 $700,000 Lee County Western Lee Sewer Project Phase 1-A $1 million Martinsville Martinsville MiNet Expansion, 2024 $700,000 Pulaski Calfee Community and Culture Center Expansion of Calfee Training School Adaptive Reuse: Lena Huckstep Community Kitchen $700,000 Round the Mountain: SWVAs Artisan Network Round the Mountain Aristan Network Celebrating Appalachian Arts $300,000 Wise County Riverview Sewer Phase 1 $545,692 Fire damages Marion bank These projects represent the innovation and strong entrepreneurial spirit of the Appalachian region, Youngkin said in a release. ARC plays a pivotal role in empowering our Appalachian communities to address their unique challenges, capitalize on their unique assets and drive positive change throughout the region. The ARC will finalize approval of project awards later this year, according to the governors office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A group of teenagers checking their cellphones. (Courtesy of SDI Productions via Getty Images) Virginia will soon establish guidance to restrict or eliminate student cell phone use during instructional time at school. On Tuesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33, which directs his administration to heed the call of parents, public health professionals, educators and others by establishing cell phone-free policies and procedures for school divisions, in light of growing concerns over childrens health and declines in academic performance. The Virginia Department of Education, in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Health and Human Services, must clearly define what cell phone-free education means, and publish model plans and draft guidance on implementing cell phone-free education in Virginias K-12 schools on its website by Aug. 15, according to the governors directive. The directive will establish the clear goal to protect the health and safety of our students by limiting the amount of time they are exposed to addictive cell phones and social media and eliminating clear distractions in the classroom, Youngkin said in a statement. The governor added that $500,000 in existing funds allocated to the Departments of Education and Behavioral Health and Development Services will be made available to implement the initiative. According to the governors office, the funds will support state and local efforts to facilitate family nights and community engagement events to combat youth mental health challenges, and provide microgrants for school divisions to help implement cell phone best practices in their communities. As part of the policies development, the departments will be required to hold listening sessions seeking public input on age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance, the governors executive order reads. The departments are slated to release the final guidance by Sept. 16 of this year. The order directs school boards to adopt the policies by Jan. 1, 2025, or before. Youngkins order cites American Psychological Association research that suggests adolescents who spend over three hours on social media daily have double the risk of poor mental health. The order also references studies showing that children spend about 4.8 hours a day on social media, and that students who use their phones during class learn less and earn lower grades. Therefore, creating a cell phone-free education environment in public schools is not only a prudent measure but an essential one to promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn, Youngkin directive states. Some of Virginias school boards have already begun banning or restricting cell phone use in schools. Legislation empowering local boards to institute such prohibitions on cellphones and other handheld communication devices during regular school hours died last session. James Fedderman, president of the Virginia Education Association, said in a statement that the organization recognizes the mounting worries over how cell phones impact students in classrooms and thinks its essential to approach the issue with a nuanced perspective that considers the real-world needs of our students and teachers. Fedderman, whose organization is the largest educator advocacy group in the state, went on to urge the Virginia Department of Education to engage with educators to develop balanced guidelines that support effective teaching and learning while also addressing legitimate concerns about distractions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Bloomberg) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on his friend Vladimir Putin to seek a peaceful end to Russias war in Ukraine, a day after a deadly missile strike on a childrens hospital in Kyiv provoked international outrage. Most Read from Bloomberg Loss of life leads to despair especially when children are killed, Modi told the Russian president in televised comments Tuesday at the start of their formal talks in the Kremlin. Resolution cant be found on the battlefield, peace needs to be pursued through dialog and diplomacy. Putin said they discussed the war during informal talks over dinner on Monday, and he thanked Modi for trying to find ways to resolve the conflict. Modi said their lengthy discussion yielded several ideas that left him hopeful of a way forward, without providing further details. The Indian leader is on his first visit to Russia since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and also his first bilateral visit since winning a third term in elections last month. His arrival in Moscow came after at least 38 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded on Monday in a wave of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, including a strike that hit the main childrens hospital in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy slammed Modis visit in a post on the social-media site X, saying it was a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day. India has avoided censuring Russia for its war and abstained at United Nations votes on the issue, but has advocated diplomacy to resolve the conflict. While Modis trip affirms longtime ties between New Delhi and Moscow going back to the Cold War era, it has drawn concerns from the US, which has sought to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. We welcome people engaging with Russia about the war in Ukraine if they made clear to Russia that Russia needs to respect Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Monday. Senior Indian officials who didnt want to be named said in response to the US statement that New Delhi has always respected the UN Charter including territorial integrity and sovereignty. Modi posted photos of himself on X hugging Putin when they met Monday, saying he was looking forward to more talks which will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. Moscow has laid out the red carpet for Modi. India is a major buyer of Russian oil and military hardware supplies. Maintaining the relationship is a balancing act for Modi, as India is seeking investment and technology from the US. Washington is also aiming for closer ties with India, which it sees as a regional counterweight to China. Economic issues, energy supplies and manufacturing will dominate Modis visit, as the two countries look to bolster the relationship, Indian officials said. Putin and Modi visited the pavilion of Russias state-owned Rosatom at an exhibition in Moscow earlier Tuesday. Rosatom and India are in talks to construct six high-power nuclear power units as part of a new project as well as developing low-power nuclear plants in India, according to the Russian embassy in New Delhi. The South Asian country will open two new consulates in Russia one in the city of Kazan and the second in Yekaterinburg, Modi said during an address to the Indian diaspora in Moscow. The two countries shared a deep and time-tested partnership, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his July 9 evening address that he had arrived in Washington to attend the NATO summit taking place on July 9-11. "We are fighting for more air defense systems for Ukraine, and I'm confident we will succeed. We are also striving to secure more aircraft, including F-16s," Zelensky said. "Additionally, we are pushing for enhanced security guarantees for Ukraine, including weapons, financial aid, and political support." Kyiv has voiced hope that the summit will bring a more definite signal about Ukraine's future membership in the alliance. American officials made it clear that the country is unlikely to receive an invitation. Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, Ukraine aims to secure a "guaranteed" military funding commitment from allies, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said in late June. "We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure that Russian terror is defeated. This is not just crucial for our country it is essential for everyone for every partner and all nations," Zelensky said in his evening address. This will be the third NATO summit in a row to bring together the heads of all 32 NATO member states and the leaders of Indo-Pacific partner countries, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Foreign ministers from 35 non-NATO partner countries have also been invited to attend. Read also: Opinion: NATO at 75 is whistling past the graveyard Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being photographed hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin while on a state visit on Monday. Zelensky said it was a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see Modi hug Putin on the same day a Russian missile attack hit a childrens hospital in Ukraine. In a tweet, the Ukrainian leader said that a Russian missile struck the largest childrens hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble. He added that it is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day. Modi arrived in Moscow shortly after news broke that Russia had targeted Ukraine with a flurry of missile strikes Monday, killing at least 38 people in a barrage that hit an apartment complex and a childrens hospital. Zelensky said in on X that the Okhmatdyt Childrens Hospital, which he said has saved thousands of children, was struck in the attack. Now that the hospital has been damaged by a Russian strike, there are people under the rubble, and the exact number of casualties is still unknown, Zelensky wrote. Russia cannot claim ignorance of where its missiles are flying and must be held fully accountable for all its crimes. Modi is on a two-day state visit to Russia, which coincides with the NATO summit in Washington D.C. This visit marks the newly elected Indian leaders first trip to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Modi often prefers hugs to handshakes when greeting fellow world leaders, including President Biden. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, when asked about the Modi-Putin meeting, told reporters at a press briefing, We have made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. Putin welcomed Modi calling him his dear friend and said he was very happy to see him, according to Russias TASS state news agency. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Zelensky says Indian PM's embrace with Putin a 'huge disappointment' after Russian mass attack on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 9 criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow amid Russia's attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv. Modi arrived in Moscow on July 8 in what was his first trip to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia launched a missile attack against Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and others on the morning of July 8, killing at least 38 and injuring over 170. One missile struck the building of the Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical center. While Western officials condemned the Russian attack, Modi posted a photo of himself shaking hands and hugging Putin, voicing hope for "cementing the bonds of friendship" between the two nations. "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day," Zelensky wrote on X. The Russian military struck the children's hospital with a Kh-101 cruise missile, according to the preliminary data obtained by the State Security Service (SBU), killing at least two people and injuring at least 50. Russia launched another attack against Kyiv later during the day, with debris damaging a maternity hospital in another district, killing seven people. New Delhi has been calling for a diplomatic solution to Russia's war against Ukraine but has been simultaneously fostering close economic ties with Moscow. India became one of the chief buyers of Russian oil following Western sanctions, although pressure from U.S. sanctions increasingly threatens this trade. While India participated in Ukraine's global peace summit in June, Modi did not attend personally, and India's representative did not ultimately sign the joint communique. Read also: I want Russians to feel it on their own skin: Shock, fury at the site of childrens hospital attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that another UAH 300 million (approx. US$7.3 million) will be allocated for the reconstruction of the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital. Source: Zelenskyy in his evening video address on 9 July Details: "We will rebuild Okhmatdyt. I am in touch with the Cabinet of Ministers, and the first decision has been made UAH 100 million to support Okhmatdyt. Another 300 million will follow," he said. In addition, Zelenskyy said, there will be other decisions for both Kyiv and the cities of the Dnipro and Donetsk regions. Background: United24 and monobank have successfully raised US$6 million for the Okhmatdyt children's hospital. The initiative in support of Okhmatdyt, which had a target of US$5 million, had already raised US$3.4 million by this morning despite only having been launched on Monday evening. On 8 July, the Russians launched a strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital in Kyiv, injuring and killing people. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy informs Canadian PM about strike on Okhmatdyt children's hospital and Ukraine's need for air defence Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday evening, 8 July. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy wrote that he informed Trudeau in detail about the brutal Russian strike on Monday, which resulted in significant loss of life and destruction, including a hospital in Kyiv where children are being treated for cancer and other serious health issues. He reported at least 37 fatalities at the time of the post, including three children. In addition, 170 people were injured, with 13 children among them. They also discussed joint actions that would provide an adequate and strong response to Russia for this act of terror. Quote: "I also informed Justin about Ukraines current need in strengthening air defence. We will greatly appreciate Canada's assistance in communicating with partners to meet these needs. Importantly, we also coordinated our positions prior to the NATO Summit in Washington." Background: President Joe Biden reacted to the Russian large-scale missile attack on Ukraine on 8 July, announcing a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington and new support for Ukraine from NATO. The US and the EU called for an investigation into the strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialised Hospital, which has signs of a war crime. Support UP or become our patron! SAN DIEGO The 2025 Acura MDX gets a handful of significant upgrades, adding appealing new audio systems and other features to whats already one of the most popular three-row luxury SUVs. The MDX is Acuras bestselling and most profitable vehicle. Hondas luxury brand has sold more than 1.2 million MDXs since sales began in 2000. Most of the changes involve exterior appearance and electronics. The SUVs sheet metal and drivetrain are largely unchanged. My favorite changes to the MDX are inside: improved controls and a dynamite top audio system. The 2025 Acura MDX three-row luxury SUV is on sale now. I evaluated a well-equipped MDX Type S with the Advance package the top model on a bright summer day over highways, city streets and twisting country roads north of San Diego. The 2025 Acura MDX is on sale now. The Type S is the top model of the 2025 Acura MDX three-row luxury SUV.. 2025 Acura MDX trim levels and prices MDX FWD: $50,900 (AWD adds $1,200) MDX AWD: $53,100 MDX FWD with Tech package: $56,300 (AWD adds $1,200) MDX A-Spec AWD: $61,500 MDX AWD w/Advance package: $66,000 MDX A-Spec AWD w/Advance package: $68,000 MDX Type S AWD w/Advance package: $74,950 Source: Honda. Prices exclude $1,350 destination charge. Selected Acura MDX competitors Cadillac XT6 GMC Acadia Genesis G80 Infiniti QX60 Lexus RX Lincoln Aviator Mazda CX-90 Volvo XC90 The 2025 Acura MDX luxury SUV features Google-built-in for connected navigation and other services. 5 great features Bang & Olufsen audio: The Danish brand is new this year as Acuras top audio supplier. The Type S comes with a standard 31-speaker system that was a revelation. It includes Tweeters in the A-pillar B&Os signature feature and a dozen speakers in the headliner for three-dimensional surround sound. Aluminum speaker grilles contribute further to fateful reproduction. A slider adjusts levels of immersion from stereo to Dolby 7.4. Traditional tone controls are replaced by Beosonic, a feature in the touch screen that allows you to vary sound according to characteristics labeled bright, energetic, relaxed and warm. When listening to high-end sound systems, I tend to trust the sound engineers and use the default settings. That delivered a great listening experience at all volume levels. The adjustments should also please listeners who prefer to micromanage their audio. The 2025 Acura MDX Type S's 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen audi system uses 'Beosonic' controls to tune its output. Automatic lane change: Not to be confused with hands-free driving, the MDX measures the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles when the driver holds the turn signal lightly more than for a three-flash indication, not enough to trigger the detent for a full turn. That sounds hopelessly fussy, but I found the system intuitive after just a few miles. I tapped the indicator stalk, the instrument cluster acknowledged that Id requested a lane change and the wheel rotated under my hand, guiding the SUV into the next lane. The sensors judged the distance and pace of approaching vehicles and refused to initiate lane changes if it didnt have room. Automatic lane change is only operational on interstate highways. Capacitive steering wheel sensor: Most vehicles can tell whether the drivers hands are on the wheel based on torque inputs whether the driver is exerting any force on the steering wheel. Its key to maintaining the light touch necessary for the automatic lane change, Theyre not quite garbage, but theyre garbage-adjacent, alternatingly easy to fool by hanging a weight from the steering wheel or so insensitive they dont recognize a hand on the wheel even when you jiggle the wheel slightly. The 2025 Acura MDX luxury SUV's steering wheel has precise capacitive sensors to determine if the driver is hands-on. Capacitive sensors register the presence of human skin, making them both harder to deceive and more accurate in recognizing a light touch. Hello, touch screen, good riddance, touch pad: The 2025 MDXs 12.3-inch touch screen is noticeably closer to the driver than the previous models screen. Thats because it actually is a touch screen, while the previous display had to be operated with a touch pad on the MDXs center console, near the shifter and cupholders. Out of the drivers line of sight and with an idiosyncratic operating system, the touch pad never worked like the new, glanceable screen. Google built-in: The MDX uses Googles connected navigation system and has access to apps from the Google store. Googles voice recognition performed with its usual robustness. Apple CarPlay and of course, Googles Android Auto are also fully functional. The 2025 Acura MDX SUV's Google built-in infotainment systems is compatible with Apple CarPlay. Safety and driver assist features Adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow and cornering speed assist Automatic front braking Active lane change assist Lane departure alert and assist Front and rear cross traffic Blind spot alert Traffic sign recognition Front and rear parking sensors Automatic high beams Performance, power and efficiency The MDX offers front- or all-wheel drive, a normally aspirated or turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. The Type S develops 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque from the turbocharged. Other models get 290 hp from the normally aspirated engine. The 2025 Acura MDX three-row luxury SUV is on sale now. I drove a top of the line MDX Type S. It accelerated confidently and passed easily. The interior was quiet and comfortable. Trimmed in black wood and leather and navy upholstery with white stitching, the front seat had plenty of room and storage capacity. The climate controls have traditional buttons and toggles for key features. Audio controls are via the steering wheel and touch screen. The 2025 Acura MDX three-row luxury SUV is on sale now. Acura expects fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg in the city, 21 highway and 19 combined for the Type S. The less powerful normally aspirated engine should rate 19/26/22 with front-drive and 19/25/21 with AWD. Acura recommends premium fuel to get the rated power and fuel economy. 2025 Acura MDX top selling points Available Bang & Olufsen audio Improved radars for blind spot and cross traffic sensing Automatic lane change on interstate highways Capacitive steering wheel sensors 12.3-inch touch screen replaces touch pad Google built-in navigation and other connected services Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard New grille and fascia Why get one? The 2025 Acura MDX is a comfortable, familiar lower-luxury SUV. Its new features are welcome additions that will keep it fresh until an entirely new model arrives in a couple of years. 2025 Acura MDX at a glance Midsize luxury three-row SUV Front- or all-wheel drive Price range: $50,900-$74,950 (All prices exclude $1,350 destination charge) Model tested: AWD Type S with Advance package Price as tested: $74,950 Powertrain: 3.5L turbocharged V6 Output: 355 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 354 pound-feet of torque @ 1,400-5,000 rpm Transmission: 10-speed automatic Manufacturer-estimated fuel economy: 17 mpg city/21 highway/19 combined. 91 octane premium fuel recommended. Wheelbase: 113.8 inches Length: 198.4 inches Width: 78.7 inches Height: Elevation 67.9 inches Ground clearance: 7.3 inches EPA passenger volume: 139.1 cubic feet Cargo room: 16.3 cubic feet behind rear seat; 39.1 behind second row; 71.4 behind front seat. Curb weight: 4,776 pounds Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds Assembled in East Liberty, Ohio Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2025 Acura MDX review: 3-row luxury SUVs gets significant upgrades AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Chip buyers, including the German car industry, need the older generation computer chips that Chinese chipmakers are currently investing in, the CEO of equipment maker ASML said in an interview with Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper published on Monday. The remarks by Christophe Fouquet, who took over as CEO at Europe's largest tech firm in April, come as the European Commission has begun surveying firms including ASML for their views on Chinese firms' investments in so-called "legacy" chips, an important source of revenue for ASML. "The automotive industry in particular, including the German one, needs a lot more chips that are manufactured using simpler, long-known technologies," Fouquet told the paper. Facing U.S.-led restrictions on more advanced technology, Chinese firms are expanding capacity to produce these older chips, raising Western concerns about the long term potential for oversupply. Fouquet said that global demand for such chips is rising dramatically, but making them is not very profitable and Western firms are not investing enough. "Europe cannot even cover half of its own needs," Fouquet said. According to estimates by industry group SEMI, Chinese chipmakers will increase capacity by 14% in 2025, more than twice the pace of the rest of the world, to 10.1 million wafers per month in 2025, representing about a third of total global production. "If someone wants to slow it down, for whatever reason, then alternatives are needed. There is no point in stopping someone from producing something you need," Fouquet said. (Reporting by Toby Sterling, Editing by Louise Heavens) Photos show the mysterious ancient objects that mountaineers are finding on the Alps' melting glaciers Photos show the mysterious ancient objects that mountaineers are finding on the Alps' melting glaciers Hikers and mountaineers are finding ancient human artifacts in the melting glaciers of the Alps. Some discoveries are valuable snapshots of ancient economies, while others are total mysteries. Glacial archaeologists must race against time, decipher puzzling clues, and avoid dangerous viruses. Hikers and mountaineers are stumbling on mysterious ancient objects in the Swiss Alps, and their discoveries are keeping archaeologists busy. From the Iron Age to ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, people traveled across the Alps' icy mountain passes with cows, mules, oil, wine, skis, weapons, and more. Their lost or abandoned belongings are now surfacing as the mountains' glaciers melt, providing clues about past civilizations and eras. Archaeologists gave Business Insider an inside look at some of their most mysterious and most revealing discoveries. Melting glaciers in the Swiss Alps are uncovering objects that humans have left behind over the ages. This Iron Age statuette is one of the most mysterious objects to surface on Switzerland's melting glaciers. Morgan McFall-Johnsen Switzerland has more glaciers than any other European country, and they're receding quickly as global temperatures rise. In 2022 and 2023, the country lost 10% of its total glacier volume, according to the Swiss Academy of Sciences. People who find unique artifacts lying on the ice sometimes take them as keepsakes. Pierre-Yves Nicod showing off a mysterious wooden figure recovered from a melting glacier in the Alps. Morgan McFall-Johnsen This wooden statue, for example, hung on a mountaineer's living-room wall for nearly 20 years before Pierre-Yves Nicod, a museum curator, saw an old email about it and reached out. The mountaineer found the statue soaked in meltwater in 1999 and wiped it down with modern cleaning products, which could have damaged the ancient object. Still, after he donated it in 2018, archaeologists managed to date the wood to the first or second century BC the Iron Age. As the ice melts and discoveries accelerate, archaeologists in the town of Sion collect these objects for research. The Valais History Museum is inside an old chateau atop a rocky hill in the middle of town. Morgan McFall-Johnsen The Valais History Museum sits atop a steep hill towering in the center of town. It's at the forefront of the new field of glacial archaeology. The museum has even sent its artifacts on a traveling glacial-archaeology exhibit. The archives, where additional artifacts are kept and studied, are in a discrete building in a different part of town. Glacial findings are hidden in a giant freezer in the basement and rooms full of bins. In the museum's archives, researchers are studying new objects closely. Nicod in the basement of the museum archives. Morgan McFall-Johnsen Findings from glaciers are disclosing more about human history and ancient economies in the region. But it's a challenge. Up on the glacier, there's often nothing else associated with the artifact. There are no structures, roads, ancient cities, or other objects that can offer clues about an artifact's origins or purpose. "It's one of the difficulties of glacial archaeology that we find these objects in the ice, and therefore out of all archaeological context," Nicod said. Business Insider spoke with Nicod in French and translated his words into English. Some discoveries are total mysteries, such as these sticks. Researchers were processing all these sticks from one pass, or "col," between mountain peaks when Business Insider visited their archives. Morgan McFall-Johnsen All these sticks come from the same pass, or "col," between mountain peaks. Since it's far above the tree line, the sticks wouldn't be there unless humans brought them. Some of the sticks date to the time of the ancient Romans, who used the Celtics as guides over the glaciers and through the Alps, Romain Andenmatten, a local archaeologist, said. He thinks the Celtics used sticks to mark the passage. But the archaeologists were still working on radiocarbon-dating the sticks. And they continue to find more sticks each season when they visit the glacier. "We go back, we go back, and we still find wood," Nicod said. "This is really a research in progress." Archaeologists still aren't sure what the little wooden statue was for, either. Nicod thinks the statue could be a religious totem, but it's hard to say. Morgan McFall-Johnsen Nicod speculated that when people walked across the col, they placed this object there for "divine protection." Or maybe it marked a border. Maybe someone simply lost it on their long mountain trek. Like the statue, many glacier artifacts are made of organic materials such as wood, plant materials, and leather things that don't survive well at lower altitudes where they aren't frozen. That means artifacts such as these aren't common in archaeological digs. They don't have analogs in ancient cities or tombs places that provide the context to figure out an item's purpose. In the case of this statue, "We have no comparison," Nicod said. Other discoveries, such as these valuable belongings of a 17th-century man, shed light on the economy of the ancient Alps. A selection of items recovered from the site where a wealthy traveler was frozen in the ice. Valais History Museum, Sion; Michel Martinez This wealthy traveler is a mystery that archaeologists believe they've solved. Based on his fine clothes, coins from Northern Italy, and weapons from present-day Germany, the archaeologists think he was a merchant. Two mules whose remains were discovered nearby may have been carrying his wares. Archaeologists suspect the man died in an accident, such as falling into a crevasse in the glacier. He's a remarkably detailed snapshot of an ancient economy that stretched across the Alps. For centuries, people have braved treacherous cols and glaciers to reach settlements on the other side of the mountains. Some artifacts could carry long-extinct diseases such as the black plague. This hoof comes from the remains of a mule discovered on a melting glacier. Morgan McFall-Johnsen Archaeologists have to be careful and wash their hands after handling the remains of animals or people since they could carry viruses or other microbes that are still viable from being frozen. Researchers have previously found active viruses frozen in Tibetan glaciers and Arctic permafrost, tens of thousands of years old. Those viruses were prehistoric and suited to plants or amoebas, but there are also more recent, human-adapted pathogens such as plague or smallpox that could easily be preserved in the ice. There are relics in the Alps glaciers from the Middle Ages, including the peak of the black plague. Andenmatten told BI the Valais archaeologists hadn't had any infections from ancient microbes, but he said he didn't want to become an "archaeological experiment." "We know that in other regions, they have problems with that," Andenmatten said. For example, thawing permafrost in Siberia released anthrax that infected dozens of people and killed a child in 2016. Nicod is convinced this wooden artifact is a handle for some kind of tool. It fits perfectly in his hand. A smooth, twisted piece of wood that Nicod believes to be the handle of an ancient tool. Morgan McFall-Johnsen It's from the Iron Age. Nicod speculated it was the handle of a hooked blade for cutting back plants. Whatever it is, it's impeccably preserved. "These are exceptional wooden objects that would have been destroyed elsewhere," he said. Many objects are vulnerable once the ice around them melts. Archaeologists have to hurry. Archaeologists uncovering mule bones on the Theodul Glacier in Switzerland, near Zermatt. Sophie Providoli Once they melt out to the surface of a glacier, leather and other organic materials can be destroyed by the elements and the meltwater in just two years, Andenmatten said. Some of the wood sticks from the Col Collon, for example, had fungus growing on them. In glacial archaeology, that's an emergency. They had to dry the wood as quickly as possible, then put it in an anoxic (oxygen-deprived) chamber for several weeks to kill the fungus. "You have to have a rapid response, which is problematic for glacial archaeology," Andenmatten said. To help save as many objects as possible, the archaeologists created an app for hikers to report their findings. Archaeologists believe this small barrel was used to carry wine. Morgan McFall-Johnsen The IceWatcher app is an example of a growing practice of citizen science, with researchers recruiting enthusiasts to help them collect information in the field. Hikers reported about 30 discoveries on the app in its first two years, Andenmatten said. About half of those discoveries were recent human remains or old bombs, which became the police's responsibility, while the rest were interesting finds for the archaeologists, he said. Some objects that melt out may not be found until they've decomposed. "We say that glacial archaeology is to find a needle in an iceberg," Andenmatten said. "I think the citizen science is a good solution," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. Justice Department logo is seen at Justice Department headquarters in Washington By Andrew Goudsward and Christopher Bing WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S Justice Department said on Tuesday that it disrupted a Russian operation that used fake social media accounts enhanced by artificial intelligence to covertly spread pro-Kremlin messages in the United States and abroad. The news comes four months before the U.S. presidential election, which security experts widely believe will be the target of both hacking and covert social media influence attempts by foreign adversaries. Senior U.S. officials have said publicly they are monitoring for schemes intended to disrupt the vote. The Justice Department secured court approval to seize two domain names and search nearly 1,000 social media accounts allegedly associated with the effort. With these actions, the Justice Department has disrupted a Russian-government backed, AI-enabled propaganda campaign to use a bot farm to spread disinformation in the United States and abroad, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Tuesday's action marked the first time the United States publicly accused a foreign government of using generative AI in a foreign influence operation, according to Justice Department and FBI officials. U.S. officials have warned that adversaries may use the growing power of AI systems to scale up efforts to spread misinformation. The alleged operation, according to prosecutors, was organized through a private intelligence organization based in Russia staffed by Russian intelligence officers and a senior employee of the Moscow-based, government-funded news outlet Russia Today, or RT. The effort was approved and funded by the Kremlin in early 2023, according to the Justice Department. Spokespersons for the Russian embassy in Washington and RT did not respond to requests for comment. This private organization had designed a custom, AI-powered platform to create, control and manage hundreds of fake social accounts, which were made to look like real Americans, according to court documents. The accounts on social media platform X have since been banned. They commonly posted pro-Kremlin talking points, including videos of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and criticized the Ukrainian government. The United States worked with Dutch authorities on the investigation. The campaign was run from a server in the Netherlands, according to investigators. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Christopher Bing in Washington. Additional reporting by Stephanie Van Den Berg in The Hauge; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Rod Nickel) We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) stands against the other FTSE dividend stocks. The first half of 2024 has been notable for the UK equity market, as the FTSE 100, the benchmark index for UK company shares, hit a record high. However, stocks tumbled in the first week of June as financial shares mirrored broader losses in European markets. That was mainly due to the political uncertainty that unsettled investors and a slump in industrial mining stocks further dragged down the market. That said, with some time remaining in the general elections, there is still some potential for additional developments and surprises within the UK market. The index is up by nearly 6% this year so far, compared with a 14.3% return of the broader US market The Bank of England (BoE) was one of the first central banks to begin increasing interest rates after the peak of the COVID pandemic. From December 2021 to August 2023, it raised the bank rate by 515 basis points to a 16-year high of 5.25% in order to address rising inflationary pressures in the economy. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the BoE is expected to begin cutting interest rates in August. Most economists also anticipate at least one more rate reduction this year, despite ongoing high inflation in wages and services. Yael Selfin, chief UK economist at KPMG, made the following comment on the situation: "While we are seeing some tentative signs of cooling in the labor market, service sector inflation remains persistently high and it is likely the MPC would want to wait until the next set of forecasts and a few more data points before it embarks on its first rate cut." Overall, UK inflation is expected to remain slightly above the BoEs target of 2.0% in every quarter until at least the end of 2025, according to the poll. Median forecasts indicated that inflation would average 2.5% this year and 2.2% next year. After reaching new highs in 2024, the FTSE 100 may attract more investors, particularly those focused on income accumulation. The projected dividend yield of 3.8% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025 is appealing, especially since these yields surpass the current inflation rate. Analysts predict that the ten largest dividend-paying companies in the UK will return 43.9 billion to shareholders, accounting for 55% of the total dividends from the FTSE 100. The top 20 companies are expected to contribute 57.4 billion, making up 72% of the total dividends. In 2023, UK dividend growth of 5.4% aligned with the global average, according to a report by Janus Henderson. This increase was driven by substantial dividend increases from banks and oil producers, although it was tempered by lower payouts from mining companies. The report further mentioned that annual dividends in the UK grew to $86 billion in 2023 from over $63 billion in 2020. While investors gravitate toward American dividend stocks, some of the best FTSE dividend stocks also offer similar investment opportunities. Our Methodology: For this article, we scanned through the list of FTSE stocks and picked dividend stocks from the list. From the resultant dataset, we picked the 10 best FTSE dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors tracked by Insider Monkey 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 financial specialist advising a corporate client at the trading desk of a high-stakes bank. HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17 HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) ranks eighth on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks. The financial services company currently offers an interim dividend of $1.55 per ADS, which also includes a special dividend of $1.05 per ADR. This special dividend came from the profits gained by selling its Canadian banking operations to Royal Bank of Canada. The sale was concluded on March 28, 2024. Since then, the share price has surged by over 10%. As of June 11, HSBC supports a dividend yield of 7.04%. HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) benefits a lot from its strong position in Asia. Recently, HSBC (China) finished acquiring Citi's retail wealth management business in mainland China. This includes investment assets, deposits, and the customers associated with wealth management across 11 key cities in mainland China. In 2023, the bank saw significant growth in mainland China, with a 53% increase in invested assets and a 30% rise in its wealth client base compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of 2024, HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) in China nearly doubled its Net New Invested Assets (NNIA) compared to the same period last year, contributing to a 33% growth in Asia's NNIA to $19 billion. These acquisitions tell us that the company is directing its attention toward a region where it generates approximately half of its revenue. However, due to geopolitical tensions and the GDP growth slowdown impacting the area, we believe that HSBC's stock is trading at a discount. The stock has a forward P/E of 7.36. In the first quarter of 2024, HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) reported revenue of $20.8 billion, up 3% from the same period last year. However, the company's net interest income declined by $0.3 billion to $8.7 billion. Its strong profit performance, reaching $12.7 billion in the first quarter, has allowed the company to maintain its practice of rewarding shareholders. During the quarter, the company returned $8.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. According to Insider Monkey's database, 17 hedge funds owned stakes in HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) at the end of March, growing from 15 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is nearly $70.7 million. Overall HSBC ranks 8th on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now to see the other FTSE dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of HSBC 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 HSBC 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. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Blue Chip Dividend Stocks To Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) stands against the other blue chip dividend stocks. When it comes to investing in stocks, investors often keep a close eye on the company's financial health. Why? Because it directly impacts the potential returns on their investments. This is especially crucial for income investors, as solid financial health ensures regular dividend payments and steady dividend growth. In short, a company's strong financial footing means it's more likely to keep the cash flowing and the dividends climbing. Blue chip companies, especially those with over $100 billion in market cap, take the lead in this area. These firms are well-established, financially stable, and top players in their industries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is commonly regarded as an index of blue chip stocks. This widely watched stock market index includes 30 of the largest and most established publicly traded companies in the US. The index surged by over 4.7% since the start of 2024 and in the past 12 months, it gained 16.4%. When comparing the performance of the broader market and the Dow Jones, both of which track large-cap U.S. companies, historical data reveals a high correlation between the two indices over time. However, there have been notable instances where their performances diverged significantly. According to a report from S&P Dow Jones Indices, the market substantially outperformed the Dow Jones over one- and three-year periods. Conversely, over the 30-year period leading up to 2019, the Dow Jones slightly outperformed the broader market. This indicates that although these indices often move together, short-term performance can vary, and specific market conditions and economic factors can influence which index performs better during different periods. The Dow Jones underperformed the broader market in 2023 by a wide margin. While analysts frequently compare the performance of these two indices, it is important to note that the Dow represents only a small segment of the economy. In contrast, the broader market includes nearly 17 times as many companies. According to estimates from S&P Dow Jones Indices, more than $11.2 trillion investments were benchmarked to the broader market at the end of 2019. This is a staggering 350 times greater than the $32 billion benchmarked to the Dow. A key reason for the broader market's outperformance compared to the Dow last year is that the market places more emphasis on the tech giants, which were the primary drivers of the wider markets gains throughout the year. Story continues Returning to the importance of blue chip companies, investors favor these firms because their strong financial health allows them to grow their dividends consistently. Dividend growth has remained a strong preference of investors over the years, prompting companies to increase their dividend payouts steadily. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best blue-chip dividend stocks. Our Methodology: For this list, we began by examining the current members of the Dow 30 that boasted a minimum market capitalization of $100 billion as of July 7. From this initial group, we specifically focused on companies that consistently pay dividends to their shareholders and have yields of at least 2%, as of July 7. These stocks were then ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in them at the end of Q1 2024, as per Insider Monkeys database. 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 closeup of a woman's hands typing rapidly on a laptop in a corporate office setting. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49 International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is an American technology company that specializes in a wide range of related services, including consulting, technology, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. The company is currently the sole provider offering both a comprehensive technology stack through their Watsonx platform and consulting services for deploying and managing generative AI. The stock has been declining over the past decade but has recently gained momentum because of its potential in the field of AI. Since the start of 2024, the stock has gained nearly 9% and its 12-month returns came in at over 33%. Over the years, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) has transformed itself into a blend of hardware, software, and consulting solutions, though it has faced challenges in maintaining consistent growth. The company is optimistic that AI will drive future revenue growth. In the first quarter of 2024, its Watsonx and generative AI business has shown strong, consistent momentum, growing each quarter, and has surpassed $1 billion in revenues since the launch of Watsonx in mid-2023. For the full year, the company continues to anticipate revenue performance consistent with its mid-single-digit growth model and approximately $12 billion in free cash flow. Diamond Hill Capital highlighted International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)'s AI business in its Q1 2024 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say: Among our bottom Q1 contributors short positions in Dicks Sporting Goods, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) and Palomar Holdings. Though we believe the quality and durability of IBMs free cash flow-generating capabilities remain questionable, investor sentiment has improved amid optimism for the companys still-nascent AI product suite. On April 30, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) declared a 0.6% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.67 per share. This was the company's 29th consecutive year of dividend growth, which makes IBM one of the best blue chip dividend stocks on our list. As of July 7, the stock has a dividend yield of 3.80%. At the end of Q1 2024, 49 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM), compared with 50 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $1 billion. With over 1.2 million shares, AQR Capital Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q1. Overall IBM ranks 10th on our list of the best blue chip dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best Blue Chip Dividend Stocks To Buy to see the other blue chip dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of IBM 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 IBM 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. Driverless Car Accident: A driverless ride-hailing car in China hit a pedestrian, and people on social media are taking the carmaker's side, because the person was reportedly crossing against the light. The operator of the vehicle, Chinese tech giant Baidu, said in a statement to Chinese media that the car began moving when the light turned green and had minor contact with the pedestrian. The person was taken to a hospital where an examination found no obvious external injuries, Baidu said. The incident on Sunday in the city of Wuhan highlights the challenge that autonomous driving faces in complex situations, the Chinese financial news outlet Yicai said. It quoted an expert saying the technology may have limitations when dealing with unconventional behavior such as other vehicles or pedestrians that violate traffic laws. Images posted online show a person sitting on the street in front of the driverless car with its rooftop sensors. Comments on social media largely supported Baidu, pointing out that the pedestrian had broken the law, the English-language Shanghai Daily newspaper said in a post on X. Beijing-based search-engine and artificial intelligence company Baidu is a leader in the development of autonomous driving in China. Its largest robotaxi operation, with a fleet of 300 cars, is in Wuhan, a major city in central China that had the world's first major outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. Apollo Go, as the ride-hailing service is called, also operates in more limited parts of three other Chinese cities Beijing, Shenzhen and Chongqing. The company launched the sixth-generation of its driverless taxi in May, saying it had brought the unit cost down by more than half to under USD 30,000. New Delhi: Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Tuesday directed Yatra an online Travel Platform to refund booking amount to consumers affected due to Covid-19 lockdown. A Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution release said that over Rs 2.5 Crore is still pending for refund from Yatra, while approximately Rs 23 Crores refunded to Consumers. "It came to the notice of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) through National Consumer Helpline (1915-toll free number) that many grievances were lodged relating to non-refund of cancelled air tickets on account of COVID-19 lock down wherein the consumers had alleged that the travel agencies informed them that refunds have not been received from the airlines etc," said the Consumer Affairs Ministry release. The Apex Court had in 2020 directed that if the tickets have been booked during the lockdown period through a travel agent for a travel within the lockdown period, in all such cases full refund shall be given by the airlines immediately. On such refund, the amount shall be passed on immediately by the agent to the passengers. CCPA has said that in light of the above it initiated suo-moto action against Yatra regarding non refund of airline tickets cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdown. "Show Cause Notice vide dated 09.03.2021 was sent to this travel company regarding pendency of refunds of bookings which got affected in Covid-19. In pursuant to that CCPA conducted several hearings of the Company and closely monitor the progress of refunds made to the consumers," CCPA added. From July 8, 2021, to June 25, 2024, the CCPA conducted several hearings to address these issues. As a result of these efforts, Yatra Online Limited has made significant progress in reducing the total number of pending refund bookings. In 2021, there were 36,276 pending bookings amounting to 26,25,82,484. As of June 21, 2024, this number has been significantly reduced to 4,837 bookings, amounting to 2,52,87,098. Yatra has refunded approx 87% amount to consumers and further endeavor to refund approx 13% amount to consumers in order to ensure that all pending refunds are processed promptly and efficiently by airlines. In 2021, there were total 5,771 bookings pertaining to airlines pending for refunds amounting to 9,60,14,463. By 2024, Yatra has reduced the pendency of airlines to 98 bookings with an outstanding amount of 31,79,069. CCPA vide order dated 27.06.2024 directed 22 remaining airlines of Yatra to expeditiously refund 31,79,069 to consumers. During the proceedings held before CCPA, several other travel platforms like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, ClearTrip, Ixigo and Thomas Cook have refunded the entire amount to Consumers whose tickets got affected due to Covid-19 lockdown. To further facilitate timely processing of refunds to consumers, CCPA issued an order on 27.06.2024 wherein it directed Yatra to set up dedicated arrangements at the National Consumer Helpline (NCH). Specifically, Yatra is required to allocate five exclusive seats at NCH for making calls to the remaining 4,837 passengers informing them that their pending refunds due to COVID-19 lockdown-related flight cancellations will be processed. The costs incurred for engaging these five dedicated personnel will be fully covered by Yatra with payments made directly to the agency managed by NCH. "The CCPA's order reinforces the importance of timely refunds and Yatra is directed to adhering to this directive to ensure complete resolution for all pending bookings," it said. The South Korean market has shown robust performance, climbing 2.0% in the last week and achieving an 11% increase over the past year, with earnings anticipated to grow by 30% annually. In this thriving environment, dividend stocks yielding between 4% and 6% can offer investors a blend of stability and potential income growth. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In South Korea Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Kia (KOSE:A000270) 4.57% LOTTE Fine Chemical (KOSE:A004000) 4.32% NH Investment & Securities (KOSE:A005940) 6.24% Industrial Bank of Korea (KOSE:A024110) 7.09% KT (KOSE:A030200) 5.53% Shinhan Financial Group (KOSE:A055550) 4.08% KB Financial Group (KOSE:A105560) 3.59% Kyung Nong (KOSE:A002100) 4.93% HANYANG ENGLtd (KOSDAQ:A045100) 3.15% Tong Yang Life Insurance (KOSE:A082640) 5.26% Click here to see the full list of 71 stocks from our Top KRX Dividend Stocks screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Nasmedia Co., Ltd. is a digital media representative agency based in South Korea, with a market capitalization of approximately 194.13 billion. Operations: Nasmedia Co., Ltd. specializes in digital media representation across South Korea. Dividend Yield: 4.1% Nasmedia, a South Korean company, reported a slight increase in Q1 2024 earnings with sales rising to KRW 0.00005 million and net income up to KRW 3.01 billion. Despite its short dividend history of under ten years, the firm has shown stability in its dividend payments which are well-supported by both earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios at 47% and 72% respectively. However, the dividends lack a long-term track record, presenting potential risks for sustainability despite forecasts of future earnings growth at around 20.02% annually. KOSDAQ:A089600 Dividend History as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Samyang Holdings Corporation operates in various sectors including chemicals, food, packaging, and pharmaceuticals across regions such as South Korea, China, Japan, other Asian countries, and Europe, with a market capitalization of approximately 538.07 billion. Operations: Samyang Holdings Corporation generates revenue through its involvement in the chemicals, food, packaging, and pharmaceuticals sectors across multiple regions including South Korea, China, Japan, other Asian countries, and Europe. Story continues Dividend Yield: 5% Samyang Holdings, with a dividend yield of 4.99%, ranks in the top 25% of Korean dividend payers. The company's dividends are securely funded by earnings and cash flows, evidenced by low payout ratios of 15.5% and 24.4%, respectively. Despite its robust coverage, Samyang has only been distributing dividends for five years, lacking a longer history which might concern stability-focused investors. Recent financials show strong growth, with Q1 2024 sales up to KRW 871.15 billion and net income rising to KRW 27.89 billion from the previous year. KOSE:A000070 Dividend History as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: KPX Holdings Co., Ltd. operates in the chemical manufacturing sector through its subsidiaries and has a market capitalization of approximately 227.62 billion. Operations: KPX Holdings Co., Ltd. generates 1.23 billion from its Polypropylene Glycol segment and 129.81 million from its Automotive Parts Division. Dividend Yield: 6% KPX Holdings offers a dividend yield of 6.04%, placing it among the top 25% of Korean dividend stocks. Its dividends are well-supported by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 23.4% and 20.3% respectively, indicating sustainability. However, its recent Q1 earnings have declined to KRW 13.65 billion from KRW 38.75 billion year-over-year, reflecting potential volatility in profitability which could impact future dividends despite current coverage levels. KOSE:A092230 Dividend History as at Jul 2024 Where To Now? Click here to access our complete index of 71 Top KRX Dividend Stocks. Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks. Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world. Ready For A Different Approach? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include KOSDAQ:A089600KOSE:A000070 and KOSE:A092230 Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com New Delhi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Russia had brought a major diplomatic achievement as Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to facilitate the return of all Indian nationals working in Russian Army. As per reports, PM raised this issue while having a private dinner at Putins official residence in Moscow on Monday. Notably, two Indians died in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the MEA said. Following which New Delhi decided to raise the matter for the early release of all Indian nationals recruited in Russian Army. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was anticipated to address the issue of Indians enlisted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict following the deaths of two individuals, aiming to secure their release from the country. PM Modi, who is in Moscow for a two-day visit, raised the issue at a private dinner hosted by Putin last evening. President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened for an informal meeting on Monday at President Putin's Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow. More than a dozen Indians were reportedly coerced into fighting in the war against Ukraine after being deceived by agents with promises of high-paying jobs. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphatically raised the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov prior to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on July 4. Doda: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Goli-Gadi forests in upper reaches of Doda district this evening, according to reports. There are inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area where search operation has been launched in Goli area. Further Details Are Awaited Tripura has been gripped by an alarming HIV outbreak that has claimed the lives of 47 students and infected 828 others, news agency ANI quoted officials from the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) as saying. The announcement came during a media workshop jointly organized by the Tripura Journalist Union, Web Media Forum, and TSACS, where senior officials addressed the gravity of the situation. "We have so far registered 828 students who are HIV positive. Out of them, 572 students are still alive and we have lost 47 people due to the dreaded infection," stated a senior TSACS official. The crisis has spread across 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities in Tripura, where students are reportedly engaged in injectable drug use. "The recent data shows that almost every day, five to seven new cases of HIV are being detected," the official added. During the workshop, the Joint Director of TSACS presented a statistical overview, highlighting that data was collected from 164 health facilities across the state. "Reports are collected from almost all the blocks and subdivisions before making this presentation," the official explained. As of May 2024, Tripura's ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) centres have registered 8,729 individuals living with HIV. "Among them, 5,674 are alive, comprising 4,570 males, 1,103 females, and one transgender patient," disclosed another senior TSACS official. The spike in HIV cases has been attributed to injectable drug abuse among students, many of whom hail from affluent families. "In most cases, the children belong to families where both parents are employed in government services and are capable of meeting their demands," TSACS officials emphasized. "Unfortunately, by the time they realize their children have fallen prey to drugs, it's often too late." Present at the workshop were Project Director Dr. Samarpita Datta, Secretary of Tripura Web Media Forum Abhisek Dey, President of the Tripura Journalist Union Pranab Sarkar, along with other senior leaders of the Tripura Health Department. The situation remains critical as authorities intensify efforts to contain the spread of HIV and provide necessary medical care and support to those affected across Tripura. In a shocking revelation, a joint operation by the Ghaziabad Health Department and the Haryana Health Department led to the arrest of a woman involved in mediating fetal sex determination tests conducted inside a car on the desolate Eastern Peripheral Expressway. Unlike typical raids at hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics, this operation uncovered the audacious practice of conducting fetal sex determination tests in a car, with the location frequently changing to avoid detection. The health department had received several reports indicating the illegal activity was being carried out from a moving vehicle, with clients being called to different locations for the tests. Posing as a customer, an undercover female agent was sent by the health department. After several contacts, the mediator, Meenakshi Tyagi, agreed to arrange the test. She was instructed to meet the client on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway near the Matiala village, a secluded spot, where a silver-colored car was waiting. Inside the car, the test was conducted, and the gender of the fetus was revealed to the agent. The total fee for the test was set at INR 35,000, with INR 16,500 taken as an advance payment. As soon as the health department team moved in to apprehend the culprits, the cars driver and the individual conducting the test managed to escape, driving away at high speed. According to the doctors present, the car sped off so quickly that the team narrowly avoided being hit. However, the mediators, Meenakshi Tyagi and another woman named Meenu Tyagi, were captured and handed over to the Masuri Police Station. A case has been registered by the health department, and the police are now investigating the entire operation in detail. In an absolute shocker, a seven-year-old boy died as he succumbed to injuries he sustained while being mercilessly beaten up by his mother's live-in partner, as per news reports. According to a PTI report, the boy's brother, also a child of 9 years old, was also seriously injured. The police identified the accused as Vinit Chaudhary, a native of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, who works in a private company in Gurugram. According to police, Manu (9) and Preet (7) and their mother have been living with Vinit in Rajender Park for the past few months after the woman's husband passed away in 2023. The boy's grandfather revealed to the police that this was not a one-off case and that often when their mother was absent, Vinit would beat the boys. On the fateful Sunday, the same thing happened. When the woman was not at home, Vinit thrashed the boys. They had to be rushed to the hospital, the grandfather said, from where his daughter-in-law informed him about the incident. By the time he reached there, Preet succumbed to his injuries, and Manu was undergoing treatment, police said. An FIR was registered based on the grandfather's complaint, and the accused was arrested on Monday, police said. "The accused confessed to the crime. He will be produced in a city court on Tuesday", the Gurugram police spokesperson told PTI. New Delhi: Following the death of another army personnel, raising the toll to five martyrs in yesterday's terrorist ambush in Kathua district, security measures along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway have been heightened. The Indian Army has confirmed an ongoing encounter as troops engage with the assailants in the area. Five soldiers lost their lives while five others sustained injuries in a terrorist ambush on an army convoy in the secluded Machedi region of Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday afternoon. Army vehicles conducting a routine patrol along the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road, approximately 150 kilometers from Kathua, came under attack. Following an initial assault where terrorists hurled a grenade and subsequently opened fire. Despite the robust response, the militants managed to escape into the nearby forest, as confirmed by officials familiar with the incident. The ambush occurred in close proximity to Pakistan, underscoring heightened cross-border security concerns. According to Zee news TV sources, the terrorists utilized American-made M-4 assault rifles and Chinese steel bullets, commonly employed by the Pakistani army. Reports also suggest complicity from a local tourist. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police have been stationed along the NH-44 in Udhampur. As per information, a multi-layered security has been put up to ensure the safety of Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims traversing through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. #WATCH | J&K: Search operation by security forces is underway in the Machedi area of Kathua. Indian Army convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Machedi area of Kathua district in J&K yesterday where five soldiers lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/wYDxIr9hoU ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2024 Meanwhile, five soldiers who were injured in the attack have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for further treatment. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families. He shared a post on X and said, I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). He further added that a counter terrorist operation is underway to restore the peace and order in the region. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the army men who sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment. I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 9, 2024 Since June 9, there have been terrorist attacks at four locations in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda, resulting in the deaths of nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan. Additionally, one civilian and at least seven security personnel were injured. Previously, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a security review meeting on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, instructing all security agencies to operate with heightened vigilance and coordinate swiftly to respond to threats. Mumbai Rain: Heavy downpour on Tuesday brought the financial capital of India to a standstill. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a high tide alert as well as a 'red alert as there seems to be no respite from the incessant heavy rainfall any soon. In response to the rainfall warning from the Regional Meteorological Centre, schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and rural areas of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg have been ordered to stay closed on July 9. However, school staff, comprising principals, teachers, and support staff, have been directed to be present at school during office hours to support disaster management initiatives coordinated by local authorities. Pune District Collector told ANI that Suhas Diwase announced that all schools up to class 12 will remain closed on Tuesday, July 9, to avoid any untoward incidents and emergencies affecting schools. Mumbai residents woke up to another grim Tuesday morning as relentless rainfall continued to batter the city, echoing the hardships of the previous day. The incessant downpour caused widespread chaos across Mumbai and its outskirts, disrupting suburban train services and plunging flight operations into turmoil. Train Services Disrupted Central Railway services have been severely disrupted due to rain-induced waterlogging, despite the installation of high-capacity pumps in low-lying areas. Thousands of passengers experienced significant inconvenience as local trains remained stationary on tracks for hours. Several out-station trains heading to Mumbai also faced delays. After an initial resumption, Harbour Line services of Central Railway were suspended again on a stretch on Monday night due to waterlogged tracks. Additionally, tracks between Dadar and Matunga Road on Western Railway were submerged around 10 p.m., while tracks on Central Railway were underwater at Dadar and Vidyavihar on the main line and at Wadala on the harbour line. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Waterlogged railway tracks witnessed at Wadala Station in Mumbai amid heavy rains in the city. Harbor line services are running a few minutes late. pic.twitter.com/PG1pCiAneJ ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2024 Western Railways fast corridor was affected by waterlogging and a track-changing point failure on the fifth line near Matunga station late in the in the evening. The heavy rains also impacted BEST bus services, causing many to operate on alternate routes to avoid waterlogged areas such as Parel, Gandhi Market, Sangam Nagar, and Malad subway. IMD Alert The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Mumbai has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg for Monday. Additionally, Pune and Satara are under a red alert. The IMD forecasts heavy rainfall in isolated areas of Mumbai until July 12. IMD has predicted heavy to moderate rainfall in Palghar, Thane, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sangli, Sholapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad, Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal up to July 12. Maharashtra | Due to heavy rain forecast in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburbs, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts, all exams scheduled for today (July 9, 2024) at the University of Mumbai have been postponed. New dates will be announced soon: University of Mumbai ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2024 (With inputs from ANI) India-Russia Summit: Prime Minister Modi and Vladimir Putin convened for the 22nd annual India-Russia summit. During the meeting, PM Modi appreciates Russias contribution in Indian manufacturing sector, which he says has helped generate employment for Indian youth. This a meeting that is being keenly followed across the world, Mr. Modi said. I am happy that we both could put across or individual views on Ukraine in yesterdays meeting, PM Modi tells Russias Putin. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Excellency and my friend, I express gratitude to you for this grand welcome and honour. We received an unprecedented victory in the elections in India. I also express gratitude for the greetings that you extended after that. In March, pic.twitter.com/0y5597bu1N July 9, 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi started off by saying, "Excellency and my friend, I express gratitude to you for this grand welcome and honour. We received an unprecedented victory in the elections in India. I also express gratitude for the greetings that you extended after that. In March, you too registered a grand victory in elections. I extend my greetings to you once again." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a wholehearted endorsement of India's ties with Russia, describing the old ally as India's 'all-weather friend' and lauding President Vladimir Putin for strengthening the bilateral relations over the past two decades of his leadership. Addressing the Indian diaspora, he said the India-Russia relationship is built on the strong pillar of mutual trust and respect, asserting that their ties were tested time and again only to emerge stronger every time. Modi's high praise of Russia as an ally and Putin's leadership came amid ongoing efforts by the Western world to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi also made a veiled criticism of the 'influence-oriented global order' which endured for decades."But, what the world needs right now is confluence not influence and no one can deliver this message better than India which has a strong tradition of worshipping confluences, he said. He said India is being seen as a strong pillar in the "emerging multipolar world order"."When it speaks of peace, dialogue and diplomacy, then the whole world listens." Modi has often stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Commenting on India's ties with Russia, he said he has been for decades an admirer of the unique partnership between the two countries. "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to the mind of every Indian is India's 'sukh-dukh ka saathi' (all-weather friend) and a trusted ally, he said. No matter how low the temperature dips below zero degrees during Russian winter, India-Russia friendship has always remained in 'plus' and been full of warmth. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect, Modi said. He said he had a special appreciation for "his friend" Putin for steering the India-Russia friendship to greater heights over the last two decades. As prime minister, he said it was his sixth visit to Russia and the two leaders have met 17 times during this period. "All these meetings have added to our mutual trust and respect," he said, praising Putin for helping the evacuation of Indian students during the war. He expressed gratitude to the Russian leader and Russian citizens for this. To the applause from the audience, he announced that India will open two new consulates in Russia to boost travel and trade between the two countries. Upon concluding his visit to Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday embarked on a historic visit to Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over four decades. This visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with European nations. Prime Minister Modi's engagements in Austria are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, and renewable energy, further deepening India's relations with European Union countries. Prime Minister Modi's back-to-back visits underscore India's proactive diplomacy and commitment to fostering global partnerships in diverse spheres of mutual interest. Highlights from Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Russia Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a significant two-day visit to Russia, marked by the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Vladimir Putin. The discussions focused on bolstering bilateral cooperation across various sectors including energy, trade, manufacturing, and fertilisers. During the visit, President Putin hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Modi, underscoring the warmth of the bilateral relations. The ongoing Ukraine conflict was also a crucial topic of discussion, with Modi emphasizing that a resolution cannot be achieved through military means but rather through peaceful negotiations. President Putin expressed gratitude towards Modi for India's efforts in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis, highlighting the mutual commitment to addressing global challenges through dialogue. In recognition of Modi's efforts in strengthening Indo-Russian ties, President Putin conferred upon him the prestigious 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle' award, underscoring its announcement in 2019. Two days after the 24-year-old allegedly crashed his BMW car into a two-wheeler, killing a woman and injuring her husband, Mumbai police on Tuesday arrested Mihir Shah. Following the deadly collision, Mihirwhose father is a prominent member of the governing Shiv Senahad fled the scene. Mihir was taken into custody close to Mumbai, according to a police official. Rajesh Shah, the father of Mihir Shah, reportedly played a proactive role in facilitating his son's escape and had plans to have the offending vehicle towed away, according to the police. According to authorities, Mihir Shah was driving the BMW that killed 45-year-old Kaveri Nakhwa and seriously hurt her husband Pradeep as the pair rode their two-wheelers through Mumbai's Worli neighbourhood on Sunday morning. Mumbai police formed 11 teams and enlisted the Crime Branch to apprehend Mihir Shah. A Look Out Circular (LOC) was also issued against him, according to the official. Rajesh Shah and the family's driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, who were previously arrested in the case, appeared in a Mumbai court on Monday and were remanded in 14-day judicial and one-day police custody, respectively. The court eventually granted Rajesh Shah bail. A local court on Tuesday extended Bidawat's police detention until July 11. Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had declared that no one would be spared in the case. "No one, whether rich, influential, or the offspring of bureaucrats or ministers, affiliated with any party, will have immunity as long as I am the chief minister, Shinde had said. Larry Ellison is providing the majority of the money for son David Ellisons Skydance Media merger with Paramount, TheWrap has learned. The founder of Oracle and his family are contributing $6 billion to the deal while private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners will contribute the remaining $2 billion. According to Forbes, Larry is the fifth richest person in the world with a net worth of $180 billion. RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale further stated this is his firms biggest investment to date. Following on-and-off-again talks with Paramount, Skydance Media agreed on Sunday to merge with the historic studio in a deal that includes the purchase of Shari Redstones National Amusements. The tech companies have obviously been pushing very significantly into the media space, Skydance CEO David Ellison told TheWrap in a media call on Monday, referring to Apple, Amazon and Netflix. We believe what is required to meet this moment is to obviously have a traditional media company like Paramount expand into both a media and technology company. Skydance, whose hit productions include box-office smashes Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning, plans a tech-focused approach to transforming the legacy company by focusing on struggling streamer Paramount+ and broadcast giant CBS. Redstone said in a press release that the deal fortifies Paramount for the future while ensuring that content remains king. Our hope is that the Skydance transaction will enable Paramounts continued success in this rapidly changing environment. As a longtime production partner to Paramount, Skydance knows Paramount well and has a clear strategic vision and the resources to take it to its next stage of growth, she added. We believe in Paramount and we always will. After the merger, the new company will be valued at $28 billion, with David as CEO. Also on Monday, he told reporters his first job was writing code for his father, whom he says he talks to all the time. Another of Larrys recent investments includes backing Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott in 2023. Axios first reported this story. The post Larry Ellison Invests $6 Billion in Son Davids Paramount Takeover appeared first on TheWrap. WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden stood firm Monday against calls for him to drop his reelection candidacy and called for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his dismal debate performance last month, as key lawmakers expressed support for him to remain in the 2024 presidential race. As anxious congressional Democrats returned to Washington weighing whether to work to revive his campaign or to try to edge him out, Biden sent them an open letter aiming to silence their skepticism of his fitness to lead the country for another four years. He insisted he wasn't leaving the race and stressed that the party has "one job," which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November. After a week of false starts, a coordinated effort by Biden and his campaign to shore up Democratic support appeared to be paying off, though he had by no means silenced his doubters. By late Monday, a sudden rush of public support from Democrats emerged or at least some tempering of criticism as Biden allies appeared to be trying to overpower the public and private voices calling on him to step aside. Biden wrote in the two-page letter that "the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it's time for it to end." "We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election," Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign. "Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It's time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump." Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show, in which he insisted that "average Democrats" want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside. "They're big names, but I don't care what those big names think," Biden said. He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they're serious they ought to "announce for president, challenge me at the convention" or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while first lady Jill Biden campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families. "For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he's all in," she told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina. "That's the decision that he's made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too." Democratic voters are split on whether Biden should remain the Democratic Party's nominee for president, or whether there should be a different Democratic nominee, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. On Capitol Hill, more prominent voices lined up behind Biden, including the chair of the House's Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was not ready to cast aside the president, saying that the threat of a second Trump presidency remains too high. Yet one of the most endangered Democrats this election cycle, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, said in a statement, "President Biden has got to prove to the American people including me that he's up to the job for another four years." However, Biden's letter left some House Democrats, who want to hear directly from Biden himself, furious, according to one House aide granted anonymity to discuss the situation. Lawmakers particularly bristled at being cast as out of touch with voters since representatives in particular have been home in their districts listening to voters. Biden planned to meet virtually Monday with the Congressional Black Caucus one of his staunchest blocs of supporters in Congress. Biden is also expected to meet this week with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Jayapal. Meanwhile, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had undergone three neurological exams while in the White House as part of his annual physical exams and no more and said the president has not been diagnosed with or treated for Parkinson's. The drama is playing out with just over a month until the Democratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to renominate Trump as their presidential pick. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., part of a newer generation of progressive lawmakers, said she backed Biden and expressed worry that Democrats were taking their eye off defeating Trump. "We're losing the plot here," she said. Another prominent voice in the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Maxine Waters of California, said those opposing Biden "can speak for themselves or what they want to do, but I know what I'm doing because I'm a big Biden supporter." And Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, said: "I'm tired of all this speculation. I just want to concentrate on the fact that we have to defeat Trump." House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has publicly stood by Biden even as he weighs how to address the concerns of many in his conference, said "same answer" Monday after an evening meeting the Capitol when asked if he supported Biden. At the same time, other House Democrats almost ran from questions. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., told reporters as she exited a leadership meeting that she was off to another meeting about the Great Lakes, and a group of House Democrats, including Reps. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Lauren Underwood of Illinois, changed the subject, declining to answer question as they ducked into an elevator. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, went public Monday with his call for Biden to step aside, saying it would be "a mistake" if Biden continues his campaign. "I'm calling on President Biden to step down," Smith said on social media. Biden's allies said they expected more direct engagement from the president with lawmakers like the CBC virtual meeting as he scrambles to shore up his candidacy. On a call Saturday with his campaign co-chairs, Biden repeatedly asked them who else needs to hear from him, who else he needs to engage with and who still has unanswered questions or concerns, according to Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. "He is out there doing his job as a candidate and doing his job as president," Coons said. Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, the chair of the New Democratic Coalition, has asked House leadership to invite Biden to speak to the entire Democratic caucus. If the president's going to stay in the race, "then help us respond to questions from our constituents," she said. "And it's so much easier to say, I was with him. Rep. Nanette Barragan of California, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, who supports Biden and campaigned recent with the first lady in Pennsylvania, said Biden "should talk to as many members as possible." Senators returning to Washington Monday were generally reluctant to criticize Biden, and many said they were waiting for the Democratic caucus meeting on Tuesday to hear concerns. It was still unclear if any Senate Democrats would publicly call for Biden to go, even as many have expressed deep concerns in private conversations over the last 10 days. "He ran an excellent campaign, and he's been an excellent president," said Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet. "And I think what everybody is trying to satisfy is that's the same trajectory and path that we're on today." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would not answer questions about Biden's reelection as he entered the Capitol on Monday, but he told reporters, "As I've said before, I'm for Joe." Another Democrat, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, said it was "time to quit the hand-wringing and get back to door knocking." While some deep-pocketed donors may be showing discomfort, strategists working on House and Senate races said they have posted record fundraising as donors view congressional Democrats as a "firewall" and last line of defense against Trump. Rahul Gandhi, in his new role as Leader Of the Opposition, may prove further detrimental to the BJP. In the last week, Rahul Gandhi has touched two vital nerves that have been unfavourable for the saffron party. The first was his meeting with the Railway loco pilots and the second was with the people of Manipur. Loco pilots have long been ignored by the BJP government and Rahul Gandhi's meeting with them have exposed the vulnerability that the railways is facing. While these are political optics, the recently concluded Lok Sabha poll results showed that these tricks are working for the Congress, a party that has faced unprecedented challenges since 2014. Congress bagged less than 60 seats in both the general elections of 2014 and 2019. However, realizing people's disconnect with the Congress, Rahul Gandhi embarked on a daring 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and 'Nyay Yatra' while regularly interacting with the section of people who drive the economy at the bottom level - farmers, carpenters, mechanics, and now loco pilots. Even political analyst Prashant Kishor had laughed off Rahul Gandhi's photo-ops predicting that these won't make much difference. However, the 2024 result was out of the syllabus question even for the exit pollsters. While the Congress secured just 99 seats, the almost 200% rise in the party's seats can be credited to multiple factors including Rahul Gandhi's ground outreach. Ahead of the general elections, Rahul Gandhi met all those sections which are aggrieved and were protesting against the establishment - be it farmers or wrestlers or people from Manipur. The impact was very much visible in the Lok Sabha polls results where the Congress swept the Manipur elections snatching both seats from the NDA while it significantly dented the BJP's prospects in states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Since the Manipur crisis began a year ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited the state even once while Rahul visited the state and met people thrice. His visits may not have made much difference, but it certainly gave a message that Congress is with the people in times of crisis. His meetings with farmers or protesting wrestlers sent out a similar message to the concerned group and voters. In Haryana, the BJP lost five seats to Congress while in Rajasthan, it lost 11 and suffered a massive setback in Uttar Pradesh conceding 28 seats to the SP-Congress alliance. The BJP's internal reports have highlighted that its leaders' disconnect with the public and party workers played a key role in bringing down the party's tally below the majority mark. The BJP was earlier known as a party which always remains in election mode but it seems that Rahul Gandhi has now decided to remain in the election mode until Congress returns to power. From raising the NEET issue to visiting Assam and Manipur, Rahul Gandhi has shown that the road ahead is not smooth for the BJP. On the other hand, most of the BJP leaders are yet to come out of the delusion and hit the ground. It's high time that BJP leaders including Narendra Modi get down to the ground, meeting people and resolving their grievances, else the next elections might see a role reversal between the BJP and the Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Moscow on Monday. While speaking at the event organised by the Indian community in Russia, PM Modi said that the world is surprised to see the pace of development that the country has achieved in the last 10 years. He highlighted that Indian citizens were in distress before 2014, but things have changed now. He added that India is transforming at such a rate that the world is taking notes. "The song was once sung in every household here, 'Sir pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.' This song may have become old, but the sentiments are ever-green. Commending Russia for supporting India, he said, On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is India's partner in happiness and sorrow, India's trusted friend, we call it 'Dosti'. Before 2014, India was in state of despair, but things are different as India is more confident, PM said in his Moscow address. Drawing parallels with the condition of patients admitted in the hospital, Modi said that a patient shows signs of progress when he's hopeful of his recovery. Similarily, India's asset is its confidence. #WATCH | Moscow, Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "The song was once sung in every household here, 'Sir pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.' This song may have become old, but the sentiments are ever-green. Artists like Raj Kapoor, Mithoon Da have pic.twitter.com/0xkaly61sR July 9, 2024 He highlighted Indias infrastructural prowess, stating that the country built the world's tallest railway bridge and the world's tallest statue. He said that now India achieves whatever target it sets. Thanking the citizens overseas, the Prime Minister said, India is changing, and how is India changing? It is changing because India trusts the support of its 140 crore citizens. It trusts the support of Indians spread across the world." He added that all the Indians sitting outside the country are ambassadors of the country. Mumbai: Global technology firm Altair on Tuesday said it has signed an initial pact with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to foster technology and digital transformation within the automotive and heavy engineering sectors. As part of the collaboration, the Pune-based organisation, which has comprehensive automotive testing and certification capabilities, will integrate Altair's advanced simulation and data analytics tools into its consulting services to enable it to explore new use cases in electrification, connectivity, and energy management, Altair said. "Together, with this partnership, we aim to drive the adoption of AI-driven engineering and data analytics, facilitating digital transformation and enhancing the capabilities of the automotive and heavy engineering sectors," Altair India-GCC-ANZ Managing Director Vishwanath Rao said. This collaboration is set to harness digital twin technology, data-driven design, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered engineering solutions to help propel innovation and promote sustainability, the company said. "This MoU signifies a major step forward in our mission to integrate technologies in our R&D processes. Altair's expertise will allow us to deliver more sustainable solutions and position ARAI as a leader in automotive innovation," said Reji Mathai, director at ARAI. New Delhi: Riding high on the success of her latest release, Munjya, Mona Singh recently took a brief time-out and headed to Turkey for a family vacation. The actress has taken a break from her hectic schedule and is holidaying with her husband and family. Posing beautifully around the stunning landscapes of Turkey, the actress shared some pictures online. As Munjya has already entered the much-coveted Rs 100 crore club in India, Mona is beaming with joy. Despite being a small-budget film, Munjya has set a new example of success. Mona Singh plays Pammi in the horror-comedy. She will be back in August and will immediately start work on her next project. The actress has an exciting lineup of films, including Ma Kusum, Pan Parda Zarda, and one unannounced project with Aryan Khan's directorial debut. On July 6, an Israeli airstrike targeted a school in Al-Nuseirat, central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 displaced Palestinian civilians and injuring more than 50, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at militants allegedly using the area to plan and execute attacks. Hamas, however, denied the presence of its fighters in the school. Al-Nuseirat, one of the Gaza Strip's historic refugee camps, witnessed intensified Israeli bombardment. Earlier, an airstrike on a house in the camp killed at least 10 people and injured many others, as reported by local medics. Casualties And Impact Since the onset of the conflict nearly nine months ago, more than 38,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with the health ministry noting that the majority were civilians. In contrast, Israel has reported 323 soldier fatalities, asserting that at least one-third of the Palestinian dead were militants. Background of the Conflict The ongoing conflict began after a Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli sources. Israel's military campaign aims to dismantle the militant Islamist group Hamas. Humanitarian Crisis And Displacement The United Nations humanitarian agencies report that 90% of Gazans have been displaced, many multiple times, exacerbated by continuous evacuations and severe security issues that hinder aid and fuel deliveries. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that tens of thousands of residents in Gaza City were ordered to evacuate on Sunday and Monday, with instructions to move to shelters in Deir al Balah, as reported by Xinhua news agency. Amid the Israel-Gaza war, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, stressed on ceasefire and a two-state solution in calls with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Al Jazeera reported. This comes as Israel continues to escalate, resulting in a significant loss of life, with over 38,000 people killed so far. Keir Starmer spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over phone call on Sunday and urged for a "clear and urgent need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians." When in opposition, Starmer was accused of not calling for a ceasefire and taking the same line as Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, he eventually reversed his stance in February, urging a ceasefire after intense public pressure. Starmer has also been accused of denying party tickets to pro-Palestinian members of Labour, including former party leader Jeremy Corbyn. At least five pro-Palestinian candidates, including Corbyn, won the elections as independents. Starmer faced backlash last October for comments he made on an LBC podcast, where he stated that Israel "has the right" to cut off water and electricity supplies to Gaza. Although, a Labour Party spokesperson later clarified Starmer's remark, saying his comment was in response to a question on Israel's right to defend itself. According to Al Jazeera, the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has resulted in a devastating toll on the Palestinian population. Since the conflict began on October 7, over 38,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with women and children making up a significant majority of the fatalities. Additionally, more than 87,000 people have been injured and thousands are missing. According to a statement by the new British government, the prime minister added that "it was also important to ensure the long-term conditions for a two-state solution were in place, including ensuring the Palestinian Authority had the financial means to operate effectively." Starmer assured Netanyahu that the UK wishes to continue its "vital cooperation to deter malign threats" with Israel. Netanyahu's office did not put out a statement after the phone call on Sunday. Starmer also spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to reiterate the same priorities. The United States has expressed concerns to India regarding its relationship with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This was highlighted by a U.S. State Department spokesperson during a press briefing on Monday, following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Importance of the Issue India has been under significant pressure from Western nations to distance itself from Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, New Delhi has maintained its stance, emphasizing its longstanding ties with Russia and economic necessities. Modi's Visit to Russia Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia on Monday marked his first since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Modi took to the social media platform X to describe his discussions with Putin as instrumental in strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two nations. US State Department's Position State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said."India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia." "I will look to Prime Minister Modi's public remarks to see what he talked about. But as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, should respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. Historical Context And Current Dynamics Russia has historically been India's largest supplier of weapons, a relationship that dates back to the Soviet Union era. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine has impacted Russia's capacity to provide munitions and spares, prompting India to explore alternative sources. In recent years, the United States has actively sought to strengthen ties with India, viewing it as a strategic counterbalance to China in the Asia-Pacific region. While Western nations have largely isolated Putin, countries like China, India, and several in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America continue to maintain and build their relationships with Russia. RESTON, Va., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a Fortune 500 innovation company, has been awarded the Medicaid Enterprise Systems Integrator contract by North Dakota Health and Human Services. Leidos will provide systems integration support to transition North Dakota's existing Medicaid Management Information Systems to an integrated, scalable, and secure modular system. Leidos is a Fortune 500 (r) innovation company. (PRNewsFoto/Leidos) "Transitioning North Dakota's legacy Medicaid systems to a modern system will help provide a better healthcare experience for patients, providers and administrators," said Liz Porter, Leidos Health & Civil Sector President. "Building on our strength of innovation and proven expertise in technology modernization, we look forward to delivering tailored solutions that empower data-driven decision making. This modernization project will help position North Dakota to embrace and harness future advancements." Leidos will support North Dakota's goals of improving health outcomes and ensuring efficient, effective, and economical management of its Medicaid program through Medicaid Enterprise Systems (MES) modernization. MES involves a comprehensive set of technologies and solutions that manage and administer benefits in compliance with federal and state regulations. Leidos will collaborate with North Dakota Health and Human Services to meet the unique challenges of modernizing MES, optimizing data management, ensuring interoperability, and executing seamless transition. To learn more, read about Leidos' Medicaid systems solutions or visit www.leidos.com/civilian-health. About Leidos Leidos is a Fortune 500 innovation company rapidly addressing the world's most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 47,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. For more information, visit www.leidos.com. Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made. Story continues Contact: Melissa Duenas (571) 526-6850 duenasml@leidos.com Alyssa Pettus (571) 526-6743 alyssa.t.pettus@leidos.com Brandon Ver Velde (571) 526-6257 brandon.p.vervelde@leidos.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leidos-awarded-medicaid-enterprise-systems-integrator-contract-302191078.html SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc. (Bloomberg) -- Computer-accessory maker Logitech International SA stalled founder Daniel Borels efforts to oust its board chair, denying his request to consider a replacement at the companys shareholder meeting on Sept. 4. Most Read from Bloomberg Borel had pressed the company to introduce a proposal at its annual meeting to replace its chair, Wendy Becker, with Guy Gecht, who already serves on the board. Logitech said late Monday that it will not be putting Gecht up for a vote as he has said he isnt willing to serve as chair and supports Becker. Guy Gechts refusal to stand for election as chair is a lost opportunity for him and for the company, Borel said, adding that his proposal was meant to be for Logitech, not against it. The denial of Borels request marks the latest twist in a monthslong saga in which the founder has repeatedly blasted Becker and Logitechs broader leadership team for, among other things, lacking the technological acumen to oversee the business. Becker announced plans last week to resign as chair of the board in 2025. Borel responded to her decision by saying her departure wouldnt come soon enough. Sales of the Swiss companys keyboards, webcams and other products declined following a pandemic-era work-from-home boom. But the stock has been recovering since late 2022, growing about 60% over the past year. Shares gained 0.4% on Monday. In selecting Ms. Becker to continue to lead the board as its independent chairperson, the board of directors also considered a shareholder proposal to nominate Mr. Guy Gecht as board chairperson, the company said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, without mentioning Borel by name. In a separate statement supporting Beckers chair seat, a Logitech spokesperson noted that a shareholder who invested in Logitech when Wendy became chair in 2019 has since more than doubled their investment. Borel took the matter to court and requested an injunction last week to force the company to include his proposal, according to letters seen by Bloomberg. The designation of the chair is for the shareholders to decide under Swiss law, not the board, he said. Borel also said that having the chairwoman on the way out was hardly an exciting prospect for shareholders. Story continues (Updated with comments from Daniel Borel) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. California is known for having the highest income tax rates in the US but there are ways to reduce the burden - Simonkr/E+ Speculation has been rife that Rishi Sunak could jet off to sunny California after losing the election. The former prime minister has previously shot down rumours he would leave the country if ousted, describing them as simply not true. In May he committed to staying in the UK and keeping his seat for many years should the Tories lose the election. But he has undeniably close ties to the United States. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University, where he also met his future wife Akshata Murty. They own a penthouse apartment on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and at one point, Mr Sunak obtained a green card, granting him permanent residence in the US. However, he gave this up in 2021 after becoming chancellor. The couple also made a $3m donation to pay for a new computer lab at Claremont McKenna, the California college where Ms Murty completed her undergraduate degree. Mr Sunak would hardly be the first politician to cross the Atlantic after leaving office. Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg moved to Silicon Valley for a job at Facebook owner Meta in 2017 after losing his seat in the general election. Around 20,000 British residents move to the US every year, drawn by the higher wages and lower tax burden. Here, Telegraph Money explains what a move to the US can mean for your money. How easy is it to move to the US? The US is an increasingly popular destination for wealthy people looking to escape from high-tax Britain. But setting up permanent residence in the country can be difficult, says Phyllis Guillory, of law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. Firstly, youll need a solid connection to the US: employment, investments or family ties are all areas in which you can base the visa application. Despite this, even if you qualify for a visa, approval times may be significant. Luckily for Mr Sunak, finding employment is unlikely to be a problem. His experience as prime minister plus previous roles at investment bank Goldman Sachs and various hedge funds put him in good stead for top positions in the investment world or technology sector. If he left for the US, there is no denying that Mr Sunaks earning potential would shoot up. As prime minister and an MP, Mr Sunak earned 139,000 in 2022-23. Executive jobs in Silicon Valley can pay more than 10 times this. On the other hand, the average salary in California is not quite so generous at $73,220 (57,403). However, this is far more than what a worker can typically expect to earn in Britain and it is ultimately one of the best states in the US for a high salary. Story continues But you will have to factor in the cost of health insurance, which is obligatory for Americans. Most get health insurance through their employer, which usually covers some of the costs. For family coverage, a worker will typically contribute $6,106, or about $509 per month, or $1,327 for a single policy. The other thing to bear in mind is tax. Unfortunately, for those whose hearts are set on the Golden State, it has one of the biggest tax burdens in the country. Tax in California The US levies federal taxes. There are seven tax brackets. The top rate is 37pc, due on earnings over $609,351 in 2024. However, some states also have their own income tax regime. Federal taxes go to the federal government through the International Revenue Service (IRS), while state income tax funds state budgets. California is known for having the highest income tax burden in the US, with a top rate of 13.3pc in 2024. In total, there are nine income tax rates, starting at 1pc. For those with an income of over $1m, there is an additional 1pc tax to help fund mental health services. How to pay less tax Taxpayers can deduct $5,000 of state taxes on their federal tax return or $10,000 if filing as a couple to reduce their taxable income. High-tax states like California generally see the highest take-up of the so-called Salt (state and local tax) deduction. However, this is set to expire after 2025. You could save money by relocating to states with no income tax, such as Texas, Florida or Nevada. But if you do this, then there is a risk that you may still find yourself paying California taxes. Ms Guillory said: While federal income tax applies uniformly across the US, state income tax varies significantly from state to state. Put simply, even if youre not a resident of a state, you might still owe state income tax on income earned there. With the rise of remote working, more Californians have moved to lower-tax states, only to be caught out by the states complex tax rules. Californias tax authority the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has the power to conduct residency audits and unlike the IRS, which can only conduct audits going back three or six years, the FTB can look into your residency at any time. If you are in California for more than nine months, then you are considered a resident, in which case you must pay state income tax. However, for the FTB to consider you a non-resident, it is not quite as straightforward as leaving the state for a certain period of time. As an example, the FTB states that if you took up a 15-month employment contract elsewhere, but remained registered to vote with a house in California, then you would still be considered a resident. Non-residents pay state tax only on Californian income, while part-year residents pay tax on all income earned while a resident and only on Californian income while a non-resident. So if you want to escape Californias tax system, you should sever ties by registering to vote in your new state, giving up your home in California and so on. Will you still have to pay inheritance tax? The UK plans to abolish its non-dom regime in April 2025. Under proposals for a residence-based scheme launching in its place, expats may exit the UK inheritance tax regime once they have been out of the country for 10 years or more. This is subject to consultation. UK expats would still have to pay the 40pc charge on their UK assets just not their worldwide assets. They would however, move into the US inheritance tax system. James Radcliffe, of Womble Bond Dickinson, said: Moving to the US will usually open the individual up to exposure under the US estate and gift tax system, so its important that the individual coordinates their US and UK estate plan. There is no inheritance tax in California. US citizens are charged a federal estate tax which ranges from 18pc to 40pc but this generally only applies to assets over $13.6m in 2024. Other states to consider If California does not sound so appealing now, there are plenty of lower-tax options out there. Eight states have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Of these, Florida is a popular destination for UK expats in search of fairer weather. It also has no capital gains or inheritance tax. Average salaries are around $35,216. For those who crave the great outdoors, Alaska is another potential option and has relatively low property taxes depending on the local municipality. For example, Nightmutes residents paid on average just $7 each in property and sales taxes during 2022, according to official figures. 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. NASCAR isnt the place youd expect to find a new electric vehicle make its debut, but the racing car company, on Sunday, threw the automotive world a curve ball, unveiling an electric stock car that boats twice the horsepower of the cars in its races. The prototype debuted at the Chicago Street Race; it can produce 1,000 kW at peak power and is best suited for road courses and short oval tracks, the organization said. Developed in collaboration with Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, the vehicle was built by NASCAR engineers. Despite the strength of the RV, NASCAR made it clear it has no plans to move away from its gasoline-based vehicles anytime soon, saying in a press release that while NASCAR is committed to the historic role of the combustion engine in racing, it is also committed to decarbonizing its operations and reducing its own carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035 through electrification and innovative solutions. The EV put on display is powered by three electric motors. One operates the front wheels, while two others power the back. Together, theyre capable of producing up to 1,300 horsepower. That sort of power could convince fans of NASCAR, who are often skeptics about electric vehicles, of the technologys promise. NASCAR driver David Ragan took the $1.5 million vehicle out for a test drive and told the Associated Press that his fastest lap at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia was two-tenths of a second slower than in a gas-powered car. Weight, he said, was the issue, as the heavier car slowed in the turns. EVs are already a part of the race-car scene with Formula One, which launched the Formula E, an all-electric race series, 10 years ago. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The New York Times; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI UBS said Nvidia's eye-popping stock rally can continue to $150 per share. The bank said recent supply chain checks show "exceedingly robust" demand for Nvidia's next-gen chips. Nvidia's potential $5 EPS in 2025 would give it a valuation of 25.6x on a forward price-to-earnings basis. Nvidia stock's eye-popping rally is poised to continue as it benefits from strong demand for its next-generation of artificial intelligence-enabling chips, according to UBS. The bank raised its 12-month price target on Nvidia stock to $150 per share from $120 per share in a note on Monday, representing potential upside of 16% from current levels. Based on recent supply chain checks, UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri said "demand momentum for Blackwell rack-scale systems remains exceedingly robust." Blackwell is Nvidia's next-generation AI-enabled GPU system that will replace the incredibly popular H100 chip later this year. The chip is expected to deliver significant efficiency gains compared to the Hopper chipset, and the cloud hyperscalers are hungry for them. "We now believe EPS of ~$5 could be doable for C2025 as the order pipeline for NVL72/36 systems is materially larger than just two months ago as hyperscaler budgets for C2025 firm up," Arcuri said. If Nvidia does deliver on $5 in earnings per share next year, it would be trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 25.6x. Considering the company's fast growth rate, that would not be a demanding valuation given the S&P 500 trades at a 21x forward price-to-earnings multiple. And that's the big disconnect between Arcuri's estimates and the rest of Wall Street. Sell-side consensus estimates expect Nvidia to deliver earnings per share of $3.62 in 2025, which gives it a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 35x. "Given all of this, we believe a $150 PT can be supported and we maintain our "Buy" rating as we roll our valuation basis forward from C2025 EPS to an average of C2025/C2026," Arcuri said. Also boding well for more gains for Nvidia is the growing "wall of worry" surrounding the stock in recent weeks. That should ultimately power more gains as bearish concerns are converted to bullish outlooks amid solid earnings results. "Sentiment on the stock - though still strong - has faded somewhat in recent weeks, creating more of a 'wall of worry' that should be ultimately healthy if our outlook materializes," Arcuri said. Read the original article on Business Insider (Reuters) Billionaire Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI and tech giant Oracle (ORCL) have ended talks on a potential $10 billion server deal, the Information reported on Tuesday. The startup and Oracle have ended talks to expand an existing arrangement under which xAI has been renting Nvidia's (NVDA) AI chips from the cloud provider, the report said, citing several people involved in the talks. Musk's xAI is building a system using Nvidia's H100 graphics processing units by itself "for fastest time to completion", the billionaire said in a post on his social media platform X. Elon Musk. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The specific capacity that Oracle was talking about with xAI has been contracted to another customer, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. "The company is always in discussion with customers about upcoming capacity and continues to engage with xAI on its infrastructure needs," the source said. A multi-year agreement to rent Nvidia processors from Oracle for a planned supercomputer was underway, but talks were held back by issues such as Musk's demands to build a supercomputer faster than Oracle deemed possible, the Information said. Oracle also raised concerns that xAI's preferred location had inadequate power supply, the report added. xAI already has a contract to train AI models in Oracle's Gen2 Cloud. (Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Maju Samuel) We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) stands against the other FTSE dividend stocks. The first half of 2024 has been notable for the UK equity market, as the FTSE 100, the benchmark index for UK company shares, hit a record high. However, stocks tumbled in the first week of June as financial shares mirrored broader losses in European markets. That was mainly due to the political uncertainty that unsettled investors and a slump in industrial mining stocks further dragged down the market. That said, with some time remaining in the general elections, there is still some potential for additional developments and surprises within the UK market. The index is up by nearly 6% this year so far, compared with a 14.3% return of the broader US market The Bank of England (BoE) was one of the first central banks to begin increasing interest rates after the peak of the COVID pandemic. From December 2021 to August 2023, it raised the bank rate by 515 basis points to a 16-year high of 5.25% in order to address rising inflationary pressures in the economy. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the BoE is expected to begin cutting interest rates in August. Most economists also anticipate at least one more rate reduction this year, despite ongoing high inflation in wages and services. Yael Selfin, chief UK economist at KPMG, made the following comment on the situation: "While we are seeing some tentative signs of cooling in the labor market, service sector inflation remains persistently high and it is likely the MPC would want to wait until the next set of forecasts and a few more data points before it embarks on its first rate cut." Overall, UK inflation is expected to remain slightly above the BoEs target of 2.0% in every quarter until at least the end of 2025, according to the poll. Median forecasts indicated that inflation would average 2.5% this year and 2.2% next year. After reaching new highs in 2024, the FTSE 100 may attract more investors, particularly those focused on income accumulation. The projected dividend yield of 3.8% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025 is appealing, especially since these yields surpass the current inflation rate. Analysts predict that the ten largest dividend-paying companies in the UK will return 43.9 billion to shareholders, accounting for 55% of the total dividends from the FTSE 100. The top 20 companies are expected to contribute 57.4 billion, making up 72% of the total dividends. In 2023, UK dividend growth of 5.4% aligned with the global average, according to a report by Janus Henderson. This increase was driven by substantial dividend increases from banks and oil producers, although it was tempered by lower payouts from mining companies. The report further mentioned that annual dividends in the UK grew to $86 billion in 2023 from over $63 billion in 2020. While investors gravitate toward American dividend stocks, some of the best FTSE dividend stocks also offer similar investment opportunities. Our Methodology: For this article, we scanned through the list of FTSE stocks and picked dividend stocks from the list. From the resultant dataset, we picked the 10 best FTSE dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors tracked by Insider Monkey 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 student studying English language learning materials in a modern learning environment. Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11 Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) is a British multinational publishing and education company that mainly provides related products and services. The stock is up by over 80% since March 2020 as the publisher has adapted well to the evolving landscape of online education. The company capitalized on the pandemic, generating significant earnings from its virtual schooling services. It reported a 43% enrollment growth in its virtual schools during the academic year of 2020-2021. However, in fiscal 2023, the company reported a 20% decline in its Virtual Learning sales driven by lower enrolments. That said, Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) saw growth on various other fronts last year. The company's adjusted operating profit came in at 573 million ($724.5 million), up from 456 million ($576.54 million) in 2022. Its dividend is also on a safe foundation as the company reported strong cash generation. Its operating cash flow for the year was 587 million ($742.16 million) and its free cash flow was 387 million ($489.30 million), both showing year-over-year growth from 401 million ($507 million) and 222 million ($280.68 million), respectively. The company distributed 155 million ($195.97 million) to shareholders through dividends, which makes PSO one of the best FTSE dividend stocks on our list. Moreover, it expects to improve its free cash flow this year due to reduced restructuring costs. Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) currently offers a semi-annual dividend of $0.199 per share for a dividend yield of 2.38%, as of June 11. Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) has a forward P/E ratio of 14.68, which appears a little low considering growth forecasts in its earnings over the next two years. The company's net debt currently stands at 700 million ($885.03 million), which shouldn't concern investors given its outlook. In addition, its return on capital increased to 10.3% in 2023, from 8.7% last year, which suggests an improvement in the company's efficiency in generating profits from its invested capital. As of the end of March, 11 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey own stakes in Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO), up from 10 in the previous quarter. The overall value of these stakes is over $20.5 million. Overall PSO ranks 9th on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now to see the other FTSE dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of PSO 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 PSO 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. By Sameer Manekar and Una Galani SINGAPORE (Reuters) -DBS Group is looking for bolt-on acquisitions that would support its geographic and business strategy but has ruled out making a major buy to save itself from distraction, Piyush Gupta, CEO of the Singapore bank, said on Tuesday. In an interview at the Reuters NEXT forum in Singapore, Gupta also said that despite growing geopolitical risks DBS remained optimistic on Asia because of its economic growth rates of 4% to 5%. That rate, he said, was almost double that recorded elsewhere in the world. DBS is the largest bank in Singapore and Southeast Asia by asset size. Gupta said DBS had chosen to focus its geographical growth during his 15-year tenure at the helm on the four major markets of China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan. In August last year, DBS completed the acquisition of Citigroup's consumer banking business in Taiwan, making it Taiwan's largest foreign bank by assets. "We have focused on building out a wealth business, we have tried to grow SME retail business, we have tried to build out transaction services business, and so as long as we can do bolt- on deals that play to that strategy in the big markets and the lines of business we will always look for opportunity," he said. "We have stayed away from any earth shattering, game-changing M&A. We are convinced that in tomorrow's world it's about digital, it's about AI, it's about changing the culture and the way you work. Any large scale acquisition will take too long, be too messy and distract from the future." The bank is now the largest shareholder in China's Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank, which it said gave it a good footprint in the Greater Bay Area, according to its annual report published in March. "It's a nice bank, it's wholly in Shenzhen ... we are the largest shareholder, it's in the small to medium enterprise (SME) space, it has nothing in property or real estate, it's relatively clean," Gupta said when asked if DBS wanted to increase its ownership stake. "Over time as it grows, there is an agenda for it to IPO. We are so bullish on the Greater Bay Area ... we think activity is good. We think it's a great platform. "But before we do that there is opportunity for two-way flow of business, and frankly our returns on our investment are great." DBS posted in May record-beating quarterly results and said it expected its 2024 net profit to exceed last year's record. Shares of DBS have risen 23.1% so far this year outpacing its peers OCBC, which is up 16.3%, and UOB, which has gained 15.8%. The share gains have come on expectations of a higher-for-longer interest rate environment, analysts have said. Story continues To view the live broadcast of the World Stage go to the Reuters NEXT news page: https://www.reuters.com/world/live-video-reuters-next-apac-2024-07-09/ (Reporting by Sameer Manekar, Una Galani, Yantoultra Ngui and Ankur Bannerjee; Writing by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) Multiple Whatcom County grocery stores would change ownership as part of an agreement between The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies Inc., and C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC. The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies Inc. on Tuesday released a list of 579 stores nationwide that they intend to divest to a third party as part of their proposed merger, which faces a legal battle from the state of Washington. Tuesdays list of stores includes a high of 124 in Washington, 101 in California and 62 in Oregon. Most of the Northwest stores affected currently are under the brand of Safeway, Haggen or QFC. All 579 stores would come under the ownership of C&S Wholesale Grocers based in Keene, N.H. Kroger and Albertsons proposed a merger in 2022 and released a new and expanded divestiture plan on April 22 that includes 579 stores that would be sold to C&S, including Haggen, Fred Meyer, Safeway and QFC banner names. New ownership is proposed for these Whatcom County stores: Haggen 2814 Meridian, Bellingham Haggen 1401 12th St, Bellingham Haggen 210 36th St, Bellingham Haggen 2900 Woburn St, Bellingham Safeway 1275 E Sunset Dr, Bellingham Haggen 1815 Main St, Ferndale No grocery stores will close, no workers will be laid off, and the merger originally was set to close in early 2024. Kroger CEO and Chairman Rodney McMullen and Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran addressed the latest news in a video announcement. By Rajesh Kumar Singh and Shivansh Tiwary (Reuters) -Activist investor Elliott Investment Management on Monday warned of a proxy fight to push for leadership changes at U.S. budget carrier Southwest Airlines. In a letter to Southwest's board, Elliott said while it is open to collaboration, it plans to "move expeditiously to give shareholders a direct say on the necessary leadership changes." The investment management firm, known for pushing changes to boost shareholder returns, has called for a reconstitution of Southwest's board with "new, truly independent" directors possessing expertise in airlines, customer experience and technology. It has also called for a leadership change citing Southwest's disappointing financial results. In a statement, Southwest said it remains open to constructive conversations with Elliott, including evaluating additional "strong and independent" director candidates. The airline, however, added the investment firm has focused on personal attacks on its leadership and board, conditioning any serious discussions on an immediate CEO change. In its letter, Elliott said the airline's performance is "unacceptable" and a leadership change is required to return it to its once-leading position in the industry. "Shareholders simply do not believe this board and management team are capable of devising and executing a bold new plan to turn around Southwest," it said. Elliott currently owns an 11% stake in the company, making it one of the largest investors. Last week, Southwest said the activist investor had made filings with antitrust authorities that would allow it to acquire an even larger voting power as early as July 11. It prompted the company to adopt a "poison pill", used by corporate boards to thwart hostile takeover bids, to deter Elliott from raising its stake. Elliott said it is not seeking control of Southwest, but added the airline's board has put its own "self-interest ahead of the company's" by adopting the "poison pill." It also criticized the appointment of aviation industry veteran Rakesh Gangwal to Southwest's board, calling it an attempt on the part of the board to "entrench itself and the current management team." "These actions...demonstrate how profoundly out of touch Southwest's board has become with shareholder sentiment and with the reality of the situation," Elliott said in its letter. Gangwal - who co-founded InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of India's largest airline IndiGo - has also served on the boards of US Airways Group, CarMax and Office Depot, among others. Story continues "Rakesh's expertise in travel technology will be valuable as we continue to make investments that support our operations and strategic initiatives," said Gary Kelly, executive chairman of Southwest's board. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago and Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar, Anil D'Silva and Josie Kao) On Monday (8 July), SpaceX launched Turksat 6A, Turkeys first domestically built communications satellite, into orbit. Turksat 6A was launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the Turkish satellite into orbit. The launch signalled the beginning of a new phase for Turkeys satellite production, said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish experts contributed to more than 81% of the subsystems, satellite ground stations and software in the 6A project, said Erdogan. The satellite will expand Turkeys satellite coverage to five billion people, said Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu. The satellite will rise Turkish communications and television broadcasts to a safer, better level, said Uraloglu. Turksat 6A will allow the Turkish media and communications to reach countries such as India and Thailand, said Uraloglu. After a ten-year effort, Turkey is one of only 11 countries to successfully create a domestically produced satellite. SpaceX remains the predominant player in the space economy, as private companies have increasingly moved into the market alongside the government sector. SpaceX was the first private company to successfully launch a spacecraft into orbit and ensure its safe return to Earth. The space economy industry was worth $450bn in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of between 6% and 10% from 2022 to 2030, according to GlobalData's thematic intelligence report on the space economy. "SpaceX launches Turkeys first domestically built satellite into orbit" 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. Spanish ham and croquette maker Urkabe Benetan has gained a new shareholder in the form of private-equity firm Stellum Capital. The Spain-based investor has acquired a 31.5% stake through its food-focused investment vehicle Stellum Food & Tech. Financial details were not disclosed. Urkabe Benetan produces frozen pre-cooked products and meat-based gastronomic solutions, with croquettes and cooked ham as bestsellers. The company is part of the food business of the Indaux Group, a holding company led by several Basque families. The ham manufacturer reinforces the resources of the company to address the growth plan, which in recent years has managed to reach 26m ($28m) in turnover, with a team of more than 100 people in its Renteria facilities, according to a statement. Enrique Rioja, president of the board of Urkabe Benetan, said: The incorporation of Stellum Food & Tech to the Urkabe Benetan project represents recognition of the work carried out for years to place the company in its current position, as well as clear evidence of confidence in our business model. Urkabe Benetan is the funds eighth investment. Its portfolio includes retail company Uvesco, sustainable food packaging business Envaplaster and Barcelona-based Syra Coffee. Agustin del Canto, general director of Urkabe Benetan, said: When we talk about Stellum's contribution to the project, we are not only talking about resources, but also about focus, support, relationships and market knowledge. David Martinez, partner at Stellum Food & Tech, added: Urkabe Benetan is a company that has known how to diversify and grow in a changing market, building customer loyalty through a high-quality product and service, led by a team made up of first-class people. "Spanish ham business Urkabe Benetan backed by fund" 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. Suze Orman Tells Oprah Instead Of Starbucks Everyday, A 25-year-old Putting $100 A Month Into Roth IRA Would Have $1 Million By Retirement At the 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi, financial guru Suze Orman emphasized the immense value of consistent, small investments over daily indulgences. In a conversation with American talk show host Mika Brzezinski, Orman illustrated this by comparing the cost of a daily Starbucks coffee to the potential growth of a Roth IRA. Orman explained that if a 25-year-old skipped their daily Starbucks and invested $100 a month into a Roth IRA, they could amass $1 million by retirement. Don't Miss: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement How do you compare ? How much money will a $200,000 annuity pay out each month? The numbers may shock you. Recounting her appearance on the Oprah show, Orman said Oprah asked what people are wasting their money on, and Orman told her Starbucks. "I said, Oprah, do you know if you were 25 years of age and you bought a Starbucks every single day and rather than doing that, you put $100 a month into a Roth IRA, a retirement account, and you did that every single day until you were youre 25 so lets say till 65. You average 12% on your money over all those years. Do you know at the age of 65, youd have $1 million? So all of you are paying $1 million down the drain?" Orman's advice underscores the importance of prioritizing long-term financial goals over short-term indulgences. "Ive never bought a Starbucks in my life," Orman declared, emphasizing the significant financial impact of such small, consistent investments. During the interview, Brzezinski also asked Orman about common financial mistakes women make, particularly after age 50. Orman didn't hesitate to pinpoint the primary issue. "Not really knowing where their money is," she said, highlighting the lack of financial engagement many women in their 50s, 60s, and beyond exhibit. "Especially the 50s, the 60s, the 70s," she noted. "We thought we were in the perfect relationship, and now were not. We thought our perfect partner was going to live forever, and then they died. And here we are, and we dont know what to do with what we have." Trending: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved? The percentage may shock you. Orman hosts the "Women & Money" podcast, where she often addresses these concerns. "In our 50s, we didnt want to get involved with our money. We didnt want to take a realistic approach to Oh, of course, were gonna get older, of course, theres gonna come a day that we retire. Well always be able to work for money, so I dont have to save it, I dont have to think about it." Story continues Brzezinski mentioned Ormans strong stance on dining out and frequent small expenses. "You recently told The Wall Street Journal that you believe dining out is a waste of money," Brzezinski remarked. Orman affirmed, "I would drop dead before I bought myself a cup of coffee," much to Brzezinskis amusement. Brzezinski defended her love for Starbucks, admitting, "I love my Starbucks. It tastes different, Suze." Orman countered, "Why cant you make that at home and just bring it?" For women over 50, Ormans advice is a crucial reminder to reassess financial priorities and actively manage their money. "Women still give more to others than we give to ourselves," Orman reiterated. "And that is a really big mistake." The key take-away from Orman's insights is clear: making informed financial decisions and prioritizing long-term investments over daily indulgences can significantly enhance financial security. Consulting a financial advisor to create a tailored plan is a crucial step toward achieving a comfortable retirement free from financial worries. Read Next: Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune How much is that worth today? Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? How does it compare to the average? "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Suze Orman Tells Oprah Instead Of Starbucks Everyday, A 25-year-old Putting $100 A Month Into Roth IRA Would Have $1 Million By Retirement originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. As global markets navigate through fluctuating interest rates and mixed economic signals, investors continue to seek stable yet promising opportunities. High insider ownership in growth companies often signals strong confidence from those who know the business best, making these stocks potentially attractive in the current uncertain market environment. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Cettire (ASX:CTT) 28.7% 26.7% Medley (TSE:4480) 34% 28.7% Gaming Innovation Group (OB:GIG) 26.7% 36.9% Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV) 13.6% 26.7% KebNi (OM:KEBNI B) 37.8% 90.4% Plenti Group (ASX:PLT) 12.8% 106.4% Vow (OB:VOW) 31.8% 97.6% Adocia (ENXTPA:ADOC) 11.9% 59.8% EHang Holdings (NasdaqGM:EH) 32.8% 74.3% HANA Micron (KOSDAQ:A067310) 20% 96.3% Click here to see the full list of 1446 stocks from our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V., operates as an airport group in Mexico and has a market capitalization of approximately MX$162.49 billion. Operations: The company's revenue is primarily derived from its airport operations in Cancun, which generated MX$15.74 billion, followed by SAN Juan, Puerto Rico, US with MX$4.20 billion, Colombia at MX$2.71 billion, Merida contributing MX$1.34 billion, and Villahermosa at MX$0.57 billion. Insider Ownership: 28.3% Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. has demonstrated a solid growth trajectory with earnings increasing by 23% annually over the past five years. Recent traffic results show year-over-year increases, supporting a positive outlook despite some fluctuations in monthly figures. The company's revenue and earnings are forecasted to grow at 12.3% and 12.4% per year respectively, outpacing the broader Mexican market's growth rates. However, its dividend track record remains unstable, suggesting potential concerns for yield-focused investors. BMV:ASUR B Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Saudi Automotive Services Company operates a network of vehicle service stations across Saudi Arabia, with a market capitalization of SAR 3.95 billion. Story continues Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from Retail and Operating activities, including oil company petroleum services, which contributed SAR 9.35 billion, alongside smaller contributions from Saudi Club and Fleet Transport segments totaling approximately SAR 79.10 million. Insider Ownership: 12.5% Saudi Automotive Services has shown promising growth with earnings forecasted to increase by 28.41% annually. Despite this, the company's return on equity is expected to remain low at 17.7% in three years, and recent dividends have been unstable, reflecting potential financial management issues. Recent corporate governance changes and a new auditor appointment suggest proactive steps towards addressing these challenges, yet the interest payments poorly covered by earnings indicate ongoing financial stress. SASE:4050 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Shenzhen Envicool Technology Co., Ltd., operating in China, specializes in the production and sale of temperature control solutions and products, with a market capitalization of approximately CN16.07 billion. Operations: The company generates its revenue from the production and sale of temperature control solutions and products within China. Insider Ownership: 19.7% Shenzhen Envicool Technology, a company with high insider ownership, has demonstrated strong financial performance and growth potential. Recently added to an index, the company announced significant increases in both quarterly and annual earnings, with sales rising to CNY 745.64 million in Q1 2024 from CNY 527.47 million the previous year. Analysts expect substantial above-market growth in revenue and earnings over the next three years, forecasting a revenue increase of 28% per year and earnings growth of 31.44% annually. Despite these positives, there is no recent data on substantial insider buying which might temper investor enthusiasm slightly. SZSE:002837 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024 Summing It All Up Reveal the 1446 hidden gems among our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership screener with a single click here. Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks. Unlock the power of informed investing with Simply Wall St, your free guide to navigating stock markets worldwide. Interested In Other Possibilities? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include BMV:ASUR BSASE:4050 SZSE:002837 Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Toridoll Holdings is set to take full control of Marugame Udon, marking the exit of Capdesia Group from its investment in the Japanese fast-casual restaurant chain's European operations. This strategic move comes four years after Capdesia partnered with Toridoll to introduce Marugame Udon to the UK market. Despite Capdesia's exit, Toridoll will maintain its collaborative relationship with the group, continuing as co-investors in ventures including Fulham Shore, which is known for its dining brands Franco Manca and The Real Greek. The latest transition will see finance director Sam McIntyre stepping up to lead Marugame Udon, succeeding chief executive and Capdesia operating partner Keith Bird. Bird has been instrumental in the brand's UK expansion, overseeing the establishment of ten sites since 2021. The Caterer quoted Bird as saying: The dedication and passion of our team have been instrumental in establishing the brand and creating a solid foundation for future growth. I am confident that under Sam McIntyres leadership, Marugame Udon will continue to thrive and expand and deliver on its mission to bring udon to all. Founded in the city of Kakogawa, Japan in 2000, Marugame Udon has expanded its global presence to more than 1,000 locations across Asia, the US and Russia. The brand, which offers udon noodle dishes, katsu sandos, rice bowls, salads and sides, made its London debut in 2021, signalling the beginning of a broader European expansion. Toridoll Holdings executive vice-president and chief operating officer Takashi Sugiyama said: We are grateful to Capdesia, Keith and their respective teams for their efforts in launching our flagship brand in the UK successfully. In this journey, several new best practices have been developed jointly for the benefit of Marugame Udon globally in areas such as systems, people, culture, restaurant design, marketing and CRM [customer relations management]. These improvements have positioned us for future growth and to continue with our UK and European expansion ambitions. Founded by Takaya Awata in 1985, Toridoll Holdings has a portfolio of 1,700 restaurants across 30 brands and 40 countries, with an annual system revenue of 1.2bn ($1.5bn). The portfolio includes other European brands such as Shoryu and Wok to Walk. "Toridoll to control Marugame Udon as Capdesia Group exits " was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. By David Shepardson (Reuters) - The U.N. aviation council this week will launch the first audit of the U.S. civil aviation safety oversight system since 2007, a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration official told reporters on Tuesday. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will conduct the two-week audit with 12 auditors from 10 countries, beginning on Wednesday. Results are due in January. It will review the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Defense Department, Federal Communications Commission and other U.S. agencies involved in aviation. There will be 790 questions covering eight areas including civil aviation legislation and regulation, aircraft accident and incidents investigations, air navigation services. Audits help the ICAO determine implementation of international standards. A good score would allow the U.S. to demonstrate leadership in meeting robust aviation safety standards and to encourage nations around the world to do the same, the FAA official said. The U.S. has the world's most complex airspace and has an impressive safety record with the last fatal U.S. passenger airline crash in February 2009. The last ICAO audit of the U.S. was in 2007 was under a different methodology. The FAA also audits other countries for compliance with ICAO safety standards. The FAA downgraded Mexico in May 2021 and restored Mexico's higher rating in September, which allowed Mexican carriers to expand U.S. routes and add new service. The FAA has struggled with a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers and a series of near-miss incidents, including some blamed on controller errors. At several facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks to cover shortages. The FAA is short of staffing targets by about 3,000 controllers. Last month, the FAA said it was again extending cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2025, citing air traffic controller staffing shortages. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio) By Kirsty Needham (Reuters) -Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai visited technology company Huawei in Shenzhen and viewed surveillance technology used to enhance policing and reduce criminal activity, his office said in a statement on Tuesday. Salwai, who travelled to Shanghai on Tuesday, is visiting China before attending a Pacific Island leaders meeting in Japan next week. China is Vanuatu's largest external creditor and a major infrastructure provider. Vanuatu's biggest aid donor and policing partner Australia has expressed concern at China's security ambitions in the Pacific Islands region after Beijing struck a policing equipment deal with Vanuatu last year and a security pact with Solomon Islands. Huawei provided digital systems to cities like Port Vila, the Vanuatu capital, to "reduce criminal activity", a Vanuatu government statement posted to social media said. The police surveillance system required a data centre in Vanuatu, it added. A spokesman from the Vanuatu prime minister's office told Reuters that Vanuatu police did not currently use the Huawei surveillance system. Vanuatu has a population of around 300,000 across an archipelago, with some 50,000 living in the capital Port Vila. Australia has barred Huawei from participating in its 5G network on national security grounds, and has invested heavily in funding subsea telecommunications cables to Pacific Islands nations to shut out a competing offer from Huawei. Beijing has previously said Canberra should not use the excuse of national security to erect barriers and conduct discriminatory practices. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Michael Perry and Christina Fincher) Appleseed Fund, an investment management company released its second quarter 2024 investor letter. A copy of the same can be downloaded here. The funds Investor Class generated an absolute return of 17.36% over the 6 months that ended March 31, 2024, compared to the Morningstar Global Small/Midcap Indexs 18.46% return. Appleseed Fund was positioned for an inflationary, slow-growth environment for most of the previous year. The cautious position of the Appleseed Fund prevented investment gains even while inflation levels have been lowering and the stock market has been raging since the end of 2022. In addition, Appleseeds lack of exposure to Magnificent Seven limited returns. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2024. Appleseed Fund highlighted stocks like Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM), in the second quarter 2024 investor letter. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) offers medical and specialty insurance products. Humana Inc.s (NYSE:HUM) one-month return was 4.50%, and its shares lost 15.92% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 8, 2024, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) stock closed at $370.43 per share with a market capitalization of $44.167 billion. Appleseed Fund stated the following regarding Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) in its Q2 2024 investor letter: "Appleseed Fund added three new names to the portfolio in the past six months: Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM), AGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC), and Cameco Corporation (CCJ). Humana is one of several U.S. large managed care organizations and is primarily focused on government health insurance. Humanas share price has fallen over 40.0% from post-COVID highs due to the recent emergence of elevated medical loss ratios. In our view, Humanas stock has been severely punished and the stock was quite attractive at the time when Appleseed Fund took a position." A closeup of an elderly patient happily receiving a specialty healthcare product. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is not on our list of 31 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 74 hedge fund portfolios held Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) at the end of the first quarter which was 86 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) 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 as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Story continues We discussed Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) in another article and shared the list of largest companies in the US. In its Q1 2024 investor letter, Artisan Value Fund expressed a positive outlook for Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) and added it in its portfolio. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2024 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and A New Dawn Is Coming to US Stocks. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey . Jumia Technologies (NYSE: JMIA) is hardly a household name in the United States, but a lot of investors are getting familiar with the rising African e-commerce star on Tuesday, after a Benchmark analyst initiated coverage of Jumia with a "buy" rating and a $14 price target. Valued at just $8 and change before today's rating, Jumia shares soared in afternoon trading, passing $11 a share by 1:45 p.m. ET -- a 30% gain. Introducing Jumia Technologies Writing in StreetInsider.com this morning, Benchmark's Fawne Jiang says that thanks to a demographic explosion in Africa, Jumia is "poised to benefit" from "multi-year and potentially multi-decade e-commerce growth." Africa, argues the analyst, is a market both "vast" and "underserved," and Jumia is offering "tailor-made ... logistics and payment services" to help expand e-commerce on the continent. Adding to the attraction, Jiang notes that Jumia is currently "the only true pan-African e-commerce operator," and therefore the only e-commerce company on the continent that can operate at scale. This sets up the company to either 1) dominate the African market, or 2) present itself as a mergers and acquisitions target for an international e-commerce company... or potentially 1) followed by 2). Is Jumia stock a buy? Now here's the bad news: As great as Jumia's potential may be, for the time being, it's not a profitable company. It lost more than $110 million over the past year, and burned through more than $50 million in cash. Most analysts who follow the stock, moreover, don't see Jumia turning profitable for at least the next couple of years (which is as far out as anyone's making projections). The good news is that Jumia is making steady progress toward profitability. Five years ago, Jumia was losing more than $250 million a year, so losses have already dropped by half. And cash burn five years ago was four times as high as it is today. While an investment in Jumia is no sure thing, the stock does appear to be moving in the right direction, and it bears watching. Should you invest $1,000 in Jumia Technologies Ag right now? Before you buy stock in Jumia Technologies Ag, 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 Jumia Technologies Ag 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 $785,556!* 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*. Story continues See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of July 8, 2024 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Jumia Technologies Stock Soared 30% on Tuesday was originally published by The Motley Fool We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) stands against the other FTSE dividend stocks. The first half of 2024 has been notable for the UK equity market, as the FTSE 100, the benchmark index for UK company shares, hit a record high. However, stocks tumbled in the first week of June as financial shares mirrored broader losses in European markets. That was mainly due to the political uncertainty that unsettled investors and a slump in industrial mining stocks further dragged down the market. That said, with some time remaining in the general elections, there is still some potential for additional developments and surprises within the UK market. The index is up by nearly 6% this year so far, compared with a 14.3% return of the broader US market The Bank of England (BoE) was one of the first central banks to begin increasing interest rates after the peak of the COVID pandemic. From December 2021 to August 2023, it raised the bank rate by 515 basis points to a 16-year high of 5.25% in order to address rising inflationary pressures in the economy. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the BoE is expected to begin cutting interest rates in August. Most economists also anticipate at least one more rate reduction this year, despite ongoing high inflation in wages and services. Yael Selfin, chief UK economist at KPMG, made the following comment on the situation: "While we are seeing some tentative signs of cooling in the labor market, service sector inflation remains persistently high and it is likely the MPC would want to wait until the next set of forecasts and a few more data points before it embarks on its first rate cut." Overall, UK inflation is expected to remain slightly above the BoEs target of 2.0% in every quarter until at least the end of 2025, according to the poll. Median forecasts indicated that inflation would average 2.5% this year and 2.2% next year. After reaching new highs in 2024, the FTSE 100 may attract more investors, particularly those focused on income accumulation. The projected dividend yield of 3.8% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025 is appealing, especially since these yields surpass the current inflation rate. Analysts predict that the ten largest dividend-paying companies in the UK will return 43.9 billion to shareholders, accounting for 55% of the total dividends from the FTSE 100. The top 20 companies are expected to contribute 57.4 billion, making up 72% of the total dividends. In 2023, UK dividend growth of 5.4% aligned with the global average, according to a report by Janus Henderson. This increase was driven by substantial dividend increases from banks and oil producers, although it was tempered by lower payouts from mining companies. The report further mentioned that annual dividends in the UK grew to $86 billion in 2023 from over $63 billion in 2020. While investors gravitate toward American dividend stocks, some of the best FTSE dividend stocks also offer similar investment opportunities. Our Methodology: For this article, we scanned through the list of FTSE stocks and picked dividend stocks from the list. From the resultant dataset, we picked the 10 best FTSE dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors tracked by Insider Monkey 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 financial advisor sitting with a customer in a living room discussing their financial future. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33 Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) is a multinational insurance company that provides services in life and health insurance and asset management. Last month, Jefferies upgraded the stock to Buy, highlighting the company's annuity leverage. The firm believes that the company's involvement with Prismic, a life and annuity reinsurer it helped establish, could boost the stock. Since the start of 2024, the stock is up by nearly 11% and its 12-month return stands at over 37%. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU)'s recent quarterly earnings fell short of expectations, however, the company's global investment management business, PGIM, performed strongly. Market gains and $26.6 billion in net inflows led to a 6% year-over-year in assets under management, surpassing $1.3 trillion. This growth boosted asset management fees and related revenue, despite higher expenses. As a result, for the first quarter, PGIM's pre-tax adjusted operating income rose by nearly 12% on the year to $169 million. In addition, the company maintained its focus on becoming a faster-growing, more capital-efficient, and agile company by expanding its market-leading business. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) is one of the best FTSE dividend stocks on our list due to its steadfast dedication to shareholder returns. In the first three months of the year, the company returned $726 million to shareholders, including $476 million in dividends. Moreover, it has been raising its payouts consistently for the past 16 years. The company's quarterly dividend currently comes in at $1.30 per share for a dividend yield of 4.5%. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) is adept at strategically diversifying its investment portfolio. This was seen when the company expanded into alternative assets, acquiring Deerpath Capital last year. In its recent earnings call, the CEO also mentioned that the company is diversifying its product range in Japan. Moreover, Prudential's recent announcement about selling its business in Argentina indicates a shift toward focusing on fewer high-growth emerging markets. Through this, the company would be able to concentrate on scaling its business more effectively compared to the broader approach. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) has a forward P/E of 8.69, which shows that the stock is relatively cheap given its strong earnings, high yield, and solid operating performance. We have also seen an increase in insider buying activity for the stock. As per Insider Monkey's database, 33 hedge funds owned stakes in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) at the end of March, up from 32 in the previous quarter. These funds own around $543 million worth of stock. Overall PRU ranks 5th on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now to see the other FTSE dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of PRU 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 PRU 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. In a case that appears designed to catch the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority, a federal judge heard arguments on Monday about whether a Castle Rock church's religious belief that it should house the homeless is enough to let the congregation bypass the town's zoning restrictions and continue operating temporary shelters in its parking lot. Colorado lawmakers, officials and industry experts met for the first time on Tuesday to take a closer look at cell phone coverage across the state. The Colorado Supreme Court announced recently that it will hear appeals in multiple cases, including whether Weld County must follow state law when drawing new legislative districts and when utilities may be held liable for injuries caused by their power lines. Expect the whirling blades of low-flying helicopters by Fort Carson in southeast Colorado Springs for this month and the next. Fort Carson's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade is conducting an aerial gunnery training exercise from July 10 through Aug. 25. The Colorado Springs Police Department responded Monday afternoon to reports of a shooting in the 1900 block of West Uintah Street. According to law enforcement, a man with a life-threatening gunshot wound walked into a 7-Eleven near Old Colorado City, where he asked for help. Officers with the Gold Hill and Sand Creek divisions responded on scene just before 4:30 p.m. and determined the shooting did not happen at the business, but at unknown location. The male was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition. This is an ongoing investigation. The Fourth Judicial District Nominating Commission announced three finalists for a vacant El Paso County court judge position Tuesday. The vacancy was created by the appointment of Dennis Luzinas McGuire to the vacant 4th Judicial District Judge position in Teller County. The three finalists are Douglas Bechtel of Castle Rock, Marika Frady of Colorado Springs and Christopher Strider of Manitou Springs, according to a news release from the Colorado Judicial Branch. Betchel is currently a prosecutor for the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, Frady is an attorney for the Frady Law Firm, a self-owned law firm located in Colorado Springs, and Strider is a county attorney for El Paso County. Gov. Jared Polis has until July 24 to select one of the three finalists, according to the news release. The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to and contained several fires around the city throughout the day Monday. Around 2:20 p.m., Engine 1 and Brush 3 responded to a small grass fire just east of I-25 and Cimarron near the creek. The fire was already extinguished by the time the department posted about the incident on social media. Just after 2:30 p.m., crews were on the scene of another small grassfire nearby, this time off southbound I-25 near Cimarron Street. While crews were working the fire, the No. 2 and No. 3 lanes southbound near the flames were blocked to allow crews to access the fire. Shortly after 3 p.m., the department reported through social media that Engine 4 and Wildland 4 extinguished several small fires along the interstate. Alongside the two grassfires, a structure fire was reported just after 5 p.m. at the Astrox Corporation in northeast Colorado Springs. Featured Local Savings The Astrox Corporation designs missiles, rockets and aircraft. The company is based out of Maryland, but has a branch in Colorado Springs. Upon arrival, crews reported that the fire was in the basement of the building and spreading to the front door. Quickly, water was put on the fire and it was contained to a small area of the basement. Fire investigators worked alongside crews to determine the origin and cause for the flames. According to the last update on the department's social media at 6 p.m., the cause of the fire is still under investigation. According to KOAA meteorologist Lauren Brand, reported that a high-pressure system will be moving in this week, creating hot and dry conditions. With that system, the city has a chance to break heat records on Friday. Highs in the later part of the week will return to the 90s, with no real sign of relief from the heat into the upcoming weekend. With the increase in heat expected, the fire department's PIO Ashley Franco warns the community to be extra vigilant to avoid more fires. "We would ask that everyone be extremely cautious and refrain from any outdoor burning," Franco said. "We ask that you do not dispose of any cigarettes outside your car and ensure that you do not have any loose chains dragging." Franco urges the community to call 911 right away if they see fire or smoke. Quick action on the reporting party's side will allow for crews to get to the location and mitigate the issue as soon as possible. A 36-year-old man remains on the loose nearly one month after eluding law enforcement during a traffic stop that revealed two pounds of marijuana, a gun and several other drugs, according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. On June 11 just before 1 a.m., the Sheriffs Office pulled over Robert Pierce for a tail lamp violation in Penrose. Pierce was asked to step out of his vehicle after providing false information to law enforcement, the Sheriff's Office said in a social media post Tuesday. After being asked to step out of the vehicle, Pierce ran from deputies. After a short pursuit of the vehicle by law enforcement, the driver ran on foot into a heavily forested area, the Sheriff's Office said. A search of the vehicle yielded the following items: 9mm handgun Loaded highpoint 9mm magazine 200 grams of methamphetamine (laced with fentanyl) 27 grams cocaine 25 grams of black tar heroin 1044 Fentanyl pills 2 pounds marijuana HGH and Steroids According to law enforcement, two no-bond hold warrants have been issued for Pierce. If anyone sees Pierce, they are being told to not approach him, but to call 911 immediately. Airbus shows strong commitment to continuous development in China Xinhua) 08:24, July 09, 2024 The A320neo aircraft handed over to Chengdu Airlines is pictured in Tianjin, north China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ran) TIANJIN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Monday delivered its 700th A320 family aircraft assembled at its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in north China's Tianjin Municipality. "It means that at least every third Airbus A320 aircraft in China comes from Airbus Tianjin," said Christoph Schrempp, general manager of the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Center. "It underlines the strong commitment of Airbus to China, the Chinese aviation market and its continuous development." The newly delivered aircraft, an A320neo, featuring 180 economy class seats, was handed over to Chengdu Airlines. Chengdu Airlines has 50 Airbus aircraft, said Wang Shushi, the company's CEO. Inaugurated in 2008, the FALA in Tianjin is the first Airbus production line established outside Europe. The FALA has been operating for over 15 years and has become a role model of successful China-Europe cooperation. Following the delivery of the first Airbus A320 aircraft in 2009, the FALA completed the delivery of the 500th A320 family aircraft at the end of October 2020. In less than four years, it has achieved the milestone of delivering the 700th A320. "This figure highlights the long-standing and in-depth cooperation between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry," said George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO. Over the years, Airbus has been expanding its industrial footprint in China, integrating its supply chains with China, which has led to an increasing presence of Chinese elements in Airbus aircraft, Xu added. Data from Flight Master, a Chinese intelligent air-travel platform, shows that in the first half of 2024, China's civil aviation passenger transport handled about 2.7 million flights, up 14.8 percent year on year. According to China's five-year development plan for the civil aviation industry, by 2025, its passenger transportation volume is expected to reach 930 million passengers, while the cargo and mail transport volume is expected to reach 9.5 million tonnes. "China is Airbus' largest single-country market globally," said Xu, adding that the number of aircraft delivered by the company to Chinese customers annually accounts for about 20 percent of its total global deliveries. Airbus has seen its market share in China climb from about 20 percent in 2008 to more than 50 percent so far this year. George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO, speaks during the delivery ceremony of the 700th A320 family aircraft assembled by Airbus Tianjin to Chengdu Airlines in Tianjin, north China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ran) In recent years, the FALA has also delivered airplanes to airlines such as Hungary's Wizz Air and the Philippines' Cebu Pacific. China's stable aviation industrial chain enables Airbus to supply globally from production bases in China, thus fueling the development of the global aviation industry, according to Xu. "We firmly believe that the Chinese aviation market has remarkable potential and will continue to hold an important position. We must seize this strategic market," said Xu. Now, the second FALA project in Tianjin, which broke ground in September 2023, is being built at full speed and is expected to be operational around the beginning of 2026. After the completion of the project, Airbus' global production network is expected to include 10 final assembly lines, two in Tianjin (one currently under construction), two in Toulouse, France, two in Mobile, the United States (one under construction) and four in Hamburg, Germany. "It means that Airbus' A320 family aircraft production capacity in China will account for 20 percent of our global total capacity," noted Xu. According to the company's market forecast, China's average annual growth in aviation transportation will reach 5.3 percent in the next 20 years, higher than the global average of 3.6 percent. More than 40,000 new aircraft will be needed worldwide by 2042, of which more than 9,000 are estimated to be delivered to China. "Airbus remains dedicated to strengthening strategic collaboration with China and fulfilling our long-term commitment to this thriving market," Xu said. Airbus is willing to continue to work hand in hand with its Chinese partners to contribute to the high-quality development of China's civil aviation, and to build a bridge for exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe, Xu added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating what they say is a human case of plague, based on preliminary test results. On Monday, the county said that test results were positive for plague in a Pueblo County resident, according to reporting by Gazette news partner KOAA. The department has not given details on who contracted the bacteria, or their condition. Officials are working to track down the potential source of the disease. The plague, "Yersinia pestis," is most commonly transmitted by fleas and other wild rodents, people can become affected by bites of infected fleas, touching infected animals, or inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal. Read more at koaa.com. A voter drops off their ballot at a drop box for Colorados Primary Election measures and candidates. Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter. The 2024 Sculptures on Parade have been set in place and are ready for the People's Choice voting. River City Sculptures on Parade is a 1.7-mile walking tour through the heart of Mason Citys cultural crescent. "There's a lot of color in the sculptures this year," said Bruce McKee, who sits on the Sculptures on Parade board. "On the corner at Mason City Community Theatre and Younkers are two that are bright blue." The 2024 lineup includes 80 pieces, with 24 rotating sculptures, four of which are popular holdovers from last year. Each year, the city purchases the People's Choice sculpture for permanent display, and all of the sculptures are available for purchase. Thousands take the walking tour each year, and McKee said the group receives 200 to 300 People's Choice ballots each season. "I recently met a couple from Indiana who came to see the Historic Park Inn and take the tour," he said. "Sometimes we even find donations in the envelopes." Brochures include a map of the Sculptures on Parade walking tour, which can be done autonomously or with a guide by calling (641) 421-3669. Brochures are available at Mason City Public Library, City Hall, Mason City Chamber of Commerce, Visit Mason City, Southbridge Mall east entrance and the Architectural Interpretive Center in Mason City. To view the map on a mobile device, visit sculpturesonparade.com. According to its website, River City Sculptures on Parade Inc. is a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring public art to Mason City. The program operates in partnership with SculptureOne Partner Network which has similar programs in Mankato, Minnesota; Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Webster City. Good room preparation pays off later A large radiation waste room that can accommodate a contaminated patient bed rolled into it is recommended. If you have a patient who is incontinent and voids into a bed, from a centres workflow perspective, it may be more optimal to spend less time cleaning the room by rolling the bed into the radiation waste room and decontaminating it later, suggested Underwood. A bed should have multiple layers: a fitted top sheet, with a plastic sheet underneath, followed by an absorbent pad sitting on a fitted sheet. A paper walkway taped to the floor from bed to bathroom minimizes urinary dripping cleanup. A toilet should have full taped down plastic protection, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling plastic sheeting to contain splatter. Room preparation against patient contamination or a leaking infusion line can be expensive and time consuming, but if you have a bad day with a patient, it more than pays for itself, he said. The rule of thumb for releasing a patient to self-isolate at home is at less than 500mg dose of radioactive pharmaceuticals. Patients need to be admitted as inpatients if greater, and require a private room, a private bathroom, radiation safety placards, and treatment of all trash as radioactive waste. Everything that leaves the patients room must be surveyed for radioactive contamination by a radiation safety officer. Anyone entering the room must be trained in radiation safety procedures. Inpatients receiving treatment require the same guidelines. Profiles: Dmitriy Beyder is a Radiation Program Manager at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was a member of the team to establish the Center for Clinical Theranostics Research at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Beyder is also the current president of the Technologist Section of SNMMI. Kyle Underwood is a Certified Health Physicist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He leads multiple unique modality teams to provide excellent staff safety and patient care. Of particular interest is radiation protection and the treatment of diseases with existing and novel radiation therapies. A Louisiana woman was charged with two counts of felony criminal child endangerment and misdemeanor aggravated driving under the influence after blowing nearly three times the legal limit, authorities said. Christine Ann Miller, 33, was stopped on July 6 on Canyon Ferry Road by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper for driving 59 mph in a 45 mph zone, court documents said. The trooper identified her two children in the vehicle, a 13-year-old and 8-year-old. According to court records, the trooper noticed an odor of alcohol coming from the defendant's breath, so Miller admitted to drinking wine and a blue raspberry drink. She told the trooper, she "didn't keep track of how many" she had. Court documents said her speech was slurred and the trooper conducted tests to determine if Miller was inebriated. Miller displayed six out of six indicators during the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, seven out of eight indicators during the walk and turn test and four out of four indicators of impairment during the one leg stand test, court documents said. During the preliminary breath test Miller's result was .225, almost three times the legal limit, which is .08. Miller was charged July 8 in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court in front of Justice of the Peace Mark Piskolich and released to pretrial services. Editor's Note: This story was updated to say Miller was released to pretrial services. STATEMENT OF SEN NANCY BINAY on the signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan Since 2022, former Senate President Migz Zubiri and then-Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko consistently pushed for the crafting of a Reciprocal Access Agreement between the Philippines and Japan. The signing of the RAA is the fruit of the Senate's effort to peaceful resolutions to maritime conflicts in the Asia-Pacific Region, an assertion to our territorial rights, and a reiteration of the Philippines' adherence to defend its national sovereignty. The RAA's value to National Security underscores how increased maritime security cooperation safeguards Philippine economic interests. I fully support the ratification of the Agreement once it reaches the Senate--as this would represent our commitment to peace and security in the region. A civil liberties group has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking to compel a federal agency to release records related to two Nebraska cities efforts to ban immigrants not legally in the country from renting in their communities. The ACLU of Nebraska sought the records more than two and a half years ago. The group specifically submitted an email request to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency under the Department of Homeland Security, on Nov. 9, 2021, seeking copies of correspondence between officials, agents, contractors or individuals regarding the implementation or enforcement of city ordinances in Fremont and Scribner. "To date, USCIS has failed to respond to produce the documents sought in the request in any way, let alone process the request 'promptly,' as required by FOIA for all requests," ACLU attorney Dylan Serverino, wrote in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska in Lincoln. The 21-day statutory period to respond has long since passed. Serverino said the ACLU is seeking the records in order to "further public understanding of the implementation and enforcement of the ordinances." In June 2010, Fremont passed an ordinance requiring prospective renters there to obtain occupancy licenses. To get one, renters have to complete an application and answer questions about their immigration status. The Fremont Police Department then checks the information with USCIS' Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to determine if they are lawfully in the country. In November 2018, Scribner passed an ordinance that did substantially the same thing. The ACLU's request for information followed. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, asks a federal judge to order the federal agencies to conduct a search for the records and produce them promptly. The ACLU also is seeking attorney fees and other litigation costs. The ACLU says USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security have the records and the ACLU has a legal right to obtain them. Failure to provide them violates the Freedom of Information Act, Serverino said. Severino said the yearslong wait made it clear that it would take a lawsuit to force a response from federal officials. "Nebraskans have a right to know if and how federal officials have been involved in any efforts to enforce anti-immigrant ordinances that invite discriminatory questions and racial profiling," he said Tuesday. "Federal law includes clear guidelines on processing public records requests, and there is no excuse for years of inaction on any request let alone one that involves something as important as fair access to housing." In 2010, the ACLU sued Fremont seeking to overturn the rental ban saying it conflicts with the federal governments sole authority to regulate immigration and has a discriminatory effect. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the challenge in a split decision. Earlier this year, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg gave the welcome address at the Nebraska Immigration & Workforce Summit there saying things have changed in the town of 27,000 about an hour north of Lincoln. He told the Nebraska Examiner that to fill its jobs today, the city needs to "embrace the immigrant community." While the ordinance remains on Fremonts books, Spellerberg said it is "impossible to enforce." Top Journal Star photos for July 2024 Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen pushed back against criticism of the rollout of his tax plan Monday during a radio call-in show, predicting his proposal will "get the votes" to become law when he recalls lawmakers to Lincoln later this month for a special legislative session focused on property tax cuts. Throughout the Republican governor's monthly hourlong call-in show Monday afternoon, Pillen defended the "living, breathing" nature of his tax plan while pledging to "meet with as many senators as possible" over the next several weeks to solidify support for his proposal. His appearance on KLIN came after lawmakers from across the political spectrum suggested last week that Pillen's tax plan which hasn't yet been shared in writing with at least some, if not most, lawmakers still does not have the support of enough senators to overcome a filibuster in Nebraska's single-house Legislature. The Journal Star on Sunday reported that lawmakers "are bewildered" that Pillen has spent the past two months hosting town halls to rally the public's support for his plan while at least some lawmakers haven't heard from the governor since April. Meanwhile, the Omaha World-Herald reported Sunday that lobbyists for public schools groups in the state, including the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association and Nebraska Association of School Boards, have hesitancies over Pillen's still-evolving plan to do away with school property taxes by obliging the state to take over paying for K-12 education. And the Nebraska Examiner reported Sunday that Pillen is facing pushback for some of his property tax reform ideas from some of his closest agricultural allies in the Legislature. In response to questions from a caller Monday over the shaky support for his plan even among conservative lawmakers, Pillen said he has "been working as many hours as (he) possibly can to fix the property tax problem for the people of Nebraska." "I've been working with as many senators as I can cover ground with, but the first piece of this was to be out listening to the people across the state of Nebraska," Pillen said, referring to his series of about 20 town halls that took the governor from Chadron to Nebraska City but not to Omaha or Lincoln, where a majority of the state's residents live. "Between now and the start of the session, I will meet with as many senators as possible and, yeah, we're gonna get the votes. We're gonna get through," the governor said, later adding: "Don't believe everything you read in the paper, would be my advice to you." Pillen, though, acknowledged at other points in Monday's radio show that his tax plan had not been finalized or shared with the entire Legislature and he had not been in contact with multiple lawmakers who have taken to social media in recent days to criticize the rollout and the merits of the governor's tax plan. He pledged to put his plan "in black and white before the special session comes" in late July. He noted that he is skipping the 12-day trade mission to Indonesia that he had been scheduled to take this month and will instead spend the next few weeks meeting with lawmakers. "I need to spend time with senators so we understand each other," Pillen said. "And that's just gonna take a lot of facetime in the next three weeks." Pillen's defensive appearance on KLIN comes fewer than three weeks before the governor is expected to recall lawmakers to Lincoln for a special legislative session focused on property tax reform, his administration's top priority. In 2023, Nebraskans paid more than $5 billion in property taxes an increase of about $1.5 billion over the past six years. The governor initially hoped to reduce the state's collective property tax bill by $2 billion. But the looming special session, expected to begin July 25, comes months after the governor's scaled-back plan to reduce Nebraskans' property taxes failed to clear the final hurdle in the Legislature in April, sinking the legislation the first-term governor had championed and dealing Pillen the biggest loss of his political career. Pillen in early January floated an across-the-board 2-cent sales tax increase, prompting immediate skepticism from some lawmakers and drawing fire from groups with different political ideologies that broadly cast the plan as a "tax shift." Lawmakers amended the bill that carried Pillen's plan repeatedly, ultimately axing the across-the-board sales tax hike altogether while proposing new or increased taxes on consumable hemp products, cigarettes, soda and candy, veterinary care and other services for pets, dry cleaning and lottery tickets, among other things. The Legislature adjourned for the year April 18 without taking a final vote on LB388, sinking the governor's plan. In a speech to lawmakers hours later, Pillen repeatedly derided the Legislature's failure to act and promised to recall them for a special session on property taxes. In the months since, Pillen's plan has evolved. He most recently outlined a plan to do away with school property taxes in Nebraska by having the state take over paying for K-12 education, a move that he said would eliminate about 60% of the average property owners tax bill. But the governor is still looking to sales taxes to replace the property tax revenue that primarily funds state public schools now a proposal that remains a nonstarter for lawmakers of all political stripes in Nebraska's formally nonpartisan Legislature. "Most of the other party is totally against it, and some of our party is against it," Sen. Ray Aguilar, a conservative who said he hadn't heard from Pillen since April, told the Journal Star last week. Pillen's plan would need the support of 33 lawmakers to overcome a filibuster in Nebraska's 49-member Legislature, which is formally nonpartisan but includes 33 registered Republicans at least some of whom, including Aguilar and Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, have signaled continued opposition to the governor's tax plan. "It would be nice if they came up with some magic formula that I could support. I'm not gonna bet on it," said Aguilar, who is among the lawmakers whom Pillen's agenda is dependent on. "It's not gonna be rocket science," Pillen said Monday. "Everybody is gonna be able to debate it and come up with their plans. I'm starting the conversation and we'll see where it all goes." Top Journal Star photos for July 2024 1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them. 2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound. 3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes. 4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic. Vote View Results Press Release July 9, 2024 'No student should be left behind' - EDCOM 2 visits BARMM to tackle education challenges "Ang pag unlad ng isang bansa, hindi magiging kumpleto kung mayroon tayong isang rehiyon, isang probinsya, isang LGU, na maiiwanan," says Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) Co-Chairperson Senator Win Gatchalian during the Commission's 2-day consultative visit in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). To fulfill its mandate to study, analyze, and make recommendations to the national government on necessary reforms to improve the education system, the EDCOM 2 conducted its first visit to the Bangsamoro for a comprehensive education consultation, from July 8 to 9, 2024. The Commission met with BARMM Chief Minister Ahod "Al-Hajj Murad" Balawag Ebrahim, Basic, Higher, and Technical Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, Health Minister Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament MP Eddie Ali, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali "Bruce" Matabalao, and the Director-Generals from the MBHTE. During the dialogue, EDCOM II aligned with BARMM and its Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) on its priorities in education, with the aim of delivering a balanced, inclusive, and quality education that will reflect the history and aspirations of the Bangsamoro, and contextualize its priorities in support of strengthening BARMM's sub-education system. This direction of EDCOM 2 also aligns with RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to give communities stronger autonomy in building their sub-education system within the national system. "Our national education system needs massive reforms. We cannot do business as usual. That is the reason why we are also looking at the entire system, including the system in our lone autonomous region in the Philippines. We recognize that the BARMM operates under the subsystem in education. However, we also recognize that in order for the entire Philippine education to improve, all regions including subsystems, and all provinces including different systems should be looked at and analyzed," explained Senator Gatchalian. Sustainable, contextualized solutions Just like the other regions, BARMM presents unique and serious challenges in both access and quality education. According to the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey, BARMM had the lowest basic literacy rate at 83.2%. "To achieve our goal of having one Bangsamoro professional in every family and no Bangsamoro student left behind, we therefore need all hands on board. I hope that by coming together today, we can identify comprehensive approaches to addressing the systemic and structural issues facing the education sector and work toward reforming the education system at large in the BARMM", says Chief Minister Ebrahim in his opening statement. MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal also echoed the need for a contextualized approach to address education concerns in BARMM. "The journey to improve education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is a challenging yet essential endeavor. Strong collaboration between the national government and the Bangsamoro government is the only way to effectively address critical priority areas. These include contextualizing our curriculum to reflect the unique cultural and historical background of the Bangsamoro, comprehensive teacher development programs, effective school-based management, and the provision of adequate school facilities and learning materials," says Minister Iqbal. FGDs with TEIs, school community The newly formed EDCOM 2 BARMM standing committee members, Engr Addie Unsi, President of Mindanao Center for Integrated Lifelong Learning Inc. and Civil Society Strengthening Specialist of The Asia Foundation; ABC + Chief of Party Ms Ina Aquino; and Dr. Ma. Arsenia C. Gomez, Director of the Research Management Office of the Philippine Normal University Manila also joined the visit and facilitated discussions with members of the school community. During the 2 day activity, the Commission met with Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) and exchanged insights on the challenges and needs in pre-service education, collaboration and support for TEIs, and quality of the curriculum. While there are existing seminars and workshops, the TEIs expressed the need for a more extensive training and support that aligns with the DepEd curriculum, highlighting the need for clarifying the relationship between the DepEd and the MBHTE. This was reiterated in the discussion with school principals, with many sharing the need for improved coordination, as well as technical assistance in matters such as teacher training, school infrastructure, and curriculum development. Since its establishment, the Commission has been conducting consultations in different areas of the country. "We look forward to working closely with BARMM to better understand the education challenges faced by the Bangsamoro, and to jointly strategize on how it could be addressed. We also look forward to learning from their best practices, for example, in reducing stunting in such a short period of time," said EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee. On 8 July the chief justice of Mexicos supreme court (SCJN),, called for a dialogue with both outgoing Presidentand President-electon their proposals for reform of the judiciary , which include controversial points such as the direct election of judges. End of preview - This article contains approximately 361 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 8 July Bolivias Interior Ministeraccused the arrested human rights activistof helping organise the 26 June military uprising. End of preview - This article contains approximately 398 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Tolentino lauds barangay exec, Gen Z vlogger for advocating animal rights, welfare Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino on Tuesday (July 9) commended a barangay chair in Manila and a Gen Z vlogger from Paranaque for their work in protecting and promoting animal rights and welfare. In his morning program, 'Morning Chill' on DWAN 1206 AM, the senator lauded Roland Gacula, chair of Barangay 310, Manila, for his grassroots programs, which include free vaccination against rabies for the pets of his constituents. "Napakaganda nitong binabakunahan ang mga alagang aso at pusa. Nagpapakita ito na talagang nakatutok kayo sa animal rights," the senator told Gacula. Barangay 310 is located in a busy and densely populated district in Manila that includes sections of Quezon Boulevard and Recto Avenue, and the Manila City Jail. The senator also noted the area's proximity to the Arranque pet market, which he said makes it even more important for the community to remain 'rabies free.' In a separate interview, Tolentino praised Raevin Bonifacio, a Generation Z vlogger, who has 1.1 million followers on social media, and is known online for his animal rescue videos. To date, Bonifacio has rescued hundreds of stray, abandoned, and abused dogs. "I turned a section of our backyard into a mini animal shelter, that's where I help the rescued dogs recover, after which I look for new parents to adopt them so that they would have a new home and family," he shared with the senator. Tolentino himself is an animal rights advocate. He recently raised the idea of relocating the Manila Zoo to the renowned Masungi Georesereve in Baras, Rizal, which he said will allow the animals under the zoo's care to live under better conditions that approximate their natural habitats. Today (9 July) at midnight, Argentinas Presidentsigned his political accord, Pacto de Mayo, with 18 of the countrys 24 provincial governors at a ceremony held in the north-western province of Tucuman. End of preview - This article contains approximately 522 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options A Californian University has thrown more light on why the Big Bang works after nearly 40 years of world-wide research. Most scientists accept that the universe began with the Big Bang and the existence in equal amounts of matter and anti-matter. The theory has been complicated by the fact that if matter and anti-matter were present in equal amounts they would cancel each other out and there would not be a universe. Experiments by Stanford Universitys international team of physicists have provided the most substantial proof yet that matter and anti-matter decay at different rates and this explains the continued predominance of matter. This process is called charge-parity (CP) violation and derives from research in the 1950s and 1960s by theorists like Andrei Sakharov. The evidence for CP has rested solely on increasingly accurate measurements of the different decay rates of the sub-atomic particle, neutral K meson and its anti-particle. Now the team working at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (Slac) has observed CP violation in a heavier particle/anti-particle pair related to B meson. They made their discovery using a 1,200 tonne detector called Babar, designed, built and operated by 600 scientists and engineers, many from the UK. Babar forces particles to crash into each other and simulate the effects of the Big Bang deep under the Californian landscape. The findings of the Slac team will be published in the journal Physical Review Letters. Courtesy BBC News In context The idea of anti-matter has been around since 1928 when British physicist Paul Dirac suggested the existence of atoms with negatively charged anti-protons at the centre and positively charged electrons positrons orbiting them. Ordinary atoms consist of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons. It is very difficult to make anti-matter and requires powerful particle accelerators like Babar. Scientists estimate that around 20kg of anti-matter like anti-hydrogen first produced in Switzerland in 1997 could power a spaceship across the galaxy. Over the past 10 years particle physicists in Europe, the US and Asia have put together plans for a gigantic, 3bn particle accelerator that they hope to be switched on by 2011. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) represented Macau at the XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network held July 1-5 in Braga, Portugal. As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2017, Macau took the opportunity to enhance its involvement in the network and raise its international profile. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes attended the conferences plenary sessions and cluster meetings. The conference, brought together around 550 delegates from 250 member cities across 80 countries. It featured plenary sessions, high-level discussions, and cultural activities highlighting the networks goals of creating more inclusive, creative and sustainable cities. Related Authorities in Macau have announced plans to expand the citys mental health workforce in response to rising demand for psychiatric services and a concerning increase in suicide rates. In a reply to lawmaker Ho Ion Sangs interpellation, the Health Bureau (SSM) said that it would be increasing the number of professionals on its psychiatric services team, which currently stands at 97 10 more than in 2019. This team includes psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and specialized nurses. However, the bureau acknowledged that more support is needed, with only 16 of the 95 health workers directly involved in public psychiatric services being psychiatrists, and 25 being psychotherapists. The SSMs psychiatric services team, together with three psychiatrists and 55 psychotherapists working in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), can provide the necessary psychiatric services to the residents, said SSM director, Alvis Lo. The authorities are committed to training more mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, to strengthen the citys suicide prevention and control network. This initiative comes as Macau faces a worrying increase in mental health crises. In 2023, the city recorded 88 suicides the highest number in the last decade. There were also 6,400 mental health consultations at health centers, a 30% increase from the previous year, and 3,400 psychological counseling sessions at NGOs. From 2016 to 2022, the Community Psychiatric Services team monitored 831 serious cases, nearly 200 of which were previously undetected. The increase in demand for this type of consultation and the rise in mental health problems is concerning, Lo acknowledged. We are committed to training more people in this field to extend the coverage of our prevention and control network. In December last year, SSM launched a new website to help residents with mental health-related issues. The Mental Health website includes a self-diagnostic test, contact details for community support services, tips on recognizing depression and reducing stress, and a section on video gaming addiction. According to the statement, the website aims to eliminate misunderstandings around mental illness and encourage people to seek support when needed. The website is currently available in both Chinese and Portuguese languages. By investing in a stronger mental health workforce, Macau hopes to better aid those struggling with mental health and address mental health cases in the city. Nadia Shaw Indias prime minister began a two-day visit to Russia yesterday, his first since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, a war that has complicated the relationship between the longtime partners and pushed Russia closer to Indias rival China. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit will include a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, whom he last saw in Russia in 2019, in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. The two leaders also met in person in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc. Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trading 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 United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. Under Modis leadership, India has avoided condemning Russias war in Ukraine while emphasizing the need for a peaceful settlement. The partnership between Moscow and New Delhi has become fraught, however, since Russia started developing closer ties with Indias main rival, China, because of the hostilities in Ukraine. Modi notably stayed away last week from the most recent summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Kazakhstan. Chietigj Bajpaee, senior South Asia research fellow at the U.K.-based Chatham House, said India is becoming increasingly estranged from forums in which Russia and China play a prominent role. This is evident in Indias relatively low key presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last year, and now the decision by Modi not to attend this years summit, Bajpaee said. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered their already touchy relationship as the rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have since persisted despite talks. Those tensions have seeped into how New Delhi looks at Moscow. Russias relations with China have been a matter of some concern for India in the context of Chinese increased assertiveness in the region, D. Bala Venkatesh Verma, a former Indian ambassador to Russia, told The Associated Press. But Modi also will seek to continue close relations with Russia, an important trading partner and major defense supplier for India. Since Western sanctions blocked Russian oil exports after the start of the Ukraine war, India has become a key buyer of Russian oil. It now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts. India is also strongly dependent on Russia for military supplies, but with Moscows supply line hit by the fighting in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy. Defense cooperation will clearly be a priority area, Bajpaee said, adding that 60% of Indias military equipment and systems is still of Russian origin. Weve seen some delay in the deliveries of spare parts following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said. I believe both countries are due to conclude a military logistics agreement, which would pave the way for more defense exchanges. India has adopted a neutral stance, neither condemning nor condoning Russias war on Ukraine, and has called for negotiations to end the fighting. That in turn has bolstered Putins efforts to counter what he calls the Wests domination of global affairs. Facing an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for actions over the war in Ukraine, Putins foreign travel has been relatively sparse in recent years, so Modis trip could help the Russian leader boost his image. We kind of see Putin going on a nostalgia trip you know, he was in Vietnam, he was in North Korea, said Theresa Fallon, an analyst at the Center for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies. In my view, hes trying to demonstrate that hes not a vassal to China, that he has options, that Russia is still a great power. Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said that Putins interactions on the world stage show he is far from isolated and that Russia is not a country to be discounted. Trade development also will figure strongly in the talks, particularly intentions to develop a maritime corridor between Indias major port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russias Far East. India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told reporters Friday. Imports from Russia touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, Kwatra said. Indias financial year runs from April to March. He said India was trying to correct the trade imbalance with Russia by increasing its exports. Indias top exports to Russia include drugs and pharmaceutical products, telecom instruments, iron and steel, marine products and machinery. Its top imports from Russia include crude oil and petroleum products, coal and coke, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, fertilizer, vegetable oil, gold and silver. KRUTIKA PATHI & JIM HEINTZ, MOSCOW, MDT/AP Japan and the Philippines signed a key defense pact Monday allowing the deployment of Japanese forces for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills, to the Southeast Asian nation that came under brutal Japanese occupation in World War II but is now building an alliance with Tokyo as they face an increasingly assertive China. The Reciprocal Access Agreement, which similarly allows Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training, was signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in a Manila ceremony witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It would take effect after ratification by the countries legislatures, Philippine and Japanese officials said. Kamikawa called the signing of the defense agreement a groundbreaking achievement that should further boost defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. A free and open international order based on the rule of law is the foundation of regional peace and prosperity, she said. We would like to work closely with your country to maintain and strengthen this. Kamikawa and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara later held talks with their Philippine counterparts on ways to further deepen relations. The defense pact with the Philippines is the first to be forged by Japan in Asia. Japan signed similar accords with Australia in 2022 and with Britain in 2023. Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the Japanese government has taken steps to boost its security and defensive firepower, including a counterstrike capability that breaks from Japans postwar principle of focusing only on self-defense, amid threats from North Korea and Chinas growing assertiveness. Its doubling defense spending in a five-year period to 2027 in a move to bolster its military power and make Japan the worlds third-biggest military spender after the United States and China. Many of Japans Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, came under Japanese aggression until its defeat in World War II and Japans efforts to bolster its military role and spending could be a sensitive issue. Japan and the Philippines, however, have steadily deepened defense and security ties. Kishidas moves dovetail with Marcos effort to forge security alliances to bolster the Philippine militarys limited ability to defend Manilas territorial interests in the South China Sea. The busy sea passage is a key global trade route which has been claimed virtually in its entirety by China but also contested in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The United States has also been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any future confrontation over Taiwan, and reassure its Asian allies. Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the U.S. and their leaders held three-way talks in April at the White House, where President Biden renewed Washingtons ironclad commitment to defend Japan and the Philippines. Japan has had a longstanding territorial dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships, meanwhile, have been involved in a series of tense confrontations in the South China Sea since last year. In the worst confrontation so far, Chinese coast guard personnel armed with knives, spears and an axe aboard motorboats repeatedly rammed and destroyed two Philippine navy supply vessels on June 17 in a chaotic faceoff in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal that injured several Filipino sailors. Chinese coast guard personnel seized seven navy rifles. JIM GOMEZ & HARUKA NUGA, MANILA, MDT/AP The Macao Light Rapid Transit Corporation, Limited (LRT Company) believes that the number of passengers using this transport system will increase after the opening of the Seac Pai Van and Hengqin Lines, planned to happen this year, the company told the Times in response to an inquiry on the topic. It is believed that the number of passengers will also increase after the opening of the Seac Pai Van Line and Hengqin Line, the company said, noting that the number of passengers of LRT Taipa Line increased after the opening of Barra Station. The company refused to advance a forecast on the expected number of passengers that the LRT would carry on a monthly or daily basis after the opening of the two new lines. Questioned on the same topic, the Transport Bureau had not responded to the Times by time of publication. Last month, during a meeting of the Islands District Community Advisory Board, member Wong Leong Kuan called for an early commencement of operations of the Seac Pai Van Line. Wong noted this link will be extremely important for people living in Coloane, as it will facilitate travelling to the Peninsula, through the Barra terminal. She also added that this connection will make traveling to the recently opened Islands Hospital Complex much faster and more convenient. The council member said she considers the opening of this line a very important matter that will significantly improve the lives of a large number of people now living in the area of Seac Pai Van in both the public and private estates. On the other hand, members of the Peoples Alliance for the Construction of Macau (Alianca de Povo de Instituicao de Macau) believe that this line will not be popular among those living in the area as the Seac Pai Van LRT station is located a considerable distance from the residential area. In an interview published by Macao Daily News newspaper, a leader of the association said, Only the Lok Kuan (public housing) and Praia Park buildings (private housing), are close enough to be served by the station entrance, for the other residents they will need to walk a considerable distance. The same official also noted that the station service is not complemented by any public bus routes, a fact that makes her think most residents, especially the elderly, will continue to opt for the buses. As for the Hengqin Line, the government has said on several occasions during the construction of the line that it had planned to supply only four-car trains on this line, which can transport around 476 people each. It was also stated that the frequency of the trains should be intervals of 6 to 7 minutes, which would give this line the capacity of transporting, on average, around 8,000 people per hour in both directions. Currently, the Taipa Line, the only one operating, is carrying around 11,600 passengers per day on average (June 2024). About one month ago, the Public Works Bureau announced the completion of the construction of the Seac Pai Van Line which has been undergoing operational testing since May. As yet there is no exact date for the opening to the public of any of the lines. Michael Carpenter, Senior Director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, expressed concern over the recent strategic direction of the Georgian government, urging a change in course. His remarks were shared by journalist Alex Raufoglu on X."Frankly, when we see harassment of civil society, when we see laws being passed that limit the space for fundamental freedoms in Georgia, that's not compatible with the values that undergird the NATO alliance. Nor, frankly, do we think it's compatible with your Atlantic integration writ large, including the EU," Carpenter stated.Carpenter highlighted that the Georgian government has been moving in the wrong direction regarding its Euro-Atlantic integration prospects over the past few months. He emphasized the longstanding US support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, noting the US participation in over 60 rounds of the Geneva International Discussions to support Georgia."It is with some concern and sadness, frankly, that we see this move in the other direction. So we hope to see a change in strategic direction for the Georgian government," Carpenter said.The United States Embassy in Georgia announced initiatives to help Georgian entrepreneurs enter the American market. "Often, only a window of opportunity is enough for success - we create such an opportunity for Georgian people who have unique ideas and businesses. We help them enter the American market," the embassy's statement read.Under the leadership of Ambassador Robin Dunnigan, forty-five Georgian businessmen attended SelectUSA, the largest investment summit promoting foreign direct investment in the United States. During the summit, attendees engaged in meetings with investors and high-ranking US government officials to discuss business opportunities in the USA. Georgian business ideas were also presented."This visit is an important step in deepening the economic ties between our countries. The United States remains committed to this economic partnership," the embassy's statement reads.A new political platform, Unity for the Salvation of Georgia, has been founded. Tina Bokuchava, chairwoman of the United National Movement, introduced the team members: Giorgi Vashadze, Gia Japaridze, Sopo Japaridze, Lasha Bakradze, Ana Mosashvili, Tamar Kordzaia, Armaz Akhvlediani, Irakli Pavlenishvili, and Lasha Diarov. The election number for Unity will be 5.In her speech, Bokuchava emphasized the importance of the upcoming October 26 elections. She described it as a crucial opportunity to save the country from division and controversy caused by Bidzina Ivanishvili's 12-year rule. Bokuchava urged unity, stating, "Now is the time for unity for Georgia". She highlighted the election as a referendum between aligning with Russia or Europe, calling for citizens to set aside divisions for the greater good."I stand before you with a great sense of responsibility to each of you and to each citizen of this country, those who realize and feel that the October 26 elections are a chance to save our country. This is a chance to reclaim our historical choices. This is a chance to get out of the vortex of controversy and division in which Ivanishvili's 12-year rule has dragged us, to become proud and to take Georgia to the European Union," Bokuchava stated. MGM has launched the Barra District Summer Hype Series Event this July, marking a new milestone in the areas revitalization progress. To enhance public understanding of Barra Districts revitalization and community engagement efforts, MGM last week hosted a dedicated Sharing Session around the Summer Hype Series Event at Navy Yard No. 2, with various partners sharing insights and aspirations into collaborative revitalization endeavors. The session attracted over 80 guests, including government officials, local youth entrepreneurs, and figures from the arts and culture sectors. Catarina Lio, senior vice president of Brand Marketing of MGM, said, A Districts revitalization requires community collaboration. This is especially true for Barra District which is a brand-new area in Macau. Its transformation relies on the citys collective effort. [] And now, we are devoted to strengthening our partnerships across sectors, and leveraging our corporate resources to help Macaus young entrepreneurs and talents attain their breakthroughs in cross-disciplinary innovations. Both the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and tourism industry representatives have expressed hope that in the second half of this year more foreign visitors will enter Macau. In an interview with public broadcaster TDM, the deputy director of MGTO, Ricky Hoi, said that although the current figures are far from reaching pre-pandemic levels, provisional data shows that in the first half of this year (1H) approximately 1.1 million international tourists visited Macau. This fact, as well as ongoing promotions, makes MGTO confident that the goal of two million foreign tourists for this year will be within reach. Hoi said that authorities will continue to explore opportunities to enlarge the sources of international tourists. This includes the strategy of cooperating with the neighboring region of Hong Kong to attract international tourists who come to Hong Kong on cruise ship tours to extend their visit to Macau. According to the same official, this type of partnership has already been extended to around 500 international tourists from six cruise tours who have visited Hong Kong and Macau. Hoi said that these tourists are mainly from Europe, USA, Canada and Australia, adding that he hopes that the roadshow promotions in several Asian countries will continue to be effective and produce further results during the second half of this year. On a similar topic, Andy Wu, president of the Travel Industry Council of Macau, said that he anticipates that the airlines will continue to increase the number and the capacity of flights to Macau. Wu believes that international tourists will have an increased interest in visiting Macau, particularly in the second half of this year. He also said that the measures recently introduced by the central government will also contribute to the increase of visits by mainland tour groups during the summer holiday period. While there are no official statistics for the second quarter and first half of this year, according to the latest official statistics release made by the Statistics and Census Service, some 977,177 international visitors entered Macau between January and May this year. If Hois figures are confirmed, this means that at least 123,000 international visitors entered Macau in June this year. In May this year, this figure was around 185,000. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called South Koreas recent front-line live-fire drills suicidal hysteria as she threatened unspecified military steps yesterday if further provoked. The warning by Kim Yo Jong came after South Korea resumed firing exercises near its tense land and sea borders with North Korea in the past two weeks. The exercises were the first of their kind since South Korea suspended a 2018 agreement with the North aimed at easing front-line military tensions in June. The question is why the enemy kicked off such war drills near the border, suicidal hysteria, for which they will have to sustain terrible disaster, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media. She accused South Koreas conservative government of deliberately escalating tensions as a way to escape a domestic political crisis. She said the riskiness of the South Korean drills is clear to everyone as they happened amid a touch-and-go situation established after the U.S., South Korea and Japan recently held a new trilateral military exercise that North Korea views as a security threat. In case it is judged according to our criteria that they violated the sovereignty of (North Korea) and committed an act tantamount to a declaration of war, our armed forces will immediately carry out its mission and duty assigned by the (North Korean) constitution, she said, without elaborating. Later yesterday, Koo Byoungsam, a spokesperson at South Koreas Unification Ministry, described Kims statement as an attempt to trigger an internal divide in South Korea, saying that North Korea must first look at its own human rights violations and the international isolation caused by its nuclear program. South Koreas Defense Ministry separately said it will continue its live-fire drills as scheduled but didnt say when and where new exercises are planned. North Korea has been engaged in a provocative run of weapons tests since 2022. But its two recent tests one on a missile with a super-large warhead and the other on a multiwarhead missile drew widespread skepticism from South Korean officials and experts who said North Korea likely fabricated successful launches to cover up failed tests. In early June, South Korea fully suspend the 2018 inter-Korean military pact after North Korea flew balloons carrying manure, cigarette butts and wastepaper across the border to protest South Korean activists scattering political leaflets in the North via their own balloons. The military agreement reached during a short-lived era of reconciliation between the Koreas required the two countries to cease all hostile acts at border areas, such as live-firing drills, aerial surveillance and psychological warfare. The deal had already been in the danger of collapse, with both Koreas taking steps in breach of it amid animosities over North Koreas spy satellite launch last November. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP * New line riders Increase in passengers projected with the opening of Seac Pai Van and Hengqin Lines, LRT told the Times; yet concerns arise as new stations will only benefit limited number of housing estates * Debt-ridden The 13 Hotel resumes limited operations * Ho Iat Seng vies for re-election as CE, reports * Both the govt and tourism industry expressed hope that more foreign visitors will enter Macau in the second half of the year * Residents in favor of utilizing MJC land for recreational facilities, survey finds * President Xi calls on world powers to help Russia and Ukraine resume direct dialogue DOWNLOAD PDF Tuesday, July 9, 2024 edition no. 4519 Chinese President Xi Jinping called on world powers to help Russia and Ukraine resume direct dialogue during a meeting yesterday with Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban, state broadcaster reported. Orban made a surprise visit to China after similar trips last week to Russia and Ukraine to discuss prospects for a peaceful settlement of more than the two-year war. Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union this month and Orban has since embarked on a peace mission, which, however, lacks the endorsement of other European leaders. China is a key power in creating the conditions for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, Orban wrote on the social media platform X. This is why I came to meet with President Xi in Beijing, just two months after his official visit to Budapest. Peace mission 3.0 is how the prime minister captioned a picture posted on X as he touched down in Beijing. During his meeting with Xi, Orban described China as a stabilizing force amid global turbulence and praised its constructive and important peace initiatives. China has been promoting its own six-point peace plan, which it issued with Brazil in May. Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. While hosting Orban, Xi called on Russia and Ukraine to cease fire and on other major powers to create an environment conducive to talks. Only when all major powers project positive energy rather than negative energy can a cease-fire occur, Xi said, according to CCTV. Orban hosted the Chinese leader in Hungary only two months ago as part of a three-country European tour that also included stops in France and Serbia, which unlike the other two is not a member of the EU or NATO. During the trip, China upgraded its ties with Hungary to an all-weather, comprehensive strategic partnership, one of its highest designations for foreign relations that in addition to Hungary applies only to Belarus, Pakistan and Venezuela. Hungary under Orban has built substantial political and economic ties with China. The European nation hosts a number of Chinese electric vehicle battery facilities, and in December it announced that Chinese EV manufacturing giant BYD will open its first European EV production factory in the south of the country. Orban is widely seen as having the warmest relations with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin among European leaders. His visit to Moscow last week drew condemnation from Kyiv and EU officials. Putin had suggested Orban come to Moscow as a top representative of the European Council, but several top European officials dismissed that suggestion and said Orban had no mandate for anything beyond a discussion about bilateral relations. The Hungarian prime minister has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to assist Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. He has long argued for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine but without outlining what that might mean for the countrys territorial integrity or future security. That posture has frustrated Hungarys EU and NATO allies, who have denounced Russias invasion as a breach of international law and a threat to the security of Eastern Europe. Standing alongside Orban last week in Moscow, Putin declared that Russia wouldnt accept any cease-fire or temporary break in hostilities that would allow Ukraine to recoup losses, regroup and rearm. Putin repeated his demand that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the four regions that Moscow claims to have annexed in 2022 as a condition for any prospective peace talks. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected that demand, suggesting it is akin to asking Kyiv to withdraw from its own territory. Orban will next head to Washington, D.C., where NATO leaders are holding a summit to discuss ways to assure Ukraine of the alliances continued support. Next stop: Washington, Orban posted on his social media account yesterday. It was not clear whether he would meet separately with President Joe Biden, or Donald Trump, whose presidential candidacy Orban openly supports. SIMINA MISTREANU, TAIPEI, MDT/AP CCTV: Its reported that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a pre-summit press conference that NATOs global partnerships will be one of the topics for the Summit. He said that as we see in Ukraine, our security is not regional, it is global and that it is important to work closely with our friends in the Indo-Pacific. NATO will discuss cooperation on Ukraine and other topics with Australia, the ROK, Japan and New Zealand to resist Russia, Iran, the DPRK and China. Whats Chinas comment? Lin Jian: As a vestige of the Cold War and the worlds biggest military bloc, NATO claims itself to be a regional defensive alliance on the one hand, but on the other hand keeps reaching beyond its boundary, expanding its mandate, stoking confrontation and acting like a bully on the world stage. NATOs so-called security is more often than not built on others insecurity, and what it does puts the world and regions at high security risk. We firmly reject NATOs vilification and blame-shifting against China. NATO should not use China to justify its insertion into the Asia-Pacific and attempt to disrupt regional dynamics. China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. Our objective and just position and constructive role on the Ukraine crisis and international and regional hotspot issues are widely recognized by the international community. We urge NATO to form the right perception of China, get rid of its Cold War mentality and zero-sum approach, stop scaremongering on security and making imaginary enemies, stop forming exclusive clubs in the name of collective defense, and play a constructive role for global peace, stability and development. JoongAng Ilbo: According to ROK media reports, China decided to issue an ultimatum to the DPRK authorities, asking them to get all DPRK workers in China back to the DPRK. Is this true? Recently there have been frequent reports that DPRK-China relations are not the same as in the past. What is Chinas comment? Lin Jian: I havent heard what you mentioned. China and the DPRK are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. The two countries have maintained a traditional friendship and cooperative ties. ROK media have recently been writing about assumptions and speculations on how things are between China and the DPRK, and creating hypes about the relationship. I hope these media outlets will show professionalism and base their reporting on facts instead of treating journalism as if they were writing fiction. Hubei Media Group: China has recently been a quite popular destination for foreign tourists. Many have posted their experiences on social media. Numbers show that China Travel has become a top trending search on multiple global social media platforms. Whats your comment? Lin Jian: Very glad to see the popularity of China as a tourist destination for foreign visitors. Government figures show that in the first half of this year, China received 14.635 million foreign travelers, up 152.7 percent year-on-year. Among them, 8.542 million entered China visa-free, up 190.1 percent year-on-year. As more and more countries benefit from the visa-free policy and as China adopts more measures to ease cross-border travel, on-a-whim travel to China is becoming a reality. We have seen recently a lot of videos posted by foreign travelersmany are first person view or snapshot videoswhich give people a glimpse of Chinas robust dynamism. Through their lens, we see the light show on the Liangma River in Beijing, Shanghai street delicacies, food delivery by drone in Shenzhen, and futuristic sky train and self-driving taxi in Optics Valley, Wuhan. Figures show that 86 percent of the foreign visitors who had been to China before find it much easier today to make a payment in China. Scanning the payment code with ones phone has become a stylish experience for foreign friends in China. Competent government agency expects more foreigners to travel to China in the second half of this year. The China travel boom stems from Chinas unique charm, and more importantly, an open and inclusive Chinese society, and the warm and hospitable Chinese people. Its also the result of Chinas high-standard opening up. China will continue to embrace the world with open arms, inject new dynamism into the world with its development, and create more energy and enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world. There is so much to see and experience, and so many opportunities to share and turn into cooperation. We welcome more foreign friends to make China the destination of their next journey abroad. Reuters: A Russian corvette and Chinese warships conducted training exercises while patrolling in the Philippine sea, according to reports by Russias news agency TASS. The joint training included the inspection of what they called a suspicious vessel. Could we have more information about this naval exercise? Lin Jian: Im not familiar with what you mentioned. Id refer you to competent authorities. TASS: Today, the fifth meeting of the China-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation and Development of Northeast China and of the Far East and Baikal Region of Russia was held in Vladivostok, Russia. Could you share with us more details of the meeting and whats Chinas expectation of China-Russia sub-national cooperation? Lin Jian: We noted the report. China stands ready to conduct sub-national cooperation with Russia based on the principles of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. On the specifics of the meeting, Id refer you to competent authorities. AFP: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited China yesterday for talks on the crisis in Ukraine. What role do you think his trip has played in resolving the crisis? Lin Jian: Yesterday, President Xi Jinping met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Beijing. China has issued a readout which you may refer to. During his visit, Prime Minister Orban exchanged views with China on issues including the Ukraine crisis and briefed the Chinese side on his recent trips to Ukraine and Russia. China commends Hungary for the constructive role it has played in finding a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. China calls on all relevant parties to observe three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fanning up the flames by any party, and create conditions for direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. China will continue to promote peace talks in its own way and play a constructive role in pushing for the political settlement of the crisis. RIA Novosti: After Prime Minister Orbans trip, what measures will China take to resolve the Ukraine crisis? Will China send Special Representative Li Hui to Russia, Ukraine and Europe again to solve the crisis? Lin Jian: We released a readout on Prime Minister Orbans trip to China. China commends Hungarys effort to seek a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. China will continue to actively promote talks for peace in its own way and decide on the next steps in light of how the situation may evolve. In this process, China is ready to maintain communication with relevant parties and jointly create favorable conditions for a political settlement. Ukrinform News Agency: Yesterday, Russian military carried out massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv city, where they destroyed Okhmatdyt Childrens Hospital, the only one in Ukraine for the treatment of children with particularly serious diseases. As a result of Russian strike, almost 40 people, including children, were killed and more than 200 people were wounded. The UN Secretary General, several international organizations and many countries condemned this Russian missile attack on civilians as a war crime. Id like to ask how China reacts to this attack? Can China condemn such attacks, and can China express its condolences to the victims in Ukraine? Lin Jian: Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. Relevant parties should seek deescalation in a responsible way, and accumulate conditions for an early ceasefire and political settlement. Recently China and Brazil jointly issued the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which has received positive response from over 100 countries. The first common understanding is to call on all relevant parties to observe three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fanning up the flames by any party. All parties should remain cool-headed and exercise restraint, and avoid taking any action that may further escalate the situation. Bloomberg: I have a question for you on the question on the NATO cooperation in Asia. You said that China opposes the expansion of Cold War alliances in this region where NATO has no place. Last month when the DPRK and the Russian Federation announced the reinstatement of their Cold War alliance on Chinas borders, you said that China has no comment on the bilateral cooperation between the two parties, and this is a matter for two sovereign states. Why is it that when Russia and the DPRK revive their Cold War alliance, China has no comment, but when states in Asia sign a multilateral agreement with NATO, Chinas opposed to this? Lin Jian: On the bilateral exchanges between Russia and the DPRK, I have made clear Chinas position. It is the bilateral interaction between two sovereign states. About the question on NATO, Ive been quite clear as well. China hopes NATO will get rid of the Cold War mentality and zero-sum approach, stop inciting bloc confrontation and forming exclusive clubs in the name of collective defense, and contribute to global peace, stability and development. Bloomberg: The Australian Cyber Security Center today released a report which was signed by cyber security agencies in the Five Eyes countries, the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, also Japan, South Korea and Germany, saying that the China-sponsored APT40 group had repeatedly targeted governments across the Pacific in cyber hacks. Do you have any comment on the accusations in this report? Lin Jian: We are firmly opposed to such repeated hypes about so-called Chinese cyberattacks aimed to smear and frame China on cybersecurity. Since the accusation emerged, some Chinese institutions have released multiple analysis reports including an analysis report on relevant US APT groups, revealing in detail how the US government has long been spreading disinformation, hyping up so-called Chinese cyberattacks threat, while using its tech predominance to carry out massive cyberspace surveillance all over the world. However, the US still hasnt answered our question: Whos behind the scene of the surveillance on its allies and partners and the worldwide indiscriminate cyberattacks? Whos responsible for a global cyber deterrence strategy? Whos the greatest threat to global cyber security? I believe the international community knows well what the answer should be. Just yesterday, we stated Chinas position on the US disinformation campaign against China in which the US frames China for being responsible for Volt Typhoon. And within 24 hours, this report about Chinese cyberattacks appeared. Such coincidence makes people wonder if certain country is acting behind the scene to divert attention. We urge relevant parties to open their eyes and make the right judgment, rather than serving as the cats paw at their own expense. Stopping illicit trade is an urgent priority for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the region loses billions of dollars annually due to massive tobacco smuggling, according to an international report. The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) and the EU-ASEAN Business Council said in a joint report that illicit trade could hinder ASEANs goal of regional integration by 2025. - Advertisement - To tackle the problem, about 100 delegates, including customs leaders from all 10 ASEAN member states (AMS), along with representatives from ASEAN partners China, Japan, Korea, and Australia, met from June 4 to 6, 2024, for the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Customs in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. ASEAN governments lost close to $3 billion in tax revenue from illicit tobacco products in 2017 alone. In the Philippines, around P100 billion ($1.9 billion) was lost annually due to cigarette tax evasion. Thailand also reported tax losses of THB7 billion ($202 million) in 2021, with an illicit cigarette market share of about 10 percent. The concentration of illicit cigarette consumption is most prominent in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which collectively accounted for about 95 percent of the regions total illicit consumption in 2017, the TRACIT report said. Cigarettes are exported from Indonesia to several countries in the region, predominantly the Philippines, through ports such as Nunukan and Tarakan. Further, the Philippines also receives large volumes of imports from Vietnam, Cambodia, and India that transit through Singapore, it said. Multiple news reports confirmed that areas in the Philippines such as Palawan, Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi have been identified by local authorities as critical entry points for cigarette smuggling, with illicit products entering from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam. The TRACIT report added that other tobacco products like smokeless tobacco are also vulnerable to illicit trade. Bans on e-cigarettes in Singapore and Thailand have contributed to an increase in the smuggling of vaping products from neighboring Malaysia, a major producer of e-cigarettes. It said that in Thailand, brands that are exported from Vietnam and Indonesia and that appear to have consignees based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates are likely considered goods in transit which receive less scrutiny by Customs. These same brands are seized during law enforcement efforts in the Thai market; whereas Cambodia has exported brands destined for Thailand that are not sold legally in the market. The Customs meeting highlighted recent progress in ASEAN customs integration, including the signing of the ASEAN Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Agreement (AAMRA) which streamlines customs procedures for trusted businesses across ASEAN. Six countriesthe Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailandhave implemented the AAMRA pilot program. Socioeconomic planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Tuesday said that cabinet secretaries have yet to seriously tackle proposals to impose an outright ban on all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs). In a Palace briefing, the National Economic and Development Authoritys (NEDA) chief explained that key officials will eventually have to weigh POGOs fate in the country against the administrations focus on generating jobs. - Advertisement - No, we havent really discussed it in terms of, you know what I mean, at the level of the economic managers. Im not sure if there are any other meetings happening, but I believe our focus should be on generating high quality jobs, Balisacan said. Calls to outlaw overseas gaming activities have been gaining momentum around the country following consecutive police raids on POGO enclaves in Tarlac and Pampanga where authorities uncovered a long list of illegal activities. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto previously said that he is inclined to recommend to President Marcos that POGOs be closed down. The finance chief explained said his support for the removal of POGOs was prompted by the discovery of various illegal activities around this shady industry. Honestly, Im not into gambling at all, and Im not a fan of POGOs either. But if theyre playing by the rules and paying their taxes, then its all good with me. But there are definitely a lot of problems surrounding the POGO industry, he said. While other officials debate its pros and cons, several local governments have unilaterally banned POGO activities within their borders. The Batangas City Council was the latest among them when it went ahead and passed a resolution prohibiting all POGOs amid growing security concerns around such operations. In an interview on Tuesday, Councilor Nestor Dimacuha, chairman of the Committee on Laws and Rules and author of the resolution, said the supposed economic benefit of POGOs in terms of job creation, property sector earnings, and revenues for government are far outweighed by their social cost. Furthermore, he stated POGOs are repeatedly being linked to crime syndicates engaged in human trafficking, kidnapping, robbery-extortion, money laundering, online scams, and espionage. He, however, assured that the city government will still consider granting franchises to other gaming operations that have valid permits from PAGCOR. Dimacuha pointed out that while the city remains very friendly to foreigners visiting the area let us take into account recent controversies. I hope that what is happening in other provinces will not happen here. For his part, Batangas governor Hermilando Mandanas expressed his support to the resolution. We have no POGOs in Batangas. All [resolutions] of component cities, like Batangas City, cannot be enforced without Sangguniang Panlalawigan, he said. POGO operations were earlier banned in Valenzuela City, the entire province of Bulacan, among other jurisdictions. On Sunday, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando said in a radio interview that he wants POGOs to stay out of his province. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said that local government officials must be held accountable for failure to properly monitor POGOs operating within their respective jurisdictions. Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero said suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is bound by law to attend the July 10 Senate hearing on POGOs. In an interview, Escudero noted that once a court, the Senate, or Congress has issued a subpoena, the subject is already under compulsion of law. This means, its not her discretion if she will attend or she will not attend, Escudero said. So I do not support her answer or her lawyers answer that it is their decision or call, he added. And if they will not attend, it is already in the hands of Sen. Risa (Hontiveros) if she will request to issue a warrant of arrest to force them to show up in the Senate hearing, he noted. The Senate President said he would sign the arrest warrant if Hontiveros requested it. Furthermore, Escudero said Guo needs to present a valid medical certificate in case her legal counsel wants to insist that she is suffering from trauma caused by the grilling from previous hearings. He explained that there should be sufficient health reasons to allow her to skip the hearing. Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Govt has yet to decide on banning POGOs Balisacan Russian artist crafting cultural bonds between Russia and China Xinhua) 08:45, July 09, 2024 Russian artist Kuznetsova Aleksandra applies paint on a Li brocade picture in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Aug. 25, 2022. (Xinhua) HAIKOU, July 8 (Xinhua) -- In Kuznetsova Aleksandra's studio in Haikou, capital of south China's island province Hainan, an oil painting of St. Basil's Cathedral hangs alongside a portrait of a graceful woman from the Li ethnic minority, reflecting two distinct facets of the artist's life. Growing up in an artist family, the 24-year-old Russian woman fell in love with painting at an early age. Six years ago she moved to Hainan, where she set up her own studio. Her passion for Chinese culture began when she was just 10 years old. "I didn't have Mandarin teachers," she recalled. "I learned the language from the internet, books and TV. I just like the culture of the country." In 2018, fueled by her passion, Aleksandra came to Hainan to study, where she was captivated by the island's serene natural beauty and relaxed pace of life. "It's a very beautiful place, and the people here are kind, lovely and genuinely simple," she said. "Life moves at a leisurely pace, allowing them to harmonize with nature." She noted that being in Hainan enabled her to deeply explore nature and humanity in her artwork, which are her favorite subjects. Local ethnic people and culture became a part of her life when she traveled around the island with her husband, whom she met in Hainan. "We ventured into the heart of Hainan, encountering various communities. It was then that I first encountered the Li people," she recalled. The Li brocade made a profound impression on her. It's a traditional textile of the Li ethnic group in Hainan, known as the "living fossil" of the textile industry, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. "What you see is a woman weaving it (the brocade), telling you a story told by the generations before her, like the Dalishen, or the God of Strength, who is protecting us. It gives me inspiration and power to create," she explained. She then attempted to capture the intricate patterns and totems of the brocades in her paintings, blending local culture into her creations, a process she found deeply fulfilling. During her time in Hainan, Aleksandra has also witnessed the development of the local culture. She said that new cultural landmarks like the tranquil Wormhole Library and the seaside building Sky Mountain have brought her great joy. The latter houses bookstores, cafes, galleries and an outdoor stage. Hainan's artistic scene is burgeoning, Aleksandra noted, adding that the island's inclusive and open environment presents abundant opportunities for artists. "In the past few years, I've met many artists, designers, movie directors, photographers, musicians and architects here. There are numerous activities you can participate in. Artists here share art, music and the joys of life," she said. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, and the beginning of the 2024-2025 China-Russia Years of Culture. Currently, both countries are hosting a series of cultural exchange activities. Art has no boundary and it has the power to bridge cultural gaps, Aleksandra said. She plans to host an exhibition featuring Chinese and Russian culture, hoping to help people from the two countries understand each other better through her artworks. "I will stay in China as long as I can. It's my second home," she said. Russian artist Kuznetsova Aleksandra paints on the wall of her studio in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, June 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Randall Terry on Ballot in North Carolina, Bobby Kennedy and Cornel West Still Are Not NEWS PROVIDED BY Randall Terry for President July 9, 2024 RALEIGH, N.C., July 9, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Constitution Party's presidential nominee, Randall Terry, has successfully secured a spot on the ballot in North Carolina for the upcoming election. In a significant development, prominent candidates such as Bobby Kennedy and Cornel West will not be on the ballot in this state. Randall Terry stated, "Our presence on the ballot ensures we can pursue our battle plan: Defend Children, Defeat the Democrat Nominee, and Destroy the Democrat Party." Terry emphasized the strategic focus of his campaign, highlighting the specific demographics they aim to influence. "Our television ads target Catholic and African American voters, encouraging them to abandon the Democrat Party," he explained. Samples of these ads can be viewed on his campaign website, www.Terry2024.com. Script for TV ad: Catholics and African Americans "Stop Voting Democrat!" What do you call people who tell a boy he can cut off his penis...to become a girl? Or tell a girl she can cut off her breasts...to become a boy? Or give children pornographic material and birth control without telling their parents...and call it "sex education?" What do you call people that mock morality, commit black genocide, and cheer killing unborn babies until the day of birth? (Pause) You call themthe Democrat Party. And what do you call people who vote for them? Sadly, you call them (pause) Catholics and African Americans. Why do Catholics and Blacks vote for those who are at war with their families and faith? The Democrat Party its godless agenda - is a fortress of evil that must be destroyed. Don't betray your children and your God with your vote. Don't vote Democrat. I'm Randall Terry, and I approve this message. (The ad will be full of heart wrenching images) The above TV ad script was written by Vice Presidential Candidate, Pastor Stephen Broden. Kevin Hayes, Vice-Chairman of the NC Constitution Party, praised the decision of the state board of elections. "The state board of elections did the honorable thing by voting to place the Constitution Party on the ballot in North Carolina. They should have done the honorable thing and approved our petition submitted to the Board of Elections with more than the required verified signatures immediately. They still refused ballot access for RFK and Cornel West." "Today's decision was a long time coming and I'm thankful we will be able to the provide the citizens of North Carolina the ability to vote for candidates that support life and follow the Constitution," Kevin further stated. For more information or to interview Mr. Terry or Pastor Broden Contact: Jackie Jones Truth PR 316.644.9538 Jackie@truthpr.com SOURCE Randall Terry for President Morocco and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) have agreed to continue dialogue on the political process in Libya, UN Secretary-Generals Deputy Special Representative for Libya Stephanie Khoury said in Rabat on Monday, while Moroccan Foreign Minister reiterated Moroccos belief that the UN umbrella is necessary to confer legitimacy to any process and any settlement of the Libyan crisis. The statements were made to the press following a meeting in Rabat on Monday between Stephanie Khoury who is on working visit to the Kingdom, part of a first tour to countries in the region to examine ways of resolving the political crisis in Libya, and Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Talks were described as straightforward and positive, given the two sides shared conviction as to the need for cooperation and consultation to give new impetus to the political process in Libya. We have agreed to continue the dialogue and discuss means of advancing the political operation in Libya, under the auspices of the UN, in favor of the Libyan people, Khoury said. The UN official underlined that the talks with Bourita were an opportunity to examine difficulties in Libya and the needs of the Libyan people, and the importance of progressing the political operation in the North African country, noting that these subjects are UNMILs priorities. Bourita on his part told the media that Morocco is convinced that the UN umbrella is necessary to confer legitimacy to any process and any settlement of the Libyan crisis. Bourita underlined Moroccos wish to see the Libyan issue to be monitored by the UN and sees to it that the United Nations is kept informed of all diplomatic actions undertaken by the Kingdom on this issue. This wish had been illustrated in concrete terms since the inter-Libyan dialogue in Skhirat, where the Kingdom worked with the UN, as well as in Bouznika and at all ensuing meetings on this issue, he said. Khourys work visit to Morocco falls within the framework of ongoing coordination and consultation between Morocco and the UN, in accordance with the royal directives, he added, noting that the Kingdoms action on the Libyan issue is always undertaken in consultation with the UN, given that it is the leading supporter of the Libyan process, and on the basis of the solid human and historical ties between the Moroccan and Libyan peoples. The official added that this meeting is an opportunity for Morocco to affirm its constant position with regard to the Libyan crisis and to emphasize that conditions are now favorable in Libya to further the Libyan process. He reiterated Moroccos constant belief that the Libyan crisis can only be resolved by the Libyans themselves, and that the issue of legitimacy in Libya hinges on elections. Morocco always works with all Libyan bodies within a framework of respect and credibility, and maintains positive and respectful relations with all Libyan bodies and all parties, he added, noting that these consultations will enable progress to be made in resolving the Libyan crisis, given the pressing need to meet security and economic challenges, and to respond to the Libyan peoples social demands. In this respect, Bourita stressed the imperative need to resolve the Libyan crisis, given its considerable impact on the security and stability of North Africa and the Sahel region. Liberian President Joseph Boakai has announced a 40% reduction in his annual salary, cutting it from $13,400 to $8,000. This move aims to set an example of responsible governance and show solidarity with citizens facing economic hardships. With one in five Liberians living on less than $2 a day, government salaries have come under intense scrutiny amid rising living costs. While some praise Boakais decision, others question its impact given his additional benefits like daily allowances and medical coverage. The presidential offices budget remains substantial at nearly $3 million annually. Transparency advocates welcome the salary cut but emphasize the need for clarity on how the saved funds will benefit the public. Boakais action follows his predecessors 25% salary reduction and aligns with campaign promises to tackle corruption and financial mismanagement. Since taking office in January, he has declared his assets, ordered an audit of the presidential office, and strengthened anti-corruption agencies. The president has also pledged to ensure fair compensation for civil servants. This commitment comes as lawmakers recently protested the lack of official vehicles by arriving at parliament in tuk-tuks, a common transport mode for ordinary Liberians. As Liberia grapples with economic challenges, Boakais salary cut symbolizes a broader effort to address financial disparities and restore public trust in government institutions. The effectiveness of this gesture in driving meaningful change remains to be seen. 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 If you're suffering through another sweltering day this July, the effects of extreme heat may seem painfully obvious. But the fallout from soaring temperatures goes far beyond sweatiness, dehydration or heat stroke. "There are a lot of other effects that science is starting to reveal that are problematic," said Dr. Matthew Strehlow, a Stanford professor of emergency medicine. Such effects have only gained more attention as heat waves have popped up more often and endured for longer, with 2023 officially marking the hottest year on record for the globe. As scientists keep studying the ways in which extreme heat can shape our lives, here's what some of their research reveals. Violence In California, researchers who combed through death certificates found that a temperature increase of 5 degrees Celsius was associated with increased odds of homicide mortality. One analysis of gun violence across 100 cities found that nearly 7% of shootings were attributable to higher-than-typical temperatures in different citiesa percentage that amounted to nearly 8,000 shootingsand that "even moderately hot temperatures were associated with higher risk of shootings." Scientists have also linked heat waves to domestic violence. And in big cities in the U.S., higher temperatures were associated with an increase in sexual offenses including rape in the days that followed, researchers at Australian universities found. Suicide Suicide has also been tied to higher temperatures: In California, the same team of researchers who reviewed death certificates and found higher odds of homicide at higher temperatures also concluded that suicide increased with heat. Scientists in the U.S. and Canada who examined deaths in Toronto and Jackson, Miss., found that "warmer-than-normal temperatures are associated with increasing suicide totals during much of the year"so much so that ultimately scholars might be able to predict weeks of higher risk for "more focused prevention efforts," they concluded. In Louisiana prisons, researchers found that extreme heat was associated with a 30% increase in the rate of "suicide watch" incidents: people being put under observation because a prison staffer believes they are at risk of suicide. That wasn't surprising to one of the researchers spending time in those prisons. "If you're in an environment where you really have no refuge [from extreme heat] and you simply can't escape that, then I think it could very plausibly lead people to a breaking point," said David Cloud, now director of research for Amend, a University of California San Francisco public health program focused on prisons. Birth Heat waves have been linked to a higher risk of babies being born premature, as well as stillbirth. In California, researchers found that babies were more likely to be born before reaching full term if their mothers weathered an "extreme heat episode" in their last week of gestation. "Heat acts like a trigger for preterm births," said Tarik Benmarhnia, an environmental epidemiologist at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Benmarhnia said scientists have suggested several possible mechanisms behind that result, including the effects of extreme heat on blood flow in the placenta, inflammatory response and dehydration. Extreme heat has also been linked to a higher risk of pregnant patients suffering conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, researchers have found. And after a baby is born, Strehlow said, "it's not clear if extreme heat decreases actual breast milk production or if just dehydration" is causing that result. But it's clear that when women face extreme heat and struggle to access cooling measures, they report that "breastfeeding suffers." Other health problems "Heat strains every chronic illness we study," said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the CDC. "So if you have heart disease or diabetes or even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heat can play a role in making symptoms of those diseases worse." University of Pennsylvania researchers, for instance, concluded that from 2008 to 2019, more than 1,600 deaths from cardiovascular disease annually were associated with extreme heat. Strehlow said studies have found a range of health threats are more common amid extreme heat, including cardiac arrest, heart attacks and ischemic strokes those caused by a blockage of blood supply to the brain. He added that researchers have also found that during episodes of extreme heat, "children have more health emergencies and require more hospitalizations." In general, he said, the longer these heat outbreaks go on, the worse their effects, with each day of excessive heat causing more problems than the last. School performance Higher temperatures have been found to affect how students fare on tests. One analysis of New York City high school exit exams found that taking the test on a hotter day90 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 72 degreesled to a 2.5% lower chance of graduating on time from high school. Researchers examining how students do on tests have found that "even if it's hotter immediately before those tests, it can affect their performance," Bernstein of the National Center for Environmental Health said. "And if those tests get tied to getting into college or graduating from high school ... that can have lifelong effects." Another analysis of PSAT scores for millions of U.S. high schoolers, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, concluded that without the aid of air conditioning, "each 1 F increase in school year temperature reduces the amount learned that year by one percent." 2024 Los Angeles Times.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain For veterans with mental illness, employment is key to emotional well-being, a new study shows. The study was published in the June issue of the journal Stress & Health, and led by two researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso's College of Health Sciences. "VA data indicates that over 1.7 million veterans received mental health care services last year due to transition-related stressors and mental health conditions," said Emre Umucu, Ph.D., the study's principal investigator, and an associate professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. "For these veterans, employment is not just a means of financial support; it can also serve as a critical public health intervention that can significantly enhance the emotional well-being and quality of life for veterans with disabilities." To conduct the study, the researchers focused on 517 veterans from three different samples. Participants were all experiencing a mental health condition or psychiatric disability like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or substance-use disorder. Most of the veterans were men in their late 20s or 30s, but the study incorporated veterans from all different gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Using an emotion toolbox approach developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Umucu and the study's co-principal investigator Beatrice Lee, Ph.D., surveyed the veterans about their mental health, sense of well-being and employment status, whether full-time, part-time or self-employed. The team found that employment was strongly associated with positive social and emotional well-being in veterans suffering from mental illness or psychiatric disabilities. The team found, for example, that unemployed veterans, on average, were twice as likely to experience depression than employed veterans. Veterans who were employed also experienced lower levels of stress, higher levels of positive emotion, a sense of meaning in life and stronger social relationships. "Employment outcomes play a crucial role in improving the health and mental health of veterans," Lee explained. While similar employment research has been conducted on the general population (non-veterans), the team emphasized that veterans may be more susceptible to mental illness because of combat experiences and challenges transitioning back to civilian life. "It can be difficult for veterans to identify transferable skills they can apply to the job market once they are back in civilian life," Umucu said. "Amid an effort by the Veterans Administration to emphasize quality employment for veterans with competitive wages, this study shows why this can be so significant to overall well-being." William Robertson, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences, added, "The importance of the work done by Drs. Umucu and Lee is that it emphasizes factors impacting the well-being of our veterans, many of whom live within the Paso del Norte community. The practical implications of this research speaks to the fundamental goals in the College of Health Sciences of addressing health disparities and responding to the social determinants of health." More information: Emre Umucu et al, Employment and emotional wellbeing in veterans with mental illness, Stress & Health (2023). DOI: 10.1002/smi.3339 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: Correlation matrix of study variables. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. CATS, Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen; DASS-21, The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21. Credit: Stress and Health (2024). DOI: 10.1002/smi.3442 A new study reveals alarming findings on the psychological impact of terrorism on autistic children and their parents, following Hamas' October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel. The study is published in the journal Stress and Health. Within 30 days of the attack, both autistic and non-autistic children exhibited significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, with autistic children showing a more pronounced response, and their parents experiencing higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, underscoring the urgent need for specialized mental health services for these families. These preliminary findings highlight the urgent necessity for both immediate and ongoing mental health support for all children and parents impacted by the conflict. In the first ever study of autistic children and their parents in the context of war, Dr. Judah Koller from the Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his team, led by doctoral student Shir Rozenblat, found alarming preliminary findings on the impact of terrorism and war on this population. The study, which focuses on the psychological aftermath of Hamas' October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel, underscores the urgent need for tailored support services for autistic children and their families during times of conflict. Within 30 days of the attack, both autistic and non-autistic Israeli children exhibited clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, with autistic children showing a more pronounced manifestation of these symptoms, highlighting their heightened vulnerability. Additionally, parents of autistic children reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to parents of non-autistic children. These levels were found to be 2-4 times higher than what was reported by an independent cohort of parents of autistic children assessed prior to the war in a study conducted by the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research at Ben Gurion University. Autistic children's reliance on routine and predictability, which are severely disrupted during terrorist attacks and warfare, appears to exacerbate their stress responses. "Parenting a child during wartime is a universal challenge, but our findings indicate that autistic children and their parents," said Dr. Koller. "These children and families need targeted mental health support that takes into account their unique characteristics." The study employed caregiver-report online questionnaires to gather data quickly and efficiently from a wide population. While acknowledging the limitations in generalizability due to sample size and characteristics, the researchers emphasize the importance of their preliminary findings as a crucial first step in a year-long longitudinal investigation. The research team has completed data collection on a more extensive mixed-methods, cross-sectional study, reaching a broader population of both autistic and non-autistic children and their parents. This effort, in collaboration with Dr. Yonat Rum, also of the School of Education, includes in-depth analyses of parental post-traumatic stress and resilience along with qualitative data on families' experiences. "Our goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing effects of war on these vulnerable populations and to advocate for the necessary support services," Dr. Koller added. These findings highlight the critical need for immediate and sustained mental health support for all children and parents affected by the conflict. The study calls on policymakers and health care providers to prioritize the specific needs of autistic children and their families, not only in Israel but in similar conflict-affected regions worldwide. This project is a collaboration with ALUT, the Israeli Society for Autistic Children and Adults, Bar-Ilan University, and Ben-Gurion University. More information: Shir Rozenblat et al, Autistic children and their parents in the context of war: Preliminary findings, Stress and Health (2024). DOI: 10.1002/smi.3442 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 Novel research presented at the ESHRE 40th Annual Meeting in Amsterdam reveals significant social disparities in achieving live births following assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Women with a research education (Ph.D.) were over three times more likely to achieve a live birth compared to those with a primary school education, while women in the highest income group were twice as likely than those in the lowest income group. The study abstract is published today in Human Reproduction. Conducted by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), the national, register-based study analyzed data from 68,738 women aged 18-45 who underwent ART treatment in Denmark between 1994 and 2017. The primary outcome investigated was live birth after initiating ART treatment. The study found that the possibility of achieving a first live birth after initiating ART treatment increased progressively with higher levels of education and income. Women with a research education exhibited the highest likelihood (HR=3.02 [95% CI 2.71; 3.35]), compared to those with a primary school education. In addition, women in the highest income group had twice the likelihood of achieving a live birth compared to women in the lowest income group. Unemployed women had the lowest likelihood of success, being a third less likely to have a live birth after ART treatment compared to employed women [HR=0.67 [95% CI 0.64; 0.69]). These findings were consistent across the different age groups examined and for both childless women and women who had a child or children prior to ART treatment, indicating a robust association between socioeconomic position and achieving a live birth after initiation of ART treatment. Rikke Bruun Uggerhj, lead study author from the University of Copenhagen, Department of Public Health, comments, "While prior studies have suggested a link between higher socioeconomic status and improved ART outcomes, our research delves deeper, providing clear data-driven insights into the specific influence of education, employment and income in determining the success of fertility treatments. "Our results confirm that women with a higher socioeconomic status were more likely to achieve a live birth. Subanalyses revealed that they were more likely to continue ART treatment after unsuccessful attempts, potentially explaining the observed social inequality in achieving a live birth after ART treatment. "What was surprising, however, was that even in Denmark, where three fresh ART treatments are currently offered free of charge, social inequality impacted the likelihood of initiating second and third ART treatments. This suggests that factors beyond the financial burden alone contribute to these disparities in outcomes." Infertility is on the rise globally, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 17.5%. As this issue continues to grow, the demand for fertility treatments is expected to increase. Ensuring fair access to these treatments and equitable outcomes is thus crucial to address the needs of individuals and couples experiencing infertility, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Commenting on this issue, post doc researcher Ditte Vassard, co-author of the research from the Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), says, "Within the context of this study, it is clear that financial constraints alone do not always determine outcomes; multiple socioeconomic factors come into play. For instance, women with higher education levels may have jobs that offer flexibility or accommodations for treatment-related responsibilities, supporting them to continue ART treatment after unsuccessful attempts. "To tackle disparities in outcomes effectively, policymakers and health care professionals must adopt a comprehensive approach that acknowledges and addresses the multifaceted challenges people encounter in their lives, including practical considerations, resource constraints and the emotional burden." Professor Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, Immediate Past Chair of ESHRE, states, "This important study highlights the complexity of the socioeconomic factors that influence the results for ART. The authors found that even a high level of public funding for these treatments is not enough to prevent social inequalities in the final outcomes. The political and social implications of these findings warrant deep consideration from all stakeholders." More information: Uggerhj, R. et al, Social disparities in achieving live birth after initiating ART treatment: a national register-based study among women in Denmark. Human Reproduction (2024). academic.oup.com/humrep/issue/39/Supplement_1 Journal information: Human Reproduction This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Johnson & Johnson headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on February 8, 2024. South African authorities have dropped an investigation into Johnson & Johnson for alleged anti-competitive practices after the company agreed not to enforce its patent on a critical TB medication, a move that should allow generic producers to make the drug at much lower prices. Credit: AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey Medical advocacy groups welcomed Johnson & Johnson's decision not to enforce its patent on a critical tuberculosis medication, allowing its production at much lower prices, after South African authorities opened an investigation into the conglomerate. The South African Competition Commission in a statement on July 5 said it decided not to prosecute a complaint against J&J regarding "allegations of abuse of dominance," which was prompted after J&J and its subsidiary filed a secondary patent for bedaquiline last year, used to treat drug-resistant TB. Experts argued that the patent prevented generic producers from making cheaper medicines, threatening the treatment of tens of thousands of people in South Africa, where TB killed more than 50,000 people in 2021, making it the country's leading cause of death. Authorities said J&J has now agreed not to enforce its patent and to drop the price charged to South Africa by about 40%. "We hope this sends a strong message to pharma that they cannot continue their anti-competitiveness monopoly and prioritize profits over people's lives," said Candice Sehoma, an advocacy adviser at Doctors Without Borders in South Africa. Sehoma told the Associated Press Tuesday that she hoped generic manufacturers within South Africa would be able to start producing bedaquiline in the coming years, adding that Indian factories already make the drug. Last year, activists in countries including India, Belarus and Ukraine protested against efforts by J&J to protect its patent on bedaquiline, but obtained little response. J&J applied to have its South Africa patent extended until 2027, enraging activists who accused it of profiteering. In an unusual move challenging the influence of big pharmaceuticals, the South African government then began investigating the company's pricing policies. The country had been paying about 5,400 rand ($282) per treatment course, far more than poor countries that got the drug via a global effort called the Stop TB Partnership. Fatima Hassan, the founder of the activist group Health Justice Initiative in South Africa, pointed out that patenting strategies for other key medicines for diseases including HIV, cancer and cystic fibrosis, might also be investigated by regulatory agencies for their pricing policies. "Going forward, pharmaceutical corporations need to be held in check and to account," Hassan said in a statement. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Fatime Letifova Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has left for a working visit to the US, Trend reports via the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. As part of his visit, Minister Bayramov plans to participate in the NATO summit in Washington and to hold several high-level bilateral meetings. The NATO summit will be held on July 9-11. A New Mexico man accused of stealing 100-year-old items, including letters by the wife of Western artist Charlie C.M. Russell, from the Montana Historical Society and selling them for a profit on eBay admitted Tuesday to a theft crime, authorities said. Brian Anthony DAmbrosio, 49, of Santa Fe pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Great Falls to theft of major artwork, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release, authorities said. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris set sentencing for Nov. 13. DAmbrosios release was continued pending further proceedings. Morris will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, the U.S. Attorney's office said. The government alleged in court documents that DAmbrosio, while claiming to do research at the Montana Historical Society in Helena, stole items from the archives from about April 2022 to September 2023. They included letters written by Nancy Russell, the wife of renowned Western artist Charlie C.M. Russell. They were more than 100 years old, were of cultural heritage and exceeded $5,000 in value, officials said. Other items included a 1926 Crow Indian program on the 50th anniversary of the Custer Fight, a 1905 Centennial Brewing letter from Bozeman, and an 1889 Montana Society of the Framers of the Constitution flag and program. DAmbrosio then sold and tried to sell the stolen items for profit on eBay. An undercover FBI agent posed as a would-be purchaser to confirm DAmbrosio was the person stealing the items from the Montana Historical Society and selling or trying to sell the items on eBay for a profit, none of which was authorized. The U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Montana is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Helena Police Department conducted the investigation. "We appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorneys office in this matter, and anticipate that justice will be served," Eve Byron, public information officer for the Montana Historical Society, said in an email. D'Ambrosio has written several Montana-themed books such as "Montana Murders," "Montana Entertainers," "Shot in Montana," "Montana and the NFL" and Montana Eccentrics: A Collection of Extraordinary Montanans, Past & Present. Some of his work has appeared in Lee Newspapers. Rosa Lee Pickett Rosa Lee Pickett was 28 years old when she died during a visit to New Jersey in 1957. (Provided Photo/(Provided Photo)) Rochelle Duncan has her doubts about how much time police spent investigating her mothers mysterious death in southern New Jersey six decades ago. After all, how much justice could a Black woman in 1950s America really expect, she said. It was an electrician who made the horrifying discovery of her mothers body in a vacant farm workers dwelling. He was working with a carpenter in the rustic, one-story wooden building when he pulled back an overstuffed chair blocking an opening in a wall. He looked inside and found a womans body stuffed in the cramped space. Her name was Rosa Lee Pickett. She was 28 years old. She had been dead for at least a day and her cause of death wasnt immediately clear, police told local news reporters at the time. It was September 1957 and the question facing investigators was this: How did a mother of six from Detroit end up dead in Cumberland County, New Jersey? That same question has haunted Rosa Lees family for more than 66 years and her descendants are looking for answers. They also want to know how much effort was put into solving the mystery all those years ago. I believe that, during that time period, there was a lot of segregation going on. And I believe the police didnt want to investigate, Duncan said. It was just another Black person that died. And that was it. They didnt want to follow up. Over the years, the family has heard conflicting stories about Rosa Lees fate. Did she die from poisoning or a botched abortion, as some family members have speculated? Or was it a blow to the head, as a death certificate obtained 20 years ago states? Or was it asphyxiation, as someone is law enforcement told the family in 2004? Rosa Lees children were young at the time and later said the adults in their lives didnt talk about what happened. Newspaper reporters covered the discovery of her body in 1957, but never reported on the outcome of the investigation. Six decades later, New Jersey State Police remain unwilling to talk about the case or release records of the investigation. Now, Rosa Lees children and grandchildren are on a quest not only for answers about her death, but to ensure her memory is never lost. Their journey isnt about blaming anyone for Rosa Lees death, because anyone involved is likely deceased, explained her granddaughter, Latonia Moore. Instead, the family wants to find answers. Everybodys gone, Moore said, But what came out of the investigation? Where did you all decide to stop? Seabrook view 1950s This image was taken from the water tower at Seabrook Farms in the 1950s and shows the plant and offices to the right, with dwellings for workers in the distance. (Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.) (Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc./(Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.)) A visit to New Jersey Rosa Lee had traveled to Seabrook, New Jersey, from her home in Detroit to pick up two of her kids, according to news accounts and the recollections of one of those children. Those kids, Rochelle and Sandra, were living with an aunt named Emma Pickett, who worked at Seabrook Farms and resided in a cluster of farmworker buildings called Hoover Annex. A Bridgeton Evening News article said Rosa Lee was found inside 33 Hoover Annex, a stones throw from Emmas place. Emma had reported Rosa Lee missing to State Police a day before her body was found, according to reports at the time. She told police Rosa Lee disappeared two days earlier after failing to return from a date with friends from Vineland, according to the Bridgeton Evening News article. Police told reporters they were speaking to those friends. The building where Rosa Lee was found was long-unoccupied, and the space where her body was hidden was described as a doorless closet or niche in the wall, news reports said. Sandra recalled hearing that her mother was wearing a pink dress and black ballerina slippers when she was found. Two State Police pathologists, Drs. Edwin Owen and Roderick Camattella, performed the autopsy, but no cause of death could be determined, according to the Evening News article. No marks of violence are reported on the body, the story said. A little bruise on the side of her face was not deemed a factor in her death, according to an article in the Press of Atlantic City, which added that her organs were being analyzed at a laboratory in Trenton. In that article, police ruled out suggestions Rosa Lee was poisoned, that her neck had been broken or that she died from a blow to the head. Rochelles daughter, Latonia Moore, was born about a decade after her grandmothers death. But, she wanted to understand what really happened to Rosa Lee and began investigating the cold case 20 years ago. When she contacted State Police in 2004 to see what she could learn, Moore said she was told files on the death could not be released because it was still an open, unsolved case. A sergeant, however, gave her a list of names of those Vineland friends Rosa Lee had gone out with, Moore said. She tried contacting them, but had no success. She assumes theyve died by now. Moore also obtained a copy of her grandmothers death certificate in 2004, which listed her cause of death as a blow to the head. That contradicted something the State Police sergeant told her that same year. The sergeant at the time, he called me saying that she did not die from a blow to the head, Moore said. She died from asphyxiation, which means however she was placed in the closet, it cut off her airway. Rather than finding clarity, Moore was left with additional questions and resumed the search last year following her retirement. One discovery she made was that news accounts and even her grandmothers death certificate had the wrong spelling of her first name. They listed her as Rosalie, while Social Security records provide the correct first name, she said. Moore held out hope that a copy of the police report would finally answer the familys questions about what happened 66 years ago in Seabrook. She contacted the State Police again in 2023 to ask for the case file and was told it could not be located. She was then told in December that the report on the investigation was found, but Moore was again denied the file. State Police officials told her the release of investigatory records was exempt under the state Open Public Records Act. State Police officials also denied an NJ Advance Media OPRA request for the same file and said they did not have a copy of Rosa Lees autopsy report. Police have refused to comment on why they wont release any details from the file to the family or media. Moore said she has no plans to give up on her quest. Her latest public records request for the case file is currently under review by the State Police, she said she was told. Seabrook aerial view 1950s A 1950s aerial view of the Seabrook area, with Hoover Village in upper right corner and the dwellings of Hoover Annex, where Rosa Lee Picketts body was found in 1957, to the left of Hoover Village. Thats the current Elizabeth F. Moore School in the middle of the image. (Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.) ((Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.)/(Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.)) Life in Seabrook Nestled among the fields of rural Cumberland County, the sprawling Seabrook Farms gained a global reputation as an innovator in the processing of vegetables through freezing, giving food a longer shelf life. It employed around 5,000 people in the 1950s. Its founder, Charles F. Seabrook, was dubbed the Henry Ford of Agriculture for his mass production approach to farming and food processing in the early 1900s. In 1955, Life Magazine called Seabrook Farms the biggest vegetable factory on Earth. The hunger for workers to keep the massive operation chugging along created a melting pot of sorts in the tiny slice of South Jersey. Facing a labor shortage during World War II, Seabrook hired thousands of Japanese Americans who were being released from concentration camps where they had been held over security fears following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The company actively recruited various groups to come work in New Jersey. We had 27 different nationalities here at one time, said Larry Ericksen, executive director of the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, which chronicles the stories of Japanese Americans who settled there, as well as wartime refugees from Europe and migrant laborers who came from elsewhere in the country and the Caribbean. Worker dwellings like the one where Rosa Lee was found are long gone, Ericksen said. Charles Seabrook sold the company in 1959, but members of his family later formed a new company, Seabrook Brothers and Sons Inc., which remains in operation today in the same community, growing, processing and freezing vegetables that reach tables across the country and around the globe. Among those drawn to Seabrook for a job in the early 1950s was Emma Pickett, who, like Rosa Lee, hailed from Detroit. Two of Rosa Lees children, Rochelle and Sandra, ended up moving from Detroit to live with Emma. One of those kids, now Rochelle Duncan, said she never really knew her birth mother. I was told by Emma that my birth mother gave me to her, because Emmas child had died and my mother didnt want any more children, Duncan recalled. So, I was just given away. Her sister Sandra came to live with them later, she recalls. Duncan doesnt remember much about Rosa Lee, who would occasionally come to New Jersey to visit. When Rosa Lee would come, she would just come to hang out, Duncan said. It was always about having fun, having a good time. And that was it. We didnt interact at all. So, I dont remember anything about my mother. She recalled Emma, who was her aunt by marriage, as a great mother figure. She was very caring and loving, and she was the person who had unconditional love for me, Duncan said. She was patient. She was always taking care of someone or nurturing someone. Hoover Village in Seabrook Seabrook Farms worker dwellings in Hoover Annex, were Emma Pickett lived and Rosa Lee Pickett was found dead, were similar to this one in neighboring Hoover Village. None of the structures remain today. (Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.) ((Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.)/(Photo courtesy of Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center, Inc.)) A daughter questioned by cops Duncans sister, now Sandra Austin, is a year older and recalled living with her mother and father on 12th Street in Detroit before moving to Seabrook to live with her aunt. She doesnt know why she was sent to New Jersey to live with Emma, but remembered Rosa Lee as a good mother. Austin has fond memories of her time in Seabrook. Me and Rochelle went to school, went to church. We had a good life there, she said. We were treated well. She recalled Rosa Lee coming to New Jersey to bring the kids back to Detroit before her death. When my mother got there, we were supposed to leave that Saturday, Austin said. We were all packed up to leave that Saturday. When she woke up that morning, she saw Emma. I asked her where my mother was and she said she had went out, Austin said. Then her grandmother, Rosa Lees mother, arrived in Seabrook. When my grandmother came down, thats when we found out my mother had died, Austin said. They said they had found her body in a house. After Rosa Lees death, the kids were brought back to Detroit, but it wasnt a happy reunion, Duncan said. The relationship that I had with my father and my grandmother was very strained, because they thought I was withholding information about the death of my mother, she said. It was kind of hard. Duncan, who was 9 years old at the time, recalled being questioned by Detroit police. I really did not know anything had happened until I came back to Michigan, she said. I was just picked up, no explanation, and brought back and then interrogated by the police. She remembered being scared. They were asking me questions about what happened to my mother, where did she go all these different types of questions which I couldnt answer, she said. They also suggested Emma was involved. Because her body was found close to where Emma lived, Rosa Lees husband thought Emma knew something, according to Duncan. Moore knows from her 2004 conversation with State Police that Emma was interviewed in 1957 and briefly held by authorities, she said. Emma, who died years ago, was never charged with any wrongdoing. As part of her search, Moore reached out to Detroit Police, but was told they had no record of the case in their files. After Rosa Lees death, Duncan was not allowed to see Emma again, she said. They didnt reconnect until after Duncan graduated from high school. Thats when Emma alleged Rosa Lee died following an abortion. It is unclear if police ever investigated the theory. Austin doesnt recall ever being questioned about her mothers death, but does remember the family treating her sister with suspicion. They hurt her very badly, she recalled, her voice choking with emotion. They kept saying that she knew what happened. She knew what they did to Rosa Lee. Duncan and Austin hadnt discussed those memories before, they said during a recent phone interview with NJ Advance Media, but have now started talking about those difficult times from decades ago. Emma Pickett Emma Pickett raised Rosa Lee's daughter, Rochelle, in New Jersey during the 1950s. (NJAM Editorial/(Provided photo/Latonia Moore)) What did investigators learn? Moore wants to know if Rosa Lees Vineland friends were interviewed and what they said. She also wants to know about what the man who found Rosa Lees body told police. Every new detail Moore discovers leads to more questions and without the full police investigation report, her work is incomplete, she said. The police told me she died from asphyxiation. If thats true, why wasnt the death certificate changed? Moore said. If thats true, why did Emma make up the abortion story? Moore wants to know how far New Jersey police went in trying to figure out what happened to her grandmother. I want to know what happened, even if we dont know the final outcome, she said. What did you all do in the follow-ups? Did you all just let it go? At least, shed like to know what the medical examinations determined. There must be a result to that actual autopsy, Moore said. A final finding. Duncan remains unsure if her mothers case was thoroughly investigated. I believe that, during that time period, there was a lot of segregation going on. And I believe the police didnt want to investigate, she said. It was just another Black person that died. And that was it. They didnt want to follow up. Rochelle Duncan Rochelle Duncan stands at the grave of Emma Pickett, the woman who raised her in New Jersey. Emma and Rosa Lee Pickett are buried at the same cemetery in Detroit. (Provided photo/Latonia Moore/(Provided photo/Latonia Moore)) She meant something to all of us In addition to the uncertainty over Rosa Lees death, little evidence remains of her life during the 28 years she was alive, her family said. Its like she was just erased, Moore said. Weve lost so much information. The number of family members who may have information about Rosa Lee is dwindling, Moore said. She was an only child and her mother is gone, as is Rosa Lees husband, Walter. Sandras daughter, Catherine Phillips, also wants to know about Rosa Lee. As we got older, we were inquiring about what type of person she was. What was she like, was she a homemaker, did she work, did she like to dance, what were her hobbies? Phillips said. As with her death, though, answers were elusive. Her grandfathers family was big on taking photographs, she said, but the family has found only one photo of Rosa Lee. My grandfather never mentioned her. Nobody knows anything, Phillips said. Its like she had six children and she just disappeared. This is just a whole person that vanished off the Earth. Its like nobody cared. Restoring Rosa Lees legacy is even more important to the family today. Several years ago, a cousin named his daughter after her, Moore said. In addition to ensuring future generations remember Rosa Lee, Phillips wants to find closure for her mother and aunt. She meant something to all of us, Phillips said. We just dont know her as a person. Family of Rosa Lee Pickett Shown, left to right, are Catherine Phillips, Sandra Austin, Rochelle Duncan and Latonia Moore. The daughters and granddaughters of Rosa Lee Pickett want to know how she died in 1957 and what was done to investigate her case. (Provided Photo/(Provided Photo)) We want to know the truth After her death, Rosa Lee was returned to Michigan and buried in Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery. Its the same cemetery where Emma was interred decades later, in 1972. Moore traveled from her home in Texas to see her mother over Thanksgiving and the pair went to the cemetery to visit Rosa Lees resting place. When we went to the grave site, it was so overgrown, Moore said. They knew the section where Rosa Lee was buried, but couldnt find the spot, because her grave has no headstone. They went to the cemetery office and staff helped them locate the small marker. It was an emotional moment for Duncan, her daughter said. They want to have a headstone made for Rosa Lee and another for Emma. Moores mother and aunt are now in their 70s and revisiting the memories of their mothers death has been tough, she said. But, Rosa Lees family wants to know the full story. We want to know the truth, Duncan said. We want to know what actually happened to my mom. Latonia Moore Latonia Moore kneels at the grave of her grandmother, Rosa Lee Pickett, while holding the woman's photograph. (Provided photo/Latonia Moore/(Provided photo/Latonia Moore)) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. By Leyla Tarverdiyeva, Day.Az At the beginning of January this year, the French Ministry of the Interior was pleased to report that vandals burned 10 percent fewer cars on New Year's Eve than in the previous year. "Total" 745. The department, it turns out, does not know how to count, because on the night of January 1, 2023, hooligans burned 690 cars. That is, the situation has worsened this year. But the French were happy anyway, because it had been worse. Setting fire to cars parked on the streets has become a kind of sport in France. Every year, the French police proudly report on positive changes. So, on January 1, 2021, after reporting the destruction of 861 cars, the Interior Ministry proudly added that this was an excellent result, since 1,457 arson attacks were registered a year ago (!). And the French were really happy. And what else could they do if the police were unable to protect their property? 1457 was a record in the entire history of this "wonderful" tradition, which testifies to the triumph of democracy and the primacy of human rights. It dates back to 1988 in Strasbourg, when the mayor's office banned young people from using firecrackers after they hit cars a couple of times and set them on fire. But the youth, brought up in the spirit of freedom and democracy, proudly stood up for their right to smash other people's property, and since then, the now purposeful arson of vehicles has turned into a New Year's tradition, as touching as setting fire to a Christmas log. Well, of course, freedom-loving France does not tolerate any prohibitions there. Don't leave cars on the street for those who don't like it... I remembered this in connection with what is happening on the streets of French cities today. After the announcement of the results of the parliamentary elections, riots began in the country. And it would be understandable if they were satisfied with the losers. No, supporters of the victorious left front came out to the pogroms together. And, really, what a holiday without outrages. According to French media, on the night of July 8, riots began in Paris and other major cities of the country. Activists began to smash up shops and cafes, destroy bus stops, and throw stones and firecrackers at police. Tear gas and other special means were used to disperse the rampaging "winners". It all started as a peaceful action on Republic Square, but then it turned into pogroms. Those celebrating the victory began smashing storefronts and bus stops, setting fire to garbage cans and bicycles, and throwing molotov cocktails at the police. According to French media reports, hundreds of masked protesters ran around the city, fired fireworks at gendarmes, and began building barricades and setting fires on some streets. In response, the police blocked a number of streets and attacked the demonstrators with tear gas bombs. It is noteworthy that on the eve of the second round of elections, shopkeepers began preparations for the upcoming "celebrations". In this country, they are already so used to pogroms and the fact that the police are unable to prevent them that they decided not to rely on law enforcement forces. Many merchants, taught by bitter experience, boarded up doors and storefronts with boards or covered them with metal sheets in the evening. We prepared for the inevitable, in a word. Instead of trying to prevent pogroms, the Paris Police Prefecture warned entrepreneurs that there is a real danger of violence on the day of the announcement of the election results. And it's not over yet. Apparently, the political destabilization will continue, because neither the right nor the Macronists wanted to enter into a coalition with the left, and the victorious New Popular Front does not have an absolute majority to govern the country. At the same time, neither side intends to simply give up. The victory of the left generally came as a shock to everyone. Macron started early elections in order to trample the right and strengthen his position, and did not expect that the people would choose the left front. The French refused both the neo-fascists and Macron. It was necessary to choose someone. The formation of its own parliament and government is an internal matter of the state. And, let's be fair, France does have rich republican traditions. The question here is more of a moral order - why is French society always ready to smash and destroy, turn its own cities into garbage dumps and ashes. Something must be wrong with government policy if this happens with frightening regularity. Shortly before the pandemic, the "yellow vests" movement passed through the country like a tornado. Last year was remembered for the prolonged riots that grew out of protests against pension reform. The current one began with a "manure" farmer riot that lasted almost until the summer. And now the consequences of Macron's thoughtless decision to dissolve parliament are next. Experts still cannot explain this step of the French president with full confidence. What for? Why was it necessary to inflame passions, and even on the eve of the Olympic Games? In just two weeks, the Olympic Flame should be lit in Paris, and bicycles are being burned and storefronts are being smashed on the streets of the capital. Olympic France has enough security problems as it is. Ultra-liberal principles do not allow preventing riots, not because the authorities do not want to do this, but because the situation has long been out of control when liberalism turned into permissiveness. Shopkeepers should not board up shop windows in anticipation of pogroms, they pay taxes, which are used by law enforcement agencies, ideally designed to protect law and order. But here a certain crisis arises, because in a liberal society, a vandal also seems to have the right to smash bus stops and set fire to bicycles out of a sense of protest or joy. If the left, having gained a majority (although not a critical one), celebrates their victory in this way, it is not difficult to imagine what would have awaited Paris in the event of their defeat. Yes, everyone has the right to protest, but in the countries of victorious ultra-liberalism, everyone gets the right to unlimited actions within the framework of their protest. The rout staged during the riots became a characteristic feature of the French riot. And this happens with such frequency that there are suspicions that it is beneficial to the authorities for some reason. According to the general opinion of French experts, Macron did not expect a victory for the left. He was focused on opposing the right, and the French decided in their own way. Thanks to his short-sightedness and self-confidence, the country found itself in a difficult situation on the eve of the Olympic Games. It seems that the Olympics are the last thing that French society and the authorities are interested in now, and if France is disgraced, no one will be particularly upset. Including Emmanuel Macron. Fatime Letifova Birlestik-2024 operational-tactical command-staff exercise will be held from July 11 on Oymasha training grounds and Cape Tokmak in the Caspian Sea aquatorium of Kazakhstan under the joint plan signed between the Defence Ministries of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, Azernews reports. A unit of commando servicemen of the Land Forces, parachute descent and search-rescue service, and Su-25 aircraft of the Air Force, as well as patrol and descent ships of the Navy representing Azerbaijan, arrived in Kazakhstan. It is noteworthy that the joint operational-tactical command-staff exercise will continue until July 17. Fatime Letifova The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan (MFA) congratulated Azerbaijani diplomats on the occasion of their professional holiday, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by the Kazakhstan Ministry on X. "On the occasion of the Day of Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we extend our sincerest congratulations and warm wishes to our colleagues," the post reads. Recall that every year on July, Azerbaijan marks 105th anniversary of the establishment of the first diplomatic service in the country. Gathered in the Woodruff Librarys Jones Room on a summer Friday afternoon, an assembly of faculty from across Atlanta capped off a year of transformative programming designed to develop the next generation of leaders in higher education. The event was the graduation ceremony for an innovative offering from Emorys Office of the Provost called the Academic Leadership Program. Managed by the Office of Faculty Affairs, the program brings together faculty members from both Emory and Atlanta-area colleges and universities for a full academic year of leadership development workshops and programming. This years cohort included participants from Emory, Agnes Scott College, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University and Morehouse College. (See the full list of participants in the box below.) Designed to cultivate future university leaders, the curriculum equips participants with not only leadership development tools but also a comprehensive understanding of higher educations complex landscape. Monthly day-long workshops cover topics including leadership styles, strategic planning and governance, diversity and inclusion, conflict resolution and public relations. It felt like a rendezvous of academic Atlanta. We all met in-person, and we exchanged ideas and viewpoints, says Philip Ojo, professor of French at Agnes Scott College. The program, along with networking with other participants, broadened and deepened my understanding of key issues and challenges across the spectrum of higher education. I learned essential leadership skills needed to address those issues. Pearl Dowe, now vice provost for faculty affairs, participated in the program as an Oxford College professor during the 2021-2022 academic year. This year, she organized and led the program along with Rebecca Nurse, senior director of programming and special events. Increased complexity around higher education requires a deep bench of leaders to address challenges and opportunities, says Dowe. Ive experienced the program from both sides and know its value. Participants acquire skills that translate regardless of role or university, and they take what they learn back to their home schools. New perspectives and competencies will be applied to managing teams, communicating effectively and developing new policies and procedures. In addition to developing skills around leading an academic unit or program, participants were afforded the opportunity to learn about themselves. Everyone took the Birkman personality assessment and had a 360-degree assessment with feedback from personal and professional contacts. Starting off this journey by understanding our strengths and how we were perceived as leaders was a good way for the learning modules to be more impactful and intentional, says Jessica Sales, professor of behavioral, social and health education sciences in the Rollins School of Public Health. Participants were divided into teams to work on group projects throughout the program. The project topics were chosen based on current challenges faced by academic leaders. Each team produced a presentation and a white paper. This years project titles included: Freedom of Speech, Social Media, and Public Discourse Recognizing Public Scholarship and Community-Engaged Research as Scholarship in the Tenure and Promotion Process Impact and Wisdom of Embracing Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Motivations for joining the program vary. Some participants are currently in leadership positions and others are thinking about making the transition from teaching to administration. Julia Bullock, professor of Japanese Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, began a new role as director for the Halle Institute for Global Research shortly before joining the program. I've been in this role for just under a year, and much of my learning has been on the job, as with any new position, says Bullock. This program came at the perfect time and dovetailed nicely with what I am learning. As this years participants reflect on their experience and contemplate new opportunities, Ravi Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, shared words of encouragement at their graduation celebration: It is a challenging time to be in academic leadership; theres much to be done. We find meaning by guiding students and research toward a better future. I am delighted you all raised your hands to do this important work. PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], July 9: K&R Rail Engineering Ltd, a leading Railway infrastructure company offering services in laying of track, signalling, electrification and telecommunication in the Railway Industry is proud to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UNECO Co. Ltd, a South Korea-based company engaged in the manufacture and sale of industrial machineries, to establish a Composite Sleeper Plant in India. With the estimated cost of Rs. 400 crores, this plant will be located in Nagarnar, near the NMDC Steel Plant in Madhya Pradesh. * The plant will be set up in Madhya Pradesh with an estimated cost of Rs. 400 crores * Earlier, the company had bagged a USD 500 mn deal for world's longest cable car project in Nepal Elaborating the details about the development, Amit Bansal, Joint MD and CEO, K&R Rail Engineering Ltd said "We are immensely happy to announce signing an MOU with UNECO Co. Ltd. Under the MOU, this facility will cater to the needs of Indian Railways, DFCC/METROs, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and private corporations. This collaboration with South Korean major will see the execution of a Composite Sleeper Plant specifically designed to service the diverse clientele mentioned above. The project is expected to be completed within a timeframe of 48 months." K&R Rail Engineering Ltd, India's only end-to-end solutions provider specializes in providing comprehensive services for the establishment of private railway sidings on a turnkey basis, encompassing various construction activities related to railway infrastructure. These services include conducting independent engineering surveys, planning, and project management for private entities. The company undertakes projects across a range of industries such as steel, aluminium, thermal and captive power, major ports, and cement factories. The company has some notable clients like ACC Ltd, BHEL, GMR, JSW, Dalmia Bharat to name a few. Earlier, K&R Rail Engineering signed an MoU for execution of the world's longest cable car project in Nepal with Muktinath Darshan Private Limited. With an estimated cost of USD 0.5 mn, the cable car will connect the Holy Shrine of Muktinath Temple in Gandaki province of Nepal. This project will facilitate thousands of devotees who trek through elements to an altitude of 3,700 metres every year to reach the Temple of Muktinath. In terms of financial performance, the company recorded a net profit of Rs. 1.05 crores, total income of Rs. 144.72 crores and EPS of Rs. 0.50 in Q3 FY24 ended in 31 December, 2023. For the FY2023, the company saw net profit of Rs. 5.27 crores, total income of Rs. 308.20 crores and EPS of Rs. 3.34. K&R Rail has successfully executed Railway projects in the tune of more than Rs. 2,500 crores and has executed Railway Embankment work of more than 20 Lacs Cum. The company has given consultancy to Railway projects for handling more than 50 MTPA traffic in Indian Railway. It has recently added of some very niche product lines which are highly margin accretive and volume potential. The company is expecting 25% contribution of these value-added products by FY25. K&R Rail has also opened another subsidiary known as "Robsons Engineering & Constructions Pvt. Ltd" to meet the domestic and Global trade requirements to the countries directly from the Indian sub-continent. The company is working towards utilizing the existing strengths to address the markets and augmenting it capacities both in terms of offered services and products. (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) Amid demands for a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, a recent research report by the State Bank of India, suggests government devise alternative mechanisms to support farmers in the upcoming union budget. The report noted that government procurement of crops is limited to just about 6 per cent of the total produce, and there is a need for alternative mechanisms like agriculture markets and village haats to support the remaining 94 per cent of the agricultural output. The report recommended that the government address the MSP issue in the upcoming budget by facilitating a direct consumer-farmer interface through the development of more mandis (agricultural markets) across the states. The establishment of these markets would allow farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, thereby improving their income and market access. The report also suggests that states should take the lead in this initiative by promoting urban haats (weekly village markets), which would further help farmers connect with consumers directly. Agriculture plays a crucial role in the Indian economy. The report noted that credit to agriculture and allied activities has increased significantly, from Rs 6 lakh crore in FY14 to Rs 20.7 lakh crore in FY24. Despite this growth, the MSP mechanism, while instrumental in price discovery, faces several challenges. These challenges include political interference, disincentivizing private investment, and neglect of non-MSP crops. The report recommended that to create a more inclusive and sustainable framework for supporting Indian agriculture, policymakers should encourage crop diversification, promote high-value and climate-resilient crops, and enhance agricultural marketing infrastructure. Such measures would help address some of the shortcomings of the current MSP system and provide broader support to farmers. On the contentious issue of farmers' demand for a legal guarantee of MSP on all crops, the report highlighted the potential fiscal burden this could place on the government. It stated, "If the government procures all crops under MSP, the total cost of procuring such crops in FY24 comes to around Rs 13.5 lakh crore." Furthermore, the report pointed out that a legal guarantee on MSP would neglect non-MSP crops such as fruits and vegetables and could disincentivize private investment in the agricultural sector. It could also reduce export competitiveness and increase trade disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO). As alternatives to legal guarantees of MSP, the report suggested several approaches. One option is to obligate private parties to buy crops at or above MSP. If the government were to procure the entire amount, storage would become an issue. Another proposed solution is a price deficiency payment system, where the government directly compensates farmers for the difference between the selling price and MSP. This approach would reduce the fiscal cost for the government while still supporting farmers. The report also provided data on government procurement over the past decade. It notes that while the MSP for all 22 crops has increased by an average of more than 100 per cent, the government primarily procures wheat and paddy through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies. Specifically, the government procures 92.8 per cent and 73.6 per cent of the paddy produced in Punjab and Haryana, respectively. For wheat, the government procures 72 per cent of the production from Punjab and 56.6 per cent from Haryana. The report also addresses the issue of agricultural farm loan waivers, stating that such waivers distort the agricultural credit culture. It stated, "We firmly believe that the farm loan waivers essentially and ultimately serve a 'self-goal,' distorting credit culture." This suggests that while farm loan waivers may provide temporary relief to farmers, they undermine the long-term sustainability of agricultural financing. The report also highlighted the potential fiscal and economic challenges associated with a blanket legal guarantee of MSP and suggested more nuanced approaches to support farmers effectively. (ANI) SMPL New Delhi [India], July 9: Mind Mingle's Indo-Norway International Education Summit and Awards 2024, held on June 5, 2024, at the Parliament of Norway (Stortinget) in Oslo, marked a significant milestone in the realm of global education. The event focused on the theme "Humanizing Education in the Era of AI," bringing together school leaders from India and Norway to explore innovative educational approaches and foster new collaborations between educators from both countries. The summit was graced by distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Himanshu Gulati, a prominent Member of Parliament in Norway, and Guests of Honor Ole Jacob Johansen, Minister of State for Akershus, and Dr Acquino Vimal, the Honourable Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway. Their insights and experiences provided valuable perspectives on the future of education in a rapidly changing world. Chief Guest Himanshu Gulati emphasized the importance of cross-cultural learning and cooperation. He remarked, "Both Norway and India have a lot to learn from each other from the respective strengths of their education systems. The exchange of ideas and methodologies between our nations can lead to a more enriched educational experience, fostering innovation and growth for students globally." Gulati, who is the only Indian-origin Member of Parliament in Norway and serves in the Committee of Education, highlighted the importance of sharing best practices and focusing on the holistic education of future generations. A key highlight of the event was the felicitation of 25 schools with the "Award for Transformative Education Excellence" during Mind Mingle's Indo-Norway International Education Summit and Awards 2024. These awards recognized schools for their invaluable contributions to the education sector, showcasing exemplary practices and innovative approaches that have significantly impacted student learning and development. The awarded schools include: * St. Joseph's School, Sitamarhi * Nanduba English Academy, Surat * Bihani Children's Academy, Sri Ganganagar * Banasthali Public School, New Delhi * Arwachin World School, Ghaziabad * The Shri Ram School, Gurugram * Little Flowers Public Sr. Sec. School, New Delhi * British Fort Foundation, Jabalpur * Oriental Public School, Ambikapur * The Millennium School, Noida Sector 41 * Amity International School, Ghaziabad * Delhi Public School, Rudrapur * Arwachin Bharti Bhawan Sr. Sec. School, New Delhi * Sunbeam Group of Schools, Tamil Nadu * Nosegay Public School, Sri Ganganagar * Sneh International School, New Delhi * Lotus Valley International School, Noida * International Delhi Public School, Tadepallegudem * Meerut City Public School, Meerut * Doon School, Srinagar * Delhi Public School, Bokaro Steel City * Mahatma Gandhi International School, Ahmedabad * Sandvika High School, Sandvika, Norway Selected educators presented their ideas on "Humanizing Education in the Era of AI," offering innovative solutions and discussing the integration of AI in education while maintaining a focus on human values and holistic development. The speakers and their topics were: Ann Michaelsen from Norway spoke on "Humanizing Education with AI Technologies," sharing insights on integrating digital tools in teaching. Dr. Anju Chazot and Dr. Pascal Chazot from India discussed "Reaching out to Every Child: Glimpses into the Innovative Class Practices of the Mahatma Gandhi International School and its Contribution to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020." Anuradha Sinha from India focused on "Navigating AI in Education," focusing on curriculum innovation and teacher training. Rahul Kesarvani from India explored "AI & Education: A Combat or Time to Look Back?" addressing the challenges and opportunities of AI in education. Astrid Raen from Norway presented on "The Method of Suggestopedia: Joyful Learning through All Senses," emphasizing immersive and sensory-rich learning methods. This exchange of ideas is just the beginning of the opportunities for new collaborations between educators from India and Norway. Mind Mingle, the organizer of this groundbreaking summit, has been dedicated to the professional development of educators and schools since its inception in 2014. Founded by visionaries Shakeel Ahmad and Naveen Sharma, Mind Mingle aims to transform education in India by making it more meaningful and purpose-driven. Over the years, the organization has touched over 4000 schools in India and around the world, enhancing the educational landscape through innovative development programs and initiatives. Reflecting on the event, Shakeel Ahmad said, "This summit is a testament to the power of collaboration and the sharing of best practices in education. By bringing together educators from different parts of the world, we can create a more enriched learning environment that benefits students everywhere. These awards are not just recognitions but also responsibilities. They symbolize the hard work and dedication of schools and their leaders, and they now have an even greater responsibility to continue their exemplary work. It's an announcement of their hard work which makes them more responsible towards it." The Indo-Norway International Education Summit underscored the importance of global collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of education. The event not only celebrated the achievements of schools but also provided a platform for educators to exchange ideas and best practices, fostering a collective commitment to improving education worldwide. To know more about Mind Mingle: www.mindmingle.org (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) VMPL New Delhi [India], July 9: In a dazzling celebration of beauty and self-expression, Nykaa, India's leading beauty and lifestyle destination, is thrilled to announce the winners of the Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards. Over two months, nearly one lakh votes were cast by Nykaa's customers spotlighting their favorite brands-- these awards are dedicated to consumer choice and their love for all things beauty! The one-of-its-kind digital Beauty Awards recognise the creme de la creme of beauty that have set benchmarks in innovation and quality across 42 categories within hair care, skincare, makeup, fragrances, bath & body and more. The Nykaa Best In Beauty Awards is not just about honoring the best products, but a celebration of the lifestyle that embraces beauty in all its forms. Besides a massive number of consumer votes that poured in, an expert panel of jury comprising Jahnvi Kapoor, Namrata Soni, Dr. Rashmi Shetty, Yianni Tsapatori, Naina Bhan, Nandini Bhalla, Malvika Sitlani, Vaishnav Praveen and Anchit Nayar rigorously evaluated the entries. The Awards represent Nykaa's commitment to democratizing access to the finest beauty and personal care products for its customer base of over 25 million. Offering the widest assortment of 3,000+ beauty brands, Nykaa remains the ultimate go-to destination, delivering an unmatched blend of authenticity, quality, and convenience that is strongly fortified with education, content and personalisation. Commenting on the awards, Anchit Nayar, Executive Director & CEO, Nykaa Beauty said, "As we announce the winners of the Nykaa Best in Beauty Awards, we celebrate not only the excellence of these outstanding products but also the trust and loyalty they inspire in consumers. Nykaa has always been at the center of shifting consumer trends. We have seen cult-favorites and timeless products quickly becoming beauty staples and at the same time, seen emerging brands creating products that go viral. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our brand partners who are leading the way in innovation to meet the evolving consumer needs..Congratulations to all winners and for their well-deserved recognition." Explore the full list of winning products and celebrate your favorites and discover some new ones! All award-winning products are available for purchase on Nykaa.com, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the best in beauty as recognized by the most discerning judges--beauty aficionados themselves! * Category: Makeup Blush: Pixi on the Glow Cream Blush-Fleur Compact + Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable - Medium Compact + Powder: Lakme Absolute White Intense Wet & Dry Compact Concealer: Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Concealer-Medium Eye Brow Enhancers: E.l.f. Cosmetics Instant Lift Brow Pencil-Deep Brown Eyeliner + Kajal: Lakme Eyeconic Kajal Eyeshadow: Huda Beauty Naughty Nude Eyeshadow Palette Foundation: Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation-128 Warm Nude Highlighter: MAC Strobe Cream-Pinklite Lip Oil/Tint: Kay Beauty Hydrating Lip Oil Gloss Lipstick: MAC Matte Nude Lipstick-Mehr Liquid Lipstick: Maybelline New York Superstay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick-Lippy Mascara: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara-Very Black Nail Polish: Nykaa Unicorn Potion Nail Enamel Polish Primer: Nykaa Cosmetics Prep Me Up! Face Primer Setting Spray: MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ * Category: Skincare Anti-Ageing Product: Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule With Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Product: Dermalogica Super Rich Repair Face Moisturiser Eye Cream: L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum Face Wash & Cleanser: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Lip Balm & Mask: LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask Berry EX Makeup Remover: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Mask & Peel: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution Moisturizer: Clinique Moisture Surge Night Cream: Dot & Key Retinol + Ceramide Night Repair Cream Serum: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Serum: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Sunscreen: Dr. Sheth's Ceramide & Vitamin C Sunscreen Toner: Plum 3% Niacinamide Alcohol-Free Toner With Rice Water * Category: Haircare Conditioner: L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisture 72H Moisture Sealing Conditioner Hair Appliance: Dyson Airwrap Long Multi-Styler Prussian Hair Colour: L'Oreal Paris Magic Retouch Instant Root Concealer Hair Mask: L'Oreal Professionnel Absolut Repair Hair Mask Hair Oil: Kama Ayurveda Bringadi Thailam Intensive Hair Oil Hair Serum: L'Oreal Paris Extraordinary Oil Hair Serum Hair Serum: Minimalist Hair Growth Actives 18% Serum Hair Styling Product: BBLUNT Hot Shot Heat Protection Hair Mist Shampoo: Love Beauty & Planet Argan Oil and Lavender Shampoo * Category: Fragrance Women's Fragrance: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Men's Fragrance: Gucci Guilty Parfum For Him Body Mist: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist * Category: Bath and Body Shower Gel: Bath & Body Works Gingham Shower Gel Hair Removal Product: Gillette Venus Swirl Hair Removal Razor for Women Body Lotion: Vaseline Gluta-Hya Dewy Radiance , Serum-In-Lotion Body Lotion: NIVEA 50x Vitamin C Body Lotion with SPF 15 * Category: Ayurveda Hair: Nyveda Hair Growth Treatment Oil (Revive My Roots) * Category: Favorite Men's Brand Serum: The Man Company 40% Vitamin C Face Serum Here's what some winning brands have to say: "We are thrilled to see two of our brands, Innisfree and Laneige, receive the prestigious Nykaa's Best In Beauty Awards. We are grateful to Nykaa for this honor which acknowledges our commitment to deliver exceptional beauty experiences around the world. Both of our brands focus majorly on hydration and barrier repair. With Nykaa's extensive reach across the country including metro as well as tier-II and tier-III cities, this award will significantly help us expand customers' awareness and appetite for our brands. We are excited to leverage Nykaa's vast network to make our brands easily accessible to consumers further enhancing the Korean Beauty presence and position in the Indian beauty market." said Paul Lee - Managing Director & Country Head of AmorePacific India "We are thrilled and grateful to receive this recognition from Nykaa in their Best in Beauty Awards for our COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. This accolade reaffirms our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance skincare solutions that resonate with Indian consumers. The Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence has won the hearts of users with its unique formulation, harnessing the power of snail mucin to provide intense hydration, soothing properties, and skin repair benefits. Its lightweight texture and impressive results have made it a staple in many skincare routines across India. Our partnership with Nykaa has been instrumental in expanding COSRX's reach and consumer awareness throughout the country. Together, we've not only grown our brand but also played a part in shaping the evolving beauty landscape in India, introducing K-beauty innovations like our snail mucin essence to a wider, discerning audience. We're excited to continue this journey, bringing more revolutionary skincare solutions to our Indian customers." said, Sanghun Jun, CEO - COSRX "The Advanced Night Repair Serum is the #1multi-recovery serum for nighttime skin renewal, revered by skincare enthusiasts worldwide for its transformative formulation. We're delighted with the recognition by Nykaa and Indian consumers, which honors Estee Lauder's legacy of innovation and excellence in skincare."- said, Team Estee Lauder India "Thrilled to have received this incredible recognition from Nykaa! Winning the Best in Beauty Award in the hair oil category for Kama Ayurveda's Bringadi Thailam is truly a moment of joy for us. Consumers love the Bringadi Thailam because it effectively addresses prevalent hair concerns such as hair fall, dandruff, and thinning backed by clinical trials making it a trusted choice for all hair types. The Oil has been part of the 9 products with which our brand started in 2002, and it continues to remain a best seller due to its powerful Ayurvedic formulation and clinical efficacy. Our partnership with Nykaa has significantly elevated our brand's visibility and accessibility, allowing us to reach a broader audience of beauty enthusiasts across India. Together, we continue to innovate and deliver high-quality, Ayurvedic beauty solutions that resonate with our customers' evolving needs," said Vivek Sahni, Founder and Chairman at Kama Ayurveda. For further information, visit here! NYKAA At Nykaa, we share one vision- to bring inspiration and joy to people everywhere, every day. Born out of a desire to make beauty a mainstream choice, the Nykaa journey began in 2012 as a digitally native, consumer-tech company. Falguni Nayar's entrepreneurial leap with Nykaa, tapped into an underserved beauty retail market, disrupting the ecosystem and putting India in the global spotlight. Today, Nykaa has expanded its offerings to include lifestyle and B2B by introducing online platforms Nykaa Fashion, Nykaa Man, and Superstore. Over the years, Nykaa has steadily captured the hearts of Indian consumers, ushering visits to both its online and 187 offline destinations and building loyal communities through engaging and educational content. Nykaa continues to build its house of brands with a sharp focus on innovation and consumer delight. Beauty brands such as Kay Beauty, Nykaa Naturals, Nykaa Cosmetics, and Wanderlust and fashion brands such as Nykd, Gajra Gang, Likha, RSVP and Pipa Bella, have become household names, as they consistently deliver on inspiration and high performing products to the consumers. Nykaa's unwavering commitment to authenticity and customer centricity has made it the retailer of choice for international brands entering India. Nykaa's Global Store, a gateway into the world of coveted international brands, leverages the company's proven supply chain and marketing capabilities to offer a truly seamless shopping experience. For its role in building India's beauty and lifestyle retail markets, Nykaa has been awarded several Indian and International accolades and was proudly featured in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List. For media queries, please contact pr@nykaa.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) Fatime Letifova The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran will resume its activities within 15-20 days, Azernews reports. Note that on 27 January last year the embassy of Azerbaijan in Tehran was attacked. The perpetrator passed by the guard post with a Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire inside the embassy, while its staff tried to neutralize him. The head of the embassy's security service, Orkhan Asgarov, was killed in the attack, while two guards were injured. Shortly after, a suspect was detained by Iranian police. The State Security Service of Azerbaijan opened a criminal investigation of the attack. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev strongly condemned the attack. The Azerbaijani side regarded the incident as a "terrorist act". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan announced evacuation of the embassy personnel in Tehran. On 29 January Azerbaijan evacuated most of the embassy staff from Tehran and suspended the embassy's operation. PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 9: Dynamic Services & Security Limited (DSSL), a leader in security services, digitalization, and renewable energy, experienced a significant rise in its share price following key strategic developments. On 4th July, DSSL's shares surged by 5 per cent, reaching an upper circuit limit at Rs 263.60 per share. This boost followed the approval to utilize a 5000 MW solar park in Rajasthan and the announcement of a strategic acquisition. By 8th July, the share price further increased to Rs 276.75, marking a cumulative rise of approximately 10.24 per cent since the announcement. This trend underscores strong investor confidence and a positive market response to DSSL's strategic initiatives in the renewable energy sector. Key Highlights: * Strategic Acquisition: DSSL has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 49 per cent stake in NACOF NITHIN SAI GREEN ENERGY Pvt. Ltd. This acquisition aligns with DSSL's goals to expand its presence in the renewable energy sector, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth and enhancing its solar energy portfolio. The acquisition is subject to the fulfillment of various terms and conditions specified in the share purchase agreement. * Solar Park Utilization: DSSL's subsidiary, Dynamic Solar Green Limited, has received authorization from NACOF OORJA Private Limited to utilize the full 5000 MW capacity of a solar park in Rajasthan, approved by the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited. Dynamic Solar Green Limited has been granted the rights to market this capacity and engage with industry bodies and various corporations to sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for the solar park's output. This initiative involves negotiating and finalizing long term PPAs with open access clients across India, ensuring long-term energy sustainability and efficiency. Pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, this authorization grants Dynamic Solar Green Limited full authority to facilitate the signing and execution of PPAs with multiple business houses, industry bodies, corporations, for supply of a total of 1000 MW of solar power and cumulative total of 5000 MW of solar power as part of the agreement. Financial Performance: DSSL's shares reached an upper circuit limit of 5 per cent, trading at Rs 263.60 per equity share, up from the previous day's close of Rs 276.75. With a market capitalization of Rs 454.59 Crores, the stock has shown significant growth, delivering substantial returns over the past year. Quote from Managing Director: Jugal Kishore Bhagat, Managing Director of Dynamic Services & Security Limited, commented, "The strategic acquisition and solar park utilization approval are pivotal steps in our growth strategy. They reinforce our commitment to sustainability and position us strongly in the renewable energy market. We are focused on maximizing value for our stakeholders through these initiatives." Dynamic Services & Security Limited: Dynamic Services and Security Limited (DYNAMIC), established in 2016, has garnered recognition as a premier provider of Security Guarding and Manpower Solutions, boasting an impressive track record of serving esteemed government agencies including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Railways, and Webel Technology Limited. Catering to a diverse clientele spanning Retail Field Players, Corporate Sector Manufacturing Units, Government Bodies, Educational Institutions, Banks & ATM Centers, Small & Medium-sized Industries, and individual users, the group is renowned for its commitment to excellence and innovation. With a steadfast focus on talent development and strategic partnerships, the group leverages a workforce of over 10,000 employees comprising divisional managers, executives, supervisors, coordinators, assistants, and workmen across various departments such as marketing, service sites, administration, and accounts. Driven by a culture of professionalism and financial stability, the group continues to invest in upgrading its resources and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of its discerning clientele. The Company has also entered into the solar business and is currently executing a 720kw project in Kakdwip, West Bengal moving its focus into the green energy sector. For more information please contact: - Vikraam Sanass ICON Media Solution Mobile: 9904491500 Email: Vikram.iconpr@gmail.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], July 9: The Think Tank, a renowned branding, communications, and event agency with a proud history spanning over 12 years, is thrilled to announce its relaunch, now with a dedicated focus on the real estate sector through its new vertical - Ace of Real Estate. Founded by a dynamic and innovative entrepreneur, Abhishek Mazumder with a vision to make a significant difference, The Think Tank has continually set benchmarks in the industry with its innovative campaigns and seamless integration of print, out-of-home, digital marketing, experiential marketing, and mega-events. The agency's tagline, "think, create, inspire," reflects its commitment to delivering unparalleled creativity and strategic solutions to its clients. Despite the new focus on real estate, The Think Tank will continue to uphold its core focus and serve diverse industries and sectors, maintaining its reputation for progress, growth, unique concepts and ideas, fastest and unmatched execution, and result-oriented solutions. Speed remains one of their USPs, driving their projects with unparalleled efficiency and effectiveness. "We are excited to relaunch with new fuel and scale higher with the new Avatar of The Think Tank. Our journey has been one of growth, learning, and evolution. With Ace of Real Estate, we are poised to bring our unique blend of creativity, strategy, and execution to the real estate sector, offering value to our clients, especially with our extensive experience in premium, luxury, and lifestyle categories that give us a competitive edge. What sets us apart is the curiosity of always seeking different and innovative approaches rather than adhering to routine methods. Our aim is to create an ecosystem where exploring ideas and daily innovation are paramount, ensuring every campaign and project across sectors is executed with creativity and excellence." said Abhishek Mazumder, Founder & CEO, The Think Tank. "One of our primary goals with this relaunch is to cement our agency's role in the evolving landscape of marketing and real estate, demonstrating our commitment to urgency and the sense of ownership that accompanies this transformation. As we move forward, we pose a crucial question to our future partners: Are you ready to join us on this exciting journey?", added Abhishek. During the pandemic, the agency entered into a strategic partnership with ANAROCK Group, India's leading real estate consulting firm to expand its reach and capabilities. As ANAROCK Creative Agency, they jointly executed some marquee projects with leading developers across India. With that experience, the agency decided to launch their independent vertical, focusing its expertise on the burgeoning real estate market. The Think Tank is now stronger than ever, equipped with a talented team of professionals specializing in Branding, Digital & Influencer Marketing, Events & Experiential, and Strategic Consulting. With the new vertical, Ace of Real Estate, the agency aims to redefine real estate marketing by leveraging its vast experience and innovative approach to create impactful campaigns and unforgettable events. In addition, this vertical will offer specialized solutions including GTM Strategies, Sales Training, Sales Office Design, Walk-throughs & 3-D Models as well as CRM Software integration. The Think Tank's impressive portfolio over the years, of executing 500+ integrated campaigns across India with a key focus on MMR & NCR, stands as a testament to its expertise and dedication. The agency's pan-India projects and campaigns with leading organizations such as Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, HDFC Ergo, Tata AIG, ICICI Bank, Sula, Tata Housing, Ajmera Group, Godrej Properties, Kanakia Group, Piramal Realty, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW, have not only met but exceeded client expectations, establishing The Think Tank as one of the leaders in the branding and communications industry. As The Think Tank embarks on this new chapter, it remains committed to its core values of thinking creatively, creating innovatively, and inspiring all for excellence. The relaunch marks the beginning of an exciting era for the agency, its clients, and most importantly the real estate industry. The Think Tank is a full-service agency specializing in branding and communication, content creation, digital marketing, experiential marketing, and events. Established in 2012 by Abhishek Mazumder, the agency has a proven track record of success, having executed over 500 innovative campaigns and standout events for more than 300 clients across India. Relaunched in 2024 with a renewed focus on revolutionizing the real estate market, The Think Tank continues to deliver exceptional results for clients across diverse sectors, including luxury automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and lifestyle brands. With its comprehensive capabilities and dedication to excellence, The Think Tank remains at the forefront of the industry, setting new standards for creativity and impact. Follow for more: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weare.thethinktank?mibextid=ZbWKwL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weare.thethinktank?igsh=eGNzY2U4dDI2cW1q LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearethethinktank/ (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) PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India]/London [UK]/ New York [US], July 9: Synechron, a leading global digital transformation consulting firm focused on financial services and technology organizations, announces the launch of its Synechron Nexus Plus Accelerators Program. This features five AI-led solutions engineered to tackle some of the most pressing business and operational challenges faced by corporates today, ensuring significant advancements in capital raising, corporate development, and public ownership. The new set of Synechron Nexus Plus Accelerators solutions program includes: * Earnings Analyzer leverages AI and generative AI (GenAI) to deliver clarity in market sentiment analysis. It leverages publicly available information -- with the flexibility to add paid data sources -- offering text and speech analysis, sentiment scoring, sector-specific sentiment tracking, and enhanced visualization. * Company Filings accelerator is an AI-backed platform designed to help corporates prepare key company filings related to investor relations and corporate development. It eliminates information inconsistencies and reduces the burden of manual preparation and investigation. * Credit Memo Generation accelerator comprehensively evaluates a borrower's financial health and creditworthiness, helping financial institutions make informed decisions when approving loans. Leveraging GenAI, the solution automates data ingestion to improve credit memo generation. * Legal Agreement Wizard is GenAI-powered; it significantly increases the productivity and operational efficiency of legal professionals involved in the deal-making process, generating key insights for faster document review and better-informed decision-making. * LLM (Large Language Model) Sandbox is a framework for transforming local knowledge into conversational AI use cases, and a platform through which clients can manage, track, compare, and analyze multiple instances of domain-specific language models -- fostering innovation and agility in AI applications. The Synechron Nexus Plus suite is their 13th Accelerators Program, all of which aim to reflect the company's commitment to client-driven progress and operational excellence. With over a decade of AI expertise and an impressive tally of numerous prestigious industry awards in the innovation space, Synechron consistently demonstrates its dedication to transforming business processes through intelligent automation and advanced technology. Faisal Husain, Synechron's Co-founder and CEO, said of the launch of the Synechron Nexus Plus Accelerators Program, "This initiative directly addresses the specific needs of our clients, enhancing efficiency and positioning them for market leadership. With Synechron Nexus Plus, we're equipped to support our clients in the next stages of their growth, and our continued client-first mentality ensures that our work drives real value." Sandeep Kumar, Head of FinLabs, added, "We're constantly working on new ways to contribute to our clients' success, helping them meet their current needs as well as anticipate future uses of AI. We're dedicated to driving adoption of AI and providing building blocks to our clients in their innovation journey." About Synechron At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs, we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital, cloud-native, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,000+, and has 55 offices in 20 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community. For information please contact: Rashmi JoshiSynechron+91-9560694654Media@synechron.com | Rashmi.Joshi@synechron.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_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) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], July 9: AND Academy, an emerging design upskilling school launched by the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) in New Delhi, has announced that its new batch of Graphic Design, Interior Design, and UX/UI Design courses will begin on July 19. Interested students can register for admission to the July Batch here. The academy has quickly established itself as a significant player in the online education sector, offering unique pedagogical approaches with stackable part-time and full-time online courses. These courses come with a Job Guarantee and placement support and a promise of a full course fee refund for learners who are not placed in a relevant role, at an assured minimum salary package, within six months of graduating. Dr Jitin Chadha, Founder & CEO of AND Academy, brings over a decade of experience in the education sector. He emphasizes the versatility of the courses, stating, "Each program we offer includes mentorship from industry practitioners and project-based hands-on learning, ensuring a steady learning curve for students of all backgrounds. Essentially, learners with no prior design experience or training can effectively upskill in their chosen field. Our commitment to making design education accessible to a wider audience is further enhanced by our remote operation, which leverages key strategies to recreate a studio-based learning environment in an online space. The use of live interactive classes is one such example where we move away from the monotony of pre-recorded lectures and webinars, instead recreating an active learning atmosphere in the virtual space, ensuring accessibility, flexibility, and affordability for learners." A key distinguishing characteristic of courses at AND Academy is the importance the institute places on bridging the growing employment gap in the country by equipping learners with essential technical skills. Career readiness in graduates is ensured through personalized career advice sessions on CV-building, interview guidance, and networking opportunities, which help learners seize key placement opportunities. The project-based pedagogy ensures that graduates have a market-ready portfolio, effectively showcasing their design expertise to recruiters. Additionally, the institute offers software training sessions alongside a broader design-oriented curriculum, ensuring that learners are well-equipped with industry standards upon completing the course. The school's commitment to high-quality education and student success is evident in its innovative course structures and supportive learning environment, making it a premier choice for aspiring designers looking to enhance their skills and career prospects. At the moment, AND Academy offers courses in Graphic Design, UI UX Design, Interior Design, and Motion Graphics in various formats. Learners can choose from Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma (Part-time), and PG Diploma (Full-time) programs, depending on their career aspirations. The stackability of these courses allows for seamless progression to advanced classes for those who wish to continue their learning journey. The duration of each course varies by discipline, typically ranging from 16 weeks to a year. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 9: Infusing the Indian education system with a progressive learning approach, Silverline Prestige School (SLPS) is helping students flourish to their best potential. Recognising the sincere efforts and effectiveness in the field of progressive learning, Dainik Jagran has ranked SLPS as No. 1 on their list of top schools in Ghaziabad. With its outstanding results and futuristic approach towards improving the learning dynamics for students, SLPS has created an indelible mark. The educational institute has constantly tried to uphold education's true aim and create awareness about the same among stakeholders. To ensure expansion of talent profile and encourage expertise the school has developed the necessary Infrastructure. Right from AI, Code Learning, OD Modelling, Virtual Computer Lab, and numerous other latest facilities are provided for the benefit of the young minds. The school has earned great respect by investing 25 years into creating excellence in learning for students. In a short span of just 3 years, the school has set a new benchmark in progressive learning. SLPS is the first Google Reference school in NCR. Only a handful of schools have received this honour worldwide. This is given to the schools as acknowledgement of their endeavours towards improving student learning by using the latest and futuristic techniques. Sharing his thoughts Naman Jain, Vice-Chairman, SLPS said, ""The school puts a lot of significance on identifying talents of our students and providing the right platform to hone these talents of these young minds. For example, if a student possesses leadership talents, then the school identifies the talent and provides support to further nurture it. The school provides apt environment for students who have creative mind-set to blossom and explore the world of infinite possibilities. Students who are keen towards technology are provided with guidance from global technology experts. Various studies show that learning for students is more effective when they have interactive immersive experiences in the subject of their interest. This is exactly what we strive for every day." "With the aim of achieving new heights in talent enhancement and capability building in K-12, we have set up a dedicated Department. We are the first school to undertake such an important initiative. We constantly make all efforts to augment the learning experience of our students. During the pandemic we achieved 98% parent satisfaction. The school has also associated with NASA and excellence centres from other industries to broaden the spectrum for our students." Jain further added. To ensure effective progressive learning environment for students, the school prioritises regular teacher capability enhancement. SLPS's revolutionary teaching approach and practices help students to expand their horizon and explore the depths of their true potential to excel. Apart from regular CBSE curriculum, the school encourages critical thinking talent and extracurricular activities for a well-rounded personality development. The school has bagged numerous awards and accolades in past including the prestigious School Excellence Award by Dainik Jagran, ET Inspiring Leaders Award, NCR's first Google Reference School awards and more. About Silver Line Prestige School (https://silverlineprestigeschool.com/): Established in 1987, Silverline Prestige School is one of the premier institutes in Ghaziabad promoting skill based learning and progressive education. Taking forward the lineage of progressive and experiential learning with a gratifying history of more than 20 years, Silver Line Prestige School is working in the direction of becoming an epitome of futuristic education, gradually inspiring other schools in India to move from marks-based teaching to skill-based teaching. SLPS is committed to nurture the leaders of tomorrow, pioneers of excellence and achievers who inspire others. It aims at providing students with a conducive environment to think, implement, create and conquer. SLPS is built on traditional values and is fuelled by international standards of learning. SLPS group is on the mission to bring progressive pedagogy to the forefront by making students think and not just learn. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], July 9: In a major endeavour to boost Japanese investment in Indian startups, Sairee Chahal, Founder of Mahila Money, and Appreciate Capital in collaboration with TRTL Ventures, hosted delegations from Japan to strengthen cooperation in business and startup investment between the two nations. The event was attended by a delegation from Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO Japan), Hideyuki Hongo of Startia Holdings Inc.; Yasuyuki Aisu of SegueGroup Co. Ltd.; Shinichiro Naito, Findstar Group Co., Ltd; Kazuhiro Goto, D-Pops Group Co. Ltd; Kunihiro Tanaka, SAKURA internet Inc; Hirotaka Yoshida, Yumenosora Holdings Inc; Takashi Yamazoe, Cosmo Beauty Co., Ltd.; and Ayatoshi Yoshizumi, Cloud Ace, Inc. The event which witnessed enthusiastic participation from leading business owners, founders, CXOs, investors, and ecosystem leaders from both nations marked a significant step towards enhancing bilateral trade and investment between India and Japan. The delegation accompanied by TRTL also visited the Japanese Embassy in Delhi and met with Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki. The ambassador warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed his support for their efforts to enter the rapidly growing Indian market. The delegation conveyed their commitment to long-term business development in India and affirmed their dedication to continuing investments in startups through TRTL's VC fund. "The collaboration between India and Japan holds immense potential for driving innovation and economic growth. This event has provided a unique opportunity to strengthen these ties and explore new avenues for cooperation," said Sairee Chahal, Founder, Mahila Money and Appreciate Capital. "We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and commitment from both sides to enhance technology and investment cooperation relations." The day's agenda featured a series of engaging activities, including a session at the Paytm office and a networking evening at the India-Japan Startup & Investment Cooperation event. The networking event in the evening was the opportunity to meet and connect with the most influential figures in the India-Japan business landscape. Sharing their thoughts on the event, Rakesh Chabbra and Yasuhiro Seo from TRTL Ventures also expressed, "India and Japan have a long history of business and trade. Nearly 50,000 Indian working professionals across sectors like IT professionals, engineers, finance, and management personnel reside in Japan and are gainfully employed. Japan is the 5th largest investor in India. Our goal is to strengthen the ecosystem, where Indian and Japanese enterprises can thrive together. The event has been a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives our mutual success," From April 2000 to March 2024, the Indian economy received cumulative FDI inflows of $41.91 billion from Japan. Currently, over 1,439 Japanese companies operate in India, contributing to a thriving bilateral business landscape. Additionally, Japanese venture capitalists have invested over $10 billion in Indian startups, further cementing the robust investment relationship between the two nations. The event's success is a testament to the growing economic synergy between India and Japan, recognizing the critical role these interactions play in the growth and innovation of both economies. With the foundation laid for future collaborations, the India-Japan business relationship is poised for unprecedented growth. About TRTL Ventures TRTL Ventures is a Singapore-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage Indian startups tackling real problems through Internet and DeepTech-based innovation. TRTL aims to be the facilitator for the India-Japan corridor in business technology culture and collaboration. About Mahila Money: Mahila Money is a full stack financial products and services platform offering capital solutions for women entrepreneurs in India. Mahila Money specialises in offering loans to women who want to grow their own business along with financial literacy resources and community to achieve their financial goals. The Mahila Money ecosystem is committed towards supporting women's business growth and increasing their contribution to the GDP by becoming the largest source of productive credit-backed capital for women in business. Bridging women's growth aspirations by unlocking a wealth of diverse yet tailormade financial opportunities. (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) The contract is for a 132 KV Traction Substation, Sectioning post (SPs), and Sub sectioning post (SSPs) in 2x25KV System on the Kharagpur-Bhadrak section of the Kharagpur division, the company informed stock exchanges in a filing. The contract, costing about Rs 203 crore, would be realized in 18 months. Separately, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this month to collaborate and jointly work as a Project Service Provider for Design, Construction and Consultancy Projects in India and abroad. Last month, the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) won a contract worth Rs 191.53 crore from the South Eastern Railway. Early last month, the state-owned company received a Letter of Acceptance from Eastern Railway for the construction of the by-pass line in Sitarampur under its Asansol Division for Rs 391 crore. RVNL, under the Ministry of Railways, was granted 'Navratna' status last year. The Navratna companies have the autonomy to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore without seeking approval from the central government. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited was incorporated as a PSU on January 24, 2003, with the objective of implementing projects relating to the creation and augmentation of capacities of rail infrastructure. The company was granted Mini-Ratna status in September 2013. Rail Vikas Nigam's shares have risen around 200 per cent in 2024. Over the past 12 months, they rose around 350 per cent. Today, they closed 3.7 per cent lower at Rs 545 per share. (ANI) Actor Alec Baldwin has clinched a significant legal victory on the eve of his involuntary manslaughter trial, in connection with the tragic shooting incident on the sets of the film 'Rust' in 2021. The New Mexico judge overseeing the case has ruled against including Baldwin's role as a co-producer in the trial, despite arguments from prosecutors, confirmed Deadline. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer's decision was delivered on Monday, during pre-trial motions, where Baldwin was present at the defense table. The ruling effectively blocks prosecutors from using Baldwin's dual role as an actor and producer on 'Rust' as evidence. "I'm having real difficulty with the state's position that they want to show that as a producer he didn't follow guidelines and therefore as an actor Mr Baldwin did all of these things wrong that resulted in the death of Ms Hutchins because as a producer he allowed these things to happen," Judge Sommer stated, addressing the courtroom, according to Deadline. The incident occurred on October 21, 2021, when a live round fired from a prop gun held by Baldwin tragically killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza during a rehearsal at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin, who has pleaded not guilty, according to Deadline, faces potential imprisonment of up to 18 months and significant fines if convicted. The prosecution had previously argued that Baldwin's producer role made him aware of safety concerns on set, implying his responsibility in the tragedy. However, Judge Sommer's ruling aims to prevent confusion and unfair prejudice against Baldwin in front of the jury. The defence team, led by attorneys from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, has repeatedly sought to keep certain evidence out of the trial, focusing also on procedural issues related to the discovery process. While Judge Sommer expressed scepticism about dismissing the case at this stage, she urged both sides to resolve outstanding document disputes promptly. Apart from the criminal trial, Baldwin faces civil lawsuits in California and New Mexico stemming from the 'Rust' incident. Moreover, complications have arisen concerning tax incentives for the film, totalling over USD 1.6 million, which were rescinded following the tragedy. These incentives were part of a settlement with Halyna Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, the status of which is now uncertain due to the withdrawal of tax funds. Former armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, whose negligence with firearms led to the fatal shooting, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Despite being listed as a witness, Gutierrez-Reed has invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during pre-trial proceedings related to Baldwin's case, as per Deadline. 'Rust', the film involved in the tragic incident, has since completed production and remains without distribution despite being finished for several months. (ANI) After actor Siddharth's controversial remarks about Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his subsequent clarification, the 'Indian 2' movie team, including stars Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Samuthirakani, and director S Shankar, created an awareness video promoting the government's initiative for a drug-free society. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy shared the video on Tuesday and thanked the 'Indian 2' team for their contribution. "My special congratulations to the team of Bharateeyudu-2. For a drug-free society... In support of the public government's efforts... Shri Kamal Haasan...Shri Shankar...Shri Siddhartha...This awareness video with Shri Samudrakhani...It's a joy to create.#DrugFreeTelangana #SayNoToDrugs," he wrote on X. https://x.com/revanth_anumula/status/1810572545558794262 In the video, Kamal Haasan can be heard saying, "Please say no to drugs. I congratulate the Telangana government for making it mandatory for such media events to give out this message. Say no to drugs." Actor Siddharth added, "Please say no to drugs. I appreciate and support this initiative by the Telangana government. All the best." Samuthirakani and Director S Shankar also supported the initiative. Earlier, actor Siddharth released a video clarifying his stance and extending full support to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's initiative to combat drug abuse in the state. The clarification came in the wake of controversy sparked by Siddharth's remarks during a press conference related to the movie 'Indian 2'. Addressing the media, Siddharth's response to a query regarding the social responsibility of actors led to a misunderstanding. He stated, "My name is Siddharth. I have been before the Telugu audience for 20 years. I collaborated with the government in united Andhra Pradesh from 2005 to 2011 promoting safe sex. My photo with a condom was used on billboards for this. That was me being responsible, not because a CM told me to do so." "If asked whether an actor already has a responsibility, I would say 'No comments' because I don't understand that. Every actor is socially responsible. We act according to our conscience. If any CM requests us to do something, we will do it. No CM has told us, only if you do this, we will do something else," he added. However, later in the day, Siddharth took to Instagram to clarify the misunderstanding. He posted a video reaffirming his support for CM Revanth Reddy's efforts against drug abuse. In the video, Siddharth stated, "We are talking about zero tolerance in 'Indian 2' movie. Zero tolerance against corruption and zero tolerance against drugs. In a press meet related to the movie, while I was answering a question, some people have misunderstood it. I should immediately clear the misunderstanding. I completely support Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Telangana government in the fight against drugs." https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9K1me_vi1N/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link "Our children's future is not in just their hands, but also ours. Safeguarding their future is our responsibility. I am 100 per cent with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his government in their initiative and directives to involve the film industry to make a better society with the government. I have always supported social initiatives and will continue to do that. I only meant that nobody has forced us from the government and that we were doing it out of our own free will. I want to congratulate the Chief Minister and his government on their persistent fight against drugs. We are with you sir," he added. On July 2, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had urged the film industry to create awareness videos on drug abuse during an address at the Command and Control Centre of Telangana Police in Hyderabad. He emphasized, "My suggestion to important people in cinema industry, you're approaching govt for ticket prices hike when a movie gets released but you're not fulfilling your social responsibility when it comes to curb cyber crime and drug use. I'm instructing officials, in coming days if anyone approaches govt to hike ticket prices then they should make a video with the stars on how to curb cyber crime and drug use and that's a pre-condition." 'Indian 2' which also stars superstar Kamal Haasan is the sequel to the 1996 film 'Indian.' 'Indian' starred Kamal as Veerasekaran Senapathy. The franchise brings back Kamal and director S Shankar for the sequel. In the poster, vigilante Senapathy (Kamal Haasan) is seen standing with his trademark twisted finger in handcuffed hands. Rakul Preet Singh and Kajal Aggarwal are also a part of the film. 'Indian 2' has music by Anirudh Ravichander and has writers Jayamohan, Kabilan Vairamuthu and Lakshmi Saravanakumar on board. The first poster of 'Indian 2' was unveiled on the occasion of the Pongal festival in 2020. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of five army soldiers who were killed in an ambush by terrorists in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1810505908608479716 In a message on social media platform X, Rajnath Singh said, "I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time". Rajnath Singh said, "The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region". "I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack," he further said. Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after five army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on June 8. An encounter is still underway between troops and the terrorists in the area, as shown by visuals from Tuesday morning. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Five soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on Monday. Meanwhile, five soldiers who were injured in the attack have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for further treatment. "Five injured jawans were brought here and have been given primary treatment. They have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for treatment. One dead body has been brought here," said Sheela Devi, Medical Officer at Community Health Centre, Billawar, to ANI. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and directed all security agencies to "work in a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner." (ANI) Nazrin Abdul This weekend, millions across the Western United States endured scorching temperatures that shattered records, with little relief anticipated in the days ahead, as reported by the New York Times, Azernews reports. From Oregon through California and into Arizona's deserts, numerous cities grappled with stifling heat. Jacob Asherman from the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center linked the intense heat to a persistent ridge of high-pressure air enveloping much of the region. This atmospheric pattern effectively trapped hot air near the surface, preventing its dispersion into the upper atmosphere. Cities like Las Vegas, accustomed to triple-digit summer heat, prepared for extreme conditions, with forecasts peaking at 117 degrees over the weekend. Conversely, areas unaccustomed to such temperatures faced unexpected challenges during this extended stretch of scorching weather. In Portland, Oregon, temperatures hovered around 100 degrees for five consecutive days starting Friday, a significant departure from its typically mild summers where air-conditioning needs were minimal. Responding to the crisis, Governor Tina Kotek declared a statewide heat emergency, emphasizing the escalating dangers associated with climate change. "The unprecedented temperatures and prolonged heat pose a significant threat, particularly to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and outdoor workers," Ms. Kotek cautioned in a statement. The Pacific Northwest has witnessed increasingly frequent deadly heat waves in recent years. In the summer of 2021 alone, temperatures soared 30 degrees above normal, resulting in approximately 600 more deaths than usual across Washington and Oregon. To mitigate the impact, Portland city authorities established cooling centers in air-conditioned facilities and installed outdoor misting stations in parks. Meanwhile, southern Oregon anticipated even higher temperatures, with Medford expecting highs of 110 degrees on Saturday. Downtown Portland remained nearly deserted on Saturday as temperatures approached the upper 90s, while Highway 26 experienced heavy traffic as residents sought cooler coastal routes. In Ashland, Oregon, where temperatures reached 111 degrees, a local crepe restaurant closed early due to the intense heat. Meanwhile, homeless individuals seeking relief gathered at the citys sole cooling center, offering cold water, watermelon slices, potato salad, and yoga mats. Throughout the West, cities accustomed to triple-digit temperatures grappled anew with the heat. Palm Springs, California, set a record at 124 degrees, while Phoenix surpassed its own daily record at 118 degrees under cloudless skies, with no monsoon storms in sight to provide summer relief. Even parts of the eastern United States faced extreme heat, weeks after an unexpected heat wave took many by surprise. From Texas to New Jersey, high temperatures combined with humidity posed hazardous conditions. In Raleigh, North Carolina, temperatures soared to 106 degrees on Friday, breaking local records. Overall, the unprecedented heatwave this weekend highlighted the escalating challenges of climate change across the United States, impacting both familiar and unexpected regions with potentially deadly consequences. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ghanshyam Tiwari on Tuesday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow, stating that India should play a positive and peaceful role in the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking to ANI, Ghanshyam Tiwari said, "The parties' stand on India's foreign policy, India's dominance in the world and the country's relations are united and in favour of the country. In the current situation, India's role must be positive and peaceful in the war between Russia and Ukraine. This is what the world expects from India." Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the President's House in Moscow on Monday. Putin welcomed PM Modi and the two leaders shared a hug. The two leaders shook hands and warmly greeted each other before proceeding to the meeting. Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Moscow for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the Vnukovo-II airport. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. PM Modi stated that he looks forward to further deepening the "special and privileged strategic partnership" between the two nations. PM Modi shook hands and interacted with members of the Indian diaspora. He met with children who were happy to see him. People held Indian flags and posters of PM Modi and chanted "Modi Modi" to welcome him at the hotel. Artists dressed in Indian attire performed at the hotel to welcome PM Modi. SP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari also commented on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to relief camps to meet the displaced and violence-affected people in Manipur on Monday. He also took a swipe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said, "60,000 are displaced, over 200 are dead, and thousands of villages have been destroyed. Many women guard their villages to keep them safe. All these reflect the pain of Manipur. Every member of the INDIA bloc understands this pain." "We all are sad that the voice of Manipur has not reached PM Modi's ears. Prime Minister Modi can hold election rallies in six different states in a day but cannot go to Manipur," he added. Prime Minister Modi's absence in addressing the situation in Manipur underscores a perceived weakness in his leadership. In contrast, the INDIA bloc has established a strong presence in every corner of society, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and their morale remains high. PM Modi, during his address in the Rajya Sabha last week, reaffirmed that the central government is making efforts to normalize the situation in Manipur. He further said that the central and state governments are establishing interactions with all stakeholders to restore peace. Violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party Jammu and Kashmir unit President Ravinder Raina said that the terrorists who carried out the Kathua terror attack will have to pay a heavy price and said their nefarious designs will be made unsuccessful. "The coward terrorists of Pakistan have again carried out a cowardly terror attack...They will have to pay a heavy price for this act," Raina told ANI on Monday. "Our soldiers have been giving befitting replies to these terrorists. Their nefarious designs will be unsuccessful. They are the enemies of peace. The entire nation honours the sacrifices of these brave soldiers," the BJP leader added. Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after five army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on June 8. An encounter is still underway between troops and the terrorists in the area, as shown by visuals from Tuesday morning. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Five soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on Monday. Meanwhile, five soldiers who were injured in the attack have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for further treatment. "Five injured jawans were brought here and have been given primary treatment. They have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for treatment. One dead body has been brought here," said Sheela Devi, Medical Officer at Community Health Centre, Billawar, to ANI. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and directed all security agencies to "work in a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner." (ANI) Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday emphasised the role played by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the establishment of the Republic of Austria, where PM Modis is scheduled to make a state visit later on Tuesday. "Today the non-biological PM is in Austria. The Republic of Austria was established fully only on October 26th, 1955, which is celebrated as its National Day. One person who was critical to this becoming a reality was none other than the man Mr. Modi loves to hate and defame," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. The Congress leader said that Dr Hans Kochler, a noted Austrian academic, has written about the key role Jawaharlal Nehru played in the early fifties in the emergence of a sovereign and neutral Austria after a decade of occupation by the victorious World War II powers. "One of Nehru's most ardent global admirers was the legendary Dr. Bruno Kreisky, who was Chancellor of Austria from 1970-83. In 1989, Dr. Kreisky recalled Nehru thus: "When the history of this century is written, and that of the men who have put their stamp on it one of the greatest and finest chapters will be the story of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It will be a part of India's most modern history....... Very early Nehru had become one of my instructors..." Here is Dr Kochler's retrospective for those interested in our diplomatic history - https://linktr.ee/jairam_ramesh," Ramesh said in the post. "Those suffering from Nehruphobia - like our non-biological PM and, especially since 2019, our erudite and dapper External Affairs Minister - will also do well to recall it," he added. PM Modi left for official visits to Russia and Austria on Monday. In Russia, PM Modi met with President Vladimir Putin, attending the the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Following his engagements in Russia, Prime Minister Modi will go to Austria. This visit marks a historic occasion, as it will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria in 41 years. "I very much look forward to welcoming @narendramodi, the Prime Minister of India, the world's largest democracy, next week in Vienna. This visit is a special honour as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over forty years and a significant milestone as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India. We will have the opportunity to talk about further deepening our bilateral relationship and closer cooperation on the many geopolitical challenges," Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer posted on X July 6. (ANI) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Amit Goel told ANI, "Seven people have been arrested in connection with an international organ transplant racket. The mastermind of this racket was a Bangladeshi." "Both the donor and receiver were from Bangladesh. We have arrested a person named Russell, who used to arrange patients and donors, and a female doctor involved in the transplant has also been arrested," said the official. Police said that the people involved in this racket had links in Bangladesh. "They used to charge Rs 25-30 lakhs for each transplant. Both the donor and the receiver were from Bangladesh. They have been running the organ racket since 2019," added the police. An investigation into the matter is underway. Further details on the matter are awaited. (ANI) Rohini has scored 73.8% marks in the JEE mains exam and got a seat in the Chemical Engineering department of the NIT. Talking to ANI, Rohini thanked her teachers for helping in her studies. She said the Tamil Nadu state government has offered to pay her fees and thanked Chief Minister MK Stalin for it. "I am a student from a tribal community who studied in a tribal government school. I appeared in the JEE exam and secured 73.8 per cent. I have secured a seat in NIT Trichy and I opted for Chemical Engineering," Rohini told ANI. "Tamil Nadu state government has come forward to pay all my fees; I thank the CM for helping me. I performed well because of my headmaster and the staff of my school," she added. Rohini's success is special as she comes from disadvantaged circumstances. Her parents are daily wage workers and her house is located in Chinna Ilupur Village. Talking about her daily struggles, she said that she worked as a daily wager while simultaneously preparing for the entrance exam. "My parents are daily wage workers and even I also worked as a daily wage worker while preparing for the exam. Since I studied well I got a seat in Trichy NIT," she said. (ANI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited Raebareli, his Lok Sabha constituency, on Tuesday. This is the Congress leader's first visit to the constituency since becoming the Leader of Opposition. Upon arriving, he offered prayers at Churuwa Hanuman Temple in Bachhrawan. His visit is still ongoing. Later in the day, he is expected to meet Congress workers and address public gatherings. On Monday, he visited violence-hit Manipur and met affected people. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state and console the victims of violence. He also stated that the INDIA bloc is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace in the violence-torn state. "In this terrible tragedy in Manipur, I request the Prime Minister to come here, listen to the people, and console them. The INDIA alliance is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace," the Congress leader said in a post on X. This comes as Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, met the victims of clashes at the relief camp at Moirang in Manipur's Bishnupur. "LoP Rahul Gandhi visits the relief camp at Phubala High School in Moirang, where he meets victims of the Manipur violence and offers support during these challenging times," Congress posted on X. PM Modi, during his address in the Rajya Sabha last week, reaffirmed that the central government is making efforts to normalize the situation in Manipur. "The government is continuously making efforts to normalize 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 stated 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," the Prime Minister added. Violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. (ANI) Calling it a cowardly act, President Droupadi Murmu condemned the July 8 Kathua terror attack in which five army soldiers lost their lives and called for firm counter-measures. https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1810546080251330713 In a message on the social media platform, X, President Murmu said, "The attack on a convoy of Army personnel in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists is a cowardly act that deserves condemnation and firm counter-measures". Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured, the President said, "My sympathies are with the families of the bravehearts who laid down their lives in this ongoing war against terror in its all forms". Ministry of Defence expressed extended "deepest" condolences to the bereaved families of the soldiers who lost their lives. A spokesperson said in a post on X, "Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered & their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack". Five Army soldiers were killed and as many as were injured in an ambush by terrorists in Katha district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway following the attack. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and directed all security agencies to "work in a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner." (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday paid tribute to Adarsh Negi, a resident of Tehri district, who was among the five army jawans who lost their lives in the July 8 Kathua terror attack. Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami said, "Five soldiers have sacrificed their lives for the protection of our country. Their sacrifice will not go in vain. The entire nation will remember them...Terrorism will be eliminated...A befitting reply will be given to disruptive forces..." https://x.com/pushkardhami/status/1810519866408911026 In a post on the social media platform, CM Dhami said, "The news of the martyrdom of Shri Adarsh Negi of Tehri district in the cowardly attack by terrorists in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad. This supreme sacrifice of Adarsh Negi ji, who attained martyrdom while protecting Mother India, will always remain unforgettable". His post added: "I pray to God to grant the virtuous soul a place in His feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow. Humble tribute!" Five Army soldiers were killed and as many as were injured in an ambush by terrorists in Katha district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway following the attack. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and directed all security agencies to "work in a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner." (ANI) The Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested a doctor and busted an organ transplantation racket with links in Bangladesh and India. According to Amit Goel, DCP Crime Branch, "Seven people have been arrested in connection with an international organ transplant racket." "The mastermind of this racket was a Bangladeshi. Both the donor and the recipient were from Bangladesh. We have arrested a person named Russell, who used to arrange patients and donors. The female doctor involved in the transplants has also been arrested. Further investigation is underway," he said. "The Delhi Police's Crime Branch department took custody of a doctor who had been engaged on a fee-for-service basis and was not on the hospital's payroll. This action followed an investigation into procedures carried out at another hospital, and it is prima facie not related to any actions at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals (IAH). Given this police action, IAH has placed the doctor under suspension," said Indraprastha Hospital in a statement. "IAH was previously approached by the Crime Branch seeking certain information as part of the investigation, which was duly provided," the statement continued. "IAH will provide its fullest cooperation to investigative authorities on this matter," mentioned Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in the statement. However, the female doctor was also working at another private hospital on a fee-for-service basis in Noida. The hospital has denied any direct association with her. "Yatharth Hospitals has no direct association with the said doctor, as she is part of another hospital. For all our procedures, we ensure the highest ethical standards, prioritize patient safety, and comply with all clinical and government protocols," said a spokesperson for Yatharth Hospital. "We have cooperated fully with all investigations, and there have been no findings of wrongdoing against our hospital or our practices," he added. (ANI) Citing an International Labour Organisation report claiming that "83 per cent of unemployed in the country are youth", Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday held Prime Minister Narendra Modi solely responsible for shattering the dreams of crores of youth in the last ten years. https://x.com/kharge/status/1810539916125737077 In a long series of tweets, Kharge said, "Modi Govt may be refuting independent economic reports like Citigroup on unemployment, but how will it deny government data? The truth is that Modi Govt is solely responsible for shattering the dreams of crores of Youth in the last 10 years!". Kharge added: "The latest government data punctures their claims - According to NSSO's Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE). In the manufacturing sector, 54 lakh jobs have been lost in unincorporated units in 7 years! (Between the year 2015 to 2023). In 2010-11, 10.8 crore employees were employed in unincorporated, non-agricultural enterprises across India, which has become 10.96 crore in 2022-23 - that is, a marginal increase of only 16 lakh in 12 years!" "According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the Urban Unemployment Rate is at 6.7%. (Q4, FY24). Modi Govt beats the drum of employment generation in the Formal sector by showing EPFO data, but even if we assume that data to be true, it has seen a 10% decline in new jobs in 2023. A report by IIM Lucknow, after analysing government data, shows that unemployment growth, high unemployment among the educated, and low participation of women in the workforce are prevalent in the country. (2024)", the Congress Chief added in his post. "Modi Govt rejects independent economic reports because they expose their shameless attempt to whitewash," Kharge said, adding, "According to the CMIE, the current Unemployment Rate in the country has reached 9.2%, and among women, it is a whopping 18.5%. According to the ILO report, 83% of the unemployed in the country are youth. According to the India Employment Report 2024, between 2012 and 2019, about 7 crore youth joined the labour force, but there was zero growth in employment - only 0.01%!". "According to the 2023 report of Azim Premji University, 42.3% of graduates under the age of 25 in the country are unemployed. According to the latest report of Citigroup, India needs 1.2 crore jobs annually, and even 7% GDP growth will not be able to create enough jobs for our youth. Under the Modi Govt, the country has achieved an average of only 5.8% as GDP growth," Kharge added. Further attacking the Narendra Modi government, Kharge said, "Be it government jobs, or private sector, self-employment or unorganised sector - Modi Govt has only one mission -- "Keep the youth Jobless". (ANI) By Alimat Aliyeva Independent oil refineries in China increased crude oil imports from Iran by 4.3% in June, reaching an eight-month high of about 6.1 million metric tons, Azernews reports. According to information, Iranian oil has become more popular among independent refineries in recent months. It is reported that China's independent refineries, mainly in the eastern province of Shandong, increased imports of Iranian oil by 4.3% in June to an eight-month high of about 6.1 million tons in order to reduce raw material costs and improve the weak profitability of refining. It is noted that this volume was the highest since October 2023, when it reached 6.22 million tons. The share of Iranian oil in the total portfolio of raw materials of small independent refineries in Shandong in June was about 65.7% compared with 54.2% in May. The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) today hailed the remarkable growth in India's defence production and exports, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 5, 2024. With domestic defence production surging to a record-breaking Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 16.7 per cent increase over the previous year and a staggering 60 per cent growth compared to 2019-20, India has solidified its position as a rising global defence powerhouse. Simultaneously, defence exports have soared to an unprecedented Rs 21083 crore, marking a nearly 35 per cent increase over the previous fiscal. This achievement is a testament to the Prime Minister's visionary 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative and the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Defence under the leadership of the Defence Minister. As a testimony of the maturing Defence Industrial Base of India, a feather in the cap for the government is that 60 per cent of this is attributed to the Private Sector. Rajinder Bhatia, President of SIDM expressing delight at this unprecedented growth, stated, "Initially, the targets set forth in the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) seemed ambitious. However, through the collective efforts of the government, the defence industry, and SIDM, we have not only achieved but are on the cusp of surpassing these goals." The DPEPP, coupled with the government's proactive policies and the industry's resilience, has created a conducive ecosystem for innovation, research, and development. The Prime Minister's unwavering support and the Ministry of Defence's strategic guidance have been instrumental in empowering the Indian defence industry to scale new heights. SIDM has played a pivotal role in this transformation by advocating for industry interests, simplifying regulatory hurdles, and fostering collaboration between policymakers and industry stakeholders. The organization, as the apex Industry body dedicated to defence manufacturers, has been instrumental in empowering the Indian Defence Industry, especially the MSMEs, which form the backbone of the defence supply chain. The synergy between the public and private sectors has been a cornerstone of this success. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have leveraged their legacy and expertise, while the private sector has brought in innovation and agility. This harmonious collaboration has propelled India to the forefront of global defence manufacturing. SIDM acknowledges the significant role played by various government initiatives, including iDEX, TDF, and the Indian Missions abroad, in bolstering the domestic defence ecosystem. The organization's global outreach initiative, duly supported by the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Attaches abroad, has also contributed to expanding India's defence footprint in far-off land, during the COVID-19 pandemic period. While lauding these achievements, SIDM emphasizes the need for continued focus on innovation, technology advancements, and robust supply chains. The organization remains committed to supporting the government and the industry in their pursuit of making India a global leader in defence manufacturing and exports. SIDM extends its gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his visionary leadership, the Ministry of Defence for its unwavering support, and the entire defence industry for their relentless dedication. Together, they have embarked on a historic journey that promises to transform India into a global defence powerhouse. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea challenging the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) rejection of objections to the merger between Tata SIA Airlines Limited and Air India Limited. CCI had earlier dismissed the application noting the absence of any substantive evidence to back these allegations. Consequently, through an order dated December 15, 2023, the application was closed under Section 26(2) of the Act by CCI, noted the Delhi High Court. The bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula said the claims made by the petitioner appear to be designed to manipulate or mislead. "The claims are made without any regard for truth and appear to be designed to manipulate or mislead. This approach not only discredits the Petitioner's credibility but also burdens the legal system unnecessarily. Therefore, in the Court's view, given the absence of any substantiated claims and the apparent malicious intent behind the allegations, the present petition lacks merit," said the court. Therefore, in the Court's view, given the absence of any substantiated claims and the apparent malicious intent behind the allegations, the present petition lacks merit. In light of the above, the present petition, along with all pending applications, is dismissed, said the Court. The Court further noted that the instant petition assails the impugned order rejecting the petitioner's application. The petitioner contends that the CCI issued the impugned order without conducting any inquiry. Additionally, the petition includes numerous unsubstantiated, wild and scandalous allegations against the Prime Minister and a former Chief Justice of India, none of which are supported by documentary evidence. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday gave assurance to the wife of murdered BSP State President K Armstrong that her husband's murderers would be brought to book. "I gave assurance to Sister Porkudi (wife of Armstrong) that murderers would be brought before law for severe punishment. Our government is confident to find and punish whoever is behind this Murder," MK Stalin said after visiting the house of Armstrong in Chennai "This is the government for everyone. Justice would be served. The Police Department would work with honesty," he added. Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to the portrait of Armstrong and consoled Porkudi and other close relatives of Armstrong. Armstrong was hacked to death last Friday evening by a group of unidentified men near his residence in Perambur, Chennai. The Chennai police suspect the involvement of associates of gangster Arcot Suresh, who was murdered in August last year, in the murder. In an interview with ANI on Sunday, Asra Garg, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), North Chennai, said, "After sustained interrogation, due analysis, and diligence regarding the facts and circumstances of each suspect, we have arrested eight people. We have seized seven blood-stained weapons, one Zomato t-shirt, a Zomato bag, and three bikes that were used in the commission of the offence." Highlighting the suspected motive behind the killing, ACP Garg mentioned that the associates of gangster Arcot Suresh, who was assassinated last year, believed it was "conspired" by Armstrong. "In continuation of this, the special teams formed by the Chennai police have secured three more suspects. The preliminary investigation so far indicates that the motive prima facie appears to be based on different types of analysis. In August 2023, Arcot Suresh was murdered by a gang; his family and associates believe it was done under the direction or in conspiracy with Armstrong, who was murdered on Friday," he stated. The Chennai police have formed special teams to comprehensively probe the case. Earlier on Saturday, the BSP supremo, Mayawati, called for immediate action from the Tamil Nadu government. "The brutal murder of a hardworking and dedicated leader of the BSP in Tamil Nadu and the state party unit president K. Armstrong outside his Chennai residence yesterday evening has sent shockwaves across society. The government should immediately take strict and necessary action to prevent such incidents in the future," she said in a post on 'X'. Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Annamalai said that the murder of Armstrong has highlighted the poor state of law and order in the state. "We are extremely saddened by the death of a prominent leader in Tamil Nadu, BJP chief K Annamalai...this murder has showcased the poor law and order in Tamil Nadu and DMK govt's denial. Tamil Nadu has become a land where murders are happening on one hand and surrenders are happening on the other, people come out of jail very fast and they commit murder again... the government has to first acknowledge...until they let the Police act freely, there is not going to be an end to this menace..," Annamalai said speaking to reporters on Monday. (ANI) The raids are underway by ED's Chandigarh Zonal office. The raids targeted three Haryana Civil Service officers and several private individuals suspected of involvement in the scam. The three Haryana Civil Service officers being raided by the ED are Ashok Sukhija, Narender Kumar Ranga and Gopi Chand Chaudhary. According to sources, the search operation is aimed at unearthing evidence of money laundering and other financial irregularities linked to the scam. The ED officials are scouring the premises for documents and records related to the alleged fraud. The Value Added Tax (VAT) scam is believed to have caused a significant financial loss to the state exchequer, with estimates suggesting a shortfall of around Rs 70 crore. The ED's crackdown comes after the Haryana Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and other accused in connection with the scam. (ANI) A 45-year-old man was shot dead over a family dispute in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, an official said on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the Dullapur locality under the jurisdiction of Thatipur police station limits on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, said Nagendra Singh Sikarwar, City Superintendent of Police (CSP). "A 45-year-old man was shot dead in the Dullapur area under Thatipur police station last night at around 12 am following a family dispute. After the incident, the victim's family lodged a police complaint in which a case was registered against a total of nine people," CSP Sikarwar told ANI. The accused and complainant are relatives and live nearby in the same village. To maintain the peace in the area, police teams were deployed, he added. "The complainant demanded from the police that the house of the accused should be demolished, so it is being discussed with the Municipal Corporation and Revenue Officer. The complainants also said that the accused had a licensed .315 bore weapon and the same was used in the incident. Though it will be known from the FSL team once it is seized," the officer said. The complainants had also blocked the road and had given an application in which they had put forward their demands. Looking at the demands, they have been given assurance that whatever legal demands are there, it will be followed. The road blockade was removed and the situation went back to normal, CSP Sikarwar said. He added that the body was sent for cremation and teams were formed to nab the accused. (ANI) This is the Congress leader's first visit to the constituency since becoming the Leader of Opposition. He also visited AIIMS, in Raebareli. Upon arriving, he offered prayers at Churuwa Hanuman Temple in Bachhrawan. Later in the day, he is expected to meet Congress workers and address public gatherings. Rahul Gandhi won from both Raebareli and Wayanad Lok Sabha constituencies in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. While Rahul Gandhi won with a margin of 364422 votes from Wayanad defeating Communist Party of India's Annie Raja, in Raebareli, he won with a margin of 390030 votes from Raebareli defeating Bharatiya Janata Party's Dinesh Pratap Singh. He visited violence-hit Manipur on July 8 and met violence-affected people. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state and console the victims of violence. He also stated that the INDIA bloc is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace in the violence-torn state. "In this terrible tragedy in Manipur, I request the Prime Minister to come here, listen to the people, and console them. The INDIA alliance is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace," the Congress leader said in a post on X. This comes as Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, met the victims of clashes at the relief camp at Moirang in Manipur's Bishnupur. "LoP Rahul Gandhi visits the relief camp at Phubala High School in Moirang, where he meets victims of the Manipur violence and offers support during these challenging times," Congress posted on X. Violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. (ANI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of a media report, carried on July 5, that 23 child labourers were rescued in the Saraswati Vihar area of North-West District, Delhi. According to an official release, the children including nine girls and 14 boys were brought to Delhi from nearby states and were working in various factories. "The Commission has observed the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the rights of the children. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 as amended in 2016 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 years in any capacity including domestic help," the release said. "The Act also makes it a criminal offence to employ a child as a worker/ labourer. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to submit a detailed report in the matter within two weeks," it added. The Commission also directed the District Magistrate (DM), North West Delhi to submit a report indicating the action taken as per provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, steps taken for their rehabilitation and reunion with their respective families as well as to continue their education. "The DM, North West Delhi is also expected to inform regarding legal action taken if any child labourer was being kept under bondage," the release said. Earlier also, the Commission came across such complaints/ news reports alleging violation of the Labour Laws by the owners of the factories running in various parts of the National Capital. Given this, the Commission has also sought to know about the action taken against such delinquent employers. A survey of the NCT of the Delhi area is required to be conducted to know if there are more industrial units where the children are being engaged as labourers and what action has been taken against them. (ANI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday inspected the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in his parliamentary constituency Raebareli. "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi inspected AIIMS in his parliamentary constituency Raebareli," Congress posted on X. Rahul Gandhi was also seen interacting with the people in the hospital and playing ludo with the girl child. Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi paid tribute at the Shaheed Smarak Park, in Raebareli. This is the Congress leader's first visit to the constituency since becoming the Leader of Opposition. Upon arriving, he offered prayers at Churuwa Hanuman Temple in Bachhrawan. Later in the day, he is expected to meet Congress workers and address public gatherings. Rahul Gandhi won from both Raebareli and Wayanad Lok Sabha constituencies in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. While Rahul Gandhi won with a margin of 364422 votes from Wayanad defeating Communist Party of India's Annie Raja, in Raebareli, he won with a margin of 390030 votes from Raebareli defeating Bharatiya Janata Party's Dinesh Pratap Singh. He visited violence-hit Manipur on July 8 and met violence-affected people. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state and console the victims of violence. He also stated that the INDIA bloc is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace in the violence-torn state. "In this terrible tragedy in Manipur, I request the Prime Minister to come here, listen to the people, and console them. The INDIA alliance is ready to assist in every step that can improve the situation and restore peace," the Congress leader said in a post on X. This comes as Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, met the victims of clashes at the relief camp at Moirang in Manipur's Bishnupur. "LoP Rahul Gandhi visits the relief camp at Phubala High School in Moirang, where he meets victims of the Manipur violence and offers support during these challenging times," Congress posted on X. Violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. (ANI) In the attack, five others sustained injuries in a terrorist ambush on a routine patrol vehicle near Badnota village on Monday. Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway following the attack. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and directed all security agencies to "work in a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner." (ANI) "Under the direction of Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, in a special drive, Gujarat Police has registered cases against 226 for illegal money lending in the last 10 days. Because of illegal money lending, many poor families have lost their family members," Sanghavi said. He further said that in money lending issues 134 FIRs have been registered. "134 FIRs have been registered in money lending issues...so many families had to face a lot of challenges because of illegal money lending," he added. The police action has saved many citizens' lives and helped many recover their life savings that had been trapped, he said. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi instructed Gujarat Police to ensure that no loan shark escapes strict action and that no innocent person is falsely accused. Gujarat Police has launched a special drive across all cities and districts of the state from June 21, 2024. The senior police officials in all districts have begun organizing public hearings and conducting thorough investigations, followed by strict action. This drive, scheduled to continue until July 31, 2024, focuses on the Money Lenders Act, of 2011. (ANI) A Mumbai court on Tuesday extended the police custody of Rajesh Shah's driver, Rajrishi Singh Bidawat, in the Worli hit-and-run case until Thursday, July 11. According to officials, Shah's driver, Bidawat was with Mihir Shah (23) - the son of political leader Rajesh Shah and the main accused in the case - when the luxury car struck and killed a 45-year-old woman, Kaveri Nakhwa, and injured her husband. "We have to interrogate Mihir and the driver together. We need his custody because he takes drugs and was present at the time of the accident. They ran over a woman with the car," Mumbai police said while arguing in court on Tuesday. During the hearing, the defence lawyer said that police have no evidence of the driver's involvement. "The driver was not in that pub. Police have no evidence that he took drugs or consumed any such thing. There is no point in police custody without evidence," the lawyer said. Mihir Shah, the main accused in the hit-and-run case, was arrested from Virar on Tuesday. Shah had been absconding after the car he was allegedly driving hit a scooter on Dr Annie Besant Road in Worli on Sunday, July 7. Fourteen teams were formed by Mumbai police to nab him. Police arrested Rajrishi Singh Bidawat and Mihir's father, Rajesh Shah, for their alleged involvement in the case. Following the tragic incident, the deceased woman's husband, Pradeep Nakhwa, questioned the delay in the arrest of the accused and alleged that he dragged his wife from Ceejay House to Sea Link Road. "It was due to 'politics' and the accused would not be arrested until the Vidhan Sabha session ends," Nakhwa had claimed. He also alleged that the delay in the arrest was because the accused is the son of a political leader. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Nakhwa said, "We were on our daily routine, as we are fishermen, and as part of our daily routine, on Sunday at 4 am, we were returning through the Peddar Road from the fish hatchery after buying fish. We were riding slowly at a speed of 35-40 km/hr on the side of the road. Suddenly, a car at high speed came and hit us; we didn't even realize how fast it was. We flew into the air and dropped on his car's bonnet." "When he applied the brake, I fell on the left side of the road while my wife came under the wheels of his car. He didn't stop after that; I tried to stop him, but he didn't and dragged her from Ceejay House to Sea Link Road. There was smoke from the wheels when he was dragging my wife. After the incident, he fled from the spot," said Nakhwa. Earlier today, the Excise Department sealed the Vice Global Tapas Bar in Juhu and questioned some of the staff along with the bar owner in connection with the incident. Mihir Shah had a party with his four friends at the same bar before the incident. As per the officials, the bar has four doors, and all have been sealed by the Excise Department. Before the incident, Mihir Shah had a party there with his four friends. After the party, Shah left the bar and was seen in CCTV footage going with his friends in a car. Police have questioned some of the staff along with the owner of the bar. According to Mumbai police, the 45-year-old victim was a resident of Worli Koliwada. Her husband was riding the scooter while she was riding pillion. The husband also sustained injuries in the incident. "The couple was returning home after buying fish when the scooter they were riding on was hit by the luxury car. Both of them sustained injuries, and the woman died during treatment," police added. Police also said that the luxury car belonged to a leader of a political party based in Maharashtra's Palghar. The incident in Worli follows less than two months after the Pune case in which a luxury car allegedly driven by a 17-year-old youth, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed into a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two software engineers in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area in the early hours of May 19. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his "alarm" at the "rise in hit-and-run incidents" in the state on Monday and said that he has directed the police to take strict action against such cases, adding that the "guilty will not be spared." (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Tuesday condemned the deadly terror attack in Kathua in which five soldiers lost their lives and said that the people behind the attack will be punished soon. In a post on X, LG Sinha said, "I salute the bravery of our army personnel, who lost their lives in a dastardly terror attack in Kathua. Deepest condolences to bereaved families of martyrs. Coordinated counter-terror operations are underway and the perpetrators of this attack will be punished soon." Earlier, calling it a cowardly act, President Droupadi Murmu condemned the July 8 Kathua terror attack in which five army soldiers lost their lives and called for firm counter-measures. In a message on the social media platform, X, President Murmu said, "The attack on a convoy of Army personnel in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists is a cowardly act that deserves condemnation and firm counter-measures". Ministry of Defence expressed extended "deepest" condolences to the bereaved families of the soldiers who lost their lives. Five Army soldiers were killed and as many as were injured in an ambush by terrorists in Katha district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrived at the incident site where an Army convoy was ambushed in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway following the attack. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured. (ANI) Delhi Police have arrested two persons for allegedly stealing more than 5900 kilograms of cashew kernels worth Rs 48 lakhs from different places in the national capital. The arrested accused have been identified as Md. Sabir (24) and Md. Faizan (32) -- both residents of Bihar. A team from Keshav Puram police station registered a case under section 316(3) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused duo and recovered a total of 295 1/2 cartons each weighing 20 kg (total of 5910 kilograms) of cashew kernels from their possession. The estimated value of seized cashew kernels is around Rs 48 lakh. Police said that on July 7, the complainant, namely, Alok Bhatia, who resides at Ashok Vihar in Delhi, reported that he booked a lorry to pick up 6000 kgs or 300 cases valuing Rs 48,45,645 from Luthra Ice Plant at Lawrence Road in Keshav Puram to Hardiram Marketing Private Limited. A deal was made to transport the goods for Rs 450. The goods were loaded into a truck bearing no. DL 01 LAF 7764 to be delivered to Badarpur, but they were not delivered. The complainant tried to contact the truck driver but the phone was not picked up. When the complainant became suspicious, he lodged his complaint at the Keshav Puram police station. The team examined the complainant in detail and CCTV footage was examined, to establish the identity of the accused. During the investigation, all sources were activated. Through the analysis of technical surveillance and tracking the routes using cameras, the team succeeded in apprehending two accused persons. Later, they were identified as Md. Sabir and Md. Faizan. The truck booked for delivery was also recovered near Adarsh Nagar metro station. During interrogation, both the accused confessed about their involvement in the case and confessed that they got involved in this criminal activity to earn easy money. In their instance, 295 1/2 cases of cashew kernels weighing 5910 kgs amounting to Rs 48 lakhs were recovered from different places in Delhi. Both the accused persons have been arrested, police added. (ANI) The Department of Posts will be organizing 5,000 Dak Chaupals across the country in the 100 days with an aim to bring essential government and citizen-centric services directly to rural areas, improving accessibility and convenience. In a review meeting held on Monday, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia discussed the 100-day action plan of Department of Posts. Dak Chaupals will serve as vital links between rural residents and government functions, reducing barriers such as distance and accessibility. Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra Scheme is set to bolster rural exports by supporting small-scale exporters. This initiative provides essential services including documentation assistance, market information, bar-coded label printing, and paperless customs clearance. Aligned with the 'One District--One Product' initiative, this scheme will promote local products, contributing to economic growth and rural development. The Department aims to onboard 3000 new exporters onto the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra Portal in 100 days. The Department of Posts is advancing an initiative to establish a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India, ensuring simplified addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services. This grid-based system will serve as a robust pillar of Geospatial Governance, leading to enhancements in public service delivery, faster emergency response, and a significant boost to logistics efficiency. As part of the 100-day action plan, the Department has initiated Proof of Concept (PoC) trials across India, covering 10 villages and a city. An MoU has been signed on July 5, 2024, with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (an autonomous body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India) to establish a knowledge support partnership. Another MoU is in progress with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to establish a technical support partnership. These partnerships aim to leverage advanced technologies and expertise to provide precise mapping and addressing solutions, ultimately revolutionizing service delivery across the country. Through initiatives like Dak Chaupals, the DNK Scheme, and the standardized geo-coded addressing system, the Department of Posts aims to significantly improve the quality of life for citizens while fostering inclusive growth and development across the country. These efforts underscore the Department's proactive approach and dedication to meeting the evolving needs of a diverse and rapidly advancing society. Under the guidance of Jyotiraditya M Scindia, the Department of Posts is set to achieve remarkable milestones in the first 100 days. By enhancing accessibility and efficiency, the Department of Posts is poised to catalyze socio-economic progress and improve the quality of life for millions across the country. (ANI) An eight-year-old African female lion named Sirisha, suffering from hind limb paralysis, escaped from her enclosure at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad on Monday morning and attacked a caretaker before being recaptured. According to zoo authorities, the main gates were closed per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). However, the veterinary team was on-site conducting health check-ups. They responded within 10 minutes and tranquillized Sirisha, who was found near the crocodile moat, and safely returned her to the night house within 20 minutes, zoo authorities said in a release on Tuesday. The incident occurred around 10.20 am while Syed Hussain, an assistant animal keeper, was cleaning the night houses and failed to close the doors. Sirisha had been kept in the off-display Summer House area for treatment. Zoo authorities said that the door between the enclosures had not been properly secured. While the animal keeper, Syed Hussain, was cleaning another enclosure, Sirisha escaped from her night enclosure and injured him with her paws. Hussain quickly ran out of the area, alerting the other employees. The supporting staff immediately reported the incident to the higher authorities. Hussain was immediately taken to Osmania General Hospital for treatment and was discharged after receiving care. The Director of Zoo Park has appointed an enquiry committee for a detailed investigation. Based on the preliminary report submitted by the Deputy Range Officer, it was found that Syed Hussain had shown carelessness in safety measures and was irresponsible in monitoring the wild animals while closing the gates. The Committee has decided to call on experts to train the staff on how to respond to similar incidents in the future. They will work on implementing measures to prevent such occurrences. Previously, similar incidents have been reported wherein a few animals escaped from their respective enclosures. The management is working on improving monitoring and functioning to reduce such incidences, zoo authorities added. (ANI) Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday held a review meeting and discussed the 100-day action plan of the Department of Posts. Under his dynamic leadership and guidance, the Department of Posts aims to transform service delivery and enhance efficiency through key initiatives to benefit the nation and its citizens. According to the Ministry of Communications, the Department of Posts will be organizing 5,000 Dak Chaupals across the country in 100 days. "This initiative aims to bring essential government and citizen-centric services directly to rural areas, improving accessibility and convenience. Dak Chaupals will serve as vital links between rural residents and government functions, reducing barriers such as distance and accessibility," it added. Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra Scheme is set to bolster rural exports by supporting small-scale exporters. This initiative provides essential services including documentation assistance, market information, bar-coded label printing, and paperless customs clearance. Aligned with the 'One District--One Product' initiative, this scheme will promote local products, contributing to economic growth and rural development, the Ministry said. The Department aims to onboard 3000 new exporters onto the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra Portal in 100 days. The Department of Posts is advancing an initiative to establish a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India, ensuring simplified addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services. This grid-based system will serve as a robust pillar of Geospatial Governance, leading to enhancements in public service delivery, faster emergency response, and a significant boost to logistics efficiency. As part of the 100-day action plan, the Department has initiated Proof of Concept (PoC) trials across India, covering 10 villages and a city. An MoU was signed on July 5, 2024, with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (an autonomous body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India) to establish a knowledge support partnership, it added. Another MoU is in progress with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to establish a technical support partnership. These partnerships aim to leverage advanced technologies and expertise to provide precise mapping and addressing solutions, ultimately revolutionizing service delivery across the country. Through initiatives like Dak Chaupals, the DNK Scheme, and the standardized geo-coded addressing system, the Department of Posts aims to significantly improve the quality of life for citizens while fostering inclusive growth and development across the country, the Ministry said. These efforts underscore the Department's proactive approach and dedication to meeting the evolving needs of a diverse and rapidly advancing society. Under the guidance of Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Department of Posts is set to achieve remarkable milestones in the first 100 days. By enhancing accessibility and efficiency, the Department of Posts is poised to catalyze socio-economic progress and improve the quality of life for millions across the country. (ANI) The Delhi Government on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to grant an early hearing of its petition challenging the law taking away "services" from the control of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the Delhi Government, mentioned the matter for early hearing before a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra saying the law was creating hinderances on the State's administration at a ground level. "It's a serious matter, it is creating problems on the ground," said Singhvi. The apex court in July 2023 referred the Delhi government's petition challenging the Government of National Capital Territory (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 (now Act) to a five-judge Constitution bench. The Ordinance was replaced by the Government of NCT Delhi (Amendment) Act 2023 passed by the Parliament in August 2023. The Ordinance (now Act) had come a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi, excluding police, public order and land, to the elected government, and sought to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers. Filing the petition, the Delhi government had argued that through the same, the Central government has in effect overturned the Supreme Court's verdict. The Act gives overriding powers to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to oversee the transfers and postings of civil servants in the national capital. Approaching the apex court, the Aam Aadmi Party government said that Centre's move is "unconstitutional". The impugned Act destroys the scheme of federal, Westminster-style democratic governance that is constitutionally guaranteed for NCTD in Article 239AA, added the plea. The Centre had on May 19 last year promulgated the Ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of IAS and DANICS officers in Delhi, with the Delhi government calling the move a circumvention of the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The Act was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. On May 11 last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the division of administrative powers between the Union and Delhi government "must be respected" and held that the Delhi government has "legislative and executive power over services" in the national capital, including the bureaucrats, except those relating to public order, police and land. A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices MR Shah, Justice Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha had said, "The division of administrative powers between the Union and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) as explained... must be respected." The apex court in its 105-page-judgement had said that the government of Delhi is not similar to other Union Territories. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda hit out at the opposition for considering it to be a party that has its political clout only in northern parts of India, saying that the ruling party has now turned to be an all-India party. "In Andhra Pradesh, the NDA sweeped. I would like to point out that Andhra Pradesh is in south India. Some people try to create a narrative that the BJP is a northern India party. No. Now we are an All-India party which includes southern parts...In Andhra Pradesh, NDA won 164 out of 175 seats," Nadda said while speaking to party workers in a meeting at Thiruvananthapuram. Union Health Minister JP Nadda was addressing the BJP State Executive meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Tuesday. Speaking about its poll performance in Telangana, "In Telangana, our Lok Sabha seats have doubled. Just like we are waiting to win in Kerala in 2026, we want to win in Telangana as well." The BJP won eight seats in Telangana in the Lok Sabha polls. In 2019 polls, it won four seats. The BJP chief also congratulated its party workers in Kerala for being able to secure its first historic win in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. "I would like to specially thank Kerala for showing good results in the Lok Sabha polls. For the first time after Independence you have secured victory (in one seat) in the Lok Sabha elections," Nadda said. Speaking about the party's win in Odisha, Nadda said, "Recently in the Odisha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has formed the government on its own. Out of 147 seats, the BJP has won 78 and we have won 20 out of 21 seats in Lok Sabha polls." On BJP's win in Arunachal Pradesh for the third time, the BJP chief said, "They used to say that we will not be successful in the north-east. In Arunachal, we have formed the government for the third time. We won 46 seats out of 60 seats and 54 per cent of the votes." Nadda said that people have voted for the BJP for the third consecutive time as they support "stability" and "continuity." "When I say that we are forming the government for the third time continuously and consecutively, then it gives a message of stability and continuity. People in India have voted for stability and continuity," he said. Heaping praise on his party workers in Kerala, Nadda said, "Kerala is known for hardwork, for politeness, for dedication. I see these traits in my party workers. I praise you all for the dedication with which you are working for an ideology amid difficult circumstances." Nadda said that the NDA has been able to form the government for the third time owing to party workers' dedication. "After 60 years, for the first time, continuously and consecutively the NDA is forming the government under the dynamic leadership of Narendra Modi. This has been possible owing to your dedication, and being immersed in an ideology," he said. Paying his respects to Adi Shankaracharya and Shri Narayan Guru, Nadda said, "...this land is known as the land of Adi Shankaracharya. He has played a huge role in taking forward our Sanatan Dharma. The land of Kerala has been that of gurus, of social reformers. So I pay my respects to Narayan Guru, under whose guidance social consciousness got at new boost in Kerala." (ANI) On the rise in cases of Dengue in Karnataka, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that they are strictly monitoring the situation adding that all departments have been instructed to keep doing source reduction. "We are monitoring the situation...we have strictly instructed all departments to keep doing source reduction...we have asked Asha workers and volunteers to go house to house...govt is working full time...main thing is to control the spread of mosquito and also to stop deaths from happening," Karnataka Health Minister said. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the state has reported 7,362 positive cases to date in Karnataka and instructed the officials to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. He further instructed the officials to allocate 10 beds in a ward at every hospital separately for dengue cases. "Dengue usually shows up when there's rain. 7,362 positive cases have been registered to date in the state this year of which 7 have succumbed to the disease. I have given instructions that the mosquito breeding sites must be eliminated. 10 beds in a ward must be allotted at every hospital separately for dengue cases, a task force must be formed in every district and mosquito net to be given to all slum residents for free," Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah further said that the officials have to work in coordination if the government program is to reach the beneficiaries. The cases of dengue are on the surge with advancing monsoon rains in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as of July 8. Dr Indira Kabade, Superintendent of KC General Hospital, said, "As you know, day by day, dengue cases are increasing. As of now, we are encountering a lot of cases. According to the signs and symptoms, doctors are treating OPD cases as well as IPD cases. We find severity in the cases that are admitted to the hospital. We categorize the cases into mild, moderate, and serious. Most of the cases are of the mild category and are treated in the OPD. If the vitals are not stable, the patient needs admission. Depending on our physicians' and pediatricians' suggestions, patients are admitted to the hospital. They are getting treated, and luckily, within two to three days, they recover." (ANI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response from the Odisha Government on Dara Singh, convicted and sentenced to life jail term in the 1999 Australian missionary death case, for premature release. A bench of justices Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued notice to Odisha Government on Dara Singh plea seeking premature release. Police arrested Rabindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh in February 2000 in connection with the death case of Australian Missionary Graham Staines and his minor sons. Australian missionary Graham Staines and his sons were burnt to death outside a church at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district in 1999. Dara Singh in his plea filed by Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain has sought to issue direction to authorities concerned to grant him premature release in accordance with Guidelines for Premature Release of Life Convicts. Advocate Jain, in his plea, said that accused Dara Singh, 61 years, already undergone more than the qualified period i.e., 14 years of sentence as stipulated in policy dated April 19, 2022, and he has served more than 24 years of actual imprisonment (without remission). "It is noteworthy that the petitioner has never been released on parole and even when his mother passed away, he could not perform her last rites as he was not allowed to be released on parole," the plea said The petitioner said that he acknowledges and deeply regrets the transgressions perpetrated more than two decades ago. "In the fervor of youth, fueled by impassioned reactions to the brutal history of India, the petitioner's psyche momentarily lost restraint," the petitioner said. "It is imperative for the Court to scrutinize not merely the actions but the underlying intent; noting that there was no personal animosity harboured towards any victim," he added. He further mentioned that he was overwhelmed by distress at the barbaric deeds inflicted upon, India by the Mughals and the British, found himself in a tumultuous state of mind. "In a zealous endeavor to safeguard and defend Mother India, regrettable offenses were committed," he said in his plea. Urging the court for relief, he pointed out that various convicts were allowed premature release based on their good conduct. "The basic principle of the reformative theory emphasizes on the renewal of the convict and the beginning of a new life for him. It is based on the principle of reforming the offenders through individual treatment and not looking to criminals as just inhuman-creatures," he said and further added that he has spent over 24 years being incarcerated in the prison, has well understood and is repenting the consequences of his action taken in the fit of his youthful rage and at present seeks the mercy of the top court so that he can give back to the society. "The Petitioner is reaching the twilight of his lifetime but remains incarcerated, without any hope of him being released prematurely, by the State Government and thus, his right under Article 21 of the Constitution is being infringed, he said." Further, he added that he is being discriminated as similarly situated persons who have been incarcerated for the same' or lesser period have been released prematurely whereas the Petitioner's case is not being considered due to which his right under Article 14 of the. The constitution is being infringed affecting his right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. (ANI) Highlighting India's rich democratic heritage, Birla emphasized that contrary to popular belief, India's democratic roots extend far beyond its Independence, tracing back to ancient times. He observed that democratic values have profoundly influenced our thoughts, traditions, and institutions. India and its people have a longstanding tradition of resolving conflicts through dialogue and mutual consultation, which Birla believes is now a cornerstone of global policy. "The stature of India as a democracy has grown exponentially in recent times and the world now looks up to India as an inspiration," Birla said. Elaborating that India's democratic success stems from its robust tradition spanning from village governance to local, state, and national levels, he encouraged the mayor and councillors to fulfill their roles as public representatives by fostering trust and accountability among the citizens who have high expectations of them. The Lok Sabha Speaker also exhorted Urban Local Bodies to adopt rules and procedures to conduct their proceedings in line with Parliament. "This would allow in-depth discussions on public issues through mechanisms like Question Hour and Zero Hour," Birla noted. Emphasizing that constructive suggestions and solutions could be achieved through consensus, Birla opined that public representatives should work in a manner that meets the people's expectations, thereby enhancing trust and confidence in democratic institutions. He also commended Indore's unique achievement in its outstanding success in urban cleanliness, as demonstrated by its repeated accomplishment in the Swachh Bharat Mission over the years. Birla lauded Indore Corporation's efforts in reducing carbon emissions, highlighting climate change as one of the most significant global challenges today. Members of Parliament, Shankar Lalwani, Members of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Ramesh Mendola. The Mayor of Indore, Councilors of Indore Municipal Corporation and officials were also present. (ANI) DSC aspirants and BRSV leaders burned an effigy of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at Osmania University in Hyderabad. The protest, which was staged by the exam aspirants and the BRSV (Bharat Rashtra Samithi Vidyarth), turned intense when the students attempted to burn the effigy. However, the police intervened and detained 20 people. According to Inspector Rajender of Osmania Police Station, the protest was staged demanding the postponement of the District Selection Committee (DSC) examination. "The DSC aspirants and BRSV students staged a protest demanding that the DSC exams be postponed. They tried to burn the CM's effigy, but we stopped them. We have taken 20 people into preventive custody," OU Police Inspector Rajender. District Selection Committee (DSC), is a recruitment for teacher posts in government and local body schools. Earlier on June 21, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) at Osmania University in Hyderabad over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam and the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam. (ANI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday hit out at Congress over the six guarantees the party made during the Telangana Assembly elections and said that the party failed to implement these guarantees adding that Congress party's habit is to give "false guarantees." "When in Opposition, Congress made different promises to the people of Telangana during Assembly elections. In the name of 6 guarantees, Sonia Gandhi herself wrote a letter to every household in Telangana... She wrote that she is the mother of Telangana, support her and when they come to power they will fulfill all 6 guarantees within 100 days. Congress came to power in the state on the basis of these promises. Rahul Gandhi visited villages. But even after 7 months, not even one scheme has been implemented," Reddy questioned Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi asking why the party has not implemented guarantees in Telangana. "CM Revanth Reddy only goes across villages, he is postponing but nothing is happening. So, BJP wants to question the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi - why are you not implementing the guarantees on the basis of which you came to power? Those were false guarantees, guarantees to lure people...It is the Congress party's habit to give false guarantees...So, the people of Telangana are upset with Congress. So, BJP received 36 per cent of the votes in Telangana in the Lok Sabha elections and won 8 seats. In the days to come, we will come to power in Telangana," he added. During the election campaign, Congress released six guarantees for the people of the state. The party named the six guarantees as 'Abhaya Hastham'. Under the 'Mahalakshmi' scheme, the party promised to give Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women. Gas Cylinders at Rs 500 and free travel for women in TSRTC buses across the state. The "Rythu Bharosa" scheme was for farmers and agriculture labourers. Under this scheme, the Congress promises financial assistance of Rs 15,000 for farmers, 12,000 per year to agriculture labourers, and a bonus of Rs500 per quintal for paddy above the minimum support price. Other guarantees are for the state's poor families and students, promising them land and financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the construction of houses, 200 units of free electricity, and financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for pursuing higher education, etc. Telangana went to polls on November 30 and the counting of votes took place on December 3. (ANI) A group of DSC aspirants and BRSV activists were protesting to demand the postponement of the upcoming DSC (District Selection Committee) examination by three months, until October. The DSC exam, meant for the recruitment of teachers in government and local body schools, is scheduled to be conducted from July 17 to August 5. The protest turned intense when the students attempted to burn an effigy of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. However, the police intervened and detained the students. According to Osmania Police Station inspector Rajender, the DSC aspirants and BRSV students staged a protest demanding that the DSC exams be postponed. "They tried to burn the CM's effigy, but we stopped them. We have taken 20 people into preventive custody," he said. (ANI) After finalising the state budget for 2024-25, Rajasthan Finance Minister Diya Kumari met Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at his residence in Jaipur. Diya Kumari, who is also the Deputy CM, met CM Bhajan Lal with additional chief secretary Akhil Arora and other officials. Finance Minister Diya Kumari will present the state budget for the financial year 2024-25 tomorrow, i.e., July 10. Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari said that the budget has been prepared while keeping all the sections in mind. "A double-engine government has been formed in the state, so we will try our best to live up to the expectations of the people. Good work has been done on the budget. There are big announcements for every section," she said. It may be noted that the Rajasthan Budget comes at a time when the BJP lost 11 out of 25 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and thus it is being hoped that the announcements will be done keeping in mind the upcoming by-elections to five seats. Rajasthan Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary spoke on the upcoming budget and said, "A bill will be introduced to make sure that the water being used is recycled in the same ratio. A bill will also be introduced to ensure that water being used for purposes like cleaning is STP-treated." "To increase awareness among the public to save water, campaigns will be launched, brand ambassadors will be appointed. Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma has set up a target of planting 7 crore plants," he added. Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie, who reached Jaipur airport, also gave a statement on the upcoming state budget and said, "We do not have any special expectations. Looking at the tenure of the Rajasthan government till now, we do not have any expectations from the budget." (ANI) Ensuring punishment for perpetrators, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Kathua terror attack on Monday. "I salute the bravery of our army personnel, who lost their lives in a dastardly terror attack in Kathua. Deepest condolences to bereaved families of martyrs. Coordinated counter-terror operations are underway and the perpetrators of this attack will be punished soon," Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, wrote in a post on X. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of five army soldiers. In a message on social media platform X, Rajnath Singh said, "I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time". Rajnath Singh said, "The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region". "I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack," he further said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting investigation at the site of Kathua terror attack in Jammu. Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur. This measure was taken as the 11th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims passed through Udhampur on Tuesday morning. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place by the security forces to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Five soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on Monday. Meanwhile, five soldiers who were injured in the attack have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for further treatment. "Five injured jawans were brought here and have been given primary treatment. They have been referred to the Military Hospital in Pathankot for treatment. One dead body has been brought here," said Sheela Devi, Medical Officer at Community Health Centre, Billawar, to ANI. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday visited the Kathua terror ambush site in Jammu and Kashmir where five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, lost their lives on Monday. NIA's Jammu and Kashmir-based unit reached the spot to assist the police in the investigation of the tragic terror case. A terrorist ambush on a routine patrol vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district resulted in the tragic loss of five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, on Monday. Five other soldiers were injured in the attack, which occurred near Badnota village in Kathua. The attack occurred on the Machedi-KindliMalhar road in a remote area, approximately 150 km from Kathua town, at around 3.30 pm on Monday. Elite para commandos have been deployed on the ground, engaging in intermittent exchanges of fire as the operation continues. Notably, this incident coincided with the 8th death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, adding a sombre context to the situation. The attack is believed to be the latest in a series of terrorist incidents in the region, which have been attributed to attempts by Pakistan to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. The region where the ambush took place is part of the old infiltration route along the international border, which the attackers appear to have reactivated. The area is primarily monitored by the BSF and falls under the jurisdiction of the 9 Corps of the Army, under the Western Command. The army personnel who lost their lives in the attack belonged to Uttarakhand. They are Rifleman Anuj Negi from Pauri, Nayab Subedar Anand Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag, Naik Vinod Singh from Tehri, Kamal Singh from Pauri and Adarsh Negi from Tehri. The attack took place when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed the patrolling party of the Army in the Badnota area in Kathua. A massive search operation is underway to nab the terrorists behind the ambush in which five people were also injured. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage, with many calling for increased security measures to prevent such attacks. The Army has launched a search operation in the area to track down the terrorists responsible for the attack. This incident comes on the heels of several other terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including a recent attack in Reasi area on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on June 9, which left nine people dead and 33 injured. The NIA has been investigating these incidents and has identified several suspects. The region has seen a surge in terrorist activity in recent months, with several attacks on security forces and civilians. The NIA team is currently investigating the scene of the attack and gathering evidence. The agency is working closely with the Army and local police to identify the terrorists responsible for the attack and to prevent further incidents. (ANI) Ahead of the Haryana assembly polls, Union Minister and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday that the BJP has been in power in the state for the past 10 years and will continue to rule for another five years. "In Haryana, we have been ruling for 10 years, and we will rule for 5 more years to come, just like Prime Minister Modi has become the PM for the third time," Khattar said while speaking to reporters in Jharkhand's Ranchi. The Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs also mentioned that he would talk to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren regarding policies on electricity. "The departments of the Centre made the policies, but it is the state's responsibility to implement them. As a Minister, I'll talk to the CM of the new government regarding electricity," Khattar said. Earlier on July 6, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a meeting with state BJP leaders and workers to discuss preparations for the 2024 Assembly elections in Haryana. After the meeting, the former Haryana Chief Minister told reporters in Karnal, "The preparations are ongoing for the Vidhan Sabha elections. The party workers are excited. The lies told by Congress will not work in the next elections. The tactics that they (the Congress) have used in the Lok Sabha elections will not work anymore." Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday appointed MLA Mohan Lal Badoli as the Haryana State President. This comes as parties start preparations for the Haryana Assembly elections, which are to be held later this year. Earlier, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini asserted on Sunday that Congress will not be able to win any seats in the assembly elections as the Bharatiya Janata Party is strong in all 90 assembly seats in the state. "Congress is weak in every assembly. Congress has nothing to speak about... I don't think Congress will be able to win any seat in the assembly elections because the BJP is very strong in all 90 assembly seats," Saini told reporters. (ANI) During his visit, Governor Reddy engaged with various Indian traders, including fish vendors, dried fish merchants, and local vegetable sellers. He also interacted with the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Feni district in Bangladesh. Speaking to the media, Governor Reddy expressed his admiration for the well-organized and beautiful border market. He extended his best wishes for the continued success of the Border Haat and emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual relationships between the people of India and Bangladesh. Addressing a question regarding the damaged barbed wire fence in several areas of the market, the Governor assured that the matter would be discussed and addressed appropriately. It is noteworthy that the Srinagar Border Haat commenced operations on January 13, 2015. In light of Governor Reddy's visit, extensive security measures were implemented across Sabroom, with special precautions taken by the local police administration and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to ensure his safety. Enhanced security arrangements were also observed in the surrounding border villages. Governor Reddy's visit highlights the significance of the Border Haat in fostering cross-border trade and strengthening ties between India and Bangladesh, contributing to the local economy and bilateral relations. (ANI) Dr BN Gangadhar, Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), on Tuesday emphasized that his primary focus is on ensuring the highest quality in medical education in India. Dr Gangadhar stressed the importance of maintaining and enhancing the country's reputation for producing top-quality doctors. "Quality, quality, and quality. The reason is the best quality doctors have always been produced from our country. It is very important that we make it even better and make sure that quality education equates to India's quality medical education". Addressing the shortage of faculty in medical institutions, Dr Gangadhar pointed out that attracting individuals to the teaching profession is challenging due to various constraints. He highlighted the need to expand the pool of teachers and ensure that medical colleges have adequate patient populations to facilitate effective learning. "Non-availability of faculty, people choosing to come to the teaching profession for some reason or the other, whatever it may be, our rules are very constrained, it could be all operating. One of the objectives is to make available a much larger pool of teachers. The second issue is in some of the medical colleges, some impoverishment with respect to patient population, we need to make sure a good number of patients and a good number of teachers," he explained. In response to a recent RTI revelation that 119 medical students died by suicide over the past five years, Dr. Gangadhar revealed that the NMC has established a task force to study mental health issues and suicide among medical students. "We have already put in place a National Expert Committee that has gone through the whole thing and has given some recommendations. There are multiple reasons, not just one reason. So it is difficult to say whether all reasons have to be put in place, there are some highly individual-specific reasons and there are also other social reasons like drug use and other problems and addiction. I think we need to address multiple issues," he said. Dr Gangadhar also emphasized the importance of transparency in the assessment of medical colleges, mentioning the implementation of an Aadhaar-enabled attendance system to ensure accurate records. "Transparency is very important and it is a major issue with respect to assessments of the colleges, where we have to send experts and they have to make an assessment of the teachers and the patient load that they have got. In government hospitals, patient load is a non-issue. We want colleges to become more responsible in declaring what they have. We have already put in place an Aadhaar-enabled attendance system, which will ensure many things," he noted. Regarding the use of Unique ABHA IDs for patients, Dr Gangadhar highlighted the move to make patient identification more electronic and reduce instances of fake patients. "The second thing is patient count which is another area of so-called fake patients. The news we keep reading now and then and the honorable courts also have taken into account that you should do a surprise inspection, not let the college know, etc. We want to make it a little more electronic. We want a unique patient ID to be available. The ABHA ID is a unique ID to every individual. I believe many people are already starting to get the ABHA ID, all that needs to be done is this person should have had an Aadhaar card. So that will authenticate this Aabha ID. So no data of the Aadhaar will come into any of the hospitals the ABHA ID will be good enough for the purpose of identification of the individual. We have already put an initial advisory now a mandate. ABHA ID-related patient data is what is going to be counted for any sufficiency of clinical material purposes," he elaborated. Dr Gangadhar also announced the introduction of the Family Adoption Programme for medical colleges running MBBS courses, which will require them to submit details on the NMC portal. "We already have put in what is called a family adoption program. The students from right from day one will adopt five or six families in the rural area. Every college will adopt the village so they will remain adapted and connected to this family for a period of three to four years. And it will lead to a lot of improvements in self-esteem," he said. The NMC's initiatives aim to improve the quality and transparency of medical education in India while addressing critical issues such as mental health and faculty shortages. (ANI) Tourists visit scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in China's Chongqing Xinhua) 08:52, July 09, 2024 Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Tourists visit the scenic spot of Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing, July 7, 2024. The Dazu Rock Carvings site was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The finest example of Chinese grotto art, the Dazu Rock Carvings site is of profound historical significance, embodying the vigorous vitality of Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A press statement issued by the North Kamrup Forest Division (T) detailed that 50 Forest officials, one SDRF boat, and two kumki elephants were involved in the operation, with support from the Kamrup District Administration, Assam Police, and the public of Hajo. "A team of doctors led by Pranab Das, FVO, Assam State Zoo sedated the animal and took full care in its transportation to Manas and its revival," stated an official statement. Sunnydeo Choudhary, DFO of North Kamrup Forest Division, expressed special thanks and gratitude to Assam Forest Minister Chandramohan Patowary, Hajo MLA Suman Haripriya, Special Secretary of Assam Forest Department MK Yadava, IFS (Rtd.), senior officials of the Assam Forest Department, District Commissioner of Kamrup Keerthi Jalli, Kaushik Barua, and the people of Hajo for their support, cooperation, and efforts in the successful operation. The elephant had wreaked havoc in the Hajo area for the past five days. (ANI) In a significant move towards environmental protection and resource utilization, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) is actively working to ensure the proper disposal and repurposing of fly ash generated by thermal power plants. By disposing this byproduct of coal-based power generation, the Ministry is leading the charge towards a sustainable future, prioritizing environmental well-being and fostering a circular economy, a press release from the Ministry of Coal stated. To minimize the environmental impact of coal combustion, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) promotes the proper disposal of fly ash. Extensive research and development have enabled the effective use of fly ash for filling voids and as a component in construction materials. This not only reduces its environmental footprint but also supports sustainable development practices. The Ministry of Coal has undertaken a significant initiative to ensure the proper disposal of fly ash by allocating mine voids for this purpose.A Central level Working Group (CLWG) under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal was formed in 2023 for the same. The interested Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) applies for the allocation of mine voids to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which is eventually discussed in the CLWG meeting. In this proactive move, a total of 19 mines have been allocated to 13 TPPs. This allocation addresses environmental concerns associated with fly ash disposal and promotes sustainable practices within the coal mining sector. Additionally, approximately 20.39 lakh tonnes of fly ash have been repurposed to date at Gorbicoal mine pit-1. As per Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification dated 3rd November 2009, the term "fly ash" means and includes, all ash generated such as Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) ash, dry fly ash, bottom ash, pond ash and mound ash. Its composition, rich in silicon dioxide (SiO2), calcium oxide (CaO), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), makes it valuable for various applications, transforming potential waste into useful material. Effective management promotes its use in construction activities, thereby minimizing waste, conserving natural resources, and reducing the carbon footprint. The Ministry of Coal, in collaboration with the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), is in the process of creating a centralized portal to manage the application process for the allocation of mine voids to Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for fly ash backfilling activities. This portal aims to streamline operations and ensure transparency and efficiency. Comprehensive feasibility studies are being conducted to explore the optimal methods for mixing fly ash with overburden in operational mines. Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) have been established to guide the safe and efficient use of fly ash, addressing both safety and administrative considerations. A significant feasibility study is underway at the Nigahi operational mine in collaboration with the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR). This study aims to determine the optimal percentage of fly ash to be mixed with overburden, with results expected soon. Ministry of Coal ensures the safe handling and management of fly ash, mitigating potential environmental concerns associated with the leaching of heavy metals and fine particle emissions and will continue to innovate and implement sustainable practices, ensuring a cleaner and greener future for India. Fostering collaboration with power plants, industries, and regulatory bodies, Coal Ministry aims to achieve optimal fly ash management. This collective effort paves the way for a cleaner environment, a healthier future, and a more sustainable approach to energy generation. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being conferred with Russia's highest civilian award the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in Moscow. PM Modi was ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian honour, at St Catherine's Hall of the Moscow Kremlin on Tuesday. "Congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on being conferred with Russia's highest civilian award, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, today. This is a glorious honour to the nation, which stands as a testament to the formidable stature attained by Bharat in the global arena under the leadership of PM Modi. The new award in the list of global accolades garnered by PM Modi over the last ten years not only boosts every Indian's pride but also immortalises the India-Russia friendship," Amit Shah posted on X. BJP MP and National Spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi said that this is proof of the prestige, dignity and honour that India has received globally under PM Modi's leadership. "Today, PM Narendra Modi received Russia's highest civilian honour. He has said that this honour is not just the Prime Minister's alone but that of 140 crore citizens. It is a matter of even greater joy for the 140 crore citizens that PM Narendra Modi is the first Head of the State of India who has been conferred the highest civilian awards of France, Egypt, Bhutan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, besides the highest civilian honour of Russia... I think this is proof of the prestige, dignity and honour that India has received globally, under the leadership of PM Modi," Trivedi said. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the award to PM Modi, for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. "It is a testimony to Russia's sincere gratitude to the sincere contribution you are making to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our nations...you have always advocated broader contacts with our country. Back when you were Chief Minister of Gujarat, you came up with the initiative of twinning your state with Russian regions," President Putin said while conferring the award. "Dear friend, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to congratulate you for this highest Russian award and wish you good health, success and all the best. To the friendly people of India, I wish peace and prosperity," he added. He also highlighted Prime Minister Modi's role in elevating India-Russia ties to the level of strategic partnership and said both nations are working for global and regional security. "You have been at the helm of the Indian government for 10 years. You have genuinely strived to elevate the Russian-Indian relation to the level of special and privileged strategic partnership. With your direct support, Russia and India are implementing large-scale trade, economic...nuclear and hydrocarbon energy in high-tech and space exploration," Putin said. He added, "Your contribution to building a resilient framework for Russian-Indian cooperation in the international arena, where both of our nations are defending the principles of multipolarity...working for the sake of stability, global and regional security, and working closely within the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation." The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. It is only awarded for the most outstanding civilian or military merit. The Russian Embassy in India had in 2019 said, "On April 12, @narendramodi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle for exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples. @mfa_russia @MEAIndia @IndEmbMoscow". The Russian President then appreciated PM Modi on being conferred the award and recalled his outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Order of St Andrew for outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia," he stated on X. To this, PM Modi replied that the foundation of the friendship between the two countries is deep and the future of the partnership is bright. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is on an official visit to Russia. He held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday rejected Delhi's former Health Minister Satyendar Jain's plea seeking four weeks interim bail. He sought interim bail on his wife's medical condition. She had an injury in her right foot. Special judge Rakesh Siyal dismissed the plea filed on behalf of Jain. He was arrested in a money laundering case on May 30, 2022. Advocate Gagan Minocha and Mayank Jain appeared for Satyendar Jain. Jain's plea was opposed by the counsel for ED. It was stated that Jain's wife Poonam Jain, who is also an accused in the present money laundering case, had suffered a twist in her right foot resulting in significant swelling and severe pain. On diagnosis, it was revealed that she has suffered a fracture on her right foot and a cast for four (4) weeks had been applied, the plea stated. It was also stated that the wife of the applicant, in the absence of the applicant who is in Judicial Custody, has also been solely managing all affairs at home front as well as various litigations against the husband. She finds herself incapacitated due to her current medical condition as there is no one else in the family who can manage all affairs. It was also mentioned that Jain's younger daughter is also not well. The wife of the applicant, apart from taking care of herself and managing other affairs on account of her present situation is also unable to take care of her younger daughter, the plea said. There is no one other in the family for her support as the other daughter of thepetitioner is married, staying at her matrimonial home and has a seven months child to take care, it added. It was submitted that during this time, presence of the applicant with his family is of utmost importance and his presence cannot be substituted with any relatives or acquaintances. (ANI) Tripura's State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday articulated significant concerns and strategic initiatives during his participation at the North Eastern Power Ministers Conference held in Guwahati. The conference, attended by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, witnessed discussions on bolstering Tripura's power infrastructure amidst pressing challenges. During the North Eastern Power Ministers' conference in Guwahati, State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath highlighted critical issues affecting Tripura's power sector. Minister Nath drew attention to the significant rise in gas prices for power generation, stating that costs had escalated from $2.90 per MMBTU to the current rate of $6.50 per MMBTU since 2022. He emphasized the impact of these increases on the state's electricity production costs and urged the Union Ministry of Power and the Union Petroleum Ministry to consider measures to reduce gas prices. State Power Minister requested the Union Minister to set up a State of Art Training Centre in Tripuram where it has been decided that Tripura and Nagaland will be provided Special Grant for this infrastructure. Additionally, Minister Nath outlined several infrastructure development initiatives for Tripura, including the construction of a 400 KV substation in Suryamaninagar. He requested full funding for this project from the Central Power Ministry. Furthermore, he appealed for central support in meeting for Tripura's intra-state transmission requirements until 2030, estimated at 1000 crore. Minister Nath also proposed the reinstatement of the Power System Development Fund to bolster power sector advancements. He also emphasized on the Power System Development Fund which has been presently stopped in our country. He further requested to start the fund for Northeastern states immediately, where the central group has assured that they will analyse the matter and will try to start the fund for NE States. Addressing future energy needs, Minister Nath raised the issue of establishing pumped storage by the National Hydro Power Corporation in Longtharai subdivision, stressing the project's importance in enhancing power generation capacity. He underscored the ongoing preparation of project reports for this initiative. Power Ministers from various Northeastern States like Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and senior officials from Union Power Ministry and various PSUs, were also present in the conference and it concluded with discussions on collaborative efforts to strengthen the power sector across North Eastern states, including Tripura. Highlighting Tripura's current power landscape, Minister Ratan Lal Nath emphasized the state's peak demand of 360 MW and its role as a key exporter of electricity to Bangladesh, ranging from 90 MW to 160 MW. With a per-capita consumption of 471 kWh, Tripura serves a predominantly domestic consumer base, constituting 89% of its total 9,99,819 consumers. Acknowledging Tripura's geographical and financial constraints, Minister Nath focused on the state's dependency on central and external aids for comprehensive development across sectors, including power infrastructure. In recent years, Tripura has secured substantial financial assistance, including a historic Rs2275 Cr agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Tripura Power Distribution Strengthening and Generation Efficiency Project. Additionally, initiatives like the Revamped Reformed based Result-linked Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and PM-JANMAN aim to enhance operational efficiency and provide electricity connections to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) households, notably the Reang community. The state has successfully implemented national schemes such as DDUGJY, Saubhagya, and IPDS, achieving 100% electrification by November 2018. Currently, efforts are focused on executing projects like the North Eastern Regional Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP), aimed at enhancing Tripura's power transmission network with an investment of Rs1800 Cr. In recognition of its operational excellence, Tripura's State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) was honored with the LDC Excellence Award 2022 at the 22nd National Power Systems Conference.Looking towards renewable energy. Tripura is actively pursuing solar power projects under schemes like PM-Devine and PM-KUSUM, with notable installations including micro-grid solar power plants, solar street lighting systems, and rooftop solar panels across government buildings. Despite these advancements, Minister Nath raised concerns over the recent spike in gas prices, impacting the cost of power generation in Tripura. He urged the Ministry of Power to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for a reconsideration of gas pricing under APM arrangements, essential for sustaining affordable electricity rates. The shortage in gas supply from ONGC's Tripura fields has further strained local power generation, affecting state-owned gas-based power plants and necessitating additional power purchases from the exchange market. This situation has posed financial challenges for the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL). Minister Nath concluded by expressing optimism in overcoming these challenges through continued collaboration with the central government, ensuring sustainable growth and stability in Tripura's power sector. (ANI) Union Minister for Power and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday reviewed the status of implementation of various urban missions in the northeastern states in a meeting held at Guwahati. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stressed the utmost priority attached by the Government towards growth and development of the entire north-eastern region. Further, he drew attention to the urgent need for sustainable habitat development in the region, more so in the context of the India's resolve to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and in pursuit of the Prime Minister's commitment to the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Ministers and secretaries/commissioners of urban development from Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura presented the key challenges and issues in implementing the central schemes and requested the Centre to consider increased financial support to the north east states, due to the unique geographic and environmental concerns faced by all the states in the region. Manohar Lal Khattar highlighted the geo strategic importance of the north eastern region as well as the potential for tourism. Further, he acknowledged the concerns of increasing demand for supply of adequate land at appropriate locations, housing & basic services and infrastructure facilities due to the increasing urbanisation in the region. Speaking about the implementation of the various missions of the Ministry in the region, he congratulated the state of Assam for being the best performing state in the region, under the PMSvanidhi scheme and the first State to adopt the Model Tenancy Act, and urged all states to adopt the Act as soon as possible, in the interest of their citizens. The Minister also appreciated the timely completion of projects in the 10 smart cities of the region, under the Smart cities Mission. On July 8, in his made his maiden visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Union Minister Khattar reviewed ongoing schemes and proposals in the power and urban development sectors with the Government of India for the state. During the meeting on July 8, the Urban Development Department showcased its achievements and the status of flagship schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The State Government requested enhancement of the carpet area for PMAY houses from 30 to 50 square meters and an increase in the Government of India's contribution for their construction. Additionally, the State demanded funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for solid waste management in the Itanagar Municipal Corporation and sought the resumption of lumpsum funding to North Eastern states. The Union minister assured that all matters would be considered sympathetically, taking into account the region's unique climatic conditions and hilly terrain. He appreciated the beauty of Arunachal Pradesh and expressed his desire to visit again. (ANI) Amid the Israel-Gaza war, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, stressed on ceasefire and a two-state solution in calls with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Al Jazeera reported. This comes as Israel continues to escalate, resulting in a significant loss of life, with over 38,000 people killed so far. Keir Starmer spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over phone call on Sunday and urged for a "clear and urgent need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians." When in opposition, Starmer was accused of not calling for a ceasefire and taking the same line as Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, he eventually reversed his stance in February, urging a ceasefire after intense public pressure. Starmer has also been accused of denying party tickets to pro-Palestinian members of Labour, including former party leader Jeremy Corbyn. At least five pro-Palestinian candidates, including Corbyn, won the elections as independents. Starmer faced backlash last October for comments he made on an LBC podcast, where he stated that Israel "has the right" to cut off water and electricity supplies to Gaza. Although, a Labour Party spokesperson later clarified Starmer's remark, saying his comment was in response to a question on Israel's right to defend itself. According to Al Jazeera, the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has resulted in a devastating toll on the Palestinian population. Since the conflict began on October 7, over 38,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with women and children making up a significant majority of the fatalities. Additionally, more than 87,000 people have been injured and thousands are missing. According to a statement by the new British government, the prime minister added that "it was also important to ensure the long-term conditions for a two-state solution were in place, including ensuring the Palestinian Authority had the financial means to operate effectively." Starmer assured Netanyahu that the UK wishes to continue its "vital cooperation to deter malign threats" with Israel. Netanyahu's office did not put out a statement after the phone call on Sunday. Starmer also spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to reiterate the same priorities. (ANI) The platform removed 66,997,307 videos worldwide during the January-March period of 2024, representing about 0.9 per cent of all uploaded content. The majority of these removals were made possible through automated detection technologies, with a significant number of videos later reinstated upon review, as per ARY News. A substantial portion of these, 129,335,793 videos, were identified and removed through automated detection technologies, while 6,042,287 videos were reinstated upon further review, according to TikTok Q1 2024 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report. TikTok has taken steps to increase transparency by releasing new data on its content moderation efforts. For the first time, the platform has disclosed the number of comments removed and filtered by its safety tools, revealing that nearly 976,479,946 comments were removed or filtered during the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, TikTok has cracked down on spam accounts, implementing measures to prevent the spread of automated spam content and further improving its content moderation practices. Notably, approximately 93.9 per cent of videos that violated the guidelines were removed within 24 hours of posting, and the proactive removal rate for the quarter stood impressively at 99.8 per cent globally. In a global effort to safeguard younger users, TikTok also deleted 21,639,414 accounts suspected of belonging to individuals under the age of 13. (ANI) Amid daily Chinese provocations in Taiwan, Ministry of National Defense (MND) has decided to invest in the mass production of domestically designed loitering munitions, also known as "kamikaze drones," Taiwan News reported. This move comes after the ministry determined that the number of similar weapons purchased from the United States was insufficient to adequately defend against a potential invasion by China. On June 18, the US State Department announced that it had approved the sale of 720 Switchblade 300 Anti-Personnel and Anti-Armor Loitering Missile Systems and 291 ALTIUS 600M-V Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Taiwan. However, according to a military source, with the increasing Chinese military threat, an internal assessment concluded that the number of various attack drones provided by the US is still insufficient for Taiwan's defense needs, Taiwan News reported, citing Liberty Times. Therefore, Taiwan will also boost its military capabilities by launching mass production of domestically designed attack drones. The MND plans to include funding for the production of Type-1 and Type-2 kamikaze drones in its 2025 budget. Additionally, the mass production of Chien Hsiang anti-radiation drones, aimed at enhancing sea and air combat capabilities, is expected to be completed next year. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is also reportedly working on performance improvements for the Chien Hsiang series. The upgraded versions are expected to be produced in small batches and included in the regular annual budget. According to the source, the Chien Hsiang drones can target and attack enemy radar stations and shipborne radars, while the Type-1 and Type-2 drones will mainly be used by troops for anti-armor missions. The Type-1 drone, developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), is designed for individual soldiers and shares similar specifications with the Switchblade 300. It features quick deployment and easy operation, with a flight time of approximately 15 minutes and a guided control range exceeding 10 kilometers. The Type-2 has a longer flight time than Type-1. The Type-2 can conduct beyond-visual-range reconnaissance and strikes using imagery, infrared, and microwave systems for targeting. The system offers flexible and mobile launch methods, including multi-launch devices for swarm attacks that can be mounted on ships or vehicles. (ANI) Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi on Tuesday will be ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, which was bestowed on him in the year 2019 at St Catherine's Hall of the Moscow Kremlin. The order was presented to the Prime Minister of India for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. It is only awarded for the most outstanding civilian or military merit. The Russian Embassy in India had in 2019 said, "On April 12, @narendramodi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle for exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples. @mfa_russia @MEAIndia @IndEmbMoscow". https://x.com/RusEmbIndia/status/1116632385485983745 The Russian President had then said on X, "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Order of St Andrew for outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia". https://x.com/KremlinRussia_E/status/1116646881168449537 To this, PM Modi replied that the foundation of the friendship between the two countries is deep and the future of the partnership is bright. "Honoured to receive this prestigious award. I thank President Putin and the people of Russia. The foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright. Extensive cooperation between our nations has led to extraordinary outcomes for our citizens," he said. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1116666441242034178 Modi last travelled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. The leaders also saw each other in September 2022 at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, held in Uzbekistan. Prime Minister Modi will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during his two-day visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit. This visit which began on Monday will be an opportunity for PM Modi to strengthen the long-standing ties between India and Russia. (ANI) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban paid a surprise "peace visit" to Beijing and met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. "China is a key power in creating the conditions for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war," Orban posted on the social media platform X after his meeting with the Chinese President on Monday "This is why I came to meet with President Xi in Beijing, just two months after his official visit to Budapest," said the leader of Hungary, which assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union council earlier this month. In a video he posted from a Beijing airport tarmac on Monday on X, Orban hailed China as the only world power "clearly committed to peace''. He also posted a photograph and captioned it "Peace mission 3.0". Orban's China visit follows his visits to Russia and Ukraine last week to discuss the prospects for a peaceful settlement in the conflict between the two countries that began in February 2022. US daily The Washington Post noted that even as Xi embraced Orban in China's capital city, Russian missiles hit Kyiv, Dnipro and other Ukrainian cities on Monday -killing at least 31 people, including two at a children's hospital in Kyiv. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was cited by TASS news agency that Orban has displayed his "political will for dialogue." "We take it very, very positively. We believe it can be very useful," the Kremlin official was cited as saying. Orban visited Kiev and Moscow on July 2 and 5 and he proposed first to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and then to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to consider the prospect of a ceasefire and preparations for peace talks, Russian state media reported. Addressing a press conference later Putin said that Russia was not in favour of a ceasefire, as Kiev could use this to its advantage. Instead, he advocated for a complete end to the conflict in Ukraine, TASS reported. The White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Orban's visit "will not advance the cause of peace and is counterproductive to promoting Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence." Responding to a question during a briefing press briefing on July 8 US State department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US found the visits to Keiv and Moscow by Orban as "concerning" "Look, before he traveled to Russia, you did see the Hungarian prime minister travel to Ukraine. We thought that was an important thing for him to do. We thought that was a productive step. And we would welcome, of course, actual diplomacy with Russia to make it clear to Russia that they need to respect Ukraine's sovereignty, that they need to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity, but that is not at all what this visit appears to have been," Miller said. As per a report in the Al Jazeera, the Hungarian prime minister broadly opposes Western military aid to Ukraine and has blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to assist Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow over its invasion. Orban is next headed to Washington, DC, to attend a summit of NATO leaders, which will discuss ways to assure Ukraine of the alliance's continued support. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with artists of the Russian Cultural Troupe who performed to welcome him during his address to the Indian community in Moscow. PM Modi asked the artists, "For how many years you have been practising dance." In response, the artists responded that they have practised for many years, some for 10 years and some for 30 years." During his interaction, PM Modi asked the artists about their visit to India. In response, the artists said that they had visited India for their performance. In the video, the artists expressed their happiness at meeting PM Modi. PM Modi addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between the two nations and highlighted the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening ties. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the Indian community, a member of the Indian diaspora said, "This was the most important visit of PM Modi after the elections. This was very special as it was the first visit abroad after the elections. We are all very excited. I have come here from St Petersburg, I study there. I will never forget this moment. He told us a lot of things and we should work on that." ISKCON Moscow President, Sadhu Priya Das, said that he showed PM Modi his picture from his visit to the ISKCON Temple in Moscow in 2001. Speaking to ANI, Sadhu Priya Das said, "I showed PM Modi his picture when he visited and offered prayers at ISKCON in Moscow in 2001. He stayed in the temple for an hour and showed a lot of interest to know about the activities of our trust and appreciated it. Today, he also asked for a copy of the picture and I gave it to him." After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the Indian community, Swami Atmalokananda from Ram Krishna Mission stated that they could not think of the future of India without PM Modi. Swami Atmalokananda said, "We have been here for more than 30 years since 1991. The Russian people are interested in the Sanskrit language and we are teaching them...Without PM Modi, we cannot think of the future India, which Swami Vivekananda dreamt of future India. He is fulfilling the wishes of Swami Vivekananda." While addressing the Indian community, PM Narendra Modi announced the opening of new consulates in Russia. He said that the Indian consulates will be opened in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. PM Modi stated, "I want to share some good news with you all. We have decided to open new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. This will enhance travel and business trade." He further said that two years ago the first consignment was sent via the India-Russia 'North-South Transport corridor,' and "that is a remarkable achievement." "Now India and Russia are working to open the Chennai-Valdivostok Eastern corridor," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further said in the 21st Century, India will play the role of 'Vishwa Bandhu' (Friend of the World). "Both our countries are discovering each other through Ganga Volga dialogue and civilization. When I came here in 2015, I had said that the 21st century will belong to India...Today, as Vishwa Bandhu, India is giving new confidence to the world. India's growing capability has given the whole world, a hope of stability and prosperity. India is being seen as a strong pillar of the new, emerging, multipolar, world order. When India talks about peace, dialogue and diplomacy, the whole world listens," the prime minister said. Members of the Indian community carrying the tricolour applauded and cheered the Prime Minister with chants of "Modi Modi". The Prime Minister stressed the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to Global Prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. Speaking about the special relationship between India and Russia, PM Modi said, "I am happy that India and Russia are working shoulder to shoulder to give new energy to Global Prosperity. All of you present here are giving new heights to the relations between India and Russia. You have contributed to Russian society with your hard work and honesty. I have Kayal (admired) the unique relationship between India and Russia for decades." Terming Russia as India's trusted friend, PM Modi noted that the ties between the two countries have always remained warm. He stated that the India-Russia relationship is built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect. Highlighting the friendship between the two nations, PM Modi, "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is India's partner in happiness and sorrow, India's trusted friend, our Russian friends call it 'drujva' and we call it 'Dosti'. No matter how much the temperature goes down to minus during the winter season in Russia, India-Russia friendship has always been in Plus, it has always been warm. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect." He also pointed out the old song 'Sir pe lal topi Russi' and spoke about the contribution of artists like Raj Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty in strengthening the ties between the two countries. PM Modi said, "The song was once sung in every household here, 'Sir pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.' This song may have become old, but the sentiments are evergreen. Artists like Raj Kapoor, Mithun Da have strengthened the friendship between India and Russia." Praising Russian President Vladimir Putin's contribution towards strengthening India-Russia ties, PM Modi said, "The strength of our relations has been tested many times and every time our friendship has emerged stronger. I would especially like to appreciate the leadership of my dear friend, President Putin. He has done a wonderful job to strengthen this partnership for more than two decades." "This is the sixth time I have come to Russia in the last 10 years and in these years we have met each other 17 times. All these meetings have increased trust and respect. When our students were stuck in the conflict, President Putin helped us in getting them back to India. I once again thank the people of Russia and my friend, President Putin for it," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi stated that people feel India is changing when they come from abroad to the country. He said that people from abroad can clearly witness transformation in India. Highlighting India's achievements over the past decade, PM Modi said, "Today's India makes sure it achieves the target it sets. Today, India is the country that takes Chandrayaan to the part of the moon that no other country in the world could reach. Today, India is the country that is giving the most reliable model of digital transactions to the world." "Today, India is a country that is empowering people through the policies in the social sector. Today, India is a country that has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. When you people gave me the opportunity to serve the country for the first time in 2014, there were hundreds of startups, today there are lakhs of startups. Today, India is a country that is filing patents and publishing research papers in record numbers," the PM said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar also accompanied PM Modi to the event. Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence of the Russian president near Moscow. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid his respects at the Unknown Soldiers' Tomb in Moscow during his two-day official visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. He also laid a wreath at the tomb. 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' is a war memorial located at the Kremlin wall in Moscow. It is dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to Twitter to post, "A solemn homage to the brave! PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, saluting valour, sacrifice and indomitable human courage." Earlier, Prime Minister addressed the Indian community in Russia and said that whatever India had achieved in the last 10 years was just a trailer and that there is more to come in the upcoming years. "After 60 years, a government being elected for the third time in India is a very big thing in itself. State Assembly elections were held in four states- Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The NDA won in these four states with a clean sweep majority," he said. "In Odisha, the Jagannath Yatra is going on. Besides, Odisha has brought about a big revolution. That is the reason why I am wearing a traditional scarf worn in Odisha," said the Prime Minister who was clad in white kurta with a scarf from the state around his neck. PM Modi added that when Indian students were stuck in Russia amid war, President Putin has extended his help for them to return safely to India. "I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Russia and India's friend Putin for this effort. Many young Indian students go to Russia for education purposes," he said. The Prime Minister said that associations formed by groups of students helped keep the Indian language and the culture of different states alive by celebrating different festivals. "These associations celebrate Holi, Diwali and other festivals with vigour and enthusiasm. I thank them for being close to their roots even while being away from the country," Modi said. "It is my pleasure that my first address to the diaspora is taking place in Russia. This is my first conversation with the Indian diaspora after forming the government for the third time. Today July 9 marks a full month since I took oath as the PM of India for the third time and I took a vow that I will work with three times more strength, at triple the speed and it is also a coincidence that the number 3 is also present in many of the government's goals. The government's goal is to make India the third largest economy in the world in the third term," PM Modi said. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow. Putin welcomed PM Modi at the venue and the two leaders warmly greeted each other. The two leaders then took a tour of the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKH. PM Modi was seen interacting with the officials. The Rosatom Pavilion is an expositional and educational complex with the largest and most modern exposition in Russia dedicated to nuclear energy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to Russia, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A solemn homage to the brave! PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, saluting valour, sacrifice and indomitable human courage." PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. "Strengthening bonds with our own! PM @narendramodi interacted with the Indian community in Russia today. PM shared his thoughts on 's rising global profile and its perception as a 'Vishwa Bandhu'. He appreciated the community for being a strong pillar of bilateral ties between India and Russia. PM announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg," Jaiswal posted on X. The Prime Minister stressed the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to Global Prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. Speaking about the special relationship between India and Russia, PM Modi said, "I am happy that India and Russia are working shoulder to shoulder to give new energy to Global Prosperity. All of you present here are giving new heights to the relations between India and Russia. You have contributed to Russian society with your hard work and honesty. I have Kayal (admired) the unique relationship between India and Russia for decades." Terming Russia as India's trusted friend, PM Modi noted that the ties between the two countries have always remained warm. He stated that the India-Russia relationship is built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect. Highlighting the friendship between the two nations, PM Modi, "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is India's partner in happiness and sorrow, India's trusted friend, our Russian friends call it 'drujva' and we call it 'Dosti'. No matter how much the temperature goes down to minus during the winter season in Russia, India-Russia friendship has always been in Plus, it has always been warm. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect." He also pointed out the old song 'Sir pe lal topi Russi' and spoke about the contribution of artists like Raj Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty in strengthening the ties between the two countries. PM Modi said, "The song was once sung in every household here, 'Sir pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.' This song may have become old, but the sentiments are evergreen. Artists like Raj Kapoor, Mithun Da have strengthened the friendship between India and Russia." Praising Russian President Vladimir Putin's contribution towards strengthening India-Russia ties, PM Modi said, "The strength of our relations has been tested many times and every time our friendship has emerged stronger. I would especially like to appreciate the leadership of my dear friend, President Putin. He has done a wonderful job to strengthen this partnership for more than two decades." "This is the sixth time I have come to Russia in the last 10 years and in these years we have met each other 17 times. All these meetings have increased trust and respect. When our students were stuck in the conflict, President Putin helped us in getting them back to India. I once again thank the people of Russia and my friend, President Putin for it," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi stated that people feel India is changing when they come from abroad to the country. He said that people from abroad can clearly witness transformation in India. Highlighting India's achievements over the past decade, PM Modi said, "Today's India makes sure it achieves the target it sets. Today, India is the country that takes Chandrayaan to the part of the moon that no other country in the world could reach. Today, India is the country that is giving the most reliable model of digital transactions to the world." "Today, India is a country that is empowering people through the policies in the social sector. Today, India is a country that has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. When you people gave me the opportunity to serve the country for the first time in 2014, there were hundreds of startups, today there are lakhs of startups. Today, India is a country that is filing patents and publishing research papers in record numbers," the PM said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar also accompanied PM Modi to the event. Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal meeting at the President's House. On Monday, PM Modi reached in Moscow for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport and Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the Vnukovo-II Airport. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. (ANI) Soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade and Yahalom, an elite combat engineering unit, have been fighting above and below ground in Shejaya since June 27. According to the army, soldiers have killed more than 150 terrorists in close-quarters combat, destroyed booby-trapped buildings, and seized weapons and intelligence documents. Six significant tunnels running about six kilometers long have been destroyed and soldiers are continuing their searches. In some of the tunnel branches, hideouts, command and control centers, weapons and intelligence documents were found. At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 116 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed dead. (ANI/TPS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin and discussed ways to diversify cooperation between the two nations in various sectors like trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology, commerce and innovation. In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "Held productive discussions with President Putin at the Kremlin today. Our talks covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in sectors such as trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation. We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people-to-people exchanges." Before the meeting, PM Modi spoke about his informal meeting with Putin on Monday. He spoke about the issues that were discussed during the meeting. He noted that the talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. However, the attention of the entire world is focused on his visit to Russia. PM Modi said, "The bilateral talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. We have met 22 times. This is such a meeting that the focus of the entire world is on this visit of mine. The entire world is drawing out different meanings of this visit." Speaking about his meeting with Putin at the President's House, PM Modi stated, "You invited me to your residence and as a true friend, we stayed together for 4-5 hours and talked about many issues. I was happy that we were able to discuss our thoughts about Ukraine with an open mind and with great respect. We tried to respectfully understand each other's thoughts." Noting that terrorism is "horrible and disgusting", PM Modi highlighted India has been facing the menace for over 40 years and said that he can imagine "how deep the pain is" when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan. PM Modi strongly condemned all kinds of terrorism during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "In the last 40-50 years, India has been facing terrorism. How horrible and disgusting terrorism is, we have been facing for the last 40 years. So, when terror incidents occurred in Moscow, when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan, I can imagine how deep its pain would be. I strongly condemn all kinds of terrorism," PM Modi said during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Stressing that there is no solution in the battlefield, PM Modi said, "As a friend, I have always said that for the future of our new generation, peace is the most important thing. But I also know that there is no solution in the battlefield. Peace talks do not succeed between bombs, guns and bullets. And we have to use the means of talks to adopt the path of peace." PM Modi said that everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is a loss of lives. He further stated that it is "heart-wrenching" when innocent children are dying. PM Modi said, "Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks - everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov, accompanied the two leaders, during the visit at Rosatom Pavilion. After his visit to the Pavilion, PM Modi on X stated, "Visited the Atom Pavilion with President Putin. Energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia and we are eager to further cement ties in this sector." Putin welcomed PM Modi at the venue and the two leaders warmly greeted each other. The two leaders then took a tour of the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKH. PM Modi was seen interacting with the officials. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "PM @narendramodi accompanied by President Vladimir Putin of Russia visited the Atom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition centre in Moscow. The Pavilion showcases the developments in the field of science and technology. Cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology is an important pillar of the multifaceted cooperation between India and Russia." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to Russia, also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. In a post on X, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A solemn homage to the brave! PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, saluting valour, sacrifice and indomitable human courage." PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. PM Modi arrived in Moscow for an official visit on Monday where he was received by Denis Manturov, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Indian community gave PM Modi a warm welcome at the hotel. (ANI) Following intelligence indicating the presence of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, dozens of terrorists were eliminated in airstrikes and close-quarters combat. Numerous weapons were seized, including sniper equipment, RPGs, grenades and AK-47 rifles. In addition, terrorist infrastructure and an underground route were destroyed. Over the last day, the Israeli Air Force struck additional terror targets throughout the Strip, including military structures, underground shafts, and terrorist infrastructure. At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 116 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed dead. (ANI/TPS) Calling peace "most important" for future generations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there is no solution on the battlefield and added that peace talks do not succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets. During his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, PM Modi said, "As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks." It is PM Modi's first visit to Russia since the war started between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022. India has always advocated "peace and diplomacy" for resolving conflict between India and Russia but continued to purchase Russian oil. PM Modi said that everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is a loss of lives. He further stated that it is "heart-wrenching" when innocent children are dying. PM Modi said, "Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks - everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this." He noted that the talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. However, the entire world is focused on his visit to Russia. PM Modi said, "The bilateral talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. We have met 22 times. This is such a meeting that the focus of the entire world is on this visit of mine. The entire world is drawing out different meanings of this visit." Speaking about his meeting with Putin at the President's House, PM Modi stated, "You invited me to your residence and as a true friend, we stayed together for 4-5 hours and talked about many issues. I was happy that we were able to discuss our thoughts about Ukraine with an open mind and with great respect. We tried to respectfully understand each other's thoughts." Recalling his past meetings with Putin, PM Modi said, "I have had ties with Russia as well as you since the past 2.5 decades. In about 10 years, we have met 17 times. In the last 25 years, we have had around 22 bilateral meetings. This reflects the depth of our relations." Noting that terrorism is "horrible and disgusting", PM Modi highlighted India has been facing the menace for over 40 years and said that he can imagine "how deep the pain is" when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan. He condemned all kinds of terrorism during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "In the last 40-50 years, India has been facing terrorism. How horrible and disgusting terrorism is, we have been facing for the last 40 years. So, when terror incidents occurred in Moscow, when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan, I can imagine how deep its pain would be. I strongly condemn all kinds of terrorism," PM Modi said. On Monday, PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held an informal meeting at President's House. Putin welcomed PM Modi and the two leaders shared a warm hug before proceeding to hold the meeting. In a friendly gesture, Putin took PM Modi on a ride in his electric car around his residence, Novo-Ogaryovo. The Russian Embassy in India shared a video of the two leaders enjoying the drive, which followed a conversation between them. On Tuesday, PM Modi along with Russian President Putin visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov, accompanied the two leaders, during the visit at Rosatom Pavilion. Putin welcomed PM Modi at the venue and the two leaders warmly greeted each other. The two leaders then took a tour of the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKH. PM Modi was seen interacting with the officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to Russia, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A solemn homage to the brave! PM @narendramodi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, saluting valour, sacrifice and indomitable human courage." PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. "Strengthening bonds with our own! PM @narendramodi interacted with the Indian community in Russia today. PM shared his thoughts on 's rising global profile and its perception as a 'Vishwa Bandhu'. He appreciated the community for being a strong pillar of bilateral ties between India and Russia. PM announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg," Jaiswal posted on X. The Prime Minister stressed the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to Global Prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. Speaking about the special relationship between India and Russia, PM Modi said, "I am happy that India and Russia are working shoulder to shoulder to give new energy to Global Prosperity. All of you present here are giving new heights to the relations between India and Russia. You have contributed to Russian society with your hard work and honesty. I have Kayal (admired) the unique relationship between India and Russia for decades." Terming Russia as India's trusted friend, PM Modi noted that the ties between the two countries have always remained warm. He stated that the India-Russia relationship is built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect. PM Modi arrived in Moscow for an official visit on Monday where he was received by Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov at the airport. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and the Indian community gave PM Modi a warm welcome at the hotel. After concluding his visit to Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian honour, at St Catherine's Hall of the Moscow Kremlin on Tuesday. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the award to PM Modi, for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. "It is a testimony to Russia's sincere gratitude to the sincere contribution you are making to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our nations...you have always advocated broader contacts with our country. Back when you were Chief Minister of Gujarat, you came up with the initiative of twinning your state with Russian regions," President Putin said while conferring the award. "Dear friend, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to congratulate you for this highest Russian award and wish you good health, success and all the best. To the friendly people of India, I wish peace and prosperity," he added. He also highlighted Prime Minister Modi's role in elevating India-Russia ties to the level of strategic partnership and said both nations are working for global and regional security. "You have been at the helm of the Indian government for 10 years. You have genuinely strived to elevate the Russian-Indian relation to the level of special and privileged strategic partnership. With your direct support, Russia and India are implementing large-scale trade, economic...nuclear and hydrocarbon energy in high-tech and space exploration," Putin said. He added, "Your contribution to building a resilient framework for Russian-Indian cooperation in the international arena, where both of our nations are defending the principles of multipolarity...working for the sake of stability, global and regional security, and working closely within the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation." The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. It is only awarded for the most outstanding civilian or military merit. The Russian Embassy in India had in 2019 said, "On April 12, @narendramodi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle for exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples. @mfa_russia @MEAIndia @IndEmbMoscow". The Russian President had then appreciated PM Modi on being conferred the award and recalled his outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Order of St Andrew for outstanding achievements in promoting partnership with Russia," he stated on X. To this, PM Modi replied that the foundation of the friendship between the two countries is deep and the future of the partnership is bright. "Honoured to receive this prestigious award. I thank President Putin and the people of Russia. The foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright. Extensive cooperation between our nations has led to extraordinary outcomes for our citizens," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is on an official visit to Russia. He held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, he along with Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow. The Rosatom Pavilion is an expositional and educational complex with the largest and most modern exposition in Russia dedicated to nuclear energy. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister stressed the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to Global Prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal meeting at the President's House. On Monday, PM Modi reached in Moscow for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport and Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the Vnukovo-II Airport. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. (ANI) Prime Minister, during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raised the issue of killings of children during conflicts and said it is "heart-wrenching" when innocent children die. The Prime Minister said that everyone who believes in humanity is hurt when there is a loss of lives. This comes in the wake of the recent missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv, which killed 37 children. "Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks - everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this," PM Modi said during the meeting. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1810650724239380492 Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia, which he termed as a "devastating blow to peace efforts." Zelenskyy took to social media platform X to post that on the same day that 37 people, including three children, were killed and 170 others were injured due to Russia's missile strike at the largest children's hospital in Ukraine's capital city Kyiv. "In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia's brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day" the Ukrainian leader said. PM Modi also condemned the terror attack in Russia's Dagestan, terming it "horrible and disgusting", and highlighted India has been facing the menace for over 40 years. "In the last 40-50 years, India has been facing terrorism. How horrible and disgusting terrorism is, we have been facing for the last 40 years. So, when terror incidents occurred in Moscow, when terror incidents occurred in Dagestan, I can imagine how deep its pain would be. I strongly condemn all kinds of terrorism," he further said. He noted that the talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. However, the entire world is focused on his visit to Russia. PM Modi said, "The bilateral talks between the two nations have been going on for 25 years. We have met 22 times. This is such a meeting that the focus of the entire world is on this visit of mine. The entire world is drawing out different meanings of this visit." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is on an official visit to Russia. He held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister stressed the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to Global Prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. (ANI) The Pakistan government gave a green signal to the country's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to tap calls and messages in the apprehension of an offence against national security, Geo News reported. The cabinet has allowed a designated officer of the ISI to carry out the tracing of calls under Section 54 of the Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996. The cabinet has also said that the nominated officer by ISI should not be of less than grade 18. Notably, Section 54 of the Telecommunications Act allows the government to authorise any person to intercept calls and messages through any telecommunication system in the interest of national security. The Section also states that the government will have a preference for the telecommunication system over any licensee for the security of the country. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on Monday issued a notification which said that for the nation's security, ISI can nominate officers to intercept calls. "The federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorise the officers, not below the rank of Grade 18 to be nominated from time to time by ISI to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any communication system," according to Geo News. The move has been taken in light of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government's recent actions for imposing stricter social media regulations, citing national security concerns. On May 9, Sharif approved a significant move to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, aimed at regulating social media, as per sources reported by ARY News. The approved draft included the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Agency (DRPA) under the PECA Act of 2024. A document endorsed by the Law Reforms Committee of the Cabinet outlines the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications' consideration to institute a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) under PECA 2016, specifically to address evolving digital threats, as reported by ARY News. Responsibility for the implementation of the Digital Rights Protection Agency lies with the Ministry of IT. Under the new PECA law, the authority will be empowered to investigate social media law breaches and take appropriate actions against offenders. Individuals implicated in digital rights violations can be summoned and interrogated by the Digital Rights Authority. (ANI) Hailing strong ties between India and Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the time-tested friendship between the two countries has been marked with warmth and the word that comes to mind on hearing the word Russia is "Bharat ke sukh-dukh ka saathi" (India's partner in happiness and sorrow). PM Modi, who interacted with the Indian community in Russia at an event held in Moscow, also recalled the 'sar pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani' line of a famous Bollywood number from the movie Shree 420, which was released in mid-fifties. "The song was once sung in every household here...this song may have become old, but the sentiments are evergreen," he said. In his address to the community, the Prime Minister thanked the Indian diaspora for the warm welcome and lauded its contribution in enhancing the India-Russia relationship. While greeting them on behalf of 140 crore Indians, he noted that his interaction with the community was special, as it was his first address to the Indian diaspora in his third term. Prime Minister spoke about the transformation that has happened in India in the last ten years. He said it is the objective of the government to become the third-largest economy in the world. The Prime Minister further noted that India's call for peace, dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global issues had high resonance. The Prime Minister encouraged the Indian community to continue playing a proactive role in forging a stronger and deeper partnership with Russia. He mentioned that a decision has been taken to open two new Indian Consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg and this would give further boost to people-to-people ties. The Prime Minister said that the India-Russia relationship is built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect. "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is 'Bharat ka such dukh ka saathi' (India's partner in happiness and sorrow), India's trusted friend. Our Russian friends call it 'druzba' and we call it 'dosti'," he said. "'Russia me sardi ke mausam me temperature kitna hi minus me chala jaye, Bharat-Russia ki dosti hamesha plus me rahi hai, garmjoshi bhari rahi hai.' (No matter how much the temperature goes down to minus during the winter season in Russia, India-Russia friendship has always been in plus, it has always been warm.) This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect," he added. PM Modi praised hard work and honesty of the Indian community, emphasising how their contributions have enriched Russian society. "I am happy that India and Russia are working shoulder-to-shoulder to give new energy to global prosperity. All of you present here are giving new heights to the relations between India and Russia. You have contributed to Russian society with your hard work and honesty. I have admired the unique relationship between India and Russia for decades," he said. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to Russia, expressed gratitude towards President Vladimir Putin for honouring him with Russia's highest civilian award and said that the honour is of 140 crore Indians. The Prime Minister also asserted that both countries believe that efforts should be made for global stability and peace. PM Modi said, "I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you (President Putin) for honouring me with Russia's highest (civilian) award. This honour is not just mine, this is the honour of 140 crore Indians. This is the honour of the centuries-old deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia. This is the honour of our special and privileged strategic partnership." Notably, Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs took to his official X handle and posted pictures of PM Modi and President Putin. He said, "An honour symbolising the depth of India-Russia ties! PM Narendra Modi conferred with Russia's highest national award, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle by President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin today." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1810679893144825942 The PMO in a statement said that in a special ceremony in St. Andrew Hall in the Kremlin, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin conferred Russia's highest national award "The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle" on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties. The award was announced in 2019. Interestingly, the award was instituted over 300 years ago. PM Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award. The award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today. President Putin presented the award to PM Modi, for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. "It is a testimony to Russia's sincere gratitude to the sincere contribution you are making to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our nations...you have always advocated broader contacts with our country. Back when you were Chief Minister of Gujarat, you came up with the initiative of twinning your state with Russian regions," President Putin said while conferring the award. "Dear friend, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to congratulate you for this highest Russian award and wish you good health, success and all the best. To the friendly people of India, I wish peace and prosperity," he added. Meanwhile, hailing the relationship between both nations, PM Modi asserted that their ties are important not just for India and Russia but for the entire world. He said, "In the context of today's global atmosphere, India and Russia partnership becomes all the more important. Both of us believe that continuous efforts should be made for global stability and peace. In the time to come, we will work together towards this." The Prime Minister also asserted that in the past 2.5 decades, the relationship between India and Russia under the leadership of Putin has strengthened. "He said, "Under your (Putin) leadership, India-Russia relations have strengthened in all directions and have scaled new heights each time. The foundation of strategic ties between the two nations that you had laid has only further strengthened over time." He added, "Our mutual cooperation, based on people-to-partnership, is becoming the hope and guarantee of a better future of our people." PM Modi further said that in today's discussions, both the leaders have talked about strengthening the mutual cooperation in all sectors and have taken new and significant decisions. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister arrived in Moscow for an official visit on Monday where he was received by Denis Manturov, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Indian community gave PM Modi a warm welcome at the hotel. (ANI) The Prime Minister interacted with the Indian diaspora at a hotel in Moscow before departing for Austria. He waved at people at the Russian airport while getting into the plane. As part of the second leg of his visit, PM Modi will be in Austria on July 9-10. This visit marks a historic occasion, as it will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria in 41 years. Earlier in the day, PM Modi was ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian honour by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today. The Prime Minister was presented with this award for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. "Honoured to receive the The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle. I thank the Russian Government for conferring the award. This award is dedicated to my fellow 140 crore Indians," PM Modi posted on X after being conferred the award. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora to strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister stressed that the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to global prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. (ANI) After the federal government gave its nod to the country's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to tap calls and messages, Omar Ayub Khan, leader of the Opposition on Tuesday announced that he would challenge government's move, "which is unconstitutional," Geo News reported. Citing security reasons, the Pakistan government allowed ISI to tap calls and messages. Omar Ayub Khan, leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, said he would challenge the notification through his lawyer Babar Awan in the court, as it was unconstitutional and against the fundamental rights envisaged in the constitution, according to Geo News. The opposition leader also took to his official X handle and targeted the government for allowing ISI to tap calls and messages and said, "Statutory notification (SRO) issued on July 8 by the government gives blanket powers to ISI to tap anyone's phone conversations on the grounds of unspecified 'national security' reasons on the 'apprehension' of any offence that may be committed." Stepping up his attacks, Ayub Khan said, "This blanket cover to an intelligence agency can only be given in a dystopian setting by a fascist government." The opposition leader further added that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has practically cut his own jugular vein as this SRO will be the tool that will be used by the ISI to hound Bilawal Bhutto, Asif Zardari, Maryam Nawaz, all politicians and media people to blackmail and beat them into submission. He added, "I will be challenging this black SRO in court through my lawyer, Babar Awan as it is unconstitutional and against the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution." Notably, the Pakistan cabinet allowed a designated officer of the ISI to carry out the tracing of calls under Section 54 of the Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996. The cabinet has also said that the nominated officer by ISI should not be of less than grade 18. Section 54 of the Telecommunications Act allows the government to authorise any person to intercept calls and messages through any telecommunication system in the interest of national security. The Section also states that the government will have a preference for the telecommunication system over any licensee for the security of the country. The Ministry of Information on Monday issued a notification which said that for the nation's security, ISI can nominate officers to intercept calls. "The federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorise the officers, not below the rank of Grade 18 to be nominated from time to time by ISI to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any communication system," according to Geo News. The move has been taken in light of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government's recent actions for imposing stricter social media regulations, citing national security concerns. On May 9, Sharif approved a significant move to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, aimed at regulating social media, as per sources reported by ARY News. The approved draft included the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Agency (DRPA) under the PECA Act of 2024. (ANI) Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov asserted that the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia has been crucial in terms of discussing global and regional matters as well as reviewing bilateral ties. PM Modi, who is on an official visit to Russia, held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. While speaking with ANI, Alipov asserted the visit is crucial in terms of reviewing bilateral relationships between both countries. He said, "We have welcomed the Prime Minister in Russia. This visit is significant in terms of discussing global matters and regional matters, most of all in terms of reviewing bilateral relationships which are very extended." Alipov added further, "We have a lot of prospective projects in the pipeline which have been discussed and are being implemented already, be it in oil and gas, defence, or culture. In every sphere, we have a great scope of bilateral engagements and specific programmes to take the relationship forward and implement the existing projects." The Russian Ambassador to India also said that this particular summit both leaders are having is the most significant and expressed hope for PM Modi's participation in the BRICS summit. He said, "We are looking forward to continuing the annual exchange of summits, the practice that has been going on for the last 20 years." On being asked if there would be any Russian delegation visit to India, Alipov said, "We are looking forward to a high-level delegation visit from Russia to India." The official also spoke about Indian Nationals seeking discharge from the Russian Army and admitted that the issue is a matter of concern for the Indian side. "We know that it is a matter of concern for the Indian side, we are very open in our dialogue on this particular issue, we are very attentive to Indian concerns, and of course, we don't want to see Indians dying in the battlefield." Alipov also said that the nation has never recruited and do not recruit Indians in the Russian army. "This particular problem is a problem involving those agencies, mediators and shoddy people who mislead Indian nationals in the first place. We have discussed and we are attentive to Indian concerns," Alipov said. On Monday, PM Modi reached in Moscow for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport and Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov received PM Modi at the Vnukovo-II Airport. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. (ANI) The Delegation will also comprise Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Shambhu Sharan Patel, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha; P.C. Mody, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha. Anjani Kumar, Joint Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat is the Secretary to the Delegation. The overall theme of the Tenth BRICS Parliamentary Forum is 'The Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security.' Speakers/Presiding Officers, Members of Parliament from BRICS Countries and Invitee countries, namely, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazhakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the President of Inter-Parliamentary Union, Tulia Ackson, will participate in the meetings of BRICS Parliamentary Forum. Lok Sabha Speaker will deliver speeches during the Plenary Sessions on two sub-themes namely 'The BRICS Parliamentary dimension: Prospects for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation' and 'The role of Parliaments in countering the fragmentation of the multilateral trade system and overcoming threats related to the consequences of global crises'. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha will also address this Forum during the Plenary Sessions on two sub-themes viz 'The role of Parliaments in enhancing the efficiency of the system of international relations and ensuring its democratization' and'Inter-parliamentary cooperation in the humanitarian and cultural spheres'. A joint statement will be adopted at the end of the Summit. On the sidelines of this forum, Om Birla may also hold bilateral meetings with his Presiding Officers of participating Parliaments. The Lok Sabha Speaker will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora in Moscow, Russia during his visit. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Tuesday and outlined their goals to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and achieve a mutual trade volume of over USD 100 billion by 2030. The two leaders also decided to continue dialogue on the liberalization of bilateral trade, including the possibility of establishing the EAEU-India Free Trade Area, according to the Leaders' Joint Statement released following the meeting. "Aspiration for elimination of non-tariff trade barriers related to bilateral trade between India and Russia. Continuation of dialogue in the field of liberalization of bilateral trade, including the possibility of the establishment of the EAEU-India Free Trade Area. Achievement of a mutual trade volume more than 100 bln USD by 2030 (as mutually agreed), including increased supplies of goods from India to achieve balanced bilateral trade. Reinvigoration of investment activities of the Parties, i.e. within the framework of the special investment regimes," the statement read. They also decided to work on developing a bilateral settlement system using national currencies and the consistent introduction of digital financial instruments for mutual settlements. The two countries will focus on increasing cargo turnover with India through the launch of new routes for the North-South International Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Sea Line. They will also optimize customs procedures through the application of intelligent digital systems for barrier-free movement of goods. They will work to raise the volume of bilateral trade in agricultural products, food, and fertilizers, and maintain an intensive dialogue aimed at removing veterinary, sanitary, and phytosanitary restrictions and prohibitions. India and Russia will work for "development of cooperation in key energy sectors, including nuclear energy, oil refining and petrochemicals and expanded forms of cooperation and partnership in the field of energy infrastructure, technologies and equipment. Facilitation of mutual and international energy security, i.a. taking into account the prospects of global energy transition." The leaders stressed strengthening interaction in the fields of infrastructure development, transport engineering, automobile production and shipbuilding, space and other industrial sectors; facilitation of entry of Indian and Russian companies into each other's markets by creating subsidiaries and industrial clusters, and convergence of approaches of the Parties in the fields of standardization, metrology and conformity assessment. The two nations will promote investments and joint projects across various sectors, including the digital economy, science and research, educational exchanges, and internships for employees of high-tech companies. They will also facilitate the creation of new joint (subsidiary) companies by providing favourable fiscal regimes. India and Russia will work to promote systematic cooperation in the development and supply of medicines and advanced medical equipment. They will also study the possibility of opening branches of Indian medical institutions in Russia and recruiting qualified medical personnel as well as strengthening coordination in the field of medical and biological safety. PM Modi and President Putin also decided to work for the development of humanitarian cooperation, and consistent expansion of interaction in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, tourism, sports, healthcare and other areas. "The President of the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of the Republic of India instructed the Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation to study the identified priority areas and to assess the progress at its next meeting," the joint statement added. Prime Minister Modi concluded his two-day visit to Russia and departed for Austria on Tuesday. As part of the second leg of his visit, PM Modi will be in Austria on July 9-10. This visit marks a historic occasion as it will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria in 41 years. Earlier in the day, PM Modi was ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian honour, by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in 2019, but he received it physically today. The Prime Minister was presented with this award for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the cross-border movement of terrorists, and terrorism financing networks and safe havens. The two leaders strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist attack on an Army convoy in the Kathua area of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8, 2024, in Dagestan on June 23 and on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22 and stressed that these terrorist attacks are a grim reminder for further strengthening cooperation to combat terrorism. India has faced cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. In the joint statement issued after the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, the two sides called for an uncompromising fight against international terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations, noting the importance of increasing cooperation in this area, without hidden agendas and double standards on the solid basis of international law and the UN Charter. Besides, they stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The two leaders emphasized the primary responsibility of States and their competent authorities in combating terrorism and that global efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats must fully comply with their obligations under international law. They called for zero tolerance for terrorism and expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework as well as implementation of the UNGA and the UNSC resolutions on countering terrorism and violent extremism, conducive to terrorism. The leaders reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their supporters must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with international law. They appreciated the Special Meeting of the UNSC Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) held in India in October 2022 under India's Chairship of the CTC and welcomed the unanimously adopted Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The two leaders noted that the declaration aims to cover the main concerns surrounding the terrorist exploitation of Information and Communications Technology, such as payment technologies, social media platforms and fundraising methods and misuse of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV, or drones). India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation in the field of combating transnational organized crime, countering money laundering, terrorist financing and drug trafficking. The two countries expressed their readiness to strengthen the dialogue in the field of security in the use of ICTs on the basis of the Agreement on Cooperation in International Information Security dated October 15, 2016. Both sides stressed the importance of strict compliance with the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs. Towards this end, both sides urged to adopt universal international legal instruments and welcome efforts under the aegis of the United Nations, including the comprehensive convention on combating ICT crime. India and Russia intend to strengthen cooperation within the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), including the issues of the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. Russia expressed its strong support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening global efforts for non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. India and Russia urged all members of the international community to work towards enhancing the level of mutual trust, in order to promote global peace and security. The Indian Side looked forward to Russia's joining of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), the statement said. The two leaders noted with appreciation the close coordination between India and Russia on Afghanistan including through the dialogue mechanism between the Security Councils of both countries. Both sides discussed the situation in Afghanistan, including the security situation and its implications in the region, the current political situation, issues related to terrorism, radicalization and drug trafficking. They advocated for Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state free from terrorism, war and drugs, living in peace with its neighbours and ensuring respect for basic human rights and freedoms, including for the most vulnerable sections of the Afghan society. They emphasized the important role of the Moscow Format meetings to facilitate the Afghan settlement. The Leaders welcomed the counter-terrorism measures against international terrorist groups, including in particular ISIS, and other groups and expressed confidence that the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan would be comprehensive and effective. They stressed the need to ensure urgent and uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people without any political demands. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that 15 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels were detected around nation from 9 am (local time) on Monday to 6 am (local time) on Tuesday. Of the 15 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 14 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan's MND. In response, Taiwan's armed forces have monitored the situation and have responded accordingly. In a post on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) stated, "15 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 14 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1810478981910773803?t=WqcLIUSEpPwRAXd22VY2Hg&s=08 So far in July, Taiwan's MND has detected Chinese military aircraft 160 times and naval ships 52 times, Taiwan News reported. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan. Earlier, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 14 Chinese military and seven naval vessels around Taiwan in the last 24 hours till 6 am on Monday. Of the 14 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern portions of the country's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), Taiwan News reported citing the Ministry of National Defense. According to Taiwan News report, 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." This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. Beijing 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. (ANI) The Indian diaspora residing in Austria expressed their happiness on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country. Young members of the Indian diaspora in Austria, arrived in Vienna to welcome PM Modi. PM Modi has departed from Moscow, Russia and is travelling to Austria where he will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. A member of the Indian diaspora, Vineet Bhardwaj, while speaking with ANI expressed his enthusiasm for the PM's visit and said, "It feels great that an (Indian) Prime Minister is coming here after 40 years. We hope that the ties between the two countries will further strengthen." He added further, "I have lived in three countries, but the connection of India diaspora that I feel here belongs to a different level." Shraddha Agarwal, who has been living in Austria for 18 years said, "First of all, I would like to congratulate him (PM Modi) for his third term. On behalf of the Indian diaspora that is here in Austria, we extend him a hearty welcome. The energy that he brings with him - all I would like to say is that it's Modi magic. Modi magic runs across the globe. 'Modi ji hai to mumkin hai.'" Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day visit to Russia and emplaned for Austria on Tuesday. The Prime Minister interacted with the Indian diaspora at a hotel in Moscow before departing for Austria. He waved at people at the Russian airport while getting into the plane. As part of the second leg of his visit, PM Modi will be in Austria on July 9-10. This visit marks a historic occasion, as it will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria in 41 years. Earlier in the day, PM Modi was ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian honour by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today. The Prime Minister was presented with this award for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. "Honoured to receive 'The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle.' I thank the Russian Government for conferring the award. This award is dedicated to my fellow 140 crore Indians," PM Modi posted on X after being conferred the award. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora to strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister stressed that the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to global prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. (ANI) Several religious leaders of minority communities and the Indian diaspora in the United States praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring the inclusive growth of minorities in India and making them equal partners in the nation's global rise in the past decade. They had participated in a 'Roundtable Meeting', co-organized by the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) and The Unity of Faiths Foundation, Bharat (TUFF Bharat), on inclusive growth and equal opportunities for all communities, particularly minorities PM Modi on Monday evening (local time). The multi-faith leaders thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making India a safe haven for minorities. They said during the over 10-year tenure of Prime Minister Modi, all communities have developed equally and inclusively, as a result of which India has also given a message of universal brotherhood and communal harmony to the world. [{cb3eb363-0e4f-4025-abca-2c0cc2534f22:intradmin/ANI-20240709173127.jpg}] Besides others, the roundtable meeting was attended by Rajya Sabha MP and IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu, IMF co-founder Professor Himani Sood and TUFF co-founders Anna Bornholt and Shamender Talwar. Participating in the roundtable meeting, religious leaders said that due to the tireless efforts of the Prime Minister, today India has become the biggest example for the world as a symbol of unity in integrity. "It is because of PM Modi that India has created its own identity today. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India is going through such a big change, as never before," they said. Religious leaders highlighted that all Indian citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation, have benefited from Modi government policies that have lifted over 25 crore (250 million) people out of poverty during this period. After the roundtable meeting, a walk of solidarity was held from 47th Street in New York to Father Duffy Square to celebrate and salute the spirit of India. [{2df42470-e721-48c2-8222-099fb74c37cb:intradmin/ANI-20240709173337.jpg}] With the popular musical number 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' playing in the background, Times Square reverberated with the chants of "Modi Modi" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" as a video clip played on-screen atop the square showed Bharat's growing stature under PM Modi and the promise of a prosperous, sustainable and harmonious planet as envisioned by PM Modi-led India. Amid cheers for PM Modi and India, members of the Indian-American community joined multi-faith leaders and members of the Indian diaspora and people from diverse fields in a celebration of Modi 3.0 and India's global rise in the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the iconic New York City destination. During the event, the audience praised India's phenomenal rise in the last decade and PM Modi's ever-growing popularity as a global leader. They said India will emerge as the world's third-largest economy in Narendra Modi's third term as Prime Minister. Indian Diaspora said India's growth story will continue under Modi 3.0 as India is ready to take a giant leap, backed by its scientific acumen and technological prowess, under PM Modi's third successive term. MP and IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu said until 2014, minorities succumbed to alienation in India for almost 65 years since independence and resigned to their fate of being left behind with respect to economic development and education. "The lives of minorities in India have been transformed under PM Modi's leadership. The Modi government has followed an all-inclusive approach while implementing the welfare schemes. With the magic mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', the Modi government practices only one religion -India First! with unity and inclusivity. As PM, Modi is passionate about ensuring development for all and appeasement towards none. In New India, it is not about a particular religion, sect or caste, it is about Indians who are getting equal opportunities. PM Modi is doing a phenomenal job of making India rise again on the world stage," he added. Sandhu said PM Modi's tenure has been marked by a holistic and inclusive approach to governance. "From empowering farmers and women to driving economic growth, preserving culture, and leading on the global stage, the government's efforts have laid the foundation for a resilient, empowered, and globally respected India. As the nation continues on the path of development in PM Modi's third term, it is evident that the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is not just a slogan but a living reality shaping the destiny of a vibrant and dynamic nation," he said. Ann Clare Bornholt, the co-founder of The Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF) said that no leader in India or anywhere else has ever before crossed barriers and dealt with them like PM Modi has done. "PM Modi is exceptional; he has a phenomenal job ahead of him. He is an extraordinary man with an extraordinary force behind him. He has a lot of people hoping that he is going to help the underprivileged. No leader has ever before, not in India, not anywhere else, crossed barriers and dealt with them like PM Modi has done; he is breaking them all on every level. It would be wise for people globally to support his concept of One Family One World One planet. I bow down to the courage of PM Modi," Clare said. Neeta Jain, the founder and president of the International Ahimsa Foundation, and representative of the Jain community in New York, said that PM Modi believes in the ancient Indian wisdom of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. "Our foundation promotes Ahimsa (non-violence) especially in our young children because they are our future, as our Prime Minister Narendra Modi also believes in our future generation. I resonate with our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and belief of Akhand Bharat means that entire India is united and one nation and he believes in the ancient Indian wisdom of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam that the whole world is one family; every single country of this world is one family," Jain stated. "What connects Jains with Modi is his attitude, his actions, his behaviour and what we believe in pluralism. Modi is himself is a big example of that. What is doing around the world and the country shows he is a big follower of Jainism. Everybody knows that Modi practices Jainism in his everyday life and he really believes in Ahimsa (non-violence). Ahimsa or non-violence is the supreme religion. He believes in that and that is the only way to bring the whole world together under one umbrella," she added. [{1f7941eb-aceb-481f-a349-6d08461bcd23:intradmin/ANI-20240709173209.jpg}] Mahant Sri Maa Rajyalaxmi, a religious leader said "only the visionary leadership of PM Modi can avert World War III." "Today, the world is facing one of the biggest crises in the history of mankind. With the conflicting situations arising in countries like Iran, Ukraine and Russia, there is only one person who can solve this crisis and prevent the Third World War and that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi has already taken several measures to avert that risk to a large extent. PM Modi has ensured inclusive development and welfare of people from all communities," she said. "'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', that is what PM Modi is talking about everywhere that entire universe is ours and if we protect the universe for our children, and grandchildren, that is the only children going forward. We're polluting the air, Mother Earth and everything. How we can stop that, PM Modi is discussing with Russia, Ukraine, and the USA. He is in the centre stage and Bharat is in the centre stage," the leader added. Baba Baljit Singh from Chicago said, "We are here to see PM Modi on the screen at Times Square. It's a very pleasant time for us. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India is witnessing development and minorities are protected in India. They (the Modi government) did a lot of things for minorities and the Sikh faith. When Indian citizens come abroad, they feel proud because the country is witnessing great development with each passing day. Minorities in India be it Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs or Muslims, are feeling protected under the leadership of PM Modi and they are thankful to Modi in India." Several Indian Muslim leaders in the US said they are celebrating Bharat and the country will always remain united. Mohammad Farooqi from New York said, "We are here to celebrate Bharat. Today, we all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, have come here to celebrate our unity in diversity and our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, Bharat is one and will solidify its position and it will go further up from here,". "India is formed to take along every culture and religion. Bharat was never about a religion. Today it's discussed in the world that India is divided between various religions, India was always one, is one and will remain united as one. The beauty of India lies in its unity in diversity. We were united in the past, are united in the present and will remain united in the future as well. We are proud that PM Modi is taking this idea forward with his mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas forward. And I hope India will grow further in the time to come. We need a strong leader, we have a strong leader and I want to see India as the next superpower under PM Modi's leadership," he added. Jani Sheikh, from Florida, said, "We came to celebrate the unity of India under the leadership of Narendra Modi. India is making good progress under PM Modi's leadership over the past 10 years and it's going to grow more and more in the next 10 years. Very soon, it's going to be the world's third-largest economy under the leadership of Narendra Modi. All Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are one under the leadership of PM Modi." [{959f2e64-c084-403a-8d2f-f8ead1ae2e5b:intradmin/ANI-20240709173227.jpg}] Jonathan Granoff, the President of the Global Security Institute, also lauded PM Modi's leadership and said he is leading with the motto of 'World is One Family.' "I am deeply inspired by the fact that India, when it hosted G20 recently highlighted that we are in fact One Earth, One Family with One Future, based on the ancient wisdom of Upanishads that sits over the parliament of India that the world is One Family," he said. "Modi is leading with this motto and this is the practical necessity of the world today, this spiritual insight of unity of humanity because it's exactly that unity that we need to overcome our divisions and work together to protect one planet that gives us all life, the gift of creator, One Family One Future and I am so grateful to be able to support that message that India is carrying for all of us," added Granoff. "I don't think we can have peace in the world unless we have peace amongst and within the world's religions...a country such as India...which has over its Parliament the model 'World is one family'. We just saw in Times Square, a statement by PM of India, 'to be inclusive, to honour the sacredness of the natural world that shared environment'. If India goes on the path of being an example of unity and multiplicity, an example of respecting the human rights and dignity of all religions and all people, it will be the most powerful statement to the world of becoming the world we have to live in," he stated. Gurcharan Singh, the former executive of the World Bank, said PM Modi is spreading the message of unity and harmony the world over. Praising PM Modi for spreading the message of universal brotherhood and harmony the world over, Former Executive of World Bank, Gurcharan Singh said, "It was indeed a very delightful experience to watch the video here at Times Square NYC that showcased the unparalleled developmental works done by PM Modi." "Today, PM Modi's message of unity and harmony has spread all across the world. PM Modi has tremendous respect for all communities and shares a special bond and affection with Sikhs. PM Modi has said that all communities must celebrate Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, this shows his love, respect and deep affection for Sikhism and Sikh Gurus. All Sikhs of the USA are with Modi," he added. The Indian youth, who were present there also praised PM Modi and said all the youth are with him. An Air India cabin crew member said, "It indeed is a proud moment as works of PM Modi were showcased in a video at Times Square. A Rath Yatra and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Mandir in Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya, were shown here, which indeed was a scintillating experience. As an Indian, it is a unique experience, as our country is being portrayed as the best in the entire world. All Indian youth are with PM Modi." Another young Indian girl said, "It's great to see PM Modi being featured here at Times Square. It's a great feeling that our country is being portrayed in the world's best cities. So we are really proud Indians." (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, categorically expressed regret for the loss of lives, and also emphasised that the solution to the conflict can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy and not on the battlefield, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. PM Modi, concluded his visit to Russia today. He also held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "With regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, yes, this featured between the discussions of the two leaders. We have given our position on this conflict several times in the past...In terms of the death of the innocents, yesterday, the PM was very clear and categorical in expressing his concern and regret for the loss of innocent lives including children," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, said in a special briefing in Moscow. "The PM said, 'Solution to the conflict is not to be found on battlefield and it is only possible through dialogue and diplomacy. "Yuddh ke maidan me samaadhan sambhav nahi hote"," Kwatra said. FS Kwatra said that the Prime Minister also expressed India's willingness to offer all possible support in finding a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "The PM, in his remarks today, says that India is willing to offer all possible support, contributions and cooperation that is required to this particular challenge and find peaceful solutions," he added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi was presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest civilian honour. Notably, the award was bestowed on PM Modi in the year 2019, but he received it physically today. President Putin presented the award to PM Modi, for his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries. To this, the Foreign Secretary said, "The highest national honour which was conferred on the Prime Minister, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, this award was announced in 2019. The agenda of discussion between the two leaders was principally economic." "It also included elements relating to cooperation between the two countries in the political sphere, a larger space of economic engagement covering extensively trade, capital linkages, energy, science and technology, defence and security was also another element of discussion and the larger development of a situation regionally and globally. The two leaders also reviewed the status of bilateral engagement and multilateral groupings including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations," he added. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister stressed that the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to global prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. Notably, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, took a strong stance on the issue of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian army and the Russian government has assured an "early discharge" of these Indians from the army service, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Tuesday. Addressing a special briefing on Tuesday, Kwatra said, "The Prime Minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian army. This was taken strongly by the Prime Minister, and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian army." Notably, several Indians were allegedly duped into fighting in Russia's war with Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs. In April, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had 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. The CBI stated that these traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube, etc., and also through their local contacts and agents for highly paid jobs in Russia. Kwatra further informed about the details of the investment partnership and said, "In the field of energy, besides trade and hydrocarbon, the investment partnerships in this field were also discussed, in particular, the partnership of India with Rosneft across the hydrocarbon domain." He added further, "In the nuclear energy field, the continuing cooperation on the Kudankulam nuclear power projects units three to six was discussed between two leaders." The Foreign Secretary also spoke about the highest national honour which was conferred on the Prime Minister, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, and said that this award was announced in 2019. Elaborating more on the talks that took place between both the leaders, Kwatra informed, "The agenda of discussion between the two leaders was principally economic. It also included elements relating to cooperation between the two countries in the political sphere, a larger space of economic engagement covering extensively trade, capital linkages, energy, science and technology. Defence and security were also another element of discussion." Kwatra further added, "The two leaders also reviewed the status of bilateral engagement and multilateral groupings including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the United Nations." Meanwhile, PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. He spoke about the ties between India and Russia and the contribution of the Indian diaspora to strengthening them. He also announced the opening of Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The Prime Minister stressed that the ties between India and Russia are giving new energy to global prosperity. He also praised the Indian community for giving new heights to the ties between India and Russia. (ANI) A lot of the time, great discoveries happen by a complete accident. At least, that was the case in Bulgaria last week when a crew of archaeologists unexpectedly unearthed a centuries-old artifact during a dig at the site of an ancient city called Heraclea Sintica, Reuters reported. The relic in question is actually a life-size marble sculpture of the Greek god Hermes that has been hidden away in a sewer for thousands of years. More from Robb Report Its head is preserved. [Its in a] very good condition. There are a few fractures on the hands, Lyudmil Vagalinski, who led the team of archaeologists, explained to Reuters. Now known as the village of Rupite, Heraclea Sintica has a history that spans centuries. King Philip II of Macedon founded the city in southwestern Bulgaria between 356 B.C. and 339 B.C. The metropolis was then destroyed by an earthquake in 388 A.D. and subsequently abandoned around 500 A.D. In what the archaeologists believe was a deliberate attempt to preserve the sculpture over time, the statue was covered in dirt and placed into the sewer where it sat for approximately 2,000 years. According to the experts, the statue is actually a Roman reconstruction of the ancient Greek original. Everything pagan was forbidden, and they have joined the new ideology, but apparently they took care of their old deities, Vagalinski added. Bulgarian archaeologists discovered a well-preserved marble statue of the Greek god Hermes. The 6.8-foot (2-meter) tall statue was found during excavation work at the site of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica. More here: https://t.co/SAZCD18M3j pic.twitter.com/U1DiplzfJP Reuters (@Reuters) July 5, 2024 In addition to the recent Hermes statue excavation, this year has already seen its fair share of exciting discoveries. In January, French tourist Julien Navas unknowingly stumbled upon an insane 7.5-carat chocolate-colored diamond. The Parisian traveler was visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas when he accidentally found the gem. It was one of the most amazing surprises, after the birth of my daughter, Navas told The Washington Post at the time. Then, back in April, archaeologists came across a collection of frescoes during an excavation effort in Pompeii. The paintings decorated a banquet room and depicted different characters and figures from the Trojan War. Pompeii is truly a treasure chest that never ceases to surprise and amaze us because, every time we dig, we find something beautiful and significant, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italys culture minister, said in a statement. At this rate, who knows what could be dug up next? Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, departs the Capitol on July 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. A handful of congressional Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid following a shaky debate performance on June 27. Tester is viewed as one of the chambers most vulnerable Democrats. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Bidens ability to continue with his reelection campaign dominated the nations capital throughout the day. Biden shipped a defiant letter to Hill Democrats and unexpectedly called in to a popular morning MSNBC show to make his case. At the White House, reporters engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over the presidents mental fitness. Most significantly, the comments about Bidens future from more than 20 lawmakers came just ahead of crucial meetings Tuesday, when Senate and House Democrats will huddle separately to work out the path ahead for Bidens reelection bid. The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds, and House members from swing districts full of Republican voters. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close confidant to Biden, defended the president when asked by States Newsroom whether Biden can steer the narrative back to policy issues and away from questions about his cognitive function, following his shaky debate performance on June 27. Im really struck no ones asked me a question about should Donald Trump drop out, should Donald Trump have a neurological exam, should Donald Trump be facing Republicans calling for him to step aside given his demonstrably immoral, unhinged conduct? Hes a convict, Coons said, referring to the former president and presumptive GOP nominee. In my view, Joe Biden has won our primaries, has won our confidence and deserves our support. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Democrats must be level-headed about whether to encourage Biden to withdraw as their presumptive nominee, arguing that it is now more of a moral question than a political one. I think it is really important for us, as Democrats, to have an open discussion and to have an open debate to ensure that we are on a path to winning the White House, to winning the Senate, to winning the House, Bennet said. And I think thats an act, not of disloyalty, but an act of loyalty. This years election is especially critical for Democrats in swing districts and purple states, and party leaders need to ensure the top of the ticket can help those people, not hinder them, said Bennet, who is not up for reelection. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said she wants House Democrats to unify at Tuesday mornings party meeting. My hope is that Democrats come to a reasonable consensus about the path forward, which is that we have to defeat Donald Trump, Stansbury said. And right now weve got to work like hell to make sure that people understand the consequences of reelecting Donald Trump. He is a convicted felon, he is a perpetrator in the January 6th (attack), he is all the things that we know he is. And so while I understand the media focus on the current moment, we really need to shift back to the real danger, Stansbury said. The unease among congressional Democrats came after a handful of senior House Democrats on Sunday said Biden should step down on a private phone call with Democratic leaders, according to media reports. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington publicly called on Biden to exit the race Monday. The Biden defenders Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said his confidence in Biden is high, but he understands the reality of the challenges that he faces and we face since the debate. Its raised a national discussion about his competence and the ability to finish the campaign, Durbin said. The Illinois lawmaker said he has been discussing alternatives to Biden with colleagues, but so far hasnt heard a name hes willing to endorse publicly. Durbin said he does worry that if Biden remains the nominee, the focus will stay on his health and not on the issues that Democrats want to be front and center in the campaign. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said he told voters in his home state over the Fourth of July week that he respects Biden and never had reason to question his ability to be a patriot, put the country first. And Im sure hell make a decision that does that. And that decision is going to be one that I support, he said. Kaine said that Biden often does better talking to smaller groups of voters and suggested his campaign get him in that setting more often, if they want to alleviate concerns. Okay, he had a bad debate performance. But when he interacts with everyday folks who are going through challenges, talking about their aspirations and how to achieve them, thats his strong suit, Kaine said. And Ive seen him do that again and again and again. And I hope the campaign will find ways for him to do that because he does it better than anybody. California Rep. Ami Bera said Biden has a pretty good chance to outrun his debate performance, especially considering all the bad headlines that came out during the 2016 Trump campaign. Donald Trump came back from Access Hollywood, right? Bera said. So theres a long time in this campaign cycle. It was always going to be a close race, but its going to be hard if were not on the same page. Bera called on Biden to meet with Democrats in Congress and for the party to be honest about polling and fundraising. I think that the debate was not a good debate. It was one that gave a lot of folks pause, Bera said. But the president has said hes committed to running. At this juncture, having a divided house doesnt make sense. Thats why my advice is, he ought to come to the Democrats or ought to invite us to meet with him somewhere else. And we all ought to get on the same page. Congressional Black Caucus chair supportive of Biden Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said he decided to support Bidens ongoing candidacy after talking with voters in his district. Im a frontline member in a battleground state. I have as tough of a district as anyone here in the House and Ive been a frontliner for the last three cycles, Horsford said. What my constituents have said is they voted for President Joe Biden, and they expect their representative to honor their vote and the will of the people. And theres a process and that process should not be overturned by a few select members in Congress. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he remains steadfast in his support for Biden. I would encourage my colleagues to take all the time and energy that were spending on this topic and put it into voter outreach and organizing for November, he said. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he continues to back Biden and is confident that he will win reelection in November. What I want to see is President Biden out and about, like we saw this weekend, talking to more people at rallies and areas and just being himself, Lujan said. I think that hes the best when hes just himself and chatting with people. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan said she supports Biden and isnt focused on what the risk could be if voters dont gain more confidence in his health. I think he can win. He has won. He has ideas. Hes got plans, Barragan said. When I talk to people, even people whove been undecided have said The president has ideas and he has a track record. The other person is just going up there and telling lies. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that she continues to back Biden because of his record while in the White House. Hes been there every step of the way supporting Nevadans as we came through the pandemic, as we fight for a womans right to choose, as we lower costs for families, and fighting for affordable housing, Cortez Masto said. Hes been on the picket lines with so many in my state. So at the end of the day, I know hes good for Nevada, and so I stand with him. More defenders Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Democrats have a lot of work to do to get Biden reelected in November, but said thats always the case. And while the debate was a rough night, he said, there will be many more of those if Trump is reelected president in November. You want a lot of rough nights? Youre gonna get four years of them if you elect Donald Trump, Wyden said. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who is also chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he will continue to back Biden. I support Joe Biden. He is our nominee, Peters said. Im confident he will win and were going to be able to hold the Senate as well. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said Democrats need to unify to protect this democracy and brushed aside a question about whether Biden is being honest with himself about his health. I dont believe that hes ever done anything that suggests to me that hes a liar, like his opponent, Watson Coleman said. Conversations are healthy New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has confidence in Biden to do the right thing, but didnt say what exactly she believes that is. I think the conversations are healthy, Shaheen said. I expect him to do whats in the best interest of the country. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, the most important thing right now is to beat Donald Trump. Talking to you all is not gonna necessarily help that. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection in Wisconsin, would not answer reporters directly when asked if she supports Biden. I support the Democratic ticket, she said. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said the Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, which will be private, will be important and that he wasnt ready to comment further on Bidens reelection bid. I support continuing this conversation and winning the election, Huffman said. Not answering questions Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse refused to answer repeated questions from reporters on Capitol Hill, saying he wanted to wait to hear what his colleagues say during the Tuesday closed-door lunch. Several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, quickly bypassed reporters or pointed them to written statements theyve issued. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland declined to comment because were still in the middle of the whole thing. Were all working for the best solution, he said. Senators with tough races Vulnerable U.S. senators, who have so far been quiet, issued statements Monday addressing Bidens ability to remain in the presidential campaign. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said in a written statement Biden has got to prove to the American peopleincluding methat hes up to the job for another four years, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Ill continue to do what Ive always done: Stand up to President Biden when hes wrong and protect our Montana way of life, Tester said in his statement. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said on the campaign trail Monday that hes heard concerns from voters regarding Biden moving forward in the race, according to an NBC News report. Im not a pundit. Ive talked to people across Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and Ill keep listening to people, Brown said. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the president pro tempore and chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued a written statement highly critical of Biden remaining the nominee. I have a deep appreciation and strong respect for Joe, who has led a historic first term as President, Murray wrote. Still, we need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job, she said. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future. Parkinsons disease specialist Administration officials defended Biden on Monday during a 75-minute, and at times tense, press briefing where reporters largely questioned Bidens capacity to continue his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre told reporters the president has cleared detailed neurological exams during each of his three annual physicals, the last one being in February. The exams have been detailed, they have been extensive, she said, refusing to confirm names of medical specialists, for security reasons in a lengthy back-and-forth with reporters. Journalists pressed Jean-Pierre about a Monday report in the New York Times that a Parkinsons disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March. Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. Jean-Pierre said thousands of military personnel come to the White House. Has the president been treated for Parkinsons? No. Is he being treated for Parkinsons? No, hes not. Is he taking medication for Parkinsons? No. So those are the things I can give you full-blown answers on, but Im not going to confirm a specialist, or any specialist, that comes to the White House, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that Biden receives regular verbal check-ins with his doctor, usually while he is exercising. The White House released a two-page memo much later Monday that Dr. Kevin Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time that I have released the results of the Presidents annual physical, wrote Dr. Kevin OConnor, physician to the president. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit for 12 years and has held regular clinics for active-duty members at the White House, according to the letter. The president is scheduled to spend most of the week with NATO leaders at the summit in Washington, D.C., and will give a solo press conference Thursday evening. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during the press briefing were not picking up any signs of (concerns) from our allies at all. Kirby dismissed questions that Bidens debate performance could be illustrative of his communications with his international counterparts. What I saw in that debate is not reflective of the man and the leader and the commander-in-chief that I have spent many, many hours with over the last two-and-a-half years, in terms of the specificity of the way he probes, the questions he asks, Kirby said. Heck, just this morning he was asking me questions about a situation on the European continent that I couldnt answer, and I told him Id have to get back to him. Biden pushes back with letter, calls in to Morning Joe In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden wrote Monday that he is firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump. He then called into MSNBCs Morning Joe for a live phone interview during which he criticized Democrats urging him to exit the race as elites. Im getting so frustrated by the elites now Im not talking about you guys the elites in the party, Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that dont think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention, he said to hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. When asked by Brzezinski whether he can assure Americans that he wont have another performance like the June 27 debate, Biden responded, Look at my career, Ive not had many of those nights. The live interview came one day after Biden held a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Rep. Madeleine Dean and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Biden began the weekend with a 22-minute interview Friday night with ABCs George Stephanopoulos during which he attributed his debate performance to a bad episode. The first sign of waning Democratic support appeared July 2 when Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. A 32-year-old Lebanon man who stole a car at gunpoint and led Lebanon City Police officers on a lengthy chase that hurt at least one other individual has pleaded guilty to all charges before he was scheduled to go to trial in August. Standing before Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas President Judge John Tylwalk on Friday, July 5, Cesar Wilkins Romero-Colon pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony robbery, aggravated assault on police, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm without a license and flight from police. He was not sentenced during the hearing. Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said that Romero-Colon accepting responsibility for his actions during the incident saves the victims involved from having to talk about the worst days of their lives. "I think accepting responsibility, accountability and pleading guilty was the right decision, and frankly it's the only decision the man made since the day of the car chases that we can support," she said. In video obtained by police and shown by the Lebanon County District Attorney's office in November, Cesar Romero-Colon is shown falling out of a police cruiser after he attempted to carjack it. He the sat up an pointed a gun towards a South Lebanon police officer. Romero-Colon also pleaded guilty July 5 to charges of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct to police and theft in two other cases. Officials said Romero-Colon will serve a concurrent sentence for all three cases. Romero-Colon's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Light, called the plea a favorable resolution for everybody. Light added that Romero-Colon has accepted responsibility for these incidents. Police Chase On Nov. 7, police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Brandywine Street for a report of gunshots. With the assistance of the public, officers were able to identify the suspect as Cesar Wilkins Romero-Colon. Romero-Colon allegedly fled on a bicycle before police arrived on scene, then stole a 2005 Dodge Caravan at the 500 block of N. 2nd St. A South Lebanon Police officer located the stolen vehicle in the area of 3rd Avenue and East Cumberland, next to a pizza restaurant. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, when Romero-Colon drove away. Romero-Colon then fled the wrong way down Route 422 weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed with police following, according to police. As he drove the stolen vehicle to the intersection of Narrows Drive and Route 422 in South Lebanon Township, he crashed into a 1995 Toyota Corolla, according to the Lebanon County District Attorney's office. That collision caused serious injury to a 70-year-old driver, according to officials. Colon then lost control of the stolen car, and it crashed into a nearby field. A South Lebanon Township officer pulled over and directed Romero-Colon to exit the vehicle. Romero-Colon instead exited the vehicle and fled on foot through the field and directly onto Route 422, approaching oncoming traffic with the gun in hand. A Lebanon City Police Department officer got out of the vehicle and commanded Romero-Colon to surrender. Officials said he brandished a firearm and attempted to steal the police vehicle. Video obtained by a police department vehicle and shown by the district attorney's office in November shows Romero-Colon attempting to gain access to the police driver-side vehicle. The driver accelerated, causing Romero-Colon to fall to the ground. As Romero-Colon got up, he pointed the gun towards South Lebanon Police officer. The officer fired two gunshots before he surrendered, and no one was injured as a result of the gunfire. Romero-Colon was in possession of a stolen 9mm handgun at the time of his arrest, which he purchased as part of a "street transaction." Officials said the handgun was loaded with a round chambered. The Lebanon County District Attorney's Office announced in November that the South Lebanon Police officer was justified when he fired on Romero-Colon. Community impact In one day Romero-Colon took so many things that were "the source of life" of people in the Lebanon County community, Graf said. The owner of the 2005 Dodge Caravan did not have collision insurance and is still dealing with the aftermath of Romero Colon crashing his vehicle. "That van was how he got to work. That van was how he employed himself and he hasn't been able to afford replacing it," she said. The driver of the 1995 Toyota Corolla had to have surgery after the collision. Graf said he had multiple injuries, including a broken leg, hip bone and left arm. He then spent month at a rehab facility recovering from his injuries. Graf said a month before the accident with Romero-Colon, the Toyota Corolla driver had lost his wife. "The best way I can describe it is that accident broke his spirit," she said. "He talks about the great sadness from losing his wife and losing his car, and the lack of dignity now in the physical way he has to present and conduct himself." Graf said the officers on scene that day were very grateful that there were no officers shot and killed, because "there very easily could have been." "You can hear on the body camera where she just yells 'No,' and you can hear the pain and the fear that's in there," Graf said. The minimum sentence Romero-Colon could receive is 10 years, according to Graf. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2024. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Man who led Lebanon police on 2023 chase pleads guilty U.S President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walk after a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Fasano, Italy, June 13, 2024. WASHINGTON NATO allies are in final negotiations over language that says Ukraine's eventual admission into the military alliance is "irreversible" so long as it makes a series of reforms required for membership. The U.S. and other member nations agreed at last year's summit in Lithuania that Ukraine would become a member "when Allies agree and conditions are met." This week they are likely to acknowledge at a critical summit in Washington that, while Ukraine still has a ways to go, as long as it continues to make progress, there will be a path to NATO membership, a U.S. official said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Sunday evening in Washington, D.C., that allies are close to agreeing on precise wording. More: His reelection campaign in crisis, Joe Biden hosts high-stakes NATO Summit in Washington U.S President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walk after a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Fasano, Italy, June 13, 2024. "We are working on the exact language on how to express that Ukraine is going to become a NATO ally, and how we are moving forward," Stoltenberg said. The discussion over NATO membership for Ukraine follows claims from former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee, that he would move quickly to end the war in Ukraine if he is elected in November. Trump has also suggested that talk of Ukraine joining the alliance is provoking Russia. NATO allies plan to announce a new package of support at this week's summit, which will bring the leaders of more than 31 western nations, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to Washington for several days of talks. It is likely to consist of five components, Stoltenberg said: training for Ukrainians with a command center in Germany and logistical hubs in the eastern part of the alliance; a financial pledge to continue providing a "minimum baseline" of $43 billion in combined military support over the next year; the delivery of more weapons, ammunition and a "substantial" increase in air defense capabilities; bilateral security agreements, like the 10-year pact the U.S. announced last month; and new programs to help Ukraine's armed forces become fully interoperable with NATO. The five measures "constitute a bridge to membership" along with language in a summit declaration that expresses that Ukraine is "coming closer to NATO membership," he said. More: Russian missile hits Ukraine children's hospital as Biden welcomes NATO leaders "The language on membership is one of the remaining issues," Stoltenberg acknowledged. "So we are negotiating that now. I'm confident we will find a solution." The speaker of Ukraine's parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk said Monday morning in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY that Ukraine needs more air defense systems, ammunition and fighter jets. "This is a very powerful package and also the same goes for the bilateral security agreements that Ukraine has already signed with a number of countries," he said. "But one thing we must understand is that this package needs to be the package that supports Ukraine on its path to joining the NATO, but not as a replacement to joining the NATO." A senior administration official told reporters on a White House call last week that the summit communique would include "very strong language" that amplifies President Joe Biden's position that Ukraine will join NATO. On Sunday evening, a U.S. official told USA TODAY the Biden administration had agreed to the inclusion of the word "irreversible" on the specific condition that Ukraine meets all the necessary requirements. More: Trump allies have presented plan to halt US military aid to Ukraine unless it enters peace talks with Russia For the U.S. to approve Ukraine's membership to NATO, the war with Russia would have to be over and Ukraine would have to enact additional anti-corruption reforms, a second official said. Stefanchuk says Ukraine has made those reforms. As speaker of parliament, he said he would do everything possible to accelerate the process. "We are open to all the proposals and suggestions from our partners that will help us not only with fighting the corruption but also with building and strengthening the Ukrainian statehood," he added. Ukraine a focus of the NATO summit NATO is taking over the coordination of security assistance to Ukraine from the United States. The goal is to "create a more predictable, robust institutional framework for support" in the long term, Stoltenberg said. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war quickly if he beats Biden. Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians, Trump said during a CNN town hall in May 2023. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done Ill have that done in 24 hours. Trump said during a presidential debate with Biden on June 27 that, if he wins a second term, he would end the war before he takes office. He did not offer any specifics on how he would end the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin later said he believes Trump is sincere, but he did not know what Trump planned to do. More: Biden signs 10-year pact with Ukraine that could be upended if Trump wins Trump hasnt said exactly how he would approach the issue. One proposal floated by his allies would involve delaying Ukraines entry into NATO and sitting down with Russia. Under such a scenario, Ukraine would be warned it would get more U.S. weapons if it agrees to enter peace talks, while Russia would be told that refusing to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine. "This is a time to sit down and start talking," said retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who was chief of staff to the National Security Council in the Trump administration. To Ukraine, the U.S. should say, "If you sit down and talk, we will continue to support you and, if not, we will modify our support," said Kellogg, who's close to Trump and talks to his campaign regularly. More: Life on Ukraines front line: Worse than hell as Russia advances The message to Russia should be, "If you sit down and talk we can stop the killing and discuss Ukraine's near-term admission to NATO. If you do not start discussion, we will support Ukraine to a much greater level to support the destruction of the Russian army in Ukraine." Other analysts question the wisdom of such an approach. Rose Gottemoeller, who served as NATO deputy secretary general during the Trump administration, warned that approach would send the wrong message not only to Putin, but to leaders such as Chinas Xi Jinping and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. It would send a message that aggression is rewarded, said Gottemoeller, who is now a lecturer at Stanford University in California. That's the wrong message an American president wants to send, full stop, to anyone in the world. I think it's a way of tempting violence, aggression in other parts of the world. Telling Ukraine it cant join NATO and telling Russia it can keep some of the territories it has stolen would guarantee a future Russia-Ukraine war, said John Herbst, who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine under George W. Bush and is now the senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center. The man who put that package together, Trump, would look like a patsy, he said. Herbst said such an approach also would impact U.S. interests in the West Pacific. Its no accident that Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have stressed the importance of defeating Putin in Ukraine as a way to deter Xi in Taiwan, Herbst said. The stakes go beyond European security and Americans critical interest in European security, he said. Regardless of the language on membership, allies will announce concrete actions at NATO, Stoltenberg said Sunday. "The substance of our package, we will deepen and strengthen our security cooperation with Ukraine, it speaks as loudly as language in the declaration," Stoltenberg said. "And I really believe that we now are turning a corner, given that we are able to agree (on) all these elements of the security package." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NATO debates calling Ukraine membership path 'irreversible' at summit North Carolina teachers and school staff will get raises this summer under legislation Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Monday. The bill, a last-minute measure to formally authorize pay raises for the second year of the two-year budget GOP lawmakers enacted last year, came together during the final days lawmakers were in session last month, after Republicans failed to reach a deal on a new budget. In a statement, Cooper said the bill simply restates the small pay raises legislators already gave public school teachers last year. The legislature should pay our teachers significantly more as North Carolina has already dropped to 38th in the country in teacher pay and invests nearly $5,000 less per student than the national average, Cooper said. Our state has the resources to make meaningful investments to help our public school students and now is the time to do it. Most state employees are already set to receive a 3% pay raise starting this month that was part of the 2023-2025 budget passed this past fall. But the same budget bills raises for teachers and other school employees dont kick in without additional legislation, the General Assemblys nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division told The News & Observer in June. So while this years budget adjustment bill may or may not ever come, lawmakers authorized the raises before they left at the end of June. How much are raises for teachers? Teachers in public school districts are paid typically for 10 months of the year. Pay is higher for teachers with certain kinds of accreditation or a doctorate. The money was allocated in the 2023 state budget, a two-year spending plan, but the language in the bill does not let it be paid out unless the General Assembly authorizes that money by June 30, according to the nonpartisan Fiscal Research analysts at the legislature, The N&O previously reported. Here are the raises that the bill authorized: First-year teachers could receive $2,000 more. New teachers would have a starting salary this year of $41,000. Last year, it was $39,000. Step increases are built into teacher pay as they become more experienced, topping out at 25 years. There is a salary plateau with no increases for 15 through 24 years of experience, which would be $5,306 a month. For a veteran teacher of 25 or more years, last years pay was $5,510 a month, or $55,100 a year, and this year it would be $5,595, or $55,950 a year. Some teachers may also receive additional bonuses, paid out in January 2025 based on data from the previous two years. Those who qualify for the bonuses include teachers who teach Advanced Placement classes, with more money for each students scores, and Career and Technical Education. Some school districts offer more salary supplements to teachers and other school personnel. Whats next The General Assembly has a legislative session scheduled for Wednesday, and a few more sessions through the rest of the year. During any of that time, House and Senate Republicans may reveal a negotiated budget adjustment bill that could have more money for raises and other programs and projects. Donald Trump is entering the home stretch of his vice presidential selection process. The Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee next week. Trump has a lot of factors to weigh in his decision. Former President Donald Trump is expected to name is running mate in less than a week, ending his vice presidential selection process. According to multiple reports, Trump has likely narrowed his focus to the shortlist of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. In the end, only Trump knows what will happen. It's quite possible the former president could turn to someone else on the much larger list of names he once viewed as potential vice presidents. Trump told Fox News on Monday that President Joe Biden's disastrous debate has factored in slightly into his decision, given the small possibility that Biden could drop out. Even if he wins in November, Trump will reenter office as a lame duck. It means his apprentice will have the inside track to replace him in 2028 a fundamentally different reality than the one he faced in 2016. So, with that in mind, here's Business Insider's final vice presidential power ranking. Here's where things stand: Sen. JD Vance, a Ohio Republican, could end up becoming one of the youngest vice presidents in modern memory. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images 1. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio (Previously 2) Vance has been one of the biggest risers since our initial rankings almost two months ago. It's not hard to see why. The 39-year-old has pivoted far beyond his "Never Trumper" past. He's now as close to Trump's base as any elected official. He's also reportedly close to Donald Trump Jr. Vance was also the first of Trump's possible vice presidential picks to go to Manhattan to show his support during the former president's historic criminal trial. Vance hasn't been afraid to push Trump's worldview in a chamber that, unlike the House, is more likely to defy the former president. It's been an extraordinary rise since the Ohioian was sworn in just last year. His selection would underline the expectation Trump would ensure his second administration is filled with loyalists. But Vance would likely do little to help Trump expand his appeal. As a former venture capitalist, Vance has ties to the more conservative Silicon Valley leaders who could help buck up Trump's fundraising. Like many on this list, Vance has questioned the results of the 2020 election. He's gone even further recently by suggesting that former Vice President Mike Pence has overplayed the extent to which his life was under threat during the Capitol riot. Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota Ethan Miller/Getty Images 2. Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota (Previously 4) North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum spent his brief 2024 run paying supporters to donate to his campaign. His campaign's biggest moment was arguably when he injured his leg before a primary debate. Despite that inauspicious moment and a forgettable primary effort, he's receiving serious consideration. Burgum's newness to the national scene remains his biggest obstacle. Burgum has gained some key allies while under Trump's reported consideration. The Wall Street Journal Editorial board, often considered the voice of the GOP's establishment, is behind him. So, too, is Kevin O'Leary, the Shark Tank veteran. Other Wall Street types are also intrigued by his possibility. Then again, Trump tried a Midwestern governor straight out of central casting who was not supposed to outshine him. Unlike Pence, Burgum blazed a path in business before getting into politics. The North Dakotan sold his software company to Microsoft for over $1 billion in 2001. As CNBC pointed out, Burgum could write a massive check to Trump's campaign. Former President Donald Trump campaigned for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a former 2016 GOP arrival, ahead of the 2022 midterms. Joe Raedle/Getty Images 3. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida (Previously 3) Florida, man. If Rubio represented any other state, he would be atop our list. That's because the biggest hurdle for Rubio isn't likely anything in his past. Instead, he faces very real concerns about residing in the same state as Trump. As Politifact explained, the Constitution has been interpreted not to allow electors from the same state to vote for a president and vice president who also reside in that state. That means a Trump-Rubio ticket could lose out on Florida's 30 electoral votes, even if they won the state. According to the Bulwark, Rubio would be willing to move, but he might have to make up his mind soon. Rubio would be the most obvious choice for a Trump pick poised to help the GOP hold the White House in 2028. After all, the Floridian was once proclaimed the future of the Republican Party. He is not a MAGA-whisper like Vance, but the Floridian found ways other ways work with his former 2016 primary rival while in office. Rubio has also shown he'll shift his views, most notably he was one of the main architects of the bipartisan, sweeping 2013 immigration legislation that would have offered undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship. Like many 2016 foes, Rubio is also on record hammering Trump including his cringey mocking of the future president's hand size (Rubio later apologized for that). Former President Donald Trump smiles behind Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who endorsed Trump after ending his own 2024 campaign. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images 4. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina (Previously 1): Scott has been on Trump's shortlist from the beginning. He also led the other two editions of our power rankings. He doesn't have the constitutional questions that Rubio would face. He has been on the national stage longer than Burgum. He could also expand Trump's appeal with a historic candidacy. Scott behaved like he wanted the job, but it doesn't seem like he made the final cut. In early June, Scott's allied political action committee would spend $14 million targeting voters of color. He has shown fundraising prowess that could be greatly appreciated down the stretch of the general election. It helps that Scott has a relationship with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who, according to CNBC, is pushing him to get picked. The 58-year-old would also be a historic choice. He's already the first Black Republican elected from the South since Reconstruction. Some Trump aides have urged the former president to balance out his 2024 ticket by picking a person of color. That all being said, we've talked up Scott before. And he dropped out before the Iowa caucuses. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was the first member of House GOP leadership to endorse Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 5. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York (Previously 5) Stefanik has clearly staked her ground as a Trump ally. She was the first member of House leadership to have endorsed Trump for his 2024 run. She endeared herself to his political base for her defense of the president during his first impeachment trial. Stefanik garnered national attention recently for grilling college presidents over their handling of antisemitism. She was once more liberal than Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, but her rise in the GOP has coincided with a reinvention as a Trump-aligned Republican. The New Yorker hails from a state that is never going to back Trump. But scores of studies show that the home-state boosts for vice presidents isn't all it's cracked up to be. Perhaps it's not surprising then that none of the top-tier names on Trump's list hail from a current swing state. Still, Stefanik's selection would be historic. She would be only the fourth woman to share a major party's ticket. Republicans, especially Trump, have struggled with suburban women, but it's not clear that tapping a woman would automatically cure that problem. Biden may also delight in the selection of a House GOP leader. The president has repeatedly called attention to the drama that has gripped the lower chamber. Voters are likely to care more about the economy than Speaker Mike Johnson's job status, but the level of in-fighting in the GOP is so bad that multiple sitting lawmakers have quit their jobs early. The rest of the pack 6. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas (Previously 7): Cotton's career is bookended by fights with The New York Times mostly recently over his 2020 op-ed calling for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell riots in the wake of George Floyd's killing. The GOP senator was a loyal Trump ally, including defending the then-president's push to buy Greenland. Unlike others on this list, Cotton notably did not vote against certifying the 2020 election. He was also harshly critical of one of Trump's biggest bipartisan achievements, the First Step Act, arguing that criminal justice reform failed to do enough to protect public safety. 7. Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson (Previously 6): Trump still has close feelings for his former Cabinet official. Carson also hails from the key state of Michigan. He's also still an avowed supporter of a national abortion ban, a topic Trump has tried everything in his power to avoid. Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney thinks Carson will be picked because unlike other vice presidential hopefuls, he doesn't covet the top job. 8. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida (Previously 8): Like Rubio, Donalds gets docked for the potential home state conundrum. Donalds has risen rapidly in the eyes of many of his House GOP colleagues. He has close relationships with the House conservatives that forced former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's historic ouster and have frustrated Speaker Mike Johnson, but he hasn't participated in either effort to challenge the men directly. 9. Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia (Previously 10): Youngkin skipped out on a late 2024 run to focus on state legislative elections. The Republican was supposed to show how the GOP can talk about abortion in competitive areas. It didn't work out. Still, he has the personal wealth and connections to seriously help a Trump campaign. Plus, per CNBC, Rupert Murdoch likes him. 10. A wild card like Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas: Sanders would offer diversity to a ticket, something some Trump advisors said they wanted when this process started. She also cut a national profile for herself as White House press secretary. 11. Anyone else: Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are off our list, but either of them are less risky than someone who killed a dog. 12. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (Still last): Noem could have been a contender. But when your top Google results are about dog killing, it's safe to say your chances are pretty much over. The prediction markets seem to think so, too. Read the original article on Business Insider In our region around Knoxville and East Tennessee, one primary race is heating up: State House of Representatives District 15 Democrats. We talked to incumbent state Rep. Sam McKenzie and his challenger Dasha Lundy, a Knox County commissioner. We also talked to candidates who don't have primary challengers to learn their stances in preparation for the general election. Here's what they had to say. Tennessee House of Representatives District 14 Amanda Collins, 46, Democrat, former school psychologist Amanda Collins is photographed in the News Sentinel photo studio on Friday, June 13, 2024. Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Collins is running because she believes the current representative does not answer to his constituents. She said people in her district sometimes vote based off party affiliation and not the actual issues in the district. She hopes to help voters become more educated about issues that impact them every day so they can understand that their votes do matter. She ran for this seat in 2022 as well, and feels motivation this time around. Since 2022, she said, the current representative has turned away members of his own party. What are the issues voters in your district care about the most? (from in-person interview) Throughout her time campaigning, Collins said, shes learned that her district does care about the character and ethics of its elected officials. People dont always want to wage culture wars, she said. Instead they want helpers and for their representatives to provide resources for them. And she said constituents want someone to listen to them and respond when they reach out. Right now, were missing out on a really important resource, she said. She also said people are concerned with schools. The district covers a lot of land with several schools that Collins said would suffer if public school funding got watered down. That would drive down the desirability of the district. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) Widespread concerns about state interference in schools. District 14 is home to some of Tennessee's best public schools, which makes us a sought-after destination for families and businesses, but continued undermining from the state threatens that status. I will work to return local control to local systems, build state-level enthusiasm for public schools, and make District 14 a place where the most highly qualified educators want to live and serve. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) I am running because Jason Zachary has failed to meaningfully advocate for District 14. His decision-making has been flawed, ethically questionable and beholden to personal ideology that doesn't align with day-to-day concerns of our community. However, I have been and will continue actively seeking input and common ground from ALL of my neighbors and work intentionally to REPRESENT District 14 in the issues that matter to each of us, not just myself. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) First, state involvement in local-only issues should be an extreme last resort, after all nonlegislative support and dedicated consultation with direct stakeholders has occurred. Next is whether the state had a hand in creating the problem and should intervene to make it right. Finally, the issue should be widespread throughout the state, with actual complications that state involvement can help mitigate. Jason Zachary incumbent, 46, Republican, president at Americomm Did not respond to the questionnaire or requests for an interview. District 15 Justin Hirst, 51, Republican, X-ray product specialist Justin Hirst What are constituents telling you is the most important issue to them? (from in-person interview) Hirst said voters in the 15th District are most concerned about illegal immigration and inappropriate materials in schools. He said illegal immigration is hurting his district because theres more competition for housing and jobs. If elected, he wants to require that law enforcement report people who are in the country illegally. This district has been represented by a Democrat in the past. Since youre the presumptive Republican nominee, how will you appeal to Democratic voters? (from in-person interview) Hirst said the political tide is turning in the favor of Republicans. Illegal immigration is so significant, he said, that minority voting populations are voting conservative because theyre seeing resources allocated to them in hard times being handed over to illegal immigrants. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) Unfortunately, the biggest issue is that we face a list of major challenges at the same time, all of which are downstream of federal policy which we have limited influence over. The best we can do is develop state level policy to compensate for its shortcomings. For example illegal immigration alone causes a downward pressure on wages, scarcity of housing, and according to FBI Director Christopher Wray a "next level" threat of terrorism. We can address that issue at the state level with legislation like House Bill 2124 which requires law enforcement to report a person illegally present in the United States to the appropriate authority. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) In general I tend toward finding ways to implement the will of the people but there are constitutional limitations. For example we cannot restrict any kind of speech no matter how reprehensible or incorrect it might be, nor are we allowed to eliminate the right for civilians to possess firearms no matter how popular doing so might become. When it comes to the subject of abortion we can run into similar issues but the first problem is that we are not having earnest discussions about it. It is also one of those hot topics like parental rights and child protection laws where the content of the legislation is often misrepresented. I remember right after the Dobbs decision one publication's article claimed Tennessee had made abortion illegal without exception, and that article linked to another one that listed the exceptions! The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) This can be complicated but on the topic of state vs local power I tend toward whatever provides more freedom and better representation. A good example is the recent House Bill 817 which denies local governments the ability to grant themselves a particular exception to standard election practices. At first this appears to decrease autonomy but the law actually forces Knoxville to allow each city district to determine its own representation. Our previous process restricted voting in the primaries to residents within a given district but later during the general election it allowed all other districts to override the that district's choice of representative. That old process was a relic from the 1980s that was adopted to prevent minorities from determining their own representation and I support the legislation that ended it. Dasha Lundy, 43, Democrat, physical therapist Dasha Lundy in the Knox News photo studio, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. How will your serve everyone regardless of whether they voted for you? (from in-person interview) Lundy said she brings a balanced approach instead of political labels. She will be at the table to serve people in her district and Tennesseans in general rather than fight partisan battles. When youre used to being a disruptor, youre used to being not liked on one end and being liked on the other. Its more of making sure I operate with the utmost integrity and making sure needs are met, she said. She said she is a strong listener and connects with voters on a personal level in order to learn what direction she should take with decision-making. Should Tennessee expand its private school voucher program? (from in-person interview) I dont have an opinion on vouchers. My questions as a Black person representing a Black community is: How does it impact the marginalized community? Is that something that will help my community? she said. My belief is just, how do we educate the child and not worry about if its public school, charter or private, she said. She said the state must adequately fund public schools, but lawmakers should step away from their partisan roles to determine how to best prepare kids for the future, especially when it comes to technological advancements and artificial intelligence. She said shes still studying how vouchers work in other states and how they could affect Tennessee students. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) One of the biggest issues facing many districts is economic development, characterized by high unemployment and a lack of well-paying jobs. As a legislator, I can address this by promoting small business growth through tax incentives, simplified regulations, and increased access to capital via loans and grants. Investing in workforce development is crucial, including funding vocational training and apprenticeships, partnering with community colleges to align curriculums with local job markets, and establishing retraining programs for displaced workers. Improving infrastructure is another key focus, securing funding for transportation projects, expanding broadband access in underserved areas, and promoting sustainable development initiatives like green energy. Enhancing quality of life is essential; therefore, I would advocate for policies that increase affordable housing, expand health care services including mental health resources, and implement effective crime reduction strategies to ensure public safety. Encouraging innovation and investment is also vital; creating tech hubs with incentives, funding research and development in collaboration with universities and businesses, and facilitating public-private partnerships can drive economic growth. These actions aim to create a more vibrant and sustainable economic environment, ultimately improving the quality of life for all residents in the district. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) To reconcile voters' wants with the legislation I support, especially in light of the recent Vanderbilt poll showing a disconnect on issues like abortion and gun safety, I would prioritize active listening and engagement. Hosting regular town halls and community meetings, conducting surveys and utilizing social media would ensure I hear and understand constituents' concerns. Transparent communication is key, so I would clearly explain my votes and provide regular updates on legislative activities. Striving for balanced policymaking, I would seek compromise and build consensus, ensuring policies are evidence-based and reflect the majority view. Championing popular initiatives and advocating for voter interests within the legislature would be crucial, particularly on contentious issues. Lastly, I would establish clear performance metrics and feedback mechanisms to continuously align legislative actions with public needs. This approach would bridge the gap between legislative decisions and constituent expectations, fostering trust and improving the legislatures approval rating. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) State lawmakers should curtail local autonomy when broader public interests are at stake. Public health and safety are paramount; uniform responses to health crises ensure effective management. Economic consistency is another key factor; standardized regulations prevent a patchwork of local laws that could hinder growth. Civil rights and equal protection necessitate state intervention to uphold constitutional rights and prevent inequalities. Environmental protection often requires uniform standards to address issues like pollution that transcend local boundaries. Additionally, state oversight is warranted when local laws conflict with state or federal constitutions. When local decisions significantly impact neighboring areas, state intervention can balance regional implications. Efficient resource allocation also justifies curtailing local autonomy to prevent duplication of efforts and ensure effective public service delivery. Lastly, certain issues, such as education and transportation, benefit from statewide standards to ensure consistency and equitable access. By weighing these factors, state lawmakers can judiciously determine when to step in, balancing the need for coherence with respect for local governance. Sam McKenzie, incumbent, 58, Democrat, small business owner Sam McKenzie How do you move the needle on issues as a Democrat will a Republican supermajority? (from in-person interview) For his first two years in office, McKenzie said he focused on building relationships across the aisle. Its not always easy, but he feels hes gotten to a place where his opinions are respected by Republican colleagues. He said hell stand by his vote and what he thinks is right, but knows making large waves on fringe issues isnt productive in the climate hes in. He said appealing to common values helps facilitate productive conversation. For the first time since you were elected in 2020, you have a primary challenger. How do you plan on convincing voters youre the best choice? (from in-person interview) McKenzie referenced his time on the K-12 Education Committee, where he spoke out against legislation that would have allocated public dollars to private school vouchers. He touted his ability to be respectful on that committee while also pointing out chinks in the armor. He credited that to his experience in the office. He said hes better prepared and most able to affect change in Nashville. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) I primarily represent a strong working class district. Our salaries, however, are not keeping up with the increasing costs of housing and healthcare. I have, and if reelected, will continue to introduce legislation that opens up TennCare to more of our citizens statewide. Additionally, from July 2022 through July 2023 our apartment rental growth was eight times the national average and is expected to continue unless we take action. I introduced and advocated for local control, but was silenced by our Republican supermajority. It takes an average household income of $110,000 to afford a median priced home in Knoxville. I have and will continue to advocate for fair and equitable laws for all of our citizens, not just the wealthy. Lastly our public education systems are under attack and I have and will always fight against those that want to gut our schools in favor of funding wealthy students to attend private K-12 schools with our tax dollars. We are at crossroads and need honest, effective leadership. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) My legislation is in lock-step with what Tennesseans are wanting. I have opposed all the mean-spirited bills that attack the autonomy of women and I will always support the right of women to control their own bodies. The supermajoritys focus on nationally divisive issues creates an unnecessary friction among Tennesseans while those who need support are ignored. Financially, the state has been giving generous benefits to wealthy Tennesseans while doing nothing to alleviate the burdensome state sales tax. I continue to advocate for responsible gun ownership and the ability for law enforcement and the judicial system to act when individuals are a proven threat to themselves or a danger to others. We were successful in pushing back against several bills that decrease our safety and violate what our forefathers considered common sense gun laws. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) I served eight years on Knox County Commission and it was extremely frustrating when the state passed laws that negatively impacted not only our ability to get things accomplished, but also to have conversations about whats best for the local interests. I know that the best laws are those passed by commissions and city councils that are the closest to whatever emerging issue that comes before them. The Republican supermajority has done a disservice to Knoxville and Knox County because of the restrictions that are continually being placed on the local governing bodies. We were successful this past year in preventing more of these attempts and limiting local control. District 16 Michele Carringer, incumbent, 62, Republican, advertiser Did not respond to the questionnaire or requests for an interview Lauren Carver, 29, Democrat, horticulturist Lauren Carver Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Carver said she isnt a seasoned politician. She got in the race after she saw the incumbent for the 16th District was unopposed. She hopes to connect with voters because she sees herself as a common person in the district who knows the issues affecting voters. Carver said shes connecting with voters by showing up and meeting people in the community. What are some realistic in-roads you could take to making a difference in terms of gun and abortion laws? Where would you start? (from in-person interview) Carver said its important to help constituents understand what gun reform means. She said its easy for people to get fired up when theyre scared the state will take their guns away., In reality reform can just mean safe requirements or background checks. In terms of reproductive rights, she wants people to understand its not all about getting abortions. Reproductive rights can mean birth control and access to planned parenthood, too. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) The voters wants are directly aligned to mine as well, gun safety and reproductive rights are at the top of my goals. Tennesseans want change and so do I. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) Such factors would include situations when minorities are at a disadvantage, when Civil Rights are being threatened, when working class individuals and families are being negatively impacted under local autonomy. Sean Eastham, 25, independent, talent manager at KARM stores What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) The homelessness crisis, and adjacent issues like a significant rise in cost of living while wages remain stagnant, are the issues affecting people in my district which I feel most passionately about. Legislation needs to focus on supporting the organizations and systems already in place that impact these issues, while making sure tax dollars are actually being used efficiently within those systems. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) I seek to understand the needs and desires of Tennesseans, what they are motivated by, and support legislation that I believe will meet those needs. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) I believe that Tennesseans should have autonomy over their day to day lives, and that all starts at the level of local governance. If there is a significant threat of local bodies bringing about disaster, or otherwise substantially impacting the state as a whole in a negative way, then state lawmakers have an obligation to intercede. However, that is an incredibly rare occurrence, and in nearly all circumstances I believe that Tennesseans can and should rely on their local government to accurately represent them. District 18 Elaine Davis, incumbent, 56, Republican, retired What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) Based on my conversations with residents in the 18th District, one of the biggest concerns is infrastructure needs to catch up with our recent growth. We have schools essentially at capacity and road conditions that are leading to more traffic and, unfortunately, deaths. In the state we need to do more to prioritize the budget to better help local communities meet their infrastructure needs whether it is more fire hydrants, speed reduction efforts, stop signs, and traffic lights or large scale projects like new schools and adding lanes. Another concern is affordable housing and growth while protecting and preserving rural areas. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) The media coverage of the Vanderbilt poll did not address the biggest safety problem of all which is the large number of deaths resulting from drug overdoses. According to 2022 Knox County Regional Forensic data drug overdoses were 13 times more likely to kill someone than deaths by homicides involving a firearm. The same data from the forensic center showed that in cases involving suicide, homicide and motor vehicle deaths, intoxication was a contributing factor in the majority of cases. This is why I co-sponsored legislation Alternatives to Pain Act which allows nonopioids to be an alternative pain remedy instead of highly addictive opioids. Tennessee continues to receive a record level of Americans moving from other states because of our common sense laws. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) The state legislature passes either a general bill which has a statewide impact or a local bill which affects only a particular county or town named in the bill. I helped pass legislation that reduced red tape for food truck operators by replacing multiple local government licenses with one state license that also increased safety standards for consumer protection. This was common sense legislation that was a win-win for all parties involved. I successfully passed legislation which helped improve election integrity by making sure the will of the majority in a district was protected and voters who lived outside of the district could not vote in district elections thereby diluting and disenfranchising those district voters. Bryan Goldberg, 41, Democrat, manager of BELFOR office Bryan Goldberg As a Democrat in Nashville, you would be outnumbered. How would you ensure your voice is still heard while being realistic about the legislatures makeup? (from in-person interview) As a moderate Democrat, Goldberg said he isnt a stranger to the realities of the states legislature. He told Knox News he would work across the aisle with moderate Republicans, since he believes most people in his district want bipartisanship. He said in conversations with prominent moderate Republicans, including former District 18 Rep. Eddie Mannis, it was clear a lot of people just want to do what the voters want. How would you approach the job on a day-to-day basis? (from in-person interview) Goldberg said he plans to make himself available to constituents. For him, that looks like old fashioned one-on-one meetings and an open line of communication. He said he wants people to feel like they can reach out to him even if they disagree. Goldberg also emphasized the importance of communicating with his colleagues in other elected offices, like the Knox County Commission and Board of Education. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) The overwhelming feedback I have received from friends, supporters and voters at their doors is frustration with the current representation. I have been told countless times that folks feel misrepresented by our current State House. I feel the voters are generally unhappy with the extreme direction of many of the legislative outcomes coming from Nashville. I believe effective representation requires a leader to be responsive to their constituents. If elected, I would make myself available to those that I represent regardless of political affiliation. This is a moderate district, and hearing from voters on both sides is an important step in passing effective legislation. Regardless of the issue of the day, my vote will be informed. I will always listen to constituents and key community leaders before making decisions that affect all of us. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) The results of the Vanderbilt poll are reflective of what I am hearing from voters. I believe the current supermajority has stopped listening to all but a small fraction of people within our state, thus producing laws that are unpopular and counter to what the majority of people want. Tennessee is a conservative state, but I believe we are not as radically motivated as many of our current representatives are. We need people willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of reaching compromise and passing legislation that will help people. I know how to do that work, and if elected, I will work tirelessly to moderate extreme legislation and produce outcomes that better match the makeup of our state. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) Our current supermajority within the State House claims to be the party of small government. I can only surmise that these representatives have either forgotten that or no longer hold those values. I believe government works best when local decisions are left to the local jurisdiction. Laws that affect all Tennesseans cannot be made at a city council meeting, but the state legislative body should not enact laws that ONLY affect one city. We have a supermajority enacting laws that are solely partisan in nature. When the State legislature restricts local governments, their motivation is partisan politics, not the citizen's best interests or the interests and values of small government. District 19 Dave Wright, incumbent, 78, Republican, retired Opted not to participate. District 89 Cary Hammond, 48, Democrat, accountant Cary Hammond How do you move the needle on issues like issues like gun safety and vouchers as a Democrat in Nashville? (from in-person interview) Hammond said legislators in favor of gun safety reform need to emphasize that they arent trying to take away peoples guns for the sake of confiscating guns. Without reform, she said, there will be more guns stolen from cars and more shootings in public places. She said the reason gun safety legislation has failed to pass is because people arent voting for legislators who agree with their views. People dont feel motivated to vote, so the same complacent leaders are elected. Tennessee is a suppressed voter state, not a red state, she said. She also said its Democrats job to stop bad legislation and tell the public what their elected officials are doing. What are some day-to-day issues you hope to tackle if youre elected, besides hot-button partisan issues? (from in-person interview) Hammond said she would never vote for voucher legislation, and that more money needs to be allocated toward public schools. Teachers need to be paid more, there needs to be more professional staff in schools, like psychologists and there need to be more schools, she said. She also expressed the need for a higher minimum wage because people cant afford to live in her district. As for housing, she said the legislature can incentivize people to use cleaner energy and incentivize counties to do smarter urban planning. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) Given that the majority of households in the districts are families with children, the biggest issue facing constituents is public education. As a legislator, I would vote against vouchers - or any attempt to transfer public taxpayer money away from public schools. I would work to increase public education funding to raise teacher pay, employ more professional staff (psychologists, guidance, social workers), bring up current buildings to modern standards, and expand the number of schools to reduce stress on existing infrastructure. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) If we believe what the Vandy poll states, then I am fully reconciled with what the citizens of Tennessee want on both the issues of abortion and gun safety. I intend to propose legislation that repeals the so-called 6-week abortion law as well as legislation on gun safety that includes mandatory permitting, secure storage and ERPOs. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) The state legislature should limit any restriction on local government unless the issue at hand involves the health and safety of all Tennesseans. Justin Lafferty, (incumbent), 53, Republican, small business owner Did not respond to the questionnaire or requests for an interview. District 90 Gloria Johnson, incumbent, 61, Democrat, retired Gloria Johnson Vanderbilt polling shows the super majority in Nashville may be out of line with what most Tennesseans want to see. How do you move the needle on that? (from in-person interview) Johnson predicted 2024 will show turnover in the state house. She said some of her colleagues seem to think just because theyre elected, their constituents agree with them. In reality, she said, it means theyve ginned up (their) base on hate issues and don't do anything productive. With the divisiveness in Nashville, who do you work with and how do you work right now to get things done with people on the other side of aisle? (from in-person interview) Johnson said Democrats job in a superminority isnt to pass bills, but to block bills they believe are especially harmful. She said when she ran for election in 2022, constituents told her they wanted to talk about childcare, health care and public school investments. They didnt bring up topics she called divisive, like the U.S.-Mexico border and international issues. What is the biggest issue facing people in your district and what specific actions can you take as a legislator to address it? (from candidate questionnaire) The biggest issue I am hearing about in House District 90 is the rising cost of living. We address this issue by attacking it from both sides. We need to raise the minimum wage in Tennessee so folks can afford the basic necessities like food, rent, and healthcare. We must also work to make those same necessities more affordable by continuing to push to expand Medicaid so that hardworking Tennesseans have access to affordable healthcare and prioritizing affordable housing options in all neighborhoods. It is critical that we fully fund our neighborhood schools, pay our educators a professional wage and expand student access to wrap-around services year round to ease the burden on hardworking families. We could have removed sales tax on groceries for Tennessee families, but instead the supermajority gave a $1.9 billion tax break and handout to corporations that dont need it. A recent Vanderbilt poll shows bills the legislature increasingly is passing bills that are out of step with what Tennesseans want, especially on abortion and gun safety. The legislatures approval rating among voters has sunk, in part because of that disconnect. How do/would you reconcile voters wants with the legislation you support? (from candidate questionnaire) In my opinion, the legislatures job is to focus on solving the problems that families cannot solve by themselves whether its reducing traffic congestion, expanding access to child care, or reducing costs, like housing, prescriptions and utilities. Since my first election to the Tennessee House, thats exactly what Ive worked on. Unfortunately, the controlling party has mostly ignored these priorities in favor of division, culture wars and corporate tax breaks that appeal to extremists and their wealthy donors. I am going to continue listening to Tennesseans and standing tall for the solutions that families need to build a good life: 83% of Tennessee families support paid family leave. 76% of Tennesseans support laws that restrict access to guns for people who are a risk to themselves and others. 62% want health coverage for every working family. 82% of voters want to keep IVF legal. I am committed to strengthening working and middle class families, promoting gun safety and restoring reproductive freedom for all Tennesseans and Ill work with anyone from any party to accomplish those goals. The state legislature has increasingly restricted the power of local government on issues as wide-ranging as whether they can ban plastic bags to how they conduct their elections. What are the determining factors of when state lawmakers should curtail local autonomy? (from candidate questionnaire) Mayors, county commissioners and school board members are elected by their communities to solve problems for their communities. Thats how democracy is supposed to work. But in recent years, the Republicans who control Capitol Hill have instead used their power to limit what local governments can do to improve our lives. Republicans cant be the party of small government when they dont let small governments do their job. This gross overreach by the supermajority in Nashville undermines our students and teachers, limits affordable housing options, pushes firearms into more public spaces, and restricts opportunities for workers. Whats worse is you can tie almost every single preemption law to a big business or special interest group that lobbies and donates to lawmakers. Its time the supermajority stops working for their corporate donors and starts working for the people who elect them and our local officials. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee House District 15 Democratic primary: Meet the candidates TOKYO, Jul 09 (News On Japan) - Ten semiconductor-related companies from Japan and the United States are set to establish a development facility for next-generation semiconductors required for generative AI and autonomous driving in Silicon Valley, USA. This facility is the result of a call for collaboration by Japan's Resonac, a global leader in semiconductor materials, to various companies from Japan and the U.S. Joint development in the semiconductor field has been rare, making this an unprecedented initiative. According to Resonac, major IT companies like Apple and NVIDIA have been requesting domestic technology development in the U.S. for several years. The facility aims to be operational by next year, with preparations such as the installation of clean rooms and equipment necessary for semiconductor manufacturing starting this year. Source: ANN Saitama, Jul 09 (News On Japan) - A male elementary school teacher was arrested for installing a small camera in the women's restroom at a school in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture, and secretly filming a female teacher. On the morning of the 8th, Daisuke Murakami, 33, a teacher at Nakano Elementary School in Kasukabe City, entered the women's restroom for staff and installed a small camera in one of the stalls. He is suspected of secretly filming a female teacher. According to the police, the camera was about 10 centimeters long and rectangular. It was installed between 6:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. A female teacher who entered the restroom noticed the camera and reported it to the vice principal, who then contacted the police. Murakami has admitted to the charges, and the police are investigating the details of the incident. Source: ANN Jul 09 (News On Japan) - In the bustling city of Tokyo, two extraordinary women lead double lives as they navigate their contrasting identities and missions. By day, they are ordinary citizens with mundane jobs, but by night, they transform into enigmatic vigilantes. Miss Night, the mysterious and alluring protector of the city's underbelly, roams the streets in the shadows. Her exceptional combat skills and sharp intellect make her a formidable force against crime. Driven by a tragic past, she seeks justice for those who cannot protect themselves, often operating in the gray areas of the law. Miss Day, on the other hand, is a beacon of hope and positivity. By day, she works as a dedicated social worker, helping those in need and advocating for social justice. Her superpowers allow her to harness the energy of daylight, giving her incredible strength and healing abilities. She uses these powers to uplift and protect her community, often clashing with Miss Night's darker methods. Despite their differences, the two women find their paths intertwined as they face a common enemy threatening the city. A mysterious organization, bent on exploiting Tokyo's vulnerabilities, emerges, forcing Miss Night and Miss Day to join forces. As they learn to balance their conflicting ideologies, they uncover hidden truths about their own pasts and the true nature of their powers. Source: Netflix Japan TOKYO, Jul 09 (News On Japan) - A 29-year-old Chinese national has been arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Departments Public Security Bureau in connection with vandalism at Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Jiang Zhuojun, an unemployed Chinese national, is suspected of defacing a stone pillar inscribed with the shrines name at Yasukuni Shrine in May, using red spray paint to write the word Toilet. According to the Public Security Bureau, Jiang purchased the spray paint used in the act. Additionally, the Public Security Bureau has issued arrest warrants for Dong Guangming, 36, and Xu Laiyu, 25, both Chinese nationals, in connection with the incident. Investigations, including security camera footage, suggest that Dong was responsible for the vandalism while Xu recorded the act. However, both individuals have reportedly left Japan and returned to China. Source: ANN IBARAKI, Jul 09 (News On Japan) - An Alphard vehicle used by the mayor of Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture, has been reported stolen from the city hall garage. The garage lock was found broken, and police are investigating the incident as a theft. According to Shimotsuma City officials, a male staff member discovered the broken lock around 8 a.m. on the 8th, and noticed that the black Alphard used by Mayor Hiroshi Kikuchi for official duties was missing. The vehicle had been used by the deputy mayor the previous day for official business and was returned to the garage by the driver around 10 p.m. The vehicle and garage were both locked at that time. Police are reviewing security camera footage from the area as part of their investigation. The garage also housed five other official vehicles, including a Crown and a Hiace, none of which were damaged. Source: ANN By Luminous Jannamike Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau, the middle-aged man who climbed a high broadband mast at Aso Radio in Katampe, Abuja, in an apparent attempt to take his own life, has been sent for mental evaluation at the Social Development Secretariat (SDS). Yushau, who was taken into custody by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday, will undergo a mental assessment to determine his state of mind at the time of the incident. According to eyewitnesses, Yushau scaled the mast, causing widespread panic and alarm among residents and passersby. The police were promptly alerted, and a team of officers was dispatched to the scene to persuade him to come down. After hours of negotiation, Yushau eventually descended from the mast and was taken into custody by the police. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, on Tuesday, said that Yushau will be charged to court for attempted suicide, disturbance of public peace, and incitement if found to be mentally stable after the evaluation. Her words, The suspect, if found to be mentally stable after the test, will be charged in court for attempted suicide, disturbance of public peace, and incitement contrary to sections 231, 111, and 114 of the Penal Code Act. On his part, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, urged residents to be law-abiding while pushing for their voices to be heard, emphasizing that the police will not be stampeded into allowing the breakdown of law and order. By Enioluwa Adeniyi Residents of Rano town in Kano State have expressed serious concerns over the safety of their community following the unexpected arrival of armed individuals at the local emirates headquarters this past Sunday. According to a letter addressed to the Kano State Police Commissioner, armed groups have been stationed within the compounds of the Main Palace and the historic Tsohon Gari Palace since July 7, 2024. The residents described the scenario as an invasion, pointing out that the presence of these armed individuals poses a significant threat to the security of lives and property in the area. The letter underscores a breach of the June 20, 2024, directive from the Commissioner of Police, which banned all non-state actors from providing security services in the state. The letter further reads, The intrusion of these arms-carrying individuals not only threatens peace but also disrespects the established directives aimed at maintaining order in the state. It said over the years, the Rano emirate has experienced uninterrupted peace, and security agencies can testify to this. The recent emirates tussle in Kano State, however, had brought about a lot of tension and discontent to the residents, as many felt that their opinions, as stakeholders, were not respected, the letter stated. This is connected to the fact that public hearings were not conducted throughout the State to establish whether there was a need to dissolve the four additional emirates (Rano, Gaya, Karaye, and Bichi) upgraded by the administration of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje in the state. Even with the above development, the residents of Rano emirate were able to control their emotions and acted within the confine of the law, as only legitimate peaceful demonstrations were carried out. The people exercised restraint because they believe in the judiciary since the Emirates case was before a competent court of justice. The good people of Rano emirate, as usual, had opted to respect the courts order issued by the Federal High Court Kano on the case, which we believed is a constitutional duty of all citizens. By Wim Bitrus Sixty-nine Boko Haram terrorists and their families have been handed over to troops of the multinational joint taskforce in Njamena, Republic of Chad. A statement by the Chief Military Public Information Officer, HQ MNJTF, Ndjamena Chad, quoting the chief spokesperson of the MNJT, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, on Tuesday, said the terrorists were handed over by the maritime troops of the Cameroon and Niger forces, after a successful operation along lake Chad. Among the surrendered terrorists were 14 fighters and 55 women and children. One of the fighters surrendered with an AK-45 rifle and live ammunition. The statement quoting the chief spokesperson of the MNJT, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, said the latest surrender happened between July 1 and 6 in the ongoing operation Lake Sanity 2. Read complete statement from the MNJT: As Operation Lake Sanity 2 continues, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has successfully facilitated the surrender of more terrorists while rescuing others from hideouts between 1 and 6 July 2024. In Sector 1 Cameroon, on 6 July 2024, a combined maritime operation by Cameroonian and Nigerian forces led to the surrender of 56 Boko Haram terrorists. This group included 13 adult men accompanied by 43 women and children. Additionally, on the same date, 12 family members of terrorists, including 5 women and 7 children, were rescued. Both the surrendered individuals and the rescued family members were handed over to the troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, in Gamboru and Banki for further action. While on 1 July 2024, troops of Sector 4, Niger Republic, received 24-year-old Tijjani Muhammad, who surrendered with one AK-47 rifle, 4 magazines, and numerous 7.62mm rounds. He reported that he had escaped from a Boko Haram camp in Libye Soroa, driven by the current Operation Lake Sanity 2. The increasing number of surrenders significantly weakens the operational capability of Boko Haram and undermine the morale of their remaining fighters. Other terrorists are strongly urged to take advantage of the opportunity to lay down their arms and surrender to the authorities for lasting peace in the Lake Chad basin region. ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI Lieutenant Colonel Chief Military Public Information Officer HQ MNJTF Ndjamena Chad 9 July 2024 By Ugochukwu Alaribe The Organized Labour in Abia State, has issued what it described as a final 7 day- ultimatum to the state government over the non payment of the N30,000 minimum wage and N35,000 palliative wage award approved by the federal government for workers. The organized Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress TUC, threatened to commence an indefinite strike action if their demands are not met with the one week ultimatum. It also warned that it will no longer communicate to the state government before embarking on the indefinite strike action if the demands are not met within 7 days. In a letter by the State chairmen of NLC and TUC, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya and Sir Enogwe Ihechi, respectively,the Labour unions disclosed that the decision was reached during its general meeting held on Monday, July 8, 2024, following the previous 14- day ultimatum notice which expired without any resolution from the state government regarding the demand of the workers. In the letter which was addressed to Governor Dr. Alex Otti, the organized labour expressed its disappointment over the failure of the government to engage in dialogue or provide a solution to the demands and warned that from next Monday, the workers in the state would proceed on an indefinite strike action if the government fails to comply within the 7 days period. The letter read; Arising from the general meeting of Labour in the state on Monday,8th July,2024, to consider that the 14 day ultimatum has elapsed. It was noticed that government has not deemed it necessary to dialogue with Labour nor provide solution to the demands of workers. In line with the national directives on non compliance of the Abia state government, on the payment of the former N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award as approved by the federal government since October 2023,the organized labour hereby issue this final 7 day ultimatum with effect from the day of receipt of this letter and state unequivocally that at the expiration of this ultimatum on Sunday, there shall be no further communication to the state government rather the entire workforce of Abia state will proceed on indefinite strike action beginning from Monday,15th July 2024. As Iowa colleges and universities receive the last of the federal student aid applications for the upcoming school year, financial aid officials are seeing fewer students submit their documents and changes in how much those who do file receive. Iowas completion rate of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is on par with the national average, but for individual colleges those numbers are more extreme. Almost 1.9 million students had filed the FAFSA by June 21, according to the National College Attainment Network, or just over 45% of the total high school class of 2024. This is an 11.8% drop from 2023. Iowa is firmly in the middle of the pack for rates of FAFSA completion, according to the network, with 43.8% of high school seniors having submitted the form by June 21. The rate of completion dropped by 11.7% from last year, or from 18,493 submitted applications to 16,039. Luther, Drake see fewer aid submissions At Luther College in Decorah, financial aid director Rachel Moser said rates of first-year students submitting FAFSAs is 18% behind where it was this time last year, and theres been a decrease of 15% in continuing students FAFSA submissions as well. Just days before the Iowa FAFSA deadline hit on July 1, Moser said the financial aid department was trying to contact people and encourage them to get their forms filed. We always have a group of students that dont have their FAFSA filed at this point, but this year were seeing more than normal, Moser said. Drake University Financial Aid Director Ryan Zantingh said his staff was also reaching out to students ahead of the deadline, especially those who might qualify for the Iowa Tuition Grant. In June 2023, Drake had admitted 4,508 students. Despite seeing an increase in admitted students by more than 1,000 by mid-June this year, which Zantingh said is among the universitys largest-ever admitted student populations, Drake has received 237 fewer FAFSAs from admitted students compared to last year. These admission numbers exclude international students, who do not fill out the FAFSA. He said that in total, the filing rate for admitted students is down around 15% compared to previous years. It kind of illustrates the difficulties and impact these FAFSA (changes) have had on schools, Zantingh said. New federal form brought glitches, delays The new FAFSA has given both families and universities grief since its soft launch at the end of 2023, two months later than it rolled out in previous years. Students struggled with accessing the form early on and trying to understand sometimes confusing language and changes to the aid formula and what they needed to include for accurate calculations. Glitches and inaccurate data caused delays in getting forms to schools, many of which then had to be sent back to be corrected. When Luther College would normally start sending out financial aid offers to prospective students in November, in this FAFSA cycle the university couldnt begin disseminating information until mid-April. Like many colleges, Luther and Drake were months behind and having to work with a huge time crunch, officials said. Colleges are still seeing bugs in the system and cannot make batch corrections on FAFSA forms, slowing down the process to get students accurate financial aid information even more. Its been hard trying to help families that are struggling to make large financial decisions like where to send their child to college, or whether they should go at all, when the schools themselves dont have all of the information yet, Moser said. I dont have the answers that they want right now, and I feel for all of the students because without having that financial aid offer in front of you, how do you make a decision, Moser said. I mean, families need that information to be able to make an informed decision on where their students are going to go to school, or if their students continue to go to school. New FASFA form hits families with farms, businesses and multiple kids in college Changes were also made to the FAFSA to exclude the number of additional family members in college and to include the value of family farms and businesses as assets, impacting the aid some continuing students have been receiving. Moser said more students are now eligible for Pell Grants or for more funds through their grant because of these changes. But some students are seeing a negative impact on the aid they receive because their siblings who are also in college can no longer be counted in the FAFSA. Analysis from Iowa College Aid projected that the number of students eligible for Iowa Tuition Grants would increase by a net 2%, with the number becoming eligible going up by 8% and the number no longer eligible going up by 6%, Zantingh said. Most of the students losing eligibility could attribute that to no longer being able to consider other family members in college. Zantingh said the university plans to analyze the scope of how these changes have affected students, but there just hasnt been time with everything the financial aid department has had to deal with. He said he hopes discussions around the positive and negative impacts on students, especially with the changes related to family farms and businesses, can be held in future years. Thats part of my frustration with how this year went, because we could be talking about whether that was a good policy change or not, but instead, were just focused on, can the status quo from this year even be operational on October 1 for the 25- 26 year, Zantingh said. Both financial aid officials said theyre hoping for a smoother time next FAFSA cycle and are expecting the form to be out earlier, as Moser said Federal Student Aid is committed to having it out on Oct. 1. However, with certain functionalities from the schools side of things still not available and other issues still not resolved, Zantingh said how next year goes all depends on what can be resolved over the rest of this summer. At every turn there seems to be new challenges and new difficulties, Zantingh said. Morocco believes in the need for the UN to have an active role in endowing legitimacy to any political process that would put an end to the conflict in Libya, foreign minister Nasser Bourita said. The call for an active UN involvement in Libya was made following talks in Rabat with Stephanie Khoury, the UNs interim special representative for Libya. The talks focused on the need for keeping the UN informed of Moroccos diplomatic efforts, including the Skhirat agreement and the interLibyan talks in Bouznika, to help the Libyans reach a solution to their conflict. Moroccos actions are always in consultation with the UN, Bourita told Khoury who is on a working visit to Morocco to coordinate actions. Her visit is part of a first tour to countries in the region to examine ways of resolving the political crisis in Libya. Morocco believes that the solution to the inter-Libyan crisis is between the hands of Libyans themselves and that elections would resolve the legitimacy issue in the war-torn country, he said. He said Morocco maintains a relationship of mutual respect with all Libyan parties and institutions. Talks were described as straightforward and positive, given the two sides shared conviction as to the need for cooperation and consultation to give new impetus to the political process in Libya. We have agreed to continue the dialogue and discuss means of advancing the political operation in Libya, under the auspices of the UN, in favor of the Libyan people, Khoury said. South Africas largest city, Cape Town, was hit by a violent storm on Monday that destroyed nearly 1000 homes, local media reported. Gale-force winds displaced around 4,000 people as the city and its surroundings expect the adverse weather to continue until Friday, authorities said. Cold fronts bringing torrential rain, strong winds, flooding and possible mudslides led authorities to also warn of storm surges and high waves along the coastline. Authorities said that wave heights of six to eight meters are forecast, with some reaching up to 10 meters in the south-west, as well as gale to strong gale intensity north-west to westerly winds. The newly elected British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has said he is scrapping his predecessors controversial policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda, describing the scheme dead and buried before it started. On his first full day as a Prime Minister, Starmer announced that the Rwandan deportation scheme will be nullified, noting that it was expensive and would be replaced with more effective measures to curtail illegal immigration. During his campaign, he had stated that the policy, which had already cost the UK almost $400 million, would be replaced with more efficient methods for combating illegal immigration. The gimmick Rwanda scheme, which the former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, advocated passionately for, was dead and buried before it started, because, as Starmer pointed out, its never acted as a deterrent. Almost the opposite. Yet, the cessation of the program, which aimed to deport migrants coming into the UK unlawfully to Rwanda, raises concerns about the fate of 52,000 migrants designated for deportation. Labor is going to need to find a solution to the small boats coming across the channel, Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said. Its going to ditch the Rwanda scheme, but its going to have to come up with other solutions to deal with that particular problem. Starmer has pledged to tackle the issue upstream, with a new policy centered on an elite Border Security Command and the domestic intelligence service M15, by smashing the people-smuggling gangs behind the crossings. Starmers Labor Party delivered the biggest blow to the Conservatives in their two-century history last Friday (5 July) in a landslide victory on a platform of change. An ECOWAS summit opened on Sunday (7 July), a day after the military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger signed a confederation treaty in the latest show of their shift away from traditional regional and Western allies. During a summit in the Nigers capital of Niamey on Saturday (6 July), the three junta leaders signed a treaty establishing Confederation of Sahel States, hailing it as a step towards greater integration between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. After a series of coups that saw the trio seizing power, the three neighbors quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January, accusing France of interference and the bloc of failing its mandate and pledged to consolidate their union. The newly formed Confederation of Sahel States aims to strengthen a mutual defense pact announced last year, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The formation of Sahel alliance by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger overshadows an ECOWAS summit that has been hosted in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Several ECOWAS leaders have expressed their concern about the consequences of the creation of a Confederation of Sahel States, warning that it could lead to political isolation and increased insecurity and calling for a resumption of dialogue with the three coup-hit Sahel countries. The head of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, warned that the three Sahel countries risked political isolation, losing millions of dollars in funding and hampering freedom of movement. But the three junta leaders remain defiant, with Nigers military leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani describing the nearly 50-year-old ECOWAS as a threat to our states.w The US State Department welcomed Moroccos efforts to counter human trafficking in its 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report. Moroccos crackdown on human trafficking enabled it to integrate tier 2 category of countries that made significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Tunisia was listed among the least performing in tier 2, while Algeria was listed among Tier 3 which includes countries with the lowest ranking, akin to failing grade. War-torn Libya was listed as a special case along with other conflict-stricken countries. Both the 2020 and 2022 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons and a 2021 INTERPOL report suggest North Africa and the Middle East have the highest share of detected victims, in part due to the prevalence of large vulnerable communities, limited access to medical care, and corruption, the US State Department aid on its website. Around the globe, an estimated 27 million people are exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex, it said. Africa and Middle East are emerging as a battleground for international tech supremacy in all areas related to enterprise technology between the United States and China, which includes cloud, radio access networks for enterprise 5G, and artificial intelligence (AI), according to the London-based data and analytics firm GlobalData. While the growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China have not yet erupted into an actual physical conflict, analysts have warned that there are signposts of a struggle in the region as the two superpowers fight for dominance of the enterprise tech market. The conflict in the enterprise first emerged when Chinese tech giant Huawei became the first cloud vendor to create a regional public cloud in Africa, starting with Johannesburg in 2018. Chinese vendors, principally Huawei, are moving in to woo telcos and governments with the promise of improved infrastructure and an immediate boost to national economies, all of which dovetails with the digitalization of economies and the fulfillment of national visions, Ismail Patel, Enterprise Technology Analyst at GlobalData, said. Offsetting this, the threat of US sanctions is delaying many countries from putting all their eggs in the Chinese basket, Patel added. The UAE-based AI group G42, which had been working very closely with Huawei, then struck a $1.5 billion deal with Microsoft in April. The effort to work with Microsoft as an alternative to Huawei is generally a positive development and one that we want to encourage, White House technology advisor Tarun Chhabra said at a Washington, D.C. event held by the Council on Foreign Relations think tank. Many operators and governments in (Africa and the Middle East) will continue to straddle the fine line between embracing capital-efficient Chinese technologies and locking themselves to them, says Patel. As the rivalry between Washington and Beijing has put countries in the region in a challenging position, experts say that the latter will make their policy choices against the geopolitical backdrop, notably based on which of the two trade superpowers they want to align with. Twelve Syrian migrants have been found dead in Algerias southern desert province of Illizi, NGOs announced on Monday, saying that the Syrians died of thirst and starvation. Algeria is blamed for the death of these migrants who lost their life on its soil without receiving assistance, which makes the Algerian regime accountable for these deaths. The Algerian authorities have a history of treating migrants and refugees brutally, including arrest and dumping them in the desert without food or water. Two years ago, Algeria has deported over 60 Syrian and Palestinian refugees to the desert border of Niger where they were abandoned to their fate, in blatant violation of the Geneva Convention. Tens of thousands of irregular migrants from West and Central Africa have been expelled from Algeria, according to United Nations statistics. UN special rapporteur on human rights for migrants had denounced Algerias summary expulsions of African migrants to Niger after the Algerian authorities deported more than 35,000 Africans without giving them a chance to apply for asylum. Some migrants told Human Rights Watch that they have suffered violence by Algerian authorities who took their money and possessions and separated them from their families, in utter violation of international laws. Many of these migrants have died on the borders with Niger, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images As part of a day of defiance during which he sought to tamp down expectations that he will step aside from his partys 2024 nomination after a bad debate performance that freaked out many Democrats, President Biden called into MSNBCs Morning Joe on Monday to assure co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski and their viewers that hes in it to win it. After using some of the attack lines on Donald Trump that didnt come across clearly or at all during the debate, Biden expressed confidence that average voters still want him to stay in office and in the presidential contest. Then he spat contempt at his intraparty critics: Sounding angry in the telephone interview, Biden said he was getting so frustrated by the elites in the party. Any of these guys that dont think I should run run against me. Challenge me at the convention, he added. But is that even possible? Technically, yes. Biden can be challenged at the convention, even though he overwhelmingly won the party primaries and secured 3,896 of 3,933 pledged delegates (additional superdelegates cannot vote on the first ballot). Unlike Republicans, Democrats dont bind delegates via legal sanctions, though 14 states require delegates to follow the primary results unless the candidate releases them. So well over a majority of delegates are theoretically in play. The conventions preliminary rules say that a presidential wannabe who can secure the support of at least 300 delegates not more than 50 from any state can become an authorized candidate. Then they can solicit more support via nominating speeches ahead of the first ballot. Whether anyone would take Biden up on his challenge is another question entirely. Most of these guys that dont think I should run, as Biden labels them, very clearly want him to withdraw as a candidate, not to run against him or even run anyone against him. Partly thats because the moral (if not legal) commitment of Bidens pledged delegates will very likely keep them in harness, short of the kind of circumstances that might justify deployment of the 25th Amendment agains the president (like a ragingly irrational candidate facing sure disaster, not just trailing in the polls). Plus the last thing Bidens Democratic critics want is a nasty floor fight at the convention that drags the president kicking and screaming off the ticket. A dignified handoff is what most of Bidens critics have in mind, likely to Vice-President Kamala Harris. Timing is also an issue. Bidens coronation or replacement would almost certainly have to happen no later than the first week of August, as the DNC is planning a virtual roll call to avoid its nominee being left off the ballot in Ohio, which requires that candidates be named by August 7. Dates as early as July 21 have been bruited about for the virtual roll call. That hardly leaves enough time for anyone to even imagine a campaign to challenge Biden, much less to wage and win one. So the presidents taunting dare really isnt anything more than a gesture aimed at calming Democratic nerves about his debate performance and the age issue. Hes playing chicken with critics who want him to go but dont want to say so publicly, suggesting they dont have the guts to take him on. In their defense, most of the critics are staying anonymous because they dont want to fatally wound Biden if he does insist on plunging ahead come hell or high water, which seems to be the case. So the president is throwing down a gauntlet no one credible is likely to pick up. Support for environmental and social proposals from shareholders of U.S. companies at their annual general meetings remained roughly the same as last years proxy season and well below the 2021 season peak ESG enthusiasm. While the number of overall ESG proposals submitted by shareholders ahead of AGMs is rising, thanks to social and governance resolutions, support for environment-related proposals hasnt moved much higher over the past two years. This proxy season, only two environmental proposals received majority support at AGMs, a report by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer showed at the end of June. The two winning proposals, both requesting companies to adopt emission reduction targets, were submitted by the Accountability Board, a relatively new shareholder advocacy group focused on the food industry. The group won more than 50% support at the AGMs of Wingstop and Jack in the Box. Of the 11 Just Climate Transition proposals, average support was 18.2% as of the middle of June, according to Freshfields analysis of ISS data. Related: Texas Freeport Gas Flows Fall to Near Zero Ahead of Hurricane Beryl Data provider ISS-Corporate said that among the Russell 3000 companies, median support for environmental and social shareholder proposals was 21% and 18%, respectively, the Financial Times reports. Recently, there has been a notable rise in anti-ESG proposals that have challenged the implementation of climate or social initiatives, ISS Corporate said mid-way through the proxy season. However, anti-ESG proposals havent seen any success at the ballot box despite the continued surge in volume, with median support level at 1.6%. The anti-ESG movement continues to gain momentum. Although support for proposals remains minuscule, proponents and proposals are increasing, anti-ESG proponents and entities are using notices of exempt solicitation and antiESG shareholder engagement trends align with the legislative, political and media anti-ESG pressures, Freshfields said in its report in June. While support from shareholders for ESG proposals hasnt seen much change over the past two years, this shareholder voting season saw a precedent in large companies fighting activist investors over climate resolutions. ExxonMobil, the U.S. oil and gas supermajor, sued Arjuna and Follow This in a Texas district court, aiming to block their climate proposals from going to a vote at the annual shareholder meeting, in the first such direct complaint to court instead of to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The two investors had filed a proposal for Exxons shareholders to vote to have Exxon commit to further emissions reductions, including Scope 3 emissions from the product it sells. After Exxon filed the lawsuit, Arjuna withdrew the contested proposal and unconditionally and irrevocably promised to stop submitting similar proposals. The lawsuit and the dispute which Exxon chose to pursue in court, instead of at the SEC, highlighted the growing divide between small activist shareholders and major oil and gas companies that are fed up with their day-to-day business challenged by proposals for shareholder resolutions. Our lawsuit put a spotlight on the abuse of the shareholder-access system," Exxon said in a statement carried by Reuters. Exxons critics say that the supermajors lawsuit against the two activist shareholders this year will chill future efforts of shareholders to seek climate accountability from Big Oil. In another high-profile AGM this season, Norways $1.66-trillion sovereign wealth fund, the worlds biggest, sought details on the updated strategy of another oil major, Shell. The Norwegian fund encouraged Shell to make additional strategy disclosures that could reduce uncertainty about the companys direction in the mid-2030s. The fund, however, aligned with Shells management recommendation and voted against an independent resolution to make the supermajor align its medium-term Scope 3 emissions reduction targets with the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. That resolution gained only 18.6% of shareholder support, while the resolution on Shells strategy that eases some interim emissions targets was supported by 78% of the votes. Meanwhile, sustainable funds flows this year have shown the growing divide between Europe and the U.S. on ESG investing. Investor appetite for ESG funds and other sustainable investments remains steady in Europe, in stark contrast with the United States, where the ESG backlash has had investors pull billions of U.S. dollars out of sustainable funds over the past year. In the first quarter for 2024, global sustainable funds saw net new flows and despite the overall decline, European sustainable funds registered nearly $11 billion of inflows, more than double from the previous quarter, according to Morningstars Q1 2024 review. While Europe held resilient, U.S. sustainable funds saw their worst-ever quarter with $8.8 billion in outflows, Morningstar noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia may be the third largest producer of crude oil in the world, after the U.S. and Russia, but its gas output has struggled over the years to make much of a mark in the global market. Currently, it produces around 4.2 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) a year making it the ninth biggest producer in the world but this goes to meeting domestic consumption needs. Associated (with oil drilling) gas accounts for around half of the Kingdoms present production, although the non-associated percentage has more than doubled since 2012. However, last week saw twin announcements that might begin to change that, in line with Saudi Arabias target of becoming a major gas exporter by 2030 as part of its Vision 2030 plan. The two announcements came as part of the statement from the countrys flagship hydrocarbons firm, Saudi Aramco, that it has signed over US$25 billion in contracts to undertake major new gas sector expansion projects. The first of these, according to the firms chief executive officer, Amin Nasser, is that US$8.8 billion is to be spent to increase the scale and scope of the Kingdoms gas network, in particular through the third phase development of its MGS. In addition to new rigs and ongoing capacity maintenance expenditure, the money is to fund the addition of around 4,000 kilometres of pipelines to the current infrastructure and 17 new gas compression trains. These are aimed at boosting capacity by about 3.15 billion standard cubic feet per day and connecting several more cities to the network. As part of its plans to substitute gas for oil in local power generation, domestic demand for natural gas in the country is expected to grow by 3.7% each year from now to 2030, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Related: Exxon Sees Higher Oil Prices Raising Upstream Earnings The second announcement was that a further $12.4 billion will be invested in the second phase of Saudi Aramcos expansion of the much-vaunted Jafurah unconventional gas field. The money is split across 16 new contracts, including the construction of gas compression facilities and associated pipelines, and the expansion of the Jafurah Gas Plant to incorporate the building of new gas processing trains, and utilities, and export facilities. It will also include construction of Saudi Aramcos new Riyas Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) fractionation facilities in Jubail, which is designed to process NGLs received from Jafurah. This increased gas output would provide very welcome export dollars for a country that has struggled to recover fully from the Oil Price Wars of 2014-2016 and 2020, as analysed in full in my new book on the new global oil market order. It could also replace some of the oil used in domestic power generation, so freeing up more high-value crude for export over time. Last year, Saudi Arabia generated slightly less than 70 percent of its electricity from gas, with the vast bulk of the remainder from oil. The key question for this gas field, then, is will it achieve what it is meant to? March this year saw an unexpected sudden increase of 15 Tcf in the level of gas deposits apparently now contained in the field. If true, this would take the total reserves in the eastern Saudi field which is the largest unconventional non-oil associated gas field in the country, and potentially the biggest shale gas development outside the U.S. up to about 229 Tcf, or about 6.5 trillion cubic metres (Tcm). By comparison, total proven gas reserves for Russia stand at around 48 Tcm, for Iran at about 34 Tcm, and for Qatar over 24 Tcm. At the same time, the amount of crude oil being burned for domestic energy consumption has risen in the past few years to well over 500,000 barrels per day. In the extreme temperatures of the summer months, this rises to around 900,000 bpd as air conditioners remain on full for much of the period. The longstanding plan was that production from Jafurah should reach 2.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of gas production by 2036. The new plan is for sales gas (gas at the outlet of a plant that is primarily methane) production to reach 2 bcf/d by 2030 instead, allowing room for considerable exports to be undertaken. That said, all other factors remaining equal, one billion cubic feet of gas equals 0.167 million barrels of oil equivalent, so 2 bcf/d (Jafurahs estimated 2030 output) equals 0.3340 million barrels of oil equivalent, or 334,000 barrels. Therefore, the total projected new amount of gas to come from the unconventional gas field by 2030 is around 334,000 barrels per day, which is not even enough to cover the current amount of oil 500,000 bpd to 600,000 bpd - being burned for power generation in Saudi Arabia, never mind any increase in demand between now and 2030. Moreover, based on independent industry estimates of the changing demographics of Saudi Arabia and the corollary changing power demand patterns, the Kingdom will probably need gas production of around 23-25 bcf/d within the next 15 years just to cover its own power and industrial demand. In sum, then, even if the quality of the Jafurah find is unparalleled in the history of Saudi gas finds, the Kingdom would still be in deficit in its power generation sector if there was a straight switch from crude oil burning to gas-only burning. Over and above the practical shortcomings of these announcements, certainly in Jafurahs case, they do highlight an increasing awareness by the Saudis that gas, especially LNG, has been the key emergency energy source since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and is likely to remain so in an increasingly dangerous world. It is readily available in the spot markets and can be moved quickly to anywhere required, unlike gas or oil sent through pipelines. Unlike pipelined energy as well, the movement of LNG does not require the build-out of vast acreage of pipelines across varying terrains and the associated heavy infrastructure that supports it. They also highlight that the Kingdom understands that the U.S. led the way in engineering a massive increase in LNG availability for it and its key allies with the express intention of making its NATO partners less vulnerable to Russian threats to remove gas and oil supplies from them. The U.S.s success in doing this remains the key reason why Russia did not go unpunished for yet another invasion of a European sovereign state as it did with Ukraine in 2014, and Georgia in 2008, as detailed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Indeed, the U.S. went from zero LNG exports before 2016, to become the worlds biggest exporter of the gas, with around 86 million metric tonnes of LNG shipped in 2022. And around two-thirds of all the U.S.s LNG exports since Russia invaded Ukraine have gone to Europe. Given the U.S.s dominance in this field, and Saudi Arabias awareness that it has fallen behind in this sector, these two announcements from Riyadh may signal new opportunities for Washington to restore a beneficial relationship for it with the Kingdom. The very recent signing of a landmark 20-year deal for the U.S.s NextDecade Corporation to sell LNG to Saudi Aramco may well end up having a significance way beyond the confines of the energy market. More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: One month ago, when momentum-chasing market pundits and other fair-weather experts were quick to throw Tesla out of the Mag7 and forecast that the stock would keep on sinking indefinitely even as the AI bubble took the Big 5 - MSFT, NVDA, AAPL, GOOGL and META - into the stratosphere, we observed that "TSLA remains one of the most shorted names in the hedge fund space and is one of the biggest mutual fund underweights" The implication, of course, was that a face-ripping short squeeze was imminent - and sure enough, just three weeks later we have seen the biggest meltup in TSLA history, the stock surging nearly 50% in just over a week. We were once again about a month ahead of the curve, and now Bloomberg has caught up, writing that hedge funds had piled into short bets against Tesla right before the electric vehicle maker unveiled a set of numbers that triggered a hefty share-price rally. Bloomberg notes that about 18% of the 500-plus hedge funds tracked by data provider Hazeltree, had a short position on Tesla at the end of June, the highest percentage in more than a year. That compares with just under 15% at the end of March. Of course, anyone who tracked our Twitter feed or had access to our premium subscription, was well aware of this and the imminent squeeze that would soon follow. The next part is obvious: having ignored the inevitable meltup, Bloomberg now scrambles to catch up and writes that the massive pile up of short bets "now threaten to saddle the hedge funds behind them with losses." Which is also wrong: the losses have already been booked and most funds were forced to close their shorts in the recent panic meltup. In fact, if anything, now that the squeeze is common knowledge thanks to Bloomberg pointing out what our readers know a month ago, it's time to close the long and go short again, even if the fundamentals suggest that there is more potential upside. Tesla is likely to see its profit margins improve, helped by lower production and raw material costs, according to Morningstar Inc.s Seth Goldstein, one of the top three analysts covering the stock in a Bloomberg ranking that tracks price recommendations. The company will likely return to profit growth next year, he said in a note to clients. But how Tesla handles the markets intensifying focus on affordable EVs will be key, he added. Not only that, but with the stock price surging 50% in just a few days, one can make the argument that most if not all good news for the foreseeable future was promptly priced in. Meanwhile, there is a growing sense of uncertainty around how to treat the wider EV market, amid a sea of conflicting dynamics. The industry benefits from generous tax credits. Yet its also contending with significant hurdles in the form of tariff wars and even identity politics, with some consumers rejecting EVs as a form of woke transport. In the US, Donald Trump has said that if he becomes president again after Novembers election, hell undo existing laws supporting battery-powered vehicles, calling them crazy. That said, Trump is a huge fan of Teslas Cybertruck, according to Elon Musk, who recently told staff to brace for major job cuts, with sales roles among those affected. And the Cybertruck, Teslas first new consumer model in years, has been slow to ramp up. For that reason, some hedge fund managers have decided the stock is off bounds altogether. Tesla is very difficult for us to position, said Fabio Pecce, chief investment officer at Ambienta where he oversees $700 million, including managing the Ambienta x Alpha hedge fund. Basically, its not clear whether investors are dealing with a top company with a great management team or whether its a challenged franchise with deficient corporate governance, he said. However, if Trump wins, it is truly going to be very positive for Tesla, though obviously not amazing for EVs and renewables in general, he said. Thats because Trump is expected to impose massive tariffs towards the Chinese players, which would be beneficial to Tesla, Pecce said; this is also wrong since there is virtually no Chinese EV penetration in the US, and if anything it would force even more dumping of Chinese EVs in Europe which is also a huge market for Tesla. While TSLA managedto go green for the year last week after a painful slump which nearly wiped out half the stock value since 2023, other EV companies have fared worse: the Bloomberg Electric Vehicles Price Return Index, whose members include BYD, Tesla and Rivian, is down about 22% so far in 2024. At the same time, the metals and minerals needed to produce batteries are at the mercy of wildly volatile commodities markets, with speculators regularly trying to make a quick buck on shifts in supply and demand. Price volatility means some battery manufacturers are having to adjust to a market in which their profit margins have been getting badly squeezed. Against that backdrop, more traditional automakers are finding themselves under pressure from shareholders to slow down their capital expenditure on EVs, with recent examples including Porsche. Polestar Automotive, a high-end EV manufacturer, has lost almost 95% of its value since being spun out of Volvo Car AB two years ago. Fisker, another luxury EV maker, saw its value wiped out starting last year and has since filed for a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Soren Aandahl, founder and CIO of Texas-based Blue Orca Capital, said valuations in the EV space are so beat up that hes now avoiding shorting the sector. Its no longer an obvious contrarian bet, because those tend to do best if investors enter when things are a little bit higher, he said. But at this point, a lot of the airs already come out of the balloon and we certainly agree: the time to go long TSLA was a month ago. Now much of the immediate good news has been priced in. But Eirik Hogner, deputy portfolio manager at $2.7 billion hedge fund Clean Energy Transition, suggests there may be more pain to come for the wider EV industry. There are still way too many startups that remain sub-scale and with gross margins that are simply too low, he said. As a result, the supply-demand dynamic of the EV market is still very negative. Ultimately, I think you need to see more bankruptcies before the market starts to look healthier, Hogner said. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: An oil depot in the Volgograd region of Russia is burning following a drone attack by the Ukrainian army. The drones were destroyed by local air defense systems but the debris from the unmanned aerial vehicles set the oil depot on fire along with a substation in the area, Russian media report. The fire at the substation has been dealt with and firefighters are currently working on putting out the fire at the oil depot. Per official statements by the Russian authorities, the air defense system destroyed 38 drones including 21 over the region of Rostov, in southern Russia, and seven over the region of Kursk, in western Russia. Both Rostov and Kursk are along the Russian-Ukrainian border. The attack comes in response to one of the most intensive Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital yet, which took place on Monday, hitting the citys largest childrens hospital. The Ukrainian forces took to targeting Russian oil infrastructure several months ago, taking a number of them temporarily online. This has prompted a reduction in fuel production during the second quarter of the year as refiners rushed to repair their damaged facilities. As a result, in April Russias oil and fuel exports dropped to the lowest in five months, the International Energy Agency said at the time. Russia exported a total of 7.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and petroleum products in April, the IEAs monthly report showed. The shipments in April were 6.4% lower compared to the previous month, according to the IEAs estimates. Yet, Russias oil and gas revenues hit $13.5 billion, equal to some 1.23 trillion Russian rubles, in April, Russian finance ministry data showed at the time. The Kremlin received nearly double the oil income for the Russian budget that it did in the same month of 2023, per Bloomberg estimates from April. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The market share of Saudi Arabian crude in China is set to rebound next month, according to unnamed trade sources cited by Reuters earlier today. Saudi crude oil exports to China have been on the decline for four consecutive months, the report noted, adding some traders expected this to change in August, with imports from the kingdom rising for the first time since May. In July, Saudi oil exports to China totaled 36 million barrels, which comes in at a little over 1 million bpd, Reuters also reported, citing shipping data from Kpler. For August, however, some traders expect a total of at least 44 million barrels, Reuters said. Saudi Arabia used to be Chinas biggest supplier of oil but last year Russia replaced it at the number-one spot. In 2023, Russia shipped 107.02 million metric tons of crude to China, which was a 24% increase on 2022. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, exported 85.96 million tons to Chinese buyers last year, which was a 2% decline on 2022. The kingdom remains the biggest oil supplier to Asia as a whole. The news about a Chinese Saudi oil import rebound comes soon after another report that saw Saudi oil exports in total falling to the lowest in ten months in June amid higher domestic consumption during peak demand season and continued strong Russian shipments to Asian clients the country shares with its OPEC+ partner. The expectations of higher Chinese imports of Saudi oil also come on the heels of the news, as reported by Reuters, that Riyadh would cut official oil prices for Asian clients for the second month in a row. Its flagship Arab Light blend for August loadings would be the lowest since March, Reuters noted in its report. Per traders, Saudi oil has become more affordable now after months of excessive pricing. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Oil and gas supermajor Shell is applying for authorizations to drill ultra-deepwater wells offshore South Africa, looking to expand the recent discoveries off Namibia into South Africas west coast, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a draft environmental assessment from independent environmental consultancy SLR. Analysts believe that some offshore formations that South Africa shares with the offshore areas of Namibia the latest deepwater exploration hotspot could hold great resource potential. Shells local subsidiary and its joint venture partners will need governmental environmental authorization before they can start drilling in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block (NCUD) in the Orange Basin offshore South Africa. Shell and another supermajor, TotalEnergies, have already made large discoveries offshore Namibia, kicking off the Namibian oil rush in 2022. Over the past two years, Shell has made four oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin offshore Namibia. The basin extends to South African waters to the south and the majors are now looking to tap into these areas hoping to find huge resources similar to the ones in the Namibian portion of the Orange Basin. However, red tape and court challenges to drilling offshore South Africa have impeded the majors from exploration off the countrys west coast. TotalEnergies has already bet on future exploration in the Orange Basin in South Africa. Earlier this year, TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy expanded their efforts to explore for oil and gas in the Orange Basin by acquiring a nearby license in the basin in South African waters. Following the Venus success in Namibia, TotalEnergies is continuing to progress its Exploration effort in the Orange Basin, by entering this promising exploration license in South Africa, Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice-President Exploration of TotalEnergies, said in March. At the same time, TotalEnergies is reportedly considering exiting its natural gas discoveries Brulpadda and Luiperd offshore South Africa to prioritize exploration in other areas that are closer to Namibia, sources with knowledge the plans told Bloomberg last week. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: (Photo courtesy of Umiashibi) Though Okinawa is home to beautiful beaches to enjoy the crystal waters surrounding the island, you can also enjoy an adventure while kayaking in some of the areas rivers. Hijagawa is a river running along Kadena Air Bases north side. You may have crossed the river before while driving between Kadena and Torii Station. The river is one of the biggest on Okinawas main island with a 50 km2 basin area, according to the Okinawa Prefectural Government. The riverhead is near Okinawa Zoo and Museum, runs a total of 13.4 kilometers and feeds into the ocean near Kadenas Gate 4. Hijagawa is a great place to cool off and enjoy kayaking along calm waters and is known for being home to many crabs, gobies and a few mangrove trees. Safety first To start my kayaking adventure, I headed to the Kadena Fishing Port to join a tour with Okinawa Umiashibi. After donning a life jacket and joining 10 others, we received a safety briefing from our instructor, Ami Ida, covering skills like how to use an oar to go forward or backward or make a turn. It was my first time in a while to pick up a paddle, so I was a bit anxious, not sure if I could paddle without losing my balance. Once I got in a kayak, however, I soon felt at home. There were tourists from foreign countries among us, but Ida gave instructions in English as well, so all participants were soon on the water without difficulty. It was shortly past 11 a.m. when we launched, and the waters were calm. There were some currents in the water that turned my kayak left and right, and it took several strokes of the paddle to get me back on the right track. (Photo courtesy of Umiashibi) (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Enjoying nature Shortly after we departed from the port, we went under Hijagawabashi, a red bridge that I have crossed many times to go back and forth between Kadena Air Base and Torii Station. Looking up at it from water level for the first time, I realized that the bridge was beautiful. The red color stood out among the green shrubs and water that spread underneath. There was also a riverbank underneath the bridge where some families, possibly residents of apartments nearby, were enjoying the cool breeze near the water. Enjoying nature while still being close to the familiar local neighborhood felt very relaxing. Once past the gate, we were welcomed by mangroves. Although they were not as thick as you might find in other parts of Okinawa, they still made me feel like I was an explorer in uncharted wilderness. Some of the people in the tour struggled to maneuver their kayak around the trees knotted roots, but that was part of the fun. (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Indiana Jones At one point, there was also a big Gajumaru banyan tree on the riverbank. Going through a gap in the curtains of vines hanging from branches overhead, we posed like Indiana Jones for a photo. The tree also provided shade to temporarily escape from the strong sunshine. Up to this point wed kayaked for over an hour, so taking time in the shade under the banyan vines was a nice break. After this, we made a U-turn and headed back to the dock. This time, we were following the current going toward the mouth of the river. It felt much easier than paddling upstream. When we got back at the port around 1 p.m., my feet were burning after being exposed to the sunshine for more than two hours. I was a little sad that I could not find any crabs or gobies that the river is known for, but it was still a good, safe trip. Though Okukubigawa near Camp Hansen or Gesashigawa up in the northern part of the island are other great kayaking spots on the main island, Hijagawa is a wonderful option near Kadena for a fun-filled adventure. Check it out! (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Mangrove Kayak Tour Fee: 5,800 yen for ages 15 and over, 4,800 yen for ages 2 to 14 and under. *Several discounts are available, including a 500-yen discount during summer vacation (through August 31) and a 300-yen discount for online reservations. Point of departure: Kadena Fishing Port (26.361760, 127.747210) *Participants of kayak tours are advised to park their cars on the side of a road nearby, not in the fishing port. Police are asking for the public's help in finding whoever shot a 37-year-old man early Tuesday in North Omaha. Darius Thompson of Omaha went to the Nebraska Medical Center with a gunshot wound to an arm, an Omaha police spokesman said. His injury is not thought to be life threatening. Police were called to the area of 15th and Ohio Streets about 3 a.m. for a report of a shooting. Officers located Thompson, who was unable to provide a description of his attacker. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Omaha Crime Stoppers anonymously at (402) 444-STOP, at www.omahacrimestoppers.org or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a $10,000 cash reward for information that lads to a shooting arrest. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged a mass looting of Nigerias treasury by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government since the administration came onboard in 2015. In a statement signed by the partys spokesman on Wednesday, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accused the Buharis regime of looting the sum of N26.7 trillion, $322 million and N500 billion since it came to power in 2015. The PDP further called on the National Assembly to invoke its powers under sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to recover the funds alleged to have been looted. The statement added, The Peoples Democratic Party charges the National Assembly to, upon resumption, assert itself and accede to demands by Nigerians to investigate the widespread insecurity, economic depression, treasury looting, abuse of office and violations that stamped the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration since May 2015. The PDP urges the federal legislature to protect the interest of millions of suffering Nigerians by invoking its powers under sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to recover the over N14 trillion stolen by government officials and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last four years. Ologbodiyan stated that it has become imperative for the National Assembly to act as the Buhari-presidency has failed to give a cogent explanation on the alleged looting of over N9 trillion through sleazy oil contracts as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo; a situation that directly points to officials culpability. He said Nigerians also want the National Assembly to investigate the issues surrounding the reported stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil using 18 unregistered companies, as well as the alleged looting of over N2.6 trillion in shady oil subsidy regime. The PDP urges the National Assembly to also investigate the alleged siphoning of $322m repatriated funds as well as the trillions of naira stolen under shady projects such as the tradermoni project, among others. The party notes that only recently, the wife of Mr. President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, raised the alarm that over N500 billion meant for poverty alleviation under the APC-led government did not get to the designated beneficiaries. The PDP holds that the humongous looting under the Buhari-administration is directly responsible for the economic hardship Nigerians have been subjected to in the last four years. BLOOMINGTON Local unions will share their skills in a hands-on street fair from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday in conjunction with the Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market. The fair will be at the Government Center parking lot, 102 W. Washington St., and local unions will have family-friendly activities. Participating organizations include Laborers Local 362, AFSCME Local 1110, Cement Masons 18, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 197, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 752, Bricklayers Local 6, the Illinois Federations of Teachers, the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 522 and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2442 from the Normal Fire Department. The unions will have information on employment and union apprenticeship opportunities. For more information, visit www.shorturl.at/1pkIq Photos: Memorial Day celebrations in Bloomington-Normal history 1940: Memorial Day parade in Bloomington 1940: Memorial Day parade in Bloomington 1941: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1941: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1944: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1944: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1945: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1945: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1946: Memorial Day, graveside services 1946: Memorial Day parade, Bloomington High School band 1946: Memorial Day ceremony, Park Hill cemetery 1946: Memorial Day ceremony DECATUR A felon whose criminal career was put on hold after being confronted at gunpoint by an armed homeowner has been sent to prison for two years. Police reports said James C. Snow was running from the cops on Jan. 23 in a stolen vehicle that ended up wrecked in a farm field near Argenta. The reports said Snow and an accomplice, Tyler S. Crum, then fled on foot, but neither got very far. A news release from the evening of the incident said Snow and Crum dashed to different nearby rural houses seeking a place to hide, but both soon found themselves facing residents who also were gun owners. The residents called 911 and held the fugitives captive at gunpoint until the police arrived to take Snow, 34, and Crum, 33, into custody. We commend the homeowners for properly utilizing firearm training and assisting law enforcement, Macon County Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Matthew Reynolds had said in a statement after the arrests. Snow, who is from Urbana, took a plea deal and was sentenced June 27 in Macon County Circuit Court. He admitted a revised charge of the attempted aiding and abetting of the possession of a stolen vehicle, and Judge Rodney Forbes then dismissed a further count of resisting police. A check of his record shows that Snow has multiple previous convictions for burglary and theft, as well as convictions for dealing in drugs. The judge ordered his latest sentence in Macon County to run concurrently with a six-year sentence out of McLean County, imposed in 2020 when Snow was convicted of felony escape. The defendant had been paroled in June 2023 and was still on parole Jan. 23, when police said they found him and Crum sitting inside a stolen vehicle outside the Caseys General Store in Argenta. Deputies trying to take the suspects into custody said they rammed a squad car, and the ensuing pursuit wound up involving Oreana police, the Illinois State Police and even the Illinois Conservation Police. Crum, from Heyworth, had initially been released after his arrest, but was rearrested on a warrant in March when he failed to show up for court. He was granted pretrial release again March 11, and then another warrant was issued after he missed an April 3 court date. He was back in custody by May 16 and released once more under the pretrial release rules. Crum is now scheduled to face a preliminary hearing Aug. 7, when he will enter formal pleas to charges accusing him of the aggravated battery of a peace officer and aggravated fleeing from police. He is also charged with aiding and abetting in the possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting peace officers. BLOOMINGTON A 33-year-old Bloomington woman is charged with driving under the influence in a crash that killed her 8-year-old son, prosecutors said. Stephany J. Flores-Ramirez appeared Monday in McLean County Circuit Court on charges connected to the July 3 crash on Interstate 74 between Bloomington and Downs. Judge Scott Black ordered her release from custody after hearing arguments about whether she should be jailed before trial. The boy killed in the crash, Raymundo Bucio-Flores, was a student at Stevenson Elementary School in Bloomington. He was described as happy, bright and "full of life" by a paternal aunt who created a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help cover his funeral expenses. "He lit up every room he walked into and made everyone laugh," Alexandra Bucio wrote of her nephew. "He was smart and intuitive, always playing some sort of video game. A sweet and loving boy. He leaves behind a sister and a brother who will miss his presence dearly." Flores-Ramirez also is charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing death, which is a Class 2 felony, and aggravated driving under the influence causing great bodily harm, a Class 4 felony. She appeared deeply shaken during the hearing, inhaling to catch her breath as tears streamed down her face. Assistant State's Attorney David Fitt had sought to keep her in custody before trial, arguing that Flores-Ramirez posed a danger to the community. He outlined the case as follows: At 9:54 p.m. Wednesday, Illinois State Police troopers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 74 near Downs. They found a white Chevrolet van and blue Ford Edge, both badly damaged; Flores-Ramirez was identified as the driver of the Ford. A witness told police they had observed Flores-Ramirez's vehicle traveling east before leaving its lane, crossing over the center grassy median and crashing head-on with the other vehicle, which was traveling in the westbound lanes, Fitt said. The prosecutor said a critically injured victim was removed from the van, taken to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington and ultimately flown by helicopter to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Flores-Ramirez reportedly at first told police that no one else was in the car with her, but later acknowledged that her son was in the vehicle, Fitt said. Police said she seemed confused while speaking with them. Officers then saw the boy, bleeding and motionless, on the floorboard of the vehicle, Fitt said. He was taken to OSF St. Joseph and pronounced dead. McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder previously said the child died from "multiple blunt injuries." According to court records, the trooper said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant's breath, and found two open 100 milliliter (about 3.4 ounces) bottles of alcohol, but did not initially request field sobriety tests due to potential injuries and medical treatment. Flores-Ramirez was transported to Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, where she agreed to blood and urine samples for testing, Fitt said. The blood sample, collected at 1:07 a.m., showed a blood-alcohol content of 0.120, well above the legal limit of 0.08, he said. Flores-Ramirez was released from the hospital on Friday and taken into custody for questioning, he said. She reportedly told investigators that she had only consumed one can of beer and was not intoxicated. Arguing that she should remain in custody, Fitt cited what he described as the defendant's "lies" and said he had concerns about her honesty while being monitored before trial. He also noted that she was under court supervision, a court order to not commit any new criminal offenses. McLean County court records show that she pleaded guilty to speeding 15-20 mph above the speed limit in March, and to use of an electronic communication device while driving in April. "If, your honor, she's willing to drive intoxicated with her own child in the car and is willing to risk it, then what court order can we possibly impose on her that's more serious than that and hope that she won't get behind the wheel intoxicated again?" Fitt asked. Public defender Hannah Katavich argued that other conditions could mitigate any danger posed by her client. She said there is no evidence that her client has not followed court regulations, and there is no evidence she is a threat to the community due to her record only consisting of petty offenses. Katavich asked for GPS tracking and a monitor for alcohol usage in lieu of detention. Black agreed, denying the prosecutor's petition to detain Flores-Ramirez and imposing the following conditions: She must consume no drugs or alcohol, obtain an evaluation for substance abuse, wear an electric bracelet to monitor alcohol consumption, refrain from operating any motor vehicle, and report to pretrial court services where she will undergo court supervision. An arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 19. The Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum is set to attend this years Ministerial Forum on Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa scheduled for 10th - 11th July in Abuja, Nigeria. The forum which is funded by the Mastercard Foundation is a bi-annual Ministerial Forum or event that brings together Ministers of Education and other stakeholders to discuss how to transform education systems using technology. Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa is the theme for the forum which is in line with the African Unions year of education. The forum will bring together Education and ICT Ministers from 20 African countries and education technology experts to deliberate on actions that harness the power of technology to deliver resilient education technology systems in Africa that drive learning for all. The 2024 Ministerial Forum will be preceded by the inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference which will take place from 8th - 10th July 2024. The conference will convene technical participants such as policymakers, EdTech innovators, experts, development organizations and learners to explore the state of EdTech in Africa and opportunities to strengthen technology-enabled education. Dr. Adutwum will be attending the forum with other experts from the Ministry and the expectation is that their recommendations will be discussed and integrated into the final document that will be put together after the forum. 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 Former Board Chairman of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Professor Emeritus Stephen Adei has declared that he will go on a one-man demonstration if Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) from India is allowed to take over domestic tax mobilization in Ghana. He described the deal as "immoral, unpatriotic and evil" and urged the government to stop it, saying, "you cannot and should not hand over our domestic tax mobilization to an Indian company when all the evidence from the competitive bidding process shows that a Ghanaian company came on top." "The contract can only go to the Indian company on the basis of corruption and moral depravity and I think that no Ghanaian worth his or her name should support this," he quipped. Prof. Adei's strong declaration comes in the wake of reports that the Commissioner General of GRA, Julie Essiam has ignored the board, defied all due process, and unilaterally willed Ghana's domestic revenue mobilization to TCS from India, and its Indian-owned-Ghana-based partner, IPMC. In fact, Julie Essiam travelled to India in the company of the Head of Procurement at GRA, Daniel Foli, and signed the contract with TCS, giving them the green light to come take over domestic tax mobilization in Ghana from 2026. This was in spite of the fact that the whole competitive bidding process for the award of that particular contract, called the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) was cancelled on January 3, 2024, more than two months before Julie Essiam's appointment as CG. Moreover, both the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and the Central Tender Review Committee (CTRC) had earlier rejected TCS/IPMC on the grounds that they failed to meet up to 80% of GRAs requirements on deployment experience and also failed the 30% local content test. Again, of the three top entities that qualified for the financial proposal stage, each with over 80% score at the technical stage, TCS/IPMC's was the most expensive. Out of the top three, Axon Information Systems had the lowest cost of US$41 million, followed by Persol and Atos with US$61 million, while TCS/IPMC had the highest cost of US$69 million. Workers of GRA have even written officially to Julie Essiam raising concerns about the cost of the contract to GRA, its impact on workers and why the whole competitive bidding process was not started afresh after the cancelation of the first one, as the law requires. Find the full details of how Techfocus24 has covered the story on the following links: Why the GRA boss was removed in favour of an Indian company New GRA boss revives shady IPMC/Tata deal after former CG cancelled it GRA Boss UNILATERALLY wills Ghanas domestic tax mobilization to Indian company, Tata GRA workers write to Commissioner General over questionable ITAS deal with Indian company Julie Essiams darling, TATA fined $194 million in the US In reaction to these developments, Prof. Stephen Adei said he is privy to the full scores of the initial competitive bids process for the ITAS contract, and he is fully aware that Axon, a Ghanaian company, came on top, per both the technical and financial proposals, so, it will be only on the basis of "corruption and moral depravity" if GRA hands over the contract to the Indian company. "I want to serve notice that based on what I have seen and what I know, if government allows this Indian company to take over our domestic tax mobilization, I will personally embark on a one man demonstration against it," he said. "I Stephen Adei, I will not sit down and allow people like Julie Essiam to sell Ghana for a song." Julie's abiding agenda Prof. Adei said he is not surprised that Julie Essiam was the one chosen by some persons with vested interest to execute such an "unpatriotic, immoral and evil" move because she has always had an abiding agenda to select foreign companies over very competent local companies for jobs at GRA. He recalled that two days after Julie Essiam was made Commissioner, Support Services, at the time, the Finance Ministry had decided to replace GCNET. Julie Essiam completely ignored the newly appointed GRA board at the time, and travelled to Kenya to go negotiate with Technobrain, the company which used to provide technical backing for GCNET, to come takeover domestic revenue mobilization in Ghana, but that move was stopped by the board. Again, when the Prof. Adei-led board was dissolved in December 2020, they were called back to look at the budget for GRA, and they found an item of about GHS140 million (about US$40 million at the time) earmarked to contract a Canadian company to take over domestic tax mobilization in Ghana. Again, Julie Essiam vehemently defended that budget, which confirmed that it has always been on her agenda to bring in foreign entities to take over Ghana's domestic tax mobilization. "I strongly believe that Julie Essiam was specifically appointed as CG to execute this TCS/IPMC deal and so I am not surprised the way she is going about it," he said. "But we must know that when foreign entities are in charge of your domestic tax mobilization the corruption rate is very high." The former GRA Board Chairman said what surprises him was how Julie Essiam was chosen as the new CG for GRA, given the fact that she was the head of Support Services and not directly involved in the core work of taxation. "Promoting someone in her capacity to the high office of the CG is like appointing the Head of Works, of Head of Finance or the Registrar of a University as the Vice Chancellor just based on seniority - it does not make sense," he argued. "And if my memory serves me right, Julie Essiam was due for retirement in April 2021, so I wonder if her age is not more than the 61 years mentioned at her appointment." Appointments by connection Speaking of appointments, Prof. Adei recalled that, for his 15 months as the Board Chair of GRA, he noticed that all the five Acting Deputy Commissioners he met were appointed by "connection" rather than on merit. So when his board opened up applications, all the five failed because some of their other colleagues were more qualified for those positions. He noted that, it is therefore not surprising to find that Julie Essiam, for instance, has been appointed to the position of Commissioner General and she is quickly executing an unpatriotic contract in total defiance of due process, just to shortchange a very competent local entity. "The government can choose whoever they want to occupy whichever office, but they must not do so to the detriment of revenue collection because in her former capacity as Head of Support Services, Julie Essiam had nothing to do directly with taxation. Her actions now will only impact negatively on fiscal policy and Ghanaians will be the sufferers for it," he said. Speak up Prof. Adei therefore called on well-meaning Ghanaians to speak up against that contract and stand in support of growing competent local entities, which have the capacity to deliver on such contracts. Currently, Ghana's domestic tax mobilization is being done by Axon Information System with their Ghana Integrated Tax Management and Information Systems (GITMIS), which, according to technical staff of the GRA, is an ITAS system comparable to anyone in the world. The system mobilizes about 76% per cent of taxes in Ghana, and has for the past three years, helped GRA to exceed revenue targets significantly. Moreover, among the 12 entities that put in bids for the deal, there were equally very competent Ghanaian entities such as Persol and Atos, which currently runs Ghana's e-VAT system, as well as Tenth Generation Information Systems and Invinol, which put in a bid to deploy the globally acclaimed SAP system for Ghana. TCS's questionable solution Whereas all of the solutions put forward by the local companies have been tried and tested both locally and globally, there is zero record of TCS's solution being deployed successfully anywhere in the world, not even in its own home country, India. The TCS solution is known to have been previously deployed in Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia and Uganda. But in all four countries, they have been kicked out for various reasons. Indeed, during a recent meeting at GRA, the team from TCS was asked to show proof of a successful deployment of their solution anywhere, but they failed to do so. It is also important to note that all the way in the United States of America, TCS has been fined a significant US$194 million for misappropriating the trade secrets of another company. TCS's was found guilty of the offense by a court of competent jurisdiction in the USA. Techfocus24 has made an RTI request for a copy of the contract but to no avail, as Julie Essiam is said to be keeping the signed contract close to her chest. Attempts to get her to respond to the issues raised also proved futile because she will not respond to WhatsApp messages nor pick her calls. 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 NIGERIA: A CCTV footage showing the moment a housemaid urinated in her madams mug in the kitchen has made the rounds on social media. In the video, the madam who spoke in Hausa language, said the housemaid has a room that is ensuite, yet decided to urinate in the kitchen using her mug. She also mentioned that she pays the maid more money than she is supposed to. She further stated that the maid eats the same meals she makes in the house. The maid could be seen begging when the madam threatened to take her to the police station. Watch the video below- Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A two-year-old boy has d!ed after accidentally sh00ting himself in the head in a Walmart parking lot as his parents shopped for fireworks. Nakyzi Odums parents left him alone in their vehicle on the afternoon before the Fourth of July as they went to purchase fireworks at a nearby stand, reported WALB. Witnesses said that his parents heard a gunshot and ran to their car and found him with a wound in the chest. The toddler was rushed to a hospital in Douglas, Georgia, and then to a trauma centre in another state. On Saturday, July 6, the Douglas Police Department wrote on Facebook that it regrets to inform the community that the young child who suffered an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 3, 2024, has sadly passed away this afternoon at the trauma center in Jacksonville, Florida. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, the police department wrote. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. He was definitely the light and love for his parents Sam Odums and Laileighauna Parks, his grandmother Candi Brinson wrote. He smiled brightly, wholeheartedly, loved unconditionally. It was not immediately known if the parents would face any charges in connection with the fatal shooting. There were no indications they had been arrested. Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette told The Independent: Youre allowed to have a gun in the car, but when theres a child involved, you need to make sure that the gun is secure so that the child doesnt have access to it. 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 More than 100 people were sh0t and 19 k!lled across Chicago during a vi0lent Fourth of July celebration in the US. The number of shootings, which totalled 109 victims between Thursday and Sunday surpassed last years holiday weekend total, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a Monday press conference. These are 19 families whose lives are forever altered. Nineteen families who woke up this morning without a son, without a daughter, without a mother, without a father, without an aunt, without an uncle. Over 100 people whose lives will never be the same, Mayor Johnson said. The most recent sh&&ting incident was a homicide around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday in Chicagos Austin neighbourhood. Police responded to a well-being check in the area and found a 36-year-old man on the kitchen floor. He was bleeding and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced de@d on the scene. Just before 5:30 a.m. Sunday, three men were shot and wounded outside the University of Chicago Hospital. According to police, witnesses observed someone in a dark-grey SUV point a gun from the vehicle and fire shots at several people standing near a parked car in what initially looked to be a targeted shooting. The victims were transported to the hospital. Weekend shootings with multiple victims included an incident at Columbus Park in the Austin neighbourhood. Police said two people exchanged gunfire and fled the scene. A total of seven people were shot. A 40-year-old man d!ed after driving himself to Stroger Hospital following the shooting. The youngest shooting victim over the extended Fourth of July weekend was 8-year-old Bryson Orr, who was k!lled along with two female relatives in the Greater Grand Crossing neighbourhood. Two other children were also wounded in the shooting. We cannot bring back these children. If we want to avoid having these types of press conferences and these types of meetings again, we need every single person to step up. We need people to start coming forward. We need people to take responsibility. Help us, help you, Supt. Snelling said. Additional officers were deployed over the extended holiday weekend across Chicago. The police department announced the opening of an Emergency Services Assistance Center Tuesday at Fosco Park, which will help people who have been traumatized by the weekends violence. 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 His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has reiterated his commitment of ensuring that no member of his government will be allowed to buy any state assets. According to John Mahama, the increasing surge in politicians purchasing public assets is very alarming, hence, his pledge to put a stop to the menace that has characterised the Nana Addo/Bawumia led government. Former President Mahama made this known during a meeting with the members of the press on Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Accra. John Mahamas comments follows a recent public uproar on the alleged sale of state properties by some politicians, most of whom are affiliates of the ruling New Patriotic party (NPP). He indicated that, Appointees and public office holders must change their attitudes. That is what we are going to insist on that people that we appoint are modest people, they are humble, they will open up to the people, and theyll do the things that will make the lives of our young people better. And so were gonna hold them to a higher criteria of service. You must not go and buy state property. He added that, anyone serving in his government will not be allowed to buy a state asset. He stated, Anybody serving in my government will not be allowed to buy a state asset. Nobody serving in my government will buy a state asset. Vehicles or cars or buildings or land or anything, nobody serving in our government will be allowed to buy a state asset. According to Mr. Mahama, it is expedient to protect state properties from persons with ill intentions towards the progress of the country. He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to vote him into power come December 7 to effect all the promises he has made to Ghanaians. "The time for change is now. A vote for Mahama and the NDC is a vote that will transform the living conditions of Ghanaians". Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the resignation of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkonoo, over her lobbying for some Judges to be called top the Supreme Court. Sammy Gyamfi describes the action of the Chief Justice as self-seeking interest in the appointments of some judges to the Supreme Court. He argues that, the action of the Chief Justice does not serve the interest of Ghanaians, rather, serves in the interest of a selected few. He argued, what she has done is totally wrong, it was totally uncalled for, it is unconstitutional and I think she must eat humble pie, concede this fact, and make amends. But beyond the procedural flaws for me is the whole agenda and intention behind the action. Sammy Gyamfi stated that if the CJ was only making a proposal or a request to the president to increase the number of justices of the Supreme Court to ensure the speedy determination of matters pending before the court, then, the issue of procedural lapses could have sufficed. He explained, But here is the CJ going beyond a request to the president for him to increase the number of Justices of the Supreme Court which in itself is wrong. She actually goes beyond that to propose specific justices of her choosing." The NDCs Communication Officer added, that, for me, borders on her intents and agenda she has. It shows that this CJ is not interested in having more justices on the Supreme Court, but actually has her own preference of friends, allies, or people in the judiciary that she thinks should be appointed to the Supreme Court. That is problematic because that brings up these issues of conflict of interest. A worried Sammy Gyamfi opines that as the Chairperson of the Judicial Council, which advises the President on nominations or appointments, she should not be the same person telling the President who to appoint based on her own self-serving criteria. That should tell you clearly, that the main motivation for the CJ is not what we are being told or for the speedy determination of matters before the Supreme Court, but to have the preferences of this Chief Justice appointed onto the Supreme Court. And that is why, for me, I think this is reason enough for this Chief Justice to resign. In a letter dated May 30, 2024, the Chief Justice had recommended to President Akufo Addo, the appointment of five judges to the Supreme Court. The content of the letter stated that Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Justice Cyra Pamela C.A. Koranteng, and Justice Afia Asare Botwe were recommended by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Asaba Torkonoo to be appointed to the Supreme Court. However, the NDCs General Secretary alleged that, the Chief Justice and the President are conniving to shield the government from being held accountable when the NDC comes to power. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has disclosed he would grant amnesty to people convicted of illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, if elected president. The former President, speaking at a media event in Accra last Sunday, said persons convicted by the court for unlawful mining are victims of circumstances who work for ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials and should be pardoned. I will give amnesty to people imprisoned for illegal mining, popularly called galamsey because those who are in prison for galamsey are not the actual perpetrators. The big kingpins are not in prison; those who are in prison are the small boys who were employed to work on their galamsey concession, he asserted. Mr. Mahama stated that he would maintain the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), explaining, Why will I scrub the office of the Office of Special Prosecutor? I wont. Its an addition to our anti-corruption fight. The NDC flagbearer indicated that a government he leads will strengthen the OSP to make it efficient and effective to achieve the purpose for which it was established. He was of the view that there was too much political interference in the work of the OSP, and called on those involved to desist from it. We need to create an environment where the Special Prosecutor can work on behalf of the people of Ghana. And so I will not scrub that office but will strengthen it to be able to investigate those who are leaving the office and have been harassing the prosecutor, and also investigate my people who fall foul of the law, he stressed. Touching on the Free Senior High School (FSHS) Bill, the former President said the Free SHS policy introduced by the ruling NPP would not be cancelled. According to him, more funding will be provided to strengthen the policy in order to make it work seamlessly. Free SHS has come to stay and nobody can roll it back. All we are saying is that lets improve the implementation. Lets take away the bottlenecks; lets abolish the track system, lets be able to feed the children better by decentralising the school feeding in the Free SHS, he added. Source: Daily Guide 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